The Escapist

 

[Prison Break]

As the sun was setting on the 30th of Nightal, the old year drawing to a close. The city was suddenly a flurry of activity. As the bells of every Watch station began to ring, shrill whistles echoed across the Wards as every patrolman hit the streets.

The Griffon cavalry took to the air, soaring low overhead, blanketing the sky. The City Guard abruptly closed all the Gates, and the ballista on their towers were crewed and ready.

Something big had happened.

The citizenry had yet to learn, that tonight, a Mind Flayer was on the loose.

**********

Vajra Safahr was roused from her tedious office work by the sudden din of alarms being raise. 

Before she could register what was happening, she was already misty stepping down corridors. Blackstaff in hand. The speeds she moved made it seem like she was popping in and out of reality, in a flash she had arrived at the edge of the cells.

The guards slumped against the wall was the first indication there would be trouble, the second was the sound of steel clashing rising from below. 

A brief moment of worry flickered; 'how big is the prison break? Will I be able to contain it?'

The worn staff in her hand was a great comfort, she tightened her grip on it before beginning to descend the stairs.

At the bottom, she managed to breathe a small sigh of relief. The Harper agents were holding their own.

The cells were a mess, clearly a fierce fight had already gone on here, a few bodies lay crumpled on the scorched flagstone floor. The Mage leader was doing their best to contain the damage, while the 6 Veterans battled the intruders.

This was made all the more difficult as Vajra witness Meloon Wardragon's body twist at an impossible angle to awkwardly parry the blade of one of the Veterans. Who seemed hesitant to strike properly.

A sentiment that was not shared by the rough looking men or the surly dwarf leading them in hacking at the Veterans.

In the shadows behind this crude line of protection, she caught sight of the Mind Flayer.

One hand outstretched, its long slender fingers moved as though controlling an invisible puppet. Meloon performed a stilted pirouette and landed a solid kick to one Veterans chest plate. Knocking the wind out of the man, as he was sent staggering back.

The tentacles writhed, and an oily voice slithered into the Vajras mind; 

'It has been fun, Young Blackstaff, but I will be leaving now.'

And with that the creature let out a silent scream, a crippling psionic screech. It battered the minds of all who heard it. Vajra's head was pounding and her vision swam, she was barely able to perceive the Mind Flayer disappearing with a slight pop.

And was composed just enough to register that the creature had plane shifted.

As soon as it left, its control of Meloon ended and the older man fell to the ground like a marionette with its strings cut. The Harper team was able to mop up the rest pretty quickly after that, though they lost one of the Bandits in the confusion.

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