[IRP] Beginnings of Change

[WyvernSlayer]

Yuri was ill-prepared to handle the medicine projectile as Ambrose tossed it at him.  He bobbled it a couple of times before finally grasping hold.  He gave Ambrose a brief look of bewilderment; to offer alms for your prisoners wasn't typical behavior.  Or maybe I'm not a prisoner, and these people are as genuine as they want me to believe, thought Yuri.  He hastily opened the pouch and set about treating his wounds.

The herbal mix tasted foul, but Yuri could feel the pain in his ankle begin to wane.  It would be good enough.  Yuri looked up through the woods, towards the Keepers' checkpoint.  His new companions had already begun to sneak their way past the guards.  Yuri heaved a big sigh, and finally left the trees.

"Oy!  There's one of ours!" said one of the guards.  Yuri tensed.  I need to keep calm...

"Are you okay?" one of them asked.  "You look like 'ell, man."

"There were some dissenters that tried to escape," replied Yuri.  "There were five of us... I'm the only one left."

"Did you get a look at them?  We're due for reinforcements in a couple hours.  We can search the area!"

Yuri gulped.  This was his chance to help.

"Y-yes.  There were three or four of them.  Black hoods.  I think..." Yuri looked out in the direction he came from.  "I think one of them was holding a tome, but I'm not sure.  The rest of them... they were definitely armed.  I passed by one of our brothers as I was trying to escape - he had an arrow in his neck."

The Keepers looked at one another, then began to nod in comprehension.  One of them stepped forward and clasped Yuri on the shoulder.  "For you to make it out of this mess is a blessing from Elimine.  You needn't fear - we have the village under our control.  They won't come back while we're here."

Yuri could not bear to look the Keeper in the eye.  Instead, he simply nodded in hollow appreciation and walked past the gate into the Keepers' staging area.

Please, my friends... Get what you need and leave this place behind.