The First Blight: Curse of Dumat [RP/Closed]

[FortyThree]

Diocles knew little of magic. But he knew Sul was a mage, as powerful as Thaedrin. And he knew Thaedrin had saved him. Snarling, he flashed to his feet and grabbed his partner by her clothes, his grasp unusually rough. Tears and blood still running free, he shouted in her face.

"You will do as I tell you! You will act like a blighted Warden!"

 

[ShadowFolk]

Beasts were stirring within her and for the first time since she'd met him, we wanted to bring him harm. To handle her that way, speak to her in that manner was awful. How could he not see he was better off with him dead? Who was the man who gripped her so roughly, it could not have been Diocles. "I will do no such thing! You said you were glad I found my voice and you will hear it now! He is dead and we are all better off for it. I will not summon anything to change that. Every last one of us almost died to bring you back and the same or worse will happen if I was foolish enough to spill my blood for a man who doesn't deserve it! So there you have it, I am acting as a Warden by standing my ground. I will not put you all at further risk."

 

[FortyThree]

"You know NOTHING! He was a Warden! He didn't let petty emotions rule him, always fought for the cause, made any sacrifice! He was.."

Perhaps it was simply the mounting blood loss, but the rage of Diocles was quickly running out. He found he couldn't continue and, soon, couldn't stand. The archer slumped to the floor by the corpse, sobbing.

"He was.."

 

[ShadowFolk]

"Someone tend to that wound. I cannot." This could not be happening. The elf was furious. She'd just lost one of the only friends she'd ever made, the man she cared for was openly sobbing over the 'loss' of a terrible person and she could do nothing to fix it. There was no comfort to offer and she was sure she would soon find herself in his shoes as soon as her anger subsided.

It was not how she imaged it would happen. Sulahn'nehn stomped her way below deck to find anywhere she could be alone with her thoughts. But first, she had to find her thoughts. She struggled with the voices telling her to be proud of what she'd done, telling her to be calm, and she told those voices she knew what they were. All she wanted to do just properly feel the sorrow she should.

It was all wrong, everything had gone horribly wrong.

 

[Slycne]

For the time being, Jarrik was content to just lay there, heaving in gulps of air and choking up bits of sea water. Even with his boastful endurance, the cold churning water and having to drag himself back to ship had left him feeling drained. The rain was still falling in sheets and the deck still rolled with the waves, but it all seemed distance.

'If only I had been faster, been of more use in the combat, what if I had speared the tiger instead, parlayed with the 'rats...' His mind was awash with second guesses. Some part of him was still processing the conversations around him, Thaedrin had also fallen.

He finally sat up, only long enough to go slump down next to one of the barrels of watered down wine. The empty mug sloshed nearly half the contents on the deck once it had been filled, and Jarrik drank the whole thing down, returning the cup for another fill.

"Well what now?" He said aloud to no one in particular, starting on another drink.

 

[duckflesh]

Alrik separated Diocles from Thaedrin--gently if possible, forcefully if necessary. He checked Thaedrin for a pulse; there wasn't one, of course. He lifted the man up and began carrying him below deck, overhearing Jarrik's question as he passed by.

"Were following Thaedrin's plan. Without Thaedrin, no plan. Should go back to Weisshaupt."

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin had slummed down to his knees next to the railing. He could hear the sounds of Sulahn'nehn and Diocles arguing but over what he didn't care. It sounded like he was ordering her to use blood magic on Theadrin. But it didn't' quiet sink in. Nothing around him was. He only raised his head to see Jarrik pull himself back into deck empty handed. Ensuring that his friend was gone. He wanted nothing to do with anyone, with anything.

This mission was meant to kill them. That must have been why they were sent. Diocles nearly died, and now Ghil was gone. Who would fall next? Sulahn'nehn? Himself? Was there any point to go on or even return to Weisshaupt. They were all marching to their end. It was just a matter of how soon.

"There is nothing now," He turned to Jarrik shaking his head. "There's just nothing. This mission was suicide. ITs going to keep collecting out lives until no one is left."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Below deck, Sulahn?nehn sat as far away as she could from any other living being, but she was hardly alone. She was torn, weeping for her friend and from her frustrations. Within her, two residents from the Fade attempted to ?comfort? their host. Much to her dismay, she?d lost so much of her grip they used her mouth to speak.

?There, there my lady. Do not trouble yourself with these thoughts. You were right to have done what you did. Ease your mind.? It was strange to hear her own voice sound so calming when she felt anything but.

Sulahn?nehn was temporarily able to seize control of her mind, ?I will have none of your lies! She?s gone and it is no one?s fault but my own.?

She laughed or rather, someone else did. ?You should celebrate, little elf. By your hand you struck down the big, bad mage. This is a great victory, dry your eyes and stand tall!?

?No, no. This is your fault! You did this. If it weren't for you- I?d never have-? The elf squeezed her eyes shut, trying to will away the voices mumbling for the Creators to help her.

 

[Slycne]

Finally picking himself up, Jarrik just shrugged at Alrik's logic, not like there was much to argue. Alrik and Diocles were the most senior wardens, and Diocles wasn't in any state to make much of any decisions. With the pirates routed, the ship's crew was scrambling to get her underway again in this storm, but they'd soon have her righted.

"We all die someday lad..." It wasn't much of a reassurance for Ulrin, but he patted him on the shoulder while he passed. "I'll be in the galley if any of yah want to raise a glass to them that fell." He mumbled as he walked away. He was more likely to get sick before that watered down stuff had any numbing effect, something stronger was needed.

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin watched him go. He did not know if he felt up to drinking. He hadn't done very much of it, and was sure that as of right now, taking up the past time with the Rivaini may make him ill. Perhaps he'd join him, but only after he saw Sulahn'nehn. The other elf had to be feeling worse than he was. She spent the most time with the barbarian. He knew that they were very close, and now she was the only female among them.

Ulrin picked himself up and made his way below deck checking into room and looking around for the female else until he found her mumbling to herself in a corner.

"S-sulahn'nehn? Are you alright?" He slowly walked up to her and knelt down to put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you going to be okay?"

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn's head snapped up when she heard her name, wiping her eyes with the palm of her hand. "Ulrin?" She put her hand up signaling him to halt his approach. "No, no, please don't come any closer." The elf curled in on herself when Ulrin's hand touched her.

He was her friend too, I have let him down.

"Sssh, quiet now, my l-" She shut her lips tightly for a moment before resuming, controlled. "I-I'm not...well. I need- I-" she pressed her hands to her face and sniffled, "I do not know."

 

[Rosen2012]

The elf watched her confused. It seemed like she was about to say something just before she answered. "...Sulahn'nehn. That beast bit into you... Perhaps we should get you into a hammock. And get a few bandages. You look, you look unwell." He imagined they both did. "Its not good to rest on the floor like this."

Ulrin lowered his hand from her but did not move away. He kept watching the female elf, seeing if she would move on her own or if he'd have to help her up.

 

[ShadowFolk]

Had she been bleeding? She'd completely forgotten about it, yet with a glance she saw the wound and looked bewildered. "This was not supposed to happen." Sulahn'nehn remained trapped in looping thoughts of Ghil and Diocles while fighting to stay lucid. Part of her was aware she needed treatment, but she felt everything else needed more attention. With the Constable dead and no healer that she knew of, what were the odds she would have more than cloth wrapped over the wound?

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin watched her expression, the girl was clearly loosing her senses. She was overwhelmed, and he could not blame her. They all were. "Come on," he reached forward again and took her hand. "We will get help... Perhaps Jarrik knows how they treat wounds on these vessels. He seems to know quite a bit about it." Ulrin slowly stood up and helped Sulahn'nehn to her. He squeezed her hand and did his best to smile, hoping it would reassure her.

He knew if Ghil were here she's do her best to guide them. But without her they had to guide each other. He started walking, taking her to the galley to find the Rivaini and ask him if he knew where they'd keep medical supplies.

When they entered, Ulrin remember Jarrik spoke of drinking, he hoped the man was not too far gone into his ale already. "Jarrik, we require a bit of aid for Sulahn'nehn. Where they keep bandages on this ship?"

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles had joined Jarrik in his drink not long before Ulrin and Sul entered. He had wrapped his wound in a strip torn from one of his fine silk shirts, and the saturated cloth dripped with blood. It likely needed changing, but he seemed not to care. With the blood loss it had taken little to get him intoxicated, but he drank heartily regardless, pointedly ignoring the others. He muttered into his spirits, his words dripping with vitriol.

"..Not even by darkspawn, but human bastards.."

 

[Slycne]

Ale was far to weak, for both purposes. As the elves ventured into the galley, Jarrik was rotating between taking long pulls from a bottle of whiskey, splashing it against the various wounds he'd taken during the battle and handing it off to Diocles. A few strips of linen were laid out across the table. The rapid consumption of wine then whiskey was starting to dull him, but he remained lucid enough to respond.

"Aye, welcome to the infirmary." He waved across the galley, where in addition to himself and the warden a few other men wounded in the battle were getting patched up. He gave them a grim simile. "A larger ship might have a doctor, but I think we count our blessings right now, like that those 'rats didn't do enough damage to sink us."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Still, Diocles went on about the blood mage. Why couldn't he be happy; part of the reason she'd been compelled to do it was for him. Her core ached, if he knew the truth he would hate her if he did not already. For a second, she almost proudly exclaimed that she had done it and so she sharply bit her tongue. The elf grieved, but did not wish to be run through just yet.

Remaining silent was her best bet to remain unsuspected. All that was needed was a quick bandage and dousing of alcohol and she could leave. Yet, her heart bled for the archer so against her better judgment, she chanced opening her mouth anyway. "...Diocles? I'm-...will you be alright?"

 

[FortyThree]

"..."

It was a good question. Diocles had lost before, and plenty. And yet this time.. He had failed to save Ghil and Thaedrin. Thaedrin who had brought the archer back from death itself. Who was just beginning to come into his command, to become a man he could be proud to fight beside. And less than a day after.. It was too much to process. The drink helped keep it that way.

"..I don't know."

 

[ShadowFolk]

She wanted to help him, there had to be a way to salvage some part of the mess she caused. In the back of her mind she felt a gentle push from Sloth, urging her to let him soothe the archer mind. He could make him forget, make it all better in return for something fresh to feed off of. "We can erase the pain."

Sulahn'nehn had not been quite quick enough to stay her tongue. She did not want to trap the man in an illusion. "I don't mean- I'm sorry. For your loss. I wish I could do something. Had I known you were so close, I w-" there wad no telling what she meant. It wasn't safe to be around the others just yet. She gathered up a strip of cloth, poured whiskey over it and pressed it to her wound. It burned as expected, but she did not want to stay around for another slip. "I'm not feeling well, would you excuse me?"

 

[duckflesh]

Alrik laid Thaedrin on his bed. He'd intended to have the wounds bandaged, but there was little point now; it's not like his blood was still pumping.

He went back up on deck and collected the two raider corpses. He began ransacking them, going through their possessions and stripping off their clothing.

He did find a knife on one of them, but it was entirely clean and free of blood. He strapped it to his own belt before heading to the galley.

He pointed at Jarrik. "Where you think Ghil's body wash up?"

Not waiting for a reply, he turned to look at Sulahn'nehn, who was leaving. "She use demons to bring Thaedrin back? Maybe Ghil, too?"