Curse

Oleg · Jul 19, 2011, 01:18 PM // 13:18

Rescue at Minister Cho's Estate

Companions:
Oleg Firstborn (Warrior)
Rhubarb Adolhoff (Ritualist)
Vonda Brillig (Mesmer)
Honey Tangles (Monk)

The Grounds

"It has a face, in its chest!" the mesmer sounded more surprised that alarmed.

"I noticed that Vonda when it tried to bite my arm off. Stop it from casting!" Oleg pinned the afflicted necromancer to the ground leaning heavily on its upper torso. It's four legs writhed. "I've never been able to hold one before. Between us we have a chance to do something other than just kill it."

"We are here to save the peasants who came. Not to study these things," said Initiate Zei Ri of the Ministry of Purity.

"It's mind Oleg is... fragmented. There are so many," strain clearly showing on the mesmer's face. "They are not... complete. If the monk wasn't stopping it from directly attacking it would be tearing me apart."

"Honey? What is this thing?" Oleg applied all his weight to keep the afflicted as immobile as possible.

"It has several souls. It was once many people. The corruption is... By the Six it's so wrong Oleg. The pain and hate; the hunger. There is no reason here, just desire." Distress building.

"It is human Oleg or at least entirely from this realm," Rhubarb, certain. "There are no signs of outside spirits. It is beyond help. End it. Believe me when I tell you, there is no hope."

There is no humane way to kill an afflicted.

...
The Previous Evening

"You don't need to be here Rhubarb," They strode through the Ran Musu Gardens. The bulk of the estate had been overrun by Afflicted, the tortured remains of what were once men and animals. Not undead, no longer truly alive. Only the manned walls separated this idyllic section of the gardens from a living nightmare. "I know you were there when Minister Cho turned and tried to kill you and your mentor."

"Minister Cho died that day. I had not met him before. It was long ago." After a pause, "We were both there when my mentor died." Rhubarb sat on a bench by a pond. He seemed unaware of his surroundings. Oblivious to the beauty of the moonlight on the pool. He indicated for Oleg to join him. "This is my land Oleg. My people. Why are you here?"

"As you said, we were both there when your mentor died. I couldn't save Togo. Maybe I can... " There was no need to explain. "You are wearing the bandages again."

"That is part of the reason I am here. When you met me in Lion's Arch I was not just seeking help from abroad for my people. I was trying to escape. I had drunk from the Chalice of Corruption." And there it all made sense. Rhubard had emitted a smell. Despite the Krytan heat every inch of the Ritualist's skin was encased in bandages. Ancient, browning bandages. He seemed comical. The mummy of Cantha with the name of a vegetable. He'd seemed funny until they saw him fight. No-one had seen spirits raised and bound to fight before. No-one had seen a soul torn from a body and crushed. Rhubarb Adolhoff had killed a half dozen men before anyone could react. HIs only words at the end of the battle, "There will be more." No-one laughed at him again.

"I was acting on orders from the emperor. I had to infiltrate the Am Fah. As you know the gang was trying to use and spread the plague. The Corruption from the plague was deconstructing my body. It would have altered my mind and body until I was one of the Sickened. Once at that stage there is no turning back. It is only a matter of time before you become Afflicted. If not for the healing skills of Honey Tangles I would be on the other side of that wall now, almost mindless but with far more power. I am glad Honey will be with us tomorrow." Rhubarb stared at the wall. His head moved as if he was watching something. In the dim light Oleg could only guess he was lost in memory. There was nothing to see.

"I do not know this fourth person. This Vonda Brillig. Who is she?" Rhubarb wanted to know.

"She's a mesmer. Extremely capable. She fought beside me in the Battle for Lion's Arch. I don't need to tell you what that was like." Wave after wave of White Mantle and Mursaat in the final chapter of the War in Kryta. The bodies of attacker and defender alike carpeted the city. It was almost a relief when a war on foreign soil called Oleg away. The stench and memories were far too strong to enjoy the victory. And with the war over, he found himself with no place, no role.

"She will fight the battles on a psychic front, sewing panic amongst the Afflicted. She comes across as arrogant, but not without merit. It's more a lack of false modesty." Rhubarb did well not to laugh. Few adventurers were known for their humble ways.

...
The Grounds

Oleg rose and surveyed the remains about him. It looked like a herd of bison had stormed through an abattoir. Meat and blood sprayed and scattered in a large area. They collected anything that could be stripped from the bodies. Gruesome work but not without profit.

"I'm glad we aren't here to wipe them all out," Honey clearly meant it. As a monk she prayed to all the six gods but preferred Balthazar's protection to smiting and Dwayna's healing to all.

"We are here to save the peasants who have come onto this estate. A larger party will follow and wipe out the Afflicted. The less we kill, the less commotion we make and the greater the chance of the peasants surviving. We must move on," Initiate Zei Ri indicated for Oleg to continue.

From the vantage of higher ground they witnessed a group of Afflicted. They milled back and forth but not without pattern.

"They are patrolling. Look, it isn't one group. There are two that overlap." Oleg looked intently to discern where the patrols began and ended. As with any fight, knowing the enemy and the terrain were indispensable tools to winning a fight. A weaker group could overcome a stronger with sufficient planning. With only five of them, numbers would never be on their side. The four legged necromancer was the most obvious. It seemed the plague affected people, or groups of people in similar fashion. Each Afflicted took on a particular shape depending on the profession of the person it was primarily spawned from. Only the necromancer had the appearance of a centaur.

"It's raising undead," said Oleg. "It can do it without fresh bodies. It could create a platoon all by itself. We need to take it out first." Most necromancers can only raise the bodies from the newly dead. Only the elite could draw bones, meat and blood from the ground, creating an undead minion from seemingly nothing. "Vonda, I need you to shut that necromancer down long enough for me to get to it. Confuse and frustrate them. Honey, I need your protection. Keep me alive. Rhubarb, get a wall of spirits between you and them. They will do damage while preventing the afflicted from getting to you."

"I can also protect and add damage to the enemy," offered Initiate Zei Ri.

Oleg ran into the fray drawing all enemies to himself. The afflicted shuddered and staggered as they found themselves cut off from their magic. Even the warrior Afflicted's blows were weak and inconsequential. Rhubarb's bound spirits rained down bolts of energy as Oleg's obsidian blade sunk deep into the necromancer's body, ending it's pain.

"Oleg, get the monk. There's a monk," shouted Honey. "The hunchback. It's the hunchback." Oleg shouldered his way to the ape like Afflicted and slashed across the buboes and bags of flesh wallowing and writhing across its back.

"Dwayna guide me. Its calling on the power of Balthazar. Get back Rhubarb," the ritualist leapt back at Honey's command as a ray of brilliant white light fell on his summoned spirits tearing them from the corporeal realm. Seeing the band of casters without the aid of the spirits the remaining Afflicted charged up the hill. Rhubarb frantically sought to raise and bind more spirits. The hammer of an Afflicted warrior beat again and again at the spirits, destroying them as quick as Rhubarb could raise them. With the others taking care of the Afflicted casters Rhubarb knew he was on his own. The afflicted slammed the last spirit, threw its hammer aside and sunk its clawed hands into Rhubarb's shoulders. It stuffed the ritualist's head into a cavernous mouth with no lower jaw, its upper teeth grating across his skull. Blood flowed freely. Lifted off his feet Rhubarb felt the immense power of the beast. His head mostly into its mouth he knew he did not have long to live. Once at his neck it would be over. Then he fell to the ground.

"As interesting a hat as that is Rhubarb, I don't think it's going to take off," quipped Vonda helping Rhubarb out of the severed head of the Afflicted.

Oleg stood in front of him with his blade dripping blood and gore, "Sorry I couldn't get here sooner old sock. Those monks take some killing. Not to mention the mesmer, elementalist and whatever else was here. It's also pretty hard to decapitate something that doesn't have a neck. You ok?"

"He will be Oleg," Honey laid her hands on the wounds. She sought to take the bandages off Rhubarb's face and noticed that the bandages covering his eyes were thick. There was no way he could see through them.

...
The Previous Evening

Rhubarb half stood up from the bench, intent, then sat again.

"What's going on Rhubarb?" Oleg was at a loss as to why his friend was so intently staring at a wall.

"You know all ritualists are blind as you understand sight?" asked Rhubarb.

"Well, I can raise spirits..." began Oleg.

"You have learnt some skills of the ritualist but you are not a ritualist. Much the same as I can swing a sword and use a shield but I am not a warrior." Oleg conceded the point with a nod, "All true ritualists are blind to the corporeal real. I cannot see the contours of your face. You mentioned Vonda is beautiful. I will never know what you mean. I cannot see the flesh anymore than I can see that wall or this pond." Rhubarb indicated both, "I know they are there due to their spiritual echo. Every object disturbs and redirects the flow of energy. I see with the eyes of the spirit realm."

They sat in silence for some time as Oleg wondered at the implications of this. He wondered if the tattoos all ritualists had were somehow linked to the blindness. As with most things, deep pondering was trumped by the lude.

"Why do so many ritualists dress is such revealing fashion? Do they not know? Many also seem... promiscuous. I knew one named Chiaki who... that's another story. What's with the, erm... " for once Oleg was lost for words.

"That's what you're taking from this?" Rhubarb laughed. "The ritualists are well aware of what their choice of dress looks like. It is deliberately erotic, or in my case, necrotic. We only see the world through spirit eyes. We raise spirits and chain them to the corporeal realm. We deal in energies not borne of this world. We are a conduit. In time, with repeated exposure it can be easy to lose oneself to the spirit land entirely. To prevent this we must have a strong link to flesh. An easy and pleasurable way to achieve this is through sex. So this 'revealing fashion' is no accident."

"And yet you don't need it?" Oleg asked softly.

"Many of us also study necromancy. Learning how to raise the dead gives you a greater awareness of flesh," Oleg knew there was more. That this wasn't the reason and waited for Rhubarb to complete his thought in his own time. "And I drank from the Chalice. I was cured before the illness got to the extent of "The Sickness". You remember those? Mad people with enhanced strength?" Rhubarb saw that Oleg understood. "But it did change me. When the corruption was in me I was in constant pain. Pain bad enough to kill me if left untreated. My body would have torn itself apart and then reformed in an augmented fashion. I'd be a six-handed freak crabbing about and gibbering if not for Honey. The Corruption was cured and the pain has gone but I am not unchanged. There is a constant discomfort. It still feels like my muscles want to pull apart from each other. The damage done cannot be undone. It's silly, but these rags, this 'mummy of Cantha' - don't look so shocked my friend. I knew of the names said behind my back. I preferred being an eccentric foreigner to a diseased friend. Anyway, these rags make me feel enclosed. It's stupid, but it helps stop the feeling that I'm going to fall apart. It is not difficult to keep the corporeal in mind when you feel like your body is trying to tear itself apart."

Usually laconic, Oleg knew this was important to Rhubarb. He sat and waited for his friend to come to the point in his own time.

"I can see them Oleg," barely a whisper. "They are just beyond the wall. There are scores of them just beyond the wall. I can see them moving, yearning. They are a horde and they all want you dead."

...
The Menagerie

Initiate Zei Ri, "I'm positive that I heard something. We need to hurry to the menagerie."

Then a faint voice, "Can anybody hear me? These animals have me trapped."

"Oh how delightful," said Vonda on seeing the Afflicted animals of the menagerie. "We won't be getting any usable pelts off these things. Well, unless mange becomes all the rage next winter." Then, looking at Rhubarb's ancients rags smothered in blood, "Then again, in these parts it would be quite the treat."

"Well Vonda, at least we have your loveliness to offset their unsightly pelts," offered Oleg.

"That you do my good man. You're none too shabby yourself," Honey stifled a laugh. She could never grasp how mesmers always seemed so taken by appearances. There was a reason they were drawn to Lyssa and not Melandru.

"We'll use this doorway to direct them," Oleg indicated the large arch dividing the menagerie from the Grounds proper. "Stay on this side of the archway. Rhubarb, place your spirits in the archway. I'll lure them over here away from the peasant. Why they aren't tearing her throat out every time she yells out is anyone's guess."

"The Six be praised," offered Honey.

"Yes, quite," Oleg never knew how to reply to that sort of comment. "I'll stay on the other side. As usual, Honey, please keep me alive."

"Letting him get a few scars wouldn't hurt," Vonda sounded like she meant it. "What?"

"You're starting to enjoy this aren't you?" Oleg asked Vonda as he sheathed his sword and drew his bow.

"We are here to save that women trapped by these beasts and more people besides," said Initiate Zei Ri.

"Thank you for the reminder," said Vonda giving the Initiate's cheek a light tap. "Where would I be without you?"

With his shield across his back and arrow notched Oleg headed further into the menagerie. Firing arrows he led the beasts away from the peasant and toward the exit into the Grounds. After the Afflicted humans the beasts seemed more sport than danger.

The peasant seemed oddly unperturbed upon rescue, "Thanks. Any longer and I might have been just another set of bones for those things to chew on!"

"I'm glad you're safe. Hold tight. More of our forces should be coming through. They will escort you back," said Initiate Zei Ri.

"We're just going to leave her here?" Asked Honey.

"The main force will be through soon enough. There are no patrols here. If we took her back the others in here may be killed," explained Initiate Zei Ri.

"How do we even know there are others?" asked Oleg.

"My sources tell me there are. We must push on. I will go alone if I must to save the innocents of Cantha trapped in here," Initiate Zei Ri started away.

"She has lasted this long. She is safe. Come on, we have more to save," then Oleg quietly added, "apparently."

Exotic animals from all corners of the known world were once the pride and wonder of Minister Cho's Estate. The menagerie had since become a study in the grotesque with afflicted animals pulsing and savaging anything other than their kind. Like their human brethren they had fallen to patrol like behaviour. Or perhaps it was a memory of caged life. With predictability came carelessness brought abruptly to an end when Rhubarb was mauled by an afflicted ravager.

"Get it off me," Rhubarb ground his teeth in pain. Snarling it savaged his arm, more like a hound than the tiger it once was. A shot of arching light sprang from Initiate Zei Ri causing the beast to turn. It provided enough space for Oleg to safely strike, sinking his blade hilt deep into the ravager.

"Show me the arm," Honey sank to her knees beside the ritualist. "It's broken. This won't take long." The bones re-knit, flesh meshed and skin closed. Then quiet enough for only Rhubarb to hear, "We need to talk."

...
The Previous Evening

"Hi Honey, I'm home," Oleg stood in the doorway with a suitably stupid grin plastered across his face.

"I've never heard that one before," looking up from her manuscript. "Come in Oleg."

"Ready for tomorrow," considering how long they had travelled together it always surprised Oleg how stilted their conversations could be.

"They are just Afflicted. It's not like we haven't faced hundreds. Shiro touched far too many. May Grenth bury him deep in the Underworld. I've helped banish him from two planes so far, the Mortal and Torment Realms. I have no desire to face him again. We are just cleaning up after his mess."

"This one is different. We have to keep people alive who can't protect themselves." Oleg took the chair by her bed. "That will fall to you with so few of us in there."

"What are you worried about Oleg?" Honey put her manuscript down. "Is it that I will be stretched too far and won't be able to watch over you as I usually do? Or are you still tormenting yourself with Togo's fall?" Seeing Oleg's head snap up Honey went to him, took his hands and held his eyes, "People die Oleg. People die."

Oleg stood, appeared angry. He went to start speaking several times and stopped.

"You know who is to blame for his death, don't you?" She asked.

"No, Honey. I don't blame you. It was an amazing effort to get us that far," Oleg sat on the bed, deflated.

"I don't blame me either," Honey smiled. "I wasn't the only monk." She gave a little laugh, oddly relieving the tension. "You have still missed the point."

"You do blame me, then?" Seeing her shake of the head, "Emperor Kiso?" Oleg clearly at a loss.

"Oleg, you are frighteningly stupid sometimes. None could have led us through that palace quicker and without a single loss. Enter a tavern sometime. People are singing about it. Emperor Kiso did what he ahd to do to protect Cantha. He loved his brother dearly. He would have stood in Togo's place if he could have. NO, it was not you or the Emperor who was responsible. The one responsible for Togo's death," getting Oleg's full attention, "was Shiro. Honour Togo by helping these people tomorrow. I will keep us alive, as will Rhubarb. He can do far more than raise spirits to fight for us."

"Thank you, Honey." After a brief pause, "I am glad I met you," Oleg's serious expression was dissolved by the monk's laugh.

"And I you." Leading Oleg to the door, "One more thing Oleg. Tomorrow, kill quick and clean."

...
The Foh Wing

"There's no mistaking it; there's someone still alive nearby. It must be coming from Foh Wing!" said Initiate Zei Ri.

"Get back, you blasted monstrosities! Any closer and I'll kill you three times over!" shouted a Canthan peasant surrounded by Afflicted.

"Oh good. A feisty one. That will help no end," said Vonda running to keep up with Oleg.

"Oleg, concentrate on the warrior," yelled Rhubarb. "He is imbued with a channelling energy. My spirits won't last an attack."

"Get the monk!" from Honey. "I cannot defend against his Ray of Judgement."

"The necromancer Oleg!" Initiate Zei Ri.

"Just keep the peasant happy Oleg. I've got you," from a surprisingly calm Vonda. "Now there's something I never thought I'd say."

Like clockwork they chipped away. Years of fighting alongside each other let them know their strengths and weaknesses. The battle ebbed and flowed.

"Rhubarb, what is your spirit doing?" yelled Vonda. One spirit had turned from the fight and faced the casters. It drew back to launch an attack. One they had not defended against. Channelled energy pounded into Initiate Zei Ri, bolt after bolt, sapping his life.

"I have no power over spirits," screamed Vonda.

All focussed on the turned spirit. It lasted only moments under the concentrated onslaught. Still, too slow for Initiate Zei Ri who collapsed, exhaling his last breath.

...
The Previous Evening

"Well hello Mr Wonderful," Vonda invited Oleg into her rooms. "Calling on a lady at this hour. What could be your intentions? But it is Oleg Firstborn. You never struck me as the type of warrior who felt the urge to put his sword in every sheath he could find." She gave an ironic smile.

"Indeed," throwing his hands in the air. "Where do I go with that?"

"Where indeed?" She patted the bed beside her. "Come along Oleg, I won't bite. I don't hunt on the preserve of others."

"Hunt?" Oleg looked genuinely confused.

"You silver tongued devil you," then taking pity. "What brings you here?"

"Just, you know, making sure you're ok for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow," as if thinking about it. "Let me check my calendar. Oh yes, I'm to stop countless augmented nightmare freaks from crushing us with their minds and muscles. Sounds a delight. Why did I ever leave Tihark Orchard? It's just a brief stroll to the Kodash Bazaar. I bought these boots there. They compliment the Norn Coat and Deldrimor hose no end don't you think?" Vonda stretched to display herself to advantage. At Oleg's obvious discomfort she gave a genuine laugh. "I have seen you with other women, Oleg. You turn on the charm and they melt. With me, however," she patted his leg. "It is you who does the melting. Am I so intimidating?"

"Even without your skills as a mesmer, you are very good at controlling thoughts." Why not go with blatant honesty when you're completely outmatched?

"And that is why others follow you. You compliment without flattering. You disarm by being vulnerable. She's a lucky woman, Mr Firstborn." Vonda raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"If only," responded Oleg.

Vonda got up, slowly walked to the bedroom door and began to close it. Turning to Oleg, "Perhaps I am not ready for tomorrow, yet."

...
The Foh Wing

"Oleg has that thing. He isn't toying with it, but he has its measure. It's just a matter of time," said Rhubarb.

"Initiate Zei Ri is down but I can hold his soul. It is not ready to leave. Cover me while I bring him back to us."

"The Ministry of Purity!" exclaimed the peasant. "Please, let me join the fight!"

"I like your spirit," Said Initiate Zei Ri as he sat up, then stood. "Stay here. Some other members should be by soon to assist you. Speak with them."

"If she can fight she can help," said Vonda.

"I'll not place her in danger. She stays here," Zei Ri had no give in him.

"You'll not place her in danger but you'll leave her in danger?" asked Honey.

"How did that spirit turn?" asked Vonda.

Rhubarb's reply was interrupted by Honey, "There was an Afflicted ritualist. They must know how to bend spirits to their will." Seeing the look of incredulity. "Moro Valmorto is not here as his minions were turned by the Afflicted necromancers. Is this that different?"

"Undead minions and spirits are not the same Honey," began Rhubarb.

"Of course they aren't. But both would be turned by breaking a bond between the one that raised or summoned and the minion itself. It's overcoming a link and turning it to its own desires."

"A battle of wills?" questioned Vonda. Clear territory for her.

"I cannot do that," admitted Rhubarb.

"But it could be done?" Honey looked hard at Rhubarb, willing him to accept it.

"I am not the greatest ritualist there ever was. It's theoretically possible. They have been augmented. I don't know." Rhubarb trailed off.

"We need to keep going," said Oleg moving off.

"We are not finished," added Initiate Zei Ri following after.

...
Early Morning

The four sat on benches at the fish pond of the Ran Musu Gardens. Initiate Zei Ri approached and indicated for them to remain seated.

"As you know, several people have vanished from the estate that once belonged to Minister Cho," he began after introductions. "Minister Cho was taken by the affliction. His life ended not far from this spot. It's not certain what drove people to return here. Minister Cho's Estate is considered to be little more than a lost cause. It was the grounds for one of the first outbreaks of the Afflicted plague. However, we cannot abandon these people to their consequences. Our goal is to steal in, rescue them and get out. A larger force will follow to cleanse the grounds of the Afflicted to prevent this from happening again. It is thought that if the full force is sent in immediately, the lives of these peasants will be forfeit. So our party is small, the risks high. The Ministry of Purity has asked you to join in the search due to your experience with the Afflicted and your past service to the Empire. On behalf of the Ministry, I would like to thank you all for joining me."

"I wouldn't have missed it for the world," said Vonda.

"Really, not for the entire world?" asked Oleg.

"Of course not. I mean, where would I put it?"

"This is quite serious," said Initiate Zei Ri.

"I shall not even crack the ghost of a smile. Game face on." True to her word, she didn't.

...
The Coast

"I hear someone calling for help... It sounds like it's coming from the island to the north!" said Initiate Zei Ri. Clearly with superior hearing.

"Of course they are. What else would you do when surrounded by Afflicted fiends whose only desire is to end your life," Vonda was clearly not impressed.

"Help! They've got me cornered out here!" shouted a peasant.

"I'm going to design peasant wear for my next collection. It will be covered in bull's eyes," muttered Vonda as she ran after Oleg. "What am I saying? They don't need to attract anymore unwanted attention. Silly of me."

"This is quite serious!" admonished Initiate Zei Ri.

"Do I look like I'm laughing?"

Oleg had lured the Afflicted from the peasant and set to killing. His mind fell into the pure state of battle.

"Rhubarb, do not raise spirits," Honey's eyes were fixed on the ones raised. Half appeared to be turning from the Afflicted and redirecting to them. Rhubarb grasped his head and fell to his knees. A wail of agony tore from his throat as he dropped to the sand.

"There are no Afflicted ritualists here. What's turning them?" Initiate Zei Ri fell to attacking the turned spirits.

"Vonda, shut them down!" Without the aid of Rhubarb's spirits or Initiate Zei Ri, Oleg was hard pressed.

"Their mesmer is destroying me. I can't match..." Vonda collapsed to the sand.

"Oleg, I'm sorry," said Honey as a hammer blow drove her to the ground. Finishing with the spirits Initiate Zei Ri ran to her aid.

Oleg threw his weight behind the blade and with a wide sweep ended the unnatural lives of an Afflicted monk and elementalist. The mesmer and warrior still stood, untouched. Oleg would not get to them in time. They advanced on Zei Ri. Rhubarb staggered to his feet with obvious effort. HIs body rigid with tension he lifted slightly off the ground. Glowing arcs of energy crisscrossed his body and built in intensity. He threw his arms out and an explosion of channelled light and heat swept from his body knocking all to the ground. The Afflicted exploded. Rhubarb stood over the fallen body of Honey. As he completed his incantation Honey rose. He collapsed in a heap.

Seeing no immediate threat Honey composed herself and drew Vonda's spirit to her body. Vonda looked weak but unhurt. Honey ran back to Rhubarb and cradled his head. Everywhere she touched pooled with blood. She looked to Oleg and gently shook her head.

"Even if my power were a hundredfold what it is I could not save him," she hugged his body.

"No, not like this," Oleg yelled in anger. "No. I won't let it happen. No!"

"Honey, hold his spirit," said Vonda. "I know you can't heal him. Listen to me," intent now. "Hold his spirit and I will compartmentalise his mind. Moro Valmorto is at Zen Daijun. He can stop the flesh form dying. I hold his mind. You hold his spirit. We can save him."

"Moro is a necromancer. He can only contain this. He can't heal him," Honey wanted to believe he could.

"Haiju Lagoon is not far from there. It has healing properties. If we immerse him in its waters and with the aid of the other Flameseekers we can save him. I need to trap his mind now. Time is short and it takes great concentration. I will only be able to speak sparingly. Work with me Honey. Oleg, get us out of here." Vonda gradually fell into a trance.

The peasant tentatively approached.

"You should be safe now. Just wait here, someone will be along to see to you," said Initiate Zei Ri.

"Thank you! I should have known that coming out here was a bad idea. I can't swim!" replied the peasant. Oleg noticed a look passing between the peasant and the Initiate.

"It looks like these are all the survivors," said Initiate Zei Ri to Oleg. "Reinforcements will be here soon to clean up anything that remains of the plague creatures. We can leave that to them; our work here is done."

"Considering 3 of the 4 of us our out of action that's just as well don't you think?" unable to assist Oleg grew increasingly angrier. "Just signal the ship to send out a boat. We need to get to Zen Daijun."

"You know Haiju Lagoon is currently corrupted?" Asked Initiate Zei Ri.

"I do. I also know the other Flameseekers are on their way to purify it."

"There is no guarantee of success," said Initiate Zei Ri.

"There never is," said Oleg. "You just have to live as if there was."

...
To Be Continued

awry · Jul 19, 2011, 05:17 PM // 17:17

Nice job! I like the dialogue!