THE TIES THAT BIND ||| THE LEGEND OF VOX MACHINA

Fury of a Nation

Thunder clapped loudly overhead, piercing the skies like the rumbling of the gods' fury. Scanlan, with his back pressed firmly against the wall of Aymon's imposing abode, slid along its edge. Tense and miniature, he muttered to himself, inching closer to the guarded gate with every cautious step. "What the fuck am I doing?" The incessantly vexing yet brave Bard spoke, his words saturated with frustration aimed solely at himself. He immediately regretted his unwavering proclamation the instant he, shadowed by Ragnvaldr touched the stone of the mansion's encircling wall. "Ooh, I know exactly what I'm doing. Ooh, I'm gonna burn his house down." he mocked, "Uhg! Moron." mimicking his own words from just moments prior as he crouched behind a wagon filled to the brim with stacked bales of hay conveniently left against the wall.

Glancing beyond the wagon's wooden edge, Scanlan swiftly popped his head out, only to spin back into hiding upon spotting the two knights armed with spears guarding the iron gate. "Whew. Okay." The Bard breathed calming his buzzing nerves, gaze moving to meet the taller humans. "What's the plan Rags?" Scanlan inquired, voiced hushed by the howling winds and brewing storm.

Ragnvaldr, with one hand braced against the wall and the other gripping his axe, cast an incredulous glare at his companion. "This was your idea Scanlan. I'm just here to make sure you get out alive..." the Oldegårdian answered with a tone reduced to nought but a grumble, eyes fixed upon the group of guards. "Just think of something before we're spotted." he pressured again, unwilling to take part in battle while acting as a shield to the miniature humanoid.

"Alright! Alright. Come on, come on, come on. You got this." Scanlan murmured again, hooking a finger into the bag of holding attached to his belt and opened it up. Pulling, of all things a flute from within. "No one ever suspects the Scan-man, right? Yeah, right." The Bard eased, taking a single deep breath and placed the instruments mouth piece to his lips. A melodic tune humming from within, whisps of purple magic heaving outward and echoing beyond the courtyard and through the narrow streets. Each fading note catching the guards feeble attention.

The soldier furthest to the left of the iron entrance glanced toward his comrade, gaze meeting beneath their blackened helms. "What in the hells was that noise?" one uttered as the music faded into the wind. The last few fleeting chimes alerting them, both charging down one of the many alleyways in pursuit of a supposed target.

A self-satisfied smirk instantly spread across Scanlan's lips as the two men vanished from view, giving him and Ragnvaldr just enough time to make their move. The Gnome scrambled into the back of the wagon, clawing his way up the precarious stacks of hay beside the towering wall, his protector close behind. The guardian scaled the climb with ease as well, both reaching the crest of the wall. Of course, without so much caution Scanlan scarcely glanced as to what lay on the other side as he scrambled atop it and threw his legs over the opposite side.

"Hoppin' walls like a cat."

Humming the lively tune quietly much to his companies horror. "Scanlan! Wait!" the human ordered reaching to grasp the tiny humanoids ankle, only to watch in utter horror as his entire body slung to the side and slipped over the edge landing with a squelching thud back first into the mud.

"Totally meant to do that..."

He groaned, twisting onto his side, while Scanlan pushed himself upright, massaging his neck in a futile attempt to alleviate the burning pain searing through his spine. As he regained his composure, Ragnvaldr descended from above, landing in a crouch with his axe held close to his waist. "Get up..." he growled, lifting Bard by his collar back to his feet and shoving him forward.