Nostrum: Tales of Valor

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 pointing and begin to tread forward, guided by the glow that coats the path.

"How could it be?" Asks Yuler. "How could it be that Lady Mardelia does not see the error in her ways? In the beliefs, she has chosen to follow?"

"Do not confuse yourself with the idea," Hael begins, "as it isn't quite as simple as it is made out to be."

"How so?"

"Even The Bethel is full of men and women who have their suspicions. Not everyone believes that Dabria will cleanse the world, nor does everyone think it won't." Lee runs the end of his blade against a large root as he speaks. "They are no less human than you and I."

"The Bethel believes that by allowing Mildew to infect the rest of the world first, they can monitor it and manage the damages from within the city. This is so they may maintain their own sanity, as they believe it is their duty to oversee Dabria's work. Once Dabria has consumed all that is not Maciofim, then High Priestess will command the Nostrum to stand down. Efforts to kill off the beasts that come to be will cease, and while the takeover is happening, a feast will be held to celebrate their successes. A feast that will include beverages and foods made from Dabria itself. Ensuring that those who attend will be the last who are... mostly human."

"High Priestess is to be the last to change." Lee states. "With Ordaite being the first to succumb, The Bethel sees it only fitting that High Priestess be the one who brings such purification into the world."

"Then they will die as the fools they were born to be." Yuler shakes her head with disgust as this knowledge sits on her mind.

"So, they truly believe that in doing so, the world will simply return to the way in which it once was, only evil will have been vanquished?" Marne wonders.

"That is the idea." Hael continues to sniff at the air as she speaks, as if to ensure that they do not fall off track. "But again, you must remember that only some believe these things truly. Wait, stop!" Hael puts a hand out to her side as if to cut the others off from traveling any further. She then cocks her head to one side and sniffs at the air more aggressively. "We're not alone down here."

Grunts can be heard coming from further down the path as a shadowy form stands up a distance from the party. Having been hidden against the now rocky ground beneath them. It then hunkers forward and continues to let out coos and grunts as it weakly approaches them. Yuler and Lee raise their swords, being the closest to the front, aside from Hael. Finally seeming to gain the strength, the thing stands upright. Lengthy black hair seems to float around its head and a lanky body suggests ages of malnourishment. Elongated nails make themselves known as the thing approaches them as one might an oasis in the deserts. An obvious thirst is made known and it begins to rapidly slash at the air as it clumsily trudges forwards, knocking its boney feet against the ground as it does so. A deafening scream is made known as its motions become cleaner and aggression takes over. Startling the party, the creature finds itself taking the advantage. Yuler stumbles backward and occupies the arms of Lee, who drops his sword in the process of catching her. Marne and Hael are the only ones left ready to fight as the creature comes within only a few feet of them screeching once more. A cry of desperation is heard as it tears at Hael's blade, eager to disarm her. The wild slashes throw her off balance and send her weapon clattering against roots and rocks as Marne shouts back at the thing and lets his blade soar towards it. In an instance the thing's cries are cut short. Marne's blade finds itself lodged in the humanoid creature's throat, separating its jaws from one another. Its arms fall limp and it quickly crumples as he withdraws his attack.

"What the hell was that thing?" Yuler questions in a demanding way, as Lee assists her back to her feet before attending to retrieving Hael's sword. "Have you ever seen the likes of that?"

"Not as an adversary." Hael blandly states. "I should have suspected."

"Suspected what?" Marne wipes the edge of his blade clean with a loose cloth, then stuffs it back into a pocket within his coat.

"A member of the congregation. One who has signed away their soul, rejected their acceptance by Numen, all in order to keep an eternal watch over whatever The Bethel demands of them." Hael faces the direction they were headed in, then sighs. "Unfortunately, that thing seems to be Dabria itself."

"What should we know of them?" Yuler asks, looking out over the glow and almost certainly expecting another to show up.

"Not much." Lee passes Hael's sword off to her and then collects his own before speaking once more. "Only that they're never alone when ordered to do something... and there will surely be more in our way."

"Not only that, but they are always aware of an intruder, and that intruder's intentions."

"Psychic by nature?"

"You could say that." Hael states, almost sounding defeated as distance shrieks and cries can be heard coming from the catacombs.

"Just pray their numbers are slimmer than they sound." Lee pulls his blade to his side and uses both hands to clutch at the hilt, reminding himself of how Hael had been disarmed. "Keep an eye on the walls, the floors, and the ceiling overhead. They can tuck into the shadows like no other creature you have seen before."

The party continues on, cautious of all that they see and hear as the cries and screams continue all around them. As if the congregation is digging through the earth itself to reach them. Before long, another makes itself known and Hael swiftly decapitated it as it attempts to stand from its hiding place.

"A putrid odor, they carry. Unmistakeable stench."

"How much further do you think we must travel?" Marne looks about himself with a hardened expression. Feeling as though there is nothing more treacherous than the task at hand.

"The roots are thickening." Assures Lee, continuing to follow them with his eyes as they go on their way, and avoiding tripping over any that cross the path. "Keep one eye on your feet and another faced forward."

"There is no need." Hael claims, her nostrils flaring. "We're here."

"We're whe-"

Before Yuler can finish with her question, the roots beneath them, which make up more of the ground than anything else, swiftly shift away from the four of them and send them tumbling into yet another hole. Yet, this one is not like the last. The red glow surrounds them at every corner and is almost blinding to their nocturnal eyes. As they thump against a plush surface, they quickly get to their feet and search for answers, but no searching is needed.

"You've found me." A whispering voice seems to fill their minds, but it is not one that is unfamiliar. The voice of Dabria speaks from within as they turn towards the source. "Of all the places in this world to look. Of all the tunnels, caves, and valleys, you have come here, and you have found me."

"Do not be distracted by its attempts to entrance you." Reminds Hael, who turns about for a moment before catching the scent's direction. "It only wishes to make you sympathize."

"No... I wish to thank you. For without your presence, mine would be pointless. This is the furthest any human has come, let alone... four."

Yuler traces the roots with her eyes as she too gets to her feet. Between each root, red, pillow-like moss coats the dirt, seemingly growing off the roots themselves. Disregarding this, she continues to follow the roots until she is met with a sight unlike any other. At the core of each of the roots rests a flower much taller than herself, or any beast she has ever encountered. With her neck pulled back as far as it will go, her eyes widen and she feels a sense of calm wash over her.

"Please, fear me not. Approach my stalk and I will purge the darkness that grows in the heart of every man." As the flower speaks, its roots begin to twist and curl, slowly moving towards the party and creating swirling patterns in the moss underfoot. "Allow me no more than an instant and I will turn you into a creature of purity. A heart of rose-gold sanctuary for all who come to pass."

"It tells lies! Do not listen to these words!" Hael warns again, now searching for Lee, but not finding him. "Shut yourselves out, do not allow this!"

As her words fail to aid the rattled minds of her counterparts, Marne, Lee, and Yuler begin to slowly approach the flower. Their swords clatter against stone and their masks find themselves to be slipping off their faces as small roots climb their bodies and tug at their cloths.

"Peace is all you will ever know from this moment on." The stalk of the flower begins to pulse as if warm blood runs beneath its pale white skin. Making it all the more appealing as three of the four rests their palms against it. Their masks now around their necks, the flower begins to let off pollen, which swirls about in the air in an angelic fashion before coating them entirely in the flower's ilk. It's slow rolling powders soothe old wounds and lighten their bodies as they inhale its flavorful whisps.

"No!" Hael shouts, finding herself snared by the feet in an attempt to approach as well. Realizing what is happening, she quickly swats at the roots with her blade, cutting them away and leaving them hissing as they retreat. But her efforts do not go unnoticed. Larger roots begin to slither towards her and members of the congregation appear from the shadows all around them. Blacking out most of the glow that litters the walls.

"Do not fight the gifts I am bestowing upon you. Allow them to sprout and whisk away your worries. Become one with me, and I will grant you an eternity."

Hael rushes the stalk, continuing to slash at what roots manage to grab her. Then, she pulls a flask from Lee's coat, who remains attuned to the flower throughout the chaos.

"Lee, shake yourself off! Wake up! Wake UP!"

Her cries go unanswered as she pours the contents of the flask over the stalk and roots. Once the flask falls empty, she collects a stone in one hand and clenches her sword in the other. In an instant, flames begin to spread and the roots' cries grow louder. With nowhere to escape to, they begin slamming against the ground and furrowing in a desperate attempt to stay alive. Their efforts are lost upon them as the top of the flower begins to ignite, disrupting the whispers that are heard.

"Why fight a fate... so much grander than death?"

As the burrow begins to fill with smoke Lee, Marne, and Yuler begin to scream out in agony. Their lungs, eyes, tongues, and nostrils burn as if they too have caught fire, but Hael ignores this and pries them from the flower. Pulling them to safety as members of the congregation screech and fall from their nesting places. Each one dying as the flower does, as if their very essence has been ripped away.

"Run! Run from this place with me! Guide us Lee, please!" Hael's sense of smell is lost as the smoke fills her lungs and she desperately shakes at Lee, who begins to come around and stop screaming.

Getting to his feet and coughing violently, he vomits, then looks to the flower once more. His eyes filled with horror and understanding.

"You... you've done it. You've destroyed it."

"And it will surely destroy us if we don't leave... NOW!"