Deepwoken: Penumbra

War: Execution

Fred and Greg, two guards of Etris roamed the mountains of Erisia. There were severely less bandits than before - and those that were there were wary of Etreans.
Fred looked around. "Damn it... Why's it always us that gotta do the hard work?!"
Greg nodded. "Now the front line soldiers can't even be bothered with scouting! Kids these days..."
Suddenly, a figure passed in front of them, too fast to be recognized.
Fred drew his sword. "Oi! Leave this island immediately, bandit!"
Because of the lack of response, Fred approached the corner the figured disappeared behind. "I'm not messing around! Get out here now... We're Etrean soldiers and we're not afraid to fight, right Greg?!"

After a moment of silence, Fred turned around. "Greg?--" That's when he saw it - his buddy, knocked out cold. "What the?!" He exclaimed, turning around, only to be hit with a hard slam to the face, knocking him out.

Meanwhile, Faust got on a boat in Etris, Seth getting in shortly after, questioning him. "Are you sure that's supposed to be a signal? Hell, are you sure that that's even artificial wind?"
Faust nodded. "There's something... Off about it. It's a gut feeling... But it feels like when I was down. In the second layer."
Pakki suddenly arrived at the docks. "Why are you leaving?"
Faust looked at him. "I felt a wind. From Minityrsa. I don't know how, but it feels like a signal."
Seth looked at Pakki. "If he's right... Those soldiers could need our help!"
Pakki looked at Faust for a moment.
Faust looked back. "As I said. It's like back in the second layer... It feels like... Winds of desperation. But you don't have to come. I know you're busy with military shit..."
"I'm coming." Pakki said before jumping onto the boat.

As Fred and Greg woke up, they noticed they were in a cave in the bottom of Erisia's mountains, looking out onto the sea.
Greg was leaning back against a tent. "Hhh... I told you this wasn't a good idea!"
Fred groaned as he sat up. "Shut up... We'll get out! You'll see!"
Greg narrowed his eyes at his friend. "that's what you said when you proposed sleeping with your weapon under your pillow... That's how you lost your finger!"
Fred scoffed. "It's gonna be different this time! At least I'm not the one who calls Megalodaunts sharkos or whatever - Where'd that even come from? They don't even resemble sharks..."
Greg shrugged. "What... Were we supposed to do in this situation?..."
Fred thought for a moment before it clicked. "We gotta send a signal... Smoke from a fire... But we can't set one..." He said, his mind racing with ideas - none of which could help as they had their hands tied behind their backs.
"Oh man, we're so screwed..." Greg said, closing his eyes as he leaned on the tent.
Fred, wanting to be comfy too, tried to lay down on the ground. The moment he did so, he felt an incredibly painful burning sensation. "OW!! The hell?!-"
Greg looked at him. "You dropped down onto a campfire, dummy..."
Fred scoffed. "You're the dumm- a campfire?! Greg, you're a genius!"
"Huh?"
"We'll just blow on the fire to push the smoke out and make the flames bigger!" Fred said.
Greg thought for a moment. "OHH!! Okay, okay, I'll count down... Three... Two... One..."
Fred started blowing.
"...go!" Greg finished.
Fred looked at him. "Who the hell goes to 'go'?! You're counting down to one, not zero!"
Greg scoffed. "Alright, you do it then, if you're so clever!"
Fred took a deep breath. "okay, on ONE. Three... Two... One!" He said as they both blew on the fire with Galebreathe, amplifying the flames.

The smoke was seen from Etris, Colt immediately sending the ship with the letter towards Miner's Landing.
As soon as the ship left eyesight, however, a shadow appeared on board as the Etrean soldier backed up. "WOAH shit....!"
Out of the shadow came a hooded man. "I'll be taking this." He said as he effortlessly grabbed the envelope out of the soldier's hands, who was left frozen in fear.
The man swiftly turned around, a necklace with a half-black, half-red gem on it swinging in the air as he left back through the shadow before it disappeared.

"M-Maybe they didn't see it?" Greg asked.
"Alright, let's try this again... Three, two, one!" Fred said before they blew on the fire again.
James looked at them from an entrance into an alley inside the cave. "Cyrus... I don't think we're getting any intel from these two."
The bearded man could be heard yelling from inside his little room. "Why? My boys can break anyone!"
James sighed. "No, it's not that... They're too dumb to know anything like that..."
Suddenly, the same shadow appeared inside Cyrus' room, the hooded figure walking out. "Here's the letter..."
Cyrus smiled. "Thanks... That's all I needed from you for now."
The hooded figure then left without another word.
James walked into his room.
Cyrus handed him the letter. "I'll let you do the honours."
James smirked, opening the letter. "He REALLY underestimated us--" He said before his smile disappeared.
Cyrus looked at him, tilting his head. "What's up? Come on, read it out loud!"
James looked at it for a moment.

"....alright....

Dear Cyrus Dalus,
I have noticed your impatience through your spy that you sent to know my next move. Though I would normally consider this as cheating, I have a secret weapon which completely counteracts this.
I have units patrolling every island at this moment - which you know very well. Let me make one thing clear. I know exactly when your spy is around. By capturing these soldiers, you revealed where your primary hideout is - which is also your weak point. You and the Legion have no conception of what powers you are dealing with. In order to resolve this peacefully, I suggest you withdraw your soldiers.
Sincerely, Colt Kalinof."
Cyrus just sat there in shock. "C-colt...."
James narrowed his eyes in frustration. "...Was one step ahead."