come_midnight
Iobel uses every mnemonic she's ever tried to force a spellchart to all hold together in her head, attempting to memorize the maze of the place. She doesn't have a notebook proper in that room, she didn't bring one with her when she expected to be able to dunk Cricket and go back to her boxes and stacks of things at home, but her memory's not a slouch unaided.
She walks and walks and walks. She whistles a song Cricket'll recognize, if he's awake. If she hears him answer her this guard is going to be floored with her quickest charging emergency magic and she's going to get him back.
She walks and walks and walks. She whistles a song Cricket'll recognize, if he's awake. If she hears him answer her this guard is going to be floored with her quickest charging emergency magic and she's going to get him back.
come_midnight
Iobel doesn't break stride. She shuts her eyes to hide the white glow of a charging spell, and when the forty-one seconds this particular spell takes are up -
the guard following her falls unconscious unceremoniously. He'll have a nasty headache all day tomorrow.
Iobel breaks into a run, and charges up another of the same, ready to abandon it if the closet's unguarded but suspecting that it's not.
the guard following her falls unconscious unceremoniously. He'll have a nasty headache all day tomorrow.
Iobel breaks into a run, and charges up another of the same, ready to abandon it if the closet's unguarded but suspecting that it's not.
come_midnight
Iobel drops the unfamiliar one as an unknown quantity and instantly starts charging again, for the static deterrent that will apply if the others touch her on top of its release value.
"Here I am," she says in Cricket's language.
"I'm intact and pissed off lemme out!" howls Cricket in the same.
"Here I am," she says in Cricket's language.
"I'm intact and pissed off lemme out!" howls Cricket in the same.
"Fuck!" says male guard. He goes to retrieve his sword - but his companion stops him.
"Nonlethal," she barks. Then she retrieves a hexed bauble, and says calmly to it, "You were right."
That was probably her calling for backup.
"I am not touching that fucking cat again -" says the male guard.
"Then go," she growls at him.
Lady guard will stay and protect the closet door, larger male guard is going to tackle Iobel.
"Nonlethal," she barks. Then she retrieves a hexed bauble, and says calmly to it, "You were right."
That was probably her calling for backup.
"I am not touching that fucking cat again -" says the male guard.
"Then go," she growls at him.
Lady guard will stay and protect the closet door, larger male guard is going to tackle Iobel.
come_midnight
The wind's knocked out of her, but her eyes don't quit glowing. Twenty-four seconds in. She struggles, trying to kick him somewhere soft or claw at his eyes.
come_midnight
And he can do that! She's knocked dizzy, ears ringing, eyeglow sputtering out. She's still conscious, but now her skull's killing her. She lets out a little whimper.
Cricket's speaking Marlese, now, he knows a little of it, interspersing his own language where it fails him: "Fucking [scratch] your fucking [eyes] out and fucking eat them I will I will -"
Cricket's speaking Marlese, now, he knows a little of it, interspersing his own language where it fails him: "Fucking [scratch] your fucking [eyes] out and fucking eat them I will I will -"
come_midnight
"Uuuungh -"
The ability to charge actually requires less wherewithal than the ability to speak.
The ability to charge actually requires less wherewithal than the ability to speak.
Cricket is beyond Marlese at this point. "[I will bite your throat out I will strew your intestines around the whole city you let my Iobel up you let me out you do it right now and maybe she'll heal you after I've had at you fucking poisoner kidnapper bastards!]"
come_midnight
Iobel's head gradually stops spinning -
There is a man on top of her and Cricket's shouting -
She starts charging again.
There is a man on top of her and Cricket's shouting -
She starts charging again.
"[DEATH WILL BE A MERCY TO ANYONE WHO LAID A HAND ON MY BINDER!]" caterwauls Cricket. "[HER PERSON IS SACROSANCT! YOU ARE ALL DEAD ASSHOLES WALKING!]"