There they stood, deep in a lusterless forest, surrounded by cold, short, oak-like trees with winding, thick branches, twisted and disfigured, some coiling back to the very earth once beneath them.
Creeegk, rrrggk. Swish. The wind shuffled the grass, pulling the branches as it flowed through them.
There stood a silhouette cloaked in clothes of old. Laced leather shoes, a long black robe, and cloak. On their hands they wore leather gloves, around their neck, a string with a gold ring at the end, and on their back a large brown bag with many compartments. Upon their face a black eagle's beak mask and a set of metal goggles with four lenses with brass colored rims, upon their head a dark steel colored conical hat with a dull, rounded top, much like a helm.
Standing next to them, a much shorter silhouette covered in a cloak and helm, padded tough leather boots bound to their small feet, ankles, and shins with wraps and strings, decorating the top of them was a white pelt. Around their legs, brown trousers covered in nicked and scraped chainmail. Covering from their neck to the forearms, opening just at the legs, was a loose-fitting, stained cream cloak. Fastened around the waist, a belt and clipped loosely to it at their side, a bone. On their back, a small pack bag, hanging on it a bundle of hawser rope.
Their arms were covered in a loose brown tunic. Covering their hands, slit and dented silvery mitten gauntlets with blue palms. The prominent bulge of their cuirass protruded from the chest underneath the simple cloak, at the top a white pelt that trailed into a vibrant navy blue cape that flowed in the wind. Upon their head, shrouding their face, a worn, rounded, spangen helm.
The pair stood side by side in front of it. The massive, towering ivory castle keep, etched in cream colored, peach white bricks and tiles. Large and broad, with few windows. Seismic pointed patterned protrusions extended from its base, pink curtains hung draped between its roofs. Atop the towers, stands, spires, and columns were rounded, burnt orange tiled roofs.
Crunch, curmbe, Grig. The sweet floral scent of warm lilies fills the air like warm oatmeal.
Crunch, curmbe. The sweet floral scent of warm lilies with undertones a bitter earthiness fills the air.
"What are you eating?" Said the taller Silhouette, slowly turning to look at the shorter, his voice rich and smooth like coconut oil, tempered like a rabbit, yet with a bellow.
In the shorter one's hand, a small brown rod of tightly packed dried mush and nuts with small light pink flowers protruding from it.
They nodded, continuing to chew on the snack.
The man turns back to the keep entrance.
"Well, shall we head inside?" He asked with a lift in his voice as he presented the door like a guide. Yet he presents a stranger.
The short one, clad in armor and cloak, slowly begins walking inside after them, snack still in hand, chewing, the other holding on to their pack strap.
Pap. tut. Pah. The keep floors are rough and dotted with rubble, the halls built of wood and stone, carved patterns, and decorated with paintings. Its vibrance only shrouded in its grey darkness, merely lit with the warmth of candles of the castle, within the hall, couches and desks with candles and lamps of old, cast of dull golds.
"This first floor is rather dark, isn't it, and the halls are lacking in stature, wouldn't you agree?" Said the man in the mask in a low tone as he paced next to the short one in the spangen helm.
sskkrrr, tip-tip-tip, reek creegk. Scraping, tapping, and thumping sounds murmured throughout the keep walls as they walk. Perhaps rodents and insects, or rather distant noise of that which resides here. Quiet but not silent.
The one clad in a spangen helm finds a nook in the hall, in it a door to a room, inside a table with books and a beautifully carved desk with dull edges and bright browns, atop it a sealed glass of ink and a dip pen next to juvenile inscriptions, days old now. It's warm and well decorated with a rug and bookcases.
The scent of smoked apples fills the room. The pair begin searching the room slowly, minding the fireplace left side of the entrance, guarded by rails with a dull brass hue. The man in a mask examines the books on the shelves as the shorter silhouette searches the room, finding a metal ball with a fine finish.
"This is the place described in our map. Hopefully they're here in this room." The little knight pays attention to the man's words, turning back and examining the room further, tucking the metal ball in their pocket.
Crackle snapp, pip. The fire burns brightly. Their gaze drifts towards the floor covered with small light patches of dust, balled paper, and a small wooden carving.
Swish rattle, tink. "I found them, these are the keys we will need to get in the room at the top of the keep." Said the masked man, pausing for a moment as he looked to the floor.
"And hopefully to the Chapel…" Said the man in the mask quietly as he tucked the set of shiny metal keys, depicting branches and flowers on a ring, in his cloak. The short silhouette was silent for a second, staring at the man.
Swish-swish... Thumbs up, they approve with a few light nods.