266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtl0htQTaV
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96s9dCq2fs
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxPf8okvl4
One of them approached the Musketeer, saying unto him, “My liege, you’ll be pleased to know that our progress is speeding.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz6se2IzNj
“How many?” The soldier asked, as the lead alchemist walked beside him, towards the gates of the keep.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsQAX0FJlh
“We’ve Identified five of the nineteen cadavers, with two more well on the way.” The man answered.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1HV4xqYu6
“In the quartermaster’s log, which of them had children?” The Musketeer asked.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1A94vgH1t
“Well, I’d assume most of them sir.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIxMeBrArn
“Which had children living here.” the soldier clarified.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouh36Dvbu4
The Alchemist was silent for a moment, “Only one, my lord. Sir Letifer Mourse.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgSor9CrXs
The Musketeer ended his stride before the gates to the hall.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMDBMov7aV
“Have the quartermaster ready my soldiers.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4Xih3NRUk
____________________________________________________________
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBne9wGNCbP
“So a Scholar of Mortem has surfaced.” Letifer reasoned with himself.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMe0Z31h3Q
“The Herald of Pestilence, as she is known.” The Earl responded.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzjikJ5B7P
“If you don’t mind my asking, who is this Herald, my lord?” Asked Letifer.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcvnp2ZlYB
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UZmgRtEnJ
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?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTpRvCnJEo
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.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvOPrFCvNB
Letifer was silent at this.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXcLf0Raf8
“I take it the Herald of Pestilence is not the only one vying for this.” Letifer responded finally, turning back to face the Earl.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hFCLdIwiO
“Indeed. There are others who will beseech you. However, at this time, the Herald is the most prominent threat. We must prepare.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25ZsFJCz4D
“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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9Onmx1yn9
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?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjXdzvO3AQ
“I assure you my lord, I do not mean to make excuses.” Letifer replied, a hint of fear in his voice.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX78f1QIWZ
“I do not seek to upend your argument. Only insight.” the Earl explained, “So tell me, what is it you fear?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJIbHjRIyS
Letifer paused for a few moments.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFe8UBdfv4
“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.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQ8pnCjaK0
There was another silence.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoOlFABcpb
The Earl sighed, “I have no intent to send you to war. Of that you can be assured.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNO9fiTApM
Some of Letifer’s fear was lifted then.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHkYZTd0mD
“Though I fear it may be sent to you.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiU5yr2Zoqy
____________________________________________________________
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm4ct6ms5j
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLf3nG2em7
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU29CXvFiuq
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNUrYj6rXj
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRR2qcxfER
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rLojN5s6H
As the Herald dismounted the steed, greaves clanking against the ground The Musketeer knelt.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTRYGKmsVc
“My lady.” He growled, as the Herald approached the stone steps.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7aTGiLGW7
In a low voice, the Herald spoke, “What news of the Horror?”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvPAvnYJbn
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.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfIrtUOHBc
“And what of the Phantom?” the Herald asked.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeKkxW3oZ6
“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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARRdvOUeZM
“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.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwmmIAJOVa
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBM7MZLDTO
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.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbY1tZ4ooy
“My liege, I bear word.” he said unto her.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv5QFiM6x8
“Speak.” she replied.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7Kdeoejlx
“A letter was found, in the Earl’s chambers. He’s been summoned to council, at Fereldin.” The Musketeer explained.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsx7kCfl22F
The Herald was silent for a few moments.
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH8DGVMvlM
“Go, take your warriors to the city. I’ll be upon you in mere days time.”
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fSZ1jg4mR
