Mason pushed over a large limb of a tree blocking his path. Righting himself he popped his back and glanced around, the road was a mess, broken trees littered the path. Mason's large arms flexed as he lifted one of the larger trunks up and maneuvered it off the road. Everything was quite even the birds, this happens after especially harsh storms in the Orton Heights. With a breath of relief Mason sat down the tree to dismay. The rest of the road was in as much disarray as he had just worked through. He knew this meant he would need to go around. Every Verity hated this fact of life, a normal week he would task himself to clear the road, or guide travelers down a diversion until it was cleared. Yet when summoned by the Abby they dropped anything and everything to answer. Mason collected his bag and sword he had sat to the side so he could move the tree. Once reattaching his gear mason pushed into the forest cover. The forests of Orton, surrounding Krain's lower borders, were thick enough to stop most horse movement. The roads being the safest ways through Mason knew the paths the hunters took, this meant he also knew of a few holdouts or small villages. These are either groups of hunters who built a life together or rarer those who wished to leave society for fear of Accursed.
Within two hours Mason's arms stung as did his face, the thin sharp limbs of the Orton blade trees the forest is named for having opened tiny wounds across them. Each wound bled a small beed of silver liquid. Mason let free an annoyed grunt as he whipped what he could with a black charcoal covered cloth. The Charcoal pushed into the wounds sealing them temporarily. Knowing that the predators of the forest always struck at night he was looking for a place he could hold up. Hide Hole not the nicest of names or tasks. Mason knew about this small place due to being sent here to extinguish an Accursed.
Every step he made with careful delicacy, as the dusk grew any slip up could turn this night into a fight for his life. In the distance he could see the trails of smoke reaching high above the forestry. These indicated where the Holdout town was. Hope filled Mason's chest, He was within sight of his goal. With a refilled vigour he pushed forward through the brush, this was a mistake. The sound of the brush crunching under his large boots filled the forest around him. Fear stretched over his face, Worse than Gobmar hunting these woods. A roar in the distance broke the silence a good distance away. Mason craned his head back and looked at the setting sun. He didn't have long, yanking a hand axe free from his coat he began cutting his way through the overgrowth. Yet in minutes the sun slipped behind the tree line. As it did the No`lad's boomed into life. No`Lad are large winged creatures their bodies are thin and light for their size. Each wing contains thousands of fine bristles. During the day they lick these bristles coating them in a venom from their fangs. They use these as darts flying over the forest and letting them fall through the trees. When stuck an animal will feel intense pain screaming out or whimpering loudly. If that does not attract the No`Lad the sent will. Wounds around the bristle grow dark and let out a putrid smell within an hour of being pierced. These monsters also have powerful hind legs that can easily tear a man's arms free of his body. The Two of them took flight, Mason cursed "By the blood, It's a Harrowing" Mason's voice cracked with dryness. Harrowing is what a mated pair of No'Lads are called. They are called this because one No'Lad can easily injure and hunt fifteen to twenty animals in a night or two. Those they don't kill and survive the injuries develop the cists. The cists refuse to heal and only close once burned off. That's why when two hunt together it's a Harrowing.
Mason Plunged through the overgrowth into a clearing, he did not stop to look back to see the forest suddenly become alive. Small pretty darted around with fear at the sound of the No'Lads screeching call. Nor did he look back and see the Ki'Kar rushing after him with a dreadful hunger. The clearing was large and even with the moon light was dark enough you could not see the far side. Mason knew what stopping would mean now, an easy target for the winged raptors. Yet his charge was finally broken by the glow of greenish eyes that broke his stride. Without hesitation he screamed "Ahhh!" waving his arms trying to make himself seem big. This may seem odd but with the Ki'Kar scaring it is always better than fighting. Seeing this had no effect as it held its ground he pulled his torch free and struck it with a burst of blue flame ignited by a drip of liquid and the phrase "Neluk Contay". With this it bursts forward with a blue flame, the creatures skittered away into the brush. Just as the Ki'Kar fled back into the tree line the Shriek over head made it clear the Ki'Kar wasn't the only thing that saw the flame. Mason cursed his foul luck, throwing the torch as far to the right as he could. He then ran in the opposite direction hoping to gain a bit of Distance on the No'Lad.
A large storm was blowing in while Mason was running for his life. As the rain began to fall in sheets Mason's thick coat held like a bulwark to the fierce wind and piercing rain, yet still his boots filled with water. Within ten minutes he had to seek cover, he found it in a hollowed husk of a tree. It was cramped but mostly dry. Unable to see the stars or the moon through the storm that had cast the forest in perpetual darkness, Mason could only guess at the direction he needed to go to get to the Holdout. This added to the stress and tension keeping him awake and alert. The hours passed with only the company of the overhead passing No'Lad. Slowly the storm broke and the moon started to shine through. The forest was no different except wet, the sounds of wounded animals carried on the wind in the absence of the pounding rain. However almost like something was waiting for each animal's wounded pleas seemed to be snuffed out with a shriek or crunch. Mason slowly climbed from his hollowed home. The No'Lads had already claimed enough food by this point and had flown back to their Grave. However he was still cautious, even with the lessened danger, the forest was hungry this night. More than once on his slow journey did he have to stop for a pack of Gobmar dragging a wounded catch behind them. After wandering through the overgrowth, the clouds finally broke. With a short rest taking time to check his position with the moon and a few constellations. Now he knew which way he was going, Mason shook free his coat of the loose water observing around him. The forest was thrashed, limbs of trees had fallen and crushed much of the overgrowth. In the gaps of fallen trees, rested clumps of barbs staining the ground with a light purple colored blotches growing lighter with the rain. Nothing seemed left from the Harrowing. It made moving through easier as he could see, even still with all the barbs and predators still picking the forest dead clean he knew he couldn't fully stop till dawn.
With the Light he hoped the Holdout would be visible, instead he found himself following a stone wall of a mountainside. He knew this was wrong and that he must have guessed the wrong direction before the moon broke through the clouds. He cursed under his breath. At best he has crossed the forest and is on the far side near Mount Arutruma, At worst he got turned around and this would be Mount Brevis two of the smaller peaks of Orton mountain range. Either way he was further from Krain. He had to get a view point to see which side he had ended up. With this in mind he began up an outcropping that stretched around as a path. Moving slowly so he didn't slip, Mason's large form scurried acrose the rocks with an unnatural ease for his size. Heading back and forth up the zigzagging pathway, Mason only stopped to look through his spy glass for any sign of the city. During one of these stops after about ten minutes of climbing up in this method. Now above the trees he saw in a glade between the mountain and forest. It was the No'Lads Grave or dwelling. Mason felt himself sharply inhale as the large beasts wandered around the glade. Up close they were just horrifying. Their thick skin tightly stretched over their brownish red bodies stained with the blood of countless victims. They stood on their powerful hind legs and used two independent arms just like man. Yet their massive size and wings, large hooked talons and saw like beaks and large eyes that seemed to overlook large swaths of space at once. Mason gulped he had never seen one this close. His hands were steady but he could feel the urge to turn and run overfill his mind. His training kept him steady though, he had to think. He had a few choices to try, get high enough to see Krain or a smoke trail. Obviously this came with the risk of alerting the vicious No'Lads below. He could also climb down and back track to the main road. A daunting task as the storm obviously turned him around. Reaffirming his footing Mason started his way further up. Watching his step with every movement knowing what one slip would mean. While about Fifteen feet below the sounds of crunching and the occasional unnerving gutteral bark of joy as they tore into a new corpse. Mason luckily made his way without causing a clamor. Soon he was Twenty feet up and the forest before him was laid exposed for him to observe. Before him he could see the distant smoke trails of the holdouts, even still he could see toward the cliffs. Their large trails of smoke showed a convoy of traders from the valley below. Mason made his way back down having seen all he needed.
Going down was not as easy as going up, with every step Mason felt the unsettled dust roll over the wind rounded rocks. Mason wearily tested each step as he went, "Why the hell did I climb up here?" He thought to himself as he reached for a new hand hold. "Because the old lady said to hurry." He heard the soft voice that filled the spot of his consciousness. "Are you going to help the travelers?" The voice continued in his mind. Now coming to an out-cropping Mason remembered the state of the road and why he had to push into the woods. "Damn, they are going to get themselves killed." Mason's thoughts ran silent as he stopped moving. "Why is it silent?" Almost as if to respond to his question the No'Lad below was now standing at the tree line. The horrifying part that had mason stopped was its full height standing was thirteen tall. Mason now stands only a few feet above its head and had to maintain a statue-like stillness. The No'Lad however was not, It had moved to the tree line and begun looking around the trees. Mason watched as the creature became more agitated. The tension was broken with an echoing roar, a pounding filled the air closing distance. This startled the No'Lad and its mate, the No'Lad leapt back from the tree line attempting to get airborne. Mason broke from his trance, this was bad there weren't many creatures willing to charge a No'Lad's grave. Mason now quickly tried to climb down. While behind him the No'Lad was being dragged back toward the treeline It's gutteral Bark erupting in alarm. Mason didn't have time to watch what was unfolding, as he slid down the side of the mountain blown back from the wind of No'Lads wings. Covering his head with his arms he felt every large stone that smashed into his back and ribs. Four seconds, that was how long his fall took.
As Mason lowered his arms raising his head he saw a slightly gapped mouth of a Moss Fox. Its skin matted and eyes completely liquefied only stains and lumps remained. Mason felt his stomach lurch and his throat grew hot and thick, then the smell hit him. There was no time to take in the scene, a moment later the pile of corpses that had softened his fall had just exploded. The force of the blow threw Mason clear off of the pile. The No'lad had been thrown onto its back smashing into the body pile that sent Mason flying. The Second No 'lad stepped past Mason not noticing him as it charged the attacker. Mason looked back in shock, On top of the downed No'Lad was a large Grey skinned Orton. The beast these forests are named for The Orton are Ape like creatures, each of their four limbs are the size of a tree trunk. Thick callused hides, with a grip force strong enough to crush most creatures. Their size alone made them an imposing sight at 9 to 10 Feet in height for the smallest of their species. The Orton had already begun beating The No'Lads head back each blow landing with a visible and corporeal shock wave sending bits of dirt and feathers out with each blow. Mason attempted to get to his feet only to be taken off guard by this shockwave. The Second No'Lad let out a Crying like Bark and began viciously ripping at the Orton's back and neck with its Talons. Mason took this as his opportunity to flee. Moving quickly he Darted to the edge of an undisturbed body mound. The Fight behind him continued to rage as the Orton had started to return blows. It didn't take Mason long to find another opening as the No'Lad female wasn't relenting the attack. It's bark now deformed to high pitched shrill screams.
Mason finally got clear of the Grave the sounds of screeching and the colossal thuds of the Ortons blows. A rush of emotion flooded him as though a mountain had slid down around him yet he remained unscathed. Yes this made him jump and even risk a shout of joy, yet he couldn't help feel a tinge of sadness for the No'lads. You see hunt and Mate for life, even if the female lived she would not seek another mate. Mason knew this as he had grown accustomed to these woods in his youth. Mason let a tear fall for the fearsome raptors and their lost love. Having caught two breaks Mason refused to lose ground on account of a few tears. With a weakening endurance but strengthened resolve he pressed on into the forest "It is just the way of things" he concluded.
Knowing where to go now Mason made his way through the woods at a steady pace. Avoiding the most obvious encounters. Still he would need to drink at least. Understanding his basic needs Mason reached for his canteen, bone dry he thought as he lifted it feeling no weight change. Pushing the water skin back into his coat he knew the timer had started. Mason stayed calm and kept pushing forward until the sound of trickling water was softly carried on the wind. The small low running stream ran along a crook on the side of a rock wall. Mason didn't take time to notice the beautiful purple flowers growing the size of a man's head. Nor did he notice the small child sized hole in the side of the stone. Mason did however throw himself face first into the shallow stream, submerging his face and throwing back his long dark hair like a wild man. He sat victorious in the newly discovered water source with a sense of accomplishment a child gets when doing something for the first time, complete with a ridiculous smile. Not resting long Mason set out still tired but cooler and awake. The soft voice In the back of his mind kept reminding him of the Convoy he saw. But Mason knew he couldn't go back and help. He didn't have food or anything to clear the roadway, but they might be at the Holdout. With his consciousness pushing him onward Mason made it to the Holdout before the sun and came to rest.
The Holdout was a small Hamlet, Only a few large buildings inside could be seen over the walls. The walls themselves were made from tree trunks hewn from the earth. Each one cut into a sharpened spike and slowly bent inward with a steam method. This gave the Holdout the look of being held in an all encompassing claw. The few small houses have no more than one or two rooms each, and are made of simple timbers reinforced with a clay mortar. The smell of tanning hides and fresh blood carried on the wind. As Mason approached a single skinny grey haired man dressed in simple leathers with a simple shortbow drawn in his hand, stepped out from a hidden dugout in the wall. "Who Comes?" The older man asked firmly. Mason raised his hands in a yielding manner."Is this the welcoming you give your godson?"Mason said in jest yet the exhaustion caused him to fall forward. The old man caught him and seemed to barley struggle under his weight. With Mason's help the old man managed to get him in the walls and sit on a simple wooden stump. As he sat him down a few figures approached from behind Mason. "Charley go and get some water." The old man said. The smaller of the two instantly ran off toward a well. "You look like hell Mason where you been this time?" Mason looked at the worried old man. "Just playing in the No'Lads Grave." "You did what!" The old man exclaimed grabbing his jaw and yanking it back and forth so he could see if he was poisoned by a barb. "What were yea thinking? You're lucky you didn't anger them." The old man was obviously upset but quickly seemed to calm himself, he knew getting mad at Mason would do nothing. "I didn't go on purpose." Mason said sheepishly. "What's with the pout boy? I'm not going to punish you or something." The old man seemed to nod with affirmation. "Your a grown ass Verity now. Just, Just don't go throwing away what my brother taught yea, Got it?" Mason nodded. "Is Franklin here?" Mason asked hopefully. "Aye he just got back why?" "I hate to ask but there was a convoy coming up from the Valley. The road is out and will need a guide to Krain. I'm sure the Abbey can-" "Don't even think about finishing that. FRANKLIN! GET OUT HERE!" Within moments a tall lanky looking man no older than Mason came running out of the furthest house. "Yeah Dad?" "Get yer things some folks are stuck out on the cliffs." Franklin nodded and moved without word or hesitation knowing exactly what to grab. "Don't you worry Mason my boy's going to get them folk safe. You need to rest though come on." He said with a groan as he lifted Mason to his feet leading him to the nearby house.