Episode Eleven: Mora vos Malus

Walking for weeks through plains and overgrown towns. Castor asks Hollinzoller for the armor “in light of recent events,” and receives leather armor.
They run into a few revenants but those are run down with horses and easily dispatched. 
During the night before they reach Berlin, Ivetta wakes to the feeling of cold steel on her neck: Mr. Hollinzoller holding a knife to her throat. He tells her to follow him into the woods, away from camp. When they're sufficiently far away, he hold's up her father's journal, asking "how did you steal this?" 
She tries to explain that she didn't steal it, that her father had given it to her. His name was Cosimo Amoroso. Hollinzoller seems to recognize the name. She then reveals that her real name is Ivetta Amoroso, that she uses Amalia as an alias for her own protection. No matter how much Ivetta told the truth, Mr. Hollizoller still didn't believe her. He insists that she must be magically trained if she lifted this from his person. Ivetta continues to play dumb, unsure if he could be trusted with the full truth. She begged for the return of her precious father's journal and for him to please continue to call her Amalia. He replies that he will be keeping an eye on her group. 
Returning to their campsite, her friends still asleep and none the wiser, Ivetta crashed hard, exhausted. She only woke when Marco shouted, "Wake up, sleepyhead!" While wearing a flower crown. 
Hollinzoller has plan to go through Berlin i.e. sticking together and staying quiet those without horses ride on the carriage. People on edge.
Reaching Belin itself the huge city is even more decrepit and destroyed than everywhere else. Just a disgusting city, mud everywhere, bodies, demolished buildings. A horde of 500 revenants round the bend as they go down the blvd. They continue walking slow.
A revenant pops out of the mud, luckily Castor and Ivetta are prepared and stay quiet. Ivetta stabs his face.
Another horde up the street. They turn to avoid them. Around the corner a horde comes. they try to turn around but there's the other horde right behind them. Have a few minutes to plan. The result of which is that Lynus and Tobias will move a bit away and throw a brick to distract the horde enough to slip past. 
Tobias stabs all the bodies lying on the street as they head through back allies. Lynus almost trips but Tobias catches him. Lynius then slings a rock, it doesn't go as far as they’d like but it makes a big noise, crashing through a wooden beam of a house and demolishing the structure. Trying to sneak past the zombies, Castor almost falls off her horse and Marco falls off the carriage and says “whoopsie!” Castor helps him up and tells him to “shhh.”
They make it through Belin without further incident. Much to everyone’s relief.
Head up the road another week seeing more broken down villages, spooky forests, almost to Stralsund. Camping in a field so no revenants can be sneaky. Mr. Abot makes a speech, “Listen up, tomorrow we’ll be heading into a settlement, our final stop before you all get your just rewards. We’ll be passing through Gremmin. This settlement is known as a very strong and faithful Catholic settlement. If any of you are Protestant it would behoove you to keep it to yourself. Mr hollinzoller can take it from here.” he retreats back into his carriage. Mr. Hollinzoller does indeed step up and says, “Look, we’re heading to contentious territory, controlled by the Mora vos Malus. If you’re not a devout Catholic I'd advise you, keep your mouth shut,” he points at Lynus, “everybody got that?” grunts of noncommittal.
Tobias comes over to talk to Ivetta, Marco, and Castor. “Hello there Mr. man,” says Marco. Ignoring him he speaks to Ivetta “I know Castor here follows the faith, not sure about you or your friend here. If either of you don't hold as close as him, I advise you to listen to Hollinzoller. These are not people you want to be on the wrong side of. 
Ivetta says, “It won't be a problem, we're all catholic.”
“I love god.” Says Marco
Tobias nods, “I'd say speak as little as possible all the same.”
“How do you know of this order?” Ivetta asks.
“I am a member of the church and though the church has many orders, I would say my travels have made me more familiar than most. This order practices their devotion in a similar way to me though they are much more fenatic. This makes them not something you’d want to be the enemy of. They certainly hold tight to the faith. There's a chance what you say might offend them. While I can try to placate them, I’m not sure I can dissuade them entirely. Just stick close to me.
“We appreciate that advice.”
“Consider it a favor for that story later.”
Enter Gremmin, can't just not pass through the town. About a mile outside of town, a rider flanks the caravan. Flags hang off wooden walls, yellow cross over black banner. Town seems to be attacked often. 4 or 5 piles of bodies, priests with holy water at their bases saying last rights and burning bodies. Militant faithful, holding maces and halberds have their hoods up while others keep them down. Walls manned by order members holding crossbows. Hollinzoller stops the group and speaks with guards. Focal point is the cathedral -being built over a smaller church. Otherwise the town is quite rundown. “They're going to let us in but they want each of us to talk to one of the faithful before heading in.” 
Ivetta, Marco, and Castor are interviewed with Tobias. Two militant members with maces stand behind. Speak to the priest with a ‘clipboard’ he says nothing for a while. He sees Tobia and says “Hmm fellow member of the faith I see.”
“Spreading the good word through the land, more necessary than ever.”
“Indeed. What order are you a member of?”
“I follow the will of the vatican.”
“A difficult thing to do in these trying times. What is your name?”
“Tobias König.” He writes this down.
“And you boy, your name?” He points at Castor.
“Castor M-Macabro sir.”
“And what did your father do?” 
“I- he died when I was young. He w-worked with metals.”
“From whence do you hail?”
“Milan.”
“Ah, Italy, what of the scourge we face is it as prevalent?”
Tobias cuts in, “If I may, I have traveled with them a while and it seems Italy is untainted by the revenants. Forgive them if they seem out of sorts but the scourge is quite new to them. it seems the Carpathians have protected it.” 
“Italy is of special concern to us. Tell me boy, I have not been to Milan in some time, have they demolished the white pillar?” Cold sweat breaks out over Castor’s hands.
“White pillar sir?”
“Yes, the ones the Catholics erected centuries ago.”
“I think you have the wrong city, there is no such pillar there.” he hums and writes something down. Turning to Ivetta he asks her name and from whence she hails as well as her occupation.
Ivetta says “Amalia Russo. Florence where I was a painter's apprentice.”
“For what purpose are you traveling?” 
“To find work.”
Finally he turns to Marco, “And you boy?”
“You wanna know my name? I'm Barko Babruchi.”
“I can’t say I've heard that name before.”
“Barko? It's been in my family for many years.”
“I see. And what was your occupation?”
“I was a blacksmith.”
“And you met in Florence?” looking at Castor.
“Ah yes, I traveled to Florence looking for work and met this gentleman and this fine lady. We all decided to find work in Germany together.” 
He lets them through. And they head into the town. Mr. Abot secured rooms for the night. Nice as can expected. Beds, candles, and dead bodies on the streets. Holy men blastin' incense through the streets to cleanse spiritually and cover the stench. The plan is to rest for two days. Castor flops down on a bed relishing just the sight of a bed after so long on the road. They sleep and in the night Marco leaves to do his business, waking Ivetta momentarily.
In the morning they find his bed still empty yet his belongings remain. They search the place and ask around if anyone has seen him.
Adolf saw him leave last night from his bed on the couch, but he didn’t see him come back. They knock on Tobias’ door. When he opens it his face falls and he says “there is only two of you, where is the third?” 
“He didn’t come back last night. Can you help us find him?” 
“I will ask around, pack his things and wait for me to return.” 
Back in the room, after packing his and their things, they hear a knock. Castor opens it, face falling as she sees it is not Marco or Tobias but instead Mr. Hollinzoller. He says, “you’re missing one.”
Castor asks him, “Do you know where he is?” he says nothing and jerks his chin to Ivetta, “we need to settle things.”
“Can Castor come?”
“This is between us.”
Castor gives her a look. Ivetta says, “It’s okay,” as she leaves the room leaving Castor alone. 
Ivetta returns alone and unharmed about 10 minutes later. “Hollinzoller believes me. He tested me telling me there was nothing in my father’s journal. But when I protested and said it was full of his life story he handed it to me. I flipped through and there it was. He said that the book’s contents change depending on the person holding it and that it takes a lot of magic to enchant a book in this way. He has one too, that’s why he thought I stole it.”
“So there’s more of these books? Where did he get his? Did you get your dad’s back?”
“Those are all good questions we can ask him. He said he’d help us find Marco.”
“He didn’t kill you or turn you in for having witchcraft on you so that’s a step in the right direction. I think we should wait for Father Tobias to come back first before we ask his help.”
Speaking of the devil a knock comes at their door. It is Tobais. Castor opens the door and lets him in, fastening the door behind him.
“It seems that he slipped outside the city last night. Over the past day he was seen glancing around furtively. He took his horse and left in the night.
“He wouldn't just leave us. And h-he left his things.” Castor insists.
“Packing one’s things days before departure is often question raising behavior.” 
Ivetta asks, “Would he have been brought in for further questioning by the order?”
“If he had not just left and had gotten himself in trouble, do you think two children would be able to get him out?”
“You don't know what we’re capable of!” Castor looks angry. “He's our friend! If he was scared he would have told us not just left, he has to be here! And we’re going to find him, we’re not leaving without him.” 
Tobias looks weary, as if this conversation aged him ten years, “I’ve led many men to their deaths over the years. I would not like to add two children to that list.”
Ivetta snaps, “Well if you won't help us, I know someone who will. Excuse me.” She leaves, Castor trailing behind. She throws a sad look at Father Tobias then turns away. 
They head downstairs. Hollinzoller is outside, hood up, staring at the overcast sky. “Done speaking to the father?”
“Yes.”
“And what did he have to say?”
“He didn’t want to lead us to our deaths.”
“There is some merit in that. So you want my help?”
“Yes.”
“I can help you blend in. I’ve procured a couple of their order’s outfits. But you'd be flying by the seat of your pants. I don't know anything about these people and neither do you.”
They decide on fake names and thank him for his help.
“We can’t take any risks, not with the cargo we’re hauling. You better find him before tomorrow.”
“We will.” Ivetta says.
“We have to.” Castor insists.
He gives them the uniforms. They return to the room to change. They leave around noon through the back door, shutting it behind them. 
Down the alley they head when the door opens again. Father Tobias exits. No time to hide, he’s seen them. He sighs seeing their disguises.
He speaks low, “the carriage is ready to go in case things go south.”
Confused Castor says, “I-I don’t understand. You’re not going to stop us?”
“You seem quite bent on finding him. I wouldn’t want you to run into trouble and not have a way out. But their order is quite small, not many faces are different. What is your plan exactly?”
“Well-we, uh. The cathedral is the largest building in town.”
“They’re not building it up for nothing.”
“So you’re just going to wander around and hope to find him? Wouldn’t that be convenient. Look this order isn’t one to be trifled with, they will do most anything to further their goals.”
“What are their goals?”
“They are hunters of witchcraft and demons. And the responses to the questions you've answered both them and me have not placed you on very stable ground.”
Castor goes quiet for a moment, then looking to the wall she asks, “F-father Tobias? You’re a man of the faith. Does… Does God speak to you? Perhaps in dreams or the like?”
“It is said God selects his messengers very carefully and it is rare that anyone truly speaks with Him.”
“Alight well, God, um, came to me in a dream, and told me I was a prophet and he sent me and my friends on a holy quest.”
“Let's say hypothetically I buy into this. From your position, is it worth risking your holy quest in search of one child especially when the land is in need of His light in such times of turmoil?”
Castor, conflicted, says nothing. Ivetta suggests they pray for guidance. 
Pray the rosary for 20 mins. 
Castor finishes and says, “No, M-Marco was chosen to be in this quest as well. He was chosen...”
“Right, God chose him to protect Castor.” Ivetta says.
Tobias asks, “Then should he not be protecting you? If it is his duty to protect you then placing yourself in danger by mounting a rescue is in direct opposition to his purpose.”
“But-I-can’t. He- ” she sighs. Her voice breaks when she whispers, “you’re-you’re right.”
“If he hasn’t left and they do have him and he is as devout as I suspect, he will be released, perhaps into the protection of this town.” Castor knows in her heart this will never come to pass, tears well in her eyes and spill over moments later. 
“I know it is hard but your death would not serve Him.”
Castor bows her head, tears flowing silently down her cheeks. Tobias places his rosary in her hand. Her fingers curl around it and she draws it to her chest.
Ivetta and Castor shuffle back into the inn and change out of their disguises. Ivetta hides hers under the bed, Castor packs hers in her bag. They take Marco’s things along. They decide that they should leave as soon as possible.
As they head out the door Mr. Abot is complaining to Hollinzoller, “I don’t understand why you insist on leaving so early,” as he’s being stuffed into his carriage. The caravan departs and leave Gremmin. 
Adolf, the skinny young man, catches up to Castor as they set out, “Hey where did your friend go?”
Hollowly she responds, “He- he decided to stay.”
Adolf tries to lighten the mood saying, “Hey, more of a cut for us.” Castor’s face remains stony. Adolf exits the awkward conversation.
They all make it to Stralsund, where they feel the salty sea air. The wall that surrounds the city is 3 stories tall. Here too, piles of bodies are stacked. The top of a cathedral peeks over the wall. The city is a bit smaller than Berlin and inhabited by many living people. Houses built on the walls, they seem to be for the more for the wealthy as they are mostly filth free. Canons line the walls as well as many guards with weapons. Each entrance is predicated with a system of tunnels- metal cages that link together to form a passage which can be sectioned off so if revenants come in they can be stopped. Mr. Abot himself gets out and speaks to the guard, speaks his name, and is let in immediately. Heading through the passage they eventually get in the huge main gates. They see straight down the main boulevard which opens out to a bay. The docked ships are derelict and decrepit the same for the houses. Squallor everywhere. Babies cries ring out as well as adults begging for aid. City looks ready to  buckle under the weight of so many refugees. The paved stone streets give the small blessing of keeping mud at bay but the stench still curls the nose hairs. 
Abot brings them to the wall where the carriage is rolled onto a platform and is pulled up on a pulley system onto the top of the wall. Now three stories up the city looks quite tranquil and beautiful. The group is then led toward Mr. Abot’s mansion. Where he is received by a beautiful woman, presumably Mr. Abot's wife as he kisses and hugs her. He whispers into her ear and returns to the carriage where he leads out a young, sickly looking girl. He holds her hand as he draws her up the stairs and into her mother’s waiting arms. 
The woman and the girl ascend the stairs leaving Mr. Abot behind. He turns to the group and says, “Gentlemen, I think this is a job well done. I congratulate all of you. As a man of my word, I shall give you your just rewards.” After being left to settle he asks each of the group what they should like in private.  
Castor’s turn comes and she is asked what her heart desires she says, “I’m looking for a very item. It can be found in a library.”
“A book? Can you read son?”
“Ah no. and no not a book but a golden tube with glass inside. It is quite specific, it can’t just be any tube.”
“Hmm a tube with glass you say, and a golden one at that? This will be hard to come by. Why don't you and your companion stay as guests here and in a few weeks you and I can tour the town. There are many colleges and universities with libraries, at least when I was here last there were.” 
“Thank you Mr. Abot, you are most kind. And I hope your daughter is well. It was a long journey and I had no idea she was even there!”
“She is as well as the rest of us, it was a harrowing journey. Thank you for asking lad.”
Ivetta finds in her room an entire crate of daggers and three spears along with finer leather armor and a blowpipe.
Tobias, Ivetta, and Castor meet up later and speak. Tobias begins, “so what is next for the chosen one?”
Castor turns bright red and pokes her pointer fingers together, “p-p-please d-don’t call me that.” eyes downcast she says, “I set in motion a plan to get that which we seek with the help of Mr. Abot. but once we have it we’ll leave.”
“I suppose I cannot let you two travel without protection, so I will join you.”
Castor says, “Thank you Father.”
“Did you ask for it as payment?” Ivetta asks.
“Yes. Mr. Abot said we should stay here a while. He said he’d take me to university libraries in town.”
“Are you looking for a book?” Tobais questions. 
“Not a book, but it is surrounded by them. It is a golden tube with glass inside.”
“A spyglass?”
“What is that?”
“I have friends in the navy who use such an object to see far away ships. For what reason do you look for something you don’t even know the purpose of?” 
Ivetta chimes in, “we were given a vision to find it.”
“The things He asks us to find don’t always serve the purpose of the item’s intended use.” Castor supplies, probably further confusing poor Tobias.
Ivetta looks around, making sure no one is listening in and says to Tobias, “In all honesty, my name isn’t Amalia. It’s Ivetta Amoroso and we’re both from Florence. I’m sorry we lied to you. I was just trying to protect myself.”
“It is indeed a sad day for the flock when they cannot trust their shepherd.” Tobias replies. “Why should you need to hide your identity? Is someone pursuing you?”
“Perhaps. We did not leave Florence on the friendliest terms.”
“Who has the power to pluck you from the heart of Germany?”
“A visiting cardinal from another town. I’m not sure what sect he was from but he preached heavy denouncements of heresy.”
That evening the three walk along the top of the wall, the sun lowering in the west, painting the sky brilliant oranges and pink. They spot an odd sight, small flames in the distance getting closer. First tens, then hundreds, then thousands. Looks to be a large mass of people. They ebb closer and the gleam of weapons breaks the shadows. A massive army stops just out of arrow range.
A lone rider nears the base of the wall. His voice is amplified and it echos as he reads:
“By the right of might, faith, and God, we, the Mora vos Malus, demand that the city of Stralsund surrender to the armies of the holy Catholic faith immediately, converting to the one true faith. If this is not done, we shall lay siege to the city until the heretics have been destroyed.”
He continues, “Furthermore, we demand that the city turn over evil beings within their walls, we demand that Stralsund turn over the false prophets in league with the Antichrist, Ivetta Amaroso and Castor Macabro.”
Tobias turns to Castor whose face has drained of blood. “I hate to say that Castor isn't a very common name in Northern Germany.” 
TBC
Episode Twelve: Hunted