The Angle 2: Blood and Noses
At the Angle
The Bruinen and Mitheithel rivers come together here, creating a great spear of land called the Angle. The land is flat, but choked with a thick combination of brush, young trees, and the like, tangled to form dense thickets.
Where one can penetrate the thickets, the ground is often irregular, as if the sides of the banks had been excavated and then collapsed, and in several places there are overgrown mounds on which the tumbled walls of stone huts can be discerned, still fresh enough to have been inhabited within a few lifetimes of men.
In the west, across Mitheithel, the plains of Cardolan stretch away to a line of hills near the horizon. In the east a valley rises up into high and distant hills toward the distant line of the mountains.
Contents:
Aragorn
Rhifaroth
Addie
Cordelia
Bree-Mordain Travel Camp
Obvious exits:
North, Fords, and Northeast
A shake of her head, and Cordelia sets the waterskin on the ground. "I'll do it," she replies to Addie, her mouth set in a thin line. "Where do you want me to whip him with these things?" She looks toward Asht, waiting for him to gain control of the Dunadan.
A wicked gleam flashes in Asht's eyes and he takes a step towards Rhifaroth. The darkness conceals most of features, but it's obvious he's planning on enjoying this. He positions himself behind the ranger and tries to grab him by his arms, twisting upwards, attempting to maneouvre the man towards Addie in this position. Leaning forward slightly, he whispers "Now, scum, come over here and we'll see how loudly you can scream." He spits as he speaks.
They want to beat him? With ... canes, brambles, something like that?!? Immediately, Rhifaroth's breathing jumps up faster. He's been whipped and caned before and damned if he'll let anyone EVER do that to him again.
Hearing the others, the tattooed man shies and tries to side step Asht. But Asht can see, and the Dunadan can not tell entirely what is going on. He has to place folk and their actions by what he can hear.
But Asht was prepared for him and gets hold of the bound man, trying to twist his arms up behind him cruelly. The still recent shoulder wound hurts painfully.
Rhifaroth waits until Asht seems very close, whispering to him in his ear. That's when he smacks his head back as hard as he can, trying to break Asht's nose and maybe break loose too!
His twisted mind focused on the upcoming entertainment, Asht's focus is perhaps a little lax. The ranger's sudden movement takes him completely by surprise, the back of Rhifaroth's head connects with Asht's face with a strangely loud cracking sound. Almost stunned, Asht takes a halting pace backwards, releasing the man's arms without thinking.
Blood pours from Asht's nose, indeed the nose itself is rather strange looking if, twisted to the side, bruising already developing. He stands there a moment, silent, then raises a hand to his face. "He broke my nothe," he says as visciously as possible with such an adenoidal tone. He looks across at Cordelia and Addie with an affronted expression on his bloodied face.
Cordelia's expression is a curious mix of emotions: Clearly she looks pleased for a second when Rhifaroth breaks Asht's nose. But Addie's order turns her a little green and sickly looking. Even so, she does hurry forward and tries to slash at Rhifaroth's trouser-clad legs with the branches. She is, perhaps, not hitting as hard as she can--she seems listless, in fact. But then, those thorns are nasty.
Cordelia attacks Rhifaroth with her Bare Hands and mildly wounds him!
Having had the petty pleasure of the back of his head making cracking contact with Asht's face, the tattooed man at once leaps as though he is either making for Addie (once again) or trying to make his escape. Only, Rhifaroth has forgotten about that cursed coarse rope around his throat!
At about the same instant that rope constricts suddenly to cut off Rhifaroth's air, Cordelia swings the brambles a stroke across the back of his thighs!
This isn't exactly what the man had in mind. All of this happens so quickly that the ranger nearly falls. Somehow, Rhifaroth manages to keep his feet, teeth gritted.
The girl is unable to stop herself from gasping quietly as the makeshift whip connects. Cordelia stumbles backwards two steps, looking left to Addie and then right to Asht. But she doesn't make a move to try to tie up Rhifaroth.
His hands still at his face, Asht seems completely taken aback. His expression is concealed, but blood wells out between his fingers. After a long moment he lowers his hands and stalks over towards the ranger and looks up at him. His face is pale, his jaundiced skin looking even more sickly. With a casual smile he leans over and wipes his bloodstained hands on the ranger's face.
"Scum," he whispers softly to him. "That's my blood, yes, but soon we'll see enough of yours." His coldness is strange, the lack of anger completely out of character. "But the do say an eye for an eye, do they not?" With that, Asht aims a viscious blow at Rhifaroth's face, obviously trying to return the favour. His face has twisted into an expression of rage, features twisted, dark eyes wild.
In this case, clothing is useful protection against half hearted whacks and mere small thorns. There isn't any obvious harm done to the prisoner from Cordelia's weak swat. Just an annoying sting. That rope around his throat however...
For the moment, distracted by trying to step back and loosen up that rope around his throat so he can breath, Rhifaroth is slow to react to Asht coming up. Something that might be blood is rubbed suddenly in his face and the Dunadan is taken aback with surprise. But not so much surprise as to stand there dumbly and wait to be struck back in return!
Gasping for air, Rhifaroth does not know who holds the rope that binds his neck. But Asht is close and so he dodges and tries once more to make a dash. If he can hit the end of that rope hard enough like he had before, he might jerk it loose? It worked last time!
"I said tie him up, not incompetently aim for his face," the slight woman says, sighing as she removes her knife from its sheath again. "REally, if you want a task done right...." She leans down and reaches for the rope she's stepped on with both feet, holding it with all of her weight, this time, there is no budging.
It's almost repetetive. As Asht misses such an easy blow, his fist falling shy of the ranger's face, he pauses again, a dumbfounded expression again on his face. It seems he's not use to his own incompetence. There's a short pause, then Asht looks over towards Addie, composing himself.
"As you wish," he says softly, then gives the woman a very short nod, an almost defeated look on his blood stained face. Asht makes his way slowly towards his horse, returning with another length of rope in his hand. Without warning he tries to kick the ranger's feet out from under him, putting all his strength into it, such as it is.
With a scream of fury, Cordelia whips the brambles into the ground, venting rage and frustration. 'Stop it! Stop it! Do you want him to die?!' she shrieks at Asht, and then turns her fury toward Addie as well. "
Someone is determined to not release the rope around his throat. Rhifaroth staggers, gagged and unable for a moment to get air. And he can't see! And his balance isn't good with his hands behind his back and with weakness. This jostly about is making his back hurt, too.
Something unexpectedly kicks his right leg out from underneath him! The man's lame left leg can't hold him up and down the ranger goes to the ground!
Cordelia's voice shrieking frustration is like thunder breaking. Or is that the man's head having hit something when Rhifaroth fell? For a moment, he is dizzy. Still can't get air!
"Right. I am going to hold this while you tie up his legs this time, won't that be fun?" The slight woman says, carefully, the tone of authority in her voice. She then turns a cold glance at Cordelia. "Child, I do not bleieve we have any further use for you. I've kept you alive to this point for amusement value for Asht. Do not make me regret this."
Watching Adelaide closely, Asht acknowledges her order with a curt nod. He drops down, crouching over the ranger as he ties the man's legs together with the rope that he's carrying. He doesn't hold back, using all his inconsiderable strength to do so, making the bonds as tight as possible.
That done, Asht looks at Rhifaroth sharply, taking in the tightness of the rope around his neck and his difficulty breathing. Looking up again, he says sharply to Addie "He can't breath," is all he says and his gaze returns to the ranger. A smile forms on his face, sitting strangely beneath his now crooked nose and he does nothing but simply watch Rhifaroth struggle for breath, the smile broadening.
Cordelia's fury last a few seconds longer only--she stares at Adelaide, then slowly seems to return to her senses, or at least all the anger goes out of her. Then she turns to watch Asht tie up Rhifaroth's legs. "I'll do what you asked," she says to Addie, her back turned on the woman. She gives a little swish of the branches she's still holding.
Down, the ranger's legs get pinned as Asht basically leans all his weight on the bound man to get the job done. And Asht is right... Rhifaroth can't hardly get his breath, the rope around his throat is tight. The man tries to struggle, to push himself closer to whomever holds the rope, but he can't see who that is, he can only feel where the tug leads. He has got to be able to breath!
Stepping off the rope now, still holding the knife, the woman leans down to pick up the rope, now that the prisoner is secured. "A wise choice, child. There are bandits in these woods, it would be a shame if you were unable to see your sisters again. Such a shame, a traitor in the family."
The smile drops from Asht's mouth as Adelaide releases the rope, it seems like that particular source of fun is over. He watches Cordelia for a long moment and lets out an audible sigh.
"What are you doing?" he asks slowly, responding to her languid attempts to beat Rhifaroth. With a shrug, he draws his dagger and proceeds to cut the left leg of Rhifaroth's pants upwards, slicing through the fabric up well past the knee. He pulls it back, exposing the flesh of his shins and calves. "Now, try again, and put some muscle into it." he says, adopting the tone of a school-teacher admonishing an errant pupil.
"Get out of the way, Asht. I wouldn't want to hit you by accident," Cordelia sneers. She steps forward, staring at Rhifaroth. "I am -not- a traitor!" she yells to Addie through gritted teeth as she swings the branches down hard toward Rhifaroth's exposed leg. "I am -not- a traitor!" her fury returning, but her eyes are also swimming with tears and it might affect her aim.
Wrapping the rope around in a coil as she goes, the slight woman with the baby and the knife moves closer, maintaining a hold on the rope just tight enough for it to be hard, but not quite impossible, for the man to breathe.
Air, sweet air... the rope has loosened as Addie lifts it. But as Asht cuts the left pantleg up over the knee, a deep scar is exposed in the man's thigh - the very one that runs from his hip to his knee and has left him faintly lame in that leg.
Cordelia's fury whips the brambles against Rhifaroth's exposed leg and the man jerks in repsonse, but does not cry out. Teeth gritted, the Dunadan strains against his binding ropes but he is too weakened to hope to break them. They hold, as first blood begins to well up with the many scratches. Most are shallow, some are deep, but they are many of them.
A slow movement and Asht moves back slightly, out of the way of the brambles. A quick nod of the head and Asht inspects the fresh wounds on Rhifaroth's leg with gusto. "Much better," he says musingly then looks at the ranger. "Oh, dear I think that must have smarted..."
With that Asht takes a pace away from the ranger and sits down on his haunches. From somewhere beneath his cloak he pulls out a piece of cloth and begins to wipe the blood of his face, although by now most of it is dried and he doesn't do a particularly good job. Dropping the cloth he brings both hands up to his nose and pushes it sharply backwards. An audible click is heard and he curses softly.
Dropping his hands, the operation has not been entirely successful- his bruised nose is still twisted to the right, and a thin trickle of blood can be seen in the dim light falling towards his mouth.
The thorn branches whistle in the air over Asht's head, very briefly, but Cordelia grins--she appears to be just stretching her arms. She waits patiently for Asht to check the wounds and get out of the way.
'You wanted a song,' she says flatly, a dull note of cruelty coming to her voice. 'I'll sing for you.' And she does--it's a marching song from their homeland, but she sings it in a different tongue, and as she pauses at the end of the verse, she brings the cruel thorn branches down again, both hands putting weight into the blow. "
Cordelia attacks Rhifaroth with her Bare Hands, but she misses by a hair.
Cordelia furiously attacks Rhifaroth with her Bare Hands and mildly wounds him!
A thin smile on her face, the slight woman adjusts baby and breast so that the baby can nurse from the sling, and then claps along to the music swaying slightly.
In some ways, this is nothing compared to the beatings he has had in the past by Haradrim. Nonetheless, the Dunadan is definitely NOT enjoying this. Rhifaroth still does not cry out, but now that he can get some air through the constriction around his throat, the tattooed man does hiss involuntarily as he intakes that breath.
Rhifaroth sucks breathes quickly while he can get them. Teeth gritted once more, the bound man arches his body and turns over, exposing flesh at least not already beaten and somewhat protected by cloth - turning the raw leg away from the brambles. Unless he can think of something, it's about all he can do to defend himself.
The thunder rolls.
Looking up sharply, Asht watches Cordelia as she sings, his face half shadowed, his jaundiced skin and the remnants of his own blood contrasting strangely. He looks across at Adelaide, a sneer forming on his lips. Apparently he isn't very musical.
Approaching the prone ranger and the woman wielding the brambles, he says quietly "Very touching, yes." He stands over Rhifaroth now, peering down at the man, watching him struggle. "Did you like that little song? Yes? It's just the kind of thing you scum like, is it not?" With that he aims a viscous kick at the ranger as he tries to move away from Cordelia, trying to maneouvre him back into the required position.
Taking a couple of steps back, the slight woman pulls up on the rope, trying to make sure that it is tight enough to keep breathing to the necessary minimum. "A touching song from home, Cordelia. It appears to have done nothing for your rhythm, however." There is a pause. "Do either of you wish to do anything else this night?"
Thrashing makes the rope around his throat tighten considerably, and for a moment once again, Rhifaroth's air is cut off. The coarse hemp bites cruelly and deep into his already bruised, scabbed, and now rebloodied skin of his throat. When he -can- get a breath, the Dunadan's breath is ragged. Trying to fight and turn over hurts the wound in his back something awful.
Just as this all happens, a kick lands with an audible thud against the whipped man's ribs! Ribs already cracked and bruised from several such kicks from the week before. What little air Rhifaroth might have retained is forced from his lungs. The kick has turned him back onto his side, partly exposing his bared leg. The man ceases his struggles for the moment, too dazed and too much air knocked from him to respond. Almost distantly he can feel that choking rope jerked tighter still. There is the sound of faint gasping - but he can't get air. There isn't much fight left in Rhifaroth now...
'I'm glad you like the show,' Cordelia hisses, bringing her makeshift whip down so fast that Asht will have to scramble to get out of the way, the air perhaps whistling by his ear.
She begins singing again, in the elven tongue, only clearly she is making a mockery it, in a cruel imitation of the elves. She hits Rhifaroth again, timing it with the beat of the song.
"
Cordelia furiously attacks Rhifaroth with her Bare Hands and mildly wounds him!
A faint sound of satisfaction comes from Asht's lips as the kick connects, but then he moves his head sharply as the bundle of brambles whistles passed his ear. A hard glare is thrown at Cordelia and he snaps at her "Be careful, I don't wish to bleed anymore tonight." He seems genuinely unaware that she MAY have aimed the blow that way on purpose.
In the darkness, Asht looks over at Addie and says quietly "Only this..." Before he's even got the two words out of his mouth, he lifts his foot and brings it down hard on the rangers face, the sole of his boot aimed for the man's nose.
Someone is ... singing in Sindarin? Again? Did he imagine it before? This time though it isn't soft, peaceful, lulling and restful music but harsh, mocking words. The man upon the ground is hunched a little to try and protect his damaged ribs, but Rhifaroth does nothing else. He can barely get enough air to keep conscious. New whipping pain might this time make the man cry out if he could get enough breath. Still, there is some faint sound of pain.
That damned rope, that even follows him in most of his dreams at night, now ... it tightens around his throat yet again. The Dunadan is still blindfolded and can't see Asht's foot coming, but luckily Rhifaroth has his head turned very slightly to the side else a hard blow might do a good deal more damage than even intended. Still, it is painful and it is possible that something in his face breaks with the weight of it. An explosion of pain! This time there is definitely a muffled cry - it's just too much. But it's air out of his lungs with no way to get it back in.
The man struggles a little, instinctive paniced thrashing as he suddenly imagines they are choking him to death now - the final act. It doesn't last very long before Rhifaroth jerks once, then twice, then he is still. He has either passed out, or strangled to death.
As she coils the rope and walks closer, the slight woman nods and then looks at the baby, who's ready to be burped. "Asht, you may wish to deal with your slave, now that the prisoner won't be any more trouble for a bit."
From afar, Cordelia is OOC and IC fine with your whipping cordy use the cs. or whatever you feel is appropriate ICly. I'm fine
Thunder rumbles in the sky once more... lightning flickers. It seems that the night will not be cool enough to keep a storm from brewing once more. There has been a bit of rain the past few days. Will the fords even be crossable?
Dropping his foot to the ground again, Asht peers over the ranger's face. "Did I break his nose?" he asks fiercely, his eyes shining. He doesn't seem concerned whether the ranger is alive or dead, breathing or otherwise. Moving even closer, he reaches down and gives Rhifaroth's nose a delicate prod and then grunts with satisfaction.
He stands up now and takes a pace backwards, eyes darting from Addie to Cordelia and back again, a hungry look forming on his face. "Give me those brambles, snaga," he says to Cordelia. The last word is uttered with such venom it's almost inaudible.
"He...he's not breathing. And I can't feel a pulse," Cordelia says first, sounding dazed. She looks up, still dazed, staring at Asht for a moment longer, then slowly reaching out to the brambles. They are handed up to him.
There is blood upon the blindfolded man's face. A fair bit of it. At the least Rhifaroth's nose is broken most likely. Lip resplit against his own teeth. The man doesn't move, not even a little.
But whether Cordelia felt a pulse or any breath or not, blood continues to seep from the Dunadan's face. Probably a bit too healthfully for the man to be deceased. There must still be some blood preasure.
The slight woman comes closer and frowns. "I doubt he's dead, though it would make things easier if you both were.."
Snatching the brambles from Cordelia, Asht looks sharply at her, his eyes wavering. He seems to have only just digested the fact that perhaps the ranger is too injured and something must be done. "Damn it all," he says sharply his fist tightening around the brambles. Drops of blood begin to trickle from his hand, his grip is apparently too tight but he doesn't seem to notice.
"Unfortunately this particular lesson may have to wait," he mutters shaking the brambles for emphasis. He blanches a little as Adelaide speaks and doesn't look at her. "Revive him," he says sharply to Cordelia, seemingly he has little idea himself of how to go about it. As the words leave his mouth he brings the brambles down hard across Cordelia's back, the viscous action perhaps only meant for emphasis.
The blow stings, but Cordelia bites her lip and stares hard at Asht. She bites off her answer, too, and leans over Rhifaroth, checking him more carefully now, hands no longer shaking at least. "He's alive..." she says after a moment. "But I'm not sure how to revive him. I'll try..." There's a waterskin nearby--the one she set down earlier. She retrieves that, and once more pours water into her hands, using it to try to wash some of the blood off of Rhifaroth's face. Likely it won't revive him, but it's all she can manage.
Cordelia's water does wash away some of the blood from the battered man's face. But he does not rouse. Rhifaroth lays where they have left him, his strength spent.
Her voice exasperated as she moves the baby to burp him, the slight woman comes over closer to the prone man. She comes close enough to rest a hand on his neck for a few moments and to watch his chest. "He lives and he will stay passed out. I will have no more escape attempts tonight. Deal with Cordelia. I believe she needs a reminder in discipline."
The hand holding the brambles shakes a little and Asht's hand continues to bleed a little. His eyes are on Cordelia's back but then he turns to Adelaide. He offers her a short nod and smiles thinly. "Indeed," is all he says before turning his attention to the young woman again.
"Now, a lesson, yes..." he muses. "When you were striking that scum, you were not using all your strength I think. It was like this..." Asht lashes out with the brambles, aiming at Cordelia's back with a blow that is exageratedly soft. "No, what we really need is something like this," he says. His tone is even and reasonable, but his voice breaks as he lashes out with the brambles, striking Cordelia with all his strength, his voice becoming a hiss.
The girl has not taken off her cloak from their long journey today, and that, perhaps, offers some protection against the cruel brambles. They hit, ripping the cloak and drawing blood here and there, but Cordelia's screams are mostly due to terror of Asht himself. "I'm not! I'm not! Not a traitor!" she screams at him.
The baby burps and Addie wipes some goo from its mouth. "Well, you've certainly acted like one, Cordelia. Fussing over the prisoner like that. You've let him get to you. I'll have to ask them to step up their training."
A measured glance at Addie and Asht is silent, obediently listening to the woman's words. Attention returns to Cordelia again and he says "Yes, it seems like you are quite taken by him." Eyes dart down towards Rhifaroth. "But I have told you before. We will decide whether you are treasonous or not. You're actions will speak more than your words will, yes." Another sharp intake of breath and Asht brings the thorny branches down again, still using all his strength, putting all his hatred into the blow.
There is a pause and then he takes a pace backwards and drops the brambles. "Enough," he says and looks across at Addie. "I think perhaps she has at least understood the beginning of the lesson... " Asht's expression is questioning, he is clearly asking for Addie's approval or otherwise.
That one was worse--her hands upraised to protect herself against Asht, the brambles this time rip through bare skin on her left arm, leaving a bloody trail. Gasping in sudden pain, Cordelia clutches her arm to her, gritting her teeth to answer both Asht and Addie. "It's how I work. Get people to like me, tell me things....learn more that way. Serve the master better...." She quiets, though, waiting for Addie as well, apparently.
"You're not supposed to fall in love with them, Cordelia," the woman says mildly, adjusting the baby in her sling. Still, there is a gesture to Asht, just 1 finger raised.
With a confused look on his face, Asht looks at Addie then shrugs and picks up the bundle of brambles again before turning back to Cordelia. "It is a cold night, is it not?" he asks her placidly. "One more blow may help keep you warm..." Again he makes to strike her with makeshift whip, but his strength is waning.
"Perhaps that will help you to remember who you should and should not become enamoured of, yes?" Asht's tone is tired but jovial and he chuckles slightly, as if he's made a joke. With that he moves away from both women and sits on the ground, wrapping himself tightly in his cloak, the brambles still clutched in his bloodied hand. His sallow features are exposed in the half light, dark eyes watching Cordelia closely. It seems likely he will not sleep this night.
Cordelia doesn't answer Addie's accusation--she doesn't seem to have it in her to argue, even if arguing would do much good. Asht hits her again and she jerks at the pain as the brambles draw blood, and when Asht walks away, she makes no move to get up and find a different spot to sleep--just curling into a ball, her cloak pulled around her, shivering through the night.
