Chapter 374 - My CO Stash #74 - The Karcist and the Lord by Xerzes (SCPFoundationMythosXMonsterGirlEncyclopedia)

-I recently got to binging Exploring SCP videos and I stumbled into this fic! It's a real underrated xover~ If you don't know much about SCP's I suggest you the YT channel "The Exploring Series". And lastly Mekhanites rules!

Synopsis: The Monster Lord and her Mamono forces have nearly conquered the world, and even now are slowly but surely converting the last bastions of the Order of the Chief God to their side, as Lescatie has proven. However, strange rumors of a group of humans and monsters that are fighting back and winning have begun to reach both sides, starting with the loss of a Mamono village...

Rated: M

Words: 165K

Posted on: m.fanfiction.net/s/13410634/1/The-Karcist-and-the-Lord (Xerzes)

PS: If you're not able to copy/paste the link, you have everything in here to find it, by simply searching the author and the story title. It sucks that you can't copy links on mobile (´ー｀)

-I'll be putting the chapter ones of all the fanfics/originals mentioned, to give you guys a sample if you wan't more please do go to the website and support the author! (And maybe even convince them to start uploading chapters in here as well!)

Chapter 1-3 (exceptional)

1200-1000 BCE, Gyaros Island

Karcist Tundas was running down the intestinal-hall of the Bleeding Heart, flanked by five of his remaining Halkost, the others gone ahead of him. Despite having run for 3 hours nonstop through the quivering and bleeding muscle and flesh of his now dying sister cultist, he and the others with him barely felt tired, their bodies and minds having transcended normal human frailty with trials and tribulations that would make a normal man drop dead. Indeed, he himself felt like he would die, but by his will, he proved himself worthy time and time again of the blessings he had been bestowed by Ion himself. Now, for once, he was put in a no-win situation. Not once did he stumble or trip, despite having no eyes, having shed the need for normal sight to replace with an understanding of how the life force of that which lived flowed around him.

And it all because I was blind with pride! Hubris which blinded me to what was happening around me! He thought, remembering what led to his current predicament of running to the Shrine of Consumption in the Feeding Chambers, having seen to the evacuation of as many of his followers as he could ensure, the rest now buying time with their lives fighting the heathens of Mekhane and their allies.

Several weeks ago, Tundas was giving the charge of seeing to the maintenance and defense of the Bleeding Heart. It was an underground temple and fortress made from a woman Sarkic priestess' body, as she was one of several remaining strongholds in the Aegean Sea that was created and held by the Sarkic Cult. The Cult was formed from a slave revolt that a now dead empire known as the Daeva failed to take down, and was conquered by them. What gave them the edge was the stealing and making their own the secret and divine art of flesh crafting, allowing the enslaved populace to make themselves stronger through the consumption of their would be masters and their weaker peers. It was granted and taught to them by their leader and founder of the Sarkic Cult, Ion the Grand Karcist, who defeated Yaldabaoth, who then wore its skin as his armor, and from its body learned how to commit Theophagy, the literal devouring of a god and its power, which would cause the Cult to grow in power each time he succeeded in bringing his rivals down.

Upon learning of Yaldabaoths' defeat, the Archons tried to restore the Old God by issuing the Six Ordeals, which not only were passed by Ion, but also taught him how to use his new found powers, much to the chagrin of the Archons, who then attacked him and once again failed. Ion would then issue to his followers to never make a sacrifice to them, nor to fear the Archons, for for all their terrible power, they were undeserving of the love of humanity forever and ever more.

Grand Karcist Ion would then go on to teach his servants what he had learned, as well as how to be free from the bondage of mortal limitations. Now armed with powers and weapons with which to arm themselves, they would rise up against those who opposed and considered naught but cattle, eventually founding the living city of Adytum, the capitol of their new empire, ruled alongside him by the four Klavigar, his most trusted servants, and some would say closest friends;

Nadox the Tongueless Speaker and All-Seeing Lord of Mysteries. He was a sage who spoke for peace and equality, and was unjustly punished for it by the Daeva who tortured him, cut out his tongue, sewed shut his mouth, then had him emasculated. Afterwards, they marked him with Symbol of Sufferers, meaning the poor and oppressed he spoke out for were required to torment, but never kill. As he wondered, now a pariah, he came to Ion, guided by a dream to show his savior his destiny. Ion and his followers had then showered him with mercy and loyalty, such that the broken and abused shadow of the sage that once was wept in joy.

Next was Lovataar, Most Desired by Ion, and Brood Mother. She was a Daeva Priestess and daughter of their royalty, who was visited in her bed chamber at night by the Grand Karcist himself, who had come due to his mutual infatuation with her, as she had tried and tried again to capture and bind him as a consort. Waves of slave-hunters were sent, none of whom returned, prompting Ion to visit her at night of his own accord for twelve days. He spoke with her sofly with words meant only for her, and they both would then make the decision to leave her home, never to return.

The third Klavigar was the Brute Lord and Horned Beast known as Orok. Orok was yet another tortured soul like Nadok, enslaved to the whims of a Daeva Matriarch Asvighosa, but in all other aspects, the two were as different as the sky and earth. Where Nadok was talented in the mystical and weak of limb, Orok was blessed with unnatural strength, speed, and power, but came from being cursed from being experimented on by sorcerers and alchemists. Where Nadok where was shunned, Orok was respected only as a useful tool, used for nothing but his masters amus.e.m.e.nt as the greatest gladiator of his time, and as an enthralled guard. While conquering the city of Jel, which Orok and his master were residing in, he freed Orok, who struck his would-be master, and joined Ion in his cause.

Finally, came Saarn, Coiled Shadow and Faceless One. She was a young house servant, who quietly her Daevite lords abuse throughout her life. When she finally had enough, she slew the lord and their entire family, but was caught and thrown into prison. While awaiting execution, Ion came to her cell, for the winds had whispered her actions to him. He would then liberate her, and tutored her in the art of assassination and stealth.

As the Daeva lost time and again to the Sarkic Cult, they would then flee from the whole of the earth, scattering to many realms, with only a single city-state left of their original holdings. Over the next few centuries, the Sarkics drew many into their Deathless Empire, prompting a war with the Hitties, who then fell like the Daevites, prompting Ion to spread the Empire to all the world. Then came the Mekhanites.

The Mekhanites were Greek worshippers of a Machine God named Mekhane, and had saw the Sarkic Cult as an apocalypse in the making. Calling forth and becoming the driving force for a coalition with the Egyptians, Mycenaeans, Minoans, Canaanites, Assyrians, and other foes. While initially winning, the use of mechanical abominations and fire and light-based weaponry would prove to be more then fatal to the organic and flesh-based arms and powers of the servants of Ion. However, despite this, the damage was done, and thus both sides had become trapped in downward spiral, not willing to pull back lest the other push forward.

And now the Bleeding Heart was under siege, a remnant of its forces sent to evacute another stronghold driven back and tracked to the island of Gyaros, were Karcist Tundas and the recently rescued Karcist Bola, with his own Halkost and fold in need of rest and respite from the heathens that pursued them. He entered the Feeding Chamber, where a congregation of those chosen to flee and preserve as much of the Brood and knowledge in the temple had gathered. He turned to Karcist Bola.

"Are you ready?" he asked, staring with what would've been eye contact, his voice gravelly and wet. Karcist Bola then turned to address his peer.

"I am." he answered in a deeper, more raw voice. Karcist Bola was a tall, with skin blackened with infectious diseases, and had claws which were bloody from his most recent bout of fighting. "I'll have the slaves sacrificed and open the portal.

**POV SHIFT**

Anna was standing guard at the village gate, and was examining her nails. She huffed in annoyance.

I swear, Janica is trying to prevent me from getting a man she thought, the Amazon swordwoman having been ever relegated to the back lines, or put on guard duty, or any other job that ended with her not been able to find a husband whenever the tribe went out to raid a village or Ares blessed them with news of an Order Crusade being declared. Seriously, I was only flirting with her husband for the reaction it'd got from him. No need to be such a sour puss- her thought were interrupted when she felt something stirring, as the latent spiritual and Demonic energy around the village was suddenly disrupted by... something. Then, she saw it.

A patch of the ground was suddenly bleeding. Blood pouring out from the grass, forming a red spot approximately the size of a house. Anna quickly turned to her partner.

"Ava, sound the alarm. Something is off about this."

"You mean other then the ground literally bleeding like a severed arm? Other then that, everything seems normal to me." Ava replied in a deadpan manner, before pulling a horn, and pausing when she looked back at the patch.

When Anna turned back, she saw movement within the puddle of blood, before a hand came out. It was gnarled and covered in spikes, but was clearly a woman's hand and arm that was emerging. As the woman in question crawled out, other figures were emerging, many of which were strangely, for lack of a better term on Annas part mutated and clearly sick, wearing what appeared to be a kind of armor that was made from bone and sinews. When one of them turned, it paused, staring with four eyes, each pale white or bleeding black blood. Then it barked out something to its closest companions, who suddenly turned and charged at the Amazon warriors.

Chapter 2

The Karcist known as Bola was blind, the result of being inside the Portal, which had no light. The Portal was a experimental form of transportation, being formed from the blood and bowels of the Devourer to give one a corridor to travel through dimensions. It was set to take him from the Kiraak called the Bleeding Heart, to Adytum, where he was to report the fall of Aegean Sea. Since the journey was likely going to take awhile, he began going over his Brood's composition.

Of the 6,550 Faithful and Urartu (converted conscripts), he and Tundas were able to evacuate 3,448 of them, and only about 500 of them were dedicated soldiers, the rest being those not trained in combat. His Brood was able to also bring most of the Scrolls of Ion that were stored in the Kiraak, which contained passages of the Valkaron, the holy book of the Sarkic Cult, as well as most of the rituals that the Sarkics engaged in. There was also the livestock of pigs and cows, which were compliant contrary to how they should be reacting due to them all implanted temporary with Akuloth, white worms that were revered for their blessings, being born of Ion's flesh himself, granting those of the Faith improved health, longevity of life, But most importantly was the power to heal from wounds that would kill a normal man or woman six times over, as well as being central to transformations that the Sarkic Cultists performed on themselves. This was done by making more pliable the Delna, the essence of which make up all that is flesh, bone and blood. While in his stupor, he felt a shift in the Portal, a subtle tremor at first, but it quickly grew to from a gentle pulse of flesh pushing against him, being jerked roughly from side to side, the shaking ending as quickly as it began.

By the Pale Hunter, what has happened?! Bola thought, before another tremor shook him again, until he felt himself being covered in blood, causing him to realize something has gone wrong.

Someone has disrupted the Portal! The Mekhanites must somehow found out! The Karcist thought, dread filling his mind as he felt the Orin and Zend ahead of him being ejected from the Bowels of His Undulating Vastness. When he saw sunlight, he tried to use his power to reverse it, to slow down the rate at which his followers were being expelled to their doom, to do anything, but the Old God-Eaters' body did not care, and so he was forced to claw his way out and prepared mentally to fight.

When he got out, confusion rankled through his mind. Instead of a wall of metal men and a fiery inferno around him burning his brothers and sisters, there was naught but some kind of village, with a sun that was blinding to his eyes. As they focused, he saw what looked like two guards, women by the shape of their figures from what he could discern. When he could finally look upon more then shadows, his eyes takeing to recover, he looked on in shock.

They were unarmored, and carried two swords. When he looked through the opening in the wall behind him, his eyes saw a all female group approaching the scene, and what looked to be an altar. Upon the altar a man was tied up, apparently being taken until recently by one of the women, who he now perceived to have tattoos of some kind.

DAEVA! WHAT ARE THE DAEVA DO- Bola snapped out of his thoughts. Of cource, they're in league with Mekhanes' heathens! he then concluded, at which point he directed at a claw at the warriors and cried out in the Chaos Tongue.

"RIP AND TEAR!" Upon seeing the oddly lewd Daeva, the closest of Bolas' warriors immediately rushed to the attack, Bola himself grabbing the one with the horn and snapping her neck, her aide screaming out for help and running in fear, before being shot with an arrow to the back, the hemlock tipped in it enhanced to work quickly in silencing her. However, despite being quickly dispatched, several houses were immediately vacated, the tenants within rushing out, then pausing in shock as the followers of the Sarkic Cult of Grand Karcist Ion rushed into their village like poison from an arrow, their unnatural cries and roars causing fear and panic. As the warriors tried to fight back many would discover the Sarkics were not only able to move and fight on their level, but were clearly experienced at this. Karcist Bola himself, for example, was attacked by three of their warriors, with a couple of archers to support them.

As they approached him, one with a spear, two with swords of a unknown metal, he could not contain his amus.e.m.e.nt at how they eschewed armor and shields, wearing only a type of loincloth and wrappings around their b.r.e.a.s.ts. The sound of his chuckling caused them to hesitate, then he addressed them in Adytite, the words being spoken sending silvers of fear into them based on how they froze. (Ironically Bola didn't know these aren't Daeva, and thus don't know what he is saying.)

"Do you really look down upon us still? Even after we rose in arms against you, conquered your empire, driving you in your thousands and tens of thousands, reducing you to whimpering in fear in a single city-state, surrounded by the countless followers of the Grand Karcist himself? After burning down your temples, feasting on your flesh, and erasing your pitiful empire from the face of the earth, you still think yourselves able to defeat us? And without even the most basic means of magic, like your Golems of plant fibers a-"At this point one of the Daeva, trying to make this, "thing" stop speaking, cried out and slashed at the Karcist with her sword.

In response, Bola side-stepped the wide swing, then swiped his claws at her midriff, disemboweling the Daeva swordsman on the spot, then tearing out her throat with his teeth as he lifted her up and presented her back to the archers, who looked in shock as the arrows struck the their now dead comrades back. Using her as a improvised shield, he then rushed out at the others, killing with nary a thought as he laughed with blood l.u.s.t and rage, the cackling sound haunting the last few moments of those who heard it...

**POV SHIFT**

The Monster Lords Castle, Royal Makai

The Monster Lord, Deborah was sitting at a table with the leader of the Sabbath, a Bathomet named Alise Heart-fell taken a seat on the other end, with two Witchs at either side of her. On the table was a map of the world, with the territory taken by the Mamono army bordered in purple, with white borders representing the Order held territories. The Succubus had white hair that gleamed like silver, and eyes crimsons as rubies, traits inherited by the Lilim, the daughter generals of the Monster Lord.

"What do you know about the event and its possible connection to these... 'things' that have been reported?" She asked. What she was referring to was a sudden 'hole' being rent in the flow of magic in the world. While there was a report from Lescatie that Spiritual and Demonic energy was still in the land and thus Monsters could still reside there, a third energy of some kind was detected. What this energy different, was how, it seemed to disturb and repulse the others. Then, it dissipated, as whatever was creating and emitting it had vanished, She had recived news of Lescatie falling to her daughter Druella on that same day as well. After about two days after this happened, rumors have apparently reached the city of a nearby tribe of Amazons having been butchered, with evidence of many, including their husbands, of being eaten afterward. This came in the form of bones being cracked open, and having no marrow, bite-marks of flesh missing from their bodies, even a shed being found with several cadavers hung like in a butcher store, with entire limbs missing. While this was initially ignored and chalked up as a poorly aimed terror-based counter attack by the Order in its lasts gasps, it was the state of the survivors and their testimonies of what they were attacked by that resulted in the interest of the Lord herself.

"Not much, other then they're more aggressive the average Order Hero. I believe we are dealing with some new army of the Chief God. What I doubt, however, is the idea of humans that eat Mamono flesh. It's probably a scare tactic of some kind, to deter attacking them, most likely in some form of memory erasure and alteration. And based on what was described, this army of new Heros is using stealth and hit-and run tactics, something we will see in the coming days among Order-aligned terriories. While my servants who have been sent to look further into this have yet to return, they are my best and brightest disciples. A few humans won't be enough to get the best of them. We'll take care of them soon enough." The Bathomet said, her tone of voice confident and self-assured, an attitude that has been reflected in the majority of the Monster Lords subjects. Then, a scream was heard throughout the castle, and everyone throughout it paled upon recognizing the owner of its voice.

Emmalis! The Monster Lord thought, rushing to her youngest daughters, who had gone to bed a few hours before hand.

"MOTHER! FATHER! SOMEONE! HELP ME!" Emmalis cried out, still in her bedroom, her voice being unconsciously projected by her latent magical power, causing it to reverberate in an otherwise impossible distance as those monsters and their husbands closest to her could only hold their hands to their ears, the sheer noise practically threatening to deafen them. When Deborah burst through the door, she turned to see Emmalis in bed, flailing and shrieking at whatever nightmare she was in. but that was not all, for the unknown energy that Deborah felt that day was now enveloping the room. The moment she crossed it, dread filled the Monster Lord, realizing the possibility that this was some new magic being used to attack her daughters mind at its most unguarded state. Acting quickly, she grabbed a hold of her panicking daughter, and entered her mind.

Chapter 3

Keallio Village, Order-aligned territory, south-east of Lescatie, two days ago

"What do we do now? With Lescatie fallen, we are cut off from any support in the area." A soldier in armor whined. He was broad shouldered and had brown hair, his skin tan from the sun, with grey eyes. He was addressing his companions, a human like himself, also in armor, and a half-elf with blonde hair and green eyes wearing a purple robe and hat, both women. The human women, named Illah, turned around to face the soldier.

"Quit it Matt, we just got out of that hell pit, I just want to stop here, get some rest at a tavern, and then we'll have Alexis sort it out on how to communicate to the others. Ok?" she said, gesturing to the wizard in question, who simply nodded in argeement.

"I concur, the spell I have devised actually worked to an extent." Alexis said, referring to a spell she had developed which hid the spiritual signatures of those it was cast upon. While it proved vital in their escape when the capitol fell, the original party had been eight members, the rest being too powerful to effectively hide for long, causing the three former militia members to pause. Then Matt spoke up.

"Welp, tavern sound like a good idea now. You in Alexis?"

"Yeah."

While at the tavern, the news had been relayed about the fall of Lescatie, resulting in a mood of low morale, most of the tenants inside, indeed Keallio Village itself, drowning out their sorrow, not wanting to ask the question in the back of their minds. Alexis seemed to have something the back of her mind, but couldn't work out to phrase it to Matt. Suddenly, a feeling of dread came over her, causing to her wince and bite her knuckles in fear. This was noticed by Matt and Illah, who looked at her in concern.

"Is something wrong?" Illah asked.

"I feel like something has happened?"

"What, like a new Demon Realm?"

"No, like something else has just entered the world. Something motivated by hunger, and not the kind that the Mamono are motivated by." As the other two looked around, several other wizards and even an elf seemed to have developed similar reactions.

Present day

While Matt and Illah were doing a patrol around the village wall, they began debating over a town performer who arrived recently. He had been a lute player, and while people had become suspicious due to the recent attack, he had more or less become a semi-popular distraction from the day-to-day tasks people had.

"Where do you think he learned that from? Sounds better then some of the lute players in Lescatie." Illah said.

"I know, he has definitely been helpful for the common folk around here. Especially for Alexis." Matt observed, scratching at some stubble that was growing on his chin and cheeks. While, he shaved shortly after arriving, his facial hair always seem to grow out over a few days. "Do you think she likes me?" he asked, causing Illah to stop and look at Matt, the wall behind her with the western gate-house to her left, a road of cobblestone leading up to the front of it.

"You noticed?" she asked, after a few seconds passed.

"It was kinda hard not notice when someone blushes they're around you, and also seemed to look at the your only other companion of the same s.e.x with jealousy." Matt replied.

"Well, why didn't you say anything?" Illah asked.

"Well, she always gave off the impression of being just about to make the first move, and then reconsiders it. So I myself am just wondering whether or not... to... hold on, what is that?" Matt said, as his eyes drifted to something over Illahs' shoulder. When she turned, she noticed from a far distance away, a small group of people running over to the gate. When she pulled a telescope, and looked, she cursed.

"Shite, Amazons. YOU THERE!" She yelled to a guard posted next to a bell. "SOUND THE ALARM! WE HAVE A MONSTER ATTACK INCOMING!"

Meanwhile, Alexis woke up with a start, the ringing of bells causing her too jump up and immediately don her apparel, and ran from the barracks to the town square. When she ran up to a Sargent, he explained the patrol to the west spotted a group of Amazons approaching.

Remembering that Matt and Illah were assigned to the west wall, she nodded her head and thanked the Sargent, then ran, panicked about what might happen if she is too late. When she got there however, there was already a group of soldiers gathered around the gate-house, and were murmuring to each other.

**POV SHIFT**

"Run! To the village!" an Amazon named Shera cried out, carrying her youngest daughter Sarad, who's left arm was ended in a bandaged stump, the cloth binding a dark red and in need of changing based on the smell.

"But that is an Order-aligned village Shera! Have you gone mad?!" one of her aides, Monica yelled out, trying to comprehend why they weren't running to Lescatie. Sure it was longer, but they would have support and help with one of the Monster Lords' daughters right there. The other seventeen or so Amazons and their men with them all had similar thoughts, but the violence that was unleashed upon their tribe had caused them to also agree with Shera and her logic.

"You want to go back home to those things? At least we can possibly parley with the village up ahead!" she responded. She had lost the will to fight, alongside her entire team of soldiers who just barely survived the raid after seeing her daughter, a mere six years old being grabbed and held down by one of the attackers in bone armor, raising his sword with the intent to stab her. When she stabbed him first in the hand with a knife, he let go, only to jump back and swing his sword and cut her arm off a third of the way to her elbow. Monica fired an arrow which struck the man in the eye, and he fell over. However, while they administered to Sarads' wound, a growl was heard. When they turned, Sarads' attacker was not only alive, he pulled out the arrow in full display, taking out his eye along with it, before he snarl something in that guttural speech they were hearing all around. The ensuing fight was brutal, taking both Monica and Shera both to push back the swordsman, who presented no weak spots in his fighting, going from guard position to another every time he swung his sword at them, stepping back until Sheras' husband Daveail struck him with a woodcutting ax from behind, only to have his head smashed when the warrior grabbed him and slammed him face first into the ground, a squishing sound accompanying the spatter of gore and blood. This momentary distraction was enough to stab the rampaging in the back with both swords, who them fell over, then tried to stand when Shera, in her grief and rage decapitated him. Then, from his neck wound, a white worm emerged, before burrowing into the fallen head by launching out from the body and crawling into the empty eye socket.

The two Mamono then looked in repulsion as the head suddenly grew legs and crawled away, but before they could finish it, a number of warriors came around the corner, forcing them to retreat with several other women and men who witnessed similar events throughout the battle. After wards, they had ran for the next two days, stopping just enough to rest, and then ran more on foot. (while the tribe had a stable, the horses in it were terrified of being near the raiders to the point some even trembled their former owners to death to get away, leading to a stampede.) just as they sighted the village, a tolling sound was heard coming its direction.

"Crap! They saw us! What now?!" One of the men yelled out, fear of what might happen to him and the others.

"We surrender here. Raise a white cloth." Shera said.

"What?!"

"Just do it! And pray to Aries they are willing to at least listen to our request for sanctuary..."

At this, Monica sighed and now resigned to her fate, simply replied with, "No point going back now."

**POV SHIFT**

Observing the Amazons from a distance, a man had been following them. He was covered in scars, and was hidden in the dirt. One thing that aided this was how he seemed to blend like a chameleon, only notice if one got close to enough to see and make out the shape of his body. He was able to follow them across the grassy fields and stay hidden using his abilities to crawl through the grass, utilizing a series of small growths similar to that of a starfish to stay on the move when the group of refugees stopped, only getting up when he lost sight of them. However, he still had the ability to smell their sweat, and the infected blood of the one that was injured, allowing him to stay apace with them as they ran away from the battle.

Fools, they haven't learned a thing these Daeva. The man thought. His name was Valdimar Naldov, Halkost to Karcist Bola. He was able to act with semi-independence from the will of his Karcist, connected via telepathy. The majority of an average Karcists' Halkost are usually not able to act with free will, meaning they were nothing but extensions of that Karcist and his power, acting as bodyguards and relaying messages to the Brood as mouthpieces of said Karcist. Even so, some rituals can be done which allow a Halkost to retain his or her personality, such as Valdimars case. The main advantage of this is that Valdimar could operate without constant the need of constant oversight from Bola, hence why he was chosen for following the Daeva runaways.

Staring out from a hill crest, he began to move forward slowly, reaching with his mind this new found development.

Master Karcist, the Daevites have stopped at another village. Interestingly, this seems to be one not held by them, as they appear to be surrendering to the guards at the walls, and the also for how they seemed to go on the alert to the Daeva presense. I am currently moving forwards to silence them. After a few seconds, Bola responded, his presence causing a crawling sensation up and down Valdimars spine, meaning the Karcist has devoted his attention to essentially share sight and hearing with him.

No, I'll be listening through your ears. We must learn the location of where we are and where Adytum is located, keep an eye on the area. I'm sending several other Halkost, alongside Voluntaar Raiai. Together, you are to kill the Daevites, along with anyone they speak to.

"Hello mister, are you lost?" A voice said, causing Valdimar to freeze up, realizing he was was spotted. As he turned, he saw a woman. However she had features of a sheep, and seemed to be drowzy.

How by Saarn's golden tail did you get the drop on me? And just what in the hell are you? The Halkost wondering, before seeing the girl climb out of what seemed to be a ditch. That answered the first question, now for the second, as he would've sensed if she had an Akuloth, yet she had signs of being a fusion of the Delna of a sheep and a human, thus a product of flesh-crafting. Though, not in a manner one see typically among Sarkites and their peers. Someone else practicing their version of the divine art perhaps?

"Mister, are you feeling sleepy? Is that why you" She said, a faint and lazy smile on her face as she reached towards him.

"DO. NOT. TOUCH. ME." Valdimar growled, silent yet loud enough for the woman to flinch in understanding, her eyes widen slightly at the implied threat as well his voice.

"What happened to your voice, you don't sound too good. Now that I look more closely, those scars don't look good. Were you hurt?"

"Shut your mouth, go back to sleep, or I will tear out your heart."

"That's not a nice thing to say to a lady you know. Especially when she's just trying to help you." the woman said once again, reaching to the Halkost once again, unaware of the dagger Valdimar was reaching for, his vision turning red at the borders with anger...

Don't, you'll give away. Bola commanded him, sending a calming spell to Valdimars mind, who suddenly felt drowsy at being touched. A moment of confusion passed before he felt the woman exam his lip-less mouth, which had sharpen canines and a tongue which was shaped and moved out like a lamprey, before he felt a jolt of energy wake him out of his stupor.

She's cast a spell on you, belay my last command. At that, the Halkost tackled the sheep- woman, who let out a gasp before a he punched in her skull, silencing her quickly and silently with his bare hands. When he turned back, a group from the town guard was surrounding the Daevite warriors and their consorts, huddled around the youngest as the leaders of the two groups talked. When the Daeva Matriarch pointed in the direction of Valdimar, he cursed silently. Did one of them just see him killing the sheep-woman? When a lone soldier began to walk over, he started to feel angry at making such a novice error.

I'm about to be discovered, what now?

Fall back and meet us at the forest camp, and bring the corpse with you. That town is not going anywhere, and it's likely Voluntaar Raiai and Kios will be interested in this creatures' delna. I detected some form of magic within her body, the same kind that was in the Daeva clan. Likely what brought us here, and partially closed the Bowel Portal off, trapping most of the Brood on the other side. Sone Adytum. With that, Bola retracted himself from his servants' mind.