Shalelu turns to the party and sighs. "Well, here we are. Koya?" She looks over at the ambling priestess. "How's Ameiko doing now?"
"She hasn't gotten any better." Koya shakes her head. "But she hasn't gotten any worse, either."
"Right--here's what I propose, then." Sandru speaks up, turning to the party. "Think you guys could go investigate the place? The rest of the caravan will stay behind and make sure Ameiko's condition doesn't get any worse."
"Oh, and take Ishgha with you." Sandru nods at the hobgoblin, who snorts in response.
"That's good, and keep an eye out for assassins!" Said Gergo with what surprisingly appeared to be a somewhat serious look on his face.
Greedy came flying towards the fighting man and Gergo gave him a perch by placing his left arm in front of him "Shalelu" He called her name as he made his way closer to her "I trust Greedy more than anyone else but your right after him when it comes to trust, and he's very jealous about that but anyway because I trust you so much I want you to look after him" Said the wild man his voice bouncing between cheerfulness and sincerity at every chance.
"Alright Greedy you be good and stay here while I go have fun. Don't nibble at Shalelu's ears...I don't want to see you turned into dinner when I come back" He said to the bird as he extended his arm towards Shalelu's shoulder and waited for his feathery companion to make the leap.
Greedy stared at Shalelu for a good while before hopping to her shoulder "GREEDY GOOD! GREEDY GOOD!" Announced the parrot and repeated the phrase several times as Gergo walked out of the wagon and back into the raging storm.
It was when the wild man was out of you that the grey avian spoke no more, it simply scratched at it neck with its foot every now and then and kept it's eyes to the wooden floor of the wagon with something akin to melancholy in its eyes.
No thats a good thing isnt that right Ishdha, a chance for you to earn ...justice for your disposed brethren by this red skinned monster.
He began moving back torwards Koya's wagon. He had some things in there they might need, his pack and the like.
How long is the journey to the castle still from here Ishgha? He asked.
"It is not far from here." Ishgha points to the castle. A flash of lightning illuminates the castle's silhouette briefly.
"We must go quickly. Time is of the essence."
"Well, that wasn't ominous at all," Haru quipps after the lightning flash.
"Oh I am going to love this!" Gergo walked on after the hobgoblin, his axe in his hand and his smile going from one ear to the other.
As the team moved off, Valeria had an extra sense of purpose to her step. She stopped after a moment and turned to the bird on her shoulder.
"Xel; I need you to stay here and keep an eye on Ameiko, you know how to twig me through the link. If the castle's out of range, you'll just have to fly closer - if Ameiko takes a turn for the worse, I need you to warn me."
Xel might have normally been a bit more mouthy on the subject, but he didn't need the empathic link to know that Valeria was not in the mood for his usual attitude. Instead, he simply nodded and fluttered back to the wagon.
Looking worriedly back at the wagon cradling Ameiko Friday finally lets his shoulders slump as he turns and heads onwards with the others.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Setting out from the caravan's campsite, Ishgha leads the way down the rain-soaked trail to the desolate village below. The hobgoblin pays little attention to the rain falling on his head as he walks--his eyes are focused only on the castle ahead.
"I understand this was once a thriving human port before the crows and rats made it their domain." Ishgha muses as he trudges onward. "Now, 'tis little more than timber and ash."
The party passes in front of the ruins of what was once a lighthouse, its aged stonework lying broken before them. The tower is broken off halfway up, and the remains of the top half can be seen in the surf below. "We had thought ourselves secure here. Now, we have paid the price for such folly."
Walking a bit further up the road, Ishgha stops and points out a set of gates. "Look there."
The rusted iron gates he's pointing to lead to a cemetery... that, surprisingly enough, is kept in good condition. "I know not what dwells in that graveyard, but my brothers returned from there with... haunting stories. Of being attacked by powers called from the Heavens themselves."
Ishgha's voice is wavering.
Friday follows along in solemn silence, taking in the pitying ruins of the once bustling area.
Once Ishgha points out the cemetery though he breaks his silence. "Do you believe there is something dwelling within that cannot find rest?"
"I do not know." Ishgha scuffs his boot in the mud. "Perhaps there is, or perhaps my brothers angered the gods with their careless blundering. Such beings should not be crossed lightly--if you wish to explore that place, you would do well to remember that."
"As someone born into a graveyard, I do know that all too well. All too well.
Rain fell upon the ruins of the village, the clear droplets shattered upon anything they fell upon, filling the air with a melody unique to nature alone. The old roads and withered building were soaked from the watery onslaught, and what the wood and stone could not harbor within them was carried off in miniature streams that mixed with mud and dust. Lightening splintered the night sky once more, casting shadows from all things that basked in its brilliant but intense flash.
The ever vanishing and reappearing sword of electricity and light gleamed off the axe Gergo gingerly carried in his hand. His steps and the steps of those around him lost to the roar of thunder and chirps of the rain. Yet despite all this noise, the village emanated an almost haunting silence and stillness. He remembered seeing sights such as these once or twice when he was still a hired blade, but this one far eclipsed the ones from his memories.
The scars left over by whatever brought ruin to this place still ran deep, and it did not look like this place would heal for a long, long while. Yet despite all this morbidity and solemnity that had envenomed the air, ground and the remains of this old dwelling of men, Gergo kept smiling, this whole place did not make him feel saddened, on the contrary it amused him! He wondered on the details of what has happened here; maybe there was something to discover, something to take back as a souvenir. Whatever emptiness the place radiated seemed only to fill the wild man with curiosity, as if knowing what was here would be as good as restoring it.
"I like crows and rats. They usually leave you alone if you don't try to mess with their food" Gergo craned his neck to the right and began shrugging his left shoulder several times.
"Did your brothers give you some kind of description of what it was?" He asked as his eyes turned to the graveyard the hobgoblin pointed at "Cause I would not mind heading there if the rest of you are up to it"
Ishgha is silent for a bit before he replies. "They claimed that they heard intoned prayers in some strange, melodic language before they were struck by a burst of moonlight. It seared them to the bone, and it was all they could do to escape before their assailant struck again."
That sounds like something a Desnian priest might do if set upon. Normally I would be inclined to avoid such places especially when we have more pressing matters to attend to. . . Although lady Desna is a force of good, perhaps there is help within? You dont have to go in Ishgha No one would think less of you for it.
He added with a slight frown. The curiosity of it struck him, they werent exactly here for the cities cemetary though... at least he didnt think so.
"Madame Koya follows Desna, does she not? Maybe something... good will come of this?"
"That's the spirit!" Gergo gave Kavell a firm pat on the shoulder "Who's with me and Kavell?" He turned his face to the rest of the group, his teeth all too clear thanks to the wide grin that dominated his countenance, the image was made all too strange by the strands long and now wet hair that covered most of the upper part of his face.
Maybe something... good will come of this?"
"Another volunteer! Hah! This is only going to get better from here!"
"Who's with you for what?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Gergo happily pointed to the graveyard with his weapon "Go to the graveyard!" He answered almost immediately, as his other hand came over his face and pulled back all the hair that had veiled some of it.
Ishgha opts to wait outside the graveyard's gates.
Inside the stone walls is a clearing containing a low hill, upon which rest nearly two dozen graves. Their headstones weather-beaten and chipped; time and the elements have done much to wear away any inscriptions they may have once borne.
A stone crypt sits atop the hill to the east, and what appears to be a small shrine sits next to it. The shrine consists of a small, marble statue of Desna, who is holding a small copper bowl aloft. The copper bowl is filled with rainwater... and said rainwater appears remarkably fresh.
The entire area seems to be well-tended--the gravestones are quite clean and the surrounding grass appears to have been freshly weeded.
Haru sighs. "I can't let you boys go in by yourselves. Someone's gotta keep you under control." She follows Gergo into the graveyard.
Friday hurriedly follows Gergo and Haru into the graveyard.
Valeria looked over the area, not just the shrine but the rest of the area.
"Think it's safe to say that there's a Desnan priest in the area, or at least who comes by regularly."
Friday continues with the others.
He took in the scene of the well tended place and was heartened. While it might not be the ...wisest choice he did not want whover...or whatever tended the place to mistake their purpose there. With a soft motion to hold still for a moment He made sure his holy medallion was clear upon his chest.
Greetings to who tends this shrine to Desna, we come in peace and certainly mean you no ill will. I am Kavell, paladin of Shelyn we have come to cleanse the castle from the fell taint that holds it, and merely wish to iinquire if you hold any knowledge about that place that can aid us.
He said looking about.
Gergo looked to the well maintained headstones and greenery. He stopped at some of the graves and tried to make out any names or words upon the stones.
The graveyard it self made him wonder why only this single place was cared for, and the rest of the village was left to the ravages of nature and the wildlife. Wouldn't more people come to this place if they noticed that someone was trying to rebuild or keep the place from degrading any further? Maybe there was something special hidden in the graveyard...or maybe someone cared about some of the people buried here...
This brought back memories of the short burial they had for Fredrik; they buried him in the town he was killed in, as the captain didn't think they'd make it to anywhere close before the body started to rot. Gergo liked to think that the place Fredrik was buried was well cared for, even though he knew it wouldn't hurt him if it wasn't...he also remembered paying the undertaker extra to keep the headstone clean. The older mercenary's smiling face appeared in Gergo's mind as his memories sent him back to those days and at the sight of that grin, his own smile melted into a thin, expressionless line.
Maybe one day I'll kill that noble for you, old man. I know it doesn't matter one lick now, but it's all I can do.
Seeing Gergo getting lost in thought, granted that seemed to be a usual occurrence with the thrill seeker but this time he seemed to be diving deeper, the bodyguard will place a hand on the other man's shoulder. "Everything okay?"
Gergo shook his head in a manner not too dissimilar to a wet dog, when he felt someone's hand on his shoulder. His drenched, long hair, moved with the motion with the motion of his head, spraying water here and there and finally latching on to whatever they laid on, once the wild man regained his composure.
"Good! The place brought up some memories that's all" He said as he forced the corner of his mouth to resume the usual upturned stance they usually showed.
"Did I miss anything? Don't tell me you all killed everything and looted all the treasure while I dozed off. Now that would make me sad" He crouched down next to one of the headstones that was close to him and looked at it.
"You think they are happy that someone is caring for their graves?" He asked without warning. His grey fixed on the headstone, the smile on his face growing a bit smaller.
"I would like to think so." Friday answers to the last question.
As Kavell called out, Valeria kept her eyes open for any response.
The smile on Gergo's face regained some of its lost vigor. He stood up and gave Friday several claps on the shoulder "Here I am wasting your time on questions like that! Come on lets help the others look around"
Friday solemnly nods to the energetic man and resumes the search.
There's a silence as the rain falls around the cemetery.
Then a small voice speaks up.
"Words are cheap, paladin. Prove it." It's a melodic voice, and rather high-pitched.
He stood there for a moment clearly at a loss for words and confused.
Prove that we seek aide and information on the castle? Or proof we are here to do something about it? these lands are not exactly populated why else would we be wondering here if not to do something about the evil within the castle?"
He asked not sure with who or what he was speaking to. It was the first time someone had ever once called into question his purpose. It had him quite flummoxed.
"Yes, what do you want us to prove, and how may we do so?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
There's a pause before the little voice speaks up again.
"The last few mortals that passed by here had only the intentions of plundering the castle's ruins for gold and glory. And now they're gone--probably dead, actually."
"I want to know why you're really here. Going in there to plunder will simply end the same as it always has."
The voice sounds somewhat guilty as it speaks.
Friday shifts his gaze over to a patch of grass next to the shrine and directs his voice toward it. "We seek someone who wishes our friend ill, we could really care less for wealth or prestige." he simply states.
The voice says nothing as Friday speaks.
"Oh?" The melodic voice sounds rather intrigued. "In that case..."
The green glow coming from the grass flies up into the air and alights on top of the Desnan shrine. "...I could perhaps be of help!"
Standing atop the shrine is a very tiny, green haired woman with bright green butterfly wings. Her emerald green breastplate is polished to a mirror shine, and her ears sweep away from her head before tapering to sharp, elf-like points. A pair of miniature starknives are at her side, and though you have to squint to see it, there's a tiny holy symbol of Desna around her neck.
"Heh heh heh--sorry about that whole 'Prove-your-worth' rigamarole. It's kinda what mortals expect of my kind nowadays. Anyway--I'm Spivey! Now, what's this about your friend?"
Unusual to Gergo was the spark of green that floated upwards and landed atop the building. His mouth fell ajar when he made out the figure of a tiny green haired woman with butterfly wings. Without any words to spare he hooked his axe behind his back and tried to climb up to where the tiny creature landed in an attempt to get a closer look at her.
Gergo is able to climb to the top of the statue without much trouble. Spivey looks at him strangely.
"Uh... sir, not that that's not impressive or anything, but you're kinda climbing all over the statue of my goddess." She scratches her head in confusion.
"Sorry about him, he gets distracted by shiny things." Friday said, though he was being hypocritical himself, being completely mesmerized by the beauty and otherworldliness of the small woman.
"Oh...yeah, just wanted a closer look...never seen a..." Gergo begins climbing down, at times still pausing to look at the tiny woman from different angles.
"Never seen a woman your size before with butterfly wings no less...I heard that a bunch of crow-headed men live here along with a reddish man with a big nose, but didn't hear about well a tiny woman that glow green" The caravan guard kept his eyes on Spivey, both interest and awe shining within them.
"Sorry about him, he gets distracted by shiny things."
"Most shiny things I came across were either worth gold or just worth looking at so of course I am going to get a little distracted" Gergo's grin was back to full form, while his hand went at his stubble.
Valeria was sure she knew what the new person was, but was drawing a total blank. Still, the star knives - and the way the graveyard and shrine had been tended to - set her at ease.
"Our friend's fallen under some sort of magical curse - necromantic from what we can tell and manifesting as a fever and unconsciousness. Her grandfather came here to hide something long ago - since that was the last anyone saw of him, the curse set in very close to here, and since she's muttered something about him in her sleep, we're working on the theory that whatever's causing it is in Brinewall."
*******************************************
Meanwhile, at the wagon...
"What the hell's a lyrakien azata?" Xel suddenly wondered aloud. "Bloody empathic link - the way Valeria's mind can wander sometimes it's amazing I can focus on anything." While the link was supposed to just be emotions, he was convinced that it caused more than a few crossed-wires in other thought processes.
"Well, she's certainly worth looking at. Hmm... wait, I know. You're a Lyrakien! What are you doing here -- it's a long way from Elysium."
Friday thinks for a moment before deciding it was better to be informed rather than not and leans slightly towards Haru and whispers, "What's a Lyrakien? From Elysium?"