The smaller off shoot of the mob didn't look anywhere near as powerful as the mass of people that had been present prior to the mages causing mayhem. If anything it was a sad shadow of what could have been. But it was all that Etzos seemed to have left at this point, there were few hopes for the city left with everything that had happened. It was no understatement to say that the Don was powerful. Even in such a rotten situation he had managed to pull through some small victories and set the battle onto an even ground of sorts. This much smaller group of men was soon to find out that the situation was far from in their favor.
The darkness loomed out before the group as they left a city embroiled in mayhem and catastrophe. It was almost enough chaotic fury that it would have made Syora proud. Just a simple poke from a pair of mages and the entire city was fighting itself, it's focus shifted from the Don to the "more important issue" of getting rid of the mages in town. With that the tension between townspeople and magic users only seemed to grow higher and higher. The world around the group of raggedy fighters was all around dyed black. The stiffing lack of light and heat could drive great men insane after enough time.
The group moved deeper into that darkness until they came across a new group. This one barely had a few people in it, almost not enough to be called a group. "And who would the lot of you be?" The farmers accused raising their weapons as if they expected those before them to say that one of them was the Don.
***
During the escape into the grate one of the dead bodies, or better said dying bodies, was able to slip down tumbling to the ground. The Capo moved forward and leaned down next to the corpse before glancing at Gamaguchi. The pair locked eyes for a moment. Gamaguchi had covered his mouth and nose with a small neckerchief but the Capo couldn't seem to care less about Val's warning. "Very well," he finally said after a long moment of pause, standing up and moving back next to Gamaguchi.
"Sir, if you would follow me I used to... run this area often. I believe I can still find us a way out," he said completely disregarding the remaining members of the party.
"Let us be off Arloe," Gamaguchi returned. Emboldened by the actions of his ally he lowered the cloth from his face and strode forward with confident steps. He took a moment to pause and glance at the sad remains of the the group they'd joined. "It's quite apparent that the Don isn't actually down here. If you are truly cowards who had no intention to sign up for something like this it would be best if you scurry back home. If you actually have any intention of finding the Don then it would be best to come with us. Either way we need to stick together until we get outside of the underground. Better yet until we escape the city, it's madness in this festering hell hole and anyone that stays in here will only be worse for the wear," Gamaguchi huffed dismissively. Though his tone was formal, his words higher class and well articulated, there was something almost street in the way that he moved and with the way his voice formed the words. With his piece said he turned on his way and was off.
Eventually after a couple hours of stumbling through dimly lit halls and avoiding the various "guards" patroling the underground they were able to find an entrance of sorts that led outside the city. Not so much outside the city as it was outside the wall. "I used to belong to a group that would use these tunnels to smuggle goods," Arloe whispered to Gamaguchi having no intent for anyone else in their little rag tag group to hear. Unfortunately the pair had lost themselves in their attempts to escape and had wandered close enough to Val for the volume of his voice to be heard. Originally they had given her looks of disdain for being in the shape of an avriel, but slowly over the course of the journey they had come to ignore her. That or they were keeping an even closer eye on her than the other sad saps this group had left. Certainly someone as collected as she would seem like more of a threat.
"Well, I suppose this is where we should part ways," Gamaguchi started as they got as far away from the madness of town as possible. However his words were quickly halted, cut short in his throat as a voice sliced through the darkness as if it was a knife.
"And who would the lot of you be?" A man asked. He seemed to be 'leading' a group of farmers and peasants. Though leading was used in lose terms. If anything he seemed to more be a symbol than an actual leader. From the looks of him he was one of the toughest in the group, he was certainly the only one who had any combat experience save for a red haired man off to the side that had a look of anger and passion painting his features. However he never would have been chosen as the leader without some kind of power struggle, he looked like an army of horses had been taken to his face before he joined the group. The least to say he didn't look too pretty.
"Well you see my good sirs," Gamaguchi started trying to weigh his options. "I was just looking for my pet!" He quickly spoke with a kind smile. "He would be so very good for hunting idiots out in the woods. You know with all this confusion over the Don, some people have just got it into their heads to go against their better judgement and take the road more dangerous," he purred leaving his intention towards who was a fool rather vague. The peasant mob however seemed to take offense to this thinking that it was implied they were the fools.
"A shame," Arloe said with a sigh and a frown. "Should we?" He asked and Gamaguchi nodded. The Capo pulled a small whistle out of his shirt and gave it a powerful blow. The petite brass creation glistened in the light of the torches held by the mob. When blown the whistle gave no sound, at least not a sound that could be heard by the human ear. Something else apparently did hear it because a horrible cry sounded in the distance, feral and dangerous beyond compare.
"What in he name of Faldrun's fiery balls was that?" One the peasants gasped as they all took a hesitant look out into the endless sea of darkness.
"That? I did mention I was looking for my pet," Gamaguchi said with a dismissive wave of his hand.
A massive beast leaped from the darkness. It seemed to be some horrible creation born of dark magics. Some terrifying concoction of various animals. It's body shifted showing roots in cat, wolf, and various horrifying beasts. A triangular head complete with sharp fangs and two great, big green eyes leered at the group of peasant fighters. It tread forward carefully and tilted its head as a pair of large almost dragon like wings spread. It reared backwards, flapped its wings, and gave the blood curdling noise that had been heard deep in the forest little more than moments prior.
"Isn't the power of a mage something to behold?" He mused with a smirk. "A power I'll never have myself, but a power I'm proud to always have at my disposal. Who needs immortals when you can make your own? I did tell you fools I was looking for my pet, have fun dearest!" Gamaguchi laughed as the giant beast jumped for the peasant farmers with its teeth bared.
The man then turned back to what remained of their group. It seemed everyone but Val had taken the chance to flee. "You should really be coming with us," Gamaguchi said to Val, his eyes narrowing a fraction. Arloe was suddenly behind the woman with an arm wrapped around her and a dagger pressed flush against her neck. "I believe some would call this kidnapping would they not? This isn't quite to the definition though. Just a, precaution, for the sake of something Arloe noticed," Gamaguchi said with a kind and gentle smile. It was disgusting how easily the look passed over his features.
"Come now, we have places to be before my pet finishes his meal."
***
Winhelm glanced at Kovic when the man appeared. He wasn't sure if he wanted to trust Tirta or Remna considering both's considerable lack of notoriety. Be there no bad on their names there was also no good to speak of the truth of their words. He took in Tirta's words carefully trying to gauge what he would do, that was until the half breed spoke up. "It is indeed the truth that I've done a couple of jobs with this man. I haven't had time to study his fighting abilities in as great a detail as I would prefer for such an expedition, but I have gotten to see his ability to think and he's got a great mind. I can promise that at the very least he won't be a burden to our goals," Night said picking her words carefully. The situation was slowly becoming more and more dangerous so the entire group had to weigh their words and actions with caution. It was almost like the very air was tense, prepared for battle. That's at least how it felt to the half breed. Despite the chill of the currents they somehow felt stale and choking. She had a bad feeling about what was to come.
"Very well, you can come along with. But we've only got three horses..." Wilhelm said quietly trying to take the situation into consideration.
"Oh, but sir," Remna jumped in ,"my horse is big enough for two people. Surely Tirta wouldn't mind coming over here and sharing. At least I wouldn't mind. Men do scare me though..." She added in the last part sheepishly her face flushing slightly, almost like the action was an explanation as to why she didn't offer Kovic to ride with her. She lowered her head trying to feign shame, though it was calculated and controlled it was well done. She pulled off the action well, it would take at least an expert of detection or someone with similar skill to pick up on anything being wrong. And so none with the willingness to speak up on the strangeness saw anything. If anyone did they seemed to think it better to hold their tongue.
"Very well, Tirta get on the horse with Remna," Wilhelm said. By the tone of his voice alone there would be no arguments. Once Kovic was in the saddle and Tirta was secure behind Remna the small expedition was off. Night of course took to the skies. The movement was fluid as the large pair of midnight black appendages spread wide and launched her into the closest updraft. It was a bit harder for her to find such drafts. She couldn't see wind current the way pure bred avriel could, but she'd gotten to the point where they were easier to feel. The gentle ebbing flow of the wind rushed over her skin and she could tell the exact direction the gust was heading. The skies belonged to her, she was no longer the pathetic and vile spawn of a "greater" and a "lesser" race. She was something entirely her own and she was powerful enough to demand respect if she so desire it. Of course it was never in her nature to demand something she believed she had to earn. She followed orders as they were given, for the glory of the city she would use every skill at her disposal. For those who couldn't protect themselves she would fight, just as her lady had taught her. The thoughts of the snake immortal emboldened her actions.
That didn't change how hard it was flying in the dark. All she had to guide her was a lantern that her foot grabbed to for dear life and the light sources held by her comrades below. For the most part it was a pure sheet of eternal darkness, a slight shiver ran through her. A shiver that wasn't caused by the cold. A sudden cry pierced the darkness and hit her ears. It wasn't natural, in all of her 23 years living in the Etzos area, heck living in all of Central Idalos itself, she had never heard such a cry. A large creature burst out of the darkness and a rush of flame lashed out at the half breed. Her wings clamped shut and she dropped the lantern. Perhaps flung was a better word. Sadly her foe didn't take the bait of her trying to escape with the lantern, they rushed right after the plummeting half breed implying they had a way to see in the dark. The difference between the two was that Night was good at free falling and even better at the recovery, her wings shot outwards right before the ground could reach out to grab her, she flew for her comrades a warning on her breath. On the other hand the large thump that came into existence right behind her was the beast that couldn't handle such movements, it had been forced to try and make an emergency landing. Apparently it didn't do a very good job.
The Jacadon growled, the becomer quickly becoming angry at her failure. "Carlos," she whined in an angry echo.
"There, there, Anita. We aren't here to hunt birds, we're here to scatter them. A job we did rather well," Carlos purred in return to his beloved. It was true. Remna had whipped the reigns of the horse as hard as she could sending both herself and Tirta spiraling somewhere into the darkness. "Perhaps we should go find them? Remna can be so eccentric the silly woman. Certainly she'll do something stupid if left to her own devices for too long," Carlos said with a sigh.
Anita growled slightly but nodded spreading her wings again.
"Wait you!" Wilhelm howled. He launched his weapon at the Jacadon trying to take off, only for it to nearly hit Night. The half breed gave off an angry noise as she flung herself to the side and lost any chance of catching them. Carlos just laughed.
"Cocky aren't we? Don't worry dears, we'll meet again!" Anita crowed as she zoomed off with a beat of her wings. Night had effectively launched herself into a bramble bush in an attempt to avoid getting slashed. Kovic and his horse had not ran thanks to Wilhelm being quick enough to grab the reigns when the thud was heard. Remna was not so lucky, or perhaps she was more fortunate her goals considered.
"Great, just great," Night said pulling herself out of the bush. She was glad the darkness obscured most ability to see. She wouldn't have liked anyone to noticing the furious scowl and blush she wore. She was too far from the light of the torches to be noticed, praises be the Chiren and he fickle love-hate for the half breed. Now it was just Night, Wilhelm, and Kovic.
Tirta wasn't likely to be doing much better. Remna spurned her horse off into the darkness until the poor beast tripped over something and sprawled forward. "Well wasn't that fun," the blonde said with a laugh as she jumped to her feet with perhaps a little too much vigor. Her voice sounded far more chaotic than the sweet and playful tone she had been taking around Wilhem. "A shame I only got one. But your such a pretty one! Tell me kitten, how old are you? You're so pretty, I'd just love to keep you! Maybe Daddy will let me if I beg real sweetly and bend over for him like a good little beast. If I kneel and beg then maybe he'll let me have a little treat! Would you like to stay with me kitten? You could be my kitten, I promise I'm a good owner. I'll only be mean if you're a bad girl," Remna brought her pinky up to her mouth and nipped at it, a little flush of excitement rushing to her cheeks as her smile grew so large her face might split in two. The scene itself was disturbing. But the Empath finally showing her true colors started to tug on the tangled mess that was Tirta's mind trying to find what to cut and what to weave in. Tirta would be a lovely pet when she was through! She already had so many cute, obediently little qualities. She was like a dog, but puppy was such an ugly word when one hated dogs with a passion. So Remna preferred to call things she was fond of kitten instead. Remna already had a few kittens, but just a couple minutes with the pretty doll and Tirta had made herself a favorite.
"Remna, we're suppose to be working," a voice reminded angrily. Carlos appeared, he and Anita lit up by the light of a fire that danced upon his command. Anita still had not changed forms again, she needed to save whatever energy she could. But perhaps that was for the best. Jacadon Anita was far less terrifying than "human" Anita. Her original form though she kept the totem over time had become a little distorted. Or perhaps she had always looked mad.
"But Carlos! Don said that I could keep one," she said, her thoughts being pulled from her work. She turned her attention to Carlos and she retracted from messing with the strings of Tirta's mind, giving the woman a moment of reprieve.
***
The Don looked at the new comer with narrowed eyes. There was caution in his step. His size and attitude betrayed him within this group of strangers. Who else could be the Don besides this massive fat man who walked with the confidence of a king? His bulk was undeniable, in fact he looked like a Carowa that had its legs cut off. He waddled around on stout legs with a short neck and a pin head. If it wasn't for his massive center mass he'd almost look built well. But with the massive amount of fat jiggling from his body he wasn't all too appealing. The back brace he mentioned seemed to keep his fat from jiggling. As he turned the metal once against ground together and made a wretched crying noise, as if the brace wanted free from the fat man that was certainly breaking it. Before he could open his mouth and actually respond to Nero a cry came from out of the woods.
A small group of bounty hunters had managed to free themselves from the mess in Etzos. Bearing weapons and horrible looks on their faces they fell upon the small group of those that had come to protect the Don. The fools who had come to try and "protect" the Don had no idea what they were in for. As such they were easily slaughtered.
"Damn, caught up rather quickly didn't they? At this rate they'll chase me all the way too... No it's too dangerous in there. I have to try and get away," the Don muttered to himself quickly taking a couple hesitant steps away. His awkward waddle didn't get him very far though.
One of the fighters took notice of Nero and lunged for him. Looked like it was going to be a fight.
