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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Funeris" data-source="post: 2813378" data-attributes="member: 22792">Chapter 6: Fata Viam Invenient ContinuedCassock looked around at his bedraggled traveling companions.  Each and every member was drowning in a thick covering of dirt and blood, even the child Ariel.  One month of endless travel had solidified the mud into a hardened surface on each of them.Still, the camouflage had not protected or hidden the travelers from the beasts, from their endless list of adversaries.  They had intentionally veered away from the major road, oft guarded by the Inquisitors or at the very least the Royal Army, and into the wilds of Nordaa Saam.  But the choice had not protected the group.  Foul beasts, dead and rotting but mocking life with their unnatural existence, had pounced upon the group.  A handful of the creatures were dispatched within the wild.  The priest had questioned his god for guidance over a course of action—Cael remained silent.  The undead fell within the God’s domain, they were creatures marked with the very kiss of Cael, and yet he offered no solution for Cassock.  For that matter, the ever-present sensation of contact with Cael dwindled as well.  Cassock’s path was unclear.  So, he destroyed the beasts.Cassock’s eyes lifted, like a moth to a flame, to observe a distant glow.  Small pinpoints of light flickered across the plains they tread over.   “It is the manor,” whispered Zayda.  The priest nodded but kept silent.  Talk had become unnecessary and worse, dangerous, along the journey.  Too many predators stalked the wild.The party slowed to a near-crawl while the manor grew closer, grew larger.  Cassock moved to take the lead with only a few hundred feet left to traverse.  The wall—a stone perimeter stretching east and west seemingly indefinitely—climbed above the heads of the group, despite their current distance.  Evenly spaced upon the ramparts, torches flickered in the brisk wind of approaching winter.  No wonder it has never been conquered, thought the cleric.Cassock pulled to a dead stop, his left leg raised to take a step but unable to force the completion of the motion.  The rest of the group stopped as well, eyes glued to the priest.  He shifted backward, a questioning expression wrought upon his brow.“What is wrong, priest?” asked Aramil, Ariel still grasping his trousers.“I don’t,” Cassock shook his head, “I don’t know.”  He stepped forward and again his leg paused midair.  “Welcome, weary travelers,” stated an unknown voice.  The entire group leapt, nearly out of their skins.  In front of them, yet unnoticed until now, stood a white cloaked woman.  She stood a few paces in front of Cassock and whatever invisible barrier prevented their travel.  The woman dropped her hood, allowing her aged, white tresses to shimmer in the light of the moon and distant torches.  Her face was small and old but glowed with an inner spark of light—or at least it seemed to.  She moved regally toward the group and passed between the individuals.  Zayda and Mialee inclined their heads slightly as she passed.“Have you had some problems with the church?”  The aged woman, the elder Llewyllyn, asked.  Her eyes fixed upon the sled of gear and the armor and weaponry of the Inquisitors.“My lady,” Cassock answered, “we have had a few disputes with the church.”Llewyllyn turned to the cleric, staring deep into his eyes and face.  “You all look like you need a good rest.  Come, you are invited into my home.  You will hopefully find a bit of peace, nourishment and rest within its sacred walls.“Good men,” at the title, three unseen men separated their bodies from the darkness, “please bring these spoils of war inside.”  They moved quietly and efficiently to complete the Lady’s requests.  She once again turned to the group, “Please, follow me.”Cassock opened his mouth to scream that he could not, but his feet moved forward drawing him past the barrier.  The cleric grasped his head—a searing pain stretched through his skull and the connection to Cael faded entirely.  “What witchery,” he hissed, turning to see if any beside he had felt anything strange.  Spinum slid up to Cassock, laying a comforting hand onto the priest’s shoulders.  “Do not fear—I don’t believe we are in any danger here.”“But…”“I know, Cassock.  I can feel it, too.  I do not think I could cast the simplest of cantrips near this manor.  It is as if the magic that flows within my veins and through my mind has been drained from my body.”“Then I believe we just discovered why this manor has never been conquered.”  Cassock steeled his mind to spite the nervous trembling of his stomach.  The immense gates of the outer wall swung open, swallowing the weary travelers.</blockquote>

Verification