cult of the damned

"I wander through these barren lands

Path of the bare and raw

From the frozen world within my soul

To the rocks I walk upon" - MS

  Two months had come and gone since she convinced the warlock to go north with her, the mistake in that choice still rode like a thick blanket on the air of the house.  Ixinane had been quiet about what had transpired, unlike Dante whose childishness had yet to catch up with her growing body. 

The low winter sunlight rolled over the snowy Alterac hills, pushing long shadows back from the pines, scattering across the windows of trappers' huts, shining off fresh-frozen streams.  The mouth of a cavern gaped to catch it, swallowing a swath of brightness to paint one inner wall.  Just inside the cave, Echo crouched opposite in shadow, careful not to disturb the fragile beam nor what it revealed. 

Near the floor of the cave, poking up among oddly arranged little piles of rocks and sticks, four lumpy animal feet were drawn.  Massive, rounded toes sported painstakingly-placed claws, spindly legs winding upwards over blocky outcroppings to meet a sausage-like body. From the body a huge shape was drawn, rounded at the front, coming to a point at the end.  Above, where the sunlight licked into shadowy crevices, a head, long-snouted, perked triangle ears.  The drawing was childlike and scrawled and yet somehow recognizable: A fox.  A magic fox.

The crisp wind rolled into the cavern, sweeping its dank depths and dusting away yet more bits of charcoal from the image.  In her bare hand, Echo held two thick sticks, heavily charred at the ends, the points dulled.  The wood had gradually warmed in her grasp. The last time the sticks had been held Kjerstin's young niece had wielded one, and Echo's sister the other.

She entered the mess hall just as the tables were clearing.  Two hands clapped together from among the rising soldiers, a sharp enough sound to snap her to attention.

"Hey, there she is!"

Her eyes focused on Elmo as he sat with his cleaned breakfast plates, a smile on his face.  "I said I would be back."  With a groan and a clatter she fell to the bench beside him, pushing her hands through her hair and trying to keep her eyes open.

"You get him?"

"Yeah."

"You bring him in?"

"Yeah, marched him overland hobbled and gagged about four miles. It took a while."  She pried her eyes open, focusing on her benchmate.  "Elmo, I watched him report to his superior.  His superior was -" She paused, looked around.  Elmo's eyebrows bristled.  "You know how I was watching the Lord of Vision yesterday?"

Give me your Trust, said the Priest.

Gwrtheyrn couldn't seem to get comfortable in the pew, small splinters digging into his back however he turned.  He stared at the stark walls around him, trying to avoid looking at the elf in front of him.  "It wasn't your fault, Gwrtheyrn.  There isn't anything you could have done to save them."

System Status—functional.  Hello and welcome to your new consciousness.

Warning: Impediment to:

Motor Ability: Composition—Saronite.

Auspex: Composition—Linen.

Me Dad used to say, “All cats are grey at night.” The cold, black night washes over the hill overlooking Brill and everything moves in shadows. Everything is the same at night.  It used to be my solace.

Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?

Can I trust her enough to throw my life away for the cause?

There is something about her. Something strong, something true.

Warrant be damned if she does the work of the light, the work of Good.

Evil will know fear from her, from others, from I.

Branded a traitor but soon they will see.

I did this not for me but for them.

SI:7 Case #: 535212

Murder: Sharpbeard, Tongar

Investigator: Agent Shelli Anthania

I responded to an incident at the mage tower today.  After questioning the sole witness to the event, a mage who claims to have stumbled into the office room as it was…except for a missing corpse.  He said he did nay have a chance to identify the woman on the floor before being rendered unconscious by another figure in the room.  There was a substantial amount of blood on the floor and evidence of a body lying where the man claims he saw it.  There were also footprints leading from the puddle of blood to the exit which confirms the man’s story.