>>6145894>“Strong words from someone hiding in the dark.”“Whoever said assassins fight fairly?” The woman laughs. “Well then, back to work I go. But as a show of good will, I’ll allow you to take the older Adjunct. I have no further use for him.”
Something ahead of you splatters onto the floor, as if thrown from a great distance.
Adjunct Marlin? What did she mean by that? Just then, the door behind you swings open. Alvin’s man has returned, and the bright light of the torch he carries is almost painful after standing here in the dark for so long.
“Lord Tristain!” The man says. “I’ve returned with the-”
The bodyguard trails off. With the light of the torch, you can make out the terrified expression on his face as he looks directly past you. You turn around to follow his gaze and find the chamber you were standing in now illuminated. Clear as day, you can see dozens of corpses littered across the floor. The walls and floor of the Keep are drenched in the blood, entrails and bowels of several of Ithaca’s researchers. Amongst them are also the bodies of assassins wearing clothing similar to the ones that jumped you and your group.
“D-did the Riahi do this?” Elric gasps, covering his mouth in horror.
No. Most of the researchers that were laying there appeared to have died from stab wounds likely caused by the Riahi’s daggers. As for the assassins, several of them looked as though they were completely torn apart. Limbs were scattered, skulls were crushed and bodies were bent in unnatural poses. Whoever killed these men possessed a great strength to be able to kill in such a fashion.
You had a suspicion on who that was.
“Adjunct Marlin!” Nadia exclaims, pointing a shaking finger ahead of her. You follow it to find a decapitated head, possessing a bushy white mustache and eyes open wide in terror. That explains the splatter you heard.
>“Keep it together.” You say, attempting to calm the group’s fraying nerves. Time was of the essence here, and the enemy had the advantage. Panic would only spell disaster for your chances. “You have me here. There is nothing to fear. Nadia, where are the Magic Seal and the switches?”“O-one switch is on the west side.” Nadia says shakily. “It’s the lab I conducted my research in, and where I last saw the construct. Another is on the east side, where we studied Terrors. T-The Magic Seal is downstairs in the Keep’s cellar. There’s a staircase that will lead us right to it.”
>A): Head to the cellar (Magic Seal)>B): Head to the west side (Nadia’s Lab)>C): Head to the east side (Terror Containment) 