A\N: Just a heads-up that some of the text in this chapter is a bit hard to read but that is intentional given the context. If it's too difficult or aggravating let me know and I'll see about adjusting it in future.
Chapter 9: An Interval of Increase
A few days later…
The Crusader slowly walked up the steps to the rickety church, the light of dusk shining gently on the stone walls and the simple stained glass windows that had been recently installed. Pushing open the doors he slowly made his way down the center aisle between the rows of empty, silent pews to the rear of the massive room where a massive symbol of the Light stood, anchored against the back wall, a golden circle with four short perpendicular bars facing each cardinal direction. Gazing up at the sign in silent contemplation for a moment, he made his way around the altar to the rear wall where a door sat, slightly open. Slowly pushing open the door his eyes scanned the vestry where the priests kept their ceremonial robes and paraphernalia for the daily rituals and services they performed Finding no one there he turned away from the door and descended the straight staircase against the nearby wall down to the lower floor. Passing by lit torches and lanterns along the walls he paused at the confessional room before opening the door, the room lit by a single white candle sitting on a small round table between the two chairs. The older priest, seated in one of the chairs, wrapped in a simple brown monk's robe, his lean face wrinkled and leathery from years of hardship with a ring of grey hair around his head, looked up from his silent prayer and beckoned him inside with a calloused hand. The man walked over to the other chair and slowly sat in it, the candle casting both their faces in a soft, auburn glow.
"What brings you here my son?" The priest asked softly.
Andre sat with his eyes focused on the floor, his eyes troubled as he raised them to look at the Light's representative.
"You should know that I have never had much use for priests. For years I have considered myself dedicated to the Light and its cause, enough that I was willing to take up the armor of St. George and train to fight against the forces of evil."
He sighed. "Yet...at this moment I find myself in need of one."
The man's eyes flickered back and forth uneasily, his thoughts in turmoil before he suddenly made a fist and thumped it hard against the arm of the chair in frustration, his face scrunched.
"Why do I feel as if my faith has been naught but window dressing all these years?" He exclaimed.
"Tell me what happened my son." The priest prompted gently. "What has given rise to this...crisis of faith?"
Composing his thoughts the Frenchman spoke. "A few days ago was my first excursion into the wilds nearby. I expected to lead the party but was overrode by Lord Ezekiel, as is his right of course. All was going relatively well but at the end, when night fell…"
He paused, his eyes haunted for a moment before composing himself and continuing. "I saw...I saw the Darkness come to life...I saw these...these creatures out of nightmare! Naught but slime and ectoplasm they were yet within each one floated skulls and human bones. We dispatched them easily enough yet…" He sighed in frustration. "They haunt my mind even now! Why? And why do I feel as if the Light is not the glorious Power I had believed it to be?" He asked, his eyes boring into the priest's, desperate for answers.
The priest sighed softly in compassion. "Ah my son, you are hardly the first to come to me with such burdens. Indeed there are none here that have not asked the same questions of me at some point. Take heart, for your fears and your doubts are natural given what has transpired. I will tell you what I have told the others." He said gently.
The priest paused for a moment before continuing. "Just like the others your faith has been tested. I have no doubt that in your time you have fought the fringes of the darkness where civilization thrives. But here, here in this place, you face the heart of darkness. You stand before the gates of its terrible fortress and your heart quails because you have not seen the true depravities it is capable of until now. Before what you saw were the wicked machinations of men and their greed but here...what is found here is true unholiness such that no man could match it. You do not face natural evils my son but supernatural and terrible power beyond our ken. And you ask yourself, how can the Light abide such power to exist."
Andre sighed with a nod.
The priest laced his fingers together near his chin, his face contemplative. "I have served the Light for many years." He said softly. "Through trials and tribulations that would doubtlessly break other men. I have watched the manor and then the town change from a bustling and vibrant community to the tragic wreck it was until the arrival of the new Lord. Before he came I had little hope but now, seeing what you and the others are doing and what he has done to repair that which was broken...I find hope kindling in my heart for the first time in many years. What you must understand my son is that Darkness and Light will always exist in some form. Their powers wax and their powers wane at different times and in different places. Here the power of the Dark is strong, perhaps as strong as it could possibly be without completely overrunning us. And yet, here we stand. Even here the Light is at work, holding back the dark tides. The defensive line is thin, yes, and yes it wavers from time to time but still it holds."
The man leaned forward, resting his rough hand on Andre's own. "Take heart in that and hold fast to it. The Light can never be extinguished while the hearts of men like you believe in what is right and just." He said with quiet fervor.
Andre nodded, his face pinched. "I will consider what you have said." He replied wearily before easing himself out of the chair and departing the room, leaving the priest in wavering half light, the man's eyes following after him in concern.
Making his way back up the stairs the Knight looked up once more at the symbol on the wall, his eyes growing cold with derision. "It is a weak god that needs men to prop it up, whose influence is so inconstant and whose power can be so easily undermined. Either you allowed this darkness to manifest or you were powerless to stop it. Neither speaks well of you. Still, I have sworn to serve you and I shall hold true to my oath. Andre Bertrand is many things but an oathbreaker is not one of them."
Turning his back on the Light's icon he made his way back to the church's entrance, a dark cloud hanging over him.
The carriage slowly rolled into town with Williams at the helm, stopping near where Francine was waiting.
"Any problems Williams?" She called out to the crazy servant.
"No! No! None at all!" He replied gleefully as he got down from the driver's box, a slightly unhinged smile on his face. "Easy it was, very easy! For the other deliveries too! Ahh to have clean and safe roads again!" He said happily as he opened the door of the carriage, allowing Hannah to step out.
"Welcome back!" Francine called out as she stepped over to the carriage.
"Oh yes, welcome back to the biggest shithole this side of darkest Africa." Hannah groused as she yanked her large valise from the seat. "I only just got all the grime off me after taking a bath every day in London and now here I am back again. What joy."
Francine smirked at the raven haired woman's dour tone. "Well of course, I mean you are in the center of the biggest research opportunity in probably a few centuries. What's not to love? Think of all the books and research monographs you'll be able to publish. Who knows, in the years to come the Church might even make you the patron saint of medicine and research given your role here."
"There is that one redeeming feature I suppose." Hannah sighed as Williams took her bag. Turning to the man she poked his nose with her finger. "I've had to endure your inane and pointless prattle all the way from London you daft man-child so don't get all gushy about reunions, how wonderful the ride was, or any other pointless nonsense that's wanting to emerge from that hole you call a mouth, understand?".
Williams blinked in surprise at the order as well as the poke before nodding his head vigorously with a grin.
"Thank goodness, peace and quiet at last." She muttered irritably. "Just take this to my room will you?" She prompted him.
The man nodded silently once more before running off.
"Really Hannah you need to loosen up a bit. I find the man to be adorable and sweet." Francine said lightly.
Hannah snorted as they began walking towards the town. "Please! You find everything adorable and sweet. I've never heard you speak a bad word about anyone!"
"Which shows my talent for tact as well as my sunny disposition." The other Plague Doctor replied airily. "Both of which you could benefit from." She suggested with an impish smile.
"So you've said many a time." The other woman replied flatly with a glare. "And since you insist on repeating yourself I suppose I'll have to repeat what I've said every time before this: I will speak my mind plainly and if the other person can't deal with it then that is their problem to deal with. I have no time for blubbering idiots who need to be pandered to."
"As pleases you." Francine sighed good-naturedly. "Moving on to other things how was your vacation in London?"
"Hardly a vacation." Hannah replied derisively. "I spent my days orchestrating the moving of various reagents and potions from my laboratory to this place, making sure everything was packed properly and delivered safely. My evenings I spent updating all of my journals and notes on what had transpired as well as improving my formulas for my plague grenades and a few other elixirs."
"So you have something new for us?" Francine asked as they approached the stubby tower where Bellecoat had set up shop.
"I believe I can cook up a somewhat more potent version of my plague solution at least." The woman replied. "I also had the chance to catch up with some of my colleagues regarding the latest psycho-therapeutic practices and medications. Considering some of the crazy things we've all seen I fully expect some of these people to start having mental breakdowns or coming back with odd diseases. When that happens we need to be ready to treat them and quickly."
"I had all of the equipment moved into your tower. I must say it's getting rather cramped." Francine suggested as they stepped through the door.
Hannah looked about at the large number of lockboxes and tall cases spread out in the main room as well as the side chambers that had once been jail cells. "Well I certainly can't disagree with that assessment." The woman muttered. "This is going to be quite the mess. If I had more room…"
"Perhaps we should speak with Lord Ezekiel about this?" Francine suggested. "He is quite the reasonable sort and there is another tower nearby that the men have been working to make livable."
Hannah nodded. "Makes sense. In fact, why not see him now? No point in waiting."
The other woman nodded. "I'll come with you, help get you up to speed on what's been going on."
"I seriously doubt anything of true note has happened." Hannah replied diffidently.
"Well I'd say that professor you contacted having arrived was news." Francine offered.
Hannah glanced over at her. "You mean Al'Bin actually showed up? I'm impressed. He's barely left his office since taking up that post last year. He practically clings to that desk and chair as if someone else was going to kick him out of it. I wasn't sure if he'd come to be honest."
"Well he's here along with a few other new people." Francine assured her. "Another Crusader from St. George by the name of Andre and an old neighbor of Lord Ezekiel's, a man named Mortimer and his hound."
"Dogs, wonderful." Hannah said with a shake of her head. "Probably be jumping all over my lab equipment and breaking things."
"Well he seems to have it well under control so I don't think you'll need to worry about that." Francine said with a smile. "Andre is rather...well he puts on airs I guess you could say."
"Splendid." Hannah said cheerlessly. "That's as close to an insult as I've ever heard you say. The man must be insufferable if that's the case." She suggested before an anticipatory smile creased her face.
"I know that look." Francine said reproachfully. "You're just waiting for the chance to tear into him and knock him down a few pegs, aren't you?"
"You know me too well." The Plague Doctor said with quiet relish as they approached the manor house in the middle of town.
Entering the pair made their way through the main foyer and upstairs to the main office where Charles could usually be found. Knocking on his door he bade them enter a moment later.
As they entered they found Charles seated behind his desk with a sheaf of papers before him along with a sack of gold and several deeds. The young man smiled upon seeing Hannah.
"Ah, Doctor Bellecoat! Splendid to have you back, your presence has been sorely missed by all." He said with a smile.
Hannah snorted with a smirk on her face. "Please, spare me such nonsense. I'm sure everyone was relieved to be rid of me for a while."
Shaking his head in amusement the man bade them sit. "From the deliveries that have been arriving in the last few days I presume your trip to London was successful?" He asked.
"Eminently so." Hannah agreed. "I understand we have some new arrivals including Al'Bin."
Charles nodded. "Indeed. The new members of our band have already proven helpful in clearing the main road of bandits."
"I did notice that the last leg of the journey was much more peaceful than usual, Williams' ceaseless prattling notwithstanding." Bellecoat remarked. "Good to know they have some use. I came here this evening as I wanted to ask for permission to use the tower near my makeshift apothecary for more advanced healing remedies. The equipment I had sent will not easily fit in the space I have now."
"You're referring to the larger tower we've been renovating recently?" He asked for clarification.
Hannah nodded. "Correct."
"I suppose that would be fine." Charles mused, resting his chin on his fist. "We hadn't actually given the space to anyone just yet. Apparently the tower was being used to incarcerate people that were rather more violent or perhaps needed to be out of the public eye. There are several cells with iron doors and a few of the rooms have tables with straps." He told her.
"Long term incarceration and possibly torture." Hannah mused before smirking. "Sounds perfect. For what I have in mind this should do well."
Charles raised an eyebrow in concern upon hearing this. "And what exactly do you have planned Dr. Bellecoat?"
"Not whatever you're thinking of, I can assure you." The woman retorted. "Given the pressure everyone here is under we may need to use those cells and tables for various treatment options soon. The sooner I can get the place up and running the better."
Charles nodded. "Very well then. You may begin moving your equipment into the new tower. It should be fixed up enough by now to be serviceable."
Hannah nodded before leaving the room with Francine following after her. As they made their way down the road they found Reynauld coming the opposite way. Spotting them, he hailed them.
"Miss Bellecoat! Welcome back!"
Hannah inclined her head at this. "Winters. I wonder if I might borrow you for a bit?"
The man gazed at her curiously. "Certainly. For what end, might I ask?"
"I have some rather large boxes that need to be moved from my apothecary to the nearby tower that was recently renovated. You seem to be healthy enough to assist with that."
Reynauld smiled at this. "I suppose I could help. My legs are doing much better at this point and they could use a bit of light exercise to strengthen them."
"Splendid." Hannah said dryly. "Come along then boy, help me with my luggage." She said imperiously with a gesture.
Shaking his head in amusement the man followed after her. They spent the next few hours moving boxes to the new tower while Hannah managed to get one of the iron cell doors unstuck and working again before directing them where to put the various boxes and containers. Finally they retired to the tavern for a meal before heading off to bed.
The next morning…
"What do you mean you're leaving?" Reynauld asked in disbelief as Gerri sat with him and a few of the others at the breakfast table.
"Don't worry I plan to return but for the moment I must go where the Light leads me." She explained earnestly.
"What do you mean 'where the Light leads you'?" Francine asked.
"While I prayed last night for guidance and strength I beheld a vision of a being dressed in white who had an aura of brilliance the likes of which I had never seen." Gerri explained excitedly. "Its voice was like thunder and it told me that I was to go minister to others nearby."
"Twill be quite a ways Lassie." Mortimer said, taking a sip of his black coffee. "Ah live miles away from this place and most others round here have miles of farmland. Would take several days walkin' to reach just one."
Gerri nodded. "I realize the distance but I must make the effort. I cannot deny the Light's will for me in this."
"Well if you have to go you have to go but that does leave us with only one healer." Francine sighed. "Make sure you let Lord Ezekiel know about this."
Gerri nodded. "I intend to. I shall start out today. Hopefully I will not be gone too long."
"We'll miss you Lassie." Mortimer said.
The Vestal smiled at this. "Thank you Mr. MacDonald. If you'll excuse me I need to pack."
Standing up she nodded to them before retiring to her room.
"Sounds more like she got into some of Hannah's stores of hallucinogens." Francine muttered.
The Houndmaster shook his head. "Ye shouldn't insult the Light so Lass. Ah'm not a religious man meself but we've all seen the power yon Crusaders and Vestal use. Tis no flight o' fancy if Ah'm any judge."
"Maybe." Francine shrugged with a sigh. "All I know is Jacques is going to have to do most of the patching up until she gets back.. If she comes back."
"The Lass is loyal, she'll be back." The man said with certainty.
Finishing the last of her breakfast the woman stood and bade Mortimer goodbye before leaving the tavern and walking down the road to the guild hall where Thomas the guildmaster was supervising training for the others. As she strode into the main practice area she found most of the company there, practicing various arts. Off to one side Reynauld and Andre were having a discussion regarding a piece of parchment Reynauld was holding in his hands, the edges appearing to glow faintly. Nearby she saw Dismas attacking a target dummy with his knife, slashing at its throat and stabbing it where its kidneys would be were it a real person. Thomas himself was supervising Jonas as he watched the man swing his executioner's blade, occasionally correcting his body movements or the placement of his hands upon the hilt to make his strikes more powerful as well as teaching him to attack two of the training dummies with a single swing. As she wandered closer to the two Crusaders she could hear Winters explaining something to Andre.
"...its ways are mysterious of course but so long as you have the faith and strength of will to believe that the divinely imbued parchment can inflict damage upon our foes then it will do so."
"But will it work on mundane enemies like the bandits we encountered?" Andre asked. "Surely they are not true works of evil unlike those slime creatures." He reasoned.
"Yet they do evil and work against the Light by their presence and continued efforts here. The Scripture's power will affect them also. Not to the same extent to be sure but it will still cause harm. Now then, take hold of the parchment and display it like so while focusing on..."
Francine moved away and continued to watch with interest as the rest of the group practiced for a few hours. The two Crusaders soon moved on to more martial practice with Andre taking on Thomas in a sword duel while Reynaulds began working with Jonas. Vaguely curious as to their conversation the woman moved a bit closer.
"...surely the Light abandoned me long ago." Jonas was saying to Reynaulds. "How can I possibly use its power?"
"The Light abandons no one." Reynaulds assured him with quiet confidence. "That is not to say that we do not have trials of our own to face, some greater than others. Yet even still the Light provides aid to those who need it. The Prayer of Solemnity is known to give healing and strength to those in dire straits. You speak it thusly: Lux det mihi sanitatem et auxilium a malo…"
Later on
Elsewhere…
He floated in the aether as he had done on occasions prior, his mind detached from his body. Freed from the bounds of muscle and matter he was able to move about as he saw fit, unrestrained by the laws of nature men of science touted so highly. In time he would surpass them all but even he was well aware of the fickleness of the powers he courted so carefully. All men were but amusements for the dark powers that roamed between the unending vastness of night between the stars and he was no exception. An amusing bit player on the world's stage he might be, but even his entertainment would grow stale in time.
What the dark powers would do to him then he dared not ruminate on as that led to trembling and nightmares.
Floating about in the vast inky sea of the void a shape began to form before him. Debasing himself immediately he planted his face firmly downward, unwilling to even entertain the slightest thought of looking upon his patron for to do so was to invite a swift and messy death, and that was if the Ancient One was feeling particularly merciful at that moment.
Putrid, oily miasma began to seep into his thoughts as the being before him began to confine itself to a singular chaotic form, its mere presence enough to taint the mental and physical reality around it through multiple dimensions and spaces man had not even considered in its darkest dreams. As the creature's influence spread the stars began to wink out, consumed and subsumed by the spreading foulness. Opening a maw that a madman might consider a mouth, it spoke in a terrible, fell voice that echoed across the vast vista of space-time, making his mind shiver in revulsion.
W̼̖̪̖̗̳̖͊ͨ͛Ḫ̨̨̻̣̍̉̑͐̉͊̒Y̵̠̮͚̙̮͙̭̍̌ ̶̵̞͚͈͔̖̖̤ͨ͗̅ͪ̇̀͛ͥͬD̪̘͉͗ͭ͢O̥̰̩͈͋̉ͪͭͯ̍̽͘͟͞ ̑̓͐͆̑́҉̨̩͙͍̜ͅY̴̩͕̩̱̼ͥ̊̉ͩ̈́ͩͅͅŐ̴̢̖̐ͮͨ͋͌͜ͅU͋͊ͧ̋ͦ͢͏̨͖͔͚͎̹͈̜̬̜ ͖̬̉͗̽͌͛́̀C̵̨͉̰̫̜͈̩̳͛̈͐͑̒ͫͩ̚͞O̟͖̺̼̟̥̖ͫ̑͊̊̓ͨ͑ͥ̃̕͢M̸̱̦̰͈̤͚̺͇̾ͬͭ̍E̢̤̲̲̮̫̠͊͐ͤ̈̋͐̄ͪ͌ ̶͔͓̄ͫ̑̄̀͘B̜̻̤͓̎̀̚͢ͅĒ͉̰̼̙͒͠F̷̖͉̟̳̱͓͕̮͒̀O̵̪̲̹͔͎̫ͥ͑͝R̵̭̻͕̉ͤ͊͆E̱̬̞ͪ͟ ̡̛̘̯̠̘̱̇ͩ͋̐́̉M̢̯̖̩ͪͬ͘Ě̤̚ ̭́̕W͓͙̠̃ͪ̕͟O̬͔͇̤̱ͥ́̈́ͣ̾̚ͅR̟̱̞͓̠̲̪͒̔͌̔̅̎̀̚M̮͈̺̪̯͛̿ͦ?̴̧̣͓͖̦̻̗͐̐͗̽͑̈̐̕
Swallowing, he spoke softly with reverence and fear. "Great One, forgive this worm for his intrusion but I seek your wisdom and power."
A͍̰̟̿̕͟͞N̴̴̨̻̻̮̹̣̦̪̽͂̓ͅD̶̡̥͕͙̺̝̦̝̘̑ͫͣ͜ ̧̠͎͇͉̣̰͓͊̌̀̎̄̑ͮ̉̕Ẅ̧̗͚́̌ͧ͐̆H͉̞̞͖ͩͦ̆̄ͮ͂͝A̵̡̳̬͍̲ͤ̓̃͛͂̆̒͟T̡̙̦̤̯͓̹̝ͩ̏̅̓ͦͨ̂ ̥̪̦͓͈͉̆̃ͣ̈́̀̚P͍͉̭͇̤̞̩̽ͮ̀ͦͯ͑̃̍̓͞Ơ̞̱ͭ͂͢͡W̶̼̒ͥ͛̚͠E̶̻͔̣ͭͮ͆ͪ̌R͌̍͂̆ͪ̋҉̷̗̖ ̵͓̬̣̖͈̄̍̇̋͒̔ͯ͡M̸̙͇̯̜̳͓͑̆ͬ̆ͥ̆͛̍͒͟Iͣ̉͂ͯ̎ͮ̈́͞҉̦̘̯̮ͅG̖͉̍̅̄̍ͮ̏H̷̯̃ͣ͞ͅT̺̞͉͍̜͓͚̏̀̽͗ͦ́̅̽ ̶̛̲͙̦̙̭̒̑͝Ť̸̷̠͕͂̐̌͐́̓̅H̡͉͔̓̊Ȧͬ̔͛̈́͑͊͐͏̛̞͓̖T̲̯̥͙̥͋̄̈́͢ ̈̏̊̈́̒̽̑̚͜͏̴̭͔͕̣̺͚̼̱B̑̉ͯ͌͌ͯͭ͋͏̩͇Ḛ͕͎̮̰̤͈̜̫̍͌̂̅̚,̼͈̣͍̖̉̇̃ ͖̝̹̩͙̫̠̪̈͋̈͌Į̟̦̞̬̠͚̜̆̓́́N̵̴͚̪̙ͪ͊̈ͥͪ̕S̷̸̟͖̊̊̃ͪͯE̹̗̜ͫ̉̀͝C̱̣͉̪̖̪̳͋ͣ̈̉̑T̬̑̀͜?̢̛͙̪̥̦̠̪̠͚͊͂̽ͪ̔̎ͫ̄̚͜
Shivering at the creature's terrible gaze, he spoke again. "I would ask of you greater power to heal those whom you choose worthy of such an honor."
A̶͎̯̳͈̟͇͒̍͒ͧ̇ͥ̂N̮̯̪̲̬ͭͣͫ̓ͮ̊D̷̡̦̰͇̱̊̄ͮͤ̀̅ͪͭ͊ ̬̗̟̰͙̦͗̌̏̔̀ͅW̬̮͔̱͕̞̒̅ͯ̍͋̽̓̒͡H̵̞̺̉ͨ̉̃Y̷̱͉̥̳̟̟̩̩ͫ̓͞ ̸̶̨̻̗̖ͬ̅̚ͅS̸̰̱̝̘̯̜̥̯̾ͥ̀̕H̴̪̤̯̱̊ͥͥ̅͑̎̍͜͝O̩̼͔̰̖̗̎ͣ̎͂͌̀̚͟͢U̬̰͙̻̜͔͕̠ͦ͒͗ͤ͋͐̚͟͜L̵̛̛̖̖̘̹͉̱͙͈ͦͭ͐͆D̵̗͓̍ ͚͓̲ͯ͊̇ͯ͘̕I̡̛̻̺̠̳̝̜͇̻ͤ̔̍ͧͥ̃̌̿ ̶̡̯͓̗̥̅̃͗̚̕Ǧ̵̈́ͤͪ͆͟ͅR͙̮͉̱͖̬̱̓̎̊̎̍͞A̩̟͔͓̥ͫ̉͛̈̃N̨͖͉̜̆ͤ̔̅ͭ͊́T̸͎͔͓͈͒ͫ͢ ̛̖̖̼̆̉͐ͯ́̑͆̊͡Yͨ̈̉͂҉͎̘̖̮̮̤̜Ǫ̠̫̾̐͊͘̕Ư̶̫͔̥̼̳̦͓̩̆̀̂ͪͪ̍̚͞ ̜̟͍͉̗͙ͮ͊͛ͤ͜͝ͅT͈̫̩̖̫̦̟̈́̍̍͋ͯ̃̚Ḧ̸̱̟̱͓́ͦ̄͢͟Ï̠̣͉̠̝͍͕̝̋̊Ŝ̬͍ͨ̎͆̿͘͢ ̮͎̏̏̎̿̎ͭ̉͢͠͠ͅM̩̺ͥͮ̏ͥ͛̎ͥ̋O̵̟͚͎̩͉̙̘̲̲̓ͪ̎Rͯ҉̴͚̝̲̳͞S̹̳ͪ̄̎ͤ̎ͮ͊͟Ẻ̳̝̪̲̲̈́̐ͬ̾͑̏͜ͅL̢ͩ̊ͬ̄ͣ҉͔̝̹̟̩̖͈ ͕͌̓͌́Ó̺̦̃̋ͮ̅́̀F̰̭̟̩̩͕̟̬̏̍͒̔͂̇̽́͟ ̧͍̜͈̺̙̰̙ͥ͊̑̒̈ͬ̏ͫͅM̴̢̛̳̙̼̞̼̖̞̓͂ͥ͊Y̶̘̞͎̠̓ ̣͕̮̤̜̩̙͚̑͗̐̓ͨ̋̌̂́̀Pͦ͛ͨͧ͌̌̒̚͏͎͖̪̹̠̘̯͖̕O͎͚͇̲͕̬ͨͤͮ̔ͤ̿ͭͬ̀̚͘ͅW̟͇͕͉̊E̶͂̎ͩ̊҉̻͇R̨̳̥̤̰̺̦̖̠ͫ͂͗̏̓ͫ́,̧̦̹͔͖̤͛̉ͥ̔̂ͮ̌́ ̢̛̗̹̳ͯ͆̄̏Y͚͚ͦ̎̾͊̉͟O͔̮͎̘̣̝̥͈̍ͫͩ̅͆̒̚U͙͚͙ͯͩ̐̋̄̔ ̧̞͎̥͍ͥͫ̓͛ͤ̄̎ͫ͟͠ͅͅP̟̯̟͕̳͋̒̎̋ͬ̚Ą̗̦͓̹̥̱̝̩̄ͦ͡͠ͅT͕̥͉͋͑̀͊̋H̴̢͕̝̠̭̰̪̜̰̄ͦ̄͆̎ͅE̢̬̩̞͉̼͙͚̋T̺͓̺̝̪ͤ̎̽ͭ̓͝Į̮͚̱͈ͤ̂̋̇̏͆Ĉ̨̤̮̭ͫͧ͌͋ͭ̚̕͡ ̅ͪ͑ͬ̔̿̇͏̵̼ͅͅV̨̱̯͖͍̣̦̌ͨ̉̿̐͌͒͞A̵̺̮̘̹͙̲̭̾̀̃̐͆̏̓P̱̘̬̙̖͐̈́̀Ȯ̝̹̠̙̮ͫͦͩ́̊ͤ̽R̺̮͎͇̲̰ͭ͛̀̀͜?̛̬͉̍̋ͣ̂̚
"As always I and all that walk upon the Earth exist for your amusement, Great One. Vapors and mist we may be but would you see the grand play of Man falter and fade so soon?"
The creature appeared to consider his servant's request, its potent gaze lessening somewhat for a few moments as a foetid claw scrapped against unnatural flesh.
V̋ͪͫ̓ͪ̇ER̔̈Yͣ͊ͭ̇̽ ̆ͯ̾͂ͨ̌WͧËͮ̾ͣ͋L̎̌L.ͤ̆̔ ̚ ̿ͨ̓͐̌̚Í̀̆̓͌̔ ͒͑ͭ͐ͨ̈S̄͊̾H͗ͮͣ̌̄ͮ̔A̓͂ͣ̈̓̚L͐ͬ́L̃ Ḡ͑͛ͫRͮA͂̊NT̿ͭͭ͂̊ͯͮ ̔ͩ̈́̄̃Y͂̎͛͐̉OU̎ Tͯͥ̆ͮ̉H̾̾ͨ́̈́Iͫ̍S̈́͛̍͛ͣ ̌͌͊̄̓BOO̅̿͌͌ͮ͑̚N͌̂ͬ͛͑̚̚.̍̎̅̋͑̚ ͤͦ̓́̾ Bͮ͛U͒̓ͧ̓̓ͣŤͭ ͭ͆̽ͦ̄D̄͛ͥ̆̉̚Oͣ͂ͧͤͫ ͐̐̌N̉͆̚OṪ̎̆̉ͭ̐ ̽ͪ̽͒F͐̌̓̾O͋͊Rͭ̇ͫ̏͂̔̐ ͊ͦ̌̃Ã̌͋ ͧ͒M̽̅O͛̽ͣME͌ͧ̊ͤ̏̽̾N̄ͧ̏̀ͥͮ̈́Tͭͫͬͯͣ̊̌ Fͭ͒̏ORͬ̄̓G̉ͬͭEͩT Y̾͑̔̐ͥOͯ̓Ǘ̉ͮ͌R̽ͦ̄͋ͮ͂̿ ̓P͆̑ͨͥ̌ͦLͫͦ̂͆̋A͋̓ͥ̈͒̑͂C̊̓ͧ͑̓̓E.̄̒ ͩ̊ ̆ͣ͐̀̃̑̚Ÿ́̀̿́́̐̂Oͧͤͧ̔̓̒̅U͆̄̇͆̃̌ ͒͆̌̄̌A̾͑͊͊͋͊̚RE͒́ ͂̓ͫͧ͋M̏̌͐Yͩ PLͮ͗ͧAYͩ̈́͆ͧ̅ͪ̐TͪHͤ̄͆ͪ͑̇̒Í͆͛̋͌̅Ṅ̈ͣͨ̓ͨG͑̾S͐̄̾ͬͯ,ͥ̂̋͒̽ ̾͐̍̃NͣÓTͯ͐HͨĨ͗̓ͧͬ͑NG̓́̾̆ ͊̓͐̂͒̏͛M̓̑̋̏O̾Rͬ̂̃̃Eͦͫ͂̅̎̓͗ ͩA̋͐ͣͮ̽N̈́͑̂͒͌Dͧ̍ͦ ͣIͧ̄̌ ͋ͬ͒WI͊̑L͌ͨ͐̽ͩ́̌Ĺ̋̇ͩ̓ ͪ̾D͒ͨISͪͣP̄ͥ̈̎Ȇͭ̀̇̒N̒́ͨ͒̍̇̄S̐̽̊̓̅E͗̅̚ ̈́̑̅MYͨ͆̂ͤ ͌̌ͭP̿̈́ͫ͐͛ͭO̒̅̑̇WͧͣË́ͥ̏͊R̾ͭͬ̅ͤ̚ HͦO̽̏̎ͫW̊̿ͣ̚ ̈ͥA̒͛̿͌Nͩ̍̒ͣͥD̃ͬ ͬͯ̍̐̀WHÊ̑N̾͌ͨ ͣ̆ͦͪ̈ͭI͛͒ͤ̓̊̈ͮ ͮ̔ͯ͐̌Sͦͫ́̈ͥE̓E̊ ̏̐͂ͦ̐̀ͩF́͆̏ͣÍ̍ͯT̈ͨͮ́͊̈ͭ.͗̇ͮ̃͌ͯ͊ ̑͊̀ ͪ̍
The man gasped as he felt new knowledge and power flow into him. Foul and debase words he had never heard before were burned into his mind like a red-hot branding iron, forever etched into his consciousness.
"Thank you Great One!" He said in a choking voice as his mind struggled to comprehend the alien concepts surging through his brain.
B͇͈̳̯͌͒ͤͪ͊ͨͅE̹͚̙͓͚̹̭ͣ̏̀͛̊ͪ̔G̪̩͈̠̊͌̏ͨ̌Ȯ̦̦͉̜̙ͦ͌ͧ͑NE̺̻͚ͩ ͉̔W̭͖̪̩̳͐Oͤ̀͒ͨ̍̚R̘̰̜ͩͩṂ͕̆̄̐̈̇͐,̠̘̫̳̄͋ͅ ͋ͨͣM̝͚͋Y̱̺͈͙ͯ̃ ̗̾̂ͫ̚Ḯ͈͚̝͎͙̖͋͆̑ͯ̾N͖͓̟̫̒́̚T͚͎̻E̮̘̮̬R̹̬̻̻̞ͯ̒͗͐̑̆̚Ě̱͎͇̗ͧ̉́ͤ́̈́S̀ͪ̏̌͆ͅT͍̘̯ͯ͑̿̏ͧ̈ͭ ̗͚͍I̮ͤ̃̑Nͩ̂̏͒̿ ͉͓͇͍̳̽͋̒̀̆̾̚T̮̘̭͈͔̩ͧH͚͈͊ͮͦ̔̐̽Ĭ̭͍͙̪͖ͬ̈́ͯ̃̃ͤS̥͍̤͎̙͂̏͑ͤͅͅ ͕̯̺̮̝̹̭͌ͯẸ̬̾̇̆ͪ̂ͦͤXͩ̒ͪ̉CͬH͙̠̳̳͖̎̆ͪͅA̰̞͖͎͙͋̆ͥͧͫ̎N̝̲̭̘̯͛̄̉ͭ̃̈G̺̪̞̥̻͖̰͋E͓̝͈͔̬̤ͤ̅͆̇̑ ̟̼ͯͩ͋̀ͧW͔̤̿̓ͣA̐ͦ̎ͩN͇͔̪̖̼͙̽Ĕ̺͊ͫͨ̈́S̩̻̮ͣ̊̋̈́̆.̥̫ͭͭ̉ͣ̈́
Needing no further prompting he yanked himself across the void towards the comforting reality of bone and flesh. Merging his spirit with his body with practiced ease, Al'Bin opened bloodshot eyes, his body taut and quivering with unconscious fear and loathing, the nearby window showing the sun setting below the trees of the forest. Forcing his limbs to submit to his will the man stood stiffly and stretched before washing his sweat-drenched face, the bloodshot receding from his eyes as normalcy asserted itself once more.
A carriage rattled its way into the town a short time later as night fell over the land, the driver's eyes apprehensive and mistrustful of his surroundings. One of the townspeople, noticing the arrival quickly went and fetched Charles who came out to greet it a few minutes later. Standing next to the carriage, getting their luggage and boxes down with the help of the hapless driver, was an older man with slicked back grey hair and a full white beard. His body was broad and bore faint scars hinting at a life filled with roughness, dressed in a plain white shirt and brown pants while his companion was a woman with dark skin, her black hair tied back in a bun, herself also wearing a loose tunic of olive and pants of earthy colors.
"Good afternoon Lady and Gentleman." Charles called over to them as he approached. "I am Charles Ezekiel, the local Lord. Whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
"Good evening young man." The older man said in a grizzled voice as he shook Charles's hand firmly, his grip strong. "Major Ernest Hobert and Cadet Edith Francis at your service."
"Indeed?" Charles asked. "I suppose you came here due to the ads I placed in London?"
"You are correct good sir." Ernest replied as Edith sat down the last of the crates. "We find ourselves in need of consistent employment and this affair sounded appropriate given our backgrounds, and so we have come."
Noting their bearing and titles Charles nodded. "You were both in the military I take it?"
"I've served as Her Majesty Victoria's sword arm nigh on forty years now." He told Charles. "I've bloodied men and led them in my time. Edith has been at my side for several years now since I took her under my wing, started towards the end of my last campaign. Sadly those young bucks who run Her Majesty's forces now think me too old and set in my ways to serve any longer. Honorable discharge and medals aplenty but I've no need for such trifles as those." He grumbled.
"My life is on the battlefield and that is where I intend to meet my end, not wasting away in some poor house, forgotten." He stated firmly, a hard look in his eye.
Charles smiled thinly. "Fear not Major for you will find battle aplenty here. Perhaps more than you might expect."
The man chuckled darkly at this. "Bring them on." He invited with quiet fierceness.
Charles nodded at the man's strength as Edith stepped forward. "Edith Francis."
Charles met the woman's strong grip with his own. "A pleasure."
A moment later Williams approached from nearby, having seen the carriage from his house.
"Ah master! Who do we have here? New friends? Yes? Splendid!" Williams said, clapping his hands in excitement as the new arrivals looked at him in bewilderment. "New faces! New faces, what fun! White haired man and a dark lady! Lovely compliment to each other, yes!" He laughed easily.
"Who in the blazes are you?" Edith asked with a hint of alarm.
"Williams! Williams my good lady!" The unhinged man cried happily. "Caretaker of this place and servant to my good Lord Charles I am! Come, come, let me take your bags! Long travel you've had, yes, and long windy roads! Thankfully no bandits though! Hehe! Yes no bandits, cleared them out we did, oh yes! The ruffians!" He snarled playfully before picking up some of their bags and trotting off to the inn.
Ernest and Edith looked at the departing man's back for a moment before looking over at Charles, their faces full of confusion.
"I'm afraid you must forgive poor Williams." Charles said with a amused sigh. "This place has been a ruin for many years and it has taken its toll on him as he was the servant of my grandfather when I was a young man. To see the place fall into ruin and the horrors that came with it...well, it would be enough to break any man. Thankfully he's quite harmless, just rather off in the head."
"So it seems." Ernest said doubtfully. "Cheerful fellow though, I have to say, considering this place." He said, looking about. "Forgive me for saying so my Lord but I've seen smoking ruins that looked better."
Charles nodded as he guided them towards the inn, the pair walking alongside him. "Sadly the horrors visited upon my Grandfather's estate did not pass with his death. Indeed they remain and continue to corrupt the land. Make no mistake Major, you stand on the outskirts of enemy territory and we have no defense should they decide to rise up against us. We have been fortunate thus far to have the help of the Order of St. George as well as other capable men and women but so far we have made merely a dent. Still, day by day more of the hamlet is repaired and the fiends are driven back inch by inch."
Ernest nodded thoughtfully as Ezekiel spoke. "You speak of horrors and fiends. Describe our enemy if you would. I would know their strengths and weaknesses."
"The others can tell you much more, having been on the front lines, as it were." Charles replied as they reached the inn, the man opening the door for them. The pair stepped into the inviting light of the tavern and were greeted by everyone stopping what they were doing to look up at the new arrivals. Charles stepped around them a moment later.
"Allow me to introduce our latest arrivals, Major Ernest Hobert of Her Majesty's armed forces, retired, and his aide-de-camp Cadet Edith Francis. Please help them feel welcome." He said.
A moment later Winters stood and walked over to them, his hand outstretched. "Sir and Lady, I bid you welcome to our home. In the name of the Light, welcome!"
Ernest and Edith shook the man's hand. "St. George I suppose?" Ernest asked, having recalled Charles' words.
"Indeed." Reynauld replied with an easy smile. "Tis good to have another campaigner here. I hope you brought your arms and armor with you."
"Indeed I have, and my cunning as well." Ernest replied. "I plan to make good use of all three."
"We'll see how well he does after he faces down his first pack of giant spiders." Bellecoat said with dark amusement, standing near the bar with her arms folded across her chest. "Hope you don't have a weak heart old man or you won't last a week here."
Ernest looked over at Hannah with a stern gaze as Reynaulds attempted to apologize for her gruff nature.
"Quiet your tongue, lad, I didn't come here for easy work." Ernest said to him before focusing back on Hannah. "Giant spiders and undead you say. Tell me of them. What do we face here?"
"All manner of horrors from men with skull masks and blades to creatures out of nightmare." Hannah replied flatly. "I myself have fought animated skeletons wielding clubs and swords, spiders larger than dogs with venom strong enough to kill a man, and the others here have apparently see worse out in the woods. Slime creatures of some description from what they've said."
Edith looked about at the grim and weathered faces gazing at them. "I think they're telling the truth Ernest." She suggested quietly.
Looking about himself the man nodded. "So it would seem. We appear to have found a place of true battle here."
"Indeed." Said Charles. "But there will be plenty of horror to go around in the days to come. For now, join us. Eat, drink, and get to know your new comrades. The food here is quite excellent." He suggested.
The pair nodded with Ernest sitting down with Reynaulds, Dismas, and Jonas while Edith sat with Francine, Mortimer, and Al'Bin. The groups spoke long into the evening about who they were and their trials since arriving and Ernest regaled them with some of his more interesting war stories. In time they all retired, the moon watching over them all as the night deepened around them.
A\N: Four months is quite the wait for a chapter and I apologize for that. Sadly life and work have been busy up until the last month or two so I've been slowly getting back up to speed. The Man-at-Arms is introduced as well as the Arbalest and we get a glimpse of the powers our good Occultist cavorts with. The next chapter should contain more action.