326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvJfBpEf2X
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1zTklAbuz
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iZ95UJIyw
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34Mec4OSU3
But there was something else.
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The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWz3qkJ07n
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRNLpQZhpT
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzoJEsMRr0
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdKUCZpigK
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPH4Hd5hXA
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb1ZCKkaik
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lsEK4a5mU
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaoY36CC0S
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsn2YJislp
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGxBogRjhe
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2RVLWVQgf
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbmlGvIVce
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3arl1isdA
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGphXeJMYw
“And what would be your business here?”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHOBK2azdo
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTBk75xUjV
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdCoZMGPlb
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwU0yNwxQTa
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Q9MrC2gU
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl2xMLsNu0
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4TVNbGycA
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM0tL8B7ZC
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNqZJb0A6Z
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”.
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9BI5SpfuD
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXHwCmuInB
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoqdBvrVAt
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDlo1fgfAU
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdCJupmEWI
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the
greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ996X1wfhFM
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjEW2xREWW
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnOjvVnHdA
But there was something else. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0N3UNm4jj
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuB5SEPihis
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKAscA1x1p
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd1wdwpRLj
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRXVR7cl36
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1k9hgkEAGa
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmsUEBwXrn
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoB79Ev2Wz
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5h3wDbm7fl
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xeuS8M5Wc
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TFAN5Y7Ld
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboJKLJEx6d
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRH2H9FnuCX
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wicstykdx
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JsO871LWm
“And what would be your business here?”326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7zE44qIAU
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHiWf0pIfM
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK4JQ97uE7
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ywdvti83k
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9y5H0pHMP
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXK6M3kDLsq
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKxNQjc0pA
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIsgsdFagc
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0RDle7jLJ
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”. 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig3swnDtVh
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR54nTilSp
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvhvvoos6F
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4mhyUFjiN
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTUDCpsZCl
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKvPuIhUXI
The Earl sighed, “My roundsmen brought a child but a fortnight ago, saying he stole a loaf of bread. I fed him, shoed him, and sent him on his way. Last I saw, he was heading west.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRIw1MQAiT
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21JS7x5oUf
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs9M1kbxdT
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUEimNheLR
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YfHiqTGnr
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGePCCf4En
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh68zT6CuuM
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAUctzT717
326Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphQuF4hKKU
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