Lady Grimoire
Star
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2016
- Location
- Canada
╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
Lucretia's Tears
Jack of All Trades; Master of the Mist?
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Lucretia's Tears
Jack of All Trades; Master of the Mist?
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
Chimes jingled against a gentle breeze. Voices filled the commons; people of all shapes and sizes going about their daily routine, attempting to ignore the oppressive mist that surrounded them. It clung to the city's outer walls, held back not by the wooden palisades but by the shining gemstone at the city's center. An artifact known as a Lucretia's Tear--named after the goddess herself who in the myth of creation wept them down to the world before it could be overtaken by the twisting, corrupting influence of the mists.
The sun shone down on the town of Camor, one of the towns saved generations ago by the goddess. Within the sky was the one place that was safe from the mist--it reached as high as the tallest trees, but it could not reach the clouds, of which they were few today leaving a bright blue sky for those turning their gaze upward. Being late spring, with summer near, it was also pleasantly warm. It left many in good spirits--children were playing, adults joking and laughing.
Camor numbered a few hundred people. Farmland lined the outer walls, and food was not yet at the point it was scarce, but within the next generation there would be troubles. The interior of the village was where all the homes had been constructed, with the center of the village, surrounding the tear itself, where most of the tradesmen and artisans worked. There was a certain comfort that came from being within close proximity to the white crystalline artifact; it was as though it radiated a calming, warming glow. Those of keen magical senses might even be aware of it on a greater level, but none were allowed to more directly inspect or examine the artifact.
It was too important to allow someone to toy with. An attitude which likely lead to what was to come. If someone had just been allowed to get close enough, to observe the fading light in the crystal's center. Perhaps something could have been done sooner.
A silence fell upon the town as the roar of a beast from just beyond the walls called for their attention. For several long seconds, many heads turned in that direction. Just when most would return to their day, they were interrupted again. This time by a loud thud; the sound of something slamming into the eastern gate. It took until barely the count of five for someone to scream in a panic, and then, all hell broke loose within the city center.
More thuds, and whumps came from the gate as people fled for their homes. This was not the first time something battered the gates, it would not be the last; as the beast outside the wall continued to slam against the wood and made it buckle, though, it was the furthest anything had ever gotten. In the wilds, there were rumours that tears often had a calming effect on the wild creatures found there. Why this one was not being calmed so close to a city.... well, speculation would have to wait.
Several hard hits later--the gates gave. Torn open, nearly right off the hinges, mist poured through the opening like water through a burst dam. Something which shouldn't be happening. With the flood of the mist came the creature itself: a squat creature on four powerful-looking legs, clad in red plates that gave the appearance of armour protecting a white, fleshier underside, and face. A tail rose up behind it that ended in a spike, like that of a scorpion. From a maw filled with sharpened teeth hung many tongues, a bundle of small tendrils that waved back and forth as it trotted a few feet into town.
Although not overly thick like a morning fog, the mist itself still obscured sight. Enough so that anyone still out and casting a glance over toward it would be able to see two more of the creatures emerge from out of it. Most beasts from the wilds had no names--they weren't encountered often enough to be named--and these were no different. The creatures paused just inside the town, taking a long, slow look around.
Then, one growled as it glanced to another next to it. As if communicating; the third lifted its head and sniffed at the air. Immediately after, the three of them rushed toward the town proper, splitting enough that they could no longer be considered together. Moments later, a touch too late, the clang-clang of the city's warning bell rung out loud. To summon the militia, which would be too late to prevent any initial attacks, but would, with luck, be able to drive the creatures back before too many came to harm.
Of course, that wasn't to say someone else couldn't step in first. If they were close enough, and had the fortitude to do so...
Last edited: