Innana/Harken - Hunt

[03:04] <Dust> ==START!==
[03:05] <Harken> Harken Sirius aimlessly drifts through the woods in a foul temperament. A... disagreement at the general store in the previous town culminated in six gunshots, five of them from his gun, and one of them had torn a hole in his duster, right next to his knee.
[03:06] <Harken> "Lousy punks." He mutters, fumbling about in his pocket for a map.
[03:07] <Innana> The forest is not just a forest. It is The Forest, a straight-up Ur example. This is the kind of forest that reminds all evolved beings of their roots in the primordial slurry of yestereon.
[03:08] <Harken> The Apotheosis of All Forests?
[03:09] <Innana> Yep. This is the kind of forest which, once the light of the moons has stopped filtering through thick foliage and you take your first steps in full shadow, should send the hairs on thback of your nck pricking.
[03:09] <Innana> This is the kind of forest that makes you feel like you have made a wrong turn somewhere, my guy.
[03:10] <Harken> Ah. The kind filled with fauna, replete with a regrettable REALNESS attribute.
[03:12] <Harken> Well, a map does him no good if he can't read it, and so he soldiers on, sticking the folded map back in his pocket and feeling around on all the trees.
[03:12] <Innana> Indeed. In fact, I believe I hear one of those fauna right now!
[03:13] <Harken> Harken whirls about, gun drawn and at the hip.
[03:14] <Innana> Oh, what a relief! It's just an antlerbeast. A peaceful, gentle, plant-life eatin-- oh god its head just opened sideways and that is too many sharp teeth for a fucking deer.
[03:14] <Innana> It lunges at you.
[03:14] <Harken> Fanning the hammer, I put six shots in its chest, neck, and head.
[03:16] <Innana> It fumbles, weird vertical mouth wobbling with a bloodcurdling screech--- before a final arrow lodges in one of its eye sockets from the side. With seven good shots, it finally drops to its forelegs, and then keels sideways into the dirt.
[03:16] <Innana> It proceeds to bleed on everything, like an inconsiderate dick.
[03:17] <Harken> The number of times I've bled on everything like an inconsiderate dick gives me cause to forgive it. I'm more curious about the ~turkey hole~ arrow right now. I turn to face where it came from.
[03:19] <Innana> A young and somewhat serious-looking female troll comes out of the foliage to retrieve her arrow from the eyesocket. It makes a lovely splurch-gurgle sound.
[03:19] <Innana> "You're lost---❥"
[03:20] <Harken> "How did you know?"
[03:20] <Innana> "No one passes through these wilds voluntarily---❥"
[03:21] <Harken> "Well, I suppose I am indeed not passing through them voluntarily. I'm not interested in trouble; I just got out of trouble."
[03:22] <Innana> She wipes the arrow on her long skirt (it's not the only colored blood there) and seems to size you up before tucking it back in her quiver. Something she sees clearly amuses her.
[03:23] <Innana> "Trouble doesn't normally care if you're looking or not---❥"
[03:23] <Harken> I reach into my duster and procure... a toothpick, which I then perch between my teeth. "Ohhhh, don't I know it." I sigh.
[03:24] <Harken> I stick the gun back in its belt, still empty. I'll reload it later.
[03:25] <Innana> She looks to your gun, then to the not-deer on the ground, and slings her bow over her shoulder.
[03:26] <Innana> "The path is back that way---❥"
[03:26] <Harken> "Something wrong?"
[03:27] <Innana> "No---❥ Is there a reason you ask---❥"
[03:27] <Harken> "You just had this look on your face a moment ago. Like you were trying to suppress a chuckle."
[03:32] <Innana> "Ah---❥" She considers this for a second before answering. "You say you aren't looking for trouble---❥ Yet you seem to invite it---❥"
[03:34] <Innana> "I wonder, are you a liar... or just suicidally un-self-aware---❥"
[03:36] <Harken> "Well... I'm not really... I was just trying to get out of town. That's all."
[03:40] <Innana> She gives you another amused, enigmatic smile. "Of course---❥ Everyone knows the wilds are ideal for those seeking to avoid trouble---❥ Especially when compared to civilization---❥"
[03:40] <Innana> She quirks her head back the way you came. "The path is that way-----❥ If that's what you want---❥"
[03:40] <Innana> And she turns to leave, making her way through the underbrush.
[03:41] <Harken> "People can be as mean or meaner than beasts. I've learned that all too well." Harken can't help but interrupt.
[03:42] <Innana> "That assumes there's a difference between them---❥" She keeps walking.... she's not going very fast. She actually seems to be taking her time.
[03:43] <Innana> Actually, if you look closer... she seems to be following a small path. Maybe a deer trail?
[03:43] <Innana> Hopefully not one of those weird hell-deer.
[03:43] <Harken> "Hey! Wait up!" Harken says, running after her, not knowing why.
[03:46] <Innana> She doesn't stop, but she doesn't speed up, either. She just keeps walking calmly, occasionally turning as if responding to some roadsign only she can see. Eventually you come to a jagged jut of rock which seems to have a hive on top. ... if one can call it a hive. It looks less built and more built into the forest around it. There isn't even a cle
[03:46] <Innana> ar door.
[03:47] <Innana> She shifts her bow & quiver and starts climbing up the rock face.
[03:50] <Harken> "Uh... Okay?" Harken decides it's best to turn around; following her was probably a bad idea.
[03:50] <Harken> He loads his gun as he rounds the bend in the trail.
[03:50] <Innana> Sounds like a fun plan! You can find your way back, right? ... right?
[03:51] <Harken> i feel my terrible sins crawling on my back.
[03:51] <Harken> Well, gun loaded, I put it back in the belt and return, shouting, "HEY! CAN I COME UP?"
[03:52] <Innana> She hauls herself over the top edge of the rock face and looks down at you. "Can you---❥" she asks with another one of those smiles which are clearly at your expense.
[03:53] <Harken> "Well, I'm not *averse* to climbing rock! I was just wondering if you might grant me the privilege."
[03:55] <Innana> "He asks---❥ Well that is new---❥"
[03:57] <Harken> "Do people normally not?"
[03:58] <Innana> "My guests are not normally people---❥ And when they are---❥ I would not normally refer to them as guests---❥"
[03:59] <Harken> "I'll keep it in mind." Harken slides the toothpick across his lips, from one corner of his mouth to the other, without touching it with his hands.
[04:00] <Innana> She watches you for a moment. She seems to be deliberating on something. Then she unslings her bow and notches an arrow.
[04:00] <Innana> "Let's play a game---❥"
[04:01] <Harken> "What game would that be?"
[04:01] <Innana> "If you make it up the rock face and you don't have an arrow lodged in your chest-------❥ I suppose you'll have permission won't you---❥"
[04:02] <Harken> "That's not permission at all!"
[04:02] <Harken> "That'd be no different from me trying to climb it without asking!"
[04:02] <Harken> "Because you'd just shoot at me either way!"
[04:03] <Innana> The smile is a little brighter than the others. "But you see---❥ I haven't yet decided whether or not I am going to shoot---❥"
[04:03] <Harken> "Please don't. It's all anyone else ever does."
[04:03] <Innana> "Then you'd best climb it fast---❥ I might get bored---❥"
[04:04] <Harken> Harken sighs exasperatedly and begins climbing. Lousy broads and their weird games. Well what if he told you YOUD BE DOING HIM A FAVOR HUH? HOW'S THAT, LOUSY HUNTRESS! HE'D SURE SHOW YOU!
[04:05] <Harken> ...if he actually said it. Instead, he just complains until he reaches the top.
[04:05] <Innana> Congratulations! You don't have any holes in you! At least, none that weren't there when you started this game.
[04:06] <Harken> I sort of collapse onto the ledge(?), panting a little. "Pardon. Was never... *huff* .... the strongest... *puff* ...you know?"
[04:08] <Innana> It's a bit of a ledge, yes. There's more craggy rock and then the hive on top; still no sign of a door. There is, however, some large white geometric... organic... thing, stuck to one of the hive walls.
[04:09] <Harken> "What's this?" Harken asks, catching his breath and pointing. "More climbing?"
[04:09] <Innana> "Hm---❥ Oh that---❥" She looks at the white thing. "No, that's my lusus---❥"
[04:10] <Innana> She puts away her bow and quiver, seeming... puzzled? Introspective? "Well you'd best come in---❥ It's getting light---❥"
[04:10] <Innana> She walks over to one of the gaps in the rock, and literally drops down it.
[04:11] <Harken> Harken sits up. "Well, I guess tonight's had its ups and downs." He mutters before peering into the hole.
[04:11] <Innana> Also, probably good to note... there's been no fucking illumination change in this forest the whole damn time you've been in it.
[04:11] <Innana> It's just fucking dark, man. It's all dark.
[04:11] <Harken> Harken swallows, then: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Then he drops.
[04:13] <Innana> Good news! The crevice isn't deep at all! Just more fucking dark. And it winds its way with a slight slope downward, towards the hive. Finally, there is a door in the rock; she opens it, without looking back, and goes through. But, she doesn't close it behind her, so.
[04:13] <Innana> Welcome home?
[04:13] <Harken> For now, he reckons.
[04:14] <Harken> He follows
[04:16] <Innana> The inside is about three levels tall, although the "floors" are more like individual platforms than actual floors. In the middle of the lowest floor is a fire pit, with... something... steaming away in a pot. The platforms are connected with either ladders up and down, or narrow walkways with absolutely no OSHA compliance side to side. That being
[04:16] <Innana> said... it's clean and clearly lived in. You can even see flowers being cultivated in pots near a few windows.
[04:18] <Harken> "I... Nice place." Harken says, simply.
[04:19] <Innana> Your hostess is sitting up one of the shorter ladders on a platform that seems to have a lot of colorful cloth and pillows draped around it. Kind of like a window seat.
[04:19] <Innana> "It is---❥"
[04:20] <Innana> She pulls her hair to the side and twists it up and off her neck, tying it into place with a jade ribbon in a complicated knot.
[04:21] <Harken> Harken sticks the toothpick in his pocket. Darn thing was starting to fray.
[04:21] <Harken> He then attempts to find a seat.
[04:22] <Innana> She watches him struggle for a while before tossing down one of her cushions.
[04:22] <Innana> She's.... clearly not big on traditional furniture.
[04:22] <Innana> Or traditional home design.
[04:22] <Innana> .... Or potentially traditional anything.
[04:23] <Harken> What would Harken know? He's spent his last 3 sweeps in a barracks of sorts.
[04:23] <Innana> Well then this must be paradise.
[23:12] <Dust> ==START!==
[23:12] <Harken> "This is a pretty nice place." Harken says, collapsing onto the cushion.
[23:13] <Innana> "So you said---❥" She looks around, imperious, then shrugs. "It suits, and the forest provides much for my needs---❥
[23:14] <Harken> "Does it? They taught us how to trap, I suppose. Guns are not normally... Well, I wouldn't go hunting with this." He says, gesturing to his pistol on his left hip.
[23:16] <Innana> "I don't see why you wouldn't---❥ Killing one creature is much the same as killing another---❥"
[23:16] <Innana> "Though some offer a better challenge---❥"
[23:16] <Harken> "Guns are noisy, and sometimes a grubslinger needs to keep his head down." he says, slightly wistful.
[23:18] <Innana> She leans back  and crosses her legs, letting them dangle over the ledge. "So you implied earlier---❥"
[23:18] <Innana> "Why might that be, I wonder---❥"
[23:18] <Harken> "I've been a bad boy. I can't lie-won't lie-about it."
[23:19] <Innana> Somewhere in the ether of the multiverse, a writer turns and looks into the camera like she's on the Office.
[23:20] <Harken> i'm sorry pls b0ss
[23:20] <Innana> Bill you're a light of my life, truly. Anyway.
[23:23] <Innana> "It was surprisingly easy to guess as much---❥ Like I said, no one voluntarily passes through these woods---❥"
[23:24] <Harken> "Listen, I... I probably shouldn't stay long. They'll be coming. They always do."
[23:26] <Innana> "'Not looking for trouble' you said---❥" She smiles, and it's somewhat sharper, as if she's relishing this. "Fortunately for you, I am very good at dealing with trouble---❥"
[23:26] <Innana> "You seem to use that gun well enough---❥"
[23:28] <Harken> "Some wanna fight. The ticket price is the same for all comers, I always say."
[23:28] <Innana> "And your pursuers---❥ Will they know how to use their weapons as well as you------❥"
[23:29] <Harken> "I think it'll be close. It's always close."
[23:29] <Harken> "But never as well individually."
[23:30] <Innana> Now that smile IS sharp. She hops down, ignoring the short ladder, and pads over to you. She holds out her hand.
[23:30] <Innana> "Innana---❥"
[23:31] <Harken> He looks at it a moment before taking it: "Harken."
[23:33] <Innana> "Stay here this morning---❥ Your pursuers are unlikely to enter the forest in daylight---❥ When night falls... we'll see whose instinct is strongest---❥"
[23:34] <Harken> "It's rare that I'm offered asylum. Usually I just pay for it. Or dig a hole."
[23:35] <Innana> "Consider tomorrow's sport payment enough---❥"
[23:37] <Harken> "I..." don't actually know what to say. "Thank you."
[23:37] <Innana> She lets go of your hand and walks to one of the walls, where a number of shelves are set up. A strangely artistic clay cup with no handles is plucked from the shelf, and she brings it over, handing it to you.
[23:37] <Innana> "In case you are hungry, there's drink in the pot---❥"
[23:38] <Harken> "Drink?" he wanders over to the pot and peeks inside.
[23:39] <Innana> It's tea! ... or at least there's obviously some sort of plant matter being strained and seeped in the bowl. You... probably don't recognize most of the plants. Actually, maybe "tea" is generous. Maybe "brew" is more accurate.
[23:40] <Innana> You notice there's a ladle on the side of the pot.
[23:40] <Harken> Harken ladles some in and tentatively tries a sip.
[23:41] <Innana> It's... surprisingly good. Flavorful but not overpowering, and it has a soothing and almost syrupy texture as it slides down your throat.
[23:42] <Harken> Harken sips it a little at first, then begins drinking greedily, consuming the brew in deep gulps. He wipes his mouth after emptying the mug, and sinks to the ground near the shelf.
[23:45] <Innana> You know, for living in the middle of dense wilds, there's actually some pretty good hivemaking going on in here. Good cooking, horticulture, homey and aesthetically pleasing decoration. Kind of like if Troll Martha Stuart and Troll General Zaroff pooled their talents together.
[23:45] <Harken> Well, I suppose Zaroff isn't too far off
[23:46] <Harken> ...shit, that looks like a pun
[23:46] <Innana> Pff.
[23:46] <Harken> Harken falls asleep, dreaming of weird puns, and expecting something... different than what he found. He doesn't know how, though.
[23:48] <Innana> Innana similarly falls asleep, in her recupracoon, which she did not give up and wasn't going to put up with any awkward "no, no, you take it, I insist" bullshit anyway. By the time he wakes up, she's already up and dressing, tightening the skirt tie at her waist.
[23:49] <Harken> Harken probably hasn't slept in one in weeks, anyway, opting instead to do something more cliche.
[23:50] <Harken> He cracks an eye open when he hears Innana move.
[23:50] <Innana> Rolling his tattered duster into a little pillow?
[23:51] <Harken> Sure. Or sleeping with his back against a wall
[23:51] <Harken> It's terribly uncomfortable, but it *looks* cool, and he knows it looks cool.
[23:52] <Innana> Fair enough. She doesn't comment on how INCREDIBLY COOL AND RUGGED Harkan looks as she crosses one of the narrow pathways and comes down to the main floor.
[23:52] <Innana> "I hope you slept well---❥"
[23:53] <Harken> "Well enough. It's good not to sleep outside." He says, standing up.
[23:55] <Innana> "Good---❥ You'll run faster this way---❥" She puts on her weapons, equipping a short, curved sword as well this time, and gets her own cup down from the shelves to drink.
[23:56] <Harken> Harken checks his gun, satisfied that it's mostly oiled, then shoves it back in his belt.
[23:57] <Innana> "Your pursuers have likely entered the forest-------❥ As confident as I am in my hive's defense, I'd rather not fight them here---❥"
[23:57] <Harken> "Yeah. I feel that. Wouldn't do to paint the walls with their blood."
[23:58] <Innana> "Of course not---❥ It would likely ruin the color scheme---❥" She's serious. "Shall we go---❥"
[23:58] <Harken> "Of course."
[23:58] <Harken> "I think there will be eight."
[23:59] <Innana> "Then we have quite the hunt ahead of us---❥" She leads the way out of the hive, up the crevice, and into the forest and.... I'll let you take over the narration from here.
[00:00] <Harken> That's easy, because soon after beginning the creep through the woods, the two of them hear a chorus of gunshots.
[00:00] <Harken> "Looks like they ran into the fauna."
[00:01] <Harken> "Sounds like it came from this direction." Harken points at what he thinks is northeast, but is likely not even close to northeast.
[00:02] <Innana> It's not northeast, but it is the direction of the shots, so Innana nods and heads forward, hustling along a path that Harken can follow and not run into any terrain dangers
[00:03] <Harken> Eventually, the two can hear the pursuers yakking about their target.
[00:04] <Harken> "He ain't worth it; y'all know the stories." "S'not your call to make." "But it ain't our *problem,* neither, Grubslinger."
[00:05] <Harken> "You want the money, or not? Now either remember the faces of your forbears and stop being a coward, or leave; I'd sooner cut any dead weight now, before we get into the thick of things."
[00:05] <Innana> Innana's face surprisingly twitches into something resembling irritation at the mention of "the stories."
[00:06] <Harken> "He'll... He's *good,* though. How many of yours has he kil-" "ENOUGH. You comin' or not?!"
[00:06] <Harken> "It's your home field advantage." Harken whispers. "How do you wanna play this?"
[00:07] <Innana> Ah, perhaps not the stories she thought they meant. She glances over to give Harken an appraising glance. Still, stories are stories, not fact, and she'd rather have the latter.
[00:08] <Harken> "Maybe I'll keep 'em distracted while you get into position?" he asks, looking at Innana, and noticing her stare. "...what? Is there something on my face?"
[00:11] <Innana> She smirks at his confusion. "Nothing alarming I assure you---❥ And I was about to suggest a similar plan myself, since you lack my advantage of stealth---❥"
[00:12] <Harken> "Alright. I'll wait for them around the bend in the path."
[00:13] <Harken> Harken creeps off, and positions himself around a bend while the group argues.
[00:13] <Innana> Innana examines the group, trying to determine which of them to pick off first.
[00:14] <Harken> There are two wearing dusters and wide brim hats. They each wear a gun on each hip. The others are common bounty hunters, wielding a wide variety of weapons, from throwing knives to shotguns.
[00:15] <Harken> The guy with the throwing knives looks like he thinks he's hot shit. The Grubslingers have this odd bearing about them, like they're confident in what they're doing, but still nervous about the circumstances.
[00:17] <Innana> Not that I have full stats for her yet (basic ones though), but, if she were to roll Insight or the like, what's the likelihood of the other bounty hunters just fuckin' running if she takes out the guy with the throwing knives?
[00:17] <Harken> The bounty hunters will run because RP fiat.
[00:17] <Harken> The Grubslingers will not.
[00:18] <Innana> Including the guy with the knives?
[00:18] <Harken> He'll be dead. Again, RP fiat.
[00:19] <Innana> So basically we're fighting the grubslingers. Fair.
[00:19] <Innana> I'll let Harken show off first.
[00:19] <Harken> Harken rounds the bend, walking slowly.
[00:20] <Harken> "Harken Sirius. We didn't think you'd be foolish enough to stumble into us like this."
[00:20] <Harken> "You know that gun doesn't belong to you, Harken."
[00:20] <Harken> "And you know I disagreed when your predecessors told me that." Harken replies.
[00:21] <Harken> "You'll pay for their lives, profligate."
[00:21] <Harken> "If you wanna ride the pain train, the ticket price is the same for all comers." Harken says, grinning a little.
[00:22] <Innana> In the woods, Innana rolls her eyes.
[00:22] <Innana> Why is he talking and not just shooting them.
[00:22] <Harken> "So..."
[00:23] <Harken> "Are you gonna pull those guns, or are you gonna whistle dixie?" Harken says, his features hardening.
[00:23] <Harken> The bounty hunters and grubslingers look at each other confused.
[00:24] <Harken> But Harken pulls first, firing six shots, and killing the two grubslingers first.
[00:24] <Innana> Aww. Well there goes half the fun. She's never hunted a grubslinger before.
[00:25] <Harken> A grubslinger is too dangerous to leave for last in an engagement.
[00:25] <Harken> "Finish them." Harken says, putting bullets in his gun while the bounty hunters stare at him, awestruck.
[00:25] <Innana> Exactly; that's why it's fun.
[00:26] <Innana> Innana pulls her bow back and in a second, sends an arrow whirling through the air and into the knife thrower's neck.
[00:27] <Harken> Harken turns, not bothering to look while Innana finishes these plebians off. Knife thrower goes down nearly instantly. The other guy produces a shotgun, aiming it in Innana's general direction.
[00:28] <Harken> The first blast misses Innana by about five feet, rending and splintering the branches to her right.
[00:30] <Innana> Innana was already moving before the branch exploded, though thankfully not to the right. She circles to the side and sinks another arrow into his organs before falling back.
[00:30] <Harken> Ooh, gonna toy with him, huh?
[00:30] <Innana> She likes it when they run.
[00:31] <Harken> Well, this guy ain't runnin'. He's limping away, back in the direction he and his came.
[00:32] <Harken> Harken checks the bodies while you pursue.
[00:32] <Innana> She follows parallel, and then sends another arrow flying-- this time into one of the others' legs.
[00:33] <Harken> He falls to the ground, sobbing a bit and crawling, begging for mercy. You can hear Harken laughing cruelly in the distance at his pleas.
[00:35] <Innana> You sigh. That one isn't fun at all. You approach him-- and literally step over him on your way to the one with the shotgun. You have no interest in hunting below your level.
[00:36] <Harken> Shotgun guy still limps down the path, hand over his arrow wound, looking back in fear and pain.
[00:38] <Innana> You draw your sword. Will he fight? Or will he cry and run like the others?
[00:39] <Harken> He weighs his options as he runs, then decides to turn and fire a shotgun blast in your direction.
[00:42] <Innana> Bloodloss makes his aim pretty shitty, but at least he fights. You smile and rush forward, willing to take the grazed shot, and bring the sword in an arc down on his neck and collar bone.
[00:42] <Harken> The cut is clean through. You can almost hear his blood *hiss* as it sprays out, staining your clothes and spattering your face.
[00:44] <Innana> You roll your shoulders back and enjoy the pride that comes with a successful and worthy kill. Then you turn back towards the fallen mercenary.
[00:45] <Harken> Harken stands over him. "What will you do with him?"
[00:47] <Innana> You kneel down and grip the arrow shaft. Tilting your head, you examine him... and then push the arrow head clean through to the other side.
[00:47] <Innana> With a quick snap, the head breaks off, and the shaft comes clean.
[00:48] <Innana> Innana stands up and discards the arrow.
[00:48] <Harken> "Hm. Better than what I was gonna do to him." Harken mutters, before turning to the Grubslingers.
[00:48] <Harken> "We need to burn their bodies."
[00:50] <Innana> To the mercenary: "Limp home or wait for the wilds to claim you---❥ There are things worse than me in these woods---❥"
[00:52] <Harken> The mercenary collapses, bleeding profusely from his now open wound.
[00:53] <Innana> She walks over to join Harken. "There's no need---❥ The beasts will take care of their bodies---❥" She turns and glances at the mercenary. "And it looks like the witch will come for that one---❥"
[00:53] <Harken> "He won't live." Harken says, sneering a bit. "And if he did, it'd sully my perfect record." He says. He looks like he's getting angrier by the second, before walking up and putting another six shots in the merc's back.
[00:54] <Innana> Innana purses her lips in clear disapproval, but says nothing.
[00:54] <Harken> "Soon, they'll learn that there's nothing left for them in me."
[00:55] <Harken> "Until then, I shall continue dispatching those they send after me with extreme predjudice. Six grubslingers who didn't deserve their deaths, and countless mercenaries they brought with them."
[00:56] <Innana> She regards him coolly. "And how many of those kills did you earn---❥"
[00:57] <Harken> Harken has no answer, not right away. He stares at the corpses for a few moments before saying, once more, "they didn't deserve it. Not really. I knew them, you know." He bends down to examine their guns.
[00:58] <Harken> "This one, on the left, was Gawain. And the right? Iseult. I... they were sent after me, because I did wrong."
[00:59] <Innana> Innana keeps listening, impassive.
[00:59] <Harken> "I burn their bodies so that their guns go with them to where their paths end in the clearing."
[01:00] <Harken> "The mercs can rot for all I care. What matters is that the Grubslingers... I... I'm sorry. This is... I don't normally get so angry about things."
[01:02] <Innana> "... Liar and unaware both, then.-------❥"
[01:02] <Innana> She cleans the edge of her sword and puts it away.
[01:03] <Innana> There's something very... bitter in her expression, small as it is.
[01:03] <Harken> "I cry your pardon, then."
[01:05] <Innana> "It's not my pardon you want, gunslinger---❥"
[01:07] <Harken> "They didn't get a shot off when I drew. Sometimes, I wish they would." Harken says, swallowing a bit. "Even when they do, they never put it where I want it." He looks like he hasn't spoken this much about himself in a long time.
[01:08] <Innana> She seems to consider this. Innana raises her bow, arrow notched, and steps forward until the point rests against the hollow of his neck.
[01:09] <Innana> She doesn't fire.
[01:09] <Harken> "Go on. Do it. I'm a dead troll, anyway."
[01:09] <Harken> "They'll keep coming."
[01:09] <Harken> "They'll keep coming until I've killed them all, or I'm finally too slow."
[01:11] <Innana> She trails the point up his throat, nudging his chin up to look at her.
[01:12] <Harken> "What are you waiting for?" He asks, looking in her eyes.
[01:14] <Innana> She doesn't answer, just thinking. Finally she yanks the arrow away, nicking him but not much else.
[01:14] <Innana> "You're not worthy of a hunt---❥"
[01:14] <Innana> "Come back when you are, and maybe I'll find my mercy then---❥"
[01:15] <Innana> Aaaaand, if RP fiat will permit, I'll take that opportunity to conk him in the head. : D
[01:15] <Harken> Go for it.
[01:16] <Innana> She swings the hardwood bow as hard as possible into his head, with the goal of knocking him unconscious.
[01:17] <Harken> It's late, so it works. You probably have about three minutes before he wakes up again.
[01:18] <Innana> That's fine. All I'm going to do is sneak off. He'll be hard-pressed to find his way back to the hive without me, but the mercenary's left a pretty obvious path out of the woods. ... guess I'll leave him an arrowhead as a reminder of my offer.
[01:19] <Harken> ==END==