#impaling his arms/wrists with arrows as well then tying rope to them and making him dance like a puppet :D

[befuddled-calico-whump]

okay okay so I had a dream about a robin hood-style band of outlaws who were captured in a group by royal guards.

The leader was interrogated in front of his men by having arrows driven into his legs, which were then tugged on and moved around while embedded there to cause more pain and damage. When threatened to have it done to his arms too, he cracked, spilling vital information/confessing to the group's crimes in front of his men.

The rest of the outlaws were pretty pissed off, and shunned him, even when he was begging for help/water after the guards left.

#it was very Neat! #i also remember them tying strings to the arrows and pulling them around but idr why exactly or what that didnthat tugging didn't #but as a result have a non-dream idea: #impaling his arms/wrists with arrows as well then tying rope to them and making him dance like a puppet :D #<<if i was writing this that would be the exact threat they'd use to crack him #dream log #whump dream #fantasy whump #team leader whump #torture #betrayal #whump prompt

[shiftyarchfey]

Bad Decisions

(Thank you @zanidragon for being my beta on this! Just a little piece I wrote involving my dnd druid Cassian and zanidragon’s npcs, Thomas Mayne and Saul Talbot. Kind of an au, what-if situation.1700 words)

He'd done well so far, at least up until he was caught. The camp was hilariously easy to sneak into, no guard looking out for the snake slithering in between their legs right into the direction of the biggest tent. People are dumb and build their commander's tent the biggest as if it matters. In the end, they all sleep on the floor, the only difference is the quality of the stuffing in their bedroll.

The slithering went well until he actually reached the tent, only one guard who was nodding off quite fast, not without the help of a mug or two of the ale they'd made sure had some extra drowsiness as a side effect. The plan was, he himself had to say, quite simple but brilliant. Well, in theory, it should have been. Create a distraction, let them hunt him until the rest of his family descends from the dark and silent sky with claws at the ready.

Oh, how foolish he had been. But the sight that met his reptile eyes as he bolted into the tent... He should have figured something like this could have been going on, it was a quiet night after all. Enough time to seek some company. He could have handled the commander alone quite well, but two of the best "druid-hunters" in one swoop was too much after all. The chains around his now-elven wrists jingle as he shifts slightly, licking the blood from his lips where it split under a direct hit from a strong fist previously wrapped around something- Well, he should not continue this thought, lest he wanted to be killed instantly.

The two men loom over him, would even if he was standing up. Damn, they are tall. And strong. And they caught him by surprise. It totally wasn't because he was busy watching something- No. He should be thinking of a way to escape, right now. Warn his family, break off the attack, the commanders now very alert that something's in the bushes. If they hadn't been for the entire time. It's hard to tell, truly. The only sure thing is that they will try to make him talk about things he'd rather not share.

He grins at the two of them, weakly, still feeling the sting of the punches. He should be glad, he supposes, they didn't have their weapons at the ready. The dangerous ones at least. The druid-killers are dangerous even without sharp swords and fast arrows. He really should have known better. He should have taken Mischa's advice.

The silence stretches in the tent, nobody willing to crack first. He supposes the smile won't last much longer so it might as well be him but, spite. He'll hold out for a bit just to irk these two bastards. Serves them right, tying him up... It's not even a good way of tying somebody up, it actually hurts quite a bit. If he could just reach-

"Well, I can't say I'm very surprised, to have a snake in our midst," A growling, deep voice, the smirk on his lips clearly audible, hands crossed in front of a truly impressive chest- No.

"But, commander, clearly I'm not a snake?" He's still grinning as the scowl deepens, the other druid-killer hiding a snicker. "See, I was under the impression snakes have scales and no other limbs? Yet here I am, no scales and my arms are tied up so I do have limbs?"

Well, he could try to get in even more trouble than he already is, but that comment clearly was built for him to retort in such a manner. At least he seems to be amusing the other one.

The fist in his gut tells him how deeply unimpressed the taller (and broader) one is. All these muscles really aren't just for show. Damn. He shakes his head, trying to get rid of the nausea bubbling up.

"Well that wasn't very nice," He's able to croak out, barely. What a good impression he's making. Oh well.

"Well, sneaking into the tent and watching also wasn't very nice." The other druid-killer smiles softly, putting a hand on the brick's arm. He does not think it's because Arrows wants to stop Brick from hitting him, more likely just a reminder to take it slow. Fucking great.

"Now, what brings a snake in our tent in the middle of the night, hm?" Arrows' smile is sharp, dangerous. Not to be underestimated. Handsome fellows, both of them, but-NO.

"I already told you, no snake. Also, I don't see why you stopped? You seemed really into it," His sly smirk widens as Brick exhales and Arrows' smile freezes slightly but apparently, Arrows has better control and the smile gets all sharp again.

Damn.

"You can only lie so often, Druid. What's your name?" Arrows seems to stare right into his soul. If he’d just stop doing that, he could-

"Ah, little old me? What are your names, first? Seems a bit rude to tie me up and not even announce yourselves, gentlemen." He knows of course. No druid with a shred of common sense does not know Lieutenant Talbot and Thomas Mayne, the two men responsible for a lot of their casualties. They seem to realize it too if their unimpressed glares are an indication. Well, spite apparently only gets one so far. He sighs, deeply. It's mocking and they all know it, but he already has the shit-eating grin to match it so he does not care.

"Cassian Kymil Reluraun Gwythian Tual Audren Caurus Phishana Zyndryth Arther Raymond Caiben Mallos Uilben Raenor. Ignore the Raymond, it's my great-great-great-grandfather who has no sense of naming who got that one in." He sees Arrows slightly touch his forehead about four names in and Brick is totally losing his calm.

Perfect. Just a bit more.

"Well, Cassian, what’s your business here?" Arrows isn't as calm already, the tone of his voice shows just that little bit of strain he must be feeling.

"Ah, mine? Nothing! The snake though, that one's naughty and wanted to watch. Not me!" No, not at all! “So you see, it's totally unnecessary to even tie me up. The snake is long gone the naughty thing. I'm innocent!" Well, that was played up but it's worth for the punch that dislodges the secret knife he'd hidden before he was searched and tied up. Falling straight between his fingers, he grabs it and starts moving his arms slightly, hiding it between shifts of apparent discomfort.

"Quit the crap, druid. Tell us, what are you planning?" Brick is not calm at all. Luckily the guard on the outside must be sleeping deeply by now, else he would have woken up by the yelling.

He grimaces, "Ah, no crap? I went just before-" The hit that disrupts him is definitely deserved this time but it still hurts. No matter. More movement. They took his focus but he still has a knife, maybe he can escape-

"Quit talking shit, little elf. When is the attack happening?"

THE ATTACK! Ah, how much time did he spend inside already? His signal didn't come but... They know he's prone to forgetting it, they might just have decided to go ahead anyway. Damn.

His internal cursing must have shown on his face, for the two men slowly lean in closer, menacing. Truly impressive, they- No.

"Fuck you," He mumbles between clenched teeth, breathing hard to hide the frantic sawing. Just a bit, just a bit more- There.

Brick laughs, humorless and cold. He's aware he does not have very much time left, the way he riled him up. Arrows might interfere but he doubts Arrows wants to throw himself between Brick and himself just to get that bit more information he would not give. They're both pressed for time, he because he wants to stop the attack and the druid-hunters because they want to know when the attack is coming. Any second now...

Brick leans in and it's the closest thing he'll get so he'll take it. Ripping the threads that were his ropes, lunging at Brick with the knife brandished, almost snarling, hitting-

Brick's thigh is all he gets before sharp pain blossoms on his side.

The guard woke up after all. He'd also managed to gather enough motion to impale his side, if the tip sticking out of him is any indication. It takes a few seconds until the full brunt of the pain registers and his legs give out like seaweed on dry land. He clutches the knife and Brick's pant seam because he needs something to ground him. The guard grunts as he pulls out the sword, asking after his leaders, not that the words register in his mind. He does see Arrows' frown and Brick's cold sneer as Brick pries his fingers of the knife and his pants, letting him slide down slowly without the support.

"Nasty bite, little snake," Brick chuckles as he throws away the knife, not that he has any possibility of getting away now. Damn it then. He hopes at least the others could get away.

His hopes get dashed as the cries emerge, the rushing of wind beneath wings and the trample of sticks and stones beneath claws. They still came. At least he did provide some distraction if nothing else.

"Fuck you..." He manages to grit out, fingers clenching at the wound. "I hope the ground you rot in once you meet your deserved end will be forgotten even by your ghosts."

Brick sneers, gripping his chin.

"Well, if that day comes I'm sure your ghost will be right beside ours, won't it, little snake?"

"Oh Great Tree, take on my bones-" He is interrupted by the guard, screaming as claws bury in his throat.

The tiger barging into the tent is followed by two bears and he smiles weakly. Not alone after all. He feels his head being cradled as the fight in the background fades away, only feeling the hands, marked by age and hard work yet still incredibly nice to the touch. Feels the shaking fingers wiping his hair from his face where it had messily fallen. Hears the voice whisper the last of the prayer as he himself can't manage to move his lips and tongue.

And he feels the wetness on his cheek. If it's his own tears or not he does not find out.

#my writing #character death #lots of snark too #sadness as well I guess #dnd drabble #violence #death #Cassian Raenor #Thomas Mayne #Saul Talbot