Quest The Hatching (Closed)

[Gossamer]

Timestamp: 15th of Spring, 516 AV, Morning

Ser Rodham was a very popular knight at The Glynstein Master Station. The Glynstein Master Station was the small Syliran Outpost just north of Riverfall on The Kabrin. It acted as a final destination for patrols along the south side of The Kabrin Road and as a home base for those knights who were more comfortable in the Riverfall area or who called Kenash home. Ser Rodham was a Sergeant Knight, one of the ten responsible for mentoring the sixty some knights in his charge.

Older than most Sylirans, Ser Rodham or Douglas as most men simply called him, was well known and almost beloved in Riverfall. He'd married an ex-Nakivak and had taken her out of service to the Akalaks and raised her one son in as Akalak of a manner as he could being human himself. For this, he'd spent copious amounts of time in the city at the Sasarans, enrolling his boy and making sure his 'son' spent time with other Akalak youth and went through his rites of passage as all Akalak should.

Because of this odd relationship the Glynstein Master Station enjoyed more rank among the Akalak than it perhaps would otherwise deserve. It's Stewart Knight, Ser Pal Rickenbacher had made an impression upon the Akalak as well - mainly for his lute playing and ability to hold his own among the Akalaks at the occasional Blue Bull brawl - and that indeed had cinched good relations among the city and the Syliran Knights.

The truth was the Akalak left the Knights alone to patrol and protect their caravans of grain coming south and the Knights didn't impose their values on the Akalak. It was a good working relationship that both parties thrived upon. They understood each other and there was mutual respect among the groups. This was especially true since some Akalak had went on to join the Order and follow Sylir, especially since his rebirth in 512.

So it wasn't unusual when Ser Rodham's frosty white warhorse walked through the gates of Riverfall baring his rider. What was unusual was the fact that his rider was covered with blood and dying fast. The Kuvay'Nas let him through immediately and tried to help, thinking he was on his way to the healers at the Gilia Medical Center. After all, he was still in the saddle, so they assumed he could get to the Gilia on his own. Blood was blood and the Akalaks saw a lot of it.

But what they didn't expect was for him to collapse just past the main gates, sliding from his horse with a cry and very thoroughly bleeding out from what looked like vicious animal wounds that were only revealed when his Sergeants Cloak was spilled back from his fall. His warhorse snorted, backed, but otherwise stood guard over the fallen knight as people around them started to crowd close. It was outfitted for battle, which was odd, and loaded with gear in the form of bulging saddlebags.

Ser Rodham lifted his arms, his hand gesturing for help, but it was already too late. He died before he could utter what he was trying to say and his horse snorted an alarm and whirled, defending the fallen knight from anyone who tried to approach.

[Ialari Pythone]

Ialari had just finished a few errands in Riverfall and was preparing to head back to The Sanctuary when she noticed the commotion at the gate. The crowd was already beginning to gather as she approached the scene. She was dressed in a light blue dress, high black boots and a light black cloak. She carried a small belt pouch at her waist along with her dagger and held her snake-headed staff in one hand. She arrived just in time to see the knight hit the ground, lift his arms for help and die. As death wrapped her fingers around the man, Ialari quickly began to smell and taste it in the air. It was a scent that only one baring the mark of Dira, Goddess of Death, could detect. Her vision, enhanced when searching for things related to death and the dead, grew crisper and clear.

She was not close enough to the body to really get a good look but her death-enhanced senses worked to pick out any details that might stand out. From what she could see, what anyone nearby could see, the vicious animal wounds that coated the man in blood, it would seem the cause of death was obvious. The knight must have encountered a wild animal on his journey from wherever to Riverfall.

With all the ruckus being created by the human's death, he must have been well known among the citizens. Ialari had only lived in the area for a season and even then she only traveled to the city on occasion as she spent most of her time at The Sanctuary. She didn't know anything about the knight and for the most part, didn't care much that he died. Death happened all the time; it was part of life. Despite her lack of caring for the knight, she couldn't help but acknowledge the concern that seemed to be present all around her. Regardless, death was death.

As she shrugged and started to turn away, the palm of her hand began to throb followed immediately after by a powerful itch. It was the same hand that bore her mark of Dira. Pausing mid-turn, Ialari rubbed the palm of her hand with her other before turning back toward the knight's body. Ialari knew better than to ignore anything that had to do with that particular mark. She also knew that the assembled crowd would likely not take to kindly to a stranger like her trying to examine the body. She had no status in Riverfall and the local authorities would likely be quick to take care of the scene. It was upon turning to face the knight once more that Ialari also noticed the horse and the gear it carried. The knight appeared to have been preparing for quite an outing. Overstuffed saddlebags and a horse equipped for battle; such things were not a sign of a knight who was simply attacked along the road.

Getting as close to the body as she felt comfortable with, considering the rest of the growing crowd, Ialari let her arm hand down with her hand near her waist. She then opened her palm toward the knight's body. With a soft prayer, quiet enough to go unnoticed by the noise of the crowd but loud enough to be heard by Death's ears, she prayed, "Milady, I feel there is more to this man's death than what the living can see. I ask for the sight to see what only the dead have seen."

As Ialari called upon her gnosis and asked Dira to reveal as much of the man's final moments as she was willing, she felt the itching and throbbing in her palm began to fade; a sign that at least Dira accepted Ialari's notion that leaving the scene was likely not a good idea.

[Vypec]

15th of Spring, 516 A.V. Riverfall Gate So it was turning into a really shyke day to have gate duty. Vypec hadn't been able to get close to the body yet at all. The man's warhorse was far too loyal and fierce to allow anyone close enough. He and the other Akalak he had been on duty and now were trying to keep the crowd back from getting mauled by an overzealous warhorse. They had watched the Isur woman approach closer than most, but with the warhorse on their hands and a growing crowd, Vypec hadn't bothered to try to make her back up. She seemed to know what she was doing, which was more than he could say about himself. He could barely think with trying not to get his teeth kicked in. The crowd was growing and pushing inwards, with Vypec and the other Kuvay'Nas at the front trying to settle the horse. Neither seemed to have much practice in doing so though, and the horse continued to prowl around the fallen knight. Most of the occupants of the area were now thronged about the wounded knight. Many whispered and pointed, rumors most assuredly being born across Riverfall even now. Vypec was trying to side step around the horse and get the knight's attention. It was hard to do while simultaneously trying to keep the crowd from getting a hoof to the skull. He edged his way around the crowd, shouting at everyone to get back. That, of course, did nothing to calm the horse down at all. Vypec stared at the fallen knight, desperate for some sign of life. The man's face was pale and his eyes stared, vacant and open. Vypec felt his heart sink. The wound seemed to be the work of some vicious animal, Vypec guessed. He saw tends in the knight's armor and clothing, as well as deep wounds that bit at flesh and bone alike. The blood had darkened everything on the knight's side. It was amazing the man had made it to the gate at all. Vypec eyes the other Kuvay'Nas with a dark look. He shook his head at him and the big Akalak glanced toward the end of the street, they would need some help... They had a dead knight on their hands, and there might be more on the Kabrin Road. He noticed the horse seemed to be laden with saddlebags, which was odd from what he could tell. The Glynstein wasn't that far away, was it? The Akalak began making soothing noises at the horse and held his hands out wide. "Whoa there, whoa there. Come on, big fella. We're trying to help." The horse reared and stomped his shod hooves on the cobblestones beneath. It was an impressive enough display to keep Vypec from trying to grab at him. Meanwhile the knight lay motionless, his body doubtless growing cold. Vypec was wondering what to do. Who to send for, and if this warranted telling his commanders. Of course it did. This warranted a full investigation down the length of the Kabrin. Whatever could kill a fully armored knight was not to be left alone, especially this close to the city.

[Vai]

Vai re Ahnatep and Kuvi ambled along at a rather slow pace, the stallion's rider paying only half attention to their location despite his nose deep in a map, studying in mild confusion. He looked up once, brown irises scanning one building before moving back to the map, teeth lightly biting his bottom lip. His two lower hands held the reins loosely, allowing the horse some modicum of freedom in his movements, his two middle arms crossed over his bare mid-section. His two top hands held either side of the map, before a small, frustrated grunt left his lips, mid-right hand taking the map and stowing it into the saddlebags.

Vai's eyes glanced around at their surroundings, adjusting his weapon harness to a more comfortable setting. This day he was garbed in his light sandy-orange kilt and leather sandals, his weapon harness strapped to his torso, holding his longspear. He only wore parts of his leather armour: his forearms and wrists were strapped with vambraces, and leather greaves strapped to his shins. Very light protection and very light clothing on such a day, as Vai was accustomed to wearing.

The horse's ears perked up and his equine head looked up, snorting, as if alerting his rider to something. Vai looked in the direction Kuvai was, brow furrowing in slight confusion. He wondered if such was an everyday thing for the residents of Riverfall, though it mattered little. Considering the size of the crowd, it might be a good idea to go and mingle a bit, hopefully get some directions to a nice restaurant to eat.

As rider and horse trotted over to the scene, the Eypharian was able to slowly make out what was happening. A slightly crazed horse seemed to be walking about a figure lying on the ground, which was covered in blood, as if protecting him. A few Akalak were attempting to calm the horse, but to little avail. None of the other citizens seemed to be of any help in that regard, either, so Vai took it upon himself to throw an attempt. He dismounted his horse easily, stroking Kuvi's nose with his top-left hand as he slowly approached.

The sight of another Kuvi seemed to calm the stranger horse, but only slightly, as it was still acting quite hostile. Vai let go of the reins, which let his stallion know to stay still. He draw his longspear with a somewhat practiced motion, setting it onto Kuvi so the blade was slightly hidden. He walked closer to the horse and the guards, "Allow me a try," he said, though continued without permission.

He held out his hands so the horse could see he was unarmed, slowly approaching with a passive expression. He let out light, soothing sounds, loud enough so the horse could hear above the crowd yet low enough to not be uncivilized and such. He watched the horse closely, continuing his approach hesitantly, then backing away quickly as a hoof came flying towards his head. He didn't fancy dying to a horse, on second thought. He moved back to Kuvi, ruffling through his bags for an apple or carrot or something. Luckily, he liked apples as much as Kuvi did, so he had a few on hand for a snack.

He took one, holding it out in his mid-right hand as he once again approached the agitated horse, a bit faster than before but perhaps even more cautious. "You know you want an apple," he said to the horse in his accented Common, taking another few, small steps towards him. As he heard the crunch of a bitten apple, he sighed inwardly of relief, moving forward until his lower-left and right hands could grab the reins, lightly stroking the stranger on it's nose as it ate the apple out of his hand.

"What happened here," he turned and said to the purple Akalak who'd previously been trying to get the horse under control, feeling as if he deserved to know.

[Eosi]

With the changing of the Watchtowers, the broad avenues of Riverfall were highlighted in green and dappled by lavender shadow. Some flowers were still tightly in the bud but many were half in bloom, and their fallen petals scattered gently on the breeze. The aroma of new growth could be tasted on the air. These were the sights and smells of Spring and with them, hope could be tangibly felt as the mysterious powers of the Rivarians at last began to fade.

Eosi in particular, was one such hopeful. A part of her was immensely grateful for the company she'd kept at the Sanctuary so far after the alarming encounter with slavers and Yukmen she'd had in the season previous, out on the Sea of Grass. It'd been enough time for some of her injuries to heal, but not enough to put it to rest. The sheer madness of the encounter and the lives that'd been lost continued to recurr in her dreams. Too often, she'd wake from her night terrors with the lingering taste of blood and effluvia.

As the man rode past the gates, Eosi immediately got the sense that something wasn't right, though she wasn't able to determine exactly what it was. He was riding at an odd angle and further, he was altogether too prepared for a someone simply riding into town. She was suddenly grateful for the bow slung over her shoulder which she now elected to carry whenever possible, just for posterity's sake if nothing further.

It was only when the man collapsed and slid from the saddle that she realized. He had to be mortally wounded, possibly dead.

Eosi pushed gently through the crowd. She wore a light linen blouse, dark trousers, her usual weather-worn boots and an earth-colored half-cape. Her wild mane of red curls tousled in the breeze. As she came closer, she saw the Isur woman who stayed at the Sanctuary had already spurred to action and an involuntary smile crept onto her face. She did not know this woman, but the Isur people as a rule were known to be very industrious. It was a character trait she admired.

There were two more men on the scene, neither of which she recognized. Both were focused on the horse. They were likely to search the saddlebags, in the event they could soothe the man's steed long enough to get it under control. This was good, she thought. An involuntary pang of pleasure at the chaos rippled through her and quietly, she stifled a shiver. This reaction was alien, not something she typically felt before.

Putting it from her mind, she approached the gates and allowed her divine mark to activate, reaching out to the heavens. Standing in the light, all that Syna touched would be revealed to her. Eosi checked to see if within a mile from the gates, there was anything amiss. Did something follow the mounted knight? Were there any clues to be had left in his wake?

Once the determination had been made, she slung the bow from her shoulder in anticipation of whatever came next.

[Nayato]

"You're going to miss it! Wake up!"

It was Jaleh's excited cry that woke him up. He came to with the reflexes born of a nomad's lifetime of living in danger. Fully awake, fully armed, and half free of the blanket that bound him on to his cot before he even paused to take in his surroundings. He lowered the sheathed Khopesh sword in his hand as he glanced around the shared sleeping quarters within the Glynstein Master Station. His ebony eyes taking in the translucent spectral form of his ghostly female companion before laying his head back onto his pillow. Jaleh spoke to him in his native language of Tawna to rouse him out of bed.

"You told me to wake you before the sun. So get up!"

Nayato lifted a bare hand to stop her from yelling. "I'm up, Jaleh. I'm up." The squire spoke as he stood from his cot, quickly laying each piece of the plate armor he was told to train in onto the cot. It took him a moment to put the metal suit onto his body, then went out into the courtyard to watch the sunrise with Jaleh. The one advantage of being born a nomad was that Nayato never went without a feeling of ‘home’ if he was ever homesick.

As long as he could see the Syna rise, then he truly believed that it was a moment he shared with his friends and family back in the Burning Lands. It was also a sight that spiritually rooted him to where he currently resided. The sun rise made the people within the Glynstein Master Station. It not only made the knights and squires within its walls feel more like family.

With a deep exhaled breath, Nayato knew that he could now start his day.

"I'm heading to Riverfall to gather supplies before I go out hunting. Stay out of trouble... Or follow me if you wish. "

Nayato went to the stable where he stood beside the horses; instinctively he moved closer to his own mount, readying it for riding. He regarded the Eyktolian Desertbred for a moment, its nostrils flaring slightly as he ran a hand down the mares nose. He led the horse by the reins out of the Station and down onto the Kabrin Road. He placed his right foot into the stirrups and hoisting himself up onto the saddle. "Lets ride, Tsutla." Snapping the reigns softly as he leaned slightly in his seat to will the horse forward. The quiver of arrows on his back rattling slightly as he moved down the road.

***

The trip to Riverfall was a slow but successful one. The other large Akalak's opposite of Vypec at the gate of the city eyed the heraldry of the Windoak etched into the chest plate of his armor, and recognized him from his past visits to the city once he lifted the visor of his helmet. Ser Rodham's horse moved passed Nayato from where he was stopped at the city gate.

For a moment, Nayato said nothing; shocked emotions rallied to the forefront of his mind which effectively sapped his voice. He'd just seen a severally blooded knight and his heart skipped a beat once the knight fell from his horse. As soon as the knight gestured for help the fully armored squire dismounted from his horse to approach the fallen knight through the gathering crowd.

"I... I should go inform the Master Station!”

[Amunet]

Amunet wanted to see Riverfall. After her compromising situation and having been rescued she thought some fresh air would do her and Shetenae some good. It was her birthday after all and she might as well enjoy it for what it was. The redhead even left her hair loose and flowing down her back as she wore simple clothing and placed the yvas on her mare. Kavala had been kind and let her borrow some clothes or was it extra? The girl didn’t quite remember as it was a blur. The Healer was grateful to the woman as her mare was in good shape. Amunet was sure to let one of her workers know where she would be.

She didn’t want to think right now as Shetanae showed signs of wanting to get out also. She brushed the mare down as the girl smiled at the shiney dun coat that had come out of the duller and darker winter coat. The girl winced as she pulled herself up onto the the back of her mare but once up there she had the reassurance of the known. “Let’s go for a ride.” She said softly to the mare. Once out a little sitting the smooth trot, she leaned forward slightly as the mare opened up into a smooth canter. Her legs hugging the mare as she focused a few moments at the mare’s movements. They were strong and didn’t seem to be out of rhythm or hinting at lameness.

Riverfall was not far it seemed from the sanctuary as she road up into the gates. There was some kind of commotion and a white stallion was well agitated. The girl approached slowly with her mare as she saw the body on the ground. Amunet had expected to feel a pull to go to the man, but she felt nothing. Her heart sank as she wasn’t sure much could be done. The stallion was keeping everyone away from his rider. This was something she seen before. Her own mare had done it. The red head dismounted.

“Shetenae keep close.” The girl said in soft pavi as she signed to the mare. She offered no greetings to the others that had gathered as this was not a social occasion. The girl approached the stallion with her mare close by. Another calm horse can help another horse be calm. The red head was not sure the stallion was unhurt as she started speaking the soft pavi low and easy like as she slowly advanced on the horse. ‘easy, comfort, help’ she signed to the horse with graceful elegant hands. He blood red hair was in soft long wavey curls down her back ina graceful waterfall that the sun greeted the fiery streaks in her hair. Red rubies and blood garnets were greeted back to the sun in the glint it winked back to Syna that fell all the way down to her hips.

“Easy, boy.” Another step closer in an easy side step shuffle gate in her advance to the stallion as she continued to talk in a low soft voice. Her body was to the side slightly giving a non-predatory and non-threatening stance. The mark on the right side side of her face shimmered in opalescence as she would start to sing a simple Drykas lullaby. Her voice was melodious and pleasant if untrained. The people around her may not understand the words but they would feel what she was presenting. She was providing calm and a soothing presense. The girl looked at the stallion in the eyes as her mare kept to her elbow and nickered at the stallion in her own maternal way that older mares did in a herd.

Children of the wind
Lay down your sweet head
Don’t worry dear children
The winds are well met

Children of the wind
Zulrav lead the way
Don’t worry dear children
Zulrav come what may

Another step closer to the agitated horse as she continued to sing softly extending her hands to the stallion for him to smell it and see that it meant him no harm and no harm to his rider. “We need to help him, big boy. “ She said softly before she started another round of the Lullaby. She did not realize there was a six armed man extending an apple to the horse and while she was working slowly once the stallion was distracted enough it seemed he grabbed the reins. The red head gave the man a glare as that was not a good move. She gave her mare a sign to move back a little as she also backed away. This was turning out to be not so good of a birthday.

[Kaie]

Another ordinary day had begun for the foreigner in Riverfall. Syna ignited a fierce glow through the windows of a modest living space to send the shadows of the night scattering to the darkest of the domicile's corners. The bright rays cared not for the tranquil savage wrapped in bed skins, and cast themselves over her bronze features without mercy. Closed eyes blinked open with the arrival of the assault of sunlight. Disdain contorted her expression and her body rolled to hide from the coming day. Yet now that the world had awoken, the Myrian resigned to indeed awake with it. With a groan she found the motivation deep within to throw her legs over the side of her bed. Sleepy feet trudged along a cold floor as careless hands rifled through a small collection of clothes stored within the drawers of an old dresser. Once loincloth, buck skin leggings, leather vest, and shoes were adorned, the Myrian woman set about her morning routine. A meager breakfast was washed down with a hearty sip of wine. A weapon belt that cradled her sheathed gladius upon her hip was fastened tightly about her waist. A harness imprisoning a pair of kukri was adjusted upon her lower back. A brown cloak was thrown across her shoulders, and just before she was out the door, she was sure to grab her spear.

Kaie stood outside in the brisk, early spring air for several ticks. Just a short pause long enough for her eyes to close and lungs to breathe in the air of a new dawn. Then the moment was over, her cloak's hood was thrown over her head, and she was off in the direction of the city gates. She kept the head of her spear low as she navigated Riverfall's winding paths, hoping to avoid the lingering glances of any citizen that might recognize the characteristics of a race that many harbored ill will against. She passed the bakeries with their wafting smells of baked goods to die for, over the bridge that hovered above the once frozen Bluevein River, and dodged the bodies she passed like a tiger trudging carefully through grass. Kaie did not so much as glance in the direction of path that led to the home of her previous hunting partner's home. The strange day that seized most of the city in throes of passion had placed an awkward wedge between the hardy characters, and the awkwardness that came with the next morning only furthered the mild disdain she held for the narcissistic Sunberth man. It's not like I can't handle myself, the proud Myrian was quick to remind herself within the confines of her private thoughts. That same pride was just as quick to silence the quieter thoughts that conceded she wasn't so great of a hunter even with Kyle's help. The undertone of brief self doubt could not change her mind anyways. Whether or not it was like to be a fruitless hunt for the foolhardy woman, she'd exit the comfort and safety Riverfall provided to test her luck all the same.

The clip-clopping of what she knew to be a horse's hooves signaled the close proximity of her destination. It wasn't until she noticed the metallic singing that harmonized with each powerful step of the horse approaching just ahead, that the Myrian lifted her chin in an attempt to see over the heads before her. At first she could just barely make out the front of the animal, its head held high and toting gear a rider would only carry into war. Then she spied the slouched rider as she neared, catching sight of the glistening armor afforded only by a warrior of great prestige. Blood speckled shining gray plates and wove through chain links, which rattled with the body that plunged from his mount and onto the ground. The corners of her lips turned downward. Trouble in the Sea of Grass. The populace swarmed the warhorse and the cooling corpse like flies to shyke, leaving Kaie standing still despite the current of bodies brushing past her in panic. Her brow furrowed. Animal attack? The horse seems fine though, too fine for the sort of prey any animal would target. The petch happened out there?

The prospect of today's hunt vanished from her mind. Rather than find herself huddled in with the masses, poking her head up, and standing on the tips of her toes, Kaie kept her distance. She rounded toward the gates as city guards came running and divided their way through to investigate the spectacle. Voices seemed to try to soothe the protective companion of the fallen knight. Soon enough she figured some would test the animal and approach the man's final resting place in search of answers in the only evidence that laid before them. Reluctant to be seen at the place of a mystery beginning with a potential murder, Kaie was content to let her wary gaze shift through her environment and stay out of the way of the Kuvay'Nas for the time being.

[Gossamer]

The stallion was growing more and more protective as the crowd gathered and circled him. He snorted standing over the corpse of the dead knight. He swung his head back and forth, baring his bitted teeth and stamping his foot, managing each time to miss the body he protected. He whirled when people got to close to either end and threatened to kick out, unsure of what to do.

There were deep wounds visible on his chest where his barding flared out and displayed red dripping down his forelegs. He was obviously wounded – not fatally as his knight was – but enough to make his pain and angry clear.

While Ialari did not approach close, the mark of Dira flared to life on her and she felt the flash she sought fill up her mind. Gemstones, huge and glowling, lay around her in a glittering pile. They were uniform in size though varied in color, big as river boulders, all piled neatly together and covered with cobwebs, dirt, and the debris of ages resting in the dark. For indeed it was dark where they were though Ser Rodham had been writing, making notes in a journal by torchlight. There were sketches in the journal, maps, and copious amounts of notes.

Ialari felt a brush of wind, a breath of magic against her neck, and something flashed brightly scaled in the darkness. Dira’s vision took her.

It swam out of the very dirt floor he sat on wring and dove back in as if the earth was nothing more than soil. It erupted again, a flash of gold against the brown and he felt sharp claws against his leg. Jumping to his feet, the knight back peddled, slamming his journal shut and stuffing it in his saddlebags. He grabbed the bags and used them for a weapon. He swung them wide, worried, no terrified, as the thing attacked again. Claws hit his back, slicing through armor and cloak causing him to whirl and run.

A breath or two revealed there were more than one. Yellow, red, green… colors flashed bright against the dark of the soil. An intense hunger filled her mind.

Ialari missed much of the flight. It was through dark and narrow passages and through routes the knight seemed well familiar with. He burst out into the light where his horse and several other pack animals roamed panicked around camp, some already bloody, some dead. The other workers were there but they were already dead. He could tell by the blood about though there were no signs of bodies. The warhorse was in a state of panic but came to the knights call even as whatever stalked the knight attacked again. As the knight fled, urging the stallion to run, whatever chased him got distracted by a pack mule that bolted in its sight and its predator mind lunged to attack it giving the knight a chance to flee.

The stallion ran and the knight rode hard, not realizing how gravely injured he was.

Ialari snapped back to the present.

The horse was having nothing to do with the giant blue men. Vypec’s soothing words didn’t help because he wasn’t used to being handled by Akalak nor was he willing to let any of the strangers approach. The stallion kept whirling over the dead knight, snorting, fussing, and tossing his head threateningly. Vypec would soon realize that he needed to keep the crowd back for its own safety. But his mind was working. The saddlebags were indeed a huge clue and might hold answers to some of the questions everyone looking on might have. Only, they weren’t going to be able to get to them anytime soon, not until the horse calmed down.

When Vai approached, the stallions ears flickered forward but they snapped back against the horse’s skull just as quickly. The apple was crunched, but not because the horse took the apple and ate it. No self respecting warhorse would take such a bribe. The apple was bitten because the stallion snapped his teeth threateningly at Vai and missed taking off his hand by inches. And once the reins were grabbed, it was no holds barred. The stallion reared up and struck at Vai with his forelegs. The reins clutched in Vai’s hand so it made it easy for the stallion to draw the man close and then punt him lightly away with a well planned kick to the middle. The warhorse’s bridle tore off as it was designed to do if clutched in the hands of an enemy and the horse was completely free of a bridle. Vai landed well back in the crowd, his chest aching where hooves had nailed him in the sternum. The big stallion whirled on the little desert stallion and took a chunk out of his rump driving the desertbred back. Stallions had little tolerance for other stallions which was why men mostly rode geldings to war. Vai’s question about what happened here fell on a crowd that was now leaning over him wondering if he was okay.

Eosi’s move was a smart one. Standing in the sunlight her senses stretched out and her gnosis ignited at her will. Her sight re-adjusted and she could see a mile in every direction. The sightline was equivalent to 50 feet but she could clearly see that nothing was disturbed or unusual as she stretched her vision out. The bloodtrail was easy to follow. Ser Rodham had lost so much blood that his warhorse was leaving bloody tracks where the think substance mingled with the warhorse’s own blood and dripped down its forelegs. The trail lead south as far as Eosi could clearly see and the mile her Inavalti driven sight let her reach out showed her nothing was amiss. There were no gliding lethal colorful shapes in the distance intent on feeding or killing all within sight.

The city, for all Eosi could see, seemed safe for the moment.

Nayato approached the fallen knight, but the warhorse wasn’t having anything to do with him either. The big steed lunged but was running out of strength from the open wounds across his chest hidden mostly by the barding that fluttered to reveal the wounds then draped to conceal them. Something had viciously attacked the horse and it was like nothing Nayato had ever seen. He could ride to the Master Station if he wanted too, but it was obvious that help was too late for the Sargent lying dead at the horse’s feet.

Amunet’s lullaby and her mare’s calm presence did indeed help. The stallion stopped his whirling, his fighting, and seemed to perk his ears up. He dropped his head, snorting, and Amunet and anyone else in the crowd with any knowledge of horses could see that the stallion was at the end of his great strength. He snorted at the dead form of the knight and seemed to realize that he was defending a corpse. The big horse backed off, staggered, and dropped down on his front knees. Blood trickled from his nostrils as he slowly climbed back up to his feet and then he stood quietly by, gentled by the Drykas woman’s soothings, and let his eyes grow dull. He was shaking, exhausted, and no doubt coming off a huge rush of adrenaline that had perhaps saved his master’s life as well as his. He’d got his rider to safety and there was nothing else to do for him now. Last wishes were fulfilled.

It was the song that had soothed him in the end. Humans didn’t sing unless everything was okay. In his mind, he’d heard song after song long past the battle around the campfires of men when the nights were long and the surety of being home again soon was in the air. It comforted the horse enough to calm him completely.

He looked at Amunet with his grey eyes and seemed to ask for her help before he closed them, shuddered, and went down. His lips were turning green where the grey hair met pink skin, a sure sign of poison to anyone with knowledge of poisons.

Among the crowd, Kaie could see that the horse was down, most likely dead, and the Knight’s body laid accessible. The only gate guards had ran for help, possibly to the stable or to the Gilia for a healer just to make sure there was nothing they could do for the Knight. They knew Vypec was there and that left him somewhat in charge of the situation being the only Kuvay’Nas on the scene currently.

[Ialari Pythone]

Ialari barely caught sight of the wounds on the horse's chest before the Mark of Death ignited. At that point, she could see only the echoes of the past through the eyes of a dead man. It wasn't an unpleasant feeling as her eyes transitioned from those of the living to those of the dead. Ever since being marked by Dira, Ialari discovered that being around the dead and dying was almost comforting, calming and peaceful. Even in the presence of the most violent of deaths, Ialari found herself able to think clearly. It was in that moment of clear thinking that the mark usually shared the vision with her.

Always one to examine every little of her surroundings; sometimes at the expense of focusing on what she should be, Ialari took in as much as she could from the dead knight's last moments. She noticed a couple rather interesting details about the piles of gemstones that laid around her. First, they appeared untouched, covered in cobwebs and dirt; they hadn't been moved for a very long time. Second, the way they were stacked, so neatly and with obvious care. Each one was shaped just like the others even though their colors varied. There was something familiar at least about the form of the piles and the fact that they were kept in such a dark place.

Following the line of sight of the knight, she then saw the journal with its sketches, maps and notes. This was something of great importance so she tried to keep her focus on what the knight was writing and what he saw in the journal as he did. Key words and images would be important in remembering what was seen.

The feeling of magic on her neck alerted her to the flash of bright scales penetrated the darkness just outside the range of torchlight. Immediately Ialari felt what she had only felt a couple of times before. It was as if the hand of Dira had reached out and gave her a push. That push was usually accompanied by experiencing something greater in the vision that Dira felt was significant to the marked. As the vision progressed and became more detailed, Ialari felt the tickle of excitement trace up her own scalp. Whatever creature she was seeing the briefest of glimpses of in the darkness was something both terrifying and amazing at once. The way it swam out of the floor as if the dirt were water, it reminded her of how she pulled her fingers through stone as if it were soft clay or mud. The flashes of gold and brown, then the claws against the knight's leg; the details Ialari continued to take mental note of. She saw the knight stuff the journal in his saddlebags and then used the bags to try and defend himself. The way he swung so wildly, he was obviously afraid. Then came the attack from a different direction. There were more of the beasts; yellow, red, green flashed against the dirt and a feeling of hunger followed.

As the knight ran, Ialari tried to see what he saw but the man was terrified, hurt and in a total panic. Despite how afraid he seemed, the man navigated the passages, in the dark, as if he knew his way. What the man saw when he exited into the light revealed that the creatures, whatever they were, had been there as well. It looked like everyone was dead save for a panicked pack animals and the man's warhorse. There were signs that others had been there, the workers that had helped the man but the bodies were gone. The knight quickly called for his frightened horse, mounted and bolted. Ialari could feel the beast almost upon them but when the man turned his eyes to his pursuer, a frightened pack animal had darted across the path and caused a distraction. The man didn't get a good look at the creature before turning his head forward again and urging the horse to move faster.

When the vision faded from her mind, Ialari couldn't help but look around with a bit of panic before she realized that she was no longer being chased and that SHE hadn't been chased at all. It was the knight, the one who lay dead a few yards away. Her own sight returned to her just in time to see the horse collapse. Even from where she stood she could see the obvious signs of poison. The piles of giant gemstones, the bright scaled flashes, the poisoned horse, though she only knew what she saw through the dead knight's eyes, Ialari was trying to put the pieces together to get a basic idea of what had happened. Had the knight and his hired help uncovered an animal den? What kind of animal looked and acted like what she'd seen? More questions, always more questions.

With her own sight back and now sure she wasn't being chased by some scaled, clawed, colorfully illuminated monster, she turned her attention to the horse. Her keen eye for poisons told her that it was likely too late for the animal. While she didn't get from the vision a sense of time, the way the horse was running meant that it could have covered quite a bit of distance between the point where Ialari first experienced the vision and the present. That gave the poison time to set in and even if she could somehow produce an antitoxin, it didn't mean that it would successful.

While part of Ialari wanted to just jump at the harvesting of the poison from the horse and maybe from the dead knight, her time spent at The Sanctuary had affected her more than she would have admitted to outwardly. Looking at the dying horse, Ialari looked around at those collected nearby. They all seemed to be acting in a variety of ways though Ialari couldn't tell if any of them were actually being helpful to the situation.

She called out, loud enough to hopefully be heard through the commotion. Although her isurian accent was somewhat thick, conversations with Kavala at The Sanctuary had helped soften it a bit allowing her to be understood a somewhat better than was possible a season ago. "The horse is dying; he's been poisoned." Ialari pointed to the horse, where the poison's effects were becoming obvious. "Anyone around here a healer?" Ialari didn't have her collection kit with her for harvesting poisons but with all of the blood around, it wouldn't be hard to get some for later testing.

Dira wouldn't have blessed her with all that she saw through the knight's eyes if the goddess didn't mean for Ialari to try and solve the mystery of what happened. If she were to encounter, first hand, the creatures that did this, having an antitoxin would be absolutely essential.

Carefully she began moving closer to the horse, near where the reddish haired human girl had apparently been singing to it; Ialari barely heard the singing as she was coming out of the vision. The part of Ialari that had been influenced by her stay in The Sanctuary hoped that the horse could at least be comforted before it died. She also couldn't deny that with much of the crowd's attention on the knight, it would allow her to get closer to the horse to help examine it without much interference. When it came to death, Ialari's experience with it had revealed how much people are concerned with the death of a humanoid over an animal. It wasn't necessarily right or wrong but still it was interesting to her. There had been so many details related to death and dying that she had never really considered before becoming marked by Dira. The change in perspective had been, enlightening.

Assuming she had the opportunity while looking over the horse, Ialari attempted to find the journal she saw in her vision, in the horses saddlebags. It likely would have more clues as to the true nature of all that she had viewed through the man's eyes.