Chapter 40: Congealing Slime.

I look upon the faces of the dead I once again failed to protect, and they glare back. Lifeless eyes stare back at me, accusatory expressions clear on the bloating faces. I can hear their hounding inquiries. “Why didn't you save us?” “What good did you do?” “Will my family ever know what happened?” No matter which way I turned, I could see them surrounding me. I failed them. Water fills up my throat as something drags me away, but my only concern is the dead. As I wake up, To'Li's eyes among the dead's are burned into my memory.
The haunting nightmare flung me into a sitting position, panting. The blankets the make up what could only be called a nest had been scattered to every corner of the room. So awake that I knew I would not sleep anymore this night, even with no knowledge of what time it was . Getting up, I start moving around the inside of the pillow fort. I had no destination, just a requirement to move away. Trying to keep the noise down I fled my room. It was not a long journey, and when I did stop, I was not surprised at where my mind had taken me.
Every time I had put up this magical shelter a single door had appeared. Some times the appearance would change and tonight it sat at the end of a short hallway, plain and solid. A rope hung from a hook on either door post. While the door had not been opened in some time, I know that the contents within had increased. Something had to be done about it. I could not deal with the interior alone. Our group was also facing problems that we could not hope to solve ourselves. Leaving the tent, I started my search for something to write messages with.
I needed to let proper people know why events had happened recently, but I also had to be careful about what I said. While I didn't need to stay in this town forever, I would also wish to be allowed to leave. After a few rough drafts in my head, I finally put down a message in ink.
 
Dearest Mayor
 
You have slavers PLAUGING your fair city. While attempting to save some of your citizens they were killed by a caster working for the slavers. Some slavers got away and some city guards were found to be in league with them. A slaver leader will be arriving soon by boat. The temple of Kusco has been infiltrated by the slavers. The goal is to investigate and stop them for operating here. An attempt was made to take one alive, but that one was killed by the same caster. While a city guard was killed in this attack, it was not intended to be the outcome. Be careful who you trust with this information.

Your Visiting Legion Legend.
 
I made two more copies of the note, one to the Captain of the Guard and one to the leader of the temple of Kusco. I worded it very carefully, trying to not actually admit blame. It all but said that the death of the city guard had been our fault, but I also didn't say anyone was working with me. I could not let the indecent go without explanation and needed to say something. I also hoped that the clue I had put in would allow the recipients to remember me in better light.
While writing out the other two copies, I showed Melfina, Marda and Geno. Yun didn't really seem to care, and I doubted the turtle could read. Those I showed seemed to approve, so now all I had to do was try to get them delivered. Marda and Geno had been talking over one of her swords, and by the time I had finished the third copy, theconversation was done. Announcing she would like to take a walk, I ask Marda to hire some messengers while she is out. We need those messages delivered somehow, but I do worry about her being out alone with everything going on.
Melfina pulls my thoughts away, telling me she would like to contact Dani. She also asks if I would like to talk with Max or Leona. While I do want to talk with them, I don't want to have Melfina use all her energy like yesterday. If we have to get into a fight today, I want to make sure we have whatever spells she would need. “Contact Dani first, and if we have time and energy, we can talk to Max later. He wouldn't be happy about us waking him up now anyway.”
Casting her spell, Melfina talks into the Air like normal. “Are you safe, and do you need our aid. We can come help now.” There was a pause while she waited for the response. There must have been something, as her eyes focused on a far wall for just a few moments. “Dani says she is fine now, but something seems a bit off. She says she will meet us at the Graveyard.”
Opening my mouth to ask When we should meet, explosions started outside. Every single one of us stopped moving and looked at each other. Grabbing packs, weapons and instruments, we were about to rush outside when objects started thudding against the roof. We all paused and looked up at the ceiling like scarred animals for just a few moments, when Marda came back in, angry and covered in mud.
Wiping away some of the mud, we managed to hear “I think there is some sort of festival starting,” over the sound of the explosions outside. While not completely covered in mud, enough had gotten on her to require cleaning. “I managed to get some couriers for your letters Druss, but the rest of my walk is ruined.”
Thanking her for that at least, We look at each other for direction when Yun starts, “it seems there is a Mud festival. Going on today, and mud is launched into the sky every 3 hours in celebration of-”
“This town is stupid” Marda interrupts the rest of whatever Yun was going to say. I may have to agree with her. Festivals are all well and good, but who celebrates Mud? And who in their right mind launches globs of wet dirt into the sky to fall where ever the wind would take it.
Deciding to Head to the graveyard once the raining mud abates, we wait and look around the outpost. Finding some umbrellas, we grab them. Once the explosions stopped, we waited a few more minutes and started out for our meeting. Mud was everywhere outside, some of it been colored to be red, blue and green. The graveyard was not far from the sanctuary outpost s oit was thankfully a short walk. I held an umbrella as close to my head as possible, in an attempt to hide myself, although it would have taken a lot more to hide all of me. All in all I probably would have stood out more. A towering figure hiding under an umbrella with a cloak, giant axe and my tail. With the entrance gate for the graveyard just ahead, I started looking for Dani. With Melfina and Marda leading the way I could keep my head on a swivel for the bard, or trouble.
I saw the trip wire just at the last second, but was unable to say anything before the ladies set it off. No arrows flew from hidden traps, no logs fell or pits opened. I was about to question if it had been a spiderweb stretched across the path when a mausoleum nearby started to open, and Dani's head poked out. There was something different about her, but she quickly beckoned us over and inside. With all of us shuffling over and inside, I didn't look at her again until the mausoleum had closed.
Whatever greeting I had for her was completely lost from shock. A long angry wound, recently healed, ran across her face, and her shoulder was wrapped up in a bandage, tied off in the stump that had been her left arm. The wound was a line from the right ear, down to the left side of her chin. Following the same path, the wound continued across her collar bone, directly in line to where her arm should have been.
Melfina was the first to speak “Bloody Wings Dani, you look terrible! Do you need Healing?” She asked what I was going to anyway. “What happened?!”
She did look a bit pale, but while the trauma was still new to her body, it did appear to have been healed somewhat. Magic had obviously been used at some lower level of skill. I'm not sure what was worse for me. Knowing that I couldn't do anything more for her, or knowing what she was going through right now. My right arm started to itch a little. “We got into a fight with one of the local leaders,” Dani started. “There was a caster present. They looked a little burnt, but they still had some strength left in them. Did this to me before we killed them.” Melfina and I shared a look. “Oh! Were you the reason for the crispy look? Well thank you for the chance to finish the job for you.” She said it in a joking tone, but I was still hurt by the knowledge that I could have spared her this pain. We started going down a flight of stairs into some sort of chamber under ground.
“Either way,” Dani continued, “I am seeing a specialist on this soon, so there isn't really anything you can do. My accordion playing days may be behind me now. That was my favorite.”
I wanted to tell her it was going to be OK, but I knew plenty of people who felt different about it once they suffered an injury like that. I did want to help support her, I just didn't know how right now. A chamber had been placed after the short flight of steps, and a tunnel had been carved from the far wall. She continued to talk as we went through tunnel after tunnel. While they had managed to kill the caster, none of her bards were truly fighters. The Leader had kept a dozen tough bodyguards with him, which had quickly over powered the bards, and caused many injuries, and a few deaths. The location of the fight had been an adult entertainment club, called the Dusty Fox. Tailoring to unusual tastes, it was now a smoldering ruin, and the leader, one Jonas Gillespie, was now in the wind.
After all the winding tunnels, we find ourselves in a large room, occupied by a good amount of injured and resting people. All the health potions they could obtain had been used, and those wounded who could have been saved had been. There were others missing limbs. Eyes. I reminded myself that these people were information brokers. Intelligence gatherers. Vital to any operation. We had been the fighters. And We had failed to save anyone. I could see my daughters eyes again.
No. That style of thinking wasn't going to help anything. I couldn't heal anyone here, I had to do something else. Looking around, a large table occupied the center of the room, papers and notes scattered across it. I tried looking at it, but couldn't make heads or tails of anything. I needed to see something, look across the terrain to understand it. Calling Yun over, I asked them to take a look. It only took a matter of seconds for information to start coming forth.
Jonas Gillespie, seemingly frail, elderly gentleman. Human, an accountant who dealt with societies elite. Also deals with less reputable people, He frequents perverse establishments, that make Dem Falic' look like a child's daycare. His group of body guards all tower above him, with a smattering of muscles for brains. A few Goliaths, Half-Orcs, even a Bugbear. Makes him the smartest by far, so he doesn't have to be tough. He has money for that. He just needs them to do as they are told. Yun's assessment was thorough, but with the destruction of the Dusty Fox, the undertow has temporarily lost track of Jonas. Something else tweaked the back of my mind. Wasn't the Accountant's guild leader a suspect for corruption in Cherwood?
Melfina was looking to find another solution to Jonas' location, asking if anyone had been able to wound Jonas, maybe keeping some of the blood. Directed to find the Grave keeper here, we are pointed towards the back of the chamber where a tall Tabaxi was looking after one of the injured.
“Hello,”Melfina started, “We were told to ask you about blood.” It was one of the best conversation starters I had heard in a while.
“Whose blood would that be? Blood can be pretty powerful you know.” The Tabaxi turned around, shimmering silver-gray fur and emerald eyes. “Although judging from the symbols you are wearing I would say you are very much aware of the significance. I am Masika, the Grave keeper here.”
Now that she had turned around, I could see that Masika also had a holy symbol of Solvene. She had a lighter tunic on, and no armor at this time. The piercing emerald eyes had focused on Melfina as if she were the only object in the room. “There were a few people who didn't make it, and I just finished with the burials. I would prefer to not have to disturb their peace. After all, that is my job. To make sure the dead stay that way. Once someone is taken, that is the end for them.”
“Don't tell that to the big one over there,” Melfina gestures at me, “I have had to save him more and more. No, we are looking for blood of Jonas Gillespie. If there is enough, We may be able to find him and bring him to justice.”
“Well, let me see what I can help you with.” She started towards me, grabbing her holy symbol. Raising her hand, I was about to defend myself when a lightning quick paw came and bopped me on the top of the head. With a strange feeling, like someone had spilled an egg on me, she gave me a quick smile. “There. That should keep you alive for the next eight hours. Should you take a killing blow, Solvene will spare you once, although the wound will still hurt quite a bit. I would recommend you not get hit at all either way.” Walking over to a pile of damaged weapons, she rummaged around for a time, finally pulling out an arrow. “The arrow struck Jonas, and was pulled out before he made a getaway, but I don't know how much good it will do for you. There isn't that much blood on it.”
“As for other things I can do for you, I know what you fight for, and I support it. If you need a body to disappear, this would be the place for it. I had to do it in the past for other organizations, and experience shows that it works well. Perfect place to do it. Also, if you need a place to hide, you can stay here for a short time. Not the best conditions, but it will work in a pinch.”
Hearing this, I had a question. “Are there Tunnels under the city we could use to get here?”
“Yes. There are.” Yun called from the table. “In fact, there are a good amount as long as you know where they are. Some may fill with water though, depending on the time of day, which we would have to be wary of.” He held up a list of names, “We should try the next club Jonas frequents, scout it out and find out if anyone has seen him around. It's called the Creaky Hinges. But we will need to go unnoticed.”
“I can help with that.” Dani called. Reaching up, she too bopped me on the top of the head, although it was followed by a quick gentle caress. I noticed nothing at first, although most of the group had a appreciating look now. Trying to figure out what had been done, I look down and find that my arms had a funny coating on them, see through and weightless. Screwing up my eyes, I could see that some sort of illusion had been placed on me, making me look Human. “Not a bad look there Hun,” Dani said. Fishing around in her pocket, she handed Marda a coin. “This will cast the same spell on him for later should you need it. They will both last eight hours as well.” With a weary look in her eyes, she turned to look after her people as we gathered our things to leave.
Melfina had found time to change into a green tunic, which looked slightly rumpled, probably from the bottom of Marda's pack. Yun had changed too, into an older man, yet one still quite attractive, judging from the looks he was getting from the other bards in the chamber. A large shirt flared open at the neck to reveal half a well built chest. An outer coat made of light material had a wide collar, and loose trousers of the same material stretched down over the tops of his shoes. He had placed his flute within the coat, inside a leather case for it, allowing for easy access. Making sure we have everything, we head out into the tunnels with a general idea of where to find the Creaky Hinges. Luckily, we were able to find our way there with no flooded passages, and no slavers lurking underground. With an access hatch close by, we didn't have to go on a main street once.
Not that this place would have been on a main street. I am not sure I would call it a side street either. A narrow alley, overhung by nearby buildings, had very few people on it. No one made eye contact with anyone else, A sign hung above one of the entrances, with a coat of paint on some of it that must have been applied within the last few years. The wood of the sign must have been almost as old as I was however. Complete with a set of rusting hinges, which creaked in the slight breeze down the corridor. It reminded me slightly of a door that had simply been kicked off of a decrepit building, taking some of the frame with it. We still had to go take a look, and Yun lead the way inside.
A band played somewhere, some sort of brass instrument with low punctuating notes, accompanied mostly by a drum. Some sort of stringed instrument was trying to keep pace, but mostly failing. It was obvious that the music didn't really have any heart in it. The whole establishment had the same feel. The doorman charged us 6 silver each with a bored voice. A long table with a rumpled and dusty tablecloth had a variety of food coated in different stages of congealment. Small stages held performers of various races and genders, mostly all aged, some older than me probably. Even at this early hour some of the patrons were sitting, seemingly enjoying a show. I felt immediately disgusted and out of place.
While I had been a visitor to Dem Falic', I had never wanted much attention in that aspect of life. Most of the time other races had never really peaked my interest either, and while I didn't find them ugly, there were many occasions where certain aspects considered beautiful were completely missed by me. There had been exceptions, like the way Dani had struck me on that first night we met her. And that one summer I had taken ten days of leave from the army...
Currently however, seeing the various performers dancing, mostly, I was trying to find how people found this attractive. I came to realize it was more a case of befuddled discomfort. I had a slimy feeling come over me, as if I had been covered by some of the congealed creamed potatoes I saw on yonder table. Realizing that the others had spread out a little, I join Geno at a nearby table,which happened to be closest to the buffet table. With the odd smells in this establishment, I would rather know what has spoiled already, and if Geno wanted to eat it, that was his prerogative.
Looking to see who else was here, I saw them at the same time Yun did. Twelve large, armed brutes, looking like they were trying to make a wall of meat. Unfortunately for them the way their stage was set up, anyone could see who they were surrounding. In a private seat, clearly made to display the occupant to the rest of the club, was a pudgy older human, with a hooked nose, beady eyes, and hair slicked back by something that had once occupied the buffet table.
Jonas Gillespie was sitting watching a stage that had an older goblin woman on it, doing her best to dance. She was so incredibly pregnant, I was certain by the end of the song there would be two goblins on that stage. Yun must have seen Jonas before I had, for the form of the elderly man started towards the group of bodyguards. Already sitting, the only thing I could do was watch out for Yun, make sure trouble didn't arise in the middle of that pack. Melfina had foreseen such a possibility, as she followed Yun over, stopping in the middle of the pack of muscle.
It was hard to concentrate in that place. With the dancing performers, I was always seeing movement out of the corner of my eye. Without the familiarity, I found myself looking to every corner, like some jumpy rodent. With the distractions, and the bodyguards in the way, it was difficult to keep Yun and Jonas in my vision to see what they were talking about. Yun seemed to be trying to convince Jonas they were some sort of acquaintances from the past.
Whatever was said, Yun's charm was on point, as a seat was granted. A smirk had appeared on Jonas' face, similar to one that would appear on a child right before they smashed an ant under a boot. I could see Yun call for drinks, and offer Jonas one, only for the smarmy bastard's reply that he does not have Vices. I'm not sure what he would call all this around him, but I didn't have much time to ponder on that. Yun was looking directly at me beckoning me over with a waving hand.
“Richard! Come over here darling!” Yun was calling. I guess this was supposed to be my name now. “Jonas, you could spend some time with Richard here! He is willing enough.” I think Yun was trying to offer my 'willing services' to this sleaze ball, and I was allowed to approach. With only a glance at me however, Jonas waved me off.
“No, I don't like Virgins anymore. They don't properly know what to do.” Jonas offhandedly said, his voice oily, and vile. “If this is the best you have-”
“I assure you my good man,” interjected Yun, “I have more back at my place, but I did bring another. She is into all sorts of things. Selene! Come here girl, and hurry! Snap to it!” He beckoned at Marda, who had been lurking nearby, close enough to be there in a pinch. 'Selene' came over, but by not means did she snap to it. More like a cat who was approaching a stranger. “Come now Selene, and show this man what you like to do. Spit in my mouth!” and Yun opened his mouth. His wasn't the only one. Mine opened in astonishment, along with a couple of the guards. Marda missed a step too, as the cat like grace was turned into the movement of a new born puppy. She was obviously hesitant, as she had stopped a few feet away,
Jonas chuckled. “Well, I see what you are offering, but let me show you what I already Have.”
He pointed at the performer on stage, the goblin who had studiously stayed dancing, and Nothing more. She was Definitely not paying attention, or even looking at us. Without looking Jonas commanded “Piss.” The single word from Jonas' mouth was a command to a hound, and the goblin woman simply stopped in place, squatted, and urinated on the stage.
The foul, horrid command uttered from Jonas left a putrid smile on his face, and I could see he was taking pleasure in it. This man only wanted one thing, and now I knew why he had so many bodyguards. Power. He took pleasure in power. Not having any himself, he could exude his power over others. Performers, bodyguards, probably even business contacts.
Marda had stopped between Yun and Jonas, and now the odious man ran a finger up the inside of her legs. When She recoiled, he laughed. “No, you definitely don't have what I am looking for. Maybe if they were younger.” Getting up, Jonas made a move to leave.
If my own rage was any indication, I'm surprised Marda had not simply killed him right there. I had to struggle to keep from drawing my axe. A brief thought of smoke rising from my nostrils floated through my thoughts, but I didn't really care if smoke was rising from thin air a few inches in front of my face. This guy was not leaving the room on his own.
“If you come back to my place I can show you even more,” pleaded Yun. They were clearly trying to not engage this guy in public, but it was past that.
“No, you entertained me for a few minutes, but now you are annoying me. I don't like that.” Jonas looked to his guards. “Get rid of the evidence when you are done.”
Absolute bedlam broke out. Yun and Marda had been enclosed, but Melfina was nearby. Yun and Marda were set upon by multiple brutes, all armed with longswords. The sheer number of them would have overpowered any master swordsman. My two allies took some hits, especially when Yun tried to get away from them, running over to where Geno had been sitting. With Yun's breakout of the group, Marda found the opening she needed, and became the familiar tiny typhoon of death, killing two of the attackers, seriously injuring two more.
Geno had blurred into motion as is his trademark, but as he came face to face with Jonas, their eyes locked for just a split second and Geno simply stopped in place. I could tell something was wrong and Geno fell to the ground, not moving. Completely ignoring me, the guards start moving towards Melfina when she started to slowly emanate a pulsing red energy. Taking her dagger across her throat, the crimson color pulled onto the blade, and with a shout, flings it at Jonas. Necrotic energy swims past me, pulling at every living essence in the room, hitting Jonas in the middle of the shoulder blades.
An Inhuman howl of anguish, cowardly and feral was loosed from Jonas' throat and his form shifted as he turned around. A large bipedal jackal-like being was standing where the portly man had been. Skinny and sickly, it was bleeding from a gruesome gash that wound from the mid back, up over the shoulder, and down the left side of the chest. Nostrils oozing snot and blood, the creature looked grisly, and barely able to stand.
The spectere appeared in the wake of the spell, as if death had chosen to come finish the job. Stretching out a hand, the air crackled with ice from a blast of cold, barreling into Jonas, knocking him back a few steps. The muzzle which had been dripping mucus and blood was now covered in red ice, as was his chest. The spectere then went over to Geno, appearing to bend over him to consume his soul. My goblin friend awoke with a start, and didn't quite realize who had awoken him.
Jonas' bodyguards were dumb stuck for only an instant, then attacked again with a wanton lust for destruction. As they tried to hit her, Melfina simply kicked a sword back into its scabbard as the Goliath in front of her tried to unsheathe it. I had yet to pull the axe from my back, leaving it in the illusion, but I did still have my armor on. I had yet to fix the damaged portion in my armor however, and the wound was opened again as a sword found the opening. I was not about to let that bother me.
This vile slug had my full attention, and I was not about to let his transgressions go. I blew past my assailant with a touch of natural magic, I drew my axe while I charged Jonas. As I got to him, I didn't swing the axe, simply using the haft as a ram, and lodged it squarely in his gut, knocking the wind out of him. I wanted, no needed to kill him, but we required information out of him. As he collapsed on the ground, unconscious, I fully prepared myself to keep him alive, but he didn't need to move. Stepping over the prone body, I turned and called, malice in my voice, “'Fina, Harvest their blood!”
Whipping her knife out, the chain stretched out towards her opponent. As it connected a thunderclap reverberated out from the contact, and the body of the struck guard was flung several feet away, lifeless. With a shrill shout from Yun, they pointed at an approaching enemy, who staggered to a stop. Their form began to get fuzzy, and I thought at first Yun had cast something to change their shape or form, but then dust began to fall from the now still, standing form. The body began to fall, but nothing hit the ground other than the cape the guard had been wearing. There was simply a fine pile of dust where they had stood.
Geno got into the fray and death danced in the club. Marda was injured badly, and Yun was not in good shape either, with several deep wounds. I had pulled the bow out, standing over the unmoving form of Jonas while trying to help out. The spectere had simply ripped two of the guards in half, one on each side of Melfina. We healed up the worse of the wounds we had sustained, and looked over Jonas, to make sure he was still able to give us information. Placing the magical shackles on our captive and binding his feet, I picked him up off the floor and threw him over my shoulder. Needing to leave the club, Yun turned my prisoner and I invisible, and we all made our way outside.
Mud was falling from the sky again, which may have slowed any reaction from the city guard. With all the celebrating, and yelling, only a few people seemed to have realized something was wrong in the club. Putting up on of the umbrellas to keep the mud off, we made our way back to the tunnel entrance. The red mud seemed to help a bit, as Melfina was once again in here natural color, blood red. It looked like she had simply swam in red mud. No one seemed to notice the mud slowly collecting on my invisible umbrella, and Marda was smart enough to jump on my footprints, acting like a child playing in the mud puddles.
Getting back to the tunnel entrance, we come to the problem of needing to climb down a ladder into the dark bellow, but I can't fit with my passenger. With Melfina and Geno waiting below, I am forced to drop him down. Feet hitting the ladder, the limp body turns head first, and cracks into the ground. Melfina makes sure he will live, and as we all get down, we find our route blocked by rising water. Not wanting to chance discovery by the city guards, Geno declares he can help us breathe underwater. Waiting long enough for a short ritual, the air suddenly feels thinner as I breathe it in, but otherwise there is no difficulty. Wading into the cold water once again, we take our captive back to get some proper answers.