"Ugh... It stinks so bad," High Elf Archer complained, shivering with discomfort from the goblin viscera that drenched her attire. "I think I'm gonna be sick."
"Try not to puke, Long-Ears. I've already got half the mind to do that myself," Dwarf Shaman added. His robes and beard had also been stained by the blood of the greenskins. "The smell's killing me. I need a drink."
"Don't," Goblin Slayer replied firmly as he led the party into the hall of the ruins, torch in hand. "The goblins might pick up the scent of the alcohol."
The group had only just begun wandering the ruined labyrinth, and the enclosed space of the hall seemed to have made the vile odor of their 'camouflage' all the worse by keeping it concentrated.
"Most of it will come out after a bit of washing," Priestess said from behind the pair, attempting to be comforting. She understood how they felt, having already undergone the same process dozens of times, including now.
"How long is a 'bit'?" the elf asked.
"Um, maybe an hour," the cleric replied awkwardly. "Or a few."
"Don't worry about it too much, darlings," Sienna added, keeping her pace alongside Priestess. "The smell comes out easily. It's just the stains that are a bother to deal with."
"Easy for you to say, Fire-Head," the dwarf retorted, turning to look at the wizard. "You don't have a spot of this stuff on you."
Unlike the rest of the party, Sienna was completely unsullied. The wizard had been the only one not to conceal her scent with the goblin blood.
"Why didn't she have to do it?" High Elf Archer asked complainingly.
"She already smelled fine," Goblin Slayer answered flatly.
"What's that even supposed to mean?" the elf pressed, frustrated by the adventurer's vague answer.
"Well, you see darling, fire is a sterilizer, so it kills most of my natural scent by default," Sienna explained. "And besides, that blood wouldn't have stayed on me for long anyways. Most of it would've evaporated by now."
"I wish I knew some fire magic," High Elf Archer muttered frustratedly.
"Fire magic? You?" Dwarf Shaman said amusedly. "If you knew fire magic, half of your kind's forests would be reduced to ash, Long-Ears."
"Well, if you tried using any, you'd just explode from all that alcohol you drink," the elf retorted.
"Bah, as if! I happen to get along fine with the salamanders," the dwarf replied. "And besides, blowing up would at least mean not having to smell like this anymore."
"Oh, cheer up, darlings. Just look on the bright side," Sienna interjected. "It's not the worst smell in the world."
"What could be worse than this?" High Elf Archer asked.
"You know how a troll smells?" the wizard began. "Now imagine one getting chopped up and turned into a stew by someone who isn't too good at cooking."
"Troll... stew?" the elf repeated disbelievingly.
"Don't listen to her Long-Ears," Dwarf Shaman advised. "She's just pulling your leg."
"Oh no, it's a real thing; it's called 'kulgur' if I remember right," Sienna corrected, remembering how Bardin once attempted to prepare the dish. "Of course, I'd never even think to try any. The whole thing's just nasty. The pot it was served in had an entire troll foot sticking out of it, toenails and all. And it was twitching all the while."
"Hmph!" High Elf Archer retched, covering her mouth to prevent herself from vomiting.
"Don't do it, Long-Ears," Dwarf Shaman pleaded as he gagged in disgust. "I won't be able to hold it in if you do."
"Please be more quiet," Lizard Priest interrupted from the back of the group, acting as the rearguard. "These halls echo quite a bit, and we must maintain our stealth."
"Master Saurus, how accurate exactly is this map of the ruins?" Saltzpyre questioned, walking alongside Goblin Slayer. The candle fastened to his hat illuminated his immediate surroundings, allowing him to examine the old parchment.
"From what I know of the matter, it is a copy of one made by an archaeologist," Lizard Priest answered, taking a glance at the illustrations engraved into the walls of the hall. "Supposedly, these ruins were the site of a fortress involved in an ancient battle fought during the Age of the Gods."
"The 'Age of the Gods'?" Saltzpyre repeated questioningly.
"Oh, I learned a bit about it from my temple," Priestess added. "It was a time when the gods were engaged in a great war. An endless, apocalyptic conflict between the forces of Order and Chaos."
"Is that so?" the witch hunter asked, his curiosity piqued. Could it be that the two were referring to the 'End Times' of his age? "How long ago was this 'Age of the Gods'? And how exactly did it conclude?"
"Um, I'm afraid I don't know, Mr. Witch Hunter," Priestess admitted.
"I do not believe there are any who can truthfully claim to remember such an ancient age," Lizard Priest added. "Perhaps only the gods and our most ancient ancestors would know such things."
"I see," Saltzpyre stated disappointedly. It appeared that the world that once was truly had been lost to time, and the only remnants left to remember it were himself and his companions.
"You asked a question about the map," the lizardman said, returning to the topic. "Is there anything wrong with it?"
"There is," the witch hunter answered. Though the parchment contained a detailed mapping of the location and description of the ruins, the section charting the interior layout was lacking.
"The map only covers the first floor of the ruins."
"Indeed," Lizard Priest stated. "Unfortunately, that was all the archaeologist could chart before they were forced to retreat."
"In other words, we'll be going in blind beyond this floor," Goblin Slayer concluded as he came upon a passageway with a descending slope.
"These steps go down," Sienna remarked as the party ventured down into the unknown.
"I'm well acquainted with going underground, but I can't shake the feeling that something's off," Dwarf Shaman commented as he looked at the walls; the imagery that decorated the surfaces seemed to repeat indefinitely. "It's like we're going in circles."
"We kind of are," High Elf Archer replied, putting a hand on the wall. Though subtle, she was able to feel a slight curve. "This is a spiral."
"So, it's like a tower then," Priestess added. "But one that goes into the ground."
"Sounds unusual, but they're more common than you think, darling," Sienna commented, having seen many such subterranean structures, ones made by dwarf and skaven alike.
Eventually, the party reached the end of the downward spiral, arriving at a split in the path.
"Halt," Saltzpyre ordered, causing the entire group to stop in their tracks.
As the witch hunter knelt down to examine the floor, High Elf Archer saw it as well.
"It's a trap," the elf realized as she knelt beside the old man, looking at the raised tile. The lack of dust near the edges indicated it was recently set up and would have been nearly unnoticeable otherwise. "Nice job spotting it. You're pretty good for someone with just one eye."
"I learned to compensate for my shortcomings," Saltzpyre replied.
"Something is wrong," Goblin Slayer stated as he advanced ahead slightly, taking a glance down each path. The adventurer was searching for something but failed to find it. "There haven't been any totems."
"That's true," Priestess said as she thought back to their traversal of the ruins so far. "Does that mean there aren't any shamans here?"
"So, they have no magic," High Elf Archer concluded. "Lucky for us, right?"
"Not quite, darling," Sienna said as she focused her senses. "There's definitely something magical deeper in these ruins."
"You sense the presence of a witch?" Saltzpyre questioned.
"Can't say exactly," the wizard replied warily. "But whatever it is, it's potent."
"It's most likely a non-goblin spell caster," Goblin Slayer stated. "A sorcerer, or a dark priest, perhaps."
"Oh?" Lizard Priest said curiously. "Might I ask how you are so sure of that, Milord Goblin Slayer?"
"No mere goblin would think to set a trap like this," the adventurer began. "And goblin guards don't usually tame wolves or stay up at this time."
"I get it," Dwarf Shaman added. "You're saying these goblins only did all this because someone told 'em to."
"Yes," the adventurer responded. "This nest seems to have a leader; one who uses magic. That makes things dangerous."
"Out of curiosity, how have you dealt with such nests before, Milord Goblin Slayer?" the lizardman asked.
"Smoked them out, burned them, drowned them," Goblin Slayer answered. "But those methods won't work here."
"Well, let's not be so quick to dismiss the burning part, darling," Sienna remarked. "It still seems like a pretty viable option to me."
"Hmm, perhaps," the adventurer conceded.
High Elf Archer's face bore a look of shock at Goblin Slayer's answer. So much extreme violence just to kill goblins; was that all he thought about? How long had he been stuck with that kind of mindset?
"I… don't hear any enemies nearby," the elf said, trying to change the subject, looking at the split paths. "Which way do we go?"
"Hmm, it looks like their main hideout is down the left," Dwarf Shaman answered.
"How can you tell?" Priestess asked.
"Look at the tiles," the dwarf answered, pointing to the floor. "The ones on the left path are more worn down. They've been walking to and from that way more often."
"An astute observation, master dwarf," Saltzpyre remarked. "We are fortunate to have your assistance."
"Bah, no need for all the flattery," Dwarf Shaman responded humbly, though it was obvious he enjoyed the praise. "Let's just get going. The goblins won't clear out themselves."
"Yes," Goblin Slayer said as he began making his way down the right path.
"Wha- hey, where are you going?" High Elf Archer called out confusedly. "The goblins are on the left side, aren't they?"
High Elf Archer felt a hand on her shoulder; looking to her side, she saw it was Bright Witch, but something was wrong. She seemed worried.
"Just trust him, darling," Sienna said solemnly, looking down the path. "There's something down there we can't ignore."
'You know what it is, dear sister,' the guest in the back of the wizard's mind whispered goadingly.
Within a few steps down the path to the right, the party began noticing a foul stench.
"Ugh," Dwarf Shaman said in disgust.
"What is that horrid scent?" Lizard Priest asked, clasping a hand over his nostrils.
"Is it even safe to breathe in?" High Elf Archer questioned concernedly as she covered her mouth and nose.
"It isn't poisonous," Saltzpyre answered. "But it is something no less vile."
"Don't try to fight it," Goblin Slayer advised. "You need to get used to it."
Eventually, the party arrived at the end of the corridor; in front of them was a rotting wooden door, the foul smell now more potent than before.
The witch hunter put his ear to the door, trying to determine the number of occupants within.
"What's behind there?" the elf questioned.
"A goblin waste room," Goblin Slayer answered as he looked at Saltzpyre. The witch hunter quietly opened the door, removing the only barrier between the party and the stench that once lay behind it.
The party retched in disgust as the full might of the vile odor assaulted their senses, all except Goblin Slayer and Saltzpyre.
"Their... waste... room?" High Elf Archer asked, struggling to get the words out. "Why-"
It was then that she finally saw it. Amidst all the filth and refuse in the room was a figure bound by chains to the back wall. An elf.
"Eurgh..." the bound elf struggled, attempting to speak.
She had been horribly battered. All manner of gashes and bruises covered the left side of her body extensively, and some areas were so damaged that it seemed as if they'd been flayed. On the other hand, her right half seemed nearly pristine, save for a few cuts and marks of filth. The layout of the maimings seemed to have been intentional, the contrast meant to emphasize the mockery her torturer had made of her natural form.
'Such sadistic 'artistry' is commonplace amongst the hedonists of Slaanesh,' the witch hunter thought to himself; as if he needed any more evidence of the greenskins' chaotic corruption.
"What is this!?" High Elf Archer asked, overcome with horror.
"She's still alive," Sienna said, snapping the party out of their shock.
"She needs to be treated immediately," Lizard Priest said urgently.
"I'll use a miracle!" Priestess responded.
"Do it quickly!" Dwarf Shaman added, digging through his belongings. "We can give her some potions once she's recovered enough to drink them."
"K-kill..." the bound elf whimpered desperately.
"Everyone halt!" Saltzpyre commanded, causing the party to turn to him confusedly. It was then that he drew his crossbow and aimed it toward the bound elf. "Remain still."
"Kill..." the bound elf croaked out again.
"What!?" High Elf Archer yelled in shock, looking in disbelief at the witch hunter. Would he really kill someone who could reasonably be saved? Was she just going to watch? Her body answered before her mind as she shoved the old man, causing his aim to go wide. "No!"
The bolt of the crossbow flew off its mark, embedding itself into a pile of excrement in the corner of the room.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Saltzpyre yelled incredulously.
"She can be saved! Weren't you listening!?" High Elf Archer yelled back as her hands gripped and tugged at the witch hunter's arm, preventing him from attempting another shot and eventually causing him to drop his weapon in the struggle.
"You need to back down, One-Eye!" Dwarf Shaman added, stepping in to talk the old man down. "I know you've no care for elves, but this is too far!"
"Wait! Please let go of him!" Priestess called out worriedly.
"We should not be fighting!" Lizard Priest stated, attempting to be diplomatic. "We must all remain calm!"
"Darlings, I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding," Sienna said, trying to de-escalate the situation.
"Kill..." the bound elf said again, trying to get the party's attention.
Saltzpyre looked at Goblin Slayer; the adventurer looked as if he wanted to intervene, but he also knew what the witch hunter had been aiming for.
"Master Goblin Slayer!" Saltzpyre called out urgently. "Kill it! Kill it now!"
"Yes," the adventurer responded as he rushed towards the bound elf, sword ready to strike.
"Orcbolg!?" High Elf Archer said in shock as she saw Goblin Slayer advance, seemingly following the witch hunter's order. "No! Someone stop him!"
"Kill this thing!" the bound elf finally screamed as a goblin lept out from the pile of refuse behind her leg, attempting to strike.
"I will," Goblin Slayer stated as he stabbed his sword into the goblin's chest. The creature's momentum betrayed it as the adventurer's blade skewered its heart. "That is what we came to do."
"Huh?" the archer said confusedly as she saw the goblin's corpse fall to the floor.
The elf's grip on the witch hunter loosened, allowing him to pull away.
"How is it..." Saltzpyre began, looking at High Elf Archer with anger seething from his voice and glare. "That you see worse with two eyes than I do with one?!"
"I…I…" the elf sputtered in shock; she still hadn't processed everything that had just happened.
"You dare-" the witch hunter looked as if he was going to continue ranting at the elf, but a warm hand grasped his shoulder.
"Darling," Sienna said gently, trying not to agitate her companion further.
"Do you have something to say, wizard?" Saltzpyre questioned sternly.
"You sound like you're about to do something you're going to regret," the wizard answered, keeping her appeasing tone as she gave a glance to her side.
The witch hunter followed his companion's eyes and saw Priestess looking at him, shivering with worry. He was confused initially, but quickly realized that he was the cause of her concern. The anger in his expression evaporated, leaving only an odd sense of shame as he redirected his attention to the elf woman, who was still bound to the wall in chains.
"Kill... all of them," She said weakly.
"Treat her. Now," Saltzpyre commanded flatly as he picked up his crossbow from the floor. The others wordlessly complied as the air remained tense.