Topic: Blind Fury

Kacilla Lynne

Date: 2008-02-08 13:17 EST
Fury had propelled Kacey back to the workshop. She had all but flung down her toolbox, much to Davarin's surprise, and then she had begun to rant as she stormed around the shop. Not much of it was coherent, but there was enough for him to get the gist of it. To understand what had happened to the Bevers, and what she intended to do about it.

Of course, some of those intentions went far beyond impractical. Kacey had no way to track down the person or people responsible for those padlocks, not personally. Nor did she have the ability to actually rip a person limb from limb. What she did have was knowledge of the Scathachian Sanctuary. Until now it had been little more in her mind than the source of the Scathachian patrols that haunted the West End.

Kacey launched herself from the workshop not into a run, but a stride brisk enough to cover ground rapidly. She didn't know whether Davarin followed or remained in the shop. She was almost blinded by the depths of her rage. Hair was pulling loose from her braid, lashing across her face unnoticed. Soot smeared her strong callused hands, and she balled them into fists and loosened them repeatedly as she walked. Combined with the set expression on her face, she probably looked a madwoman.

It was a fairly long walk, but it seemed only moments later to Kacey that she lifted her hand to pound on the door of the Sanctuary. She might never be able to get vengeance or even justice for the Bevers, but this looked to be the best hope.

((Prompted by the events in the posts "Tension' and "Redemption' of this thread. Edited to correctly direct to the posts.))

Mirage

Date: 2008-02-16 23:25 EST
The Sanctuary was truly a wonderful place of residence. The Sisters who in fact built it were truly gifted indeed. Unfortunately, the large structure did not clean itself.

Today, a little straightening up was in order. Mirage was finishing up some of the daily chores in and about the temple area when she distinctly heard the heavy knock at their main doors.

With a thin strip of brown leather, Mirage tied back her dark hair and then made her way towards the doorway. As her long, toned legs carried her through the central hall, the force behind the "knock" was heeded by the Judge. Whomever was coming to visit their Sanctuary seemed to be in quite a hurry to speak with someone.

Mirage quickly glanced out of a side window to assess the appearance of their caller before unlocking and pulling open the grandiose front door. She did not immediately recognize this woman, but Serena could see that her expression was pensive.

"Hello." The Scathachian priestess said with a gentle nod to Kacey, "What can the Daughters of Scathach do for you, friend?"

Kacilla Lynne

Date: 2008-02-18 20:30 EST
The rage had faded from Kacey's expression to leave her with a look of suspense as she waited for the door to be answered. Still, when it was, she was caught off-guard by the height of the woman who opened the door. At five and a half feet, Kacey was not tall, but she was most definitely not short, either. This woman topped her by at least five inches. Kacey blinked once before she recovered her bearing and tilted her chin up.

Jaw set with determination, it still took a moment before she could find the words she needed. "You can help me find out who burnt my friends alive. My friends, and others. Someone set fire to a whole block Dockside, on the edge between Dockside and the West End. They padlocked shut the windows and doors of the houses from the outside before they lit the fires." There was grit in her voice, the bitter anger creeping back in.

That short explanation was enough to rouse her temper back to full flare, and Kacey ran a callused hand back through her hair in a motion to calm. It left a smear of soot on her forehead, unnoticed. A deep breath restored some order to her thoughts, and she absently scrubbed her hands against the worn denim of her carpenter's jeans before she offered one to shake. "Sorry. I'm' a bit angry right now. My name is Kacilla " Kacey, to my friends. And I don't have the resources for anything like justice for the Bevers, for the others on that block. Not by myself.?

Mirage

Date: 2008-02-20 17:28 EST
The tall Judge looked down at the angry woman before her. Mirage observed Kacey's brief hesitation as she spoke, but she also saw how quickly Kacey refocused her thoughts, divulged her situation, and requested the help of the Scathachians.

Mirage could obviously tell that the visitor was quite enraged and genuinely emotional about the topic at hand. Kacey's intensity was well noted, and frankly Mirage liked her already.

The Sister extended a firm hand to their guest and soflty spoke to her, "Welcome Kacilla...Kacey. I am Mirage, one of the priestesses of the Scathachian Sanctuary. I heard about those Dockside fires, and I am truly sorry for the loss for your friends. Please, come inside so we can discuss this more privately. The Scathachians will do anything we can to aid you in putting some closure on this tragedy, and of course, in dealing with the monsters who would have committed such an atrocity."

As she shook Kacey's hand, Mirage took note of her strong grip and of the abundance of calluses on Kacey's palms. This woman may not have been overly tall, but her hands and arms certainly looked and felt extremely powerful. Furthermore, calluses like those come strictly from hard work...physical work which requires superior strength and tenacity. The Judge deduced that if Kacey's hands and arms were this impressive, then most likely her back, her legs, and her feet were equally extraordinary.

With some formal training, this Kacey could prove to be quite a formidable fighter...effortlessly using those strong hands to strangle information out of the throats of villains like the ones who saw fit to savagely burn those people to death. It was definitely an interesting thought, and she planned on discussing it in detail further.

For now, however, first things first. Mirage smoothly stepped to the side and allowed Kacey to enter The Sanctuary if she so wished.

Kacilla Lynne

Date: 2008-02-25 03:06 EST
"Mirage. Thank you." Absent courtesy, hard-drilled in to the point of reflex as Kacey entered the Sanctuary and her dark brown eyes flicked around the entry hall. Despite her civilian clothing and the fact that her only weapon was the long dagger on her hip " almost a standard accessory in this city " the way she sized up the room was anything but civilian. Exits, line of sight, it was all noted and filed away in the quick glance before she looked over the priestess.

Mirage had a formidable stature, but now that Kacey was past the surprise of that, she actually noticed the other woman's hard muscles, and more, the way she moved. Liquid death, a confidence in her own abilities that carried more threat for the gentle restraint the priestess used. It was that confidence which had escaped Kacey over a year before when she had shattered. She practiced to restore her skills, but she had not yet regained that most essential piece of herself. Over a decade as a mercenary gone to waste " she moved like the civilian she now was.

The deadly abilities of the Scathachians were well known, but was only one of the reasons why Kacey had come here. Their reputation for justice was even more important. In the gentleness of Mirage's voice, Kacey could glimpse the compassion necessary to true justice. It was a tentative thing, but she thought she rather liked the taller woman. Silence hung in the entryway after the door thudded closed again. Finally Kacey took a breath and let it out slowly.

"I appreciate that you're here, and willing to help me. There are tales of the Scathachians running loose through the West End and Dockside, you know. You've become something of a bogeyman to the thugs. But there's something wrong, something very wrong, in the West End, and now I think whatever it is " is spreading. That block was right on the edge between West End and Dockside." It wasn't anything more than a feeling, an uneasy edge to the streets, and unfortunately Kacey had nothing in the way of evidence.

Nothing but the whispers and rumors and growing viciousness of the crimes committed. Hints of something organizing, a single point of control " but all that could easily be nothing more than rumors. Kacey's lips pulled back from her teeth in an expression that was most definitely not a smile. Her voice went flat, matter-of-fact. "I don't have any evidence, or even a hint of a possible suspect. I don't know if there was a motive for that," and Mirage's word suited perfectly, "atrocity. But I will do what I need to in order to find out, and bring the people who did it to justice."

Finally a hint of native and very wry humor crept out and into her expression, although it did little to disperse the hard look in her eyes. "Of course, doing that alone might be a bit difficult. What exactly do you think you can spare me in the way of aid??

Mirage

Date: 2008-02-28 19:25 EST
After the female visitor had entered the Sanctuary, Mirage escorted her to the back foyer where there was fresh fruit, water, and wine awaiting them. The Judge offered Kacey some refreshments and then asked her her to take a seat while she did the same.

After listening carefully to Kacey's sad tale, the Scathachian was a bit perturbed to hear that more senseless acts of mysterious and outlandish violence were being perpetrated within the West End. It was frustrating that she and her Sisters patrolled that region with their loyal allies every night, and yet there were still new heinous crimes being committed there, seemingly right under their very noses.

"I am sorry once again for your tragic loss Kacey. So much violence..." Mirage sincerely sighed as the unnecessary loss of life truly did upset her. "I can't say that the very limited information you possess about the dire details of the matter are overly comforting. However, this seems to be the grim trend of things in that wild area of the West End as of late."

The muscular Judge placed both of her corded hands on the arm rests of her chair as she looked her new friend directly in the eye. "I will speak to the Sanctuary's leader, Illea. I am sure she will support your claim and will allow us to increase our patrol activities to directly include the specific areas you have mentioned to me. With the help of the Scathahcian Sisterhood and our many noble allies, the murderers who committed these horrid acts against your friends will most certainly be flushed out into the open."

Mirage's powerful right hand gripped the wodden rest more tightly as she begrudgingly added, "Unless, of course, they have anything to do with this nightmarish 'West End Butcher', who seems to be eluding just about everyone. Whether there is one of him/her or a plethora of them, we seem to be coming up with mocking dead ends at every turn. Goddess grace us..."

Mirage continued to examine Kacey's response to her clipped answers as she continued on softly, "I will help you Kacey...and I know Illea will gladly lend your case all of the support that we can muster. The question is, can you provide us with some physical help in this matter as we render unto you this aid" You are very able bodied, solid of form, and quite strong. Are you or have you ever been a soldier or a warrior, Kacey?"

Kacilla Lynne

Date: 2008-03-03 02:38 EST
"Are you or have you ever been a soldier or a warrior, Kacey?" Mirage's words struck her almost like a blow, and she almost flinched away from the question. Lines of pain drew her expression hard and old for a bare moment before a calm look dropped mask-like over her face. It was a fair question, for a fair reason. Kacey had her own sense of justice and balance, and asking for aid without giving as much as she was able would not let her keep her honor in her own mind.

Still, flicker-flashes of memory darted quicksilver through her mind. Weighted wooden blades; a scarred and battered practice dummy; rising sun over the first battle of her life; setting sun over her last battle with the Wolves, while she laid screaming and dying by inches, only to be healed with pain more intense than the wound. The calm mask of her face didn't shift while she suppressed the memories harshly. Finally she answered Mirage, and was surprised to find her voice came out steady.

"Thank you again, for the support, for the reassurance that something will be done. As to your question " I was a mercenary for most of my adult life. Almost thirteen years with Grave's Wolves; I was a sergeant at the end. Until last year. Now I'm a carpenter, and I build instead of destroying. It's a better life. Harder, some ways, but better." She paused. It was harder than she thought to go on, to commit herself. In woodworking she had found peace, and it was hard to give that up.

"Peace in a world dominated by evil is nothing more than death." It was Captain Grave who said that, in one of the first Company meetings. He believed it, and his Company was good enough that he could afford to only take the jobs he believed in. Their reputation in their own homeland was formidable. Kacey would be shocked if anyone outside her land had heard of the Wolves. But the Wolves had shaped her as much as her parents had, and she couldn't let that silent voice of memory down. "For the Bevers, for Alice and Tomas, Ryan and Beth' for them, I'll fight again in more than self-defense."

The lopsided smile that touched her mouth now was tainted with regret. "The plain answer to your question, then. Yes, I've been a warrior, a mercenary. Yes, I know how to fight " and yes, I will do my part, as you need it done, to find the agents of that fire and bring them to justice."

Mirage

Date: 2008-03-10 02:40 EST
Mirage listened to their guest as she spoke her mind and her heart. She silently noted Kacey's slight change in facial expression when she had posed this last question of her ability to fight to her. Mirage was confident that she had struck upon a very sensitive subject.

The Judge did not interrupt Kacey as she said: "Thank you again, for the support, for the reassurance that something will be done. As to your question " I was a mercenary for most of my adult life. Almost thirteen years with Grave's Wolves; I was a sergeant at the end. Until last year. Now I'm a carpenter, and I build instead of destroying. It's a better life. Harder, some ways, but better. Peace in a world dominated by evil is nothing more than death. For the Bevers, for Alice and Tomas, Ryan and Beth"for them, I'll fight again in more than self-defense."

Mirage nodded as if understanding Kacey's appointed philosophy. Frankly, Serena related to this newcomer's former military background and entirely respected her decision to give something back to this overly dark world. The muscled Scathachian returned the smile to Kacey as the latter finished her thoughts with a very notable and honorable closing statement: "I will do my part, as you need it done, to find the agents of that fire and bring them to justice."

Those final words were quite impressive to the Scathachian. Overwhelming in fact. Why' Quite simply, their source. These noble sentiments had come from this average appearing, strong-hearted, female carpenter who, until today, Mirage had no clue was residing in the same city as she. Kacey was not some heralded knight on horseback, nor a famed wizardress, nor even a true local hero. She was a carpenter. She was a friend. A woman who wanted hallowed closure for those who could not possibly acquire it for themselves. This guest to The Sanctuary not only wanted to see justice for her fallen comrades, but she truly desired to give of herself to accomplish this easier-said-than-done task of dispatching with vicious murderers.

Mirage gently set her goblet of water down, and looked at Kacey squarely. Her voice was steady and smooth as she spoke, "Kacey, as you are quite aware, justice means different things to different people. 'Our' brand of justice, the Scathachian philosophy of justice, for example, is how shall I say...harsher than perhaps what Rhydin's authorities would dispense to these monsters if caught. We as Daughters of Scathach do our very best to respect the law of this land, but in the end, no matter what, no matter how...we will make these criminals pay. Do you, beyond a doubt understand this?"

The Judge's head tilted slightly to one side as she studied her new friend's eyes. "I am very confident in you and in the fact that you are more than capable of handling yourself in combat, Kacey. I just want to assure myself, and my goddess, that by having you draw on 'the sergeant' to help us with this hunt...we are not forever destroying 'the carpenter'. For in spite of everything Kacey, generously giving back to a selfish world, is all that keeps this place and its hopes afloat..."

Kacilla Lynne

Date: 2008-03-12 02:39 EST
About to indicate her understanding of the Scathachian's Justice, Kacey almost flinched when Mirage cut to the heart of her dilemma. ?"that by having you draw on 'the sergeant' to help us with this hunt...we are not forever destroying 'the carpenter'." She had been running from "the sergeant' for over a year, trying to bury that part of herself in "the carpenter". Dark brown eyes turned from Mirage's level gaze to study her own hands.

Faint white scars covered the backs of her hands to the second knuckle, and calluses turned her grip rough and hard. Strong hands, hands that killed and healed, destroyed and built. It seemed to take forever before Kacey spoke again. "If all there is to the carpenter could be destroyed so easily, then I don't think she could ever have been more than a seeming to begin with." A deep breath and she flexed her fingers, turning over the Scathachian's words in her mind.

An idle, passing thought flitted through her head, wondering what Mirage had seen that called her to serve Justice so fiercely. What shaped the woman sitting across from her now" But this was not the time for such questions, and after another long pause Kacey looked back up at Mirage. "You have the sergeant. We'll see how the carpenter fares." There was resolve in her tone. She had made her decision; she would live with it, whatever the outcome.