Fantasy Penance Behind the Veil

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft


The burying of the rest of the bodies went on without much incident and continued directing the auxiliaries that remained to and fro. She had hardly noticed the conversation between Kepheus and his squire or the fact that she had left the area for some time afterwards. She even gave Alexander his own space while she assisted in finding various ways to mark the fresh graves for their hopeful return. They would all need proper burials, and hopefully some of the poor souls could be identified if they did not decay too fast. Eventually Marnia made herself noticeable again and the night glanced back over to the young woman, fighting to brush the growing group of stranded hairs from her face. "Lots of exits? I'm sold... Let's get to moving in then." She said before handing off a pair of marking stones to an already beleaguered Dembly. It wouldn't take long to get settled in the house, it was everything Marnie had promised it to be and the prospect of laying in an actual bed, even if it wasn't her own, made her sleepy the moment she lay eyes on it.


Edina slept well that night, but as always was up early. It was a task within itself to get out of bed and properly dressed to some degree, she passed on her armor once more, not wanting to bother the likely still emotionally spent squire. Plus, Edina wanted to enjoy the freedom of movement while she could. Once the day got started and the likely survey of the city begins, she'd have to be armored head to toe for whatever new horror would await them. With sword by her side, Edina ventured into the foggy dawn of Pratchet. She remembered that the majority of the entourage had holed up in the guard house, with a few stragglers taking the more comforting route that she and her squire had settled on. As she approached she noted a figure sitting on the roof of the build about three stories up. It was hard to tell who, but she wasn't going to bother with it too much. She just needed to see the Prince about their plan of action. She'd spent too long so far being so passive to the current direction that the entourage was going in.


One of the few people that were up early and on watch had directed Edina up to the third floor roof in her search for the prince. As it turned out, Ceril was the mystery individual she was so mildly curious about. She didn't exactly take him as the type to sit around on roofs at the crack of dawn. And so, she made her way tentatively up the ladder and emerged behind the prince. "You aren't planning on jumping are you my Prince? It'd be a shame for you to leave your soldiers so weary. I ah...hope you mind the intrusion." Her words were loose, indeed, but as things currently stood, the social status that divided most individuals within the group had been blurred by several days of hardship. She took a few steps forward and sat beside the young man, legs crossed and minding to let her legs dangle off the side. She made a concerted effort not to look right down as her gaze drifted across the buildings and streets around them before continuing. "Was this what you had expected when we went in?" She asked, lacking the accusatory tone that some may have wanted to tag onto the inquiry. "I mean....finding such a lively city so.....quaint from something so terrible.."


@Coin

 

[Effervescent]

Alexander Vallane

​

Setting a broken nose was not a particularly wonderful experience. Alexander's nose continued to throb throughout the night in protest and a constant reminder of his negligence in the fray. He was able to find a modest home nestled within a corner to occupy for the night in quiet solitude. The duties of burying the dead had finally set his bones and joints to an ache and his back remained in a constant, annoying pain. Manual labor for that amount of time was not something the knight was accustomed to. His hard work was in his training, and while his muscles were used to that particular type of task, they were not prepared for the repetitive shoveling of dirt. There were so many graves lined up along the grassy clearings.


During the night he kept waking himself up by hitting his nose upon the pillow. The sting would be enough to wake him, and annoyingly so for it was a brief stent and nothing more. The basin of water upon the shelf was stained a tint of red from washing away the blood that streaked from his broken nose and crusted over the stubble of his growing beard. Alexander thought, perhaps, he could find a razor and attempt to shave away the scruff that was turning into a scraggly mess along his jawline. Unkempt was not typically the look of a knight, though given the circumstances of their current situation, Alexander deemed it acceptable. When he woke the next morning his nose and cheeks were swollen around the purple and red mess of a bruise that flowered out from the bridge of his nose like the wings of a butterfly.


He winced as he stared at his reflection in the mirror of a vanity tucked within the corner of the bedroom. The bruise definitely looked worse than it felt, and he delicately pressed the pad of his index finger against the puffed skin along his cheek. A sigh escaped him, and he turned to look for a razor along the counter of the vanity. His sight was at least not impaired, but he soon came to realize he had slept within the room of a woman who enjoyed her luxuries. A cake of powder sat within a container with its cotton puff still dusted with the flaky dust. He picked up the container and sniffed it, immediately regretting the curiosity as he coughed from the strong musty scent. It reminded him of his mother, and he found himself being thankful Edina never wore powder.


Eventually, a pair of scissors were located within the drawer of the vanity, albeit rather small for Alexander's hands. He carefully trimmed his facial hair and collected the remnants of his scruff within the palm of a hand to discard out the nearest window. Things almost felt normal until he was reminded of his purpose and duty by the bright grey sheet of fog that blanketed the surrounding houses in Pratchet. He closed the window without lingering on the notion and made the bed to which he borrowed for the night. The night was over, and he was able to rest. It was time for the knight to see to his job and locate everyone within his cell.

 

[korigon]

Kepheus Kerberos


Curses filled the air as Kepheus dragged himself out of his hole of a room, a black look bolted on his face. His nirvana, sleep, had been disrupted by him waking up hours before the sun. A throbbing pain behind his left eye had crept in, undoubtedly a headache, and Kepheus was left to sit in brooding silence until the sun arose. Free from any distractions, he began to form his plan to explore Pratchet. He connived for several hours, the pieces of his scheme falling into place. Only one thing troubled him at this time: What kept the monsters out? It was foolish not to expect any mockeries in the city, but what if there some mightier demon that lurked in the corners? Pratchet was deemed a place of safety, but what made the district free from danger? Could something skulk and prowl, hidden by the veil, in the town? Something mighty enough to keep other monsters out?


But it was not these thoughts that dampened Kepheus' mood as he practically stomped out. They were a mere 'What if?' that seemed to sit in the back of his mind; No, what miffed him was his migraine. It still clung to him like a cough in the winter, an ever- present and pulsing discomfort.


Fresh air could do him some good, and he soon reached the third floor. To his surprise and bemusement, he was greeted with the sight of Ceril Ambryn and Edina Maplecroft peering off into the city. Kepheus' eyes wandered back and forth slowly between the two. Was he wrong about Maplecroft and Vallane? It was all too much. Fresh air no longer sounded inviting. He would make his business quick and then leave the pair.


"My liege?" he began languidly, careful not to make the mistake Northwode had made the previous day. "Uhh, I request permission to take about six? Hm, yes, it is six, of the entourage and scour Pratchet for supplies."


The Prince said nothing, and Kepheus suddenly realized that he had no saluted. No matter; Ceril was gazing off into the opposite direction. The veteran soldier raised his hand in a lazy hail just as the Prince turned his head and simply nodded. Permission was permission. Now all he needed was soldiers. Marnie, the squire, would be suitable enough. Ivar, Paisley, and Arabella would follow. Was he forgetting someone? Oh yes, Northwode. An assorted group, no doubt, but they would manage.

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


The Prince's solitude would not last, as he was soon joined on that rickety rooftop by one of his knight, Edina. Ceril, however, did not mind the woman's company, he even considered her visit in welcome friendship -- if he had any true friends other than Aleida. Still, it was better than to be left to his own devices entirely.


"Well, good morrow to you too, Edina, I'd like to make visible that I have my saber with me," Ceril pointed out, giving the scabbard on his side a pat. "That should be indication enough that I have no intention on dying, much less flinging myself off a rooftop so far away from home. Come sit with me, would you? I'd offer you a drink, but it appears I'd've forgotten my wine skin."


She was very right, the last few days had seen hardship that commanders prepare their entire lives for and Ceril wanted to lead the expedition on a whim. They'd lost a few and the rest were battered, with their supply low and spirits lower, but yet Ceril remained confident. If anyone were to ask if he regretted coming into the Veil, he would deny their claim in a heartbeat. They were so close to finding something a source, a lead, anything worthy of turning completely around and riding back to Vaelmaceria at the double quick. They'd already learned much about the Mockery and how to hunt, track and even fight them with limited resources. That on its own would be valuable information that a mobilized army would find crucial in campaign. They would find their answer soon.


Before answering Edina, Ceril turned his attention to his second guest, the veteran Kepheus. He had asked for permission to take a scavenging group out into the city. That was precisely what the entourage needed, so the Prince simply nodded and raised his hand in confirmation. With supplies flowing in from the city, their odds of survival would be greater. He waited for the seasoned soldier to return back down to the main building to go about his recruitment before speaking again.


"I have not let my guard down yet on this ghost quarter," the Prince explained. "Not for a moment would anyone convince me that these quiet streets are not hiding anything short of the same devilry we've encountered outside the walls. I'm sure everyone else knows it too, given the organized groups that scour the city for provisions."


Ceril let the words sit in his mouth in silence before turning his head to face Edina, "I must ask, my friend, are you concerned?"


(@Space Cowboy Ein, @korigon)

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft


Edina shook her head at the almost offer for a drink. It was far too early to start that kind of activity, even though she could feel the urge to let go for a bit tug at the strings in the back of her mind. But first, they needed to make sure that the city was secure and that no more beasts would set upon them during their short time of recuperation. She cut any response she was preparing to give at the sound of someone ascending to the roof behind them. She was one to prefer privacy in such matter after all. And unless it was the other knight or Lady Gregory, she'd keep her trap shut. And lo and behold, the ever indignant Kepheus showed up to request heading up a search party. At least he was taking a more direct route to their issue at hand, it likely saved the Prince some time from reorganizing the entourage for such a venture. And with that, he was waved off once more.


Once they were alone again, Edina's attention returned to the prince as he continued, her face stoic as usual. "Ever since the arrival of this blasted fog, my Prince." She shifted in place uncomfortably and let her view pan out to the city once more. "I'm concerned we might not make it back. That even as we speak the walls are being surrounded. Fear...would be too strong of a word. But I tend to mull over the worst case scenarios in situations like this, prepare for the worst and hope for the best as it were." She let out a low sigh. "I'm also concerned about the dangers that lay within Pratchet, though I'm sure that's on everyone's mind at this point."


After a few moments of silence, she turned back towards the prince. "I hope, though, that this is as far as we go. I do not put you in the realm of a number of your family. I do not think you a coward, though I do not think you the kind of leader to run what remains of his men into the ground, given the circumstances, for your own personal gain. But, I do understand the importance of building prestige and also realizing how far is far enough. I wouldn't be where I am without it." She paused and grit her teeth for a moment before standing. "I think I know what you're doing Ceril. I'd likely admire it. But elaborating would put me in an unfortunate position." She turned towards the opening in the roof to head back down. "Whatever your intentions are after we return to the capital, I hope you know that your ambition will mean nothing if you come back wrapped in the royal colors. So please be careful."


@Coin