Hello and welcome.
Sorry for being around four month late, but chapter three is here now, and I tried to make it longer for those who wanted lengthier chapters. I'd like to thank you for the support on this story, especially those who have given your thoughts and opinions. Special thanks to Noob6 for giving helpful ideas and discussions on the story, you've all been great.
So without further ado, let continue the story.
(RWBY is property of Rooster Teeth & Dishonored was developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks)
Daud was thinking.
He's been doing that a lot these past months... Ever since he kill the Empress and kidnapped her daughter, he's spent most of his time thinking.
His mind would constantly bombard him with 'what if' scenarios... Which, mostly lead to what occurred at Dunwall tower nearly seven months ago.
What if, he didn't take up the job?... What if, he never took her daughter to The Lord Regents men?... What would of happened?
Would someone else just take the job? Would they have succeed?... Or would Corvo just come for him earlier, seeking to save the Empresses daughter; causing Delilah to take the throne as she wanted... Things like that.
But now, in this place, it was more of the why which took hold of the assassins thoughts.
Why did The Outsider really want him to do this task? Why were his Whalers also here brought whith him? And why did he now look like... 'this'!? Daud mentally gestured to his new form.
'I should of asked more questions before agreeing to do his dirty work.' Daud inwardly criticised, before eventually calming himself down again. Taking his right glove off, the masters assassin placed his bare hand over his forehead and temples in a tired attempt to help ease the growing stress caused by this entire situation.
With his mind slowly coming back to him, the master assassin took in his surroundings once again.
His scouts discovered this place early on in the exploration of this new world. It wasn't efficiently fortified or defendable by any means, but he believed it would do as somewhere to rest and gather information till somewhere better was found.
The location was moderately sized abandoned village, or small town of some sort, surrounded by a rather large, yet thinly built, white wall; topped with what appeared to be large slate tiles. The town itself manly consisted of similarly made white walled, one storey buildings of different shapes and sizes; topped with curved, red, wooden rooftops. There was the occasion building which utilitied darker, wooden walls which appeared to use similar slate tiles as the outer walls for their roofing. Yet, those structures were few and scattered throughout the small town.
'It'll do for the time being.' Daud though simply, a small ghost of a smile reaching is bleached lips. This place would definitely help to eases his men's minds, a large enough task to distract them from the reality which now surrounds them.
Rising from the seated position he had on one of the outer buildings, nearest to the villages surrounding wall, the assassin proceeded to put his right glove back on. But, upon looking to his exposed hand he saw something which instantly replaced the once ghostly smile with his more known and usual frown.
His hand, as he expected, was also a pale white in appearance, similar to the skin he'd previously seen inhabiting his face. This would've been an unpleasant site to see as it was, just yet another reminder of this 'condition' he now had, but it was what was under the skin which truly troubled him.
His veins were black.
As Daud looked over his exposed right hand, from front to back, he knew there was no denying it. His once dull blue veins, that he would usually see under his skin, were black.
Sitting back down on the rooftop, Daud Brought his right hand closer his face; attempting to get a better look at this new, yet concerning discovery in more detail. It appeared that these new veins seemed to originate from single points on his skin, to only branch off into different directions before then abruptly stopping again. There seemed to be no indications of fading of any sort with these vessels though, which would normally be considered common with men such as him, resulting in the them appearing to be pure black.
Moving his hand back down, Daud placed his right glove next to him on the rooftop before proceeding to open one of the pouch present on his belt, producing a single wrist-bow bolt.
Holding the bolt in his left hand, as he would a pen, the assassin eyes narrowed as he prepared to prick his exposed ring finger; a simple experiment to see if his blood was now black or retained its original red tone. Yet before he was able to pierce the skin and satisfy his developing intrigue, a all to familiar 'whisp' of air being rapidly moved occurred besides him.
"What is it?" Daud asked, only giving a slight glance to the new figure now present on the rooftop with him.
One of his Whalers, dressed in a novices grey coat and whaling mask, knelt down next to him; bowing his head in respect before he spoke. "Daud, sir. We've searched all of the towns building for supply's and created an operating centre in what we believe to be the town hall, as you've requested. Thomas is there now with a full report on our findings."
Replying to the update with a simple nod, the assassin, with his task now completed, used his transversal to leave Daud, allowing his master the privacy he originally wished.
With the novice now gone, Daud placed his attention back to his open hand along with the bolt present in his other.
'It would be best not to keep them waiting on me.' Daud thought logically, as he exhaled a tired sigh, opening his ammo pouch again and placing the unused bolt back inside.
Getting back to his feet once again, the assassin collected his right glove before abruptly disappearing from the rooftop; only leaving behind black, shard-like partial where his body once stood, before they, like the assassin, disappear.
...
The town hall was one of the more larger and well constructed buildings present within the villages walls, with it's main section reaching over two storeys in hight. Its design, like most of the other buildings, featured the white outer walling which were topped with an ascending slope of slate tiles creating its roof. One of the more defining features of the building, and which made it stick out from the rest, was the inclusion of additional structural support sections created from pillars of cut stone which reached the hight of the rooftop.
Connected to the building's left side was, what appeared to be, the highest point in the entire village, and most likely the surrounding area outside it. A elegant and sterdy bell/ lookout tower. Tall enough to get a complete 360-degree view, and with the surrounding area outside of the village being, for the most part, grassland, it aloud for a much greater distance of sight.
The inside of the building, for the most part, consisted of one large singular room with the ceiling reaching the top of the second storey; an ornate chandelier was present hanging over the centre of the large room. Though that didn't mean there wasn't another floor, because were the first floor would normally reside a spacious wooden balcony area replaced it, outlining the entirety of the inner wall while kept in place with the help of several supporting pillars; made from the same sturdy wood as the balcony.
Strewed around both ground floor and the balcony were an assortments of scattered books, tables and chairs with most of the walls on both levels being lined with parsley full bookshelves, all of which were firmly fastened to the wall. A large circular table was also present, although in the centre of the main room just below the chandelier, most likely a reception desk or hub of some sort.
Besides the bookshelves, the walls also housed a few wooden doors, most of which lead to single small rooms, with a large number of them being used as private offices, containing only a single chair, a desk and the occasional filing cabinet. The only two exceptions to this was what appeared to be a reasonably large lounge area containing a few comfortable looking settees, coffee tables and a small kitchenette located off to one side.
The other room however lead to a staircase with a sign on one of the wall indicating that it lead up to the first floor balcony and the bell tower, as well as down, to a basement.
The basement itself was a quite large and near completely open in its design; the only thing stopping it from being completely so was the inclusion of several supporting pillars which kept the building from collapsing in on itself.
Multiple rows of filing cabinet were the most prominent object which inhabited the basement, many of which were lining the three of the four walls. A few desks were also present, located in the centre of the room, accompanied by multiple chairs and several boxes. Mostly likely a place to store any extra items or furniture from the rooms upstairs.
But it was the back wall, opposite to the entrance, which garnered the most attention.
Flanked on both side by filing cabinets was a large metal door with what appeared to be some sort of advanced locking system, attaching the door to its reinforced frame.
Most of the Whalers present during the first search and evaluation of the building believed it to be a volt of some kind, possibly a place where the people of the town would've stored their valuables, like those in banks. So believing that to be the contents which was behind the door a couple of assassin, who were experienced safe crackers, saw fit to try and break into it, hoping to secure the possible wealth located inside.
Back upstairs most of the Whalers present in the town hall, as well as those who'd finished their search of the town for anything useful, were busy moving or dismantling the unneeded furniture which was scattered around. If this was to be their new operating centre they need materials to remodel the buildings interior, making it more secure and defendable in the event of an attack.
With most of the Whalers occupied with the task of securing their temporary base, one assassin stood out from the rest.
The assassin, dressed in a masters dark blue coat and whaling mask, was located near the centre of the main floor. A large table was present in front of him, littered with books, files and a couple maps that he was able to find with the aid of the other assassins currently under his command.
This was Thomas: recently appointed second in command of the Whalers, as well as their scouting and finiltration specialist.
At the moment he was simply looking over the information presently in front of him once more while he waited for Dauds arrival, though he would be lying if the information he discovered didn't unnerve him.
Daud was right. They were now in a different world. Though he wouldn't have denied what Daud told them as false, it was just a lot to process. Especially with their new... appearances.
To be truthful, he was worried. Many of them were.
-Just after arrival-
-Thomas-
He didn't know what exactly drew him away from his coughing fit.
Maybe it was the sudden uneasy quietness which took hold of him and those around him?... Maybe, it was the cold that suddenly took hold of his body?... or maybe...
Before he was able to think of anything else though, he felt a hand press down on his shoulder before, all of a sudden, it started to shake him. He could defiantly feel that it was a woman's hand, it's overall size wasn't large enough to belong to a man, though that didn't necessarily mean that the idividual currently assaulting his shouldwe was weak. In fact the individual that was presently shaking his upper body was doing so with a lot of force.
He didn't even notice that the person was talking to him, or was she yelling, he really couldn't be certain. It was quite faint compared to everything else he'd been experiencing in the past few minutes.
"Thom... Concen... my voi... The feeli... shoul..., you just... fight though..."
There was definitely something wrong; it was possible that whatever was happening to him was also affecting his hearing as well. But, even with the bits of speech he could vaguely pick up on, the assassin knew that whatever was currently going on, it wouldn't likely last for much longer.
Though out of nowhere, a blast of cold wind hit his head; causing Thomas's once tightly closed eyes to shoot open in confusion.
It took him a few moments to realise what just happened. 'Did she just pull off my hood and mask?' He questioned, though not having enough time to register it fully as something within him took hold of his senses.
In an instant Thomas's right leg hooked the women's left, and in one fluid motion he flung himself backwards, in turn ramming himself into his opponents body; causing both individuals to fall too a heep on the ground. Taking the opportunity that his opponent would be most likely stunned by this action, and his current position atop the woman, he quickly flipped over; making sure that his right forearm was pressing down hard against his attackers throat.
With a position of power now over his still unknown assailant, Thomas extended the bolt currently chambered within his wrist-bow outward. A simple safety precaution made to check the wrist-bow's components still functioned with efficiency, though now with the bolt extended, it turned the once ranged weapon into a close range assassination tool. A hidden blade if you would.
Just as he was about to press the extended bolt into his opponents neck, most likely killing the woman, Thomas noticed something very important about her, or more specificslly: what she was wearing.
A grey coat over a pale buttoned tunic, a light under shirt below that, elbow length leather gloves... Thomas didn't need to see anymore. Quickly, he removing both his hands from her neck, allowing the girl to once again breathe freely, as he looked away from her.
Shame was utmost in his mind at the moment. That and a disappointment with himself. Why was his first thought to kill? That wasn't like him... well not anymore at least. Not since the first attack on their stronghold, not since... she left...
Pulling his mind back to the present, Thomas looked back to the woman, now revealed to be a novice; guiltily noticing that she looked terrified. He didn't blame her. Especially not after the fact he nearly killed her...
Though he did notice something... off with this situation. Two things, to be specific.
The first was her appearance. Thomas believed himself to be an observant person, someone who would remember the specific about a place, or in this situation a person. Though in the time he has worked with the Whalers, as well as his master, he must admit that he has never seen someone possessing red eyes. Especially when the person in question shouldn't have them.
Quinn, he believed that was her name, though he could've been wrong; the novices weren't his responsibility. Though he definitely took note of what they looked like without their masks, and he was sure Quinn had blue eyes.
His doubt of her being who he thought she was must of been visible to her, because he could feel her fear start to slowly return. Which was the other thing...
He could physically feel her fear.
Though, there was something more...
Her fear of him...
It was so... so... enticing...
It was just drawing him...
Closer...
Her fear...
Of what he'd do to her if...
"Sir...?"
...
What...?
Thomas understood perfectly well that she was now talking to him again, but... what was that?
"Si- Thomas your not... well. I'm merely here to help you." She elaborated, trying to sound as if she was still in control of the situation. It wasn't too convincing, though it was enough to put his mind on a straight path.
Nodding slowly, he started to get up from his position over her. Only now realising that he'd instinctively gotten closer to her. He would of offered his hand to help her up but due to their prior situation, he ultimately thought against it; besides, there was something else that drew his immediate attention.
They were in a field. A fiield full of lush, green grass.
'...What? How in the isles did they get here?' Thomas questioned in total confusion, as he looked around the expansive landscape covered in vibrant green grass. Soon noticing that they weren't alone.
Scattered about in small groups of at two or more were his fellow Whalers. Mostly consisting of a novices or two aiding a higher ranking member of their group with their recovery, similar to what Quinn was doing for him a few minutes prior.
'This doesn't make any sense... is this even real?' Thomas questioned himself; with good reasoning too, because he was possitive that he was in Dunwall's flooded district, not some natural paradise. To be honest, the last thing he remembered was going into Daud's chambers to informing him that...
'Corvo...' That's all Thomas could think of. It was known amongst the Whalers that those gifted with The Outsider's powers where beings of the utmost power, almost nothing could harm them, they were, in a sense, unbeatable. Thomas would of been lying if his said he didn't believe in those statements as fact... though after the Brigmore job was finished with, and Delilah's defeat at the hands of his master, he had to admit that those 'facts' he once fully believed in, seemed to loose their weight a bit.
Most saw the Witches defeat as even more proof that their master was unbeatable, that even other marked by The Outsider were nothing compared to him, to them. Thomas though, as well as a few other of higher rank, saw things differently. They saw that someone like Daud, who they thought unbeatable due to the powers he possessed, be beaten. And that worried them.
So upon finding Corvo adrift in that boat, weakened and having no way of defending himself, well, that just proved their points even more. That we were unstoppable. Unkillable. We had nothing to be afraid of...
How wrong they were.
We never had to go up against Delilah, someone with The Outsiders mark, only occasionally going up against her witches, and they untrained, just women possessing similar powers to them.
So when Corve escaped, most were arrogant, believing that we could easily deal with him before he even lay eyes on the Commerce building. But as are numbers became smaller and smaller, Thomas hopefully believed that some started to see thing from his prospective. That when Corvo escaped the pit that they through him in, there was going to be nothing that would stop him getting to Daud.
And he did...
"Daud..." Thomas mumbled to himself, as he looked around once more, hoping to see a red coat somewhere amongst the groups of grey and blue.
"Sir, Daud's... fine, but something has happened." A female voice stated besides him.
Thomas, almost forgetting that the novice was still with him, turned to see Quinn now standing beside him.
"Where is he?" Thomas asked her, fearing his master may not of come out of his fight with Corvo as well as they apparently did.
As he looked too the novice besides him, Thomas could see, as well as feel, her trepidation to answer or even look at him. It was irritating to say the least though, recalling what happened earlier, he could understand why. What he couldn't understand though was why he can now suddenly feel her emotions.
Was this some new power? He doubted it. Be what else could it be?
"Thomas." Her voice drew his attention once more.
Looking to her again, he noticed that she was no longer looking away from him, but instead she was looking straight into his eyes. He could easily see her struggle to do such a task, but why? Was Daud's condition that bad? His questions would have to go unanswered though as she past something circular towards him.
Choosing to break eye contact with her, feeling it wise to stop this odd build up of tension, Thomas looked down the object currently in his hand.
A signalling mirror? What did this have to do with Daud?
'Too much... This is all too much...' Thomas sighed inwardly.
Though he was eventually drawn out from his task due to him realising something. There was a dead silence around him. An odd thing to be distracted by normally, but to an assassin and infiltrator such as him, it is always something you should take into account.
There was a noticeable feeling of trepidation with this silence, like a superior or unknown power had just arrived...
And with that thought, he understood why there was silence.
Not moving his head in the slightest, Thomas only gave a glancing look at the room in front of him. He was right.
The whole room had stopped; not in the same way as with their magic though. Instead of his comrades pausing in mid work, with men in the process of dismantlement or the removal of furniture, it was more like they dropped everything to simply stand and stare at something.
It was odd, almost irritatingly so, seeing this specific reaction from his fellow Whalers. Especially when the cause of such a reaction was due to the man they owed their lives to.
From what he saw, their leader was standing just beyond the main doors to the building, observing the buildings interior layout. Though judging by the foot steps slowly leading to him, which were intensifying by the rooms silence, Thomas knew Daud was coming to hear his report.
Any other person might of felt fear in that moment, but not Thomas, he was loyal to Daud, and so he had no reason to fear him. He would not disappoint him.
"Daud. Sir."
"What have you to report?"
And so, without missing a beat, Thomas informed his master of what he discovered about this new world named: 'Remnant'.
And done.
That took a while; more than it probably should have considering the word count, but at least I made it longer, that's something.
...
Now onto chapter details:
- Yes! I managed to get Thomas in this chapter. Surprisingly he took up more than half the chapter. I have to say I honestly didn't see that coming... but what will you do, if it works out it works out.
- Quinn. Yes she's technically an OC character, but she's also in the games as a Whaler Daud can summon, so... it's on the middle line. It all depends on if I choose to use her as a recurring character or not. Your opinions on that might be useful by the way.
- The wrist-bows hidden blade feature. Sadly this wasn't true in the Dishonord cannon. Though something similar to it does happen in one of Daud's standard assassinations, were the wrist-bow will be pressed into a targets neck and upon the bolt is ejecting from the wrist-bow, it will appear as if the bolt simply extended outwards (like a hidden blade).
- The hint of something more. I believe that I talked about this with one of my reviewers when chapter two came out, but hopefully this chapter you'll get what I'm trying to suggest is happening to some of the Whalers.
...
Also, just to note, the schedule that I set up previously is going, for obvious reason, so now this story will most likely be updated on a more open schedule. This decision will be the best for me to deal with both this story and my own life. Sorry of the bad news.
So with that, I believe I'm done.
I thank you for stopping by, and until next time. Have a happy day.
