A Great Game (Miniplot)|Beastlands

[Kender Bard]

The hall was rather pretty, for a prison.

There was no mistaking that it WAS a prison. There were a couple windows, placed high and near the ceilings which were, in reality, little more than horizontal arrow slits. They let fresh air and light in, but any opportunity to climb through them would be laughable unless you had no bones in your body.

There was a table and some chairs, but they all seemed to be part of the floor. Some Earth type had managed to fuse the furniture down so it couldn't be removed or even moved.

And one shouldn't forget the guards. There were a dozen there, all with weapons, most with crossbows ready to fire upon anyone who acted unfavorably. One person had died thusly. His body had been tossed in a corner.

People were brought in one at a time, usually unconscious but sometimes drugged or even alert but bound and deposited in the room where they were left to their own devices, for the most part.

[Northen Light36]

Ralph bit his tounge to keep from moaning when he came too, his head pounding from the blow he'd taken. He knew better then to reveal he was awake until he'd figured out where he was and who'd hit him. Had a guard reconised him? Opening his eyes a crack, he peered through his lashes at his surroundings. High quality for a prison... Where is this place?

When two more people were tossed in the room, one unconscious and bleeding from a head wound, the other awake but tightly bound, it took all his self control not to cry out. Lady Acqua!

For her part, Acqua barely took note of her surroundings and didn't notice her fellow thief. Her focus had narrowed solely to her brother's state and she squirmed in her bindings, trying to get into a postion to treat Amaro's injury. She had been barely awake when their camp was ambushed and, to her disgust, she'd been taken out almost before she'd known they were being attacked.

Three earlier victims, still dazed from whatever had been used to drug them, sat quietly in a corner of the room. Phyllis was particularly focused on the body in the corner, her pale face making the black markings around her eyes stand out more then usual.

[Skittlebug]

Noa, a horned Beast, gets up from the corner where a younger rabbit Beast is huddled and starts to move over to Acqua, keeping an eye on the guards to see if they'll try to stop him from helping her.

Almost immediately after he stands up another prisoner is drug in. A large tiger beast, Belegite from the look of his clothing, is dumped in with the rest of them. A low growl escapes him as he hits the ground and he begins to show signs of coming to. In almost direct contrast, a young man is thrown in after him, small and pasty, and equally unconscious.

Savina, the young rabbit affinity who had been huddled in the corner with Noa, whimpers quietly at the sight of the larger Beast and hugs her knees even tighter.

[Kender Bard]

Another Beast is brought in on their heels; a winged woman of sorts. She was awake but bound and when they threw her in she cried out in pain. Blood stained her wings. Akilah shuddered in pain.

The guards eyed Noa suspiciously and they did raise their bows a bit but none shot. Yet.

[Skittlebug]

Noa scowls at the winged Beast, recognising her as a Belegite by her clothing just like the tiger. The two could stay tied up just as they were in his opinion. As the guards haven't done anything yet, he makes his way over to Acqua and starts working on her bindings.

Savina looks between him and the two Beasts near the door nervously and chews her lip. She wants to help but she's still to scared to get up, especially with more people being thrown in every minute.

For his part the tiger Beastlets out a growly moan and begins to strain against the ropes on his arms, rolling over to reveal a bloodied face.

[Kender Bard]

Some of the prisoners were kept bound but those who had proven to be more docile were untied. A few new people came in, still with the thugish look of guards, but armed with food instead of weapons. These men began to set down pots of stew and bowls and spoons on the table in the room. Those who were untied and awake were free to eat if they wished. There was even fresh, hot bread and wine.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua sighes a little in relief as Noa frees her from the bindings, which were so tight they'd left her wrists and ankles bruised and bloody. Luckily, her storm sign hadn't been damaged in her struggles. "Thank you," she murmured to her fellow captive, but kept her eyes wearily on the guards as she moved to tend to her brother. She relaxes a fraction when Amaro begins to stir. "No sudden moves, Amaro," she whispers to him. "I'm okay, but I think we're in trouble."

Ralph decided he wasn't gaining much from his pretence and so pretended he was just waking up, acting confused and alarmed by the situation, though in truth he was still considering the possiblity for escape.

[Skittlebug]

Savina is careful not to move as food and drink is brought in, but once the guards leave she eyes it longingly. Instead of getting up though she looks over to Noa, no less nervous.

Noa stays where he in, kneeling down beside Acqua and Amaro. Though he does nod to Savina, if whoever had thrown them in here had wanted them dead there wasn't much sense in giving them tainted food and drink. He glances around at the other captives, keeping an eye on the guards. They may have been brought food and drink, but more than a few of them are still bloodied and he wouldn't put it past the guards to add to that number. "Any idea what this is?" he mutters quietly, "No one else here does."

As the tiger Beast begins to come to fully he strains even harder against the ropes, beginning to growl fitfully. In his struggles he bumps the young boy roughly, who whimpers and opens an eye. Seeing the angry Beast beside him he yelps and scuttles back against the nearest wall before putting a hand to his head. "What is this?"

[Northen Light36]

"Not a clue," Acqua replies as she helps her brother sit up. "All I know is we were attacked while travelling and brought here." She glanced around, noticing the dead body, and grimaces. "Where ever here is. Amaro, are you all right?"

"Just a headache," Amaro replied, checking over his sister for serious injury before eying their surroundings. "Well I doubt they went to all this trouble to bring us here just for a meal. We'll probably find out soon."

Acqua sighed and nodded in agreement with her brother.

[Kender Bard]

One of the guards piped up with a leering grin. "Best eat up," he announced. "Might be the last meal you get in a long time. Maybe ever, heh heh."

The other guards chuckled at that as well, though they didn't relax their vigil.

Akilah snarled a bit. "Untie me and fight me like men, you cowards."

"I'm plenty man if you'd like to see," another guard sneered, to more chuckles as he grabbed at his crotch suggestively. Akilah glared and began taking survey of her surroundings as best as she could from her current position.

[Northen Light36]

Raylene sneered back at the guards as she moved to grab some of the stew for herself and the other two in her corner. "Thanks, but I wouldn't want to laugh and hurt your feelings," she quipped.

Phyllis managed a weak giggle, but the fire, Conleth, snapped, "Don't bait them, girl. You want to end up like him?" He nodded to the dead body in the corner.

"Sensible man," Amaro murmured under his breath and gave Acqua a look that said without words that she should keep quiet too. "You two hungry?" he asked Noa and Acqua in a quiet, but closer to normal voice.

[Skittlebug]

Noa pulls a face, but nods. "I suppose I am, Savina and I haven't eaten in some time. I'm Noa, by the way, Poldoran scout." He stands and offers a hand to help Acqua up.

Savina watches them for a moment, then makes her way to the table. She makes a bit of a face at the stew, but does her best to pick around the meaty parts.

The tiger Beast manages to work his way upright and glowers around at everyone. Though he is beginning to calm down, he certainly isn't going to ask for help from even another Belegite, let alone any of the others. He begins trying to work a claw into the rope.

The young man near the door blinks at everyone before pushing himself to his feet, still looking completely bewildered. "Where are we? Who are all you people?"

[Kender Bard]

"Careful," Akilah whispered to the tiger Beast. "They're watching." She was wriggling a bit too but trying to be discreet.

"We're the 'game keepers,'" one of the guards remarks, grinning widely. "The Warden'll be here shortly so eat up while you can."

[Northen Light36]

This lot grins too much, Acqua thought as she accepted Noa's hand up. The lack of agreeing sneer made her miss Pixie sharply for a moment. She could still 'feel' the cat vaguely in the back of her mind, but it seemed they were too far apart to share thoughts. "I'm Acqua," she told Noa. "My brother and I are Talen'sul mercenaries. Come on, I think we better eat while we can."

Amaro took his sister's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, and the siblings made their way over to get some of the stew and bread, but avoided the wine.

[Skittlebug]

One more Beast is thrown into the cell, unconscious. Noa stops at the sight of her and rushes over, "Officer Anwei?"

The tiger Beast, finally having hooked a claw into the ropes, pulls his arms in front of him and sneers. "Poldorans," he mutters, just loud enough for Akilah to hear, making it sound like a curse.

Apparently realising that no one is going to answer, the young man makes his way to the table as well, looking between Amaro, Acqua and the others. He's beginning to look less confused and more afraid.