Beast with a heart

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Lucky for the guard, Brandt's bolts would shoot out too late to kill the man. Unlucky for him, he now had a hulking Nord toting some serious heat chasing him down. In his panic, the man would trip over something on the floor, but his screams caused some more commotion from upstairs, it sounded like a lot of guys were up there.

[Brandt Solveig]

Swearing under his breath, the giant would rush up the staircase to catch sight of the guard trip and fall to the ground. Brandt would almost chuckle as he would ascend upon the guard. His massive blade dropped over the guard's shoulder, resting near his head. Hunching over, the Nord would speak low.

"Listen to me carefully.. I will let you live if you do one thing for me.. I need you to go upstairs and convince your buddies that there is an intruder trying to get into the tower. If you tell them Im already up here... I promise you I will tear you limb from limb.."

After he would finish speaking he would step over the man and walk toward the next flight of stairs, positioning himself on the left side with his back against the wall and his sword raised in preparation before motioning with his head for the guard to head up and warn the others.

Brandt reasoned that the guards ahead probably heard his prior screams anyways. If his threat worked well enough, the guards up stairs would rush by him to head down and he would once again have an advantage.

If they ran by, he would wait for the last to pass before he would take two steps and leap toward the group, twisting his body and spinning that massive sword around in a whirlwind technique to take as many out as possible.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The man would look up at Brandt in fear, nodding scaredly as he heard the orders. He didn't want to die. He saw how swiftly the Nord took out his comrades, and even if it cost the lives of his friends, the man wanted desperately to live... and so he went upstairs, shaking.

"T-t-there's an intruder... trying to get into the tower..."

The men all looked at themselves, confused, and wondering what the commotion just below them was. "Well, what are you waiting for? Come on, we have to stop him!" They all began to run downstairs, motivated with stopping whoever it was from getting inside, while the scared man stayed at the top of the steps, trembling.

And he saw as Brandt would come out like a hurricane, tearing into his teammates. With a single strike, he had already taken out most of the group. Three men remained, having narrowly avoided death. They were shaking, realizing they had been tricked. And in anger and fear, they rushed at the Nord, swords drawn.

[Brandt Solveig]

Three guards stood after his furious onslaught. Those pale green eyes narrowing as they held their swords and continued to push toward him. And he would move to confront them. His blade lifting horizontally, with the flat side facing his adversaries. The giant would aim to clash against all three with as much strength and weight he could muster.

His goal was not to try to kill them with the blow, but to knock them backwards and off balance. He would then counter-clockwise around, dropping low to try and cut them down at the knees.

Brandt would not be stopped from completing his task. He felt it was part of his atonement to help free this child. He had done so much harm to innocent people that he could no longer ignore a situation like this.


If and when he finished off the guards, he would proceed upwards once again, stopping when he reached the guard who betrayed his friends. Brandt would stare toward him menacingly as his gruff voice sounded out.

"I'll keep my end of the bargin.. Your free to leave after you tell me where the girl your boss kidnapped is.. She up top? Think twice before you lie to me.."

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The three men would be knocked back by Brandt's attack, helpless before his onslaught, and soon their knees would be sliced and they'd fall to the floor in agony.

The man up top trembled and fell backwards as Brandt approached him, he looked as though he were about to cry. He didn't want to die, no matter what.

"S-S-She's... at the top floor... guarded by our... b-b-b-boss..."

[Brandt Solveig]

"Well your boss is about to have a real bad day.. Get out of here."

Brandt would finish speaking and then push on past him. He wasn't too worried about the guard attacking him
He seemed far too cowardly to attempt it. The nord would let him live as he said, casting one last glance almost as if to warn him not to tell anyone on his way out. Brandt would then continue on as he had every floor before. He assumed he was nearing the top now. He would find out shortly as he moved up once again. Just as cautiously as he had been before.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The man would flee, running as far away from the castle as he could. He wanted to return to his family, and after this day, he would change his ways, opening up a shop in Totomi.

As Brandt continued up the stairs, he would find each floor empty until he had reached the top. There would stand a massive man, holding a large sword just as he did. He stood just as tall as Brandt did, and was clad in armor for the most part. The man's hair was long, but his scars and other features showed that he had seen a lot of battle, and he stoically stared the Nord down as he arrived. Hair grew on his face in rough patches.

"All of this trouble because of one man, huh? I guess I shouldn't underestimate you." He grabbed his sword, drawing it. "Sorry kid, but a man's gotta make money somehow."

The girl Brandt came for could be seen in the back in a cage. She was crying, begging the man to save her.

[Brandt Solveig]

"Yeah, well it looks like you've lost some men.. And now your going to loose her too."

Brandt would nod toward the female behind him. He felt sorrow when he looked upon her locked in a cage like a wild animal. And his attention would shift to the battle-worthy opponent before him. He was beginning to think all of the nationals here were midgets. He would look him over briefly, preparing himself to take this man on as he had the others. However he would offer him a choice now.

"Just let me have the girl back and I'll let you keep all of your limbs.."

Lifting his sword to the ready, The nord stared confidently toward the lord of this castle. At last he felt he would have a battle worth his time. This guy wouldnt be a push over, but this viking wasn't going to die here today. He would slay this man if he had to and return the girl to her family.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The man smirked at Brandt's words, not phased at all. He seemed confident that the Nord was no match for him.

"Tell you what... I'm going to kill you slowly in front of this girl, so she knows that there's no escape for her."

And with that, the man would charge Brandt, swinging his massive sword in a horizontal arc at waist level, coming from Brandt's right.

(OOC: Big dude's stats: 30 Str, 15 Dex, 30 Con, 15 Wis, 5 Spr)

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt didnt bother to retort, instead he stood steady waiting for his opponent to make the first move. When he came an swung his weapon at Brandt, he would react almost instinctively. He wasnt sure how strong the man before him was, so he would have shifted his blade from its ready position to slam i to his opponents own, Brandts handle lifted towars the sky as he put all his weight into it to ensure he could stop it.

As long as that worked, Brandt would lift upward on the handle of his sword and and in the same movement he would swipe it across and away. His goal was for his blade to slide over along the top of his opponents and allow the front end of his blade to attempt to slice right through the wrists of the enemy holding his sword. With luck he would cut both his hands off, or at least one. It remained to be seen. His movements were quick and tight, there wasnt a whole lot of wiggle room in this position.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Although Brandt would manage to swipe his weapon along his opponent's, the man would let go of his weapon, allowing it to drop to the floor as he jumped away to avoid that slash and his wrists getting damaged. He would instantly charge in, shoulder tackling Brandt and slamming him against the wall before grabbing his sword again, attempting to thrust it forward to impale the Nord against the wall!

[Brandt Solveig]

Damn it, Nearly chopped 'em off!

Brandt would just barely miss him as he relessed his blade. He didnt have time to adjust before he was shoulder tacklrd jnto the wall. Grunting out a pain, Brandt would bear his teeth as he watches his fellow giant grab his blade and plundge it toward him. The nord would wait until the last second to sidestep his left, and bringing his sword across in an arc to attempt to cleave the man from shoulder to midsection. Brandt knew he wasnt that fast, and nietherwas the other guy. Good timjng and precise actions would bring him out on top here.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The man would bring his sword up in an attempt to parry Brandt's blow, barely successful, but Brandt's blade would still find its place in the man's shoulder, digging into it. The only thing keeping him from being cleaved in two was his own hunk of metal, still partially embedded into the wall. The man would grunt, producing a dagger from behind his back with his right hand, attempting to stab it into Brandt's chest!

"I won't die to a dog like you!"

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt would almost chuckle at seeing his own blade embedded into the ahoulder of his opponent. But he wouldnt have too much time to rejoice. As the leader pulled a knife with his right arm intent on stabbing Brandt with it. Swearing under his breath, the giant would release his owb blade, moving his left arm to intercept the knife. The nord would sacrifice his arm, butit was because he believed he had a shot at finishing him here.

While Brandt used his left arm as protection, his right hand would lift within inches of his enemies face. Yhat was when Brqndt would release a burst from his crossbow, intending to plunge five bolts directly into the man's face.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Brandt's arm would be stabbed with the dagger, saving his life at the cost of his wound, and the man would have no chance to react to the bolts that shot out from the crossbow, as each one ended up embedded in his skull. He would fall back, dead, without a word, falling victim to the one he called a dog.

There was a key on his belt that belonged to the woman's cell.

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt would stare into the mans face, at least what was left of it, before he would turn his attention to the dagger in his left forearm. Bracing himself, the nord would grasp the handle and growl under his breath as he removed the dagger. Crouching down he would wipe the blood off the blade and slide it into his belt as he grabbed at the keys with his right hand. Scooping them up, he would move toward the girl caged in the back.

"Dont worry.. Your grandfather paid for me to take you back to him.."

Unlocking her cage, the giant would return to the corpse of his last victim and tear a shred of cloth from his attire, wrapping his new wound the best he could for the time being, before he grasped the handle of his blade and hoisted up and into his sheath. Afterwards, Brandt would turn and look to the girl, making sure she was ready to go.

"Stick close to me.. I will keep you well."

[Uesugi Kenshin]

The girl was worried, but not scared after Brandt explained who he was. She nodded quietly, hiding behind the tall man. She would stick close to him, just anxious to get out of this place.

"Th..thank you..."

All he had to do was get out of here. Chances were Brandt would meet little resistance after he had killed so many men.

[Brandt Solveig]

Brandt wouldnt say anything after she thanked him, instead speedily getting her out from the tower and into the courtyard. The giant would make his way back toward the stable, before lifting the girl up onto the bench and climbing on to take the reins of the horse drawn carrage he used to get in. Without slowing down, Brandt would make his way through the gate and onwqrd to bring the girl home safely.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

Brandt would be able to return the girl hope safely, the grandfather would thank him deeply and would pay him a large sum of money. The girl showed her gratitude through happy tears. They would never forget the Nord's kindness.

Beast with a heart complete. You receive:

+7 Exp to use as you see fit.
1100 Yen (x2 for Merc bonus = 2200 Yen)

Silver Locket: A locket that belonged to the girl that Brandt saved, she gave it to him as a way to pay him for what he had done for her. +1 all stats.

Beast's Greaves: Greaves that make the user feel like they're much faster. Made of the sturdiest metal in Totomi, and offers full protection to the wearer's lower legs. +5 Dex

IC changes:
+Brandt has gained favor in Totomi Province!
+Brandt is seen as a hero amongst the people of Totomi!
+Bandits everywhere fear the foreigner with the giant sword!