It was a fairly normal day in the small village of Mereton - small enough that everyone knew everyone, but large enough to merit an Inn, known simply as 'The Bar'. It has its share of outcasts and its 'personalities', but one thing's for sure - things sure don't move fast around here. Unless it's gossip, of course.

Auntie Keziah is baking in her cottage, watching through her windows as the village children play in the sunshine.
Calin, Kristen and Anithis are all in various parts of the surrounding forest, passing the time amongst the trees and beasts that dwell there.
Joseph is in The Bar, cleaning up and setting out the tables for another slow day.

Nothing ever happens here. It's a completely normal sunny day in Mereton.





Yeah, right.

Anithis was sharpening her daggers one by one checking each blade and lovingly sharpening it. This had been her occupation for the past hour. Now on the last blade she considered what else to do with her day. Hunting would come later at night when the wild herds were settled and quiet. Easier to take the weak and slow, her supplies were running low on supplies some deer meat would help but it was probably time to go into town and pick some things up. Anithis tutted quietly in annoyance and sheathed the last dagger and tied up her quiet camp before taking a game trail towards the village listening to the forest around her.

Humming a quiet tune as she walked Anithis considered the village, she liked it as far as villages went. It was quiet and the people seemed content to live out their lives as villagers one of the reasons she had chosen it. A place where she could be at peace with herself and live in a forest without being too far from people should she ever get the sudden urge to spend time talking. Anithis walked the path quickly and silently over time she had developed the ability to walk quietly through the forest, wouldn't be a good hunter if it were other wise.

Anithis waited at the edge of the forest for a moment listening before she left the cover of the trees and headed into the village proper.

Kristen sat amongst the tall oak trees that surrounded the village, rays of sunlight dancing upon the ground as the wind caressed the leaves of the forest around her. Here she felt at ease, not having to worry about not being able to talk.

Several animals came up to her, a squirrel nosing its way into her lap. She smiled, stroking the squirrel's back. The animals weren't afraid of her, they didn't shun her like the villagers because of her disability. Here, she felt accepted.

Still, she was human and needed to live amongst humans. She didn't exactly dislike the village, it was just that she found it hard to get along in day-to-day activities without being able to speak. But she found her way around somehow, and most of the villagers had become accustomed to her.

Anithis was scanning the village when she caught a glimsp of something through the trees, a colour that was not of the usual browns and greens of the wood. Anithis spotted Kristen and with a lop sided smile nodded to her before continuing along the road towards Aunties place. Auntie Keziah was the first person Anithis usual went to see upon visiting the village for the simple reason that Auntie always knew what was going on around the village.

Auntie Keziah frowned as she pulled the burnt cookies out of the oven. It was peculiar, because she had put them in for the same amount of time as the last batch - and she always knew exactly how long that was, though she couldn't put a number on it - and they were the same thickness. Yet the last batch had turned out fine, while this...

Quickly, Auntie turned to the window and, sure enough, there was Anithis heading into town. Whenever the girl decided to come in, she'd burn the oats and sultana cookies and have to pull out the lamingtons she kept in the freezer. Well, time to face up to facts...

Auntie dusted her hands off, dumped the burned cookies into the barrel marked 'Kindling' and opened the back door for Anithis (the front door was only used when you were married and when you died - these young things using it every day had no sense of tradition!).

As always obedient to the oddities that Auntie held to Anithis entered through the back door trying to ignore the smell of something burnt. Whenever she visited Auntie there was always the smell of something burnt in the air. Anithis never did ask about that, it just wasnt on her list of things to inquire about.

"Hello Auntie Keziah, how are you today? Is it not a pleasant day" Anithis said it was her usual greeting to Auntie even when it was raining and blowing a gale she still said what a pleasant day it was.
"What are the happenings within the village since I last came by, any traders in? I have a couple of fox pelts that should fetch a sum"

*out side*

Off in the distance Joe comes running out of the bar and heads straight for the Mayors/Sheriff office

*in the office*

Sheriff .. you asked for my help? if you did i must be important....

[can be continued by "GM" or someone willing to play the sheriff]

Auntie bustled about, pulling out the lamingtons and placing them on the kitchen table with a glass of milk for Anithis and tea for herself. Only then did she sit down and take up her cup, blowing gently on it. She waited for Anithis to sit down opposite her before answering the question.

"'Tis a pleasant day indeed, child," the old gossip chuckled, eyes twinkling with mischief. "But whyever would you think I would know whether the traders were in town? I'm just an old spinster, why would I know something like that?"

She dodged the question without much subtlety, but with enough innocence laced into her tone to irritate those who knew her well - or perhaps just make them laugh.

((If you have an idea, run with it dear. NPCs can be played by anyone, and no one else knows what you have in mind.))

Anithis chuckled at that
"Oh don't," Anithis said and took a lamington which she quiet enjoyed.
"Auntie you are so wonderful that everyone simply has to tell you everything" Anithis said in flattering tones though she herself didn't tell Auntie much past observations but then she didnt really tell anyone much.

Anithis enjoyed the old spinsters company, clever and quick witted Anithis always found her conversations with the older woman enjoyable. It was a break from the silence of the woods, not that silence was bad but sometimes it was good to be reminded that there were people in the world who seemed to do no harm. It was good to be reminded of the little luxuries that civilization had to offer like cakes. Anithis wouldn't stay though, she would always eventually return to her quiet camp.

Auntie fluttered a hand playfully like a maiden fending off compliments.

"Oh, stop flattering me child," she chided lightly, lifting a cup of tea to her lips with the other hand and sipping at the hot liquid. "As it happens...no, there aren't any in town right now. But the wind told me there might be one in the next couple of days - will you stay in town until then?"

Anithis sighed
"Perhaps, perhaps not. You know if I stay in town one of those unmarried louts will try and play defender and tell me the woods are no place for a girl. Or you might just try and set one of them up to propose the black god of death strike them down should they try."Anithis said with feeling and then grinned.
"Actually I might stay in town and practise a little if someone wants to get their fingers cracked with a staff. Its been a while and I am rusty" Anithis said considering it then grimaced as she remembered the days when finding a good sparring partner was easy as walking out into the courtyard.

Auntie shrugged good-naturedly at Anithis' proposal for staff practice. She certainly didn't use one - her knives were much closer to hand, not that she used them with any great skill either; more, the fact that she had quite a collection tended to warn people off - but she knew there were a few around town that did.

"Mayhap you'll find a partner," and here her eyes twinkled for a moment, betraying the double meaning, "and mayhap not. Rusty you may be, but it's always nice to learn a new skill - or relearn an old one. Now child, are you going to help me with dinner or are you wishful of leaving already?"

"Ah cooking I guess thats one of the skills I should probably improve upon." Anithis joked and then good naturedly got to her feet to help Auntie in her cooking.
"You know maybe we should snare a husband for you" Anithis laughed and then pulled out one of her hidden knives and started to peel potatos.

Anithis considered if it was worth making her way back to camp to get some of that nice rabbit she had bagged the other day. She thought that Auntie had a lovely recipe for rabbit.

Auntie chuckled and set out potatoes and carrots for Anithis to peel and chop, setting a water-filled stewpot to bubbling over the fireplace. At the next comment, however, she nearly dropped the lid.

"A husband," she choked out, "for me?"

Then she burst out laughing. She laughed so hard she had to sit down again, tears of mirth running down her face. Occasionally she would sober a little, then she'd look at Anithis, mutter "husband" and start laughing again.

It was quite some time before she calmed enough to wipe the tears from her face, and even then she was still chuckling.

Anithis grinned at her
"Knew you would feel that way" She said and then paused tilting her head to one side.
"There is a party riding into town" She went over to a window and looked out staring down the road at a group just riding into town.

"They look like traders, I dont like them though. They haven't come to this village before have they?" Anithis asked frowning at the tough new comers.
"I am going back to camp, maybe they will buy some pelts off me" Anithis said though she really wanted to pick up her weapons as opposed to her furs.

Auntie looked out the window with Anithis, frowning.

"No, never been seen in this town. And I tell you, the traders are coming in a few days - so who are these? Run out the back and through Nairi's back garden as a shortcut if you must go. I'll see what these fellows want."

Rolling her sleeves up, Auntie Keziah exited through the side door and strolled towards the party of riders.

"Ho, there, travellers!" she called, a cheerful smile plastered on her face. "Welcome to Mereton. Might I inquire as to your business in these parts? It's not often we see new faces round here."

"Take care" Anithis said before darting out and taking the advised shortcut. Once out of sight of the town she broke into a brisk jog keen to get back to camp and the safety that the woods offered.

"What is it about those people" Anithis mused aloud as she jogged back to camp. It was just something about the way they looked that made her skin creep or maybe it was the guy at the front of the group the mean looking one with a long scar running down one cheek.

"Something not right about people who look so cruel" Anithis muttered and unconsciously picked up her pace until she was running through the trees moving with ease already Anithis was very familar with this area of woods even though she had only recently moved her camp to the area.

Anithis thought about the group and suddenly it clicked where she had seen that face before. She couldn't be sure but she didn't like where she might have seen that face. If she was correct then the last time she had seen that face it had been on a wanted poster in a fairly large town on the way here. She couldn't remember the towns name but everyone had spoken about raids and about slavers. Anithis slid into her camp and started to gather weapons as quickly as she could.

How could she have been so foolish as to have left Aunty alone when she had felt so bad about those men. The need to have all her weapons close at hand had pushed all other concerns aside. Now she might just live to regret it.

Anithis changed from casual cloths into her hunting gear quickly and gathered her knives, bow and after a moments hesitation her swords. If it came down to a fight she might just need to take them up once more even though the thought of weilding those blades almost made her ill. Anithis scanned her campsite making sure she had everything she might need and then as an after though scooped up the pack of pelts. Maybe she was being an alarmist, then again maybe she could use the furs as a cover to get a closer look at the men.

Auntie dropped the smile as soon as she was out of earshot - and her face out of sight - of the rest of the small cottages.

"I know why you're here, child," she said softly, looking up at the leader on his horse. "I'll not fight you when your luck is down - all I ask is that you don't turn this place into rubble."

The man smiled sickly at Auntie before dismounting.
"There be some fine wenches in this town, we'll turn to rubble what we desire once we are through here. You however, you we want to come with us" Three of the biggest and ugliest of the group ciricled around to be behind Auntie. One of them raised a club to bring down upon her head.

"Then I've done what I can," Keziah commented serenely, not moving as the club - heavy, she knew, with a core of lead that made it better than a baton - came down hard on her head. Instantly her eyes rolled up into her head and she crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Blood seeped from the contusion into the dust on the ground, sinking in and darkening the colour to red.

"Strap her to a horse and have a knife ready, lets see how much resistance they give us when we have their precious old woman." The man said smirking. He the turned to run an apprasing eye over the blacksmiths daughter. The Black smith turned from his forge and saw Auntie he reached for a hammer then hesistanted. If he did anything they might kill the old woman, what could he do? His family was in danger as well.

Then the beserker buried away deep inside of him emerged when one of the would-be-traders grabbed his daughter. He attacked and this sparked off a full scale riot. The whole town errupted, but these were simple village people they didn't know how to use the weapons they held if they held them at all. It was sheer chaos.



Anithis ran back into the village to see full scale chaos and mascare occuring.
"No" She whispered and then drew her sword, if only peace had continued for a little longer. Anithis moved in smooth as butter, wild as fire and deadly as a panther. She moved her way through the crowd cutting her way only to see the bandits ride out the other end of the crowd. She couldn't get after them there was too much fighting and too much chaos to reach them.

Chaos. Pure, deathly, chaos. It was, perhaps, why at first no one noticed the pair of winged humanoids that had appeared on top of the village well, gazing out across the melee. After a moment they hopped down, wandering around and closing the eyes of the dead and dying.

Blood. Flowing, staining, blood. It was definitely because of the copious quantities of it that the two angelic-looking beings hadn't yet recognised the peculiar quality of the small amount of blood in the middle of the fracas. That, of course, was soon to change, as both froze and turned towards the centre in perfect synchronicity. The same cry tore from both throats before one disappeared, the other racing to kneel beside the red earth.

"AUNTIE!!"

Anithis walked slowly through the charnage that was once a peaceful village. She felt the swords throb and its pleasure at forfilling it's task. Anithis walked past a small child that she had returned home after the gilr had gotten lost in the forest. The child had a crossbow bolt through her chest. Anithis threw the sword and it wen smashing into a wall and inbedded its self their. "aaaaahhhh" Anithis yelled and kicked a near by barrel into pieces.

Then Anithis heard someone yell "Auntie" she froze in her tracks.
"Wait, I know that voice" she muttered and yanked the sword from the wall and stormed around to the other side of the building.
"You" she said in a disgusted tone. "You snivielling, snot, befouled, gargoyle of a death angel. What in the name of Morhpeus are you doing here Tholomy"

The now-named death angel whipped around at the voice, the snarl that had instantly formed at being interrupted fading as he recognised the one in front of him.

"Aww, you always did have a nice turn of phrase," he drawled. "Complimentary as always, Anithis. Incidentally, have you seen the number of dead people here? Working for Death sorta makes me compelled to be here, doesn't it."

"I don't work for her anymore and you can tell her I said so. As for these dead- don't you dare look at me like that!" Anithis said interupting herself "Not my work, I go in for surgeory kills besides I am out of that busniess. Who invited you here anyway! What do you want. Not here on her request are you? What am I saying, you dont scratch your bits without her say so. What does she want?" Anithis demanded now only inches from the angel of death glaring up at him. Mostly up due to the fact that he was foot taller than her.

"Sure, the drawn sword really tells me you're out of the business," Tholomy retorted. "Besides, she's Death. It's just that there's so many dead she can't take care of all of them at once, so we got sent to harvest this village. Therefore, clearly she wants the dead in their realm and not in this one."

He paused, cocked his head to the side and smirked.

"You sure you don't want to come back? You always were good with that sword of yours, shall I teach you how to handle the spear?"

Anithis picked up the bucket next to her foot and swung it at Tholomy's head.

Tholomy didn't even bother to duck, the mundane object simply passing through his body like so much hot air. A fairly accurate description, really...

"Now, is that something a lady should do?" he admonished, placing a dramatic hand over his heart. "I know you show your love with violence, but really darling, shouldn't we be past this stage by now?"

Anithis pulled a painful face of anger and frustration before going over to a wall and kicking it hard. The solid brick wall crumpled like it was ancient.

"You are the most annoying creature I have ever had the misfortune to meet." Anithis exclaimed and then paused and thought about it "Okay the third most annoying but still!" Anithis waved her sword in his direction
"Now this can hurt you, she gave it to me and you know it can. So dont try me Tholomy."Anithis said turning grim.
"This isn't what I wanted for these people, it isn't my doing and It isn't what i wanted. Why does everything, everyone I care about have to die?" She asked and a single tear ran down her cheek

Tholomy swallowed his next comment about anger management and suggesting she consider it. It was hard, but he did. He could be sympathetic when occasion demanded it, and yes he damn well did have a heart!

Well, sometimes anyway.

"Woah, Anithis, please don't poke me with that sword. I've seen what that thing can do and I have no desire to end up as shish kebab..."

Okay so that wasn't very sympathetic. Maybe he should try again.

"And hey, strictly speaking I'm not really dead. So not everyone you care about is dead? ...Right?"

And pull out the puppy dog eyes in case she turned around...yep, there we go. Mission accomplished!

Anithis could feel that familiar twitch at the corner of her lips, she wanted to smile she really did but if she turned and smiled at him then her whole angrument thus far would have been pointless. Anithis turned and hugged him hard instead.
"I can't belive i am admitting this but I actually missed you" Anithis said burying her face in his robes.
"Shut up" she said when he drew breath to speak.

Anithis got control of herself and stepped back swipping away a tear that she wouldn't admit was there.
"So now, how to you know Auntie. Better yet what exactly is Auntie? Is she an old god? why do I get the impression this is going to lead to her asking me a favour?"

Feeling slightly affronted, Tholomy did shut his mouth on the phrase 'I knew you loved me'. She really did know him far too well.

Then her next sentence struck him and his face fell, going white as he whirled around, kneeling down next to the bloodstain again.

"No one really knows who Auntie is, Ani. She's just always been there, and we all love her - even her. Rashel just went to tell her we found Auntie's blood - he'll probably be back with her soon. I need to see if I can trace the blood to its source..."

Tholomy closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating on the small pool of blood-soaked earth but soon pulled back, shaking his head.

"Too old, it's bonded with the dust now. It doesn't know where it came from."

Anithis frowned "Don't call me that. I have told you a hundred times." she said and then cut him off as he tried speak again "I dont care about that one time, i was drunk." he went to try again "Very drunk" She said.

Anithis knelt by the blood and gave Tholomy a glare before lowering her nose to the blood and taking a sniff. Anithis rocked back shocked and sneezed three times.
"Wow talk about power. Its Auntie's though, i can tell that much for sure" Anithis said and wiped her eyes.

"Of course it's Auntie's, no one else's blood feels like Auntie's. Not even -"

Tholomy broke off as Rashel and a goth-looking girl appeared a couple of metres away.

"Death," Tholomy greeted cordially, nodding once before looking back at the pool of blood on the ground.

"Tholomy," Death returned the greeting, then looked at Anithis. "Anithis, I see you haven't lost your touch."

Anithis leapt to her feet and rammed the sword back in its sheath.
"Not that I haven't tried."Anithis said and nodded to the blood on the ground.
"Auntie's alright, so tell me did you set this up? Did you send Auntie to keep an eye on me or me to keep an eye on her? Playing with my fate a little more? Maybe you'll have Morpheus trap me in dreams for a few more hundred years. That was fun wasn't it?" Anithis said and then sighed.

"Do you want a hand" Anithis asked after a long moment of silence. She had been rude but it wasnt in her nature to appologise and she doubted Death would expect it of her. Anithis got the feeling Death understood Anithis far better than Anithis did herself.

Death frowned slightly at the mention of the favour she had asked of her brother; it had been necessary at the time, and they all knew it. The offer, though, was as much of an apology for the words as she was going to get. It was enough.

"It would, perhaps, be useful to have someone the mortals can readily see. Tholomy?"

"Yeah yeah I know. Keep her alive, she keeps me in line. Or tries. Occasionally."

He smirked at Anithis, winking with his usual irrepressible nature.

Rashel merely looked uneasy and stayed in the background, as far from the small circle of rust-coloured dust as he could be and still be polite.

"So whose little brother?" Anithis asked Tholomy out of the corner of her mouth. "Seems a little twitch, hasn't been on a trip to hell yet?" Anithis asked and then smiled at Death.
"Okay, so keep Tholomy from reaking havoc on the mortal plane got you" Anithis said and then smiled at Rashel.
"Is he coming?"

"Rashel," Tholomy muttered his reply, keeping his lips still so the others couldn't read them. "An attempt at replacing you. He's so stiff I could paint a design on him and use him as a shield - and often wish to."

More loudly, he protested. "Me? Wreak havoc on the mortal plane? All I do is harvest souls, Ani. You're the one who directly interacts with the mundane."

Death looked amused at the thought of Rashel going with Anithis and Tholomy. He'd be mad within the week, if not sooner, from the constant bitching those two did.

"Rashel will continue with his job," she replied before Rashel could open his mouth, though he looked a little relieved. Yep, definitely a bad idea to pair him with Tholomy. "Technically this is a mundane matter, since Auntie chose to live as one. I'm not supposed to directly interfere, so try not to get in too much trouble? Please? Just this once?"

"Trouble? Us? Never" Anithis said with a smile, it was just like old times. Then she caught sight of another friend amoung the dead and winced, almost like old times.

"So its all tracking and mortal methods?" Anithis asked Tholomy with a grin knowing it would annoy him to do things the mundane way.
"If you want me to do this would you mind giving me the usual care package? My gear is a little...." Anithis paused searching for the right word to use to describe the state of her gear.

Tholomy sneered half-heartedly at Anithis' grin, then turned his puppy-dog eyes on Death, trying once again to appeal restrictions on his mischief-making (and the no-fun-at-all mundane tracking methods). Maybe the patented puppy-dog eyes would make an impression, just this once...?

Not a chance.

Death rolled her eyes and nodded to Anithis. "As usual. I'll drop it into the appropriate location five seconds after we're gone. Enjoy the attention for talking to thin air, Anithis."

Death and Rashel disappeared, the former with a smirk and tiny wave.

Five seconds later a package dropped an inch onto the ground next to the pool of Auntie's blood, a note drifting down to land on top of it.

Anithis,

New version of the death mirror and jacket of shadows - Tholomy may or may not be able to teach you how to use them, you know how he is.

Good luck with finding Auntie.

It was signed with an ankh.