Part 3 😆

Shaa was exhausted. He popped the cork from his Flask of Feijoada and downed the contents. Unfortunately this was the “Minotaur Mix” made especially for Minotaur or he would have shared the brew. Anyone else trying it would have fallen violently ill.  The mixture helped release his fatigue but Shaa knew this was no replacement for real sleep. They needed to end this and end this soon before the real trouble started.

As the two followed the bandit, Shaa looked over at Cyran with concern. He had been a great companion and helped him out more than once. But they were still dealing with too many unknown factors at this point. The Clasp was up to something and it was big. What was worse, they might be walking right into something they couldn’t handle and no one would know what was coming. If he could get some back up from the fighters guild, it could be a game changer. But there was no time and wishing for the impossible wasn’t going to help anyone. They would just have to get the information and book it out. Didn’t have to win the war today.

Hey, how are you holding up? Shaa inquired. Let’s be clear about the plan. We just need to sneak in and figure out what’s going on. As you have probably noticed, I’m not exactly the sneakiest of people so…it’s probably best to work quickly and quietly and then get out….let the authorities know what’s up. What do you think?

---

Flask of Feijoada

The two of them kept their distance from the bandit, with Cyran guiding them in the right direction whenever the bandit slipped out of their sight. It felt good to get to use his skills- throughout their brief companionship, he couldn’t help but feel that he hadn’t been of much use despite his offer to help. With the bandit’s blood, though, Cyran was able to follow his location at all times, no matter how hard the bandit tried to shake them off.^[1]

The process was a bit embarrassing, as he had to ingest the bandit’s blood to follow his scent, but Cyran figured the ends justified the means, as they were rapidly approaching what must have been the Clasp’s current hiding spot- a rickety, abandoned observatory made of half-rotted wood that honestly looked like it had seen better days. It was well hidden in the middle of a secluded grove at the very edge of Stargazer’s Field, a place people wouldn’t be able to find if they weren’t looking for it.

Cyran and Shaa stopped a little ways away from the hideout, crouched behind a cluster of trees while Shaa went over his plan. Cyran honestly appreciated his concern, and gave the minotaur a wane smile at his question. “I’ll be fine. This is hardly the first time I’ve had to pull an all-nighter.” The healing he’d gotten from his life-drinking blade in their last battle had helped somewhat, giving him enough of an edge to push through to the end.

“Don’t worry. Quick and stealthy is my specialty.” He didn’t have any way to hide Shaa the same way he could easily conceal himself, but they didn’t have to stay there for long. With any luck, they would find some clue as to who the Clasp’s mysterious leader was, and leave the rest to the Moonglade guards.

Then again, luck hadn’t been on their side much today, but Cyran figured that simply meant they were owed some.

He glanced at the observatory. The place looked decrepit and empty from the outside, but he knew that his prey was somewhere inside. “In and out.” He agreed. “We can probably try to find some hidden side entrance… once we’re inside, search for whatever they’re hiding, and take our leave.”

---

1. Hunted Prey

Shaa looked at the tattered observatory. Low door and narrow halls. There were not going to be a lot of things to hide behind in there. He tried to pass himself off as a coatrack once. That had lasted a whole one second before the alarm went off, people started screaming and someone lost a perfectly nice jacket.

Shaa turned to Cyran. I’m sorry man. I’m just going to be a huge, walking liability in there. Shaa scratched his chin and picked some dried blood out of his fur. After, a moment, he takes a deep sigh. He pops his knuckles knowing what he has to do. I think we should lean into our strengths. What I can do is stay outside and cause a distraction. You can use the distraction to get inside and see if you can find something or someone that can shed some light on all this. If they are important, they will be as far away from the fighting as possible. That’s your in.

From their vantage point, they couldn’t see anything but some trees and the observatory. Ok give me 5 minutes. I’m going to head on over to the other side and “make a disturbance” to try and draw them outside. Once they are outside, I will try and keep them outside while you poke around. Remember, 5 minutes, then go. No telling how many of them are in there or will come outside so be careful. We’ll meet back here when it’s over and sneak away. Shaa gave Cyran a pat on the shoulder and snuck through the forest to get to the other side of the observatory.

Sneaking sneaking…all through the trees..gonna beat some jerks….Shaa caught himself and thought that singing about how he was sneaking through the trees as he was doing it probably wasn’t the stealthiest maneuver. So he quieted down more and tried to look like shrubbery as much as possible. As he made it to the other side, he saw a pair of guards by an entrance. There was a supply cart near by. Shaa noted they looked bored even from a distance.

Well, I can’t just attack them. Shaa said to himself. They might just run inside. I could bust through the wall but it’s too dilapidated, might collapse it. Shaa looked at the supply cart. That might work. Sneaking sneaking…dang it, did it again.

Shaa managed to maneuver behind the cart to where he was close enough to listen in the conversation.

He just got back like 30 minutes go, looked beat up as all get out.

Seriously? They went with like 5 guys. Were they drunk or something?

Nahh one of the guys they were after was a friggen Minotaur. A Minotaur man, can you imagine? I heard about one up in the Ash Lands that ate some dudes arm or something. Sick monsters. The two guards laughed. If it was me I would just pretend to be a cow or something, maybe he would think I was sexy and drop his guard. Mooooo. Give me a smooootch! The two men continued laughing and telling tasteless Minotaur jokes. Shaa was not amused.

Focused on the mission, he lights the supply cart on fire and hides back in the bushes. He moves to other parts of the woods lighting similar fires. Might have to come out for this won’t ya…jerks.

While Cyran didn’t want to stray too far from Shaa- they had no idea how many bandits lie in wait inside, or what kind of defenses they had- he was forced to admit that separation was the best course of action if they wanted to get in without causing a scene.

“Alright. Five minutes.” He agreed, biting his lip nervously as Shaa pat his shoulder. He was sure the Minotaur would be fine, but he couldn’t help but worry. Perhaps he should have been more concerned about himself, as he was the one entering the proverbial lion’s den. But it was just in his nature to be a worrywart, he supposed.

Idly, he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of distraction Shaa would cause. He clearly seemed to have something in mind, but Cyran didn’t have time to ask. He crouched in the shadow of the observatory cast by the sun, watching the back door of the observatory as he waited.

Exactly five minutes later, he had his answer.

“A fire?” Cyran yelped, so distracted by the plumes of smoke rising from the nearby woods that he forgot to keep his mouth shut. He was lucky that in the shadows, no one could hear his voice, because he would have instantly given himself away. “For the love of Lunala, Shaa, what did you do?”

The distraction had the intended effect, because Cyran could hear panicked shouts from the guards who had initially been watching the door immediately rushed over to put out the fire in the cart- the cart? When the hell did Shaa light their cart on fire?

Cyran’s internal panic was, evidently, shared by some of the men inside, as three of them emerged from the observatory, joining the shouting guards who were all pulling off jackets and batting it at the flames in an attempt to put the fire out. He figured that was as good as it was going to get- Shaa had provided him enough of a window to slip in.

Cyran darted out of the shadows, slipping inside through the door that the guards had abandoned.

The inside of the observatory looked no less decrepit than its outside. There were a couple boxes shoved aside and covered in tarp, and some of the bandits had left behind food and drink in their haste to take care of the fires outside. Cyran eyed them longingly, taking a moment to dream about the drink and meal he was going to enjoy after everything was said and done.

I’m getting too old for this, he thought to himself.

He continued onward, making his way to the back of the observatory towards the wooden ladder that led to the second floor. He could hear the faint sound of voices drifting from the trapdoor, and if he was going to find information anywhere, it would be there.

After Shaa finished lighting the fires in the cart, the forest, the shrubbery some random garbage he found, he finally felt satisfied that it would catch someone’s attention. Sure enough, both the guards and some men from inside rushed out to tackle the blaze. The men panicked as they started to understand the size of the fire, and that it was spreading. 

Shaa watched as his handiwork set ablaze the remains of the observatory court yard. Men dashed off to get buckets of water while others tried to toss dirt to smother the flames. Shaa watched carefully that the observatory itself didn’t catch fire so that Cyran would not be caught in the blaze.

As the flames were extinguished, newer flames would emerge in different areas. This is what happens when you don’t maintain your lawn fellas, hehe. Shaa whispered snarkily.  As he watched the progress, he felt that he needed to slow them down a bit to give Cyran more time. Shaa used his Terramancy to sink beneath the ground. He burrowed like a giant mole until he was under one of the men working on the cart. Thrusting his hand upward, he grabs a guards leg from underground and yanks him into the pocket below. Shaa then tunnels away, back into the forest.

The guards, busy with the fire, take a quick accounting. Hey, where did Dan go? 

I don’t know, he was right there a second ago. Now he’s just gone? The guard looks around concerned.

He has to be somewhere, he didn’t just vanish.

Maybe he went to get some more water from the well. Suggested the guard nervously.

Yeah maybe. He said skeptically. Help me turn this crate over.

He’s closer than you think hummed Shaa from the bushes. 

---

Soil Surfing
Iron Grip
Bull Strength 

As Cyran approached the trap door, the voices became sharper and more defined. Cyran crouched, listening in on their conversation. Their tones were hushed, but Cyran could pick out a voice he recognized- the injured bandit that had murdered Tiber.

“I swear, they don’t know anything. I took care of it before that coward could snitch.” As opposed to the cocky tone of voice he’d had earlier when taunting Cyran about the campsite they destroyed, the man sounded tense now, almost meek.

There was a beat of silence before the other voice replied. “Are you absolutely certain they learned nothing?”

“I put the dart in Tiber’s neck before he could say anything, I swear it! That knife-ear made a mistake by letting me live. Once I’ve recovered, I’ll go back and show him exactly who he messed with-!”

“Wait. He spared you?” The second man’s voice was harsh and unforgiving, and dripping with disappointment.

“Well, yes… I assumed it was because he got cold feet.”

There was a shifting of furniture, as if the second man was getting up from a chair. Cyran heard footsteps, and a harsh SMACK that seemed to echo through the silence like a gong. “I highly doubt that the elf who killed Johnny Fast-Hands with a flock o’ birds suddenly grew a conscience, Brutus, you fool! If he let you go, it was for a reason! You’ve led them right to us!”

“What? That’s ridiculous! I would have shaken those two freaks off if they were following me. Those two freaks will never find this place, or what we’re doing for-”

Another smack cut him off before he could let a name slip. Cyran swore under his breath in elvish- he should have known it wouldn’t have been that easy. It seemed the man in charge of this operation was much more careful than Brutus, especially when it came to the Clasp’s leader.

“Watch your tongue.”

“... Sorry, Ramus.”

Shaa’s distraction may have worked for the thugs, but it would be useless against the man- Ramus- upstairs. If Cyran wanted to find anything about their leader, he would have to find a way up there and learn it himself. Luckily, Shaa wasn’t the only expert in misdirection.

Hidden in the dark where they wouldn’t see him, Cyran snapped his fingers, creating a loud scream.^[1]

---

1. Minor Trickery

The plan was working so far but who knows how much time Cyran would actually need to find out what they needed. Shaa shrugged and decided to push his luck a bit. 

Shaa does his best old lady voice. With no mimicry skills, it’s not very good. Oh no! A horrible fire! I’m a poor old woman, dying in a fire. How horrible save me! Two of the guards hear his cry’s and move closer to the burning forest to investigate.

Is someone there? Said one of the guards curiously.

Oh yes! I am a little old lady. I was gathering some firewood and ironically was caught myself in the burning wood. Please, please do not let me die in such a horribly ironic way.

The two guards seemed skeptical at the burning forests pleas for aid. You don’t really sound like an old lady. How do we know this isn’t some sort of trick? Shaa had to think quick.

Years of smoking cigars and riotous living have left me with a deep voice and lack of basic common sense. I need help from brave strong men like yourself. Oh please come and save me from the horrible flames.

Just how old are you? The guard pushed.

I don’t see how that is relevant to me now being on fire but 37.

37 isn’t old! Challenged the other guard. You sound like your 80!

It was very riotous living. Some drugs from an ooze distillery may have been involved. Please good sirs, the flames are quite hot!

The guards looked at each other while the yard continued to burn around them. Something doesn’t smell right about this. Said the first guard. Yes but if it is an old lady, we can’t just let her burn alive. That’s bad juju.

She’s only 37! The first guard rejoined.

Letting anyone just burn alive is bad juju. This is how things get haunted man. We already live in a run down observatory. This place is just begging for a vengeful spirt. And I am NOT going to be the one who has to explain why pictures start flying around and empty rooms make noise. Stuff like that gets you demoted!

The first guard stamps out a grassfire while considering the argument.

So let me get this straight. We save the woman, no ghost. We save the woman, it’s fake, we get attacked somehow. We don’t save the woman, we get haunted. And demoted.

Still on fire! Says Shaa with a sense of urgency.

Hang on! The guard calls back. Ughh That means we only have a 33% chance of a good outcome.

We have 100% chance of a bad outcome if we don’t save her. I told you man, I’m not getting haunted for this!

Fine. The two guards draw their weapons and head for the forest. We are coming old lady!

As the two enter the smoke filled trees, they start to search for the old woman. Where are you!

Shaa comes up from behind them and smacks their heads together roughly, knocking them unconscious.

Right here. 

“The hell was that?”

The trap door slammed open as Brutus threw himself down the ladder, ax at the ready to take care of the threat. A few seconds later, he was followed by the man who could only have been Ramus- a tall, solidly-built human with a veritable mane of red hair clutching a longbow in his hands.

Cyran had to act fast.

He only had a few seconds to make a mad dash for the ladder and throw himself up before the two bandits realized that they’d been blindsided. He heard Brutus cry out in frustration just as he locked the trap door behind him. It would only buy him a bit of time before the bandits managed to break in, but a few seconds was all he needed.

“It looks like we’ve been tricked.” Ramus said coolly. “We have a rat in our hideout.”

The upstairs was more furnished than the lower floor, with a crate being used as a makeshift desk to hold a couple of leather-bound notebooks and bags overflowing with gold from their exploits. Cyran hastily grabbed a heavy box, setting it on the trap door. It would buy him a little more time, enough to start going through what Ramus was hiding in here.

He could hear them pounding at the door as he flipped open to the first book. It looked like a ledger, written in the scrawling penmanship of someone who only had a vague idea of how to write, and an even vaguer concept of mathematics. Ramus had clearly been keeping track of the finances they stole, as rudimentary as it was. What they kept here looked like only a small portion of the wealth, while the rest was being funneled off to…

“The Clasp’s Plan for Total World Domination.” Cyran muttered to himself, resisting the urge to smack his face with the ledger in his hands. At least, that was what he thought it was supposed to say, as domination was spelled as domninashun. “Classy.”

Still, this news was worrying. They were fools, but power in the hands of those that didn't know how to wield it could be just as dangerous as those who did. 

The ledger still wasn’t enough, but any kind of evidence was useful. He shoved the book in his bag and moved onto the rest of the pile, desperately searching for something- anything- else that would point towards the Clasp’s leader, or what their plans for domination were. The bandits were pounding on the trap door, and Shaa’s distractions would only work for so long.

“Sorry, Shaa. I just need a little more time.”

Shaa was not sure how much longer that he could keep the distractions up without being discovered. At this point however, he almost felt sorry for these guys. Almost. The fire was dying down and more guards had been called in to take care of the flames once and for all. Several groups had come too close so Shaa decided to head deeper into the trees to work out his next move.

As he pushed through some relatively thick foliage, he noticed a peculiar hole in the ground. As an expert on dirt, Shaa could tell this was no natural hole. Stomping on the ground to send pulses through the dirt, Shaa could feel the presence of two small beings buried deep in the ground. Curiosity got the best of him, as he decided to dig the two beings out to get a better look at them. To his surprise, they weren’t tiny beings, they were Owl Bear cubs. Shaa was about to gently tuck them back into their burrow but got a better idea. Owl Bears had very keen senses and if their cubs happened to wander away somewhere…. 

The wheels were turning in Shaa’s head as he heard some crashing branches in the distance. Ok kids, time for a field trip. Shaa picked up the squirming cubs who then started to yelp. The crashing sounds were now coming much faster as Shaa quicky moved back towards the observatory. As he reached the forest line, no one was close. He rushed over to the mostly intact but still smoldering supply wagon and laid the cubs gently inside. With a smooth push, he rolled the cart to the front door and dove for cover in the trees.

A handful of guards came back around with water buckets in hand.

Well I think that is about the last of the fires said the guard in the front. We just need to wet it all down so it doesn’t start back up again. As they continued dumping the buckets, the guards can hear weird sounds coming from the cart.

Hey James, I thought you said the cart was out.

It is, or at least it was when I left it.

Well it’s making noises now.

You say that like that’s my problem somehow.

Ugh don’t you two start that. We are all tired from shleping buckets all morning. Just take care of. Ahhhh!

The guards go wide eyed as a gigantic mama Owl Bear crashes into clearing, roaring loudly. RRRRAAAARRR! The trio run towards the observatory door only to find the cart is now blocking it. As they aggressively try and dislodge the cart, the mama Owl Bear sees this as the trio attacking her cubs.

---

At this point I would normally describe for you the incident between the guards and the Owl Bear but unfortunately what followed was so heinous, so aweful, I would risk the PG 13 rating of the site. So instead of imagining the grizzly fates of the guards, you can look at this cute owl picture instead.

---

After the horrible attack, the mama Owl Bear collects her cubs and tromps back into the forest. Upon hearing the noise, more guards come running only to see scattered remains of their comrades. One of the guards immediately vomits. 

What in the world is going on here! We have got to go!

We can’t go, and you know why. Now help me move this cart….and don’t step in that.

---

Ground Tremors

The banging on the trap door was getting louder.

Cyran could hear them shouting incoherently down below, and the sound of Brutus’s ax striking at the wood- it would only be a matter of minutes before they broke in.

He started scanning what remained on the desk. There wasn’t much of substance- a couple pairs of dice that looked like they were for gambling, a few more drinks, and papers that were scattered about haphazardly. He picked one up at random, skimming the contents for anything of note- not that there was much to go on. The message was brief, only containing a single, blunt sentence.

“Keep searching for it. -S”

Cyran frowned. It was as vague as everything else was around here. While the Clasp might not have employed the brightest of the bunch, their leader was clearly careful about concealing anything about his own identity. Cyran folded the paper up and shoved it in his bag along with the rest of the items he’d stolen so far. Growing frustrated, Cyran was about to give up when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye.

It was a small piece of parchment, crumpled and thrown into a ball on the ground just behind the desk. Curious, Cyran crouched down to pick it up, unfurling it.

“A map?”

The map depicted Moonglade, with lines drawn through different villages and forests in black ink, pressed haphazardly into the paper as if whoever had been marking it up was angry when they did so. There didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to the marks- they were simply drawn in random locations, all centered around Stargazer’s field- or perhaps, more specifically, the observatory.

“But what are they looking for?” He muttered to himself, squinting as if a closer look would reveal anything he hadn’t already noticed-

A loud CRASH echoed through the room as the ax finally broke through solid wood. The bandits had made it up the stairs. Cyran took a hesitant step back, a hand on his dagger hilt, as Brutus pulled himself up, seething with rage.

“I’ve got you now, rat.”

Cyran assessed his options. There was nowhere for him to run, unless he could slip past Brutus and make it to the trapdoor, but there was little chance of that happening, especially with the bandit rapidly approaching him with the intent to murder. The odds were against him, two against one, and yet, Cyran felt eerily calm.

“Hello again, Brutus.” He greeted, pulling his dagger out of his sheath. “I would say it’s lovely to see you again, but then I would be lying. Since we’re here, though, why don’t we catch up?”

Shaa was starting to get concerned. It seemed like Cyran had been in the observatory for awhile now. Surely he would have found something worth finding and been out by now. But he wasn’t. Shaa had been carefully watching for any sign but nothing. Maybe he had left without him noticing. Dude hides in shadows and was an elf, entirely possible. Maybe he was captured? Maybe he was on his way out? There was just no way to know for sure. Maybe he should have gone in after all.

There was to time to worry about that now. There was only the job. He just had to trust that if Cyran needed help that he would let Shaa know somehow. Shaa’s only job was to keep as many bandit guards outside as possible. What he really needed was for these guys to run away but something was stopping them. So he needed something so bad, so scary that it would trump whatever else they were afraid of. He wasn’t sure if this latest idea would work or not but it was worth a shot. Shaa counted 6 guards left outside. Several of them looked like they were ready to come back in. He needed to move.

He moved over to one of the larger trees and leaned his shoulder into it. Eventually it gave way crashing down in front of the observatory door. The guards dove out of the way and started shouting. Shaa yelled as loud as he could from the forest. BBBRRRAAAAIIINNNNSSSSS…….

That got their attention. Did you hear that? Someone in the forest said BBBRRRAAIINNSS!

I totally heard that! It’s finally happening. The zombies are coming for us!

The head guard tried to calm them down. Don’t be stupid. Zombies don’t push down trees and they definitely don’t say BBRRAAINSSSS.

But you admit that there are zombies! Accused the first guard.

I didn’t say that. I just said that they aren’t lumberjacks that go around announcing they eat brains.

How would you know? Said the second bandit guard. Have you lots of zombie experience? They eat brains!

Admittedly no, I have never seen a zombie before.

So you don’t actually don’t know for sure that they don’t go around pushing down trees and announcing that they are about to chew on your head! Reaccused the first one.

We are all going to die!

Calm down! That just makes no sense! If there are zombies, it’s probably just a Necromancer or something.

NECROMANCER! Cried the second. A guy who can make a brain muncher AT WILL? How does this not freak you out? I DO NOT want to be a zombie! 

The crowd of guards murmured amongst themselves and almost universally agreed they didn’t want to join the legions of the undead. Pete however was disturbingly quiet on the subject.

When Shaa thought they were freaked out enough, he moved on to part two. Digging underground again, he went back to the hole with the first guard he had buried underground this morning. Astonishingly, he was still alive, but barely. With a strong shove, Shaa pushed him back to the surface. As he broke free of the earth, the guard coughed and gasped for air. Seeing this, the other guards lost their minds.

Aaggghh! I knew it! That’s Carl! He disappeared this morning!

Caaarrllll! He’s a member of the undead! 

For Solara’s sake don’t eat me Carl!

Carl reached out his hands, pleading for help but still unable to speak, looking pale and desperate. Guards were racing to and fro trying to escape the onslaught of the undead. Periodically Shaa would reach up from underground and grab an ankle to further fuel the panic.

Mama! He’s got me! Don’t let me turn! 

Shaa returned to the forest. Slamming his hands to the ground, he causes the earth to shake and upheave. It’s the hoard! I don’t care, I AM OUT OF HERE. The bandits sprint in all directions leaving only the lead guard and Carl who has passed out on the ground.

---

Soil Surfing 
Rumbling Tremors
Force of Nature
Juggernaut

“How did you manage to get past our highly skilled and intelligent guards?” Brutus demanded as Cyran looked around the room for an escape route. There was only a single, wide window where a telescope was once housed, overlooking the greenery below. A fall from there would break his legs, and leave him vulnerable against attacks in a place where Brutus and Ramus could easily find him and dispose of him.

It would be crazy to jump, and yet, insane was possibly the only option he had left at the moment.

“I have my ways.” Cyran replied airily. “Let’s just say I know how to take care of deal-breaking traitors.”

There was an edge to his voice, one that said Cyran would just as easily throw this dagger across the room and stab him in the neck if his patience was tested. It was the same tone of voice Cyran used when dealing with a target to be taken care of, a stark difference from the reserved, friendly demeanor that he used with his companions.

Brutus’s legs trembled.

“I didn’t break anything. You told me you’d leave me alone if I didn’t hurt you or that freak of a bull.” He muttered. His hand gripping the ax trembled. For a moment, Cyran thought he’d spooked the man into surrendering, until Ramus came up behind him, and put a hand on his shoulder.

“This is the elf that gave you trouble?” The man sniffed dismissively. “And without the Minotaur… you really were foolish not to bring the muscle with you. So what is it you want? Have you come here in some desperate attempt to figure out our leader’s plans?”

Cyran glanced at Brutus, an idea forming in his mind. He smirked.

“Oh, you didn’t know? Your underling here already told me.”

Brutus stiffened as Ramus turned to stare at him, gaze suddenly suspicious.

“I didn’t say anything! I swear it!” Brutus insisted quickly.

“You didn’t tell him that was one of the conditions of our arrangement? The entire reason I left you alive?” A coy smile played on his lips. He was not the most adept liar, but he didn’t need to be. He could already see the gears turning in Ramus’s head, suspicion growing on his face.

Cyran just needed to give him another nudge in the right direction. “Yes, I already know all about your plans for total world domination. And all about your leader, S-“

“Don’t listen to him, he’s lying!” Brutus insisted. “Who are you gonna believe, some stranger, or your loyal second hand man-“

He didn’t have the chance to finish that sentence, because Ramus had already pulled out a serrated dagger into Brutus’s chest.

The bandit was dead before he hit the ground.

Cyran smirked as Ramus wiped the blood off the dagger. The bandit’s movements were calm and even as he turned to Cyran, raising an eyebrow. “I would apologize that you had to see that, but you won’t be alive long enough for it to matter. Now that you know about Salice, I can’t let you live.”

Bingo.

Cyran took another step back, the heel of his boot hitting the wall. He stopped, turning to look behind him. It was an awfully long fall. He’d gotten what he came for- there was no use sticking around any longer.

He would just have to risk it.

He smiled, waving at Ramus, maybe a bit smug. “Thanks for giving me your leader’s name. Until next time.”

He threw himself over the side of the window, hurtling towards the ground below.

As the “zombie apocalypse” drew to a close, Shaa rubbed his hands together in anticipation. Only two guards left and one of them was half dead. He had worked so hard on his distraction and this was the fruit of his labor. He just needed to take these guys out while watching Cyran fall out of the window. Shaa did a double take as Cyran began to fall.

This is what happens when you don’t have a signal! Shaa rushed out of the forest in a burst of speed, adrenaline running through him. As he reached the observatory wall, Shaa used a special fighters guild skill to sprint right up the wall. The guard’s below watched in shock as the Minotaur snagged Cyran out of mid air, ran back down the wall, hopping safely to the ground. The guard captain stared at him speechless. Shaa stared back at him and said Mooooo! He then flipped the guard off and sprinted back into the woods with Cyran close behind him.

Oh man, I really hope you got something good. Panted Shaa as they continued to run. I’m just so tired. I need a nap! 

As the two continued to run, he noticed two of the guards had climbed a tree. It was the same 2 that were telling Minotaur jokes earlier. Wait wait, one sec. I need to take care of something. Shaa looked up at the two up the tree.

Whoa! An actual Minotaur. Could you imagine if he…

Shut up Henry! 

Heeyyy guys watcha doin in the tree? Shaa said sweetly

Hiding from some zom

I said SHUT UP HENRY,

Zombies hunh? That’s too bad, you could be up there all day. The two guards look at each other.

RRRRRAAAARRRR! Shaa called as loud as he could.

What was that!

My Owlbear mating call. Don’t worry though, it’s probably not very good. Probably. But it’s a better one than some other mating calls I have heard. Shaa stares at them coldly and breaks a grin. He then turns to Cyran. Come on, let’s get out of here.

---

Adrenaline Rush
Wall Dash

Cyran might have replied to Shaa’s remark about the signal, but as he was still recovering from plummeting from a very high place, he could only let out a faint, unintelligible grunt that may have sounded like agreement. Shaa set him on the ground, flipped off a bewildered looking guard captain, and the two immediately set off running through the woods like bats out of hell.

Cyran looked behind him, noticing Ramus standing at the window, preparing the longbow that Cyran had first seen him holding, pointing it right at the elf’s back. As they made a hasty retreat, Cyran whirled around, finger extended, and shot off a bolt of corrosive black energy that resembled lightning dipped in shadow.^[1] The bolt nailed Ramus in the shoulder, knocking his arrow off course.

At Shaa’s question, Cyran patted his bag. “I got some stuff. A name. Salice.” He said between breaths. “Also, world domination. They’re looking for something specific here in Moonglade. Yes, sleep sounds good.”

Cyran could probably lay down here in the uncomfortable grass here and now if it weren’t for the fact that they were running for their lives from the bandits that would wisen up to the fact that they’d been duped.

“Highly skilled and intelligent, indeed.” Cyran huffed to himself as they passed a few more of the guards hiding up in a tree, looking ready to pass out any second. As Cyran and Shaa sprinted for safety, Cyran couldn’t help but turn to Shaa and ask one question.

“What did you do for the distraction?”

---

1. Chaos Bolt