Quest Riven, Sundered, and Lost.

[Neras Frostfawn]

When Neras heard Kelski's name being said on the ship, the teenagers blue eyes immediately went to the dark depths of the ocean and his knuckles went white as he gripped the railing. He didn't grip the railing out of anger for her, but he was angry at himself for mutilating and humiliating her. The kelvic slave didn't deserve any of it, but it was forced on her because he was a afraid to stand up to Jaren and the cretin standing next to her. At the moment, he wondered who he hated more Jaren or himself, and Kelski's words still haunted him to this day. “This city is a corpse. We are all living in a giant rotting corpse and dying a little each day as the world breaks it down and it decays. I can see it. I can smell it. You should be able too as well. It kills people… the good ones first. The bad ones thrive.” Looking at the dark water of the bay, Neras thought of her words, and they were perfect for the way that he felt about the city of Sunberth. For as long as he knew, Sunberth was a cauldron of chaos, and the only people who avoided Dira were the ones who adapted to whirlpool of despair inside it. Aleria his mother always provided him hope that she would take him away from here to live in her homeland of Avanthal, but there was days especially when she didn't have enough money to buy food or clothing. He could tell by the look in her shimmering eyes that the light seemed dull and wouldn't shine. She would just stare blankly at the wall and apologize to him without giving a real reason for apologizing. It was torture for her son who thought the world of her, and now...she was dead, and her son that she thought so highly of was a monster like Jaren. Thinking to himself, 'If this city is a corpse than I am the maggot feasting on it's remains...' Neras wanted to avoid Kelski, and the crowd of people swarming her, so he quietly slipped off the ship, introduced himself to Daggerhand and took his place by the warrior named Mat. He was surprised how quickly, he could put a mask on and act all cheery to the Daggerhand. When Kelski and her keeper introduced themselves to the Priest of Dira, he looked at his handiwork, and he realized that he marred someone truly beautiful. The youth clenched his jaw and averted his gaze to the ground. He would only look up after she left. The next stranger, named Meriann, was a older woman with deep blue eyes and long black hair. When she talked, he raised his eyes to gaze at her because her accent was exotic sounding. He figured that he would get used to it by the end of the night, but he could still admire her pretty face in the meantime. The next man, Erik Murphy, was a forewarning for him to get out of Sunberth when he was still young because it looked like city was sapping the life out of the old man. He looked like a old mercenary, and he would probably have a lot in common with him, but he was hesitant to say anything to him because Old Sunberth bastards tended to be so jaded that they tend disregard anything the younger generation opinions. The next person was a tan pretty boy who seemed to know Kelski. He didn't like him. He didn't know why, but he was definitely a foriegner, and he had the same accent as Meriann. K'rr was to overly cheerful for being in the presence of Priest of Dira and surrounded by slaves, rogues, and thugs. It just seemed overly suspicious and careless in the eyes of the delinquent. When the Calidus started to talk, the teenager turned his eyes to strange looking man with the scythe. He started to point his fingers at Meriann and Kelski and a skull crow flew from the scythe to each of their shoulders. He pointed to the ship and another crow flew towards into the large ship. The teenager knew that they were missing on other person, but there was commotion on the deck of the ship and the crew decided to throw the missing member off the ship. All he could see was long blond hair flowing through the air and landed in the water with a big splash. The youth would have helped her, but the grizzled old Eric jumped to action and saved a pretty blond woman from the water. The Daggerhand Raynor could stop laughing at the woman's involuntary swim and graciously told Darvin and him that they could leave the island when the job was done. Neras gave Raynor and said with a smirk, “Coming from a Daggerhand, I am surprised at the civility you are showing us.” As they walked up the trail up to the courtyard of the manor, and Neras was shocked that a structure like thing existed in all of Sunberth. As he approached the manor, he was in awe because it must be the tallest and grandest building in all of Sunberth. The youth had to control himself because he wanted to run ahead and explore the massive complex. He didn't really want to talk to priest yet, so he would try to get information out of Daggerhand first. Deciding to walk next to Raynor, the curious Sun birth gang member decided to state, “I am surprised that the Daggerhand hadn't ransacked the manor yet and established a base here. Sorry, I wasn't trying to insult your fort, but by the gods, I would rather live here if I were you. Wouldn't you?” When the group made it to the gate, Neras noticed the heraldry above it. It didn't mean anything to him because they were long dead, but on the other side was creepy hedge maze. He noticed the two dirt paths leading into the creepy hedge maze. Walking next to Meriann, Neras gave her a nod and said with a grin, “I am jealous that you get a crow; however, the Sunberther in me is glad that I don't because they are a bad omen too.” He twiddles his fingers at the bird, gave her smile, and said with a nod, “My name is Jinx by the way. It nice to meet you Meriann.” Flashing a smile at the pretty damp blond women, he walked past Kelski and Darvin. They were talking about something. He missed most of the conversation, but he so he nodded to K'rr and said out loud to the group, “I will meet you all at entrance of the manor when I get through the maze. I am curious about the other routes especially the middle path. We could all take the paved path, but we might be missing something if we take the easiest route with the priest. I will let the group know what I find if I find anything when I see everyone again. Good luck everyone and happy hunting.” Turning on his heels, Neras took his small shield off his back and unsheathe short sword. He knew this was incredibility stupid, but nobody did or discovered by anything by playing it safe. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he started to walk down the middle dirt path without looking back.

[Avinasai]

After being man-handled by fifteen men and tossed overboard because of a bloody priest of Dira and his crows pointed his scythe towards her. She was most certainly pissed off. Being tossed into the somewhat cold/refreshing water irritated her. She didn't really know how to swim, and she could hear the men up there on the port bow laughing at her. Those bloody fools, who do they think they are? Just because crows were flying over her head didn't mean shyke. She doggie paddled her way towards one of the dangling from the side of the boat. It was early in the morning and she never expected to swim. Avinasai thought she did everything right, but the crows called her out.

Avinasai will make a note to not piss off the priest of death.

Eventually she made it to the side of the Way Sprite, and her bag was pulling down her weight which made it all the harder to stay afloat. She was quickly getting exhausted, until a man that she had not met before was kind enough to lower the rope.

“’ere love, grab the bleedin' rope and I’ll yank you up." Avinasai mumbled under her breath before she reached to grab it. Erik helped to pull her up. Her weight was at least two times heavier with her clothes being wet and her backpack being wet. She grabbed onto the edge of the War Sprite and slipped onto the deck.

"Thanks sweets." She checked her rapier to see if it wasn't damaged and her necklace that was made by Kelski. They were both fine, and she was glad to still have it with her. Avinasai won't forget that night that she had spent with Darvin and Kelski. They were both satisfying moments, and Avinasai was able to learn more about Kelski as a person. She knew that she was a slave to Jaren, but Avinasai hoped that she could help Kelski feel at least human in any way possible. If she wanted to feel human and belong with the rest of the world. Avinasai felt close to Kelski, and she was proud to have her as a friend. She hoped that Kelski would still be here for Avinasai.

It's been so long since she had a friend(s).

Avinasai was soaked from hair to toe. She felt cold, and angered by the Priest who had scared the crewmen to throw her overboard.

Once they've reached the Lodestar Isle. Avinasai was so glad that she was able to get off that bloody ship. She knew that Darvin wouldn't allow Kelski to be near Avinasai at this time. Like he said earlier this isn't time for socializing. It annoyed Avinasai that Darvin wouldn't let her near Kelski. She wanted to be by her so bad, and no matter how hard Avinasai tried; she wasn't able to come close enough to Kelski.

Avinasai wanted to follow the priest through the maze, and she was surprised with the manor. Its size was massive, and she was awestruck. She decided to follow Darvin, Kelski, and the Captain. Avinasai was still wet, and she avoided the leaves in the maze. She didn't like the priest very much, so she'd would rather avoid him for the time being.

"Kelski, I am going with you on this one." She said. After all, Calidus did say that having friends would be good to have. She wanted some of that treasure too, and being with Kelski made her feel safer here. "I understand that Darvin is taking this seriously, but I want you to know that you're my friend, Kelski. I haven't had one in a long time, and the way you behave and treat me. I feel better being by your side. Whatever dangers we face on this journey, I will protect you to the best of my ability. As friends." Avinasai said. Even if she just stood as a bystander when Avinasai climbed on to the deck after being thrown off. She'd still call her a friend. Even if she was a slave, she was still a person who knew a lot of different things. Things that Avinasai herself doesn't know. So she could learn.

She didn't care if Kelski was different to the rest. She wasn't a Sunberthian, and neither was Avinasai. She had a positive aspect on life, and Avinasai wanted Kelski to keep it. Even if Sunberth was chaotic. If Darvin was going to act as a wall, then Thorne would find a wall around that wall. If it means that she could spend time with Kelski.

However, the treasure is what she wanted again. If Kelski had her freedom, she wondered how much different she would be. However, if Jaren was willing to sell Kelski, Avinasai wondered how much gold he would be willing to give her up for. If Avinasai could, she would do anything to get Kelski her freedom. After all, she goes out of her way to be nice to Avinasai. Avinasai wanted to do something special for Kelski. It was heart wrenching to listen about all of the nasty things that Darvin and Jaren are doing to Kelski.

"So... what kind of treasures do you think we're looking for?" Avinasai asked Kelski. She wasn't really talking much to Darvin since he looked anxious to follow the captain. However, Avinasai didn't feel like chatting with the captain either since she was the one who had Avinasai thrown overboard. She loved the size of the manor it looked fitting for just about any rich person. It would also be a nice place to craft some potions. Imagine all the labs that they might have in there.

[Meriann]

.

"Speech"

Now acting considerably less like an excitable small child, Meriann breathed deeply and gathered cool air into her lungs with confident gusto. She ran the names, those that she remembered, in her head. 'Jinx, Kelski, Darvin, Erik, K'irr'. Each was an unreadable book, although Kelski and Darvin seemed attached at the hip for whatever reason. She theorised like a fishwife, wondering if perhaps they were a couple. The words they spoke were too low or too far away for her to understand clearly, but the body language wasn't that of an ordinary married couple. She held off judgement then, although curiosity still piqued her. K'irr... She briefly touched upon the last name he'd given, pondering if perhaps he was a Svefra like her. Darkwater certainly sounded Svefra, and although she didn't recognise him it wasn't as if she could know everyone of the same race as her. She smiled to herself at the preposterous thought, and would have leant in conspiratorially to ask, except that then the priest was speaking and she found a finger pointed at her.

The skull crow that had been balanced eerily on the massive scythe flapped and flew and landed upon her shoulder. Meriann was accustomed to seabirds, but not to having them perched on her person and so she squawked her own, hastily subdued surprise as the sharp talons dug into her. Her gaze flew from the bird to the priest and back, but the crow only gave her an intelligent look with it's bright, beady eye, and settled into it's place, and Calidus gave no further mention of why he'd directed a bird to use her and the others as a nesting place. Meriann risked it, and lifted a finger to stroke its feathers. The blackness was startling, even in the darkness that already permeated the landscape. She grinned again, genuinely happy to see the spark of cleverness in the crow's eyes. The fact they were supposedly harbingers of doom and death seemed dubious, now. Meriann was fine, was she not? And it was not like a bird, no matter how ominous-looking, could cause her much harm other than a few pecks and scratches.

There was a slight pause and a kerfuffle as the final recipient of Calidus' skull crows received her gift. But for her it seemed the bird was something of a poisoned chalice, as no sooner had it landed then she was thrown off the ship, rather unceremoniously. Meriann's eyes widened briefly, and then she couldn't help but let out a snort of mirth as Erik and Jinx did, buoyed by their own good humour, despite hoping the lady was okay in the cold waters. But Erik had called for help, so Meriann walked over and firmly wound the end of the rope around her arm and pulled with an unladylike grunt of exertion. "'Ere, I'll give you a hand."

They managed to yank the woman from the water, and that was that. Meriann patted Erik on the back and sneaked a look at the final member of their grand quest, as it seemed the soaking hadn't deterred her in the slightest. She was completely drenched, and the sight of her made Meriann's lips curl at the edges. There was a spark of recognition in her eyes however, and so she didn't yet speak to the now honey-coloured blonde and went instead to the man named K'irr. The skull crow followed her unwaveringly and a tad unnervingly in an interesting kind of way. She gently stroked a wing again, and was greeted with a harsh caw. "Hi! K'irr, right? I'm Meri.. ann. You can call me Meri if y'like, most end up doing so. Do you know anyone here?" She trailed off and listened quietly for his answer, if there was one at all, but as she trudged forwards to join the rest of the expedition, Meriann was gradually acquiring a sinking feeling and conversation became less necessary.

They were escorted by a variety of nameless faces towards a large gateway inscribed with ancient text and decorated with some kind of shield-like design. For a seawoman who had travelled much on the ocean but not so much on land, the whole appearance of the building they were approaching was quite striking. Stonework loomed in the delicate moonlight, and anyone could see the building was terribly old, yet it still stood. That in itself filled her with a certain kind of amazement and the smallest bit of apprehension. She stood, staring with big, bright eyes at the twisted mass of overgrown wilderness ahead of them as Calidus spoke his mysterious words. The escorts left, but she didn't notice them going, not really. Instead, as the gang began walking towards the looming hedges, she looked from person to person as decisions were made and questions posed.

The dark-haired, young man cropped up beside her and she returned his easy smile with a quirky one of her own. She already liked his easy-going manner and his talkativeness, and so she grinned back at him.
"It's good t'meet you too, Jinx! Well, this lil' fella ain't seeming so bad. Are you?" The crow looked at her through the dark eye holes of the skull it wore, but made no sound.
"He's not feelin' so talkative. Anyway, as you're so kind as to tell me you're a Sunberther, I'm a Svefra in case y'couldn't already tell." She winked with a friendly grin, which was as much to stave off the growing feeling that she'd made a foolish decision that anything else.

There was some talking then. Erik, that gruff, old 'un, asked the question that she was sure most wanted to know the answer to. She chimed in with an, 'Aye!' of agreement, and then as the group began to split away she pricked up her ears as the woman named Kelski began a curious routine with the crow perched on her shoulder. Meriann yelled after Jinx, telling him he was a mad beggar, but if he chanced to see her before he rounded the corner he'd see her grinning after him.

Then she walked over to Kelski and the man named Darvin. The drowned woman was there too. The priest seemed eager to keep moving, but Meriann dithered between following immediately or waiting to see if Kelski's trick would work. It seemed sensible to follow the true path. She clapped the damp woman on the arm by way of greeting, and gazed inquisitively on her face. Quite understandably, she didn't look all too pleased at the state she was in. Meriann bit down on her lip to stop herself from smirking, but introduced herself as warmly and as quickly as she could. She was sure the stranger would be at a disadvantage if she hadn't caught what everyone's names were when she had remained on the ship, so she pointed down the path Jinx had taken.

"That was Jinx, by the way. An' that over there is Erik, I believe. K'irr, too. My names might be wrong, though." She flashed a brief smile and then walked over to stroke her hand across the hedge wall. The foliage was sparse, rough, and cold to the touch. The needles and leaves glimmered a dull grey in the light of the moon. A dead tree stood forlornly looking out across the overgrown mess, and she wondered... No. Climbing the tree was a bad idea, even if she could get a glimpse of anything up ahead, because the wood looked rotten even to her inexperienced eyes. With a huff of a sigh, she turned round and raised her eyebrows questioningly at Kelski and then at the others.
"That crow... Do we know if it knows th'way? Otherwise, I'm followin' after Calidus, see if he knows what's doin', as he ought." As an aside, she couldn't help but launch the question she had burning on her lips towards the metal studded woman who had seemingly spoken to the bird.
"Did y'speak to that bird... Kelski, right?"

.

[Regime]

Sometimes things that you thought you had left behind caught up with you all too readily; and then there were the burdens and the people that you lived with on a day to day basis. Even if it was just the mundane. You couldn't get away from it forever; life taught that lesson well enough.

The escape of a day, that little evasion of a respite from duty, however, could be enough sometimes. The brief reprieve could restore a person enough that they could return to the world and take on that burden once more. Deep from within the manor, chattering voices called to action.

“They have come.”

“Four and one.”

“Maybe seven and ten.”

“Numbers matter little.”

“Can we play?”
“Can we play?”
“Can we play?”

And from the silence came a nod of understanding, a nod that caused the laughter of three to echo through the bowels of the manor for the first time in ages.

***

The soft rapting of the end of Calidus’s scythe against the ground acted as a precursor to each step the robed man took along the stone path. He canted his head to speak over his shoulder towards where Erik and the others followed behind him. "Tell me, what would you do when faced with an overwhelming aberration of evil that taints the cycle of life and death?" The Priest mused while digging the end of the weapons stave into a crack in the stone to leave the scythe as its own stand alone structure before he moved to walk over to stand in front of Erik the mercenary.

"I seek to grant that aberration its much needed absolution." he said, setting both of his hands onto Erik's shoulders. The priest was about to say something when Darvin's question to Kelski proved curious enough for him to remove his hands from Erik's shoulder to cast his gaze towards the bird on her shoulder.

The tall powerfully built human named Mat who wore a set of brigandine armor spoke up with a sly smirk that seemed far too pleasant and out of place given the situation everyone was in. “Aye, ever onward against the darkest of odds. Glory and treasure, to die with honor. No better way to go if we are to fight to the end. I’m with you dear priest.” Mat gave Calidus a wink of acknowledgment before turning to look at the Kelvic slave to see if her efforts would bare fruit.

***

"You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."

A voice whined, mocking someone the person who had spoken the words to them before the softest of sobbing started to overtake the hint of malice in their voice; a cry of heartbreak and sadness. It was a cry that could only be disturbed by the opening of the manors large castle-like wooden doors. The rumbling of motion was loud enough to be heard all the way from the entrance of the maze.

"I tried... I did."

As the cries softly overtook the manors entrance unheard by the group within the hedge maze. The heavy sounds of rushed movement blurred past the whining figure. Each of the blurred figures ran out into the darkness of the night to find those who lingered within the maze. "Leave them be, my dear. You did your best. I know you did, now come with me. We must not be late to the party." The stoic voice of a hooded figure called out to the crying figure as they exited deeper into the manor away from the opened doors.

***

The obsidian colored bird which sat perched on Kelski's shoulder gave the slave a long silent stare. Its beady black eyes gazing to the skull the woman wore around her neck before hanging it head slightly to look to the ground. The creature was no kelvic, just a simple bird. But its act proved it felt some amount of sorrow about the item she wore before taking off into the air in flight. The Kelski's Skull Crow circled the darkened night sky for about a chime to gain a baring of the mazes layout.

It watched as Neras went out on his own down the center path which seemed to lead to a dead end on its right most path, but led towards the center of the maze to the left. Calidus trusted the crow as he retrieved his scythe then began to walk back towards the entrance to follow its guidance.

Without a doubt, Jinx would find himself at the center far before the rest. The Skull Crow cast its gaze further into the dark, only able to see dark shadows within shadows moving in the night. Their movement went without interruption as those figures ran though the maze with practice grace. And while it went without a doubt that Neras would be the first to reach the center of the maze. He'd be the first to meet those who lurked in the shadows.

The Crow in the sky did as it was asked, flying back towards the entrance of the maze, then down the center path to guide the rest of the group towards Neras. However, it would then take perches a branch that made up the walls of the hedge maze to silently watch over Neras.

At the center of the maze there stood the ruins of a large circular fountain at the center of the squared hedge courtyard. However, the fountain itself was missing. Should those curious few seek to peer over the two foot tall ledge of the fountain, they'd find the bottom of it completely caved in to fall deep into the darkness of an underground cavern.

Those walking towards the entrance of the center of the maze would find four other figures standing in the dark at the opposite end of it beyond the fountain; namely Neras, would come face to face with them first.

They held no touches, nor any beacons of light. But it was clear that they were humanoid in some way. Each of them wore battle worn leather armor that from damage alone looked useless, but their faces were gruesomely tortured to the point that their skin had been pulled back along one side of their faces. It caused their expressions to contort in pain and finally were spiked through with iron piecing to keep themselves within that agony. Their armor seemed useless, but the wickedly sharp pieces of wright iron metal they held in their hands could skewer like long swords.

They each looked towards Jinx with absent eyes before the apparent leader of them pointed a blade at the Half-Vantha. "Kill." The three who stood with the main one each took off into a forward sprint around the sides of the fountain leading to each get within range of the intruder. The shadows which lingered around the night stalker would speak to the slave in Makath. "Better hurry, I believe one of you are about to be in trouble..."

[Neras Frostfawn]

'Well this might have been the dumbest thing you ever did, Neras. Regardless, I need to move slowly, and not get ahead of myself' The last thing that he heard before rounding the corner was the sound of Meriann called him either a crazy beggar or a crazy bastard. It was all the same. It was crazy to go out on his own. Neras knew that he took a chance striking out on his own path, and he knew the consequences if he got into trouble. He was on his own, and maybe it was better this way. Nobody gets hurt by his decisions. It not like anyone cared about him anyways. The only one that he knew was a slave girl that he pierced against his will, and he doubt that she would bat a eyelash at his passing. He was just a nameless grunt in the Sun Births and nobody special. As he continued through the hedge maze, at any moment, he might be coming face to face with Dira, and he wouldn't even know. The farther that he moved down the path. He could feel his heart pound faster with every step, and he wondered if he could overcome the fear in his heart. Neras stopped for a moment ran a hand through his hair and leaned up against a hedge. He closed his eyes for a moment and tried to tell himself that he was going to be fine. Maybe hearing the sound of his own voice would not make him feel so alone. Neras said Vani, “Alright, you coward. You need to be brave and not let a bunch of creepy hedges petch with you. You got this...you are Vantha warrior aren't you.” Surprisingly, Neras started to feel better about decisions and the fear started to subside. He knew it was just a battle field that he needed to overcome. If he was going to need to find the inner strength to face his fears, he pushed himself off the hedge and moved forward into the maze. The rogue was to deep into the maze to turn back now. As he made his way through the maze, he came to a cross road the left was dead end, but the right lead the right. He could tell there was a opening, so he crouched lower and moved slowly to scout out the area. Moving to the edge of the hedge line. He noticed in the center of the clearing. From his vantage point, he saw a two foot high stone wall in the middle of the courtyard. It might have been something in the past, but he couldn't tell at the moment The wall seemed to round off, and he wondered if it could have been a garden, but his grey eyes immediately went to the four ominous figures on the other side of the courtyard. He could see what they looked completely from his place in the courtyard. Regardless, one of the figures must have saw him because it pointed the sword in his direction. The other three started moving towards him. When they started to move quickly, Neras knew that he was in trouble, and he couldn't fight all of them in open ground, so he remembered the dead end. If he put his back to a corner of hedge. He might be able to fight two at a time. It better odds than four at a time. Turning on his heels, the rogue his best chance was to stand his ground somewhere else other the courtyard, so he wasn't retreating out of cowardice. It was a tactical retreat to a far better battlefield than the courtyard with the leader of the four. If he survived, he will deal with him next, but he needed to deal with his minions first, so he ran and he could hear death following at his heels. When he made it to the dead end, he turned around to face his fate. He came face to face with three gruesome faces that were twisted and mar by either death or some twisted magic. Regardless, the “Knight of Sunberth” turned back to his attackers with his back to the corner of the hedges, slammed the short sword against the metal shield, and yelled a battle cry for more himself to build up courage to stand his ground against certain death, “Come on you bastards! I am ready! If Dira wants me than I won't make it easy for her, but I promise you three that I will take you with me!” Neras got into his battle stance as he stared down his fate with no fear in his eyes or his heart. If Dira calls him home than he would be with his mother and the pain will end, but he knew if he wanted justice for his mother's death. He will have to fight with all his soul against against death. He had too because he only had himself in the end, and he said soft prayer in Vani to the goddess who abandoned his family,“Morwen guide my sword, or guide me home. I am ready.”

[Erik Murphy]

"Tell me, what would you do when faced with an overwhelming aberration of evil that taints the cycle of life and death?" 

The question was a loaded one. It spoke deeply to the old man, there was an age he reached when he began to see the various cycles in his city, no doubt the machination of beings known and unknown, of beings lowly and divine alike. What would he give to see the rise and fall of those seemingly unstoppable cycles come to an end? Perhaps anything and everything. But notions like sacrifice were easy to speak of but difficult follow with actions. Few longed to be a martyr, most simply wanted the change with out paying their pound of flesh and blood. But their was always a price, and while Erik felt he paid it time and time again, he had truly done little more than most.

“I’m in favour of a six foot noose and a seven foot drop” He replied dryly, eyeing up the man that rested his hands on the mercenary’s shoulder like he was child. He had seen few priests in his time, he had never endeavoured to talk to one. He was not a holy man, not a man who prayed to any of the gods for assistance, for salvation. Were all of them as otherworldly and detached as this one Erik wondered, or Dira simply have effect on her chosen?

Finally those cold hands slipped from his shoulders as Erik mused on the priests intentions and listened to Mat’s drivel of honour. He twisted his neck and furrowed his brow deeply, looking the brigandine clad man up and down with distrust and a small amount of disgust. “Try feedin’ a family with honour and your table will always be bare. Keep your honour and death, I’ll take back the treasure alive for my kids” He stated with certainty. Erik could’ve sworn he never heard the word honour uttered until those knights march in one day and honoured Sunberth’s streets with a river of blood.

He was about to open his mouth again to continue his dismissive train of speech but he was cut short As a deep, rumbling sounds rolled through the courtyard, winding past every hedge and tree in its path towards the group. Erik could feel the hairs of the back of his neck perk up, instinct told him to run to the ship and not look back. He hated going against his gut. The source was clear to Erik, The manor seemed to loom ever closer to the man despite the fact they had yet to take another step.

“Alright, what the fu-” He began to demand but his words were cut short again, this time it a shout of defiance, muffled but close as Erik rolled his eyes to the heavens and sighed deeply.

“Come on you bastards! I am ready! If Dira wants me than I won't make it easy for her, but I promise you three that I will take you with me!”

Who was that? Erik wondered as he looked around the group, trying to count them and recall his companion whom he had barely bothered to even glance at, let alone memorise, until he realised who amongst their company they were missing. “That bloody ganger, Jinx or somethin’ stupid like that” He spat, shaking his head and muttering more obscenities under his breath. He considered the options. There were only two Erik could think of; leave him to fend for himself or try to help him. Erik hadn’t paid attention to what path he had took, he just assumed everyone would’ve followed the priest, not followed their own whims.

“I’m not bein’ paid to babysit the Sun’s Birth” He stated bluntly, shooting a bloody glance at the priest as he was still not sure if he was being paid. Erik refused to risk trying to find the lad when he didn’t even know what the threat that was out there. “He would’t’ve gone out there on his own if he couldn’t handle himself.”

He wasn’t leaving Calidus’s side on this isle till he was paid and the threat was gone. Glory seemed far less important when death loomed so close.

[Kelski]

Darvin growled slightly at Thorne and shook his head as she vowed to protect his charge. “She has protection, already, bitch. Seriously. You can’t even protect yourself from drowning. Good thing petching bleeding hearts are around…” He gave Erik a scathing look. “… else you’d be feeding the fishes.” He said, clearing his throat and spitting on the ground, right next to Thorne’s boot. “Might want to go thank him properly with that pretty little ass of yours.” Kelski’s guard said, shaking his head. Kelski winced, knowing why. Darvin had taken Thorne into the alley and had sex with her in front of Kelski and the Kelvic still hadn’t forgotten it. Thorne had gone willingly, without so much as a fight, and that had lost her Darvin’s respect. The whole thing had made Kelski uncomfortable in the extreme especially since the woman had then told her she’d done it so Thorne could spend more time with Kelski. Darvin had been amused over the whole thing, telling Kelski that the other woman was bad news. Kelski sort of believed it when Thorne had tried to get her to steal food from someone for the other woman. Free women just had freedom to lose. Kelski had her life to think of. And she’d been angry at Thorne, though she’d said nothing, for putting her life at risk with such casual carelessness.

Darvin had taken her aside later and read her the riot act and had shown her exactly what would have happened to her if she’d have gotten caught stealing. The memory still made Kelski shudder.

The Kelvic wasn’t free to spend time with anyone. And if she was, she’d want to be somewhere warm, dry, smelling of metal and where she could get her hands dirty. Dagwood Metals came to mind immediately. The sights, the sounds, the metals… the man. Thorne wasn’t the type to appreciate such things. She needed to be kept in prettier conditions and in higher status than what Kelski could ever hope for.

In Kelski’s mind, they were worlds apart.

Kelski turned to Thorne and shook her head at her question. “I don’t know about what kind of treasure. I’m just here because Darvin needs to borrow my eyes. I have good vision.” She said softly, knowing that was an understatement. Kelski’s eagle eyes were very good, though not so well in the dark or at night, but still sharper than the average human senses. “Are you okay? Do you need my cloak?” She offered, knowing it was thin, but warmer than the wet clothing Thorne still wore. Kelski didn’t want to encourage Thorne since Darvin had already shut down the girls’ advances on chit chatting saying they were here for work, but she didn’t want to be rude either. She actually liked Thorne, even if she wasn’t sure why she was thrown overboard and didn’t understand why the woman didn’t pay attention to instructions.

Maybe the woman was just as greedy as Darvin, and wanted to use the Kelvic again like she had in stealing. Kelski frowned, but her attention was soon taken up by others and the instructions by the priest.

The Skull Crow did as she asked, which surprised Kelski. Eagles and Crows got along usually, the big birds often sharing the scraps of their kills with the members of the corvid family. But Kelski didn’t know this particular individual and she had no idea if she was agreeable or not. Head tilted back, the Kelvic watched the bird circle, wishing she could join the crow and get a good overhead view. The bird was back in no time and Kelski nodded to K’irr, gesturing towards the middle path. “Yes, she’s scouting for us from the air.” She said, studying the Svefra.

He was handsome in Kelski’s eyes. Kelski had wanted to like him. But the Kelvic wondered if he had holes in his soul, big ones, that made him empty of emotion and the ability to care about anyone or anything but himself. He’d sold her away like she was cargo. And in a way, the Kelvic felt sorry for him. She didn’t think he was a bad man, not really, he was just an empty man and that seemed tragic to the girl. Kelski would have filled his life up with things that made him happy. She would have taken care of him like she had her old Master Li, and made him all the coin he’d wanted if she could. Such things made her happy and were ingrained into her very blood. The Kelvic was more domestic than she let on and more nurturing than she was allowed to be in her present circumstances. But K’irr wasn’t the sort to welcome that kind of thing, and Kelski suspected his insides were not as pretty as his outsides from a long hard life of loneliness and possibly abuse.

To Meriann, the Kelvic responded. "Yes... she flew ahead and scouted for us... look see? She's indicating the middle pathway. They are far smarter than people realize." She said, glancing at the woman and really giving her a good look. She was lovely and had a wildness about her that made Kelski wonder who she was and where she was from. The Kelvic had spent enough time around the Svefra that her accent almost sounded like one of the sea-goers and she wondered if Meriann and K'irr knew each other.

“Neras picked true… she’s leading the way come on.” The Kelvic answered, picking up her pace with more confidence now, scanning the area with her sharp vision, hoping to be on the lookout for whatever it was Darvin thought he’d find here. The big guard paced beside her and they both hurried. Shadows surrounded them as the sun dropped lower and the hedges grew taller.

One, a shadow she didn’t now, approached and offered advice. Hurry? One of us was in trouble? She turned to Darvin, reaching out to take his hand and tug on him. “Darvin, hurry…. there’s something Neras stumbled upon up ahead and it might be your treasure! I don’t think he’ll share.” She confessed, breaking into a run counting on Darvin’s greed to overrule his caution when it came to treasure hunting. It was a blatant lie, but who was to know? Kelski had a fondness for Neras and didn't want him to be in trouble... no matter what that trouble was.

Kelski didn’t relate there was danger ahead. Everyone knew there was danger always in Sunberth. They’d either be on their guard or not. And as they broke into a run, Kelski turned and whispered in Makath… “Thank you. A favor given is a favor owed.” The Kelvic said as they took off at a run trying to intercept Neras wherever he was. It had to be Neras, right? He was the one ahead of them...

And though he’d filled Kelski’s body full of holes and hung her with metal, the Kelvic still liked him even though she didn’t want too. Forgiven him? No…. but that didn’t mean she wanted him to be in trouble.

[Avinasai]

The poison crafter was dripping wet. Cold water made her shiver and shudder. She thought about something other than the cold, and wondered about kindling a fire. However, the stern comment about protecting Kelski and Darvin calling Avinasai a bitch definitely left a bitter sour taste in her mouth. Or perhaps it was salt? Maybe it was just all three. That fucking man-whore of a son of a bitch didn't deserve Avinasai's sweet ass. Avinasai mumbled under her breath something about shoving a bottle of poison down her throat if Darvin ever called her a bitch again. That last time when Thorne had petched Darvin was to make it up to Kelski. She didn't want to lose the Kelvic. She didn't want Darvin to take her away from Avinasai. She wanted to know more about Kelski. Ask her where she had been What her dreams were.

Kelski looked out for Avinasai, and even if there was a moment that Avinasai had boiled Kelski's rage. Avinasai still treated her as if she were someone who wasn't enslaved. Avinasai would've been in that same position if she didn't make her bottle of revenge, and trained enough to stab the guy that killed her friends.

Avinasai Blackthorne was twelve years old when her parents were murdered. No doubt that it was poison. She still wanted to track down the person or people who had murdered her parents. The list for revenge was still inside her. Smothering her body like butter, and dried slowly for days, years. Darvin had no right to call Avinasai a bitch. If anything, Darvin was the bitch. Avinasai just payed with whatever she could. When Darvin spat by her boot. She squished the spit with anger imagining that that piece of mucus was actually Darvin. She smirked as she made the action. Watching his face that was imagined, being squished by her wet muddy boots.

As the group continued on, Kelski was even kind enough to offer up her thin cloak. Avinasai couldn't take it. No sir. Or ma'am. She was going to suffer. Perhaps she would do better by following the captains orders and the priest of Goddess of Death's orders too next time. If there would ever be a next time.

This maze really creeped her out, and Avinasai was not really into the mood of a treasure hunt as they walked. Her soaked clothes and hair just made her feel tired and angry. The priest shouldn't have called her out like that. Even if he pointed his scythe at her and said nothing. The crows alarmed the crewmen and the captain. Now, Avinasai wondered if she was going to die. She might as well die now and get rid of the everlasting torture of Sunberth away.

"No thanks love, but I do appreciate your offer with genuine." Avinasai said as her teeth chattered and shook. She shivered at the memory of Darvin rubbing his rod up her arse in the alley. She won't forget that moment, and Darvin won't let it go.

Avinasai knew nothing of Kelski's past. There wasn't much that Thorne knew about the Kelvic in general. Avinasai was still a stranger to Kelski. However, Thorne had befriended Kelski. Even if Kelski doesn't see it yet. Kelski has been the nicest person that Thorne had ever met in years, and even if there are obstacles getting in the way of the relationship that Avinasai was trying to build up with Kelski. Avinasai would do whatever she could to help Kelski whenever possible.

Avinasai didn't want to use Kelski in any way shape or other forms. Avinasai just felt more comfortable being with Kelski than she was with everyone else. Everyone else she really didn't even know. Or barely knew.

"T- that's cool love. You said you had good eyes and can speak to birds too?" Avinasai asked with awe. It was mostly rhetoric, and the thought of Kelvics we're crossing her minds. There was so much that Avinasai didn't know about Kelvics, and she wondered if Kelski was a Kelvic and what kind of Kelvic she was. Obviously, a bird since she can speak birds, have good vision like a bird, and she said she had wings that first day when Thorne had met Kelski. She must be a wise bird, and Darvin always called her little bird. Which was something to consider, but Avinasai didn't want to make Kelski feel awkward; so she decided to not call her little bird.

At one point when Kelski told Darvin to hurry up, Avinasai looked to everyone who was with her. She didn't see the boy with them. He said something about taking another path to the courtyard. Could he already be there? Or would it be the Priest? However, Avinasai picked up her cloak that was dragging on the ground and hurried after the rest of her party members. Her heart was pounding, and she didn't care about Darvin right now. However, she did hope to eventually get inside the manor so she could maybe Kindle a fire if they had an old fireplace there. It would be nice. She had her pack with her that she had never taken stuff out of. Hopefully none of her vials had cracked when she had been thrown in the water. Oh she was still pissed about that!

[Meriann]

.

"Speech"

Kelski's bird had circled above and showed them the way, just as the woman had said. Meriann gazed at the sky with wide and appreciative eyes, trying to align the shadow of the bird to the way they should go in the jungle of hedges they were trying to breach. She glanced at Kelski and wondered how, exactly, she'd conveyed the instructions. But she was right that the bird was clever. She smiled towards her, and took a glance at her own bird that sat on her shoulder, as if to ask it if it agreed with the curious woman's comment. She would have asked further if they'd been elsewhere, but they were not. Besides, the man that stood beside her was looking less and less like her husband and more and more like a... guard. At least, that was what the chilly atmosphere felt like. He did not look like a pleasant man, not entirely. Although there was something about his face that looked open, this was betrayed by his eyes that Meriann struggled to read. There was something off about him, Kelski, and the other woman too. But she had little chance to figure out exactly what it was because Calidus had spoken too, and she was troubled by what he'd had to say. It was fancy talk, and coming from the words of a priest of Dira, the description of 'an overwhelming aberration of evil' boded only of disaster. She didn't enjoy disaster, unless it had a fair dash of excitement along with it too. The woman traced her finger over the hilt of her cutlass and began to follow the rest as they tailed after the crow that had pointed the way for them. It seemed Jinx wasn't such a mad beggar after all - he'd chosen right. Did that mean Calidus knew nothing of the way, either? Was he in just the same boat as they were?

Her voice was too bright in the gloom, and louder than she'd meant it to be. "Calidus! How did y'find out about this aberration?" Almost immediately as she'd asked the question, she realised its foolishness. The man with the scythe and grim looks was a priest of Dira... The goddess of Death. More than anyone else here he was going to be more concerned with matters such as this, even if she didn't completely understand why they all needed to be there too. If he needed fighters, would it not have been better or easier to hire mercenaries? or ask one of the gangs, like the ones that had transported them here? He would have to look hard within their hearts to find whatever talents he was looking for, she thought. Meriann knew none of the people who she found herself with, and couldn't speak of their values and merits, only of what she could see of them. It was an adventure they were on, a quest for treasure, but although she was amused by Jinx's boldness and liked the look of the man who seemed he could be a Svefra, she couldn't see past the artificial faces that each of them wore. Was K'irr an honest sailor? Kelski - was she a mistreated wife, or something else? Were any of them truly the help the priest was looking for? Meriann's stomach clenched at the memory of her mugging, and her hand gripped tightly to the sword handle in response. But she clapped her collarbone as if to steady herself, and resolved not to be stupid.

As if summoned by her own mental showdown, a cry echoed across the wild hedge maze. Its direction was uncertain from the sound of it alone, but Meriann didn't know of anything or anyone else in the maze except... Jinx. He was only a youth, after all, and Meriann began drawing her cutlass in response. It was in her nature to already trust him, to like him, even after their few scant words. Although it was likely he was just another Sunberther bastard, he'd seemed open. She valued openness, because it meant he had little to hide. Either way, it might only have been that he'd fallen over or caused some kind of injury to himself, in which case she'd look like an idiot and she'd curse him with a laugh. But in the darkness and the foreboding, inanimate gaze of the manor, it was easier to imagine creeping monsters in the silky, evergreen foliage or wild, leaping beasts that hungered for flesh, so she worried and fell into a short jog after the figures of the group that were following the crow's directions. She fell in so that her paces brought her to run parallel with the hedge wall. She was uneasy, but committed. If there were monsters, then she would fight them. If they were jumping at nothing but shadows, she would accept she was being an idiot.

She rounded the corner, and quickly scanned her eyes across the courtyard that lay there as she raised the sword in front of her. Meriann was as ready as she'd ever be.

.

[Regime]

The Inhuman grotesqueness of the three pale warriors each took their stances opposite of Neras, all standing with blackened metal blades pointing directly at him. They were all set to pounce on the cornered man who’d decided of his own accord that it was a good idea to trap himself in the dead end. All of those blades were about to assault their victim, however at the mention of Morwen the fourth figure who had originally commanded the attack spoke out from behind the others. At the unexpected mention of the good, the mutilated men each held off their attacks to allow the conversation to happen.

"Morwen?" The fourth figure spoke from behind the group of three. “Does he believe the goddess shields him, brothers? Him? This world will destroy everything she loves, all that she holds dear. Who are we not to partake in that endeavor? Let us cast the broken corpse of this... child... at her feet. And to be broke, a body needs to be crushed.” They all started to smile; yet they were all already smiling with faces stretched back taught against the bone. The wide smiles only exposing that the rot upon the freshest parts of their decayed gums. "Throw him into the pit."

That was when all of the mutilated men each rushed to pounce onto Jinx. Sure, he'd definitely manage to maim exactly one of them during the attack. But would soon be grappled by four immensely strong men grabbing him by each arm and leg then proceed to start carrying him towards the fountain at the center of the courtyard.

Neras would have had an ally had Meriann not followed the crow to the center and taken the path towards the dead end. Meriann would find herself looking over an empty courtyard with the ruined two foot tall lip of a fountain at its center. For, the crow was only asked to find the center and not guide them to danger. But as fate would have it, Meriann would be the only one blocking all of the men from entering the courtyard. "Another one to cast into the pit." One of the grotesque men said who appeared to have hald of its mouth branded shut with a hot iron, then had that side clamped completely with rusty nails.

That same one then let go of Neras's left leg, turning to the captive, and lifting its blacked blade to run it right through the Half-Vantha's lower left abdomen as if he were a pig on a spit where he then left the weapon inside of Neras.

After it was done, they all dropped Neras to turn their attentions onto the woman who blocked their paths.

It would have surprised no one in the group following Calidus to see that Mat, the most well armed person among them, was the fastest runner. He drew his sword and shield in hand then erupted into a sprint towards the screams. Calidus with an unnatural grace was the second fastest even while running with a massive scythe in hand.

Everyone would soon see those four mutilated warriors within the portion of the maze leading to the courtyard. Mat was the first among the group to then lead a battle charge as he bull rushed one of the enemy warriors from behind with enough force that he could have knocked down a brick wall. The grottoes man was sent cascading towards the ground with a heavy thud, while Mat's sword hand guided his blade in a horizontal arc to cut off sword arm of the second demonic man standing next to him at the elbow.

Calidus stood there watching the fighter do his work as he took a moment to sniff at the air. His eyes narrowed at the sudden realization of strong death in the air. The monstrosity that had just gotten its arm cut off seemed to not even flinch at that fact It only raised its maimed arm to look at the blood spurting out of it. Its attention was quickly set upon Calidus, which soon brought a look of true fear to its pained features. "Let us leave this to them, brothers..." The maimed mutant man said before a ethereal figure stepped out from its body. The shimmery body of a skeletal ghost shredded its temporary mortal coil like a snake sheds its skin.

That was when the meat sack of torment and misery started to scream in pain, no doubt with a voice that had not been in use by its true owner for years. It was a sight emulated by the remaining three mutilated men as the specters each retreated from the Priest. Calidus was surprise to find that the overwhelming scent of death in the area had made him blind to the small signs given off by those which possessed the creatures.

Even though the ghost had vacated their shells, the creatures only screamed in pain for hardly a chime before finding their faculties that were blind with rage. One that had its arm chopped off ran directly at Meriann with full intent on tackling the woman to the ground if she did not do anything to prevent that.

The one Mat had knocked to the ground was swiftly beheaded by the tall warrior, as the last two ran at Calidus and the group. The Priest used the end of his scythe like a quarterstaff, slamming the but of it into the creatures skull. The end of his staff might have been blunt, but it pieced through that skull like a stone through glass.

The last one ran directly at Erik who seemed to be stuck to the mans side like glue. The grotesque man holding its sharpened blade up in a wildly enraged fashion in attempt to make a downward slash at the top of his head.

Neras :

IRL things said you'd be slow and would like to bow out of the quest. But I still rolled serious things for you being trapped...

Your party members can drag your body to the Daggerhands waiting at the portcullis. The Daggerhands will then in honor of Calidus take you to Doctor Petricious's Clinic, where he will heal you for no cost. But, you'll leave with far more scars than that stab under the doctors knife.