BlackBerry was happy to hear that driving the cart wasn’t taxing for Victoria, in fasct she looked to be quite content sitting on her wooden throne. He smiled to hear her lament not being able to pen a song to the countryside which he agreed was rather charming in that simple and plain sort of way; his eyes hopped over the trees starting to turn, the passing fields recently harvested, and the browning shrubbery clinging to the edges of the road they travelled.
Much to his excitement it seemed the idea of lunch was catching on amongst the group. Lady Kosara had already made her way over to the other wagon to involve Lizbeth is choosing a suitable place to stop. Meanwhile, BlackBerry practically groaned in anticipation at Kosaras suggestion of freshly made bread, flat or otherwise.
“Freshly baked bread for lunch? Oh yes, do let’s.” Nodding enthusiastically, almost chuckling already with glee. “It will be just the thing to keep us going through this wind.”
“And worry not Kosara, for I did purchase some marvellous meat and cheese from the market.” He explained, still walking backwards with hand resting upon the mules harness for guidance. It would be rude not to face someone he was talking to. “And some bread also if we do not have the ingredients to make the flat bread. I was assured that it should last several days before being cut. However, I would be rather more partial to sampling this flatbread you speak of.”
“May I enquire as to how interesting of a flavour, you are suggesting?” He stared up at Victoria after she listed off her ingredients, and unfortunately possibly answering several questions he wished she hadn’t. “When a meat is advertised as interesting it rarely bodes well for ones stomach.”
“But otherwise it appears there is no need to worry about food, nor any lack of ingredients or rations at this present.” A simple shrug. He ignored the flag in his mind that he hadn’t bought any rations. “After all our destination is hardly far away from us. And once Young Miss Lizbeth and Lady Kathryn have found us somewhere suitable then we may set about making ourselves a wondrous feast, Kosara. Meanwhile our talented bard may perhaps inspiration whilst we work.”
“And then afterwards once we have allowed our food to settle, If you find it agreeable Victoria I could even give handling the wagon a try? Then you may put all the marvellous scenery around us to song if you wish.” He then spun around again misstep so he was back to walking forward beside the mule and called over to the other wagon with their travelling companions. “If all is agreeable to you as well Miss Cecily? I wouldn’t suggest we dally long if you and young Lizbeth are eager to make it home soon.”
“One more question actually Victoria, If I may be so bold, why do we not make use of your Phantasmal Steed? Forgive me I am not too familiar with such magics but it sounds to me it may be easier to handle a flesh and blood animal, and maybe even eat far less too.” Hurriedly BlackBerry addressed the Mule in question with his hand solemnly upon his heart. “Not that I saying you are eat more than your fair share sir, in fact you no doubt earn it given all the hard work you do.”
20 Gold Pieces. The little bag the famed Sheriff Gregory Arbelast had given him contained 20 gold pieces.
The number still him somewhat dumb and when he had counted the pieces in the little bag he was give, his mouth had flapped soundlessly for a few moment before his voice decided to make an appearance.
“This is rather generous Sir especially as I wasn’t even under your employment. Not to sound ungrateful of course.”
His conscience wrestled with itself for a moment. He placed the bag of coins onto the table alongside the other offerings he had inadvertently received. He wondered who it was the Sheriff had otherwise been expecting given the collection of quills, ink bottles, a book, another smaller satchel of various implements he had only a passing understanding of, now tucked safely away in his backpack.
“If I may. There is actually another matter I had hoped to discuss with you.”
He gestured towards a more private area of the Public House a little away from the rest of the group. It was nothing personal, as he had already informed the others his whole journey had simply been to find their employer, but he didn’t see any reason to inform them of the specifics. He didn’t wish to burden them at this point
“I do hope that this is not unseemly Sir, but I was hoping to ask if not for aid then perhaps for some information. Though I do not know if the stories are true I had heard tale that you travelled the Celadon Coast on some of your adventures.” His words tumbling out towards the end of the sentence before he took a breath to compose himself. “I Apologise I appear to have misplaced my manners and neglected to introduced myself. My Name is BlackBerry, a Monk of the Hiltoszin Monastery, one that is on the very edge of the coast itself.” A polite small bow with a hand to his chest.
“Unfortunately there has been come trouble brewing. A…ah.” His voice faltered for a moment. His thumb tap, tap, tapping along his fingertips. A breath rattled out of his chest. “A creature of um…A creature has been terrorising our waters now for several years. Decades, even. Unfortunately, very little is still known about it as it appears to attack only during storms, however I have no doubt it is responsible for many more of out ships which have gone missing.”
“And so I was hoping that you may know something…anything.” He shrugged and slowly shook his head. “I assure you that there nothing too small or insignificant about the creature you may know that I wouldn’t want or need to know. I…you…you are.” He gestured weakly towards the Sheriff. “Please.” There wasn't anything more to say.
"Rumors, mostly. Rumors and stories about events affecting a nation that was not my own. I gave them as much consideration as I would other rumors. My campaigning years were mostly spent on land, fighting in the Southlands and a bit near the eastern expanses. Was on saltwater but a handful of times, and nothing came of it - not to what you were speaking about. And I have retired to the quieter life of a regional Sheriff for many years now. I apologise, Adventurer. There is nothing I can offer here."
Admittedly, much of BlackBerry had expected Gregory’s response. But even more of him had been so desperate for another answer. As Gregory continued, BlackBerry’s face shifted took on a mask of neutrality. Each of Sheriff Arbelasts words grinding away at his hope without malice or unkindness, but with plain explanation and sheer honesty.
“Nothing?” BlackBerry whispered. “Nothing?” He said. “Nothing?” He snarled the mask fell off, sparks crackled but died just as suddenly as they arose.
“Sir. You…Do You. How could.” Frustration quickly turned to anguish and strangled the words in his throat. . “Sir please.”
BlackBerry then caught himself and took back the few steps away from the Sheriff he hadn’t realised he had taken. He drew a breath in through his teeth, an audible wince at his own embarrassing, practically shameful outburst at a man who had given him several marvellous gifts.
“I…I apologise Sir I appear to have forgotten myself. I had rather…hoped for another answer as you can plainly tell. I…I thank you again for your time and your generosity. If you have any need of assistance or hear anything…I…well…”
The words died in his throat caught and choked between despair and shame. He quickly excused himself from the Public House. He was as good as back to where he started and with only one more option left to him.
—
The days following the battle, and BlackBerry’s outburst at Gregory Arbelast, were relaxed and calm despite the fear and the baseless rumours of a revenge attack by Cavendish’s escaping allies which thankfully never came to pass.
And with the Harvestide Festival back in full swing there wasn’t even time to contemplate such worries for long. BlackBerry took every opportunity he could to enjoy the Harvestide Festival and all the games, music and food such an event entailed. On more than one occasion BlackBerry found himself as a not-entirely-willing participant to the various street performances on display, for equal parts to his apparent rarity in the area and the role he played in defeating Cavendish.
On top of this excitement there were also the townships children, the youngest of whichc would rush towards him with their parents either dragged along or hurriedly running over with frantic apologies as he was beset upon with furious questions. He would of course laugh away the parents concerns every time; “It is no worry. A child's curiosity is to be enjoyed and nurtured.” He let the younger ones touch his scales and horns absolutely fascinated by the colour and texture. The older ones of course kept their distance with a feigned air of disinterest which was quickly forgotten when he demonstrated his extraordinary breath, except one who insisted that “real dragons breathe fire.”
Of course, he hadn’t been the only one to have spent the past few days exploring the Township as he had bumped into Kosara also been buying her own set of cooking utensils. Now granted having multiple sets of anything seemed somewhat wasteful, but it was better to be overprepared than under prepared. Additionally, BlackBerry had spent enough time on the road with nothing but rations or leftovers and was determined not to do it again. Besides, having multiple sets of cooking wear meant they could make more complex and tasty meals, and he had no doubt Kosara had some interesting recipes up her sleeve even if some may just be a sandwich by another name.
Between all the festivities, and consoling a child he had accidentally upset after suggesting a lack of vegetables made his arm drop off, he was able to find sometime to himself to sit back and simply be in the moment. Sitting atop a low wall in the cool sunshine he also let himself enjoy one of the many, many treats he had found at the market.
Not long into his snack break a vaguely familiar halfling woman came up to him with a parcel in hand. When she unwrapped the package to reveal his old sword in much better condition than he ever remembered it being, he then realised where he had seen her before. As an added bonus the wrapping it was in was also a gift! A marvellous scarf dyed a beautiful crimson colour. He expressed his joy to see the woman again in much better condition than last time, as well as thanking her repeatedly for the gift and returning his sword. He wasted no time trying on the new scarf, not even bothering to take off the other one, and wrapping it around his neck and even his entire head half a dozen times.
“Oh this is marvellous.” His voice come from somewhere within the scarf.
—
BlackBerry was looking for someone. After stopping a few merrymakers to ask where he might find the person in question he was pointed towards towards one of the few pubs within the Township. He glided past the clientele who had spilled out determined to enjoy the last rays of morning sunshine of the season and entered the Pub, casting his gaze around the easy conversations taking place over breakfasts. Above them all though Lady Kathryn still managed to tower above them all even whilst sitting down and leaning into her own breakfast with gusto.
“Ah, Lady Kathryn.” His voice energetically crashed through the conversations around him as he drifted over. “You are well this fine morning I trust?”
“If I may trouble you for a moment I do have a request.” Still standing before her he continued, barely waiting for her reply. “After…acquiring some new equipment.” He patted the Viscous Sword in its sheathe hanging on the left of his hip, his newly returned sword hung on his right. He thought it best not to mention where he had gotten it from within ear shot of the townsfolk. The puzzled frowns of recognition it had already gathered over the past few days probably weren’t for the best. “It struck me that I likely didn’t take the best of care of my last one, or even knew how best to wield it even. If you might have some time to spare I was wondering if you could train me further in the art of sword fighting?”
Kathryn perked up hearing her name called. Despite not being as lady like as her title would imply, she still answered to it when she heard it. Looking over, she found Fjord calling out to her. Having just finished her breakfast, a nice bunch of scrambled eggs, bacon, and a breakfast beer, Kathryn met her new travelling companion with glee. "Some assistance can be arranged." Though the blade was still in it's sheath, she understood the weapon well enough.
"It's used a bit differently than what I am used to, but I'm sure I can give you a pointer or two. Just looking for tips and tricks? Stances and advice? We can practice a bit in the barn if you'd like?" She asked gleefully, excited to have a sparing partner who could provide her with an interesting challenge.
“Marvellous. Well, all of the above if there is time and you are able?” He smiled with his arm out wide in then added with a kind chuckle. “I assure you that however unfamiliar with such weapons it will likely still be leagues above my own, being more accustomed to uh more martial practices.” He then gave the air a few quick jabs to demonstrate. “Truth be told, however, I had based my assumptions upon your dress; rarely have I seen anyone with as many weapons upon their person.”
“Shall we begin presently or would later be more suitable?”
Kathryn chuckled at the assumption. Though it was an accurate one. She carried an abnormal amount of weapons on her person, and was well versed in all of them. Watching Fjord jab at the air, and seeing how he handled himself in the fight, Kathryn knew the foundations were there. "Come on, let's try it out. A lot of it is handling. SO I'm sure you'll pick it up quickly enough." Kathryn would lead her new ally towards the barn, and either make a master bladed warrior of him, or they may both walk away bruised and beaten.
Once they were both inside the barn, Kathryn would turn and draw the dagger from her boot. The closest instrument she had to his short sword on her person. Though she was sure that the other blades and daggers were about here somewhere. "It's important to note that a short sword is more a stabbing instrument than a slashing. Quick decisive stabs to break defences, and dish some punishment before your enemy can react. Making sense so far?" Kathryn asked as she planted her boots into the dirt floor of the barn. Bringing her right hand forward as if she were holding a shield, the metal glove held high ready for defence, and her left hand holding the dagger ready to close the distance.
BlackBerry nodded as he followed Lady Kathryns example sinking into his usual stance; somewhat side on to her to reduce contact area, left foot forward, right sliding back across the dirt and hay, and his knees loose. In his hand the short sword was raised to the challenge and glinted wickedly in the sunlight stabbing through the barns seams
“Ah I see. Not quite as the tapestries and tales of mighty heroes slashing through their enemies then. Not too dissimilar to Boxing then in fact.” He commented as his thoughts wandered to several fights held before Kathryn's advice. Thinking his arm was resting too high he let it fall so the swords point was aimed lower towards Lady Kathryns stomach. But their weight of the sword made his wrist begin to ache at that angle so pulled the point higher aiming more towards her chest. “I must admit I had never given my sword fighting form much thought beyond ‘hit before being hit’. It feels rather strange to have my arm resting so low.”
He tested the path of the sword, striking hard and fast into the air in front of him.
Kathryn would take the dagger in her hand, and use it as if a guiding rod to straighten Fjord's blade and approach angle. Taking extreme care to make sure the blade never touched her friend himself. Merely the weapon he held. "Don't get me wrong, you can use it as a slashing instrument. And skilled fighters do. But that is not it's intended role. Clansmen from Arcanaple used to tell of soldiers they would fight in tight formations, short blades piercing into them mere inches at a time. But always landing true as the formations they faced would continuously hold true. Brutal stuff really." Kathryn would step back again attempting to show a few different stances one could take.
"You can fight with weapons like these in all sorts of ways. But the original piercing styles seem like they would suit you better. Easier to get into a weak point in armor, between ribs, links in chainmail, and harder to parry against an inexperienced fighter. And can throw off an experienced once assuming you know how to handle said blade. Though make sure you watch yourself yeah? Knife fights are a great way to find yourself cut to bits and near dead before you even realize it. But I've seen ya fight in melee. Honestly, you can probably keep doing a lot of what you're doing as long as you're handlin' that blade with a bit more precision." Kathryn would step to the side of the dragon born, slightly correcting his stand, though this time with her hands and boot. Before guiding his hand with the blade to show good potential approaches with it. "Honestly I think you got most of it already. Just make sure you're practising with a blade as well as that fist of yours. Lots of similarities, but the differences will show when you got some goon trying to gut ya in return ya know?"
BlackBerry nodded enthusiastically as Lady Kathryn explained all this to him, committed it all to memory as best he could, and he allowed her to nudge him limbs into the correct position. He rocked back and forth slightly on the balls of his feet as he tested the new stance. Throwing another jab with the blade it practically sang along its new path. Giving a few more forward jabs he found the movements Lady Kathryn instructed him on were surprisingly similar to his own Martial fighting style; pushing off his back leg towards his imagined foe and then just as quickly pushing back, or even continuing the forward motion to press the enemy into a corner.
“Why that is very kind of you to say Lady Kathryn. I should indeed be saying the very same of yourself during the battle against Cavendish you fought most valiantly and thought on your feet. There is no doubt that you are a testament to the fighting prowess of your people.” Taking another few moments he tried slipping from side to side, to the right he stepped moving his right foot first and similarity moving his left foot first to move in the same direction. Giving another few jabs he found holding his arm at the angle Kathryn suggested was much more comfortable and steady than the one he had initially tried.
Becoming more comfortable with the initial motions he then gave a few testing jabs at different angles trying to imagine a foe before him and aiming for their weak points and even around their own attacks as Lady Kathryn had mentioned. “I must admit that I did receive some lessons many years ago. However, they simply pale in comparison next to your tutelage and you can trust that I will be practising as much as I may.”
The pair spent a few more hours as BlackBerry was put through his paces with the new sword, and under Lady Kathryn's diligent teachings he found himself able to wield the viscous blade with, at the very least, satisfactory precision. And as the lesson came to its natural end with BlackBerry earning himself a few nicks from his own mistakes, Lady Kathryn also passed on along several tips she had learned to keep his blades in decent condition when on the road. Overall, a successful lesson with a bag of animal feed as the only fatality.
—
BlackBerry walked alongside the mule as it heaved the wagon along the path, choosing to spend much of the journey walking rather than sitting inside the wagon not because he didn’t want to, (though Morty II did take up a lot of room and raise a number of questions BlackBerry didn’t want answers to) but because it was a rather fine day, and he could never sit still for very long. Instead, he ambled with the other adventurers along the road as they all talked about nothing of consequence, or otherwise enjoyed the sounds of the world around them. The chill winds that would occasionally rush by them reminding BlackBerry in no uncertain terms that the season were beginning to change and he rubbed his arm trying to convince some warmth back into it. The scarf he had been given sat at the bottom of his backpack unused for now as he couldn’t quite bring himself to give up his current scarf. Regardless he was thankful to himself to have taken the halfling woman's warning of the cold and purchased a worn though still respectable muted red shirt and grey sleeveless fur lined jacket . While neither articles were as brightly coloured as he liked, he couldn’t complain as they did the job keeping him defended against the worst of the winds biting chill.
He had initially found it somewhat surprising that he had received an invite to their current destination, but as far as he knew none of the other party members had protested. Though BlackBerry did wonder if it was likely down to Marita being asked to stay in the Township to help it recover, and from the sounds of it other members had left before then. He debated asking about the members who had since left. Regardless he was enjoying having the company on the road again.
But the otherwise uneventful journey left his mind to wander to more…concerning matters and even more concerning thoughts. The message from the Voice and it’s offer was never far away from BlackBerry’s mind.
Kosaras squeal coming from the wagon shattered his thoughts and dragged him into the present, to her excited cries about Friendship Rings. BlackBerry turned mid-stride and started walking backwards so he could face Victoria atop the wagons seat.
He gave Victoria a puzzled frown and repeated, “Friendship Rings?”
“Well, I suppose the pair are getting along. How are you doing Victoria? If you require a rest at all I’m sure no one would protest to find somewhere for lunch.“
- cooks utensils 1gp - foods - dried meats 3cp - cheese 1gp - jam 3sp - shirt and jacket (travellers clothes) 2gp - replacement bag of feed 2gp - various days spending 2gp - total: 8gp, 3sp, 3cp
“The evening continues to elevate itself to greater and greater heights.” BlackBerry grumbled, more at the drizzle than anything else. “If left unchecked we may find ourselves giddy in the clouds.”
He retrieved the scabbard Lady Kathryn had pointed out to him and after attaching it to his belt transferred the new short-blade to it, and it rested much more securely in it’s own home than it had in the other scabbard. Still he kept the first scabbard on him just in case, at least for now.
Following the part, he grimaced at the damp, and squalid state of the neglected courtyard. He kept looking over his shoulders expecting an attack, to hear the cries of a last stand or the poor fools left to defend the place, and was met with only the sound of the parties own footsteps upon the slick cobbles. BlackBerry stuck close to Lady Kathryn as they all filed into the building through the door, his eyes noting the broken lock, as the hammer in her hand lit up the entrance room they found themselves in. Casting his eyes around what little was illuminated he wasn’t terribly impressed; broken furniture, rubbish, leftover food, and various other unsavoury or unmentionable sights littered the place.
“My word. This place has seen better days, no doubt about that. No wonder those ruffians were so brutish. A place such as this would make anyone forget their manners.” He tried hard to pierce the shadows further past the dark portals to other rooms which the hammers light didn’t reach. “I do wonder just how long Cavendish had been running this operation.”
He followed after the others as they began the descent further into the darkness, deeper into the bowels of the building. The further they continued the stronger the smell of death and decay became, the smell so sickly sweet it turned rancid in the back of his throat. He pulled his scarf up over his mouth and nose in an attempt to block out the smell but it still found a way into his lungs.
The final room they found themselves in was the worst by far. BlackBerry felt his earlier meal threaten to return as he saw the grisly garlands decorating the old prison cells. BlackBerry could only nod in agreement to Kosaras suggestion to burn this place down, and hopefully ridding this plane of any trace of it. Trying his best to avert his gaze from the worst of the grisly sights and instead focused intently on the remaining Beast laid before them all on the centre table.
“This is obscene.” Horror, disgust, fear all poured out of his mouth in one muffled sentence from under his scarf.
He jumped when Lady Kathryn fired her crossbow at the Incomplete Beast and his eyes locked onto its rotten form expecting it to leap at them all in fury. But it didn’t and when he tentatively drew closer, emboldened by it’s stillness, he noticed in the meagre light it wasn't even stitched together like the other two had been; it was incomplete and forgotten.
“It appears this one was left incomplete. Regardless, I agree that we should get someone in here to cleanse this place of such a foul desecration. But of whom the locals worship I am uncertain, and even more so of how they would even go about such a task. Someone of Tyr’s flock at the very least I would suggest” Holding his breath he bent down to examine some of the arcane circles decorating the floor while taking care not to step upon the lines, or even worse the suspicious liquids splattered about in the dark. He tried hard not to shiver when his foot dipped into something he didn't want to know about. “What these circles and markings are for I am at a completely loss for as well. Likely they are something Cavendish and our a ‘Interested Party’ devised to bring those Beasts to life and do their bidding…Perhaps it is Necromatic in nature?”
The grimace of disgust was near audible in his voice when made the suggestion and pulled himself back upright.
“We might have better luck trying another room, Marita, if we are looking for clues. This may have been where the work was done but actual plans may have been drawn up elsewhere.” He suggested, already treading his way over strains and remains backwards the stairway.
BlackBerry moved away from the Constable remains and out from beneath the trees fiery canopy heading towards the fountain at the centre of the townsquare. All things considered they had come out relatively unscathed and the fight could have gone a whole lot worse than it had done, he supposed. While thankfully he hadn’t taken any lacerating attacks he could feel several large bruises already starting to form around his torso making it hard to breathe, and warning him loudly against moving anywhere fast. Blessedly, there were no rats clawing for his ankles making it easier for him to step over and around the twisted remains of the not so lucky ones.
BlackBerry tried not to grimace as he wiped the dust from his finger tips on his dishevelled robes and decided that he needed to be away from the remains of Cavendish. It was still hard to think that the Constable had been man, very much alive and kicking barely a few minutes ago, now reduced to nothing but ash and bone in a few moments. The screams still echoed in his ears and the image seared into his mind.
As he moved past the still lit barrels, their horrid stench filling his nostrils for a moment, his eyes wandered over to Marita. He wondered what the strange voice had meant by ‘Older Loyalties’. Perhaps something related to the holy symbol she wore? Or the ‘heretical reasons’ she mentioned for leaving her home. Out of all of them The Voice seemed to only want her even if only possibly as proxy for others, and then for the rest of them it had offered only either a threat or comment before it’s actual offer of…power and answers. A very nebulous reward. Suspicion held his eyes on the Cleric for a moment longer while she pulled her hair back into place.
What did she say to the man at his death?
BlackBerry was then violently dragged to the present by Kosara bellowing into the night for help with the fire, and crashing through unhelpful suspicions; disembodied voices weren’t known for their trustworthiness, especially when they turned people to dust. “Well, that is one way to get the message out.” He turned his gaze upward to the pitch black clouds above and met only the smallest droplets of rain falling on his face. They couldn’t count on the rain for any help this evening it seemed. “Perhaps piling some dirt upon it would do? Best bet would be to ask Mr Mallard if possible as he seems the sort to know. But do let’s get to somewhere of some safety first, and then find our way back to him. I may have been tenderised but I would rather not be cooked as well as a slab of meat.”
Coming to the edge of the fountain BlackBerry saw only shadows of ripples and orange petals of reflected fire. It was too dark to guess how deep the fountain really was but given the size of the Beasts he could only assume that it was deeper than it looked. He heard Marita behind him lay out her idea to head to the Municipal building squatting nearby just beyond the boundary of trees and walls of the Township Square.
“Something important? Such as a clue as to what all this was in aid of? It does seem like a sound idea. If we do decide on such course of action, heading to the Municipal building I mean, we might yet have a stroke of luck and be able to avoid another confrontation. With the ring leader taken care of I doubt the remaining ruffians would dare to make any further attacks any time soon. Likely they are still reeling from his defeat and the ones we saw seemed none too eager to lend a hand during the battle either.” BlackBerry turned away from the fountain and shot a venomous glare towards the looming shadow of the municipal building. He lowered his voice with an almost paranoid feeling that even now they were all being watched by unseen eyes from the buildings hollow windows. “If we do come across any of Cavendish’s remaining thugs then we might, just might, have a chance of bluffing our way through any more fights. If we play our cards right that is.”
Momentarily he wondered who they might run into if they were to head there. They were just as likely to meet a collection of frightened fools left to slow the party or any other would be attackers while the rest fled, as they were to meet an armies worth of were-rats armed to the teeth.
“The problem arises, however.” BlackBerry continued as he rolled his shoulders and then whined at a horrid stabbing feeling from his left. “If they were to have another Beast or two, whatever ungodly creatures they may be, hidden away somewhere, none of us are in any state to fight them so. Or more appropriately end their suffering”
The very idea that the Beasts had once ordinary people twisted and mangled into such rancid forms made his stomach twist and lips curl with disgust. Even he had heard of the disappearances the town had been suffering as of late and as Marita pointed out what lay before them was the likely result. He sucked in a breath through his teeth at the thought.
“A horrid fate to suffer. Do you recognise any of the…uh” He approached Lady Kathryn as he tentatively tried to find the most suitable word. “Victims?”
Fear and horror brought his mind to a crashing halt. Silence descended upon BlackBerry, his eyes frantically tracing across the ground at the meagre remains, the belongings, and last traces of Cavendish.
Then Voice, that awful, terrible voice, speaking from everywhere and nowhere at once then continued. He had tried to trace it but had been left spinning, wildly glancing without any success into the surrounding walls of darkness that had descended upon them all. The voice had spoken awful truths of the others, he didn’t have to guess hard as to who was who in the voices monologue.
BlackBerry felt his heart stopped when The Voice referred, quite obviously to him. The words held no real threat or information but only confirmed with terrifying clarity what he always feared. He stopped breathing.
“It hasn't forgotten about you.” The Voice explained.
His eyes locked into the far, far distance. His eyes locked onto the Thing pulling him away from the present and deep into the darkness of memory.
“It never will.” The Voice promised.
Its Still Here. It still hungers.
Kosara’s screams swiftly followed by almost horrifying optimism broke him from his horror induced trance. Fingers first began tap, tap, tapping against his thumb. He then gave a quiet but sudden gasp as if he had been held underwater for too long. Immediately he clamped his mouth shut to against the smells of soot and burning flesh, so acrid it almost stung the back of his throat.
“What in all the hells was that?” His voice shook.
Breathe in through the nose. Breathe out through the mouth. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. He managed to hold fast against the waves crashing inside memories.
Lady Kathryn appeared to have been the first of them all to get her bearings back and he watched with some admiration as she promptly got to work trying to drag one of the grotesque bodies away from the flames. In his mind Lady Kathryn absolutely had the right idea to get something productive done now and worry about the horrifyng ramifications of what they had just seen and heard later.
“Yes.” His smile wavered at the edges. “I suppose we should but …ah aha well I think you might all forgive me if I bow out of any barbecues. Does anyone have someone to deal with the fire, by chance?”
Blackberry stepped forwards a little closer to the pile of cloth and bone despite the fear. A dead man was a dead man after all, and without further need of any worldly possessions. He allowed Victoria the first pick of spoils and noted with some surprise that she plucked a bone from the pile. He wasn’t certain he wanted to know what she had planned for it. There wasn’t too much else to the remains that BlackBerry could find as he gingerly sifted through them with the tips of his fingers, searching for anything that might be a clue. He kept the astral limbs up and ready for any more attacks that might arrive.
The task gave his mind space to hunt through The Voice’s offer. It seemed to be the usual affair of offering for a service, but to what? The words ‘World Born Dead’ rattled in his skull but met no answer for the moment. Perhaps some peace and a bit of space would give him time to think better and discuss with the others. The idea was…tempting. He was already scraping the bottom of the barrel on leads and people who would or even could help. He found nothing of obvious note to him in the pile other than a dire warning.
BlackBerry turned away from the pile and instead focused on the short-sword that had drifted his way at the end of the fight, at the end of Cavendish. It gleamed, almost flickering itself in the firelight and reminding him that he was unarmed again. A quick check confirmed that the hostage he had given his own short-sword to was no longer in sight which he could only be slightly annoyed at. He let out a little ‘huff’ but resigned himself to picking up the short-sword deciding it better than to remain unarmed right now.
The short-sword was in much better condition than his own old, dented, and sometimes blunt one had bean. The crimson leather of the hilt was smooth and tight, the metal shone and when tilted on its side revealed a razor sharp edge. It was a viscous sword, and had likely been in service for quite sometime with the evil man before him, but with it in hand BlackBerry felt at least a little more sure of himself. He made a mental note to inspect it a bit more later when there was time for it.
“One would doubt that Cavendish has little to say on the matter. He shan’t be using it again at the very least, and there appears to not be much else left save dust, bones and possibly a trinket or two.” He shrugged as Victoria laid claim to the back she had found past the battle field. “Unless the ah…being, or what have you, has any ‘Earthly Tasks’ for the ruffian sooner than we should hope or even expect.”
“For now though, it would appear we are to be left to our own devices.” He paused a moment, eyes still resting upon the remains of Cavendish. He gave the short-sword a testing swing. “For now at least, unless anyone has eyes on those other guards? I for one haven’t seen hide nor hair of them since the battle began.”
Fire. Battle. Death. It would be a lot to explain to anyone else watching or even the rest of the town as to what had just happened.
“Would it perhaps be too much or even somewhat crass to hope they had been in the trees?” He sheathed the short-sword, pleasantly surprised to find it slotted into the sheathe almost perfectly. “Do you need a hand at all Lady Kathryn? Or anyone else at all? How are we all?”
They were so close, he just knew it! BlackBerry watched Cavendish over the top of his fist as the grotesque shape of the man, wrapped in the rat-corpse filled netting, wobbled uncertainly on his feet. The others in the group had moved forward as well to concentrate upon the ruffian; to his left Victoria and Marita, apparently charging through the fire, had arrived brandishing their own weapons and magics.
At Lady Kathryns order he wasted no time and began his attack. BlackBerry lashed out with an attack, a fiery limb surged forward over the mass of rats in front of him and collided with a small ‘crunch’ and a ‘squeak’.
He had hit a rat caught in the netting! The damn ruffian’s feverish wriggling attempts to cut himself free with his shortsword had worked to his advantage, and BlackBerry’s blow had done nothing apparently.
Biting down on the the annoyance, Blaclberry fired off another attack that hit with a ‘pop’. The limb came back and revealed he had hit yet another one of the rats! The little corpse bouncing and taunting him from the netting.
“Stand still and take a hit.” He ordered furiously.
Fire rocketed in from behind only to also miss. If they could just get one or two more hits in this whole tirade would be over.
BlackBerry could hear shouts from the others behind him but he couldn’t quite make out the words, too focused on the scene in front of him to pick out what they were saying above the the sound of Cavendish’s attack bouncing off of Lady Kathryns helmet. The only saving grace right now was that whatever Cavendish had planned for his coneys didn’t seem to be happening.
But BlackBerry had his own worries for the moment; rats surged away from their master at towards him in a writhing mass of bodies. Rats. Horrid, disgusting rats. They swarmed with shrill squeaks all around him. BlackBerry recoiled in disgust from the creatures driving him to madly hop from one foot to the other. The putrid things screamed furiously in their attempts to claw and nib at his heels. One rat in particular gave a mighty screech of fury when BlackBerry snatched away the tail of his robes out of its closing mouth.
His eyes jumped between the swarm at his feet and Cavendish screeching at Lady Kathryn over her shield. Between himself and the two of them yet another warm of rats twisted and furled like a rolling cloud. A sanctuary of clear space lay between the two broiling clouds of rats, his chance to hopefully give Lady Kathryn a moments breathing room to push the lunatic away from her.
BlackBerry jumped forward with a vicious cry with his left fiery limb already surging towards Cavendish’s grotesque form, only for it to bounce harmlessness off of the constable, BlackBerry had misjudged the distance, and he swore loudly.
Desperation took hold, adrenaline pumped through his veins. BlackBerry pulled upon the last well of power within him, ki boiling up from his stomach, through his chest and the astral limbs flared into a roaring blaze as his shoulders. A half step closer to Cavendish, BlackBerry snapped his left fiery limb at the Constable. The Limb missed its mark. BlackBerry bared his teeth in frustration, another step forward, pushing out snarl, powering the remaining right astral limb forward with a twist starting from the hips and running all the way up.
The Astral limb crashed into Cavendish with a satisfying ‘thud’.
BlackBerry let out a few quick breathes as he righted himself. Now he had rats in front of him, rats behind him, and there he was stuck in the middle with no more ki and nearing the end of his tether.
The might crash of music, and then an explosion of noise, cut through everything else around. Even behind the empty cage, Blackberry was almost forced to grind his teeth to stop them from rattling in his skull. A moment after he could hear the cries of the others as they fought against Cavendish. It was infuriating how useless he felt at that moment, he had taken one hell of a beating and now hiding with his tail between his legs, even if he could get close enough his attacks seemed unlikely to do any actual damage.
The first moment I get, I must learn a spell.
He eyes flickered between the cage on the other side still filled with hostages and to Kathryn striding across fire and death towards Cavendish. He looked on in horror as a stream of darkness tore through Victoria. As much as his own swelling bruises and wounds hurt, the that that someone else could be injured whilst he could still fight hurt even more. He had to act.
He cast a quick glance back towards the hostages to see them making their escape. And to give the the brilliant Fisherman a respectful nod. Perhaps there were somethings near water that weren’t so bad.
BlackBerry (quickly shunting away several thoughts) then tightened his grip on the broken pole. It wouldn’t do much but it could get the damn ruffians attention away from the others. He surged forwards, tucking the pole under his arm, past Marita and back out into the open battlefield with fiery limbs billowing out behind him. He raced over towards the armoured shape of Kathryn he could see beyond the spilled and unspilled barrels of flames, fire hungrily devouring one of the felled Beasts as he passed by.
“Fancy teaching me a tune after this?” He threw a comment to Victoria while leaping past. “Or perhaps just the encore?”
Blackberry drew next to the nearest unspilled barrel and, revolving around it without stopping, raised the pole up from under his arm and loosened his grip slightly letting a third of the pole slip into fiery liquid. The intense heat of the red flames licking at the tender blue scales of his hand and forearm made him draw an involuntary gasp of pain through his teeth. His flight continued sidelong through the two barrels bringing into view the horrifying sight the wreathing mass of rats, both dead and alive. Thankfully, his foot came down beyond them and the creeping pool of fire to his left. With the lit pole high above his head he took one more step forward to keep the momentum going and, with a twist at the hips which carried up to his shoulders, pulling the pole backwards for a moment to beside his face to line up the shot. He hurled it forwards.
The pole streaked past Kathryn and into Cavendish without much fanfare beside the flames from the pole latching onto him.
BlackBerry gave a great cry of delight; the bar was free, and surprisingly by the strike of a fishing rod. But getting the prisoners free was only half the fight and now it was to find someway for them to get out of danger. He spun on his heel so his back was to the cage, and cast his eyes about the battle field looking for their best escape. To send the prisoners directly a head would put them in Cavendish's line of sight, and to his left where he and the others had entered fire still blocked the path.
“Hurry now and be quick. But wait here a moment.” He stepped aside, letting the prisoners begin pouring out, and put his left fiery limb up to stop them going past the edge of the cage.
His gaze turn to his right where barrels of fire sat across the path but there was just enough room between them each for the Prisoners to possibly get through, or if not then they could go around and under the neighbouring trees. It was their best bet though not by much.
BlackBerry lowered his limb slightly to see over it and twist his head past the edge of the cage past Marita towards Cavendish. The flickering flames obscured his vision too much to see what was causing Cavendish to flail and should so he could only hope was causing a decent amount of pain. The horrid smell of burning flesh and fur from the dead monster was starting to become unbearable.
“Not much of a game when not playing fair.” He grumbled. Cavendish was frustratingly still far out of reach. How could one man be so much trouble?
“Wait.” Horror gripped his chest. He looked to Marita. “His companions, where are they?”
Barely waiting for an answer, Blackberry pulled his head back behind the cage and looked over towards the path to his right. His eyes darted past the freed prisoners towards the barrels barring the path, trying to spot any movement within the shadows of the trees lining it. Thankfully, he couldn’t see anything, no flash of light upon steel or movement of leaves. It was now or never; a skirmish like this was no place for civilians.
“No sign of the other ruffians this direction.” Throwing the comment back over his shoulder to Marita with almost a sigh of relief.
“It’s now or never. Get moving. Hurry.” He ordered the prisoners. A fiery limb unfurled towards the path. “Past the barrels and out of sight. Hide yourselves elsewhere and do not come out until dawn.”
One down, he looked to his left towards the other cage, one more to go. Thankfully the Kosara and Kathryn looked to be trying to break it open also. No point in risking his scales dashing over there just yet. Instead he picked up the now broken cage pole from the ground and tested its weight in his hand. Jagged edges at each end, it wasn’t weighted well at all to be used as any proper weapon but it could do well as something thrown. BlackBerry grinned, perhaps he didn’t need to get close to Cavendish at all.
BlackBerry saw the flash, shards of night suddenly blooming around the corner of the cage where he stood, and the agonising shriek that came with it. His heart yet again jumped into his throat. Through the bars to the other side of the cage, past the hostages, he thought he could just about make out someone on the floor. From the obscured figure he heard a gurgle, hisses and snarls but within those horrid sounds he heard the word. A moment of worry and fear washed over him, stopping him in his tracks and making him almost forget his arm. From around the corner then came the figure, Kosara(!), thankfully unharmed though clearly shaken.
Now wasn’t the time to worry about such things. He took a deep breath and pushed the concerns away for later.
From the other glimpses BlackBerry could snatch towards the others, the battle seemed to be slowly turning in their favour even after his botched attempt to lend a hand moments before. One beast down so presumably one more to go. But he had to focus on his now currently botched attempt to help the hostages. He prised his fingers away from the wooden beam and a hiss of pain came from him from the sensation of tendons scraping over the now misaligned elbow joint.
"Nice day for fishin'." The man with the fishing rod said.
BlackBerry, at a complete loss as to how to respond to the statement, simply blinked. The confusion was then compounded by the man managing the splinter the wood of the neighbouring beam with a strike of his fishing rod. The man was either very strong, or had a very good fishing rod, but either way he had the right idea.
“Oh what a lovely day indeed for fishing!” He stepped back from the beam and shot a quick grin to the woman beside him. “Brace yourself.”
BlackBerry curled his arm back towards his stomach to shield it. Then with a downward twist with his right shoulder, the astral limb came crashing down upon the wooden beam near to the base, but with only a few unsatisfying cracks in the wood to show for it. He sneered down at the beam, as if it were mocking him. He ground a snarl between his teeth and with another downward twist with his opposite shoulder, sent his other astral limb crashing down upon the beam. This time the wood gave way almost completely with a satisfying crunch and shattering along the cracks. Only nearly though, a sharp sliver of wood held the beam to the base of the cage was definitely mocking him now.
Fetzen
Fading Memory
Natsu
Alby47
