Merse stuck her head out from a dank alleyway, ensuring she was not being watched before slinking down the streets of Dregsbale. While she would have rather waited for darkness, Dregsbale operated on different rules than most cities, being the criminal capital of the realm. Unlike most towns, which concentrated their efforts on threats from outside the walls after nightfall, the watchers and lookouts of Dregsbale actually paid more attention to the goings on within the city after dark, aware that residents were more likely to die from a quick blade between the ribs than an orc arrow.
For a moment, Merse almost wished she had killed another humanoid monster in her mad travels, but quickly dropped the idea. She didn't need the distraction of another set of memories, not to mention another traumatized soul, although it would have been nice to be able to enter the town with another face. Nevertheless, her strange clothing hopefully hid her identity. Although she could turn into the wolfen, considering the way Kayl had been treated upon his last visit to Dregsbale, Merse rejected that notion as well. After a relatively uneventful trek, Merse looked up to the welcome sight of a familiar sign: "Apothecary: Odds and Ends." Letting out a relieved sigh, Merse quickly entered and shut the door behind her.
**********
A half a continent away from Merse, and in a different realm from Dregsbale, a relatively unremarkable mountain stood within an isolated range. Although on the surface it appeared uninhabited and ordinary, it actually covered an interior which was anything but. Despite the fact that the entrance lay obscured in such a way that would not be easily located, the depths of the mountain hummed with activity hidden from the world.
Within the mountain, a heavy door swung open silently on hidden hinges to reveal a black chamber. A strange glow emanted from an object in the center, but did little to repel the darkness within the room or illuminate the silent individual within. Rather, light spilled in from outside the door, causing a wizened human man in long robes to raise his head.
"Eminence, we have received a report; the metabeasts seem to be readying themselves to make their move," said the middle-aged woman who had opened the door with a bow. "Scouts have seen messengers traveling between tribes which are mortal enemies. It is likely they have found out."
"So those abominations have begun to act. How was the information released? Has the Blessed One not been in seclusion?" the old man asked sharply.
"Eminence, we have ensured the Blessed One is in a secure location. There is no chance of discovery," the woman replied steadfastly. "The existence of the Blessed One has been kept from all except the most loyal priests. However..." she hesitated a moment, then continued carefully. "There is one priest who left the Shrine. He is...unorthodox, it is possible he..."
"He is useless and harmless," the old man cut her off. "He would never betray the Shrine, much less reveal the existence of the Blessed One."
"There is...another possibility, Eminence," the woman finally ventured. "It is possible that another bears the Sacred Blood. This could be useful...after all, if there is a second Blessed One, the power we wield would be that much greater." She shifted uneasily under the scrutiny of the old man, beginning to regret having spoken up. At long last, the old man ceased his inspection and nodded.
"Very well," he stated in an authoritative tone. "All wandering priests of the Shrine are hearby dispatched to all eight realms with orders to locate and take custody of any individuals possessing the Sacred Beastblood by any means necessary and at any cost, by the authority of the Eminence of the Shrine of the Little God!"