The castle loomed over the landscape, a shrouded outline of menacing stone in the midst of the swirling unnatural mist surrounding it. Tendrils of that dark fog stretched to every corner of this small and once-thriving kingdom now, twisting that which it did not kill outright into dark and demonic shapes, vicious creatures that hunted in the night. But the lion's share of the eerie presence curled around the castle where its creator resided like some guardian beast, assuming that creator had not succumbed to his own creation as the rest of this land had.
They were three, those that had braved the mists and the terrors that lurked within to arrive here, a stone's throw from the castle gate...
Lunamaria, a paladin of the Silverswords order and de-facto leader of the group, as well as the only reason they had made it through the mists at all. A short but powerful woman with dark brown hair and a smattering of freckles visible across her nose on those rare occasions where her helmet was removed. Her connection to the light was strong enough to push back the darkness and discomfit the creatures it spawned through little more than her presence alone, and she was a capable fighter as well, blessed with both skill and speed.
Raime, an ex-thief turned to more legitimate work as a spy for the neighbouring kingdom of Trest. She had offered her services when Luna had come through seeking aid in her venture to push back and vanquish the darkness that then was largely rumour and hearsay among court. A taller woman for all that she was actually younger than the paladin, with slightly pointed ears and angular features that suggested an elven ancestor some generations past as well as brilliant red hair in a long mane. Her skills in gathering information were less useful, but those more practical skills of lock picking, sneaking, and the occasional unfortunate necessity of quiet killing were all very much assets to such an endeavour.
Last but not least was Anna, a practical traveling wizard who had joined out of a desire to study the mists and their effects. Lunamaria had been suspicious of her for some time after her joining the group but after repeated assurance that she intended to use whatever she learned to destroy the mist and to ensure that others could destroy it should some Mage attempt to re-create this in the future. She of average height, with less muscle than either of the other two members of the group, instead with soft skin and bountiful curves that couldn't help but show even through the robes she typically wore to cover herself. Her hair was short and brown and her features were soft, though her eyes were watchful and calculating, betraying her considerable intelligence with a glance.
Steadily, this trio ventured down and advanced on the castle gate, watchful for any guards that might emerge...
They were three, those that had braved the mists and the terrors that lurked within to arrive here, a stone's throw from the castle gate...
Lunamaria, a paladin of the Silverswords order and de-facto leader of the group, as well as the only reason they had made it through the mists at all. A short but powerful woman with dark brown hair and a smattering of freckles visible across her nose on those rare occasions where her helmet was removed. Her connection to the light was strong enough to push back the darkness and discomfit the creatures it spawned through little more than her presence alone, and she was a capable fighter as well, blessed with both skill and speed.
Raime, an ex-thief turned to more legitimate work as a spy for the neighbouring kingdom of Trest. She had offered her services when Luna had come through seeking aid in her venture to push back and vanquish the darkness that then was largely rumour and hearsay among court. A taller woman for all that she was actually younger than the paladin, with slightly pointed ears and angular features that suggested an elven ancestor some generations past as well as brilliant red hair in a long mane. Her skills in gathering information were less useful, but those more practical skills of lock picking, sneaking, and the occasional unfortunate necessity of quiet killing were all very much assets to such an endeavour.
Last but not least was Anna, a practical traveling wizard who had joined out of a desire to study the mists and their effects. Lunamaria had been suspicious of her for some time after her joining the group but after repeated assurance that she intended to use whatever she learned to destroy the mist and to ensure that others could destroy it should some Mage attempt to re-create this in the future. She of average height, with less muscle than either of the other two members of the group, instead with soft skin and bountiful curves that couldn't help but show even through the robes she typically wore to cover herself. Her hair was short and brown and her features were soft, though her eyes were watchful and calculating, betraying her considerable intelligence with a glance.
Steadily, this trio ventured down and advanced on the castle gate, watchful for any guards that might emerge...