312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC588DcgUVW
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0daclhv0u
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9f1D9nSXZt
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLDTOQvser
But there was something else.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TN9zw2Ke0
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoxh0vs45e
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBz4dvlPFo
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtpYwS101y
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QTHP4BMXY
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrt8AohCF4
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4MxspNaEk
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbLGIdVYB7
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG52UAo6xq
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV97xnij8EN
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvdPK7jhVu
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.”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOmglGxFdR
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rBaM7xF7c
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYWFg8nB6j
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA6wP8pTqG
“And what would be your business here?”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxozqTxYng
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.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfJ0fhE0DR
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRDvlfbRh2
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DK2ywAmBc
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQ3LooAJAp
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePHvGBT6JA
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJJuMV69Ho
“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?”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxWNgbH1uA
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?”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppLBO64o7z
“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?”.
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbuxJyLF5a
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAwznVd5zD
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUv8b1U9Cp
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ19IfknmaK
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CGPUqwru6
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwwJYgxjkL
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.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Sf75xi706
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZRycvEO78
But there was something else. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xFq2iORhn
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBM0HMImLk
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdnI4ef6Jm
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuKzFDa7oT
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj2QCotJ5s
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.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeFi6maVkj
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQf2n6lbq5m
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq7YhsJrOw
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2cRS2Hzlw
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVhSaoVTcL
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfosu4VLykl
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.”312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6tqzhPPDT
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRWPhtfuPE
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKXZ2bWgNN
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngWYBJP0yc
“And what would be your business here?”312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnHp64APFJ
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. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTRaG23a89
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHBrfn7b4z
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxvrC6eKil
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETrfKFVyvB
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ryteMml6g
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLS0DYxN2O3
“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?” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKt0Dav8e7
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?” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLH1nx3qcW
“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?”. 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwMSDPJvVB
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LHEEKGFbX
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbxPMdlElu
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneqHP7L5Nq
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5TDjcWi5T
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNX5pW8LmI
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.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVmufWv9Ut
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYQVAYTDzn
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbtzFWFl4D
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52GelVoGD1
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGIMM0M5Fq
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUBJ6AP64a
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcIdDSAeYv
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96nFue2Lcp
312Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38IXvyT6a6
