Tainted Nostalgia

JP with Omni and Winteroak

Voah smelled the camp before she even saw it. The smell of unwashed bodies, detritus and animals reached in the morning air as she rode over a small hill.

She had seen a ship sail south, assuming towards Ostiarium, and it had made it easier to deduct where the camp and Bootleggers' Pier was.

Cresting over the hill she saw a large wooden fort, next to the mouth of a river. A small sea of tents spread around it. She knew her standing atop of her horse silhouetted against the horizon would give her position away and decided to ride slowly towards the camp in a non threatening way.

Not long after a group of riders left the camp in her direction.

She could not shake the feeling that the war camp looked like a festering wound on the coast. One that would spread it's infection to the land.

The passing ship was one of the largest Voah had ever seen. As she approached the war camp settled along a river that bled into the cove, she had to hide her disgust and apprehension from the smell. Purple banners flapped in the ocean breeze, but it was the gold and black standard of the Silent Flock that brought her heart a glint of nostalgia for her homeland. She couldn’t help but smile a gentle smile as a group of them rode out to meet her.

Before she knew it, she was surrounded by the mounted holy warriors with their gleaming helms and spears. She welcomed them with a humble Mizaran greeting, bowing her head and opening both arms to show she had no ill intent.

The men and women of the flock kept their vows of silence and their leader returned his own non-verbal greeting, then gestured to follow.

Soon, she was led to Margrave Otho’s personal tent, a modest dwelling. When she strode up to the entrance, she could hear the man deep in prayer. She knelt and began to listen, joining in where she could until he was finished.

“Kiital.” she hailed the man with enthusiasm. It was actually pleasant to see people with such deep fidelity to the Pillars. Perhaps this wasn’t going to be as problematic as she expected… especially now that she didn’t have to cover for Gonyaul.

The Purger looked thin and sort of malnourished than the last time Voah had seen him. The empath in her couldn’t help but be concerned for his well being. If she had a mirror to look into, she would see that, she herself was not looking much better. Margrave Otho’s red eyes and pasty complexion were a wonder and a mild reminder that he was the perfect herald of Zin.

The interior of the tent was dim. The fabric of the tent much heavier than normal ones. Voah knew that Margrave was sensitive to light, always avoiding prolonged exposure to brightness when possible.

A small censer burned in the corner of his tent. The man was knelling on a rug, his back turned towards the entrance.
"Kneel with me Arbiter..." He commanded.

The Purger led Voah in prayers to the Pillars for what seemed like an eternity. The man's voice dripped with fervour and piety. His voice was raspy and sharp, it grated her as if his words pierced her mind.
When he was done he stood up and sat in one of two chairs next to a campaign table.
"Come sister. Sit with me. Let me look upon you." He said keeping his eyes on Voah. "We have much to catch on..." He said pouring both some water.

The man’s voice was harsh and a bit irritating to listen to for so long. Voah accepted his offer and knelt before the Purger. She winced as she realized that there must have been gravel underneath the rug because she instantly and unexpectedly felt sharp pain in her knees and shins. Voah remembered the Purger was a firm believer of flagellation, and self inflicted penance. Though her cuts had fully healed, her body was heavily sore and she was still bruised from the beatings she had taken under Fang. She tucked in the pain and would have to suffer through the it on top of everything else.

Voah knelt uncomfortably in front of the Purger, allowing each of them to look upon the other. His visage may have been hard or strange for some to take, but not for Voah, in fact, she found it rather fascinating.

It was his dedication and cruel actions that unnerved her. His devotion was unmatched and he would go to great lengths for his Gods.

“Indeed.” she nodded low and rose again.

She took the water, but would only drink it once the Purger began drinking his. Her competitive nature returned and she needed to prove to herself that she still has self discipline and would hold out longer, even if this was no challenge.