All Chapters of Nostrum: Tales of Valor: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60
70 chapters
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, on
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Earthly Mother
Yuler examines her surroundings as she awaits the sound of Hael's arrival at the bottom of the hole. Noticing the faint glow of Dabria that has imprinted itself into the walls around her, Marne, and Lee, she runs the fingertip of one glove against the surface. To her surprise, the glow finds itself sticking to her. She then brushes it off and onto her trousers as she turns to speak to the others."It would seem the pollen still emits, even in a gust-less place such as this.""The idea lacks surprise." Lee blandly proclaims, shaking his head as he too observes the situation before turning back to the entrance, where Hael makes herself known."We must find the source as quickly as possible. It will surely be our grave if we remain here for too long." Hael kicks dirt from her boots and allows her mask to fall beneath her chin, taking in a deep breath as she does so. "Fortunately for us, it would seem a straight shot to our target."The others look to where Hael's nose has found itself po
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Breach
Emerging from an unfamiliar tunnel, the party coughs and sputters, trying to clear their airways of what smoke their masks could not protect them from. Careful not to tread forward in their struggles, they gain awareness of the surroundings and notice that they've found themselves to be on a cliff face overlooking woodlands and mountain ranges. The peculiar sight's beauty is lost in the violent hacking of the four as they finish spitting up blackened saliva before taking in heavy, deep breaths of fresh air."What will become of us?" Asks Lee, who wears a disgusted and sickened look on his face. "What with that vile thing having permeated our bodies.""Surely the flames would have cleansed you." Hael believes. She hunches forward and continues to breathe heavily, ensuring there is nothing more to come up before she holds herself upright."Reminds me... of a recent grave I occupied." Marne laughs to himself as he watches the smoke churn about, leaving the depths of the cave they had fre
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A Timely Journey
Stirring from their slumber, the party begins their trek back towards the towers of Maciofim with sore muscles and tongues that taste of ash. Little is spoken before they wash away the bitterness from the night before with flowing river water and wipe what they can from their hair and faces, leaving streaks of filth around their collars and garbs. Once each is as satisfied as they can find themselves to be, a conversation begins to break through on their walk across prairie lands. With only a bundle of woodlands and what remains of the clearing standing between them and the city walls, Hael speaks first."I assume their efforts will rest in attempting to restore it. The plant that is.""What purpose might there be in doing such a thing?" Questions Marne, who continues to rub away grime from the back of his neck as he trudges through tall grass."Have you not listened to a word we've said?" Lee rolls his eyes and takes in a deep breath to speak with. "Without Dabria they will most cert
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Reintroduction
"Welcome, welcome!" Comes the voice of Farrow, who extends an arm to either side of his body. "What an honor it is to be in the presence of such great companions!" Stepping over Lady Mardelia's corpse, Farrow proceeds to near the others, who now walk towards him from the throne room's doors. "I must personally thank you lot, as, without you, none of this would have been possible. You've saved us many men, and might I add my own blood."The party looks over one another, still finding themselves to be in a peculiar situation. Though the gratitude of some was to be expected, it is not the gratitude of savages that they sought. Now standing toe-to-toe with the man they once met in the tavern, they observe him up and down. His garbs and weapon display a clear history with the Ryoushi, yet his behavior would suggest otherwise. Open arms and a willingness to work with others are an uncommon sight in such men."What now?" Asks Lee, who moves over to the feast and collects a bottle of yellowis
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Sundering Fate
Standing behind two large doors, barred off by metal gating, and separating them from the gardens, the party awaits Farrow's arrival. As they do so, each begins to appear nervous about what is to come. Marne wipes his blade clean, wishing only to have retrieved his cleaver before reaching such a stage in their work. Yuler stands at the ready, tempted to continue without permission, but not wanting to do so at the same time, as a creature of legend is what she knows they are coming to face. Lee's concerns rest in the well-being of Hael, who stands behind the three of them and gulps harshly as she trembles; Feeling as though the reward for their efforts here may not come to be, but praying that it might. Cheers can still be heard coming from beyond the doors. Where they know others to be watching from windows and rooftops as they too await the arrival of their leader."Puppets." Mumbles Marne, who is now satisfied with the cleanliness of his blade. "Nothing but puppets.""What do you me
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Dividing Destiny
As Hael and Ordaite engage one another, Yuler darts out of the way and towards Marne, who continues to turn about on the ground. Pulling a vial from the stock he carries, she pops the cork and stuffs it in his mouth. As it begins to take hold, his tossing stops and he sips from the vial peacefully. Ensuring he is alright with just the one, she grabs another from his coat and sprints across the field, narrowly missing having her head taken off by the chomping of Ordaite's fanged mouth. Once she has made it over, she looks about for Lee, where she discovers him now standing upright, but still bleeding and leaning against the wall."Lee, take this!" Passing off the vial, she looks back to the fight, now knowing that there are only two vials remaining, and Hael is taking a beating. Pulling her sword free once more, she sprints in battle and slashes at the heels of Ordaite. With each swing she brings about more blood, painting the blackened flowers red once more. As Ordaite turns away from
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Lingering
Awaiting the arrival of Hael, the group finds themselves resting in a quarter at the far end of The Bethel, where they ponder their own thoughts. Marne looks to the high ceiling, where a set of arched beams maintain the roof beyond it. His thoughts dive deep into the ideas that Yuler provided him. A place to call home, land to care for, and potentially even children. Still, who to enjoy it with seems to slip his mind, as Yuler's words have not seemed to have hinted towards it being him she has these intentions with. As he continues to think on this, Lee finds himself focused solely on the well-being of Hael, who he assures himself will be the same woman he has always known. Perhaps, even better. If, and only if, Farrow can restore her sight, perhaps she will enjoy the life they have come to know even more so. Or... perhaps she will see his scar, and feel too much guilt to continue on with him. Yuler, who has separated herself from the others and taken to a windowsill, watches the stre
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Unending
Awake the next morning, Marne finds himself and Yuler to be alone in the room as she continues to sleep. Peering through the window, the blinding light of the sun causes him to squint his eyes and look away once more. As his eyes fall over Yuler, he brushes her cheek with a finger and smiles. Then, quietly gets to his feet and moves about the room, searching for his tricorn and boots. Once they are in hand, he leaves the room as well and begins his search for the others. In almost no time at all, the search ends. Within the throne room, he finds them to be enjoying a morning feast and rum. Lee takes to tell the Craws stories of long ago, and Hael allows her eyes to wander over anything and everything that they can. Marne smiles once more and moves about the table, settling himself into a chair at Hael's side and pulling up a second seat for when Yuler comes to join them."Rest well, have ye?" Lee asks in a drunken state before chugging from a mug."I did. Did you?""Indeed. Celebratin
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Deception
Marne walks through the halls, finding his way to Farrow's office space. As he enters the door he is met by the many bookshelves that surround Farrow's desk. Atop the desk, he spots The Tome of Fandor. Approaching the rather large book, he looks about himself, then back again at the blue trimmed leather. Satisfied with his position, he reaches for it."Stop there!" Comes a voice from the hall.Startled, Marne turns to face the husky sound and spots a Nostrum who adorns The Bethel's garbs. Marne looks the man up and down, then smiles."Greetings. Is Farrow in by chance?""Our leader has found himself tied up in a meeting, eager to express a plan to take what remains of Maciofim into our possession.""Oh, excellent! I've actually got some ideas of my own that I'd like to share with him. Do you think he's too busy for that?"The man grunts and then studies Marne for a moment before giving a nod and turning back towards the halls and heading left. Marne, assuming the man is off to get Far
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