“The Veil, also known as The Fog or even The Shadow, this phenomenally large blanket of moisture and cloud seems to be where our sailors and boats are getting lost in. Only showed up in the last hundred years or so, dispelling doesn’t seem to remove it and protective magicks aren’t very effective at keeping the boat from getting lost. The Veil leaves the wreckages of the ships she claims but never the people, not sure where they end up but hopefully it isn’t going into something's stomach.” Admiral Belghast, Fleet Admiral of the 2nd Flotilla, 1472 .

1509.04.10 Y’vesstar, Varsh

Ivalinna woke up, she remembered running and she now smelled fire. She saw Rotkar poking at a campfire with the other kids. Oakarn wasn’t anywhere to be seen. Jet was roasting something that looked like a small rodent skinned on a stick. Ekralla just seemed to stare out into the darkness.

“You guys managed to find me.”

“Yeah Oakarn has been trying to keep you holding on. I think you're clean from infection but something attacked you and Ada was nowhere to be found. Figured you might know more about that.” Rotkar had a tone of disappointment in his voice.

“She turned into something Rotkar, something evil.” Rotkar’s head turned to face Ivalinna but remained seated where he was.

“Evil? Like Dragontooth mountain’s evil?”

“I mean I guess, it called itself an apocalypse engine.” Ivalinna shift her body to sit up, her abdomen was bandaged with her armour removed. Ivalinna knew she must have been healing for a while.

“How long was I out?”

“Two days ish since we found you. Whatever you fought left you for dead or at least didn’t pursue you when you ran.”

“We are so fucked.” Jet’s voice cut through the conversation. Ekralla didn’t say anything in response to the usually unruly but currently dour dark elven boy.

“It completely consumed Ada, it thought it could kill me but I managed to score a bad wound in it before it retreated and absorbed the horse and its parts.”

“Absorbed?” Rotkar finally got up, seemingly returning from the woods was J’varr and V’stall the had three dead rabbits each with small incisions around their necks.

“Rotkar! We found the traps!”

“Good job! I’ll set up a spit in a moment, me and Ivalinna are gonna have a chat so be good and try your best to skin the rabbits. Ekralla! Make sure the twins don’t cut themselves.” The orcish teen simply nodded, her silence persisting.

“Where is the old man?”

“Out in the woods somewhere.” Rotkar kept his voice down, J’varr having a hard time cutting through the fur to the point where Ekralla just stood up and took over. The other half-elf V’stall was skinning his just fine much to the chagrin of the other twin.

“Look if that thing is still out there we have to leave.”

“Either its run off or the empire has dealt with it.”

“It seemed intelligent.”

“Oh?”

“It spoke through Ada but it wasn’t Ada, I didn’t get a good look at the wound inside too well but whatever she was infected with seemed more alive then just some infection.”

“Look Oak is our looking for her, he brought Rider too so we are on our own until he gets back. If you still think its too dangerous to stay still then I will trust you. Oak is too singularly focused to be trusted. Like most mages.” Rotkar then helped Ivalinna to her feet, pain shot through her side.

Manageable enough

Ivalinna then started to don on what remained of her armour and re-equipped her swords.

“Alright we are leaving camp as soon as it's bright, I want everyone to get some shut eye. I can at least keep watch for the next few hours.”

“You sure? You just woke up?”

“I wouldn’t be able to sleep if I tried Rots, I keep thinking about it.”

“Well take my bow anyway,” Rotkar darted over to where he was laying and rummaged through his pack, Ivalinna followed and was handed an unstrung bow. Ivalinna grimaced at having to restring it.

“Well at least it’ll keep me busy,”

“Well if you can’t restring the damned thing then you aren’t gonna get the right amount of force on the bloody thing anyways.” Ivalinna nodded, the long shaft of the yew, notches on each made for a waxed string.

Best get to it

“Have a goodnight Rotkar, You kids get some shut eye soon! I’ll be watching you from the trees.” Ivalinna quickly clambered up the tree.

“We are so fucked…”

“Shut the fuck Jet.” Ekralla rolled over to sleep

___________________________________________________________________________

Saban Souruse

Oakarn released a small barely visible amount of white powder, its trail of light created so that a glint of a path could be seen before him. Oakarn’s eyes also shone like a jungle cats as it scanned the darkness.

I see it master

Oakarn then focused his mental energy on where Rider was. He could see it, an eight limbed spider like creature made of flesh and bone. Four legs coalesced into sharpened bone legs, the upper four limbs had elongated arms and claws, each of the five talons of each claw could be seen fanned out in a sort of defensive posture. Four knowing watchful eyes fearfully stared out into the darkness beyond.

It knows we are hunting it master.

It knows it's being hunted, nothing more.

“Come out little huntress I know you have followed me!” Oakarn wasn’t close enough to properly respond so he simply trudged out into the woods as quietly as he could towards the distant monster.

It paces master

I know

“Ivalinna! Come! Show yourself! I desire your flesh to become a part of the engine!” Oakarn could hear the damned thing screeching throughout the woods. The old wizard made sure to keep a wad of manure and well as vapourized tree resin.

If I melt this bloody thing fast enough it might not have time to attempt to kill me.

Viden Cutem

Holding blue flower petals and the snap of a finger Oakarn had suddenly blended into the surroundings around him. Then he started to stalk through the woods deeper and deeper.

“I smell something…. Something familiar….” The creature chuckled lightly then stopped as it considered its thoughts.

“I smell something familiar to dear Ada….” Somehow the creature managed to roll the dead woman’s name.

“A wizard of some repute it seems… A dangerous hunter for dangerous prey…” The creature began pacing in the glade that it found itself in, though it spoke with confidence the desperation in its wantingness to see him was palpable.

“Face me coward! I know you can see me, show yourself!” The creature rippled its outer layer of skin, two tendrils with new blackened eyes began to push out of the chest of the creature.

“Ah I see you little pet….”

Master!

It dashed forward causing Oakarn to jump in place as though it were him being attacked but the wizard psychic connection failed and he could no longer feel Rider. Oakarn then felt the familiar feeling of killing a small side of himself, like a thin slice of his soul was erased just like that.

What in the world!

Now Oakarn was without his pair of eyes on the target.

Normally Rider returns when he is killed, he is supposed to return.

Oakarn warily paced forward looking for the glade. Seemingly spotting it he noticed the creature was gone with nothing but the corpse of his small black cat melting along with the shadows of the eve and the forest floor.

“Now who sees who wizard….” It spoke the words with incredible venom.

“What do you hope to accomplish, creature?” Oakarn dropped his glamour it was clear he had been spotted, hopefully we was fast enough with his surprise.

“The apocalypse, the destiny of all living beings… Oakarn?” It has used Ada’s voice to the best of it’s ability to mimic her tone.

“Save me Oak! Please please oh He-!” The creature shuddered once again.

“This one keep forgetting she’s dead…” It gave Oakarn such a horrible grin showing its face for just a moment but that was all Oakarn needed.

Tolunar Brae

Instantly the electrical serpent left Oakarn’s grasp, slicing open the creature's face and much of the nearby glade. Instantaneously white grey dust from the vapourized trees covered the surroundings in a cloud.

“Die mageling!” Oakarn had side stepped but his side was caught by the creature anyways, its leg had managed to pin the wizard forcing him to his knees. The serpent fizzled out of existence as the pain overtook the wizard.

“Any last words, my new little morsel?”

Drake Kyl Feiros

Holding the ball of manure in the other hand Oakarn throws the ball at the creature where it begins to spontaneously combust. Heat, burning flesh could be felt and then nothing for a while. Oakarn could move, and on top of that he was no longer pinned in place. He opened his eyes and he felt as though he had the worse sunburn in his life as the forest was crackling around him.

What the fuck was that thing

Oakarn scanned the burning forest, crackling wood being mistaken for the creature moving until he finally spotted it trapped underneath the tree. It drew deep breathes but it still seemed trapped.

“Oh of course, the mageling lives.”

“What are you fiend?” The creature responded with a chuckle.

“I am one of many. We are legion…”

“A legion of what?”

“The creatures the celestials threw away.”

“The what?”

“Your gods have lied to you mortal, there is no afterlife, you are but playthings for the cosmos to toss aside when she deems it most convenient.” The creature seemed to burn faster now, flesh turning to dust at an increasing rate. Like if one were to burn sheets of parchment.

“But what are you?”

“Greater than gods… Oakarn…” It taunted him, even when it was dying before his very eyes it taunted him.

“You won’t be able to save him wizard, your precious pupil is doomed to repeat the cycle. He will make a fine addition to the legion.” It continued to chuckle and cough violently.

“He is already outside of Elantra’s grasp! They will never have him!” It couldn’t seem to answer back now, too consumed by the flames wreathing the creatures body. Gently licking as the survival mechanisms in the creatures body desperately tries to claw to safety to no avail.

“Please… Oak… Kill me… please…” Ada’s eyes finally shone through. Dark pangs of guilt wracked Oakarns mind. The wizard started to spiral until

Y’Therra Feiros

A white hot laser erupted from the wizards finger burning the old man’s own flesh, it left a blacked dead mark at the very tip of the wizard’s finger lancing into the creatures face.

Y’Therra Feiros Y’Therra Feiros Y’Therra Feiros

Laser after laser shot out of the wizards finger until the desperate creature succumbing to the flames and death. Oakarn’s blackened fingertip growing until in had encompassed his entire finger.

“I am so so sorry Ada…” Oakarn fell to his knees and wept as the flames crackled around him.