Blood Money - Linus Lyffre

"Damn them. Why did Berwick betray you, father?" Leopold cries, sparing a grateful clap of his good hand on your shoulder.


"I don't know, Berwick has always been loyal enough." Lionel replies. The barricades can't last much longer.
 
Linus felt the air against his arms. Cool, soft, for now. He hears Father and Leopold... a desperate thought forms.


He calls out: "Captain Berwick. I'm curious. How much would your allegiance cost now? Considering our current position... perhaps we'd be willing to pay anything. There are other holdings, wealth beyond the manor... Perhaps we can even more than double what they're paying." He glances at Father. Even if it were a bluff--Linus wasn't exactly sure--what really mattered is if Berwick would flip and his men follow.
 
Berwick laughs, a cruel sound.


"This isn't about the money, Lyffre. It's about sending a message."


The barricade finally gives way, and Berwick's men start piling into the room, axes and daggers in hand.
 
"Fair enough, so's this..." Linus springs up in a lunge from his crouch beside Leopold to strike at their closest attacker.


[dice]1551[/dice]
 



  • In the confusion, he doesn't see the blow coming. But rising from such an awkward position throws your aim, and you succeed only in gashing his thigh. On the other hand, most of these men are not armoured in much more than cheap leather.


 
Linus attacks another mook with a measured attack, striking while maintaining some distance.


[dice]1577[/dice]
 
The mercenary manages to step out of the way, relying on a spear from his companion to keep you from closing more easily. He answers your attack with a swing of his axe.
 
Linus steps back and to the side, extending his blade in an effort to catch the blade on the cusp of his opponent's hand with a twist.


[dice]1582[/dice]
 
There just isn't enough room in here! You half-trip a cushion as you try to move away, and the axe gashes you down the forearm, exposing the bone.

Take 3 condition damage. -1 Health due to blood loss over the next round.
 
Linus falls back, clutching his injured arm, pressing flesh together as best he can and helping to support his blade still in the hand of the injured arm.
 
Your mother and sister hurl decor, finery, and heavy furniture from the back, but it barely slows them down.


One of Berwick's men puts a dagger in Leopold's eye, his body twitching violently before finally falling limp.


The women scream, father roars defiance...


But in the end, they were merchants, not murderers.


At least they made it quick, and painless as they can, for Lise and Mother.


"We'll make an example of you," says Berwick, cutting father down as the spearman raises his weapon over you.
 
Linus still clutching his injured arm surveyed the room quickly. Lise... Mother... Stabilizing the wounded arm in his good arm he lunges with all he can muster in a flying lunge at Berwick.


[dice]1663[/dice]
 
Berwick neatly parries your thrust with a curved dagger and rams a long dirk into your chest. You feel a lung puncture and collapse inside, blood flow out, cold grip your heart and mind...


As your vision fades to darkness, you hear Berwick laughing.


You awake, coughing smoke and blood, as the manor burns. Lise's body lies in a pool of blood, open eyes staring sightlessly at you.


A cold wind rushes by, clearing some of the smoke, and seems to bear a voice...


Well, it seems a terrible fate has befallen you.
 
Linus tries to speak, choking a little. Right... lung punctured... filling with blood... In a barely audible whisper, but all he can manage with the pain, "Who are you?... ...can you... help us?"
 
I can help you, the voice replies. You have been faithful to Litrys, and I have been sent to reward that faith.... but a sacrifice is necessary...
 
What good is the name, now? Give us your name. You will no longer be Lyffre, but Lyffre will not die...
 
Linus considered it. His blood boiled at the thought... not of being asked to give his name, but of Lyffre no longer being...


"I... ... I..." he hesitates, "what else might I give? I would avenge my family... perhaps it matters then if I am Lyffre then... I...m not sure..."
 
Linus is momentarily surprised... he'd never considered himself "proud" of his looks... maybe it was still something about looking like a Lyffre... he hesitates... "...uhm... what else might I give?" Dimly a thought forms of what he will finally offer the spirit.
 
The wind swirls around your body, you can feel it.


Give us your heart. It is dying.
 
You feel air forced into your lungs, and a chill passes through your whole body. There's a tearing sensation, a brief feeling of emptiness.


Your heartbeat stops. In its place is a strange humming sensation. You vision returns, and you lie amidst the blood and bodies whole again - your arm restored. The house is burning.

Linus now has a Gossamer trait at 15
 
Linus rises. He eyes the door and Lise's body. With a grimace, he moves to check his mother's and Lise's bodies, holding out no hope... but at least he'll check them before he tries makes his way out...
 
Dead, all. Warmed only by the fire creeping across this floor.


The corridor is burning, smoke occluding your vision and filling your lungs, burning your eyes.
 
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