Pegulis, Chapter 5

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Castigarian - On Route to Tavark, Cadetblue

A singular buck stood in the middle of a forest clearing, its large, forked antlers glinting with dew in the morning light as it gnawed idly on a piece of grass it had found amid the snow covered ground. A small rustle came from its side and as someone had cut loose a rubber band, its head snapped up out of reflex, its wide eyes surveying the environment for any signs of danger as it moved slightly, getting ready to run at the first sign of danger.

Unfortunately, it never saw that danger coming.

An arrow whistled out of the trees from a direction it hadn't considered and struck it cleanly through the neck, severing its spinal cord in a spray of crimson blood that flecked the snow around it. The beast gave a final gasp of air before all bodily functions ceased and it hit the ground with a large thud; its death had been all but painless, having come too swiftly and being struck too well to give anything more than a moment of temporary discomfort before it peacefully passed on.

Castigarian stood from his kneeling position and put a hand to his forehead, muttering a quick prayer under his breath for the soul of the animal he'd slain before he motioned for Vrein to follow him as they made their way over to the corpse.

"What's with the prayer?" Vrein asked as Castigarian pulled forth his knife, setting about the task of gutting and skinning his kill. "T'prayer?" the hunter grunted questioningly as he carved through the buck's stomach, sending the innards spilling out onto the ground, the heat of life still fresh in them as it caused a thick steam to rise in the air; "That prayer when you kill things, why?"

Castigarian gave a small nod of acknowledgement as he cut away what organs remained attached to the inside of his kill and wrapped a rope around its legs, easily tossing the other end over the branch of an overhanging tree as he stood, hoisting it up into the air as he allowed the blood to let from the carcass. "Is'a thing o'respect. This 'ere buck had a life o'its own, mebeh even a family. Even if it were necessary, t'least I can do is wish it well in'ta t'afterlife."

Vrein showed no outwards feelings on the explanation, simply folding his arms across his chest and nodding slightly as Castigarian set about skinning the animal of its pelt and snapping off its antlers.

It had been a week and a half since the group had begun riding for Tavark, and with the layout of the land having become more and more familiar, Castigarian estimated that it wouldn't take much more than a few more days, three at most, to reach the town where he was born. He wondered, sometimes to himself, others to Vrein, how the town had fared in his absence and during all this business with magical storms and the like. It was a town firmly rooted in its community and its residents were incredibly stalwart...but when it came to the likes of magic and mysticism, the hunter had no way of knowing how well Tavark could have stood against that.

To waylay his anxiety, Castigarian had taken up teaching his smith friend the ways of the bow and arrow; and surprisingly enough, even with a crystallized hand, Vrein took to his lessons with a high degree of aptitude. After only 5 days he'd learned how to shoot well enough to hit his targets dead on, and was even beginning to incorporate moving targets into his training; it was enough to make the kindly giant proud of how quickly someone could come along with his guidance and whenever Vrein had a question on breathing or how to steady his hand better, Castigarian was all too happy to offer his advice.

For now though, the two had brought in a sizable bounty and he contented himself in dragging the skinned and gutted buck back to camp with Vrein's help. It was easily at least 60 pounds worth of fresh meat...with any luck, they'd have enough left over for his mother when they got there...she did make the best stew.
 
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The Stag, #3EA99F

Blythe shifted restlessly on her fur pallet as daunting images overtook her dreams.

The forest was black as pitch and silent except for the shuffling of her bare feet across the snowy ground. Blythe saw herself walk apprehensively towards a distant source of light. She shivered as an icy wind cut against her cheeks. The bluish figure shifted slowly from left to right as the girl drew closer. Her blackened eyes began to make out the faint body of an animal. It was strong chested, had a lean neck, proud stance, and piercing horns atop its ghostly head. The stag stared the anthro girl down, and they stepped closer to each other in unison. Blythe's arm reached out impulsively, and her fingers shook from a combination of uncertainty and cold. She felt a calming sensation rush through her unsteady body as the large buck rested its snout against her open palm. A familiar voice echoed in the recesses of her mind.

"I'm sorry. Farewell, my pearl."

At the final syllable a terrifying shadowy mist began to devour the gentle stag. It began from the ground and gradually wrapped around the creature's legs. The shadow circled around Blythe's hand and began to burn fiercely. She pulled her arm backwards quickly and cradled her throbbing fist against her chest. The darkness had almost completely encompassed the helpless animal, but an invisible force prevented Blythe from approaching it again. The stag's eyes stared despairingly into her own as the last of the burning darkness clouded its vision.


The footsteps and heavy breathing of Castigarian and Vrein interrupted Blythe's hellish nightmare. She shot straight up from the ground still clutching her hand close to her heart. Her breathing came in short gasps, and her eyes were opened wide with fear. The journey to Tavark had been mostly uneventful for the group, but it had still taken a toll on her energy. The girl had refused to sleep with the two men around, regardless of their respect for her, and instead feigned sleep during the night and slept during their afternoon lessons away from the camp. The two men had returned from a successful hunting trip; the butchered stag hung limply behind the giant's shoulder. As soon as Blythe's eyes caught site of it, she took a deep intake of breath that released a high pitched sound from her mouth. Her face lost color, and the hand that wasn't clutched to her chest immediately stifled the noise. She turned her back away from her companions.

Hot tears began to spill from her eyes, which were pressed tightly shut. Her hand blocked any more noise from escaping her lips, but her shoulders shook ever so slightly from the effort of holding back. Vrein dropped a bow from his hand and strode closer to the startled girl. His body lowered to the ground beside Blythe, and he began to place a comforting hand upon her quilled shoulder as he spoke.

"Are you alright?"

The voice caused Blythe to flinch, her body moving further away from Vrein's hovering hand. He pulled it back with an apologetic look upon his face. She pressed both her palms into the bitterly cold snow and took a deep inhale before returning his gaze. Her eyes were glazed over, and the discoloration on her cheeks indicated the trails her tears had followed to the earth. Vrein furrowed his brow with concern and cautiously placed his hand between the barrier of snow formed by her own.

"Blythe?"

Blythe crossed her legs underneath her body and placed her hands between the gap in her thighs, making every effort to distance herself from Vrein without upsetting him. The two had not been on the best of speaking terms since her cold comment to Ion inside the walls of Barvelle's temple. Castigarian had been mostly kind to her, but still seemed to question the girl's loyalty. While the two men had laughed and shared stories along the road, Blythe had always remained a few feet behind, lost in her own thoughts. Their cordial invites had almost consistently been spurned by Blythe, and it seemed they had both simply given up on the matter of conversing with the strange girl. Unable to keep eye contact with Vrein after the utterance of her name, Blythe instead looked down at her own hands as she softly spoke.

"I'm alright, thanks."

Her attempt to sound grateful failed, but Vrein persisted to question her demeanor.

"You don't look fine to me."

Blythe's face immediately turned to scrutinize Vrein, but her features softened upon seeing the genuineness in his eyes. She shook her head and scoffed.

"No wonder you have such a hard time with women."

Her comment caused some pain to flash across Vrein's features and she bit her lip while placing a hand tentatively upon his shoulder.

"You're compassion is going to get you killed one day, ya know that?"

Vrein shook his head and smirked slightly at her comment.

"I don't think it'll be compassion that does me in."

Although her eyes were still red from crying, a small smile peaked from the corners of her mouth. It was the first time she had shown any emotion other than indifference or cynicism since meeting the two.

"Maybe a hunting accident then."

She glanced back over to Castigarian, who had laid down the slain stag and was beginning to preserve it for the remaining journey to Tavark. The grim words of her dream haunted her to the core, and she turned away from the stag to stare into frozen nothingness.
 
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The Island, gold
Any other time, the shivers that coursed the length of Darin's spine would have been of fear but when Jodirn spoke of God, his shivers were not of that. They were exciting shivers. Of course, worry laced his face but not for the same reason it layered Raige's. His was worry that Raige may take an arrow or, worse, did before they got inside the temple.

"Raige," he started, "the temple is just that way," Darin pointed toward a trees that were vividly described in the journal. They were a set of trees split unnaturally in two, "Follow the fallen trees and rocks and stay low."

Raige nodded and he pair began their movement. Darin cursed himself for wearing his paladin armor as each step he took was accompanied by clanking metal. He came to a stop and Raige quickly turned to face him,"Darin, what are you doing?" The wolf asked.

Before he could answer, an arrow slammed into the downed tree. Darin drew his shield and covered himself as he hurried to close the distance between himself and Raige. The dinging of arrow heads as the crashed ineffectively against his metallic shield rang out as he did his best to cover their retreat. A few of the arrows even effected his balance as they glanced him and tore at any exposed flesh in small incisions. Darin grunted through the, until they were in the thick of the jungle.

"Find them! Fast! We can't let them corrupt God's temple!"

Darin's heart raced as their feet pounded against the jungle floor. They were drawing nearer to their destination and he was growing more and more excited. His eyes followed Raige. The wolf was pivotal to Darin's plan. Without, god would never grant him the power to bring back Selphia.
 
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God's Hunt
Another arrow nearly stole Raige's wolfish ear as the he and Drain darted further and further into the thick Jungle. They were both frantic, trying to keep their eyes ahead, but remain on guard for the hunters, enough so that Raige found himself almost blindly following Darin and focusing more of his thoughts on listening for the hunters of Tavark. Nothing made sense about this. They were changing, and Raige was even beginning to wonder if Darin was actually alright or not, sometimes he too seemed as distant as the hunters, almost like a snake slithering in the grass trying to hide its true purpose.

Raige didn't have a lot of time to think about it though. Three arrows let loose from afar and Raige dashed into Darin, bruising his shoulder against the Paladins armor, but successfully knocking him on his ass to avoid the three arrows. The situation was getting bad. two more arrows seemed to fly out from no where, and only with the cover of a near by tree did they avoid the attack. If Raige wasn't a hunter himself, their death would be imminent. "We don't even know where the hell we are going Darin, if we don't find open ground soon we are going to die out here." He spat, not so much angry with the Paladin, but furious with the situation, the idea of being a rat in a cage made him very uneasy. Raige leaned around the tree, and watched, waited for something, but silence was all that greeted him. He knew better.

With barely anytime to react, one of the hunters sprung from their bush and with a home made hunting spear they attempted to skewer Raige at the throat. A yelp parted his lips, and Darin rushed into the scene to bring the wooden weapon in one blow from his shield. He was getting weaker from the poison, but he still had conviction that no one could deny. Raige capitalized and grabbed the nearest rock to him, slamming it into the face of the hunter, just in time for the noise to warrant three more arrows from several different directions.

Raige ducked under the first and barely was able to dodge the others, Darins shield did well to protect them from it, though he could tell that all this activity was wearing on his friend greatly. Raige pulled Darin back around the tree, and sat him down for a moment. "Don't argue Darin, just rest for a minute..." The Paladin opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it, instead focusing on his breathing; he clutched at his heart. Raige had to buy them time, create a chance for them to escape.

Raige knocked an arrow and swung his body hard around the tree to take aim out into the abyss of the Jungle. He only had one chance at this, and he had to listen for it to happen. The wind was blowing hard, which made that difficult, but so long as they were close enough to make a valid shot in the thickness of this jungle, he would not be able to mistake the draw of a bow, or the whistle of an arrow. Raige waited for it,a nd then the draw of the bow was heard, he let loose his own shot right in that direction. He wasn't aiming to kill them, something didn't add up about all of this, but if he could take them out of commission that would suffice.

Two arrows returned in retaliation to his, but right after he'd shot, Raige had ducked once again behind the tree. One of the remaining hunters was approaching fast. it must have been one that favored hunting up close, which he tried to remember what he knew about them, and that helped him guess exactly who it was, that was coming for them. Even taking out one of the archers was hopeless, and he would spend hours waiting them out and shooting them down, especially when he wouldn't allow himself to go for kill shots. Hell these were people of his village, they were messed up, and he guessed that the Island had a lot to do with that... Hell it had even started messing with him when his will started to break. Still, if they remained here they were dead sooner or later. Raige waited for the one that approached and again quick shot him, this time an arrow went through his leg and crippled him. The man shouted in pain, and They had to take it as their one desperate chance to escape.

Darin was ready now, and Raige followed with him. The arrows were not as heavy as before,perhaps the Hunters had run out, but it was a good thing. There was light in the distance, which meant the trees were getting less thick,a nd they would find open ground very soon, just a little longer. Darin was already huffing again, though he tried to hide it, there was no hiding the raspy cough in his breath. Raige did his best to speed up and edge his friend forward, they were close now. The Hunters would not attmempt to face them in open grounds, this was there chance.

Finally the tree line broke, and Darin stumbled forward. Flat, yet wild grass greeted them, but what was ahead They never would have imagined. Darin spoke differently on this as he got himself back to his feet. He seemed unphased by what they'd found. "The Temple." He stated almost coldly. It wasn't long before Jodirn and the hunters arrived from behind, and just when Raige moved to draw his sword and take a stance, he no longer needed to. All of them, every one of the hunters dropped to their knees at the edge of the forest, their heads bowed and they remained like that, almost as if they were frozen. Jodrin almost looked like a zombie, his eyes never left the temple. Raige didn't understand at all, but if he was right, this was the heart of all of the chaos, their "God" was inside.
 
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Eydis - Barvelle, #3B3178


Snowfall again. The hooded woman slowed down in the snow and looked up at the shrouded sky. She took a deep breath. It felt good to be alone. No people, only traces of wildlife, silence. Survival, thinking about the present and the future planning each move.

The Anthro girl kept a high pace as she travelled. Using the advent and her own knowledge alongside the maps, she rarely had to slow down. It was refreshing to just wander. And it calmed the mind. Raising her right arm, the frost on it had slowly returned after she managed to get rid of the previous layer. A calm mind also meant this moved slower.

Looking around to make sure she was heading in the right direction. The anthro noted the change in terrain at the distance towards the large lake. And closer to her left the signs of the ruins nearby in the ice. With a soft crunch in the snow Eydis moved on next to her moving with ease was her Aux Thyrden a small arctic fox. After the events almost two days ago, after she had rushed of he had been silent. Only looking at her from time to time. And his silence was welcome the girl had no interest in speaking of what had happened. If anyone travelled past it they would see it though. The scorch marks and the spikes of ice.

Kicking up some snow near a slope the woman stopped and looked down. It wasn’t much but it seemed to be going far down towards the lake. It was more dangerous down there but you could also travel much faster. Her Aux had one thought and it was no. But she didn’t care. Instead she went back to a fallen tree and went to work. Half an hour later she was skidding down the slope at high speed. Every short cut was welcome and few where as fun as this kind.
 
The Lost Ocean​

The poison worked slowly. The poison was not the ichor that slowly ate away at Darin's insides, a parting gift from the parasite that they had removed from Darin's neck at what seemed a lifetime ago. It was an insidious guest, that whispered to them louder and louder the closer they got to ... whatever they were being pulled towards.

As the Tavark expedition chased Raige and Darin deeper into the heart of the island, the dirt and grime, the soil left by the sea on the shores of the island, grew thinner. A smooth surface of ivory was revealed, lain with inscriptions that a giant carved a long time ago.

As Raige glanced around, a sudden moment of lucidity hit him. Ironically, the rest of the party, their minds addled by the incessant whispering, had been in on the secret the moment they saw the island on their ship. He followed the path of the ground, up and up into the temple, and gazed upon the fossilized skull that made up the temple. The winding ridges, the crooked pathways and deep valleys in between - they were the remnants of arms and other pieces of its scattered skeleton, welded together by the salt air and algae.

The wolf looked into the maw of the temple, the jaw split into a thousand weathered pieces by violent death and subsequent decay. The island was dead, no doubt, dead since the cataclysm. But from the darkness within a chill wind poured forth. The currents did not toss his hair; it made his fur stand on end. He nervously reached for his ring, his aux.

Kainar was not there anymore. He looked around. The wisp of light, Telnar, was not around Darin either. And similarly with the rest of the party. Their pursuers gazed past the Wolf with dull eyes, into the abyss of the skull.

In Tavark, the election debates continued to rage inside the Great Hall. In a nearby house, Ture started from his stupor, a rattling of the improvised iron cages jolting him awake. The children had been placed inside until the Barvelle mages could examine them properly.

All the children inside the cage had stood up and turned to face North. Their eyes and mouth were still agape, light pouring from their eyes. The ethereal squids on their necks languidly moved their tentacles over the back of their necks. In frustration, Ture reached through the bars. His hand passed through them.

After all, they were the children's new aux.

~​

"You're going to freeze outside with metal armour."

"Do you think I'm an amateur?" The lone wolf removed the mask to show the leather and cotton padding on the inside.

Arktus bit his lip in agitation, knuckles white, fists full of his hanfu. "Just bring her back. This is not an inquisition. She just needs to be trained properly."

"Your mistake, not mine." The assassin's voice was cold and ragged, cut from spending countless days breathing the winter frost.

"Who would have thought that the avian city would fall at the border and cause such .. such strangeness?!" Arktus was nearly shouting in frustration. "Just bring her back!"

"No promises." The Witchhunter pulled the cowl over his steel masked face, slung his shield on his back, and opened a small sortie door at the massive entrance hall to the city of Barvelle.

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((Collaboration with @ConstructPylons ))

Artorius Cale - Present, burlywood
The lone rogue rested against one of many large trees dotting the area, shivering wildly despite the thick furs wrapped snugly around his form. The lad's face had gone pale and he clutched at his side, trying desperately to regulate his short, spastic breaths. He was hesitant to look down at the shaky hand that moved from the wound it covered. The red fluid coating it was still sticky and plentiful, he wasn't certain but he'd take that as a good sign.

"I'm coming for you, you traitorous basstard!"

The heavy footfalls were so clear, so loud. The draken sounded like he was right on top of him. If he tried to continue running, the brute would surely catch up and run Art through in a matter of seconds.

"You can't hide forever!"

No, that was true.. But maybe if he was able to get his body under control and keep still, keep silent, there was a chance the lizard would just walk right past and give him the opportunity to sneak back to camp and climb up onto one of the horses. That is, if he could even find his way back.

Artorius' heart leapt up into his throat and his eyes went wide as they fell upon black scales. The draken was silent all but for a low, hissing growl. The monster of a man's back went straight and his head snapped to one side, an eye met Art's and then narrowed, "There you are.. I'm going to enjoy thiss.."

He shouldn't have come, should have stayed in Aldus. Of course, there he might have gone into another of those spires and gotten himself killed there. He might have been found and put to rest properly at least, might have even been hailed as a hero for dying in service to the city. Out here, he'd be lucky if some traveller stumbled over his corpse before it was buried under the snow or devoured by wild beasts.

The thief took a breath as the draken made his slow approach, standing as best he could and drawing his dagger. The lizard stopped briefly and a low rumble from the depths of his belly erupted into a roar, his mighty blade raised toward the sky.



A Day's Walk From Aldus, burlywood
The band of messengers had trekked across boundless snowy plains for countless hours, the ceaseless draken at the fore giving them little time to rest. By nightfall they'd taken refuge amid a small stretch of evergreen forest, marginally more comfortable than making camp in the open. At least the frigid wind would be lessened somewhat. Small comforts.

Varika laid her map out on a nearby stump, holding a torch close. Eyes narrowing, her finger trailed along their intended route, up to a location marked as the 'Green Stripe'. An upward glance at the draken to her side, she gave him a curt nod. "We're on theh righ' track."

"Should've gone through Fissura Passss. Would've been much fasster." Arms crossed, the obsidian brute strode over to the campfire where the rest were huddled around, eyeing the weary sage Merdan with disdain. Shivering, pulling his robe close, the young man didn't seem to be taking to life outside the relatively cushy interior of the city, even in the state it was in now. He'd barely left the assembly in his lifetime, much less Aldus itself.

"Yeah, and we'd be much deader too. Even a low-life mercenary like you should know what happened to the caravan that passed through there, Sakandras." The watchman, Herren, knelt by the fire, warming his hands over the flame. "That's why we're taking a detour."

"Nothing wrong with taking the scenic route, right?" Covered in a layer of thick furs, the rogue Artorius was a stark to the miserable mage sitting next to him, taking their situation in stride with a carefree attitude like he always had. "I've never really gotten a chance to see the countryside. It's quite beautiful in it's own frigid, desolate way."

Bow slung over he shoulder, the dark haired huntress had approached the group in the middle of their banter. "Aye lad, yeh'll like it even more when yeh've got sabre bears eatin' yer innards while yeh're still alive, 'r when a savage cuts yer pretty lit'ol face off n' wears it as a mask."

Said pretty little face lost it's smile, paling a bit at the imagery. There was a hesitant pause.

"So.. you DO think I'm pretty." His cocky grin returned, though perhaps it was a bit forced now.

Rolling her eyes, she looked to the equally unamused draken. "Gonnae go out onna hunt a'fore it gets too dark. Could use some fresh meat, hate th' dried crap."

"Fine. But if you disssappear, I'm not going to look for you." Sakandras turned to the rest. "Everyone elsse, get to ssleep. Resst now while you can, because there will be no breakss tomorrow. I will take firsst watch."

"Who made you the leader?.." Merdan mumbled irritably under his breath, taking refuge in his bedroll. "Worse than a Kaustiri slave driver..."


Artorius Cale - Present, burlywood
..But his laugh cut short, a look of confusion instantly upon his face. He fell to the ground, dead. A dagger protruded from the back of his neck, the placement looked oddly familiar.

Artorius didn't have to waste time with suspicions however, the mage from Aldus was happy to reveal his true intent now that any who threatened him were now dead or dying.

"Surprised?", Merdan asked with amusement in his voice, smirking at the rogue. In the man's left hand was a scroll, the very one the mercenaries had been hired to help deliver. He raised it, turned his eyes toward it. "It's a shame you all had to die for these blueprints, but there was really no way around it. If I'd turned off in the wrong direction before you were all dealt with, I'd have been tracked and likely slain or carted off to a prison, I'm sure. You have my thanks for distracting Sakandras, by the way."

"So it was you", Artorius said, standing his ground, "You've got a buyer then, I take it?"

Brother Merdan grinned wide and shook his head. "You're a quick one, I'll give you that." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, grin still stretched far, then cocked his head as he made an inquiry. "What do you suppose the Czar would pay for an army of golems?"

"I'd expect an Aldusian scholar would be offered little more than a slit throat in exchange", Artorius replied, "Not that you're going to be leaving this forest to meet the man." The councilman's son moved to approach him but, perhaps expectedly, stumbled and fell to his knees.

"You're probably right about that.. Mayhaps I'd be wiser to try selling to the green nation", Merdan thought aloud, not bothering to respond to Art's threat, "Or I could keep it for myself.. Create my own golems, take Pegulis for myself. Perhaps the whole of Sunne, with time."

Merdan stared at the scroll in his hand a moment, then untied the bindings keeping it sealed. "Nothing stopping me from doing both, I suppose", he said, chuckling as he began to unroll the paper.

Then came a bright light.. And a scream.



The Green Stripe, burlywood
The embers in the campfire had died down to a faint glow, now just faintly illuminating the ragtag band of adventurers as they rested for the night. Sakandras was the only who still seemed to be conscious, standing eerily still as their unwavering sentinel; just as he said he would. His reptilian eyes fell on the sleeping watchman, who's snoring was akin to the sawing of lumber. It was a wonder the others could get any rest at all.

The racket came to an abrupt stop, Herren turning over in his sleep and groaning. Groggily, the man got to his feet, trudging past Sakandras and muttering incoherently, though it sounded something akin to "Gotta take a piss". The draken offered no response, merely watching the guardsman disappear into the trees to take care of business, as it were.

Artorius laid silent in his bed of furs, sighing a breath of relief now that the racket had ceased, if only momentarily. "Thank the gods, or god, or Ilium, or whatever cosmic entity there is out there.." Slowly, his eyes slid shut, weary from a long day's trek.

----?

It felt as though he'd just drifted into sleep when he heard the scream. Eyes wide, he immediately bolted upright, glancing about in confusion. Sakandras was nowhere to be seen, only the sage Merdan lying close by, hidden under his covers. Scrambling to his feet, Art hastily grabbed up his belt, pulling his dagger out.

"Merdan, wake up!" Art whispered urgently. The mage did not stir. He could hear shouting in the distance now, two distinct voices engaged in a heated back and forth. Cursing under his breath, he left the brother at their camp, tearing off in the direction of the commotion.

"Yeh feckin' bastard!"

"Watch what you ssay, wench!"

The scene the rogue fell upon was not what he'd been expecting in the slightest. Varika, bowstring drawn back, had an arrow docked and ready to loose at the draken who was equally as ready to put her down with the greatsword in his hands. It was not the two of his compatriots that immediately caught his attention however, rather, the one on the ground between them.

The guardsman Herren laid face down in the snow, pooled in blood.

A single dagger stuck out from the back of his neck.

Artorius managed to draw his eyes away from the dead guardsman, taking a step closer to the pair arguing over his corpse. "What on Sunne happened here?"

"You! You killed him, didn't you?!", the draken accused, shifting his hateful gaze and pointing to the thief, "You'll pay for what you've done!"

"I don' much care fer 'im either, but tha' in't 'is sticker jammed inna Herren's neck!", the huntress pointed out, aim still set on the draken, "That'n belongs t'you, Sakandras!"

"The sshifty little bastard must have ssstolen it so he could frame me!", Sakandras hissed back at Varika. The lizard's eyes narrowed and he roared, dashing forward and slashing at the rogue as his building rage came to a boil.

At the same time, Varika loosed her arrow and sent it straight into the brute's neck. The shot threw him off, causing what would should have split Artorius in two to instead become a long gash in his side. The thief fell to the ground on his side opposite his new wound, crying out in pain.

When Artorius managed to get back to his feet, groaning as he held his side, he caught sight of the draken crushing the huntress' throat. Sakandras roared in the face of the now lifeless woman before casting her aside. Both men's breath now hastened, the draken turned to meet Artorius' gaze.


Artorius Cale - Present, burlywood
And just as suddenly as he'd revealed his true colors, Merdan was reduced to ashes. The scroll had been protected by magicks inscribed by the lorekeepers who gave the scroll to the young mage, perhaps in anticipation of this very event.

Artorius heaved a sigh of relief and visibly relaxed, shoulders dropping and head tilting downward. He glanced back up soon though, looking first to the scroll, then the mount Merdan had left not far from where he murdered Sakandras.

He didn't want to get up, to keep going. He wanted to lay down and rest, maybe have a nap. However, this once he did defy his own desires for a change, climbing to his feet with a poorly supressed scream of pain.

--

Now he rode blindly, in the metaphorical sense and half in the literal; His vision was beginning to fail him. He hoped desperately that he was going in the right direction, hoped he might reach the secret city before death caught up with him, having heard that was quite unpleasant, hoped he'd know it when he saw it or maybe someone would be waiting to greet him. It was doubtful, but he couldn't just give up straight away, right? He'd been lucky enough to escape Merdan's treachery.

Knowing he'd regret it, Artorius looked down at his hand once more. It was hard to tell, but it looked like his blood wasn't flowing as freely as it had before. Probably not a good sign.

Neither was how heavy his eyelids felt. His body was weak and it seemed he could no longer control his limbs, one hand slipping from his wound while the other released the horse's reins.

He fell asleep hoping he'd survive to deliver the scroll tucked away inside his coat, to wander Barvelle's halls and meet the beauties who surely resided there, to ensure his father was not left alone.. Mostly for the women though, admittedly.

 
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Aldus

The Doctor ran a long, white finger down the beak of its mask.

"We are unsure about this."

The three of them stood behind the hooded beggar and his ring of golems. Their procession through the streets had started off in high spirits but quickly grew grim. Nuria and the Doctor exchanged pleasantries. For the most part, Dane stared far off into the distance, to the top of the spire that was lost in the low hanging fog that came in the wake of the passing storm. His eyes were sunken and his thoughts were focused inward. Unknown to the two avians, he was distracted by the orange spidersilk lines on his heart, a delicate garrote that clenched his beating soul. He tried to quell his emotions. It would only make his heart hammer harder.

Captain Marin was forced to leave the three at the checkpoint. She might have died otherwise; they could see the murder in the golem's glowing eyes.

At the base of the tower, Dane craned his neck backwards until he saw stars. Even then, he could not follow the curve of the wall as it stretched up and over them, disappearing into the fog.

"No sense in waiting." He raised his arms and the avians hooked him under each one.

The top of the spire was perfectly flat and extended to the perimeter of a perfect circle. Dane set his feet back on ground, the avians taking turns massaging each other's backs. The Watch recruit walked until the grey floor was at every horizon, and he knew he was at the center of the spire. As he wondered how he would enter, the web around his heart translated his thoughts, vibrating an inaudible click to the creature they were standing on. He fell to his knees in pain as his heart skipped a beat, lips blue and air whistling through pursed lips.

Next to him, a square opened into the blackness below.

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The Temple, red
Darin's feet took him onward as they entered the hollowed skull of God. It didn't even dawn upon the paladin that the God he so eagerly sought in the pages of that diary had fallen even though he knew that to be true. Somehow, however, God had called out to him, and Darin had arrived to answer.

The absence of Telra barely phased Darin. So consumed had he become with seeking the power promised him to reunite him with Selphia that he was willing to sacrifice himself if need be. About this time, Telra would have argued with him about the sanity of this deed. The evil that seeped from every hallowed bone was almost palpable as Darin reached out and pressed his hand against the bleached bone. His breath caught as if he had found something he had been searching for since the beginning of his journeys. In a way it had been just that. He's aught for an escape or a way to undo what had been done. Now he was moments away from doing that.

A sudden tightness in his chest drove the paladin to his knees and he cried out in agony. The poison was begin to complete its task and Darin would soon be gone. If he could just get to God, then he could be blessed and it would save him.

"Darin!" Raige hurried to his aid and helped the paladin to his feet. Darin nodded and noticed that even Raige's Aux had vanished. It seemed to disturb the wolf far more, but it was only because of what he did not know or understand. He was still blind. When Darin had the power, he would show Raige. He would open the wolf's eyes.

"Th-thank you," he pushed out, his breath heavy. Weakly, he lifted a hand and pointed down what could only of been throat of the mighty deity, "There. Hurry."

A promise of power for a token of life. Darin smiled weakly as God spoke to him.

"Something isn't right about is place, Darin. We should leave," Raige tried to reason with him.

Darin glared angrily at Raige and tried to push him, "No! We must go, Raige, we must!" Raige paused, but after a moment slowly nodded.darin relaxed and allowed Raige to support him as they shuffled into the temple. Raige helped Darin through the temple, climbing bones and dropping through holes until they finally emptied out into a massive open area. Deep within atop a small naturally formed platform lay the remains of a man. Darin's hand rested against the satchel and he patted it gently.

I've lost track of time, as well as Restrella, my Aux. As soon as we entered this damned skull I knew things would only go wrong and was I ever right. I fear that Suvius has led us here for some nefarious reason but Eimund has long since fallen victim to the mage's words. There will be no reasoning with either of them. For the sake of the crew, I must do what is necessary. Suvius has been mumbling a line over and over again since we entered......

Darin knew the line well for it had echoed in his mind since they pierced the veil and entered this holy place. Darin drew his blade after separating from Raige and while the wolf busied himself with taking in the temple, Darin positioned himself behind him and drew back to strike.

"A promise of power for a token of life!" He growled as he lunged at his Apprentice.
 
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[fieldbox="Ilsa Lisbon — The Green Stripe, #9483EE"]
Ilsa was about a day's travel outside of Barvelle. Accompanying her was her one sole reinforcement from Barvelle, whose purpose was to help ensure Ilsa's safe passage to Aldus. Bridgette Claire, the redheaded Aldean formerly of the Aldus Watch who had welcomed Ilsa to Barvelle, rode alongside Ilsa as they traversed Pegulis' mountainous terrain. Their faces were nearly obscured by tightly wrapped hooded scarves, thick wool coats doing little to fend off the harsh colds. Traveling behind them were Ilsa's Aux, Pax, as well as Bridgette's, a small brown fox, though in the storms their forms were nearly translucent.

Fissura Pass was still caved in from the encounter on the way into Barvelle, and wouldn't be traversable despite being the shortest route. The Green Stripe was longer and supposedly more moderate in terms of climate, though the pair of soldiers couldn't discern a difference. Fortunately, aside from biting snow and the howling wind chill, no other threats had come to challenge them thus far.

As daylight began to fade, they sought shelter in a small alcove, dry enough to light a small fire for warmth. The Aldus Watch guard captain sat next to it, staring into it pensively, thoughtfully, almost remorsefully; her hands absently stroked the filigree on the pendant Vrein had given her.

"Fissura Pass is the quickest route--"

"No, our scouts say it's still impossible to cross. We will have to travel along the Green Stripe instead."

"There has been a lot of snowfall since Fissura Pass collapsed, I am sure--"

"Ilsa." Bridgette interrupted her former Captain, green eyes staring into Ilsa's. "I know you want to find peace for the men who died there. I don't blame you. But there is no way we can cross through Fissura. It will just add unnecessary time to the trip, which you've said yourself we cannot afford."


-----

"Ilsa!" Bridgette's voice cut through the memory like a knife as she rushed back to their camp. "Captain!" she panted, out of breath from having to run through the snow.

Ilsa stood almost immediately, sensing the urgency. "What is it?"

"Th-there's a body out here, Captain. In the snow! He's still bleeding!"

"This is days away from civilization. Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I wouldn't have seen him if it weren't for a little blue winter fox that caught my attention. Like it was trying to direct me to him or something!"

Ilsa fell silent, wondering for a moment. Could it be? Casting the thought aside for now, she quickly nodded.

They followed Bridgette's footsteps back out to where she had come from, and sure enough an unconscious rider lay face down in the snow, a crimson shadow seeping through the ice around him. Hoof tracks in the snow nearby indicated his mount had likely run off after getting spooked by something. Rushing to him, the pair of watchwomen turned him over, and Ilsa nearly leapt back in shock. "Ar-- Artorius!"
[/fieldbox]
 
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The Campfire, #1048cb


Night fell upon the misty horizon as an ominous wind shifted through the trees, carrying the distant sound of howling.

Emerging from the shadows of the pine wood, Castigarian appeared carrying a pile of kindling he hand found for the fire “Wolves, aboot a day behind us.” He explained, carefully placing the small twigs on the fire while Vrein spent the evening tending to his wounds. Scanning around the camp Castigarian noticed Blythe’s absence “Where is she?”

“Shhhh” Vrein cooed, lifting his finger to point in the direction of his small tent. Despite Blythe’s stubborn attitude toward the boys, the long cold days and lack of sleep had waned on her. Earlier that day Vrein had noticed her shivering and offered up his tunic for her to borrow and told her to seek it out in his tent and was shocked when he found her fast sleep amongst his furs, fatigue must have gotten to her.

Castigarian eyes wandered back and forth between the tent and Vrein with a raised brow, wandering what the smith had been up to while he was gone “yer dinnae did yer?”

Alarmed by the implication Vrein’s eyes widened, he shook his head “What? Her? No!"

Releasing a sigh of relief the giant smiled at his friend “Ahm sorri, yer a gud man. Ilsa be glad she ‘as you.”

The mention of Ilsa caused change in Vrein’s relaxed expression, by all that was holy in Sunne he wished that he could just hold her. But that luxury would have to wait, it might be years before he’d see her again I hope not.



Blythe's Dream, #1048cb

Sneering red eyes glowered from a black silhouette that stalked the white void, spiralling in a ferocious dance around the beautiful white stag that once again gazed fondly into Blythe’s teary eyes.

“I’m sorry, farewell my pearl” It’s soft voice rang longingly through her mind, “I could not save you.”

Stumbling back in horror Blythe watched the stag lower its head, accepting its fate as it allowed the darkness to consume it. The hunt did not end there.

Lifting their gaze the creatures slunk swiftly toward her, creeping around the edges of the endless white space. Closing in like a pack of wolves hunting their prey, she was surrounded.

“You can’t hide child.”

“We’re coming for you,”

“We smell your fear…

“Won’t be long no-“

“BLYTHE”

The booming sound of Vrein’s voice shook the white space; unnerving the shadows, causing them to hiss and snap.

“Vrein?” Blythe called back in disbelief with a glint of hope in her voice.

There was no answer.

Once again the ground rumbled beneath her feet. Averting her gaze toward the horizon, she had given up hope when she saw what seemed like an army of polar bears; all of their eyes watching angrily upon the shadows, quiet and unmoving as if they were waiting for something. In the sky, a great flock of hawks circled above them that like the polar bears, they were waiting.

“Vrein!!” she called again, caught by the shadow’s red gaze as the void began to crack and reality returned to her.


Run, #1048cb


Vrein had just finished patching up his wounds when he noticed rustling from the inside of his tent and wondered if Blythe was waking up. He wandered over to investigate.

Keeping Blythe’s privacy in mind, he called out to her “Blythe are you okay?”

Silence, she gave no reply. All he could hear was the sound of rustling and what sounded like panicked groans. Cautiously, Vrein approached the flap of the tent, lifting it to check on her to find her tossing and turning, obviously having a nightmare. “Blythe!” an expression of worry passed of his face as he took her hand into his.

“Vrein?” a weak murmur escaped her lips, “Vrein!!” she called louder, waking wide-eyed and sweating with fright. Her heavy breathing slowly beginning to die down when she realized that her hands were wrapped around the collar of Vrein’s shirt, she had jerked him toward her.

“Whoa, it’s okay, I’m here,” he attempted to calm her but was unable to hide the concern painted across his face, raising the crystal amethyst pendant he'd made her to her neck "I forgot to give you this." Vrein's smile finally brang Blythe to the realization of how close they were. Letting go of his collar, her cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

“Sorry, I was scared.”

Faint laughter escaped Vrein’s lips “That’s alright; you didn’t try to kill me,” He joked in another attempt to lighten the mood “are you okay?”

A howl whistled on the wind

Come out…Come out…

Wherever you are…

A surge of panic engulfed Blythe as everything started to fit together “No, we need to get out of here”

Despite Castigarian best efforts to stay out of the way, curiosity eventually got the better of him “Evry’thin’ okay ‘ere?” the giant crouched down to see their faces.

“She says we need to move,” Vrein took the courtesy of filling in for Castigarian.

“Why?” the hunter asked in a puzzled tone that matched the questions in all of their minds as they stared toward Blythe expectantly.

Made nervous by the three sets of eyes looking to her for answers, Blythe held her gaze steadily on Catigarian “The wolves.”

A heart chuckle rumbled from behind the depth of Catagarian’s thick red beard “We can tak a coupl’ of wolves dear.” he tried to reassure her, but to no avail. His confidence was met by a stone cold glare “You’re a hunter, listen.”

Quiet fell upon the group as they held their ears to the cold evening air, waiting patiently for the sounds of the wolves.

Vrein, the first to get impatient, sighed and gave Castigarian an agitated glance “They’ve probably wande-“he was quickly interrupted by Castigarian who hushed him, still listening to the wind sound of the soft whispers that travelled on the breeze.

“We smell your fear...”

The features of the friendly giant suddenly turned pale. Hurriedly moving from his crouched position the hunter began to gather his things “She’s right, we’re movin’! Those ahr nay ordinary wolves.”


Vreionach, #1048cb

Battling against the thick layers of snow and hilly terrain the group wandered through the pine forest. All tired and hungry from their strenuous journey but unable to rest, the wolves were only a few hours behind and the fog had slowed them all down.

“We’re close,” Castigarian reported, wading through the thick pine trees like her were in his own garden.

Sounds of whispers came from a thicket ahead of them. As they approached the group peered through the brush to see a woman stood in the centre of an intricate circle of sticks that had been woven together. Surrounded by several lit candles with her gazed fixed upon a large animal skill.

Captivated, the party watched her every movement suspiciously, unknowing if she was a friend or foe. All captivated by her magic like a strange hypnosis that pulled their attention to her.

From the centre of the circle a large wave boomed across the area, spreading across like a large sound wave that forced even the trees to make way for it. The skull that had once laid on the northern point of the circle, gone without a trace.

Silence spread across the land that surrounded them as the strange figure began gathering her things. Anxiously, the group waited for something out of the ordinary to happen, but nothing came. Questions began to haunt their minds, what did she do?

“Come out,” the old woman called out, her multi coloured eyes staring into the shrub that Vrein hid behind.

Now he had been exposed, Vrein rose and wandered out into the clearing, gazing into the elderly woman’s eyes that looked upon him sternly. As he drew closer, Vrein observed the finer details of her strange appearance.

She was donned in a thick white owl skin cloak that had been finely decorated with hanging strings of small animal teeth. Covering her fur lined brown leather tunic and jerkins that were held up by an Iron buckle.

Halting, Vrein stood his ground. He had expected to be challenged when the woman’s wrinkled face softened into an expression of surprise and awe “Ionach” she spoke slowly, almost as if in disbelief.

The use of his real name shocked Vrein who was now even more suspicious than before “Vreionach riqok vhanzufen, rik dun dak?” he asked, wondering if she knew his native language.

The sides of the Elder’s lips curved into a smile “Ika riq vren” she replied cryptically. Not many people knew of his tribe, let alone the language or him.

“Ikaok riq Ursan asru, vhan riq dak?” it was rare he came across somebody that knew of the Ursani and wondered what kind of encounter this woman would have had that lead her to understand his language.


“Ursok Vhaken,”
the pieces suddenly came together. His ‘mother’ although might was a gentle soul and had spoken of her adventures with humans before.

“Nir vhanzufen dun?”

“Auzsalgzufen”

Vrein’s expression lifted into a smile, her name almost seemed too obvious.

“Nir auz vhan ahn?”

“Zokelt” her eyes peered toward him, her face pouring with concern “Vren ahn shakath harok”

Unhappy ancestors? He hadn’t spoken of them in a while, not since his mother spoke about his victory of passing the rite of passage “Nir vhan ain?”

Auzsalgzufen’s wrinkles creased further as her eyes sank into suspicious slits “Nir niek din vren ahn?”

A wry smile pressed upon Vrein's features at the mention of evil. Shifting his gaze back toward the others, he signalled them to come to him.

“Ursok ib Vreionach grim, auzvulv doth grahk”
“What are you saying?” Blythe inquired, wiping snow from her dress as she emerged from the trees, the others closely behind her.


“She knows my tribe, well enough to know our language, we can trust her,”
He did not answer all of her questions, she would have to wait.

Smiling toward the oncoming strangers Auzsalgzufen bowed her head in greeting. Upon seeing Blyhe her expression turned dark. Inspecting the anthro thoroughly the Elder circled and sniffed the air around her “Niek mirg vhan”

“Nir?” Vrein became hesitant, not entirely understanding what she meant.

“Zoniek grim gift Tewazufen,” the Elder woman explained, her eyes baring heavily upon Vrein.

Tired, alarmed and confused Blythe snapped at the invasion of space, directing her anger toward Vrein “What does she want?”

“Says you’re cursed,” he replied bluntly, only angering her further.

“What!” the anthro cried wide-eyed and bitter.

“Cursed?” Castigarian interjected equally as confused.

“Auzsalgzufen riq dak?”

“Keel Riqok”

Great, same answer any crackpot priest would say when speaking of the divine.
“Wh’ in th’ name o’ Sunne?-“ Castigarian tried saying but was quickly interrupted by Vrein who was trying to concentrate “Quiet.”

Resuming his conversation with the ritualist, Vrein tried to find out what she knew “Nir vren dun?”

“Vonokdin, Tewazufen ast grim gif Vreionach ib Gorkenzufen, xun shakath.”

Again with the ancestors, Vrein was beginning to get agitated “Vo Zoniek dak?”

“Vhan ast kathak shakath” the shaman smiled hesitantly, sensing his rising anger with the whole situation. Her eyes wandered across to Blythe wistfully “Mirg gor vhan ast.”

A long way indeed Vrein thought to himself, letting out a low grunt and reaching into his pouch to retrieve a serving of dried meat and handed it to the Elder who graciously accepted his offer.

Turning back toward the others Vrein parted ways with the Elder who stood behind him silently watching “Vren Ine, auzvulv von gaarr xun zo,” she called.

Looking back to meet her gaze once more, he gave her an appreciate nod “Kein mirg gif Auzsalgzufen.”

“Let’s go,” Vrein grumbled, his eyes settling on Castigarian eager to move on.

“Oh no yer dunnae, yu go’ some explainin tu du,” the giant refused.

A sigh escaped Vrein “Long story short, Blythe is cursed and needs to stay near us or she will get eaten by angry dark magic wolves.”

Shaken by the idea, Blythe was going to complain when Castigarian beat her to it “And yer dinnae bother t’ ask wha’ they were or why they ahr after ‘er?”

The sound of laughter interjected upon their conversation as the Elder walked calmly forward “There is a darkness in Sunne that has been sleeping for hundreds of years, it’s beginning to wake up.” The old woman’s intense stare shifted onto Blythe “and it preys on weak souls.”

“I am not weak!” Blythe protested.

Auzsalgzufen laughed again “No child, but your protector has left you.”

The image of the deer being consumed by the darkness rang clear in her mind, she knew. “Why me?”

As if she were nothing more than a mere illusion the image of the woman began to fade into mist “Ironbreaker will guide you” the words grew distant as her image disappeared into the fog, as if they were nothing but the echo of a memory.

“Wha’ just happened?” Castigarian blinked, staring down at the spot where Auzsalgzufen had stood.

“Dunno”

A wolf’s howl carried across the valley...


“Let’s go.”

 
[dash=grey]Round and round the stairs went. Soon, they lost count of how many revolutions they had gone, although the light somewhere very far away at the bottom seemed to be growing brighter. At some point a door slid open, and the pair of Avians followed Dane through it. He moved as if he knew the way, but the halting manner in which he stopped to place his hand on the walls, or when his eyes went glassy, suggested that he was guessing as he went along.

The tower's upper levels were characterized by a complete lack of anything overtly living. There were no plants or animals. The smooth metal and stone corridors had doors that didn't open and balconies that did not face any open area, rooms with no features and floors with no ceilings. The architects of this place did not have function in mind when they laid the form of the place. As they walked, their footprints disturbed no dust. The upper levels of the tower were evidently sealed against the outside, perhaps since the cataclysm. Still, without a caretaker the tower maintained itself. Although there were no obvious moving parts or any sort of exposed mechanisms, the whole structure was well oiled and alert; it was aware of the three that walked its veins.

Dane was beginning to lost track of his mind. Ever since he had entered the tower, his extremities were becoming indistinct. The pinpricks he felt on his arm were the Aldus Watch moving along the ramparts of the Wall. The cooling breeze he felt on his neck, although it was warm in the metal maze, was the bracing winter jets that weaved through the city. His mind was fusing with the city's. The motivations of the buzzing flies in his ear were indistinct and insignificant. The Ghoul Sage's warning, the orange garrote on his heart, was a matter of little concern. He peered at them from the spire's eyes, and to him the humans below were the same size as the snowflakes falling from the remnants of the arcane storm.

Off in the distance, they could see the tower's heart beating. Or was it his own heart that was beating? The three turned the corner.

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ETHELWEN - BARVELLE, royalblue
Ethelwen's nose wrinkled as he plunged the rake into the sewer blockage once more. The clump of unknown matter squelched alarmingly, before shifting slightly. A small chunk floated on down the murky tide. Ethelwen, in equal parts, loved and hated having to work in the city sewers. On the one hand the sewers connected to every part of the cit, and, unlike the tunnels of Barvelle, the sewers went in straight lines. It was a different aspect to this city of his, and one that he accepted and explored with the same enthusiasm as he explored the upper tunnels of the Secret City. It would also surprise anyone who had never been down here, but the sewers was the best place to hear the gossip of the city. Sound carried oddly through the tunnels, and allowed the ever curious Ethelwen to overhear conversations that were not precisely intended for him. Not that he ever really did anything with the pieces of information he learned. He simply liked learning them all the same.

But no amount of gossip or mapmaking could change the fact that the sewers were the waste disposal system of the grand city, and when he came down here he was going to come out covered head to toe in sewer water, and he would always have to meticulously clean his fur in vinegar to get rid of the smell. His boss was kind enough to provide extra wages to allow Ethelwen to purchase the rather expensive cooking ingredient for such a purpose, as Ethelwen was the only one of his employees who did not noisily object to descending to the lowest level of the city. At least he had thoughts of Arktus' lessons to distract him in the meantime.

The rake squished into the pile again, and Ethelwen pulled with all his might. The sludge squished, squirmed, and squelched, but suddenly the blockage came undone, and the murky water quickly began to flow through the proper pipe once more.

"... is safe?"

Ethelwen's ears twitched as the echoing voice reached his ears. He glanced up, before reminding himself that he had another task to complete further down in the pipes. There was no time for gossip.

“... sure.... risk the plan... No one... overhear...”

Ethelwen was brought to a sudden halt. His ears twitched again, swiveling to try and pinpoint the direction of the voices. Sure, he had a job, but this sounded far too good for him to ignore.

“... keep... voices down...”

For a moment there was only echoing silence, and Ethelwen held still. There was no sound but the splash of the water against his legs, and for a moment he feared he had lost the conversation. However, he released the breath he had been holding when the sound of the first voice once more reached his ears.

“How .. plans?”

“... preparations...”

“Wolfsin..." Wolfsin? What did Wolfsin have to do with this. Ethelwen was still not overly fond of the Archon's guard, but he truly did seem like a good man, devoted to the protection of the Archon. They had gotten along on perfectly acceptable terms since the strange series of events that had led to his participation in the Council meeting. "Archon’s guardian... attack the Archon..." What? No! "killed... willing...”

Ethelwen's heart was pounding in his ears, so loud he feared the voices would be drowned out. Wolfsin was going to attack and kill the Archon? Surely that was impossible. “... no room... error...”

“... my duty.”


Ethelwen had to do something, but his legs seemed to be frozen in place.

“... doing... get... that portion.”
Potion? What potion.

“... too late..."
Too late? Too late for what, goddammit! "Archon... dead... the new God...”

“All Hail!”

The paralysis gripping Ethelwen seemed to break all of a sudden at the combined cry, and he slumped into the sewer water, unconcerned for the stench. What exactly had he just heard? Could it truly be possible? Was Wolfsin really going to try and kill the Archon? And what could he possibly do about it? What should he do about it?

His head seemed to be spinning in circles, and pounding in time with his heart. He had too little information. He didn't know what to do. But he couldn't just ignore such a significant piece of information.

He had to go see the Archon. It was the only option he had. She would be the one to decide what to do with the information, and whether or not to take it seriously. But what if Wolfsin really was trying to kill her? If Ethelwen let on that he suspected anything, anything at all, Wolfsin might have to kill Ethelwen as well. Somehow, he had to talk with the Archon when Wolfsin was not present. But the man never left her side. How on earth was he going to do that?

He would have to figure something out. Right now, his first priority was getting cleaned up, so that he did not appear before the Archon covered in filth. No one would listen to him like that.

Hopefully, trying to save the Archon's life was a valid excuse for abandoning his job half-done.
 
The Trial
Every second was another calling howling whisper that seemed to perpetrate the soul. The Walls were shackled to lives that had been given up in this very temple. A legend of monsters, and a single "God" still lingered here, and Raige had to worry as they moved further and further, that Darinw ould be able to make it long enough for them to find his cure.

Raige held his sword out, he was on guard the whole way through. The constant sound of skittering, and the low groan of a decrepit masonry only added to his paranoia, but Darin seemed elated by the place. His eyes were almost glazed over, and each step he took almost seemed uniform. it was like he knew the temple, like he'd waited for this very moment.

The trek was finished though when the two of them entered into a large stone opening. Runes, and ancient symbols decorated the place, but much more lingered. Tendrils, large black appendages seemed to stretch out over the room. Raige tried to stop Darin, but there was no chance in that. Darin could not see it, he was blinded from the evil of this place. The tentacles moved, they swayed over the walls and a sound of collapsing stone could be heard, but Darin remained vigilant.. he started to recite something, but even Raige could not hear it witht he activity around them..

"The Sacrifice... spill his blood in order to recieve it ... Darin.."

The voice was like thunder, sinister and rough. It would be enough to send chills down the spine of anyone, but Raige even thing remained more concerned with Darin, as he seemed to finish his own chanting, in sync with the darkness of this place. He lunged inward, his sword at the ready... Darin meant to kill.

Raige hardly had any time at all to react, but dodged a glancing blow that connected with the rock. Raige slid back and drew his own weapon in time to intercept a jab forward. This was not how Darin fought, this was not Darin. "What the hell do you think you are doing Darin!" Raige tried to call to his friend and mentor, but it was to fall on deaf ears. Darin was gone now.

Another lazy strike was made, but this time when the two blades clamored together, Darin rushed in with his shoulder. it was enough to push Raige off balance, but he recovered fast enough to avoid what might of beena lethal blow. This was hard.. Raige did now want to finish his friend like this, not now. If there was anything he'd learned from his Paladin, it was that this was not honor... Darin was being strung around by the shadowy puppet master that resided in this grave of history.

"Darin! Stop this!" Another swing in and Raige was forced to maneuver around it. "Are you not a damn Paladin of Orden? Was everything else a lie!?" This time Darin paused, leaving enough of an opening for Raige to swing out and crush his friends nose with his fist. Darins tumbled back. "get a hold of yourself!" Darin stumbled to get back up, but you could tell that he was fading with the poison. if this creature had its way, Both of them would be dead tonight.

Darin got back up and charge in again. His moves were sloppy and Raige moved around him before pushing him over. Again Darin tried, and this time as he passed... Raige snatched the chain from his neck, the pendant... Selphia's necklace. "I guess you wont need this then!, hell do you deserve to wear it with the way your being!?" He didn't mean his words entirely but he had to hope... Pray that Darin would snap out of this. Raige waited for the Paladin to turn around again, and charge,a nd when he did, this time taking a small cut at his side he punched Darin right in the jaw with the pendant and let it fall with his friend. "Take it! Remember who you are, and why you have to live. There is no God here, only a Demon.. Remember Selphia and what you stand for Darin!"

Darin remained on the ground for a moment... His body convulsed, but when his eyes averted up to look at Raige.. they were his again.. Darin looked about confused, but he quickly understood. "Raige.. I.. I am so sorry.. I didn'.." Raige stopped him. "Enough of that... we aren't done here.. " The only light that filled the room came from the cieling as a small light... In the center of the room... a flower... Darin's cure.

"You disappoint me! Now you will add to the collection of souls that have made that mistake... I God will judge you for your blasphemy!"

Darin, and Raige both turned to each other.. A new found fire between them. The Dark whip like tentacles, began their movement,a nd the duo moved to the center of the room. It was a race for time. The Shadows sought to consume them, to capture them and drag them to a black death. Darin needed help, and Raige held him by his shoulder as he rushed them both to the center, to where the light shined on Darin's salvation.. The tentacles were only feet away. Moment from claiming them for the darkness, and then..

Light!

The Darkness met the light and a hiss of fire,a nd the smell of burnt flesh filled the area.. The Darkness could not touch them in the light instead.. Like a nest of angry snakes they waited for them. Waited for the two to return to the shadows.
 
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The End, gold
Darin's whole body ached, from his feet to his skull it felt as though someone had set it a blaze. If that were not enough, the consistent pounding against his skull added to his misery. As soon as Raige practically carried him into the light, Darin collapsed upon the ground. Just feet away from his salvation, a small plant grown in the bloody remains of the fallen god who's magic poisoned him. Darin's head spun as he cringed in constant agony. He had been trained to sustain pain, to use it as a weapon against his enemies even, but this was beyond what he could bear. This was death's embrace in the coldest way possible.

This hissing of the shadow was joined with a chuckle that only lasted for a few moments. It too knew that Darin's life was coming to an end. It had never meant its promises anyway. It lashed violently at the rays of light even braving a few inches of excruciating pain before pulling out and roaring in a deafening tone that attacked the ears of the pair in the light.

Raige wasted no time, "Hold on, Darin," he shouted as he quickly tore open Darin's satchel. Inside, along with the damned journal , was a mortar and pestle. The small bottle that had hosted the water that was to be used to mix the flower as per the instructions from the apothecary had cracked and begun to leak inside the bag, "Damn," his eyes fell on his dying friend. There was no way Raige was going to let Darin die, not after everything the paladin had done for him.

Raige quickly pulled the jar from the bag and prayed that what remained would be enough. His nerves were on edge as he faced the possibility of losing yet another loved one. Raige's meaty paw tore the plant from the cursed ground and he quickly ground it as best he could.

By now, Darin had stilled. His flesh had paled and his chest rose slowly and painfully. Raige leaned over briefly to check his friends pulse, "Damn you if you die on me," he returned to his duty. After adding the water and stirring it, he quickly slid to Darin and lifted the man's head into his lap. Darin was sweating as he poured the liquid down his throat and prayed that it took.

The shadow fell silent and Raige glanced outward before returning his gaze to Darin. Color was already returning to the paladin. Darin's eyes opened slowly, he blinked twice and without warning, mustered all the strength he had to push Raige. The wolf could do nothing as he watched a large rock slammed into Darin's chest. The sickening sound of bones breaking filled the air mixed with the continued roll of the rock.

"Darin!" He howled as he scurried to his side. A chuckle filled the air as the shadow celebrated its victory. It would still take the paladin if it could not have the wolf. Darin's breath was once again shallow as Raige hovered his hands over Darin's chest.

Darin winced and shook his head, "Looks worse," he muttered painfully.

Raige closed his eyes, his hands hovering over the paladin. Darin noticed what Raige was attempting and closed his eyes to pray. This was Darin's only means of survival, if Raige failed, Darin would die so that his friend would live. There was no way Raige could fight off the shadow and carry him from the room.

Raige held his breath and in a few short moments released it frustratingly. Darin shook his head again, "Don't..force...it," he spoke softly. Raige nodded and took in another breath. Darin's eyes peeled open and watched proudly as Raige's hands began to glow ever so softly. He could feel the power flow into his body, the warmth of the light bathing him. The setting of bones and the healing tissue filled his ears and before long, the light had faded and Darin was whole once more. Raige had healed his body completely which meant...

Darin sat up quickly to see Raige rubbing his chest. Darin smiled, "You'll get used to it."

Darin quickly stood and helped Raige to his feet, "Let's take care of this 'god' and be done with this place."

"How? A second Orden's Light?" Raige asked.

Darin thought only a moment. The shadow seemed to rage on, it's tentacles lashed against the ray of light violently. It was obviously unhappy that the fledgling paladin had healed his master. Darin knew that an Orden's Light would destroy the creature, but it was a powerful spell and though he had been healed, he was still weak. Adrenaline now ran his body. They needed to see more of what they were dealing with.

A silent prayer fell from Darin's lips as he raised his sword. The room was bathed in a faint light for only a moment. A roar of agony filled the air as the shadow retreated to the darkest corner of the room. It was then the two got their first look at this 'god'. Tucked away was a shadow mimicking the body of the creature in inhabited. It was a remnant of power, not the God itself. As the light faded, the creature slithered along the inside of the skull toward loose rock. It was going to bury them.

"We can't beat it, Raige," Darin spoke. Raige nodded. He was still a man of steel and arrows. Both of which would have passed completely Pugh the creature.

Darin watched as Raige's eyes flicked toward the ceiling and then back to him, "The whole. Can you make it wider?"

Darin smiled and nodded. This he could do, "Get ready to run though," he spoke as he turned his eyes skyward. The spell was powerful, but significantly less than alternative. With a single word of power, the light intensified. It burned at the edges of the skull until they began to fall away. It expanded down the weakest points until the hall was filled with a crack. It had reached a central location and bone began to rain down.

"Quickly, Raige!" Darin yelled happy to see Darin already moving. He took a moment longer to swipe up the chain that had been his wife's and followed in pursuit. The pair stayed in the light, having to dodge even the most daring of attacks by the shadow as it pierced the light only momentarily before dissipating. It roared angrily but with the falling of the skull came the expansion of the light.

the pair tore out the maw of the beast and straight into e midst of their crew who were all staring at them. Darin and Raige lifted their weapons, ready to defend themselves, only to find the men confused. Those who remembered, grew sick sat their stomach. The crew had been restored.

Darin turned to see the temple barely standing. The howling of the creature filled the air, but the weakened state it was in had severed its ties to all it had controlled. None would ever fall victim to it again.

Darin sheathed his sword and wrapped the necklace around his wrist once more. He liked it there more than around his neck. When he had changed it, he could not remember. Raige had saved him and in turn, they had saved the crew and everyone who would fall victim in the future.

The dead were burned honorably and camp was broken before they boarded their ships to return home. Their journey had been hard, but fruitful. Perhaps when they returned to Tavark, they would be given a chance to rest finally.
 
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[fieldbox="Karissa Lisbon — Courthouse, royalblue"]
In a dizzyingly rushed turn of events, Karissa was put to trial in an open amphitheater where any could come to watch - and come they did. Crowds formed quickly of people coming to put their fears to rest. Councilman Breifus maintained his eloquence even under Azareth's maddening magics, and in many ways Azareth's grip on the townspeople strengthened with Breifus' convincing arguments. He linked all the horrific events of late to Ilsa; he blamed her for the deaths of Aldus' men, for the slain horses, for the aviary, the arcane storm, and for the Ghoul Sage.

"Ilsa Lisbon," Breifus dropped any title or show of respect towards the guard captain as he began to conclude. "Knowingly brought these fates upon Aldus. She is cooperating with the Ghoul Sage, and if not for her, Aldus would not have suffered the terrible fates that it has!" Affirming nods came from the audience. "We must teach her a lesson! She has taken far more from us than we can imagine, and in turn we must also be merciless in our retribution." The corrupt councilman turned from the audience to point a finger at Karissa. "The girl must be sentenced to death!"

Driven by the madness, the crowd roared its approval. Sounds of protest made by the Avians in attendance, who knew of Karissa and her help for them, were drowned out by the jeers and the hollering.

Tears in her eyes, Karissa leapt to her feet in protest as Fina bounded into her and vanished into the little girl's body.

For a full minute, she reasoned, pouring her heart and soul into an impassioned speech that showed wisdom far beyond her years.

Karissa expertly pointed out the flaws in Breifus' argument, attacking the tenuous links he drew based on the chronological sequence of events without evidence to support his claims. She chastised him (and by extension, the crowd of onlookers) for being so obstinate and unwilling to see reason that they might try to punish someone other than the person they believed responsible for the crimes mentioned. Alas, the minute wore away as quickly as it came, and the Advent was spent.

But a minute would not be enough.

An eternity would not be enough; not while the town was held in the grip of madness. The crowd murmured amongst itself. They were convinced; even the judge was convinced.

Though they knew within their hearts that Karissa was telling the truth, this was a crime that not even the truth could set right. The city had spiraled too far into Azareth's grip of madness. Aldus was falling - in many ways it had already fallen; once the proud city that kept vigilant watch over Pegulis' borders, now a tattered shambles unable to discern right from wrong.

Karissa remained standing, not out of courage but from paralysis by fear, hands trembling as her Advent wore away and Fina reappeared, darting anxious circles between and around her feet. Before her, the rumbling in the crowd of onlookers assembled in this makeshift courthouse slowly grew.

The judge's gavel struck, the sound echoing emphatically through the air. "Enough! The Court has reached its verdict." The people quickly hushed and held their breaths.

"Guilty."

The crowd in the courthouse let out several resounding shouts of affirmation, only to be quieted again by another strike of the gavel.

"Effective immediately, the defendant, Karissa Lisbon, will be sentenced to death."

At this, the crowd erupted in celebration, believing that this might somehow right the wrongs committed against them. They celebrated a conviction they knew was false, if for no other reason than that it gave them a scapegoat to blame for Aldus' suffering. The Avians in the crowd lost their breath; shocked into speechlessness, they stared helplessly at the little girl who had given them so much when none else would. The Avians had learned from her, and rather than doing the same, somehow the people of Aldus had instead learned to despise her.

Karissa looked out in horror and anguish over the sea of people cheering her death as the reality of the sentence sank in.

In that moment, she felt tiny and insignificant, dwarfed by an overwhelming crowd of people against her. She wanted to cry; she wanted to shout, to scream, to run. How could she know she was right but still be believed to be wrong? Lip quivering, her frantic blue eyes searched desperately through the faces for Dane, but instead caught a glimpse of the Avians' solemn faces before the tears blurred her vision. She was grabbed by the arm and led out by a group of guards as the crowd continued to roar, cheering her demise.

In Aldus, justice had died.

Now, Karissa would follow.
[/fieldbox]
 
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Quite the Welcome Home, gold
The journey back to Tavark was just as dull as the one from it. Of course, when they could, Darin and Raige found themselves training on the deck. Many a man had apologized to the paladin and his squire for what had happened. Darin had waved it off, however difficult that was. He had grown close to Gom and now he was little more than ash and memory butchered by those he called friend. His thought often dragged the paladin back to when he had tried to kill Raige. He would apologize for the hundredth time and as he always did, Raige would dismiss it.

Now the boat had finally come to rest at the Tavarkian docks and cheering around them were everyone awaiting the tern of loved ones and cheering for the apparent victory their heroes had won. May were glad to finally be home, but none were as cheerful as victors might be. Nightmares had become reality on that island and though they had won, no one left unscathed.

Darin watched from the deck of the ship as every man that survived both the journey and the trials embraced family. His hands white knuckled the railing as grief tore at his heart. He had begun to believe in the hope the shadow had given him in that he would be granted the power to raise Selphia from the dead. It was a promise for a second chance to be happy, not because he had to choose it but because it naturally grew within his chest. Now he was forced to watch as others experienced that.

A meaty paw landed on his shoulder and Raige stepped up beside him. Raige was in a position similar to his. Both men had no one left, "Raige," Darin smiled and released the railing. The jingle of Selphia's necklace sounded, "Welcome home, my friend."

Raige saw right rough Darin's outside. He had grown quite close to the paladin through everything they had walked through together, "It can be your home too, Darin. I'm sure after everything you've done for this town, Tavark would be honored to have a man like you."

Darin smile changed to a tight lipped one, "There are many people outside these walls that need me. I cannot settle down until my task is done."

"You mean you won't settle down because you're scared," Raige replied his hand slapped against his own thigh.

Darin looked down and away from Raige a moment. The wolf was right. Darin had traveled for so long, he had been alone for so long that the idea of settle of choosing a new home scared him. Staying in one place meant that people would rely on him more, they would depend on him more. Traveling was a come and go mission. He arrived, healed or defended and then left, no strings attached what Raige was asking was for him to allow for more personal connections once again. What if he failed them? What if history repeated itself and those he loved were murdered?

"It's not that easy for a man like me," Darin spoke and started toward the ramp. Raige and he were the last two aboard the ship and when his feet finally landed on the hard wood of the deck, relief washed over him. He was done. Everyone responsible for Selphia's death was no more or trapped.

"Sir Darin!" called a soldier who had stayed behind who rushed him and saluted, "I'm glad you made it back. I never got the opportunity to thank you for saving my life during the battle," Darin shook his head and was about to dismiss the boy when he continued, "No sir, please, let me finish," Darin nodded after looking at Raige who smiled ever so slightly, "We know what happened to the order and that you had no reason to help us but did. Some of us were so inspired that we hoped that you might return so that you could teach us to be paladins of Orden. You could restart the order through us." Several other men joined him and Darin could not help but feel his heart swell with a mix of fear and joy. What would he do with these men? Could he really restart the order?

As if to read his mind, Raige spoke up, "You don't have to be alone anymore, Darin."

Darin turned from the men and looked to Raige. Darin's own lips parting in a smile that he had thought he would never wear again. He clasped hands with his friend and nodded to the men who hurried off excitedly. The order would be started a fresh right here in Tavark.

Darin turned one last time and looked off over the ocean surface. His breath took in his throat as his eyes fell upon a face he thought he'd never see again. She smiled at him, her blue orbs dancing as they searched his face. A warm smile spread across her delicate features and her blonde hair danced in the breeze. A single tear fell down Darin's cheek as she faded away and her voice echoed in his mind.

"Welcome home, Darin."
 
ETHELWEN - BARVELLE, royalblue
Ethelwen’s heart did not stop pounding as he raced home and cleaned up as best as he was able. The words he had heard echoed over and over and over in his head. Kill the Archon. Kill the Archon. Kill the Archon. Surely such a thing was not possible?

Kill the Archon.

The door to Eirene’s office was closed, and Ethelwen hesitated. He knew that what he had to share was important, but he was not willing to interrupt the Archon if she was in the middle of something. Why else would her door be closed? As he suffered with indecision, voices floated through the heavy door to his ears. He paused, tilted his head to the side, and immediately began to listen. Voices were going to be the death of him one day.

“I cannot permit...”

“You do not get to permit anything this time, Coul.”

“If something were to happen to you on your journey...”

“Barvelle would be in your very capable hands until a new leader could be elected.”

“But...”

“Coul,” for a moment, Eirene’s voice sounded very tired. “Please. I need to do this. There is no alternative.”

“...Very well, Archon. Please, be safe.”

“I will. I always am.”

“Then I take my leave.”

Ethelwen quickly hopped back from the door, just before it swung open on him. Coul blinked in surprise, but nodded politely to the cat. Ethelwen nodded back, before stepping up to the Archon’s door. He would think about what he had heard later. Right now, he had a plot to expose.

Kill the Archon.

He found his progress into the room blocked by Wolfsin’s towering figure, with which he nearly collided. Ethelwen quickly stepped back, before glowering at the man. Every feeling of distaste and disappointment he felt for the bodyguard seemed to come rushing back at that moment, and was, if anything, heightened by the whispers he had heard below Barvelle.

“What are you doing here?” Wolfsin snapped. Ethelwen flinched slightly but stood his ground. He might not have noticed it if he wasn’t looking for it, but the warrior seemed undoubtedly shaky. He glared at Ethelwen, every line in his face heightened by ill-temper. The Archon’s guardian had never been particularly polite, but he seemed far worse now than he ever had before.

“I have come to see the Archon.”

“Why would someone like you want to see the Archon?”

Ethelwen bristled faintly, and returned Wolfsin’s glare, every ounce of venom matched drop for drop. “Why are you doing this?” he asked, trying to knock some sense into the swordsman. Wolfsin knew him. There was no reason for the man to be acting like this.

Rather than backing down, Wolfsin only seemed to become more angered. “Why am I doing what? You are the one who is in a place he has no right to be.”

“What on earth is the matter with you?” Something nasty popped suddenly into his mind. “Are you going to collapse again? Are you going to have to send someone like me to fetch another vial for you?”

This affront to his honor seemed too much for Wolfsin to take. He let out a muffled snarl of rage, before his hand went to his greatsword. For a moment Ethelwen was certain he was about to become the first victim of the supposed “guardian’s” rampage.

He was saved, however, by the soft voice of the Archon coming from within the room. “Wolfsin? What is going on out there?”

His hands balled into fists, Wolfsin carefully controlled the rage in his voice. “Nothing, my lady.”

Ethelwen was never going to get to see Eirene this way. “Lady Archon?” he called out. “I have come to speak with you.”

“Ethelwen?” The Archon appeared by the door, and there was a small, but undoubtedly warm, smile spread across her face. “This is a surprise. Please, come in.” Wolfsin was forced to step aside, and Ethelwen quickly slipped into the room. “What did you have to say?”

There was no way he couldn’t speak so long as Wolfsin was in the room. He would have to handle this carefully. What exactly would the ill-tempered man do if he thought his plot had been discovered? “I’m sorry Archon, but would it be possible for me to speak with you... privately?”

Kill the Archon.

Wolfsin spoke before the Archon could begin to respond. “My lady, you can’t possibly be considering his request.”

“Why would I not?”

“We know almost nothing about this gutt...” Wolfsin quickly changed his word choice. “Individual. As your guardian, I cannot possibly allow you to remain alone in his company. I would be failing in my duty.”

“You are expecting him to attack me?”

“It is my job to anticipate such possibilities.”

“All the same, I am going to grant his request.”

“Archon, I...”

“Please leave the room, Wolfsin.”

“I will not...”

“Wolfsin.” The Arcon’s voice was starting to sound tired again. “I am ordering you to leave this room. You may come back in once Ethelwen leaves.” Wolfsin turned and, casting a venomous glare in Ethelwen’s direction, closed the door heavily behind him. “Now, Ethelwen. What could be so important?”

“My lady... I am afraid I overheard a plot against your life. A plot that appears to concern Wolfsin.”

Ethelwen quickly outlined everything he had overheard in the sewers, most notably Wolfsin’s apparent role in the attack. Throughout his explanation he watched Eirene’s face, but her expression remained carefully blank. Was she taking him seriously? Did she believe what he had to say. True, he hadn’t overheard very much, but what he had overheard was undoubtedly serious.

There was a moment of silence after he finished speaking. “Archon, what are you going to do?”

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Ethelwen. I promise you that I will speak with Coul about this at the first opportunity I get.”

“What about Wolfsin?”

“For now, I shall do nothing. He is innocent until he is proven to be guilty.”

Ethelwen nodded politely, his disagreement with this statement concealed from his expression. “Very well. I am sorry that I only come with bad tidings.”

The Archon smiled faintly, the expression marred by the weariness in her eyes. “Perhaps next time, you should make a point of coming simply with good tidings. My door is always open to you.”
 
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(Collab with @LVL1337N00B)
[fieldbox="The Green Stripe, #9483EE"]
In what were sure to be the lad's final hours, uncommon thought floated around in Artorius' mind. He wondered if perhaps he ought to have been kinder, less of a pain to his father and the good food folk dwelling around him. Maybe he ought to keep out of trouble, leave his neighbors' valuables where they belonged, approach the fairer sex in a more gentlemanly manner. If he survived this ordeal, a change of pace might be worth consideration. As it was however, he'd had his doubts on the matter of making it back to civilization. These things he contemplated within a dream, sitting upon throne of gold and red satin such that befit a man of his standing, so his conceit would have him believe. Even now as as he lay sleeping, he remained aware of his mortal peril. The approach of death, as it so happened, was not something he could easily ignore or forget.

The rogue lifted his head some as disembodied voices invaded his dreamspace, chin still cupped between index finger and thumb. Naught but blackness caught his eye as he gazed upward and he wondered who they were. They seemed vaguely familiar, yet he was certain they were not voices his unconscious mind might call on. Perhaps his father, the guardsman his heart called friend as of late, a past lover- Someone to comfort him as he passed. Though not unpleasant, these were not ones he'd expected.

One of them, these oddly familiar voices, spoke his name in a surprised tone. Somehow this drew him back to the waking world, away from his cozy seat and back into the snow. The chilled air was unpleasant, far more so than he remembered, his vision blurred for a time and he found his voice refusing to raise much over a whisper. "Who is that?.. An escort, maybe, come to guide me to the next world or through.. Whatever it is that comes next?"

The guard captain lowered herself to her knees next to the wounded rogue as she pulled off her gauntlets to expose her bare hands. She could barely hear, let alone comprehend his words - she did know, however, that at the moment he was needlessly wasting his breath. "Quiet, Artorius." The words left her with a practiced calm; it certainly wasn't the first time she'd had to tell him to shut up. Each instance before this, she had hoped it would be the last time he'd need to be reprimanded.

Now, she held onto the hope that he might live to be scolded again.

Pax circled high overhead. With a shrill cry, the falcon Aux dipped a wing downwards before beginning a rapid descent towards the ground, diving into Ilsa's body and vanishing within. A glowing warmth began to radiate from Ilsa's palms as she held them just outside of contact with Artorius' body. The same warmth enveloped his wounds as they began to clot and close, stopping the seeping spread of crimson in the snow around him.

A minute of healing passed, and Ilsa's Advent was spent. The warmth emanating from her hands was replaced by the icy winds of Pegulis, eliciting a shudder from the guard captain, weakened by the exertion of the Advent as she pulled her gauntlets back on over her shivering hands. After a moment to catch her breath, she rose to her feet, looking down at Artorius as she offered him a hand to get up. "Can you stand?"

The rogue seemed to consider the idea before offering a slight nod. He sat up, allowing Ilsa and Bridgette to help him back to his feet. Ilsa observed him closely to make sure he was in good enough condition to move. "What brings you out this way, Artorius?"

"I have important information to bring to Barvelle," the rogue explained with hurried breaths. His face twisted into a pained grimace as he leaned against Ilsa's shoulder. "Blueprints," he added. "I was sent with guards but -- they ambushed me. I lost my guide and don't know the way."

Ilsa nodded, motioning Bridgette over to help hold up the wounded rogue. "Artorius, this is Bridgette Clair. She used to serve under me in Aldus and has now joined the Barvelle Watch. She can take you back to Barvelle. Take the horses."

Bridgette hesitated. "Captain, who will escort you to Aldus? Perhaps the three of us should return to Barvelle together. It will be safer that way."

Ilsa shook her head. "I'll continue on to Aldus on my own. I know the path."

Artorius nodded as he gathered his belongings and struggled to climb into the saddle atop one of the horses. "Be careful, Ilsa. Aldus... a lot has changed."
[/fieldbox]
 
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Nuria - Aldus, #EDCB62

That day I learnt secrets about their land that I should not know. My people in their isolation are ignorant and I fear for them. The northerners are better equipped than we thought and their magic is strong. But there is no force on this earth that can stop me from my quest. Not even the Divine.


Deeper into darkness the Ambassador, the dancing avian and the knight of the free child wandered the dark and dreary halls. Step by step watching as the tower grow more eerie by the second , the stagnant air growing thicker with sheer age, which filled the air making it hard to breathe.

Uninterested in the doctor’s desire for small talk Nuria rarely replied to his babbling that droned on in the background, trying to focus upon the path ahead with her eyes carefully following Dane. Occasionally the avian would look over her shoulder in paranoia, watching out for anything that might have followed them.


As much as she wished to respect the Knight of the free child, the Pegulians were not to be trusted. Outside of the treaty these two could kill her any time they wished and was cautious of this being an ambush planned by the council. For that reason the Ambassador allowed her companions to carry on in front of her, while she took the rear.

Badoom, Badoom, Badoom.

The sound of a heart echoed like a distant drum, laying rest to the tedious sound of their footsteps. In front of them Dane began to walk slower, his eyes misting over as he starred into the wall like he weren’t there.

“Knight!” she called over to the man whom had helped save her people, rushing to his side when she realized the magic was emitting heavily from the centre of his being. Some sort of spell was affecting him but she did not know what “Be Strong!” her exotic voice called out but the words did not reach him.


Walking onward Dane turned the corner and stopped. Gazing at the centre of the spire as if it were familiar, like he were at the heart of his being the man felt like he belonged.

“Dane!” she called again, calling his name; worried this time. “Stay with-“ her eyes finally settled upon the large cross like object at the centre of the room that pulsed with electricity as if it were a beacon and emitting the same magical energy that coursed through Dane ”-Me.” Connecting the dots, the situation provided a little more clarity. “Angel, Can yer see them there?” his voice replied reaching toward the spire “Deyr like ants. Mad ants. Dunt deserve t' live their pointless existence“ the thoughts of Dane tried battling with the spire “Angel!”


Dane's Eyes

The blackened halls gradually faded into a nightmare as Dane watched as watched reality shift into shades of black and grey. As if he were looking down from a greater perspective the world became small and insignificant. Humans traced along his skins like ants that crawled across the earth’s crust and the winged creatures like moths that landed gently against his skin. It grew more and more agitating to the watchman every second that past.

Like a beacon, the silhouette of a white light suddenly appeared in the image of a woman, flying into the sky “Knight!” it called to him “Be Strong!” the being was strange to him, almost familiar. “Angel” he called it.

Shifting his gaze he called back, somehow thankful for the company yet at the same time something within his soul tugged. Untrusting of the welcoming figure that stood before him “Can yer see them there?” he replied in an unearthly tone. “Deyr like ants. Mad ants, Dunt deserve t’ live a pointless existence” the cold voice continued to speak from his mouth. No “Angel!” he called to the figure trying to reach for its hand.


“Try to focus Dane” it called out “we will shut the spire down together” extending its hand further toward him the light hovered expectantly revealing the soft features of the Avian Nuria, coated in a heavenly aura of white light “You can do it,” she softly encouraged.

Nodding slowly Dane cautiously took her hand with an awkward smile. The memories of his task starting to flow back into him as their skin connected. “The Spire” he reiterated watching the images transition between his own and the city “Remember the free child, remember Karissa” Nuria whispered into his ear, stroking her heavenly hand through his thick brown hair “Save us.”

At the mention of Karissa’s safety his feelings went up into a storm, whirling around within his heart as he felt the culling of her life taken away “She’s dead,” he yelled angrily “I failed her!”

“No,” the angel replied sternly “You will fail her if this city dies.”

“How!” he argued, bitter and angry.

“Because she was the free child, she would not even wish the Avians to die. If she did not want that would the child want the city destroyed?”

It was the truth and although Dane did not want to acknowledge Nuria’s words; it was true.

With what little he had left of his own strength, the watchman slumped himself against the pulsing spire battling its energies off with what little remained of his human emotion…

 
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