Open - Small Encounter in Village of Kor [+2MAX}

It was time to go. Where? Away from Astorea was the only certainty. Minerva had ended up here for a ridiculous reason anyway and now she would have to retrace so many footsteps just to return to the northern territory she had left off at. With winter in full swing was that a good idea? Minerva was not the best suited for arctic climates but where else would she go? Going elsewhere meant dealing with... those people. The thought was not pleasing.

So instead, Minerva took a small jaunt around the eastern half of Astorea. Testing her blade on the leftovers of the many players who had settled into the region. It was simple and brain numbing. As expected.Walking along a large river, Minerva could not help but think of how similar this was to the terrain she passed through when that weird... something had tried to bargain with her. Sending her to face a King without any good reason but to prove some meaningless point! The knight was sadly still less than she could be... should be. There was only so much she could do until a opportunity arose of course. So she was left to just wander and grow stronger.

A village suddenly came into focus. Well now that was a pleasant surprise. Wasn't there supposed to be nothing for quite a ways all around? A small sign read 'Kor' on it. Minerva seathed her blade and made her way to the entrance gate... or where one would have been if it was not such a shabby little place. It was obviously just a small fishing community. The watermill and stacks of dead rotting fish... hmmm.

"It's awfully quiet. I know it is winter but where is everyone? It isn't snowing."

Minerva raised a eyebrow at this and just continued to look around. The village was abandoned? There were toys of children laying in the dirt roads and cloths that looked like they had been hung for weeks, months, maybe longer out on the lines.

Then the sound of heavy clanking was heard as well as voices. So... it was not abandoned after all...

 

"Good going, idiot." Fortunately, there was no one within earshot to hear the player scolding herself. Had someone overheard, they might have assumed that the blue-haired woman was deranged, or at the very least, drunk. Instead, Magdalyn was merely gullible, a bad enough crime by itself. How many months had she been playing within the confines of Terra Sphere? And how long had she had to learn the regions for herself?

But no, she had asked the players gathered around the table for suggestions. 'Where could I go to see more farms?' she had inquired innocently. 'Astora,' they had assured her, and even pointed it out on her map. Their hunched shoulders and hushed laughter had not even blipped on her radar as she had strode out of the tavern. She had been too eager for a new adventure.

And now, here she was in the god-forsaken (and everyone-else-forsaken) fishing village. It might have been charming once, when the streets were filled with people, and the air with something other than the stench of rotting fish. Instead, Mags found the run-down community more than a little unnerving. Toys, tools, and other evidence of life stood abandoned, as if their users had departed in a hurry. At the thought, pin-pricks of fear raced up and down her spine. Why had she had to ask such a stupid question to such mean people? Why had she been trusting enough to follow their advice?

It was from these thoughts she was shaken by the sudden sound of clanking. "Wha-" she breathed, lanky body jolting with startled surprise. Then she heard the voice, which strangely did nothing to soothe her frayed nerves. Did she really want to meet whoever, or whatever, lingered in a seemingly abandoned town? But the player inhaled sharply, huffed out a breath, and schooled her expression into something slightly more courageous. Then, she picked her way toward the source of the noise.

 

"......hm."

Minerva placed a hand on her sword hilt at her side, yet did not attempt to hide or speak. The sounds were approaching her. She was not a character choice made for stealth and it was not her chosen way to handle matters. At least not when she herself did. Using another's skills was not at all out of question. So, Minerva waited until they were just close enough and decided to make her own presence known...

"*Cough*"

A simple cough would do. No need to announce ones name to a possible foe, nor make them aware she knew they were there. For whatever that might be worth with the noise they were making. Obviously they did not care or expect others.

"......*Breathe*"
​

What came from around the bend was a sight Minerva had not been expecting. Not here in this place, or anywhere around it! A towering suit of what could be assumed to be platinum. The armor was highly decorated even though the wearer was nothing more than a bodyguard for the most part. A guardian knight. Or sentinel of sorts. Minerva had only met these men a few times. They were some of the few that actually made her feel intimidated if only for their looks. Although... that was then. She had grown a great deal since then. There was much worse to set eyes upon than a figure like this.

"I would ask why you are here... but you will not answer so where is..."

"Oh! So you know? You must really get around lady knight!"

A chipper female voice came from behind the man. A girl half his height (not that short considering...) now stood next to him. Dressed entirely in white with a bits of green. Short cut blonde hair poked from beneath her hood.

"Yes... a cleric. What is Cleric of Tria doing here? This is far fro-"

"Oooooh! No! What do you think we do? We don't just work in one place. Even if it's a large area... there are many places we still are pushing forward into as well!"

The girl had a bad habit of interrupting her. Minerva remained composed and polite rising a armored hand to beneath her nose in a look of thought while eyeing the duo. They... could not be alone? And why in abandoned village like this... unless?

"I am not fully informed on what you do. Is this pla- "

"Yep! It's abandoned! Abandoned of life... but not the bodies themselves, creepy yeah?"

The cleric placed her hands to her hips, pushing the hooded cape back over her arms some.

"This place... was cursed by someone very powerful. Eeeeeh no. Cursed is a bad word for it. A ritual was used. The bodies... were all souless husks. This was done a good while ago too. A powerful dark practitioner if there ever was."

Seeing the girl become more somber now, Minerva was able to understand her better. So clerics came here to deal with a leftover situation that had fallen under the radar of Astorea and Falderen. After all they were embroidered into so much conflict. Who would notice this place? Even if they did, who would know what to do? Other than bury the bodies... Minerva still was unsure of details. Maya always hated missing details... and Minerva was no different.

More clanking noises.

"You are not alone."

"Of course not! This is pretty far out east for us! I've only been in the clergy for what? Two months? Ahahahah! The rest were supposed to be outside of the village burying the dead after ensuring nothing bad happens with the bodies. You know?"

Minerva's eyes squinted but she decided that what happened here was not her business anyway. Unless she stayed of course. What was there to gain from staying other than knowledge. Minerva did not ignore that fact.

The clanking was apparently another knight also with a girl by his side. Much taller and lankier as well. The new knight was identical to the first one. A steady breathing could be heard beneath the helmet. The newly arrived cleric glanced at Minerva, only to walk over to the hooded girl and speak quietly to her, with a nod. The girl made a worried look in response.

"Uh... we may have been too late?"

What was this now?

Meanwhile at @Magdalyn's location, the sounds would escalate until she would feel a cold presence behind her. a steady breathing was heard...

"This village has suddenly attracted visitors? NOW of all times?"

A green haired young woman dressed somewhat like a Norse priestess walked right up to Magdalyn with a glare of daggers only to back away before any antagonistic action could develop.

"This place is going to become a field of hell soon. I recommend YOU LEAVE NOW!"

The woman pointed harshly towards the road out.