Fantasy Penance Behind the Veil

[Pequeno Burraidh]

Konoha had almost thought to re-engage the Mockery that Marnia had started fighting again when a few details managed to squeeze through her adrenaline addled mind.


First was that Marnia was pointedly leading it away from the carts, a skill she seemed to be able to pull off. Konoha didn't know how to bait, she'd never even had to learn.Second was that Arabella seemed to have encountered peril of her own as one of the creatures assailed her in the cart, the cart seemingly speeding off a short distance whilst third, Lady Aleida road to intervene, crying out for help on her own. And Lady Aleida's safety, in her mind at least, was second only to Master Prince Ceril's.


She was already turning when the arrows began to fly and Marnia called for her to fall back, and her feet flew across the grass and dirt as she alighted her way towards Aleida and Arabella. As she charged she noticed that the Mockery that was assailing Aleida and Arabella had stepped between her and the cart, and it seemed it had stopped as if remembering something. This caused Konoha to remember something as well, the crushing grip they subjected their victims to, the brutallity in which they would callously throw their prey about. Taking one look at Aleida and Arabelle, Bella specifically, told her that it had attacked her fellow servant, a girl she had taken a liking to.


She hated it. With the deepest, darkest, vilest depths of her most evil thoughts, Konoha hated these creatures and wished nothing but their deaths.


With a feral, borderline psychotic scream the girl lunged forward and hit the beast as it attempted to turn to face her. The result was a fierce stab from her spear that managed to not just pierce the side from the terminal velocity in which Konoha had launched herself with, but proceed to carry the honed blade through the innards of the disgusting beast and out the other side only to slam deeply into the wooden side of the carriage.


The Mockery responded as any would, grabbing Konoha with it's left tentacle due to her being on it's left side, but the oriental's rage, disgust and hatred were far from sated. Reaching down she withdrew her boot knife and began violently slamming it down repeatedly into the trunk of the tentacle that had wrapped itself around her torso, screaming all the while.


"OFF! OFF! OFF! HATE YOU! HATE YOU! HATE YOU! HATE YOU!" she raged as she brought the blade down over and over, the force of her scream causing minute tears in her oesophagus, sending minute red flecks out from her lips as she continued to scream. After what seemed like a lifetime she managed to hew through the limb that gripped her and tumbled down to the ground.


Doing her best to catch herself and land on her feet, Konoha just didn't have the will power in her and instead tripped and fell to her knees before falling the rest of the way down and rolling onto her back, breathing heavy and erratic as her body started to crash. Still, she wasn't entirely out of it as she still bore the where-with-all to slam her knife home one final time, pining the probing 'right arm' to the ground as it had attempted to reach for her ankle.


Leaving the Mockery effectively pinned until it managed to wrench free of her weaponry, Konha rolled to her hand and knees and did her best to crawl out of the way and towards Lady Aleida and Arabella as she started to finally feel the throbbing of her torso where the Mockery had ensnared her.

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL

Spoiler

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The ensuing melee had already begun when Ceril's sabatons dug into the rough path and by the time his longsword was out of his sheath, he was already stomping his way towards the wagons at the rear of his entourage. How dare these fiends target his supplies, how dare they be so cowardly to attack his unarmed personnel. Ceril was royalty and he would not be ambushed off the field of battle in such a cowardly manner. The Prince pushed and commanded his troops that were not directly engaged in combat to form a staggered formation encasing the supply wagons in a protective shield wall. Standing in the middle of his formation, he performed a battlefield scan to account for the Mockery his soldiers had stopped from reaching the vulnerable objectives.


One, two, three, four, five, six. Six?


Ceril spotted the extra combatant much too late. The monstrosity did not stand on two legs, but rather belly up on all fours with disfigured and broken joints that spawned razor sharp tendrils dripping from the wrists and ankles that dug into the ground to support the grotesque figure. The head was twisted impossibly at 180 degrees so the host's grisly countenance still pointed forward and yet still protected the parasite that dug into the vessel's neck. Its celerity was difficult to track as it charged down the hill adjacent from the road, deftly evading missiles and spear jabs. The Mockery tackled the closest defending swordsman, Haudom, to the ground and shattered the man's sword arm in one quick lashing motion. Without paying any more mind to the man crying out in pain underfoot, it catapulted itself off his body, soaring over the heads of the rest who protected the equipment wagon, landing on the tarp and making short work of the thick fabric with its tendrils.


Ameilia, the servant at the reigns of the wagon could not nearly match the speed and strength of this new horror. From behind, the creature lunged and pierced the young girl's heart with its forearm appendages which had formed a vicious spike, a dagger through parchment. The servant was raised into the air, her killer displaying the young girl's silent expression of terror and immense pain frozen in time, for all to witness. As her life faded in the moments that followed, the monster dumped the girl's body onto the ground in a lifeless heap where blood pooled on the unforgiving dirt. Without a second thought, it went back to destroying the cart and slaying the work horse that drew it as well. And at the top of the hill where this new form had appeared, more of the wretched two-legged creatures materialized out of the fog, moaning and screeching -- undoubtedly drawn to the sound of battle, the smell of blood.


Ceril's eyes widened, his lips forming a wordless, "Oh."


He need not even count the devils that formed on the hill, shambling towards them -- he knew it would be too much and he would suffer further loss among his ranks. He was beat and he knew it.


The Prince sheathed his longsword and raised an open palm, shouting as loudly as his lungs would allow, "Leave the cart! Everyone, advance on the road! Withdraw at once!"


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

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

Arabella watched the scene play out in something of a trance. One moment, she'd been certain death was coming, the next, she'd been ripped away from the monstrosity, air plunged back into her as the thing's tentacles unwound from her body. She choked, gasped, pushed hard, away from the creature, aided by the Lady Aleida, who thrust a blade at her with words Bella only half heard.


Clutching the knife to her chest, she saw the woman go after the Mockery, then another... Konoha, leapt into action and it was pandemonium. There had been very few times in her life when Arabella had felt utterly useless, but there had certainly never been a time she'd felt more useless. Her father had trained her to hunt, to fight... he'd done everything within his power to ensure she would never be a victim if she could avoid it, and yet up against those things, she was powerless. Pathetic. In the distance, Bella could still see the others fighting strong, the battle raging wild.


Then it happened. From her perspective, it unraveled like a dream, shrouded in fog... This creature, a new, twisted thing, moved swiftly across the field, towards the second supply cart. For one brief second, all was still, then it struck - pierced the young girl through the middle and swung her high, like a wind swept flag. Amelia Bordel perished instantly, but for Arabella the moment would last forever. Her heart clinched, a desperate cry sputtered from her raw throat and she found herself on her feet.


Ceril was yelling retreat, but Bella couldn't move, couldn't think... For days, she had shared a tent with the girl and never once had she imagined she might be the first of them to fall. She was so quiet, so innocent... and she had gone down so quickly, so unexpectedly. And now they were leaving her there, leaving her behind to be prey for those monsters. Eyes burning, Bella moved at last, sprinting for the cart. Eyes blinded by tears, she scrambled up into the seat and unwrapped the leather thong, before spinning back to Aleida and Konoha, "Get that thing off the cart and get in! Please!"

 

[Chordling]

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[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.

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marnia Belhund -- Esquire -- riding off into the sunse- er, Veil


With a beleaguered raise of the head, Marnie stared at the onrush of Mockeries just beyond the hills. Her heart thudded loudly in her ears as they came barreling towards them, the cart full of Marnia and Edina's supplies still attacked. She could see that Bells was handling the situation better than she would've thought, for a mere servant-- she'd had the forethought to jump up on the cart and try to get everyone out of the fray. Ceril was shouting the retreat, and Marnia seemed lost in a haze as she turned to look with bewilderment at the group of Mockeries heading for the main group. It was as if she were drunk -- the words were reaching her brain, but they couldn't seem to make it to the areas where they might be interpreted as important.


It wasn't until Edina yelled at her to get on Covil that she snapped out of her near-catatonia. She staggered to her feet and gripped Edina's hand, flinging herself clumsily on to the back of Covil. My sword... I forgot -- Too late, they were heading off into the woods and away from the mass of creatures heading after them. Marnia felt sick to her stomach, thinking of the wretched grime on her hands and smeared on her armor where the thing's fluids had washed on to the steel and leather. She could smell it still, the stench of death, the utter insanity of battle. She'd remembered hearing a sharp, short cry somewhere, but she wasn't sure where she'd heard it, only that it was nearby. Everything still passed by in a sort of haze, and Marnia vaguely wondered if something was wrong with her.


Edina's question finally managed to make its way through the figurative fog in Marnie's brain. Marnie leaned her head down, working through her brain for words that could come out of her mouth. Words, Marn, words. What... what can you... say...? Are you alright? The answer was an obvious, resounding no, but it was having a hard time working its way out of her throat. She'd thought of bravely ignoring it and saying she was fine, but she'd only shortchange them if she acted like she was more fit than she was.


Squeezing her eyes shut against the suddenly spinning world, she said, "Dunno, I... I don't feel too good. Head 'urts. Chest 'urts. World's spinnin' a lo'. 'N I feel lik'm gunna retch."


Marnie turned to look over her shoulder, aware of the hoard coming in behind them. Could they outrun them? Was there any way to lose them? Or were they hot on their heels, relentless as dogs?


@Space Cowboy Ein

 

[Poe]

Aleida Gregory

​

It was a single scream that pierced through the fog. A single cry in this wretched place that pulled Aleida’s attention towards the second cart. Up until this point, it had seemed surreal. The monsters like those of frightening tales mothers told their children to keep them indoors at night, but this was no nightmare. This was more than just a deterrent for safety — these monsters, these mockery had a young woman, Amelia, pierced through the heart. Aleida had always imagined death like a slow process, something that requires a few moments of gasping before your eyes shut slowly never to open again. But it was like a hiccup. A singular moment when Amelia stopped and the frozen expression on her face, eyes wide with fear, replaced what a warm and sweet young woman she had been. Aleida had not spoken with her much, but she was one of theirs.


And no matter what happened in this damned fog, Aleida’s duty was to her own before the rest of the kingdom. This was no longer an expedition, it was a game of survival, and glancing back down at Konoha and Arabella, she felt her pain and fear transform into a fire that drove her. She would not lose anyone on this journey, not if she still had breath in her lungs and fight in her heart. “Come on, you’re alright,” Aleida said softly as she came up to Konoha, her body never turning away from the monster…no, shell of a man pinned before them. Swinging the smaller woman’s arm around her shoulder, Aleida used all of her strength to pull her towards the cart and Arabella who seemed more than ready to rid herself of these demons. “Arabella,” Aledia looked up to the young woman with the reigns and nodded, making it clear that she was not joining in the cart. “Follow the prince, do not turn back, just keep moving, do you understand?”


“Go!” she called out as she backed away from the cart, the mockery the had pinned breaking free of the dagger Konoha had managed to pierce its arm with. Before it could make any forward movement, Aleida took the opening to take out one of its legs with her sword, piercing the skin and then yanking the blade back.It would not kill the beast, but it would hold it down long enough for Arabella and Konoha to escape with the rest of the party. Aleida’s fingers came to her lips and she let out a shrill whistle, only to be followed by the rapid hooves of Rowan against the muddy ground. By the time she managed on his back, she sheathed her sword and pulled her bow to the ready, arrow nocked and eyes narrowed as they rode after the rest of the entourage.


But the sight of Amelia burned in her mind as she rode on towards the road.


The first of their own blood had been shed.


(@Veirrianna Valentine @Elle Joyner)

 

[korigon]

Kepheus Kerberos


Withdraw?


It was not the word itself that stunned Kepheus. He had heard it many times on the battlefield, a commanding cry to retreat in order and haste. Instead, it was the possibility that Ceril Ambryn would try to retreat from a fight and flee to safety to confused him. While definitely the most logical choice, Kepheus was stricken by an overwhelming desire to stay and fight, ignore his orders, and die in battle. He was tired, bored and exasperated at all these damned nobles, with their sentimental ideas and ambition for more power. If they had withdrawn the previous night, the unfortunate servant would not be dead. Neither would the workhorses. But now, thanks to a floundering judgement call, they would probably continue trailblazing their merry way until they all died some way or another. Better to die here and now instead of waiting however long it took for them to perish.


His viewpoint was pessimistic, but soon changed as he saw a Mockery lurching towards him. Perhaps it would not be so noble to die in battle after all, especially if he would turn into one of those things. Forgotten was the bleak daydream as Kepheus realized the party was moving, quite rapidly, away from him. A loud, vulgar curse escaped his lips as he began running straight toward the wagon, followed slowly by a lumbering band of Mockery, painted and decorated by a red liquid. The brief thought Kepheus entertained of retrieving the corpse of Amelia was quickly forgotten. He laughed, sharply, as he came to the conclusion that he could retrieve the corpse of the servant, he'd just have to kill a few 'Mockers' to get the full body.


A grim smile plastered on his face alongside wild eyes and red cheeks, Kepheus reached safety in a throng of auxiliary. The horde still followed behind him, making horrible screeching noises as they went. Perhaps he would get a chance to fight after all.

 

[Pequeno Burraidh]

Konoha had run herself into the ground, literally, and the real trouble had yet to even start. Her body yearned to give up, to lay down and sleep and just close her eyes and make so much go away. She was barely able to even perform the basic function of hauling herself into the cart next to Arabella, and even then it was only because of an errant flickering in her brain in between what controlled her base autonomous functions and the part of her mind that drove her towards survival.


Collapsing in the most secure way she could across the seat and back of the cart she only just felt the comfort of her spear laid next to her, by who she did not know, but she would have to thank the person later. She could feel her body numb as all but the flickering of her mind shut down from the onslaught of exhaustion in the wake of her ferocious yet brief bout of anger and adrenaline. Still, the flickering of pain rippling through her torso told her she wasn't dead, at least not yet anyway. But what was this? Was this what they had to expect, these Mockeries pervading the woods and the land? Would the fog just expand someday and swallow up the next town, and the town after that, and the town after that?


She wanted to care, but a cough torn from her throat and a surge of pain flaring at her side drew her attention as she forced her eyes wide and did her best to see if everyone was fleeing the same as they. Instead she stopped at Arabella's face, a face that more than likely would have been mirrored by herself if she wasn't too tired.


With fear ruling the day it couldn't have been easy, and summoning the most from her body as she could out of what was left she lifted a hand a reached over to rest in over the top of Arabella's.


"It is alright goings, and told you, stronger than you are realising," she smiled weakly, really just needing sleep to recover from her exhaustion, "You wake me, in case trouble is happening. And if trouble is happening again, find yourself to Master Prince Ceril and Master Prince's Lady Aleida. That way you are protectable by myself as well."


And with that Konoha leaned her head back and let herself drift off, the exhaustion finally catching up to her. All she could hope in her state was that she'd be allowed enough time to rest before Arabella would call her to arise.

 

[Coin]

PRINCE CERIL


Ceril hated this. Retreat was cowardly and every drop of his Ambryn blood screamed in defiance at his decision to withdraw his troops. On the battlefield, it was common practice to cull one tenth a cohort's manpower through execution if the retreating division made it back to allied territory. The commander would be the first to face judgement. This was no battlefield, though; this was a killing ground. Ceril refused to march his troops into their hapless demise for something as silly as a "courageous" death that would be a meaningless loss of talent and potential.


He had already lost a servant and a whole supply wagon to the Mockery -- he wouldn't let them take any more from him today. On horseback once more, Ceril rode to bring up the rear of the escaping entourage. The Prince knew they were following him, malicious screams piercing through the fog and stampeding steps closing in fast, despite the hastened and panicked pace of their own. Only once did Ceril find the courage and grip tighter the reins of Ohry and take a sidelong glance over his shoulder and behind him. It happened so quickly and and so suddenly that Ceril had to double take and ensure what he was seeing was indeed reality. The number of pursuing Mockery was thinning. Every few moments, Ceril could barely hear the sound of a soft thud against raw flesh and suddenly a beast would soundlessly drop to the ground and become once again enveloped in the fog. Someone was killing them.


Soon, even they knew it. The pursuit ended with the remaining handful just stopping and turning around, hunting a hunter. Ceril, was not one to question miraculous acts, and so he rode on. Surely there must be someone or something killing the Mockery they had left behind but who was to say it wouldn't kill them too? It was a risk the Prince was unwilling to take.


(@BeyondPoetry, @Veirrianna Valentine)

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

Konoha's words were kind... they were encouraging, but Arabella's hands shook no less, her heart pounded no less, as she seized the reins and, following Aleida's command, drove the horses forward at their greatest pace, following unhesitatingly after their Prince.


Later, evening fell, and with it the flood of adrenaline brought on by the day's events. Every muscle in her body hurt, her bones and joints feeling as if they'd been pieced together wrong. Most profoundly, the worst pain was not a physical one, but the mental strain of all that she had seen and endured. She had said very little as they road swiftly away from the nightmare, and fell entirely silent as camp was settled later, her mind reeling, reliving every moment in torturous detail...


But it was in setting up her own tent when it truly began to hit. Amelia was gone. They had lost their first companion, but she had lost much more than that. She had lost a friend. In only a few short days, they has forged a bond that undoubtedly would have lasted a lifetime, but there would be none of that, now.


Also on most of the minds of those gathered round the campfire was the loss of a supply wagon. What they had was meager enough, but it had hit hard, losing a forth of what they'd need to survive. Still, with morale lower than ever, there was little left to do for the night but eat, drink and try desperately not to consider how inevitable their failure felt...


Unable to stomach much herself, Arabella assisted where she could, but somewhere along the way, she'd lost focus again. The tankard of wine shook in her grasp, the vibrant burgundy sloshing back and forth. She'd about come to her wits end by the time she arrived at the red haired woman. As the liquid poured out, she could see it in her mind's eye... that horrible thing, so savage and bleak, Amelia hanging from it's spear-like arm, her soft blue eyes cold, empty, rivulets of blonde hair stained red, her arms so long and gangling, dangling, limp at her sides. So much blood... impossible amounts of it, pouring from her lifeless body...


The tankard fell from Arabella's grasp, followed by the cup, tumbling wild, wine hurtling, splashing across Gwendalin, her seat, her things.

@Musician, @Effervescent

 

[Chordling]

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[Effervescent]

Alexander Vallane

​

The events of the day weighed upon Alexander as he moved his way through the camp, hand gripping the hilt of his sword as he slowly weaved through servants and soldiers going about their business. Now that the adrenaline had passed, his body felt considerably fatigued. His muscles and joints ached in protest of each step and motion, but he carried on to wherever his feet would take him. Within reason, of course, for the knight did not have a death wish. Dark eyes scanned through the dense fog to memorize every detail he could actually make out. He found himself longing for his childhood comfort, and as he turned his gaze to scan through the group of weary survivors in search for Lady Edina, he instead stopped at the sight of Gwendalin.


Alexander could still recall the sound of the strained gasps of air and fervent choking from the warrior's throat as the Mockery tightened its hold around Gwendalin's neck. He was thankful the worst was over, at least for now, and he walked toward her with concern. She had suffered a likely painful injury, and while he wasn't sure how he could help her, he knew he at least wanted to make sure she was well enough.


Just as he neared, a wine-soaked Gwendalin struck a servant girl. Pausing only for a moment in shock, Alexander suddenly realized Gwendalin had quite forcefully hit Arabella of all people. His eyes widened, and he strode forward to intervene, placing himself between the two women as he stared at Gwendalin through a stern expression. The sudden display of violent punishment jumped his heart in fear and remembrance of events past.


"Explain yourself, Northwode," Alexander commanded. "We can't afford dysfunction."


@Musician @Elle Joyner

 

[Elle Joyner]

Arabella Dane

She'd realized what she'd done mere seconds after it happened, but no amount of desperate flailing could right the vessels and in horror she stared at her unintentional handiwork, her small form quaking as the fearsome Lioness met her eyes. There was a raw venom behind those vibrant golden orbs, striking Arabella with profound terror.


"I am so sorr--" She started, voice quivering, but the words were cut off with the resounding crack of Gwendalin's hand against her cheek. Stumbling back, Arabella cupped a hand to her face, her eyes stinging with tears, heart hammering in her chest. At the corner of her lip she tasted blood, and with the tip of her tongue gingerly investigated the small split. Ironic to think with the mess of bruises she was turning into, this latest hurt worst of all. Perhaps because it was the first she rightfully earned...


It was Sir Vallane who interrupted, his coarse baritone like a blessed Angel's song. His chiding, however, brought fear to Bella's gaze and straightening upright, cheeks flushed, she shook her head forcefully. It wouldn't do at all to further invoke the woman's ire... and really, she had gotten what she'd deserved. If the situation could at all be defused, it wouldn't be done by bringing to light the inappropriateness of Gwendalin's outburst.


"Sire, please." Reaching out, her hand clutched gently at the knight's forearm, "It... it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention and I lost my grip. I humbly beg your pardon, Miss Northwode, I..." Lowering her gaze in abject humiliation, she released her hold on Alexander and stepped back, "I will excuse myself, at once."

@Musician, @Effervescent

 

[Chordling]

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[Effervescent]

Alexander Vallane

​

The tone was set, and as Arabella and Gwendalin explained themselves in the unfortunate accident, his jaw clenched in frustration. His noble birth once again was used against him, and now his position in the argument was lost. Alexander scanned over the set of armor dripping with red wine and shook his head somewhat in defeat. There was nothing more to state, and judging by the cold visage adorned by the fair warrior, he felt as though there was no chance for reasoning. Had she always been this way? Before he would let his mind wander into the past, he motioned towards the group of servants.


"Find Miss Bay and see if she has anything to help clean off the wine before it sets," he said, and turned away from Gwendalin to address the meek servant girl. "We need everyone to stay focused, Miss Dane," he said in a softer tone. "Mistakes aren't something we can allow in the Vale. Take a moment to collect yourself and find something to help Gwendalin clean her armor. It's imperative that she has it in good condition. If Gwendalin refuses your help, then you are free to find another task."

 

[Chordling]

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[Pequeno Burraidh]

Konoha had largely been asleep until they neared where they had set up camp. The sleep had done much for her overall fatigue, bolstering her endurance for when she finally had to rise and take herself off the cart. She specifically didn't do much after wards either as she meandered off to find a secluded spot to sit whilst removing her over clothes and leaving herself in a pair of trousers and a sleeveless light tunic so she could wash the gore from the Mockeries off her garments.


It also allowed her to fully see the splotchy bruising she'd gained from the beasts she'd fought, and with the sight of them came much musing from herself as she mentally looked over the events of the day. Mainly she was focusing on her rage from the fight. She didn't know she'd had the mind or capabilities for such fighting, and hadn't expected things to go as they had. She didn't even entirely know where it had all come from either, just that it had suddenly existed, and she'd fed it's fire in her mind as she had assailed the creatures. Even now when dwelling on the creatures she found that her fear from the morning was replaced with a hatred and disgust, and in her mind she imagined them all burning like the meat had from before. It was enough to bring a slight smile to her face.


So lost in thought was she that she hadn't even noticed Ceril until he took a seat next to her, his cloak reminding her that she was sitting in the cold with next to no decent coverings against it. Furthermore she was offering him wine. Turning her torso for just a second she pulled as old fur trimmed blanket out of her pack, given to her from Ser Maximillian, and draped it around herself as she realised she needed to give her Master, who brought her wine, and not the other way around, an answer.


"I'm okay," Konoha rasped, only just realising how hoarse her voice was from the vocal exercises of the day. Furthermore her memories of the day filled her mind, and she could feel that the 'pleasant smile' she had attempted to give Ceril was nothing more than a pained grimace, "Or... no. It has not been good day. Amelia is lost to life, Mockeries exist at all, I have done poorly in serventing properly."


And she had. Breaking orders multiple times, following where she had been ordered not to. Defying Prince Ceril. Her thoughts paused as a slap echoed in the night, and looking up Konoha saw Arabella reeling from a slap from Gwendalin. Almost instinctively in her drive to want to protect the closest person she'd found herself to Konoha tried to lift herself and step forward, but was stopped before even attempting to rise as the jarring movement caused pain to ripple through her torso again, but thankfully less sharp than before. It was in that second, listening to Arabella, a 'lowly servant' , being treated, that Konoha knew part of what was bothering her so much. Something that she'd already let cross her mind many times before but never dwelt on, that was only compounded on with Amelia's death.


"It is not proper. Bella has been much very strong, reigning horses, kept our cart. Faced Mockery with no help, then drove cart after. And does not have a choice. You chose to be here, I chose to be here, they, knights, choose to be here. Not Amelia, not Arabella." taking the proffered jug of wine and pouring herself some, a thing that she wouldn't have in most other situations, Konoha continued, "Choosing to serve Master Prince Ceril. That is choice I made in life, because saving it is what you did, even if by unintentional reasons. I have not much understanding of your world here, even after living so long here in it. In lands of mine I was taught serving was proud job, and it was choice people made. It's not choice here, but expectation because mother or father was servant as well. In lands of mine that is expected of slavery. Keeping family line in one role or caste with no escape away. No thought giving about welfare save for good individuals until they are killed, but now everyone one is caring for them."


Taking a breath and another swig to ease the pain in her throat and wipe away the angry tears she'd built up Konoha looked into Prince Ceril's eyes, something she, by role and expectations of a land where servitude was treated with no dignity or respect, had never done, her memories and dreams, or perhaps deluded nostalgia, from her childhood lands where everything was better than it was here coming to forefront in her mind.


"When returning. Not if, but when returning, Prince Ceril is what I would wish to call you. If need be I will pay to remove self from service, but I wish to find path of my own for my life. I serve out of honour, have enjoyed serving as well. I always found ensuring safety of yourself exciting. Always mischief mongering and the like. Very much fun for a simple job," Konoha smiled slightly, this time a real smile, far from the grimace she'd attempted earlier, "Amelia's loss has brought to front my dreams to find my place of my unhindered choices though. I would, too, see Arabella's releasing from service, aslo paid for by self if needed. Not having freedom to chose in life is not a free or fair life, and she has much will that she seems wanting to be freed, even if she does not do much to show it."


Looking around at all the faces, bothered and worried as they were about their futures, Konoha eventually settled on one specific face that told her she knew what would be best for Ceril.


"Also, should be telling Lady Aleida how you feel. Just because you are prince does not mean you should let self be unhappy and it is already see-able to all. That is all said outside role as your servant though Master Prince Ceril, and serving to you will be continued until we find ourselves home again. Also, it is understood that I have said things may be out of line, and will take any punishment seen fit. It is just... I do not feel in self that this land we find us enshrouded in is lands for titles and servants and kings, but lands for compatriots with surviving needed more than aught else."

 

[korigon]

The fire burned bright and intense as it danced with flickering movements. The camp was mostly silent, apart from the soft clatter of spoons in bowls and slurping noises from some of the less refined auxiliary. The death of Amelia Bordel was trapped in their head, the first death of their already small party. Some whispered prayers of protection, others tried to recall the joyful, though short-lived, moments they had experienced with the servant. All were sorrowful, save Kepheus. A rather indifferent look sat upon his face as he raised a spoon toward his mouth and gulped it down. A few trickles of the soup found solace in his scraggly chin, before he swept a well-tanned hand across his frown face to remove the remaining bits of food.


The frown deepened as he watched Gwendalin harshly slap the servant girl. In Kepheus' experience, if you treated a servant poorly, you ended up with poisoned food. Arabella Dane most likely lacked the spine to do such an act, yet the possibility was there. He would surely do it, but then again, he was not a sickly-looking, pale-faced stick of a human. His eyes turned away from Gwendalin as he grew bored with eyeing the servant-slapping redhead. Instead, as his eyes drifted 'round the smaller circle of people.


"What I wonder," Kepheus coughed out, grimly eyeing the people around him, "Is how many other people we will lose as we go to the heart of this damned fog." To his left was Jarit, his face bruised and battered but alive, and to his right sat Aleida Gregory. "It is a shame the servant died, but we must get over that. What I wonder is what will happen when someone actually important falls to those 'Mockery', presuming by some ill chance they do. Shall we plunge on through this hellish landscape to our death, and perish like so many who have gone before us? Succumb to the monsters that lurk here like an insignificant servant? Does such a fate await us?"


@Poe

 

[Poe]

Aleida Gregory

​

Aleida had made no move to converse with anyone else since their retreat from the Mockery. Everyone seemed a bit in their own head and rightly so. Young Amelia Bordel had been slaughtered in front of them and tossed around like a sack of flour. They hadn't even time to recover her body for a proper send-off and instead ran from the scene, leaving her behind. A part of Aleida ached so deeply for the woman, for her family that would learn of her loss upon their arrival, that she could not help but just meander through the camp when they arrived. At first, she’d stood for a moment or two outside of Ceril’s tent trying to will herself the strength to go in but she did not have the words. She knew the responsibility he felt for these people and there was no sense in discussing what they already knew. Amelia was dead and there was no saving her now.


But she still could not manage to get her feet to move, not until she felt the familiar warmth of a campfire behind her and instead brought her focus to one of the spots on the far side of the fire, wine in hand, as she let herself alone with her thoughts. Ceril had emerged and sat next to Konoha but Aleida kept her eyes on the fire, even when Arabella and Gwendalin were at odds. She was so tired and her body ached so deeply that she contemplated never rising from the spot again and everyone was so tense. Of course they were, how could they not be? One of their own had died and the danger had become so real that it was hard to ignore or liken to a nightmare. They were living through hell and it would only get worse from here.


But Kepheus’ voice beside her had set aflame her last frayed nerve. It was one thing for there to be petty fighting amongst the entourage but for Kepheus to openly mock the Prince’s order into the Veil was the last bit of trivial nonsense she could take. “Amelia is dead, not just some servant,” Aleida’s voice was piercing in the air and over the crackle of the fire as she chose her arguments very carefully. She was not often serious, but the man’s words irked her to a point of frustration. “And the last I recall, you were given the option to retreat before we entered the Veil, Kepheus. Your own lack of faith and morality is your own business, but a life is a life and you dare sit here and liken her to something of such little importance?”


“And I do not think you understand that we are in just as much danger moving forward as we would be moving backwards. Regardless, I will not have you sit here and doubt the capabilities of this entourage because it is our job to investigate this anomaly and protect those we can and we can only do that job moving forward.”


“But please, if you have other ideas, enlighten me.”


@korigon

 

[Doctor Jax]

Marnia Belhund -- Esquire -- outside Pratchett, recuperating





The squire had had a rough day -- let's just leave it at that. The minute it was obvious that the Mockery would cease pursuing the horses and remaining supply wagon, Marnia allowed herself a little rest, letting her head droop to touch the back of Edina's armor. She'd meant to close her eyes for just a mere few moments, perhaps catch her breath and make the world stop spinning...


... and somehow she found herself in a weird half-awake state, drifting in and out of consciousness as they finally arrived to the place where they were to set up camp. Wearily, the squire had gotten off the horse with a small curse and helped put up the tent, though her work was a little bit bleary and more than a little slow. Everything hurt, from crown to toe-tip, and the nausea and dizziness did nothing to help these matters. When Marnie had finally got herself into the tent and laying down on her bedroll, she immediately drifted off to a fitful sleep.


For a large part of the remaining day, she slept, from fatigue and injury, though whether the former or latter was the main culprit, there was no telling. She had not even taken off her armor, perhaps because it made her feel safer. It had, after all, saved her life. Without it, she would've been crushed and pummeled to death easily by the Mockery. It was a wonder she could sleep in it, though.


When she did wake, it was already nightfall. Most of the others had had dinner by now, and Marnie barely had the energy to sit upright. She shakily began peeling off her armor, wincing as she moved her arms. Definitely a few broken ribs. As the armor came off, it was becoming more and more apparent that her beating had been severe. She was dotted with bruises, mostly around the waist where it had gripped her and smashed her into the ground, but there was a nasty head wound as well that was starting to swell over her eyebrow from where her head had made an acquaintance with the road's cobbles. Dried blood crackled as she winced and lifted her shirt to get a better look at her more pressing wounds.


The mottling around her torso was a blazing blue and purple, worst on her left side. She could feel her ribs grate as she breathed. Things were going off at a great start.


"Not exactly... a sight for sore eyes..." Marnie quipped darkly, looking out the open tent door to the others sitting at the fire.

 

[korigon]

Kepheus Kerberos


Kepheus clasped his hands together, fingers intertwining as he stared at Aleida. He adopted an expression, a mixture of unpleasant and amusement, as stared at the woman. So naive, so young. This girl knew nothing of what he had been through. She was a spoiled noble with a sharp tongue and a pretty face. For a moment, he was tempted to just let it slide. Ignore the remark and walk away. It was something he had done many times, and the technique had kept him alive and well. But it was almost as if she was taunting him, sarcasm dripping in every acrid word as she spoke. Kepheus managed a sigh, and then decided to speak.


"To me, her life was of little importance. When she saw the 'boogeyman' in the house, she ran behind a wagon. Where was she when we fought for our lives? When I stabbed the beast in the back and Gwendalin ran it through? Let me tell you where she was- Behind a tree, pissing herself in fear. You think I'm supposed to respect that? A servant without a spine? Well let me tell you; I did respect her despite her fleeing like a coward. She could have left at the start, but she didn't. And she was human. I knew that when I saw her innards splattered across a wagon. But being sad, being moody, will get us nowhere. She is dead. Sooner or later you learn to forget the faces of the slain and become indifferent."


A sharp breath shuddered out of Kepheus as his face became more flushed, and he continued speaking, voice crisp and apathetic as if teaching a child.


"I have stated several times, I am no coward. I seek the good of my kingdom, not my own goodwill. And every-time I have suggested sending someone back, you've vehemently opposed my suggestions.There was a man I knew several years ago, a grand knight and a man I respected. That was a man whose opinions I valued and paid heed to. Then one day, he left alongside several other knights. He was one of the first explorers of the veil, and he never returned. He was Thomas Gregory, your father. Perhaps he is alive in this hell-on-earth, or perhaps he has passed onto the realm of the dead." Another short pause. Kepheus began addressing Aleida again.


"What I must know, what I must know," He continued, his voice unusually hoarse and bitter, "Is it the good of the Ambryn crown that you seek, or the good of yourself? For I will not waste my time arguing with a hustler who has daddy issues if it be the latter choice."


@Poe

 

[Poe]

Aleida Gregory

​

It was maddening to watch Kepheus stand there and scold her like a child, as though he had any more right than she to dictate was was morally right and wrong within the Veil. The worst part was, she knew what he thought of her. What else would one think seeing an unwed noblewoman parading around with the Prince into dangerous, unexplored territory? But it was the manner in which he carried himself, in which he stood there and glanced down at her like she was nothing but a young and pathetic girl trying to rationalize their journey. While it might have seemed like she blindly followed Ceril, it was because they had known each other since they were young. She knew him better than anyone else, knew the dreams he held for the kingdom and she fought for it.


But then there was that name that caused the hair on her neck to raise. Thomas Gregory. He had known her father as so many in the kingdom did but the mention of his name near stole the breath from Aleida’s lungs. Kepheus had crossed a line, his words speaking the thoughts Aleida could never bring herself to truly grapple with. There were no words for the blow he had landed, her last nerve near snapping as he stood there with his flushed face and sharp words.


“What a bitter old man you are, Kepheus,” Aleida finally spoke after a beat of silence. Her tone was nothing but even as she kept herself composed unlike the man before her. “To seek the good of your kingdom means to protect and cherish those who inhabit it. To care for the masses over the individual is a noble pursuit but the kingdom would have no meaning were it not for the spineless woman you claimed was of little importance. We can agree that being sad and moody will not get us anywhere, but there is a time and a place for grief if you have heart enough to feel it. You are indifferent but I am not.”


“If you were fighting for the good of the kingdom, what possessed you to run back into battle alone? Perhaps I am the only one who still thinks us an entourage, but should you see yourself above the lives of those around you, then you should keep my father’s name off of your lips for he would never respect a man who did not protect his own. And despite what you may believe, we are all you have, we are all each other has in this Veil.”


@korigon

 

[Space Cowboy Ein]

Lady Edina Maplecroft





Edina hurt, just like everyone else. But she had done well enough to not be hurt so bad like her squire, or dead, as things currently stood. They had taken their first casualty, a servant, but still a casualty. Even in the field of battle, those who handled the logistics were important. So losing even one servant would heft a heavier load onto the rest. Still, she found a silver lining in the fact that they indeed still had their forces held together if not by slings and stitches. For the remainder of their escape and until they reached the rest of their group, Edina commanded Marnia into silence. Given her condition, Edina saw no harm in pitching their tent on her own for once. And she was even gentle enough to carry the young woman into the tent to let her rest. For the moment she had to tend to Covil to make sure any injury he had received wouldn't fester. She still needed him to be strong and ready for whatever would lie ahead. Once she had confirmed that her steed would not be keeling over Edina made her way over to the growing campfire.


Despite her pain, and her fatigue, and her sudden impulse to vomit after her near death experience with one of the Mockery's, Edina knew she needed to eat. And so she did, but she ate fast, and took a smaller portion with her as she disappeared back towards her tent. It seemed that an altercation had taken place behind her, but she wasn't going to stop it. She wanted to be alone, and it was an added bonus that Alexander would be tied up in it as well. They were all exchanging words but she was out of earshot before hand with Marnia's dinner in hand. As much as she wouldn't admit it, or even show it at the very least, she cared for the young woman. She reminded Edina a lot of herself when she was younger, and much more free. And even when she was squiring herself. Of course, she was easier on the young girl that her own mentor was, but then...Marnie was a much more frail specimen than Edina.


But of course, think of the devil and she shall pop her little head out of the tent. "Get back in." She murmured before crawling into the tent after the squire. "You shouldn't have moved so much to undo your armor.." She paused to look the girl over, she really had taken quite the beating. She frowned and handed her a plate of food. "You look like shit......eat this." She said before finally beginning to undo her own armor. "Once you've finished eating, I'll show you the finer points of applying self aid. Even when in such....dire straits you should always find a way to keep yourself from falling apart." Eventually she had gotten out of her armor and chainmail, and couldn't have felt more relieved as she lay onto her back, staring at the top of the tent. With a long sigh she closed her eyes and searched for the right words. "You did good out there...but you aren't built for taking a beating. Remember, your most important qualities...."


@Doctor Jax

 

[korigon]

Kepheus Kerberos


She called him what? A bitter, old man?


Kepheus found himself shaking with exasperation as the words repeated themselves in his head. He was twenty years her senior, and had just called her a young girl, but he certainly wasn't old. The cold remark hurt, much more than her questioning of his morality. In front of him sat Aleida, looking relaxed and cool, despite her words carrying a ruffled tone. Without a whisper, Kepheus reached down and clamped a chain-mailed hand around her neck, lifting Aleida's light frame well above the ground. "If you ever call me that again, Aleida," Kepheus spoke as he scratched the back of his neck nonchalantly, his words quiet and harsh. "I will kill you."


He released Aleida onto the ground with a thump, slowly removing his gauntlets as he resisted the urge to just slap the whelp and shut her up.


"That's the second time I've done that in my life, so congratulations for pissing me off good enough to make me do that." Kepheus said, his intense voice slowly growing louder. "I've fought in wars for my country since the day I turned fifteen.You think I can afford to grieve when I've seen my friends die everyday for thirty years?" You think I can be a well-adjusted human when I've been passed over any recognition for two decades? When I've been ignored and scorned and thrown a few extra coppers because I was born to a poor farmer? The only thing I'm good at is killing. You think that is the recipe for a happy life?" He paused to lick his lips before continuing his tirade. "I will protect my company with every breath left in me, but if you believe I will mourn every passing in this veil, you are dead wrong."


@Poe