The upper levels of the city proved to be a bit of a chore to explore for the trio that split from their companions back at camp. Both of the streets that led to the upper levels were barricaded and patrolled by the same uniformed guard they encountered at the wall to the south. Every now and then a well dressed individual or a group of Grey Veils would present some form of document to the guards who then let them pass.
"How badly do you want to explore the upper city today?" Charles asked Hal and Naivaara.
"I really would like to look around, but I'm having a hard time finding a good way to get around that checkpoint when it's this light out." Responded Naivara, eyeing the various rooftops and alleyways that may provide clandestine egress.
"I am kind of with Naivara on this one." Agreed Hal, "We might be able to slip through, but if we fail I am concerned the consequences may be quite dire."
"So we wait for nightfall. The meeting at the Gilded Gryphon might pull some attention away." Suggested Charles. "We should go to that, and might be able to sneak up here right after."
"Yeah, that works for me." Said Hal, nodding in agreement with Naivara. The trio turned away and made their way back through the city streets out to the tent camp, eventually finding their companions. Their campsite was on the very outer edge of the encampment by a small copse of willows. Relaying their experience the cohort spent the rest of the afternoon taking a welcome break from the road and immediate responsibilities.
The Gilded Gryphon was packed shoulder to shoulder that evening. The cohort arrived before the majority of the crowd and took a table at the edge of the open tavern near the door. Murmurs rolled through the crowd as people speculated on who was speaking, and what would be proposed tonight.
As the crowd began to settle in, from his hidden pocket as a mouse, Akash was surprised to see a finely dressed man slip in the door to the tavern surrounded by a detachment of the city guard. Immediately the crowd re-erupted in whispers. The gentleman settled in at the back of the crowd, appearing somewhat uncomfortable with the attention his presence was gathering.
A loud voice suddenly cut through the air of the tavern. "Welcome, one and all, thank you for attending tonight's meeting." All heads turned to a tall man who had taken a stand on the stage typically reserved for travelling bards. The man was adorned head to toe in gleaming plate armor, a well oiled sheath at his hip containing what appeared to be a finely made longsword. The opulence of his mere presence stood in stark contrast to many of the individuals gathered around him. "I am Erik Stone." The man continued once silence fell. "Like so many of you I call southern Woodernia home. Now that home has been stripped away from us by whatever black plague now haunts the land. The fine city of Oak Harbour has been a generous host for many of us. It has become clear to me that this current situation is unsustainable." Whispers of agreement rose from the crowd. "Now I propose that we do something about this grave injustice. My companions and I are prepared to march on our home to take it back." He gestured to several individuals who stood beside him, all equipped with various assortments of armor and weaponry. "However, we cannot do it alone. I ask of you, brave citizens of Woodernia, will you march with us? Take back your land, your home, your lives."
Erik's last words hung in the air, each person weighing the proposition. Then, the man who arrived with an escort of Harbour Watch stood. "I understand your frustrations Mr. Stone. For those of you who do not know me, I am Brandon Leaf, Mayor of Oak Harbour. While our city is struggling with the events of recent months we will accommodate and protect all who wish to remain here in Oak Harbour. I have already tasked the city engineers to create plans to expand the city in order to accommodate all."
"What do you propose we do in the meantime while you expand your city Mr. Mayor?" Asked Erik, "Those of us who farmed have no land, the merchants had to leave their wares, and I have noticed your once busy skyports haven't had a ship arrive in weeks. Even if you could house us all, there is nothing for us here. We must retake the south!" A brief cheer rose up from a portion of the crowd, but the majority still appeared undecided.
"I do not have answers for all of you." Began Mayor Leaf after the cheer died out, "However, I implore you, consider the risks, we do not know what is beyond that wall, what enemies you may face, or what your homes may have become. I cannot stop you, but I just want to keep as many of you safe as I can."
The tavern once again broke into conversation as each table began discussing the choice ahead of them. Erik Stone stepped down from the stage and began jumping from conversation to conversation spreading his gospel. Mayor Leaf slipped out of the Gryphon alongside his guard detail and several tables who made up their minds quickly.
"I think they are doomed." Whispered Charles to their table. "Look at these people, almost none of them have proper weapons, and even less have any armor. The demons are going to eat them alive, literally."
"Agreed, but can we help them?" Asked Hal "Some are going to follow him, and I don't see how we can dissuade them without giving ourselves away." Before anyone could respond Erik sidled up to Charles at their table.
"Hello friends!" Erik said. He eyed Charles and the mace that rested against his chair. "You all look like a capable group, how would you like to join my militia?"
"We were just about to leave actually." Replied Charles, standing up from his seat.
Erik's expression darkened, and stood up himself. "Well why? There's plenty of land and riches to be won in taking back the south." His voice with a hint of steel in it.
"Look at these people. None of them have the equipment or training for something like this. You're going to get them all killed."
At this Erik took a step forward and got in Charles' face. "You coward." He hissed, "Look at yourself. You have the equipment and the skill. What alliance do you hold to these commoners?"
"I see them as people, not as pawns." The rest of the cohort stood from their seats. "I wish you the best of luck, I truly do, just don't get the others killed in your quest for glory." The cohort turned and filed out the door, leaving the now mostly empty tavern behind them.
In the darkest part of the night when the sliver of the moon hung at its highest, a scream pierced the silence that lay over the encampment. Akash bolted upright in his tent, and paused for a moment, before another scream ripped through the air. He hastily threw on a shirt and grabbed his staff before stumbling out of his tent to see his companions in similar states of dishevelment.
"Are you all okay?" He quickly asked.
""I am." Responded Hal, "I think it came from somewhere over there." He pointed a finger through the darkness in the direction of the densest part of the tents.
"We should go check it out, someone is probably in troub…" Charles' statement was cut short by another bout of screams in the direction Hal pointed.
Without further discussion the cohort sped in the direction of the screams. As the yelling grew louder they found themselves in a small ring of tents that surrounded one of the many cooking fires that had apparently recently popped up. The smoldering coals lit the source of the screams in a dim, ghostly light. A writhing mass of oily black sludge, just like the one they discovered underneath Greenmeadow.
Jumping to action, the cohort surrounded the creature and began a barrage of attacks while the remaining refugees ran for their lives into the darkness of the night. As the arcane energy ripped through the creature Akash caught glimpses of a woman encased by the sludge.
"It's got someone inside it! Be careful!" Akash warned his companions.
Gnoll grunted in acknowledgement as a spectral book slammed into a black tentacle, causing it to evaporate into a shimmering vapor.
Hal and Charles charged forward to grab the woman as the sludge slowly began to lose its form, pulling her from its grasp. Akash rushed forward as well, hands already glowing with golden light. He knelt down beside the woman, her blood soaking into the heavily trodden ground. The golden light in his palms flowed to the woman sealing the lacerations that covered her body, and her breathing began to slow, and relax. He looked up to his companions just in time to see another oily tentacle latch onto Hal, pulling him into the darkness.
"Shit!" Yelled Akash, scrambling to his feet. Three more of the sludge creatures slid into the dim firelight. Hal wrestled with one, both his arms encased in the creature's oppressive form.
Gnoll's spectral book and one of Naivara's rounds severed the sludge that held Hal in place, allowing him to retrieve his fallen sword and take a proper stance.
Now that their moment of surprise was gone the sludge creatures hovered at the edge of the fire light, seemingly waiting for an opening to strike. Akash watched as they moved and flowed and a thought struck him. "I don't think these ones have hosts yet." He whispered, "We shouldn't need to worry about hurting anyone else."
"Are you sure?" Asked Naivara, loading another series of rounds into her cylinder, without taking her eyes off their foes.
"Pretty sure. Look at the way they're moving. Even if there is someone in there, they must be long gone." Akash replied
"Perfect." Naivara's statement was punctuated by a pair of gunshots that ripped through the core of one of the creatures. The empty void that the bullets' paths left confirmed Akash's theory. With this confirmation, the cohort launched into their assault, ripping into the sludge with wild abandon.
The sludge fought back with surprising intensity, launching black globules of their own bodies as projectiles. However, once the cohort got in close there seemed to be little the sludge could do to counter. It seemed that without a host to push and pull against the strength of their tentacle strikes was severely diminished.
It was only a matter of moments before the remnants of the monsters were lying motionless on the ground, slowly seeping into the soil. It struck Akash at how much easier the fight had been than their first encounter with one of these sludges.
"Harbour Watch! Put your weapons down!" A voice shook Akash from his thoughts.
"Not again." Grumbled Charles as he slowly laid his mace down.
A dozen uniformed members of the watch walked into the firelight, shortswords drawn. From behind the watchmen emerged a man in deep green trimmed robes and round golden glasses. While the Watch herded the cohort into a small group the robed man produced a glass vial from a pouch on his waist and began scooping a portion of the inanimate sludge into it. He held aloft his sample and eyed it briefly before approaching the cohort. "Excuse me Captain?" The man said in a soft voice, "I don't believe they were the cause of tonight's attack." He held up the vial. "It appears that there were more of those creatures here."
The Captain looked at the sample and nodded. "Release them." He gestured for his watchmen to back away from the cohort.
"You all defeated those quite quickly." Said the robed man, stepping closer to the cohort. "Normally when we show up there are still more to be dealt with. How did you do that?"
"There's been more of these attacks?" Asked Hal, which was met with a curt nod. "Well, we fought one in Greenmeadow…" He trailed off as the robed man's eyes widened.
"You've been in Covalion recently?" The man asked excitedly. "Who exactly are you…" Now it was his turn to trail out as he noticed Akash, standing behind Gnoll, wrapping himself in his cloak. "I think you should come with me, there is much we should discuss."
"Before we go anywhere with you we need to know who you are." Stated Charles, stepping forward.
"Of course, where are my manners? My name is Alaric Evenheart, transmuter extraordinaire." He said with a slight bow. "And if I am not mistaken it would be beneficial for you all to have a place to stay away from the eyes of the Grey Veils, and the common folk of Oak Harbour."