Delilah couldn't help but marvel at the fine steel that hung or sat around her, glinting in the sunlight. There was a vast array of beautiful short swords, scimitars, wide shields, and proud breast plates. She fought down the excitement, reminding herself that all of them were potentially the work of something sinister. The smell of coal thick in the air, as they approached a soot covered man. Dark hair stuck to his sweaty forehead, as he beat a hammer down on a slither of metal.

"Can I help ya?" He folded his arms over his chest, sleeves of his once tan coloured shirt rolled to his elbows. His eyes knitted together into a frown, as he stepped away from his work bench.

"Word is your steel is some of the finest in the land, thought we should see for ourselves" Mavrik replied.

"Ah, you heard right!" The man chuffed, gesturing proudly as he rubbed the back of his head.

Eyeing the two strangers, gaze lingering on Mavrik, "say, you two look like you can handle a fight. I'm sure you've heard there's some strange things going on in this town?"

Delilah could practically feel Mavrik tense along side her.

"See, the other day a few people I'd never seen before, moved into the abandoned homestead just over there, same day people started going missing." His face fell. "My sweet Jasmin, she hasn't been seen since last night. I thought she might have stayed with her mother, but she hasn't come home this morning... and she's never not come home the next day. Her mother is ill you see, I know she likes to stay with her from time to time." He placed a hand over his heart, and sent a wistful look to the building in the distance. "I just have a bad feeling something has happened to her" He admitted.

"How many people?" Her companion pressed.

"Hmm, I'd say I've seen at least 5. Its hard to tell if there's more, as they come and go."

Something didn't sit right, it niggled at Delilah, but she shook it off and offered the orchid stem to the man, he was another victim of their quarry. "For your wife if she comes home. We'll try and find her" she assured, trying to sound encouraging. She could practically feel the protest on Mavrik's tongue, but she ignored it. Casting her eyes to the lone building, she pulled away from the grateful blacksmith, and offered a sheepish shrug to an exasperated Mavrik.

Whatever his misgivings, he didn't voice them, as the two reached the structure, worn and in desperate need of repair, there was no signs of life. They scoured each room cautiously, as they searched for any trace of the people Bennet had spoken of. Dust heavily blanketed on every surface, with each passing moment the dread stabbed deeper under her skin.

Mavrik was tense and a few steps in front of her, his hulking figure looking confined in the narrow door way they walked through. His hand hovered cautiously over the hilt of his Morningstar, as they reached the entrance of a basement. Trudging into its gloom and startling a few rodents, that skittered back into the deeper shadows.

For now Delilah didn't dare conjure a flame, both were unhindered in the gloom, and she didn't want to alert anything that may not know of their presence yet. As she followed him down the stone steps.

"There's other tracks down here, recent ones." Mavrik murmured, drawing her attention to their feet. Sure enough there was subtle signs of foot traffic, the dust had been heavily disturbed.

"So.. where are they going?" She frowned as they continued down the corridor, keeping her voice barely above a whisper, as she pressed herself closer to the walls and continued after him.

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The passage way opened into a larger room, an altar stood at one end with strange pieces of animal parts. In the centre of a room there was a stone slab, laid out with bones, and chalices, with a few candles lit, alluding to the fact that others may be near. The very thought of it made the hairs on the back of Delilah's neck prickle, watching as Mavrik moved closer and picked up a book written in a language she didn't understand. He continued inspecting some of the artefacts, as Delilah surveyed the shadows for any signs of danger, until he signalled, urging to continue through the door on the opposite wall.

Whatever was going on, seemed to be more than stories Delilah concluded. Mavrik pushed open the door, a shrill, blood curdling scream assaulted her ears.

Instantly Delilah felt a shove, as she fought to regain her balance, spinning around, her eyes fell on Mavrik deflecting a blow with his shield from a dishevelled woman. Realising now that he had pushed her out of the attacker's path, she readied herself to leap back into the fray, but something stopped her in her tracks. This woman was skinny, dressed in rags, and brandishing a makeshift weapon made from twisted metal. Hair in knots, eyes wide with terror as she trembled feebly.

"Mavrik" The teifling called out as he used his shield to shove the woman back and put some distance between them. Slamming the hilt of his weapon into her wrist to force her to drop the knife, before kicking it away. The woman stumbled and fell on her backside, as Delilah scrambled to crouch down so she was eye to eye with the woman, ignoring Mavrik's low protest.

"Hey, we're not here to hurt you." She whispered, as she tenderly held a hand out to the woman, intending to pull her up as she stood. She placed a trembling hand in hers, this poor woman wasn't a monster. She was frightened, quickly concluding that she could be one of the missing townsfolk. Delilah carefully dusted her down, taking a moment to survey her for any noticeable injuries, seeing none.

"I-I thought you were... What are you doing here??" The woman stuttered, as Delilah pulled her to her feet, stepping slightly closer to Delilah when Mavrik didn't sheath his weapon.

Mavrik slowly lowered his shield while eyeing the woman, "We could ask you the same?" his voice cautious.

The lady opened her mouth to answer, but instead grimaced.

"You're hurt!" Delilah fretted, still unable to see any outward injuries which alarmed her "Mavrik we have to help her" She pleaded.

Mavrik appeared unfazed "and we will, once we know what is happening here" He remained firm in his stance.

The woman shook her head "I-I'm alright, I just want to go home, to my husband. I don't know how I got here, I woke up and I was locked in this room. They said I was to be used as a sacrifice.. in a ritual, I don't know how long I've been here. I can't imagine how worried he must be" She clung to Delilah's arm with a sob, as the young woman rested a hand on her arm in comfort.

"Who is they?" Mavrik seemed to shift slightly and look around, aware that time was passing and they could be discovered.

"There's a few, some I recognise from this town like Daniel and Sam, other's I've never seen before" she replied slowly calming.

Delilah frowned as she looked from the woman to Mavrik, "Did you see where they went?"

The shaking woman nodded "They went through that door there.." She hesitated "but its locked."

"Alright, well try and stay behind us. We can handle it" Delilah tried to sound confident even if she didn't feel it, hoping to reassure the woman. At least Mavrik seemed less suspicious of the woman now as he tested the door she had gestured to.

He whispered an incantation under his breath, the lock gave way with a heavy thunk, allowing him to push the now unlocked door open and inviting more prickling gloom ahead of them. Delilah sensed the woman duck further behind her, biting the inside of her cheek and wondering if the woman would still fear the dark more than her, if she knew what was hiding under her cloak. Banishing the thought she followed Mavrik, mindful of where she placed her feet as she noticed a few rat skulls strewn over the floor, feet crunching over the gold coins that were littered around. The stench of rotting flesh circling her nostrils, but there was something else, straining her eyes she could see the entrance of the well. Tracking her eyes along the slight smudge of watery light and ladder leading down to the ground, only offered a sense of dread. The sight that greeted her was one of dusty effigies, skulls, and bones of different animals and entrails. Gnarled roots ensnared the shattered pile of human remains, as a cauldron bubbled away with a ominous purple liquid.

"Be careful" Mavrik rumbled "this is a hag's lair they can shap-"

Delilah cried out as she felt arms wrap around her from behind, sending her hurtling into a nearby wall.