Claire
*She nods as she climbs onto her horse and leans down to extend her hand*

`"I know your a capable adventurer possibly faster then the horse I dont know of your abilities or strength allow this young witch to help you to the destination I don't want you to use any energy."`

*She smiles softly as her hand was extended out if he was to take it she would help him on the back of the horse. Kip at the sides of the horse to get it moving if not she would still do the same.*
Jennie
*Cheong Myeong was rather flattered to hear such a statement, even if he hadn't shown what he could do, she would put such trust in him? Truly a kind lady, he reached up to her hand and pulled himself up into the back of the horse. Once on the back, he kipped the horse lightly to signal for the horse to start moving*

"Ha ha ha, thank you Miss Moira. You flatter me, but do tell. What is the origin of this quest?"

*He asked, as he wondered what drove her to need the help of an adventurer? What happened?*
Claire
*As he got in and kipped the sides of the horse before her and it began to slowly walk then ease into a run it's hooves hitting the ground with each step it took she replied*

`"I wish to bury my father if he may be undead put him to rest so his soul may not suffer eternally under the forces of darkness forever to wander the crypts of a place in nowhere."`

*She stated*

`"That is all is it wrong for a daughter or a son to respect there families dead?"`
Jennie
*Hearing this he felt rather sympathetic towards her, but also wondered how did his body get there in the first place?*

"I see I see, I understand, even I as far as I may be in the future would wish the same for my parents. However, if you don't mind me asking, how did his body end up there? May his soul rest in peace?"

*While also riding, he closed his eyes and opened up his senses further with the sacrifice of just not being able to see for the time being. He listened around and focused on the presence and energies around them, in the case that danger were to come. He would be prepared to do what was necessary to protect her*
Claire
*Maria would be holding the horses reigns as he asked more questions she focused on the stone roads ahead fading into overgrown dirt pathways.*

`"He ended up there in search of the philosophers stone he was an adventurer he didn't want to retire his cloak even in his old age because he wanted to be able to buy his only daughter a home so she would not have to become an adventurer like him but now I am, and he is dead."`

*She has no emotion in her voice she was upset or emotionally charged by anything she said it with a numb... Cold kind of a voice.*


`
Jennie
*The man sighed hearing this, a dream which he had to give up on. May this man's soul rest in peace. However, it was rather interesting or to better put it unusual to hear such a tone. Especially regarding her father, there must've been something traumatic that might've happened to have her come to where she is today. Although that was all an assumption*

"I understand, as an adventurer myself, it is truly a tragedy for such a man. And I assume you have taken it upon yourself to carry on his will to search for this philosophers stone?"

*A philosophers stone? Never heard of such a thing, it sounded like some kind of fancy rock, though didn't know what one was. He could only really guess that it was some kind of a rock that did something or is special, that was as much as he could gather*

"May I also ask, what is a philosophers stone? Was it truly that valuable to your father?"
Willie
*It took longer than expected, but Makimi arrived on the edge of Dakar, the Ghost following closely.*
Dennis
*Upon entering the town, the two would immediately notice the unsettling silence. The only noise that came from this village are the crows that are perched on high. The streets would be littered with flesh picked skeletons and some would be found hanging over side of windows, within door water and even on the rooftops.*
Willie
*She stood there for a minute, quietly contemplating the scene. Finally, she grabbed her bag and pulled out something unexpected. It was a bag of bird seed.*
Johanna
*The Ghost would around the place and whistle.* 
"They say 500 people were here. This thing is making me a bit jealous if it killed this amount in a short time."
*The Ghost would turn to Makimi and see the bird seed.*
"What the hell are you doing?"
Willie
`"Is it not obvious? This is the easiest way to get the crows attention, and by extension, get the attention of the monster controlling their minds."`
Johanna
*The Ghost looked up at the crows with their beady crimson eyes watching them.*
"I may not be a bird person, but do crows have red eyes?"
Willie
*Makimi noticed it, too. She had been around crows before, but none of them looked like this. Regardless, it was too late to back down now. She ripped open the bag and tossed it about a yard in front of her.*
Dennis
*Just as the two expected the crows did nothing but caw at eachother and eye the pair with curiosity.*
Willie
`"Um... Am I the only one who wonders why the demon has yet to confront the two people that are invading its territory?"`
Johanna
"Perhaps it's asleep, or occupied? More likely case scenario it's watching us, they say it's a beast and so we should expect it to behave more animal than a intelligent being."
Willie
`"Normally I would agree with you, but this creature is controlling the crows, and crows are known to be very intelligent animals. A crow can tell the difference between human faces and identify friends versus foes."`
Johanna
"Obviously these ones are different and are currently making me uneasy. As we are surrounded by them."
Don
*Out of a darkened two story house a raspy voice called out to the pair.*
"Help me..."
Willie
*Makimi locked eyes with the Ghost, and her expression said it all; this is a trick, use caution.*
`"We are coming to help you!"`
Johanna
*The Ghost nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard the voice and immediately drew his knives.*
"Holy fuck! I thought everyone was dead here? Is there ghosts here? Ah, fuck I can't kill ghosts."
Don
*Another voice was heard coming from the same house. This time of a little girl.* 
"Grandpa, I'm scared... Please help me... Grandpa."
Willie
*She grabbed the Ghost by the arm, mouthed the word "Mimic", and stepped up to the front door of the darkened house.*
`"Is anyone hurt? How many of you are in there?"`
Johanna
*The Ghost shuddered to think a creature possessed such an ability as he kept his knives steady.*
Don
*The raspy voice responded to the little girl's*
"Don't... Worry... I'll protect you. It's just... A...Scarecrow. It can't hurt you."
Willie
*With her right hand firmly gripping her holy sword, Makimi slowly opened the front door, but she didn't step inside.*
Johanna
*The Ghost's hands were shaking as she opened the door. The overwhelming anxiety and fear he felt was getting the best of him. Not knowing that alone, would make him the prime meal.*
Don
*When Makimi opened the door four black tendrils lashed out from the darkness of the house, like an eldritch horror from the abyss. One would attempt to grab Makimi's sword hand, while the other 3 went after Ghost.*
Willie
*The tendril wrapped around her right wrist, pulling her in, but she refused to show fear. She pressed the blade of her sword against the tendril, knowing that it would burn demon flesh.*
Johanna
*The Ghost let out a scream of terror as the three tendrils started dragging him inside the home. He tried cutting the tendrils, but his knives meant for humans couldn't pierce the dark essence of the tendrils. He then impaled his knives into the woodwork of the house as he was being pulled. He felt like he was going to be torn in half.*
"No no no, not like this. I don't want any part of this."
Don
*The tendril that grasped Makimi recoiled and fled back into the house as an unearthly scream came from within.*
Willie
*Grinning, Makimi ignored the Ghost completely and ran sword first into the darkness, knowing that she had an advantage.*
Johanna
*The Ghost's knives didn't hold and actually broke part of the door frame as he was dragged screaming inside.*
Don
*To Makimi's surprised the sound of her sword striking metallic was heard and then 2 crimson eyes peered out of the darkness and an sudden force would send her flying through the weak wooden wall back outside.*
Willie
*She crashed through the wall, then slowly pulled herself up to her feet, now covered in large bruises.*
Johanna
*The Ghost could be heard screaming inside the house and then silence. He then too was tossed back outside in front of Makimi with his hand missing and bleeding profusely. It was like it had been bitten clean off.*
Don
*Another voice would come from the house. This time, it would her grandfather whom Ghost had murdered.*
"My daughter... My oldest child... She will become the house leader when I am gone...
I pity you... You will never know... What family is like... Hideous creature."
*The end of the last sentence came out as a growl.*
Willie
*Makimi froze. She wasn't there to hear her grandfather's last words, so she was hearing this for the first time. This was no mindless being, this thing had intelligence, as well as malice. She turned to look at the Ghost, eyes filled with pain.*
Johanna
*The Ghost lay there motionless with his stump of the hand staining blood onto the dirt.*
Don
*The crows began to caw at Makimi as her reality began shift. (Eternal Fear is in effect.)*
*Dusk turned into a bright moonlit night, lust like that fateful night. And to the right of Ghost's motionless body was the image of her father on the ground wounded and looking straight ahead of him. Then the unmistakable attire of Ghost came into the fray. Her father looked Ghost dead in the eyes in his last moments, as Ghost raised his knife that reflected the moonlight. Suddenly behind Ghost Makimi saw her self opening the door. The image of Ghost looked behind him to see Makimi before plunging the knife into her father's chest.*
Willie
*Slowly, Makimi reached into her bag and pulled out her secondary weapon, a holy dagger. It was similar in size to the knives the Ghost always carried. With the rage slowly building, she stood over the Ghost's wounded body, the tip of the knife pressed against his chest over his heart.*
Don
*The crow's cawing would fill her ears and into her mind and if she would look up back to where the house was. I giant crow with beady crimson eyes would be eagerly watching her with its beaked mouth of razor sharp teeth drooled in blood. (Scared Yet? Is now also in effect.) *
Willie
*This was it. Makimi raised the dagger high above her head, as if to stab the Ghost in the chest, but at the last second, she turned and threw the holy weapon straight at the demon with all of her might.*
Don
*Makimi's dagger flew straight and true at the giant crow. The crow would appear to fold its wings together. The blade part of the knife would hit the wings and make the familiar sound of it striking metal from earlier. The crow roared at her as quickly began to close the distance.*
Willie
*Not backing down, she quickly picked up her sword and rushed straight at the crow. With every slash, she found the crow's wings preventing her weapon from doing real damage. But she didn't give up. She studied the creature's movements to find an opening.*
Don
*Her fourth slash chopped a wing off and the creature's effects and spell disappeared allowing Makimi to see what she was up against. On the ground lay a metallic arm with a Scythe attacked to it and in front of her a mechanical nightmare was screaming at her. It looked like a ramshackle scarecrow with metallic legs, chest and a giant claw arm with metallic spikes and appendages sticking out of its back, it's head was a pair of red eyes upon a metallic maw of nightmarish teeth. In the center of the metallic rib cage was a black mass that was pulsating with dark energy.*
Willie
*Immediately, it became obvious what Makimi had to do. She knew that if she went straight to the ribcage, the demon's other arm would just block her. Makimi went right back to hacking and slashing at the other arm, preparing to literally disarm her foe.*

*She turned her full attention onto the moving scythe arm, attempting to chop it to bits before it could get up completely.*
Don
*This would give The Reaper time to jump on to the building behind it and climb to the top with its spider like appendages. It began cawing and the crows that had surrounded the pair screamed at Makimi revealing rows of teeth within their beaks as they flew into the air and dive bombed at Makimi.*
Willie
*Makimi knew that the crows were under the demon's control, so instead of killing them, she proceeded to smack them in the face with the back of her hands. This bought her enough time to run inside the house, where she rapidly ascended the stairs to the second story, searching for a way to get onto the roof.*
Don
*Makimi would bat the crows away, however some would manage to land scratches and bites into her flesh. The Reaper seeing Makimi went inside, had jumped off the roof with onto the ground which made a giant thud behind Ghost. It then picked up Ghost with a black tendril and hoisted him like a trophy in front of it.*
Willie
*Makimi proceeded to glare at the creature from a second story window, sword held tight. If she jumped at the demon with her sword drawn, it would just use the Ghost as a literal human shield. Makimi was running out of options at this point.*
Don
*It was at this very moment something strange happened. The Reaper's crimson eyes widened and the crows stopped cawing. It released Ghost and retracted it's black tendril back into itself. Then the black tendril replaced it's missing arm with an arm of pure dark energy. It stood there as if coming to a realization or someone pushed a switch.*
Willie
*Out of all the battles Makimi had with various demons, at no point had any of them stopped in the middle of a battle. With great caution, she exited the house and stood before it, sword drawn.*
Don
*The Reaper's eyes focused again and stared at Makimi. Mostly Makimi's sword. Then it's whole body began shaking the metallic limbs rattling together at is it spike the first words of its own making. It's voice would be rasp and sound like many voices were speaking at once.*
"You... Grow... Strong... Kill The Black Dragon... Avenge Ussss." 

*The Reaper would use one it's illusion spells and show Makimi a beautiful bustling city with people at an inn one with silver hair. Then an image of the dragon she saw recently was seen flying overhead looking for something. The guards opened fire open it without any provocation. The dragon grew furious and began laying waste to the town. The dragon's black fire incinerating the town guard. People in the streets screaming a woman also screaming "Put it out! I'm burning!" Then after the city was half way burned a giant dark explosion engulfed the large city reducing to ruins. Then the black dragon was seen harvesting souls until it was satisfied. The souls the dragon did not absorb hung in limbo them became tainted by the dragon's corruption and the souls began emerging in the town. Taking bits and pieces from rakes, plows and infusing it with dark magic to form what they are now.*
Willie
*Makimi couldn't believe what she was seeing. This was not a demon... It was a golem, built out of metal and given life by innocent human souls infected with a dark magic that they could not control. This being, these people, needed a cleansing ritual, but she was unable to use magic. Makimi could kill the dragon, but how could she save the trapped souls?*

`"I apologize for trying to kill you."`
Don
*The Reaper remained silent and grasped its scythe from its broken limb and headed inside one of the houses.*
Willie
*Makimi rushed over to the Ghost, pressing her ear against his chest to listen for a heartbeat.*
Johanna
*The Ghost was unresponsive. Blood continued to pour from the wound of his missing hand onto the streets of the village.*
Willie
*She quickly reached into her bag and grabbed her first aid kit. As fast as she could, she draped a piece of cloth over the stump and tied it down tight in an attempt to stop the bleeding.*
Johanna
*The cloth became stained with crimson as the Ghost still lay unresponsive.*
Willie
`"Damn it... I was hoping that I would not have to do this..."`
*Makimi placed a hand on the Ghost's mask, lifted it just enough to reveal his nose and mouth, then hesitated, cringing to herself.*
Johanna
*Feeling his mask being lifted, The Ghost grasped her arm weakly.* 
"Don't... Even think about it."
Willie
*Makimi sighed with relief, and, unable to stop herself, she wrapped him up in a gentle hug.*
Johanna
*The Ghost winced in pain.* 
"Yes... Yes I'm alive. I take it you won?"
Willie
*She let him go, easing him up until he was sitting straight up.*
`"It is... Complicated. I will explain later, but first, we need to get you cleaned up."`
Johanna
*The Ghost looked at his stump.* 
"It fucking took my hand and I didn't even see the damn thing."
*He grunted in pain.*
Willie
*Makimi helped the Ghost to his feet, then glanced around until she spotted a blacksmith's building.*
`"I think I know where to find a suitable replacement."`
Johanna
"Here?! Are you out of your mind? I don't see it's corpse lying anyway!! It's probably still here!"
Willie
`"It is back in the house behind us, probably resting. Come on, I can probably find you a hand that can be swapped out for a weapon."`
Johanna
"It's behind us?! I must truly be dead for you to say to me! That settles it I'm finally in Hell. Thank you for confirming that."
Willie
`"Listen to me. The creature we were fighting is not a real demon. We were fighting a golem."`
Johanna
"Ah, yes. Since golems can control crows, grow black tentacles and has an appetite for flesh."
Willie
`"Do you remember that black dragon that almost killed me?"`
Johanna
"Ah, yes how could I forget?"
Willie
`"Some of the humans it killed were infected with its dark magic. What we thought was a demon is actually a collection of cursed souls that are trapped inside a body made out of metal."`
Johanna
"Ah, great and it's still alive. Not only that but from what your are saying that dragon is powerful to do that as well? We are all so fucked. Just kill me here, I'll take my chances in hell."
Willie
`"Before you woke up, they asked me to kill the dragon. Do you still not understand? I can save the humans trapped in there! I just have to learn how to use holy spells along with the weapons I have."`
Johanna
"Oh good and now the thing that took my hand has a conscious. Are you hearing yourself right now? It's a miracle that not only am I alive but also you. And this... This construct spoke to you and now has sent you on a quest to slay the dragon."
Willie
`"This is my chance to save dozens, maybe a hundred innocent human souls from a fate worse than death, and all you can think about is yourself. Can you please just think about somebody else's pain for the first time in your fucked up life?!"`
Johanna
"That is not true! I adore someone else's pain."
*The Ghost darkly cackles before passing out again.*
Willie
*Sighing, Makimi grabbed the Ghost by his ankles and dragged him over to the blacksmith, her eyes still trained on the house across the street.*
`"I will not let you down."`
Dennis
*The Ghost remained unconscious as she was dragging him. As for The Reaper it had a lot to contemplate with its new advanced sentience. Before it was a beast that preyed on fear. Now it wasn't sure what it exactly was. A more intelligent apex hunter or something else entirely?*
Willie
*She lay the Ghost down inside the blacksmith's shop, then began to rummage through the wreckage. There had to be some replacement body parts here. After all, it was not uncommon for a warrior to lose a part of themselves in battle. Perhaps she could find something that could switch between being a hand and a weapon.*
Johanna
*The Ghost lay unconscious as if he were one of the dead that were littered about here.*
Willie
*After a long search, Makimi found something that would suit the Ghost's needs. She removed the cloth from his stump and secured the new limb to it.*
Johanna
*The Ghost would not feel the replacement and would remain out cold.*
Willie
*After checking to make sure that everything worked, she smiled to herself and started to focus on her own wounds.*

*Hours passed, and the sun set over the quiet village. Makimi lit a few candles and sat by the window, staring out at the crows still sitting on the rooftops.*

*Sighing softly, Makimi found a place to sleep and lay down, still keeping a sword by her side, just in case something attacked.*
Dennis
*Only the foolish would venture here, so the chances of company showing up are very slim. The Ghost was still unconscious from losing his hand.*
Willie
*She slept through the night, the cawing of the crows oddly soothing as she rested from the long battle.*
Sheila
*Enters Dakar village he had waited for her back at the estate but she had yet to come back to it, he was traveling with a small party of 20 men him at the center on horse, back it was pretty easy to ask about a nobles whereabouts when she stood out with her stunning beauty. As they made it into the village his men were in full knight gear with spears and shields he had his sword and magic flowing into his hand he was casting a holy magic spell around his group sensing the darkeness with a quick investigation a battle took place... He looked at the ground and saw drag marks as if a body was recently dragged he kipped his horse and headed towards the blacksmith building as he got off, he walked inside the building with 6 knights they were quiet as assassin's he had trained them well soon they found a sleeping Makimi and Ghost *
Willie
*Sensing the presence of another person, she immediately jumped to her feet and grabbed her weapon tight. That was when she saw Tamashi standing in front of her, and she lowered her guard.*
`"What are you doing here?!"`
Sheila
`"A better question would be why aren't you at the estate why are you here with him he killed so many. If your forgot."`

*He took off his helmet showing her his scared left eye as he draws his sword to the ghosts neck*
Willie
*In response, Makimi drew her own sword, locking blades with her close friend.*
`"Hear me out. You cannot kill him, at least not yet."`
Sheila
*As she drew her sword against his as they locked blades, his men would begin to unsheathe there blades he would wave his hand and they would stop.*

`"You started to catch feeling for someone who killed your family? Injured your friend? You don't see that he is evil so I must eliminate this threat before he kills you even if you kill me for saving you!"`

*He turned his sword and pushed her sword up and the left away from him and ghost before swinging his sword down on ghost attempting to slice his chest.*
Willie
*Makimi jumped in front of the Ghost, and Tamashi's blade hit her in the shoulder. Gritting her teeth, she knocked his sword off to the side, then held her wound.*
`"This man saved me from a fire-breathing dragon, you dumb son of a bitch!"`
Sheila
`"He killed your grandfather or have you forgotten!"`

*He would say in anger towards he as he saw her injury on her shoulder and sadness washed over him*

`"As much as this hurts me... He must die. But your hand or by mine you decide right now you either kill me to save him or kill him to save yourself. Save your family."`

*He moves his sword away from Makimi*

`"Your choice challenge me to a duel and kill me or let me kill him."`
Willie
*She glared at her friend, still holding her weapon, but not pointing it at him.*
`"Would you at least give me a moment to explain my actions before you chop his head off?"`
Don
*The crows started perching on top of the buildings again watching this confrontation. They would caw at eachother as they watch with curiosity.*
Sheila
`"Then explain why is he still alive."`

*He slowly began to sheathe his weapon he would take out his satchel and set on the ground taking out a sewing kit medical herbs and bandages.*

`"Let me at least heal your wound."`

*Slowly began to finish fixing her wound up but still had a few things left to do as she told her story he spoke calmly*

`"You had, a duel he brought you back to health, that's fine but it still doesn't address what he has done. He saved you only once and mercy of the duel was to only yo manipulate you. You give this man a kick he gets off to toying with you. You owe him no debt. Please listen to my reasoning when I say this.

Do you really owe a debt to a person who has killed members of your family maimed a few others and even me? Choose your words carefully my lady."`

*He warned she might lose a friend if her words were chosen wrong she would feel his presence that he was not lying.*
Willie
*Makimi took her time to choose her words carefully. She did not want to lose Tamashi as her friend, but at the same time, she had grown to understand the Ghost as a person, and knew the real him.*

`"I have seen the inside of his soul. There is another side to him. I can free him from his inner darkness."`
Sheila
`"Like he freed your grandfather's soul from his body."`

*He finished fixing her arm as he slowly drew his sword and placed it Infront of her by his face*

`"I will not watch you get yourself killed or watch you fall from your standing to protect a murderer, so I tamashi of Makimi Bazin's Red Guard hereby end my service. And now my watch has ended."`

*He bowed his head he slowly set his helmet behind the sword and stood up*

`"The guards now answer to you Makimi of house bazin"`

*He no longer called her by my lady only by her house name and stood up and began to leave quietly he held back his emotions as he did this with a cold numb expression but inside he felt like he stabbed his own heart like he just lost a part of him.*
Willie
*Makimi took a deep breath to compose herself, then rose to her feet to address the men.*

`"I want you to collect every skeleton you see and give them a proper burial in the empty field beyond the village. Work fast."`
Claire
*The guards nod there heads and all began to leave the room they began there work searching outside for every skeleton and body and began to gather them up to prepare them proper burials but first they had to find them all.*
Sheila
*As he was outside he held his chest slowly going on one knee as tears fell from his eye looking forward he didn't have anything, left she was his only friend he betrayed his country men so she could escape so she could throw her life away he lost everything so she could make a decision that would get her or more of her family killed in the long run he slowly climbed in his horse.*

`"Yah!"`

*He would ride his horse to the pathway outside the village.*
Don
*The crows started cawing at Makimi and her guards for them to not to overstay their welcome as most of the crows gathered by the house The Reaper was last seen in.*
Willie
*She instructed one of the guards to pick up the Ghost and put him in one of the horse carts. Then she instructed everyone to return to Dimeria, where they would discuss what to do next.*

*Her guards went on ahead of her, leaving Makimi alone in front of the darkened house.*

`"Thank you. For everything."`

*And with that, she got onto her own horse, and rode away.*