Ian gets Brothers' Trow from Aged Satchel.

Marian wields Second Chance - A Diamondplate Bastard Sword.

Jessamine, the innocuous shop girl arrives, following Alarie.

Amarantha wields Cacophony.

Triumph Plaza, with a beautiful park filled with statues. It's the most lovely place to walk, if you're interested in walking through an endless memorial to heroes and rich folk alike. Some are stunning, others stunning only in their lack of artistic vision, and yet somehow majestic for all the cacophony. And today is no different, with any number of people just carrying on with their day. Those who are familiar with this morass of statuary are evident - they navigate with no problems at all. Others less so, like the group of tourists with dogs on leashes, counting statues as they go and constantly referring to a rather large map.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Amarantha before departing.

Amarantha gets cuffed black cavalry boots polished to a brilliant shine from a dark garment bag.

This isn't one of Ian's good days, as evinced by the bottle of rum that occupies space in the beat up leather satchel that he wears across his chest, along with his armor and the suspiciously sword-shaped oilcloth-wrapped bundle that doesn't quite fit inside it. He's here for... reasons. Reasons that possibly have something to do with Marian. He stands studying a particularly tasteless statue, most of his weight eased onto his cane.

Amarantha gets fitted riding gloves tooled with a blazing feather from a dark garment bag.

Amarantha gets matte black leather cuirass with stylized flames across the chestplate from a dark garment bag.

Amarantha gets deep black leather chausses fitted close at the hip from a dark garment bag.

Amarantha gets black bracers with cuffs ringed in orange and scarlet fire from a dark garment bag.

Artorius is walking through Triumph plaza actually on the way to meet a close friend of his from his old Malvici army days. Though he admittedly gets distracted as he looks at the statues, a smile then to them as he starts to keep moving. He wears his full Darksteel armor as he just got out of more Countly matters, the direwolf cloak hanging from his shoulders and trailing behind him. On his back rests his large weapons, always available for use...

because you just never know these days.

Marian arrives at the plaza, glancing about as she looks for someone amongst the crowd. She carries a satchel with a certain book that she was passing around House Thrax. Today, she seems intent on meeting up with Lord Ian Kennex, "Good day m'lord." She motions to the chaos of the statues, "I don't suppose you've seen Lady Amarantha Sanna today? I wanted to meet up with her and show her my book."

Aksel is walking, and he's walking, and he's walking some more. Not really paying attention to where he's going, his eyes scan the area looking for something. Or someone. Or maybe, "Fury, you damn dog," it's a dog he's looking for. And he's walking and he's walking and he's walking some more looking for his dog.

Pink. There's nothing but pink in Alarie's hands, peeking out from beneath a garment dag or two draped over her arm. Clearly a delivery for you know who. That she's taking the moment to meander through the plaza? Forgive her, it can get stifling in her shop.

"This statue has at least seven weapons on him," Ian remarks to Marian in a tone that sounds more perplexed than anything. "Not counting the three on the ground at his feet." Then, shifting his attention to her, he shakes his head. "I don't know that I have. I don't think we've met." He's automatically going into his bag for that bottle of rum while he talks.

Zhayla is headed south from the Deepwood Manor, going nowhere in particular on this lovely day. She's not smiling but she is keeping a weather eye out for people around her, not looking at all like she's pleased to be out and about. In truth, she looks a little paranoid. Her eyes dart from person to person, taking in faces, looking for some sign that she obviously doesn't see. Not yet, anyway.

Said Lady Amarantha Sanna is running late. The blonde looks a bit of a mess, dressed in her cousin's armor and sporting a fresh bruise from recent training. It's rapidly turning the pale flesh of her lower cheek purple. As she reaches the plaza, Mara glances around until her eyes catch sight of Marian. Then she's off in her direction with a smile. "I'm here! Sorry for the delay." She calls out apologetically.

Marian takes the book out of her satchel that she was going to show Amarantha and shows the title to Ian before waving the book in front of her friend, "Oh thank goodness you're here. I brought the book that you wanted to take a look at." She passes it to her for her to do a quick flip through, "I hope you understand but I can't leave it. If you want to take a few notes, I don't mind but I want to leave the plaza with it on my person."

Ian, dressed in a battered leather coat, functional but decidedly seedy, and leather pants that match, leans on his cane and takes a pull straight from the bottle of rum he just pulled out of his equally battered leather satchel. Because Ian? Ian is so very good at making good first impressions. He gives the book a cursory examination when it's shown to it, but with the disinterest of someone who doesn't spend a hell of a lot of time around books.

The dogs start pulling north, tugging at their leashes as the group wanders near where a few people linger. "Excuse us," one of them says, though his voice trembles a little and his accent is a little off, "have you any idea in which possible direction the Deepwood Manor might be?" Such excellent manners. His little group of men are all wearing plain, serviceable clothing, nothing remarkable about them at all.

There is a knock coming from Whitehawk Manor <WM>.

Aksel pauses in his walking and looking nearish to Marian, Ian, and Amarantha, but doesn't make a greeting, just looks around for a moment. He finally gives a shrug of his shoulders and is about to greet, when the question comes from the dog walker. Another shrug of his is given, "Dunno. Don't get this way all that often."

"Deepwood?" Alarie regards the men with the strange accent before she jerks a thumb in the direction of where the manse lays. "That way. Follow path, you'll be good. Don't touch the statues, they'll shank a fucker for touching the statues here." The Seamstress offers up. So helpful.

Artorius seems to be walking away from everyone, but when directions are asked, he joins the conversation. "Hm? Deepwood manor? Oh, it is just that way and it'll be on the left." he points the rather polite group in the proper direction with a smile, of course he's perhaps one of the more casual nobles about when it comes to simple pleasantries.

Ian turns the power of his focused gaze towards the man with the trembling voice. He studies the newcomer with electric blue eyes for a little bit longer than is strictly polite, and offers no answer to the question. He's also a helper, folks. And he's single!

Marian glances over at the dog walker, and motions in the direction of Zhayla, "I don't know off hand but there's the Sword of Deepwood. She should be able to help you get to her liege's manor." She gives a wave in Zhayla's direction, trying to catch her attention. Then pauses as Artorius points out where the manor is, "There you go."

"Oh! I promise I'll be quick with it." Amarantha says with a smile, taking the book and carefully balancing it on one arm. Then she starts to carefully flip through the pages. The tourists don't really catch her interest, as engrossed in the writing as she seems to be. "You know, Astraea would love this." She remarks idly. The blonde is about to say more when Marian starts to give advice. Finally, she realizes her surroundings. "Good luck with your journey." And was that a noise? The blonde blinks and quietly asks, "Did anyone hear a knock?"

Zhayla raises her hand to wave to Marian, and what stress there was before eases as she sees the other woman. "Marian. Looking for a spar, perhaps? We could head to the Training Center if you're interested. See what's up." She looks at the others. "Who are your friends?"

Aksel purses his lips as he looks towards Amarantha. He considers a moment before giving a shrug of his shoulders, "Can't say that I did. Was it a knock, like a knock on a door? Or was it a knock like," he pauses a moment, "I don't even know what other sorts of knocks there could be."

Oh look, there's a Deepwood. The Sword too. Alarie looks to Zahyla then spots Marian and there's a suddenly horrified look on her face. "Gods damnit, your tunics." To Marian. "I keep fucking forgetting your tunics' The overly petite woman suddenly remembers upon spotting the client in question.

Ender, a Silver Gyrfalcon have been dismissed.

Ursa have been dismissed.

Artorius looks to the rest of the people present, offering them a small smile. "It appears we get to have a small meet and greet before I depart once more. Greetings, I'm Count Artorius Magnotta. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." he says to Zhayla and Amarantha.

Ian does his a little too long stare at the tourist, and then seems to lose interest and switches his attention to Artorius. "Count Magnotta." He bows his head in greeting.

Shaking her head, Amarantha gives Aksel a sheepish smile. "I'm not sure. Must have been mistaken." Turning to Zhayla and then Artorius, the blonde gives a respectful bow of her head in greeting. "I'm Lady Amarantha Sanna." She says politely. "Pleased to have met you all."

Marian starts to do a round of introductions for Zhayla and motions to Amarantha, "Oh, well here's Lady Sanna." She points to Aksel, "Sir Nygard, a fellow sword." She motions to Ian, "Lord Kennex." She grins as she motions to Artorius, "Whom Lord Kennex just introduced." She then grins at Alarie, "And this is the best seamstress in the land, but she always forgets to finish my tunics."

Zhayla looks at Artorius and suddenly looks distinctly uncomfortable, but she bows politely. "Count Magnotta, Lady Sanna, Lord Kennex, Sir Nygard, Mistress," she says in greeting to each in turn. "It's good to meet you." She seems more at ease with Aksel and Alarie, but of course some people are just made that way. She frowns suddenly. "And what about Deepwood?"

"Aksel Nygard," Aksel corrects Marian. "I am no knight. Just the Sword of Stonedeep." He gives a polite nod to those about.

Zhayla checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 23 lower.

Marian checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 9 lower.

Amarantha checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 15 lower.

Alarie checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 17 higher.

Ian checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 10 lower.

Artorius checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 19 lower.

Aksel checked perception + streetwise at difficulty 30, rolling 20 lower.

Now the group looks around too, frowning. "I did not hear a knock," says one. "No, definitely not," says the other. But their attention drags back to the group now as their dogs start straining on the leashes. Several of them - there are four dogs, and seven men in total - pull the dogs back from the group. One of them leans down and mutters something softly to his dog.

Marian motions to the dog walker that was asking, "He was looking for Deepwood manor." Then turns her attention back to the group that she's chatting with looking a bit surprised that Aksel isn't a knight, "Really Aksel? I thought you were." She gives a shrug as if to apologize, "My mistake." She glances at Artorius, "Oh I picked up a pretty interesting book that I want to bring over to show Duchess Malvici. Do you know if she's going to be in this afternoon?"

"Sword of Deepwood," Zhayla says absently but then she's turning to the dogs and frowning. "Is something wrong with your animals? Are you alright? They're losing their minds. And they don't look so friendly either." She's looking at them and she pulls out her trident, not brandishing it at them but it's in her hand, the butt of it on the ground as she stares at the others. "What do you want with Deepwood Manor?" Frown turns to scowl as she asks that.

Handing the book back over to Marian, Amarantha looks over the dog walking group. She seems a little skeptical. "Is everything alright?" The question is polite but curious as she walks a little closer. "Your dogs seem agitated. A cat around or something?"

There isn't even a hint of a I should be a Knight from Aksel, more, if it happens then it happens sort of vibe from the Sword of Stonedeep. Aksel gives the dogs a glance a moment before looking to the septuplet of men then to the dogs then to men again. He gives a shrug before looking to Marian and gives her a smile, "It's okay. Can't be right all the time."

Ian only takes even cursory notice of the dogs when Zhayla expresses worry about them. Once again, he turns all of his attention to what he's looking at with a sense of intentionality; there are no casual glances with Ian. Of course, being perceptive doesn't mean he has any idea how to interpret what he sees.

'Tracking a girl." Alarie answers that for Zhayla, gesturing to Zhayla "Probably you given you're the Krakens kin." Alarie points out. "So we kill em now or you know, after they made you bend a fucking knee like your sister and forgive the asshole who's gonna kill us all and enslave us?" You know. SHe was raised in Darkwater. There's a hand lingering on that dagger at her waist.

Artorius bows his head softly in greeting to Ian. "Good to see you, Lord Kennex. I pray you are well?" yes, Artorius has become more in tune with his religious side...seeing a deity walk the streets changes your perspective. Regardless, he turns to Zhayla and Amarantha with a bow of his head. "a pleasure."

Marian takes the book that Amarantha that she offers back and puts it away in her satchel. She gives another glance at the dogs but it's more out of annoyance than any percieved threat, since it's interrupting the conversation. Then Alarie mentions 'tracking a girl' and her eyes narrow. She pulls out her sword as it's becoming clear that Zhayla might be threatened.

Ian looks up at Alarie; there's a note of surprise in his gaze, but his body is reacting before his mind has a chance to even process what's going on. He drops the bottle of rum and takes his cane in both hands like it's a sword in a scabbard and he's about to draw it. Because it is. And he is. He twists the handle, and there's a little click.

Zhayla wields a barbed alaricite trident.

Ian wields Heavy Cane.

"Fuck that," Zhayla spits angrily. "I'll never bend the knee. I'll never forgive him. I won't forgive him, and my sister won't either. We'll see you dead before that, and we'll find a way to see him dead too. You hear that, father?!" She raises her face to the sky and screams it loud. "I WILL NEVER FORGIVE YOU!" Her eyes when she turns them to this group are hard, and cold, and filled with something beyond rage. That cold fury that drives purpose.

The dog walkers let loose the leashes of the dogs and brandish weapons.

The cultist brandish weapons too, apparently willing to throw their lives away. One of them shouts, "We found her!" It echoes through the statuary.

Let loose from their leashes, the dogs attack too!

Artorius wields Arbiter, The Hawk Guard's Blade.

What was once a pleasant evening out has turned into something way above Amarantha's head. The blonde takes quite a few hasty steps back from the men and their dogs, eyes locked on Alarie and Zhayla. "What's going on?" She quietly asks Marian. Her hand goes for the dagger at her belt, unsheathing it and standing by the Redrain Princess' side.

Amarantha wields Cacophony.

A fight has broken out here. Use @spectate_combat to watch, or +fight to join.

It looks like all the cool kids are going for there weapons. Aksel, however, never apart of the cool kids crowd simple turns to look at what is going down, and crosses his arms over his chest. However, his posture is such that if the shit is about to get real, he'd be ready in a half a heart beat. "What the..." Oh did that heartbeat happen? It did and Aksel is suddenly wielding his Greataxe.

Aksel wields Stone's Remorse the Axe of Stonedeep.

Artorius smiles to them warmly before he looks to the cultists and dogs as they brandish their blades and move into the attack. Drawing his diamond-plate greatsword, the blade shimmering brilliantly in the light, he enters a fighting position to defend the others. "It's an ambush! get back!"

Jessamine, the innocuous shop girl have been dismissed.

Ursa have been dismissed.

Ender, a Silver Gyrfalcon have been dismissed.

dogwalker takes serious damage.

dogwalker takes minor damage.

murderdog takes minor damage.

Zhayla checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 119, rolling 64 lower.

Zhayla checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 75, rolling 15 lower.

Zhayla is incapacitated.

Zhayla falls unconscious.

Zhayla has died.

cultist takes moderate damage.

They're too fast, really. They all converge on one person, Zhayla - and despite taking heavy damage from the combined crowd, Zhayla falls to the ground swiftly. Her defiant words were her last, the vicious dogs continuing to gnaw as the handlers crow in victory. For a brief moment, they're vulnerable, distracted. Though the damage, at least to Zhayla, has been done.

It's all a blur the moment the battle begins, Aksel immediately goes after the dogwalkers, brandishing his greataxe with precision as it dips into a doghandler. "Bad dogs," Aksel growls out as he sees Zhayla fall to the beasts and quickly ducks a strike as he heads towards them.

Artorius sees Zhayla fall under the convergence of so many soldiers, and his eyes widen, and he rushes the cultists, swinging his massive sword at one of the cultist humans, attempting to fell at least two of them as his blade finds it's mark. THen, to the dogs. "Get off of her!" he shouts as he takes his next swing at them.

"Fuck" The garment bags dropped when there's movement and Alarie's making to take that rubicund dagger of her's and lash out at a dog that's coming for Zahyla with a bellow of her own.

Marian lets out a cry as the mass converges on Zhayla. She tries to step in, she tries to defend the doomed girl but she targets the cultists rather than the dogs and that's her mistake. As she slices down on one of the zealots, her sword bouncing off, she hears the sounds of the dogs tearing into flesh and cries out, "No!!!"

Ian draws the sword from within his cane, and continues to hold the cane part in the other hand as a sort of parrying dagger, which he uses to good effect, trying to ward back the dogs while at the same time trying to keep them off of Zhayla. It's not enough. Her blood splatters his leather coat as the dogs tear into her, and even this isn't enough to shake the eerie serenity in his eyes. This isn't the steely calm of battle. This is just plain ordinary calm.

murderdog takes minor damage.

dogwalker takes moderate damage.

Everything seems to happen in a blur of blood and fur--at least to Amarantha's eyes. By the time her dagger is up and ready, it's too late. Zhayla's on the ground. So she strikes out at the nearest dogwalker, hoping that she can help at least while people are distracted.

In a blink of an eye, Aksel is upon the murderdogs his greataxe gleaming in the light. But has the blade comes down to meet the flesh of the dogs the dogs aren't there at that moment. But that doesn't stop The Sword of Stonedeep to stop his attack, no it just presses him further into the attack.

Ian jams his cane into the jaws of one of the dogs, jerking it back away from Zhayla -- who looks in a bad way, but Ian clearly doesn't know for sure yet that she's dead. Not for sure enough that he's just going to leave dogs gnawing on her. He tries to go in to stab it at the same time, but he's having plenty of trouble just controlling the thing without letting it jerk him off his feet. "Help me get them off her."

Even with armed men and women around them, trying to kill them all, the cultists are still laughing. "He'll be pleased. One down, one to go!" They're paying a little more attention now and they call the dogs off, setting them at the others who are still trying to fight. "Let us go and we'll leave in peace," one of them offers with a nasty smirk.

Marian focuses on the dogs since she percieves them to be the biggest threat. Her diamondplate blade glints in the sun as she brings it down on the foul beast but my some dark twist, her blow barely touches the beast. She lets out a growl and swears under her breath, "Focus on the damn dogs!" Clearly, the warrior princess is trying to marshal, "Ian's right, she might still be there..."

Alarie's digging into the fray, a snarl ripped off the seamstress's lips As they look at them and make that offer. "Go fuck yourself and go fuck him." And she's making for the closest cultist to get a good sinking of her dagger into them.

Artorius keeps his attention on the enemy, though when offered to let them go and they'll leave in piece, he shakes his head "FUck you and the horse you rode in on." he growls, "You will pay for the life you have taken, and the one who you serve." he lunges again, attempting to bring his blade down upon their heads.

Marian checked dexterity + medium wpn at difficulty 50, rolling 1 higher.

Marian smiles at the cultists, making sure to look at each one of them in the eye. She smiles at the dog walkers as she brings her sword around. Then she whirls in an epic display of martial skill to show these fools just who the hell they are dealing with. She pauses as she looks at the man that she thinks is the leader and tells him, "I am the former Sword of Sanctum who stood against the General Bringer of Silence. I have stood against a horde of shav. I am undefeated in single combat you stupid maggot so if you want to take me on with some of the finest warriors that Arvum has to offer then be my guest but it will your funeral."

cultist takes moderate damage.

murderdog takes minor damage.

cultist takes minor damage.

dogwalker takes minor damage.

cultist takes moderate damage.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 95, rolling 55 lower.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 56, rolling 8 lower.

Aksel is incapacitated.

Aksel falls unconscious.

Aksel has died.

Amarantha takes moderate damage.

Marian takes very serious damage.

Marian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 125, rolling 25 lower.

Marian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 80, rolling 18 lower.

Marian is incapacitated.

Marian falls unconscious.

Marian has died.

Amarantha takes moderate damage.

Artorius takes serious damage.

Alarie checked composure at difficulty 15, rolling 3 higher.

Ian loses control of the dog he was trying to attack, only to watch it lunge at Marian. At this point, he's switched from attack to defense; he's trying to get the dogs off of the people who have fallen on the street, rather than actively kill them.

Aksel axe dips into a dog, just as the cultists converge on him. He tries to turn to ward off the attack, but unfortunately his axe gets caught in bone and he's unable to turn in time. He tries to say something but all that comes out is blood as he slumps to the ground.

Fuck. This. They just took out the former sword of sanctum. Alarie can hold her own sure, but this? Three dead on the ground, the seamstress is turning and bolting as fast as she can.

Artorius stands his ground as he takes a big blow, rolling backwards with the momentum as he absorbs the hit, bleeding from his side. "...damn..." he stays put for a moment before he attempts to slice down one of the dogs and give Ian a hand.

"Bold words," says their leader snidely, and they move to attack, and then Aksel and Marian are falling underneath their swords. It's quick as a wink, and it's clear that they are seriously outmatched. They watch the survivors alternately turn and run, and move to defensive positions, and the leader just whistles. Instantly, the dogs pull back and he assembles the rest of his group. "We'll be back for the other one," he states flatly. "All we need to do is kill her and we win." There's a sneer as he says that last, and he kicks at Zhayla's body as they all turn to leave.

Ian's wrestling with the dogs has pulled him down to his knees, leaving him kneeling in a thick pool of blood. He looks up at the cultists. There's no anger in his eyes, no sorrow, no despair. There's literally nothing. And this calm turns the words he speaks into -- not threat, but stark, cold fact. "Tell him that Thrax is coming for him. Tell him to expect us. Tell him that this time, we're going to finish the job."

Aksel has returned to life.

Marian has returned to life.

Marian checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 206, rolling 138 lower.

Marian takes critical damage.

Marian has died.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 208, rolling 157 lower.

Aksel takes critical damage.

Aksel has died.

Marian makes a heroric effort to try to stop the fight, to initimidate the enemy into leaving. Her actions are in vain. She is right there, fighting to the very end, her sword slashing at the cultists as those murder dogs converge and take her down. She hears the cultists words as her last of her life blood drains into the earth and her rage can be heard by those that listen to the spirits as Marian is ripped out of this life and into the afterlife.

Aksel has returned to life.

Marian has returned to life.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 328, rolling 283 lower.

Aksel takes critical damage.

Aksel has died.

Aksel has returned to life.

Aksel checked stamina, willpower + survival at difficulty 408, rolling 354 lower.

Aksel takes critical damage.

Aksel has died.

Aksel has returned to life.

Dagger digging into a dog walking murder, Amarantha at first thinks that they can salvage it. And then people start dropping. Even Marian. Then she's moving back, watching the dogs and their masters leave. No snarky words or remarks can convey the hate in her glare. There is a slight tremble in her step as Mara half walks--half runs towards Marian. "Please don't be dead." She whispers, kneeling at the Redrain princess' side. "Please." Shaking hands try to look Marian over.

Artorius stands his ground as the cultists run off, then as he appears to be about to charge after them for the damage they had done, it takes his guard detail who arrives to hold him back. After regaining himself, he looks to Marian, Aksel, and Zhayla. "Oh no...." he kneels down next to the one he knew best, which was Marian, and he looks at her. "..she's gone.." he takes a pained breath before he looks at Zhayla and Aksel, the same sadness in his eye. "They'll pay for every drop of blood." he says in anger.

Ian looks up at Artorius. "Go to one of the houses here. Have them send for a mercy. I can't get there fast enough."

Aksel just probably bleeds. It's a thing to do at least.

Marian has returned to life.

Zhayla - Zhayla is gone. But as her murderers disappear among the statues, the survivors of the brutal attack feel a sudden hope spring up in their chests. Marian, and Aksel both - they are alive? They may be unconscious, but they're breathing. Brutally ravaged, the damage so great it's a wonder they're alive. And yet, miracle of miracles they are. For now.

Artorius gives a small nod to Ian before he looks at Marian....oh sweet lord. "She's...alive?" he looks at her with wonder before he sprints down to the healers house, sending his guards to anotehr one in case he gets ambushed or some such for the healers to come. "Keep to them and put pressure on their wounds as best you can!"

Marian gasps as her spirit that was ripped out of her body is suddenly forced back in. She can't move. Her body is still on the brink of expiring but that damn stubborn woman won't fall into the afterlife without a fight.

Ian is a step ahead of Artorius there; he was taking off his coat as he spoke, shedding it so that he can pull off his loose linen shirt and try to use it to staunch Marian's bleeding. He only has the vaguest idea what he's doing -- make the bleeding person bleed less if at all possible. There's an intensity about his gaze. He's very focused on what he's doing. But not panicked.

Aksel wakes up.

Rhea, an apprentice shaman arrives, following Cybele.

Marian wakes up.

Marian and Aksel are bleeding all over the ground. Zhayla, a little further off, is dead - and her body is terribly mauled. Blood stains the ground under her, and she is still. And yet some hope is still there, as there is life yet in two terribly hurt fighters - though the urgent help of the Mercies wouldn't be at all amiss.

Ian kneels in a pretty impressive pool of blood, none of it his, although that might not be immediately apparent, because he's pretty well covered in it. He's shirtless, using his shirt to try to staunch Marian's bleeding. Even as he does so, he's talking to Amarantha in a voice that's eerily serene, given the situation: "Can you help him? I can't see to both at once."

Aksel bleeds and breaths. Barely. Well, for the breathing part at least. The bleeding, he's a bone-fide-champion bleeder.

Assuming, then, that a clarion call and a speedy-footed messenger has been sent, Cybele arrives as swift as their long legs can carry them, followed by a slightly shorter apprentice, both bedecked in mercy's robes and carrying large satchel bags with medical supplies, rushing onto the scene. Cybele takes one glance and gestures for Rhea to check on Aksel while the Voice of Mercy moves towards Marian. "You," Who is Cybele talking to? Whoever will listen. "What happened. Also help me staunch the bleeding by pressing cloth against the wounds. I will do what I can."

"She's breathing." Amarantha pauses her examination of the princess, just a bit stunned. The relief in her voice quickly fades, as she moves to assist Ian. "Of course. I'll tend to him." Getting swiftly to her feet, the blonde jogs over to the body. Then she's kneeling and ripping off some cotton from her undershirt. Anything to use as a bandage. "You're going to be okay." She whispers to Aksel as she works.

It certainly doesn't take long for Artorius and guards to return with a host of Mercies, and he looks at Zhayla...if Marian and Aksel could survive such wounds, he holds a great hope that Zhayla could still be alive...thoug hhe may be hoping beyond hope, he makes all effort with mercies to try to save her. "Please, do all you can." he takes a knee then and utters a soft prayer to any god that would hear him.

A messenger arrives, delivering a message to Alarie before departing.

Marian isn't talking, she's focusing on not dying at the moment. She looks up at Ian and communicates with her eyes the deep crushing sadness that she wasn't able to save the innocent Zhayla. A single tear falls down her cheek as they work on her bleeding, broken body that barely contains that larger than life spirit.

Ian begins to explain things to Cybele. He speaks at an unhurried pace, even in this situation, although the words he chooses are focused and concise: "It was an attack by people and dogs. The dogs did most of the damage."

It's no use, not really. Try though Artorius might, he can't make Zhayla live again. Where the Mercies seem to have gotten to Aksel and Marian in time, Zhayla lies unfeeling, unknowing. She didn't bow. She didn't bend the knee. She never gave in. Perhaps that will give her soul some comfort.

Cybele focuses on binding wounds, on staunching bleeding, on putting healing herbs in place, and stabilising the utter mess of a body before her. "I am doing triage. She will need to be carried to the house of Solace once she is stable. I cannot guarantee she will leave." The Mercy warns, quietly, tossing instructions over to Rhea while the apprentice does as they are told to aid Aksel to LIVE, dammit!