FSE

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Chapter 3:

Soon we reached a small creek. Across on the other side were small hills. The warren. Chii tried to drink the water. I told him no. It was black and the bed was littered with bones and weapons. “How are we gonna get in"

“I'm planning."

“Nobody is here."

“We can just enter."

“No. Never do that. Proper paladins wait a full day to observe the patterns of the enemy."

“There's no enemy."

“That's how the enemy…and death wants you to think."

“Fine, I'll start camp."

“No! are you crazy you'll get us killed. We hid in the mud and reeds and wait."

“All night?"

“And day we'll sneak in at night."

“Aww"

“Be quiet now..." I unpacked a cloak off my horse “Here's a cloak. Its magic it'll mask your scent and make you harder to see. Alongside other benefits." Chii lit up

“Does this make me a paladin!"

“No that's why you don't get a brooch." Chii lit up a little less “But when you are a paladin you will get a brooch. Now be quiet and help me watch the warren."

After a night and day of sitting in the mud I had formulated my plan. The warren was guarded doing the day. The guards were Rabbits clothed in runic robes. They carried small daggers… well for rabbits swords with runes scribbled on them. A language I have yet to recognize. At night the guard leaves.

“Can we go now?"

“Just wait." I slowly rise and gesture for Chii to follow. As we cross the creek I pull out my Ilnu and place one paw on Chii and speak “ Ishwè is hwù" the spell illuminated the various traps.

“Whoa. What are those glowy things and those letters."

“They're traps and they're called runes."

“Why runes?"

“Because…they're magic I guess I don't know." As we slowly crossed the creek and climbed the bank more of the warren came into view. It was rather large. There were many hills but they and the ground were scorched. Even after centuries it had not healed. As we made our way to a hill that had an opening the traps became more numerous confirming my suspicious of it being an entrance. When we reached it though we saw it was blocked by a large stone. On it were runes. “What do we do now?" Chii inquired.

“Just wait." I stared at them for nearly 2 minutes.

“You can't read them, can you?"

“I can, I just don't know what language it is"

“How many languages could you possibly know?"

“I for your information I can speak 9 and read 12… depending on how you count."

“Whoa………is it fox."

“No and there's no language called fox. Foxes speak many different languages."

“Oh…. Is it turtle."

“No."

“Bear"

“No!"

“Rabbit?"

“No... if it was rabbit I would have read it already…wait…."

“I told you it was rabbi-"

“It's not rabbits, but it is close to it. The cult probably has some sort of secret language."

“I told you it was rabbit."

“Be quiet. It's a riddle I think."

“What do you mean I think?"

“It's hard to decipher. I have too guess with the rabbit-script characters that look close enough. But some of them are some other language."

“Well what do you have so far."

“Speak something and something"

“We can't answer if we don't even know what it says!"

“We can't, but we can force our way in."

“How it's a giant rock?"

“Watch and learn." I drew Starrin and plunged him into the rock. The Blade went into the rock with ease. Holding Starrin I chanted “Yagho Hacaka[[1]](#_ftn1)" as I chanted the rock begin cracking with the cracks radiating from the sword. I kept chanting and the rock kept cracking until in a blast of white light the rock was blasted into hundreds of pieces.

“Now then, that's how." Chii was silent in awe. I drew my Fyauni and handed it to Chii who was smiling.

“This is a Fyauni[[2]](#_ftn2). Its usually used to give mercy to a mortally wound knight, or an assassination. But for now you're going to use it if you ever get into a fight. If you have to use it stab not slice."

“Ok..." Chii said grinning “...but don't you have a dagger or something better I can use?" “Yes, I have a inybuhi[[3]](#_ftn3) but you don't get it."

“Come on."

“No. You don't have the skill. Besides a Fyauni is good enough. You should use magic as your first resort anyways. Leave the sword work to me." we slowly descended into the Warren. The darkness concealed us alongside the many nooks, crannies, and corners of the warren. Anytime a cultist approached we would quickly tuck away and hide. It was necessary to dispatch a few cultists as we snuck in deeper into the burrow. Luckily, we had managed to generally avoid detection. We were heading for the source of evil within the burrow. It was easy to do so. The evil let off a vile scent and aura making too easy to follow. As we went deeper the amount of patrols lessened and cultists as well. The walls got black and covered in more and more runes radiating dark power. Soon we approached a large room. I gestured for Chii to stop.

“I smell a trap."

“Why?"

“Because this screams a trap." It was too late to go back because I soon as I said that we could hear and smell Rabbits coming down the tunnel. Either we complete our quest or head back to be captured, killed, or worse by the rabbits. So, we entered the room. It was a large circular room. Its roof was domed. Along the walls or I guess wall were balconies and tunnels leading to other areas of the burrow. The only other entrance or exit was across from us. The tunnel led to the source of evil I could feel it. The walls were also decorated with the same cultist runes. The runes were written in four columns on the cardinal directions. The columns extended to the very center of the dome and to the center of the room. As we entered cultists began to fill the balconies and in a loud bang the entrances were sealed by some magic. Chii was beginning to get nervous. As the balconies filled the rabbits began chanting some dark chant. The runes began to glow and flow. Soon an elder rabbit entered the balconies. He was old and well scarred. He spoke in a raspy voice

“Tonight ye' shall die. Our lady shall have her vengeance sated…for a while."

“Who are you?" I asked drawing Starrin and preparing for battle Chii saw me and did the same.

“I have no name for I am nothing but the High Priest of our lady."

“You serve no lady you serve a dark Uicala Fulpioshk[[4]](#_ftn4)"

The priest merely frowned at the insult “Your insolence will be punished soon Fox. Yours and you little companion."

“Leave him out of it!"

“If you wanted him left out of it you would not have brought him here." With that the old rabbit began to chant followed by even more of his cult. The runes glowed with an intensity and I felt like as if being pricked by thousand needles. Dark magic. The runes kept glowing and their light flowing towards the centers of the room. Until in a blinding light the centers sent a column of manna to each other.

“Get ready Chii."

“For what?!"

“Steal your heart and mind. Have no fear. We are Olriishithy Ashito intythy!..." I spoke this part a bit loudly and in a heroic and epic fashion “We serve not their Dark Lady but our Fair lady Manitsh and the people of this realm. Have no fear!"

“How can you showboat in a time like this?" Chii said in a very concerned manner

“How can't you. It's what I live for beyond my Oath." Then in a blast of energy the column disappeared from the center of the room leaving it smoking and in the center was a grey and white fox kneeling. Adorned in knightly armor of the old realm. With a great Longsword of old. He stood up. His eyes were gone and his face scarred beyond recognition. His ears torn. He smiled a twisted smile with somehow perfectly sharp and white teeth. He spoke in a noble and fair voice “Welcome…… Arturos" How did he know my name?! I was in shock and Chii stared at me

“Hello… Chii" Chii then stared gasped at the Fox I spoke

“How do you-"

“My mistress knows all. I know you've traveled from Kuthyutyaiki, you've fought a Malgu, traveled through the creaking forest. I know your little spat with your friend here. I know why you're here and what for. And I know today the Accursed House of Osidi will fall!"

My shock has turned to anger and I say “How dare you, you little Kyña speak ill of the House of Cyalrithy. The Black Line is Dead."

“Maybe Osidi's line is dead. But my mistress will not rest till his entire family is Blotted out. When you die so dies the Cyalrithy riñacothi and the descendants of Intya. As a plus Olriishithy Ashito intythy would have lost a member and, Manitsh will be quite, upset." Chii was shaking in his shoes. This fox filled the air with dread. “You little pup is wiser than you he fears openly. I might make his suffering less." The Fox laughed a loud joyous laugh.

“Who are you!"

“You know who I am."

Akuri smiled he began to approach.

“You order cannot save you. You Gods cannot save you. And your precious Manitsh cannot as well. You will die little Kit, you will die as you have lived. Alone and Afraid. And your pup will die, how those like you die following false leaders and gods. Nothing." Akuri raised his sword swirling it and approached slowly, like a hunter with prey he knows can't escape. “Who shall die first."

“Leave Chii alone your mud stain of a 'god' has no quarrel with him."

“For your insolence I will make you suffer and make you watch your friend die." With that Akuri in an explosion of speed launched towards Chii grabbing him by the throat lifting him up.

“No!" Chii went limp and Akuri threw him to the ground. “Haida fahi aya piha sadashk[[5]](#_ftn5)! I'll kill you!"

“I'll enjoy watching you try." I charged Akuri and began to assault him with Starrin. But Akuri was too fast and skilled. I couldn't gain an edge. “You have skill little Kit but not enough." Akuri kicked me across the room. I was nearly knocked out by the force. Akuri approached and lorded over me. He bent over close enough I could see the pit of where his eyes had been and he gloated. His foul and rank breath betrayed his perfect teeth. Akuri was too busy stroking his ego recounting how he would kill me and make me suffer to notice me draw my inybuhi and plunge it into his gut before rolling away. “You little rat!" he roared, his wound should have been fatal. “It'll take more than that to kill me. Enough play!" Akuri lifted his sword-less paw and in it glowed black oozing manna. He threw it towards me I dodged but, in a flash, Akuri charged, I managed to dodge but Akuri whirled around with his sword I parried the strike. Akuri though had a Buhit[[6]](#_ftn6) and tried to stab me with it as I blocked his blade I shed his sword and dodged to the left.

Akuri smiled “You're a tricky kit. But you…will...die!" Akuri attempted to blast me with his black manna again I dodged. But Akuri used that as a distraction to vanish. I slowly circled ready for anything. The incessant chanting of the cultists was unnerving and distracting. Akuri then out of now were appeared in front of me and I narrowly jumped back before he plunged his blade into me.

“I could have appeared behind you little kit." He said smiling a twisted smile. He's right. “I hope you realize you stay alive as long as your fun."

“I don't fear your little mind games Akuri!"

“You shall kit." Akuri once again vanished. I grabbed my Ilnu and whispered

“ Ishwè is hwù" I saw into the between and the unseen saw Akuri moving. I pretended to not know where he was. As he moved towards my side. I slowly turned before striking. Akuri dodged but not before Starrin clipped his side I quickly rolled a distance from Akuri who now appeared on our plane screaming in rage before transitioning in a deranged laughter. “Very clever Kit. It seems you're not as moronic as you appear you little rat." He shrieked

“What happen to your suave speech Akuri. It seems you're the one who fears." Akuri scowled before he lifted his paw and chanted the room suddenly began shifting like a sliding puzzle. Akuri walked as if the room itself was still. This was illusion magic. I could barely keep my balance. I couldn't fight Akuri when I could barely stand. He wanted me to run, but I stood my ground. Akuri launched an assault. Multiple times I almost died. I could barely keep up with Akuri while the ground moved below me. Eventually I fell backwards but as I did Akuri tried to strike me, I thinking quick tripped him and he fell as well. His loss of concentration meant the illusion stopped I quickly Jumped up before him and with Starrin tried to kill him but he parried my strike and rose. “Enough kit. You time to die is now."

“Now that your losing and your “lady" is humiliated"

“Argh you will die kit!" Akuri using his dark magic sent a blast of terrible power around him. I was flung back into the wall. Akuri before I even knew what was happening was in front of me I would have died if I hadn't parried as fast as I did. I couldn't shed his blade. Akuri smiled and I felt a terrible pain in my stomach. I slumped to the ground and Akuri walked away to the center of the room…imbibing the cheers of the cultists. The pain...was to great to even admire my...word choice. I looked and saw a black and oozing wound. Akuri had blasted me with the black manna. I felt my life slip away. I tried to resist the urge to close my eyes and give in to the decay. I tried and tried but it was strong. As I went in and out of consciences. My eyes barely staying open. They closed.

When I opened them, I wasn't in the warren and in that terrible room. I was in a meadow. Instead of the hard and withering earth of the warren I was on soft and green grass and orchids, white orchids. In front of me instead of that Accursed fox Akuri was an Ashito intythy and a Fair and Awesome Vixen clothed in a humble yet glorious mantle. She approached and outstretched her paw. I felt compelled to grab it but she retracted it and wagged her finger and spoke in a voice as powerful as the Fultrost and as beautiful as a wood thrush. “Not yet. Not yet." And with that I awoke reinvigorated. I was back in that accursed and vulgar room. I stood up and I felt strength and picked up Starrin and Cried the paladin's charge “Ta aña taki hwuyiithy Ashito Intythy griri!!" Akuri whorled around but it was too late Starrin was plunged into his gut, I retracted Starrin and stuck again but Akuri parried it. It was weaker than usual. He kicked my leg out “Kneel to my Lady you idiotic half-brained pup!" he tried to plunge down his blade but I parried it. Suddenly Akuri keeled over and stumbled I rolled out the way and saw my Fyauni plunged into his back and there was, Chii! Wide-eye and smiling.

“Chii! Your alive"

“I am!" There wasn't any more time to talk Akuri had recovered. He pulled the blade out his back and tossed it down. Akuri shrieked his voice no longer noble

“I killed you! you little rat!"

“I'm not a rat! Or a pup! I'm a paladin." Chii responded

“Almost" I added. Chii gave me a look. I smiled. I went on the offensive. Akuri was weakening. He was no longer as fast or strong.

He tried once more to use his dark manna but when he tried his mouth widen and he screeched “I can't." His voice was filled with worry and fear “Not again."

“ Tlèhewè Eiyali" suddenly dozens of rays of light harried Akuri. His dozens of wounds bled and and he fell to the ground on his hands and knees. Chii's a fast learner

“Take that...Freend"

“The word is fiend you scab of a pup!" Akuri yelled. Chii could work on his heroism wit. Akuri could barely get up. I walked over.

“End me now little kit. End me like you oh so great 'Lady' demands."

“No. My honor doesn't permit me to strike down an opponent in a duel who is weaponless and defenseless." Akuri spoke coughing blood between his words in a raspy voice “Curse…honor! Look where it gets you…. The pawn… of the… gods. Dying in holes… in the ground for… ideals in a world were such ideals are worth…less than dirt."

“You died a pawn of your “King" for ideals blacker than tar. Don't lecture me Akuri." I picked up the Fyauni and said to him “You don't deserve the death of a knight."

“Curse you and your Manitsh and your order and your accursed house." He screamed and shrieked before his body slowly oozed into a black viscous substance and sunk into the ground. The Cultists were silenced in shock before they slinked away into their tunnels. “Come Chii we have a quest to finish." Chii followed. When we got to the other door it crumbled before us and we walked the long hallway. The Runes that covered every inched of the tunnel fled as we marched through the tunnel. With Akuri vanquished and our divine anointment the power of the rabbit god fled before us. When we reached the end. There was an altar for these Cultist twisted god. It was large, the size of small tree. It was richly adorned, with incense burning around it and blood of recent sacrifices.

“Chii"

“Yeah?" I handed him the Fyauni “Do as I do. Repeat after me."

“Ok." I plunged Starrin and Chii with his Fyauni into the altar and cried “Tya Ca Yaghethy plomeathy hiro Manitsh, Kana Uicolio!" the altar trembled. As we pulled our swords out the cracks in it bled. The entire warren began to shake. “Come on the warren is collapsing!" I began to run.

“Ok slow down!" Chii and I ran out following our path we took in. The entire warren was crumbling. Runic symbols were shimmering in an out of existence. The very warren began to bleed black and red viscous manna. We passed many cultists too worried about escaping to try to stop us. We managed to escape just as soon as the warren collapsed. Chii was jubilant

“We did it!"

“We did." I said

“Everything's going to be ok!" My smile faded and Chii became concerned

“Everything's going to be ok right?"

“…. No. This…" I gesture at the warren and the land “…is greater than defeating Akuri or breaking the altar. The Evil is deep in this land. We staved off the death of this land only for a little while longer."

“What can we do?"

“Nothing, healing this land would require righting the wrongs that happened here. the High riñacothi caused this and only one could fix it."

“There is no High King."

“You did excellent." Chii smiled

“Thanks." I stood straight and made my face very serious

“Are you sure you want to be a paladin."

“Of course."

“You will-"

“I know what I have to do." I smile

“Very well. Place you paw over your heart and repeat after me." “I swear."

“I swear"

“On all I hold dear, on my life, and on my honor."

“On all I hold dear on my life and on my honor."

“To follow the code of the Olriishithy Ashito intythy:"

“To follow the code of the Olriishithy Ashito intythy:"

“Honor, Nobility, valor, virtue, and justice in life and death I shall uphold."

“Honor, Nobility, valor, virtue, and justice in life and death I shall uphold."

“I shall protect and serve what is righteous and holy."

“I shall protect what is righteous and holy."

“I pledge my life to the Olriishithy Ashito intythy and the Argent Lady"

“I pledge my life my life to the Olriishithy Ashito intythy and-" I shush him

“So says I: Cyalrithy Intya Mino III Arturos II"

“So says I: Chii Yichikri Tikazri."

“Very good…apprentice Chii."

“Do I get a brooch now?"

“Yes, you do. You don't get a gold one yet like me, you just get a bronze." Chii overflowing with excitement as I pinned the brooch onto him

“What do we do now?"

“Well, first things first there's a picnic waiting for us back at town."

“I haven't had real food in days just those stupid rations."

“Get used to them, you'll be eating a lot of them. After our picnic we head east to Fes para."

“Fes para! Why there?" I lose my smile and stare at Chii.

“These cultist's god did not work alone she was aided by other darker powers. The other language in the runes is a dark and eldritch and archaic one. We must investigate. Fes para is the site of a Paladin library."

“Hmmm… I can't wait."

“Me Either."

---

[[1]](#_ftnref1) Yagho Crack

[[2]](#_ftnref2) A misericorde IRL.

[[3]](#_ftnref3) Dagger

[[4]](#_ftnref4) Uicala means pagan or heretic Fulpioshk is Fulpi(fox)+o (feminine/neutral) i.e Woman + shk (diminutive.) Uicala Fulpioshk means roughly Pagan hag.

[[5]](#_ftnref5) Translates roughly into “rot into nothing foul beast'.

[[6]](#_ftnref6) Dagger