OOM: Arkngthand, 8 First Seed, 3E 428

[moonandstar]

They emerge from the bar onto an ancient bridge, made of a metal that Ibani won't be able to identify - but clearly the work of an advanced and accomplished civilization. It bridges the foyada, high and deep on each side.

They won't have time to admire it, however. Because there's a bald Imperial in an iron cuirass standing at the other side of the bridge. He conjures a skeleton warrior, who charges toward them as its master launches bolts of lightning at them.

Comments

[last_kallig]

"Not if we enter concealed before they start clearing the place," she agrees.

She pauses. "Or I MAKE a door with my lightsabers, but I think that might draw attention from the authorities."

[moonandstar]

"No, the first idea was better."

Garyn smirks, and leans in for a kiss.

"I shouldn't find it so attractive when you're plotting murder, but I do."

[last_kallig]

Ibani kisses him, gentle. They ARE in public. "You admire skill and efficacy, and murder is a field where I have both of those in large amounts."

She chuckles. "And you are very biased. I don't think you'd find plotting murder with another assassin of my skill level quite as stimulating."

[moonandstar]

"I'd have to see someone at your skill level first; I haven't yet. You're probably right, though."

Garyn kisses her again.

"I've a room at Eight Plates I'll be staying at. Or, we could go back to Milliways for a while..."

[last_kallig]

"We need time to pass here, so we might have to do both."

What they get up to in both places in nobody else's business, thank you.

The day comes, finally. Ibani sits on the edge of Garyn's bed in the Eight Plates, pulling on her boots. "Time to go to work."

[moonandstar]

Garyn straps on his scabbard, and holds the unlocking scrolls tight in his hands.

"Indeed. We've one scroll each for the front door, if need be, and one of the rented rooms to lay low in once we've gotten inside."

[last_kallig]

"Useful little things, though their existence must worry those who would rather things stay locked."

"Should have plenty pf time to pick starting spots. Try and take out any spellcasters first?" It's what SHE would do at home with Force users.

[moonandstar]

"If there are any," Garyn says. "The five prime targets aren't spellcasters, unless they're hiding a few tricks."

He steps out of the rented room and hands the key to the publican.

[last_kallig]

"I would, in their position," Ibani drawls. "For emergency use."

And Ibani and Garyn are DEFINITELY going to give them an EMERGENCY.

[moonandstar]

"I think they may be expecting other thieves and brigands," Garyn says.

"That will be their mistake."

[last_kallig]

"It's always nice when your enemies make mistakes," she muses aloud, cheerful.

[moonandstar]

"It is, but let's not celebrate before the job is done."

They creep together toward the cornerclub entrance under cover of the Force Cloak. Garyn has his Amulet of Shadows activated, just in case something should break Ibani's concentration.

Garyn creeps quickly behind a closing door as one of the guests leaves. Ibani should be able to hold it open long enough.

[last_kallig]

The door is easy enough to hold open just that little bit longer with the Force. Not enough to attract anyone's attention.

She assesses the place, counting how many 'people' she can feel in the Force, watching behavior patterns. It looks like things are going according to plan, so far.

[moonandstar]

They're able to slip down the staircase to the basement, where most of them will be filtering into. Garyn creeps around the bar and finds the door to a room. He turns toward Ibani, wordlessly asking if it's unoccupied. When he receives his signal, he waits for the barkeep's attention to be occupied.

[last_kallig]

At least they don't have to worry about droids!

Ibani nods when she senses the room is unoccupied, holds the technique and waits. Hopefully, it won't be long.

[moonandstar]

The last room is around the corner, down a set of stairs. They'll be well out of sight - enough, even, to leave the door open a crack as they sit on the bed and wait.

"We'll start up when it feels full to you," Garyn says, his voice low.

[last_kallig]

She smiles wryly. "Can't spend time in a room like this with you the way I'd like tonight. Shouldn't mix business and pleasure."

Her senses are mostly focused on the rest of the Bar. The place is filling up, if not as quickly as she'd like.

[moonandstar]

Garyn says nothing, but smirks and winks. It's nice to share little moments like this before killing.

Eventually, it will feel full enough for the moment to arrive.

Ibani will sense one person fairly close to the door, however. Close enough, perhaps, to strangle and silence using the Force.

[last_kallig]

Garyn will hear the muffled noise of the person outside the door's neck snapping as Ibani seemingly grasps and twists air.

It seemed as good a cue to her partner as any other that the slaughter is about to begin. She's all lethal grace as she stands, lightsabers in hand but unlit.

[moonandstar]

Garyn is out quickly, the Amulet of Shadows active as he slinks up the stairs.

They'd agreed on the plan earlier, based on the floor plan. Ibani would get in position at the top of the stairs to block any escape, while Garyn would wait behind, chop down any who try to hide, and ambush any who try to fight back.

He hides in position, just outside the entrance to the main bar room, and waits for Ibani to position herself and attack. All the while, the oblivious Tong members discuss business.

[last_kallig]

Ibani reveals her position at the top of the stairs by hitting the strongest looking Tong member with Force Lightning.

She has no intention of giving this lot anything but slaughter, so why bother with psychological attacks, with words?

They're not surprised long, she'll give them that. One tough looking customer is trying to charge up the stairs at her. Her lightsabers ignite with a snap hiss noise and she can SEE that none of the Tong entirely understand what they're looking at.

[moonandstar]

While they're busy gawking at the battlemage armed with gods-know-what, Garyn steps out from his hiding place with his terrible black sword drawn. He slashes through the hardened leather armor of his first target as though it were cheesecloth, and runs her through with a thrust. Almost with the same motion, he beheads the barkeep with a single swing of the mighty Daedric longsword.

The strongest of the lot, armored in bonemold, is charging toward Ibani. He likely thinks his sword, in a very skilled guard position, will be enough to stop her. In that he is gravely mistaken.

[last_kallig]

There's no reason for him to realize what, exactly, a lightsaber can do to ordinary metals.

One lightsaber moves in a slash, and if his block slows the blade at all it is near impossible for mortal eyes to tell.

The top half of him falls down the stairs as the bottom half collapses. One wonders what on Nirn any investigators are going to think of THAT body.

Her smile at Garyn's work is pride and vicious satisfaction. His skill in this art is a lovely thing to see. She doesn't move from her position. Any other Tong foolish enough to approach her are welcome.

[moonandstar]

There's a sight that many experienced soldiers are familiar with - the moment a battle turns into a rout. The moment when even the most hardened fighters on the battlefield despair of victory, or any survival that doesn't involve fleeing. It's a horrible moment. On a faraway world that neither of them will know, the Greeks would recognize two gods of that moment.

Luckily for all present, it won't last long here. But Garyn can see it on the faces of everyone in this basement bar, in the seconds they have before they die.

And then, there is silence.

[last_kallig]

"Lovely to see what you can do with Sholagmer," Ibani says, breaking the silence. "Do we need to cover our tracks in any way?"

Ibani has created a lot of corpses, in her time. The making of THESE didn't trouble her at all.