Rukzha shakes her head in remorse of the situation. "Do you think that if we were some of those that we would call out to you instead of just starting to wreck mayhem? We mean you no harm. There are demons and looters roaming the streets, we are not among those, but we deal with them where we can." Rukzha isn't great with kind words, but she's great at facts. In this case simply the fact that they are not there to attack her is a nice thing.
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Sabrina was about to share her views of the estate and future plans when the door was answered.
Sensing that she is just as afraid as many others and is attempting to protect herself. Sabrina steps into view, I am Sabrina De'Foe, a Crusader. sadly I was with Horus at the time of the initial attack. I did my best to keep him alive, but it was not do be the case. She then pulls out the ring and hands it to the girl.
I am very sorry, I did my best to keep him safe.
The woman as not really convinced by Arrika's or Rukzha's words but as Sabrina stepped inside, talked to her and presented Horgus' signet, Isadore falls to the ground in tears. "They are all gone... all my family is dead, my staff left me behind when the demons attacked, and even the guards! I have no one and now my only brother is also dead..." She takes the ring from Sabrina's hang and holds it against her chest. "H...how he died?"
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Sabrina kneels beside her, He died fighting for what he believed in. He gave us a chance to escape from the prison we all were thrust into during the attack.
placing her hand on her shoulder. This place is not safe. We are in search of more soldiers to rally what forces we can to save as many people as we can. You are welcome to join us. We have established a temporary safe house. we could guide you there if you wish, but that trip is best not taken alone.
looking to the rest of the group, she could stay here but this place would need some modifications to ensure her safety, it is to open as it stands now.
Good
Elriel nodded to Sabrina for the way she handled the situation. There as no need to soil this man's death, especially to a frightened sister.
"Yes, your brother died fighting some demon cultists. As Sabrina said, you should think about abandoning this place. It is not safe nor defensible. Come with us. We eventually hope to return to our safe house and you're welcome to stay there."
The thought that she could refuse never crossed his mind. He looked at the manor, "Is there anything light of value that you need to take with you?"
"You should salvage what you can. The city has fallen, evil will eventually come." Rukzha says with a soft voice, but then it hardens. "What you can salvage is your life. Come with us if you want to live. As Elriel says, anything light you can carry could be worth bringing. If you got any gear we can use to help protect you, perhaps left behind by your guard, that might be helpful."
Isadore nods to you when you offer to protect her. "My family's wealth is all here... generations of merchants and nobles ended in nothing, left behind to looters... my brother would never forgive me if I left. I'd rather die in my home than live as a beggar. I'll stay... the Mendevian army is heading to Kenabres to save us and when they finally arrive I'll be waiting, ready to use my family's fund to help with the warfare costs." She gets up and wipes her tears.
"Keep with your righteous mission of searching for more soldiers and once you find, I'll make sure to use any coin I have to provide for them." She then points towards a room before continuing. "Please, as a form of gratitude for you to have searched for me in behalf of my brother, use my former guard's equipment as you see fit..."
At Isadore's brusque dismissal, Arrika had nodded and stepped back, her face flushing red; through the rest of the exchange she had stayed silent, letting Sabrina do the rest of the talking. The wealthy and powerful of the crusaders and southerners had always intimidated her, and Sabrina's prowess and air of confidence had clearly lent her aid. But at least Sabrina had softened Isadore and brought her around.
At the generous offer, Arrika nodded timidly. Thank you, she managed to squeak out in a half-whisper. We'll send others we find to you. One hand resting on Kelumarion's shoulder, she waits for the others to enter and files in behind, looking over the equipment with an inexperienced eye.
The mace she'd gotten from the sisters was beautiful, but it was more ceremonial than threatening, and did little against demons' ingrown magical protections. The only cold-forged iron she had on hand was her small knife, little threat to the monsters plaguing the Worldwound. What she needed was something bigger...simple to use, but more threatening than her mace or knife, made of cold-forged iron to get through their defences...
Her gaze falls on several long weapon shafts leaning against the door, nearly as thick as her slender wrists and reaching a few feet over her head to glinting metal points. At seeing them, a slight giggle escapes. I always said I wouldn't touch a demon even with a ten-foot pole... she murmurs, taking one of the long spears down from the wall and testing it. Despite its unwieldy size, it's surprisingly manageable, and the long, dark iron tip gives her a sense of reassurance. Is it...is it all right if I take this one, Miss Gwerm?
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Thank you for your generosity. Sabrina says. but she simply looks things over watching Arrika to see what she decides upon.
As Arrika selects the spear Sabrina gives a nod of approval, wise choice she thinks.
In the end, Sabrina takes nothing. allowing her share to be used to better equip her companions.
The half-orc looks around the room curiously, but after scanning for magic and finding nothing magical her interest wanes. "I'm not much for weapons or armor. Armor with my magic too much and for weapons, it always seems like it's better to use magic. I haven't even found a spot to use your crossbow even once Sabrina... Though if I do end up having to use it, I guess it'll be more effective if I pick up cold iron tipped bolts." She goes to find a set of cold iron bolts.
Elriel understood when the woman declined their aid. It seemed that stubbornness ran in Horgs' family. he did not go out of his way to convince Horgus before and he won't do it with his sister. He only offered the facts and his opinion on the matter. He did not force any decision on anyone.
He bowed, "Thank you ma'am. We'll send help as soon as we can. In the meantime, keep yourself locked up inside."
He then went to inspect the guardroom and his eyes immediately fell on a pair of twin shortswords. Coldly gleaming with the metal that was bane to demonkind. The swords were exquisite and completed each other, one clearly made for stabbing and the other for slashing even though both had points for piercing and sides for cutting. They even had a serrated edge to them, for keeping nasty claws off yourself.
He swapped out his blades, standard issues for elven scouts. They were good blades but were nothing special.
He addressed the witch, "Rukzha, did you find any arrows there? I could us a few myself."
Checking on Arrika, her cat-friend, and Sabrina, the half-elf adjusted his backpack and readied himself. "Is there anything else we need to do here or can we continue? Anevia, you holding up OK?"
"Yeah arrows and bolts are over here." She picks up a quiver of arrows and hands it to Elriel.
Rukzha suddenly has a flashback to earlier in the library. Dried worms... Lots of them. "Oh yeah... I just remembered. The dried worms in the library. Against swarm-like enemies normal weapons are ineffective. We might need splash weapons like alchemist's fire and acid. Let's see if we can find some of those."
Anevia nods at Elriel's question and Rukzha was able to find two vials of alchemist's fire. Isadore wishes you luck and soon after you leave the manor you hear she locking the place.
Leaving the Gwerm Manor you return to the streets and find you that would lead you to the north. After a couple minutes walking towards Anevia's House you notice that, in front of a ruined shrine to Sarenrae kneels a weeping woman. Surrounding the woman are three knights in battered armor. Their faces are sooty and grim and their eyes burn with feverish light. One of the knights, a human woman with fresh scars on her face, says to the kneeling woman with their weapons unsheathed: "Your sacrifice aids the cause of good."
"Sacrifice? What in the world is going on here?" Rukzha says incredulously as the grim knights are looking to kill the defenseless woman. She readies herself to make the first one who try to harm the woman fall asleep. Her neck scar tenses as a surge of power collects right underneath her skin, ready to burst fort at moments notice.
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Sabrina draws her blade allowing the light of Iomedae shine to illuminate the area.
Rapidly approaching the trio of "knights" You will hold your blade. you should know that Sarenrae does not accept sacrifices such as this. identify yourselves. she orders. inserting herself in plain view of the "knights"
Elriel's new blades are out and the half-elf relishes in their feel. He immediately wants to strike at the so called knights. He's already had to deal with a so called crusader so nothing surprises him anymore. Not this day. Not in this ruined city.
He adds, "What the ladies said! There's no need for another sacrifice. The great silver dragon sacrifice should more than suffice for now."
Arrika lets out a tiny gasp at the scene, but steels herself, her new longspear in her hands, perfectly balanced despite its size and fitting gracefully even in her inexperienced hands. Beside her, Kelumarion's claws scratch furrows in the dust on the street as he tenses, ready for a confrontation. The Everlight doesn't drink blood - blood sacrifices are for the dark ones, the destroyers.
The woman looks at you, her eyes betraying madness. "Can't you see? We are crusaders just like you and we need to defeat the demons! They are too powerful but sheathing our blades in the blood of a virgin will transform them into demon-slaying weapons! Come, we can give your weapons the same treatment..." The woman looks once more to the weeping girl in the middle. "Rest assured girl, your sacrifice shall be remembered."
Virgin Sacrifice?! These men are even worse than the inquisitors. I can't accept this. She tenses as she mentally prepeare herself to unleash her powers.
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Sabrina illuminates her sword, The Light of Iomedae is more than enough to see through this ruse, If you are not a demon in disguise, then you are no better than them.
Sabrina steps forward toward the one that is most threatening to the weeping girl Drop you weapons, or I will ensure you cannot wield a weapon ever again.
Rukzha puts on her mask since it's clear they are trying to intimidate the enemies rather than fighting them outright, then opens her mouth. Her voice, aided by the mask, takes on a new quality, it's clear and strong, but laced through with barely contained aggression. "The demons might be strong, and we do need strong forces to combat them, but the blood of innocents is not the way. Drop your weapons or you'll see the power we will use to fight you and all other demons in this city."
Elriel scoffed, "Virgin blood, eh? Yeah, that's real good for killing demons."
With swords out, he neared the crusaders or knights or cultist or whatever they were, "Tell you what. I'm no virgin but I haven't been with a woman in a while so maybe my blood is good. How about you come get it?"
________________
Let that woman be - if you need your bath of virgin blood, come and get it from me. Arrika takes a step ahead of everyone, emboldened by her companions behind her. Her voice is pure iron, cold and hard as the dagger she draws. Beside her, Kelumarion growls softly, flexing his claws and standing poised to leap. Or do these illustrious soldiers of the Crusades fear so, that they must gain their prowess in victory by murdering the kneeling innocent? Come now...I'm waiting. With only a slight grimace, she digs the dagger blade into the back of her spear hand, and a thin trickle of crimson runs across her hand and down the spear haft.
The crusaders don't react nicely to your threats and, forgetting the woman for now, focus their rage against you. "Let's kill these false crusaders and cowards... they can't see the truth behind our cause!" You can see they are shaken by your threats though.
_________________________________
Elriel - up
Crusader#1 [shaken until round 2]
Crusader#2 [shaken until round 4]
Crusader#3 [shaken until round 3]
Kelumarion
Rukzha
Sabrina
Arrika
The crusaders don't react nicely to your threats and, forgetting the woman for now, focus their rage against you. "Let's kill these false crusaders and cowards... they can't see the truth behind our cause!" You can see they are shaken by your threats though.
The half-elf is quick to react and charges on to the closest crusader. Even with his new blade, he fails to into the man.
"You just don't get it, do you?"
_________________
Elriel moves quickly but perhaps his anger at the crusaders makes his blade to go wide.
Two of the crusaders attack Elriel, both slashing with their blades in quick succession, hitting his left arm and his chest, and drawing blood, lots of blood... The other one charges Sabrina and also overcomes her defenses, slashing her on her shoulder.
________________________________
Elriel
Crusader#1 [shaken until round 2]
Crusader#2 [shaken until round 4]
Crusader#3 [shaken until round 3, -2 AC charge]
Kelumarion - up
Rukzha - up
Sabrina - up
Arrika - up
Round 2
Elriel - up
Crusader#1 [shaken until round 2]
Crusader#2 [shaken until round 4]
Crusader#3 [shaken until round 3, -2 AC charge]
Kelumarion
Rukzha
Sabrina
Arrika
Seeing Elriel in such dire straits Rukzha yells out. "Elriel! Before she starts chanting gutturally and moving her arms.
"G̶̼͍̬̺̩̭̐̈́̌͑̾̒͜͟l̮͒ͦ̀͌ͨͣ́̚̚ͅi̶̦̝̫ͯ̍̇̊̓ͥ̚t̜̳̭̫̝̠̒t̤̻̂̚͘͠͝ͅẻ̠̱͈̼̺̲͇͐ͥͭ̅ͦ͞r͍ ̯̟͍̯͒́̋ͩͦ̍ ̻͕̓̓ͤ͐̚͟b̸̲̩̲̗̬̜ͤ̊̍͞ͅl̷̋̑͛ͧ̀͛ͧ҉̻̲͖̮͞iͤ̎̔̂́͏̭̮͙̠̱n̞̪̰̻̹͎̔̾̌͋̾̉̀̀̑̕͟d͈̠͌̂̆̓̀̈ ́͢͢s̫̜̜̜̥̹̭̰ͮͫ̎̉ͨ̾̿ͣ ̢̝̼̱̖̩͕̜̟͛͗̉̍ͤ̒ͫa͚̱͚̅̒̈́ͨ̒̆̽́̚͡͞s̸̻̠̾͋ ̴̬̪̙̽ͬ̐̍̏ͧt͇͓̠̖̅͋ͥ̆̏̏̈͋̚͘ḯ̠͚ͯͪ͆ͯ̕n̢̝̺̮͖̥̙̟ͫ̚ỳ̛̛͕͕̹̝͕͔̙̜̫̍̓̊ͬ͋̍̀͘ ̙ͥ̏̑͌ͪ̃̋ͣs̛̩͚̭̟͚̮͓̩̋͛̿̓̔̈͞p̷̞̮̘̰͎̥͈̗̃ͨ͂̍̐ͯ̇̚ͅe̵̸̩͋̌̑c̻̜̣̱̱̻̣̲̑̓ͥ̽ͭ̀ͨ̀̒́͠s͕̹ ̦̦̓ͨ̚̚̕͡ͅ ̷͍̙̲̤͌f̡̟̼̩̗̜̫̫̠̑̀̆ͣ̂͛̈ͤ̚i̱̤̰ͭ̾͡l̞̪̘͇̜̳̱͓ͤͫ͢l̵̟͎̞̥̇̀ͣͥ̿͋̚s̮̣̘͗̓͜ ̸̱̪̜̥̹̼̯͚͉̿t̴̯̣̳̼̹̏ͥ̒ͧ͊ͧ̎ͯ͝ͅh͇̯͆͂͒ͯ̏̃͋̎ẻ͕̫͞ ̶̞̣̺̙̙̫̻̪͒͒ͅś̜̳͉͆͑͗ͥͩͯ̄͜ͅi̱͇̺̱̤͖̲ͪ̀͆̒͑͘͟͝g̶̪ͪ͂͂ͥ̊͜n̠̝̪ͨ́͋ͤ͐̔̾̉̀s̝̜̖̲̘̰̩ͪͭͫ͆ ͐͒́̀ͅ"
One hand goes up in front of her eyes in a series on intricate movements, while the other reaches into her pouch to produce a bit of a sand-like substance. She throws the substance up in the air and a moment later it falls down over the two knights fighting Elriel.
Both of the crusaders are covered in minuscule particles of shining powder, completely covering their eyes.
"Take them out before they can recover! They might be able to shake off the dust." Rukzha exclaims with urgency and worry in her voice. She's worried after seeing Elriel take so heavy damage. The half-orc takes a step back to avoid getting into range of the crusader that struck Sabrina.
Kelumarion quickly pounces at the crusader attacking Sabrina and the man falls to teeth and claw in the blink of an eye. Sabrina rushes forward attacking the blinded crusader woman, striking her against her chest, followed by a stab by Arrika's spear... the woman stubbornly stands.
Elriel with his twin blades attack the crusader in front of him despite his critical wounds and is able to draw blood in his second thrust just to step back. Elriel's move was just in time for the crusader slashed only air where he thought there would be an enemy while the other in front of Sabrina also misses terribly.
________________________________
Elriel
Crusader#1 [9 dmg, grazed (-1), blinded until round 5]
Crusader#2 [11 dmg, wounded (-2), shaken until round 4, blinded until round 5]
Kelumarion - up
Rukzha - up
Sabrina - up
Arrika - up
Round 3
Elriel - up
Crusader#1
Crusader#2
Kelumarion
Rukzha
Sabrina
Arrika
Seeing his enemies fumble about bolstered the already battered half-elf. Elriel stepped forth and slashed with his fine blades.
_______________
, hit
, hit
confirm critical?
, no
Rukzha is she relived to see the knights' swings go wide. I did it! Now, let's finish them.. She focuses her power and her magic is painfully funneled through the scar along her throat. She lets out a low groan as she tries to send the more healthy of the two remaining standing knights into dreamland. Dream of the madness that so clearly infuses your mind!
Emboldened by his first charge, Kelumarion turns on the other "crusaders", biting and slashing ferociously, though his jaw aches with the vibration as his teeth close on empty air.
With the crusaders so near to being eliminated, Arrika continues to face off against her foe, stabbing forward again and trying to draw more blood.
After Kelumarion's failed bite, Rukzha pressures her mind against the lost crusader fighting Elriel but the madness inside his mind is able to repel her. Sabrina once more draws blood with her sword and Arrika, after moving alongside Kelumarion, finishes the crusader with a might thrust, lodging her spear into the woman's spine and provoking a river of blood once she removes her spear. The other blind crusader also drops in a pool of blood after Elriel sinks both of his sword in the man's chest, perforating his lungs.
Lodged in the Bone Double damage and 2 bleed. This bleed requires a DC 20 Heal check to stop.
The girl behind their bodies is still crying, covered in golden particles and trying to clear her eyes. As the blood from the woman crusader hits her face, she screams and crawls away from you... a couple seconds later, when the glowing powder fades away, she recognizes you as her savior and cries once more... this time of joy.
"Th... thank you! I was so scared... they promised to help me but after losing two of them to a group of demons they decided kill me... I know I should not ask you this and you have already saved my life but can I stay with you? My name is Lora Shappok and these crusaders once worked for my father..."
The city's famed prelate, Hulrun Shappok, first gained the trust and admiration of Kenabres' citizens by organizing inquisitions against suspected demon-worshipers and witches. Hulrun and his force of elite witch hunters exposed dozens of cultists and spies-and, it is said, executed many more under suspicion but with no real proof. These events started the Third Crusade, widely accepted as the least effective and most self-destructive of the four crusades. Still, Hulrun roused respect and admiration in the populace as well as fear, and he agreed to guide the city as its prelate in 4682.
Though Hulrun was forced to temper his obsessive witch hunts somewhat in his position as prelate, his inner zeal has only recently begun to truly diminish. Looking back on his actions has left him struggling with shame over how these events cast a shadow over Iomedae's church and the crusades for decades to come.
"Having to include you in the area for glitterdust was unfortunate, but it was certainly worth it. It managed to stop them from hurting both you and Elriel further." Rukzha says from behind her gruesome mask as she moves over to Elriel. She's proud of her work, while she was a bit slow to react, once she did, her abilities proved effective this time.
She looks at Elriel with concern, though it's hard to see from behind the mask, but it's heavy in her voice. "Your badly damaged. Let me try to fix you up." The pain she feels from the scar on her chest contracting is only a fraction of what the half-elf feels from all the wounds imposed on him.
Elriel is in no condition than to just utter something to the scared girl, "Sure, girl. We'll help you. You're safe now."
Or as safe as any one of us is.
He cleaned his blades and returned them to their sheaths before inspecting his body for injuries. He winced and frowned as he saw the extent of his wounds.
"With so many demons to kill, why do we fight among ourselves? This can't be Sarenrae's teaching."
He turned to the half-orc witch, "Girl, can you help me? Your magic felt sort of funny, different, but sure did its job."
He groaned and considered using his potion. he could not walk around like this. Not with another refugee in tow.
"Yes, I'll do my best to keep you alive." She's disappointed to see that her healing didn't fix even half the wounds despite it feeling like quite the powerful surge. I need more powerful healing, damnit., but she'll try again, this time drawing on her magic.
-
"P̢̻̮͉̞̬͗̄̂̏͊̓ͭa̩̟̟͖̩̠̩̝̿̿͋̑͞͝t̸͕̭̹̹ͫ̕̕c̳̞͓̲̞̪ͭ̓h̢̺̫͖̯͍̀͘ ̻͙͇͑͗ͣ͌̑ͦ̄ͯ̉h̶͔̗͐͒̓̈́̂̎i̝̥̜̩͙̩̲̍ͥͅm̠͈̣̻̲̦̹ͣ̑̌̅ͤ͘͞ ̧̹͍̯̓̇̓̑͑ͧü̧̠̪̙̲͕͕̰̇͐̏̀̚ͅp̜̟͑ͥ́͠ ̜̱̤̦̗̬̪̱͂͒̎̑̓ͭ̎g̶̟̪̮̺̼̦̪͚͙͊͆̌̑ͯ̈́ͬ́̚ȯ̷̻̰̝̙́͆͗ͪ̿͢ö̵̧̜͚̻̰́͋ḓ̴̭͈̭̙̤̤̼ͤͨ̈ͪͬͨͮͪ ̧̛̳̩̞̣͙̉̎̏̒͗ͪͭ̌ͅa͂ͧͦ̽͏̵̤͖͙̪̫͍ͅs̝̝͔̥͚̻̻͌̊̅̋̋̂̚͘ ̭̲̙̟̏̄͠ͅn̻̑̓̽̀ͪͥe̪̱̠̭̙̫̣̖̓̄̔͌̇̕͟w͌̄̌̒̋҉̻̬"
-
"I don't think we could count them as ourselves. They have become tained by demonic energies. Getting killed by demons is not the only danger of staying in this city." Rukzha answers analytically with her quick mind to Elriel.
"I don't think we could count them as ourselves. They have become tained by demonic energies. Getting killed by demons is not the only danger of staying in this city." Rukzha answers analytically with her quick mind to Elriel.
Elriel nods his thanks to the witch. Quite a find this girl.
He stretches and smiles as his pain is minimal.
He now turns to the last refugee, "So... Lora. Where is your father? It sounds like you'll be safe with him if he has crusaders working for him."
He looks to his companions, "Perhaps we can take her home after we go to Anevia's, yes?"
The daughter of Hulrun Shappok! He killed my father. Or he might as well have. She can barely contain her surprise and anger, though it's hidden behind her mask yet again. Her words hide cold fury. "Shappok?... Yes, you are not tainted by your fathers actions... Not all those he executed were guilty. Unlike him and these crusaders, we protect, don't torture or sacrifice innocents. You'll be safer to come with us than to venture alone, so I think it's a good idea that you do so. Though as Elriel says, maybe taking you to your father is a good option?"
"My father is dead... he was killed during the attack and the demons have his body on display..." Her eyes are filled with tears once more but this time she is able to keep them from running. "... those monsters were not trying to take me home, but to the Defender's Heart, with the resistance." Noticing the surprise in your eyes she quickly continues. "The Eagle Watch and a few other crusading groups survived the attack, and have set up a fortified camp at Defender's Heart... you know, that big inn in the northeast of the Gate District?..."
"... I also heard that the Mendevian army is heading to Kenabres to save us, but who knows when they'll get here, right? I think we'll all be dead by then..." She gets up and starts a futile attempt to clear her clothes from dust, ready to follow you wherever you decide to go.
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Sabrina was a little out of sorts regarding the fight. she looks over the bodies, not so much for loot, but more like with worry.
she kneels beside one that seemed to be the leader. checking her possessions for some indication if they truly were crusaders.
taint of evil, it penetrates the mind, fills their hearts with darkness.
Sabrina's face looks like she is struggling with something. like this fight is reminiscence of events in her past.
After a few seconds she stands. I believe that, assuming Irabeth is alive, then this defender's heart is the best place to find her. we should go there.
Apparently Sabrina is not to familiar with the city layout and probably has no idea that Anevia House is actually along the way.
It would be best that she accompany us, There are enough dangers about.
Sabrina approaches the girl, I am Sabrina De'Foe, Yes I am a crusader, but not like those that have given in to the evil in their hearts. I will see to it you are kept safe. she offers her hand to the young girl.
Elriel bows his head, "I'm sorry about your father. But you bring good news to our ears. We did not know that the Eagle Watch was gathering. This is good news indeed."
He then added, "If I remember correctly, Anevia's house is on the way to this tavern, Defender's Heart, so our priority still remains the house. We'll certainly reach out to the eagle watch but later. Agreed?"
The moment the crusaders had fallen, Arrika had leapt forward to help the girl - but as she gives her name, Arrika recoils, as sharply and suddenly as if she'd been physically struck. No...no, no, no, no... It's all the Kellid girl can do to suppress a rising scream as her hands fly to her arms in an automatic gesture of panic.
For the name Shappok was more than familiar to her.
The Lord Prelate's face had haunted Arrika's dreams since childhood, ever since she'd arrived to Kenabres. His power and influence had torn at her, as surely as her captor's knives and brands. And if her captor had told it true, it was Hulrun Shappok's order that had lit the funeral pyre for her living mother...
No, no, no...shame on the Shappoks, a curse be on them for all time...let her get there herself, let his child see what it is to be alone... But suddenly, Arrika's mind is nearly assaulted by a warmth, at once as soft as a featherbed and as solid as stone.
STOP. Look. Arrika's eyes actually close as she turns in defiance to the orders in her mind...but after several moments, her gaze finally returns to lock on the sobbing girl, sitting on the flagstone street with tears in her dress and tears in her eyes. But it's not a southron woman on Kenabres's streets she sees...it's a small Kellid girl on a grassy plain, fire in her hair and fire in her eyes... Her father committed horrors, yes...but she is not her father.
Kelumarion walks forward slowly, butting his head gently into Lora's shoulder as Sabrina offers her hand. You arrre safe now. But even though Kelumarion stays close at Lora's hand, Arrika holds back, silent as the grave and scrupulously avoiding the woman's gaze, one hand still on her forearm as the other grips her spear...