Thread 34 - Mining But Very Little Crafting (Part 4)

Logan & Raill!pR.BaFF/uk 18 May 2016 4:44:40 PM No.41345360

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>>41343419
>As the group hid, the voices grew louder, with the number of footsteps not quite matching it. Eventually, a small group came into view, led at the front by a somewhat stiff if not nervous man dressed in what appeared to be high-ranking military attire. Accompanying him was a taller man in black and gold finery, sporting a wide hat that didn't really help to cover the red locks of hair flowing down his shoulders, matched only in colour by the wine in the glass he was carrying.

>Behind them followed a group of around four soldiers, dressed in heavier armour than most and bearing the sigil of the Royal Guard, each one a Captain, no less, judging by the markings. As they ranked just below the Generals, having a guard made up of such distinguished men was nothing to sneeze at.

>The well-dressed fellow's voice was the easiest to hear, especially since it had an aura of authority that didn't diminish even in the presence of high-ranking officers.

<"Old friend, if I didn't have the utmost faith in what I was about to show you, you would still be sat at home at your dining table with no knowledge of it at all. Though speaking of such things, how is your daughter doing?"

You of all people should know how she is, Erithas. I'm sure your daughter bickers about her friends just as much as mine.

<"I like your optimism, there, but she doesn't talk to me as much lately."

Well, you are intimidating when you want to be, I mean just looking at you in that thing makes me want to raise eyebrows.

<"I'll have you know Sarilla's the one who picks these things out for me - she insists it's to keep the 'proper aesthetic'..."

Say no more, I'm not about to get on her bad side by saying anything about it.

<"You already did, so now you owe me this favour."

Something about what was found here, isn't that right?

<"Have you heard the old stories, Aaron? The ones about the war."

Well, there's those age-old half-burnt reports about it, but I don't know about stories.

<"Trust me when I tell you that the things you've read don't even cover half of it. It's old news, of course, but back before the convergence at Kingsmeet...."

>The voices had gotten quieter and quieter as the group moved on, and as soon as they rounded the corner of a large portion of rock the noises of the mine all but drowned out their conversation. It seemed that the three had avoided notice for now, thankfully, but...

Elias Katai!Ren/VL7f/Q 19 May 2016 11:13:56 AM No.41345975

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>>41345360
>>41345371

>Certainly some decorated people, talking about something very interesting indeed, by the sounds of it. Elias peers at the two of them, listening intently. If nothing else, he could certainly appreciate the red haired man's sense of fashion.

>But they wandered away, and curious though he was, they were here for something else that they couldn't afford to fail at.

>Which is why when Logan smiled that awkward smile and spoke those words that Elias' jaw reacquaints itself with the floor.

<"I'm gonna follow them"

You cannot be serious.

>Elias eyes Logan with an almost pleading expression

Logan, we CAN'T fail this. Whatever it is that's piqued your interest, can't it wait? We are right in the middle of enemy territory staging a prison break and you want to wander off? It's ridiculously risky and unfair to Leo.

You were the one who wanted to break them out in the first place, you know.

>Elias fixes Logan with a stare, no longer pleading or angry. Just simple eye-contact trying to convey how serious this was.

Please stick this out with us.

Guard Tower!pR.BaFF/uk 19 May 2016 5:25:39 PM No.41346312

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>>41342200
>There was a clatter resounding on the bottom level of the tower, several tiles smashing relatively close to a soldier doing his patrol.

Bloomin' heck!

>Luckily it didn't crack him on the helmet, lest he have to suffer a hospital visit at this time of night. Looking up, he spotted the two guard peering off the side, investigating the noise below.

Are you two having fun up there!?

That was a close one, weren't it!
I was bettin' it'd smack George on the 'ead.

You was bettin' it'd clop me head in!? You dirty cunt!

Who're you callin' a cunt?
Now now, boys, take it out on the prisoners if you've got to have a spat.
He called me a cunt!
Alright, alright, George would you please apologise to Andy.

That's Sergeant George, to you!

Fuck off, you brown-nosing git!
Don't make me pull rank on you two!

He threw a tile at me!

I threw a WHAT? Now he's accusing me of assault!

They'll have to arrest me for assault if you don't stop fucking around!

By the bloody flame, George, calm down or I'll have you sent home!

Screw you, Harold, I could've had a concussion!

>Needless to say the guards were currently... occupied. Leo's probably got a free shot at getting over to the ladder hatch, but she'll have to be quiet about it.

Logan Faust!ReIheBaff. 23 May 2016 9:18:50 AM No.41349732

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>>41346873
Psht. Come on, when have you ever regretted something I've done?

>It seemed like whatever was on his mind was troubling him enough to resort to making light of the situation, as he usually did. Though when he took a moment to think about what he was saying, he raised a hand, pointed a finger at Elias but then hesitated, bringing the hand to his mouth before pointing it right back at Elias again.

Don't answer that.

>With that, he turned and began to run down the path, ducking behind a few rocks to try to hide from the guards. Thankfully they weren't paying attention, and while he had a bit of catching up to do it meant he didn't have to be so quiet at this part.

I'll be back in a bit! You won't even know I was gone!

>And then he was - right around the corner, his footsteps and the chinking of his armour fading as the distance grew.

Za Warudo!ReIheBaff. 23 May 2016 10:01:20 AM No.41349752

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>>41349750
>The hatch's ladder quickly led to a wooden stairwell that headed downwards quite a ways. At first the descent was simple, but as Leo got closer to the base of the tower it began to open up, doorways leading off into various small rooms and larger spaces between stairs, some even containing small tables where guards might sit and eat.

>She was lucky so far to have not run into anyone, but anything could be behind those doors. Noises rang throughout the tower, whether it be the muffled shouting between the guards at the top and bottom or the creaking from the hastily put-together floorboards. In either case, it seemed that no-one had noticed her for now.

>A lot of previous doors seemed to contain simple numbered bunk rooms, sleeping quarters for the guards who were stationed here - some of which had been occupied by those who were thankfully using them for their purpose. Now, however, she was faced with a slightly different section, a large circular portion of the tower close to the bottom.

>A table lit by a simple light crystal had some scrawled notes upon it that were difficult to see from where she was. The stairs continued going down, of course, but the two doorways that led out of the room seemed different from the others. One was made of metal and bolted into place rather heavily, which seemed to match a rusted metal key on the table, whilst the other was simply a wooden door that led to a large room.

Leopon-dji (Mobile) 23 May 2016 10:23:32 AM No.41349760
>It was a miracle she hadn't been caught thusfar, but she couldn't concern herself with that kind of self-consciousness. She crept into the open area and regarded the notes on the table. Why would somebody leave those lying around? Surely, they wouldn't miss them... but if they noticed, the tower could end up on high alert. Same thing with the key. Fingers ghosted over the rusty metal before grasping it and picking it up. It would arouse much more suspicion than a few pieces of paper, but her years as a vagabond taught her a valuable lesson: if something had a lock, it was worth unlocking.

>Might as well, she thought. The beastkin crumpled the notes and stuffed them into her pocket before pawing toward the foreboding door. She pressed a sensitive ear to the metal door to try and determine what noises had come from it.

Leopon-dji 23 May 2016 5:13:12 PM No.41349888

>>41349879
>The noise of jingling chains was coming from behind this door. Cold, foreboding, almost a bit creepy... was it some kind of holding area? A room to place misbehaving prisoners? It couldn't be for anyone dangerous, any sane person wouldn't risk putting a dangerous prisoner in the middle of the guard tower, right? And if it was a prisoner, they could be a source of information--or at least a better source than any guard around here.

>Leo's mind was made up. She slid the key into the lock, opened the door a crack, and slipped inside, taking the rusted key with her. The beastkin gingerly
shut the door behind her before turning to face the source of the clatter.