Nightmare's End

Present: The Queen and her Executioner

The phantoms of the castle had proven minimally difficult for the hunters, but the gargoyles had nearly killed Stephetheon; his aggressiveness had left him open for a large number of attacks. He had decapitated one of the monstrosities, only for the other to envelope him with its leathery wings and clamp down on his shoulder. Steph roared in agony and threw it off, jumping at it with his Saw Spear raised, and impaled the living statue, pinning it to the roof they stood on. He yanked it loose, fracturing the shingles nearby.

"Gods damn this place to hell," Stephetheon growled. "Who the hell made these bastards? Some idiot from Byrgenworth, no doubt."

"Don't mention that place, brother. I hate that poor excuse for an institution." Wolfgore pulled a chunk of grey meat from the Whirligig, flicking it aside. "Had they stayed out of those dungeons, none of us would be in this mess, and even after all the 'knowledge' they've obtained, not only are we still in this mess, but they've killed hundreds of people, student and Yharnamite alike. They have more blood on their hands than all the hunters combined. They sicken me."

"I know, master. Twas only a joke, though ill made." Stephetheon gazed over to the roof of the foyer, and saw something peculiar. He drew from a pouch his monocular, and focused on the strange thing. "What in the... Wolf! Look at this!" He pointed over to the object, and Wolf took a gander as well.

"A throne? Why would a throne be on the roof?" Wolf scanned their surroundings for a way over, and spotted a bridge ten meters below them. "There, Steph. The bridge, I want you to jump down to it."

"Yes, sir." Steph leapt from the edge of the roof, soaring for a heartbeat, the icy wind tugging at his feathers, and weakened when he landed. He grunted at the impact, but was otherwise alright. "Its clear, Wolf!" He shouted up.

"Perfect," Wolf followed, using his Whirligig to grip the side of the castle, slowing his descent. He hopped lightly off the side and onto the rail of the bridge, displacing some snow. "That was fun." Wolf grinned.

***

The hunters had climbed their way up to the opposing roof, and they looked at each other, realizing...

"There's someone over there!" They cried in unison, sprinting over to the throne. A powerful gust of wind blew them away, however, biting into them like a thousand icy daggers. Stephetheon rolled onto his feet and dashed next to his master, prepared to defend.

An eerie groaning emanated from the figure on the throne, and suddenly a sound like cracking ice echoed off the spires of the roof, and it stood, revealing a rather comically small crown atop its head. Stephetheon eyed its weapons; a relatively short sword and a scythe, sporting a strange bloody glow to its blade. Executioner arcane? ...Logarius?!

"Master, are you alright?" He shouted over his shoulder.

Groaning, Wolfgore responded with a punch onto a shingle. He rose to stand at his apprentice's side, and readied the Whirligig. "I believe that is master Logarius, sir."

"Really? Then I guess we'll make a martyr of him." Wolf charged ahead, only for a wave of arcane skulls to knock him back. "Ah, crap, the bastard packs a punch." He stood again and dodged through another wave. This time he closed the distance, swinging upward and launching Logarius into the air. When the Executioner hit the ground, Wolf leapt forward and crashed down on him. Wolf dashed back, steeling himself for the counterattack.

Stephetheon sprinted over, swapping from spear to scythe. Reaper against Executioner, eh? Should be interesting. Siderite rang as Stephetheon lunged into range and transform attacked, knocking the old man back once more. He ran behind him, and charged a power attack, knocking him back again. This time Logarius did not hesitate to retaliate, and lashed out with his sword, knocking the scythe from Steph's hands. "Gods, Wolf, help me out over here!"

"I got you covered," Wolf chuckled, tossing him a Blade of Mercy and thrusting his saw at Logarius. He roared a fearsome roar, and lifted his opponent into the air and threw him into the ground. Wolf grunted as he ripped the Whirligig free and dashed back. Steph appeared at the Executioner's side and began dicing him up. Suddenly, almost midswing, Logarius released a massive ring of energy around him, nearly throwing the hunters off the roof. He grunted as he leapt high into the air to slam down on them, narrowly missing as they rolled away.

The hunters sprinted away, healing themselves as they went, as Logarius raced like a lion at their tails. Stephetheon twisted around and swung at him with the cunningly retrieved Burial Blade, catching his neck. With that, the master became a martyr.

***

Breathing heavier than a bovine birthing a calf, Steph and Wolf spoke of the battle. "Way too close, brother." Wolf said grimly, wiping blood off his face.

"I know, master. At least we won."

"We almost died, idiot. Had he sent another wave of arcane at the end, we would have been done for. Now then, I will go see what we nearly killed ourselves for." He stood wobbly, and limped toward the surprisingly intact throne. Wolf stroked his beard, leaning on the Whirligig Saw. After a minute of pondering, he turned to his fellow. "Stephetheon, what was the name of the Vileblood King's crown?"

Steph lithely walked to his side. "The Crown of Illusions, sir." He handed Wolf the crown from the head of the Executioner. Wolf removed his top hat and placed the crown on his head, and after a few moments of mysterious clouds swirling the false gate behind the throne,it was false no longer. An entire tower appeared, seemingly hidden by Logarius' decision to wear the crown himself. The hunters entered, their steps echoing among the statues and pillars.

They came to an even more open chamber, and a voice reached them from the opposite end,"Ahh, hunters, welcome to Cainhurst. We haven't had visitors in, well, a decade at least. Why art thou here?"

After a moment of silent approach, Stephetheon asked of a name. "Lady Maria. Do you know her?" Wolfgore glared at him, confused by this name. What has he done? he thought.

"Maria... How dost thou know of my cousin? Did she know thee?" The voice replied, clearly coming from the woman sitting before the stained glass window of the far side.

"Um, sort of. She is your cousin, you say?"

"Indeed, she was. Many years ago, she left our castle to learn to hunt from the beasthunter Gehrman. The last I had heard of her was of her servitude to the Healing Church."

"You say she was... you believe she is passed?" Stephetheon strode toward her more, noticing her hair. White, like Maria's... "How long ago did you last see her?"

"Nearly thirty years, if thou must know. She must be gone, as much as it pains our heart." The woman held her hands to her breast, praying silently to her gods.

"Thank you, Queen Annalise, but I must be off. It has been a pleasure." Stephetheon bowed respectfully, and turned away, running toward the wooden throne. "Brother, wait!!" Wolf called out, sprinting after him, but he was gone.

***

The lantern sang its eerie, yet calming song as Stephetheon placed the timed Molotov, and he knelt, entering the Dream once more. Wolf had just come into view as the Molotov destroyed the lantern, and Steph was away.