Knights of Anathaeum Knocking is a Common Courtesy

[Methuselah]

"Oh, you're talking about the swamps of endless torment?" The barkeep told him in a voice that was too matter of fact for the words he just uttered.

Methuselah nodded his head in concern and possible disbelief as he repeated, "The swamps of endless torment?"

"Yeah, the swamps of endless torment. We used to call 'em the bogwart swamps, but then they started tormenting people endlessly." Methuselah was a bit lost for words at this point and the moment stretched longer than it should have. "Bogwart seemed kind of a poor description at that point." The barkeep shrugged. His voice never changed through the whole explanation and he said it with total sincerity. Methuselah still had a hard time believing the story.

"Come now, Lionel. They ain't endlessly tormented. Stops being tormented when they leave," A patron shouted from one of the nearby tables.

"The swamps of periodic torment while you're currently in them doesn't have the same ring to it, now does it Garvey?" Barkeep slapped his little table as if they'd done this whole routine before.

Methuselah cautioned an additional question, "So, this only started recently?"

"Oh definitely. I'd say back around when Agnes came to town, maybe five or six years ago" Lionel told him in that frustratingly pleasant demeanor.

Garvey wagged his finger at him. "Agnes has been here for 30 ought years. You're los--"

"Would you mind telling me where it is?" Methuselah cut in quickly, as he desperately wanted to leave these two to their bickering. Unfortunately, he still didn't have directions.

"Straight west," Garvey explained at the exact same moment that Lionel said, "About north by northwest 'o 'er."

The two immediate responses then ignited into a full blown argument that Methuselah couldn't get a word into, nor could he entirely understand what was being said. The barkeep had apparently been using a masked accent, but it had melted away with his anger as he shouted flagrantly at this Garvey, whose accent had also become more incomprehensible with each moment that passed.

It was at this point that the knight came to the conclusion that he'd be better off just walking westwardly and hoping for the best. He quietly sidled away from the heated conversation and back towards the exit. He prayed to every god that existed in all of the realm that they'd just ignore him completely on his way out. It seemed like one of them heeded his prayer, as he snuck through the door back towards the main road.

The town was venerable beyond anything that Methuselah had ever seen. He'd met old spirits of the forest that had a fresher aura than this haggard stop on the road to some nameless swamp. It worried him. If the foul magic that invaded the swamp had seeped its way to the town, it could be warping the way essence of this small settlement. The disagreement of the two in the tavern seemed suspect as well. He had a hard time believing two people were that belligerent.

"Alright, everyone. I think I know where we're going," Methuselah announced to the group of knights that had been brought to take on this infestation.

There were those moments when the Knights of the Athenaeum put aside their orders and the pomp of their station in order to get back to the basics of what being a knight was all about. This infestation would provide the perfect retreat for them to just unwind a bit and get to know each other, while honing their skills against a reported outbreak of crazed monsters.

While this big of a group was typically reserved for events of more epic proportions, it was important that they get some experience working as a team. If the reports were even halfway true, it was possible it might even require the entirety of their strength to rid this swamp of its scourge.

He knew they would be up to the challenge. He just hoped they could find the way.

 

[Osuin]

“So, what do you all think caused this corruption?” Asked one knight, addressing the question to any who might respond.

“Likely some sorcerer, mucking around with what he shouldn't.” Mused Osuin, recounting a couple of his adventures and the root cause he had uncovered. Still, it was but a guess and Osuin had no true idea. Some information still eluded them. Thankfully, the group of knights had come across a place where they might gain it.

But what a dismal place it was to stop.

Still, it was a town, and could hold the needed information. They were drawing nearer to Bogwart and corruption they had been tasked to clear out, not that they knew exactly where they could find it. But they had a general idea, and more detailed directions might be discovered within the settlement. Methuselah headed in to see what information he could gleam, while Osuin remained on the exterior with the remainder of the knights.

The burly warrior was used to the swamp, he'd been raised in one before the Knights of Anathaeum had found him. He was used to it, but honestly didn't much care for it. These swamps though, seemed to be even worse. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but Osuin felt an sense of unease that he just couldn't ignore. The swamp was a depressing place, but these swamps seemed much more so.

He figured it must mean they were close, and the fight would soon be upon them. That, or he was simply anxious. He couldn't quite be sure, but the warrior that he was he assumed the time of battle would follow shortly. The sooner they could purge this evil, the better, and Osuin lived to do exactly such a thing.

Hope filled him as he spotted Methuselah making his return to the group. But the report he gave did not confirm it.

"Alright, everyone. I think I know where we're going," Methuselah announced.

“You think you know?” He questioned, a touch taken aback that Methuselah didn’t know for certain. Osuin had prepared to do battle against corruption. They’d likely come across it sooner or later, but it was best not left to become an eventuality. The battle was bound to be off to a bad start, were they left aimless and without the initiative.

“I mean if we don’t know where we’re going, could you just share what they had to say before we head off into probable battle?” Osuin continued, a brow slightly raised.

Methuselah

 

[Luna Shael]

It wasn't often Luna enlisted herself in quests involving the slaying or monsters of the cleansing of cursed lands. Although she had nothing but commendations and praise for those who did such noble work. Her talents merely lay elsewhere, in the fields of diplomacy and meditation. Rather than that of monster slaying.

Yet when word of this unfortunate corruption first reached Astenvale Monastery and talk of putting a larger party together to tend to it arose, her mother insisted to her that she participate. Peculiar, her mother had personally overseen her training as a diplomat, and now she pressed her to neglect them and take on another mission entirely? Nonetheless, she acquiesced and soon found herself among their ranks.

She'd tried to make a bit of, as the common folk said, "small talk" but she hadn't been very successful. Her formal manner of speaking proved tiresome to some of her comrades-in-arms. Hence, she conceded her efforts and now stood a little ways off from the others. Still standing with perfect poise despite their situation.

She rejoined the others when Methuselah returned. "Truly? How fortuitous. Where is our destination?"

Methuselah Osuin

 

[Josai]

How curious. The little creature that pushed through the muck. She had never seen its like before. Which was saying something, as looking at little creatures push through the muck was one of her favorite ways to pass the time. Even as a child growing up in a place not so different from this one. Though, she supposed that no swamp was ever really quite the same.

They each had their own smell. The mud sank and spread differently too.

No. No two swamps were ever the same. In fact, the same swamp rarely ever staid the same for too long. That was part of the beauty of such landscapes. While all the world was in a constant flux, swamps made no pretense about the matter. Swamps changed right before your eyes. A sandbar there in the morning was gone when the sun hung high at noon.

"Ten legs," she said to herself, crouched low beneath the shade of her wide brimmed hat, and her fearsome spear rested lazily again her as she traced with a carved bit of charcoal across her leather-bound notebook. " an individual segment for each pair of claw-like appendages at that. Oh, and what a formidable jaw you have, Syr deca-pede," she mused, rendering the creatures details upon the page as the hand-sized creature marched across the uneven terrain. "You seem just as capable at swimming, as you are crawling too," she began to work on the finer details. Her eyes glimmered silver and white and she drew individual features of the insect.

Methuselah said something. Then the other knights chimed in. It sounded as if they were still sorting things out. The pursuants, at least. Best leave the details and planning to those of higher ranks on quests such as these.

Else, how was she to find the time to catalogue new findings?

Methuselah Osuin Luna Shael

 

[Methuselah]

"I'm worried the locals don't want us to find the swamps. Their directions weren't much help."

His gaze was distant as he scanned the skyline near the houses. Humans could have a good sense of direction at times, but even the most detailed maps could be wrong. What Methuselah needed was someone that could lead him there directly, and he had just the thing in mind.

A shrill and clear whistle echoed through the ramshackle of the small town. The cackling of crows returned his call as a few black dots took flight from the rooves of nearby houses. There were only about six or seven, but they would be able to make quick work of a search, if one of them wasn't aware of the location already. They dove into the streets and came to rest within earshot of the knight.

"I need to find the nearby swamp. It should be eastward."

The crows all reacted immediately as they shook and became frantic. Small little voices shouted, "Back! Back! Back!"

It could sometimes be difficult to tell what his familiar were trying to relay to him, but this one was relatively straight forward. Whatever lay within these swamps had his crows scared out of their minds. They almost never warned him off of a task. He hoped the others would not become dismayed by the warnings.

"Good, you know of it. Bring us there at once."

The crows seemed hesitant, but they took to the air as Methuselah walked to his horse and mounted. Once he was on his horse he gave a sturdy nod to the other Knights of the Order.

"We'd not be very brave knights if we had no more courage than a few crows. I'm certain that whatever evil is in that swamp will be no match for our skills."

And yet, even as he tried to rally the courage of his fellow knights, he couldn't help but hear the dim cawing of "Back! Back!" in the distance as their guides desperately tried to warn them of their journey.

 

[Osuin]

"Truly? How fortuitous. Where is our destination?" Luna Shael inquired, far more content with the news with Osuin. Not that the Knight Pursuant was irked, he was more confused than anything. Questions arose, and he had put them to Methuselah, who returned his response to the two:

"I'm worried the locals don't want us to find the swamps. Their directions weren't much help."

“They don’t want us to find it? Don’t they want us to purge it?” He asked aloud with incredulity that the locals offered no assistance. Usually people were pleased that the Knights had arrived, if they happened to live where the Knights were deployed. They had their purpose in purging corruption from the lands, a goal he’d known most to find agreeable.

Perhaps they are just not of sound mind, Osuin mused. It could be that whatever was the cause for their presence also muddied the mind of the swamp's inhabitants. Or maybe for some reason there was distrust between the two groups. Whether their attitude could be explained away at all was lost on Osuin, who could only remain to wonder about the circumstances between them while Josai remained lost in her wonder about the local wildlife.

“Then how will we seek our task?” Osuin inquired next, wondering aloud as to how they were to continue forward in their mission. Methuselah however had an answer, and whistled out into the air to call forth several crows. Delivering the question to them, they did not react well, all flying anxiously about in what appeared to be a protest at the requested task. Yet Methuselah was able to get them to agree to it, despite their displayed panic. There was little doubt that the corruption was nearby, and even less doubt that it was a truly daunting one.

It was assessment that Methuselah seemingly agreed with.

"We'd not be very brave knights if we had no more courage than a few crows. I'm certain that whatever evil is in that swamp will be no match for our skills."

“Truly. And so we shall eradicate it.” Osuin affirmed with a solid nod. They had always rose to meet the occasion, and surely this could be no different. Still, the signs were rightly chilling. Though Osuin clung tightly to morale, he was well aware that whatever evil they were facing must be terrifying.

Methuselah Luna Shael Josai

 

[Luna Shael]

Luna's wayward gaze fell on another of her fellows. Syr Josai was her name, she'd long since familiarized herself with the names of many of her brethren in the Order. Although for Josai, her name was about where her familiarity stopped.

She held nothing against her studious comrade, how could she when she hardly knew anything about her? But she behaved a little (Gods forgive her impropriety) odd, if she was being entirely honest. Or mayhap that was what the other knights thought of her. She shouldn't think such judgmental things.

"I'm worried the locals don't want us to find the swamps. Their directions weren't much help." Methuselah elaborated on what he learned.

Her attention shifted back to Sir Methuselah. Her lips pursed but her expression otherwise didn't change. "Truly? How strange."

“Then how will we seek our task?” Osuin inquired. A valid concern, they would not find much success wandering in the wilderness.

Luna set a hand on her heart. "Perhaps I can gather more information from them. With no disrespect to your own considerable talents Sir, I am well-trained in such matters."

Methuselah however, had another viable solution to the issue. One that involved communicating to crows and sending them to find the way for them. "We'd not be very brave knights if we had no more courage than a few crows. I'm certain that whatever evil is in that swamp will be no match for our skills," he said next.

Luna folded her hands behind her and nodded once, resolutely. "We shall not quail before local rumor!"

Methuselah Osuin Josai

 

[Josai]

Josai smirked to herself upon hearing her Sworn fellows. "Would only that we could learn from it, before we eradicate it," she chimed in, as if stirred by the sudden breeze, and closed her sketchbook with a muffled clap. The insect creature had scurried far and away, and her hands worked her supplies into her shoulder strapped satchel that hid below her deep blue cloak.

"Not often you hear of Methusulah's Murder turning tail feathers from a fight," she adjusted her wide brim hat, and took up her spear, which had rested so easy against her shoulder.

Soft squishy footfalls sounded with each of her steps, and she hopped up onto her mount. The trinkets tied to her spear head tinked and clinked and rang soft with her movement.

"Must be something worth studying, don't you think, my Syrs?" She said from atop her stead, the fearsome, if only in appearance, Snoot.

Snoot's bright golden eyes stared blankly at the party.

 

[Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar]

A loud crash would sound up ahead in the town as patron broke through the not so sturdy railing of his porch. The sign above it would at least make it look like a general goods store.

The human would squelch into the mud before a knight in silver and gold armor approached the fresh gap in the rail, pulling his gauntlet back on. Hopping down, his boot would press on the mans chest, sinking him further into the muck. "I do hope in the future, you learn some decorum when dealing with the other races." He would pull a handkerchief free and toss it down onto the man. "The mark is to remember the lesson.. this is to make yourself more presentable." The disgust was evident in the Knights voice.

"Flying Knight! Flying Knight!" A pair of almost impossible to see Goblins were now hopping up and down in celebration at the display. Turning to see several humans on the porch, they would yelp and hop down behind him.

"Flying Knight! More!" One holding a crude dagger would yell out.

The humans had begun to brandish clubs, one even a dagger. The "flying knight" fastened his gauntlet as the visor of his winged helm focused on the man with the knife. "Put that away, you'll only be crossing a line that cannot be uncrossed. If any of you wish to take complaint with this mans lesson, I am accepting formal challenges. There will be no restraint, as I defend the honor of these goblins. I will not fail."

The humans looked at each other and one by one they would dissolve into the shop. As the goblin with the dagger celebrated, tucking his weapon away, the Goblin with the staff would turn to see a band of Knights in the road. He would almost scream in panic for his gaze fell on Luna and he grinned widely and waved.

"Flying Knight! Friend Luna!" He would shout out.

"Friend Luna!" The other Goblin would chant out, joining in on the wave.

Valdr would shift his gaze to where they pointed and with the visor up, they could see the big grin. "Syr Luna! Syr Osuin!" He would shout out as he began to walk over to the group. "How fortuitous." His gaze would wash over the other Knights and he bowed his head respectfully. "I am Ser Valdr for those that I have not yet met. These are Piddlwik and Pobba.. Captain Helena and Luna know them well. We were passing through on our way to Astenvale. Well met one and all."

Methuselah Luna Shael Osuin Josai

 

[Methuselah]

The group had their own reasons for coming on this mission, but they were united in purpose. That was the most important part of their troupe, and it would see them to whatever dark and terrible test awaited their end. Had he the pick of his Knights, he'd want no more than that unity.

"Alright, then. Shall we--"

A crash distracted him as he turned his head in the direction of the sound. In the distance, he saw an altercation between what looked like a Knight that he couldn't quite make out, and two goblins. The goblins acted as the Knight's hype men, as they had an interaction with one of the locals. With his brief interaction with the innkeeper, he was not surprised that someone had not been able to keep up with the antics of this small town.

Although he had never specifically met Syr Valdr, his reputation was well known, and he'd spotted him a few times at the Anathaeum. As he introduced himself and his two friends, Methuselah offered his own bow in greet.

"I am Syr Methuselah, pleasure to make the acquaintance of a fellow knight and his trusted friends. We were just on our way to carry out a mission for the Order. "

Methuselah brought one hand up to shield his eyes against the sun as he pointed in the direction of the swamp, "A nearby swamp has purportedly been overrun by some foul magicks. We've been dispatched to clear it out. If you're up for a fight, we'd be more than happy for as much help as we can get."

*** A Short Ride Later ***
​

The squish and squelch of horses hooves was only one of the signs that they'd arrived at the swamp, in earnest. The trees had grown moss ridden, and small pools of water had accumulated algae that rippled from unseen inhabitants that had fled from these strangers. Sentient species might see these monsters as an intrusion, but perhaps the wildlife just saw it as another part of their ecosystem. How much worse could a dragon be when you could be eaten a common bird?

His crows still loomed overhead, occasionally letting out a worried cry of alert for Methuselah. In spite of their reservations, they would also be seeing this journey to its end.

"It seems like we've made it. Now, we need to make sure that we stick together. We have no real clue of what awaits us in this swamp. I wouldn't be too keen on believing any rumors you might have heard." With that, he gave a nod and looked around to make sure that everyone was ready to venture into the next phase of their journey.

 

[Osuin]

Luna shared in his sentiment, which Osuin was pleased to hear. This evil would have to be faced, regardless of how great a threat it might be. They’d not be knights were they not brave, but blindly pursuing a foe that was an evident terror would be foolishness. Care in action and preparation was prudent – for the crows to react in such a way was a sign that they were chasing something powerful. They could not turn away, but neither could they falter before it.

Whatever it was.

Information was sparse, and the villagers hadn’t been much help. It seemed they had little idea about what they were seeking, aside from the given sign that it must be truly dangerous. Osuin wished he knew more, such that he could better prepare to defeat it. It was a desire Josai shared, albeit for a different reason.

"Must be something worth studying, don't you think, my Syrs?" Josai remarked.

“I do wish someone had, and we had material to refer to.” Osuin replied. Much as he desired further information, he didn’t care as much to be the one obtaining it. True, someone had to be the first. And it was fair that they’d be the one documenting that, he’d just rather have the information now.

A loud crash stole his attention, and he turned to see a man tossed from a store and through it’s front porch. Concerned that trouble was afoot, Osuin instinctively reached to his sword. But when he saw Valdr following after him, he stayed his hand. Matters were clearly under control. From Valdr’s commentary and the excitement of a pair of goblins cheering on, the man had been mistreating them, no doubt to some terrible degree to incur such wrath.

"Syr Luna! Syr Osuin!" Valdr called out once he had concluded the altercation. A knight he knew and had fought beside before, and he was happy to do so again. It was fortuitous to have another valiant warrior to join them in the battle to come.

* * *​

The ride that followed was brief, and soon they were deep within the swamp. Wildlife scattered at their approach, most of it within the murky waters that marked the ground.

“Needn’t worry about that. I’ve barely heard anything.” Quipped Osuin with his hand ready on his blade, and his stance prepared for a rapid dismount, if needed. A lack of information increased the need for care, and Osuin keep watchful for and worried about the potential for ambush.

Luna Shael Josai Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar Methuselah

 

[Luna Shael]

"Would only that we could learn from it, before we eradicate it," Josai chimed in. To Luna's recollection, this was the first time she had deigned to speak of the matter at hand. The apparent difficulties of Syr Methuselah intrigued her mayhap. She mounted atop a great lizard creature, Snoot she believed it was named. "Must be something worth studying, don't you think, my Syrs?"

Luna knew not what excited her comrade so, or what about such a dismal place she would find worthy of study. She didn't have a chance to voice the question as a sudden (yet strangely familiar) commotion caught her attention. Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar, a friend of the order, and his two goblin companions.

She smiled politely and nodded. "Syr Tal'deneshaar, this is fortidious indeed. Though I must confess I'm surprised, so far I have met you twice and each time you've been in the midst of some conflict with another."

***​

Luna followed carefully behind Methuselah atop her own steed. She rested one hand on the hilt of her sword, while her bow and quiver were strapped to her back. While she knew not what horrors they might face, she knew hostile wildlife was a very real possibility.

"It seems like we've made it. Now, we need to make sure that we stick together. We have no real clue of what awaits us in this swamp. I wouldn't be too keen on believing any rumors you might have heard." Methuselah said. Nodding at the assembled knights.

“Needn’t worry about that. I’ve barely heard anything.” Quipped Osuin with his hand also ready on his blade.

Luna returned Methuselah's nod. "I too have heard little of the swamps themselves. What I have gathered are contradictory accounts of various dangers. Only one of which went into any detail. However I assure you that I shall not let it cloud my judgment."

Methuselah Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar Josai Osuin

 

[Josai]

Josai smiled beneath her wide brimmed hat, her spear rested easily on her shoulder, and from its head hung baubles that served as ornament and catalysts alike. "A chorus of ignorance," she said easily and without care. "Come now, fair Syrs, is it all of your first times in a swamp?"

Snoot licked his wide yellow eye, and Josai pat the great lizard beast upon the neck.

"Such places guard themselves with secrets." she cast her eye down at the wet and squelchy earth that seemed to suck their horses in. But Snoot, and his wide spread claws, webbed between each digit, seemed to stand more easily upon the muck. "The very ground does away with tracks. And the rise and fall of the tides does away with much more," she cast her eyes out, and studied the terrain, she bowed her head in the direction of a twisted mangrove,

"The locals will be no better, certainly not to strangers such as ourselves," she smirked, and noticed how the tree seemed to stand apart from all the other growths. "There, look at that odd growth," she looked around for more, watched Methusala's crows and how they flew. "We must mark our trail," she closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath, her lungs swelled with air, and she fell into the dark of her own mind.

Light of loch,
Ripple and ebb,
Let the land give way,
Let the winds follow your currents,
Ancient mover,
carver of paths
trace my steps.
​

From the center that was Josai rippled out a blue pulse of silvery light. Faintly, it paced over the terrain, traced the world about them, if only for a blink. But in her mind, she would see it. A feint vision that resided upon the banks of her memory. A second pulse would course out from her, and should her fellows allow, they too would see hints of this ghostly vision within their minds.

Josai let out a long breath, and nodded. "That should help some, i think," she added, and pulled out her leather-bound journal. Her charcoal pencil appeared in her hand, and she began to sketch on the paper.

Methuselah Rangvaldr Tal'deneshaar Luna Shael Osuin