Coatleque

They already bicker enough for it. Just do it already! Make it official!

SOMEONE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT!

*stands around casually waiting and being all 'old-fashioned'-like* {{edit}} Someone needs to claim her before Hornet kills her.

Coatleque thinks for a moment before speaking up once more. "There are but two things a man may look to for strength to weather any storm. The first being the uplifting words of friends, and the second their faith in the Twelve. I know now that whatever comes before me, Llymlaen shall guide my steps to the path Nymeia has foreseen. How I came to this faith is... another story."

** It had been two days now since the Calamity. Most of the fires had burned themselves out, but the land was permanently scarred. No one had dared return to the beach as the tide had still not fully gone out yet. The survivors stayed huddled in the cramped quarters cut into the cliff-side. After the initial shock had worn down, it became apparent they could not stay there long. While they had always kept the alcove stocked with emergency rations in case the guards had returned, there was not enough to sustain them all for more than another day at best. People had begun to murmur. "We can't stay here, we'll starve before long." "We should make for the city." "There's not enough supplies to last the journey." "Someone needs to forage." It was decided at length that those fit for labor should venture out and forage what they could along the ridge. While John took up a dusty bow and few arrows from the weapon rack to hunt for small game, Florence had a basket thrust into her hands and was bidden to search for berries or other low-hanging fruits. For the better part of three hours she found herself wandering around the valley beyond the ridge. More than half of it was now ash and desolation. Nophica smiled upon her though and a single apple tree was at last found. Filling her basket with what she could carry she made her way back to the alcove. As she reached the wall that she just happened to look down towards the beach. There was the unexpected movement of figures by the shore's edge. Thinking to herself that some of the villagers had decided to try fishing, she turned and joined the group. John had already returned with what he could find. Two squirrels and a rabbit, at least enough meat for stew. She set the small basket down with the rest of the supplies and asked "Who's that as went down t'the beach?" All eyes were on her now. "Some'n's down at t'shore?", John asked. "Aye, I saw 'em as I came in." Within moments there was a huddle of them at the edge of the wall, all peering around trying to catch a glimpse. The men seemed to be searching through the debris for something. Kicking over wooden boards, bending down to occasionally pick up something shiny, then toss it aside. They were also armed, each with a sword at their side. Some were dressed in a type of black and red cloth, others in brown leather. "Who are they?" "What are they looking for?" "They look like soldiers." "Or brigands!" "Some'n should go down and find out." The voice was John's. All eyes turned to him now. "They may as be from th'city come t'look for survivors. I'm goin t'find out." Florence grabbed his arm and held him back with a worried look. "No, John!", she protested with a worried look. "We can't stay here, Flo. They may be able to 'elp us once they know we're survivors. I'm jus goin t'say hello." "Let him go, girl." "Think about more than y'erself fer once!" "Aye, he has t'right o'it!" The voices of the others behind her finally relaxed her grip as she looked to him with pleading eyes. "John... be careful." He smiled at her and turned, stepping casualy down the path. The rest of them gathered once more at the edge of the wall, watching. **

I love it when a story comes together. Seriously though... all I did this weekend was follow-up on one lead after another. :dazed: Props to Roen for once again taking the NPC role and throwing a wrench into my plans. Hornet is going to wind up killing Crofte yet. And also to Leilani for our extended RP exchange via pen and paper. In-game pen and paper. It's like a paradox, I know.

Jenlyns sat at his desk, as always, parchments flanking him on both sides. He glared at them balefully, his usual patience having been spent earlier in the day. Too many missives and letters. He sighed and laced his hands together, bringing his forehead to rest against them. He frowned as he reflected over the contents of the most trouble missives. Then there came a light knock at the door. "Enter." Coatleque let herself in as she was now accustomed to doing. The door closed quietly behind her as she stepped to the side. Her heels clicked together at attention. She was once again not wearing her armor, but her white dress and beret, and looking very much like an inspector than a knight. She held a leather wrapped file under her left arm. "You wished to see me, Ser?" "Ah. Yes. Crofte." He lowered his hand, his blue eyes a cooler hue. He let out a long exhale through his nostrils before he spoke again. "How goes your investigation?" Her eyes seemed to light up immediately at the question. "Very well, I believe Ser. I am prepared to take on more of a direct approach with it now. I had hoped to speak to you about it since you have called me here." "Is that so." He said dryly. "Have you been working with Melkire in this?" Her expression flattened at the mention of the Flame Sergeant. "No Ser, I was assisting Ser Melkire with his own matter of inquiry. Alas that has... fallen to the side as he has now been compromised." "Ah. So you have learned of that as well." He exhaled again, this one long and drawn out, as if in frustration. Leaned back in his chair, he regarded her. "I have just received the most curious letter with his name on it. Regarding ... you." An eyebrow raised. "Regarding... Me, Ser?" There was a pause "When last I contacted Ser Melkire he said we could not speak because of his condition. He refused to have any contact with me." Jenlyns pushed off from the chair and pressed a finger on one parchment that was in front of him. He pushed it across the desk towards her, then leaned back in his chair again. "Read for yourself." Walking up to his desk, she took the parchment and read it slowly, her expression turning to a frown with each accusation. She couldn't help but snicker at the 'seduction' part, as if she would bother. Once finished she placed it back down for him to retrieve. "I do not know what to say Ser. It is a blatant lie. An attempt to silence me from my duties." "Considering this was delivered -after- the Sergeant was compromised... I find it highly suspect." Jenlyns waved a hand vaguely into the air. But the scowl on his brow did not abate. "But it is by his hand. And unless he can come forth to corroborate or declare himself of this falsehood... I cannot simply ignore this." There was another pause. "You understand." "O-of course... Ser.", she said while trying to ignore the knot growing in her stomach. "So. Tell me how you have followed my explicit orders since we have talked last." He laced his fingers and rested him on the edge of his thick desk. "Because I need some good news while I consider this." "Ser!" She seems more at ease with this command, as if thankful the accusations were being set aside that she may speak. "I have met with and spoken to each of the three in turn, appealing to them as I saw fit to try and sway their course. Only time will tell if I had any impact on them. But furthermore, I have found Ser Deneith is to be brought in for desertion charges. She has been away from her post for far too long. She cannot help her current situation, and I do not blame her for wanting to remain away. She will need more time than the rest to recover from her recent ordeals, but... I have a plan to at least save HER, while I continue to evaluate the other two. But I need official sanction to proceed, Ser. Which is why I need to speak with you first." He arched a brow at Crofte, still listening. "Go on." The Knight nodded to him and continued her plea. "There was a certain amount of ... evidence that had been previously brought forward. This evidence was used to damn them at the time. I believe you know of what I speak. It just so happens that I now have that evidence in my possession." With that, she unwrapped the file and laid it on his desk. "I believe what was once used to convict may now be used, in the proper hands, to acquit." One brow still remained lofted, as his gaze lowered to the file now newly joining the rest of the stack of papers on his desk. He let out an inaudible sigh. "Ser, the contents of this file convict Ser Deneith of something greater than just desertion. With this, and your orders, I may officially assume full responsibility for this investigation. It would no longer be an issue for the Brass Blades. Ser Deneith would be discharged, and at least safe for the time being." He gave the file another baleful glare before glancing back to Crofte. "Deneith?" There was clear question in his expression and he reached across the desk for the file. He opened the file, blue eyes quickly scanning over the documents. One after another. He set them aside, then poured through the next. The frown on his brows deepened with each page. "This accuses her of treason. A Garlean spy." She watched him for a moment as he pours through the documentation, trying to gauge his reception to the idea. "Aye, Ser, but the charges are false. It is damning enough to bring the matter into our jurisdiction, though." He paused mid-page, then glanced up at him. "I see. Are you certain they are false?" The Knight looked away for a moment in thought, trying to to show her own concern over the matter. "Ser, I cannot say for certain. However, I intend to find out." She paused. "That is, if you give the order, Ser." "Mm. Indeed. True or not, it does fall under our jurisdiction." He set his jaw, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Very well, Crofte." He said after a pause. "You are to proceed. If Deneith is innocent, then we have a Sworn cleared. If not, we caught ourselves a spy." His blue gaze is sharp and icy as he gave her a pointed look. "I pray to the Twelve that you find her innocent, Crofte. Else it is execution for the girl." Coatleque looked both relieved, yet concerned as she meet his gaze. "Ser, you made sure that I think of them as our own. I will not rest until I prove otherwise. And if I fail, I have already given my life in exchange to another. I shall not." He arched another brow, not quite understanding all of her meaning. "Well, let us hope you are successful in this. How did you come by this document?" "Ser Deneith herself, Ser. It was passed from one Jameson Taeros to Ser Mcbeef, given to Gharen Wolfsong, then to his sister for safekeeping. I would not have come to you with it if these were not her wishes themselves." "... did you say Taeros?" She tilted her head at his expression. "A-aye Ser?" The muscles of his neck tightened and he steepled his fingers in front of him as he leaned forward on his desk. He fell silent, his eyes narrowed in thought. After a pause, he flicked a glance her way. "So. You know where Deneith is. You realize you will have to bring her in." She stiffened at this notion. "I do not know where she is directly, I do know she is somewhere in La Noscea. I also know people who can find her. The question, Ser, is how long I am able to delay before she must needs be brought in. It would besmirch my honor to detain her without verifying the evidence..." He arched a brow at her, almost incredulous. "Did you just not say you got this document from Deneith herself? I understand we do not make false arrests, but the charges of treason are serious as they can get, Crofte. We cannot just simply let her be..." he waved in the air, "while we suspect or clear her of being a spy." "Other Sworns have arrested, detained, and even questioned using forcible means for less. All for the Sultana's safety." There was a hint of distaste that undercut his words. "Ser, I was not aware of the full extent of said charges myself, Ser. And my meeting left me at the disadvantage to use force, Ser." "Then bring whoever you will as reinforcement. But..." he frowned as he himself did not want to say what he had to say. "We are for the Sultana's safety first and foremost. If there is an accusation of a spy, a -Garlean- spy no less, it needs to be seen through. She needs to be brought in and questioned. Even as you carry out your investigation." He shook his head. "Of all the times... with these new threats looming over Ul'Dah,with a Flame already compromised... this is the -worst- time to let Garlean threats slip through our fingers, Crofte." She continues to meet his gaze, refusing to waver this time as she had during their last meeting. "Ser, it was my understanding that her evaluation was to be left to me. Unless I had misunderstood the intention... I had to make certain concessions just to be allowed to see Ser Deneith. After speaking with her, it is of my opinion that she is no threat in her current state. I must have time Ser, to evaluate my findings further, before I can detain her. To do otherwise may bring about a bloodbath. Unlike my predecessor, I am not prone to shed blood unnecessarily..." There was a pause. "With respect, Ser!" He arched a brow at her. "A bloodbath?" "Aye, she is well cared for." "... I see." He clenched his jaws and a long silence fell between them. "Please do not take my insubordination lightly, as I would not protest without proper cause. But she has many close to her that would willingly fight to keep her out of the gaol." He tapped a finger against the oaken desk. "Crofte. Who are we." "We are the Sultansworn, Ser. The Royal Guard of Her Resplendence." "That is correct. And if a threat is posed to Her Grace, we do not falter. We do all that is necessary to ensure her safety. And if a bloodbath must be had to ensure that very safety, then we do not waver. Understood?" "A... Aye, Ser." He let his words hang in the air for a moment, before letting out a long sigh. He leaned back against his chair, looking more weary than he had when she had first entered. "That being said... I will give you a few suns to explore your options. But a charge of treason is as grave a charge as it gets against the Sultana short of a blatant assasination attempt." He took a long breath in, looking up at the woman. "Things are afoot, Ser Crofte. Grim tidings and more of our own being compromised. In light of Melkire's situation, I cannot allow one of my own to come under the same suspicion and ... their whereabouts unknown. You have suns to arrange this. But you will have to bring her in for questioning. I will let you carry out the interrogation of course. As a few in our Order can get overzealous in that line of duty." Her growing tension gave way to at least a little relief at his words. "Understood, Ser. I shall make the necessary preparations." He regarded her for a moment, the icy countenance giving way to a pensive reluctance. "It is not an easy thing we do, Crofte. Putting Her Eminence above all else... means we sometimes need to put her welfare above other good people. Deneith will not suffer hardship here. She will be given a respectable quarters to be detained in. We do not forget our own. But the charges are grave. Had she or Mcbeef enlightened me of her heritage from the start... some of this might have been avoided." "I understand, Ser. I said I would protect her, even if that means I am to be her personal guard and gaoler while she is here." He nodded. "If you wish that responsibility, then it is yours." "I could do nothing else, Ser." "Very well." He straightened. "You clearing or convicting a spy, I consider of more importance than an accusation of murder by a Sergeant who could have been compromised before or after the missive was written." "Thank you, Ser!" "Prove me right in my faith in you, Crofte. Make sure this is not a threat. And..." he glared at the letter. "Be prepared Crofte. Something is headed our way. And Melkire is in the middle of it. And the Empire behind him. We need to secure our own and stand ready when it comes." She gave him a quick salute. "Aye, Ser, we shall be ready. And I shall not fail." He regarded her for a long moment, before exhaling, as if admitting his own worry on the matter. "Very well. Dismissed." "Oh and Crofte?" "Ser?" "If you are to go and apprehend her, I suggest bringing people you trust with you. I read that her brother is a terrorist, and a known fighter." She gathered the documents together again as he spoke, ordering them in the file, then wrapping it back in the leather sleeve and tieing it shut. "Aye, Ser. I shall be prepared should... should force be necessary." She almost choked on the word. His gaze remained on her for a moment longer, before he returned back to the tower of parchment to his right, his jaw set and his expression a forced calm. Turning about with the file under her arm again, she let herself quietly out of his office and returned to her own. She locked the evidence in her strongbox, then secured the door as she left to finally get some rest.

Yeah but... who wants to see Crofte in a wedding dress anyway?

The Knight stands quietly regarding the silence that has befallen the room before speaking up once more. "There is a blade I carry now which was a commission especially for me. It has a spring-loaded crossbar of polished bronze, and ornate walnut hilt. T'was my gift to myself the day I took my oath and became full Sworn. I keep its edge always keen and the blade well oiled. Is there one item of particular import that anyone else carries with them often?"

RNG is hard Math.floor(Math.random() * 100 + 1);

Ok, I'll bite, this sounds fun! Scenario: Trial by Fire, 8-man trial Southern Thanalan, Sagolii desert The once proud and respected member of the Sultansworn has been implicated in a plot to assassinate her liege. Rather than submit to a formal inquiry, she has fled to the desert. You must select your friends carefully and bring her back, preferably alive. Quotes: "Who are you? Why are you here? Oschon has betrayed me!" - At start of fight "Halone shall strike you down!" - Just before using Shield cleaver "Azeyma, protect me!" - Before using Voice of the Just "You cannot defeat me! Nymeia has shown me your fate!" - At 50% health, Phase II "Rhalgr, lend me your strength!" - Just before using Ala'Mhigan Wrath "Nald'thal, prepare thy gates for another!" - Just before using Impale "Menphina... has my curse... been lifted?" - Upon defeat Attacks: -- Phase I (Ser Crofte begins using her sword and a shield) -- [Auto-Attack] [shield Cleaver] (instant) - A 90° frontal cleave attack that splits damage among all hit by it. [shield Bash] (instant) - Stuns her current target for 10 seconds and causes her to switch to whoever has next highest enmity. [Voice of the Just] (cast, interruptible) - a room-wide AOE that cannot be avoided if successful. Inflicts Blind, and decreases all DPS by 50% for 8 seconds. -- Phase II, 50% health (Ser Crofte drops her shield and wields her sword two-handed) -- [Auto-Attack] [Ala'Mhigan Wrath] (casted, not interruptible) - A room-wide AOE that will reduce all players health by 50% of maximum. Only avoidable at the extreme edges of the room. [impale] - Ser Crofte will randomly chose one target who was affected by Ala'Mhigan Wrath and jump to them, impaling them with her sword and leaving them incapacitated. {{ Edit }} After further conspiring, I give you Trial by Fire (HM): Same as above with the following exceptions: - Each time she uses Ala'Mhigan Wrath, her health is decreased by 5% - At 30% health an add is spawned. - Ser Castille: Must be off-tanked and killed before Ser Crofte reaches 15% health, or else he will enrage and wipe the group. She will continue to use her Wrath/Impale combination during this time.

Time to point this thread over to the NatXKage stuff about to go down at the hot springs. Oh yeah.. Crofte gave Warren a peck on the cheek last night.

*has no idea what this thread is about anymore*

I do believe Hornet meets the majority of her lovers at the Grindstone these days... Always looking for the next future ex-Mr. Hornet.

The Knight returned to her office once more. It was now late and she looked forward to some rest after the events of the day. Her armor would be repaired by noon the next day and in the meantime she would be able to follow-up on other leads. Wearing the white dress she was now used to being seen in, she sat down. Opening the drawer below her she produced half a bottle of wine and a glass. It was odd, she had never been one to drink before - but this seemed to help her relax on those longer nights. Pouring a glass she returned the bottle to the drawer and closed it. She leaned back in the chair while sipping it, then eyed that folder on her desk once again. Everything was falling into place, it seemed. She had met with each of her 'fallen' comrades and said her piece. Her words had been chosen carefully for each one of them, telling them what she thought they needed to hear. Kage Kiryuu - so eager to fall in line, follow, cast aside his own convictions for the perceived good of others. "Of the two of us, Ser Kiryuu, I am not an admitted murderer..." She had called his conscience into question in the hopes he would remember his oath and begin to lead his own life rather than the one others chose for him. Natalie McBeef - headstrong, arrogant, yet dim-witted. She did what she wanted without worry of the consequences to her own actions. "Twice have I stepped in to assist you now. I hope you see where my loyalties lie." "Think carefully on what color you wish your armor to be in the future...Ser McBeef" She had called her honor into question in the hopes Natalie would understand that victory need not come at such a high cost to others. Roen Deneith - Kind, gentle, but perhaps too soft. She was dragged through the hells, but could she return from them? "You are surrounded by those who seem to know what is best for you. The question is, do YOU know what is best for you?" She had called her convictions into question in the hopes that the girl would remember who and what she is, to rise above the dark cloud cast over her life. Ah, Ser Deneith. She was still the enigma of the three. Enough time had passed since her ordeal, she should be ready to move on now. But Coatleque knew far too well that the scars would remain her entire life. "You make me remember why I wore that armor..." "And you make me remember why I still do..." Yes, she may yet pull through this after all. Coatleque placed the empty glass on her desk. Its effects were just starting to be known. She stood and stretched, ready to retire for the night. She took the envelope and was about to lock it away for safety when she heard Jenlyns's voice over the official channel... "Ser Crofte? My office, now please." She blinked. What had happened now? At this hour? Shaking her head she decided to make this an opportunity instead... "Aye, Ser!", she replied. Tucking the parcel under one arm, she left the room and locked the door.

Coatleque sat quietly in her office smiling to herself. Things were all falling into place quite nicely at this point. As long as nobody did anything stupid, her plan would move forward smoothly and everyone should be 'home by dinner' as it were. Sitting at the corner of her desk was a thick envelope. It's contents being the cause of all this trouble to begin with. In the wrong hands, damning evidence. In the right hands, their potential salvation. She eyed the envelope warily as if it was some great evil about to spring forth to strike her. Taking up her quill and a fresh parchment she penned a letter. Once finished, she sealed the letter with the emblem of the Sultansworn, and delivered it to the Palace moogle. From there she made her way to the royal armorer. She was missing two particular emblems from her own armor, mysteriously, and this was now in need of repair... Continued here...

Taking the file, she quickly thumbed through its contents. Removing a large leather skin from the pouch at her side, she quickly wrapped the file and tied it to keep it safe. "You have my word, Madam Hornet.", she replied with a low bow. Turning on her heels, she headed for the Aetherite.

She looked at the woman and could see the genuine fear behind her eyes. Straightening herself to attention, she folded her hands behind her and gave her a stern look. "Madam Hornet, you have my word as a Sultansworn, as a Paladin, I shall do everything in my power to ensure no harm comes to Ser Roen Deneith. The contents of this file shall not leave my care at any time. They will be safe within my office at the Palace, under lock and guard. And if something should happen to compromise this information, I shall personally see it destroyed before any harm comes to bear. In witness thereof, I shall go so far as to place my life in your hands. Should I fail in my duty, mine is forfeit to you."

Turning and leaving then, Coatleque found Obsidian Hornet sitting by the spring. She approached quietly, or rather, as quietly as a knight could while wearing chain and scales. She cleared her throat with a polite cough. "Madam Hornet. I arrived quickly as I could. I assume you have something for me."

She flipped the girl a gil and replied "No, thank you Miss. I am merely here to meet someone. Perhaps you've seen her? A tall woman, Roegadyn, with white hair and a yellow mask."

Coatleque stepped away from the Aetherite and took a moment to steady herself from the dizziness. Looking around she did not immediately see who she was looking for. The woman should have easily stood out in this place. Checking her gear just to be sure everything came with her (Aether travel always made her nervous like that), she headed for the inn first...

Redacted... Coatleque is now like the under-equipped scrawny kid that was just thrown into a goalie position...

I think I know this guy from another lifetime...

Coatleque rode towards Highbridge on a standard patrol of the road to Gridania. She only just returned to Ul'dah within a sun and had already been beset by duties after her absence. She had hoped to be done her travelling for a few days at least, but the dry winds and sun of Thanalan were more welcoming after the cold climes of Coerthas. The route so far had been uneventful as usual, so she had little to complain of today. Unknown to Crofte, yellow eyes watched her approach from the rock overlooking the pass. The humanoid shaped creature wore what looked to be simple shepherd’s clothes, torn here and there in places, but its face was shadowed. As she passed under, the creature rose and leaped at the woman, seeking to knock her from her chocobo! Startled at the sudden presence of something flying through the air at her, she pulled hard on the reigns and the bird reared back and to the right, just narrowly being missed by the creature. The creature’s cloak spread open almost as if it were wings upon its back as it landed. It paused momentarily to stare at her face before muttering something incomprehensible. After quickly regaining her bearings, she stared at this new visage before her, narrowing her eyes. "Was that meant to be some sort of ambush?", she quipped as she urged her bird to back up a few steps. Scanning the area she was now on guard for any assistance this one may have with it. “Who are you, and what business do you have stopping me here?” The thing drew itself up straight. Its face was covered and shadowed, but the skin around its eyes looks dark, and it spoke with a voice not its own. "Crofte. Take. Now." With that, it lunged forward again, arms outstretched. Still having the advantage of being mounted, she reared the bird once more and forced it to jump sideways to avoid the creature’s lunge. Its purpose now clear, she quickly dismounted and pushes the bird away; It ran off away into the field to wait whatever outcome. She drew her blade and turned to face the creature. "It is a crime to keep a Sultansworn from their duty, though I don't feel you particularly care at this point, Ser." The creature responded once again in a guttural, unnatural voice. "Duty. Take Crofte. It is commanded!" It raised its arm above its head and a shadowy halberd seemed to grow from its hand as it swung downward! While put off by the sudden appearance of the weapon, she easily anticipated its slower movement and sidestepped the swing while raising her sword parallel to the ground. "If you will not be swayed, then so be it!" She wielded her sword with both hands and moved in with a quick spin to her right, sweeping the blade down in an effort to sweep its leg with the flat of her sword. The attack connected easily, and the creature is dropped to one knee as she broke its leg with her blade. It howled a shrill alien scream that echoed across Thanalan. After a moment it looked at her direction and vomited void pitch at her face. Diving to the side, she avoiding whatever the thing had spit towards her. The pitch landed on the ground a few feet behind her and bubbled as it ate a hole in the sand. She let her sword drop to one hand by her side as she moved towards the creature once more. Raising one leg, she kicked it square in the chest, pushing the creature over. As the creature toppled it swung out with one last attempt against its quarry. Not prepared that time, she could not avoid it as the halberd smashed into her chest, pushing her backwards and momentarily knocking the breath from her lungs. Her scale and chain took the brunt of the impact, but the force behind the impact was still astonishing. Looking down at the creature with a smirk, she gave it one last chance to surrender. "Any last words before I send you back to the void?" It did not reply, but only made a gurgling sound as it tried to rise on its remaining good leg. “So be it.” She spun hard to the right again, with her sword outstretched in a wide arch, cleaving the creature diagonally across its torso. Thee blade easily cut through the shepherd’s robes and its flesh. It gurgled as it quivered and died in front of her. However, though dead it did not stop moving as it began to writhe and contort on the ground before her. Stepping back, sword still at the ready, she watched its struggles. Before long it had changed shape. Looked like a young highlander man, bleeding quite a natural red over the sand. "By the Twelve!" Her sword fell to the ground as she rushed forward to attend to the man. She quickly looked over the body, trying to find any hope of saving him or bringing him back from the brink. Unfortunately it was far to late for the him. His pulse was gone and torrents of blood gushed out from where she cleaved him across the chest. The shadowy halberd vanished with all other traces of the voidsent. She stayed like that for a good few minutes, cursing herself for the life she had taken. Afterwards she simply rose, and pulling his body to the side of the road, left him under the shade of the rock. Retrieving her sword she went find her bird. Thankfully it had not run off far, only to the plains beyond the bend in the road. A properly trained War Steed. Turning the mount about, she headed back to Drybone to report his death to the local Brass Blades.