416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPnbibbiBR
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKIJYd5IjV
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK54npKLYW
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7dUKDk6at
But there was something else.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS1AjL21PJ
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALTOhx9Hla
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aGxh0UbJc
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKdpjkuC4L
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIKF2NIRxA
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3gYbBatPL
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWVTUB8TVz
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOa6mML0B8
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkwYc1jv7P
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXbLFwmXji
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KGP2hAU2b
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qBQiuEL6x
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3m4e56PrL
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KD0L3XG2p
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8sauR57KA
“And what would be your business here?”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPyCQYFFDp
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmLF3laFJg
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgAXhiX2wQ
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Uu1AzTct
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscaPvm6Utg
“Tell me,” uttered the aging man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNuxhJZxFv
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViZznGV3L6
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD5gukM9nw
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyDjK4Cd4s
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”.
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20ho0t1w9E
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYzDxYv2fw
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0ShJ9HZ3l
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?”
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlGWXhOQaC
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbBjUXKRsz
He’d not eaten, he’d not slept, nor had he dressed the innumerable wounds that plagued him. Yet, still he trudged forth, through the muck and rain, for he felt no hunger, no tire, nor even pain. A day and a half down the mountainside, and another through the
greying woods and meadows, before finally arriving, in this forsaken place. With grey skies and greyer yet faces all around, it was nearly as dead as himself. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWMLFYJAwH
Despite his best efforts to hide his face, there were still those who turned to whisper to one another as he passed. As if the broken blade in his belt, and rent armour that hung from his chest were not to sufficient, he had only imagined the horrific wounds on his face, wretched slices and gouges, the flesh torn apart. Or at least, that is what he had seen upon his comrades, only to assume he bore the same. He hadn’t yet dared to look in the mirror, for fear of what horror may stare back at him. Thus, he wrapped himself in his tattered cloak as best he could, and trudged on through the mud ridden streets.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuO0AxOPaT
Letifer Mourse, that was his name once. Or at least, he’d deduced so. After days (or he hoped only days) of pouring through the quartermasters records, digging up corpses, and sketching faces, he’d come to the conclusion that he was indeed Letifer Mourse, a Knight of the keep of Haltoth. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4gFpQq6vJ
But there was something else. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkIWNy2FeV
The quartermaster’s logs had shown that there was a child, who shared his rations and quarter. A boy. He could only assume, only hope, that this was his son. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR4hM2QD7O
And thus was the reason for his arrival here. He’d found no children’s corpses in the mass grave, thus, it was clear that the child did not fall in the raid. He could only hope that he escaped the carnage, and by logic, this would have been his first destination. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmMBIk8sTn
Letifer could not deny that this was likely his homeland. Holtarthen, a burgeoning township, not far from the foot of the mountains. A likely origin for a knight of the keep, not too far into the range. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6Lx5RRY90
The question being, what action would a child take in a situation such as this? By logic, Letifer assumed from the boy’s description that he was somewhere between ten and thirteen years of age. This would make him small, seemingly innocent, and desperate. Thus, Letifer assumed that he would have stolen to survive. And as such, he made his way to the lord’s manor. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hdOPxinbd
The two shieldsmen at the door were the first to hinder him. The man on the left grabbed him by the shoulder, and shoved him back. He showed a brief moment, not but a second, of confusion, feeling no warmth from the contact, but quickly regained composure.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbPlOSMTlq
"I'd lose the hood, lest you wish to go unsuffered." He uttered, with a grimace.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOkh0WntOQ
Reluctantly, Letifer removed his hood, causing the two shieldsmen to don a face of terror.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjIXAVYtnV
"Be at ease. I am no manner of reaper, gheist, or ill omen." He uttered from his cracked lips, “I beseech someone. A prisoner.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNzObUb63h
One of the shieldsmen nudged the other, whispering, “He’s of the Fell Kin, we best not wrong him.”416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfER9aqyv5
“Wise of you.” Letifer responded, pulling his hood back over his head.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID5sCDWtK9
One of the shieldsmen sighed, turning to his comrade, and quietly muttering, “Fetch the keys.” He sighed again, “Go take a gander at the underhalls. But you’d best make it quick. And uh, you would be a kind… fellow, not to go yackin about in regards to this little favour.”416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwonlD4ibW
“Of course.” Letifer replied, in his usual soft tone. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5LPmcw3Mr
Quietly making his way through the doors, he was met with a room illuminated by the warm light of an ornate fireplace on the far side. A staircase enveloped in a faded purple carpet fringed with gold, curled along the left corner, leading to the higher floor. But that was not Letifer’s destination. No. He quietly found his way down the deep places of the manor, where the sun did not penetrate the walls. This is where he passed the wine cellar, and came upon the cells. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpYfMNAcYL
Searching through them, he found only drunkards and madmen. Not a child to be seen.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2iOL46faN
“And what would be your business here?”416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyQlgy0Mte
Letifer turned to face an ageing man leaned against the archway leading to the cells. Clad in a dark red tunic and trousers, he bore silver hair that found its way down just past his shoulders, and a face veiled in the scars of battle and the ravages of age alike. Surprisingly enough, the elder was not taken aback by the sight of his face. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE8rDE5ZSO
“I beseech a child. I have reason to believe he may have been taken here.” Letifer replied.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1a7GBvVmDY
The elder was silent for a moment. “My eyes are not what they once were. Come close, let me see your face.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH3soGwsAS
Reluctantly, Letifer strode towards the man, prepared to face a terrified recoil upon his proximity. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPhtx0aZzB2
“Tell me,” uttered the ageing man, “What dealings would Fell Kin have with children? Don’t tell me it was he who slew you.”416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFsfymZH32
“He is my son, or so I believe.” Letifer responded, setting his eyes to the floor, for but a moment. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHC1zZOKbC
“I have dealt with your kind before, phantom. Left unburied, desecrated, doomed to a living death, until vengeance is wrought. And it is to my knowledge that, assuming you fell with the mountain keep, your memories have rotten with your corpse.” The man explained, “Tell me, what would you know of your former offspring?” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1YMwoLWxx
Letifer sighed, “Forgive me, but that business is mine alone.” he stated, not wanting to recount his ordeal, “And what business would you have in such a foul place as this?” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFrrCF6xFv
“This foul place is my own,” the old man explained, as he stood from his leaning position, “It is a rather undesirable inclusion to my manor.” He proceeded to introduce himself, holding out his hand to shake, “I am the Earl Dascule, and you are?”. 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMlZ9SIVui
Letifer took his hand, answering his question, “Sir Letifer Mourse, my lord, if my deductions are correct.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzIsWtV2xO
“A fell knight?” asked the Earl, “Well, I suppose I should be without surprise.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelQ5rdLpF4
A voice called from the wine cellar, “Phantom?” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6z85cOXTLV
“Perhaps not a monster. Perhaps a man.” The Earl called back to his shieldsman, “Leave us.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXnfER2W3C
Entering the archway, the soldier took a quick bow, “Apologies, my lord.”, before quickly taking his leave.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUXtpEO3d7
The Earl sighed, “My roundsmen brought a child but a fortnight ago, saying he stole a loaf of bread. I fed him, shoed him, and sent him on his way. Last I saw, he was heading west.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmA8Y2EuCK9
“My thanks to you, my lord. You are a generous man.” Letifer replied, as he began to take his leave.416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTI3VZCxfFQ
“So I suppose you’re not to stay for supper?” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFfAV7l3CL
Letifer turned for a moment, “No, I suppose not.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrwKIq38hj
“Do be careful in your search.” The Earl called to him, “There are many who see less than I.” 416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3Yv08OVWi
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaz6JPSZkGM
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO8Pht3Q8m
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDD5SQJqmL0
416Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCcb6hFdnH
and then Add to home screen.