Nostrum: Tales of Valor

Under The Throw

Bound at the wrists, Yuler, Hael, and Lee are escorted back into the depths of the dungeons, where Marne slowly regains consciousness as he is held up by the legs and underarms. Looking about himself, he spots the others and attempts to speak, but nothing more than a raspy whisper is made. Ceasing the effort, he continues to look around. Counting five total unfamiliar faces, he begins to piece together what has happened. Yuler managed to get caught as well, but not before locating Hael and Lee. Then, the High Priestess used him as bait, and that must be why he is also with the others.

"Turn here, Defect." Demands a man nearing the front as he pushes on the shoulder of Lee.

"Yeah, yeah. Filthy fool."

"Mind your tongue!" The man shouts back, knocking an open hand against the back of Lee's head.

"So be it." Lee returns through gritted teeth. With an almost unseen motion, he manages to break the man's nose with a headbutt. The others look on confused but alerted to the commotion. Then, one raises their blade to Lee's throat, having noticed what had happened.

"One more move like that and it'll surely be your last."

"Oh, I think not."

The blade falls to the ground as Yuler uses her shackles to strangle the man who had threatened Lee. Then Hael stomps the foot of another, forcing them to lean forward and wince with pain. She then delivers a knee to their face and they are sent to the ground, unconscious. With this, those who hold Marne drop him against the dirt and dust, where he dazedly continues his efforts at recuperating. He watches as Lee pummels the face and torso of another man and Yuler uses the loose blade to puncture the heart of a fourth, then allows his eyes to drift off towards a door at the far end of the tunnel they had been turned down. There, he spots a fuzzy light from within. Surrounding the light, a vitrine. The red luminance seems to call to him as he hears the fifth Nostrum take their last breath.

"Marne, you're awake!" Yuler leans over his weakened form and inspects him further. "You're alright, oh, thank the Gods! You're alright!" She then pulls him into a vicious hug that he groggily returns, still seemingly unable to speak.

"Bout time you've come around." The disapproving voice of Lee calls out as he unshackles himself using a key from one of the Nostrum's belts. "Y'should've kept safe with Yuler. What were you thinking finding yourself in such a position?"

Marne doesn't answer. Instead, he points off in the direction of the room he had spotted, where another man now blocks the peculiar light.

"Ah, spotted another have you?" Lee cracks his neck and collects a sword for himself, then ensures that Hael gets one as well. "We'll make quick work of him."

"There will be no need for that." The man's hardened voice assures. "Take whatever it is you must. I'll keep in sight."

Hael, Yuler, Marne, and Lee look amongst themselves, then cautiously approach the warden's office with Yuler helping Marne to his feet and keeping him held up as they go.

"You're awfully willing." Hael judges, uncertain of the man's intent.

"This would not be the first time in which someone has managed to break free. It certainly wouldn't be the first time they've found me."

"Others have sought after your office?" Yuler questions, more worried than anything else.

"My office? No, never. Me." The warden points at his own chest with a thick thumb. "The one handling their punishments."

"Well, we've no quarrel with you." Lee insists, now pushing the man back into the office he had left. "However, we must still ensure that you tell no one of this."

"Allow me." The warden turns to face a wall opposite of the door, collects chained shackles that had been hanging on a hook, and moves to the opposite side of his desk where he pulls out the chair and wraps the chains around it. Once satisfied with how tightly he has bound them, he closes the shackles on his ankles, then his wrists. "Take and do what you must. Please."

"Is... that... Dabria?" Marne points towards the vitrine once again, where a red, puffy, glowing flower has sprouted.

"It is." Confirms the warden, who now looks them over with questioning eyes. "Not from these parts, are you?"

Marne doesn't answer. Instead, he pulls himself up- allowing Yuler to release him- and begins walking towards the flower. His eyes fill with the same sense of desire Yuler had once experienced, until something distracts him. Stepping onto a circular rug in the middle of the room, he feels the floor give way. A clunking sound emits from it each time he steps down on the red and gold wool. Taking note of this, he leans forward and pulls the rug away. There, right beneath his feet, rests another hatch.

"What is it, what have you found?" Lee moves closer, looking over Marne's shoulder as he speaks.

"He's found roots." The warden looks on with disapproving, yet understanding eyes. "This is why you were in search of my office, isn't it? To set Dabria aflame."

"Aflame?" Yuler turns to the warden as Marne pulls up his mask and lifts the hatch.

"Of course. What other way is there to kill something so... god-like?"

Marne examines what he can of the funneling entrance. Many small roots poke out through tough soil and seemingly move about at their ends. He then collects a small lantern from the warden's desk and uses it to lighten the area. As he does so, the roots loosely move towards the glow but remain pinned below the surface of the soil.

"I must warn you; What you are about to do is something no man has ever attempted before. Those roots... they lead to the source of all the chaos on the surface. They are the reason I took it upon myself to find a way underground. Though I am closer to the source... I am further from its harm."

"Not as far as you might think." Hael assures, turning her bindings towards the man.

"You... you must be the one to do it." The warden looks over Hael with beady eyes, as if her bindings have brought about clarity. "You cannot be influenced by its looks. Its whispers perhaps... but not its looks." Everyone looks to the man, who in turn looks at the small encased flower. "A powerful creature she is. Capable of so much harm whilst never moving an inch. No man has attempted to destroy her before... because no man has been able to face her. Some have thought they could... but alas." The warden smacks his lips and shakes his head. "Consumption is all she knows."

Yuler turns to face the roots, already hearing the faint, numerous whispers she had heard when she first came in contact with the seed of Dabria. A beckoning call from deep within the catacombs. Shutting her eyes, she takes in a deep breath, then speaks.

"If we are to do this, it is better sooner than later. We mustn't allow ourselves to get too distracted, or too observant."

"Keep your minds occupied." Hael places a palm on Marne's shoulder, who hadn't realized how focused he was on the whispers. He darts his head around to look at her as she continues to speak. "Don't allow the voices to take hold. Keep focused on our objective and allow it to be what distracts you."

Marne nods and sits against the edge of the flooring. Relaxing for a moment, he presses his arms over his chest, forming an "x" with them. Then, he allows himself to slide into the opening. Loose, rocky clumps of soil follow him down until he is no longer visible. Then, Yuler takes the stand. Sheathing her blade, she sits where Marne had sat, focuses on their objective, and takes the slide down. Lee does the same next, sparing only a moment to look back at Hael, who nods him off.

"I'll follow. Keep an eye on the others."

Lee agrees silently and disappears into the bowels of an unknown hell. Once he is out of sight, Hael turns back to the warden.

"You know my secret, don't you?"

"Nostrum Hael... The Bethel as a whole knows your secret."

"Why then, did they allow me to leave alive?"

"High Priestess believed it was the key to the downfall of Purebloods. That you joining their ranks in rebellion might bring them to their knees. She knew you to be wise beyond your years, and a grand threat to any who opposed you."

Heal allows her mouth to fall slightly ajar. Then quickly pulls it shut and grits her teeth.

"Let her know then, that I failed to be the one who did so."

"Nostrum Hael...," the man begins, shaking his head in a slow and pitiful nature, "she would sense the lie before I could tell it."

Hael gulps harshly, then turns away from the man and seats herself on the edge, allowing her feet to brush the roots.

"Tell no one of our whereabouts. I know those shackles did not lock and I can sense you're a wise man yourself. If we do not return, be the sole bearer of the knowledge that we have perished attempting to save what amount of this world still remains. Cover our tracks if you so wish."

The warden agrees and allows his hands to fall flat on the desk before him with a smile.

"As you so wish."

With this, Hael pushes herself off the edge and vanishes below. The warden then stands up and shakes the shackles from his ankles. Once the chains have been left hanging over his chair, he looks to the hatch, then the small flower.

"Be kind, my darling. For... if not for them, nothing yet to come would even be possible." With these words, he kicks the hatch shut and pulls the rug over the entrance. Knowing that somewhere deep below, a prophecy is being fulfilled.