It was a cool night, as Resolve stood upon the hillock that looked down upon the far lights of Binai.
The ocean, in the distance to her left, glistened as the moon and stars reflected from its silvery surface ... and far to her right, the Kaffan Mountain framed the southern sky.

She hadn't seen any sign of pursuit for two days now, and wondered if they'd given up once she'd actually crossed over into Ancalia.
Somehow, she doubted it.
Her pursuers feared Justice Miller far to much to return home without Resolve.   She would be required as an example to any others who thought enough of themselves to flee Vigilance.

Justice was Vigilance; and nobody ran from Justice.


Binai would be the first major city that Resolve had come across since her escape, and if she chose to seek its embrace, it might be where she'd find some sanctuary.   After all, it was known that Ancalia was a nation of monsters and undead these days; invading realms from Uncreated Night, and places beyond.

And her feet stung and her body smarted from days of effort, and exhaustion.
Thankfully, Vigilance had forged her into the athlete she is today ... ironically, they had given her the ability to come this far.

But nothing they'd taught her ... mercilessly beat into her ... prepared her for the social dynamics of Ancalia, or what she'd face in the wilderness outside their enclave walls.

Resolve had little concern for the social dynamics she'd find, at least not right now. She knew the formal etiquette for Ancalia - at least pre-disaster Ancalia and its Unitary ways, as irrational as their religion might be - and Binai had lights on. That meant that despite the disaster, there were people there, and there'd be food and shelter for a woman willing and able to work hard. And Resolve had strong enough arms, her trainers had seen to that much. She'd worry about Justice later; right now, she just had to find food and shelter.

Mustering up her strength, the former Champion of Vigilance ran downhill, trusting to gravity to give her speed where her muscles were failing, and magic to keep her feet pointed in the right direction. She slowed as she reached the flat ground, her feet carrying her towards the nearest city entrance.

The expanse of distance between Resolve and yonder city was enough that she knew it would take her, still, a couple of days to arrive, even at her current gait.

Ancalia, while demon ridden and over-run by monsters, was still a lush land of natural beauty.  And the majority of the distance before her was green woodlands ... sometimes thick enough to even be considered forest in places.
And the trees were refreshing.  For sure, Lom was far from a desolate wasteland like it’s far neighbour, The Bleak Reach; but it lacked the verdant greenery and ubiquitous life that Ancalia offered.
Without knowing the corruption and danger that flooded this land, the undercurrent of invading realities, one might be lulled into a false sense of security, and awe, that would likely get them eaten.

But Resolve wasn’t that naive.  And so it was with suspicion that, as her feet pounded the woodland trail, she came into sight of a village which looked depressingly empty of activity.

Resolve frowned at the sight of an apparently empty village. Something had probably happened - though "happened" could mean anything.

She slowed to a jog, then a walk as she cautiously approached the village, expecting some kind of trouble. (Because nothing could go easy for her even after her escape.)

The place was deathly silent and still, as Resolve approached.  And it had, apparently, been so for some time, as she could see the residual dust and slow floral incursions that would normally be disturbed by general life and movement through the area.

And so it came as something of a surprise when she came into view of several, obviously dead bodies, standing around one particular hut near the centre of the village.

She was still near the outskirts of the village herself, and hadn't ventured far into its interior, when she noticed the figures ... just standing around.
Far enough away, it was possible that their lack of reaction to Resolve was due to the fact they had not seen her yet; or that they just didn't care.

The moon hung low towards the horizon, and it would only be a few hours now till dawn.

Well, that was odd. Everyone just standing still like the world had ended. But she needed food and a place to sleep, there was something weird going on around this whole place, and it was probably better for her not to approach the hut just yet, because it might be enchanted with evil. So she stopped her jogging and started moving carefully closer to a person on the outskirts of the village, trying to make eye contact and find out what was happening.

"Hello," she said to the standing villager in flawless Kerez. "Beautiful night, isn't it?"

Coming closer to the nearest ‘standing villager’, Resolve was left with no doubt that the form had lost any semblance to life long ago; as its tattered and rotting flesh hung from its form, equally as its dirty clothes.

She thought at first that perhaps it hadn’t heard her, or couldn’t acknowledge her presence;  until it slowly, mechanically swung its head around to face her.  The movement came as though its neck was broken, more a forced ‘lolling’ to the side, rather than a smooth motion.

It’s dead, broken eyes found Resolve then, and it’s mouth opened,
And it screamed.

It was a high pitch scream; like a child throwing a hissy-fit trying to piss off its parents.
But it caught the attention of every living and non-living things with the forest.
And as birds took panicked wing, and animals scattered into the canopy above, other standing undead joined its cruel, harsh chorus.

Right. That didn't look very good.

Resolve took a few steps back. She'd heard something about the Ancalian Plague and how it turned people into the undead. Everyone in the village was likely dead already, or else dying beyond the Lomite's ability to save. With that decided, Resolve started walking away to the side, hoping to circle around the village of the dead and leave it in the path of her pursuers. And if she had to, she'd run. She couldn't do anything for the people here, and it might slow down Justice Miller's forces.

The undead villagers did not pursue Resolve; but without moving from their place, each within view turned their heads to stare in her direction with unseeing eyes, opened their mouths, and screamed the unnatural wail.

It was unnerving, to be sure, but as she made her way back towards the outskirts of the village, Resolve felt uncomfortable.
Were these things trying to scare her, or communicate with her?
Were they angry?  Hungry?  Or scared?

The thoughts ran through her mind, as she began to circle around the village, she became aware of a new presence among them.
A young man, in apparent knightly garb (but without all the shiney armour besides a tarnished chain shirt, and the sword he held in his hand).   He had just emerged from what might be considered the central hut, slightly bigger than the others.  He was turning now to look in the direction that all the screaming dead were ... in Resolve’s direction.

Resolve didn't get it. The whole village of undead were looking at her but unable to communicate...and then a knight came out of the central hut. She had known Ancalia had been struck by evil, but nothing had prepared her for this kind of weirdness.

When the knight came out, she looked in his direction and spoke. "Hello?" she said loud and clear, looking around at the others. She had no means of communicating with the undead, obviously, but maybe the knight would have some answers. Until she got them, though, she wasn't going within biting distance of the dead villagers. She didn't want to be racist against the undead or anything - she actually thought they wanted to talk to her somehow - but she couldn't figure out what they were saying. The wail wasn't a language known to Arcem, that was for sure!

The knight, his hand on his sword handle, looked over at Resolve, confused.
After a moment, he said something to the nearest undead ... and they all silenced, but did not turn away from Resolve.

With a look of suspicion, he asked, "Who are you?", his hand never leaving his weapon.
Then, with a second-hand thought, he added, "What are you doing here?"
The latter seemed more important to him, as though he ws surprised that anyone would be here.

In the absence of the undead wail, Resolve was struck by the sudden silence that followed the knight's questions ... as though the forest stood with bated breath on his behalf.


The undead, of course, were as silent as a grave.

Resolve paused, then gave a quick bow to the knight and the villagers, hands well away from her sais - but they were easily visible. "Resolve Jeweler. I'm currently tearing ass out of Lom with Justice Miller eating my dust. Might want to get ready, whether that means fight or hide - she's an antipriest, and she has no sense of humor. I think she's still mad about her Republican music box," she joked. "I heard there might be some sanctuary east of here, or at least it might be safer than staying behind, so I was going that way."

Resolve then glanced at the undead. "Ah, are your people alright?" she asked. She was pretty sure they weren't, but didn't want to assume and make an ass of herself and the knight.

The knight looked at Resolve a moment, then back into the forest in the direction he guessed she’d come from (he was almost correct), “An Anti-Priest, you say! “

As a knight of the realm, he knew well enough of the Lomite heirarchy: and he’d been taught how to fight them.
But, as any well trained warrior, he understood their power, and the threat they represented.
But he’d never had use for that knowledge ... until this day.

When he looked back to Resolve, she could tell he was filled with both concern and excitement.
“Your an escaped slave?” he asked, “Does she have a means to track you?  Can you be sure that she’ll be coming this way?”

Resolve just winced at the guy's enthusiasm for a fight. Still, she wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

"Yep, I'm an escaped "reasoner." And she's got to have at least one skilled tracker in her party. Beyond that..." She shrugged. "The people behind me know I'm going into Ancalia, and this village is the first place east of the border. So I can be pretty sure they're going to come here, and they're going to ransack this village looking for me. The antipriests don't tolerate failure. Anything else is speculation." She scratched the back of her head. "Sorry for dropping my heat on you and your villagers."

“Good”, said the knight, with a nod.   He seemed happy with that answer.

He’d come forward by now, into conversational range as she’d spoken, and now he drew his sword swiftly, pointing it at her, “Then you need to make yourself comfortable.   We wouldn’t want her trackers passing us by now, as they follow you away from here, would we?”

His obvious intent was to keep Resolve here (as bait, in a sense) until the Justice arrived.

Resolve blinked. "You're crazy, you know that?" she asked. "Well, if you're determined to stand and fight with me, can you show me somewhere that I can catch a few hours' sleep? Better a little rest than none at all when they get here."

Resolve didn't really think this was a good idea, but she wasn't going to refuse his help. Worse came to worst, she could run again if the fight was going against them.

The knight stalled somewhat, and blinked at Resolve.
That was not the answer he was expecting ... figuring that he'd have to forcible detain the 'escaped slave' to make use of her circumstance.

After a moment, he suspiciously lowered his sword somewhat, and said, "Sure.  This whole village was slaughtered by otherworlders.   They've no need for any of these houses any longer.   Feel free to choose one.

If you have any idea how far behind are your pursuit, I can start setting up some defences, and wake you should they arrive".   Still, he was confused by Resolve's response.   But he couldn't figure out how this could be a trap upon him, and so was erring on the side of gratitude to The One for delivering him this opportunity.

Meanwhile, it was increasingly evident to Resolve that the villagers standing around like dumb mules were, indeed, dead.
Their flesh, their stillness, their ... stench.

"I don't have much food to share with you", the knight said, "there wasn't much to salvage upon my arrive here when ... Oh my, where are my manners", he suddenly said, sheathing his sword.  With a  bow that allowed him to maintain suspicious eye contact, he said, "I am Sir Renhald Lowford, Vindicant Knight, and Herald to the Baron of Stellart".


The conversation continued, as the two brought Resolve into the village proper, among the dilapidated houses and rotting, walking corpses.   Sir Lowford seemed amicable, and welcoming ... maybe only a few years Resolve's senior.

He had already claimed the house from which she'd seen him emerge from, but all others she was welcome to choose from.

Resolve nodded. "Pleasure to meet you, Sir Renhald. If the well's safe, that's the important thing. It wouldn't be the first time I went a bit hungry." She paused. "Knowing how fast they work, they're probably around a day's travel behind me. Depends on how well their Stifler operates."

After refreshing herself as much as possible, Resolve staggered into a hut to get some rest. She wanted to at least be rested when her pursuers arrived.

It was night time when Resolve was woken by a hushed Sir Renhald.
"A party comes.   It is time to face your adversary.
I have returned the villagers to various huts.  The night will aid us, the Justice and her people might not realise their unloving condition as they emerge from the doorways ... and if I can get them surrounded quickly enough, before they are alerted, we can swamp them.

Do you need a weapon?"

Resolve awoke quickly and drew her paired sai from her belt, her perfect night vision making sure the points were still sharp. "I'm ready," she said. "Just tell me where you want me to hide, and try to keep up." She had a masterful theoretical knowledge of this kind of warfare, but the Ancalian knight undoubtedly had more practical experience.

"If any of them look mentally damaged, like they don't know where they are or what they're doing, we need to bring them down first. It's a mercy-killing, and it'll free me to use certain abilities more readily."

"If they track you here, I expect them to enter the village.  I can't imagine that they would feel intimidated by a small place of farmers, such as this.

They'll no doubt come in noisy, calling for an awakening; seeking to draw you out, or draw out the village elders who are harbouring you.
When villagers come stumbling out of the huts around them, in the dark as it is, they'll likely think their stumbling is due to tiredness and sudden awakening.

If I can surround their party before they realise what is going on, I can possibly swarm them enough for you and I to approach through the mass, and make a few significant strikes before they identify us.
The dead, walking and attacking, tends to confuse and frighten folk who aren't prepared for it" he explained, glancing at the door.
"I expect they'll be here within minutes" he said, moving towards the window, to peer out into the darkness.

And it was there he intended to wait, in dark silence, for Justice Miller's arrival.



Position yourself, or argue for another approach, as you wish.  This is your chance.
The 'Bad Guys^tm' will arrive when we have played through any manoeuvring or discussions you initiate.

Resolve nodded and crouched in the shadows behind a house near the village well and square. It would be where they'd be surrounding everyone, and give her a good place from which to observe.

Sounds like a good enough tactic for Resolve.