WOLVERINE AND SPIDER-MAN RPG ISEKAI EPISODE 16: SEASON'S GREETING
Wolverine stepped out his cottage door into the hot summer day and stretched, shaking off the torpor of a well-deserved afternoon nap.
It had been a few days since he and Spider-man had purchased their modest cottage. The team hadn't made any more progress concerning the seasons, but they kept themselves busy with odd quests and town activities.
Logan took a deep breath, enjoying the lush scent of the surrounding forest, the heat of the midday sun, and the croaks and squawks of the local birds and insects. A strange little creature he didn't recognize scurried across some branches. He smiled.
Hm, he smelled fresh dirt.
Looking over, he noticed their garden bed had been turned over and a dozen green sprouts had been planted.
"Huh."
"Hey, you been gardenin'?" he asked stepping back through the front door.
Spider-man was sat at their tree stump of a table scowling over a paper. A short quill was in his hand and ink was smudged all over his face.
He didn't seem to hear him.
"Kid?"
"Huh? What? Gardening, yah," he muttered.
Wolverine raised an eyebrow. He walked over to see what he was working on.
"Salient Magics 1?" he read aloud.
Spider-man let out an annoyed sigh and threw down his quill.
"Yah," he groaned. "I had the brilliant idea to give GG some homework, write him up some worksheets you know."
"Who?"
"Gustel. Gustel the Grump. So of course, he gave me some potion homework in return."
Spider-man sighed running a hand through his fluffy hair and smudging himself with even more ink. "And it sucks."
"Einstein like you? What's the problem?"
"Don't call me that," he said grabbing up a cup of coffee. "The problem is it feels like an entire page of riddles. As usual, it's all pseudo-scientific, metaphysical symbological nonsense!"
"Ok."
"Like this, name a magic of apples. What magic does an apple have? It's just a fruit! What makes it different than any other fruit? Is it the magic of seed spreading?"
"That's my magic," grunted Logan.
Peter choked in his coffee.
He tried to wipe off his now stained paper and kept ranting.
"Or this one!" he continued. "Name a bearer of the magic of division."
"Knives."
"Pardon?"
"You got one thing, use a knife, now you got two things."
"Huh. Or is that just separation in general? Or cutting? But knives are just a shape of metal. Does a shape change the magic?"
"How the fuck should I know?"
Spider-man threw his forehead into his hand, once again smearing himself. He was more ink than skin at this point.
"Is division synonymous with separation?" he thought out loud. "No. Division means taking one whole and making it into an equal number of new wholes. I mean, cells. Cells divide. But I'm not convinced this world has discovered cells yet. But all life is made of cells. Do we all have the magic of division?"
"I think you're thinkin' about it too hard," said Logan pouring himself a little wooden cup of ale. He poured a second and placed it on their Dusan shrine. What was a Dusan shrine? Well, neither man followed any customs that made shrines, not really, so neither of them really knew what they were doing, but they felt like they had to do something to keep the ghost on good terms. Wolverine had carved Dusan's name on a nice hunk of wood and set it up on a log. Spider-man had decorated it with flowers and a neat rock he had found.
"I mean, look at your other answers," continued Logan turning back to him. "Mint, apples, butterflies. You're just startin' out so it's probably somethin' simple."
"Hrrmm."
Peter took another drink of his precious, precious coffee, successfully this time.
"Haaaaa," he sighed in a moment of bliss before picking up his quill again.
"But really, what's up with the plants?" asked Wolverine.
"Huh? Oh, mandrakes."
"Mandrakes?"
"Yah. They're like these weird plant babies. They're really rich in mana. So GG said if I'm not willing to break mouse necks mandrakes are the next best thing. And yes, he promised me mandrakes are just plants. They look like babies and they scream if you take them out of the ground but he promised me they're just normal, unintelligent plants."
"Storm likes to garden," said Logan reminiscing against a window. "Planted me a rosemary bush. Keeps it nice and healthy."
"Rosemary?"
"I love rosemary. Put that shit on anything. Beef, pork, chicken, fish. Ooh, deer. Dress yourself a wild deer and you can taste the dirt. Mm. You ever eat a moose? That shit's gamey. I like it. It's got character."
"Huh, Wolverine's a secret foodie. Who knew?"
"I'm a predator! I enjoy good meat," he said stabbing the table, much to Peter's amusement. "You just don't know good food. You're a opossum. You hang upside down and eat trash."
"Ha! You're right," laughed Spider-man. "Well, we'll find you some rosemary to grow. Mandrakes and rosemary. Ten out of ten garden of the year award."
"I didn't ask for no rosemary, was just talkin' about it," grumped Logan throwing down his drink and sitting.
"Oh my gosh! I'm an idiot!" exclaimed Spider-man.
"Yah?"
He webbed over their basket and pulled out a garlic. He peeled it open to reveal five perfectly divided cloves.
As Spider-Man started scribbling in his new answer, Wolverine heard someone running toward them. He leapt up and threw open the front door just as it started banging. Boksee threw her head inside.
"Darlin' what-"
"Come quickly! The paladin's lost her mind!"
The pair ran after Boksee through the northern residential area, back to the main street of Boar Bramble, and up to a few outdoor tables. Wyn was maniacally laughing while Nih kept her at bay with a long stick.
"What the fuck is going on here‽" asked Wolverine.
She whipped toward them with manic glee.
"You!" she shouted pointing at Peter.
"Oh gosh what did I do‽"
"You sneaky son of a bitch! I finally… What is all over your face?"
"Huh? Oh."
Peter started giving himself a spit bath to get all the ink off.
"Regardless…" she said trying to get back on track. "I've done it! I've finally got you!"
She slammed her class compendium down on a table before them.
"Cock?" asked Boksee.
"I told you not to call it that!"
"Wait, does this mean… did you figure out Spider-man's class?"
She brought her fists to her face and giggled.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes! It took forever, but I finally pieced it together."
With a loud clonk, despite not even being in armor, Wyn flopped down into a chair and threw open the poor tome.
"Prestige classes!"
"Prestige classes?" asked Boksee raising an eyebrow.
"What's that?" asked Spider-man.
"They're additional classes, tons of them, that anyone can graduate into, but only if they meet the prerequisites skills. Like take a fighter. A base class fighter can continue on being a fighter and advance into an archetype, or they could graduate into a prestige class instead if they wanted to, say a duelist, if they had gathered the right skills."
"And…you think you found one that suits Spider-man?" asked Boksee.
"Yes!"
"Really?" he asked.
"It took hours of reading and rechecking. After all there are hundreds of prestige classes."
"Hundreds‽"
"Indeed, but some are extremely specific… and ill documented," she muttered reading over a page. "Like candle caster. All that's said about it is it's a magic caster who somehow casts with candles."
"Excitin'," gruffed Logan.
"I've been looking over these for a while but none seemed quite right, but then Spidey told me about what he did back home – how he actually fought and why. That was the key. I've been trying to shove him into a class of this world, but really, I should have been assessing him based on his own world. It's so obvious. He's a vigilante."
The group went quiet. Birds squawked. A leaf fell on the table.
"I'm not a vigilante," grumped Spider-man.
"Oh, so you know what it is then?" grouched Wyn.
"What is it?" asked Boksee. "It sounds so menacing and exciting."
"You don't know what a vigilante is?" asked Logan.
"Vigilantes kill people. I don't kill people," argued Spider-man.
"No. Killing is not a requirement for the class. Honestly, I think it's a given for adventurers, she said to the side. "But look, see," she scooted the book over to him and pointed. "A vigilante, an atypical adventuring class often operating outside the law to bring criminals to justice. You fall into the 'takes to the streets to stop crimes in progress' behavior pattern. It's all written right here, see? That's exactly what you told me you do right? Urban environment, home city bonus…"
The rest of the party gathered in to read.
"Balance, climb, craft, disguise, alertness. Sounds 'bout right," gruffed Wolverine.
"Can he intimidate?" asked Boksee
"Funny enough, he can."
"It says here that a common motivating factor for the vigilante is failure," said Nih pointing. "The adventurer either feels the law failed them and must work outside it, or the adventurer himself failed and must work to atone. Is that true my snail ears?" he asked pleasantly.
Spider-man flushed red.
"I'm not a vigilante!" he declared. "Vigilantes kill people! They're mean! Punisher is a vigilante! Moon Knight is a vigilante! I'm your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man!"
"May follow a personal code of honor or conduct," said the paladin stabbing the page. "It fits!"
"Kid, by this standard, it looks like you're a vigilante," said Logan.
"Well then, you're one too! Half us back home are!"
"So?"
Spider-man moved in toward him, much to Wolverine's jeering delight.
"Well," said Wyn interrupting the potential tussle. "Logan may practice vigilantism, but clearly he's a barbarian."
Spider-man huffed.
"What's the problem?" asked Boksee. "It sounds awesome."
Peter stumped up like a grumbling child, folding his arms and looking away.
"Because… that's so lame!" he complained.
"What?" asked the women in unison.
"A vigilante? That's not exciting or fresh or new. That's just what I already am. I mean, that's what all the newspapers write about me, and they write a bunch of crap. I was hoping my class would be something cool."
"You're a badass prestige class no one has even heard of!" exclaimed Boksee. "How much more could you ask for?"
"Something I'm not called by tabloids."
"So even other people have already called you a vigilante?" snapped Wyn. "Could you not have mentioned this earlier?"
"Hey, I didn't know about prestige classes." He sighed. "I don't know. I guess it's fine. It's just, it's not a surprise."
"It's not supposed to be a surprise! It's your class! You're supposed to know day one. You were just a struggle."
"Oh look, the class has some overlap with rogues," said Boksee reading again. "That makes sense."
"And paladins," said Nih. "I certainly see the resemblance."
"Yah, he's uptight. Oh wait," said Boksee leaning in. "Oh, that makes sense. Silver, you do realize for him to have a prestige class, he needed to have some sort of base class. Right?"
Wyn bit her lips.
"You skipped right over it didn't you? You thought we wouldn't notice."
"Oh, I'm sure he was something, probably a rogue. It doesn't matter," she huffed snapping Cock shut and sticking her nose up. "The point is I found the answer! Spider-man has a class! Let's go celebrate. Pub should be opening. Who wants a drink?"
Despite the looks from the rest of her party, Wyn hopped up, and just as she started shoving her stuff back in her bag, a nun came running around the back of a building.
"Wyn! There you are!" she exclaimed panting with her robes held in both hands.
"Huh? Sister Bethan, what-"
"You said you would help Sister Gertha clear out the spill room!"
"Oh no!" cried Wyn, her face going wide. "I-"
"She's trying to move that old pulpit by herself!"
"What‽ That stubborn old jackass!"
"Paladin!"
Wyn and the nun took off toward the convent.
"Hey do you need any… oh ok," said Spider-man as they ran out of ear shot.
Boksee chuckled.
"Only Ms Paladin could get away with calling a nun a jackass. Sounds like they're having a fun time. You guys want to hit up the pub anyway? I could use some lunch."
"Yep," grunted Logan.
"No thank you," said Nih. "I am going to the convent as well. I have one final meeting with the healers. Have a drink for me Wolverine," he said walking away.
"Will do."
Wolverine, Spider-man, and Boksee gathered up all the books and papers Wyn left on the table in her hurry and stuffed them back in her bag. They then headed toward the pub.
An old and loved pile of stone and wood, the pub had only been open for an hour or so but was already filled with patrons. The crowd on a weekday afternoon was cheerful but not raucous, most just grabbing a midday meal. The trio took a table and placed their orders.
"You know what," said Wolverine. "Change mine from a mead to a lager. You're sweet enough already," he growled at the poor barmaid.
The worker rolled her eyes and moved to tend to her other tables. Boksee threw a fist into his bicep only to get a toothy smirk in return.
Peter was quietly reading a book.
"Hey, no studying at the table," said Boksee noticing him. "By thunder we don't need another one," she said rolling her eyes, but he didn't look up. "What is that?" she asked scooting over. "Did you find the paladin's diary?" she snickered. "Wait, is that Cock?"
Someone spilled a drink into the floor with a loud splash breaking Spider-man out of his concentration.
"Huh, what? Oh, yah."
His page was open to the introductory chapter of the massive class compendium.
"Still poutin'?" asked Logan. "Ahh," he said happily taking his tankard as the barmaid brought over their drinks. He tipped back his lager and took a massive swig. "Haven't you done enough book learnin' today?"
"Boksee, so all these classes…" asked Peter ignoring him. "These are all just normal jobs too aren't they? I mean, not all fighters are adventurers. There's military, private guard…"
"Well yah. Adventurers come from all sorts," she answered. "Anyone can waltz into a guild and grab a porcelain tag. Classes just help us figure out what they could contribute to a party and what skills they should be assessed by, stuff like that. Every class has non adventuring counterparts. Monks, rangers, fighters, barbarians, they all exist out in the world too," she explained taking a drink.
"So just because something's your job, or what you are, it doesn't mean it's your class."
"Mmmmm, maybe? They're usually the same."
"Wolverine was a soldier and he's not a fighter."
"I ain't one anymore."
"I'm just saying, I haven't been doing a lot of crime fighting in the streets since arriving here," said Spider-man going to take a drink.
He grabbed his tankard (his was non-alcoholic, or at least they claimed, a spiced honey water) and brought it to his mouth. Just as the liquid moved to touch his lips his spider sense went berserk. He pulled it away with a gasp!
"Webs? What is it?" asked Boksee.
"There's something wrong with this!" he exclaimed putting it to his mouth again and again throwing it to the table. "My spider sense is going nuts!"
He grabbed Boksee and Wolverine's drink and put them to his face. "Yours too!"
"What‽"
Wolverine leapt to his feet.
Peter lunged for another table. He grabbed at people's drinks, much to their surprise and anger, and moved them all to his mouth.
Boksee aimed her hand at her drink and muttered a spell.
"I detect poison!" she cried. "There's poison in this! Deadly poison!"
"What‽" exclaimed a confused patron. Another spat out their drink.
"I'm not sensing any in anyone else's. Just ours," called Spider-man.
Even so, tables were jumping up in confusion and growing panic as the word 'poison' ricocheted across the room.
The barman came running out of the back.
"What's going on‽"
"Blow me, I drank some!" cried Boksee.
"There's something in our drinks!" answered Spider-man.
"Everyone! Stop drinking!"
"What do we do‽" cried Boksee leaping to her feet in a panic.
"Get to the apothecarist!"
"Right, Right!"
Spider-man webbed his drink as the three of them ran out the door.
They stormed into the apothecary. A couple shoppers jumped in surprise and Gustel came shambling out from behind the counter.
"What are you…"
"It's an emergency!"
The old man, stooped and grey, piped some of Spider-man's drink into a flask, scrutinizing it with his good eye.
They were in the backroom, the three adventurers standing around in pulse pounding anticipation.
"Are you ok Boksee?" asked Peter. "How are you feeling?"
"Ummm, I think I'm ok," she said nervously.
Wolverine was sweating bullets. His face went pale.
"Wolvie, are you…"
"No!"
He ran out the back door and started throwing his guts into the bushes.
"Oh blow me," said Boksee cringing at the sound.
Gustel poured something from a large bottle into the flask and gave it a spin. The combined mixture turned a stark white.
"Woah now!" he exclaimed. "Grab the barbarian!" he shouted charging toward his stocks. He ripped the lid off a box, throwing empty crates and used bottles across the room. "Son, did you drink any‽"
"No! Why what is it?"
Gustel pulled out a pair of dark, muddy potions and shoved one into Boksee's shaking hands.
"Drink it all! Force it down!"
Wolverine pulled himself back inside.
"I think I'm gonna be alright," he grunted wiping his brow but already regaining color.
"Drink!" exclaimed Gustel forcing a potion on him.
Both adventurers obeyed, pulling their corks and starting to drink. They coughed and gagged but powered through.
Gustel grabbed a third bottle and shoved it at Spider-man.
"I didn't…"
"Be on the safe side!"
The intensity of the old man's demands prompted Spider-man to obey and he too started forcing down the horrible sludge.
Boksee and Wolverine both gasped, both of them going pale again and somehow even sweatier.
"Hold it in!" shouted Gustel flipping one of his many hourglasses, a small one.
Boksee clamped her hands over her mouth. Spider-man finished his and gasped himself. He dropped into a squat clutching his mouth to keep from hurling.
"Hold it, hold it," said Gustel watching the timer as it took an agonizing minute to empty. "Alright go."
The adventures flailed over each other out the door and headfirst into the bushes.
"Were you trying to cure us or poison us yourself?" heaved Boksee as she handed back her used bottle.
"Did you expect being cleared out from the inside to be enjoyable?" grumped Gustel taking it. "Let alone with such speed and fervor? Now all of you sit down. That shit will knock your knees out from under you."
Boksee and Peter obeyed, carefully lowering themselves to the floor through bleary eyes, sweat, and trembling. Wolverine, also shaken, remained standing.
"I thought the nasty from Little Mons was bad," rasped Spider-man.
"What happened?" asked Boksee. "What was that?"
"That," said Gustel holding up the white flask. "Was black lotus extract. An incredibly potent poison. Count yourselves blessed by the divine. You lot would have dropped dead within the quarter hour."
Boksee went pale again.
"How did it get in our drinks‽" cried Spider-man.
"You were at the pub right?" asked the old man looking at the tankard they brought. He huffed. "Let me make this extremely clear to you, this poison is incredibly rare and remarkably expensive. It's colorless, odorless, and tasteless, the perfect weapon. It isn't something you can accidentally stumble into, let alone accidentally discover in your mead."
"Are you saying someone just tried to kill us?"
Gustel gave them a stern look.
"But who?" gasped Boksee. "In Boar Bramble? Who would be trying to kill us?"
"I couldn't tell you that," said the apothecarist. "But clearly someone doesn't want you around," he said shaking the white flask.
"I've got to warn my family!" she exclaimed jumping to her feet. "They might be targets!"
"We'll get tuts and Elf Boy," declared Wolverine.
"Right!"
Gustel spun another sample of booze in a flask. He waited a moment, but it remained its usual amber color.
"Alright. That's all of them. All clear!"
The pub, still filled with confused and frightened patrons looked to the old apothecarist as he popped up from behind the bar.
"Didn't you hear me? All clear! You're good! No one's poisoned. You can all leave!" he barked.
The crowd muttered angrily but breathed in relief as they cleared out. The barkeep locked the door behind them.
"So what's going on here?" asked Boksee Sr. "What is this about tainted drinks?"
He, his wife, the Far Marvels, Gustel, and the pub workers had stayed behind.
"It was more than that guild man," said Wolverine. "Someone just tried to off us. Poison."
"What‽" cried his wife.
"Here‽ In Boar Bramble?" he exclaimed. "Who would do such a thing?"
"That's what I asked," said Boksee Jr.
"Maybe it was the Flying Swords?" said Spider-man.
The guild master baulked.
"They're jerks but I don't think they'd try to kill us!" argued Boksee Jr.
Gustel harrumphed.
"Let me remind you all," he snapped. "This is one of the most rare and expensive poisons in the realms," he said showing the room his white flask. "It's not something you can just pick up on a passing caravan. No one in this backwater town could have gotten their hands on it, no matter how much you piss each other off."
"Obviously it was the work of the seasons," said Wyn practically rolling her eyes. "We don't have any other enemies."
"That we know of," said Spider-man squinting.
"It wasn't a season," said Wolverine.
The group looked to him surprised.
"What I mean it wasn't a season in town. It ain't their MO. My bet, they sent someone after us. A hired gun, or uh, sword. A professional hitman."
"An assassin," said Nih.
The group nodded.
"And we certainly don't have any of those around town," said the guild master.
"Marcell, did you see anyone unusual in the pub?" asked Wyn turning to the barkeep. "Anyone you didn't recognize?"
"No. Nothing out of the usual. You're sure they didn't poison any of the other drinks?"
"Not that I sensed," said Peter.
"Absolutely not!" barked Gustel.
"Then how did it get in yours?"
"Good question," said Wolverine. "Who poured the drinks?"
"I-I did," said the barmaid meekly. The room turned to her.
"But I didn't do anything! I swear! I just poured them like usual, a mead, a lager, and a clarea of water."
"You delivered the drinks too didn't you?" asked Wyn. "Did you see anyone? Did anything happen?"
"Umm… I don't think so?"
"You were the last one in contact with 'em before us," said Logan. "The poison got in there somehow. Was there any point after leavin' the bar where your eyes weren't on them?"
"No…" said the barmaid thinking. "I just took them to your table. I…Oh no. Oh blow me! I did take my eyes off the drinks! But only for the splitest of split seconds! A man warned me about a spill on the floor. I looked down and moved around it. There's no way that would have been enough time, could it?"
"For a professional?" said Logan. "Yah, that might have done it."
"By the divine! I'm so sorry!"
"It's alright. It wasn't your fault," said Boksee. "Nothing happened."
"Did you recognize the man?" asked Wyn.
"No. I mean, I didn't look. He was just a guy in the pub. I was taking drinks. I didn't really look at him."
"It's fine," said the paladin firmly. "Well, Boar Bramble is near two days away from anywhere else. If someone dropped in to take us out, he wouldn't have many options where to go."
"If there's someone new here. Wouldn't he be staying at the inn?" asked Spider-man.
"He might," said Wyn. "But there's also a chance he'd be staying with someone or even camping."
"We can go talk to Glenda," offered Boksee's mom. "See if she's seen anyone."
"Good idea. Someone should go with you. You may be targets. The rest of us…"
"No," interrupted Wolverine.
"Huh?" a few asked in unison.
"No. You're going about it wrong," he reiterated. "We don't need to go lookin' for him. A professional don't head home and take a nap after the first hit fails. He keeps on the trail. He was probably there watching the entire time, hiding in plain sight. I bet he's still hanging around close, watchin' and figurin' out his next move. There ain't no reason why he would be going after three of us and not the other two. Five adventurers sounds like a hard hit. Seems plain as day he was trying to stay low and quietly weed down our numbers. We drop dead, and by the time the rest of you figure out what happened he could finish the job."
"Too bad he didn't count on Spidey's ridiculous perception stats," said Boksee.
"You seem to have a lot of knowledge on this matter," said Wyn to Wolverine.
"I do."
"So, what do we do?" asked Boksee.
Wolverine ran a hand across his chin in thought.
"We need to draw him out. Draw him out and take him out. We should split up. I'm sure he's keeping an eye on us right now, the pub I mean. Let's leave the pub and go our separate ways. He may be willing to risk an open attack if he's facing only one at a time."
"How do you know he's an attacker at all? What if he always just poisons people?" asked Spider-man.
"I think Claw's is right," said Wyn. "Intuition says someone who travels two days away from the nearest town to take out a group of adventurers can handle himself."
The group nodded.
"Um," said Boksee. "I don't know if I'm comfortable being bait. I usually don't deal in one-to-one combat."
"Nor do I," said Nih. "Perhaps the two of us should go together."
"That sounds like a good idea. You two can cover each other's backs," said Wyn.
"Dark elf, you take care of our girl," said Boksee Sr. sternly.
Nih nodded with a pleasant smile.
"Guild master, the rest of you all should meet with the authorities, let them know what's going on," continued Wyn. "Go as a group. As far as we know none of you are targets but best to be safe."
"No kidding," grumped Gustel. "Last thing I want is to be shanked in an alley because I tipped you lot off."
"We need a cover story," said Logan. "He's gonna realize somethin's up if we're just standing around waitin' for him."
"How about the original plan?" asked Spider-man. "Let's go around and pretend to try to find out where he's staying and see if he gets confident in the meantime."
The group nodded.
The old wooden door of the pub creaked open.
Weapons to hips, on edge, but trying to play it cool, the teams cautiously exited the building and went their separate ways. Spider-man headed toward the inn, staying in town. Boksee and Nih headed toward the woods, Wyn took the north residential area, and Wolverine the south.
Boksee's parents, Gustel, and the pub workers headed toward the jail house.
The minutes took their sweet time passing, recorded by nothing but the blinding summer sun as it bore down on the little village. Shadows were short, and the glare was intense on the cobbled streets.
Spider-man, still in his civies, walked with a spring on his heels, ready to leap at the smallest unease.
There was no luck at the inn. Glenda hadn't booked anyone new since he and Wolverine moved out.
His bright hazel eyes glanced around, his pupils nearly pinpricked.
No one seemed out of place, just townspeople working and shopping. Nothing was setting off his spider sense either, but he was keeping his guard up. Diligently continuing the act, he moved on to the next building, the bathhouse.
Entering the male side, the bright light of the street was suddenly replaced with a hot and steamy gloom. Condensation wept down the bathhouse's wooden walls and collected in puddles on its stone floor.
"Hello Spider-man, back so soon?" asked the attendant.
"Oh hey. Yes, but on adventuring business. It's a long shot, but have you seen anyone new in here? Anyone you didn't recognize over the last few days?"
"Can't say I have," he said handing a bather a towel as he stepped out of a tub. "And believe me, I get a good look of the land."
"No kidding. Can you ask the women's side, or can I shout through a door or something? Cover my eyes?"
"I'll ask in the back. Hang on."
The door swung open revealing the woman of the house. She had a child on her hip, another by the hand, and four more working the yard.
Wyn, in full armor, was surveying the northern residential area.
"What can I do for you adventurer?" asked the woman.
"Thank you madam. Have you seen a newcomer in town? Or do you have a guest or relation visiting?"
"Um, I've seen the dark elf," said the mother casually catching a child as it tried to fall off the step. "There's that pointy haired fellow and the lad with him, but they came a while ago."
Wyn tried to hear over the ruckus of chattering children. Nothing sounded off but she was keeping her wits about her.
"And you're sure about it, positive, you ain't seen anybody else?" asked Wolverine.
Minty, in human form was caught making his way up from the river.
"No," he said annoyed. "Just the usual fisherman and some launderers who clearly need to be more wary of kelpies."
"No, I mean in town."
"I haven't been in town. Not since Midsummer. If you let me get on my way I might," he said tapping his violin bow to his shoulder.
Wolverine huffed. The air was muggy and hot, and stunk as mosquitos and flies buzzed around the stagnant water of the fishery, but no unusual scents. Nothing that drew his attention.
"Rrrr… Fine," he growled returning to his search of the south residential area.
"Always a pleasure Pincushion," snarked Minty pushing his sweaty hair from his face as the mutant lumbered away.
Somewhere along the north road, the most wooded of the three, Boksee looked to the trees and squawked. With a few loud flaps, a large black bird swooped down from the high branches and landed on her outstretched arm.
"A corvid. Quite the clever bird," said Nih.
"Clever and far flying. I'm going to ask if she's seen any men in the woods. That's the idea anyway."
The druid kept a lookout while the ranger began muttering a spell. Her hair blew and her eyes changed to the color of the bird's, big and black. The pair chittered and cackled at each other.
"Eh, no good," said Boksee turning back to her team mate. "She sees too many men in the woods. None stand out to her."
"It was a good idea anyway."
Boksee fed the bird a morsel from her bag and deactivated her spell. It flew into the sky as her eyes changed back to normal.
"I don't suppose you have any druid magic that could help us?" She dropped to a whisper. "Even if we're just trying to lure him out, finding an assassin before he finds us would be better as far as I'm concerned."
"I agree. But I'm afraid not. The fae would be even less interested in the goings on of townsfolks than the wildlife, and I doubt assessing the energies of the local plants would aid us."
"Fair. Guess we're stuck…"
The bird let out a screech causing Boksee to whip around and shriek.
"NIH!"
The dark elf flung around just as a blade was sent hurtling toward his back. He stumbled out of the way, barely avoiding the razor-sharp edge of a short sword as it ripped across his robes. Its wielder, a hooded and masked man, was revealed as he leapt from the woods.
Boksee gasped and drew her falchion.
The assassin, his bright eyes narrowing, recovered from his miss and lunged for Nih again.
Nih was completely unprepared. All he could do was stagger and thrash backwards.
Boksee went in for the save. She charged forward, swinging for the attacker's gut. A boot landed squarely in her chest, knocking the breath from her lungs and sending her crashing into the dirt. The assassin, still aiming for Nih, had kicked her away.
In the second of distraction, Nih threw a foot behind the assassin's leg as it came back down. He grabbed him by the blade hand and tried to overpower him, forcing him down and back with his height advantage. Instead, the hooded man drew a second blade and moved to plunge it into his side. Nih flung himself out of the way, once again just barely dodging and drawing his sickle.
Boksee, on the ground, gagged and panted, trying to recatch her breath, and rolled to her knees.
She saw the assassin charge at her teammate. One blade went high, the other low, in quick succession.
Fear flashed across the dark elf's face as he flailed to block the first with his sickle and the other with his thorn whip.
The ranger forced herself off the ground and leapt for a nearby tree.
"Flare, flare, flare!" she shouted slamming her palm into the trunk.
By her sheer will alone, a bolt of cinnamon light was sent shooting into the sky and exploding like a firework.
It was like the assassin had five arms, and they were all directed at Nih. Two swords were coming at him from all directions, kicks, hip checks, charges. Nih wasn't even thinking as he desperately staggered backwards over and over again. No attacks, just blocks and dodges.
The flare went off, startling them both. Nih gasped and threw his hand toward the ground. Intensely charged, his magic sent the land surging out in all directions shoving him and the assassin apart. Nih bent deep and was able to keep his balance as he rode the wave. The assassin, surprised, was thrown off his feet. Instead of falling, he transferred the momentum into a handspring and was back upright.
Before the wave was even finished, he was charging again, refusing to relent his assault.
Boksee leapt onto his back, arms clamping around his windpipe trying to crush the life out of him.
He snarled and twisted, quickly freeing himself. He threw his thumb behind his ear, right into her face, barely missing her eye but gouging her temple. She cried and was grabbed. He threw her over his head and onto the ground, stomping her in the gut. She gasped again, pain ripping through her trampled organs.
"BOKSEE!"
Nih threw his thorn whip as he came running. In one flowing move the assassin spun, slicing the whip and bring his sword down on the half-halfling.
Wyn leapt from the trees!
In a glare of shimmering silver, the paladin leapt over the ranger and rammed her assailant with her shield.
Blood splattered as the sound of a breaking nose rattled through the trees, but the assassin didn't go down. He reflexively threw a blade toward his new foe. It landed, but bounced uselessly against her armor. Instead of her mace, Wyn pulled a blade from her hip and the two locked in a dizzying three-sworded duel. Flourishes, slashes, clanks, jabs! He started losing ground, stepping back away from her teammates. In one glorious swing, the assassin's eyes shot open as a blade was thrown from his hand.
Wyn charged at him.
He threw himself backwards, grabbing something from his pocket and chucking it at the ground. It was a rock with a piece of paper tied around it. As it hit the dirt, the archaic writing upon it changed from black to red. An explosion of the thickest, blackest smoke engulfed them.
The adventurers cried and coughed, throats burning and eyes blinded.
Wyn nearly landed another hit on the assassin, feeling his sword clank against hers but it was useless.
Nih shot a tiny flame toward the center of the smoke, landing a hit on the paper. It burned away and the smoke began to clear. The three realized they were alone. Like a squid shooting a cloud of ink, the assassin had used it to flee.
"Paper charm," snarled Nih as it withered to ash.
"Where'd he go?" Wyn coughed looking around. "Boksee, are you ok?"
"Y-yah," she panted climbing to her knees and clutching her diaphragm. She pulled a health potion from her pack and chugged it, snarling as it sped her recovery. Wyn yanked her to her feet and the three looked around.
Boksee spotted a crumpled weed.
"This way!" she shouted.
The team, undeterred, took off into the underbrush.
Wyn and Nih sprinted through the forest on the ranger's heels. She jolted and turned never losing speed as she followed the assassin's subtle trail
Spider-man leapt from the trees in front of them.
"Spidey!"
They startled and skidded to a stop.
"What is it?" he demanded. "Did you find him?"
"Yes! We lost him!" shouted Boksee.
"Take the ranger!" commanded Wyn.
"Wha-"
Spider-man wrenched Boksee clear off the ground and threw her onto his back. She floundered but quickly grabbed ahold as he took off at break neck speed back into the trees. He was like a ricocheting bullet, zigzagging from trunk to trunk in some sort of leaping run.
"LEFT!" she shouted. "Now right! Keep to the bank!"
The pair popped out of the woods and onto the backside of Boar Bramble's main street.
"Blast it all! He made it to town!" she said hopping off. "I've lost the trail!"
"Kid!"
They turned to see Wolverine racing toward them.
"Darlin' wha-"
"We lost him!" shouted Boksee.
Wolverine panted, jerking his head around as he thought, huffing the air.
"Roof!" he barked pointing.
Without question, Spider-man threw a web line and vaulted onto the nearest building. He had taken his shoes off. His bare feet landed on the blazing hot wooden shanks with a clatter. A hooded man a few buildings away whipped around at the sound. He baulked in surprise and took off running.
Spider-man leapt after him.
"Hey! We both appreciate a good roof! Maybe we can work something out!" he shouted throwing a web line.
The man spun on a heel, slicing the web with his blade before it hit. He tossed some sort of projectile and threw himself up onto the next roof.
Spider-man jumped, flipping over a rock as a cloud of smoke exploded under his toes. He summersaulted across another building quickly closing the distance.
The assassin twisted and tumbled as he was assaulted with more webbing. Lines were sliced and dodged as the masked man sped and leapt.
"Woah! You're a slippery one!" shouted Spider-man. He threw another web line, this time onto a wall instead, and yanked himself soaring over the town.
On the top of the inn, the highest point of Boar Bramble, feet from the assassin, Spider-man landed with a thud and shot a massive glob of the thickest, stickiest webbing. It splattered onto the man with force. Spider-man was unmoved, his bare toes sticking him firmly to the shanks under his soles but the assassin was sent tumbling backwards, arms and legs binding together, and falling off the roof.
"NO!"
Realizing his mistake, he lunged to catch him but he was too late. It was only three stories. In the split second it took to leap to the edge of the building, he instinctually knew he hadn't been quick enough. He threw his hands to his forehead, refusing to look down.
"Hey!" called a gruff voice. "You drop somethin'‽"
Spider-man threw his head over the edge to see Wolverine fallen to the ground on the street below. The cocooned assassin was in his lap, writhing in his arms.
"Oh thank spider heaven," he gasped.
Dragged back deep into the woods, the assassin, legs bound and gagged, was webbed to a tree. He struggled and fought against the binding but it was no good.
Wyn and Boksee were digging through his clothing, grabbing out and tossing whatever weapons they found and anything else of note. Boksee pulled out a folded scrap of paper.
"Get his head," instructed Wolverine. "Around the forehead. Keep him from looking around."
Spider-man obeyed and threw another web line, looping it around the tree and forcing their captive's skull to the bark. His violent eyes glared at them.
The women finished emptying his every pouch and pocket and stepped back. Wolverine, satisfied, stomped forward and wrenched down the gag, taking the man's mask down with it.
For the first time his face was revealed, and it was unremarkable. The man as a whole appeared unremarkable. Small rounded ears showed he was indeed just a man, the same race and complexion as the majority of Strana. He had short brown hair, and brown eyes. His clothing was plain and covered him enough that no one could see his build or weaponry. He would easily get lost in a crowd. The only thing of note was the sharp, predatory glare in his eyes.
"What did you do‽ What is this stuff‽" he demanded.
"Grade A spider webbing," answered Peter. "Guess you've never met a Spider-man before."
The assassin's mouth twitched.
"Oh! I know that look! We've got an arachnophobe here!"
"Who are you?" demanded Wyn. "Who sent you and how did you find us?"
The assassin didn't even dignify her with a response, just rolling his eyes to the side.
"Paladin, check this out," said Boksee handing her the scrap of parchment. She unfolded it revealing a drawing of Peter.
Wyn blinked.
"Uh, Webs he's got a picture of you."
"What?"
All five adventurers peaked over to see. It was a portrait of him alright, Peter, not Spider-man, a very good one.
"How the fuck?" asked Wolverine.
"Oh, isn't that cute," tormented Spider-man. "He's got memorabilia. Got a quill?" he asked the assassin. "I'll sign it for you. To… Archibald. Am I right?"
The assassin rolled his eyes so hard they practically went white.
"That's surprising," said Boksee. "You aren't exactly the most noticeable in a crowd. Huh, it looks kind of familiar."
"It's me. Of course it does."
"No! I know what this is! Spidey! This is a sketch of that painting you modeled for, that one down in Ries."
Peter's eyes went wide and his face went scarlet.
The adventurers all squeezed in to look again.
Sure enough, they could all see it now, well everyone but Nih. It was indeed a redrawing of the infamous painting.
"I believe you're right," said Wyn.
"They left off the important parts," smirked Logan.
"I have to agree," said Nih.
"Who sent you?" demanded Wyn again brandishing the parchment.
"And how did you get this sweet drawing?" added Spider-man.
Wolverine shook his head at his party.
"Look bub," he said turning to their captive. "These idiots aside, you're caught. It's done. This'll be a lot less painful for ya if ya just co-operate."
The assassin remained silent.
"You deaf?" Logan grabbed him around the jaw and forced him to face him. "I said, it'll be a lot less painful if you just co-operate, bub."
"Well bub," he snarked back. "I don't co-operate with targets."
"It's no good Wolvie," said Boksee. "This guy's a…"
Wolverine slugged him in the gut, hard.
Boksee and Wyn both startled at the sudden turn but didn't interfere. Nih was a stoic as ever but Spider-man looked uneasy.
The assassin gasped. He reeled and gagged not able to fall over or clutch his stomach.
"Feel like co-operatin' now?"
"If he's got a sketch of the painting from Adaliz's gala, someone there must know that it's a painting of Peter and that he's with our party," said Wyn as the assassin heaved. "They must have been at that gala then right?"
"Or someone was," said Boksee shrugging.
"Ughh, come on," groaned the assassin recatching his lost breath. "Look, I'm just working for coin. I don't really care who you are or who you pissed off."
"Well if you don't care, then just tell us who sent you," said Wyn.
"Do you think I would ever get another job if I went around telling the hit I was supposed to kill who sent me, bellibone?" he sneered with venom.
Wyn snarled, blood rising in her face. She moved to lay into him but Wolverine caught her by the shoulder.
"Alright you all," he said firmly. "Nice tries, but you're getting in the way. Let me handle it from here. You all just take notes."
Wyn looked like she was about to round on him instead, but after a moment of consideration she nodded. The rest of the party moved back to let Wolverine take point.
"Alright bub," he said to the assassin. "Just you and me now. Don't mind them. Let's start over. You got a name?"
"What?" he asked incredulous.
"You got a name?" he repeated. "We can talk to each other like people, yah?" His words were kind but there was a menace in his tone. "Or is it worth another punch to the gut?"
The assassin huffed, his sharp eyes rolling to the side but considering it.
"Call me Jack," he answered.
Wyn and Boksee gave each other an impressed look.
"Alright Jack," said Wolverine. "This is how it's going to work. You tried to kill us so we don't got no reason to be nice. But I am nice. You play nice, I play nice. If you don't, well it's not gonna be fun," he said calmly moving in. "I get it," he said honestly. "You were hired to take a hit and you took it. Nothin' personal. But ya failed. Nothin' personal on my end either. Give us what we want and we can all walk away amicable like."
The assassin gave the older mutant a suspicious look, like something was beginning to click together in his mind.
"If you get it, then you get why I can't do that," he retorted.
The two men sized each other up.
Wolverine shrugged.
"Suit yourself."
He punched him again. The assassin let out a scream. And again. The mutant's massive biceps flexed and shook as he struck the man over and over again. Every bone crushing blow from his metal coated fist sent the assassin wailing in agony.
"Feel like playin' nice yet?" barked Logan.
Jack panted, then spat on him through bloody teeth.
Wolverine moved to pound into him again but Spider-man leapt forward and caught his fist mid strike. Jack, who was clenched back for the next impact, opened his eyes and blinked in surprise.
Wolverine was less impressed. He rounded on him.
"Woah, maybe space out the pummeling a bit yah?" said Spider-man. "We're not trying to kill the guy are we Wolvie?"
Wolverine pulled his fist away.
"Oh for the love of…We're not doing this shit. Get out of here Parker!" he snapped.
"What?"
"You heard me. Get! I ain't takin' your shit today."
Spider-man huffed offended.
"To let you splatter the guy into bird food? Yah right."
He turned to the rest of his party but was astounded to see them giving him a firm look.
"Wait, are you… are you all taking his side?"
"Spidey, no offense, but we all know you don't have the stomach for this kind of thing," said Wyn. "Just let Claws take care of it."
"What‽"
"He seems to know what he's doing," said Boksee.
"He's gonna kill the guy at this rate!"
"And that's a problem?"
Spider-man sputtered.
"Y-you all can't just expect me to-"
Before he could work himself up into a rant, Wolverine grabbed the arrow head from his chest and shoved it in his face.
He flinched back, then his eyes focused on it. His brow un-furrowed and his face fell.
"You don't gotta be here for it," said Wolverine, arrowhead still held up before him. "Rather you weren't. Just let us do what needs to be done."
Peter's gaze shifted from the arrow head. He looked to his team but they didn't change their positions. Then he looked to Wolverine, searching for any subtle tell. He gave him a long look, then relented.
"Ok," he said quietly.
"Walk out of ear shot. Get on then."
Looking over his shoulder at the bound man, he lowered his head and headed into the woods.
The party stood at the ready as Wolverine turned his attention back to the assassin.
"Well Jack," he growled with a new frightening smile. "You took too long. You just lost your best friend. Kid gloves are off. Play time's over," he said ejecting a set of claws.
"Cool blades," panted the assassin trying to regain control of the situation. "Kill me and you'll never get the info you want."
"I don't think you're understandin' the situation, pal," leered Wolverine moving in. "So let me explain. We want to know who sent you, sure, but we don't need to know who sent you. We can make do. What we need is to not have an assassin trying to off us. So, if I were you, I'd be figuring out what I can say to save my neck."
"Yah right. You lot-"
Wolverine threw his claws. Blood shot into the air as the assassin's dismembered ear fell to the grass. He screamed, wailing and writhing as blood waterfalled down his neck, unable to even hold the side of his head.
"Maybe you ain't understandin' Jack," he said grabbing him by the hair, bringing his nose to meet his. "We don't need you. All we need is to not have some lowlife hitman trailing behind us. We can be on our merry way in two minutes no worse off with a dead assassin in the woods, unless you want to give us somethin' worth negotiatin' for."
"I'll be ruined!" Jack barked through clenched teeth.
"Oh, in that case, let me give you some time to consider. You have 'til three."
Wolverine forced his fist under Jack's chin, his bare knuckles grinding into his submental.
"One…" he counted. His first claw shot up the assassin's face slicing a gouge into his cheek.
Jack's bright eyes went wide, unable to move his head.
"Two…"
Another blade shot up, the opposite knuckle, it sliced his other cheek trapping his face between two of Wolverine's three claws. The third, the middle claw, was directly under his soft neck. The mutant gave him an insidious smile.
"Thhrrr-"
"FINE!" barked Jack. "I'll tell you what you want!"
Wolverine retracted his claws and stood back.
"Hrm. Elf boy, heal 'em up."
Nih calmly stepped forward and performed his healing chant. Jack's lacerated face healed closed and his hitched breath moved back into his lungs. The side of his head stopped bleeding but the ear of course didn't grow back, still laying on the ground.
"Spill," said Wolverine.
"I tell you," said Jack, still shaken. "You let me go and we go our separate ways. I don't follow you, you don't follow me."
"How do we know you won't try to kill anyone else?" demanded Boksee.
"I don't hit who I'm not paid to," he gruffed.
"How can we trust you? How can we trust anything you say‽"
Wolverine put up a hand to cut her off.
"Deal," he said to Boksee's surprise. "You tell us everything and we're square."
Unable to nod, the assassin looked down, then re-met his gaze.
"I was hired by a man in Newport," he started. "He…"
"What was his name?" interrupted Wyn.
"He didn't give it to me. He wanted me to hit a party of adventurers on behalf of his client."
"His client? So, he was working for someone too?"
"Yah. I think he was a detective for hire. He had been tracking a party who had taken out two of his client's colleagues and wanted them dealt with."
The adventurers nodded amongst themselves, their suspicions confirmed.
"How did he know we were in Boar Bramble?" asked Boksee.
"Logbook of a carriage service from Little Mons."
"How did he know we were in Little Mons?"
"I don't know," groaned Jack annoyed. "We didn't go over the entire journey. His job was tracking you down, mine was taking you out. One on five, especially five adventurers, even middling ones like you, obviously came with a high price. He went looking for the best and could pay for it."
"Where were you going to meet after you finished the job?" asked Wolverine.
The assassin glared at him before answering.
"He's staying at an inn in Newport. We were going to meet in his room."
"Which inn?"
"The Blue Sturgeon. Room six if you're wondering."
"What time?"
"Sheesh…" he muttered under his breath.
"What time?"
"After dark, gave me a week to get it done."
"And that was three days ago?" asked Wyn. "It took you two days to get from Newport to here and today's the third?"
"Yep," he said unenthusiastically. "Is that it? You got everything you want?"
"What did your client look like?" asked Nih.
He shrugged.
"Man, burly, dark hair, goatee, didn't see his eyes. It was too dark. Anything else?"
"Did he say anything about his client?" asked Wyn. "Their name? What they looked like? Male or female? Race?"
"Didn't say anything. The guy was a professional. Professionals don't talk about their clients," he added with hatred.
"Alright, we're done," gruffed Logan.
Without fan fair, he stepped up and sliced the webbing binding him. Jack pull himself free, grabbed the earless side of his head, and glared down at Wolverine with a fury.
"I never should have taken this job," he said disgusted. "You think a detective would have been able to figure out the target was in the business."
Wyn and Boksee's eyebrows raised. They looked to Wolverine who just gave the assassin a venomous little smirk.
"And I don't know what you're doing wearing an emerald ad tag."
"Mindin' my own business," answered Logan. "How 'bout you get back to yours."
The two men sized each other up one last time before Jack started gathering up his thrown weaponry and belongings. The team watched, ready to leap into action, but the assassin was true to his word. Giving them all one last spiteful look, he straightened out his bloody clothes and headed off into the woods.
"In the business?" asked Wyn approaching Logan. "Was he saying… Claws, have you worked as an assassin?"
Logan shrugged.
"I've done all sorts. Met all sorts too. He can think what he wants."
"But is it true?"
"You can think what you want tuts," he said walking away.
Boksee grabbed up the dismembered ear and tossed it in the air. A large black bird swooped down and snatched it.
Wyn baulked.
"What? He's not using it."
Nih approached Wolverine.
"Excellent work. I must ask, did you truly intend to kill him or was it a bluff? I was certainly convinced."
Logan snorted.
"Nah, it wasn't a bluff, but man was I hoping he'd talk. I didn't want to have to deal with all the whining if I'd had to gut him," he groaned putting a hand to his forehead.
Somewhere in the woods, Spider-man was aggressively fiddling with some twigs. He turned as he heard walking behind him. He was surprised to see the assassin. Jack also looked a little surprised, but he calmly continued to walk past, neither man making a move toward each other.
Spider-man's eyes flicked to the blood soaking his shirt.
A few steps beyond him, Jack stopped.
"I blame you, you know," he said flatly. "How did you know?"
"Pardon?"
"The poison, how did you know?" he said turning. "What gave it away?"
The younger man squinted.
"I'm just special that way," he replied coldly.
Jack rolled his eyes and continued on.
After a few more steps, Spider-man heard him chuckle.
"Good thing you're such a sopping poltroon," he said without stopping. "You'd make one hell of an assassin. See you two next time."
Spider-man blinked as the man disappeared between the trees. His face scrunched in puzzlement, but regardless, he breathed a sigh of relief and went to meet up with his party.
The bright midday sun finally made it over its peak and began its long descent.
"So, where's Newport again?" asked Peter.
The Far Marvels, sans Wyn, were gathered back in Boar Bramble. They let everyone know what had happened and gave the all clear.
"It's that city where we caught the ferry down to Ries," answered Boksee regathered with her family. "It's pretty close by. Relatively speaking."
"I've got us a ride for tomorrow morning," said Wyn walking back up the street. "Everyone make yourselves ready and settle your affairs tonight. We don't know how long we'll be gone, and if we're successful, we'll have more than one run in with an elite magic caster.
The party nodded.
"Magic casters, and some punk private I who's got some explainin' to do," gruffed Wolverine ejecting his claws.
"By the way. Has anyone seen my bag?" asked Wyn. "I think I left it on the table earlier."
"Oh yah. We took it with us to the pub," said Boksee. "Huh, I think we left it there. We ran out in a rush, being poisoned and all."
"I'll come with," volunteered Peter and the two headed off.
The pub was still closed by the time they got there, but they were allowed in after knocking. The workers and owners were getting the place back in working order after such a fiasco.
"I hope you know we didn't mean anything by it," said Wyn. "Asking you to leave."
Peter glanced to the side.
"It's fine. Nothing happened," he said shortly.
The two approached the bar.
"Sure, I was wondering who this belong to," replied the barmaid handing Wyn her bag.
"Thank you very much for holding on to it."
The barmaid smiled then tried to hand Spider-man Cock.
"Oh, that's mine too," said Wyn casually taking it.
"My apologies. I saw him reading it earlier. Well, you two have a good rest of your day. Glad to see you weren't poisoned."
The barmaid got back to work and the two exited.
"You were reading the class compendium?" asked Wyn raising an eyebrow as they stepped out the door.
"Yah…" said Peter. "Sorry. I still just don't think vigilante fits."
Wyn was about to argue but he continued.
"Ok, I admit it. It's pretty much exactly what I am. You're right. I mean, that's what I do back home. But I'm not at home, and I haven't really been doing much wall crawling crime fighting since I've been here. I think maybe Spider-man the adventurer might be a little different. Maybe there's another class that, although doesn't quite fit me exactly right, makes more sense in this world?" he asked coyly.
Wyn gave him a look.
"Well, to be honest Boksee was right too. I never did figure out your base class. None of them seem to fit, so it wasn't like I was going to be putting the compendium down any time soon."
They gave each other a smile.
"Although, if a certain adventurer really wanted me to find a class for him, it would be easier if the adventurer himself helped me."
"Deal."
Still gathered on the street with Boksee and Nih, Logan lit a cigar.
"Are those things any good?" asked Boksee. "Dad sure seems to think they're something else."
Wolverine gave her a side glance.
"Don't smoke kid. It's bad for you," he said blowing a fat cloud into the air.
Boksee just shook her head, rolling her eyes with a smile.
"I also can't recommend them," said Nih. "So expensive for very little payoff. I can provide you with far superior herbs to consume if you desire."
Logan snorted.
"Druid," said Boksee. "I tried that booze you made. I think I'll stick to the merchants."
She stretched. A flock of birds, like a great school of fish, rose from the roofs of the little village and wove into the sky.
"Well, you boys ready? Looks like we're going searching for hornets again."
"Except now the hornets know we're looking," added Nih.
"Doesn't matter, we'll take whatever they throw," gruffed Logan.
"Maybe we'll get lucky and Spring and Summer were just bad eggs," said Boksee. "And Autumn and Winter aren't so bad. Maybe they're just tax evaders or something."
Wolverine gave her a look.
"I don't think I've paid a tax in my life," said Nih with a smile.
The group chuckled.
Wolverine took a long drag of his smoke and huffed another billowing grey cloud.
"Guess we'll see. We're back on the trail."
The End.