Collab by Dervish and Voltaire
Blade cursed inwardly when his target became aware of his presence. He'd slipped behind the curtains of a massive four poster bed in an attempt to close the distance with the captain, not wanting to face his heavily armored guards with such light gear of his own. The chain mail and leather would be about as useful as his scales against those maces. He decided then that he'd be damned before he ever parted with his plate armor again.
The ruse was up however so he stepped casually out from his hiding space, orcish blade in each hand. He responded to Doshin with a low growl. "It's as you say captain, I'm here to take your life. The people of this city are less than pleased with your performance and have called for your death. If you have any last words, you'd best say them now. While your head is still attached to your shoulders."
Blades eyes flicked about the room as he waited for Doshin's response, using the time to take note of items that could be of use in the approaching fight and planning his strategy.
Captain Doshin regarded the argonian with disdain, blade at the ready. His body guard took a protective position, shield facing Blade. "You are tired, wounded, and outnumbered. Drop your blades and you may be spared, provided you can give some insight into what caused this futile and bloody uprising." the Redguard stared daggers into the argonian before shaking his head, as if finding the words to scorn a misbehaving child. "Let me guess, some insurgent leader told you that I was an oppressive despot licking the dwemers' boots while rolling in the opulence of my position? Look around you." He fanned out his free hand. "This is all I have in my life, in this room. My so-called palace is shared by numerous other guards who are dying in the streets right now for what righteous cause? You came here and started this because some stranger told you I was the bad man, and that their hands are clean? You ignorant, ignorant child!" He scolded Blade.
"Do you know why I took this position? Because if I didn't, the dwemer would have done what they are doubtless doing now, crushing the uprising with brute force as they always do when they are resisted and as usual, the innocent are caught in the crossfire. We had peace, damn you! It was not perfect, and we still live under the oppressive thumbs of despots, but it was that or labour camps and genocide. I wanted to keep the people that had been friends of my family for seven generations safe from harm and you and your foolish, near sighted rebel friends are bringing death to people who just want to live! Look outside, and listen. Listen to the chaos and know that your actions have killed dozens of people, if not hundreds. You are nothing more than a dog, doing what he's told, fighting for a cause he knows nothing of but will gladly shed blood for. Tell me argonian, is it worth it? Try to kill me if you must, but know that even if you survive, that the days ahead with the countless bodies in the street and the dwemer brutality is your doing. I hope corpses and ash is what you want, because that is what you're fighting for. Did you ever think to ask what the average citizen wants, or did you just immediately kiss up to the insurgents who promised you anything? You think you aren't being used, manipulated? Do you think they're telling you the truth?" the Captain challenged.
At first Blade mostly ignored Doshin's words, but his eyes flashed and his blood boiled when the captain began to make his excuses for whatever brutality he'd committed. He'd almost lunged at the man then, the thought of his throat crushed between his fangs most enticing. But he managed to control his temper, barely.
"You give me too much credit Captain," the argonian growled. "I did not start this uprising. The people did. And I am carrying out the wishes of those people because it suits me. I couldn't care less about their rebellion, or who rules this city. And I couldn't care less if the gates of Oblivion itself opened up and dragged it to the fiery depths. You would shame me with the deaths of the people in the street?" Blade chuckled darkly at that, "I have personally laid claim to hundreds of lives for coin over the years. Why would I care about a few hundred more? In any case, you're wrong. Their blood is not on my hands. It is on the dwemer's. And it is on yours for allowing them free reign so willingly. It is on the coin you accept from them, the bed you purchased with that coin. The vessel you drink from and the wine that fills it."
Blade's brows furrowed and a scowl grew on his features as his fury began to build. "And you would dare to lecture me on hardship and oppression? You, who would facilitate the dwemer's brutality and accept their gold. You, who would sleep in your private quarters at the end of the day, after abducting, torturing, murdering on their behalf. A poor decision my dear Captain. You would have me believe that your actions have had the people's best interest in mind, that you have merely been doing your job. Well I have witnessed what happens when people like you just do their job." Blade raised his weapons before him and shifted his weight in preparation for the bloodshed, "And that is why I am here Doshin, to do my job."
The sting of Blade's injuries were long forgotten. Images of Doshin's mutilated corpse filled his head now, and he intended to make those images a reality. As his wrath boiled over, all he wanted was to taste the captain's flesh on his lips and to bathe his weapons with the mans blood. The argonian charged forward with a roar and aimed a heavy slash at the Redguard's neck.
The Captain's bodyguard was quick, moving to intercept the argonian with his shield and striking back with his mace, which missed Blade by only a handful of inches. Captain Doshin scowled at the argonian. "I wouldn't expect a dog to understand. Very well, then you shall die like one." He grabbed the wine goblet from the secretary, who was fumbling with his own blade and hurled it at Wets-His-Blade's head, not waiting for the impact, he moved in for a flank swiftly, slashing at the argonian's side as his front was occupied by the bodyguard.
The sound of heavy footsteps hurried up the stairs at the sound of the commotion and the second bodyguard was making his way back to the fight. The odds were not looking good for the gladiator.
Blade wasn't surprised by the guard's interference and side stepped the swing that followed his prompt shield block. The guard pressed the attack and the argonian ducked the reverse swing, simultaneously avoiding the hurled glassware which shattered harmlessly on the car side of the stone room.
The heavily armored guard used the momentum from the reverse cut to lead into a lateral smash that would cave in the assassins head, but Blade had anticipated this. While crouched, hed let his swords fall from his grasp then stepped inside his opponent's guard and caught the falling arm. Using the man's weight and momentum against him, Blade swiveled and yanked on the captured limb, sending the guard flying head over heels, crashing onto the ground. The flailing appendages forced Doshin to halt his advance to avoid being kicked by an armored foot.
The argonian kept hold of his victim's arm as he aimed a vicious heel kick at the downed man's head, hoping to snap his neck, then jabbed his knee into his captive's elbow for good measure. Blade didn't know if the man was dead, but the mace fell from nerveless fingers, so it would have to do for now. He grabbed the fallen weapon and swiftly brought it up to block the attack that was surely coming.
The attack didn't come from Captain Doshin but rather the second guard bashed the argonian with his shield, staggering him towards the Captain, who made a wide sweeping cut as Blade stumbled past, leaving a long bloody cut along the argonian's back. The second guard was much more conservative in his movements, preferring to tire the assassin and bleed him out than rush in where misstep could cost him his life. The secretary from downstairs had hurried and collected the blades the argonian had dropped and kept a wide berth away from Blade, holding one of the swords in a defensive stance. Going after him would be turning his back to the Captain and the body guard, who were beginning to circle around the argonian, one always trying to stay behind him. "Surrender." The Captain said. "Your death is assured, you're grievously wounded, and you are outnumbered. You put up a valiant fight, but I assure you that you cannot keep this up."
Shouting was heard outside from around the gates as the first of the reinforcements had begun to arrive, moving through the gates cautiously.
The stone floor was streaked with blood from Blade's injured back and tail and he grimaced as the fresh wound sent his nerves aflame. He'd have harsh words for the rebellion's smiths if he managed to survive this encounter. His breath was coming harshly as the exertions of the past minutes were beginning to catch up with him as well, and he backed cautiously towards one of the walls so his opponents would stay within his field of view, if just barely.
After a moment of silence during which Blade planned his next move, he glanced over at Doshin and snarled, "Watch me, dog." If nothing else, the argonian would make sure the captain never forgot this day.
Time seemed to slow as everybody made their moves simultaneously. Blade took the stolen mace in his left hand while his right moved to his belt and turned to face the remaining guard who was stepping in for an attack while Doshin moved in from behind. The guard raised his shield to block the now airborne mace which the argonian had thrown underhand, and sparked off the reinforced disc. As Blade continued to pivot his tail flicked out, sending flecks of blood flying into Doshin's unprotected face. One of the crimson droplets struck the captain square in the left eye and he naturally flinched and brought his hands up to guard against further attack. As he was raising his hands, Blade's right hand arced out laterally from his waist and let fly the dagger he'd stolen earlier. The knife flew the short distance to its target and pierced the palm covering the captain's face, passing through the flesh, muscle, and between bones before finally stabbing the eyeball hidden behind.
Doshin dropped his sword screaming in agony and staggered back, pawing at his wounded face with his uninjured hand. "You fucking bastard! I'll have your head for this you gods damned lizard!"
Blade hadn't taken the time to admire his work. After throwing the dagger he'd attempted to turn and defend against whatever the guard had in store, but he was too late. The armored man had started a blind swing while defending against the thrown mace, and the flanges of his own weapon slammed into the argonian's ribcage before he could even turn half way. Blade's howl of pain joined Doshin's as he collapsed to the stone floor with several broken bones. He gasped for air as his traumatized lung did it's best to function, and he crawled to his hands and knees, attempting to stand. The guard wasn't having it however, and neither were his allies who crashed up the stairs and went to aid either Doshin or the remaining guard in beating the assassin senseless as vengeance for their fallen comrades who littered the grounds of the compound.
Blade was too tired to defend himself and weathered the beating in stony silence. Captain Doshin had grasped his hand around his new wound, the shock of it all refusing to let him fully acknowledge the horror he had inflicted upon him. His breathing was heavy, and it took the bodyguard stepping forward to smash the argonian's skull in to intervene. "No, stop! There's plans for this one..." he had begun to say as Blade's eyes rolled behind swollen lids, and the world slowly faded from existence.