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A Trifling Victory
As predicted, it was not two days later that the Heir had the group out working for 'the betterment of the Hamlet' once again. It was a small mercy they could at least choose their own missions, so they kept to the arguably simpler tasks such as exploration. The group had to talk themselves into going on item retrieval errands once again, and any and all tentacle alters were avoided like the they were infected with the plague while also being on fire. It was on one of the exploration missions that they encountered more giant mosquitoes. Vesli had rather hoped he'd seen the last of those things in the Hamlet.
"Would not mind catching one for study," Bird mused after the nuisances were summarily squished. "But should be careful when encountering them. Suspect they carry disease."
"I would not be surprised if they did," Caillot nodded his head in agreement as he examine the bites the group had gotten from the speedy winged demons. "Luckily it seems we escaped ailment this time."
"Squish them before they can bite, got it" Vesli eyed the insect remains with disgust. Just another thing to add to the 'remember or die' list that made up the unspoken rules of Hamlet life. His weary gaze shift to his fellow adventurers. At least the careful selection of their outings was allowing some healing, if slower than it would be had they'd been allowed proper recovery. There was little he could do to help outside of continue to pull his weight.
"Need to trim your horns again," Bird chirped from beside him, only causing a slight jolt as she knocked Vesli from his thoughts.
"Yes, Doctor. I shall endeavor to behave during the process once we return to the Hamlet," Vesli gave her a half-smile. Bird had made it her mission to address the issue. Especially after noticing it effected Sverrir. Not to the point it would get Vesli killed, but the creature who shared his mind was often scratching at the broken horn in a clearly unhappy manner. And an unhappy Rir was an unpredictable Rir. Vesli was for once thankful that the horns were similar to those of a goat in that they were always growing, albeit slowly. He was perfectly capable of trimming the full horn himself, but Bird's keen eye was what was keeping the broken one from growing back in all crooked or something else equally horrible. Rir had given her a bit of trouble but Bird had sorted that quickly by whapping Rir on the nose with the flat of her blade. Again. Rir was no less stunned this time around and had been a meek creature for the rest of the trimmings.
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Vesli could swear that the whine was growing louder now. It had been a constant dull annoyance for some time, but this? This was a causing a ringing sensation in his ears, which was most unpleasant. There were also the rumors whispering their way through the Hamlet. Mosquito people appearing at random outside the Hamlet. Even rumors of a new illness that the Sanitorium could not cure starting to infect a few of the unlucky souls bitten by the creatures. And the Heir was disturbingly silent on the matter. No new orders. No demanding for one group or another to hunt and eliminate the source of the noise. That was suspicious. But missions continued, and Vesli was in no place to argue. The group was adventuring in the Ruins when the scales finally tipped. "Wait." Vesli stood stock still, ears twitching, nostrils flaring, "Something's coming."
"More bugs?" Aela frowned, readying her glaive as Caillot frowned, the cultist staring in the same direction Vesli and Rir sensed the disturbance.
"Worse." Vesli cracked his neck as he let Rir come out, his more feral side knowing that there was a threat to its pack approaching.
"Form up, now." Aela, recognizing the danger, barked out an order as Rir stomped forward to take point, Aela a half step behind him while Caillot began to prepare his creepy mutterings and Bird readied whatever unholy experiments she kept in her purse.
They heard the bugs first, the loud buzzing grating on the ears and rattling their spines. The horrid hum of the mosquito's wings filled the air but now their nauseating thrum was accompanied by the skitter of pointed feet along the floor and deep wheezing breaths.
"Would suggest ducking," Bird seemed eerily calm as always as she threw a flash grenade down the tunnel, the innocent looking little orb rolling to a stop when it struck something, the bright burst of light showing horrors new and old. The mosquitoes were as expected now, but those seemed the least of the troubles. In front of the two mosquitoes was what looked like a human with a slathering blood-filled insect for a head. Crawling along the wall in the back of the line was a figure with a tattered jacket, a powdered wig, and a bloodstained maw that looked far too much like a demonic centipede for Vesli or Rir's liking. Finally, lurking in the safety of the middle shadows, was a figure that appeared almost normal. It looked to be a short little man with a red stained mouth, a pointed mask, and a piece of parchment in his hand.
Rir decided anything that looked normal had to be trouble in this hellhole and Vesli thoroughly agreed with the fuzzy asshole for once.
"Hahahahahaha!" the normal looking thing cackled, twisting its hand in what looked like a rebuff, with some form of wicked energy following the motion. Rir staggered back, blinking away spots as a feeling of pure indignant rage filled him. A glance showed that everyone had staggered in some direction and their careful formation was shattered. The mosquitoes then noticed the pack member who had staggered to the front. They swarmed Bird.
Roaring, Rir charged them. He leapt, claws flashing through the air as he slashed through the first one, its blood-filled guts bursting from his claws as the second hastily flew up and out of his reach. Before Rir could leap for the second one, the centipede blindsided him as Rir slammed hard onto the ground, clawed limbs reaching out to hold back the bladed forelimbs of the beast even as its face kept trying to lean down to bite him, Rir snarling back angrily with each attempt.
Off to the side, he could see Aela swinging her glaive at the staggering human body with a giant insect for a head. It didn't seem to be that strong physically, but it wouldn't stop moving and seemed to be infuriating Aela more and more, her rage egged on by the figure with the parchment.
He could see Bird throwing one of her knives at the second mosquito while Caillot focused on the giant centipede that wanted a fuzzy snack. The beast was massive so it would take something powerful to move it. Luckily, Caillot's eldritch horror seemed up to the task as tentacles grasped the centipede's many limbs.
Leaving Caillot to begin tying the centipede into a knot, Rir charged once more, ramming Aela's opponent in the back as it flew into her glaive and was quickly shorn in half. With it dead and Bird finally nailing the mosquito with a flying knife, the taunting figure with the parchment realized it was all alone.
The little mosquito man quickly turned tail to flee. They refused to allow it. Veins burning with humiliation and shame from having spent most of the fight on their back, the Abomination charged, charging down the thing with its short stubby legs. It let out a panicked screech and tried to escape by merely swatting at Rir's snout. The action served no other purpose but to drive Rir further into a blood rage, the beast taking it as the thing copying what only Bird was allowed to do. A clawed hand grabbed the thing by its throat and lifted up, squeezing until a loud snap echoed around them and it went limp, its letter falling to the ground from its dead fingers.
Vesli changed back to himself, dropping the disgusting thing. "Everyone alright?"
"No blood spilt," Bird answered him as she finished up checking the other two. "But then, this had to come from somewhere" the Doctor held up two glass vials filled with an unmistakable red liquid.
"They seemed especially intent on guarding the smaller one, and this," Caillot picked up the fallen parchment gingerly. "An invitation to an evening of games and entertainment. Signed by someone called 'the Baron'."
"Suspect that it is far more unpleasant than the invitation sounds," Bird's scowl was strong enough to be felt through the mask.
"The Heir will wish to see this." Caillot rolled up the invitation and the group headed out of the Ruins. The findings were delivered to the Caretaker, who proceeded to cackle madly. The group each made some attempt to edge away from him.
"Ohohoho! You lot have proven very useful! Very useful indeed!" the Caretaker wandered off, allowing the quartet to make their escape.
"The Spirits around that man are all twisted in knots" Aela finally spoke.
"He's… certainly something" Vesli shuddered. The group echoed the sentiment as they went to find activities to relieve the stress from the latest venture into the estates tainted Ruins.
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"Oh my. Seems that that group produces more results than I anticipated," the Heir examined the invitation in their hands. "And you say that none of them were Cursed?"
"No signs that they'd even been bitten," the Caretaker answered.
"My, my. How impressive" the Heir leaned back in their chair. "Such talent should be rewarded. Do you think they'd be ready for the Courtyard?"
It was a statement to the Caretaker's own twisted mind that he didn't even flinch at the thought of being sent into the Courtyard being considered a reward. "Not yet I don't think. Perhaps after facing another one of the local horrors instead?"
"Hmm… I suppose you're right. Those are more immediate and irksome. Very well then. I shall have them deal with the blasted Shrieker. Its nest is littered with lost trinkets by now. After that I'm certain they'll be ready to venture into the Courtyard. The only question is if I want them to deal with one of the Crocodilians or the Baron himself. Such a dilemma."
"Truly no one appreciates the sacrifices you make," the Caretaker bowed.
