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On the Trail of Copper Bloodhounds… [16August06]
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<blockquote data-quote="Monty Tomasi" data-source="post: 2948206" data-attributes="member: 40137"><p>Part XII:</p><p></p><p></p><p>Ella hugged her arms to her chest for warmth and shivered each time a trailer of black energy ran down her spine towards her arms and legs. The frequency of the arcs of dark lightning was increasing and she clenched her teeth as she fought against each occurrence. One hand reached unconsciously for the pistol that she had tucked in to her belt, but when she felt the cool touch of the metal she jerked her hand back as if stung.</p><p></p><p>Eventually after waiting for what seemed like hours she heard footsteps coming from further in to the alleyway. Ella pressed herself deeper in to the alcove and waited for what ever was in the alleyway coming closer. Two red clothed figures emerged from the darkness and Ella breathed a sigh of relief.</p><p></p><p>“Where have you been? I’ve been waiting ages and this whistle doesn’t work anymore. I only used it twice and now it’s stopped working.” Ella jabbed her whistle accusingly and clutched her chest with her other arms as she felt another spasm of the black electricity rushing down her spine.</p><p></p><p>“I know about the whistle, it works twice for normal hearing and then for those with special hearing.” Sergeant Perrin beckoned Ella forward and he held up his lantern to have a closer look at her. “How long since it came back?”</p><p></p><p>“Half an hour perhaps,” Ella replied looking down at her feet. “It’s not as bad as it was previously.”</p><p></p><p>“Can you make it to the Foundry?”</p><p></p><p>“Sure,” Ella said and promptly collapsed in to Perrin’s arms. Her eyeballs rolled upwards so that only the white of her eyes was showing and her body began to tremble without pause.</p><p></p><p>“Here,” Perrin said as he gently and firmly passed her over to Oho. “You sort it out.”</p><p></p><p>Oho took Ella in to his arms and she visibly relaxed almost immediately. Her eyes returned to normal and she blinked rapidly as she tried to get her bearings.</p><p></p><p>“I’m fine Sarge,” she said. “It was only a brief spell, it’s passed already.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah,” Perrin replied. “Look I need to get to the Foundry to get Valori out in one piece. Can I trust you to get Fey back to the Barracks?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes sir,” Oho replied as he held Ella close. “But are you sure that you don’t need me to come with you?”</p><p></p><p>“We don’t have a choice, Fey needs your help.”</p><p></p><p>“Sarge,” Ella whispered as she clenched her jaw against the rising tide of pain and discharges. “Oho and I could…. You know… and then I’d be OK. It would only take… well as long as it takes.”</p><p></p><p>“Sorry, I don’t understand.” Perrin frowned, his eyes narrowed and he stared at the pair. Oho blushed furiously and despite the pain that Ella was in she still managed a lop-sided smile.</p><p></p><p>“I believe that she means… well you know Sarge… erm, some woo hoo,” Oho said looking out in to the street.</p><p></p><p>“Yes I know what she meant! I just don’t understand how you can be talking about it when Valori is in danger!” Perrin attached a leather strap to his man-catcher and slung it over his shoulder. He took several steps out of the alleyway before stopping and glancing back over his shoulder. “Just do what is right and stay away from Narcovi. We’re all going to be in a lot more trouble before this is over.”</p><p></p><p>Perrin strode away leaving Oho and Ella holding on to each other in the side-alley. The Sergeant crossed several main thoroughfares, passed through a market that was in between trading times with some shop-keepers closing up and other just beginning to put out their wares. Several of the merchants cast wary glances towards the Harmonium officer but he walked by without giving them a second look.</p><p></p><p>After having crossed half a ward Perrin reached several rows of streets where artisans plied their trade and he chose the middle street that ran directly all the way up to the Foundry’s rear gate. Along the road were a group of black Abishai loitered around a small fountain and they amused themselves by scrawling graffiti on the wings of angelic statues that stood silent vigil around the fountain. When they saw the Harmonium officer approaching they each stopped and formed a semi-circle facing towards him.</p><p></p><p>Perrin marched up the street with the measured tread of an officer of the law. Just as he was about to enter the semi-circle he veered to the left and broke out in to a sprint. The Abishai cursed and snarled as they turned to pursue him, several of them taking flight in a bid to overtake their quarry.</p><p></p><p>With the dark shapes hot on his heels and flying overhead Perrin pumped his elbows and knees with all his might as he raced for the rear gate of the Foundry. The guards spotted his approach and hefted their weapons, several of them taking aim with their crossbows.</p><p></p><p>When the Harmonium officer got within thirty yards the Godsmen guards let loose their first volley. Perrin dived down and narrowly avoided get struck by the hail of bolts. The cries of pain and outrage from behind him spurred the red-armoured man back on to his feet and running towards the gates in front of tall chimney stacks that belonged to the ward’s biggest metal-works.</p><p></p><p>The crossbowmen raised their weapons for another volley just as the approaching figure came skidding to a halt in front of the halberd-wielding guards. Perrin did not have to look behind him to see that the Abishai had broken off pursuit as several of the crossbow had lowered their weapons and one of the sighed with relief. The guards who had crossed their pole-arms to deny the Harmonium officer entry uncrossed their blades and one of them stepped forward.</p><p></p><p>“Having some problems are we officer?”</p><p></p><p>“As a matter of fact yes. Please open the gates and stand aside.”</p><p></p><p>“Now, now officer. Can’t have any random sod simply marching in just ‘cause they ask for entry. Got to have the right paper-work and get agreement ‘fore-hand…”</p><p></p><p>Before the guard could finish his sentence Perrin trust an official Harmonium stamped piece of parchment under his nose.</p><p></p><p>“Paper-work like this.” Perrin held the ends of the scroll so that the guards could read the text of the document clearly. The guard who had stepped forward read through it carefully, his lips silently mouthing the longer and more complicated words. At one point he creased his brow and looked over his shoulder at the other guards, but he then carried on reading until he got to the bottom of the document.</p><p></p><p>“It’s an arrest warrant,” the guard said.</p><p></p><p>“That is correct. I am in hot pursuit of two men and one woman wanted in connection of the abductions of members of the Believers of the Source.”</p><p></p><p>“Wanted? As in they had something to do with it?”</p><p></p><p>“No, as in they have information that we need to wrap this case up.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh,” the guard lent on the haft of his halberd and beckoned over one of the other guards. “Well it’s certainly true about hot pursuit.”</p><p></p><p>“Listen, are you going to let me in or not?”</p><p></p><p>“Well,” the other guard replied with a sly glance at his colleague. “Seeing as you’re in such a hurry and this is a heavy gate perhaps you could make it worth our while.”</p><p></p><p>Perrin scowled, picked several silver coins out of his purse and slapped them in to the outstretched hand of the second guard.</p><p></p><p>“That’s very generous, but considering we just saved you from being torn apart by those Baatezu perhaps we could be compensated with a bit of danger jinks.”</p><p></p><p>Perrin slowly unclenched his fist, reached in to his purse again and took out the remaining silver coins. Before placing them in the guard’s hand he looked them both steadily in the eye. “Now please open the gate,” he asked.</p><p></p><p>“Sure,” the second guard signalled the others gathered near the gate and the metal barrier slowly swung open. With bars each as thick as a man’s arm and spikes that could shear through a Vrock with ease, the entrance was both formidable and well guarded.</p><p></p><p>“Just one quick question,” the first guard asked. “What’s with the Baatezu chasing after you? I mean they’ve been hanging around there for well over a week now and you’re the first berk that they have taken such an interest in.”</p><p></p><p>“That is Harmonium business,” Perrin replied. He was about to step through the gate when the two Godsmen guards caught him up.</p><p></p><p>“Sorry to be rude,” said the first guard barring the way once again with his halberd. “But seeing as this is happening on our doorstep I’d really like to know.”</p><p></p><p>“Think of it as one of life’s little mysteries, a test if you will.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh a-hah hah, very jolly of you officer to say so. Now just sodding tell us what is going on.” The guards carrying the crossbows raised their weapons to aim at the Harmonium officer.</p><p></p><p>“Is that a threat?” Perrin asked placing his hand next to his empty scabbard.</p><p></p><p>“No, no of course not. Look we’re just nervous about everything that’s been going on around here.” The second guard hefted his money pouch and jingled it a little. “Listen we can make it worth your while and the Lady’s word we’ll not spill the chant to anyone. Just please tell us who has been nabbing our friends and stealing our past lives.”</p><p></p><p>The Harmonium officer stood very still, ignoring the crossbowmen and looking at each halberd-wielding guard in turn.</p><p></p><p>“Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law?”</p><p></p><p>“NO! Look…. Lady’s grace but you’re a hard one to deal with… all we want to know…”</p><p></p><p>Perrin grabbed the money purse and tucked it in to his belt.</p><p></p><p>“This is now officially evidence,” the Harmonium officer said much to the shocked and surprised of the guards. “I’ll overlook the attempt at bribery and since you are so desperate to know I’ll share this bit of information only. The Baatezu have set up base in the Foundry and have a machine that steals past lives. They intend to skip through the process of improving themselves in each incarnation and instead use your lives to boost their own.”</p><p></p><p>“That’s monstrous!” both guards exclaimed, forgetting about the money pouch momentarily. The other guards started murmuring and weapons were lowered as they got in to a huddle to discuss this bit of news. </p><p></p><p>“In the Foundry you say?” One of the guards asked. </p><p></p><p>“Right under our noses,” another commented. “We had a Barbazu walking around here plain as day not to long ago.”</p><p></p><p>“Listen officer you can go through,” the guards waved him through as they became absorbed in to their discussion.</p><p></p><p>The Harmonium officer did not budge instead he stroked the stubble on his chin and looked back down the street.</p><p></p><p>“I said that you can go inside,” one of the halberd-wielding guards repeated. “So are you going inside or not? We can’t keep the gate open all the hours of anti-peak.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m the first one they chased,” Perrin mused. “A mistake for them, a break for me.”</p><p></p><p>The Godsmen guards were surprised to find that the Harmonium officer turned to walk down the street away from the Foundry. However, none of them called after him as they turned back to their discussion that was getting more and more heated by the second. </p><p></p><p>Within five minutes of the Harmonium officer’s visit the guards had dispatched three of their number to spread the word of Baatezu using the Foundry as a base to kidnap the Godsmen. Within fifteen minutes the Foundry was swarming with guards, artisans, labourers and every available Godsmen looking for any sign of a Baatezu.</p><p></p><p>Part way through the search of the gatehouse one of the Godsmen guards grabbed the other by the shoulder as his eyes widened.</p><p></p><p>“He took my money pouch,” the guard exclaimed pointing down the empty street. The other guard laughed so hard that he dropped his halberd.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Monty Tomasi, post: 2948206, member: 40137"] Part XII: Ella hugged her arms to her chest for warmth and shivered each time a trailer of black energy ran down her spine towards her arms and legs. The frequency of the arcs of dark lightning was increasing and she clenched her teeth as she fought against each occurrence. One hand reached unconsciously for the pistol that she had tucked in to her belt, but when she felt the cool touch of the metal she jerked her hand back as if stung. Eventually after waiting for what seemed like hours she heard footsteps coming from further in to the alleyway. Ella pressed herself deeper in to the alcove and waited for what ever was in the alleyway coming closer. Two red clothed figures emerged from the darkness and Ella breathed a sigh of relief. “Where have you been? I’ve been waiting ages and this whistle doesn’t work anymore. I only used it twice and now it’s stopped working.” Ella jabbed her whistle accusingly and clutched her chest with her other arms as she felt another spasm of the black electricity rushing down her spine. “I know about the whistle, it works twice for normal hearing and then for those with special hearing.” Sergeant Perrin beckoned Ella forward and he held up his lantern to have a closer look at her. “How long since it came back?” “Half an hour perhaps,” Ella replied looking down at her feet. “It’s not as bad as it was previously.” “Can you make it to the Foundry?” “Sure,” Ella said and promptly collapsed in to Perrin’s arms. Her eyeballs rolled upwards so that only the white of her eyes was showing and her body began to tremble without pause. “Here,” Perrin said as he gently and firmly passed her over to Oho. “You sort it out.” Oho took Ella in to his arms and she visibly relaxed almost immediately. Her eyes returned to normal and she blinked rapidly as she tried to get her bearings. “I’m fine Sarge,” she said. “It was only a brief spell, it’s passed already.” “Yeah,” Perrin replied. “Look I need to get to the Foundry to get Valori out in one piece. Can I trust you to get Fey back to the Barracks?” “Yes sir,” Oho replied as he held Ella close. “But are you sure that you don’t need me to come with you?” “We don’t have a choice, Fey needs your help.” “Sarge,” Ella whispered as she clenched her jaw against the rising tide of pain and discharges. “Oho and I could…. You know… and then I’d be OK. It would only take… well as long as it takes.” “Sorry, I don’t understand.” Perrin frowned, his eyes narrowed and he stared at the pair. Oho blushed furiously and despite the pain that Ella was in she still managed a lop-sided smile. “I believe that she means… well you know Sarge… erm, some woo hoo,” Oho said looking out in to the street. “Yes I know what she meant! I just don’t understand how you can be talking about it when Valori is in danger!” Perrin attached a leather strap to his man-catcher and slung it over his shoulder. He took several steps out of the alleyway before stopping and glancing back over his shoulder. “Just do what is right and stay away from Narcovi. We’re all going to be in a lot more trouble before this is over.” Perrin strode away leaving Oho and Ella holding on to each other in the side-alley. The Sergeant crossed several main thoroughfares, passed through a market that was in between trading times with some shop-keepers closing up and other just beginning to put out their wares. Several of the merchants cast wary glances towards the Harmonium officer but he walked by without giving them a second look. After having crossed half a ward Perrin reached several rows of streets where artisans plied their trade and he chose the middle street that ran directly all the way up to the Foundry’s rear gate. Along the road were a group of black Abishai loitered around a small fountain and they amused themselves by scrawling graffiti on the wings of angelic statues that stood silent vigil around the fountain. When they saw the Harmonium officer approaching they each stopped and formed a semi-circle facing towards him. Perrin marched up the street with the measured tread of an officer of the law. Just as he was about to enter the semi-circle he veered to the left and broke out in to a sprint. The Abishai cursed and snarled as they turned to pursue him, several of them taking flight in a bid to overtake their quarry. With the dark shapes hot on his heels and flying overhead Perrin pumped his elbows and knees with all his might as he raced for the rear gate of the Foundry. The guards spotted his approach and hefted their weapons, several of them taking aim with their crossbows. When the Harmonium officer got within thirty yards the Godsmen guards let loose their first volley. Perrin dived down and narrowly avoided get struck by the hail of bolts. The cries of pain and outrage from behind him spurred the red-armoured man back on to his feet and running towards the gates in front of tall chimney stacks that belonged to the ward’s biggest metal-works. The crossbowmen raised their weapons for another volley just as the approaching figure came skidding to a halt in front of the halberd-wielding guards. Perrin did not have to look behind him to see that the Abishai had broken off pursuit as several of the crossbow had lowered their weapons and one of the sighed with relief. The guards who had crossed their pole-arms to deny the Harmonium officer entry uncrossed their blades and one of them stepped forward. “Having some problems are we officer?” “As a matter of fact yes. Please open the gates and stand aside.” “Now, now officer. Can’t have any random sod simply marching in just ‘cause they ask for entry. Got to have the right paper-work and get agreement ‘fore-hand…” Before the guard could finish his sentence Perrin trust an official Harmonium stamped piece of parchment under his nose. “Paper-work like this.” Perrin held the ends of the scroll so that the guards could read the text of the document clearly. The guard who had stepped forward read through it carefully, his lips silently mouthing the longer and more complicated words. At one point he creased his brow and looked over his shoulder at the other guards, but he then carried on reading until he got to the bottom of the document. “It’s an arrest warrant,” the guard said. “That is correct. I am in hot pursuit of two men and one woman wanted in connection of the abductions of members of the Believers of the Source.” “Wanted? As in they had something to do with it?” “No, as in they have information that we need to wrap this case up.” “Oh,” the guard lent on the haft of his halberd and beckoned over one of the other guards. “Well it’s certainly true about hot pursuit.” “Listen, are you going to let me in or not?” “Well,” the other guard replied with a sly glance at his colleague. “Seeing as you’re in such a hurry and this is a heavy gate perhaps you could make it worth our while.” Perrin scowled, picked several silver coins out of his purse and slapped them in to the outstretched hand of the second guard. “That’s very generous, but considering we just saved you from being torn apart by those Baatezu perhaps we could be compensated with a bit of danger jinks.” Perrin slowly unclenched his fist, reached in to his purse again and took out the remaining silver coins. Before placing them in the guard’s hand he looked them both steadily in the eye. “Now please open the gate,” he asked. “Sure,” the second guard signalled the others gathered near the gate and the metal barrier slowly swung open. With bars each as thick as a man’s arm and spikes that could shear through a Vrock with ease, the entrance was both formidable and well guarded. “Just one quick question,” the first guard asked. “What’s with the Baatezu chasing after you? I mean they’ve been hanging around there for well over a week now and you’re the first berk that they have taken such an interest in.” “That is Harmonium business,” Perrin replied. He was about to step through the gate when the two Godsmen guards caught him up. “Sorry to be rude,” said the first guard barring the way once again with his halberd. “But seeing as this is happening on our doorstep I’d really like to know.” “Think of it as one of life’s little mysteries, a test if you will.” “Oh a-hah hah, very jolly of you officer to say so. Now just sodding tell us what is going on.” The guards carrying the crossbows raised their weapons to aim at the Harmonium officer. “Is that a threat?” Perrin asked placing his hand next to his empty scabbard. “No, no of course not. Look we’re just nervous about everything that’s been going on around here.” The second guard hefted his money pouch and jingled it a little. “Listen we can make it worth your while and the Lady’s word we’ll not spill the chant to anyone. Just please tell us who has been nabbing our friends and stealing our past lives.” The Harmonium officer stood very still, ignoring the crossbowmen and looking at each halberd-wielding guard in turn. “Are you trying to bribe an officer of the law?” “NO! Look…. Lady’s grace but you’re a hard one to deal with… all we want to know…” Perrin grabbed the money purse and tucked it in to his belt. “This is now officially evidence,” the Harmonium officer said much to the shocked and surprised of the guards. “I’ll overlook the attempt at bribery and since you are so desperate to know I’ll share this bit of information only. The Baatezu have set up base in the Foundry and have a machine that steals past lives. They intend to skip through the process of improving themselves in each incarnation and instead use your lives to boost their own.” “That’s monstrous!” both guards exclaimed, forgetting about the money pouch momentarily. The other guards started murmuring and weapons were lowered as they got in to a huddle to discuss this bit of news. “In the Foundry you say?” One of the guards asked. “Right under our noses,” another commented. “We had a Barbazu walking around here plain as day not to long ago.” “Listen officer you can go through,” the guards waved him through as they became absorbed in to their discussion. The Harmonium officer did not budge instead he stroked the stubble on his chin and looked back down the street. “I said that you can go inside,” one of the halberd-wielding guards repeated. “So are you going inside or not? We can’t keep the gate open all the hours of anti-peak.” “I’m the first one they chased,” Perrin mused. “A mistake for them, a break for me.” The Godsmen guards were surprised to find that the Harmonium officer turned to walk down the street away from the Foundry. However, none of them called after him as they turned back to their discussion that was getting more and more heated by the second. Within five minutes of the Harmonium officer’s visit the guards had dispatched three of their number to spread the word of Baatezu using the Foundry as a base to kidnap the Godsmen. Within fifteen minutes the Foundry was swarming with guards, artisans, labourers and every available Godsmen looking for any sign of a Baatezu. Part way through the search of the gatehouse one of the Godsmen guards grabbed the other by the shoulder as his eyes widened. “He took my money pouch,” the guard exclaimed pointing down the empty street. The other guard laughed so hard that he dropped his halberd. [/QUOTE]
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