Greetings All
I have been enjoying the back-and-forth between Zak and me, but I think it's time for our two parties to become one once more. Please do read @zakludick's update so yo don't feel too lost.
Robert couldn’t sleep that night. His body had so much energy running through it, that he could barely lie still to give the illusion of sleeping. The moment the sun started to lighten things around them with a dull grey, he got up to inspect what was left of the thing that had attacked them.
It was in pieces. Looking at the head alone, he could tell that its lower jaw had been ripped away while what remained of its maw was slammed into its face. Robert looked to where the rest of the creature lay. It was missing an arm, and it looked like its rib cage had been broken out. Entrails were strewn everywhere, but between them, he noted footprints. Large, larger than human, but it had a distinct human shape. He placed his foot next to it and marvelled at the sheer size difference.
“Do you even know what you look like?” came the deep grumble of Millmor behind him.
“Demon bear is all I have heard people say when they see the aftermath. There has never been enough of me to remember seeing what I look like.”
“The irony of being named a demon must not be lost on you. You were a pious man.”
“I still am! I can’t help this madness placed upon me.”
“Indeed, I misspoke. You are a pious man but one who is trying to hide. How did you think that would end?”
“Getting myself killed.”
“After seeing what you did to my ex-companion here, I very much doubt the beast you become can be killed.”
“That isn’t at all helpful.”
“I am making conversation, not trying to be helpful.”
“Why are you even awake?”
“I don’t sleep at night. I wanted to find out more information, but you were awake all night, and I felt that perhaps you wouldn’t want to see how I went about collecting information.” Millmor looked at the corpse and then added, “At least you left the brain intact.”
“Why would that be important?”
“Have you forgotten already what I am?” Millmor slowly changed until he was once more the imposing ghoul king that he really was.
“That’s a fair point, but doesn’t really answer my question.”
“Mortals and their inability to understand the wealth of information that a corpse still carries within it.” Millmor chuckled and added, “You may want to return to Rex and busy yourselves somewhere outside of earshot.”
Robert didn’t need to be told twice, as he returned to the fire and woke Rex to continue the search between the ruins. The quicker they got away from Millmor and his gristly information hunt, the better.
While Rex did shy away from the man waking him at first, it didn’t take the ex-knight to warm up to him again as they searched through the ruins for anything. However, time had consumed this place as it had the inhabitants, and with nothing to be found in the outer ruins, the pair decided to move toward what seemed to once be that castle.
Robert noticed that Rex seemed to pick up details in the stone that he himself couldn’t see. Rex was telling him that many clawed things had come through here, surprising the people before they had a chance to wake from their beds.
“Why Rex?” asked Robert suddenly. “You could have remained…”
“Please don’t say my name. It’s not who I can be now, and anyway, it’s not that difficult to transition from lion-hearted to king.”
Robert knew when to drop the conversation as they made their way into the castle. The place stank of a charnel house, and Robert needed to step out for a few breaths before looking at his bare feet, knowing that he would likely step into something he would regret if he continued to move forward.
Rex seemed unbothered by the smell and continued into the depths of the ruin. From the smell and the look of the place, this was where the other ghoul king had made his lair. Mounds of rotting flesh were piled against the wall. The place reeked of death and darkness, but Rex continued. He was reading the subtle signs of scruffles from centuries ago. Although faint from age, he could follow the old story.
Many clawed creatures had stormed the castle. They had divided and conquered. Killing any that stood in their way. All around, skulls in various stages of change were scattered, not piled like those outside. There was no reason to display in her. Once the ghoul king had his prey here, it was too late.
A deeper set of claw marks branched off, and Rex decided to follow them. They lead to a smaller room. The room stood bare, stripped of everything that it once contained. This wasn’t servants’ quarters; it wasn’t big enough for that. No, this was small, perhaps a child’s room.
“This was Derric’s room.” Came Millmor’s voice behind him.
Rex acknowledged the ghoul king but said nothing until he noticed the scorch marks on the ground close to the window. What could once have been a pattern had long since worn away, but Rex knew a physical manifestation of a curse when he saw on. He turned to Millmor and couldn’t help but notice some blood in his beard.
“This is the curse that hit you?”
“Indeed. I turned and killed off the other ghoul kings and other monstrosities that came to this room. The one outside remembered. Couldn’t understand why I turned on our brethren and tried to reason. It fled when I nearly killed it. It remembered everything I no longer can. I know where we need to go now.”
“Dare I ask how?”
“I wouldn’t. Robert is already retching outside.”
“Then pray, where are we going?”
“Back to the castle.”
“Why!”
“Because I need to talk to Mary about a mage that went by the name of Barakus the Magnus.”
And back to you Zak!
Here is an explanation of Chain Stories and here is the current Chainstory Library
Mortis Custos
Sanguifex
Vetitum Nemus
| by @lex-zaiya | by @zakludick |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | Part 2 |
| Part 3 | Part 4 |
| Part 5 | Part 6 |
| Part 7 | Part 8 |
| Part 9 | Part 10 |
| Part 11 | Part 12 |
| Part 13 | Part 14 |
| Part 15 | Part 16 |
| Part 17 | Part 18 |
| Part 19 | Part 20 |
| Part 21 | Part 22 |
| Part 23 | Part 24 |
| Part 25 | Part 26 |
| Part 27 | Part 28 |
| Part 29 - You’re Here | Part 30 - Incoming |
The Reader List
If you would like to be tagged in every episode of Mortis Custos, leave us a comment and get added in, miss nothing!
The Watchlist:
@weone, @merenludick, @clairemobey, @therneau, @blitzzzz, @pravesho, @joetunex, @captainquack22, @irisworld, @braaiboy, @sketchygamerguy, @fuego-oscuro, @felt.buzz, @dibblers.dabs, @brittandjosie, @tamacvet, @alonicus, @joetunex, @stdd, @uop, @luizeba, @cryptoniusrex, @agreste, @itzchemaya, @darthsauron, @seki1
