With the group having fanned out to collect supplies and complete tasks on their own accord Ohmen was finally free to continue scribing - By dawn the spells would be his. However what wouldn’t be was the knowledge of those horrors Bang was now enduring. In the same way Ohmen lifted his pen, stabbing it down at his spell book to begin writing bangs body would fall, impaled by javalins and spears. The changeling’s ink staining the page as would his blood soak the snow. Like Wisdom who now flew up perch among the roofs rafters Bangs soul would too ascend.
If only Ohmen had taken Drew’s worries a little more seriously. If only Ohmen had advised bang a little more strongly. If only.. If only... This death however was on the hands of none other than Bang himself for as Wisdom would soon come to say “Foolishness finds no clemency in such places.” Some would say such was harsh. Others truthful. Either which way, it changes not the past - The rabbits fate was sealed.
---
Shuddered awake Ohmen looks around, quickly scooping away the thin sheets of cloth which lay over him to see Wisdom perched on the corner of the bed. The Ravens eyes were vacant, its look hollow. Breathing out the exhaustion of the previous day in his breaths the changeling quickly puts on his cloak before approaching his familiar - following its gaze towards an open chest.
Besides the reams of stained, old parchment which made up many a scroll or the piles of linen and clothing a singular ring shone, its smooth golden surface gleaming in the morning light which now streamed through the rafters above.
The bird remaining silent Ohmen leans down, picking the ring out from the chest, feeling its unnatural weight before suddenly being startled as the Raven bursts into a storm of feathers.
One second it was in his hand, the next in Wisdoms claws, the bird now having perched high up among the beams which formed the ceiling as it speaks. “Empires have risen and fallen with such power. Power I need not remind you of for you know it all to well within your ambitions and dreams.”
“No mortal should have the right to hold such potential… But it is what it is.” “Let it not tempt you to use it so suddenly, nor too late - For gold is worthless in the hands of a dead man.”
“Keep it close in body, But seal it far in the back of your mind or else you shall suffer the corruption that comes with all power to the unworthy. And worthy you are not until your eyes have witnessed a thousand long years of life and longer, such is the power of rings like that this one, their effects lying not just in the present, but in the past and future too - able to outlive their architects for far longer than many first think.”
Having spoken Wisdom flicks the ring of wish towards the changeling - a satisfying metallic ding ringing out as the ravens claws make contact with its surface.
Grabbing it in his palm Ohmens eyes flash with possibilities before he quickly reaches for his staff, murmuring a few words in infernal “Huvy hafr easyr. Caltyid hafr eazylzuid. Yaf wmidd rypiul flwyyl." [Infernal: Hide your power. Conceal your potential. You shall remain unseen.] (Casts: Magic Aura on the ring) before slipping it back into its pouch of silk and pressing it into one of his many concealed pockets.
Remaning silent for a handful of minutes Ohmens contemplation's are suddenly interrupted as he hears the noise of others waking - To which he responds to Wisdom, deciding better than to question further how the bird had got hold of the ring from Drakk. “I suppose we best get to preparations now the others are soon up. Bang or not, today is going to be a long one - We are going to get this manor scouted and the evil therein quelled in those coming soon after.”
---
The sun having long since rose Ohmen breathes out in the cool air - the moisture and warmth in his breaths turning to a thin steam in the coldness of it all. They had traveled a long way, but there was still oh much ground to cover - However, the sharpness of the elements could be shaved off as Ohmen holds up his hand, pressing his palm against the forehead of those travelling with him as he speaks “Cadv lar orawz. Fury lar odipy. Yaf kavh wmidd clas laly.” [Infernal: Cold nor frost. Fire nor flame. You body shall know none.” (Casts endure elements, Communal on the group, splitting its hours equally between everyone coming)
With the spell cast, the changelings attention now turns to the condition of the road ahead. Well, to say road would be an offense to the word - for with each passing step the path dwindled into more strewn rubble and grass, the mansion menacingly looming above. “Look, with each step we take the ground is becoming more and more treacherous... I'm in favour of scrambling up the slope. It will save us time, energy and effort - all of which are in short supply here. I'm not one to like risks, but I think if we can manage to go about this carefully and concisely - using the pitons and ropes we already have - it will be a smooth ascent and one much more manageable.”
