epidemiology | EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

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EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

THE BARRIER

As promised, Arthur has the means to unlock that first, crucial step to saving the ALASTAIR recruits: unveiling the runes maintaining the barrier. He has sequestered himself in a rented room in the inn down the road from the prison; he’s at a good enough distance to keep his concentration unbroken, but near enough that he can reach the runes in question. The recruits are told to be ready, to wait for his signal before they take action.

The signal comes just after the stroke of 5 on the town’s clocks, at what would be dawn in a world of less darkness. There’s a shimmer in the air around the brick building of the jail, like the surface of a bubble. Then suddenly the runes are there: glowing bright green, flaming into existence at various points along and within the barrier.

There are at least 30 of them along the outside. They’re etched on walls, scribed into doors, carved into the very ground. These have to be destroyed first to make any progress, in any way the recruits are able to. Once these all have been broken, erased, or scattered (and some of them are cleverly hidden or out of reach -- have you checked the topmost brick in the clock tower of the jailhouse?), the first defense of the barrier has fallen. Then the jailhouse itself can be rushed, but magic is still hampered until every rune is destroyed. From there the runes can be found every few feet in the walls, ceilings, and floors of the jail, and only once each one is broken will the spell be completely lifted, magic and abilities restored to the area, and the inmates considerably easier to break out.

The recruits aren’t the only ones that can see those runes, though. The jailers are quick to react, and some spring to the defense of the runes while others rush to sound the alarm, calling even more armed guards to the area. Even city guards start to show up in response to the alarm -- there’s definitely a time limit on this venture. Dispose of the runes, rescue your friends, and be out of the area quickly, or you might just be overrun with armed, angry opposition.

THE ESCAPE

By the time those in the cells are finally brought out, it’s pandemonium. The guards, jailers and city guards alike, might not have been able to stop ALASTAIR’s recruits from destroying the runes and bringing down the barrier, but they’re determined at least to stop dangerous criminals from escaping into the city. And these criminals were due to be hung, so they’re not looking to take anyone down peacefully. They’ll be going for the killing blows.

The best chance will be to rely on numbers and scatter. In ones and twos and threes, people should be taking to shadowy alleys, slipping around corners, even dropping down into the sewers, if they have to. Anything to thin out and disappear. The most capable and destructive fighters are asked to stay as long as they can, giving the bulk of the rest of the escapees time to disappear into that unending night.

THE COOLDOWN

Those that helped free their friends probably won’t run into too many problems in the following days, unless you run into a guard with a few injuries and a long memory. The ex-prisoners, though, are another story. They were in there long enough that the men and women who guarded them know most of their faces quite well, and since they’re out of prisoners to guard, what else do they have to do but take to the streets and search? Ex-prisoners should play it carefully, then, if they don’t want to end up right back where they started. Guards are more than happy to cause an immediate fracas should they spot anyone that belongs in jail.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t go out at all! Just, you know, take a disguise with you. As if anticipating the rising demand for them, all local merchant shops seem to be stocking up on scarves, shawls, and bulky clothing. Isn’t that nice? Most of them don’t really care what anyone did to end up in jail, they just want to share in on those ALASTAIR-paid wages.

If spotted, townsfolk have varied opinions of the escapees. Some are mistrustful and bitter, and will immediately alert guards upon realizing who they’re dealing with. Some of them really don’t care. They’re tired of the darkness, tired of the conflicts, they just want to get on with life. One old man in particular seems to inexplicably love all ALASTAIR recruits, the ex-prisoners in particular, and will insist on buying a drink and playing a game of chess with any of them he runs into. The goblins, of course, have pretty good opinions of anyone on the wrong side of the king, and will be your best bet for finding lodging and food. Some of them might even think of you as a hero, or at least a roguishly charming vigilante.

Spend your post-breakout time well, and try not to make any more enemies.

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[ The state of the captured and their hygiene was the least of her concerns. She wasn't too surprised with the state of things and the prisoners.

It made her all the more urgent to free them, to get them out of there before things got worse. Before they became someone like her. The asylum wasn't all that different to this prison. Breathless, Alice stood there antsy waiting for him to get up. She listened carefully to the footsteps around her, her knife gripped so tightly in her hand she was shaking.

One down, however many to go. She knew her friend was freed, and that made things considerably less pressing to her. ]

Come on, then, I'm sure there will be a hoard of them eventually.

[ Despite her compassion, Alice moved quickly, determined to take the lead and protect the much taller and bulkier person behind her. She's done stupider things. ]

[He keeps up reasonably well, for not having had the chance to move around much in the last week - there's a little stiffness in his movements, but he manages the speed well enough, and he's no less sharp and on guard mentally, still watching for the next guard who makes himself a convenient target.

A man's got to rearm at some point, after all.]

I'll save the gratitude for when we're out, then.

[Not intended in a rude way in the least - rather, that's his promise that they're going to get out. He's sure as hell not going to go to pieces on her now.]

[ In another situation, Alice would appreciate such a rational position, but her main goal is to blaze through, move quickly, and collect who she can. She came for Gin, but she would also come for others who were being held, she didn't care who they were in ALASITOR, her spite was starting to run that deep.

The size difference could have been hilarious. The vorpal blade slides out already, like a sword, streaking as she walked hurriedly. At at the sound of approaching steps of a guard coming. Alice was small, so it made it difficult to blaze through the jail cell, because she was certain that guards expected her to be much weaker than she looked.

Which was not the case and despite her petite, feminine appearance, Alice had a nasty streak to her, if pressed. She went low, curving back the vorpal blade that cut through armor, with little to no resistance, hard enough in his side, hoping that it wouldn't be fatal. Sure, causing enough pain to slow him down was the key, but not to outright murder. Pressing a foot to his chest, she tried to push him off, keeping him further away from her company. ]

I don't need it, I don't care.

No? That sounds a bit familiar.

[Ah, difficult people who won't just let you thank them...it's nostalgic. He knows too many of those. (Is married to one of those.)

But not properly expressing some sort of gratitude isn't an option, regardless of what that expression turns out to be or whether it's wanted. Tachibanas pay their debts.]

Then I suppose I'll just have to owe you one.

[He drops to one knee when the guard drops like a rock, just low enough to swipe the sword the man drops on the floor as he goes down. Not quite the same feel as what he's used to, he decides as he tests the balance, but close enough not to be a problem.]

You owe me nothing.

[ Too gracious for his own good, Alice thought. She kept moving, but kept a close eye on him, as a result. She appreciated it, though, it wasn't the time to really get into it. Blazing through the jailhouse, Alice was determined to find an escape route. There were less than glamorous routes, possibly, ones that involved manholes and dropping through tunnels, now that she thought about it, running through the jailhouse.

Crawling through holes and submerging one's self in darkness, in her experience, were more useful than to sneak into alleyways. In the end, Alice knew too much about attempt escapes from incarceration, more than any 19 year old girl did. But if he's looking to arm himself, Alice picking up large rock and pinging a man in the head as he was about to come at her as a sword may prove useful.

She nearly snorts. ]

Never mind that, if you like, do as you please. I'm not looking to kill anyone and I take no joy in spilling blood.

The Tachibana pay their debts.

[Regardless of whether those to whom they're indebted would see it as such. "Gracious" isn't the word he'd use for it; it's honor, pure and simple.

Whatever else he may lose, his honor is something no one can take.]

[ She wasn't sure what to think of that statement and nor did she have time to mull it over. Swooping back in, Alice leans down to grab a weapon.

Though, not for her, but for him, grabbing a discarded sword of someone she just knocked out, cold. She wasn't going to argue about it. Debts and such weren't important. What was important was getting innocent people out, nothing else. Turning back to him, she offers it up, looking him over.

These people weren't going to be in the position to fight. But Alice was going to see to it that they had to.

After all, two weeks didn't hold a candle to ten years. ]

Here, take it. My knife can cut through anything, but I don't have strength or the size to cut through a body decently enough.

[ That's a bit too morbid of a comment, but she's not going to care. ]

That's largely a matter of practice.

[Morbidness met and matched as he takes that sword, but he's cut through enough bodies in his time.]

But for now, we'd do better to disable, anyway.

[There's probably no getting around the sheer amount of trouble for everyone that this is going to cause, at this point, but a trail of dead bodies certainly won't help matters.

Which nonetheless doesn't mean he'd want to be in the shoes of anyone who gets in their way.]

[ Largely a matter of practice, he says. Alice could easily slip in a comment about her stature and weight, up until the sudden rush of footsteps coming to her direction start to concern her enough that she really starts to pick up her pace. She has deemed him in need of her defense; who knows how much any of these people had to eat and how much sleep the got in the jailhouse in a matter of two weeks.

It didn't matter who she came across, Alice was under the assumption that they may not have the energy and she was prepared to protect them. ]

I'll certainly try my best to disable them.

[ She would, too. Glancing down at her knife, as she lead him out, Alice turned back to him- ]

I will admit am not sure how well that will work with a knife.

If you have to stick them, go for the legs. They'll survive it, unless they do something stupid, but it'll slow them down.

[Spoken with exactly the level of cool professionalism that's expected of someone who's more than ready to practice as he's preaching.

He'd rather they got out without much bloodshed, but he's also not inclined to pull any more punches than necessary against people who were quite ready to kill him.]

[ Go for the legs.

It's not something she's unfamiliar with. Alice nods in affirmation, briefly recalling her younger years, when she first started to learn how to use knives. It involved a lot of surprise attacks and crawling underneath the bed from orderlies.

Under any other circumstances, Alice would have made a comment degrading herself, declaring that encouraging her and her bad behavior.

She falls back on her intervals of speaking to him in between gaps of silence. But, she figures, accompanied with her small height, she can use that to her advantage to burst forward again, in small bursts when she hears footsteps. She hones in on the sound to the best to her ability, acting on a gut reaction to move in before anything happens to her companion. She assumes that they don't expect her to act out with how small she is, tearing through the prison cell again.

Alice takes that advice to heart, fusing herself back into a solid form from butterflies, going low with her knife, through one man's leg. She glances back over to him to see if he's still there. Unharmed and safe, Alice starts looking for an alternate route to get him out. Alice is completely nonchalant stepping over a man clutching his leg in agony. She speaks to him as if she were discussing the weather. ]

So, then, I think our best option is to cut through under ground, don't you think? It won't be glamorous, but it will be the quickest route to get you out.

[She's quick, she moves decisively...and she's not paralyzed by the results of her own actions.

Muneshige knows better than to judge ability by appearance, but Alice certainly makes an effective reminder, if he ever needed one.]

Do I smell like a man who cares about what's glamorous, right now?

[If it leads out, and it leads to finally getting a bath - oh, and more importantly to not being dead, of course - he's not about to be picky.]

You'll get sick physically after being in squalor and filth.

[ She speaks from personal experience, recalling the state of Rutledge's main halls and after a while, Alice was pretty content, even refusing to leave her room after a while, even if it meant more years in a small space.

That was what kept her going, freely getting her hands dirty, grabbing hold of a sewer crate, finally. Alice was proving despite her small size she was stronger than she looked, heaving a heavy iron gate off of a manhole. Though, to say it was easy for her would be a lie; as soon as she drops it, her chest and arms are aching and Alice is nearly left breathless. Pulling hair off her sweaty brow, Alice turns to him- ]

I'll make sure you'll get out of here safely and you can have a week's long bath.

[ She's joking, but she's sure that will sound pleasant to all of them. ]

I'd be lying if I said nothing's ever sounded better, but I can't think of many things that have.

[He eyes the manhole. He's used to plowing in first, himself, but he also has nothing against letting someone take charge who's clearly On A Mission and bent on getting it done, so -]

Would you prefer to lead or take the rear?

Allow me.

[ She'll be very insistent about continuing her role as a protector. Sizing up the drop before she goes down, Alice turns back to him and offers up- ]

Be careful.

[ Despite the fact she's significantly smaller. Slowly lowering herself over the edge, Alice slips down, before finding herself landing in something wet and smelling terrible.

Even in the worst wings of Rutledge or the streets of London smelled terrible, that's not enough to prepare her. It's been a while and it makes her all the more determined to lead him out quicker. ]

[He waits until he hears her move to the side before he slips in after her (landing on someone and crushing them = not the way to thank them for the rescue, after all), wincing as soon as he hits the ground.

Wow.

He thought he smelled.]

[ The smell is dreadful, but more importantly, he seems to be well enough for Alice to frankly take off to avoid the rancid smell of the gutters. ]

Come on!

[ Already, Alice has displayed tonight she's not going to wait for anyone to move, she'll freely take off and lead the way. It's doubly a matter of impatience at this rate, though only to make sure that she's ahead of him, to protect him.

She's guessing and is slightly thankful for any dim lit torches in the tunnels, as much as she's afraid of fire. The sounds above a great indicator of how far along they can be, how much further it is until it's quiet enough where Alice is assuming that they have to be further out of the city. Descending the ladder, Alice has to use extra force to push off the lid of the manhole, with her already sore shoulders.

And, in a matter of fifteen minutes or less, they're free and the fresh air cannot be any better. ]

[The tension ought to make it feel like fifteen very long minutes, perhaps, but after the hours melting into days of tedium in the jail, minutes are really nothing. He stays hard on her heels, saying nothing until they break to the surface.

And then he still doesn't say anything for a few moments because deep breaths sound an awful lot better than talking.]

[ After this, Alice has decided that she's done with the jail breach, letting out a sigh of relief. But it wasn't over yet, she turns back to him, scanning him over and waits for him to catch is breath. Who knows how much they had to eat or if they were hurt in the jail house. ]

Are you hurt?

[ Physical pain couldn't really reflect any emotional pain and it would be hard to read. After her ten years in the asylum, Alice is certainly mindful of it, looking him over and knowing fully well that whatever he says may not reflect that. Still, she didn't want to start biting at his heels and get him moving again, until she knew he was physically ready. ]

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EVENT ★ THE USUAL SUSPECTS

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sorry for slow, holidays ate me!

it's all good, i'm slow too >_>

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