"So, Kael, who's your new friend?" Belisarius asked, a hint of amusement in his voice as Zazz snickered at the memory of their first encounter.
Kael shifted awkwardly, glancing at the human slave they had rescued. "Uhh… hey, what's your name?" he asked, his tone more uncertain than he intended.
"...Jon, my name is Jon, sir," the human replied, his voice trembling slightly as his eyes darted around the members of the mercenary band.
"Alright, Jon. Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself?" Belisarius prompted, his tone friendly but firm.
Jon took a deep breath before beginning, "I was born and raised in Valethorn, the capital of Aegisgrad in the south. I moved north to Arendale for a job in the mines. But when the Skaven attacked, I lost my job and ended up on the streets. I was captured while gathering supplies outside the walls by the tribe you just… took care of. I was about to be executed when you arrived. Thank you for that, by the way."
"Dont mention it, we get payed to save you. We'll get you back to Arendale and maybe put a bit of meat on those bones of yours," Belisarius said, a hint of warmth in his voice.
Upon hearing the word meat, Ikit materialized from the shadows, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. When he saw Jon's scrawny frame, his expression soured in disappointment, the human had even less meat on it than the horse did.
Jon, already on edge from the battle, fainted immediately after Ikit appeared. The party exchanged glances of resigned amusement as they lifted yet another unconscious person onto Corporal Horse.
-----
The journey back to Arendale was a grim reminder of the forest's cruelty. The party encountered the bodies of other slaves, their corpses either mangled, torn apart, or frozen solid. Jon's words about the tribe's brutality proved all too accurate.
The wasteland stretched out before them, a harsh, unforgiving landscape. By day, the sun's glare off the snow created a blinding, surreal light show. By night, the darkness was pierced only by the flickering light of their weapons as they vigilantly watched for threats. Fortunately, no new dangers emerged as they neared Arendale.
As they approached the city, Targeld stirred from his unconscious state. "Ughhh... Hey, Horse, how long was I out?" he asked, wincing in pain.
"Too long dear friend, the others killed a whole tribe before you woke up." Horse replied with a wry grin.
"WHAT? A BATTLE?" Targeld's voice was a mix of horror and disbelief. "I missed a fight?"
He looked around at the others, noting the bloodstains on Belisarius's and Daeva's armor. Slumping over in despair, Targeld found that he wasn't alone on Horses back. Realization dawned as he saw the new figure lying beside him. "Who's the new guy?" Targeld asked, pointing at Jon in confusion.
"Jon," Belisarius, Daeva, and Kael replied in unison.
"Oh, okay… I guess," Targeld responded, still processing the situation.
-----
With Targeld awake, the party pressed on, finally reaching the towering gates of Arendale. The sight of the city's northern fort was a welcome relief, and a collective sigh of relief swept through Altera Vita as they crossed into the safety of the walls.
As they walked through the city, Belisarius noticed a palpable shift in the atmosphere. The streets seemed unusually somber, a stark contrast to the vibrant life they had remembered. 'What happened while we were gone?' he wondered.
Upon returning to the estate they had been lent for the mission, the group was met by a striking figure. A Diabliu Elf, clad in tight black clothing, stood with a devious smirk on her face. Her presence was unsettling, and Kael's audible gulp did little to mask his fear.
"Oh Lustros, give me strength," Kael muttered, clearly unnerved by the woman's appearance.
Belisarius raised an eyebrow at Kael's reaction. Noting the woman's green name, 'Maera,' he turned his attention to her. "You must be Maera. What's your business here?" he inquired, his voice steady.
[Would you like to know more about the being named Maera?] the monotonous voice of his artifact asked.
[Why not, she must be part of Altera Vita too.] Belisarius thought, preparing himself for whatever new challenge or revelation lay ahead.
-----
Race: Diabliu Elf
Name: Maera Morwyn
Level: Silver
Skills: ???
Artifacts: ???
Maera was a wanderer forced to join hands with Belisarius in the name of revenge, to avenge her family and friends by killing their murderers. It is to this end that Maera was integrated into Altera Vita, as she patiently waits to grow strong enough to kill those she despises most.
-----
Maera Morwyn hails from the once-mighty Diabliu Elf city of Elaris, a place of dark beauty and ancient power. Known for its secretive and insular nature, Elaris was a sanctuary for dark elves, where they practiced their arcane arts and preserved their way of life. Maera, a skilled and ambitious practitioner of magic, was content with her place in this enigmatic society. However, a trait of the warped Diu elf descendants had always made her uneasy. As they were transform by the Demon of Wanting, their bodies were forced to constantly feed on the life essence of others to keep themselves alive.
Tragedy struck when a devastating plague swept through Elaris, a plague not of disease but of an insidious magical corruption that warped both the land and its people. The corruption came from an artifact, stolen by a rival faction of sorcerers who sought to wield its power for their own ends. The artifact's malevolent influence drove the Diabliu to madness, and in their frenzied state, they tore apart their own city, leading to its ultimate destruction.
In the chaos, Maera lost her family and her home. She survived, but at a great cost—her powers were severely diminished by the artifact's corruption, and her need for life essence grew more urgent than ever. The destruction of Elaris left her with a profound sense of guilt and a desire to find redemption for her past failures. With her homeland gone and her life force slowly dwindling, she was forced to wander, seeking any means to restore herself and find a purpose.
In her search for answers and a means to restore her powers, Maera found herself in dire circumstances. It was during this period of desperation that she encountered Belisarius, a figure of dubious reputation but rather significant influence. Though Belisarius was not a paragon of strength or righteousness, he was a cunning strategist with connections and resources that Maera believed would be useful to her cause.
Belisarius's offer to Maera was not one of moral high ground or grand ideals but a pragmatic alliance. He promised her access to his connections, mercenary band and potential sources of life essence—resources that could help her regain her lost power and understand the artifact's curse. For Maera, this was an opportunity too valuable to ignore. Despite her reservations about Belisarius's true intentions, the chance to restore her powers and secure her own survival outweighed her concerns.
Maera joined Altera Vita not out of a sense of loyalty or virtue but from a calculated need to leverage whatever advantages Belisarius could provide. She understood the risks but was willing to navigate the complexities of this alliance to achieve her goals. Her ultimate aim was to find a way to heal her own affliction and reclaim her former strength, even if it meant working alongside someone whose moral compass was questionable, not that a Diabliu Elf's was any better.
Maera was a tall, slender figure with an air of haunting elegance. Her long black hair cascaded down her back, contrasting sharply with her pale skin. Her eyes, a piercing shade of crimson, seem to see through the facades of those around her, carrying a depth of pain and determination. Her full red lips often curl into a sly, enigmatic smile, hinting at secrets and schemes. Dressed in a tight black dress that accentuates her lithe frame, she exudes a sense of dignity and allure, though it is far from practical battle attire.
As the group arrived at the entrance to the manor, Maera awaited them with a knowing gaze. Her demeanor, calm and composed, masked the simmering undercurrents of her complex motives. As she greeted Belisarius, her words were laced with a subtle, almost mocking respect. "Welcome... master," she said, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and calculation.
-----
As the doors to the estate creaked shut behind them, the group spread out among the central living room, each taking a seat. The grand manor lent to them for the mission was dimly lit, with flickering candlelight casting long shadows across the room. The fire crackled in the hearth, but the warmth in the air did little to ease the tension that accompanied Maera's appearance.
Belisarius, always the tactician, kept his expression unreadable as he settled into one of the high-backed chairs in the central parlor. He may know that the unfamiliar woman was an ally, but that didn't mean he would trust her so soon, considering the others actions.. Daeva was less inclined to conceal his displeasure. Standing near the fireplace, his towering form and sharp features cast a harsh silhouette, emphasizing his distrust of the dark elf. His spear, still smeared with the blood of the fallen barbarians leaned against the wall, as if to remind everyone just how close they were to danger at any given moment.
"Careful boss," Daeva growled, eyes never leaving Maera. "She's more trouble than she's worth. Don't fall for this harlequin's tricks."
Maera, sitting opposite Belisarius in a regal pose, glanced at Daeva with a bemused expression, her red lips curling into a knowing smile. "How rude," she said softly, her voice like velvet. "Do you distrust all of your allies, or am I special?"
Daeva's eyes flashed. "You're special all right. I can smell deceit from a mile away, and you reek of it."
Belisarius, ever the diplomat, raised a hand to quiet them both. "Daeva, we all have our reasons for being here, and we all have our uses. Maera's no different. Her goals may not align perfectly with ours, but for now, we're on the same side. That's what matters."
Daeva folded his arms but said nothing more, his piercing gaze still lingering on Maera, as though daring her to reveal her true nature.
The silence that followed was thick, punctuated only by the soft crackle of the fire. Zazz took a seat on the arm of a nearby chair, his ever-watchful eyes taking in the dynamic between Maera and the others. He grinned, sensing the drama brewing but staying quiet.
Kael, meanwhile, stood awkwardly by the window, eyes darting nervously toward Maera whenever he thought no one was looking. His usual carefree demeanor was replaced by a strange, almost bashful tension. His mouth was dry, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to summon the courage to speak to her. Every time her gaze drifted toward him, even for a second, his throat tightened, and he quickly looked away, pretending to admire the snowfall outside.
Zazz, who had been observing the interaction with a mischievous grin, sidled up to Kael and whispered, "You're staring again, lover boy."
Kael jumped, nearly knocking over a vase on the table next to him. "What? No, I wasn't!" he stammered, his face flushing red.
Zazz chuckled and gave him a playful nudge. "Don't worry. She only eats the souls of her enemies... or maybe her lovers too. Who's to say?"
Kael shot Zazz a glare but was too flustered to retort properly. "Not helping," he muttered under his breath.
As the group settled into a tense silence, the door creaked open, and Corporal Horse entered the room with a soft thud of boots on the wooden floor. He was carrying Jon, the rescued slave, who still hadn't fully recovered from his ordeal, and Targeld who they had taken to a healer to help his wounds.. Gently laying the unconscious Jon down on one of the couches, Horse gave a quick nod to Belisarius.
Belisarius nodded in thanks, though his thoughts were clearly elsewhere. The other three members of their mercenary band were still out in the city, and Maera had hinted they would return soon. He didn't fully trust her timing or her motives, but for now, he had to wait—and so did the rest of Altera Vita.
Daeva, still tense, finally spoke. "You think the others are coming back? Or are they just as 'safe' as you claim to be?"
Maera's smile widened slightly. "Patience, darling. They'll be here soon enough. I have a sense for these things."
Belisarius exchanged a glance with Daeva before settling back into his chair. Waiting was not his favorite thing to do, but right now, they had no choice but to sit, watch, and hope that when the doors opened again, it wouldn't be more trouble walking through.