Myths of Power

Both men stand in silence.


"Will I see you on the continent?"

Richard steps forward.

"I don't know my friend. I have some business to take care of here and I don't know if i'll make it out in one piece."
"Hrmp. One piece, ten pieces, or a thousand. I know I'll see you again, you bastard!"

Joseph bolts off into the distance, fur and claw once again asserting themselves. "Be safe, my friend. There are many dangers in Haladan that even you don't know of."

He covers the distance between Richard and the dancers at a speed that could outpace a race horse and claws to a stop in front of his bretheren.

"Sisters..Brothers... Today we have won a small battle, but I fear that this too will cause an even greater harm to our kind."

The dancers cease and listen intently.

A tall, slight form steps forward. Part human and part feline, black fur and bared silvered claws. Her voice as sleek as speed and as cold as death and bloodshed.

"Why do WE need to fear these humans, Joseph? Did this battle not prove that we can defeat them with ease?" She rubs a paw over her head and ears, her fur matted with blood and dirt.

Joseph bolts forward, barely able to be seen. He grabs her neck and lifts her into the air. Josephs lips curl back and he bares his long yellow fangs, many have been broken in battle. He screams with the authority of an old a battle-hardened warrior.

"DO NOT ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE ANY SAY AROUND HERE, CELINE!"

Joseph throws her a few yards to the ground. Celine slides to a stop and begins to bare her own fangs, still bright and unfettered with age.

She stands and readies herself to fight only to find her shoulders in the grip of an extremely large lycanthran  with a badger form. She struggles but can not move. "Let me go, Leland, let me go!"

With little perceived effort, Leland pushes her down to her knees. "Joseph is our leader and you will remain calm and quiet while he speaks." Leland's voice denies his size and is calming to all around him, although gruff and very low-toned.

Joseph ignore the commotion of Celine and Leland. "We have been offered passage to the continent. There are too many of us here to all make it to the docks without being noticed. I want all the of those who are without wounds to make their way there, in HUMAN form. Do not make yourselves noticed. Head for the Lazerous, the captain will be expecting you. All others can find safety in the woods. We are all survivors and will long outlive this night."

Joseph walk to Leland and Celine. "Let her go Leland." Celine stands, well aware that Leland could stop her in an instant. "You show great promise, Celine. Even enough promise to lead your own cadre one day."

Celine bears her fangs slightly. "I could lead one now, if I wished it."

Joseph leans forward into Celines face. "Not with the arrogance that you showed earlier. It will gain you no respect."

Celine begins to calm down. "So what will you do with me now. Have me cower like a frail kit on the seas?"

Joseph smiles. "No. You & Leland will be coming with me."

"I'm sorry. It's very boring just sitting in the branches, you know."

Richard turns back to the hill. "But it IS much safer, isn't it? I wasn't planning on making contact with anyone until we were inside the city walls. Now I'm going to have to be carefull about running into those idiots again."

Valerie climbs up Richards cloak and sits on his shoulder. "What? You mean you weren't impressed by the 'Hero of the Four Walls'?" She lets out a small chuckle.

"Oh he was most likely at the battle. It just wasn't as big as what he thought it was. The Four Walls was merely a diversion for a larger battle that was happening elsewhere."

"You talk as if you were there? When did this happen?"

"About twelve years ago and I was there, just not on the front lines. I'ld rather not talk about it just yet, if you don't mind. Some very painfull memories are still burried there. Let's just go get Catherine and make our way to the south gate."

Valerie jumps off Richard and transforms. "Richard?"

"Yes?"

"What did you mean by 'trophies'?"

Richard pauses and closes his eyes. "I keep forgetting, you haven't been in any real battles have you?"
He opens his eyes and continues up the hill. "During many battles, the humans who are in charge or of a moderatly high rank sometimes like to retain 'reminders' of the enemies they have killed. Sometimes its just a piece of armour, sometimes it can be something more... substantial."

"I don't understand. More substantial, like what?"

"It's not uncommon for bodies to be found without their heads or limbs. I've even been unlucky enough to see one human who had at least three revenant heads in jars. They say we revenants can exist forever, if we wanted to, but who wants to spend eternity in a jar?"

"Okay, I'm sorry I asked."

After a long and silent climb, they arrive at the boulder. Catherine is still resting on the tree, trying to regain the use of her leg.

Richard kneels down beside her and examines her work. "Well, this will have to do for now, Catherine. Valerie, go find something we can use as a crutch." Valerie wonders into the woods and starts pulling down small trees.

"I'm sorry, I just can't get it right. Every time I try, it just keeps breaking." Catherine lowers her head in frustration.

"Don't worry for now. Valerie will get a crutch, I'll wrap up your leg and we can make our way to the city."

Catherine looks up at Richard, fear filling her eyes. "Is that safe? I mean, won't it be dangerous for us?"

"Catherine, the entire world is dangerous for us. This is someplace I need to go and I can't leave you here. You're going to have to come with us."

Valerie steps out of the woods with a large branch. "US? No. I don't do cities, you know that. I have to stay in human form all the time, even when I sleep. It's just not something I'm going to do. You go in and do what you have to. I'm staying out here."

Richard takes the branch at trims it down for Catherine. "Well, I know better than to argue with you on this subject. Catherine and I will go and meet the monk. When I need you, I will try and get some kind of word out to you, so be ready."

With each giving a nod and Catherine now able to walk with a crutch, they part ways.

After an hour, They find themselves on a pathway heading for the south gate. Richard stops as they start to see the gate. "If the guards ask about us, I'm you father, William of Balantine and we've come to see the physician about our circumstances."

"I thought we were coming to see a monk?"

"We are, but outside the city, he's known as the physician. The guards won't want to get close to me, but you'll have to. Try not to react to the smell..."

"What smell... oh that is terrible."

"Sorry... Well Catherine, welcome to the Walled City of Haladan!"

The captain holds his hand up to his nose.

"That's all well and er.. good, old man, but what do you want in the city?"

Richard shuffles closer to the weapons causing two of the soldiers to rush around the cart in protection.

"I hear tell, there's a physician in there that can help an old poor man in my condition." Richard swivels back toward the captain, holding his hand out in putrid want. "Do you know of him?"

The third soldier starts to think. A process that, by his facial appearance, is not done very often. "I think he means the monk who lives in the southern quarters, captain."

The captain looks back in irritation. "I know who he's talking about! Do you think I'm an idiot?" The two soldiers at the cart nod silently being out of their captains view.

"Unfortunately for you, old beggar, we are outside the Northern Quarter. I can't just let you in and let someone in your...condition... go wandering the streets. Besides I am currently occupied in more important matters."

Richard feigns impression. "Yes, I can see that. Off to arm the war effort are you? Have many 'trophies'?"

Valerie questions herself. "Trophies? What does he mean by that?"

The third soldier steps around his captain. "Watch your tongue! You speak to none other than Captain Bretarian. Hero of the Four Walls. Scourge of Faerie kind." The captain's chest becomes inflated with the praise.

Richard takes a step back and lowers himself. "Really? Hero of the Four Walls? Such a terrible battle that was. So much death and destruction. I'll wager you have some stories."

Captain Bretarian wells up with pride. "Let blood and bone rain over the battlefield! Let none enter these four walls! Let no man stray from his duty! Monsters are the stuff of nightmare and we are the light that shall extinguish them all!"

A tear wells up in Bretarian's eye. "I said that on the eve of battle and not a man faltered."
"But enough of that, beggar." The captain pulls out a coin from his purse, making Valerie perk up and take note of exactly where said purse was on the captain. "Take this coin and make your way to the southern gate. You can enter there through the lepers entrance."

Richard takes the coin with haste "Thank you, oh thank you great hero of the Four Walls. I shall not forget this day."

As the soldiers carry on their way, Valerie cautiously comes closer to Richard, holding her paws to her nose. "Is it safe?"

Richard looks down. "Hmm? Oh, yes, sorry about that. It was a bit much but it got their attention away from 'someone' who was just meant to 'OBSERVE'!"

As the three soldiers continue to fix their cart, The captain walks further into the woods not turning back to look at his underlings.

“We have to get this weapons cart up to the forward garrison. I hear tell that there was an attack a few nights ago.”

One of the men stops working.

“The garrison was attacked?”

The captain makes a face of utter contempt.

“No, you fool! A militia was attacked over on Verdons field.”

Valerie moves to a lower branch straining to listen.

“Hmm, I wonder if that was where Richard was?” She thinks to herself

The soldier moves closer to his captain.

“Sorry sir, but do you mean the Patron’s militia? My cousin marches with them.”

The captain turns.

“Sorry lad, but the way my spy..er..source tells me, all who were marching that night were wiped out.”

“Killed sir?” The soldier swallows hard. “Who attacked them?”

“Can’t really say. He said it was hard to see, what with the heavy rain, but he walked around afterward and didn’t see anything alive.”

He places a hand on the man’s shoulder.

“We’ll find out soon enough, boy. Don’t worry. You’ll have your vengeance.”

The other two soldiers complete the repairs and push the cart out of its hole with the help of a large old work horse.

Valerie moves down to the ground and scurries over toward the cart. The two men see her and one pulls out hunting knife.

“Looks like we’ve found dinner.”

Valerie freezes in mid-stride. She now sees that she has placed herself in between the three soldiers and the captain.

Another soldier pulls out a sling and bullet. "Don't worry this won't hurt at bit!"

Her legs now frozen in terror, she looks around for an escape and with a push of adrenaline she makes a jump under the horse and towards the cart. A bullet whizzes pass as she darts in between legs and wheels.

A voice booms out from the trees. It's sickening undertones of rot, recognizable to only a lucky few.

"Help a old leper to the city gates?"

Richard places one of his wrapped hands on the captains arm. He reels back in sickening repulsion.

"Don't touch me you filthy beggar. How did you get behind me so quietly? Where are you from?"

By this point the captain is trying to hold back whatever was unlucky enough to have been in his stomach from breakfast. The other soldiers cease their hunt and form up behind him, swords drawn.

Valerie takes this as her chance and starts to circle around to get to who she hopes to be Richard.

"Ay, sir, a beggar I am. But that is because life is what it made this poor, decrepit body to be."

The soldiers relax somewhat but keep their swords at the ready.

Richard takes a few steps towards them. As he does, then soldiers step back and keep their distance.
Valerie, now standing just in the treeline, out of view, takes a sniff to the air. She soon realises that this was a bad idea.

"Uh.. what a stench." She thinks as little paws rub her face and nose, trying to clean the almost physical smell Richard has created. "I'm impressed, the old bastard's good at this. Keep the disgust high and no one wants to bother with you for fear of becoming ill."

"Valerie, While I help Catherine, I want you to go scout out what they're doing down there. Don't be stupid. Don't try anything. Just observe and report back."

Valerie starts to transform. " But what if..."

Richard cuts her off. "Just... Observe"

Valerie scurries down the hill side while Richard pulls Catherine to the tree.

"Look, Catherine, This is going to be like before but you must concentrate harder."

"Why? My wound earlier didn't take all that long?"

Richard places the kneecap back on her leg. "And it took at least twelve hours before you could talk again. We don't have that kind of time right now. I know this seems unfair and I will explain things better when I have a chance, but for now you've got to trust me and do as I say." Richards face is that of someone with little sense of humour.

"Okay, I'll do my best" Richard moves away. "Wait.. where are you going?"

Richard pulls out a long black cloak and some wrappings from his pack. "I have to go down there and help her."

"But I thought you told her to observe and report back to you?"

Richard wraps his hands and head. The wrappings are old, bloody, torn and very dirty. "I did. And that's why I don't trust her to obey me."

Just before he finishes wrapping his head and face Catherine can see Richards skin turn pale yellow and rot. He puts on the cloak.

"Why are you doing that?"

Richard walks to the boulders edge and peers over listening intently. He turn back to Catherine his voice altered by rotted body parts. "Well... no-one likes to be around the old leper-man!"

He moves over the edge and starts to make his way down to the valley floor.

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THE VALLEY FLOOR

Three men dressed as soldiers are moving around a small cart filled with pikes and spears. The wheel has broken in a small depression.

A large man dressed in a higher rank moves around the cart. "LIFT IT UP THEN! GET THAT WHEEL FIXED!"

The three other men speak as one. "Yes sir!"

From a dozen feet above them Valeries observes them from a branch.

"Just observe them... Don't do anything Stooopid. One of these days, I'll show him who the stupid one is. The rotting corpse bastard."

"Nevermind her. Like I said, she's irritable in the mornings. Lycanthropics can be found in all manner of creature form."

Catherine tightens her grip. "For some reason I thought they would just be wolf like."

Richard looks at her a little puzzled. "Really? You've only been reborn for a little over a day. You've never run into any lycanthropics. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know? It just seemed to be in my mind that that's what they should be." Catherine looks at Richard.
"Is that bad?"

"No. Not 'bad'. it's just that, when one us becomes re-born, our personal memories vanish almost completely. Some say it's something our bodies do to prevent us from going insane."
Catherine holds Richards arm tighter. "There are a few of us that retain some vague memory, but they usually only show up in our dreams. And even then, nothing can really be understood."

"Do you have any?... dreams I mean?" Catherine bites her lip.

"No" Richards states abruptly. He pulls his arm away from Catherine and moves forward the Valerie's position. Catherine looks upset.

"Valerie..." Richard whispers to her as he kneels down. Both are on a boulder looking down into a small valley. " You stopped. What is it?"

Valerie stoops down further, her ears now partially turned animalistic.

"Humans... a small party. From the sounds they're making, heavily armed. Maybe they were from that group you fought with a few nights ago. Someone escape?"

"Not that I could tell. I was...um..." Richards voice grows shallow as Catherine comes closer. "out of sorts."

Valerie growls as she comes closer. "Get down, you stupid woman. Do you WANT them to spot us?!"

Catherine drops as fast as she can, landing on her knee.

"Ow.... Sorry, I didn't know" She rubs her knee hard.

"Try to do the same thing I tought you earlier. Visualize and concentrate." Richard says while not turning to her.

Valerie turns to look at her. "Oh, that's just disgusting. Go over by that tree and do that. I have a sensitive nose you know."

Richard turns to see. "What's the matt... oh..."

Richard looks to see that Catherine has ripped a knee cap right off and has obviously broken her leg.
"Come on, let's move to the tree & i'll try to help you out."