OG: Chapter 32

As we made our way out of Alynda to the West, the more fertile, grassy areas closer to the Tana Dante River gave way to a sort of Savanna-like Hilly Badlands that would have been all right for doing things like grazing sheep, horses, and cattle, if not for the fact that there were Greenskins in the area to watch out for. They would spot such herds fairly quickly, gut whoever was tending the herd, and devour the animals in short order. After all, it wasn't as if Alynda could maintain a constant guard around every herd that would be sufficient to ward off Marauding Goblins now, was it? That would get economically unfeasible pretty damned quickly, after all, and the cost of maintaining the Guards on the herds would quickly catch up with any money the herds themselves brought in.

The reason for this became clear the closer we got to the stony, sandy Badlands, far enough out from the Tana Dante River that the fertile Plains that faded into less fertile Savanna, began to fade once again into a craggy, hilly, upland filled with stony, sandy Badlands, large mesas, and the odd scrubby bush. A collection of ramshackle wood and leather huts and tents was crowded around a crudely built wooden tower next to a pool of Stagnant Water, in a large, crater-like depression in the ground. The place was crawling with Greenskins. I saw two different kinds of Goblins, Goblin Javelin Boyz with their scrap-metal javelins, and Goblin Stabba Boyz, with their scrap-metal blades and round shields they had to have looted from somewhere. Both types wore reinforced leather armor, with red Caps the color of blood.

There was also a pen where a pair of bulbous, warty creatures, whose defining characteristics were their mouths full of wicked-looking fangs, were being carefully kept. Squigs, and judging by the bones sticking out of the mud in their pen, the Goblins had fed at least some of the would-be treasure hunters to the Squigs. No sign of a Warboss, though, and there were only around twelve Greenskins out and about, not counting the Squigs. As we pressed ourselves flat against the rise to avoid notice by the Greenskins down in the depression below us, and began to strategize in hushed tones and whispers while Radamenes lay down and stretched out, unconcerned by the presence of a Greenskin Camp.

"All right, so there are at least Twelve Goblins, a Mix of Javelin Users and Dagger and Shield Users." I mused.

"We can take them. It should take three or four Goblins to take down a proper fighting man." Huffed Ruggiero.

"You forget the Squigs." Pointed out Anders.

"True, plus we don't know how many are simply in tents or that tower." Acknowledged Ruggiero

"What we need is more information." Opined Anders.

"Martine? That's where you come in as a Scout. Can you handle it?" I questioned.

"Against Goblins? What do you take me for, some incompetent?" Queried Martine.

"All right, then, if you can get down there without tripping an alarm and come back with the information, do so. We'll wait here." I nodded.

"And what do I do on the off chance I run into trouble?" Asked Martine.

"Try to escape." Deadpanned Anders.

"How droll." Scoffed Martine.

"If you can't escape, just yell. We'll come running." Offered Ruggiero.

"Indeed." I concurred.

Then, with a Nod, Martine made her way down into the depression, carefully, quietly, without alerting any of the Greenskins that were down there. I watched as she slipped behind some scrub-like bushes that were more branch than leaf as a pair of Goblin Stabba Boyz passed by. As soon as she did, she slipped out of cover, darting into the maze of ramshackle tents, and I lost sight of her. Deciding that she could either handle this on her own or she couldn't, and that there was no point in worrying, I ducked back down, pressing myself flat against the lip of the depression as I looked over at my remaining two Companions.

Ruggiero had gratefully taken the Magical Elite Platemail and Magical Balanced Sword that I had forged, alchemically-treated, and enchanted for him, as had Martine, once I demonstrated how the alchemical oil I had used on it and its construction rendered it silent enough to avoid making any noise and light enough to be worn while scouting. Anders, though, had eschewed the Platmail and the Sword, as he didn't trust the 'Queer Foreign Magics' I had picked up in Cathay as of yet. I supposed, as a Wisdom of the Hedgefolk, he would know when something was enchanted, and when it didn't match up with magic as he knew it, he shunned it, even if it was obviously not from a corrupt or dark source. Honestly, in this setting, that was probably the smart play, even if I was ultimately frustrated by it.

Both of them now sat with their backs pressed against the lip of the rise, not too far from where Radamenes lay on the sun-baked ground, licking his paws like he didn't have a care in the world. They both looked over at me, and I could only nod to both of them in response, causing them to look at each other and frown slightly, before looking back over at me.

"All right, I'll bite. What's the problem?" I asked quietly.

"Anders here says the Armor and Sword you made us are magical?" Questioned Ruggiero in hushed tones.

"I picked up the techniques in Grand Cathay. Some of the Alchemists there use ambient magic to infuse alchemy and craft magical items." I insisted, softly.

"You understand why we are hesitant, yes? You know of the Ruinous Powers? Your gifts are not unlike those of the Hedgfolk when it comes to making magical items. We have a series of teachings that we are required to follow, however. I can tutor you if you need. Do you need the lessons?" Queried Anders in a whisper.

"No need. My ability with Magic isn't at risk of corruption. Besides, I already know about the Ruinous Powers and keeping away from Dhar." I responded in a low voice.

"That's good to know. After all, your enchantments and alchemy didn't detect as tainted by Dhar, but it is always nice to check." Nodded Anders faintly.

"If I'm all right to keep using this, then I won't look a gift horse in the mouth." Shrugged Ruggiero quietly.

We spoke in whispers for a bit longer, talking about what we each knew of the Arabyan Settlements and Ruins in the Border Princes. The settlements were, largely, set up a little over a thousand years ago, during the time of the Crusades against Araby, when Sultans Jaffar and Daryus-E Qabir had launched a series of massive invasions into the Old World. For around fifty years, the Arabyans controlled parts of Tilea, the Border Princes, and Estalia. The Sorcerers of Araby had used their bound Djinn and Elemental Magics to raise forts and towns out of bare stone to act as forward bases and supply depots for their advances into the Old World. Most of these are now ruins, abandoned or destroyed, and left to rot. Some weren't, of course. Fatanbad near the Mad Dog Pass, the Capital of the Rif Al Sakhr, Sakhr Madina, between the Elven Outpost of Tor Anrok and the Principality of Organza Nova on the Zandri Road along the Black Gulf were both examples of such strongholds that were still occupied to this day, but most had fallen.

Ironically, for all that the potential of bound Djinn and Tomb Rot, Arabyan Ruins were actually some of the Least Dangerous that could have been unearthed in the recent landslide. They could have been Dwarven Ruins, with a menagerie of fiendish runic and mechanical traps, they could have been ruins belonging to an Old, Dead, Chaos Cult, in which case they may have left mutated beasts or Minor Daemons behind, or they could have been ruins from Ancient Khemri, in which case we would have been dealing with Tomb Kings. Really, the only way these ruins could have been less dangerous was if they had been the ruins of a recent attempt to settle in the area that had been wiped out for one reason or another. Those tended to only attract small numbers of bandits to use them as hideouts, and bandits in Khypris actually did get hunted down by the Prince's Border Guard.

By the time we finished telling each other what we knew about Arabyan Ruins in the Border Princes, however, Martine had returned, having successfully managed to slip through the various Greenskins and scout out their encampment. As we began to prod her for information in hushed tones, a plan began to take shape.

"Well? What did you find?" I asked.

"There are around thirty-six Greenskins in the camp, not counting the Squigs or the Warboss. Twelve milling about outside that you saw, twelve, in various tents, and twelve in the Tower. The Warboss is absent, as are about another twelve Goblins, though I overheard a pair of Goblins speaking about the Warboss going on a raid. Apparently, they spotted a Caravan of Strigany passing through the lands Northwest of the Badlands a couple of days ago and went to attack them." Informed Martine.

"How long ago is a couple of days? And how far was this Strigany Caravan?" Questioned Ruggiero.

"That is unknown. It is Greenskins, were you expecting them to keep accurate time?" Queried Martine.

"So we could be facing more than just thirty-six Goblins and a pair of Squigs if the Warboss Returns while we're here." Mused Anders.

"It sounds like it." I nodded.

"How do you want to play this?" Asked Ruggiero.

"I have some Alchemical Incendiaries that should let us burn down some of the tents, which should make the fight easier. Between the four of us, we should be able to handle the Goblins thanks to that." I offered.

"What about the Squigs?" Questioned Martine.

"Leave those to me. I have something I can use for such beasts. A Fellstave that should send them running and rampaging through their own ranks." Smirked Anders.

"Are you sure that will work?" Queried Ruggiero.

"I am. I created the Sigil carved into it myself as my test of Mastery to graduate from being an apprentice." Confirmed Anders.

"Which just leaves the potential problem of the Warboss Returning." I intoned.

"How do you want to play that?" Asked Ruggiero.

"We'll play it by ear. After all, it might not even happen." I offered.

"Risky, but it shouldn't be an issue." Remarked Martine.

"Not if we deal with the other Greenskins fast." I agreed.

"In that case, let's get down there." Insisted Anders.

And with that, we headed down into the crater-like depression, heading toward the maze of tents. As we did, I reached into my satchel, pulling out a pair of Alchemical Black Powder Incendiaries. Once the mess of ramshackle tents was within throwing range, I tossed my Alchemical Black Powder Incendiaries into the tents, where they went up in a whoomf of noise and a ball of flame. Leather, Canvas, and Wood caught alight as goblins began to scream, burning alive in their tents. Some staggered out of their tents, half-aflame, and were cut down by Ruggiero and Martine, or had their brains smashed in with Anders' Anti-Goblin Fellstave, or their throats torn out by Radamenes.

Before we knew it, half the Goblins in the tents had burned to death in the surprise attack, while another quarter had been hacked, bludgeoned, or mauled by Radamanes. The remaining two decided that discretion was the better part of valor, turned around, and booked it, only for Radamenes to chase them down with a yowling growl, bounding after them.

Another Alchemical Black Powder Incendiary went into the midst of the charging group of goblins, which was charging us from across the hard-packed earth of the Crater Bottom, moving across the empty space between the maze of burning tents and the Tower, even as Goblins began to exit the tower looking for the attackers, four of the Goblins were killed in the ball of fire, and I pulled my flintlock pistol from the brace I had across my chest to shoot a fifth, time slowing down as my powers allowed me to run the numbers. Not only did my powers allow me to calculate the precise angle to put a pistol shot through the eye of a charging Goblin, while also showing me the ideal spot for me to position myself to both dodge an incoming thrown Javelin as well as cut down a Sixth Goblin, but it also warned me that, based on the trajectory one of the Tower Goblins was running it, it was heading for the Squig Pen to release the Beasts.

As time sped back up, my various enhancements allowed me to move quickly enough to fire my pistol through the eye of the fifth Goblin, holster the flintlock, move to dodge the thrown, scrap-metal javelin from the Goblin Javelin Boy, and cut down a charging Goblin Stabba Boy with a draw cut from my blade, all within heartbeats of each other. As I did so, Ruggiero and Martine cut down another Goblin each, while Martine's Armor prevented a Ninth Goblin, this one a Javelin Boy who had decided to use his Javelin as a spear, from sticking her in the side as she did so.

"Anders! The Squigs!" I called out, pointing with my off hand, even as my sword hand flashed out, parrying a thrown Javelin out of mid-air as the remaining Goblins not moving to release the Squigs, and which weren't already engaged, began to try and form some semblance of a formation.

"Right!" Nodded Anders, reaching into his voluminous robes and pulling out another carved wooden Fellstave as he did so.

As Anders pulled his Anti-Squig Fellstave, and Martine and Ruggiero each cut down one more engaged Goblin, the other, running, Goblin reached the Squig Pen, cutting the rope that tied the gate to the pen shut with his Stabba Knife. The Pair of Squigs bounded out of their pen, one pausing only long enough to pounce on the Hapless Goblin who had released them, devouring the Unfortunate Greenskin in a single, massive bite. Then they charged the nearest person, which was Anders. Anders incanted something in an older form of Reikspiel that I didn't know, and suddenly, the Glyphs carved into his Anti-Squig Fellstave lit up with a purposeful light.

Two things happened next. The first was that the Squigs, crossing the invisible boundary warded by Anders' Anti-Squig Fellstave, immediately let out a horrible noise that was half-shriek and half-squeal before immediately beginning to flee, lurching away from Anders and right toward the remaining Goblins' Formation. The second was that the remaining Goblins had to turn to face this new, sudden, and unexpected threat from the Squigs that should have been on their side. Scrap-metal Javelins flew and Crude Blades stabbed, but the Squigs' Rampage would not stop without casualties. By the time they had been brought down, apparently without exploding, half the remaining Goblins were already dead.

Then we charged the rest and cut them down in a flurry of bladework. In the end, only forty-five minutes had passed between finding the Greenskin Camp and slaying thirty-six Goblins and two squigs. Most of that time had been spent on reconnaissance and planning, to boot. In the meantime, none of us was so much as wounded, thanks to the Equipment and Tactics we had used. Honestly, I was tempted to head into the Tower to see what I could loot right now, but I was stopped from doing so by another group of Arrivals.

"What da Zog iz dis? I leave fer a couple o' dayz, an' when I getz back, me Zoggin Camp's on fire and a buncha gitz is muckin' about in da ashes?" Growled a guttural, but still fairly high, voice.

I turned to see a Goblin with pronounced tusks, in blackened steel armor, with a blackened steel battleaxe, and a blackened steel horned helmet. The Axe seemed to hum with a fell power, though it didn't glow green or anything like that, marking out out as a weapon of Dark Sorcery. He was large, for a Goblin, about the size of a Hobgoblin, though he clearly owed no allegiance to the Hobgobla Khan. Behind him, a group of eight or so Goblins, four Javelin Boyz, and Four Stabba Boyz, were carrying the spoils of their raid, two were driving a Strigany Cart filled with various trade goods, two carried a small chest of Gold Coins between them, and the remaining four were prodding a Young, Twenty-Something, Strigany Woman in White, Blue, and Red Clothing, whose hands were bound with rope.

"Looks like you've been busy." I snorted.

"I could say da 'xact same zoggin' ting 'bout you lot! Now, who da Zog iz ya?" Questioned the Goblin Warboss.

"I'm Konstantin Henryk Ptorski, and I'm the one who led these roguishly handsome fellows you see before you in burning your camp and killing your minions!" I boasted.

"Well, I'm Warboss Legslica o' Da Bloodhillz Tribe O' Goblinz, and do ya know wut I do ta Gitz who try an' Zog me ova?" Queried the Goblin Warboss, Warboss Legslica.

"Let me guess, you slice their legs off?" I asked, tauntingly.

"Oi! Dat ain't funny Ya Git! Now Iz gotta Krump Ya extra good!" Scowled Warboss Legslica.

And with that, he charged me, howling a battle cry as he brandished his axe. I snorted at that and pulled my last remaining loaded flintlock pistol from the brace that hung across my breastplate. Time slowed down as I ran the numbers, calculating angles. Unfortunately, there was no way for me to score a kill shot thanks to how the Blackened Steel Helm was pretty much covering Warboss Legslica's head well enough that I wouldn't be able to send a shot through the visor or anything. Instead, I settled for firing at his chest, which was only covered by blackened steel pauldrons and some sort of Cardiophylax of Blackened Steel and Reinforced Leather that didn't protect the whole chest. Honestly, it looked like he was just begging to get gutshot, so that's what I did.

As time sped up, I aimed and fired my second and last flintlock pistol into Warboss Legslica's Gut, staggering him and allowing me to rush forward with a cut that was parried on the haft of his blackened steel battleaxe. The humming got louder as his counterattack nearly took my head off, forcing me to duck. As I did so, I came up with my blade, which Legslica Parried with a swing of his axe in a move that was both attack and defense, making me backpedal away in order to avoid him taking my sword hand off at the wrist.

"Ha! Don't be such a panzy, foight me ya git! Ya can't rely on yer Boomstikk ferever!" Laughed Warboss Legslica.

I frowned at that. Was I fighting an Orc or a Goblin? Because Warboss Legslica seemed pretty Orky for a Goblin. Between the seeming love of fighting and the extra size, it was almost like he was some kind of Super-Gobbo. Not quite an Orc, but not cowardly or weak enough to be a regular Goblin either. Had this been some kind of experiment by Gork and Mork to make some sort of Hybridized Orc and Goblin? Did it really matter? Either way, I was going to oblige the bastard. I still had to kill him, after all.

As I came back in, my cut was parried by another swing of the blackened steel battleaxe, the humming ever-present. The edge of my blade held as Warboss Legslica chopped into my sword with his axe in a chopping parry, thanks to the alchemical treatment and enchantment I'd put on the blade. That seemed to surprise him because he blinked in surprise long enough for me to activate my Sandy and Kerenzikov and slam a gauntleted fist into his mouth, cracking off one of his large, protruding tusks thanks to my cybernetically and chemically enhanced body. That staggered Warboss Legslica and allowed me to cut out with my blade in a whirling cut that took the Warboss' head clean off.

I turned to the other Goblins and shouted out a challenge, but they turned tail and booked it right back out of the Crater just in time for Radamenes, maw coated in Greenskin blood, to pounce on one of the fleeing Goblins from the side. Apparently, he'd finished running down the two he had chased earlier and was eager for a fourth kill. This he managed by seizing the unfortunate Goblin's head in his mouth and shaking, breaking the poor Goblin's neck. He let out a roar, which forced the remaining seven Goblins to run even faster. We only managed to cut down two more before the remaining five fled into the Badlands.

We'd done it, slaying forty Goblins, their Warboss, and two Squigs, without even taking so much as a scratch. As Ruggiero began to cut ears off the Goblin Corpses to cash in on a standing bounty that the Myrmidian Church in the Border Princes and Badlands had on Dead Greenskins, and Martine and Anders began to search the Ramshackle Tower for any loot, I moved over to the Strigany Woman, cutting her bonds as I did so.

"My Thanks." She offered in accented Reikspiel.

"Not a problem. Are there any other Strigany that survived the raid?" I questioned.

"Some of us made it out. In time. Ion managed to slay some of the Goblins, giving some of my Clan time to flee. Others weren't so lucky and were slain. They had their Vardos looted and their goods stolen, as you can see." Huffed the Woman.

"Right, is there any way we can get you to them within the day? My companions and I are on something of a ticking clock." I queried.

"There is a prearranged meeting place for just such an occasion, not far from here. It is an ancient stone Obelisk on the Savanna about two hour's journey to the Southwest. In ancient times, it marked the Northwesternmost boundary of the territory ruled by the City of Kalkmir, and thus the Northwesternmost Extent of the ancient Nehekaran Empire. Someone should be waiting there for me." Nodded the Woman.

"Why did they capture you?" I asked.

"I am a Mystic, skilled in reading the future from the Major Tarot. That thing wanted to use me to help it unite all the Greenskin Tribes in the area." Scoffed the Woman.

"All right, we'll take you to the Obelisk of Kalkmir." I agreed.

"Why?" Questioned the Woman.

"What do you mean, why?" I queried.

"Most would not be so charitable to a Strigany." Pointed out the Woman.

"I'm not most. Besides, these Greenskins had to go anyway, and from the looks of things, this attack is profitable already. Helping you out as well isn't exactly a stretch of our goals, and it was the right thing to do." I answered.

"How can you tell? Some of us Strigany are Necromancers, after all." Pressed the Woman.

"If you were a necromancer, two of us would be able to tell. We haven't noticed anything, so you're not a necromancer." I shrugged.

"Unless I was hiding it somehow." Pointed out the Woman.

"True, but I'm willing to take that on Faith for the time being. Besides, if you were a secret necromancer, I'm guessing that you wouldn't have been captured by Goblins." I retorted.

"That's fair, I suppose. What is your name?" Asked the Woman.

"Konstantin Henryk Ptorski, Kostek for short." I introduced.

"Well, Kostek, I am Lavinia of the Solimance Clan of Strigany. Thank you for coming to my aid." Nodded the Woman.

In the end, we wound up grabbing a bunch of stuff from the Goblin Tower before burning it, and the Goblins, down inside it. Some of it was stuff like jewelry that could be sold for a pretty Guilder, while others were more personal. I grabbed a Clay Bottle of Kvas that had been marked as coming from the Erengrad Kvas Distillery. Most of the other such bottles had been drunk already by the Goblins, their bottles smashed against the wooden wall. Martine grabbed a silver comb inlaid with Ivory for her long, brunette hair. Anders grabbed a book written in Reikspiel on the Herbs of The Border Princes and Tilea, which claimed to have various recipes for potions of various kinds using them. Finally, Ruggiero grabbed an Estalian Fighting Dagger that seemed to have been taken from an Estalian Diestro of Noble Rank, which was completely non-magical apart from the silver etching along the blade that would help it be a potent weapon against the Undead.

Of course, we also took our fair share of cold, hard coin. Mostly these were a mix of Marienburg Guilders, Luccini Doubloons, Imperial Crowns, or Bretonnian Ecu, but a few Estalian Excellante, Arabyan Dinars, or Kislevite Ducats also made their way in from various trade caravans these Goblins had robbed and raided. All told, each of us would be walking away from the Goblin Fight at least fifty Guilder or equivalents richer. That was aside from the Forty-One Goblin Ears, which we were splitting four ways, with me getting eleven, including that of the Warboss, since I slew him solo, and everyone else getting ten. The bounty that the Church of Myrmidia in the Badlands and Border Princes had out on Greenskins was two Silver per Goblin Ear, and an additional Guilder for a Warboss, which meant I would be making another two Guilders off those bounties, with the others making one more Guilder off the same bounty.

Honestly, it was a good deal. Of course, now, as we made our way away from the burning Greenskin Encampment, toward the Obelisk of Kalkmir, the sun was starting to descend from its apex high in the sky. It had taken us all morning to sort out the Goblins, after all, and by the time we had made it to the Obelisk, it was well past noon, edging just past four bells in the afternoon watch by the time that was kept here, which was two o'clock in the afternoon in a normal World. We arrived at the Obelisk, a massive finger of sandstone jutting out from a plinth in the midst of the Savanna, that had marked the boundary of the Ancient Nehekaran Empire. The faded hieroglyphic writing and ancient glory didn't concern me as much as the person waiting for us.

He was leaning up against a tree, in a combination of white, blue, and red clothing, with a protective Jade medallion that pulsed with the Green Wind of Ghyran around his neck, and a sword at his belt that hummed with the Yellow Wind of Chamon. He also wore a wide-brimmed, straw hat, but that wasn't as important as the fact that this swordsman not only seemed to know how to use his sword from the way he shifted as we arrived, but was also equipped with magic items.

"Ion!" Called out Lavinia.

"Lavinia! I thought I saw the Greenskins take you?" Questioned the Swordsman, Ion.

"They did, these Adventurers saved me." Nodded Lavinia.

"Is that so?" Queried Ion, looking over at us.

"It is. We slew the Greenskins and killed the Warboss, freeing Lavinia in the process." I responded.

"We didn't have to free her, but we did anyway." Huffed Ruggiero.

"Though it was the right thing to do." Pointed out Anders.

"So some renumeration wouldn't be amiss." Added Martine.

"My companions make salient points. I won't argue against a reward." I shrugged.

"And the Solomance Clan honors those who have aided them. I see you brought back Old Leander's Vardo. A shame, but he won't be needing it." Mused Ion.

"Did he not survive?" Asked Lavinia.

"Unfortunately, no. Not even Mama Uta was able to save him with her Ghyran Magic. He was just too far gone." Admitted Ion.

"Ghyran Magic?" Questioned Anders.

"The Elders of Clan Solomance all possess some capability with certain magics. Head Elder Uta can call upon the Green Wind to help heal us, while Elder Antonio possesses the capability to call on the Yellow Wind of Chamon to help with our material needs. Elder Alexandru possesses the capability to call on the Brown Wind of Ghur to help heal and train our animals, while Elder Irina possesses the Ability to call on the Blue Wind of Azyr to aid in our traditional forms of Divination with the Major Arcana." Informed Ion.

"Wow, how in the name of Myrmidia did you manage to get attacked, then?" Queried Ruggiero.

"The specialties of our elders are somewhat limited. They're not formal Magisters, after all, and they only possess a fraction of what our ancestors did in times long past. Their magics are mostly limited to support. Things such as healing, managing our animals, divination, and item creation and fixing." Explained Lavinia.

"Still, that's a fairly decent set-up. If you lot were able to set up somewhere on a more permanent basis, you might seriously be able to entrench yourselves." Pointed out Martine.

"Why do you think no one has allowed us to do so? Nobody wants to give us the room to settle down because of just such an eventuality. People view us as a reason for various ills, after all." Scoffed Ion.

"Circling back around to the matter of the Wagon. You were saying?" I asked, prompting a change in topic.

"Yes, I was saying. Now, Old Leander won't be needing his Vardo, and while that alone is not worth the life of a future Clan Head, it is a start." Mused Ion.

I blinked at that. Lavinia was the Future Head of their Clan? That wasn't something I had known when I rescued her. My surprise at that must have shown on my face, because Ion picked up on it right away. A slight grin crossed his face as he saw the look of shock in my eyes and nodded at me with a small chuckle.

"I see. You didn't realize that Mama Uta is literally Lavinia's mother. That is even more interesting because it says that you didn't return her to us for the promise of a big reward, even if your companions did ask for a reward. Very well, I see you brought back the stolen chest of Guilders as well. You may each take fifteen guilders from that chest, as well as Old Leander's Vardo and Horse. As to the Goods in Old Leander's Vardo, we will need to transfer those. Unfortunately, some of them will be vital at our next destination." Intoned Ion, making up his mind.

"That sounds more than fair." I agreed, with my Companions likewise agreeing. After all, none were going to argue against not only gaining a horse and wagon to haul spoils out of the Arabyan Ruins, but also fifteen extra Guilders on top of that.

In the end, it took an hour for Ion to bring his own Vardo around and transfer the goods from our new Vardo to his. By the time we were ready to leave, I calculated that the sun would be setting by the time we got to the Arabyan Ruins. Before we managed to leave, however, Ion and Lavinia stopped me from getting on the Vardo and heading out.

"Here. You've done us a good turn, and while I wouldn't ordinarily agree to paying twice for the same service, my Sister claims she has seen you before in her cards, and it would be a good idea to keep in touch." Remarked Ion, handing me a small, polished, blue Chalcedony Pendant worked in the shape of a messenger bird on a leather chord.

"When you want to communicate with us, clutch the stone of the pendant in the palm of your right hand and whisper the invocation Sastipe, and you will be able to send me a message via magic." Informed Lavinia.

"If you think there is something to be gained by working together, like Lavinia does, contact us with this." Added Ion.

Then we went our separate ways, with Ion and Lavinia traveling west toward Zvorak and the Trantio Road through the Appucini Mountains to Tilea, and my Companions and I traveling back Northeast toward the Badlands. Two and a half hours later, we finally made it to the site of the Arabyan Ruins, just as the Sun was setting below the Horizon. They sat in a dry, craggy valley in the Badlands, near a small number of stunted, scraggly trees. The recent landslides had shifted the mound of earth, stones, and sand that had covered up the entrance of the Arabyan City, which had been built into the cliffside of the valley, with it's main entrance carved out of the living rock of the cliff face, similar to the ancient ruins of Petra in Jordan back on my Original Earth.

We parked the Vardo, hitched the nervous Strigany Pony to one of the trees, and began to head inside, with Martine and Radamenes going first to scout. Predictably, as soon as Radamenes disappeared into the ruins, the Strigany Pony calmed down quite a bit, settling down to munch some oats from the feedbag that we had been given and that Ruggiero had hooked up to the Pony's face before heading inside. I gave the Strigany Pony a reassuring pat on the flank as I stepped away from the Vardo. It whickered a bit, leaning into my hand, and I gave its flank a good scratch, causing the Pony to make noises of delight. I couldn't help but shake my head and chuckle to myself at the antics of the Strigany Pony.

"We're gonna have to give you a name at some point. I can't keep calling you the Strigany Pony this whole time." I chuckled. I received only a slight glance in response, the Pony too engrossed in scritches and oats to say anything. However, this wasn't what I was here for, and I couldn't delay any longer or my Companions would start asking questions. Stepping away from the Strigany Pony, I headed inside the Arabyan Ruins, lighting up a torch as I did so.

"Finally." Smirked Ruggiero.

"We need to name our new pony. I can't keep using the placeholder name I have for him in my head." I pointed out.

"We can discuss that later." Reminded Anders.

"Yes, we have artefacts to find for now." Insisted Martine.

Radamanes just let out an annoyed yowl, batting something about the floor. I checked to see what it was, and he had clearly caught and killed some kind of animal. I looked carefully at it and found that he had caught and pulled the head off of a Bat that was the size of a House Cat while I had been stalling outside with the Strigany Pony. It looked to be juvenile as well. That told me that we would be facing some Giant Bats as we proceeded. Now, if only that were the sole problem we would face in here, I would be happy. Unfortunately, that wasn't to be. Instead, Giant Bats would be just the first of three opponents that we would face in these ruins.

And they would be by far the most mundane. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. Not only does the MC and Company manage to slay or drive off the Goblins of the Bloodhillz Tribe, they also rescue a Strigany Mystic of the Nomadic Solomance Strigany Clan. Now, the MC has a line of communication to a group of people who would not only be grateful for a home, but who also have access to four different Winds of Magic, albeit in a limited capacity, as well as Strigany Mystic Divination. That will be a powerful asset when it comes time to face off against Eric Dahl.

At any rate, the next chapter will involve the initial delving of the Arabyan Ruins by the MC and Company. I'll also have a character sheet update and more images out before then as well, as there was a lot from this chapter.

Stay tuned. . .