XenoCyanide

[Closed 1x1] The Touched

@oWhiteDiamondo

I'll be posting today. Not sure how I wanna take this lmao.

Something Wicked This Way Comes [IC]

@SmileyJaws

Hoping that post was satisfactory. Wasn't sure how you wanted us all to meet.

Something Wicked This Way Comes [IC]

---

Artemis had spent the evening finding other accommodations and studying the town a bit more so that he may make a hasty exit come morning. He had secured a room from an older woman who lived alone, having lost her husband and two sons to a fever that swept through several years ago. She was a normal woman but definitely attractive in her youth. By all rights, she could have secured herself a position in a noble's home, but this woman was with some sense of honor. She had married a merchant and when he had passed, she took his business upon herself and ran a respectable shop. He couldn't find most of what he was looking for from her, buying only travel rations and water, she did direct him to the nearest alchemist and arbelistmeister.

When morning did come, he awoke to a jarring knock on the door. His first thought was a customer had come to buy provisions, but the knocking wasn't that of a commoner. He wondered if it was the guard coming to arrest him for his assault in The Retired Sword. He overheard the man talking to the woman, who opened the door with much venom on her lips for such a disruption. He quickly explained his intrusion at such an early of a time and bid her apologies as he handed her a letter. He quickly departed, scurrying down the road. Artemis would later realize this guard was sent to fetch the group of men and women who came to the assistance of Galloway. The woman handed him the letter and in return, he gave her several gold coins to compensate for the inconvenience. His pack was already prepared and on his shoulders, his armor concealed under the poncho when he bid her a good day and set off to find the things he required.

---

His business conducted in Galloway, he turned his attention to the letter. He glanced at it once before and gave the request some thought. All it said was to meet at the south gate but the insignia on the wax was that of the township of Galloway. This was no ordinary request, he soon realized, when the front gates came into view. There were more armed guards here, each with a slight nervousness to their stance. He wasn't surprised, of course. The guard must have been doubled, if not tripled, in light of what has happened. There were men and women toiling away at the stonework, using buckets of water to wash away the coagulated blood that began to crust under the morning sun. The smell, thankfully, was abated due to the hasty removal of the bodies but the lingering stench of iron in the blood remained. He could still see the remnants of shit and piss. Intestines and brain matter that sprayed across the courtyard not several hours before.

He saw the horror on the faces of many of the guards as they began their patrols, glances sideways as the gore that was being hurriedly cleared. Many of these men have never seen combat. They have never seen how fear can make a man vacate his bodily fluids or how much carnage forty-five inches of steel can cause. He has seen that look on many faces in the past. Young men told that they rode for glory and honor only to find the absolute worst of humanity. There was nothing honorable about drowning in your own blood, an arrow piercing a lung, or the gutteral screams of men dying as limbs were severed. It took a certain kind of mind to compartmentalise such things, and he has seen his fair share of men look to the bottle for some recompense from their nightmares.

Taking the view in one last time, he turned and headed toward the south gate where the letter instructed him. The people of Galloway seemed like decent folk. They were hard working and cared for each other, provided you weren't an elf. Of course, racism could not be cured with steel. It could only be cured with time. Hearts and minds, as he was taught years ago, was sometimes quicker than any bolt or poison. Perhaps one day they will see that the demon they fear so much isn't their Elven counterparts, but the neighbor they learned to trust. The demon hides in plain view.

The demon hides in plain view.

An old saying seared into his mind ages past. Old memories clung to him like cobwebs, and he shook them off just as quickly as the southern gate came into view. Looking around, he seemed to be the first to arrive. The guards here were also on high alert, but the gate was open. A guard walked in front of him, placing his hand out, "Halt. It is dangerous to leave the city walls." Artemis brandished the letter he was given and the guard examined it. "I see. You're the first to arrive. Wait here." The watchman then hurried off to fetch someone or another.

Artemis didn't like this. He felt too exposed. He hoped this wasn't a waste of his time.

Something Wicked This Way Comes [IC]

@SmileyJaws

I think it was a combination of over-indulging myself and in turn, getting sick from family who possibly have the cold bug. Being hungover doesn't make for the best immune system. Haha. Posting shortly. :)

The Faraway Land

---

Xen'Desh Idlindra locked himself away many years ago, preferring solitude over the suffering of fools. He had dealt with too many gluttonous men whose only goal was to line their pockets and quench their lust. These individuals served no one but their own self-interest and after spilling the blood of so many men in their name, his own rage and hatred began clouding his mind. More than three decades have passed since he left the civilized world in search of greener pastures and yet here he was, yet again. History played through his mind as he sat against a mossy tree, using the fertile flora to sooth his backside. They had been riding for hours and bedded down here. The location was pleasant enough. Several hundred paces from the main road, they would not be seen by passing caravans or, worse still, bandits.

His eyes were fixated upon the crackling fire that they had built. He had fed and provided water for the horses and had made himself a small supper to stave off the hunger that had been building for the hours on the road. Now, he was left to his devices. The camp was alive with whispers of talk. Occasional bits of laughter pierced the dense aura around them. Bringing Vert along had not been a popular choice with several of them and even he had his doubts about the creature. He wasn't so sure a greater mercy was to send her soul to the void. He reached for the satchel at his side when he heard the howl of the wargs.

His eyes immediately snapped toward the charging warg and he was on his feet. Quite spry for an older man, he was already on the move when the Storyteller delivered the killing blow. Just as suddenly as the attack came, there was a calm. Of course, the brash Kaite decided to egg on the intruders as if the beasts could understand the common tongue. He knew the woman didn't trust him or why Sadron put him in charge. The true reason was behind Sadron and himself, as only they two knew what he was capable of. The Warlock may possess incredible strength and it would take considerable more to defeat him. This is what Xen feared, that his only purpose here was to cause as much death and suffering as possible.

But not tonight.

As he felt the wargs stalking the camp from the edge of the light cast from the fire, a blade slid from the confines of his robes. The silver steel cast off an unnatural glare as the firelight hit it. His staff still laid against his bedroll but he was fairly certain he wouldn't need it for a couple of hungry dogs. He knew what they were going to try and accomplish. Separate the group to make it easier to establish an ambush. Wargs hunted similarly to wolves, where they would test their prey and study for weaknesses. "Everyone, backs together. Stay close to the fire." He began to slowly retreat, using the growing heat from the flame to judge his distance.

The Faraway Land

@Hawlin Ahem, Xen doesn't ramble, nor would he be bickering like a child with a group of people over something as trivial as a strategy of low import. :P Just sayin'. Lol

The Faraway Land

@Hawlin

I do believe that editing in mentions doesn't work as it won't actually ping the other user. I just noticed you edited me into one of your posts, yet I never received a notification of it.

The Faraway Land

I've been feeling like shit all weekend. Been spending my days in bed under chemical assistance. I'll review and post soon. Also, don't worry about skipping me. Shit happens.

Something Wicked This Way Comes [IC]

I'll put up a post soon. I've felt like garbage all weekend. =(

Something Wicked This Way Comes [IC]

Chronic. Hangover.

Dear god why do we do this to ourselves?