The Lord of Ragnarok

Chapter 14: Shoulda sent the Whiskey

Crumbling Manor - Three days walk outside of the Barbarus Empire borders - Clopmaniac's P.O.V.

The bottle sat just outside of the wounded bandit's grasp and on two broken legs, he wasn't effectively crawling to it. So instead I decided to try on some of the armor I had taken from his friends. I could hear his breathing becoming heavy, and a small part of me enjoyed the fact that I was causing some very conflicting emotions in my would be attacker. Unfortunately, most of it didn't seem to fit, and the rest of it was of such a low quality that I might actually be better off wearing nothing.

"Ach, you bandits," I drunkenly murmured, "would it 'ave killed ya to maintenance on yer gear? Ah might b' able to magick this into something respectable, but most of this is utt'r crap!"

I then turned to him, a vicious grin growing across my face.

"Say, laddie, ya'll ain't seen some decent kit in this here mansion, now, have ya? Maybe somethin' befittin' a lady or a mage, eh?"

"No- no," he whimpered, "this place was looted long before we got here."

"Ach, a shame," I said, "Ah ain't one fer poufty dresses or whatnot, but that is a fine sight bett'r than this garbage. Oh, well, when in Rome."

With that I studied the best of the worst. I originally had thought it a hoot, leave my avatar nude, out in the middle of nowhere, and just leave everything at the temple. It was a right funny notion, and now I was looking at piss poor leather. I had no doubt that Mannulus had kept my armor, weapons, and everything else in good condition. That was just who he was, but it didn't help me a bit right now. I looked at the leather vests, the first two would fit, but each of them were worn pretty heavily. I cut them apart, using my new daggers, which really was only suited for something like this, and then I began to piece the best pieces together using a repair spell.

Slowly the armor was fixed and it would be at least a +5 to defence against melee attacks. Nowhere near as good as my chainmail, but better than nothing. Pants were the next order, but fuck pants. And fuck the Dobber that invented them. I'd rather have a decent kilt any fockin' day. I split the best leather chaps and the best cloth ranger pants into pieces until I had a decent set of material. I then pictured a decent kilt in my head, letting the spell form it into being. I folded the material in half, laid on it, and rolled across the floor until I had wrapped. I then took a belt from the big lad, wrapped it around the material, and I walked with my new armored Kilt. Shoes would be next, but I'd deal until then.

I looked back at the bandit, and with a pang of mercy I floated the bottle over to him. I watched as he took a big draw from it. Nodding, I closed my eyes. In Ragnarok I'd created a homing spell to let me know where the Temple was at. It was damned simple, and usually it made things easier. I thought of the temple, and then I opened my eyes. A notion, sort of a deep pull from inside, was telling me to head to the west. I followed that notion, and I walked toward what looked like an abandoned ruined City.

The buildings looked ancient, their walls crumbling, and I could see the remains of Orcs littering the street in places. Looking at the collection of them I was actually reminded of Mannulus. That boyo brought death everywhere he walked in Ragnarok. I walked past them, seeing that the bodies had long since been looted. It looked as if whoever had done the looting also took time to make sure each and every orc was really dead. Most of them had been burned down to the bones, but a few others had been slain with a sword where they lay.

As I walked I saw two grasswalkers tallying up the bodies.

"Oi, what's all this then?" I asked.

One of them glanced toward me, "Are you an adventurer?" the brown rabbit eared grasswalker asked.

I smiled, "Only the best love, now, mind to stop being a twat and tell me what's this all 'bout?"

She huffed in annoyance, "Well, if you're trying to collect on the reward for clearing these ruins, then you're too late. Veneficus and Windy Whistles already cleared the city of the Orcs. We're just doing an official count of the dead orcs to report to the Empire. They want to know exactly how many were here so that they can be sure to post the correct amount of guards to ensure that none attempt to resettle here."

"Ah, makes sense that, although, it's best if ya don't go getting yer panties in a twist lass. Gonna tell ya for free though, a bunch of Dobbers decided to hold up in that manor on the hill. Nothing major, just a bunch of wankers playin' bandit. Bunch of Jessies the lot of 'em."

She studied me, "So, you dealt with some bandits?"

I nodded, "'Bout eleven of 'em, not real bright, most of their stuff was mince, still, gotta nice sword and some new armor outta it. Notin'good, but good 'nuff for now. So, any reward for dealin' with 'em, or my reward the mince I got off of 'em?"

The lass scratched her head, "Well, the empire usually pays for capturing, or killing, bandits. Typically two coppers per bandit, or a gold piece for twelve of them."

I scratched my head, "Naw, just got eleven, not a full dozen. Damn shame too. So, how I collect?"

She studied me for a moment, "Well, if you were part of the Adventurers' guild it would be just letting us know, and we would tally them up for you, and then you could collect at the guild itself. Since you're not then you're going to have to go into the city, report it to a guard, and have them check it. Once they do it could take up to a month before the Empire pays you proper."

"Oi, yer bum's oot the windae! A Month ta collect for takin' out the mince? Fock that, I'll just sell the mince I got off 'em. Probably pay better anyway. Thanks though," I said as I walked past her.

She seemed to look at me, "Ummm, don't you want to join a guild?"

I smiled, looked back, and waved her off, "Maybe, but not right now. I gotta find my friends, and I'd like ta get laid at some point. Plus," I said as I scratched my chin, "I'd like ta find another bottle of whiskey. Don't like ta get too dry."

With that, I walked toward the direction my spell was pulling me. I heard the grasswalkers speaking to each other, but I didn't pay them too much attention. Instead, I focused on what I intended on doing. I needed to find the temple, simply because out of all of us I knew Mannulus would be there. I grinned as I walked. Sure, it'd been a big damn surprise to find that this was real. But, I supposed that it wasn't bothering me too badly because I liked this world better. Back home was a collection of shite. A piss poor job at a shop, tryin ta keep from lookin' drunk while answering some dobber's questions on if the mince we were a sellin' was worth a damn or not. Course it wasn't. Everythin' in that damned place was made over in Thailand for about a hundredth of the cost we sold it for.

Not to mention here I didn't have to worry about living up to my dad's memory. He was the Polis Boaby, damned fine one, me I was the Bugger up of the family. Everybody figured I'd follow his example, go on to bigger and better things. I just didn't see it. Nae, it weren't what was in store for me. I just wanted ta fool around, maybe fock a sweet lad or lass, get 'nough dosh ta pay rent. That's what I wanted. Bugger everything else.

I began losing track of time as I walked. Although I did end up settling down a time or six to catch some sleep. Finally, I ended up in a small village, not much ta it. Maybe a few streets, but a sweet looking red headed lamia. She was fawnin' over some hedge wizard, callin' 'im darlin' and the such. Seeing that tongue, I'd be interested in seeing how far she could reach in my nethers, but I would boaby block some poor bloke. Instead, I rested the best of the gear I had taken from those Dobbers playin' bandits. Wasn't the best profit Ah made from a killin', but certainly not th' worst.

With me coin in hand, Ah made me way down to the lamia and the duine she was with. Ah hear 'em talkin' and the lamia says something about Mannulus. Th' done peak'd me interest. How an' why she knew of Mannulus is none me concern; wh't does concern me person is that Mannulus is definitely, the mangy git. Ah sidle up 'long side and find me way into the còmhradh.

"'Scuse, lassie, ah cannae he'p but overhear ya talkin' 'bout a bloke by th' name o' Mannulus," Ah start, "ya ain't seen now, recently?"

"I think so?" The lamia replies, "Lord Mannulus and the Celestia Sol Temple are not that far away. Half a day's walk from here, isn't that right, Darling?"

"You're right, Miia," the duine says, "we, myself and Miia here, are affiliated with his group. Why? Ddo you know him?"

"Aye, Ah do," Ah answer, "he and Ah used to be part of the same group, way back when. Found meself in an ruined city with bugger all on me. Had meself surrounded by some barmy wankers thinkin' they ha'e their way with me. Showed them I did, that Ah ain't as harmless as some wee bairn."

"I, uh, I've taken to not make any assumption about anyone or anything thing," the geezer tells me, "assumption is the mother of all fuckups."

"Aye, 'tis is," Ah agreed, then pointing to where me direction was indicatin', "thataway, mayhaps?"

"Oh, yes," the lamia, Miia, tells me, "we'll be heading that ourselves. We're only here in the Oppidum Market to sell off some excess ingredients."

"Ya don' say?" Ah ask, "what fer?"

"Panacea," the bloke tells me, "the formula is complicated, the components for it are very uncommon, and it takes a while to properly brew. Once done, though, it'll cure all that ails ya and then some."

"Too bad it can't cure sober," Ah quip, "been nearly dry since turnin' up in this shitehole and could use some lubrication, if ya catch me meanin'."

"Do you mean liquor?" Miia asked me and when I nodded she got grave on me, "I'm afraid that aren't any pubs or bars in Oppidum. And most liquor is homebrewed around here."

"But," the geezer adds, "Miia and I have a skunk works distillery set up at our house. It might not be whiskey, but it has enough kick to strip paint off. And afterward, once you're sufficiently inebriated, we could escort you to the temple. I need to speak with Lord Mannulus about my panacea."

" Well, this day ju' keeps gettin' better," I beam, "lead th' way."

"This way," the geezer says, then adds, "I'm Wainwright the Weary. I had a feeling you were a player and not an NPC. Pleased to meet ya!"

"Pleasure's mine, boyo," I reply, adding, "you ken call me Clopmaniac. Bu' dunnae call me durin' supp'r; Ah get cranky when me meal is disturbed."

He gave me a smile, "Solid advice. We need to cover some ground, especially if we want to make the temple before nightfall. The Forest that surrounds it is full of dangerous creatures. They don't seem too interested in hunting anyone unless they step into the forest unwelcomed."

I grinned, a forest, surrounding the temple, full of dangerous beasties? Sounded like Mannulus had recreated the Everfree right here. Made sense, every version of Equestria, including that in the Fallout Equestria, had an Everfree, and it was filled with dangerous beasties that kept the local folk on their toes. As the old geezer walked the lamia spoke openly to me. She stayed near him, unwilling to get much more than a meter or so away from 'im.

"Oi, 'bout the liquor, ya wanna stop ta get it first?"

He smiled, "I would, but I fear we will end up walking through the forest in the dark. It would be best to simply get there. I do believe that Lord Mannulus has some drink on hand. I would almost believe so."

I thought about it. We had grinded enough to create wine and other spirits. Specifically I remember making a few bottles of whiskey and labeling them as Wild Pegasus. I could practically taste the sweet flavor of the amber colored drink as it touched my tongue. The way it would slide down my throat with a pleasant burn, and then how thankfully it would make me able to deal with memories.

Our walk led outside of the village, past a small hut that was built closer to the normal player homes in Ragnarok, and finally into the forest itself. Walking inta it I could hear the sounds of something off in the distance, something huge, and it was circling us. Moving slowly I walked with my guides until we reached a clearing. There, in the center of it, was the Temple. How it looked in Ragnarok did not do it justice. The Temple was bright and beautiful. The marble build was straight out of Ancient Greece, and I found myself runnin' up the steps. I didnae care one tinker's damn 'bout anyone lookin'.

I threw open the doors, seeing a confused looking trio of friends, and I rushed toward 'em.

"I'm back ya daft bastards!"

Nae a one of 'em escaped as I caught 'em in a group hug, "It's damned good ta see ya! Let's have a drink ta celebrate! Where's the whiskey?!"

My question was met with some laughter. Although, looking at Mannulus I saw how much older he looked. Ta be honest, I nae understood the need to make a character look like he'd been through hell an back. Yet, when I looked at Mannulus I hurt. He gave me a small wave.

"I had to resurrect Sombra the Magnificent," he said.

"Ya can bring us back? That's good ta know! How is the daft bastard?!"

There was a powerful silence that answered me.

"What happened?" I asked.

None of them really wanted to look me in the face, but finally Mannulus looked toward me, "It brought him back, but… His soul is joined to Sombra's. That's the best I can describe it. It's making him not be himself."

I looked at him, "Cannae you… Split the two apart?"

He looked at me sadly, "I don't really have the precision to do it. Unfortunately I just don't have Snips' ability."

I smiled at the reference, "Rarity does."

He looked troubled at my suggestion, "I don't know if I want to expose her to that magic. It's dark, and it taints the soul. It's a constant battle of will power for me to not simply bring the Black Book from its place in the void to where I am, open it, and read. It...speaks to you. There are whispers, promises it makes, and the power is seductive. I don't want to see it corrupt her."

He had a point. I didnae think of it like that. The black book itself had been a mod that Mannulus had created with Cosmic. I had seen it, and I had even made the suggestion about binding a soul ta it. Apparently, it had actually happened here. If that was true, then some dark necromancer soul was bound ta it, and I couldnae let it take Rarity."

"I see yer point boyo, but, what other option do we have?"

He sighed, "Perhaps once his soul heals our friend will return to how he once was."

"We better hope so," 7hund3r said, "from what I've seen, the two persona have grafted or integrated into each other. Separating the two might be counterintuitive if that's the case."

"Ach, damned if ye do, fucked if ye don't," I said, "well, Ah guess the best option is t' wait-'n'-see."

Mannalus nodded, adding, "that's probably for the best. He's with his wife now and she's tending to him personally. He has his bad days, as well as good ones."

"Wife, eh?" I muse, "so he up and d'filed fair Fluttershy now, did 'e?"

"Uh, actually, he didn't," LightningSword said, "that, uh, 'honor' goes to me."

This startles me some, as I had never expected Lightning to be so bold, but I still have to smile at the man finding something out of this whole clusterfuck.

"Good on ya, boyo," I say, clapping him on the back, "ya treat th' mare r'ght, eh?"

"That's the plan," Lightning said, "I don't want to hurt her at all."

"Aye, ye best get on that," I confirm, "now, Ah'm still nowhere near drunk enough to be dealin' with this tosh. TO TH' WHISKEY!"

The group of us moved deeper inta the castle and instantly I saw the dinning room. Mannulus had specifically designed it to look like it was right outta Hogwarts. Stepping inta it I heard the scurrying of feet, and I looked in time to see more of the NPCs that was designed ta take care of the temple. Several of them brought food of various shapes and sizes out, and my mouth watered as I saw the bottle of whiskey. I moved toward it, practically tasting it, needing to have the blessed warm liquid moving down my throat. Scratch that, I needed the whiskey, and then I needed ta get laid. There was three of them here, but It wasn't like I'm picky. Well, a little picky, after all a girl needs to know what she likes and what she doesn't like. Mannulus isn't handsome in any use of the word, but he's a damned good fella. Figure that he'd want ta make a girl feel good 'bout herself.

I looked at Lighting. Naw, he's bagged Flutters. Right now he's living on cloud nine, and having a mare with more demons then he's got hairs on his head ain't gonna help. That left 7hund3r. I looked at 'im, and I wasn't sure. I was about to give up hope when I saw Trixie walk inta the room. She was wearing her wizard robes, her hair pulled inta a tight ponytail, but she looked every bit like Trixie from the show, right down ta the red eyes from the Alicorn amulet. Her azure colored cheeks had a slight blush.

"Oi! How's it going ya howlin' Jessie?!"

She stopped, blinked, and then smiled, "CLOP! Well fuck my ass and call me a bitch!"

She ran over, hugged me, and I returned it, "Been good, had a nice scrape while out, got a couple new swords, found out this is real, and gettin' ready to drink ma tits off, now, how ya a doin?"

She took a seat, "I'm good. Starlight has been starved for company."

I rolled my eyes, "Gonna sound like a right hypocrite, but ya created a cock hungry bed warmer, didn't ya?"

She shrugged, "I suppose so, and yes, that does make you sound like a hypocrite. But damn it's good to see you."

Temple of Celestia Sol - Dinning Room - Mannulus P.O.V.

Hearing my friends again made me smile. It was good to see them all talking visiting, and I wanted to join in when I felt the message spell begin. I closed my eyes.

"Lulamoon, what did you discover?"

There was some quiet for a moment before a heard a mental cough, "The great and powerful Lulamoon has discovered that the Princess enjoys a country ride. She normally takes only her lady in waiting. From what the great and powerful Lulamoon has discovered she is quite fond of riding further ahead."

I smiled, "Good, that's useful information, when does she ride?"

"She rides out every other day, for about two hours in the morning. They do it very early. Today was a riding day, so there will be a day of rest."

I nodded, "Keep track. What I have planned will take some time, but it should cement our ability to create allies. You've done well Lulamoon."

I heard a haughty laugh, "Lord Mannulus, was there ever a doubt?"

I opened my eyes, and looked at my friends once more. Slowly I stood, "I fear that there are things that require my attention, however, I shall catch up to all of you later."

I slowly left the room, and saw Rainbow and Twilight waiting on me. Both of my brides came to my side, "My love, are you okay?" Twilight asked?

I nodded, "I am, Lulamoon has delivered some news that is very useful. We can proceed with the plan," I replied, "But for now I need to go to the lab."

They followed me, "Why? You're not going to try to recreate Lord Sombra the Magnificent's body again are you?" Rainbow asked.

I shook my head, "No, but I do need a body. I need to create a puppet from some of the corpses we have. Something that will pass as a Sanctus Theocracy soldier."

Twilight nodded, "That's clever, allow them to think that it is the Theocracy that is attacking."

Rainbow studied me, "How will it operate?"

I shrugged, "I should be able to simply animate it, and then use my will to guide it. Once I've done that it should act as I would act. I plan on allowing it to be destroyed, and I plan on allowing Umbra to do it."

"Are you sure?" Twilight asked.

I nodded, "I am. Umbra is completely loyal to the temple. I know that he will do this for the interest of the temple itself."

The Slave Pit - Border of the Sanctus Theocracy - Head Slaver's P.O.V.

What the hell is she?!

I ran from the cage, seeing the golden haired Equis Mare rip the door apart. She had been out cold, ever since I had my second in command use that stun spell. It's useful, which was why he was my second in command. Of course he wasn't anything anymore. Nothing more than a body with its spine ripped out. I jumped out of the wall of a piece of iron as it flew past me, and I did my best to rally my men. But no one was coming.

I turned around and looked at her. She was beautiful, her muscles well defined, and that armor we had cut off of her had been tough, so very tough. But slaves don't need armor. Her freckled face looked pissed, and it was all I could do from pissing myself. I looked over to see the bodies of some of my men. The other slaves were out as well, attacking, turning on us, and this bitch was the reason. We had them broken! They were money in our pocket! I saw my ace in the hole. He stood up, easily twice as tall as me, and solid muscle. I watched as he picked up a large rock, well actually a small bolder, and he prepared to throw it.

"CRUSH HER!" I screamed.

He didn't the chance. She ran and tackled him, taking out his knees. I watched as she straddled him, a bloodlust in those green eyes. He tried to reach for her, but she wrapped her hands around his head, and then without missing a beat she crushed it into nothing. She looked at me, and I could see something else. The bloody stain between her thighs. She couldn't know it was me.

"You bastard," she growled, "You fucking son of a motherless whore!"

She grabbed the dagger from Andre's lifeless body. In her hands it looked like a short sword. She stepped near me, "You took me, and those other girls prisoner, and then you… FUCK YOU!"

She jumped toward me, and I couldn't move fast enough. I felt the dagger rip into my stomach, and I felt it tear through my back. I fell backward, my hands clutching the weapon. She wrenched it away easily enough, and I fell to the ground, blood pooling up.

"Please… Mercy…" I begged.

"She spat on me," Slavers, especially those that are rapists pieces of shit, don't deserve mercy."

I saw her foot come down toward my head.

The Slave Pit - Border of the Sanctus Theocracy - Mistress Marevelous' P.O.V.

He was gone, gone. Okay, I could breathe. Fuck, I could breathe now. Come on… It's okay, the fucker is gone, and he isn't going to do that to anyone else.

"Hey, you okay?"

I looked toward Suavis. Like me he had been kidnapped, and from what I found out, he'd been raped, a dozen times, by some of the slavers. I wanted to collapse, but he ran toward me. He was an Equis, like me, but a Pegasus, or winged I suppose, although they had cut his wings off. He held me, and I began to weep as he stroked my back. I sobbed as the humiliation hit home. I cried as the memory surfaced of what happened. The stun spell didn't let me react, but I felt, heard, and saw everything.

I couldn't act as they stripped me, laid me across a table, and then that… Oh GOD!

"He won't do it again."

I nodded, "I… I need to go home…"

He smiled, "I have no home, but I'll travel with you to yours, if you don't mind."

I nodded. The heat of the battle was over, the revenge was done, and I felt so empty. I wanted to feel vindicated, and triumphant, but I just felt cheap and used. Suavis handed me some leather armor he had stripped from some of the slavers. I pulled it on, feeling filthy as I wore it. I need to bathe. I needed to scrub my flesh until it was raw and bleeding. I felt Suavis walking near me, and in his hands he carried a bow, on his back was a quiver of arrows, and I had a sword. The other slaves, dark elves, Lamias, two centaurs, and twelve Equis like myself began to follow us. I didn't know how to tell them that I wasn't sure if they should follow me. I didn't really know where we were, or even how to get to the Temple, but I knew that's where I wanted to go. I knew that if no one else was here, Mannulus would be. I also knew that if he found out what happened he would want to burn every slaver camp that he could find to the fucking ground. And God help me, I wanted him to do it.