"What. do unthink Corvn? Kaldwink Bridge. You've been in the city for years, but you lived in Dunwall Tower with the late Empress, so maybe you haven't visited the bridge before tonight."
The two men flow along the river with a grace the benigns the mastery of the pilot, guiding the boat smoothly and quietly to the dock.
"Something to look out For - see all them lights on the water? That's right, we'll be spotted For sure. You're gonna have to shut off their power before I can pick you up."
And in no time at all the boat us parked up, ready to be dismounted.
"Now about bringing Sokolov back alive - he's smart. Maybe even smarter than Piero.
Got the whole of Dunwall under his thumb with all that naturalphilosophy business. New technology, potions and the like. Seems dangerous to me. But what do I know?
Here we are! I'll meet you at the arches under Sokolov's place when you're ready,
Corvo. Assuming, of course, you've taken care of those flood lights."
A nod is all the boatman is given before corvo is whisked away, disappearing In an instant.
'Alright, let's speed run this shit.'
And with that he's off. Phasing in and out of reality masterfully, each time appearing in a new location-silently, like a ghost.
He makes it past the group of guards patrolling the area and enters a door out of sight. Ascdending tbe stairs to grab the keys, aswell as the blueprint next to it. Using the keys he unlocks the door to the next area.
He runs as fast as the wind, leaps like a human grasshopper and blinks in between reality-dodging all the guards and making it into an apartment abandoned from the plague. A recurring theme that will make itself know all across kaldwins bridge.
Corvo tries the door in front of him, sensing a rune behind it. The door though dosent allow him entry. Most likely boarded up from the other side.
So corvo summons up power, his mark glowing in activation and hurls a whirlwind at the door with a swipe of his hand-Destroying the door.
«Windblast.»
This startled and alerted the guards below, raising their voices in alarm. But since they neither could see nor reach corvos location, it's quickly let go.
Seeing the guards lose intrest corvo collects the lone rune and carries on walking to the balcony on the other side.
Looking down all he could see was a high drop straight into the water. Though there was also another walkway, right to a mechanical bridge that ascends and descends at the switch of a lever. Two guards stationed there, but with Enough space between them.
In response to this corvo loads up a sleeping dart into his cross bow, shooting it at the guard furthest from him. Them with a mighty jump and timely blink he appears above the second guard- dropping straight into him and slamming him straight into the ground-unconscious.
"Phew.. I will never get used to that."
Corvo speaks out loud, heart beating frantically, pumping adrenaline all across his body. The lingering fear quickly draining out of him and being replaced by dopamine.
"Definitely fun though, haha… crazy bastard."
With a quick swipe across his shoulders, getting off any imaginary dust, corvo carries on.
Pulling a red lever on an elaborate machine that he has no idea how it could function, it's bridge lowers to the same level as corvo. Climbing up he summons a small gust of wind into his hand and uses it to flick up the switch, the bridge carrying him back up to another house with a bone charm located inside.
Climbing onto the metal balcony corvo hears weird growing sounds. No not the inappropriate kind, but a weird distorted voice with the sound of a dying beast.
'Weeper.'
Yes a weeper. No mater how much he restrains his killings, the plague still finds a way like the deadly virus it is.
Walking through the door the weeper violently turns his head and rushed at corvo like a starving vampire, sensing a drop of blood.
The weeper attempts to use its signature move of hurling bodily fluids at anything with a pulse, instinctually spreading the plague puppeteering its body to other targets- man or animal. Not even fish is spared from the plagues harrowing grip.
Corvo has none of that. Although possessing some forms of resistance against it both naturally and supernaturally with the mark, he obviously dosent want a sick person throwing up on him.
So with the weepers charge, corvo uses his momentum against him. Grabbing the weepers arm and throwing it over his shoulder, bringing the weeper to the ground.
Though apparently the weepers don't like to stay down, probably with the plague turning off self preservation instincts or suppressing them, and gets straight back up…. Or well, attempts to.
Corvo straddles the weeper, bringing his fist down in one mighty blow-knocking the man straight out in a way that would make any MMA fighter nod in appreciation.
He quickly dismounts the unconscious man's body and gets up, grabbing the bone charm and swiftly leaving the dirt and smelly room as quickly as possible.
And he makes it back to the abandoned apartment where he found the room. Using it as a cover to make his way round to the door leading to the next area.
What Enters his eyes as he stealthily enters the next area is a very posh appartment right at the front. About theee stories high and clearly all belonging to the same person.
One guard and a wealthy looking old man, most likely tbe owner of tbe building stands outside the house. The guard seemingly having to deal with the old man with respectful caution, despite tbe old man's decrepit physique.
"Curse the plague and this blasted curfew! How is anyone supposed to make a living?"
"Well now, Mr. Pratchett, even a wealthy man like you needs the City Watch. Gangs are cutting throats and smashing windows left and right. And the weepers….
…excuse me, the plague victims, are worse. Are you saying the Lord Regent is wrong
For imposing curfew?"
"It won't do you any good to bait me, officer. But don't worry, I'll be Fine. I'll profit. A smart man can come out ahead, even in the time of plague."
Tuning them out corvo just blinks to the second story balcony and walks up to the safe, punching in the code and collecting the rune.
Then walking up the stairs up to the open roof he jumps off straight onto a man smoking on a metal balcony below, knocking him out and entering his room to collect the other rune of of the makeshift shrine.
Like before though, as he collects the rune the shrine bursts apart and banishing the colours from reality- if only temporarily.
"Rivers change course over many lifetimes, and eventually all bridges tumble down.
A thousand years ago there was another city on this spot. The people carved the bones of whales into runes and inscribed them with my Mark. Children still find them washed up river mud.
Anton Sokolov has made a great study of my runes, but he's not special like you are He wasn't chosen and he doesn't wear my Mark, so he can't unlock their secrets.
Sokolov believes there are specific words and acts that can compel me to appear before him. He searches old temples in Pandyssia and ruined subbasements in the Flooded District. He performs disgusting rituals beneath the old Abbey.
But if he really wants to meet me, he could start by being a bit more interesting."
And like that the outsider dissapears into nothingness and the world regains it's colour, it's time flow being restored to normal.
———
Corvo eventually made it to the final section of the bridge. The place where Anton Sokolovs lab is help.
This part to is Dilapidated, perhaps even more so than the rest of the bridge. All houses completely abandoned if not outright destroyed, people kept prisoner inside a wall of light.
Complete chaos for all the average civilian.
And while corvo isn't hypocritical enough to consider himself a virtue of justice-knight in shining armour type of guy, he still can see the corruption brought over this bridge.
He knows other than kidnapping Sokolov not much can be done. But at least he can help the group of people imprisoned unjustly.
Corvos mark glows in bright colours as power is drawn from his hand. Reflecting that colour is a deep abyss swirling on the ground beneath his feet, spitting out a swarm of rats.
«Devouring swarm.»
The amped up beserk rats obediently circle at his feet, waiting for the masters order with loyalty.
Getting on one knee corvo commands one of the rats to climb on his arm, but due to his inexperience with the ability…. The whole swarm climbed up his body completely covering him.
"hahahahaha- stop! Your tickling me you little shits! hahaha."
The rats make him fall to the floor laughing as they behave as playful little pets, licking and cuddling up to his body. Even trying to get inside his clothes, just to get closer to him.
Luckily he was hidden inside an abandoned building currently as this sight wouldn't be as light hearted if other bore witness.
Anyway, corvo eventually got hang of the ability, tapping into the mental link with his summons and finding out a lot of interesting sub skills the power has.
Such as: shared senses, summon more or less and even summon them further away. Though corvo dosent have access to these yet, needing more finness.
Also though they have the appearance and ability's of rats, they are not actually of that species. They are semi-immortal void entitles so though they feel pain and other feeling along with increased intelligence, they can turn of these feeling becoming mindless rats at the drop of a hat. A fact useful for corvos next plan.
Now with the rats waiting patiently, corvo asks one of the rats to climb up his hand-an order that is swiftly obeyed, then he straps a spring razor trap onto its back. Then….
"Possession."
He posses the said rat, leading the swarm to the guards up ahead. Rat corvo leading the charge straight to the two chatting guards.
"REEEEEEEEEE!"
A battle cry rips from his throat, pouring fear into his enemies souls.
"Oh shit a rat! Kill it."
But they don't get a chance. As soon as corvos magnificent rat form reaches them a silent explosion of blades rips them apart, cutting them into ribbons…that is including corvo.
Now there lay the two guards and corvo, all dead on the floor-unbreathing.
…
…
That is until a ghostly silhouette of a man, corvo, appears out from the dead rat that swiftly dissolves into darkness-sinking into his shadow.
"Thanks rat#1, I'll summon you again some other time. Come on guys dinners ready."
And with corvos call they rest of the hungry beserk rats come charging forth before eating like they were starved for hundred of years, completely inhaling the corpses.
At their job being completed, the rest of the swarm too dissolve back into darkness and marge with his shadow.
Now with the guards gone, corvo deposits the wall of light by taking the oil tank out of the energy unit.
"Thank you, sir. You saved our lives. As thanks I would like to give you the safe code to a safe code of the destroyed building above us. I used to work."
Seeing the masked man nod she swiftly gives him the code before she and the whole group run away.
Run where? Don't know, dosent matter. Better left forgotten. That would what they want and corvo dosent have the time nor energy to worry about them any more than he currently has.
So after climbing the building and finding a safe behind the painting to loot, corvo further scaled the other building using his enhanced jumping power and blinks to bring him close as possible to Sokolobs top floor- his main laboratory.
Requiring, or most likely demanding, silence to continue his work has caused only one guard to be stationed on the top floor. This also only beings only on the outside.
So after subduing the one individual corvo is free to do as he pleases.
Entering the lab corvo obverses as Sokolov monologues his experiments into a audio recorder, documenting his work. No one know wether it's for future generations, Sokolov like most humans having the instincts to pass on their knowledge and be rembered even after death or just as a simple recording to catalogue his work neatly.
The man himself where clothes looking like both a civilians and an aristocrats from the material, obviously focusing on comfurt. One thing corvo can respect of the man being his apathy to the negitive opinion of others. Sporting a beard not trimmed or cut I'm years, flowing down past his neck but doing nothing to hide his wrinkle old face.
But none of that matters.
Deliberately Corvo walks in without care, making enough noise to alert Sokolov of his entrance.
"What! How did you get past all the guards? Hmm.. your tatto is quite unusual. It is reminiscent of markings ive studied on cave walls, far from this city."
Sokolov starts rambling quickly forgetting corvo being an intruder here, potentially to harm him. But the 'natural philosopher' is quickly reminded of the fact when corvo flips open his blade. It's blood appearance creating an intimidating image- alongside the metallic smell.
"Who sent you? Pierro? That jealous fool! There no need to be his lap hound! You an I can come to an agreement- one that I'm sure will please you more than anything that fool pierro dreamed up!"
Now he seems to understand. Starting to bargain for his life.
"Though I can't say I'm surprised. I knew someone would come, eventually. But you're not What texpected. There's no need for violence. We can be great friends, you and I. Will you join me for a drink? Sit and talk a while."
Once more the man starts rambling but stops instantly hearing the distorted voice come from corvos mouth.
"Silence!"
Seeing Sokolov shut up, corvo starts to take off his mask, a smirk on the corner of his lips.
"Hello, Sokolov. How you been, friend."
Seeing corvo an even more frightful or not outright fearful expression becomes plastered on his face, worse than when corvo was masked.
"C-corvo! Your here. You don't think I have anything to do with the empresses death, d-do you?"
Hearing this corvo just outright smiles. A big kind smile that if on anyone else, to anyone else would be a possitive. But Sokolov. He never has seen corvo with anything other than a blank face.
"Corv-"
He goes to speak but is instantly shut up by the punch to his jaw, knocking him out instantly.
"Phew… I always wanted to do that, fucking bastard."
Corvo heaved a sigh of amusement as he looks down at the arrogant man before him.
Before leaving though he opened the lock to the cell inside the room, letting the experiment out.
"Thank you. He wouldn't let me out at all."
"Hm. Come with me, I'll get you out of here."
Then, with a women in toe and a man on his shoulder, corvo collected sokolovs rune before using blink to transport the three of them straight to the street below to drop of the women and going to the docks by the river.
"Thank you again!"
The women waved, grateful to him before running off to evade the guards once more.
"The Royal Physicion himself. Youve made a neot job of it. Drop him here and we'll be off.
Corvo rapidly appears before Samuel, the man himself not surprised by corvos teleporting, apparently getting used to it by now.
"Yes, alright then Samuel. Let's get Sokolov back."
And with that, the mission is complete.
——-
Bone charms acquired: 3
Runes acquired: 5
Powers acquired:
Whirlwind blast 1-conjure a gust of wind to blow away your enemies.
Possession 1- turn ethereal and inhabit all non/semi sentience beings.
Devouring swarm 1- summon a swarm of voidlings in the shape of rats to do your bidding.
———
Word count: 2,724