Heyo just a note I forgot to put in the last chapter - I originally wanted to only have vanity (like a set uniform for T) after we get the Clothier, but I kinda screwed that up with the Travelling Merchant (RIP) recognizing T by his clothes. So uh, yeah. Also I forgot to put The Slayer's loadout lmao. I'll do it next time bb shows up. The only change is that he now has the Counter Scarf (EOC Rev Drop Calamity. allows dash and some melee buffs I can't remember rn)

Oh also imma be illustrating. so check my profile I did chapters 1 & 2

kk enojy

Although dawn had yet to break over the horizon, there was still light enough for the odd pair to traverse the uncleared brush without encountering resistance from the ever-present nighttime horde. The Sea King had mused on the phenomenon for a long while and had come to the conclusion that even the zombies -with what little instinct they had- were deterred from the crimson infection in the same way their living counterparts were.

It's only natural that humans fear a god…

As such, the darkness was still and silent, wreathed in cold mists and odd shadows. There was no chittering of cicadas, nor chimes of crickets, nor croaks of frogs. Just the occasional buzz of carrion flies who were following the scent of rot. A grim scenery indeed.

The Sea King, however, was in high spirits. Although he greatly enjoyed the comforts of The Slayer's Compound, he was just as eager to leave the premesis and join his old friends in battle against the Tyrant. Braelor was a great leader and Statis an excellent spy, but both were lacking when it came to matching wits with the Yharim. Amidas' wisdom was sorely needed, and - as one admittingly unempathetic towards the plights of others- he was more than willing to sacrifice the lives of even his allies to accomplish his purposes.

The deaths of my people have made me hard… but what good is morality to one who has gone extinct?

And so, The Sea King hardened his gaze as he beheld The Demolitionist - this miserable excuse for a soldier. He had served his purpose well so far, but now, at the last moment, he was hesitant. How Amidas wished he controlled The Slayer instead of The Demolitionist. That infant killer would do whatever he asked, and most certainly wouldn't resist him the way this dwarf dared to.

"Amidas, your Majesty, I know yer eager to go - but we gotta wait fer at least tomorrow. We can't leave the rest of them here."

Amidas surpressed a sigh and fought back the annoyance in his voice - likewise smoothing his spines down in order not to appear agitated.

"... Is that so, Demolitionist. Considering that The Crimson is approaching, The Slayer is looking for vengeance, and Yharim's Spy is lurking these woods - can you afford to be so compassionate?"

The Dwarf nodded resolutely and responded with a non-answer. The Sea King could clearly see where the Demolitionist's heart lay.

"Sir, If we could get out with just one o' the fingers, I assure ya we'd already be on our way to the safehouse. But we need both to escape… guess border needs a certain amount of meat to let us through…"

"...I see."

Amidas gazed down at the small mason jar and tapped at the glass with his claw, sending the fingers into a wild frenzy. By this time, they were peppered with cuts and bruises; the inside of the jar was splattered with flecks of blood. Truly, The Slayer was a fighter, down to every one of his cells. How unfortunate that he was an enemy… it was better he die, lest he fall into Yharim's hands to be weilded against The Resistance.

The Demolitionist as well. He was a good, capable and contentious soldier. Surely an asset to The Resistance and a valuable officer. What a pity.

The Sea King turned around and looked The Dwarf in the eye. He twisted his face into something resembling an understanding smile and nodded in agreement.

"Very well, Dwarf. We will choose compassion. Now, let us return quickly. I suggest you get as much rest as you can, for tomorrow, your...our trials begin."

The sun was beginning to creep sluggishly over the rim of the horizon, but the pithy rays of light brought feelings of neither hope nor relief. The sun had become drab, dim and grey; the beautiful colors of sunrise were shrouded and hidden by ever present storm clouds that grew more dense with each passing day.

The air stank of death and rot. The smell permeated everything. It had seeped into the water, into his clothes, into his very flesh and bone. He could feel it sinking into his open, weeping wounds. He could feel it scouring his insides, filling his lungs and filtering into his blood. The sensation made him want to stumble to his bed and plunge into the unfeeling peace of sleep - but even such creature comforts had long eluded him. 'The Wall' plagued his dreams at night. That looming, gnashing expanse of horror was as real to him as the very ground beneath his feet. It was waiting for him… waiting for him every night. Waiting for him to die, then-

Then what… The Wall is part of this 'dreaming god' - the scroll said it was a 'container for souls'. My family… they're in there. I saw them…

He shivered then hastily pulled his thoughts away, unwilling to allow his mind to wander over such gruesome things. The Wall wanted him dead - he knew this, but knew not the reason nor how to avoid such fate. He saw it every night, that tremendous amalgamation. All teeth and flesh and rolling eyes, monstrous faces swelling to its surface like the rising bubbles in tar pits. And the shrieking, that unbearable noise…

Was that his fate? At one time, he had imagined such an entity could fall beneath The Slayer's blade… but was such a thing possible? Now that he'd 'seen' it, he felt nothing but cold hopelessness churning his guts.

And if I die… what happens here? Is it going to be like The Merchant? Will I also be replaced by someone exactly like me?

The Guide sighed and turned his attention to his badly mangled hand, opting to focus on the much milder miseries of the present. By some miracle (and many tearful curses hissed through clenched teeth) The Guide had managed to pour a shallow bowl of Healing Potion into which he carefully submerged his hand. The sticky red liquid filled his wounds, causing them to ache and tingle in a most unpleasant fashion, but The Guide persisted. Until The Slayer returned, he was responsible for taking care of himself. Normally this was no issue, but given he was hemmed in on every side by psychotic resistance members who were convinced he was Yharim's secret agent - The Guide was rightfully preparing to fight for his life.

My nails aren't really growing back… I can't move my last two fingers… shit...

But the Healing Potion was doing little for him aside from assuaging the pain and causing the worst of his wounds to hastily scab over. He wouldn't bleed out, sure, but how was he supposed to hold a bow steady with a hole punched through a half-paralyzed hand? The Guide sighed and slumped down to rest his forehead against the tabletop. Twenty minutes ago, The Sea King had freed him from that horrid chair by yanking out the nail that pinned his hand to the hardwood armrest. Immediately upon his departure, The Guide had rushed to barricade himself in his home. He was now sitting in his bedroom, behind every locked door in the building, attempting to conduct elementary first aid.

I wish The Nurse was here… but she's part of the problem too… when The Slayer comes back…

He exhaled hard and turned to glance at the schematics and that strange iron 'healing rune' Amidas had provided him. He frowned at them. Amidas… surely he wasn't to be trusted - but where else could The Guide get information on The Crimson? Should he just throw everything out? No… Nobody knew about the 'Dreaming God' and how to summon its derivatives except for Amidas. Could The Guide afford to trust those treacherous words? Perhaps not. But the alternative was the equivalent of groping in the dark.

The 'Healing Rune' worries me though… the recipes are controllable, but I don't know what's in that Artifact…

The Guide raised his head and reached out to hold the 'healing rune' in his hand. It was cold, very cold, and had a sort of strange wickedness about it. Incredibly suspicious… however, if it was real, then it was likewise incredibly valuable. Such a thing must only be used in the direst of circumstances.

tch… look at me, already planning for the future. You don't even know if you'll survive the nigh-...?!

The Guide blinked. His ears pricked and he narrowed his eyes as all of his senses went on high alert. Something… something was moving about outside. He could hear the sound of grass shifting on the now-overgrown lawn. The Slayer? Was he back?! As quietly as he could manage, The Guide stood from his bed and crept over to his barricaded window. He peeked between the piled up chairs and his wardrobe.

...Huh?

Not The Slayer (to his great disappointment) but rather, Amidas. The Fish man was standing alone in the field. What's he doing?

Nyogtha ilyaa k'yarnak ph'nglui mglw'nafh...

The Sea King had slithered his great length out of his castle and - although The Guide couldn't understand such a distance (even when he cracked the window) - was clearly chanting something in a guttural tongue. The dragon-man was dressed for travel, with a rucksack slung over his shoulder and a map folded in one of his clawed hands. There was what looked like a rope tied to a mason jar hung about his neck like some strange ornament. He had thrown his head back and was staring at the shrouded moon, as if lifting a prayer.

Nak phlegethor l'ebumna syha'h n'ghft, Ya hai kadishtu.

Was... was he shimmering? The Sea King was slowly becoming transparent! Then, strangely The Guide felt his eyes itch and his head ache. The longer he watched Amidas' form fade through the window, the more uncomfortable he became. Finally, he turned away to blink and quickly looked back… but by then, Amidas had vanished, and in his place, only a trail of flattened grass.

need skits

Amidas worships Chuthlu lmao. his city is called R'yleh according to Calamity Lore and that's the name of the city that worships Chuthlu according to lovecraft. I dunno exactly how Imma incorprate this, but deffo juicy stuff. Ammy is more anti Yharim than pro ML tho. Also, The Reason Yharim roasted Ammy's city is because Ammy wouldn't teach him Chuthlu spells. this is back in like chapter 15 or whenever.

aight! until next time.