Dreadlords Running the Asylum

[Alistair Krixus]

Castle Mezlan​

The dark greys and blacks of the Castle seemed to reach all the way and touch the gloomy clouds that circled above it. Any sane architect would likely not have chosen such imposing design choices for a place meant for the mentally unfit, Dreadlords builders never claimed to be the most sane. All of the pointed spires gave the appearance of some cathedral, but this place did not come close feeling like any sort of holy ground. Instead, the weather seemed to only add to the depressed aura of the castle, it was cold and had been lightly raining for the past several days. It felt more like a place that the gods had forgotten.

A cloaked figure stepped through the large gates at the entrance after finally convincing the guards to let them in. He bristled at the cold weather, trying his best to shake off some of the rainwater clinging to his cloak. He removed the piece to reveal long raven-black hair that now clung to his skin from some of the rain slipping under his hood.

The place had an aura of silence about it all, it had even felt like the guards and doctors here had been whispering to him when they spoke. Was that a choice they made for the patients or an unconscious response to the atmosphere of the castle?

Alistair Krixus took a moment to look around the large hall they had been let into, while they waited for one of the guards to guide them. He turned to look at his compatriots.

"This should go quickly. Then we move out as soon as we receive the prisoner."

Not all patients at Castle Mezlan were 'prisoners' in the rough sense of the word. Some were simply there because they could be trusted nowhere else. However, the Dreadlords had produced more than a few insane killers or maniacs that had to be kept locked up tight, even here.

He pulled out a slip of paper from his pack with the mission details, Evelyn Griggs, former 3rd-level Dreadlord who had snapped after a campaign in the Falwood. A minor telepath that can make others see images in their minds, she nearly massacred an entire village before she was stopped. Now, she was needed for the information she had gained during her time in the Falwood.

"Everybody read up on the report?"

 

[Perrine Urahil]

Perrine lifted a brow, wondering what her role with the prisoner would be.

It certainly was not her first time to an institution like this, or any other prison. Her talents with healing proved useful in the aide of extracting information, but Perrine was unsure if she was here for the same role.

"Quick and easy, is that not right?" She began to pull the fingers of her glove, pulling it off before repeating with the other. The Urahil tucked them into a pocket of her cloak, lifting her gaze to also look between those milling about. "Let us not waste time on simple instructions, shall we?"

 

[Lothar]

Lothar stood quiet, unassuming behind the others. His face was a blank, eyes set straight ahead as they slowly wandered forward.

Despite everything that had happened, the quiet Initiate still stuck to his trademark silence. A decade of being beaten down and broken did that, even once you managed to grasp the power to put a stop to it. His gaze flickered back and forth as they wandered forward, studying, taking it all in.

This mission was a simple one, compared to his last one.

The last year of his life had been spent on the other side of the world, in Malakth. Upon his return the Academy had taken the report of his behavior and promptly decided that he needed more...exposure to Dreadlords who had already graduated.

Apparently believing that his time among those more mature would help him settle into his newfound abilities.

A part of him was still utterly flabbergasted that no one had done anything more with the information of his stolen magics; But it seemed simply put that he was too useful to punish or put away. The abilities of an Archon were a rare thing, and although Lothar was nowhere near that power strength was something Vel Anir would never ignore.

Something he supposed he should be grateful for. "I read it."

Lothar confirmed to Dreadlord Krixus, his words short and curt. Gaze flickering to Proctor Urahil as she did the same.

 

[Henk]

"Quick and easy, is that not right?"

The Dreadlord standing to Perrine's side held back a huff. If only he could believe such a thing... But these missions never went smoothly for them. It was the capacity for things to go wrong that required the use of Dreadlords in the first place, or the Guard could have done this just as easily.

"I'm not crossing my fingers," Henk spoke, watching the platinum-haired proctor from the corner of his eye. "We can handle Evelyn, but she's not the only threat here." His fingers drummed against the armor covering his arms restlessly as he looked to Alistair. "Griggs is a telepath, and there are a lot of unstable minds in this Castle. Even escorting her out of here could be tricky."

Alistair Krixus and Henk were still not on the same page, the two who had once been friends continued to keep one another at arms length over Henk's absconding, and their subsequent encounter in Vel Draza. Still, neither man was the type to let such a thing get in the way of their work. All that mattered to him now was the completion of the task at hand.

And, quite honestly, Henk was far more wary of the Initiate accompanying him than he was of Krixus or Urahil.

"But... no sense worrying about that yet. Let's get to her first."

 

[Area Lefting]

Area sat in one of the cells quietly. Yelling could be heard by some prisoners as they complained. One being the woman in the cell next to hers, going by the name of Evylin. She was thrown in here a few days after Area. Area was only in the cells after being accused of murdering her foster mother. They didn't believer when she said it was her gift not her. Said she was crazy and that she was hidden away and knew she had a gift. But Area didn't know she had a gift till that day.

Area stood just as a guard quietly walked over to Evylin's cell, handing her a vile of some sort. Area couldn't see what it was but could see the guard had a smirk on his face and was whispering something to her. Something was wrong....but what?

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"It should be easy as long as we stay away from the inmates. We get Evelyn and then we go."

"We prefer to call them patients, Dreadlord Krixus."

Alistair turned at the soft feminine voice to see an older woman, but still full of energy. She wore robes that he would have associated with a religious order, although any iconography was missing. He had been expecting someone to come meet them, but his face screwed up in confusion at her arrival.

"I'm sorry. I was told we would be meeting Captain Tilley here."

The woman walked with an almost supernatural smoothness which when partnered with her long robes almost made her look like she was floating over the ground.

"Yes, Captain Tilley apologizes, but he is dealing with a small inconvenience. Excuse my manors, I am Lady Danvers. I will be guiding you through the castle. Please, follow me."

Alistair glanced back at the others but did not want to be at this place longer than was necessary, so he followed expecting the others to do so as well.

Without asking, Danvers treated them more like visitors on some educational outing. As she began to rattle on about the history of the castle and some of their groundbreaking research on mental recovery.

"We believe we can assist everyone that enters these halls."

As they approached the doors that led to the cells, it was like the 'patients' could see their arrival as the activity in the next rooms began to grow. Most of it was utter nonsense as these patients seemed more inclined to shout obscenities to the sky rather than direct anything at the Dreadlords.

Henk Lothar Perrine Urahil

 

[Perrine Urahil]

Perrine followed three steps behind Krixus, her arched brows furrowing slightly as Lady Danvers prattled on about recovery. Only a year prior did Perri realise it was these very halls she had been summoned to. They walked past the cell she had tended to, but upon a quick glance, saw a different face had now taken up residence.

Guilt flooded her, but the Urahil schooled her expression.

Recovery. To heal the mind the way she had been instructed to do so was aggressive, but all records of her visit here had been classified and kept off the books. Perhaps for good reason, if that patient no longer dwelled here.

"Have you faced any difficulties in applying one method to many? I assume the results would be differing between individuals." When the Lady turned back to look at the tall Urahil, Perri put on a small smile. "Healer." She flicked her long hair back to show the insignia known throughout the ranks. Healer, but not shown was her being a Fourth Rank Dreadlord.

Lothar Henk Alistair Krixus

 

[Lothar]

Lothar stayed quiet as they walked, though not because of the same reasons anymore.

As soon as they stepped inside the Asylum proper, a realization dawned on the young Initiate. Every single person here, or almost, was a Dreadlord. At least they had been once, which also meant that they all had magic in one form or another.

His fingers furled into fists as the thought traced through his mind, his face an implacable mask as they approached the cells.

Beneath the bandages wrapped around his arms he could feel the eyes embedded within his flesh begin to move. The Archons magic beginning to squirm within him as it sensed the power which radiated from those who were kept confined here.

All of them presented opportunity.

Lothar swallowed hard, trying to keep himself in check.

It had been easy at first. The magic had come with gifts which he had always desired. They had given him the power and strength that he'd needed, but the more that he used it, the more that he took, the more it seemed that his new abilities took on a life of their own.

Whatever had driven Isbrand Lorel to his heights now drove him, and there was something utterly terrifying in that idea.

 

[Henk]

As with most of the missions Henk found himself on, it did not take very long for the parameters to change from underneath him. Gone was their contact in Tilley, replaced by this unknown variable in Lady Danvers. An immediate wave of distrust washed over him as she slid across the room with an unmistakable air of self-importance. To his credit, Krixus did not ask them to trust her, and Henk in turn would not ask him to proceed alone, falling in behind the Rune-Mage with a wary eye on their new liaison.

Still, tolerating her propagandist spiel was a battle in its own right. Danvers spoke so highly of the work they did here, of the help they provided those kept trapped within these walls, as though the Dreadlords did not have eyes and ears to perceive the truth around them. This was not a place meant to provide assistance; This was a dungeon under a more 'acceptable' name.

Had he the means, Henk would have liked to work towards a better solution. Perhaps a means of finding them proper psychological care. In another life, perhaps he would have had the pull for such a thing. Alas, he'd been bred to kill, and that was the role that he'd resigned himself to. At least, until he who he sought to end most was laid to rest.

Despite his desire to chastise Perrine on assuming the staff here put any true effort into aiding the prisoners here, he held his tongue for the sake of the mission. Instead, he let his eye wander to Lothar. The quiet, enigmatic young man had been doing quite well as an Initiate, but it was a fool who couldn't see the darkness inside of him. Beneath those bandages, something twisted stirred. What exactly that was, Henk hadn't the faintest, but there was something about Lothar that made him feel as though the boy wasn't so deranged as the schoolyard rumors liked to depict him as.

Perhaps Henk was too trusting. Or perhaps Lothar reminded him of a friend.

"Breathe." He muttered to the boy, offering the ghost of a smile. "You'll not master yourself if you allow your environs to rule you."

 

[Area Lefting]

Area heard the commotion, hearing footsteps down the hall caused her to quickly move to the back of the cell where she was enveloped in darkness, the shadows quick to hide her from anyone's sight, or almost anyone's sight. She didn't know who these people were and if anything, she would rather stay far out of anyone's sight. For whatever reason these people were here for, wasn't good and the feeling Area got after every step they took closer, proved they weren't in the best of moods. So she stayed hidden, quiet and listening.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair was doubtful, to say the least, that any of this was helpful. The atmosphere felt as unstable as the minds of many of the patients. As they entered the patient's quarters, all of them would be able to notice the magical lock that activated behind them.

Lady Danvers seemed to grow rather excited as it was revealed that there was a fellow healer in their midst. She quickened her pace as he swept and hand out in the area. A majority of the patients were locked into cells, however, a few patients were walking through the halls, wearing magical nullifying collars. These individuals looked far more docile as they politely nodded before moving away from the group as quickly as possible.

"As you can see, every patient needs their own unique touch. Some of them must be kept confined for their own security, but many are allowed much more freedom while on the path to recovery."

Danvers turned a corner and continued on her way with a bright smile on her face.

"Sadly, many of our guests have seen quite the horrors during their service, but our understanding of the human mind improves by the day. We have been advocating for a more active role in mental health during service, but...the Republic has many problems to deal with. I doubt our concerns are at the top of the list."

Alistair had remained quiet during their walk through the facility. His eyes grey eyes seemed to cast their gaze around the room settling on walls or other far-off destinations. In truth, the place was crawling with so many Dreadlords with so many unique auras. It would have been beautiful if it was not so clear how unstable many of their auras were. However, something he saw made Alistair raise an eyebrow.

"A truly...unique facility."

Lothar Perrine Urahil Henk Area Lefting

 

[Perrine Urahil]

A smile stayed on her facade, despite the many warnings being sounded in her mind.

The Republic did attempt such a program, but being off books, not all medical practitioners would be privy to such information... but Perrine had been present, had be one of the few administering tests. What Danvers spoke of only scratched the surface. To nullify their magic and provide care? It was the runabout way of keeping them prisoner, not improving.

But Perrine did not say much else on the matter, simply smiling prettily and nodding her head.

Either practice came with their dangers, and Perri was glad she was one of the few Healers that survived the ordeal.

"Agreed, Krixus." She turned to look to Lothar and Henk, her eyes flashing with the opposite opinion of her words.

 

[Lothar]

Lothar swallowed hard. "It certainly is..."

He could feel the magic writhing beneath his skin, aching to reach out, to take some of the power which was simply being wasted here. Had the Archon known of this place? Had it been where he had taken some of his power from?

The Initiate couldn't help the thought from creeping into his mind. He couldn't help but wonder just how much of it was him.

Suddenly Lothar heard Henk's words, the young Initiate nearly jumping out of his skin as the man spoke. Goosebumps rippled over his flesh, and he took a sharp breath as he dipped his head in a nod. Taking in the Dreadlord's advice and trying to steel himself before continuing. His paranoia having not quite yet taken root.

"Something." He finished finally, feeling as though his tongue were swimming within a sea of sand. A long breath flowing into his lungs as he cleared his throat. "If I may?"

Lothar rasped. "How...often to people leave here?"

It did not seem likely that many Dreadlords claimed by madness escaped their fate. Though the Republic had changed much, Lothar still remembered the old days. He wouldn't think that the same regime that had beaten and nearly broken Initiate's would treat those who had already been broken with much kindness.

If any at all.

As he waited for his answer, Lothar briefly glanced up at Henk. Mouthing a quick 'thank you', as he tried to think about the moment. Tried to think about himself in that moment.

Not letting his surroundings, or his new magics, control him.

 

[Henk]

Something was off about this whole arrangement. It had only briefly tickled at the back of Henk's neck when Danvers had taken the place of their assigned agent, but the Lady's behavior was only increasing the suspicion that gnawed upon his mind. She treated this as some sort of tour; an advertisement for this relic of a system long since deemed archaic.

Surely, Danvers knew of their work? How imperative it was? Why did she stall them so? Perhaps the others would call him too distrusting, but then where had trust in those above him gotten him in the past? Who, amongst this group, truly trusted one another?

"Yes, this is all fascinating, Miss Danvers. Truly, but..." Henk was growing impatient, and he gently pressed their 'liason'. "We are unfortunately not blessed with much time in our efforts. If you could show us to the prisoner that was discussed in our briefing, we would be quite grateful to you."

Henk thought it safe to assume that none of them wished to stay within these walls for a particularly extended period of time. It did not instill confidence in him that a republic he'd re-sworn himself to still employed such draconic methods of mental treatment, and though it was none of his business... Henk was somewhat concerned about the Initiate they'd brought with them. He seemed to be struggling.

"I'm certain we could revisit this another time...?"

Alistair Krixus Perrine Urahil Lothar

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Lady Danvers' smile never dropped from her face even at the obvious growing discomfort from much of the group. She simply nodded along to their statements and then motioned down the hallway.

"Of course, Dreadlord. We are actually heading towards her room, it's right down this hallway."

At first, it seemed like Evelyn was one of the 'patients' that had to be confined to their quarters but as they finally reached the door, it was proven not to be the case. The door was unlocked and as Danvers opened it up, Evelyn Griggs was finally in view.

The young woman was in simple white robes that seemed to have been slightly stained yellow with time. It was also clear that wherever this woman was, her mind was not there. She sat curled up in the corner of the damp, grey room with a glassy thousand-yard look centered on the doorway.

"Evelyn has her good and her bad days...When you take her back, you may need to wait for one of those good days." She said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Alistair looked over the girl and frowned, her aura was clear like glass and shattered like a broken mirror. It did not take magical sight to know that this woman was shattered, in mind or spirit.

At this time, a small bell chime began to ring repeatedly, which drew a look of annoyance across Lady Danvers' face.

Perrine Urahil Lothar Henk Area Lefting

 

[Area Lefting]

Area scooted closer to the front of the cell so she could see the visitors. Curiously she looks at each one of them slowly. None of them seemed bad but they had powerful auras. Why were they here for Evelyn?

Suddenly she had remembered the vile one of the guards had given her. She red liquid was bright in color and seemed to glow. It wasn't something that Area would easily forget. The way the guard smiled at Evelyn was permanently etched into her brain as well. Did they know about the vile? What if she used it to get out?

Area knew nothing about potions. She was often locked away in her home and anyone could feel the chilling feeling that has been slowly growing ever since these visitors walked in. Something was wrong. But what?

Area thought for a moment then decided it best they knew. Staying hidden out of their view, area whispered "be careful of the vile."

 

[Perrine Urahil]

Perrine turned to Danvers with that veiled pleasantness on her lips, the kind that had plenty warm to her as her light blonde hair gave off the depiction of an angelic citizen of Aniria. "She shall be comfortable, and we are patient. Progress is not an immediate thing."

That is if they did not have Perrine's ability to control the functions of one's body. Reaching the mind was difficult, but she knew the theory of navigation the more she dived in.

The state of the woman was something Perri knew was of neglect. She shot Alistair a look, frowning a moment before dropping back to her feigned interest that she regarded their guide with.

She turned to Henk and then to the Initiate. "Well, come now, who wishes to escort Griggs to come with us?" Her amusement was only seen in her periwinkle eyes.

 

[Lothar]

This was all very strange. His question wasn't answered, which wasn't unusual for him, but there was something else in the air. Something unsaid or unspoken. Secrets, that had been whispered into the walls with hope to be forgotten.

It made him uneasy.

"I can take her." Lothar said as he stepped forward and through the small crowd. Figuring that out of all of them he had the least training and time with his magic. Now that his secret was out, he had new abilities, but little knowledge with any of them.

Without waiting for confirmation Lothar stepped forward through the door of the cell. He moved carefully, not quickly. Keeping an eye on the sedated woman and slowing just in case any of the actual Dreadlords said or did something.

He wasn't about to risk himself, or them for that matter.

Right now Lothar knew he needed all the good word that he could get. So he simply did as he was told, moving to pick up the Dreadlord and get her ready to head back.

 

[Henk]

To say that Miss Griggs looked worse for wear would be a bit of an understatement. The young woman looked starved, both physically and mentally. Looking briefly at Danvers, Henk silently wondered how bad she'd been when she'd arrived here, and how much worse the lackluster treatment here had made her.

It didn't matter. Such thoughts only served to upset him, and this mission was more important than his feelings. A lesson he'd taken far too long to learn.

"Perhaps the fresh air will do her some good."

Henk doubted it, but it was all he could think of to say that wouldn't be heard as incendiary towards Danvers or this facility, and he could get far more reliable answers on Evelyn's condition from Krixus and Urahil. Thus far, he'd not believed a thing that he'd been told since arriving.

Lothar volunteered himself to carry Griggs, and Henk stepped aside to allow him past. No sooner had the young man scooped Evelyn up than a bell began to ring out, chiming quite incessantly. It seemed to irk their host, and he'd an inkling it wasn't merely because of the sound.

"Nothing to worry about, I assume?"

Lothar Alistair Krixus Perrine Urahil

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair looked in the direction of the voice that spoke of a vile his gaze lingered on the door that held that girl before turning his attention back on Danvers, while Lothar was moving Griggs.

The Physician quickly dismissed it with a wave of the hand, "A tonic that the staff gives to patients that are having dangerous episodes to calm them down, completely safe."

He did not know how much he believed that, but he wanted to be out of her as soon as possible, and they had their charge. Al motioned for the others to get moving, naturally falling into a pattern that placed Griggs and Lothar in the center of the formation. Alistair had asked Perrine before the mission to also stay near Griggs, as her talents might be the only thing to calm her if she lashed out. That would leave Henk and Alistair to take the front and back.

For all of the sudden changes and accusation, Danvers appearance never broke as the calm and polite smile continued to rest on her face. She looked to Henk and shook her head with a relaxed gesture.

"Oh, it just means that their was an altercation in another part of the facility. Usually small scuffles, likely what Captain Tilley is handling at the moment.

Maybe it was just Alistair, but in these few short moments, it felt like the atmosphere had quieted down immensely as he could now hear the sound of their feet briskly marching down the hallways. Wait...that wasn't just them. Rounding the corner with a small contingent of guards came Captain Tilley moving at a brisk pace.

For the first time, Lady Danvers' smile broke.

Henk Perrine Urahil Lothar Area Lefting

 

[Area Lefting]

As the visitors left, Area scooted to the back of the cell. They weren't safe. At least, she knew that much. She had been in this cell long enough to know what those viles could have a meaning to. It wasn't the first time she had seen it either. They were planning to capture the visitors. Area didn't know why, but that was what always happened.

She sighed lightly. No one was ever coming to get her. She envied the woman they took with her. She rather be out of this cell, even if she were to be sentenced to death.

Ares's stomach rumbled aggressively. It had been 6 days since she had last eaten. Since anyone here had last eaten. She hadn't seen the sun in years either.

Closing her eyes, Area thought about her parents. How they would hold her hands, running in the flow fields....she never expected their ending to be the way it did.

There was no doubt Area had killed them. She even blamed herself sometimes. But the truth of the matter was, they died because her powers randomly appeared. Setting their whole house ablaze in the middle of their sleep and leaving Area in the center of the rubble.

When the guards came and took her away, she vowed she would never care for another again. This way, noone else could get hurt, or at least if they did.....she wouldn't care.

At least, that was what she had told herself. But for some reason, she was drawn to the visitors that had just left. She felt strangely safe and wanted to fallow them.....but now, they were gone.

"I shouldn't be hopeful for things that can never come true."

 

[Perrine Urahil]

Perrine moved to help Lothar with their charge, her hand going to take the woman's cold hand closest to her. If she began to even move a muscle against them, she was prepared to bring her down with her own magic.

"Let us hurry now." Perri spoke in a gentle coo. Their group wasted no time in going back the way they came, but soon they came to pause after Alistair. She turned to peer over Evelyn to Lothar, then over her shoulder to Henk. Her brows furrowed, seeing a group advancing towards them.

Tension thickened the air around Danvers, and Perrine narrowed her eyes. There was something off, even more so now with the group heading towards them now.

"You good at fighting, Initiate?" She asked, weighing the options of who may have to take over looking after their charge if things were to go awry. Her periwinikle eyes followed every muscle that Danvers moved, and it was not too many. She was almost closed into a corner, and that usually made for interesting outcomes.

 

[Lothar]

Tension began to fill the hall as their host approached, her face an alabaster mask of ill-intent. ”Better than I used to be.”

Lothar said softly to Proctor Urahil.

His left arm was still laying across Griggs as he held her over his shoulder. The Dreadlords not insignificant weight causing him to lean ever so slightly. With her weight, he would not be able to loose the bandage. For a.moment, Lothar seemed to weigh something in his mind, then he leaned in towards the noble.

”Proctor.” Lothar continued, speaking to Perrine in a whisper. ”If something happens…”

Lothar spoke slowly, not entirely sure how much the woman knew about his…situation. The revelation of his stolen magics was no longer a true secret, but not quite everyone knew either. The Academy had offered their punishments for what he'd done, but the abilities he now had were deemed far too valuable to throw away.

A stroke of luck for him, really. ”Please tear the bandage from my arm.”

As he said the words, the half dozen eyes embedded into his flesh seemed to squirm. Moving and shifting about as though they could sense the coming danger. His stolen magics almost eager to be used, to be freed.

 

[Henk]

If suspicion wasn't enough, it was clear they were being held out of the loop on something now. The moment the controlled environment that Lady Danvers led them through was interrupted by the sound of the bell, the chiming in of one of the 'inmates' warnings, and now the approaching footsteps echoing down the hall behind them, her composure ever so briefly faltered.

Whatever was transpiring within these walls wasn't anything Henk particularly wanted to get caught up in. They had a job to do, and they need only concern themselves with obstacles that impeded their retrieval of Griggs.

So Henk could only hope that whoever approached did not impede them.

Perrine moved to help Lothar, and Henk stepped to stand beside Alistair, facing who he could only assume was their original contact, Tilley, with an assortment of armed men backing him up. The Captain didn't look pleased, and that in turn caused Henk to glance over at Krixus.

The Rune Knight still hadn't regained his trust in him, but Henk discreetly nudged his elbow with his own, before nodding gently towards the approaching crowd. A silent assurance that he would follow Alistair's lead here.

Alistair Krixus

Perrine Urahil

Lothar

 

[Alistair Krixus]

By now, a rune on Alistair's hand shimmered with magical preparation as he began to step forward. Those were a lot of guards. Had they left the rest of the place unmanned?

"Captain Tilley-"

"Where are they?!" the large man roared in outrage

Alistair was taken aback, completely speechless having no idea what the man was talking about. Where was who? Had they lost one of their residents? As Tilley drew closer, Alistair could now see an almost crazed look in the man's eye. He was truly angry.

Lady Danvers stepped forward to meet the large man with more than a look of annoyance. "Captain Tilley, this is completely unacceptable behavior. I will-"

Before Alistair could react, Captain Tilley rammed a knife straight into the woman's chest. She let loose a gasp as the air was pushed from her lungs. He heard Tilley whisper to her, "You can not have them."

What was going on? Alistair was taken out of his momentary shock, as several runes activated across his skin. By now, the guards were continuing to move forward to stand Tilley as all of them focused on the Dreadlords. This was no longer a simple retrieval mission.

"Defend yourselves." Arcane energy gathered at his fingertips.

Perrine Urahil Henk Lothar