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| Small Wars; [P] Estelle | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Sun Feb 10, 2013 12:05 am (873 Views) | |
| Iris | Mon Mar 25, 2013 11:09 pm Post #16 |
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Estelle grinned at Kelok's offer. "I'd be happy to my Lord. Come along Jamie." Estelle accepted. She led Eko delicately, bringing the young woman up out of the hall itself and into the back area. More party goers were milling about here, discussing quietly what fun Kelok was due to bring later that night. She smiled at them as she passed, and eventually picked out a single empty room to temporarily stash themselves in. "I don't know much about this mansion. If I had been trying this without any time constraints, I would have gotten a map of the place or probed a different way before this sort of big infiltration. Eko, what do you think? Would Kelok keep his prisoners in a decent upstairs apartment or a dungeon?" Estelle asked. She checked the handful of knives concealed on her dress. "We also have to move quickly, dear. Someone might start looking for us." |
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| Lady Eko | Tue Mar 26, 2013 4:23 pm Post #17 |
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They managed to peel off from the touring crowd and duck into a small side-room. Eko didn't like Kelok at all. "From what I can tell, a male would go into the dungeon." The real issue was getting down there. Eko had only ever been in a Lord's estate once before this, and she was certain they weren't all arranged the same way. She took a moment to think. "Wait! I remember seeing a tower as we were coming in. It was... that way. We should be close." Taking the lead now, Eko pushed open the door to a crack and peered out. They were far enough back that no one was in their line of sight, giving Eko and Estelle the opportunity to slip out of their hiding place. It was a gamble assuming that there was a dungeon in the tower, but something about Kelok struck her as not being one keen on that whole 'wizard in a tower' thing. There weren't many options for its nature she was aware of. A wide, round wall lined with doors was probably the base of the tower. Eko stopped against the wall just before the corner, urging Estelle to do the same. She just barely peeked around and saw that two armed guards were posted at the doors. They wore the gold and silver intertwined snakes of Kelokian allegiance, but were outfitted in chainmail, helms, and good weapons that made them a little more than just street toughs. Eko held up two fingers and mouthed the word 'two' to indicate how many enemies there were to Estelle. Her hand went down to the hidden strap on her thigh that carried a knife. |
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| Iris | Sat Apr 6, 2013 2:41 am Post #18 |
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Estelle followed after Eko quickly, practically prancing about in her dress to avoid stepping on the hem. She bounced after Eko until they reached the base of the tower and she groaned. Stairs were a pain in dresses. As were guards. They were likely close enough to one another and probably well armored. She doubted they were wearing anything heavy if they had a stand and guard job. Estelle reached into the front of her dress and tugged at something. A moment later a wide black ribbon wrapped her form, thousands of blackened knives slipped into its folds. She slid out of the dress, leaving behind only the bands as a devilish grin formed on her face. "Hello, do you know where Lord Anver is going to be spending the night? I've lost my way and he and the other girls will be so displeased," Estelle giggled softly at the end as she approached. One of the guards hurried over to help as Estelle's hand fell on her wide hip. She stepped past him gracefully, avoiding his wandering hand. She drew up her hand and gently caressed the side of his companion's helm. The man slumped to the ground instantly without a sound. She turned and smiled as the first guard began to register what had happened. |
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| Lady Eko | Thu Apr 11, 2013 11:37 pm Post #19 |
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Around the corner was a loud ripping sound as Eko, in what was practically a single motion, carved a huge slit down the side of her dress for the sake of increasing mobility. Thankfully the skirt didn't pose much of a tripping hazard as it didn't reach the ground. When she was done, she held in hand a dagger that was smaller than her usual combat knife, but one that had been easier to conceal. She came around the corner as soon as the first guard went down. Having been too focused on Estelle, the second guard didn't see or hear Eko's soft approach. The girl calmly reached up, wrenched his helmeted head up, and slit his exposed throat. She backed away on light feet as the guard gurgled and sputtered to death. The two of them climbed the tower. The spiral staircase around the rim of the tower was lined with torches, and there was no way to go but up. Eko ran up the stairs, bloody dagger in hand. They had to hurry now. She heard the bustle of bodies up at the top, where she assumed the dungeon was. It was at that moment that Eko briefly commended herself and Estelle for doing so well on a plan that, so far, had been extremely poorly planned out. A door guard at the top already had his blade unsheathed, thanks to their unsubtle proceedings up the stairs. Eko flipped her blade into an inverted grip, wishing she had her whip at hand. A sword against a knife was by no means a fair fight, and he had armor while Eko didn't. Not even the element of surprise was on her side this time. Keys jingled at the hip of this single guard, who was presumably the jailkeeper. |
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| Iris | Sun Apr 21, 2013 1:06 am Post #20 |
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Estelle walked up past Eko, straight towards the waiting armsman. He blinked and flourished his blade, raising it diagonally away from his body. Estelle drew her daggers from the holsters on her waist, flicking the foot long blades in front of her. She stepped into his guard, narrowly dodging his thrust. She deflected his blade further away, keeping her dagger pinned to the tip of his blade. She stabbed, sliding her free dagger along the bottom of his arm and into his armpit. He dropped his blade and yelled as she effortlessly jammed the parrying blade into his throat. With a flourish she wiped both blades off on the expensive carpets before ripping the keychain off his body. She jammed it into the nearest door and kicked it open, revealing a half-starved man. His eyes lit up in remembrance as his eyes focused on Estelle. Estelle had no sudden epiphany, but figured out a moment later that this was likely Mohdu. "Mohdu, time to go. Eko, do we have a plan to leave or are we just jumping out a window and running?" |
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| Lady Eko | Tue May 21, 2013 7:20 pm Post #21 |
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Eko had met Mohdu Narang before, once. He was a big man -- not fat, just tall and broad -- whose shaggy black hair and dark brown skin made him look like an indeterminately foreign outsider, yet he spoke heavy Balefiren Common like a born native. Eko hadn't formed an opinion of him, but did empathize with that common misconception anyway. Now he was a shadow of his former self. No longer smiling and cheerful. Lost a lot of weight, looked all dirty and beaten up. Mohdu didn't recognize Eko when she sidled up silently behind Estelle. She didn't blame him. He had a lot bigger things to worry about than an unfriendly-looking girl in a ripped dress. "Window is the only way. Mohdu won't die." Broken bones, probably, but she wouldn't let him die. Some clamor outside. They had to go. The window at the end of the hall was pretty small, but just big enough for Mohdu to fit through. While Estelle got their rescued man ready, Eko shut and locked the door to the prison at the top of the staircase. She overturned the jailer's desk and pressed it against the door, and the chair propped against the doorknob too. Then she ran after the two of them. It wouldn't be that bad of a drop. Maybe. Eko's mind raced with ways to keep all of them in a good enough condition to run away, perhaps fight, after the fall. |
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| Iris | Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:24 am Post #22 |
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Mohdu's eyes lit up for a moment when he saw Estelle, but he made no comment. It was possible Mohdu barely knew her, or had a grudge because she hadn't come and protected him. It was clear instantly that he wouldn't be a useful contact or a supplier. She'd need new bonds. Mohdu suggested they use a window. Estelle hurried to the window and leaned out. They were high enough up and the entire building was surrounded with a flagstone path. It'd end with more than just broken bones. "We won't fall." Estelle said. She grabbed Mohdu without warning and dragged him out the window. His eyes were fixed wide open and he clung to her with fat hands, engulfing her slender shoulders. She jammed the trigger on her rapid climbing apparatus, sending a chain snaking through the air before sticking into the windowsill she had just leapt from. The sudden stop brought the pair swinging into the wall. Estelle caught it with her feet and unceremoniously dropped Mohdu the rest of the way. "Little darling, slide down the chain!" Estelle called up. She changed her stance and prepared to catch the petite woman. |
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| Lady Eko | Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:41 am Post #23 |
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Eko flinched as a huge spike embedded in the windowsill. She poked her head out to see what had happened, relieved to see that both Estelle and Mohdu were alright on the ground. The girl took a final look over her shoulder and saw several guards running straight for her. After emitting a scared noise, she climbed out of the window with haste and slid down the chain. Her gloves made hot friction against it, but she made it down quickly and dropped while her feet were still five feet off the ground. "Dislodge the chain!" Her knife flashed out again, nicking a Keloken thug in the neck. He bled profusely. Others in the courtyard converged on the trio. Someone blew into a loud horn. "Go go go!" In an attempt to sow enough chaos for their getaway, Eko pushed and pulled innocent bystanders, tipsy visitors to the estate, to help push themselves into a denser crowd. Most people were simply surprised by the sudden outburst of violence and couldn't catch many identifying details of the escapees. And, to their immense fortune, Lord Kelok himself was nowhere to be seen despite the time they had taken to run the operation. Eko wouldn't have been surprised if he was the type that forbade being interrupted from personal matters for any reason whatsoever. She made a mental note of his incompetence for the future. They surely would meet again. Eko pushed Estelle and Mohdu into an alleyway behind someone's garden. She was out of breath, but unharmed. Practically a miracle. In her peripherals, the girl saw the stocky man walk up to her and offer a hand. "I don't think we've ever met. Mohdu Narang, at your service. And you are?" She looked up at him, stressed out and high on adrenaline, which made her expression even more wild and intense than usual. It was probably a terrible first impression: a girl in an awkward dress, ripped and bloodstained, with a face like a kid who'd just done something very, very illegal. Any attempts to correct her overall countenance would have probably failed. Instead, she took his hand into a firm shake as a sort of nonverbal peace offering. "Eko," she said. "No last name." The girl looked over to Estelle. "We've won. And now I can ask you..." She lifted her bloody knife up, pointed it at the foreigner. "Estelle, do you truly think that this man's business deserves to be co-opted into a drug supply checkpoint? Really? Please answer carefully." |
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| Iris | Mon Jun 10, 2013 12:58 am Post #24 |
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Their escape was fast and vicious. Eko killed a few people, but Estelle simply rushed through. She didn't want to stop for anyone. She wove through the crowd as though her old muscle memory led her by the hand. They slowed as they took a quick stop in an alley. Eko looked like hell. Estelle was still only covered in a few sashes of cloth and it was quite chilly. Neither looked ready for a serious discussion. Estelle tried to scrub some blood off her wrist as Eko took a chance to chatter with Mohdu. Neither seemed particularly interested in Estelle's role. She knew what was coming next and didn't particularly want to go through the effort of killing Eko for someone who didn't particularly trust her or want to work with her. "I'd rather not have an employee who finds himself captured and away from his business so easily with my goods. You can have him, little darling." Estelle offered with a grin. She wrapped her arms around her bust and pulled her slim shoulders in closer. Being idle for only a few moments and she was already miserable. "Do you know a decent place to buy a long coat? I'd like one right about now." |
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| Lady Eko | Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:26 am Post #25 |
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Oddly enough, Mohdu wasn't angry at Estelle. He just laughed. It was unclear whether he was just nervous or really did think this was some big joke. Eko was freezing too, but stubbornly remained where she was, glaring at him. "Yeah, probably not the greatest time for you to return, Miss, er, Markoz, was it?" "Blaming him for something Lord Kelok did? Not every Balefiren can fight, you know. Much less fight a Lord." Eko started poking around the back roads for signs of a good route. They'd have to avoid main roads for a while. If Lord Kelok was really hellbent on getting Mohdu back, he'd send thugs out searching the whole Northern Quarter. On their way through narrow corridors, a thought came to Eko that really confused her. "Wait. Estelle. Why did you even agree to help me free him if you were going to fire him right away?" |
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| Iris | Mon Jun 10, 2013 1:52 am Post #26 |
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"We may as well head back to my main business here. You can all spend the night then I'll sneak you into your district on a supply wagon in a crate or something. It'll look legitimate." Estelle suggested. She smiled warmly as she lead the group through the crowds, following vague recollections as to the route. As they walked through the streets she gave a simple explanation. "I helped free him because I wasn't sure of his worth to me. I needed to confirm it, and now I've decided he isn't worth keeping. There's always more available for my trade." They piled through the streets until they reached the theater. Kelok's thugs were still tearing about, but Estelle never left the center of the crowd if there was one, and kept to the side streets whenever possible. They stepped in through the back door, into the plainly lit but quite warm back rooms. Margarette reappeared from a door, gliding by before pausing at the sudden appearance of her employer. "Allow the man a room, he'll have to pay for anything else. We'll smuggle him into Solokovsburg tomorrow, along with this scrawny thing." Estelle ordered. Margarette tore off with Mohdu in tow as Estelle lead Eko to her personal room. She left the girl in there for a moment and rushed down to the kitchen, where she quickly retrieved a cheesecake and then reappeared in her room. She plopped down the sumptuous treat and deactivated her enchanted sash. It compacted immediately as she pulled a heavy white bathrobe around her shoulders. "Eko dearest, how do you plan to win this city? With no resources, no backing, and only territory to hold you have much to lose and only gradual gains." Estelle said. She felt the bathrobe slip slightly off her shoulder as she daintily forked a piece of the cheesecake. |
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| Lady Eko | Sat Jun 15, 2013 1:23 pm Post #27 |
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Mohdu's eyebrows raised in good humor. "Harsh." "You shouldn't be so easygoing at a time like this." Eko looked at the emaciated innkeeper sidelong. "Kid, some people have to take on this city differently." He shrugged. "Even just to keep their sanity." Eko eyed the cheesecake intensely. The fact that Estelle could afford a decadent treat like that said a lot about her wealth. And priorities. She tried not to look hungry, instead tearing her eyes away from the plate to focus on Estelle's eyes. Eko folded her hands on the table in front of her. "I don't want to win the city. That's ridiculous. Nation or world domination is just unrealistic." Admittedly, she felt silly talking about this. It was the first time she had the chance to spell out her exact plans to anyone. Eko was suddenly very self-conscious: she was a teen-aged girl, human, poor. How was she going to survive in the cruel world of the Balefire adhocracy? Why did she even want to join that world? Somehow, this moment of self-doubt just strengthened her determination even more. Her hands clenched. "You're wrong. I have resources. I'm a constant presence in the Beehive and the Western Quarter. I have a lot of allies. I know exactly who to ask to get information I need. I've been stockpiling money for years, too." Eko totally forgot about the cheesecake even when the smell still assaulted her nose. "I don't need backing. I'm my own backer. I will be the one backing other people. As for territory... I'm going to talk to Mohdu. I think I can convince him to let me protect his business. Just getting that start, making that giant leap from having nothing to protecting something, is all I need. I will do this." It occurred to her that, in all her tense explaining, she had forgotten to mention why it was that she needed this so badly. Rather, why she went through all that effort to rescue Mohdu and try to push herself into this world she hadn't belonged to before. "I love Balefire. But this nation's citizens aren't in much control over their own lives. Lots of deserving people getting trampled and undeserving people rising up for stupid reasons. All I want is to give deserving people more choice about what they want to do in life. That's it." |
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