[IC] Godless Ichor (Dark Fantasy/Action)

[Eklispe]

Eldarin frowned, well this was a somewhat interesting, if unfortunate turn of events. He couldn't run out of the town, he'd never be able to move forward again. His only chance was a mad dash through the streets, either until he came out the other side or found somewhere safe to hide. At least Bronwick had stopped the closest guards. Eldarin glanced around, seeing guards swarming, and ran down a side street with no one immediately in it. He planned to race through the town and hopefully come out the other side. That being said he had no idea the layout of this place so it was really going to come down to luck.

[CadenGallic]

Eldarin ran down the main street, past a tavern and some homes with dimly lit windows, the guards following behind as their footsteps made wet slapping sounds in the mud. As he ran, he could see a t junction up ahead. There was a left and right street he could continue running down. To the left was a more prosperous looking district with newer houses and lit lamps. The other way was a little more ramshackle and slum like in nature, dark corners creeping up.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin only spent a moment of consideration before he turned to the right. A rich district would have more guards, and anyone he found would be more likely to turn him in. The slums wouldn't necessarily give him any more help but they probably wouldn't hurt either, the poor tended to not look favorably upon the upholders of law and order that made them that way. Plus the money tended to go towards the middle so he'd probably have to run through the slums to escape the town anyway.

[CadenGallic]

"There! He's headed right!" Eldarin heard a guard call out behind him as the group continued after him. He was starting to put distance between them as the poorer side of town wound around and the path twisted in places. As he was passing by a run down shack, a light shone in the darkness from a lantern. He saw a cloaked figure extending a hand, beckoning him over.
"Quick friend, into the darkness, I will hide you." He spoke.

[Eklispe]

A split second to decide. He could keep running, hoping that he could keep outpacing the guards. But he was in the twisting maze that slums were with no idea where he was going, every second becoming more and more likely to lead to a dead end. Or he could put his blind faith in the figure offering a hand from the darkness. Eldarin's trust had lead him to places both high and low and this figure could very well want his possessions or his life, or simply to help him out. Uttering a quick prayer Eldarin turned and headed towards the figure, hoping he'd made the right choice.

[CadenGallic]

The figure ushered him indoors, through a rickety wooden door and into a dimly lit hut. He closed the door behind them as the clanking noises of the guards came and went... Quiet soon resumed. The figure hooked up his ornate iron lantern on the wall and breathed a sigh of relief, turning to Eldarin. The figure was... Particularly drab looking. He was hunched over slightly, dressed head to toe in a drab scarlet cloak, the hood up. What he could see beneath the cloak was mostly bandaged up, concealing whatever was beneath. His face was dark and covered up, orange eyes glowing beneath the wrappings and a mouth with sharp little teeth to boot.
"You're not from around here, are you?" He queried grimly.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin attempted to let out a pleasant smile, despite the rather dark atmosphere. "You got me, what gave it away, the haircut? Oh and uh, thanks for bailing me out of that mess, just a big misunderstanding was all." It was a weak joke but considering the man in question looked like some sort of vampire Eldarin was rather proud of the fact he'd managed to get a joke out at all. Of course he might be inquiring this to see if anyone would miss Eldarin if he died but he was trying to think positive.

[CadenGallic]

"Always happy to help a fellow outsider." The man raised a hand and shook it, it too was wrapped up tightly in bandages, shuffling further into the room and taking a seat upon a small stool, stoking up the fire in a small furnace, bathing the small shack in a warm orange glow and warm. "If you're staying, you might as well tell me what you're doing here."

[Eklispe]

"Hopefully not staying for long, but at least until I can find a way to get out of here without making a trip to the local jail." Eldarin said cheerily, "Regardless I'm exploring on tales of the Black Ichor, not so sure that's a wise idea anymore given just this place doesn't seem to take well to newcomers, but I've come this far already." Eldarin explained and crouched down next to the furnace, tempted to stretch his hands out for warmth but avoiding it less the stranger turned out to be anything less than cordial. One could never be too cautious after all.

[CadenGallic]

"Ahh... the black ichor." The stranger nodded in understanding. "If anyone can end the pollution of that ichor it would be of great benefit... the king became far stricter since it appeared. Curfew every night, anyone found outside who isn't one of the guards is jailed an executed. Outsiders too." He explained, drumming his fingers on his knees slightly. "There's no way out by the town exits. The wall is lined with crossbowmen, i'm surprised you even got in." there was a certain gravelly nature to his voice that sounded painful.

[Eklispe]

"Ah well, I had a friend bring me in but we weren't aware of the new... Situation." Eldarin explained. He shook his head in frusteration. It appeared getting out of here might be more difficult than getting in. "What about in the day? Surely people come still leave the town if they need to?" A sewer system maybe? Eldarin's foot tapped up and down as he attempted to think of a way to get out of this place alive.

[CadenGallic]

"If they're already chasing you, it won't be so simple friend... they'll know you if you try to leave on the morrow. Guards posted at all gates out of town." He scratched his chin slightly and seemed to think slightly. "...there might be a way out through the castle. It sits on the border of the town wall... maybe you could use that."

[Eklispe]

Eldarin nodded, naturally security would be even tighter with a known outsider somewhere in town and likely everyone going out would be checked. Simply staying here wasn't an option either, a door to door search wasn't outside the realm of possibility. "The castle? My options are somewhat limited at the moment so even a longshot is worth trying or at least hearing."

[CadenGallic]

"I know of a secret passage into the castle. The local congregation has been using it to rescue captives from the dungeons. It would take you into the castle and you may be able to leave through there." He suggested. "Of course, you'd have to move through town..."

[Eklispe]

"Well as I said before, my options are somewhat limited. I'll take my chances, where is the passage? And I hestiate to ask anything more of you, but do you have anything that could help disguise me?" Eldarin asked, not expecting much and willing to take anything he could get to help him.

[CadenGallic]

"I can take you to the passage... as for a disguise, if you can get a suit of armour similar to one of the guards, we should be able to pass them without issue. The local blacksmith might be able to help us... but, he's across town." He explained, his voice wracked with concern.

[Eklispe]

Eldarin sighed, "So my options are to kill a guard for his armor or sneak to the blacksmith. The latter is preferable but also likely more difficult. I'll try, but the second things get hairy I might have to take drastic measures. When should we go? If earlier is better we should move now, on the other hand if we should wait a bit I could use some sleep, I've had a long day." Hopefully it was the latter, Eldarin could feel the effects of fatigue in his eyes and it would make sneaking and combat even more difficult than it had to be. The ichor was amazing for rejuvenation, but while his body and magical energy returned, his mind was still tired.

[CadenGallic]

"The night is young and the guard is on full alert. Now would be a good time to get some rest." The shambling figure said, peering out of a crack in his walls at the streets outside. There was a shabby looking bed, stuffed with hay and with a bare bones cloth serving as cover for it. "I will keep watch as you sleep." the figure assured him.

[Eklispe]

"Very well then, I offer you my thanks once again." Eldarin said and laid down to rest in the tacky bed. He didn't like having to trust someone he didn't know, but he'd already committed to this and he had no other options. His exhaustion overwhelmed his paranoia over guards bursting in and throwing him into jail forever, allowing himself to find himself in the realm of sleep.

[CadenGallic]

It was a quiet, dark, if not peaceful void he entered upon his slumber. Still, no dreams, no nothing, just the darkness...
He was awoken a short time later. By his best guess, he'd gotten maybe 6 hours of sleep before he'd awoken. He was still in the shack, lit by the lanterns. His mysterious keeper was also there, peering through one of the windows and keeping watch, his iron lantern in a gnarled hand.