Freeing the Bird

[piwakawaka]

The shortcut through the Dreaming leaves them close to many warehouses and the water in Kaiwharawhara but only one has a palpable feel of magic and about ten young men simply hanging about.

As everyone starts to appear, a few of the men pull out various objects to focus as the magic grows in the air as the others who are a bit too pale just grin.

Teams: 1-Alex, Aiden, the Baron, Hamlet
2-Carl, Ben, James, Peron

Starting things off again and I'm just going to do the James' thread later and make it work.

Comments

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

The pipe catches him solidly across the thighs, the left one taking the worst of the blow; Perón gasps, eyes flying open, instinctively stabbing harder in the direction of the pipe.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

Where the apprentice yells as it digs into his arm and he swings again.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Perón is more ready this time, and can see dim shapes in the fog. There's no space, this close up, to duck the pipe, but now he has a chance to twist and catch the blow on the side of his leg, where the muscle is thicker and helps to muffle the pain. He grabs hold of the pipe and yanks on it, using it to pull the apprentice toward him as he drives the blade forward and jerks it up, with the aim being to slice up through the torso.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

It does hit since the apprentice is not as strong physically but he does manage to get out one more spell that constricts the air around Peron as the knife hits his torso.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Perón finds himself encased and scarcely able to move. He closes his eyes again, concentrates, finds that he can still flex his muscles within the grip of the air around him, and tries to use this advantage to twist the knife. If he can move it enough, do enough damage, perhaps he can distract his opponent and force him to drop the spell . . .

If, indeed, that's how it even works here, if spells require focus to be maintained. It's the best hope he can think of, though, so he focuses all his effort on twisting the knife.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

Which does cause the spell the weaken but the apprentice yells and tries to back away from the knife as he aims the pipe at Peron's knee.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

The blow lands - there's no possible way of avoiding it. It's not as strong as it could be, with the awkward close angle, but it's enough to make Perón's knee buckle. He yells in pain as he stumbles, falling forward with all the weight of his body behind the knife.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

That takes the apprentice down and the spell disappears as his life bleeds out on Peron's knife.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Without the remnants of the spell, or the opponent himself, supporting him, Perón falls the rest of the way to the ground, but rolls onto his back and sits up as quickly as he can. He's breathing hard, and already knows he's going to be limping badly for at least a week, but he cannot afford to present himself as a target for any others that might see him. The blade is wet with blood, as is Perón's hand and arm, but his grip is solid, and he's ready to go for his gun as well if need be.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

Another apprentice has been near one of the doors and when he sees Peron stand, starts on the words of a spell as his hands make complicated gestures.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Perón turns, feeling a gaze on him, and finds the watcher by a door. He doesn't hesitate; he draws his gun and fires, silently praying that the man can't maintain any kind of shielding spell while casting another. If he can deflect the bullets like the other managed to do, then Perón, with the bad knee slowing him down, is out of options.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

At first the bullet seems to not do as much damage but then there's a BOOM and the ground shakes forcing the apprentice to turn and open the door he's protecting. Tane runs towards Peron, offering an arm for support as he points towards the door.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Perón finds almost immediately that the support is more welcome than he'd like. The adrenalin coursing through his system is helping to damp the pain and keep him focused, but he isn't as young as he used to be and it's been some time since he had to work through an injury. He'll manage for the time being, though - out of sheer pride, if nothing else.

He keeps his gun in his hand as they make their way toward the door, lowered down at his side where it's less likely to be seen. It hasn't been, overall, as effective as he might have liked, but if it's unexpected it might still do some damage. And the noise of a surprise gunshot might at least be useful in shattering someone's concentration.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

Tane's glad to offer the support as they head towards the door and the apprentice is still there giving them a look. With a grunt, Tane pulls something from his belt and sends a stone at the apprentice's head which knocks him down.

Through the door all that can be seen is dust and darkness and filtered light from the back door.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Perón scans the space with a slight frown, his eyes adjusting as he peers into the darkness.

"I'll keep to this entrance," he says softly, "while you have a closer look." he can still hold his own well enough close up, should anyone not of their party try to get past, and he doesn't wish to slow Tane down.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

"You sure?"

The dust is beginning to clear and across the way the Mage and Carl are facing off in the light of the open door,

"Not sure I can take him down on my own."

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

It's getting easier to see, and the shapes of the other two are becoming clearer.

"All right," he says, still quiet. "I won't be able to keep up if you end up in a chase, though." Just as fair warning.

Smooth and careful, he switches his gun for the knife.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

"No worries, I'm not that quick either, just not leaving you behind, don't know what else is hiding in here."

Tane changes his grip on his mere, a lovely cudgel as he moves towards Carl and the Mage.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Fair enough. It's becoming clear that Perón, lacking magic, is out of his league here, at least when facing opponents beyond the reach of his blade.

It would be counterproductive, and potentially deadly, to start questioning his choices now, though, so Perón doesn't. The what was I thinking game can wait until they're out of here safely, with Tiwa.

He follows behind Tane, firmly ignoring his knee as he turns most of his attention to the shadows surrounding them. Tane is clearly focused ahead - someone needs to be watching as much of the rest of the area as possible.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

Most of the shadows are dealing with the others and the Mage turns towards them in the midst of speaking to Carl and starts to throw up a wall of something.

Tane yells a war cry and nods to Peron's gun, hopefully if the distraction works they can buy some time.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Perón pulls his gun and fires, not troubling to aim too carefully. It's more the sound than the bullet that's of assistance, now.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

The Mage slams Carl against the wall and turns to deal with them as Tane starts to chant as the earth trembles under the Mage's feet.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

Perón holds his gun at the ready, mostly out of instinct, as he watches alertly while Tane works his magic.

Re: Second Team

[piwakawaka]

So the Mage clicks the beads in his hands to tighten air around Tane's throat and the shaking lessens.

Re: Second Team

[artofthpossible.livejournal.com]

All Perón can do is fire again, this time aiming at the Mage's hands, already mentally readying himself to draw his knife if necessary. Both the bullets and the blade are iron; he doesn't know if that will make a difference - or if, with his bad knee, he can even do anything useful with the knife - but it is infinitely preferable to doing nothing.