[IC] Knights of The Dawn Covenant: The Longest Winter

[Cuccoruler]

Cythlla got up soon after the others. Of course due to it being winter Henry was still asleep, and would be for awhile. For once Cythlla saw it to be a good thing to let him sleep longer, he deserved it after all he did. After getting ready Cythlla headed right for the library. There was something that she wanted to research. Something HIGHLY forbidden even among necromancers. Cythlla had remembered all that had happened in the dream. She remembered looking at Kaathe as if she had less hatred for him. She normally hating all elves, light and dark. Yet now she thought of Kaathe as she would any other human. That had never happened before.

Once in the library Cythlla started to grab a few books and then went to a desk to start taking notes from them. What she found through her research though was that she needed a sample of some sort from Krovah or even that woman she saw in the dream. What Cythlla was trying to figure out was immortality, the ability to never die. To not age either. However that was where Cythlla was stumped. She could figure a way of how to stop a person from dying, but not to regrow limbs. She couldn't figure out a way to prevent a human from aging either.

[Zetsuko]

Landeel woke slowly, glad for any amount of sleep by now. He sighed as he began dressing himself and putting on his armor, he stopped and looked at the face of his helmet for a moment before turning it around and putting it over his head and heading out. He took a long route around to the hall, going along the wall and up into one of the towers. He enjoyed the quiet, taking this route simply to have a bit more of it before some other demon comes or what-have-you. When he did get to the hall he saw Evelyn and headed in her direction, not caring for formalities at the moment he simply gave her a nod and said "morning Evelyn" before finding himself somewhere to sit.

[Ace of flames01]

"... Gwedh." ("... Seal.")

This was the last thing Ruinil said before the dreamscape shattered like glass and Ruinil fell into the dark abyss. She had already reverted back to her original form and all she could see was black. Suddenly, her soul felt a powerful jolt of pain, then a intense throbbing pain attack her head. The pain was so intense, Ruinil desperately tried to scream but no matter how hard she tried, no sound would come out. Instead the darkness of abyss drowned her, depriving her of breath.

-------------------------------------
Mood: http://youtu.be/WMvF4PBUQ3Q

Ruinil's body jolted up and she awoke screaming. She quickly silenced herself upon realizing that she did not recognize where she was. "Ias naim...? Sen sâd.... Sen ú i bâr...." ("Where am I...? This place... This is not the orphanage...") she murmured softly. She was drenched in sweat, tears, and her own blood, and she was breathing heavily in an effort to catch her breath.

Ruinil's mind had reverted back to her childhood state. She had forgotten everything since the age of 10. The Order, Evelyn, Cythlla, Henry, Kaathe, Karl, Argus, Landeel, Glodin.... Even Bartuc. The memories she had with them had been locked away in a mental vault.

Ruinil scanned the room in hopes of finding something she recognized. She suddenly was startled to find what appeared to be a tall, human man laying down on the ground next to the bed. Ruinil quickly tried to hide herself by pressing her body close and laying flat on the bed. She peeked over edge of the mattress and inspected the stanger closely.

She quickly realized that the man was sound asleep. Upon further inspection she realized that the man was actually quite beautiful and yet somehow.... Familiar. Ruinil quickly became distracted by this man as she gently stroked the man's face, staring at him, trying to figure out as to why he was so familiar but could remember nothing. Ruinil flinched and quickly drew her hand back as she remembered that she did not know this man, nor did she know where she was.

Ruinil stood up, she wore a plain white, short sleeved nightgown. Quietly walked around the man and over to the door, trying not to disturb him. She cracked open the door and peeked out from the door. She quickly noticed to holy men talking about 30 feet away. "Gaer anu!" ("Holy men!) she whispered then quickly gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. She glanced back at the man and was relieved to see that she had not yet woken him.

Ruinil quietly closed the door, then quickly put on a dark, hooded cloak that was made of wool. Looking back at the man one final time, Ruinil hesitantly tried to sneak out of the room and down the hall. To her misfortune, one of the holy men had spotted her leave the room.

"Halt! Identify yourself!" He ordered.

Startled, Ruinil looked back at the holy man that addressed her. However, upon looking at Ruinil's eyes and the blood running from her mouth, he automatically assumed the worst. "D-demon! Demon!"

That's when Ruinil made a break for it. She ran as quickly as she could in the opposite direction, the holy men now chasing after her. She tried to navigate her way through the twisted corridors but soon found herself cornered. The holy men closed in on her, and in a last effort to escape, Ruinil jumped out of the second floor window, where she landed seemingly unharmed, in the courtyard below. She then continued to run for the nearby forest. However, she did not escape unscathed. In her attempt to escape, one of the holy men had shot her in the shoulder blade with an arrow, leaving a trail of blood left behind. Ruinil did not stop running as she pushed through the pain, she kept running and did not stop until she could no longer see the fortress behind her. She then hid herself in the rubble of an old house. She curled up in a ball and shivered violently in an effort to keep warm. Ruinil's gaze was blurred as everything seemed to have happened so quickly. Looking up at the sky, she watched as snowflakes gently fall to the ground, through the cracks of the boards of the old house. For a while, the world felt as if it were still and completely silent.

Mood: http://youtu.be/KjHSEzoMrSI

Back at Thanmere, a priest had already approach Evelyn to inform her and Landeel of the situation. "Captain Sunderland! There has been a breech in security! A demon has attacked Templar Crestfallen and managed to escape into the forest! We managed to injure it so it could not have gone very far. What are your orders?" The priest informed her.

[Zelosse]

Bartuc groaned as consciousness took hold, his whole body felt broken but he knew it was just harsh fatigue. In a very short time he had accomplished more fighting than usual, and assured not only a long existence, but a long one filled with love. A few weeks ago he would tell you with certainty that no creature would love the berserker yet.. Here he was.

Groggy and unsteady he tried to rise, but as he out his weight on his right arm he collapsed with a thud and a painful hiss as he rolled to his back. His right arm was numb, and his ribs hurt. With a soft sigh he drifted back to sleep. No sense fighting what couldn't be fought.

It was only as he faded that he realized something was wrong. Ruinil, that exquisite woman, was nowhere to be found. His eyes opened in a panic as he sat upright and examined the room. Blood on his chest, lingering hest on his face, and the most curious feeling that something was wrong. He sensed Ruinil, she was running but he did not know where. She was scared.. Confused... She was hurt!
With a growl the man got to his feet and started out the door only to be interrupted by a priest.
"templar! You are ok! We feared the worst, the demon that attacked you tried to kill you in your sleep! Fear not, the guard is on its way yo kill the creature." The words caught in his mouth as Bartucs eyes turned to a deep crimson, his scowl revealing sharpened teeth. With his left arm he lifted the priest from the ground. "Where did she go." He growled, the priest struggling to answer. "Bah!" He flung the squirming holy man to the floor. "ill find her myself."
Closing his eyes he searched for the familiar feeling of his love. It was a vague sense of direction but he didn't care. Bartuc ran from the keep like a man possessed, his stride would never match the half demon but he had to try.

----------------------

Marcus woke quietly where he had laid down for the night, high in a watch tower. He was fully clothed and stretched out, uncaring of the harsh climate outside. The ranger had never truly cared for hot or cold.
The soft crunch of snow drew his attention, peering out to see Landeel out and about. Despite the obvious threat the man poses to the order it was admirable for a man of his age to be in fighting shape. Without a doubt the old man had proven to be more combat efficient than fighters half his age.
But that wouldn't stop Marcus from cutting his throat out for a moment.

With smooth efficiency he navigated his coat pockets, drawing out a pencil and paper. The dream may have been fake but the actions had been all to real.
The names of the offenders were written along with crimes.

Cythlla - Necromancy and disregard for human life. Confinement for life.
Henry - Abomination of magic, hostage spirit. Peacefully put down
Ruinil - half demon monstrosity. Execute.
Bartuc - twisted partner of half demon. Execute.
Landeel - Former revolutionist. Sided with the necromancer and half demons, disobeying the orders rules. Public execution.

Despite what he had written, the actions of all sat heavily in his mind. His duty was to uphold the laws of the order regardless of personal feelings but he couldn't bring himself to do it just yet.
His resolve was to give them a chance to prove loyalty in the fighting to come. If he misjudged, so be it. His aim was always perfect.

[Snarfulblast]

Karl had awoken in the cellars where he had been keeping his chicken. The chicken had sat in his lap and was sound asleep, getting up he puts his leather chest plate back on and carries it towards the pens he finds one that was away from the other animals and let his chicken down inside the pen. Then turing around he then heads inside finding Captain Sunderland standing over a map on a table Landeel was there as well, Karl moved over to a corner a stood there waiting and watching trying to hide his embarrassment and shame from the others.

[Ace of flames01]

The pain Ruinil was experiencing was indescribable. Tears were flowing down her cheeks as she cried silently, trying to make as little noise as possible. However, this proved to be a most difficult task. She coughed wildly, spitting up blood, only to contribute to the small puddle of crimson snow that surrounded her. The arrow had to be removed. Her left hand grabbed firmly onto the arrow and her right hand was held over her mouth. With a few firm tugs, Ruinil managed to remove the arrow. She pressed her right hand firmly against her mouth, practically smothering herself, so that no screams could escape her lips. Once the original pain had subsided, she removed her hand. Tears of pain flowed heavily and her breathing was heavy. She tightened her grip on the arrow as gaze was held on the weapon that had punctured her shoulder. Her vision blurred as blood flowed heavily from her injury, turning the snow around her turning from the purest of white to the deepest of crimson.

In the distance Ruinil could hear the crunching of snow and snapping of twigs and branches, closing in on her location. "Eru edraith nin...!" ("Gods save me..!") she whispered quietly. She lay close and flat to the ground, in a pool of her own blood, and closed her eyes tightly, her grip clenched tightly on the arrow. She silently prayed for the newcomer to pass by her hiding place.

[ShaggyDoo0]

Glodin jolted awake at the sound of a door slamming shut. He quickly looked around and found himself in the forges, he had been sleeping in a chair and leaning on an anvil. He rubbed his eyes remembering the dream he had and how it intertwined with the others.
Glodin jumped up as a thought crossed his mind and grabbed his father's hammer, leaving his pick and armor behind he ran as fast as he could to find Captain Sunderland.

He got lost once but managed to find his way back to the main hall to find the Captain at a table with others. "Captain! Captain, give me your sword! I have a vision of a rune and I need to scribe it fast before the vision fades." he pants out as he reaches Captain Evelyn.

[Zelosse]

Bartuc plowed through the snow in a frantic run, breathing hard as his heavy armor hindered him further through the freshly fallen snow. Fresh blood had been spilled and forced him forward step after step in a desperate attempt to find Ruinil before something terrible happened to her. How would he live with himself knowing it all came to an end before it ever truly began. "Ruinil!" He roared, hoping, praying, that she would respond, but only silence returned from the empty forest as he marched forward.
Tracks appeared in the snow, and not human. Wolves. Bartuc growled and kept running, desperation giving new strength to limbs gone numb. No animal would find her before he could get there. No beast would find her heart with him nearby.
The wolves waited in the trees as they observed the abandoned cottage, the blood was fresh inside singing to them of a meal to come. Massive wolves with thick fur and sharp fangs stalked the way to the cottage.

Bartucs call was answered by a howl as they rushed to meet easier prey.
The big man burst from the trees with a roar of defiance, meeting the wolves head on. It was only when he grasped for his weapons did he realize he had left without his axe and hammer. The first wolf caught him in the chest and bore him to the ground, his arm under its neck was the only thing that stopped it from biting at his exposed face. Tense moments he struggled until at last the hunting knife on his belt came free. The howl of pain was cut short as he stabbed over and over at the wolf, his fist clinging to a clump of hair as it tried to flee and snap at its attacker. No sooner had the creature been slain than its brethren pounced.
A wolf clamped its jaws on his wrist and shook violently as he tried to rise, the knife falling from his hand with a hiss as the fangs drove deep. The other wolf leapt upon his back, again driving him to the ground as the other tore through the steel of his armored wrists but he did not relent. This was a man of combat, born to fight and stubborn as a mountain. His other hand grabbed the wolf by the mouth as it snapped down but he hissed away the pain. With a violent jerk he threw the creature from him and freed himself momentarily. His punch turned the biting wolfs jaw to dust, its teeth cracking under the weight.
Again and again he punched the wolves as they leapt for their meal but found him immovable and furious, mid-leap he managed to wrap a bleeding arm around its neck and snap it with a grunt, dropping the carcass to the ground before turning to the last wolf. In a tangle they fell, snapping jaws and scraping claws desperate for purchase. His hand clamped down and choked the life from his final assailant.

A long time seemed to pass Bartuc by as he panted into the cold air, his blood and those of the wolves created a foul stench that he ignored entirely. Finally he gathered the strength to stand and stumbled for the cottage where Ruinil no doubt waited. He could feel her presence and her fear at the sounds of combat. How would she react to seeing him so?
Slowly he opened the door and saw her. Huddled on the ground in a puddle of spilled blood, she lay. "Ruinil.." He croaked, his throat dry. "Thank the gods you are safe, I woke and you were gone!" His words were soft, sensing her uncomfort. "You are hurt. Please, let me help." He dropped to one knee and offered his hand. "I promised to protect you, remember."

[Ace of flames01]

A look of terror burned deeply into Ruinil's eyes upon seeing the stranger kneel before her. She thought she was going to die then and there. "Law! Im onnafiren dîr! Avmethen nin!" (" No don't! I beg you! Please do not kill me!") she cried, take a few steps back. She looked into the eyes of the newcomer with a look of pure terror. However, this quickly changed, upon recognizing the stranger was actually the handsome man that had lay on the floor next to her. For a brief moment, she felt safer, but this was short lived. His face and body was covered in blood and gore, yet Ruinil could still make out his masculine features and identify him.

However, one thing in particular caught Ruinil's attention... His crimson eyes. For what felt like the longest time, Ruinil stood there speechless, captivated by those eyes. "Firion nai ben be nin... Firion na perin raug... Dan sen naú gar...." ("You are the same as me... You are a half demon... But this should not be possible....") she murmured. With both hands, she slowly and cautiously reached up and gently touched his face, gently stroking his cheeks a few times, before she flinched, then winced from the pain. She looked down, "Da sen gar...? Im er perin raug..." ("How is this possible...? I am supposed to be the only half demon..,") However, she cared little about this. Just as she had done before, though she could not remember it, she placed her hand on Bartuc's breast and a warm white light eminated from her hand. Unlike the last time, the experience would be less painful for him, though it is just as effective.

Ruinil's vision quickly blurred and she became dizzy. She placed her head on Bartuc's shoulder and leaned against him, breathing heavily, yet she still continued to heal the man that had saved her. She managed to completely heal his wounds and erase his fatigue.

Once completely healed, Ruinil's hand went limp and fell to her side. Her breathing was heavy and blood poured heavily from her shoulder and mouth, causing her to cough wildly.

Why was she helping a complete stranger? Let alone a human! The things she feared and hated the most!

Uncertainties flooded Ruinil's mind as she was unsure herself. She then caught wind of Bartuc's scent. It was so familiar as it mixed with the scent of snow, steel, and blood (as well as a little bit of body odor and sweat). She knew this scent but from where? She did not care, she felt somewhat more safe.

[TheDarkTemplar]

Standing at the center of the great hall, Evelyn looked into the reflection pool, her thoughts focused on the previous night and the near future. The demon they fought was more than the average desire demon. It not only manipulated their desires but also their fears, what they feared of losing and what they couldn't live without. That monster was a Greater Desire Demon, something of such powerful connection to the void couldn't simply pass into this world, it had to be summoned. There was a number of theories, each worried Evelyn the same as the last: One theory was that it was summoned by a cultist hidden among the ranks at Thanermere and may still be present, another was that it was planted here and made to wait until their group arrived as no other Templars showed signs of the demon's influence. Such a summoning would require a good amount of time and effort and since the keep showed no sighns of such ritual preparation, this was done a long time before they reached Thanermere. "The Dead God has planned this for some time, there is no telling where else they've been", she thought as she overlooked a map of the continent. So many possible places for them to plant themselves, so much potential for chaos. Their first target would be, as the apparition said, the Kest Nest not far from Thanermere. Once everyone was awake they'd travel there and deal with that, hopefully there would be no demons there as well.

Evelyn caught sight of Landeel as he passed by. His greeting was quite casual and in truth Evelyn did not mind, after last night formality was not something all too important at the time. With a nod she replied before returning to her work but it seemed as though problems were in surplus at this Keep as only minutes later a priest came rushing towards her, yelling about a another demon who'd attacked Bartuc. "Describe it?", she asked, hoping to get an idea of what type of demon it was. "Well it wore a black cloak, it's eyes glowed red, and it was female from what we could make out from it", the priests seemed nervous that the creature would be back but all Evelyn felt was anger. She had a strong feeling it was a misidentification of Ruinil but she needed one last thing to confirm it. "You said you injured it, was there any blood?", she asked as she held back her anger.

"Why yes, I believe so", the priest answered with some confusion on his face and in his voice.

"And was the blood red?"

"Well yes"

Evelyn slammed her fist onto the table, "By the gods, that wasn't a demon, that was a fellow knight! Go tend to Crestfallen, I'll take a group with me to search for her. Hopefully she hasn't bled to death by now". Evelyn looked to Landeel before gesturing for him to approach the table. She then noticed Karl staying to himself, probably a result of last night's ordeal. "Karl, with me". Just then, Glodin arrived with a request. "That will have to wait, Glodin. Right now we have to go find one of our own", Evelyn glared at the knights who brought her news of the attack on Ruinil. "I'll need you with us as well, Glodin. In case she headed towards the nest, we'll need as many able bodies to fight them off and bring Ruinil back". Evelyn began walking towards the exit but stopped herself to issue one last order, "Send word to the others, tell them to ready themselves and head to the nest. We'll meet there once I've healed Ruinil and shall deal with the Kest with our full strength". The knights bowed before running off to wake the others. As for Evelyn, she headed outside to the courtyard to investigate.

Looking at the courtyard ground she saw deep prints in the snow and dirt from her first steps, "The prints don't start from the entrance but a short distance from the walls. That and Ruinil can't be this heavy implies she leapt from that window". Following the tracks to the walls she noticed the trail of blood heading out towards the woods, "This is where she was struck. Her footsteps are even so her legs are fine, must've been hit somewhere in her back". Grabbing a horse, Evelyn followed the trail of blood through the woods when she found the site of a struggle. A number of wolves lay dead, their bodies strewn across the snowy ground. A dagger lay on the ground but only one wolf suffered stab wounds, the others were beaten to death. Fresh blood, not simply from the wolves but from whoever fought back, had turned the snow bright red as it trailed off towards where Ruinil was headed. "Someone was following her, someone strong enough to fight these wolves bare handed", Evelyn unsheathed her sword as she continued to follow the trail to the cottage. Standing some distance from it, she looked to Forossa and Glodin, "If her pursuer is in there with her, prepare for a fight".

[boomlover]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MWxAAQoNiw

The visions poured over Argus like a wave crushing him onto the ground and seemingly choking him. What he saw where the things of horror. He saw his hometown of Uldgoring being consumed by lava. Its citizens screaming in pain as the Lava melted them whole. The vast tomes of knowledge they had acquired burning away to nothingness. There grand statutes crashed down. crushing anyone who came near. He then saw the kingdoms of humanity burning. its streets turning into rivers of blood, Its houses on fire and its people screaming in anguish as they where butchered by the thousands. He then saw two great houses spilling blood over small scraps of land. He saw the forest elves and there woods lit ablaze. There grand cities once so beautiful turning into nothing but ash and death. And the islands of the dark elves there grand spires crumbling down And there islands ablaze. And in every vision he could always see two green orbs looking at him from the distance. Laughing as he watched it all burn around him. The laugh almost turning hysterical. Then everything went white and he heard the sound of birds chirping happily without a care in the word. He opened his eyes and saw a beautiful landscapes its green hills going on for miles. A future that could be. Then everything went white again and he saw a group of people. Yet all he could see where there shadows which strangely looked like those of the group he had been traveling with. Then it once again went white. This time looking over Uldgoring. The city had looked just like the day when he had left it. Its busy streets with there merchants selling there wares. Then he awoke.

(end song and start this one.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INaM813ohL8)

A small beam of sunlight was shining from a small window in the cellar. It created a dim light in the room. Argus groaned as he woke up. The dim light shining on his face. He didn't remember how he had come here. All he remembered was about eating chickens and creating a bar fight. The chickens tasted good though. He stood up clearly having a hangover moment. Yet he did not start vomiting he would not go so low. A knight ran in looking like a dragon had spat fire at him and screamed about something Argus could barely hear him. He casually walked over him and bitch slapped him in the face. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzukIA7qU9Y this seemed to calm the man. " Sire your commander ordered me to warn you to make ready for departure and head for the kest caves." This made Argus raise an eyebrow. He nodded and then walked past the knight to get some equipment. The equipment was some rope a few empty parchments for the map he was about to make of the cave and some ink and chicken feathers to do the drawing. He then walked into the great hall and awaited the others to arrive.

[Zelosse]

Bartuc bent low, searching her eyes for a sign but vague recognition was the only impression he could gather. Ruinils was acting strange, speaking in a different tongue, and she had run from the priests.. As she did when she was younger. They had melded, experiences blended together vaguely but a memory from not so long before the melding had occurred.
She had asked him for protection, from the church. From exorcisms they performed when she was younger. His fatigue and pain washed away from the spell but he did not accept a full healing. She was injured too, and he urged her to heal her own wounds.
Noise outside caught his ears as he tensed his muscles. "I will protect you, I promise. We are melded, my love. Search your soul and you will find me." Bartuc rose and made his way to the door, the gore on his body mixed with his own wounds. The wolves had left painful cuts on his neck and wrist, the iron bracer had been almost chewed right through. His armor had scratches running up and down it as well. What a pretty sight he would be.
He flexed his injured fingers from where he had grabbed the wolfs maw, satisfied they could atleast close. He turned back to Ruinil for a brief moment. "You need never be lonely again." With that, he opened the door and felt the demons embrace more clearly at the thought of combat.

[Ace of flames01]

Mood:http://youtu.be/gmG1DwjaINM

As the man opened the door, Ruinil felt a strong jolt of fear, causing Ruinil to rush to her feet and tightly hug the man from behind. "No!" She screamed for the was the only thing she could manage to human language. Her arm hurt fiercely and she was in a daze but she did not let Bartuc go. She clung onto him so tightly that he could feel her heart beating on his back. Her body trembled violently with fear at the thought of this man leaving her.

Ruinil felt a sudden strong, throbbing pain in her head, causing her to release the man that she so desperately tried to keep with her, as she took few steps back with her hands on her head, she winced and groaned from the pain.

Bits and pieces of visions and words of a language that was foreign, yet familiar, flashed through her mind. "Stop....! Please...! No leave...! Alone...!" She groaned through the pain. Her legs and eyes failed her as she collapsed on the ground. Even while on the ground, Ruinil desperately tried to reach for the man in front of her.

"... Please...! Help me...!" Were the last words to escape from Ruinil's lips as her body went limp and she fainted from blood loss and from the extreme pain in her head. A pool of blood formed around her, turning the snow from a pure white to a dark crimson.

[Snarfulblast]

Karl followed the Captain out into the snow and cold following Ruinill's foot prints and blood, coming across some dead wolves, Karl moves ahead in a stealthily fashion seeing Bartuc kneeling there with Ruinill in his arms Karl yells back towards the others."Captain it's Bartuc he's holding Ruinill both seem injured!" Moving behind Bartuc, Karl places one of his hands on Bartuc's shoulder and a soft white glow emits from Karl's hand and covers Bartuc healing the rest of his minor wounds,"Don't worry friend we are here we'll get you two to safety." Turning away Karl yells back towards the others, "Hurry captain Ruinill unconscious she needs medical attention that I can't give."

[Zelosse]

Bartuc reached out as Ruinil swooned, already he was turning to catch her as she fell. Blood loss was claiming her along with the painful sting of the crossbow bolt. Likely it had struck somewhere in the shoulder through bone. A miracle she could move the limb at all.
In his arms he cradled the frightened woman and whispered softly in her ear. Promises of life and love, to never spend her nights alone, assuring her that no harm would come.
The warm feeling on his back alerted him to the presence of Karl, having gone around the back without Bartuc noticing. Impressive.
"thank the gods you're here. The fools at Thanremere thought her a demon and aimed to kill. Its her mind. She doesn't recognize us I think." He laid her down on the floor softly, her cloak was laying over her like a blanket. His various pouches were laying under her head for support. Knight captain Sunderland was outside, he was sure of it. "I will find the archer that did this when we return. I promise." He kissed her on the cheek. The crimson glow of his eyes never faded, his blood called for revenge but deep down he knew this to be a misunderstanding.

[TheDarkTemplar]

Once Evelyn got word from Karl who was there she rushed up to meet Ruinil and Bartuc. Seeing Ruinil in her current state, immediately after they escaped dath the previous night, was unpleasant to say the least. "I'll deal with those responsible, Bartuc. Right now though, Ruinil needs immediate medical attention". Evelyn looked over the wound and say that bone had been broken along with with deep tissue lacerations along the way to the bone. Internal hemorrhaging had already begun and it was a miracle Ruinil wasn't already dead. "She's bleeding internally and if it doesn't stop she will die before we return to Thanermere. I can fix that but we'll still need to cover the wound. The bone will have to be healed when we return", Evelyn removed she gauntlet before placing her hand on the wound. Her hand and the contact site began to glow brightly as Evelyn put a great deal of magical energy into the spell. After a moment or two she ceased her cast before speaking again, "I've stopped the internal bleeding. We need to bind the wound as well as the arm. Bartuc...she's going to feel a lot of pain..". Evelyn ripped a part of the cloth which Ruinil was wrapped in. Wrapping it around her shoulder where the bolt had struck before pulling hard to tighten the wrap. Once the dead was done Evelyn looked to Bartuc once again, "We need to hurry back, my magicka reserves are too low to reposition the bone and mend it as well. We'll need to make an amplification circle and even then she will probably need to rest".

[Zelosse]

"understood. I leave punishment and strong reminders to the guard, but know that this does not please me in the slightest." Bartuc growled, ashamed to have left her unprotected while he slumbered on the floor not so far away. His rage was all to visible to see. The dead wolves, massive creatures of fur and fury, were a small testament to his power. All had seen him in combat by now, and knew he did not boast when he spoke of prowess in battle.

As before, he reattached his belt pouches and picked up his partner in strong arms. It would be a long run but it was the only way to assure her safety. He wrapped the cloak about her and set off, using the same path he had torn in the snow to arrive to retrace his steps. By horse would be faster but it ran immediate risk of having the wound reopen. In his arms the ride would be gentler by far.
Every step brought more and more anger to his heart, the thought of her death at the hands of an incompetent soldier of the dawn only made him run faster.
The mission was to rid the area of a Kest burrow, those filthy insects that had killed good men on the road from starguard. The memories were still fresh in his mind, only now he pictured Ruinil among the dead.

Bartuc would see them extinct.

[Zetsuko]

perhaps i shouldn't have woken up this morning, was the first thought than ran through Landeel's head when the priests came to report that another demon was in the castle only for it to turn out to have been a confusion with Ruinil, Nevertheless he got a horse and followed Evelyn as they tracked her down until they came upon the scene of a scuffle with some wolves. At Evelyn's word he drew his shortsword and had it at the ready. When Bartuc opened the cottage door he was ready for a fight but as Ruinil appeared behind him and the others went to help the injured pair he resheathed his sword. There wasn't much Landeel could do to heal so he stayed on his horse and kept watch as Ruinil was tended to.

[Snarfulblast]

"Captain shall I scout the Kest nest while you go back with Bartuc and Ruinill?" Karl has his long sword out sharpening it while he leans against a nearby tree. If one looked at Karl they would notice that he has put an eye patch over his left eye."I'll make sure no to be seen or heard and if push comes to shove I can take out any Kest Scout that attack me." Karl puts up his long sword and draws out his short sword sharpening and cleaning it, when finished Karl sheaths his short sword and takes out his cross-bow and tests its string and shooting mechanism. Thinking to himself Karl goes back to what happened in his dream and the insanity that had taken him, it was eating away at him, making him doubt everything he had ever done and it was driving him crazy.

[TheDarkTemplar]

Evelyn looked to Karl as he voiced his request, she knew his nightmares clung to him in the waking world. "No, to enter the nest alone you'd be met with a warrior instead of a scout. Besides, we left without the necessary supplies for such a venture. Once we return to Thanermere, Ruinil will be cared for and the rest of us will go together", Evelyn stood up and examined the surrounding area for signs of Kest. Satisfied that they were mot in any immediate danger, Evelyn headed back with her fellow knights back to Thanermere. The entire journey back all that Evelyn could think of was how they'd deal with Ruinil's memory loss. Karl could probably help with translating but that only solved one problem out of a number of issues. "Her transformation in the dream, that was probably the cause. Such levels of oneiromancy would have a significant effect on the mind", as they continued on the path, Evelyn looked at the wounded Ruinil and wondered how much more punishment her body could take before it would have enough. This war was far from over and now was not the time for allies to fall.

Arriving at Thanermere, the guards were all hit with Evelyn's frightful glare as the group entered the keep. The priest who reported Ruinil to the captain eyed the half-breed with disdain but quickly looked away once he caught sight of Evelyn. Scholar Printh ran forward, eyes filled with worry and surprise. "What has happened?!", he asked as Evelyn sent for healers. "A number of our clerics mistook her for a demon. A amplification circle is needed immediately, the bolt alone was enough to put her in critical condition but I'm afriad after the previous night's ordeal her mind has been rendered vulnerable"

"Say no more, I'll gather what we need", not another word as needed before Printh had run off to find the necessary supplies for the amplification circle. Returning back to the grand hall, the scholar brought back with him a number of items: a bag of ritual sand, candles, focusing crystals, and numerous herbs. Printh quickly drew a circle with the ritual sand, making six lines intersect evenly across the circle's diameter. Then candles were placed at the midpoint of each line's radius and along the circumference of the circle, where each line met the ring, a focusing crystal was placed. "The healers will arrive shortly, place her at the center of the circle. I will begin brewing the herbs", Master Printh said quietly yet rushed as he headed off to the kitchens.