311Please respect copyright.PENANA9X6gWRlaCF
311Please respect copyright.PENANAXXDN523x66
The Musketeer strode determinedly into the ruined keep of Haltoth, drought with corpses. He’d sent word for alchemists from his homeland, and thus had they arrived as well. They were already at work on the corpses.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAosYcLQlze0
One of them approached the Musketeer, saying unto him, “My liege, you’ll be pleased to know that our progress is speeding.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAM6aoQwZ0Nw
“How many?” The soldier asked, as the lead alchemist walked beside him, towards the gates of the keep.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAS6LcETkDdK
“We’ve Identified five of the nineteen cadavers, with two more well on the way.” The man answered.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAYcu1bJrdWr
“In the quartermaster’s log, which of them had children?” The Musketeer asked.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAj8w2TFzOj4
“Well, I’d assume most of them sir.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAp4g3V0YYoT
“Which had children living here.” the soldier clarified.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAsq5qq8Nzoc
The Alchemist was silent for a moment, “Only one, my lord. Sir Letifer Mourse.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAZzfgeDn5KP
The Musketeer ended his stride before the gates to the hall.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAsDQvZyDDZO
“Have the quartermaster ready my soldiers.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANALiEkpezxdz
____________________________________________________________
311Please respect copyright.PENANAhxIUEDM0p0
“So a Scholar of Mortem has surfaced.” Letifer reasoned with himself.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAXIm0o4XBGY
“The Herald of Pestilence, as she is known.” The Earl responded.
311Please respect copyright.PENANArvncdZBcdu
“If you don’t mind my asking, who is this Herald, my lord?” Asked Letifer.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAcj1EE8mGh7
The Earl turned to him, explaining, “The Herald of Pestilence was taught to wield decay, and disease, as weapons. It is she, with the aid of her Leper Knights, who raise the Rott-kin en masse.” The vassal answered.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAvPGbITpion
Letifer turned, staring into his blade, seeing his warped visage in its metallic surface. Not turning back to his compatriot, he asked, “Why does she beseech me?”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAMdEV1ck5P9
The Earl turned to him, “The Fell-kin are the root of all necromancy. The Lich Queen herself did study them incessantly, to her discovery of artificial necromancy. Hence, you would hold immense scientific value.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAXezPP4Xb0j
Letifer was silent at this.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAec3Liz2nbk
“I take it the Herald of Pestilence is not the only one vying for this.” Letifer responded finally, turning back to face the Earl.
311Please respect copyright.PENANApsdgm2J2Vg
“Indeed. There are others who will beseech you. However, at this time, the Herald is the most prominent threat. We must prepare.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANA4TOim1A1mq
“My lord, have I not fought enough wars?” Letifer asked, terrified at the idea of marching to battle once again. He knew not what happened at Haltoth, but he knew that it had been horrifying.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAA4USNMvyim
The Earl gazed a gazely stare towards Letifer, as he asked, “You do not feel pain nor do you have need to fear death, so what is your hindrance?”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAWTWstG1rv2
“I assure you my lord, I do not mean to make excuses.” Letifer replied, a hint of fear in his voice.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAD7y3cy9Dz9
“I do not seek to upend your argument. Only insight.” the Earl explained, “So tell me, what is it you fear?”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAB0FcuDQm8S
Letifer paused for a few moments.
311Please respect copyright.PENANA1XO66b63Ux
“Blood. Viscera. A sea of gore, into which I may sink. The clash of blades, the cries of pain, the red blur that becomes my sight. It has followed me to and beyond the grave. And I see no way to be rid of it.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAIw1t70y7D5
There was another silence.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAcr0LvgF4nW
The Earl sighed, “I have no intent to send you to war. Of that you can be assured.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAy92SpOXxbd
Some of Letifer’s fear was lifted then.
311Please respect copyright.PENANA8X8Sh73p9f
“Though I fear it may be sent to you.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAGSFGx2usLB
____________________________________________________________
311Please respect copyright.PENANARuqq8QRtJv
311Please respect copyright.PENANADjqIvgx91q
Shadow and flame. A strange combination. On one end, the entirety of the township had been engulfed in a venomous shroud. A noxious fume that felled the living, and nourished the dead. Hower, this all engulfing fog was not alone in the air. Smoke rose from the rooftops, as fire danced through the streets.
311Please respect copyright.PENANA6TRC7Ysk6B
The Musketeer waited at the doorstep to the vassal’s manor. What remained of the town’s shieldsmen had barricaded themselves inside, along with a plethora of refugees. But the true, blood red fruit of this dying tree, was yet to be seen: The Earl Aleric Dascule.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAMgXh2Krral
He had not been seen upon the battlefield, which was to be expected with his age. But it was well known that this was a mask. A veil to hide his true essence. And it would soon be torn away.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAZBznQqNFDg
It was then that among the distant cries and clashes, there could be heard the clopping of hooves in the mud. A leathery black steed strode through the street, as the Rott-kin made way. And its rider, a warrior clad in a blackened cloak, and armour of leather and steel, of the same shade. One hand grasped the reigns, while the other curled around the hilt of an ornate and corroded sickle. But the face was the darkest of all, for it was unseen. Veiled, by a leather mask, moulded at the end into a wicked beak, studded and complete with glass irises. It was a visage unmistakeable, the grimm masked face, of the Herald of Pestilence.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAmvVkRKXVPN
As the Herald dismounted the steed, greaves clanking against the ground The Musketeer knelt.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAnz3lc0SWTo
“My lady.” He growled, as the Herald approached the stone steps.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAZCMhmetjKi
In a low voice, the Herald spoke, “What news of the Horror?”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAuLOl3oMIid
The Musketeer answered, “Barricaded in the manor my liege, near as we may tell. We’re ready to storm it, when you give the order.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANA84cQ8Ri51F
“And what of the Phantom?” the Herald asked.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAjPSZ7One2O
“He’s fled to Fereldin. I’d planned to dispatch him former to today’s incursion, my lady.” The Musketeer replied, as he began to arise from his knelt position.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAM5Y5ZAtp41
“See to it that you do.” the Herald responded, as she cast open the manor doors, and what futile barricades lay behind. “Go. Spill the blood he commands.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANAUwN7YBKnaL
The Herald proceeded into the manor, as the Musketeer led the Rott-kin, pouring through the doors beside. Screams could be heard echoing through the ornate halls, as the Herald of Pestilence found corpses littering the banquet hall. Their work was nearly finished. However, one deed was left to be done. And it was easier to be said. The undoing of the Earl Dascule, proved quite difficult. For he was nowhere to be found.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAGMU2hoknIU
At seeing that the assault was fruitless, the Herald fought to contain her growing anger. It was quelled however, when her pupil returned to her.
311Please respect copyright.PENANA1Eut0mczvg
“My liege, I bear word.” he said unto her.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAErTZs2lrZ3
“Speak.” she replied.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAKyqBzbJG8a
“A letter was found, in the Earl’s chambers. He’s been summoned to council, at Fereldin.” The Musketeer explained.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAPzney51eM2
The Herald was silent for a few moments.
311Please respect copyright.PENANAoocyCOGpnG
“Go, take your warriors to the city. I’ll be upon you in mere days time.”
311Please respect copyright.PENANApABQ9h9fR3