Fantasy Penance Behind the Veil

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL

Spoiler

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Ceril would never hear the end of it if Aleida knew the fog made him this uneasy. No, Ceril wasn't just uneasy being so close to the Veil, he was petrified. His palms were sweating in his gauntlets and he ground his molars through clenched jaws as he rode closer and closer to the border of the fog. The kingdom's engineers had not yet constructed the makeshift palisade walls this far South by the Veil, so the view was largely unobstructed as the entourage crossed over the last large hill that stood between them and the mysterious beyond. Rather than exposing his fear and apprehension, he explicitly failed to make eye contact with anyone behind or beside him. It was times like this where Ceril actually would rather wear a helmet that would disguise his demeanor.


Two miles didn't give a man very much time to mentally prepare for the coming storm. Ceril stopped his horse several yards away from the edge of the Veil and soon, the rest of the company also halted leaving only eerie silence. Ceril steeled his expression and turned to face his troops, seeing the very same apprehension tucked away under his mask.


"This is the final chance for any uncertain individuals to turn around and abandon the mission," Ceril cleared his throat and nodded, "Cowardice is met with death in Regalis, but as a prince of the Ambryn crown, I have declared an administrative exception for this entourage. Everyone that will pass into the Veil with me will only do so by their own free will."


With a reassuring pat to his steed, he rode into the dense fog without a chance to doubt his own words and was immediately engulfed in obstructing mist. The fog was just as dense as it seemed from the outside and Ceril struggled to see the dirt trail before him. The haziness also had dark and mystifying feel to it, chilling the Prince to the bone. Despite being warm and pleasant on the other side, being in the Veil sent shivers down his spine and made the hairs on the back of his neck prickle in anticipation.


"Stay close," Ceril called back just loud enough to those who had followed him, "Form a shield wall to protect the archers and the cavalry will support the flanks of the wall. Eyes open and remember your cell formation. Our first objective will be to locate our bearings and find the road to Pratchet -- first man to find me a signpost gets a tankard of ale, courtesy of the Throne."

 

[Poe]

Lady Aleida

​

There was a deep uncertainty that befell the group and though Aleida was still shaking off the sour mood the early morning had brought, she could feel it deep in her bones. There were some who believed the Veil to be nothing more than a happenstance, but she swore that she knew the truth — that this blanket of dense fog housed something capable of keeping those who entered from returning to their home, that it did not hover over the land but instead devoured it in a shroud of darkness. A chill ran up her spine at their proximity, but she turned to listen to Ceril’s address with a now calmed expression.


There was a deep silence before he even thought to speak.


At his words, Aleida did not move her line of sight but her mind flickered to thoughts of Aila and whether or not she truly wanted this. She was her dearest friend and the thought of forcing her into any situation, especially a potentially deadly one, brought more uneasiness than any fog could ever bring. Her whole life had been one cleverly played game, using little quips and smirks to talk Aila or even Ceril into whatever crazy scheme she had planned. Even her father had been wrapped around her finger, his smiled burning bright enough in the recesses of her mind to guide her even on the darkest days. But this was Ceril’s mission and Aleida had made her choice to follow him into the depths of hell and even go so far as to die for him if necessary.


Though it was never something she would say to him. No, she would never live that down. Even now, listening to him present those under his command with a choice — she knew that her life was not wasted as her mother so often lamented. Her greatest purpose in this world was to see the man with the strong mask and sweaty palms into whatever battle was on the horizon. Someday, he would be King — of that she had convinced herself. But first, they had to survive this damned fog.


She followed him immediately, her eyes set dead ahead and there was a strange serene expression on her soft features. Her blue eyes squinted a bit to adjust to the new environment, her body chilled at the touch of the low hanging fog. She wished, almost childishly, that she had worn a bit heavier clothing or had thought to unpack the blankets her mother had nearly thrown at her for warmth. Instead, she just kept her eyes forward on the path in front of them, however obstructed it may be. All the exhaustion she had been feeling this morning was wiped away and instead replaced with a constant prickle at the nape of her neck, as though all the hairs were on end.


“A tankard of ale?” Aleida said, the warmth of her voice permitting through the fog. Reassuringly, she flashed Ceril a bit of a smirk in a hopes to keep up whatever morale she could. She had spent plenty of nights dreaming about the fog, letting it overwhelm her thoughts, and she knew all too well what being left alone to your own mind could do even to the strongest of men. “Now that sounds like the kind of reward a girl could fight for.”


There was a crow caw in the distance.


“Though, perhaps, I should leave it to the other men. You know, give them a chance and everything,” she said, glancing about for the crow but she did not see another single living thing anywhere in the depth of the fog. There was, however, a bit of a teasing smirk on her lips. “I think I will stay here for now beside you. Just in case you get a little scared.”

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marnia Belhund - Esquire - heading into the Veil


Marnia tried her best not to make a face as the prince called her out on her eagerness, but he didn't seem angry. Rather, he was amused by her hasty need for a companion. She guessed that she shouldn't be so unhappy about it, but it seemed that she was making these kinds of mistakes more and more often. She sat back in the wagon seat a little more, sighing. Careful, Marns. One a these days y're gonna end up hangin' cuz a that big mouth 'f yers.


Ceril announced that they'd be moving in cells, and she nodded appreciatively. Good plan! She honestly hadn't thought of that idea, just in case they were separated in the fog, and suddenly the idea of being lost in there gave her chills down her spine. Nonsense! She wasn't going to get lost! She was going to stick to Edina's hind end like a drunken fiend! She garnered her courage as she looked around at the people destined to be her cell mates. The servant girl, she'd only seen a few times and could hardly remember her name. She was awfully quiet most of the time, so no wonder Marnie didn't really know her. Meanwhile, looking at Gwendalin, the girl who she'd pissed off that first time at camp, she gave an awkward shrug.


"Offer still stands, mates."


Yeah, that girl didn't seem to think much of Marnie. No wonder -- the squire was planning on making it out of the fog via string. If that didn't cry 'desperation'...


When they stopped for the final time before going into the veil, Marnie finally had a chance to enact her, uh, grand failsafe. She was pulled up by a rather conveniently placed tree, and she slid a loop of thread over one of the branches several times while Prince Ceril was talking about cowardice and allowing them to leave just this once. A small part of Marnie told her that she could take him up on that offer, run off and start a new life herding ducks somewhere with an assumed name and hope Edina never found her, but she knew that wasn't an option.


Still, looking up at the fog before her drained her skin of all color, leaving her pockmark scars looking deeper than ever. This was the fog that had eaten her brothers whole, not even having the courtesy of sending back a body like any regular war. She took a shuddering breath as she placed the rolling skein of thread by her side so it could run straight. Divines save them, she hoped no one trampled or broke it, but knowing her luck, it'd snap right when they stepped through.


"I hear somethin' 'bout a tankard of ale?" Marnie quipped from her position as they went into the fog, trying to keep the mood light. Ceril was smart -- he knew that panic was the worst thing to happen in here. Being in groups would help people feel closer, and having a goal kept the mind off of being in a fog that killed people.


And being able to brag that the Ambryn crown bought your booze was an awfully nice gesture. Better find that sign, then...


"Lady Edina, you wouldn't happen t' know a few songs to play on tha' flute, would you? I's awful quiet in here, 'n maybe it'd scare the bogeymen away," Marnie said, only loud enough for her master to hear.


@Coin @Space Cowboy Ein @Musician @Elle Joyner

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

Their orders were given, their company assigned, and then they were off, a steady march of the courageous few into the unknown abyss of the baneful smog. To say she was nervous would have a gross understatement. Arabella was frightened, and from the gleaming, wide-eyed look in many of her compatriot's eye, she was not the only one. As far as they knew, it was into certain death they traveled, and what manner of death a mystery.


And so she walked in silence, gripped by the hands of unconscious dread, until they had reached the very cusp of the thing and there, stared death in the face. In songs and ballads, in poems heard round the world, a common thread was weaved - that the brave were honored above all others. Wisdom told that death would come, no matter the time or place - that it would not ignored or avoided. If this was her moment, so be it...


She felt a figure pass by and looked to see Konoha, felt the weight of the garment against her shoulder and a brow rose in curiosity. She recalled then, the servant girl purchasing the bolts of cloth and thread from the old woman the night prior and for a moment, Arabella felt her chest tighten, hands touching the gift with a sense of awe. How long had it been since such unwarranted kindness was shown her?


Watching the woman walk away, she shook her head. If the very least she could do was heed Konoha's advice, so be it. She could believe in herself. Certainly.


Staring at the fog, her mind ravaged by doubt and fear, Arabella nevertheless took a deep breath and whispered, "May I be worthy of song..."


Then, taking an unsteady step, slipping the tabard on over her dress and securing her cloak round her shoulders, she pushed after the prince, into the miry cloud. It was as if darkness itself had sensation, every inch of her alert to the malevolent presence within the ghastly fog. Chilled to the very bone, she tucked her hands into the cloak and pulled it tighter around her small frame. Beside her a little ways she could see the girl in the wagon. She'd asked earlier for company and no one, it seemed, had deemed it prudent, but certainly no one should feel alone in such a harrowing endeavor. If there was anything she could do, beyond her duties, it was the ensure morale did not suffer too greatly.


Moving across the crowd, she neared the wagon and looked up to the squire, "If the company of a mere servant is not too dispiriting, I will join you."

@Veirrianna Valentine

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft - Royal Knight - The Veil


Edina had kept to herself while Ceril began to organize their undermanned and under supplied group into cells, each with their own flutes to use for communication. It was a good idea, all things considered, since once they got into that blasted fog visibility would be low. And so, she wasted no time in taking the flute from the prince and observed its work. She was suddenly reminded of her mother's insistence that a younger Edina should learn to play some form of instrument, and as it were, the flute was one of the many she was made to be somewhat competent at. The thought brought the shadow of a smile to her features while the prince urged the players to not sound horrendouse. She tucked the little woodwind away into one of her pockets before heading back to join the members of her cell. Marnie was a given, as was Gwen but the servant Arabella was somewhat surprising. At the very least, she didn't want to end up babysitting her when things go south. He brow furrowed at that last thought as the group got moving towards the veil. "If..things go south.." She murmured to herself.


The trip closer to the Veil may as well have been an entire journey by itself. Every part of her body shivered and begged to turn around as they crested the few hills beyond them and what she saw as the absolution of the fates of a number of people within the entourage and maybe even herself. Her eyes, like a few in the group, couldn't be torn for the still fog and she was jerked from her trance when she realized they had stopped and the prince was giving another speech. Even as he gave whomever wanted to turn around a pardon from death, she knew damn well she couldn't run now. Nobody could. To turn away from the Veil after being called upon to serve....it may as well have been political suicide for any of the nobility of the group. As for the commoners....who knew. And so, with grit teeth she resumed her regular pace as the group continued into the Veil.


She gripped the reigns of Covil hard, minding not to tug against him too hard as she was enveloped by the veil. The lack of warmth and sight was as unnerving as she had anticipated. But Covil didn't seem too bothered by the developing situation, and she knew he always had a better sense of incoming danger than she did, so there was some amount of comfort to be had in that. Still, she had one hand gripping the reigns and another on the hilt of her blade. Marnia was also close by with one of the wagons and her lance at the ready should the situation call for it. She directed her cell into the proper positions as Ceril called them out and passed on the opportunity for a tankard of ale. That would be the last thing she needed while in the veil. She didn't respond to Marnie's response to it but appreciated the attempts to keep things light. She turned back to look towards the source of Marnia's voice and shrugged. "It's possible. It may also help calm the nerves of the group..." And herself as well..it certainly couldn't hurt, and she'd stop the moment the prince ordered her to. She pressed her brain for a few old bard songs, one of the more lighthearted ones that people could hum too if they'd like. After a few moments, she recovered the flute and got familiar with the instrument before beginning to play.

Spoiler

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[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


The alien phenomenon that was the Veil was unlike anything Ceril had experienced before. Other than the clattering of shields and armor and the padding of hooves on dirt, the land was utterly silent. As the company ventured deeper into mist and approximately an hour away from safety, even the ambiance of nature vanished, leaving a void in the dead air of the Veil. It did nothing but spike Ceril's anticipation for an attack of some sort, thus, when Edina began to play her flute, Ceril nearly jumped out of his skin in response.


The Prince should have barked at Edina to cut the song off immediately to preserve any amount of stealth and surprise the entourage had, but as the tune settled in, Ceril found himself relaxing in the tense atmosphere. No army had materialized out of the shadows around them and it sure was much better than hearing his own heart thumping in his own chest like the beat of a war drum. Perhaps he was truly over estimating just what a thick layer of fog could hide.


Thankfully, the other soldiers were also beginning to loosen up, enough so that Ceril felt it was safe to break formation in favor of a horizontal line-shaped formation, "Right then, disperse the shield wall but keep your cell in immediate sight. We'll cover a larger area and sweep for a signpost, directions, features -- anything. Shout it out if you see anything suspicious or useful."


It only took a few more minutes of their slow, searching pace for an auxiliary archer in the fifth cell to locate a rickety sign at a fork in the road. The sign pointed in two directions, the first pointing South, South-West towards the city of Pratchet. While the other path, pointed to the West, towards the coastal city of Kinvel. Ceril called out an executive decision to halt his troops while modifying his mental plan to account for the new information.


The Prince rode over to gather his inner circle and inform them of their projected route, "Thanks to Miss Hearth's sharp eyes, we've got a good idea how to navigate in this forsaken place. First, we'll march to Pratchet and explore any settlements along the road there, then--"


Ceril was interrupted by a faint but distinct tone further down the South Western path -- it was the whistle of another flute. He, along with many other heads turned sharply towards the origin of the sound like startled deer, but were unable to locate the source in the thick fog. A quick scan to the cell leaders suggested it was none of them that was playing the flute this time, however, it was precisely the song that Lady Edina was playing prior. Just as suddenly as it had sounded, the flute faded into a stop and the entourage was again left in total stillness.


"Someone is trying to signal to us," Ceril suggested, grabbing the reins on his horse and steering Ohry towards the direction of the song, "Come on, there's someone else out there and it's on the way to Pratchet. Keep your wits about you and let's ride on -- fortune may smile on us today if we can find some answers before sundown."


(@BeyondPoetry, @Swimswamswom, @Veirrianna Valentine, @Doctor Jax, @Elle Joyner)

 

[Effervescent]

Alexander Vallane

​

The fog enveloped Alexander as they entered the Veil steadfast and with as much courage as they could muster. No one had left the ranks even after the pardon was given by the prince, which gave the knight some semblance of comfort. His field of vision was hindered by the dense blanket of milky white vapors that clung to the earth. It felt colder, and had it not been for Edina's skillful tune upon the flute, he would have questioned if he were dead. The music grounded him, his focus increasing as he scanned through the fog as best he could watching the silhouettes of trees and brush slowly filter through at the pace set by Prince Ceril.


Alexander glanced down the shield wall taking note of his cell. Everyone accounted for. His eyes found their way to Lady Edina, her lips set around the mouthpiece. She looked ethereal within the density of the Veil, and he felt a slight pang of nostalgia as she took on a more tangible appearance of a ghost from his past. Reconciliation became a more prominent thought as he desired the life-long friendship they once had. But they were now within the Veil, their fates hanging in the balance of the unknown and their attention to the mission beset by Prince Ceril. It may be too late for repairing broken bridges.


With a slight manipulation of his reins, Alexander steered Escovet towards Ceril as he called for a meeting. His gaze avoided Edina, his helmet providing somewhat of a masking to his furrowed brow as he focused on the prince's orders. But as Edina's tune carried through the fog, distant and ominous. Alexander looked to the knight in confusion, and then to Ceril and Lady Aleida.


"Majesty," he called out to Ceril as he nudged Escovet's flanks to quicken her pace to catch up with the prince. "We should be more cautious. Let me ride ahead and scout the area to insure this call is friendly."


@Coin

 

[korigon]

Kepheus was a man, and as such, was prone to feel many feelings. Most people would feel extreme fear while they explored the gray haze, yet the strongest feeling Kepheus was experiencing was exasperation. He had prepared himself for death many years prior, a young man hardening his heart to war, but no apparent enemy stood before him in the dense fog. So now, as others grew pale and stole glances around them, he stayed upright with an upset, though watchful, look upon his face.


Despite his bravery and grit in the face of it all, Kepheus was still a man, and was reminded of it daily. And as his ears witnessed the eerie melody repeated in the fog, a chill ran up his spine, accompanied by a swift head-turn toward the direction of the noise. The warning his old drink buddy had given him before Kepheus left, "Keep watch on yourself, for the abyss itself hides behind that veil." suddenly became clearer. Perhaps he would not be fighting other soldiers in this realm of shadow, but death itself.


Putting aside this discomforting thought, Kepheus turned his ear toward the leader of his 'cell', as the prince had aptly named it. Riding ahead? Scouting the area? A look of scorn appeared in his eyes as he studied Sir Vallane. No doubt the man meant well, but to have a cell branch off from an already small group would not be advisable. What would happen if they became separated? Would the sound resonate from Lady Edina, or another presence that lurked behind the cover of heavy mist?


Rashly and without thought, Kepheus decided to voice his opinions out loud. A foreign and garbled mumble emerged from his mouth, as he came to the annoyed conclusion that the knight outranked him. With the air of a man resigned to his fate, Kepheus returned to his position, and waited for whatever orders he would receive.

 

[Doctor Jax]

"Up you get, then, my Lady!" Marnie said cheerfully, patting the seat by her. She would very gladly have company out here in this blasted fog. The deeper they went into it, the denser it became. All she could see were the outlines of the trees, and those were very close by. After helping the veritable lady Arabella on to her rig, she carefully moved in line to get in formation with the others, being careful to move her thread out of the way. She gritted her teeth as she yanked the thread off of a snagging branch, grateful that it hadn't snapped.


Edina suddenly answered her unbidden plea for music and began to flout her way through a beautiful little song. She gave Eddie an appreciative look (that she probably couldn't see for the mist), the music wafting through the mist and giving them a sense that, no, they were not alone here -- instead, they were with friends and comrades. It made the mist almost seem magical instead, a beautiful veil landscape instead of a menacing environment.


When Edina had finished, Marnie gave a small, quiet round of applause for the woman and her abilities with the flute.


"I din' know she could do that," Marnie admitted quietly to the servant next to her. "I can't even whistle, much less flout."


If she was honest, just that tiny song had upped Marnie's respect for the woman. She was always so uptight about everything. Maybe if she played the flute every now and again, she wouldn't be so-- wait. Was that... another flute somewhere?


There was the music wafting through the mist and giving them a sense that, no, they were not alone here -- and that did not give Marnie any comfort. She felt chills dance over her skin, and she swallowed as the song drifted through the mist like the tail of some unseen dragon. Sweat began to pool at her back as she very gently removed the dagger she kept in her bag, one of the two her brothers had given to her before each had left for their fates.


"They're no' half bad neither," she tried to joke, but there was a slight tremor in her voice. No! I will not be afraid!


The Crown Dunderhead suggested they follow it, as they were on that way as it was, and she almost choked. Go towards the ghastly thing? She could think of no conceivable reason why anyone would've played the song back. After all, they could've shouted or tooted loudly on their flute or even played random notes. Why the song...? She stared at where she'd thought she heard Ceril, wondering if some foul humor had wormed its way into his brain, manipulating him, but she immediately dismissed this idea.


Sir Alexander offered to scout ahead, and one of his men spluttered. Well, she could certainly understand that sentiment. She wouldn't want to chase the bogeymen either. Her eyes tracked left and right, hoping that they wouldn't be blindsided. She didn't even know if she was the last person on the end of the group or not. It'd be too easy to get picked off here. Besides, perhaps....perhaps they were friendly.


@Space Cowboy Ein @Elle Joyner @Coin

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

It was a strange feeling, the resting one's feet, while others walked. It was certainly not something Arabella was accustomed to, and she allowed herself the proper measure of guilt as she settled down beside the squire. But no one barked at her to climb down, and in truth, she was grateful not to have to walk alone on the cold, miserably silent ground. In truth, it was unnerving, more than she could have anticipated, and given her prior sense of anxiety, that was a small amazement.


Looking over to the squire, Arabella managed a small, weak smile at her commentary on the flutist's tune, "I had to learn to whistle to call the hounds... Father made them my responsibility when he'd take me hunting. Lost one, once... Three days, it took me to track him down, but I did. When we found him, he was--" It took her a moment to realize the flute's echo wasn't, in fact, coming from the lady knight, but as she fell quiet, her eyes shifted, moved down the ground where the prince and his men had already jumped into action.


Eerie did not begin to describe the sensation of that sound, creeping across the silence, like a siren's melody, calling sailors to their doom. What had been a comfort moments before was now a disturbing reminder of what exactly they were endeavoring to do. This was the Veil... It wasn't meant to be easy. There had already been so many lives lost... and there was no telling how, or why. Whatever force was responsible, certainly wouldn't stop now that they were there...


"...What is the likelihood..." Arabella continued, a little softer, "that someone else in our company knows that exact song?"

@Doctor Jax

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft - Royal Knight - The Veil


Edina had enjoyed playing the song, it gave her the chance to relax and have everyone else hopefully do the same. It brought on more memories of the past, ones of a happy, functioning family and her times with a younger Alexander. While most girls her age were busy being on about maintaining their beauty and what brave knight they would marry, Edina was busy getting out of the manor and getting dirty. As things stood at the time, Alexander was always out and about, not minding much the need to train in his courtly duties. And so the two got along well in the younger years, going off to explore beyond castle walls when they could. She felt the ensuing silence a bit unnerving as she finished the song and tucked the flute back into her pocket. The sound of quiet clapping from behind was washed out by her own lingering thoughts on the man. But these two were lost on the words of the prince himself. They were to spread out into a line now, to cover more space. A good strategy, as it seemed that her song had not lured out any attackers.


They eventually came across the signpost in question and Edina wondered if the Prince would truly uphold the reward of a tankard of ale. She ushered Covil along towards the sound of the Prince's voice as he started on their next plan of attack. And suddenly Edina was made to eat her own words in thinking that her music had not attracted any particular individual. But the sound of a flute playing the same exact song as her that wasn't coming from any other cell leader left her rather pale. She hoped that the veil could conceal the mix of troubled emotions swirling in her as her eyes met briefly with Alex's. But the Prince began to make his way towards the sound, and Alex riding after him, jolted her back into action as she sent Covil into a trot to match their speed. For now she didn't mind the proximity to a primary source of bitterness in her life, they were likely facing a threat, and any doubts were pushed towards the back of her mind for now. "Sir Alexander has a point, my prince. Let me ride with him to help cover more ground. Should the source of this....music be hostile we will have no issues silencing them should they be some form of scout, or at the least..returning to warn of a larger force." The thought caused a brief shiver to run down her spine, but it was certainly one of the thoughts that had come to mind when she wondered about the purpose of the veil. It was likely in her mind that the fog was simply a cover tactic for an enemy force, maybe from their trade rivals in the country of Hyfar to their north. It'd be unprecedented, but likely. For a moment she pondered on calling to Marnie for her lance, but figured her own sword would be better for riding down a potential enemy within the mist.

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


"Your valor is greatly appreciated, Sir Vallane, however I believe it our best interest to travel as a whole in this scout," Ceril tugged the reins once more and spurred Ohry on to a slow trot down the beaten path.


The Prince lagged his pace enough for his other riders to keep up and for his soldiers on foot to also maintain a moderate distance from him. However, it wasn't long before they had reached a farmstead with a healthy field of tall sweetcorn spanning no larger than a quarter of an acre. Situated at the head of the field was a quaint farmhouse with various agricultural tools lining the wall of the shed. As the whole farm came into sight, the flutter of a flute filled the still air once more just briefly, only confirming the origin of the song to the house that lay before them. Something wasn't quite right, though. The front door of the farmhouse was visually mangled, easily suggesting forced entry even with the visual obstruction of the Veil. The hinges were loose, nails begging to fall from their purchase in the wood and the frame closest to the knob was splintered, leaving the door ajar wide and enough for a man to squeeze through.


Ceril's heart sank at the sight. Someone, something, was in the farm playing that insidious flute that so mimicked Lady Edina's bardic skill. Still, it was in the Prince's duty to be curious, to find exactly what was making that accursed tune. At a safe distance, he dismounted Ohry and tied him down to a fence that encompassed the cornfield to their flank -- even his steed was spooked and Ohry was likely not going to take a step closer to the barn judging how badly the horse was spooked. The Prince dug his helmet out of his saddle bag and pinned it under his arm as he addressed the troops behind him.


In a whisper tone, the Prince ushered the rest of his men closer, "Looks like our mysterious bard may not be so welcoming after all. Dismount and move up quietly. Have some move around back to make sure any rear exits are accounted for. Servants and cell five stays here with the horses and wagons -- stay put no matter what. Godspeed."

Spoiler

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Ceril fitted his helmet over his head, letting it slide into place and locking down the visor. He unclasped the mace from his belt and left his longsword with his steed as he began his approach towards the house. It was a mere single floor with an empty animal pen around the side, all the windows had their curtains drawn and the only apparent way in was the shattered door. The company moved forward as quietly as a dozen armor-clad men could, with several circling per the Prince's orders around the back to surround the building. As Ceril and his inner guard neared the door, silence was again broken by the whistle of a flute, only now sounding less and less like a flute and more like the organic rush of wind through hollow anatomy only impersonating the rhythm of an instrument more refined.


The Prince attempted to rid himself of the lump that found residence in his throat to no avail as he inched closer to the mouth of the door. Must having sensed his anxiety, an auxiliary soldier by the name of Jerun Montauk tapped Ceril on the pauldron with two fingers and unsheathed a pointed dagger, stepping in front of him. Jerun took one, two, confident strides toward the door and just before entering, twirled the dagger deftly in his palm and gripping it like a pick.


One step into the farm.


Two steps, a floorboard creeks.


Jerun calls out weakly, voice just barely audible to the Prince, "Hello?"


No reply. Another step.


"Anyo- HEAAA!" Jerun was interrupted by a solid thump of impact and cried out in terror as the thundering of footsteps and foul screeches from mouths inhuman that pierced the ears until they rung.


Out of the doorway came barreling a gruesome creature and Jerun, caught by the torso in a terrible grip of visceral appendages and squirming limbs. The creature may have resembled a human in a past life, bipedal and two masses of tentacles where the arms should be. Attached to the neck, appeared a bloated balloon, fleshy in color roughly the size of Ceril's own helmet. The faded image of a man seemed to be a host for the bulbous parasite which had snaked its limbs through the poor man's body like a malevolent puppetmaster.





Jerun struggled under the crushing weight of the devil as it pinned him to the ground and threatened to smother the life from him. In reaction Ceril charged forward, ramming the beast with full contact from his armored side, causing it to stagger and release his soldier. The creature choked out another ungodly noise akin to screaming garbled with corrupted twiddles from a flute as it poised to strike.


"Slay it!"


(@BeyondPoetry, @Swimswamswom, @Veirrianna Valentine, @Doctor Jax, @Elle Joyner)

 

[Pequeno Burraidh]

Konoha had shadowed Ceril since they entered the fog, and fr the most part, even as an unidentifiable tune played, her thoughts on it remained the same. If they let fear rule over them, it would only be that much easier for them to falter and fail. Because of this she kept her immediate thoughts to the locations of her group and the locations of the other groups as they moved forward. It didn't mean for a second that her heart wasn't hammering in her chest, just that she was handling it better than some.


As they neared a admittedly creepy farm house the servant kept up her work at staying at her Master's side as he moved towards the door. Of course when Master Prince Ceril seized up at the last moment Konoha didn't know what to think but when an Auxiliary soldier moved past them the oriental servant watched carefully, only reacting in a mixture of horror and shock as a monstrous being came hurtling from deeper with in the building and assailed the Auxiliary. Her turn to be frozen in place, Konoha would later be ashamed of allowing Master Prince Ceril to charge forward alone, but as soon as his shout rang in her ears.


Spurred to action, Konoha swung her spear out sideways, stopping the swing with enough force to hurl the sheath past Ceril expertly and have it collide into the body of the beast. To her dismay it did nothing other than seem to draw it's ire, and with a number of quick step Konoha lunged past Master Prince Ceril with the blade heading straight for its stomach. To the spear ladies surprise it never reached, but instead came to a jarring halt as it's tendril arms wrapped around and up the haft until the encircled her wrists.


Letting out an scream of shock and fear, Konoha attempted to pul away only to find herself puled to the side and slammed into the ground, causing her hands to lose grip to the spear, but not for the beast to lose its grip on her. With a mighty twist the beast wrenched Konoha to the side and sent her spinning through the air before her back struck against one of the walls harshly, sending her collapsing to the floor. From her spot on the ground she could see it turn back to her master and drop her spear. In a fit of desperation, knowing she hadn't the will or constitution to rise just yet, Konoha pulled boot knife and threw it to the best of her ability what with the spots she was seeing from the impact. Konoha failed to make a proper hit, but even then the blade scoured a chunk of flesh from it and caused it to round on her and begin making it's way back towards her.


All she could do now was pray that the rest of the troops would come in quickly before this beast could gets it's filthy grasp on her again.

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marnia Belhund -- Esquire -- In the Veil, near a farmhouse


When it was clear that they were approaching a farmhouse, Marnia took a deep breath and steadied her hands by gripping the reins of the wagon. The horse was antsy, nickering and kicking the frame now and again, and she had to lash his behind once or twice , but she could hardly blame the poor beast. She listened to Arabella's talk of her whistling, and she smiled a little, remembering her own attempts at learning to whistle and being horrible at it. Her brothers had never let her live --


The farmhouse was obviously in bad shape. The door was broken. There were splinters everywhere. The fluting noise was obviously not coming from the flute. She swallowed hard as she stopped her wagon, thread and all, near the cornfield with the other wagons. Her heart hammered in her chest as Prince Ceril and a group decided to investigate the noise, every fiber in her screaming, You idiot, just leave it alone! Of course, Prince Ceril could do no such thing. It wasn't in his nature. He had set out to find out what was in the Veil, and he'd do it if it killed him.


So, when they began approaching the doorway, once again Marnie took precaution. Her eyes serious and her mouth in a firm line, she handed Arabella the reins of the mules.


"Don't let them buck and run. Keep 'em still. If 'ere's anythin' in there, it'll spook 'im, and 'e's spooked already," Marnia ordered as she rummaged behind her through her bag. Finally, she came back up with a bow of ash, nearly as long as she was tall. She stood up in her seat and nocked an arrow with another four in her drawing hand, pulling it back but not bothering to aim it. If anything came out of that house, she wanted to be ready. An arrow to the eye was a good cure for big, tall, and nasty --


No one was ready for what came barreling out of that farmhouse. A tentacled thing had grabbed the investigative Auxiliary soldier, knocking everything out of its way. Marnia shouted curses in surprise as she drew back the bow. She knew Edina would be close. She knew she'd be right by the prince, and now the idiot and her fool honor was going to get her killed but there was no time to think about that. The horse screeched in terror, and Marnia tried to balance as her arrow-point wavered, unable to get a clear shot. With dread in her stomach, she watched it slam Konoha into a wall and advance on her before Gwen took a sword to it, which seemed to do little more than annoy it. She whispered to herself, "Come on, stay still, come on, just hold on, stay still for me, stay still for me..."


As it fought Gwen, the thing turned toward her, and Marnie was frozen as she stared into the human face on that bulbous head. Sweat dripped down her face. It... was human once? Her eyes tracked to Edina, and she overrode her squeamishness at once. People were in danger. Her master was in danger.


Aiming for the full body, she let loose four arrows in quick succession, quick to grab another fistful from the quiver she'd slung at her hip. Only two of her four truly hit the beast, the others skipping off its skin and into the farmhouse. The creature roared and turned towards her, exposing its back to the rest of the auxiliary soldiers. Marnie's eyes widened as she realized she'd annoyed it more than a little bit. One arrow stuck out of its 'ear' and the other was just barely stuck to its chest, almost dangling. That did nearly nothin'! What is this thing?!


"I think I made it mad," Marnie breathed as she nocked another arrow. "If it charges, run f'r the wheat field. That'll buy y' time."


@Veirrianna Valentine @Elle Joyner @Musician

 

[Poe]

Aleida Gregory

​

Everything about the situation seemed off to Aleida. While she was not particularly blessed with brute strength or size, her mind and tongue were both quick as whips. Though Ceril told them to dismount, Aleida hesitated for a moment before begrudgingly making her way down off of Rowan. An old farmhouse seemingly abandoned but with the familiar basic tune in the air — it seemed like a story told to a child to keep them from wandering off at night. Her father had told her plenty of those stories, but none had ever settled in her bones the way this situation did. Lagging quite far behind the group, Adela had her hand in a tight grip on her bow, mentally calculating how many arrows she had in her quiver.


But when she heard a shrill noise and was pulled from her thoughts, the sight of the creature made her believe there were not enough arrows in the world.


It was a man, or perhaps used to be a man, with a sickening growth and tentacles snaked through the flesh on his arms. A parasite, or so it seemed, using the body as a host and it sickened Aleida. The bile rose in her throat but she swallowed it back as she watched Jerun struggle against the monster, then Ceril’s bout and command, but Aleida just watched. Her eyes scanned over the creature as it tossed her companions left and right, pinning them before moving onto the next. All the while, the flute had turned into a slithering and ominous sound, and it seemed as though the world had begun to move in slow motion.


Aleida kept herself as calm as possible, her feet taking her closer to the beast but still out of grasp. She pulled an arrow, settling it into her bow before drawing it back. The young redhead, Gwendalin, had been trying for the last few moments to make whatever mark she could on the monster with her sword and with all the others battling so valiantly, Aleida had a shot. It would not kill the monster, no, but perhaps if she could draw attention away and wound it — the others would have an open shot themselves. It was a lot of faith to put in a rag tag team, but at this point Aleida did not see many other options. After all, Marnie had taken a few shots and though few of them stuck -- Aleida doubted the beast would move from the immediate area. "I can give you an opening," Aleida called out to the others, knowing that she could draw the monster back and that Marnie was probably a stronger shot than she was.


Completing her draw, Aleida aimed for the fleshy mass on the monster’s neck — both of its tentacles occupied with other members of the party. When the arrow hit it’s target and sunk into the flesh, it was just deep enough to elicit a bone-chilling scream from the creature and it snapped it’s attention right to Aleida just as she drew another arrow quickly in succession to the last and watched it pierce a bit of the flesh right below the fleshy mass. “Marnie, Gwendalin, Now!” Aleida called out to the others, eyeing Ceril quickly, as the creature crossed the distance between it and the young archer, it’s tentacles flailing as it reached for her — too fast for her to draw anything and when the crushing weight seized her, Aleida dropped her bow.


The grip on her body was one of the most painful feelings she had ever experienced, the sensation reminding her how easily humans were broken into pieces. While her bones withstood the grip for now, she was pinned and quickly felt the smothering weight of the creature. Up close, she noticed, there was much of the creature that still looked human but the fleshy growth and tentacles mutated it into a monster, a demon. With what little strength she could muster, she grabbed one of her fallen arrows and stabbed blindly before it grew furious, or something akin to fury. The breath left her body faster than she anticipated and soon she was wriggling in its grasp which only seemed to make it grip harder.


But the others had the opening — that was all that mattered.

 

[korigon]

"..The abyss itself.."


Kepheus stared, numb and dazed, at the being that stood before him. In over thirty years of soldering, he had seen callousness and corruption, hysteria and horror, and had considered himself brave after bearing witness to it all. He had never once stood down from an order, but if there was any time he would have considered it, it was now.


"Slay it!"


Despair threatened to overtake him, but an almost mechanical change seemed to wash over the veteran. With a matter-of-fact air and alacrity, Kepheus hoisted the crumpled form of Jerun and began carrying him to the wagon. Perhaps the poor man was dying by the second, but it was conceivable that there was still some fight in him. He laid the wounded body on the back of the nearest wagon and quickly studied it, becoming more and more worried about the man. Jerun had been wearing well-made armor, yet he looked pasty and unnaturally sick. Kepheus clasped Jerun's hand in a strong grip, before murmuring a prayer and striding away. If the man really was dying, Kepheus wished he could stand by him until he breathed his last, but more important matters stood before him.


Suppressing a shudder of anger as he strode through the dense undergrowth, Kepheus selected a gleaming spear from the pile and prepared to charge into the fray, only to witness a woman with his similar mindset get slammed into a wall. Another woman soon took up the front, combating the malevolent creature with her sword and shield. Someone else was firing arrows rapidly at the beast, but there was no apparent injury from the projectiles. As Kepheus noticed in annoyance, there was still no opening for a spear thrust. He would have to strike true and deftly to cause a grievous blow to the creature.


As he watched and waited, the female companion of the Prince baited the creature into charging her. Fool girl. But it had worked. She screamed something to the other auxiliaries to attack, and it was in that moment that Kepheus saw his opportunity. He outright ran from the decrepit thicket behind the creature, a marvelous thrill encompassing him as he recklessly rushed out. Time seemed to slow as he adapted the well-practiced spear form of a downward thrust. His right hand arched back as his left hand dropped simultaneously, causing the spear head to point straight at the hamstring of the beast. Gravity aided Kepheus as he drove the spear down toward his target with all the energy he had saved.


A ferocious and primal roar escaped from the monster as it abandoned Aleida and turned around toward Kepheus. It was clear that he had not managed to do a proper hamstringing, but the freakish creature was now accompanied by an apparent limp. With a realization of fear, Kepheus realized that his spear was still in the leg of the beast, and in his hurry, he had not brought along his sword. He stood alone and unarmed, against a hulking force of evil.


Through providence or luck, the creature did not attempt to squeeze him to death like it had done to Aleida. Kepheus found himself lifted off the ground and flung away, sailing away until he crashed into a weak sapling, much to the discomfort of his spine. The fiend then turned back toward the wagon, still with the spear in it's leg. His wind gone and knowing that this was a short moment of respite, Kepheus ingested a relatively copious amount of beer from one of the many, small flask he had hidden.


Hopefully they would kill the thing.

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Poe]

Aleida Gregory

​

Her plan had worked, baiting the monster had given them the opening they needed and though Aleida’s mind was growing fuzzy with the tension against her lungs, she could see as Kepheus and Gwendalin followed suit. Their attacks were brutal, blades flying and spears piercing through flesh, but all the while the creature’s grasp on Aleida tightened until she thought she would surely die right then and there. Aleida danced in and out of consciousness, her entire body bracing itself against the pressure. Bruised ribs were a given and she was sure if they made it out of this — there would be even worse surface bruises that littered her skin. She could already feel the way the blood pulsated beneath the pressure.


But then, all at once, it was gone. The pressure was gone only for mere moments before breath filled her lungs and waves of pain washed over her body. Aleida instinctively curled in on herself a bit, her lungs gasping greedily for air though it never seemed like she had quite enough. Coughs rippled through her body, the feeling as sharp as a hundred daggers in her chest and every muscle exhausted to the point of immobilization. But she tried to push herself up…to no avail. She had seen Jerun taken from the field, and while he looked as though he was on the brink of death, Aleida had been lucky. Her risk had been calculated and while others might think her a fool, she knew that tactically it was what needed to be done.


She was, however, arguably useless at this time and spent much of her energy keeping herself conscious and alert, following the sound of the battle as her vision was not quite back to normal. There were arrows, sounds of metal and pierced flesh, and Aleida knew they were slowly gaining an advantage — but it made her uneasy. How many of them had it taken to even wound one of these creatures? What would happen if they faced not one but multiple? An army’s worth? The entourage’s numbers meant nothing now. If they survived this, they would have to seriously rethink their tactics.


But at pain radiating through her body as she was sprawled out on the ground, she thought of all the people who had been consumed by the fog. If these creatures were out there, lurking and attacking, there was not much hope left of saving anyone. The thought itself caused her to try to push herself up on her arm, but her body gave out, crashing right back to the dirt. A few miles into the fog and they were already powerless.

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


In the ensuing melee, Ceril had managed to collect the rest of his troops before returning to the fray. To his dismay, even the clear number disadvantage mattered not to the flailing appendages that kept the warriors that surrounded it at bay. The abomination fought with reckless abandon with not a lick of fear, nor self preservation even with a score of deep slashes, a dire leg wound and a volley of arrows jutting out of its rotted flesh.


The Prince spotted the bulbous sack of flesh, punctured by one of Aleida's arrows, oozing a sickening black vitae that dribbled down the spine of the beast. The smooth skin rippled and quivered as if in its own sort of pain from the shallow wound apart from the rest of the body. Synapses fired as he made sense of the situation and became very aware of what needed to be done.


Ceril chucked his mace aside and went straight for the spear stuck in the demon's leg in a full dive. Using all of his weight and momentum, he drove the spear deeper into the flesh and yanked the spear back, sweeping the other leg and earning a sickening crack of shattered bones. The Prince used the pole as a lever to knock the creature down and pin its legs, leaving the thrashing tentacles to trash about as it landed face first into the ground in a series of shrieks and groans.


"The neck!" Ceril called out, struggling to keep the creature from righting itself.

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

She wasn't ready... That was the solitary thought revolving around her mind when Marnie handed over the reigns. She held the leather straps in her delicate grasp with as much strength as she could muster in her small form. Still, she'd been given a job and she was going to do it, no matter how small, no matter how obsolete it may have seemed in the stream of things. She was going to ensure those horses were protected, that they stayed with the wagon if it was the very last thing she did.


The thing that came out of the house, for she couldn't identify it as anything recognizable, and simply wouldn't identify it as what it surely was... formerly a man... was a horror unspeakable, unthinkable. Hands trembling, she gripped the reins tighter, heart pounding. Marnie moved, poised her bow and Arabella watched the fray with a terrified sense of detachment, like watching the scene from outside of herself, from outside of all of it. The horses wickered, bucked and she tightened her grasp again, looping the straps around her forearms, gritting her teeth against the jerking, jittering motion of the frightened animals.


"In the name of all that's Holy... what is that thing..." For it wouldn't die. Every attack, every arrow and sweep of the blade seemed only to anger the beast. It was like fighting living stone, and no matter their number, they were drastically outmatched. Her eyes filled with tears as she watched man after man go down, the pain in her arms numb, heart numb. Mere minutes into the Veil and they were already falling apart. So much relied on them making it... on them getting through... breaking the cursed fog, yet they'd gone barely a mile or more and devastation had wracked them.


But then the Prince called out and sucking in a breath, Arabella repeated his words, "The neck!" as if they were a mantra, a prayer, "The neck..."

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Pequeno Burraidh]

Even after the creatures attentions had been diverted, and she had managed to push herself back to her feet, Konoha did little other than watch as it continued it's rampage. Doing her best to manoeuvre herself to her spear and spear's sheath, it didn't take long for her to realize that the quickly growing bruising and swelling around her back and shoulders made any attempted movement with her arms tight and painful.


Instead, as she watched the beast finally leave grasp of someone, did Konoha decide what she would do.


Limping towards the beast's third victim, Konoha's heart sunk in her chest as she saw it was Lady Aleida trying to rise from the ground, only to fall back to it. Dropping to her knees next to the woman, Konoha began to rummage through her pack quickly until she found what she was looking for. It was a small vial, one of a set of five that she had. Within it was a liquid concoction of herbs meant to dull pain and relax muscles, and if what she was feeling in her own back was any indication, the Lady Aleida would find a vial of great use.


Snapping her fingers a few times to gain the Lady's attentions, for fear that grabbing her may cause her more pain, Konoha began to speak comfortingly to her.


"No worries, Lady Aleida, creature is handled even now," she spoke as she watched the combined forces of their group finally bring the beast down and kill it, "Drink, it is numbing herbs, and will make feelings of painfulness cease."


In those moments between her words and the reaction from Lady Aleida, a thousand strands of thought raced through Konoha's head. Ever since her arrival in this land she'd been an outsider, something she was well aware of. When she took Maximus into town to gather the supplies for the brew her mother had taught her would ease the troubles of sores or wounds, and calm the mind, it was not uncommon for the whisperings of 'enchantress' or 'witch' to reach her mind. When she took up stead in the castle and very quickly rose to the side of Master Prince Ceril's personal servant, while the whisperings increased, people tried harder to keep them from her ear. The less educated often decided that her foreign visage mixed with her odd habits made her into some evil magical mistress intent on seducing the prince through various alchemical means, or even that she was just a uncommonly good lay for a whore and used that to her advantage. In spite of all these tales, or perhaps because of them, she worked harder and had developed a theory that people feared what they didn't understand. It made sense that way, and as such she hadn't feared the mist simply because she didn't understand what was so scary about 'ground-clouds'. Nothing phased her, nothing scared her, nothing rocked her ideals on diligently serving her master.


Not until now.


Mind coming back to the task at hand, Konoha looked back down to see if the Lady would accept to proffered medicine, and as she did she was the bruising against her wrists from where the creature had grabbed her and shuddered at what the damage to Lady Aleida was.


"Please, take of the drink. It will be good for body, and I need to know you are of safe status. You are importance to the Master Prince Ceril, and that makes you importance to me, please drink."