“Well, it seems like this is the last stretch” Thalen said and he drew his curved sword once more. “And I don’t know about you all but I think I’d like to take down these stragglers and add their hides to my trophy collection” He said with obvious battle fueled mirth
Haklo watched as the Azure Knight left to assist the joint Vekian militia and went to the upper floors and to the balcony where his father and Lord Skath were discussing tactics. With them were their highest ranking spellcasters in their court, two from each house including Vintair.
“Lord Desol and Lord Skath, our efforts in finding out what caused this attack has borne fruit” One of Skath spellcasters said, an elderly man with a completely shaven head which was covered by a leather cap, an aquamarine gem embedded right above his brow. His name was High Magister Loren and be bore a staff of ancient brown oak with a silver headpiece of a proud dragon’s head. His robes were white and blue with the symbol of House Skath and his tank at his right breast. “Speak up” Lord Skath said to the aged mage, giving him a gesture to continue while his other hand was on the pommel of his sword out of habit. The Desol mage decided to proceed. He was seemingly younger with a thinly cropped salt and pepper goatee and his hair hidden beneath a hood with his hand on a scepter of blackened iron with an amethyst in the mouth of a snake. His robes were black accented with velvet and laced with patterns of flames and snake. He was a known pyromancer though it wasn’t his only skill. “In short we have examined the corpses of the blasted night lurkers, even a single live one, and we all agree that they are being controlled or at least guided by magical means” The Desol mage whose name was High Magister Bran. His tone was much less gentle than that of Loren whose voice was that of a calm wise uncle by first impression. Both the Hosue Lords had their eyes on the two mages and then looked at each other. “Very disturbing news indeed, Lord Skath” Said the Lord of House Desol. He wore a black tunic with a sword at his left hip and a dagger at his right. “Have you discovered who or what is controlling these beasts?” Asked the white haired Lord Skath, his hand now gripping the grip his sword very tightly and an angry visage came to his mustached face.
“Sorry milord. Nothing specific. But we do know that the enchantment isn’t old and has been refreshed so the one responsible must be within the island. All clues point to the eastern mountains as rumors say that there is the largest hive of the foul beasts” Said Loren, looking at Bran for a moment and then back at the Lords. Haklo listened in on them as they spoke, visible at the doorway.
“Father. I shall be honored if I were to be given permission to take warriors to their den and slay them at their core. You know what I am capable of” Haklo said, stepping forward with the two mages going out of his way and giving him a polite and respectful bow. Lord Skath watched the young nobleman and the at the lad’s father. He would’ve said something but he knew Harken Desol and his comment would be unwanted. There was no change in Harken’s face as he looked at his son, hands behind his back and seemed to think. “Alright, son. If you know of warriors to take with you, I shall permit it” he said, somewhat to the surprise of Skath. Harken noticed it and looked over at his fellow lord. “You and I both know how treacherous the caverns of the Vekian mountains can be. Despite what we want, we won’t be able to lead a large force into the mountains and find the source. We would be more likely to lose half our militia underneath Vekian soil than to find the source. The best case in scenario, my son is able to find the source with a small team and mark it where our forces can storm” He said impassively and Lord Skath could not fault the logic. Both the men had been companions in their youth and been through Vekian tunnels and they were indeed treacherous. “Alright lad. When the battle here calms over, we shall outfit you and the people you choose to bring with you with equipment needed for your quest” Said lord Skath and turned to look over the balcony and over the city. “Thank you” Haklo said and turned to leave. He knew at least one person who he knew would accept, a certain knight with a very big sword.
The night lurkers eventually began to retreat from the city, the maddened ones taken care of by merchant mercs and vekian guards. Some tunneled through the ground and out of the city while others did so outside of the city. The sky began to finally clear up from the dark clouds and the shrieks of lurkers could be heard even louder as light was like anathema to their eyes. They left, leaving Vekia city bloodied and bruised.
The tunnels that a thief and a knight decided to take actually met up very near to each other. They stopped within the forest 900 yards from the eastern gates of the city. It was part of the forest that was the thickest, where limited sunlight could escape the leaves. The two tunnels exits were only a few yards from each other and within the small clearing with three lurkers, stragglers that happened to dig out where a wolf pack was feasting on deer. The lurkers did not take notice of the two tails as they feasted on wolf flesh, having driven off the rest of the pack.
The city was crying in the aftermath of the attack, people mourning over friends and family that weren’t lucky enough to get to a safe place. Some homes were destroyed and a couple of fires started with official house and lowly hedge mages doing their best to put down. Other spellcasters were tasked to cover up the holes made by the lurkers, masters of earth magic. Units of guardsmen were tasked with finding any healer they could find to help the wounded, one of which being the Lady Kwan. Looters, Rapists and other criminals who had been caught taking advantage of the attack were taken to another square which was dedicated to public announcements. This time it was dedicated to public punishment, hanging mostly.