(Untitled)

[nita_callahan]

The group comes through Nita's door and ends up in Grand Central Station. It's late; no one's around except some guards, somewhere, and probably Rhiow and her team. Nita and her passenger, having energy to spare, handle the translocation spell that gets them into the atrium of the Library itself

Comments

[oneman_onevote]

Stealth is no longer a prime concern, though as long as he can keep to shadowed places, so much the better. Each hand brings out a couple of knives as Havelock's gaze fickers assessingly over the creatures, looking for similarities with other creatures, and from there the fastest way to kill --

One knife is flung efficiently through a recognisable throat, another misses an eye but cracks through thinner bone at the temple of something wolflike that was getting closer than he was keen on.

Kill or maim enough to remove from the fight. This is what he does - his face is concentrated, but calm and calculating. Panic is dangerous.

[errantry_npcs]

The approaching keplian lets out a choked noise, staggers, and falls with the knife still in its throat. The direwolf behind it gets the knife in the temple and stumbles forward a few more steps, lunging for the assassin before collapsing with a whine.

There's another one just behind it, though -- and these creatures are old, and less bothered by the shield covering Havelock. It launches itself, colliding with the air, and scrabbles with fangs and claws.

[oneman_onevote]

The assassin reaches for his belt, pulling out a small, preloaded crossbow. One shot, and it goes back to his hip, uselessn as his other hand brings up a another knife. Just like an exercise.

Possibly Havelock's exercises are different to other people's.

Throw. Keep within the shield, watch the others, wait for Nita. Throw.

It's automatic, so far, killing with almost drill-like smoothness. But he won't remain uninjured for long, and sooner or later, he will start to tire.

All the better if they suceed before that, clearly then.

[errantry_npcs]

Their numbers aren't inexhaustible. The real question is which will run out first -- his knives or the Lone One's creatures.

A pair of wolves, seeing two of their pack fallen by the shield, prowl at the edge of his throwing range. They're getting the measure of this non-wizard with his convential weapons.

And he doesn't have eyes in the back of his head, does he?

One disappears into the shadows while the other feints towards him and backs away again.

[oneman_onevote]

He does not. And one drawback with assassin's training, unusual and extensive though his might be - its focus is never on melee combat, and not with non-humans.

So Havelock stays back, saving his knives for when they are needed, or when a kill is near enough to guaranteed, and still watching the tide of the battle, and for Nita to get to the Book.

[errantry_npcs]

The wolf in front of him feints again, then surges forward with a howl to slam itself against the shield.

Behind him, the other wolf does the same, silent until it impacts the air.

[oneman_onevote]

He glances around, the blankness of his expression somewhat tighter. He knows he would be out of his league but for the shield, and it is not a feeling he enjoys.

Another knife is spent, zipping at the head of the wolf that came from behind.

[errantry_npcs]

As the wolves fall back -- one dead, one to go -- a flurry of ice crystals settles on the shield around them.

It's only there for a moment, though, before power flares and comes slamming down on them. The shield holds--

And then breaks apart, overloaded, shaking the world and sending chairs flying.

[oneman_onevote]

Havelock has time to throw arms up to protect his head, before the shield shatters and he is thrown back by a shockwave, hitting the corner of a table in an explosion of pain. The world is shuddering, still, and al the assassin can do is keep still, breathing through how much it hurts and hope vaguely that nothing falls on him.

He can't see, what's happening...?