Thom - Nostvalian raid 2

[17:15:18] This style of contract was to his liking, he had to say. It wasn't in Marcel's blood to march to the tune of an army he wasn't running himself. This way, he could fight this war on his own terms, under his own power, and without anything other than basic instructions from up above.

After all - the specifics didn't really concern him, one way or another. Azraelites were only mildly more civilized than the murderous hordes from Loranthis, and on average there was just as much depravity to go around. Their coin was as good as anyone's, though.

Today, though, he found himself alongside the Skald Bragi Hirano, one of his main sponsers within Nostvale, for their patrol for northern forces...And they were found, to be sure. Dashing forward, Marcel came to a halt across from a familiar figure. His eyes briefly drifted toward Maxwell, but there was little doubt the orange haired man had most of his attention.

Ironically, Marcel recalled once being directed to this very man for combat training. Now he stood across from him as an enemy. His hand drifted to the hilt of Sanguine, slowly drawing the black blade out from its sheathe at his belt, stepping forward.

"Thom M. Takashi, right?" His voice sounded across the gap between the combatants, calm and direct. "You're pretty well known by now, aren't you? Meaning if I take you down, I'll get some real recognition. Nothing personal."
(Marcel)
[17:22:59] Bragi was along with Marcel for a patrol. Word reached them about figures about the outskirts of some backwater village in the Nostvale area. Mages from Loranthis or so. Bragi wasn't too sure but he wasn't too keen on dismissing the rumors. Sure, it may have just been the wild imaginations of peasants that didn't know shit from dirt, but in case they were right?

Marcel was tagging along with him. While Marcel wasn't what you would call the most loyal person, as he was a money-grubbing merc... The man was true enough to his word. After all, he had never flipped sides amid a contract nor did he ever sell out Bragi or Aamon's activities. As far as Bragi was concerned, it was better than what most of Valmasia had.

Such as Thom Takashi. The figure that seemed to loom before them. A snort escaped the nostrils of Bragi as he drew his blade, his body starting to thrum with power as he approached.

"Vell, Thom. Interesting to see du on the side of Loranthis. Aamon vill not be happy nor merciful. To side vit the vampire so readily? Tsk. Aamon vas un fool to let du leave his throne room alive, it seems."

Wind and fire picked up around him as he brandished the sentient greatsword, its eye wide, and staring down the likes of Thom and his compatriot.
(Bragi Hirano)
[17:28:06] The red haired man walked down the trail, followed by Maxwell and the lightning elemental Indra. Closer to Nostvale, closer to where they were supposed to be gathering information from. Well.. This whole thing wasn't exactly his stitch, but it was an order and the red haired man was following it, if only for now.

What he didn't expect was to see a face he knew. At the appearance of Bragi, Thom would raise a hand, offering a grin up until he heard the man's words. Right, they weren't here for a friendly chat. That sort of sucked. A sigh as the hellstorm around him cackled.

"Hey Bragi. Sorry to come across you like this." The red haired man admitted, his right hand, the only hand he had now that his left arm was but a stump, going to his head and scratching the red hairs. "Willing to stick around after this battle thing is over so we can chat a bit? I do have some questions I'd like to ask you personally. Sorry bout this.."

The glaive was lifted off his back, pointed to both of those in fornt of him. "And yeah, I'm Thom M. Takashi. I'd wave but.." A movement of the stump as lighting cackled around him and above. "I'm.. A little short handed at the moment. May I ask your name as well? And course! Nothing personal."

A glance was made towards Maxwell as Thom prepared himself. "Ready for a fight? Follow me."
(Thom M. Takashi)
[17:34:04] It was an awe-inspiring experience to say the least, being marched alongside the army of soldiers the Red Queen had provided the raiding party; an experience that a young boy with a wooden crutch tucked under his arm, would soon find himself enjoying in all its splendor. Thoughts of anxiety and depression lay quelled within the boy's mind as he followed behind the Crimson-haired mage, the young lad had been assigned as Thom's assistant for the venture, giving him the first-hand experience he had actively sought amidst the potential outbreak of war. Reports had come in, their raid had been detected and the forces of Nostvale had begun gathering their own response to take out their gathered venture.

Hobbling along the trail, Maxwell halted abruptly as Thom waved for the forces to halt. A similarly paired duo stood at the forefront of the Nostvalian forces, one being an unfamiliar man with a head of golden hair, a shield in hand, and a massive blade strapped across his back. The other happened to similarly be a stranger to the boy, although his short black hair and the slender ebony blade he wielded stood in stark contrast to his compatriot.

"Bragi..." the boy parroted Thom, the mention of the blonde-haired man's name etched itself in the impressionable teen's mental notebook as he slowly nodded at his partner's beckon. "I'm ready, Thom. I'll try not ta' get in your way." A small slender dagger was drawn out from beneath the boy's cloak, its serrated edge gleaming in the afternoon sun. A crutch in one hand, and a blade in the other, it was a sorry sight to see...a momentary cripple amidst warfare.
(Maxwell Chengri)
[17:39:12] {combat} Bragi Hirano has been defeated by Maxwell Chengri! They're unable to continue fighting.
[17:39:12] {combat} Marcel has been defeated by Thom M. Takashi! They're unable to continue fighting.
[17:39:12] {combat} Thom M. Takashi has been defeated by Marcel! They're unable to continue fighting.
[17:44:19] "This is going to be scary."

The red haired man dashed forwards, staring towards Bragi and towards Marcel as he attacked. Fire moved across the ground as Thom engaged, followed by Maxwell. The red haired man focused on creating openings for which the teenager would be able to attack, knowing that as the bigger target he was likely to be attacked first.

"Really sorry about this."

Thom called out as the flame moved towars Bragi, weakening him.. And then the red haired man blinked as the teenager would take down the Hirano. A thumbs up would have been given if not for the still remaining tricky foe that was Marcel. Twirling his glaive, Thom once again refocused, and it appeared to be for good reason.

The second magi would be knocked down, this time by Thom himself as the red haired man took several steps back to catch his breath. Although this first round was over.. He was exhausted and already covered in cuts.

"Wish I had my other arm a lot more now.. These are going to be close..
(Thom M. Takashi)
[17:52:00] Blood, the sanguine liquid stained the battlefield as the boy shot forward, his once clean bandages were now stained a dark crimson. As expected, the teenager was left unopposed, with both Bragi and Marcel keeping their eyes upon the true threat of the encounter, the dangerous lighting mage, Thom. Sparks of red lightning showered the battlefield amidst clashing swords and gouts of blackened flame; it was a scenery of savagery and the arcane, one which Maxwell now found himself lodged within.

Blade in hand, the boy smoothly moved behind the blonde-haired Skald, dropping the weakened man with a well-placed cut to the powerful warrior's backside. "T-...This is..." the boy broke off, his broken speech interrupted as he approached Marcel amidst his conflict with Thom himself.

It was only inevitable that the magi with his ebony blade would eventually succumb to a two-pronged attack, their combined might had been just enough to down the man, with barely enough room for the teenager to breathe. "...This...This is bloody, Thom. I....is it always like this?" the boy inquired from between ragged breaths. He turned to face Thom, his dagger still tightly held within his grasp.

They were victorious in the first clash by a hairsbreadth, it was too soon for them to rest easy it would seem.
(Maxwell Chengri)
[17:57:58] Bragi and Marcel took the absolute worst of it.

Of course, Bragi was the first to go down. The combined efforts of Thom and Maxwell threw him off balance as the blade of the younger boy caught Bragi. Stumbling, the nordic veteran gasped as stepped away, moving to recatch his breath as he kept the large sword upwards.

A moment to breathe. A moment to focus.

All that he needed while they focused upon Marcel. That moment to rethink as he stood back up. The powers of Ifrit swirled around him. His left arm was surrounded by winds alight with fiendish fire as the air around him reverberated with sonic power.

A heavy grunt as the Skald charged back into the fray, swinging the devilish sword wildly as he howled.

"Then give in! Toss du blade aside und let us talk vit Aamon, Thom!"

The first clash was in the favor of the two from Loranthis, but Bragi wasn't about to go down without giving it his all.
(Bragi Hirano)
[17:57:58] Skidding to a halt in the dirt, Marcel coughed heavily, feeling the searing pain of lightning and fire scorch him down to the bone. Occultism had that nasty habit of targeting every pain center it could find, and he could feel it eating him from the inside out. Stifling a pained grimace, he hauled himself back up to his feet, hunched over, glaring at Thom with a complete lack of his professional distance.

Marcel's expression had turned sharp and venemous, boiling with anger, his teeth clenched. "So this is fun for you, huh? This is...a game, huh? Just a casual thing to get done with?"

Gripping the hilt of his sword, a sudden stream of frost expelled outward from around him, freezing the very ground upon where he stood, voice low and furious. "Don't look down on me."

Breathe. Stay calm and focus. Leveling his sword toward the two of them, Marcel gathered together all the power he contained within his vessel. He was going to need to fight tooth and nail to stay on top.
(Marcel)
[17:59:40] {combat} Bragi Hirano has been defeated by Thom M. Takashi! They're unable to continue fighting.
[17:59:40] {combat} Maxwell Chengri has been defeated by Marcel! They're unable to continue fighting.
[17:59:40] {combat} Marcel has been defeated by Thom M. Takashi! They're unable to continue fighting.
[18:06:30] A second is taken to process the field around him.

The red haired man glances around, looking towards the downed forwards of Marcel, Bragi, and Maxwell. Hellstorm cackles around him as the man remains mostly silently, the battle having gone rather unexpectedly. He and Maxwell had suceeded, and in a rather large way.

The red haried man would first approach their ally, grabbing him and lifting him to his feet. Following this the red haired man walks towards Bragi as well as Marcel. The form of Indra would grip them, not too tightly, but more so setting them upon their feet. With that said and done.. The man takes his glaive..

And allows it to fall to the ground.

"This is no game. This is war. I know that. But just because its war doesn't mean I can't be sorry. I don't.. " A sigh from Thom as he looked towards the Skald. "Are you willing to talk a bit? I have some things I want to ask you."

Then towards Marcel as well.

"Can the hostilites just be.. Done with for now? I think we all need a breather."
(Thom M. Takashi)
[18:16:44] Ragged gasps escaped the young boy's throat as he heaved on the ground, one hand sustained his form in what appeared to be the weakened teenager's means of holding his body upright, despite the slick crimson liquid that lay puddled beneat him.

"I...I...You make the choice, Thom. I'm here, because I was told to, you're the veteran, and I'm the one learning. I...I don't think I can kill them...not now. Not after I've seen their faces." he gasped out, shuddering visibly as he slowly rose to his feet. Spikes of pain shot up his left leg, his crutch had been abandoned early on amidst the conflict, and its absence had left an immediate impact on the boy and his broken leg.

With deliberately slow motions, the boy reached into his rucksack to retrieve a small white cloth, and with it...he slowly began cleaning his blade, wiping it of the blood that stained its once glimmering edge. Thom would make the choice in the matter, not the boy, he was there to gain the experience he required to benefit his future endeavors, and looking at Bragi and Marcel?

He was incapable of doing it, he couldn't kill them...they were people whom he had fought with, even if they had held lethal intent in his direction, it was too much for him to simply draw his blade and end them. The mere thought made his stomach lurch, for after all his 'tough talk' and his apathy while amidst the depraved of Loranthil, he was still just a growing boy without a single Casaulty to his name.
(Maxwell Chengri)
[18:21:00] Bragi felt the cool grass beneath him. The soft thud and the loud clank of armored plates resounded from his body as the cacophany of magic that surrounded him dissipated. He was bloodied and bruised, beaten from the savage blows of Maxwell and Thom's combined might and magic. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.

Not physically nor in a sense of pride.

Using his sword, the man pushed himself up, coughing a bit as he stared down over at Thom. It seems the occultist had them both dead to rights. There was a osft flare from his white orb of a left eye as he stared them down, but nothing else from him. The soft glow of blue, arcane energy as he observed them, listening to Thom.

"Vell. I suppose du have that much. Du vant to talk, then do so. I am sure du compatriots vill be all over here soon unless du vere some kind of vanguard."
(Bragi Hirano)
[18:21:00] Charging forward blindly, it was little doubt that his rage had taken control of much of his actions. The implication that he was being defeated, and casually at that, was far more than the young mercenary's pride was able to handle. Yet in the end, the power of Thom was undeniable. Shaking aside his ignited jacket, feeling the cracks in his armor widen more and more every moment, Marcel stumbled forward, face a mask of rage-

Collapsing into the dirt, hacking and coughing up blood. The words of the men who had bested him washed over him, and he gripped at the ground, hauling his head upward to stare at them both, face bloody and stained with dirt and sweat.

Marcel's eyes were wide, his expression unafraid and downright livid. "Sh-...shut UP! Don't you dare mock m-me...I don't need your breaks, or your mercy! I'll KILL you, you bastard!" With his broken body, however, all the young mercenary could do was thrash impotently, venting his frustration and rage in the background whilst they discussed terms.
(Marcel)
[18:27:50] "You are right.."

A frown crossed Thom's face as he thought. Sure he could have secured both Bragi and Marcel, yet at the same time.. did he desire to? Thom knew what fates awaited those ussually arrived at Loranthis. With this in mind he glanced towards Maxwell.

"Yeah.. My choice hm.." Silence for a few seconds, glancing over each who was present. "We're not killing them. Thats the easy part. My war is not with Nostvale. It is with Cinderfall. And I don't care to end anyone against my foe." Thom stated simply as he cupped his chin with his singular arm.

"Bragi, I must say that I am glad you are calm and reasonable. My questions are mostly about Helhiem. About the realm and all within. As such.. I would prefer that you came with me, if you would not mind. There is.. A lot I wish to know."

A glance towards Marcel then. "As for him.. He seems quite angry. I don't think.. He doesn't know I'm not mocking him. I just.. This really isn't my sort of war you know?" A shrug as he sighed, thinking. "Please just.. Take a second and calm yourself."

The elemental would lift up both the men and look them over, the popping and cackling sounds of lighting in the air.
(Thom M. Takashi)
[18:35:31] He remained shaken, his nerves had hit their peak, and the adrenaline flowing through his body had kept the boy's wits and reflexes as sharp as they had ever been. It had come as a surprise when Thom had mentioned that neither of their foes would be slain, a decision the boy believed the Red Queen would have disagreed with vehemently.

"Should I shut up the angry one, though?" the boy inquired calmly, his eyes turned towards the frothing figure of Marcel, the mercenary lay pretty much immobile despite all the vim and spirit he spat out. Even with Thom's lightning elemental taking ahold of the duo, restraining them with its actions, he could not picture the man with his obsidian blade finding any means to calm down.

The boy simply followed Thom, his thumb and forefinger pinched the white cloth tightly around the surface of his blade. He remained nervous, that had never changed, but with the recent battle, it would've been unwise to say he wasn't preparing himself, should the two captives suddenly decide to draw their blades once more, even in their weakened state.

"The name is Maxwell, by the way. Thom is the one makin' the decisions, but I am still here." he stated aloud, his words clearly directed towards the defeated duo. At the very least, he intended to be known as something more than just 'That boy who helped Thom in that one fight'.
(Maxwell Chengri)
[18:38:56] There was a bit of a glare at Thom. Not out of malice or spite for the lost fight, even though he was bleeding quite a bit from it still. No, it was from the comment of Thom. He did basically have the two beaten warriors at his disposal. No point in asking for them to come along when he could just drag them along.

Still, Thom's view on it all was strange to say the least. Bragi had his own questions but that could be saved for later. At least, after he talked with Thom about Helheim. A soft grunt was issued.

"Vell, then take us to the old Golden Voluminous place. Largely deserted und ve can talk in peace, so to speak. Leave us there to tend our vounds as vell. Du vant to know about Helheim, und I've un couple of my own questions.

But... that'll be later. Vunce inside und avay from prying eyes."
(Bragi Hirano)
[18:42:20] Marcel did not calm himself whilst in the grasp of the elemental, to say the least. Snarling like a dog, he kicked and punched weakly at the air around him, a wounded and injured man whose pride bore far more heinous scars than anything inflicted upon him physically. Still, for a few moments at the very least, he shot a look at Thom with something that wasn't simply blind anger.

"If...ghh." he spat out. "If your only enemy is Cinderfall, you're...standing on the wrong- side of the Black Gate."

The young man twisted his head to stare at Maxwell, looking him right in the eyes, as if he were not totally helpless. "Try it." he hissed.
(Marcel)
[18:44:03] Maxwell Chengri: <*Slowly removed the cloth covering his dagger, the clean burnished steel gleamed within the sunlight.*> I might.
[18:47:28] The Golden Voluminious place.. That was a good idea. Nice, secluded, unlikely to be interupted.. But at the same time a frown began to wear on Thom's face. "That sounds like a good idea, but that is Nostvalian territory. I'm sure that a lot of questions would be asked if I took you there, questions that I would rather not anwser while holding you two.."

"Hm..." The red haired man would produce a coin from his pocket and flip it into the air. The coin would land on its tails side and Thom would give a nod. "Alright. We aren't going to the Golden Voluminious place but we will talk in a cave in the Sarab. Not Nostvalian territory, not Loranthis territory." A movement was made, taking his glaive and putting it onto his back.

"Afterwords you'll be able to rather quickly tend to wounds and head back to Nostvale. Like I said, I personally don't care what you two do after, and you are much.. more reasonable then any other Hirano I've encountered." A nod as Thom began to walk north, stopping a little bit.

"Oh, but I will be taking weapons and things. Probally just till after our talk is done."
(Thom M. Takashi)
Note: White text ooc goes here which can be summed up with

[18:50:52] Thom M. Takashi: ((retcon it to: taking to loranthis cells to speak, and will talk with conquest about this soon
[18:52:35] The boy silently took after Thom as he tucked away the serrated dagger underneath his jacket, within its small leather sheath. His first battle ended up with his foes at his mercy, followed by the man whom had lead their brigade, choosing to potentially free them, depending on how the situation unfolded.

"I want a prize. I feel like I deserve one." he spoke aloud as he followed the crimson-haired mage with a hobbled step. He'd have to fashion a new crutch now, once they entered Loranthis. He was in no position to be walking about willy-nilly without one, afterall.
(Maxwell Chengri)
[18:57:42] Bragi simply narrowed his eyes at Thom as the sword was taken. Marcel and he were ultimatley at the mercy of Thom. Anything else that would follow was pointless. If he was going to take them to Loranthis, then the normally talkative skald would grow unsettingly silent.

No words were said after. No protest. No threats. Nothing. It was clear that Bragi would not speak a word. All Thom would get is pure silence from the fair-haired veteran.
(Bragi Hirano)
[18:59:24] Marcel was not a pleasant prisoner. All the way north to Loranthis, he continued to struggle and thrash and rage, likely injuring himself even further - only stopping when his captors either knocked him unconscious or he finally exherted all of his energy and passed clean out. Either way, he was about as defiant as defiant gets.
(Marcel)
[19:03:40] To Loranthis.

The red haired man would lead the two from Nostvale to the dungeons. It was not.. Exactly his first choice of where to go but this is where Thom would have them held for now. Yet at the same time.. The red haired man would be quick to order that hte guards not torture and the like to the captives.

Conquest likely had plans for these two. And Thom would speak to the vampire soon on his own about the captures.
(Thom M. Takashi)
[19:07:56] The boy follows suit, fashioning a walking stick out of a tree branch he had procured amidst the journey, there were no more words from the young lad as he made his way across the Sarabian Desert, through the forested Wychwood, and into the ruined city of Loranthis itself.

It was only within the confines of the White Tower's dungeon, a decrepit location with dimly lit wall sconces, and the faint smell of copper and rot in the air, did the boy finally start talking once more. "Thom, do you think the Queen will be impressed with me? I mean, I did help-...sorta'. Perhaps. It's hard to tell how these things work."

Afterwards, the child made his way towards the dungeon entrance, only stopping momentarily to listen in to any final conversation Thom may end up having with the prisoners.
(Maxwell Chengri)
[19:13:04] Bragi and Marcel were brought to the cells of Loranthis.

What a familiar place for Bragi.

The seven foot tall man simply looked about his new lodgings and shook his head. There was nothing else to say as Thom and Maxwell talked. What else could be said? Once more, the skald found himself a prisoner of war. A man beholden to the whims of a vampire again. Except this time, the vampire was in charge and seemingly a worshipper of the dead imperfect Dumuzid.

A soft exhale followed as Bragi quietly sat at the back of the cell, staring out at the people before him. As before, he was dead silent. It wasn't something magical in nature however. The anti-magical nature of the cells would have prevented that. No, Bragi was just remaining silent as he awaited his fate once more.
(Bragi Hirano)
[19:13:55] The floor was cold and familiar. These stones...he'd been tossed down upon them once before. Marcel exhaled quietly into the air, feeling a shaky hand pass over his features as he swallowed down the pure frustration and rage that was billowing up inside of him.

At this point, he didn't even have magic. He knew when it was a hopeless prospect to lash out. Hurting himself wasn't going to get him anywhere. But like hell was he going to show anything close to submission to them. As he hauled his injured frame up against the back wall, he just gave his captors a stony, hostile look.

Marcel refused to show fear. He would charge forward toward his fate no matter what it was.
(Marcel)
[19:15:37] Thom M. Takashi: .. -locks door and goes upstairs- Come on Maxwell.
[19:16:28] Maxwell Chengri: Mhmm...
[19:16:28] Thom M. Takashi: We have reports to write.
[19:16:28] Maxwell Chengri: <*Follows quietly afterwards*> I bet they won't even remember my name.