auspex_caelo: (Explanation)
Stratos Caelus ([personal profile] auspex_caelo) wrote in [community profile] dear_mun2015-03-24 11:38 pm

(no subject)

Any attempt to find a face for me was destined to be futile. I confess that your struggle has amused me: after all, appearance will always be malleable. It’s enough not to look like a child or a knight.

But since we are here at last, I trust you will confine yourself to worthwhile interruptions of my duties. Should you feel the need to waste anyone’s time, you have our mutual friend to call upon. When you find means to further the Empire’s interests, I will be waiting eagerly.
zealots: (Warrior)

[personal profile] zealots 2015-04-01 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[You couldn't possibly understand, Stratos, coming as you do from a world where magic and its use are apparently commonplace enough for mages to be given rank and enlistment in a legitimate national army. He isn't even going to try to explain it to you.]

[But he knows that if he comes back from the wastes alone, with nothing and no one to show for his journey, that the bishops and cardinals, nay, even his fellow knights, will laugh off his story as madness. Falsehoods. The delusions of a man too long in the desert, seeing mages and bandits where there was only empty sand.

It matters little to him that his would-be proof personally disapproves. He has discharged his duty to the man by informing him of his intentions. Anything past that is a boon.]


You may attempt to stop me when the time comes for such. [Indifferently, as though he were asked whether or not rain would come.] Until then, though, you would be better served putting your energy and powers towards our common goals. We shall worry about the burning bridge when the time comes to cross it.
zealots: (Mission)

[personal profile] zealots 2015-04-13 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
[Bennet is... not relieved, precisely, because if Stratos had insisted upon resisting he would not have turned away from fighting him, aye, even killing him if he had to, but he does feel a certain tension leave his shoulders and a sense that this is, perhaps, the road better traveled. Having any ally, even a mage, is better than having no one at all.]

[Inclining his own head forward in acknowledgment, he relaxes from his ready stance at last and comes for, withdrawing from his tunic a cloth to wipe his sword clean with.]


Agreed we are then.

[And no, he makes no move to re-secure Stratos. The mage will have his chance to prove himself an ally. But he will be ready, and if there is even the first whiff of betrayal, he will not hesitate to strike this man down and carry him the rest of the way to the valley trussed and hooded.]

[He considers the bandit's body as he cleans his blade, nudging it over with his boot.]
This group was ill-equipped and iller-trained. Should we expect similar constitution from those at the camp?
zealots: (Zealot)

[personal profile] zealots 2015-04-13 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Bennet nods. The advice is sound, and truth be told, something he should have considered. Not that he would have just charged into the bandit camp with sword raised high in even the best case scenario, mind you. He is a man of passion, yes, but not foolishly so. Not at all.]

Aye, fools walk with their lips into fights which they know not, as it is written. We shall not fall prey to their mistakes.

[He considers the body on the ground for a moment, eyes lingering on their still-smoking hole. There's no doubt in him at all as to its source. He notes it without comment, boots the bandit's dead body back onto his face, and leaves it be.]

We will need to proceed more carefully going forward, I think. You know this area better than I, Stratos Caelus, so lead on.

[He'd had no problem with taking the vanguard before, when this man was his prisoner, but now that he is no longer such expects him to carry his weight. If there had been a question of his being able to defend himself, clearly it has been settled now.]
zealots: (Helios)

[personal profile] zealots 2018-12-23 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That flicker of amusement earns him a suspicious glance, as Bennet isn't quite sure what he said that was so amusing. But then they're moving again and his suspicion is left behind with the dead bandits. Though he senses no further danger for the moment, he keeps his sword drawn, eyeing potential hiding places in the manner of a man who has hunted bandits before.

He's not the only one it would seem, for the tribune catches the scent of their camp quickly enough. And while it's not much, it's still more fortification than he was expecting, given the poor fighting ability of the men he slew. The rocks the mage has brought them to provide excellent cover, but getting anything better than a glimpse of what they're up against is proving difficult.

So when Stratos proposes using his magic to get a better view Bennet does not object, though his lips do press together into a thin line. ]
... We do what we must. See what you can see and be quick.

[ It's as close as he can get to accepting the magical aid as necessary under the circumstances. ]



[OOC: Yes, I'm seriously tagging a 3+ year old scene. No, don't feel any need to tag back if this is (as it most likely is) past its sell-by date. I was just cleaning up my inbox, found this buried notif and reread this (actually really good!) scene. And when I saw you're still active with this character, I figured what the hell.]
zealots: (Zealot)

[personal profile] zealots 2018-12-25 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[As strong as Bennet's aversion to magic might be, his aversion to getting them both killed outweighs it. With just the two of them up against a bandit camp of unknown size, he would have to be a fool to turn away any possible advantage. And Straos has proven himself to be as trustworthy as he could ever expect a mage to be, although he suspects the man will try 'repairing their position' again should they encounter any of his comrades from this 'Imperial Legion'.

He doesn't need to see that blue glow to know it when Stratos draws the magic into himself; as with before, he can feel it, the hair on his arms standing up from such close proximity to the energy. He doesn't understand it, how he can feel magic without being a user of it himself, but this time he is grateful for the strange ability. If Stratos attempts to use some sort of magical signal to summon his fellow tribunes, he should sense it. ]


Thirteen. [ He repeats softly, his sword arm twitching slightly, almost in anticipation. ] And they don't suspect any danger yet, or they'd all be formed up and ready. Can that sight of yours see if they have any sentry hounds?

[ How Stratos answers that question will determine how he will have them proceed. At present he's inclined to lead them up to that post, kill the lone man the mage has seen and decide how to work their way through the camp from there. But that plan is dependent on no alarms being raised, and the smarter bandits he's dealt with used sentry dogs when they could. ]



[OOC: Same here, and getting your tag back made my Christmas morning so thank you for that! This really was a good scene, I can't believe I forgot it for literal years. It hasn't been often I've had the chance to play the pre-Exodus Bennet I originally created this journal to play, so rediscovering this was a highlight and I'm really looking forward to seeing where he and Stratos go from here.]
zealots: (At attention)

[personal profile] zealots 2018-12-26 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
[Well. Heretical though the practice of magic may be, he can no longer say it doesn't have its uses. A magic sight so finely honed as to even distinguish low beasts could come in very handy, particularly on the trek back to Paris. It's a pity that Stratos's prior allegiances will keep him from crossing over through the portal willingly. ]

Good. [He makes the declaration with a kind of grim satisfaction, looking up again the way the mage indicated their lone sentry waits.] We'll find a way up to that post in the rear then. Stay close to me, I don't want you getting within range of the archers.

[Perhaps the additional instruction isn't needed, given the field experience Stratos spoke of earlier. Still, the tribune is a mage first and foremost. It's hard for Bennet to see the man as a true soldier, even if he apparently holds such a rank.

At the additional information, he pauses and glances back, dark eyebrows lifted. ]
Traps...? I see the bandits of this land have a touch more cunning than the ones of my own. [The tiniest flicker of a smile dances across his mouth, but then it is gone and he nods in stern acknowledgment ] Very well. A step behind me, and mind your surroundings.

[He starts moving at that, taking his own advice and being careful to watch his step. ]
zealots: (Warrior)

[personal profile] zealots 2018-12-26 03:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Bennet's estimation of the mage, slight as it is, rises a notch when the man makes no objections and does as he is instructed without complaint. They have no time to spare on petty squabbling, and he's glad to see that Stratos appreciates that. Sheathing his sword for better balance, he leads the way with much more caution than he exercised earlier. The back path they tread is steeper than the path they followed to get here, the rocks more treacherous, but the real reason for his caution comes from the warning Stratos gave him.]

[And a prudent warning it was, for after a few minutes or so of careful trekking he spies the telltale signs of a tripwire, throws his hand out to stop Stratos only to find the mage had already seen it himself. He might have found the notion of trap-laying bandits amusing earlier, but he's not smiling now, and his jaw sets as he moves with infinite care over the deadly cord. Cunning bandits indeed, for the tripwire is strung along a place in the path where the boulders are too high to be climbed over, leaving the only way forward over or through. Having seen this, he guesses any other tripwires will be strung across similarly difficult-to-pass locations, and fortunately for the both of them he is right. Perhaps not so cunning after all.]

[There are still the lookouts to beware of, and he stays low to minimize their chances of being spotted. Properly trained sentries would likely have still seen then, for the back path hardly provides any cover, but the typical outlaw disinclination for discipline works in their favor.]

[True to form, their target isn't even on his feet, but instead is just sitting at a table and grousing. Smiling tightly, Bennet holds up a hand in unspoken command for Stratos to wait, and when the mage stills he draws the knife that he commandeered from him earlier and silently approaches their man. Grabbing him from behind, he claps one hand over the bandit's mouth and with the other slits his throat in one quick fluid motion, leaning his struggling victim over the table so that none of the outlaw's blood spills across the ragged leather tunic he wears.]


Search him. [The bandit never got a chance to make more than few muffled shouts, but just the same Bennet leaves him where he is and quickly looks back down the post, making sure those two men Stratos mentioned being closest to this one aren't coming.]
zealots: (Fellowship)

[personal profile] zealots 2018-12-28 03:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[Though he much prefers to kill fairly and with honor, the shameful truth is that this isn't the first man he's slain like a common cutthroat from behind, nor is it like to be the last. Taking cover behind a tree that only barely conceals his tautly muscled frame, Bennet stills and listens intently to the voices from below, returning Stratos's knife to his belt and drawing his sword from its sheath.]

[The conversation he hears is close enough that he could probably advance and be upon the two bandits before they knew what was happening. But such rash action would quickly rouse the entire camp, and even his skills aren't up to fighting off a dozen men all at once. He stays where he is, eyes flickering over to Stratos, and at the mage's suggestion he nods.]


Best ready that stoneflesh spell of yours. [Not just for the archers; the next few minutes will likely get very chaotic, and he doesn't want to worry about some desperate bandit trying to take Stratos hostage in the confusion. The second bandit is ambling his way up the trail now, his axe drawn but swinging casually at his side.]

'ey, Joven! You alive up here? You better not have gone and dozed off on watch again, the boss'll have your head for it this time... !!!

[This wordless exclamation of shock is brought on by Bennet stepping out from behind the tree before him, as suddenly and startlingly as a lover aiming to surprise his lady. But instead of a bouquet of flowers his gift is the point of a sword, thrust through the weedy outlaw's chest before the man can do anything more than start to raise his axe and suck in air to shout. Bennet lets the bandit fall, then spares one more glance back at Stratos.]

Don't betray me, Tribune. [A warning and an admission: by trusting Stratos with this he's effectively placing his life in the mage's hands, and should he fail to keep his end of the bargain Bennet will find himself shot to pieces in very short order. But he's giving his new ally his faith, and so there's no hesitation in him as he charges down the path, hoping to catch up to the chief and kill him before he realizes that his camp is under attack.]



[OOC: Apologies for the delay; I actually had this tag written up yesterday, but there was an outage with my Internet provider that lasted all day.]
zealots: (With a mighty hand)

[personal profile] zealots 2018-12-29 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Orcs don't exist in the world that Bennet calls home, so when he leaps down from the rocks and finds himself faced with one, he's taken aback for the briefest of moments. But then the grey-skinned creature is swinging its greataxe at him and discipline takes over as the knight dodges back and circles around the hulking chieftain, aiming to take advantage of his greater speed and the slower swing of his enemy's weapon. This orc is chief here for a reason, though, and for the first time Bennet finds himself faced with an opponent equal to his own ability. He feels the now-familiar tingle of Stratos drawing on his magic, but preoccupied as he is there's no opportunity for him to see what the mage is doing. Metal screams on metal as the finely-wrought Damascus steel of Bennet's sword lands a quick thrust, punching just through the Orsimer armor but failing to penetrate through to the flesh beneath.]

[This won't be a battle he will win easily. Knowing he doesn't have the strength to meet that greataxe in direct combat, Bennet takes to circling his foe, stabbing at any gaps in the armor that he can see, then darting back to avoid the greataxe's swing, forcing the orcish chieftain to keep turning and turning just to keep him in his sights. Back and forth they go and Bennet senses that it is working, the orc seems to be moving a little slower and his greataxe isn't rising quite so high when he raises it to swing. But their clash has more than attracted the rest of the camp's attention by now, and while no arrows seem to be flying his way he can hear the sound of boots on dirt as the bandits not otherwise distracted rush to help their leader.]

[Bennet grimaces, breath hissing between his teeth. Against the chieftain alone he could have kept this up but if he remains locked in this combat he will be a dead man. Against his warrior's urge to see the chieftain on his back he forces himself to break away, just in time to meet one, then two of the bandit reinforcements, greasy humans each armed with iron maces. They swing at him, hoping to trap him between them, but as with their chieftain he dodges their blows, moving to the right so that the sun is at his back and swinging his blade sideways to take off top of the closer bandit's head, splattering the other bandit and Bennet himself in a splatter of blood and brains.]

[Three bandits are now two, but the dead one bought his chieftain time to recover, and Bennet can hear still more coming. Skilled though he is, he might not survive this without some assistance from the unseen Stratos.]
Edited 2018-12-29 21:22 (UTC)