Unless of course you’ve just gained the ability to see the flow of mythic power in yourself and others.
Sash hasn’t bitten into the beasts physical form - she’s gone directly into that pulsing inferno of mythic energy that tried so hard to swallow both your own flames...and she’s drinking it.
Rage and fear become utter terror as the former monster realises what is happening. Near-paralysed claws start to futilely scrabble at the sand below as the main body tries to writhe free...
But the Strix’s grip may as well be forged of steel. And she’s getting stronger with each passing second, muscles gaining further definition, black feathers showing new lustre and a roaring inferno of an inner red flame acting like the siphoned power were oil on a fire.
At the same time the creature is growing weaker, literally shrinking in Sash’s grip, becoming closer to what an actual Chimera’s size should be. It slips into unconsciousness as the last of that twisted power is ripped away, the still bulky body being dropped unceremoniously to the floor.
The blood-splattered Frontrunner of Daphne almost looks like she’s standing in a fireball, the flames in her heart flaring up to nightmarishly strong levels as Sash leans her head back and sends a cacophony of screams into the air. Part vicious triumph, part growing agony as she subsumes the power into herself.
The whole process takes...maybe 20 seconds.
She looks around to Salt.
See? Eas- HEY!! YOU’RE HURT!
The slumbering beast forgotten Sash wings her way over to Salt, determinedly pressing a potion into her grip.
Recovery magic Salty. Think I already told ya about not liking the burned look. Let’s not leave you with scars eh? What happened? Did that thing do this?
She indicates the downed chimera.
Salt took a few moments to take it all in. Sash just ate the Manticore. For some reason, this was far more of a turn-on than it should've been. And the cannons on Daphne... DAMN. One day. One day I'll get to play with those... Removing her scarf to reveal a somewhat fixed smile, goggles up to let her wide, black eyes take things in without dust-smeared glass clouding the scene, Salt tried a confident wink at Sash.
What, I thought the ladies loved scars?
The effort of speaking bought a hacking, rasping cough to her throat. Her breath felt hot too, like ash from a fledgling fire.
Actually, this hurts like hell. Please can we go fix me now?
Salt caught herself mentally. She was OK being vulnerable? Well s&@#.
BZZT wasn't ready to speak yet. Hi heart was beating somewhere in his throat and that pumping was very loud in his ears. Longstrike had proven herself as a wondrous companion, all he had dreamed of from Salt's talk of guns. Now he wanted to hunt bigger prey... But first, a drink. He'd seek out Ouroboros. The man knew how to drink. Without all the awkward socialising that normally went with it...
This lady doesn’t.
She slowly leans forward and uncorks the bottle with her teeth, then carefully angles it towards Salt’s face.
Drink this yeh? It’ll help.
Her smile turns into a somewhat awkward grin, not helped by the cork still held between her jaws.
Turns out I don’t like it when m- yo- I...
A feathery eyebrow twitches in frustration.
Urgh...just...just try not to get hurt yeh?
Assuming Salt drinks the potion , Sash’s gaze slides over to the other member of the bike.
Looks like you made it through unscathed Little Grey. I know that look though - don’t worry, plenty of booze left over. This time you can have stuff the bloody Lizard and pals havn’t been messing with. Doesn’t hit quite as hard - but the bonus is you get to remember what you did.
Salt gladly quaffs the cool liquid, feeling the instant relief, like a fire quenched by fresh spring rain.
Meeting Sash's gaze, she smiles again.
Thanks. How'd you get it to taste like Fangberries?
With a wink:
I'll try and keep this look intact. And I don't like the idea of you getting hurt either...
Ouroboros was riding hard. Was he afraid of the Chimera? You betcha! But mostly he was angry at Salt for being all noble and righteous. He rode his beast directly between the legs of Daphne. He was vaguely aware of a massive explosion behind him, but he didn't turn to look, he kept his eyes straight ahead, helping his mount to maneuver through the centre of the clump of dinosaurs. He didn't stop until he reached the other side of the caravan. When he halted his mount and turned to watch the fight, it was already over.
BZZT gives a salute, somehow conveying thanks, the bike did a great job, and yes please, drink all in a single motion.
Gerome spat matted green hair out of his mouth.
What happened?
A faint hint of a blush crosses Sash’s face before she shakes herself free of it, pulling what looks to be a large key ring full of differently coloured whistles from within her armour.
Speaking of the bloody Lizard - gonna call the outriders to come pick up our friend in the sand there. You might wanna cover your ears...
The green whistle Sash selects looks for all the world like a hand carved childrens toy, minus of course the glowing rune branded upon its surface. A single puff from Sash and a bass sound powerful and deep enough to shake the sand for multitudes of feet around springs forth.
It’ll take em a couple a’ minutes to get the cages ready and call Helen. I gotta wait here till they show up. Welcome to wait with me or head back to the others. Gaia looked damn worried when she turned up...still gotta ask how she did that, could be useful.
Gerome and Ouroboros are close enough to witness the cacophony of activity the blast of sound causes. Lizardfolk are rushing to mount their dinosaurs as a huge contraption of cages is lowered from Sweetie. A large centaur woman standing authoritively atop it, shouting orders and securing cables. She leaps to the ground with twenty feet still to descend and impatiently secures herself into the harness, beginning to pull almost before the last of the cables have been removed.
At this sight someone amongst the Lizardfolk whoops in triumph and a virtual stampede of dinosaurs heads out towards the downed Chimera, parting around the Tiefling and Gnome like water would a stone. The blonde centaur somehow easily keeping pace pulling what must be near a tonne of metal and wood.
Aye, this’ll do fer Mimsy. Once the damned head regrows anyway. Yer had to go cutting it off eh birdy? Why? What’d an adorable piece a’ meat like this do ta offend ya?
She watches with an increasingly understanding smile as Sash’s wing almost instinctively goes to pull Salt closer. Laughing at the blush on the Strix girls face.
Ahhh... I gotcha. Alright, nay major harm done. Drained all that nastiness out right good ya did. Suppose I don’t mind wasting a spell or two ta fix up the mess you and the bloody light-cannon made. Still, first things first.
Without any visible straining she lifts the paralysed Chimera and hefts it into one of the bigger cages. Securing both it and herself she turns to leave.
Ah! Thanks for the warning New Bloods. Come over ta Sweetie sometime. See how ya friend here’s doing. Have a drink or three.
And she rockets back off towards the caravan.
She smiles at Salt and BZZT.
Come on. Let’s get this lovely machine back atop Bessie. Then you gotta come over to Bettie and check out Solaris. Bring Snakey boy and Little Green as well. Some of the stuff in there it...it boggles the mind, and I’ve barely scratched the surface of it all...
The Caravan owner appears to have descended - unnoticed - amongst the masses of dropping cages and dinosaurs. Either that or he has the ability to unceremoniously teleport as he is suddenly right there alongside the mounted raptor, a rough hand casually gripping its reigns.
Lookin' a little flash-fried and kebabed there Snake Brat. Greeny couldn't totally fix ya?
A tiny little grin shouts volumes of intent.
Or did he grow a bit o' spine and not wanna totally fix ya?
A nonchalant shrug.
Nay business a' mine I suppose. Here.
He tosses Gerome a small leather bag. It rattles with the sound of coin.
Bounty for the Burning pack, plus a little extra fer luring that big bugger back here. Helen had herself frothing at the mouth fer a chance at the thing soon as Goldy showed up outta nowhere in a ruddy panic. And a happy Helen makes the best Mad Juice this side a' tha' Screamin' Trees. Yer'll get yerselves a little extra if the bugger turns out to be male.
He slaps the raptors flank, causing the beast to start and automatically begin making a beeline towards Bessie.
Break time's extended till we get everythin' set up on Sweetie. Go git yerselves sorted and meet back in the Solaris bay in another hour.
Gerome frowned at the implication.
I was saving my magiks for Salt. We didn't want her to die...
Gerome catches the bag of coin, which turns his frown upside down.
Is this for me?
Ouroboros didn't have the energy for their usual tet to tet, holding onto the raptor was taking up most of his reserves. He was hoping he could locate his bed, or better yet, a healing potion.
Salt stood and grabbed Sash’s hand.
Drink! Yes! Yes please. Can we get the bike back topside?
A drink sounded like a hell of a thing, followed by a tour of Solaris. She breathed heavily, letting the tension from her shoulders. The breath still burned a little, but the cool of the potion had taken the edge off.
You in, little Grey?
A small pouch on Sash's hip yields a wand roughly thrice as long as the bag is apparently deep. She taps it gently against her shoulder.
And almost immediately doubles in height and build.
She indicates the pouch, then bends and grasps the framework of the bike. A suddenly massive wingspread indicating what she plans on doing.
Regardless of whether or not this advice is followed the massive downburst of her launching flap cannons her and the bike into the sky - and kicks up yet another massive plume of sand, coating anyone and anything in the vicinity in a fine irritating powder. The dust-cloud finally settling as the Strix makes her return. Normal size once again.
Back in the bay. Here. She tosses another wand to Salt. Modified feather fall spell, my own creation, make sure you use it on that precious baby before you go shooting out the side again yeah?
Soooo... She taps a talon against her chin in thought. We could go your place for drinks - but it's dinner shift so the place'll be packed and noisy, Daphne'll be quiet and I'd be happy to show ya both around but there ain't a single drop of booze to be found on her. We go to Bettie and you'll be talking as I work on that magnificent thing sitting in the bay, not much to get there either. There is a standing invite to Sweetie which is where all the good stuff is held - only trick is sorting the safe stuff from things Helen's worked on.
She shrugs.
Your choice.
Evidently they have come back during mealtime, the feeding bay is packed with a huge variety of races vying for the attention of the few crew members delusional/crazy/stupid enough to volunteer for the position of server under the stone-skinned behemoth of a cook who even now is producing dishes at a rate his poor beleaguered staff can barely keep up with.
The general cacophony is intense, easily loud enough to reach their rooms and make sleep difficult/impossible. Past experience supplying the information that loudest tends to get served first - and whilst many have started a brawl over this - it's the rock-faced Cook who usually finishes them.
Washed, clothed, and rested, Ouroboros heads in search of food. Still wounded, but moving more easily, he hopes someone will provide some healing. Maybe there is a medic on board.
It's still mealtime when Ouroboros enters the Feeding Bay. Most seem to give the disheveled snakeman a wide birth, and those brawling are easy enough to avoid.
He spots Gerome across the room. The gnome has obviously been for a bath and nap also, and is digging into a big bowl of food. He doesn't notice the teifling until he drops into the seat across from him.
Care to share? Ouroboros asks trying to sound less exhausted than he is. Gerome pulls the bowl closer.
Ugh, I wonder if there is table service...
Gerome was strangely wired after the events in the desert. True, he had washed and dressed, but sleep hadn't come easy and so he had ventured in search of food. Food he did not feel inclined to share, after what he had been through to get it. He wasn't without compassion however, and reached across the table and placed a healing hand on Ouroboros.
He allowed the last of his Magiks to heal his friend without a word and went back to his meal. He was worried about the others...
Salt blushes slightly as ideas cross her mind as to what fun could be had with big Sash...
Pocketing the wand, she smiles gently.
Well, I already nearly died today, what’s one more time? Sweetie for a drink? Then you and I can take a look inside the pretty thing? Wouldn’t mind some quiet time later...
Her words trail suggestively, black eyes almost shy under the brim of her hat.
F’ck’n drink. Big f’ck’n drink.
BZZT nodded in assent to Salt’s suggestion.
Y’ll f’ck’n crazy. B’t I... I like it. Y’r good people.
The Strix chuckles gently to herself for a few seconds, amused at something she’s clearly just thought of... Then turns to BZZT with a off-puttingly somber expression.
Crazy as they come Little Grey, guilty as charged. But good? I can count the ’good,’ she spits the word like it were a bad taste people on this train o souls on one hand. Ain’t sayin’ we’re all evil sons a hells or nothin’... don’t do bad without decent reason at least - but I’ve met ‘good.’ I’ve seen ‘good...’
A wistful sigh. A clawed hand gently drops to her hip, slowly caressing the very worn handle of a knife as her eyes temporarily focus on something not in the here and now.
...and we ain’t it.
She lingers there, eyes consumed by memory for a few precious seconds.
Then snaps back to the present with a grin. A quick grab and Salt finds herself pinned against the Strix by an arm like steel, whilst a firm grip on the back of his jacket is all the warning BZZT gets before Sash lifts him off of the ground with one hand.
The wings spread...
And 30 seconds later both BZZT and Salt are aboard Sweetie, finding their own individual ways to cope with all the blood rushing to their feet as Sash bellows for the beastmaster.
HEY HELEN!! THE NEWBIES WANNA SEE YER BEASTS AND YER BOOZE!! GET OUT HERE!!!
And suddenly the tiny dragon is the significantly larger and appreciably louder Gaia clinging desperately to Salt.
You’re alright, you’re ok, you’re here, not hurt? Are you sure? I was so worried! I told Master Markus and Miss Sash and Miss Flamesprite and they said they’d help but I can tell when people worry and that made me worry and I couldn’t feel the shard and I felt so useless without my ship so I got really upset and that made me lose cohesion and I was a puddle for a bit and then I felt a bit of me touch you and I came here and you’re here and I’m hugging you and everything should be alright now but but but but but
Gaia’s arms appear to have fused into an inescapable loop around Salts waist. The golden woman is alternating between crying and shaking like a leaf, her hold on her body shape loosened to the point where Salt can feel herself slowly being engulfed by the warm, heavy and unquestionably jelly-like substance the being known as Gaia is made of.
I...I only just got to be alive Oathbearer. If you die now? I die too. A week ago I wouldn’t have cared about that. Now I do. And it is terrible and wonderful and lovely and hateful and so so so so so so so so so so scary that I don’t even want to think about it.
Tear-filled eyes meet Salts.
Please don’t ask me to do anything like that again Oathbearer. If you do I’ll...I’ll...I don’t know what I’ll do but it won’t be pleasant.
Still latched to/slowly absorbing Salt she - at last - takes the time to look around.
Where are we?
Gerome is quite quite certain that there had been nobody sitting at this table when he first came over. Ouroboros and Sparkfinder joined later. He is equally certain he did not see the tall, pale woman with mis-matched eyes and jet black hair wearing a formal but practical set of spellcasting robes make her way over to them. Yet here she is, plate of food and all. Right next to him. Staring directly at his neck.
She grins and extends a hand. The motion setting the many books and potions hanging from her to jangling.
Bliss Cruor. We’ve met, but I wouldn’t blame you for not remembering. Mad juice hits hard at the best of times, way worse if you don’t know it’s there. I run the front artillery here on Bessie, mostly just enchanting stuff to explode better you know? Maybe not. Doesn’t matter. Was going to just finish my meal all nice and invisible but then your invisible friend caught my attention. Do you know what it is you’ve got there?
He gives a sort of half shrug, and tenderly strokes the head of the tiny beast around his neck. He's eager to know, but not eager to look at idiot.
She never told me her name. he says at last, trying to determine whether Ouroboros was listening, or genuinely as interested in his food as he looked.
She looks Gerome right in the eyes.
Do. Not. Let me sister know about her. She’ll tell mum about it. And if my mother knows there’s one here she will get her hands on it and she will eat the poor dear in short order.
She gives a slight smile of reassurance.
Don’t worry too much though. Sis won’t spot her if she stays invisible and mum never leaves her room unless she’s hunting. There’s a whole alarm system for when that happens so no worries there. Hey! Why don’t you come up to the front artillery after food. I’ll help you sort out exactly what she can and can’t do. You can pay me with a feather? And I’ll throw in a bit of an explanation about Sis and Mum as a freebie. Help you get her some food as well, poor thing looks famished.
I was done anyway. he says.
She stands up and grabs Gerome’s arm, revealing the hundreds of thin white scars that cross-cross her palm in the process, muttering something under her breath.
Both Gerome and Bliss promptly vanish from sight.
You’re gonna have to forgive the mess when you get there, I don’t get much in the way of visitors and the latest experiment’s kinda spread all across the room. Plus those bloody golden bees keep causing my defensive wards to explode which is a little annoying not going to lie to you. It’s Gerome right? Think that was it. You only ever called yourself “the ascendant one,” when you and that group demolished the circle me and sis were working on - don’t worry, not mad about that anymore - and started demanding the answers to questions I’m not entirely sure the conscious mind can produce or handle. You’re lucky Mum wasn’t there though, she’d have bitten off at least three fingers. From each of you. Hags right? Hopeless. And she knows she’s pretty much on the last straw about eating bits of people as well but when she’s pissed she is pissed and there’s really no stopping her. Oh! Probably should explain. Changeling here. Hag for a mum, human for a dad. No idea who the dad is. Mum lives in the basement, honestly not that bad a person if you don’t offend her. Or have anything she wants. Or smell tasty. Maybe don’t ever visit mum. I do magic from books, Sis does magic from looks. We can’t really stand each other over extended periods of time but we had to both be in the same beastie to keep an eye out for mum waking up so I took the front exploding bits and Sis took the rear exploding bits and it’s worked out pretty good so far. How are you finding things anyway? I know you’re still pretty new but the music sounded nice before the juice started hitting and I hear we’ve got you and scaly murder-boner back in the canteen to thank for killing the thief storm so props for that and sorry about the whole rope-ball of death thing - Sis was pretty upset so it was kinda suggest that or watch her rig up a lottery system to determine who gets to wake up with the correct number of limbs or a working renal system and I thought you’d probably prefer a few minutes of uncomfortable over a lifetime of no left arm and a foot sticking out of your chest. I’ve seen enough of those to know. But hey that’s enough about me - why don’t you tell me something about youse- and we’re here! Awesome! Come in!
The stream of words ends as she swings open a small wooden door that looks identical to the small wooden doors on either side of it and ducks inside, dragging Gerome with her. The invisibility ending as she closes it behind her and throws a small ball of light towards the ceiling. She sketches a small theatrical bow.
Welcome to my home friend. Care for a drink?
The room is...disturbingly huge. And very messy. Books lie...everywhere. Piled haphazardly on shelves or strewn wildly across the floor and nice looking bed. A faint smell of sulphur permeates the otherwise pleasant incense steadily burning atop a rickety looking desk upon which sit dozens of various bubbling liquids in all the colours of the rainbow. Arcane sigils almost seem to flow across the walls, one exquisite design melding flawlessly into the next to create a scintillating pattern of strangeness.
There can be no doubt. This? This is a Wizards room.
And said Wizard is right there. Smiling awkwardly at Gerome.
He hadn't even told Ouroboros where he was going...
Drink?! Yes! Please. He jumps into the pause she leaves, killing the tension and his nerves at once.
But then, it had worked out well when he had followed Ouroboros... more or less... Maybe he was just good with crazy.
He smiles broadly. If he could handle a psychotic snake man...
You have a lot of books. he says.
He may have acted nonchalantly during thier conversation, but he had been listening, and he did not like that Gerome was keeping secrets or would follow the eager young Changeling so readily.
He had given them a moment to walk away, and then had risen to follow. They were no where in sight...
The fury overtook him immediately, he didn't really remember smashing up Geromes chair, but there it was, on the floor in pieces, his hand bleeding and full of splinters, and everyone was staring at him...
Red dances come at strange times yes friend Ouroboros? Tis a good thing to have the anger I think. Fights better with it wrapped tight around your heart.
He gives a nonchalant shrug.
Maybe not a good idea on chair though. Speak when you catch up?
He turns back to his meal.
The third massive rocky fist never connects as the Tiefling slumps to the floor, consciousness swiftly fading. A view of some huge clawed feet and a soft gravelly growl of My Chair is all he gets before the world goes utterly dark.
She reaches into the floor, her hand passing right through the wooden floorboards as if they were not there before she - with no small amount of strain - lifts a heavy looking sealed crate right out of it. Accompanied by the faint muffled jingle of glass containers.
This is my stash, Sis doesn't know about it and don't go telling her I've got it either alright? She'd laugh at me not spending all my money on materials and books then try to either steal or wreck it.
She unclasps the crate, lifting out various bottles of what does indeed look like the juice and wine she just mentioned. A casual wrist flick and two drinking glasses gently clink into existence on the table.
Help yourself.
She smiles again, it looks more natural this time.
And yes, I do have a lot of books. Far as Sis is concerned every single one's a magical tome that she doesn't need. And yeh I've got a good deal of those. But most of these? Bestiaries or stories. Lots of history as well, I love reading about the time before the Cities especially - things sound so different back then you know? That thing on the floor there- She motions to a rough circle of opened books that seem to have been liberally splashed with ink in what looks to Gerome like random patterns. It's a summoning circle. I'm looking for an angel willing to tell me as much as they can about that time. Only things old enough to remember really. Well - some fiends probably could too, but they don't make the most trustworthy of witnesses and that's more Sis and Mum's kind of thing. Oh right...
She motions, several tiny balls or red, green, yellow, blue and amber light float towards Geromes face. His passenger - which had been neutrally dozing - instantly snapping fully awake. It lunges forward, invisibility breaking as it ferociously attacks the little balls, somehow catching and swallowing the lights as if they were tiny birds on the wing.
Awww... That's adorable. Hey little one, here, have as many as you like.
The rainbow winged serpents eyes almost explode with joy as Bliss conjures dozens more of the tiny floating lights. It flits across the room, chasing and catching them in a fabulous display of scintillating colour and dazzling aerobic acrobatics until - finally satiated - it gently droops itself over Geromes head and begins to snore, feeling a little heavier than before, scales and feathers positively glistening with health.
That's really cute by the way. I think you should name her. Seems a shame to not have one.
Prestidigitation - that's the spell. I think some bards use that? Dancing lights would be better once she's older. Won't be carrying her around on your head then. They get big.
Bliss - still smiling like this is the most fun she's had in forever - plonks herself down on the bed.
So. Gerome the Gnome. How'd you find yourself atop this merry ride? Tell me everything.
I guess I just sort of followed him.
He sort of smirks, trying not to think too hard about what had driven him to follow Ouroboros. Fear? Curiosity? He had been drawn to him like a flame. Dangerous, powerful, so much potential, but none of it good. And then there was Tyrone.
He shrugs again, trying not to let guilt swallow him whole. Tyrone was his excuse, not the reason.
He takes a swing of his juice, wincing a little at the bitterness, and rapidly changes the subject.
So, what exactly is she? She eats magic? How big will she get? Will she fight my enemies? Can anyone else see her? What about Storm Fury?
As for how big she’ll get...big. Like really big. Like no way in hell she’d fit in my room big. The adults are real leviathans up close and personal. Mum’s got a skeleton in her demiplane she says is maybe half-grown. Thing’s dozens of meters long. No idea if they can fight all that well. Don’t have the teeth or claws for it, and their musculature means they can’t really constrict like a big snake would. I mean - they eat colour and light, those things normally don’t put up much resistance. Then again there aren’t many things as naturally pumped full of magic as they are and I’d be surprised if they couldn’t use that for self-defence. We’ve already seen a natural inclination to invisibility - I wonder if that’s something they can do when they’re young. Maybe as a defence against predation? Clearly it isn’t Greater Invisibility or it wouldn’t have broken when she went after the lights... I’ve got a few permanent enchantments, one of which is See Invisibility. Without that I’d have had no clue she was there when you sat down so I wouldn’t worry too much about her being spotted.
She throws Gerome a sidelong glance.
What’s a Storm Fury?
As if he’d been waiting since taking off, BZZT looks up at Sash.
Context...
With obvious effort, BZZT’s huge flood of beard arranges itself into an almost-smile, his dark eyes twinkling.
An’ I seen bad’n’my time. An’ y’ain’t tha’ either. Ah guess, ‘m’saying y’OK. By m’stannnats, an’way.
Salt went ramrod stiff as the golden blur enveloped her, feeling the transit from Sash’s vice-like (and supremely comforting) hold to the amber glomp of Gaia. With a forced breath,
Swear it. We’re sticking together from now on. But there maybe won’t be a next time if you... Absorb me? Not sure if I can... Breathe through you...
Salt’s own breathing is starting to get a little ragged as her black eyes cast around for some help...
Gaia’s arms solidify and fly apart, the golden figure lurching backwards as if electrified, her face a clear mix and match of shock and embarrassment.
SORRY! Oathbearer. Sorry, it’s...hard to stay well-formed when I’m worried, makes me lose cohesion and go all gloopy until I pull myself back together. Scattering all across the caravan didn’t make things any easier on that front - less density. I might have to go get Mr Markus to instruct one of the diplotitanica to step on me, should give me enough to get fully back to normal... oh. Are we on Sweetie? I can smell a lot of alcohol and animals. Hello Sir BZZT, Ms Sash. Thank you very much for my Oathbearers bike, an excellent display of manitite use. I’d all but given up on truly fixing myself until I saw that the crystals still exist. Give me a few weeks of study and I should be able to form it myself, manitite is very close to the basis of my shard - I feel like...like that should make it easier to understand.
Are we going victory drinking? I recall that being a thing the crew sometimes did.
Welcome Goldy, though I’ll admit to being blasted out of my mind when I did it so any help putting your ship back together would be appreciated.
Yes. Very yes. Many drinks.
Salt smiled gently at the idea. Removing her hat and goggles, she looks around for said drink...
F’rst. Aye. Heard ‘fit, s’nds... fun.
He seems to put specific emphasis on the final word of the sentence.
Y’been there?
Been there? Heh. Little Grey - I was born there. Back when it was still the jewel in the masters crown. There for the riots, the fighting. The fall of Opal and the rise of Birch. There when they let loose the captured flame, tore the corruption out of a radiant gold and convinced the ebony winged berserker she was on the wrong side. I’ve seen fighting like you wouldn’t believe and heroics you’d think were out of a storybook. It was me who got them their very first job ya know? On that magical old map in a twisted ancient pub, covered in mud, chocolate and bacon while crying my eyes out cause the bastards just kept taking and taking and somethin’ in me just didn’t know how to hit back...
Who’s “they?” The Heroes duh. The ones who started the whole thing. The Instigators. The Thieves. The only people in this whole entire world to steal a City and defy all attempts at reclamation. The only people - not god or monster or celestial event or whatever the hells happened in 7 - to kill an Archaeomancer. The Claw. The Fox. The Bloody Typhoon and The Laughing Master.
You know those names - everyone knows those names. The bounties on each one reach into the millions of gold pieces. The shadows behind so much of what tore the First City from the Archaeomancers grasp. A Jackdaws pawns, then blades, then knights - now partners? Nobody is sure. Sash idly toys with her empty glass.
They sent me off with Markus when the first war got declared. Invading army got torn to pieces in record time but Rose Mother just had to argue that war was no place for children to be growing up. Heh... I was just touching 14 then. Argued till my voice gave out - but they were right in the end. It’s been what? 8 wars now? To say nothing of the quieter attempts. I’m not worried about them - Birch and the Queen are f%&*ing paragons of war and assassination by this point and one of those two still hasn’t ever killed a single damn person. Not to mention the kinds of things Stone Master and her girlfriend can do... but it would have been hard on the kids. You’ve met one of em already - Ramona’s an ex-Jewels brat as well, bloody genius when it comes to alchemy, not a care about almost anything else. Almost all of them are damaged in some way, most don’t have parents anymore...
She pauses for a few seconds, then sharply glances up, a fierce grin on her face.
So! Just had to make sure we got strong enough to help them out right? I was already burning red after that broken angel shot me when they raided the hideout and Miss Esme had to pin me down and punch the corruption out before I went proper crazy - not an experience I’d recommend to anyone by the way - and some of the others tripped into that power as well. When they got us to leave...I was mad. Mad enough to go flying all around the place just killing as many monsters and evil people as I possibly could as fast as I could. That ended about as well as you’d expect. Wings pinned under rocks and about to have my head cut open by a priest of Rovagug - till old Flintspark rode a bolt of lightning into the temple and killed them all anyways. Gave me a right beat down after he got me all healed as well - never seen him that angry before...
She sighs.
So that’s two life-debts I owe now. Working my very best for Markus until I’m strong enough to go back and really help out. That Chimera was a solid step in the right direction - but I’m still nowhere near where I want to be. Heh...lovely nostalgia...
Any specific questions? We’ve got time and I’ll answer what I can.
Salt took in the details, a spark of recognition in her dark eyes.
The Claw... He was a terrorist. At least that’s what my father told me... He’s a leader of the city?
No’t’be rude, Salt, b’w’ye father said c’n be d’ss’m’ss’d as delv’r s@*&. They’re all g’damned heroes. Y’knew them, Sash?
A small, almost shy, smile crosses her lips.
The Dreaded Obsidian Claw is a protector. And he's claimed the entire City and all the lands around as his to fight for. Nothing goes on there without him knowing about it - do any kind of evil and he'll be at your window in less than an hour. Then you've got the Fox. The One of Many Faces. She could be anyone, anywhere, anytime and you'd never know until you felt that silver rapier in your back or the guard breaking down your door.
They've got the rewrite codes for every floor of the City now. Madeline got her magic into the mix so it only responds to them and the other Archaeomancers can't get it back into synchronization. Means that the entire structure can be reshaped essentially at will. Siege engines, dragon roosts, dimensional caves filled with monsters to train the resistance, a college for almost every form of warcraft or skill. The Laughing Master had it form this strange device that magnified her abilities over an entire invading army - a full half of the thing just went slack-jawed and started walking in the opposite direction. The Bloody Typhoon's hooked into some sort of weird dimension chicanery that has access to the blood of everything within the lands recognized as part of the City - and that includes anybody trying to invade. He can rip someone apart without ever going near them.
Heh. Terrorist huh? Yeh I can see them being labelled that. And yeh, if you happen to be an Archaeomancer I'd say they were pretty damn terrifying. Every City's shut up like a clam for the last 10 years after they managed that feat. No question about it either. Thrax went sailing off the top tier of Jewels and crashed through Quartz, the craters still there, still black from where the Phoenix burned him alive and the Dark Crow ate whatever the cretin had that passed for a soul. He ain't coming back.
As for what they're planning now...dunno. Wouldn't say even if I did. I know they've only grown in strength. A positive feedback loop feeding off the loyalty and confidence of the population to both nourish the City and empower the lands around it. The borders grow by a few metres each year, more if they get a big influx of supporters. They won't take kids or noncombatants, everyone there is there to fight and win a war. But they will help anyone looking to flee.
She looks up, eyes slightly widening as a thought occurs to her.
Oh yeh! You guys probably don't know. Get this. There are lands out there that the Archaeomancers don't control. And I'm not talking about places like Jewels and 7. I mean places that they've never even touched. The Dark Continent. The Burning Everplains. The Great Forests. The Endless Ocean. Hundreds, thousands, maybe millions of square miles outside of this massive bubble they've got everyone convinced is the beginning and end of the world. I've been there. Literal hordes of people are building a life there as we speak. There's a way out.
The propaganda would have you believe that they steal families and sacrifice children. Nah. Every adult who wants to fight gets trained and put to work. Everyone sick of war or not able to fight goes free. There's an opening at the top of Jewels, what used to be the House atop Diamond Tier. The only opening that we know of. But this place? Where we are now? It's just a section of the world. A huge one yeh, but still a section. A fraction. Cut out and twisted and warped to serve their ends dead gods know how many years ago now. I'll take you there next time we stop by Jewels if ya like?