A Raven's Blessing | Vax'ildan x OC | TLOVM

Deadly Echoes

Warnings: Strong and Sexual Language; Violence, Gore, & Death. 

The pirates closed in, tightening their circle until Vax, Vex, and Athena stood back-to-back, weapons raised, but outnumbered. The Serpent lingered where he'd emerged, scales glinting in the dim light, his slit-pupiled gaze fixed on Athena with unsettling delight.

Above them, Ripley leaned casually against the ship's railing, her gun drawn but not yet aimed. "So thoughtful of you to bring us your vestiges," she purred, a wicked smile curling her lips. "Yet I can't help but wonder why risk so much to find little old me?"

"You know damn well why," Vex snapped, her voice sharp with fury.

"Oh, him," Ripley sideeyed.

The hull's door creaked open, and a towering orc with dark tattoos stepped onto the deck, heavy cuffs clinking in his hands.

"Percy did deal us quite a setback," Ripley continued smoothly. "But one the vestiges you've brought me can rectify. Once you've been properly disarmed."

The orc strode forward, seizing Vax's wrist and twisting hard until his dagger clattered to the ground. He snatched it up, then wrenched Fenthras from Vex's grip and took Athena's sword, passing each weapon off to waiting pirates as Ripley watched, smug and unbothered. 

"It's unfortunate. He would be alive right now if he had made better choices. Or if you were there to save him."

The orc stepped forward, snapping the cuffs around Vex's wrists with a harsh metallic click. She started to protest, but before she could finish, the butt of a pirate's gun slammed against the side of her head, forcing a sharp yelp from her lips.

"Ah, but you're just as obstinate as he was."

With final clicks, the handcuffs around Athena's wrist were locked. Her mind was racing, trying to figure out a way to get them out of this situation. Though it felt like a fog was inside, weighing down her thoughts. The orc locked Vax's wrist as well, and the trio was now effectively disarmed by the pirates. Their demeanor seemed to relax as they looked at the trio, no longer seeing them as a threat, especially with their guns still drawn on them.

"Percival possessed genius but no foresight. He couldn't recognize the rot of this world, nor how to disinfect it."

Ripley strode to the stairs, descending to the bridge where they stood. Athena could now see scars from the fire from her fight with Percy along the edges of her face as she stepped in front of them. A flicker of satisfaction tugged at the corner of Athena's lips, but she forced it down. Percy was forever a thorn in Ripley's side, both mentally and now physically. 

Though they were planning to do a lot worse to her than just leave some scars. 

"We could have toppled the old order. Given the people of Whitestone a chance against those dragons. But Percy didn't care!"

"He cared for his people his people more than you ever could," Vex rebutted.

"I'm sure that's what he told you," Ripley replied coolly, tilting her head in mocking. "But I knew a pettier man. When he realized his weapons would feed souls to Orthax, he couldn't stomach it. He'd rather let the masses die than sacrifice his pride," she sneered at Vex, venom lacing every word.

"Says the woman who tortured the people of Whitestone alongside the Briarwoods," Athena barked out.

Ripley's attention turned to her, scanning over Athena's now ghostly, pale features. "Sacrifices must be made for the greater good of the world. No one is perfect. Certainly not someone like you, who I am sure has killed far more people than I have, Valkyrie."