Mantis had been standing there listening for some time. The night before he had been able to find a room in a nice inn, but again had gotten little sleep. He shuddered a little at the remembered dreams, but the thought that he had been able to slay a few of Hell's minions the day before brought him a little comfort.
"It has been so long since I was last home, so I will go to Amn and see what I can find out, Who will accompany me?" Sir Elric asked the group. Mantis remembered that the man had been there after he had knocked down that tower, and he looked to be a fine knight. Someone who would be good to have at one's back. Plus it had been too long since he had gone home to Athkatla, the family was no doubt worried about him. Not that he had much intention to stop for a visit though.
"I'll head out to Amn with you good Sir Elk!" he said happily smacking Elric in the back. He smiled at Balgarath then, "I wager we'll make a great team as well good sir!" Mantis was getting excited for the trip. He'd done plenty of adventuring in other lands, but not so much in his own country. This would be interesting indeed.
It took Mantis a few moments to realize that he had been picked up and set aside to a safe area by the Tauren, and a few more to realize that Cinara had managed to take care of most of his more serious wounds. There were still some minor scratches and superficial bruises he noticed, but that only meant that she was experienced enough to know how to pace herself. There must certainly be a lot of healing to do.
It was only after the swashbuckler got to his feet that he noticed much of the group had gone. Where he did not know, but scanning his surroundings didn't reveal any familiar corpses. Except for one that was. That older man, Mantis thought he had heard him name himself Tufir or Truffle or something, was laying near a pile of fallen corpses with a look of extreme anguish on his face. The man was groaning slightly, ...Not dead yet then.
"Oi, Truffle!" Mantis yelled nudging the downed Tufir with his boot. "You aren't supposed to be dead yet! Get up!" He kept nudging the man, all the while keeping a lookout for more enemies. For some reason the area seemed almost clear of them, but even as crazed as Mantis was he never let his guard down.
Mantis stumbled his way back over to where he had heard most of the fighting. It had been quite a struggle just to get through the city streets to the area where he was now. He had a nasty gash accross his forehead that was bleeding into his right eye, and another wound on his left that he was holding closed with his right hand. Using his curved long sword in his left hand
was not too much of a problem as it could be used with one or two hands anyway. He thought that Sir Karl and that Balgarath person had come along with him, but was too groggy now to be sure.
Two fallen then came upon him, each weilding nastly looking short swords. "Why is it always two?" he whined as he parried the first blow knocking the demon off balance and tried to dodge the second fallen's attack. Just a hair to slowly it turned out, and the thing's foul blade cut a nice gash into Mantis's thigh. Angrily he stabbed the fallen in the eye, while the other now back to being balanced managed to stab him in his right arm. Had he not been holding his side it would have been a mortal wound. Removing his sword from the now dead foe he cut the other fallen across it's face, slicing it's head partway off. Screaming it fell to the ground in spasms as it's brains leaked out onto the ground. Seeing this Mantis retched, which hurt very much considering his wounds. It was then that he noticed Carloseus along with Winston and Cinara and a few others he didn't quite recognize.
"This is why I prefer knocking down buildings," he muttered loudly as he limped over. The herons on his blood soaked blade flashed red as a fireball flew past. "It's time for a rest, don't you think?" he asked no one in particular.
Mantis had been walking for some time now, the sounds of battle at his back. He was surrounded now by high stone buildings, which looked to be some sort of warehouse district. Hearing the gibbering sound of demons sent shivers up his spine, and he dogded into a side street avoiding their notice.
It was then that he noticed a large tower protruding from one of the warehouses, probably a grain storage now that he thought about it. It was crumbling rather badly from the onslaught the town had been under, the base of the thing rattled after every explosion from the battle in fact. Mantis got an idea.
"Hmph, let those others waste their energy fighting wave after wave of demonkin," he muttered while examining the tower. One good strike from something big could take it out he wagered, but what? Sheathing his sword he ran into the warehouse next to the grain tower, an idea boiling up in his mind. The workers here used a system of pullys and levers to load up large caravan wagons with heavy sacks of grain, or oats or something. It wasn't long before Mantis found what he was looking for. Running up some stairs he made his way up to the second story of the warehouse, toward a large open loading bay that looked directly out at the crumbling grain tower.
"There you are you little wench!" After flipping a few levers the man began working a winch he had found, faster and faster, then very slowly as the tension built up. Luckily there was still a large pallet filled with a goodly amount of grain on it. As the pallet swung up at an angle to be level with the storage bay he was on, Mantis stopped working the mechanism locking it in place.
Then he listened. He could hear the sounds of battle, just on the other side of the storage tower, along with the familiar gibbering of the demonkin. Satisfied Mantis smiled to himself, perhaps he'd get a medal for this. Of course he didn't think that perhaps anyone on his side would be in the way of a tumbling building, instead he drew his sword and cut the now taught rope holding the pallet in mid-air. The swashbuckler smiled in satisfaction as the heavy load crashed noisily into the side of the ruined building. It shuddered heavily before finally loosing it's already precarious balance. He could imagine the shocked looks adorning the faces of the demons as they turned at the sound of an entire tower falling on their unlucky heads.
With a massive crash the building fell, rock and mortar flying everywhere. Mantis could hear the sounds of suffering and panic even as the rocks were still tumbling down. Quickly he shimmied down a rope and ran straight into the large billowing cloud of dust. Finding a large block of granite Mantis jumped on top of it, and started laughing.
From a distance it looked as if a spectre had suddenly appeared within the smoke and debris, and as the dust settled a single ray of sunlight beat through shining on the laughing form of a man who had just killed an entire company of demons on his own.
Mantis jumped down from his perch atop the supply cart and took a position next to Carloseus, being sure not to get in the man's way as he warmed up. Mantis himself did a few stretches hoping to get the kinks out of his arms and legs.
"Ah, this reminds me of the time I spent in a city called Cairhien," Mantis spoke to no one in particular. "Strange land for sure, but it was nice because there were no demons, we were fighting people." Mantis finally drew his blade then in one fluid motion, taking a relaxed stance before they stormed the overrun city.
"Chip here is right Winston," Mantis said looking back at the boy, "Just yell out to one of us if you get into trouble, and mind those feet of yours too." With that the swashbuckler began walking toward the city, not running. It wouldn't do to waste all his energy before the fighting began after all.
"I see you, you damned hellspawn!" Mantis yelled at the top of his lungs. At the same time he threw one of his toadstools into the shadows of the treeline. There was a rustling as if something quick had just skittered away.
"Damn them back to hell," the swashbuckler spit. He didn't think whether or not it was a good idea to be yelling about hellspawn when so many warriors were on edge. None listened to him anyway, or understood what he was trying to say. He supposed he was just too smart for everyone here, especially considering the circumstances of their recruitment, retarded as they were. And worse there were more talking off to the side, and one was incredibly short.
"A dwarf!" Mantis pointed excitedly. "Yes, let us remain vigilant and not let our axes see the end of the spilling of blood!" He looked almost rediculous standing atop the cart, but perhaps he almost did resemble a leader preparing his troops for battle. Mantis fancied the latter of course.
Mantis looked about the camp, nodding as he noted all the sleeping people. "I call this vengeance for what they did to me just moments before now." His eyes were gleaming now. "Do you know how noisy they all were up until now? My blood boils that they now sleep, while I am beset with this insomnia!"
Smiling evilly Mantis leans down towards the horned thing. "Will you help me Tauren? Help me exact my vengeance against those who have wronged us?" His eyes were flitting about now. "You know, I can sense their presence sometimes, like a looming danger. They are near, spying on us." Mantis motioned slightly towards some shadows off to the side of where Winston was hopping around in pain. "Right there, can you see the eyes? Nothing to worry about, just a scout for the fallen and too quick for the likes of us to catch or kill." His voice grew grim, "Know friend Tauren, we are being watched, will you help me exact my vengeance?"
"I'm surrounded by idiots...erm not you I mean," he added to the horned thing. "I do apologize for sounding rude, but what, may I ask are you? I'm a Mantis by the way..." he said extending his hand.
Mantis looked about himself regarding everyone around him with disdain, even the little retarded boy Winston. And especially Chip. Yes, that's a fine name for that Carloseus person! Yes, Chip would do nicely.
"I'll have to watch all your backs, and after this battle is through, I'll talk to the man in charge about recruiting all these mentally handicapped people as fodder." He had not forgotten that he himself had claimed to be the leader just moments before, it was just common sense that these people had already forgotten what he had said.
"Oi, there my little friend!" Mantis was standing on the cart now, looking almost directly into the eyes of...some kind of thing, with a horn.
"Where I come from we don't pester those of lesser mental capacity!" he yelled pointing at Winston. "Can't you tell he's mentally challenged?" Mantis was shaking his fist now, hopefully it would scare the thing away. "You are, awefully big, aren't you?"
Mantis looked horrified as Winston began throwing his precious toadstools. It had taken weeks of tracking to find even a single one, but then it hit him. The boy must be a little off himself. Pity then filled his eyes.
"Well, you just...um, enjoy yourself there my boy." Mantis sidled off and remounted his cart. What was the world coming to sending a poor retarded boy like that off into battle? He decided right then and there that he would stay close to Winston and protect him as best he could.
"If you ever need help Winston, just call for me, I'll be right there." With that Mantis closed his eyes again, hoping for another nap. Hoping, he thought, beyond all hope.
Unfazed Mantis followed the boy as he quickened his pace. Perhaps he was just getting more excited with the prospect of open battle. Thinking about it Mantis was getting rather excited himself. Still, who would simply ignore someone who had claimed they were the leader of this band of ruffians. Certainly not Mantis, even if it were an obvious lie. So he continued.
"I mean, who ignores someone claiming to be the leader, the man must be simply mad," he said looking into the young lad's eyes. "We'll have to keep an eye on that one, don't you agree?" Did the boy look embarassed? It must have been his imagination, or perhaps he was hungry.
"Toadstool?" he asked holding out a small suspicious looking mushroom. These are from my...well, just don't tell anyone. Here, take it!" With that Mantis thrust several of the suspect fungi into Winston's hands.
Mantis watched as Carloseus walked away with several woodchips falling out of his hair. "I suppose that's as good a reason as any to not talk to the man Cinara," he said with a smile, "still a little cruel, don't you think?"
Then turning to Winston Mantis gave his winning smile once again. "Tell me boy, is he just a little slow, or was I talking into my chest?" Letting out a small laugh the man hopped down off the cart. Wobbling on sleeply legs, he starts walking next to the teenaged boy.
It was becoming obvious that the bantering would not desist any time soon. Instead Mantis decided to play a little game. Pulling out a small knife he began chipping away at the wagon he was on. It wasn't long before he had a nice little pile of woodchips gathered in front of him. There's not much more annoying than being ignored, even if it is for a fine young woman... he thought with a grim smile. A part of him wondered about how sane his plan was, but he was used to those kinds of thoughts now, and chose to ignore them.
One by one Mantis began throwing the small woodchips at Carloseus, all the while wondering how many he could get caught in his hair. Hopefully the man wouldn't notice, and if he did Mantis had the perfect plan. He would turn around as quickly as possible and act like nothing had happened. It would be deliteful!
Yawning Mantis rolled onto his back. "I'd really rather you all did your bickering AWAY from my office." He really had had very little sleep the night before and was feeling rather irritated about it. "And please, please don't make me come down there and stop you two," he stated listlessly, "If you're going to fight do it out in the bushes somewhere...far away from me."
Closing his eyes once again "Lord" Mantis tried to fall asleep once more.
Mantis had been sleeping atop one of the many supply wagons in the long train of warriors that were heading toward the city of Dun Craig. Well, trying to sleep would have been a better description. What a noisy bunch of louts, he thought to himself. Rolling on to his side he regarded the noisiest group of people just to the side of him.
"Lets not sing a song," he stated dully. Then an interesting thought occured to him. Laughing quietly he turned to the man who had called himself Carloseus. "I'd be the one in charge here friend," he lied smoothly. "What can the grand Lord Mantis do for one such as yourself?" Mantis's teeth flashed as he gave his most wining smile.
"It has been so long since I was last home, so I will go to Amn and see what I can find out, Who will accompany me?" Sir Elric asked the group. Mantis remembered that the man had been there after he had knocked down that tower, and he looked to be a fine knight. Someone who would be good to have at one's back. Plus it had been too long since he had gone home to Athkatla, the family was no doubt worried about him. Not that he had much intention to stop for a visit though.
"I'll head out to Amn with you good Sir Elk!" he said happily smacking Elric in the back. He smiled at Balgarath then, "I wager we'll make a great team as well good sir!" Mantis was getting excited for the trip. He'd done plenty of adventuring in other lands, but not so much in his own country. This would be interesting indeed.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
It was only after the swashbuckler got to his feet that he noticed much of the group had gone. Where he did not know, but scanning his surroundings didn't reveal any familiar corpses. Except for one that was. That older man, Mantis thought he had heard him name himself Tufir or Truffle or something, was laying near a pile of fallen corpses with a look of extreme anguish on his face. The man was groaning slightly, ...Not dead yet then.
"Oi, Truffle!" Mantis yelled nudging the downed Tufir with his boot. "You aren't supposed to be dead yet! Get up!" He kept nudging the man, all the while keeping a lookout for more enemies. For some reason the area seemed almost clear of them, but even as crazed as Mantis was he never let his guard down.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
was not too much of a problem as it could be used with one or two hands anyway. He thought that Sir Karl and that Balgarath person had come along with him, but was too groggy now to be sure.
Two fallen then came upon him, each weilding nastly looking short swords. "Why is it always two?" he whined as he parried the first blow knocking the demon off balance and tried to dodge the second fallen's attack. Just a hair to slowly it turned out, and the thing's foul blade cut a nice gash into Mantis's thigh. Angrily he stabbed the fallen in the eye, while the other now back to being balanced managed to stab him in his right arm. Had he not been holding his side it would have been a mortal wound. Removing his sword from the now dead foe he cut the other fallen across it's face, slicing it's head partway off. Screaming it fell to the ground in spasms as it's brains leaked out onto the ground. Seeing this Mantis retched, which hurt very much considering his wounds. It was then that he noticed Carloseus along with Winston and Cinara and a few others he didn't quite recognize.
"This is why I prefer knocking down buildings," he muttered loudly as he limped over. The herons on his blood soaked blade flashed red as a fireball flew past. "It's time for a rest, don't you think?" he asked no one in particular.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
It was then that he noticed a large tower protruding from one of the warehouses, probably a grain storage now that he thought about it. It was crumbling rather badly from the onslaught the town had been under, the base of the thing rattled after every explosion from the battle in fact. Mantis got an idea.
"Hmph, let those others waste their energy fighting wave after wave of demonkin," he muttered while examining the tower. One good strike from something big could take it out he wagered, but what? Sheathing his sword he ran into the warehouse next to the grain tower, an idea boiling up in his mind. The workers here used a system of pullys and levers to load up large caravan wagons with heavy sacks of grain, or oats or something. It wasn't long before Mantis found what he was looking for. Running up some stairs he made his way up to the second story of the warehouse, toward a large open loading bay that looked directly out at the crumbling grain tower.
"There you are you little wench!" After flipping a few levers the man began working a winch he had found, faster and faster, then very slowly as the tension built up. Luckily there was still a large pallet filled with a goodly amount of grain on it. As the pallet swung up at an angle to be level with the storage bay he was on, Mantis stopped working the mechanism locking it in place.
Then he listened. He could hear the sounds of battle, just on the other side of the storage tower, along with the familiar gibbering of the demonkin. Satisfied Mantis smiled to himself, perhaps he'd get a medal for this. Of course he didn't think that perhaps anyone on his side would be in the way of a tumbling building, instead he drew his sword and cut the now taught rope holding the pallet in mid-air. The swashbuckler smiled in satisfaction as the heavy load crashed noisily into the side of the ruined building. It shuddered heavily before finally loosing it's already precarious balance. He could imagine the shocked looks adorning the faces of the demons as they turned at the sound of an entire tower falling on their unlucky heads.
With a massive crash the building fell, rock and mortar flying everywhere. Mantis could hear the sounds of suffering and panic even as the rocks were still tumbling down. Quickly he shimmied down a rope and ran straight into the large billowing cloud of dust. Finding a large block of granite Mantis jumped on top of it, and started laughing.
From a distance it looked as if a spectre had suddenly appeared within the smoke and debris, and as the dust settled a single ray of sunlight beat through shining on the laughing form of a man who had just killed an entire company of demons on his own.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
"Ah, this reminds me of the time I spent in a city called Cairhien," Mantis spoke to no one in particular. "Strange land for sure, but it was nice because there were no demons, we were fighting people." Mantis finally drew his blade then in one fluid motion, taking a relaxed stance before they stormed the overrun city.
"Chip here is right Winston," Mantis said looking back at the boy, "Just yell out to one of us if you get into trouble, and mind those feet of yours too." With that the swashbuckler began walking toward the city, not running. It wouldn't do to waste all his energy before the fighting began after all.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
"Damn them back to hell," the swashbuckler spit. He didn't think whether or not it was a good idea to be yelling about hellspawn when so many warriors were on edge. None listened to him anyway, or understood what he was trying to say. He supposed he was just too smart for everyone here, especially considering the circumstances of their recruitment, retarded as they were. And worse there were more talking off to the side, and one was incredibly short.
"A dwarf!" Mantis pointed excitedly. "Yes, let us remain vigilant and not let our axes see the end of the spilling of blood!" He looked almost rediculous standing atop the cart, but perhaps he almost did resemble a leader preparing his troops for battle. Mantis fancied the latter of course.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
Smiling evilly Mantis leans down towards the horned thing. "Will you help me Tauren? Help me exact my vengeance against those who have wronged us?" His eyes were flitting about now. "You know, I can sense their presence sometimes, like a looming danger. They are near, spying on us." Mantis motioned slightly towards some shadows off to the side of where Winston was hopping around in pain. "Right there, can you see the eyes? Nothing to worry about, just a scout for the fallen and too quick for the likes of us to catch or kill." His voice grew grim, "Know friend Tauren, we are being watched, will you help me exact my vengeance?"
Like a cat, tied to a stick
Mantis looked about himself regarding everyone around him with disdain, even the little retarded boy Winston. And especially Chip. Yes, that's a fine name for that Carloseus person! Yes, Chip would do nicely.
"I'll have to watch all your backs, and after this battle is through, I'll talk to the man in charge about recruiting all these mentally handicapped people as fodder." He had not forgotten that he himself had claimed to be the leader just moments before, it was just common sense that these people had already forgotten what he had said.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
"Where I come from we don't pester those of lesser mental capacity!" he yelled pointing at Winston. "Can't you tell he's mentally challenged?" Mantis was shaking his fist now, hopefully it would scare the thing away. "You are, awefully big, aren't you?"
Like a cat, tied to a stick
"Well, you just...um, enjoy yourself there my boy." Mantis sidled off and remounted his cart. What was the world coming to sending a poor retarded boy like that off into battle? He decided right then and there that he would stay close to Winston and protect him as best he could.
"If you ever need help Winston, just call for me, I'll be right there." With that Mantis closed his eyes again, hoping for another nap. Hoping, he thought, beyond all hope.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
"I mean, who ignores someone claiming to be the leader, the man must be simply mad," he said looking into the young lad's eyes. "We'll have to keep an eye on that one, don't you agree?" Did the boy look embarassed? It must have been his imagination, or perhaps he was hungry.
"Toadstool?" he asked holding out a small suspicious looking mushroom. These are from my...well, just don't tell anyone. Here, take it!" With that Mantis thrust several of the suspect fungi into Winston's hands.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
Then turning to Winston Mantis gave his winning smile once again. "Tell me boy, is he just a little slow, or was I talking into my chest?" Letting out a small laugh the man hopped down off the cart. Wobbling on sleeply legs, he starts walking next to the teenaged boy.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
One by one Mantis began throwing the small woodchips at Carloseus, all the while wondering how many he could get caught in his hair. Hopefully the man wouldn't notice, and if he did Mantis had the perfect plan. He would turn around as quickly as possible and act like nothing had happened. It would be deliteful!
Like a cat, tied to a stick
Closing his eyes once again "Lord" Mantis tried to fall asleep once more.
Like a cat, tied to a stick
"Lets not sing a song," he stated dully. Then an interesting thought occured to him. Laughing quietly he turned to the man who had called himself Carloseus. "I'd be the one in charge here friend," he lied smoothly. "What can the grand Lord Mantis do for one such as yourself?" Mantis's teeth flashed as he gave his most wining smile.
Like a cat, tied to a stick