"We don't need to be mean to her do we?" Dragash objects, though he knows it'll fall on deaf ears. "I trust Dal's cook would be somewhat trustworthy, despite her.. predicament. Dragash sighs as he returns with a small representation of a planet.
"Though be aware she is currently under an affliction. This affects her mental capabilities as well as her appearance as you can see." He motions ot the mutations on her head. "This mutation is called an id mutation. We only have 10 days to cure her from when upon first onset. Otherwise, she is beyond any help I know."
He kneels down next to Rosa after Zerisi's questions. "Now I know tall and scary here is rather poignant. However, this is important, how long ago did you get shot? The details of who the robed figure is will matter later, what matters now is if we can save you."
Dragash thinks on where Nesher mine is compared to here.
Dragash is trying to figure out how far she left her attacker.
Rosa stands and looks down as the others deal with the cat-cook now it was talking its guys out. Bit of fear always got results.
She takes her time and looks around the space, Then she takes out a cigar and lights it.
"You know its getting late, we could stay here tonight, be a good place to defend."
With Leeara tied up, Will's job was over. Now it was up to good guard, bad guard. It was only recently that He had started learning the finer points of Diplomacy. But he was still bad at it. His natural demeanor did not instill calmness or trust in most he met like Zerisi did. That's not to say he wasn't good at leading. Its just that he lead soldiers. Their trust and respect was more based off of strength and experience. Those he had in spades.
Will walks over to his weapon and, with barely a flick of his foot, pops it into his hand. He hovers around the background near the cave entrance as the others try to get answers. His eyes are mostly on their prisoner and Rosa. Leeara had been through a lot, that much was certain. And if nothing else, they had a new lead. He also couldn't tell if Rosa's threat was real. Considering the blade and his doubts about her raven, he was pretty sure she could and would follow through. That and the name Hell Knight's did not help.
Will whistles and calls her over to the back of the cave. "Why are you here?" The question is more loaded than it sounds. It didn't just mean "Why are you in this cave?" It is obvious she is the odd man...woman...out. He and Dragash knew Dalviss personally and Zerisi just seemed the kind of person to wander into a village and help. So that left her. It certainly wasn't altruism. She also didn't immediately start slaughtering everyone either. She obviously had rules she was following, but who's?
Rosa looked over at the Human General, who has just called out to her.
Hell's balls how old was he? 30?, 40?, it was hard to tell with humans, they aged so fast. That's not to says they did not learn fast, or do a lot in thire time, but She had meet more than a few elders who had seemed barely children to her.
She took a long pull on her cigar, while behind her Dragash, talked to the cat-cut.
He was worried, to him this little group was his pocket army and there was someone in it he was worried about. Me She thought. She new she would be, big scary cleric of the Hell Knights shows up, worried one of the orders would soon be close behind. They would take a much more heavy hand then her, if any sign Chaos was taking a whole here, it was be slash Burn and razz the place to the ground. Hell Knights where not known for being gentile.
She walked over to him and looked down at him, she seems relaxed, holding her cigar.
"Way I am here General?, well, because I follow my orders, I was ordered here, I was ordered to find out what the trouble is, ordered to deal with it if its Demonic or judged to be a danger to the realm. Ordered to report back my findings if I survived. Do's that answer you question General."
She takes a drag but is careful not to get any smoke near him.
"I did agree to not hurt anyone from the town, that was part of me getting allowed in. I would not have hurt that poor woman there, she has been contaminated by something. But the ones who did that to her, well that is a whole other matter."
She lets that hang in the air as she blows a smoke ring.
"Who ever reported this, knows someone linked to the Hell knights or I would not have been ordered here. They send the likes of me in front, we sniff out problems. The odd start up Demonic cult here, the odd Chaotic taint there. We find it and we jack boot it to death. I am not a nice person Will, I am Evil in your view, that is alright, because some of the defenders on the walls have to be like me. They have to think and feel the unthinkable and abhorrent. Everyone needs a bastard to call on will for special circumstances."
She lets that hangs
Zerisi glanced back to Will and Rosa as he and Dragash inspected and interrogated Leeara. Gotta keep an eye on that before it gets out of hand, he thought.
He turned back to Leeara, waiting for her to answer Dragash's question.
General. He got the feeling she was just using that as a name to annoy him. Baiting him to use it as an excuse to pull rank or something. He knew that was futile though. There was no army here and even if they were, she'd probably destroy half of them and still get away. There were some seriously powerful people out there still. All of them were proof of that.
As she speaks, it feels as if he is not just looking at her anymore. That he is peering at something much more inherent to her being, the Ki that flows in all living things. Reading its flow around the heart for any wavering. Though he is nearly two feet shorter than her, it feels like he is much taller, like a child trying to lie to their parent.
She was telling the truth. He could respect that. He got a little nervous at the prospect of her reporting back or the possibility of a much larger contingent of knights as powerful as her invading to stamp out a threat. That meant they had to go a very good job here. And this wasn't out of some altruistic view to save the people. His morals were always more pragmatic than righteous. Preparation was actually easier than reaction. Never make an enemy if you don't have to. Leave on good terms. The influence of his companions back home had him leaning more towards good for the sake of good but he'd never buy the concept of absolute good or evil. The world was grey. Different shades of grey.
The fact she pointed out Chaotic gave him pause. He holds out his hand. "You won't kill an innocent for any reason?" he asks. He was attempting to make a contract, something he assumed was important.
She looks at him, it his need to a clear view of the world. Here was a man who lead others in fights. He understood discipline, duty and command. One do's not control troops with out order.
It was hard to tell with her eyes, silver orbs that just reflected back your own face. She looked blind yet acted as if she could see just fine.
This moment took her back, to the time of Mivon and the bloody minded sword lord she once had to deal with. Will wanted to know if she was just a killer, a mad murderer who had no plan or aim, who just took life for the sake of it, because it was easy for the strong to do so. She understood that, its was typical. But few understood the Hell's wanted and needed not Death but souls, they needed to craft and build and army dedicated to preserving reality itself. Time to illuminate.
In a clear and well spoken voice she said.
"I will not kill without Justification Will, sometimes that Justification may seem brutal or unfair to others. But I so, so that justice, Law and the order of the world can be protected. I act for the rule of law, of which no one, is above, Not I or the Lords of the Hell's themselves."
Its at this point you realize she may is not talking just to Will but to all of you, even the cook on the floor.
"I am a hound of Hell, we seek out and hunt down things that would endanger the order of reality. Things that would twist it and pervert it, brake an end it."
She looks back at the cook/cat tied up.
"Something came down into our world, something from beyond. Could be a simple like a lump of sky rock, but it could be something fare more dangerous..."
She points at the woman come animal.
"Look at her Will, dose she look like anything natural to you. She has been warped, twisted by something. If left unchecked this will grow and spread, its always do's."
She looks back at him.
"You may think us evil, but I agreed to an eternity of servitude so that I may fight things like this. I do it willingly and will never ever stop doing it, because if another Spawn of Rovagug or any being like it came's once more into our world to do as they please, all this would end."
She stops and is Silent a moment, behind her, her Hall Blade makes a low humming sound.
Then she takes up her Cigar and pulls deep looking up she lets out a long puff of smoke.
"I hope I did not sound to preachy, been doing this a long time. I kind of have to remind myself now and then what things like wading through nee deep frog s**t is all about."
Her head comes down and she grins at that.
At this point, Arion has come to investigate and both he and Will have matching looks of boredom. Dalvis had really chosen the perfect companion. "That isn't what I asked," he says, hand still extended. More about law and order. He had a feeling her word was important and that was what he wanted.
The smile on her face drops in an instant, its replaced by a hard look.
"I'm sorry, am a boring you two."
She states, then add in a tone of mock disappointment.
"Will, will, will, for a man who speaks in little more than single sentences verging on monosyllabic, you really do seem to have one hell of a short concentration span."
Then she takes another drag of her small Cigar.
"I'll tell you what Will, Ill go and give you two some privet time, they always say"
and wicked grin crosses her face as she starts to move away from the pear.
"Mounts like that seem some special kind of love and attention."
She chuckles to herself as she walks over to the other side of the room, checking it over to see if anything has been mist.
Unseen Hector asks her as she walks around checking the space.
"Boss, what's his problem, he going all pitchfork on us?"
"No Hector, hes just a man who's spent far to much time, with horses than is normally good for you. He's forgotten the art of polite and civilized conversation that is all."
She says this in a dead ban way, there is no joking in her voice.
In fact Will has said very little the whole time she has known him, which was not long at all. In that time he has thrown her sword at her head, and demanded to know all about her. Once could take that as being rude in some parts of the world. Rosa how ever had much ticker skin that that and clever men than Will had tried to manipulate her into saying more than she wanted to.
She shivers. "I don't... what day is it?"
She works out that she was shot six days ago.
The only creature that responds to Rosa's intimidation is the animal; she snarls and hisses, spittle cascading down her chin.
Rosa detects primal anger and fear, as well as a slow process of concentration; she senses the anger in the process of slowly rising, forming a new mind and drive.
"Good we still have time." Dragash stands. "So to everyone do we have someone who can Break Enchantments or Remove Curses? If not we're going to need to bring her to a local temple and hope a Cleric there can cast something, my potions are poisonous to others or inert at best so I can't help out there." Dragash sighs, being on his own much of the time he hasn't had time to practice making infusions that affect other people. As he gets older he wonders if that should be the next thing he figures out how to do. Even some amateurs in his craft can do it whereas he can not.
"Maybe Dal will know of someone that could help, I'd be able to get her into town without anyone noticing her ferocity so hopefully it means that the whole town won't bear down on us thinking we are bringing a beast in. I'm sure Dal would be willing to harbour her while we procure a solution." Dragash is speaking plainly and without his usual cheerfulness, he is quite concerned at the state the id mutation has left Leeara. Further, he wonders how a simple bolt could transfer such a potent transformation serum. If it was even a serum at all, it could've been plain magic. His own mutagens are only temporary but he shudders to think that there are those who would subject others to forceful transformations.
The Andorran werewolves do things similar to this, though take they those creatures into their fold as new recruits. I wonder why whoever shot Leeara just left her to transform on her own. Spread panic? Sew discourse? ... For fun? Dragash thinks to himself.
"We had probably best get back to town if we can't do something about it here, 4 days might seem like a lot of time but I don't want to leave something like this to the last minute."
Rosa's head spins round, Will is forgotten.
"What ever they did to her, there is another mind growing inside her own. I shocked it into reviling itself. With a nights rest I can try and remove it tomorrow when a gain my days blessings."
She says.
Will sighs. Arion leaves. For someone so obviously intimidating, it was really easy to get under her skin. Then again, it might just be him. He'd noticed a lot of people were annoyed by his lack of expression, his apathy. He cared, he just didn't show it easily. It was something he was trying to work on. But that was who he was and his friends accepted it. These people were not his friends. Bound to be some tension.
"It's late. And it'd be dangerous to bring her back like this," Will says to Dragash, pointing to Leeara. "Once her magic," he says indicating Rosa, "cures her we can head back. We can ask where this mine is. I'll take one of the middle watches."
Rosa Stands to one side, lost in her own thoughts. She was a stark contrast to Will, He was a soldier, his world a simple one, find risks, dangers, make plans, take actions. Where as Rosa's was a far more complicated one, a world of plans with in plans, of planes politics, Manipulating faiths and the balance of power in the world. She knew that small fire started in places like this could spread and wreak havoc. She was thinking on the past, cults hidden in under ground locations. This beast cult, seemed to have placed its nest in the old mines around here. Out of site, hidden and forgotten. She thought on what they may have called down to them from the void. Something that gave them power, it was after it can landed that things seemed to have started here. She had fight the undead, seen an army recruit from the fallen. This one, this animal twisting force could turn ones that fight it into more troops. Spreading over the lands warping whole populations. Was this some Druid backed cult, her thoughts moved around such ideas. What she had felt deep in the cooks mind, a new mind taking shape. How? where had that mind come from? Something must have crafted it.
She looked at the cook again,
Tomorrow she would find out, once she had removed what had been done to her.
Rosa shifted the blade on her back.
"I'll take the other watches, I need time to think"
Was all she said as she walks past the others to the entrance of the cave.
With her gone the tension palpably drops in the cave.
Rosa found a place to sit just inside the entrance, taking her sword she placed it in front of her, blade in the ground sticking up. The unholy symbol facing outward. She sat there looking out over the river lost in her own thoughts. The sun was getting low and the sounds of the swamp was all around. Her imp unseen jumped about eating the bugs that got to close.
"You mean bring her back as something feral? Dragash asks Will "If she is bound it shan't be a problem and I can deal with her appearance don't worry. All others will see is the cook walking alongside us. Anyway, if Rosa is able to pray for Leeara come the morrow it won't matter. Let us rest and hope Rosa's magic can put an end to her Id mutation." Dragash reassures Will. "Though I do have a worry that the townsfolk are afflicted as well. We first thought that it was some form of necromatic aura. The others in town are exhibiting feral behaviours, however, similar to Leeara. They might also be afflicted by the Id mutation. This might be an issue, though it means that they won't intentionally target us as we first assumed." Dragash returns to Leeara after talking with Will.
"Now Leeara my dear, I'm sorry. We'll have to keep you tied up for now as you might revert to your feral state and we wouldn't want to hurt you again nor have you hurt us. We have time to cure you and we shall begin tomorrow in earnest. If you need to air out the issues of your predicament or if you know anything else about what has happened around the meteor I can listen." Dragash crosses his legs assuming the trance position as he undoes a few of his straps so he can meditate more comfortably. "If that is not on your mind, care to tell me a good recipe? What is your favourite thing to cook?" Dragash asks quite merrily trying to lift her spirits somewhat.
"Yes. I saw the same thing," Will responds. Dalviss might actually owe him after this.
With Rosa at the cave entrance, and Arion weary of her presence, the horse trots back into the cave. He nudges Will affectionately in a bid for attention. "Fine. Fine," he mutters as he gets up. Will takes off the packs, bridle, the saddle and finally the blanket. He reaches into his pack and pulls out a large brush with a strap across the back and a bag. He lays the bag down and opens it, then begins brushing Arion's neck, working his way slowly down to the flank. Arion pokes his nose into the bag and starts to nibble at the food inside. Will works slowly, making sure that all of the day's dirt is wiped clean with long strokes. When he's done, Arion's coat is a lot more glossy and smooth. "There. Happy now?" he sas with mock annoyance. The horses tail whips him in the face for his impudence. But the horse seems content and lays down surprisingly close to Leeara.
Will stands there for a moment in contemplation, staring off into some plain beyond the cave wall. He then looks at Zerisi and Dragash, and seems to get an idea. He walks over to his things and grabs his Fauchard. He then looks at Arion and says, "Guard," and points at Leeara. The horse snorts at Will then looks at Leeara. Apparently that meant it understood. Will then looks at Zerisi and Dragash. "Come. Bring your weapons." He goes to the tunnel that leads to mouth of the cave and calls to Rosa as well, "Rosa come here for a moment." He then leads all of them into the other cave.
He walks to the opposite side weapon still in hand. The blade hangs low, and in the circling light of his ioun torch you can see the great craftsmanship that went into it. The head of the weapon is actually what appears to be the head of a dragon, the blade is its fire. And from the head, a golden scaled body wraps around the shaft of the weapon all the way to its tip. Every time the light circles, the scales glisten and the eyes of the dragon seem to follow. "I am not good with words. That much is obvious," he says turning to them. "You will not know me with them. That is not who I am." He thrusts the blade forward and it slides through his grasp till there is but a foot left behind his grip. "This is who I am." He sweeps the blade back then swings it over his head to rest in his other hand. He holds the tail high and the blade low, its fiery maw between them and Will. "Come if you wish to know Will Erland, Commander and General of Aquitaine."
She sighs, and goes silent; the wild creature returns.
Hecort had flown around and came with tails of Will and his house getting close. She had just told it to shut up and take Raven form.
Then at Will called she came running worried something had was a misses. She was a little perplexed when he proceed to give his proclamation and do a little combat dance ending in a pose.
Standing at the Entrance to the larger space, her sword still on her back, Rosa cocked her head and looked at him. To her he looked just like an alpha male beating his chest before the pack.
She sighed, her age weighing on her, years of being on the moral plane, having to put up with so much. That age showed on her now,
"What ever %$^£* next, p**ing in the corners to mark out his territory. Sometimes I really did feel like the only Adult in the room."
She thought to herself as she shuck her head, tuned and walked back to the Entrance, saying to herself.
"Hell's spear me from ..." Mutter mutter
Her voice fades as she went back to her seat and keeping an eye on the only way in.
Her Raven now back on her shoulder chuckled.
After Leeara returns to her feral state, Zerisi watches for a few moments, captivated by the change in the woman.
"Id Mutation, that's a new one. Nasty business too..."
Then, at Will's instruction, he makes his way into the side cave, watching with great interest as the General makes his way to the back wall, his beautiful weapon glinting as the revolving light throws shadows around the room.
When Will asks for weapons, the sly smile that had been growing on Zerisi's face blooms fully. Now this was why he loved traveling so much. So exciting! Such fun people! And finally he'd get to see how the Will had earned everything the reputation, and success, he'd heard so much about.
"Weapons?" Zerisi questions, provocatively,
"...what ever do you mean?"
He deftly tosses all but two cards from the deck in his right hand over to his left, then hurls the cards in Will's direction, one to either side of him, taking care to leave Will just enough room to avoid the projectiles, assuming he can track them...
Dragash goes over curiously once Leeara is asleep. He however doesn't bring his bow with him, he does take his bandoliers with him only to take them away from Leeara in case she struggled free and grabbed one of the concoctions.
Dragash watches the display thinking So.. a hobgoblin in the form of a man. Just a show of strength? I'm not sure what that was meant to display other than his prowess with a blade which I don't think any of us doubted. Then again many elves from the homeland like to do this sort of flamboyant display and yell out who they are as well. Pheh, this is why I never like gaining ranks no matter where I am.
"Forgive me Will, I don't see what the purpose of that was. Or are you saying you'd like to join a performance troupe?" Dragash asks, still confused as to the point. "I've seen some great acts, you could probably try juggling flaming blades that is sure to impress someone!"
"Oh come on Dragash! Have some FUN!" Zerisi calls out.
"And what's wrong with performance troupes?"
"Nothing, I wasn't mocking him if that's what you're asking. Will would make a good performer with skills like that." Dragash replies. "I've made a few fireworks for some performance troupes before, that was fun. I like mixing chemicals to get those pretty colours. As they reflect off the green architecture of Iadara's great buildings. Red and purple work wonders through that." Dragash stretches.
"I'm not much of a swordsman even if I can wield a rapier half-heartily. So, I'm not sure what else the display was meant to show, honestly." He admits.
"Are you a Hound of Hell or a puppy?" Will says, obviously trying to bait her. She might not know it being from another plane but this was not just an act to establish dominance. Many assumed warriors fought a lot, sought out challenges, because of mere violent tendencies or bloodlust. And for a lot of them, this is true. But Will is a martial artist and fighting has a very different meaning. It is more than a means to defeat ones enemy. It is a way of life, a mindset, a passion. It is a means to get to know enemy and friend alike. Anyone with even a concept of body language or martial training can gain a lot of information from fighting someone or watching them fight. It is not unheard of for bitter enemies to become allies after crossing swords just once. In the heat of battle, ones true self is revealed. A martial artist can gain the true measure of any man through trading blows far better than they can through words. So too can they open up more completely through crossing blades.
For those that take up his offer, Will starts defensively. He dodges the cards with the least movement possibly. And the first thing they can tell is that the general is deft at deflection and dodging. His movements are aggravatingly flashy and he always seems to be one step ahead. His blade, though large and long, moves with the grace and speed of a weapon much smaller. He is also calm amongst the storm of steel. Will's style draws the opponent in, mesmerizes them, and keeps their attention. Will is a defender. He occupies the enemies full concentration so his allies can move more easily. He is used to working with others.
But there is something else. He is not solely focused on defense. There is a tension in him like that of coiled spring. Like he could pounce at any moment. Will is more than capable of dishing some damage, preferring to strike during a moment of weakness in his opponents defense.
As the mock spare continues, Will is constantly on the move. He avoids getting flanked by using his small stature and trained flexibility to maneuver through the battlefield. Will is aware of the tactical advantages of positioning.
Even against magic, he has impressive defenses. As Zerisi attempts a simple spell, he is confused to find the spell never made it to the target. Will holds his blade horizontally, infusing his Ki into it and blocking the spell before it even reaches him. Even after that maneuver has been expended, Will defends against the another with a sudden burst of Ki from his very being with a shout. Will can take on casters and fighters alike.
As the fight progresses, more of the man is revealed about his personality and nature. Will uses the least amount of energy necessary to dodge suggesting a lazy personality. He defends more than attacks, suggesting a passive nature. When he does attack, he uses the same move multiple times until it is easily defended. He is actually helping the others become better, suggesting camaraderie and team spirit are important to him.
Low and high strikes do not cause him to falter. He has fought opponents both large and small. He wields his weapon with the ease of years of experience. Will is an experienced adventurer. Though he has not said his life story out loud, it flows from his body like a river. It conjures images of bandits, great beasts, kings both large and small, moments of great happiness and sadness, might, magic, and much more.
At the end, you are certain you have a greater understanding of the man that is Will Erland more than could be said with mere words. When they are finished, Will holds the blade in the crook of his elbow and bows. "Thank you."
When all is said and done, Zerisi breathes heavily, having thrown dozens of cards towards Will in exceedingly complicated patterns with fewer and fewer 'safe' places to dodge.
"Well done, sir! A beautiful, and very telling showing!" he exclaims, shifting his Harrow to a position between his upper arm and torso, and starting to clap enthusiastically.
"Among the finest I've seen, General!"
Those paying attention to such things realize that despite the flurry of Harrow, no cards remain near Will, and Zerisi's deck itself has stayed as full as ever.
Dragash shrugs at the exchange he witnesses still not seeing anything more in it other that the two other men sparring. He's seen this sort of thing time and time again but like before in his youth he didn't get it. Nor did he want to, though he would admit that this display has far less malice than he is used to seeing. Part of him was waiting with baited breath for Will to poison his blade mid swing and stab Zerisi just for the hell of it. Dragash oft forgets that not all who fight are like those around him when he grew up.
"Well done. I'm glad we have a good swordsman on the team." Dragash gives a short clap before he swings the bandoliers over his shoulder and returns to the other cave so he might take some rest.
He sets down his gear and gets to work on another mutagen. This will take him an hour and he doesn't look to mind conversation during its preparation but would rather not been drawn away from the work.
Will cat calling has no effect on Rosa, A life time of insults thrown her way stand between her and wills words. They don't even register as she walks and sits once more.
"Hector I have made my mind up, I need you to run a errand for me."
She says to her Raven.
The Raven stopped snapping at bugs and said.
"shore boss what you need."
She flicked a bug off her glove.
"I want you to head back to town, fly unseen, Have a look around and let me know if they have gone the same way as the book back there. You saw them yesterday. Have a look around, and come back, I want to know have they changed more to the best side."
The Raven flow up vanished and was gone.
Rosa looked at her sword, sticking in the ground in front of her, behind from the cave came the sound of clapping.
"What do you see?"
"Nothing, it's a bog, what's to see"
Said the sword in that otherworldly voice. Dark shadows played over its from.
Rosa sat back took out another cigar lit it, she was chain smoking again. That showed this whole things was playing on her mind, she knew that. When they ordered her here she knew it would be bad, the root of something that would be a problem. But what shale would thisone yake? It had the feeling of a pestalance, something that would spread. If so it had to be stomped out here before it became unstoppable. Never the clean jobs for Rose always te durty ones. The three inside seemed keen, that would be good if this did turn bad.
She pulled on her smoke and let it out slowly.
They where all good, no fools in them. The frog fight had shown her that. There was some upside to this then, she would not be doing this one alone like lost. She took another pull and looked around. The sound of fighting from behind had stopped and there was footsteps deeper into the cave.
What would they think if they knew she was u der orders to assess the town for purging. What the hell knights politely called killing everything, razing the place to the ground with fire and magic then salting the whole area clean so nothing remains.
For all her hardness she hated that, it was just a waste and did nothing other than make a point. Better she and the others deal with this, clean it up so she can report nothing to see here. Yes the other way was simpler but her way hard as it would be, was the more frugal option.
Will suspected, she knew that the moment he called her over to ask way He must have seen thr Hell Knights in action, know how they work, she really did not want to have that conversation with him yet. Not till it was clear it was so bad here there was no other option. For now she would see how this gos, see if they could clear this up on their own.
She placed her hand on her hell blade. Where Will weapon had been about pomp and show, befitting a General her blade was simple in design. It was a killing tool used to slay demons. Made of the hardest substance known, the edges always razer sharp. It whispered to her in infernal.
She thught of the others
Let them spar and play, tomorrow it was going to get a lot harder.
Will had hoped more would join the spare. But he enjoyed the fight either way. Zerisi's cards were surprisingly effective weapons. Will had expected them to curve and twist in flight as he had seen cards do. These came at him fast and hard. Which actually made them easier to dodge. Until one actually tagged him, then they began curving towards him. An effective enchantment. Once he closed into melee though, Zerisi was easier to deal with. The cave prevented him from keeping his distance.
But he learned alot about Zerisi as well. He was a creative and care free soul. New ideas came to him quickly and he implemented them on the spot without hesitation. Some worked well. Some did not. But he was undeterred by failure or the obvious difference in close range ability. This was a new experience and he enjoyed every bit of it. Will did too. It was just much harder to tell.
After the spare, he returns to their temporary lodging, more relaxed than he had been. He was slightly disappointed that Dragash didn't join. But the man seemed to only carry a bow and those explosive vials. They'd be difficult to spare with as most archers were. And he was a little worried Rosa didn't either. Maybe she knew he could read a person better when fighting. Maybe she thought it a waste of time or any number of reasons. He couldn't figure it out unless he actually talked to her and she didn't seem to be in the mood to. One thing he was certain of is she was wound up far too tight.
Concerns for another day.
Their prey retrieved, the group return to Dustpawn the following morning. Sensible precautions have her inside Dalviss' tavern discreetly. Upon his face is written a mixture of excitement and horror at Leeara's condition. "Leeara... what has happened to you. Oh Leeara..." He looks up at you. "Can you help her?"
Rosa's imp reports the town is more or less the same; its people still possessing that dark aura. From his high and invisible position, he spots the same aura coming from the town's central pond; its water source.
Rosa had been on watch most of the night when Will make to take the grave yard shift, Rosa stood on hearing him coming up behind her.
She held out a bottle of Oldlaw Whiskey to him.
"Its cold to night, this is if you need to keep warm"
She places it on the rock she had been sitting on, then before she could say more her Raven comes playing down.
"Boss for me ya shoudenthave"
It flaps down and lands on the Rock.
"I got news, the towns the same, I felt that same dark aura taint, AND I found where it's coming from!"
It taps the bottle with its beak,
Rosa opened the bottle and places a small amount in a nock in the rock.
It takes a long sip. shakes its head and then says happily.
"It's the pond, It's coming from dat big pond in the middle of the town Boss. Da towns water bad."
Rosa looks from her Raven to Will.
"Well that explains a lot, we best get the Cook ready and head back to town. Want to tell the troops, I don't have my new days blessings ready, I can do that in town. If you'er willing to head back in the dark."
She holds the bottle again out to him.
She felt some relief, if it was a contamination that was spreading this there was a good chance this could be contained if they could find the source.
If he takes the Bottle she lets him, if not she puts it away.
Then she reached out her hand and pulled her sword up onto her back, there was a sound of it clicking into place. Her HEll Blade Image is a total contrast to Wills depreciated Fauchard. Simple back, and well made, and killing weapon, much like Rosa Armor, simple lacking adornment,Black, sliver and minimalist in design, a functional well made tool.
Her Black Raven hops across over to her shoulder.
Rosa looks at the light spinning around Will head.
"You have problems seeing in the dark?"
Will looks at the bottle a moment, then hands over his fauchard in trade saying, "Mine doesn't bite. Why does yours?" He takes the bottle and takes swig, shaking reflexively. Warm drink for a cold night. But to answer her question, "No. Two fights with no rest and walking into two more at the mine and pond? Not wise. Sleep. We'll deal with this in the morning."
As she leaves to get her two hours, Handy ring, he says one last thing. "And yes, all humans fear the dark. So we flee from it...or we fight." The words carry more than their surface meaning. Implying the darkness that corrupts the city, the darkness in their very midst, and the darkness that lives in all men's hearts. One has a choice in dealing with all of them. Face it head and grow stronger for it or die trying. Or run from it and live another day. Will was the former, and though he wasn't a betting man, he believed the others here were too.
After Dragash finishes preparing the mutagen the one inhabiting his body goes inert. He checks up on Leeara since he's still worried about her state, Dragash makes sure the bonds won't suddenly break during the night. He then looks over to Rosa and Will still talking.
I hope every night isn't going to be a competition to who wants to stay awake the longest. The group will just be ready later than planned. I suppose the rotas in the alcehmical archers had some purpose after all. He doubts that he'd be complaining about those again.
Dragash then gets ready to rest for the night and goes into his 'trance'.
She smiles as he asks about her sword.
"You could say, it has a mind all of it own."
She takes his fauchard She looks at it, the sword on her back makes a complaining sound.
"Shush"
Then looking close at the fauchard
"Well made, I best its seen some action." she says handing it back.
She takes her drink back off him.
As she walks of to rest he adds his comment about the dark.
She stops still looking into the cave the way she was going, with her back to him she says.
"It's always wise to be weary of the dark, you can find things like me in it."
She then walks on into the cave.
She then pulls out a cloth from her pouch and rests in it. She holds her sword on her chest and Face up closes her eyes and go's to sleep for 2 hours as if in deep meditation. She wakes with a start, rolls and comes up in a fighting position. She looks around as if ready to fight.
She seems to remember where she is and stands composing her self.
She go's a kneels on the cloth and then prays for an hour with her sword in front of her, she is reading a small book.
When done she stands packs her thing away, then gos over to the others.
"When your ready"
School abjuration; Level bard 4, cleric/oracle 5, inquisitor 5, paladin 4, shaman 5, sorcerer/wizard 5, witch 5; Domain liberation 5, luck 5; Subdomain restoration 5
CASTING
Casting Time 1 minute
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Targets up to one creature per level, all within 30 ft. of each other
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw see text; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
This spell frees victims from enchantments, transmutations, and curses. Break enchantment can reverse even an instantaneous effect. For each such effect, you make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level, maximum +15) against a DC of 11 + caster level of the effect. Success means that the creature is free of the spell, curse, or effect. For a cursed magic item, the DC is equal to the DC of the curse.
If the spell is one that cannot be dispelled by dispel magic or stone to flesh, break enchantment works only if that spell is 5th level or lower.
If the effect comes from a permanent magic item, break enchantment does not remove the curse from the item, but it does free the victim from the item's effects.
Zerisi enjoyed a restful night of sleep, his muscles pleasantly sore from the days efforts. Pleasant thoughts of the duel with Will floated in and out of his mind, and when he woke he was, if anything, more excited for the next days adventures.
As Rosa prays in the morning, Zerisi spends time communing with the spirits in his Harrow deck, a strange ritual involving a number of readings he appears to perform for no one in particular. The final one though, he performs on himself, inquiring about a visit to the Nesher Mine, and what it would entail. Excitement? Danger? Some ran from these things, Zerisi sought them out.