Lua smirked at her mentor's retort as they followed Shiara out of the crypt. She stopped immediately at Lucian's command while he retrieved the head. The apprentice gave a quick nod and another “Yes, sir” at his order to investigate the hanged man's home. Thankfully, the air was growing fresher with every step the group took towards the exit. Finally, the only stench remaining, Lua realized, was themselves.

When they stepped back into the drizzle, Lua's eyes widened. Her ancestors had told tales of giants and demigods, though Lua had never before believed in them until she laid eyes upon the mountain of a man waiting for them outside the catacombs. Her mother's bed-time stories seemed all too real as she surveyed Kapti. His initial tone of hostility caused the young raven lord to tense. The crossbow raised slightly in reflex but Lua hesitated to aim. He was still far too docile to be one of the Cursed. His thick accent, however, was difficult for her to interpret and she wasn't sure if he was friend or foe.

Her evident insecurity was soon replaced with a sudden frown once his words began to process. He certainly wasn't dressed like nobility, nor a constable, so by what authority was this person demanding to know their business? Was everyone in Kenfort determined to question them? Mergoux stepped forward and bid this new stranger to call the law or get out of their way. A rare smile, different from her subtle smirk, flashed across the apprentice's face. Lua was liking this woman more by the minute.

The massive man's demeanor changed and Lua visibly relaxed. He offered to have their armor cleaned on his own coin, and her suspicion returned. She glanced at Lucian to see if he appeared to share her apprehension. The man reiterated his question about the contents of the still-moving bag hanging from Lucian's belt. She bit her tongue barely in time to keep from spitting a remark about minding one's own business at their interrogator. The question had been posed to Lucian and she would let him answer, though she resented wasting their dwindling time.

---

Lucian was thankful to be out of the sewer finally, though he was troubled by what he'd seen in it's depths. The curse was spreading quickly but Lucian was racking his brain as to the how and why. How long had it been affecting the city? Not long he imagined, otherwise it would have been overrun days ago. That meant the curse must have found it's way to Kenfort at least two days ago, three at most. So how did it find it's way here? The last village they'd found that had been touched by the Cursed was miles away. It must mean that there was somewhere else that had been hit.

'Goddess damn it. I pray the others have found it and put an end to it quickly lest the country side be infested with these things' the Old Raven thought. Lucian then watched as a titan of a man came towards them with a maul in hand. His accent was very thick but Lucian understood what the man was asking. He looked the man over a bit unimpressed. He was big, this was true, but big didn't mean dangerous. He seemed more frightened by them than anything, or at least surprised by them. Lucian didn't see any armor, any identifying patches, so that made him a civilian. He then motioned to the bag and instructed him to dump it. Lucian scowled.

"No" he said. Plain and simple, as though it were God making a decree. He seemed intent on beating the lot of them until Mergoux approached and the smell hit him. He quickly clenched his nose and said that they'd proven their point of not being dangerous and that they could have their arms and armor cleaned at the Smithie near the keep. It was appreciated greatly but time was of the essence and Lucian was accustomed to the smell for the moment as the massive man asked what was in the bag. Lucian however remembered him speaking of voices from the dark. The Cursed attempting to lure him in and turn him. Good thing they arrived when they did. Shiara spoke of moving everyone of Kenfort here for safety but that the ground had become unconsecrated. He shook his head with a grunt.

"It wouldn't matter anyway. The Cursed would still attack regardless of consecrated ground or not. We've dealt with what's in the sewers at least and I can rest easy knowing that but there are more in the poor districts who have yet to strike. When the sun goes down, they'll attack" he said with a grunt. The giant of a man once more asked what was in the bag and Lucian sighed. He opened the burlap sack, careful not to put his fingers near the things mouth as he grabbed it by the tuft of it's hair and pulled it out for the man to see. His began to grimace and click it's teeth quickly as the sun seemed to begin scorching the skin very slowly, it's eyes blistering and becoming bloody as Lucian quickly put the head back.

"We just barely managed to kill 5 of these things down their and the city has more of them that will attack once the sun goes down. I need to go to the Lord now. Lua, once your done at the house, get back across the bridges and instruct the locals to begin evacuating the slums. Guards will be at the bridges with dogs to weed out those Cursed and those who are not. The moment they detect even ONE Cursed, I'm raising the bridges and closing off the slums; regardless if all are across the bridge" he said sternly. Which included her he meant. She'd need to be fast to get over the bridges lest she be trapped in the poor district just before the Cursed began flooding the streets and killing all in sight.

@Overlord Thraka
@Rosenrot
@Parzivol
@shylarah

Lua did not miss Kapti's faltering accent. Her eyes narrowed and her thick brows furrowed. She was making no effort to hide her suspicion but she hadn't time to pursue it, yet. Whatever he was hiding was surely nothing in comparison to a city overrun by the Cursed. “Yes, Sir.” She muttered in response to Lucian. The apprentice thrust the crossbow back into her mentor's hands none too gently, if only because her focus still lingered on Kapti. She knew Lucian would not hesitate to leave her behind if it would keep the Cursed from overtaking the city, and she didn't take it personally. He'd left comrades behind before. She'd seen it, and she'd do the same to him if there were ever a need. The only thing that mattered was putting an end to the Curse.

While Mergoux returned to the inn, Lua jogged north. Looking for another gate would only waste the precious little time she had, so she scaled the cemetery fence and landed in the slums. At least the rain seemed to be washing away some of the stench, or so she thought. The expressions on others' faces as she passed told her otherwise.

Getting directions to the hanged man's house was difficult. No one wanted to talk to a shit-reeking stranger, especially not about such nasty business, until she flashed a couple of coins. Anything that would hasten her mission was worth the literal price, though she was loathed to part with what little money she had. Fortunately, even copper pieces were enough to loosen lips in this part of the city. Soon, she was standing in front of the ruined house. Like all the others too close-by, it was really more like a shack. Simply four walls and a roof, though two of the walls and most of the roof had already collapsed.

Inside, she picked through the rubble. There was very little to be found, and none of it useful. A few broken toys, a pile of straw and torn fabric that had probably been a mattress. Lua looked up through the broken roof to the darkening sky. The shadows were growing long around her. At nightfall, she'd be trapped in the slums. If she was lucky, she'd dead by morning. More likely, though, she'd end up among the Cursed.

The apprentice kicked at the straw-pile with a frustrated scream. The debris shifted. There was still enough light left for Lua to see a book sticking out from underneath a fallen beam. With a little effort, she lifted the wood and pulled the book, some kind of crudely-crafted journal, free. Excitedly, she dropped the beam and began flipping through the pages. With a groan, the house collapsed.

---

A high-pitched trill accompanied Lua's waking. Her eyes opened to the last bit of gray daylight and a pulse of adrenaline surged through her. The falling house had been enough to knock her out for a time, but there simply wasn't enough structure left to truly injure her. All the same, no one had dared approach the already-damned place, so it was up to Lua to pull herself from the rubble. She snatched up the book, and was off.

To the surprise of the few people near-by, the stranger emerged from the collapsed house at a full sprint. Despite the black wall of night looming ever further across the sky, her pace slowed suddenly. As Lucian had said, the slums were being evacuated. All of the poor were crowding like cattle towards the checkpoint at the end of the bridge. Lua shouldered her way through as far as she could. It was slow, but she was making progress.

Some distance ahead still, a dog began barking like mad. A familiar voice called out “Raise the bridges!”

Her arms seemed to move on their own as Lua pushed through the crowd. The screams around her seemed miles away. The sensations of the bodies crushing against her was faint. For the first time in many years, Lua felt helpless. The guards and their dogs were nearly halfway across the bridge. They shouted as the bridge split before them and started rising. Instinct overcame the young Raven Lord. In the mere moments she had left to do so, Lua made a decision.

---

Across the river, the book appeared from the dark, unaccompanied. It sailed over the rising end of the bridge and slid into the lantern-light.

Then, there was a loud thunk against the bridge itself. A collective gasp rose from the crowd, followed by total silence as all waited. Two hands appeared a second later, gripping the top of the bridge. Slippery fingers nearly lost their grip before an arm hooked over the top. A strained groan grew to a roar as Lua pulled herself over. She landed in the mud, heavily but on her feet.

Without a word, she picked up the journal and shoved it into Lucian's chest. There was blood on her hands and shame in her eyes, but she was alive.

---

Lucian looked to the large man, Van Ken he believed he'd called himself and sighed; shaking his head.

"They're already doomed. They were doomed the moment the Curse found it's way into the city. The city can still be saved but we can't save everyone. If we try to save them all, we doom them all to the fates of this damned creature in my bag. If you wish to accompany me than by all means try and keep up. Lua, hop to it. Time is of the essence" he grunted. Lucian took his crossbow back as Lua got to work, the Old Raven leaving for Kenfort Keep with Kapti in toe. He knew what his plan sounded like. It sounded cold, insane, evil perhaps. Lucian however understood that sacrifice had to be made. Lucian couldn't weed out the Cursed in time to make a difference. It was impossible. It would take the full strength of the Raven Lord's or at least the combined efforts of several Raven Priests. Lucian sighed as he walked through the Fort's gates, approaching Kenfort Castle. He wished one of the Priests were here. They would improve the chances of stopping the Curse from spreading to the extent Lucian had to allow to properly stop it.

The guards looked towards them and Lucian gave them a look. Perhaps it was his look, perhaps they recognized Kapti, but they didn't stop them, merely parted to allow the men through. They seemed official enough as they proceeded for Lord Hargreave's throne room. Hargreave began to stand.

"Who are you? What is this?!" he said. Lucian raised a hand to show him that he meant no harm.

"I mean no harm Lord Hargreave and we have very little time. Your city and it's people are in danger and unless you wish to be Lord of a graveyard you will listen to what I have to say" he said. The lord frowned.

"Guards! Escort these men out!" he said. Lucian scowled and removed the sack from his belt throwing it towards the lord. The head rolled out, snapping and looking around for living flesh to bite as the guards backed up, whispering prayers. The lord jumped back into his throne. "Good Lord...." he whispered.

"That is the fate of every man, woman, and child here if we do not act accordingly and quickly. Once the sun has dipped below the horizon, they will attack and spread like a fire" the Old Raven said.

Lord Hargreave looked up and once more, asked who he was. Lucian stood up straighter and breathed deep.

"I am Lord Lucian Barret, esteemed member of the Raven Lords; defender of the living from the the clutches of the damned. My apprentice and I tracked the Curse here and found it has taken root in your cities slums. I need your help to stop this from spreading anymore than it has to" he said. Hargreave seemed ready to listen now as Lucian explained what he needed from Kenfort's lord.

---

Lucian stood between the two bridges, guards standing at attention and spears out and ready. 4 dogs were stationed at the bridges, 2 for each as the people from the slums came swarming in. The dogs sniffed and seemed friendly enough but it wouldn't be for long. The cities guardsmen had been instructed to close all gates of the city and keep them locked. No one was getting in or out until Lord Barret said so. Should one of the dogs begin to bark and snarl, they were to push the people coming through back and raise the bridges. No one was to get through after that. Lucian kept a mental note of the people coming through, counting them as best as he could. The sun was lit up like a campfire but the warm oranges and reds were soon giving way to purples and dark blues.

'Damn it Lua, where are you?' he thought in annoyance.

BARK BARK BARK! BARK BARK BARK!

The dogs on the left bridge began to bark and charge at the crowd. They'd smelled someone cursed. It seemed his apprentice would have to survive on the other side of the bridge then.

"RAISE THE BRIDGES!" he shouted over he chaos. The guards nodded and began pushing citizens back, spears out as others began turning the wheels. The bridges hadn't been raised in years as they began to creek and groan, lifting up as people screamed for sanctuary, to let them across. Lucian tuned it out. He was about to turn and leave when a book landed before his feet. Where had it come from?

THUNK!

Something had landed on their side of the bridge. Lucian grabbed his crossbow and took aim. He was prepared to fire when Lua's face came over the bridge's edge. Lucian sighed in relief and motioned for the guards to let her through as she slid down the bridge into the mud. She was up and grabbing the book, shoving the book into his chest. Lucian grabbed the book and took it looking it over. A journal of some kind. Answers perhaps. Lucian looked to Lua and nodded towards the city, inferring she get some rest and medical attention. Shiara then approached, anger on her face as she asked what the plan was now. Lucian sighed as he put the journal into his belt.

"Now, we wait. The Curse is going to spread to anyone who hasn't had it now but they are now trapped on the other side of the river with no way out. By sun up, those who had been on the other side of the bridge will be one of them. By then, we'll enter the city in force and kill anything that moves" he said in a cool demeanor. It was cold and cruel, but it was a necessary evil. He took no pleasure in condemning people to die, no pleasure in allowing innocents to be taken by the Grim Reaper and the curse but he had to do what was necessary, not necessarily what was right. That was his burden as a Raven Lord, do what was necessary to ensure that others could live....

@Overlord Thraka
@Rosenrot
@Parzivol
@shylarah