~A village nearby has been slaughtered. Rheksas informs the others the dark deed was brought on by a Skinwalker, a devious devil of a creature. The group will soon leave to the village to burn the bodies and begin the funeral rites~

Neochaotic: -The air still smelled of rain, a godsend given the village not to far off not holding the most pleasant of aromas. Somewhere within the castle ruin there were steady drips of water hitting stone, the sound echoing through the halls and reaching the semi pointed ears of the distressed woman cleaning out the basement. There were still so many repairs to be made, a deep and silent sigh would heave her chest as she mopped. Myrith for her part was in the gardens, enjoying playing with the wolf spirit who had begun manifesting there. The other specters had all but disappeared since the castle returned to Thrae, the veil wasn't as thin anymore, the magic limited. They could not move about as freely. Yet another reason Lira was not glad to be back. Passing out on the kitchen table and sleeping for a full day had done the job though. She was back to her normal, quite composed self, despite the war between fear and fury raging in her heart. She spoke no words out loud, just mopped the floor of the basement nearest the forge in silence-

Rheksas: She could no doubt hear the heavy, armored footfalls of Rheksas as he descended the stairwell intent on finding Lira. "Two things," he began, his voice echoing in the small, closed off chamber. "Two women, even. While you were asleep, a lady came and paid her respects to the main temple. Left some offerings. Another woman was stalking that woman but wouldn't come close to these grounds. Then she followed the first woman back to one of the villages, and that's why they stink to high heaven right now. Can you guess why?" he asked, his lanky arms crossed over his chest.

Neochaotic: -Someone else had come their to pay respects? Odd, she didn’t remember anyone still being religious unless forced, as was the Gods’ way. She didn't turn from her work, mostly out of embarrassment of how she'd acted the last few days, and passing out from all that damned elderflower mead. She mentally resolved to hide that from herself somehow. Without ceasing she spoke, her voice still a bit weary but mostly neutral- “I cannot guess… why?”

Rheksas: "Because they're dead, Lira. They're dead and their piled high for the vultures to see," Rheksas answered. "The second woman was a skindancer, and she knows where we are now. Do you think your enemy would employ such a creature? If so, then we've already been caught by a spy, and I recommend we go an kill it before it squeals."

Neochaotic: -A small frown pulled at her features as she stopped her cleaning and turned to face him. The skin dancer sounded very similar to a woman in Astarte's employ from near 5 years ago and the thought that she this woman could be one and the same was troubling to say the least- "Aye.. she would. Do you know how they died?" -The fear she'd felt, that gnawing terror was replaced wholly by anger, her voice had gone quiet and eerily still, a deadly fury hiding just below the surface-

Rheksas: Rheksas furrowed his brow. "How do you think? They were ripped up and flayed. I can imagine it took a new skin out of the dozens dead," he said, speaking with the kind of edge that implied he had some insider knowledge in the matter. "Village is just close enough for me to tell. 'Dancer's not within my range anymore, though. What do you want to do?" As of yet, the revenant had neglected to discuss his peculiar radar abilities, but perhaps this might prompt such a conversation.

Neochaotic: -She would grit her teeth, the mop handle clanking to the stone wall beside her as she let it go, a small fire shinning just behind her eyes. She did not like her home world, as a matter of fact she despised it with every fiber of her being but this was not about her home, or the planet. It was about the innocents that had been slaughtered- "I had no way to know the manner of their death. I ask that you not be quite so crass in your choice of words... those were people. People who deserve better than to be mauled like animals and left to the dogs" -there was vanom dripping from her words but her ire wasn't truly directed at him, no it was mostly toward the crazed maniac who'd no doubt brought this death sentence upon those villagers- "We gather information, we ready ourselves, we strike... quickly" -was her short reply, she was far from a battle strategist but someone would pay for thhe lives lost. In a moment sadness touched her features, a long tear streaming from her eye before she dashed it away- "First we burn the bodies nd perform the Rites... "

Rheksas: "I'm sorry if you took it that way, but how else is a skindancer gonna kill people?" he asked, taking careful note of her reaction. Part of the reason he brought her the news was to see just how she responded to the atrocity - a test of sorts. "Are you prepared to see that many dead, Lira? Are you prepared to face the utterly inhumane? We can send them off with a prayer, but if we go there, you will undoubtedly be faced with your own mortality. And with the supreme cruelty of our enemy."

Neochaotic: -He was right of course, she should have know the second a skindancer was brought into the picture she could have only been responsible for the carnage. Her stomach quelled at the memory of dealing with such creatures "I have faced worse.... why in the hell do you think I fear her so?!" -she yelled the angry noise bouncing off the walls as stray wisps of her power would sing into the air, unbeknost to their source. Her hands were fisted at her sides, knuckles white as could show through her chocolate colored skin, eyes bright with emotion as those dangerous blue hues shone with anger and frustration. She took several calming breaths and took a step back from him, not even realizing she'd begun to move closer. Had he been any of the lesser dead the fury eminating from her would have caused him harm, but then Rheksas was not a lesser dead by any means. Shaking her head she went to the forge and grabbed the accelerant and a barrel of straw, not so heavy as it looked- "Help me guid these spirits to their final rest..."

Rheksas: A faint tingling washed over his leathery skin, but that was about the extent of what he felt from her power. To a soul so firmly anchored to its vessel, it would take more than a mere tantrum to uproot him. She could see, however, that he was shaking his head at her. Something about her reaction brought him disappointment. "Rein it in," he said. "Your anger may be righteous, but anger must be broken before it can serve a purpose. There will almost never be a time when you can overcome a foe who knows what they're doing by pure rage, not when they have experience and training to fall back on." Rheksas spoke evenly but firmly, clearly enunciating so that his every word would shake her to her core. "We will see these people honored as the dead must be. We may yet see them avenged as well. But we do it with a clear head and clearer intent."

Neochaotic: -She felt as though a child be chided by her parent for misbehaving and turned from him, her face lite by the embers of the forge. She continued to take slow, deep breaths, her hands flexing at her sides until she felt once again herself. She was still angry, but it was quietly tucked in the place she held for such emotion until it could be put to use. Her taining had not been for nothing. Mentally she berated herself for losing control, even for a moment. Astarte had that effect on her, but years of torture and suffering will do that to a person. Quiet as a whisper she spoke- "You have my thanks for your assiatnce. Let us see to the departed" -Her tone was even, but deadpan, a step below neutral. It was empty.

-Without another word she ascended from the basement and to the upper level, gathering her things to make the hour long trip to the village nearby-

Rheksas: He lagged behind for a time, silently contemplating whether or not she was actually able to control her anger. Well, he couldn't honestly expect her to just up and quell her rage on a whim. That took time, training, and plenty of focus. When he did bother to climb up the stairs, he waited in the main room for her, having already prepared what he might bring since he figured she might want to go beforehand. The Arbiter had granted him his spells earlier that day, so there wasn't much else he could take with him other than himself and his gear. "You wanted to go soon? I don't know if we'll catch the 'dancer this way."

Neochaotic: "Should we encounter her she will die this day. If not she dies another" -She stated simply, her voice still devoid as she re-entered the room, a small satch in hand and a vial of a sand like substance clutched easily in her palm.

-Myrith had followed Lira from the room, having heard bits of the conversation, and was now glancing between her friend and the tall man she'd come to like. The small child woried her bottom lip, hands clasped together as she watched Lira walk past both she and Rheksas and out of the main gate. Myrith floated toward the tall fellow and hugged his arm-

Myrith: "I hate it when she does that... Please keep her from doing something she will regret"

Rheksas: Rheksas peered down at the small spirit, unsure if he could protect Lira in her present state of mind. That much seemed to show on his face. It wasn't easy to hide things from Myrith, he found. "If I can, I'll steer her towards funeral rites and have her leave the hunting to me. A skindancer isn't going to strike out in the open. Not against us."

Neochaotic: "I know... I just get worried when she pushes the bad stuff down like that.. It's not gone it's just deeper. The last time she did it for 3 years... and when it broke she almost hurt someone really bad" -The trouble in his own eyes didn't ease her worry, quite the opposite in fact. The small child hugged herself to him tighter, burying her small face into his neck as wisps of ectoplasmic tears fell from her hollow eyes. The tears turned into flecks of sparkling dust and dissapated into the air before reahching the ground-

Rheksas: Rheksas rubbed the corners of his mouth, a nervous tic known for the rarity of its occurence. His mouth felt dry. "You know, Myrith, I'm only able to protect myself if it comes down to that."

Neochaotic: "She listens to you... if you talk to her she'll listen" -she wiped some of the tears from her chubby cheeks and floated down to the ground- "Please.. try" -she plead, staring up at him as a few more tears fell and disperse into a small could of sparkling dust before vanishing completely-

Rheksas: He had a sneaking suspicion the only thing she'd listen to in her current state of mind would be violence. So he would show her violence, and plenty of it. Going to the village would accomplish that; he'd seen as much with his flyblight. "Lira," he called out from the main hall. "We should perhaps not go with just the two of us. I want to impress upon the others how important this is to the core mission."

Neochaotic: -The gloved hand that had been holding the door handle ready to open it still and fell to her side as the now hooded woman rounded to face him. Myrith saw the empty look on her friend's face and gave a small sigh before returning to the gardens, hoping to fine Veila somewhere about them. Lirael raised her bright blue eyes to meet his- "Others or not... the dead must be attended to. You know what happens when a person dies in such a way. I cannot let those souls wander in pain, trapped here by the circustances of their demise" -she spoke loud enough for him to hear her as she did not move from the door- "The skindancer will not attack again this day...." -her voice got slightly tight when she had to utter the vile name of the beast but she quickly quelled the emotion-

DrowningInRemains: It seem after what happened with the ritual, she had become more shut in as a result. The albino Elvhen should already know by now that trust was always missed placed, from the ancients to the Dalish, it made no difference. Though if Rheksas called in his debt, she would have to bare her arms. Though it’s when he would call for it, this brought great uneasiness not just for herself but also the spirits and demons. Deceit and Fear only strengthening the suspicions. She kept vigil as lavender eyes darted left to right, keeping an eye for movements on her peripheral vision as she read one of her tomes. Though Dirthamen’s compulsion is still in effect, even though sealed away. Though so far he remains silent. Even if Rheksas could have fixed this, would she bead dead or worse off than before? Ceranriel was uncertain, but for now. She kept her ears open.

Rheksas: Rheksas set his jaw, determined in what he felt he must now do. "Gather them," he said, quickly deciding on how he might fulfill Myrith's request. "Gather them and meet me in the village. I will be going ahead to assess the damage." Without another word, he went out the door and set himself on the path, knowing exactly where he was meant to go. His destination was just far enough to be in only half the range of his flyblight, so the other half was, for better or for worse, outside the periphery of his remote viewing. That was what he meant to find out; he knew what was happening on one end and needed to know what had happened to the other. Only then could he safely guide Lira through and make Myrith happy.

Archives: : Ever since Tarathriel had returned the ruin to Thrae, she'd kept to her room or the kitchen only, avoiding all contact with others. Currently, as she lounged in her milk bath, Veila thought of all things surrounding banishing Siena. She'd been with the templar spirits and ever since, she couldn't help feeling stronger as if they had left part of their powers with her. She sank even lower into the water's depths then as she was trying to avoid all her thoughts. She would have to do research on it, and really, she wasn't looking forward to anything.

Neochaotic: -She felt the smallest hint of something through the barriers she’d placed on her own emotions. It wasn’t happiness, not a sick enjoyment of the promise of pain to come to another. No she was the smallest bit releived.At least the dead would not suffer long. At least she could do the one thing she was good at, helping them find peace… Lira nodded at Rheksas’ gentle command and set off to find the others. She’d watched Myrith go back to sulk amongst the flowers in the garden. It took a bit of looking but Lira came to Veila’s rooms and could hear the soft sounds of splashing water within. With a rap of her knuckles on the wooden frame- “Veila...” -she called out in the door’s direction, her voice still empty, dead as her now darkened eyes as she waited for a response from within. Then she would look to find whoever was still aboout-

DrowningInRemains: Ceranriel was not used to silent, since the incident the spirits, were more on edge. A piece of the riddle was missing, yes she heard of gods, but then again many things claim to be such. Lavender eyes shut for a few moments as the sound of her closing her hard cover tome echoed through the empty temple. Her interest was peak, whether or not it was good or bad had yet to be seen. The elvhen women decided what little private matter was going on, was possibly a concern. Rheksas did have enough reason to turn the temple’s residence up and arms against her based on foolish notions on possession and abominations…as the chantry loves to call them. Though there was a hope that much like her existence, it was forgotten. She needed to clear her head, possibly some fresh air would help.

Rheksas: And so our intrepid revenant went ahead, scouring the countryside in tireless strides until finding his way to the beach. He figured by then the others should be coming out of the temple, maybe were even halfway caught up; the sooner they got there the better, because he noticed a pile of bodies fairly quickly. Having realized their location using his flyblight, he found it another matter altogether to look upon them with his own eyes. The warrior gingerly picked his way through the sands, approaching the scene with axe drawn that he would not be caught unawares. His flies were abundant, making him strong here besides. Only a fool would attack him so close to his own enchantments. The smell was horrendous, as was to be expected, but Rheksas had no real need to breathe, so it could only bother him so much. He knelt to examine this particular pile, silently counting through them. Not enough for a whole village, but enough to cover a block or so...

Neochaotic: -Getting no response from the elven woman who was clearly bathing Lira went to the Library hoping to find Ceran. Spotting the woman not far from the entrance and completely unaware of the events from the previous night the ashen haired woman would pause before speaking, hoping to say the words properly- “Ceranriel… If you would there is a job that needs doing and your assistance would be appreciated. There are dead to burn and rites to be said” She didn’t explain anything further nor did she wait for a response. hoping the albino woman understood Lira was asking for her help. The dead needed to be seen to before there was an entirely different abundance of spirits roaming the castle halls. Making her way out of the castle Lira all but stopped dead as her foot first made contact with the soil she’d not set foot on for the better part of 3 years. She stilled her heart,pushing down once more the fury and anguish that threatened to rise within her and made her way down toward the village by the sea, the wind carrying with it the vile scent of rot and decay. There was much to be done-

DrowningInRemains: The moment when Lira approached her for assistance, it is then and there that the elvhen women realized that Rheksas said nothing of her, it was a relief and yet a concern. Lira asking aid over corpses, meaning there was more than one and apparently Lira thought she was a good idea? Ceranriel sighed and nodded and spoke. “If my aid is needed, then I will not argue over the matter.” The albino followed calmly, the air had a hollow and yet a foul feel to it, much like after a massacre or war. This was a feeling she knew too well. The spirits were already reacting as she made her way closer to the villiage, Compassion and Justice being the most vocal. It did not help that brief visions and emotions of the departed remain. It was nauseating feeling. The Elvhen women spoke. “May I ask what transpire here?”

Rheksas: Rheksas went about the despicable deed of fishing through the bodies, nudging them aside with his axe and all but manhandling a select few in search of specific wounds. He could see clear entry points where the perpetrator had sought to peel away the skin in on clean sheet, but these corpses were obviously the failures. They were missing flesh in large strips, likely eaten or discarded as the skindancer made for other prey. With a wave of his hand, he sent a cloud of flies further into the village to scout ahead for threats, then turned from the pile and wandered along the coastline in search of Lira, sure of the route she would take. In his head he steadily compiled all the information thus far, trying to work his way through the attacker's patterns and motives. Well, what other motive would such a monster have? Chaos was glee in its purest form.

Neochaotic: "A creature I assume to be an agent of Astarte came, the villagers did not stand a chance" -Her voice was still neutral as she approached the village and immediately approached the pile of remains, the bodies piled upon one another in sick fashion, each sporting clean, precise wounds. The entrails littering the bloody sand looks like raw meat, the smell enough to stifle the breath in your throat. Rheksas was there, what she was searching for she was not certain. What she did know is these people, they hadn't deserved this- "I ask that you help me gather the remains... all of them" -it was a gruesome task but without the bodies being at least all together the spirits would never find peace. Without another word Lira set to work-

DrowningInRemains: Ceranriel felt the dead, their spirits stirred with despair and confusion, some bore anger and hate. This was going to lead to an overly large migraine. Lavender eyes glanced around at the dead, she did not know how to exactly what process did the people did for their mourning rituals. The elvhen women did minor magical influence of a horse to keep it calm in light of the chaos as she used it to pull a cart as she gathered remains. “I am more suited as a weapon or a tool rather than a priest.” The spirits kept up their anger and outrage over this massacre. Most bodies were either charred or in pieces. The raw power was unsettling, she could have confused it for a dragon attack. Ceranriel stared the devastation and destruction, she had a feeling Rheksas might call in that favor sooner than later. She returned shortly after when the cart was getting too heavy for the horse. “There are many remains... Some in pieces, it might not be possible to gather them all.”

Neochaotic: "We must try" -This was the simple reply she gave as she handed a pair of leather gloves ans a shovel like tool to Ceran- "I will perform the Rites once we have finished... for now please help me move them" -The entrails and guts literring the still bload soaked sane made squishy, quelching noise beneath her boots as she moved. The fire had been set and little by little they would burn the remains if it took all night. At least she would, knowing such things were her duty. The anger of the spirits around them burned the air, causing the nauseating smell of rot to turn even fouler from the heat. Lira grimaced and handed the elven woman a cloth for her face as well- "I can't ask you to stay as long as is needed. Any help you will offer is aporeciated" -her voice was almost robotic as she worked, eyes never leaviing the gore around them-

DrowningInRemains: She nodded and listened to Lira and politely suggested an idea. “This village even if the dead are put to rest will only be temporarily. Spirits that never lived, do not understand and press against the boundaries that separate us. I suggest that village should not remain.” Ceranriel though did aid in laying out the bodies, she had collected limbs and organs. “ If you want I could slay this… agent of Astrate… I am uncertain if it would ease the pain.”

Neochaotic: -Lira stopped shoveling piles of bloody human remains for a moment to regard the albino woman- "Burning the grounds will solve nothing but if you wish to assist iin slaying the Skindancer you may" -The pain of all those deaths, the anger, their anguish was weighing heavily on the ashen haired woman. Spirits has been her only companions her entire life, the only things she trusted. Humans, elves, faeries, they'd all proven themselves cruel or wrong in some way. Not the dead. And now with so many of them broken and bound to this place she used every ounce of control she possessed to push down her emotions and keep them locked safely within the box she'd placed them in-

-Back in the castle ruins-

-Some of the inhabitants began to stir and move about. One such individual being the gruff man who'd shown up through a portal the night before. Not taking kindly to his new situation, the short, raven haired man had proceeded to drink himself into a stupor and pass out on the stone floor in the makehift stables of stone and wood-

DreadRest: All Jarris knew was that he’d drunk too much. From the foul breath, to the painful headache, to the smell of hay and horse dung, he knew he’d passed out in the stables. Forcing his eyes open, arms stretched out above his head, he rolled onto his side and forced himself to his knees with a loud groan. He didn’t care who saw him waking up in the horse stables. Hell, he hadn’t cared who’d seen him fall asleep there either. The stable was empty, his horse, Emmie, must have ran off with the others. Who left the gate open? “Shit, shit…shit.” He grumbled, using the stable fence to pull himself the rest of the way to his feet. His black hair was stuck to his forehead complete with little bits of hay sticking out of it. A squishing noise met him with each step as he found his way out of the stable. His foot slipped, and he caught himself just before he fell down. His hazel eyes looking down, he saw what appeared to be a string of intestines. His stomach rolled and he vomited the rest of the rum from his system in painful spasms. As he rose again to stand, he backed out of the stables with wide eyes. The horses hadn’t run off- oh no. They’d been massacred. He swallowed, keeping down the rest of his stomach and followed the trail of gore.

~To Be Continued~