William stepped forward and pocketed the key that lay on the ground before the group quietly agreed to make their way to the Greenmere Stadium. By the time they were out of the Well and in the Circle, they had said precious few words to each other, each seeming to mull over what had just happened.
Bash's thoughts swirled in every direction as he took in the new world around him. Sooka's mage armor persisted, but what really had his attention were the many pinpoints of magic that surrounded him in the city. Magic of every color decorated obscure parts of the city, from doorways to random objects to even people at times. Sparse though it was, Bash was still surprised at the amount of it that he'd never seen before or even bothered to pay attention to. He found his vision scattered and unfocused as he sought out more in more places.
Occasionally, he'd return his focus to his dagger, watching the swirl of the metal as it moved about. As time went on, he felt that he knew more about it, understood better what it did. By the time they arrived at the stadium, he was certain that this weapon could defeat the rakshasa.
"You know," said Finwe, pausing to gaze up at the giant, overpopulated stadium. "I might just go home and take a nap… But thanks for letting me tag along. You all remind me of some friends I used to have."
"What were your friends like?" asked Enna.
Finwe chuckled. "A bit ramshackle like you lot, but good-natured. I've been looking for them for four years."
"What do they look like?" prompted Bash, realizing that they may have passed through Agneward at some time.
"A red dragonborn… blonde dwarf? A half-orc, and a halfling. Have you seen them?"
They all shook their heads apologetically. Bash himself had seen plenty of red dragonborn and blonde dwarves in the city over the years, but he couldn't remember a time that they'd been together.
"It's just as well," shrugged Finwe. "If anyone sees them, let me know. They went missing on a mission and never came back."
"We'll keep an eye out," smiled Enna. "I hope they're okay."
"As do I! But I must be getting back. I am… exhausted."
That truth was apparent, and the group bid him farewell as they turned to the stadium. People had already begun to enter and find their seats within, and once they'd been sighted, they had to fight through a throng to get to the contestants' entrance. It appeared that they were nearing celebrity status, and Bash held his head a little higher as their medallions flashed under the archway.
Greeted by the extravagant Drasloc, they were shown to a new waiting room, once again full of food and drink and amenities, but far more lavish than the one before. They wandered into the room and took in the sights, Bash grabbing several pastries as he walked by the table. Sitting in a plush velvet chair, he began eating while listening to the city sounds emanating through a large open balcony across from him. The hustle and bustle was comforting to him, and he almost felt that he could fall asleep here.
Everyone else, some still tired from their previous battle, sat down and rested. For about an hour and a half, they ate, drank, chatted, dozed, and smiled. Though the rest of the world seemed adrift in a sea of chaos, this one room gave them much needed peace.
As the time approached for their next match, a bell chimed somewhere and Drasloc reappeared right on cue to escort them to the arena gate. After much pomp and showmanship, he gave himself a dramatic exit as they readied themselves.
Stepping out into the great circle, the Natural Misfits were greeted with a deafening round of applause. The familiar dome encircled the fighting area before them, except this time, Bash saw the magic for what it was, the power emanating from it like tufts of blue smoke. Familiar as the scene was, the floor had been changed. Instead of the hard earth from their last match, within the circle was a large pool of water surrounded by mosses, mud, weeds, and marsh grasses.
Bash made a disgusted noise as he was forced to remember their dismal time in Marshfall.
Drasloc's nasally voice announced them to the crowds, and only a few moments later, a giant eyestalk with three eyes lifted out of the water and glared at them. An ugly green body followed, tentacles flaring out at them in anger.
A dribble of profanity escaped Aribis as they all prepared to fight the froghemoth, and they lunged forward as a unit.
A dark thundercloud appeared above the pool as Aribis flew up and Sooka's spellbook appeared above the beast. As Bash readied his short bow, William leapt onto the water and rushed forward just as several rapid shots from Aribis's crossbow landed, releasing piercing shrieks from their enemy. Raising his bow to aim, Bash saw a blast of cold air shoot down upon the froghemoth, coating it in crystalline ice right as a tremendous lightning bolt descended on it from above. A deafening clap of thunder jolted the stadium, and William attacked and dashed away to the edge of the pool as Bash drew back the drawstring and aimed. Eye keenly focused on the froghemoth, Bash nearly let an arrow fly when it pushed forward, sloshing water about it, and reached a tentacle out at Enna.
Bash held the shot, waiting until Enna was no longer a target, but she got pulled under the water with a sharp squeal. That magical power within him shifted, desiring a release, but he decided that now was still not the time. Moving up to the water, he followed the large outline, releasing his arrow at just the right moment and piercing deeply.
Two more bolts shot into the water, and a ray of icy frost followed. As Bash fumbled for another arrow, yet another bolt of lightning struck, and the water crackled with the intense electricity. A giant crocodile tail flailed, splashing the surface of the water, and Bash grinned to see Enna transformed again.
Before Bash could even line up a shot, William dove into the water, and Aribis, Sooka, and Bash waited and watched. Deep vibrations shot ripples over the water, but what happened next, none of them were prepared for.
The giant multi-ton beast was launched out of the water, spraying the three bystanders, and landed with a sickening, crunching thump on the other side of the pool. Just after, William followed, landing beside it effortlessly, drenched and flexing.
Even in the muted silence of the magical dome, Bash could still hear the outrageous uproar that sprung from the crowds. He glanced around at his friends as Enna surfaced and sullenly climbed out of the water. With a grin, he scratched her scaly head, which was longer than he was tall, and she nuzzled his hand affectionately.
Drasloc's voice boomed over the cacophony of the audience and announced their victory alongside a new record for the round.
"I think we're getting the hang of this," said Bash as he and his friends regrouped to leave the arena.
"Let's not forget that last time ye almost died," smirked Aribis. Bash threw him a glowering stare.
Before they left, Bash turned to scan the crowd, but his eyes met nothing more than the usual clamor of civilians and tourists.
So Rolen chose not to grace us with his presence again, he thought before turning to leave. They waited for the giant, scaly Enna to make her way through the door before the others passed through, and they returned to their lavish waiting room. The distant announcement of their next round the following day rang out and echoed down the hallways as Enna finally transformed back into her elven body.
As she walked in front of him, Bash admired the way her hair cascaded down her back and swayed to and fro with each step. He was reminded of a time perhaps three decades ago when he'd made her so angry that she'd stormed off, her footsteps ablaze with purpose, tossing her hair all about. Smiling, he took comfort in knowing that today's purposeful steps came from her validated fighting technique and not his own stupidity.
The group stumbled into their high-quality waiting room and sat down, their hearts momentarily light. Before long, a familiar voice rang out from down the hallway.
"Amazing!" said Kayl. "Simply amazing. That's my brother, you know."
"Yes," replied Erza Kveld. "I am aware." She was clearly wearied of his jubilation.
All eyes turned to the door as the pair entered the room.
"Greetings, Misfits," hailed Erza. "Congratulations on your spectacular display."
From behind her, Kayl gave them two enthusiastic thumbs up before patting a rather jingly-sounding pocket.
"Now," she continued, dismissing the tournament in favor of her main purpose, "I assume you've had time to take me up on my offer?"
Enna nodded.
"May I have the key back?"
William stood resolutely and handed it over, and Erza hung it on a chain round her neck.
"I see you were tested," she prodded. "Did the goddess deign you worthy of her assistance? Were you given anything?"
All eyes turned to Bash, and he inwardly recoiled. He had half hoped – now a foolish hope, he saw – that he could avoid such questioning and prodding. The workings of the dagger were known only to him and Erathis, and he wanted to avoid sharing it with anyone, even his own party. While they knew that he'd been gifted something, they needed only know the bare minimum. This information in the wrong hands could be lethal.
"I mean…" he hesitated. How did he know she wasn't a doppelganger?
"Come now, Peren," said Erza, reminding Bash that he was still in disguise. "It appears you were the recipient of her kindness. What did she gift to you?"
Bash was not a fool. He understood that Erza expected to see something of importance, probably some glowing, magical hammer or some equivalent, but something in him told him to keep his dagger sheathed. Finally, he leaned forward.
"You really want to know?" he taunted.
She replied with a look of derision.
For the first time, Bash allowed himself to access that dormant flow of energy that lay within him. It felt so wildly different from the mental power that he used to form a mage hand, somehow stronger and more… dramatic. It seemed to beg him for flair as it was released, and he happily obliged. Standing, he swirled his hands in a circle before shooting them up toward the ceiling, releasing the energy in the form of a poisonous fume. The green mist shot out, rebuffed by the stone ceiling until it dissipated altogether.
He grinned proudly and looked around. Mild surprise sat on William, Aribis, and Sooka, but Kayl and Erza seemed wholly unimpressed. Only one person understood the significance.
"How did you do that?" asked Enna incredulously.
"Um…" said Erza slowly, brow furrowed in confusion. "Did that… somehow answer my question?"
Bash rolled his eyes.
Standing, Enna took a step forward and said, "I assure you, he could not do this before. He's never had magic before now."
"That's it?" asked Erza. "That's it?"
"It's true, though," inserted Aribis. "He really has never had magic before. That's quite something if you ask me."
William nodded in affirmation as Sooka quietly began poking Erza and Kayl with her spoon, earning odd looks and little more.
"Was there no item?" pressed Erza, clearly irritated. "No weapon? Nothing else?"
"No, I received no items from Erathis," said Bash truthfully, in a way, with a flat tone. The underreaction to his dramatic reveal had been less than satisfactory.
She eyed him carefully. "If you stole an item from the goddess, I will have you arrested immediately."
Defiance flared within Bash as he retorted, "I walked out of that chamber with the same items as when I went in."
He met her steely gaze, and they stood there for a moment, waiting to see who would back off, but someone interrupted them.
"I'm sure that whatever came out with them," said Kayl carefully, eyes glancing between the two, "if they indeed came out with something, that it would be specifically for them. Wouldn't that be right, Lady Erza?"
Her eyes shot daggers at Kayl and then Bash. "I just wanted to know if the goddess had decided to talk to you. That would have been an amazing thing."
"Not Erathis herself," said Enna quickly, trying to diffuse the tension. "A sentinel, however, did."
"Aye, a big feathery thing with a giant hammer," aided Aribis.
Erza softened slightly at this answer and said, "I take this to mean that our… problem… still exists?"
"Yes," replied Enna. "But we may have learned something to help with that. We know how to identify the doppelgangers."
"And how's that?"
"Silver," stated Aribis. "Pure silver."
Sooka held up her spoon.
"What does that mean?" asked Erza.
"Silver burns doppelgangers, but not everyone else," explained William.
"And who told you that?"
"Finwe, Ilya's bodyguard."
"Very well. Perhaps I will look into that. In any event, this task has fallen to you, as appointed by the Lawbearer herself. See to it that you do what she asks, and quickly. Things in the city are growing… desperate. Black taffy addicts have become violent, and we need to find a solution. My job is to keep the people of Agneward safe. We're doing all we can, trying to keep things under wrap from all the tourists here for the Exhibition. Without that crucial distraction, I am worried that free knowledge of these events could lead to all-out panic and rioting. I am trusting you to be discrete and to be swift."
Erza nodded at Kayl, wished him luck, and left.
Shaking his head, Kayl waited until Erza was gone before saying, "How is it that the people you try to help are the very same people you end up ticking off?"
"Aye, that's been my experience as well," nodded Aribis.
"Did you find anything since we talked last?" diverted Kayl.
"We found some information," offered Aribis. "But… you just heard most of it, actually."
"But the addicts," inserted William. "They're controlled by the rakshasa, and he can turn them into some kind of monstrosity."
"That's downright terrible!" exclaimed Kayl.
"Ah yes, there is that, too," said Aribis.
"You saw this happen?" asked Kayl.
William nodded solemnly as Aribis replied, "Aye, it was gruesome."
"Two innocent people," added William. "And we had to kill them."
"I'm truly sorry about that," said Kayl. "But you must be tired after your battle. Is there anything I can do for ye?"
"Do you know anything about the Dandelions District?" asked William. "What's been happening there?"
"I don't know much," replied Kayl. "The whole district is collectively regarded as the slums of Agneward. Lower income, things like that. I do get a few to sign up for the Mireguard on occasion. I'm afraid that I don't know any more than you at this point about what's happening with the black taffy."
"Is there anyone else in this city that you can trust?" prodded Enna.
"Sadly, dearie, no," said Kayl with a shrug. "Just you lot." He threw an eye to Aribis. "Well, I only trust him about as far as I can throw him – which is farther than you'd think!" He chuckled.
"You're such a dear heart, brother," grinned Aribis.
After a disinterested but complimentary grin, Enna pressed, "Would you be averse to staying with someone else for a time? We… want you to be safe, and we have someone else who could also use a friend right about now."
"I don't know about all that," replied Kayl. "I have a perfectly good house."
"We've had an idea of keeping a buddy system going," added Aribis. "For safety."
"What, you think I can't handle myself?"
"It's not a matter of that, it's just—"
They were interrupted by the unmistakable voice of the rakshasa, and Bash was almost instantly on his feet, hand on his dagger hilt, ready for anything.
"And Aribis, your brother Kayl resides in Agneward, does he not?"
The others hadn't reacted quite so violently, but that voice had been unmistakable. Still, a few seconds later, all eyes were alert and turned to Sooka as the source of the speech. A few select curses ran across Bash's mind as he rolled his eyes and sat once more.
Kenku mimicry, he scoffed, shaking his head.
After a few calming breaths, Aribis explained, "That was a message from the rakshasa."
"A buddy system would be a good idea," came Aribis's voice from Sooka.
"Uncanny," muttered Kayl, eyes trained on the young girl.
"We could introduce you to Finwe," redirected Enna, her expression angrier and more urgent than before.
"That half-elf bloke who always hangs out around the Ironclad Commissary?"
"That's the one," affirmed Aribis.
"He could use a friend," nodded Enna.
"I guess that's fair, with everything going on," considered Kayl. "I'll just, uh… go pack a bag? I have to remember to submit a note for time off, though... Where should I meet you at?"
"Meet us in an hour or so at the Zen Manse," said Enna.
Twenty minutes later, the group wandered the markets in the Grand Bazaar. Keeping an eye out for potions, they each took some amount of pleasure in the different wares for sale, but they stayed focused. Bash's keen eyes were taking in every detail at a glance until his eyes fell at last on a little cart parked in a relatively quiet corner, a little old woman rocking in a chair beside it.
"That place looks good," said Bash, gesturing toward the cart.
They approached, and she greeted them with a smile.
"Oh, gods," grimaced Bash suddenly, as their approach seemed to have shifted the appearance of the woman. No longer was she short and sweet, but rather lanky, sunken, and dark. His magical dagger enabled him to see her for what she was – a hag. "Maybe this was a bad idea," he muttered, but he wasn't sure if anyone else heard him.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
Her voice sounded innocent enough, but Bash was focused on the wrinkled, twisted face. Should he say something? He couldn't decide. Surely, a purchase of potions was an innocent enough venture. Surely, she couldn't do anything to them in this environment. He shot a few concerned glances about him to make sure that people still milled about.
"We're looking for some health potions," said Enna cheerily, and Bash shook his head as he suddenly remembered that the others could not see this woman for what she really was.
"Oh, I have lots of health potions!" replied the woman, waving to a sizeable display on her cart. Quickly, she stood and hobbled into the cart, pulling out a box and opening for them to see the contents.
Leaning forward, Bash cast a critical eye to them. Though they varied in size and very slightly in color, they did appear as normal health potions that he'd seen in the past; there appeared no magical haze or change in appearance.
He wrestled with himself for several moments, trying to decide whether he should reveal the woman's true nature. Surely, she would find a way to attack them or at least make a scene if she knew what he could see. And the potions seemed… normal. He ran a hand over his face and played with the fake beard on his chin.
The hag eyed him carefully, clearly sensing his trepidation.
"If you don't trust these," she said carefully, "I do have some others that would be more potent."
"No, no, no," assured Bash. "These will be just fine."
Picking one up, he studied it, turning it over and swirling it a bit. Almost frustratingly, it was a true health potion.
Wholly interested and not realizing the true nature of Bash's trepidation, Enna pressed on.
"What are the more potent ones?" she asked. Bash fought to keep from rolling his eyes as the hag answered.
"I have six simple potions, three greater potions, and one superior potion," the hag grinned back at them.
"And the price?" inquired Aribis.
"My simple potions are sixty each, greater are two hundred, and the superior is eight hundred. Gold, of course."
"Hm, I'm not so sure that we have that much to spare," said Bash nervously, somewhat relieved that they would have to go somewhere else. The fangs in her stiffening smile were incredibly unnerving.
"If you all don't have the gold," she said, closing the box and placing it back in its place, "please leave. I have other customers who I'm sure will be more willing to pay."
"We won't bother you anymore," inserted Aribis with a kind wave.
They turned to leave, and Bash felt relief wash over him.
"I have a proposition," interrupted William, and Bash froze, eyes closed and wishing that he'd heard wrong.
"Dearie," replied the hag. "The only thing that can sway me is gold."
"Maybe we should just go somewhere else," whispered Bash furiously into William's ear.
"Hang, on, Bash," replied the monk somberly and not quietly. Then, turning to the hag, he said, "What if I offer you my winnings from when we win the Colosso Exhibition, for all of the health potions."
"Gods, William—" began Bash again, but William held up a hand and silenced him.
"Just my winnings," he repeated. "But it will be more than these potions are worth."
"You're saying," said the hag, clearly intrigued as Bash cringed, "that your winnings from this… tournament will be greater than the sum of these potions?"
"Yes," replied William quite seriously. "We will win."
"You give me your word?"
"You will have my winnings."
"William, listen," said Bash hurriedly, standing between the two. "This is a hag."
William seemed confused as the hag held out her hand.
"So we have a deal?" she pressed.
"Don't do it," said Bash. "We can go somewhere else. Don't make a deal with a hag."
Looking past Bash, William said, "Only my winnings, specifically from the Colosso Exhibition."
"Whatever, dear, as long as the debt is paid." Bash turned back to see the hag's awful, twisted grin, but he could see that William would not be swayed.
"You really don't have to spend all that money on such expensive health potions," said Enna kindly. "I can always heal you!"
"We see where that got us," replied William sharply, and Enna seemed taken aback. Bash recalled the slumping sound as William had fallen to the ground just that morning, and he understood William's thinking. How many times had Bash been unable to help his wounded friends?
"Did you not get back up?" said Aribis pointedly, recalling the same event.
"I'm sorry," said Enna stiffly before turning and walking away. As much as Bash wanted to go after her and help her hurt feelings, he couldn't deny William's intentions.
Ignoring Aribis's words, William reached out and shook the hand of the hag.
"Deal," he said.
"Your winnings in the amount with interest, correct?" she grinned.
"Yes, I will pay it," he nodded.
"I should hope so, dearie. If not, I will find you!"
She slowly handed over the potions, her claws wrapping around them carefully as William deposited them in his bag. Bash held in his multiple warnings as they turned and walked away. Finally out of earshot, however, he felt an urge to say something.
"Gods, William, you just made a deal with a hag!" he exclaimed.
"What did you just say?" asked Aribis.
"That was a hag!"
"It's not very nice to call a sweet old lady a hag!" protested the little bird man.
"No, I am serious. That woman was a literal hag. You remember? Those 'sweet old ladies' that tried to eat you!"
Aribis paused, then turned to William. "You're an idiot," he accused.
"I stand by what I did," replied William stalwartly. "I will worry about whatever consequences come with this."
"That's right," said Enna flatly. "Now you can heal yourself." Bash tried to catch her eye, but she refused to look at him.
"Exactly, since your healing friends are so inept," chided Aribis.
"And if you both fall unconscious," replied William, "we need to have a backup plan."
"And we could have still accomplished that by buying potions somewhere else," urged Bash.
William shrugged. "It's done."
"It is done," nodded Aribis. "And I hope you liked your soul. It's probably gone now."