The Clockwork Mansion

'Bounty Project' is a working title.  Suggestions are welcome.

I have a few misgivings about posting this: I'm struggling with chapter 10 a bit, and I'm a bit worried that I might find errors later on that will require the earlier chapters to be revised (this happened with 'Heads You Lose').

Originally I set out to write this as Project Future 3, i.e. a full-length story.  I'm not sure the concepts will stretch that far, but we'll see.  My estimates are that it'll be around 15-20 chapters.

I don't find as much time to write as I used to, so progress has been a bit erratic, but I have 9 finished chapters already and this section could do with a bit more activity, so what the hell.
As with most of my recent writing, it deals with adventuring and there will be violence, though that is not strictly the focus of the story.

Enough babbling.  See what you think.


Chapter 1

Arjen looked at the rack of weapons, one of several in the house.  He hefted a broadsword, noting the telltale marks on the surface of the blade where it had been frequently used for chopping attacks.

"Well, I'd say the deceased was an adventurer," he said.  "Judging from the scratch patterns on his swords, this Edgar was fond of decapitations.  I imagine he put up quite a fight."

"Until the killer dropped a sofa on him," Josh said, examining the destroyed furniture and the feet protruding from beneath it.

"A Demon, then?"

"Probably.  Of course, androids can be strong too," the husky added, "But usually we're pretty normal.  Level-headed, I mean... It's one of the conditions the Commission set on allowing us... no psychotic androids.  From the level of brutality involved, I'm pretty sure we're looking at  a Demon's handiwork.  Ugh, so much blood...  Did they find the head?"

"Not so far.  I doubt we will, sir."

"Just being thorough.  Most likely the killer took it with them, either as a trophy or as proof of a hit..."

"So, we're probably looking at a Creature taking down an adventurer.  Revenge killing?"

"Demons don't normally do revenge," Josh said.  "It could be an Angel or a 'Cubi, of course, but a Demon fits the profile better.  Of course, someone might have contracted a Demon to do a revenge killing for them," he added.  "Yes.  See the prints... looks like modern platemail to me - factory stuff.  Plantigrade.  I'm guessing a merc or some other warrior for hire.  With the head gone, that suggests some kind of bounty."

"I'll call the local adventuring guild," Arjen said.  "See what they know."



The computer chimed softly.  Steve glanced at the screen, platemail gloves clattering on the ruggedized keyboard.  An annoying tearing noise followed as a sheet of fanfold slowly emerged from an ancient dot-matrix printer.

"Alright, folks," the alsatian Demon called, tearing the sheet carefully along the perforation, no mean feat for someone wearing a pair of gauntlets, "New job.  Escort duty.  Who's up for it?"

Outside his office, a number of adventurers were passing their time.  Daniel, a handsome Doberman incubus was sharpening his broadsword.  Roger the leopard and a blue fox named Benjamin were playing games on their phones, while Jason, a muscular jackal with dark blue fur, was checking and polishing his armour.  The other adventurer, a rainbow-coloured wolf Demon, clad in threatening armour decorated with skulls, was avidly reading the review section of 'Executioner's Monthly', which had a comparative round-up of the latest axes and swords.  Hearing the printer, her ears pricking up and she glanced around rapidly, a wide grin splitting across her muzzle.

"Me, me!" she called, dropping the magazine and racing through the door into the commander's office.

"Oh no," Steve objected.  "No more escort duty for you, Mary.  I'll not have you causing a scene like the last time."

"But that's not fair!" the wolf snarled.  "I got them safely to the kingdom!  What more do you want...?"

"I wanted them to arrive safe in mind, as well as body," the alsatian grumbled.  "Yes, you got those noblemen here intact, but they were left extremely traumatised by the way you ripped the bandit leader's head from his shoulders with your bare hands..."

"That's not true!  I was wearing gauntlets!"

"...right in front of their very eyes, and then..."

"Nobody warned me they were squeamish!"

"Tell me, Mary... does a mission where you escort a group of nobles usually involve a ventriloquism act using the severed heads of their foes?"

"It does when I do it." the wolf shrugged.

"No.  As it happens I have a much better use for you," the commander scowled, handing her a printout.  "Execution duty.  Notorious serial killer in the town of Bundebar.  Details enclosed."

"Sweet!" the Demon said, and ran into the workshop to sharpen her axe.

"Sometimes she scares me," Ben said, glancing at the commander.  "How do you put up with her...?"

Steve gave the blue fox a questioning look.  "Would you rather be executing people yourself...?"

"No," Ben admitted.

"I didn't think so.  Your Lord Daryil doesn't think highly of it and I'm not too happy about executing people myself, though I'd rather you didn't tell Mary that.  But at the end of the day... that's adventuring.  Sometimes you have to do things you don't like for the greater good.  But we do have her to handle the ugliest parts for us."

"All the same, she likes it far too much."

"I won't argue with that.  Still, it provides a useful outlet for her destructive urges.  If she wasn't working for us she'd be decapitating her way across the countryside, massacring hapless innocents instead of bandits or condemnned criminals in some hick mountain town.  Look, Ben... I'm a pure-blood Demon and even I would not want to go head to head against her in fight to the death."

"Anyway, escort duty?" Ben asked.

"Yeah.  Lady Featherstone.  Needs to be taken to some ruins in the wilderness, worried about bandits."

"Anything else I should know?"

"Yeah.  You'll need to pack your things, because it's in Marwood," the alsatian told him.

"Marwood?!  That's way outside our jurisdiction!"

"Indeed.  But the local guild is tied up with an emergency, so they need to bring in someone else.  Olaf Taun asked me to handle it.  Or rather, he asked you."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  This Lady Featherstone is not fond of Creatures, so we need to send someone who gets on well with Beings.  And you were a Being before you joined Daryil's clan and became an incubus, so he wanted you to do it.  But I'd hide your wings to avoid spooking her."

"Sir, if I was hand-picked for this, why were you asking for volunteers?"

"It needs three of you.  It starts next week, so take your time preparing.  You'll need to fly out Monday morning, meet up with her and set off in earnest the following day."



A well-muscled capybara appeared on the screen.  There were traces of earth in his fur.  "Good afternoon," he began, "Howell Vegetable Produce.  Richard Howell speaking, how can I help you?"

"It's about these carrots," Daryil said, holding a small plastic tray of supermarket carrots.  "You grew them, I believe?"

"Is there a problem?  Can you give me the batch number?"  Noticing Daryil's wings and headwings, the capybara touched a bracelet on his wrist and a pair of Demon wings sprouted behind his back.

"Oh, you're as cute as I imagined," Daryil said, wagging his large vulpine tail.  "Especially with those wings.  You know, it's kind of hot in here... how about you take off your shirt...?"

"What?!" the Demon demanded.  "Is this some kind of incubus thing...?"

"No, but this is!"  Daryil said, giving a coy smile and performed an ancient 'cubi trick, stealing his own pants with a single pull to reveal a pair of glossy black latex stockings and a thong.

"Sir, are you attempting to seduce me?" the capybara sighed.

"I like your carrots," Daryil said.  Then he turned with a start as a wolf incubus strode into the room, long hair and shirtless.  And angry.

"Dammit, Daryil!  What are you doing now?  Who is this?"

"This is Mr. Howell," Daryil said, handing Jakob the tray of carrots.  "I found his name on the carrots in our fridge.  Isn't he sexy?"

"No, Daryil!  NO!" Jakob protested.  "They'll cut off the phones again if you keep doing this.  I'm really sorry, sir," he added to the bemused farmer.

"Fine," Daryil sulked.  "Let's talk carrots.  Or cookies.  Yeah!  Can you send us three boxes of disabled cookies?"

"Dis... What?"

"Disabled cookies... the ones that go everywhere..."

"You mean mis-shapes," Jakob said.

"Special Needs cookies," Daryil said.  "Yeah, can we have some of..."

"Sir, my farm sells vegetables," the Demon said, in a slightly huffy tone.

"But cookies are vegetables too," Daryil said.  "They grow in the ground." he stared at the rodent dreamily.  "You know, you really are kind of hot," he added.  "What do you think, Jakob?"

"Yeah,'d tap that," the wolf said, looking at the farmer critically.  "He is rather good-looking, but that's no excuse for forcing your affections on him!  Enough people still think of us as murderers and rapists and you are not helping!"

"But I just want him to stick his carrot in..."

"NO!  Daryil, please leave us." Jakob said, in a voice of forced calm.

"I'll go," Daryil said.  "But on one condition."  He batted his eyes at Jakob.

"Afterwards," Jakob said.  "Mr Howell, I'm so sorry about this," the wolf added, as Daryil skipped out of the room.  "I'll change the codes so he can't do this again."

"I'll live," the capybara said.  "You should have seen the trade negotiations with Nact'Larn clan."


There was a knock at the door.  Daniel started and put down his sword.  Mary did the opposite, taking up her axe with a vicious grin.  The Doberman noticed this and raced to the door, determined to reach it before the wolf demon could.

"Naughty," Steve said, intercepting Mary.  "We have a new scout joining us and I don't want you killing him before he's even been put on the payroll."

Outside, a burly figure stood, leaning on a large, heavy packing crate.  "Parcel for Northwood Guild," she informed them.  Steve emerged shortly afterwards, taking the large box with one hand while Daniel signed for it.

"Okay Ben," Steve said, as the adventurers crowded around the box.  "I don't know how you're planning to get this thing home, but I do want the place tidy before Ralph arrives, so please move it somewhere out of the way."

"It's not mine," the fox said, looking nonplussed.

"Jason, then..?" the Demon asked.  "There's no name on the label.  It's just addressed to the guildhall."

The blue jackal shrugged, causing his platemail to clank.  "I didn't order anything."

"Maybe it's the flat-pack gallows from the 'Executioner's Monthly' competition!" Mary said, eyes shining.

Steve's eyes narrowed.  "Unlikely.  It's been sent from Daryil clan.  Ben and Jason are the only Daryil clan 'cubi here.  So if it's not for them..."

"Should we open it?"  Roger asked.  "Could it be a trap?"

"From Daryil?  Unlikely.  But it may be some kind of prank."

"It's got a radiation symbol on it!"  Roger protested.

"Then whatever it is, it's fusion-powered." the Doberman said.  "Pity... it's too small to be a motorbike.  A lawnmower, perhaps?"

"I was hoping it was the new drinks machine," Roger said.

"I'll open it!" Mary said, eagerly.  "Reckon an axe will damage it...?"

At this, the crate lurched and split apart, disgorging an avalanche of white packing chips.  A quadrupedal figure emerged from the ruins, and shook itself, spluttering to get fragments of the white plastic out of its mouth.  An angular-looking feral wolf finished in shiny, black metal, eyes glowing with a bright ruby red.

"Afternoon," the creature said.  "I'm Ralf.  Which of you is Commander Steve?"

Daryil never fails to amuse me. xD

I even found Mary's dialogue about the severed heads amusing.

And I think this "Benjamin" guy is my favorite character so far.

As for the title, I would at least call it "The Bounty Project." It just doesn't sound right to me without the "The."

Quote from: CubiKitsune on May 06, 2017, 03:06:48 PM
Daryil never fails to amuse me. xD
I even found Mary's dialogue about the severed heads amusing.
As for the title, I would at least call it "The Bounty Project." It just doesn't sound right to me without the "The."

Thanks.  Mary is fun to write.  The thing about the 'disabled cookies' was lifted almost verbatim from a surreal conversation at work.  The bid about cookies growing in the ground was a Daryil-ism though.

As for the title, it didn't have 'The' because with 'Project Future' and 'The Epsilon Project', they were referring to in-universe research projects.  At this point, there isn't an in-universe 'bounty project'... though that could easily change.

I got it: "WANTED." :grin

How often is this going to update, anyway?

Quote from: CubiKitsune on May 17, 2017, 06:38:15 PM
How often is this going to update, anyway?

Every second week.  So I'll be posting chapter 2 this coming Saturday.  I may have 11 chapters queued, but I'm still worried that I'll run out and it'll grind to a halt for a bit...

Early update.  Contains violence.

Chapter 2

Svenson ducked.  The otter's sword flashed above him, slicing the fur from the tip of his ear.

"I know what you've done, fiend," Higgs said.

"Would you care to clue me in, then?" the coyote retorted.

"Obediah's murder will not go unpunished!  I have come to do justice upon you, to bring back your winged head just as you took his!  Surrender yourself to me and your death will be swift and merciful!"

"There must be a mistake," the incubus said, entering a defensive posture, wings ready to block the warrior's sword.  "Firstly, I haven't murdered anyone, and even if I had, this kind of justice has to go through the King first.  You can't just lop someone's head off based on some hearsay!"

"You have murdered a Being, and the sentence for that is death," the adventurer sneered.  "The King will reward me well for this justice done."

"Someone needs to teach you a lesson," the incubus snarled.  A wing knocked the sword from the adventurer's hand, he grabbed firmly at the otter's wrist.  Higgs yelped with pain for a moment as the Creature's eyes glowed with magical power.

The otter rolled aside as soon as his arm was released.  He looked all around, but his quarry was gone.

"THERE IT IS!" someone yelled.  Higgs was swiftly pinned down and relieved of his weapon.  The last thing he remembered before the stun spell hit was a glowing mark on his wrist.



"I'm Steve," the commander said, offering a hand to the robotic wolf, then awkwardly realising that Ralf didn't have hands.  The feral wolf padded forward, sat down and shook his hand anyway, much as a pet dog would.

"I take it Daryil sent you?" the Demon asked, still slightly surprised.  The other adventurers were silent.

"Yes," Ralf said.  "He heard you were looking for a scout.  Meanwhile, Jayhawk's new stealth model needs to be field-tested before we can be signed off as an approved lifeform by the Being-Creature Commission and put into mass-production.  So here I am.  R-ALF, serial no 17, system 6.05, rev 91.  At your service."

"Ben Daryil," the blue fox said, approaching the robot.  "I don't mean any offence, but... well, you're a shiny black metal wolf with red glowing eyes.  Exactly how is that in any way stealthy?"

The wolf disappeared, leaving only a pair of faint red lights floating in the air and a slight ripple in the air like heat convection above a radiator.

"I can turn those off too," Ralf said, and the red glow vanished.  "Any questions?"

"Neat," Daniel said.  "Is it magic?"

"No.  A photon tunnelling field.  The projector is a mesh just below the armour."

"Clever.  What are the drawbacks?"

"There's a small amount of leakage around the eyes, otherwise I'd be blind.  Even so, I can't see very well while the cloak is active.  It also takes a lot of energy to run and it competes with my drive circuits so I have to move carefully.  Walking's fine, but the first time I tried it I ran down the corridor and it caused a brown-out in my locomotion subsystem.  Not enough power to drive my muscles and I went down like a sack of potatoes.  So embarrassing!  Okay, since I was invisible no-one was able to SEE that, but they still knew.  Damn throught-readers..."

"Did they add some kind of speed governor?" Jason asked.

"We considered it, but in emergencies I might need the speed boost.  They did add extra monitoring so I know I'm running into trouble, and they also made the power topology switchable so I can decide if the cloak or my muscles take priority in a brown-out."
 
"Sounds good."

Ralf grinned toothily.  "That's the advantage of being a prototype," he said.  "You get a say in your own development process."

"So," he added, looking up at Steve.  "When do I start?"


The armoured fox grimaced, looking at the distressed otter with a look of undisguised loathing and contempt.

"Incubus!" he snarled.  "You murdered Higgs and took his place!  You'll pay for this, monster."

"But I didn't..." Higgs started, and was quickly silenced with a slap to the muzzle.

"What do we do, Sir?" the rabbit asked.  "Hand him over to the authorities?"

"No," the fox murmured.  "This is an internal matter.  The King is an incubus also and will give this monster a leniency he does not deserve.  No... we'll do justice right  now.  Take him to the back room."

"You can't!" the otter screamed.  "I'm not!  I'm not a 'Cubi!  I'm a Being!  I'm your friend!  Don't do this, commander!"

"Then explain THAT," the fox snapped, pointing at the rune-like marking on the stricken otter's arm.

"I don't know!  I don't know!  He did this to me!  He created it!"

"That's a clan mark," the fox retorted.  "The one thing you can't hide with your shapeshifting powers.  Decapitate him," he added.

The adventurers smiled cruelly as their erstwhile comrade was strapped onto the bench, and tilted down into place.  The otter gave one last despairing scream as the lunette snapped down about his neck, a scream that was cut off horribly as the blade slammed into the stop.

"Now..." the fox said, watching the quivering corpse with a satisfied smile.  "Now his shapeshifting magic will end!  Now we'll see proof..."

Two minutes passed.  His expression faltered slightly, as the otter's body lapsed into the stillness of death, the flow of blood slowing to a halt.  The corpse remained perfectly wingless, and stubbornly refused to stop being an otter.

The door behind them splintered as it was kicked open.  Demon guards in motorcycle gear flooded into the room, and each adventurer soon found a red laser sight resting between his or her eyes.

Captain Zenner looked at the dripping corpse on the guillotine, and then glanced back at the cowering adventurers, an expression of fury etched upon his face.

"What foul deed is this...?" he demanded.

"Oh... shit," the commander said.



"Daryil," Jakob said, pushing the door open.  His wings fanned out as he took in the scene.  Daryil hastily grabbed at the bedsheets, giving himself and the Capybara some modesty.

"Shit, shit," Jakob said.  "Sorry, I'll come back later."

"Aw," Daryil said, "are you sure you don't want to join in?  Ricky here is really good in bed!"

"He did consent to this, didn't he?" Jakob said, eyes narrowing.

"Are you kidding?!" the capybara said.  "How many Demons can say they've banged a Tri-Wing?  You can't BUY that kind of reputation!"



"Let's go somewhere more comfortable," Fairwater said.  Josh glanced at him.  "Thanks for the offer, your majesty, but I'm not gay."

"Not like that," the king corrected him.  "Well, not unless you want to, of course.  I was thinking more of a meeting room."

"That throne of mine isn't the most comfortable thing in the world," he added.  "I should probably get it re-upholstered.  Admaria and I, we have to sit on the thing for at least three hours a day during business hours so people can petition us.  Tradition, you know."

"Lately the kingdom has been peaceful and content," the Queen put in.  "Obviously that's a good thing, but it does mean that not many people want an audience and we're just sitting on the damned things for no reason.  I'm so glad we have data tablets and handheld games these days, it helps pass the time."


"So, Majesty," the husky said, as they settled into couches in a parlour, "At Starfire we've been seeing a recent spike in the number of adventurers being murdered.  Not killed in the line of duty, but assassinated or otherwise attacked in their homes or nearby.  Have you been seeing this?"

"Ugh," Fairwater grimmaced.  "Tell me about it.  I had to guillotine two people this morning.  They murdered one of their fellow adventurers."

"I didn't think common murder was punished that harshly," Josh said.  "Isn't that against the constitution?  No offence intended, my Lord."

"None taken.  And no, common murder is not a capital crime.  But this was a racially-motivated murder, and that does fetch the death penalty.  I will not tolerate such in my city - the races MUST get along together, even if I have to force them to at times.  Now, the defence argued that it was a Being-on-Being killing and not a racially-motivated murder at all.  But the accused eventually admitted that the reason they had beheaded their colleague was because they saw a clan-mark and believed that an incubus had replaced him."

"So it came down to intent?"

"Yes.  If you murder a man because you believe they're a Creature and it turns out you're wrong, you've still set out to murder someone just because they're a Creature.  And the person they murdered is still dead, so I found them guilty."  The Doberman sighed heavily.  "May the gods forgive them."

"But what about the clan-mark?"  Joshua asked.  "I mean, it wouldn't alter the outcome, but are you certain the deceased was a Being?  It's fantastically rare, but there are some 'cubi born without wings who only get them when a normal 'cubi's head-wings would appear..."

"No.  The clan-mark is fake - we managed to dispel a small piece of it.  It's something like a magical tattoo, although not a type the pathologist has seen before.  What actually seems to have happened was that the deceased, one Mr. Higgs, had a run-in with an incubus or succubus and was given this fake clan mark for some reason, perhaps to teach the adventurer what it's like to be hunted by bigots.

"Either way, his comrades jumped on him, ignored his protestations of innocence, and then fox-face took the law into his own hands.  As you probably know, a lot of adventuring guilds have execution facilities on-premise.  It's a holdover from the bad old days.  In this case, they had a guillotine.  We had reports of an incubus being attacked and abducted by the guild.  My men found them all staring at Mr. Higgs' headless corpse, wondering why it hadn't sprouted wings."

"Karmic, I suppose," Josh said, wincing.  "That you gave this fox the same fate."

"I was tempted to suspend his death sentence," Fairwater sighed.  "It was a mistake, and he did confess.  But his comrades gave testimony that, while deciding Higgs' fate, he believed I would show undue leniency since Higgs was supposedly 'cubi.  He tried to pervert justice, and undermine MY authority by carrying out his own so-called-justice behind my back.  THAT is what sealed his fate during the trial.  For their contrition I gave them the mercy of a private execution and a free funeral, both the commander and his underling, the rabbit who pulled the lever.  The rest of the group were just accessories and will be eligible for parole in a few years."

"So, do you know who the incubus was?" Josh asked.

"Not yet.  But I do intend to question him if he is found.  Provocation aside, his little jape has cost three people their heads."

"Arguably he was just the catalyst," Josh shrugged.  "They brought it upon themselves."

*snrk* I had been figuring for a while that Demons would jump at the chance to bed a Tri-wing, for that exact reason. Nice to see it actually come up.

Contains violence.

Chapter 3

"Look what I've got!" Mary said, placing a large picnic cooler on Steve's desk, and wagging her tail.

"Champagne...?" the other Demon asked, a grin breaking out.  "Is that from Bundebar?  They must REALLY have wanted that guy dead!"

"This is better than booze," Mary said.  She up-ended the container and several ice-packs tipped out, along the severed head of a mouse, scarred ears, one eye covered with a patch, his mouth still open.  There was a loud, metallic crash as Steve recoiled in horror, the heavy platemail overbalancing his chair.

"Holy gods, Mary.  You could at least have warned me!"

"You've gone soft, Steve," the wolf said, rolling her eyes.  "You've been around Beings too much."

"That's why I'm commander. I can relate to Beings and empathise with them, whereas you scare the piss out of them.  Remember, Mary... Beings are our clients.  We have to get along with them."

"I know, I know.  Now.  About my bandit - any outstanding bounties on her?  There's a couple more in here as well," she added, placing a second icebox on the table.

"Would it kill you to bring in some bandits alive for a change..?"  Steve scowled, pointing the severed rodent head at a webcam.

"You're right, it would make a change," Mary said, eyes shining.  "It's been ages since we used the guillotine downstairs!  Reckon we could force Ben to do it?  Make him less squeamish!"

"Urgh, forget it," Steve said.  "I'll search the database.  When we're done, put your bandits in the fridge.  The special one, NOT the one we keep milk in."

"You should have seen his face!" Mary said, giggling uncontrollably.

"Be that as it may, if Ben pukes up again, you'll be cleaning it up.  And on shit duty for a month.  Are we clear...?"

"Spoilsport!"

"Clients can see the fridge too, Mary.  Most of them are not expecting to have a severed head stare back at them when we make their coffee."

"Is it always like this here?"  Ralf asked.

"I wish," Mary said.



"...dead...?" the coyote repeated.  His head-wings fanned out, and then fell, his ears pinned back in terror.  "Don't kill me!" he pleaded.  The King and his Demon captain stared back impassively.

"The guild's legal team are pressing for a charge of racially-motivated murder," the King informed him gravely.  "As you know, that carries a penalty of death by beheading."

"...beheading..." the incubus whispered, eyes widening.

"Indeed.  A confession might help your case.  Either way, you have a great deal of explaining to do."

"What's to explain...?" the other 'cubi protested desperately.  "I was set upon by this crazed adventurer!  He said I'd murdered someone!  Oliver?  Obediah..?  Obedemath?"

"I can only execute you once, Svenson, " Fairwater said, "But I have some discretion in how humiliating and painful your death will be.  So you might as well spill it."

"HE nearly beheaded ME!" the coyote snapped.  "What was I supposed to do?  Just meekly surrender my life to some wandering psychopath?!  You're the King - you're supposed to keep us safe!"

"Higgs was a card-carrying member of the adventurer's guild," Fairwater said.  "He knew the law, he knew the penalty for wantonly murdering a member of another race.  You'll need a better story than that!"

"But it's true!" the incubus wailed.  "I told him that the King would be angry if he lopped my head off based on some hearsay and he said that you'd REWARD him...!  So I gave him this fake mark to see how HE'D like it if people wanted to murder HIM on sight and now... now..." he broke off, sobbing profusely.

"There, there..." Fairwater said, patting the prisoner on the back.  The coyote flinched as the hand touched his neck.  "Sorry," the king said.

"Please... I've told you all I know... just make it quick..." the coyote begged.

"I am satisfied," the King said.  "While the bereaved are hoping for an execution, I am not sure this meets the standard for a racially-motivated murder," he continued.  "It seems more like racially-motivated reckless endangerment.  But you never can tell.  'cubi can be masters of deception.  I will consider what punishment is befitting, if any."

"You mean... I'm not going to die...?"

"That depends," Fairwater smiled, "upon whether you have lied to your King.  Captain Zenner!  How can we make the execution more... exciting?"

"I can pull his head off, your Majesty," the fox said, miming the deed with his hands.  "Or we can keep it conscious for a while after it's come off.  Or both!"

The coyote fainted dead away.

"It never ceases to amaze me how well this kind of emotional pressure works against 'cubi," the fox Demon remarked, hefting the incubus into a chair.  Fairwater's lip curled slightly and he opened his mouth to reply, but instead glanced around as another Rider entered to the room.

The newcomer snapped a crisp salute to his captain and then knelt before the King.

"My liege," he said,  "This was found upon the dead man's person."

Fairwater took the crumpled paper and opened it.  "Bugger me," he said.

"Was that an order, majesty...?" the Demon asked, cocking his head curiously.

"No.  But remove the coyote, Svenson.  Gently.  Put him in a cell for now... I will talk to him again later.  You can stop recording," he added, speaking directly into the microphone.  "This inquest will resume later."


"We've hit a big vein!"  Daryil said excitedly.

"What?  Who?  Are they going to be okay?"  Jakob said, appalled.

"No, no, no... we've hit a major deposit in the chicken mine!"

"Normally I'd point out that there is no such thing as a chicken mine," the wolf sighed, "But I'm sure you've got that covered.  So let's hear it."

"You find them in coal," Daryil said excitedly.  "See, what happens is that the chicken gets buried in some mud and goes into hibernation.  And over millions of years, the mud turns into coal.  We mine the coal and a chicken hops out!"

"That's frogs," Jakob said.  "And it's a myth.  What did you really want?"

"Oh, that?  I have had a message from Northwood guild.  Ralf has arrived safely, and they will keep us informed of his progress."

"Excellent.  Dar, do you think we made the right choice...?  Posting him, I mean?"

"They have a particularly violent Demon on staff," Daryil said. "Yeah, it would have been fun to see their reactions if he just infiltrated their HQ, but Mary might have damaged him."


Ben smiled evilly, his features illuminated from the soft glow of the light spell.   Mary snored loudly.  From a pocket, the fox drew a small balloon and sharpened one of his wing-tentacles to a wicked point.  He was about to start inflating the thing when he paused.  Mary stirred slightly, and he grinned even wider.

Carefully, Ben sat on the floor next to the sleeping Demon's bunk and held out one hand.  His eyes glowed yellow in the dark, and everything changed.

He was in a cold, dank corridor.  Guards stood in front and behind the three Demons, prodding them towards the light with halberds.  From not far off, the sounds of a cheering crowd echoed around the stonework.

"Where are we going, daddy?" the youngest demon asked, a child of about eight.

"To... a carnival," her father replied, with a smile.

"Can we go home after?"

"Yes, Mary.  I think so."

"Good.  I don't like it here," the child said.

At the end of the corridor, a portcullis stood closed, the guard coming to attention as they approached.  "Why is she here?" he asked, taken aback.  "You can't do that, she's a minor!"

"Oh, she'll be back.  Orders.  Prolly this is so she'll know what'll happen if she does the same..."

"I guess so," the guard said, opening the way for them.  "But I still don't like it."

A flight of steps led up to a corridor that opened out into the daylight.  Blinking in the noonday sun, they found themselves upon a large scaffold.  The crowd cheered in earnest at the sight of them.  The Queen stood nearby, watching the proceedings, dressed all in black.  The male demon was taken first.  He looked down at Mary with a cheerful grin.  "Remember what I told you, kid.  See you around."

Mary looked a bit perturbed as her father was led away.  A herald's voice droned on, reading from a list of murders and atrocities as the wolf was forced down upon the bench.  Finally he ceased the litany and the crowd fell silent.  The blade fell with a thunk that echoed across the square, the wolf's tail and wings spasmed, his legs kicking one final time.  The crowd went wild, as the other side of the guillotine, the head landed in the basket.

The herald retrieved a second scroll from his pocket and began reading again.  Mary's mouth fell open.  "Mummy?" she asked.  "Is Daddy okay..?" glancing back, she saw her mother wasn't there, but was instead being escorted to a spot not far from the guillotine, a cleared area in full view of the crowd.  Scared, the young wolf tried to follow but a gauntleted hand seized her, firm but gentle.

"Sorry kid, you stay here," the guard said.  "And don't look.  You won't want to see this."

A muscular Doberman strode in front of them, stripped to the waist and brandishing a broadsword.  The demon watched as her killer approached, a gleam of anticipation in her eye as she spotted the polished blade.  She turned back towards Mary, and winked.  Then she knelt.  Silence had fallen across the crowd.  The sword flashed down and the horned head sailed into the air accompanied by a fountain of bright blood, the unfortunate lady's body quivering as her husband's had done before her.  The silence was broken by a soft 'thud' as the head landed on the platform.  The little girl opened her mouth and emitted a piercing scream.

One of the guards, a blue fox in platemail, was watching the proceedings.  His mouth was open and his eyes wide with horror, visibly appalled at the executions.  Ben touched the young girl's shoulder, and Mary turned.  Her eyes locked with his, and suddenly she was in her twenties again, a full-grown Demon, face a mask of such fury that Ben staggered in its onslaught.  The world dissolved.



Mary rolled, flipping out of her bunk in a single, fluid motion, landing straight on top of Ben.  The fox had no time to react and found himself pinned to the floor, his hands scrabbling ineffectually as the furious Demon squeezed at his throat.

"YOU...!" she screamed.  "You little SHIT!  You... incubus!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Ben gurgled.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON OUT HERE?!"  Steve roared, fury twisting his face.

"Mary!  Let Ben go.  NOW!  Ben... just what did you do to Mary...?"

"He was in my DREAMS!" the Demon wailed.  "He SAW!"

"I didn't know!  I didn't know!  It was just a prank!  I didn't know THAT would happen!  I won't tell anyone!" the fox shrilled, feeling his throat as he struggled to sit up.

"Ben... my office." Steve snapped.  "I'll deal with you shortly.  Mary... I know this won't come easy, but... do you want to talk about it...?"

"No," the Demon said sullenly, as Ben slipped away, tail between his legs.

"I think you should.  And I wouldn't worry too much about Ben, either.  He's not a Demon - he won't see this as a weakness.  He doesn't seem the type to hoard secrets, either."

"Sometimes I have a dream," Mary said.  "A flashback, really... of the day my parents were executed."

"I'm sorry," Steve said.  The other Demon looked at him, trying to figure out if she'd just been insulted.  Steve grinned toothily.  "As I believe you have often said, I've gone native.  Can you tell me why they died...?"

"I was 7, 8 at the time..." Mary started.  "I didn't understand.  When I was older I looked it up in the court records.  They were involved in a soul-smuggling ring.   Quite a few people lost their heads that week.  And I think that was the worst part - I wanted revenge, but I was denied even that.  What they did WAS a capital crime, and looking at it rationally, like a Being might, they were soul-thieves.  They deserved to die, like all the others."

"Even looking at it as a Demon..." she continued, "Well, they screwed up and got caught, so what happened was just and proper."

"And so you became an executioner...?"

"Yes," Mary said, baring her fangs with an expression of evil glee.  "Someone more Being-like might have campaigned against the death penalty, but I'm just not wired that way.  The way I see it, if I can't have revenge for my parents, I can at least make sure others feel the same pain and loss as I did!  And I can do so in a way that's completely legal and above board!"

Steve sighed.  "As it happens, I lost my parents much the same way.  They were both guillotined for murder."

"Cool!" Mary exclaimed.  Steve glowered for a second.

"I barely remember losing them.  I was a lot younger than you when they... died.  All I have to remember them by is the footage of the execution that some dickhead uploaded onto ThouTube.  But... well, they left behind an infant Demon.  I was raised by foster parents.  The authorities wanted me brought me up as a Being, to try and avoid me going the same way.  So yes.  I am soft."

I can't lie, I giggled like an evil dork when I got to Ben's prank. >:3 And then I just had to cringe at the dream. Methinks a few of Mary's screws were loosened that day.

And I love that "wtf Daryil" moment. xD

Quote from: CubiKitsune on June 03, 2017, 05:27:57 PM
And then I just had to cringe at the dream. Methinks a few of Mary's screws were loosened that day.

...and this is why dream-surfing is an at-your-own-risk activity...

Interesting motive for becoming an executioner... Mary makes a great demon, but could do well as a cubi from a pain or grief clan. That way she would doubly know the feelings of pain and loss she's bringing to others, heheh.

Also love how the chapter opened with Mary's deranged little surprise. Love how there's been enough incidents that they needed a special head fridge.

Quote from: Puyon on June 05, 2017, 12:04:13 AM

Also love how the chapter opened with Mary's deranged little surprise. Love how there's been enough incidents that they needed a special head fridge.

I would think they'd have one already, regardless of "incidents." Have you ever smelled ripe flesh?

Quote from: CubiKitsune on June 05, 2017, 02:21:46 AM
I would think they'd have one already, regardless of "incidents." Have you ever smelled ripe flesh?

For this kind of thing you would definitely need a morgue or other way to keep the remains preserved.  Hygiene aside, a rotten head is not going to make acceptable proof when claiming the bounty.  Longer term, they might do some kind of taxidermy, but a cooler seemed to be the obvious immediate step given how we do things in our world.

Chapter 4

Wingless and dressed in his long adventuring coat, Ben strolled briskly through the airport, with Roger and Daniel in tow.  They passed by the security area as they made their way to arrivals.  The other side of the barrier, a shouting match was in progress between an axe-wielding adventurer and a security Demon, who was pointing angrily at a large sign above them stating that all weapons MUST be go in checked luggage.

Behind these two, in the queue for the metal detector, another adventurer was irritably removing her platemail.

"Ben Buran, Northwood adventuring guild," the fox said, shaking a leather-gauntleted hand with his client.  "And these are my colleagues, Dan and Roger."

"Lady Featherstone," the opossum replied.  "Tell me, Ben, what do you feel about having a Demon for a commander?"

"Doesn't bother me," the fox shrugged.

"Even though he's just the kind of Creature you're paid to slay...?"

Ben raised an eyebrow.  "Not really.  Demons are people too, and Steve is pretty laid-back.  Besides, if a Demon is good at doing a job and it keeps them from causing trouble, why shouldn't they?"

"The adventuring trade isn't what it used to be," Daniel interjected.  "Beings and Creatures get on a lot better now the Dragons aren't stirring up trouble between everyone."

"Quite," Ben said.  "We're paid to slay or apprehend troublemakers, regardless of their race.  And in fact, a lot of the people we have to deal with are actually Beings."

"Is that so...?" Lady Featherstone asked, looking surprised.

"Yes.  Well, Beings are the most populous race, after all.  Mostly it's bandits, and... well... executions." he glanced at Daniel.

"See, a lot of smaller places don't have enough serious crime to merit having an executioner of their own, and as a rule the locals don't want to do it," the Doberman said, taking over.  "I mean, if you've got a small, rural village where everyone knows everyone else, the executioner will be shunned by the rest of the community.  There might even be reprisals against the executioner - assuming you could even find someone willing to kill their comrade in the first place.

"So, to avoid that, the village hires a skilled swordsman or axeman from a nearby town or city to do their dirty work for them.  And that's a service our guild offers as well.  And while, fortunately, we don't get much custom from each village, there are a LOT of small villages and towns out there looking to have one of their number killed,"

"Hmm.  So, you are wandering headsmen!  Have you done this often, Daniel?"

"More than I'd like," the Doberman said.  "Hangings are the worst, if the neck doesn't break it can take an age for them to die, and they usually kick and struggle.  I prefer a beheading or a long drop hanging, but even with those the body tends to twitch and quiver a lot afterwards.  The way I see it, if someone has to pay the death penalty, I'd rather kill them myself and ensure it's done humanely, than leave it to be botched by some amateur.  That's what my combat instructor always said, and I agree completely."

"Never bothered me," Roger said, unpacking his sword and hefting it with a grin, before sliding it into the scabbard on his belt.  "Seeing 'em kick at a short-drop hanging can be a good deterrent... A slow, agonising death shows everyone you mean business.  If you don't wanna be executed, don't commit the crime in the first place.  Besides, killing 'em slowly gives you more time to cut 'em down if the villagers change their mind."   Daniel and Ben glared at him.

"What about you, Ben?" Lady Featherstone enquired.  "How many executions have you carried out?"

"I won't do it," the fox replied firmly.  "Call me an idealist, but I became an adventurer to make people's lives better, not end them.  I believe things should be settled in a non-lethal manner if at all possible, so actually setting out to slay someone like that is appalling."

"Unfortunately, sometimes it has to be done," Daniel put in.  "Perhaps it's because I was brought up in a medieval town where a hanging or beheading was considered an exciting special occasion, but there are crimes like soul-stealing where execution is the only appropriate response."

Lady Featherstone looked back at the fox with a pained expression.  "Ben, are you telling me you're a pacifist?  I hired you as a bodyguard!"

"And I will do that," Ben said patiently.  "I have killed people in self-defence, and I would do so to save others, though reluctantly.  I firmly believe that killing should be a last resort, not the opening move.  You hired me as a bodyguard, not an executioner."

"True," the opossum said, looking somewhat mollified.  "Out of interest, if I had booked an execution from your guild, who would do it?"

"Often it's Daniel, Roger or Jason.   Steve does it too if everyone else is busy, or if they specifically requested the guild leader.  That does happen sometimes, especially in very high-profile cases, such as executing royalty or something like that.  But usually our executions are carried out by... Mary."

"You hesitated.  Who is this... Mary?"

"Oh, she's a Demon too.  But she's not as approachable as Steve.  She's scary."

"Hmm," Lady Featherstone remarked, checking the time on a cellphone.  "We will speak more of this later.  Were you told where we're going?"

"Not exactly.  Some ruins somewhere in the Gerbil Mountains, wasn't it?"

"Indeed.  There is an ancient stronghold that belonged to my forefathers.  In times long past it was the capital of an ancient realm once known as Andovia.  I've recently learned that there may be some old family heirlooms still down there, and I wish to investigate."

"Is there any reason you're going there in person?"  Daniel asked.  "Surely it would be easier and safer to hire a band of professional explorers?"

"And have them run off with the treasure," Ben snickered.

"There is some truth in that," the opossum concurred.  "But the wards protecting the inner sanctum may also require one of my line to be present."

"Can't argue with that," Roger said.  "But why do you need three of us?  You think the stronghold may be occupied?"

"I believe it will be.  My family has a number of enemies, who will also be after the heirlooms as well.  These people would likely kill me if they can catch me somewhere outside the protection of the law...such as an isolated location like my ancestors' former stronghold, for example.  And of course there will surely be bandits," she replied.
"Now.  My plan is this - we'll take the train from Marwood airport, and purchase any additional supplies we may need in the city centre.  We'll stop the night at the 'Ton hotel, and set off east in the morning.  Does that sound reasonable?"

"You have planned this well," Ben said.


"So, Svenson.  Earlier you said that Higgs accused you of murdering someone beginning with 'O'," Fairwater said.

"Yes," the incubus said, fearfully.

"Obediah, perhaps." the King said, handing him a photocopy of the crumpled note.  "Do you know what this is?"

"It's a hit," the incubus said, staring at the page intently.  "Standard bounty contract.  For me.  Now do you believe me...?"

"I accept that you acted in self-defence where Higgs is concerned," Fairwater allowed.  "However that still leaves the fact that Southmoor guild had a warrant for your execution as a murderer."

"Well, they made a mistake," the incubus said firmly.  "I've never met this Obediah person.  I certainly haven't killed anyone for many decades... and that was in my lawful capacity as an adventurer."

"What?  You are an adventurer?" Fairwater's brows furrowed.

"Retired," the coyote said.  "Mostly, anyway.  I was laid off after the great adventuring crash, but I still pick up the odd contract from time to time."

"And yet, despite being an adventurer...  you somehow haven't killed anyone for decades?  Excuse me if I find that hard to believe."

"I'm pretty good at it," the incubus shrugged.  "Yes, I'm sure some of the bandits I captured were executed later... but that's hardly my fault."

The doberman nodded.  "A number of adventurers have been murdered recently," he brooded.  "I can't help but wonder if you were supposed to be among them.  Very well..." he concluded and clapped his hands.  "Smith!"

"Majesty?" the demon guard said, snapping to attention.  "Return Svenson's belongings to him and see him out of the castle."

"I'm... free to go?" the coyote queried.

"For now.  But you are hereby ordered to remain within the city for the time being, as the investigation is still ongoing and I may have further questions."

"And if I'm attacked again...?"

"Then you may defend yourself.  But next time, bring them to me.  Intact, so they can be questioned."

"I'm pretty good at that, your majesty," the incubus said.



"Jason," Steve said.  "Job for you.  A hit, I'm afraid.  Here's the address..."

"Gertrude Orlock, alias Gert the Ripper... bandit... racial murder... Central Fairwater?" Jason said, eyes narrowing.

"That's what the computer says," the Demon shrugged.  "Probably another overflow job if their own guild is busy."

"Do I have to kill them?" Jason asked.

"It's either that or we execute them here," Steve said.  "If you really want to guillotine her downstairs, or risk having Mary do her party trick on her..."

"I'll do it," Jason said quickly.


The jackal look at the job order one final time, triple-checking the address.  Booting the wrong door in was not a mistake he intended to repeat.  With a crash, he leapt into the hallway, one hand glowing with a stun spell, the other clutching his broadsword in readiness for the execution.

Jason's ears swivelled, listening for any noise.  Usually kicking a door down provoked angry reactions from the occupant.  The lights were certainly on...

With a growing sense of unease, the incubus prowled the house, every nerve on edge, scanning for his opponent's mind.  As a warrior gone rogue, his target was probably stalking him in the same way.  He would only get one chance.

With another leap, Jason kicked down the door and flew into the bedroom.  Gert the Ripper lay on the floor, a mace in hand.  Her head was missing.

A sudden crash from behind made the jackal spin around.   "BLACK RIDERS!  FREEZE!" a voice yelled.  Jason dropped the sword.

A mysterious client and mysterious staged bounties. Coincidence? I wonder...

I suppose it's worth noting that Ben is willing to do executions... but only under very specific (and very rare) conditions. (For starters, no public executions and no beheadings...)

Quote from: CubiKitsune on June 17, 2017, 02:37:15 PM
A mysterious client and mysterious staged bounties. Coincidence? I wonder...

I suppose it's worth noting that Ben is willing to do executions... but only under very specific (and very rare) conditions. (For starters, no public executions and no beheadings...)

Out of interest, what method would he use?  Appalling as it is, beheading was traditionally held to be the more merciful option, and in certain parts of medieval Europe was generally reserved for the nobility.

I'm not entirely sure. Surely with magic there must be SOME way to do it cleanly and instantly. He would always use a spell to anesthetize them first, of course. Then, maybe use a laser spell to cut the spine at the neck, without chopping the head completely off? He knows an x-ray vision spell, so he could pinpoint it.

Quote from: CubiKitsune on June 17, 2017, 05:22:39 PM
I'm not entirely sure. Surely with magic there must be SOME way to do it cleanly and instantly. He would always use a spell to anesthetize them first, of course. Then, maybe use a laser spell to cut the spine at the neck, without chopping the head completely off? He knows an x-ray vision spell, so he could pinpoint it.

True.  I tend to disregard death spells because they kind of take the fun out of it.  AFAIK the only one we've seen canonically is the one Dark Pegasus and Kria used, and it's not something they tend to fling around much either.  For that matter there's cheap off-the-shelf enchanted clothing that can defend against it.

If Daryil did pass a death sentence for soul-stealing, that would likely be done by a death spell, unless the condemned person specifically opted for another means of death.  But Daryil is extraordinarily powerful, while Ben is likely to be a bit of a weakling owing to the fact that he's a convert rather than a true-born 'Cubi.

Quote from: Tapewolf on June 17, 2017, 06:11:02 PM
True.  I tend to disregard death spells because they kind of take the fun out of it.  AFAIK the only one we've seen canonically is the one Dark Pegasus and Kria used, and it's not something they tend to fling around much either.  For that matter there's cheap off-the-shelf enchanted clothing that can defend against it.

If Daryil did pass a death sentence for soul-stealing, that would likely be done by a death spell, unless the condemned person specifically opted for another means of death.  But Daryil is extraordinarily powerful, while Ben is likely to be a bit of a weakling owing to the fact that he's a convert rather than a true-born 'Cubi.

That was a death spell? I always thought it was just some kind of magic laser beam.

Quote from: CubiKitsune on June 17, 2017, 10:06:26 PM
That was a death spell? I always thought it was just some kind of magic laser beam.

Here's the description of the spell DP used - Kria may have been using a slightly different one:
"It's basically a two-fold spell. One part of the spell will pretty much negate the very magic that holds an Undead together so-to-speak and releases the soul from the body, the other half is what tends to reduce the body to a cinder.  Without the magics that hold the Undead together, the body is a lot more vulnerable to being disintigrated.  On the flipside, casting this spell on a living body will make it impossible for said individual to become Undead...though odds are there wouldn't be enough left to go Undead anyways...but just saying."

Either way, things get a little messy when ranged death spells are involved.  Imagine if Sven could do this easily?  Or Keaton?  It'd be a massacre.  Bandits?  Instead of holding people up you could just sweep the area and loot the bodies.  What if an adventurer hits the wrong person?  Even an arrow or a crossbow bolt gone stray is likely to leave a survivable injury, but something that kills you on contact won't be.

Quote from: Tapewolf on June 18, 2017, 04:36:04 AM

Quote from: CubiKitsune on June 17, 2017, 10:06:26 PM
That was a death spell? I always thought it was just some kind of magic laser beam.

Here's the description of the spell DP used - Kria may have been using a slightly different one:
"It's basically a two-fold spell. One part of the spell will pretty much negate the very magic that holds an Undead together so-to-speak and releases the soul from the body, the other half is what tends to reduce the body to a cinder.  Without the magics that hold the Undead together, the body is a lot more vulnerable to being disintigrated.  On the flipside, casting this spell on a living body will make it impossible for said individual to become Undead...though odds are there wouldn't be enough left to go Undead anyways...but just saying."

Either way, things get a little messy when ranged death spells are involved.  Imagine if Sven could do this easily?  Or Keaton?  It'd be a massacre.  Bandits?  Instead of holding people up you could just sweep the area and loot the bodies.  What if an adventurer hits the wrong person?  Even an arrow or a crossbow bolt gone stray is likely to leave a survivable injury, but something that kills you on contact won't be.

Huh. Where did you find that description? Regardless, what Ben would use wouldn't be on that level. I'm talking something maybe a bit less powerful than the blaster lasers you see in Star Wars. A magic bullet, as it were.

Quote from: CubiKitsune on June 18, 2017, 02:08:54 PM
Huh. Where did you find that description? Regardless, what Ben would use wouldn't be on that level. I'm talking something maybe a bit less powerful than the blaster lasers you see in Star Wars. A magic bullet, as it were.

http://clockworkmansion.com/forum/index.php/topic,4803.msg206770.html#msg206770

(With help from Sofox)

Chapter 5

"You know, we could just have ordered this stuff online," Jakob said, pushing the trolley through the supermarket.

"That's boring," Daryil said.  "It's been years since I went shopping like this!  I wanted a change."

"Hey guys," Simeon said, rushing around the corner and throwing a loaf of bread into the basket.  "You've got to see this!"

Jakob's eyes widened slightly, but he'd been around Daryil long enough to take this sort of thing in his stride.  Daryil leaned against the end of the breakfast cereal aisle and watched intently.
In front of them, a mouse with head-wings and a monk's cloak stood on top of the cheese counter.  Stunned security guards lay nearby, and the incubus was talking earnestly to a dozen whole salmon lying on the top of the display.  One of them was facing backwards.

"This wine shall be my blood," the mouse declaimed.  "This bread shall be my body!  This butter shall be my brain..."

"Well," Simeon remarked.  "This is different.  Usually it'd be Daryil doing that."

"It ISN'T you, is it?" Jakob asked suspiciously.  "I know your tricks with avatar projections."

"Not this time," Daryil said.  "I think they're of Dimanika's clan.  Getting to see it in person makes quite a change."

"HALT!" a voice demanded, and an oxen adventurer strode into view.  "Surrender and face justice, monster!"

"Dammit, Judas!" the Dimanika said, picking up the backwards fish.  "You weren't supposed to betray me until after our little kiss!"

Daryil watched with interest as the salmon flew through the air and struck the newcomer in the face.  As his assailant flailed to knock the fish away, the mouse teleported and was gone.

"You shall pay for your evil crimes, monster!" the Being snarled, drawing his sword and holding it in front of Daryil's face.

"I don't think I've done any evil crimes for at least a millenium," Daryil said.  "That's far outside the statute of limitations, and besides, I'm trying to make amends for my wicked youth."

"Is it only EVIL crimes you're interested in?" Jakob asked casually, raising his hands above his head.

"What do you mean, monster?" the ox demanded, eyes narrowing.

"Well, you can have evil crimes, and non-evil crimes.  And evil things that aren't crimes.  For instance, murder or stealing someones soul is an evil crime," Daryil said.  "Evicting a little old lady is evil but not a crime."

"Nonsense!  All crimes are evil!"

"What about home taping?" Simeon asked.  "Copying music to give to someone else?  Downloading movies?  Heck, overthrowing a vicious tyrant is treason... but it's not evil, surely!"

"Shut up!  I shall end you!  All of you!"

"That in itself would be an evil crime," Jakob pointed out.

"Worse than that, they are under my protection," Daryil said.  "If you insist on harming my child or my lover, I shall do something extremely regrettable to you."

"Would that be an evil crime?" Simeon asked.

"More like evil justice," Daryil said.  "Listen, kid.  We didn't have anything to do with this.  If you want to arrest us anyway, we'll come quietly.  But please put that sword away before the King's guards shoot you for attempting a racial murder."


"Ben, Daniel..." Lady Featherstone said, as they entered the thick of the forest.  "Forgive me if this is too personal, but I can't help noticing that your fur is rather... well, vivid for Beings."

"My parents were of Angel blood," Ben shrugged.  "I wasn't born with wings, though.  Sometimes I regret that.  I don't have an Angel's strength either, but I do seem to have stopped ageing."

"I also have Creature ancestry," Daniel said.  "But to be honest, I'm not sure it's your business, my lady.  We're here to escort you through the forest.  So long as we're competent at that job, does it really matter what we are?"

"It would reassure me to know that you are all Beings..."

"Not a fan of Creatures, are we, miss?"  Roger blurted out.  Ben gave him a black look.

"As it happens I am not," the oppossum said curtly.  "Many of my ancestors were slain by Demons hoping to claim the realm, or simply destroy it because it was there."

"Those are old grievances," Daniel said.  "Beings and Creatures get on a lot better nowadays.  In some ways that's a problem because there's less need for..."

"Oi," a voice shouted.  "Hands up, and give us the money."

Six figures emerged from behind a nearby tree.

"What money?" Daniel asked politely.

"Gold, jewels, credit cards, cell phones... any other valuables," the bandit said.

"Sorry, not interested," the Doberman replied.  The bandit bristled.

"Son, I'm asking you nicely," he said.  "But we can just as easily kill you and steal your shit."

"That would be a felony murder, though." Daniel said.  "You'd hang."

"Only if there are witnesses.  Besides, you'd still be dead," the bandit pointed out.  "Is it worth dying for a handful of valuables?"

"I'd consider that question yourself," Daniel retorted, a broadsword appearing in his hands.  "After all, killing YOU will be self-defence."

The Being took a step back.  "We got trouble, lads!" he called.

Ben, Daniel and Roger surrounded their charge as a five more bandits appeared.  Daniel jumped sideways and struck one in the head with his blade.  Ben's eyes glowed and an evil expression flowed across his features.  He kicked the bandit leader's legs out from under him and crouched down.

"You have but one chance to live," he sneered, electricity flowing between his two hands, about a foot from the man's muzzle.  "You don't know the power of the light side!"

"Someone kill this fool..." the leader shouted, ending in a scream as Ben zapped him in the face.

"If you will not be turned... then you will be destroyed!" the fox crowed, and gave him another dose.  The Being went limp.

Meanwhile, Roger was sparring with a large, heavily-built ursine, almost certainly a former adventurer.  He blocked an axe strike with his own sword, but then tripped.  Grinning at the prospect of an easy victory, the bear raised his axe again, but was swiftly felled by a blast of magic from Ben's stun-stick.

"Your leader is out of the fight," Ben called loudly.  "Throw down your weapons and we'll let you go."

"Your leader is out of it too," a female quoll sneered.  Ben's mouth dropped open slightly as he saw that Lady Featherstone was held captive by the quoll's thick arm, a blade held steadily at her throat.

"So... throw down YOUR weapons," she demanded.  "Or you get to find out how much blood your girlfriend contains."

Ben stared at Daniel, who glanced back at him with an expression of resignation.

"If she dies, we'll have failed," the Doberman sighed.  "Very well."  He dropped his weapon, as did Ben.

"Excellent," the quoll smiled.  Then her skull was cloven by Roger's broadsword, death claiming her with the happy expression still gracing her features.

"I'll 'ave that," Roger said, taking firm hold of the oppossom.  Ben and Daniel had regained their weapons and re-entered the fray.

Things took a turn for the worse as the enraged bandits struggled to avenge their comrade.  Daniel fought a pitched battle with another dog, clearly an expert swordsman gone rogue.  Steel rang and the Doberman was gradually pushed back, fur binding with sweat and blood flowing freely from a fresh cut on one of his arms.  A scream distracted his opponent for a moment and Daniel took full advantage.  The alsatian's face took an expression of fear as the sword was knocked from his grasp.
With a savage expression, the blue Doberman's muscles rippled as the broadsword made its fatal sweep.  There was a sickening gurgle and the alsatian's head tumbled free of his shoulders, coming to rest a few feet across the forest floor.  His body collapsed too, spasming in a way that made Daniel wince, despite all his years as an executioner.

"Who else is tired of having a head?" he snarled.  The answer came in the form of several soft, metallic noises as their remaining opponents broke, flinging their weapons aside and fleeing into the woods as fast as they could.


"I am here to claim the bounty for the arrest of these three felons," the adventurer said, approaching the commander of the guild hall.

"Very well," Olaf said, taking three cards from the waiting ox.  The wolf-giraffe glanced at them for a second, taking in the mugshots and ID numbers assigned during arrest.

Suddenly he froze.  "Just forget it, son," he said quietly, dropping the cards onto his desk and shuffling them straight with a steel-gauntleted hand.

"Why?" the adventurer demanded.

"You're better off not knowing," the commander said.  "I'm surprised you managed to arrest them at all."

"Dangerous, then?  The bounties must be quite large!"

"They are," Olaf said.  "But I suggest you go home and try to forget this happened."

"So you can claim the bounties yourself?  Don't be ridiculous!"

"If you insist, I can run them through the computer," Olaf smiled toothily.  "But it's a very bad idea."

"I do so insist."

"I'm beginning to see how this happened," Olaf muttered.  "Very well.  First up... Jakob Pettersohn.  I must say, I'm very relieved you brought him in alive.  You dodged a bullet there.  Or more likely, a guillotine."

"Explain yourself."

"Well, firstly, Jakob is my dad," Olaf said, and a katana was in his hands, dancing through the air, inches away from the adventurer's neck.  "And if you harmed a hair on his head, I would be honour-bound to strike off yours where you stand." The sword vanished in a flash of purple light.

"Secondly, the bounty on Jakob has been taken out by Lord Daryil.  Same goes for Simeon."

"And the fox-hybrid?"

"Oh, Lord Daryil took the bounty out on himself," Olaf said.  "You're pitting your wits against a four thousand year old practical joker.  Are you sure you wish to go down this rabbit-hole?"

"Enough of your tricks, Creature!"

"It's not my trick, it's Daryil's," Olaf said, typing something.  "If I press RETURN now, the claim will go through.  Together, it will amount to 25 million gold dollars."

"Great gods!  I'll be able to retire!  Buy an island!"

"You'll be bankrupt," Olaf said.  "The money goes the other way.  Minus five million for Jakob, minus five million for Simeon, and minus fifteen million for Daryil.  I hope you have rich parents."

"But this is a flagrant abuse of the adventuring system!  How in the world can you have a negative bounty?"

"Well, it's Daryil. He tends to find ways of doing things that no-one else has thought of.  I can kind of see where he's coming from - being arrested on a false charge is a hassle and he deserves compensation."

"This is outright theft!  I'll be ruined!"

"Only if you actually go through with the bounty claim," Olaf reminded him, a steel-clad finger hovering over the RETURN key.

The adventurer ground his teeth. "Then forget it.  Do whatever you want with them, I don't care."  Turning, he walked to the exit grumbling.  At the door he turned around and snarled at the commander.  "Twisting the legal system to take money from hard working adventurers!  What he's done is completely evil!"

"Yes," responded Olaf to the departing adventurer, "But it isn't a crime."

Ahahahahaha, this is my favorite chapter! Even without Ben quoting Star Wars, it's full of so much Daryil-win! xD

...Or should I say "Dar-win"? :B

Olaf is His SON? Just three questions,

Who's the mom?

When did it happen?

Does Niall get on well with him?

When Yak was getting hit on by Quill in DMFA, I made a fancharacter called Olaf who was their illegitimate lovechild >:3

Not sure how he gets on with Niall, but I assume well, he's a pretty chill dude normally (for an adventurer)

Quote from: TruthQuest on July 08, 2017, 09:35:35 PM
Olaf is His SON? Just three questions,

Who's the mom?

When did it happen?

Does Niall get on well with him?

Or to put what Merlin has said in a slightly more visual form:

http://missmab.com/Comics/Vol_1260.php

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/11857607/

...as for when, probably some time after DMFA canon.  Presumably after Fa'Lina is gone.

Niall and Olaf get on okay, but they don't see each other all that much, being different clans and all.

To both Tapewolf and Merlin, thank you, that does clear things up a bit.

I shall have to mark these in my calendar.  I keep forgetting to post them.

Chapter 6

"Oh no," Fairwater said.  "Not YOU..."

"Good day, your Majesty," Jason said, as he was led into the interview room by a pair of Demons in motorcycle gear.  His wrists were bound in enchanted bracers and he had been stripped of his weapons.

"Preliminary interview," Fairwater said, talking to a microphone on the desk.  "10:45, Monday the 22nd of June, 2170.  Jason Da'Real... you stand accused of the capital murder of Gertrude Orlock," he continued unhappily.

"These proceedings are being recorded and videotaped, and anything you say may be presented as evidence at your trial.  If found guilty, your head will be forfeit.  Even Daryil does not like members of his clan committing murders, so I hope you have a VERY good reason for your actions."

"Daryil does not like public executions either, your Majesty," Jason said.

"Your death - should it happen - will be a private guillotining," Fairwater informed him.  "In deference to the alliance between our clans."

"I see," Jason said, grimmacing.

"Now, Jason... you, an incubus, are accused of breaking into the house of the Being, Gertrude Orlock, and beheading her," Fairwater said, eyes narrowing.  "What do you say to this charge?"

Jason swallowed, sipped from a glass of water and leaned forwards.  "Your majesty, I admit that I was going to kill Ms. Orlock.  However, I did not.  Someone else got there first."

"A Creature intending to kill a Being is also a serious crime," the King said.  "Though at least it takes the unpleasantness of an execution off the table.  Unless it turns out you were the killer, of course.  Then it will put YOU on the table... of the guillotine."

"If I have to die, I would rather die on my feet, majesty," Jason said.

"A warrior's death," Fairwater nodded.  "Very noble of you.  Much as I hope your life is spared, I can allow your hypothetical execution to be a stand-up beheading if you so wish."

"Thanks.  It all comes down to intent, though," Jason said.  "As I understand it, the death penalty applies only where a member of race A murders someone of race B for no good reason.  Is that not so, your majesty?"

"That is correct," Fairwater agreed.  "For example, when the justification is that they were a member of race B and therefore evil, or that race B is inferior and therefore disposable."

"I am not sure if I can prove I didn't kill her," Jason admitted, taking his wallet from a tray of his belongings and removing a folded slip of paper from it. "I suppose you could examine my sword for recent use, though I might have used my wing-tentacles...  Either way, I can certainly prove my motive for trying."

"Does this count as a good reason for my actions?" he asked, as the King studied the printout Steve had given him.

"Shit, shit, shit." the Doberman said.  "Another one!"

"Another what, your majesty...?" Jason looked worried.

"Blue-on-blue."

The jackal's wings fanned out.  "Are you telling me that my target was also an adventurer?!"

"Indeed.  Usually when an adventurer is murdered inside the city it's a revenge motive.  After all, you are a Creature.  Perhaps she slew one of your kin or friends.  And so, here you come... acting on your own to repay the favour.  Tit-for-tat revenge killings only widen into a cycle of murders... and executions.  If any response is called for, it MUST happen through the proper channels.  I will NOT tolerate vigilante murders in my cities!

"But this... gods, dammit!  Jason, a number of adventurers have been killed in quick succession.  The heads are all missing, most likely taken for proof when claiming the bounty.  It can be no coincidence."

Fairwater paused for a second, and then leaned forwards over the microphone.  "Let the record state that Jason Da'Real appears to have been carrying out his official duties as a member of Northwood adventuring guild.  This is to be confirmed shortly, but unless I learn otherwise from his guildmaster, Jason of Daryil Clan has no case to answer.  This interview is at an end."

Fairwater sat in silence for a few moments.  Jason moved to get up but the King's hand tapped his lower arm to indicate that he should remain.

"We are no longer rolling, Majesty," a voice piped up from the talkback circuit.  "Sound and vision both off."

"Thank you," the King said, and steepled his hands, leaning across the table towards the waiting jackal.

"Right," he said quietly.  "Off the record, this is what I would like you to do, Jason.  First I must check with your guild and confirm this job is genuine, and then sign your release forms.  You will be returned to the holding cell until then.  Once you are free to go, I would like you to return immediately to your guild.
"There, you should inform your commander of what I have just told you.  Do this face-to-face and in private.  Tell no-one else.  I want to know exactly where this bounty came from, who requested it and most importantly, where the money for the bounty is actually coming from.  Return here with your findings.  I will give you a royal warrant to aid in this mission.  And Jason..."

"Yes, O King?"

"Watch your back.  There may very well be one of these bounties for you."


"That was a near thing," the oppossom said, frowning.  "I am not entirely sure how to rate your performance.  Ideally they should never have been allowed that close to me!"

"I agree it could have been better," Daniel said, healing the cut on his arm with a spell.  "But it could also have been far worse."

"You surrendered!" Lady Featherstone retorted.  "What kind of bodyguards are you?!"

"The kind that knows when their companion is about to do a sneak attack," Ben said quietly.  "Though I had hoped Roger would use the flat of his blade, not the edge.  Still, if you didn't spot that his fall was a feint, perhaps we are better at this than you give us credit for.  Either way.  You are alive and completely unharmed," the fox pointed out.  "The rest of us are worse for wear, but still alive and kicking.  We guarded your body from harm and that's what matters in the end."

"That is true," Featherstone conceded.  "Though I hope things go more smoothly next time.  Anyway.  Talking of alive and kicking, are you going to do justice upon the survivors now?"

"What?!"  Daniel gawked.  "You want to slay them too?  Unarmed?!"

"Losing heart, Daniel?  After that fine kill you made earlier?" Featherstone said, looking surprised.

"I hadn't really intended to do that all," Daniel said, gazing sadly at the headless corpse.  "I lost my temper.  This should never have happened."

"Are you kidding?!" Roger exclaimed.  "That was SKILL!  Did you see how the other two ran afterwards?!"

"Whatever the case, that still leaves the bear and the leader," Featherstone pointed out, gesturing at the two unconscious forms.  "Hanging or beheading?"

"Neither," Ben said firmly.

"Any other suggestions?  From someone less pacifistic?"

"He's right, though," Daniel said.  "Banditry is not a capital crime in Marwood - it only becomes so if someone is killed during the robbery.  Those we have slain just now were clear-cut self-defence, but killing these two while they're helpless?  Legally, that's murder."

"Realistically, nobody will give two shits about a pair of failed bandits," Roger pointed out, eyeing the unconscious bear with a malicious expression.

"True," Ben sighed, glancing back at Daniel.  "Even if they did, we were attacked.  Given the circumstances, we'd be unlikely to hang.  We might even get away with a fine.... as Roger said, nobody loves bandits.  But we'd still risk arrest and cooling our heels in a holding cell while our trial is being arranged.  How would that benefit your quest, lady?"

"Clearly Roger thinks the risk is worth it," the oppossom said, pointing at something behind them.

Daniel and Ben turned, and expressions of fury crossed their faces.  While they had been talking, their leopard companion had produced a length of rope from somewhere and hoisted the bear a foot off the ground as they watched.  The unfortunate Being kicked energetically in a futile attempt to prevent the noose from strangling his life away.

Ben's face darkened and he drew his sword.  Pushing Roger aside with a strength that belied his lithe frame, he drew the sword back for a side-stroke.  The blade sang in his hand and moments later the bandit had dropped to the ground, wheezing and gasping for breath.

"If you must teach him a lesson, at least make it one he can learn from," the fox said.  "Say, removing a hand or a couple of fingers.  But he hasn't harmed us enough to merit an execution."

"Works for me," Lady Featherstone said, with an approving glance.


"Oh no," Fairwater said.  "Not YOU..."

"Good day, your Majesty," Daryil said, as he was led into the interview room by a pair of Demons in motorcycle gear, who eyed him warily as though he was a bomb that might explode any moment.  His wrists were bound in enchanted bracers, but the usual red glow kept flashing to blue twice a second, giving the effect of the lights on top of a police car.

"Is this some kind of joke?"  the King sighed.

"Not mine," Daryil said brightly.  "Some adventurer with more balls than brains arrested us.  There was a Dimanika causing a public nuisance in the supermarket.  Assault too, I guess.  He disappeared and we took the rap for it.  Should be on CCTV."

"'Us' being you and Jakob?"

"Me, Jakob and Simeon," Daryil said.  "You know, you have laws against murdering people just because they are 'Cubi... does that extend to arresting people too?"

"No, but maybe it should," Fairwater sighed, reading the charge sheet.  "Very well.  I'll send a complaint to Dimanika once the CCTV footage arrives.  I'm not sure why this was brought to my attention at all.  As you say, multiple counts of assault, public nuisance, damaging property... these are not capital crimes that require my involvement."

"Can we go, then?" Daryil asked.

"Yes.  You are a head of state, Jakob a diplomat.  Simeon... doesn't have such protections but his being your consort would make things awkward.  Besides," he gave a brittle smile.  "With powers like yours, there's not a lot I can do about it if you do mean me ill."

"Actually..." Daryil said, looking thoughtful.

"What?" The King looked alarmed.

"Could you guillotine me anyway?" Daryil asked, hopefully.

"What?!"

"Go on... chop my head off!  It'll be fun!"

The guards looked at each other.

"It's just an avatar," Daryil said, lying on the interview table and staring down into the waste-paper basket.  "Please...?"

"Absolutely not!" the Doberman looked appalled.  "Execution is a deterrent and the ultimate punishment for the most serious of crimes!  It is not some kind of cheap thrill for sickos!"

"Spoilsport!"  Daryil pouted.

"Enough of this," Fairwater called.  "Guards, release Lord Daryil and his companions."

"Guys, you have katanas,"  Daryil said suddenly.  "How much do I have to bribe you to..."

"NO!" Fairwater shouted.  "Do not listen to him!  Get him out of here!"

"Okay, okay," Daryil said.  "I'll get Nigel to kill me later.  Come on, guys... follow me!"

He promptly phased through the wall.

That's a very... odd thing for Daryil to request... Even considering it is Daryil. :P Is it supposed to be some sort of test or something?

Please say that you'll make this story into a comic one day, that last scene needs to be seen!

Quote from: CubiKitsune on July 16, 2017, 11:16:17 PM
That's a very... odd thing for Daryil to request... Even considering it is Daryil. :P Is it supposed to be some sort of test or something?

Groundhog Day syndrome, I suspect.

Quote from: TruthQuest on July 25, 2017, 12:48:32 AM
Please say that you'll make this story into a comic one day, that last scene needs to be seen!

That is the plan, though obviously Merlin has to agree to it.  I'm currently working on chapter 20 and the story is still ongoing.  I'm considering running the written story weekly, but that will mean problems if I need to go back and fix something.

This is what we're looking to do next, barring some catastrophe:
'To Catch a Demon' has one page left - after that, the plan is to blitz CK's 'Ark of Ur' story and get that finished.
After that, Aisha has written a story I'm rather fond of, so to keep things ticking over while Bounty is being written, I'm hoping to do that as a comic.
After TCaD, the next one to complete will be Dark Lord Rising which is 10 chapters and we're reaching the end of chapter 7.
So I'd be hoping to start running Bounty at that point.

Quote from: Tapewolf on July 25, 2017, 04:37:18 AM
That is the plan, though obviously Merlin has to agree to it.  I'm currently working on chapter 20 and the story is still ongoing.  I'm considering running the written story weekly, but that will mean problems if I need to go back and fix something.

This is what we're looking to do next, barring some catastrophe:
'To Catch a Demon' has one page left - after that, the plan is to blitz CK's 'Ark of Ur' story and get that finished.
After that, Aisha has written a story I'm rather fond of, so to keep things ticking over while Bounty is being written, I'm hoping to do that as a comic.
After TCaD, the next one to complete will be Dark Lord Rising which is 10 chapters and we're reaching the end of chapter 7.
So I'd be hoping to start running Bounty at that point.

Yep, that all sounds sensible. I do want to draw this story too mwaha >:3

Chapter 7

"Shit," Steve said as the computer chimed.

"What's wrong?" Ralf asked, lying on the sofa and cocking his head quizzically.

"An adventuring job.  Emergency priority... and I'm all short-staffed."

"Cool!  Can I do it?"

"Heh," Steve chuckled.  "Sorry.  But I might have to send Mary, and that's unlikely to end well."

"That's not fair!"

"Fair or not, I can't send you unaccompanied, Ralf.  You're on probation, both as an adventurer and as a prototype lifeform.  Once you've been on a couple of missions with the others, then we can see about turning you loose on something simple.  In any case, your appearance is likely to startle people."

"Like Mary won't?"

"She will - but there have been Demon adventurers before.  There has never been a feral wolf robot with glowing eyes as an adventurer before.  Besides which, she is a card-carrying guild member.  You are not.  However..."

"Yes?" the cyberwolf asked eagerly.

"I should at least show you how to operate the AdventureNet terminal, and give you some basic training in answering the phone and making coffee..."

"What?!"

"That's how most interns start out," Steve grinned evilly.


"I guess it's a good job Mary isn't here," Daniel said.  "She wouldn't have let those three go.  Given that we're not going to be able to bring the heads with us easily, she'd probably just smash their skulls, or set fire to them or something."

"I remember when she twisted that guy's muzzle off his face..." Ben said, making a disgusted expression.

"Yesterday you said that it was mostly Beings that you were called to deal with as adventurers," Lady Featherstone queried.  "Does this really provide you with more trade than monster-slaying?"

"It's the economy," the fox replied.  "That and the easing of tensions between Beings and Creatures.  Like Dan was saying earlier, peace is a good thing for common folk and nobles alike, but it has put a lot of adventuring guilds out of business.  Some of those who have been let go start using their talents in... other ways.   Either out of desperation or because of... well, sadism.
"You see, many of us became adventurers because we wanted to keep people safe, but not everyone does.  There's more than a few Beings who became adventurers because they get to kill people with no repercussions.  And now there's nowhere to vent that frustration legally, they've taken to killing people illegally.  So at least some of what you're saying about Demons being psychopathic murderers who kill for fun... well, that can apply to Beings just as easily."

"Tell me again about this Mary of yours," Lady Featherstone said.  "Clearly she falls into the psychopathic murderer category.  Why does your guild allow someone as obviously dangerous and brutal as her?"

"Because she's dangerous and brutal," Ben said.  "That can be an advantage in the adventuring career.  It's like good cop/bad cop.  And she can be a very bad cop."

"She's also happy to do Ben's dirty work for him," Roger said.  "Executing people and stuff."

"Most importantly," Daniel interposed as Ben's lip curled, "This arrangement allows her to use her talents for the benefit of society.  This way she gets to let off steam, killing only the people society believes should be killed.  For the most part, everyone is happy.  Left to her own devices, she'd be wantonly massacring random strangers."

"Perhaps she should," the opossum mused.  "It would provide a legal basis for having her executed, after all..."

Everyone chuckled, but Daniel could feel Ben's growing unease, mirroring his own.


"Ah, Mary," Steve said.  "I am a little worried that you might not be following procedure as closely as you could be."

"In what particular way?" the she-wolf enquired.

"Well, this report you filed upon encountering a highwayman... 'I find you guilty of possessing an unauthorised class B thinking apparatus, the sentence for which is death by me.'"

"Oh, yeah!" Mary beamed.  "That was fun.  Especially the bit where I confiscated it!"

"Yes," Steve snarled.  "And not only did you include his brain with your report, you also had the cheek to ask if I could run it through the computer."

"Did it work?" the wolf Demon enquired.

"Of course not.  Facial recognition, OK.  Iris scan, no problem.  But the AdventureNet system can NOT positively identify a suspect from a picture of their brain!"

"Well, maybe it should," Mary said.

"Fine... I will file a bug report," Steve said.  "In your name.  By the way, another job has come up."

"More executions?!" Mary asked eagerly.

"No.  Missing persons report.  Greg Swanson.  Urgent.  Everyone else is in the field, so it's down to you.  I'd go myself, but after the last time you handled reception... Well, we can't have that again.  PLEASE be careful on this mission, Mary... no rampaging.  We need to find this person, not kill them.   So leave the axe behind."

"Alright, alright," Mary said, looking at the lion's face gazing back at her from the poster.  "I'll just take a sword."

"That's fine," Steve said, and looked up suddenly.  Mary glanced around to see Jason enter the office, face a picture of determination.

"Sorry, Steve... I need a word.  This is urgent," the jackal said.


"Josh," Fairwater said, "As I said, I think I have a lead for you."

"Svenson?" the husky said, examining the note.  "Clan Bal'Necht?"

"Indeed.  He says that he was framed.  I would like you to visit the guild which issued his death warrant and get their version of events.  It would also be helpful to establish what really happened to Obediah."

"Is that an order, Majesty?" Josh asked.  Fairwater rolled his eyes.

"I think better of you than that, Josh.  I could send one of my own men, but the intimidation factor... people tend not to be entirely truthful when talking to a representative of their King.  Especially if that representative is a demon in motorcycle gear with a very sharp sword.  Of course, if you have a better lead of your own..."

"Not really," Joshua smiled.  "Thank you for the tip, O King."

"This is Svenson's home address.  I've had him watched - partly due to the investigation, but also for his own protection.  One last thing... Obediah's guild is out in the sticks.  As someone who was born in a city, I would suggest teaming up with someone who has experience of adventuring in a medieval territory.  You may perhaps know Jason of Clan Daryil...?"


Josh winced as they made their way through the town of Southmoor.  Unlike Jason, who was in full platemail, the husky had gone shirtless but wore leather pants and a shortsword at his side.  Most of the buildings were made of wood and other temporary materials, and unpainted.  As a result, they didn't last long and were either falling apart or newly-built.  The only buildings showing no sign of decay were the town hall, and a medium-sized church dedicated to the worship of some local deity.

None of these details were particularly offensive to Joshua, nor was the adventuring gear that he wore as they trudged towards the guild hall.  What upset him more was the large scaffold in the centre of the town, with a chopping block that had clearly been used.  Behind it, the body of a malamute swung gently in the breeze, fastened to the frame of a gallows by a noose.  There were worn spots on the beam where ropes had gone - at least three victims had clearly been strung up together, and on enough occasions to leave marks upon the beam.

"Yeah," Jason said, quietly, glancing at the husky.  "These places aren't exactly what you might call tolerant.  I was lucky, I guess... I could have been executed for any number of sins.  Having wings... Sodomy..."

"I didn't know you were that way inclined."

"'Cubi often tend to be bisexual," the jackal muttered.

"I did wonder why that was happening," Josh mumbled, embarrassed.

"You were 'cubified during the android upgrade, right?  Don't worry about it.  It's normal.  Or at least I assume so... I can only speak for Daryil's clan.  And since it was us that converted you... well, we probably made you normal for a Daryil member."

"Anyway," he continued softly.  "In the city I grew up in, they were more accepting.  Homosexuality was unusual but was not a crime.  They had a distrust for winged folk, and they did try to kill me once they realised I was actually an incubus.  However, Daryil told the king it would be a pity if his nice kingdom had an unfortunate accident, and subsequently that particular problem went away.  Here, I wouldn't risk it.  Wings, I can probably get away with, but..."

Jason glanced darkly at the towering building.  "Church of the Crystal Dragon.  They're one of those throwback groups... very puritanical.  Strongly, anti-technology, anti-gay, anti-fun...  Not fond of Creatures either, but too dependent on trade with Fairwater to do much about it."

"I know the type," Josh sighed.  "Yet another religion that couldn't adapt to a post-medieval society..."

"Tell me about it.  It's like Beings have to have something else to discriminate against now they get on better with Creatures...  No offence intended," he added quickly.


"Welcome to Southmoor guild, adventurers," the rat said, as Jason introduced himself.  "The King of Fairwater did tell us of your coming.  What think you of our town?"

"It reminds me of home," Jason said wistfully, looking at the log cabin guild hall.  "All those decades ago... "

The adventurers glanced at Jason, obviously surprised at the blacked-back jackal's words, given his youthful appearance.  They noticed the wings as if for the first time, and took a nervous step or two backwards.

"I suppose it has a certain rustic charm," Josh allowed, "Is the computer in the back or something?"

"The future machine?  We do not have one.  They are forbidden!" the rat seemed horrified at the notion.

"Then how do you get on AdventureNet?"  Jason asked, wings fluffing out slightly.  "Where do your orders come from?"

"We do get those by messaging orb," put in a feline adventurer.  "There be a relay station 30 miles away, just outside of our jurisdiction.  They do have the future machine box there.  They do message the orders to us, and we do message them with updates when the orders be completed."

"I see.  My colleague... has implants," Jason said slowly.  "Are those forbidden?"

"Blasphemy!" the rat exclaimed, making a gesture to ward off evil.

"Yes," the feline said nervously.  "Were I you, I would conceal this.  The Church will be angered, should they learn of it!"

"I am sorry," Josh bowed.  "We are strangers here and do not know your local customs."

"Indeed.  I would leave this land as soon as your business does allow."

"We shall.  But first, what can you tell me about a guild-member of yours called Obediah?"

"Obediah...?  He has been sent unto the LORD."

"What?!  You mean he's been executed?!"

"Aye.  He had forbidden sex with a guild-mate.  His accomplice did surrender his head yesterday morn for agreeing to accommodate his friend's sinful, unnatural affections... Obediah himself danced the hempen jig for misusing his loins, a slower, less merciful punishment as a warning to all.  His body hangs still from the dule-tree in the centre of the town, to remind all of the wages of sin and lust.  There he shall hang until the week ends."

"The malamute outside..." Josh said, eyes narrowing.

"Aye, 'tis him."

"Well," Jason said, blinking rapidly, "I guess that concludes our business here.  We will have to check the relay station as part of our investigation, since I need to know about an order relating to your late colleague.  But we'll do that as quickly as is feasible, and leave your lands post-haste."

"Fare thee well," the feline said.  The rat sat in a corner, apparently muttering prayers to himself.

Hoo boy, more religious crazies (Niall would like a word with you!). This will not end well.

Chapter 8

Mary sighed as she approached the door.

Pity this isn't a hit, she thought.  It's always fun to see their expression when you walk through their front door without opening it first.  Missing Person cases... so boring!  And they send such nasty complaints to the guild if the missing person comes back to find their door smashed in...

Grasping the doorknob, she twisted it hard, ripping the lock from the frame with a muted splintery noise.

"Coo-ee!" the wolf demon called.  "Mister Swan-son!  Anybody home...?"

Summoning a light spell, she prowled the house, remarkably stealthy for all her bulk and armour.  In the kitchen she heard a faint noise in the darkness, and quickly extinguishing the spell, glanced around, every nerve on edge.
Suddenly there was a thunk as a sword slammed into the back of her neck.

"Ow!" Mary retorted, spinning around, katana already streaking through the air.  There was a moment of resistance, followed by a satisfying thud, a loud crash and finally the soft gurgle of blood.

"Score!" the demon said, and grinning broadly, turned on the light.  As she studied the severed leonine head, her face fell and she quickly re-read the job sheet.  It was Swanson's.


"Well, Mary," King Fairwater said, "I had the misfortune to have to execute your parents, so I truly hope you won't have to follow in their footsteps.  Normally I would be extremely unforgiving about this kind of thing, but in view of recent events I will not rush to judgement."

"I was carrying out work for the guild!" Mary protested.

"Very badly," the king retorted.  "You were supposed to be finding a missing person, and instead you beheaded them.  I called your guildmaster earlier, Mary.  He is extremely angry with you, and shattered a number of glass stress balls during the conversation."

"I didn't know it was HIM!  I thought he'd kidnapped Swanson!"

"Oh, right!  And how exactly was he going to tell you where Swanson was without a head...?"

"Swanson was an adventurer, so you'd need a gang of people to kidnap him.  Besides, killing minions who attack us on guild work is lawful self-defence,"  Mary protested, running a finger through her shortened locks and stroking the pink line where the blade had sliced through her fur. 
"That bastard tried to take MY head off!  Skin-hardening doesn't do jack to protect your hair!  Look what he DID to it!"

"Swanson's attack could equally have been self-defence... to try and protect himself from YOU!"

"Doesn't work like that, O king.  Beheading demons only works when you take us off-guard or neutralise our powers first.  Once the skin hardens, that kind of thing could break your arm, and sometimes your sword too.  You want to kill a Demon, it has to be an ambush.  If I hadn't already hardened my skin out of caution... or if I was some other race, that stroke would have decapitated me.
"Look, your Maj, if I had gone rogue, why would I report his death to the authorities?" Mary objected.  "Sure I enjoy killing people, but there's plenty enough legal kills to keep me busy!  Getting arrested and tried for a capital crime would just get in the way!  Being executed would spoil all my fun!  Why would I want to risk that?"

"The thought processes of Demons are not always comprehensible to other races," the King said.  "Fond as you are of chaos and discord...  However, I happen to know that there has been a rash of adventurer-on-adventurer killings lately."

"A set-up?"  Mary said, looking thoughtful.  "It would explain a lot."

"It is definitely possible," the King allowed.  "But it is also possible that you overheard this from your guild and are using it as a cover to commit atrocities.  For all I know, YOU filed the missing persons report to try and cover your tracks.  Further investigations are needed, and you must remain under arrest for the time being.  Riders... find her a secure cell.  This interview is over."

"Fine," Mary scowled, as two Black Riders led her away.


The forest thinned out and a large, craggy hill stood before them.  Surrounding it was a high wall of solid rock, worked into shape through some ancient magic.  A fortress loomed over the only visible pass through the wall.  As they drew closer, Lady Featherstone became furtive and the group began to speak in low voices, moving quietly from cover to cover inside the dwindling woodland.

"Behold..." the opossum said, quietly.  "The lost city of my forebears, and our final destination."

Poking his face through the leaves, Daniel took in the scene.  A mighty citadel rose before them, the front shattered by some conflict in times not long past.  The Doberman noticed that there appeared to be bullet-marks in the facade, which meant it was from some time within the last two centuries.

"This ruin of yours appears to be occupied," he murmured, noting movement in the watchtowers looming over the gate.

"Disappointing, but not surprising," the opossum said.  "It would make a fine hideout for bandits.  Let us approach and see if they are friendly."

"I'll go first," Ben said.

He walked jauntily out from their cover.  Nothing happened immediately so after a small delay, the others trailed behind him.

As he approached the gate, an arrow slammed into a tree next to Ben.

"HOLD!" a voice called down from the watchtower.  "State your business!"

"Are you bandits?"  Daniel called, raising his hands.  "We have no valuables.  We are exploring.  May we enter the ruins?"

"Oh gods... It's HER!" someone yelled.  There was a confused babel of voices from inside the lookout.

"Strangers... leave this place immediately!" a new voice called.  "This citadel is ours, and you are NOT welcome here!"

"Lay down your arms and let me pass!"  Lady Featherstone commanded.  An arrow struck a tree just above her head.

"Lady, we have to get out of here," Ben said, launching himself at the opossum and knocking her to the ground.

"But..."

"NO," Daniel said firmly and between the three of them, the adventurers dragged their employer back into the forest, struggling and cursing.

"Get your hands off me!" she snarled.

"When we're out of crossbow range," Roger said.  "You hired us to protect you, so let us do our job."

"Very well, but it will just be delaying the inevitable," the opossum snapped.  "I have come too far just to turn back now!"

"And do what?" Daniel retorted hotly.  "That's not just a couple of highwaymen camping out there, those bandits have occupied that ruin.  Fortified it.  Hell, they've even been repairing some of the damage!"

"So get rid of them!  Why do you think I hired three of you for escort duty?!"

"Lady Featherstone, be reasonable," Ben said, touching Daniel on the shoulder.  "Emptying that place will need an army.  Three typical adventurers, no matter how skilled, cannot snap their fingers and conquer a citadel filled with warriors.  If you wanted that, you should have hired Demons."

"Demons!"  The opossum spat.  "They'd just kill me too."

"Not a Demon adventurer.  Most demons can be a bit wild, but killing the person who commissioned you... well, you'd better have a REALLY good reason or the consequences will be dire.  If you're lucky it will just end your career.  Otherwise... well, there's a reason most guild halls still have an execution chamber.  Rogue adventurers don't make the profession look good."

"All this is fascinating, but I do not wish the company of Creatures!" the opossum said testily.  "I was upfront about this from the start.  If that means I have to raise an army of Beings, then that is what we'll have to do.  There is a town half a day's march east from here where I can hire a great many mercenaries, though I had hoped it would not be necessary..."

"You're serious?" Daniel said, astonished.  "Are a couple of relics really that important?"

"YES!"  The opossum snapped.  "I have planned this expedition for over a year!  I hired you, paid for the trip and paid your expenses specifically to enter that citadel, and I will NOT be turned back by a bunch of ruffians!"

"I think this may be exceeding the parameters of our mission," Ben said.  "Look, if you really need reinforcements, what about Mary?  She can knock her way through anything."

"Mary is not here," the opossum snapped.  "We need what we can get right now!  I want those fools gone from my citadel!"

"Why?" Daniel asked.  "You're on a treasure hunt.  All we have to do is get inside the ruin, find the relics and then leave again.  Surely we can come to some accomodation with the guys occupying it."

"NO!  THEY HAVE TAKEN OVER MY...." Lady Featherstone stopped abruptly, and took a deep breath.  "They are occupying my ancestral home," she said.  "Yes, I came for some relics, but there's more to it than that.  I wish to re-establish the ancient home of my forefathers."

Roger whistled.  "That's quite a long-term project," he said.

"But doable," she insisted.  "You were commissioned to help me do this.  The citadel is now held by my ancient enemies, and for my own safety, they need to be evicted.  If you refuse to help me, then I will find others who will.  But you will not get the remainder of your fee and I shall lodge a formal complaint with your guild!"

"I think this is a really bad idea," Daniel said.  "But since this folly is what you hired us to do, I guess we'll just have to go with it and try to protect you as best we can."

"That's better," Lady Featherstone said, checking her compass.  "We go this way."


Fairwater sat on his throne, staring intently at the screen in his hands.  Suddenly the display went blood-red.

"Should have looked behind you," Admaria crowed.

"Technically, fragging the king is treason," Fairwater grumbled.  He glanced back at the queen and his face fell as he saw the catsuit she was wearing.  "Oh no... Why the black outfit...?  We don't have any executions scheduled, do we...?  That's all I need right now..."

"No, dear.  But you've been so stressed out by this adventurer nonsense, I figured you could use a little... relaxation," the border collie purred, posing as seductively as she could manage without actually leaving the throne.

"Ah what the hell," Fairwater smiled.  "Yes.  We're 'cubi - may as well act the part.  Shall we close petitioning early?"

"I thought we could do it in the middle of the throne room," Admaria offered, handing him a black catsuit and gloves.  "We've never done that before.  The supplicants can wait.  Or hell, they can join in if they like."

"I've never tried hearing someone's petition while making love," the Doberman said thoughtfully.  "But I'm open to new experiences."

"Majesty..." one of the guards called.

"What is it?" the king asked irritably.

"We found this, sire," the lioness said, handing him a crumpled piece of paper.

"Pineapple upside-down cake?  Is this some kind of joke?"

"Turn it over, your majesty.  We found this in Swanson's wastepaper basket.  It appears to be in his handwriting."

Fairwater's eyes widened as he took in the message, and his headwings fanned out.

"Good gods..." the King said.  "HE wrote it?  A draft of the bounty?!"

"Yes, Sire.  He used an alias, but this Swanson filed a missing persons report for himself."

"...and ambushed the adventurer sent to find him?!  That doesn't make sense."

"But it does match the suspect's story.  Shall we release her?"

"Later," Fairwater said, stretching a black shiny glove onto his wrist.  "After I've ravished the queen."

Chapter 9

They arrived in the town just before noon.  A crowd gathered in the square, where some unfortunate wolf was being led to the gallows.

"Must we watch this...?"  Ben asked plaintively.

"I am still surprised, that for an agent of justice, you seem so offended when it is carried out," Lady Featherstone said.

"We have no idea what passes for justice here," Daniel pointed out.  "When I execute someone or accept a bounty for their head, I want to know what they've done.  I have to be certain that they've done the deed, or I won't do it.  Killing an innocent is not justice, it's murder.  For all we know, this man was late paying his taxes, or is gay..."

"And...?"

"And those things are not usually capital crimes except in some hick backwater," Ben hissed.

"Watch what you say," the opossum snapped.  "Someone with colours as unnatural as yours should tread lightly here, unless they wish to do the rope dance as well."

"That rather emphasises his point," Daniel muttered.  "In any case, there are more merciful ways to kill a man than slowly throttling him."

"There are also less merciful ways," Featherstone retorted.  "This criminal... at least his family will have an intact body to bury.  A headsman would leave him in kit form."

"That is true," Daniel admitted reluctantly.  "Though jailing the miscreant instead of killing him would spare his family even more distress.  Very well.  We watch the execution.  We're your escort... we can't leave our charge unprotected, and if the locals are as hostile as you say, splitting up could get us in trouble."

"So she's escorting US?" Ben replied.

"Shh," Roger hissed.  "I want to watch this!"

At length the canine's kicking and thrashing subsided and he finally went limp, swinging gently as his tongue lolled, darkened by the rope cutting off his arteries like a tourniquet.
The crowd broke up, with Ben and Daniel looking very subdued, while their charge strode off with Roger, a spring in her step, avidly discussing the details with the feline.

"They make quite a pair, don't they?" Daniel muttered.  "I be HE gets a glowing review after all this."

"I just hope we get a bonus for having to put up with her.  Olaf is going to get a right earful from me!"

"He couldn't have known the mission would creep like this," the Doberman pointed out.  "But yes, I think we're due compensation."


"My Lady!" the guild head exclaimed as they entered the hall.  "This is an unexpected pleasure!  I thought not to see you again!"

Ben and Daniel raised their eyebrows.

"I have these adventurers to thank for that," the opossum said.  "They have proven invaluable as guides and escorts.  But to regain the sceptre, I need more hands at my side.  The citadel is occupied by bandits and enemies."

"Bandits..." the pademelon said, as if tasting the word.  "Yes.  Yes, I can provide hands.  You were ever popular among us, there will be no shortage of volunteers.  We can likely set off this eve with a veritable army behind you!"

"Do you still need us?"  Ben asked, cocking one ear in slight puzzlement.

"Perhaps not," Lady Featherstone said.  "But I would be happier with you at my side.  After that unpleasantness in the forest... it would please me much, and reflect better upon you when I write to your commander."

"I would come with you if you'll have us," Daniel said.  "It seems to me that if we are to re-establish your ancient realm, this will be an historic occasion.  I would not miss it for the world!"

"Then it's settled!" the opossum decreed.  "Once all this is done, I shall reward you richly for your trouble!"

And I will have all the facts when we return to the guild, Daniel added mentally.


"Hold, strangers!" the guard said as they approached the gate bordering the town.  He was accompanied by two more guards whose armour was not the sensible grey of the rest, but ornate and brightly-coloured.

"Is there some sort of trouble?"  Jason asked.

"Not with you.  But your companion we must take in for questioning."

"May I come too?" the jackal asked.

"Aye.  I see no reason you should not."

Jason's brow furrowed slightly as they were led back through the town, past the town hall and past the guildhall.  As they approached the Church his heart sank.  The stained glass windows bore the same insignia as the brightly-coloured armour of their captor.

Shit, he thought.  It's the Church militia.

"In here, strangers," the guard said, leading Josh and Jason into to a large confessional.  The lock clicked shut behind them.

"The Cardinal will be with thee shortly," a priest's voice informed them from the grate.  "If thou hast anything to confess to now, it may save us time."

"I can't think of anything offhand," Josh said.

"Heresy?" the priest asked hopefully.  "Having carnal knowledge of thy companion?"

"I haven't," Josh said.  "And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't do so in this town.  I understand such things are frowned upon here."

"'Tis true," the priest said.

"Why is he being detained?"  Jason asked politely.  "When can we expect to go?"

"The Cardinal wishes to question him.  Whisperings of heresy have reached his ears."

"What counts as heresy in these parts, anyway?"

"'Thou shalt not make a machine in the image of a Being, or any part thereof'.  There are sinful men who do join flesh to metal, or worse... pour their own immortal soul into a graven image!"

"Is platemail a machine in the image of a Being?" Jason asked, rubbing steel fingers across a steel thumb.

"Nay, for it is but a cloak thou doth wear, it is not a part of thee."

"Creatures?"

"They too are sinful, for they take the image of Beings but are not Beings.  Oft times they slay and murder...  But I digress.  Husky... be you a heretic?"

"It is true that I have implants," Josh admitted.  "I did not know they were forbidden here, and we were just leaving when we were arrested.  I can pay penance if you so wish and will not enter this land again..."

"The penance shall be for the Cardinal to decide," the priest said.


"Oh great gods, she's invading!" the lookout cried.

"Slay her!" a voice commanded.  "A thousand gold coins to whoever brings back her head!"

"Not on our watch!" Ben yelled back.

The great wooden door burst open, and a number of men ran out, armed chiefly with swords and spears.

The pademelon from the guild, who was clearly leading the army, raised his sword and the men ran forward to meet them, armour and weapons gleaming in the early evening sun.
Crossbow bolts slammed into the ground and several of Featherstone's army fell with their brains or hearts pierced.  The hail of bolts dried up fairly quickly, and was not soon replenished... fireballs and oil-filled crossbows came in the return fire from the attackers and soon black smoke poured from the lookout posts, forcing the archers to flee.

"Not very good shots, were they...?" Daniel remarked, but soon he and Ben were on their feet again, pulling the opossum to the ground and dragging her away from the combat area.

"Is this some kind of game?!" she squawked angrily.

"Yes, it's called 'Stop your employer getting killed in the battle,'" Ben told her.  The opossum looked indignant but her protesting ceased.

One of the soldiers, some kind of knight or paladin, barrelled out of from the keep and fought his way valiantly through the horde, slicing the heads from several opponents with a broadsword.  As he approached the opossum, Daniel drew his own broadsword and the two fought as Ben and Roger stood guard over their charge.

Distracted by the fight, Ben suddenly glanced around to see a some kind of feline hybrid, and assassin approaching the lady, crossbow in hand.  He cast a spell, projecting a line of solid ice which shattered at the crossbow's impact, before drawing his sword and charging at the assassin.  While he attempted to reload the device, Ben's guild-issue short-sword lashed out, slicing into the man's arm.  He staggered and the weapon fell from his grasp.  Ben's sword came round again and struck the head squarely with the flat of the blade, dropping the assassin who went down hard and did not move.  Roger was over him in an instant, raising his axe for an execution.  Ben snarled and lashed out at his companion too, striking the leopard's arm painfully as a warning.

Roger growled irritably and contented himself with binding the man's wrists.  There was a clash of steel upon armour and the knight was down too.

Ben glanced around, and then looked away again very quickly.  Daniel stood with a grave expression and his sword wet with blood.  The body lay sprawled, a trail of bright blood painting the way to where his helmeted head had rolled.

"I had no choice," the Doberman said sadly.  "He was too skilled for me to end it without bloodshed..."

"But clearly not skilled enough," Lady Featherstone said, admiring his work.  "You shall have a bonus.  And regret not his death... it saves us the trouble of executing him later."

Ben's expression soured, and he was about to reply when a cry went up from the fortress.

"WE HAVE WON!" the pademelon called, approaching Lady Featherstone triumphantly.  "Your enemies are broken... they have surrendered!  The fortress is ours!"

Lady Featherstone strode over to greet him, and the two were quickly deep in discussion about losses during the battle, and the next steps in making the fortress secure.  Daniel's ears pricked up at a sound behind him.

"Why...?" the assassin gurgled, blood trickling down his face.

"Why what?" Daniel asked, checking the man's injuries.

"Why did you aid... HER...?  I thought... adventurers tried to do good..."

"Lady Featherstone?  We aided her because we were commissioned to," the Doberman said, casting a healing spell.  "She hired our guild to protect her and bring her to some ancient ruins.  We were attacked and we defended ourselves and our employer.  Are you feeling better?"

"Yes, thank you, young man...  She USED you, adventurer.  She was exiled two years ago for her crimes... Brought forth an age of prosperity...  All over now... We tried to stop the Dark Lady reclaiming her city..."

"What are you saying?!"  Daniel yelped.  "This place is a going concern?!  She used to rule here?!"

"With an iron fist!"  the feline said, struggling to rise.  "Did you not see the damage done during the uprising?  The tyrant was overthrown and..."  Suddenly a crossbow bolt pierced his brainpan and the older man fell back, twitching and spasming in death throes that made Daniel feel sick to his stomach.

"That's quite enough of that," the opossum said, lowering the weapon.  "Tyrant, indeed!  Can you believe that?!  Just because some disagreed with my priorities..."

"You've killed him!"  Daniel snarled.  Roger put a warning hand on the Doberman's shoulder, restraining him.  Daniel fell silent and his expression softened a little.

"He opposed my reign," Lady Featherstone said.  "He was a traitor.  I suppose it WOULD have been more fun to round up his friends too, but there's plenty of time for that.  For now, we celebrate!"

Oooh Josh, you should have run while you had the chance...

And lo and behold, Featherstone was not trustworthy, either. My gut has not failed me.

I'm betting she turns on Ben and co. next.

It's all a matter of perspective. And, if they get away, they can always send Mary back with a bounty on "Lady Featherstone"'s head for the guy she just nailed.

Right?

Chapter 10

"I must ask thee to disrobe, my son, that we may determine the extent of thy sin, and the penance thou must pay," the cardinal said as they stood before the altar in the empty church.
Reluctantly, Josh complied, removing his adventuring gear until he wore only a pair of slip briefs.  A priest entered shortly afterwards, trundling a large machine which they plugged into a wall socket.

"That is an X-ray machine," Jason said.  "Have you been properly trained to use it?  Do you have radiation protection?"

"The LORD will guide my hand," the Cardinal informed them piously.  "The power of our faith will protect us!"  Jason sighed and discreetly cast a spell to shield himself from the radiation.

As the image formed of Joshua's internals, all hell broke loose.

"HERESY!"  The cardinal screeched, and a number of paladins appeared from the back rooms with remarkable speed.

"I take it that's a big penance?"  Jason asked.

"Thy companion has replaced his body - a gift from God Himself - with metal!  Such blasphemy is forbidden and he must pay with what remains of his life!"

"Hold on, hold on."  Josh interrupted.  "We are on a mission from the King!  If you mistreat us you risk his wrath!"

"What is your King compared to the glory of God...?  We serve a far higher authority!"

"Be that as it may, we were given leave to defend ourselves!" Jason warned, broadsword in his hands as he stood to defend Josh.

"Throw down your sword, my son..." the Cardinal entreated.  "You are surrounded and we have no quarrel with you.  Let us do justice upon your sinful companion and you shall leave unharmed."

"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," Jason said.

The Cardinal clicked his fingers and one of the paladins approached, halberd raised.  Jason brought his sword up in a defensive posture, but then saw something out of the corner of his eye.

"Oh no you don't," he snarled and swung the around.  His blade connected with the figure, biting deep into the paladin's helmet and cleaving his skull.  The Being spasmed and fell in a twitching heap of metal and pooling blood.

"Oh shit," Jason said.

"Heresy!  Murder!  Let them be punished by the neck!" the cardinal thundered.  "Hang them from the...  Eeep!" he yelped, as Jason's head-wings appeared.

"Behead them!  The blasphemer and the monster both!"

"Bad idea," Jason sneered, handing the dead man's halberd to Josh with a wing-tentacle.  "See, if being captured will get me executed, I have no incentive to surrender quietly.  In fact, it makes far more sense to kill everyone who could prevent me escaping.
"And when you know there's nothing worse that can happen to you, you might as well start sucking out people's delicious souls into the bargain!"

"So," he finished, grinning horrifically, "Who wants to be destroyed first...?"

A stun spell hit Jason in the back of the head and he went down.  Josh, distracted by his companion's mishap, was seized from behind and enchanted bracers placed around his arms, which promptly went numb.  Pinned to the floor, similar restraints were placed on his legs, rendering him helpless.

"The wholesome, righteous magic given us by the LORD shall always overcomes the heathen," the Cardinal said piously.  "'Tis well known that electronics do not like magic."

"What do we do with them, your grace?" the priest asked.

"The monster is to be beheaded on the altar as an offering to the LORD," the Cardinal decreed.

"No!"  Josh yelled, as the prone incubus was laid out by the militia.

"Afterwards, the machine-man shall be beheaded too.  And if that does not work, we shall try putting the bracers on his neck.  He lives, therefore it must be possible for him to die..."

"On your command, your grace," the chief guard said, halberd at the ready.


"I don't mean to interrupt," Ben interrupted, as they entered the throne room, "But, well... our work is done here, isn't it?  So if you'll just pay us the remainder of the fee, we'll be off..."

"Oh, but not yet!" the opossum beamed.  "You must stay, I insist!  After all you've done to restore me to my rightful throne, crude money hardly seems a befitting reward.  Come!  We must at least hold a banquet to celebrate our success!  Besides, as soon as the traitors have been rooted out, I will have great need of headsmen and torturers.  Having you here already would so convenient!" she smiled, gesturing at Daniel and his broadsword.

"That's DEFINITELY not what we were commissioned for," Ben said apologetically.  "Defending you on your expedition is what we were asked to do, and that's what we've done.  And what's more, if I may be frank, milady, you have been less than honest with us about the whole venture.  This is no ruin!  It has electric lighting!  Tarmac roads!  Cellular phone coverage!"

"Now, now, Benjamin," Lady Featherstone smiled, taking her place upon the throne.  "As it happens, everything I have told you was true.
This IS an ancient stronghold belonging to my forebears, and there ARE ancient family heirlooms here.  Chiefly, the hallowed sceptre of Arndale... divine symbol of my rule!"

"I stand corrected, my lady," Ben bowed.  "Even so, deliberately setting out to end someone's life is a most serious matter.  Hunting bandits tends to be all-inclusive, and obviously any deaths incurred in self-defence or while protecting our charge on an escort mission are part-and-parcel.
"But what you're asking for now are executions and/or assassinations!  That's expensive and there's all kinds of red tape involved.  Each kill has to be signed off by our boss!"

"If money's no object, you can open a tab," Roger said helpfully.  "Triple the usual rate to cover the extra admin.  And afterwards, if you don't pay up, we chop your head off too!"

"I hope you're not threatening the ruler of this realm," the opossum smiled, leaning back in her throne.

"Not at all, Ma'am," the panther said gruffly.  "Just my little joke."

"Good!  Well, I think that's all for now.  I shall contact your guildmaster and enquire as to opening this... tab.  On the morrow a banquet shall be held to celebrate my glorious return!  You shall be guests of honour!"

"Parthos here will find you some accommodation.  Sleep well, gentlemen!"

Daniel removed his armour and lay back upon his bed.  Shortly afterwards there was a faint click.  The doberman crept stealthily towards the door and tried the handle.  It was locked.


"Good morning!"  Lady Featherstone said, taking her place at the head of the banquet table.  "Eat, drink and be merry, for this morning is the dawn of a new era for Andovia!"

Daniel and Ben didn't strictly need to eat, since they were 'Cubi and able to feed on emotions.  From long experience and the courses they had attended, Ben and Daniel were well aware that not eating would look suspicious, especially since adventuring was a physically demanding profession.  So they helped themselves to various dainties, while Roger ate with gusto.

At length the feast came to a close, having given way from breakfast into lunch, the main course was cleared away, leaving only the wine and various pastries for any who were still peckish.  Lady Featherstone took a fork and tapped the side of her glass a few times, drawing attention from her comrades.

"I hope you have enjoyed that as much as I," Lady Featherstone began.  "And, now that I have been returned to the seat of my ancestors, we must start preparing for the next phase of our campaign!"

"It will be tough," the pademelon said.  "The palace is heavily guarded."

"I have a strategy that should provide access," the opossum said.

"My Lady," Ben said.  "Forgive the interruption, but what is this plan of which you speak?"

"Bloody mercenaries," one of the soldiers muttered.

"Now, now," the opossum scolded.  "Is that any way to thank the heroes who were instrumental in my return to power?"

"Thank you, lady," Ben said.  "Even so, if you wish us to be part of some new adventure, it will have to go through our guild master.  Time is money..."

"Have no fear.  The next phase will not begin immediately.  We have a few days to prepare.  But fear not, there will be other tasks for you and your comrades in the meantime!
But, so as you know what to expect, we will shortly begin preparations to dethrone King Fairwater."

Daniel choked on his wine.  Ben looked appalled.

"You what?!" he yelped.

"Have a care, Benjamin," Lady Featherstone said, her expression souring slightly.  "My gratitude for what you have done is vast, but it is not boundless and nor is my patience."

"Anyway," she said, and stood up.  "The plans for my conquest can wait.  First, it is time for the entertainments!"

A footman ushered the guests out of the banquet hall as the serving staff began clearing the tables.  Out into the corridor the procession flowed, and finally into the courtyard of the castle, where a large frame stood, covered in plush cloth.

"Do you think it's a statue of herself?" Daniel whispered.

Shortly afterwards, the clock struck noon.  As the last bell faded away, Lady Featherstone pulled grandly upon a silk cord, and the ornate covering fell away to reveal a large gallows.  Five Beings stood, muzzles gagged, hands bound behind their backs.

"Behold the traitors!" the opossum's voice rang out.

"Two years ago, I was usurped from my rightful throne.  These men and women here led the coup against me, and I must confess, it was quite successful.  But there was one flaw... in their weakness and cowardice they merely sought to exile me instead of dirtying their hands and making an end to me.  Grateful as I am to be here today, I shall not make the same mistake in granting them their reward."

So saying, she pulled a lever and the floor gave way beneath the unfortunate five.

"Dance, dance, my pretty ones!"

Ben trembled slightly, keeping a neutral expression and suppressing his anger with effort.  Daniel watched keenly with feigned interest, while Roger pushed his doubts aside, enjoying the spectacle as best he could.

The clock ticked on and on, until the kicking finally ceased and the last of the five Beings lapsed into unconsciousness and death.

"There will be more," Featherstone said.  "More than I have time to deal with personally.  But Roger and Daniel here are experienced headsmen and I leave the honour of executing common traitors to them!  I shall make my preferences regarding the manner of death known in due course.
"Any surviving ring-leaders I shall deal with personally.  And I have not forgotten Ben either!  For you, I have a special task.  It can be hard to tell traitors the innocent, but there are ways!  Removing a finger or two can help loosen the most stubborn of tongues!"

"I..." Ben started, and then glanced back at the unfortunate figures swaying gently from the noose.  "I am honoured, my lady."  I'll report this to the guild, he added mentally.

"I thought you would be," the opossum smiled.  "My captain tells me that the dungeon torture chamber has since been converted into storage, so alas we are missing a lot of the instruments of persuasion.  Send me a list of what you will need on the morrow and I will do my best to accommodate you."

"I shall, Lady," Ben said, bowing deeply.

"Good.  We might be able to find some of it on TheeBay."

Yeesh. RUN, you fools! It's only a matter of time before she turns on you!

...Wait, what the hell? She wants to go to war with Fairwater!? ...Okay, figure out the details, then run.

Chapter 11

"We have captured Henderson, My Lady," the guard said, bowing before her.  "What do you wish us to do with her?"

"Ah yes, the sloth." Featherstone said, drumming her fingers upon the throne.  "I shall decide an amusing death for her later.  She deserves to suffer - after all, she is one of the seven deadly sins.  Yes!  See if we have an iron maiden, and if not, add it to Ben's list of torture devices.  I doubt Henderson will object to the delay while we procure one..."

Roger clenched his fists at this, but said nothing.  Ben and Daniel struggled to keep their faces straight.

"My lady," the fox interrupted, "Earlier, you spoke of overthrowing King Fairwater.  Might I enquire as to why?  What exactly is your problem with the King?"

"He is a monster!" the opossum snarled.  "A fiend who not only sated his lust for blood as an executioner, but was all the while plotting treason against his liege, King Ordros!  This Fairwater usurped the throne through his unnatural powers and holds it still today!"

"But all this happened long before any of us were born," Ben pointed out.  "Surely it is time to bury grievances that lie nearly two centuries past?"

"My great, great, great, great grandfather was King Ordros," the opossum said.  "Ruler of what is now called 'Fairwater'.  But before Ordros was seduced by some whore of a succubus, he had a fiancée - my great-great-great-great-grandmother!  She was with child when she fell out of his favour, replaced by that evil hussy of his!
"Fortunately, the old King finally came to his senses and had the harlot's winged head struck from her shoulders!  I mean to visit that same fate upon the usurper, and the Princess Admaria if she lives still!  I shall hunt her down and watch her beg for mercy!  Yet all her pleadings shall be in vain, for the blade shall claim her too.   They shall pay dearly for their interferences... were it not for them, my ancestors would have ruled as queens, and I also in my turn!"

"I'm not sure that would have worked, my Lady," Daniel said.  "You only exist as you do because your grandmother married the man she did, a freedom of choice she could only have as a noble or commoner.  If she'd been born a princess she'd have ended up in an arranged marriage to some foreign prince, and there would be some other prince or princess here today instead of you."

"That is not the point," Featherstone scowled.  "The point is that I am the true heir to the throne!  And soon, it shall be MINE!  Once I have his head on a pike, I shall proclaim a public holiday to celebrate my new reign!   That day shall also be an amnesty for Creatures within Fairwater!  They will have until sundown to leave, or be executed on sight within my realm!  Things will be back to how they were in the halcyon days of King Ordros the Just!"

"King Ordros the Round, you mean," Roger snickered.

"Treason!" Lady Featherstone screamed, looking genuinely appalled.  "Guards!  Execute the traitor!"

"Wait!  You can't do that!" Ben cried.  "It's in the contract!  We reserve the right to defend ourselves with lethal force!  You'll be executed if you return to our lands!"

"Well, these are my lands," Lady Featherstone snarled, as strong arms grabbed Ben and Daniel, putting them into a neck-hold.  "And for standing by this traitor, your actions make you his accomplices!  Behold your fate!"

She pointed at Roger, who was pinned down by two of her guards.  "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"


When Ben had been a young cub, his school had not had room for a dedicated gymnasium, so the main hall, normally used for assemblies and as a dining area at lunch time, could also be used for this purpose as well.
Owing to the multi-purpose nature of the room, the climbing frames were swivelled so that they could be folded against the wall when not in use, and swung back into place when required.  A steel bolt slid down into a metal-rimmed hole in the parquet floor, locking the structure safely in place.

What happened now was very similar - a group of guards and servants rushed into immediate action on hearing Lady Featherstone's cry.  Each performed a different task to ensure that the Lady's will was carried out as swiftly as possible.  A pull-cord drew back a curtain which had been hiding aparatus similar to the old school climbing-frame, but instead of climbing bars, it was clearly a guillotine.
Daniel's mouth fell open as the team swung the device into place, locked it down and readied it for the unfortunate victim with well-rehearsed precision.
A bucket was brought and Roger was forced into a kneeling position just as the blade reached the top of the runner.

Ben looked away, but he couldn't avoid hearing the thud as the blade slammed home, the soft, wet thump as Roger's head dropped into the bucket, or blot out the pain and futile rage as his comrade's mind faded and died.  The entire operation had taken less than ten seconds from the order being given.

"Impressive," Daniel said, an envious tone in his voice.  "I've never seen an execution take place so swiftly and smoothly!"

"Why, thank you!" the opossum smiled.  "If it takes more than fifteen seconds, those responsible lose their heads too.  It helps keep them on their toes.  Of course, it's been a few years since they did this, so I was prepared to show them a little leniency while they get back up to speed.
"Very well, young Daniel... since you are so impressed, I shall execute you LAST, so that you may watch and savour as the operation takes place once more before you die."

"Next, the fox!" she shouted, pointing at Ben.  "Off with HIS head!"

Ben tensed, and his wings appeared, knocking his captor to the ground.  Panic set in amongst the guardsmen as they realised they were dealing with a powerful Creature, and the fact that they were likely to exceed the 15 second deadline.
They came at him in a desperate rush, and he quickly found himself mobbed.  Bracers appeared from somewhere and were clamped to his wrists, shorting out most of his incubus powers.
Looking around, the fox realised that Daniel had also succumbed, growling and struggling, his eyes wide as they took in the guillotine.  The blade was rising for its next victim,  still wet with Roger's blood and spinal fluid.
Through a quirk of the bracers, Ben could no longer morph his wings, but he could still perceive thoughts and emotions... his mental filters blocked by the magic of the bracers.  His comrade's fear and guilt came in loud and strong as the Doberman thought back to the criminals, the men and women he had decapitated in the name of justice, a fate he was due to suffer himself.  "Live by the blade, die by the blade..."

The guardsmen looked anxiously at Lady Featherstone, who scowled angrily.  "Go on, you idiots!  Destroy these monsters!  Quickly, now... before they can wreak some new mischief!"

Roger's feet and tail were still twitching gently as they shoved his corpse aside.  Ben found himself staring down into a fresh bucket as the lunette snapped closed around his neck and stained it with his dead colleague's lifeblood.
Beside him, someone reached out and pulled the release lever.  Heart racing, Ben gritted his teeth and pushed hard - his wings jumped forward just as the blade was released.
He screamed with pain as the hard razor edge struck the bend of his wings, shielding his neck with the nearly indestructible stuff that 'cubi wings were made from.
 
"A sword, then!" the opossum screamed furiously.  "Strike the monster's pretty little head off!"

Ben struggled in the confusion, his wings trying to lift the lunette and release his head.  Others swarmed around him, some trying to keep his neck in position, others tugging at his wings to try and release the blade.  At this height it couldn't take his head clean off but would still cause a fatal injury to his neck, opening an artery and likely severing much of his spinal column.
Suddenly the fox's head popped back through the hole, the crowd parting around him, but not for long.  A burly hyena took hold of him, grabbing a head-wing with one hand, katana raised in the other.

Daniel tore himself away from his opponents and kicked the executioner, the deadly sword flying from the man's hand and skittering into a corner.  Daniel grabbed it, and then turned to see one of Lady Featherstone's guards hastening to obey.  Fury spilled over and he leaped, eyes glowing as he lost control.  When the red rage had cleared, the katana was dripping with red.  Three guards lay headless at his feet, Ben still mercifully alive.

The Doberman went down as someone jumped on him, pinning him to the ground and binding his arms behind him.  He looked around with horror.  On the steps of the dais, Lady Featherstone stood.  Ben's wings and wrists were firmly bound, and he looked dazed.  Blood trickled from a gash in his forehead as the opossum grabbed him by his long hair, holding his head in place as she raised the katana to strike it off.

"Oh, you'll join him shortly," she said, smiling cruelly at Daniel.  "But first, you'll watch your boyfriend die.  I know about 'cubi, I know you'll feel his pain as his head comes off, and his horror as the blackness overwhelms him.  And you'll die knowing that you SHOULD have saved him, but couldn't!
"Die, little foxy!" the opossum crooned, and then screamed as something invisible crashed into her, knocking her over.  The sword fell, clattering as it tumbled down the steps.  She glanced around in panic, looking for her assailant.

Daniel was suddenly bowled over as the same thing happened to the Being holding him captive.  He crawled forwards, trying desperately to get upright without the use of his hands or wings.

"What devilry is this?!" the opossum demanded, scrabbling for the sword.  It skittered away from her grasp, the dim shape of a feral wolf becoming visible for a moment as the cloaking device browned out.

"Here," Ralf said.  There was a brief flash of magic and a glowing amulet suddenly appeared in front of his nose, dropping to the floor in front of Daniel.  "Take it and squeeze, it'll warp you home."

"Uh, thanks," Daniel said, "But they've bound my hands.  I can't pick it up!"

"Shit," the robo-wolf said.  Carefully he picked up the device in his mouth and after several failed attempts managed to drop the thing it into Daniel's hands.  The Doberman disappeared.

Ralf turned and bounded towards Ben, who had somehow managed to free himself.  "Here's your warp amulet, Ben.  Where's Roger?"

"The traitor is dead, beast!" Lady Featherstone crowed.

Ralf started, his jaw falling open as he turned to face the opossum.  "D... dead?!  No!  He can't be!"

"Ah, but he IS!  And soon you shall take his place in the guillotine for your insolence, Creature!  But first, witness the execution of your friend!"

Ralf turned back, to see that Ben had been forced to his knees, wings pinned back by leather restraints.  The executioner hyena had grabbed the fox by his hair, katana drawn and rising in his other hand, clearly intent on beheading the incubus.

The wolf bounded over, amulet in his mouth.  He jumped at the executioner and the sword stroke went wild, striking one of Ben's wings instead of his neck.  Ralf pushed the amulet into one of Ben's hands, which closed about it, his other hand grasping Ralf's paw tightly.   A flare of energy welled from the device and surrounded them.  Just as they started to fade, the executioner raised his sword again.

"DROP IT!" called a voice.

Blinking, Ben and the executioner looked around, now seeing the familiar interior of the guild hall.  Mary, Steve and Daniel were surrounding them, weapons drawn.

"Put the sword down," Steve repeated.  "You're in serious trouble already, son.  Don't make things worse... otherwise, I'll let Mary do a smash-and-grab.  On your brain."

The hyena swallowed, as the grinning rainbow wolf approached him, one hand balled into a gauntleted fist.

"If you punch someone in the head just right, you can make their skull explode!" she informed him, with an eager expression.  "But usually we need to keep the head intact for the bounty, so I don't get to practice it much..."

The katana tumbled from the soldier's grasp with a clang.

"Ugh, I hate being surrounded,” Ben said. “It usually means I’m going to get hurt."

Well, this is downright disappointing. Not only because Ben was taken down so easily, but Roger as well. Given his bloodlust, I had expected him to be a Demon in disguise.

By the way, is there any chance that Featherstone looks like the Queen of Hearts from Disney's "Alice in Wonderland"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCQHCOls2E :P

Quote from: CubiKitsune on September 23, 2017, 10:39:54 PM
Well, this is downright disappointing. Not only because Ben was taken down so easily, but Roger as well. Given his bloodlust, I had expected him to be a Demon in disguise.

To be fair, Ben and Daniel have been to 'Cubi school for all of 5 years, and are actually working for the guild as a summer job before the next semester starts.  There's a lot they can't do, and that goes for Daniel as well.  Someone with a few more decades under their belt might be able to do things like subcutaneous wing armour, but not these two.  And they're surrounded by guards.

Quote
By the way, is there any chance that Featherstone looks like the Queen of Hearts from Disney's "Alice in Wonderland"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtCQHCOls2E :P

In attitude, definitely.  In physique, probably not.

Quote from: Tapewolf on September 24, 2017, 06:43:28 AM

Quote from: CubiKitsune on September 23, 2017, 10:39:54 PM
Well, this is downright disappointing. Not only because Ben was taken down so easily, but Roger as well. Given his bloodlust, I had expected him to be a Demon in disguise.

To be fair, Ben and Daniel have been to 'Cubi school for all of 5 years, and are actually working for the guild as a summer job before the next semester starts.  There's a lot they can't do, and that goes for Daniel as well.  Someone with a few more decades under their belt might be able to do things like subcutaneous wing armour, but not these two.  And they're surrounded by guards.

Oh, huh. I didn't realize this took place so soon after Epsilon.

Updating it early since I'll forget otherwise.

Chapter 12

"Shit, shit, shit..." the jackal muttered to herself the guard raised the halberd.  Lurking in the shadows, her eyes rested upon the fire alarm, which read "In case of emergency, break glass."
An evil smile crossed her features.

"...and so, LORD, we offer you the life of this heathen, that he may be forgiven by you in your mercy!" the Cardinal finished.  "Now, let the sinner be sent unto the LORD!"

One of the guards held Jason's head up by his long, green hair as his fellow raised the halberd to decapitate the unconscious jackal. At that moment, something small and round sailed past the guard's head, followed shortly by an ear-splitting crash as a section of the ornately stained windows shattered.

"No, no!" the Cardinal shrieked, appalled.  Everyone turned, the guard releasing Jason's hair and letting his head fall back on the hard stone as the priest went to examine the damaged glass.  While they were distracted, a shadowed figure darted out, seizing Jason and dragging him free of the altar with leathery wings.

"STOP THEM!" the Cardinal yelled.

Keaton threw another stone, taking out another panel of the stained glass and worked quickly to slice Josh's restraints free with a wing-tentacle.

"Thanks," he said.  "Nice catsuit, by the way."

"Take the unbeliever!"  The Cardinal screamed.  "Destroy her!  But not too quickly!  She must suffer for this vile desecration!"

"It's just glass," Keaton yelled back.  "This building is what, 20 years old?  It's not like some ancient relic...  Okay, Josh... can you help carry laughing-boy?  We need to do a runner!"

"You shall not pass," the Priest said, standing in the doorway and holding a holy symbol before to ward off her evil.

"Out of the way," Keaton snarled.

"The power of the LORD shall..."

"Suit yourself," the jackal shrugged, and lopped his head off.


Steve looked the hyena over.  "Well," he sighed.  "I'm sorry to say that you are in violation of clause 6 of the standard adventuring contract, under the adventuring treaty of 2073.
"By the power vested in me as guildmaster of the Northwood Lodge, I sentence you to death by beheading for the murder of Roger Falstein.  You may record your final words on paper, audio or videotape, and if you have any preferences for a last meal, please make those known."

So saying, the Demon stopped the recorder, and turned to face his men.  "Return him to the holding cell, but see that he has all he needs to record his last testament.  Mary, if you would be so kind as to set things up in the basement?  We will go downstairs at 1pm."

As soon as the erstwhile executioner was out of sight, Steve sank back into his chair, burying his face in his hands.  In front of him,  Mary ran towards the stairs, an eager expression on her face like a child at Christmas.


"We're not gonna make this on foot," Keaton said.  "Not carrying Jason.  We're gonna have to fly.  Or at least I will - you're a robot, you can run fast, right?"

"I can do better than that," Josh said, and his wings appeared.

"Pretty, but they're not gonna work," Keaton said.  "Leastways, Dorcan couldn't fly, nor could that snow leopard guy Jakob had the hots for."

The husky smiled at her, and his wings flickered slightly, a blue haze forming around them as he rose into the air.

"Sweet," Keaton said, jumping into the air and fanning her wings as they soared off together into the distance.

"So... where are we gonna go?  Back to Daryil?" she asked hopefully.

"Not yet.  We were sent here on a mission for the King, which we haven't quite finished.  There's a relay station just over the border that gets the adventuring guild's orders, and we need to go there first before reporting back.  Also, I'm gonna have to land in a few minutes - these wings take a lot of power to run.  We can find a secluded spot, bring Jason round and walk for a bit until I've recharged."


"It is time," Steve said reluctantly.  The erstwhile executioner nodded, and was shortly led downstairs by Daniel and Mary, with Jason in tow.  Steve halted on the threshold.

"Ben...?" he asked.  The fox shook his head briskly and turned away.  The others marched off in silence.

A minute later there was an audible thump.  Ben collapsed in a chair, weeping.  Shortly afterwards, the other guild members returned.  Mary was clearly walking on air, Steve grim-faced, while Daniel had a cold look of satisfaction in his eyes.  As the others sat down, the Doberman headed off and began emptying Roger's desk, placing his personal effects in a box on Steve's desk.  The Alsatian demon leaned back with a reluctant sigh, and prepared to inform Roger's widow of the news.


"That must be it," Jason said, circling the building once and then alighting on the ground.  The others followed shortly.

The building itself was a smallish cabin, with a sort of neo-rustic look to it.  The base and lower walls were stone, but the door and other wooden parts had clearly been sawn with power tools and stained with modern chemicals and the roof coated in tar.  Antennas protruded from the side, and a fusion-powered bike was parked against it.

Inside, they found a kangaroo Being with a ponytail, glasses and leather motorcycle gear, sitting in front of a laptop, plantigrade boots resting on the desk.  A guild-issue shortsword in a side-scabbard was the only clue that he was a card-carrying adventurer... his appearance was more like a systems administrator, which technically he was.

"Afternoon," the Being said.  "What can I do for you...?"

"This is the relay station for Southmoor adventuring guild, correct?"  Jason asked.

"Yes."

"You're not from around here, are you?" Josh asked, considering the Being's attire and mannerisms.

"Nah, I commute from Fairwater.  Technically I'm on the Southmoor guild payroll. mind...  I have to ride there to get my wages.  That sort of medieval hole pays in gold and can't do electronic fund transfer.  The money's good, though and the commute is fun."

"Are you gay?"  Jason asked.  The kangaroo stared at him, fur bristling.

"What the heck is this...?  The Hizellian Inquisition?"

"Sorry," the jackal said.  "We're here to investigate some orders sent from Southmoor, a bounty issued for the murder of Obediah, late of Southmoor adventuring guild.  Southmoor doesn't have a computer to get on AdventureNet so they hired you to act as intermediary, right?"

"Yes, that and and to maintain the systems here.  Though I'm not sure what it has to do with my sex life.  What are you, an incubus?!  If you want to pull, go to a nightclub.  I have work to do."

"Never mind that for now, Mr..."

"Tim."

"...Tim.  What can you tell me about the bounty?"

"I can't remember setting up any bounties lately, but I'll have a look..." his fingers tapped over the keyboard, and he brought up a record.  "Looks reasonable enough to me...  Guy was murdered by a rogue incubus two weeks ago.  Money's in escrow... yep, that's all legit.   Where's the problem?"  He rolled his eyes.  "Is Fairwater angry about one of his precious 'Cubi being hunted?  Well, cry me a river.  If 'Cubi want to act like monsters, they should die like monsters.  I know -I- won't be shedding any tears when his head comes off..."

"That's not the point." Josh interrupted.  "Fairwater was quite prepared to do justice to the murderer.  The problem is, Obediah wasn't murdered at all."

"Come again...?"

"He was hanged.  In Southmoor.  Yesterday... long after the bounty for his supposed murder was posted."

"Oh gods... what happened?"

"Obediah was executed for being gay," Jason said.  "And cute as you are in all that tight leather, I would steer clear of Southmoor if you're into that sort of thing."

"What?  Being gay or being a biker?"

"At this point they're likely to string you up for either, or both.  That wacko cult of theirs is on the warpath.  Seriously, I'd arrange a transfer ASAP, even if you're straight as a pin."

"Thanks for the tip," the kangaroo said.  "But I guess you want to know more about that bounty, right?"

"Yes.  You're less an adventurer and more a sysadmin, right?  Is there a changelog?  Where did you get the information about the bounty anyway?"

"You know, I can't remember...  Hmm... let's see the header...  Oh."

"Oh what?"

"It was done at 3AM, on the 9th of June."

"Late night, huh...?"

"Hardly.  I need my beauty sleep.  And..."  he hesitated, and looked through a digital calendar.

"...and I was in Valmorath.  Great biking there."

Jason and Joshua started at the adventurer, eyes narrowing.

"Are you saying you didn't set the bounty up?!"

Keaton rushed into the room.  "Hey, fellas... we got company!"

"The Church?!" Josh moaned.  Keaton nodded.

"You guys took too long," she said.  "They're a about a minute away, so let's make like a tree, and crush people!"

"No.  I don't want any more trouble," Jason said, locking the door and barring it.  "Josh, grab that laptop.  We have to leave, pronto."

"Suit yourself," Keaton said, and her wings appeared.  Jason and Joshua did likewise.

"You..." the biker gurgled, and backed away.  "You're... 'Cubi!  Monsters!"

"Yep," Keaton said, grabbing him.  "And before today is out, you'll be glad of it!"

There was a splintering crash as an axe struck the door.  "Send them all to the LORD," a voice was saying.  "The monsters, the metal one and the sinner who works here!  You... destroy the devil machine on which he rides..."

"At once, your holiness!" one of the guards said.  There was a crunching sound and the smashing of glass.

"My bike...!" the kangaroo wailed.  "They'll kill us all!  That door was the only way in!  I don't want to die!"

"Good," Jason said.  "So they won't be watching THIS end of the building!"

The kangaroo gaped as the jackal's wing-tentacles sharpened, and sliced through the wall like it was butter.

"Here!" a voice yelled.  "They are-"  the militia-man's voice cut off abruptly as Keaton sliced off his head.

"Must you do that...?" Josh scowled, as the armoured body collapsed.

"Who cares?"  Keaton grinned viciously, and fanned her wings for takeoff.  "Let's go before I'm sadly forced to lop off some more heads.  Or we could wait," she added hopefully.

Tim whimpered and fainted dead away.


"Steeeve," Mary said, making eyes at her boss.

"What is it, Mary?" the other Demon asked suspiciously.

"There's a dead guy in the basement!"

"That would be the prisoner I just executed, correct?"

"Maaybe..."

"Get to the point, Mary." the commander grumbled.

"Can I have him...?  Pretty please...?"

"You ate half an hour ago, Mary."

"No, no!  I only need the head!    He's not a bandit, he doesn't have a bounty!  He doesn't have any resale value!"

"You want to eat his head...?"  Steve looked disgusted.  "Grow up, Mary.  That is a cliché act of pointless maliciousness that only a teenage Demon would even consider!"

"No!" Mary protested, eyes shining.  "I want to carve it.  He'd make a beautiful Hallow's Eve lantern!"

"Absolutely not!"  Steve exploded.  "Dammit, Mary... killing someone without a bounty doesn't make them a free-for-all... It makes things much, much worse!  It's a paperwork nightmare!  I have to justify it!
I'm going to have to file a report, send photos of the body and head, send the local courts a recording of the trial, provide witness statements and everything!
"And if they find that his head has been turned into a fucking yuletide decoration, you'll be explaining to the Magister why you should stay out of jail!"

"Gods Dammit!"

"This is what we are going to do, Mary.  You are going to put him in the cooler.  Head and body, both whole and unmutilated.  No 'saving bits for later'.  I will send a message to this Queen Featherstone, offering to repatriate his mortal remains in exchange for those of Roger, as soon as the inquest is over.  His widow deserves that, at least - something which she can bury.
"If, after all that, it turns out that Featherstone has already destroyed the remains or otherwise refuses to an exchange, then, and only then will the question of disposing of the remains come up, and I will be willing to consider your proposal then.  Happy?"

"It'll have to do," Mary sighed.

---

And for those wondering, Tim can be seen here:
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/24253540/
https://www.weasyl.com/~tapewolf/submissions/1522513/tim-the-adventurer-by-merlin

Eeheeheehee, I like how Jason is still thinking with his loins even just after almost being killed.

What the heck is Keaton doing there, though?

I've almost finished writing the story, so I think it's worth switching to a weekly update and hoping I don't have to do any retconning to fix issues.   As usual this schedule may be disrupted when I'm away from home.


Chapter 13

"Reckon they'll pursue us into Fairwater?"  Josh asked, as they alighted on the road.

"It'll suck if they do," Jason replied.  "Both for us, and for them too - Fairwater'd have 'em killed."

"Nah, I think we're good," Keaton said.  "But I wanted to land at the station anyway.  Catch a ride.  Even those crazies won't dare interfere with a train on foreign soil.  Besides, carrying people and flying... what a pain in the ass."

"What do you want with me...?" the kangaroo quailed.

"I thought you lived in Fairwater," Jason said.  "Surely you're used to seeing Creatures?"

"In the outskirts, yeah... We don't get many 'Cubi there.  Some people want to secede because the King is an incubus..."

"That cuts both ways," Jason said.  "Someone wastes a 'Cubi, the King'll have their head.  A 'Cubi wastes a Being?  The King'll have their head.  The idea is to keep everyone safe, and nobody is wasting nobody!"

"I guess so... but if you were out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by fiends who could kill you in a second... Wouldn't you be a little scared...?"

"Been there, done that," Jason said.  "There's still a few places 'Cubi risk execution if we're discovered.  Thing is... yeah, 'Cubi can be jerks, and we can be dangerous if threatened.  But we feed on emotions.  We need people to be alive.  Killing Beings is like burning down your own farm.  Well... except for some of the crazy ones, like Keaton."

"Thanks," Keaton grouched.

"What would Jyraneth say to you if she knew you were going around saving Beings?" Josh asked, purchasing four tickets from a machine.

"Not much.  She'd take my head off first and yell about it later," Keaton said.  "There's a dozen reasons Jyraneth would want me killed.  But that goes for pretty much ALL her children.  The fanatics - they get themselves executed.  Things have changed since the Lady was in power...  Now Beings have a bigger piece of the pie and Creatures as allies to protect them, so anti-Being crusades are pretty much dead in the water.
"Turns out, without Her to protect us, killing Beings for fun ain't exactly a survival trait.  And I wanna survive.  If that means fighting alongside Beings instead of killing them, then that's what I gotta do."

"But you would kill Beings if you could...?"

"What's the point?", Keaton shrugged.  "We were told it was our duty as members of the clan.  But now the clan's broken up.  We used to do it 'cause The Lady would kill us if we didn't.  But now she won't even talk to us anymore.  It was kinda... just this thing the clan did, y'know?  Like, force of habit an' all.  And now the habit's broken, I'm kinda left wondering why we bothered."

"Doesn't mean I don't enjoy a good killing," she adding, grinning nastily.  "Just means I have to be more picky about who I kill, and why."

"But you're just using adventuring as an excuse to murder people!  People like you give the profession a bad name!"

"That's what adventuring is, dearie," Keaton smiled toothily.  "It's just a way of saying that it's okay to murder SOME people.  So I make sure that I only kill THOSE people, and everyone is happy!  Well, maybe not the people I've taken out, but everyone who COUNTS is happy."

"Why were you following us anyway?" Josh asked.

"You're protected.  You and Jason.  Daryil wanted me to shadow you... figured people might hassle you.  That priest at the church..." she grinned.  "He won't be hassling you no more."

"Though this does mean that Daryil thinks I'm disposable," she grunted.

"Where are you taking me...?" the kangaroo said.  "Can't I just go home...?"

"I'd rather you came with us first,"  Josh said.  "We are conducting an investigation for the King, and he will be very interested in what you've just told us."


"Well, I suppose we'd better hold the post-mortem," Steve said, and grimaced.  "Sorry, poor choice of words.  Let's say 'debriefing'."

"I like post-mortems," Mary said eagerly.  "Pre-mortems are even better!"  Ben and Daniel glared at her.

"Show a little respect," Steven snapped.  "This mission cost us the life of a valued colleague.  Also, this meeting is being recorded."

"Alright, alright," Mary said, rolling her eyes.

"Anyway.  I have invited Commander Olaf Taun of Marwood Guild, since it was his mission to begin with.  Also present are myself, Commander Steve Foster, and our guild members, Benjamin Buran of Daryil Clan, Daniel Kamei'Sin, Mary Backbreaker and R-ALF, a prototype AI from Jayhawk Cybernetics."

"To summarise," Daniel said, "We were given a relatively straightforward escort mission to some supposed ruins in a land previously known as Andovia.  Three of us were requested: Ben, myself and our late colleague, Roger Falstein.  Three people seems a little excessive as an escort, but it's what our client, Lady Featherstone, requested.  She further requested that her guides be Beings, which was a little awkward because we only had one Being in the guild.  We performed this duty, defending her from bandits on at least one occasion.
"As we approached the destination, we discovered that it was occupied by a large number of hostiles.  At this point the mission scope expanded from 'get me to the ruins and help fetch some heirlooms' to 'help me conquer the ruins or you don't get paid and I'll complain to your guildmaster'.  We then tramped off to some nearby village to 'hire some mercenaries' in order to clean out the ruins.  Afterwards, we discovered that the ruins were not ruins at all, but a thriving community recovering from a recent civil war.  This war had actually culminated in the tyrant Lady Featherstone being overthrown and exiled, and the village of mercenaries was populated largely by loyalists who had likewise been banished.
"Her enemies routed, Featherstone then took the throne and began plotting to execute dissidents and settle old scores.  Her intention was to use Roger and myself as executioners, with Ben as chief torturer.  The following day, she held a celebratory feast and hanged a number of political enemies.  At this point she revealed that her wider plan was to execute King Fairwater and usurp his throne..."

"What?!"  Olaf gargled.

"...since she was apparently descended from King Ordros prior to his dethronement by Fairwater and believes the kingdom is rightfully hers, and should be purged of all Creatures.  Roger made a snide remark about Ordros, and was immediately guillotined.  For objecting to his death, Ben and myself were sent to the blade too.  We defended ourselves, but would likely have succumbed had Ralf not been sent to rescue us by providing recall amulets.  Ralf, thank you so much for your timely rescue."

"You're welcome," the robo-wolf said.

"Good boy," Ben told him.  "You deserve a treat!"

"Sod off."

"Ben, Ralf, we're taping this for official purposes," Steve reminded them.  "Olaf, you instigated this mission.  Any comments?"

"My condolences on the loss of your friend," the wolf-giraffe said.  "Lady Featherstone's requirements were odd enough for me to suspect there was something a little shady about this mission, but I never expected this..." he sighed.  "Assassinating the King!  Has he been informed?"

"He has, and about the situation with Andovia in general."

"Something I would rather like to know," Daniel said, "Is exactly how come Ralf appeared to save us in the very nick of time.  Has he been trailing us for days...?"

"Only hours," Steve said.  "And it was thanks to Ben."

"Ben?!"

"The night before the feast," Ben said.  "Once I had been shown to my rooms, I communed with Lord Daryil and warned him that things were getting out of hand.  He promised to send help, but when I asked for details he got all enigmatic, and kept rambling about oats.  After that he attempted to seduce me and I broke the link."

"I got a warp-aci shortly afterwards," Steve said.  "Bearing a message from Lord Daryil.  He said I should send Ralf as backup for you, and watch for an emergency recall if the mission had to be aborted.  Ralf is, after all, here to be field-tested.  And he has passed his first test with flying colours."

"So... what do we do now?" Ben asked.

"You, and Daniel, take the rest of the week off to recover.  Since the King has been informed of the assassination attempt, I think our work is done.  Though we will need to hire a replacement for Roger."

"I may have someone," Olaf said.  "It's my fault you lost a colleague, so the least I can do is help you replace him."


"...and this is Tim, your majesty," Joshua concluded.  "He has assisted with the investigation."

"Well met," Fairwater said.  "Nice leathers, by the way."

Tim whimpered slightly.

"Forgive his nervousness," Josh said.  "For someone living in a 'Cubi-run kingdom he is rather ill at ease among us..."

"Oh dear.  Did you grow up in a medieval territory?"  Fairwater asked, looking a little crestfallen.

"No, but my parents did," Tim admitted.

"So they fed you all kinds of tales about how 'Cubi just want to eat your soul?"

"Sometimes.  We DID lose an ancestor to 'Cubi, many generations past...  He was murdered by three of them in a forest outside Ha'Khun... A jackal, a wolf and an Alsatian..."

"Ooooh!" Keaton burbled excitably.  "Wait!  He was a kangaroo too, right?  Yeah!  I remember that!"

"What?!"  Tim squawked.

"He was this bandit chief," Keaton said, eyes shining.  "Tried to murder us, but we had a Taun clan adventurer with us, who lopped his head off.  Then I killed all his little friends and made a tower out of their heads... it was way cool!  Figured we'd caught them all, but since you know about it, I guess one of 'em must've lived to tell the tale.  I still got his armour somewhere, it was cool loot!"

Fairwater face-palmed.  "Enough," he said.  "We are trying to convince Tim that he is safe in my lands.  Whether or not this person was an outlaw, bringing up old stories of your wicked past is... the opposite of helpful."

"Fine," Keaton sulked.

"Tim, you need not fear us.  The kingdom exists to keep all its citizens safe, Being, 'Cubi or Demon.  Inter-racial violence is punished harshly for the greater good.  Anyway, let us get to the matter at hand.  Josh...?"

"Yes, your Majesty," Josh said. "Southmoor is vehemently low-tech, and their guild is not on AdventureNet.  They get their orders and post bounties from a relay station in disputed territory on the Fairwater border.  This was manned by Tim here, who transcribed the messages going in and out of the guild via messaging orb.  The bounty on Swanson for killing Obediah would have been set up by him, but...  Tim?"

"Looking at the logs the bounty was put out a couple of weeks ago, my Liege," the kangaroo said nervously, opening the laptop and logging into it.  "But I don't remember doing it.  Looking at the outgoing messages...  it's not there.  It's not been sent from this laptop..."

"And Obediah was hanged yesterday for being gay," Jason added helpfully.  "Which is impressive for a man murdered in Fairwater two weeks ago."

"It is not unknown for a tyrant to exhume the body of an enemy or rival, and have the corpse hanged or decapitated," Fairwater said, "But I take your point.  Tim... If you didn't post the bounty, can you find out who did, or at least where it was sent from...?"

"On it, sire.  Uh.... Oh."

"What's the matter?"

"It was sent from 4600:5500:4300:4B00:2000:5900:4F00:5500."

The Doberman frowned.  "Doesn't mean a lot to me.  Where is that?"

"Um... 'Fuck you', your majesty."

"I beg your pardon...?" Fairwater said, head-wings fanning out.  From her throne, Queen Admaria, who had been paying only vague attention, glanced around sharply and looked at the kangaroo as if he was mad.

"Don't kill me!" the kangaroo squealed.  "That's what the address says!  See?  '20' is space in hexadecimal... 55 is capital 'U'...  00 for padding... on a little-endian processor, using 16-bit Unicode, it spells out 'FUCK YOU'.  It's fake!"

"What's this?" the Queen gaped.  "Are you saying someone's hacked into AdventureNet?!"

Quote from: Tapewolf on October 14, 2017, 10:00:30 AM
"You're welcome," the robo-wolf said.

"Good boy," Ben told him.  "You deserve a treat!"

"Sod off."

...

"The night before the feast," Ben said.  "Once I had been shown to my rooms, I communed with Lord Daryil and warned him that things were getting out of hand.  He promised to send help, but when I asked for details he got all enigmatic, and kept rambling about oats.  After that he attempted to seduce me and I broke the link."

If you're trying to make me bust a gut, you're doing a very good job of it. xD

I also like the part where Tim's ancestry ties back into "Heads You Lose."

Interesting development in Keaton's character. "Wow, she must have really turned around." I was thinking. Then she was gleefully recalling when she built a tower of heads and thought "But y'know she's still Keaton."

I didn't realize that Keaton looted Jirra's body. Kinda hope Tim's family gets to have it back if only as a 'sorry I stole your ancestor's cool armor after he was beheaded centuries ago' sorta thing.

Quote from: Puyon on October 15, 2017, 10:36:12 AM
Interesting development in Keaton’s character. “Wow, she must have really turned around.” I was thinking. Then she was gleefully recalling when she built a tower of heads and thought “But y’know she’s still Keaton.”

I didn’t realize that Keaton looted Jirra’s body. Kinda hope Tim’s family gets to have it back if only as a ‘sorry I stole your ancestor’s cool armor after he was beheaded centuries ago’ sorta thing.

Jirra was a murderer, remember. I wouldn't feel too sorry for him.

Chapter 14

"Tim, Josh, Jason... and Keaton," the King added reluctantly, "Thank you all for your aid in this matter.  Tim, I shall send men to secure the relay station, and attempt the recovery of your bike.  I shall arrange compensation if necessary."

"Thank you, Majesty..." the kangaroo said.

"Will that be all, your highnesses?" Josh asked.

"For now," Fairwater said.  "Jason, I would return to your guild and inform your commander of the situation.  I may need your assistance later, and I advise all of you that I might need to contact you regarding these matters.  Sadly I must end this audience... the petitioners should be arriving soon."


"Welcome," King Fairwater said, addressing the first petitioner.  "Do you have a grievance to put before your king...?"

"Aye, your majesty," the beaver said, bowing.  "We were promised a fifty gigabit fibreoptic data line in the borough of Folkborough this time last year, and still we wait..."

"Oho, this again," Queen Adamaria said, rising from her throne.  "I'm going to get some popcorn.  Maybe change outfit.  Could we summon the CEO of the cable company into the throne room and threaten to chop his head off?  I'm sure I can scare him into starting the deployment..."

"Very well," Fairwater said.  "Strictly, leaving the throne breaks tradition, but... whatever.  Can you fetch me some chocolate while you're at it?  Now then, good sir... Can you show me the contract?"

"Aye, your majesty," the beaver said, thrusting a sheaf of printouts at the King.

"Ouch," Fairwater said, weighing it heavily.  "I shall read these through after the petitioning.  Return on the morrow and I will tell you our decision."

"Thank you, Majesty!" the beaver said and scurried off with a triumphant expression.

One down, Fairwater thought, as the next supplicant approached.

"Welcome," King Fairwater said, addressing the new petitioner.  "Do you have a grievance to put before your king...?"

"No, your majesty," Lady Featherstone smiled, throwing back her shawl.  "Not any more."

Her hand clutched a small orb, which she squeezed.  There was a blast of magic, felling everyone else in the room.  Guards crashed to the ground, and Fairwater himself slumped forwards in his throne.  Behind the opossum, another petitioner, a pademelon, dashed into the throne room, slashing the throats of the men guarding the heavy double-doors, and pulling them shut behind him.  He worked swiftly to ward them closed with a locking spell.

"I've waited a long time for this," Lady Featherstone smiled, removing the crown from the sleeping Doberman and placing it on the back of the throne.  Dragging him roughly, she hauled Fairwater to the centre of the throne room, and lifted his head up by the head-wings.  In her other hand, a katana gleamed like a polished razor.


Captain Ernst Neckbreaker hurried to the throne room, leaping over the bannister and gliding past the stairs on leathery wings.  Other guards were banging at the doors or attempting to dispell the obstruction from the other side, with little success since they couldn't see exactly what kind of ward the intruders had constructed.
The feline demon backed up a few steps and then did a flying kick at the great doors, tearing the hinges out of the wall and crashing them to the floor.  As the doors touched the ground, royal guards flooded over, pouring into the room where they stopped, appalled.  In front of the twin thrones, an opossum stood, arms folded.  At her feet lay the winged head of a Doberman, and in the dead centre of the room, Fairwater's body lay in a pool of his own blood, a katana stabbed into his back like a roast chicken.

"By the gods...  NO!  You've murdered the King!" Ernst snarled.  "TREASON!  TREASON!"
     
"You don't have a king any more.  You have a queen!" Lady Featherstone sneered, as the pademelon walked over and placed the bloodied crown upon her head.
     
"The King is dead!" the guards chanted.  "Long live the Queen!"
     
"You're too kind," the opossum beamed, making a curtsey.  "I thought you would need more persuasion.  I shall do my best to..."
     
"Long live Queen Admaria!" the guards chanted.
     
"What?!" Lady Featherstone spat, looking around in astonishment.  "Are you saying that gay idiot had a wife?!"
     
"He did," said a new voice.  A border collie succubus walked in, dressed all in shiny black, her lips glossy with black lipstick.  Her eyes blazed with cold fire as she took in the scene.  Distracted, Lady Featherstone was seized by one of the guards and forced into a kneeling position.  The pademelon lay stunned upon the ground.

"This is a monarchy, you simpleton," the Queen said.  "There is a detailed plan for the succession.  The fact that my husband preferred humping other men is entirely irrelevant.  All that matters is that we have produced an heir together.  Fairwater is a large realm and the day-to-day running of its provinces are overseen by our children.  The eldest prince shall be recalled, and take Fairwater's place at the helm, with my guidance.
"I tell you this now, because you won't get to see any of it.  Instead, I will shortly arrange a brand new experience, just for you!
An off-of-body experience.  Our beloved King, my dear husband... he shall be avenged!  In your mind I see you planned to make me beg for my life.  I shall spare you that indignity at least, for no amount of begging can pardon a regicide!"
     
"You?  You're no queen, but a whore!" Lady Featherstone laughed.  "No lady would dress as you do, save a lady of the night!"
     
"This is my mourning garb," the succubus said, affecting a sadistic smile.  "Don't you like it?  For it is also what I wear when I pronounce the death penalty upon an enemy of the state in my husband's absence, and while watching their executions.  You see this glove...?" she added, flexing a shiny black hand in front of the opossum.  "Gaze upon it well, for this glove shall release the blade that chops off your head!"
     
"NEVER!  I'll die fighting!" the opossum shrieked, and broke free, pulling the sword from the Doberman's corpse.  "Even if I have to kill all of you, I'll do it!  This land shall be MINE, and my first act will be to round up all you winged freaks and have you all beheaded before my subjects!  This realm will be a Being realm, just as it was in the olden days!"
     
So saying, she stooped, picked up Fairwater's severed head and thrust it before her like some kind of talisman.  "Look now upon your King... for you shall all meet the same fate!"
     
"You know, that's a really bad idea," the head remarked.  The opossum let out a piercing scream and dropped it.
     
"Ow," Fairwater's head retorted, and turned to face them using his head-wings to orient himself.  "Think about it.  Fairwater is a very large realm.  In this city alone there are over ten thousand Creatures of varying race.
You've got a royal guard with a lot of Demons and a number of 'Cubi... Taun, Daryil, even a couple of Jyraneth, plus the black-ops teams consisting of really hardcore Demons like Ernst here... And now you want to suddenly turn all them into outlaws?! I'd be amazed if you survived until the end of the speech after dropping a bombshell like that, let alone until nightfall!"
     
"My liege!" Ernst said, dropping to one knee.  "It is a miracle!"
     
"Darling...?  You're alive?!" the Queen croaked.  "Shall a doctor be brought?"
     
"Nah, I'm good," the head said, "But seize that crazy bitch and her allies before they can do any more harm."

Ernst leaped across the room and pinned the opossum down, clearly fighting the urge to break her arms into the bargain.

"What are you?!" Lady Featherstone quailed, "How can you still be alive?!  How can you talk?!  Are you... undead?"
     
"Nope," the head informed her.  "But I'm not the King either.  I'm his stunt double.  Lord Daryil at your service... or at least, one of my avatars.  The actual me wouldn't fit in the room."
     
"Then where IS my husband?" the Queen demanded tersely.  "What have you done with the King?!  Is he safe..?"
     
"Fairwater is in his panic room, having tea with another avatar," Daryil told them.  "You should feel proud, I don't usually dedicate two of me to a task like this."  The headless corpse reverted from Doberman to fox form and crawled towards the head, which it lifted back onto its shoulders with a faint glopping noise.

"Ahhh... much better," Daryil said.  "Anyway.  This means means that Ms Featherstone here has only attempted regicide, so she might still get to keep her head.  It's up to him..."

Daryil broke off, his eyes closing for a moment.  "Right, okay... The King says to throw her in the dungeon for now, maximum security.  Keep her friend separate.  He'll decide their fates later.
Oh, and Ernst...?  If you want my advice, I'd get the Queen somewhere safe ASAP, then any other critical personnel.  And sweep the castle in case there's more of these crazies lurking around."

"Good plan, Milord," the demon captain said.  "Do it," he added to his men.  Admaria was quickly led away by the guard captain, and a Jyraneth-looking underling.


"Grateful as I am," Fairwater said, playing cards with Daryil, "I'm curious why you stepped in to help.  I didn't think I was important enough to merit the aid of a Tri-Wing..."

"Couple of reasons," Daryil said.  "One, I like you, despite your tendency to chop people's heads off on occasion.  Two, you're hot.  Three, you're my ally and allies deserve protection or it's not really and alliance.  Four, if you got replaced by some anti-Creature nut-job, things would get really, really messy."

"It's kind of what I did in the first place," Fairwater sighed.  "Killed the king and took over.  Part of me thinks that a similar usurpation would be a just end for me..."

"Oh shush," Daryil remarked.  "In an age when 'Cubi still risked being murdered on sight, you made that stolen kingdom into an oasis where we could live in safety and peace!  After the Destania Event it grew to an entire realm.  You've saved countless thousands of lives... Would you really risk turning a safe haven into some kind of happy hunting ground for the anti-wing maniacs...?"

"Heh, when you put it like that, it doesn't sound so just," Fairwater chuckled.

"You're upset and not thinking things through.  Have a cookie," Daryil offered.  "Regardless how I feel about you, I have a lot of children living in your territory and I want them to stay safe.  If Featherstone took charge I might have to get my hands dirty and conquer your empire.  And I really, really don't want to do that."

"No...?"

"No.  Look, Fairwater... I've been ascended for less than a century.  The other Clan Leaders are all over 7000, so I'm this weird new kid on the block.  They don't really trust each other, and now this eccentric new guy has joined their ranks.  They don't know what I'm likely to do, and if I was suddenly in charge of a vast empire, that'd be a major shift in the balance of power.  I don't want to spook them like that.
"Besides, running an empire can be a pain in the ass.  I might have to put Jakob in charge and his record is a bit spotty with such things..."

"Johan Cross, former insane dictator.  No, that wouldn't go down well," Fairwater sighed.

"Harsh, man!" Daryil pouted.  "He helped give you the throne!"

"No offence intended, but that is what people are likely to think if he's in charge of a major power.  Send him my regards, by the way."

"Will do," Daryil said, taking a card from the pile.  He froze.  "Fuck."

"Bad card...?"  Fairwater grinned.

"No.  Lady Featherstone's just escaped."

Dang, man! I actually thought you killed him off there! :<

I noticed the queen has a "Jyraneth-looking underling." Anyone we know? :3

Quote from: CubiKitsune on October 20, 2017, 08:03:11 PM
Dang, man! I actually thought you killed him off there! :<

I noticed the queen has a "Jyraneth-looking underling." Anyone we know? :3

Even I don't know.  It was probably to underscore Daryil's point about multiculturalism.

And yes, one of the reasons the story took such a long time to get in a state where I can start publishing it is because I kept going back and honing this scene instead of writing the scenes which lead up to it.

Chapter 15

"Escaped?!" Queen Admaria repeated furiously.  "She nearly murdered your king!  How could you possibly let her escape?!"

"She had a recall bracelet, Majesty," Ernst informed her.  "Hidden under her sleeve.  We found out the hard way when she teleported."

"Rrrrgh," the Queen snorted, fists clenched in her black gloves.  "And are you sure it was a recall device...?  That she's not lurking somewhere hoping to take my head off too?"

"Fairly sure," the Demon replied crisply.  "The energy release was fairly large, I'd estimate she's gone at least 200 miles.  Even so, we're in the process of sweeping the castle just to be safe.
I may add that we still have her companion, Majesty.  He had a similar bracelet and it's being analysed as we speak."

"Ah yes, the pademelon," Admaria said.  "He killed one royal guard and maimed another.  An act of war like this calls for military justice, Captain.  I will have need of your sword shortly."

"Yes, Majesty," the cat bowed.  "I shall make his end swift and merciful."

"Good.  That will be less upsetting to Lord Daryil."


Dress torn and bloodied, Lady Featherstone panted slightly with exertion as she pushed open the door to her throne room.  Her eyes narrowed furiously as she took in the scene.
A fox guard stood by her throne, clad in body armour.  He wore no helmet and his head-wings were folded back neatly behind his ears.  His wrists were bound behind his back, and a spear pointed at the base of his neck.

"What is the meaning of this?!" the opossum demanded.  "A Creature, alive!  And at the seat of my power?!  Guardsmen... why have you not carried out the law?  You shall all pay for this!"

The Captain, a powerful Alsatian, bowed before her.  "A thousand apologies, my Lady," he began.  "The Creature claimed diplomatic immunity from a powerful Lord, so we stayed the execution until your return.  Now you can hear his petition for mercy if you so choose, and either grant it, or witness his beheading in person."

"Very well," the opossum nodded.  "After today's setback, an execution would please me greatly.  Fox, your request for clemency is denied."

"It was a request for common diplomatic courtesy," the fox objected.

"Silence!  In entering my realm, where Creatures are forbidden, I find you guilty of treason and sentence you to immediate death by decapitation!"

"I am not technically a Creature," the fox informed her politely.  "Also, I am authorised to defend myself."

"Having wings alone carries death in this realm, monster.  And those bracers shall make short work of your powers.  OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"

"As you wish," the fox sighed.  "But this is folly."

Standing tall and proud, the fox went bravely to his fate, offering no resistance at all.  Six seconds later, he was staring down into a bucket as the blade dropped.
His tail twitched slightly as the razor-sharp steel struck his neck, a piercing screech of metal on metal as the blade's keen edge was chewed up by the harder substance of the android's internal armour.  Lady Featherstone gasped.

The guards jumped back in fear, some sent sprawling as their comrades backed into them.  The fox ignored this.  The bracers on his wrists snapped like cotton and he reached up to the lunette, effortlessly pushing both it and the heavy weighted blade up so he could withdraw his head from the deadly machine.  At length he sat up, rubbing the back of his neck with metal fingers.  He gazed sadly at some of the red hairs that had been sliced through, and then strode over to face the opossum with a cold gaze.

"Happy now?" he asked.  Lady Featherstone slumped heavily in her throne and did not speak.

"I'll take that as a 'yes'.  My name is Bevan, and I am one of Daryil's elite guards, sent to treat with you."

"Daryil again!  Why does he keep interfering?!  What have I done to offend him...?"

"It's quite a list," Bevan said, and began ticking things off on armoured fingers.  "Murders and attempted murders, mostly.  Leaving aside that you just guillotined his diplomat, you also made attempts at beheading his clan-child Benjamin Daryil, and most also his ally, King Fairwater.  Lastly, my Lord is greatly displeased at the way you run your realm in general."

"It is not his business how I rule my own realm!"

"Ah, but it is now," the fox corrected her.  "You see, following your exile, the new administration were negotiating various trade deals with Daryil's clan.   Our representatives were present when you attacked.  The officials they had been treating with were hanged, beheaded or in some cases, both.  A number of our sales representatives barely escaped with their lives and some did not.
"It became his business then, when you started guillotining his employees and attempting to do the same to his family.
"While the Lord Daryil acknowledges that he has no authority over you, he strongly urges you to reconsider your stance vis-a-vis race relations.  While my Lord has been extremely patient with you so far, your 'execute-on-sight' laws against Creatures are a particular concern to him, and to others who would likely eliminate you.  For your own safety, he advises you to abolish these laws before you are abolished yourself."

"NO!  This realm is a Being realm!  You Creatures are not welcome here, and you shall pay for your trespass with your head!"

"As I believe I mentioned, I'm not a Creature.  For that matter I'm not a Being either - I am a series 5 warrior android."

"Silence!  If you are not a Being, the penalty for remaining here is immediate execution by decapitation!  Captain!  Fetch a sword, an enchanted one!"

"Beheading non-Beings is overly harsh, my Lady.  Gryphons, for instance, have lived beside your kind for tens of millennia, plying trade and providing transport.  You would throw all that away?"

"We have cars and trucks, now.  We need not depend upon winged freaks for transportation!"

"I am a machine, Lady.  If that commands the death penalty, things should get really interesting!  I would love to see you behead your cars and trucks..."

"DESTROY HIM!" the opossum screamed.  "WHATEVER HE IS, I WANT HIM DEAD!"

Bevan staggered as a crossbow bolt struck his head.  The shaft snapped, but the head gouged a large rent in his fur.  His expression darkened with anger, and he stomped over to the man who'd fired, batting aside anyone who dared who get in his way as though they were skittles.  The fox reached out and crushed the weapon with one hand, and then turned back to the lady.

"I shall inform Daryil of your actions," he informed her, and then vanished.


"Olaf," Jakob smiled, embracing the tall, armoured figure.  "How are you doing?  Are you eating well?"

"Fine, fine, Dad," the wolf-giraffe said, with a slightly embarrassed expression.  "Someone tried to claim the bounty for your arrest the other day.  He walked away an angry man..." the incubus smiled at the memory.  "It was delicious.  By the way, I must congratulate your Lord on the negative bounty idea."

"I'll let him know," Jakob said.  "Or he'll find out next time I'm in his presence."

"Welcome," Steve said, shaking Jakob's hand.  "Thank you for coming.  While Ben and Jason are children of Daryil, I felt that the situation merits the attention of his representative.  I considered inviting Daryil himself, of course, but he can be a little..."

"Disruptive," Jakob offered.

"Quite.  Also, this may involve your Jayhawk Corporation."

"Indeed.  Though now you're starting to worry me."

"We'll get to that later," Steve promised.  "The first order of business is... well, Lady Featherstone.  As I think you all know," he said, glancing around the room, "Leaving aside her attempt on King Fairwater's life, her actions have robbed us of a valued comrade.  Olaf...?"

"I had someone apply at the guildhall," the wolf-giraffe said.  "We're pretty full there, and as you know, the demand for adventurers is not what it was.  Even so, a warrior of this calibre is not someone I could easily turn down.  Fortunately, she agreed to relocate to Northwood if you will have them.  Besides, it's a bit of a sausage-fest here, Mary aside..."

The figure was hooded as they entered the room, a crimson cloak covering their body and face.  With noticeable reluctance the newcomer pulled back the hood, revealing a black jaguar face, eyes burning red.

"YOU!"  Steve yelped, taking a couple of steps backwards and striking the wall with a metallic crash.

"Holy gods," Jakob said.  "No... it can't be.  You're Aisha's descendant or something?!"

"Good to see you again, Jakob."

"Should I know her?"  Ben asked, glancing at the others worriedly.

"They used to call her The Risen," Jakob said.  "In her time she was a great adventurer.  And also a notorious demon hunter."

"That's a little unfair, amigo," the jaguar said.  "If you lost your family to Demons it would color your views too."

Daniel and Ben stared at the figure open-mouthed.  "I thought you were a Being!  They say you were killed in action after a long and fabulous career!"

Steve looked at her suspiciously, and conjured a small crystal ball from somewhere.

"Olaf...  If this is some kind of incubus mind-game, it's not funny!  I'm not prejudiced, but... Why would I hire someone who wants to murder me?!"

"Calm down, Steve," the incubus said, trying to suppress a grin.  "I brought her here because she's good - not to wipe out half your guild.  That said, I'd try to keep her and Mary apart if you can."

"Dammit, SHE KILLED MY PARENTS!"  Steve snarled.  There was a crunching noise and fine glassy powder tumbled from his fist.

"Play nice, children," Jakob said, putting himself between Aisha and the Alsatian demon.

"Peace, amigos," the jaguar said, brushing the wolf's arm aside gently, but with surprising strength.  "Yes, there was once a time when I would attack Demons on sight.  But two centuries is a long time.  Attitudes can soften.
"I am sorry about your loss... but they were wanted criminals.  Murderers.  What they did was a capital crime... and I brought them to justice.  If they had been allowed to live, they would have committed other atrocities beside."

"You watched them die," Steve growled.  "I've seen the video."

"I witnessed the execution," Aisha said testily.  "As the hero who brought them in, it was expected of me.  Refusing would have been a slight to the city, and to your parents also.  As traditionalists, they wanted their deaths to be as memorable as their crimes."

Steve glowered but remained silent.  Aisha carried on, making a gesture of conciliation.

"Listen, señor... I could have brought them in dead.  No trial, just death from above, followed by a quick beheading in a back-alley.  Bringing just their heads would have been quicker and easier, and I'd have been paid just the same.  But I didn't.  I brought them in alive, made sure they received a fair trial.  I wanted to be sure they were guilty.
"And, while I'm sorry for your loss, that cloud had a big silver lining," Aisha pointed out.  "Olaf showed me parts of your file, since I wanted to know who I'd be working under.  Their deaths made you what you are today... a Demon with the responsible attitude of a Being.  If they had brought you up like themselves, you'd have lost your head too.  And we'd have lost a fine guildmaster."

Steve smiled slightly for a second.  "Flattery will get you everywhere, it seems." he said.  "All the same... you'll be on probation.  I don't see any reason to trust you, and plenty of reasons not to!"

"We're all on the same side," Jakob intervened, "So let the past be the past.  Though I would like to know what Aisha has been up to and why she isn't as dead as she should be by now.  No offence intended."

"None taken, Jakob.  After all... adventurers usually die in their mid-30s," Aisha began.  "Being ones at least.  Well, I made it far past that mark, but not unscathed.  Finally my luck ran out, and I was mortally wounded.  For all her skill, even Mistress Rynkura could only delay the inevitable.  There was only one way she could find to save me... but the price...

"The price I paid was high indeed," the jaguar concluded.  Removing a band from her wrist, a pair of leathery wings appeared behind her.

"Holy shit..." the Alsatian said.

"Will that aid your trust, if we are both birds of a leather, so to speak?"  Her bat-like wings swished slightly.  Steve was unable to reply.

Interesting. How does a Being become a Demon?

Quote from: CubiKitsune on October 28, 2017, 01:41:08 PM
Interesting. How does a Being become a Demon?

With Aisha it was a special case, which will be explained shortly.

Quote from: Tapewolf on October 28, 2017, 03:34:06 PM

Quote from: CubiKitsune on October 28, 2017, 01:41:08 PM
Interesting. How does a Being become a Demon?

With Aisha it was a special case, which will be explained shortly.

Heheh, all I can say is that it's not too far-fetched; think of Cindy from Abel's story with the eye on her hand.  Beings can have strange things done to them when magic's involved, as it seems. x3

I should probably come up with some stories for Future Aisha sometime.

Yessss more Aisha = more better

I know I ain't been commenting much, but I really have been enjoying this story a lot. So many great characters :3

Quote from: Merlin on October 30, 2017, 03:29:41 AM
Yessss more Aisha = more better

I know I ain't been commenting much, but I really have been enjoying this story a lot. So many great characters :3

Thanks.  I'm a bit worried about the last few chapters because I've had absolutely no feedback on them at all and it feels like I'm flying blind.  I've also got a little stuck with the ending and I can't ask for help because AFAIK nobody who's been proof-reading has read the last chapters leading up to it. 

Quote from: Tapewolf on October 30, 2017, 05:24:48 AM
I'm a bit worried about the last few chapters because I've had absolutely no feedback on them at all and it feels like I'm flying blind.  I've also got a little stuck with the ending and I can't ask for help because AFAIK nobody who's been proof-reading has read the last chapters leading up to it.

I don't think anyone would complain if you want to hold off while you fine-tune it.

Quote from: CubiKitsune on October 30, 2017, 06:39:31 PM
I don't think anyone would complain if you want to hold off while you fine-tune it.

I think it's more a matter of twisting people's arms to read the damned thing.  Still, we're a way off - it's chapter 26 that is being a problem, and I'm hoping that, even at weekly updates it will give me enough time to finish the series.   27 chapters in total seems likely, but we shall see.

Quote from: Tapewolf on October 30, 2017, 06:50:47 PM
27 chapters in total seems likely, but we shall see.

There's still that much more? Sweeeeeet. :eager

Also all this action and rad characters will go fantastically in comic form toooooooo

Quote from: Merlin on October 31, 2017, 04:57:03 AM
Also all this action and rad characters will go fantastically in comic form toooooooo

Oh yes, I definitely have one eye on a comic version while writing.

Chapter 16

"You... a demon?!" Jakob spluttered, when he could speak again.

"Yes," Aisha admitted, looking away as her expression clouded slightly.

"I can't believe you'd agree to that!"  Jakob said, awed.

"I did not, amigo.  But... though it pains me to admit, there was always Demon blood in my veins.  My red eyes, for instance, and my quickness to anger, perhaps even my drive to fight and slay enemies in the name of justice.
"But a Demon hybrid tends to be weaker than a pure-blood Demon, and not all of the traits will manifest.  Yet they were still there inside.

"As I said, I was dying.  Demons have exceptional regenerative powers and my Mistress hoped to awaken that dormant trait and use it to save my life.  But even the wisest can make mistakes, and this was new ground she was treading.  So while her experiments did give me new youth and health, it also gave me far more than she had intended... the complete heritage of a full-blood Demon."

"As you can imagine... I did not take it well.  Depression... rage... these things were made worse by my new heritage.  I tried at one point to cut the wings from my back, but with the regeneration that Mistress Rynkura had unlocked... they just grew back again.
"I went to ground, ashamed of what I had become.  Afraid of what I might become...  That I might give into Demon urges and face execution myself.  An ignoble end to The Risen, no?"

"But I have had over a century to get used to it.  I suppose this happens with 'Cubi, those who grow up thinking they're Beings and one day learn the truth.  Certainly, Mistress Rynkura seemed to know how to handle it.  She found a drug that can help lessen a Demon's violent outbursts and urges.
"And... well, it was not all bad.   In some ways it was a fresh start.  I returned to adventuring under an alias, helped by my new strength and thick skin.  People assumed I had died, I mean, who would believe I was the great DeCabre anyway?  The famous demon-killer, turned into a demon?  I didn't even look the right age for a veteran adventurer.  Some believed me a succubus with a warped sense of humor, or a misguided sense of hero worship... heroine worship, whatever..."

"Then there were the crashes as the adventuring market collapsed.  I was out of work, but not for long.  I used to be a skilled healer... now, with the power of a Creature I could do that even better.  It helped take the sting out of it."

"...and that is that," she concluded.  "I am Aisha DeCabre, once known as The Risen.  If you will have me as a probationary adventurer, I will be proud to offer my services.  Or, I can take them elsewhere if makes you happier."

"Well," Steve said.  "Perhaps I was a little hasty, now that I know the wider story.  Probation might still be for the best, especially given Mary's unpredictability.  But it will be a considerably shorter period than I was thinking.  Welcome aboard, Aisha."

With a brittle smile, the Alsatian thrust out a gauntleted hand.  Aisha took hold and shook it.

"I thank you.  I will do my best for this guild." she nodded at Jakob.  "After that trip into my past, I would be tempted to ask about Jakob's doings, but I know much of it already.  Since his master's ascension he has been thrust into the spotlight."

"I could have done without that," Jakob admitted.  "Though at least I've been able to set the record straight about Johan Cross, finally."

"Well," Steve said, as Aisha sat at the meeting table, "If that's out the way, I think the next order of business is the adventuring situation.  As most of you will be aware, there has been a flood of hits on adventurers.  As best we can tell, someone has hacked into AdventureNet, and is setting up fake bounties in order to get adventurers to kill each other."

"I see," the wolf said.  "You want me here because of that."

"Yes," Olaf said.  "Jayhawk Cybernetics won the tender to write and maintain the back-end system.  That makes AdventureNet your puppy, so it's in your best interest to make sure it hasn't gone rabid."

"Agreed," Jakob said, looking pained.  "I had heard there was a problem, but not the specifics.  Has this caused much trouble?"

"A number of people have lost their heads.  Some slain for the bounty, some executed for murdering their fellows."

Jakob's wings drooped.  "Maybe we should shut it down until we've fixed the problem."

"King Fairwater was one of the first to notice the pattern," Steve said.  "After all, he has a large realm.  Many adventurers, many Creatures and harsh laws against racism.
Once informed that AdventureNet was being subverted, he considered that same question.  But that would prevent us from finding the culprit.  Worse, they may switch tactics.
His opinion was that we would be better served by warning the Guildmasters privately.  Besides, shutting it down would prevent us from finding out how it was being attacked in the first place."

"These bounties," Jakob began, "Are they being paid for?  Is the money actually changing hands?"

"Yes.  It's held in escrow."

"Escrow?" Ralf asked.

"Yes," Olaf said.  "If you're a big, reputable organisation with an awesome credit history, say King Fairwater or Lord Daryil, that's not usually necessary.  For smaller shops, they want proof that you'll actually pay for the job, but at the same time, the customer wants to be sure the adventurers won't take the money and run.  So a third party, usually a bank, acts as middle-man."

"It was added in the second release," Jakob said.  "Some idiot posted a bounty on his friend for a laugh.  A million gold dollars, I think it was.  Said friend lost their head in short order, and of course the joker didn't have the money to pay for the job."

"Yes," Steve said.  "Adventuring guilds take things like that very, very seriously.  This prankster had not only defrauded the guild and breached his contract, but he had also tricked them into murdering an innocent man.  He was taken into the back room and hanged, like a rogue adventurer.  Most guilds don't mess around."

"So we very quickly added support for escrow," Jakob said.  "And that solved the problem of pranks, since the guy on the street has to pay upfront for any bounty they take out.  This... it looks like an equally serious problem.  I'd better go visit the King."


"Ooh, you poor thing..." Daryil crooned, as Bevan entered with a quick salute.  "You HAVE been in the wars!  Want me to shag it better?"

"I should present my report first, Dar," the fox said.

"How about you present your report while we're shagging?" Daryil said.  "I don't think we've tried that before!"

"It sounds less than effective, my Lord.  But I'll try nearly anything once..."


"...and that's it," Jakob said, stroking Daxxon's hair fondly.  "I'm hoping we can get it fixed quickly.  But in the meantime, I need to visit Fairwater.  Did you want to come?"

"Is it safe?" Daxxon asked.  "I mean, are we likely to get a bounty as well?"

"So far it seems to be adventurers only," Jakob said.  "I think we're safe..."

The door burst open.  Jakob glanced around in irritation.

"Oooh!" Daryil burbled.  "Catsuits!  Is it sexy-time?"

Jakob glanced at Daxxon.

"Yes," they both said.

"Well, when you're done," Daryil said, "I hear you're going to Fairwater.  I need to go there too, want me to warp you there?"


Fairwater shook Daxxon's hand warmly as they entered the conference room.

"Welcome, my loyal Thane.  It's been a little while."

"The convocation last fall," Daxxon said.  "Nothing notable has happened since then.  Things are ticking along.  Obviously I will let you know if anything changes.  But..."

"Yes?"

"Did I miss a memo about the dress code?" the Demon asked, eyeing the King's catsuit.  "Should I have not bothered to change?"

"It's not a public conference," the King said, dismissively.  "If you'd been wearing the same kind of robes for 200 years you'd get bored of them too.  Feel free to remove your shirt if you wish."

"I can find him something kinkier," Daryil offered, eagerly.

"No," Jakob put in.  "If anyone's going to dress him as a whore, it's me - got it?"

Tim shuffled uncomfortably.

"Enough of this," Fairwater said.  "We're making our guest nervous.  My apologies, Tim... we 'Cubi tend to be rather... casual.  Try not to let it distract you.
"Anyway... as you are all doubtless aware, a number of forged adventuring jobs have appeared on the computer network used to coordinate adventurers worldwide.  Tim, Jakob, I believe you have an update for us?"

"Yes," Jakob said.  "Daryil clan is partly responsible for the AdventureNet system in the first place.  Ashley was one of the developers and has been talking Tim through the source code and data structures.  What we've found is quite... fucked up."

"Have you found the origin of the false messages, then?" Fairwater asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Not really, Majesty," Tim said.  "That's the problem... they don't have an origin.  They just... appear.  Spontaneously."

"We've checked the system logs," Jakob said.  "What normally happens is this... someone logs into AdventureNet.  We get a connection record in the server access log and recording who they are and where they came from.  Then the AdventureNet software connects to the database, writes the job to the database and that goes in the database log.
"What's happening NOW, is that for some jobs, which appear to be the bogus ones, we just get the log of the database update.  But nobody has connected to the AdventureNet software during that time!"

"Are you suggesting that the server has become self-aware?" the King asked, headwings fanning out.

"Unlikely," Tim said, eyeing the king nervously.  "An automated script is possible, but my guess is that someone is doing this.  I just don't know how."

"The AdventureNet servers are hosted in a couple of datacentres," Jakob said.  "One in Zinvth, one in Grunmore, Valmorath, one in Taun's capital and a few more besides.  It's possible that someone has gone into the datacentre and physically connected to one of the servers.  That would explain the lack of an incoming connection."

"One of these updates seems to have originated in the Grunmore datacentre," Tim said.  "If we can get CCTV footage for that time, we might be able to find the culprit."

"Grunmore is Daryil's territory," Fairwater said.  "But I can order the footage from ours just in case."

"It would be useful, Majesty," Tim said.  "Something like this, we don't want to make mistakes.  If we arrest the wrong person, the real culprit will know we're after them."

"I guess that's settled then," Jakob said.  "Shall we reconvene in a couple of days?"

"If we're done here, I'd like to discuss Lady Featherstone," Daryil said.


Fairwater's brow furrowed, as Daryil played back the tape.

"It was pulled from Bevan's memory," Daryil commented.  "I've edited it down for brevity."

"I shall inform Daryil of your actions," the tape said.  "Want me to shag it better?   Oh... gods... yes... YES..." Daryil stopped the tape hastily.

"I see," the Doberman said.  "Captain Zenner?  Order your men to report to my office in two hours.  This will be a Code Two."

"Please," Daryil said, laying a rubber-gloved hand on the King's wing.  "Don't do that."

"I'm sorry," Fairwater sighed.  "But she represents a clear and present danger to my realm."

"I know," the fox said.  "But I don't want this to be the answer."

"You still have two hours, Daryil.  If you can broker a treaty in that time, I will abort the mission."

"Bevan...?" Daryil said, turning back to the red fox.

"Oh no," the android protested.  "She tried to kill me!  Twice!"

"I'll let you hold the whip this time," Daryil promised.

Poor Tim. Is he still there at the last section? Even Ben would cringe at that level of dirty. xD

Chapter 17

"You again!" Lady Featherstone snarled.  "What part of 'no' don't you understand?!  And daring to return here after the murder of one of my captains?  How do you hope to escape the same fate?"

"My condolences on your loss, Lady." Bevan said.  "Believe me, I had no intention of returning here, but unfortunately, my master commanded it.  He makes you one final offer."

"And what might that be...?"

"The Lord Daryil offers you his protection."

"Oh does he, now...?  And what exactly do I need to be protected from?"

"From the special forces team that King Fairwater has just sent to terminate you."

"WHAT?!  How dare you!"

"I am merely reporting the facts, milady.  King Fairwater has spoken the words of your death, but there is still time.  If you agree to suspend your hostilities against Creatures and negotiate with him, Daryil will ensure that you do not face execution."

"Captain!" Featherstone screamed.  "Execute HIM!"

The buff alsatian leapt forwards at her command, weapon already in hand.

Bevan staggered as the enchanted blade sliced through his throat.  There was no blood, but a look of surprise and shock on his face as his head tumbled to the ground, followed by a crash as his body toppled over.  Shortly afterwards his eyes closed and his features relaxed.

Well done," the opossum said.  "Now, someone find a box... I want the head sent back to Daryil as our response.  Immediately!  Now, Captain Aldriss... you will destroy this creature's brain."

"How can I do that without the head, Lady?" the captain asked, sheathing his blade.

"The brain will be in the torso of course," the opossum retorted.  "Why would anyone waste time and resources designing it to fit inside the skull, when the torso provides far more room for such electronics?  Strip the body of its armour, and open the chest.  Cut every wire, remove every circuit board and have them all burned.  But keep the armour... it might prove useful to us."

"At once, my Lady."

"Good.  And do it here.  I want to watch this!"


"We have failed you, Majesty," Zenner admitted reluctantly, as he approached the throne, tail between his legs.  Fairwater looked stunned.

"What happened?!" he demanded.  "Were there casualties?  What are we up against?"

"We gave them casualties," the demon said.  "One of our people was injured, but she's probably recovered already, Demon regeneration and all.  Unfortunately, the target escaped."

"Not again..." Queen Admaria said, infuriated.

"It was strange, Majesties.  She was celebrating something, had this weird bonfire in the middle of the throne room.  It smelled like burning plastic.  The ceremony distracted us for a few moments, during which time she opened a secret door and fled.
"Unfortunately, it turns out you are not the only one with a panic room," Zenner added bitterly.  "The little bitch has gone to ground in some kind of demon-proof vault.  She taunted us through the speaker system.  Said that she could wait years if need be."

"Is there any way we can winkle her out of there?"  Fairwater pondered.

"We may have to ask that of Daryil," Zenner said.  "Certainly we couldn't get in.  Unfortunately, there is more..."

"Daryil will be reluctant to aid us in this," Fairwater said.  "He did not approve of the assassination attempt in the first place."

"This may change his mind," Zenner said, glancing at Jones, a red-furred coyote demon.

"This is one of her taunts, Majesty..." the coyote said, clutching a box gently.  "She wanted us to send it to Daryil."


"We've checked the CCTV footage," Jakob said evenly.  "For all the data-centres.  Nobody has been doing anything suspicious.  However, we managed to record all incoming and outgoing traffic for the Fairwater data-centre.  The company was not pleased, but we got a royal decree thanks to the King.  The capture will be disposed of after the investigation, and besides, most of it is encrypted anyway.  But it has given us a vital clue.  Tim?"

"You won't like this, Majesty," Tim said, cowering.

"I can tell him if you prefer," Jakob coaxed.

"Unless you're responsible, it's really not your fault," Fairwater said.  "I promise I won't be angry."

Tim tapped a couple of keys on his laptop and a picture appeared on the wall-screen.

"I don't understand," Fairwater said.  "Wiki-pie-dia...?"

"It's an online, user-editable recipe book," Jakob said.  "Quite popular.  Tim, show them the red velvet cake."

The cake appeared onscreen.

"It looks nice, but..."

"This cake recipe was posted at 4:21 AM, Fairwater time," Jakob said.  "Mere seconds later, a bounty was posted for the murder of Jason, here."

"That has to be a coincidence," Fairwater said.

"Perhaps, but we found eleven other coincidences while the packet capture was in place," Jakob said.  "A new recipe appears, and so does a bounty for another adventurer."

"But that's insane," Fairwater retorted.

"I told you he wouldn't like it..." Tim wailed.

"I don't like it either," Jakob said.  "But it is what it is."


Niall stared at the head, appalled.  "How?!  Didn't we give him an indestructible chassis?!"

"You certainly didn't give me one," Dorcan said.

"No.  Only the skull and chest armour," Daryil said sadly.  "Remember, the fox-guards were our enemies to start with.  Taking them on probation was one thing, but making them unstoppable killing machines?  R.Niall is the only example of that, and he's subject to psychological evaluation checks from the Being-Creature Commission every six months to make sure he's not about to go off the rails.  Bevan, Dice and the others... they're purely commercial models and not designed to take this kind of punishment.  From the cut, it looks like they used an enchanted sword..."

"Yeah, they were enemies once," Niall said.  "But that was decades ago.  Surely we can trust them now ..?  It's not like Dorcan was a known quantity to begin with either.  And now he's one of our key staff."

"Indeed.  Bevan has certainly just proved his loyalty," Daryil said, stroking the severed head gently.  "To me, at least.  But I don't think we're in a position to request more military-spec androids from the Commission just yet.  Anyway, enough chatter.  We need to get him back on his feet, assuming he's still alive..."

"The charge should last a week in power-saving mode," Dorcan pointed out.  "But if we find it didn't, what then?"

"Then I'd have to get him back on his feet the hard way," Daryil said.  "Just don't tell the Commission, okay...?"


"A couple of new jobs," Steve said, addressing his staff at Northwood guild.  "As far as I can tell, they're genuine."

"Anyone you want in particular?" Ben asked.

"Not you," Steve said.  "You and Daniel have had quite the ordeal.  I'd prefer that you took the time off to recover."

"We're only here until September," Ben reminded him.  "After that it'll be back to Illiath's for another term."

"If you insist.  But I'd rather you stayed on light duty.  Show Aisha around, for example."

"What are the jobs, anyway?"

"Two of them.  Highwaymen on the Old Forest road have been causing trouble.  Mary can deal with that."

"Eeee!" the wolf demoness squealed delightedly.  "Any restrictions?"

"I'd rather you taught them a lesson," Steve said.  "Simply having a couple of bandits disappear won't solve anything.  More will take their place."

"Oh," Mary said.  "You want me to disembowel their leader and hang the bits from the trees as a warning...?"

Aisha made a quiet hissing noise, causing Daniel to edge away from her.

"Definitely not," Steve said sharply.  "Last time, you left such a mess that no-one could tell they'd been bandits, and naturally assumed they were hapless travellers.  There was a bounty posted for a rampaging demon, description strangely similar to you..."

"This time I'll leave a sign."  Mary promised.  "Bandits, be ye warned..."

"I'd prefer it if there were survivors," Steve said.  "Live men tell more tales."

"Oh, I can do that too," Mary said, grinning with anticipation, and snatching the print-out, ran off to gather her equipment.

"Ralf, I would like you to go with her," Steve said.  "Bandits will tend to hear her coming.  Your stealth powers will be useful in flushing them out."

"But she'll kill them," the robo-wolf protested.

"Hopefully only their leader, if she does what she's told," Steve said.  "Sadly, killing people is still a fact of life in the adventuring business.  But hopefully I'll be able to find you a nice Missing Persons report to help out with."

"What's the other job?" Ralf asked.

"Execution duty."

"I'll take the bandit one," Ralf said quickly, and bounded over to where Mary was sharpening her weapons.

"So.  Who's up for this?"  Steve asked sombrely.  "Ben, I don't expect you to be.  Jason's off helping the AdventureNet investigation.  Aisha, if you are willing, this is probably a good first mission for you.  Though I'll need someone to go with you, being on probation and all."

"I can do this," Aisha agreed.  "Though I would still like to know why this person has to die.  I may be a Demon now, but killing a person is a serious matter and not to be done lightly," the jaguar added, sending a venomous glance in Mary's direction.  "I could not agree to take a life merely for stealing apples..."

"It's to be a double execution," Steve said, offering her the print-out.  "Quite a sordid little story.  Boy meets girl, they live happily ever after until girl meets another boy and they arrange an 'accident' for the husband so she can live happily ever after with the other guy instead.  Truly a fairy-tale romance."

"Complete with the gruesome ending," Ben said.

"...which we have to provide, unfortunately," Steve said.  "The wife confessed, hoping that throwing her boyfriend under the bus would secure a more lenient sentence for her.  Instead, they're both for the chop.  Swordsman preferred, though axes are acceptable too.  They don't have a guillotine, and I'm sure you'd prefer not to hang them.  Oh... actually, they won't accept a hangman at all.  I wonder why...?"

"I'll do it," Daniel said grimly.  "I can't feel much pity for someone like that.  I can assist Aisha, or I can do the deed myself."

"One kill each might be better," Steve said.  "Murderers or not, making someone watch their lover die, knowing that they'll be next is just plain cruel.  If you can kill them both together it would be better all round."

"Agreed," Aisha said.  "I have to start somewhere, after all.  Though I had hoped for something a little less death-oriented."

So... what, the hacker is piggybacking the code for his false bounties on top of the recipes?

Also: "...Swordsman preferred, though axes are acceptable too.  They don't have a guillotine, and I'm sure you'd prefer not to hang them.  Oh... actually, they won't accept a hangman at all.  I wonder why...?"

Am I the only one who finds that bit suspicious? :paranoid

Quote from: CubiKitsune on October 30, 2017, 07:17:18 PM
There's still that much more? Sweeeeeet. :eager

I've finally got the ending down, it runs to 28 chapters in total.  More than I was expecting, but nice in that it reached a point where it was snowballing.

Chapter 18

Like all the Jayhawk androids, Bevan's brain was protected by a number of voltage regulators and circuit breakers, just in case something went catastrophically wrong with the power plant in his body.  Even so, Dorcan checked the connections and voltages twice over before finally throwing the switch.

As he did so, the vulpine head changed subtly, the slack, dead expression hardening.  The ears pricked up and and the eyes snapped open.  They focused on Daryil.

"Can you hear me, Bev?  I'm so sorry... You were quite right... I should never have sent you back..."

"Daryil..." the head whispered,  "You... owe me a lot... more... than kinky... sex for this... "

"You'll get it," Daryil said, his voice breaking slightly.

"I heard... them talking... They... destroyed... my body..."

"Figures." Daryil said.  "But I'll get you a new one.  Any preferences?  You don't have to be a fox, even... I can transplant your brain into anything!  If you'd rather be a buff, hunky wolf, or a jaguar or something..."

"Just... as I was... please..." the fox replied.  "But with... longer hair...  maybe a little... more muscle..."

"Wise choice," Niall said.  "We've got a spare fox chassis in storage, we'll have you up and about in no time."

"Thanks... just being... a head... sucks...."

Daryil's eyes narrowed as Niall and Dorcan left the room.

"Who did this to you, Bevan?" he hissed.  "One of Lady Featherstone's goons?  Just tell me who it was, and I'll crush them."

"Guard captain...  Aldriss... Alsatian... Don't go too... hard on him... Dar, he was ordered to..."

"Oh, that old excuse," Daryil snarled and mimed with a puppet.  "'I was only obeying orders.'"

"We used it..." Bevan whispered.  "We worked for... your enemy too... but you spared us...  If he had refused... he'd be dead..."

"Dammit, you're right." the incubus sighed.  "Much as I'd like to destroy him...  He deserves a chance."

"Plus, he might... be useful..."

"Yes..." Daryil smiled evilly.  "Yes, he might."


"What news?" Fairwater asked, as they settled around the boardroom table once more.

"It turns out," Jakob said, "That wiki-pie-dia is not only hosted in the same data-centres as AdventureNet, but in each case, both sites are hosted on the same server.  It appears to be deliberate, like they bribed the data-centre to do that."

"It works like this, Majesty," Ashley said.  "The servers are virtualised.  Each physical machine can run several sites at once.  But they use a container system, so each site is isolated from the others."

"I have heard of this," Fairwater said.  "That would kind of rule out the recipe site, though, wouldn't it...?"

"Normally it would.  But there's a security hole in the container system.  Whoever built wiki-pie-dia was extremely clever - when it receives a certain kind of recipe, it exploits a previously-unknown vulnerability in the system.  It breaks out of its container, finds the AdventureNet container, punches into that, and adds the bogus adventuring job to the queue!"

"A recipe for death," Jason muttered softly.

"How on Furrae did you figure this out?" Josh asked.

"Ashley and Tim did," Jakob said.  "With Fairwater's authority, they cloned the wiki-pie-dia node from the Fairwater data-centre and have been reverse-engineering it ever since."

"This is the Red Velvet cake again," Tim said.  "I downloaded the picture and looked at the raw data.  On the end of it there's this... stuff.  It's not part of the picture, it's been appended to the end.  They've also inserted the picture for the bounty inline as well."

"Show him the stew," Jakob said.

"He'll guillotine me!" Tim wailed.

"What is this...?" Fairwater demanded.

"I'll do it," Jakob said, and took control of the laptop.  "We have a hook into AdventureNet.  Ashley wrote it.  It flags up suspicious jobs as they appear.  This one turned up overnight.  It came from a recipe for beef stew."

"Who is it for?" Fairwater asked icily.

Jakob touched a key, and the bounty appeared.  It was for Tim, wanted dead for high treason against King Fairwater.

"Guards!"  Fairwater called, pointing at the kangaroo.  "Put Tim in a cell!  Immediately!"


"Here we are," Daniel said, hiding his head-wings as they entered the town.  "I do hope it's a private execution.  I hate the whole spectacle of it..."

"I thought you grew up with that kind of thing," Aisha remarked, buying a turtle from a street-food stall and crunching it noisily.

"Yes.  But I've travelled enough to realise that it's pretty backward thing to do.  Even Fairwater only reserves public execution for the most hideous crimes.  This kind of crime in Fairwater, if it merited death at all, it'd happen in the dungeon, away from the crowd.  Far more dignified..."

He broke off as they approached the town hall, and walked up to the reception with Aisha in tow.

"Daniel Kaye," he said.  "Adventurer under Steve Foster, Northwood guild.  I also have Aisha De..."

There was a flash of light, causing him to drop instinctively.  When he looked around, Aisha was lying prone on the ground, guards already descending upon her with magic-suppressing bracers.

"What?!" Daniel demanded.  "What is the meaning of this?!"

"Congratulations on bringin' 'er to justice, Mr. Kaye," the captain beamed.  "The crowd'll love this!  A triple beheadin'!"

"She's not for killing," the Doberman protested.  "She's my new adventuring partner, and we were going to carry out the executions together.  How can she assist me like this?!"

"As the warm-up act..?" the captain suggested.  "She's a wanted murderer, son.  Top priority.  Don't worry, we'll let you claim the bounty.  After all, it'll be you putting 'er to justice..."

So saying, the captain removed a wanted poster from the noticeboard, and handed it to Daniel.  It was Aisha's face, wanted for the murder of Jason Da'Real.


Tim fainted away, and was quickly slung over a guard's shoulder.

"What are you doing?!"  Jakob gawked.  "You know the bounty is fake!"

"Obviously," Fairwater said.  "But have you forgotten your own arrest so soon...?  That's a fuck-off big sum being offered for his head, and the minute he leaves the palace some adventurer will confiscate it!"

"Right, so it is protective custody, then?"  Jakob said, looking relieved.

"I guess I could have phrased it better," the King admitted.

"Keeping him under lock and key will cripple the investigation," Ashley pointed out.  "And it's possible that he was targeted specifically for that reason.  It might be better to get him to our Arctic lab, Majesty.  He'll be safe there until the bounty can be cancelled. Daryil will make sure of that..."

"Very well.  But he is a citizen of Fairwater.  Please take good care of him.  Guards, put Tim down.  On the floor," he added hastily.  "Do not kill him!"

"Jayhawk Cybernetics is the best place to be if you're likely to get killed," Jakob said helpfully.  "We're pretty good at fixing that."

"Talking of fixing things," Josh put in, "Now that you know there's a vulnerability in the system, that can be fixed, right?"

"The bug isn't in our software," Ashley said.  "It's proprietary stuff from M-corp.  Between Daryil and Fairwater we can twist their arm to get a patch developed quickly, or failing that, Tim and I could probably develop our own workaround.  But we'll still be dependent on the affected data-centres actually rolling out the upgrade..."

"Also, it will be obvious what we've done," Jakob said.  "But that's something we'll have to cross when we come to it.  We know what they're doing, and how.  Arguably stopping adventurers from murdering each other is a higher priority than bringing the culprit to justice."

"True," Fairwater said.  "We can concentrate on following the money."

"Nooo!" Tim screamed, regaining consciousness and suddenly remembering his predicament.  "Not my head..." he was muffled shortly by one of the guards.

"Oh stop it," Fairwater chided.  "Jailing you was for your own safety.  But we now think it's better if you hide out with Ashley and Jakob, at least until the bounty is cancelled.  Help them patch the vulnerability."

"Yes, sire," Tim said shakily.


"Her?  Murder Jason?!  Are you serious?!  Aisha is a fellow guild member!" Daniel said.

"Jason Da'Real was a member o' your guild too," the captain pointed out.

"Stop talking in past tense!  Jason IS a guild member," Daniel insisted.

"You sure 'bout that?  When d'you last see 'im?" the captain asked, studying the wanted poster again.

"Not for a few days," Daniel admitted.   "But this is a serious accusation.  You're asking me to execute a colleague, based on this... some hearsay!"

"You're an adventurer, you know the penalty for goin' rogue.  If she killed another o' your colleague, she gotta be executed by that guild, or its representative.  That's you."

"You seem remarkably eager to see her head come off," Daniel snapped.  "Measure twice, cut once.  Especially if the cut is to someone's neck."

"She's a demon," the captain said.  "Even if she's innocent o' this, there's blood on 'er 'ands somehow.  Besides, the crowd'll love it!"

"Bandit blood," Daniel said.  "Listen.  You can't kill someone just for being a Demon!  Most of us at my guild are Creatures.  Besides, there's a number of fake bounties going around.  I'll bet you anything you like that this is one of them, and Jason is still alive."

"You listen," the captain said.  "Whatever she 'as or 'asn't done, fact is, someone's paid big money for 'er 'ead.  Up front!  Woss fake about THAT?  You don't want to claim the bounty, thas fine by me... a windfall like that'd set me up for life!"

"Your life won't be very long if you slay a card-carrying guild member," Daniel said.  "Remember the contract!  We're your guests, and if you kill either of us, the guild will take your head as compensation.  Clause 6."

The captain opened his mouth and closed it again.

"Besides," Daniel said.  "If she's gone rogue, that's an internal matter for the guild to judge.  If she murdered Jason, she'll die too.  But she'd be executed humanely at our guild-hall, not as a side-show for your entertainment."

"Fine, fine.  You're the boss," the captain sighed.  "But every bounty 'unter for miles around'll descend on this place like a swarm o' bees.  Good luck getting 'er home with 'er 'ead still on!"

"We'll see," Daniel said coolly.  "But first things first.  The execution.  The double execution.  I still want her help.  Killing them both at once will need an assistant."

"I ain't taking those bracers off," the captain insisted.  "But I can take the chain off so she can use 'er 'ands.  I 'ave to keep the public safe, and she's likely ta run off.  We'll 'ave to arrange sniper cover."

"It's a start," Daniel sighed.  "Just remember clause 6."

Yesssss more Tim <3

Early update because I'm bored.

Chapter 19

"Welcome to Jayhawk, Tim," Jakob said, leading the nervous kangaroo into the heart of the Arctic base.  "Ashley's office is down here.  As you can see, we're not fussy about which races we hire...
As long as someone can do the job, that's good enough for us.  So you're quite safe here among Creatures.  Corporate policy and clan law aside, we promised your King that we'd do our best to keep you safe.
And if you like it here... well, if things don't work out with the guild, we could always do with some more talent..."

Jakob trailed away as a figure bounded down the corridor towards them.

"Ah... shit," Jakob muttered.  "That's all I need right now."

"Oooh!" Daryil burbled excitedly, clasping his gloved hands with a manic grin.  "Oooh!  I want him!"

"Daryil, please leave Tim alone," Jakob complained.  "He's not fond of 'Cubi, don't make this any harder for him."

"You don't understand," Daryil said.  "He's hot, yes.  And bi.  And he has great taste in leathers.  But I don't want to bang him.  Not unless he wants it, of course..."

"What DO you want, then?" the wolf asked, cautiously.

"I want him in my clan," Daryil said firmly.

"What?!"

"We don't have any 'roos in the clan," Daryil said dreamily.  "Especially not handsome buff ones with ponytails and a kink for leather.  He'd fit right in!"  Tim backed away, blushing.

"I'll buy you a new bike as a joining present," Daryil coaxed.

"Woah, woah." Jakob said.  "Even if he agreed to it, he has to have a child with a clan member, who then gets reamed for half their life-force in order to bump him up and make weakling 'Cubi out of him," the wolf said, blinking rapidly.  "That's a big commitment!  You can't force him..."

"There's another way," Daryil said.  "I want to try an experiment."

"What?!"

"Have you forgotten the clan motto?" Daryil grinned toothily.  "'Power Through Mad Science'!  If you don't try, you'll never succeed!
"I mean, look at it logically... there's a difference between someone who is a Being and someone who is a 'Cubi.  And with someone whose head-wings haven't come in yet, the difference between those is smaller.  Ben was a Being, he married a succubus, they had an incubus child and Ben was 'Cubified.
"I've taken samples from all of them, before and after the ritual, and I think I've isolated that difference.  Now I can make a cure...  A cure for people who aren't Daryil Clan 'Cubi!"

"Many Clan Leaders have tried to do this before, especially those who've lost their clans!"  Jakob protested.  "What makes you so special?"

"But they didn't have science," Daryil returned smoothly.  "And Clan Leaders who have lost their clans go mad.  You're not going to be in a great position to do scientific experiments when you're out of your mind with grief, are you?  It didn't help you get Page back, after all..."

"Oh, don't remind me about that again," Jakob snapped.  "Look.  You're my Clan Leader... your word is law and I can't stop you, but as your friend and deputy, I urge you... it has to be his choice!" the wolf pleaded.  "An experiment like this... it might kill him!"

"There's a bunch of people who want to kill him anyway," Daryil said.  "Look.  If it works, he's suddenly under my protection.  We might even be able to convince his enemies that a Daryil member murdered and replaced him!  And if the process does kill him, we simply freeze his sperm and build him a new body like we did with Josh.  And then Jason chops the head off his corpse and claims the bounty on it!  That'll get people off his tail.  His big, handsome kangaroo tail..."

"Okay.  Supposing it works," Jakob said.  "How will the other Leaders react at the next clan meeting?  A discovery like this would be dynamite!"

"It's not a miracle," Daryil said.  "It'll still need a Tri-wing to do it, and it still needs another clan member to act as a template.  Like you, for example.  The advantages are that it's quicker, and the energy to do the transformation will come from me instead of you.  I'll be copying your 'cubi-ness rather than stealing half of it.  Always seemed a little barbaric, that..."

"...and if the experiment kills ME...?" Jakob demanded.

"It won't.  I'm just going to scan your body, not make any changes." Daryil said.  "I know what I'm doing.  Worst case, it'll tingle a bit."

"Tim?" Jakob sighed.  "My clan leader wants to make you into an incubus or a robot or something.  You up for it?"

"Will it hurt?"

"Let's find out!" Daryil said, and lunged at him.

"HE DIDN'T AGREE!" Jakob yelled.  "Silence isn't consent!"

"But he felt it," Daryil cooed, stroking the kangaroo's hair.  "He likes the idea, don't you Tim...?  See, a lot of his anti-cubi ranting... it's because he's jealous of us.  Now I'm offering him a piece of the pie too... a long life of looking pretty and plenty of ass, less being kicked around.  What's not to like about that..?"

"If you can really do it... do it," Tim croaked.  "Who wouldn't want a sip from the fountain of youth...?"


"Mierda!" Aisha exclaimed, as Daniel showed her the wanted poster.  "It's not the first bounty I've had, but I think it's the largest.  And it's escrowed..?"

"Yes," Daniel said.  "Whoever this lunatic is, they've definitely put their money where their mouth is."

The Doberman sighed as they prepared for the execution.  "They wanted me to behead you too, you know.  But I convinced the captain that you should be taken back to the guildhall for a trial after the job is done.  They've got crossbows on alert in case you try to run, I might add."

"Hijo de puta," Aisha swore.

"We'll have them kneel just there," Daniel pointed, glancing at the captain.

"Hah!  Good luck wi' that!" the captain said.  "They're cart-gryphons."

"Nobody told us that," Daniel said, looking perturbed.

"I thought you'd be used ta slaying Creatures," the captain remarked.  "But yeah... that's why we ain't 'angin' 'em.  We can do that ourselves."

"Can't say I've killed many quadrupeds," Daniel said sadly.  "Gryphons tend not to go off the rails much.  One of my best friends is a gryphon..."

"So is one of mine.  But if want me to do this for you..." Aisha offered.

"No," Daniel sighed.  "I'm fine.  Let's get it over with."

The two adventurers took their positions, leaning on their broadswords as the gryphon couple were marched out by guards in full platemail.  The list of charges was read out, and the sentence of death was passed.
Finally, the gryphons stood upon the scaffold, crouching low, wings bound and blindfolded.  Daniel and Aisha stepped forwards, faces like stone.  The crowd fell silent.

Daniel!  Nod if you can hear me, Aisha thought.  We'll do this on three, I don't want them to know when we'll strike.  Daniel glanced at her, with a nod.

As the jaguar silently counted down, Daniel steeled himself.  "Where's my sword...?" he asked.  Moments later, there was a double thunk, and a scream of joy from the crowd as the grim deed was done.

"May the gods forgive you," Daniel said.

"...and us," Aisha added.


"Well, that's that," Daniel said, drying himself magically in the town hall after a quick visit to its polysex bathroom.

"Cool," the captain said.  "That was a good job well done.  I was worried what the crowd might think about a notorious murderer carryin' out an execution, but they just loved it!  Might 'ave to try that again sometime..."

Aisha huffed at this.  "Murderer, indeed!  Keep your eye on those bounties," she said.  "Mark my words, that one will be cancelled soon."

"Talking of which, we'd better get back," Daniel said.  "With a price that big, someone is likely to take a pop at you before your name can be cleared.  Any chance you can remove her bracers?" he added.

"No way," the captain said, horrified.  "I just got your word that she's not a murderess, against the word of some rich bugger sayin' she IS.  Money talks, son, 'specially when it's guaranteed by a third party!  If it weren't for your precious guild contract I'd 'ave claimed it by now.  Take 'er bracers off?  You're 'avin' a laugh!  If I did that, she'd murder ME!"

"I wasn't going to," Aisha said.  "But please stop trying to change my mind."

"Well, that's going to make things awkward," Daniel complained.  "It'll prevent her teleporting home."

"They'd be pretty shitty restraints if they didn't," the captain pointed out reasonably.

"Fine.  We'll catch a cab."

"Good luck wi' that," the captain said.  "You'll 'ave a fine time finding a Gryphon willing to take you after you've lopped their cousins' 'eads off!"


"You did WHAT?!"  Ashley shrieked.  "How are we going to finish the investigation now?!"

"Okay, so it didn't quite work out as planned," Daryil pouted.  "Having your race changed is a pretty serious business.  But hey, it didn't kill him... he's just gone into shock, that's all.  He'll recover."

"When?"

"If it takes more than a week, I'll bring in a specialist," Daryil promised.

"'A specialist...!'" Jakob wailed.  "How many specialists are there in something you've just invented?!"

"Oh, the King'll just love this!" Ashley said icily.  "He entrusted you with the welfare of one of his subjects, and you promptly leave them in a coma!  If Tim dies... An incubus has killed a Being!  Racial murder!  A capital crime...!"

"Cool!  Maybe I can finally get Fairwater to lop my head off!" Daryil exclaimed, grinning like a maniac.  He sobered at Ashley's venomous expression and protracted claws.

"Okay, okay, okay.  Look, I don't think there's any reason to tell the King immediately.  Let's give Tim a couple of days first and see how he does.  In any case, I beg to differ with your assessment," Daryil continued.
"Firstly, Tim consented.  It was an experimental procedure and he knew it was risky.  Secondly, because of that, if he does die, it'll be death by misadventure or negligent homocide at worst.  Thirdly, I promised a fast-track resurrection if the worst happens.  Lastly, it didn't take place in Fairwater's jurisdiction anyway."

"Well, that's okay then!" Ashley, said.  "Of course he won't notice that Tim's missing when we do tonight's status report..."

"Quite," Daryil said, assuming a kangaroo form.  "I just need to steal his clothes.  Or shape-shift some."

"This has 'disaster' written all over it," Jakob said.

Now I'm picturing Daryil laughing maniacally in a lab, with a sleeping Tim strapped to a table, Frankenstein style. :rolleyes

Ah geez Daryil, you couldn't wait till after he'd helped finish up the investigation? Could've even used it as extra motivation to get it done if you'd have played your cards right. Hindsight's 20/20 I guess.

As a sidenote: first read-through I completely missed the line where he said if Tims not showing improvement after a couple days they'll come clean instead of continuing to lie about it indefinitely. It's amazing how one line decides whether the tone of what follows is essentially the shapeshifters version of A Weekend at Bernie's or unduly creepy.

Chapter 20

"Surely there must be a better way," Aisha said as they set off into the forest.

"A recall amulet would have been handy," Daniel said, "But we don't have one.  Even if we did, they're still recharging.  Flying... well, mega-Gryphon attacks are pretty rare around settlements, but with the local gryphons blaming us for killing their buddies...  We'd be mincemeat."

"Agreed," Aisha said.  "Normally I could take them.  But with my powers negated... It's been a long time since I was a Being.  Like it or not, I've got used to the perks of Demonhood now..."

"Staying off the path is probably our best bet, though..." Daniel said, hiding his wings.  "We'll be less likely to attract an ambush."

"Can't you just phone the guild?"

Daniel checked his phone, just in case.  "Forests aren't known for their cell-phone coverage," he said.  "Even in the town, it was emergency only.  There's a cell tower there, but it's not on my network provider."

"Great," Aisha said.  "And if we're attacked?  That'll be an emergency then, yes?"

"They'd take a while to arrive," the Doberman said.  "And when they see a wanted criminal with a sky-high bounty..." Daniel grimaced.

"Shit," he whispered.

Bandits?  Aisha thought.

"Adventurers," the Doberman hissed.  "Looking for you."


"Good news, Majesty," Jason said.  "We have a new lead."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  We managed to track down one of Swanson's friends."

"And hit him a lot," Keaton added helpfully.

"And...?" Fairwater asked, frostily.

"Well, if he's part of it, you're likely to execute him anyway," Keaton said.  "So we bigged that up, told him how you'd set up a mirror so he could watch his own head come off.  But, if he told us what we wanted to know, we'd let him escape."

"Apparently Swanson was hanging out with a number of weirdos," Jason said.  "You get anti-wing cults and other such loonies, right?  This seems to be an anti-adventurer cult.  Gods know how they got Swanson to join them, being an adventurer and all..."

"But we got some names," Keaton said, looking pleased with herself.  "He referred to it as 'The Bounty Project', said it was being run by the Delphinium Group."

"And you believed all this...?"

"He didn't say it, he was thinking it.  Besides, it checks out.  See, we looked at the money trail, like you said.  The bounties are all in escrow, and each one is paid by some kind of shell company.  But they've all got links to this Delphinium Group.  Claims to be some kind of venture capital outfit..."

"And where are they based?"

"Some hick place out in the Gerbil Mountains," Keaton said.  "Andover or something..."

Fairwater grimaced.  "Not Andovia...?"

"That was it!" Keaton beamed.

"We're currently at war with Andovia," Fairwater said.  "It's not safe for us to investigate there while she's still in control of the place.  I mean, yes... with Daryil's aid we could crush the place, but that would not serve our cause well.
A lot of ordinary people are stuck there since Featherstone's coup, and harming innocents will only reinforce her claims that Creatures are unmitigated evil.  It's not just about deposing a group of anti-wing lunatics, but we also have to help ensure there's a stable government afterwards - preferably not one run by an occupying force."

"Can't you take her out?" Jason asked.  "An assassination?"

"I tried.  An elite squad was sent, but she retreated into a panic room, with supplies to last her several years.  Her men are fanatically loyal and will faithfully carry out her orders over a video link, even if she is not there in person."

"I suppose they'd have to be," Admaria remarked.  "Gods know, I can get a little over-eager to see justice done, but her...?  Wow.  I mean... even on a bad day someone would have to commit murder before I start going after their head, but she'd put you to the blade just for looking at her funny."

"From what I've heard, she takes discipline terminally seriously," Jason concurred.  "As for the panic room, I understand Daryil has an idea for dealing with that.  Just a rumour, mind... and even if it works it will take time."


"Gods... it really is her!" the Doberman said, covering Aisha with his crossbow.  "She was one of the best before she went rogue..."

"Demons," his ovine companion shook his head.  "They always go bad in the end.  She had the right idea when she was young..."

"Well, she's mine now," Daniel grinned.  "A bounty like that, I'll be able to retire!"

"You want my advice, I'd take her head off right now before she gets away and someone else cashes it in!"

"I can hear you, you know," Aisha snapped.  "I'm not deaf... but I am innocent.  I have not 'gone rogue', I am a card-carrying adventurer, just like you."

"What's she doing walking around, anyway?" the Doberman asked, puzzled.  "If you need a hand, I can hold her steady while you take her head off..."

"I want to bring her in alive," Daniel replied.  "You heard her... she could be innocent, and I don't want to risk killing the wrong person.  Either way, she should be tried by the guild in question.  And if they do decide she's guilty, they can provide a public execution."  Aisha's tail twitched angrily at this suggestion but she remained silent.

"I'd believe you," the adventurer said, "Except that you haven't bound her wrists.  What's stopping her from running off?"

"I only just caught her," Daniel said.

"He's her accomplice," the ram sneered, and his companion brought out a pair of bracers to cuff Daniel with.  "Look at that chain!  He's been trying to remove her restraints!"

"So they've both gone rogue!" the Doberman said.  "Well then... come quietly, and you'll get to live a little bit longer.  I know Demons like to go out with a bang," the Doberman added, looking at Aisha, "And your partner-in-crime can join in too.  A public double-execution is hard to beat for a spectacular death!  If not... we'll do justice right here and now."

"Justice, you call it?" Aisha said.  "When I was your age, adventurers were there to protect travellers, not kill them for money."

"I'll defend myself," Daniel warned, drawing his sword.  "And what if she's right?  I've heard a lot about fake bounties lately... I don't want to hurt my fellow adventurers, but I won't let you behead someone for a mistake!"

"Mistake, my arse.  I checked!  The money's real enough!"

"Idiotas!" Aisha snarled.  "It's a hit.  Somebody wants me out of the way.  They make up some... some fable about me killing someone who isn't even dead!  So what if the money's real?  You'll find it hard to spend after the guild hangs you for murdering a colleague!"

The adventurers paused.

"See, this is why we have a trial before executing someone," Daniel added brightly.

"That's a lot of money," the Doberman murmured wistfully.  "It's not like adventuring is a job for life.  You retire... or you die in service.  I say we take her head, cash in the reward and beat it to Panthina.  If she's guilty, we've done the world a favour.  If not... we'll be in Panthina by the time they realise!"

"She don't have any horns," the ram pointed out, putting Aisha in an arm-lock.  "We just bring her head, it could be any old panther.  We'd have to lug the body around too."

"Hark, is that the sweet sound of honest adventurers turning rogue that I hear...?" Daniel asked.

"Money's the root of all evil, son," the dog retorted, aiming his katana at the other Doberman's neck.  "Chin up, it'll be quicker that way."


Captain Aldriss came to slowly.  His mouth felt parched and dry, and his mind was more than a little fuzzy.

Drugged? he pondered groggily, and looked over his surroundings.  It was clearly a dungeon.

What's happened? he wondered.  Did the Lady order this?  Usually she just kills her enemies... What could I have done to offend her anyway...?

The alsatian turned with a start as the lock rattled.  Panic set in for a moment as he saw that his captor was vivid blue.  Creatures!  Fairwater has taken me...

The door swung open and two muscular figures entered, a blue Doberman with feathered wings, and a blonde alsatian with leathery wings.  They took him roughly, forcing his hands behind his back and strapping them there.

If I'm going to die, I will die bravely, he vowed to himself.

They marched through a corridor, through an antechamber where a guillotine stood.  Sawdust was scattered here and there, some of it stained red.  There were dark red splashes on the wall nearby, as if to underline that someone had lost their head to the device, very recently.  Nightmarish visions swam through his head, he could almost feel the hard wood against his belly as they dropped the blade... vertigo... confusion... blackness...

To his mild surprise, the guards shoved Aldriss, snapping him out of his reverie and him past the grim machine and into a sparse audience chamber.  In the centre was a dais, and upon it sat a fox incubus atop a golden throne.  His hands were clad in black shiny gloves, and his pants were glossy plastic.  He watched the procession with a sadistic smile.

"You..." the captain started.  "You're Lord Daryil."

"Yes," Daryil said.  "And you are Captain Aldriss.  You beheaded one of my friends.  Lady Featherstone ordered you to destroy his brain, too...  fortunately, you failed, otherwise we would not be having this conversation right now."

"Enough theatrics," the Alsatian said.  "So you're going to kill me.  Just get it over with!  I won't talk!"

"Close," Daryil said.  He clicked his fingers, which made a muted slapping noise through the gloves, and to the captain's surprise, the strap binding his wrists was undone.

"No deals," the captain said, flexing his hands suspiciously.  "I won't beg for my life.  I won't betray my country.  Just kill me."

Daryil laughed unkindly, and reached down to pick up a supermarket shopping bag.  He threw it at the Alsatian, who caught it deftly.

"I believe this is yours," he said.  The captain looked inside and uttered a yell of horror.  It was a severed head.  His own.

Quote from: Tapewolf on December 01, 2017, 05:16:55 PM
Daryil laughed unkindly, and reached down to pick up a supermarket shopping bag.  He threw it at the Alsatian, who caught it deftly.

"I believe this is yours," he said.  The captain looked inside and uttered a yell of horror.  It was a severed head.  His own.

Oooh, that's wicked. I approve! >:3

[spoiler]But, I wonder: Is the captain now an android, or is Daryil pulling another one of those stunts with an avatar body like he did with Callahan in Epsilon?[/spoiler]

I really need to check the forum more often. I just found this and binge read it. I had been having Dar withdrawal.

Chapter 21

The Doberman's head landed with a thud, his body staggering and crumpling to the ground in a shower of blood.  Aisha looked appalled.

"Mierda," she said quietly.  "The guild won't like that."

"No," Daniel said softly, gazing at a bloodied wing-tentacle with an expression of regret.  "No, they won't."

"They'll behead you for it!  And most likely me too!"

"It was self-defence," Daniel said.  "They went rogue."

"And just who will believe you?!  They'll say the same about you!  What's the word of an incubus trickster, and a wanted Demon against honest Beings sent to arrest them?!  We'll have to flee!  Gods... The one thing I hate more than being an outlaw, is being an outlaw for no reason!"

"A lot depends," Daniel said, "On how much of it came out."

"How much of what?!"

"The voice recording," the incubus told her, poking at his phone.  "I don't know if it will be enough to save our necks, but it's the best we have..." he glanced around.  "What happened to the other one?"

"He's over there," Aisha said, pointing at the fallen ram.  "Sleeping.  I didn't hit him too hard.  But what he'll say when he wakes up..."

"He'll say whatever it takes to avoid being hanged as a rogue adventurer," Daniel hazarded.  "Or beheaded, shot, electrocuted or whatever his guild likes to do to adventurers gone rabid.
Still, this does improve matters for us.  Rogue or not, he's a witness.  If we can get the inquiry held somewhere with 'Cubi, they can read his thoughts they'll know what really happened."

"Won't be good for him, though..." Aisha said.  "Poor guy."

"Given the whole mix-up with the bounties, he might just be kicked out of the guild," Daniel said, rummaging around the adventurer's pockets.  "After all, at the end of the day he hasn't actually murdered you, he was just hoping to."

"If he's left jobless we might end up executing him anyway," Aisha sighed.  "Too many disgraced adventurers become bandits...  Who then get slain by other adventurers..."

"Yeah, a proper social safety net would solve a lot of those problems.  Here... try this." Daniel said, holding out his hand.

"On the bracers?" Aisha asked, taking a small key from the Doberman's palm.

"Often the locks are interoperable," Daniel said.  "If not, I might be able to alter the key with my tentacles.  It's worth a try, anyway..."

"How cheap," Aisha remarked as a cuff dropped from her wrist.

"Mass-produced," the Doberman said.  "One of these days a criminal Creature will escape because they've got a compatible key.  Some of the real cheapo ones?  The enchantment works okay, but you can unlock them with a ball-point pen."

"I might keep this," Aisha smirked, dropping the key into a pouch around her waist.  "It could come in handy one day.  Now then... how are we going to get these two back to the guild...?"


Aldriss closed the bag up quickly, and stared at Daryil in disbelief.

"Yes..." the incubus chuckled evilly.  "I already have killed you.  That was no nightmare you had, Captain... you met your well-deserved death beneath that guillotine outside.  But enough of this idle banter... I have an offer to make."

"You died as my enemy, Captain Aldriss," Daryil continued.  "But I can be merciful, so I am offering you another chance.  Serve me faithfully for the next thirty years, and all shall be forgiven.  Betray me, and I shall destroy your brain, returning you to the death you so richly deserve."

"B... how..." the Alsatian babbled.

"Like my envoy whom you attempted to murder, you are now an android," Daryil said.  "You were right, by the way - Bevan's brain was in his head, and he has fully recovered from your mistreatment.  All the same, I wanted revenge for his discomfiture, so I had your head removed too.
"Your body has been incinerated, but your soul has been transferred to a new host, an artificial brain and body.  There is a certain justice and irony in this, since Bevan too, was my enemy once.  Indeed, he pleaded with me to make the same offer to you, instead of ending you completely.  In time, you too can become an ally of mine... certainly, you have no future now with Lady Featherstone."

The erstwhile captain blinked rapidly.  "But you're asking me to betray my queen!  My country!"

"Your loyalty to Ms. Featherstone is commendable, captain... but misplaced.  If you refuse me, I shall return you to her domain.  But remember what happened to Bevan... in Featherstone's eyes, you are no longer a Being and she will have you executed as well.  That's exactly what your loyalty is worth to her."

"I don't believe you!  You're lying!"

"But it's true, Aldriss.  If you need proof, I can open the service hatch on your chest.  If you need time to make up your mind, I can give you that too.  But be aware - that new body of yours is precision machinery and extremely expensive.  If you wish to keep inhabiting it, I expect you to pay me back for it.  Both for your body, and also for Bevan's which you destroyed."

"What do you want from me?"

"Thirty years of servitude.  That's not a lot to ask when you might live a hundred times that.  And also... there is the matter of Lady Featherstone, who is currently in hiding."

"You want to get into her panic room," the Alsatian queried.

"Yes."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I'll probe your mind and figure out how to do it anyway," Daryil smiled.  "But the experience will be... unpleasant.  And afterwards I'll send you back to Andovia, with the service hatch ripped off your chest, so your beloved queen can see exactly what you are!"


King Fairwater appeared in the Jayhawk labs on a wall-screen.  The queen sat at his side, clad in a dark blue costume and makeup.

"...wear that?" Fairwater asked.  "Blue rubber gloves are not normally worn by a reigning monarch!"

"But they're Royal Blue," the queen protested.

"What of tradition?  Gods... what will the petitioners think?!"

"Bugger tradition," Admaria said.  "I've been wearing purple for the last two centuries, and I want a change!  Something more succubus-like.  I'm a queen - I should be able to wear what I like.
I mean, I really love the shiny black, but when I wear it, everyone thinks I'm going to attend an execution.  Maybe I should start wearing red for those..?  I dunno, It'd go well with the blood...  but black is WAY creepier and I do like the fear!  Hopefully this will work as a happy medium...  Oh shit!  We're on the air!"

"Greetings, your majesties," Ashley said.  "The blue does look good on you, highness.  Very imposing."

"Why thank you, Ashley," the border collie beamed, looking pleased with herself.

"I still think you should wear the purple while we're on the clock," the King said.  "But the blue does look good for less formal affairs.  Good day, gentlemen," he added.  "Do you have any updates for me?"

"We have a fix for the vulnerability," Ashley said.  "We're still testing it.  I need to be sure we're not going to break something else instead."

"Tim..?"

"Nothing new to report, majesty.  I've been helping Ashley test it."

"Are you alright, Tim?" the king enquired, a concerned expression on his face.  "Your adventurer stone has been acting very strangely."

"I'm fine, your majesty." the kangaroo replied.

"Are you quite sure Daryil hasn't done something to you?" Fairwater persisted, "...For example, severely injuring you?  And then shape-shifting and taking your place during this call to cover up for his mistake while you get better?"

"Um, no...?"

"Glad to hear it." Fairwater grinned evilly.  "What's your date of birth?"

Tim spluttered.  Ashley face-palmed.

"Yes, your majesty," the lynx said icily.  "Daryil wanted to try and convert Tim into an incubus.  He tried some crazy experiment that put the poor guy into a coma."

"Why, you greasy little traitor!" Tim screeched.  "Treason!"

"Sorry, Daryil, but I will not lie to the King," Ashley said.  "Obviously we're doing our best to care for Tim... we'll fix him up somehow, even if he ends up a robot."

"Hopefully he'll just wake up with head-wings," Daryil put in, reverting to base form.  "Though it'll be a wrench to give him these leathers back.  They're nice."

"Be that as it may, this is not what we expected from you, Lord Daryil," Admaria scowled.  "I for one, shall think long and hard before sending any of our citizens to your territory for protection in future."

"The blue look is really nice, O Queen," Daryil said.  "I might have to try that!  Where did you get that lipstick from?"

"Oh," the queen burbled.  "I'll send you the worldnet address aft- WAIT!  Don't change the subject!"

"Okay, okay.  I'm sorry.  Converting Tim seemed like a good idea at the time," Daryil grouched.  "But let's see how it turns out before making any hasty decisions, right...?  I mean, yeah.  I suggested it, but he agreed.  Getting a much longer life is worth a risk... and I wouldn't do something so dangerous to an unwilling subject.  Not unless it was one of my enemies.  And who wants to make their enemies stronger?"

"Even so, I would appreciate it if you keep me informed of his situation," the King growled.  "And be sure to clear it with me first if this ever happens again."

"Yes, your majesty," Daryil said.  "If it helps make things better, I do have an update for you.  I've kidnapped one of Lady Featherstone's captains.  The same guy who tried to execute Bevan when I sent him to negotiate.  Captain Aldriss."

"A hostage?" the Queen enquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Sort of.  First I kidnapped him, then I executed him.  Finally, I brought him back to life again on probation.  As a robot."

"After all you just said about not wanting to make your enemies stronger?!" Fairwater exclaimed.

"Ah, but that strength comes at a price," Daryil said.  "Remember, our androids have safety interlocks.  If he steps out of line, he'll be rendered helpless.  And Lady Featherstone hates robots as much as she hates Creatures."

"She'd have him killed on sight!" the Queen yelped excitedly.  "So you've cut a deal with him?  Even without that, you've removed one of her key men!"

"She's still stuck in that panic room of hers, though," Fairwater said forlornly.

"Ah," Daryil said, eyes gleaming.  "But Aldriss knows how to get into it."

I'm bored so here's the next chapter.  I'm wondering whether to start uploading a bunch of these to finish it around Christmas.

Chapter 22

"So, what's your story?" Aisha asked, as Daniel slung the unconscious ram over his shoulder, and strapped the burden in place with his wings.

"Oh," the Doberman said.  "Grew up in a medieval town.  By and large your career prospects are pretty limited.  Some people become tradesmen, others farm.  The rest... kill people."

"Doesn't sound too different to my home," Aisha nodded, hefting the wrapped body of the fallen adventurer as if it was nothing.

"I didn't know any trades, but Dad was an adventurer, so I figured that was what I wanted to do too.  I started training as soon as I could.  Some folk were a bit suspicious of my wings, others figured that a Creature would be good at it.  I went out and did a few missions in my mid-teens.  Mostly bandits, but a couple of Creatures too.  Then..."

Daniel paused and glanced at the dead man the panther was bearing.

"...well, the town executioner was murdered.  I drew the short straw.  After that... it kind of stuck."

"I was seventeen.  A lot of people nowadays would call that too young, but, well... you know.  Medieval town... you grow up with it.  When there's nothing much else to do, a hanging or a beheading in the square is something cool to watch, you know...?
"Being the one to actually do it, kill a member of the community... that was harder.  I got dark looks.  Some people shunned me, especially people whose friends or family had died by my hand.

"But by and large I was seen to be putting criminals to justice and that was right and proper.  We didn't chop off someone's head for banging another guy, or because they had wings - it was only violent crime that cost you your head.
So really it's not SO different from adventuring... you execute a serial killer, you're preventing them from murdering innocents.  So I took pride in what I did.  I was protecting my fellow townsfolk."

"I can tell there's a 'but' coming," Aisha remarked.

"Yes.  My head-wings came in."

"Did they persecute 'Cubi there?"

"Not really.  In a way... they liked it.  Having a monster as executioner... that's even more scary, right?  People tell their kids, 'If you don't grow up to be good, the incubus will chop off your head and suck out your soul!'" Daniel smiled.  Aisha snickered.

"No... the problem is what happens AFTER your head-wings come in," the Doberman continued.  "It's bad enough to kill a man, kill a woman...  We were enlightened enough that we didn't execute anyone under 17, though some places do...
"Now imagine going to chop off someone's head, and feeling their fear.  And the voices... hearing them silently wailing and begging, and some of them dying knowing they were innocent and it was all just a mistake..."

"You've killed people, Aisha.  You've put people to justice.  You know what happens.... even with a beheading or a broken neck they don't die instantly, the brain lives on for a while afterwards.  The heart continues to beat.
Now imagine you can hear them whimpering and lamenting their fate, all their regrets and the things they never got to do, echoing all around your head until the brain finally loses consciousness.
"The hangings were the worst... some of them took ten minutes or more to die.  Ten minutes of suffering and pain and fear, ten minutes of mental gabbling and screaming until it's finally over.
"That's what it was like.  Then I went to 'Cubi school and they taught me how to block it out, how to shield yourself from hearing other peoples thoughts.  But... knowing happens at all...
"Some of the more evil 'Cubi... the Pain and Terror ones, or someone like Mary, they get off on that kind of thing.  I found it appalling, and it was made worse by how much more sensitive a maturing 'Cubi is to emotions.  So I handed in my notice as headsman.  As you saw... I'll do it if push comes to shove, but like you, I want to be absolutely sure they're guilty... and that death is actually an appropriate punishment in the first place."

"But you're still an adventurer?"

"Yes.  But I want to go back to my roots.  I want to help people, not kill them."

"Back when I was still a Being, I met a demon," Aisha said.  "Not one I slew, a fellow adventurer.  Kamdan, his name was.  He was a black jaguar too."

"King Werrew's commander-in-chief, right?" Daniel nodded.  "He gave a talk at Illiath's 'Cubi school."

"Yes.  His face when I met him again after my transformation!" Aisha smiled.  "Ah, I wish you could have seen it.

"Anyway, this was long ago. Fairwater's Kingdom was still new, and I was passing through at the time.  A powerful demon crime-lord had invaded one of his provinces, so the king issued a bounty.  A lot of people chatted about it, only a few dared go after him.  I was one, Kamdan was another.  I was still in my kill-all-demons phase, you understand, so we didn't hit off too well at first.
"After that - working with a Demon who seemed to enjoy protecting people - I started to have doubts.  Not that I stopped hunting Demons, but I started to be a lot more cautious.  I never was one to target innocents, but even so, I was starting to wonder if the cause was just.  Maybe some of them didn't deserve to die, that their crimes weren't THAT severe... or maybe they actually had a good reason for their actions and I killed them before they could say it.

"Even Beings, criminals... I brought in a murderer once.  I captured him, and witnessed his execution as the adventurer responsible.  Only when they read the charges on the scaffold, did I learn that he'd killed his best friend in a drunken argument and fled in his panic afterwards.  A week later, his widow and child were begging in the street... and it was all my fault.  I had sent their sole breadwinner to the block over some stupid argument that got out of hand.  It was not an easy thing to come to terms with..."

"On the run or in prison, he couldn't exactly have provided for them," Daniel pointed out.  "Don't be too hard on yourself..."

"Under their laws, his assets were forfeit after the execution," Aisha sighed.  "Once dead, the house, the inheritance, his wife's joint bank account, all became property of the state..."

"Hey, guys!" a voice called from behind.  Daniel spun around, sword already in his hand.

"Woah, woah!" the robotic wolf said, backing away nervously.  "Guys, it's me!  Ralf!"

"Come to save me again?"  Daniel asked.  "This is a bad habit."

"Looks like it's my job now," the cyberwolf said.  "Search and rescue.  Yeah, Steve saw Aisha's bounty and when you didn't report back, he sent me to the town to ask around.  I can run quite fast when I don't have to cloak."

"Do recall amulets work on a corpse?" Daniel asked.

"No, but I can conjure a bag of holding," Aisha said.  "Or two of them," she added, glancing at the bag which the other Doberman's head sat in.

"Eww..." Ralf said.


"Is this true...?" Fairwater demanded.  "You can get into Lady Featherstone's panic room?"

"I think so, Majesty," the Alsatian said nervously, bowing before the video screen.

"Lady Featherstone is a Being," Daryil reminded them.  "Unlike Creatures, she is at far greater risk of sudden death or incapacitation.  Suppose she has a stroke or a heart attack?  Her emergency services will need to be able to get in there and treat her before she dies or is left a drooling vegetable.  So there's a backdoor.  And her captains have the key."

"It's a combination lock," Aldriss said.  "I have told Daryil, and I can tell you too.  But you must act quickly!  If she suspects I have been compromised..."

"Your majesties..." Jakob called, entering camera range.

"What news?"

Tim hobbled unsteadily into view, supported by Jakob.  "I feel funny," he said, occasionally glancing over his shoulder in wonder at his new, grey wings.

"If that's another member of your clan, I shall not be pleased," Fairwater scowled.

"He is a member of my clan," Daryil said.  "Fairwater, I'd like you to meet Timothy Daryil."

"B... but..." the King spluttered. 

"Why is he just wearing underpants?"  Queen Admaria asked, curiously.  "Not that I mind, but it's an odd way to dress before your sovereigns."

"It's all I could find, your highness," the kangaroo said, blushing.  "I only brought my leathers, and now he's stolen them!  Give them back!"

"We'll have to adjust those for your wings," Jakob said.  "Yes, I can teach you to hide them later, but it would be better if you get used to having wings first.  Besides, if you forget and the wings come back you'll destroy the top.  It's an easy mistake to make, especially if you've lived so long without them."

"Why aren't you wearing the clothes I left you...?" Daryil pouted.

"What...?  That heap of rubbery stuff...?  NO!  I may be gay... and I may be a 'cubi now, but I'm not a pervert!" Tim protested.

"You will be," Daryil smiled coyly, and began to strip off Tim's racing gear.  Underneath was a glossy black catsuit.

"One baby step at a time," Jakob put in.  "He has enough to take in as it stands."

"HOW?!" Fairwater demanded, finally able to speak.  "I thought you were kidding about turning him into an incubus!  Tim... the Tim I remember was scared of us!"

"And what better way to overcome that fear?" Daryil beamed.  "He was jealous of us... now he's a part of it himself!  Not that I expect you to start oppressing Beings," Daryil added severely, glancing at his new clan member.  "Daryil clan is supposed to be about cooperation and equality."

"We have already seen one impostor today," the Queen said coolly.  "Wearing Tim's racing leathers is one thing... actually being Tim is a quite different matter.  So, 'Tim'... what's your date of birth?"

"12th June, 2146" the kangaroo said, stepping into some leather pants that Jakob had helpfully provided.

"Well, that's better than Daryil managed," Fairwater said.  "Of course, it could be Jason, who met Tim in the first place.  The proof of the pudding is Tim being here in person."

"Fine," Daryil snapped, grabbing the surprised kangaroo and cradling him in his arms.  Moments later they vanished and reappeared on the video screen.

"Holy shit, it is him," Fairwater said.

"How did you pull it off?" Admaria asked, staring at Tim, and gently rubbing at the yellow clan mark between his shoulder-blades as if she expected it to come off.  "The rite of cubification requires a 'cubi child, and there is no way you've had a child conceived and born in under 48 hours!  By the way, Tim, there's nothing wrong with 'Cubi wearing shiny clothes," she added, flexing her blue gloved hands.  "It's practically expected of us."

"Yes, majesty," Tim said, glancing nervously at Daryil's gloves as the incubus took him by the hands.

"I've found another way to make someone into a 'Cubi," the fox crowed, dancing excitedly with a worried-looking kangaroo.  "Power through Mad Science!  It still needs a tri-wing, and the shock put him in a coma for a while, but it WORKED!  I'm going to publish a research paper on this!"

"Piflak'll love that," Fairwater said.

Oh boy. Pity Zezzuva isn't still around at this point. She'd have a field day with a breakthrough like that.

In other news, totally stoked over Tim's conversion. Let the referencening commence! https://youtu.be/QDAeJ7eLGGg?t=72

Totally missed your chance, Tape. Tim should've been a ram. :T

Two chapters for the price of one!

Chapter 23

"In accordance with section 13 of the guild by-laws, you are hereby dismissed from the guild," Steve said.  "I must ask you to hand over your sword, ID and any other property given you by the guild."

"But..." the ram protested.  Steve waved him quiet.

"You are free to appeal to your guildhall," the Demon informed him, "If successful, your things will be returned to you. But honestly, I would hold off on that until the fake bounty problem has been solved.  Your commander might be more amenable to it then.  Right now, you'll hang if you darken their door again."

"Hang?!  She's joking, right...?  Usually we use the block!"

"Unfortunately, no.  She was actually tying a noose to the rafters for you when I called.  I only just talked her out of posting a bounty for your head as an adventurer gone rogue.  I'm sorry, but firing you was the best deal I could manage."

"Whoever is behind this must be well pleased," Daniel sighed.  "One adventurer dead... one expelled... They may not have got Aisha, but they've taken down two adventurers in her place."

"What should I be doing in the mean-time, amigo?" the jaguar asked her commander.  "The bounty is still live, yes?"

"It can take a while for these things to clear, yes," Steve concurred.  "However, there is a strike team assembling against Lady Featherstone.  Since Creatures are killed on sight there anyway, a bounty is irrelevant.  You can be part of that, if you wish - seconded to the King.  That goes for anyone else who is interested," he added.

"M-"

"Except Mary," Steve put in abruptly.  "I want a word with you first."

"What now?" the female demon sulked.

"You remember that mission you did yesterday?  At Swanmere?"

"Standing in for their executioner while he was sick?  Is there a problem?"

"Yes.  Apparently you executed three people instead of two."

"Sorry, yeah.  I forgot to mention.  Are they refusing to pay for the extra or something?"

"The 'extra' was the executioner, Mary.  He felt well enough to resume his duties."

"Oh shit," Mary grimaced.  "No wonder he struggled so much."

"You beheaded the town's executioner, Mary.  They are not pleased."

"The crowd was," the wolf grinned.  "I never heard so much cheering!"

"Is that all you have to say for yourself?  They are demanding YOUR execution!"

"For what?!" Mary snapped.  "They never told me the job was cancelled!  He was wearing the same brand of adventuring gear as the murderers.  I thought he was a late addition like they did in Fisherdale!  What was I supposed to do?"

"I suppose that's fair," Steve conceded.  "But you do have a tendency to be a little... overzealous.  Very well.  I shall bounce it back to them and see what they say.  Now, Aisha... the King needs a distraction while the main strike force does its job..."


"Well," Lady Featherstone said, regarding the terrified mouse over the video link, "You are accused of conspiring to aid the traitors who overthrew me.  Usually, death would be the penalty for this.  But today I'm in a good mood.  So... let's see what our audience think!"

The screen flashed to show a bar-chart.

"Hmm," the opossum smirked, as the mouse whimpered.  "Well, it seems our viewers are still a little undecided.  At the moment 'death' is in the lead by 52% to 48%, so you might get to win tonight's star prize... testing out my new guillotine!  Still, we've got an hour to go until the lines close, so anything can happen..."

"What a twisted little fuck," Admaria said, studying the monitor with her lip curled.  "Executions are one thing, but turning it into a game show... ugh!"

"She's got something right though," Fairwater grinned evilly.  "Anything can happen in an hour."

As they watched, the screen went blank, followed shortly by a test card, and finally a black screen with the words "ENEMY ACTION - CURFEW UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE - STAY IN YOUR HOMES".


The jaguar was sitting on a no-smoking sign at the entrance to the weapons dump when the guards found her.

"This is a restricted area!" he screamed, aiming the assault rifle at her head.  "Hands in the air!"

Aisha, wingless and dressed in a large trench coat, complied with a sigh.  His colleague frisked her briefly and then froze.  Gingerly, he opened the coat to reveal a large belt, surrounded by explosives.

"Remotely triggered, señor." the jaguar smiled.  "With a dead-man's trigger too, just in case.  I'd say you've got 20 seconds to get out of here, amigos!"

In an office nearby, Keaton lurked, watching the exchange through the window.  With a cackle, she smashed the nearest fire-alarm, and rolled herself into a ball of impenetrable wing-stuff.  She counted to 73, and then squeezed the remote.


The explosion rocked the ground, followed by a series of smaller blasts.  When things eventually subsided, thick black smoke began to rise a number of blocks away, the silence finally broken by sirens and alarms echoing among the buildings.

"That's our distraction," Jones said, nodding to Aldriss.  The Alsatian's escort consisted of two demons in motorcycle gear, their wings and horns hidden by charms to make them less conspicuous.  Jones, a red coyote, was one of these - the other was Smith, a green-furred deer, who eyed the alsatian with constant suspicion and insisted on covering him with the assault rifle.

Aldriss opened the grate, and climbed down.  The green deer jumped after him, landing heavily, but taking no injury thanks to his Demon robustness.  Jones, meanwhile, climbed down normally to begin with until he had secured the hatch, and then dropped the rest of the way down as his colleague had done.

"This way," the Alsatian hissed nervously, leading them down the maintenance tunnel.  They took a couple of turnings and stopped before a heavily-armoured door.
Aldriss touched a hidden panel and produced a small keypad, which he entered the code into.  There was a beep.  He tried again.

A siren blared out, red alarm lights flashing as the keypad snapped back into its hole.

"INTRUDER ALERT!" a recorded voice boomed.

"He's betrayed us!" the deer yelled.

"N-" Aldriss whimpered and was silenced by a loud retort as his captor pulled the trigger.  The round struck the Alsatian precisely between the eyes and he went down instantly.

"YOU FOOL!" Jones yelled, pushing the deer over and relieving him of his weapon.  "You've murdered him!  The King... you'll be out on your ear for this... or guillotined!"

"Don't kill me..." the Alsatian whimpered, rolling over feebly.  Jones yelped and spun around.

"Alive?!... Wha... Is he a demon too?" the deer boggled.

"We'll worry about that later," Jones snapped.  "Can you stand, Aldriss?"

"Don't kill me!"

"I won't.  But take my hand..."

As the shock troops arrived, the three men joined hands and vanished.


Aisha and Keaton were already back in the throne room when the assault squad returned, chattering excitedly.

"...was surprisingly fun," the jaguar finished, covering herself with her wings.  "And the spell protected my fur, too.  But I forgot the blast would destroy my clothes..."

"Fetch her some garbs," Admaria ordered.  "Borrow some of mine if necessary...  Ah!  Jones... how did it go?  Is Featherstone dead?"

"We've failed, your majesties," Jones sighed, bowing before Fairwater and Admaria, and giving a respectful nod to Daryil.

"I still say he betrayed us," Smith grumbled, eyeing Aldriss venomously.

"Even so, you should never have shot him," Jones snapped.  "You'll be disciplined for that.  Thank the gods he survived..."

"Please!" Aldriss whimpered, kneeling before Fairwater and whimpering.  "I did exactly as you asked!  She must have changed the code!  Don't destroy me!"

"I believe you," Daryil reassured him.  "You tried your best to aid us..."

"Clearly it wasn't good enough..." Admaria finished, eyeing the German Shepherd imperiously.

"Now, now..." Daryil interrupted.  "Less of that, your majesty.  This man is my servant.  As for you, Smith... be glad he is an android.  As a visiting dignitary it's not my place to kill you, but I could make things extremely unpleasant for you, Demon or not."

"Sorry, my Lord..." the deer said.

"It's disappointing," Fairwater sighed, "But we'll just have to try something else.  It's not like Lady Featherstone is about to go anywhere..."

Queen Admaria's face fell.  Daryil and the King stared at her curiously, while Aldriss keened in terror, expecting immediate execution.

"We have all been blind," the border collie said softly.  "I know just what we must do.  Tim... Aldriss... I'll need your help.  Also, someone find a carpenter and lighting technicians.  Immediately!"


Lady Featherstone sat at her chair in front of the camera, watching the screen expectantly.

"Well, my lady!" the captain said, glancing from the guillotine to the terrified mouse with a sadistic grin, "The terrorist attack by our cowardly foes has delayed things, but the lines are finally closed!  What's your decision?  Does she live, or do we get to see her head fall off on live TV?"

"Let's see what the final totals are!" Featherstone smiled, pressing a button.  "Yes... it's death for her!  And we'll have a slow-motion action replay afterwards!"

Her smiled faltered as she glanced at one of the monitors.  The live feed was showing her own face, smiling broadly, yet uttering words which were not her own.

"... a very lucky lady," the other opossum was saying.  "Much as I hate to disappoint our viewers, I've decided to grant her an immediate, unconditional pardon.  Release her at once."

"Very good, my queen," the captain said, disappointment lining his face as his men loosed the mouse's wrists and led her roughly out of the dungeon.

"NO!" Lady Featherstone screamed, pressing buttons frantically.  "That's an impostor!  Listen to ME!  Off with her head!  I command it!"

"Furthermore," the impostor continued,  "I have an important announcement to make to all my loyal subjects.  You have all fought well, and shown great courage in the face of adversity, but alas things must come to an end.  Outside, Fairwater, Taun and the so-called Lord Daryil have amassed an army against which we can never win.
"With a heavy heart, I must ask you all to lay down your arms and surrender.  Fairwater and Daryil have offered an amnesty to all who do this - any who stay and fight will lose their lives.  I will shortly return to exile, first arranging a transfer of power that will place this realm under Fairwater's protectorate."

"No...!" the opossum whimpered.


Chapter 24

"We're off the air, Majesty," Tim said.  "I'm setting it to repeat the surrender announcement indefinitely."

"Good.  How did I do?" Queen Admaria asked, stepping away from the camera and revering to base form.

"Perfect, highness," Aldriss said.  "Though it might be wise to stay as Featherstone for a while, in case any of her officers call to confirm."

"Good point," the queen said, becoming an opossum again.  "Thank you for editing the script, by the way."

"It's genius," Daryil said, bouncing off the walls in glee, before dressing himself in Admaria's discarded clothes.  "She's in a catch-22 situation now... either she stays in her bunker while her kingdom falls, or she has to go outside - in which case we can grab her!"

"I wouldn't put it past her," Fairwater cautioned.  "Someone bold enough to attack ME in my own throne room... she's got guts, I'll have to give her that.  She's likely to turn very nasty now she's cornered."

"Exactly," Jakob said.  "We'll need to move quickly.  If the people, if her army believe that she's standing down, that means we can move our people in.  Well, your people really," he shrugged.  "Point is... you want to kill her.  I can't blame you, but I'm more interested in investigating the Delphinium Group, and right now we can now do that without any further interference."

"Indeed," Fairwater said.  "I've already mobilised troops to take over the city before Featherstone can react, but I'll also provide support for the investigation."


Flanked by a pair of Black Riders, Jakob, Aisha and Mary stood in front of the Delphinium Group building, which was a large, flattened pyramidal building not dissimilar to a Mayan temple.  It was surrounded by razor-wire fencing and large signs warning of dire consequences to intruders.

"Textbook supervillain stuff," Jakob said, climbing the fence with barely a scratch to his body armour.  The four demons elected to fly instead, for fear of damaging their clothes.

A few unconscious guards later, the team found themselves inside the foyer.  A large, reinforced door blocked their way, while a cheetah guard watched them angrily from behind a glass screen.

"Stop!" he demanded.  "This is private property!  Please leave immediately!"

"We are on a mission from the King," Jakob said, raising the visor of his helmet.  "He has ordered an inspection of these premises.  Please let us past."

"What King?"

"King Fairwater, who now rules this land following Lady Featherstone's surrender."

"Be that as it may, this building is property of the Delphinium Group and I must ask you to leave at once!"

Aisha walked up to the screen and punched it, showering the room in small cubes of safety glass.  The guard drew a short-sword as Mary jumped through the window, only to have it torn from his grasp as the Demon batted it away.

"Aaah!" the guard screamed.  "You broke my hand!"

"I'll break your head too, if you don't open the door," Mary promised.  "That'll stop it hurting!"

"She's not kidding," Jakob added, making a face.  "Please open the door... I don't want to have to see that."

"Aw, but I like opening heads," Mary said eagerly.  "There's a free prize in every one!"

The cheetah gulped and backed away, still nursing his injured hand.

"So... are you gonna let us in, señor?" Aisha smiled toothily, fingering her sword.


"Kill the intruders!" one of the guards yelled as they emerged from the lift.  Jones fired, punching a round through the man's visor.  The rifle fell from his hand and a long, feline tail quivered as his body slid down the wall, leaving a thin trail of blood and brain matter.

"No..." Jakob whimpered.  Aisha held him steady, and then rapidly covered his eyes as Mary killed another two guards with her bare hands.

"You're the vulnerable one," the jaguar told him.  "We're just trying to keep you safe."

"But you didn't have to KILL him!" Jakob protested, tears starting to well.

"Damn over-emotional 'Cubi," Smith sighed.

"Same old Jakob," a voice said.  Keaton appeared in a corner, dressed in her stealth suit.  Jones took aim at her.

"Wait, wait!" the jackal protested.  "Daryil sent me to keep an eye on him, just in case.  By the way, the heavies on the top floor... they won't be troubling you no more."

"More murders!" Jakob sobbed.

"'Thank you for risking your life for me, Keaton'," the succubus scowled.  "'It was-'"

"He's got a point," Aisha interrupted.  "Suppose we accidentally kill the boss?  Fairwater will not be pleased if we bring back a corpse to interrogate."

"Okay, okay," Jones grouched.  "Smith... Keaton... MARY... try to avoid casualties.   Well, deaths, at least."

"Works for me," Mary said, pulling out a baseball bat from thin air.  "Knocking them out takes more skill, it's way more exciting!"


At length, they reached the top of the pyramid.  As Mary decoratively arranged a number of unconscious guards, the door to the meeting room opened and a female wolf in a business suit walked out, hands raised in the air.  Jones aimed his rifle at her leg.

"Don't shoot.  I surrender," she said.  Jakob stared at her in naked disbelief, and to a cluck of disapproval from Aisha and Smith, removed his helmet, placing it on a nearby chair.

"Dimanika," he said at last, "I don't know what you're doing, but please stop it.  This is beyond a joke."

"I'm not Dimanika," the she-wolf said simply.

"Oh really...?" Jakob said, folding his arms.  "Your tendency to appear as a family member to the eye of the beholder is well-known.  And the confusion you're sowing is your affinity.  Now, I appreciate that you're astonishingly powerful, so I can't stop you from what you're doing, but as Lord Daryil's envoy, I beg you to reconsider..."

"Even so, I'm not Dimanika," the wolf interrupted.  "But I get where you're coming from now."

"She does look like you, amigo," Aisha confirmed.  "If she's supposed to appear different to all who see her, it's not working very well."

"You're the spitting image of my mother," Jakob said, staring at her intently.

The she-wolf smiled.  "There's a reason for that, dear.  It's been, what?  Over a thousand years...  And you've grown into such a handsome incubus!  Have you been eating properly?  Getting lots of lovely fear?"

"Daryil," Jakob snarled.  "This little joke is in very poor taste.  My mother is dust in the ground, and you know it!"

"But you're wrong, Jakob," she said, leathery head-wings appearing behind her ears, as she reached out to hug her bewildered son.  "I AM alive!"

"Forgive me if I don't believe you," Jakob said, looking rattled and vulnerable.  "But my mother was a Being.  She killed herself after I was taken to the Academy by Fa'Lina."

"Let me guess, it was Fa'Lina who told you that?" the succubus smiled.  "You must understand, she would tell her students what they needed to hear at the time.  It was't necessarily the whole truth.  It was whatever would drive them towards the optimum path of all the futures she could perceive at the time."

"Then what is the truth?  Did you become a succubus through the rite of conversion or something?"

"The truth is that I always was a succubus, darling."

"That's mental," Jakob said,

"I hate to interrupt the reunion," Jones said, flicking the safety off his assault rifle, "But we have a mission here.  The King has ordered an investigation of this organisation, so take us to whoever's in charge.  Or else!"

"Easy, easy..." the wolf said, raising her hands.  "There's no need to get all violent and threatening.  Come into the meeting room and I'll tell you everything."

Jakob's tail fluffed out.  "What are you saying?!"

"Don't you see...?  Your mother, Delphine...?  The Delphinium Group?"

"Then you're the one behind all this?!" Aisha snarled.

"Awk-ward..." Mary said.


"Commander Foster?" the newcomer asked.  "I am Commander Jenkins.  I'm afraid I must relieve you of your duties on charge of murder."

"What...?" Steve asked, taken aback.  "You mean the guy who killed Roger?  That execution was done strictly according to protocol.  I filed all the paperwork and copies of the confession."

"It's not about that," the quoll said.  "It's about the murder of Isabella Small, Commander of Southgate lodge."

"Come again?" Steve asked, staring at the newcomer as if he was insane.  The quoll sighed and produced a bounty poster.

"Oh, right," the Demon said.  "I suppose that had to happen eventually.  You're know they're fake, right?  We've been filtering those out... you need to update your software."

"Ah yes, this 'fake bounty' business," the commander said, rolling his eyes.  "Do you think we're that naive..?  The only person who has reported any of these supposedly fake bounties is YOU.  Grandmaster Tarquine is of the opinion that you engineered this yourself to cover up your own crimes."

"Bullshit!" Daniel snapped.  "The software vendor has acknowledged the attack, and issued a workaround!"

"Shush," Steve said.  "I'll go to the grandmaster, tell him what's happened.  We'll soon have this nonsense sorted."

"I'm afraid you won't," Jenkins said apologetically.  "The warrant for your death has been signed.  You will, of course, be given an opportunity to speak prior to the guillotine, but that's just a formality, I'm afraid.
"By the power vested in me by Grandmaster Tarquine of the Adventurers Guild, I hereby strip you of your rank as Guildmaster.  You may keep your card for the time being, but your sword must be left behind.  If you come with me, you will at least die honourably.  If you resist, I shall bring back your head."

For a moment, Steve said nothing, trembling with anger.  He produced a glass ball from somewhere and crunched it into powder with one hand.

"Very well," he said thickly, removing the sheath belted to his side, and placing it upon the desk.  "But I'm telling you, this is a big mistake."

"I won't let you take him," Daniel said, broadsword drawn, Ben at his side.

"I admire your loyalty, but do not let it blind you," Jenkins sighed.  "Your commander has gone rogue and unless you wish to join him in death as a traitor to the guild, I suggest you lower your weapons and let me pass."

"I won't let you murder my friend," Daniel spat, removing his card and throwing it to the floor.  "I quit!  I can't go rogue if I'm no longer a guild member!"

"Now be reasonable," the quoll protested.  "I know 'Cubi get emotional under stress, so I won't hold this against you.  But I must bring Steven to justice.  Surely you can see that?  I'm just doing my job... kindly do yours and let me pass."

"I joined the guild to do good," Daniel said.  "To uphold justice.  If this organisation intents to pervert that same justice then I will have no further part in it."

"Stand down," Steve barked.  "Daniel, I don't accept your resignation.  Jason is acting Guildmaster until I return, or the guild appoints a successor.  Ben, you know what to do.  And if I don't return... I want you to know I'm proud of you.  All of you."

Daniel sheathed his sword and stood aside, picking up his card with a wing-tentacle.

"Very well," he said venomously, staring at Jenkins with a look of contempt.  "But if it turns out that Steve is innocent, you'll be party to a murder.  And I'll enjoy watching your execution, commander."

 :dface

Oh-kay, did not see that coming...

Does Petter even know?

Chapter 25

"How can they DO this?!" Daniel sobbed.  "Steve's innocent!  Killing innocents is NOT what adventuring is supposed to be about!"

"You know how harsh we are to rogue adventurers?" Jason said, "Well, a Guildmaster gone rogue is even worse.  A rank-and-file adventurer gone bad stands a chance of just getting kicked out.  A Guildmaster gone bad will invariably lose his head."

"But that's crazy!" the Doberman wailed. "What about when there's a mistake?!"

"It's all really archaic stuff.  Basically, only a Grandmaster can authorise this and it's assumed that they know what they're doing before taking such extreme measures.  This Tarquine... He is either catastrophically misinformed, or he has gone rogue himself.  And as far as I know, there isn't any protocol for dealing with a Grandmaster gone bad!"

"Then we'll have to invent one," Ben smiled evilly, reaching for a katana.  "I say we pay him a visit and 'persuade' him to change his mind."

"Oh, I don't believe this," Jason said, tapping away at the computer.  "You'll never guess where this Grandmaster Tarquine is located."

"Not Andovia..." Ben murmured.


"Well, I wanted a 'Cubi for a husband because he'd be less likely to murder me if the truth became known," Delphine said, settling down in a leather armchair inside the meeting room and offering a plate of shortcakes.  "Petter was still very young, you see....  I hoped that would make a difference, giving me a child before his head-wings came in... hoped that my clan would take precedence.  You should have been one of us, Jakob..."

"My clan has a Leader," Jakob said, haltingly attempting to eat his dainty without crushing it to powder in his metal-clad fingers.  "Not meaning to brag, but I'm a second in command to a Tri-wing.  If I had been born into your clan, whatever the hell that is, I'd be in a much less enviable position..."

"Beliana Clan, " Delphine said.  "The Dragons did a very good job of singling us out.  My brothers, my sister, my parents... they all lost their heads to adventurers.  My poor husband too... decapitated and sent to Hizell's trophy room!  Surely you can see this?  Adventurers murdered your own father!"
"And they brought HIS father in alive so the people could watch him die... point and laugh as his head was dropped into a basket!" she snarled.  "They made it a public holiday so everyone could ENJOY it!  Gods, Jakob!  Your own brother died by their hands, like so many of my children... and I thought you dead too!  Don't you want revenge?  Don't you want them to PAY for their atrocities?  Make them suffer the same ignoble deaths so they know the misery they bring to others?"

"Dad always said that life should be sacred," Jakob said, frowning slightly, one head-wing dipping in confusion.  "Gods know, I haven't followed that to the letter, but revenge killings are not a thing he'd approve of.  Daryil is pretty lukewarm on them too."

"So, you set up this organisation, built up your resources and broke into the Guild's computer systems to try and take them down?  Is that what you're saying?"  Jones asked.  "Just out of revenge for some long-forgotten killing?"

"Yes!" Delphine said, grinning with demented triumph.  "Why do you think I've surrendered?  Ordered my men to stand down?  It's too late!  What I've done already as part of the Bounty Project will RUIN the guild!  You... Mary!" she started.  "I've seen your file on Adventurenet.  I know your past.  Surely YOU understand?"

"Understand what?" the Demon asked.  "That you're a fruitcake?"

"NO!  You and I... are we so different?  Your parents were BEHEADED!  Your loved ones taken by adventurers to be GUILLOTINED while the crowd watched!" the succubus snarled, eyes wide.  "Cheering as their heads fell and their dying bodies kicked!  Laughing as the light faded from their eyes!  Don't you want to make them PAY!?!  Don't you want revenge?!"

"No," Mary said simply.  Delphine just stared at her, mouth opening and closing soundlessly like a fish.

"They had it coming," the demon said sadly.  "They were soul-thieves, and society demanded that they had to die.  They accepted that risk, they screwed up, and they paid the price for their mistake."

"How can you be so cold about it?!" Delphine asked, appalled.  "Your own parents...?  Don't you miss them at all..?"

"Course I do," Mary scowled, rolling her eyes.  "Watching them die... that hurt.  I mourned them, and yeah, when I was a little demon kid I did want to make people pay for it.  But as I grew up, I realised it was their own error that cost them their heads.  Yeah, do I get a kick out of making other people feel the same grief and loss that I felt.  But that's not out of revenge, it's catharsis.  And the people I kill... they're all people who deserve to die too.  And for what my parents did... they deserved to die, whether you look at it as a Being or a Demon."

"Well, I am neither!" Delphine retorted.  "I am a succubus - and I want revenge!  They deserve it!"

"Then you're going about it in a very strange way," Mary pointed out.  "Seriously... why swan around killing innocents for something they had no part in?  That's dumb!  Suppose your parents were killed by falling masonry.  What would you do?  Take revenge on the building?"

"Yes," Delphine snapped.  "And if they drowned, I'd take revenge on the very gods themselves!"

"Wow," Mary beamed.  "I've finally found someone even more mental than me!"

"MENTAL!?" the succubus screeched.

"Well, I hate to say it, but you are trying to make people pay for something that happened to granddad over a THOUSAND YEARS ago," Jakob said gently.

"That's still within my lifetime!" Delphine snapped.  "And yours!"

"But not for the people who did it.  They are dust.  You're taking revenge out on people for something which happened over forty generations ago!  Surely you can see that that's not rational behaviour?"

"But what of your father?  Your brother...?  Maybe you have forgotten them over these long centuries, but I assure you I have NOT!  All this!  It was to avenge them!  Avenge US!"

"Woah, woah, woah," Jakob said.  "Let's back up a bit... Dad?  Murdered?!  You keep saying that... what the hell are you talking about?!"

"He went missing in the forest when you were a puppy," Delphine explained, eyeing her son with a pitying expression.  "You think he ran off or something?  Be serious, Jakob... the second anyone saw his head-wings, his head would be struck off and sent to Hizell for valuable cash prizes!"

"Didn't happen," Jakob said.  "Dad was kidnapped and taken to SAIA."

"'He's not dead, he's on a special farm somewhere'..." Delphine shook her head sadly.  "Jakob, my dearest...  You're over a thousand years old!  It's long past time you stopped clinging to such fables!  Most 'Cubi stay at the academy for a couple of centuries...  Don't you think you'd have met him there?  Don't you think he might have contacted me after his studies were done, if he had lived?  Denial can be a good coping strategy to begin with, but at some point you'll have to accept that your father's dead..."

"I DID meet him at SAIA," Jakob said, with forced patience.  "He became a favourite of the professor for religious studies, and took over the position when she retired.  That's why he rarely left the Academy... because he's still there, teaching young 'Cubi all about the perils of cults and religious sects.  I spoke to him this morning, in fact."

"What?!" the she-wolf's wings fanned out in shock and she stared back as Jakob as though he'd just slapped her in the face.  "The bastard!  That mean-spirited, evil little bastard!  He never told me!  He never called... never wrote... I thought he loved me!  How could he do that?!"

"Mum... calm down, calm down," Jakob said worriedly.  "He did love you, dearly.  We all did... Don't you understand?  We were told you were dead!  We left flowers on your grave for decades afterwards... We had no idea you were a Creature too!"

"But then... who arranged for him to be collected?" Delphine asked, looking confused and vulnerable.  "His father was dead by then.  Who vouched for him at the Academy...?"

"Lord Daryil," Jakob said.  "Even then, he had been looking for ways to unite the clan through himself, like a Tri-wing.  He somehow linked into our life forces, and felt Petter coming into his powers.  After granddad's death, he was worried that dad might lose his head too, so he waylaid him and warped him to SAIA.  He did the same for me, and later Izak."

"But... but..."

"How is this less difficult to accept than you being a succubus?" Jakob smiled sadly.  "If Dad or Izak were dead, don't you think my Clan Leader might have broken the news to me?  They're his clan-children, after all."

"But... but... then... all this... it..." Delphine glanced from face to face and then collapsed into a ball, sobbing to herself.

"At least she's taking it well," Keaton remarked.  Jakob turned on her with an angry snarl.

"I'm being serious," she protested, waving a black-gloved hand from Jakob to Delphine.  "For someone so clever, you can be kinda stupid sometimes.  Look... I've been there, trying to kill all the Kamei'Sin clan members I could find for what they did to my family and friends, never mind that we started it in the first place.  You spent 300 years trying to avenge your snow leopard boyfriend.  Well, she's spent the last THOUSAND YEARS on a quest for vengeance, which has just been pulled out from under her like a rug.  I'm amazed she hasn't gone into shock."

Jakob sat heavily back in his chair and face-palmed.

"What's going to happen to her, amigo?" Aisha asked, staring at the weeping succubus with a concerned expression while Jones put enchanted bracers on her.  "If she's behind all this, the King... the entire guild... she'll be publicly executed!"

Jakob visibly wilted.  "No!  No!  No!  They CAN'T!" he whimpered desperately.  "What can we do?!  No... she's clearly deranged!  She's spent a thousand years plotting some fairytale revenge.  Surely that would count..."

"Insanity defence?" Mary pondered.  "I hope you're right.  The King would go for it, but the guild... They'll be after her blood once this gets out."

"Your Daryil could protect her," Aisha said.  "I'm not sure that would be much of a life, cooped up in your clan's territory, but it would be better than her head getting chopped off."

"I guess so," Jakob looked slightly calmer, but was still clearly wracked with doubt.  "But... I haven't seen her for a thousand years.  Who knows what atrocities she has achieved in that time?  She's not of our clan!  But it's worth a try... it's not just me... Izak and Dad also have an interest in this..."


Chapter 26

Steve looked around as they entered the Andovia guildhall.

"Big place," he said.

"Yes," the quoll said.  "Once this city was the heart of an empire, or so I've read," Jenkins said.  "They had need of many adventurers.  Less so now, especially since the purges against Creatures under Featherstone's law.  But the guildhall dates back from those older times."

"Where is the Grandmaster?"  Steve asked.

"Upstairs," Jenkins said, hesitantly.  "Waiting for you."

The upper floor had at one point been the attic of the building, a loft space that opened into a single large room.  Ancient stocks, restraints and the occasional instruments of torture were dotted around, some dusty and tarnished from lack of use, others clean and well-maintained.   A thick beam ran across the ceiling with tell-tale marks where a noose had been strung up.  Beside a wooden guillotine, a tall, violet, leather-winged lion sat, reading a book.

As they approached, the lion snapped the book shut and pushed his chair aside, leaving the volume upon it.

"I have brought the renegade, Grandmaster," Jenkins said, kneeling respectfully before his superior.

"Well done, commander.  And well met, Mr. Foster," he added, looking into the Alsatian's face with deep, slightly sad eyes.  "Your betrayal is unfortunate, but regrettably there can be no second chances for a commander gone rogue."

"Grandmaster, this is a mistake," Steve insisted politely.

"Not really," the lion interrupted, revealing a pair of leathery head-wings.  "I see the truth in your mind.  The mistake was yours, and much as it pains me, justice must be done."

Steve stared at the incubus as if he was mad, opened his mouth as if to say something, and then glanced sharply at Jenkins.

"I suppose it must," he said icily.

"Jenkins, help him remove his armour," Tarquine said.  "It shall be sent back to his guild along with the ashes.  Afterwards, I will personally investigate the lodge, for there may be other traitors, and other heads in need of removal."

"No," Steve hissed.  "They are all good men.  Do what you must to me... I offer my life willingly.  Just leave them out of this."

"Then again," the violet lion continued thoughtfully, "Perhaps the blame is yours alone...  Perhaps the example of your execution will quiet any further thoughts of rebellion.  I hope so... I hate having to do this."

Silence fell as the demon was stripped of his plate-mail.  The quoll guided him into position and soon Steve was lying face-down upon the wooden table, staring bravely down into the metal half-bucket that had been bolted on, waiting ominously to catch his head.

"Leave us," Tarquine said quietly, as he dropped the lunette around the Alsatian demon's neck, strapped him down, and adjusted a leather strap attached to the bucket so that the condemned man's forehead rested upon it.

"But..." Jenkins protested.  "The execution should be witnessed, surely?!  What of protocol?"

"I am Grandmaster," the lion pointed out.  "If I cannot be trusted with the beheading of a criminal, whom would you trust?"

"It might be better if you... left," Steve said, voice echoing slightly from the head-bucket.

"There," the lion smiled.  "Would you refuse the last request of a condemned man..?"

"No, Grandmaster," the quoll said, and turned to go, radiating confusion and bewilderment.

"Thank you.  I shall return for you shortly."

As Jenkins departed, Tarquine drew a black curtain across the narrow part of the room, partitioning it and damping the sound. 

"It's nothing personal, Steve," the incubus intoned sadly.  "You were an obstruction, that's all."

"An obstruction to what?" Steve asked quietly.

"You'll die without knowing, I'm afraid," the Grandmaster said.  "I didn't make it to Grandmaster by blurting my secrets to all and sundry.  Goodbye, Steve.  You were a good man, and an asset to the guild.  I'm sorry it has to end this way."

So saying, he pulled the release.  The demon gritted his teeth, reflexively trying to harden his skin but denied by the enchanted bracers pinning his wrists.  He shut his eyes tightly and waited for the killing blow.
There was a thunk, a moment of blinding agony and vertigo as his head tipped forwards, striking the bucket with a faint clang.  When he opened his eyes, he found himself lying sideways in the bucket, the sound of his own blood pouring onto the sawdust close by.  Then the thump of a body striking the floor.

Shit, he thought, and tried to sigh.  It was a good life... but dying for this...  His vision began to grey, and everything felt spacey as a hand reached down and tugged at his hair.

"Mine," a new voice was saying.  The pain began to numb as he waited for the blackness of death, but instead the colour washed back into his sight, and the light-headedness faded.  Steve's eyes swivelled around in confusion and horror as he was lifted out of the basket.  He could see gloves, black rubber ones stained with his lifeblood, glowing faintly with the spell that seemed to be keeping him alive.  His eyes widened as he took in the grandmaster, lying prone on the floor with Aisha stood over him and a vicious grin on her face.

They tried to rescue me...  But they came too late...

"Nope," Daryil said, lifting the guillotine blade up with a couple of wing-tentacles and locking it into place.  "I can still fix this."

A few minutes later, Steve was lying in a stretcher next to the guillotine, a neck-brace keeping his head in position.

"You're lucky demons have amazing regeneration," Daryil said.  "I've fixed most of the nerve damage, but we're taking you to hospital as soon as possible.  You're going to be off work for a while."

"Better than dead," the demon rasped.  "I owe you my life, Lord Daryil."

"Don't mention it," the incubus smiled.  "Well, a shag would be nice once you've recovered," he added hopefully.  "I'm just sorry I didn't arrive earlier.  Besides, you have Ben to thank.  I'll fill you in later."

As he spoke, two more Daryils entered the room, lifted the stretcher up and promptly vanished, bearing Steve to the accident and emergency unit in New Zinvth.


When Tarquine came to, he found himself sat in his chair, gagged and bound with similar bracers to the ones that had recently restrained Steve.  Nearby, two demons, a jaguar and a wolf, stood guard over him.
As he looked around, he saw that the guillotine had been cleaned, and feathered a doberman incubus was winding the blade back into position with the casual grace of one who'd performed that action many times before.  He glanced at Tarquine and gave him a toothy grin.

"Less of that, Daniel," Daryil said.  "You never know, he might walk out of here with his head still on.  I'd lower the blade and lock it if I were you... we'll have guests soon and I don't want any accidents."

"Yes, Lord," the doberman said.

"Oh gods, oh gods what's happened?!" a voice queried.  As the bound lion turned around, a host of newcomers poured into the attic, with Jakob in the lead.  Daryil produced a small portable recorder in a leather case, performed a small confidence check and then started the machine recording.

"Tell them," he coaxed, removing the lion's gag.  "Tell them about the Bounty Project."

"I will say nothing without a lawyer present," Tarquine said.

"I'm a lawyer," Daryil said helpfully.  "Woralburg, class of 394.  Pity I arrived late, you could have consulted me for legal advice before beheading an innocent man..."

"Who?"  Jakob demanded, head-wings fanning out.

"Steve Foster.  He'll live," the Tri-wing added quickly.  "Demon regeneration and prompt medical aid.  One of my avatars is with him if you want to send a message.  But we'll talk of this later.  First, Mr. Tarquine is going to tell us a bedtime story!"

"Save your breath, Lord Daryil," the grandmaster snapped.  "I will not treat with you.  When my fellow Grandmasters hear of this, you shall rue your interference, Tri-wing or not!"

"Ah, but what will they hear, I wonder?"  Daryil mused.

"Enough to make an enemy of you!  Remember, the Adventuring Guild has slain Clan Leaders before and it can do so again if necessary!"

"As your attorney I advise you not to talk like that to someone who can kill you with a thought," Daryil said.  "Especially since we're taping this.  Besides, what would Taun think?  Your clan exists to protect the 'Cubi race and its clans, which is the exact opposite of what you just threatened to do.  And Taun being the Anger clan?!  Seriously, kid, if you killed a Clan Leader, she'd destroy your soul and feed its energy into other, more deserving children."

"True," Tarquine replied.  "But your own children... many of them are guild members.  I can have them all expelled!"

"These evasions and threats are not the words of an innocent man, señor," Aisha pointed out reasonably.

"As Daryil should know, I'm innocent until proven guilty," the lion snapped.  "Besides, Daryil... If you're representing me, you should have my interests at heart, surely?"

"You forget that I am a Tri-Wing," Daryil said, eyes gleaming.  "I already know what you've done.  You maimed my friend, and put out fake bounties on my children... I have a right to know the details.  So I have been through your mind while you were unconscious.  As it happens I do have your interests at heart, but... well... what you've done is severe enough that it's a bit of a lost cause.  It's more a case of salvaging what I can, and a confession might help."

"But what has he done?" Jakob demanded.  "The Delphinium Group was behind the adventurer killings..."

"...but HE was behind the Delphinium Group," a new voice intoned loudly, echoing through the room.

"Jerry?!" Jakob started.

"Well met, Jakob.  I can fill in the missing pieces for you," the newcomer said, a blue husky incubus with long green hair and plate-mail armour.  Strapped to his back was a large sword.

"Who are you?"  Ben asked nervously.  "Another Grandmaster?"

"No.  I am Jeremiah, and I speak for Taun," the husky said.  "I'm one of her troubleshooters."

Tarquine bristled, uneasiness visibly creeping across his face.

"I stand corrected," Daryil said.  "Jerry is going to tell us a bedtime story.  About Tarquine.  But first, Aisha and Keaton... If you'd be so kind as to fetch the unconscious quoll from downstairs?  Commander Jenkins needs to hear this too."

I'm trying to picture Daryil in law school... Hitting on his classmates, his professors, the headmaster... Something along the lines of "Legally Blonde," only hornier. :rolleyes

Heehee, I can just see Ben calling Daryil right now.

"Sir? Code Black... Hot guy in peril."

And Daryil bursts out of the broom closet, wielding a couple of fish as nunchuks.

Delphine is so great, I love herrrrrrrrr

Quote from: Merlin on January 03, 2018, 02:25:45 AM
Delphine is so great, I love herrrrrrrrr

Heh.  I worry that I have too many female villains, it makes things look misogynistic...

Anyway, here's the final two chapters, I hope you've all enjoyed the ride.


Chapter 27

"Tarquine is master of the Andovia chapter of the Adventurers Guild," Jeremiah explained.  "He is one of only five Grandmasters on this continent, and also a member of Taun's clan.  Following recent disturbances, Taun has sent an avatar to review his mind and is not at all pleased with what she has learned."

"B- what?"

"Over the last decade, Tarquine requisitioned a number of large sums from Taun clan's High Command, ostensibly to renovate the guild hall.  Being a guild member of the highest standing, these monetary transactions were given only cursory scrutiny.  Rather than improving the guild and related training facilities, these funds have been embezzled and funnelled into the Delphinium Group, a joint venture he set up with Delphine of Beliana clan."

Jerry glanced briefly at Jakob's mother, who cowered.

"With her single-minded focus on avenging her loved ones, Delphine was easy to manipulate into doing his dirty work.  After sufficient damage had been caused, she would be disposed of to prevent her side of the story being known."

"Disposed of?!" Jakob and Delphine chorused.

"By the same guillotine he just used on Steve," Daryil interjected.  "As grandmaster it would be easy to arrange."

"This is outrageous!" the Grandmaster huffed.  "Are you insane?  What possible motive would I have to engineer a catastrophe for my own guild?!"

"A power grab," the husky explained.  "It would provide the means, or at least plausible deniability for eliminating the other Grandmasters, thereby putting yourself in control of Furrae's single largest adventuring organisation.  As a bonus, by putting your accomplice to the guillotine, you would be able to silence someone who knew too much, while at the same time appearing as the saviour of the very guild you jeopardised, by vanquishing the evil mastermind behind the murders."

"But why try and murder Steve?" Daniel demanded.

"He got in the way," Jerry said.  "You see, under Lady Featherstone's tyrannical reign, Andovia was the perfect place for Tarquine to hole up, so long as he disguised his 'Cubi nature.  Few wanted to enter the realm under her misrule, so his activities - and those of his minion Delphine -  went undetected.  After she was overthrown, there was a great period of reconstruction and he was able to divert funds into his project with even greater ease."

"But then Steve sent you to Andovia, with Lady Featherstone," Daryil put in.  "That turned everything upside-down, instigating a civil war and jeopardising the project.  Worse still, it brought the region to the direct attention of King Fairwater and that was the last thing Tarquine would have wanted.  On top of that, Steve's guild was actively investigating the AdventureNet hack which made them an even more direct threat.  That was the last straw, so he ordered Steve's death.  It would, after all, make a good trial run for when he moved against the Grandmasters."

"What?! You mean... Foster WAS innocent?!" Jenkins looked appalled.

"I told you so," Daniel retorted.

"You were next in line for the guillotine, Commander Jenkins," Daryil added brightly.  "People would have asked too many questions about the death of a popular and skilled rival commander, King Fairwater especially.  One quick chop, and you'd be in no position to argue when he pinned Steve's death on you, AND took credit for eliminating a commander gone rogue.  You'd be sharing the bucket with Steve by now if Aisha hadn't floored your boss."

"But...!" Jenkins' tail fluffed out.

"We are digressing," Jeremiah said.  "Taun is greatly displeased with you, Tarquine, and has ordered that you be punished.  Your deeds have violated her laws and brought shame upon the clan."

"What..?  For showing a little ambition?  I would have ruled the adventuring guild!"

"...If it hadn't been for those pesky kids," Ben put in helpfully.

"Taun does not fault you for your ambitions," the warrior said.  "It is your methods she finds undesirable.  This project of yours has threatened the lives of many 'Cubi, and caused the deaths of several, even some of our own clan-mates.  Had it continued, it would also have seen the execution of a member of an endangered clan by your hand, and may even have triggered reprisals against the 'Cubi race as a whole once the truth of your actions became known.  This is unacceptable, and she has spoken the words of your death."

The violet lion stared, his ears flattening back as the husky drew a gleaming black sword.

"No...!"

"I'm afraid so.  While Taun is loath to do such a thing, you have betrayed her, slain several of her children and caused untold diplomatic incidents in the process.  Yet you still have a choice.  Accept your death and come with me freely... you shall be beheaded before the representatives of the clans you have wronged, but you will die swiftly.  Taun offers you a warrior's death - exiting this world with just a few short moments of pain, and most importantly, with your honour intact."

"Or..?"

"Or, you could die a coward's death right here and now," the warrior said, turning his blade so the light shone off its blackly polished surface.  "Put down like a common bandit.  The clans of those you have murdered demand restitution... since we cannot send your head to all of them, it shall be placed on display in the capital, that the clan representatives may see the fate of the one responsible for their bereavement."

"Eww," Daryil said.

"I'd rather not do that," Jeremiah admitted.  "But it is your only other option."

"That's a choice?"

"It's more than you offered Steve," Daryil pointed out.


"Call the next supplicant," Fairwater said.  Admaria sat in the throne next to her, dressed in black.  "I hope it's the guy from the cable company," she said hopefully.  "I'd hate to think I wasted this outfit, scaring the others..."

As she spoke, the newcomer entered, dressed in grey body armour.  They ascended the steps, watched closely by several Demon guards, all armed and on edge following the recent events.

"Well well," Fairwater said.  "Fancy meeting you here, Lady Featherstone!  You might as well take Bevan's helmet off.  I can't imagine it fitting your opossum head properly..."

"I guess it was fortunate I'm wearing the black," Admaria said sternly.  "Guards... prepare the guillotine!"

"Now, now," Fairwater said, eyeing the intruder with distaste.  "Hopefully it won't come to that.  Either way, let's hear what she has to say first.  I must say, it took a lot of guts coming here!  So say your piece and be done."

"Fuck you," the opossum said.  "I will not bandy words with the usurper who murdered the king!"

"Right now, you still have a head," the Doberman cautioned.  "But that can soon be fixed!"

"Not by you," Featherstone retorted, and a katana flashed through the air.

Fairwater gave a scream of agony and clutched feebly at the stump of his sword-arm.  Blood spurted freely from the wound before he stemmed it with a tourniquet made from his wing.  A number of guards rushed to attend him, bundling him out of the room, while others surrounded Featherstone with their own swords and assault rifles drawn.  Seconds later the opossum was on the ground and forced into a kneeling position as the captain raised his blade to strike off her head.

"NO!" Admaria yelled furiously.  "DO NOT KILL HER!"

"I must protest, majesty!" Zenner responded heatedly.  "She must die for what she's done!"

"Not yet," the queen insisted, drawing a sword of her own.  "This is between the two of us now!"

"This is folly, highness," Zenner insisted.  "She'll kill you given the chance!"

"Then avenge my death," Admaria said.  "But until that happens, stay back!"

The demons and other guards shuffled around uncomfortably, eventually forming an oval sparring ring.

"Have at you!" the border collie cried, stepping forwards.  Featherstone drew her sword, but was promptly tripped by a wing-tentacle and relieved of her weapon.

"You cheated...!" Featherstone screamed.  "Miserable Creature!"

"Oh very well," the Queen sighed, rolling her eyes.  A wing-tentacle offered the weapon to her opponent.

"What are you-" Zenner croaked.

"Much good it may do you," Admaria said, folding her arms.  The PVC and latex of her outfit rippled slightly as her wings vanished, flowing beneath her skin to protect her vitals.

"I am tougher than I look," she continued, "And several of my guards have drawn a bead on your pretty little head.  You can try attacking, but I doubt you'd live to see your sword connect.  Still, PVC and latex will be easy to clean the brains off of..."

"Then why return my sword at all..?  Why not kill me now and be done with it?" the opossum demanded.

"To be honest?  I've never had a climactic fight like this before and I want to make the most of it," the succubus grinned enthusiastically.

"You want to gloat, you mean," Featherstone retorted.

"Never really got the hang of gloating," Admaria said.  "But... I want to have a talk with you first.  Normally I'd discuss this sort of thing over a meal, but ultimately Captain Zenner is right.  You do want to kill me.  So instead, we'll have this little economics lecture while pointing swords at each other like idiots."

"You think yourself so high and mighty because you're more powerful than the Beings you rule," the opossum sneered.  "But without us you are nothing!  You're nothing but parasites!"

"On the contrary," Admaria said, "Some 'Cubi choose to be parasites, but that is their choice.  We need the emotions of others, but they don't have to come from Beings.  Besides, a symbiotic relationship is much more fruitful.  Beings' emotional energy in exchange for our magical talents.  Oh no, my dear... if anyone here is a parasite, it's you."

"Oh, really...?"

"Yes.  Fairwater and I made this city a haven.  Under our care and guidance, it has grown and expanded.  What was under King Ordros just another backwater tin-pot dictatorship, has become an economic powerhouse, one of the key technology hubs on this continent.  We achieved all this by opening our doors to myriad races.  We built up the infrastructure, but we also made the people feel welcome.  THAT is why we still rule here, why we haven't been deposed.  Because we care.  We attend to our subjects needs.  During our reign, the two of us have spent more hours listening to our subjects and helping to fix their grievances than you have spent ALIVE, my lady."

"And...?"

"Exactly!" Admaria's voice rang out.  "You care not a single SHIT for your subjects, save those you picked out to have murdered.  You did nothing but live off their backs!  ALL you have done, during your brief tenure, is kill and destroy.  You inherited a thriving kingdom and you BROKE it.  And now you wish to do the same to Fairwater!"


Chapter 28

"Are we so different?" the opossum sneered.  "Despite your pretty words, I know your reputation!  You love watching the heads come off as much as I!"

"It can be satisfying to watch an enemy of the state die," the queen admitted.  "You've got me there.  But let's look at the figures.  We have reigned 185 years.  And in all that time, only 80 or so people have paid the death penalty.  On average, that's fewer than one execution every two years.  Yet, within the space of FIVE years, YOU executed over a thousand of your own subjects!  And you have the cheek to call ME a monster?"

"DIE!" the opossum screeched, taking the succubus by surprise.  The katana sliced into Admaria's side but was deflected by the nearly-impenetrable wing-stuff.  A large rent appeared in the PVC.

"You BITCH!" she snarled.  "You'll pay for that!"

"Hey, girls..." a voice said.  "Is it a bad time?"  The two women glanced around, forgetting their feud for a second.  Featherstone's jaw dropped open.

Standing in a corner of the room were two men - Lord Daryil, and Captain Aldriss.  Daryil's black-gloved hand stroked the Alsatian's hair playfully.

"Daryil?!" Admaria exclaimed.  "Have you been banging Lady Featherstone's guard captain...?"

"I saw, I conquered, I came," Daryil said dreamily.  "He's really good in bed, you know..."

"TRAITOR!" the opossum shrilled.  "YOU... How COULD you?!  I'll..." she cut off as Admaria relieved her of the katana.

"No!" she gasped.  The border collie loomed, a cold expression in her eyes, gauging the distance to her opponent's neck.  Daryil turned away, and vanished, taking the Alsatian with him.

"You know," Admaria said, "the thing I dislike most about killing people myself, is the whole lack of ceremony.  I mean... I always felt that shouting 'Off with her head!' is the best bit.  But when I'M the executioner it's kind of pointless.  I mean... who would I be shouting it to?  Myself?  That's a sign of madness.  And I'm sane, even if sanity is a little... flexible when comparing a succubus to a Being. "

"Who cares?  We both know there's only one end to this.  One of us dies!"

"It doesn't have to be that way," Admaria said.  "Clemency is an option... after all, you're FAMILY.  We're both of King Ordros' line.  As for your crimes, strictly speaking we're square...  You killed one of my guards, I killed one of yours.  You attempted to murder the king, but it was only an attempt.  Arguably you only deserve an attempted execution."

"Oh, how very kind of you!" the opossum sneered.  "Is that your affinity, monster?  Gratitude?  I would rather die than aid you in any way!"

"Don't mistake contempt for gratitude," Admaria smiled toothily.  "I don't want to aid you either.  You'd just love to be martyred!  It would feed into your precious 'Creatures are murderers!' narrative.  Letting you live now would help thwart you in that.  Besides, rotting in a dungeon for decades on end can be a worse fate... decapitating you would at least be quick, and I'm not sure you deserve such mercy."

"Hah!  This has nothing to do with propaganda!  Nothing to do with contempt!  You're stalling," Featherstone sneered.  "For all your talk, you've always had someone else to kill people for you, do your own dirty work!  And now you have to kill someone all by yourself, you can't do it!"

"Utter bollocks," Admaria retorted.  "Killing without hesitation or compassion is what makes someone a monster.  Isn't a little reluctance a good thing?"

"No! It just means you're WEAK!  And you ARE!  You're a coward... admit it!  You're SCARED!"

Admaria hesitated for a moment, her face racked with doubt as she considered the opossum's words.

"Nah," she said.  There was a shrill ringing noise as the katana completed its arc, and then a wet thump as the opossum's surprised head landed neatly at the border collie's booted feet.

"Eww," Daryil remarked, walking in through the wall.  "Did you have to?"

"I gave her every chance," the queen sighed, wiping her blade clean and sheathing it.  "Had she shown even the slightest contrition, I would have shown her leniency.  But she learned nothing..."  The weapon vanished into a pocket dimension.  "Is my husband alright?"

"Well, he's happy," Daryil said.  "They've reattached his arm, but it'll take a while for the sedatives to wear off."

"Good.  I'll see him at once.  Well, as soon as I've washed Lady Featherstone's blood off my dress, at least.  Definitely a good job I wore my Execution Outfit..."

"You do that," Daryil said and hopped into one of the thrones.  "Send in the next supplicant!" he called.

The guards looked at each other in confusion.  Admaria shot Daryil a look almost as black as her outfit, and he climbed off the throne sheepishly.

"At the very least we should remove Featherstone's corpse first," she said.  "Guards, see to that, please... and let me know if Daryil does anything."

"You're no fun anymore," Daryil pouted.


"Very well," Tarquine said.  "I see that I shall get no justice here.  But I shall not leave either.  Do what you must, Jeremiah.  Just grant me a warrior's death."

So saying, the lion stood up, and raised his chin.  Jakob stared resolutely at the ground.

"Long live Taun!" the lion exclaimed.  Jeremiah drew back his black blade and struck, the edge cutting through his enemy's neck as if it wasn't there.

Tarquine's head arced through the air, before landing on the wooden floor and rolling over.  "Justice is done," Jeremiah said in a melancholy voice, his wings turning to black in mourning for the man he'd just killed.  He cleaned his black blade with a cloth, and sheathed it reluctantly.

Silence fell.  When a respectful pause had elapsed, Daniel and Ben made their way to the body, and began wrapping it for transport to Taun's realm.

Daniel, Ben and several of the others filed off downstairs, helping Jeremiah with the remains.  "Keaton, Mary, stop goofing off with the head," Daryil admonished.  "The same could happen either of you one day - though I hope it doesn't - so show a little respect."

At length, the room emptied until just a few remained.  Jakob stood looking in the rough direction of the blood-stained floor where Tarquine had met his fate.  Olaf, his own wings blackened, put a hand on his shoulder sadly.

"Are you okay, dad...?" he asked gently.

The wolf incubus shook himself, woken from his inner reverie.  At length he spoke.

"So many revolutions start with that promise," he said sadly, "That by slicing off a head or two, everything will suddenly be better.  It's such an easy answer to problems which are usually far more complex.  Everyone wants their children's story ending where the dragon has been slain and everyone... everyone else lives happily ever after.  And yet, all that ever seems to happen is that more and more heads get sliced off as payback...  An endless loop of strife..."

"Things might really be different this time," Daryil said.  "For all the evils Tarquine did, for all that he achieved it in such a horrible way, he may have left the world as a whole better off..."

"How can you say that?!" Olaf choked, looking aghast at Daryil.  "He's ruined the guild's reputation!  It will take decades to recover!"

"Is that a bad thing, though?" Daryil asked him.  "I can't see adventurers going away entirely.... there will always be missing persons to find, and a need to hire private security. And as long as people try to steal souls, there will be a need for them to be hunted and... punished.
"But the rest of it?  Hired executioners?  Killing people who were so poor they had to turn to robbery?  We should be moving past that as a society.  We should be providing a safety net so they don't have to turn to crime in the first place!  Making it harder to hire killers sounds like progress to me...  A couple of decades where it's harder to have someone killed might be just what our world needs."

"When you put it like that, you may have a point," Olaf nodded.

"Thanks," Daryil smiled.  "So... anyone up for a shag?" he added, looking at Jeremiah hopefully.

"Too soon!" Jakob protested.  "Gods, Dar!  We've just witnessed an execution!  The guy's not even cold and already you want to get laid?!"

"Don't you want something to take your mind off all the blood and death?" Daryil said, stroking the armoured wolf's head seductively.

"When you put it like that, you may have a point," Jakob admitted.  "But Daxxon deserves a look-in."

"The more the merrier," Daryil said, rubbing his hands greedily.


Steve sat at his desk, a brace still around his neck.  He was not wearing his usual armour, which was hanging on a stand in the corner.  Beside him, Illiath and Fairwater sat, the other guild-memberG stood to attention, except for Ralf who sat in the front like a dog.

"Strictly I'm still on sick leave," he said.  "All being well I can take the brace off next week.  Until then, Jason is acting Guildmaster."

"Thanks for everything you've done," Fairwater said.  "Ben and Daniel in particular, I don't think it's a stretch to say that you may have saved the kingdom.  I would have you knighted, if you will accept it.  The rest of you shall be richly rewarded for your parts also."

"Steve," Illiath said, once the king was finished, "I was appalled to hear of the attempt on your life, and am glad to see you have recovered as much as you have.  But, with the death of Tarquine, there is an opening for a new grandmaster of the guild, based in Andovia.  I have been sent to offer that post to you."

"I'm honoured," the Demon said, "And it is a tempting offer.  But I can't abandon my friends here.  They made all this possible - I've just been acting as a manager for the most part."

"Are you sure?" the Doberman asked, looking surprised.

"Besides, I'm sure Taun would be more pleased to see Olaf take the position."

The wolf-giraffe looked stunned.

"Oh, my son, I'm so proud of you!"  Jakob cried.

"I accept," Olaf said cautiously.  "But my first action will be to move the grandmaster's guildhall here, and then resign so that Steve can take it.  He's a good man, he deserves it."

"I'm even more proud of you," Jakob wept.

Epilogue

Lady Featherstone came to slowly.  Her mouth felt parched and dry, and her mind was more than a little fuzzy.

Drugged? she pondered groggily, and looked over her surroundings.  It was clearly a dungeon.

What's happened? she wondered.  Did Admaria order this?  I thought she'd just killed me... Must have been some kind of 'Cubi trickery...  Yes... it was all a dream...

The opossum turned with a start as the lock rattled.  Panic set in for a moment as she saw that her captor was vivid blue.  Creatures!

The door swung open and a muscular figure entered, a blue Doberman with feathered wings.  He took her roughly, led her past a guillotine to a sparse audience chamber, where a blonde, muscular alsatian with leathery wings was holding a confused-looking violet lion, who kept scratching the back of his head nervously as if his hands were searching for something there.
In the centre of the chamber was a dais, and upon it sat a fox incubus atop a golden throne.  His hands were clad in black shiny gloves, and his pants were glossy plastic.  He watched the procession with a sadistic smile.

"YOU!  Daryil!"

"Welcome to my domain, Lady Featherstone," he grinned savagely.  "Like Tarquine here, you have been a thorn in my side for far too long!
You died as my enemies, but I can be merciful, so I am offering you each another chance.  Serve me faithfully for the next fifty years, and all shall be forgiven.  Betray me, and I shall destroy your brain, returning you to the death you so richly deserve..."

THE END


Thanks for reading!

Quote from: Tapewolf on January 05, 2018, 02:09:04 PM
"...If it hadn't been for those pesky kids," Ben put in helpfully.

OMG. Not only does this slay me for being hilarious and totally Ben-like, it's also an uncanny coincidence since Scooby-Doo was my favorite cartoon, growing up.

Thank you, Tape! I thoroughly enjoyed this!

I have to ask, though: what became of Delphine?

Quote from: CubiKitsune on January 05, 2018, 04:39:57 PM
Thank you, Tape! I thoroughly enjoyed this!

I have to ask, though: what became of Delphine?

I didn't really want to do the 'Return of the King' thing where it spends an eternity tying up all the loose ends.  Also it might make a handy jump-off point for another story down the line.  So the short answer is that I haven't decided.

That said, she's most likely somewhere Daryil can keep a close eye on her.  Jakob, Izak and Petter would object strongly to her death, as mentioned prior, and most importantly, Taun would not allow it either.  And "Taun says No" is liable to stop most people in their tracks.

I may be missing something here... Fairwater is praising Ben and Dan for their part, but it seems to me they did more harm than good. After all, even if it was unintentional, they helped put a serial killer back on her throne.

Quote from: CubiKitsune on January 05, 2018, 07:01:43 PM
I may be missing something here... Fairwater is praising Ben and Dan for their part, but it seems to me they did more harm than good. After all, even if it was unintentional, they helped put a serial killer back on her throne.

This is true, but they also alerted Fairwater to the fact that: Lady Featherstone existed, planned to conquer their kingdom, and was a serious threat.  That was extremely valuable intel.
Had Ben and Dan been studying at Illiath's and Featherstone had actually got a trio of Beings with no ties to Fairwater or even worse, an actual anti-Fairwater stance, she would have come in out of the blue and killed Fairwater with no forewarning.  Without Daryil's presence she might also have killed Admaria.  While the line of succession would probably have been restored, it would have been a very chaotic period - the sort of thing civil wars are made of.

Quote from: Tapewolf on January 05, 2018, 07:18:31 PM

Quote from: CubiKitsune on January 05, 2018, 07:01:43 PM
I may be missing something here... Fairwater is praising Ben and Dan for their part, but it seems to me they did more harm than good. After all, even if it was unintentional, they helped put a serial killer back on her throne.

This is true, but they also alerted Fairwater to the fact that: Lady Featherstone existed, planned to conquer their kingdom, and was a serious threat.  That was extremely valuable intel.
Had Ben and Dan been studying at Illiath's and Featherstone had actually got a trio of Beings with no ties to Fairwater or even worse, an actual anti-Fairwater stance, she would have come in out of the blue and killed Fairwater with no forewarning.  Without Daryil's presence she might also have killed Admaria.  While the line of succession would probably have been restored, it would have been a very chaotic period - the sort of thing civil wars are made of.

Hmm, good point.