Chapter 4.2: The Dim Journey to Orlane

Sora is too tired to try to use any herbalism right now; she will rest and recover her hit dice, and then we'll see where she stands.

Amnestria descends to the ground floor to visually assess the situation and take account of everyone's condition. As it seems everyone aside from herself is worse for wear, she suggests, "You all take a bedroom. I'll help Guilbert and Reynald with securing the house and remain on guard the rest of the night."

Antonius stirs quietly in his sleep, rolling to his side revealing blood stained bedding from where his head had just been resting. From the stain on the bandages wrapped upon him, anyone can see he’ll need a few stitches in the morning which will leave a scar.

But as he rests even Wee Jas knows this is a problem for the morning.

"Sir Morton," Sora yawns, Pray, would you travel with us and tell us what you know of nearby Orlane?"

Kazzak feels ready for today's tasks The party was victorious, albeit wounded and battered. The bravery of his companions measures up to any he's seen back home in the mines. Some day we will meld into a smooth fighting unit.

But first things first. Good thing I made time to wipe my boots and sword last night. Kazzak cleans his canary's cage and refreshes the seeds in the corner. "There you go, Admiral. Food for the day. Sorry I can't let you out right now. There's an owl about."

Waking up and moving around still a bit sore but none the worse for wear Dell will get something to eat and check on Sora and Antonius. He will then address the group"Thank you all for helping me. That was pretty dumb of me to get that close to a zombie. It won't happen again."Looking around"It was almost as if they were sent to attack us. Seems a bit weird they would just happen upon us like that." He will shrug "Any one up to burning some bodies? I don't think burying them is a good idea."

Antonius wakes slowly, pain announcing itself before consciousness fully returns. His face aches beneath the bandages, particularly along the reopened wound running up the side of his cheek toward his eye. He sits upright carefully, pausing to steady himself before swinging his legs over the side of the bed and standing.

Moving stiffly from the bedroom, Antonius follows the sounds of activity into the main room. His eyes settle upon the unfamiliar elf tending to his own wounds. He studies him quietly for several moments, noting the herbs, the healer's kit, and the practiced manner in which he tends himself. The assessment is instinctive—the careful appraisal of a former watchman determining whether the stranger before him is capable and trustworthy.

"Antonius Block," he says at last, his voice rough with sleep. "Cleric of Wee Jas."

His gaze returns briefly to the healer's kit before meeting the elf's eyes.
"I don't believe we've been properly introduced. Who might you be, and what brings you to this part of the Dim Forest?"

He pauses, then gestures carefully toward the side of his face.

"I see you have some skill in healing. If your offer still stands, I would be grateful for your assistance." His fingers briefly touch the bandage near his cheek. "This wound has reopened, and I'd rather have it properly tended and stitched before it becomes a greater problem."

His expression remains reserved but courteous as he adds, "If you are willing, I would appreciate your help."

Sora nods to Dell in response to his thanks. "You kept them off of me; it was the least I could do." She stretches, feeling much better after a night's rest.

Amnestria stretches. To Dell's comment, she adds, "The zombies seemed attracted to noise and movement, as evidenced by your brave example. There was plenty of both from our battle with the bandits, so it's no surprise that they headed in our direction. I am thankful that no other zombies showed up last night; it might mean they're too far away to hear our snores."

When Antonius addresses Morton, the wizard gives pause and listens. She was upstairs when the other elf arrived and there was no time for proper introductions as the zombie fight was in full swing.

Kazzak joins the others at breakfast. He says to Dell, "I'm ready for our grim task today. Sir Morton recommended burning. I think we have much to learn from his experiences in the Dim Forest."

Still in his bloodied tunic, Berthold rises up with daylight, having slept rather uncomfortably in the kitchen and then kept watch for the last bit of the group’s rest.

Morton seemed to be taking care of the wounded, and Berthold observed him quietly. Before asking for any assistance in dressing his crossbow bolt wound to the gut and his smashed ribs from the zombie’s attack he settled down to eat some of the porridge Olyena had prepared, in quantity sufficient for the whole group, including Morton.

When Antonius presented himself, Berthold’s expression turned slightly dour. "Master Block, I am afraid in the chaos of battle the highwaywoman we knew as Ene took your hammer with her. I pursued her into the woods, but she was desperately fast and evaded me. I can provide you a mace, if such a weapon may be of use while we try to recover your weapon. I regret that I couldn’t catch her in time."

Listening to Amnestria Dell will add"They have an extra sense of life I believe also. I was in the stall with Fern and Ene and we were not making a sound and one of them came right over to us. It must be a certain amount of feet because once I out distanced them in the dim they couldn't find me."

For the briefest instant, Antonius' composure breaks.

His eyes widen and a flash of genuine distress crosses his face at Berthold's words. His gaze drops instinctively to the empty place at his side where Final Measure should have rested, the absence suddenly feeling far heavier than the wounds he carried.

He draws a slow breath, mastering the emotion before it can show further. "Ene…" he murmurs coldly, more to himself than anyone else. His jaw tightens as he considers the implications. The hammer was more than a weapon—it had been entrusted to him in service to Wee Jas, carried through countless battles and rites. That it now lay in the hands of a fleeing bandit was deeply troubling.

Antonius looks back to Berthold and gives a measured nod. "You did what you could. We were fighting the dead, and she had the advantage of the forest. We will have to recover it when the opportunity presents itself."

After a moment, his expression softens slightly.
"As for the mace, Sir Berthold… yes. It will be a greatly appreciated substitute until Final Measure is returned." He inclines his head respectfully. "Thank you."

Amnestria nods, mostly to herself as she internalizes her observations. "It seems we're learning quite a lot in our first foray as Dungeon Busters," she says. "We came in with the best of intentions, showed mercy to those we considered to be non-combatants, and yet the reward hardly seems compensatory. Though we might feel morally correct in our decisions, it's clear that someone still has to pay the consequences of our choices. And yet, who can say whether we were justified? Perhaps history will reflect better upon what we've accomplished.

"At this point, I think we should return to Hochoch," she continues. "Sir Morton has much to report about the team we were originally sent to rendezvous with. Plus, it seems as though Sir Morton has already been through a lot, and it'd be unwise to take him back to Orlane."

The wizard regards Dell with an adjustment of her spectacles. "I know you're concerned about your brother. We will find him, fates unknown. But we have a person in our presence now, who's very much alive and in sore need of security."

It seems as though Kazzak and Berthold's retainers are more or less ready for work, so Amnestria looks to them. "Let's start collecting the bodies while the others rest a bit more. We'll dig a small pit and I'll apply however much of a fire as needed until they're nothing but ash."

Kazzak nods. "I knew my pick and shovel would prove useful at some point. We’ll need someone to keep watch as well."