Private Tales Artifice

[Kaarle]

“ Some ways uphill, the mountains if you will, is an old outpost. Beneath it, lies the lost repository we spoke of last year. Says so in this writ— “ A slip of parchment, sound like dry leaves in the wind. He snatched it from the air, neutral severity on his face slowly turning to outright dissatisfaction.

“ To me just says that it’s days away — What do you want from there? “

“ Didn’t you see the drawing on the flipside — “ An indicating gesture, amidst a sip of something warm. He merely glanced at the picture, a perfect sphere set on a triangle of legs. Some markings. Insufficient.

“ Some scribble. No weight, no material, no dimensions. What’s in it? “ He put the note on the table, tapping it with his fingers.

“ We don’t quite know. Historical significance not enough for you? “
“ No. “
“ Well, thankfully you owe me one. That’ll suffice am sure. ”

It did, his face a begrudging image of it as he flipped the paper back around, shoulders sagging as he gave a sigh.

“ I’d simply like to know how heavy it is. “
“ Heavy as a day is long.”
“ Well, that’s not much at all. “
“ Wrong. It depends. “

***​

The mountain stream splashed as he made across it, his burdened hop not enough to clear the entire breadth. Despite it being only early autumn, the air had already chilled up here significantly, the occasional trees a bunch of dark, leafless things. The moisture in the air made the cold travel through garments and all the way into the bone marrow at every gust. The only thing keeping him warm, sparing extremities, was the vigorous pace their shepherd of a guide had kept.

If the woman wasn’t a retired postal worker, he had a goat for an uncle. He’d never seen a single sheep walk this fast.

Well, some fortune if the breakneck speed granted them one less day up here. In this feeling he’d appeared to be rather alone, as the squire he’d taken with on this little impromptu expedition kept up brilliantly. Not a single complaint, no matter the thinning air and all besides.

No wonder he’d been told that she was just about ready to be sworn in. What with her being significantly taller and hardier than two thirds of people he’d met in his life, he almost felt silly calling her Squire. And that had been before the shepherd had taken him for the squire out of the two of them, first they’d arrived at the village some half a day downhill by now.

The travesty. Not to say he hadn’t half entertained just going along with it. Perhaps he would’ve then been excused from maintaining an amount of decorum as time was wasted with whichever menial task, so much faffing around before they could depart anew. Now, it’d likely be dark before they’d traversed all the way back down later today. He’d already decided he’d rather risk that, than spend a night camping out here.

Or worse, in the dusty cobwebbed outpost. There might even be a corpses, rats or mold there — a clear health hazard. Thinking of such things, he glanced past his shoulder at Gruki and hooked an index into his scarf, pulling it down from where it covered half his face.

“ You alright there, squire? That slip you took on the stones earlier looked rather nasty. “

 

[Gruki]

'It was!' The squire replied, smiling despite the ache in her knees from where she had fallen. 'Think the stones were probably worse off, though.' Using humour to cover up the pain, Gruki hurried to catch up. They had been walking for what felt like hours now, and there was no sign of slowing. A cold wind blew, biting through the furs and thick clothes she had wrapped herself in.

'And you, Syr? Are you doing okay?' The she-orc inquired, looking up from where she had planted her feet to meet the Knight-Sworn's eyes.

This was the first time they had served together, but Gruki was already starting to like Syr Kaarle of Dusk. Short but handsome, the dusker had proven himself to be a caring, compassionate fellow, if a touch sullen at times. I blame the climb for that. And her! Glancing past the knight, Gruki's gaze alighted on their guide. A slave-driver, through and through!

Still, they needed her if they were to find the repository. It was bound to be up here somewhere.

'Watch yourself, Syr!' Gruki advised, jumping aside as a cascade of loose scree ricocheted down the mountain slope. Their guide continued on, bold as a goat and hoarier still. Least the views are pleasant, she sighed, taking a moment to admire them. All this fresh air was doing her a world of good, Gruki felt. It was just a shame about her boots.

Damn things are falling apart. Hope we get there soon.

 

[Kaarle]

He gave a firm nod at her, appreciating the honesty. No use denying the fall or that it’d hurt. They’d all seen or, at the very least, heard it.

“ Yes. “ He responded simply to the question in turn, picking up his pace again lest the woman ahead leave them both behind. Okay as okay goes — he’d not lied, but things could’ve certainly been better, circumstances more ideal.

At the call from abaft, watch himself he did, gravel and dirt cracking beneath his heel as he broke aside from the irregular path. Well-beaten by wildlife and water, it wasn’t meant for leather soles. This wasn’t the first time he’d nigh slipped.

“ Thank you, Gruki. “ He spoke quickly, a spring in his step as he cleared a couple larger rocks, regaining visual on their guide that’d disappeared behind a stretch of stunted, bushy pines. She appeared to have finally stilled, stood upon a wall that rose abruptly some six feet from the rubbleridden ground.

Not only a shepherd, but a wizard too? The impatience must’ve been clear in his face, as she was quick to point out a narrow goatpath on the rockface to the side, one that’d require some scaling and balance. A steady foot.

“ I’m not doing that.“ He stated outright, approaching the wall instead. The shepherd gave but a shrug, eyeing the two of them curiously from the shade wherein she stilled to watch. SIlent for a moment, like in measuring, he stood with one gloved hand on the stone.

“ I don’t know about your skill in rock climbing, but mine aren’t anything to brag about. “ He started, turning to the squire. “ Mind giving me a leg up? “

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

Gruki shrugged. 'Sure!' Brushing past Syr Kaarle, she put her back to the wall, bent down to make the mount easier. She could feel the guide's eyes watching her like a hawk. There was something odd about the woman that Gruki just couldn't put her finger on.

Cupping her hands, she nodded ready.

Kaarle stepped up, best foot forward. Taking the weight with nary a sound, Gruki straightened, heaved the knight up, armour and all, to the ledge above. A few small stones tumbled loose to go careening back down the slope. 'You good?' She cried out, hands hovering above her head to catch him if he wasn't. Of course, she needn't have worried.

My turn, the she-orc thought, throwing her pack to the guide. With a short run up, Gruki clambered up the wall, grabbing hold of the ledge a moment before gravity decided to intervene. A grunt and she was on top. 'That was easy,' she smiled. 'Where to next?'

 

[Kaarle]

He braced, hands on her shoulders as he planted his foot into her palms. It was like being launched by a trebuchet.

Probably. The shepherd’s helpful hand added to the grace of his landing, which might’ve well ended in a bit of clamber otherwise.

“ Yes. “ He affirmed upon her checking in, one hand on his hip, his attention fully occupied with taking in the path that climbed onwards. Now, if we can find a rock to tie a rope so she can—

It appeared in alarmingly quick succession, that they’d need to bother with no such thing. A wild scrape of soles and a grunt made him whip around, just so he might witness Gruki having scaled the ledge without issue. He couldn’t but blink, watching sheepishly as she made a joke of it.

The orc he usually traveled with would’ve done no such thing. And hadn't, in his life.

“ An easier way I hope. We aren’t far from our destination, now. “ He managed in response, looking to the shepherd for confirmation.

“ No, we are not. A bit of a climb yet and it should be on a ledge to our right. “ She responded with some amusement, snorting and clapping him on the shoulder in passing. His astonishment had hardly gone unnoticed. Silly man.

“ Easy, huh? “ He parroted Gruki’s words belatedly on their way, once the shepherd had taken out of their immediate earshot.

“ Impressive, more like. Teaches me to not make a single assumption about your capabilities, from hereon. Keep it up. “

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

'Oh, I'm not sure about all that!' Gruki could feel herself blushing. It wasn't a good look for a tall, intimidating half-orc. She knew that. Still. 'Thank you! I won't let you down.' She made it sound like a promise, as if such a thing was within her power. Who was she to know how Syr Kaarle's mind worked, or what the future would bring?

Foolish, foolish Gruki! Don't go saying things you'll regret.

Too late. Slinging her pack over one shoulder, and her greatsword over the other, she made to follow the guide. The path ahead began to level out after a dozen paces. The ground to either side was treacherous, still, scored with coarse brush and pitfalls that could twist an ankle or snap a leg with ease.

Fortunately, the old mountain goat knew her business, knew when and where to step.

Gruki mimicked her, moving with exaggerated care. The ground began to climb again, angling up at random intervals. Why anyone would choose to build a repository this high into the mountains was beyond her. But then she had never been the smartest of people.

'Say, Syr Kaarle, may I ask you something?'

 

[Kaarle]

“ Now, there’s a promise I can respect. “ He responded, purposefully severe to further drive in the tease. No pressure, whatsoever.

In time, the outpost begun looming. It was in the marks around the ground and walls, the occasional remnant of an old step, artificially smooth under one’s foot. The shepherd had begun slowing down, like keeping an eye out for something at every bend and junction. Somewhere, water was flowing again.

He almost started at Gruki’s voice as it called, inquisitive, pulling his glance past his shoulder. His advance slowed none.

“ Ask away. Fast, if you may — I feel we’re just about arriving. “

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

A nod, quick as you please. 'What are we looking for, exactly?' Gruki asked, innocent as the day she was born. 'I know it's a relic of sorts. Something worth hiding away up here, at the very least,' she mumbled some, glanced at her feet. Yep. Still there! 'Master Brambleshell was a bit light on details, is all.'

A shrug accompanied the smile she sent Kaarle's way.

'I just feel like I would be of more use to you if I knew some of the specifics.' Feeling like she had talked too much, Gruki went quiet. The high winds tugged at her hair like a child demanding attention. Even here, amongst the bones of their shared past, it was difficult to hide from the conditions. But not impossible.

The Guide had stopped by such a nook. Crouching down, she eyed the ruined entrance ahead with something akin to wary respect. There was history here, yes, but something else dwelled in the mountain repository. She could feel it in her marrow.

Gruki could feel it, too. Call it intuition.

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

Questions, suspicions, reasons. All warranted.

The smile and her overall tone, so careful and genuine, almost made him feel bad for withholding information. Details that he, frankly, largely didn’t have either. But what sort of an idiot would’ve told on himself like that.

He could name a couple. Was he about to be one of them, so disarmed by the sincerity about this girl. He gave a sigh within the shelter of his scarf, surrender in the depth of it.

“ I’ve a picture of it, if you’d like. “ He responded, meeting eyes with her anew, a smile in them. His pace slowed a little as he fished inside a small rectangular pouch at his belt, producing a slip of parchment folded in half. Urging her to hurry closer, a bit of a frown shading his look, he handed it over.

“ You are right to think it a relic, by the look of it. I was told it is a device of some sort, concerned with measuring and recording celestial events. Predicting weather, maybe. “

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

'Lot o' hoo-ha for a weather thingamajig,' the she-orc commented, examining the drawing like how the investigators did in her murder mystery novels. 'Still, could be useful.' She passed the slip back with a grateful nod. It was nice to be appreciated. And trusted. Don't forget that part.

Walking on, Gruki approached the entrance to the repository with caution. A skeleton slumbered peacefully just outside the massive archway, its head lolled to the side. Rusted mail hung in tatters around its shoulders and midriff, and there was a broken sword on the ground nearby, just out of reach. Forever just out of reach, Gruki realised.

'Who did this place belong to, before...' Gruki hesitated, glanced around. For a moment, she thought she had heard something. A voice, perhaps. Or several voices rolled into one. The wind, playing tricks, she decided after a time spent listening, paying her instincts no nevermind.

Syr Kaarle would have warned me if this was going to be dangerous, she thought, the cold nipping at her exposed skin. Right?

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

“ A lot of hoo-ha. “ He repeated, unimpressed. “ Never met a historian, have you? They’ll get themselves into a twist over a shard of clay, and that, in a utilitarian sense, one might consider infinitely and irreversibly unuseful. “

The drawing and notes were quickly pocketed away as he turned to continue on, marching right past the guide and for the archway. He stopped next to the skeleton, regarding it in a tilt of his head, frowning with thought. Gruki’s caution dawned upon him only as she spoke, questioning.

“ The people of Belgrath. “ He responded, neck craning as he traced the archway, visibly and audibly unconcerned. “ It is possible we’ve a connection point to the underground roads here, even. Quite likely collapsed. “ One should hope. He turned proper then, spotting the guide that’d left herself behind, lounging against the rockface and enjoying her lunch. Ripping into some tough bread with her teeth, she met his look.

“ What? Is the door locked? “ She gestured at the tall archway, the clear air therein.
“ No. You alright staying out here, waiting? “
“ Quite. I’ve not been in, anyway. “
“ Great. “ Leaves us the honours, then.

At that, a shriek echoed from somewhere deeper in, stilling him to listen and peer at the gradual dark. Or was it just a roar, amplified and distorted. A birdcall traveling through airholes, a boar, the shift of a boulder. He shrugged.

“ Must be some animal, either living or gotten stuck here. " He muttered, slinging his pack off his shoulder and into the ground. The large knife strapped to it came off, tugged into his belt instead. Looking to Gruki, he kept his borderline weary tone.

" Still, doesn’t hurt keeping ones wits about oneself, an eye out and a blade at the ready. “

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

'Didn't sound like any beast I've ever heard,' replied Gruki. But I suppose he's right. Pulling her sword belt up over her head, the tall orc brought her weapon down to her side. Three-and-a-half feet in length, with an extra foot for the hilt and pommel, the sword itself was a big, broad-bladed thing, well-suited for reaping cuts. It was, she believed, the kind of weapon most innocent people envisioned a knight wielding in their defence.

Or against them, as the case so often was outside the Order.

Shrugging off her pack, Gruki knelt down. 'Should I prepare torches?' she asked. 'Looks dark in there.' Her eyesight was better than most, but that was not to say she was without her limits. Everyone had them. Even Syr Kaarle, and he was a fully-fledged Sworn.

The sound came again, closer this time. Somewhere between a shriek and a snarl, it made the hairs on the back of Gruki's neck stand up. 'Forgive me, Syr,' she said, voice amplified by concern, 'but I'm pretty sure that wasn't an animal.' She was a student of the Wyld, and whilst her knowledge of the natural world was far from perfect, it was not so flawed as to trick her into thinking the sound could have belonged to an animal.

Unless...

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

Torches?

“ Certainly. “ The affirmation was little more than a grunt, his attention occupied by the dark. He squinted, shading his eyes with a flat palm.

The little chamber immediately after the archway, while empty, terminated to a doorway which held but the remnants of hinges. After that, the gloom deepened, broken only by a little sliver of light made opaque by the ever swirling dust in the air. At least the ventilation works, then — what joy, to not suffocate to death in the underground.

Gruki’s remark roused him to attention belatedly, prying out a little inquisitive hmh and the arch of brows. Not an animal? Only pretty sure?

“ Then it is not an animal. “ He stated in a shrug, glancing at her like she’d just told him the grass is green. My, what groundbreaking news, we’ve some eldritch beast of the deep in our hands — cancel the expedition. Shaking his head in disproportionate disappointment, he dug in his pack for some of the reagents he’d prepared.

“ We’ll be fine, Gruki, whatever it is. I’ve a big knife. “ He said, tapping at the blade at his belt. From there, his hand gestured at her sword.

“ And look at the size of yours. Absolutely horrible to maneuver in confined spaces, so we should hope we don’t get surprised in one. “ Like all the corridors in this outpost, I bet. Showing not a flicker of worry on his face, he closed the drawstring on his pack and slung it back over his shoulder.

“ Let’s see what this does. “ One of the clay spheres in hand, he made a gesture to produce flame into its fuse. In a shift of powder and click of stone, he sent it through the distant doorway.

A shell gave way, releasing a sound like an elk’s call. And for a moment, within the rectangle was nothing but a bright red light and smoke with the tinge of sulphur.

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

Gruki looked at Kaarle, then, her sword. 'Yes,' she said, 'I suppose it is quite big.' Drawing her steel, she gave it a test whirl before holding it up to the light of day. I can make it work, she thought, sliding it home with a satisfying hiss. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Syr Kaarle relax.

What? Did he think she was about to use it on him?

Preparing the torches -one for her and one for him- the big squire tucked them both under her left arm, careful not to damage the heads. There was a flash of flame-light as Kaarle lit the fuse on his little firework. The flash that followed was brighter, more powerful. Gruki detected a whiff of something sulphuric, as the smoke clogged the entranceway.

Was he trying to flush the not-animal out? Maybe. Whatever the case, they were left blind until the mountain winds dispersed the smoke, deeper into the ruins.

Striking life into one of the torches, she passed it to the knight. She secured her pack's straps as someone crunched up the path behind them. 'Coming with?' she asked the Guide, smiling up at her. 'Oh, heavens, no! No, I just came to wish you luck.'

'What for?'

'In finding what you climbed all the way up here for,' she said, wrinkling her nose at the odious smell. Like rotten eggs. 'Well, thank you!' Gruki stood, turned to Kaarle. 'Shall we?'

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

Well. Appeared it did a whole lot of nothing.

Humming thoughtfully, he watched the red flare fade. Silence reigned, residue of the smoke drifting past him where he stood in the middle of the archway. Curious — that usually roused at least some sort of—

The offered torch was accepted in but a nod, his stare undetaching from his point of interest. As the two conversed behind his back, he paid it no mind, ear perked to any which sound from wherein they were to stray in quick succession. None was there, of a sudden.

It’d turned to a tomb, biding ill. He drew in a breath, deep, like a man bracing for pain or a dive. Both?

“ We shall. “ He responded to the squire, glancing past his shoulder. Without delay, he made true to it and begun forth, steps slowly gaining an echo as he crossed the first chamber. Nothing happened even as he crossed through the doorway in a swift pace, one hand on the hilt of his knife and stare whipping about at every suspect shadow.

So far so good. Or not.

“ If you were to store an artifact, Gruki — “ He said, tone easy as he took a look around the second room, one long and narrow with slits for windows on the left and two staircases sinking to the stone floor at the end. They came together at the middle, then split again to separate headings. He walked on, figure aflicker as he passed through stripes of pale light.

“ Where would you put it? “

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

Gruki moved in after Kaarle, close enough to lend her support but not so close as to foul his swing should he need to react swiftly. Of course, it appeared as if she was hiding in his shadow, but Gruki knew that wasn't the case. Nothing scared her. She was big and strong and brave. Nothing, nothing-

A loud shriek echoed up the steps, making Gruki jump. Her blade inched free of its scabbard on instinct. Was the Thing coming up to fight them? Was it even hostile to begin with? Did it have to sound so scary?

No! Stop! Foolish Gruki! Thinking is bad! Grimacing, the she-orc gave herself a mental kick in the shin. Now was not the time to get wrapped up in the bubble of her thoughts. Seek and destroy, find and retrieve. Mission first, always. 'Where would I put it?' Keeping her eyes on the branching stairs, Gruki pondered fast and hard.

'Somewhere deep down, where it can be locked away and kept safe. Either by myself or someone I trust implicitly.' She paused, listened some. She could hear the gentle chitter of crumbling stone and- yes! The beast, chittering too. What the hell was it? 'Were the Belgrath's known to employ magic, Syr? Wards and the like? And what of guard-beasts?'

The puzzle pieces shifted, slotted together. Others came undone.

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

The shriek was so much louder and sharper now, ricocheting off the walls around them. He didn’t as much flinch as stopped for a heartbeat, stilling to listen with his head inclined at the staircase.

As silence fell again, he proceeded forward with a warier pace, side and torch first as he took to the first step downwards. His stare kept at the heading even as the squire spoke, his advance pausing again as she did, allowing the both of them to take in the scraping sound. It wasn’t terribly close, but close enough to warrant it being worrisome. If only they could pick a direction to avoid it altogether, one in which their desired item preferably lay as well— Too much to ask?

“ Deep down, behind lock and key. All too sensible, but bad news to us, then. “

He paused at the diverging point, measuring the identical corridors that continued downwards in parallel, but quite definitely separate. Nothing indicated their difference otherwise, least of all when function was concerned.

“ Guard beasts and traps are more likely than magic. But that is assuming none has been here after it was abandoned. “ He answered, torch illuminating the carved images on the walls, looking for any sort of direction. Were some of the symbols a language he couldn’t understand, or just decoration?

“ I haven’t detected any wards though, so far. “ He reached out and tried the air carefully, like running the fingertips over delicate fabric. The weave of the Loch was still, without disturbance. Shrugging one shoulder conclusively, he drew the knife and went on.

“ We’ll go left, first. Keep an eye on the ceiling. “

It has strange marks on it.

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

'Let us pray our luck holds.' Gruki replied, crossing her fingers and wishing for the best. Wards were a real nuisance to dispel. Kind of like eldritch horrors. 'Already on it,' she said, following Kaarle's lead and drawing her steel, careful not to knock it against anything in the process. Syr was right. The weapon was a bit too long for her to go swinging it about as she pleased.

Fortunate, then, that there was more than one way to hold a sword.

'The dust is thick here,' she remarked, reaching out to run her index across the face of a marble bust. The nose and chin had been chipped away at, but the pointy ears remained untouched, as did the rest of... whoever it was the bust was supposed to resemble. 'I doubt the place has seen any visitors in a long, long time.' A good thing, that. Chances were the relic they sought was still here, safe and sound.

The bad news? Whatever it was making the sounds was getting closer.

Coming to a wide room, Gruki halted in the doorway. The air here smelt musty, and was thick with motes of dust that swam in the flickering torchlight. A... library? The half-orc wondered, counting bookcases and broken tables. She could just about make out a spiral staircase on the far side of the room, hinting at an upstairs. The second flight of steps had collapsed, presumably under some massive weight.

But what could possibly have brought-

There was the chitter of claws on stone, and before she knew what was happening, Gruki found herself being deafened by an almighty roar from above. Flinching as the wall of sound hit her, the she-orc looked up. There was a shadow, there, huge and wriggling. Gruki saw a flash of pale skin, red and raw and slimy. The shadow shifted, pulling itself along the ceiling to dangle just above their heads.

It was then she noticed the teeth. Yellow and rancid, they sent a shiver of fear down Gruki's spine. The creature -whatever it was- seemed to sense her fear. Smiling an impossibly wide smile, it began to descend, heaving its massive body down the wall towards them.

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

The squire made known what she’d noticed and he nod his head at it, approving.

“ Well observed. Does bear hoping we’ll find what we came for, after all. “ Despite the steadiness of his pace, he kept it from too swift as they advanced, first down and then straight ahead. The next doorway he cleared much as the first — without hesitation, fire humming as he swept the torch around in the broader, much taller space.

A flight of stairs. Bookcases? His stare took in the debris on the floor, face scrunched from all the dust and stale air in the room. It’d only get worse from here, one had to assume. Just how soon and in which way, he’d not been exactly prepared for.

He spun around at once at the roar, breath hitching at the loudness of it. The sight of what’d finally come to greet their little expedition had him clench his jaw and swallow in disgust. A thing of the underground, all teeth, nigh translucent complexion, no eyes to see with.

And it was beginning to descend. The surrounding stone gave a tremor, little pebbles on the floor chittering. He made to close the distance to Gruki, calling out.

“ Back to the corridor, we’ll have to— “

The large shape reared, two spindly, sharp limbs lashing out. He barely avoided them in a leap of a sidestep, both sinking an inch into the floor. Snarling, he brought the torch to the fore and blew in it, the flame growing larger and lashing out through the air like a whip.

The thing gave an infuriated gargle, limbs thrashing as the slime on them sizzled.

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

The stone beneath Gruki's feet quaked as the monster fell upon them. Two limbs like the blades of a giant mantis lashed out to skewer the air where Kaarle had once stood. Any slower and he would have been a shish kebab right now. Roaring in rage, Gruki charged in to deliver a cleaving blow to the creature's midriff.

Her blade, a real man-splitter, clove through meat and muscle to embed itself deep. The power she had put behind it was rewarded with a pained bellow.

Then, the monster span, throwing Gruki bodily to the side. Something solid punched her, tossed her to the ground. Her sword skittered across the stone in front of her face, hilt-first. She grabbed it, clambered to her feet as the grub came at her, slimy skin burning.

It was then she saw the thing in its true form.

Gruki screamed, fear and revulsion causing her to tense up in fear. Her weapon's cutting edge was slick with the creature's blood. Blue-black, it slid in small droplets to patter the stone betwixt her boots.

Senses accustomed to the darkness followed the pitiful sound. Rows of needle-like teeth lengthened in rancid smile. Shrieking, disorienting, it lunged forth with it's front limbs to smash the wall. A cloud of dust and disintegrating masonry pinged off of Gruki's armour as she twisted, swinging from the hips.

A glancing blow, she ducked aside as the thing turned with her. A bookcase came apart beside her, making history of... well, history.

'The fuck is this thing?!'

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

Dust and particles of crumbling paper billowed in the torchlight, stinging at the eyes and making breathing even less pleasant. He stifled a cough, glaring at the thrashing grub. The squire appeared to be drawing it’s attention, all afeared noise and startled movement, though despite both she yet swung her sword mighty fine. Something to be congratulated for, if at a later time.

Things were a little pressing, presently.

“ It doesn’t matter! Just cut it in half. “ He responded in interest of time, louder and angrier than he meant. Erratic with pain and an animal rage, the grub fished for its prey with wild stabbing movements, sprouting an additional pair of sharp limbs.

He scarcely avoided being impaled, leaping aside and colliding with the wall shoulder first. Positively scrambling, he ducked and swept with his blade as another strike sought him. By some miracle, he sliced more than just air.

Chitin split, one limb losing its claw-like point and spraying a trail of black ichor on the wall. The broad body wriggled like a worm exposed to an intense light, slamming another bookcase to smithereens.

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

What did he think she was trying to do? Dance with it? Retreating before the monstrosity, Gruki sidestepped a limb-thrust. She nearly went ass-backwards over a chair, but managed to keep her feet. To fall was to leave oneself vulnerable, and the grub-thing certainly had an appetite for destruction.

And flesh, if the piles of bones were anything to go by.

Clicking her fingers, Gruki shouted an incantation, her voice bouncing around the grand library. An orb of light about as big as her head leapt from her hand to hover high in the dusty air. The creature shrieked as the orb bathed its horrid form in light. Having spent so long below ground, its senses had developed to suit its environment. It used sound to locate and debilitate its prey.

Gruki's ears rang as it shrieked again, lunged.

Her blade caught the limb at the joint, cut clean through. Black ichor sprayed to stain the stonework as Gruki swung again, taking her knight's words literally by reducing the limb to half its original length. Coughing, her eyes full of grit, the big orc charged in close to deliver another blow to the grub's body.

Wriggling, incensed by pain, the grub pulled itself free of her steel. Gruki felt her arms complain as the bug came close to pulling them free of their sockets.

Breathing hard, she sidled closer to Syr Kaarle, her gaze tracking the creature into the shadows.

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

He grimaced at the sudden appearance of a miniature sun, first for the brightness and then for what it revealed. Proper, this time. The firelight had already exposed plenty he would’ve rather not seen, but this was another intensity of detail entirely.

If the Gods were real, they had made some interesting choices in crafting their many creatures, only cementing his quick notion that whatever roamed the dark and the underground was often meant to stay there. In this, the grub seemed to agree, but only after Gruki had reduced another quarter of its hunting appendages into a mere oozing stump.

He hadn’t but to approve. Voicing none of it, he watched warily as the shape of the creature wriggled to the corridor where they’d come, disappearing somewhere beyond the bend in the staircase.

“ Fuck. “ He breathed out and turned on heel sharply, knife arm falling from its guard. A couple steps were taken in an aimless pace as he rolled his sore shoulder, stare snapping to Gruki the moment he ground to a halt. It was measuring, permitting no lie.

“ You aren’t hurt? “

Gruki

 

[Gruki]

Gruki followed. Cautiously, at first. The grub was wounded, weeping black blood across the ancient stone. Its passage left a dark smear through the thick layer of dust that had settled like a death veil over the decades of abandonment. No wonder it chose to scale the walls and ceiling, she thought. Harder to track, and harder to defend against when it chose its moment to strike.

They had gotten lucky, very lucky.

Relaxing her stance, Gruki allowed herself to exhale deeply as the grub disappeared from view. The squelching, disgusting noise it made receded, until all she could hear was the sound of feet scuffing on stone and her heart beating its battle-rhythm inside her chest. Then, a voice.

Turning, her sword gripped tightly in her right hand, Gruki met Kaarle's stare with a look of bewilderment.

'What?' she asked, more afraid of the glint in the knight's eye than the creature they had just faced. 'Oh! No, I'm not hurt.'

The entirety of her left side ached something fierce now that the adrenaline was beginning to wear off. But if she couldn't take a few knocks, what use was she? 'Are you okay? It didn't get you, right?' Crossing to the dusker, Gruki began checking for abrasions and lacerations.

Please tell me it didn't get him.

Kaarle

 

[Kaarle]

Her response was accepted in a low hum, steel huffing as he sheathed the knife. Some luck, then.

He didn’t get a word out to her question in turn before she had already closed the distance betwixt, patting him down in what appeared to be genuine concern. Rather stunned by such a direct hands on approach, his instinct to swat her away and give some sharp retort went unheeded. Somehow, it felt out of line of a sudden to do either.

Clearing his throat, he grabbed her by the arm where she could feel it, seizing it in a squeeze that begged attention. His stare wasn’t angry or judgemental, but assuring as it sought hers.

“ I’m fine, Gruki. “ He said in an even tone. “ But I appreciate the concern. “

His grip fell away from her with the addition of a comradely pat, an unpracticed awkwardness to the gesture as he lingered.

“ I’d suggest we take a deep breath, but the stench and dust here be so horrid my mind is rather firmly set in moving on. “ In a little shift on his place, he gave the room a once over, torch held at each and every corner.

“ We’ve but crumbled bookcases here. Perhaps further on — “ The fire spat sparks as he whipped his arm at the staircase, gaze narrowing beneath his frown.

“ Upstairs? If we can clear it through there. “

Gruki