Chapter Twelve: The Glutton of the Marshes
Meeting at the President's home Logan and his allies explained the events that took place across the seas watching the middle age woman go into thought.
"This darkness is quite a threat and it's harming our brothers in Samarkand? We can't allow this, I knew something was wrong when trades ended but never imagined a supernatural force could be at work," the Madam President spoke standing from her desk.
"Albion plans to lead an army, to push back the darkness that has taken over my kingdom and rescue the Hero King Adam," Tali explained.
"Then as my right as President of the South Islands, we shall stand and fight in Samarkand aid! Albion can count on our ships to aid them," she spoke shaking Logan's hand.
"We look forward to reestablishing peace between our nations once Samarkand darkness has been purged," Logan smiled leaving the office of the President and using their guild seals to teleport themselves to the Sanctuary.
"With the aid of the South Islands we are getting closer to freeing Samarkand of its darkness, but there is still much work to be done, starting with locating the agent that resides in Wraithmarsh," Gabriel explained.
"Master Garth has assured us that the Cullis Gate should work properly this time now that the threat of the Dejestress has been dealt with," Jasper explained.
"I hope so! I don't want to end up falling into some godforsaken jungle again!" Saker growled using the map to teleport the Garth Tower along with the others.
"Wow," Echo smiled looking around at the new sights before her, following the others up the stairs where Garth waited for them.
"Glad to see you all back in one piece, never could I have imagined a dark force could redirect a Cullis Gate, glad she bit off more than she can chew, if you're ready the gate will take you to Wraithmarsh," Garth spoke.
"This one better not malfunction again!" Saker warned stepping onto the gate and teleported first followed by Echo and Tali.
"We will see you later Garth, be careful," Logan spoke before following his friends.
Appearing in Wraithmarsh Logan looked around at the thick red fog that covered the entire area looking to Echo who made a face as she step into the swamp water.
"Ugh! Do we really have to trek through this nasty swamp?" Echo sighed.
"Sadly yes, come on lass a little water won't hurt you," Saker teased facing them, it was then at that moment a massive pink tongue wrapped around Saker's waist and violently pulled him into the fog.
"SAKER!" Logan yelled running into the marsh with the girls listening to Saker grunt and massive shaking of something that appeared to be hopping away.
"GET YOUR SLIMY TONGUE OFF ME!" Saker yelled from inside the fog.
"Hold on Saker!" Tali yelled noticing massive frog-like footprints in the mud then spotting a massive shadow hop over a flooded village where they came to a halt to see a Corrupted Banshee.
With Corruption falling off her the Banshee it looked up with red eyes in its dark hood before screaming loudly forcing the heroes to cover their ears.
"What is that?!" Echo yelled seeing shadow children emerge from the pools of Corruption around them, with the Banshee shielding its face Logan used light to burn the Corruption off the Banshee and the children.
Swinging her staff Echo smash the skulls of the child-like shadows while Logan swung his sword whacking the Banshee that screeched with each hit then let out another scream.
Getting sick of the scream Tali launched a fireworks spell into the hood watching the creature blow up in an explosion of fireworks and fade away allowing them to press on after the agent that took Saker.
"Be careful the fog is unnatural in this place! We may lose contact! Don't allow yourself to get separated!" Gabriel warned.
Hearing a yell the heroes came to a halt with the yell growing loud and Saker came in from the sky above crashing into the murky water behind them with a loud splash.
"BLAH! Pttt!" Saker growled spitting the water that got into his mouth, "Son of a bitch! I am gonna strangle that fucker with its own tongue!"
Turning around they felt the thumps of the beast hops turning to see glowing eyes in the fog followed by a loud monstrous roar from a massive bull frog-like Corrupter with a mask embedded on its back.
The Croaker then bellowed before launching its tongue at Logan only this time Saker stepped in the way grabbing the tongue and yanking hard.
"Nu-uh! The second date means NO TONGUE!" he yelled with all his brute strength pulled and swung the Croaker over the heroes and slammed it on its back creating a large splash.
Seeing its unarmored underside Logan formed a light spell rushing at the Croaker and with a jump slammed the light spell on its underside burning off its Corruption.
Seeing an opening Tali and Echo began their attacks hitting the Croaker's belly, then with a roll the frog retracted its tongue back and dive into the water.
"Where is it?!" Saker growled forming up with the heroes facing all directions waiting for a sign of the Croaker's next attack.
Seeing bubbles approaching fast Saker lifted his fists and smashed them down on the Croaker's head bringing it to a halt and flipping upwards where he lifted and with a yell tossed it on its back again.
Combing spells Logan and Tali made the Light Fireworks spell rain down on the monster's belly burning off its Corruption then get finished off when Saker jumped and smashed his fists down on the Croaker's belly shattering its ribs with a loud crack.
Dissolving into the light the Croaker vanished into the light the red mist around the marsh turning white, "serves you right! Bitch!" Saker growled lighting a new cigar.
"So, these are the Agents that plague Albion?" Echo asked approaching Logan and Tali.
"Fifteen in all, so far we managed to kill three well four now with ole hopper here," Logan explained.
"That's it?" Echo spoke surprised they only managed to kill a few.
"Yeah that it's we didn't exactly have time when Albion got attacked too," Logan explained.
"It's getting much easier to fight these things now," Tali spoke looking around the ruined village they stood in the center of, "what happened here?"
"Six hundred years ago, bandits attacked the village and burned it to the ground, Whisper friend the Hero of Oakvale was born and raised here, many years after his time Oakvale was destroyed a final time, from within the village, a reckless youth by the name of Reaver made a deal with the forces of shadows, who took the lives of every other resident as payment, all of his family all of his friends everyone he loved, and now the marsh has engulfed the village and Oakvale," Gabriel explained while the heroes made their way through the destroyed village.
"Reaver? The Bloody Fool traded the lives of his home for eternal youth? He will get what's coming to him soon enough," Logan remarked.
"Whisper friend grew up here? How awful, he would be so sad to see the state his home was left in," Echo spoke seeing statues in the distance.
Following her gaze Logan followed going off the path and approached an abandoned cemetery where the statues of Brom, Scarlet Robe, and the Hero of Oakvale, the statues withered and covered in moss.
"That is your father guide Theresa's family, her father Brom, her mother Scarlet Robe, and her brother the Hero of Oakvale Zane, your legacy Logan," Gabriel spoke.
"So that's what the Hero of Oakvale looked like, he was very handsome," Echo remarked.
Silent Logan approached touching the statue of Zane and smiled, "I am sorry your family has to see your homes like this, when this is all over my brother and I will relocate you three to Bowerstone, I'm sure you'll love the gardens," Logan spoke.
Admiring Logan's words Tali approached the statues saying words of a prayer in a foreign tongue, the four made their way out of the marsh and to the outskirts of Bloodstone where they could see another vortex of Corruption attached itself to the city.
"Here too?!" Saker groaned, "Aye and I love Bloodstone! The casinos, the brothels, the bars."
"Really now Saker, we have other things to worry about," Logan sighed giving the giant an annoyed glare.
Placing her staff on her shoulder Echo put on some goggles to look out to the city, "I don't see any giant monsters, I do see a lot of the people here been turned in those Corrupted creatures."
"Could they be plotting another ambush?" Tali asked looking towards the caves near the docks.
"That is possible, looks like Reaver is expanding Bloodstone," Logan spoke looking at the construction that had been halted during the darkness attack.
"Not many places for this thing to be hiding? Where the bloody hell is it?" Saker spoke lighting a cigar and turning around to look up the hill they come from for his jaw to slowly drop seeing a giant ape-like monster with a mask growling, "Oh shit."
Turning around Logan and the others drew their weapons watching the Brawler beat on its chest and then roared, jumping over their heads and landing near the docks.
"Damn thing the size of a bloody troll!" Saker yelled watching the creature lift a ship out of the water, "Oh bloody hell, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
Running the heroes jumped out of the way just as the Brawler threw a ship to them that crashed against the mountain side sending Tali and Logan rolling down the hill and sending Saker and Echo falling into the water below.
Roaring again the Brawler picked up an anchor ripping it from another ship and began to spin it fast before launching it at Logan and Tali who jumped out of the way. The anchor smashes into the mountain rock with the creature pulling trying to free the anchor.
Pulling himself out of the water Saker got out of the water pulling Echo out and turning to see where the anchor was lodged.
Getting an idea Logan looked to Saker and pointed at the chain grabbing onto the end of the anchor with a nod Saker ran over grabbing the chain and pulling against the Brawler.
Running over Tali launched a Fireworks spell at the Brawler's face, with an explosion of light the Brawler shielded its face its grip on the chain loose giving them an opening.
Grabbing the chain Logan used force push to free the anchor from the rocks allowing Saker to grunt and launch the anchor towards the Brawler, using the Light spell Logan burnt off the Brawler Corruption which allowed the anchor to dig into the monster's chest.
With a roar, the Brawler tried to pull the anchor out not noticing Logan land behind him who charged with Echo both slicing their weapons against the Brawler's ankles forcing it to fall to its knee.
Running with Tali Saker picked her up and launched her above the Brawler who hit the beast with another fireworks spell allowing Saker to run up a pile of crates and jump towards the beast punching the anchor deeper into the beast.
With a last roar, the Brawler stumbled back falling into the water the Corruption dissolving when sunlight broke through the red sky freeing Bloodstone from the agent's control.
Panting Saker took a seat on a create regrouping with the others who watched the Corruption burn away in the sun's light.
"Ok, I can see why only a few are dead now," Echo panted wringing out her clothes.
"That makes five, ten left to kill," Tali panted taking a seat on the dock.
The group's attention would be drawn to clapping coming down the road into Bloodstone City where Reaver walked down with an amused smirk, "Bravo! Simply engrossing, I must say your performance was subpar at most, quite sloppy for up-and-inspiring heroes, wouldn't you say? Logan my old friend."
"Reaver," Logan spoke narrowing his eyes, he knew he was desperate for funds when he handed over the industrials to Reaver to fund his army after the Crawler's arrival but after seeing the suffering firsthand years later once free of the crown, what Reaver singlehandedly had done, he knew it was a mistake that would haunt him till he died.
"So, this is the infamous Reaver, have to say I am rather disappointed," Tali spoke crossing her arms.
"My what a sharp tongue beauty we have before us, you just radiate with royalty almost like a princess," Reaver spoke with a knowing smile.
Having heard enough Echo spoke up, "Let's cut the bullshit and get to the point, what'cha want?"
"Oh, I desire nothing at all, you did me a favor actually, ridding my city of that abomination, it made all my citizens quite dull, can't really have a riveting dispute with the Corrupted now can we?" Reaver spoke.
Lighting a cigar Saker inhaled before exhaling smoke to speak, "I heard rumors you tried to pull a coup on the Queen, I also heard she wasn't having any of your honeyed words and threw you out of her castle into a puddle of mud."
Logan almost snorted at the thought of his sister-in-law using her Hero strength to toss Reaver out of the palace.
"Vicious rumors! I would never dream of trying to overthrow the monarchy, in fact, I am quite content with how the current King dealt with offers I made to improve our fair kingdom," Reaver spoke getting a raised brow from Logan.
"Reaver, my brother rejected all of your offers, I don't think he thought any of your suggestions were even remotely beneficial to Albion, so let's drop the pleasantry shit," Logan spoke approaching the other, "I will say it once, leave my brother and his wife be, otherwise your next Shadow Court Delivery will never make it."
"Oh my, it seems you have grown quite the backbone haven't you Logan? I haven't seen a glare like that since your own father," Reaver smiled tipping his hat before walking away.
"That man radiates arrogance and egotism," Tali spoke turning to Logan, "shall we return to the Sanctuary?"
"Let's go," Logan spoke using the seal to teleport them from Bloodstone.