Of Monsters and Men

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While Tatiana looked at her wound, Kruez sat down in one of the chairs that was already there for them. "Like I said, I was bored and had nothing better to do. I saved you because you were basically helpless. If you could've handled things on you own, then I probably would've let you handle it then. Lastly I did do it because I was hoping for some kind of reward." Kruez explained. All of which was done without looking at Tatiana.

"I suppose there is, but that would require the assistance of a mage willing to speed up the healing process." Sweallow explained. Curious as to why she couldn't stay in one place for long, he decided to question Terra about. "Why is it that you can't stay in one area for long?"

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Tired and cold, Zephyr remained out like a light as his body slowly attempted to restore his natural body heat. This was the closet thing to rest that he would get and the chance was taken...despite the like threatening situation he was still in. It wasn't long before he started showing signs of waking up. First a low groan, then his moving around a bit before finally Zephyr sat up. He didn't recognize where he was outside it being an inn. "Where am I?"

 

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Veera's head was whirling. Oxenfurt, a Higher Vampire, dopplers rioting....She strapped her swords to her back with ease, following Derrick with a cursory glance at the "vampire", who mentioned an Ana. Must be the girl. Her headache seared through her brain, and Veera paused in the doorway, holding her hands to her head as her eyes squeezed shut. Voices and faces flashed through her mind's eye, each lasting no longer then a second before vanishing. The attack only lasted seconds itself, and when she opened her eyes, she glanced at Derrick. "We have to help them." She said, not entirely sure who them was.

"Derrick, I can't...." she paused, very aware of the strangers' presence in the room, and made uncomfortable like it. But Derrick trusted them, and she trusted Derrick. "I can't listen to them screaming, and do nothing."

She wouldn't beg him to come with her, but if another attack, whatever it was, happened at the wrong moment....Then I'll deal with it. She opened the door, ready to leave, when the neighboring one opened. Startled, Veera froze, staring at the man who exited, as he stared at her. Time seemed to freeze as an incredible sense of deja vu came over Veera. Had she seen this man somewhere?

She shrugged off the feeling, and her growing fear at the memories she had lost. Just what happened?..."If you want safety, come in this room." Regardless if anyone would be in it, perhaps the idea that witchers took shelter there would help. Her medallion thrummed, but she ignored it as she started for the stairs. He hadn't attacked, and his eyes showed fear as deep as hers, for entirely different reasons. She hoped he wasn't scared of her. She hadn't wronged him, after all.

Stepping out into the bloodshed, Veera drew her silver sword and stabbed a doppler with his back turned, getting the attention of his companions. She settled into her battle mindset, much more comfortable without the fear, the anxiety, the holes in her mind. Now, was the time for battle. Later, she would question Derrick, and perhaps Aaron, They would help her; they were her closest friends after all.

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Zack came out of his fear stricken mind a little as Zephyr spoke. "Hey!" He stood up, hovering over the mage excitedly. "I'm so glad you're okay!" He paused, blinking. "Wait, you don't know me. But I saw you get taken by the witch hunters, and you must have escaped because you fell into the river and I got you out and brought you here." He paused once more, before glancing at the shackles that still bound the mage's wrist. "It's kind of crazy outside right now, but I'll see if they've got something to get those off downstairs. You're gonna need your magic for what's coming." He opened the door and poked his head out, sighing in relief as the hallway revealed itself to be silent.

This didn't last long, as the witcher woman from before opened her respective door. Zack tensed up, his eyes widening. She wouldn't think he was one of the rioters, would she? They stared at each other for a long minute, her gaze confused and fearful, his gaze fearful and confused. Can't be the same reason, but it's a strange coincendence. He thought to himself as she spoke. A room full of witchers had to be safer then one with a bound mage and a doppler, and Zack poked his head back into their room.

"Hey, let's go next door. It'll be safer, and then I'll find you something for your shackles." It was to his benefit too after all, though that hadn't been the first thought in his head, if the mage was freed. After all, Zephyr would owe him. Or he wouldn't, Zack couldn't find it in himself to care. He was too shaken up by the sounds of brutality from the streets as his fellow dopplers tore the city apart. He opened the door and cautiously walked into the next room, protectively keeping an eye on Zephyr in case the mage needed help as he shut the door. After all, he was the one who pulled him from the river.

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"Go, Vyle." Teliana sucked in her breath as she put pressure on her hands, pushing her bruised body into a sitting position. She used her arms to keep the blanket wrapped around her chest, hiding the rest of her injuries from herself, as well as the vampire. Someone had bandaged her up, and she assumed it was one of the two witchers, though only one was left to thank. "If it was you who bandaged me, thank you." She whispered, her voice groggy as she bowed her head to Derrick. "I feel much better." That was a complete lie, but she would stick to it.

While what must have been a healing poultice was working wonders on the cuts on her arms and the injuries from the bolts, the scars on her soul were going to take more then that to heal, if it was even possible. She tried to smile, but her face didn't seem to work that way. "You have to go, and stop this. Help those people. It's not right." She whispered, hand throbbing as she clenched the sheets. "I'll be as safe here as anywhere else." In truth, she didn't want to move. She was too tired, too weak, and she had less of a chance of running into that...man, here. She shuddered at the thought, fighting the urge to curl into a ball and cry.

After they leave. She promised herself. "Please." That was when the door opened, and a stranger walked in. He wasn't a witcher, and Teliana grit her teeth against the fear that rose up in her at the sight of a stranger. Then her eyes widened, and she nearly dropped the blanket, though it would have only revealed the still healing wounds and nothing of her actual body. "Zephyr?!" She cried, her voice cracking and breaking with the contained emotion. "You're alive?! But they said they..."

A plot. A lie. The full effects of what they had done to her, both physically and emotionally, was suddenly too much. Teliana pressed her hands to her face for a moment, taking a deep shuddering breath. How am I supposed to believe anything anymore?

 

"No problem Vyle. Whether Ana stays here, or if you find a place that's safe, do what you need to do. It'll be good if you fight alongside us, but I won't mind if you don't." Derrick replied. He looked to Veera and nodded in agreement. "Agreed, I'll not stand idly by while there is a massacre going on outside." He stepped outside with her, Silver Sword in hand. It was strange to think that not too long ago they had fought, and now they were standing side by side as if nothing had happened. He nodded to Veera and headed downstairs. He eyes flashed from side to side to see if any of them had got inside. For now, they were spared but it wouldn't be long before they got here he was sure.
"Everyone, stay inside. It's chaos and murder out there, monsters on the streets." Derrick warned. He strode through the inn and swung open the door. He was hit by a wall of sound. Screams, shouts and the ringing of metal. He could smell blood on the air. The Witcher grimaced and ran through the alleyways on silent footsteps, cutting down stray pairs of marauders with inhuman grace. Eventually, he weaved his way on to a more important street. There were people breaking into houses, rounding up groups of people and encircling them and executing them. A group of them were even attending to the grisly business of turning a market stall into a pyre, tying people to the posts that held it up or to the crude stake that they had built up in the middle. He raced down the street, spotting someone wielding a burning brand. Like lightning, the Witcher struck. The hand holding the torch was severed and the head of the Doppler, etched in shock fell to the floor too as the body finally toppled, spurting blood. He eyed the rest of them. He launched into a pirouette, sweeping his blade wide from Dextra and flowed into a spinning cut vertically. Three fell, throats cut from the sweeping blade and the other opened from nape to waist. He was, needless to say, not done yet. There were more of them, many more and he would do unto them violence proportional to that which they were inflicting upon the innocent.

A flick of the hand and the Sign of Igni was cast, a sweeping flame caught five his foes alight and they fled, burning and terrified. A half pirouette saw him dodging a wild swing from a lumberjack's axe. A thrust to the back ended his career of murder. Derrick ducked underneath a horizontal swing and disembowelled the Doppler who made it before casting the Sign of Aard and knocking another half a dozen or so unbalanced, untrained and angry Dopplers to the ground. One approached, wielding the weapons of a town guard. Clearly this one had entered their ranks to make a living. He thrust forward with his pike. Derrick stepped to the side. Two more jabs, Derrick danced away from both. When the fourth thrust came, he moved having now evaluated his pattern of attack. The Witcher caught the short crossguard of the pike on the bottom of his blade. He grabbed the wooden shaft and pulled himself forwards with a thrust of his own. The silver drove effortlessly through the eye of the pikeman's unprotected face. One hand reached up to touch the wound before stumbling backwards and falling to the floor, dead. Covered in blood, Derrick took his sword in both hands and looked around him. He was now completely surrounded. He could see an alleyway to escape from not far, but to do it he would have to plow through the crowd. Alone, an impossible feat. He cursed his own bloodlust. He could only hope that Veera had not followed far behind, otherwise this would be his end. ​

 

His Scion had admitted his wrong and Veceslav had accepted the younger mans apology, he had helped him to try and find his sister but they didn't find Tatiana. They stuck close throughout the night and since Aaron had mentioned a battle he used the time during to night to prepare oils, potions and bombs. Not just for himself but also for the others sharing some of his alchemical concoctions with Aaron. Relict Oil, White Raffard's decoction, Thunderbolt, Tawny Owl and a set of bombs he handed to his younger collegue.

He had seen Veera about and well with the new day ahead of them he wanted to find her, if only to make sure she was still alive. Then they could get the hell out of here before this so called battle started and get this all sorted out. Prepare the Kaer in the event of their opponent being so bold that they wanted to pursue. Then however he heard it, the sounds of battle Aaron said something about the battle not being supposed to start at noon. Well never trust your opponent to stick to the rules. He followed his younger scion applying a combination of Relict and Crinfrid oil on his Viper school Silver sword and followed Aaron into the streets, what looked like a well equiped militia was going into the homes of the innocent to pillage and kill. Aaron questioned the Dopplers' Veceslav gave them no such treatment and coldly stepped towards them.

He would stick close to Aaron, they had to until they found Veera and Derrick who were somewhere out there. "Stick close, we gotta find the others" He told his younger scion, they were spread too thin right now as it was to fight. He stood next to his scion and in a set of controlled swings sent down a few dopplers screaming in agony as the silver sword bit into their flesh and the oil bit into the wounds. Veceslav moved up the street at another group of oncoming Dopplers, Veceslav took a dragon dream's bomb and threw it following up with a flick of the hand resulting in gauts of flame speeding forward igniting the flammable gas that the bomb spread. The dopplers engulfed in the resulting flash fire dropped to the ground and Veceslav walked past stabbing each as he passed. He fought on through the street, using the silver sword and rallying any humans he passed, he needed all the support he could get, saving humans who would back him up as thanks.

As Veceslav's group started to grow in numbers it also gained momentum sweeping through the streets, he had to find the others. Veceslav leading the peasants, he himself making a lot of difference for those who followed him as he skilled swordsmanship drew the dopplers to him after all he was a witcher and unbeknownst to him he had a price on his head. But as the dopplers were distracted by Veceslav his civilian compatriots blindsided the dopplers. Down the street he saw a larger group of dopplers converging on one point, Veceslav went forward leading 'his troops' forward the skirmish that ensued was deadly for both sides, dopplers and humans fell alike. Veceslav himself got a few stabs but he went on regardless especially when he saw the reason these people were converging there. Derrick had been cornered and Veceslav wasn't going to let his scion die here. Attempting to carve a path towards the witcher, doing so resulted into a stab into his side and in anger Veceslav blasted to the side with Aard, trying to get to Derrick.

Raymond had noticed that during the night people started to leave the city and when he had asked about it they said they were fleeing the war, but the war wasn't even close. It was beyond the Yaruga not even close to the Pontar. He wasn't gonna leave his home instead he slept well and equiped his Aedirnian armours and stayed inside barricading inside his home, preparing for the worst. The King wouldn't permit a war inside the city now would he? The King wouldn't allow a city like Oxenfurt to fall to rioting right? it was too important for that. Raymond hadn't seen the witchers since that one day and well he prayed to Melitelle they returned because he didn't want to be caught alone here.

The barman of the Golden Sturgeon had a quiet day when just serving drinks to a few sailors when two people came in, a young lad and a girl. He looked them over carefully the girl was injured or something and when they sat down at the bar he asked them what they wanted to drink. Then they asked the question meant to contact Sigmund. "Well there'the usual Salmon, Trout, Cod and Pike. Looking for anything specific? And can I get you two anything? You look like you got a long journey behind you." The barman said leaning on the bar.​

 

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Veera tried to follow Derrick, but was swept away by violence. She turned her focus inward, letting her fighting instincts take over as she parried and cut, turned and cleaved. Her eyes glowed in the rising sunlight as her face was splattered with the blood of yet another victim before she turned back, able to breath for a moment as she searched for her comrade. He was gone from this street, and she frowned, ignoring the smaller battles around her and turning towards the larger street, where most of the bodies seemed to rage in a sea of violence and hatred.

The world's gone mad. And the rest of us with it. She mused as she almost casually cut down a doppler who was trying to assault a woman. "Get out of the city." The witcher told her, blood dripping from her sword. "There's no haven here." It was becoming more and more evident that they were clearly outnumbered, and she was beginning to understand, even at this early stage, that they would not win.

Derrick.He was surrounded by a small mob, about to become their newest pin cushion. Veceslav was working on cutting his way through the crowd, trading blows with those around him. Her heart warmed at the sight, but also dropped. Where was Aaron? They would have to find him and Olivia later; for now those two would have to fend for themselves. Veera couldn't see a way through the crowd, at least not in time to save Derrick. She turned and shoved her sword in her teeth, despite Veceslav's voice in her head screaming at her not to. You'll lose your teeth! Your tongue! You want to be a mute, girl?

Puling herself onto the roof, she carefully spit the blade out and raced along the top. An arrow caught her in the shoulder and she stumbled, glaring at the general direction of the archer before breaking the shaft off and continuing. "Derrick! JUMP!" She yelled as she leaped into the air, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still as she fell towards the earth. Her fingers worked quickly, performing the sign of Aard, finishing just as she landed, one knee touching the ground, palm pressed against the earth. The minute her skin touched the cobblestone, the telekinetic wave rolled along the ground, knocking down most of the enemies within a foot or two, and removing them from immediate danger.

She brushed her hair from her face, wincing as her shoulder throbbed before getting to her feet. "As usual, saving your ass." She tossed to Derrick over her shoulder with a grin before diving back into battle, cutting a path towards Veceslav.

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His plan was working perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. The number of witchers in his city seemed to have increased, but it wouldn't be much a problem for longer. Despite the fact that his birds carried to him words of a witcher rallying the townspeople, he remained unconcerned. There were too many dopplers, and they were too angry. Such a rage could not be quelled with mere force. You needed numbers, and the witchers didn't have them. Although...the reports of possessed children was slightly disturbing. He didn't question his birds' sanity, although he was tempted to. Another mage, it seems. That could be the only answer, and Bryce resolved not to run into the fellow, or lady, as it were. He had his fill of magic, for the moment.

No, Bryce was on the trail of far more satisfactory prey. "Come to me, my bonnie lad. Come to me, 'neath the willows." he sang softly, strolling across the bridge of Oxenfurt. Behind him, the Church glowed, still a fiery sign of the chaos that reigned in the streets. His two bodyguards kept pace, their hands on their swords. Rael had a curved blade, similar to those used in the south, while Fiel preferred the work of a recurve bow. Still Bryce insisted that they carry both long and short range weapons; one never knew what trouble one would run into. Especially when hunting a witcher. "Soon Aaron. Your hour will be soon. But mine is just beginning."

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Tessa waited for a response from the barkeep, her legs wavering in their strength. She needed rest, and badly, but she refused to fall down here. Seth needed her to be strong, Seth needed her to be brave. Seth needed her to be patient. And so she was, though her reserves wouldn't last forever. "Please, sir." She added quietly, desperation and pain clear in her voice. "Please help us."

 

Derrick caught sight of Veceslav coming towards him. He was hacking his way through the crowd with peasants in tow. He smiled. It seemed The Crow had managed to create a counterforce to all of this. As the crowd drew closer, he knew that he was going to have trouble getting out. As one side got too close, he cast Aard but it did little to slow them down overall. That's when he heard it.
"Derrick jump!" He did, and not a moment too soon. Veera landed next to him and a wave of Aard swept across the cobbles beneath him in a violent wave that shoved people back all around. He grinned at Veera's timely arrival and hefted his sword in both hands again.
"I guess that makes us even for yesterday!" Derrick called back with equal humour. Already staggered and trying to recover, the crowd was not ready for another blast of Aard and the bloody advance of the two Witchers who would not be slain in the streets. Derrick cut left and right, covering Veera as they fought their way through the crowd. Veceslav was close now. Soon they'd link up and be able to make a more co-ordinated fight out of here, The size of this riot, the sheer chaos. Defeating it seemed near impossible. He dreaded to think it, but they might have to evacuate the city. Only in the worst case scenario. He didn't want to be forced to leave the people here that they couldn't save, but he wanted to live as well. He'd be satisfied if he knew that he did all he could at least. ​

 

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Clearly there was some sort of misunderstanding between what Kruez had said and what he meant, likely a result of Mok making a typo, but whatever. Now Tatiana was laying down on the bed, naked in what was probably a 'draw me like one of your french girls' position. Maybe this one time it wouldn't hurt to indulge her in her services this once. Least that's what his 'fuck it' mentality had considered before hearing the commotion going on outside.

Kruez looked out the and saw what from his perspective looked like an angry mob. It didn't look like they were bothering with anyone inside and were more so focused with those outside. "Well it looks like we're going to be here for a bit."

Sweallow was silent as he listened to Terra speak. It was clear that she had been through a lot, including what he did not know about, but that still didn't change the fact that she wasn't in the best condition for traveling nor self defense. "It certainly sounds like you've been through a lot and while I can't truly understand you're going through. However I can say that you're not in the best shape to go out on your own."

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Zephyr was still pretty out of it so he didn't offer much response to the man who'd rescue him from falling into the river. However when the with hunters was mentioned, the first thing that came to mind was both the man who'd locked him and what had happened to Teliana. A knot formed in his stomach as he was reminded of how someone else had basically sacrificed themselves for his own safety. He didn't quite understand what the man meant when he said that something, but he still followed him towards the next room.

Much like Teliana was surprised with Zephyr being there, he was surprised to see her as well. "Yeah I'm alive, but are you okay?"

 

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Vyle rushed to Ana's side as she woke up and grasped her hand gently. "Very well" he reluctantly conceded. He turned to the mage with a pleading expression "Please, keep her safe" with one last look at Ana he leaped out of the window and landed in the centre of a group of dopplers. In one swift movement he took out a pair of silver knives and spun around, slashing at the surrounding dopplers. He dodged a sword thrust and flicked his knives towards two closest dopplers. They landed square in their foreheads, killing them instantly. Taking out another pair of knives he threatened the crowd "Where is Bryce?" he hissed. They didn't answer "didn't you hear me? WHERE IS BRYCE?! Don't make me ask again!"

The dark parade moved down the streets slowly, an army of revenants marching for their puppetmaster, getting bigger and bigger as it went on. The more who died, the bigger Solomon's army grew, and they all marched as a silent, emotionless vanguard ahead of Solomon himself, who skipped merrily along. The revenants, who had now doubled in numbers, bolstered by the dead townspeople and dopplers, approached the area that contained the three witchers. "Yoohoo!" Solomon called, his dark vanguard clearing a path for him "Veera! You didn't tell me you'd started the fun early! Although I must say I'm having a wonderful time!" Solomon rested his hands on his staff and leaned forward with a manic smile "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"

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Archon wiped his mouth with a handkerchief "I was thinking, Annabelle, that after breakfast I could perhaps get you started on some education and training" remembering Anna's past he hastily added "Not the way that horrible woman did, I mean training in how to be a royal princess, you must keep up appearances after all" This was partly true, in fact Archon was more interested in indoctrinating her first and filling her with his own philosophies and views, if she was going to be his heir she'd better be his legacy.

 

Veceslav was on his way to help Derrick out cutting a path toward him. Aaron had said he had to get someone who had given them a place to stay for the night. A simple farmer who was sympathetic to witchers? That was rare, extremely so. He figured it would be the least they could do for the man. He heard the sound of boots stomping over rooftiles and near Derrick he saw her jump down to cover her brother witcher. He was relieved that she was still in one piece on the other hand he was angry at her for he short-sightedness causing all this. But he knew he had been wrong too, this is what she had wanted to prevent. Now was not the time for any of this and he had to focus or he was gonna lose his own life. The witcher was parrying, slashing, stabbing and blasting dopplers with signs. He received several cuts in return but nothing that worried him.

Veceslav had finally cleared his way towards his two scions, he had taken note of how Veera was cooperating with Derrick. Something had been off the way she had left the Kaer suggested she had wanted nothing to do with Derrick and would be pissed at him. This wasn't even taking the outburst that she had in the library when he had advocated caution for this course of action into account. Either Derrick had taken up arms with her and joined her crusade of genocide or something had happened. He gave both of them a small smile as they had linked up and were now fighting side by side in a swirling dance of death. Then another army started to mix into the chaos. They were revenants and then the voice cut through the chaotic sounds of battle. He had heard it before in the Kaer that blasted mage had just walked in. This was his doing? He clearly knew Veera better than he knew the others and made it seem as if she had even called for it. This situation had spun out of control way too far and while he was lenient with the whole Doppler thing seeing he himself had been wrong anyways. But this? Could she have fallen this far? He gave Veera a questioning look, not even needing to use words to get across what he had wanted to ask.

Raymond had been barricading himself into his home when someone banged on the door. Raymond had drawn his sword immediatly, then heard a familiar voice. It had been one of the Witchers from two days ago, so that really had happened? Well then, if Witchers were here to take care of this then that meant the King wasn't going to get involved? This was absolute madness! The city of Oxenfurt the cradle of knowledge in Redania just sacrificed as if it were no more than the village he had grown up in. Raymond opened the door and saw the young witcher. "Lead the way, I should have followed the example of others, but it's already too late now anyways. Lead the way. But tell me what in the name of the Gods is happening out there?" The peasant asked the witcher as he followed him wearing the Aedirnian Colours holding up the shield that had saved him countless times and the sword he had used to end many a life on the battlefield.

The young lad was asking for swordfish eh? Well the code was clear, how this lad knew didn't matter. The young girl pleaded him to help them. "Wait here for a moment, I'll check out back." He replied to the lad and gave a warm smile to the girl "It'll be alright lassy." He went out back and sent a runner to Sigmund's house to get the old mage. The barman returned "It'll be in shortly in the mean time anything I can offer you? It's on the house."

A little while later an older man with a well kept grey beard walked into the Golden Sturgeon, his brown eyes looked at Tessa and Seth for a moment as he approached them and sat down at the other side of Seth "You wished to meet me? Tell me who sent you here? And what reason did they have to send you here? Is there something I can help you two with?" The older man inquired, then ordering himself a Toussaint Red and sipped it. He didn't recognise these two at all and was rather curious who these two were and why they needed the help of someone like himself.​

 

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Veera kept her back to Derrick and Veceslav, focusing on those enemies in front of her. It was for this reason that she was the last of their group to see Solomon. Her spine stiffened as the eerie tones of his voice stretched across the battlefield, reaching her ears above the din and clamor of metal on metal and flesh. She turned, daring to leave her side open for a moment as her eyes met those of the mage. He must have been a mage, evidenced by the shambling army that came towards them, ignorant of all else in their path.

She stepped towards him, ignoring the injuries done to her person as she approached the mage, eyes wide as she searched for a single familiar feature, a way she could identify this man. "I...I don't remember you." she spoke uncertainly, a quaver in her voice. "I didn't start anything, I....I was..." She looked back at Derrick, her face full of an unfamiliar emotion; fear. "Derrick?" She asked, feeling herself beginning to tremble. She felt so lost. "Derrick, what is he talking about?" Her vision flashed to greys and whites and she dropped her sword, the silver clanging against the cobblestones as she clutched her head, crouching towards the ground in the quickest defensive position she could manage, her eyes squeezed shut as the keening in her ears reached an unmanageable pitch. Voices, faces, screaming past her with all the subtlety of a dragon. Amidst it all, a single thought managed to penetrate the pain; Did I do this?

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"Oh I don't bloody well think so." Bryce stepped into Aaron's view, swinging his sword almost lazily, though his eyes burned with an intense hatred he felt in his core. "Things could have been different, ser." He addressed Raymond with a slightly regretful tone. "I would advise you to leave now. This young man is only going to lead you to death. Witchers don't know any other way." The two dopplers at his side spread out, forming a triangle around the witcher and Raymond. "Come on, then." he taunted Aaron. "Show me what a real witcher is capable of. Either way, one of us is going to go find Veera. Who will it be, do you think?"

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Teliana lowered her hands to the sheets of the bed, resting them lightly on the covers as she stared after Vyle for a moment before returning to herself. To put pressure on her hands was painful, and she'd rather not push herself. "I'm alive." she answered simply. "And I'm glad they didn't get you." She nodded towards the dimeritium cuffs on Zephyr's wrists. "Let's work on getting those off of you." The task would give her something to focus on, other then being a dead weight and unable to help the people that were screaming below.

"We won't be able to stay here for very long." She murmured to the other mage and Zack, lowering her lashes as she stared at her hands. "They'll get in eventually. We should leave the city, us and the others trapped in here."

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Zack peered out the window before looking back at Teliana and Zephyr. How are you going to get those off? He wondered, though he kept the thought to himself. "You're right." He agreed with Teliana, though he didn't like it. How was he, the only one able to fight, supposed to get one injured and one bound mage out of Oxenfurt, and to safety? Let alone the others who took shelter here. But she was right. Eventually, the mob would surpass the barricades and break in. And then they would truly be trapped.

"Wait here." He said, gritting his teeth. "It's probably safer if you don't come with me, and honestly, you'll only slow me down." He said, bobbing his head in Teliana's direction.

"I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise. Bar the door and don't let anyone in until you hear my voice." He sighed. "Actually, don't open the door until I say the word, Peaches. Password, okay?" He blushed as Teliana raised an eyebrow at his choice of word, and shrugged. "I'll be back."

"Peaches." Teliana repeated quietly. "Stay safe, young one." She added as Zack headed out the door, before wincing as she dragged herself from the bed. Her legs trembled with weakness, and she was in desperate need of new apparel, but she managed to make it across the room. Whispering the ancient words to herself, she passed her fingers over the iron hinges in the door, which softened under the heat of her skin and began to melt. She molded them, hoping it would be enough to hold back anyone trying to get through, for now.

She stumbled, catching herself on the beside dresser as she made her way back to the bed. Taking the opportunity, she rummaged through the drawer, finding exactly what she needed. "Come here. It'll take me a couple minutes, but I can get these off." She murmured to Zephyr, fashioning the hair pin into a lock pick. "You don't stay alive as a mage for more then three dozen years without learning a few tricks."

 

"Veceslav! It's a pleasure to see you here!" Derrick shouted, returning the smile their teacher gave them. He continued to cut down the rioters where he could and repelled them with signs where he could not. However, the situation soon took a turn for the worse with the arrival of a sorcerer. The sorcerer himself wasn't unfamiliar. He was the one who arrived unexpectedly in the Kaer and giggled maniacally on the way out. What he brought with him was nothing short of horrific. Blue eyed, pale faced, clearly dead but still walking. The scent of death pervaded his senses. Worst of all, is that he greeted Veera as if she were an old friend and he had no doubt that they had met. Veera, what have you done, he thought to himself. Veera was scared too. He had never heard her like this before, which made him even more tense than he was before. "I don't know, Veera." Gripping his blade in both hands, knowing that if violence was to come it would be his horrors that came first, he glared at the sorcerer, and then it hit him. Vyle came to him, seeking a Necromancer, a sorcerer named Solomon. One with the power to make corpses walk. That meant it was...
"So you are the Necromancer called Solomon." Derrick stated with narrowed eyes. "What do you have to do with Veera? What is the meaning of this?"




Adolin spent the night in the guest room that he correctly identified. When Alanna had finished with her bath, he noticed that she looked a lot more beautiful now. Her skin was cleaned up and her hair shone more radiantly. Her clothes too she had washed. Her explanation for it was that there was no point in changing to any of her other outfits, as the reason that she wore this one was because it was the most practical out of the others that she had. He accepted this as sense. The sorceress was not taken off guard by him not wearing the guise of the Witcher Carrak of Cintra, and her only comment on the subject was a simple one.
"It's nice to see the other face. As rugged as he was, I was getting bored of the old one." He did not disguise his smile to that. It was pleasant for him to hear something more positive coming out of her. It was an indirect compliment, he knew. She made food for them both after he briefly stepped outside to catch a fish in the Oxenfurt harbour that they could eat, He found a sizeable fish of some sort and she cooked it, making for a decent meal, along with the seasoning that she always kept with her. After that, they had parted for the night. When the chaos of the morning began, it was she, not he, who noticed first.

The shouts awoke her for her sleep was light. She wasn't used to getting much when travelling with Adolin so even in a normal bed, she was used to waking up and getting going early and quickly. She changed from her nightdress into her usual outfit and walked downstairs with a yawn to see what it was going on outside at their front door. When she opened it, she was not prepared for the sight. There was murder in the streets. Men and women and children, all being massacred in cold blood with no quarter given. Some of the more observant amongst them noticed her door opening and rushed for her, weapons in hand.
"Adolin get up!" She barked, backing up. She threw her hands forward and magic surged through her body. Those that came towards her were thrown back. One ended his life with his skull broken upon the cobbles. She maintained the pushing force so that none could come through and soon enough, her captor appeared with sword in hand at the door. One look at his face said it all. He could scarcely believe it.
"What the hell is Bryce thinking?" He growled to her. He gestured for Alanna to put her hands down before shouting outside. "Back off you fools! We're with Bryce! You will leave this property be, am I clear? And no harm shall come to this lady! She is my captive, to do as I wish with!" He drew the Silver Sword that he had claimed from Carrak of Cintra and glared at them all.
"Now understand this - If you touch her, I shall cut you down with this blade I claimed from the Witcher Carrak of Cintra!" The murder in his eyes was all the warning that the aggressors needed. For emphasis, he shifted into the form of Carrak to show his achievement before returning to the face of Adolin. He walked down the steps and picked up the club that the one Alanna had slain carried and threw it to her as a disguise. It was time that they got the real work done. He looked around and saw Alanna lock the door behind her. They were here to kill Witchers, and he was sure that was what Bryce had intended, but that was not so. What he intended was far more. He couldn't approve of this, but nor could he stop it. There were too many, and they were too bloodthirsty. But they were all blind. His family was killed because of this mindset. This would achieve nothing. He simply worked to eradicate the killers without honour, those that did anything for pay. As proven by the fact that his parents were killed by cowards who had to hire a Witcher to do that which they could not do themselves. "Come Alanna, we must find the Witchers of this city and fight them if we can. This massacre must be worth something after all." She nodded grimly and the two of them set off through the bloody streets, silently sharing their disgust. ​

 

Ethan's pov:



He continued to walk towards the mystery town. There was no point in portaling closer to the town. He might end up somewhere he did not want to be and walking to a place when he could see it was the far better option. He continued to walk toward the town until he reached a large gate that surround part of the town. He could see a rather large sign that said wel t Novi rad. What kind of town was named Novi rad. No, the sign's paint was chipped and letters were clearly missing. He could tell that the sign was to say Welcome to Novigrad. The largest building closest to the gate should have an entrance near it. He spotted the nearest tallest building and started walking towards it until he reached it. Near the building the gate was broken leaving a larger enough hole to fit a person. He walked past the opening of the gate with ease. Now he had to find the sorcerer place and asked the question about his sword. The building should be one of the larger ones and be close to the center of town, so that was where he would start looking.


Olivia's pov:



The foot steps kept on getting closer to the building. Why did she have to chose a old creepy building? She saw the door nob twist like someone was trying to open it. 'It is locked,' a voice said. No, no, no, this was not happening. 'Check the window you idiot,' another voice said. She could hear someone moving towards one of the many open and broken windows. She had to stay out of sight. Thinking quickly she moved from the room she was in to a different one. This room was what looked like what was a bedroom at one point. She reached the room just in time as she heard someone fall though the window braking more glass and then heading to the door to unlock it. She was not sure what to do now.

 

​

"Don't remember me, eh?" Solomon giggled "Oh this will be fun then. I lead you to sanctuary, remember?" Solomon waved his hand and the revenants cut a swathe through dopplers in unison "And you and that boy, together, you massacred a whole group of them. It was beautiful" Solomon moved his hands like a conductor as his undead battled with the dopplers. He'd lost the element of surprise now so the dopplers were fighting back, but they were struggling to bring down an enemy that did not bleed. "Then yesterday, you came to me again, I offered you an army, and you accepted. You need my help" he then looked at the other witcher who was talking to him "Indeed, I am Solomon, it seems my reputation precedes me. Would you like an autograph?" Solomon chuckled "You seem like an angry man Derrick..." It was time for Solomon to have a little fun. Without a word or gesture Solomon gazed into Derrick's soul, and when he saw the man beneath he decided to... tamper. Solomon fueled the darkness within Derrick's heart, causing the man to become more aggressive and angry than normal. He was taunting the witcher, he wanted to see how far the man would go, how far he could bend him before he broke.

The dopplers didn't answer his demands, they clearly had too much faith in their glorious leader. So Vyle just murderspreed some more until I figure out what to do with him :/

 

Veceslav noticed Veera freezing on the spot he scooped up her sword and protected her up to the moment Solomon's army swept in. He hadn't seen Veera like this at all, it was completely unlike her. She had always been a fighter, atleast not giving up without trying. Then again when he had just brought her in, the unfamiliar surroundings got to her and she felt so lost, Veceslav had looked after the young girl in those days. He sheathed his own silver sword and knelt by Veera. She had been saying this hadn't been her. The Mage then basicly summarised what had happened and who alledgedly did what. He paid no heed to it and Derrick as taking care of it, Veera seemed to need him, he hugged her just like in the olden days. It felt right to him the way a father would hold their own daughter. He felt glad she was still alive. "It's okay, Veera." He said and let go of his young scion. Now didn't seem to be about a good time to bring up how he was wrong. He could have prevented it from getting out of hand if only he had come along. "I'm sorry, Veera, I shouldn't have let you go...." He said the guilt visible on his face.

After comforting Veera for a little bit he got up and looked at Solomon, the necromancer was a *******. His 'art' an insult to nature itself. The souls of the dead were not supposed to be tortured and enslaved to the whims of man. And he was joking that they wanted his autograph? This guy wasn't sane in the slightest then again it was to be expected of the practitioners of necromancy. They should get out of here, this city was lost. There were too many dopplers for just the three witchers to take on and too many civilians to defend, it wasn't feasible. Well not without that army atleast, but how could he trust this bloke not to go on a massacre just to add to his army? No they couldn't do this. "Leave, take your 'army' with you. We do not need such an affront to nature to assist us." Veceslav spoke coldly. He immediatly turned away from the mage again back to Veera still sitting in the street and knelt by her side trying to comfort her more, she was so shocked badly.

Raymond was taken really really confused as to what was going on. Out of the great blue sky falling down came Bryce with two body guards. Well not exactly falling from the sky but they appeared unexpectedly. "Witchers don't only lead to death, one saved my Da from a noonwraith. We didn't have anything to offer him for his help so he stayed the night and left. What is this battle about anywey? What did witchers do huh? They protect us from monsters. You're being unreasonable 'ere." Raymond said he stepped next to Aaron, he couldn't permit this but he was torn because of loyalties.

Sigmund took another sip of his red wine and listened to what Seth had to say so this man had met Veceslav then? His friend had sent them to him. There must be a purpose to it much more than simply wanting to help out. "I see well I could help you out, but there must be a reason he sent you to me specificly. Tell me is there anything I need to know about either of you before we go to my home." He said paying for his win and taking a few sips. "You see, my friend Veceslav only sends people to me for a rather specific reason." He didn't say what this reason was, but Veceslav had made it clear anyone sent to him had done something wrong and had to receive a punishment something the witcher himself didn't have time for.


Milosh had met up with the other agents and travelled towards Crow's Perch, there they riled up the populace and when the Lord of Crow's Perch himself showed up to calm everyone down they struck, the Witchhunters killed the Lord of Crow's Perch quickly killing him. Then they decapitated him and had the head of the Lord of Crow's perch sent towards Archon by a peasant who knew absolutely nothing about the Witchhunters. Milosh had taken control of the daily affairs of Crow's Perch being a benevolent ruler to the populace of the citadel he however was starting to make preparations for what was to come. after all Archon wasn't gonna let this happen. He hadn't given the runner a message for the king, the head would be clear enough. The remainder of the body had been hung above the gate to Crow's Perch. The Motte-and-Bailey that was Crow's Perch was a perfectly defensible position from which to start this plan.​

 

​

Veera felt warm arms around her, and the smell of leather, and in an instant she was once again a little girl, wrapped in the strange embrace of the witcher who became her father. "I shouldn't have let you go..." But where did I go?! She wanted to scream and cry and fight and curl up into a ball. She wanted to know and not know and why would she do this? Why? She lifted her head out of her hands to stare at her palms. How many people had she killed? How much blood was on her hands?

Her head ached as she looked up into the yellow eyes of her mentor. "How could I do this?" Her voice made barely any sound as she spoke. "How could I have let this happen?" She slowly got to her feet, taking her sword from Veceslav. "Veceslav, it's my fault he's here." She said, her voice broken. "It's my fault and I don't know wh- no." She turned to the mage, ignoring the dead as much as she could as she approached him.

"Ser mage." She bowed her head, letting her sword lower to the ground as well. "I am sorry, truly sorry, for whatever I said that brought you here, brought you to this. I....." she glanced back at her comrades. "I will pay the price for my actions, since they have caused more suffering then I can possibly understand. But please..." She turned back, her eyes haunted. "Please let their souls go. Please tell me what I can do to make amends."

​

Tessa didn't order anything, and instead rested her arms on the table, and her head on her arms, shutting her eyes and trying to shut out the din of the bar. She ignored the words of those around her until finally, the man called Sigmund arrived. He mentioned punishment and Tessa felt cold fear twist in her gut. No no no, they would not take Seth away. He was all she had left, all she could hold onto. She wearily pushed herself up, getting off her chair to stand. It didn't make her taller, but it helped her feel a little braver. "Any punishment that must be paid will be paid by me." She said, with what little authority she could come up with. "The acts he committed were committed for my sake." Because if he hadn't, he would never have come into her life.

"I promise you, we will do no harm while we are here. Please, I need hi- I need to hide. We need to hide. The man who hurt me..." her hands went to her injury subconsciously, "he might still find me."

​

Bryce chuckled. "Such bravado. You don't know me. How do you think I came by this?" He raised his silver sword, and then lowered it. "Paid for it? Found it? Stole it?" The last two words were said in a whisper as he smiled again. "No, silly witcher. No, I took this from the body of the witcher I killed. Can't even remember his name, come to think of it. Ah, but it doesn't matter. Not like you lot bury your kind, right?"

Ah, a shame the old man has decided to die. Bryce sighed, and motioned with his two fingers, before Bryce turned his attention back to Aaron. "So...I've heard you've got family running around the city. Shame that her companions let her get away so easily." He sighed. "And she was so pretty too." While Aaron was distracted with Bryce, Fiel nocked an arrow, drew it back, and shot. Her aim was true, and the shaft sprouted from Raymond's chest. She drew another, this one pointed at Aaron.

"So, ready to play now?" Bryce asked softly.

​

Zack worked his way through the streets. He had found an iron sword, and, tearing his shirt, had wrapped the cloth around the handle to keep it from creating blisters. As he stole from shadow to shadow, he heard the sounds of screams, of death, of the dying. Not like this. It should never have been like this. But there was nothing to be done now, and as he slipped through the entrance into Sanctuary, he knew those screams would haunt him for a long time to come.

The place he had come to know as a haven was deserted, almost completely. Right, first order of business. He headed for the herbalist's shop. Hopefully she had some health potions left. Along the way, he came across a teenage girl and her sister, clinging to each other on a doorstep. Zack paused, and knelt before them. "Are you alright?" he asked quietly, reaching a hand out. The little girl hesitantly took it, and her sister stood with her. "Our parents....they left us. Our brother too." Zack's gut tightened, but he didn't let it show on his face. "Are there any others out there? Others that didn't follow Bryce?" he asked. The girls looked at each other, and then nodded. "Alright. Well you two go find them, and bring them here. I'm going to get supplies, and then we can all leave together. Okay?"

Just how he would protect more, well...he should have perhaps let Teliana come with after all. But no, he had to get these people out first, and then he would go back for her. She and Zephyr would just have to hold tight for now.

 

"The answer to your question is simple, wait here and recuperate. As I said before, I may not be able to understand what you've been through. What I do know is that you need rest." Sweallow answered. He clearly wasn't all too concern with the risk of losing anything, but that was because he wasn't too concerned with that.

​

Zephyr was still pretty out of it in terms was what was going on and why they weren't going to be able to stay here. He didn't question it though, not like questioning at this point would help anything. He would just have to go along with that they were telling him and trust them. Which wouldn't be two hard to do, they both are reasons why he's still alive, albeit not in the same way. At Teliana request, Zephyr walked over to her so that she could work to remove the cuffs around his wrists. "So this isn't the first time you've dealt with these?" With this being the first time he's seen cuff like these, his knowledge on how this worked was pretty low.

"Kruez stiffened at Tatiana's touch, and then slowly relaxed once more. She seemed to know what she was doing, and while that seemed suspicious to him, he couldn't seem to bring himself to stop her. He turned around and faced the girl, running his hands over her shoulders gently. Being a v-*cough cough* he wasn't sure what to do next, but this felt right"

^ The above post in property of Magick