Greetings all!
What a week. I am so looking forward to this small break tomorrow. Gives me time to play some catch-up.
Don't forget to follow @zakludick's update to see what is happening with the other party.
Enjoy!
Letulah had considered going to her quarters, but when she had entered the corridor that housed her room, she had seen Mary waiting at her door. Not in the mood for some kind of lecture, Letty had backed away and decided to explore the rest of the castle she hadn’t managed to see yet.
She had already explored most of the lived-in areas, as well as the garrison, kitchen, stables, and outer buildings. The only place she hadn’t explored yet was the catacombs deep within the castle. She had occasionally seen the revenant go down there when he didn’t have duties. She was rather curious what he would do when he was down there.
What did revenants do during their downtime?
Curiosity burned within her, and she steadily made her way down to the bowels of the castle. She already knew the routes she could take without being noticed, thus allowing her to avoid Mary for a little longer.
While there had been a few close encounters, she was able to eventually make her way to the large doors that would normally be closed. The large doors seemed impossible to move, and with good reason. The dead were not supposed to be disturbed.
Letulah rolled her eyes at that. She wished that the statement could be true, but over the last few years, she had noticed the steady increase of not just the shamblers but also the highly intelligent dead.
Wights, wraiths, phantoms, revenants, and liches were just a few she had come across. He had detested all of them, learning how to deal with each of their kind as it was required. If her husband hadn’t been killed, she never would have agreed to work with Barakus.
With senses on high alert, she wandered around the tombs, looking at each of the engravings to see who rests beneath the stones. She wasn’t from this area, but she had had enough sense to brush up on the history, especially when she found out her childhood friend was being married off to Johnathan.
“And what do we have here?”
The voice was close to her right ear, and she spun around to see nothing. While she had hoped that it was her mind playing tricks on her, she knew well enough not to trust such simple explanations.
“I would say a little rat, but this seems more of a hunter.”
Letty’s eyes shot up and saw a whisp of movement that disappeared quickly.
“Cursed too. Mary truly is collecting a strange myriad of people to her.”
Letulah couldn’t see who was talking to her, but if it had been a danger, it would have attacked her as soon as she had set foot into the room. She dusted off the stone coffin which hosted Johnathan and sat down on top of it, waiting for the one who spoke to make an appearance.
“It’s no fun when they don’t run for the hills.”
A spectral woman appeared next to Letty. The first thing the woman took note of was the large shield that rested against the side of the coffin. Letty couldn’t help but wonder how something incorporeal was able to lean against something solid. She shook her head, realising that it wasn’t the shield that she should be paying attention to.
“I’ve seen you around the castle. It’s about time you came down here with all your snooping.”
Letulah felt her cheeks blazing, feeling the embarrassment at being called out.
“It would seem that you were waiting for my brother to vacate the area before you came.”
Letty wasn’t keen to answer any questions. She didn’t know what manner of creature this person was.
“I should introduce myself before you think I am uncultured.”
The wraith twisted her head and body to invade Letty’s field of vision, grinning maniacally. Letty gave her nothing, knowing these kinds of spirits thrived on the fear they inspired.
“Urgh, fine. You may call me Ostia.”
“Well met Ostia. I am…”
“Letulah, I know all about you!” Ostia flew into the air, leaving her shield, to make a few lazy loops in the air before coming to settle down next to the woman once more.
“You have me at a disadvantage. I know nothing about you.”
“With good reason. I assure you.”
“I was wondering when you would return.” Came a voice from the entrance of the family crypt.
Letty looked up to see Mary, who didn’t seem impressed that she was done here. Ostia disappeared, reappearing next to Mary in a bow. Letty couldn’t help but notice that the shield remained close to her.
“I knew this would literally be the last place I would find you.” Said Mary as she inclined her head to the wraith.
“You have a revenant and a wraith.” Said Letty slowly, making sure that she didn’t allow any form of emotion to bleed from her.
“Naturally. My court wouldn’t be complete without the family members of Johnathan.”
“So, Ostia is…?”
“I am the sibling to the one you lot call Mortis.”
“Ah! Right. Mary, you keep weird company.”
“Rightfully so, as wraiths can go undetected and can scout ahead as needed. Especially on that protects the gates that separate the departed and the living.”
“Undetected? I have never known a wraith to go undetected.”
“We can if we know what we’re doing.” Said Ostia, who suddenly materialised before Letty again, “So much so that the Death Cult has no idea I know a lot about them. They also seem to know a lot about you. A true thorn.”
And the ball is back in your court, Zak.
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
Vetitum Nemus
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