Krazdan followed Gafelker’s orders and stayed clear of the cage after opening it. Then he looked towards the billowing smoke.

“Get the water, there’s a fire!”

Chaos was stirred as people ran about scared, confused, and some, just curious to see what was going on. The important part was that they were completely distracted, the plan was coming together perfectly, well… almost perfectly. The man that had ordered them about earlier was looking directly at Gafelker’s and Krazdan’s efforts, his eyes narrowing as he approached them. Didn’t he have anything better to do at this moment than worry about them? They weren’t too far from the swampy forest’s edge, they just needed to distract the man for a moment longer and in a way that wouldn’t startle the yaguarete. A smile crawled its way on Krazdan’s face as a plan formulated in his mind. As the man came closer and closer, a piece of the excrement pile Krazdan made levitated, then was flung at the man’s face. (Telekinesis) The man, covered in defecation, sputtered while trying to wipe some of the filth off his face. Poor fellow had gotten some in his mouth. If he wasn’t angry before he sure was going to be now, hopefully that would be enough of a distraction for them to escape into the swamp…

Sometimes, simple is best. The taskmaster's instincts might actually work in his favour and lead them to the trio as puerile rage took over the wheel, so Ambika opted to levitate[1] a short piece of spidersilk wire near his legs and send him tripping, then quickly moving the thread to his chest before he hit the floor before summarily sliding it away and having his face land on swamp water, then dumping the incriminating evidence into a nearby swamp. That should buy them just enough time to get to where they needed to, outside prying eyes and hopefully beneath notice. Not that she had any intention of staying in the village any more than she needed to, anyway. She'd like to imagine even Kishan wasn't insane enough to linger in this village for extended periods of time.

Soon, the trio would have their feet on their swampy forests, Ambika keeping a wary eye on the yaguerete the entire time and crossbow trained in the general direction of the village as she took on the rear, observing the smokes billowing from the horizon and turning around every now and then to make sure the plan hadn't gone south. Gafelker was handling himself well enough, it seemed, with Krazdan leading the way. Now, normally she would have a lot of doubts as to whether Krazdan was remotely reliable, but a madman in a swamp seemed eerily appropriate, if a horribly insulting stereotype to peg on the fellow.

---

[1]Minor Trickery

The swampy forest was not Gafelker's favorite place. He did not like having wet feet, so he kept walking deeper into it. The ground was getting muddier with each step, and the mud would make it harder to get away if something went wrong with this plan.

The smoke spread, providing good cover for the Yaguerete and Gafelker. He led the Yaguerete into a bushy area with trees. The threes were not all big, but it would be harder to see them as he walked deeper into the swampy forest. Water was starting to pool around the steps that he was making. The bushes were getting thicker. He had to make his steps careful not to catch himself on the thorny bushes.

The Yaguerete looked around with each step, sniffing the air. It would stop eating the meat put out by Gafelker. Its eyes were wide with anticipation, but the Yaguerete hesitated as if waiting for a trap or something to happen. It could tell that something was up when the smoke started, and the man-keeper was obscured. It could smell and hear him but not see him. With a smell, something began to hide the man. The Yaguerete was a bit confused. It looked back at Gafelker and realized he had no more dry meat in his hands. It tilted its head, some wondering what to do next.

Gafelker, running out of meat for the Yaguerete, wondered if he would be next on the menu. He was far enough back, and the Yaguerete should be fear enough into the swampy forest to make a good dash for freedom. He moved to the side and slowly raised both hands to let the others know he was out as far as he could go.

The yaguarete took a step towards Gafelker and leaned down, almost resting its belly on the ground until it was eye level with Gafelker. The yaguarete just stared into Gafelker’s eyes for several heartbeats, then it turned away and began to stalk into the underbrush. All of its movements were methodical, each step it took filled with precise intention. The yaguarete, despite its size, didn’t make a single sound as it disappeared into the forested swamp like a phantom.

“It appears our work here is done. If you would continue to follow me just a bit further, I might have a reward for you, hehehe.”

If Gafelker and or Ambika would follow, Krazdan would lead them to a large tree armored in dark bark. In between two of the tree's roots a bedroll was laid out and nearby there was a small cauldron sitting atop a pile of ash.

“This will take me a moment.”

Krazdan opened up his bedroll and pulled out several brown sacks. Then Krazdan pulled out a water skin from within his cloak and poured its contents out into the cauldron. After that he started a small fire under the cauldron. After a while Krazdan opened up the sacks to reveal multitudes of different vegetables and spices which he would periodically add to the cauldron as its contents came to a boil. Using a long wooden spoon, Krazdan stirred the cauldron’s contents while cackling maniacally.

“Oh ho ho, he he he.”

The air is filled with the aroma of vegetable stew as Krazdan continues cooking. After he is done, he fills up bowls with the stew and offers them up.

Ambika breathed a sigh of relief as she watched the yaguerete leave without causing any ruckus. They were now far enough that she was certain nobody would find them, even if she might still want to avoid Lilicors Village for the time being. Might as well follow the crazy robed figure a while more. She still had no real grasp on the fellow, and despite whatever eccentricities he has demonstrated, it never hurts to make acquaintances... Is what Florentio would have said if he were here. Though of course, his remaining connections were few and far between, what with the passage of time and being bound to Sol City for 20+ years.

Ambika raised her hidden eyebrow as she watched Krazdan cook up a vegetable stew with a cauldron. She did not see anything that suggested poison or likely to cause bodily issues, and so she took up a bowl and helped herself to some food to celebrate their success. Even if there was nary the slightest hint of positivity she could eke out of her grief-laden heart.

Ambika was far from a conversationalist, however, and simply kept mum as she finished her free meal, bowed at her benefactor and Gafelker if he were present, and excused herself, entering the swampy forests and continuing her unending journey.

Walking back to the others, he looked back now and then for the Yaguerete, making sure the beast was not coming back [1] A spirit ghostly wolf next to him. He looked over to the large pile of garbage, thinking for a moment. It was wood and garbage as high as he is. Walking next to the others, he stroked his beard. "I think it is time for me to finish cleaning," Gafelker commented with an evil smile, staring at the large pile of garbage. The spirit ghostly wolf looked at the others and then up at Gafelker.

His staff started to have a red hue as runes glowed on the staff. A fire orb began to form, the swirling fire growing by the second on top of the staff. The ball of fire grew, the fire twisting and moving, expanding and evolving. The heat got so intense it felt like a bonfire in a moment. Even the light from the flames was casting shadows. Gafelker had never had such a concentration on one ball of fire before.

The ball of fire grew to a diameter of 9 feet. It looked like it would engulf Gafelker right before he launched it at the large pile of garbage. The blast of heat and fire could be felt as it hit the garbage, and the fireball exploited it, incinerating the garbage pile. The mushroom cloud rose into the air. The smell of burnt wood, paper, and other garbage filled the air. After the mushroom cloud of fire dissipated, ash started to fall from the sky.

Turning around to the others, Gafelker smiled and coughed a few times, waving his hand to get the smoke out of his face. "Ah... I think I over did it just a little," commented Gafelker, holding his hand up with two fingers close together, looking at the blackened spot in the garbage pile. Even the dirt was scorched from the fire.



[1] Spirit Guardian / Spirit Shroud
[2] Massive Fire Ball