[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/blood-omen-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210222/7e7da7cb77ecba4c034814fd8e99945a.png[/img][/url][/center][hr][hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/DRq60YX.png[/img][/center] [center][hider=][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNvZbx3MYv4[/youtube][/hider][/center] [hr][hr] [center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/narnia-bll-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210225/db0bd0ce4d9cb456463538d6202c97e4.png[/img][/url][/center] [hr] [i]Thud[/i]... [i]Thud[/i]... [i]Thud[/i]... [color=9e0039][b]"Ser"[/b],[/color]" [i]Thud[/i] ... [color=9e0039][b]"Ser,"[/b] [/color][i]Thud[/i] [color=9e0039][b]"Ser Charles, you must eat."[/b][/color] Sacha's eyes peered forward into the darkness that consumed the cell separating himself and the shadowed sack of man laying limp on the floors of the catacombs. [i]Thud...Thud...Thud...[/i] [color=9e0039][b]"Charles,"[/b][/color] Sacha begged with exasperation. With eyes closed he tried to temper his shaking hand. Before he could implore further the hulking mass of the man behind the cage rushed towards the steel bars. In a panic the younger man dropped the tray full of rations he'd been carrying. The smacking of cutlery and glass against stone echoed throughout the dank and serpentine corridors that rested below Fort Stag. [color=9e0039][b]"Mierde,"[/b][/color] he said as he cupped his hand over his nose and mouth trying to wipe away his frustration through muffled sighs. He quickly bent down to clean his mess, but lost his balance as a pair of sickly jaundiced eyes bore into his own. Charles' eyes were covered with a thick black crust that squished and dripped like tart from his eyelid to the sunken bags below them. Sacha's body dropped backwards as he rested along the wall opposite the cell. Before he could catch his breath a door opened towards the end of the hallway. The sounds of shuffling crept in as a figure emerged bathed in the candle light affixed upon a wall. The Father, Gavan Marrow, was dressed in his ordained black robes, typical of high priests of Minerva. His slippers dragged like hushed whispers across the floor as he approached Sacha. He looked to the young noble for a second, and then to the cell that housed Ser Charles. It took only a moment for him to nod lightly in silent understanding. He moved over towards Charles as he began picking up what food and utensils he could. His back creaked, and he let out a small groan as he lifted himself back upright. Sacha followed his lead, using the wall to pick himself up. The Father parsed his thin lips as he handed Sacha back the rations and tray with another nod of contentment. [color=8882be][b]"It is good of you to come, my child." [/b][/color]His eyes wandered back to the cell. [color=8882be][b]"Charles would have--"[/b][/color] [color=9e0039][b]"Charles didn't know me, nor I him. Even here, we'd never even spoken a word to one another,"[/b][/color] Sacha rebutted almost choked up as his stare fell towards the floor and his brows furrowed. [color=9e0039][b]"Father,"[/b][/color] Sacha added before clearing his throat. Marrow's head recoiled momentarily as his eyes narrowed. He cocked his head for a moment. [color=8882be][b]"Help me understand then Sacha."[/b][/color] He'd regained his composure by now, resting a hand on Sacha's shoulder. Sacha's eyes stung as he bit back a rush of tears. He almost laughed for a minute. A nobleman brought nearly to tears because a soldier was sick. He sucked his teeth before continuing. [color=9e0039][b]'Charles served at Fort Westier, Father.[/b][/color]" Marrow removed his hand from Sacha's shoulder. He rested his fingers in palms as his thumb danced about the knuckles. He sighed, [color=8882be][b]"I've told you about speaking with Aemma regarding the sickly, Sacha. You know the good doctor's a tendency for the theatrics. It does you no good,"[/b][/color] his gaze returned once more to Charles who had returned to smacking his head against the bricks of his prison. [color=8882be][b]"It does nothing for them either."[/b][/color] [color=9e0039][b]"Y-you're not hearing me, Father Marrow! ...Charles served at Fort Westier. He disobeyed an order and Commander Rolan requested his discharge. Without stepping a foot outside Moonshire Keep, my brother sentenced him to serve here."[/b][/color] [color=8882be][b]"To rule with closed fist is grave a crime, but graver is it to rule with open hands. Charles knew what he was doing when he disobeyed that order, my child."[/b][/color] [color=9e0039][b]"He returned to Mornier to see his newborn child,[/b][/color]" Sacha retorted." [color=9e0039][b]And for it, my brother sentenced him to death. Aemma told me that scouts found him a stones toss away from Glenmont, near death. His escort abandoned him there."[/b][/color] Sacha stepped closer to the Father, uncomfortably so. His eyes met Marrow's greyed blues, wrinkled and withered by time. Marrow stepped away clearing his throat. This was enough to make Sacha retreat making himself smaller before the clergyman. Marrow studied the young man for a moment as the tension still sat between them. [color=8882be][b]"I shall draft a letter to his family,"[/b][/color] he replied coldly. [color=8882be][b]"I will make note of your...displeasure,[i] my Lord"[/i].[/b][/color] Sacha looked defiantly back at the Father. Was he being toyed with? He rubbed the bridge of his nose before making his way passed Marrow and down the hallway. [color=8882be][b]"And Sacha,"[/b][/color] Marrow called again. [color=8882be][b]"I won't be seeing you cavort with the doctor again."[/b][/color] [i]Thud[/i] [sub][i]Thud[/i][/sub] [sub][sub][i]Thud[/i][/sub][/sub] [color=9e0039][b]"Of course not...Father Marrow."[/b][/color] [hr][hr] [center][hider=][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-1JR8lU1is[/youtube][/hider][/center] [hr] It wasn't long after his encounter with the priest that Sacha found his way outside. The morning sky hung with the thick grey overcast typical in much of Vicelles. The air carried the smell of sulfur throughout the fortress. Undeterred, the soldiers of the camp hummed with life. A few men were nestled near the lower stables towards the eastern gate. One of them was practicing his aim with a bow. Sacha could almost hear the ranger plucking at the string as he notched another arrow. Blacksmiths labored away at their crafts, and with their tinkering came a cacophony of clanking metal and hissing steam. There was audible arguing coming from above Sacha. Two soldiers were yelling back and forth along one of the battlements that lined the fortress walls. Sacha was sure he heard the faintest sound of a lute eclipsed by the pitter patter of horses hooves trotting about. Sacha let the tower door slam behind him. The resulting smack of its large frame was nearly muted by the ambience. Taking a deep breath and dusting off the lower part of his tunic Sacha moved quickly through the busy courtyard at the base of the fort. [i]His eyes were the same as father's. A sickening black lining about the bottom lid, and vacant pupils. Ser Charles must have been out there for days and...[/i] Sacha only just noticed the lumbering brith ahead of him. [i]Fiske[/i], Sacha remembered. He was carrying two large pieces of lumber which Sacha nearly knocked from his hands. Fiske turned towards the human noble and hissed. [color=fff79a][b]Damned wormskins,[/b][/color] he muttered as he continued towards the eastern gate. [color=9e0039][b]Apologies,[/b][/color] Sacha said futilely. He sheepishly continued towards the central keep, but paused as he heard the ringing of the fortresses' bell. "Open the gates!" By command from the ramparts did the gears and chains begin to rattle as the main gates to the fortress began to peal open. The loud creaking and dragging of metal and wood competed with the ringing bell. From his vantage point Sacha could see a familiar carriage. It seemed Elias Black had returned. Sacha watched as the Ward made his way through the gates as a handful of stable boys ran over to greet the man. One immediately began attending to the horses, one to the carriage and another to the cargo. Elias made his way towards the back of the carriage, and from its tent came three figures. From where he was standing Sacha could hardly make out there faces. He knew better than to approach. Sacha was hardly in any mood to greet the Ward, and Elias was hardly ever in any mood at all. Sacha rested on a wall as he studied the group. [i][color=9e0039]More lambs to this slaughter[/color][/i] [hr] [center][url=https://fontmeme.com/fonts/narnia-bll-font/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/210303/3e4efc928d74661e24db4d0f31bd1df1.png[/img][/url][/center] [color=598527][b]"Out ye come,"[/b][/color] Elias' voice was stern and his Astorian accent was thick with a northerner's dialect. Most anyone could likely smell the ale on his breath, but Elias was a man of fortitude. He guided the three men out of the carriage with little trouble. First was Lambert, next Karlus and then Arlo. [color=598527][b]"Welcome,"[/b][/color] he said with exasperated breath. His hands moved towards the dagger nestled in his belt. Flipping it 'round in his hand he moved towards each of the men, now abreast from each other, and cut at the hemp binding their wrists. [color=598527][b]"To Fort Stag."[/b][/color] Elias whistled to one of the stable boys who quickly rose from his work to meet his command. [color=598527][b]"Boy, send for a priest."[/b][/color] He reached into his pocket and retrieved a small tattered piece of parchment. Elias could feel the humming of power in the rune affixed to it. He pushed it against the boy's chest. [color=598527][b]"Oh, and have them burn this."[/b][/color] He left the rest of the workers to attend to the carriage and horses as he motioned for the three recruits to follow behind him. [color=598527][b]"Doubt ye'll find much comfort with the priests. 'Spose they're better than the college...or the rope."[/b][/color] He could feel Arlo physically squirm from behind him as he mentioned the latter. Black never figured himself a conversationalist. Much of the trip to Vicelles was silent save for the random bouts of pissin', shittin' and bleedin'. What little conversation there was remained fairly curt. Black had little in the way of tact, but enough in spirits for any who would have some to dull the pain of the experience. The four of them moved through the courtyard as the eyes of soldiers, medics and servants fixed on them. As they made their way passed, the doors of the main keep swung open. [color=004b80][b]"Ward Black,"[/b][/color] a daunting figure called out from across the yard. He was clad in a tourniquet of silver armor, adorned with the blue markings that denoted the Order's soldiers. Flowing from his back was a large fur cape that bellowed out as he hastened his step. Knight Captain Lucian Driskell was a rather large man cut from some of the finest cloth in Vicelles. Like his cape, a mess of black curls were pulled back and draped down to his shoulders. The two men embraced, each holding firmly onto the other's right forarm with the left hand. [color=598527][b]"Knight Captain,"[/b][/color] Elias greeted. The Captain's eyes trained on the group of three behind Elias. He furrowed his brows, and was nearly pouting when Elias returned his gaze. The Ward sighed under his breath. [color=598527][b]"Bloats,"[/b][/color] Elias said through a cough. The Knight Captain nodded before looking back to Elias, he feigned a smile. [color=004b80][b]"Well, I see three fit and capable young men before me. You've done us a great service Ward Black."[/b][/color] His gaze focused to the three once more. [b][color=004b80]"I look forward to welcoming you to the Order."[/color][/b] [color=a187be]'As do I,'[/color] a middle-aged woman noted as she made her way towards the group. Another of Minerva's damned priests. [color=a187be]"Minerva bless you brothers. I am Sister Angelique."[/color] Her accent was the thickest Vicellan accent that Elias had ever heard. [color=598527][i]What a terrible language.[/i] [/color] [color=004b80][b]"And you sister,"[/b][/color] Lucian greeted. [color=598527][i]Lucian, ye blighted liar.[/i][/color] Elias was stirred from his thoughts as he realized both Lucian and Angelique were looking at him. He cleared his throat. [color=598527][b]"Sister, Karlus and Lambert. Both ready to dedicate their talents to the Order."[/b][/color] [color=a187be]"Excellent, you two must be tired. I'll show you to your quarters."[/color] She motioned for the pair to follow her. As the three walked off towards the temple Lucian's gaze met Arlo's and then Elias'. The two veterans shared a knowing look for a moment. [color=598527][b]"Come on, boy."[/b][/color] Elias’ hand stretched out over Arlo’s back as he corralled the young man away from the courtyard. As they left Elias looked back. His eyes studied the Knight Captain who turned his stride back towards the keep. From there he saw him. Sacha. Driskell beckoned the young noble to follow him.