Chapter 1: The Body

Breg hadn’t been in the city too long, heretofore. Having left his rural village just a few weeks ago, for to explore what the urban landscape has in store. Where the country life left him unexcited and unfulfilled, surely the city offered him adventure and to spare!

Our green-cloaked ranger perks up at the sound of screaming! A woman’s scream, friends, not far from us! We should investigate!
Drawing both his shortswords in case of trouble, Breg makes his rangerly way towards the trouble!

Warriors…come out to play-ee-yay…

Aldezar had been out walking early after grabbing some breakfast. He had not been busy of late, with things being relatively calm with his father's business and his other occupation being equally quiet. The Azindralean was tall and lean, his casual stride covering ground through the park easily, his bright amber eyes catching the morning sunlight. Pale skin, his dark black hair made him look even more gaunt by contrast.

Not working this morning, Aldezar was traveling light, chain shirt which he always wore, a dual sheath with a short curved sword and matching fighting dagger, light brown cloak to ward off the early chill.

It was shaping up to be a fine morning, until he heard the scream of a woman from nearby. Pausing only a moment to determine the direction, the man sprinted across the park toward where he had heard the woman. As he ran, he scanned for signs of the woman or any danger which she might have encountered.

Eril Whitebath the II, a tall, striking figure, with medium length wavy blonde hair and piercing piercing golden brown eyes. He is adorned with Scalemail, and carries with him a light wooden shield and highly polished sheath that holds his Bastard Sword. From the looks of it the sword is as much a ceremony piece as it would be a weapon. A Kortezian, or so it would seem, through and through, thick brown hair adorns his arms and legs, and is on full display despite his armor.

A trip to the park had been the right choice. He had felt a bit of malaise since finishing his studies at the temple and being released from his duties there to make his own way in the world. Sure he could have stayed on, took up vows, became a priest. But that was not what he wanted, what he sought after. He wanted to do something that would make his mother and father proud, he wanted to go on a grand adventure like his mother had told him stories about, where his father fought off pirates in the open sea. Or maybe he would find love and fight to protect it from the grand schemes of a rival. The fresh air of the park would help to clear his thoughts and help him decide on a direction, and if all else failed he'd find a quiet place overlooking the harbor and pray to Adhelmus Oxda to find his path.

Finding a place on the grass with his back against a tree Eril lowered himself to the ground and crossed his feet at the ankles. A bird in the tree overhead caught his attention, it's song danced through his conscious, tweet, tweeeeet, tweetily...AHHHHH! Wait no, that last part wasn't a bird song, but a scream. Eril climbed to his feet and glanced around. Once he was certain the direction the scream had come from he made haste, maybe his sword would find use after all today.

Laying on the grass, enjoying the first ray of sun a catfolk is half dreaming, half concentrating on his next work of greatness, an epic poem the world will learn to love and who will give Lunori's name all the glory and riches of the world! **The epic tale of ... of ... coron the dog**.

His voice erupts "Coron the dog? what a dumb choice!" He continue to concentrate and thinks:**What about an hendgehog making a lot of noise: a sonic hedgehog! no, it will never work. I have to find my great story.**

Suddenly he hears a woman cry. **A cry, that's a story!** And he quickly jump to his feet grab his stuff and run toward the noise.

Zirah’s head snapped up from her book, the sound of the scream cutting through the stillness of the evening like a blade. Her amber eyes, usually calm and focused, widened with alarm as the cry echoed in her ears. For a moment, she froze, her mind racing to assess the direction and distance of the disturbance. The weight of the lantern staff leaning against her chair brought her back to action.

Rising swiftly, she reached for the staff, its ornate metal frame glinting faintly in the dim light of the study. With practiced ease, she lit the lantern at its top, the warm glow spilling outward and chasing away the encroaching shadows. The staff wasn’t just a source of light—it was her trusted tool, one that had guided her through countless dark and uncertain nights.

Zirah pushed open the heavy door of her chamber and stepped into the cool night air. The scream had come from somewhere nearby, its anguished tone unmistakable. Her sandals struck the cobblestones with purpose as she headed toward the sound, the lantern’s glow casting long, flickering shadows ahead of her. Whatever had caused that cry, she knew she couldn’t ignore it. Whether it was danger or despair, she would face it—her heart steady, her mind resolute.

Keeping his distance, Breg gestures others on the scene to stay their aggression.
Everyone, stay your strikes, please. Let me see what I can do.
Breg slowly approaches the dogs, and draws upon rangerly ways to try swaying them safely away.

Lunori hearing Breg stops his run and stay alert trying to show the least possible amount of aggression.

**Dogs, I'm nt to keen on them, why couldn't it be rabbits attack?** thinks the cat

Aldezar was ready to strike, but held at the call of another. Instead of attacking, the man slowly followed the other and moved closer to the woman. As Breg moved up to the dogs, Aldezar slid up to the woman, so that he would be between her and the dogs, one hand on his sword, the other he slowly guided her behind him.

"Stay behind me." he said quietly and in an even tone, eyes watching every movement of the dogs.

Hearing the others murmur calls for calm as they neared the snarling dogs circling the woman and the still figure in the center of the park, Zirah tightened her grip on her lantern staff. The dim, flickering light cast by the lantern seemed to press against the heavy shadows beneath the trees, illuminating glimpses of bristling fur and bared teeth. She slowed her steps, her sandals crunching softly on the gravel path, careful not to draw the animals’ attention too soon.

Her keen eyes darted between the agitated dogs and the woman and the body on the ground, assessing the scene. The tension in the air was palpable, and though the others urged calm, Zirah’s instincts whispered of danger. She flexed her fingers, the faint warmth of her latent flame magic tingling just beneath her skin. The flame was ready—always ready—to flare to life in her palm should the beasts turn violent.

Keeping a measured distance from the growling animals, she cast a glance toward the others. "Careful now," she said in a low, steady voice. "If they’re guarding something—or someone—they won’t back down easily. Let’s not provoke them unless we must."

Her lantern staff swayed slightly in her hand, its light a small beacon of control in the chaotic moment. Zirah stayed poised, prepared to strike if necessary, but hoping against hope that the situation could be defused without the need for fire or force.

Eril looked at the dogs, then the man on the ground, then the woman. It was clear what he must do, he unsheathed his sword and was about the attack when he heard the Breg call out his intentions, so he quickly pivoted and began to circle toward the woman like Aldezar. Great minds think alike after all. When he was in position he also chanced a glance at the man on the ground, trying to assess his injuries, above and beyond dog bites.

Diplomacy had failed, and now it was time to do everything they could to protect this woman. The man was dead, and there was nothing that could be done for him. It wasn't the first time Eril had seen a dead body, but it was the first time outside of a funerary precession. But he couldn't focus on that now, now as was time for sword strikes to put down these hyper aggressive mutts!

"Protect the woman at all costs!"

As the sharp pain from her fall began to dull, Zirah lifted her gaze and found herself staring into the snarling maw of the savage dog that had lunged at her. Its fur bristled with aggression, its lips curled back to reveal yellowed teeth, and its growl rumbled low and menacing, sending a chill down her spine. She could see the wild glint in its eyes, a feral hunger that made her breath catch.

Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to move, her fingers tightening around the smooth shaft of her lantern staff. The pain in her side protested as she shifted, but she pushed it aside, determination flaring within her. Planting the base of the staff firmly against the ground, she heaved herself upright with a swift, fluid motion, pivoting so the weapon was ready in her hands. The lantern at the top swayed slightly, its light casting eerie flickers across the darkened clearing, reflecting off the dog's glinting eyes.

Zirah stood tall now, her stance steady despite the lingering ache in her body. Her free hand hovered near her side, the faint warmth of flame magic stirring at her fingertips, ready to be called forth if the beast dared to attack again. She locked eyes with the dog, her voice steady and sharp as she hissed, "Back off."

The dog growled louder, muscles bunching as if preparing to strike once more. Zirah’s grip on the staff tightened, her knuckles whitening as she shifted her weight, poised to defend herself. The lantern staff could be used as a blunt weapon, but it was the fire she would call if the creature forced her hand. Around her, the park felt oppressive, the air thick with tension as the standoff stretched, each heartbeat seeming louder than the last.