The Adventure

Etta watches in bewilderment as Gevin clings desperately to this unknown man's ankle. If their situation wasn't so dangerous, it'd be comical.

But it is dangerous, so she notches an arrow and tries to aim. She doesn't have a good angle at first...but then the man bends down to try to extricate himself from Gevin with a sword-slash, and Etta has her target. With a twang, the arrow flies, hitting the balding man in the shoulder!

He hollers and tumbles backwards, dropping his sword in the process. Gevin either still has hold of his ankle, or has grabbed the top edge of the pit...maybe both.

With the immediate danger dealt with, Etta listens intently as she tries to climb out of the pit. She thinks she can hear Truth-Eater's strange wails nearby; he's probably so obsessed with catching Sann that he hasn't even noticed their predicament....

Etta practically flies out of the pit, dirt spraying as her hands and feet work. It helped that she was light in weight, and lightly-armored. Also, she'd climbed up plenty of trees or overlooks when hunting for the village.

Once back "above ground," she quickly surveys the scene. Sann's friend is groaning and trying to pull out her arrow; not currently a lethal threat, but one they should deal with before confronting Sann.

She again hears Truth-Eater's wails, but now they're mixed with Sann's threats and curses, as well as the clash of iron. It seemed like the husk had finally gotten the duel he craved. The woods are too thick for her to see what's exactly happening, though.

She bends down to help her Ironsworn companion....

Gevin, still clinging onto the man's leg, which is making the situation quite awkward, gladly accepts Etta's hand to get out. He ties to pull himself up swiftly."Nice shot!" He tells her with a grin. "You saved my bacon there... Again!" He's got a few scrapes on his legs and elbows, but nothing to worry about. He then proceeds to kick man who had kicked him before right in the place where the arrow is still lodged. Not in a way to harm him, but just hard enough for him to think twice about trying anything.

"Let me deal with this asshole. You go and find Sann." He says to Etta. "This man has some information for us. I don't want to let him get away."

Trusting that Etta can handle Sann, Gevin turns his attention to the guy who pretended to run. He picks up the sword that the man had dropped when he got shot. "Alright, you bastard. This is how this is going to go. You're going to get rid of those knives there and throw them into the bushes." He points the sword at the daggers attached to the belt.

For a second, the man hesitates to consider his options. But it's clear that he's not in a good position to do anything heroic. Reluctantly he listens and tosses the weapons aside. "Whatever you think I know. I can tell you I don't." The man says. "Sann doesn't tell me about his plans nor his past. I'm useless to you."

Gevin grins. "Well, good thing I don't want to know anything about Sann then, huh?" He rests the tip of the sword on the shoulder where the arrow has hit him. The man winces and cries out in pain.

Baldy: "Just tell me what you want to know then. Or are you planning on torturing me?"

Gevin: "Well.. That will depend on your answers." He says with a serious look. "I need to know where you got that leather vest and what that symbol on it means."

Etta is decidedly against Gevin's plan of splitting up, and makes no effort to hide her displeasure.

Etta: "C'mon, Gevin! You saw what happened when I ran off by myself! No tellin' what other traps they set up! Tie up this fool, and then let's help the husk together!"

But then the fight comes to them! Both Sann and Truth-Eater burst through some bushes, Sann thrusting with his spear, the husk swinging mightily with his greatsword. Sann is bleeding and gasping, but the husk looks worse; on top of its previous injuries, Sann's spear has cut deep into the left side of its face, making the monstrosity even more grotesque.

Shit, I can feel their hatred from here! But they're both consumed with the battle, so I should be able to get a good shot off....

But who to shoot? A convenient "miss" that actually hit the husk could give Sann the victory. Then what? Would Gevin believe she'd fired erroneously, or instantly understand her ploy?

Grumbling, she decides to fire at Sann. They could always kill the husk later, after their business with it was concluded...but she had a feeling things wouldn't unfold that way....

But just as she's about to shoot, Sann does an incredible move. He plants his spear point-first into the ground, then uses it to vault at Truth-Eater, hitting him with both feet right in the head! Another pitiful wail from the husk, who stumbles into a tree.

Thinking Sann will pause, Etta fires...and misses! Because Sann wasn't done. He flows immediately into another move. Pulling his spear out of the earth, he spins, and then flings it at Etta!

Pain and confusion crash against her. She looks down, and sees that the spear has driven deep into her right side! With trembling hands, she tries to pull it out, but then her legs collapse.

Etta: "Urrkk...that...stings...."

Sann: "Nice try, little girl! But I was slayin' people while you were still suckin' on your mommy's teats!"

But without his spear, how will he keep fighting? Will he use his bow, or does he have even more tricks up his sleeve? Will the trio really be overwhelmed, even though they have the numbers advantage?

Gevin looks a bit confused when Etta protests. Had he misjudged her abilities? Even without his help, surely she would have been fine to get out of that pit. Or was he overestimating her strength? "Uhm, sure." Is all he can say before the others burst in and as Gevin is tying up the man, Etta gets hit hard. Strengthening the idea that Etta is not infallible.

He has only had the chance to tie up the wrists. It'll have to do. "If you try anything, you'll regret it." He tells his captive and jumps up, axe in hand. With determination, he starts to run towards Sann and picks up his shield, which had dropped to the floor earlier, on the way there. But he's not fast enough. Sann pulls a dagger from somewhere in his clothing and goes in for another strike at Truth-Eater.

Seeing few options, Gevin decides to hurl his shield at the duo in hopes of disrupting the attack.
"Catch!" He calls out to the husk.

Gevin's aim is off. He had never been the best at that anyway. Instead of Truth-Eater being able to catch it, the shield hits Sann on the head. Knocking him off balance and stopping his attack. The hit leaves him dizzy but still standing.

The shield flies on beyond them and lands somewhere with a clang. It's hot something hard but there's not time to worry about that now. At least his action had had the hoped for result. Gevin keeps running.

Summoning a good bit of rage, Etta finally pulls the spear from her body. Blood gushes out from the wound, and her vision swims...but the fight isn't over, so she struggles to her feet.

Deciding to copy Gevin, she hurls the spear back at its owner. But like Gevin, her aim is off; it sticks into the ground in front of Sann, doing no direct damage. Sann is still off-balance from Gevin's shield-throw, however, and trips over the spear-shaft!

It seems their combined attacks have chipped away at Sann's strength and resolve. Can they end this fight?

As Sann wipes blood and sweat from his face, his eyes dart between his three opponents...then he laughs, puts his hands on his hips, and puffs out his chest.

Sann: "A fine scuffle this was! But it ends now. I didn't want to use this...but needs must when the devils drive, as they say...."

He pulls a small round object from a pocket. It's smooth, jet-black, and fits in the palm of his hand. With a laugh, he tosses it into the air. It bursts, making a sound like water rushing from a collapsing dam, and darkness spreads outward!

Etta tries to limp away from the effect, but it's futile. The darkness washes over her almost instantly: cold, silent, all-encompassing. She tries to yell, but her words come out as whispers. She tries to squint through this void, or whatever it was, but she can barely see her hand in front of her face.

Finally she relents, and crouches down in a defensive posture. She hopes Sann and his friend choose to escape, rather than continue fighting. If they had a way to see through this darkness, they could easily murder the trio.

Then she senses something near. Focusing her senses as hard as possible, she waits...until something slashes at her shoulder! Sann's spear!

How can he see?! Or is he just blind as me?! Doesn't matter...I got my second wind now!

Somehow, she dodges the worst of the attack, and then counter-attacks with a fury that clearly surprises Sann. Again and again she cuts her foe with her dagger, until Sann drops the spear and crumbles. Almost too late, she remembers that Truth-Eater wants to question this man. So she pulls back the dagger from his throat, instead knocking him unconscious with a brutal kick to the head.

A few moments pass, and light and sound slowly return. Finally most of the effect dissipates, and she can see better, though a gray haze remains hanging about the immediate area.

Gevin is near, and seems fine. Truth-Eater is also "fine"...or as fine as an already-wounded husk can be. He stares at Sann covetously, drool literally running down his half-ruined face.

Sann's friend is a few yards from where she remembered him. Maybe he attempted an escape, then decided against it once the darkness descended.

Truth-Eater: "Well done, Etta! Exceptional! Marvelous! Now I'll tickle this bastard a bit, make him talk...oh, the thrills of vengeance...."

Etta: "And then you'll tell us what you know about our mission, right?"

Truth-Eater: "Of course, of course! Now excuse me. This'll get ugly, and I want our special conversation to be private...."

The husk grabs Sann by a leg, and drags the man's unconscious body behind some trees. Etta can hear chuckles and muttering. As soon as Sann wakes up, she has no doubt his screams will echo through the forest.

She plops down beside Gevin. "Dunno what the hells that darkness was, but it nearly finished us. Bastard was crafty, I'll give 'im that. Gimme a second...I need to...[groan]...put myself back together first...."

"Etta, are you alright?" It was a stupid question. She was definitely not alright and needed immediate medical attention. The darkness had surprised them all, but somehow Etta still managed to finish the fight. It left Gevin impressed once again.

He kneels down beside her. "You did great. Hang on while I try to help you." Then he turns his head to the tied up man. "I can see you, by the way. If you don't scurry your way back here right now you won't have any legs to scurry with." He didn't mean to be so threatening, but at this point he had run out of patience and the intimidation seemed to work well on this guy. It would keep him in line.

As expected, the man thinks better of what he's doing and starts moving back towards them.

Gevin grabs his backpack and pulls out some strips of cloth to use as bandages. "I brought some more poultice in case something like this happened." He tells her. "This will sting like a bitch."

"Now, while you rest a bit, I'm going to talk to this one over here." He walks over to the guy, and offers him a sip of water from his waterskin. "Here. Drink. Then tell me everything you know about that symbol."

Etta grimaces as Gevin once again applies poultice and bandages to her wounds.

Etta: "Patchin' me up? Where have I heard this song before? I guess this is the...[cough]...life of an Ironsworn. Maybe you'll let me repay you by...."

She was going to finish with "using the Vestige to cleanse you," but Gevin had made it clear he was going to continue in his altered state. Pressing him on this matter would just generate discord.

But why am I scared of discord? Etta Karl ain't never been before.

Gevin then moves over to Sann's friend, leaving Etta sitting by herself. She sighs, gulps down water, and tries to relax. Gevin had done his bandaging well, but she was still far from full strength.

Then screams ring out, causing some nearby birds to fly off in alarm. Etta starts, then realizes it's Truth-Eater beginning his sadistic work. In between Sann's screams, she can hear the husk's chilling giggles.

Is this what we are now? Callous adventurers who let husks torture people? I thought I could ignore it, but it's too much! I don't care what Gevin thinks, or what deal we made with Truth-Eater...I have to do something!

Rising slowly, she shambles through the woods, until she reaches the torture site. The scene nearly makes her vomit. Sann is already missing several important pieces of himself, and Truth-Eater is literally capering about in delight.

Etta: "Enough! Gods, he's already suffered enough!"

The husk whirls in her direction, and his joy instantly turns to frenzied malice.

Truth-Eater: "Interloper! I should strike you down right now! I told you this was to be private!"

Etta: "I don't care! Kill him and be done with it! Your vengeance must be satisfied by now!"

Truth-Eater: "Satisfied already?! You cannot be serious! I've only just begun! And anyway, he hasn't told me what I need to know, so I must continue!"

Etta: "He's three-quarters dead already! Keep it up, and he'll be truly dead, and all his knowledge will be lost!"

Truth-Eater: "Nonsense! I have ways of prolonging his existence. You think this is the first person I've tortured? Not hardly! Now leave, Etta, or we will come to blows."

Etta touches the wound to her stomach, and her still-mending leg wound. She feels the sweat from her exertions running down her body. She doubts she can take the husk solo. With Gevin's help, maybe. But Gevin was busy...and was he as concerned about this situation as she was?

Then she has an idea. It was time to be covert and cunning for once....

Etta: "Fine. Have it your way."

She then retreats loudly and obviously, and Truth-Eater starts capering again. But Etta doesn't go far. Instead she drops prone, then crawls back slowly, one foot at a time, until she can see the scene between some bushes. She forces herself to watch for a bit, to ensure Truth-Eater doesn't see her.

Convinced she's well-hidden, Etta carefully unstraps her staff, and focuses on Malkath's Vestige. Her plan is to somehow shoot a magic bolt at Sann, putting him out of his misery. If the bolt is small enough, and she shoots it when the husk is capering, her magic may go unnoticed.

Still think we should just destroy the bastard. But maybe this'll be a deed worthy of an Ironsworn...and really fucking satisfying.

She concentrates, remembering Reina's tutelage. Her recent failure in using the Vestige is also very much on her mind.

The gemstone glows red, and Truth-Eater turns his back on Sann during a bout of maniacal laughter. Now was the time!

A tiny red bolt does fly towards Sann...but it doesn't kill him. Instead, it somehow mentally connects him with Etta! All his pain, lies, impotent rage, guilt (he has guilt?!), and shattered dreams flow into her, overwhelming her psyche! It's similar to the effect Reina bombarded them with, except even worse.

Etta can barely scream, before her body shuts down, and she's lost in an astral dungeon of torment!

"Fine... I'll tell you what I know. Just don't let that husk get me too." The man says.

Gevin: "That'll depend on your information. I want details."

The man swallows hard and continues to talk nervously. "Yes. Yes of course. And then you'll let me go, right?" There is no answer from Gevin.

Man: "Alright. Well this leather vest, I got it from Steelharbor. It's one of the towns to the south west. It's a trading village with small boats. I bought the vest from a market. It was already used but still serviceable."

Gevin: "And the symbol?"

Man: "The symbol, they told me, belongs to a religious group in the area. They call them 'The monks'. I don't know if that's their real title. People go to them in search of healing. Both physically and mentally. They say that they can perform miracles. That's why I thought this vest would protect me even more than any other."

At this point the screaming starts. Off in the bushes Truth-Eater is also getting information. Gevin shudders. He didn't think it would be this bad, but he kept himself strong with the thought that Sann deserverd whatever was coming to him.

Man: "Please don't let that thing get me. Please I beg you!" He starts to plead.

Gevin: "What else can you tell me about these monks? Where do they live?"

Man: "They live in a temple outside the village. I've never been there, but they say it's built into a mountain. That's why they have this symbol. That's all I know, I swear!"

Gevin was inclined to believe what this man was saying. The fear in his voice was real. "Etta, what do you think we should do with this one?" He asks as he turns to see... no Etta in sight. He hadn't noticed her leaving. "Etta?" He looked at various directions she could have gone. Then another scream from the bushes.

The man speaks up "I saw her go that way." and points in the direction of the screams.

"Well shit." Gevin replied. "Fine, you can go. But if you ever try to get in our way again I won't be so lenient. I don't forget a face." He looked the man straight in the eyes, showing off his one red eye.

Man: "O-o-of course! No way I'd do that. I'm going home. Can you untie me?" He held up his hands.

Gevin looked at him. "I'm sure you can figure out a way to get those off. Head that way." He said, pointing in the opposite direction to where Etta went.

As soon as the man was out of sight, he moved to go and find Etta. He started where she was sitting before and looked at the ground. Perhaps footprints or blood would show him the way. If all else failed, he'd have to take the man's word.

Gevin did indeed find a trail heading exactly where the man had said. He too went that way, axe in hand, just in case.

After walking for about a minute he pushes some branches aside and spots Truth-Eater working on Sann. The sight almost makes him vomit.
And, not far away, in the shrubs is Etta ... holding the vestige. He wanted to shout out 'no!', but he didn't want to give away his position to the husk. He seemed preoccupied and that was a good thing.

Then a red light appeared from out of nowhere. Too late. Etta had already done something. As she falls to the ground, Gevin gets a splitting headache behind his red eye. It blurs his vision and he drops down to one knee.

The husk turns around, having heard Etta's short scream. "I told you to STAY OUT!" It yells and marches towards her. Gevin wants to do something, but the dizziness is blinding. All he can do is power through as he watches the husk move to Etta. A weak "don't" escapes Gevin's lips.

Then there's a loud cracking noise and Truth-Eater is knocked backwards with great force. It stumbles and falls onto it's back with a groan. Fresh, or perhaps not so fresh blood pours from its wounds. It cries out in rage and scrambles back to its feet. "How dare you! Witch! You will die for that!"