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fluffiest_archadianThe plan was a pretty simple one. Almost too simple. Every known exit from the Garamsythe Waterway had been temporarily sealed off, all bar one. And now, at the dead of night, out in the Dalmasca Estersand, Sherral waited.
It was an obvious trap but, Sherral thought, not one that Audyne would likely turn down. The man had to eat eventually, after all, and there was no food to be found down in the Waterway. Which was not even getting started on how it was the only plan any of the other captains would agree to.
You don't need to defeat him outright. Just tax him enough that whatever he's got grafted into his bones overloads Sherral reminded himself, as nerves started creeping in. It was lucky, he suspected, that he was wearing a helmet - because Faram knew if he wasn't it'd be immediately obvious to Audyne just how much he was starting to regret the decision to volunteer for this suicide mission.
Four hours into his watch, an alert appeared on his helmet's display: Judge-Commander Audyne. He didn't see the man, not really, but his helmet handily outlined the man in red. It wasn't long until he was emerging from the darkness of the waterway, though - he'd removed his helmet, and most of his armour for that matter, and Sherral didn't quite see why until he was fully in the moonlight. There was sweat beading the man's face, coating his matted hair, sticking his clothes to him. Some kind of fever, Sherral warranted.
"Judge Audyne," he said, throwing a quick salute. "If you surrender now I give you my word that you'll receive medical treatment, and a fair hearing from another judge."
Audyne stumbled forward, his eyes bloodshot. "The dog captain," he murmured. "I thought they would send Ronick, at least. Or maybe that Gabranth himself would appear." That last thought seemed to inordinately amuse him, and he laughed until his voice cracked.
Sherral narrowed his eyes a little, reaching for his swords. Audyne is on him in a second, sword drawn, the blade tearing through his armour to leave a cut along his sword. Sherral hisses, drawing one sword and using it to block a downward blow, then drawing the other.
---
Sherral made a list of the boons of whatever horrific procedure had robbed Audyne of his senses as he went along. A seemingly inexhaustible supply of magic. Enough speed to keep up with Sherral even with as many Haste spells as he could muster onto himself. Enough strength that every blow sent Sherral skidding across the sand. Enough sheer endurance that the man had taken enough injuries to fell a dozen men and was still seemingly no worse for wear.
With a mighty swing, Audyne shattered one of Sherral's swords. A shard cut along Sherral's face as he turned and brought his other sword up, embedding it in Audyne's side. Audyne made a noise that didn't sound remotely human, bringing his sword down on Sherral's, breaking it off at the hilt.
Sherral growled, tossing it aside. Audyne stumbled forward a little, clutching at his chest. He made another noise, more like a scream than anything else, throwing out his arms. Sherral felt a familiar sensation of Mist being sucked in around them, the beginning of a Quickening, as fire started to swirl and curl around the judge.
He took a deep breath, drawing in the Mist around himself. A dozen swords crackled into being around him, incandescently bright. Audyne let out a keening noise, throwing out one hand, the fire rushing forward, taking the shape of some kind of vast, demonic bull.
Sherral grabbed one of the swords, swinging it, cutting a line through the bull and letting it dissipate around him. The other swords rushed forward, converging on Audyne with an explosion of blue-white lightning.
As the dust cleared, Audyne struggled forward, gasping for breath. Sherral forced himself not to step back, or otherwise let on that he was entirely out of options.
With a low rattle, Audyne tumbled to his knees, then dropped onto his face. Sherral paused, reaching forward and nudging Audyne with a foot. No movement. Very slowly, he dropped and put two fingers to the man's neck. No pulse either.
He murmured a quick spell. "Rabanastre Garrison, this is Captain Sherral Maduin. Judge Audyne has been executed successfully, I'm returning to the city now," he said. "Maybe burn the body when you find it."
It was an obvious trap but, Sherral thought, not one that Audyne would likely turn down. The man had to eat eventually, after all, and there was no food to be found down in the Waterway. Which was not even getting started on how it was the only plan any of the other captains would agree to.
You don't need to defeat him outright. Just tax him enough that whatever he's got grafted into his bones overloads Sherral reminded himself, as nerves started creeping in. It was lucky, he suspected, that he was wearing a helmet - because Faram knew if he wasn't it'd be immediately obvious to Audyne just how much he was starting to regret the decision to volunteer for this suicide mission.
Four hours into his watch, an alert appeared on his helmet's display: Judge-Commander Audyne. He didn't see the man, not really, but his helmet handily outlined the man in red. It wasn't long until he was emerging from the darkness of the waterway, though - he'd removed his helmet, and most of his armour for that matter, and Sherral didn't quite see why until he was fully in the moonlight. There was sweat beading the man's face, coating his matted hair, sticking his clothes to him. Some kind of fever, Sherral warranted.
"Judge Audyne," he said, throwing a quick salute. "If you surrender now I give you my word that you'll receive medical treatment, and a fair hearing from another judge."
Audyne stumbled forward, his eyes bloodshot. "The dog captain," he murmured. "I thought they would send Ronick, at least. Or maybe that Gabranth himself would appear." That last thought seemed to inordinately amuse him, and he laughed until his voice cracked.
Sherral narrowed his eyes a little, reaching for his swords. Audyne is on him in a second, sword drawn, the blade tearing through his armour to leave a cut along his sword. Sherral hisses, drawing one sword and using it to block a downward blow, then drawing the other.
Sherral made a list of the boons of whatever horrific procedure had robbed Audyne of his senses as he went along. A seemingly inexhaustible supply of magic. Enough speed to keep up with Sherral even with as many Haste spells as he could muster onto himself. Enough strength that every blow sent Sherral skidding across the sand. Enough sheer endurance that the man had taken enough injuries to fell a dozen men and was still seemingly no worse for wear.
With a mighty swing, Audyne shattered one of Sherral's swords. A shard cut along Sherral's face as he turned and brought his other sword up, embedding it in Audyne's side. Audyne made a noise that didn't sound remotely human, bringing his sword down on Sherral's, breaking it off at the hilt.
Sherral growled, tossing it aside. Audyne stumbled forward a little, clutching at his chest. He made another noise, more like a scream than anything else, throwing out his arms. Sherral felt a familiar sensation of Mist being sucked in around them, the beginning of a Quickening, as fire started to swirl and curl around the judge.
He took a deep breath, drawing in the Mist around himself. A dozen swords crackled into being around him, incandescently bright. Audyne let out a keening noise, throwing out one hand, the fire rushing forward, taking the shape of some kind of vast, demonic bull.
Sherral grabbed one of the swords, swinging it, cutting a line through the bull and letting it dissipate around him. The other swords rushed forward, converging on Audyne with an explosion of blue-white lightning.
As the dust cleared, Audyne struggled forward, gasping for breath. Sherral forced himself not to step back, or otherwise let on that he was entirely out of options.
With a low rattle, Audyne tumbled to his knees, then dropped onto his face. Sherral paused, reaching forward and nudging Audyne with a foot. No movement. Very slowly, he dropped and put two fingers to the man's neck. No pulse either.
He murmured a quick spell. "Rabanastre Garrison, this is Captain Sherral Maduin. Judge Audyne has been executed successfully, I'm returning to the city now," he said. "Maybe burn the body when you find it."
