The Art of Being a Boswell

Tidesweep
The ropes snapped back into place and her sidekick was free! Letting out a cheer, she nearly choked on it as the feather went into the bag along with the rest of the jewels. No! Tide needed that to save her friend. Hands clenched into fists as she looked around for something to help her. Her sidekick moved forward now that most of the jungle gym had been taken care of, but Tide didn't think that a frontal assault would work.

Nor did she think it would be a good idea to start singing.

Looking down at her belt, her eyes caught the grappling hook gun and then tracked to what it had done to the ropes. Did she have more left? Digging into the pouch, she had one left. One shot to make this work.

Digging through the belt to grab everything she needed, she started moving forward, tapping the last ball to the middle of the hook. "Stop! You aren't getting away!" Skidding to a stop, she lined up her sight with the blades of the cooper and fired. It would either work or it would fail and she would have to track the Jester down another way.

But she would get that feather.


Gertude

Gertude relaxed as the octophant didn't run her down, squishing her flatter than a pancake. Or a sheet of paper. She didn't really want to know which would be worse. Slowly lowering her hands, she glanced at the giant beast and her face went into one of awe. They were amazing! Simply amazing! She tried to commit as much to memory to show her companion later. They had to see this!

Realizing there was a pattern to the sounds now, Gertude tried to puzzle it out. What were they saying? She must admit that she was a bit at a lost. Puzzles in textile patterns were one thing, but speech puzzles something else.

Frowning as she caught sight of that rope, she started to approach slowly. Hand reaching out to lightly touching the rope and then her own hands going around her neck to mimic taking something off from there. Is that what they wanted? She would be more than happy to help the poor creature and her inner fire lit up to think that someone had decided to have this beautiful being as a pet and then...

She focused on keeping calm thoughts. Plenty of time for punching things later.

Fait

With that final detonation, the giant gave a last, groaning roar and slumped where it sat, arms falling to its sides limply.

Fait was victorious!

Returning to the ground would be simple enough without the flailing giant and the persistent wind to interfere. A few people would be emerging from a farmhouse a small distance away, far too distant for conversation and certainly having been in hiding from the giant for the battle. Fait had saved them!

That was amazing, my liege! complimented the Hippocampus as he returned, leaving the horse grazing placidly a bit behind him. I can only apologize for not being more of a help to you in the battle. Perhaps with more learning I will become stronger and able to help you more.

Whatever Fair might have said in response to that small speech would never be heard as the feather fluttered as if in a slight breeze with the scent of cinnamon and sunlight, and everything would go blindingly brilliant white.

And as they vanished from the scene the peasants approached the broken remains of their windmill, wondering what just happened.

((And you have completed your book! Please wait until the others have finished theirs, then you will see the results.))









Necthan

The Sherrif grinned broadly when he saw his nemesis seemingly so agreeable for the battle, and he poised his sword for a downward swing - but he caught only air as Nec went low, then was sent tumbling into three of his own men who were trying to flank the heroic Changeling from the strike to his legs! He cursed at them and shouted as he tried to untangle himself.

"Get him! Get that blasted Necthan!" Several guards tried to converge on Nec but loyal common folk began hurling anything that came to hand from rocks to weaponry and even a couple of barrels to slow them down.

"Oh, thank heavens you're alright!" Maid Marion praised when Nec reached her, looking at him with both gratitude and affection in her eyes; yep, she was smitten with her outlaw hero. Glancing at the crowd Nec would also see other people now fighting with blades and bows; his allies, he'd just know, having mingled with the crowd just in case something like this happened. But the question posed to her would have Marion a little confused. "I have something you require?"

Meanwhile in the royal box the Starmane-Caradras hybrid was now working to cover the lady-in-waiting's escape from the Prince, parrying the prince's attacks until the young, corrupt royal, fearfully realizing he was facing a superior opponent, fell back with cries for aid. The lady-in-waiting and the hybrid retreated, joining Nec and Marion in their temporary shelter.

Perhaps this is not the best of places for a discussion, the Hybrid panted, though the light of battle's thrill would be brilliant in his eyes. I fear we will be quickly outnumbered if we stay here. We should retreat to the woods!

"Aye," agreed the lady-in-waiting, "and take her ladyship with you at least – she will know no peace or safety with the Prince, not now!" All three would be looking at Nec for the word to run, and an escape plan.

((Last round for you! You have to get everyone out safely. The NPCs will follow your orders and the Merry Men you don't have to worry about; when you retreat they'll make their own getaway. Though you can use them for distraction as need be!))



Tidesweep

With the Hippogryph in pursuit the Jester wouldn't be keeping a super close eye on Tidesweep. Twisting around he threw a bag of marbles in the creature's path, tangling his feet up and sending his wings flapping haphazardly for balance. He didn't fall and was soon chasing again but it gave the villain something of a good lead. With a mocking laugh he vaulted into the open door of the helicopter and his minion at the controls started to maneuver the machine skyward.

"You lose this time, you caped troublemaker!" the Jester laughed, waving the bag out the door to taunt his foe. But his laughter was cut very short, turning to a noise of confusion as Tide fired the grappling hook gun.

The hook soared through the air and impacted at the base of the blades, the paint instantly starting to eat away at the metal with a hiss and a release of smoke. But that wasn't all – the hook itself had a long length of cord attached and as the rotor blades continued to spin rapidly it was wound around and around the motor and the blades, tangling them up. Between the two the helicopter began to wobble and spin about midair, coming down with crashing velocity! The copter tipped over entirely, the blades sheering into the roof and flying away to skid just shy of hurling off the edge. The pilot was sent flying onto the ground where the Hippogryph quickly pounced on him, using all four legs, both wings, and even a mouthful of shirt to hold him down.

Oh no you don't! Just stay down!

The Jester, similarly thrown from the open door he had been leaning out of, tumbled through the air and would've impacted the rooftop but for his legs getting tangled in the rope, leaving him hanging like a pinata, scraped and bruised but otherwise uninjured as it always seemed to happen. The bag of stolen jewels, and one precious feather, spilled over the roof all but at Tidesweep's feet as she came onto the rooftop.

"Curses!" the Jester cried, flailing and swinging impotent fists in the air as from somewhere below police sirens were heard. "Curse you and your annoying pest of a sidekick, Tidesweep! I'll win next time!" Granted, next time would probably come after a stint in prison, but it would at least be a few moments of peace.

And best of all, the feather was within Tide's grasp at last!

((You can conclude with anything you'd like, and I'll wrap your book then. Feel free to powerplay the police if you want, too.))





Gertude

The Octophant tensed briefly as Gertude approached, wary and clearly about to bolt - or attack – at the slightest untowards movement. But it didn't run, and even flinched when she touched the rope. But the gestures apparently got through for it lowered its head to let her remove the loop of hemp. It took a bit of loosening and adjusting to get it past the large ears and all the trunks, but finally it was away. The rope had been rather tight, and upon examination it would be clear that the thing had been around its neck for quite a while; it was weatherworn and frayed in spots like it had tried to remove the rope long before now but had been unable to.

Now free of its unwilling necklace the Oliphant took a deep breath, shaking its ears in seeming relief, then took a step back and trumpted in a tone that definitely would ring of exultation and freedom!

And from somewhere else, far away, would come a faint response in a like manner.

The Oliphant would raise back up to its impressive height, looking down at Gertude and the little Astrum, then take a knee once more, offering the feather it held in its trunk to her. Perhaps...a thank you gift?

Tidesweep

Tide would grin widely as her plan worked. Moving closer, she scooped up the feather and looked the Jester right into his eyes. "No you won't. Cause I will always be there to stop you." She glanced towards her sidekick, smiling. "And I will never be alone either. You might as well attempt to go straight, Jester. This whole criminal gig?" She would shrug slightly, looking down at the feather in her hand. "I don't think it is for you.

Gertude

Gertude wasn't a weaver for nothing. While challenging, she managed to get that rope off. Holding it in her hands, she didn't bother hiding the wide grin on her face as the octophant trumpeted their freedom. If she could have, she would have whooped in delight as well. Hands moving over the rope, she picked out the spots that were worn and frayed. Frowning, she would shake her head.

How could someone be so cruel?

Watching the beautiful creature, her eyes widened as they once again took a knee and offered...The feather! Reaching out slowly, she would take the feather and grinned. THANK YOU! She would shout the thoughts as loud as she could and she did her best to show her gratitude towards the octophant. This was going to help her friend so much!

"If you're going to address me properly, then call me commander," Fait told the hippocampus, looking him over with a critical eye. "You're far too used to those primitive weapons. If you're going to be of any use to me and thus to the empire, you're going to need to be put through some rather intense training. I do hope you won't disappoint me, Xyl. I do not take failure lightly, and neither should you."

Failure meant death on the battlefield and it was clear that Xyl wasn't used to real combat. Well, once he got used to proper Irken weapons and mastered the training simulations then that shouldn't be an issue. She could easily download them once she managed to get power running to her base and after that... Well, she would figure out how to leave this place with her new second in command and any other soldiers she managed to recruit while she was here.