Fiamme goes from Charity Hospital to Lift, with help from the Watch
"Lady, I don't care if you double what the Duchess gave us we’re getting. We aren't going back out there." The mercenary sounds more tired than angry.
Navarre pauses on the edge of a building close to the hospital and calls to those outside. "Need assistance?" Navarre grins at Fiamme, recognizing the woman from a long time ago now it seems. His hand lifts into the air, hailing her respectfully.
Fiamme looks up, lifting one black gloved hand. "The Mandrake ... Watch Lieutenant, wasn't it?"
There is a flurry of activity as the mercenaries push back the next wave of bugs, then their leader calls, "If you take her off our hands I'll stand you a drink at Bloody's. I'll stand you two if you don't bring her back."
Navarre nods but then shakes his head, "No to the first, long story and not worth the time but yes to the second." He turns his head, this way and that keeping a watchful eye out, "How do you fare?" To the leader of the mercenary crew, Navarre grins and touches a finger to his eyebrow in salute. "We'll take her. Just get her up here with us."
Fiamme disappears for a short while, leaving the mercenary to relay his opinion of nobs from the upper city wanting escorts to and from the hospital. "Been many things in my life, but not yet reduced to being a hackney cab for the Parlour Knights." He spits.
Navarre watches Fiamme disappear but he addresses the unfortunate mercenary, "Don't worry man, we'll get her to wherever she needs to go and you can concentrate on avoiding becoming bug food." He holds up a length of rope, "We can haul her up if you just get her to the base of the wall. Also spread the word that the lift is being held by the Watch. Firebreaks are in place and if the word comes to evacuate, make your way to the lift and don't dawdle."
Minor milling about ensues as Fiamme returns with a ladder and a second man in the Order of Clarity livery, then the ladder comes toward the wall, then goes back inside, with a lot of swearing on the mercenaries’ part and more gently phrased argument from the knights. But eventually she's there at the base of the wall, grabbing at the rope, while the reluctant mercenaries keep the insects at bay. The other knight, it seems, remains posted at the hospital.
Fiamme says, "I appreciate this. I really do."
Navarre signals to his men and three of them haul Fiamme upwards. When she's close enough, Navarre reaches forward to hold out a hand to steady her over that last bit because the drop is a doozy. "Where do you need to be?"
Fiamme accepts the help, smart enough not to look down until she's got her feet firmly under her. "The Lift eventually."
Navarre grins and salutes the mercenaries down below, "Make sure to pass my respects along to Lord Valentine de'Mandrake and the Duchess if she's about. Won't you?" That might be tongue in cheek but the man nods before turning his attention to the bugs that are swarming forth. Remaining crouched for the time being, Navarre points in the direction of the lift and advises Fiamme, "It shouldn't be that difficult. We just need to move quickly and quietly. My men hold the lift, once we signal to them, it shouldn't take long to be lowered."
Fiamme nods, then says, "If we can detour past Fishcutter square I got news a couple of my men were helping citizens barricade the buildings against the bugs. I'd have thought they would have got out when the firebreaks went in but they haven't reported in. Could be cut off."
One of the other mercenaries salutes back. "Will do."
"Fishcutter square?" Navarre considers it and shrugs, "Why the heck not. Okay. Come on then." He turns and gestures to another building, one by one the Watch members leap across for it. Any bugs encountered along the way get squashed promptly.
The chittering and humming of insects is a constant distant background murmur below. Only the odd flying ones bother those above.
Fiamme makes the leap, landing a little heavily, but moving quickly, giving frequent glances below.
Navarre doesn't seem to mind this particular mode of travel. After leaping across to the next building, he gestures for those behind to make the leap as well. Each time Fiamme moves forward, he and two of his men get ready just in case. It wouldn't serve to lose her to the streets below given they now play escort. Doesn't hurt to have conversation either, "How many men did you say were out here?"
Fiamme seems unaccustomed to the jumps, and notably avoids looking down /ever/ as she does so, but is not out of breath at least. "Left one at the hospital. Saw two dead on the way from the lift. So, could be two more." Her tone is neutral.
Navarre would commiserate upon your losses but there just isn't time. "One more leap and we're there." He points out the next building, "We can scale down the wall from over there and find ourselves in the midst of Fishcutter Square. If you're men are still alive, we'll find them."
Fiamme allows a brief look of relief to cross her face at the news they are close. "I can call to them from up here. If they're here, they'll let us know -- no good going down there for corpses."
Navarre flashes a grin at Fiamme, "Don't worry about jumping, you'll get used to it. Maybe." He scurries away and leaps across the small gap towards the building he singled out.
Fiamme snorts, pausing before she follows Navarre. A gust of wind swirls around her, and she whispers something into it. It seems to snatch her words away. Then she's across the gap too, trying to be quiet on the tiles so as not to attract attention.
The other members of this small group spread out to another building and they crouch there in silence, alert for the presence of bugs and Fiamme's men.
Navarre glances across at Fiamme and gestures down to the ground below. Fishcutter's square is beneath them and if her men are here, now would be a good time to search.
OOC Note: Although not noted in poses, Fishcutter’s Square shows signs of having had Begmans through it. Charred bits. Smouldering bits. The smell of extremely overdone fish.
Seemingly in response to some unseen signal from Fiamme, one of the shutters below rattles, then opens for a second before closing again, too fast to attract any insect activity. Fiamme whispers, "Well. One at least alive." She edges along, further, until she's directly above those shutters, then whispers again into the wind.
Navarre perches quietly on the edge of the rooftop, shrugging in silent reply to a whispered question from one of the Watchmen. He nods to Fiamme and smiles at the news, one alive is better than all dead.
Fiamme whispers again, "Would you lower the rope? They have no way to talk back to me -- I wish I was a Trump artist at times like these. No way of knowing if it's one coming, two, or a whole group. Get ready to fight if we need to."
Another signal is given and the rope is lowered, the men and women within the group readying their weapons just in case. Navarre nods to Fiamme, "I know how frustrating that can be."
This time the swarms have time to notice, and begin moving up toward the shutters as they're flung open. Then a mailed hand comes out, and a man grasps the rope, and wraps his legs around it, as bugs boil toward him. Under one arm he's carrying the limp form of what looks like a ragged, dirty child of indeterminate age and gender.
"Pull me up!" the man shouts. Behind him, a woman screams, and clutches at his boots, then wails, "Don't take him away! Don't take him!"
"Pull!" The order is urgent and those manning the rope pull quickly and with force. The others prepare to fend off any bugs that might swarm towards them. The man on the rope finds himself being pulled upwards quickly.
Fiamme leans down and hisses, "Close the shutters if you're not following. Keep them out!"
The woman stares up at the people on the rooftop, and then with a despairing cry she bangs the shutters closed again, as a moving carpet of black cover them, trying to find a way into the building. They continue up toward the roof as that entrance is denied them.
"Back! Get back! Towards the lift." Navarre turns and points in the direction for his troops to move in. He swings his sword at some of the larger bugs swarming up the wall, knocking a few of them back down to the ground. Those pulling on the rope don't cease until man and child are dragged over the edge unto the surface of the roof.
Fiamme uses her sword as well, clearing the bugs as fast as possible. Short, efficient strokes, with little flourish to them. "Kieran," she greets the man, then eyes his limp burden. "Follow!" And she's off across the rooftops, sword out and gummy with bug byproducts.
Navarre cleaves a bug in half before turning to follow. He knows the layout of buildings better than any in his command, so he doesn't let himself fall behind those in front. Three others bring up the rear, doing their best to keep the bugs at bay before leaping clear. A few rooftops later and the lift is in sight. Navarre signals to Sergeant Gibbs who maintains the operation of the lift and the platform drops at speed. "Go well," calls Navarre to Fiamme. "We'll keep them from getting to you." He and the others of the Watch then concentrate on keeping a clear path for Fiamme, Kieran and the child.
Fiamme flashes a quick smile to Navarre and the men with him. "I owe you one, Watch Lieutenant."
Navarre spares half a second to salute Fiamme before turning his full attention towards the bugs.
Navarre pauses on the edge of a building close to the hospital and calls to those outside. "Need assistance?" Navarre grins at Fiamme, recognizing the woman from a long time ago now it seems. His hand lifts into the air, hailing her respectfully.
Fiamme looks up, lifting one black gloved hand. "The Mandrake ... Watch Lieutenant, wasn't it?"
There is a flurry of activity as the mercenaries push back the next wave of bugs, then their leader calls, "If you take her off our hands I'll stand you a drink at Bloody's. I'll stand you two if you don't bring her back."
Navarre nods but then shakes his head, "No to the first, long story and not worth the time but yes to the second." He turns his head, this way and that keeping a watchful eye out, "How do you fare?" To the leader of the mercenary crew, Navarre grins and touches a finger to his eyebrow in salute. "We'll take her. Just get her up here with us."
Fiamme disappears for a short while, leaving the mercenary to relay his opinion of nobs from the upper city wanting escorts to and from the hospital. "Been many things in my life, but not yet reduced to being a hackney cab for the Parlour Knights." He spits.
Navarre watches Fiamme disappear but he addresses the unfortunate mercenary, "Don't worry man, we'll get her to wherever she needs to go and you can concentrate on avoiding becoming bug food." He holds up a length of rope, "We can haul her up if you just get her to the base of the wall. Also spread the word that the lift is being held by the Watch. Firebreaks are in place and if the word comes to evacuate, make your way to the lift and don't dawdle."
Minor milling about ensues as Fiamme returns with a ladder and a second man in the Order of Clarity livery, then the ladder comes toward the wall, then goes back inside, with a lot of swearing on the mercenaries’ part and more gently phrased argument from the knights. But eventually she's there at the base of the wall, grabbing at the rope, while the reluctant mercenaries keep the insects at bay. The other knight, it seems, remains posted at the hospital.
Fiamme says, "I appreciate this. I really do."
Navarre signals to his men and three of them haul Fiamme upwards. When she's close enough, Navarre reaches forward to hold out a hand to steady her over that last bit because the drop is a doozy. "Where do you need to be?"
Fiamme accepts the help, smart enough not to look down until she's got her feet firmly under her. "The Lift eventually."
Navarre grins and salutes the mercenaries down below, "Make sure to pass my respects along to Lord Valentine de'Mandrake and the Duchess if she's about. Won't you?" That might be tongue in cheek but the man nods before turning his attention to the bugs that are swarming forth. Remaining crouched for the time being, Navarre points in the direction of the lift and advises Fiamme, "It shouldn't be that difficult. We just need to move quickly and quietly. My men hold the lift, once we signal to them, it shouldn't take long to be lowered."
Fiamme nods, then says, "If we can detour past Fishcutter square I got news a couple of my men were helping citizens barricade the buildings against the bugs. I'd have thought they would have got out when the firebreaks went in but they haven't reported in. Could be cut off."
One of the other mercenaries salutes back. "Will do."
"Fishcutter square?" Navarre considers it and shrugs, "Why the heck not. Okay. Come on then." He turns and gestures to another building, one by one the Watch members leap across for it. Any bugs encountered along the way get squashed promptly.
The chittering and humming of insects is a constant distant background murmur below. Only the odd flying ones bother those above.
Fiamme makes the leap, landing a little heavily, but moving quickly, giving frequent glances below.
Navarre doesn't seem to mind this particular mode of travel. After leaping across to the next building, he gestures for those behind to make the leap as well. Each time Fiamme moves forward, he and two of his men get ready just in case. It wouldn't serve to lose her to the streets below given they now play escort. Doesn't hurt to have conversation either, "How many men did you say were out here?"
Fiamme seems unaccustomed to the jumps, and notably avoids looking down /ever/ as she does so, but is not out of breath at least. "Left one at the hospital. Saw two dead on the way from the lift. So, could be two more." Her tone is neutral.
Navarre would commiserate upon your losses but there just isn't time. "One more leap and we're there." He points out the next building, "We can scale down the wall from over there and find ourselves in the midst of Fishcutter Square. If you're men are still alive, we'll find them."
Fiamme allows a brief look of relief to cross her face at the news they are close. "I can call to them from up here. If they're here, they'll let us know -- no good going down there for corpses."
Navarre flashes a grin at Fiamme, "Don't worry about jumping, you'll get used to it. Maybe." He scurries away and leaps across the small gap towards the building he singled out.
Fiamme snorts, pausing before she follows Navarre. A gust of wind swirls around her, and she whispers something into it. It seems to snatch her words away. Then she's across the gap too, trying to be quiet on the tiles so as not to attract attention.
The other members of this small group spread out to another building and they crouch there in silence, alert for the presence of bugs and Fiamme's men.
Navarre glances across at Fiamme and gestures down to the ground below. Fishcutter's square is beneath them and if her men are here, now would be a good time to search.
OOC Note: Although not noted in poses, Fishcutter’s Square shows signs of having had Begmans through it. Charred bits. Smouldering bits. The smell of extremely overdone fish.
Seemingly in response to some unseen signal from Fiamme, one of the shutters below rattles, then opens for a second before closing again, too fast to attract any insect activity. Fiamme whispers, "Well. One at least alive." She edges along, further, until she's directly above those shutters, then whispers again into the wind.
Navarre perches quietly on the edge of the rooftop, shrugging in silent reply to a whispered question from one of the Watchmen. He nods to Fiamme and smiles at the news, one alive is better than all dead.
Fiamme whispers again, "Would you lower the rope? They have no way to talk back to me -- I wish I was a Trump artist at times like these. No way of knowing if it's one coming, two, or a whole group. Get ready to fight if we need to."
Another signal is given and the rope is lowered, the men and women within the group readying their weapons just in case. Navarre nods to Fiamme, "I know how frustrating that can be."
This time the swarms have time to notice, and begin moving up toward the shutters as they're flung open. Then a mailed hand comes out, and a man grasps the rope, and wraps his legs around it, as bugs boil toward him. Under one arm he's carrying the limp form of what looks like a ragged, dirty child of indeterminate age and gender.
"Pull me up!" the man shouts. Behind him, a woman screams, and clutches at his boots, then wails, "Don't take him away! Don't take him!"
"Pull!" The order is urgent and those manning the rope pull quickly and with force. The others prepare to fend off any bugs that might swarm towards them. The man on the rope finds himself being pulled upwards quickly.
Fiamme leans down and hisses, "Close the shutters if you're not following. Keep them out!"
The woman stares up at the people on the rooftop, and then with a despairing cry she bangs the shutters closed again, as a moving carpet of black cover them, trying to find a way into the building. They continue up toward the roof as that entrance is denied them.
"Back! Get back! Towards the lift." Navarre turns and points in the direction for his troops to move in. He swings his sword at some of the larger bugs swarming up the wall, knocking a few of them back down to the ground. Those pulling on the rope don't cease until man and child are dragged over the edge unto the surface of the roof.
Fiamme uses her sword as well, clearing the bugs as fast as possible. Short, efficient strokes, with little flourish to them. "Kieran," she greets the man, then eyes his limp burden. "Follow!" And she's off across the rooftops, sword out and gummy with bug byproducts.
Navarre cleaves a bug in half before turning to follow. He knows the layout of buildings better than any in his command, so he doesn't let himself fall behind those in front. Three others bring up the rear, doing their best to keep the bugs at bay before leaping clear. A few rooftops later and the lift is in sight. Navarre signals to Sergeant Gibbs who maintains the operation of the lift and the platform drops at speed. "Go well," calls Navarre to Fiamme. "We'll keep them from getting to you." He and the others of the Watch then concentrate on keeping a clear path for Fiamme, Kieran and the child.
Fiamme flashes a quick smile to Navarre and the men with him. "I owe you one, Watch Lieutenant."
Navarre spares half a second to salute Fiamme before turning his full attention towards the bugs.