Mercenay Ambush/An Unexpected Deviation

Lucia plunged into the hole at Talshin's advisory. The fairy of hers flew away, however. Lith remained in a state of mocking distrust and wouldn't huddle in the burrow even if she were paid. A decent choice, actually. As Lucia curled into a position of comfort, she heard a sudden grumbling. Whatever had burrowed this burrow remained in the burrow.

In fear of her integrity of safety, Lucia aimed the Spectacles of Agony down the hole. A few red blotches appeared on the surface of the lenses. There was something very alive down here with them. If she could call back her fairy perhaps she could see what it was they had intruded on. Lucia jammed her little fingers in her mouth and attempted a whistle. A little tweet came out. "Sir I need my fairy in here, we need light." she explained to her hole companion.

Five seconds passed and it remained dark. Ten seconds, still dark. Lucia whistled one more time. Lith dropped in immediately, giggling wildly as she did.

"Hahahaha! I was waiting at the entrance the whole time!" she wailed in laughter.

"You little shit! You'd get us killed if they spotted you there!" Lucia groaned at the fairy.

"Why do you need me in the hole, huh? Do you miss your mummy?" Lith provoked in a stunning disregard for the situation.

Lucia grabbed the fairy out of flight, who had nowhere to dodge in the cramped space. She pointed the magical indigo light down the dark hole. Between the fairy's shrieks and tugs, Lucia could see down the burrow. There smiled back at them a groundhog, who continued staring in oblivious curiousity at the intruders. Lucia dropped the fairy, who flew over and socked her in the face.

"It seems we're okay for now, sir." she assured Talshin, who was probably fairly convinced at the time that they were not. The groundhog inched over and started licking Lucia's face. She would have to keep it away from her companion who was effectively made of vegetables.

Gears crashed into each other, turned noisily in his head as Olias formulated his plan. He could not stop moving; to do so, would be to let death wash over him. Nor could he turn and fight; these were battle hardened mercenaries, and not the usual rabble that the charlatan was used to dealing with. Escape was not yet an option, either; he had not yet come far enough from Talshin and Lucia's hiding hole, and would most likely be shot out of the sky if he tried to fly away. Though he had not specifically seen them, he was sure that some of the mercenaries carried bows or crossbows with them, but were not willing to fire blindly into the clouds. Olias wondered why for a moment, then realized that it was quite possible that they were wanted alive. "Good..." He muttered for himself. It was a small advantage, but an advantage nonetheless. Still, he could not count on it, if he was not entirely sure. As his plan was shaped in the forge of his mind, his body took action. Pushing up on the red sash on his head, he readjusted his hair, knowing now that there was plenty of golden pollen in the air, so much that his enemies could no longer make out the shifting of the grass. Grasping his Deku Leaf in one hand, another Scent Seed in the other, Olias began.

If he was to live this day, he would have to split the group pursuing him. Judging from what he had seen before he had made his flight into the field, Olias estimated around ten or twelve men. Throwing down the Scent Seed, Olias unleashed a gust with his Deku Leaf, sending the cloud diagonally to his right. It flew out in a relatively solid shroud, leaving a dusty trail. He threw another Scent Seed at the ground, sent a second cloud to his left, just a moment after blowing the right cloud out. Finally, he sent one last cloud out forward. He moved carefully towards the cloud on the right, concealed by its trail. He made it safely to its center; by the time the mercenaries had closed the distance Olias had put between them, all they could see were three, golden clouds in the middle of the field. Olias smiled to himself, hearing their confusion; they wondered if Olias was truly even in one of the clouds, if they were simply a distraction. Then, they began to ponder each cloud individually; if he was within one, which was it? As they thought about their course of action, Olias was already moving quickly and efficiently.

Grasping a lead pellet in his hands, he cradled it with magic, enveloping it within ice. He set it down, stepped back a few feet. The ice blossomed like a seed, icy tendrils spreading out like roots. Olias winced with the slight crackling of the ice, hoping that it would not betray him. With a sigh of relief, he continued his work, reassured by the constant bickering of the mercenaries. Placing his Deku Leaf back at his side, his hand went to his pouch once again, grabbed a handful of iron filings. Fire surged forth from his body, consuming the iron dust in magical fire; Olias felt its warmth, but not its burning. Grasping his sling by one end with the other hand, endowing it with the power of the winds, Olias prepared himself.

Lucia poked out of the hidey-hole. She kept Talshin within her vision range, while standing back far enough to avoid conflict. Not being able to defend herself or fight alongside Talshin was a major risk, as they would swarm on her upon noticing her weakness. No doubt she would be sentenced as an accessory to crime. She inched ever backward with her eyes gazing on every foe closely.

The Spectacles of Agony zeroed in on every mercenary with a bright purple blur. She wouldn't be able to determine weaknesses and defenses at this distance. With her focus turned away, Lith wandered upon the winds in boredom. Lucia focused on the stunned mercenary -- his weak spots poked out as small red slivers, like wedges of pie against his blue armor. "Sir, he's bare right above his hip!" she beckoned to the young knight. This would give him the perfect chance to strike.

Lith buzzed off with ill intentions. She hovered toward the enemy horde, fully convinced she had to ruin this skirmish somehow. She fluttered off to a scowling mercenary with a bow. "Hey there, beefcake!" she mumbled into his ear. "I can tell you just where to aim. . ." He turned to the fairy, bewildered. He decided he couldn't see the enemies, so his only choice would be to fire anyway. "Ya can tell me where ter aim, aye got none-wheres better ter shoot!" She continued as if he'd said nothing "You can't see it, but two are in the spot near your dazed buddy, the other is off to the left a bit."

An arrow clipped fast into the ground, landing right near Lucia's leg. Her attention flitted to the sudden noise. "We're under fire!" she called to her teammates. Understanding that their position was compromised, she began to strafe to the left a bit. "Keep limber Talshin, a barrage this way comes."

A step ahead of them, the slashed mercenary spotted Lucia moving. He dove from the range of Talshin to catch her. Lucia waved at the man with a large smile. An arrow caught him in the scapula. She made it her policy to always remain two steps ahead of everyone.

The small scrub closed his eyes, let the rustling around him fill his ears, growing and throbbing in his eardrums with each passing moment. The noise seemed to wash away everything in its path, a deep rumbling, scrubbing away all thought. The landscape took a different form around him; the rustling grass the wind chimes of the earth, the trees great globes of void, nothing but eternal silence. The men surrounding the golden clouds of smoke were invaders, didn't belong in this serene land. Their cold, hard steel hissed in their sheaths and scabbards, the jangling of chainmail as grating as nails on a chalkboard. They were foreign in this soundscape, had to be eliminated. He inhaled deeply, smelling the sweet scent of the seed pollen around him. Exhaling through the mouth, Olias' eyes snapped open.

He knew all too well that he was not the strongest, nor the most skilled, and could not win a battle of either against even the weakest of his foes. However, he had his cover, had taken his precautions, had his own ingenuity. No--he would not die this die, he decided. Clenching his fist, grinding the iron dust in it, that was red with magic, Olias steeled his resolve. Listening carefully, he heard two mercenaries approaching from outside of the cloud; though they spoke not a word, he heard the quiet scratching of their armor, the soft breath upon their lips. The other mercenaries equipped for close quarters combat were quietly making their way into the other two clouds, while those armed with bows and crossbows camped outside of them. Olias did not know this for sure, but he could guess as much; this was the most logical course of action for the experienced mercenaries.

They had numbers, experience, and time all on their side. It would not be enough. The two men drew their blades, hearing an uneven rustle in the grass. Two beady, orange eyes seemed to appear out of the smoke, staring straight at them, mocking them, daring them to move further. "He's in here!" One yelled out to his comrades, smart enough to call for reinforcements. The mercenary not speaking ran forth, brought his sword above his head, grasped it with both hands. As his blade cleaved through the air, the small scrub jumped back, tossed the red dust into the man's face. The mercenary screamed in agony as the red-hot dust burned through clothes, heated metal, seared skin. Olias was already on the move, giving the small, shimmering cloud berth, as he ran towards the second mercenary. The Hylian grasped his blade in a defensive stance, readied himself for any blow his enemy would send his way. He was unprepared, though, for magic. whipping his hand forth, his sling cracked through the air, the small quartz stone hitting the man in the chest, releasing a blast of wind and sending him flying backwards through the air. Olias let out another breath, prepared himself for what was to come. Now it was time for his escape.

The wind gasped a sigh that threatened to break the screen of dust. There was no delay as Lucia dove for the ground, the only reliable cover on the plains from the barrage of arrows that had only just begun. She had realized it was unwise of her to not have foreseen another one of Lith's deadly carnivals. Ready for anything, she whistled briefly so the fairy would hear. Lith flew back to Lucia, pretending all the while as if she hadn't done anything. Catching the fairy in her hands would be impossible while it knew it was in trouble. Lucia had a better plan. "Lith, please stay where I can see you, it's dangerous!" she lied to the fairy. This would allow her to look like she didn't know, yet keep the fairy from telling the archers where to shoot.

There was only one course of action left. With the fairy in a clear range of sight, she shuffled along the grass toward Olias. She didn't know his actual plan yet, but she had confidence in his grasp of the situation by his precise sequence of spellcasting and deployment. Whatever needed to happen was in his hands. It was getting harder to breath with the thickness of the smoke spreading. The urgency of the situation had finally peaked. "Sir there's no more waiting we can do. They have the advantage of their numbers, and the screen is fading. Soon they'll run us all through with arrows like unaware game. We're doing it man. We're making this happen." she alerted the scrub hastily.

ok how do we do this.....,,, .... .... let's DO this thing

[8^y]​

"I know." Olias looked at Lucia, then to Talshin, nodded his acknowledgement. He already knew what he had to do; but could he do it? He bowed his head, clenched his eyes shut for a moment, blotting out all sound, all distraction. His actions in the next few moments could affect more lives than he wanted. However, he could think of no other way to at least come close to ensuring their survival. He opened his eyes, let out a determined sigh, and reached into his back. He grabbed a fist full of iron pellets, split the handful with his other hand. "What I'm about to do... Might shock you. I take no enjoyment in this; what I do may claim innocent lives, who should have nothing to do with this. They will come in droves, to try and stop what I am about to set in motion. They may or may not be successful. Either way, I advise you both to not sit and stare. You will know when to run."

Crossing his arms over his chest, his fists clenching their burdens near his heart, Olias closed his eyes. "Din... be my guide." He breathed out slowly, feeling his powers beginning to coalesce. Time's tide slowed, crashing against his back as his concentration slowed its flow. First... The flames come from the heart, the beginner of life. He cradled the spark from its birth, felt it grow large with each metronome beat of his heart. He felt it grow from tiny candle, to small star pulsing within him. Solar thread spread through his nerves, muscles, surged to his fingers and into the metal. Although bathed in heat, they did not melt, only growing in might. A third breath, and the spell was woven, time's river passing on on. Olias' eyes flared open as he stepped forward, spun upon a foot, and flung his body forward. releasing the glowing pellets into the air to fly into the feel, Olias completed his twirl, began to run back towards Talshin and Lucia. The pellets arced through the air and hit the ground, just as he passed the two. "I told you about stares."

As he ran, he felt the heat surge against his back, knew that the fire enchantment had exploded to life as the pellets hit the ground in bursts of fire and flame. Already the dry grass was catching, spreading the fire dangerously. Olias had presented them with an ultimatum; ultimately they were citizens of Hyrule Castle Town. Could they choose their duty to their employer, over their duty to the city and their families? The flames would only grow, if left unhindered, and would become a danger to the city itself if it were not controlled. The mercenaries could either combat the fire here, and alert the town of the danger, or follow their marks and let the city, if only a small part, risk being consumed in the fire. Either way, the fire would perform admirably, giving Olias, Talshin, and Lucia ample time to escape.

"Lith, stay with me!" Lucia called to her fairy. "No!" the creature shouted back.

The Kokiri lurched along to keep up with her dangerous new friends. Olias had bandaged her up well, but not in a way that left her mobile. These holy flames were a blessing that would ensure her safety. Yet all the roaring blaze could remind her of was the tragedy back at the village. She scrunched her eyes up, trying not to see it, relive it. Her glasses pinched her nose, forever a memento of that day.

The day was hot and dry, all that was needed to stoke the fire was a smooth breeze and the dehydrated, yellowing grass. Soon even the best marksmen on the opposite side could not even see past the smoky wall. Escape was now assured, a prolongation the mercenaries would not be able to make up for.

Lucia used her boomerang as a crutch and wobbled ever away from the madness. She smirked at the thought of arson added to the list of reasons there was a bounty out on Olias. Lith fluttered to Lucia's ear. "Are you sure this will work?" she asked "I have no idea." Lucia replied.

(God damnit, my post got eaten. Anyways, we can probably get this graded now)

"Well," Olias began, "if it weren't for me, you guys wouldn't be out here in the first place. So, I guess that makes us even." Olias shrugged, looking back at the flames. He could still hear their distant roar, as the heat seared the night air. "Anyways, I doubt you'll have much trouble getting in, Talshin. They probably haven't seen enough of you to get a good description; I'm a lot more noticeable because of the "hair", you see. That one of the benefits of looking like a relatively normal fellow. As for Lucia, she could pass herself off as a Hylian child and they'd never know the difference..." He paused for a moment. "As for myself... Well, I have my own ways of getting back into the city. This isn't exactly the first time I've been run out, and I doubt it's the last I'll probably just have to stay out of their hair for awhile. What, with the renewed effort against Ganon, and with the natural chaos of the city in itself, I could probably return within a few months with fairly little trouble." Olias scratched the back of his head.

"So, now what?" He asked his two companions, looking to each. He hadn't really thought this far ahead, though he had a few ideas of where they could go. "I heard the other day that a new town is being erected on the coast of the Eastern Sea, called Impa or something of the sort. We could help there, since it's a feral area still, meaning that it's probably crawling with all kinds of monsters. And I don't doubt that the migrant workers wouldn't mind a helping hand, either. We could head south, too, what with Death's Mountain being Ganon's base of operations. That, of course, presents its own... unique experience. Either way, I don't much care where we go, as long as it's fun." And has plenty of suckers... He thought, already feeling his pockets filling with rupees. "And for the record, running from large groups of mercenaries, and starting large fires to save our asses is not my idea of a good time."

(This was graded. Feel free to add your rupees/rewards accordingly.)