So I wanted to devote a full chapter to Chatters and Sawbones, hence cutting this one where I did. Also, there will be a full chapter for Brutus of course. I'm going to do a "recap" for Prisoner's gate and Ship graveyard. I love Fairgraves as a character but I want to leave some of these areas/bosses "untouched" for other exiles. The simple reason being you are not the only one exiled to this continent, and you aren't the hero that does everything and saves everyone. TLDR, this isn't a video game where you are the only one to do all the quests.

So anyway, Fairgraves will be mentioned in the recap (will go into more detail in with him in Sarn) but otherwise we'll move onward to Merveil and finish out Act 1. Also, as the game changes with updates, I need to keep those in mind. For example, the original Forsaken Masters are now part of the Immortal Syndicate. So I'll have them come up in a conversation once or twice. Also, I know 4.0 is being hinted at doing some major lore rework/changes for Part 2 of the game as far as I can tell. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that if I do leave something out in my narrative, then it doesn't mean it doesn't exist my story's world. This is the view of one exile out of many that have come to Wraeclast. I'll try to keep it in line with the game along with any major changes. But say if, for example, Jun never comes up in my story. Then that means she just recruited another exile.

All that being said, thank you all who have read this story and enjoyed it. I know I'm not Speedy Gonzales with the updates but I'm a slow writer, can't help it. Until next upload, have a fun and awesome day.

~Augustrad

Chapter 10: Axiom Prison

The steep climb lay behind them as did a new acquaintance, Navali, a self-proclaimed soothsayer. She was Karui with minimal fur clothing and a peculiar monkey. A hue of violet imbued itself around her. After freeing her from the imprisonment of goatmen, she used the waypoint near the base of the climb to return to Lioneye's.

Oh yea, goatmen. Demon goats on two legs like a human. Some of them even wielded staffs and shot fireballs. If not for his shield, Stryer would have probably more than just a few minor burn marks. Alyssa used her distance and whittled the enemies down. They did not make a bad team, rather decent actually.

Before them stood the entrance to Axiom Prison. Skeletons trapped in metal cages hung along the walls and on spiked wheels, deadly warnings to the living. The stone walls stood resolute as if time had no effect.

"I took the first dark hole, why don't you take this one?"

Stryer turned to retort but halted to better judgment. "Fair enough."

Cautiously, they went in one by one. The air, if one would call it such, that greeted them was stale and lingered of horrid stench. Their footsteps echoed down the almost pitch black stone corridor. Almost pitch black, almost except for the occasional lit torch or brazier along the wall or at a cross-section. The chill ran from head to toe and skin to bone.

"Isn't this quite the cozy place?"

Stryer and Alyssa moved along ready to strike at every encroachment of darkness. Iron maidens and metal cages were occasionally shoved in a corner with tables or chairs splintered on the floor. One room made use of raised stone in a rectangular layout. Four cages with chained skeletons inside acted as the outer of entertainment for their torturers, a most likely slow and painful death.

As disturbing an image all that was, they were more welcoming than the ones outside the cages that attacked them. They played it safe and made sure to not overextend one more corner than needed. Without too much trouble they made it to a stairwell that led upwards and also the slightest hint of fresher air. With no other option, up the echoing stone stairs to the next level.

"I, for one, am looking forward to whatever monster awaits us outside this prison." Stryer whispered as he dared a look around the next wall.

"Why would that be?"

He grinned. "Because that means we're no longer stuck in here."

"I wish I could imitate you only for the sake of your blinding optimism." Alyssa could not resist a smile. "Though, the other...hold on, check out that door."

The nearest door was of solid wood rather than iron bars. The metal bracing detailed a level of care and importance, of someone, not a prisoner. The coast clear, they approached the door and slowly opened and entered the room. Inside there were no cages or other means of torture. Surprised, it was actually the opposite.

A large table that could sit at least sixteen hoarded the majority of the room. Across it lay a tattered and bug-eaten cloth that spread its length while assorted dishes accompanied each seating. A chair crafted to impress stood at the head of the table, the high back signaled importance. An array of colorful tapestries hung against the walls.

"This is certainly one of the nicer rooms."

Alyssa ran a hand lightly across the surface as she moved along the table. "You think the Warden entertained guests here?"

Stryer inspected one of the remains in the nearest chair only to find cobwebs and dust covered a pile of broken bones. An assortment of silverware scattered the table, but one, in particular, garnered keen interest. At the head was rather large cutlery, a meat cleaver coated in dried blood was gutted into the wood.

Alyssa laid her bow on the table and pushed the skeleton off of the head chair. "Assume this was his spot."

"Probably shouldn't be so reckless like that."

"Relax, it would have moved if it was alive." She paused and realized her wording. "Or undead."

He scoffed. "We shouldn't stay."

"I wonder what he'd say, the warden?" She took the now vacated seat and dislodged the bloody cleaver. "Bring me fresh meat!"

Stryer sighed in pain. "Since when did you get a sense of humor?"

Before she could lay the cleaver down, a subtle chill swept the room. The feeling was familiar to Stryer but he could not place it. Alyssa snatched her bow with no hesitation while he gripped shield and sword tightly in hand. They both felt it and heard it, a slow but encroaching shuffle of feet, a single pair. The cold emanated from an open door opposite the side they entered.

Slowly and sluggishly into the room a larger than normal skeleton intruded. Its bones glistened as if coated in a thin layer of ice and moved with a chattering effect. A kite shield and war hammer were its choice of weapons. Eyeless sockets gazed back at the both of them, extra cold and lifeless.

"Go for it, Stryer." She pulled the string taut. "I got you covered."

The arrow burned hot as it flew towards its target. However, the new enemy raised its shield and deflected it away. Now, as far as he knew, skeletons could not speak. They were dead for one reason, but also there was a noticeable lack of organs to make a sound. All the other skeletons were silent except for their noisy movements. This one growled, growled in an icy rage.

"Alright, Chatters, let's see what you got."

Stryer charged in with shield held high. Also unlike most skeletons, this one was deceptively faster once engaged in combat. Its hammer swung at Stryer in an attempt to knock the shield aside. Successful, it thrust its own shield forward to bash Stryer in the head. He dodged back as another arrow hit Chatters in the torso. The skeleton stumbled backward and released another undead roar, all the while, the chill surrounding it increased in intensity. Next thing he saw, a glacial hammer aimed over his head to squash him like a bug.