I literally assigned homework to myself. This was awful to do.
Characters:
The Guide, The Young Noble, The Wicked Sorcerer:
A young man with a scholarly nature and a photographic memory. Extremely quick-witted and able to read people well, however is overly cautious to the point of cowardice. Is a gentle and compassionate soul, however he is actively fighting his genteel nature, thinking he'd must become wicked to battle of the wicked forces he wishes to destroy. Is the planner, and takes responsibility for the trajectory of his and The Slayer's misadventures.
The Slayer, The Terrarian, The Monster Knight:
A Terrarian, an almost-human entity who boasts a myriad of supernatural powers. A rather innocent soul who, knowing nothing, has formed his world view around utility. He is a cold and proud individual, and does not often show his true emotions, but when he does, he is utterly sincere. Suffers a compulsion to kill monsters and grow his power. He dislikes this compulsion, because he doesn't like to be told what to do. Cares only for The Guide and has no regard for anyone else.
The Travelling Merchant:
A gentlemanly salesperson who hides his resistance sympathies beneath a veneer of naked greed. Is not above blackmail, and uses it liberally against The Guide.
The Merchant, The Old Merchant:
An old and soft-spoken man who, despite his kindly appearence, is sly and witty. He has come in conflict with The Guide and The Slayer.
The Nurse:
Foul mouthed and fickle, The Nurse is the foremost medical professional in the country. Her treatment is as effective as it is rough, and her experiments succeed in scaring even The Slayer
The Arms Dealer:
Having served The Resistance for ten years before being betreyed by them, The Arms Dealer is a tall and powerful man who is an expert gunsmith and marksman. A powerful fighter, and a valiant soul who agrees to help free the prisoners from The Compound.
The Demolitionist:
A dwarf officer who ranks highly in the resistance army, is utterly devoted to his cause and will stop at nothing to take down The Tyrant.
The Spy, Yharim's Spy, Clandestine Corps Unit #5534:
A female spy/assassin in service to King Yharim. She has been genetically enhanced to resist magic.
The Sea King, Amidas:
A hero of old, The Sea King was one of the founding members of the resistance before his ocean was evaporated and his citizens boiled to death. Extremely wise and experienced, wishes to gain influence over The Slayer in order to bolster the resistance forces. Harbors a deep grudge against The Tyrant and Calamitas
Summary:
Chapter 1 Prologue: Summoning (Day 0, Night)
The Guide is running back towards his village in a panic as a 'Vulture-headed' Mage conducts a summoning using the lives of the villagers as fuel. He wonders what sort of monster requires the lives of 200+ people, as even powerful dragons only cost 50 lives to summon. He arrives in town to find The Vulture Mage & Company have already left, and everything within the summoning circle dead. There are lines drawn in the dirt in the imprint of the Summoning circle, and the footprints indicate The Vulture Mage has retrieved his summon and left. At that moment, the leftover magic power congeals and forms The Slayer. In a fit of grief-laden rage, The Guide determines to kill The Slayer.
Chapter 2: The Strange One (Day 1, Morning)
It is revealed that The Guide - despite his hatred - was unable to bring himself to kill The Slayer. Instead he rescues him out of a sense of loneliness and a sort of selfish ambition, fleeing from the zombies while carrying The Slayer. Rationalizes that if The Slayer was brought to life by the death of The Villagers, The Guide will at least make him build them a house to survive the night. They exchange a series of terse and awkward introductions, where The Slayer claims he is a 'Terrarian' - a title/species of legendary men and women who are able to create, destroy and become terrifyingly powerful. The Guide finds no reason to doubt The Slayer, and puts him to work chopping trees to build shelter. It is revealed that The Slayer has access to item duplication. They begin building.
Chapter 3: Loneliness (Day 1, Afternoon)
The Slayer is busy building his first house. He is extremely meticulous and is seemingly obsessed with geometry and right angles. It annoys The Guide, because night will soon fall, and they have only yet built a framework. The two men are rude to each other, and The Guide finds himself getting quite angry as The Slayer. The Slayer treats him like an encyclopedia and ignores him otherwise. Clearly doesn't care for his company, as he has been behaving extremely coldly/rudely towards The Guide. As The Guide watches The Slayer create things almost miraculously, he recalls this power is from the deaths of his villagers. Depressed, he decides to go for a nighttime stroll.
Chapter 4: A Dreadful Night (Day 1, Night)
The Slayer monologues. This is his first day alive, and he finds everything wondrous. He hears a moaning in the distance and wonders where The Guide has gone. He is dressed in wooden armour & sword and decides to wander into the night to look for The Guide. He reveals he has no particular love for The Guide, but recognizes he needs him if he wants to survive in the world. He walks into the woods with a torch, sees a zombie and - thinking it is an injured person - decides to help him, figuring he may have useful information. Gets attacked.
Chapter 5: Helpless (Day 1, Night)
Guide is sitting in a tree thinking about his family who were all killed the night before. He decides he needs time to mourn, and The Slayer is bad company as he hasn't only benefited from the summoning, but is also pissing The Guide off. The Guide is on the brink of falling into hopeless despair. Considers killing himself, as he wants revenge against the Vulture-headed mage, but is not strong enough to obtain it. Suddenly realizes he can use The Slayer for this purpose. Excited, he goes in search of The Slayer, only to find him about to get killed by a mob of zombies. The Guide shoots them down, but whilst doing so - accidentally shoots The Slayer in the shoulder.
Chapter 6: A Demonstration (Day 2, Morning)
The Guide wakes in a panic after a long night of trying to treat The Slayer's wounds, which were by normal estimations completely fatal. Is upset by this, not only because he feels partially responsible for The Slayer's 'death' but also because he intended to use The Slayer to obtain his revenge. Finds that The Slayer's body is not in the shed, and concludes he crawled outside to die. The Guide goes outside to search for the body to burn it, but instead - to his great shock - finds The Slayer quite alive & healthy and clumsily trying to shoot arrows at a target dummy. The Slayer tells The Guide he was impressed by his archery, and requests lessons. Still has The Guide's arrow lodged in his shoulder.
Chapter 7: Detested Hope (Day 2, Early Afternoon)
The Slayer continues to be insufferable by completely ignoring The Guide. They have wandered past the borders of the house to explore, and as The Slayer practices shooting things - The Guide ponders whether The Slayer is man or monster considering his miraculous regeneration. After a while, he figures it doesn't matter what The Slayer is - as long as he can be used to kill the Vulture-Headed mage. The Guide determines to do everything in his power to strengthen The Slayer as quickly as possible for this purpose. The begin descent down a Sky Tree.
Chapter 8: Tools of War (Day 2, Afternoon)
The two men are at the bottom of the root system of The Sky Tree and The Slayer is mining with bombs. The Guide is terrified of a cave-in, and in his anger at The Slayer's recklessness, walks over and snaps the souvenir arrow in his shoulder while yelling at him. The Slayer brushes him off and jumps down the hole he blasted. The Guide follows angrily
The Slayer had seen the glint of The Arkhalis deep underground, and is walking through a natural tunnel as he approaches it. Wonders why The Guide was upset he had bombed the cave, and decides he doesn't care all too much. The Guide is a mystery to him. As he walks, he hears The Guide following behind. He steps on a pressure plate in the darkness.
Chapter 9: In the Dark (Day 3, Afternoon)
A full day passes. The Guide wakes in a small dark room constructed from dirt and stone. He's mildly injured and very scared. Realizes The Slayer must have put him after he was caught and knocked out by a sand trap (which The Slayer triggered). Is rapidly becoming claustrophobic and tries to dig himself out, only to find he cannot escape. Hears something breaking through the walls. Fears it's a worm or some other malicious mob and fatalistically decides to go out swinging. Ends up throwing a chair at his 'attacker' (The Slayer) and punches him in face a few times.
Chapter 10: Clash! (Day 3, Night)
The two men engaged in a fist fight, and both come away really mad. They chat a bit. The Slayer tells The Guide he dug him out of the sand trap and walled him up so nothing killed him while he was unconscious. In response, The Guide wonders aloud 'who' might have set off the sand trap. Surely somebody was trying to kill him. It would be reasonable for him to defend himself. He tells a lie about how he was fearful for his life, and there must have been somebody trying to kill him in the caves. The Slayer is silent and expresses guilt - but never admits it was he who caused this issue in the first place.
Chapter 11: The Price of Loyalty (Day 4, Late Afternoon)
Extensive day of mining, The Slayer has maxed out his life-crystals and 'Researched' the necessary Ore & gems to be found underground. Now, he and The Guide have climbed back up the sky tree and are heading home. The Slayer has a newfound respect for The Guide, recognizing that the man had essentially planted guilt in his heart, and used his mastery of language to control him. Wonders if The Guide can read his mind, and the prospect scares him. The Slayer had come into a conflict with The Guide, and -much to his shock -ended up carrying the other man piggyback up The Sky Tree. No longer is The Guide as somebody disposable. He is to be treated as an equal.
The Guide is also in a good mood, having found The Terrarian is not - in fact - a mindless beast, and can even feel guilt. The Guide resolves to carefully manipulate and distill his own purposes into The Slayer - with the ultimate goal to be having him kill the Vulture-headed mage. They are sitting at the patio pavilion going through The Slayer's loot from mining, all of it duplicated. They craft several objects, and now that The Slayer has access to platinum armour, The Guide feels safe leaving The Slayer alone while he goes back to his village to bury his family.
Chapter 12: Metastasis (Day 5, Morning)
The Guide leaves the following morning for the destroyed village. His intention is to find the bodies of his family and pay his respects before embarking on his quest for revenge. However, to his great shock, he finds that the Crimson has overrun its borders and consumed the destroyed village, even reanimating the bodies of the dead villagers. He considers the history of The Crimson, how The Crimson infection is actually the Moon Lord viscera which has fallen to the ground and infected it. The Crimson spread throughout the lower continent and was stopped short at the isthmus (where the destroyed village is situated) by the dryads blessing. The Crimson has been contained for a hundred years, and suddenly now it is overrunning its borders. Horrified, The Guide returns to The Compound and ponders what could have caused such a thing.
Chapter 13: Foreign Entity (Day 5, Late Afternoon)
The Travelling Merchant arrives at the edge of The Crimson Border with the intention of visiting The Guide's destroyed village. With night falling fast, he needs to seek shelter from the zombie horde, and heads into the forest where he finds The Slayer's house.
The Slayer is busy neurotically adjusting his workstations when The Travelling Merchant approaches him. The Travelling merchant has some misgivings about The Slayer, identifying him as clearly inhuman and possibly alien. The Slayer demands The Travelling Merchant prove his usefulness before granting shelter. The Travelling Merchant gives The Slayer a blue furred cloak (Winter Cloak Vanity).
Chapter 14: A Beneficial Transaction (Day 5, Night)
Guide has since returned to the compound from The Crimson Village extremely upset. After a nap, he speaks to The Travelling Merchant. The Guide is fearful that considering the strong impression The Slayer had left on their guest, The Travelling Merchant will go to different places and tell people about The Slayer. The Guide needs to keep The Slayer secret at all costs if he wants the power for himself - to fulfill his revenge. Thankfully, The Travelling Merchant is willing to believe whatever The Guide tells him because The accommodations indicate The Guide is very wealthy (courtesy of The Terrarian).
The Travelling Merchant has been paid to tell of current events. There are rumors of a notable Hero having joined the Statis & Braelor's resistance in the Northern Mountains. The Travelling merchant speculates if such rumors are true, then Yharim will march to war again. The topic of the Vulture-headed mage arises. The Guide pays The Travelling Merchant with the extra duplicated diamonds The Slayer has made to go research and bring a report of everything he can find about the 'Vulture-Headed Mage'.
Chapter 15: The Slayer (Day 6, Morning)
The Slayer is building more houses as a Slime Rain begins. When a slime splatters The Slayer's cloak, he gets angry and begins to slaughter slimes. He notes The Guide's awful smell since returning from The Crimson, and cites it as the reason for avoiding him.
The Guide wakes, badly hungover, to watch in horror as The Slayer finishes killing a King Slime. King Slimes are very powerful and typically teams are deployed to hunt them. It is extremely unnatural for a single person to be able to take on a King Slime. The Travelling Merchant was watching the show and dubbs The Terrarian, 'Your Slayer' (A name The Guide will later give him). The Travelling Merchant threatens to tell everyone about The Slayer, indicating Yharim's army and also The Resistance would be interested. The Guide threatens to sicc The Slayer on him, but The Travelling Merchant notes that The Slayer seems to have no love for The Guide. Stuck, The Guide promises to give him the King slime crown as payment for keeping his mouth shut.
Chapter 16: Our Very First (Day 6, Morning)
After The Travelling Merchant departs, The Guide fears his bond with The Slayer isn't meaningful enough for the man to risk his life for The Guide's revenge. Decides he needs to train him to be loyal. Approaches The Slayer - who has been avoiding him - and asks to talk. Gets splattered in slime instead (because he smells bad) and rants at The Slayer, briefly mentioning how the Travelling Merchant has blackmailed him. Identifying the Travelling Merchant as a liability, The Slayer offers to kill him - an offer that The Guide accepts. The Guide recognizes that having set this precedent, the moment he becomes useless - he could also be killed. Resolves to fulfill his goals before The Slayer exhausts his knowledge and discards him.
Chapter 17: March (Day 6, Afternoon)
The Slayer reflects on his first boss fight, and is shocked and confused about the sudden bloodlust that overcame him the moment he laid eyes on the King Slime. Recognizes that this compulsion is dangerous as the bosses are powerful, and for the duration of the fight he loses his sense of self-preservation. Tries to think about why he wants to kill bosses so badly, but I cannot find any reason in his upsettingly empty memory. Briefly contemplates his meaningless existence before The Guide interrupts his thoughts to show him what a daybloom looks like (They are collecting potion ingredients in the woods). The Slayer contemplates 'his' Guide and concludes he's a very dangerous and formidable opponent because of his vast knowledge and ability to manipulate people through words (manipulate him). Is fearful of the day when The Guide may dispose of him.
The (original) Merchant has just escaped the spreading crimson, and has sustained a grave wound. He got ichor in his blood, and it is very likely to kill him. Staggering through the woods, he collapses on the Slayer's doorstep.
Chapter 18: Perceived Threat (Day 6, Late Afternoon)
The two fish and collect potion ingredients, and The Guide spends the time trying to engage The Slayer in conversation, but per usual he doesn't talk and only pretends to listen. Eventually his radio-chatter accidentally veers in the direction of his family, and he's temporarily overwhelmed with sadness. The Terrarian taps him on the shoulder, takes the fish from him and leads the way home, possible empathy.
Chapter 19: Layered Crisis (Day 6, Night)
The Guide and The Slayer have arrived back home to find The Original Merchant lying on the patio badly injured. His blood has been poisoned by Ichor and he cannot be saved. The Merchant tells that 'The Dryad Enchantment' has come undone and they must flee to the Sunken Sea to survive. Informs The Guide that he has seen The Crimson Brain (Brain of Cthulhu) and that the sprits of all The Crimson's victims are trapped there. Confirming the rumor that The derivatives of the Moon Lord trap mind, body and soul. Gives The Guide a Desert Medallion (Desert Scourge Summon) before expiring.
The Guide is given the choice between safety in The Sunken Sea and saving his family, who although deceased, are essentially trapped in what he assumes is a hellish state. If The Guide fails and is killed by The Crimson, then he too will join his family. He walks out of the house and finds The Slayer looking unhappy. Already deeply stressed, he realises that calling The Slayer a 'monster' may have been detrimental to him (Slayer was going to put The Original Merchant out of his misery). Briefly wonders if The Slayer will kill him for the insult. Instead, The Slayer confesses he might be a monster, he's probably not a man. He doesn't know anything, is essentially lost in the world and he doesn't really have a reason to live. The only person in his life is The Guide. He tells The Guide he needs him and he begs The Guide not to abandon him.
Chapter 20: Alliance (Day 6, Late Night)
The Guide attempts to teach The Slayer about Terrarians, but tangents into a several hour long lecture about everything. The Slayer can't mentally keep up with the information spew and doesn't even pretend to listen. Reveals that one of the reasons he offered to kill The Travelling Merchant was because The Travelling Merchant treated him like a monster, and it made him uncomfortable. The Guide's exclamation simply cemented that fact. The Guide realises The Slayer isn't listening to his monologue and decides to get to the point. Tells The Slayer the reason he will stay by his side, is to accomplish his purpose. 1) To Kill the Crimson and free The Guide's loved ones, 2) Kill the Lunatic cultist and accomplish his revenge. The Slayer proposes his terms, saying since he feels the need to grow his power via killing bosses anyways - he will follow The Guide's path. Demands The Guide use his vast knowledge to help him prepare for his fights, and also accompany him on his battles, such that if The Slayer dies, so will The Guide. The terms of contract are accepted.
Chapter 21: Gravity Well (Day 7, Morning)
The Guide is laying in bed contemplating the events of the prior day. The Slayer walks in to shake him awake. Reports that a man who looks identical to the recently deceased 'Original' Merchant (whose corpse they had cremated the night before) is sitting in the kitchen.
The Merchant arrives at The Compound and is immediately questioned by The Guide, who is perplexed by him. At one point The Guide suspects The Merchant may be some sort of ghost and demands he drink something. When he refuses, The Slayer threatens to kill him. Beginning of the tension between The Merchant and The Guide & Slayer.
Chapter 22: The Desert Scourge (Day 7, Early Afternoon)
The Guide and Slayer are trekking through the desert with the intention of finding the Sunken Sea. The Guide has been given the choice between risking his life to save his family and finding safety in the Sunken Sea. Decides to take a middle ground. He wishes to have the Sunken Sea's King advise him on how to kill all the derivatives of The Crimson (EoC, Perforators, BoC, WoF). As they stand over the ruins of an ancient pyramid - the remains of an ancient underwater city - They Guide summons the Desert Scourge at The Slayer's demand.
The Nurse - the head of the Capital City's Medical institute is fleeing her home having received the news that she would soon be commissioned to serve as Yharim's personal doctor. She is to replace the 'moon-obsessed mage' who had a falling out with the king. Runs east.
Chapter 23: Our Luxury Prison (Day 7, Afternoon)
The Nurse arrives at The Compound after a long trek, aiming to go to The Crimson border amongst the fleeing refugees to throw Yharim's trackers off her trail. Cites that Yharim had killed her family, and she cannot serve him. Arrives in the compound and encounters The Merchant, who tells her The Compound is a trap set up by the two evil owners (The Guide and The Slayer), and she must attempt an escape immediately. Exhausted, she ignores him and takes residence in one of the Houses The Slayer had built.
The Slayer has just finished killing The Desert Scourge, and has been chewed up quite a bit. Much to The Slayer's embarrassment, The Guide picks him up because he gushes blood all over the sand when he walks. They perform some preliminary first aid before 'Recalling' back to The Compound.
Chapter 24: The Nurse (Day 7, Late Afternoon)
The Slayer is submitted to the newly arrived Nurse's care - who decides The Compound is the perfect for her to stake out and hide from Yharim's men. She offers treatment in exchange for staying in The Compound. Reveals that she is the foremost medical professional in the land, and that anyone would be thrilled to have her as a doctor. She treats The Slayer, but her rough methods and course demeanor make him fear her.
Chapter 25: Cnidarian (Day 8, Early Afternoon)
The Slayer and The Guide had left early in the morning to continue their quest down to the Sunken Sea. They walk down the narrow corridors of a Pyramid. The Guide ponders the enormity of his situation. His goal is to destroy The Crimson, something The entire Dryad race couldn't do. They stumble upon The Sea King's burial chamber and fight the Cnidarian, whose mummified corpse revives to attack them.
Much to his discomfort, The Slayer finds himself becoming more and more vicious during boss fights. After the fight, The Guide asks The Slayer to use his grapple and help him down into the deep chamber - which is filled with treasures and documents. The Slayer doesn't and The Guide falls whilst descending, knocking himself out.
Chapter 26: Cracking (Day 8, Early Afternoon)
The Merchant has spun a lie, telling The Nurse that they are trapped in The Compound and The Guide and Slayer are the prison wardens. He does not convince her, and she is content to stay since she's a fugitive anyways. The Merchant, having been unable to convince her to join his cause, accuses her of being an ally of The Guide & Slayer. She responds in anger.
The Arms Dealer has just broken out of prison in The Northern Mountains and having stolen the guns of all the prison wardens, is well armed as he travels south.
Chapter 27: Relief (Day 8, Evening)
The Guide wakes to find The Slayer badly attempting first aid. He feels bad and considers The Slayer is only a bit over a week old, and is already covering for The Guide's mistakes. Expresses this sentiment, in response, The Slayer says the incident was his fault and - with grave seriousness - confesses his guilt. The Guide finds it terrifically funny and does his best to keep from laughing at his companion. The Slayer's guilt turns to embarrassment.
The Demolitionist is escaping The Dwarven Kingdom after Calamitas' Attack. Is fleeing with dogs on his trail and spies in pursuit. Flees south.
Chapter 28: The Wall (Day 8, Late Evening)
The Guide is in what he soon discovers is The Sea King's burial chamber. While The Terrarian ventures underground to mine down to the Sunken Sea, The Guide spends some time recovering and reading through the scrolls there to dig for information. He reads one document that tells of how the Sea Kingdom was destroyed because Amidas would not share information pertaining to the Moon Lord with Yharim. Additionally, spells out that the BoC contains the minds of all those who fall victim to The Crimson. WoF contains all the souls. Upon reading about WoF, The Guide suffers a violent bodily reaction.
The Arms Dealer arrives within the borders of The Compound and meets The Merchant, who quickly tells his tale about The Guide and The Slayer keeping them trapped here. The Arms Dealer agrees to help, revealing that he has just broken out of a resistance prison.
Chapter 29: Path of Righteousness (Day 9, Early Morning)
The Arms Dealer is taken by The Merchant's tale, and in good faith decides to help the poor trapped inhabitants in the compound by killing The Guide and The Slayer. Meets The Nurse and they hit it off.
The Guide is in a sour mood after suffering a WoF induced heart attack. He ponders how he could possibly be connected to such eldritch deities. Recognizing he lacks information, he resolves to find Amidas and ask him. The Slayer loots the burial chamber.
Chapter 30: Expectation of Virtue (Day 9, Afternoon)
On their way down to the Sunken Sea, they stumble upon a glowing mushroom biome. The Slayer goes in to collect glowing mushrooms for potion ingredients and gets high off the spores. They accidentally summon Crabulon.
The Arms Dealer and The Nurse talk; he tells The Nurse that he was an arms trafficker for The Resistance and that both Braelor and Yharim are equally brutal in their methods. After 10 years of service - per his contract - The Arms Dealer was expected to die and take trade route secrets with him to the grave. Unfortunately that would be an information breach, so The Resistance was going to execute him. At the last moment, he was imprisoned for life instead. The Nurse becomes disillusioned with The Resistance, imagining them to be a force of good which will overthrow The King she so hates.
Chapter 31: Borders (Day 10, Morning / Crabulon Fight)
The Merchant has marked out The Compound's arcane borders. Past a certain invisible line, anyone who walks past will be teleported to the opposite side of the compound, trapping everyone who enters (save The Slayer, and anyone accompanying him). The Merchant sees The Demolitionist fleeing from one of Yharim's spies. He enters the compound. They Spy doesn't.
The Guide and The Slayer are in the midst of battle with Crabulon, but The Slayer - although suffering the compulsion to fight, is unable to move well due to the spores in his system. The Guide picks him up and hurls him away to recover underwater(Victide armour), then runs - distracting Crabulon until The Slayer has regained control of himself.
Chapter 32: Factions (Day 10, Morning / Crabulon fight)
The Demolitionist is actually an officer in The Resistance. He was being chased because he knows all the safe houses, trade routes and bunkers that The Resistance uses. If Yharim catches him, it will be a huge liability to The Resistance. The Demolitionist talks about how The Resistance has a 'New Hero' they have been advertising who is apparently a Terrarian and will lead them in victory against Yharim. The Merchant scoffs, saying Terrarians don't exist. They speak briefly about Yharim's spy, who is a woman - and reports directly to The King. The Merchant recruits The Demolitionist to his faction against The Guide & The Slayer. The Demolitionist is eager to get back to his unit in The Resistance and agrees to help because he needs to leave The Compound.
The Slayer's victide armour has filtered the spores from his system whilst underwater. He climbs out to take over the fight against Crabulon (and wins).
Chapter 33: Dungeon Diversion (Day 10, Early Afternoon)
The Travelling Merchant is in the Capital penning his report about The Lunatic Cultist - the Vulture-headed mage who conducted the summoning over The Guide's village. The Travelling Merchant knows that The Lunatic Cultist has defected from Yharim and went to join The Resistance, but regardless writes in the report that the Lunatic Cultist is at his post in The Dungeon, as opposed to in The Northern Mountains. He has two intentions. 1) He is a Resistance sympathizer and doesn't want The Guide & The Slayer to interfere with The Resistance activities 2) He knows The Lunatic Cultist is powerful, and wants to keep The Guide alive to do further business. Once he finishes writing his report (with maps, trap diagrams etc…) he packs up and heads back towards the compound.
The Guide and The Slayer have moved on from The Mushroom Fields and are now at the entrance of The Sunken Sea. They banter a bit before identifying The Giant Clam.
Chapter 34: The Sea King (Day 10, Early Afternoon)
The Sea King is awoken from his hibernation within The Giant Clam after The Clam's defeat. He, the king of the underwater nation, is the sole survivor of Calamitas' attack on the sea, which boiled the oceans and turned the seas into a desert. He has been trapped partly by guilt (self-imposed) and partly by The Desert Scourge.
The Sea King holds court with The Guide and The Slayer. The Guide explains that The Crimson is once again spreading, and requests Amidas contribute his knowledge to help them destroy it. Amidas asks about the Dryad Enchantment, but The Guide has no information to tell him. Amidas asks The Slayer to introduce himself, and panicked - The Guide makes The Slayer kneel, thinking The Sea King will refuse to help them unless shown respect. This angers The Slayer considerably.
Chapter 35: A Wretch (Day 10, Afternoon)
The Slayer willingly submits himself to The Nurse (Crabulon had bashed him up pretty bad) and considers the day's events. Before they met Amidas, he and The Guide have been getting along pretty well - however the moment The Guide felt the need to simper to procure The Sea King's favor, The Slayer had begun to despise him. He even recalls nearly attacking The Guide in a fit of rage when he asked The Slayer to build Amidas a castle.
The Sea King is less concerned with The Crimson, and more concerned with his revenge against Yharim. Notes that The Slayer is a Terrarian, and would grow to be an exceptionally ruthless killer. He wishes to append The Slayer to The Resistance force to bring down Yharim, and as such needs to break the bond between The Slayer and The Guide. He is speaking with The Guide and gives him the EoC summon. Also tells him he needs a castle before he will give any more information (this is to provoke The Slayer)- The Guide promptly finds The Slayer and asks him for a castle.
Chapter 36: Big Betty (Day 10, Afternoon)
The Three men, The Merchant, The Arms Dealer and The Demolitionist have been working on a bomb with which to ambush The Slayer at his spawn point. The Arms Dealer arrives in the clubhouse where they have stowed the bomb and reports what he has seen. He tells how The Slayer must have incredible resilience and recovery, considering how roughly The Nurse treats him. Nevertheless, the group is not deterred.
A Letter written by The Spy who chased The Demolitionist into The Compound requesting forces to investigate. The Spy had noted The compound was guarded by a non-magical barrier and finds it suspicious this pace is so close to The Lunatic Cultist's last appearance before defecting.
A Letter written in response by Tyrant King Yharim, who is busy fighting against The Resistance. 'I have enough bullshit to deal with. Investigate it on your own. If you find that moon bastard, kill him.'
Chapter 37: High and Dry (Day 10, Late Afternoon)
The Guide is upset that his orders are not being obeyed, and confronts The Slayer concerning the castle. The Slayer refuses to build it, and even goes so far as to say he won't even fight The Crimson because of how much The Guide's behavior (begging demeanor) disgusts him.
The Arms Dealer has been tasked with finding The Slayer's spawn point in order to rig it for Big Betty. He sees The Guide and introduces himself. The Guide is confused at his presence and tells The Arms Dealer if he wants to find The Slayer, he should wait on the Patio (spawn point). The Arms Dealer thanks him, and notes that The Guide's behavior does not match up with The Merchant's story. Begins to have misgivings about including The Guide in their hit.
Chapter 38: Hope Slayer (Day 10, Night)
The Slayer had gone underground to clear his mind. Managed to make his way into the deep cavern layers and - not recognizing Lava was dangerous, jumps straight in. Upset, he recognizes he cannot survive without The Guide, and identifies Amidas as the reason for the change in his friend. He understands his actions will have a myriad of unintended and horrid consequences, but in his anger decides he will kill Amidas anyways.
The Sea King has asked to discuss with The Guide, and tells him he needs to be more stern with The Slayer in order to 'control' him. The Sea King - seeing the relationship between The Guide and The Slayer falling apart wishes to capitalize on the situation and gives 'advice' that if followed will set The Guide up for failure.
Chapter 39: Venomous (Day 11, Late Night)
The Stylist has found herself and her crew caught by giant spiders in the spider caves. Her companions have since been killed, and she bound up in webbing and waiting for death. The Slayer appears and begins killing spiders and lights the place on fire. Sees The Stylist and shoots down her webby prison, but does nothing more to help her. Terrified of him, she attempts to escape while he is occupied killing the spiders and soon finds herself transported aboveground a ways away from The Compound.
The Slayer had looked for spider caves for the purpose of collecting poison. Once he finishes building Amidas' castle, he intends to fill it with water - and poison the water, hopefully killing The Sea King. Chooses to go in this roundabout way hoping The Guide will not pin the blame on him when Amidas' corpse is discovered.
Chapter 40: Calm before the Storm (Day 11, Late Night)
The Guide ponders the other people who had seemingly randomly showed up in The Compound. Has half a mind to tell the freeloaders to leave, but dares not unless The Slayer is here in case things get violent. Knows that there is some plot afoot, but cannot put his finger on it. Wonders why The Merchant & his men (The Demolitionist and The Arms Dealer) have not left, given they are so angry with him. Concerning The Slayer, The Guide chalks up his outburst of anger to a childish tantrum, and knows The Slayer will not pack up and leave. Is waiting for him to come home so they can talk things out.
The Arms Dealer is loitering on the patio, waiting for The Slayer to teleport home because he needs to mark the spawn point (as the location to plant the bomb). The Slayer recalls back dragging a giant spider by the jaws. He stuffs it into the cooking pot whilst The Arms Dealer marks his spawn and quickly retires.
Chapter 41: Game of Secrets (Day 12, Early Morning)
The Stylist is making her way through the woods towards The Compound. She has been splashed in boiling venom (courtesy of The Slayer burning everything in the spider caves). As she arrives at the compound, zombies fast on her heels, she is comforted that even The Slayer won't be able to find her from behind such sturdy looking walls. She enters the Compound and immediately flees for the exit upon seeing The Slayer, who is busy building Amidas' Castle. She runs to the doors and comes face to face with a zombie, which The Slayer interferes to kill. She faints and he leaves her on the ground to return to his building.
The Guide wakes from another WoF induced nightmare. Describes The Wall as maliciously trying to tear him down, as if he is the last bar in its prison cell. Considers The Sea King's advice from earlier (to be more stern with The Slayer to make him obedient) and resolves to do so because he recognizes Amidas as very experienced. However, when he walks outside, he sees The Slayer already building and stops by to chat. After a brief conversation, The Guide deduces that The Slayer is harboring some secret about Amidas, and grows worried. He sees The Stylist unconscious at the front gate and rushes over to help.
Chapter 42: Tangled (Day 12, Morning)
The Arms Dealer and The Guide attempt to help The Nurse treat the unconscious Stylit, but they are kicked out for getting in the way. The Arms Dealer is beginning to consider The Guide as an ally instead of the enemy, and is convinced he is suffering some sort of stockholms syndrome. He also speaks to The Nurse about The Stylist and discovers she has been splashed in boiling neurotoxin. The Arms Dealer recalls seeing The Slayer boiling spiders the night before and comes to the conclusion that The Slayer had tortured and left The Stylist for dead.
The Slayer is hanging from the ceiling inside the mostly constructed Castle. Is intentionally ignoring The Guide, who is hiding behind one of the pillars. He fears The Guide will discover his plot to poison Amidas, given The Guide is already suspicious of his activities.
Chapter 43: Poisonous Flattery (Day 12, Early Afternoon)
The Sea King considers what he intends to do with The Slayer. Realizes The Slayer is exceedingly proud, but also a bit different from The Terrarians The Sea King had met in the past. Notes that The Slayer is a bit defective in at least one way, lacking a compulsion to protect his community and thereby free to become a war dog. The Slayer only has eyes for The Guide. The Sea King wants to take The Guide's place and use The Slayer as his personal one-man army against Yharim.
The Sea King speaks to The Slayer while The Guide hides behind a pillar, listening in. Amidas attempts to flatter him to convince him to come under Amidas' service whilst slandering The Guide. The Slayer agrees to everything because he knows The Guide is watching - he is doing his best to be polite and is suppressing his desire to just chop up The Sea King right there in an effort to hide his murderous intentions from The Guide.
Chapter 44: Springtrap (Day 12, Early Afternoon)
The Guide is cringing behind a pillar listening to The Slayer agreeing to everything The Sea King says seemingly taken by The Sea King's speech. The Slayer cites that The Guide is necessary because of his knowledge. Amidas claims that the only reason this castle is being built is because The Guide knows Amidas has more knowledge than he. Amidas is superior in this regard and tells The Slayer he needs to move on (from his attachment to The Guide). The Guide concludes that if The Slayer is going to join Amidas soon, The Guide is gonna try and make him at least kill EoC.
The Demolitionist and The Merchant, wishing to cover their bases saw The Sea King slithering across the grass this morning and wants to figure out who he is, and if he will interfere with the operation. They reiterate the belief that once The Slayer is dead, they will be able to flee The Compound. They enter The Castle and The Demolitionist immediately recognizes Amidas as one of the heroes of old, who founded The Resistance and is extremely excited.
Chapter 45: Catch 22 (Day 12, Early Afternoon)
The Arms Dealer is watching everything play out from a high tree through a scope. Watches The Sea King chatting animatedly with The Demolitionist as they leave The Castle. Also sees The Guide on the ground pleading with The Slayer, who is ignoring him from the rooftop. The Arms Dealer feels pity for The Guide.
The Sea King is talking to The Demolitionist about The Resistance, discovers that The Resistance is mounting an offense against Yharim and has advertised 'A Hero who is A Terrarian' to rile up all the small pockets of resistance about the country. The Sea King is stunned, as The Slayer likely only needs several months before he will be able to participate in the war to meaningful effect. Why would Statis & Braelor release the news early? Later understands that The Demolitionist is not referring to The Slayer, but somebody else called 'The Hero'. The Demolitionist reveals his plan to kill The Slayer and return to the fight up north. The Sea King considers carefully and eventually agrees. Already noted that The Slayer is a bit defective, and wonders if he has the power of resurrection. Decides that it will be good to test this and agrees to help kill The Slayer.
Chapter 46: The Planner (Day 12, Afternoon)
The Guide, thinking The Slayer has decided to abandon him in favour of Amidas (thereby rendering him useless), decides to go past the boundaries of The Compound to sit and mope. Discovers the border and finds himself unable to leave.
After speaking to The Sea King, The Slayer is extremely confused because he believes The Guide had planned the entire encounter. Wonders what The Guide's intentions could possibly be if he asked Amidas to talk badly about him. Is getting himself all tied up in knots when The Guide approaches and tries to explain things. The Slayer doesn't want to hear it because he's done with explanations. They're too confusing. The Guide tells him to kill EoC and Amidas recommends they build an arena far away (so they will recall back). The Slayer obliges.
Chapter 47: Worthless (Day 12: Late Afternoon, Sundown)
As The Slayer and The Guide leave The Compound, The Demolitionist plants the bomb at The Slayer's spawn point, and other preparations are made. It is important that The Slayer returns via Recall, but once he does The Demolitionist is confident The blast will kill him
The Guide is convinced That Amidas will have given The Slayer instructions to kill him, and is thinking about how he can turn this situation around. He will try to appeal to The Slayer, but if it doesn't work, he will try and get The Slayer to allow him to flee. Confronts him, and The Guide discovers that The Slayer never really intended to turn against him in the first place. In fact, he thought all of these things were planned by The Guide in advance to test him. Emphatically claims that because The Slayer needs The Guide, he will not betray him. Additionally confesses his plans - he wishes to 'trim the fat' off the compound, killing anyone not necessary (Merchant, Demo, Arms Dealer & Stylist). The Guide actually really wants the 3 men to be killed, or otherwise out of his hair, so he agrees - and The Stylist is just collateral damage. Finally, The Guide asks The Slayer what would happen if he became useless. The Slayer does not answer, and demands EOC to be summoned.
Chapter 48: A Murderer holds hands with A Monster (Day 12, Night)
The Slayer fights the EOC in his usual frenzied state. During battle, he gets his ankles broken and the Armour one arm and one leg is damaged. The Eye bleeds Ichor, and is eventually killed. The Slayer finds himself becoming more and more bloodthirsty with each boss fight, even losing himself entirely during the battle.
The Slayer gets some preliminary first aid from The Guide, before looting EOC corpse. The Guide watches him solemnly and realises he is definitely somewhere between monster and man. Likewise he doesn't need any affection (as The Guide, who had essentially raised The Slayer, had inadvertently begun to show him). He decides to return to the compound first.
Chapter 49: Boiling Point! (Day 12, Night)
The Merchant has been assigned to loiter in The Guide's living room to keep him from interfering with the bomb, and also to keep him out of bomb radius (courtesy of The Arms Dealer). The Guide arrives and becomes suspicious. He makes several statements about The Slayer being invincible before looking out his front window and watching The Slayer get blown up.
The Slayer Recalls home and triggers the bomb, is badly injured and loses one arm and one leg (where his armour was damaged during EOC fight). Realizing he can neither run nor fight, he even considers begging for his life, but cannot due to having bitten his tongue off. The Arms Dealer is approaching him with a shotgun with the intention of finishing him off, before he can shoot, The Guide runs across the field and attacks him - throwing off his aim. The Guide tells The Slayer this is no longer his home (removing his subconsciously pinned spawn point) and commands him to recall. The Slayer obeys, but just as he recalls, The Arms Dealer fires another round at him.
Summary done. RiP