The sun's rays shine brightly through the clouds above and onto the exit from the sewer system.
A shaggy man with messy wet hair that flows past his shoulders, wearing nothing but a pair of tight outer garments barely fitting his legs and riding up his calves, with his feet and torso bare, can be seen walking out with a hand covering his light-sensitive eyes, but basking in the sun he hasn't seen in so long.
"Haaaaaah"
A breathy sigh of contentment escapes his lips as the sunshine beams down across his body.
But he is quickly forced to flinch and cover a couple of burn wounds on his collarbone and neck, due to them still being a few hours fresh.
"Corvo, over here! Quickly! I'm a friend."
An old man with a voice that sounds like he has smoked a pack every day for his whole life calls from down below, reaching Corvo's ears.
Walking down the slope and onto a makeshift dock for what he knows is the old man he had just heard's boat, Corvo approaches.
Coming face to face with Corvo, the man crosses his arms comfortably before starting to speak.
"I'm Samuel, and I work for some good people who want very much to meet you."
He thinks for a moment, looking Corvo up and down as he lets out a small chuckle of disbelief before speaking his next words.
"They said you would come out from here, but I could hardly believe it. I'll take you to meet them, just down the river from here."
With all that said, Samuel looks Corvo directly in the eyes, waiting for his reply.
"Alright, old man. Let's go."
And with the greetings over, they both step into the boat and sail off to the other end of the river.
—-
{Samuel POV}
Looking at the man across from me, I can hardly believe it.
The Lord Protector—Corvo Attano himself, in the flesh.
He escaped the infamous Kaldwin Prison as silent as a ghost, well before the explosion that I could hear from here.
I always heard he was a man of few words, and that rumour seems to be proven true, as since we set sail not a single word has escaped his lips.
Though….
Looking at his body, practically covered in more scars than skin, that could be something that occurred recently in his personal hell.
I continue to stare (probably rudely at this point) at his torso and arms, looking at the burn wounds that seem fresh and thinking to myself that he desperately needs some medical attention.
Perhaps I'd been staring too long, as the stoic man turns his gaze to face mine in what I can only assume is a frown.
"Hohoho… sorry, my good fellow. I could not help but stare. Perhaps I might suggest grabbing some medicinal supplies from our inventor Piero."
Corvo gives a small nod as if quickly dismissing the conversation and goes back to staring out at the river.
Such a pitiable man. Having lost his lover and her child. I would wish the best for him, but knowing he will be pushed right into the heat of struggle instantly, I can only wish him good fortune in his hunt.
——
{Narrator's POV}
In no time, the two men make it to their destination.
Samuel turns his boat to the side and docks it at a clearing leading to multiple large buildings.
To the left is what appears to be a workshop or the like, the sounds of drills and the hum of machinery quickly confirming that.
Straight on past the workshop is a sort of pub with multiple stories on top, perhaps for guests to stay in or maybe for the staff themselves.
Finally, to the left is both a courtyard and an industrial warehouse containing who knows what.
As Corvo starts getting off the boat, Samuel quickly stops him to give an introduction to the place.
Spreading his arms out theatrically, he points out to the main building.
"This here is the Hound Pits Pub itself. Though it's closed for business as half of the district is marked off as dead, from the plague of course." He smiles bitterly at the loss of so many people before continuing.
"We're right under the Lord Regent's nose, and he doesn't know a thing." He gives a devious chuckle from being hidden in plain sight from higher powers. "Of course, if anyone were to find out what we were doing, the watch would break in, swords drawn. And now that you have escaped, the Lord Regent is going to be tearing the city apart in search of you."
This makes Corvo narrow his eyes in brief anger.
'Oh no, you long-nosed rat. You will only see me when I'm ready to be seen.'
But his thoughts are quickly broken by the lively Samuel continuing.
"I'll take you up to meet Admiral Havelock, as well as the rest of the loyalists currently at Hound Pits. The Admiral's a man to be reckoned with. If anyone can help you find that missing girl, Emily, as well as clear your name, he's your man."
Ending his long introduction, Samuel turns off his boat and steps onto shore, indicating that Corvo follow him with body language.
And so, side by side, Samuel and Corvo make their way towards the pub.
creeeak
Samuel opens the door before stepping aside.
"They're inside here, Corvo. I expect they're hard at work, so you should join 'em. They'll help you get whoever killed the Empress."
With a final pat on Corvo's shoulder for reassurance, Samuel leans on the wall outside and pulls a cigarette out before promptly smoking.
Corvo looks one last time at the smiling man, giving him a brief nod of acknowledgement before walking in.
What appears in his sights is a rundown and barren bar, lacking any customers at all. The only people in here are two men: one a tall man with greying hair, dressed in military clothing with the muscle to fill the clothes out; the other a scrawny man with the look as if he has never been made to lift anything remotely heavy in his entire life, dressed in extravagant noble clothing and sporting a receding hairline.
The two men seem as though they did not see or hear anyone entering the bar, but by the conversation, they appear to have gotten wind of Corvo's escape.
"So it's starting at last, Admiral. We've found our man. Even after six months in Coldridge Prison, he slipped out like it was nothing."
The scrawnier man says this with apparent excitement in his voice, as if they had waited for this day for a long time.
…For they presumably have.
"Yes. Not surprising really. He was the personal bodyguard of the Empress. You've heard the stories."
"Yes, I have. It still amazes me that someone could get to the Empress and young Lady Emily."
Having had enough of listening to their conversation, Corvo starts walking up to them, wanting to get this interaction over and done with so he can finally rest.
"No one knows the real story, Trevor. We all have our suspicions. We'll know the truth in time—."
The two stop speaking as they hear him approaching, turning around and observing him.
Although they keep their faces neutral upon looking at Corvo's body, their eyes can't hide the shock inside them.
'Good, they seem to be professional like their game counterparts. Proving I can partially trust my meta-knowledge, though I won't follow it wholeheartedly.'
"-We can continue this later, Lord Pendleton. The man of the hour arrives."
The Admiral brings his hand to his chest and lowers his head slightly in a sign of respect.
While the 'noble' brings his hand to his chin and starts looking Corvo up and down with apparent interest.
"Corvo, I'm Admiral Havelock, a true servant of the Empire, just like yourself. Until the Lord Regent purged those of us who wouldn't recognise his claim on the throne." Mentioning the Lord Regent puts a scowl on the Admiral's face.
After he finishes, the man next to him speaks up.
"And I'm Lord Trevor Pendleton. I represent the nobility in our little group, but we all act as equals here at the Hound Pits Pub." The man surprisingly shows some respect other than staring and bows his head low, but theatrically, like an actor bowing to their audience after a play.
"I'm … Corvo Attano. But you already know that, with it being the reason you called me here and all." Corvo speaks briefly in his rough tone of voice, also saying words that would be considered rude to the wrong person.
"Haha, that is true. Though this is a momentous occasion, Corvo. I'm going to be blunt and come out with it. We've been building this coalition of loyalists, aimed at ending the Lord Regent's tyranny and finally restoring the throne." The admiral doesn't take any offence and instantly starts his proposition, lord Pendleton carrying it on a moment later.
"At risk of execution, we're committed to finding young Lady Emily and seeing her crowned as Empress." The man looks sincere saying this as his face softens up, almost tricking Corvo of his true nature.
"We've got big plans, but we can't do any of it without you. We need your skills, your ability in a fight. And in helping us, we're going to help you destroy the men who murdered the Empress." Havelock speaks out again, phrasing his words like they both need each other desperately, like they are not going to treat him like a hound dog hunting the enemy.
But he'll allow it, while it's convenient for Corvo.
"Sorry, you must be exhausted. We can discuss this further after you've recovered.
But before you retire, you should introduce yourself to Piero. He's challenging at times, but his industrious mind buys him that right. He can also provide some medical equipment to you, free of charge, though I don't doubt this will be the last time he provides services for free."
With his long explanation over, Lord Pendleton gives Corvo one last bow before retiring for the day himself.
As he leaves, Havelock lights up a cigarette and leans on the bar.
"Yes, Piero's as much an artist as a technician. He's going to be crafting the gear you'll need. He's also the one who crafted your sword and crossbow, so you can be assured of his skill. Go and talk to him, then get some sleep. We can talk more when you're rested."
Corvo gives a nod in response, then turns, making his way back on the path he came from and into the workshop.
A man so engrossed in his work that Corvo's entrance doesn't even register in his mind is what greets Corvo as he enters the building.
Along with the loud sounds of a machine drilling into the piece under the machine.
After a minute of just standing there awkwardly, Piero finally notices Corvo and starts a conversation as if nothing at all had happened.
"I'll be crafting your weapons and gear. All custom work. For you, I will create the tools of a master assassin." He says while looking at Corvo with a confident smile on his face.
But as he goes to put the finishing touches on the equipment, the machine shorts out, with an empty whale oil tank ejecting out from the side.
"NO! This cannot happen now! The tank of whale oil ran out." He says while slapping the machine.
"Can you get me a new tank from upstairs, please, while I hold this in place? Be careful, as the oil is unstable. When it explodes, there is a terrible mess."
With a sigh but no response, Corvo grabs the empty tank and heads up the metal stairs of the building, making his way past the weird portal drawing on the wall and the makeshift bedroom to the tank refilling station.
Slotting the tank in place, Corvo pushes down the handle and watches glowing blue oil fill up the canister.
'I wonder, is the oil filled with mana? Whales have a special connection to the void and their bones all have mystical properties, which could explain the reason whale oil is such a great energy source. Something to ponder at a later time.'
Taking out the now full tank of volatile oil, Corvo heads carefully down the stairs, cautious not to drop the canister and blow himself up.
"Perfect. Now plug it in."
Corvo does as he says and connects the tank back into the machine, which is pulled into place from some sort of magnetic connection.
"Thank you, Corvo. Now look here, see? The assassin's mask. You're a wanted man, so everyone in the city knows your face, but this mask will mean terror to them. The mask is inspired by my nightmares of a floating spectral skeleton wearing a cloak and wielding a scythe, breathing the frigid winds of death down my neck. It will instil terror into your enemies as it did me."
The inventor shouts over the machine as he carries on in explanation of his work.
"Done." And he pulls out a smiling mechanical skull mask with a single lens on the left eye and a smaller one, with the appearance of a modern phone camera lens inside the right, from the machine and gives Corvo a quick look before bringing the mask over.
"If you'll just hold still, the fit must be precise. There. Can you see normally? Mmm. Centre lens out of alignment. There. Better now?"
Piero fits the mask to Corvo's face and adjusts the lenses to let Corvo see clearly, even more clearly than without it on, and with a press of a button on the side of the mask the right eye zooms in and out.
'Woaaah, cool.'
"I could create more for you—upgrades for your gear, weapons, munitions. But our situation here is desperate. Scavenge the city for valuables and I will resell them on the black market. That should give us the money to craft the things you need."
He pauses, looking Corvo in the eyes—or through the mask's eyes—who nods back to him.
"Understood."
"Now, tell me what you can make for yourself."
"Alright, let's take a look at your blueprints."
With Corvo's acknowledgement, Piero leads him over to a table filled with rolled-up blueprints and takes his time opening them up, then showing them to Corvo.
"Okay, I would like you to tune up my crossbow to allow for better accuracy. Also my pistol as well. Finally, can you create another lens that zooms in further?"
Corvo points out the firearm blueprints and asks for an upgrade to the mask.
"Okay. Okay. And yes, I can. Luckily I have the materials all on hand, but that will be it, as I will have no more left for further upgrades. I will need you to bring me some money and perhaps some useful scrap you find on your way." He states to Corvo, causing the latter to give him a nod of understanding.
And placing a few pouches filled with over a thousand coins,
Following up with small bundles of copper wire and raw ore.
Looking at the scene in front of him causes Piero to freeze on the spot.
Eventually, though, he turns his head to Corvo with a big grin plastered on his face.
"Corvo, I think we are going to get along just fine."
At this, Corvo lets out a snort of amusement before turning away, intending to leave with the mask, his ranged weapons left on the table.
"Oh yes, apologies. You must be exhausted. Your room is stationed at the top floor of the Hound Pits Pub. I advise you to get some sleep and recover. Very soon your life will get even more difficult, so you should rest while you can." Piero says with some sincerity in his eyes while looking at Corvo.
"Yes, I will, thank you. Before I leave though, I was told you could provide me with some medical supplies."
"Of course, Corvo. What do you need?" Piero replies, walking over to a container at the corner of the room and unlocking it with a key.
"A needle, some stitches, and bandages please." Corvo politely requests of his new sort of friend/work colleague.
"Yeah. Here, here, and here. Now I'll be working on your gear, and I will drop it off outside your door tonight together with your new clothing, ready for the morning. Goodbye, Corvo."
He turns and gets to his work as Corvo turns to leave as well, heading for the Hound Pits Pub.
Then, after asking for the directions to the bath, washing himself, and dressing his wounds, Corvo heads to bed, instantly falling asleep as his head hits the pillow.
——
Word count: 2,821
EDITED