The Reclaimer’s Hall

[The Forgotten God]

Every town over ten thousand or so has a Reclaimer hall. Valgard’s is fairly large and often busy due to the endless streams of warriors seeking to test their mettle in the Morass. The local guild master is named Circe Kyritses, an Air elementalist of no small repute.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

Ironically, the Wild Huntsman had spent more of his life within the Mist than outside of it. He had only arrived in the city with his heart's blood two years earlier and to this day, it still felt... alien. Most of Innuria felt like a dead sow left untouched by the creatures of the Mist, far too easy and comfortable a prospect to be taken at face value. Herneiros could not trust the streets and fields, for they were of Man's foolish and erratic designs and not the warm and simple logic of Mother Earth.

Out there in the Mists, he could still smell and feel the terrors before they found him, and prepare accordingly. But here, the defensive spells his father had taught him were useless. The monsters here in this wretched port city were not held by the ancient runes learned in the Sacred Grove or the humming chants of the Great Songbinder Inufaluki, whose bones still rest in the Grove itself. No, only the arrows and axe crafted of the Mother's bones held swag over these local predators.

And frankly, in the words of his heart's father after first trying to teach his new ward the bone and arrow, "Aim higher."

So today, Herneiros was in the so called Reclaimers' Hall. He had briefly considered simply making his way down the isthmus and back onto the continent by himself, but frankly, he had only been a hunter for perhaps ten years. His heart's father had wandered it for centuries and knew far more than he could ever empart to the human child. Herneiros would need resources he simply did not have, like food and medicine. And he was not entirely confident he was prepared for a solitary life beyond civilization, despite what he thought of these foolish Imperials.

And so he went to what might be the recruiter's desk. "Herneiros. Tracker."

Alas, the huntsman could not actually read Imperial script. His memory was only so wide enough to store the ancient elf runes he had learned in the lap of his heart's mother.

[The Forgotten God]

A young woman looked up at him and nodded politely. “You come here about the Death Knight issue?” He had no idea what that was but the three people in line behind him all agreed. His message promising a chance to strike at Mist as never before has said nothing of a Death Knight.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

Herneiros considered it, before stating, "Yes, I believe I could kill it, if that is what is needed."

Herneiros and his father had probably killed much stranger creatures than a 'death knight'. Then again, his father wasn't here beside him now. "Where is it?"

[The Forgotten God]

The woman just blinked a few times. “He’s in his damned tower,” she said. “With an army of dead men. You don’t get out much, hm?” Before she spoke again, a woman’s voice cut through.

“Quite enough Rebekah. Our friend here Isn’t equipped to fight Valentinian even if he wished to. We have a walker of Mist here.” She was nearly as tall as some elves; two inches over six feet. “I’ll talk to this one. Process the others for the Morass please.” The younger woman nodded.

“Of course my ldy,” she said as she began writing names on her ledger. The tall woman motioned for Herneiros to follow.

“Forgive my assistants lack of manners. She was born noble, they take longer to learn that Reclaimers’ blood runs thicker than the spittle of their parentage. I’m Circe.” She walked quickly up a tower overlooking the dark swamps north of the town. “Not often I see an elf trained human running around.”

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

The Huntsman followed her, not certain what to make of the tall woman. "I do not imagine you will see one for much longer. Innuria does not suit my sensibilities, but my father wishes to stay here to help look after the elven community. I should like to return to the continent but... well, one does not survive the Mist by wits alone and frankly I have no connections in Bastion itself."

He looked out at the swamp.

"Who is this Valentinian, if not a Mistlord? Is he a... a local abomination?" He was aware Innurians had a tradition of Necromancy, but it was not a school of magic his parents had ever tutored him in.

[The Forgotten God]

“That’s an excellent way of putting it,” Circe said. “He is our own local failure.” She pointed to the northeast. “A city used to lie about fifty miles from here,” she said. “About thirty years ago, its lord went insane and bargained with forces quite beyond his control. Every soldier who falls fighting him joins his armies and so every effort to destroy him as failed. But he has no taint of Mist about him,” she added thoughtfully. “So I would find it rather odd if you has come here to fight against him.” She opened up her hand and a glass floated to it as she took a seat. “If it is resources and reinforcements you require them you have come to the right place.”

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"In the Mist, there is a parasite that latches onto a host's spine and rides it like a cruel taskmaster atop a terrifed elephant. The spells to remove it are unforgiving and very painful. But it seems the people here need a priest more than a hunter." Herneiros paused. "So what is expected of me if not murdering the dead?"

His bargaining style was rather flat, lacking clever wordplay and favoring blunt descriptions. Presumably, the Reclaimers would want to actually reclaim something for once, but he could never tell. Some people just wanted something killed.

[The Forgotten God]

“Truth be told, I’ve no idea,” Circe admitted. “But about twenty of your lot have appeared in my city over the last few days. Real adventurers, not the wannabe soldiers who flood the streets seeking gold and glory. If the same invitation reached all the way to the last of the Rosebush family, then my guess would be that someone is planning a serious offensive for a change.” She looked over the swamps and then to the East where the Thousand Serpents would be. “I have a favor to ask of you,” she finally added. “I’ve been working on a special salt that I believe can filter Mist from the air and render an area safe from the ravening hordes. If you go, will you test its efficacy for me?”

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

The hunter was naturally skeptical but slowly nodded. "If I don't think it will get me killed, I will put it to use. And also... my name is Herneiros. Whatever happened in Rosebush, I haven't been Evander Rosecroft since I was a toddler... assuming I was ever him. I was taught the stars and secret paths by my elven parents long before anyone ever mentioned Elias Rosecroft to me."

[The Forgotten God]

Circe nodded. “I understand, but they could not teach you the fire that heats your blood any more than they could show you how to call their gods from the stars. I assure you, the salt is harmless to you. If it works it will be the most potent weapon we’ve developed in two hundred years, allowing us a chance to drive the Mist back Rather than merely forestall its inexorable advance.” She stood up and went to her desk, retrieved a bottle of bluish crystals, then proffered it to him. “I hope it serves you well, Master Herneiros.”

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

Herneiros held it up to the light before placing it in a pouch with other peculiar substances. "You mentioned other hopeful travelers..."

[The Forgotten God]

Circe nodded. “They’ve been filtering in and out. Most of them will undoubtedly head to the Bastard’s Walk. It’s the only tavern they can both afford and will be welcomed in. You know how superstitious people can be about armed foreigners,” she added with a arched smile.

[Geoffrey Ravenhurst]

"Ironic for a region comprised almost entirely of armed foreigners."

He looked out at the swamp. "Death knights and biased bartenders... I am not sure how this is better than the old world."

[The Forgotten God]

Circe just chuckled. “Who said it was better? It certainly still beats annihilation. But hopefully one day we destroy the Death Knight and so we can focus all our attention eastward where it belongs.” She shook her head. “Anyway, if you need anything while you’re in town don’t he so state to come by.”