*sorry for poor effort - written on phoine whilst trying to do 2 things at once - check to follow*
The blood flowed red as the rain.
Almost spent, the party fought on, tearing at the fabric of magic, of strength, and of hope.
The patriarch's axe lay on the floor but the bull's strength continued to pummel and crush the life from the party.
Twisting, turning and spinning he knocked some of the strongest party members to the floor. The archway to the underworld beckoning.
Selflessly the party throw themselves at each other, with spells of healing and force of will dragging bodies clear.
Braz's uncle, his blood, his family, stood in the centre of the battlefield and with tortured breath raised his hands above his head ready to rain down suffering and pain on the party. With friends on the floor the end looked close.
Braz took all his strength. Each step he gained speed - the weight of his fear of his uncle shedding like lead weights as he ran towards him - the safety of his new family, his new mission, his new cause, filling the space where doubt and fear once sat.
*Cruch* Braz hit him like a brick wall. As his fists came down Braz almost felt at peace. The burden of being the one to lead the world past the oath of peace lifted.
The light was setting, the night closing in.
And then the dawn.
Beads of light floated around him. As his eyes open he thought he saw Garnox in front of him, but as he woke further the vision faded.
Standing over his uncle as he took his last breath Braz was paralysed by a torrent of questions and emotions. He also felt more distant than he had before.
This man wasn't family. Was this even home anymore? Then it came to him.
He thought of the fate of his friends, forging a way through Thylea without a place to return. Here was a chance to disconnect once and for all from this misguided evil, maybe even the curse on Pamplaxia (or even himself.)
Braz made an oath, standing over his uncle's body, that he would denounce the name Vaca and it would die with Borborigmos - the line would end here.
Maybe he could find a name on the road, like many of his party had. Maybe he could find a true home where people could determine their own fate.
After the battle was completed the party headed to the temple above. This small place had been neatened up and there was evidence of a renaissance in their worship of Sydon. There was Tauriana, tied and bound, and Mother Irma standing brazen with her horns dyed blue.
She spoke of isolation, neutrality and the danger of taking sides. She spoke of curses of old. She spoke of Mother Bellis - of Mother Bellis being related to Braz - and this was big fucking news.
She then spoke of her intentions. She would leave Pamplaxia to join Sydon.
Braz would do the same. But for other reasons.