12 - Follow the Vesca

Lyn watched as these creatures kept trying to tug on her, and those that weren't simply spin around in place before pacing back and forth. These weren't 'dumb' creatures given they were smart enough to have some communication skills to them. What would make them act this way, to want to guide someone? Unless it was some sort of grand plan to ambush whoever fell for it. That'd be a little silly, given that the plan would hinge on the animals losing their handlers at some point.

Still..., better to see how this goes while she had the momentum.

"Mira."

"Yes, my Lady." her guard came up to her and stood at attention.

"We're going to follow the Vesca. Get ready to move."

If Mira had any questions, she didn't voice them. Instead, she just bowed and wordlessly made sure everything they had looted from the cult was packed up on the Armors and the group started its journey. The Vesca seemed 'happy' about the choice. She wasn't sure about some of their body tells, but the fact they were moving faster, and their tails were wagging. Like a strange dog but they nuzzled against her leg from time to time so they were a bit charming in a way.

After walking for maybe half an hour, the creatures lead her to a trench like formation that opened up into a small gorge like formation. Tucked away into one of the rock walls for shelter was a run-down building. The plank of wood for a 'door' was a clear sign of that, and along with the dim light coming from the covered windows, made it clear someone was still here.

It wasn't much of a building; a was a two-part structure with a small building attached to a larger one, the bigger one being about half the size of a barn or so. And the larger section was more built into the earthen wall the entire thing was up against.

Something nudged the back of her knee. She looked down and saw one of the Vesca who motioned with its head towards the structure and gave off a sort of whine noise.

"They seem to want me to do something here."

"What could it be? Do they want **** on those that hurt them?" Mira asked as she drew her blade once more.

"Perhaps. Shall we go see what we are dealing with?"

With a wave of her hand, she had her armors take up positions around the building though in a way that made it, so they avoided most clear lines of sight like the windows. IF something went south, they'd be the backup along with Mira. Herself? She took a moment to straighten out her dress and walk calmly up to the front door and loudly knocked on it. A slit slid open, and a pair of eyes glared out at her.

"Yah?" the voice spat.

"Hello, I hate to sound like I'm intruding but..." She started only for the voice to cut her off.

"Don't want any!"

The slit slammed close on her which..., well she had expected a rude welcome, but this was a different level. So, she knocked again and got the same question from the same person by the sound of it.

"Look I'm not selling anything I just wanted..."

"You get once chance you whore, shove off or you'll not enjoy the next answer."

When it was slammed on her face again, she had to restrain herself. She was better than this, she had to be. She wasn't sure if it was against the rules she had to follow but she wasn't going to throw the first punch. And if she was met with **** first..., well best respond in kind.

"You aren't Understanding." she called out as she knocked again, trying to explain, "I was brought here by...."

The floor flew open, and someone quickly closed the distance. She felt something slam into her gut. She looked down and saw a gloved hand holding the handle of a blade pressed into her body. She slowly raised her head to look at the scruffy man in a robe, his eyes wide and grin uneven as something started to creep into the edges of his face. She could take a very good guess as to what the was the more time had passed.

"Uncertainty. Or Fear. Both maybe. It's understandable." She half explained, half sighed as she brought her hands up.

The man quickly found an iron grip latched around his neck while the other hand quickly gripped his wrist and twisted. HARD, to the point he was sure he could hear bone snapping. He yelped in pain for a moment before air left his lungs in a scream, as the woman hadn't stopped yet. Twisting her entire body, she quickly spun and dragged him forward, easily tossing him onto the dry rocky soil.

He flailed about trying to get up when a different noise started to rise around him. A very different spine-chilling noise.

Growls.

All around him were those Vesca beasts they had been trying to use. Why did she...?

"Well, I see you found what I was trying to address."

Lyn just put her hands on her hips as she glared down at the man, completely ignoring the rusty blade stuck in her middle. The man tried to scuttle backwards away from this... clearly inhuman figure but the crowd of beasts hung to him, keeping him in a circle. Their muzzles pulling back to reveal teeth far too sharp and numerous than he remembered..., they did eat 'anything' after all.

"Hmm, after coming across these little guys I had wondered who owned them. But it seems like they're having second thoughts about returning to you. At least not in a way you would seem to prefer." Lyn spoke, cupping her chin as she glared down at him, as one of the Vesca came alongside her and started to rub it's back against her leg. "Usually in stories I would be followed by a pack of hounds but..., I suppose this will do nicely."

"What do you want?" the mask half spat half pleaded.

"Me? Info mostly. Them?"

She gestured towards the pack around the man as they started to draw closer but still kept their distance, as if waiting for something. A wicked smile crossed her face as her red eyes glinted in the dim light. She reached down and gave the Vesca near her a few pats on its head.

"I'm not sure what they really want. But I suppose it has to deal with you. Well, I suppose I shouldn't keep them from it." she barely looked at the man as she knelt down to give another head pat to the beast as she looked it in the eyes, "Go play."

She stood and turned away back to the building, ignoring the cries of the Vesca and the man behind her. With a wave she called Mira from hiding to follows as she entered the doorway, a few Vesca choosing to follow. Mira's eyes jumped from her mistress to the 'hounds' next to her and the pack behind. Lyn cut her off with a sharp movement of her hand before reaching down and removing the blade still stuck in her middle.

The inside of the building looked like a mix of a tavern and a barracks. A rotting wooden counter, and some ramshackle tables made up the main focus of the room, with a line of rectangles cut into a wall off to the side, forming a series of small makeshift beds. This place must have been some sort of relay station, made to house travelers for a short period of time than any kind of actual inn or tavern.

A handful of cultists where here too, already armed with their weapons. But she didn't have to do much other than dispatch one with her bare hands with a few hard blows. Mira quickly took care of two while the other one was brought down by the Vesca. The beasts seemed to be a decent threat; so why were they able to be cowed? Speaking of them, if the beasts were housed here, this small little building wasn't enough for them. The larger connected building must be where they were held.

Said larger building seemed to be akin to a 'stable'. Which if this place was a relay/travel station, made sense; you'd have to have a spot to house the animals needed on the path. Several stalls or separate areas were still visible, even if the wooden separators were damaged or rotting away. But that wasn't the main draw; the other end of the stable was. Several of these stalls seemed to be cleared away, allowing an open space to be set up along with a heavy wood alter of some kind. And a couple cultist on the other end.

"Slay the Intruder, our work will not be..." One of the cult members started, only to be cut off when a chunk of ice slammed into them.

"I really don't have time." Lyn muttered as she conjured up more ice, "Mira, the one that spoke might be a leader. Leave them alive, deal with the rest."

It was another one sided fight, Mira taking one while the Vesca dragged another one down to the ground. Lyn herself took another two cultists out..., well. Three. She didn't mean to kill the leader, she wanted some questions answered. But in her haste, she didn't use her 'Eye' ability, thinking they would all be the same as the ones from before. Even degraged Cultists still seem to be able to conjure Holy Enegy to some degree, as she was hit by a small white bolt of energy that shot pain through her body.

Her body acted before she could process that fact. Sort of like watching yourself drive almost, and the result was 'head priest' ... well, missing the head part of their title. Even without her power boost she could do something like that...., still it was more a 'mage' than a warrior. Hard to tell how stats effected physics but she wasn't certain she could punt the head off a hero just yet.

"Shame. I was hoping for some questions. Teaches me something at least." she muttered as she wiped her arm with the cloak of one of the cultists.

"What's that?" Mira asked as she cleaned up.

"That my body still moves on instinct I'm not entirely in control off just yet." She said as she looked around. “Did they have anything on them? Forget tools and weapons for now; any info, details or oddities?"

“Not much…, I don’t even see a map or anything.” Mira said as she finished searching the bodies, “And they seemed to be pretty light on their food stocks too but I would have to take a second look at them."

“I was hoping to find possibly some sort of supply deposit for the cult.” Lynn said, pausing to lick her fingers of the blood.

It tasted…, not good. Like…, well a memory of her other life came back to her. Like Flat diet soda in a used cup. Bleh. Mira’s was much, much better. When they got back to the keep, she’d see about getting a little sip from her.

“My Lady, um.., perhaps we should check this room out though.” Mira pointed.

The Vesca were circling in front of a door, a rather wide one. Even had a smaller door built into it to allow for smaller animals to use if it was unlocked. It didn’t seem to lead outside so it was probably set up to split different animals up. Given this was some sort of way station; possibly one side would be horses the other side oxen. Possibly hogs for the meat…, simply move the hogs to one side when the horses came in. She wasn’t much of a rancher herself but that made a bit of sense.

Or given that the cult had their alter set up here…, animals on one side, ‘temple’ on this side.”

Regardless, her animal guides seemed to be eager to get inside for some reason. Reaching up to open the door, she found it blocked. Something was on the other side holding it shut. Giving a sigh, Lyn waved an arm. Two of her Armors stepped up and brought their axes to bare.