Episode 2

Trece's breathing is relaxed, steady as he recovers from the impossible fight. His eyes scan the room, resting closed as no sudden threat appears. His body is charred past recognition. "I do not fight for the Gods." He states in response to Namtur's words.

"Thirteen, you have done me proud!" A joyous voice calls out to him. His eyes shoot open, he turns his head towards where Kray and Thorn are, a smile brightens his face. He stands, using Namtur as a crutch, rising again to his feet. Though he looks where Kray and Thorn are, his focus is not on them but on the man just behind them.

"It warms my heart to see you once again." he calls out to his long lost friend as he begins his way towards him. Along his path, he sheds his robe, letting what remains of it drop to the floor. He stops in front of Kray and removes the sling bag tied around his waist, dropping it in front of the warrior. He speaks in clear Heshbaan, akin to his first tongue "Take what you wish, it is yours." He places the custom spoon sheath on top of the sack "I no longer have need for such tools, return them to Palla Ba with my sincerest appreciation."

With a final nod to Kray, Trece returns his attention back to his friend, shortly before making his way to the spot he stands and embracing him. "Too long have I gone without your company. I now see you once again, does that mean?" he asks as he hugs his old friend.

"You've proved yourself. You took what I taught you and made something of yourself. Now... is your time." The man smiles as he embraces Trece back.

Tears wet his charred flesh, as Trece holds onto his friend "Not a day passed since your death that I haven't thought of you, Two. Will we be inseparable now?"

The man releases Trece from the hug, taking him by the shoulders and slowly kneels with him "Now and forever, my friend." The man smiles as he stands, leaving Trece kneeling in front of him "Now, tell me what you've have; boast it proudly, you've earned it!"

Trece smiles as he looks up at his friend "Freedom."

---

Trece's breathing is slow, labored, and infrequent. His eyes dart around the room, lost and glazed over. His body is charred past recognition. He mumbles in response to Namtur's words, unintelligible; his mind fading.

His eyes slowly crack open, he turns his head to where Kray and Thorn are, the side of his burnt mouth twitches as if trying to smile. He stammers to his feet again, using Namtur as a crutch, he sways unsteadily as he stands. Though he looks where Kray and Thorn are, his focus is not on them but just past them at emptiness.

"It warms my heart to see you once again." He calls out to the vacant space as he begins to limp towards the spot he stares at, his footwork slow and staggered. The damaged the robe received and his weakened, slouched posture cause it to slip off, falling to the ground in a heap of burnt cloth. He stops in front of Kray, his body shakes unsteadily as he removes the sling bag tied around his waist and drops it in front of the warrior. He chokes out a pained Heshbaan word "Yours." Afterwards, he places the custom spoon sheath on top of the sack "Palla Ba." he struggles again.

With a final nod, Trece returns his attention back to the empty space, shortly before limping towards the spot and embracing the air."Too long have I gone without your company. I now see you once again, does that mean?" he speaks out to nobody.

Tears wet his charred flesh, as he holds onto nothing. "Not a day passed since your death that I haven't thought of you, Two. Will we be inseparable now?"

The indomitable man collapses onto his knees, his body no longer able to hold itself up.

Trece stares upwards, his mouth forming into a noticeable smile "Freedom." He breathes out before his torso meets the blood soaked floor, his body laying still.

Iasu rushes over to the fallen Seetan, but he already knows the man is beyond saving. He crouches beside the still form, but a mere look confirms it. The physician looks up at Elam and shakes his head. Then, he turns to Kray. "I am sorry for the loss of one of your men." Without awaiting a response, Iasu moves away to tend to Namtur first, and then the Northerners.

Questions whirl in Iasu's mind. Uburatu's voice questioning Elam's motives echoes in his head. Will the alliance with the Northerners survive Namtur revealing himself? And what of that bull? Iasu pushes these thoughts aside and busies himself tending to Namtur.

The bull paws the ground and snorts, still unsure of the true death of the hound king. As the room slows to the weary calm that comes at the end of every battle, the bull trots about. He sniffs at each of the hounds, taking in their scent to know they all have had true death take them. He stands near the great hound for several long moments, like a guard over a treasure, proud and defiant that any should approach. He watches from there as Iasu tends to the friends of the bull.

Kray considered the all-consuming gel at their rear. It was time to move, however it needed to happen.

"We need to keep moving. That devourer will be finished with the fallen. Soon, I think." He glanced in the gel's direction as he picked up a torch and kindled it, lighting a spliff in the process. A deep drag, inhaling through the nostrils.

"Elam, lead the way." He turned toward Bryn. "I'm sure you can assist, loremaster." Moving toward Iasu, his tone softened, yet was still matter of fact. "Your efforts are most appreciated." Kray knew a field surgeon when he saw one, and Iasu was one of the best, or so it seemed. He spoke, respectfully. "Sadly, there is no time for the dead, as I'm sure you're aware." His eyes fell to Trece, horrendously charred and blackened.

Tragic, although his sacrifice had won the day. It was, at times, a necessary cost.

His voice rose. "Get yourselves right gentlemen. No time like now to avoid being dinner."

With that, he approached Thorn, adopting his stoic voice. "Die on your own time." He offered a shoulder, if needed, to help him walk. "Not on mine." Kray's face, however, gave away grave concern as his eyes shifted to assess Thorn's condition.

I'm hoping to get a little distance and have a short rest here, J. We could most definitely use it.

The large warrior is unsteady on his feet. He drops the weapon, blinking at Kray, blood dripping from his brow.

Thorn sucks in a lungful of air, and begins walking slowly to the place where he was mauled. Catching Iasu's eye, he nods at the medic.

He bends down, wincing, and picks up his father's sword.

Kray considered Thorn's idea for a moment, then approached Elam."Unless there is a pressing need to advance now, we should regroup, allow Iasu to attend to the wounded. Perhaps your trap door rooms?" Thoughtful, he continued. "Or do you believe this would put as at more of a disadvantage, for the obvious reasons? I would hate our enemy to be more prepared."

Assessing the scene and the carnage, he elaborated. "At this point, there is attrition on both sides. It seems a balancing act then, the choice, whether to press or regroup." Kray flicked the spliff. "You know the lay of the land, and the enemy, better than I. As such, I'll have your expert knowledge first hand, prior to any death march that we contrive."

So X brought up an idea: resting in that safe room/trap door hide out. Long rest and recover before final attack on the big bad. We could use it, it's just a question of risk vs reward?

We might expect a counterattack, but it's pretty well fortified, from what we saw. Still, you never know what might get thrown at us. It also gives the enemy time to regroup.

Thoughts?

"Lord Mercon, you are right. We must regroup and take action."

His words seem to move him to action, shifting him out of his reflective state and into exchange and decision. "I would say first ..." he still falters a bit. Kray watches. He can tell that the swordsman is still dealing with the brutal reality of the scene, transferring back to his leadership role, but clearly dealing with personal stress.

"Our family..." he goes on. "All of these fallen..." he motions briefly to the whole room, nodding lastly to Namtur and Iasu.

"...these were our brothers." He finally states it. "Our enemies were our brothers. I did not state that clearly before. It is difficult. .. but it is true."

He comes up closer. Kray can see his bright abnormal eyes. "We live strange lives here... cursed. We are used to being scorned. Doubted." He pauses yet again, still stumbling for words but then finalizes. "Betrayed."

He pulls the idea together succinctly, as if finally capturing it."Thank you for not betraying us."

He looks around again. At Thorn, behind Kray. He nods.

He scans over to Bryn. To the bull. He has a look of wonder perhaps there, but he looks back to Kray and nods again. And then looks to Trece.

"I am sorry for your loss. His valor ... I will never forget it. I do not know how you got him to infiltrate these chambers." He shakes his head. "No matter how, I am amazed."
He closes it out, maybe turning the corner on an emotional resolution. "Thank you."

He moves forward to clasp hands, and puts the other on Kray's shoulder with sincerity. "What was his name, this Seetan who spoke as an Otessite and fought as one of an ancient Order?"

Namtur approaches the bull slowly, with his hands out, making it clear that he is no threat.The bull does not understand the language, but it is clear that Namtur is communicating that he is identifying himself as a friend.

For the first time ever, the bull sees Namtur with a very small smile. The devil man nods his head. ...as if confirming with satisfaction, as if discovering something that makes sense out of other things.

He puts a hand on the bull's neck and pats him twice. His face turns down a bit though, more serious.

He leans in close to look at the bull's eyes, face and snout. Namtur's brow crinkles in in concern.Turning to Elam, who is talking to Kray, Namtur calls out across the chamber.

Elam hears Namtur's call.

He looks at Thorn, then at Iasu.

Then back to Kray. "There are living quarters ahead. A well. Clean wool wraps. Cloths." He motions to the north hallway.

"An armory near also."

He nods as he does another assessment. "We can move there carefully and set up a guarded stance for a moment to recover."