A Venture into the Dark

[Sarrus]

Karthus quickly makes it back to the group with little further struggle. He returns to see Thaese and Angder along with a young black cat he does not recognise. Sarrus and Jade have yet to return.

[Niphi]

Thaese starts as he hears Karthus approach, quickly raising his weapon to defend the group if necessary but calms down when the mantis comes into view, "Oh, it's just you... and I see you brought a friend," he slides his weapon back into his belt, "did you find anything interesting?"

[Oedipus Rex]

Karthus struggles to keep the cat within his grip. His forelegs have been scratched up, with a few even breaking through his exoskeleton and bright green blood oozing through. "My friend here was caught turning somebody into one of the demons. Like that minx." He looks at the small tabby. "Whose kid?"

[Niphi]

Thay turns back to the group, rubbing his head with a yawn, "This is Saul. Saul, this is Karthus. Karthus, try not to eat him," he sits down on a low wall, "We found him in the city. His brothers tied up over there, he's got the infection or... whatever it is."

[Sarrus]

The mouse held by Karthus continues to struggle.

Saul looks up at Karthus but looks away quickly when he sees the huge insect, averting his eyes he looks down at the mouse. "That is... was... the mayor. Oh gods I must be the only one who has escaped his grasp..." He starts to sob quietly once again.

[Angder]

Angder sits away from the rest of the group, leaning against a wall. He watches Karthus nervously, as if trying to judge what he is thinking.

of course more immediate concerns are starting to resurface as well, Angder is still starving, and the energy gained from mortal danger would not last much longer...

"I don't suppose Sarrus left anything for us to eat?" he asks.

[Niphi]

Thay rubs his eyes with a paw, "Maybe if you hadn't tried to escape so many times the jailor might actually have fed you," he sighs and looks down the path to the town, "We can't move until the dragon gets back, do you think you can last that long?"

[Angder]

Angder nods, "If I have to" he says uncertainly

[Sarrus]

It is not much longer before Sarrus, returns. Alone. He looks somewhat dishevelled, his robes torn in places. When he gets back to the group he quietly opens his mouth to talk but is interrupted by a shriek from Saul. "ITS HIM!" He cries in dismay, pointing at the dragon with a look of terror in his eyes. "He's the one who unleashed this terror upon us!"

Sarrus looks surprised for a moment, then looks down at the cat and an expression of angry recognition sweeps across his face.

Saul topples over backwards and tries to shuffle away as Sarrus approaches him looking fearsome.

"Stop him!" Saul yells.

"You!" Sarrus roars, drawing his sword.

"You have to kill him, before he consumes all of us!" The little cat sequels fearfully. The two captured cursed suddenly break free of their bonds and lunge forward.

As the dragon approaches, the group realise they have a single instant to react.

[Angder]

Angder grabs his crossbow, it is not loaded, cursing he drops it and instead lunges at Sarrus with his claws, some part of him had wanted to do this from the start, he swipes at Sarrus's leg with one paw, while jabbing the other into his stomach, aiming to knock him over.

[Sarrus]

The dragon topples to the ground with a grunt of pain. "NO!" he yells, "Let me go! Its him!"

Saul squeaks. "Its him! He's lying, kill him quickly before he consumes us all! That's why he lead you here!"

Angder can feel his collar tug violently, trying to pull him off.

[Oedipus Rex]

Karthus looks confused at the situation, before the pieces snap together in his head. He quickly headbutts the cat he is carrying, knocking him out and tossing him to the side, no point in letting him escape. He then sprints forward and grabs the small tabby around his throat with one foreleg and grabs Angder with the other, pulling him off of Sarus. "You would attack the man who gave you your freedom because a small 'child' you just met screamed out against him? Use your brain for once thief, why would Sarrus drag us all the way out here just to kill us? We were dead anyway." He turns his attention to the tabby and hisses in his face, small strands of spittle landing on him. "I don't trust this little one."

[Niphi]

Thay jumps to his paws, weapon in hand, and turns just in time to life his weapon to block the oncoming attack from the possessed cat.
The feline claws at Thay, gouging deeply into his forearms as he struggles to protect his face from the barrage of fangs and claws, concentrating more on keeping his footing.
He suddenly sees an opening and brings the butt of his hammer's handle up and catching the cat under the chin with as much force as he can. There's a sickening crunch as the tabby's jaws smash together and he falls backwards to the floor, unmoving.
Thaese pants heavily and turns back to the group, wide eyed as he sees Sarrus on the floor with Karthus restraining Saul and Angder. He sprints forward and stamps his paw down on Sarrus' chest to stop him getting up, holding his weapon out at his face, his blood dripping down the shaft and onto Sarrus' chest, "You don't get up until we know what the hell is happening!" he snarls to emphasize his point, "Now, would someone care to explain?"

[Sarrus]

Saul blurts out "He cursed our town! He did this to my friends! My family!" he lets out a little sob "He... ruined my life."

Sarrus snarls at him and struggles to get up "Your lying! Your not even from here!" he looks up at Thaese. "He was one of my students at the college but he was banished!"

"Its not true!" Saul squeals "I've lived here all my life! Please, you have to kill him, all the cursed will be on their way over here now. Its the only way to stop them!"

"If you choose him over me" Sarrus yells "he will claim you all! You have to trust me!"

[Angder]

Angder kicks Karthus's leg, "How the **** does a child do this much? And where is Jade? its obvious Sarrus is the bad-guy here." Angder glances down at Sarrus, and only now notices the state of his robes, he had been in a fight.

"Of course, I could be wrong I guess..." Angder states, uncertainly...