Eostia: Harem Quest

by EostianScribe

The Gods have given mortals the power of The Gamer as a pass time. A hobby. A means to compete and relax. One goddess, however, sees it as a means of salvation; starting with one world. As such, she rolls the dice... (Harem, Citrus and Eventual Dark Content Warning)

77. Act III-Ch V: Enemies Everywhere

[ - Author's Note - ]

Welcome once more, people! Time for yet another chapter after finally bringing two of the most notable characters into the story proper...

And we have another twenty-three plus thousand chapter... Oh wow...

Anyway, another scuffle will arrive in this chapter and this one... is going to be a doozy. In addition we see the arrival of the Black Dogs proper to the Eostian camp...

Honestly, saying anything else would be spoilers so instead I'll let you get to it. Have fun!

Let's go!

[ - Act III - Chapter V: Enemies Everywhere - ]

"You can measure a man by two metrics; who his friends are and who his enemies are."

While I wouldn't put too much stock into the phrase I do understand why it is said; a man can often be judged for his morality and ethics based on the friends and close allies he keeps, as well as how far he'll compromise such choices for some sort of good or gain as well as by what allies with different aims or ideals he holds on to. While this does, of course, requires knowledge of said people to at least some degree it does give you a good idea of what they prioritize, desire and think.

As for enemies it can be seen in two ways; one being the inverse of how one has friends. Clashing ideals, mismatching moralities and judging a man for his low ethics and calling them an enemy is a way to judge a man just as well. However another measurement is made in the strength of an enemy. Making a foe of someone stronger can be seen as foolish but to overcome them or even just hold them off can impress many people. In addition only having weak enemies, or enemies perceived as weak, can make one seem as a bully or a coward.

Sadly a man can't be defined by a lack of enemies; someone always wants to be someone's enemy, like it or not. But if I were to use a phrase it would be one from the founder of his house, Fredrick Onglave.

"If you have enemies then that's a good thing; it means you stood up for something."

~Dominic James Pencraft, Life of an Eostian

[-]

Northern Elddale
Eostian War Camp

Mallory DuLouvenoir was awaiting the new arrivals as she set her hands to her hips while they approached her. She was sure the Black Dogs were hastily building their camp nearby and likely a little ways away from other forces; at least a tenth if not more of their forces were Aberrant after all and most soldiers in the conflict expected them only on the Garan side of the lines. Vult was the one in the lead as he brought a half dozen aides with him, most notably his two lieutenants, Hicks and Keane, who were flanking him. "It's about time you all showed up..." She let off as she crossed her arms.

Standing at six foot even Hicks bore dark brown, slicked back hair and brown eyes set to a slightly long face with a pointed nose and a wide smile. Some often referred to him as a weasel due to his slender, if highly toned body. Said body was on display as his torso was covered only by a dark green, open vest and nothing else. Black bands with pouches were set to each of his biceps and black wraps around each wrist. A set of dark gray pants were tucked into brown boots and held up by a think, brown belt that held two, leaf bladed long knifes at each hip.

Hicks was known as the Black Dog's lead scout and raider; while not the sharpest tool in the shed in regards to any educated subject his ability to survive in the wild and move about unseen were undisputed. Rumors were he was also the main assassin for the Black Dogs when they needed a high ranking target in the opposing force dead.

By contrast Keane stood at a mere inch shorter then his counterpart and also bore brown hair if a shade lighter and with less tamed locks, some falling over his face where rounded glasses sat over green eyes set to a boyish face with a serious expression upon it. He wore a tunic tied at the front with a steel gray panel in the front with yellow trim separating it from the more dull lavender sides under a cloak of a similar, if slightly darker color held shut with a white, round clasp with a dark red Black Dog's emblem on it. Black pants were over his legs tucked into black boots and, like his counterpart, he wore black wraps around his wrists. At his left hip was a leaf bladed short sword.

As a mage he was considered highly flexible; excelling in offensive magic while able with both healing and defensive ones while being a competent swordsmen although not spectacular. In addition he was both an able enchanter and alchemist, although few knew how advanced in both arts he was in. More over he was the key logician and tactician of the Black Dogs and was their effective second in command, directly behind Vult.

The massive leader of the dogs stopped before her with his usual, relaxed grin as he shrugged. "We rushed as quick as we could, my good general. Life often gets in the way of things. That said I have to say you and yours seems to be holding the line better then last time; no doubt thanks to the famous Lord Noxdecus' devices, yes?"

"Indeed. I'll be issuing some to you myself." Mallory said with a nod as she smiled up at him. "With you and yours reinforcing us we can turn this long war into a painful grind for Garan." She said about to speak up once more when Hicks looked up and to the side as he started to gawk.

"H-hey! Boss!" He let off, calling his cohort's attentions upwards as Vult turned to look... and blinked in shock.

"The hells!?" He let off as he blinked. Over head two wagons flew in, side by side, and landed on the ground. Soon the backs were opened, ramps made of mana and men moved to unload crates; of what they didn't know. "Flying wagons!?"

"Another of Lord Noxdecus' inventions; just finished before the invasion began." Mallory said as she looked to it as well. "Celestine says he's been planning it for sometime. He's also established himself on the battlefield; he's fought three trolls at once, a matron and encountered Olga Discordia face to face... and got to walk away." Hicks whistled as Vult blinked before grinning.

"So, our little lordling ain't content to sit on his hands and live off the fat of his family name, eh?" He let off, moving his right hand up to his chin, cupping it's elbow with his left hand, as he stroked his stubble with a thumb. "Heh. I can respect that. So... can you arrange a meeting with him? I figure he's worth... befriending."

"I'd be happy to." Mallory replied as she shook his head. "But right now he's not at camp. He's just left to go-"

[-]

"-on patrol?"

"Yes, your Holiness."

Western Caul, Near the Jetra Border
Lodoss City Cathedral

While the Lodoss City Cathedral was more modest then most, given it's proximity to the Garan border, it was well built and over the years reinforced to help avoid it being torn down in a siege by the Dark Queen's forces. Indeed; it was so reinforced over decades of hard work and expense that some could mistake it for a keep or a small castle and it had even housed soldiers more then once. A small war room was set to the upper most floor, often used by the Church as they directed their forces; a feat made easier with the voxlux.

There one Lucilius the Sixth, Archbishop of the Una Vertias, sat upon a throne set up before the table on which was set a map.

"Indeed." Three women stood across from him at the table; the three LaLunerouge sisters, each one a member of the Church's Forces. The speaker, in the center, was the eldest sister Leal; boasting blonde hair that sat past her rump. She bore Mana Armor formed by golden colored gauntlets over her arms and hands and matching boots over the shins and feet, a strapless red top was over C-Cup breasts with a golden trim and plate in the center. A gold belt with a red spell stone in it's center held a loin cloth over her sex and golden pauldrons hung off her shoulders, a red cape under it. A circlet with a large, red spell stone in the center was over her forehead as red eyes looked back to the Archbishop. "Our man over in Ur reported it in; as part of a general report of course." By slipping the information into a general report it seemed like just another item of note and not something of import; they didn't know if anyone overheard voxlux conversations... but if there was a risk...

"With permission we can send our cat's paw in to deal with him as the patrol is meant to last a couple of days at the very least." By contrast Valerie. By contrast she was a brunette but bore the same color eyes as her sister, her hair pulled into a mid-back length braid with a crown braid. By contrast her armor bore a golden, plated top around her DD-Cup breasts without straps and a small, red spell stone in the middle of it. A gold belt with a red border for the buckle was around her hips and the straps of her g-string were visible while a much shorter loincloth hung over the front and a half skirt much lower from behind. Over her forearms was a set of golden bracers but bore not gloves while her shins was likewise covered but bore sandal-like bottoms, leaving the top of her feet uncovered. Layered pauldrons held a red cape of her own, as did a golden gorget with another red spell stone at the front and another one set to a circlet, half hidden under her hair. "Plenty of time to have him intercepted."

"That said with his new flying wagons we need to be careful; reinforcements could be called quickly if he needed it." By contrast the youngest, Bern, bore short, red, messy hair with yellow eyes. A gorget around her neck bore a red spell stone and she was the only one without a circlet. She was also the only one who's cape, held by the gorget, covered the small, golden pauldrons on her shoulders. A golden top was around her B-Cup breasts while her bottoms was covered by a golden codpiece held up with a thing, gold colored chain attached to panels over the sides of her hips. Golden hued racers were over each forearm and matching boots were on each foot. "I imagine the High Queen will be protective over him."

"Hmmm... Make it so then." Lucilius said with a nod. "Of course given where he is we needs be careful that the forces of Garan-"

[-]

"-is informed, via our contacts inside their forces."

"Of course, mother."

North Central Jetra
Eostian War Camp

Alundra van Bludhorn smirked softly as she took a drag of her smoke pipe. She made sure the correct spells were up in her tent that no one could listen in; even having the voxluxs of everyone present moved into a titanium box just in case. Kaiden stood by her as they spoke, smirking a bit as a few other, trusted aides were around her. Naturally her other remaining son, Alexander, was left in Anvil to mind the Duchy... after all with a few aides at his side even he shouldn't be able to screw it up.

She sat in the chair before a travel table that she was using as a desk as she crossed her legs. She had to admit, James Noxdecus had made some brilliant things; the voxlux and these Cloud Riders... but even discounting whatever role he may or may not have had in Victor's death he was becoming too prominent and if left unchecked could raise his house too far above her allies and he needed to be... brought back down, one way or the other. Of course the issue there was as he had become a favorite of Celestine's she couldn't just do it herself and any mercenary group sent would cause a mass investigation of his enemies, she was sure. No, a cats paw was needed and one of which was a contact within the Kingdom of Garan itself.

All of the Slave States of Eostia kept a few, secret contacts within Garan itself. The idea that members of two sides of such a long, harsh conflict being in contact would seem absurd to some but both got something from the deal. For the Slave States it was highly valuable dark elf slaves; those that their contacts wanted to suddenly 'disappear', as well as removing what they considered 'riffraff'. Supposedly that was how Blizthaus' friend, John Mandeville, found his old, Dark Elf slave in an Elddale pen... before she had help escaping, anyway.

For their dark elven contacts it could be much the same but also trinkets and things they considered 'contraband'.

It was surprising to her that good tobacco of all things was considered contraband to them.

Of course that would allow one side or the other to send certain bits of information to get someone... disliked removed from the picture.

"I've taken the liberty of preparing the message via spell paper." One of her aides let off. "If we send it now we can have it in our contact's hand by tonight."

"Do it." Alundra let off, smirking as she looked to him.

[-]

Across Eostia plans were made, all involving the exact same thing; the death of the Heir of the Barony of Mungale, James Noxdecus.

"He will-"

"-not survive-"

"-his patrol!"

[-]

The Garan forces were making a bit of trouble for us with their Dark Mist spells which shaded the ground a fair bit; intel suggested that they spotted the wagons and, thus, thought we were using them to spy from above. They didn't know about the Scry devices but the Dark Mist still obscured our spying efforts, more then they knew. Making matters worse they seemed to be delaying their next attack; to catch us off guard or to reorganize I didn't know but there was a feeling of deep worry about what they were planning this time. Worse they were using flights of gargoyles much more often now. Sure, the wagons could cloak with an Illusion spell but they moved at the speed of a turtle while doing so; that wasn't even mentioning the Predator blur effect as it moved.

On top of that we still only had four Cloud Riders so we could only scout so much with one riding under the mist... and worse they were spreading the Dark Mist in the air everywhere; not just masking their army's position and disposition but making us wonder where else the enemy might be. As such several patrols were sent out to scout to figure out what in the hell was going on to further our coverage. We had been searching under a massive patch of Dark Mist and, thus far, no sights of any opposing forces. Then again that Dark Mist made it look like it was the evening as it blocked the sun out...

I was in the group's center for the moment with Myr, Tiffany and Cress. Bring the group's rear up was Makoto, Ur'Akara and Prim's bodyguard, Carmen Shard (Now level twenty four). For the lead we had three others... two of whom were arguing... Loudly...

"I should be the one in the lead here. I have the better armor, after all."

"And I have the better senses, so I'll know who's coming first!"

"Doesn't mean you can handle them when they show up!"

"Doesn't mean you'll know of it until it shows up!"

"I'm just letting Cress know who can guard him!"

"I'm pretty sure he can guard himself!"

In case you needed to know it was Campbell and Miria... and they were both giving me a headache with it. "Would the both of you knock it off. We're supposed to be finding any enemies around here, not loudly declaring where we are!" They both looked back to glare at me but had the sense to quiet down as I sighed deeply for a bit as I looked about, trying to see if anyone else was about or evidence of any problems.

And then the third guy in the lead moved past them both and marched ahead... And he... ummm, well...

"Allow me to guide the way!" He let off; his stride a rather exaggerated, swaggering march as he moved ahead with a wide grin. "For no one leads like Baston!"

Yeah...

He stood at six foot two, with black hair pulled back in a mid back length ponytail, a strong, clean shaven jaw, thick, strong arms and wide shoulders; overall he was a mix of handsome and hunky. He wore steel chain mail under a red tunic with a quiver of arrows on his back with the arrows sticking over the right shoulder, a bow in a holster sticking out over his left and an single handed axe at his right hip while a two foot wide shield was at his left. Black pants were over his legs and his hands and feet were covered by brown gloves and boots with steel plates on the outside of the forearms and front of the shins.

...

It was Gaston! An Eostian version of freaking Gaston!

(-)

Name: Baston Brasfort
Title: The Manly Man of Ur
Class: Ranger
Level: 31
Alignment: Friendly
Reputation: 55
Status: Healthy, Proud, Eager

Known Traits
[?]
[I AM A MAN!] You are a beacon of masculinity and virility. +2 to Con and all sexual stats
[Swashbuckler] You are capable with buckler type shields. You may carry a Buckler without taking up a Secondary Weapon slot. +1 Con & End when fighting with a Buckler

[?]

Born into a family of minor nobility in southern Ur he grew up in a mostly small, isolated city. Growing up he took up hunting as a hobby but spent a lot of time around Adventurer's and hard working peasants like lumberjacks, blacksmiths and quarrymen while highly respecting their hard work; even partaking of the labor himself to better understand them. He aims to be the pinnacle of what a man is, even if he doesn't fully understand the concept himself.

(-)

Yeaaaaah...

Interestingly enough he and Cress hit it off, likely as Baston was a sort of... Fredrick-lite, for lack of a better term although Baston mostly talked to him about hunting... Regardless of his... interesting personality he was a good, high level and fairly competent and showcased his own way to cook and prepare deer over a fire last night and showcasing a solid knowledge of herbs and roots, using them to season the meat to a very unique flavor; it was good but not a favorite of mine, although Campbell loved it.

Our patrol was meant to last five days, assuming nothing went wrong. There was a short cliff side that the folks in command thought might provide cover from both the Scry device and any Cloud Riders, even if there wasn't any mist overhead like there was currently. In addition there were caves located here that could be used as hideouts for Garanian forces; we weren't tasked with clearing them out but if we stumbled over anything we were supposed to call it in and get reinforcements to do that.

It was now day three of the patrol and not much had happened. We ended a few goblins along the way but we didn't know if they were Legion or just garden variety Aberrant. I got a paltry amount of XP from it and not much else, save a reduction of the local goblin population. Honestly we weren't doing much so far beyond a long hike in the woods; which I was fine with... although I was worried about what could happen. I mean how often have I been doing something that should be totally fine and normal only to have something weird happen?

I started to get worried about that the moment Gaston-I mean-Baston, raised his arm in a fist and paused, looking about before moving to kneel down. Miria looked ready to say something before her ear twitched. Baston looked to the ground as he frowned a bit. "What do you see?" I asked him as he frowned deeper. Slowly he picked something up and showed it to me.

A small spell stone; black in color and looked like an inch long, smooth oval stone. Spell stones could be found above ground but it was uncommon; more then likely it was dropped or fell out of a weapon. I walked over and took it from it, using my magic and scanning it to see if any enchantments were on it and frowned deeper. "James?" Cress let off as everyone looked around nervously.

"The spell on it is similar to Ring of Alarm; made to be a motion sensing spell." I let off as I looked around. There was no sound; no wildlife, no birds, nothing... "And it's made to send a signal to. It's a weaker spell so the range is only maybe ten or so miles." I looked about as I kept speaking. "They didn't do much to hide the programming on it... suggesting it was made in haste."

"They know we are here then?" Makoto said, drawing her weapon and detaching the steel blade to ready the mana one as Tiffany held her book in her off hand tightly.

"If Lord Noxdecus didn't sense this one we must assume there are more he could have missed." Baston summarized as he drew an arrow and his bow out, looking around. "They know we're here. They may not know who we are, but they know someone is here." I nodded and agreed with him as I spread my magical senses out as Campbell backed up, moving to stand before Cress.

"Miria, Akara... Anything?" I asked as Miria frowned.

"No... But..." She let off, looking around. "...I can't hear anything around us... It's like... like the noise around us at a certain range is just... gone... Just now..." I frowned and used my own Ring of Alarm to scan about us as we started to make a circle to look outwards.

"So... What do we do?" Myr asked as he gripped his weapon, looking around before his eyes went wide and... he tackled me without warning and-

A black bolt of energy flew over where I just was; missing us both by a narrow margin. "Tsk. Lucky one, aren't you?" I was still standing (As was Myr) as I turned to the voice and saw... a baker's dozen of Dark Elves; all but two in heavy armor and in robes instead... and one their number was Bronka!

...yay...

No Aberrant in this group, for better or worse...

"Regardless of that... it seems the intelligence we gained is rather correct." The lead woman carried on with a grin. "One of the Matron slayers is here." The speaker was a woman in golden and black armor with pointed pauldrons; golden mythril or orichalcum I couldn't tell. She wore a spartan styled helm that was gold with a black face guard and a golden colored spell stone in the center. Yellow eyes looked to me as she smirked. She held a short spear in one hand but it bore a two foot long and fairly wide, golden hued blade on a black shaft. There might have been a yellow or golden colored spell stone in there; there was a rounded spot on the golden blade that might be one. In addition she bore an arming sword at her left hip and a kite shield on her left arm that bore a flat, black color, gold trim and no designs. Okay... I'm guessing this was the boss lady of this group. The rest of her group was bunched in the low to mid-twenties. What's her level?

(-)

Name: Gavrilla Dreadblade
Title: The Golden General of Garan
Class: Templar
Level: 45
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 33
Status: Healthy, Battle Ready, Calm

Romance Rating: 77
Corruption Rating: 12

Known Traits
[?]
[Steelclad] You wear any metal armor like you were born in it. +15% bonus to all Resistances for Chain Mail, Scale Mail, Splint Mail and Plate Mail. Additionally you can wear any type of metal armor.
[Dragoon's Soul] You have cross trained in the battle style and tactics of the Dragoon class. You can use Skills and Combat Arts that are limited to the Solider and Dragoon classes in addition to using their Primary and Secondary weapons

[?]
[The Best Defense] Half of the average of your armor's defense resistances is added to your weapon's damage bonus
[Hit and Move] Your strength just makes you faster. For every 5 Points in Str gain 1 in Agi

Born into the Lowborne House of Dreadblade, Gavrilla was trained in the arts of magic but found herself preferring the feel of a weapon and trained as a knight. She has fought on the front lines of the Eostian/Garanian conflict for five hundred years now and proved herself by fighting off three of Eostia's Shield Princesses at once. Her efforts would be recognized by Olga Discordia who appointed her to the rank of commander and later general.

(-)

Level forty five!?

Fuck.

My.

Luck.

I was running through my mind how to handle this; we were slightly outnumbered in ten to fourteen but Gavrilla was fourteen levels higher then myself and Baston who were the two strongest we had here. Even if we both jumped on her and kept the fight a two on one it would be an uphill fight. I drew the Shining Gemini and activated the front head and making it into a trident as I considered the situation. I would rather keep my Dragon's Breath under my hat... but I don't think I have a choice here... I'd need to set up a good moment and hit her with everything I had-

Reflexes saved me as I brought my glove's shield up as an arrow pinged off it. I looked to the side (And noted a surprised Gavrilla did the same) and saw... "Ahhhh... Never that easy, is it?" Looking over I saw... maybe two dozen men in a mix of gambeson, chain mail, splint mail and robes (And one with a tall longbow). What colors they wore was a mix of black and a mid-tone gray.

"I know those guys!" Myr let off, facing the new comers. "Zern and the Gray Wolves!"

"...Who?" I heard Bronka let off a choked gawk as I spoke while Myr looked to me. They seemed to be in the low twenties if nothing else...

"Their leader is a rival to Vult of the Black Dogs." He let off as one of their number, a massive man who stood at around six four stepped forwards. He wore a set of dark steel splint armor with a simple barbute helm that hid most of his head but still showcased brown eyes, a hint of a short, brown beard and a grinning set of lips. He bore a heavy, double headed axe with a six inch spike at the top held in his right hand and resting on his shoulder and a round shield on his left arm. The shield bore an emblem that could be seen on the armor of his allies; a gray ring with a black background. In the center was a stylized wolf's head facing the left and looking down slightly and an Imperium style blade under it, pointed down and to the left with the handle's pommel close to the ring.

"Ha! I'll admit, a rival like Vult is a worthy rival for me!" The lead man let off as he grinned.

I looked at the guy and opted to use Observe.

(-)

Name: Zern
Title: Lord of Mercenaries
Class: Hero
Level: 42
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 23
Status: Healthy, Battle Eager, Greedy

Known Traits
[?]
[Monkey's Grip] You can wield a single, two handed weapon in one hand with no penalty. You may not wield a second two handed weapon along side it, but may wield a single handed weapon, shield or item in your off hand.

[?]

[Steelclad] You wear any metal armor like you were born in it. +15% bonus to all Resistances for Chain Mail, Scale Mail, Splint Mail and Plate Mail. Additionally you can wear any type of metal armor.
[An Axe To Grind] You love your axes! +3 Damage to all Axe Weapons in your Hand

One of the survivors of the Howling Hounds, Zern broke off to found his own group of mercenaries. While he's mostly known for being overshadowed by another former member of the Hounds, Vult and his Black Dogs, he is still known as a powerful and devastating warrior who is willing to take on any job or task... so long as the price is right.

(-)

Forty two!? Jesus!

Why are all these heavy hitters coming out of the wood work today!? "Tell me, big man, you could have let us fight it out with the Garanians and sort out the winner." I let off, keeping my shield raised as I backed up, my party doing the same with the Shining Gemini in hand, as I kept both groups in view as best as I could; placing them at sixty degree angles from one another by my position. "Why try and attack us if you can let them do the work for you and clean up after?" Naturally the Garanian forces had also reoriented to face both us and the Gray Wolves, with Gavrilla herself eyeing Zern darkly.

"Oh please... There's no fun or honor in doing something like that." Zern let off with a grin, tapping his weapon to his shoulder. "I fight my foes head on and earn my pay!"

"Foolish..." The Dark Elf general let off as she sized up the newcomers. Still, I imagine she was glad they were attacking now as opposed to after.

"There's good gold for your head, Noxdecus. If the Drow Wench and her lot want to step aside I don't mind letting them walking away." Zern said boldly as the Garanian General sneered to him.

"I have a duty to slay the killer of Matron Vasilisa Chaoxis!" Gavrilla let off. "And even if I didn't I will not allow insolent whelps like you to leave alive!"

As bad a situation as this was (And yes, it was bad) there was a out I could see; getting Zern and Gavrilla to fight each other. Turning this into a three way fight, messy as that was (From first hand experience) meant we could survive; they would either check each other in a fight, kill or harm each other or one of them goes down swinging to the point we can handle the survivor or retreat unmolested. That wasn't an ideal plan but it was what we had to work-

My thoughts were cut as Baston grabbed the back of my armor and yanked as a lightning coated crossbow bolt flew past where my head was as I (And all three groups present) looked to the side and saw...

Oh dear... This what it means to go from bad to worse...

About a dozen and change in number; they wore all black, matching outfits; loose pants, loose tunics (Although you could see the outline of armor plating under some of them), black belts with pouches, black boots with black, painted plates over them, likewise for the gloves and black cloaks. What was different was that some of them bore black hoods with masks over their faces that were white and skull like with red lenses over the eyes (Shaped spell stones, likely enchanted) who held staves with steel, skull shaped caps with red spell stones fitted into their insides while others had great helms shaped like skulls with red, spell stone lenses (Same story) with various melee weapons. Their tunics all bore the same emblem; a four sided diamond with equal sizes outlined in white with a black inside that contained two sickles with curved, pointed pommels and their tips nearly touching as they stood straight up. Inside was a stylized sword; it's handle was overly short with a pointed pommel, it's guard oddly wide with prongs going up and down and red diamonds set to the center of the ends. The blade section bore four lines to it, all pointed down and the inner two disconnected from the rest. It gave the the whole thing a skull shape and was the emblem of the Death Legion; a mercenary group known to be a murder worshiping cult...

Oh yeah... This is gonna be not the fun...

"Scarecrow..." Zern let off, frowning a bit as he turned his head for a moment and spat on the ground. "Never thought I'd see you once more, let alone here..." I imagine Zern meant the lead man in the Death Legion's group. He was identifiable by a few differences in his appearance, starting with his unique helm; the front of his great helm seemed like was melted a bit with holes placed over where the mouth was to make an strange, creepy grin. A skull like nose and eyes with the same red lenses as his fellow Legionaries were there as well and on his head was a black, somewhat tattered, wide brimmed hat. In addition a series of black feathers were set along the top of his tunic and under the cloak in a rather haphazard manner and mostly over the shoulders.

"Zern. It has been awhile. Rare is it that I see an offering I failed to deliver to Lord Hollow in such a manner." The leader of the Death legion let off, this 'Scarecrow'. In his right hand he bore a combat scythe, if a single handed one with a pointed, curved blade with feathers set to the back of it's head and a red spell stone to the middle of where blade and shaft met. A matching one was at his left hip but with the blade folded towards the shaft. His left hand held a crossbow; it was a foot and a half long with a sizable, red spell stone set to the front that dominated the front (And shaped like a skull, of course) and bore a seven inch deep box on it's underside. Despite having just fired it was re-cocked and reloaded; my guess was the box bore a lot of spare bolts like a magazine and the spell stone would reload the weapon for the user. "We have a contract to slay Lord Noxdecus as well, however... and in the name of Lord Hollow it will be the Death Legion who claims his life as an offering to our magnificent god!"

"M'Lord is not lacking enemies, it seems." Baston let off as I resisted the urge to snarl; sadly he was right it seemed. Low to mid twenties for the Legion and for this Scarecrow...

(-)

Name: Scarecrow
Title: Brother of the Death Legion
Class: Assassin
Level: 44
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: 30
Status: Healthy, Excited, Zealous

Known Traits
[?]
[Crack Shot] Your aim is very steady when you're not actively under attack. +15% to Acc when not a target
[Dual Strike] You are exceptional at using two weapons at the same time. +5% Dex and Agi while using two weapons at once.

[?]

[Steel Comfort] You know how good some classic, metal armor is. You can use Chain Mail, Scale Mail or Splint Mail regardless of your class at double the Agi Penalty

Little is known of the Death Legion's field leader beyond he is called Scarecrow. One of their strongest members some even think he is the leader of the mysterious Death Legion. Few if any know of his story or identity.

(-)

Oh, he's level forty four.

Because of fucking course he is!

Okay... Same plan as before just a four way fight!

"This is gonna be a rough one..." I let off as I frowned.

"What's the plan?" Campbell let off as we backed up until we were at a ninety degree angle to the two merc groups and had the Garanians directly ahead of us as we all sized each other up as best able. The Galeraven Heir and Makoto and moved to flank me with Baston, Ur'Akara and Carmen moving directly behind us, Tiffany and Myr behind them and Cress and Miria at the rear; all with weapons at the ready. Likewise all of our foes had their heavy hitters and melee in front, mages and ranged fighters in the rear saved the seemingly mixed ranged Scarecrow.

"Tiffany... Once the fight starts and your summon is in battle report the situation directly to Alicia." I said sternly as I tried to speak low enough to avoid being overheard by the other groups.. "Everyone; stick together. Once the chance comes we'll retreat towards the cliffs; if we keep it to one side that limits angles of attacks we can suffer from and it'll be a useful landmark to be found by. The most important thing is that we all survive and watch each other's backs. The best thing to do is to try and draw them all in to fight each other..."

"Naturally." Campbell let off as I adjusted my grip on the Shining Gemini and aimed it's activated end forwards as I braced for the attack to come.

"Avoid fighting their leaders if possible; try and draw them to fight each other as best you can." I added as I looked around to each side. "I think they're all serious business and it's better to let them sort things out between themselves." Before I could say anything else my view flashed white as the boss music spun up before it zoomed over to the Garanians, moving left to right across their line to it's center, flashing to go right to left to the center once more then moving to settle on Gavrilla directly; zoomed in then panning back.

"Enough of this pointless chatter! I will carry out my duty and slay you all..." She let off as she pointed her spear forwards.

_The Golden General of Garan_
Gavrilla Dreadblade

Rather then flash my view zoomed over towards Zern as he moved to bang his heavy weapon to his shield twice as he grinned wide. "Ha! Now this is gonna be a hell of a fight!" He let off, pulling his weapon behind him as his men moved to flank him closer he chuckled.

_Howling Mercenaries_
The Gray Wolves

Once more the view turned, swinging over to the Death Legion; framing them all before zooming in on Scarecrow's helm as he moved to hold his scythe before it, straight up as he spoke. "Lord Hollow... In your name we offer these souls to you, our God of Death and he who sits upon the Throne of Skulls!" He let off as the view panned back; showing all of the Death Legion matching his pose before taking combat stances.

_Followers of the Skull Throne_
The Death Legion

Finally the view panned above at an angle; showing all three forces at once before a flash returned my view to normal. Zern was the first to move as he charged us just a hint before Scarecrow did the same, firing lightning laced bolts from his crossbow at me; before I could block them Tiffany had a summons up (A fully armored, yellow rabbit knight with a lance) that blocked it with it's own shield as she took her voxlux out and made an audio only call out to Alicia. Gavrilla charged in herself and so did all of her forces, the Gray Wolves and the Death Legion; the fact was we were the only ones not charging.

Before they made contact with us Zern and Scarecrow veered into one another, the latter's crossbow collapsing before he put it behind him, drew his other scythe and snapped the blade to place before crossing his weapons and catching Zern's axe. I could see Death Legion and Gray Wolves charging us as Gavrilla feigned an attack to Zern before ramming into Scarecrow with her shield; the former leaping back before she connected. My guess was that Wolves and Legion were breaking off to attack both us and the Garanians as the dark elves did the same. I was about to pick a target from the Legion and-

"NOXDECUS!"

Until Bronka used a Combat Art to leap up, over the melee of the three leaders to dive to me with her blade pointed down. "You have a one-track mind." I let off dully as I hopped back and out of her attack range as I swung the bottom end of my weapon up; using the inactive end as it swung up as I used it to channel a shield which blocked her quick casted Fireball (I suspected she was readying a spell as I felt the mana draw) and transitioned into a heavy downswing with the bladed end that she used her goat's skull shield to block... as I turned the head of my weapon off to her confusion.

To her credit she hopped back and raised an Arcane Shield before my point blank Holy Flare went off and while she skidded back she took no noticeable damage. I reactivated the end but I was forced to turn and block a mace swing from a Death Legion grunt (With a skull shaped mace head! With spikes in the eyes!), side stepping when he punched with his free hand, set my boot to his gut and used a Gale Burst from it which pushed me back a full step but also launched him back towards Bronka... who slammed a fire spell into his back; it wasn't explosive and instead slammed into his back with a mixture of heat and concussive force, knocking him over. She ignored him from there save stomping on the back of his head to charge me once more.

I mean... I know we're all trying to kill each other here but rude!

Her flamberge sword came alight with flame as she thrust it to me as I caught it with the trident head of my weapon, twisting and turning the other end to detach it and form a normal blade in my off hand and slashed down to her head as she ducked and slid back. I transitioned the other half to a blade as well before slashing at her with a simple but effective kata, slashing and stabbing at her and forcing her to use her shield... before she realized what I was doing and side stepped as the skull mace using Death Legion tried to slam her from behind. I turned off my off hand Gemini half as I side stepped and used another Gale Burst to knock him towards Bronka once more but this time he was more ready; using it for momentum and slamming his weapon down hard onto her shield.

She was about to retaliate but she was forced to hold her rapier up behind her to block the sword of a Gray Wolf who seemed to want to jump into the small melee of ours. This situation calls for a big explosive spell!

So I used Holy Flare!

Bronka squirmed out between the two of them and hopped away so she didn't take any damage while the other two were knocked to the ground roughly; dead or not I didn't know and I didn't have the time to check as Bronka rushed at me once more.

[-]

Northern Elddale
Eostian War Camp
Moments Earlier

Vult was a bit unsurprised that when he arrived mere days ago that the morale of the camp was a bit muted by the Eostian Force's previous loss but the appearance of the Black Dogs lifted them a bit; seeing large amount of fresh reinforcements helped with that, after all. Even so he was well aware not many of the Eostian regulars and elite orders held him or the Black Dogs in high regard, he was not unaware of his reputation of course, but they were also known for getting the job done. He made sure to limit his Aberrant troops to the Black Dogs camp as he hung around the main one as they awaited orders... as he amused himself by watching Keane and Hicks play with the new toy they bought from a merchant following the army.

"E-Seven." Keane droned out.

"Gahhhhh! You sunk my galleon!" Hicks let off as he grabbed the back of his head in frustration.

A toy made by the one and only James Noxdecus, no less.

He saw someone moving out of the corner of his eye as he grinned as they moved to walk by as he half turned on the log he sat on and lifted the mug of ale he held. "Princess Alicia, I presume! Helping lead the men here, eh?" The blonde woman paused in her stride, her head turning first to look at him for a long moment before turning and walking closer, stopping five feet from him.

"Vult of the Black Dogs, I assume?" She let off with a stern frown to her face.

"Ahhhhh, come now, no need to make that face." He let off with a chuckle. "We are all allies here, right?"

"Your not an ally, you're a sell-sword." She replied curtly. He was used to that sort of reception; many of upper echelons of military command and many nobility didn't like men who fought mostly or solely for coin with some of them refusing to hire mercs at all. That said most were wise enough to understand the concept of extra numbers.

"That still makes me an ally, just a paid one." He replied. Honestly as employers went Eostia was better then most; they didn't pay quite as well but they also treated mercenary forces as regulars and not as disposable fodder unlike Dominious.

Then again Dominious also let his men go wilder on their opponents... It was more his kind of place, truth be told.

"F-Four."

"Dammit!"

"Those two are Keane and Hicks; my lieutenants." Vult said as he watched the two with a chuckle. "Keane's a recognized Grand Master by the Spellcaster's Guild and awaiting a Magus test. Hicks might look like a dumb idiot but he's the best scout you'll find that lacks cat or dog ears."

"Well gee boss, thanks." Hicks let off, giving Vult a deadpan looked as the large man chuckled.

"I'm told this game was made by Lord Noxdecus." Vult said as he looked to Alicia once more. "Man's getting a reputation for being a genius enchanter and a hell of a fighter; you could hear people talking about him in eastern Dominious."

"Ahh, yes." Alicia said with a nod as she looked to the game. "He's always a been a smart one."

"You're friends with him then?" Vult said with a wide grin. "Could I ask you for an introduction when the chance comes?"

"Why do you want that?" She let off, crossing her arms. To Vult it sounded like she was being defensive over him.

"Awwww, feeling protective over your boyfriend?" Hicks let off in a tease and chuckled for a long moment-

"F-Five."

"Gaaaahhhhh!" Hicks let off. "Oh come on!"

Until Keane announced his next attack and he watched an Illusion made ship sink into the log the game was set atop of. Vult noted Alicia crossed her arms tighter and looked to Hicks a bit after his outburst but said nothing else. As much as he wanted to further tease and maybe even embarrass the haughty looking knight now this wasn't the time or place.

"If you must know-" Vult began, pulling her attention back to him. "-it's quite simple, we're a very large mercenary group and the voxlux as a tool is one we could make great use of. And given what else he's made... well, he's a man who'd make a useful ally and friend. At the end of the day, Princess, we are a business providing a service and the better we can provide that service the better it is for us and the client. The ability to, say, commission a work from a masterful enchanter would be an excellent advantage." He said as he took a long swig of his ale.

"Tsk." Alicia let off as her hands moved to her hips as she looked to him sternly. "I suppose I should be the one to do so; I imagine you'd meet him sooner or later regardless-" Anything else she had to say was cut off as a ping sounded, the woman moving to pull a voxlux out and seeing Tiffany's face, one of James' friends. "Yes? Report." She let off... before the sound of steel clashing with steel was heard.

"We've been ambushed!" Tiffany replied as Vult's eyes narrowed as he moved to down his ale quickly as Alicia's eyes widened. "Dark Elf knights and mercenaries! It's chaos over here and we need back up!"

"Where are you right now!?" Alicia barked out as she glared to the device.

"Cliff side in the Deerline Forest; maybe two hundred yards from the cliff." Was the answer that came as an explosion sounded from her device, as she could see Tiffany look off in a direction. "Hurry!"

"Understood! Hang on tight, we're coming!" Alicia said as she ended her call quickly. "Call, Agni!" She let off as the device pinged before she got an answer, Vult standing up and snapping his fingers twice. Understanding his men stood up as well, abandoning there game. Soon a tanned, teal haired woman's face was there and Alicia was speaking before a word came from her. "Agni, ready a Cloud Rider and some knights; James found himself in trouble and needs back up."

"Right away. We'll be ready in five." The woman in the voxlux said as Vult took a moment to stretch.

"Heh. It's about time." Vult let off as he slammed his right fist into his palm as Alicia gave him a deadpan look. "Shall we get to work then?"

"What are you-"

"Come now." Vult let off, cutting the Princess of Feoh off. "We're the hired help, right? We're here to be put to use. More over, this would be a hell of an introduction to the good lord, right?" Alicia narrowed her eyes at the man; she clearly didn't trust or like him all that much... but both also knew his reputation for power and strength and how useful he could be as an ally in the situation.

"Fine." She barked off as she looked up at the man sternly; ignoring just how much he towered over her. "But the three of you are under my command and follow my orders."

"Of course..." He let off, smiling as she turned to head towards the Cloud Rider... turning into a grin while her back was turned.

[-]

As soon as Tiffany set her voxlux away both hands were on her stave as she directed her rabbit knight into supporting Myr; things were devolving more and more. Cress and Baston both drew their rapier and axe respectfully with the latter drawing his shield as well, Myr was forced into the melee and his ability to cast was limited by the range and only Miria was firing at any distance beyond 'point blank' and that was only because Cress was offering her the cover needed by engaging in close range combat for her. Tiffany would yelp and duck an attack as a member of the Gray Wolves rushed her; a six foot long pole hammer in his hand with a small, cork sized head as well as a back and top spike. As she got up fully she would block a follow up attack with her staff as her book hovered to her side and slightly behind; staying out of the fight for her.

She knew she couldn't overpower him and, as such, used a spell from her stave; a Gale Burst which forced her to the side and away a short distance before spinning with the force of her own spell, slipping behind him and unleashing a second wind spell, Air Cutter; a half foot wide blade of wind that impacted the back of her foe's chain mail with a stiff impact. It didn't break through the armor but he was still forced to stumble forwards before she started channeling an Arcane Lance to follow up; it was a bit difficult as she still had to direct her summons as it wouldn't act as well under it's own accord. Training with Uncle Gregory had made her better able to focus but it was still difficult to do; doubly so under such difficult conditions.

She sent her mana made lance off into the man who dodged after he faced her once more... only to nail a Death Legion grunt who was rushing to them in the middle of the chest. He looked down to see the mana made attack as it vanished, leaving a hole there in his torso before falling to the ground. On the one hand that was one less enemy she needed to deal with.

On the other she was still dealing with this one.

As he charged she opted to take a page from James' book of combat tactics and used a spell from her foot, Blizzard Bomb; a more powerful form of Arctic Orb. The man yelped as the ground around her for fifteen feet froze to a sheet of slippery ice as she used a Levitate spell to hover above it and pulled back with another Arcane Lance as her foe tried to keep his balance. She didn't throw her spell until after he slipped and fell onto his back, only then did she slam it to his chest. Sighing she moved to carry on directing her summons... before a motion at the side of her vision made her lean back before pain flared in her temple, sending her to the ground. She was casting a healing spell a moment later as she looked over to where the attack came... only to see the man struggling to his knees, having thrown his main weapon, clipping the side of her head and pulling a knife into his off hand and an arming sword; using their guards as a means to grip the ice to crawl to her.

She had to admit; he was tough... and then he died before he reached her as a Death Legion man leapt onto his back and drove a spear into the Wolf's back. The mercenary howled out in pain and collapsed before the cultist moved to leap at her...

Before her bunny knight slammed into his side, lance first, and breaking through whatever armor was under the cloth he wore. She kept healing her ringing head as she looked about, making sure no one would sneak up on her as her summons returned to guard Myr. "Hurry up and get here..."

[-]

"Raggggh!" For Zern he was in the exact kind of situation he wanted to be in; a giant, wild fight! Grinning he swung his massive axe in both hands, the very end held by his shield hand, at the dark elf in the gold-hued armor who blocked with her shield. He didn't press the attack on her or maneuver to sneak a hit in; rather he pushed off her and rushed Scarecrow with another heavy strike. He would catch the axe with both of his blade and shifted the momentum to the side before trying to slash with his off hand weapon. He didn't bother to block, letting it deflect off his armor as he threw a heavy punch with his left arm to impact the Death legion leader with the edge of the shield; a punch that only grazed his chest as Scarecrow leaned away.

Scarecrow had intended to go at his back only to need to sidestep a spear thrust from the Garanian General; using a scythe to deflect it as she rushed him with her shield. His response was a turning sidestep to slip behind her as he activated Shocking Weapon as he reached out to slip his weapon before her throat; he was sure he'd need the extra power to get past such solid, mighty armor she wore before pulling his weapon back hard...

Only for Gavrilla to fall backwards as she kicked her feet up and leaned back; the blade glancing off her helm as she turned her head to one side as she swung one of her legs up, catching the Death Legion leader in the head with a wheeling kick and making him stumble backwards. For her part Gavrilla brought her shield up as Zern cried out with a Combat Art fueling his next attack along with a Blazing Weapon for extra power before slamming it down to the downed elf; making her grunt as she pointed her spear at him and blasted off with a Havoc Rend spell. Zern blocked with his own shield and a defensive Combat Art as the force of what looked like black, violent lightning forced him back and scarred his shield before she used a wind spell between her shoulders and into the ground; launching her back up to her feet. She was forced to thrust her weapon backwards behind her; feeling the butt of the weapon deflected before gritting her teeth and turning to swing her shield about in a heavy punch at Scarecrow...

Only for him to land on her shield with scythes raised up to strike, forcing her shield arm down as he swung both weapons at her head. She dropped her spear for the speed and agility to move her arm and block with one of her bracers; she bore the best metal for an armor to be forged from and was confident she could take the impact. She felt the blades slam into her forearm and was surprised that she felt the electric shock from his weapon. Even so she forced him off her with a fling of her arm and saw that both of his blades cut into her bracer; with a hint of one getting fully through, if only making a half inch long gap into the padded layer under the metal.

It was easy to forget how dangerous humans could really be.

Scarecrow was forced to dodge a heavy axe swing from Zern as Gavrilla slipped her foot under the shaft of her spear before kicked it back up to her hand as she moved to strike at Gray Wolves' leader with an over hand strike only for him to hop to the side as leapt forwards and turned. All three stood at a near equal distance from one another, each watching the other as the three way battle met a lull; their collective target forgotten in the face of such challenging opponents.

[-]

I was lucky that none of my friend's have died yet, although it seemed like Tiffany took a hard hit. Campbell's armor was also well dented in the chaos showing the sort of damage she had to endure which was worrying, but to my luck Gavrilla, Zern and Scarecrow were in a giant three-way fight, tying them all up as we tried to retreat to the cliff. The issue was we couldn't turn our backs to really move lest we get cut down and so we made no real distance. Even then what distance we did made was pointless as everyone else was bringing their fights along with us; we could see the cliff side through the sparse trees but reaching them was difficult.

Worse a few other dark elves got around to harass us, even if they ended up fighting the Wolves and Legion as much as us; we were in a huge, fucking mess.

"Gahhhh! Die will you!"

Oh right... and Bronka was being a pain as per usual. While a couple others would come to attack one of us (Usually me) she never relented save when someone attacked her; and even then she would opt to dodge or avoid before going around and heading right back at me. That was just making the situation worse and making it more difficult to disengage so I could help my party so we could start a retreat. I had just Fireballed a Death Legion guy (And used a shield to block the shock wave of the spell) and knocked him away and to his ass when she bum rushed me once more; swinging her shield's point in a heavy haymaker... while a Gray Wolf was changing me from the side.

God dammit.

I changed both Gemini halves to short, parrying dagger blades as I used my off hand one to catch her shield's horn as I slid to the side, pulling back and yanking her off balance before I slammed the other blade to the side of her head with a Breaking Blow as she grunted hard and was sent to the ground; the weapon didn't get past her Armor Weave but the sheer force of my Combat Art's impact still rocked her as would hitting the ground. I backed up as I reconnected the Shining Gemini to a single, double bladed weapon and pointed it at the Gray Wolf as he swung a pole hammer to my head.

I caught the attack with my Trident before starting to swing my weapon up before I caught something from the side of my vision and leapt to the side with a partial Heroic Leap... only for the Wolf to stumble forwards where I was and get impaled by Gavrilla's spear as she glared to me. Before she could follow up she dodged Zern's own attack who in turn blocked a strike from Scarecrow as I clicked my tongue.

"Get off of me!"

At least Bronka needed a moment to get the now dead Gray Wolf off of her before she could do anything else so it would be a moment before I had to deal with her once more.

Scarecrow would be the next to make a go at me, spinning around Zern and lunging for me with some Combat Art as I used a Dual Cast; starting with casting Ice Wall. The effect was a semi-clear, semi-cyan colored, smooth, half dome of ice before me... that his two scythes slammed into and punched through, cracking it. Of course Ice Wall was suited to counter magical attacks as opposed to it's physically hardened, Earth counterpart... but that being said using Ice Wall was a calculated move as I wanted his weapons to stick in it as the wall held if cracked...

Before slamming him with Vortex Tunnel from inside of the half dome. The wind spell cracked the dome apart and caught him in the chest and he gave a crying howl as he was carried off and upwards, slamming into a tree back first. He started to fall but arrested himself by slamming a scythe to it before leaping to another tree to lower himself down and land to my right side as I backed up...

And as he landed I found myself with him, Zern and Gavrillia in a half circle around me as Bronka rose up to her feet... A glance behind me showed everyone else had their hands full.

Fuck.

Fuck-fuck-fuck...

One of the Death Legion started to move to sneak up on Zern from behind as I kept backing up; the three leaders sizing me and each other up... and then...

Zern stiffened and rose up slowly and under the barbute helm's slot I could see worry and fear come to his face... And Gavrilla mimicked him; stiffening and turning to face Zern... then a spot behind him as she backed up. Scarecrow stiffened and I couldn't make out his face under his helm but like the Garanian General he turned and faced to the same point behind Zern. Zern was the last to turn as I wondered what was going on, the Death Legion member pausing as I-

I split the Gemini once more and full drew blades as I sensed... something... More importantly the boss theme started to go quiet just then...

As a reminder; it was dark out. The Dark Mist overhead was blocking the sun out so it was difficult to see exactly, like it was in the middle of the evening... and then... I finally saw it. A... mass crawling behind the Death Legion member. I didn't know what it was; it seemed human sized but much wider... Until it lunged and I could see it more fully as it was no longer crawling forwards or staying as low to the ground as it could before the Legion member screamed as two, massive fangs drove into his shoulders; his head fully engulfed in a mouth before the beast bit down upon him, broke his neck by the force, lifted him up and shook his head before spitting him out and letting him drop to the ground.

GRAHHHHHHUUUUUUAAARRRRRRRRR!

All fighting ended as the leaders backed up and I side stepped as I backed up until we were in a line. While on all fours and no longer crawling low to the ground and now fully visible it was from foot to shoulder some sixteen feet tall and massive. Like nine or ten feet wide! All four of it's limbs were thick as logs and it's head was maybe the half the size of a Volkswagen Beetle. It's body was clad in dark, reddish brown fur that seemed the color of dried blood that bore several clumps of fur that spiked up and a pair of solid spikes jutting out the sides of it's shoulders that looked like they were made of bone. The head bore two huge fangs that were a foot and a half long with sharpened points and looked like flat, forged curved daggers. Red colored eyes on black sclera glared to us; full of hate and anger.

I didn't need to use observe to know what this thing was but I used it anyway.

(-)

Name: Belyy Klyk the Blood Bear
Title: Spawnborne Monstrosity
Class: Spawnborne/Beast
Level: 62
Alignment: Hostile
Reputation: N/A
Status: Healthy, Hungry, Enraged

Known Traits
[?]

[?]
[Thick Fur Armor] You have thick, rough fur that acts as a natural armor. +20 to All Physical Resistances and+15 to All Magical Resistances against all foes

[Unending Rage] You are in a near constant state of anger and it fuels your strength. +10% to Str when directing your anger to a target.

[Moxie] Each time you defeat a foe in battle increase your Con, Str, End, Dex and Agi by 2%, up to eight times. This lasts up until one minute after your last fight
[You Are Puny] Reduce all direct damage done by any foe by 2% for each level of difference between you so long as yours is higher up to 30%

[Furious Speed] Your anger feeds your speed. +15% to Agi and top speed when enraged.
[Regenerator] You heal faster then normal. Heal at five times normal speed. Increase this speed to twenty times when asleep.

Created by Dark Elf magicians he was created to be a powerful monster to kill humans under the command of their military but they found it's anger and rage to be beyond uncontrollable. It slew it's creators, the entire city of Davnym-Davno City and the team of twenty trolls sent to capture it. It would escape into the wild and would hunt men and elves for years; even interrupting battles to kill whatever it could.

(-)

S-S-S-S-Sixty-TWO!?

This...

Was...

Bad...

This was very fucking BAD!

Everyone faced the giant monster and even Bronka was focused on it as I gulped. Everyone had a look of fear or horror on their faces as this giant, monsterous bear stared us down (Well, I couldn't tell with the Death Legion but I imagined under their helms and masks were several 'oh shit' faces). Finally I looked to Gavrilla. "Truce?" I let off as firm and calm as I could while hoping I didn't shit myself!

"Agreed!" She barked back.

"Y-yeah, I'm with ya." Zern added with a nod.

"Lord Hollow would much prefer this offering to all others." Scarecrow added... I assumed as a way of saying 'truce'.

As a new, deeper and more horrific boss theme started up my view shifted once more to the massive, oversized bear as it growled and stalked closer, zooming on it's face before it stood up on it's hind legs as the view panned back... and it maybe reached over thirty feet up by doing so as it looked down to us and gave a long, drawn out, ear splitting roar.

[-]

Cloud Rider, Mid-Air
Heading Towards the Cliffside Battle

The echoing roar reached the flying wagon as Alicia stood next to the pilot as she looked to the distance. "...What on earth was that..?"

"I've heard that roar before..." Vult let off, his voice empty of bravado and command. "Never saw what made it, I only knew about it from a survived... Belyy Klyk..."

"Oh no..." Alicia let off, her face paling by several shades. "Pilot! Faster! We need to save out people, quickly!" She barked out as she looked to the distance...

[-]

I could see almost everyone, even myself in view as the giant bear looked down to us all, dwarfing everyone present as red tinted droll leaking down it's massive, saber-like fangs, seven or so inch claws on it's massive paws and extended outwards.

_Spawnborne Monstrosity_
Belyy Klyk the Blood Bear

My view returned to normal as it roared once more and moved to all fours, starting a charge and-

FUCK ME!

I nearly got swiped as it lunged in; Heroic Leap saving me as I dove to the side; a dying cry being the thing to inform me he got someone (A Gray Wolf) and I unleashed a Scatter Bolt to his side as I got up, impacting him and...

Nada.

Shit.

I followed up with a Havoc Rend, firing off darkness mana in the forming of black lightning into it, dragging it along it's flank as it smashed someone into a tree with the back of it's paw and... I singed it's fur a little.

Tiffany's bunny knight flew up into it's face and slammed the point of it's weapon directly into it's eye, hitting it full and hard, getting a pained roar before the summons was swatted away and broken into fragments and...

No visible harm beyond a few blinks.

Zern dodged a stomp as his weapon glowed with a Combat Art, swinging it into the giant bear's forearm, hitting with a firm impact and... maybe ruffling the fur a bit before leaping away from a back paw swipe. The distraction let Gavrilla stab it in the neck with her lance; although by 'stab' I mean leap straight upwards some forty feet, invert herself

in mid-air and jump off the air to propel down like a rocket and slam from an angle to the side of it's neck. It bellowed out in anger but... nada.

It occurred to me that it's You Are Puny Trait meant that the three leaders were, or rather all of us were, more or less, getting their damage nerfed by nearly a third before even considering it's defenses and resistances bolstered by Thick Fur Armor! This was further shown as Scarecrow put a scythe away, drew his crossbow and fired several, lightning bolstered bolts at it (At a semi-auto rate of fire, I might add) which stuck into it's fur, made it jerk slightly like it got a static shock and little else. Baston, Miria and Cress all fired arrows into it (With Cress using Breeze Weapon and Miria Blazing Weapon), but none seem to do more then annoy it.

"We need to leave!" Campbell let off as Belyy slammed a paw down on a Dark Elf knight as she stepped in, slamming the point of her sword into it's leg, then slamming her axe to it and leaping away before it slammed down with it's other paw.

"While I agree..." I let off, slamming an Arctic Orb into it's face; icing up it's face as it shook it's head before moving to claw the ice away. "I do not want to give this thing my back!"

"Indeed." Scarecrow gave off as he nailed the bear in the eye with a bolt. "This monster does not hunt for food but to merely kill. A kindred spirit to my faith. A worthy offering!"

I was in no mood to comment on that...

I used Levitate and used the one in my armor to fly high up to a branch on a tree; mostly to be out of it's line of sight just before the ice came off fully as I channeled mana before aiming down. "Get clear!" I called out before unleashing a Dual Casted Cluster Flare and sent nearly three dozen massive fireballs down into it from above all at once. I didn't wait long between my warning and my attack; Tiffany, Myr, Gavrilla and a dark elf mage raising shields to guard themselves and everyone else as my massive, Dual Casted spell impacted and made a huge detonation, rocking the tree I stood in. For a moment it was like daylight came under the Dark Mist from the sheer brightness of the blast, a massive amount of smoke kicked up as the spellcasters on the ground used wind spells to clear it...

And it's back fur was heavily singed, a few patches of it was on fire and it looked up at me and just snarled loudly. I... don't think I hurt it all that much. I think I hurt it's feelings more then I hurt it.

Fuck.

I had only a moment of warning before needing to use Heroic Leap to jump up and away before it leapt up at me, into the tree and broke the top part of it off, turning in the air and slamming to the ground on it's back right before the top of the now decapitated tree landed across of it's chest. Finally it gave a howl of what seemed like pain... from self inflicted damage...

Gahhhhhhhh!

I flew to the ground as I considered things. I doubled up on my strongest attack spell, slammed it as hard as I could and it considered it a nuisance. I could use Dragon's Breath... but I knew that due to the level difference the damage would be cut by a almost a third before considering it's Thick Fur Armor. No; as powerful as Dragon's Breath was it was so neutered that I couldn't use it; not directly anyway. I was thinking as the bear had gotten up from under the tree, smashed into another, much thicker tree and toppled it towards us, making most of us scatter as I thought of what we could do and...

I was at a loss... What do I do!?

What can I do!?

Tiffany summoned a new beast; this one a twelve foot tall cat with a hat, boots and a rapier that slammed it's weapon into it's face... and was shattered with a single bite.

Yup.

Another Grey Wolf avoided death narrowly by ducking a swipe, abandoning his weapons and scrambling to his feet. He kept running, clearly about to flee... only to be pounced on, grabbed with a bite and flung around at someone else who dodged by leaping aside. I was close enough to check on the man; his right arm was mangled and he was out cold, likely a lot of internal damage yet alive as I used Blessed Recover on him. I doubted he'd be back in the fight but he might survive...

Might...

As I moved back to the fight I sent another Arctic Orb into the bear's face; more to buy time while it's vision was blinded. I tried to think of something to do-

My thoughts cut out as it lunged for me even before it's cleared the ice off; I had no ability to dodge from it's sheer speed! I popped Adrenaline Rush, Steel Skin, Physical Burst and my armor's Physical Burst while bringing up my glove's shield in a tower form and braced...

And my shield broke under one, single, solid swipe as I was sent flying back from the sheer force. Someone cried out my name as I slammed into a tree with a rough impact. Everything hurt as I bounced off the tree and landed on my front. I groaned and couldn't move for a long, long moment, coughing hard as the impacted knocked the air from my lungs before I could finally try and push up to my feet but my left arm screamed at me as I felt a shift where things weren't meant to shift. I realized my arm was broken as I dropped Physical Burst, rolled to my right side and started to use Blessed Recover on my amr. The effect would heal my bone and pull it back toget-

OH HOLY GOD OF FUCK!

Yeah, as it turns out magically resetting the bone like this hurts like a bitch. More over the spell wouldn't fully heal my arm; it would just knit it back together enough that I could move it without pain but I wasn't using it for anything else; at least it healed the rest of me as I added Regeneration on top of it before using another Blessed Recover. Even after healing my arm bore a deep ache to it as I finally pushed to my feet. The giant bear was still rampaging as I tried to work out a course of action. What would we do-

"JAMES!" I hard, looking up as a Cloud Rider flew overhead. Belyy saw it and stood to it's hind legs as it roared out. I could see Alicia on it as a six foot six man leapt from it as the pilot looked for a good place to land.

"VULT!?" Zern let off as the leaping man landed on his feet, a massive sword in one hand.

"Zern, I see you're in over your head!" The newcomer let off as he looked to the bear with a grin. "That's rare!"

(-)

Name: Vult
Title: The King of Mercenaries
Class: Warlord
Level: 58
Alignment: Neutral
Reputation: 55
Status: Healthy, Worried, Battle Eager

Known Traits
[Gorilla's Grip] You can wield a single, two handed weapon in one hand with no penalty. You may also wield a second such weapon in a likewise manner at a 5% damage penalty. If you use a two handed weapon with both hands increase damage of that weapon by 20%

[Back to the Wall] If you cannot retreat you fight better then normal. +5% all stats when retreat is not an option when a fight starts

[?]

[Sword Master] You are a master of any sword set to your hand. +2 Damage to all one handed swords in your use, +4 Damage to all two handed swords in your use.
[In Charge] +5% to Con, End & Str when leading men into battle

[Battle Master] You are a master of combat and have many skills and techniques at your disposal. Decrease all Combat Art's recharge times by 20% and increase their effects by 5%

An orphan recruited into the Howling Hounds at a young age he is a self taught warrior, tactician and leader. Ruthless and ambitious he rose up in the ranks until the order's destruction after which he founded the Black Dogs. Known as one of if not the strongest man on Sererus he has a reputation of being destructive, unscrupulous and permissive of ill-discipline in his ranks off the battlefield. Even so his Black Dogs rally to him and he is still hired as he is known for getting the job done, no matter the difficulty.

(-)

I've heard of him; by all accounts he's... not someone you really want to befriend but if you need a hard job done and aren't over concerned about things like fallout, ethics or collateral damage the job will be done. Alicia hopped off the wagon a moment later, landing on her feet as she rushed to me. "Are you okay?"

"Fantastic..." I let off, as I kept healing my arm with more Blessed Recovers to further knit it together as well as ease the damage to the rest of my body. "I've been better, but this thing..." She turned to face the bear as it missed a stomp on a dark elf before another tripped on a root. Belyy was quick as slammed the palm of a paw to his legs; he wasn't walking anytime soon given how loud he howled in pain. A massive ice spell to the face blinded it and made it stumble back; long enough for Baston to grab the elf by his collar and drag him to Tiffany who started to heal the legs as soon as he was in range of her staff. "We've no idea what to do."

"Here I come!" Vult bellowed out as he charged the beast, dodging a swipe as he went to a leg and swung for it and-

Holy crap, blood spurted out! He damaged it! He was able to hurt this fucking thing! Maybe we had a chance to-

Vult then used both hands on his weapon to block a swipe and skidded back; staying on his feet but with massive scars in his weapon's side...

"Damn it!" Alicia let off as she charged in as well, drawing her sword. Rather then close into melee range she used a Combat Art and send a wave of pressured mana at it's face. She impacted and made it flinch... and little else...

Fuck...

The only thing that hurt it so far was when it fell from up high when it leapt at me...

Wait... Why was that?

It took a half moment but I worked out that because of the Gamer System it's You Are Puny trait meant that outside of Vult everyone had their damage direct nerfed by a third, on top of Thick Fur Armor guarding him further from it's foes... but falling from a great height wasn't me damaging it; that was all from gravity and height doing the damage for me... If I couldn't use magic or weapons to hurt it... then maybe...

I looked about from tree to tree before seeing a cave in the cliff side, using Telescopic Vision for a better view to see it had stalagmites and stalactites... I grinned a bit and for the first time I had an answer...

I started to dart to the side. I winced and moved my left hand to grab my right shoulder to limit it's movement; it still hurt but it was tolerable. Once I was between the cave and the giant ass bear I set the Shining Gemini to my back and drew the Dragon's Claw and inverted it before I took aim and started to use Holy Arrows; chosen both because of their piercing impact and brightness. By all accounts Belyy prioritized those running, so...

He saw me as I peppered his head from range and snarled. I even aimed two shots at his eyes (Hitting his forehead instead) before using Reflex Boost, a double Physical Boost (Setting it to my armor was really paying off) and Heroic Leap to head towards the cave. Alicia crying out my name as I ran like hell was all I needed to know it was following me. Thankfully I got into the cave rather quickly and several yards deeper into it before I turned around and dropped both Physical Bursts (Which made my arm hurt more due to the strain of the one I cast myself) and drew all the mana I could as quickly as I could as Belyy reached the cave's entrance; faster then I hoped but I was plenty ready as my eyes glowed a bright and brilliant cyan color, lightning the cave a little, as I drew in a deep breath and unleashed a powerful ice aspected Dragon's Breath... Not at Belyy but instead at the ground.

The effect was exactly what I had hoped it would be; half a hockey rink's worth of ice on the ground, covering it and making it as slick as possible... and the massive bear lost traction instantly slipping as it flailed it's feet to the ground as I used Heroic leap to quickly get up into the air and out of it's way, followed by Levitation to stay up as it slammed into a collection of stalagmites; tripping and falling onto some and as it staggered back, off of the ice, I noted it had a heck of a wound in it's front right chest near the leg.

So I was right... In that case...

I followed up with a Havoc Rend; not aiming at Belyy but at the stalactites above him; namely one that was larger then the others at some twelve feet tall and four feet wide and, to my luck, it was just over him. He stood and looked up at me, roaring as black energy lashed out in as tight a form as I could make it from the stone of the Dragon's Claw and smashed a line through the stone and sent it downwards... and right into it's back with a thunderous impact! "How do you like that you monster!?" I let off as I hovered over it as the weight of the fallen stone's impact drove the point into the bear's body at it's upper back; offset left of it's spine. It gave a long, pained roar as it took two steps forwards and started to rise up to it's hind legs as the boss theme turned to a heroic cord just before the bear fell flat onto it's front and the song ended.

I could hear it pant deeply once...

Twice...

Three times...

Four times...

And then no more...

I landed on the ground and looked to it's eyes as the mana of the ice on the ground vanished, a small spark of life left it it's dark orbs as a leg trembled and reached out to me before it collapsed, it's head falling after. Soon that spark left it as it laid still as I fell to my knees in relief...

It was dead...

Thank...

Fucking...

God!

"James! Are you there!? Talk to me!" I heard Alicia let off as I panted, looking to the beast.

"I'm... I'm okay!" I called back, forcing myself to stand, using the point of the Dragon's Claw to help push myself up and turned to look... Alicia was running into the cave flanked by Vult, a mage, a scoundrel sort and then with most of my party following along with a dozen Knights of Iris as they quickly moved to gather around me. "It's over." I said as I sheathed my weapon, Zern and Scarecrow moving to flank our group at opposite sides and giving us a wide berth, as did some remnants of their groups. Gavrillia was trailing behind them, flanked by Bronka but stayed further back.

"Well... I'll be damned!" Vult let off as he shouldered his massive weapon. "The lordling killed Belyy!" He even looked honestly dumb stuck at it.

"Wait... but... how!?" Zern let off as I chuckled.

"Well... We weren't doing much to it so..." I let off, looking to the pointed rock that was dropped into it. "I felt we needed something a bit... heavier."

"Clever. Excuse me." Scarecrow let off as he sheathed his weapons, walking to the bear as he moved, giving me a wide berth before stopping before it kneeling down and muttering something before reaching out to the wound in it's chest, gathering some blood on his fingers and lifting them upwards before clenching his hand. I assumed it was religious in nature. He stood and looked to me before holding his left hand out, showing it and slowly moving it to a pouch at his hip before withdrawing it and showing a small bag. I was unsure of what he was doing before he tossed it to me. I caught it with my right hand and feeling weight to it before using my still hurting left opened it to see...

"Ten platinum?" I let off, confused.

"The Death Legion may hire ourselves as Mercenaries, but we are Lord Hollow's followers first and foremost." He told me as he bowed his head. "Your slaying of Belyy Klyk does him honor. In acknowledgment the Death Legion will no longer seek this contract an renounces all rewards from it; even our upfront payment. While I do not know the exact name of who marked you for death I can say they boast great wealth. You will never be hunted my us again, Lord Noxdecus." He said before moving to the entrance of the cave and walked past everyone; no one barring his passage. The remaining four Death legion members still standing bowed to us before turning to follow their leader.

"Pffft... Religious non-sense..." Zern let off as he huffed. "Whatever... We got hired, we ain't finishin' the job. Time to go home. But I'm keeping the upfront cost."

"Hold." I said as Alicia snarled at him. "Who hired you to kill me?"

"Dunno. They used a middle man." Zern said with a shrug. "Masked and all. Not uncommon when you're asked to go kill some high ranking guy."

"Do you think we'll just let you walk-"

"Alicia." I let off, cutting my friend off as she started to walk to him. "We're under truce. He can leave uncontested." She frowned but after a moment stood down before I looked to Zern. "That said we are going to report this so you might want to leave Eostia rather quickly; I can promise a lot of other people won't be so forgiving." I was doing this for two reasons; one is that we were under a truce and doing such was honorable conduct. The other was I had no more desire to fight right now; even if my side of the fight now had fresh back up.

"Not to worry. Dominious still has work..." Zern said, walking backwards before turning; three of his men following. Which left...

I looked to Gavrilla who looked back to me as Bronka snarled. "You think this is over, you son of a-"

"Enough, Bronka." Gavrilla let off as the woman clad in the golden colored armor huffed. "We're retreating for now."

"What!?" The one eyed dark elf let off, turning to the General.

"Do not question me." Her leader said. "We are tired and wounded but more over facing fresh foes... And I know that human..." She said looking straight at Vult. "I doubt I can defeat him alone." Bronka gawked as Vult grinned back at her. "We shall leave in peace. The next time we see each other, however, there will be no more truce."

"Of course." I said as she turned to leave, Bronka a moment after and a mere half a dozen dark elves following. I sighed as moved to use Arcane Weapon to make a sling for my left arm. "What a day..."

[Defeated List]

Zern & The Gray Wolves=6000XP
Scarecrow & The Death Legion=6000XP
Gravillia DreadBlade & Garanian Forces=8000XP
Belyy Klyk the Blood Bear=30000XP x 1.2 Kill Bonus=37500XP
+20% Dark Horse of Eostia Bonus
Gain 57500XP Total

Level Up!

You are now Level 32!

+1 to Con, Str, End, Dex, Agi, Acc, Mag & Mnc
+1 to End
+1 to Rap
+2 RSP & SSP
+5 UTP

Level Up!

You are now Level 33!

+1 to Str, Dex, Acc, & Mnc
+1 to End
+1 to Rap
+2 RSP & SSP
+5 UTP

Achievement Unlocked: Bad News Bears
Slain Belyy Klyk in Battle

Achievement Unlocked: Punching Over Your Weight Class
Defeat a foe double or more of your own level if your level is twenty or higher

Title Unlocked: Rising Star of Eostia
You've Defeated An Opponent That's Thirty Levels Over Your Own
+3 to All Damage, +3 Damage to All Foes at least 4 Levels Over Your Own. +3 Additional Damage to All Foes at least 10 Levels over your own. +20% XP to All Non-Quest Rewards

Swapping to the new title... And I earned a double level up for all of this shit!

"Well done, M'Lord!" Baston let off and before I knew it his hand was slapping my back as I grunted with each impact. "A marvelous slaying of the beast!" Thankfully I had good armor so the slaps didn't hurt that much, even as sore as I was.

"Well done!? What were you thinking!?" Alicia let off as she turned to me. "You could have been killed!"

"Yeah, well 'could have been killed' applies whenever a giant spawnborne bear decides it's going to show up..." I let off, about to say more but my words didn't reach my lips as I heard an odd grunting before turning to see... My sister, sword out and chopping at Belyy's neck. "What in the hell are you doing?" I asked her.

"We're taking this as a trophy!" She replied as she chopped and chopped... to no real effect. "We're mounting this back home over the fireplace!" If I could I would have anime sweatdropped. Really, it looked like a child trying to cut a log with a Halloween prop axe.

"Now there's a girl after my own heart!" Vult let off in a restrained bellow as he walked over to her and, after a moment, gently pushed her aside and drew his own, massive weapon once more and used a Combat Art to chop at it's neck...

And another one...

And another one...

It took one more before it's head started to rock forwards and two more before it rolled off as Miria clapped happily.

"Ughhh, taking it's head like a barbarian..." Campbell let off with a sigh. "That seems a bit much, don't you think Cress dear?"

"How do you plan on mounting it?" She heard, seeing Cress standing by Miria as they studied the severed head and stiffening at the sight.

"I know a guy; we'll get a nice stained oak board to put it on, gold lining..." My sister let off as Cress hummed.

"Do we add a plaque to explain it?" Cress asked as Campbell paled at the two... It was worth noting that the Bijoux's had a legacy of hunting too.

As the two talked then grabbed the head to drag it aside to deal with it Vult looked over to me as he grinned, walking over to me. "Lord James Noxdecus of Munglae, right?" He let off as I nodded as he stopped before me, the huge man towering over me.

"Indeed. And if I'm right you'd be Vult, Captain of the Black Dogs."

"My reputation precedes me then." He let off, tapping his weapon (With it's new, long scars) to his shoulder as he rested it there. "Pleasure to meet you at last! But right now any sort of conversation can wait; in regards to your kill..."

"Belyy? What about him?" I asked, looking to the giant dead bear.

"As it's your kill it's your call what is done with the body... Would you mind if I butchered it for the meat?" I raised an eyebrow for a moment before my eyes widened a bit; I never thought of that.

"Ahh, I see." I let off, looking to it. "I've no idea how easy a task it would be, but if that's what you wish then by all means, be my guest."

"Wonderful!" He bellowed out as he looked to the bear and moved back to it as the scoundrel and mage that were with him followed at his flanks. "Keane! Hicks! Give me a hand! We're eating well tonight!"

"You're... seriously thinking about eating... that?" Tiffany let off, looking to Vult as he and his men started talking about cuts while going white.

"That thing has likely eaten dozens if not hundreds of men before." I replied with a shrug. "Fair's fair, I say."

"I admit it is unusual..." Alicia admitted with a frown. "But even so, it's meat and it's edible. I guess if we load up as much as we can and call in a second wagon... make that a second and third we can bring a lot back. More over this will help."

"We're not that desperate for food, are we!?" Tiffany let off as Alicia gave her a flat look.

"It's not about the food." I told her. "It's about the morale."

"Huh?"

"What the good lord means-" Baston began as he held up a finger. "-is that we suffered a major defeat not that long ago and everyone is still feeling the sting. If the men hear that the legendarily terrible beast that had attacked us, forcing four opposing forces to band together to survive until a young, brave lord of our number through his cleverness and bravery finally slew the monster no one else could slay once and for all, protecting civilians and good soldiers alike from it then more like then not spirits shall lift. Not only that but if we were to bring back proof in the form of it's head and we allow the men to feast upon it's meat?"

"Exactly." I replied with a smile. "Armies need morale as much as anything... If none of the knights are wounded then we can remain for awhile. If I'm the worst off then we can pause our departure for a little while. Once we've loaded up all the meat we can we'll return. I'm sure Baston will spin a heroic enough tale for us all."

"Right." Alicia said with a nod as she moved to pull out a voxlux. "I'll inform Celestine of what's going on."

[-]

Western Caul, Near the Jetra Border
Lodoss City Cathedral

"The Death Legion failed!?" Lucilius the Sixth let off as he clenched his hand around the staff in his hand as he glared to the three LaLunerouge sisters.

"So it seems." Leal said with a soft nod. "By the report they sent back their attempt was partially foiled by the appearance of Garanian forces and the Grey Wolves. Furthermore they all joined forces when Belyy Klyk appeared."

"It also seemed James Noxdecus managed to kill the blasted thing." Valerie let off with a sigh. "And the Death Legion said they'll take no more contracts for his life." Lucilius frowned deeper as the sister's flinched.

"We think the Garanians were tipped off." Bern added. "Given what we know some lords, mostly the Traditionalist ones, have contacts there."

"So... if I had to guess Blitzhaus or Bludhorn..." Lucilius said as his frown turned thoughtful. "...but... even if they both had the same idea that doesn't explain the Gray Wolves... I don't think either of them would hire a set of sell swords... Not if they could have the drows do the work for them at no real cost... So... if not they... then who hired the Gray Wolves..?"

[-]

Central Albia
Eostian War Camp

"This is ridiculous..." The man let off as he frowned deeply as he read the letter in his hand, one written on spell paper. "Not only did he survive but he slew that... monstrosity!? I don't believe it..."

The man was tall at six foot one and bore a haughty looking face with a long chin and nose, matching the slightly pointed ears of a quarter elf. Blue eyes read over the letter written on spell paper once more, his blonde hair tied back in a tight, well groomed and waist long, braided ponytail. He wore a deep pink coat with long coat tails, a pink inner liner and several yellow designs along it's outside. Tight, white pants tucked into deep pink boots as white gloves held the letter in question before looking to the mythril clad knight before him.

"Apologies, Count Bhlis, but... what do we do?"

Julius Victor Bhlis, Count of Pulha frowned deeply as he moved to hold the letter over the lit candle on the table as they stood inside of his tent, letting the paper catch fire and burn. In terms of personal wealth House Bhlis held much more then other Houses of matching rank and even more then some families of higher rank. It all came from the same place; the Charta Alata Grove which grew the trees that made spell paper. As their house boasted a monopoly on the production of the substance they could set near any price they wanted and much of the wealth generated from it was reinvested into other industry...but much also went into their own coffers meaning there was not a luxury their house could not afford.

Lavish parties? Just raise the price of spell paper by ten gold for a week or so and they could afford them. Trips to the best resorts in Bria? Easily payed for. Rare foods from across Eostia and beyond? Smuggled goods from Garan or Dominious? Eastern silks and southern wools? Furniture and instruments made of the finest woods? The finest pottery from across the seas? Chamber pots and bathtubs lined with gold? A set of orichalcum cutlery? To go with titanium plates? All of this and more was affordable by House Bhlis. It didn't matter if they overspent a little year to year or fell slightly or even mildly into debt, their spell paper was needed by Eostia, no matter the price, in order to quickly connect the peoples from one side of the land to the other whenever needed...

And then a nobody lordling from a nobody house in a nowhere barony made a device that did the same thing as spell paper but faster, easier and more importantly cheaper. By all accounts a set of ten voxluxs costed a few silver. It was reusable, took pictures, recorded video, allowed one to use boosters to send messages to the masses, could be used to send plays to a lord in their home and record it for replay over and over and over again...

The moment the voxlux became widely known to the collective Houses of Eostia at the Council of Lords the sales of spell paper had dropped off a cliff. They hadn't even made a tenth of what they had this time last year from spell paper sales. Even Baron Xill said spell paper would soon be considered nothing more then a novelty...

Now he had a grove full of hard to produce, attention demanding trees that was producing a product that he had to slash prices on to sell! At even less then half price! What could be done with them now he had no idea! And until they found a means to pivot their finances were going to dry up!

His nightly caviar with wine would need to be reduced to every second day! He'd have to forgo buying a new orichalcum bed frame! He might have to even...

Have to...

Have to even...

...

Have to even forgo marrying a seventh wife!

"Graaaahhhhh! DAMN YOU NOXDECUS!"

[-]

Once Alicia reported in Celestine agreed with the idea of harvesting Belyy's meat she quickly dispatched all three of the other Cloud Riders to come and help collect it. In addition she rode on one herself to come to the cave herself and apply more healing to my arm; I'd planned on asking her for such regardless once we got back but it was a relief now as myself and Alicia reported to her directly. The main issue with butchering Belyy was how hard it was; his skin and fur was tough. That said once Makoto stepped in it sped up; the Kouzenken mana blade turned out to be more effective then Vult's brute force hacking and slashing efforts. Realizing that I split the Gemini to halves and loaned them to Myr and Carmen as well as the Dragon's Claw to Miria. The mana formed weapons and the orichalcum blade were effective at the carving off it's skin allowing for the easier to cut meat to be accessed.

Most of the men crammed onto one Cloud Rider (Along with Belyy's head) as the other three were loaded to the brim with meat of a spawnborne bear. I sat with Celestine on one of them as I let Miria drive one of the Riders loaded with meat mostly to talk with her semi-privately as we flew over the Dark Mists and back to the camp. "I am glad to know you are safe and that your quick thinking managed to save lives... But more importantly there is something that happened here that is noteworthy; we worked with Garan, if only for a time."

"Maybe... But a lot will dismiss it as a brief alliance of need rather then coming together for a greater good." I replied simply as I sighed, looking to her directly in the eye. "I think it'll take more then one moment to plant the seeds firm enough to take root."

"True, I do not doubt that." She replied with a nod. "But even so a small gesture can be built upon, the first cooperation leading to a new one or a larger one."

"Maybe... But even so we all know it'll take something way bigger then that to convince everyone that it's time to stop fighting..." I said with more then a bit of sadness.

"I will not deny that, yes, something larger will be needed..." She said as she looked to me with a smile. "But I have hope that such a time will come that this war will end in peace. Maybe, with some luck, we can even walk with those of Garan, hand in hand."

I couldn't help but smile back in that, at the thought of-

"You two gonna kiss or not?" Miria let off as I sighed... and reached over to tug on her ear. "Owww! Owww! It's was a joke! A joke!"

Sisters...

Wait... Was Celestine blushing or was it the light?

[-]

Napreryvnyy City, Magical Laboratory
Southwest Blazecrown
Near the Borders of Blackshard and Onyxcloak
Kingdom of Garan

Olga felt it was best to leave her General to her duty and lead the armies of Garan to victory... or at least a grinding defeat that they could pretend was damaging to the humans. In truth she knew what would come of it; the humans would push them back as they always did no matter the losses they endured. It was oddly respectable how no matter what she and hers did they endured and stood and remained.

That being said her followers had made efforts to find other means of slaying the humans of Eostia and beyond as opposed to just armies and magical might... that was what led to the creation of Belyy Klyk which ended up causing more damage to them then the humans. The woman who led the project was among the first to die before the city that housed the project was demolished by the great beast as her primary apprentice vowed to continue her work... until Olga forbade it as she saw it was not with the cost given the results.

And then she had to turn her Annihilation Stream on him and his creations before they got loose when he refused to listen to such a simple order.

One of the woman's other apprentices opted to try and go down another route and once she assured the Dark Queen that none of her plans involved spawnborne she was willing to allow her the time and resources to make something. She was moving down the hall with her heels clacking on the smooth stone as she walked towards where the kingdom's new project was now being kept. Finally, standing before the massive double doors, she saw the woman in question. "My queen, my good queen! Greetings, welcome... I know you are very busy, doubly so with this war, but we all do appreciate the time you've given us, myself above all."

The woman in question was five foot nine in height but with a slender build with A-Cup breasts at most under her white, gold trimmed robe with short yet wide sleeves. The robes she wore stopped over knee height, showing off her legs and knee high, white, gold trimmed boots. Green eyes looked back to Olga from under gold rimmed glasses. Her hair was short and white with a pair of braids going from the top of her head and behind it, two bangs framing her face.

"Operator Stasia Highcraft. I do not need platitudes and thanks, what I require are results." Olga told her softly yet firmly as she looked over the bespectacled woman. "I am told you are in the middle of making something?"

"Middle? My dear queen..." Stasia said with a grin, a hint of smugness seen her her bright, green eyes as she leaned forwards with an over dramatic bow, bringing her arm close her chest with the motion. "With my genius I have something nearly complete..."

"Oh?" Olga let off as Stasia turned and pushed the large, double doors open for them both. They would walk into the large chamber that housed Stasia's project; it was a white, sterile place save the tables and chairs used to work at, racks and shelves to hold potions, regents and other things and such. However at the back was a massive, wooden scaffold with steel straps to help reinforce the structure. Within that scaffold however was...

Olga's expression shifted as soon as she saw it clearly; her eyes going wide and jaw moving to slacken as she looked at the... thing held within the scaffold. "The issue with the Blood Bear, of course, is that it has the mind of an angered beast... but what about something with the mind of a dark elf?"

Anything else Stasia had to say after that seemed drowned out, as if her head was underwater as the magician spoke, by a sense of pure, primal, wretched horror as she looked upon the... creation of the woman. How..?

How could something like... this thing be made under her nose? In her kingdom? Why had none of her agents mentioned to her what in the giant's name was being made in their Kingdom?

How could anyone think such a foolish ambition could bring about anything good let alone their victory!?

Stasia kept speaking for a long while with obvious pride, oblivious to her queen's reaction and finally turned to her once more with a wide, half playful and half smug grin as she stood with her arms wide for a moment before crossing her arms. "Well my queen, what do you think?"

"...Destroy it."

"EHHH!?" The magical prodigy let off in surprise, stiffening and half stepping back at her queen's calm words.

"This... thing, this... this Abomination is to be destroyed!" Olga let off, raising her voice as disgust and anger entered it. "It was arrogance and hubris that brought Belyy Klyk to existence and led to the destruction he inflicted upon us. It is clear to me that if thing... this blasphemy were to be brought to completion the same fate would be repeated; if not on the same scale then a greater one. It is to be destroyed, that is all." She said, tapping her staff to the floor twice before turning on her heel and beginning to leave.

"M-my queen, it's not going to-"

"Are you questioning me?" Olga let off, her voice raising once more as frozen ice seemed to expand from it.

"N-n-n-n-n-n-no, my queen!"

"Good. Then see to it's destruction." Olga let off as she huffed and left. 'If I was fully well I would have done it myself... but I must conserve my mana...' The Dark Queen thought to herself as she left the building, her stride making louder clacks on the floor then before.

"Operator Stasia..." A white robed dark elf man let off as someone walked over to the lead magician of the project as he looked to her. "What do we do..?"

"...There's not much we can do..." She replied with a long sigh. "We cease work for now, at least until I can find a way to ensure her highness that this will work..." She said as she looked to her creation. "This... This great being will see to our victory someday... I just know it... Everyone will see my genius..." She let off, lifting a hand and clenching it before her chest.

[-]

The effect on morale upon our return was instant. Once the giant bear's head was set on display (With spells placed to preserve it until it reached a taxidermist) and everyone learned the story of how he died there was a good, long cheer and demands for the story to be told were constant; even as the meat was cooked. The Lyrans in particular swarmed myself and Myr with demands of telling the story and other were more then happy to do the same. Baston, I was told, was the happiest to talk about the whole affair (And would later claim that no one tells a story like Baston! Yeah...) and told it over and over to all who would listen.

Prim was overjoyed when both myself and Carmen returned unharmed, although I had to deal with a bit of scolding from my mother... with physical shaking...

...love you too mom...

The meat was being cooked in almost every way you could imagine; stewed, stir fry, shish kabob, fried, turned to jerky and good'ole, classic roasts and steaks. Mother (After the aforementioned scolding) promised a feast cooked by herself for the whole scouting unit with steaks for all, and given what she can do with food, well, it would be worth the wait.

On that regards Celestine made sure to talk about what would become of the Gray Wolves and the Death Legion.

For the former it was exile for Zern and all of his units present. If he left to Dominious she would not contest his movements but he had a week to get out and death would follow if he ever returned. It was only because of his help against Belyy and the truce during his attack that allowed him to walk away after she dressed him down in person within the main command tent of the camp.

I can only imagine the sight as the entire tent they spoke in glowed like the sun as they spoke. Needless to say once the conversation was over Zern tucked his metaphorical tail between his legs and slunk off to find his camp and packed up to leave.

The Death Legion were... more difficult to deal with; they were a shadowy, hidden sort of group with not much known about them. They were cultists with supposed connections to the Church of Hollow, although said church renounced them as extremists. What they do think is the Legion is less then a hundred strong, possibly less then fifty meaning this one battle would hurt their manpower by a fair bit. That said Celestine was less interested in punishing them (Make no mistake, she still wanted to) and more interested in who hired them as those who knew how to get a hold of them, even through a middle man, was low; maybe some lords (Traditionalists were a strong possibility), the Cloaked Crowns and the Una Vertias Church.

All three were possible for hiring the Legions or the Wolves; I was no friend of Traditionalists and I'm sure all of my contributions spooked someone in their number, I was directly responsible for dealing with Beardsley so the Crowns must have had it in for me and if the Church knew I was Dragonborne, as I suspected, I imagine I was on their radar to eliminate as well.

So many enemies, so little time... and that wasn't even getting into Garan... It was clear they got intelligence on me specifically but how or where they got it from was unknown...

Finally we all got to sit down at a table in the Mungale camp (By we, I should restate, I mean myself and those in the scouting unit with me) and was served our meals; one Imperial Salad, mashed potatoes, a collection of carrots and one, large, seasoned and prepared steak made from a spawnborne monster.

The taste was good but subpar to most meats I've ever had... yet it tasted like victory.

Complements were given the the chef as we enjoyed the small feast. While the men around us didn't enjoy such a finely cooked meal everyone would have more then their fair share of meat. Good cheer and comradery were all around as the tale of Belyy Klyk's end was passed around.

Now if only someone else had done it; I felt this kind of attention might become more of a pain in my ass down the line...

[-]

As Channer stood on the stockade, his own meal long since finished he looked down to the camp as he gave off a huff. Between the arrival of the Black Dog reinforcements and the fall of Belyy Klyk the morale of the camp had been renewed; a feeling of hope and confidence returning after their first defeat of the war. It was, in it's own way, amazing what more troops and the death of a monster by a hero could do to make everyone think 'yes, we can do it!' after a defeat.

And yet that hero was the same one who had been upstaging him since the war began... no, even before then...

Channer gripped the wooden wall as he stared out to James, smiling and drinking an ale over an empty plate as he spoke to Myrddin about something. It seemed like he was always overshadowing Channer, always one upping him no matter what and always doing something to endear himself to someone... even the High Queen of Eostia herself!

He sighed as he forced his hands to unclench from the wall. No; being jealous was not a good look for him, nor did it do anyone, least of all himself, any good. No, his emotions and efforts were better suited to training and more productive efforts...

He'd have his chance to be the hero yet, he was sure...

[-]

After dinner I spent some more time talking with Myr and Baston who leaned back in his seat after eating (Because no one eats a meal like Baston!) but once done I moved off to one of the campfires, sat down on a log and just relaxed for a bit, a mug of ale with me as I set it by me as I started to use a knife to carve at some wood. I was mostly considering the Dark Mist at the moment. It was making a pain of the situation and we needed an idea to deal with it, or at least mitigate the problems it caused.

I was considering the problem and started to come up with an idea; a modified version of my toy wagon. If my Scrying device was like a spy satellite then maybe what we needed here was a drone. My plan was to paint it black, modify all the stones to be black and slap on voxlux stones to it and a control unit with likewise modified stones. The idea was to spy on the enemy from well above their sight, under but close to the mists so it could loiter while the dark coloring should keep them out of sight; after all there would be gargoyle flights to note.

I was making it into the shape of a manta ray, although with much tighter wings. I suppose if I were to put in another way it would be the shape of a small kite with a larger, rounded top and a flattened bottom. I'd be using mostly low powered spell stones so it's propelling wind spell wouldn't be that strong so making it small and light would make sure it kept some speed. I also wanted to leave a bit of a ridge down the middle; mostly for keeping strength and stability.

I was blowing off some wood shavings when I heard a voice speak to me. "So, here's the hero of the hour!" I looked up to see the hulking figure of Vult move up to me, stepping over the log and sitting down a couple feet from me as he sighed. "That damn bear was tough to hurt; thought I'd finally meet my end when I landed there." He let off, his own mug of drink (Maybe ale, maybe not, I didn't ask) as he took a swig of it.

"Yeah, if there's a moment to pick a god and pray it's when something like that shows up." I let off as I snorted.

"What god did you pick?" He asked as I chuckled.

"Too panicked to do so." I replied with a rueful grin. "I might have just chosen Larentia; no one doubts she exists." He chuckled a bit as he smirked.

"I gave a silent one to Suttra!" He boasted as I blinked; he referred to the God of Impregnation who encouraged men to knock up the ladies and spread their seed. Of course being a god the mortal's consent in the matter was unimportant to him. "He offers you a dozen virgins when you die in a worthy fashion!" I snorted and shook my head.

"At that point just pray to Huukar." I replied as he blinked as I had named the God of Prostitution. "A dozen virgins? Why not get a dozen whores who know what the hell they're doing?" I replied as he laughed at the joke as I couldn't help but crack a smile as I focused on my craft a bit longer.

"Good one!" He let off as he sipped his drink once more, chuckling as he lowered the mug. "Mmmm... Yeah... This is a hell of a war so far? Sad I missed it."

"Well I guess it's your occupation." I replied as I held up my piece of wood before moving to refine the shape a bit more.

"It's more then that." He let off as I paused to look up at him as he gave a large grin. "I thrive in the midst of a challenge. You see I was born and sent to an orphanage in western Anvil."

I winced at that. "My condolences..." Anvil was... not a good place to be an orphan. Most were picked up by slavers. Some would 'adopt' them first but most just lured them away and stole them. Assholes.

"It was always worse then you think." He huffed, his grin faltering a bit. "The girls never stayed long and most of the boys left as well. I was too useful around the orphanage as I did some labor for coin but someone thought I'd make a good arena slave and bought me. I overheard when he said what he had planned and when he came to pick me up he acted all nice... I cut his throat in an alley and made a run for it." I gave a soft whistle as he kept going. "I found a bunch of mercenaries camping and signed up; I mean I was only eleven at the time so all I did was work around camp and train, but hey, at least it was paid work and I... needed it after what happened."

"You hear of some of the crap that happens in the Slave States, but still..." As bad as a preteen joining a band of mercenaries sounded it wasn't the worst thing in this world...

"Eh, that's life I guess." He gave in reply to my comment with a shrug. "But even so, I made a home with the Howling Hounds from then on. But I didn't bring it all up just to talk about my life; do you know who Cain Murus is?" He asked as I moved to pick up my own mug, sipping it in thought as I racked my mind.

"The name rings a bell, but I can't place it." I admitted. "I want to say he's... pre-Brazen?" I let off, unsure.

"Heh. You know more then most then." He replied as he took a long sip of his drink. "Pre and during Brazen would be accurate. He was a count of the Northlands Kingdom." My eyebrow raised at that; the Northlands Kingdom was where western Garan was now. "He became a bit of a footnote but, according to what I've read, he was among the ten most powerful men in the kingdom at the time and a major commander who fought time and time and time again with the Iron Cross mercenaries and their leader-"

"Verlangen." I let off as he nodded. It was worth noting that Verlangen was a mercenary before arising to becoming an emperor after gaining Dagon's gifts. By all accounts he was the leader of the most powerful mercenary band of the era although records are scant because... well...

Verlangen.

"Indeed, indeed..." Vult let off as he sipped his drink.

(As a side note; the sigil of the Iron Cross Mercenaries was an iron cross with two crossed blades before it. The 'blade in a skull' would replace the crossed swords when he conquered the Imperium Remnant and be used as a personal emblem.)

"Verlangen considered Cain to be a rival." Vult carried on as he smiled a bit as he spoke on. "Cain had aims on the Kingdom of Eldgale and marched his armies to their border. The King of Eldgale hired Verlangen and relied on him to fight his war... by the end of it both sides lost most of their gathered forces and Cain only gained a single city for all of his trouble. He and Verlangen fought in the last battle and in the end Cain was the victor, captured Verlangen and imprisoned him for 'sedition against the crown', or some such shit. The Crosses were a shadow of their former self by the time he escaped seven years later and struggled. It was around this time he learned of a strange bit of history. Dunno what it is, but it led him to Dagon..."

"Huh." I let off, my eyes narrowing in thought. I had heard of Verlangen's defeat and imprisonment but most of the details were unknown; if the details being lost to history were by chance or design I didn't know. "Well, that's an interesting bit of history. Something to look into when I have the time... but that begs the question; why bring it up?"

"A couple of reasons." He said with a shrug. "Verlangen while... unpopular to most people-" That was an understatement; to all but a few he universally hated by the masses and nobility alike. "-he has a number of admirers in some circles; mercs among them. He's a nobody orphan with no family turned mercenary lord turned demi-god turned emperor. Even if you hate the man's guts you have to respect what he was able to do." I frowned in thought as I sipped my own drink, Vult doing likewise.

"Hmmm. I guess one can respect him to a point." I mean I can respect what he did... just not how he had gone about it... or what he did after he did it. "Not many people get talked about a lot after two thousand years, let alone as much as he has."

"Indeed, indeed."

"But that begs a question..." I began, looking up to him. "What happened to Cain?"

"Naturally given he took on Dagon's gifts when Verlangen found himself in a rematch with Cain he won handily when he conquered the Northlands." Vult explained, finishing his drink before setting his mug down. "But he didn't slay him, or even imprison him; at least not in a dungeon. He had built for the man a palace on U'gell Isle, told his men to serve him and give him a comfortable life... but with orders to never allow him to leave." U'gell was a small island off the coast of Garan in the Zubell Gulf that bordered it's Blazecrown and Highdagger Peaks territories. To put it into perspective it was a tenth the size of Price, Eostia's smallest territory.

"That's an... odd choice." I let off as I he shrugged.

"He wanted Cain, the man who once defeated him, imprisoned him and stole years of his life to be made to watch as his empire grew and spread, his dominion and power grow and all men of his homeland and others bow to him." Vult said with a soft chuckle. "He had military reports, uncensored, sent to him to let him know how it was going. He wanted Cain to live a nice, comfortable life out of respect for their clashes, the challenges he gave him... but he also made damn sure he was fully helpless to do a damned thing to do anything about what he was doing. They say Cain Murus died ten years after the Empire was founded after nights of crying himself to sleep."

"That's... no way for a man to go." I said as he shrugged.

"I guess... I guess... But that leads to the other reason I bring it up." He let off, leaning forwards, hunching his massive frame to look at me closer to my eye level. "I think men like us all need a Cain of our own; a rival that will challenge us, force us to do better, harass us, attempt to ruin us... and eventually either fall to us in total defeat or finally defeate us once and for all. That, I believe, is where strength comes from." I mused over it for a long, long moment as I thought it over.

"I think I'd prefer a Miach Sturmburg, myself."

"Who?" Vult asked as he blinked at me.

"He's another man overshadowed in history; 'Mighty Miach'." I said as he looked to me. "He was in the Eostian armed forces alongside Hogan Levantine and the two were professional rivals but also friends. They trained together and supported one another but in the end they also competed with each other, doubly so when Garan first attacked. They never did a thing to undermine one another and if anything they openly helped one another, but always competed in, well, everything they could."

Hogan was famous it should be noted, 'Hogan the Hero' they called him and he might have been the single most famous war hero in Eostia's history... like George Washington levels of fame or similar to another Hogan, Hulk Hogan. By contrast Miach was lesser known and underappreciated in spite of the fact that the First Battle of Primus City wouldn't be known as a moment the tide turned for Eostia but it would have been known for the destruction of the city and the rape of it's women.

"I see..." His eyes narrowed a moment, as if judging me on... some metric. "I'll need to look him up, sometime. Regardless; it was good meeting you, M'lord." He said, picking up his empty mug and starting to walk off. "I'm sure we'll be fighting along side each other quite a bit before the war is done." He let off as I watched him leave before moving back to my carving.

Vult seemed... like an interesting guy; clearly he wasn't just a simple brute as he was too thoughtful and philosophical for that... At the same time, though, it's clear he's had a rather rough life and it shaped him in a way that wasn't ideal. He didn't seem like a bad guy overall, at least in person and ignoring his Black Dog's reputation...

And yet...

...

I couldn't put a finger on it but I felt like I shouldn't get too cozy with the guy...

[-]

"Glad to see you back, Boss." Hicks let off as Vult walked back to where his main scout and Keane sat on two logs, another between them and an on going Battle Fleet game between them. Vult sat down, a new mug of beer in his hand as he sipped it. "How was the talk with the lordling?"

"Eh..." Vult began as he lowered his mug. "Better then I had feared, and yet worse then I had hoped. I have a feeling he's one of those 'too idealistic' types to really want to deal with us overmuch. Still... He's a man to note."

"Oh?" Keane let off, adjusting his glasses. "Note as what exactly?" The mage asked as he awaited Hicks next attack. In response Vult leaned back a little, sipping his mug with a knowing grin.

What indeed..?

"E-Two."

"You sank my frigate!"

[ - Author's Note - ]

Whew...

For this chapter I wanted to do a few things; the main one being the absolute clusterfuck of the four way battle. Naturally this is a very difficult type of fight to write and highly chaotic. As much as I wanted to focus on everyone a bit more I knew that would be difficult to write and make a long chapter longer as well as being more chaotic to keep track of and as such I limited what fights I showcased. I wanted to focus on Tiffany because she was, for the most part, no where in Act Two for...understandable reasons. The other was made to showcase Gavrilla and her combat capacity. Speaking of...

Zern was made as just a Copy-Vult and a lesser one in... every way. As for the Death Legion the idea for a cult plying their worship via mercenary just came to me and while I was writing I was watching a YouTube video that used a clip of the Wizard of Oz with the Scarecrow in it... and was inspired a bit...

And maybe typed 'Horror Scarecrow' into Google Images to get inspiration...

That said the part of Belyy Klyk was planned since nearly Act One... but not like this... The original plan was to have James, Hicks, Keane and others hunt the bear down along with maybe Vult and Miria before Saxon learned of what they were doing. The idea would be the usual boss music spins up, big, dramatic Boss Line and just before the fight starts up... Saxon appears out of no where, leaps at it, explodes it's head with a spear strike and starts chastising her children... and making Vult back up a step.

Later then I thought maybe I could swap it to Miria without James hunting the bear (Although not at this point, much, much later on) with some help only for the same thing to happen. Eventually as I was writing Shamhaza's section back in Act Two I had this idea of turning him from a punchline into an utter monster. In addition I had wanted to do a 'Three groups of mercenaries show up to kill James' scene, with Alundra accusing Arnold of hiring one of them only for him to deny it and House Bhlis to bed revealed as the once who hired one of them. That said that was altered to Alundra having Garanian contacts back during one of the Act Two Interludes.

In the end I opted to change him into an utter and horrific monster of a sponge damage boss that would be very hard to put down.

On top of that we have a moment of Olga and a professor sort who made... something.

Sorry, that is going to be in my back pocket for awhile. As I'm sure you've figured out that's going to be a big deal down the line but not for awhile.

Anyway, that's a chapter! Drop a comment, let me know what you liked, didn't like and so on. I think maybe I'll have a new Poll made next chapter. We'll see, let me know if you want more polls. And I don't mean 'pick best banner' polls.

Until then!

~~Eostian Scribe