Chapter One - Conflagration

It was frankly, embarrassing really, after all that shouting about bandits they just went and disappeared. Or at least it would have been if it weren't for the rainbow lights and the piles or blood and gore. Apparently, those creature just went "splat" and died. How very odd an occurrence, yes, very odd indeed. Now Joshua was never the one to be superstitious, but this time, he can't help but feel that this is a bad omen of some sort, a very bad and bizarre omen, and felt best to get out of here as soon as possible. In fact, he was just about to go, as soon as the dawn breaks on the next day, but he'll have to move his plan forward, staying in this place any longer may just mean trouble, more than he had bargained for.


Joshua returns to his storehouse, all splattered with blood with the corpse of his long time partner laying before it, mutilated. He never did gave it a name, had always called it "Donkey", thought he'd sell it as soon as he got his hands on a horse and a bigger carriage, but well, this never go according to plan and he was stuck with this donkey till this very moment. Now what is he going to do with all these pelts? Well, he could always leave half of it here and leave with the other half, this way, at least he gets half the profits. Besides, he can always come back for the other half, this time with another donkey perhaps, a "Donkey II", that is if the village is still here by that time of course. With only half, he could probably tow it by himself, it'll take forever, but as soon as he got to the next town, he'll trade them for a donkey to do the labor for the rest of the way. Of course, there is always the option of buying what ever best of labor they have in this backwater village, but really, there's too few of them and the villages aren't all that taken by Joshua, so that certainly wont be cheap. Then there's the issue with safety, for who knows if he'll run into those green little midgets again. Sure, they exploded by the way of rainbows, but they can certainly do a lot harm before that, just ask Donkey. He'll need to find bodyguards, unlikely in this village, but hey, maybe some young adventurers on their way to some world saving quest may come this way, who knows.
 


 
​


There were a number of villagers starting to get oriented to the surroundings. All of the beasts had been exploded, the surviving members of the group are Beish, Erik, Lexis, Aspen, and Briar.
​


 
​


The group is stumbling around the area where a mutilated donkey lay and a young, gore covered, trader was fumbling around a storehouse. The group could see that this was the man who had yelled about bandits earlier.
​
 
It was so sudden. Just as Beish was to bring his staff upon a certain creature, he heard something. Just as before, it was unnatural and frightening, and it caused a frozen shiver to run across the man's spine. Again? Really? Why? Why him? He could feel the very vibrations of the voice rumbling throughout his skeleton. If it had been stronger, perhaps it could have even shattered it.


The words that were spoken seemed to slip Beish's mind, but he knew that the words "fate" and "raiders" had been said. What did that mean? The man knew that a higher power was at play; there was no doubt about it. But why? And why him? This would not be the last time he had thought it, and he knew it. 


And then, the bomb dropped. An explosion of countless colors flashed all about him, knocking Beish to his back. A high-pitched ringing settled itself inside the man's ears as he tried weakly to shut down his senses, knowing that this would leave quite the headache. A groan left the man, who had curled himself into a ball, as splatters of a liquid substance seemed to plaster suddenly across the man's body.


Beish's eyes peeled open for a moment, then opened fully. It was over. And yet, it had just begun. Body parts, insides, and plenty of purple blood had been strewn across the ground, trees, and various landmarks. Ugh. Just the way to start the day. Beish found himself at the bottom of a shallow ditch as he began to sit up, squinting heavily as flashes seemed to still glint in his vision. 


Bile rose from Beish's stomach as the stench of dead things began to flood his nostrils. A shudder shook the man's frightened frame as the silence also began to set in, giving the impression that he was alone. What had happened? And more importantly, how? It appeared as though everything but himself had imploded as a result of... Something. But what? Beish could hold himself back no longer, and he turned his head away as vomit spewed from his mouth. There. That felt better. 


After a moment of absolutely nothing, Beish decided that it was time to move. The ditch he had fallen into was not steep, but was enough to hide him from careless eyes. Perhaps that was why he had been spared. His legs, shaky and like jelly, miraculously held his weight as he shifted to them, now able to see over the ditch. The outside was no better than here; in fact, it was worse. Much worse. The man felt his stomach turn once more, but he held himself back. 


But here, he could hear voice. Familiar voices. The voices from those in his party. Where were they? They seemed to come from behind a wall of shrubbery, which meant that they could not see him. A thought crept into the mind of the man, one that told him to run. Run away. Go home. Forget that anything ever happened. Nothing and no one were stopping him; he was free to choose. But Beish's conscience got the better of him.


With a stumbling gait, Beish pushed through the bushes, coming to face Aspen, Briar, Lexis, and... Erik. Oh, joyous day. The latter seemed distracted, but that was of no consequence. Beish's feelings for the man had not changed at all. The survivors seemed just as shocked as he was, and some looked even in pain. Beish's staff, which had been clutched tightly in his hand for the duration of this curious event, was now used for support as the man stiffly made his way to the group, which had gathered. 


"Good to see-" Beish's voice began to croak out in the silence, but he interrupted himself with a sudden heave. The stench was just too much for him to handle, and so he turned in disgust of himself as the remaining contents of his stomach left the way they had come.


@Huey @slayerslade666 @Angel_cassieopia @Elephantom
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Aspen watched the bushes as they rustled with movement. Then Beish came into view. She watched him, but began to take a step backward. Beish was here, but he carried a terrible stench with him.  Aspen wanted to revolt, but felt too, dizzy and sick to move on her own. But the smell made her feel sick. 


'Had he puked? He had puked. It looks like he puked. I'm going to puke! My stomach... had he been around creatures as well? I'm going to wretch.' She thought. Mind racing. 'Calm down ... count down.... 100-99-98-97-96-95-94-93-92-91-90-89-80..... where was I?' She wondered. Starting to sway as she fought to keep the stuff in her stomach in... Her eyes left Beish and stared lifelessly at the ground. 'I can't feel my head..... I can't...' She thought.  'Shush, stay up... stay awake... stay... ' She thought....


She swayed again. Fighting to keep balance. She felt her stomach twist. But she kept herself silent. Head hanging, she tapped her finger on her leg. Keeping beat with her heart. She gagged then. Reaching up with her other hand, putting it over her mouth. She tried to stop herself. But instead she felt blood coming down the left side of her head. Clotting now. In her hair. This must blood loss couldn't be good.
 
briar whipped around as the bushed rustled, her hand went to her sword as she expected to be faced with some sort of beast... Instead.. "Beish?" she spoke, confused as she sheathed the weapon. she hadn't expected him to survive, but here he was...puking his guts out. Poor bastard, clearly this was the first battlefield he'd ever seen. While Briar had seen her share, she could honestly say none were quite as repulsive as this. Still though, she kept her stomach contents down. Feeling Aspen step back, Briar moved to support her. The girl seemed ill, more so than Beish even... 


Briar moved the two of them to the side and pointed to a large rock. "Sit, you need to sit" she said, looking to the girl. Blood was running down her face, and she looked as though she might puke any second... They needed bandages, something to help staunch the bleeding... Briar was no doctor, but she'd have to try, she couldn't in good conscious leave the girl... 


Looking to Beish, Briar spoke. "Can you watch her, I'm going to look for some sort of medical supplies..."


There was the storehouse...Briar would look there first, she wasn't sure who owned it, but she had seen another blood stained person wander into it. Perhaps they would have something that could help them.


Releasing Aspen, Briar took a step back, took a breath and headed toward the store house. Someone somewhere had to have something useful...


"uh...hello?" Briar called as she approached the storehouse. "Someone there?"


@Angel_cassieopia@Handabooo @revior
 
By the time Briar had come to the storehouse, Joshua was busying himself with selecting the best of the pelts and loading them onto his wagon.


"We're closed sweetie." said Joshua from within the storehouse, "Between the attack of those little green creatures, my dead donkey, and some rainbow blood shower, I'd be hard pressed to stay."


But then he got a better look at the eye-patched lady, first taking note of her rose-patterned eye-patch and her bloodied clothes, then, the sword she wore by her side. It was at that moment, he had a thought, yes, a very good one. So with a friendlies business smile he's got, Joshua approaches the girl.


"You a sellsword? A little young aren't you? Well, that's none of my business I suppose. Anyways, you look like you need something, so how about we work something out? I'm heading up north you see, towards the mountains, so if you are willing to escort me there, I'll be more than willing to provide my service to you during the journey. I have clothing, food (most of which are for the donkey), and some medical supplies, nothing fancy though, just some herbs and bandages. So how 'bout it young lady?"


@slayerslade666
 
Briar arched an eyebrow as the man spoke. Sweetie...? she turned and looked over her shoulder, but didn't see anyone behind her. Looking back, she spoke. "I am no one's "sweetie" she said simply as the man gave her a second look. Merchants were always so pushy, if you weren't buying or selling, they weren't interested... Briar didn't work with them often, but she knew one thing. They were always looking for some sort of deal, and this guy was no exception.


Crossing her arms she looked the man up and down as he approached her and laid out his offer. she chose to ignore the comments on how young she looked. "...I'm in need of your medicinal supplies, nothing more" she said. "A comrade of mine took a blow to the head, so  the bandages would be most appreciated...as for escorting you..." she sighed. 


They were heading toward the Cave of hertz, and to be honest, Briar wasn't sure of that was to the north or not, she wasn't in charge of the map...


She debated whacking the man over the head and taking his things, he didn't look particular threatening.


Her hand went to the hilt of her sword at the thought, but after a moment she pulled away. 


"My group is on a very important journey, whether or not we escort you isn't solely up to me..." she sighed. 


The girl needed those medical supplies though.


"...if you give me the medical supplies, we can go discuss your offer with the rest of the group. But, if you refuse, and my comrade dies..." A serious light entered her eyes. "Then your pelts will be the last of your worries" she said,k it was more than a threat, it was a promise. In light of what had happened here today, they couldn't afford to lose more people... 


That girl was a member of this party, and so long as they were to be working together, Briar would do what she could to keep her, and everyone alive. 


@revior
 
Joshua eyed the young lady before him, his smiling facade was quick to fade into something much more solemn. It seems, for whatever reason, he was going to be blamed for something, a death of a person even, that he has very little to do with. He rubbed his chin, hiding his nervousness. He didn't exactly liked to be extorted, and surely, no merchant does, but it was good that this lady hadn't pulled out her sword to do so, Joshua would have just gave in before the gleam of such sharp pointy object. And, by all means, she could have pulled out her weapon and just took what she had wanted, even offered to consider his deal. Well, one would suppose a few bandages isn't worth all the risk.


"Fine, go ahead and take it, but remember, I expect payment in one form or another, I ain't a charity after all."


So he says, for dignity's sake, but he really isn't expecting her to come back. Why would she? She's got what she want.


@slayerslade666
 
Briar grinned and grabbed the supplies she needed. "I'll be back..." she said simply before leaving and walking back to her tiny party. Walking up to aspen, she looked from the bandages to the wound on her head. briar was not a doctor... 


"Uh....hold still kid" she said as she wet the rag she'd taken from the storehouse. She cleaned off the area as best she could before wrapping Aspen's head in what felt like miles of bandages. It wasn't pretty, but it was better than nothing. When it was all said and done, As[en's head was no longer bleeding freely, though she now looked a bit like a zombie, as Briar has used all the bandages...


"Okay...now that your no longer bleeding..." She looked to the rest of her party. 


"The merchant who gave me these medical supplies has asked that we escort him north...he seems keen on getting out of here..." as they all were, she was sure. "I figured I'd ask you all before giving him an answer..."


she looked to beish, erik and the other young woman who's name she really...really needed to learn. They were all Briar had left, the least she could do was learn their names... 


@Handabooo @Angel_cassieopia @YanaAi @Elephantom @revior
 
Erik was about to say something again, when the two figures had to jest and compel him to obliterate them — only compel, for he failed to know of any method of destroying them, without hurting himself. And even then, what are the chances that they wouldn't latch onto Beish? That man had absolutely no willpower, not in the slightest. He'd be cutting his wrists off of his hand. It would most certainly be a grizzly sight, although it would be a fitting side to the scene that had taken place. It wasn't wholesome, the orgy of fury that sat before him on the plains, the blood glistening under the morning light, and decorating the grasses and torn clothes with blood. He hadn't seen anything like it, only heard stories of it. 


It would a folly to say he wasn't feeling nervous, nor terribly anxious. Sweat poured down from his forehead, roving steadily across his muddy cheeks. His hair was messy and dirty, so was his attire, which were filled with grime from the forest floor and the trees. Smelled like shit, too. He looked like he'd seen a hell lotta hell, if that was even a plausible term to describe it as. 


His inquisition into this matter was hopefully thorough — at least, its dismal start was — until the two punks started mentioning past figures, and pulling his ear — certainly, a very lackluster way of attracting attention. Erik had a stable enough ego, neither too fragile nor too concrete, but even then, those two wraiths drove him to anger with each minuscule word of theirs. They knew a lot of history, a lot of them. As they seemed to know a shit load of stuff, but what irked Erik was their repeated, forced inclusion into his personal decision-making. Combine those two, and you've got an angry man.


By now, he was fuming and frothing through the mouth, resembling more a maniac straight from an asylum, rather than a farmer whose life depends around onions and turnips. He tried to shrug off the two banditos — didn't work. He tried to shove them away with his hands — it was a no-clip feature, a double at that. He drew off his hardy cloak, and tried to brush them off with it — you could probably guess what happened.


"Doh!" Erik's eyes were bloodshot, and the wrinkles in his face exaggerated beyond limits. Remnants of attempts to remain cool were present in his subtle tone, though, it was by means, driven completely by rage. He threw another huge hook towards them, only for it to go around them and hit himself, truly. He staggered back out of the forest line, and hit the bloodied ground — just an inch shy from coating his clothes with invulnerable filth, and for that, Erik felt a tiny sliver of boorish happiness. Though, he certainly didn't learn the lesson from his previous encounter, as he still punched himself. 


The good thing was, nobody actually might've seen that. They were busy with their own affairs. He raised himself up, his crippled knee crackling with piercing pain right up to his jaws. While getting up was a chore for most people, for him, it was a stupid adventure for him. It was painful, very painful. Even as he got up, fiery pain still licked his leg. Good thing was, he'd gotten used to it a long time ago. With the assistance of his still-intact hands, and a broken branch, he lifted himself up, slightly wear over here, slightly bruised over there. He realized that brooding over those two nutjobs would be utterly fruitless.


He brushed off the dry dust off from his torso and his cloak, before rotating towards one of the women, who left the place in quite the hurry. He realized he had glossed over the past few minutes in his furious state. There was the other girl, the youngin', in pain. Squinting his eyes, he approached the centre with great caution, taking care not to step on one of the many pools of blood. His expression twisted from anger to a grimace borne of disgust. He looked, and he looked. Beish was alive, not quite well in terms of health, but alive all the same. Erik also deduced that he had a weak stomach. It finely complimented his even weaker will. 


He looked towards them all. Serious, if not overly dense for the moment.


"We've suffered a lot of casualties here, even more questions, I'd say." He rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, more out of habit than wariness. "And I'd be lyin' if I said that these ain't impeding our journey." 


"But, I'm afraid we must hasten." He looked towards Beish. "And maybe strengthen our will, too." 


Erik found himself on the eve of his brief, gathering speech. Something he had previously assumed he'd never say again. "Loot these bodies, take any item that has even the slightest worth. I figure there's a lot more coming towards our way." 


Internally, he sighed. Who, of worthwhile nature, was there to listen to him? Anyone, at all? This very knowledge often made him miss the camaraderie that existed between him and his past friends. It was thin, perhaps a bit too vulgar, but it was always of a good nature.


As he limped a bit further, the women came back. Bearing with her, terrible knowledge. It seemed as if she succeeded in procuring medicine, that was good news, but she procured it from a sleazy merchant, and that was shit with all four corners intact. Spelled trouble, real trouble. Sleazy merchants were and are a massive liability, if there already wasn't a certain cartographer with skill problems. 


"What!?" Erik almost shrieked. Due to his strained throat, and his dry mouth, it seemed more like a squeak. He lost all his hard-earned density, as anger overcame him, yet again.


"Who the 'ell is this doggone lad?" Erik sputtered out with great difficult, maintaining a bare medium of civility. He regained his posture, forcing a grin. Too sharp, too broad to be of mirth.


"Lead me to him. I'll negotiate a more 'better' offer." He coolly rubbed his hands, in faux anticipation, and a pinch of vile intent.


[SIZE= 12px]@Squirrel Man Huey[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 12px]@Handabooo[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 12px]@slayerslade666[/SIZE]


[SIZE= 12px]@Angel_cassieopia[/SIZE]
 
Aspen felt her stomach churn as Beish approached. She threw her arms at him as if to block him away. She knew now there was no stopping it, the small amount of food in her stomach began to float through her throat. She leaned over the rock in which she was placed. 


She watched as liquid spilled over the grass and into the soil. Which, in turn, made her wanna puke more. But soon she was stretching up thin air. She shook, and shook. Skin paled and eyes empty she played on the rock. Wishing to die.


'Oh the pain. Oh the pain that is in my head.' She thought 're already. Let me die! Let me curl up and stop my breathing' She clutched her stomach. Closing her eyes she focused on breathing. But it was ragged and hurt. 


As she heard walking, she looked up to find Beish walking back towards the group. She seemed to, pass out then. Falling asleep. To weak to keep her eyes from closing.


@Handabooo


@slayerslade666


@Elephantom
 
Last edited by a moderator:
It all seemed like a dream. No, a nightmare. No, it wasn't really so frightening anymore; it was more of the uncertainty that led Beish to want to melt into a puddle of embarrassment. He was a mess, a weakling, a pile of goo that wanted to be recognized by none. But the man also realized that he was not the worst off here, as always. Aspen seemed to be hurting, Erik seemed confused, and Briar was being left in charge. 


Beish, as soon as his heaving stopped, decided to straighten up. He took a deep breath, doing his best to ignore the metallic scent of blood, and opened his eyes. He wished he hadn't, as before, but this time he decided to ignore anything that would serve as barfing material. Aspen indeed needed aid, as the bandage on one side of her head was matted with blood.


She had also appeared to be talking to herself, but that didn't matter, her tiny body began to sway, then slump to one side. Her eyes were closed, and her skin was too pale to be normal. Beish, barely able to walk himself, ran to the girl's side and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Aspen. Aspen, don't do that. Open your eyes again." The man gave her a slight shake, hoping to reawaken her.


"Briar... I need you to go back to our camp. Find my bag. Find my books. I need my books." Beish was not used to taking charge, and it frightened him, almost more than the gore-y mess that surrounded him. But he did know that his books could take charge. His books would know what to do. There was one in particular that held a guide on many wild plants, and it was possible that he could find something to held Aspen. Perhaps even something to calm his nerves. No, only hard drugs could do that.


"Erik... Erik, please don't kill anyone. No looting. No more death." Beish's voice cracked, and he suspected that he sounded like a madman. He didn't want to tell Erik what to do, but what else was to be done? No one was taking charge! And while he was the least qualified to do so, he was at least collectively smarter than the rest. Beish suspected that Erik had no knowledge of how to read, and that Briar had never had a proper education. As far as Aspen went... Well, it was never to late to start with her numbers. She seemed to love to count, but never made it very far.


@Angel_cassieopia @Elephantom @slayerslade666 @Squirrel Man Huey
 
Last edited by a moderator:


 
​


"WEAKNESS!" The purple figure screamed as he ripped at Erik's ear.
​


 
​


"HE MUST PAY FOR HIS INSOLENCE!" The teal figure screamed into Erik's other ear as he beat Erik's ear lobe like a punching bag.
​


 
​


"Destroy him!"
​


 
​


"How dare he think to defy you! Show him your rein is merciless!"
​


 
​


"Administer your justice!"
​
 
Briar blinked, surprised at Beish's words. it wasn't like him to...take charge... "I don't take orders from you...however..."


She looked to the injured girl, and then to Erik, and sighed. Aspen needed treatment, and Beish's books could help with that. Beish sounded like a mad man, with his voice cracking and the like...


But he wanted t help, Briar as willing t give him that... But they all needed to leave, this place was covered in blood and gore, and there was no sense of sticking around... Briar leaned down and very, very carefully picked up the injured Aspen, Briar was stronger than she looked, and Aspen wasn't very heavy. "Beish, how about we all go back to camp..." she looked to the nervous man and then back to Erik. "There's no need for more death and looting, the merchant I talked to won't cause us trouble..." She would go back and deal with him after Aspen was taken care of. Looking between the two men Briar started walking back to am, carrying Aspen with her.


@Handabooo@Elephantom
 
Aspen was dreaming. Dreaming, more like wishing, imagining. 


Aside was little again and with her family. She giggled, playing swordfight with her father. "DADDY!" She yelled when she got her finger hit by his wooden sword. She would laugh through the tears and he would pick her up and swing her around. She laughed and laughed. Until her mother told him to stop. Then they would make things. Make rope out of bark and grass, and pillows out of leaves and straw. 


"Mommy?" She asked. "What was that shadow?" She asked, pointing to a figure in the border of the woods. Her mother smiled, though her eyes were grim. "It's just your imagination my little tree" she'd reply and Aspen would go back to whatever she was doing. 


Aspen was in the woods now. She carried a small blade and was waving it around. She saw a hurt squirrel and bent down to help it. She examined the wound carefully, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the shadow again. "Hello?!" She called, trying to be brave. "Whos there?!" She put her hand on her blade, then picked up the squirrel. A loud growl sounded and she took a step back. A large dog like animal stepped out of the shadows, bearing it's teeth. Aspen gasped then, turned to run, her little feet carrying her fast. She looked at the squirrel in her hand and began to climb up a tree, moving it to her shoulder.


The wolf growled and tried to get her, but she was too high up. Then she saw as a familiar black blade swung and cut the wolves head off. Aspen saw her father's friendly face, which was contorted into a frown. But softened when he saw her. "DADDY!" She yelled, happy to see him. "We have to help this squirrel!" She said. And her father laughed, it had surprised him that that was what she said.


Once back at their camp her father and mother started to prepare the wolf for dinner. Aspen helped the little squirrel. And the squirrel stayed with her. 


The next day, was the day of her parents death. 


@Handabooo


@slayerslade666


@Elephantom


@Squirrel Man Huey
 
Last edited by a moderator:
She was walking now. When did she move? Where was she headed?                            


Ah, yes. Back to the camp. Apparently, Beish had brought it upon himself to take charge of their group. Or what was left of it.


Lexis followed silently behind Thorn. The past few minutes were a blur to the young woman, her eyes as empty as the hole they’ve dug themselves into. Questioning the Kurator was on the forefront of her mind. What started as a deific quest has turned into a tale of death—did the gods knew of it? Did the elders understand the fact that they were sending them off to their deaths? How was she to tell of this horror? Will she even live to tell the tale?


Her sights set on the sword that Thorn kept by her side. If nothing else, she will need to learn how to protect herself. The man her teacher had requested her protection of was dead. She would likely succumb to a similar fate as they continue on this perilous journey.


“Wait.” She pulled on the hem of the mercenary’s armor. “My…my dagger…” Lexis mumbled. “I lost it.”


@slayerslade666
 
Briar stopped as she felt someone tugging on her cloak, pausing she turned around and saw the other young girl, whom she'd taken to referring to as "Howie's Shadow". She supposed now that wasn't an option. "Your dagger...?" she arched an eyebrow.


She hadn't though the girl had any weapons, but she supposed even the young lore keeper needed to protect herself. Briar would probably have to teach her to do that now...


"We can come back for your dagger, we need to get this one" she motioned to the unconscious Aspen in her arms, "To camp so Beish can treat her..." she sighed.


"I'll walk back with you once that's taken care of, I need to go talk to that merchant I...traded with so..." she shrugged and went back to walking.


...What's your name again...?" she asked, looking back at the girl. Briar was never good with socializing, especially with other young woman, she figured it was because of all the awful parties she'd attended in her youth.


@YanaAi
 
Erik looked back and forth between the apparently conscious woman and the Beish, the veins around his forehead and his sinewy neck bulging and pulsing, threatening to burst open at a moment's notice. As you can imagine, his impulse was at its breaking point. It was all one could take as evidence of his faltering sanity, and gaining rage. Gaining rage, it was for certain. Beish was hardly someone with the ability to take charge, much less someone who had even the mildest sliver of strength, or the will, needed to take charge. He was, as Erik decided to name him, Beish the Weakest. The youthful man was, bluntly, unfit for heavy duty — had he been slightly more aloof, a bit more dumb, than something might had been arranged for him. But that wasn't the case here, and neither was Erik going to be merciful at the slightest with him.


He took a deep breath, and lifted his head, shaking it lightly. The girl was naive, not entirely though, and the Beish was naive too, extremely. Erik failed to distinguish between them, their outrageous hive mentality, though from what he absorbed from right now, they were seriously ill-learned in the ways of war. Especially the Weakest. They were spreading it around too, like a contagious disease, what so with the hasty inclusion of a merchant he never even met. Who knows what that damn merchant was planning? Rip the group off? Constantly berate the group on the lack of luxuries such as a hot bath? Erik knew that the town was two small for two Beish, and that the others failed to acknowledge; fact is, they might've done so deliberately. Beish's only possible skill was his navigating mumbo-jumbo, and even then, his horse knew better on what to do. It's only a matter of time before the group finds themselves flying- over a cliff. So it goes. 


Their stance on looting was dismal too, apparently oblivious to the fact that it's a bold necessity, not excluding the prospect of killing, and if you're averse to them, they only come to bite you back hard. Brutally.


The two figures started babbling again. Erik silently wondered whether the others were able to see them or not. Either way, Erik could just pretend he couldn't see them. Or hear them. It was quite difficult, though. Their voices were so annoyingly thin, that Erik wished he had some reed he could plug into his ears. Unfortunately, there wasn't any sign of reed here, and then again, Erik wasn't sure they'd serve as a fine barrier against sound.


Brooding was, ultimately, useless. Erik bit his chapped lips and observed the remainder of the group, all the while pretending those two punks didn't exist. The girl went away to the campsite, along with the unconscious girl. Deterred by just a single scratch, a tick and a knock to the head; she should've been happy she didn't lose a limb or half of her jaws, and that was only the tip of the iceberg. Last woman standing was, by the looks of it, only Beish, dumbstruck and bedraggled as always. And judging by his fidgety mannerisms, he was quite scared of the notion of death, and looting. Crazy guy, who the hell was scared of taking items nobody is going to probably ever use? Or kill people who'd likely be killed later on? He had to smack some senses into him, literal or otherwise.


He looked- no, glared at Beish, furious as always. "Look here, kid. I dun' care about your compunction about," he waved his hand around the bodies briefly, "looting or somethin'. But if ya' want to live, and I'm guessing that livin' is what you're aimin' for, then you gotta do loot em'. Can't stay a sissy forever." Erik said, dryly. 


"And we also have to bury, eh, them." He gestured towards the body parts, strewn across the floor. Quite a grizzly sight, but something he would definitely wish against enemies.


He hunched to the ground, picked up a partially-bloodied shovel, and tossed it towards Beish. It was probably used as a weapon once. "So, I've been thinking- and I've been thinkin' for a while now- that staying with these maniacs will be the death of us. I say we take whatever that we find, and go to Herz on our own."


"Ah, shit." He cursed under his breath, having pricked a finger on the dull edge of a shovel-esque weapon — it wasn't a tool, exactly. Looked very ugly, but it was flat enough to hold its fair share of dirt.


"Firstly, we gotta get our stuff. Then, we gotta scrounge whate'er items we can find, in the town next doors." A sickly grin spread across his face. Failed to suit his bearded face, though, nothing really suited his woefully ugly face.


He looked at the bodies. Despite their abysmal, broken state — and so much, that distinguishing them from one another was mighty hard. Of course, it wouldn't still be right of him to discard them so easily for the vultures to pick on. No, that would be dishonorable. And there was no way that he was going to let that lazy Beish go off work-free. Every man had to his part, fair and circle. That was the infinitesimal way of life.


He dug his shovel-thing into the ground, slashing at it for a while, before tugging the dirt away from the ground. It was going to take some time, that was for sure.


@Handabooo


@Squirrel Man Huey
 
Last edited by a moderator:


 
​


Clashing and banging was heard throughout the small village. Survivors were waking up.
​


 
​


"GERALD!" Crying and wailing followed the scream. Others echoed it with various names.
​


 
​


The village, cut into a quarter of what it was, was mourning publicly. Gore covered women and children, a few men as well, wandered aimless like zombies, tears cleaning awkward streaks down their faces as they looked upon what their hard work had become.
​


 
​


Every member of the group could feel the evil energy that was filling the village. Something bad was coming.
​
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Satu. 
​


Dare we utter your venerable name?
​


Dare we come to you in prostrated form
​


To offer what little praise we can give?
​


Grant us your insurmountable strength
​


Bestow upon us the will to do yours
​


Never shall we end your gospel
​


We are unpure
​


But still we strive
​


Give us clarity
​


Give us light
​


Never shall we fail you
​


All hail and praise to Satu the Pure
​


May he light our paths with truth.
​


 
​


These words had given Beish strength before. They had filled him with pride, fortitude, and the ability to carry on. Satu was his savior. Satu knew right from wrong, and he was pure. Beish knew that he was far from this heavenly goal, but that never meant he stopped trying. On the contrary, Beish was a true and devoted follower of Satu. But what did that really mean?


It meant perfection, and nothing less. Beish knew that what he was doing at this very moment was anything but. He needed to change. He needs to spread the welcoming light of Satu to all, and that even meant Erik. How would one get through to the man? Beish had no idea. Could he even try? Would Erik kill him? The man didn't seem a religious type, but even if he was, he would probably think Beish was crazy. 


Death was not a prospect that Beish looked forward to, whatever it brought. He had a life to live, a father to care for, answers to find. It couldn't end here... Could it? Was this his destiny? Beish felt it couldn't be so. He had a much more glorious end in mind.


"Heathen." The word began as a quiet whisper, perhaps too quiet for Erik to even hear. But as Beish turned to the man, his face twisted into what one could only call rage. "Sacrilege. I cannot-" Beish let out a sigh of impatience as he pointed at Erik with an accusing finger. "You're already damned, Erik. I suspect you know it yourself. Satu will-" Yet again, Beish found himself at a folly, unable to continue. The shovel that had been tossed to him now shifted in his his hands, turning over and over. His mind was doing the same thing, pondering the prospect of splitrying the group.


Lexis was smart. Together with Briar, she could take care of Aspen, who had not been mortally wounded, but still needed a good bit of assistance. What he didn't want was to travel with Erik, but that couldn't be helped. That man seemed intent on dragging Beish with him to the cave.


"Fine. To the cave we shall go. But know that my eyes will stay as sharp as any blade on this damned ground." Beish struck angrily into the dirt with his tool, shoveling piles of dirt and stone aside to make the beginnings of a pit. "Make no mistake. I will kill you if I see need."


@Elephantom
 
Aspen started to wake up. Her eyes opened slowly. Where, where was she? She tried to move but realized she was being carried. She looked around. What was that noise? She felt her stomach churn again and groaned. 
 
Briar looked down as Aspen groaned. "Coming around re we?" she spoke. They were back at camp now, Briar set the injured girl down and took another look at her head. The injury didn't look fatal, though it would likely leave a scar. 'You took a hit to the head, try not to move too much, alright?" she stood and looked backk to the village. She could see Beish and Erick, though she wasn't sure what they were doing. 


There was that merchant in the village, Briar figured she should go talk to him again. He had given them supplies after all. She looked back down to the injured girl. "...Child...I need you to stay put,I'll be gone but a moment" she sighed as she started back toward the village. Something dark was coming, briar could feel it in her bones. However, she couldn't in good conscious leave that trader after he had helped her. 


Making her way back down to the village, she returned to the place she'd met with the man. Poking her head insdie, she check to see if he was about. 


"If you want to come with us, we are leaving, as soon as possible". 


She didn't want to be here when whatever was coming, arrived. It left Briar feeling uncertain. Their group had all but fallen apart, with Erick acting strange, and Beish off with him. One girl was hurt the other shell shocked. This journey had not turned out as she'd expected it to. 


@revior
 
Oh Gerald, you will certainly be missed, what with you goody-two-shoe personality that would have came across as meddling if it weren't for your charming looks, such were Joshua's thoughts as he heard the name being cried from afar. He never did like the guy, probably because he was jealous of his popularity, even reminded him of his sister somewhat. But well, now he's dead, and Joshua is not, so unless he would like that to change, he'd better get a move on before even more trouble makers shows up.


Speaking of trouble maker, Joshua was surprised when the young sellsword showed up again, offering to let him travel with her and her fellow mates. Talk about a pleasant surprise, but of course, Joshua didn't quite see it that way. After all, smooth sailing was never exactly what his life could be call, though even he would admit that quite a few of his troubles were cause by your's truly, so when it comes to things that seemed too good to be true he expects things to go bad. For example for this lady to so easily agree to his terms when she could have just ran off with his supplies, there must be a catch. Perhaps they'll rob him once far enough away from the town, perhaps they'll sell him into slavery for spare coins, or worse yet, his sister had decided that it's high time for him to repay his debt and placed a bounty on his head in advance, knowing full well that he couldn't possibly pay.


"Well then, let us go then." he replied the girl with a refreshing smile.


That's right, who cares about some paranoia about misfortune, no, THIS, this right here is what's important.


"Also, your friend looks rather unwell, she can ride of my wagon if she want. In fact, I insist, the pelts I have on there should make her more than comfortable, that's a Amile branch merchant's guild guarantee. You'll have to help me pull though."


Indeed, what's important right now is that he no longer has to pull his wagon alone. Yes, this girl, she'll be Donkey I.V, so thought the shrew merchant, laughing maniacally in his head.


@slayerslade666 @Angel_cassieopia
 
Last edited by a moderator:
"You better get out of your delusion, Beish. There are tougher adversaries than me that's out there in the wilds. Worry about them first." Erik replied, his face twisting into a morose frown. Beish had, undoubtedly, suffered his fair share of trauma in the past few days — more so than he himself, for Beish is an ill-equipped adventurer, mentally and physically. He thought, few could blame Beish for the sudden shift. Erik fell into the category of those few. It'd take a lot of effort to burrow into his thick, flaky exterior. That man was a mystery, and not a mystery at the same time. That itself was a mystery.


"So, to simplify things. We either get along," He paused, letting the words settle in, "or we become feed for the vultures. Your choice." His usual bluntness at its finest, spat out concisely and with a seasoning of coldness. 


Beish's behaviour, at certain times, were simply incomprehensible; a mediocre man amongst a mediocre crowd who just can't help but cling to old beliefs. Stupid old, but still trying to be a 'hip' cartographer. Might be that, or it might be because he himself is on the opposite spectrum of religiosity. Either way, it didn't matter much, not unless Beish decides to run amok the wilderness and slay his infernal bits. One part utterly maniacal, two parts unexpectedly painful. Erik winced. It would be unexpected, very unexpected.


The dirt cascaded with each other, as it shifted on the burrowed grounds and the bloody carcasses it held. Hew the ground, jerk the ground out. Very easy. The sight, however, was gruesome to the eyes — difficult to consume — though for the most part, Erik digested it in a wooden manner. 


The shovel, or at least the thing that seemed similar to it, eased much of his work; the job itself wasn't difficult at all, since most of the bodies had blended together by the aftermath of the explosive anomaly. Explosive anomaly. What could it be? Erik had failed to observe it properly. but there existed hints of colours in it. Like a doggone rainbow or something. Maybe, after they reach their destination, they'd get know the truth. Maybe.


Erik wiped off a dripping sweat from his brows with his wrist, and casted a quick glance towards Beish, who was toiling and working hard like he should, but with a foul mouth too. Speaking to him would be eerily similar to speaking with a stone, or worse, a filthy stone.


Of course, Erik had lots of time to pontificate about his position, which he hadn't done so properly in this entire situation. Lots of time, for this conundrum lasted probably only an hour or so. Still early in the morning, Erik supposed. However, predicting the accurate time was more difficult than he initially thought so; the sky was just a steely slate of gray, covering the sun with a thin coat clouds. Could be an overcast, could be the coming of rain, he wasn't a weather forecaster nor a fortune teller, however. Perhaps, Beish had some skills in it. Perhaps.


Nevertheless, bigger matters existed. Bigger questions. Orcs and goblins, their existence Erik knew to be false and only mythic in nature, suddenly appeared? Did this mean that more mightier creatures existed beyond this plane? A higher being? And what about him? Why him, of all people? Why suddenly now? And most importantly, where's the answers? The cave of Herz was the obvious answer or so it seemed, but Erik remained largely sceptical and unchanged.


Erik let out a sigh. Agonizing over this matter would useless at its best, and harmful at its worst. 


He stabbed the ground with his tool, finished with patting and smoothing the ground. It was a shallow grave, the blood gushing out of the thin layer of dirt as the shovel made contact with it, but it was still a grave nonetheless. A lot better than lying senseless and still, underneath a furious orgy of insects. Under the blistering heat of the sun. He knew less of his acquaintances, and to call them friends would be a dire mistake, but a grave was something the dead were entitled to. Something he owed to his recently deceased companions, though true fellowship never existed between them.


"Done." Erik dropped the shovel on the ground, then tightening his grip on his sword. It was morning alright, though a dusky one — dismal weather, Erik supposed. 


Just leading out from the clearing, was a narrow pathway, probably made by explorers or the goblins, which jutted out from the clearing towards what he presumed was the village. Erik strode up to it, sliding into the darkened road with much ease, before walking along it. Each step were taken with added caution, so as to not tumble over a tough rock or a root that stuck out. Leaves and thin branches cracked under the weight of his shoulder shoves, but at last, he reached what resembled a village. Lagna was bigger, definitely. Erik could hear the faint sounds of commotion and disturbance from distant lands, probably coming from the villagers and their hasty exodus from these lands.


Erik let out a brief chuckle. To be so easily intimidated by these so-called beasts.


He landed on the hardy floor with a thud, stumbling by because of his weak leg before finally reaching a stable position. He let out a heave of relief, and then continued onwards, determination deep within his veins and his mind. 


"The first thing we need is food, some weapons, a mule and, eh, stuff. We better do it fast, lest some baffled authorities catch a gist of our doings. We don't want more blood on our hands, do we?" Erik's lips formed into what could vaguely be described as a smile. 


"Take the lead, Beish. You're nimble and fast, a great scout." Erik said, his eyes and his focus deeply set on the village.
 


@Handabooo
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
Back
Top