02-11-2018, 01:34 AM
(This post was last modified: 02-11-2018, 02:26 PM by King Ghidorah.)
The elven sentry, caught flat-footed with a blade menacing his violet neck, did as he was told. Carefully relaxing his draw, the bow-and-arrow tumbled from his hands to disappear among the ferns with a whispered rasp. His sister hesitated, obviously seething - but unfortunately her brother was between his captor and her bow.
From behind an amiable mask, completely at ease but ready to act, Kelly studied the shinobi.
Short hair, simple clothes, emphasis on ease of mobility over defensive utility. Moves like a dancer; phenomenal muscle tone - probably better fed than he's trying to appear... was he posing as a Darkshire farmer or a Camelot serf? It has to be one of the two. Magnetic fields indicate concealed blades, though the specifics and locations are hard to resolve. Hm; Some sort of stochastic interference there...
...Interesting, but probably not relevant right now.
His thoughts are highly organized, which I guess isn't a surprise. He knows exactly what he's doing: he really will kill that elf, if only to even the odds a little if this comes to a fight - but he's also paranoid, and just a little bit nervous. He wasn't expecting anyone to be here... and he doesn't know anything about me.
"If you kill him," said the elven woman, "I have no reason not to shoot you, ninja."
The hostage-taker's expression didn't change. "You'll miss," he said, without a hint of uncertainty. "Now drop your weapon. I will not ask again."
Kelly sighed, his attention flickering to the Prime who had come through the gate at the ninjas' heels. Though currently unarmed she was dressed for battle, obviously wounded, and just as obviously out of her depth. A deep purple-green band of sorrow and anger snarled across the surface of her generally stalwart thoughts, tapering off into a kind of tired confusion.
If I had to guess, and I do, I'd say she came out on the wrong side of a fight.
"I'd like to point out," said the traveler, resting his quarterstaff across the side of his neck, "That including the woman you're all arguing over, this is a four-party negotiation."
As he talked, he reached out with his mind, locating the male elf's dropped arrow among the ferns.
All three secondaries looked at him, though the elf with the kunai at his throat only moved his eyes.
"She only makes three. I thought you said you were just passing through," said the hostage's sister. "What is your interest here?"
Carefully maintaining an impression of outward interest in the ongoing standoff, the psychic began to telekinetically maneuver the discarded missile through the undergrowth, working it carefully through the tangled fronds until it lay behind the ninja. When that was accomplished, he began a similar effort to maneuver his abandoned axe out of its harness and near to the enraged elf - a considerably more complicated task to accomplish with any subtlety.
"Utility," he answered honestly, even-toned and approachable. He made a point of not gritting his teeth - ferns were rustling, in spite of his best efforts; He hoped that the breeze was enough to hide it. "This situation is getting out of hand, and I'd rather see everyone involved discuss it rationally; I spent a considerable chunk of my yesterday fighting androids and mutants, and while admittedly bracing that's a job which makes a person long for civil discourse. It's clear that none of you trust each-other, so I'd like to offer my services as a mediator - but first, I'd appreciate it if all of you lowered your weapons."
The other Prime spoke up, meeting his gaze with her own. "Your words are wise, stranger," She said. "I would see no further blood shed this day without cause."
The elf-woman and the shinobi exchanged glances. Wondering if he was going to have to hamstring someone in the name of civility, and with the tools in place to do it, Kelly could see the moment of decision begin to flicker across their brains.
From behind an amiable mask, completely at ease but ready to act, Kelly studied the shinobi.
Short hair, simple clothes, emphasis on ease of mobility over defensive utility. Moves like a dancer; phenomenal muscle tone - probably better fed than he's trying to appear... was he posing as a Darkshire farmer or a Camelot serf? It has to be one of the two. Magnetic fields indicate concealed blades, though the specifics and locations are hard to resolve. Hm; Some sort of stochastic interference there...
...Interesting, but probably not relevant right now.
His thoughts are highly organized, which I guess isn't a surprise. He knows exactly what he's doing: he really will kill that elf, if only to even the odds a little if this comes to a fight - but he's also paranoid, and just a little bit nervous. He wasn't expecting anyone to be here... and he doesn't know anything about me.
"If you kill him," said the elven woman, "I have no reason not to shoot you, ninja."
The hostage-taker's expression didn't change. "You'll miss," he said, without a hint of uncertainty. "Now drop your weapon. I will not ask again."
Kelly sighed, his attention flickering to the Prime who had come through the gate at the ninjas' heels. Though currently unarmed she was dressed for battle, obviously wounded, and just as obviously out of her depth. A deep purple-green band of sorrow and anger snarled across the surface of her generally stalwart thoughts, tapering off into a kind of tired confusion.
If I had to guess, and I do, I'd say she came out on the wrong side of a fight.
"I'd like to point out," said the traveler, resting his quarterstaff across the side of his neck, "That including the woman you're all arguing over, this is a four-party negotiation."
As he talked, he reached out with his mind, locating the male elf's dropped arrow among the ferns.
All three secondaries looked at him, though the elf with the kunai at his throat only moved his eyes.
"She only makes three. I thought you said you were just passing through," said the hostage's sister. "What is your interest here?"
Carefully maintaining an impression of outward interest in the ongoing standoff, the psychic began to telekinetically maneuver the discarded missile through the undergrowth, working it carefully through the tangled fronds until it lay behind the ninja. When that was accomplished, he began a similar effort to maneuver his abandoned axe out of its harness and near to the enraged elf - a considerably more complicated task to accomplish with any subtlety.
"Utility," he answered honestly, even-toned and approachable. He made a point of not gritting his teeth - ferns were rustling, in spite of his best efforts; He hoped that the breeze was enough to hide it. "This situation is getting out of hand, and I'd rather see everyone involved discuss it rationally; I spent a considerable chunk of my yesterday fighting androids and mutants, and while admittedly bracing that's a job which makes a person long for civil discourse. It's clear that none of you trust each-other, so I'd like to offer my services as a mediator - but first, I'd appreciate it if all of you lowered your weapons."
The other Prime spoke up, meeting his gaze with her own. "Your words are wise, stranger," She said. "I would see no further blood shed this day without cause."
The elf-woman and the shinobi exchanged glances. Wondering if he was going to have to hamstring someone in the name of civility, and with the tools in place to do it, Kelly could see the moment of decision begin to flicker across their brains.