The steady beating of Josaksa's hooves were a calming and familiar sound. H'Zaja shifted in the saddle and allowed her body to move with the horse's easy rhythm, casually observing her surroundings as they went on. Windhelm lay behind her, as did Kynesgrove through which she'd passed not even a quarter of an hour ago, and the road before her stretched long and winding through the Eastmarch hills.
The Khajiit pulled out her map to once again familiarize herself with the area. She had briefly traveled this road before, but not paid too much attention to all the small side roads and caves. Stony Creek Cave was supposedly well hidden, but for a bounty of 750 gold she was not going to let that one go so easily.
It was a rather uneventful trek. Only two lone wolves were swiftly dealt with by two piercing arrows from H'Zaja's bow, their corpses left behind on the side of the road with faint remainders of crackling electricity. It was only an hour and a half since her departure from Windhelm that she directed the horse up a grassy, partially snow covered hill and looked over the small pond spread out before her.
A small docked boat lay unattended in the water. Her eyes were drawn to the jutting rocks and small stash of supplies marking the opening of the cave, illuminated faintly by a still burning candle lantern at the top. The Khajiit silently tied Josaksa's reigns to a tree, loose enough to allow him escape should he be overrun by any of the wildlife, and drew her bow while carefully inspecting the area.
She skirted the pond to avoid taking a swim and waded into the water as close as possible to the entrance. A practiced motion drew an arrow from her quiver, which she loosely settled upon the drawstring, before proceeding into the cave. The passageway was narrow, perhaps twice the size of the Khajiit, but eventually opened into a larger chamber. It was flooded about knee-high, the ceiling supported with numerous wooden logs and making her wary of potential collapses.
H'Zaja lingered in the shadows, perking her ears to try and pinpoint the locations of nearby bandits.
The Khajiit pulled out her map to once again familiarize herself with the area. She had briefly traveled this road before, but not paid too much attention to all the small side roads and caves. Stony Creek Cave was supposedly well hidden, but for a bounty of 750 gold she was not going to let that one go so easily.
It was a rather uneventful trek. Only two lone wolves were swiftly dealt with by two piercing arrows from H'Zaja's bow, their corpses left behind on the side of the road with faint remainders of crackling electricity. It was only an hour and a half since her departure from Windhelm that she directed the horse up a grassy, partially snow covered hill and looked over the small pond spread out before her.
A small docked boat lay unattended in the water. Her eyes were drawn to the jutting rocks and small stash of supplies marking the opening of the cave, illuminated faintly by a still burning candle lantern at the top. The Khajiit silently tied Josaksa's reigns to a tree, loose enough to allow him escape should he be overrun by any of the wildlife, and drew her bow while carefully inspecting the area.
She skirted the pond to avoid taking a swim and waded into the water as close as possible to the entrance. A practiced motion drew an arrow from her quiver, which she loosely settled upon the drawstring, before proceeding into the cave. The passageway was narrow, perhaps twice the size of the Khajiit, but eventually opened into a larger chamber. It was flooded about knee-high, the ceiling supported with numerous wooden logs and making her wary of potential collapses.
H'Zaja lingered in the shadows, perking her ears to try and pinpoint the locations of nearby bandits.
Draathir's black mare, Sethri, had carried her master from the other direction. It had been a fairly easy journey from Riften with little interruption other than a single bandit on the road who had tried his luck only to be knocked down by Sethri and left on the side of the road in a state of confusion.
As the Dunmer reached the crest of the small hill he halted his horse at the sight of a stallion already tied to a tree by the pond. He narrowed his eyes and slowly edged his horse instead into the thick of the forest to tie her to a tree there where she was not in plain view. It may be that someone had gotten there before him, or the horse might belong to a bandit.
He noticed the mud and rocks around the edge of the pool were disturbed by footprints as he made his way to the cave entrance in the same fashion. His beautiful ebony bow was removed from its perch upon his back and held in front steadily with an arrow drawn part way.
As bitterly cold as the water was he stepped into it slowly and waded quietly through the narrow entryway of the cave towards the larger chamber and stopped at its entrance, pressing himself against the jutting archway to search the chamber while attempting to remain hidden. He looked for a moment but even the skilled thief looked straight at her without realizing she was there and slowly made his way along the wall into the chamber, momentarily in plain view as he moved to the opposite corner of the cave and no doubt making at least enough noise against the water to be detected at such a close range.
As the Dunmer reached the crest of the small hill he halted his horse at the sight of a stallion already tied to a tree by the pond. He narrowed his eyes and slowly edged his horse instead into the thick of the forest to tie her to a tree there where she was not in plain view. It may be that someone had gotten there before him, or the horse might belong to a bandit.
He noticed the mud and rocks around the edge of the pool were disturbed by footprints as he made his way to the cave entrance in the same fashion. His beautiful ebony bow was removed from its perch upon his back and held in front steadily with an arrow drawn part way.
As bitterly cold as the water was he stepped into it slowly and waded quietly through the narrow entryway of the cave towards the larger chamber and stopped at its entrance, pressing himself against the jutting archway to search the chamber while attempting to remain hidden. He looked for a moment but even the skilled thief looked straight at her without realizing she was there and slowly made his way along the wall into the chamber, momentarily in plain view as he moved to the opposite corner of the cave and no doubt making at least enough noise against the water to be detected at such a close range.
It wasn't difficult for the Khajiit's keen hearing to pick up the sounds of bandits guarding, drinking and complaining ahead. Three, perhaps four of them if she had to guess. They sounded relaxed and less on guard than they ought to be, which only proved to be in H'Zaja's favor if she managed to pick them off quietly one by one.
About to move forward and enter the tunnel, she stilled at approaching footsteps from behind. Drawing the arrow slightly back on her bow, she watched the Dunmer position himself opposite of herself with his own bow readied, realizing he was not one of the bandits she'd presumed him to be. Confused, albeit curious, she eased her arrow, flitting through the possibilities in her head. If it hadn't been for her race's enhanced night vision and hearing, she would have missed his entrance entirely. That told her more than anything else.
"Don't move," she spoke up, just loud enough for only the two of them to hear with the distinct signs of her species' raspy voice, "and don't try anything funny, or I will scream and alert them all and leave you to deal with them." She paused, reassuring herself she had his attention without being pierced by a dozen arrows. "What are you doing here?"
About to move forward and enter the tunnel, she stilled at approaching footsteps from behind. Drawing the arrow slightly back on her bow, she watched the Dunmer position himself opposite of herself with his own bow readied, realizing he was not one of the bandits she'd presumed him to be. Confused, albeit curious, she eased her arrow, flitting through the possibilities in her head. If it hadn't been for her race's enhanced night vision and hearing, she would have missed his entrance entirely. That told her more than anything else.
"Don't move," she spoke up, just loud enough for only the two of them to hear with the distinct signs of her species' raspy voice, "and don't try anything funny, or I will scream and alert them all and leave you to deal with them." She paused, reassuring herself she had his attention without being pierced by a dozen arrows. "What are you doing here?"
Draathir went still and tense, the only indication that he'd heard her. For a silent moment he seemed to be either swearing in his head or contemplating what to do, or both and then finally he looked up in the direction of her voice, spotting the slight glint of light on her eyes.
He growled under his breath "they'd never find me if you did, the fetchers are probably too inebriated to find their own noses" he growled venomously, but quietly and lowered his bow. He was furious that he'd spotted the horse and still been caught unaware, it'd taken a huge notch out of his pride.
Still, there was no reason to give away why he was here on the off chance that H'Zaja was just here to raid the place. "What are you here for? Perhaps we could come to an arrangement." he said raspily, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on her but his ears fixed on his surroundings.
He growled under his breath "they'd never find me if you did, the fetchers are probably too inebriated to find their own noses" he growled venomously, but quietly and lowered his bow. He was furious that he'd spotted the horse and still been caught unaware, it'd taken a huge notch out of his pride.
Still, there was no reason to give away why he was here on the off chance that H'Zaja was just here to raid the place. "What are you here for? Perhaps we could come to an arrangement." he said raspily, keeping his eyes fixed firmly on her but his ears fixed on his surroundings.
H'Zaja's ears flicked when his gaze fell upon her. "Wouldn't they?" She didn't sound convinced, although she admitted he was probably right. She liked bluffing and making others unsure of what she was capable of. It saved her hide more than once.
The Khajiit nodded towards the tunnel ahead. "There's a bounty for their heads. The leader's, specifically." Obviously she was out for the reward, and she assumed he was too. "Are you any good with picking them off... quietly? I don't like rushing in and confronting them all at once. We could split the reward." Perhaps if he got offed she wouldn't have to.
The Khajiit nodded towards the tunnel ahead. "There's a bounty for their heads. The leader's, specifically." Obviously she was out for the reward, and she assumed he was too. "Are you any good with picking them off... quietly? I don't like rushing in and confronting them all at once. We could split the reward." Perhaps if he got offed she wouldn't have to.
Perhaps Draathir was thinking along the same lines, for when she suggested it a slightly mischievous smirk briefly ghosted across his lips. "Quiet is my middle name, Khajiit" he said and motioned for them to progress and he made his way up the wooden ramp to the next entryway.
He could hear evidence of their drunken conversation further up the tunnel but could see nothing as of yet, only ledges that would provide perfect cover from higher up. He turned to look back and be sure H'Zaja was following and that she didn't try anything.
"If we can get a sight on at least one each, we could take two out before the others can react. I assume that's within your abilities" he drawled with a sneer "if your aim is good, we might just get away with it undetected." he said as if suggesting he doubted her skill as compared to his own.
He could hear evidence of their drunken conversation further up the tunnel but could see nothing as of yet, only ledges that would provide perfect cover from higher up. He turned to look back and be sure H'Zaja was following and that she didn't try anything.
"If we can get a sight on at least one each, we could take two out before the others can react. I assume that's within your abilities" he drawled with a sneer "if your aim is good, we might just get away with it undetected." he said as if suggesting he doubted her skill as compared to his own.
Without knowing what kind of skill this Dunmer had, H'Zaja followed him anyway. She had an invisibility potion handy on the back of her belt, hidden by her cloak, just in case something went wrong and she had to make an undetected exit. It was her usual backup plan and would work now too, if need arose.
She took in her surroundings as they proceeded, drawing her upper lip back in response to his very insulting inquiry. Her ears flattened into the mass of curls on her head but she chose not to indulge his provocation. "I planned on doing this on my own. This is not my first bounty," the Khajiit growled softly.
H'Zaja moved up on the right ledge, avoiding the illuminated areas to the best of her abilities. Two Bretons were talking to each other, raising their voices occasionally in their drunken state. H'Zaja motioned to the right, indicating she'd take the guy on the right, then drew back the arrow on her bow. She waited five heart beats after taking aim before she let go. A soft whoosh announced her before the arrow penetrated the man's throat, taking out his ability to scream before he collapsed and suffocated on his own blood.
She took in her surroundings as they proceeded, drawing her upper lip back in response to his very insulting inquiry. Her ears flattened into the mass of curls on her head but she chose not to indulge his provocation. "I planned on doing this on my own. This is not my first bounty," the Khajiit growled softly.
H'Zaja moved up on the right ledge, avoiding the illuminated areas to the best of her abilities. Two Bretons were talking to each other, raising their voices occasionally in their drunken state. H'Zaja motioned to the right, indicating she'd take the guy on the right, then drew back the arrow on her bow. She waited five heart beats after taking aim before she let go. A soft whoosh announced her before the arrow penetrated the man's throat, taking out his ability to scream before he collapsed and suffocated on his own blood.
Though she had not intended to indulge his provocation it seemed indulged enough at her defense. He let out a quiet grunt of laughter in his throat and took the left ledge, prowling with enough silent grace to please Nocturnal herself.
He drew back his bow and pointed towards the man on the left and within the same second that she'd loosed her arrow he followed suit with his own and perhaps by luck pierced the bandit at the base of his skull and with a few staggering steps he collapsed dead upon his friend and twitched.
Always paranoid about having people he didn't know following him, Draatihr motioned to H'Zaja and then forwards as if to signal her to take point.
He drew back his bow and pointed towards the man on the left and within the same second that she'd loosed her arrow he followed suit with his own and perhaps by luck pierced the bandit at the base of his skull and with a few staggering steps he collapsed dead upon his friend and twitched.
Always paranoid about having people he didn't know following him, Draatihr motioned to H'Zaja and then forwards as if to signal her to take point.
Surprised, and secretly pleased with the Dunmer's skills, H'Zaja pressed on as quietly as possible. She hadn't expected such a clean kill from the man and he scored some points with her for that.
A little further ahead, the tunnel split two ways. The path ahead led deeper into the tunnel, but eventually came to a dead end. The second path led to the right, up a wooden ramp and platform. She inched closer to the latter, ears perked. One lone bandit, possibly on the platform. The area was well lighted on both ledges, making it more difficult to sneak past or take a shot.
The Khajiit breathed to steady herself, then crept around the corner to investigate.
A little further ahead, the tunnel split two ways. The path ahead led deeper into the tunnel, but eventually came to a dead end. The second path led to the right, up a wooden ramp and platform. She inched closer to the latter, ears perked. One lone bandit, possibly on the platform. The area was well lighted on both ledges, making it more difficult to sneak past or take a shot.
The Khajiit breathed to steady herself, then crept around the corner to investigate.
rolled 1d20 and got 10
Dice roll for detection? 15+ is a detection
The dark elf stayed back, allowing the Khajiit to go forwards simply to lessen his chances of being stabbed in the back. As she rounded the corner, to save them an extra chance at being spotted he held back and waited for a signal to proceed.
The bandit himself though seemed the least inebriated of the bandits so far, perfectly lost in his own thoughts. The sounds of drunken laughter and singing had halted though and after a moment he seemed to notice "Bjarik? Torben?" he called out "You two had better not have fallen asleep" the man growled irritably, though there was an uneasy edge to his tone.
The bandit himself though seemed the least inebriated of the bandits so far, perfectly lost in his own thoughts. The sounds of drunken laughter and singing had halted though and after a moment he seemed to notice "Bjarik? Torben?" he called out "You two had better not have fallen asleep" the man growled irritably, though there was an uneasy edge to his tone.
H'Zaja held her breath and froze when the bandit spoke. Her heart began to thud faster, adrenaline pouring through her veins to prepare her for a possible assault. She wedged herself beneath the ramp after putting her bow away and instead drew her dagger from its leather sheath, waiting for the bandit to investigate the tunnel.
The man staggered down the wooden planks, cursing to himself and calling out again for the two bandits. Draathir could possibly take a shot with an arrow at that moment, although the Khajiit already crept from the shadows to position herself behind the male, ready to slice his throat and silence him forever.
(Want to do a 1d20, highest roll takes the kill shot? Or do you want Draathir to take this? I don't mind either way)
The man staggered down the wooden planks, cursing to himself and calling out again for the two bandits. Draathir could possibly take a shot with an arrow at that moment, although the Khajiit already crept from the shadows to position herself behind the male, ready to slice his throat and silence him forever.
(Want to do a 1d20, highest roll takes the kill shot? Or do you want Draathir to take this? I don't mind either way)
Draathir started backing up as soon as he'd heard the mans voice, climbing up onto a ledge and crouching on it with his back pressed against the ceiling of the cave, and just on time too. He heard the bandits footsteps but with a sick grin he watched the man start to round the corner, waiting for the killing blow that would surely be a pleasure to see.
[he's staying back and letting her get this one anyway, go ahead!]
[he's staying back and letting her get this one anyway, go ahead!]
In a swift, all too familiar motion, H'Zaja rose behind him and her blade slit the bandit's throat. With his vocal chords disabled, the Breton suffered an agonizing, silent death as he drowned in his own blood. It was a quick and clean kill up until the point where the bandit fell back, right on top of the Khajiit. Only a faint grunt escaped her as she tried to get the twice as heavy man off of her.
"Damnit. Make yourself useful, dark elf!" She was embarrassed!
"Damnit. Make yourself useful, dark elf!" She was embarrassed!
Draathir watched with sick amusement and lifted a finger to his lips to hush her "Shh-sh-" it was broken up as he covered his mouth and ducked away to snicker and laugh as quietly as possible. After a few seconds he finally caught his breath and hopped down, moving over to roughly kick the man over onto his front beside the Khajiit. "Stop lying around... i doubt we've much further to go" he glanced up and saw some artificial light pooling out from around the corner further up.
She shot daggers into his skull with her glares and got up swiftly once the dead weight was off her. "Thanks," she muttered even though she wanted to bash his head in with her bare fists. H'Zaja dusted herself off and, with a lifted chin and squinted eyes at the Dunmer, followed him with her bow back in her hand.
"I don't think the leader will be this easily taken down," she commented quietly.
"I don't think the leader will be this easily taken down," she commented quietly.
Draathir smirked, still perfectly smug. He stopped before they reached the lighted archway and turned towards H'Zaja, fishing around in his pouch idly until he produced a thin black vial and popped it open "He'll be easy if we hit the right spot." he said and uncorked the vial, which briefly let off a vile acidic smell.
Draathir removed an arrow from his quiver and carefully dripped the black liquid onto the shaft of the arrow, listening carefully just as a precaution while he focused his attention elsewhere. "Shall i poison one of your arrows, or would you prefer a melee weapon? in case I miss bare skin?"
Draathir removed an arrow from his quiver and carefully dripped the black liquid onto the shaft of the arrow, listening carefully just as a precaution while he focused his attention elsewhere. "Shall i poison one of your arrows, or would you prefer a melee weapon? in case I miss bare skin?"
H'Zaja's nose wrinkled at the awful smell, recognizing the scent from her own arsenal of poisons. She shook her head to decline his offer. "I'm good. I can try to sneak up to him and take him down from behind in one go. I doubt even a bandit leader can survive a slit throat." She really wanted the kill for herself, but she had to keep the elf in mind as well.
The Khajiit didn't wait long for him to poison his arrow and pushed ahead to inspect the room. The leader stood with his back turned to them, hunched over an alchemy table. The area was faintly illuminated by candles, but still plenty of shadows to crawl in.
She glanced over her shoulder at the elf, an eyebrow raised in silent question: who goes first?
The Khajiit didn't wait long for him to poison his arrow and pushed ahead to inspect the room. The leader stood with his back turned to them, hunched over an alchemy table. The area was faintly illuminated by candles, but still plenty of shadows to crawl in.
She glanced over her shoulder at the elf, an eyebrow raised in silent question: who goes first?
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