Looking over this cruel state of living we see before us makes me feel like when I go to find the newest release from Mona's Monthly Candles being delivered to me swiftly not but arriving ten minutes after the delivery time...Oh the pain it fills me with hatred enough to destroy this putrid mess of a universe in a single crunch between my knuckles...Ah but i should digress this battle seems to have found a way to its end by means most on this world would consider hmm...not particularly honourable but very much effective if I do say so myself. This world thinks the big and brutish are the best to get the jobs done but here we have a group, smaller in size and numbers but not power, strategic thinking by the way they used their environment, skill sets and the enemies weakness to full effect. Their aura seems bright but clouded awfully making it hard for us to see what will burn for...what they will do with the rights this victory comes with? Will they show the humility of the chosen heroes of old or proceed to handle this their unique way.
The flash that took the forest in its grasp finally faded away, nothing more than shining snowflakes like shimmers falling and dissipating into the soiled dirt revealing the outcome of the battle. The Dwarf stood triumphant over his former leader with the goliath lying on his back, eyes shut with a faint breath being taken, starting to think back to all the times he was ridiculed and tortured by this man, now looking more pitiful than a child picking up a blade without the conviction to accept death's kiss if all goes wrong. His fangs grinded, his eyes took the shape of stoked embers once more as the goliath's eyes slowly phased back open faintly, the corners of his mouth showing a smile, his slow breath let out what sounded to be a laugh but ended up more like a wheeze for help, Mountain's eyes snapped into a raging flare as he threw his hammer to the ground, lifting the blooded dirt now shining a aura of grey landing all around them, the smoke seemed to spread low around them, rising to see the worn hammer now steaming, laying head first in the ground next to the man's panicked face,
''Those who betray their men are trash...Those who try to sell and kill their men when the time comes are nothing more than a bunch of pricks….something like that anyway''
Picking up the hammer and moving back towards the house where the other three stood now surrounding the young elf again still unconscious and being untied from the tall pine.
The Goliath decided to try and move to his feet, lifting his knee to a chain of Lapis blue wrapping around his lower body, tightening like a boa constrictor attempting to squeeze the life from its large prey, his voice was now more of a crying yelp than a weak wheeze from before grasping the attention of the men standing around the tree ten feet from his body. His vision still clouded from the pain surging through his legs, seeing the half-mix walk towards him, smile still as large as ever, lifting his arm and announcing,
''My servant! Rise to your feet once more! Oroi Chrisis!''
The chains shattered, beginnings to float on the breeze like brilliant blue petals dancing, letting the giant now rise to his feet,
''Well who would of guessed it hurt this much...I can see why most just choose death and let it be over with...That blind coot of a god really still has some power eh..''
Otto looked obviously defeated with himself, ready to accept his fate, staring at the dry blood on his palm and thinking all the souls he sent to their deaths was all for nothing as it was his turn to face their collective judgement,
''Fret now bandit leader you are not going to be bound for long, you will soon continue your meaningless life!''
His head perked up like a bolt, eyes now as wide as a blazing sun in the middle of the year in the seven sands as Willabaar outstretched his hand, gesturing to sit on the log opposite like they had started this encounter, as they took their seats he continued,
''All I wish for is information, after what we have had to deal with the last few days I would like to be more informed''
Otto looked towards the tree line seeing an outline of feminine figure, bandages being wrapped with light emanating from the fallen's hands as he muttering something under his breath,
''Is she the only survivor then?''
He looked over to the men who were at the rear, the body's pulverized into paste that began merging into the soil as the goliath continued,
''I know your little explosion trick sent me flying into them...I know it was me but..''
His face turned sour and twisted in what seemed self anger, Willabaar glancing at the bodies then sat arms behind his head leaning back with his legs crossed at the knee,
''Yep that was you, thank you for taking out the number difference for us. Now tell me what do you know about these so called 'sixteen steps' that we meet under yesterday's moon then?''
''Last morrow you mean Lor-...Willabaar''
''Kyu...just not now buddy please..''
The Azamaar tilted his head in confusion as his visible eye seemed to squint
''So what's the status on the girl anyway?''
The Goliath's eyes opened in anticipation of the news,
''Oh hmm she's currently sleeping with her fallen comrade in the pools of thyn folly and arrogance. The taint of humanity runs deep within your hea-''
''Kyu….the short answer for once would be more than fine.''
''Oh sorry. She's fine I believe"
Kyu says, seeming to get more emotional but restraining himself.
''No need stubbing out the ember root on their still sore wounds now Kyu right?''
Otto's eyes showed to have regained some strength after hearing the news, raising his head towards the half-mix.
''Good..So what was that name again? Sixteen steps? Where do they hitch up at? To me that sounds like some Seven Sands type of people how wou-''
''Blind balance be made, take the lies he spews and reveal his true mind! Oroi Chrisis!''
The chains reappeared this time from the ground itself, not a beautiful blue but a searing red slithering around the large neck, coiling vigorously and pulling him ten feet towards the ever changing coloration of the emerging dusk skyline, one more wrapped around his torso as a second pierced his eye, spilling no blood but showing the thoughts of what he knew.
As his memories faded in and out with the mists of time we see Shitto, tall and oozing black fighting against a creature that has a very similar shape but a blazing red in colour, as the fight begins to get more intense Otto's body begins convulsing, his eyes started shining a bright white, starting to be dyed with a chromatic red of human blood. The subtle embers of the campfire along with scattered glowing charcoal, lighting the floor with a pale orange glow fading in and out, fighting to survive against the night just as the onlooking Wilt started, fighting his rage against the barbaric acts of the one he fought alongside moments prior, now done with playing nice the little goblin moved.
Now a green blur darting into the darkness moving towards the Goliath, seemingly at death's door until his movement came to nothing in a instant, gasping for air and looking up seeing the Azamaar staying his movements, embedding his palm into Wilt's stomach, seemingly shattered and past his breaking point, lifting his blade with one mighty swing towards Kyu's face with unseen procession, making the Azamaar lift his blade in defence, the area filled with the sound of a metallic arcane chime distorting the air for seconds, making the Azamaar squint not noticing his spiralling opponent take position looking at him upside down in mid air, looking up at the goblin who lifts his weapon again resulting in the chime being replayed, this time wailing more than the ghosts of the lost era's, In the milliseconds it takes Kyu to blink he opens his eyes to the sound of a gun shot as a bullet careens past his cheek leaving a small gash, luckily moving his head with just enough time sending a pitch ring through his skull, dropping his guard the goblin went onwards towards Willabaar only to be stopped in place when he came in sight of him.
Sending a dark aura from his bandages adorning his left hand down to his bloodied palm, Wilt had hit his limits with these false heroes who resembled more like a pack of stray feral dogs, gouging and tearing at anything good or bad that walks past them with the slightest look of fat, preparing to swing his sword once more he was stopped by what he saw was actually happening. The half-mix was using some form of healing magic, the red in the goliath's brilliant white eyes became a dirty brown before dissipating completely but unknown to Wilt the images of what they desired were now gone, Willabaar stared through him with killing intent cutting through his soul with that mixed colour glare.
''Wilt...next time you attack a comrade I will not save you again''
The goblin gritted his fangs so hard one snapped in two jagged pieces making the half-mix show a face of confusion looking obviously like he did nothing wrong before the green goblin let out a vicious bark
''How..H-HOW DARE YOU ACT SO INNOCEN-''
His rant paused by a human falling past his face, landing into the dirt beside him with strings wrapped around his neck and wrists, cutting in seemingly killing him, Wilt felt rage build again but then he noticed it. Wyburn. An alchemical ingredient rarely used in the Badlands of the continent they lived on...and a dagger fit for a small creature's throat, Wilt followed the strings to notice they ran through the ground, connecting to the fingers of Willabaar's free right hand.
Willabaar resumed his demonic smirk looking down towards the goblin now confused by his surroundings once more not knowing what fuels them to do this, what was their drives in this life? As he ponders this he hears the half-mix say almost as if he spoke aloud his thoughts,
''Some would call it approval…''
He paused seemingly saddened by talking about the subject rewrapping his bandages around his left hand once more,
''People like you on the other hand...you'd probably call it revenge right?''
He now stared back at Wilt with shine in his eyes,
''But personally I just wish to life a comfortable calm life where i make all the money hahahaha!''
Sinking down into a more comfortable position to nurse he wounds fondling the strings almost like he was turning an old instrument.
"And still it's not me you need to worry about, get your priority in order quickly Goblin.... Lemme guess Wilt the next thing you wish to say to me is telling me i am some heartless sociopath...No No No I would rather coin the term...Opportunistic vigilante."
Willabaar spoke, moving his eyes to the fallen who has healed his cut, eye still cold and emotionless unlike what we have seen such far tonight,
''My eye will mean nothing as a trophy of your vengeance, the men you wish to be a virtue to have gone to their pits already for their 'just' rewards.''
Wilt realised one thing in this instance. The term hero was long dead to this world and never existed in this era.
The green goblin stumbled away from this, no longer able to bear this anymore, knowing he had just fought with such horrid creatures, enjoying this onslaught more vigorously than some Lytch ploughing the souls of a quinte farming village, His mind and soul feeling weighted by what horrors he saw in the last two nights more than the ten years of adventuring combined, He needed time to recompose himself. Thinking that he could leave these beasts seconds after the dawn breaks into The streams of the first solar rays on the day over the still clouded lake, Distraught and beaten he pulls the worn leather water pouch filled with some Sand Storm and takes four heavy glugs, finishing it with a sway and a loud sound of relief, sparkling white droplets flying from his lips, he stares out thinking is this all there is to adventuring nowadays, Until he hears voices and darts his head, holding his pouch as a weapon, he notices Mountain crotched next to the elven girl with what looked like Willabaar's bandages wrapped around her neck and mouth. In a panic he shouts out to Mountain slurring some words now.
''Oi Demon! What ya doin to tha gir-''
His eyes again widened. Noticing that the dwarf was actually holding the girl, looking over a headless corpse, fresh on the floor in a pool of blood, he didn't know how to feel but the fact he was handling this, keeping his coherence through this freight. The dwarf turned to respond to the goblin,
''Orelia has seen better days...can say that for fact lemme tell you.''
The elf seemed to smile under her wrappings, lightly smacking Bee in his shoulder before closing her eyes again,
''She was one of the good ones...took orders, helped everyone and never actually took the piss out of me that much compared..''
Wilt for the first time saw. These men felt sadness and also guilt remembering that this demon had accepted the fact that he would be killing not just some of his former comrades but those he was raised with and possibly called family once, one that forced him out and tried to selling to some warlock or wizards for arcane rituals or some crap like that he thought. Teaching Bee an enlightening lesson on the true value of a soul.
His gaze turned back to the remaining embers of the fire. He walked back, elf in arms and leaving Wilt more perplexed than he had been prior, wanting to follow on with the deeds of heroes being committed, he followed suit with the dwarf and started moving closer before inquiring,
''I...I have some healing ingredients...what is the problem she has rig-''
''Her vocal cords have been ripped to shit.''
The goblin's green complexion turned a snow white pausing in place, he knew even given time and the perfect ingredients this would be a tall task, looking defeated he knew not what he should do, then he heard the dwarf once again speak in a softer tone this time,
''Don't cry little man. I was told the bird boy should be able to do something. Especially after some time in his royal assholes bandages right!?''
Wilt turned, tear rolling off his cheek into the air looking at the two surrounding the Goliath still as Willabaar laughs towards him,
''Damm you demons really are dumb ain't ya?! My wrappings alone would have done it. She just would of been a bit...sleepy for a day.''
The half-mix looked aside, trying to avert gaze into his violet eye as Kyuwin responds,
''Well true as that may be my Goddesses power would of healed her in seconds anyway.''
The fallen now showing the smallest hint of pride and happiness for the first time before the other two men and even the goliath started to bellow out laughter that even Kyu joined in with after a few seconds as forced as it sounded. Stopping the uproar, the Goliath spoke
''Firendir help me...you lot are just as bad as little Bumble Bee himself hahaha your a perfect match!''
The laughter increased in volume over Bee screaming about the name he was called.
Wilt felt so unlike himself, he wanted to join these men as he saw a bright glow from the Azmaar's palm with his eye closing, reciting one of his holy prayers,
''Thyn holy mother renders my actions null and undoes this slight! They were young and without a heard, lead them towards thyn path under pale moon's radiant glow restoring that what can spread thyn will.''
The palm became a glistening white taking over the sight of all those in the group surrounding the opening in the forest, fading in then out showing the elf standing, eyes wide open and looking around intensely before removing the bandages, showing her now fully healed neck and mouth only now with a symbol glowing in a dark black of a tiny circle sitting in the middle of the neck, Kyu notices and explains to her,
''Yoru saved your ability to speak now you will use it to spread her will and teachings...Correct?..''
The fallen one tilting his head as he does reassembling a emotionless barn owl
''Well i can't exactly say no...she did do this after all''
Looking down, rubbing her hand against what should be a scar like that she had never seen.
Her vision was then blocked by a hand outstretched towards her, looking up and seeing Willabaar looking off into the sky, realising the tears had started forming in her eyes,
''The stars are only beautiful because of the void that they sit in, ya know? Traveling endlessly around the perfect dark that has and always will be there...Be happy you can not only stare at them for countless nights more''
He was now looking directly into her eyes,
''But also the fact you can describe such nights for years to come as well right?''
Still confused but oddly comforted by what was said she is then sent spinning as the half-mix took his bandages from her hands, as she hit the ground face first, letting out a soft thud, Willabaar began to rewrap his right arm looking up and noticing the confused faces of the onlooking party and confusingly responded,
''Uhmm...Sorry? I...I just kinda wanted it back before i forgot ha..ha''
The area then began to burst with laughter, the young eleven girl now wiping the dirt off her face while chuckling along with everyone, Wilt let out a smile and realised that this is truly what being a hero in these times are, being that little bit dead at the core. Being willing to do the tough things to achieve what you see as peace...Maybe just maybe...he could be with worse people he thought...just maybe.
Letting out a chuckle with the group, looking over to see that the giant barrel of beautifully smelling Juniper wine was still standing almost perfectly full, accepting his current situation and fate with what will for now be his comrades, he smacks the cinders of the fire, relighting them and gaining the eyes of all that surrounded him, he pointed his sword towards the barrel and smiled with the giddiness of a child out with his best friend, the others smiled and celebrated the small goblin as they began to drink the morrow away, arguing and fighting again and again especially Bee and Otto with varying results every time, The others sang, danced and drank the night away also filling the air with the musk of ember root, Kyu watched and looked over the lake to the giant crab that seemingly had not moved much in their time, pulling out a notepad and pencil of shaven autumn red elven oak. The new dawn fades into the first lights of the morrow faded in with the sounds of drinking, joy and wonderment from the newly formed False Heroes.
Prime examples always are shown within this rambunctious bunch of growing...Vigilantes? I feel like that is a fair summarization of these men so far at least showing their morality, no matter how low it sits inside their rotten, pious or rage fuelled core can still seep through to the outer crust at the end of a just fight of bloodlust, I do say they are very much a interesting group of players to watch and observe on this grand board...I can see why you wish to keep a keen eye on their journey through the players but alas you forget the other results from there actions only later to emerge, hmmm how to describe this if you light a gnome on fire it is not as nice as a candle. Equal but opposite reactions and what not but now we will let them drink in merriment and follow upon the morrow to what will be their first true test...I do believe we are close to the bigger pieces being moved soon….What do you mean i speak too much? People love the sound of my voice as much as I do. That is why they have bought my books so many times...Pitiful and ungrateful I'll say.