Chapter 7: Miles before peace is found
ooc: How funny you should ask that Raknesh! Actually, when Stefan and Tanzy both came here, the first thing they were offered was food, with various results, so it's a very smart question...
The witch nods at Raknesh's question. Actually, most of the time it would be a very bad idea to eat something here. The first thing a newly dead person is offered is food. It binds them to this land. In fact, that was Raina's duty when she lived here. She welcomed the dead in. Her brother does it now. Hopefully this Tanzy of yours hasn't been foolish enough to accept it she sighs. It's a very powerful pull though. I suppose we'd better expect that she has. As for these, she gestures to the berries, they are not wholly of this world. That is why they heal your half living flesh. They are alive themselves. Hence the...flavor. You'll be alright to partake, but only of this! Take some for later if you like, though they won't keep long.
Indeed the flavor is salty and far too much like blood for comfort. Bryon rejects the offer, but fortunately she isn't too horribly wounded so she can afford to.
She leads you forward then, and as you go you can feel the healing of the berries, knitting together flesh and in your cases, various internal afflictions.
As you trudge through the snow a massive black building looms in the distance. It is clearly a palace of some kind, with sharp pointed spires, dozens of them, and a great wall around the place as well as the rest of the city. It's a few miles off yet but looking at it already fills you with dread.
Raknesh, you spot three flying shapes high above the city, circling slowly as though keeping watch. The others don't seem to notice yet, but there's something about them that makes your heart quicken and your feet seem not to want to move. Your best bet would be sentries, lookouts of some kind.
Tanzy: pm