300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFC7Qlo2Rm
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWHeWzzTr3
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88CPKaV5oP
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ2htZXRie
But there was something else.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUByqLX4KT
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQObSprziDT
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRi2gPJros
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OuLZfnGup
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ0Lf5J8Zu
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8qHkmNKvZ
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
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Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbEjOc9igx
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrun7vpZDyq
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCAUE37fxF
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyFA7EgKMk
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM1ml8y7wa
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJae7vymijo
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfHl2bWtqW
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaGa23kZE9
“And what would be your business here?”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx907cFCQJ9
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20X8bsFVdb
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3stUVejKi6
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci5R52NzqK
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfoP3Bl1ej
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLacJ8mxsit
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9W4CWlPER
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUaFzAFKGzA
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkOG2Wq0iB
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”.
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgpbm7pP3C
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDstKIbugx
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuyByXxDbr
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJiZWruYHm
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEXRUkNegG
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the
greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjclqKJjEhP
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslblpblO1y
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhdPD9DDTE
But there was something else. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg5oKryVFz
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzsAdLUDeI
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvr7FkRI5gT
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxpv4rrAcg
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwV8oWmUFh
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPtwUcjeXQ
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO2An5IWpo
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiURujL82Ar
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhp53V97Xq
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFv2D6wWk8
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3M3L6Jpbbu
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9hyqR5pbm
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmoXGgIiFE
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMqJzxC2yC
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L26sVsk9B
“And what would be your business here?”300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTLImJYkTD
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg1qSQckr7
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8PdYL7054
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVvcFAiRof
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YRsBweuI3
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZ4ZONl7vn
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjx9bCxwGe
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNOmEbOdcI
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnr7WYj1aY
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”. 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakVvnegdYt
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzxItDWDRb
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDybGtFKb3
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GviPqQM9H
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2vPVxuOyR
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAIUauXpxB
The Earl sighed, “My roundsmen brought a child but a fortnight ago, saying he stole a loaf of bread. I fed him, shoed him, and sent him on his way. Last I saw, he was heading west.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnUbXqOZqL
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3w3v5iLnf
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigq8tX4u9B
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgN5ERknUTN
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtwyPY64sY
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuWmeGptP7
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTWi3cDJNZ
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrJbHcRxm7
300Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPw2iPOBPL
