Fable - Ask A Belief Forgotten[Dreadlords]

[Elise Virak]

"The Catacombs." She echoed the words with no small amount of annoyance.

Rarely did she enjoy crawling around in the muck, in fact one could argue she did not like it one bit. Lips thinned, and her fingers twisted into the arm of the chair that one of the former Governors servants had brought her.

A hand came up to touch her head, rubbing at her temple briefly before she looked up and addressed Ania.

"Take the Anirian Knights we brought and your fellow Dreadlords. Scout the entrance and open the passage." One of the servants quickly ran up behind her, his face contorted with an odd sort of eagerness.

Elise hesitated, then looked up at him.

Slowly the servant leaned down and whispered in her ear. Her eyes narrowed for a moment, then she regarded Ania. "Gabriel and I will meet you at the entrance of the Catacombs."

Slowly she stood to walk towards her fellow Noble, then stopped and glanced at Ania.

"And get that thing healed before you go." She couldn't afford any dead Dreadlords on this journey.

 

[Ania]

Ania nodded at Elise's order before hobbling off towards the contingency of dreadlords and Anirian Guard. It was a funny thing, now that she knew her wound was to be mended the adrenaline had subsided and she could feel its pain fully manifest. The instant she arrived, trailing her own blood in her wake, she looked squarely at Pierre.

Pierre was a level four dreadlord gifted in mending wounds and manipulating small animals. Birds mostly. He'd been at the academy with Ania and his rounded face, wide cheeks, contrasted with his otherwise slim figure. Upon graduation it surprised no one that he was assigned as a level four. Though his martial skills were adequate his only real magical talents had been medicinal and his little trick of confusing birds and small reptiles had limited usage in combat.

"Pierre, I need you to fix this up quickly," she gestured down towards the bolt stuck into her leg.

His face formed a contorted frown as he commented, "nasty little wound there. Gimme a sec."

The pale dreadlord crossed her arms and tapped a finger up and down. "Be quick about it, we are moving out as soon as you're done."

A green glow enveloped the Weiroon devotee's leg as the crossbow bolt was slowly pulled from the open hole in her thigh. The eventual expulsion of the rod caused a burning sensation that caused Ania to emit a quick gasp before the green glow of Pierre's magic moved deeper and began to bandage up the gaping wound. As he completed his task he looked up towards his patient and offered, "good enough, it'll be tender for a day or so, I'd normally recommend that you keep movement to a minimum but I don't think we have that luxury at the moment."

"No," her words were short and tense, In a raised voice, so the others could here, she declared, "Lady Elise has summoned us all to make for the statue at the courtyard. Beneath it is a grate that leads into the catacombs. That is where we will find the rest of the heathens, cowering like mice."

 

[Florinthe Othal]

Florinthe smiled contentedly to herself as she stretched her arms out before her. An hour. An hour was all that she had needed. She'd been relatively unharmed from the battle, but the exertion, followed by the tragic slaughter of the innocent Anirians, had left her magic severely depleted.

Fortunately, the Anirian Guard had moved quickly, she had to give it to those mundane soldiers - they were efficient. By the time she had arrived at the catacombs, they had dealt with a few minor rebels, scouted the area and secured the entrance. In the meantime, while Florinthe kept guard, she was able to recover some of her lost reserves.

She'd even managed to get a few guards to spare a few rations for her. Fully fed and, almost, fully restored, she was ready for the upcoming slaughter.

As the contingency of nobles and Dreadlords arrived, Florinthe unfurled a small map of the catacombs and begun a debriefing from the information she'd received from the Guard.

"They're holed up on the deepest levels, the Anirian guard managed to deal with most of the retreating forces... And some of the sentries, but they're reluctant to make any further progress. We've received some word that enemy mages are afoot - possibly elves, but that's just rumour." She addressed the entourage with clarity and purpose. When dealing with tactics and information, she was in her element.

 

[Yrael]

With a twist of his hand Yrael snapped the prisoner's neck. Her body crumpled limply to the ground, and he stepped over it to follow the other dreadlords.

The catacombs were not an endeavor to be undertaken lightly. Dark, cramped, and immensely complicated. One was just as likely to get lost and die of starvation than they were to be killed by these cultists. As he followed the group back to the statue he saw more of the destruction that this little party had wrought. The streets around here were more or less deserted at this point, the only bodies present were lifeless and clad in black armor.

He listened to Florinthe's briefing. His sword felt heavy on his hip, and the blade would likely get in the way down there. He unstrapped it and laid it on the ground next to the statue. He didn't particularly care if it was stolen, although he would kill any who tried while he was still within view.

He was anxious. It was uncharacteristic of him, but he did not care for going underground. His magic would be dangerous not only to his enemies down there, but to himself. He could lift a great deal of rubble and protect himself from a minor cave-in, but what about when they were thirty feet down? Fifty? A hundred? He would need to control his attacks and not strike any load-bearing supports.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

Gabriel sat silently in the late governor's office, brow drawn tight as he sorted through paperwork that was neatly stacked into four different piles. The papers were further sorted in their stacks, laid sideways alternately back and forth for some reason. The chess set was left alone as Hunter looked it over, a small figurine in the semblance of a manticore surrounded by small, sun shaped pieces. Assorted figurines of similar designs to those the four houses claimed as their familial heraldry.

His eyes scanned the papers quickly, pulling a stack apart and placing it where he saw fit before re-stacking it and pulling another loose piece before repeating the process to another pile. His eyes would quickly move to Elise when she entered, an emotion on his face that she likely had only seen in her dreams.

Fear.

"You should have spoken to me before your mother bought dresses from Bernard, the man price gouges like a priest hunts a handout." His tone was attempting to convey a sliver humor, but the underlying ring of alarm was in his tone. The information he had shared was something he could not know readily given he had no interest in spying on the other families. Even dealing with the merchants did not have give the Banick boy to be privy to such information given the house's slippery trust with one another.

He thrust a paper towards her, a seemingly benign scrap of information detailing a lion scratching an itch in it's mane. Then moving around the plains before stopping at the watering hole and catching a pig before getting bored and letting it go. To most it would seem the study of a particular animal in the wild. Being that Gabriel on the other hand knew what those details meant however, gave light to what he should be alarmed about.

"That paper states that I visited my businesses, and spoke with a merchant at the tavern." He waved a hand to the rest of the sorted papers. His face was a mix of emotions, anger, fear, concern. He rose suddenly, toppling the chair before walking to the chess board and pointing to the surrounded piece.

"Someone has been watching the families. Someone, higher up than the governor."

 

[Florinthe Othal]

She was one of the most junior figures here, but Florinthe cared little. While she hated public speaking, she loved briefings, she adored talk of tactics, and right now she could die happy.

"It goes without saying, we need minimal magic for this job. Going overboard will cause the structure to collapse and will end in all our deaths." She paused, a niggling sensation building in her.

"I suggest, once all's said and done. We map the entirety of the catacombs. If these renegades are getting supplies, weapons, support and whatever else they need, they'll have a way of getting it past the guard." She wasn't quite sure how best to word her next statement, she was in the presence of a lot of important people.

"If they've chosen this place for their last stand, I believe they must have expanded the catacombs beyond the reaches of the city. In which case we must be careful, we have no idea what magic, traps or enemies are lurking in wait for us." She sighed, it all seemed too convenient. She couldn't quite shape the sensation these rebels were a little too organised. Something was amiss.

 

[Elise Virak]

Elise did not change her expression as Gabriel spoke, not until he mentioned her mothers movements.

Lips thinned in an instant, and her fingers scrunched into a fist. Her mother was a vapid little thing, having no real care for the affairs of politics or anything else besides the color of her latest dress. The idea that someone was watching her didn't disturb her, that was a given with the families.

Yet as she glanced at the reports, slowly looked over the code and with Gabriel's understanding she couldn't help but curse.

Her mother was only the start.

Dozens of names appeared within the reports, their movements carefully cataloged and noted. Patterns were formed, and quickly Elise bit her tongue.

"Burn it all." She said as she slowly looked at Gabriel. "If it gets out that a band of renegades could get this close to us..."

The Baroness trailed off, leaving the words to the imagination. "We have to find the people responsible."

Every last one. Even if they burned this city to the ground.

 

[Ania]

Florinthe Othal was the same rank as Ania. A third level. It was an impressive feat given the brutality and awful conditions of the academy though still quite average in the landscape of dreadlords. The other three's suggestions made some sense to her though Elise's orders were quite clear.

"We're merely to open the entrance, I suggest we depart and start there." Ania's face drew a sly smirk as she added, "I think your idea of collapsing the entire thing on top of the rats underneath is a marvelous idea though. A bit brutal for a Luana, but I like it. Perhaps Lady Virak will agree with burying the scum under a few tons of rubble as well."

She turned, not acknowledging the suggestions of scouting or mapping or whatever other silly idea her compatriot had. Who cares where these tunnels lead to? All that mattered is that every zealot, homeless beggar, and renegade who called that damp underbelly home was mercilessly culled. They deserved no better, and, if Lady Virak allowed it, then Ania would gladly give them the resting place they seemed to be requesting.

Rats called sewers home and everyone deserved to die in the home of their choosing.

Ania paced out of the governor's palace. Some of the Anirian Guard and dreadlords accompanying her while a few others waited to gauge the movements of Florinthe and Yrael. There was no resistance to the courtyard just across from the palace. The crowd had dispersed and Ania believed it was likely the rebellious heathens had already cowered into their damp little crypt.

Her azure eyes examined the gray stone and bronze of the statue and then the concrete base it sat upon. Running her hand across it she could see the crackings in the structure where an entrance likely lay. With a firm kick of her boot she hit the side and the lid of the entrance collided with the earthen soil in a loud thud. Thin nostrils breathed in the acrid smell of the terrible pathways beneath their feet.

Maybe one of the dreadlords here could create lava. That would be a fun experiment.

 

[Yrael]

Yrael listened to Florinthe with interest. She was smart, it was not often that Dreadlords decided to forego wanton destruction in favor of intelligence gathering. Yrael himself was no exception to this, and were it not for the delicate structures they would soon be entering he would likely have smashed his way to a speedy solution.

Ania found an entrance. He made a note to keep an eye on her. Her abilities were frightening... doubly so because he didn't truly understand what they were. The prisoner she had interrogated had been terrified and in excruciating pain even though no physical wounds were evident.

He approached the entrance. Blackness stared back. He pointed to one of the Anirian guard that had followed Ania. "You, bring torches." The soldier looked surprised and offended at being given such a chore, but they left to gather the supplies rather than argue.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

He gave her a nod, licking his lips for a brief second before looking to Hunter and nodding. "Burn it. Every scrap of paper in here. Toss this room and make sure there isn't anything hidden. You know the drill." Gabriel hissed, nervously rubbing his hands together before looking back to Elise.

"I fear that the little rebels you've been burning out are just the start though. Someone went through a lot of trouble to keep tabs on everyone." Gabriel paused, looking out of the window as Hunter and another of his guardsmen piled the papers into the fireplace before lighting it.

"Sweep around the estate while it burns, not a scrap of this escapes. And keep an eye on the staff too." He snapped, still unsure of the whole house now. "Shall we go then?"

 

[Elise Virak]

Elise briefly considered giving the command to execute the staff, but quietly decided against it.

They would need to be interrogated. "Gabriel."

The Baroness of House Virak spoke as they began to walk out of the estate, her lips thinning slightly as she considered their next move. Vel Stratholm was something else, he was right about that. This rebellion was larger than anyone would like to have admitted.

She needed to know more, but first she needed to end things here.

"I believe it's time to..." How did she word this? Humility was not her strong point. "Forge new Alliances."

She gave him only the briefest glance. "There are new things standing before us, things that our fathers are not prepared for."

The two nobles spoke as they were escorted towards the Catacombs that the Dreadlords had discovered, Elise keeping her voice low as they moved.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

His attention snapped back to Elise when she spoke his name, following her out and taking a look around them as she spoke again. When she spoke of forging a new alliance however, his eyes slowly turned to her. As if there was anyone here who would be willing to work together more than they did. Then she spoke of their fathers, and the detail clicked.

"Old men playing old games cannot see the new threats before us." Gabriel spoke in an equally low voice, noting the discretion in her tone. There was a touch of a smile upon his face as he examined their surroundings, still speaking quietly. "What do you have in mind? Or should we have this talk privately while someone screams in the next room?"

 

[Florinthe Othal]

Florinthe sighed, but otherwise brushed off Ania's outburst. Thankfully, it seemed, Ania was the only trigger happy one amongst them - which was good. Singlehandedly, at least with Florinthe's basic understanding, Ania did not possess the capability to crush them all within the depths of the catacombs. She smiled, watching the rest filter out as she'd finished.

She followed quietly behind Yrael, arming herself with one of the crude halberds she'd commandeered from a guardsman. Florinthe wasn't particularly looking forward to this mission. She didn't exactly excel in confined spaces at the best of times and that was without having to restrain oneself in case of a sudden collapse.

Plucking a torch from the pudgy hand of a guardsman, she summoned a small bit of electricity and made a spark. The spark grew along the length of the torch and a bright light lit up the surrounding confines. Without hesitation, the young Dreadlord strode through the entrance of the catacombs - ready for whatever would come her way.

 

[Ania]

Ania watched as the girl from Luana headed down into the catacombs. It seemed so irresponsible to her. Elise had requested they wait at the entrance and here was Florinthe and a few others descended into the tunnels beneath their feet. The pale woman from Weiroon thought she had been clear. It was likely in everyone's best interest if they simply buried these fools alive in a collapsed ruin. But here was Florinthe and a handful of others entering into the catacombs to meet these vermin in hand-to-hand combat.

On the one hand Ania was a bit jealous. She'd have loved to see these heathens face-to-face. See their fear, their sorrow, as they knew their lives were about to be extinguished. But she knew that Miss Virak may simply wish to bury them all in rubble and debris.

As Ania glanced over her shoulder she could not see Elise nor Gabriel. Perhaps they would be here soon. She couldn't be certain. What the freckled warrior was certain of though was that she wasn't about to let the servant of Luana steal all of the glory.

Grabbing a recently lit torch from a guardsmen Ania cascaded down the steps and into the tunnels herself. Catching up right behind Florinthe, not seeing any zealot resistance yet, and saying, "now what?" to the woman who felt it necessary to go spelunking into this den of villainy.

 

[Yrael]

Yrael took a torch and, after stepping aside to let Ania pass in a flurry, stepped into the dark tunnels. As expected, they were cramped, dusty, and dirty. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, showing that this particular entrance may not have been used for some time. There were undoubtedly countless others, why the prisoner had directed them here was unclear.

He did his best to look for traps or enemies, but it was difficult being third in line. The hallway was not yet wide enough for him to walk side by side with either woman, so moved in step behind them.

He had never mastered the art of sonar. It had been brought up briefly during his training, when his skill at creating and manipulating sounds had become apparent. At the time he thought it useless, and opted instead to focus on ways to kill. Ways to destroy. Now, looking back, it would have been a very useful skill for this situation. He could have mapped the catacombs with a thought. Instead, they trudged through the dust with hot torches, polluting the already stagnant air they breathed.

He turned to the soldier behind him. "Keep watch of the caverns behind us. Remember them. Make sure you can find our way back." It was possible that the prisoner had simply sent them into the catacombs to get lost. Given how many twists and turns they had already taken, this was a very real possibility. He had never been claustrophobic, but the though of remaining here forever disquieted him.

 

[Elise Virak]

Elise walked forward, not really minding the soldiers that surrounded them.

In a strange way she trusted the Virak House Guard much more than any Dreadlord in her service. Perhaps because they relied entirely upon her, perhaps because some had even sworn to her personally. She assumed it was the same for Gabriel.

Thus she kept speaking. "An arrangement, friendship I believe it's called with ordinary people."

Elise seemed amused by that.

"I help you, you help me." She commented as they finally turned a corner and arrived where the Dreadlords should have been waiting.

What they found instead was a collection of Guardsmen simply standing around. Her lips thinned, and she glanced at Gabriel. "We can discuss more after we find out what has happened here."

Elise stalked forward, heading directly towards the waiting Guardsmen.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

A smirk slowly appeared as Elise spoke of an arrangement, even going so far as to merit ordinary folk with the term friendship. It wasn't an entirely strange thing for two houses to ally when shared goals were somehow in the stars. He was not going to take a second look at an offer of mutual benefit however from Elise.

"I believe we can certainly come to some kind of arrangement." He enjoyed the amusement that came off of her. It was short lived however as they rounded the corner to find guards, instead of the dreadlords.

"Yes. This is...concerning." Gabriel noted, following behind her without saying anything more. He wasn't here to lead after all. His hand was lazily slung on the hilt of his sword and his brow drawn in confusion.

 

[Florinthe Othal]

As they progressed deeper into the catacombs, Florinthe paused. The hairs on her back standing on end. "Uhh... Were we meant to wait for the nobles? I saw Ania kicking the door in and assumed that was our cue?" She stood, a curious look on her face as she realised she might have inadvertently disobeyed Elise. Oh well. In for a shilling, in for a crown. She shrugged, drawing a set of short-spears. Florinthe didn't want to risk using her usual ones in such a confined space, it would only get snagged on something.

She beckoned one of the soldiers that had accompanied them, gave him a message to notify Elise and Gabriel of their intentions to scout the perimeter. Then resumed. It didn't sit with her comfortably to level the place like the firebrand had asserted they do, too many loose ends. They needed to find the source of the smuggling. Vel'Anir was at similar risk if they didn't explore the idea.

"Yrael, what do you suggest we do? Turn back or wait until we hear from the Nobles?" She turned towards the fellow Dreadlord with a genuinely curious expression on her face. Florinthe quite enjoyed the pragmatism and level-headedness of her comrade and was eager to hear his take on the situation. Additionally, she wanted to keep him on side in case Ania snapped and tried to stab her in the back.

 

[Ania]

"Yes," the dreadlord from Weiroon responded impatiently, "we were asked to wait at the entrance. You thought it wise to come down here and scout the place out. Knowing House Luana's tendency for mercy and aiding the people I felt the need to ensure you weren't coming to warn the heathens of their impending doom."

It was no surprised that Florinthe didn't bother asking Ania for her suggestions on the next course of action. After all, the wind mage hadn't bothered to pay attention to her earlier so why waste time asking for her input now?

What they needed to do, really needed to do, was find something down in these depths that would justify their little escapade. Some sort of hidden passage, written log of movements, or secrets they were hiding that could prove valuable to the nobility. Or, perhaps, just a few prisoners with more information than the silly girl they had captured and broken earlier.

"We need to find something of value," the pale warrior elicited her two cents. Regardless of it if was wanted or not.

 

[Yrael]

Yrael considered their options. He had come here under the King's orders, not Elise's, and as such was not bound to her commands. That being said, she was a dangerous woman to cross, and she seemed to believe that everyone was under her control.

"We are here already, it would do no good to turn back." He said cooly. Ania's suggestion, though unbeckoned, was not incorrect. Her accusations of betrayal, however, were most interesting. He said nothing on this for the time being, the bickering of the Seven Houses did not concern him, but he did not want the two of them to compromise this effort.

"Remember why we are here," he said, more firmly. "To kill the cultists, and find information to aid us in that goal." He stepped forwards, continuing down the path. While information on movements, motives, and support structures would be interesting to some, he didn't really see the use. If all the cultists were dead the problem was solved, as far as he was concerned. "I will continue," he stated plainly, indicating that the others may follow if they wished, but were under no obligation to do so.

 

[Florinthe Othal]

Florinthe fell behind the rest of the group, staring dumbfounded towards Ania. It took a solid few moments before she was able to regain her composure, she had never - not in a million years - expected coherence and reasoned thought to depart from her mouth. She shuddered, maybe she'd have to assess the Dreadlord in a new light. It almost frightened her to think the blunt instrument of the Weiroon family might not be as blunt as she let on.

"You're right. We should move quickly if they have smuggling tunnels they'll be evacuating as we speak." She followed carefully behind the pair, eventually recovering from her initial shock.

As the Dreadlords navigated the tunnels, flanked by some of the more seasoned members of the home guard, the seemingly endless passageways eventually, and inexplicably, seemed to widen. New beams, archways and supports lined the tunnel and it seemed as if recent excavation had taken place. Soon, signs of habitation became visible. Discarded clothes, tools, weapons as if people had been very quick to leave and only taken what they could carry.

Up ahead, some torch-light flickered against the dark background. Voices carried, seemingly unaware of the approaching death bearing down upon them.

 

[Elise Virak]

"I should skin every single one of them alive." Elise said as one of the Guardsmen informed her that the Dreadlords had taken it upon themselves to stake out the catacombs on their own.

Her fingers twitched slightly, and rage boiled along her features as she considered just collapsing the entrance to this place and burying them all alive. Disobedience could not be tolerated, but neither could she have them executed if they took care of the rebels.

It was a predicament that she had not wanted to be put in. Her lips thinned, and she glanced towards the setting sun.

No one had come forward yet with the information she had sought, and the desperation within the air was beginning to grow. Her features shifted slightly, and she glanced to Gabriel. "Captain. Begin a sweep of the city. Every tenth person is to be gathered in the main square."

Her lips thinned, and then she looked at the Catacombs.

"Use every man available." They had enough Guardsmen to slaughter this city if necessary, and she would do what was needed. "I will go chase my wayward Dreadlords."

They would have to learn who held their leash.

 

[Gabriel Banick]

Elise was irritated with the Dreadlords, and that was understandable. After all, they were a unit of there own and had some capability of making decisions on their own. A reason the Banick's had plainly stated for avoiding trying to pick up a Dreadlord for their holdings. To much aligned with their own goals, too independent, and most importantly unable to see the whole picture.

He feigned ignorance of her words until she spoke of going to find the dreadlords. Giving a nod to the captain before keeping company with Elise, waiting to speak with her until after the guards had gone. "Need a way to track the Dreadlords. They go running off without leaving a word. I must say that everyone is too dependant on them for my liking."

 

[Ania]

The trio proceeded deeper into the catacombs. Their boots and the boots of the guards accompanying them kicked up a melodious rhythm of steps that echoed off the underground walls and low hanging ceiling. Ania tried to imagine it was a song. Mostly because she figured it was the last song she'd ever get to hear. Elise was surely going to have them crucified along with the rest of the heathens. Maybe if they recovered a ranking member of this heretical clergy or detailed plans for their next moves Elise would give them a more dignified death. A less painful one.

Or, maybe, she'd just kill the Luana girl. That was a happy thought.

Ania spotted the torchlight and heard the whispered voices which echoed back into the chamber the three dreadlords had arrived at. Without any words the level three with raven-colored hair sprinted off in the direction of the lights and sounds. She wasn't going to wait on Yrael or Florinthe, if they kept pace with her great. If they didn't, well, she was confident she could handle these religious fanatics on her own.

The mass of bodies turned, some of them looked terrified. Others were angry. A few pulled swords, knives, axes, or clubs while up ahead a few of them gathered around a balding man and tried to run. That must've been one of the officials leading this little operation.

Without hesitation Ania drove her blade into one of the religious guards before her, severing an artery and causing him to spew blood. Several of the other cultists approached her rapidly and she retrieved her sword to parry the incoming assault.

Hopefully one of her allies was able to avoid the rabble and go after the fleeing group.

 

[Yrael]

Yrael would have preferred to advance slowly and silently. He could have dampened the air around them so that their approach made no sound. Ania, it seemed, had other ideas, and she darted off ahead.

His mind struggled to categorize her. She was fiercely loyal and obedient, but to the wrong people in his mind. Combined with her unique sadism it was enough to elicit a red flag of sorts. Now, she also appeared to be impulsive.

With precious few options at this point, he too picked up the pace and followed after, but he signaled the soldiers to advance as quietly as possible. Perhaps they would listen. By the time he arrived Ania had already slain one and sent a splinter group running. This was exactly the sort of chaos he had hoped to avoid in these dark, cramped, and twisting tunnels.

Were they outside he would have swept the group aside, Ania included, clearing the way for him to chase the fleeing people. However, these tunnels were ancient and already sand fell from the ceiling. Strong impacts and sonic disturbances would not do, he would need to be more precise.

He pointed a finger over the heads of those assaulting Ania, aiming for those fleeing. The burst of force he sent was moderate, but it was over a very small surface area. In effect, he had created an invisible bullet that raced forwards with an audible "pop." Blood spattered the opposite wall of the tunnel as a hole was punctured completely through the head of a fleeing woman, but the others rounded a corner before he could continue. His irritation began to rise.