Intro: a meeting in the library

The Heartlands of Palachia are a land of stark contrasts. Nature’s rugged face and its most beautiful vistas are seen in the countryside, oft closer together than elsewhere. Gray mountains with raging waterfalls harbor placid little valleys full of flowers and fuzzy harmless animals. Wild Mozur and Moundats range across the grassy foothills while Gerbears stalk Traggles in the woods. Its civilized, or at least sentient, inhabitants consider it perhaps the most beautiful land to inhabit. Its current monarch, king Oskhar the thirtieth, has ruled with an enlightened mind and is thereby quite popular. In part because of the notably sensible stance on mamonme his policies showed even before the onset of the age known as The Renaissance. All are welcome in Karpathia, the capital, and its surrounding towns as long as they are willing to live by the local rules.

Yet popular as the king might be, he even distinguished himself in the battle against the Luminaire during the nameless war, the people of the Heartlands feared that he would die of old age rather than marry. Then out of the blue he married not just a woman, but a mamonme of the Tulpa variety, who happened to carry the mythical Heart of the Heartlands after wresting it from the country’s founder Vygo. Queen Daegra had proven popular these last few months, though a few conservatively minded folks thought she’d better serve the land by seeing to the royal succession rather than slogging through ruins. She did not give two thoughts to their pestering though, her husband and she were content to let nature take its course. Being a mamonme, that was all it would take, or so she considered. It was a matter of time and a little luck. Neither had anything to complain about, bar the usual argument about who of them snored.

This day, Daegra was at work in the library of the old palace. Originally constructed for emperor Vygo, it had become more of a storehouse of knowledge under her Oskhar’s rule and that suited her just fine. The museum part was open to the public of course, but the library was a relative oasis of calm. Lorua, a Zvezda and a close friend, hovered nearby while dusting the top shelves. Daegra smiled as the soft glow exuding from Lorua added to the ambient light, perfect for reading a dusty old tome. It had been quite a find, one of only four extant copies of a treatise on a lost civilization to the north. Its people had worked hard to make intricately carved totems detailing their history. What was especially interesting though was that their lands lay in what now was a very cold place indeed, but that at the time it had been warm enough there to grow fruits for wine. The author had included transcripts of poems on the wholesomeness of the wines in question. Daegra wondered privately if any seeds of the fruits used then might survive.

This, coupled with a few unusual findings in the bog that supplied the Heartlands with its dried peat, the queen reckoned that they might again uncover fully a lost part of Praxis’ history. She tore her eyes from the book though when a gate opened above the table and three little girls tumbled out. “What in blazes?” Lorua turned at Daegra’s exclamation and called for her personal guards. Gynnaefi and Ulurin still looked uncomfortable in their royal armour, but there were none Daegra would rather have close by. “Careful Daegra…” Ulurin lifted her away, chair and all. “We don’t know who they are, how they got here and why.” She nodded to Gynnaefi who gently rolled the girls onto their backs, to cute groaning. As a Revenant, she was immune to poison and the like, though she grimaced when one of the three tooted under her nose. It took a little while for them to begin rousing from their tumble.

“Oooh…. Owww.” The girl with bushy brown ears, tail and white hair sat up clutching her head and blinked. “Huh? Where are we? This looks like a libe-rary.” She looked at the other two, a honey blonde girl with a small tail and floppy ears and a girl with dragon wings, claws and a long tail. “Emmy, Metala, wake up! Sleepin’ inna libe-rary isn’t allo-wed.” She then noticed Gynnaefi and gasped. Daegra found it so surreal that it barely registered when the girl spoke a word of magic and a large shield of energy sprang up around them. Gynnaefi jumped back, drawing her short sword and looking at Ulurin meaningfully. The Minotauride scratched her horns and shrugged. Daegra sighed, it might be best if she took charge, as was usual with her group.

“Okay, enough. Gynnaefi, put your sword away, just use your buckler if this goes wrong.” Daegra spoke a spell of dispersion and the shield faded. Only slightly. This was quite shocking, but Daegra rallied. “Okay, enough with the charade you. Drop the shield and show your true form.” Small ears drooped. “Rukia only looks like this.” The shield shrank a little and grey eyes peered over. “You scared me. Rukia thinks we is lost, where is this?” The other two stirred as Daegra thought things over. “You are in the library of the old royal palace of Karpathia, a place that’s supposed to be enchanted against magical entry.” The self-proclaimed Rukia looked relieved. “Then we is in good place of Praxis. Rukia was aiming for big cousin Lysl’s shell, we is supposed to be babysitting for her from today.” The scaled girl sat up and rubbed a bump on her head. “What happened Rukia? This doesn’t look like any shellhome at all.” In reply Rukia blushed and said she’d goofed.

The last girl cried when she woke, a small trickle of blood coming from her nose. The other two restored her before lowering the shield completely. “We are sorry big ladies. It don’t happen normally, but Rukia felt lotsa magic about an’ maybe that’s why we got here instead.” Ulurin smiled, something soon shared by the rest of the Shroudstar ruins chasers who had come with Daegra to the royal life. She’d sent Lorua to fetch Lysl. “You three really are cousins of Lysl?” The girls nodded, Metala grinning happily. “Yes, we’re her little cousins from Mistburg. Big sis Lena was supposed to babysit this week, but she had to take a big ex-sam at school.” Rukia grinned as well. “Its fun, we can babysit our li’l alien ‘gaksi nies-es.” Emmy had a more timid smile, but she nodded. “Maybe… they can wear nappies too? We got some new ideas for that. An’ cookies, yum~!”

Daegra was astounded. “Aren’t you three a little young for that? And Mistburg… That’s thousands of leagues away. Do they have a school there? Shouldn’t you be in it still?” Rukia shook her head. “We is ahead, lots. Rukia’s got a big brain an’ Emmy an’ Metala are supersmart. Teacher Lion needs a rest, or so mama said. Next time we is tacklin’ Demon realm architecture inna light of Mudwasp works.” At that moment the doors opened and a worried-looking Lysl shuffled in before promptly being hugged by three little girls. “Cousin Lysl~! We’s here to babysit~!” All in all it took a little more than an hour before Lysl breathed freely the air outside of her home-shell again. “Phew… Sorry to make you wait everyone.” The smaller adventuring shell that now rested on her foot was quite an improvement over its previous iteration. Two wheels could be deployed along with a handle if someone else needed to move it. Inside, there was just enough room for three people to sit and two to sleep while three large cupboards held supplies and an attachable tent. On either side of the door and Lysl’s footrest there were built-in lanterns that could be turned in their sockets.

“All set~! Lets get this adventure started, shall we?” Daegra nodded, her own pack slung lightly across her back. “I hope you don’t mind the escort out of town everyone, Oskhar is feeling a little… gallant.” This was something of an understatement as a regiment of the army waited patiently on the main road. Daegra tried not to chuckle whenever she spotted a slightly wide soldier in armor that practically screamed king in disguise. Her husband didn’t yet have a handle on her mental abilities, or the fact that her pheromones were so much on him that no disguise could fool her. Or anyone else with a functional nose.

Chapter 1. The road north

“Look over there…” Gynnaefi grinned as she spoke, and with good reason. At a small pond just a few hours from the road, a family of wild gulong were drinking and frolicking. The cat-like animals were a common source of meat elsewhere, to the point that domestication was the only way to meet the demand. Out here though, the wild ones still lived. Even though she was a Revenant and loved eating meat, Gynnaefi wouldn’t dream of harming these animals if she could help it. Ulurin knew this, though she eyed the male critically even so. Sentimentality or no, their group tended to hunt while on the trail and this particular gulong looked about ripe for the picking. Rubbing her bull-like left horn, she noted the fat belly and shiny coat. “I’m thinking that fatty one would be nice to have along… And I do fancy a new vest made from that coat.” Gynnaefi grunted, shrugging sadly. “It would be a shame if those little ones lost their pappy. Besides…” The gulong squatted with its tail raised high to unleash a malodorous torrent that seemed to drain its belly. “It was full of shit. Pee-eww!” She quietly backed away, her translucent flesh and nigh visible bones on her limbs were effective camouflage that Ulurin sometimes envied.

The Minotauride slapped her cheek, then used her own woodcraft to follow Gynnaefi. The smell was bad enough that she’d lost all appetite for gulong. In Karpathia proper, she could just bang a mug on the table and shout for gulong filet or something. That bit of civilized softness nearly made her forget just how bad these critters could stink. Once she exited the copse Gynnaefi led the way back to the camp. Ulurin reflected how little her friend had changed over the years. She’d been a good, if goofy thief and locksmith who wanted a way to use and hone her skills without having to face jailtime. Daegra had been more eager to accept her at first than Ulurin had been. But Ulurin had come to accept the girl, to the point where Gynnaefi’s fateful encounter with a trap traumatized her. As a Revenant, she was much the same, if more prone to bad jokes involving her detachable head. And then Daegra had mazed a king for crying out loud, leading to the royal guard getting the postergirl for weird reasons not to enlist.

Though she wore the armor readily, Gynnaefi was still incorrigibly a goofball, socially. And since Ulurin was a ‘dependable’ Minotauride, she got the brunt of Danthra’s ire. The elderly Minotauride, officially the king’s bodyguard and gardener but more accurately the nation’s spymaster and second mum to the king, had dealt with Gynnaefi by relegating responsibility to Ulurin. So when Gynnaefi rolled her head into some unsuspecting ambassador’s lap, Ulurin got the scolding. Still, Ulurin was successful in deflecting the backlash somewhat. In truth, she didn’t mind being Gyn’s minder. Their group was as close as sisters, even with recent additions. Lorua was too physically outmatched to be a guard. So she served as the queen’s attendant, and information-compiler. A Zvezda was a rare sight in any case, but one who’d made an academic career in obscure languages was downright unique. The starlight mamonme were normally as travelhappy as Ureonggaksi, which brought Ulurin’s mind to Lysl. Lysl was the youngest, but strongest member of their group at nine years of age. And her already a mum herself, what with those strange alien daughters.

Ulurin remembered clear as day how she was (at least in part) responsible for their coming about. On an alien world, a snail that zapped her had laid eggs inside Lysl’s shell. And a little involuntary tap on the jars of Ureonggaksi purple gel in the same cupboard had changed those eggs. For the better, though Daegra had gotten more shocks as she repeatedly investigated the tiny snailgirls with tentacles on their cheeks. Lysl managed though, in part due to her family. Ulurin still felt a shiver as she contemplated just how many… unexpected exponents there were in that one. Daegra had found a way to deal with it too, as Ulurin knew. The Tulpa who had founded their little group seemed mostly like a beautiful human woman, if with mamonme ears. But her form was a sort of physical projection that could change and didn’t quite matter as much as her mind. Daegra’s species chose roles to live out and her friend had made it clear that she preferred the role of ruins chaser and was very exacting on herself. Queening was a side-job, but there too she applied herself with a discipline Ulurin loved. If only Daegra could contain her curiosity better.

Laughing softly to herself, Ulurin admired her muscles. She was fit, buff and trim, but unlike many other Minotaurides, she liked to use her brains as much as her muscles. Competent at maze-navigation and mapping, Ulurin served as a cartographer and pathfinder mainly. She’d grabbed a few extra skills along the way too, as she’d grown into her profession. Guard duty and hunting were easy, but mixing ink or knowing where to hit a lock if Gyn couldn’t pick it had proven useful beyond the difficulty of learning them. Swishing her bovine tail across their hoof- and footprints was mere caution. She was reasonably certain that they weren’t being followed by anyone with malicious intent. If only Lescaiy were here too. As a former human turned Magical Girl, she was the most innocent of their group, but she had been asked to assist her ‘mentrix’ dealing with a particularly unhinged Sorceress. That said mentrix was the Goddess who’d taken charge of both species while belonging to neither… Ulurin snorted, to her something like that happening seemed pure insanity.

On the other hand, Lescaiy and other Magical Girls were happy with this Liccitia, even Sorceresses approved, though some said they preferred Alyssum, some Wendy or the other who’d shouldered the burden before. Ulurin’s imagination only stretched so far, she’d eat her hoofs with a side-order of Gulong droppings before even considering letting one of those try to mother her. On the other horn, anything was better than a Sorceress going Elsaya’s way. Passing through an arch of natural rock, they came to the current camp where Daegra was… cooking a meal while Lysl was nose-deep in a book? “Pumpkin and butterstem soup, with a hot potato after!” Daegra banged the kettle with satisfaction. “Careful please, that kettle’s new.” Lysl gazed up reproachfully after placing a finger on the page she was reading. “I know, I know, but it just gives off such a lovely ring when I do.” Daegra smiled as she gave the kettle a much gentler tap. Underneath, wrapped packages gently cooked in the ashes. “So what’s the deal? I was thinking it’d be rice-something again, but now you’re cooking ‘Dae?” Gynnaefi laughed aloud, shaking her head as she spoke. Daegra shrugged. ”I wanted to try this. Oskhar likes pumpkin soup, so I figured this might be a good time to try it out, especially since Lysl wanted to catch up on her reading.” Lysl fluffed her purple hair a little and stretched before adding: “Mmmhh… We do have a rice hot-pocket for with the potatoes.” Daegra looked curious for a moment, then counted the packages in the ashes, one was definitely too flat and even to be a tuber.

“Potatoes, rice and pumpkin soup. No meat though?” Ulurin liked vegetables, but only up to a certain point after all. Daegra grinned in reply. “Meat jam for dessert. With whipped cream if you like.” Ulurin and Gynnaefi both swore. “When tits are outlawed in Karpathia! Seriously Daegra, appreciate meat jam for what it is.” Lysl giggled at that. “I’ve never tried it, but this sounds like an old joke.” She chuffed, closing her book on a snaily bookmark. “I’ll dig Lorua out of her hammock, why not fill a few glasses from the tap? Dinner’s just about done by my nose.” A few minutes later they were enjoying dinner. “It’s good soup. But its got too much butterstem for my liking. So why are we taking this detour again?” Gynnaefi passed her bowl in a circle through the air. “I mean, the road is there for a reason and I’m pretty sure there’s a reason for that crossing by the two merged rivers.” Lorua made an assenting sound, so Daegra sought for an explanation that would not take the rest of the night. “Well, you know how lands can change over time, right?” Everyone nodded.

“As it happened, I found a few maps showing those two rivers having a different course until a landslide put them closer together. There was a town near to our destination that at the time might have been an important part of Karpathia. The Heart… well, it’s curiosity was tickled along with mine, so I think there may be something interesting there.” They nodded. Their previous adventure as ruins chasers had ended with Daegra being given the Heart of the Lands, a soulbound magical construct that prevented an old disaster from tearing apart the Heartlands, of which Karpathia was its capital. She’d been learning to cope with it and her husband, who had proven to be both loving and raised by a Minotauride. If Ulurin were honest, the king got off lightly on the latter part. A good warrior, headstrong and prone to being loud when aggravated, but more a good statesman and a conscientious ruler. Not a boast-to-boy who’d automatically nod, smile and give a muscle rub-down everyday. Those sadly enough were common among the Minotaurides of Reaper’s Hook and the pirate isles. Even so, Ulurin did entertain a fantasy or two to have one, just for a day or so.

She belched politely, thinking aloud when she spoke again: “Interesting or no, the environment’s a swamp, no? Technically a peat bog in some places, but neither is good for books and things. So chances are we’ll mostly be looking at carvings, keramics and rusty metalwork.” Lorua nodded at her, trying to splice this view into her own line of thinking. “Probably, though its not unthinkable the inhabitants used Dwarven water management techniques, if the town was close enough to the rivers.” Gynnaefi grimaced. “Lets hope not. Those beardy buggers like selling traps too.” She gingerly touched her neck where only spectral ligaments kept a grip on her head. “If we find any evidence for Dwarven crafts in that place, let’s hope we won’t, there will be no going off on our own in any part of that place.” She popped her head off and touched her nose to Lysl’s. “That goes double for you, okay?” She gave Lysl a quick kiss on the cheek before replacing her head. The ligaments reformed painlessly. “Of course! Gyn, Ureonggaksi are not that reckless.” Lysl laughed. “Though a few aunts and cousins do pop up in the strangest places like some other worlds. But what’s so special about Dwarves?”

Daegra slurped down the last of her soup, holding a pinkie up to say she’d answer that. “Whew, that hit the spot. To your query then Lysl, Dwarves on Praxis are kind of enigmatic. They’re one of the older species recorded in history and fierce warriors when called to arms.” She used her staff to draw a Duerich rune in the ashes. “They have talents and vices that can make them quite dangerous even if they never lift a weapon. You see, Dwarves in general are craftsmen. They choose what they want to make, be that fine porcelain, weapons or artworks of silver… and then chase perfection. Unfortunately, they chase it in every profession they take. So… imagine a long-lived craftsman who devotes almost every waking moment that he or she can to building a better trap. A trap that will outlast them, be their ticket to immortal fame…” She shivered. “Even I can pick a fair number of locks and disarm a few traps… But not even Gynnaefi likes to tangle with Dwarf-made locks and traps. They’re a whole different level of nasty, even apprentice-made ones. Which, coincidentally is what we’d most likely find in a non-Dwarven town.” Lysl’s eyestalks retreated into her hair. “That sounds scary.”

“It is.” Lorua added gravely. “I… Before I became a Shroudstar, I did work with this human team twice. First adventure went smoothly, I got a few really good finds then. But the second? Only my flying skills saved me.” She swelled, assuming a height comparable to a human teen. “One of the team got caught in a Dwarven trap. It was… quick, thankfully. But the bastard who made it must have thought it would be funny to have the corpse used as a dancing marionette after.” She scowled. “The others quit the life of adventurers after that…” She shrugged, deflating to her normal smaller form. “It is simple, really. If you’re not supposed to be somewhere, you’re fair game.” Lysl thoughtfully mulled this over, reaching absentmindedly for the remaining rice hot pocket wrap. “So a detect traps spell? And maybe… mmmmhhh~! Delicious~! Whoops, sorry, I meant to say: maybe some sticky gel?” Ulurin snorted. “What for? Your gel can’t turn Dwarven traps into snail-kin.” Lysl stuck out her tongue in reply. “Don’t be silly! Stickier, thicker gel can gum things up, no?” After a little more cheerful bickering they passed the night companionably.

Morning found them refreshed and the sharp contrasts the rising sun provided helped to expose remnants of the old road north they’d been searching for. Gynnaefi and Ulurin scouted ahead while Lysl and Lorua followed in Daegra’s wake as she let her spellwork gently blow away the dirt and grime that covered old stones. “Fascinating! I can’t do this for the whole road, but this stretch-” She indicated the uncovered stonework, potholes and all. “Is enough to show that this was indeed a major road once. It corresponds to the standards imposed by Vygo.” Lysl nodded, scribbling on a notepad. “I’m surprised the stonework was left here though, even damaged these don’t look like random rocks lumped into a road.” Lorua grunted in response, drawing their attention. “Hold up! I’ve… found some-thing here.” The tiny form cloaked in gentle green light was trying to uncover something wrapped in creepers underneath a bush. Lysl shuffled over and almost absentmindedly lifted it, Lorua and a fair bit of the bush to eye-level. “Its… a marker?” Lorua flitted onto her other shoulder, nodding. “Distance marker, my guess… But its more than that. Dae~! Get a look will you?” Daegra helped to extricate the marker from the abused bush (which slumped back) and then squealed loudly with joy.

“It’s a commemorative marker! Look!” Her nimble fingers traced the symbols still partially covered in mud. “Lorua, would you agree that I’m reading this right? Oskhar X, tenth year of reign, hail the king of many tens?” Lorua sighed, rubbing her forehead as her spiky fringe parted around her fingers. “Hail the king’s three tens: tenth king of Karpathia, in his tenth year of rule, on the tenth anniversary of Mythöras’ defeat.” She grinned. “Lysl, bag it please!” It was amazing how easily their Ureonggaksi friend managed to lift the heavy marker into a compartment on her shell. “You’re still a bit iffy Dae, but let’s work on it.” Daegra was slightly miffed at her own mis-reading, but shrugged it off. Lorua was the linguistics expert and no amount of queening could level that gap in knowledge. “Its an interesting find no matter how you look at it. But it stokes my curiosity: who or what was this Mythöras? One of the lost Demon Lords of yore? A Dragon perhaps? Or just some unlucky pretender to the crown? I’ll dive into the books when we get back. Good work you two.” This got her a friendly giggle. “Now then, when Ulurin gets back I’ll ask her to do a reading of the road so we can get a better idea of its course.”

At that moment a pack of thistlers scrambled onto the road, chased by Ulurin and Gynnaefi’s body. “Stop them! They’ve nabbed Gynnaefi’s head!” Daegra shifted gears and impeded the strange plant-like creatures with a spell depositing a patch of magical grease in their path. Lorua swooped in and escaped with a thoroughly dizzy head before the ornery thistlers found their feet again. Gynnaefi hoped this would be the last time some wildlife took a liking to her, but laughed about this event before dusk fell. The road north beckoned.

Chapter 2. Meeting in the swamp

The Heartlands’ diverse landscape gave way to increasingly peat and water rich soil. Pines gave way to oaks, willows, even marionette trees that the Shroudstars gave a wide berth. These latter trees were normally were very good defenses against stinging insects, but while they couldn’t digest anything larger than a baby rabbit, they could be a nuisance. They had a limited symbiosis with other plants in the area and would go after any creature that harmed the plantlife with their filament strings. Once caught, the humanoid, or large animal, would be dangled about as a marionette and flung bodily against other intruders. Some Aluraune-grown ones could take it a step further and actually use their victims as literal marionettes. Either sort would eventually let go after some time had passed. With sufficient strength one could break free though, but not without risking injury, scarring even if you were particularly unlucky.

However, if you had to skirt around them you would have to contend with incompatible plants. Daegra suspected that she detested gallwort. The plants gave off a bad smell and would spew odorous liquids if stepped upon. If said liquid stained her clothes, she might go on a herbicidal rampage. Yet it was useful in the manufacturing of different goods, so she instead watched like a hawk. Lysl had it easier, her foot merely pushed the plants sideways as she shuffled along. Lorua flew low to the ground, Gynnaefi and Ulurin ranging ahead. “Oi! A little help!? I can hear someone’s there! Please be careful, the damn tree’s got me!” The voice coming from her right-hand side sounded very parched. “Lo’, can you have a look?” Lorua zoomed across a fallen branch towards the voice, but reappeared almost immediately. “Daegra, Lysl, stop here. Ulurin! Gynn! Get back, now!” The small Zvezda assumed human height, glowing softly green. “We’ve stepped into big trouble… There’s someone, I think a Nandi, caught up in a huge marionette tree. There’s filaments hanging all over the canopy, even among branches of other trees.”

Daegra gasped in delight. “A complete symbiosis? I know how Aluraune and Lichen can try to foster these, but there’s no signs of them here.” Lorua shrugged in response. “I’m not sure if its natural, the central tree seems kind of too round. We can do a rescue, easily I should think, if you use your magic to clear a path through there while Ulurin and I go to free the captive. I’m thinking she might have been here a bit longer than today.” Daegra nodded, asking Lysl to grab a bit of bread and water from the storage and instructing Gynnaefi to draw her sword but not use it unless Daegra gave the go-ahead. She did not want to damage the tree or its partners, but the filaments were both fragile and dangerous… A sustained blast of wind might tangle them or tear them off. Fire was out of the question and water likewise would cause major damage. Then she recalled the spell Lysl’s tiny cousin had used. A shield of force? Why not? Instructing Ulurin to hold the detachable ball that adorned her axe in one hand overhead, Daegra placed the anchor of her spell on the ball.

Twice she grunted as her two friends made their way over to the caught woman. Lorua cut the entangling filaments where they couldn’t be persuaded to let go and Ulurin effortlessly carried the exhausted looking woman back to the rest of the group while Lorua made a quick inspection of the tree’s trunk. Since she could change her size easily and kept a sharp eye on the tree’s filaments, she was in no danger. “Right, Ulurin, put her down here…” Lysl might be the least experienced member of the group when it comes to adventuring, but she’d obviously taken the effort to learn first aid techniques. Gynnaefi, Ulurin and Daegra could do little to help, bar helping to remove remaining filament fragments. “You’re pretty dehydrated, please drink this, but s-l-o-w-l-y okay? You don’t want to start puking.” Lysl’s gentle fussing paid off. By the time Lorua returned, she had managed to make her patient a little more presentable.

“Thanks.” The Nandi rose to her bear-like feet and shook hands with Lysl and Ulurin. “I owe you for the rescue. But what brings the lot of you here? Lost on your way to the ferry?” She switched to Daegra and Gynnaefi before giving Lorua a gentle hug. They shared a smile at that before Daegra replied: “Actually, we’re ruins chasers investigating this area for a lost town.” She did the introductions, but omitted her regal status. “I’m just glad we could help you, but… I’m curious, how in the world did you get snagged by that tree? And do you know anything about how it came to be?” Beary round ears drooped, but then: “Well… I’m called Berry-Anne Stoneknee. Normally I’d have been more careful, that tree’s a hassle, but I was chasing that damn cryptid! It stole my SACK!!” Berry-Anne growled, then coughed. “I’ll have to make a new one, seems like. Shit and brass, that was a gift from my gran!” Daegra patted her on the shoulder. “You’re alive, that’s more important. But do you live nearby?” She glanced at Lysl, who shook her head empathically.

“Just in Stillpool, its hours from here though.” Berry-Anne snorted. “I’ll rest a bit and then go there.” Lysl’s eyestalks were practically spinning and she harrumphed. “No! You still need to recover and that’ll take days. Everyone, can we please make a little detour? Otherwise Granny will have my hide! I don’t even know if I have one…” Everyone laughed. Ulurin nodded then. “We could, I reckon. Any objections?” Seeing none, she lifted Berry-Anne and handed her to Lysl. “You just give me a general direction and I’ll get us there.” Berry-Anne gave her thanks and told them to head north and east, then turn at the big oak to the south-east. “Be careful though, the bog’s a place you need to keep your attention in, or you end up like I just did.” Daegra reflected that this was true. She could survive quite a few tricky situations as a Tulpa, but her friends not so much. “So Berry-Anne, mind telling me about this ‘cryptid’ you mentioned? How did it nab your sack?” This got her a growl-like grumble in response.

“I’ll swear the damn thing wanted to steal my sack, it didn’t just grab it by accident. And you know how important having a sack is to a Nandi? Its bare level bear-care!” Her ears fidgeted as Daegra replied. “I do know, somewhat. I’ve studied more than a few species of mamonme. Its… a natural bag of holding, right?” Berry-Anne swore so vehemently that Lysl’s eyestalks retreated and she looked frightened near enough to bolting. “Sorry miss Lysl. But no, miss Daegra, it’s not a bag of holding. You might think it is, but its way different and more important. One of those bags of holding, I can’t imagine how, create extra space to store things in. A Nandi’s sack is our ‘world’. I can store things innit, gran did that during the qualms time for the Demon Lord herself…” She shrugged. “But it holds everything important to me. At least mine does. And when I hold it, I’m complete. I can defend myself and my world if I have my sack!” She looked utterly disgusted. “I should call it quits and just live as a useless teddybear!” Lysl tsk’d then, shaking her head.

“Really now? If you can make another, then why’d you need to live as a stuffed toy? Also, please stop wiggling your tail and legs so much. I’m strong enough to carry you, but it gives friction.” Berry-Anne apologized, trying to be as still as she could bear to be. “No worries. But what’s that crypt-tit you mentioned? An undead mamonme like Gynn? I’m thinking Daegra’s about to burst with curiosity too.” Daegra laughed, shaking her head ruefully. Berry-Anne snorted. “Curious bunch you lot are… But no, its a cryptid. A critter that doesn’t match up with what we know about wildlife or people.” Lysl felt the stubby tail vibrate in agitation. “It looks like a bloody huge bat, but its intelligent. Poor Marcey swears she saw it turning into a man… But she’ll jump anyone that looks like a man after a few shots of sherry.” This got her a few laughs, especially from Gynnaefi who asked: “Old spinster?” Berry-Anne huffed: “Widow. Her husband and wife bought it during the big war. But Dorney’s been keen on catching the Bog Bat as we’ve come to call the blasted thing.”

She looked thoughtfully for a moment. “Stillpool’s not exactly a fine city like you folks are used to… But you hear some things like the bull king getting married and then talk of rewards for unusual things brought to him.” She was unaware of some amused glances being shot at Daegra. “So we tried to trap it, but it stole my sack and I ran after. Still amazed I got that far.” She scratched an ear. “I’m guessing the rewards bit is true if ruins-chasers come poking around this old swamp.” Daegra grimaced slightly. “Mmmmhhhh… Its not quite like that. King Oskhar the thirtieth of the Heartlands is married, yes. And has made it an important goal for the nation to uncover as much of its obscured and lost history, with the Heartlands Collective of ruins-chasers going anywhere where a lead points. But how are you so certain we’re from the city?” Berry-Anne snorted. “Us swamp-bumpkins make our own clothes, nothing as fancy as this dress miss Lysl’s wearing. I mean, we do buy some clothes from wandering peddlers and tinkers, but mostly cloth bolts if we buy anything at all. Make do.”

Lorua landed on Daegra’s shoulder. “There’s nothing wrong with that… But I do think you’re mistaken. Lysl’s dress is hard-wearing since she’s got kids.” Berry-Anne nearly broke her neck as she turned to look Lysl square in the eyes. “You’re bringing kids along?!” Lysl laughed softly. “No, my little cousins are babysitting. My darling babies are a handful though. But Lorua’s right, my dress is nothing fancy or expensive… I bought it from my family’s company, they do these lists with things you can buy. Just use an ARE to send in the order, or use a snailstop to send it by letter.” Berry-Anne looked incredulous. “I haven’t a clue what those are. But you… send a letter to get a dress? How’d you pay for it?” Gynnaefi spun a copper coin across her knuckles and it sprang into Berry-Anne’s top. “With money, of course! They’ve got a strongbox at every snailstop that kinda flushes the money to a bank at the end of the day, kinda like a toilet.”

Seeing only more confusion, the Revenant laughed. “Don’t worry, it took me a while to understand those too. But keep the coin. It is worth five creampuffs. A toilet’s a guz’under that puts the things you drop into the sewer. Not magic, but sure looks that way. A snailstop is just an Ureonggaksi shell open to the public where they pick up and drop off packages, letters and so on. Lysl’s uncle Brum explained a bunch of it to me since his job with the company’s basically giving advice on building the durned things. Oh, and an ARE lets you talk to dead people~!” She detached her head and stuck her tongue out. “If you’re calling me, that is. Heheh. Seriously though, an arti-something replay engine that lets you talk to people far away with another ARE.” Daegra sighed, firmly motioning for Gynnaefi to re-attach herself. “An Articulatory Relay Engine, Gynn. Please do try to remember that. But indeed, the snailstop has an ARE and a snail-order service.” Berry-Anne was mostly quiet after that, trying to process this information.

A few hours later, it was Daegra who was at a loss for words. Stillpool was indeed a small village of swamp-dwelling people. It was nothing like any town she’d known. The houses were on stilts and the village square was basically a raft. “BERRY!” A Mudwasp descended rapidly. “Everyone! Berry-Anne’s back! With strangers.” Another Mudwasp and a Grey Wolf came running, while a pair of men came in after, looking cautiously at the unexpected visitors. “Layla, Feyira, Kiki! Am I glad to see you again. Dorney! Linden! Quit stalling, please.” Berry-Anne assured the villagers that the Shroudstars were good folks. Layla cracked her knuckles, a sign in Mudwasps that she’d accepted the explanation and would like to get on with things. “Right, right. So… You got caught by the tree. Marcey and the Auldeys went looking near the ravine while the Morossons took to the ford, Kiki can you zoom there and get them back?” The other Mudwasp took off with a nod. While no Melissae, they could fly quite swiftly even so.

“Right & tidy. But you need food Berry-Anne, and I’m sure you folks are hungry too, so as a thank you for delivering her home…” She winked at Berry-Anne. “I’m sure we can whip up a nice feast. Might even be our village speciality.” This set Berry-Anne drooling and by the time the other villagers got back the Shroudstars knew why. Honey-glazed gulong, candied pomals, flatbread with nuts, skewers full of vegetables and meat roasted over an open fire. Simple, but wholesome fare, washed down with ice-cold water, mead and a small bottle of rice wine Lysl donated. “Sahhh-kay?” Lysl frowned at the pronunciation. “Eh, no no, it’s saké mz. Marcey. But you like it?” Wearing a flushed grin only serious drinkers could pull off, the Catoblepas woman nodded. “Aye, it tastes great and burns nicely in my stomach.” She patted her belly empathically. “You sure you haven’t got more?” Lysl shrugged, turning the small bottle upside down over Marcey’s cup to coax out the last drops. “At home I do have another bottle, but its a little too strong for me if I’m honest. But a few aunts and uncles make this and they send over some every now and then.” She eyed the bottle, then put it down with finality.

“I can put you in touch, if you don’t mind waiting a little while for it to get here. But you should go easy on drinking it.” She laughed nervously. “There’s that story of grand-aunt Yuku who gave a too large glass to someone and then had to call on the graveyard keeper.” This got a rich laugh from Marcey, who then started sniffling. “Yeah, that’s not fun. But still, Bibi and Ton would’ve liked it… Too bad I can’t share it with them anymore.” Lysl put a comforting hand on her shoulder and spoke gently: “Well… Maybe you can in a way? Its a custom in Zipangu and some other places to keep a small shrine for the departed in or around your home.” She struggled not to share too much of her own family connections there. “If you pour them a cup and put it on the altar, they can drink it along with you. Spiritually, most of the time, but… who knows? Just food for thought maybe?” The thought took root in Marcey’s brain, though she soon retired to her bed. The Shroudstars did as well, though Lysl had to relocate her shell to a rocky outcrop to keep it from sinking into the swamp.
It was very early in the morning the next day when Gynnaefi got up. As a Revenant, she didn’t need as much sleep as the living did, but it miffed her that she couldn’t enjoy sleeping in. As a human, that had been a way to reward herself after a job well done. Seeing the dawn though was nice too. But as it was still a little off, she took a stick and prodded the swamp. The stick sunk into the muddy bottom until only Gynnaefi’s fingertips were still dry. “Dang, that’s pretty deep. I wonder…” She used her iron grip to pull the stick back up and winced as several foul bubbles followed it. “Bleh! But I wonder why these folks live here when there’s so many other places to live? Probably with less bugs come spring too.” Her musings were cut short when a soft, organic noise reached her ears. Straining to see against the light of false dawn, Gynnaefi saw the shadowy edge of the nearest trees stretch towards her before everything went dark and something with big claws grabbed her arms. She tried kicking it, but her boot only caught air. Even on the downswing when it should’ve gotten back onto the wooden walkway.

Fighting down a panic and rising airsickness, Gynnaefi used her head and detached it from her body. She felt her chin strike wood, then the dark thing over her head closed over that too and she was wholly encased. Her body was moving far away. “DRAT! Anyone?! A little help, please?!”

Chapter 3. The Bog Bat

“It was just lying there in the mud, but there’s blood on the square!” The Mudwasp girl known as Kiki buzzed with anxiety. “Let’s stay calm everyone, Ulurin, can you check the bloodstains?” Daegra quickly assumed command and managed to calm the villagers. Berry-Anne was procured by Lysl and then cried tears of joy: “It’s my sack! But…” | “It’s Gynn’s blood, Daegra.” Ulurin swore under her breath. “Looks like something grabbed her by the arms, probably flew away with her if it is that Bog Bat creature.” It was only the Minotauride’s trust in Daegra that checked her urges, especially when Berry-Anne bellowed and produced Gynn’s head out of her sack. “FINALLY!” Gynnaefi coughed. “Couldn’t you hear me in there?” | “Where’s her body?” | “Is she a gann-sann or something?!” | “QUIET! Berry-Anne, please hand her over to me.” Daegra sometimes wished she could bellow like her husband could, but it was enough. She took charge and quickly gathered what had happened.

“Dae, I need to get my body back, its been hours and you know what happens if we get separated too long!” Daegra calmed her down by touching the sensitive spot on Gynnaefi’s hairline. “Don’t worry. Now where do you feel your body?” Gynnaefi concentrated while Ulurin, Lysl and Lorua gathered the group’s gear. “I think its to the north. I can’t feel much more.” | “North? That’s not a safe area.” Berry-Anne stood, gritting her teeth and touching her sack. “Stillpool’s pretty shallow, the actual pool I mean. But north is the Nimmermere. Its a lifeless expanse of water. I… guess it can be flown over. Dang, that must be where that dang Bog Bat nests.” Daegra cut in then. “Lifeless? You mean there are no fish? Did any of you-” She gazed at the townsfolk. “Ever put a boat out on it?” They shrugged, but Marcey snorted. “Not so much a boat. But I’ve paddled out on a log raft a few times. Tried to get some fish, but… nothing lives in those waters. Weren’t much of a raft and its been cut to kindling long ago.” Daegra tsk’d as she considered this. Then Lorua flitted down from above and asked a question most unexpected: “How about this raft? Mind if we borrow your square?”

Meanwhile, in Karpathia something precious was getting delivered to Lysl’s shell. “Hey girls, is everything going okay?” Three little heads nod to their aunt. “Yes, we’s doing ay-okay aunt Licci. How are you doin’?” Tired hooves wander over to a chair and deposit their owner into it. “Kinda tired… I’ve been flying allll over, dealing with Magical Girls and Sorceresses…” She sighed, shaking her head. “Nearly forgot I promised Eihy and your moms to check up on you three. How are those little babies doing?” Emmy hummed in response. “Pretty okay. They’re still grumpy a lot though. But we got a few visitors, an’ old lady with horns, asking if cousin Lysl and her friends had called in.” Rukia shrugged then. “I’s thinking she was that miss Ulurin’s mom, but she’s the king’s mom.” Metala giggled. “She went red when you asked though. And that man in silly armor… Aunt Licci-” At that moment a knock came at the door. “Oh? Lescaiy’s at the door, get it will you?” Licci tried to make herself presentable, but got a bit of a shock when her protege was hustled into the room carrying a familiar little boy. “H-hello lady Liccitia, I’m sorry but I was walking by the shrine when your brother in law gated in.”

The Magical Girl fidgeted a little. “Seems like there’s a bit of trouble and he wanted to ask you to babysit your nephew too.” She gently placed the little boy onto the soft floor, thereby missing the three angry looks shot at the Mahoumet. “Aunt Licci, we don’t need no babysitting! We’re responsible aunts!” Licci shrugged at that, tilting her head. “Yeah, yeah, but its your first outing as babysitters here… I’m just checking in, eh?” She gave Lescaiy a serious look, then added: “If I were ‘babysitting’ I could just rest a little while you three can ask me if there’s trouble.” She didn’t mention the excellent officer who was reading a book on a chair outside, ready to rush in if her feline ears picked up an issue. Lescaiy smiled at the children, trying to get their attention. “How about we play a game, quietly? Lysl’s got a few fun board games. And the winner gets a kiss from this charming gentleman.” The prize in question wandered over to one of the cribs where a snaily baby was just waking up. Neither could speak, but Aerdayasêr felt moved to touch the tiny face looking at him over a pacifier. Little Whelky looked a little grumpy, but she liked the attention. Only she wouldn’t let go of his hand after and Aered didn’t like that when it went on too long. A small thundercloud appeared over his head, unnoticed by his dozing aunt and playing cousins. Whelky though tried to grab the cloud.

“Even strokes! We don’t want to end up spinning!” Daegra was focussed on keeping the enthusiastic rowers from sinking the village square. As it was, only Lysl’s grip on the rudder prevented any accidents. It was surprisingly stable otherwise, even when not moored by stilts. “Daegra, we need to veer right a little, there’s a whole tree under water there!” Lorua’s keen vision was a key means to avoiding these snags. Funny word, but it made sense. A fallen tree could snag onto the bottom of a boat and tear it open. On rivers they were worse though, the current would curl the branches into springs against the muddy bottom, causing the snags to shoot out of the water with lethal consequences. “You heard her! Lysl turn the rudder, everyone on the left push, right side pull!” When they’d cleared the snag, Daegra asked Gynnaefi again. “You still feel your body? Are we getting closer?” Gynn looked miserable as she replied: “Yeah, but I can’t move my limbs for some reason… Oh Daegra, please kill me if my body’s too broken to continue living!” Daegra gently patted Gynnaefi’s hair. “Don’t worry. It’ll be alright.”

“If my body is salvageable, I’ll kill that bloody critter with my bare hands!” Gynnaefi was fuming. But then she arched an eyebrow and turned her gaze to the left. “Oi, Lorua! Anything to the left there?” The tiny Zvezda turned in the air, shooting off like a star to what appeared to be a cluster of trees growing on rocks. The starlight mamonme turned around almost immediately though and shouted to turn the raft there. What awaited them was spectacular in its own right: the waters of the lake were held back by old crafted stone walls propped up and supplemented with rather more crude wooden struts and barriers. Beyond them was a mostly dry town in ruins. “I… did not expect this. It’s the settlement we were looking for, but not where I expected it to be. And looking at these additions to the walls, someone has been living here. Probably the same person who sent that Bog Bat out.” Daegra chewed her cheek for a few moments in contemplative silence. Berry-Anne prodded her on the arm then. “So… what’s the plan? We go in with made-up pitchforks and torches?” Gynnaefi chuckled at her. “Nah, that’s not gonna work. Dae, we’re going in all stealthy, right?”

In the end, most of the villagers who’d tagged along would remain on the raft. Marcey and Berry-Anne would join the Shroudstars in exploring the ruins. Lorua was glad for it, they needed more eyes to find Gynn’s body, but would a Nandi only recently rescued and still underfed with a tipsy by default Catoblepas make much difference? Her body wasn’t well suited to combat, but she could back up Daegra with spellcasting at least. “So where to now Gynn?” Daegra held Gynnaefi’s head high overhead so she could look (and feel) around. “Oof, I’m… kinda feeling my body now… I’m buried under something? Off to the right. Ulu! Check for traps please!” Ulurin grumbled about her skill with (potentially Dwarven) traps, found none and cautiously called them forward into a space between two buildings that might have been an alley once. Currently, it was serving as a burial site. “This definitely is not something an animal would do!” Ulurin cleared away stones until an arm shot up between the remainder and tweaked her nose. “Got your conk~!” Ulurin promptly laughed.

“Okay Gynn, now let me go or we’ll just drop your head here till you dig yourself out.” Gynnaefi merely giggled and let go in order to move what stones she could one-handed and mostly by feeling. Between the two of them, Gynnaefi’s body soon emerged, Daegra hastily putting her head in place. The spectral ligaments that normally held Gynn’s head in place were very slow to form though. “Urk! I’ve got mud where I definitely don’t want it!” Lysl giggled with her lips barely held close and tried to help Gynnaefi get the worst off it off. “So, we’re done?” Marcey’s voice indicated a great hope and a persistent hangover. Daegra shook her head with finality. “No, we’re still looking for the bat and its master. If we don’t take care of them, then we’ll be back at hand one when they try to drag off someone else. Plus…” Daegra’s voice softened. “Shield em Ulu, Gynn, Lo…” With more speed than should be possible normally, Daegra turned around and pointed her staff at a shadowed space in a mostly ruined tower. Heavy threads of slime shot out and missed a shadowy figure that toppled out and hung by one arm from an outcropping. “Catch him quick!”

Before she’d covered half the distance to where she could use her magics to arrest a fall, the shadowy figure dropped like a brick, then… A blood curdling screech came their way as a massive bat soared into the air. “What the blatherskite?! It.. it.. Turned into..?” Daegra could be very fast with her thoughts in a line, but her mind was too busy processing what she’d just seen to dodge as the Bog Bat pounced on her. Its screech changed then, along with the tangle of limbs that now held her. A thin arm held her with surprising strength as the other one aimed a wand at the others approaching. She got an impression of a man holding her, if with a wild hairdo and a suit made from plant matter. Out of his mouth came a warning, if delivered in a language she was not familiar with. “Hm… Lorua, got any idea what he’s going on about?” Daegra tried to be as calm as possible, she wasn’t really in danger as his threats were mostly verbal. Lorua shook her head, then tried a few of the many different languages she knew. None worked and Daegra felt a flash of panic when a subtle attempt to free her by Gynnaefi caused her kidnapper to bare an impressive set of fangs against Daegra’s throat. She tsk’d in annoyance.

Tulpa might be mamonme, Daegra might be queen, this person might be unusual… but enough was enough. Daegra inhaled, then brought the heel of her boot down on his foot. It was not a dainty lady’s boot, but an explorer’s boot that could take a beating. And dish it out. Before the screaming man knew what was happening she’d wrested the wand from his hand and twisted his arm onto his back. Painful enough to give her control, but nothing too serious and she figured that would be the end of his antics. She guessed wrongly as he willingly dislocated his shoulder by throwing her over his hip, but by that moment Ulurin had him in an iron grip that only a Minotauride could manage. He took it poorly though, screaming in obvious denial while his hurt arm desperately tried to cover his crotch. “Hold still, you crazy coot!” If Ulurin had not learned some restraining techniques during her training as a royal guard, he would have wrestled free. As it were though, he fought like a lion and was grabbed by Gynnaefi as well. “Quit it, you nasty little wretch! I’ve got a few bones to pick with you!” Goofball or no, Gynnaefi was a Revenant and could turn vengeful.

“Let me, Gynn.” Lysl was obviously frightened, keeping only her eyestalks open as she stuck something on one restrained leg that looked like a slimy leaf. In moments, the frantic struggles slowed and Lysl removed the leaf. “Don’t worry, he’s got a bit of sedative in his system. Daegra, can you ready a translation spell? Or shall I break out the kit?” Berry-Anne looked slightly worried at Lysl’s cheerful grin then. “You’re going to torture him?” Lysl scoffed, shaking her head. “Nononono, its an emergency shrine kit. Its kind of standard issue these days… ” She blushed. “For Ureonggaksi in general, but my family in particular. Long story short it can save your life or let you ask for some other help from New Heaven. No guarantees, but it really helps if you get stuck on some other world or something.” Both Berry-Anne and Marcey goggled at that. “I know I didn’t drink enough booze to be drunk enough for this. You’re an Angel of sorts then?” Marcey’s voice was incredulous. “Nope, but you’ll need an afternoon to hear why and more booze than could fill this swamp to believe it.” Gynnaefi laughed, trusting Ulurin to hold down the still feebly struggling man. “Wait till she gets her wings and halo though.”

“Oh shush Gynn!” Lysl rarely lost her temper, but she did not like sharing every detail of her life with people she didn’t know too well yet. Turning to the two villagers again, she sighed. “Let’s just say that my family will adopt anyone if they like them. And we do have a few Celestials in it. But I’m no slug, if you know what I mean.” Daegra nodded then, having weighed her options. “Good people, obviously. But irrelevant. I’ll try the spell myself before bothering your aunt, eh? How long will the sedative last?” Lysl shrugged. “Full dose would’ve been a night’s rest. With his agitation and me removing the patch? An hour at most.” Daegra nodded, then pulled a few material components from her belt. Just a bit of clay and some crystal dust that she blended into a putty and shaped into a small horn. One simple casting later, she stuck it into the ear of their captive and spoke: “You should be able to understand me now. Keep still and be prepared to answer my questions.”

Repeating the procedure, she put the new horn into her own ear. “And now I can understand you, hopefully. So let’s have a talk. I expect an explanation for your unprovoked attacks on the inhabitants of Stillpool and my friend Gynnaefi. But lets start with your name: who are you?” The man huffed tiredly. “I will tell you nothing, spawn of the Dark God.” Daegra scratched her ear, checking the small horn. “Dark God? I’m fairly certain I’ve not come across the term before. Do you perhaps mean Demon Lord? We don’t have one here, though the Heartlands maintain a cordial diplomatic relationship with the Matrika Beluaine and her Celestial sisters.” Perhaps it was the sedative, but the man blinked owlishly at her in incomprehension. “Besides, it is in your best interest to answer my questions. The local villagers don’t take too kindly to the two attempted murders you carried out and neither do I. So tell me your name.” He gave a half snort half snore and shook his head.

“No! You have Demon spawn ears. Lusty monsterkin always listen to the Dark God.” Daegra sighed, shaking her head and mulling things over. “Want me to have a go at it, Daegra?” Gynnaefi cracked her knuckles audibly. “Can’t understand him, but if he’s being lippy I’m still pretty miffed about his antics.” Daegra shook her head resolutely. “No Gynn, you really don’t want that. Even if he’s rude, I am not about to let you sully yourself with petty revenge. Why not go scout for traps for a bit?” Gynnaefi grumbled, but grabbed her tools from the straps on Lysl’s backpack and all but stomped holes into the ground as she started poking in the first likely building. Daegra turned back to their captive, mindful of the limitations of the spell. “You dodged a stake there… Revenants can really get vengeful like a Bovitauride when they’ve been wronged. And unlike Bovitaurides, they are not cutely clumsy with weapons.” Shifting her stance, Daegra studied his face. “Hm… what to make of you though? You’ve got impressive fangs, but I’ll bet you’re not a vampire from prior ages, they’re the wrong shape.” She checked his arm and again noted things.

“No ringgrowths on your hand-bones and no elbow-spike either, so a Werewolf variant, uh… Werebat isn’t likely either. As far as I can tell, you’re a human with some bat-traits and an inexplicable ability to turn into a bat of unnatural size.” His other hand still tried to cover his crotch. “I’m married, cool your expectations will you?” She grasped his chin and studied his throat. “Definitely no bite-scars, but you do have strong neck muscles and corded shoulders. Quite a mystery since an artifact giving an animal transformation does not train the muscles of the humanoid form.” She unhanded him and then studied his torso, which was mostly hidden under a meshwork of vines and leaves. “You’re pretty emaciated too. And you’ve got… by the Gods man, you’ve been through the wringer. LYSL!” Lysl shuffled up, giving Daegra a reproachful stare. “No need to shout, I was just behind you, you know.” Daegra nodded and asked her to examine and patch up the man. Meanwhile, he muttered about the indignity of it all and Lysl tried to placate him despite not understanding a word he said.

“Daegra… what are you thinking?” Ulurin kept a close eye on the man, but her ears were firmly trained on Daegra. Berry-Anne and Marcey were talking with Lorua. “I am unsure.” Daegra sniffed. “But since I have no other ideas… Lysl? Sorry again dear, but I need to ask you something important.” Lysl’s eyestalks peered back over her hair at Daegra and she hummed in acknowledgement, a safety-pin between her lips as she was bandaging the injured foot then. “Your cousins and aunts go to other world, right? Is it possible, mayyybe, that people from other worlds visit us?” Lysl nodded, finishing the bandaging. “All the time, really. My little cousins are technically aliens. And my other cousin Fretf- erhh… Fedvala met someone who got on the wrong side of my aunt after. He was dumped back on his world. She’s been trying to regulate things since.” Daegra nodded, saying thanks. “Well mystery man, I have been thinking. You’re either an alien visitor… or someone from before the Age of Marvels since there are no bat-men in recorded history.” It took a little while for this to register.

“An original ploy, but-” Daegra cut him off. “Think on it! Do you know the name of this country you are in? We’re in the Heartlands of the continent of Palachia, on the world known as Praxis. Does that correspond to any place you’re familiar with?” His brows drew together in a puzzled frown. “Are you perhaps from Ithus? Or Nerana? Or the world Vygo tried to take over?” Silence, until: “Blast it woman! I can’t think like th-fww-wp-w-” Lysl had stuck a spoon with something sticky on it in his mouth. “Swallow, please. It’ll help ease the pain. I’m not sure if you can understand me, but I’ll need to check your arm next.” Lysl leaned in a little closer. “If you are from another world, we can help you get home, maybe. But you’ll need to answer our questions, okay? You’ve done some bad things, like taking Gynn’s body and tangling Berry-Anne into the marionette tree. They could’ve died!” Lysl removed the spoon now, switching it for a small cube of a sort that she held under his nose and it jolted him to a more wakeful state. He said something rude that she couldn’t understand, but appeared calmer.

“Fie, what a foul smelling thing… My poor nose! But I thank you for gn-n-naaaaa!” Lysl grimaced as she popped his arm back into its socket and apologized. Daegra simply sighed. “Shall we start afresh then? I am Daegra, leader of the Shroudstars, a group of friends and ruins chasers… among other things. Now, who the deuce are you?” With a deep sigh, the man gave a… formally polite bow and spoke: “I am Francis St.Germain. Are you in any way, shape or form in the employ of Malyagrance?” Daegra had not heard of this word (or was it a name?) before and said so. “Very well. I suppose that it is not wholly unlikely that I have ended up in another world… If so, then I will offer a formal apology for my actions, but then I am in a worse state than I expected.” He drew himself up with surprising dignity. “I am a citizen of the country of Logendra on the continent of the same name. About three months ago, I was taking part in another exploratory delve into Rianobed. A… very dangerous dungeon serving as the self-imposed prison to the Banished, a greater God.” He touched his vine garment.

“Unfortunately, one rookie on the expedition team triggered a trap that teleported us to… well, this is an assumption… Different parts of the dungeon. I had the distinct displeasure of ending up in a Marilith’s lair… A kind of mamono-like creature with distinct demonic tendencies still. Rather than become her mind-broken slave, I turned into my other self and flew into what I assumed was a portal to outside of Rianobed.” He laughed in embarrassment. “The blasts of fire she’d used had mostly burned my clothes though. But thankfully, I have read about wilderness survival. I happened to come across these ruins and have used them as a base to tend to my wounds and sleep, venturing out to forage. But I was spotted by these mamono living in that village. Since they do not smell of voidstone I assumed that this was a recent conquest of the Dark God’s domain, seeing as there are no corrupt growths taking over the foliage, yet.” A snort came from his nose. “Had I not been injured, I would have vacated the vicinity immediately.”

“Admittedly, I took a few… tools and other supplies from their village, to survive. I had intended to return them as best I could when I was fully recovered. But I sought a better space to rest in the ruins and came across a few hidden doors and traps. I was grateful that my small lock-toolkit had not been melted, even more so when I discovered what was hidden…” His eyes shone with delight. “Many, many books in languages unknown to me. Sadly enough, my entry into those hidden chambers exposed the books to the damper air and that can ruin books…” The look of horror on his face was almost comical. “Hence, I resolved to interrogate a villager to finally figure out where I had landed exactly… But then I saw her-” He indicated Berry-Anne. “Kill a large animal and stuff it into that bag. I assumed it was a bag of holding, but… When I finally had shaken her off, I did not know she was stuck in a tree, I discovered that the wretched thing did not work for me.” He sighed. “I wasted a good few days trying to uncover the command words. Then, I decided to bring it back and ask her for her help.”

“As luck would have it, I… caught someone else and did not know that something had gone wrong until I discovered her head and the bag to be missing.” He snorted anew. “I buried her body, assuming I had inadvertently killed her, but she’s an undead, correct?” Daegra nodded, tapping her lips in thought. “I see. A plausible explanation, but… Not the whole of it. Gynn is a Revenant, she died by decapitation through a trap, yet thankfully she returned. She was able to detach her head in order to warn us and guide us here. But you are no random thief, nor an adventurer.” Daegra concentrated for a moment and changed into the kind of clothing she would normally wear at home. “A mage would not exclusively rely on wands and you do not match up precisely with a librarian or ruins chaser either… My abilities as a Tulpa do tell me that what you are not telling me is important… and that you don’t trust me well enough to divulge it.” A glint of panic and admiration shone in Francis’ eyes, soon replaced by a haughty mask.

“A mind-reader?” His tone was disapproving. Daegra shook her head and chuckled. “I am a Tulpa, a mind-construct mamonme. I cannot ‘read’ your mind like a book. I cannot even do that fully with my husband, though I can ‘share’ my mind with him and my friends… to a degree. Its… deeply personal though and the chances of that happening with just anyone is nihil.” She prodded his garment with a finger. “I can infer though that you are a nobleman. A spy maybe, but a diplomat too when not out of your wits with fear and pain. But what say you?” He straightened the garment, shaking his head. “Well done. Duke Francis St. Germaine, of Logendra, a Loup-Garou, diplomat in service to his majesty King Valhart and at times envoy to Khamsin, a nation mostly buried under Rianobed. But from your current dress and the (granted) fact that you did not literally read my mind… I do say you at the least have experience with nobility.” Daegra smiled mysteriously. “Indeed.” Her face fell flat. “The majority being useless lumps who can’t be bothered to do any work. Unlike you.” Her eyebrow quirked at his nod.

“Icarians I presume? Fie, they still try to have me killed for being too ‘common-blooded’ to be a noble. But I had to survive before, until his majesty allowed me to enter his service.” As he drew breath to continue speaking, a yelp came from the building Gynnaefi had entered and she came out with what looked to be a small potted plant stuck to her arm. “Ulu! I need your gardening skills! This darned plant thinks I’m compost or something!” Before Ulurin or Daegra noticed, Francis had covered the distance and gently removed what were grey thorny roots from Gynnaefi’s arm. “Do be careful! This seedling is delicate and one of the few memento’s of my home.” Gynnaefi took umbrage at his tone, even if she couldn’t understand his words. She used her liberated arm to grab his ear and frogmarched him back. “Dae, I don’t know if he just insulted me, but that aggressive spinach in a pot was just about the only thing not to do with books in there.” Daegra shrugged. “Gynn, calm down please. The situation is a bit… political now. But our mystery guest Duke Francis has said that he wishes to apologize. If you can hold still, I’ll fit you both with one of these…” She tapped the miniature horn still lodged in her ear and hoped she still had enough materials.

In a sense, the worst was over. Gynnaefi vented her spleen enough to forgive Francis and Berry-Anne thought it too funny to carry a grudge. She accepted his apology after he promised not to leave someone hanging again. Daegra had made it clear that the books would need to be examined in Karpathia before anything else. She also promised to get the villagers a reward for their help and was discussing with Lysl how to best transport the books. However… “Dae… he’s a better locksmith than I ever was. Dwarven traps! He disarmed Dwarven traps to get at those books!” Daegra simply laughed in sympathy, telling Gynnaefi to ask Francis to explain how he’d gotten past them and view it as a chance to learn. “Besides, we still don’t know a lot about his world.” Lysl was reviewing the shell backpack of holding she’d brought along, tsk’d and stuck her head inside. While no sounds emerged, Gynnaefi and Daegra were alarmed by the distressed motions her body started making. “Salt and bamboo spikes! Well, at least transportation is not an issue… Bleeping hoolie, I could have left the shell at home.” Lysl invited Daegra and Gynnaefi to have a look inside as well.

What they saw amounted to a cavernous space with several platforms in it. The few items in it were a few clothes and potions. “Wow! You could live in there, practically. Is that… ‘normal’?” Gynn recalled her old bag of holding, which could hold the same items, but only a teacup more at most in total space. Lysl shook her head and claimed that Rukia had been fiddling with the pack. “I’ll need to install some sort of sunlight lamp and plants for clean air inside… Mhhhhmmm!!! She’s adorable and this really is useful… But I’ll have to trek through the cupboards for a month next! Or find a country in my pillowcase.” She shook her head sadly. “I feel ungrateful when I say that, but I honestly wish she’d tell me these things before she does them.” Gynnaefi scratched her head, hitting on something perplexing. “But… She was with you for less than an hour before we left… she must have done this before then?” Lysl shook her head, replying: “I checked it when I got it. Uncle Damast normally lets apprentices enchant them… But Rukia’s always fiddling with magics and I’ll eat my foot if she doesn’t know the company spellbooks by heart.” Grumbling slightly, she shuffled off to collect the books.

Chapter 4. Sinkhole

“So you’re saying that there’s a… pattern to these traps?” Gynnaefi watched carefully as a more civilly clothed Francis knelt besides a disassembled trap and through the re-cast spell of translation started explaining: “Most assuredly. Mind that traps are made by people and that there are limits to how many ways one may execute an action. I have not met these… Dwarves of your world, but their traps tell a lot about them. Fie, I would proclaim that most of their originality is spent on cruelty, but that they start with a general education. The education teaches them set ways of doing things…” The pale Loup-Garou waved a hand dismissively. “Easily discernible once one opens an apprentice’s trap and applies their own forming pattern to other traps. There is room for surprise, but the pattern remains for each maker. Left-hand side traps rotate their gears this way…” He spun a gear and indeed the trap activated only in that direction. “All in all, not too difficult if you practice some. Might I invite thee over to my castle once this is over? I’ve amassed a few books on trap design that you would like to read.” Gynnaefi detached her head and bowed. “Head’s off to you, I might take you up on that…”

She sighed as her head reconnected. “But I’m no good with books, sorry. I like a little reading now and again, but I’m too much a restless dead person to glue myself to the pages. Well… Except the book Daegra made me proofread.” She looked fit to cry and Francis made a humorous leap to a conclusion. “Bad poetry on ruins chasing?” Gynnaefi shook her head. “Nah, just our last big adventure. Daegra’s obsessive about details though and that makes for a terrifying author who’ll grill you for days on end. Anyhoo… I do appreciate you showing me how these work… But I feel like a dunce for not knowing it before! Grah!” Francis calmly sipped tea from a flask Lysl had given them. “Had I not been forced to disarm traps in Rianobed’s many dangers, I dare say t’would be me who felt inadequate. Neither of us is though. You… died from such a trap when a touch younger, I imagine that would instill some fear, but you are past that now. Trust in your own abilities, but do not become complacent.” He passed the flask and Gynnaefi drank with a grudge.

“I’m keeping that in mind, oh sage. But I do feel inadequate. I mean… I’m a thief, even if I do not steal. But I am barely useful. And with my sense of humor, Ulu gets the wind upfront from Danthra when I pull a prank. Totally worth seeing that snooty envoy scream like a little girl though.” Her grin faded quickly. “If we can’t get you back home, why not sign on as my replacement? You’re alive, a nobleman, a diplomat and a bookworm. You excel at this line of work and can fly.” He shook his head. “Rubbish! I am myopic, especially after having spent time as my other self. So my skill with traps and locks is not optimal. I tend to infuriate people even unintentionally. For example, I managed to infuriate a Dragonewt enough that she refused to accept my apologies until a friend of mine defeated her in single combat. And the only thing I had done was offer to remove a bit of lint from her outfit.” This made Gynnaefi laugh and they went to what appeared to be a major vault deep below the ruins’ surface. “I had not been able to open this one yet, it requires two to operate its mechanisms.” Gynnaefi let out a low whistle as she appreciated the mechanisms in question.

“Leaf of gold inlaid mosaics with a puzzle lock?” She found several openings for fingers. “Orrrr… Sequential locks with interlocking mechanisms?” Francis indicated the latter and together they worked to open the locks. Gynnaefi was expecting a trap to spring though and therefore was startled when the locks simply opened two nearly unnoticeable doors. Inside was no treasure though. Rather it was a room dominated by complicated machinery. “Fie, what infernal contraption is this?” Gynnaefi ignored Francis’ outburst and read a plaque bolted above some levers and gauges. “Se-war con-tro-lll. If gauges read red…” They both checked and saw that this was the case. “Then initiate drainage lever. Hm… I think we shouldn’t touch anything until we can get some more examinations done.” Gynnaefi stepped back out of the room when she felt the threshold give under her foot. Francis thankfully caught her before she could fall into the spiked pit, but nearly toppled over, his frantic scrabbling terminating in grabbing a lever and accidentally pulling it down.

Up top, Daegra was roused from her examinations as with some difficulty, part of the paving in the ruins accordioned out, revealing a rising tube on a rotary platform. “What gives? Lorua, Ulurin, Lysl? Did you touch something?” Ulurin was in fact simply drawing a map of the ruins and Lorua and Lysl were napping. Berry-Anne and Marcey had returned to the raft to fill them in. Below: “What does it mean? Blockage detected, emergency drainage needed? I can’t see any blockage!” Gynnaefi tried to make sense of a warning sign that had risen. Francis calmly replied: “I think this means the machine wants to… erh… flush out some mud, maybe? Can you tell me what this placard reads?” He pointed to one that had a few words and stylistic depictions of what appeared to be rivers on it. “I think it says… target area for drainage spill.” Without further ado, Francis turned a dial to the western river and then pushed a button near it. “With a little luck, the problem is now solved. I’m fairly sure the machine will simply clear the blockage, allowing us to reset the levers.”

Back up top Daegra quickly moved aside as the strange tube turned westward and started groaning ominously. Berry-Anne came running to her, followed by all the villagers who’d come along for this trip. “Daegra, you’ve seen more o’ the world than the bear bones we have, is it normal for a lake to start bubbling all over?” Before she could utter a what, everyone’s attention as well as Daegra’s was pulled back to the groaning tube, which shuddered, depositing a glob of dark, mostly dry mud in front of it. A vaguely rounded shape of hardened material managed to emerge and roll off the inclined slab. More mud followed, until with a hard bang, water emerged. Swampwater. Lorua swore in shock, shouting from above that the lake was draining. The water was shooting over the walls of the ruins now with massive force. The ruins were shaking and Daegra drew a conclusion. “Gynn and that Francis went below… what have they uncovered?! Ulu, Lysl, Berry-Anne, Lorua! With me please. Everyone else, stay away from the buildings and be prepared to fly away if it comes to that.”

As they ran to the access leading below the ruins, Lysl was trying frantically to find her emergency shrine kit.
What none of them could foresee were the consequences of the vast amounts of water now being displaced. As intended, the machinery had targeted spill areas which connected to natural bodies of water. Only, this spill area had become overgrown by brambles. Tenacious as the brambly plants (and two Impundulu camping there) might be, they quickly gave way and a mass of muddy water pushing a ball of brambles towards the old river course. The landslide that had turned the waters at an angle had weakened due to erosion on the side that faced the waters and two very upset Impundulu watched from the riverbank as the ball of brambles slammed into the mass of rocks and soil with a loud crack. Freed from blockage, the river now reunited with its old course. Way downstream at the spot where most people crossed what had been the waters of two rivers, the ferryman noticed that the water was dropping.

He was not an unkind man, mostly, but in his middle age had come to find fault with the recreational buildings on the opposite riverbank. They’d started out okay, but after those Mamonme Riots and the nameless war a bad crowd had taken over. If you gambled there, you got hornswoggled for every penny you had. If you ate there, you’d be puking green into the river. Gone were the friendly mamonme (except for his White Witch wife and daughter, the latter was forbidden to explore there.) and safe sex. The women and men now plying their trade there were… criminals, actual ones, released unto the lands by the departing Luminaire from their prisons. If he’d had a say in it, he’d pour water down the old riverbed on that side and just wash them out to sea. This day, he got his wish as a torrent of white water pushing a mass of rocks and brambles thundered down the riverbed like the wrath of Eiraiha and smashed the supports of the buildings, carrying them along. Thankfully, there would be few actual deaths, but the ferryman and his family were glad to be rid of the mess. Once king Oskhar learned of the situation, new settlers would be screened before being allowed into the area.

Below the ruins, Gynnaefi and Francis were all too happy for the influx of help, but even Daegra’s keen mind could not find some way to stop the machinery. It was running a set sequence and did not stop. Lysl had found the kit and was setting it up, only to accidentally break the Lady Eiraiha doll when a loud whistle came from the machine. Thankfully there were other options. Back in Karpathia, Liccitia had rested. Lescaiy and the girls had done very well in tending to the little Ruanggaksi. Shock-shell-snails. Yep, a great name for a species of mamonme that were basically electrovores. Had Aered not been swarmed after he had his ‘grump-cloud’ on, they might never have figured this out. And between herself and Rukia, the little babies now had a species name. However… Her nephew now thought his nieces were maneaters mostly, from what they could tell.

She didn’t mind, reading him a story (as per aunt privileges) was fun and made her again hope that she might have a child all her own someday soon. First a mr. right, maybe a mrs. right too if that was to be. Her musings were interrupted when Aered grabbed her jaw with both hands and made an upset noise. Above his head, a picture of Lysl and a fanged evil face looming over her formed. “Is something the matter with Lysl?” He huh-hmmd. Licci set down the book, trying to recall if developing powers in Godlings included some clairvoyance abilities. Deciding not to bother, she instead used her abilities to peek at her younger cousin’s situation. What she saw was a worried Lysl bent over a fairly damaged emergency shrine kit with a doll of Aered on it. Not standard, but the other dolls were damaged, her own trampled even as there were a lot of people in a busy room. “Lescaiy, grab your gear. Rukia, can you three handle Aered and our little Ruanggaksi for a bit?”

As she grabbed her own gear and pinged Eiraiha and Clover on the situation, Lescaiy stumbled over a toy, but caught herself. As Licci opened the gate for herself an Lescaiy four smaller forms, each carrying at least one baby Ruanggaksi preceded them. “Snot on a muffin! Get back here girls!” Shaking her head, she pulled Lescaiy through. On the other side of the gate, Lysl got a very unexpected surprise as her small cousins appeared carrying her babies. “Rukia? Metala? Aered? Emmy? What are you doing here with my babies?” Rukia grinned, happily holding Whelky, Shyee and Inis in baby carriers strapped to her back and sides. “Aunt Licci said we had t’ handle ‘m an’ Aered. Cousin Lysl, we found a name for our nieces’ species!” Lysl gasped happily, until she remembered where they were. “Girls, we’re in a very, very dangerous place! And where’s Licci? We could use her help, but some of the folks from the village panicked and kinda trampled my-” Licci and Lescaiy appeared out of the gate. “We’re here. Sorry Lysl, the girls must have misunderstood my request to stay there and look after the babies. Now what’s the matter? I couldn’t get much of a reading since you contacted Aered.”

Lysl simply pointed to the machine, then Daegra. “This machine basically drained the big lake, or that’s what Daegra told me. Our friends from Stillpool are upset and about as scared as I am… I don’t know how this can be helped, sorry.” Licci nodded, instructed the munchkins to stick to Lysl and maybe go topside. She kept Lescaiy close though and asked first Daegra, then Gynnaefi and Francis for specifics. “Okay, I’ll do what I can. Daegra, I’ll need you here with Lescaiy. Ulurin, you and Gynnaefi please get everyone else out of here. Mr. fancy grass, go with them and don’t touch anything else.” When the three of them were alone, Licci gathered energy in a paw-like shape around her hand and put it on the machine. As it dissipated, she had a clearer picture on its size and function. “Okay, it seems that this thing really won’t stop until it has run its program. Thankfully it isn’t another hazard from the Age of Marvels…” She pinged one of the smaller tubes. “And it will be useful, its obviously a Dwarf-made machine. If only we could contact the builders or their descendants, but I’ll need the name of this former town at least to make an inquiry with them.” A certain distaste had crept into Licci’s voice.

“Aunt Licci! We’ve found a dead man!” Emmy came in half running and chattered about a rock pillar that had cracked open in the square and cousin Lysl fainting. When Licci saw the dead man, she discovered he was instead a dead, mummified Dwarf. As she busied herself with the find, Daegra found herself and Lescaiy cornered by Berry-Anne and the other villagers. “Hey Daegra, can you bear to tell me anything?! Who is that woman, for that matter, who are you?” This last one was aimed at Lescaiy, who responded. “I’m Lescaiy, one of the Shroudstars. That’s my mentrix though, teaching me safely about being a proper Magical Girl. Lysl contacted us to help figure out what the machine is. Its… Dwarven, so it probably won’t explode on us.” Daegra chimed in: “Yes, there’s nothing to be done about it though. Even ms. Licci can’t stop it without risking some large scale disaster.” She noted how distressed the villagers were as a group. “Don’t worry, the danger is over. But it may take me a little while to move the village square back to Stillpool.” Lescaiy was looking into her implement, a large combined orb for scrying, and nodded. “Its mud outside. Wait…”

She concentrated hard and called Ulurin over as well as Lorua. “Hey you two, can you have a look at what I’m seeing here?” Ulurin grunted in recognition almost immediately. “Horned ones markers? Banged up, but I’ll bet my hooves that’s what they are.” Lorua nodded as well. “Marked with the symbol of the mythic urmother Io.” Berry-Anne and Marcey also peeked into the orb, making warding signs. “No wonder the lake was so lifeless, it had dead lands under water.” The Catoblepas woman shivered. “I reckon it’s high time we left these ruins.” The other villagers nodded their approval of this sentiment. “Well, unless you want to slog through the mud… I think we’ll need to stay a little longer. Mud at the bottom of lakes can pull you in and hold you fast. In time, you’d turn into a mud-bottom mummy. Not too different from a bog-corpse mummy, but still…” Daegra snorted without mirth. “But I promise you that you’ll return home safe and sound. And that you’ll be given a reward for the help you’ve given us.” They shrugged, sitting down on the ground or alighting unto the walls surrounding the ruins.

Berry-Anne though asked Lescaiy to check on Stillpool, she was a little worried. The Magical Girl was all too happy to help. However… “NO!NO!NOOOOOOOooOOOOOOooooooOo! What happened to our village?!” In the orb, around which most of the villagers now thronged, the village of Stillpool looked very, very different than when they’d left it. A few small figures were salvaging items from the homes, which had fallen over as the water and mud had been drained. The lake-waters departure had weakened the dividing strip of land and sucked it and the waters of Stillpool along. The stir this caused could have turned really ugly if Daegra had not stepped in. “QUIET!” She banged the metal cap of her staff onto the flagstone at her feet. “We can’t do anything about it now, but you have my word that I’ll see to the village’s restoration. Lescaiy, can you go there and bring the rest of the folks here?” Lescaiy shook her head. “Sorry Daegra, but I can’t manage a gate spell myself yet.” Small feet approached. “Hmhm… Rukia’ll help~! Miss Lescaiy won a game an’ we is outta cookies, mostly.”

When they’d departed amidst incredulous stares, Berry-Anne was still caught between wanting to cry and to go on a rampage. “Fancy words! That’s all you’ve got, isn’t it? We’ve lost our home now!” Licci ambled up and looked around. “I don’t know about that. Buildings, yes. But your home? I see the people of Stillpool, so the heart of Stillpool’s still beating. Besides…” She prodded Daegra mentally. “I am sure that the queen of the Heartlands is as good as her word.” Daegra, not needing the prod and mentally poking back, nodded. She redid her clothes with a thought into court-wear, then pulled her crown out of the small bag of holding she kept it in. “I have given you my word. I reiterate it as queen Daegra of Karpathia.” She’d stunned them with her words, then bowled them over. “With Lady Liccitia as my witness, I promise you that you will have homes again, you will not be found wanting.” Licci nodded, then spoke up. “I guarantee that the promise will be kept, but… that area won’t return to how it was before.”

She indicated the ruins. “As best as I can figure out, the whole lake was the result of deliberate sabotage by that dead Dwarf we found. I haven’t a clue why he did it, can’t get a peep from his spirit, but he deliberately sabotaged the water management device from what I’ve seen. Only… I think he did it for the money, maybe. Dwarves, even outcasts, will sell their services as mechanical engineers. This device was intended to turn this portion of the swamp into farmland and keep it in ideal conditions… Or so I think. But he took the effort to leave the machine not broken, but unusable. Easily fixed if someone could get into the control room.” She smirked. “But I guess that something else went wrong and people abandoned this place. So mr. obstinate crawled into the tube and died. Which brings us to today. I know of several engineers, Dwarves included, who could do maintenance and repair on the system. With a little luck, its 100% usable and you could rebuild your village here. Think about it, you’d be living in a place where a lot of people will want to come to… For the finds out there.”

Lorua nodded, calmly chipping in: “I am willing to wager that the Horned Ones artifacts alone would do that. But this system in the town, in and of itself could have more applications. Nevermind the rich mud now left in the place of the lake.” The Zvezda grew so as to better illustrate her points, star shaped protrusions on her arms shimmering bright. “Sad as I am that the village was damaged, I can’t help but imagine just how-” At that moment, Lescaiy and Rukia returned, flying a raft with the remaining villagers and the salvaged belongings through. “WHEEEEE~! I wanna do this again!” After seeing that, the villagers agreed. But then Liccitia spotted Francis St.Germaine and asked for some explanations. “Logendra?! Cool, we can get him home, in time then.” She switched over to the lingua franca Gods could use. “Hey you, do you know a guy and gal named Red and Mirage?” Francis did. At this moment though he was spooked by Rukia who’d grabbed his potted plant. “Aunt Licci, look’t this! Is a root from that grey lady’s place.” She happily spoke to Francis about her unintended trip to the Mother of Chaos’ domain on Logendra as an infant. He couldn’t understand her, but one translation later, was astonished. More so after Rukia projected her memories, clearly showing the Red Wanderer and the Mother of Chaos sitting amidst the Bed of Chaos.

Though the catastrophe was now dealt with, the changes to the swamplands would have lasting consequences. The ruins needed to be studied and the restored rivers impacted trade for a while. But Daegra, true to her word, would see to it that the villagers would have a home again. For the moment though, she had to find them a place to stay in Karpathia itself. For the time being.

Epilogue: A search for the Demon Braves

“So you’re certain he’s not a danger to our marriage?” King Oskhar the 30th drank slowly from a glass of quality beer. Daegra nodded, empathically while mentally projecting her feelings to him. “You know I have bonded only with you. But he might end up being a very good friend. Can my je-a-lous husband live with that?” She teased him by ruffling his hair. This made him laugh, returning the tease by running a finger down her spine and projecting his love along their bond. “I can indeed. But… I am not as much of a scholar as you are, to find you have brought home a village and some alien dignitary whom is a scholar in his own right. A mere king might feel inadequate.” She scolded him then: “You are more than adequate. Do not ever think less of yourself! I do not bond with or marry just anyone!” She reverted to teasing him. “Should I feel inadequate because you were staring at a Goddess?” Oskhar laughed, shaking his head. Then his tone became more sober.

“I had met her long before I met you. During the nameless war, she fought at the frontlines against Malus Lockedheart and the Luminaire, dying in the process. I helped bury the dead after the battle. But she was brought back in this new form and her commander went on to marry Lady Eiraiha. I can deal with the latter, but seeing the face of someone whom I saw torn asunder alive and well again?” He took a swig and shrugged before treating Daegra to a beery kiss. His (unofficial) mother Danthra entered the livingroom then huffing. “Get yourselves a bit more presentable. Oskhar, there’s a guy wanting to see you in the guest parlor. Handsome, toned and I’ve got nothing on him, so I’ll be ‘going to bed’ now.” This meant that she would take a seat inside one of the walls and eavesdrop via the discrete spyholes and grilles. “I have also asked Lescaiy and Ulurin to stand guard. Daegra, could you please keep him safe too?” Protective spells, check. Daegra nodded, grabbing her staff and passing Oskhar his informal crown.

When they saw who was awaiting them, she didn’t bother with the spells. “Greetings, your majesties.” Dark red hair cut gallantly short topped a head otherwise cleanshaven that bowed respectfully. Oskhar gasped, then regained his composure. “Lord Antimony? What an unexpected surprise. It is good to see you again, but to what do we owe this honour?” Antimony simply smiled and asked if they could be seated. With a wave of his hand, he summoned Danthra from behind the wall. “I’m sorry to call on you at this hour, but there are a few things we need to discuss. And you need not try that wand on me lady Danthra, I’ll return you if you so desire, afterwards.” He laughed disarmingly. “Thanks to these things happening, we expect that the swamp will recede to its old dimensions, from before the time of the river being diverted. High Priestess Ixia has gone to tend to the marionette tree in symbiosis, that system requires careful handling and preservation.” He sighed, pulling what appeared to be a paper brick out of thin air. “And engineer Jackrum Boots has examined the mechanism… This is his report, have a read when you can. I am glad that his wife provided a shorter summary… Nautillia’s extremely good at that, thankfully.

“The bottom-line is that with a skilled engineer to service its parts, it will serve a new town built in place of the ruins quite well.” He rapped the plain cover of the report. “But it will be some time before anyone can replicate it. I’ve sent messages to several Dwarven citadels, hopefully one of them can spare a few artificers and identify the corpse you found. Additionally, that Catoblepas Marcey… I’m happy to say that her co-wife was found alive. Together they might heal their heartwounds as she was… non-responsive.” He stapled his fingers together in front of his face then, looking serious. “Duke Francis St.Germaine is a matter of some importance though. He’s an integral part of his country and a friend of friends of my family. Not least of which is my wife. Returning him would be doable due to the nearby portal over by Gazpescht, a message has been sent already. But here’s the thing: he is still recovering and won’t be able to journey through the rigors of Rianobed at the other end of the portal for a while.”

“Let me make it quite clear that what the person known as Red told me once of Francis: he’s an incredibly obsessive and compulsive bookworm, a skilled diplomat when he has his facts straight and someone who has an amazing ability to get into trouble and survive. He might actually be of great help to a project my wife and I would like to ask your aid with as well.” At that moment a flowerpot across the room moved, raising its plant to expose a tube, from which a message-tube shot. Danthra caught it reflexively, read its contents and sighed. “My apologies, my king and queen. There’s a situation that I need to attend to.” She left the room and the mansion. Antimony looked puzzled, shook his head and resumed. “I had actually hoped to ask her, personally as well. But perhaps you’ll be willing to tell her later? My wife and sisters-in-law are trying to investigate a… call them a group that was instrumental in quelling a less grand, but still horrible conflict that apparently happened when your father’s succession took place.” Oskhar shifted slightly uncomfortably. “We’d love to help, but that time was… tumultuous. My father did not share too many details with me. But I am sure we can dig up information. What was this group called?”

Antimony grinned: “The Demon Braves apparently. Finding out what happened to them might shed a lot of light on lost histories. And I suspect that Francis might just be exceedingly helpful in that endeavour. I will visit him tomorrow.” Daegra could venture a guess as to why. In the library, Francis St.Germaine was happy. Books all around him if he but stepped from this room, a decent meal to eat and admittedly very friendly company to boot. “Delicious, you say that this eel pie is a staple here?” Gynnaefi nodded, feeling slightly ill at ease in the dress she wore. “Yes, but most nobles wouldn’t know. Common fare is not good enough for them. I think they’ve got that backwards.” She grinned. “I’m just glad you have that translation amulet.” Francis sniffed, appraising it critically. “A crutch, but I am grateful it helps. I expect to master your languages soon though. Would you like some more cheese?” Gynnaefi shook her head. “Nah, I’m good. But you plan to go home as soon as possible?” Francis did not need his other’s ears to pick up the underlying question.

“Yes, I have my duties to his majesty. But I intend to return frequently. For the books and the delightful company. On the other hand… You may be owed a vacation, no? Shall I teach you Logendran common and Stone-speak in preparation?” Gynnaefi thought she might be in over her head, but bumped his glass with hers on a nod. A rest was as good as a change, a change as good as a rest.

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