exsiliumlogs | [PLOT] That's no ordinary rabbit

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[PLOT] That's no ordinary rabbit

Date & Time: All day Friday, December 14th and onward.
Location: Initiate Hold
Characters: All
Summary: The plague has taken hold and there are rampant, angry undead critters running around! Better get rid of them quick, before you attract the Scourge Horde.
Warnings: Undead attacks, localized around cute woodland critters.

[The death tolls of all the woodland animals had come around the same time. Some lasted longer than others, but for the most part, it appeared that most of the sickly animals had passed sometime in the middle of the night. The next morning, transports would awaken to find their furry friends looking...well, less than furry. Their eyes glow a sickly yellow, patches of fur fall off their body, and they continuously cry for help.

Help from whom? You?

Or the group of rampaging ghouls charging toward you?]

[ooc: Original plot post is here!. If you would like me to NPC ghoul attacks in your thread, please mark your subject line with three asterisks. (***) Otherwise, feel free to do it amongst yourselves! Please note that I won't be able to NPC threads until tomorrow afternoon.]

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"We'll get there," he said grimly. It might wind up being by the skin of their teeth, but they'd do it. He was determined, and both were capable.

"Caltrops, which will be useless against them." Pain didn't slow or stop them. "And some smoke bombs. That will work to our favor." If they obscured their movement, they could make it further without being hounded by those drawn to motion. He hadn't used them up to this point because they were trying to keep sight of one another at a greater distance.

He reached into a belt pouch to take one of those up now.

They had to. She wasn't going to stop until they managed to kill her, if they could.

"I don't understand how they don't even seem to feel it," she muttered, a thought she wasn't keen on dwelling on for the moment. They had more pressing matters to attend to. She pulled out a small flask and checked it briefly, sniffing its contents. "I have a sticky trap. Probably won't do much besides slow them down while we keep moving." She didn't have enough to really do some damage, sadly, as she hadn't thought to bring more and there was no time to make any on the fly.

Elissa stepped forward to guard him as he worked, stepping forward only once to stab her blade into one's chest. She kicked the sword free and sent the creature tumbling into its fellows, slowing two others down.

"Think of it. The undead at home are no different. They keep coming until you hack them to pieces. They know no pain, no fear, only hunger for life." He glanced at the bottle and nodded grimly. "Save it for if we get overwhelmed."

He gave a quick look around and decided the first smoke bomb ought to go right ahead of them. "Be ready to run forward," he said. He only had three, not enough fully to cover the distance they needed to go. At least the wind wasn't blowing. He threw it hard and it burst, immediately releasing a billowing cloud of smoke that thickened by the moment. He waited for Elissa to take the lead, bringing up the rear to cover their flank.

"The dead back home are also typically long since dead and usually are skeletons. Not...this." What they were witnessing was a true abomination of nature, worsened only because she knew a friend had been reduced to a shambling horror of their former self. But she nodded mutely, tucking the flask back into her belt, steadying herself.

Elissa didn't waste time, rushing forward the moment the smoke began to thicken. The haze of smoke was enough to keep their assailants from immediately retaliating, sight obscured. She didn't waste time trying to kill them as she went. They'd be taken care of if there was no other option.

"True, although I've seen a few more freshly dead possessed corpses in my time." It wasn't the sort of thing one ever truly got used to, any more than one got used to darkspawn. It had to be approached the same way as any other threat. Methodically and without sentiment.

He followed closely behind, only having to turn once to lop off an arm of a creature that snagged him by the back of his cuirass. He ran with her as far as they could, all the way to the edge of the smoke haze. It was clear enough there that they had enemies closing again.

"Fight a few, and then I'll throw another. We're going to have to clear some of their numbers on the way." He turned to engage one that lunged at him with its hands curled to claws. He kicked at it, causing it to release noxious breath directly into his face. Turning aside, he involuntarily gagged.

"I don't think I want to know the circumstances involving that." Darkspawn were one thing. She couldn't yet discern if she thought the walking dead were more bloodcurdling than the Tainted who had lost all sense of self.

Elissa spun around when she heard him falter, prepared to step in, but he handled it just as well on his own. When the smoke cleared and they began to press in on them again, she was ready once more, striking out to keep them at bay.

"Just give me a warning when you do." Her blades went out, first together and then sweeping apart. She hardly stopped moving, wary of being caught unawares if she did. Her head turned when she heard him coughing and she pulled out one of her spare knives, tossing it at the one closest to her comrade. It didn't quite hit the mark, lodging itself in the underlying tissue of the creature's eye socket, but it kept it away from Duncan long enough for him to recover.

"I'm sure you don't." Not all of his stories from his past were entertaining or things he'd ever readily share. It was safe to say that most weren't.

He recovered himself fairly quickly, still coughing but able to coordinate himself again. He sheathed one of his own blades and pushed and twisted the dagger. The creature dropped, and he yanked free the weapon. Jamming it into his belt, he drew his own much longer dagger again to continue fighting.

When it seemed they might get overrun once more, he took out the second smoke bomb. "Distance throw," he warned her. "We're going to have to sprint for it." Without further delay, he reared back and threw the pellet. It exploded and began releasing its contents. He eyed the best path to it and began to run, weaving, bashing, and slashing as he went. Once more he was no longer focused on taking them down, just getting them out of his way. He kept his eye out for Elissa, as well.

Elissa kept her back to his, knowing they could better fend for themselves if they could cover the entire circumference of their fighting range and keep any foe from venturing too close. It was difficult to stay in that circle, as she stepped out often enough to engage one or two and push them back, but she always came back to her place, not wanting to expose either of them for very long.

She didn't look back when he called to her, taking one more head off while she had the chance. "I'm right behind you," she called and when she turned her head, she saw him throw. She was hot on his heels as he moved, never slowing longer than it took to push one of them out of her way. Occasionally, she swiped her blades out only to take off the hands that tried to grab her, leaving them somewhat helpless to cause too much damage.

Once they reached the smoke, she rushed into it, finally coming up beside Duncan. Past the cloud, the path was a little more clear, but she could spot the throng of undead just before the doors of the Hold in the distance.

He was getting too old for this, but damned if he was going to say anything about it. He took the opportunity to catch his breath a little, keeping his voice down. "I have an idea for that trap of yours. I can lure them away from the door. You can lay a line about maybe...fifty feet from it, then I'll bring them back. It should slow and tangle them enough that not only will we make it inside but others still alive could get past." He knew the substance's hold wouldn't last forever. He hoped that if enough of them became stuck in it, they would also incapacitate one another trying to pull free.

"Take this." He reached to give her the final smoke bomb. "Use it as your cover when you're setting the trap. We can both slip inside without being seen or having them rush the door again."

It was a solid plan, to be certain, and she nodded decisively as she went. Her hand went to her belt to feel for the flask, fingers closing around it as she tilted her head up to assess the trouble at the Hold. She turned toward him. "Just be careful. Please." It didn't need to be said. Losing him a second time would be so much worse now that she'd gotten to know him outside of their cause.

She took the final smoke bomb and tucked it away for the moment. "I'll make any second you give me count. Don't be too long."

"When am I not?" It was a light tease, the intention to put her more at ease. He tightened his grip on his weapons and darted out from the cover, spinning and flashing them through the air. He was too covered in gore to catch much light. It was enough to get the mob coming in his direction.

He angled away from Elissa and the door, off to the west where a street light would call even more attention. He couldn't run too quickly, or he knew he'd lose their interest. It was a fine line between baiting and engaging. All the while he looked through the throng to gauge Elissa's progress.

No matter how light he was on his feet or how swift, he wasn't able to avoid engagement altogether. As he had when they were on the move, he crippled those he didn't need to kill. If he had the chance, he would finish the job on his way back to the Hold.

Her smile was crooked and hardly there, and she allowed him to go without any more pleas for his safety. He could handle himself. She just had to convince herself that she didn't need to watch every step he took in the process.

She rushed up to the Hold as instructed, blades out and ready for the few she knew she had no choice but to engage and put an end to. Elissa had the element of surprise on her side, able to kill one before any of them even noticed. Two others rushed her and she had a more difficult time killing them, one getting close enough to nearly touch her armor before she took off its head. The others had followed Duncan away, giving her time to set up where she needed to put her trap. The flask was opened and its contents emptied in a half-circle away from the Hold, angled to catch even the few stragglers who would come around the side. It was an obvious trap if observed at the right angle, perfect for their shambling adversaries to fall into but not so difficult that an ally would trip into it.

Once she was ready, she put two fingers to her lips and whistled loudly for Duncan. "Here!" she called, grabbing out the smoke bomb. She gave him ten seconds to register her shout before she tossed it down, cloaking herself and the trap she'd left behind.

His muscles burned with fatigue, every swing of his daggers feeling more weighted than the last. It reminded him yet again of Ostagar, a protracted fight against an implacable foe of immeasurable number. No matter how many he cut down they kept coming. In his mind's eye he saw Cailan go down again, a moment of distraction that nearly got him bitten.

Elissa's whistle could not have been more opportune or welcome. He shoved his way through two trying to close on him from the front and ran again, faster now. He wanted some of them following, not all. He picked up speed before reaching the edge of the trap, sheathing his daggers and gathering himself to hurtle through the air across it in a tremendous leap.

He hit the ground in a roll, coming back up to his feet and all but slamming into the wall before him. His breathing was ragged and harsh. "Inside," he gasped, wasting no time in reaching for the door to yank it open.

She held her ground for as long as possible, afraid that if she made a beeline for the door, he'd be left behind in the smoke and she'd lose him. Elissa kept one blade out, the one not covered in flame, in preparation for any fight that managed to slip through the smoke and the trap itself. When Duncan finally was able to join her, she turned and went for the door, helping him tug it open. She gestured for him to go first and she grasped the door handle to pull it closed behind them, all too glad to get inside.

Elissa turned and took him by the arm, leading him away from the doors and the windows so they wouldn't be spotted by the undead outside and followed. She didn't take him far, just to one of the alcoves near the door and out of immediately line of sight, wary that they perhaps stumbled into a much more dangerous situation inside. Her footsteps were silent, practiced, and she all too gladly took the moment to catch her breath. "Are you all right?" she asked softly, gaze riddled with concern.

He followed her in, allowing the guidance. He was too winded to do much else. Once they were in the alcove he stretched both arms up to expand his lungs further and allow him to recover himself faster.

"I'm fine. Just need to catch my breath." Sweat plastered his hair, and he could feel it running down the backs of his knees, one of the few places his armor didn't have his clothing compressed tightly against him.

"This place may not be safe, either." He leaned to glance warily down the corridor before going back into concealment again. "At least we're good here for the moment."

"Take your time," she said, voice hushed in the hallway. There were no sounds for the moment but the Hold was large enough that if there was anything going on, it could easily have been muted down a corridor further away. She set her hand on his shoulder briefly and then straightened, looking out to ensure they had the time to take the reprieve he required. "We probably have a few minutes at least," she agreed.

He'd done enough. She needed to help. "Give me a few minutes. I'm going to scout ahead. If I'm not back in five, well..." She half-smiled. "Assume I'll be back." She wasn't going to take long, not under the circumstances.

Elissa slipped off down the hall, moving as quickly as she could afford without making any sounds. Once far enough away from Duncan's hiding spot that she wouldn't draw attention to him, she pressed against the wall. It wasn't too long before she heard the crunch of footsteps. A glance around the corner gave her a visual on the ghouls that had congregated in one of the side halls, lingering without purpose. They seemed directionless and muted, never looking her way. She went back to Duncan's side.

"There's about five down one of the halls nearby. They don't seem to be hunting like the others were. Maybe they're waiting for something."

He nodded, continuing to take deep, even breaths until some of the burn in his muscles eased back again. When she left, he kept an ear out and a silent count of the time. He took the opportunity to give himself a quick equipment check, making sure his armor was still secure, that no straps were broken, and that he still had his belt pouches intact.

He recognized the soft scuff of her boots when she was nearly on top of him again. He knew the dead would never approach with such stealth. "Damn. Here." He offered her her dagger back.

"I have a few throwing blades. Maybe we can pick them off before they become aware of us. I wish we knew more about how this happened, or why."

She took the blade and slipped it into the small sheath on her belt, adjusting her bracers while she had the moment to do so. They would need to be at their best for the close-quarters combat they were about to enter into. "I hate to wonder...but I never could tell where those animals were coming from. You don't think the Initiative was giving them to us, do you?" It was a foolish notion born out of paranoia, she knew. Who would try to kill their own recruits? "Or the United Earth, perhaps?" Neither were pleasant options.

Once she'd adjusted her armor, she finally nodded. "Picking off a few at least would give us the advantage. I just hope there aren't more so close by, or killing those five will draw more to us." It couldn't be helped, she realized, but it would be difficult.

"If they did, it wouldn't be the first time one of their number has done something to jeopardize the safety of the transports. Possibly a rogue researcher? I'd be more inclined to believe United Earth," he said, speaking too softly for his words to carry beyond the alcove.

"Before we engage, we need a plan of retreat. I don't wish to become boxed in. Let's check out the nearest office. I noticed the door when we first came in." If it was locked, all the better. It likely meant none of the creatures were inside, and they could retreat to it in stealth once they picked the lock if they needed a place to lie low.

"Killing off recruits is simple stupidity. Even when they've put us in what seemed like mortal danger, we were never in any trouble." Though that said nothing for the emotional impact for what was done to them. The VR program was a thing of the past, but it was a very clear reminder that they were helpless when it came to the Initiative if they 'made a mistake'.

Elissa nodded, slipping a hand back into her belt to make certain she still had some equipment to use against whatever they found. "Let's take a look. I know there are a few other rooms we can use, too, if things go bad." The training room probably would be overrun. A shame.

"Agreed." It was one reason he didn't think it likely that the Initiative was behind this particular attack. He decided they could spend more time working all of that out later, after it was over or they and others fighting had managed to cut undead numbers down to manageable sizes.

He plucked his lock picks from beneath a vambrace and started forward silently. As soon as he came to the door in question he took a knee and got to work. "At least all of their locks aren't electronic," he murmured.

He felt the telltale click that let him know he had succeeded and carefully twisted the knob. "We're in. Look sharp."

She followed him, turning once he went to one knee and drew one of her blades, ready to protect him if they had visitors. Elissa snorted beneath her breath. "I say that to myself every time I find one that's easy to break into."

A glance was sent over her shoulder and she nodded, at last moving so she could partially face the door in front of him. "Go ahead. I'm right behind you."

"I wonder if they teach classes on electronic lock picking," he said, being only half facetious. "Could come in useful on our missions, too." That would be how he justified it were he ever to propose such.

He nodded and carefully pushed open the door, keeping his hand on the knob in case it squeaked so that he could control it. The hinges were silent, the office almost pitch black. That was good. It meant it didn't have a window to the outside.

He crept in on a knee and immediately shifted to the side against the wall, giving Elissa room to follow. The doorway was a kill zone, always, never a place to linger. He needed time for his eyes to adjust before he would think of attempting to move further. The office was perfectly quiet. He chose to take that as a good sign, finally sliding forward with one hand out.

A few paces away he felt the smooth side of a desk. He felt up it to the surface, objects just a few inches from the edge. "Careful with this," he whispered. "Don't want to knock anything off." He continued to follow the contour around until he reached a chair. From that he stretched out a leg. "Cabinet or wall not far from behind here," he added.

"Search to your right. See if the wall is solid or if there's another door. I'm going to your left."

It would probably be something to look into. But that wasn't a thought that lingered too long at the forefront of her mind. She could return to it later.

Even in the dark and with the threat of the undead weighing heavily upon them, Elissa had the capacity to at least appreciate Duncan's skill and his slow and subtle movements. While she couldn't directly follow in his footsteps and mostly wasn't meant to, she still mimicked the motions. One hand was out to guide her, sliding along the surfaces he pointed out under his breath. She didn't respond, silent as the grave until he instructed her otherwise.

Carefully, her hand went out. Fingers brushed along the smooth contours of wood. She thought it was simply a wall. But then she felt the catch of a handle and settled her hand there. "A door," she whispered. It was unlocked, more than likely a closet. She brought her blade down only so she had the room to move to one side of the handle. With care, she opened it, looking inward for signs of movement and bracing for an inevitable strike. None came, the closet practically empty save for a few boxes of papers.

He slid to his right until he contacted the wall. Aside from storage and something he couldn't begin to identify in the darkness, he felt no doors there. He waited and listened for anything further from her. "Does it open outward or inward?" he asked after a reasonable amount of time.

He started moving toward the back wall to check it thoroughly. If there were no other ways in or out, it would make it a decent place to hide if they weren't seen retreating to it, not so great if they were seen. He didn't trust there to be anything in the ceiling strong enough to bear their weight and didn't want to spend time crashing through it to test that theory.

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