Of Beasts and Knights

Rosa: I got away in the end though.

Girl: right. 

Morkar: *looking for something on the corpse* Not that I can see.

*She pulls the darts out, and hands them over* "Try it cheri."

Vorstan: "Fast runner are you?"

Thorgar: "What are you looking for?"

the girl takes one, aims it and throws

Rosa: faster than fully armoured guards.

Morkar: *takes something and places it in a pouch* Trophy.

Thorgar: "Whatever, lead on beast."

Vorstan: "True indeed."

Zyleena: "No no cheri. Like this." *she reaches out to move her posture.*

he walks towards the lake "That cave. That where we go."

Rosa: yeah. Actually was able to feed my little brother that night. First time in nearly a week. I didn't eat though. He needed it more than me.

the girl lets her, a little hesitently

Thorgar: "Hold your breath heigen." *he walks towards the water*

*Heigen sighs, and follows.*

Vorstan: "..." *he has an expression of. Holy shit you're a good person.*

Zyleena: "Your arm should be a little bent, and stand sideways on. Yes like that cheri."

Morkar approaches the water, but just conjours up roots to carry him across

Rosa:...what?

the girl throws

Vorstan: "How long did you go without food?"

*Heigen walks into the water, a determined expression on his face.*

*Thorgar chants a few words, his palms glow a deep purple, and a pair of shadowy daemonic forms lift him, carrying him across the water*

"Much better cheri. But you need to put more weight on your front leg" *she gently pushes her so her weight is on the front leg.*

Rosa:...I don't remember exactly. A while.

*they reach the cave entrance*

Girl:...you're enjoying touching me aren't you.

Vorstan: "Hmn. You're a good person."

Zyleena: *She whispers in her ear* "Perhaps."

Thorgar: "The shrine is within?"

Rosa:...*isn't sure how to reply to that*

the girl pauses at that

Morkar nods

Vorstan: "Most in the north leave children to die in harsh times."

Zyleena: "Not expecting that answer?"

Thorgar: *Walks into the shrine.*

Rosa: oh...

the girl doesn't say anything. she throws another dart.

*not sure how to describe it. it's not very grand in terms of architecture, very natural, lots of stones and plants all centered around an altar, covered in gifts and tribute to the lady*

Vorstan: "or fend for themselves. Those who life are afforded great respect."

Zyleena: "Good shot cheri. you hit bullseye."

*Thorgar carries the priestess over to the altar, and lays her on it.*

Heigen: "This place stinks of false gods."

Morkar: bretonnian gods real. But weak. Feeble.

Rosa:...I would never abandon my brother...willingly...he's probably dead now.

Girl: *rather annoyed* I do have a fucking name. Stop calling me that.

heigen: "Weak gods are not gods."

Zyleena: *still in her honeyed tone.* "Cheri means sweet... But do tell, what is your name?"

Vorstan: "If he's as strong as you, i doubt it."

Girl: Catherine. 

Morkar: *chuckles* narrow minded. And foolish. They still could crush you with a thought. Just weak compared to our gods.

Girl: he's five years younger than me.... fuck.....fuck...I don't remember how old I am

Zyleena: "Well Catherine... You're quite good at darts... Except that one." *she gestures to one thats stuck in the plaster of the wall.*

Heigen: "So could a cannon, but it is not a god."

Vorstan: "You look... Hmn, i can never tell with you pale skinned people."

Catherine:...right.

Morkar: speak like that, and eventually Shaabhekh will prove you wrong.

Rosa: ...I...*trembling* I can't even remember his face....or his name

*Vorstan realises this.* "Rosa...?" *he puts down his helmet beside him.* "Rosa it's okay."

*She walks over, and retrieves the darts.* "18, 50. sixty eight. Not a bad score."

Heigen: "A god i have never heard of will strike me down? What cruel irony."

Rosa:... I... *puts her head in her hands*

catherine just nods.

Morkar: not a god. *gestures to the preistess* Champion of her god. Vengeful spirit of these lands.

Heigen: "A man? *he laughs loudly* There is no southern dog who can face me!"

Vorstan: *he puts a hand on her shoulder again.* "It's okay."

Zyleena walks back and hands the darts to her again "This time, aim for the middle. Like i showed you." *the background talking of the tavern has returned.*

Morkar: Said spirit. Not man. *what's thorgar bloody doing ;)*

Rosa: no.... he's dead now...I just know it.... I joined the army just so I could pay for them to eat....

Catherine throws another one

*Thorgar is watching this exchange.*

Zyleena *Gently pushes her elbow up* "More like this."

Vorstan: *he lifts his hand of her shoulder, and puts hit on her other one, almost kinda sorta hugging her a little bit*

Heigen: "Spirit? Like a ghost?"

Morkar: *nods* anyway. Let us do what we came here to do.

she tries again

Rosa doesn't seem to react

Thorgar: *hovers his hand over the girls face.* "Should we wake her now?"

"Well done catherine." *The name sounds a little weird with her accent.*

Vorstan: "You did what was best for him, however he is now... only fate is responsible."

Morkar: up to you *nods* You in charge.

Catherine:...thankyou. *she's still having trouble being in any way nice*

Rosa: I....maybe...

Vorstan: *gently squeezes her shoulder* "He owes his start in life to you. wherever it ends, you gave it to him."

Zyleena: "Now aim for the tripple twenty."

Thorgar: *A subtle glow emanates from his hand, and the priestesses eyes snap open*

Rosa:...thankyou...

*she does so*

she sits up, looking terrified, her eyes darting around the cave in confusion

*she sees thorgar standing over her, bone white hair, chain mail* "Lie back down." *His voice is coarse, and his face is weathered from the sea*

*does she hit it?*

Vorstan: "It's alright."

Priestess: You...get away from me! *she starts trying to back away*

*aye*

Rosa:... where the fuck were you when I was captured by the beasts? *sarcastic, bitter chuckle*

Thorgar: *His hand is surrounded by a purple aura, pulsing, and tendrils of magic wrap around her, holding her down.* "This can either be very easy. Or very painful."

Vorstan: "North, probably. A long way north."

Zyleena: *Surprised* "My my... You're quite the quick learner."

she struggles, a terrified look in her eye

Rosa: coulda hurried up

Catherine: I know.

Vorstan: "I don't think i could've fought off an entire herd by myself."

Thorgar: "Renounce your god."

Zyleena: "Catherine... Cheri... Thorgar has given me such an interesting one to look after."

Rosa: maybe not...

Priestess:...what?!

Catherine:... wonderful

Thorgar: "Renounce your god. Deny her existence, Curse her name." 

Vorstan: "And even then, I am a warrior of chaos, your allies would have attacked me, whether i had saved their lives or not."

Zyleena: "Are you hiding any other talents?"

Priestess: what?! Never!!

Rosa: still....thankyou. Really.

Catherine: wouldn't you like to know.

Thorgar: "Do it, or i shall subject you to tortures far worse than the beast did."

Vorstan: "It is fine. You are a better person than i." 

Zyleena: "Oh i would..." *She whispers in her ear* "And i know you want to show me..."

she spits at thorgar

Rosa:... I...no. You're not a bad person vorstan.

Catherine backs off at that, apprehensively

Thorgar: *Draws a knife from his belt.* "This blade brought down a Troll Hag, It would dishonor it to taste your blood" *He leans down and holds the blade beneath her nose, cold steel touching her skin, the razor sharp edge hanging right in front of her eyes* 

Zyleena: *Laughs quietly.* "Don't be so afraid moi fleur." 

Vorstan: *he laughs at that* "I am a chaos warrior rosa, terror of the south!"

Priestess: Do your worst!

Catherine: ....*not sure how to reply*

Rosa: and you gave a shit about a poor beaten slave girl and took her under your wing.

Vorstan: "Because i hate slavery, and hate beasts. Not because i am a caring man."

Zyleena: "Come back dear. You were getting good." 

Thorgar: "No. I will do my best." *he pushes her hair up off of her forehead, and takes the knife to her skin. A vertical line at first, the blade moves slowly*

Rosa: even about me?  *smiles*

Catherine:..right.

the priestess grits her teeth and closes her eyes

*She feels the blade make more cuts, horizontal. then two diagonal. A circle follows, then eight painfully slow triangles.... the mark of chaos, etched into her skin.* 

Vorstan: "Obviously i do now." 

Zyleena: *She walks over, retrieves the darts, and hands her them again.* "Have you practiced throwing before?"

she doesn't struggle, but she's clearly in pain

Rosa: *still smiling* Glad I've got someone at least.

Catherine: no.

Zyleena: "You can't throw knives? Axes... not even spears?" 

Vorstan: "A rarity among a warband."

Thorgar: "Your own will never have you back now. You know what mark you bear."

the priestess spits up at him again, clearly defiant

Rosa: yeah...you're special, Vorstan.

Catherine: I can use a bow.

Zyleena: "Bows... Chaos doesn't care for them."

*Thorgar's blade glints in the light.* "Heigen. I know this is boring to you. feel free to wander off and kill something... But come back in an hour so you can take her. She'll have that to look forwards to." 

*heigen wanders off out of the cave, smashing his armoured fist into a delicate stone sculpture on his way out to make a point*

"It'll feel like a lot more than an hour...."  

Vorstan: *he looks down at her, sat next to him. then looks up at the dawning sun. and smiles*

Catherine:...that's stupid.

Priestess: Fuck you, chaos filth!

rosa scoots a little closer to him

Vorstan: *he squeezes her shoulder gently* 

Thorgar: "No. Heigen will have that honour. I like my women willing, he is the opposite."

Zyleena: *Shrug* "It takes more skill and strength to hurl a spear or an axe*