18+ Thy Flesh Consumed

[MabFaerie]

Katelle watched the events unfold around her in a stony silence. She wasn't entirely sure what she should say, if anything at all. Her gaze flickered between that of Therin and H'Sikar, only once watching as the Kajiit female rose and left without another word, apparently deciding that she didn't care much to linger here after all. This puzzled Katelle more but she let it go without protest, it wasn't as if she'd properly known the figure at all, and seeing her abruptly enter their lives only to abruptly leave them didn't cause her nearly as much alarm as perhaps it should have.

Not bothering to cast the event a second thought, Katelle angled herself slightly towards Therin, casting him a worried glance that silently asked 'What do we do?'.

 

[Therin]

Therin slightly frowned at H'sikar's response. Perhaps the Argonian hadn't translated the word "motive" from Cyrodiilic into Jel properly enough to understand the question. The desire to kill a formidable foe was a motive...and a pretty common one for Argonians, in Therin's experience. They were a race that enjoyed challenging themselves against others. He wondered if the Argonian in front of him was a Shadowscale, but such a question would've been inappropriate to ask.

Therin looked over at the cloaked Breton with a wide-brimmed hat. The man sat in silence, refusing to answer the Argonian's question of his motive. Therin didn't blame him for not answering. If Therin hadn't just revealed his own motives to the entire inn in the hopes of allaying their fears, he would've kept such things to himself. Unfortunately, Therin served the people, and was responsible to them.

As the silence stretched out, Therin caught a concerned look on Katelle's face. Her quirked eyebrow seemed to be questioning him. It had been a long day for Therin, and it looked like the coming days were going to be just as long. He had neither the energy nor the desire to overcome the impasse that blocked further conversation, and so stood.

"I wish you well in your endeavor, H'sikar," Therin said politely. He had briefly considered asking him to join, but the Argonian's less than altruistic answer didn't inspire confidence in the man's commitment. Nor had Therin seen any talent from the Argonian that would be of much use against the abomination. Therin didn't know much about the monstrosity he faced earlier, but he didn't think it could be defeated through a drinking contest. "And I humbly thank you for your assistance earlier. May Mara bless you both."

Therin nodded a polite goodbye to the Argonian and the Breton, and quirked his own questioning eyebrow at Katelle. She stood as well, following Therin's lead, and wished a hasty goodbye to the others. Therin escorted her upstairs to her room and made sure the door was safely secured after promising again to reunite with her first thing in the morning. Gathering up his things, Therin made his way to the Bunkhouse to find some place to sleep.

* * *​

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Magnus' rays peeked warmly over the treetops as Therin and Katelle turned their backs on Riften and began their northward journey towards Shor's Stone. Therin guessed, after looking at a map, that it would take them the morning to get there, which Katelle confirmed by admitting she had passed by the small village on her way to Riften, although giving it a wide berth. Therin hoped that whatever darkness had plagued the village--and may still be there--would be weakest at midday. He planned on investigating the area as quickly as possible and leave before nightfall.​

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After a few minutes walking on the road, Therin stopped short, as if remembering something long forgotten.​

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"Wait here," he told Katelle. "I'll be back in a few moments."​

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He turned off the road and walked eastward. His steel plate armor, a reassuring weight on his shoulders, wasn't ideal for traipsing through the close-knit underbrush of the forest. Abandoning the notion of trying to weave his way through a path of least resistance, Therin ended up crashing through the twigs and branches blocking his way, like a troll in a pottery shop.​

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Therin returned to Katelle within the promised few moments, leading a horse behind him. He smiled at Katelle's shocked and bewildered face and answered her question before she could ask it.​

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"The horse belonged to a woman named Holga who I tried to help yesterday before the attack. She mentioned that she had tied it to a tree off the road before sneaking into Riften. I was preparing to get the horse when the monster attacked, and I had forgotten about it until now. She has no more need for it, so we might as well put the mare to good use."​

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Securing their packs to the horse's saddle--greatly reducing the weight of their load--Therin and Katelle continued down the road, the horse walking behind them. After a short while, they caught up with an Argonian making his own way northward. It turned out to be H'sikar, who informed them that he, too, was travelling to Shor's Stone. It was better to make a friend than an enemy, Therin thought, and invited the Argonian to travel with them since he seemed like he was heading there anyway.​

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The three journeyed north and arrived at the outskirts of the village just as Magnus reached its zenith.​

 

[Seanu Reaves]

Lazarus watched the Breton from yesterday leave with the young woman. Vigil lay asleep at Lazarus' feet as the dark figure watched to pair he had just met yesterday. He had considered all that had happened during their first meeting. Honestly, the Argonian's talk of motive had sparked a decent line of thought from the Dawnguard. Lazarus decided he was going to help because of similar reasons to the Argonian, though asides from the personal pleasure of slaying such a powerful opponent Lazarus knew his lady would approve his actions. The man was different than last night, Lazarus thought. He was dressed for war. This brought a small smile to Lazarus, after all that meant he was not some simple priest. Lazarus had not seen the Templar-type in so long it brought back feelings of a warm memories.

“Vigil, wake up dog,” Lazarus whispered as he nudged the animal awake. “Now quite your whining we got to get moving.”

Lazarus threw some cooked beef down for Vigil to eat and to get the lazy dog moving. Lazarus trailed behind the Templar and his young traveling companion. Anybody else and Lazarus would have questioned the age difference of the pair. But he had looked into the man's eyes and Lazarus knew what type of man the other Breton was. The only question left for Lazarus was a simple one: would those two be enough to stop this monster even with Lazarus' help no matter how little help he would be. But as he tailed the pair he noticed the Argonian from before was also walking with the pair. Lazarus smiled baring his almost pronounced canines, his gold eyes flickering from each of the trio. This will be good, Lazarus mused. The Mistress will be pleased if I help end this menace. And so his mind made up he moved to retrieve his horse, to follow behind the people who he doubted even remembered him from last night.

 

[Zander Feredon]

Upon arriving H'sikar began to unpack. Laying out a bedroll and setting his pack down he looked toward the others. ''First order of buisness should be to look around,find out if what happened here is linked to the temple.'' He said,glaring at the priest. ''Only problem is, we don't know exactly WHAT happened.'' He said. As he unpacked he reached into his bag and uncorked a bottle and took a long drought from it. ''You had better fill us in so we know what exactly we are looking for priest,I don't enjoy searching for something blindly.'' He said.

 

[Therin]

Therin watched disbelievingly as H'sikar began unpacking his things. He wondered, not for the last time, if the Argonian was truly mad or only putting on a show. Surely, he wasn't planning on being in this desolate village after sundown. Therin gave Katelle a questioning glance over the Argonian's head. She just shrugged her shoulders in response.

The group had arrived at the village around noon, Magnus rising high in the sky. With the sun directly overhead, there were few shadows in the village, and none big enough for a man to hide in. The inside of the houses were another matter entirely, and Therin didn't trust the seemingly deserted feel to the place. In response to this feeling, he eased his sword from its scabbard and tightened his grip on his shield.

"The monster that attacked the Benevolence appeared as a man in a black robe," Therin began answering H'sikar's question while scanning the area around him for anything unusual or any signs of life. "It was covered in bandages and drained the life from its victims. If you see something like that, give a shout."

Therin was unsure what else the Argonian expected of him. He knew virtually nothing else of this creature; that's why they were there.

"Other than that, just look for anything that's suspicious or out of place. That's the best advice I can offer."

Therin began walking away from H'sikar and his things, leaving the horse tied loosely to a nearby tree. He walked toward the buildings tentatively, expecting an attack at any moment. When he felt a hand on his shoulder, he nearly jumped out of his skin. He looked behind him and saw Katelle, looking abashed at scaring him, but also trying to suppress a smirk. Therin tried to suppress his own smile and failed. Katelle placed her finger on her lips and motioned with her head towards the road in front of them. Therin understood and remained silent, but he couldn't figure out what she wanted him to see at first.

The dirt road in front of them looked like any other dirt road as far as Therin could tell. There was nothing suspicious about it. After a few moments of wondering, it finally clicked in his head. The village had been reported deserted a few days ago. It had since rained in the Rift, which would've smoothed the dirt in the road. But, Therin could see a multitude of human tracks in the dirt, which meant that someone had been there since the desertion, and that they could still be here now. Therin looked back at Katelle and nodded his head approvingly; she was an observant and intelligent companion. He began making his way through the village again, even more alert for signs of life. It wouldn't do to be ambushed.

 

[Seanu Reaves]

Lazarus watched the man make his rounds of the village from the top of the hill. His golden eyes still seeing as well in the night as the day. He lead his horse down the hill quietly, it's hooves making small dust clouds as it walked. Vigil follow silently attentive to his surroundings. He saw the town appear through the hills and so Lazarus sped up his stride. He didn't need it but he didn't feel like surprising the strangers, and lit a torch. As he approached he could feel it in the air. Something natural, something offensive to nature and life itself. Lazarus approached the edge of the town and decided to call out.

“ Any else here about the disappearances?” Lazarus' deep voice rolled over the empty and abandoned village. He began to whisper to himself. “Whatever this is... It's bad business for sure.”

Lazarus heard movement and began to prepare his heavy crossbow. Vigil also seemed to sense something because he tensed. Lazarus quickly threw the torch onto the road, and dismounted his crossbow at the ready. His finger almost on the hair trigger of his crossbow. Lazarus actually closed his eyes and began extending his other senses. Probing almost every nook of the clearing he was standing in. He would be ready for what ever came at him. Suddenly a muffled foot fall alerted Lazarus he whirled and found his crossbow pointed at the Argonian from before. Lazarus just looked at the man not lowering his crossbow.

 

[Zander Feredon]

''Your going to end up putting my eyes out with that thing.'' Said H'sikar as Lazarus lowered his crossbow.
Walking up to the man he began to pace around him and his dog. '' I don't know about the priest or the girl, but i plan to stay here tonight, IF anyone is truly here they clearly wouldn't come out during the day.'' He said. H'sikar stopped and jumped onto the roof of the house nearest him. He had heard a noise but it just turned out to be a rat chewing on the straw of the roof. ''What I suppose I am asking is, would you be interested in assisting me in my endeavor? Two pairs of eyes...Well in this case Three.'' He said Looking at the dog. ''Are better than one.''