Redcap Raid!

[abyssbound]

Who: Anyone who wants in on the raid
Which: Open mingle log
Where: One of the redcap-infested ruined castles in the wildlands. More information in This OOC post!
What: An assault on one of those troublesome iron-thieving Redcap hives
Warnings: Violence. So much violence.


[As noted on the Dream Board, Redcaps have become a serious problem of late, filching all the iron they can find and creating a severe shortage of the critical material. Asura has spent the last few days recruiting people to launch an assault on the largest hive in the arean; a large ruined castle in the wildlands where much of the stolen iron has been stashed.

Today is the day of the raid, and Asura gathers the recruits in a clearing in the dense forests of the wildlands to brief them. He looks at each of the gathered recruits in turn before beginning his explanation on the plan...


Group 1

The scouting party will travel in pairs to survey the exterior castle grounds. This group should avoid detection if at all possible, but if spotted, then they should immediately neutralize any redcaps who find them to prevent them from alerting the others. If you find any traps that can be quietly dismantled, then do so, and mark the locations of those that can't be destroyed in your journals to let everyone else know where they are. Also note any entrances and exits you find, as this intel is crucial to the second phase.

After the scouting party is done with their survey, phase 2 involves setting up gunpowder charges around each of the discovered entrances, with the exception of a single doorway through which Group 2 will launch their assault. After setting a charge, note it in your journal, and once all charges are set, ignite them and retreat.

---

Group 2

With the fires started, the redcaps trapped inside the ruins are sent into a state of panic and confusion. This is the signal for Groups 2 to begin the attack, rushing into the ruins through the single remaining entrance.

Once inside, you should be wary of any traps the redcaps have set. Falling rocks, log traps, and pit traps are all things to look out for, as well as magic--if it's in an Indiana Jones movie, it's probably here. Combatants will need to contend with these hazards as they clash with the redcaps themselves. As per Asura's order; show no mercy and leave none of them alive. The goal here is to completely purge the hive.

---

Group 3

As with any battle, there are bound to be injuries and casualties. Group 3 has set up a camp a short distance from the ruins with medical tents to tend to the wounded. There will need to be a few combat-capable people in this group as well to both guard it from attack from any redcaps who happened to be outside of the ruins, and also to run into the ruins themselves to look for any wounded who can't make it out on their own two feet.

Additionally, there will also need to be supply runners going to and from Reverein to transport food, water, and medical supplies--anything that the camp might need.

------

Once the raid is complete and the last of the redcaps slain, a large stash of iron ingots and tools will be found in an underground store room, along with several casks of wine.]

Comments

[shakra]

[ taishakuten is quiet for a moment when asura gently rebuffs him. of course, the wound would heal on its own; celestials like them are special that way, but to refuse even the slightest alleviation of the pain -- it's not quite pride, because asura will insist on cleaning it himself, too.

then it must mean that asura is very aware of what his touch entails, the deeper meaning of his gift. nonetheless, he does as requested, delicately but conscientiously cleaning the blood and the dirt, rinsing the towel in the basin to begin his task anew once he's halfway through.

he's intent, focused, but doing this gives him a chance to contemplate asura and his inscrutable ways. instead of querying his past again, however, taishakuten chooses to ask: ]

Will you tell me something about you?

[abyssbound]

[Despite how it stings, Taishakuten tending to his wound paradoxically relaxes him, and Asura allows his eyes to slip shut to... not quite enjoy it--for that would imply it felt good at all--but the mere fact that it's Taishakuten who tends to him is soothing enough that he could easily doze off like this.]

You should know that such an open-ended question won't get you an answer that will satisfy you. [Asura chuckles, eyes still closed.]

[shakra]

None of your answers have satisfied me.

[ taishakuten says archly, meeting his gaze levelly. ] I'm assuming this wouldn't be out of the ordinary.

[ he doesn't pause in his ministrations, tending to him with utmost care, his even tone giving away none of his frustration with the matter. asura clearly knows him and his past, and yet somehow there's a great big lock on it, forever just barely out of his grasp. ]

[abyssbound]

[Asura’s eyes open to meet Taishakuten's, and for a moment his easy smile fades into a frown. It only lasts a moment, though, before shifting into neutrality.]

Alright, then I'll tell you something about myself. [He winces a bit as Taisha's work on his wound stings for a moment, but this, too, passes quickly, and Asura continues.]

I was born in a poor village on the border of the Celestial Realm, and I'm a bastard.

[There, is that a "satisfying answer"?]

[shakra]

[ this, yes, now they're finally getting somewhere. taishakuten's expression flickers, shifting into one that indicates both his surprise and interest, because that is definitely something he can work with. asura illuminates him on his own life just a little more, and taishakuten is intrigued.

he gentles his touch at the wince, lighter, more careful. ]

What was it like?

[abyssbound]

[The laugh that escapes Asura then is both involuntary and wry, and makes the gash on his side ache.]

About as good as could be expected in a village on the boundary between the Demon Domain and the Celestial Realm. [That is to say, it was hell.] Suffice to say, I didn't grow up with much of a kind opinion on the nobility who did nothing to help us.

[shakra]

[ he frowns, just a little, before tending to the wound to help close it up quicker. asura shares the same poor opinion of the nobles as taishakuten does, but the problem is -- he's also a part of them.

then again, he's sure asura probably already knows. ]

I'm sorry. The nobles ought to have done more.

[abyssbound]

[Of course he knows. He knows even better than Taishakuten himself knows.]

Don't apologize. [He chides him with a small, soft smile.] You and the Wings did everything you could to help others living in those same circumstances. And in the end, you defeated the evil Mara, united the demons and Celestials, and brought peace.

[The bleeding has slowed now, no longer flowing freely from his wound.]

You're a good king, so don't apologize.

[shakra]

[ taishakuten is quiet for a moment, pausing when it looks like the blood seems to have slowed. he adds some pressure to it to help stop the flow entirely, contemplating his wound. ]

Word seems to have gotten around very quickly about that. [ he offers a small smile. ] We could have done with your help.

[abyssbound]

Are you surprised by that? [It's been a few months, at least. All of the Demon Domain knows the story by now.

The gash in his side as noticeably shorter by now, the corners gradually closing up. It still oozes blood and stings a bit when air hits it, but it's definitely looking better than it was.]

Sadly, I wasn't in any position to help.

[shakra]

[ taishakuten inclines his head briefly, and doesn't pry any further. he had promised, after all, and he's not inclined to have asura disappear if he digs too deeply. he reaches for a clean set of dressings, sealing it over his wound. ]

I understand. Perhaps when we return.

[abyssbound]

[Asura no longer flinches when Taishakuten's hands touch his wound. The pain is subsiding on its own, evidence that it will heal on its own given a few more hours. He watches Taishakuten's face as he thinks, observing every subtle quirk of lip or brow. He can't read minds like Taisha can, but at this moment, he suspects he can guess what Taishakuten is thinking.]

You won't remember when we return. [He points out.] And even if you did, I still won't be in any position to help.

[shakra]

...Why not?

[ is this breaking the promise? but how is he supposed to let this go? ]

[abyssbound]

[It's fine, Asura can continue to be infuriatingly vague.]

Because the place where I exist in that world is beyond the reach of even the Celestial King.