Chapter 52
You sag onto the man’s chest and chuckle dryly. The other two don’t give you any reproach for doing it- they’re as tired as you are, perhaps more so. It’s hard an exaggeration when you say,
“Yeah, we’re screwed.”
“Yes, of course.” Veronica says, looking out the open door behind her. “Any minute now, the townsfolk will enter the building and we won’t be able to fight them all off. A pyrrhic victory we have won since we cannot escape reliably with our own power.”
Bardam looks between the two of you and groans, rubbing at the back of his head. “See, I know both of you are saying words which are incredibly unfortunate, but at the same time you’re hiding something crucial.”
“Eh?” You say, struggling to rise, but finding it exceedingly difficult. “She’s right, we’re not getting out of here on our own power. There’s nothing for it.”
“Yes, but see-“ Bardam begins before wincing and rubbing at his neck. “I presume you’re implying someone else is going to get us out of here.”
“Tch.” Veronica says, a smirk on her lips. “Well now it’s no fun anymore. However…?”
“I’ve finished.” You say, sigil in your hand. “He doesn’t like it, but Rommel is going to do his best to get us out of here.”
“Does he even have the mana for that?” Bardam asks, surprised.
“No, but I don’t either.” You say, standing up with Veronica’s help. The woman then picks up the limp man on the bed, hoisting him around her shoulder with a grunt. Nodding to her weakly, you say, “All we have to do is hold out long enough for him to reach us, which shouldn’t be too long.”
Bardam is about to say something before clacking his tongue. “Ah, right. Well I won’t ruin the surprise this time.” He turns about the room, looking at all the equipment. Most of it was damaged in the battle, allowing various fluids to leak all over what is certainly priceless data related to these plants that have been causing trouble for you and yours. “What was she doing here…?”
“I suspect we’d have to ask Franklin when he wakes up.” You say, wobbling over to a desk. Taking a moment to catch your breath, you shudder and reach for some paper. After a few seconds you find one that isn’t stained with whatever fluid is leaking from a nearby jar and grab some ink and a pen. Hand shaking, you write out a note, comparing it to a note written in what you assume his Lisette’s script detailing one of her ‘failed’ experiments that makes your stomach turn a little.
“There.” You say, holding up the sheet. “This is how we’ll deal with the townsfolk.”
Bardam stares at you with a dumbfounded expression. “That’s a note that says, ‘Very important business. Don’t enter and don’t ask questions, you idiots.’”
“I think I nailed her personality.” You say, chuckling to yourself for no real reason.
“Tch.” Bardam says, taking the note from you before finding more paper and re-writing your note. When finished, he holds it up to her actual writing and you’re surprised how much better it looks.
“Wow, you’re talented.” You say.
“I can write legibly, which is a major improvement to yours.” Bardam says. “This is a stupid idea but maybe those townsfolk with buy it. How will we get it to them?”
“Just leave it on the stairs.” You say, looking distant as voices come over the sigil. “We need to be going, let’s head back the way we came.”
“Fine.” Bardam says, heading to the stairs as you help Veronica hobble along with Franklin. As you leave the room, you grab an open book that looks like it survived without any stains and toss it into your bag. Maybe it will have something useful later, but for now you don’t have much time to worry about it. Giving her corpse one last look, you leave the room, each step feeling like a league.
Bardam reaches the top of the stairs, a look of worry on his face. “The bottom floor is a mess, the door is locked thankfully, but we need to hurry before they decide to break down the door.”
As if on que, the door thuds as someone behind it tries to get inside. More and more thuds begin to play, the townsfolk growing more and more restless. They must really be wondering what caused all those crashes inside the building. You don’t blame them, but you also really don’t want to be caught by them.
{Hurry it up!} Maya sends over the sigil. {We’re in place but those people are going to come on back soon!}
You don’t both to reply as you reach one of the back rooms and thrust open the window. A faint tremor comes as magic is cast beneath you and a pillar of stone rises up, showing a fox with glowing eyes upon it. He gives you a smile only a fox could make before gesturing you to get on.
Crawling out the window is difficult, but you manage, just in time to hear the front door be busted down. People enter and begin shouting for Lady Lisette, only to stop as they presumably find Bardam’s letter. Gosh you hope they can read.
But never mind that, you crawl onto the platform, which lowers down as Rommel’s magic casts through his familiar. Watching makes you turn your head over to Franklin and frown. Now that you think about it, Charles is a pretty old dog, even with his [Familiar Bond], but the man did take him from time to time on adventures still. Where was the Corgi? He didn’t come all the way here without him, did he?
{Hold on.} You hear in your mind through the sigil. Crouching, you feel the ground beneath you begin to push forward in a moving platform. Rommel must be casting [Rock Slide], probably the best thing he could do in this situation to get you moving quickly. Smart man that Rommel is, smart man.
Of course, the main issue you run into is getting back to the hiding spot. With the villagers now more spread out according to Maya, you’re going to run into problems quickly. This is not ideal in the slightest, which means getting out of town will be safer in the long run. Again, this comes with the problem that once you reach the edge of town you find more plant life which makes it difficult to keep on with the [Rock Slide].
When you reach a small copse of trees a little outside of town, the ground rumbles beneath you and returns to normal. Just as you step away, a nearby bush rustles and Maya appears, as if she’s always been there. The Mouse Girl flashes you a quick salute before saying, “I see you made it.”
“How did… weren’t you keeping an eye on the townsfolk?”
“I was and I did. They’re puzzled by something in the building, but I didn’t stay long enough to see their reaction going forward.” She shakes her head, “I suspect it won’t be long until they go on full alert.”
“Then we should get Rommel, Alice, and Tabitha out of town as well.” Veronica says. “We’ll be in trouble if people start sniffing around where they shouldn’t.”
“Maya already arranged it.” You say, tapping the sigil. “As we made our way here I heard. Hopefully they reach us without incident.”
“And so our comfy hiding place is gone.” Maya sighs, sagging to the ground. “I’d rather have slept with a roof over my head, but under a bush is fine by me.”
“It’s not ideal.” Bardam says as you hand him a [Health Potion]. “But it will get us by well enough. When the others reach us, we’ll be able to wait until sunrise. Hopefully we’re not too beat up to finish the mission.” His eyes turn to Franklin, the man still unconscious.
Though he doesn’t say it, you know his question is, “Was he worth it?” Veronica places a hand on his shoulder and nods, answering that question soundly.
It takes about an hour for the other three to safely find you, guided by Erwin while Maya scouts about the town again to make sure you’re not found. Rommel seems a little better than before, but clearly nowhere near where he should be. With the trickle of power you’ve recovered, the two of you use magic to make a makeshift hiding place in the side of a small ridge in the forest, cramming everyone in the dank confines.
You describe to the others what happened. They listen with interest, concern, and disgust. Rommel in particular is most interested in your conversation with Sveth and the boost to your geomancy. While that power is gone now, you now know that if you need the boon of the other two Gods, it could be what makes or breaks a life and death situation. However…
“I can still feel his gaze.” Veronica says. “I doubt we’d be in a good situation if he actually acted upon anything, but something within me says that Solos is watching the Cradle.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Alice asks, eyes closed as she tries to rest. “Don’t we want him to see what Phallia is doing?”
“Yes, but she’s crafty. He hasn’t figured out true misdeeds from her as of yet, and with her pawns in place, she may not even need to do anything direct. But the others acting, especially if in a larger capacity…” She trails that thought off, you all know what she means.
“We’ll have to be careful when asking for boons then.” You say, looking down at your bag, having received the relics back. “But for now, we recover our strength and wait. There’s nothing else we can do.”
“Hmph.” Bardam says, leaning back in your hovel. “Some heroes we are, huh?”
“Heh.” Tabitha says as she strokes her husbands hair. “You’ve been around the block enough to know that being a hero isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.”
“I suppose not.” He says. “But it’s still worth doing.”
As all of you chuckle at that beautiful little moment. It’s interrupted by the sigil in your hand activating as Maya gives you an update of your situation. It would appear that the townsfolk decided to check further in the house and must have found Lisette’s corpse as they’re running about the town in a panic. It seems no one is around to lead them, for now, so until the Queen brings them some leadership, organizing an appropriate search may be beyond them. Of course, they did find your old hiding place, but you didn’t leave anything around and without any animal Monsters, tracking you by scent is basically impossible. This gives a little sense of relief to your group, allowing you to rest with a little less tension.
“Nrrrghhhh.” A new voice says. All of you go alert until you notice the bare-chested man before you groaning on the ground. You and Veronica help keep him still until his eyes flutter open and he looks about, trying to get a sense of what’s happening with only a small amount of moonlight filtering in to give him any light.
“What the fuck… are you doing here, you faggot?”
“Hey Franklin.” You say, smiling at the man. “Good morning, faggot.”
The man groans and tries to push himself up, but you apply a little pressure to keep him down. “Hey, hey, take it easy. You were just infested by-“
“Yeah I know what I was fucking infested by.” The man says, pushing himself up anyway. “Where’s that bitch Lisette? I’m going to fucking kill her.”
“Way ahead of you.” Veronica says. “Her head is currently a few yards away from her body.”
“Well shit.” He says. “I was going to burst every blood vessel in her body before doing my best to stuff her blood back into her body and then doing it again.”
“That’s… I like this guy, he’s married right?” Alice says, pushing herself up to look at Franklin.
The man looks toward Alice before saying in a serious tone, “Begone, harlot!”
“Ah right, Wizard.” She says before laying back down. “All of you are weird.”
The three Wizards in the make-shift shelter look at each other, then back to the woman. You honestly have no means of refuting that. You break the silence by coughing into your hand, “Franklin, we have a lot of questions, but first off, where’s Charles?”
“Left him at home.”
“You left your best friend and magical familiar at home?”
“He’s over twenty years old man, he’s got arthritis and shit.” Franklin sighs. “Besides… I was worried something like this would happen.” He shakes his head, “Wait, why are you here?”
You tell him about what lead you to this point, when you finish, the man’s hands are balled up, curses escaping his lips.
“Damn that… explains a lot. With most of the Black Forest expedition taken care of, I started looking into the random growth around Deleor. Aetherical readings and flowing where the growth was largest lead me to the conclusion that the Cradle was the source of it all. I had considered asking for help, but then the communion matrix went down and tapping into a nexus hub I found confirmed what I suspected, that the Queen Alarune had a hand in this.”
“You came to that conclusion on your own?”
“Well duh, I’ve met her before during the period I was living here doing research.” He sighs and lays back down. “This was when my daughter was still pretty young, I was offered by a few prominent Biomancers to work together. It was a dream gig for a Biomancer, though I was against it, Croakly pushed me into doing it. At the time it was alright living here but one of the other head researchers was…” He shakes his head.
“This Lisette, right?”
“Yeah. She was unreasonably fascinated in me. She did good work, and we wrote some great stuff, but she… really gave Croakly and I the wrong vibes. She also had a huge interest in parasitic plants, something I told her not to get too involved with.”
“And yet she did, it would seem.”
“Yeeeep. I had hoped maybe I could reason with her, or just blast everything apart with my magic, so I asked to be let into this ridiculous barrier. Unfortunately by the time I realized my mistake, she already had me in her grasp and it was all I could do to stop the plants she put into me from taking over. Seems I stalled just long enough. Thanks.”
“Wow, a thank you from Franklin, the world really is coming to an end.” You say, to which the man grunts.
“I swear to the Gods, you’re the biggest faggot I’ve ever met and I’ve been to the Wizard’s Union before.”
“Ah…” You say. “I didn’t mention before but-“
“Yeah, I know.” Franklin says. “I could sense it when I tried to enter after the matrix went down. Is everyone-?”
“I don’t know.” You sigh. “But Hardinclouse is probably dead by now.”
“Damn.” Franklin sighs. “Tch, and here I thought I could be a hero for once, even after failing all those years ago.”
You and Bardam exchange a look. The two of you smirk as you tap Franklin’s shoulder. “Being a hero… isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Come on, let’s get some rest and figure out our next step. Are you with us?”
“Slapping around that pompous bitch so I can go home and fuck my wife? Yes, yes I think so.” Franklin says, chuckling with malice. “Oh yes, I think so.”
——————————————————————————-
The rest of the evening is anything but restful. While those who are injured try to get some sleep, Tabitha and Maya do their best to keep all of you safe. Though part of you is too tense and nervous to sleep, your lack of mana and injuries make it all but impossible not to drift off until you’re awoken in the morning.
Despite health potions, you still feel awful, but you’re at least pleased to see that you’re still alive, and so are your friends. Maya is curled up inside the hovel, having spent most of the evening on patrol, while Tabitha takes a moment to rest herself. Erwin, bless his furry soul, is sitting on Rommel’s lap, out like a light.
You’re not the first awake, of course, the honor going to Bardam, who seems to be better. Thankfully he only suffered being smashed by a titan made of wood, but with a health potion he’s doing okay beyond some aches and pains. Veronica is in a similar situation, her jaw a little painful but otherwise just wear and tear. For yourself… well.
“Yeah, the health potions aren’t going to fix that entirely.” Franklin says, looking over your leg. “Damn man, how were you not screaming out in pain from this?”
“I had the power of a God flowing through my veins, singing the song of the mountains, and beating with the heart of the world.”
“Yeah but shit, dude your leg got impaled.”
“Yes I’m aware, it’s actually quite painful now.”
You rub at the wound, which had stopped bleeding due to some emergency potions, but your it’s still a mess. It didn’t hit the bone, thank the Gods, but you’re not running much of anywhere without some serious stimulants to keep you from falling over. This… is going to be a hindrance.
“Heh, you’re crippled too.” Alice says, wincing as she holds her ribs. You hold up your broken arm and give her a flat look. She blinks and then clacks her tongue. “You know what I mean.”
“That’s not exactly a good thing.” Rommel says before chewing on a piece of jerky in one hand, the other stroking a sleeping Erwin. “We need everyone in top shape for what we’re trying to do here.”
“Yes, top shape to kill the veritable Queen of all that is green.” Franklin murmurs. “All of you are crazy, you know that? What were you going to do after coming here to the town, just go up the road to the Queen’s domain? That maze of deadly plants?”
The rest of you look between each other. Franklin groans, “Gods you fuckers were going to! Do you have any idea what’s awaiting you if you push onwards?”
“Not really.” You say, shrugging. “We figured we’d wing it.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
“Not great, I got a hole in my leg and all I have to show for it was saving your sorry ass.”
The man puffs and crosses his arms before looking away. “… Fine, you have me there. But honestly, what have you run into so far? Some Ents? Some infested? Bah that’s nothing compared to what’s coming up.”
“THAT was nothing?” Bardam asks, incredulous. “Surely you jest.”
“A little. The Queen’s domain is the interior of the Cradle. I’m not kidding when I say it becomes a maze of plant life, but there are way to navigate it to reach the Queen’s flowerbed in the center. The best entrances are either through the road in the center, which turns into a twisting path through briars soon enough, or smaller paths to the east and west. Given where we’re hiding, the west is closest I suppose.”
Before anyone can say anything, he holds up a finger. “But in the Queen’s domain lurks some of her strongest followers but there’s three to look out for now that the Princess is gone. The Twin Hands of Phallia or whatever they call themselves are a rare twin Alarune. Unlike most Alarunes though, they have free reign through the dense plant life. Quite mobile and quite capable of sneaking up on you, though I hear they prefer the east side of the domain.”
“Who’s the third one?” Veronica asks.
“Ysale or whatever. I think she’s a Nymph or something, I never really cared to learn much about her since she kept to herself.”
“A forest spirit?” Veronica muses. “Extremely rare. I thought they were a variety of Fairy?”
“Maybe, who cares, she has excellent Biomancy anyway and is utterly loyal to the Queen Alarune. I think she likes to hang around the west side of the domain.”
“Two Alarune twins with mobility and a forest spirit. That doesn’t sound too bad.” Alice says as she finishes her meal. “Are you trying to scare us into being over prepared?”
“There’s never a reason not to be over prepared.” The man says. “And no. I haven’t seen their handiwork firsthand, but the Queen Alarune keeps them close and that means something. As far as other denizens of the Domain, there’s plenty. Thankfully they’re of the more standard, such as it is, variety of Alarune and can be avoided.”
“How do you plan to do that?” Rommel asks.
“Durrrrrr.” Franklin says, fire snapping to life in his hand.
“Ah yes, of course. Magic.” Rommel mutters as if he should have known the answer. He really should have.
“Well that is good information.” You say. “It’s going to be helpful to have you in this fight with us.”
“I already got myself this far into this mess.” He sighs. “Might as well finish it. I feel like some of this is my fault anyway.”
“Oh?”
“Lisette and I worked on many things together and I’m sure some of my research helped her in what she ended up doing. Never should have even looked at those things the Queen Alarune gave me, I knew I should have stayed in my little fucking cottage, petting my dog, playing with my kid, and fucking my wife.”
“Not necessarily in that order?”
“Well shit if you don’t know me.” He chuckles darkly.
Alice rubs at her chest and says, “So let’s get this straight, we’re going to follow the guy who swears more than you do into the woods where he’ll cut us a path to the Queen Alarune and her bodyguards and we’ll cut them up and save the world, right?”
“Pretty much my understanding.” Rommel says. “When you put it like that, it doesn’t sound complicated.”
“The way we currently are, it will be.” Veronica says, grounding the discussion. “I’m certain there will be search parties for us soon and I doubt we are all recovered enough to evade them with certainty.”
“Yeah.” Rommel says. “I can fight again, but I’m not at full strength. That barrier did a number on me.”
“I could use some more rest, I suppose.” Alice sighs, laying down with a wince.
“We all could use some more rest. We can only hope that the world can survive us waiting a little longer.” Veronica says, her eyes on Bardam. The man looks off to the side and sighs before nodding his head.
“Usually I’m the voice of reason here… but very well, you have the right of it.”
“So it’s decided, we’re hiding in this dank little hovel for the day until we all feel up to regicide.” Franklin says. “Fucking fantastic.”
“Good.” Tabitha mutters, eyes still closed. “Maybe all of you can shut up for now.”
Someone needs to stay awake, so you take shifts resting. You and Franklin take the first shift awake, using your [NSA] to keep an eye out for anyone searching for you. With the coast clear, you take the moment to speak a little more candidly to Franklin.
Reaching into your bag, you pull out the [Herbaggedon] and hand it to Franklin. The man takes it in his hand before gasping and grabbing you by the collar. He pull you in close and hisses, “Where did you fucking get this?”
“Son-in-law.”
“I’m not fucking around here.” He says, tossing up a [Privacy Barrier] before doing so. Rommel shifts in his sleep but doesn’t wake up, leaving the two of you uninterrupted. “Where did you fucking get this?”
“DSS had it in Loveura. Had it for insurance in case the plants got uppity.”
“Of fucking course it was there.” He hisses. “This, this abomination, is one of my greatest mistakes. Do you even know what this is?”
“An herbicide so potent it can destroy an entire city’s flora via the water supply.”
“That’s fucking right. Those fuckers, I should have known it was the DSS who stole this. I made it for controlled purposes, but it was too powerful, so I destroyed all but one sample. It went missing years ago and I could never find out where.”
He grits his teeth as he looks at the half-filled vial. “It’s been used.”
“It was used to kill the Princess Alarune and some of her minions.”
“Localized use… must have punctured them via a knife or arrow…” He mutters. “Nevermind, this could kill just about any plant or Plant Monster.”
“Yes that would be useful for us in the situation. Can you make more?”
“Hells no I can’t make more, are you retarded? I don’t have any of the ingredients, my notes, or the equipment. Besides that, I wouldn’t even DARE to make more of it. This shit could ruin an entire country.”
“Or, in a less potent form, it could be used to cure people who have been infested without using magic?” You say, hopeful.
“Those plants, from the information that DSS kid found and other information I could glean from the townsfolk, seem to take root in the brain and take control of their entire functions. While they seem to retain their personalities, it’s just become a receiver of a sort to those with the ability to control them. Those such as Lisette, the Queen Alarune, or I guess Phallia.”
“But can you prevent someone from getting infested? Your whole Black Forest thing, didn’t you run into some weird shit there?”
“Yes, and we developed something to help combat it but it’s a totally different kind of infestation. That was more like a fungus, this is definitely a plant.” He sighs. “The dose of anything would have to be microscopic. Otherwise you’d be killing the host as the plant dies so rapidly it destroys everything around it.”
“Can you… make something like that?”
“I don’t know! Maybe!” He says, throwing up an arm. “I’m kind of pissed at the moment, fucking let me thin-“ He groans. “I probably could if I was in Lisette’s laboratories. I assume something survived that demolition.”
“I see.” You say. “Probably not a great idea to go back there though.”
“I’d fucking say not.” He says, looking at the herbicide. His hand begins to shake and you put your hand on his, then shake your head.
“Franklin, we have to use it. We have a higher purpose here.”
“Tch, that’s what I thought when I made this shit.” He looks at it again before groaning and handing you the vial back. “I miss when I just sat at home and shitweaved while drinking mountain elixir.”
“Hey buddy, I think you got the wrong door, the pity club’s too blocks down.”
“Fuck you.”
The two of you smirk and say in unison, “No homo,” before laughing.
Rommel cocks his head, awake now, watching your conversation. He merely rolls his eyes and goes back to sleep as you both shitweave at each other in real life.
“But seriously.” You say, wiping a tear from your eyes. “We should probably do some more preparation. We don’t even know what the Queen Alarune is planning.”
“Well, so far as I can tell, it involves those leylines.” He says. “My guess is they have control of the entirety of them, yes?”
You nod and he groans. “Well, from what you told me about Loveura, I’m guessing they can reach control of Plant Monsters by manipulating the leylines. It sounds like bullshit, but plants aren’t that hard to figure out, even those with tits. It probably required a local catalyst to control however, which is why the Princess Alarune was necessary, at least for now.”
“Are you suggesting that they could do the same thing, but across the entirety of Deleor?”
“Oh, certainly.” He says. “I don’t see how she COULDN’T do that. The real question is, if she can control plants in such a manner, what’s to stop her from eventually figuring out animals?”
“I-“ You begin before pausing. “You- that’s insane.”
“It kind of is.” He says, shrugging. “But biology is what it is. If she feeds on enough energy, well… I mean… you did something to change how Wizards fundamentally work, don’t you dare deny it, so why couldn’t something else crazy happen?”
“But the rageweed and matango spores-?”
“A means to an end. Concerning, certainly, but the reach isn’t enough to cause what it needs to. It can be cured with appropriate Plagamancy or Biomancy and will wear off, eventually. Hells, you have [Plague Doctor Masks], I know you do, just use those to keep it from causing problems, I’ll even add an extra filter for you.”
You fold your hands together. “Is that what you believe she’s doing?”
“I’m just a Wizard who thinks plants are neat. I don’t know but… I can tell that enormous energy is being gathered. Something big is going to happen and I need to stop it. If you remember, my wife is a Monster, after all.”
“I see.” You say, understanding. “Well… what else can you tell us about what we’re going to be up against?”
“Not much, we’ll just have to be on our toes because once we enter the domain, there’s really no hiding effectively. We’ll have to move as quick as we can, avoiding Alarunes until we get jumped. Because we will get jumped.”
“Is that so?” You mutter. “Well, then I think since we have a few injuries, we should even the odds. I seem to recall you were pretty good at enchanting things, right?”
“A passing fancy.” He says, perking up. “What did you have in mind?”
“Well… I’m going to have to wake a few people up but…”
The people you woke up weren’t exactly happy to be woken up, but when asked for some of their gear so that you could enchant them, they were quite amenable. You’d like to have all the knives and Tabitha’s throwing knives have a coating of an herbicide on them, but without appropriate tools or his equipment, Franklin can’t make it happen. He can, however, enchant them in combination with your Plagamancy ingredients to make the daggers rather dangerous to just about anything living. These [Plague Knives] smell awful, for some reason, but you’re certain they’ll be useful.
Rommel appears to have acquired a sack of rather heavy, rather interesting steel ball bearings, these [Ball Busters] as he calls them. After discussion with him, he agrees that enchanting them would likely not end poorly for him, and thus is a great idea. The man is great at enchanting certain things, but you’re better in this regard. Without much effort you’re able to add elements of fire, ice, and electricity, creating these charged, heavy, destructive orbs you affectionally call [Dragon’s Breath], [Shear Cold], and [Thunder Hammer] respectively.
The objects hum with magical power as Rommel puts them in separate pouches. He also breaks down some of his other bearings to create smaller pieces which he can fire with his [Shotgun Pebbles] for more destructive force. Good thinking, Rommel ol’ chum.
With these modifications finished, you take your turn to sleep, preparing to drift off. You have a lot to do some nightfall, and you’ll need your rest. You’ll have a decision to make on where to enter the domain when you awaken. Take the western entrance, which is closer to your hideout? Or circle around the town and reach the eastern entrance? There’s always the road but that could have troubles of its own and would only be worth it if you had to return to the town for any reason. The only other piece of unfinished business you’d have would be to put those poor souls in that farmhouse at rest, but they’re east of the town.
Well, you have a lot to think on, especially from what Franklin said earlier, but eventually, even you cannot avoid the call of sleep.
——————————————————————————-
It’s evening by the time you’re awakened again. As is the usual, you feel like utter garbage in these situations. You… have felt like utter garbage a lot, haven’t you? Well, like all good trash, you roll yourself out of your bag and sprawl out on the floor.
“I almost wish I was still infested after seeing that.” Franklin says. “We’re packed in like sardines here, can you not do that?”
“You get used to it.” Tabitha says, going over your supplies again.
“Oh Gods.” Franklin mutters. “Is this what it is to go on an adventure with you people? All I had to deal with was some burly idiot with an axe.”
“I mean, we had Hala for awhile.” You say, rubbing at your eyes. “Anything happen while I was asleep?”
“No.”
“Well that’s good.” You say. “Boring, but good. I like boring.”
“There are words I could say to that.” Rommel says. He’s not looking at you however, he’s merely staring off at the wall, as if seeing through it. You know he’s looking toward where his familiar is, and even if he can’t see him, he can feel him. The man closes his eyes and sighs, “Erwin says they blocked the road anyway like we thought. Some Alarunes in the town are organizing people better, so I’d imagine we’ll get real searches here soon.”
Veronica holds up a sigil, “Maya says the same. If we’re going to go, the time to do so is soon.”
“Tch, another day of rest would have us back to… better than we currently are, at least.” Alice sighs, hand on her chest. “Anyway, have we decided what we’re even going to do?”
She looks to you, along with all the others. You cough into your hand and say, “I… need to consult an expert before I make our final decision.”
“Your wife?” Tabitha asks, to the snickering of the others in the group.
“Yes, my beautiful wife whom I love very much.” You mutter as you take out your sigil linked to her. “I need more information about the Nymph.”
“You’re thinking of the western entrance then? Franklin muses. “I mean, it’s closer so we can get in without too much problem. Going to be a pain to go through at night but probably for the best to be moving before daylight too. It’s not great either way we look at it.”
“Well, while you’re doing that, we’ll be getting our supplies ready.” Rommel says. “Though I hope we don’t have to run anywhere. You’re not exactly in the best shape.”
“Gee thanks, tell me something I don’t know.”
“Can’t just carry you around.” Bardam says. “However… what if we made some kind of vehicle for you?”
“A what now?” You say. “With what materials?”
“Uh, well it’s not like-“ Rommel begins but is cut off by Franklin, who uses a little geomancy to lift a rock.
“Duuurrrrrrrr.”
“Yeah, that.” Rommel says. “Plenty of ingredients around to craft something. I assume we don’t want to use wood?”
“That we do not. Especially wood that was alive recently, it will be easy to mess with.” Franklin says. He waves his hand, “So, okay, you want us to make him like, a chair? With wheels?”
“Yes, like some kind of wheelchair.” Bardam says without a hint of sarcasm. “I presume your magic could power it?”
“Possibly.” You say, thinking about it. “If there were [Sigils of Channeling], I could easily move it around, or cast some ice… it sounds like it would be annoying in a forest but it also sounds super cool so I want it.”
“Hmph.” Rommel says, though you know he’s burning up to build something, the child. “Go talk to your wife, I’ll have this made soon.”
“Child…” Tabitha says, voicing what you were thinking. Good on her.
Turning your concentration over to your sigil, you send out to Selene, {Love? Are you there?}
{Mmm, of course. I keep your sigil between my breasts so that I can hear you in my heart at a moment’s notice.}
{I’d like to put something else between your breasts.}
{Ara ara, later, certainly. But I believe you have more to ask than what I’m wearing- basically nothing by the way. Have you killed that bitch yet?}
{Oh my, I love when you talk dirty. But no, not yet. We have a question about one of her guardians.}
{Ah, I recall she did have those, similar to the Temple Guardians in a sense. I don’t know them well, however.}
{Do you recall a Nymph?}
{Ysale, was it? Yes, I do recall to a degree. She kept mostly out of sight, hiding inside the trees as she watched. A curious peculiarity about Nymphs I suppose, it’s said she can possess the trees and use them in a similar manner to an Ent. Of course as they are not Monsters of Dollora, I don’t have much information either.}
{Not… Monsters of Dollora? What does that mean?}
{Oh? Didn’t you know? Fairies are aligned more with Jackor, like Dullahans with Nerg. Honestly our son-in-law would know more.}
{Because he has a connection with Jackor? But that guy is an asshole!}
{Which one?}
{Ara ara, who knows, love?}
You sigh and inwardly chuckle. {Okay, fine. I’ll ask him. Thank you for the information for now. Next time we talk, it will be with the Queen Alarune’s head in my hands.}
{Well, now don’t you know how to get a girl wet. Very well, I have much to focus on here too. I won’t bother you with the details.}
{Alright. I love you.}
{I’m well aware of that. And I love you too.}
You break off the connection and sigh, looking down at the heart shaped object. Closing your eyes, you hold it to your chest until Franklin bumps into you.
“Whoops! I slipped!”
“You did that on purpose, asshole!”
“Yes, maybe. Why can I talk with my wife but you and the other Wizard can?”
“Because my wife kicks ass.” Rommel says, tinkering on… wait how did he build that so quickly? The wheelchair base has shape, even if it looks pretty uncomfortable. He’s already tinkering on the wheels, what the fuck?
“You haven’t seen my wife in action.” Franklin says, looking outrageously smug.
“I read about it in a book. Didn’t she try to get into that guy’s pants?” Rommel says, pointing at you.
“Yes, but who hasn’t?” Franklin says, clearly used to answering this jab. “Anyway, what did you find out?”
“Well, she can possess trees and Fairies aren’t Dolloran Monsters. So I gotta ask Tobias to ask Jackor.”
Franklin looks at you with a blank expression. “You have to ask your son-in-law to speak with a God so he can tell you about a Nymph?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Okay, that’s cool.” Franklin says, not fazed by this in the slightest. “Best get on it then.”
“Riiiigghhht.” You say, pulling out your other sigil and contacting Tobias.
{Oh? This is a surprise, calling for me specifically. How can I help?}
{Tobias, I need you to contact Jackor for me-}
{I’m sorry, the sigil you’ve contacted has been disconnected. Please try your aetheric connection again at a later time. Goodby-}
{Now listen here you little shit. We need information and know for a fact that Jackor can tell us about Fairies.}
Tobias is silent for awhile before he replies, {Uggghhhhh. But he’s an asshole! Can’t you just ask me about my day or how your granddaughter is doing?}
{I don’t care about one of those things and the other is with someone I’d rather be talking to, now can you just get the God on the line?}
{Gods, we’re dealing with a shitshow around Cair and now this… fine.}
His signal goes quiet for a moment before you hear him return. {I didn’t get any reply beyond a light burning sensation near my thighs. I’m sure I’ll imagine I’m on fire soon or something and-}
{Oh don’t be melodramatic.} Another voice cuts in on the sigil network. Tobias cuts off with a hiss.
{Jackoooorrrr.}
{Tobiaaassssss.} The God hisses back. {Honestly you call me and this is the way you act. Can’t we be friends?}
{I thought you hated me!}
{I do you little punk bastard! But there’s more important things at stake here, hmm?}
{How did… you get into this network?} You send, surprised.
{I’m a God, you silly little man. Now then, Tobias here says you have a question about one of my darling fairies? Oh I do so love my children. Now go on, who is it?}
{Her name is Ysale-}
{Oh. Her.} He sends, deadpan. {The Nymph.}
{Yes… her. We might have to fight her and-}
{Yes, kill her with your zappy bolts or whatever. I gave up on her years ago. Bitch has loyalty to my sister for whatever reason. Did I mention I hate when someone takes my toys?}
{You have. Multiple times.} Tobias sends, sounding tired. {Multiple times.}
{Quiet, toy. Now then, fight her, yes, I suppose you have questions about Nymphs then?}
{We do. What should we look out for in line of combat capabilities?}
{Well, on their own the Nymphs aren’t exactly going to swing a sword, but they can fly fast and possess larger plant life, like trees. I made them so they could hide very easily to play great pranks, but some use it for combat. They can move in and out of these bodies at will unless they’re trapped in that body and it’s destroyed. Good luck keeping her still though, even the slightest gap and she’ll switch, not to mention their penchant for laying traps and…} The God sighs,
{She was always a clever one. I’m going to be sad when you send her ass to Nerg.}
You pinch the bridge of your nose. Gods, this God is annoying.
{You’re thinking I’m annoying, aren’t you? Well, I am so there. Was that all you wanted?}
{Just to get this straight, she’s a Fairy who can fly, move between plant life and control them, and likes to leave traps? Is there any good way to detect her?}
{If she’s in a plant? Nope, not at all! Isn’t that great?} Jackor considers. {That’s terrible, isn’t it.}
{Yes.} You send back, groaning. {But thank you for the information.}
{Don’t thank him!} Tobias sends.
{Well isn’t that kind, at least SOMEONE has manners!} Jackor sends back to you. {But I’m bored now, I’ll be taking my leave. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t! Which is basically nothing so go crazy I guess and don’t fuck this up.}
It feels like his presence leaves and your sigil network returns to normal. Tobias groans, {Fuck that guy so hard.}
{Well, he did give us more information, though I don’t care for it.}
{Well… I hope you’re okay there. We’re putting the pieces back together here. It’s a mess but hopefully we can contact uh… “mom” and get the Monster Nation to help with the raiding Galmathorians.}
{I’ll put in a good word for you. But we need to be going. World to save and all.}
{Yeah, yeah, and we’ll make sure there’s a world remaining for you to save.}
You end the connection with Tobias, sighing out before looking to the others. Once again, you blink in surprise at what you see.
“Well?” Rommel says, showing you his contraption. “I call it the [Wizardmobile].”
It’s a wheelchair, sure, but the wheels are made out of stone and lined with metal. They’re inscribed with runes which make it easy to channel magic into so you can propel yourself forward and based on the axels, you might even be able to change the size and shape of the wheels. It looks horrible uncomfortable, but you have a variety of blankets and such for that.
“We all chipped in to get this for you, you invalid.” Alice says, though Rommel frowns.
“I basically made the whole thing. You’re an invalid too.”
“Says the guy who took a spear to the chest for no good reason.”
“It’s okay, Rommel loves bland, tasteless soup.” Tabitha says, squeezing his shoulder a little too hard.
“Gosh guys, this is the nicest gift/ fuck you I’ve ever received. I mean it.” You’re actually quite touched.
“Yes, yes, this is a beautiful little moment, but don’t we have things to do?” Franklin says as he leads you to the chair for you to sit on it. It is very uncomfortable. “Now grandpa, let’s get going.”
“Aren’t you older than I am?” You grumble as you channel magic into the thing. Even with your weak geomancy, it moves quite easily and you find yourself able to move back and forth readily. In fact, you’re actually looking forward to going outside to really test it out.
“Are you settled then?” Bardam asks, appraising the chair. “We should be going before they find us… though perhaps you shouldn’t use that chair unless we need it.”
“Why, it looks too cool?”
“It’s going to be loud unless you plan to dampen our sound the whole time.”
“Bah.” You mutter, conceding the point. Not like [Privacy Barrier] is hard to keep up. Still, you store it in your bag anyway. Thank the Gods for bags of holding.
“So, we’re headed to the west entrance.” Franklin says. “If we have a lay of the land up to it from your scout, we can make it pretty readily. Going to the east side would be a pain anyway.”
“Only thing there anyway is this farmhouse we found that Lisette had some uh… ‘specimens’ in.”
“Specimens?” Franklin asks. When you describe what’s in there, he blanches. “Disgusting. There’s nothing much to be gained from looking at that. I’d rather we just burn the place down and give those poor souls some rest.”
“You’re sure? There’s no chance it will be useful?”
“No. Any useful research she’ll have written down anyway and frankly I don’t want any part of what’s going on in there.” He says. “At least if it’s burned down, no one else can torment them.”
“Erwin can be used to channel.” Rommel says. “I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.” Franklin says, being sincere for once. “Lisette’s creations all deserve to burn. But if we can stop this at the source, we won’t have to deal with it any longer.”
“Yeah!” You all say as one before leaving.
Maya has already scouted a path out before you, having been fed instructions on what to look for by Franklin. No signs of anyone searching the trees comes to no and neither Rommel nor Franklin detect signs of anything intelligent watching you. Despite your slower pace, you make good time under the moonlight, and by midnight you’re near the entrance to the inner part of the Cradle, the woods surrounding the Queen’s Domain.
Your scout rejoins you near said entrance while Erwin is a little farther out in coming due having to cross through the town. Through him, Rommel torched the building, horrific gurgling cries sounding out from it as the occupants burned. Could they have been saved? Probably not, but it still makes your stomach churn thinking about it.
“Once we step foot in here, we’re not getting out.” Franklin says as you appraise the dense trees before you, only a small path leading in denoting what he was talking about. “They’ll hone in on us. We need to stop that bitch and stop her cold.”
“Got it.” Everyone says together before entering.
The path would be exceptionally difficult to navigate if not for Franklin’s magic pushing the majority of the plants away while Rommel’s magic smoothed out the ground. This makes it rather easy going, even for yourself. With their abilities combined, they are able to detect the placement of Alarunes and steer clear as not to give yourselves away unduly… however the farther in you go into the dense woods, the more nervous you get. When will this Nymph attack? What kind of traps could she have set? Can you take her out in time?
As the night drags on, your whole party, save Tabitha, become a little jumpy, constantly looking over their shoulders for threats. The forest grows harder to navigate as well, with even Franklin seeming frustrated. At one point he stops as you enter a clearing with three paths ahead of you. He scratches his head and says, “I don’t remember this shit being here before.”
“You said it’s a maze, right? Shouldn’t mazes be hard to navigate.”
“Yeah, but not like this.” He mutters. “Something isn’t right about this. My magic says we should head to the path directly ahead of us but… that feels wrong.”
“I can’t feel the difference far enough.” Rommel says, hand on the ground. “I don’t know what to do either.”
“We can split up-“ Alice begins before holding up a hand in defense, “Joking! I’m joking.”
“I wish I could explore ahead but this place is too dense.” Maya sighs. “If I can’t scout I might as well nap. Can I use that cool chair you made?”
“Hmph.” Bardam says, placing his hand on his sword. His eyes focus and he goes quiet as he looks between the three paths. After a few moments he steps forward toward the one on the right. When he reaches the entrance to the path he pauses for a fraction of a second before kneeling down and looking at something. “A tripwire.” He mutters.
“That’s a fairly… mundane trap.” You say, walking up next to him. “We’ve been looking for magical traps so long I didn’t expect to find anything like this.”
“It would appear to lead to rocks hidden in the tree boughs that would fall and crush us.” Bardam says, looking up, his voice calm and analytical.
“I see.” You say. “This must be the way then. Take care not to trigger the trap then.”
“This can’t be the only trap. Are the others in a similar position?” Alice asks. “It seems… convenient.”
“Well it’s worth defending, so we might as well try.” Franklin sighs as he steps over the tripwire. “Just be careful and we’ll be fine.”
The rest of your party does so, eventually crossing over well enough that you can continue down the path. As soon as the last party member makes it across, you hear something that makes the whole party freeze up. A giggle plays on the wind, though no one can tell where exactly it’s coming from. You take up defensive positions on the path, looking around for signs of danger but… nothing comes.
“Maybe… we shouldn’t have come down this path.” You say, turning about, but not before Franklin, who shouts, eyes wide,
“Go! The path is path is closing off!”
Your eyes go wide as the trees behind you begin to snap together, their branches intertwining to form iron maidens of wood. Your party begins to bolt while you stumble to get your [Wizardmobile] out of your bag in a hurry. It it’s fast enough however, and you fear you’re going to get caught in it until Franklin holds out his hands and uses his magic to slow the tide.
“GO!” He shouts as you sit your ass down and begin to power magic into it.
As you begin to roll, you turn back to Franklin and wheel forward with your magic, grab him around the waist, then dash forward, holding the man in your lap as he casts magic, slowing down the deluge of trees as they seek to crush you. At the end of the path you see the others entering into a more open space, and you make it just in time to avoid being impaled, using your magic to stop on a copper, throwing up dirt and leaves as you stop.
Panting, you look behind you see nothing coming toward you. However, the path you were just on is now closed, leaving you in an area which appears dark due to the large amount of plants growing overhead to form a canopy of sorts. All around the edges are thick, thorned vines and here and there a few trees dot the inside of the space. Taking a look around, you can find no obvious exits either, making this essentially a room of vines.
“What the fuck was that?” Franklin says, getting off your lap. “I didn’t sense any magic cast at all. It’s like the trees themselves were moving.”
“Is that not… what the Nymph can do?” Alice says, hand on her sword.
The giggling comes again, from all directions at once. Then, you hear a soft, child-like voice speak.
“Intruders into the Queen’s Domain! Are you those she told us about? Well, while I do wish to kill you, I also like to play, and you walked right into my playground!”
One of the trees nearby rumbles and begins to move. A face appears in the bark, though it doesn’t really look human. The wide, gaping maw says, “Please entertain me before I kill you!”
The tree returns to normal and you swear you see something child sized and purple flitter quickly to another tree, then another, a chorus of laughter following her. You have trouble following her, but there’s no doubt that this must be Ysale. You can’t afford to waste time here, but you clearly can’t go anywhere until this conflict is over… but will you be able to do so in one piece?
A tree behind you rumbles and the roots beneath it burst forth from the ground, throwing your party into disarray. The giggle comes again as Ysale says,
“Now then… how to break you in the most entertaining way?”
Chapter 53
“Get away!” You shout, pushing your [Wizardmobile] with your magic away from the explosion underneath you. Franklin holds on tight as the two of you are thrown into the air by the blast, the wheels bouncing as you skid along the ground. It takes most of your concentration to keep from toppling over, but you manage to slow yourself down enough to flip the chair around and survey the damage.
No one appears hurt, through Alice grits her teeth as she takes up a defensive position, Tabitha standing beside her. Rommel, Veronica, and Alice are together while Maya and Erwin easily avoided the hit and have sneaked around, using the scout’s mobility to her advantage.
The inhabited tree trashes as more roots come up from the ground and flail about while the branches reach down to strike at the assembled group. Unlike the Ents, there’s no defined body on them- she’s possessing the trees, she’s not part of them. Which means that you’ll have to destroy the whole thing to get to her, as suggested by Jackor.
Rommel throws up a wall of earth that blocks the branches, but he’s forced to concentrate on the ground to keep the roots in check. This minimizes her damage potential greatly, and allows you a chance to wheel about and strike at her. Fire glows hot in your good hand, but Franklin slaps it away, shouting,
“Idiot! Do you want us all to cook? Use [Ice] like someone who doesn’t have a cock for a brain!”
Franklin reaches out and uses his Biomancy as you wheel about the flailing roots, which seem to be headed for you now that Rommel has them trapped. By tapping into the other plant life around you, Franklin is able to keep the roots of the possessed tree at bay, since he can’t seem to directly affect it. Cornered from both sides by spells, the tree is far less agile, and you sense hesitation- yes, from a tree.
[Ice] forming in your mind this time, you ready to use it upon the Nymph when you hear Maya shout, “STOP!”
You notice too late as your means of conveyance snags upon another tripwire. The only saving grace you have is that this sends you spiraling out of control as two logs swoop down from nearby trees and narrowly avoid smashing both you and Franklin into Wizard sandwiches. Both of you look about in terror as you slow down the chair again, but by then your chance is ruined.
Franklin’s lack of concentration from the spin allows the possessed tree the ability to spin about, sending the roots to spike at an oncoming Alice and Tabitha. The two curse and break away, the former doing her best NOT to get splattered by a tree again while the latter merely uses her magitek legs to bound away. Either way, their method of attack fails, though the tree suddenly grows still, it’s roots unearthed in an unnatural fashion as something purple once again dashes past and into another tree behind you. A maw of bark opens in moments, poised to bite off your head!
“Oh no you fucking don’t!” Franklin says, thrusting forward with his hand to drive a spike of roots from another tree into the mouth as you move out of the way. The purple flitter reaches where you’re headed beforehand however and a brush of branches connects with your chair, throwing the two of onto the ground in a heap. Groaning, you pick yourself up after the roll to see roots bursting forward again.
“Roll backward!” Maya shouts. Without thinking, you do so, gasping as the world around you drops away for a brief moment and you hit the ground- hard.
Breath driven out, you look up and see that you fell into some kind of primitive pit trap. Thank the Gods she didn’t put spikes in it or Maya would have sent you to your death. She… she knew there weren’t spikes in here, right?
“Ahahahaha!” Ysale laughs. “Fun! This is so much fun! You’re all such idiots and this is fun! The Queen hasn’t let me have this much fun in years!”
“Gods, she really is a creature of Jackor…” You mutter, pushing yourself up as the ground beneath you begins to rumble. Before you can stand, it shoots upward, pulled up by Rommel, who dodges the whipping vines after bringing you up. Unfortunately he left you unprepared and exposed, causing you to curse as you pull backward to avoid being crushed.
Despite the numerical superiority, she has you on the backfoot this entire time. With her ability to change the area of engagement and having a greater mobility than an Ent, she’s actually a rather terrifying foe. If only you can get a chance to cast something at her you might be able to make something work.
Maya appears behind you, the small Monster grabbing your collar and dragging you farther away as the tree flails. Ysale catches Bardam, sending the man backward while Veronica weathers the storm and sends a devastating smash of her mace into the tree, causing an explosion of sap and bark. Unfortunately Ysale does not appear to feel pain whatsoever and she merely turns about and leaves the tree, causing it to crash down upon Veronica.
The Order Hero gasps as her torso is caught by the tree and she’s thrown to the ground, pinned by the tree. As Ysale flitters to her next tree, an arrow nearly misses her, causing her to pause for a moment. You get a brief instant to see her in her true form in that moment.
Ysale is a short, human female looking creature with thin, delicate purple butterfly wings that flutter on her back. She’s naked, showing off a rather attractive figure with delicate, pale skin that appears to form bark-like protrusions from her knees and elbows down, while her long, purple hair flutters behind her.
“Hmph!” She sniffs and leaps into another tree just before Maya can fire another arrow. You didn’t even notice her draw the first one, but the look of annoyance on her face tells you that she dearly wanted this to end that fight.
That moment of hesitation did buy you enough time to grab hold of your [Wizardmobile] and drag it towards yourself as you turn about and fall into the chair before powering away. Maya merely scoots off to the side, regrouping with Erwin.
It seems that Ysale does not take you serious anymore and instead focuses on the Biomancer in front of her that is using the nearby trees to pin down the one she’s in. Of course, she doesn’t stay put between trees, making it difficult for Franklin to get her. However, this does present you an opportunity…
Forming the [Ice] again, you cast the spell upon the tree that Ysale is currently occupying. Ice forms upon the bark, but more than that, you focus on freezing the sap inside until-
An explosion sends shards of bark shrapnel all around as the rapidly expanding sap forces its way out and destroys the trunk. Franklin is able to contain most of the shrapnel while some cuts into your face and scratches some of the others. When you’re able to see again from shielding your face, you see a dazed Ysale.
“H-huh?” She says before shaking herself out of it. She fumes and points at you, “That’s cheating!”
“Don’t hate the game, bitch!” You shout back, throwing out a [Razor Wind] to slice at her. She yips and dashes into another tree, quickly sending it into action again. But you now have a way to beat her, all you have to do is-
The tree she’s in stops moving as she hops between trees before leaping into the canopy above you. Nothing happens for a long while as Tabitha helps Veronica out from under the tree.
“Did she escape?” Rommel asks, concerned. “If she’s gone this is going to cause trouble down the line, we need to-“
From the canopy, a barrage of branches rain down upon your party. These aren’t just normal branches, but large, thick ones which seem unlikely to have all been from the trees. Some of these have to have been place there beforehand, but it’s a little late to dwell upon it as they crash down upon you.
Bardam, Alice, and Veronica hunker down, their armor absorbing some of the impact while Maya dashes about, dodging them as best as she can. Rommel, unfortunately, gets hit by one that drops him down while Tabitha runs forward to shield him, the Lizardman also getting caught and pinned. Franklin manages to shield himself, but not before he’s clipped by one of the branches as well.
Ysale’s laugher comes again. “I got bored of the other game, so I decided to change to this one! It pays to be prepared!”
“Fuck you!” You shout, managing to dodge the barrage, somehow. “Get your ass back here you flittery little bitch!”
“Why should I?” Ysale says back, her voice echoing around the trees. “I can just keep playing with you until the other two get here. Then you’ll be dead and the Queen will be happy.”
“Sharing your toys?” You spit back. “I guess you are a good sport.”
“Hmph! They can play with you a little, but I’m one in charge here!”
The canopy above you rumbles again. With most of your party recovering from the last rain of branches, you’ll be in for some shit if she manages to find more. But if you spend too much time protecting them, she’ll just leap down and stab you in the back with a tree! You have to find a way to ground her, or at least keep her from entering-
Of course, it’s so simple! You turn to Franklin and shout, “Use all the magic you have and keep that bitch from possessing a tree!”
“You don’t have to tell me twice!” Franklin says as he holds one of his arms, the man radiating with Biomancy. The trees around him resonate with his magic as he turns the boughs about to form a shield that protects you from the rain of branches. You hear a cry of frustration from Ysale, followed by a tree that Franklin isn’t focusing on begin to move toward him.
Snapping your fingers at the tree, it too rapidly expands and explodes, throwing the Nymph out of the tree and into the clearing again. She curses and leaps to another vessel before Maya can shoot her, proving her speed to be too much of an advantage.
Pushing your chair forward across the uneven ground, you keep your eyes open for traps as you make for Maya and Erwin. As you pass by, you grab the fox, who yips, and you toss him onto your lap as you explode another tree.
“Tell your master something for me!” You say, speaking your plan to the familiar as you keep your focus on Ysale, though your ability to keep up with her rapidly diminishes as she leaps from tree to tree faster than you can catch, getting closer and closer to Franklin as he limits the amount of trees she can possess.
Tabitha winces and holds her shoulder with one arm while her sword is held in the other. She stands over her husband as he pulls himself upward, his motions pausing for a moment before he nods and reaches into his bag. You turn your attention away from them then as you put the next part of your plan into motion.
“Veronica! Bardam! Go!” You shout, and the two spring into action, diving at a tree that Ysale possessed. The woman smashes it apart while Bardam waits and swings his sword right as she leaves the tree, the Nymph narrowly slipping to the side to avoid being bisected by his enchanted blade. Distracted, she leaps into another tree and throws up roots that toss the two into the air and onto their backs.
Franklin huffs at keeping so much concentration. He’s unable to do anything as Ysale barrels toward him in her tree, readying to strike the man as frost begins to form on her. She pulls leaps out of the tree as it prepares to explode. As she flies, the wind whips up suddenly about her, and a wave of particles suspended in the air by magic violently begin to churn.
[Galeforce] winds throw about the particles of obsidian that Rommel threw into the air faster than even the Nymph can move. Her body is sliced apart in multiple places, tearing at her with little trouble a she screams and tries to dodge out of the maelstrom whipping about her. Blindly, she flies out of the obsidian and into a tree. She rebounds off it however, the Nymph looking in horror as she realizes that Franklin has blocked off that avenue of escape. She turns about and tries to dash away, realizing that the game is up and she needs to get away when an arrow flies true and punctures through her chest.
The force of the arrow flings her forward and impales her into the a tree. She desperately tries to phase into it as she squirms, but Franklin walks forward, one arm held before him as he surges magic into the tree to instead pin her in place.
“T… this isn’t how this is supposed to go!” She says, her breathing growing ragged. “I’m supposed to win the game! I always win!”
“Not this time.” You say as you wheel forward. “Jackor sends his regards, by the way.”
She begins to cry as her eye start to sag. “Jackor… f-father… why have you forsaken me like this? I didn’t mean it I’m… I’m sorry…”
“She’s going to die.” Alice says, walking forward as she coughs some. Her armor seems dented in places and her face is scratched up from the explosions, but nothing that won’t heal. She’ll still be exceptionally attractive, no matter what happens.
“Well, she did try to kill us.” Maya says. “But perhaps she’ll have information we could use?”
“It might be worth it if we can contain her.” Veronica says, being helped over by Bardam. It would seem she got the worst of the debris. “Perhaps she can tell us how to get out of this area appropriately. I believe if we can save her we should.”
“Are you certain?” Bardam asks, sheathing is blade. “I believe that would be a liability.”
“As so I.” Franklin says. Before anyone can say anything else, he presses in with his magic and crushes the Nymph with enough force that she barely has time to scream before her she dies, a pulpy mess of blood.
All of you look at the Nymph in surprise before turning to Franklin. The man merely shrugs before wincing and holding his arm. “Damn that hurts. What a bitch.”
“I… huh.” You say, not really in a position to say anything about his murder. It’s not like you weren’t fully prepared to kill her anyway, it’s just the manner in which it was done just… shocked you.
“Fuck this place is annoying.” Franklin says, pulling out a [Health Potion] and downing it. “We made quite the commotion so we need to be going.”
“And… where would we be going?” Alice asks, sparing a moment for the Nymph before turning to Franklin. “We return to the other room?”
“Yes.” He says, opening up the path from before. “Are you coming? We’re going to be found by the other two soon.”
“Right.” You say, leaving the dead Fairy behind. There’s no time to spare any thought for her death. At this point, she’s in the hands of Nerg and Jackor. Gods be merciful on her soul.
Suffering only minor wounds thankfully, you return to the area with the three paths, not managing to trip any more traps that were set, though there are a few. Ysale really liked to set up traps, didn’t she? Without her threat, you’re able to send Maya head to find the correct path, your group moving back on track through the woods toward the Queen. Even you feel the power of the Queen as you get closer, dread coming over you despite yourself. You… can do this, right?
“We’re getting closer to the true domain.” Franklin says, the man’s nerves fraying a little. “I’m surprised the other two haven’t caught us yet.”
“What’s the true domain like?” You ask, on edge as well.
“At the center of this maze is a circular throne room of sorts, made of a garden of plants of all shapes and varieties. There are courtiers around her, Alarunes of varying power, but none as important as the other two.”
“What kind of entrances are we looking at?” Bardam asks.
“One. One way in and out.” Franklin says. “I mean, the place is made of plants but good luck getting through them to reach her otherwise. And I know for a fact she knows we’re here now. This close there’s no hiding from her.”
“How far away are we?”
“Close. An hour or so at most. If there’s any further preparations we better make them now and be quick about them. Those two have a distance to reach us, but they’ll be here eventually.”
“So no time to rest. We can only press onward.” Veronica says. “We’re in a position where we can’t back away. It reminds me of something…” She looks to you and smiles,
“I’m glad you’re with us this time.”
You sigh before nodding your head. “This time, I’ll make sure no one suffers like that time.”
“And you’ll make sure not to do anything stupid, right?” Tabitha says to Rommel, who waves his hand dismissively. “Yes, yes, dear.”
Making what preparations you can, you continue through the maze of vines until eventually it thins out some and you come out into a large, open space.
Light filters down upon you as you find yourself in the middle of the Cradle itself. What appears to be a building made of plants stretches out before you while a variety of flowers coats the pasture between you and the Queen’s Domain. Within, you feel exceptional amounts of mana flowing, enough to make your bones chatter as the leylines below you feed magic to the Queen. There’s no signs of the twin Alarune, but you’re certain she can’t be far behind you. Either you wait for her and fight her here, or you move into the Queen’s domain. But the longer you wait, the more prepared she will be for you.
Are you prepared for this fight? There’s no going back now, but have you done everything you can to be ready? Your party has seen better days, but all of you know what is ahead of you. It’s time to step up, and save your world.
Heh, sounds cool when you say it like that, right?
——————————————————————————-
As you made your way forward to the Queen’s flowerbed, the true domain, you discussed with the others what the plan would be. The Queen herself is sure to be difficult to beat, but with the addition of these two others, these “Twin Hands of Phallia,” the battle becomes even more difficult. If there’s a manner in which they can be defeated before you fight the Queen, then you wish to take it.
Certainly the Queen is aware of your presence, but it’s unlikely that her guardians, who were supposed to be headed in your direction, would have been able to reach the Queen- more likely they’re busy heading straight toward you in order to keep you from reaching her. Which means you have the opportunity to make a trap of your own for once.
{Are you in place, Maya?}
{Of course. Though I’m so very sleepy…}
{Hey, just think about it, Rommel said he’ll give you a headpat when this is over.}
{… I’m pretty sure his wife got upset last time that happened. But… I’ll take it.}
{Wow, a homewrecker.}
{And you’re an enabler.} She cuts off the communication with you as you nestle back into your hiding place in the trees.
Some would say that hiding the very things which about an hour ago were trying to end your life is a bad move, but you’ve got things in hand this time. While you haven’t set up any elaborate traps like Ysale did, you still have access to the one thing she didn’t expect: A Mousegirl with a bow. Though your vial of [Herbaggedon] is a little less full, your scout is now armed with two very deadly weapons. As long as they make their mark, these elite Alarunes will be little more than fertilizer… if anything is left once it does its work.
The rest of you take up positions hidden in the woods, but within easy reach of each other. Franklin and Rommel has their eyes on the ground, in the metaphysical sense, using their magic to search out for signs of the encroaching enemies. Despite the tension, you take the opportunity to rest as best you can. The three Order members especially need the time to recover from being battered, especially Alice. She breathes a little easier with a [Health Potion], but you can tell she’s in pain. Of course, given her history, the silver-blonde haired swordswoman won’t let herself fail. In this way, she’s much like Tabitha.
Speaking of which, the Lizardman stays in a ready pose, servos in her magitek legs ready to spring forward at any time the enemy shows up to draw their attention. The end goal is for them to not reach the Queen Alarune, however…
“What if they’re already in there?” Veronica muses after some time waiting. The night is growing its darkest as dawn is not far away, yet there is no sign of the enemy. Certainly they could have gone around or possibly beat you to the location, but that would presume that they had the foresight to keep you away from your main objective or…
After more time passes you’re forced to admit it to yourself. “Franklin, how fast did you say they could move through dense terrain?”
“Extremely. Not as fast as Ysale, but the twins are able push themselves along via other plant life at an exceptional rate.”
“Could they have beaten us here?”
He considers. “Yes. They should have been here a long time ago. It’s unlikely that they’re hiding their presence behind us, which would mean they’ve been given another task or… they’re already inside.”
Groaning, you lean back against a tree. “The rest has been nice I suppose, but if they’re in there, then the Queen is quite aware of our presence. I knew she would be, but do you think she knows exactly where we are?”
“Probably.” He admits.
Bardam sighs and looks off at the sunrise. “Well… if anything apocalyptic happened, it was rather dull. You think she’d make more of an invitation for us if we were expected.”
“That, or she can’t be bothered to care.” Tabitha says, gritting her teeth. “We’ll have daylight soon, so at least we’ll have better vision.”
“However, we’re dealing with plants.” Franklin groans. “They’re going to have more energy in the sun and that place is easily controlled by the Queen or her subordinates… the structure itself is also an enemy.”
“So waiting wasn’t the right call.” You grumble.
“It allowed us a chance to get our bearings.” Veronica says. “And that, alone, is worth something. In my old age I can certainly use a rest every now and then.”
“Old age, phah.” Bardam says. “You’re as healthy and fit as any of the recruits.”
“Oh my, was that flirting, Bardam?”
“If we survive this, then sure, it was flirting.”
Veronica smiles, as if expecting that answer. She then promptly turns her attention back to you. “We shouldn’t delay any further. The more the sun rises, the more powerful they may grow. We still have the blessings from two Gods left as well, do we not?”
“You’re right.” You say, feeling a little better. “Alright, I’ll recall Maya and-“
Franklin, Rommel, and yourself all turn sharply to the Queen’s flowerbed. As the rays of the sun begin to fall upon the structure of leaves, petals, and bark, you feel a tremor of power begin to build. Though the overwhelming magic being concentrated there from the leylines is enough to already make you feel off, this seems focused, as if being used to cast something. It dies down a moment later without noticeable affect but the uneasiness lingers.
“How long do you think it will take her to do whatever she’s doing?” You whisper to no one in particular.
“I don’t know, but we should go.” Franklin, says. “We should go now.”
“Yeah.” Rommel says, voice hushed as well.
The others look between you and them, unable to feel the pulses of magic. They get the gist of it from your emotions, however, and ready themselves for battle. Prepared to not only face these combat Biomancers, but the greatest Alarune herself, you descend upon the Queen’s flowerbed, her domain, masks donned and ready for battle.
If only you could burn the place down, but you knew the answer as Franklin rejects it. They can smother just about any fire, or cut pieces off to save the whole. It’s a futile effort and then trying to fight in it would be a pain as well. Which means a frontal assault as there’s only one way in and out. Of course, you keep Maya in reserve, the Mouse Girl and her companion familiar (much to Rommel’s chagrin) staying at the periphery as needed.
The field of flowers you move through seem to mock you as you move forward. Though they don’t outright DO anything, there’s something off about them which makes you feel uncomfortable. They just seem too innocent to be in a place like this. But at least they remain innocent until you reach your destination.
Doors of living bark lay open for you as two Alarunes stand sentinel. They don’t hold any weapons nor wear armor, instead staying in their flowers, fully nude. They merely watch you as you enter, their eyes dispassionate, as if merely standing duty over petitioners entering to speak with the monarch. Of course, any normal guards would stop someone here to commit regicide, but it’s like… they could care less. That, or they have their orders.
Though you keep your guard up, nothing happens until one bows as you pass and says, “The Queen looks forward to seeing you.”
This, more than anything else disconcerts you. If they’d attacked then you could understand but that confirmed your fears. The Queen is ready for you and clearly unafraid. You do your best to keep your spirits up as well right up until your foot crosses the threshold of the flowerbed.
Something shoots up your spine, making you gasp. Though no physical pain assaulted you, merely being in the presence of so much mana takes you off guard. Even the Nexus in the Keep of the Forgotten did not strike you in such a way. Perhaps it is because you sense such a malign undercurrent from it, something that seems to shake away at the rules of the world itself- and not in a manner like what you did. Is this how Selene felt when you took hold of the Nexus for yourself? Gods, you can only imagine.
Even the non-magically inclined seem to feel it as they too cross the threshold, pausing for a moment to regain their balances. Tabitha seems mildly agitated but shakes it off while the others just look perturbed. Thankfully nothing attacks you during this time but… Gods it would have been the most perfect trap of all. Still in one piece, you take a moment to survey the area inside.
It appears to be built like a large cathedral of sorts, with a high ceiling that’s open to allow the light of the day to suffuse those inside. Trees line the sides of the structure throughout as well as forming two rows of columns in the middle, creating thickets upon which a variety of plant life clings. The floor underneath is a roiling mass of grasses, ferns, vines… you name it, it’s all here, competing and yet thriving together. It feels open, and yet the place is clearly not empty.
In the center of the room, framed by the light spilling into the space is a circle of the most exotic flowers you’ve ever seen. Their large, white petals take away your breath for a moment as you behold them. If you weren’t wearing your [Plague Doctor Mask], you’re certain you’d be intoxicated by whatever smell they give off. But in the middle is something much more interesting.
Sitting inside a massive flower with white petals is an amazingly beautiful woman that eclipses the flowers around her. Though her torso ends inside the flower, she has perfect proportions and long, beautiful arms. Her skin is a delicate shade of green and she has a variety of vines and leaves climbing up and around her body. Red tattoos in esoteric patterns you don’t recognize line her skin, glowing softly with the same intensity of her red eyes, though you can only see one as her other eye is covered by her long, blonde hair. A crown of roses frames these flowing locks.
On either side of her and a little back, as if growing from the very floor are about ten Alarunes of little consequence. You can feel some of the strong magic in the room flowing in and through them however, and it occurs to you that they could be Biomancers as well. Though you’re more concerned about the two Alarunes flanking the Queen.
They’re on the smaller side of height, however their lithe, beautiful bodies would make any many feel uncomfortable in his trousers. The flowers from which they grow from are also white, though not as fine as the Queen’s, but their pure white skin, medium length hair and glowing red eyes give them an eerie appearance which is difficult for you to shake off. Though they are also nude, in each of their hands they hold massive sword-like thorns which appear disastrously sharp and are growing into their hands at points, clearly so they can’t be easily disarmed.
The Queen turns her gaze toward you, a smile on her lips. She speaks in a sultry voice that reminds you a little of Selene, the seductive way it makes your spine tingle.
“What took so long? After you defeated my poor Ysale, I gave you all the invitation you could need. And yet you sat the periphery waiting for what, I wonder? If you waited much longer, the ritual would have already been completed.” She holds up her arms and bathes in the light of the sun. “As it is, you might already be too late. But you may attempt whatever you’re planning.”
“My Queen.” One of the twins says.
“It is not wise to taunt them.” The other finishes.
“It was wise to call us here.”
“However we should not suffer them to live.”
“Not when the Goddess’s will is close to completion.”
The Queen Alarune looks between them and nods her head. “Of course.” She says, before a pulse of power comes from her. A barrier similar to the one around the Cradle itself appears before her, surrounding her on all sides.
“I don’t know how you entered the first time, but I would be curious to see you try again. Phallia’s wish will be realized, and Monsters will be eradicated from the world.”
She holds out her hands toward you as she draws upon the very power of the land. “Now come, come and meet your end.”
The gravity of the situation does not escape you. The Queen Alarune, the chosen vassal of Phallia has been expecting you and is confident in her ability to destroy you. If you cannot break her, then her plan to destroy Dollora and her Monster children, will come to fruition. All of you understand this, and you’re prepared for whatever you must do to make sure that doesn’t happen.
And prepare you did. Before anyone else can react, Rommel moves forward and channels his magic into the floor to tear apart the plant life around him as his Geomancy churns the soil into a mess that clears your way to victory. At least, that’s what was supposed to happen. What happens instead is nothing, nothing at all.
Only then do you sense it, snapping your eyes up to the back of the room to see the ten Alarune biomancers. They hold their hands up before them, circles of aetheric energies flickering into existence as they draw upon the power flooding the room from the Queen Alarune. It doesn’t take a genius to understand what they’re doing. Those are [Counter Circles] and they’re dispelling any and all attempts at casting magic.
“Shi-“ You begin when the two white Alarunes seem almost to explode forward before you, moving across the thick flora along the ground as if it were water. While fascinating, you have almost no time to pull away as one slices upward with her thorn sword, slicing through your sling and tearing a piece into your already mangled arm. Before the return swing can hit, Alice moves forward, her sword glowing bright as it lops off both thorn blades without trouble.
The Alarune pulls away in a fluid motion, and through the excruciating pain of your arm, you see that her roots are merging and pulling away from the plant life about her, in essence becoming one with them before pushing off to the next plant nearby. In short, she’s using a similar, but extremely esoteric means as your [Wizardmobile] to get around. You’d take more time to appreciate this, but Alice pushes you backward, away from her while she takes up a power stance. Then the pain kicks in.
Through tears in your eyes, you see the Alarune thrusts her hands outward, the broken blades fused there being ejected before new ones grow rapidly from her skin. She lifts the new blades up and slides up to her twin before they push forward again, choosing to strike at softer targets than Alice- thankfully Tabitha and Veronica are having none of that, and intercept them.
“I can’t cast anything!” Rommel says, backing up. “Damnit, we should have seen this coming. They know magic is one of our most powerful assets.”
“Then we just have to take out those Biomancers!” Franklin spits.
Rommel grits his teeth and pulls out a [Runite knife]. “I guess we’ll have to do this the hard way.”
“Please.” Veronica says, mace out to her side. She steps in front of Rommel alongside Bardam and nods to him. He returns the gesture and the two move into the fray as you sit and do one of the only things you can: wait.
The twin Alarune flow away from Alice and Tabitha, twisting their torsos to dodge thrusts, slide past slashes, and counter with their own attacks. Despite going up against two of the strongest swordswomen in all of Deleor, they are not just holding their own, but making it difficult for the duo.
When Veronica and Bardam crash in, however, they pull backward rapidly, allowing the two Order warriors to push forward toward the Queen. The monarch herself stares at the two with a smirk on her face , barrier still about her. Her overconfidence would normally be a weakness, but all of you know that she has the right of it. Which is why they split off away from her to head straight for the Biomancers.
The Hands of Phallia spread about to intercept them. As they pass by the Queen, the two flow to the side and then push into the Order warriors, weapons flashing. They get perhaps one swing in before Alice and Tabitha push in to put on the pressure.
The Lizardman assists Veronica by barreling into her opponent, using a flurry of slashes and kicks in order to distract her opponent and allow Veronica to disengage. Alice moves in to assist Bardam, her glowing sword forcing her opponent to back away as not to be sliced apart by its magicked edge.
With both of the Order warriors seemingly freed, the Alarune Biomancers adopt a look of concern. As Veronica moves in, glowing with holy light, Alice slips behind Bardam, a sharp inhalation of pain causing her to lose her balance.
Her opponent wastes no time. In a swift motion, one thorn blade slices through Alice’s hair and into her neck while the over makes a gash across her belly. The Order warrior, as she falls, twists with her blade and severs one of her opponent’s arms before collapsing to the ground and writhing in agony.
With no time to land a coup to grace, the white Alarune, missing an arm, flows back to Bardam and stabs, at him, forcing the man to defend himself. With the threat now localized to one side, two of the Biomancers turn their attention away from you and other Wizards and to Veronica. Power swells within them and though you try to cast something, anything, it’s shut down immediately by the other Biomancers, causing pain to shoot up your arm as the mana backlash hits.
Something flies past your ear, whistling as it moves. You blink in surprise as you follow the trajectory to see an arrow sprout from the chest of one of the Alarune Biomancers readying a spell to cast at Veronica. A second later, another one sprouts from the chest of the next and they both gurgle as they’re dissolved, black herbicide tearing apart their bodies.
You can’t help but look over your shoulder as Maya lowers her shortbow before dashing away to the side, the scout joining the fray at the exact right moment. Her efforts caused a panic, just enough, to break the concentration of the Biomancers and allow you to throw out a barrage of [Fireball].
The Alarunes react faster than you gave them credit for, blocking most of them, the spells unraveling mid-air, but not all of them. Three of them scream in agony as they’re engulfed in flame, the other five focusing as the Queen Alarune commands, “Ignore them! Continue your spellcasting!”
She waves her hand as Veronica closes in and the earth beneath her churns before rising up like a gaping maw filled with bark, roots, and agony. She only has a moment to gasp and protect herself before it closes down upon her, crushing her with the weight and power of the earth. You lose sight of her as she’s dragged down, covered in the thick plant life.
“No!” Bardam shouts, his worry palpable, despite the magicks of his sword. A look of anger comes over his face, breaking through [Conviction’s] power and he delivers a furious chop with the weapon that lops off the Alarune’s other arm. She’s forced to pull backward, the bleeding slowing as a new arm begins to form, alongside her previous arm which was about finished growing.
The man pulls out from his pouch something Rommel gave him earlier, a rare potion from a distant land called [Grace of the Wind] He pops the cork and downs it in two, swift motions. He closes his eyes and for a moment seems to pulse before his breathing slows and he opens his eyes, once again calm and focused.
Underneath him, the land rumbles as the Queen Alarune attempts to force the same fate upon him that visited Veronica. And yet, before the flora rises up, he backs away in a motion almost as if predicted it would occur. The jaws of plant life rise up but chomp on only air as Bardam slides toward the Biomancers, sword at the ready. They frantically switch from defense to offense, despite the Queen’s commands, and the land around the man explodes into a variety of life, yet he dodges all of it, expression never changing.
His swordwork is beautiful, possibly even more so than Tabitha or Alice when at their peak. The Biomancers cry out in agony and are silenced as he lands killing blows on each before moving to the next until only one remains. The ground exploding around the man to catch him, he pushes toward the last panicking Alarune. She gasps and pushes the plant life beneath her to uproot her from the ground and push herself out of his reach. Her look of relief is short lived as he pulls from his belt a [Plague Knife] that he tosses directly into her chest.
Unlike the others, she doesn’t die, but perhaps that’s not a good thing. She writhes in agony, as the disease you and Franklin worked on wracks her body. The pillar of plant life falls and she drops to the ground in a heap, spasming as she undergoes unbelievable agony.
Not savoring the victory, the man moves away from the dying plant and toward where Veronica is hidden. Before he can reach, his previous opponent, one of the twin Hands of Phallia, returns to attack him, her body restored.
Alice is down, Veronica has vanished, and the Alarune are preoccupied. Sacrifices may have been made, but they weren’t without purpose. The Biomancers stopping your magic are now gone, freeing Bardam, Rommel, and yourself to enter the battle.
And by the Gods are you entering the battle.
Rommel taps into the earth below, this time finding no resistance as he churns the earth with [Trench], throwing apart roots and vines that fight back against him and creating soft, yet smooth, soil in a ring around him. Pulling towards him, he moves Alice toward him as he continues causing havoc upon the land, though Veronica… well, he saves who he can.
You pull your magic together and shoot [Fireball] toward the twin Alarunes, doing your best to avoid your friends who are fighting. The spells force them to dodge and weave while igniting the walls and creating smoke as it begins to burn.
Franklin swells with energy as he unleashes his magic upon the terrain around you. He pulls apart the plant life on the floor and the pillars, moving it to his will to entangle and entrap the Hands of Phallia. While he’s not successful, it does slow them down, to a degree, allowing Tabitha at the very least to push in further and pressure her opponent without giving her the option to retreat.
The sun still bears down upon you, but it appears as if the battle is going in your favor. Arrows shot from the moving Maya miss their mark more than they hit, but every one that sticks causes momentary agony for the white Alarunes, though she lacks any more tipped with the herbicide. Rommel begins to treat Alice, the woman thankfully not dead, though she’s lost a fair amount of blood and hair. If you can keep up this pressure, you’ll be able to beat them soundly and then move onto the Queen!
She stays in place, barrier still around her, a look of agitation on her face. Holding her hands out the side, you feel a spike of magic from her as she draws upon the mana again. The warmth of the sun suffuses her as well, making her seem to glow. Without even looking at you, she turns her hands in circles, discharging her magic.
Franklin gasps as his control of the plants is wrested from him. What was causing trouble for the twin Alarunes now turns into slopes that trip up Tabitha and can be used to propel her opponent forward. For Bardam, he moves again out the way, the potion still flowing through him, but his opponent is given a boost by the changing terrain, putting even the powered by Bardam on the backfoot.
You’re not spared any of this either. Where she seemed focused in one spot, and perhaps even bored before, she now spreads her concentration around the entire room. And it responds to her call, seeking to destroy you.
“Stop her!” Franklin shouts, trying to counter her magic as the plants bear down around him. Rommel’s magic is being undone as the plants begin to creep back in, sprouting from the soil and creeping down from the ceiling, racing to grab him and Alice. Though you can’t spare much time for Maya, you see her too run from the shifting terrain.
Adding your magic to the mix, you find that it’s a losing battle. There’s just no way you can keep her from overwhelming you now that she’s serious, and your other plan has yet to kick in. There’s just no time for it to work in your favor, you’ll have to do something to buy time, something to give you a boost, an edge over the Queen. Something like-
“Rommel! Franklin! Do it! It’s SNACK TIME!”
The two look up and nod, pulling out something flaky and warm from their pouches. In swift motions, they consume the morsels. You pull yours out yourself, taking but a moment to bask in the glorious sight of the meat filling of the pastry before you. Though you cannot take the time to savor it, you toss it into your mouth, chew, and swallow the [Baker’s Legacy].
For the briefest moment, you are one with the cosmos. Flavor like you haven’t tasted in twenty years assaults you, making your whole body a tongue that laps up the crumbs from your meal. Reality returns to you soon and you ache, not in pain, but in sorrow, sorrow that you cannot consume another bite of the greatest food that ever existed and will never exist again. You only had a third of it, but it was better than any sex you’ve ever had with your wife, anything else you’ve ever tasted. That nothing you ever eat after will taste as good haunts you and you’re certain you’ll wake-up in cold sweats, crying about it, but that’s for later.
At the moment, your sadness is not nearly as potent as the magic flowing within you.
In unison, the three of you push back against the Queen Alarune. Her eyes go wide as the three of you seem to glow violently to those with the sight, magic violently improved. While it doesn’t seem to be as great at the pouches infused with the [Ultimate Elixir], but it’s enough for now to get you back on even terms. Perhaps more than a little. Perhaps with this, you can even strike at her barrier and break it apart-
“Forget them, attack the Wizards!” The Queen shouts to her guardians.
Ah fuck. Your attention shifts to the twins as they pull away from the warriors and move toward you. Not even arrows in the gut from Maya slow them down while they move to enact the Queen’s will. You’re unable to split your attention from the Queen Alarune, but nearby Franklin shouts,
“One of you go, I’ll make up for you!”
You nod to Rommel, who breaks away from holding back the Queen Alarune and moves keep the two sword-wielding Alarune from bisecting all of you. As he does so, you move to Alice, keeping your attention on the Queen Alarune while scanning her with a fraction of your concentration. Yes, she’s alive and Rommel managed to get her a [Health Potion], but she has lost a lot of blood. You’ll need to get her another one and some water to stimulate more production and…
Rommel stomps the ground and a wall of earth shoots upward, blocking the two Alarune. Instead of going around, they climb over the wall covered by vines that hadn’t completely torn, sliding down the plant life directly towards the Wizard. He smirks and then fires something from both of his hands.
The Alarune to his left dodges of the way while the one on the right is slower. What was fired from his left strikes the wall behind them and imbeds itself before bursting into flame. The one that connects, however, embeds deep into the Alarune and explodes into ice, the [Sheer Cold] enchanted [Ball Buster] tearing apart half her body as the rapidly expanding ice replaces an arm with frost.
Her twin pushes forward into Rommel however driving the points of both swords into his chest and throwing him to the ground. The swords don’t sink in deep, however, and she blinks in surprise, trying to drive them in further but fails.
“It pays to have good friends, bitch.” Rommel says, metal falling into his hand as he points it straight at her chest. She gasps and seeks to pull out her swords but they’re held firm in place by something. Realizing the futility, she detaches her arms as Rommel fires a [Shotgun Pebbles]of enchanted steel right into her chest.
Small balls puncture her in multiple places before a discharge of electricity explodes within her, causing her jaw to lock up, her arms go rigid, and her body to freeze in place. From Rommel’s pockets appear little golems made of various metals, animated by his magic. They wave at the plant as one of them pulls out the [Herbaggedon] from his bag that you gave him before the battle and open it. A beautifully sculpted female golem made of Aluminum dips her hands into it, the arms turning into blades. With a hop and a skip, she leaps for the Alarune to end her miserable existence.
Vines grab the paralyzed Alarune and whip her backward. The half-frozen Alarune, leaking fluids and water, pants with what little lung capacity she still has as she rescues her sister. The magically resistant golem chases after her, but they both retreat, trying to recover. When she hits the wall Rommel built, however, she looks up in panic and shouts to her Queen,
“Our Queen!”
“Very well.” The Queen Alarune says, turning aside her magic from affecting the earth. You sense something else building, something that Franklin realizes before you. He tries to block her, but her magic is too quick, her targets too receptive.
The two Alarunes pulse with the magic flooding into them, accepting her blessing. The ground around them ripples as they pull in nutrients, throwing aside the charging golem and unsteadying Rommel’s feet. They begin to swell with magic, their wounds healing while thick plant life grows from them, forming mismatched armor all over their bodies. From their swollen arms form larger swords which appear capable of bisecting a person while the flowers beneath them merge together, creating one massive base from which two torsos exist. When finished, they tower over Rommel, their eyes glowing a deep red as they’re suffused with power.
The aluminum golem, still moving under the orders from Rommel, leaps at the two, but a vine lashes out and smacks her across the room, the golem hitting a pillar and cracking into pieces as she falls to the ground, herbicide leaking into the plant life around her and killing it rapidly.
Tabitha and Bardam rejoin the fight by now, pushing into the newly formed twins. While a little more unwieldly than before, their blows shatter apart the ground where they land, coming with speed and power that’s frightening.
“Where are you looking?” Franklin shouts, pushing you out of the way as you watch the transformation. A vicious slice of a vine slaps between where you were standing, almost bisecting Franklin. He steps backward and pushes back against the Queen, who turns her full attention on the two of you. Visibility begins to grow a little harder as the burning plants in the room smoke, yet you can easily see her as glows full with the power above and below.
“This is gone on too long.” She says. The plant life around you rumbles and the jaws from before rise up around you and Franklin. The other Wizard curses and grabs Alice while you quickly pull out the [Wizardmobile] and leap into it, powering forward as the jaws close. You’re about to make it out as you fly forward, but the jaws come down too quickly and you feel yourself be crushed by the weight of the vines. They dig into your body, pressing hard and firm, making your already broken body ache in agony, so close to breaking you in two.
“GODS DAMN YOU, YOU FAGGOT!” Franklin shouts, his voice muted by the foliage. A ripping and tearing sound comes a moment later and the pressure upon you abates as Franklin tears apart the plants with his bare hands, the man’s torso and arms swollen, biomancy oozing off him.
He tears you out of the plants and from your chair before throwing you onto the ground as he pulls away from the plants that push down and crush your beautiful device. Groaning, you push yourself up on one arm as the Wizard, who fills the formerly baggy robes he was wearing with muscle, pushes toward the Queen Alarune. She blinks in surprise and tries to drown him in plants, but where they arrive, he rips and tears, exploding them with an overdose of magic or raw might.
“How?!” She shouts, striking at him. “How are you doing this?”
“You seem weaker, Queen!” He shouts. “Feeling a little cold?”
The Queen blinks before looking up. Only then does she realize it. The burning plant pillars you struck earlier with your [Fireballs] have burned enough to produce smoke that fills the room, drifting toward the open ceiling. Enough of it however, has formed a haze that begins to blot out the sun. Without the sunlight, some of her prodigious magic has begun to weaken, and her eyes snap to you as you form even more smoke directly, now that the jig is up.
To the side, the twin Alarunes feel the lack of sunlight as well, though any reduction in their movements is felt far less keenly than those pressing upon her. This is evidenced by how on the backfoot Alice and Tabitha are. They parry as best they can and try to land blows, but despite the reduced mobilty from being merged together, they more than make up for it with their armor, reach, and power.
Rommel adds in with his normal [Ball Busters] and the enchanted ones, but those which manage to penetrate the armor aren’t enough to slow the super powered Alarunes down, wounds healing faster than his magic can break. He holds up the [Herbaggedon] as a last resort and readies to attack, but it’s knocked out of his hands as Tabitha is thrown into them, the two colliding into the ground together.
Bardam himself is slowing down, the power of his potion leaving him. His actions are slowing somewhat, making it harder for him to react to his opponent, despite [Conviction]. Because he’s so focused on this, he’s unable to stop the now free twin from pointing toward Rommel and Tabitha and firing her blade from her arm at them.
The detached blade shoots forward. Rommel casts [Rock Solid] and stone leaps to cover Tabitha’s abdomen but it’s not enough to keep the massive thorn from penetrating into her abdomen. She gasps in pain as it punches through her, though it does not piece totally through to hit Rommel. The man looks aghast and cries out in anguish. He roars and fires a burst of stone at the Alarune, deflecting the next blade being fired as the Alarune makes to reform them.
Tabitha grunts, one hand on her abdomen, the other grabbing Rommel by the trenchcoat. She pulls him in for a deep kiss before pushing off him and rolling out of the way. He stares at her for a brief moment as she bleeds, the Monster pulling out a potion and trying to drink it, but she vomits up some blood until she can. He reaches out a hand for her but pulls away and snarls, turning his attention to the twin Alarune.
He holds up the [Herbaggedon], finding it had spilled some onto the ground, leaving only a little remaining. Cursing, he puts stoppers it and puts it into his pocket before drawing something else out- the enchanted amulet blessed by Hevensferth.
You’d discussed calling down his boon if things went bad, and things had begun to go bad. You’re at a standstill and the longer this goes on, the longer the Queen Alarune has to prepare her ritual, or to crush you again like she did with Veronica. Perhaps the risks outweigh the rewards, as you’re certain the eye of Solos will come upon you when he does it. But at the moment… you don’t care.
“HEVENSFERTH!” Rommel calls. “I BEESCH YOUR BOON!”
The amulet glows bright, brighter, and then so bright it burns your eyes, forcing you to blink, despite the smoke in the room. When you can see again, Rommel is standing, suffused with a power that he didn’t have before. Something about him is different than when he ate the [Baker’s Legacy], his determination seems stronger somehow.
Rommel breathes out slowly and begins to channel his magic. The smoke in the room seems to churn and rise upward, improving visibility, yet coalescing in the air and almost forming a ceiling of sorts, casting a gloom upon the room. In another motion, he points at the twin Alarunes and a stream of electricity flows out.
More power than you can produce yourself, someone who really enjoys Fulgromancy, flows from him, super powered by Hevensferth’s boon. The twins lock up as even their potent defenses are overwhelmed. Still, skin smoking, they push toward Rommel, propelling themselves forward to attack him. Despite their weakness, they still have incredibly strength and speed, able to strike at Rommel. And yet, as they do, the man takes just enough of a step backward to avoid the blows, as if he measured their trajectory in an instant and determined the exact amount to move.
He makes no further motions then as from behind, Bardam slices down with [Conviction] on one end while Tabitha, wound not yet fully closed, strikes from the other. Their blades cut into both of the twins, one severing a head while the other ignites the chest.
They struggle to move, not yet dead as Rommel waves away Bardam and Tabitha. The two leap backward, both kneeling down as their wounds and buffs begin to wear down. Though the twin Alarunes flail, he does not move, but instead holds up a hand. The air twinges for a moment, the taste of ozone filling your mouth before a bolt of lighting falls down from the sky, obliterating them once and for all.
Rommel keeps the currents of electricity flowing from their corpses into his wife and Bardam, using the mastery of such magics in such a precise and frightening way. Once it’s safe, he turns toward the Queen Alarune, his eyes narrowed.
“You… have the blessings of the Gods?” The Queen Alarune says, eyes wide. “Direct intervention…but Solos has forbid.” She inhales sharply and looks up at nothing in particular before silently mouthing something.
“We do what must be done!” You shout, pushing yourself upward. Left arm dangling at your side, you point your good arm at her barrier. “We will not allow Phallia to destroy what’s precious to us!”
You, Rommel, and Franklin focus your magicks upon her. With nothing else to take your concentration, you focus your power entirely upon the barrier in the same way as before. You allow Rommel’s magic to take the lead, his familiarity with the spell and the boost from Hevensferth allowing him to quickly analyze and break down the magic.
The Queen Alarune does nothing to push back that you see, still staring up at the sky and mumbling to herself, though her words grow faster and faster. A worry begins to build in you as you push harder, burning off the rest of the buff from the [Baker’s Legacy] to tear down the barrier. Cracks begin to form, making it more and more vulnerable but still not shattering.
Behind the Queen the vines and flor covering the floor seem to expand as yellow light cracks through the gaps. With a cry, it bursts open, revealing Veronica. The woman’s armor is cracked and falling off her body, her exposed skin is a mess of scratches and punctures, and you wonder if her leg isn’t broken at the odd angle it’s being held. Even still, she is suffused with such light that she doesn’t seem to notice and without preamble she takes both hands and hurls her mace at the barrier.
The holy mace strikes it and the barrier shatters, sending out a wave of magic as the contained energies explode. Everyone staggers backward as the Queen Alarune’s form shudders. Your magic, while not drained as before, spasms, and you find yourself unable to cast anything. Without any other recourse, you pull a [Plague Knife] from your belt and make ready to drive it into her when she snaps her head forward, formerly red eyes now glowing a deep green.
The room seems to shudder beneath your feet as something pulls at your magic senses, making your head hurt. Bardam and Veronica seem unaffected but you hear a scream from Maya and a groan from Tabitha, the two placing their hands on their heads and crying out.
In the back of your mind, you hear Tobias’s voice as the sigil in your pocket activates.
{H-Hey! The Monsters here are acting strange! They’re starting to go berserk! Are you okay? What’s happening?!}
Blake and Finn hop onto the network as well, their words worried. It isn’t until you hear Selene’s voice, filled with agony, that you fully understand what’s happening.
{I… love… graaaaah!}
Your focus back on the Queen Alarune, you shout and run forward, blade held in your hand as you drive it forward into her. Before the knife can connect, however, she grabs your hand with hers, and looks down at you with an expression very reminiscent of a particular Goddess you met once, many years ago.
“An… Avatar…” You whisper.
The Queen Alarune uproots herself from the ground, though not in the normal fashion. It is as if she is rising from a pool of water, legs seeming to grow from underneath her as she walks herself out of the flower underneath her. From her back, wings of leaves sprout and spread wide as an aura of life swells about the Avatar. Filled with magic and the supposed blessings of her Goddess, she stands before you, Phallia made flesh, much as the Avatar of Dollora made from Tolosh all those years ago.
“But… Solos he has to be watching!”
“Let him watch. I am, after all, a creation of Dollora. What faith we have does not change who made us the way we are.” She points with her free hand toward Maya, who holds her [Plague Knife] up, clothes disheveled, eyes looking wild, and Tabitha, who begins to pant like a hungry dog, her eyes locked onto Rommel. “Just like them. Though imperfect, the result appears satisfactory. Now then what will the Goddess of Monsters do now? Will she intervene to stop her children’s chaos? Or will she let them be slaughtered by the men they lust after?”
Her smile oozes the confidence of Phallia as she says, “And by the end, who will be left standing?”
With contemptuous ease, she throws you away from her and you hit the floor, hard, tumbling as you do so. Franklin helps pick you up and you look up at the Avatar as she stands in her nude glory, thrumming with the magic suffusing the world and the power of faith. A demi-god who needs only time to achieve her victory- one way or another, time is all she requires.
There is no way Solos hasn’t noticed Hevensferth’s direct intervention. Perhaps he has his suspicions on Phallia, but if Dollora arrives to stop this herself, there will be no stopping his fury. A sinking feeling fills your chest as you realize you may have made it more likely that Dollora would be punished, in the end. But there’s no backing down now. You must defeat this Avatar and end this before it goes past the point of no return. Wounded, and with some of your comrades either out of action or on the verge of becoming little more than beasts, you’re in poor shape to fight something like this.
But you’ve had worse odds before. This time you have a purpose even greater than before and the blessings of Gods who believe in you and your cause. You will prove to Solos the treachery of this bitch and undo this madness… or you’ll be obliterated. But when have the odds been anything different?
“Don’t you worry.” You say, standing as tall as you can. “You can watch it all from Nerg’s hells!”
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