Fantasy Penance Behind the Veil

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


How silly it would have been for Ceril to go in this way, poisoned by his own soldier who had just a moment ago stormed out of his tent without express permission and even before that -- had the gall to lecture him on how to manage his own troops. The Prince watched with an eyebrow raised in amusment as Gwendalin poured the dark fluid into his glass and offer it to him with words that echoed through his head. "Do you trust me?" Did he trust her? She was just a soldier from a nameless town and a pedigree in warfare, that's all he had been provided about her; for all he knew, she could have a vendetta against the Ambryn crown for an innumerable list of reasons and Ceril would have been blind to see. And here she was, holding the glass of rancid tasting wine before a crowned prince either as an assassin or a truly ambitious soldier.


The Prince pondered and evaluated the scene for nearly half a minute before reaching forth and clasping the glass in his own hands and bringing it to his lips without a word. It tasted just as it did during dinner and no less revolting. Immediately, Aleida came to thought as he set the glass back onto his table. How much a fool she would have though he was for taking a drink from a stranger, she would have slapped the glass from his hand before he could even think to brace for the taste. All for the sake of trust.


"Well," Ceril finally spoke, ridding his mouth of the bitter aftertaste, "I can't say I enjoyed the second drink nearly as much as the first, but yes, I do trust you. I believe I've trusted you and your potential as a warrior since our encounter with the Mockery earlier today. If trust comes into question again in the future, you are encouraged to forego the wine next time."


"And what of you, Gwendalin?" Ceril returned to his upright position seated at the foot of his cot, "Do I have your trust in me, or does this river flow naught but North?"

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft


Edina's line of thought had been drifting from place to another as she stood guard silently. Despite the amount of time she knew that she'd been up already, she wasn't tired. And her mind certainly wasn't going to take a rest either. One moment she was thinking up of some kind of strategy, but then defeating it based off of what she'd seen and what she didn't know. This is what she studied, right? Strategy, tactics. During her training she always came up with a way, even in proper combat she'd been successful. But then..she was in control, the forces of Regalis had normally held all the cards, and now...that certainly wasn't the case. She'd tried flipping her thought process, looking at the situation as the inferior force, based on their conditions, and it was the same self-defeating conclusions. Maybe she hadn't been cut out for this business. Maybe she really was going to die. She'd have let everyone else in the entourage down, and the Maplecroft family would be split...they'd tear themselves apart. And then... "Hm?"


Edina's head jerked to the side at the sound of approaching footsteps. She'd figured that the guard from earlier was coming to try and relieve her of the post after he had his fill. Instead she found the one man he thoughts thankfully hadn't drifted to during her time out here. Of course, now that was all she could think about. Her facial features had to have been as obvious as his were. He looked upset, but then he was always upset wasn't he? She turned he eyes back to the veil with a light huff. She had half the mind to turn him away. She was more than confident one of the other posts needed a swap in personnel. So why her? Why now? And why did she still feel like something was watching her beyond this damned fog! Another moment passed before she broke the silence. "I don't see why not." She responded, voice sounding more bitter than she had intended. It wasn't so bad for their first proper exchange of words. But that was all he was going to get out of her for the time being.


Some more time passed of drifting thoughts. Only now she couldn't stop thinking about the past....and this most recent encounter with the Mockery. She wanted to keep the giant stone walls she'd built between herself up to separate her from Alex, but she was conflicted with the prospect of letting what was left of them fester for much longer. So, for once, she'd build up enough courage to lower the drawbridge if but for a moment to attempt at a parlay with the man. "Remember that time...maybe twenty years ago when you were visiting the manor in Talstead during the winter?" She seemingly blurted into the night's haze. "It was a particularly bad snowstorm that had kept your family a few nights longer. And we had coerced a few of the servant children out to play with us during the evening. I had knocked over a prized family vase and broken it. My mother had been so furious...." She paused for a moment, swallowing, maybe this was a bad idea, but she'd push through with it. "She had blamed the Tudor boy immediately since he'd nearly spilled the tea earlier that day. Had him whipped so bad he died the next day. And all I could do was watch...nothing I could have said would have changed her mind but...I never even tried." She take another moment to let to anecdote sink in before continuing. "I'd never thought I'd feel more...helpless to change someone's fate that day...this was nearly one of those days." She finished, suddenly feeling much more exposed than she'd wished. She didn't spare Alexander a look but kept her eyes fixated on some imaginary point in the distance. Her voice remained low and cold, but her expression had become notably more upset after the brief retelling.


@Effervescent

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


The Prince chuckled and stood once more, this time moving toward the closed flap of his tent in preparation to see his subordinate out. Ceril had always found the old adage of rivers and cardinal directions to be rather silly for its popularity and was frankly glad that he was not alone in his skepticism. Regardless, Ceril had a much better understanding of Gwendalin 'The Brave' now, which he knew would serve as an invaluable asset in the future.


"Thank you for your time tonight, Gwendalin," Ceril nodded towards her and raised an open palm, speaking in a more hushed tone, "I've just one more favor to ask of you before you go. Other auxiliaries wouldn't dream of speaking their mind around me just because I'm a prince of Ambryn crown. I don't want messages to be lost in between chains of command so I'm simply asking you to report to me if anything important in the ranks isn't making it up to me for whatever reason. Is that fair?"


With a polite smile, the Prince held open the door flap to his tent for Gwendalin to exit at her leisure, "I do hope you'll stop by for drinks in the future. Have a very pleasant evening and do try not to lose yourself in the fog on the way back."


(@Musician)

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[korigon]

Kepheus Kerberos


Choking on his words with indignation and annoyance, Kepheus managed to give Aleida a level look. The aloof attitude she held while discussing such matters upset him, and he found himself growing ill-tempered and exasperated as she discounted his comments. It was a grand injustice, but it was ignored as an abrupt experiment took place, concerning fire and the Mockery they had fought earlier in the day. He did not care whether the thing would burn or not; the body itself was not the priority target. His ire was further increased as the red-headed auxiliary outright chucked a corn-cobb toward the piece of flesh that Konoha held.


Once the Prince had finished speaking, Kepheus abruptly stood up and retreated to the far edge of the camp. The madding crowd was forgotten as he stared into the Veil. He steamed and strode about, thinking of random things as he racked his memory. What had the name Gregory reminded him of? Where had he heard it?


A triumphant smirk suddenly plastered itself on his face as he remembered what the name meant. Kepheus was soon ambling back toward the tents, his eyes vigilant and observant. Perhaps fortune would be on his side tonight, and help him find his quarry as it made it's way back towards it's tent.

 

[Effervescent]

Alexander Vallane

​

His disheveled hair lay in a mop atop Alexander's head, his gloved hand pushing back the fringes as Edina's words brought him back to a time long ago. Had it really been twenty years ago? To the knight it sometimes felt just like yesterday when they enjoyed each other's company and cared not for the troubles of politics or the world. He had always been the adventurous dreamer, and felt Edina had shared that with him in their childhood. Yet when they came of age and she chose the stagnation of a noble life he felt as though he had been lied to. He felt like Edina had not actually shared his mind for excitement, and even now he wondered if it was her adventures in the past that haunted her, preventing her from exploring into the future. Upon her recollection of a disturbing event, his heart felt a tug of empathetic pain. The death of the servant boy Jeremy Tudor hit him with guilt just as hard, but he always felt he could cope better in the end.


"Do you remember what I told you?" he asked as he leaned against the fence. He turned his gaze out into the milky haze, and didn't wait for Edina to respond before continuing. "'We wont let it happen again.' I was just as guilty for not speaking out. I could have easily taken the blame, but we both knew how your mother was. Once her mind was set, there was no changing it. We were helpless from the start even if we tried. So it's not your fault. It was your mother's."


He paused, though not for long. The eerie silence within the Veil was unsettling, giving a feeling as though his ears were covered by thick layers of fabric to mute the outside world further. "We have the power now to change things. We're not children anymore. We're knights under the royal family. And we no longer have your mother to contend with," he added, and then looked over to Edina in thought. "Why did today's events make you feel this way again?"


@Space Cowboy Ein

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft


"We won't let it happen again..." Edina mouthed to herself as Alexander continued to talk. Her eyes wandered from the veil and off to the older knight to her side. It seemed that he shared her intent to not meet eye to and for the time being and she shifted her gaze towards the ground. Her jaw was set in discontent as continued. She knew all that...really she did. They were guilty, but in the end, there was nothing they could have done to stem the fury of her mother. At least, that's what they would tell themselves in the years since. She had originally intended for the story to parallel with the fight they had earlier, but it only made her outlook on the situation worse. If there was nothing they could do...even now... It didn't matter who's fault it was, they could have tried...


She was getting lost in her thoughts again and the absence of Alexander's voice brought her back to the real world once more. She drew in a deep breath of the cool dark air and sighed. "You're right. We've got something worse than my mother to contend with now." She shifted her body to finally look upon Alexander. She was already exposed, but she knew even now, it was likely he wasn't going to hurt her now, or so she hoped. Letting him inside like this..she knew it'd help clear her mind in the long run. In the end, it was for the entourage, wasn't it? "The moment that...Mockery came barreling out of that door, like something straight out of nightmare..I froze." The last word stuck in her mouth as she felt that same feeling of unadulterated terror creep its way back into her mind. "Just like I did then when my mother had come to see justice done. All I could do is sit there and do nothing while other people got hurt. I just...couldn't." Her eyes set on his. "I was that little ten year old girl again...not a royal knight...God..." Edina pushed from the fence post and away from Alexander and towards a nearby ditch with a gloved hand over her mouth. Once she reached the ditch she'd thrown up a portion of the dinner she had put down earlier. She remained crouched at the ditch for a moment before retrieving her water skin and washing what remained out of her mouth.


After a few moments she stood and tucked the water skin back away. Her eyes were stuck on the ground as she sighed. "We won't let it happen again." She repeated much more audibly before turning towards camp. "Thanks for being willing to talk with me Alex..maybe we can do it again if we don't die out here first." She turned slightly to look back to him. "I need to rest, so I will see you in the morning. I hope you don't mind covering for me until the next guard comes around." And with that, she was off into the night's fog to her tent for a much needed sleep.


@Effervescent

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


The Prince's attempts at sleep were a fleeting hope at best. He lay, shed from his armor, staring at the criss-cross pattern of stitching in his tent and deep in subconscious thought. He'd had the entire day and night to think about how best to combat that snarling, flailing beast they now called the Mockery and Ceril was still at a loss. Every time he tapped into his memory of the creature, his focus was shattered by the sheer horror that was the host's face -- twisted in agony; and by God, the noises it made. Ceril shivered despite the moderate temperature a late summer should bring. However, the fog of the Veil had its very own chilling aura that would make even the most resilient warriors in the land cringe in its


immensity.


With a sigh, Ceril turned on his side in an attempt to find a more comfortable position on his cot. It would prove to be a very long night.


SUNRISE


Ceril was not be the first to wake -- nor the first to be out from his tent, certainly sleeping in such an alien environment had proven difficult for many of his soldiers and servants and that he could not blame them for. They were far away from their homes, many were scared and apprehensive about letting their guard down behind the Veil for something as compromising as sleep. The company, along with Ceril, knew to stir from their tents when the sun rose regardless of whether its rays would shine upon them or not in the dense haze. This morning, it would not be the sound of the Prince's horn that would signal the entourage's reveille -- it would be that of a flute.


Rather, it was that which mocked a flute, like the siren's call from the day before. The sound was garbled and corrupted, being distinctly organic in origin yet identifiable as the flute which Lady Edina had so expertly played prior. Without warning, another 'flute' joined in, and another and yet another; together in sinister harmony. They were closer this time, and from Ceril's best guess, the calls were coming from the rolling hills that they had passed getting to the farm and his men knew it as well. All around him, wide eyed in shock, many were paralyzed in their morning routine. And then all was quiet once more, the tune ending as quickly as it had began just as before.


"Finish packing up camp and get ready to move! Burn the farm house down and scorch the field, leave but cinders behind," Ceril ordered so all could hear, "We're to reach Pratchet in two days time and I've no intention on wasting any more resources with idle delay! God is with us."


What they needed now was guidance and a goal. Trust would come on its own.


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

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Poe]

Aleida Gregory

​

Aleida excused herself from the fire without supper, the tankard of wine still in her hands as she made her way back towards her tent. She was really in no mood to speak with anyone, least of all about what had just occurred. Her entire body ached with a ferocity that was more frustrating than anything else, and she had seen the way Kepheus’ eyes found her after her comments. Tonight was not the night — they were all frightened, shaken even, by the events that had unfolded but there was nothing they could do now but move forward. They had a job to do within the parameters of the Veil and Aleida would be damned if they went off running back to the capital with their tails between their legs, especially when there were so many towns consumed by the anomaly. If there was just one survivor, Aleida would remain until they were found.


She had long since realized the true darkness within the Veil and refused to let it settle in her heart. They had been in here for last than a day’s time and to be so easily shaken would do them no good. They needed to be ever vigilant and realize that they were the only ray of hope left in this desolate wasteland. Her father would have never turned around and neither would she. Not because she wanted to emulate him, but because it was the right thing to do.


In truth, Aleida was not aloof by any means. She felt and felt entirely, often suffocated by the fear or passion she felt, but she had long since learned to keep a level head about her. After all, it was what Ceril needed most — a companion who could both support and challenge him — and so she did not often wear her emotions on her sleeve. Instead, she tried with every ounce of her being to be level-headed or at least appear so. If she could let them, her emotions would have governed her every decision but she knew herself and she could not afford such a risk. Even when her father disappeared, she knew she could not cry…


No.


Aleida shook her head as she took her place on her bed roll, a soft grunt passing her lips from the uncomfortable way her bruised skin seemed to tighten every time her body wanted it to stretch. She had told herself she would not think of her father, of the way her mother still constantly lied to herself about his well-being, of the way he always told her that life was equal parts head and heart and that she owed it to herself to feel sometimes. She took a long gulp of wine, followed by another before she’d emptied nearly the entire tankard.


Tomorrow they would move out on a two-day journey to Pratchet and she needed to be in the best shape she could manage while serving at Ceril’s side. He was what mattered right now and she knew that he would not let anyone fall to the mockery, so she would not either. She would sit tall by his side and follow him into the Veil no matter what anyone said. With a stomach full of wine and a sigh on her lips, Aleida curled into her bedroll and fell into a plagued sleep. Her mind never quite able to shut down.


SUNRISE


The next morning, Aleida could hardly lift her arms. The bruises had turned to a sickening array of blues and reds, pooling underneath her skin. There was a deep pulsation under her skin and the first movement of the morning had almost sent her into tears, though she managed to pull herself together. As she readied, it seemed as though her muscles loosened a bit and as she heard the others beginning their morning routine she was finally able to lift her arms high enough to braid her mane of hair out of her face.


All the while, that damned flute just kept on playing and she knew, without a doubt, that they were not as alone in this Veil as they thought.


Once her tent and belongings were packed back up, Aleida slowly made her way towards where Ceril was yelling against the early morning air. For a man born so late in the lineage, he was a born leader — though she knew he doubted himself sometimes — and she hoped that perhaps this wretched darkness would show him that. There was a reason she risked her life day in and day out for him, and it was not for that stupid smirk he always seemed to have on his face when they spoke. “You know,” she said with a smirk of her own as she mounted Rowan slowly as not to worsen her wounds, “you might waste less time with idle delay if your orders were not always so long.”


“How did you sleep?” she asked finally, genuinely interested in his response. She knew that most of the entourage was restless last night, as she’d heard others scampering about late into the night.


(@Coin)

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marnia Belhund -- Esquire -- in the Veil


The fireside discussion took a very, pardon the pun, heated turn as people debated back and forth over the best thing to do over this whole Mockery business and, as a highlight, Konoha burned a piece of flesh as an experiment to see if it would burn like any other piece of meat. Sure enough, it turned to cracklin, and Marnia let a sigh escape her with relief. It burns like a man does, and that makes me glad. Good God, what kind of mess've we got ourselves into?


Nevertheless, she gave the little foreign girl a round of applause for sheer stones and attempting to actually learn something from that corpse. She would've approached, if she'd thought she could talk at length with the little servant, but she wasn't wholly sure if that would be welcome. She could at least give her a bit of recognition for her deeds.


While she was a little miffed at Arabella's mention of this being just a guessing game, she couldn't help but feel that she was right, in a way. This was a guessing game, like the child's game Hangman, except instead of getting limbs added to the poor effigy, one or another poor sod was going to get offed... like the poor soldier that had been killed earlier in the day. The more they guessed, the more they hoped to learn, but the price of that knowledge was high.


Marnie remembered her grandfather's sighing tone as he recounted, The best learned lessons're those paid 'n blood, missy. Remember 'at.


Before they broke for bed, with everyone taking watch, Marnia continued sitting before the fire, staring into it with deep set eyes. Everything everyone had said was true, worthy of merit, absolutely obvious. It was strong, it was once a man, it was cunning, it could think... She swallowed as the sick realization that her very own brothers could've become one of those things entered her mind, and she suppressed a shiver. No. Her brothers would die before they'd let something like that squirm into their flesh and steal their limbs from them. They would kill themselves rather than be overtaken...


But what if they wouldn't? What if they couldn't? What if they hadn't--


Sick with imaginings, Marnia got up and walked to the tent that had been set up near the supply wagon, ready to roll into bed when something glinted and caught her eye. She stared at the string that trailed from the wagon like a frayed rope off a toy train. It was pitifully small, more fragile than spider's silk. Marnia had wanted to use it to get out of the fog. It led straight out, if it hadn't broken along the way, which she gathered it hadn't. Yet if she could use it... and those things could think... Marnia's stomach dropped towards her ankles. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the silk that seemed to mock her. Obviously it wasn't fell magic that was causing people to get lost, it was those things out there killing them. The string had no purpose. It was a child's fairytale, nothing more.


With knotted guts, she walked over and sliced the thread with a rusty shiv.

-Sunrise-

​

The night had been spent sleeplessly. Despite the food, despite the wine, despite how bone-tired Marnia had been, she couldn't seem to find a way to get any rest. She tossed and she turned, and when she wasn't tossing and turning, she was in a restless state of being half-awake. With hair a mile high, she finally got up at the break of dawn and went out to relieve another soldier from his watch, sleep gumming her eyes. She rubbed her face as she stood with her bow at her side, shadows playing in the mist that gathered at her feet. It was eerily silent, without even birds to sing their morningsong, and the quiet lulled Marnie into a state of half-sleepiness...


And then the fluting round began. Marnia's heart thudded in her chest as her eyes cracked wide, and she swallowed hard. She grasped her bow and strung it as the chorus continued. She felt her feet begin shuffling back, but she marshaled her initial response to run. She couldn't abandon her post. As much as she was afraid of what was out there, she had to keep her watch, even if it was to just scream and alert the ca--


When Prince Ceril yelled his orders, there wasn't a soul on Earth could've kept Marnia rooted to that spot a hair longer. She nearly left a dust cloud in her wake.


Hastily, she fitted out Edina with her armor and prepped the horse for her. Marnia's typically humorous facade was gone, replaced with an urgency born of true fear. She used work as a way to escape the tidal wave of horror that itched beneath her skin, trying to ignore the memory of that blasted flute. In that moment, she'd heard it everywhere, as if it had encircled her with its song. The hairs on her arms stood up at the mere thought of just that, and she tried to avoid Edina's gaze, afraid she would ask her something and she suddenly gush with everything within her. So, instead she busied herself with the camp. Best to keep track of the others and try and take care of what ever needed taking care of.


"Bench's still open fer ya if'n ye want to rest yer feet," Marnia said to Bella and Ivar as she passed by her during the morning routine, scarfing down what breakfast she could make for herself. As soon as she could, she got aboard her wagon wearing her own piecemeal set of armor, a sword at her hip and her bag nearby.


"How you holdin' up?" Marnia offered to Edina as she set the wagon at a carefully measure pace right next to her.


@Veirrianna Valentine

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

Even without creatures indiscernible running amok, sleep came at a cost to Arabella. Troubled by dreams of monsters and men, she tossed and turned until finally giving up sometime shortly before dawn. Slipping quietly from her tent, Arabella made her way out into the cool air, shuddering at the sensation against her skin. No amount of blankets, nor time spent by the fire warmed, and Bella was beginning to think she would never feel anything but ice in her veins again.


It wasn't long before the camp began to stir - everyone seemed anxious to move on, and Bella could hardly blame them. Ready as the others, she moved quickly, helping to bring down the tents and collect their things. When the music began, however, time itself seemed to stand still.


The melody drifted through the silent campground like war drums and heart pounding, Arabella stared desperately into the fog, searching for any signs of life, for any indication that the Mockery was coming. But quickly as it had begun, Ceril cut across it with words defiant to the core. They would burn the farm and fields to dust, and with it the awful memories of what had transpired there...


As life unfurled again, Bella heard Marnie speak and nodded to the girl. She would take the spot again, in case her services were needed with the horses, but privately she hoped they would not. Her arms had not healed overnight and the spotty, blackened skin was raw and sore. Still, a servant's job was what it was. Finished with the camp and unneeded for the act of arson, she climbed up onto the wagon and as she had the day prior, whispered quietly into the air, "May I be worthy of song..."

 

[Effervescent]

Alexander Vallane

---Sunrise---​

Edina had always had her way of lingering in the back of Alexander's mind when she was not present. He had never minded before when their friendship was still strong, but in the decade that passed he had pushed her away entirely. Last night's events brought her back, albeit hesitantly. Her presence within his mind was like a constant judgement; a second conscience. Would Edina approve of this? How would Edina feel about this? What would Edina do in this situation? He had always admired the woman, and so as he matured he took from her example, carrying it with him as he progressed in life without her constant presence.


The one thing he did not carry in likeness to Edina was the mindset for noble duty. It seemed so petty to him now that he stood within the Vale. He had assumed her just as the rest of his kindred: selfish and closed off from the rest of the kingdom. Yet here she was within the Vale instead of walled within her noble manor. It spoke that they were alike still and saw a need to work outside their comfort zones to better the world to which they occupied. Alexander recognized that he was just like everyone present, from Prince Ceril to the dutiful servants, and he wondered if Edina felt the same. Did she find herself equal to everyone in the Vale? The fog seemed to strip social class from those brave enough to venture into its depths and continue on in Alexander's mind.


Despite the comfort of knowing he was not alone in this endeavor, both in number and in mind, he could not rest easy. He had spent his night either sitting or laying upon his bedroll, every stir or murmur among the brave souls in camp sending his mind to alert. Finally, within the hours before dawn could lighten the fog, Alexander was finally able to find brief reprieve within a couple hours' sleep that left him feeling ragged once awake once again.


It wasn't the sound of a distant flute that woke him. Alexander had been awake nearly half an hour before lethargically adorning his shirt of mail and polished armor. The servant within his cell, Paisley, was helping him pack his tent as the tune filtered through the thick air. They halted in their actions, Alexander's head finally shooting up in search for the music's origin as it was ominously followed by a dissonant cacophony akin to an orchestra warming up before a performance.


Paisley quickly gathered the fabric of Alexander's tent and bedroll, aiding the other servants in collecting supplies and packing them within the cart as Alexander set out towards the farmstead on Prince Ceril's command. The fire took some coaxing to engulf the farmhouse and remaining crops. Acrid smells mixed with the must of burning wood, the glow of the flames causing the fog around them to become an ambient orange haze that mixed with smoke. As they burned the farmland, Alexander kept a keen watch to their surroundings, watching and waiting for an attack as the unsettling feeling knotted his stomach once again.


Escovet was more than eager to get on the road, the horse causing Alexander difficulties in reining in as she desired to rush away from the Veil. Walking the mare down the caravan line, Alexander scanned through the servants and soldiers for the members of his cell. Gwendalin had been reassigned to his watch. The redhead was easy for the knight to spot, not just because of her capable and confident looking demeanor, but because of her familiarity. It was only a couple of years prior he was rescued by her bravery and adept skills in combat. He wasn't sure Gwendalin even knew it was he she saved. Had he properly thanked her? It'd been so long since he had spoken with her and her family, he wasn't sure how small talk would be received. And thus, he trotted past Gwendalin, offering her a quiet nod of his head in greeting before heading to the front with Prince Ceril.

 

[korigon]

The night had passed slowly for Kepheus. Several drinks from a flask and several hours of pacing had sufficed to dampen his wrathful mood, causing him regret for the time wasted. Sleeping within the veil could be a daunting task for any experienced warrior, such as Kepheus. Vision was irrefutably poor, assisted by the fog-like Veil. Throughout the night, towering trees swayed to and fro, urged on by a whispering wind. There was no crow-cry in the air, no cricket-song to add atmosphere amongst the group.


An internal clock soon roused him from his silence. His armor was donned quickly as he studied his appearance in a muddy pool of armor. Kepheus lamented briefly as he studied a rebellious tuft of hair that was turning swiftly into a beard. He had no tools to remove it, apart from going at it with a knife. His facial hair was soon ignored as a flute-like noise sounded out throughout the camp.


The noise was an annoyance, but there was nothing to be done about it. Yet. It was only an intimidating sound. Kepheus managed a shrug of his shoulders as he studied the other auxiliary near him, but most had wiped the fearful expressions off their faces and now glanced about with a painfully obvious facade of being brave. Soon afterwards, he found himself on the trail toward Pratchet. The road was unfamiliar to him, and a feeling of discomfort soon overtook him as he considered what would happen if the path became too obscure to follow. His eyes followed the new addition to his cell as she murmured something about bandits.


Bandits?


"I doubt there will be any bandits in this land." he said, addressing the inferior warrior with a critical eye.


@Musician

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


"If I had slept any better, I'd consider opening a tavern out here just so I could share the experience with every one else in Vaelmaceria," Ceril joked with a shake of his head and began to set the pace at the front of the entourage. "I could really use a hot bath, though...this place has gott my skin crawling since we got here."


Auxiliaries had set fire to the fields and farm house before they left the damned property. It felt only proper to give the farmer and his family this closure, even in death, so that they may once again be joined with the earth along with their worldly possessions -- limited as they might have been. Not a soul, no matter how wicked, deserved a fate as cruel as the farmhand's at the machinations of the Mockery, whatever their agenda might be if they even had one. Though the flames roared and reduced the farm to ash, the inferno quickly faded from view until it was but a silent and dull glow against the fog as they traversed deeper into the Veil.


It was troubling as their journey to Pratchet went underway and the mocked tune of Edina's flute failed to sound again since the incident in the twilight hours of the morning. In fact, the company had covered good ground on the road that cut swathe the rugged hills that surrounded them on both sides. Ceril hated this environment, though, it was hard enough to see in the thick fog and the rolling hills only added to their obscured perception. Unsurprisingly, it was not the Prince who was the first to spot it, it was a hawk-eyed auxiliary archer who brought up the rear in the fifth cell.

Spoiler

[media]

[/media]



"Over there! On the hill!" She called out just loud enough for the front of the entourage to hear. "I..I think it's a soldier!"


Most, including the Prince, followed the archer's pointer finger to a lone shadow that stood at the crest of the tallest hill to their East. At this range, distinct features could not be made out clearly but the silhouette clearly resembled a heavy infantryman carrying a spear and shield, akin to his own auxiliary troops. Ceril's heart sank at this thought. No heavy infantry had been sent into the Veil prior to Ceril's entourage in years, they were not mobilized unless in a time of distress. And as if on cue, four more figures materialized out of the inky fog and stood beside the original shadow, mimicking their shield wall's formation; these were no soldiers, they were the Mockery. And finally once more, on that hill, rang the tune they knew too well now -- the devil-song that had lured them in the day prior.


Ohry reeled in fear as Ceril tried to tug his reigns and bring his steed under control, all while shouting back, "Archers! Loose! Form a shield wall and protect the archers, but keep to the road!"


As the first arrows whistled through the air, the lead figure seemed to explode out of its outline disguise in a writhing mass of tentacles on two legs. The creature charged down the hill with supernatural celerity, letting out a gruesome screech and followed by the other four monsters in a terrifying chorus of flute twiddles and screaming. They were just like the Mockery they had seen yesterday, parasites and disfigured hosts. However, this attack was different than the last. Instead of crashing against their shield wall to fight his men, the monstrosities seemed to be trying to weave past the wall and straight for their supply wagons which remained largely unprotected. These savages were capable of such forward tactics? Cursing inwardly, Ceril dismounted from his horse and jogged to join his troops at the front, "The wagons! Rally to me, soldiers of Regalis! Protect the wagons!"


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

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marnia Belhund -- Esquire -- On the road to Pratchett.


Marnia barely caught the words under poor Belle's breath, and a small smile flit across her pockmarked face. She nudged her and said, "Oi, if'n I get my way, we ain't just gonna be worthy of song. Hellfire, we're gonna be on tapestries 'n lutes 'n they're gonna be writin' us down on parchment with 'luminations..."


To be honest, Marnia had never considered getting any sort of fame out of this excursion, but it would be some pretty thick gravy if they'd manage to get out of here and end up being lauded as the first to ever escape the Veil in one piece. Of course, the caveat of 'one piece' still stood. The Veil held its own mysteries, and none of them were kindly. But they had to try and keep up spirits, right? So far, nothing had attacked them...


"I fancy they're gonna sing 'bout us like-


Sit you down and shut you up, I'll tell you a tale


Once there were two maidens fair ventured into the Veil


And these two maidens brave and bold,


whole they came out to praise and gold,


remembered long by ballads of old,


'bout how they ne'er could fai--"


Marnia's ditty was cut short by the sound of the archer calling out to the figure on the hill. Her song died in her throat as more joined the solitary shadow, and suddenly they were upon them. Ivar cursed as Marnia shuffled to grab her bow. She tossed the reins of the horses to Belle, and she said, "Sorry, love, looks like you get the horses again." Her heart thudded in her chest as she watched them advance, the archers doing their best to take out the Mockeries. She swallowed as she strung her bow with fumbling fingers and loosed arrow upon arrow at their legs in the hopes of crippling them. Yet, they continued forward, swatting away soldiers like so many gnats towards the --


"They're coming towards the supply wagons," she muttered to herself, her blood turning cold. Realizing one was much too close to shoot with mere arrows, she removed the dagger at her side and looked back to Belle. After a moment's hesitation, she grumbled to herself and removed the other one.


"Take this!" Marnia demanded, tossing the dagger to Belle in haste. She had just enough time to turn back to see the Mockery shrieking towards their wagon. In her racing brain, she barely managed a plan. There were the bulbs on the back of the neck where the creatures had sewn itself into the man's flesh. If she could just find a way to--


Too late! She'd taken too much time! It was there! Marnia threw herself towards the creature, hoping her lanky weight might drop it backwards. It did no such thing. Rather, she'd enraged it. She squirmed away from the flailing tentacles and arms towards the back of the creature, screaming as she was smacked. Her armor saved her from the worst blows. With her dagger, she tried to aim and stab at the creature's back.


"Help! Plea--!" Marnia shrieked, cut short as the creature finally wound a tentacle around her waist and flung her at the ground.

 

[Pequeno Burraidh]

Konoha had watched from the back, a place she'd just generally kept to since her failure with Master Prince Ceril, as the events began to unfold. It was the Mockeries, not just the one, the one that had so easily overpowered and outmatched her, but four, four of them and her mind could already imagine their filthy demonic tendrils wrapping around her, tearing at her flesh and crushing her bone. With a clatter her spear fell from her hand as the quartet came surging forward.


Instead of breaking on the shield wall they slid through it like water, coming straight towards her location. This was how they died... how she was going to fail...


She watched as one of the women, Marnia, surged forth to protect. How she fought alone, and was quickly grabbed and flung to the ground only to have the Mockery turn and step towards the downed woman. Just like her... just like Aleida... just like they would do to Master Prince-


"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"


What are you doing? You've lifted your spear and charged, but for what? You're just going to die.





Time seemed to slow momentarily for the exotic svelte woman as her feet pounded on the ground as she charged. Her mind told her she was going to die anyway, so why bother, but she couldn't just lay down. She took an oath, she had to fight because if she didn't then she would dishonour her words, her actions and herself. Thinking quickly Konoha pieced together everything that she'd learned and watched in interactions with these creatures.


Taking up a highly improper thrusting stance, her spear on her right, but her right hand leading with the left hand trailing, Konoha charged the beast standing over Marnia. As she neared it, and it turned to face her, Konoha's heart felt like it was in her throat but she didn't stop. Intentionally thrusting to the Mockeries right side she watched as it's tendrils reached down and wrapped around the spear just as they had the first time. This time she was ready, or at least she hoped she was.


It's not going to work, you're going to die.


This manoeuvre had only been down once before successfully, in a sparring match with someone that didn't actually want to kill her, but it was her best shot. Lifting her right hand from the spear she lifted the arm over her head as she spun around the beast fully releasing the spear into it's grip. As she came out of the spin she then gripped her spear at the base of the blade that was now sticking out from behind the thing and swung herself up, managing to hook her left leg around the Mockeries left side just under the 'arm'. Then, with her free left hand she drew her boot knife and brought it down at the neck.


Wait, that worked?


There was a screech that would have been satisfying if not for two things. The first was that she had over swung onto the creatures back, and her momentum caused her to miss the bulb. The other issues was that her spear now hung free in her right hand and the tendrils were swinging back to grab her.


Letting out a cry of shock Konoha unwrapped her lower leg from around the Mockery's side and let herself fall backwards, quickly trying to back pedal out of reach as it rounded on her. But still, this told her something...


"Pairs! Be in pairs for fighting! Feint! Use deceit, they are forward thinking too much to understand!" Konoha screamed as loud as she could to ensure as many people heard her as possible before looking past the creature to Marnia hoping she'd rise again, "Marnia, I can not fight alone, need your help if you are of managing ability!"


High on adrenaline and fear Konoha could barely hear anything but her heartbeat and her breathing as the Mockery took another step towards her, and then another. All she could hope for was that Marnia was going to be able to stand again soon.

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marina Belhund -- Esquire -- getting the snot beat out of her near Pratchett





Marnie lay on the ground with stars in her eyes. The world spin like a lazy top, the sounds of battle ringing incessantly in her ears. Her eyes roamed, aware that something large, something very very big, was advancing towards her.


And a blur of dark hair and small hands and feet came to her rescue. Marnie rolled on her side as Konoha did battle, doing her job far better than she had. She didn't watch the sprightly foreigner do her acrobatics, instead marshaling her guts and trying to discern if anything was broken. Luckily her armor had some padding, but she was too aware that two of her ribs was creaking dangerously, and it stung with every breath. Broken, she thought as she rolled back towards her feet. Her armor clanked as she wrenched her sword out of her scabbard, and she cursed with bluster as it sat almost clumsily in her hand.


She stank at sword work. Edina had lamented her work with a sword. She was better suited to fight at a distance, not with a blade nearly as long as she was. Marnie staggered, vision swimming, as Konoha called for aid, cornered as well.


Fight in pairs. Smart. These creatures could be baited. Make them angry. Make them stupid. Well, Marnsie here had plenty of stupid to go around. She was here wasn't she?


Marnia ran with a loping stride and around the creature's back and a sudden thought hit her. The legs were less powerful, more ungainly, and less defended. Their speed was their strength, and the Mockery were no good if she could get it on the ground.


With strength born of terror, Marnia slashed and hacked at the back of its knees, and she backed away as it whipped around to slap a tentacle at her. She batted it away, but it nearly ripped the sword right from her grip.


"Legs, go for the legs!" Marnie groaned as she baited it away from the wagons and the road.

 

[Chordling]

.

 

[Effervescent]

Alexander Vallane

​

Escovet was restless, though thankfully not spooked just yet. He had put her through the necessary training to be battle ready, and it hadn't been until the Veil that she had displayed such unease. As the Mockery charged and Ceril called his commands, Alexander pulled on Escovet's reins, urging her to back up and turn to the right. Her head flecked upward in protest, her mane swooping through the air in her fit before obeying his command. As the unmounted soldiers knelt and created a shield wall, Alexander readied himself and slashed at the enemies that weaseled their way past the blockade. Positioning himself between the Mockery and one of the wagons, he remained atop Escovet, his sword piercing and swooping downward onto the Mockery that flew toward him.


It didn't seem enough. From atop a tall horse, cutting the thing that wrapped itself around the once-people proved difficult. Dark tendrils swiped towards him, and as Escovet halted, he became a sitting duck. His high position was no longer of use, and he launched himself down upon one of the Mockery, his sword aiming to stick into its back. The horse, now freed from her owner, fled around the wagon. Paisley Bay quickly ran after her, catching the reins before the horse could trot away too quickly.


Alexander had managed to stick his blade into the Mockery's back, its tendril arms flailing to swipe Alexander to the ground. He knew as soon as he released his sword from the creature, it would have more freedom and likely retaliate with better force. He'd only have a moment's time to act, and it would have to be precise. One tug on his sword, and it resisted as it had cleaved into bone and pierced into the earth. He tugged again, his force enough to loosen the blade and free the Mockery. It rose with quick ease, and just as swiftly, Alexander brought his sword around and through its neck.


Or partially through... His sword managed to sink into the flesh, the creature shrieking in pain as the blade nearly touched the bulb upon the nape. But it reacted more quickly than any human could, and its grotesque arm side swiped the knight, sending him flying back several feet. Within his hands he held his sword in a death grip, his chest aching from the blow as he gasped for air, his helm rolling upon the ground just feet away. The impact was enough to have knocked the wind from his lungs, and just when he felt he would die of suffocation, he took in a deep breath of air.


It was in that moment he heard someone call his name. Rolling onto his side, Alexander coughed and readied his mind back into the task at hand. They were being attacked. Someone called his name. He was needed somewhere. He rose to a stand, thankful for the skills of the soldiers around him that worked together to fend off this formidable threat. Scanning through the chaos he searched for the origin of the voice that called him. It was familiar to him in some manner, and as his gaze fell on Gwendalin, he knew it was from her.


Caught in a choke hold, Gwendalin was bravely fighting a Mockery on her own, though it looked as though the odds were not in her favor. The tendril limbs of the Mockery seemed to be rather troublesome, their grips as strong as snakes around their prey. Instinct took over giving the knight no time to fear in the heat of the moment. Alexander rushed forward, slipping past Konoha and Marnia as he rounded towards the back of the once-human creature that held the brave warrior. Its focus was on Gwendalin allowing the plated knight to approach unnoticed as he swung his longsword downward onto the bulbous sack that clung to the creature's neck.


@Musician

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

Those damnable creatures.... Of course they'd come for the supply wagons. Hunters often took out the weakest members of a herd, first. Thinned the pack. For all her spunk, Marnie was hardly a seasoned warrior, and she certainly had more experience than Bella. Up against such a force the odds were hardly in their favor.


Taking both reins and blade, with a fierce grasp, Bella watched with a jolt of shock and awe as Marnie leapt from the wagon, on to the encroaching foe.


The horses bucked wildly and Bella felt the bones in her wrist grind together, but she did not release her hold. She had been given one task, and if it was to be her end, she would do her best, and no less.


In her peripherals, she saw it coming, the sneaking, lurching thing, and her heart shuddered at the sight of it. It's aim was clear... the stealthy, flanking motion, as it slipped silently across the field, behind the fray. The others need not make it if only one could reach the wagon.


Quickly as her mind could wrap around thought, she took the reins and gave them a sharp snap. The horses bolted and the wagon shot forward. Stealth no longer an option, the creature took off at a gangly, loping run, with unseemly speed and agility for something so pieced together.


The horses racked their spindly legs fast as horses could, but weighed down by cart and rider they would be outrun. Looping the leather straps around the crossbeam, the horses closing to a crawl. Arabella gripped Marnie's knife like a prayer, hands and legs quaking as she rose, squinting through the bleak fog to the mass of limbs tottering in her direction. Suddenly as it had appeared, the thing stopped. Bella stared, as it wagged back and forth, lolling, watching.


Then with a sickening squelched cry, it jumped. Bella felt a scream rise and fall in her throat. The knife clattered to the back of cart and the full weight of the thing crashed into her. She and creature both tumbled out of the wagon and Bella hit the ground, hard, the impact knocking the breath from her lungs with a gasp.


In her mind, even through the intensity of the pain, as those gnarled, twisted appendages cocooned her throat, her waist, even knowing what it was, she could see... feel something something so distinctly human about it. It struck her, as she struggled to free her arms, pinned beneath the thing, as she struggled to suck in a breath what it was...


Hatred. The thing was hatred, pure and enraged.


And it was killing her.

#damselthehellindistress

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft


Edina had spent more time wandering the battlefield than she would have liked searching for Marnia. Her whole encounter with the two mockeries had left her rather bewildered. She ended up rounding back towards cell four who were still dealing with the mockery when her squire had finally shown herself riding Covil into the fray. In a fell swoop similar to her own, Marnia had dispatched the mockery and finally gave the group of spearmen a break, and even Edina could finally take a moment to catch up. The young woman eventually coerced Covil over to his owner and dismounted. "Thank you, Marnia." She said over the din of battle as she mounted a nervous Covil. She followed her eyes to the cart holding her spare lances in dismay, another mockery was assaulting more members of the entourage. She couldn't be sure but it seemed like more of the beasts were coming.


But her suspicions were correct as she could hear Ceril calling out for a retreat fro the battle. That was it, it seemed, and Edina had no qualms with running. They certainly weren't made for prolonged conflicts with these kinds of monstrosities. She just hoped they could outrun them. Edina ordered the spearmen to make haste down the road and offered a hand to Marnia. "Marnie get on! We're going!" And there wasn't much protest to be had as the knight pulled the young girl up behind her. Covil didn't mind the added weight and so with one hand on the reigns and another holding her sword, Edina rode off after the rest of the entourage, or at least in their general direction. As she rode on, she cast a number of glances back towards the young woman and a frown grew deeper within her features. "Are you alright Marnie?" Her voice was unusually soft with the young woman as she took the opportunity of looking back to check their surroundings.

 

[Poe]

Aleida Gregory

​

It had been almost immediate. One moment there was a shadow in the distance and the next, a group of the mockery were upon them — their destination clear. The supply wagons. Aleida watched helplessly for a moment as Ceril dismounted his steed and ran into the thick of battle but quickly recovered with a fast draw of her bow. This time, she wouldn’t leave Rowan for any reason. She was better on the high ground, her eyes like that of a hawk when she attacked from horseback. Immediately, she shot off a few arrows in protection of Ceril as he weaved his way through the battlefield and engaged with the creatures. Idiot, she thought to herself but she knew she could not stop him. Not when he had so obviously made up his mind. While his brothers would have sat back and watched as their soldiers were slaughtered, Ceril stood against them and for that, she knew, would make him a great king.


It was only when she heard a scream, did Aleida snap out of her focus on protecting the prince.


By the supply wagons, the young servant girl, Arabella, was pinned by one of the monsters and it made Aleida’s bruises pulsate. A woman that small would die in only a few moments under that kind of pressure and Aleida was not about to let that happen. With a kick to Rowan, she started off towards the supply cart, her bow drawn and she littered the back of the mockery with arrows though none of them seemed to do any good. They simply pierced the flesh and hung off the back as more of an irritation than anything. Remembering the way her arrow pierced the bulbous sack on it’s neck, Aleida drew another arrow and managed to pierce the sack but to the same results as last time. The creature, enraged, turned to her and let out a disgusting wail of a sound but this time it did not bound after her. Instead, it kept its sights on the wagon and moved past Arabella, leaving her there for dead — what it assumed would be for dead.


“Konoha!” Aleida called out as she circled back around with Rowan, immediately she knew they would not get the kill from up there. Against her better judgment and aching muscles, Aleida dismounted Rowan and made her way over towards Arabella. “Edina! Someone!” she called out, her feet carrying her faster than her body anticipated her moving. She had her sword drawn, which was a rarity in and of itself, but she used most of her strength to pull Arabella from the ground and away from the supply cart. “Come on,” she said warmly, her body screaming at the weight of another. “Stay here, but take this,” Aleida pulled out a small dagger and handed it to her, “It was my father’s and it’s never failed me. Protect yourself, and we’ll protect you.”


With a newfound energy, Aleida turned and started after the mockery with her sword drawn. There was already dark ooze dripping from the wound on its neck, but they had to take it out. What was it Kepheus had done? Taken him out by the legs? As she was thinking, the mockery had turned and started towards her, the sickening wail from its body sending shivers up her spine as she made moves to counter its attacks. She had it distracted, she just needed an opening to take it out — and she knew she couldn’t do it on her own. “Ceril!” she called out, hoping that someone would hear. She kept the creature occupied and protect Arabella, but she could make no forward ground.


She wasn’t backing down this time. Not a chance.


(@Veirrianna Valentine @Elle Joyner)

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marnia Belhund -- Esquire -- getting pummeled farther south from the group


Things transpired almost faster than she could follow. It was madness everywhere, absolute chaos. Men were fighting the four Mockery with abandon, and the creatures just wouldn't go down. There was the squeal of horses, the cries of desperate soldiers as they were swatted about. Marnie kept her eyes on the Mockery that she'd baited away. It hissed and fluted angrily, and in the back of her mind, Marnie realized that under any other circumstances, this might actually be funny. She suppressed the urge to giggle as it charged forward, but it was duly distracted by a burst of arrows. Ivar stood farther away, drawing shaft after shaft. His wan, frank face was set in a determined grimace as the thing shrugged off his arrows.


From the corner of her eye, she could see Edina go after a Mockery that was occupied by another cell. Covil charged forward with Edina holding a lance, and sure enough it broke against the back of its neck. Yet, as soon as that was done another Mockery was upon her, overturning Covil and his rider to the ground. Marnia cursed loudly. Edina managed to escape, Covil running pellmell. She'll need another lance, Marnia thought drolly as her own Mockery turned on her and wrapped a tentacle around her wrist. The squire was lifted off the ground and slammed down again, and Marnia saw stars. Only another flurry of arrows, now from another set of archers, set it screaming at them, giving her an opening to release herself.


"Ko, we need to get out of the way!" Marnia shouted to the small servant who'd so bravely leaped in to help her. Unfortunately, without any armor, she was a prime target for getting hit with a stray arrow. Marnie in her suit could shrug off an accidental hit with only a bruise, but the little foreigner would not be so lucky.


Marnie saw in her periphery Covil racing towards her. The Mockery turned to towards the advancing archers, fed up with their incessant arrows. The world seemed to move at the speed of falling molasses as Marnie put the pieces of the puzzle together. Edina needs Covil and a lance. Covil is coming towards me. Edina killed the last one with a blow to the neck with a lance. The Mockery is distracted. Need higher ground to get the back of its neck. It's got an archer. Need to act fast. Edina needs Covil...


Fumbling, Marnia switched swordhands, reaching out with her right towards Covil's reins. As the horse galloped past her, she grabbed the reins and ran beside the stampeding horse, somehow managing to put her foot in one stirrup. She hopped after the stupid horse with loud, imaginative curses as she tried to throw herself over Covil's back, yanking his reins in an attempt to stop his frantic run. She finally managed to swing her leg over Covil's saddle and turned him around, attempting to reassure the horse.


"It's okay, Covil! It's me, Marnie! Marnie!" she said loudly, trying her best not to yell. The horse cantered and sidestepped nervously before Marnie had him under control. Marnie surveyed her surroundings and realized that, this far into the Veil, her visibility was nearly nil. She nudged her heels against Covil's flanks, and the horse started forward. Marnie tightened her grip around her sword and urged Covil on faster, pushing the horse to another high gallop towards the sounds of steel against flesh and screeching. The warhorse neighed as Marnie finally came upon the Mockery facing off against the archers.


Marnie took the sword in a two-handed grip, gripping Covil with her knees, and brought the sword down with yell on the back of the Mockery's neck. The sword ripped out of Mannie's hands and the squire almost fell out of her seat as the creature shivered and screamed, Covil circling it with a screaming neigh. Marnie hastily gripped the reins and backed the horse away from the twitching body. After several moments of staring and making sure it was well and truly dead, Marnie spurred Covil towards Edina.


"Looks like he got away from ye. I'll get ye 'nother lance," Marnie said as she got off of Covil's back. She looked towards the wagon she'd been guarding, her stomach sick as she realized that Aleida and Arabella (Bells? Bells was in this too?) were being accosted by yet another creature. She took a single step forward, only to find herself on her knees. Her spirit may be alive and well, but her body was in worse shape.


Gotta get up. Arabella. Lady 'Leida...


@Veirrianna Valentine