Morning's Liturgy The winding mountain path that separated Navale from the junctions which connected to the rest of the Kingdom of Excelsus in Secare were hard-traveled. Four figures trod heavily upon the cold ground, scarce hours after they'd arrived in the township. Much time had been spent haggling and bossing, and throughout it all the four – that were in truth twelve, for their comrades had been sent off to assist elsewhere – had argued back and forth amongst one another for what should be done. Benefits that could not be ignored ultimately won them over, a payment that was not in exa but in much-needed supplies. So here they stood: Dominic Martinov, with his weapons holstered and a hard expression on his face, scanned the crags and steep hills as though they would surrender his quarry through force of will; Corvus Lotharius, whose greatbow was already in his hands as his vorax partner, Catello, sniffed heavily at the ground to scent for those they had been sent after; Ignis Animi, whose drone rose high into the air and began to sweep for clues as she clutched her cloak tighter to herself in the cold afternoon; and Dante, who knew when people deserved help and had seen the pleading eyes of the townsfolk who wished to see their fellows returned safely. They had been dispatched to locate four men who had gone missing attempting to set up defenses in preparation for the next onslaught of demons and devils that would inevitably arrive any day. Such a task was well-suited to the ranger and mechanist, and the other two had invited themselves along for their own, ungiven reasons. The pass ran long and narrow at points, before widening into valleys that sprawled into spackled woodlands littered with thick brush. Amongst those they were sent to find, the Captain of the guard was in their number. So here they stood, where it began, half-staring at the sheer cliff-face which separated the pass from the open shoreline below as they readied themselves to find the lost men – and whatever else now lurked in the pass to have stopped their return – and earn their keep for the township. With them, the town healer and apothecary was bundled tightly. Krista Borealis was not of the violent persuasion, but a storied life of healing left one blunt and unmoving in their demands. She had insisted – then demanded, when insisting hadn't worked – that she come along to ensure the safety of the men once found. Who knew what injuries they had incurred? She was a mender of no small skill, and would not be denied even when warnings had elevated to threats. Finally cowed, they had allowed her to accompany them on the premise that she would not intrude upon their own affairs. The bundled enlil was thick in the plumage, large puffs of hazel-brown down obscuring much of her face, leaving only coal-black eyes and bright, pale skin visible along the bridge of her nose and across her brow. Wearing a thick winter coat and a long skirt, her talons dug easily into the rocky terrain, bare as they were. Little did they know, that eyes were already upon them. Fish-hook claws and snapping teeth bared for a moment, before retreating into the dense brush that dotted the sides of each narrow pass and wide plateau. [ 556 / 556 ] Note
|
Last edited:
