Reboot: Veiled Chaos

Nothing had gone to plan, every time the hunters had tried to slay an unaware deer in the bush a mangy wolf began to make noise and run at the deer frightening it and causing their arrows to miss, these antics had gone on for so long the hunters were beginning to run short on arrows. Frustrated some hunters had left the party early and no one had anything to show for it. "These damn wolves are ruining everything!" one of the hunters exclaimed. The entire group mirrored his sentiments, but what could they do? They could go further into the wood and risk getting lost, that wouldn't do them any good. "Next time we'll bring hounds." murmured one as the entire group made to leave.

A low howl made them all uneasy as they continued home. The forest seemed darker leaving then it had going in as well with some hunters straining to see the pah they had lain out. To make matters worse, the prints of wolves could be seen having followed their the whole way in, had the wolves been following them and for how long? a splash echoed throughout the woods scaring the hunters half to death by its proximity and sudden shattering of the silence. "What was that?" the hunter's questioned amoungst themselves."Might be a pond of fish." and so the group investigated leaving the path and coming across Darkmin's pond. The entire group lay in shock as upon the great rock overlooking the pond hung the clothes of a noble lady, albiet tattered and rough with the forest and within the pond itself floated mayhaps one of the most gorgeous women they had ever seen.

And she was watching them in return, gauging their reactions to her body. They didn't seem to see the same flaws in it as she and were stunned, cloyingly she raised her arms to them beckoning them closer. With the welcome many of the hunters came closer with rude smiles on their faces beginning to strip, with one staying ashore muttering that he was married. The others took no heed and entered the pond to keep the young lady company of course.

Darkmin smiled as the men approached, already the wolves had begun to circle the pond in greater numbers, the packs of Sagna were uniting here and without what little gear they had left these hunters would stand no chance. They groped and leered over her body and Darkmin let them to see if they noticed anything off. It seemed they were suitably fooled as the attention started becoming rougher. Elysia smiled, "I am just one young woman," her voiced chimed charming the hunters further. "but let me try to keep you company suitably." Walking ashore the naked hunters followed, but it was all becoming eerie as Elysia began to chuckle excitedly to herself. "I am just one woman though, allow me to bring out suitable company." and with a shrill whistle it all went to hell.

The man who stayed ashore was first as 3 wolves rushed out and ham-stringed him bringing him to the ground as the third tore into his throat spilling fresh blood onto the forest floor. The other hunters panicked and tried to reach their gear but Elysia threw it into the pond, "You crazy woman! the wolves will kill us all!" as one hunter lunged to punish her a great host of wolves howled and charged him driving his head unto the rock and ending him, the rest of the hunters shook and released fluids of fear as the great number of wolves surrounded them almost protectively of the woman, " a .. a a she wolf! a witch a she wolf witch!" one of the hunters trembled in fear.

Elysia smiled, "Bring them and feast on the bodies." As she walked further into the woods humming a tune of serenity.

It was a few hours after dawn when Haedria returned to her bedchamber. A servant who stood outside bowed slightly as she approached.

"My queen, the princess is in the baths." she said simply, staring at the hem of the queen's robe. Haedria nodded, and proceeded to the baths. There was still quite a bit to talk to Sera about before heading to court. As she walked, her mind wandered. There was nothing in her spell tomes or history books of them land of any particularly supernatural creature that wandered the borders of Sagna. Most tales of such things happened further north, where men freeze to death where they stand.

Not knowing the source of the how infuriated Haedria. The queen hated not knowing that something was going on yet being unaware of its true nature. She would have to go down to the forest herself, but not without her guard.

"Sister?" Haedria called as she stepped into the baths. Sera lounged at the edge of a tiled pool, submerged to just below her eyes. The water steamed, clouding the large room and causing it to be more humid than even the plains outside. Haedria smiled and slipped out of her silk gown, allowing a servant to catch it.
"At the very least, wake up." she said, slipping into the water beside Sera.

Sera groaned and leaned her head against the edge of the pool. "What are we to do today, sister? I am so, so bored."
Haedria sighed, and ran a hand through her sister's short hair. "Court again, I'm afraid. Let's hope someone more interesting comes. Ah and, you are to escort me to the forest."

The princess raised an eyebrow. "You, sister? You want to go to the forest? You hate leaving the castle."
"Yes, I know. But reports seems to speak of something magical there. I want to see it. Bring some of your hounds, in case there is anything to chase down."

Sera smiled, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

The wolves toiled and tarried driving animals deeper and deeper into the woods as Darkmin had instructed them, the hunters had been disposed of and sat comfortably in the bellies of the Sagnian wolves. Yipping and snapping at the heels of deer and boars, shaking trees full of birds, and vandalizing the traps of the hunters. Their dark intelligence was already blossoming as Darkmin taught them many things, using the brittle bones of small animals to make traps to alert them to intruders, and the art of hiding from foes before striking. The wolves were very obedient little creatures and Darkmin felt a great deal of accomplishment as watching them flourish. As he tried to iron out the last kinks of his appearance one of the wolves pulled on the hem of his gown, "hmm? you want to show me something?" Darkmin muttered puzzled as he was lead to a small groove, the small wolf ran over to a splotch of blood on the ground and yipped proudly tail wagging and thumpig the ground.

Darkmin approached and looked over the blood stain, the wolves nose was covered in blood and it seemed he had been pushing the blood around to make ... a wolf? A bloodwolf? "Oh how adorable." Darkmin cooed,"that's me isn't it?" The wolf bounded happily yipping in excitement.

"Should I use a carriage?" The queen mused. She looked herself this way and that in the full length mirror in her bedchamber. Haedria had donned a sleeveless red and black gown that showed off her pale skin and the mage markings that stood out starkly against it.

"If you want to, sister. If you walk through the city, your gown may be dirtied. And I suppose its more dignified for the queen to ride through, instead of walk the streets." Sera answered. She busied herself with adjusting her armor. The knight wore leather armor with segmented sleeves, reinforced with plate at the shins, knees, and forearms. "How is this? For court, as well as running through the forest." she asked.

Haedria glanced over her shoulder with a critical eyes. "It shows of your figure well, certainly. Not nearly as formal as the full plate and cape."
Sera sighed wearily as she buckled on her sword belt and slipped throwing knives into a holder by her shoulder. "Please let me wear that heavy monstrosity for ceremonial purposes only, sister. I can barely move in it."

The queen chuckled and nodded. She waited for her younger sister to finish dressing, then led the way out. "Time for court, sister dear."

Darkmin wondered how long it would take for the wolves of Gentri to make it here. It wasn't on the other side of the world but all travel took time. Darkmin needed their numbers and strength to go into the next stage of his plan, for now he could only kill off hunters and frighten animals, and maybe raid a village if he was feeling bold. After all he couldn't use his great wolf form otherwise he might draw unwanted attention.

Util he had more numbers to back him up he needed to teach the wolves to hide from the castle guards and the Red Sisters, if they were as dangerous as the peasant folk thought He would like to deal with them subtlety and personally. Especially that mage, Haedria, Darkmin disliked mages particularly when they were aligned against him. They were hard to deal with, their power and knowledge made them dangerous, and while Gentri had mages there were certain restrictions that religion placed on the learning of magic, particularly dark magic. Haedria, he imagined has no such restrictions.

"So you ended up using a carriage, sister." Sera remarked with a smile. She sat opposite the queen in a horse drawn carriage that rocked gently as they made their way through the city streets and down to the forest.

"You were right. It is more dignified this way. As the queen, I should travel with dignity. And after all, I do love this gown." Haedria answered, smoothing down her dress. "It wouldnt do for it to be dirtied."

Haedria nonchalantly glanced out the carriage window, watching the buildings go by. Peasants were both curious and afraid to peer into the carriage, for fear of catching the Red Sister's eye. Guards had gone ahead of the carriage to usher peasants and merchants towards the side of the road so that the Red Sisters may pass. Quite a few of them knelt or bowed their heads in respect as it passed.

"How does your kingdom look today, my queen?" Sera asked.
Haedria didnt answer, only continued staring out with an apathetic gaze. Sera nodded and kept a watchful eye on the windows.

Soon, the carriage stopped at the edge of the forest where a narrow dirt path had been marked. It was too narrow for the carriage to pass through, so the Red Sisters got down to travel the rest of the way on foot. A pack of a dozen of Sera's finest hounds lined themselves up, sitting as straight and still as the guards that came to escort the queen.

"Here we are. Let's see what roams these woods." Haedria said, and led the way down the path, her knight at her side, and hounds fanning out ahead of them.

A scent hit the air and Darkmin perked up, blood, hounds and the faint smell of Sera a smell he recognized from earlier. The Red Sisters had come to his domain. He could try to kill them now perhaps and destabilize the kingdom? He thought of Haedria's magic, how he knew nothing of it the wolves could attack and they'd be facing an army of the dead next or the sky could rain fires, and then he thought of Sera. "We are going to retreat into the deepest depths of the woods and stay silent and still, draw no attention to yourselves." Darkmin muttered as the wolves nervously smelled the scent of hounds and obeyed. Darkmin wondered, could he use this somehow?

Haedria's eyes narrowed, and her posture became more guarded. She grew wary as she walked, eyes straining to see past the shadows of the trees. The dark markings that swirled on her arms began to glow softly, red and orange like coals.

"Sister? What do you sense?" Sera asked, drawing one of her swords. She ordered half of her hounds to run ahead to scout. The others that stayed behind bared their teeth and growled, the fur on their necks standing on end.

"There is blood spilled here. Death, so much death. More so than would be natural." Haedria replied, not taking her eyes off the shadows in the trees. "There is also a presence. I am unsure of its nature."

Sera sniffed the air after her hounds became more restless than usual. She also noticed large paw prints in the ground. "Wolves. Wolves were never much of a threat in our forests. What is happening?"

"We will find out, sister. Farther into the forest. This thing I sense has gathered there."

Careful, the fore first thought on Darkmin's mind as he listened and smelt the approach of the sisters, weaving his way through the dark woods together with his wolves they drew them dark, further ad further eluding them. The forest was death silent as if holding its breath at the conflict waiting to erupt beneath its canopy. They had already figured out the wolves were most active than usual it seemed Darkmin strained his ears against the woods. He wished that the combat hardened Gentri wolves were hear now as these Sagnian wolves feared the hounds only his powerful presence seemed to comfort them.

"Wait." Haedria threw her hand out to Sera, causing the younger sister to pause. They had gone deeper still into the woods. The silence was thick, and so was the scent of blood. Haedria felt the presence of death, human as well as animal. Beside her, Sera wordlessly drew her other sword, and dropped into a ready stance.

Ahead of them, one of the hounds barked. Its bark alerted the others, who ran to its side and followed the scent of wolf deeper into the forest. A pack of wolves were close, and the hound's master favored wolves. The hounds might be able to corner and trap one as an offering to their master.

The hounds peeled ahead of their masters and Darkmin nervously whispered to one of his wolves orders. Fear was felt across the wolf's entire body and it looked up at Darkmin pleadingly, but Darkmin remained firm. The wolf crept and crawled out. Its goal to lure the hounds on a chase away from the sisters, and into the clutches of Darkmin and its fellows.

Meanwhile a small structure was in the woods cobbled together from stones and leaves, it had been built around a small blood painting on the ground.

The chaotic sound of barking and paws running through the underbrush drew away from the Red Sisters. They walked on, cautiously, till suddenly the pack of hounds returned. Between them, the nipped at and dragged a sad, pathetic looking wolf towards Sera.

"This is it? Where is the rest of its pack?" the knight said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. Her hounds bayed, holding their heads low, and loped off to find the rest of the wolves. The wolf attempted to run, but a swift blade across the throat stilled it. Sera had no need for a wolf now.

"Sister, here. Look at this." The queen's voice cut through the strange silence of the wood. She stood before a structure of stone and leaves. It seemed to be a small shrine. On the floor was the shape of a wolf drawn crudely in blood. "A shrine to a wolf. We have no wolf gods in Sagna. Who could have made this?" she asked. The knight could only shake her head.

Darkmin growled lowly as the wolf was silenced, anger boiled and welled up in his throat, the hounds were faster and stronger than even he gave them credit for. his mistake had cost him the life of one of his kin. He had to get revenge, burning with anger the wolves around him trembled.

Deep breaths, Darkmin had to calm down. He needed to stay secret and calm, he could lure the Red sisters away himself. Turning to his wolves sadly he ordered, "All of you follow your kin and evacuate for now." The wolves were surprised and hesitant, but they obeyed rushing themselves away in the direction Darkmin had pointed out earlier. "I will call upon you again soon, be ready." he muttered as he put on Elysia's skin, battered and weary from days of travelling and collapsed herself just off the beaten path where the wolves had just made their massive exit.

Sera's hounds followed the scent of the wolf pack, determined to carry out their master's orders. They sniffed the ground, following the trail of their scent, when they came upon a human woman. The hounds grew confused, and circled around Elysia, yipping and nudging her in concern. One of the hounds split off from the pack, rushing back towards the Red Sisters while the others guarded the human.

Sera bid her sister to follow her and the hound, and she stopped in her tracks once she saw Elysia. Chestnut hair, bronze skin, the woman was indeed beautiful. But she seemed injured and weary from her travels, and unconscious in wolf territory. The knight sheathed her swords and rushed forward, kneeling beside the woman to check if she was alive.

The queen only narrowed her eyes, unsure of how to act. She sensed a strangeness from this woman. It was not particularly dangerous, simply an otherness that had never been felt before.

Elysia lay weary at the side of the road, ragged but alive if fairly weakened the wolves had gotten away and she was glad for it. Laying groggily in the darkness of the woods surrounded by accursed hounds and a noble knight Elysia unconsciously moved her right hand a twitch more than anything and shifted her sleeping face in better view of Sera. Deep down inside Darkmin was worried, had he made Elysia beautiful enough? Would Sera fall for this form? OH shit what if the Queen feel for her instead? Well Darkmin supposed there was nothing wrong with that, though she was known to be fickle.

"Sister, don't." Haedria said softly, in warning. She didnt want her sister touching this strange woman, more so due to the otherness of her. The queen couldnt explain it if she tried.
"Haedria please, she needs help!" Sera retorted back. She reached down to pick up Elysia, but stopped again. She gave into the temptation to gently caress the woman's face, but quickly shook her head, a blush rising. Now was not the time to swoon! She heaved the woman onto her shoulder, and started on the path back to the entrance of the forest and their waiting carriage.

The hounds followed their master, while Haedria stayed behind. It was all so strange to the queen. But perhaps this woman could provide answers. The queen followed her sister and the dogs, mildly annoyed that her gown ended up getting dirtied after all.

Well this was ceremonious, heaved onto the shoulder of the Knight Princess being carried out of the forest like a sack of wheat. Not exactly how Darkmin had imagined or wanted to be carried from the forest, but regardless out of the forest he went. Hopefully they wouldn't carry - oof, him all the way back to the palace like this.

Sera was too focused and concerned for this woman to realize how tired she was or how long the walk back to the carriage was. One of the guards stepped forward and opened the door of the carriage, not questioning where this woman came from. He had been serving the Red Sisters for years, and had learned that it was best not to question anything they did.

The Red Sisters climbed into the carriage, with the queen giving the order to return to the castle.
"Sera, you've said scarcely a word on the walk back. Is something wrong?" Haedria asked.
The knight couldnt stop staring at Elysia. "She's very beautiful, dont you think?"
The queen only glared at the woman.

The ride back was at least by comparison to the shoulder carry far more comfortable. Elysia rested easily in the carriage ride though never fully at ease around Haedria, being called beautiful though was a great boost in pride for Darkmin's talents at transformations. Though suddenly he felt the heat of Haedria's glance upon Elysia, not the best of situations but perhaps he could work this out, his wolves would survive another day at least.

Haedria let Sera rush off to the healer with the woman as soon as they alighted from the carriage. The queen wandered off to her study again, deep in thought and disappointed at not having found the source of the disturbances in the forest. There were the activities of the wolves, and the little shrine, however. But what did it mean? And did the strangeness of the woman have any connection to it? Possibly, as she was found in the forest. Haedria decided to reserve judgement at least till she could question this traveler.

Sera laid Elysia in a bed at the healer's chamber, waiting for the healer's assessment of her injuries. The old man ruled that the woman was simply exhausted, and would need to recover her strength.

Away from Haedria and her leering gaze Elysia felt safe to slowly stir ad draw attention to her waking form. The healer had after all declared her injuries superfluous and her only real concern was exhaustion. "Where ..... am I?" Elysia focused all of her efforts into make her voice as melodious as possible, the desire to become a figure of beauty and virtue in Sagnia surpassed all else it was crucial to his plans. "Am I ... home?" she murmured quietly with a faint Gentri accent.

Sera gazed down at Elysia. Her voice was as beautiful as she was, the sound of it made the knight's heart break. She longed to hold the woman's hand, offer her comfort and safety, anything she wanted. But Sera heard the note of an accent in her sweet voice, and put two and two together. This was that traveler's wife. She had a child, or was supposed to have one with her.

"Apologies, my lady." Sera started, slowly. "You are in Sagna. A far cry from home, I'm afraid.|

Elysia's heart broke hearing that she was so far from home, she slowly began to look around, at first calmly then becoming more frantic. "No, no no it was a dream wasn't it!? Surely, where ... Where is Annette? Annette!?" Trying to get up her exhaustion caused her steps to falter into the arms of Sera. "My .. my daughter, was.... was I with my daughter?" Elysia choked into sobs right there and then. "What did those hunters do to my daughter?" in her frantic sorrow she clutched onto Sera for support.

Sera faltered, unsure of what to say. She caught Elysia and guided her back to the bed. "I'm sorry my lady...I found you alone in the forest. There was no child with you." She tried to explain. "The wolves in the forest have been more active...My apologies..." she ran out of words to say because what was there really to say to a grieving mother?

Elysia sobbed quietly for a while, slowly composing herself, "I ... my apologizes mi'lady, for my outburst. I .... " Pausing she looked down and fiddled with her hands eyeing a small ring on her finger. "Thank you for rescuing me from the forest. I .... realize now that these past few days were not just a horrible nightmare, but in fact reality. I cannot repay you enough twice over I'm afraid both because the service you have doe for me is invaluable and for I am without the means to offer compensation." Gently adjusting her ragged dress, too small for her for it was tight over her bosom, a hand-me down from Aldric's family. "I ... oh what do I do now?" Her voice quivered again at the sorrowful realization she was without home or family in a strange land.