311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreE7yOwf2H
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqAOvc3EEx
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqN9QQ5sci6
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSxOhMB9kK
But there was something else.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7SeNGsmJk
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2wHUF1z6j
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQKh2WSeC3
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz2PQy0erT
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FGHPaA2Iv
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5gdYfkg8a
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1m0Iqpust
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkFvGCI59L
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ5umTmdD6
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Hv7PjD9tM
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnbwrxrjzQz
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKmwyMbFnf
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD70y6iQFYm
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVnFbTK4xm
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjAGDwvPcF
“And what would be your business here?”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtz0B9bR5D7
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pm1riJe0y
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEZ1S7Wome
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ioBOwcKfV
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyBkmd7eXm
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HQHld8xX9
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8apXJLhu2X
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT10itS8i8
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5uLFTl5Yn
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”.
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd4juuxkWF
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsY8uQljBW
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI0Y66czVe
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPQp0X6S1B
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykjQifKu7J
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the
greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvI0GxboG6
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6KhaDjxOl
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3cOy6ZmNZ
But there was something else. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0z42I9fGe
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NpFi0B2Xl
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLa1RoO3Tu
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi2vvgWU6Uz
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGNEDgm7YF
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QJ2dZgXf5
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pk8l5JGiW
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s0BTJkwxu
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QtCwjLZt9
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31FMtF6g9L
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNERh39F2JB
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡremEJnEDAY
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2Kdq6O13A
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl3rpCc5K1
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZet1kP652R
“And what would be your business here?”311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFzPGIr3eh
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE12AluCQ14
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnGyFejfmn
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgwHXGLTXS
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eKXehXahh
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcBFqcjZvv
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawyHyg06lW
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0cV39ERs1
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYcpY7GntR
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”. 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYf7QXR4ZV
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNS6zX0VDA
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh85X9ytu0Q
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWd05oEz0f
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTUKp66IRq
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkojPNX5kw7
The Earl sighed, “My roundsmen brought a child but a fortnight ago, saying he stole a loaf of bread. I fed him, shoed him, and sent him on his way. Last I saw, he was heading west.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU9HYPvD0r
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdN9hK81mui
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAq7O6gRlH3
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg7dvazmb8
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGdcb73RWQ
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPr8udzEv0
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrJ4G3esJx
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjURHRc7Xs
311Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJHPJu8RfB
