Molly St Clair

“Do we go on or do we go back?” asked Malachi to open their little meeting in the gloom. All around them the Sixty shifted about getting the raid group ready to move again. The question on everyone’s mind was whether that was going to be up or down. The twisting faces of the Council told Molly that a few were divided about it themselves. It would make for an interesting meeting, the cool-eyed woman decided. She leaned into the shadows to listen. Wondering herself which way to place her finger on the scale.

Vincent was the first to answer. Almost lazy, the swordsman voted, “Let’s head up. Everyone’s been healed up. Even Evelyn is on her feet again! A little rest, and then we should take a march up.” No one was surprised by his enthusiasm for further exploration.

“That’s an obvious vote for yes,” drawled Clarissa mockingly. “Sword for brains aside, I’m thinkin’ the same. At least, take a peek around the corner. For tomorrow. We cleared out the Dead Things anyways. Might as well use the openin’ we bought.”

Julia frowned as she asked, “Do we know there aren’t any more of those husks?”

“Well…” said Reuben while he thought about it. “Our experience with ‘em suggests that a commotion draws them in. We made a pretty big commotion there. Hell! It dredged up that pale one from wherever. I’d be willing to bet there aren’t any more for the moment.”

“That’s a dangerous bet,” pointed out Malachi with a raised eyebrow.

“Aye, but yeah,” replied the scout with a shrug. “It's a bet I’d make.” Their bearded leader only nodded thoughtfully in reply.

“Ok, so no more “common” Dead Things, but there is that creepy pale one still to consider,” broke in Julia. “We scared it off, but it’s out there somewhere.”

“Frankly,” grinned Warner. “I’m hoping it shows up again soon. Feelin’ a bit put out that it didn’t stick around. Barely got started.”

“Shut up, Warner,” responded the shieldmaiden with a disgusted eye roll. “Your bravado gets to be a little much. That thing is something to take seriously.”

“WHO do you think you are?” growled Warner. His body language became menacing as he stared down Julia. She just held the gaze calmly with a confident sneer.

“Enough,” broke in Malachi softly. “I know you like a good fight, Warner, but it took the strength of all of us to scare the pale thing away. A single one of us or just bad timing… and it would wipe the floor with us. Let’s not beg for disasters, eh?”

The big man looked ruffled, but calmed. He sent a glare at Julia and then at the bearded leader with a question.

“Julia, your disrespect does you both wrong,” said Malachi, touching her arm to take the sting out of his rebuke. “Tensions are high and we can’t forget we are allies. Only together will we Rise.” A few in the Council and around them echoed with “For the Sky.”

There was a lull in the conversation. Molly stepped in to keep it going, it was best not to dwell on the argument. “What about that concern of the pale thing? Is it enough to stall us today?” She made sure that her words were neutral, to both propel them up and back towards safety. The cool-eyed woman was still muddling over the decision.

Surprisingly, it was Damian that answered the question. The curse acolyte was fairly certain he hadn’t been paying attention and had instead been focused on his staff. Still, the obsidian acolyte spoke, “The pale one will not be an issue. I traced its Mana as far as I could. There was heavy interference, but the coward went into the walls. Deeply. It does not appear to like taking risks.”

“I don’t mean to suggest doubt upon you, but are you sure?” questioned Harken. “I can’t be sure I will catch the attack a second time. Ambushes seem to be its normal mode of operation.”

“I am very sure,” smiled Damian. “Today, at least. That Ratsin, strangely perhaps, has a strong sense of self-preservation.”

“It disturbs me how human it acted…” said Julia with a grimace and a shake of her head.

Clarissa made a vomiting sound, “Gak, yeah that was messed up. Makes it real hard to ignore the human features all the Ratsins have. What’s up with that anyway?”

“A mystery I would like to understand myself,” agreed Harken. “At the moment, I believe it is part of the trail of The Pit. A monster that will unsettle us for more than their savagery and force us to usher our courage to get past them.”

“Or, they’re like these are some fucked up rats!” countered Clarrisa. “Let’s use them for floor one and gross people out. They’re squishy so good starter monster too! That’s my theory, the gross factor!”

Harken shrugged with a grin, “We are promised Purpose. I have faith that this means the very architecture of this place is designed with that in mind.”

“We can discuss the “purpose” another time…” broke in Malachi. “As it may bear on if we should continue today. Harken, how did you know the pale thing was coming? That monster was hidden on the ceiling…?”

The priestly man looked a little abashed as he answered. A rare wave of uncertainty washed across his face. “I, I foresaw what would happen. I have had visions and there is also a spell of mine that can give me a glimpse of the immediate future. I believe my “talent” runs in this course… In this case, Foresight activated on its own and allowed me to warn you.”

“You can see the future?!” lit up Clarissa. “Oo! Oo! Tell me how awesome I am in the future!”

Harken jerked with surprise and laughed a little at the reaction. “I’m sorry, my dear. Nothing I have seen has been clear enough to answer that question. Except for Malachi's speech. That I saw beforehand. It was proof I wasn’t mad. That rest is too fragmentary for the moment.”

“That’s very useful,” noted their bearded leader, eyes flashing with intent. Then with curiosity bordering on suspicion. “I do have to ask though, why haven’t you brought this up before? There are…things… we could have avoided with knowledge of the future.”

“I’m sorry, Malachi, but it doesn’t seem to work that way,” flushed Harken. “The visions were a very recent development and Foresight has been effectively useless until today. As I said, the spell activated on its own. Before when I have done so manually, I collapse afterward. Completely drained of Mana. I haven’t spoken of it, because there hasn’t been any way to use it. Most times people also react poorly to someone claiming to know the future. The Pit has already changed some of our worldviews, but…”

“Be as it may, I would like to know more…” pushed Malachi before he was interrupted.

“Perhaps another time,” suggested Vincent. “We haven’t decided on marching up the tunnel yet and this is a conversation best saved for when we're back at the Hall. Over something good to sip in the Lounge.”

“Of course, Vincent, you’re right,” said Malachi as he shook himself free from the focus. “This is about whether to go up or down.” He gave the swordsman a sidelong look before continuing. “Though Julia, please remind me when we return to discuss expanding the census. It would be smart to stay informed on everyone’s progress with Mana.” The shieldmaiden nodded.

Ready to move on, the bearded leader turned to her half-shadowed form, “Molly, what did Vivian say about how everyone is healing up?”

The cool-eyed woman jumped a little as attention was called onto her. She hadn’t expected the spotlight nor had thought Malachi noticed her surveying the situation. After waking, Molly had decided it best to start there once she was caught up on events from Warner. The big man had been oddly sweet about the whole thing. Off topic! I don’t have time to divert to that right now! she thought before answering.

“Ahh, well, Vivian had a lot to say,” began Molly, giving herself a moment to collect and arrange her speaking points. She still hadn’t decided which way to lean. Collapsing in the tunnels had rattled her nerves, the cool-eyed woman knew. The sink of fear in her belly was annoying. She felt it was unbecoming of her. Pushing it aside, she said “There was a lot of angry rambling… most of it directed at no one in particular or The Pit itself. Her nature aside, she did, after much prodding, say that everyone is back to full health. The healer only expressed concern about the Sixty’s exhaustion. Rest is one thing, but there was serious worry about us pushing too hard.”

“So, basically, she gave us a clean bill of health, but warned us not to do anything too strenuous,” smirked Clarissa. “Gods, that’s such a nurse or doctor thing to say. Looks like we're good to march on!”

“Does that mean that you vote for going up?” asked Molly.

“Yup, screw it!” grinned the archer. “I’m all on board. Not sure about ya’ll, but I would like to know what that freakin’ rumbling is. We‘ve been hearing it since we entered the goddamn upper tunnels.”

“It is curious,” remarked Molly, a thoughtful finger tapping her lips. “There has been some incremental upswing in the volume, but it has been clearly heard since the entryway. Perhaps, whatever it is, echoes down through tunnels other than the main shaft?”

“The flow of Mana suggests that is likely,” offered Damian. “Anastasia and I have conferred on the theory. The trend seems to be the Mana flowing downwards and not always from the main shaft as you said. Some of the channels descend from within the wall.”

“So, sorry, Mana is like a heavy gas?” asked Reuben. “Like it descends with gravity due to being heavier than air?”

“No,” replied Damian. When they gesture for him to go on, the obsidian acolyte happily explained. “Ahh, yes. It doesn’t interact with our world like that. Mana does flow easier in open areas rather than solid walls though. I would suggest that it drifts downwards more to fill space more than the direction having anything to do with it. The only thing Anastasia and I have noticed having a large effect on Mana is living things. As the books say, it is attracted to life.”

Warner leaned forward and added a thought, “To pick a detail out of all that. The Mana of the tunnels comes from above and is likely related to the constant fucking noise descending from up there?”

“That is what the data tells me,” smiled Damian.

“Y’know, that would explain why the damn beasties are always moving upwards,” blurted out Reuben as the epiphany sparkled in his eyes. “We already know they’re sensitive to Mana usage! What if that’s because they’re just in general drawn to Mana. So they grow, get more sensitive senses, and move towards the thicker Mana. Our spells trip that instinct ‘cause the energy is really condensed so they go off on a feeding frenzy!”

“That makes a lot of sense,” nodded Vincent. “Always sorta weird how they migrated for no reason.”

“Alright, let’s go up and see what’s yanking their fancy!” declared Clarissa. “What else is there to discuss? We’re awesome, let’s gooooo!”

“Someone’s bored of the meeting already?” taunted Julia.

The redhead grabbed her face dramatically and replied, “Yes! Gods this stuff is neat and all, but I ain’t got a cup of tea to half-listen to this shit over. I’m in my monster hunting clothes, so let’s pick a direction. Chop! Chop! Now! Now!”

“Does anyone else have anything else to add to the subject of going home or pushing up?” asked Malachi as he searched everyone’s face. There appeared to be nothing more to add. “Then, time to vote… Who wishes to keep going?”

“My answer was always clear,” smirked Vincent. “I vote we go up.”

Clarissa snapped her fingers and pointed upwards. “Up’s the way to go! I gots some aggression to take out. Plus a new bow to do its pacing with.”

“For once, me and the redhead are in agreement,” laughed Warner. The archer looked unsure if she should be mad at this. Maybe wanting to, but unwilling to disagree with herself. “Let’s mosey on up the road. See what we see.”

Looking from fiddling with his staff, Damian said simply, “Up.” His attention returned to the staff. Confident of the results or uncaring. Molly wasn’t sure.

“No one said we had to go that far,” reminded Reuben. “Let’s get the lay of the land. That’s my vote. Take a look, and maybe flee if it's right to.”

Phelain grinned, “I’m all for some more fun. Up, up, and away!” Everyone groaned, not that it affected the arisen warrior’s cheer.

“The answers to the mysteries are above,” remarked Harken. “Rising is the right thing to do.”

“I’m wary, but I can see where the wind is swinging,” said Julia, looking everyone in the eye. “I’m voting with you all so the Council acts with unity.” Her stare focused on Warner for a beat on the last word. “We’ll do it careful, but up we go.”

Molly frowned at the shieldmaiden’s gracious capitulation. That was close to what she was going to say. The cool-eyed woman was a little annoyed to have her little speech used before she could. Suppressing a sigh, the acolyte of curses added her own support. “I stand with the Council. Upwards, but smartly please.”

“As your leader, I see no major concerns to hold us back,” announced Malachi. “There are risks, some serious as they are nebulous. I trust in our ability to mitigate those dangers. The Sixty marches forward. This vote is not a guarantee on how high we’ll go, only that for now, we go on.”

“Does anyone have anything else that needs to be discussed or any suggestions for the march?” asked their leader as he moved the meeting towards concluding. “Alright, get to your positions. Since we made the decision, let’s get a move on.”

Everyone nodded and began to scatter. There was always plenty to do to get a large group moving. Especially in the necessary order needed to keep safe in the upper tunnels. The cool-eyed woman turned on her heel to take care of her own preparation when Malachi called out to her.

“Molly, do you have a moment?”

“Of course,” she answered, turning around to join him. The sword acolyte stood alone, but she could see that Julia was nearby. It appeared the shieldmaiden was keeping a close eye on him. After the pale thing, Molly didn’t blame her. The chemistry between the two of them was clear and something to envy. For herself, she thought the bearded leader was too pretty. Even a beard wasn’t enough to add the masculine touches she liked in a face.

“What can I do for you, Malachi?” asked Molly with genuine curiosity.

“A question. Harken’s reveal of his premonitions reminded me of what Warner said about your team’s part in the battle with the Dead Things.”

The cool-eyed woman gaped at him in surprise. She assumed word would get around, but hadn’t expected the brawler to tell the man himself.

“Ahh, you look surprised. For all our disagreements and difficulties, Warner is quite enthusiastic about his battle reports. He was quite impressed with your spell… Revoke Life, I believe.”

“Um, Yes, that was it,” replied Molly as she shook off the shock. “It was my first time using it, just came to me. I reached out for something and the Heartsong answered.”

“That does seem to happen a lot,” nodded Malachi. “I’ve experienced the same… tell me, Molly. That spell, how often do you think it can be cast? What are the limitations?”

“Hard to say,” said Molly, her hand reaching for the non-existent glasses. “I’ve only used it once and under extreme conditions. I think I would only feel safe to use it one more time right now. I need time to study the spell construct. As for limitations, it is a single target attack. It’s aimed at sudden death, but a strong enemy would likely take only damage.”

“Is rest an issue with recasting?”

“You know how it is with resting after spell casting,” frowned Molly. “You get Mana back, but it doesn’t feel full again until you get a whole night’s sleep.”

“Fair enough, it’s good to know we have at least one more in the chamber if we run into something big,” explained Malachi. “Should the pale one return, please cast that spell so we can turn tail. I’d rather the Sixty not tangle with it today. I have advised Damian to do the same with his super spell. That monster is to be hit with extreme prejudice.”

“Understood,” agreed Molly with a nod. She was pleased there was a plan for the dangerous rat even if it wasn't likely to return any time soon.

The two of them departed from each other to do their parts to get the raid group moving. The hardest part was getting people on their feet. The upper tunnels were largely clean stone and provided a safe place to sit down for a rest. Once everyone was up though, it was quick work to get them in position. The Sixty knew their position for the formation. Melee on the outside, range inside, and healers in the middle. Acolytes roamed where they were needed.

Damian and Anastasia activated their Eye spells and Malachi called them all to march. Slowly they left behind where they battled seven Dead Things and the Pale One.