Mszczuj focus for the moment about that. " I think we should looking for more information about our enemy. What is their purpuse, hierarchy or anything. Maybe in the castle are some books or something. Or we should ask priest both christian and pagans, something about their marks. " He pull down his mustache. "If we didn't find anything, we will leave tomorow in direction where that knight was last seen. Any more proposition?"
"Sounds like a plan. We'll go ask where the library is." Allune nodded at Mszczuj's plan. She then leads her two companions around the castle, asking some servants fornthe library's location.
Mszczuj smile and nod to them. "Okey, I will go to our priest and druid, to ask what they know." He said and go to Eva with priest. He describe them knights with red cross. "Did you hear anything about them? Something in legends, hitory or anything else?"
“Quit your whining, you big baby!” Ophelia chastised her brother, though her tone and her smile made it obvious that she was not serious. Once she was done healing Benacio's wound Ophelia looked at her brother with a serious expression on her face. “Looks like they are not in a hurry to attack the castle, but I'm not sure if that is a good or a bad sign. Let's first find out who is in charge here, then we can discuss what to do next.” She suggested.
Larisa feels the magic flowing through her body and into the corpse. It twitches, before beginning to stand. Taken off guard, the crossbowman's bolt flies past larisa harmlessly, as the dead man begins to attack his brethren. The crossbowman pulls back the string on his weapon with a tool, pulling the line taut and nocking a bolt to it, aiming at her again, but the Guardian, seeing it this time, simply moves between Larisa and the crossbow. The bolt thumps into the Guardian's thick hide, and he gives a grunt of annoyance, throwing his huge axe to bisect the crossbowman, beating at the broken shield wall with his fists. Angelo puts up a good display, managing to clang his mace against the helmet of his attacker, but the knight has far more training and skill than the monk. He recoils, before lunging, his sword carving a line through Angelo's chest, and pivoting down to make a gash in his thigh. Angelo doesn't feel the wounds at first, but after a few moments looks down, seeing the wounds, and the sensation of pain suddenly registers all at once. He's hurt, and bleeding badly. There's an enraged scream, as Marguerite swoops down, tackling the knight, tearing open his mail before ripping out his throat.
A maid bows, giving Allune directions to the library. Inside, the chamber is quite large, lined with rows of bookcases, with a set of stairs leading to a second floor. A young woman approaches. "May I help, ma'am?"
Eva shrugs. "You Christians and your knights all look the same to me." The young priest rolls his eyes, before looking at Mszczuj. "A red cross?" He puts a hand to his chin. "The Livonian Brotherhood had a red cross as their symbol, as well as a red sword. Do these men have a sword with their sigil?" He narrows his eyes. "The only other order I can think of that uses the red cross are the Templars, but they were wiped out nearly a century ago."
An armed man with a mace approaches. "My name is Jaroslaw, lady. I'm captain of the guards here, though as the representatives of our Lady's liege, you technically outrank me. That would put you and Lord Benacio as the commanders of the castle."
"No, they weren't Templars, they have red cross on white cloaks. Order what we looking for have black robes and red cross." Mszczuj rise is eyebrow. "Livonian Brotherhood? I never hear about their order but it must be new one, since it was only twenty years since thise lands are babtiste." He said and remind misterius leader of knights. "Did you hear anything about men without face? Pale skin, red marks in places of eyes and mouth? Their leader take arrow in the neck and still he was fighting."
He scoffs. "The Livonian Brotherhood was once a powerful crusading order in these lands, but they were defeated by pagans and absorbed into the Teutons." He looks confused. "Black robes? No. The Hospitalliers wear black, but with a white cross. I've never heard of black and red used together for a holy order. As for this faceless man, I- well, there are stories, but they're heathen tales, not fit for the ears of good Christians." Eva chuckles.
Mszczuj sigh, thinking this guy must be younger than him and still trying to lecture him. " Look, I know there stories could sounds pagans or heretic, but I have to know what should I expected from my enemy. Information could be weapon as same as sword, so I need every adventage what can I get. And remeber, you are coming with us, so if we fail because you didn't share with us something important, you will feel the reaction on your own skin. " He pull down his mustache. " So how will be? Tell us that stories. "
"Yes, we're looking for a book about black knights with red crosses for their emblems. Also, maybe about a book about faceless monsters?" Allune smiled at the young woman, figuring she sounded a bit weird for her requests.
He sighs. "Before the Lithuanians thankfully found Christ," He crosses himself, and Eva rolls her eyes, "they told stories of a faceless man like you described, named Lieka the sculptor. He was a servant of the chief of their gods, Dievas, but grew jealous when Dievas refused to share with him the power to create humans. In anger, he rebelled against Dievas and decided that if he could not create man, then he would reshape us to meet his own ends. He began to kidnap humans, and reshape them with his hands, sculpting their flesh and bone into monstrosities, amalgamations of many people, still alive and capable of feeling the horror and the pain inflicted upon them, but bent to Lieka's will. He raised an army of such creatures, and rose up in rebellion against the gods, but was defeated. Or so the story goes." Eva looks more serious, adding: "They say he cannot be killed with mortal weapons, but that if he is buried underneath a mound of clay, he will be trapped with no way of escaping."
Angelo howled out in pain, but he was lucky to be alive. He could do little but clutch his wounds for the moment, to try and stop the bleeding. He grimaced towards Marguerite and gave her a thankful nod.
"F-Faceless monsters?" She gulps. "I don't think we have anything like that here. I don't know of any black knights with red crosses, but there are a few books on holy orders, if you're interested." The woman moves with an excited clamour, heading up a ladder to pull leather bound tomes from the shelves. With a smile, she drops a few volumes on the table before Allune. "Here." She smiles cutely, before opening one of the books. "This is a history of the knightly monastic orders. There should be a section on their heraldry and garb somewhere...here!" She flips through page after page. "There's no mention of black armour and red crosses toget- Wait." She rereads a passage. "Apparently a group of Templars dyed their surcoats black in 1237, when they rebelled against the main order. They wore black with red crosses. Are you interested in the Templars?" She looks at Allune curiously.
Marguerite abandons the fight, grabbing Angelo, and rushing towards the cave. "Sarva! Sarva! Help him, before he bleeds out!" The succubus looks at him for a moment, before laying him down at the foot of the cave and rushing back into the fight. The white haired succubus rushes to his side, beginning to dress his wounds.
Angelo squeezed Marguerite's hand before she left him in the cave, 'G-Give them hell.' When Sarva showed up, he winced in pain and tried to smile, 'Hey... looks like I'm no match for a knight... argh. Is it bad? Am I going to die?'
“So the lady is not here right now? Hopefully she'll be alright...” Ophelia paused as she looked at Jaroslaw and considered their options. She decided it would be best to find out what they were dealing with before doing anything. “Okay, first: How many men do you have, and how are they armed? Do you have anyone who can use magic? Second, take us to a place where we can take a look at the enemies. We need to get an idea about their forced and what they might be planning – I doubt they will be satisfied with slaughtering the people in the village...” She really did not like that last thought, but it seemed very likely to be the truth.
"Uuugh." Allune groaned after hearing the young woman talk about books, which made her recall her days of studying. "Uhm, yeah, we are I guess. We need to learn about them... since we're hunting them down." She almost whispered the last part. "Please lend us the book for a bit." She said as she looks at the book, reading a few paragraphs.
Mszczuj look at his sword. "So it mean our enemy is some pagans rebel demigod, who get much power for the mortal? So our duty as Christians is stoped him as is possible." He smile. "So if I understand right, we will have to make trap on him, with wolf holes or something like that and later cover him by clay? Not mention to deal with his squad and hard task to find him." Mszczuj look at priest. "By the way, what is your name? Do you have any expirence in fight or some other usefull skills on the road?"
