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Three days had passed since the mist men had swept over Ne’haer like a storm. Mortals were swept up and cast aside like dead leaves. And while the number of those that resisted dwindled, the shadow creatures only grew in numbers.
Burying his chin in the cup of his hands, Rafael stared into the dim nothingness. The attic he’d hidden in was as safe a spot as any. The hay stacked around him provided a sense of security, though he knew there was little safety to be found anywhere in the doomed city. He did not know who the house owners were, or if they were still alive, nor had he come across any of his companions from the Willow Woods outpost. Given the dire circumstances, they had presumably perished or gone into hiding like himself. From his stay at the house he'd only managed to discern that its owners had stashed all kinds of junk in the attic. An old rusty anchor, a long chain, a rotten old chest, several thick pieces of rope...the list went on and on. No weapons unfortunately, nor some ancient scroll to tell him how to combat the scourge.
Through a narrow gap in the woodwork of the rickety home he’d caught glimpses of mist men lumbering through the streets, in search of prey. Once, he’d even witnessed one being born, and the memory had haunted him ever since. Fog had gathered, drawn to some invisible source from which a formless blob emerged. What had first appeared a human child soon grew a body too large for its head, and arms too thin, and dark, inescapable eyes. Hunched over and with both arms wrapped around itself, the pained demon uttered soft whispers in some incomprehensible language. At times the huddled shape twitched and groaned. Rafael had stopped watching after half a break, fearing that the maturing creature might spot him.
So far, he had survived four encounters with mist men. But for each one that he’d sent back into the shade, they had taken a chunk of him with them. Two had only managed shallow scratches, one across his left arm and one across his side. Deep enough to tear through his tunic and draw blood, but to shallow to cause any pain outside of a faint stinging. Another one had bitten down into his shoulder before he had struck it in the eye. The bitemark had started to color blue the day before and was now shifting into a desaturated purple, he tried not to think too much about it.
But it was the stab into his hip that was giving him the most grief. He couldn’t manage anything but limping without a searing pain shooting up his right leg. And so he had been fated to wait out the onslaught in a stranger’s house, with only the moans of the mist men and a hump of stale bread for company.
Though his eyelids grew heavier by the trill, he couldn’t catch any sleep. Even the slightest noise set him on edge. He hadn’t let go of his sword for a whole day…
And then he heard it. His eyes grew wide, and he shifted himself further into the corner of the dark, damp attic, all the while trying to make as little noise as possible.
Something, or someone had entered his hideout, and he thought he heard it moving upstairs…
Last edited by Rafael Warrick on Wed Nov 30, 2016 9:22 pm, edited 2 times in total. word count: 582
Life is a dark comedy, only you're not in on the joke.
They were relentless in their assault and any form of movement or noise only appeared to attract more. The creatures of shadow seemed to become disorientated outside of the light, making most houses safe as long as people remained quiet and tried not to move around too much. Malcolm had been on the road travelling from the Salt Lake back to Ne’haer with his two mortalborn companions when the three of them had been overrun. Godric’s ability to extend a protective light of shield had saved them in those first few days, but they had grown tired, and even with Avari taking her turn to mimic the ability, it would be dangerous to use their powers too much.
Having finally arrived in the main city, it was only then they realised the extent of the damage, and having been a knight for so many years, Malcolm felt duty bound to help any stranger they came across on the road. He could count twenty three in total, a dangerous number seen as Godric and Avari combined could only protect ten each without putting too much strain on their gifts. Forced to juggle who fell under their protection at any given time, Malcolm had become the target of most of the shadows.
He cut them down with his longsword, a mix of slashes and stabs that dealt to the men of mist fast and effectively, but he had not gone without injury, not by a long shot. They ushered some of the party into a house and closed all of the shutters over the windows to kill any light inside and left the people with what little water and food they could spare before moving on. Another house, another few people down and within two hours the group’s numbers had returned to a party of three.
“What about this one?” Avari called, “we can't keep going, Malcolm! We need to rest!”
The knight looked across at his companions and nodded, both Godric and Avari were suffering from a bad blood-nose and bloodshot eyes that came with the use of their powers. They ducked inside the house and Malcolm finished a group of shadow men off at the door before closing it with quiet care.
Inside they found an old couple dead in their bed. The man looked as if he had suffered a heart attack while the woman had been gored. Malcolm closed the bedroom door and soon enough the smell in the rest of the house became bearable. He took Avari’s hand and with the gesture, stole a nasty cut from her right thigh that bled through his trousers and was quickly wrapped.
Godric had touched the handle of the front door and looked up towards the ceiling. “Someone's here,” he whispered.
Malcolm told them both to wait while he checked out the rest of the house and later found himself in the attic, pinning a lonely figure in a dark corner of the crowded room with his eyes. “Rafael?”
Last edited by Malcolm on Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 506
Rafael tensed upon hearing muffled voices and pressed his back deeper into the hay, as if trying to vanish into it. The noises intensified before a second voice sounded. He pricked up his ears trying to decipher if the low whispers were the insane mutterings of shadow man, or perhaps a figment of his imagination. The past few days had been maddening, but he refused to believe he had lost his mind so soon. And that only left one option.
Gritting his teeth, he readjusted his grip on his sword. There wasn't enough room to swing the blade at its full length, nor could he stand reliably on his feet. Instead he remained seated on the floor, knees drawn up to his chest and his blade pulled back as far as possible. He'd have to stab hard and true, there was no room for error.
The stair leading intk the attic creaked under the weight of heavy footsteps. A tall shadow emerged, towering over him and reaching him with a few big strides. Rafael clenched his blade and prepared to stab the shadow creature right through the-
A shivering sigh escaped him and he only just in time remembered to relax his arms and drop his weapon. The deadly steel thudded onto the woodwork.
"Mal- Malcolm?" He answered in a trembling voice. By all accounts, Rafael wasn't supposed to be there. He could scarcely imagine the veteran's surprise upon finding his squire tucked away in the corner of an old, rickety little home in the middle of Ne'haer. And for his part, Rafael had never imagined to come across his tutor here. To his shame, he hadn't even considered the possibility! After all that had passed, he hadn't thought much about the Knight, and whenever he had, he'd only started to feel miserable and abandoned.
"You had me there," he sighed quietly as a lackluster smile broke through. He stretched out his arm towards Malcolm. "Can you help me up? I hurt my leg. Can't stand."
An icy tingle shot up through his stomach and into his throat as he realized the many confessions he would have to make to Malcolm. For a bit, he wished a shadow creature would emerge and take his life, then at least he wouldn't have to suffer through the embarrassment of confession.
Last edited by Rafael Warrick on Wed Nov 30, 2016 9:28 pm, edited 3 times in total. word count: 401
Life is a dark comedy, only you're not in on the joke.
Once the boy was done explaining things, Malcolm looked at Rafael’s leg and passed him a canteen of water to drink from. “You look terrible,” he smiled, happy to see that while Rafael had been injured, at least he wasn't dead. “Drink some of that.”
Malcolm helped the lad down the stairs and took the iron sword from the ground to pass down carefully, realising he could have been its most recent victim if he wasn't more careful. Godric, a scruffy look sailor with a rough beard and eyes the colour of the sea, led Rafael into the sitting room, allowing him to lean on him as they went. Avari was preparing something in the kitchen and before long a small meal was set down in the squire’s lap. It wasn't much, some fruit and nuts, the only thing she could find that hadn't gone off like the meat and bread.
They kept their voices low, quite sure they were safe inside but unwilling to risk finding out otherwise. Avari wrapped the cut on Malcolm’s leg after cleaning it and checked a small scratch on the back of his head that he had been complaining about. “It looks all right,” she told him.
“It really stings.”
“I think you'll survive.”
If Rafael had been tired, the three of them looked exhausted and it wasn't long before Godric fell asleep in the chair he had found himself in, his meal hanging precariously from the edge of his lap. Malcolm whacked the man with the back of his hand and shook his head. “We can't sleep yet, we may need to move,” he insisted. “Rafael how bad is that leg?” The captain looked at the boy before glancing over at Avari, who he knew had the ability to mimic his own powers, and a number of other abilities that could possibly reduce the size and pain of the wound.
Last edited by Malcolm on Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:37 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 327
Nourished with water and a simple but effective meal, Rafael sensed some clarity returning to his mind. As though a part of it had been washed clean. Malcolm's companions looked worse for wear. It could be considered a small miracle that all of them were still standing, and still awake. While he ate, he considered breaking the silence to tell Malcolm why and how he had ended up in Ne'haer. But then he thought better of it. As long as the knight didn't ask, there was no point in telling, and Rafael hadn't decided yet how many parts truth and how many parts lie he'd serve the knight.
While Malcolm had his injuries tended to, a small smile graced Rafael's lips. There was some relief in knowing that the master swordsman himself hadn't remained entirely unscathed either. Yet there was no denying that Malcolm was the better fighter, the man's injuries were relatively mild from what he could tell. They'd better be. He looked like the only person capable of beating back a shadow beast at this point.
"I can walk...with help. But not very fast," he said through gritted teeth as he tried to move his leg. Soon enough he gave up and put his emptied bowl down besides him. He blinked slowly before his eyes met the Knight's.
"Malcolm..." he started in a tired whisper. "I think we should stay. We can move tomorr-"
Just then a high-pitched shriek pierced the air. For a trill, Rafael thought one of the shadow creatures had spotted them, but then the shriek turned into an agonizing cry. It sounded like bones being broken and flesh being rented apart. Then silence.
Alarmed, Rafael shot a glance around the group. "What do we do?" he urged in a coarse whisper.
Last edited by Rafael Warrick on Wed Nov 30, 2016 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 312
Life is a dark comedy, only you're not in on the joke.
Every hair on his body stood on end, there was no getting used to the terrifying screams that followed a man’s final breath. Somewhere outside a shadow creature was close and it had just claimed another life. “Keep calm,” Malcolm mouthed, voice barely audible. “Avari,” he gestured to Rafael and the woman stepped forward, taking a knee in front of the boy.
“This won't hurt you a bit,” she whispered before closing her hand over the young man’s wound. Her eyes fell closed and she grit her teeth momentarily as the wound was transferred to her own leg, leaving Rafael as good, if not better than new. The wound looked ten times worse on Avari, and the pain was just as bad. The woman bowed her head and knelt in silence for a time before Malcolm got up and helped her to her feet. “I'm fine,” she insisted.
“Stay close to me,” he encouraged.
Avari nodded, blue eyes turned red with the curse of her actions, using their abilities took a lot from them and the effects were instant. Blood drew a thin line from her nose to jaw, and she held her sleeve against her nose to try and stem the bleeding.
Malcolm drew his sword and looked at Rafael. “Well lad, my friends here are very tired, we've been moving west all night, I'm counting on you to protect our backs while I clear a path. We need to make it to the docks, it's about four streets southwest of our current location. No sudden movements, and no screaming, can you manage that?”
Godric got up and made his way to the front door to check if the street was clear or not. He turned around and pointed to the back of the house. “We might need to use a window,” he told them. “The street is loaded with them after that scream.”
Last edited by Malcolm on Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 322
The endless nightmare had slowed his mind. It wasn't until Avari stepped forward at Malcolm's request that Rafael got a good look at her. Despite the exhaustion on her face, she looked young, and he found it quite impossible to guess her age. For a brief moment, his eyes flitted towards where they shouldn't. If Avari and Elyna were anything to go be, he certainly wouldn't mind meeting more of Malcolm's female friends. Yet another reason to try his hardest to survive.
Her fingers grew cold on his skin as his burden became hers. It didn't hurt really, but the electrifying tingle that passed through him was far from pleasant. He had half a mind to stop her, but by the time he opened his mouth, the deed had been done. While Avari slumped under the cost of her magic, Rafael was too pre-occupied marveling at his restored knee to take notice. It wasn't until she insisted that she was fine that he knew the opposite was true.
Despite her earlier protest, Rafael seized his chance to hook his arms under her armpits and hoist her up. It was the least he could do. "One day you've got to tell me how you came by that power," he mumbled, "I wouldn't mind having such abilities myself."
As soon as she stood wobbling on her pins, he turned to grab his sword and gave a curt nod towards Malcolm. "I can manage."
The news Godric brought was a setback, but nothing more than that. They still had a way to get out, though it would require smashing the largest window in the house which was sure to draw some unwanted attention. Since his three companions seemed reluctant to do so, he did the honors himself and smashed the back window with a stray chair. "After you, ladies," he motioned towards the gaping hole.
His own smile was only short-lived as he heard the shadow creatures stir at the door near the other end of the room. A grimace screwed up his face as he clutched both hands around his blade. "I suggest you hurry up," he managed to add before the first of the shadow creatures came smashing through the front door, its pitch-black mouth dripping with vaporous saliva.
It leaped forth, but Rafael matched its speed as he jumped back. A dozen tutors had tried and failed to unlearn him his style of dodging and side-stepping. It was not the Knight's way to fight, to endlessly jump back and give the enemy space. In all his years training, there had only been one man who'd encouraged him to use his small and slender form to his advantage, and that man was Olyfer who'd brought his swordsmanship to new heights. He didn't have the strength or endurance to keep hammering and hacking at his enemies. Dodging allowed him to tire his enemy before striking with surgical precision. And so he did.
Last edited by Rafael Warrick on Fri Aug 25, 2017 3:53 pm, edited 2 times in total. word count: 510
Life is a dark comedy, only you're not in on the joke.
“Go, go, go!” Malcolm encouraged, throwing his tabard over the window ledge so that Avari and Godric did not cut themselves on the remaining glass. The knight turned to help Rafael, cutting a second shadow in two before going through the window himself.
Outside the back streets looked relatively clear, but Malcolm knew that never lasted long. They waited for Rafael, trying not to make any sudden movements or stand in any of the fallen glass that might attract more of the creatures. Godric helped Avari, who seemed more concerned about Rafael than her own wellbeing, and Malcolm went ahead, making sure the way was clear. He turned back and waved to the group, repeating this process until they were clear of the residential zone. The docks weren't too much further, in fact he could see the water from their current position.
“If we survive this, perhaps I can teach you my tricks,” Avari smiled at Rafael, knowing there was no way she could deliver on such a promise. She stumbled on the uneven road and gasped, bowing to clutch her knee. The sharp intake of breath drew the attention of some of the nearby shadows, and Malcolm made quick work of them.
“The docks are just down there,” he pointed. “Can you get us there, Godric?”
The pirate looked weary but nodded all the same. “Let's go!” he raised a hand and the four of them fell under his protection, nothing would be able to stop them or slow them down now.
Malcolm took over from Godric, helping Rafael hurry Avari down the street, the woman wrapping an arm around each of them. When they made it to the docks, Avari pointed. “There! That's my friend’s ship, we can hide out on there until the danger has passed, or sail around the coast to Bayward and hope they aren't experiencing the same problem!”
“I have a feeling they will be,” Malcolm told her. “But I'm sure we will be safer away from the mainland for a while.”
“Agreed,” Godric nodded, “I'll make sure the sails are ready, you just watch my back.”
Last edited by Malcolm on Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:38 pm, edited 3 times in total. word count: 360
Rafael ducked as the second shadow creature clawed at him. In the same move, he rebounded and stabbed his blade straight through the shadow’s midriff. A harrowing scream erupted from the shade’s formless mouth before it dissolved in a puff of dark smoke. From the corner of his eye he saw Malcolm jump to his aid, taking care of a shadow to his left that would’ve otherwise cleaved through him like a hatchet through a twig.
He wasn’t given a moment to celebrate his victory however as another creature leapt forth to try and flank him. To his own surprise, Rafael was fast enough to catch the attack on the guard of his blade and countered with short, swift strikes.
Wisened by the many Trials spent in the perpetual nightmare, Rafael didn’t wait for the third creature to strike. He vaulted out of the window and landed on the cobblestone at the other side. Instead of chasing directly after Malcolm and his companions, he spun around, just in time to send the third shadow back to its maker as he lobbed off its wicked head.
A whole horde of shapeless shadows twisted and turned within the house. Their number was so great that they appeared to be a single, thick cloud of black smoke, ever shifting in form. Arms and insect-like legs grasped out of the window. Too many of the shadows were trying to give chase at once, and so none succeeded. For a moment, Rafael gawked at the monstrosity. The form changed, morphing into something far larger.
He muttered an indiscernible curse under his breath before whirling around to join up with Malcolm and the others, who stood waiting for him. While the shadows twisted and morphed into a sum far greater than its many parts, Rafael rushed after Malcolm as his mentor cleared the way. The very moment Avari stumbled, Rafael came up at her side and slung her arm around his neck to offer her support. The weight with which she leaned on him spoke volumes about the seriousness of the injury she carried for him. Within the privacy of his mind, he vowed he wouldn’t abandon Avari’s side until he could repay her for her sacrifice.
While Rafael had been somewhat proud of the skill with which he’d opposed the shadows, he couldn’t help but feel like a complete fool in comparison to Malcolm’s skill. The experienced knight cut through the beasts with prowess and it occurred to him then just how lucky he was to be under the tutelage of someone of such great skill.
Protected by Godric’s spell, or whatever the blasted man had done to shield them, they reached the ship safely. But it was too soon to be relieved just yet. As soon as they had made it aboard, Rafael left Avari for Malcolm to deal with as he rushed to help Godric with the ship. While he had no experience sailing whatsoever, it didn’t take a genius to understand that the ropes that tied the ship to the pier needed to be undone before they could sail away.
With trembling digits, Rafael sprinted from knot to knot. By the time he’d reached the second to last one, a deafening scream tore the air apart. The noise was unlike anything he’d ever heard before, high and piercing like a shriek, yet laced with thunderous rumble. The sound of creaking wood and crumbling stone followed. A new monster had awoken in the distance, though it didn’t seem to have noticed them yet.
Rafael shot a concerned look over his shoulder. “Please tell me they can’t swim,” he whispered to Malcolm.
Last edited by Rafael Warrick on Fri Aug 25, 2017 3:54 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 628
Life is a dark comedy, only you're not in on the joke.
Malcolm helped Avari settle on the deck and rushed to help Godric and Rafael undo the bindings that kept them anchored to the dock.
Godric wound in the anchor and called to Malcolm, “he's a good lad this one!”
“And so he should be,” Malcolm replied, “he's of noble stock.” Malcolm shouldered Rafael and kept his voice low. “You and me both, son.” It would be a pain if the shadows could swim.
The tall knight looked back over his shoulder and felt the hairs on his arms bristle as he took measure of the monstrosity that had formed behind them. For a split second he thought he might have been the only one of them that had seen it, but the look on Godric’s face soon assured him he wasn't alone.
“Holy Son of Vri,” the pirate took a step back. “Get on the boat!” He waved at the pair of them, and rushed to the edge of the boat to hold his hand out to Rafael, who was nearest.
Malcolm sheathed his blade, trading it for a dagger on his belt. He put some distance between himself and the ship after pushing it away from the stone dock, and was punched from behind by one of the creatures. Momentarily winded, Malcolm crawled away from the ground with his hands and turned to slash at the beast, cutting it a new mouth. He scrabbled then, sprinting towards the boat with just enough distance to build up the speed that would enable him to close the gap between the edge of the dock and the side of the boat. He held onto the rail for dear life and tried to get his footing as he was helped aboard.
The giant of a shadow, in the meantime, had spotted something closer, and swung at the ground to attack whatever it was. “Sail!” Godric pointed, coaching Rafael through the quickest seafaring lesson of his life. “Undo that rope, and let it run until it's taut!”
Avari turned the wheel, steering them out of port. “Malcolm!” she called, it seemed they had company on the ship.
The knight took up his sword again and went to her side. “We need to stay quiet,” he told her, “or that thing is going to see us.” He pointed with a look, but didn't dare breathe another word.
Last edited by Malcolm on Tue Oct 08, 2019 1:38 pm, edited 1 time in total. word count: 398
