#ambushed!

[love-is-four-legged-word]

Ambushed!

[s0ldier-of-misfortune-archive]

Ambushed! [CLOSED RP] [ARES/MESSENGER}

         Ares hates South Vegas’ ruins and immoral residents near the Vault. Of course, Redwood knew how to fight amongst the rubble. Certainly brings back memories from his older days during Canada’s annexation. However, he wasn’t proud about those days in particular. Redwood navigated through the rubble and ruined buildings. Listening very carefully to anything that might sound unordinary. Expecting the unordinary is needed around these ruined blocks.  

The grey overcast certainly made things look grey and depressing. Redwood ignores these things and continued on his own way. Thunder could be heard across the sky; echoing soundly and surely.

         Redwood entered into a burned out diner. The former soldier knew his home was near-by his present location. Suddenly Redwood heard a single metallic & ominous {PING}. Quickly Redwood saw his error and the bobby-trap grenade. Within seconds Redwood retreated back and leaped over the counter. The explosion rocked the entire diner with a violent explosion. Luckily Redwood was protected by the cover offered by the counter. Of-course his ears rang out with an immense pain. Gun-fire could be faintly heard coming from outside.

Ares rose up with his rifle but was still disorientated. The Fiends have him trapped within the diner. And they’re laying down enough fire in attempt to butcher him. Redwood however, fired back against the chem raiders.

If Redwood doesn’t find a solution soon he’s done-for. And the odds of rescue seem direly slim at this moment.

[itskatdancer-blog]

Heart of Stone: Risa Aeducan's Tale -- Chapter 96: Blindsided

"What is it?" she asked.

He shook his head. "Big buncha dusters outside – it ain't pretty." He opened his mouth to continue, then snapped it shut with a grimace, considering his next words carefully. "Commander, please… don't go out there." His blue eyes pleaded with her. "It ain't safe."

Risa nodded. "Let me get my chain armor."

"Risa…."

She put a hand on his shoulder. "Arlessas need to rule, do they not?"

He nodded grimly. "They also need to delegate to the arl once in a while," he said, but he made no move to leave without her.

Risa ran back inside and tugged the blue and silver chain tunic over her clothes. She yanked on the padded jacket, and fastened the chest piece, then hurried after Oghren.

Loghain was standing on the steps to the keep, in his full Chevalier armor, looking impassively at the mob of angry and frightened freeholders standing in the bailey. Nathaniel was standing to his right and above him… Anders to the left. "Steady, " he murmured to the two wardens. "This situation could ignite at any second."

Clearing his throat, he spoke, his voice ringing out across the bailey. "Why do you come to our gates armed, and in force?"

There was a general rise in volume as the crowd shouted, and the archers on the battlements tensed. Nathaniel glanced up and shook his head minutely… and bowstrings eased.

There was a general gasp and hush, and Loghain felt an acid knot form in his stomach. Of course. What could be better? But he had spent many years being the General of the army of Ferelden, and did not so much as glance over his shoulder.

Risa came to the steps, huffing with strain as Oghren escorted her, and the mob fell quiet as she managed her way down to the bottom of the steps. Standing there, alone, with Loghain, Anders and Howe above her, she looked tiny and frail. There was no mistaking with her careful waddle and the bulging waistline – she was heavy with child and looked as if she would give birth at any time.

"Good people…" she started, and the angry babble became quiet muttering. "Good people of Amaranthine, what brings you here today? If you have grievances, surely there must be some gentler way to bring them to our attention than this?" She looked around at faces that were looking at her – eight months gone, sweating, and standing before them with a look of exhausted puzzlement on her face.

"My Lady," said one of the freeholders uncomfortably, "mayhap you'd best go inside…"

Risa shook her head. "This must be urgent and so I must hear you…" She took a step forward, and Loghain tensed as she touched the man's elbow, looking up at him gravely. "What is your name, serrah?"

"Alan, My Lady." He looked intensely embarrassed now. "Are you sure…."

"What did you want to tell me?"

Oghren watched in shock, seeing Risa's training in Orzammar as a royal coming into full play. She'd never gotten the chance to stand before the Assembly to plead her case.

Had she done so, she might well have never been exiled.

She stood before them, projecting vulnerability and an earnest desire to know what was angering and frightening them. And it was calming the crowd, shaming them – to think they had dragged the Arlessa from her confinement to listen to their grievances!

"People are going hungry, my lady," he said quietly.

Risa nodded. "The Blight has put a strain on us all. The rich farmlands to the south have been destroyed, and food… yes. It's difficult." She looked out at the crowd. "But we've lent more workers to Lord Eddlebreck and his men. They can't force nature to make the crops grow any faster. We'll do what we can: give Wade and Herren, by the forge, a list of families who don't have able-bodied folk at home – those with young children or elders. We'll see they have enough to eat. I swear this as your arlessa."

"How?" someone from the crowd yelled.

"By opening up the arling's granary," Risa said immediately. "And begging and borrowing enough to ship more from across the Waking Sea, if necessary."

The murmurs died down quite a bit.

Risa took another step forward, her hand pressed to her back. "What else is of concern to you, citizens?"

"Arlessa…" Anders said warningly, taking a step after her.

"The darkspawn… they press nearer our farms every day," a woman called out.

Risa nodded. "I know. And to that end, the Arl and Captain Garavel have been training up more militia and guards, to protect them. Have you not seen more patrols?" She took another step, winced, and pressed her hand to her side. "The Wardens go on regular patrols as well. We do all we can…"

And mid-sentence, her eyes widened and a soft, sharp huff of pain escaped her lips.

Alan shoved forward, even as Anders bolted from his place and guards tensed. The freeholder caught Risa by the shoulder, steadying her. "By the Maker, can you not see the Arlessa is in distress?" he cried, kneeling swiftly and looking at his fellows.

Anders reached Risa and swept her into his arms. "My thanks," he murmured to the freeholder.

"Please," Nathaniel was saying, "We will hear you… and that which the Arlessa has promised will be done, but she is not well…."

"Garavel," Loghain said gruffly. "You and the private – write down all the grievances the freeholders came to tell us of. We must get the Arlessa out of this sun."

"Yes, Your Lordship," Garavel said. "Private!"

Anders climbed the stairs into the Keep as quickly and smoothly as he could – but Risa was heavy to begin with, and chain mail did not improve that.

"Down," she said gruffly, "put me down."

"Risa…"

"Put me down, shatter it!" she snapped, and Anders rushed to set her on her feet once they were at the top of the stairs and out of sight.

Risa started waddling towards the doors of the Great Hall with great deliberation.

Anders' eyes widened. "You…."

"Got them to calm down and leave without bloodshed," she answered, just as Loghain came up the steps two at a time.

"But…."

Risa shrugged. "On one score, at least, Morrigan was right – men are willing to believe women are weak and in need of…"

As Risa, Loghain, Anders, Nathaniel and Ogren entered the Great Hall, they saw Varel sprawled before the dais, a crossbow bolt in his side and blood on the carpeting. Risa took a sharp breath and cried, "Varel!"

Out of the shadows came Bann Esmerelle in full armor, with a crossbow, with Sir Timothy, Lady Morag, Temmerly the Ox released from the dungeon, and Lady Rossignol behind her, all armed to the teeth. Esmerelle stepped forward, leveling the crossbow directly at Risa.

"Well, well, what have we here? Unarmed Wardens returning to the Keep they usurped…."

[natureiswow]

I should have been suspicious when my dad said he'd take me to dinner and we'd drive there

Should have seen it coming