(Quinn, Demacian Champion - PoV)
Mud squelches underfoot as I make my way to the nearest Demacian camp.
Poor form, I know, but at this point, I am too tired to care. Days of hunting Noxian troops as they marched across Demacian soil was nothing significant, not as long as I stay out of reach of that monster Darius.
No, the problems began when that little rat bastard started appearing. Kled they call him. Some kind of evil yordle riding an ugly lizard. He appears from nowhere, screaming warcries and charging at me with all the viciousness of a Champion...which he is not?
I don't know what he is...he vanishes into nothingness when defeated, only to reappear later. From what I overhear from their camps, the Noxians claim he is the Spirit of the Noxian army, and as much as I want to, I am not certain if I can disbelieve it. The damn thing is certainly ugly and vicious enough.
The problem is that while it can be defeated, it takes enough effort for other foes to catch me by surprise. Like the thrice-damned mage that cursed my shoulder.
Grunting, I barely resist the urge to touch it again. It doesn't help. The camp should hopefully have some antimagic salve to counter the curse.
I fear that if I keep encountering the little monster it is only a matter of time until Darius manages to close with me. So far only Valor's keen eyes on overwatch have helped me avoid such a fate. If it ever occurs...well. I can fight the man well enough at a distance, but if he closes the gap? I would much prefer to go fight that giant tuskvore by myself again.
Finally I arrive at the camp, only to find it in the process of being packed up? I search for the nearest officer to find out why the hell they are moving.
"Sergeant, what's going on? The Noxians aren't that close to this position..."
"Ranger-Knight, ma'am!" he salutes. "Orders from above, we are pulling back. We have word for you as well, to head back to the capital immediately."
"WHAT?! The capital?! That will give the Noxians free reign over near the entirety of Demacia! Who gave the order and why the hells would they do that?!"
"The king is dead ma'am. Assassinated," he informs me.
Wh-what?
"The capital is in chaos. Filled with riots and unrest, even before this. The Marshals are recalling everyone they can. The rumors going around are not helping matters..." the man trails off.
I narrow my eyes at him.
"What rumors?" I demand.
"Word is that the Mageseekers have been...doing terrible things. Intentionally driving mages into rampages to have an excuse to kill them. Hunting down whole families related to them. Performing purges in the capital. A lot of men with family in the city are worried."
Ridiculous, the King wouldn't tol...
...
"I need salve for a curse wound I took. Once that is taken care of, I will make for the capital."
The King is dead...It was surely another Noxian assassin, taking advantage of the situation. If so, I will hunt them down, just like in the past. If not...
(Just Do It, League Summoner - PoV)
The town is anything but quiet as our team waits outside of it. Hundreds of crows sit on every building, throwing up as loud a ruckus as I have ever heard birds make. All while watching us with beady eyes.
No, not creepy at all. Clearly nothing wrong here, no sir. The red on their beaks is just paint.
Fucking demons.
I look towards Killer Instinct, our Veteran Summoner for this mission. Gotta say, the name certainly helps boost one's confidence.
"Any luck?" I ask. "None of our scans are working."
Lifesigns? Screaming. Demonfinder? Screaming. Organic Material Locator? Disco rave while tripping on Acid. I wouldn't mind being able to replicate that last one, though I am curious how visual indicators can convert to an audio medium so easily. This place is so fucked.
"No." He lowers his arms. "The damn thing is able to block us somehow. I don't like it, I don't like it at all."
We stand in silence while he observes the town.
Petersville, the largest target yet. Went silent two days ago.
"Think anyone is left?" Wicked Sick asks.
A scream from inside the town answers our question.
Killer still doesn't move.
"Err, shouldn't we, you know, do something about that?" I ask.
I mean, I know people die all the time and all, but we are kinda supposed to help here. I think?
"It's mocking us. It wants us to go in."
"Uh...the demon?" Wicked asks.
"No, Mary fucking Poppins. Yes, the demon you imbecile." Killer replies. "It can hear us, seems to know everything about us and our capabilities while we know jack shit about it. And it wants a fight."
...
He shakes his head.
"No. Nope. Nuh-uh, fuck it, I'm out."
Wait, what?
"Uh, bossman?"
"No, fuck it, I've heard rumors that this thing has been around since way before the Rune Wars. If we had been brought in back when it first woke up, before it had time to start eating fucking cities? Then maybe. But now? No. Fuck this shit. If Twisted P and her lot want this thing dealt with then they can let All Fall Down off his leash."
He turns to us.
"You boys want to go play tag with the thousand-year-old scarecrow you are welcome to it but you don't make Veteran Summoner playing stupid games like this. I am getting my ass out of here before it decides to come out and say hello. Good luck."
A teleport circle momentarily flashes into being around him, aaaand he's gone.
I share a look with the rest of the team.
"Sooo...if we head back now we might be able to make an early run at the coffee machine?" I suggest.
With a chorus of nods we port back to the Institute, ignoring the crows' complaints...and calls of "Hello".
I think Killer made the right call here.