Black and White [IC]

[pudding]

OOC Thread

 

----

 

It was commonly known to Apostles that Beasts tended to spawn from deep within the dark forests of the world. While they could seemingly pop up from nowhere in cities and towns to attack the inhabitants, these places were under the protection of the Lord herself, and thus, the Baron’s creatures had to claw their way inside from areas not under her watch. It was this same protection that watched over their mountain fortress and kept their home hidden from the Baron’s prying eyes, and the attacks of his abominations. Defending their cities meant two things, then. It meant reinforcing them so that the Beasts could not manage to worm their way inside and harm the inhabitants. But it also meant trying to cut Beasts off at the source by taking a proactive approach in their extermination instead of a reactive approach.

 

Sonya scowled as she stared at a large map of the land in the lobby area of the fortress. It was designed to allow Apostles to quickly see where they needed to go in the event of an emergency, but a series of pins had also been inserted into the map, noting the sightings of Beasts where they first appeared. Over the years, a pattern seemed to emerge of the Beasts cropping up closer and closer to the fortress. It made sense, of course. The Baron and his monsters were no doubt trying to topple their fortress somehow, so bringing the battlefield to them was logical. 

 

But it was frustrating all the same to not be able to see a clear and distinct pattern. More than that, there were rumors the Baron was plotting something. After all, his Beasts were not as strong nor intelligent as Apostles, and they worked together to defeat numerous monsters as they appeared. To all, it seemed like they were winning. 

 

So then why did she feel so nervous?

 

——

 

The bell around the cat’s neck jingled softly as he prowled through the dark, torch-lit halls of the castle. Getting electricity out here would not only be costly, but also suspicious. After all, no one was supposed to know this castle deep in the woods even existed. Fortunately, no one wandered into the woods anymore. Hordes upon hordes of monsters guaranteed that. 

 

Finding his way into a large room with a massive stone fireplace within, Argus slipped inside the partially-opened door and made his way inside before sitting in front of the roaring fire. He may be a monster, but he looked like a cat, and some of that nature seemed to have carried over. He liked fireplaces and cushions and, of course, knocking things off of tables whenever he could. The Baron hadn’t given him any duties for the day, so as long as no Disciples bothered him he was looking forward to a day of simply relaxing. 

 

——

 

On top of the castle, Julius swung his legs over a ledge, staring out into the dense forests. Every so often he could see a rustle in the forests or hear the groans of some Beast, and occasionally he could hear the skirmishes of Beasts fighting amongst themselves. Oh well, that wasn't his problem. 

 

Popping a bubble made of gum before he continued to chew it between his teeth, Julius sighed softly. Things were quiet, relatively speaking. Maybe he should just get a book and read something, since he wasn't positive the Baron was going to order anything today. He didn't feel proactive enough to try to start anything either. Not by himself, anyway.

[shadow_claw]

It had been two weeks since he had arrived at the fortress. He had quite literally been dumped outside; his unconscious body had been found on a morning patrol. He had foggy memories of how he arrived. He remembered a voice, harsh with panic, the stranger's tight grip on his body. There was no way to tell who had rescued him. Not one of those Disciples, for sure...but he was grateful. Matthew knew deep in his heart that he never could have escaped on his own. 

 

As he roused from slumber, panic pierced his gut. His eyes were open, but he couldn't see. It was a reality that startled him almost every morning. Or, what he believed it be morning. All he knew now was darkness. When the fear in his chest faded to a dull ache, Matt carefully sat up. He'd been in the infirmary for quite some time now as he struggled with both his memory and his injury. None of the Apostles believed what he recalled. It had been Cyrus. He was sure of it. It wasn't some beast..It couldn't have been. That had been his brother, his twin. The infirmary attendants blamed his ideas on shock. Maybe they were right. 

 

It had been quite a shock to see a holy weapon had appeared for Matthew. A blind man, a cripple, chosen to be a warrior of the Lord of the Living. The violin had appeared in his arms overnight, and the nurse that came to tend his wounds was shocked beyond belief. It was a perfect, holy white, and radiated an aura of purity. Matthew's only thoughts had been to open that case and play that instrument. He didn't even know how to play; but his fingers worked without a thought. It was like it was made for him. He had played that day until his hands cramped and exhaustion gave in. The instrument vanished with a shimmer of light, leaving a white mark on his left palm.  

 

It had taken days to figure out how to summon his "weapon". He had been too weak, too tired from his injury to summon it for any extended period of time. But once he was able to prove it was, in fact, a holy weapon, he was ridiculed. It was only the Cardinal who defended his right to stay and serve. If this was what he was chosen for, so be it. 

 

A hand against the wall, Matt walked slowly through the lobby of the fortress. It was fairly empty today, which meant it was either 1) incredibly late or 2) ungodly early in the day. He paused movement as someone near the center of the room inhaled. It had taken a little effort, but he was beginning to recognize the Apostles by the sounds they made. Their breaths, the footfalls, anything. They all had a distinct sound. Turning towards the noise, he managed a small smile. 

 

"Oh. Hello Cardinal Sonya. I didn't realize you were up." 

 

---

 

Beasts had been getting closer to her hideout. It was only a matter of time until the Baron himself contacted her directly. Hunched over the corpse of her most recent hunt, Nahia took a mouthful of Beast and chewed thoughtfully. This one, some sort of horrid hose...thing, had been fast. But it was stupid. It hadn't taken her long to corner the Beast and kill it. It's a shame all its abilities relied on speed. But it kept her stomach full without attracting suspicion. 

 

"You should have let it live. Send a message to the others." 

 

Nahia grimaced as a thought splintered off. She was no whole being. She knew that. Sometimes, one of the two souls crammed into one body spoke. Sometimes they argued. And it gave her terrible headaches trying to merge them once more. Swallowing her current mouthful, she squashed down the thought. A deep stirring rumbled in her chest. Grimacing, she placed a hand to her head. 

 

"It's far more efficient to remain in hiding." 

 

"Enough already!" She snapped aloud, ears swiveling back. Things settled down a little after that, but not by much. This existence was miserable. Perhaps she should have stayed at that fortress and let herself be killed. Maybe then she could rest in peace.

 

---

 

He'd been pacing in front of that fireplace for what seemed like hours. His brother had gone missing. Missing! And none of those blasted beasts could find him! What if he had gotten himself hurt and was just laying somewhere in the forest? Cyrus himself had already manned many search parties, all of which came up empty. A pit of worry swirled in his chest. Could Matthew see what he had done was for the greater good? Joining the Baron had been the only way. But Matthew had always been so soft-willed, so...easily scared. He had ran off in fear. 

 

Cyrus bit at his lip, a trail of frost scored into the ground where he paced. Where could Matt had gone? The forests were so dangerous...He could only pray that his dear twin was safe. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2018 by shadow_claw

[XiraCaster]

Waiting in one of the corners of the lobby, an Apostle finally began to move. "Are you alright?" Damaris hummed, coming up to rest a gentle hand on Sonya's shoulder. "You seem a bit...distant today. Been staring at that for minutes now." While it had been some time since he last went on a mission with the Cardinal, he encountered the woman enough to know that seeing her so silent could set anyone on edge. It seemed to put him in a state of unease at least. Silence either meant one or two things, one reason being a plot of strategy, the second which brought about unfavorable news. He could only hope that it wasn't the latter. 

 

Removing his hand, Damaris peered up at the broad map that seemed to captivate Sonya's attention and it was then where he too fell quiet rather quickly. His amber gaze following the erratic-like pattern of pins that littered the map as if it was some sort of game board. A couple of those pins weren't there before, some cutting it close to home. Though he raised his brows with mild concern he passed off the action dismissively with a shake of his head. They had won countless of times over the Beasts, this shouldn't change that. Sure seeing them appear so dangerously close was enough to warrant some anxiety but until there was an actual breach in the fortress Damaris would have to let his worries subside. For the time being that is.

 

He blinked a few times before returning his attention back to the Cardinal. A small smile tugged at his lips as if for reassurance. Whether it was for her or him, possibly even both it couldn't have been said. He was just trying to make an effort to lighten the mood. "If it counts for anything we've been doing well so far. I'm sure we'll be fine both here and out there." Damaris slowly stepped away as he began to pace around the lobby. Occasionally an Apostle or two would pass and he'd politely dip his head to them in greeting. Good to see the place lively as always. 

 

One that caught his attention however was their newest recruit, Matt was it? Seeing him up at this time brought a smile to Damaris as he paced his way to join the other at his side. Having a blind Apostle was a most unfortunate case but to him it was like a victory. To overcome and still serve under such a condition- he just couldn't fathom how the man does it. "Glad to see you up and with us this morning."

[pudding]

It was only thanks to the fact a voice had spoken out to her first before touching her that she hadn't summoned her weapon right off the bat. Even in this fortress of theirs, hidden under rock and stone, there was still no telling when a Beast attack could possibly happen. Even beyond that, she knew more than a few Apostles who had been injured or even lost their lives at the hands of Beasts who could shapeshift or call out in human language. Just because something seemed human, didn't mean it was. But the voice was familiar, and a quick glance confirmed it was simply the Apostle called Damaris, and no Beast was able to match features that closely. Besides, if a Beast was this deep into the fortress, they had other problems.. 

 

"It's probably nothing," Sonya replied, turning back towards the map. "Everything just seems too easy. We haven't lost an Apostle in months, even the new ones. Beast activity seems to be dying down." Which wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Many took it as a sign that they were winning. Few knew exactly how the blessings from the Lord worked, but with each Beast they destroyed that was power taken away from the Baron, right? Eventually, he was going to run out of pieces and moves, and then the Lord could finish him off for good. Only, he didn't seem to be doing anything to stop it. They were boxing him in and trapping him and for all his supposed cunning and deceit, he hadn't done anything except make a few Beasts a bit smarter than their animalistic counterparts. Which, admittedly, wasn't even that much smarter. "I'm just worried it's the calm before a storm."

 

"Good morning, Matt," Sonya replied with a soft sigh. She didn't mind talking to Apostles and getting to know them better, but this whole situation felt uneasy and she was not about to send Matt out onto the front lines to fight any time soon in his condition. A blessing was a blessing, but they hadn't lost a man in so long that she wasn't willing to risk it with him. "I'm surprised you're awake this early," She added, though she didn't turn away from the map. Something. There was something she was missing. "How has your training been going? Making any progress with your weapon?" At least with a musical instrument, they didn't have to worry about friendly fire on the field. 

 

——

 

The fire was warm. The castle was peaceful. It was early in the morning, which meant the Beasts outside weren't so active and not so loud. On all accounts, it should be nice and relaxing.

 

So then why was a Disciple pacing across the room with such intensity it looked as if he was going to wear marks into the carpet?

 

"Cyrus," He complained, crossing a paw over the other, his tail flicking slightly from side to side in agitation. Sure, he was a intelligent, but his body language still tended to mirror that of a regular cat's. "The fire is going to melt that ice trail you're making, and then the rug will get all wet." He fixed the Disciple with a bored look as he rolled over, letting the fireplace warm his backside. "And then, the rug will get moldy and we'll have to tear the whole thing up again. So why don't you calm down? Relax? Take a number out of Julius's book and go sit on a roof somewhere. But good grief, stop pacing so much. It isn't good for you or the floor." 

[TheSevenOceans]

Humming absently to himself, Candide made his way towards the roof.  Everyone seemed a bit bored or restless.  Being separated from the majority of society got boring on the occasion.  The Beasts could be entertaining, but nothing matched toying with trespassing Apostles.  Candide had been occupying himself the past week with memorizing patrols to go on safe and undisturbed walks.  Sometimes he wondered if he'd one day get mistaken for a wandering human and brought casually into the fortress.  Eh- he could dream.

 

Seeing Julius on the roof wasn't surprising, but not wanting to startle the fellow Candide hummed a bit louder.  The ocean of the treetops quivering with hidden creatures- or perhaps it was only the wind.  Candide's humming faded out as he focused on a low howl far off to the west.  Something was enjoying a kill.

 

"Not the best day for travel," Candide commented. It wasn't exactly directed to Julius, but clearly it was open to response.  The Disciple's half-lidded gaze shifted over to Julius, his head tilted slightly.  "Want to go find a better neck of the woods?"  Company was better than nothing- and who knew?  Maybe something would actually happen for once.  If rejected, Candide would just assume his normal walking path and observe more patrol patterns.  They seemed to be less frequent in small areas- still, an opening was an opening.  Perhaps those Beasts were drawing attention to certain areas and making it easier to predict the Apostle's movements.  What useful little things- when they weren't killing each other in fits of rage.

 

The ledge looked steep and to a lesser degree alluring.  Not wanting to just stand about, Candide set himself down on the ledge, though he put his back to the woods.  His gaze was more fixated on the sky than what he'd wandered in dozens of times.  The birds were flying awfully low- perhaps rain would come, or some storming.  That or the birds were young and inexperienced.  Was so hard to tell with those creatures.

[shadow_claw]

Matt kept his sightless gaze trained on both Apostles as he moved closer. The disdain (weariness? distaste?) in the Cardinal's voice had him moving much slower, however. She didn't like him, and likely hated the idea of a blind man being chosen as a soldier. He was no soldier, this much was clear by his injury alone. His less-than average physique and pacifistic ways didn't help much either. Sweeping a hand in front of him, he slowed to a stop as his fingers brushed against solid wood. The familiar crinkle of paper soon followed. Matt carefully withdrew his hand, eyebrows drawing up in apology. Though, the bandages over half his face obscured the majority of the expression. 

 

"Time of day isn't exactly...something I can perceive any more. I just...sleep when I'm tired." He admitted. He didn't sleep very well anyways. The pain either kept him awake. What little sleep he managed was rife with terrors, gouging through his recent traumas and making them alive once more. It was only the fitful, hazy veil of unconsciousness where he found small moments of peace. Chewing on his lip, his thoughts drifted once more to two weeks prior. It was both raw and hazy in his thoughts. The fear and panic of the moments were still very much alive, but the details of that day were fuzzy at best. He could never forget that look in his brother's eyes...

 

Shuddering, Matthew shook himself back into reality. "Ah! Yes, my, um...'weapon'." It was almost silly to call it that. A musical instrument was by no means a weapon. It was meant to inspire, to entertain. To brand a tool of creation under the premise of destruction and violence was...wrong. He wasn't meant for war. She knew that as well as he.

 

Inhaling, he focused on the familiar feeling in his chest. It always felt there, even if it wasn't. Wisps of white energy curled at his fingers, rapidly curling and solidifying into a solid shape. The violin rested comfortably against his shoulder, already primed to play. The weight on his shoulder was good. It was steady, consistent. Even if it tired him to will his weapon into being, just holding it was reward enough. "I'm...not very sure of my craft yet, but...I'm learning. The Lord guides me to be her muse, and that I will be." It wasn't as if he had a choice. The nigh-incessant nagging to play and practice had become a common drone in his ear. It made him wonder, was the Lord of the Living always this insistent in motivation? Or was he just a charity case? 

 

---

 

The man halted his walking as his voice was called. Digging his heels into the carpet, his sharp brown gaze met the creature who spoke. Calm down? Calm down? When his brother was gone? He hadn't left a note, hadn't notified the others...nothing. It was as if he disappeared! His sharp gaze lingered on the "cat", the one who called himself Argus. It was the only beast smart enough to understand human speech. That, and the other one that had vanished. It was no surprise to see the wolfish one had slipped out, likely to lead a raid. She was smart, but dangerous. It was damning and frightening to see that Beast. She looked so human, and yet, hauntingly monstrous. Truly, the Baron had to pride himself over that weapon of a being. Cyrus, for one, was glad to see it gone. It made him nervous. 

 

"For as many eyes you have, you aren't very perceptive." He hissed. Cyrus crossed his arms, bristling with hostility. He needed a plan, some forces, and some time. They'd find Matthew eventually, even if it was just his body. If Matthew died...the Baron could surely remake him, right? No-he couldn't think about that. Matt wasn't dead. He couldn't be. "My health is of little of your concern." Although his voice was practically dripping with malice, a hand still ghosted over his chest. He was still sore from the Baron's blessings, and the scars showed angrily on his skin. Luckily, however, it was healing nicely. "And I have little desire to meddle with the others when I have more pressing matters at hand." 

 

[pudding]

((Gonna hold off on posting Sonya to give Damaris time to respond))

 

“You’re right, it isn’t my concern,” Argus replied, letting his head rest back on the ground. “I was trying to be nice.” Clearly, that was something he couldn’t attempt with Cyrus. Cyrus was painfully new and it showed. On the other hand, someone like Julius who had been in the Baron’s service for years was much calmer. Less rash. If Cyrus couldn’t get a grip, he was going to put them all in danger.

 

Technically, he already had by bringing his silly brother along to try to force him into servitude. But the Baron didn’t want followers who weren’t loyal, and he had dealt with that issue fairly quickly. Quickly enough that Cyrus’s brother, even if he managed to find his way back to civilization, wouldn’t be any wiser of the Disciples or their goals. After all, this whole war was just like a game of cards, and the Baron didn’t want to reveal his hand too quickly. It was fortunate only Disciples were brought to the castle, otherwise Cyrus’s brother would have seen far too much and would have suffered a fate far worse. Then again, the Baron would never allow a regular human, even one about to become a Disciple, anywhere near the castle. He cared too much for the safety of his current ones to allow such a thing.

 

Similar to how Apostles never let civilians into their fortress. 

 

“But if you want to continue to pace, you ought to do it in another room. This is the only one that has a fire place and you’re being awfully noisy.” This was why he liked Julius more. Julius would read books and sit in front of the fire and pet him instead of wearing tracks into the ground and recklessly using his power. 

 

— —

 

Julius pulled the piece of gum out of his mouth and pressed it back against it’s wrapper so he could safely store it in his pocket without worrying about it getting stuck somewhere. He wasn’t about to just stick it to something or throw it into the forest, since the Baron would no doubt be irritated by that. But at this point the gum had lost all its flavor, and he had company now as well. 

 

“Anywhere specific you were thinking?” Julius asked, though he was already pretty sure. If they were going out, that meant looking for Apostles to pick off from the pack. He hadn’t been out in a long time, or at least not since Cyrus had arrived. That was mostly because the Baron hadn’t told him to do anything lately, but lack of orders didn’t mean they couldn’t go have some fun and relieve some stress. “After all, it sure would be a shame for some poor Apostles to run into a couple of big, scary monsters out in the woods.” It would be their own fault, of course, for patrolling in such a dangerous area, but the sarcastic jab clearly implied that the Beasts weren’t the worst things someone could run into out here. But yes, going out for a walk and getting into some trouble did sound agreeable. The last Apostles he had run into had been so weak and unsuspecting, it almost left a bad taste in his mouth. Not that it stopped him from killing them and tossing their bodies to the Beasts.

 

 

[XiraCaster]

"I'd like to hope so," Damaris sighed, his eyes wandering lazily around the room once more. "As much good as those facts bring we can't allow it to lower our guard. Though I'm sure you're already aware of that." Sonya had many valid points on most things, that was for certain. He couldn't have agreed more with the Cardinal and while he wasn't trying to dictate as to what was to be done, he felt the need to voice a fraction of his worries. They were a team, a unit that worked with one another to accomplish their objectives. If he didn't offer his opinion how effective could they perform then? The Baron and his forces were still a prioritized threat, even if he'd been recalling his creations. Though because of the drawbacks it was almost too easy lately, in admittance. Just how far would their luck run before it takes a turn? Damaris didn't want to dwell on it nor did he want to find out. "Your worries are as good as mine, Cardinal. If this is indeed the calm then shouldn't we be prepared for the storm?" 

 

A pang of pity rose up to settle in his chest. Watching Matt shuffle around- it was rough, no doubt about it. Damaris would have offered to assist the man but he felt as if it would injure the Apostle's dignity. Some people he knew with similar ailments would refuse help and insist on doing things on their own. While he wasn't sure if Matt was the same way, he still couldn't help but feel some sympathy for him. Maybe if given the chance he could work with the blind Apostle, teach him some things, perhaps even boost his confidence a little. He may not posses the greatest of weapons, but Damaris was sure that Matt was worthy of being an Apostle just like everyone else here. The Lord had chosen him, which should be enough. 

 

Curious eyes trailed over to the gleaming weapon that now sat nestled against the blind Apostle's shoulder. So it was true, he yielded an instrument? Damaris had never witnessed the Lord's gift to Matt until now; prior to this moment he had only heard gossiping rumors. Words passed by others were always to be taken with a grain of salt but just seeing that pristine violin, the Apostle found himself speechless. 

 

Damaris cleared his throat, inhaling softly to recover himself. "It- it suits you nicely, a stunning violin at that. I think I might be a little jealous of you now." He chuckled, a nice warmhearted jest. A hand rose to lightly pat Matt on the back, his touch light as if the Apostle was fragile as glass. According to what was told before, he had only recently recovered from his sustained injuries. Wouldn't want to tamper anything. "If you ever want to give that beauty a practice whirl with someone I'd be more than willing to assist you, that is if you want or need it." Matt couldn't see the smile Damaris wore but he could only hope that the Apostle could hear the sincerity in his voice. He was much aware of the constant berating the blind man received from others and if anything, he could really use a break for once. Besides, Damaris could easily remember his first time in the fortress and how nervous he was to approach anyone. Desperate for guidance and a friend those years ago. If he could be that friend or helping hand for Matt, then perhaps it would assist in taking some of that negativity off of his shoulders. 

[pudding]

He was right, of course, which was why Sonya was fussing over the map in the first place. There wasn't a pattern there that she hadn't observed yet already. Beasts came from the dark places of the world outside of the Lord's light to attack humans and Apostles indiscriminately. Or, at least, that had been how it had been for years until Beast attacks ultimately began focusing on areas occupied by Apostles already. That wasn't to say they never happened elsewhere, but the Baron didn't seem to be deliberately targeting areas filled with humans that didn't have as many Apostles. Cities now were rare targets, and most Beasts didn't make it past the fortifications. Instead, things seemed to be focused around their mountain, though no attacks had been launched at them specifically. Communications with branches of the church around the world revealed similar patterns from them. No direct attacks, but a focus on areas around them.

 

So what was she missing? Why couldn't she see the storm forming? If she didn't know what was coming, what exactly could she fortify against?

 

Sighing again, Sonya pinched the bridge of her nose. She'd been pondering this for weeks, long before Matt had shown up. She needed a break to gather her wits. Maybe a visit to the training grounds to let out some steam. Besides, Matt clearly needed some guidance, and she and Damaris would be more help than just one of them. Not that they could offer all that much help anyway, since both of them actually had combat weapons and not a violin.

 

Unless the Lord was planning for him to just whack some Beasts over the head with it.

 

"If you're feeling up for it, you should try to practice at the training grounds. They're more built to accommodate displays of our power than the rest of these halls. I was planning on heading down there myself so I can stop fussing over this map." She turned to look at Damaris, a sly grin forming on her face. "You should come as well. Maybe we could have a friendly spar?" She'd pull her punches, naturally, as she did with all spars, and avoid punching him full of holes with her quills, but that didn't mean he wouldn't leave with some serious bruises if he accepted. A good number of Apostles steered clear of the training grounds whenever she was in the area simply out of worry she'd drag them into a spar and beat them black and blue. 

[TheSevenOceans]

The idea rolling about in Candide’s mind had to be put carefully.  He was well aware it could end up being ultimately dull, but at least it got a bit done.  His gaze went back to Julius as he spoke.  "I’d like to preface my idea with an inquiry: would you consider human children to be potential Disciples, potential Apostles, or disposable for various means to complete an objective?"

 

By all means, Candide was sincere in this question.  His plan was simple enough to execute- plant an idea in someone’s head that they ought to bring their friends out to the woods to see what the Apostles got up to, perhaps see them "conquer an enemy of the Lord" or something.  Having the Beasts make a mess of them, but leave enough to scream so someone get lured over.  The Beasts could have the aftermath.  Quick, clean- it would be a kick to the Apostles' morale certainly.  Those down-heartened were always easy to pick off.  Though for this to go into play Julius would have to be comfortable watching children die.  Not everyone could stomach it.  Candide figured it was war- such things were fine.

 

A pile of corpses was something the Baron could work with.  More souls for the cause.  Perhaps the Apostles would hesitate seeing "childlike" Beasts.  A moment of hesitation could bring some fun.  It was a little experiment to see the mental will the Apostles could exercise.

 

Candide leaned back slightly, looking out over the woods.  "An objective such as a trap- I’m curious if Apostles are willing to walk into a lion’s den if it meant retrieving 'hostages'."  His hands waved in a small 'jazz hands' motion, though his expression was mostly stoic.  "Corpse party."

[pudding]

Children. Julius mused over the words for several quiet moments. It seemed like an odd question to even ask. He wasn't sure when, but now that he reflected on it, he felt far removed from regular humans. Removed enough that the idea of deliberately harming children didn't seem to bother him at all. It was just an inevitability of the fighting. "There will always be casualties in war," Julius replied. Maybe there was a time, many years ago, where he would have hesitated or even denied participating in such a task. But that time had long since passed, and he was firm in his loyalty to the Baron. 

 

Besides, they did deserve it a little. Even humans that weren't Apostles were dedicated to the Lord of the Living through her church. The Disciples were the black sheep among the herd, and they were forsaken as a result. So who really cared if they got revenge for the injustice against them? He certainly was rearing for a little revenge. 

 

"But you know, I think those self-righteous Apostles may just be dumb enough to walk into an obvious trap to save a bunch of kids. If we attack one of the towns closer to their mountain, it'll probably draw more of them out as well." There was a good chance with the recent decline in Beast activity that the Apostles would grow arrogant and think they could actually save some hostages. It was a pretty good idea to remind them just how hopeless their fight really was.

 

"You're so sinister when you put your mind to it," Julius said with a smile as he stood up, stretching out his cramped legs before stepping off of the roof. Instead of falling, however, his ability activated and he began to descend as if walking down an invisible flight of stairs towards the ground. Honestly, he probably could have jumped and not hurt himself thanks to the increased durability of Disciples, but who cared if he showed off a little? "How many Beasts were you thinking for this plan? We don't want to have the entire mountain after us so we probably shouldn't go in with a small army." 

[TheSevenOceans]

After a mental high-five to himself, Candide followed down the castle.  His hand and foot lightly skimming the wall as he slid rapidly toward the ground.  At the last second he kicked off from the wall so his decent was comfortable and relatively safe.  The invisible stairway was something he would have loved to traverse, but being able to lure and hypnotize could be just as useful when needed.  Candide motioned in front of him as he joined Julius.  "Let's walk and talk- I was thinking a busy time to cause a bit of confusion.  Makes it easier to separate people from the crowd without much detection.  Birds would be a good first move- can scatter humans.  Afterwards ground movement to herd those we want to where we want while the larger Beasts can enjoy some carnage."

 

Candide clapped his hands together, eyebrows raising at a new thought.  His expression remained the same otherwise.  "Ah- right after church might work.  The youth groups might play outside while the others enjoy their sermons- or whatever they do.  I haven't been in years.  Not sure if the routine is different now." Candide rolled his wrist a bit, head tilting up.  "The birds will have to be quiet, as well as the rest of the Beasts.  The humans need to make the most noise to attract attention.  If the Beasts make a lot of noise the Apostles might get an idea of how many we're actually using and develop a plan.  That would be obnoxious."

 

The Disciple's gaze fixed on to Julius.  "Which would be better- wolves or dogs for the herding?  Dogs have natural inclinations, but wolves will be more powerful overall."  He interlaced his fingers behind his back.  "And we'll need more obedience from them- can't have a complete massacre until later...  After the attack it would be wise to burn the town to ashes.  Losing an entire village will make the Apostles so on-edge and paranoid they might lose sleep.  Fatigued and frightened- hm- might make them a bit stupid in rushing attacks.  The more discord the better..."

 

Candide's gaze trailed up the path they were on.  "Thoughts on poisoning?  Small snakes could be used to paralyze unruly leaders.  Militia 'heros' could be a nuisance as well..."

 

War strategy was Candide's pass time.  Ever since he started the fight his ambitions always ran to psychologically crippling the enemy and how best to make them feel how hopeless they were.  Weak minded enemies made for easy experience or lures.  Capturing and torturing could always bring about new information and disposal was as inevitable as victory.  Snapping the children's necks one by one in front of barely living Apostles- now that would be interesting.  Would be difficult to pull off, but worth it if it worked out.  Or better! Lulling the children close and getting them to stab their favorite Apostle and each other.  And perhaps allowing the children to burn the town themselves.  Locking their families inside the house with barricades and snapping out of it just in time to see their roasted corpses.  Maybe some of the villagers would have Apostle family member.  Oh- if those Apostles got to have dreams of their families dead and begging to be saved in burning houses- what a day it would be!  So much to plan, o many ways to ruin the enemy.  Almost brought a smile to Candide's face.  Almost.

[shadow_claw]

There came that nasty feeling of dread again. The Cardinal was right, of course. A storm was surely brewing, one that they had no way of anticipating. But Matt had seen that evil with his own two eyes. Eyes that had been burned from his skull for laying witness to it. Something awful had happened to his brother, something he struggled to put into words. But that feeling remained. 

 

The older man startled slightly as a hand touched his back, alarmed. He recovered quickly, however, when he realized it was Damaris. The other Apostle was a kind and steady presence in the fortress, one he was glad to have around. Stability was scarce in his life at the moment, but the bowman always seemed ready to help. Getting around wasn't easy, and he would surely need a cane or some other device once he was fit enough to be up and about full time. For now, the support of a near stranger was reassuring. 

 

When his weapon was addressed, Matt shuffled slightly. He ran a thumb over the bow of his instrument, trying to visualize its form. He could feel its presence, in a way that didn't require eyes. But this wasn't a weapon, and he was unsure of how the Lord of the Living planned on making it useful. Perhaps...perhaps some guidance would be useful. 

 

"I...yeah. I'd appreciate it." He hadn't exactly tested out his weapon beyond practicing; for all he knew, it was just an instrument. Not that a violin was bad, but it certainly couldn't bash in the skulls of his enemies. Turning toward the sound of Sonya's voice, he tilted his head slightly. Training groups...that was an ideal place. Besides, it would be nice to have some fresh air. The violin dissolved in his grasp, receding back into the star-shape mark bleached into his palm. "Okay. The training grounds it is."

 

---

 

Cyrus sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. He was worried, of course. He had every right to be! But the cat was right; he was fussing instead of being active. Problems didn't get solved by fretting over them. "Fine, fine. I will leave you be." The twin turned and began to leave, but hesitated and glanced back at the Beast. "And...My apologies. I shouldn't be irritating others with my anxieties." Maybe a walk would clear his head. Down a hall and to the left, he pushed open a side exit and stepped outside. 

 

The morning air was crisp and wet, and dew still clung to the scrubby grass outside. Streaks of pale sunlight pierced the canopy, but failed to fully illuminate the forest below. Most of the wilderness was like this. It was dark, thickly wooded, and hard to navigate. Although it was a valuable tactical location, Cyrus couldn't help but worry for his brother. Even if his brother never entered the castle, they were close enough to the forest for its danger to be considered. Chewing on his lip once more, the Disciple began a tight path along the castle wall. 

 

It was about halfway through his walk did he hear approaching chatter. Brown eyes darted upwards, resting on a descending pair of familiar forms. Oh. There went his chance at being alone. Still, it seemed like they were making plans. He could use a distraction anyways. 

 

"Both have natural herding instincts, but wolves are less inclined to listen and more likely to pick off just one or two for eating." Slipping into the conversation effortlessly, Cyrus crossed his arms. Although he wasn't as ruthless as the others, Cyrus was efficient and could get a job done. Frowning, he cupped his chin with a hand.  Death didn't need to be argued with, and certainly couldn't be denied. "A trap is certainly a solid idea. But have you considered smoking them out instead?" He glanced up at the two Disciples, a small flame flickering in his free hand. To drive villagers into the woods with Beasts risked losing a fair number before a true ambush could begin. 

Edited January 18, 2018 by shadow_claw

[XiraCaster]

A silent cheer rose up inside his mind, a fist shooting up enthusiastically before it lowered quickly back down to his side. Oh an exciting day this would be! Receiving the opportunity to train with both the new recruit and the Cardinal- Damaris couldn't have hoped for anything better. As many missions as he's attended, a little archery practice couldn't hurt anything, not to mention sharpening up on his melee capabilities. Since his weapon came with infused blades he thought best to put them to their intended use. A fine bowman by accounts but such a craft left much vulnerability, too many loopholes. He couldn't risk the enemy pulling in too close and if they did, he'd have to rely on other means aside from his arrows. Even if that meant being a little resourceful at times. Just goes as to saying, anything could potentially be made into a weapon. 

 

Offering an arm to Matt, Damaris nodded. "No problem. Maybe once we get down to training we'll see just how useful your weapon really is. I assume you've only used it in your own presence? Wonder what would happen if utilized around others, you never know. Some weapons work in mysterious ways." Though the thought alone of the blind man battering his enemies with a violin was enough to bring a snicker to his lips. He figured if worse came to worse surely that would prove better than doing nothing at all but still, it was far too amusing to pass up. "Just have to wait and see."

 

He turned to Sonya with an expression of mild concern at first but it soon melted into understanding. Judging from her composure she seemed much too frustrated and tense, not the most pleasant of combinations to have. He knew giving her the chance to work off her ailments would bring relief, which also meant volunteering himself as a punching bag in the process. As much as he would have liked to decline it was also quite the invitation. Just how many Apostles got the fortuity of sparring with the Cardinal? Only a select few to his knowledge but then again, there was always a reason as to why...

 

"A friendly spar or a deadly one? I'm not sure if there's a difference between the two when it comes to you." Damaris tossed, returning that same cheeky grin to Sonya. Slowly he began to make his way towards the direction of the training grounds, an eased pace was set to ensure Matt could easily keep up. He'd have to look into getting the man something to walk with once he felt capable on his own. "I don't quite believe we're evenly matched on the battlefield but that doesn't mean I won't take a chance anyway. Don't turn me into a pin cushion and you'll have a deal." He tapped his cheek with a single finger, a soft chuckle rising out of him as he said, "Just try not to hit here as this is my good side. Took too many years to look this good." Was it a risk taking on the Cardinal's request? Certainly, but that didn't mean they couldn't enjoy themselves a little in the process. A spar was a spar, promising both excitement and a good handful of injuries. Something that was notably worth it in his book.

 

If it was one thing Damaris could do it was uplift those around him. And by the looks of things, he seemed to be doing a decent job. Granted it did take a group effort. Matt wasn't as reclusive as he once was and even Sonya seemed to be perking up, even if by just a smidge. He should have gotten an award for finally pulling her out of that map, had he not of agreed to their match she probably would have been plastered to the thing all day. Exhaling, Damaris only hoped that he wouldn't soon regret the decision. 

[pudding]

"Oh, don't worry," Sonya replied with a wide smile when Damaris asked about the spar. "I'd never deliberately cripple an ally." She knew how to pull her punches when it mattered and honestly, after seeing her spars and being terrified with her power, most young Apostles were even more terrified when she went onto a battlefield and didn't hold back. There was a reason that she rarely used her ability during spars, since there wasn't really a way to not make the quills her weapon produced not deadly. She didn't want to go punching holes through their fighting force, after all. But it wasn't just pure destructive force that got her to the position of Cardinal. After all, her weapon was undeniably an extremely close quarters weapon, although the ability of the quills to fire did make up some ground. Still, they weren't nearly as accurate over long distances, meaning she was forced to fight up close and personal with Beasts. Getting in that close and not getting hurt herself was a feat, and one that took a lot of practice to pull off. 

 

Which was why she was absolutely delighted she had managed to rope Damaris into a spar.

 

"Alright, here we are," Sonya said, pushing open the doors to the training grounds. Technically, there were several grounds inside the mountain that could be used, but this was right off the lobby and this the closest one. It was a large room with a towering ceiling, and the floor had been filled with a layer of fine, white sand. Training equipment lined the sides of the room but, in the center, was a large rectangle marked with thick, black lines to show the official sparing area. Any other fighting among Apostles was strictly forbidden except for inside that field. But she ignored it for now in favor of curling both of her hands into fists and punching her hands together in front of her. The second her fists collided, there was a flash of light and when it faded, a pair of bright, white, pristine brass knuckles had appeared around her fists. "So let's start with the basics," She said, looking towards Matt. "You can already summon your weapon which is a start, but now you need to work on figuring out what you can do. The best thing to do is to just see if you can play it first. Most Apostles uncover the secrets of the Lord's blessings by just using their weapons as they were intended to be used."

 

— —

 

As they began to walk away from the castle, Julius reached into his pocket and quietly pulled out a pack of cigarettes. Pulling a single cigarette out of the pack, he stuck it between his teeth before fishing out a dented and scratched-up metal lighter and flicking the cap off. It took him a few tries to get a flame from it, likely since it was nearly out of fuel at this point, but after a few tries he managed to get a small fire from the lighter and lit the end of the cigarette. He was really going to have to look into getting something to refill his lighter from, since he wasn't about to just get a new one. Sentimental crap and all that, but he was still attached to the thing all the same. He didn't bother glancing up when their party of two suddenly became a party of three, instead returning the lighter back to his pocket and letting out a small breath. "You two are forgetting these aren't animals," He replied, pulling the cigarette from his lips with two fingers. The ash would probably ruin his white gloves, but he didn't mind. "They're Beasts, and we're disciples. Even if a Beast is based on a wolf or a dog, it'll still have to roll over if we tell it to."

 

He was quiet for a few moments before ultimately shaking his head. "No smoking them out, and no fire. We shouldn't do anything that looks unusual for Beast activity or else those Apostles will get suspicious. We only want to squash a few ants, not have the entire hill after us." He closed his eyes for a second as his body passed silently and seamlessly through a tree, never once losing his stride as he walked. "We should send a group of Beasts around from the far side and have them attack the town from the far side. Any that run into the woods we'll take hostage, and any that stay in the town we let the Beasts have. We can keep our hostages alive and well until the Apostles arrive." He took a long, deliberate drag of his cigarette before exhaling a cloud of smoke.

 

"Then we make them scream."

[shadow_claw]

Although he hesitated at first to the touch, Matt relented quickly. He was lucky to walk from the infirmary to the lobby without tripping over his own feet; the guidance into an unfamiliar room was necessary at this stage of his blindness. Eventually, he would memorize even the smallest details of his walking paths. But until then, he has an ally to rely on. Accepting the hand, he carefully wrapped his fingers around Damaris's wrist. He nodded briefly, following carefully as Damaris led the way.

 

The difference between the lobby and the grounds was noticed almost immediately. Here, the air flowed much freer, and sounds seemed to bounce in every direction. Unconsciously did he shuffle a little closer to Damaris, his grip tightening on the Apostle's arm. He'd never been here before. He had no idea what was where. It was times like these where the reality of his situation struck him heavily. He was blind. He could never see again; not even the Lord of the Living could restore in such a way. Matt had long stopped trying to cry over it; tears no longer came, and wailing didn't offer the same relief. The first several days, it was all he could do not to sob every time he was conscious. At least now, he had gotten a grip on himself. 

 

Matthew turned his head at Sonya spoke, releasing Damaris in favor of readying his weapon. It shimmered into form easily enough, and he pulled it into playing position. Before he pressed his fingers into the frets or ran his bow across the strings, he paused. Earlier, he'd only been playing what came to mind at the time. Now, he was drawing a blank. So much for divine inspiration. 

 

"Um...Do you have any requests?" 

[TheSevenOceans]

There wasn't a word for how much Candide loved this conversation.  Julius was right by all accords, and recognizing that Candide nodded along with smiling eyes.  His gaze flicked over to to Cyrus with a bit of disappointment.  Would have been nice to see some burning.  Then again- they could enjoy taking advantage of dry months and wildfire later.  For now they'd play it safe.  The village had a nice three density build if Candide's memory was holding.  Keeping Beasts in the main road path would steer people to their deaths or into the hands of the Disciples- though one could argue those were one and the same.  The bit of emotion sparking on Candide's features returned to stagnant alertness.

 

"Where should we place ourselves?" Candide moved to the side so that Cyrus could walk next to Julius.  Observing their interactions proved entertaining.  Together they were an excellent force for the Baron, and Candide was keen to let them know his admiration- though it was often in monotone.  After receiving his ability, Candide found his emotion drained into his songs.  Not using it for an extended period made him more expressive, but often dulled the effect of his song.  Had to practice every so often- humming helped.

 

"I'd prefer to have someone near me in case I get too heavy in trance."  Candide shrugged, palms facing the sky.  "Though I doubt with all the commotion I'll take more than a quick slug to the back."  As far as the towns were, they always had a light buzz in the mornings that carried all the way to evening.  Always something to do, a place to check, an area to strengthen.  No one wanted to fall into the jaws of some straying carnivore, but some deaths were chalked up to expected.  Had to cause enough ruckus to make "expected" into "concerning" for an Apostle to bring a friend.  Anything heavier than concerning attracted unwanted surveillance.

 

A sudden thought halted Candide's previous plans.  His eyes narrowed as they fell on Julius.  "Do we know who's in town?  Would be a shame to get there and the Apostles are doing a show of arms."  His head tilted slightly. Julius was a creative fellow- perhaps they could work around an enemy's presence.

[XiraCaster]

Damaris harmlessly rolled his eyes, shooting a glance towards the Cardinal. One thing Damaris would gladly admit was that together, Sonya and him made for an excellent combat unit. There was no questioning that. It was probably the main reason as to why he poked fun with her so much. "Hey, accidents do happen but I know to trust you enough. Had this of been someone else I would have been more inclined to turn down their offer." If it was one thing that factored in differences in a spar it had to have been experience. Most Apostles were already well trained with their weapons so there wasn't much room for error or injury. Newer recruits however, those were the real loose cannons. He had leant a hand in training the newcomers a handful of times and the thing that struck the most amusing was that he probably earned more friendly wounds than from those of enemies. Non-fatal or dangerous ones of course, didn't mean they hadn't hurt any less though. Another thing he noted before accepting a practice score was his own capabilities and assets. Should someone of lesser practice ask for a mock battle he would either go easy or turn down the offer altogether. He couldn't risk hurting a comrade. Always had to be aware of not only his limits, but the limits of others as well. 

 

Once through the threshold of the doors Damaris glanced down at his wrist. Matt had him in a locked hold for sure and even though it came with a bit of discomfort he never once said a word about it. This was new territory for the Apostle so it was understood as to why he was securing himself. Just a slight sense of familiarity could make a huge impact for him, something to ground himself with for the time being. "You're doing fine," He reassured, a smile returning. "Take all the time you need, there's no rushing with this. If you ever need me just call, the Cardinal can teach you the ropes." Releasing himself from the man, the Apostle shuffled his way to the center room. Of course the bowman would stand back and observe from a distance, would hate to miss anything important when it came to training someone new. Matt was in good hands now, he was bound to get the hang of things in no time.

 

Kneeling down, the Apostle ran his hand through the refined sand. Its texture was smooth, almost silky to the touch had it not of possessed that grainy feel all sand had. Damaris silently lost himself for a moment as he had fixated himself on such a small element. Sand was a tricky terrain to work with and had to be handled with care. Wouldn't take much for someone to slip or even catch their footing if stepping the wrong way but he was already aware of this aspect. Friction was difficult to work against but because of its properties the flooring made for wonderful shock absorption. Win some lose some, just how it goes. Though this flooring seemed stable enough so there shouldn't be too much hassle. Still, he figured it wouldn't hurt to take some precaution. 

 

A gleam of light radiated from Damaris's palm as the glow became more corporeal, taking shape and solidifying into his open hands. He rose up with a grunt, slinging the elegant bow over his shoulder to rest beside the quiver of arrows that lay against his back. If everyone was to have their weapons out he figured he might as well partake in the party too. This was a training session after all. Flickering his gaze to the duo he quirked a nervous grin at the Cardinal's gauntlets, stifling a snicker. Just what had he gotten himself into. "Play something you're most comfortable with or perhaps something that feels right to you." He called over but was soon once again distracted by one of his own arrows. Really didn't take much to appease his attention. "Maybe the music will come to you...or something." 

 

 

 

[shadow_claw]

Exhaling in a loud, disappointed sigh, Cyrus relented. The fire in his hand fizzled out easily, leaving no mark that it was ever there to start with. He fell into step with the other two, sufficiently distracted by the talk of a raid. If they could locate the muzzled Beast, it could serve as a good raid leader without alerting the Apostles to the Disciples' presence. But that would mean going through the hassle of finding it. Unlike Argus, it was considered too large and too dangerous to stay in the castle. Which was fine, because it seemed to prefer the outdoors anyways. 

 

"The Apostles have private services, so they wouldn't venture into town for that." He remarked, inclining his head. They did everything within their power to stay locked within those fortresses. With the fact that they had been withdrawing Beasts from the more urban areas, they were rightfully suspicious of an attack. Which was why they needed to draw them out to start with. However, they did tend to patrol the cities, and had to venture out for goods. Those fortresses couldn't hold that much food. "Perhaps we should delay, send a bird or some other inconspicuous creature to observe and report. We shouldn't go into this blind." 

[TheSevenOceans]

Starve them, popped into Candide's mind, but he quickly dismissed it.  The bird would be a good scout.  Another of the avians could be sent to scan the woodlands for the wandering Beast that had seemed more recently- a tad unhinged.  Not that any of the Beasts were completely what one might consider 'sane'.  Save for Argus.  He was alright.

 

"A bird to watch who is in the city, and a bird to watch who is coming into the city would be more favorable.  We can plan around the traffic flow for just before 'rush hour'.  If we move in during rush hour more people will be about trying to guard travel.  Best to make a scene before they could become an issue." Candide's gaze drifted to the brush.  Sounded like they were gaining curious eyes from the wandering creatures.  The slow rhythm suggested the Beasts had fed- but on what?  There wasn't much activity in the area- why would anyone bother coming out to these parts?  The air only smelled like the average amount of slaughter expected in one day- but the metallic air was a bit thicker as the path became more like a bridle path.  Did those Beasts kill a roaming horse?  It wasn't outside their range of prey, but it was a rather uncommon treat.  It would be a shame if the horse had a human with it.  Having anyone near a 'path' that could trail to the castle was unsettling.  That little haven ought never be meddled with.  Even if the day came when Disciples were unveiled- the castle ought to remain a secret.  It was the only place the Disciples were safe to not hide their hands or scars.  If someone other than a Disciple was to ee such a thing- what would come to mind?  The scar could have been from a vicious Beast attack- and the mark could merely be excused as "young rebellion against the church".

 

"If an Apostle defected and was to become a Disciple, would the white mark fade, or would they get two stars?" Candide was lost in thought and so offered something to the silence.  "It would be so unlikely though... If an Apostle was willing to turn their back to the Lord, why would the Baron trust them in a pledge of loyalty..?"  Candide's eyes narrowed.  "Could they keep their weapon if the mark remained?  Would the marks cancel each other out and force the Apostle into a humanized state?  That would certainly be something- too much energy to bother the Baron for though.. Too many guesses, not enough testing."  Candide cracked a smile, though it was mostly due to excitement.  "What happens if the hand with the star is cut off?  Does the star just keep showing up different places?"  Candide looked to his hand.  "Or does it sever their connection since it isn't as embedded as ours?"  Candide curled his fingers.  "I want to see if touching the stars together does something."

[pudding]

"Why bother sending in a Beast?" Julius remarked with a knowing look in his eyes. Seriously now, these two kept overlooking the most obvious answers. There was a reason their castle was in the woods, and even beyond that there was a reason that they killed any Apostles they came across. When it came down to it, there were only two physical signs that there was something different about them, and casual clothes covered the largest one. The second was easily covered by a pair of gloves, but even if someone saw it wasn't as if they could pinpoint what it was. They'd probably just think it was a religious tattoo. 

 

"After all, we're just three regular people. Why don't we enjoy ourselves and get an early lunch first? Maybe go shopping. I'm sure Argus will appreciate a new toy." He could pick up some lighter fluid, a new pack of cigarettes and even do a little shopping for the castle. Not that he necessarily needed to since there was a couple Beasts who were able to disguise themselves as regular humans who could just as easily be ordered to go shopping, but they were already out here, weren't they? "It'll be my treat. If we're going to raze this place to the ground, we might as well make the most out of it first." They were drawing pretty close to the town now anyway, which meant they'd have to finalize a plan at some point. Besides, this would be the first time in a while that he'd be able to enjoy someone else's cooking, even if it was only one meal. 

 

Fortunately enough, money wasn't a problem for him anymore. After all, all it took was pushing a Beast away from it's kill long enough to find a wallet and snag any money he could find out of it. He never missed an opportunity to make sure he had currency on hand. He refused to be in a situation where he couldn't afford to eat ever again.

 

"I don't think an Apostle could become one of us, though," He replied with a shrug. "I mean, maybe if you broke their weapon first, but if their weapons can hurt Beasts, how could that exist in the same body as the Baron's power?" If it existed in the same body at all. When they weren't using their weapons it was common knowledge that they vanished, but into what? To where? He didn't know for sure, after all, since there wasn't any record of that kind of thing. "Besides, who would possibly defect? There's barely any of us anyway, and none of us are fanatics like Apostles are."

 

— —

 

"The song doesn't matter," Sonya replied, nodding towards Damaris to showed she agreed. "That will be something you can learn later. Just try to play anything and see if anything happens." She hadn't learned how to use her weapon by fussing over how best to throw a punch to deliver the most damage. She simply looked at her knucklebusters and realized the best thing to do was just punch something-anything-until something happened. And sure enough, the first time her fist had connected with a sandbag, she had ended up shooting it full of holes. It was only after she mastered her weapon's ability that she focused on the best ways to position her body and fight to deliver the most damage while keeping her own body safe.

 

Then again, there was a strong possibility that this was all useless for him anyway. She wouldn't say if the Lord could or could not heal his eyes since assuming either way would be disrespectful, but there was only so much he could do in battle with a weapon that wasn't actually a weapon. If his instrument had a dangerous ability, there was a chance he'd do more harm than good with friendly fire. 

 

"As for you," She said, turning to look at Damaris and glancing at his bow for a moment before gesturing to a target on the other side of the arena. "I hope you've been practicing, since I want to see how accurate you are before we get started. If you're lacking, I just might bruise you a bit more." It was a joke, of course, but it was still important for her to make sure all of the Apostles were practicing regularly. One weak link was all it took to break a chain.

Edited January 19, 2018 by pudding

[TheSevenOceans]

A soft hum started resonating from Candide when he saw the town start to come into view.  Just a defensive response- even if this town didn't know him.  When Julius spoke his humming died away.  His hand drifted to his chest, lightly rubbing the cloth that covered his scar.  Ah- yes- normal people.  Being away so long, it felt almost inappropriate to go into town.  Seeing so many smiling faces and those subtle shrines worked into architecture- it got a little overwhelming.  Though, it was to be expected.  Humans typically loved life, and so they loved the Lord.  Candide enjoyed life, but death made things- interesting.  It gave a mortal consequence to actions that really got blood rushing.  Gave it risk- meaning.  Death in so many ways for Candide completed life.  Standing on the side of a being that advocated for an eternity without withering away was silly to Candide.  By dying he'd feed the plants and scavengers- he'd be part of the cycle that was so imperative for things to function.  What a treat it was to be a Disciple and stand with the being that would ensure the cycle continue.

 

"Mm- what type of thing did you have in mind?" Candide mentally crossed his fingers that a fresh market was open.  A bag of mixed fruit would just make his week.  If a fresh market was up their might even be herbs Argus could enjoy.  Julius could find a toy, Candide could find herbs- and Cyrus could enjoy whatever he wanted.  A lot to do in a town- a lot to gather.  Candide scanned the rooftops he could for those enjoying the breeze from higher up.  A mental shopping list was cropping up little items: myrrh oil to relax with, oranges, pears, rose jam, bread rolls...  only about 30 dollars if bartering was added in for the oranges and pears.  35 dollars at most.  If Julius wanted to treat he could do so for the meal, but otherwise Candide had his own business to attend to.

 

"Food sounds fine, but after I'd like to see if we can find some metal and glass.  I think our abode could use some glasswork art."  Something pleasant- like stags being pursued by hounds.  Colored glass in an abstract pattern might inspire something when the evening sun turns the glare fiery.  Would be a lovely thing to return to at the very least.  Maybe one day we can have murals of large victories in commemoration..

[XiraCaster]

Following the Cardinal's motion he huffed out a sigh as he straightened himself up. The arrow that was once in his hand now returned to the quiver. "Practicing? Surely all I've done is sit around and do nothing while everyone else works." Damaris narrowed his gaze to observe the target of choice and of course, it had to be the farthest one in the arena. By all accounts it was nowhere near terrible, in fact, the further the better for him. His head tilted towards Sonya as he held an expression of feigned dread, hand placed over his chest to add to the antics. "You wouldn't really beat up such a frail archer, would you?" If anything, he was far from frail. 

 

Damaris rolled his shoulders before taking a stand behind the shooting line. Less talk and more action, it was one thing to jest but now was the time to prove his worth. Carefully the bow was slid off his shoulder as he held the weapon delicately but firm in his hands, pulling the string several times to test its elasticity. Once he deemed it suitable he reached behind into the quiver to retrieve a single arrow. Amber gaze flicking upwards to lock onto his target while his hands worked on setting the nock in place. The intensity the bowman held in those eyes was of that to precision. Analyzing just where and when the arrow would meet its mark in the material. Under the stress of battle there would be limited leeway to think, only able to react and that's why most of the motions came from muscle memory. The rest of the work was up to sight and subconscious calculation. "Maybe once we're through here you'll consider sending me out more often."

 

Posture poised and at the ready, Damaris pulled back on both the string and arrow as a soft exhale escaped him. His body relatively relaxed while going through the motions. Since this was a practice round he decided not to summon his weapon's flame. He could make due just fine without them. "First off, you'll always want to aim for center mass like all long-range weapons." He said, releasing the string. The arrow whistled through the air, striking the target solid in the yellow zone. Just barely shy of the tenth division, landing him in the ninth ring. His hand moved swiftly as he was already in the process of loading up a second arrow nocking back the bow for another shot. "If you're closer to your mark and can easily map out your target's structure you could try to aim for something vital, such as a kidney." Yet again a ninth division mark. Seemed Damaris wasn't quite finished considering he hadn't moved from his place. Loading up a third and final shot, the archer grinned as he assumed his position. "And lastly, it couldn't hurt to disable or cripple your target, such as an arrow to the knee." Watching the final arrow sail through the air was like a silent victory. It was a near-flawless bull’s-eye. 

 

Damaris lowered his arms as he turned to face his spectator. He dipped a formal bow to the Cardinal for his performance, his expression beaming with pride when he stood back up properly. Years of challenge and dedication were what brought the Apostle to where he was now, that and vigorous practice. Must have been in his early teens when he first summoned his weapon if memory served well. Ever since that day he made sure to give the Lord's gift its worth.

 

"Hopefully I didn't startle you so much that you'd want to call off our spar." He quipped, nestling the tip of the bow gently in the sand for a moment before he walked to the target to retrieve his arrows. A sly grin tugging at his lips. "Or perhaps you'd like to demonstrate exactly what those knuckles of yours are capable of." 

[shadow_claw]

((song is here))

 

Matthew sucked in a breath, settling in where he was left. It was nice to hear people just...being about. Even if, in this place, the background noise was that of battle. He just needed to focus. Whatever music came to him...came, he supposed. He readied his bow, exhaling slowly. Slowly, hesitantly, he ran his bow across the strings. A long, hollow note resonated from the violin, pouring into the room effortlessly. As soon as he started to play, the music seemed to pour out of him. A slow, sad tune began. The tone in the room changed almost immediately. Music, of course, was known for its ability to pull at the hearts of others. But some about the room physically stopped their training and turned, their expressions confused and dismayed. Matt, however, was lost to the music. He didn't notice the air of grief that settled in the room, nor the slowly growing crowd of doleful faces. How could he, after all? 

 

---

 

Cyrus followed the duo into the city in silence, hands tucked into his pockets.  Right. He was still rather sore from...the previous few days, but some fresh air would do some good. Besides, this was the nearest city. If Matthew was to go anywhere, it would be here. 

 

Only upon entering the city did he realize what a mistake coming had been. Cities were...loud. Smelly. Overpopulated. It was a shame they had to visit and pick up supplies. Cyrus drifted off, eyes coming to rest on a fruit cart. The castle had been lacking in fresh food recently. He had plenty of money-that wasn't an issue. Leaning and grabbing an apple, he brought the fruit to his nose. Not bad. Better than the canned food at the castle. 

 

Cyrus stiffened as he felt a pair of eyes on him. A dark-skinned girl, who seemed completely average save for...her clothing. She wore a white tunic, with symbols of the Lord of the Living. Beneath, however, seemed to be jeans and heavy-looking boots. Perhaps she volunteered at the local church? That would be plausible, save for...the strange glasses she wore. He could hardly look into her eyes with them on. But she looked...concerned. Scared, even. Her grip tightened on the crate of supplies she carried. Cyrus's eyes narrowed as her gaze flickered to Julius and Candide. She took a step back, her confusion and concern melting into recognition. 

 

"Matt?" She asked, taking a step backwards. 

 

He froze as she spoke, his blood going cold. She knew him. She knew Matthew! Cyrus curled his hands into fists, fingers tearing into the fruit in his hand. The girl scowled, retreating further away from the trio of strangers. No, that man wasn't Matt. He had mentioned a brother, but...nobody had believed him... 

[pudding]

Julius glanced over the fruit stand with a slight frown. Shopping right now wasn't really important if they were going to get lunch first. In fact, food shopping should probably be done last. "So what were you thinking about to eat?" Julius asked, a grin forming on his face. "I'm sure there are plenty of fun restaurants here we can try out." But that conversation suddenly seemed to veer when a girl from nearby called out a name he barely recognized, and a quick glance at her saw she looked confused. That name. Where did he know that name? A glance at Cyrus and he couldn't help but sigh as he realized.

 

Oh, right. He knew that name because Cyrus wouldn't stop talking about his brother. A tie he should have been rid of before becoming a Disciple, and now it was biting them all in the butt.

 

"Bump the brakes there, buddy," Julius said with a scowl, moving his arm in front of Cyrus. Cyrus seemed to be incredibly agitated right now, and that was not what they needed. Letting emotions get in the way was how they got caught faster. But even if Cyrus was older than him, he had been a Disciple for longer. He had a much better grip on his ability, and with the placement of his arm it would be easy for him to slip it inside of Cyrus's chest. Rifling around with internal organs was never something good, but it was just a silent threat for someone who knew what he was capable of. Turning to the girl as she backed away, Julius offered up an innocent smile.

 

"Can we help you with something?" 

 

"You can help me with something," The irritated fruit salesman snapped. "You can pay for that apple your friend just smashed. Next you'll be smashing up my cabbages or something." With a snort, the fruit salesman jerked his head towards the cart next to the fruit cart that he apparently owned, which was filled to the brim with vegetables. Or, rather, mostly just cabbages.

 

— —

 

Sonya chuckled, nudging Damaris with her elbow after he had finished firing his arrows. "Oh, don't be silly!" She declared, planting both of her hands squarely on her hips. Her knuckledusters glowed softly in the light as most weapons of the Lord did, but in the light of the training room it wasn't really noticeable. "You agreed, so the only way you're getting out of this spar is to give up. Besides, your aim might be fancy but you gotta work on your speed. It won't do you any good if you encounter a Beast that can get right up close to you before you can blink." 

 

She opened her mouth to say that they should start sparring now when, rather abruptly, music filled the halls and she stopped short in her tracks. Closing her eyes, she brought a hand up to her face and took a deep, but shaky breath. For a moment, maybe even two, her mind went completely blank.

 

Then everything came rushing back quickly and those barriers she had forced into place long ago came back, leaving her feeling hollow but aware. "Enough," she snapped, turning towards the source of the music. "Stop playing, right now." This wasn't what they needed. The Fortress had to be strong and united, and they couldn't do that if something was making them feel awful and twisted inside like this. 

 

— —

 

"I'm going to deliver this repaired clock, dad!" Varian called out, slipping on his shoes before picking up the large, cardboard box with both hands. It was enough to make him wheeze slightly, but he adjusted his grip enough not to worry about dropping his precious cargo. "I'll be back soon, okay?"

 

"Be safe, son," His father called out from the back room where he was doing inventory, and a few seconds later the door swung shut behind him as Varian quickly hurried down the stairs and onto the busy street. The town was...well, just that. A town. It was quiet and pretty boring, and they lived as close to the Fortress as possible without being inside it, which made them pretty safe. Beasts rarely attacked and when they did, they were driven back quickly. The only reason they were able to live here was because his family had been living there since long before the war started. So it was really only luck that kept them safe thus far. 

 

Walking down the busy streets, he started towards the marketplace. Technically, the owner of the clock he was delivering lived somewhere else, but during these hours he was running his fruit stand, and it would be easier to deliver it to him now. Plus, he had said it was alright to deliver it right to him if he was working and hey, maybe he'd get some fresh fruit out of it.