Face Off, Face On (1/2)
Threadbare was a smart and perceptive bear, but he was in the middle of a very busy situation.
And frankly, he was a bit short. At the center of the deck as he was, he couldn't see over the side to the city below.
He had no knowledge that Apollyon had been chosen to go and help him, taking Bigstump Outpost's waystone and hopping back to the Capitol.
There was no reason for him to know that the young Earth Guardian had failed to get to the square in time and had to settle for chasing after the spiralling, unguided airship.
And he absolutely hadn't been present to see when Apollyon had given up and decided to try a different tactic.
What he did see, as he hurtled over the side of the suddenly tilting ship was a long spike of stone jutting from the tallest tower on the eastern edge of the city.
What he did see, as he plummeted toward the city lights below, was a green-tabarded figure being lifted along the spike, carried by stone hands up to the airship.
And then he stopped, as the figure gestured and a stone hand shot out and seized him, reeling him in to where Apollyon grabbed him, and hugged him in relief.
LUCK+1
“How's it going up there?” Apollyon asked as Threadbare clambered onto his shoulder.
Threadbare opened his mouth to tell him—
“OFF THE TOP ROPE!” a large man bellowed, beard streaming in the wind, loincloth fluttering and wizard hat barely staying on as he dove off the edge of the ship, carrying a pair of screaming pirates downward.
“A bit disorganized really,” Threadbare said, watching the man drop... only to be grabbed by a whirlwind with eyes and born back towards the deck as the pirates continued falling. “My goodness that's some powerful wizardry.”
“Elementalism,” Apollyon corrected, then looked upward at the approaching railing. “We're almost there. What's the plan?”
“Help the strangers against the crew. I'll try to keep the captain busy,” Threadbare told him and leaped upward...
...barely managing to twist at the last second, as Anne sent a pistol ball his way.
Your Dodge skill is now level 35!
“There you be!” Anne bellowed, tossing her gun aside and retrieving her knife from where she'd buried it in the dog beastkin's shoulder. “Come on, little bear, let's dance! Don't fret none, after you die, I'll have your soulstone made into a nice necklace. You'll be forever near me heart...”
The dog woman took the opportunity to back off, wounds flaring closed as the halven behind her healed. Four crew moved in, trying to take her down before she could recover but were interrupted as the Wizard flew back over the railing and clotheslined two of them to the deck.
But that was all Threadbare had time to notice before Anne was on him.
She was a terror, and within seconds, Threadbare knew that he had made a mistake. He gave up all pretense of attacking and focused on trying not to die, healing himself every few seconds as stuffing and fur flew.
Your Brawling skill is now level 74!
Your Mend spell heals you for 57 HP!
Your Mend skill is now level 75!
Your Brawling skill is now level 75!
Your Dodge skill is now level 36!
Your Clubs and Maces skill is now level 24!
Your Mend spell heals you for 58 HP!
Your Clubs and Maces skill is now level 25!
Your Clubs and Maces skill is now level 26!
His rod bowed in the middle at that last strike, and he ran between her legs, taking a heavy cut that snapped his tail right off.
“Mend Golem!” he said, claws gripping the deck as he sped toward the mast, checking his surroundings as he went.
Your Mend Golem skill heals you for 181 HP!
Your Mend Golem skill is now level 76!
Now that she wasn't up against the captain, the dog-woman was holding her own against the pirates, working in tandem with the very large wizard, who seemed to be mostly just casting fist. The two halvens kept their allies between them and the remaining crew, with Apollyon watching their flank as they healed and threw cards, rocks, and other random items into the melee. Celia and a badly wounded Kayin had managed to drive the Lop Garou back, and he paused to send a Mend Golem towards his favorite stabby tabby.
Jean stood in the center of it all, hands to her mouth, eyes growing wider and wider as the bodies hit the deck.
And above it all, Stormanorm had finally taken control of the ship. With a crunch of breaking stone, the Cotton Tale shuddered free of the impaling stalagmite and resumed its course, upward and eastward.
But that brief glance at the wheel was Threadbare's undoing.
Anne's sword pierced him right through and lifted him into the air.
Your Golem Body skill is now level 57!
That would have been his heart if he'd been alive.
He turned in time to see her knife flashing, knew it was coming right for his neck, tried to get his rod up in time to block it...
“Pickpocket!” shouted an unfamiliar voice, as the man wearing a Ringmaster's suit appeared out of nowhere and snatched him back an instant before the blade struck.
“That's a nice hat, it'd be a shame to get blood on it, sir,” said the Ringmaster, tossing him back to the dark-haired halven. “Listen to Chase, she'll tell you the score!”
“No escape for you, bear!” Anne yelled, leaping to grab a swaying rope and swinging overhead as she arrowed straight for him—
BLAM!
The rope split as the bullet caught it.
Anne dropped to the deck, rolled, came to her feet.
She glared in surprise...
...at Jean, who shakily lowered a smoking pistol.
“Jean?” Celia asked. “What are you doing?”
Jean opened her mouth.
But Anne beat her to the punch. “Well, well, well,” she smirked. “Fallen for your captive, have ye? Tis a tale as old as time and properly dramatic, can't fault ye there.” She stalked toward Jean, whose hand shook, as she drew her rapier from its sheath.
“I don't blame ye. Just look at her!” Anne swept her cutlass to Celia. “And she's clearly got brains to match them looks, brains and bravery. No surprise that the heart wants what the heart wants. But it's a pity in this case...”
“Look out!” shouted Chase, as Anne's free arm snapped back, knife at the ready.
“...the heart gets me dagger!”
“Distant Animus, Animus Blade!” Threadbare called at the last second.
Your Distant Animus skill is now level 10!
Your Animus Blade skill is now level 21!
It stopped, an inch in front of Jean's face, just short of piercing one red eye. Jean stumbled back, then parried desperately as Anne lunged forward.
Threadbare directed the blade to go after her, then started animating the dead crew around them to give Jean a little more breathing room.
“Zombie, Zombie, Zombie, Zombie, Zombie, Command Undead attack Anne.”
Your Zombie skill is now level 4!
Your Zombie skill is now level 5!
Your Zombie skill is now level 6!