RP:Tails and Tales - Regarding the Follies of Necromancers

From HollowWiki

Part of the Venturil's Bane Arc


This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.


The Thorne Estate, Vailkrin

Dark things slithered, gnashing teeth phantasmal, or sharp, or both. Sentient books ruffled their pages, and creatures trapped in the chimney wept. Something under the floorboards was scratching a cry of displeasure. And the Mistress of them all wore heels that tic-tick-ticked – Tene’s house was far from quiet. Until she ceased walking and hissed, “SH!” Then, “’S’better…” she muttered, and tiptoed over to the day-bed under the iron-barred windows, where moonlight shone bright through the panes, blotted only by occasional fluttering silhouettes from the lily-beds outside. Tiptoe, tiptoe, towards the window, and she gently adjusted the drapes, leaning across the little form snuggled under a kitten-sized mound of velvety bat-fur blankets, in case the silvery glow was too bright for the one who slept. A small table sat by the day-bed, laden with bottles and powder-papers, and an ornate silver spoon. And everything was still –very- quiet..


Daisy snoozes quite peacefully there under those blankets with a little sound humming from her and you're not quite sure if she's snoring or purring, but it is still cute all the same. Druid magics do wondrous things even when they've been exhausted from use. She would heal on her own with enough sleep, but that could take days and is quite dangerous if she is left alone. Lucky for her, Tenebrae is not the complete bi--aahh... horrid person she has been made out to be, and the kitten is quite comfortable in the muted reflection of the sun's rays. There is a yawn and a stretch that shakes her whole body just a little bit before she opens one eye to peek at her hot nurse. "Did it work?" Exhausted kittens don't remember much, you know. But really. Do you think you'd be alive if it didn't? Silly girl.


Tenebrae nodded, her nose wrinkling like the whole ordeal had left a bad taste in her mouth. “The Arch-mage has his wish.” Is all she’d say about it, before perching on the edge of the day-bed and reaching for a bottle marked ~Ye Spoonefill of Honey Preventeth The Contentes Wythin From Erupting Out Thy Stomache~ which was clearly an antique of eras gone by, for even the skull and crossbones on that yellowed label seemed archaic in design. Tene picked up the silver spoon and said primly, “Time for your medicine. Say ‘ah’!”


Daisy eyes that little spoon suspiciously. Really, you don't know this woman much more than you knew the Butcher before you agreed to go tromping around in some underground caves. Blankets held up to her nose so only her eyes poke out, the kitten hrms a little. "What is it?" Asking what something is usually would work if the person offering that something is known to always tell the truth. Has Tenebrae lied to you yet? No. And she does let you play in her pretty garden. Ah, what the hell. Bottles with skulls and bones never caused any harm. Much. Right! So she lowers that furry batblanket just under her chin so she can nom that silver spoon's contents.


The spoon hovered before Daisy's mouth, its swiftly-poured content redolent of an odour that was at once bitter and rancid. "It's a cure for magical hangovers," was the curt reply. Freshly brewed, despite the elderly vessel it was stored in. "The taste is awful. But it won't kill you." Probably. "If it's too much, chew one of those sugar cubes there." Dark hair rippled like black silk as she nodded toward the little crystal bowl containing said sweetness. "You did well, Begonia. Too well, in fact. This will help ease the result of your over-extension." The spoon nudged Daisy's lip as the liquid was tipped into the kitten's mouth.


Daisy immediately regrets agreeing to put anything of the necromancer's into her mouth. That foul liquid stench hits her nose before it hits her tongue. Death! There is death in her mouth! Worse than death! And it is slowly moving down her throat. It burns! It freezes! Daisy can't reach for that bowl fast enough to dump the entire contents into her mouth. Oh sweet bliss. Mouth full of sugarcubes -oh god, one escaped! Quick shove it back in your mouth -, she looks up at Tenebrae. "Hm;asc owenv 9al soef snfd asfd;oi." Not everyone speaks kirikeyboardsmash, kitten. It'll be a moment or two before she can ask how long she's been out. Which she does once she can properly speak.


"Just over a day." Sympathy was less forthcoming than hilarity over the kitten's sensory plight, but Tenebrae kept the chuckle interior, for the moment. "Two more spoons of that, and you'll be right as rain, but try to rest a few days anyway." The bottle was stoppered, the spoon rinsed in a tumbler of vodka, which Tene may recycle later as a cure for cockroaches... "Oh look," she added, almost cheerily, pointing at a slight fluttering beyond the window. "One of your insects."


Kasyr is in the process of rummaging through his coat's pockets, when he finally happens upon the outskirts of Joliette’s abode. At this point, the Revenant has all but exhausted his supply of cigarettes- a feat only made possible by the ceaseless manner in which he's meandered about searching for the necromancer. It was only after he'd ventured about Venturil and the surrounding wastes for the better part of a day that he finally had an epiphany: why not check if she'd been sighted in Vailkrin? Which is why the Kensai is now standing before the gates of the Thorne residence, "Look. So. I need to talk to your mistress- et as it so happens. A fair chunk of walking, and a sparse meal on the go, " That poor delivery-man. Oh well, the Kensai got a parcel full of cookies to boot." are enough to make someone pretty testy. I understand, theatrics es sort of a thing you do. So, feel free to do that slow opening creak et close thing- but so help me- if you decide to shut -on- me. I'm going to dismantle you." Kasyr pauses for a moment, than awkwardly clears his throat- all too aware of the absurdity of this particular...exchange. "Merci." The revenant takes these moments to adjust the bandaged package that's slung across his back- awkwardly shifting it around.


Daisy draws that blanket back up to her nose again. Absolutely under no circumstances is she going to take any more of that... medicine? That isn't medicine! It is liquid horror! That silver spoon doesn't help. Not one bit. By far the worst, and I mean worst, thing Daisy has ever put in her mouth. Ever. I mean it. Change the subject! "Insects?" Shifting under those blankets, she moves closer to the window to see just what Tenebrae is on about. And because house layouts aren't for certain, the mistress' guest is spotted. "Someone is here." Also taken for granted, the nightgown Daisy is in. We all know Tenebrae isn't going to stick Daisy in one of her beds all covered in that alchemical goo, so something borrowed is necessary even if the vast majority of the population pictures Tene sleeping in the buff.


Tenebrae had been informed mere seconds prior to Daisy’s announcement and by means invisible that somebody indeed was harassing the gates. Which, just to be malevolently contrary, neither creaked not attempted to cut Kasyr into two rather mussily rakish hemispheres, but merely acted as a pair of tightly locked gates ought to and stayed staunchly closed.


Inside the manse, Tene peeked from those diamond panes and groaned faintly. “I hate it when they sulk..” before speaking several syllables that made the things under the floorboards whimper, and the cranky portal was forced to offer Kasyr entry. The faint groan it made –might- be a promise of harm, should he ever come visiting when the Mistress wasn’t home – but this day, all went smoothly. “I’ll be back in a moment,” said Tenebrae to Daisy, and her heels ticked swiftly to the door, various commands given to prevent utter carnage in place of what ostensibly would otherwise be a pleasant, if unexpected, visit. The sole company Kasyr would encounter on his way to the door then was the hulking, horse-like monstrosity that Tenebrae had taken to riding lately, which clopped on its split hooves behind the Kensai, its slushy red eyes burning promises of death into the back of his neck. At the door, Tene was the picture of grace, her smile wide and welcoming. “Kasyr! Do, come in. The parlour.. I’ve a druid on the daybed, though, you’ll have to pardon her. Magical hangover..” and so on, chitchat, as she vanished into the house.


Kasyr just meanders forward, though not without sparing a glance for both the gates -and- the odium filled 'equine' trailing behind him. It's the latter which the Kensai dwindles on however, with a quietly murmured, "You're new." Despite himself, the Kensai can't help but remain in a state of partial wariness- Tinker's murderous glower effectively keeping the empathic vampire on his toes. "I like your...watch-critter. It's very unique, et all." It's only when the Revenant is within Tenebrae's domicile that he begins to grow less tense- though that doesn't seem to be enough to keep him from poking at the overtly large package on his back, the damnable thing seeming to be as tall as the Kensai. "So, how have tu been? I'd heard you'd had your hands full with guild business, recently. Figured I'd stop by, since I was told you'd possibly be wanting, or even needing, my help- et all that fun stuff." It's only as an afterthought that the Kensai adds, "Druid? Hangover? Did she fall down a hole?" It was a common enough problem with Tenebrae, after all.


Daisy has only met the man once, maybe twice, but that doesn't really mean anything. She stumbles back under those furry batblankets, just a little nauseous from that medicine. "Hi." This is why you don't just go throwing all your magic all over the place. You drain yourself and unordinary things happen. Her eyes widen and she dives under the blankets. What the heck is that? That wasn't there before. Damn necromancers and their chemicals! A moment later, she peeks out and then hides again. "Tenebraaaae?" The muffled cry is quite distraught.


Tenebrae offered Kasyr a dazzling sort of smile, pleased at his approval of the wight, “I found him in a barrow, out in Venturil. And I’ve been well… have a seat, won’t you?” She eyed the package, “And put that anywhere. So long as it doesn’t .. explode. Or anything.” The narrowish look she gave him, then, was only in jest, mostly. "As a matter of fact, I was just now thinking we must catch up, so much to talk about – and yes, druid. No holes at all. We.. uh.” She mumbled something after that, which sounded suspiciously like, “Turned the Arch-mage human again,” while sinking into her own armchair. Her expression was blithe, now, and the sort of innocent that Kasyr knew full well that Tene wasn’t, until Daisy’s plaintive cry had her peer the druid’s way, the diadem fastened to her brow shifting up a little as the Necromancer’s brows rose, “Oh dear…” – she was supposing that perhaps she ought to have provided Daisy with a bed pan. Or you know. Litter tray.


Kasyr has been getting better at keeping his ears under wraps, especially when he has the band of his goggles to keep them down- not that it really helps when Tenebrae makes that not-entirely-innocuous mumbling. Like bottled lightning, they surge forward- if only to begin furiously wiggling. The Kensai's tone is no less excited, though he at least has the sense to keep his voice somewhat lower,"...Did he actually abdicate, then? Or was that...?" It's only after the Revenant lowers himself into the seat Tenebrae had gestured in, that he levels a particularily curious glance in her direction, his tone becoming a touch less muted, "I had figured out you had a er...interest in Venturils affairs." Daisy is given a sidelong glance at this moment, "But, just how deep are you in?" It's only when he's ceased his deluge of questions that he recalls her own."Oh. Et, er. My bundles a sword. It won't explode. Well. I don't think I could make it explo...Well, I'm not trying to make it explode. I bet if I tried..."


Just because something has happened that should not have happened has happened in a bed does not mean that happening happens to be needing a bedbox. Magic is a funny thing, you know. Foolish kittens should not be overexerting themselves further than their capable magics! They should also not be climbing into vats of alchemical liquids to cuddle men they don't know who are mostly dead. Should nots all out in the open now, Daisy pops her head out from beneath those blankets again. "Psssst!!!" she stage whispers with a glance to Kasyr. "Um. A little?" Wrapping that blanket around her like a cloak, she pads over to the other woman for whispering. Not like Kasyr won't find out anyway. See there beneath the blankets pokes out a long and curious monkeyesque tail. It taps the kensai on the knee and waves hello.


Tenebrae said to Kasyr, "I have no interest whatsoever in Venturil's affairs." The tone of it was rather dry, "Aside from the creation of my Guild Hall." And a few other concerns she would not vocalise, presently. "Which was what I wanted to speak to you about, actually.." When he mentioned 'exploding' she opened her mouth to bite off a few displeased and cautionary phrases, but closed it again when she realised he -may- have been joking. "Don't," was all she said to that. "As for Rheven, yes - he abdicated. I don't think that's new news, seeing as Eboric's ensconced himself on the throne now… but this matter of his being human, Kasyr - I must ask you to swear a solemn and true oath not to tell anyone - not your wife, your clan, your own damn reflection, nobody - about it, for a week or two." But didn't give reasons. Really she shouldn't have to. "I did it as a favour to him. He was weary, Kasyr. And just wanted to have some kind of.. life. With his wife." Her lip lifted. "For all the good it's done him. But silence is essential, I insist on it. And no sneaky clauses. That goes for you too, Dahlia…" or Daisy… whatever.. whose whisper Tene would bend her ear to, now. ".. you too must make an oath. It's not for us to let such a thing be... whatnow?"


Daisy whispers to Tenebrae. "I have a tail."


Tenebrae blinked as she peeked around the bat-blanket/cloak. "Oh."


Kasyr can't help but glance over at Daisys tail, if only because it was trying to get his attention. And really, seeing it only really elicits a few blinks from the Kensai, before he promptly makes a shooing motion with his hand- a motion which is likewise mirrored by the tail -he- had been cursed with. It's while he's busy stuffing it back into his belt loop that he finally responds to Tenebrae, "Sneaky clauses are for contracts. Verbal agreements tend to be pretty straightforward." Tends. Unless he's feeling like making a Homage to Ginger. "Either way, I won't say a word. Considering you mentioned it's possibly safe to talk about in a week or two- I can only gather you didn't accidentally melt him into goo." It's with a shake of his head and a wry smirk that the Kensai continues, "Anyways, What's this about a guild hall? I had a few other things I'd like to address. But well- It's a dreary subject borne from too much time spent at my desk. Not exactly the best subject when you're tending to a ..er. "Victim? Lab Rat? "...Patient."


Daisy still doesn't even really know who it was they resurrected. Maybe you should check on those sorts of things before you just go to agreeing to helping out, hm? Especially when dealing with necromancers. Little paws curled in the blanketcloak cover a little mouth while big eyes stare up at Tene. She nods and looks back in horror to see that new tail give Kasyr's a proper 'handshake' before the other's tail can be tucked away. "Stop that." The blanket is dropped so the tail can be grabbed. How or why doesn't matter now, does it? Not really. Worse things could have happened. The tail easily slips out of Daisy's paws and back over to loop around Kasyr's tail for tugging it out of that belt loop. Tenebrae is looked at again. "It won't listen to me."


Tenebrae was silently formulating a reply to Kasyr, looking for the right phrasing, and had just decided on what to tell him when Daisy’s tail became the issue of the moment, and she frowned at it. Being that the Necromancer was very, very vain, she wasn’t one bit willing to admit she had no idea at all why Daisy suddenly had a prehensile nether-appendage, let alone how one would go about controlling such a thing, and so cleared her throat with an imperious ‘Ahem,’ before opining: “One must simply.. get a grip on it. Command, I mean. It. Because you are the one with the mind, after all, and it’s nowhere near your brain, is it?” Leaving that potential moment of snippy hilarity alone, Tene looked to Kasyr. “I appreciate the promise, Kas. Of course, if Rheven was to make this known himself, our agreement would be instantly void. And as for the Guild Hall… well, since we apparently have matters unfitting for small ears to discuss, perhaps we could meet out by the barrows in Venturil once young Daffodil here is feeling…” the tail’s antics were eyed, “… better?”


Kasyr is looking a touch busy at the moment, if only because one of his hands is moving to his goggles to search for a cigarette that isn't, in fact, tucked beneath the band- and the other is busy prodding and nudging at Daisys tail. "Drink some tea, or something. It's about being, er. Calm." Or at least, that's what somewhat works for the Kensai- given that his moods are generally able to be partially predicted by what his tail and ears are doing. It's only after a moments though that the Kensai thinks to inquire, "Would you have tea that might aid her in calming down. I'm not really familiar with anything that's really soothing, ou the like. Or..the various types of tea, vraiment." Kasyr is not exactly the most sophisticated royal. "Anyways, No problem, on the promise- or at the whole. venturing off into the Barrows thing. Eboric probably won't take offense. As long as I don't meander into the midst of his court again." Probably is a key word, here.


Daisy speaks fluent tea, considering plants are what she knows best. She has many a'brew for many a'things, especially ones for calming. Ack! Do something so that tail leaves Kasyr alone! She snatches at it, only to miss and have her wrist wrapped around and animated like some sort of marionette. Her little paw waves at Kasyr and then at Tenebrae before tapping Daisy on her own nose as if the tail were chanting 'stop hitting yourself.' Collected as she usually is, this new addition is quite frustrating. Her free paw swats at the tail, trying to make it let go of her wrist, but she ends up playing patty cake with herself instead. "I think..." There is a hiss and a pounce and a tumble and when the cartoonish fight-cloud lifts, Daisy is sitting with her paws pressed to the floor between her knees and a monkeytail moustache. "I should nap."


The only tea Tenebrae had immediately available in her parlour was a small packet of the one she’d concocted to help the undead experience taste again, Which was quite likely to put Daisy to sleep permanently. The Necromancer pondered this, perhaps a little longer than was good for Daisy, before hmm’ing. “You could rummage about in my pantry, if you like? My dear friend Cornelius was a great one for exotic teas, and I am sure I have a relatively safe soporific in there, somewhere…look, just help yourself to anything not marked with a skull, little one. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need to, and the .. servants.. will fetch you something suitable to eat. But right now,” she glanced to Kasyr, “I must prepare for this journey. I’ll meet you at the Barrows, then, Kassy, as soon as is feasible.” She rose, whisking the bat-blanket back onto the day bed, “And yes, I think sleep will do you good,” this last was said to Daisy.


Kasyr leans over towards Daisy, if only to offer her a reassuring pat on the head. "At worst, you can always get a book or something to weigh down your tail. Though that might hurt.." Really, that thought is pretty secondary to Kasyr, given he initially tried to cut, burn and otherwise rid himself of his tail. Unforunately, it's pretty much the most durable part of his body. On the bright side, if Kuzial ends up doing a repeat of his tail eating thing through some awkward series of events- he'd probably choke on it. " Anyways. I suppose I ought to head off to the barrows, then. I gather you still have some business to attend to in Vailkrin, in the immediate moment?"


Daisy pushes up to a stand, thanking Tene for her hospitality and Kasyr for his advice. The tail lifts to touch Daisy's forehead and fling out in a salute to the pair as she darts over there to dive under the blankets. Not that she can hear what is going on over there in Kasyrland, but she is totally thinking about hunting down the stabbity drow. But now is for naps. In a bit she may raid Tenebrae's kitchen. Zzzzzz.


Tenebrae nodded to Kasyr, murmuring approval to Daisy's bed-ward dive. "I'll see to it as quickly as possible." Ushering the Kensai toward the door, she added quietly, "We still haven't had that dinner..." but didn't press him about it, merely shot the gates a vicious glare, in case they decided to get uppity and cause themselves a world of pain.


Later: At the Hazy Barrows, Venturil

Staunch as the men of the War-King were, as hearty as any of them might prove in a fray, there was not one of them here who was not chilled to the bone by the sight of the woman in black upon her monstrous, blood-eyed steed, as they ambled toward the barrows. Some were already familiar with the Necromancer, by face if not by name, and certainly by now, the reputation which preceded her. The mists grew thicker, and Tenebrae's phobomantic mount appeared a little less lackluster on broaching its home-turf, as it were. No spears or swords or commands barred their passage, and so they'd come to a halt unmolested, before the entrance to those ancient crypts and tunnels. Tenebrae called for the Captain, and informed him she was expecting a guest. The man grew pale, even though Tene was using her best mask of nicety. More than likely, this was the waxing of Tinker's entropic power, and the Captain - feeling quite unwell of a sudden - offered no argument. Tene was sure Eboric wouldn't mind her poking about anyway. After all, they were old pals now, so to speak, in their own special way. Kind of. Thus, the Darkness sat upon her dark horse, which was not a horse at all, and waited.


Kasyr arrives a mite bit later. For one thing, it doesn't help that they didn't actually set a specific time to meet. For another thing, there's the part where Kensai -isn't- riding around on a horse, or some unfathomably awful entity that is not a horse but is only perceived as such- and has simply been wandering about. It's in this manner that he arrives, gloved hands stuffed deep into the pockets of his trenchcoat, and with those quaint neon-blue goggles pulled down low over his eyes. The guards, of course, don't fail to notice their second visitor- though the reaction Kasyr elicits is worlds apart from the Empusa. Where she stirs primal fear within the hearts of the people who perceive her, the Kensai simply incites scorn - simply an individual who their leader had bested, the finer details of his identity lost beyond that singular point. That Eboric held the Kensai in such scorn did little to ingratiate himself with his current company, given that he rapidly found himself at spear point to a pair of guards. The revenant at first seems to be compliant, lifting his hands up gradually at this display- though, when he pauses to stuff a cigarette into his mouth, and then proceeds to fumble around snapping his thumb beneath the thing- well, suffice to say Kasyr isn't really endearing himself with these guards. That he's -talking- isn't really helping either, "Look. Could you put those away? Someone might lose an eye, et all that."


Tenebrae kneed Tinker into a shambling walk toward the Kensai and men who served as obstacles to her task, and both the wight and its passenger were shortly chilling the air around all concerned as they halted a few feet away. Tene leaned on the wight's lank neck and peered between its ears at the situation. "Ahem," she said, "That'll be my guest. And you're impeding the King's business, with your jiggerypokery and foolishness, here. Shall you be the ones to inform Eboric of this? Or shall I pop off now and tell him myself?" Or murder you all where you stand, said her green glare, but Tenebrae was not after inciting brief and worthless riots this day. She clearly just wanted to get on with things. Threats vented, she spared Kasyr a grin. "Can't take you anywhere, can I?"


Kasyr get's a good satisfying snap of his fingers, the likes of which produces a sufficient amount of sparks to light his cigarette. It's only after he's taken a couple puffs that he offers Tenebrae an incredibly cheeky smile, "It's my way with people. They just take a natural shine to moi." Cue less-than-happy looks from the barrow sentrys. Not that it seems to matter, since the Revenant simply proceeds to duck his head, and meander twixt the pair of them and past, "So, where to, Madamoiselle?"


Tenebrae swung down off the wight's back, leaving Tinker to give Eboric's warriors further heebie-jeebies as she joined Kasyr on the ground. "I'm not sure," she said, poking him in the arm just for fun. "We could rummage about in the crypts, but there's not a lot of point." She tapped the dull gem central to the diadem on her head. "I've already robbed that grave of its treasure. My task now is to figure out what it's for, precisely." She frowned, and fossicked in her bag for a small tin case, in which was a shred of elderly parchment. "I've not much to go on, really. But perhaps as we wander, we could discuss a slight logistical problem I have.. you've heard of the Burrower?" Tene turned her gaze to the shred of lambskin, then, and the faint markings that might indicate it to be part of a map.


Kasyr can't help but smirk a bit at the poke, "Thankfully, I'm not hazardous to handle anymore." Other than that, however, he's content to merely tag along beside her and listen, his expression both attentive and curious. "Not exactly. The details of this scenario aren't exactly something Eboric was willing to...talk about with me. Really, he just wanted an opportunity to gloat that -he- had "taken measure of the blight" and it was not some great thing- something easily dispelled." It's at this point the Kensai can't help but smile softly, "Not the best politician, really. When pressed for details as to what great epiphany had provided him insight that an Archmage, Archdruid and a plethora of other individuals had lacked- he couldn't provide an answer. That, in combination with Valentin stating there had been some guild business in Venturil.." The Kensai can't help but gesture his arms about, "I mean- sure, there's all sorts of potential, with the bodies a change of rulers can bring about- But you're still here, et you've been here for a bit, if I gathered correctly."


Tenebrae shrugged, still focussed on making sense of archaic script and wiggly lines that had half faded to nothing over aeons. “I’ve been here .. and there.. seeing to my own business, mostly.” She looked up and snorted. “Did he –really- say it’d be easy? Really? What a funny old bear.. “ the grin died then, as surely as if it was shot. “Of course, it won’t be. Easy. Which is why you’re here, Kasyr. And as for how the aforementioned panel of experts managed to miss the presence of the Burrower – I cannot speak for them. But I do know it’s been dormant for a very long time under the ground, deeper in some places than others. And feeding off the land, all the long centuries since it was first created. I’ve spent.. oh, I can’t tell you how many weeks, months, tracking down the few shreds of information available. But I have a basic gist of its history, if you’d care to hear it.”


Kasyr gives Tenebrae a sidelong look, before he stretches his arms upwards, and folds them up behind her head, "The bears full of animal cunning, et strength~ But that's about that." It's with a sigh than the Kensai tips his head down, staring at his feet as he continues to pace along, "If you're asking me for help in dealing with this thing, I need to know what I'm getting into. A history would be appreciated, for whatever insight it might provide."


Tenebrae’s forked tongue was pressed – gently – between her pointed teeth, the map turned this way and that as she attempted to get some idea of its bearings. “I hope to all the gods I have this thing up the right way.. and we can chat while we walk, Kasyr. East, for the moment. I think.” She stowed the parchment in its little case, but kept it at hand while she began strolling through the fog in that direction, little waves goodbye offered the guard as she passed them.


Heading East of the Barrows

Tene continued: “Short story is.. well, there isn’t really a short version. But I’ll try to keep it as brief as possible.” The dull clod-clod-clod of Tinker’s hooves on dirt would be heard behind them, the wight following in its Mistress’ wake. “Basically – a very long time ago, a megalomaniac necromancer struck a deal with the death god. His reward for being a good servant was two gems, forged in the hands of Vakmatharas himself. These were known as the Eyes of Vakmatharas, each with its own purpose though forever linked. Legend has it that only one could ‘see’ at a time, whatever that means... Anyway, it came about that the Mage Council of the time didn’t like this necromancer – named Aranoch – or his plan to take over the world, so they decided he had to be dealt with. He was hunted down like an animal. Several times, in fact, but he always managed to escape. The last time they caught him, however, hardly took any effort at all, nor did he attempt escape which surprised the Council a bit. Indeed, it almost seems that he –wanted- to be caught. Have I mentioned that in the process of all this, one of the Eyes was taken from him?” Tene ‘tinked’ a fingernail on the gem on her forehead. “And placed in a well-guarded barrow. But when Aranoch was caught for the last time, the other was nowhere to be found…” there was more, but Tene thought it best to give Kasyr a moment to absorb this.


Kasyr takes a long drag from his cigarette, before slowly exhaling- the smoke winding about his person like the coils of a snake, a pronounced black trail amidst the mist. "Hrm. So how often is that..eye on your head seeing? Et what es it that it sees?" The Kensai continues to ponder upon Tenebrae's words, his hands idly tugging upon his scarf the whole while. Really, the fact that the scarf seems to be perpetually fluttering only makes the activity more appealing. "And what did they do with Aranoch?"


The Necromancer turned a sidelong glance to Kasyr, completely by-passing his former questions in favour of the latter. “They did not want to risk the wrath of a god by simply killing him, so made sure no blood was on their hands when they banished him to another plane. Which is… another story, entirely. One I’m far more familiar with.” Tene coughed softly. “Which I may tell you some day. But suffice for now to say that Aranoch was gone, and they never did find the other Eye, nor any information regarding the purpose of these relics. So one might assume Aranoch hid his remaining treasure with the intention of coming back for it some day.” The gritty earth beneath her feet crunched underheel as the pair reached the Causeway. “But he… well. Not exactly ..died. More sort of…” she shrugged, “.. lost himself. Anyway. There was no coming back for Aranoch. So this is where the Burrower comes in. You see… “ she ceased walking, frowned and peered about their surroundings. “Wait a moment.” And opened the tin containing the map fragment. This was offered up to Kasyr’s perusal. “Does that wiggly bit look like a river to you? The script’s worn off entirely.”


Kasyr can't really be sure as to the nature of the wiggly bit. And really, relying on his natural sense of direction isn't really the reliable of things, since he has a tendancy to end up getting lost unless he's actively trying to get to a specific destination. Thus, when the Revenant scrutizines that particular document, he attempts to pick out landmarks- things like the dead forest, the lake near Chartsend. Well, that, and hope that there was something like that a long time ago, when the map was made, "I don't see. Yet. Er, but about this burrower." By this point, the Revenants cigarette has been nudged to the corner of his mouth, so that the ashes that drift from it fall away the map- as the Kensai doesn't particularly want to risk marring or burning an irreplaceable item.


Tenebrae sighed, left to only assume the faintly blue wiggles meant water of some sort.. and she was sure there wasn’t any such bodies of it in this direction. Still, the rest of the fragment suggested east was indeed the way to go, so she closed the tin again and trudged on. “Burrower. Yes. Putting two and two, and a lot of very small surviving scraps of information together I think I’m safe in guessing Aranoch did not leave the other Eye unguarded. Did I tell you, he was the one who first mastered the creation of protoflesh?” Perhaps Kasyr would see where this was going, during yet another pause while Tene stopped to look at the path ahead, somewhat off the beaten track now into lands long-ago made barren.


Decrepit Well

Kasyr nudges his scarf over his shoulder, so it can do a proper bit of dramatic fluttering, before he stuffs his hands into his pockets once more, "I...don't particularly recall having that conversation with tu, non? Did you...glean anything from your research into him? Or learn of him through the manner in which you acquired your tale-" The Revenants expression just plain sinks, "...Wait. Mastered it?" The Kensai can't help but offer a sigh, "So it's some masterfully crafted monstrosity, en fait? ..That..es either so big or so strong, that it's feeding off the land has ..twisted it." Or both. Remember, when it rains, it pours.


Tenebrae nodded. "The thing about protoflesh is.. well, It's not something you want to allow to go feral. Bad things happen..." she winced, possibly indicating that she may have first-hand knowledge of how badly wrong that could go. "A masterless guardian, left for untold centuries to its own devices can be very dangerous indeed. Protoflesh is undead, Kas - but it still needs to 'feed', in its own way. Replenish fluid and salts, to keep itself going. And, in the case of it going feral – also growing unchecked." She tapped the ground with her boot-heel. "Thus.. the problem at hand. Venturil needs to be free of this thing, and I need the other Eye. But the gods only know how big the Burrower's grown. There's a lot of wasteland here."


Kasyr grimaces at this, "So it's not -supposed- to be this big. Is it even still going to be the creature you initially researched? Or is it going to be a vastly different beast, with different..." The kensai pauses there, canting his head off to one side, ".. Properties, j'suppose. Will it still be vulnerable to the things it's supposed to be, do you think?" It's only after this inquiry that he finally thinks to ask, "This map? Where does it lead..exactement? The creatures..place of origin, peut-etre?"


Tenebrae shook her head, in reply to the lattermost question. “All I have is this fragment, which leads us to.. a body of water.” Her expression was droll, as she made an encompassing gesture, indicating the obvious lack of any such thing. “Around here, somewhere.” A hiss through her teeth would tell Kasyr precisely how irritating Tene found the discrepancy. “All the other landmarks fit, though. And I.. have no idea whether the Burrower has.. evolved, past its former state, in anything but size. But I can tell you, being masterless for so long, it will have little in the way of a mind at all. The scraps of information I found indicate that it was a formidable beast.. but the phrasing does not suggest it was more than that. A guardian, not a .. thing.. big enough to leech the blood from an entire nation. It’s been feeding for a very long time, though. And what it’s consumed is the vitality of Venturil itself. What little I have seen of it tells me it’s likely to have tunnelled through the place, so it’ll likely be a bit like holey cheese or honeycomb down there by now.” The Necromancer case Kasyr a meaningful sort of look, then, laden with the question of whether the Kensai was beginning to understand those logistical problems she’d mentioned earlier.


Kasyr doesn't really see anything resembling a lake, at all. "Maybe in its burrowing, it caused the ground to fracture, et the lake drained away? Or it withered it away, J'en sais pas" Really the Kensai sounds less than satisfied at his explanation, but it's not like he can think of a better one "..Has enough time passed that a dried out lake might have had time to..grow over? Should we be searching for some, large depression in the ground?" Though he endeavours to keep close to Tenebrae, the Kensai can't help but begin to pace now- the cigarette he's been absently puffing upon rapidly changing into a burnt nub. "So, getting into conflict with this thing- It's going to start collapsing those tunnels. Especially if a number of them might only be intact because it's body is currently inhabiting it?" Really, the Kensai isn't quite sure how big is big in this instance, though his experiences with Vailkrin are currently allowing his mind to imagine all sorts of unpleasent possibilities. A region sized tapeworm is amongst the more pleasent ones. A nightmarish cousin to the chitterling is among the less so. "So, not only do we need to find a means to slay it, but we also have to minimize the damage that such an endeavour will cause." Kasyr let's out a quiet hiss as the cigarette burns his fingers- the smoldering remains simply dropped to the ground. " ...Which, means we need to find it while it's still napping- to try and prepare for this endeavour. Which es the point of this trip, oui?"


Tenebrae was staring at the ground, her head canted slightly in thought, when Kasyr’s cigarette-end landed within her line of view. This seemed to shake her from her reverie, though she’d actually been listening to most of what the Kensai said, “Lake.. “ Her pale green eyes shot a glance at Kasyr. “Yes. Just not above the ground. Ground-water, Kas!” She was now gesticulating toward a distant heap of stone that she knew, from prior journeys here, to be an ancient well. “Where else’d they draw water from?” Tene was, even as she voiced this, making a bee-line for the structure. He’d hear her clearly, if he managed to keep up with her, “And killing it isn’t an option, I’m afraid. For one, it’s probably rooted like a canker all over the place, gods know what chaos would ensue just from the throes of struggle? Plus, I may have a use for it. If we can keep it asleep, as it were – not that it really sleeps, of course, but it’s an apt term – and coax it out of its many burrows somehow.. then draw it to one… place… “ She’d halted, now and actually thought to glance back to find out whether Kasyr had indeed followed. “Like .. back to the thing it was originally guarding.”


Kasyr hadn't been following at first, given that he'd begun to fumble around for a new cigarette. That said, when Tenebrae had showed no sign of waiting for him, he'd forgone his search in favour of catching up to her. Moreover, the Kensai actually feels slightly less ridiculous for his prior suggestion as to the lake, which is a definite plus. "Wait. It's rooted, but we're also going to be moving..it. Which.. ...Er." Kasyr get's a bit of a squinty look at this point, before eyeing Tenebrae, "When you said Eboric wasn't exactly... clued into the severity of this situation, you mean the ramifications too- don't you?" That's enough to elicit a slightly awkward whistle from the Kensai, who proceeds to return to his rummaging bit once he's caught up to Tenebrae at the well, "Beyond that- So, you need it to find the other eye, but...if that involves coaxing it into moving back there...then, how do you intend on going through it. Or es it more that you need it to fulfill it's purpose, and properly...clump up so killing it and making it stick is actually feasible?"


Tenebrae bit down on her lip when Kasyr mentioned Eboric. “He’s actually seen it, once – just a feeder-tentacle that’d sucked some poor hunter dry, over on the Causeway. It gave us a bit of a chase.. tore up the earth pretty badly. And that was in its sleep.. and just one of potentially thousands of such limbs. I think he’s aware of the problem. But I’m not sure about the ramifications.. in fact, I had intended to meet with him soon, on just that point.” Tene’s turn to squint. “He’s going to have to realise that I can’t do this on my own. And he cannot simply… smack it or chop it to bits.” She shivered a little, at that thought, well aware of how protoflesh can seed from small portions.. “As for it being rooted – what I meant was, prolific in its excavations and reach.. It’s sort of like.. a great big tentacled jelly, is my best guess, only rather more solid. If it’s occupying tunnels, it can certainly leave them. And I could certainly do with several dozens of tons of material that might be turned to use for the Guild. But that’ll also leave the nation of Venturil rather.. inclined to collapse. Probably. And that’ll in turn leave Eboric very cross with me.” She turned a wry, rather humourless smile to Kasyr. “And we don’t want that. So.. it’s a great big giant problem, really, isn’t it?”


Kasyr plunks the cigarette into his mouth, the only audible sound coming from him being a very simple cantrip- the likes of which is used to coax a thin flame into life the likes of which he uses to swiftly light the cigarette. It's only after the Revenant takes a long drag and get's the cherry probably burning, that he proceeds to gesture at Tenebrae with his cigarette, "So, to sum it up. It's an unhallowed undead squid thing- with about as many limbs as an otherwordly hydra might have heads. ..Or like a tree et it's roots, I guess." The Kensai mulls this over for a bit longer than is useful, before he makes an off-handed gesture with his cigarette, "It's central mass is somewhere- though not necessarily where it should be. And to complicate things further, there's bits of it everywhere, which makes the matter worse. Et hell, if you're luck's gotten really bad, it's grown so large it engulfed the area it was supposed to be protecting, et is carrying it with it." The kensai pauses, for a second, then adds, "...It shouldn't be able to do that last one, right?" Kasyr jabs at nothing in particular with his cigarette, before returning it to his lips, "I think Eboric would be a bit too busy to be cross with tu, though. Unless it was a very short-lived crossness."


Tenebrae slapped Kasyr on the shoulder, rather harder than she really meant to – but such was her excitement. “Central mass!” she cried, and stormed off toward the stone well, around which the dry earth turned very slightly boggy. “Kasyr,” she continued, at least offering him a glance over one shoulder this time. “You are such a clever… person. Central mass, indeed. If I had a way to ascertain exactly where the majority of it is clumped.. then perhaps I’d also know where the other Eye is, roughly.” Tene wheeled about and blinked. “I’m not sure if it could carry the relic about. Protoflesh isn’t very smart, without a central intelligence to guide it. Food. Duty. Is about it, and the last isn’t guaranteed, when it goes feral…” Tene appeared not to want to think about that possibility, however, and summoned to herself the likeness of a cheery expression. “And yes – if I can get it all in a clump, and surround it with my necromancers.. there’s a very good chance I can.. well. Not kill it, per se. As it’s already dead, and all, but I can perhaps.. re-purpose it all in one go, and negate the risk of little bits dropping off to start the whole process over again. And I should be able to do so. Seeing as I do have one of the Eyes stuck to my forehead, presently.” Her gaze rolled up in a futile attempt to look at the gem. “It’ll work. Or it’ll blow several square miles of earth into orbit. But the main issue I want your advice on is how to deal with the nation caving in. The panic, inevitable destruction.”


Kasyr doesn't quite look as cheerful as he ought to, though there's at least a hint of a grin, "I'm Cabal, non? Figuring these things out es sort of something you need to get used to. ..That et I just seem to keep drawing problems to myself. But, er, whatever. If it's undead, shouldn't it radiate some sort of darkness? Et given you're familiar with what it's made of- something you're familiar with? Would tu have any means of, J'en sais pas- trying to find an area that resonates with it the most. Or es the most..dead, j'suppose. Since I imagine any region that es overtop where it's most plentiful es likely the one it's fed from the most." A pause, and the Kensai adds, "Oh. Et the er..joke, wasn't that it was carrying it around on purpose. It was more like how big creatures seem to just end up with valuable things in their stomach or insides as they get large. ...Usually from eating adventurers, I suppose. But if it's a semi solid slime..I can see misfortune causing it to just...expand around whatever it was supposed to be guarding. Like a mass of sentient lard getting bigger than it's container, and just ...er. I'm rambling. That's not even likely. Because there's probably going to be other magical safeguards and stuff, right?" Hopefully. With a thoughtful Puff on his cigarette the Kensai simply continues, "I think I'm getting some ideas for damage control. There's going to be alot of prep work needed before the fact."


Tenebrae took all that in with a lot of nodding and yessing, except for the part about finding the main mass, during which she chewed her lip and looked pensive, and the part about prep work, after which she managed something of a more genuine smile. "Knew I could count on you, Kasyr. And I'd say we have time at our disposal, though not too much - the locals have been complaining about missing relatives and livestock lately. Which means it's stirring, hungry. And there’s not much left for it to eat..." Tene looked around, hmm'ing, "The map led us here. And this, aside from a truly awful patch to the northwest, up by the Fengoth, is dead enough to suggest the point of origin could well be around here somewhere. It's a start, at least.. " She went quiet then, debating inwardly on how much to tell Kasyr about her own nature, as well that of the Eye, and opted for not a lot. "If for some reason I prove less than able to discern the whereabouts of the mass, perhaps I could employ an earth-seer of some sort? In any case, I do hope it's out here somewhere. Not many villagers, and all. No major structures." She did a good job of looking optimistic, even bounced a little on her toes. "Not yet, anyway."


Kasyr kicks at the ground a bit, staring down as though his actions might stir more than muck and filth. "I do try et help, tu know. In my own manner." The cigarette's rolled around in the Revenants mouth as he meanders over towards the well. "Hrm. Druids or Terramancers. Either find a location where you encountered a tendril, et try et map out the tunnel to the source- or just search around near the two...especially dead locations, et hope to stumble on a hub. Et well. Hope that the entire area between this point, et that other point you mentioned isn't it's central mass." The 'Hah' that follows falls pretty flat, and the Kensai simply proceeds to smoke a bit more, "Supply lines are going to be cut after this, that's almost guaranteed. The means of getting to et from Venturil by foot will likely be damaged, severely. Especially given proximity to this region. So, Supplies, medical et otherwise, et food- that's going to need to be stocked up in advance, j'pense." The revenant clicks his tongue against his roof, "If I can get Kirien to help, I might be able to figure out which portions of the city are more liable to collapse then others. J'imagine that some places will be easier to salvage than others. Ferrying people et supplies to those points es likely ideal. Maybe ensure there's a point of retreat, just in case things happen to get especially grave." Because there's at least that somewhat lush region behind Venturil, that's likely far less touched by the burrower. Sure, it's -loaded- with a number of reptilian creatures that would try to eat the various survivors if things somehow spiraled that far out of control- but, it's still an option. "...Hrm. Figuring out alternative supply routes to keep the region supplied would also be good. I suppose it provides an excellent opportunity for diplomatic relations between Frostmaw et Eyrie. Supplies could be flown in, if the situation grows worse enough." Kasyr can't help but hrm pensively. "Actually. Let's say you can't find it through your own means, et all that. Do you think that you, or perhaps someone you know might be able to discern the location of the other eye through it's twin. I mean, if they're a pair, et one opens when the other es closed." Whatever that means, "That implies there es some sort of connection there, right? Though, If that's something gifted by Vakmatharas- Hrm. Maybe a priest might be able to help point the direction. ..J'en sais pas. Having a plethora of options is always nice, for when the first handful fail."


Tenebrae just.. adores Kasyr. Sometimes. This being one of those times. She was presently looking like a kid who’s just been told that yes, indeed, Virginia, there –is- a Yuletide gnome, having kept silent throughout his thinking-out-loud process, taking mental notes. “Ice…” she said finally. And rather quietly, seeing as she already knew what came next. “… if somehow the tunnels were to be filled with ice, it could be a temporary measure to stop collapse.. “ and coughed, then, as the only ice mage she knew wasn’t .. exactly fond of her and pretty much vice-versa, so she simply left that part of the conversation dangling, and went on with: “But yes, I agree – evacuation is wise, if there’s somewhere safe for all the people to go. Think of it, Kasyr – after the Burrower is gone, there’s a good chance the land will recover and grow fruitful once more.” One would be forgiven for thinking that maybe Tenebrae had been hanging out with Daisy just a little too long, for the cheer in her tone as she spoke it. Of course, she was likely just thinking that more food meant more people, and thus more bodies when they inevitably perished.. “You’ve certainly given me much to think on. Shall we leave it there, for now, until I’ve had a chance to speak with the Bearshirt? After all, it’s probably best he’s made at least partially aware of what’s..” and who’s, she didn’t say, “.. to come.”


Kasyr steps over to the well, before casually dropping his cigarette down into it- staring at the glowing ember as it vanishes within it's depths. "I suppose we can leave it at that, for now. I've a few topics of discussion unrelated to the task at hand- but they're more for when there isn't some unhallowed entity poised to ruin a region." Albeit with a little nudging. "Et oui, I agree with informing Eboric. Considering the hostility he reserves for moi- I can't really have any of my people within his area without potentially precipitating a conflict. Et if he did that with Kirien, -during- this whole debacle... With any of the Coterie, Vraiment." Well, the less said about that, the better. "..Is there anything else I should prepare for? Possible contingencies, for if things go wrong?"


Tenebrae thought of all the things that could possibly go wrong. Well, all the things which immediately sprang to mind, anyway. She sighed, and shook her head. “Kasyr, from the moment of my return, I have not been able to escape the feeling that I was drawn back to these lands for a reason.. .and that the majority of what I’ve done since has been guided by a hand unseen. I know only that the creature below is a part of that fate which is being spun with threads from aeons past. If things go wrong, then - what will be, will be.” Tinker’s hooves sploshed through a soupy mess of mud as it passed them by, the creature dawdling toward the north for some reason known only to itself. Tene watched it pass, glad of a reason to change topic, “One day, I shall tell you the story of Aranoch’s Doom. Then perhaps you’ll understand why I am moved to help this gods-forsaken place at all.. “ The Necromancer seemed to look inward then, before that chill green gaze turned north. Her voice was soft when she spoke again: “But another day, eh? For now, I suppose we each have much to see to.”