(Vol 2) Chapter 26: Truly Original Ideas

Sammy had Dart land in a tree some distance away for observation of the scene, not wanting him to end up shot out of the sky if detected. For the most part, the group was not in any high state of alarm or caution, though. She was sure they’d have sentries on watch when they slept, but they were primed to be soundly ambushed, it seemed.

There were sixteen of them that she counted. She noted Bagatta and his brothers at the fire, wearing the sort of medium-light armor they probably slept in, paranoid career miscreants that they were.

She also noted what she thought was a wizard, who was largely dressed similarly to the other goons in heavy leathers but wielded a large wand, almost a staff, with a small, black sphere at the top. He kept to himself while eating, away from the others, and had something of a haughty aura of self-importance or superiority.

Definitely a wizard.

To Dart she mentally sent, “Keep track of that wizard and the Brothers and note where they sleep, so we know where the highest priority targets are.”

“Aye aye, Captain! Sure you don’t just want me and Constance to roll on in there and clean house? We could take ‘em. Man would I love to see her beautifully kick some ass…”

“I’m sure. Maybe you could succeed via illusion cover, but it's risky when we can feasibly send a whole crew in and have the odds in our favor.”

“I think you just want to get in on the action, Captain Sam Sam.”

“Partially… but I want to make sure this fucker doesn’t give us the slip. He might hold a vendetta and be trouble in the future. The mayor and community can decide how to deal with him.”

“They’ll hang him for sure.”

“So be it.”

It was an uncomfortable thought and reality, but ultimately that was their decision to deal with a threat to their people. She imagined the fate of a murderous bandit and kidnapper was pretty cut and dry. If she were the one to judge, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. Perhaps it would be no different, to simply interpret the need and will of the people.

Yeah, right. Simple as pie.

Sammy woke up Azure so she could get ready and… be fully dressed… at which point the Avatar of Samantha touched down once more to deliver the news about the recent discovery. Alecto was still awake when she went downstairs, eyes seeking hers anxiously as soon as she appeared and quickly relieved to hear that his daughter still lived at all.

He soon was off to round up the posse he had sleeping to get in some hours of needed rest, but otherwise ready to go.

In case there was a spy in town, they gathered up rather surreptitiously at a meeting point outside the community all on horseback, in the dark and surrounded by the aggregate chirp of wilderness insects. Samantha was loaned a horse for the ride, as she did not have Dart. Meanwhile, she had Constance fly directly to the location.

I guess the statue idea is kinda shot. Hmm, maybe summoning then? Wizardly, magic summoning. Familiars! That’s acceptable I think without too much suspicion. Awesome. Sammy felt very self-congratulatory about the idea, confident it was her own, entirely original invention.

Having neglected to meditate for any Personal FE conversion for her Avatar, she did so for five minutes while waiting, gaining 25 PFE for the cost of 5 FE.

There was in fact a suspicious air to the posse’s demeanor toward her, though, even without her appearing in the glorious shining armor. She was a mysterious spellcaster who had supposedly divined out of nothing the means of rescue for one of theirs. How wasn’t known or shared. Sorcery, witchery. It wasn’t despised by them, but it did innately set her apart.

In addition to Seddia and Dymonei, there was Devero, Janius, the guard with the mean face (and his dog), two tough-looking men in furs with bows, a fierce-looking swordswoman, two townsfolk who’d just be watching the horses at a certain point, and then a rather bored-looking, baby-faced fellow that looked totally out of place. Like somebody’s cousin tagging along.

“Who’s the baby face?” Sammy asked Janius discreetly.

Janius spit out some sunflower seed shells before answering. “Siphien’s cousin, Steve. Don’t let his looks fool you. Ace with the sling, the whip, and that hatchet of his. Traveled as a merc in some skirmisher regiment for a while before coming back home.”

“Steve. Huh. Okay.”

Samantha conferred a bit with Devero on the route, then addressed the whole group. “We’re taking the road northwest past and around the fortress at Highpoint, until we come to the Old Wood Trail, which our hunters and Devero know, at least. We go on foot at some point. We’ll pass the ruins of Stormtower and head west until the old sawmill. I have a bead, so we won’t need to search. We can head straight to it.”

“Can we ask how?” Janius asked. “How you have the bead, that is. What magic found them.”

Samantha smiled. “Part divination, part my familiar — whose eyes I saw these things through. Who waits for us there.”

The group all exchanged glances with each other, and there were some understanding or thoughtful nods among them. Some of the prior suspicion drained right then. A familiar as a scout was something they could understand and accept.

My idea is so perfect!

Samantha turned her horse around and started out. “Let’s get going! On the road, we’ll pick up speed while we can. I’m told that’s only advisable for one stretch.”

Devero led the way to the road, and they proceeded through the crisp air of the night, the riders often swatting at mosquitoes harassing them. They completely ignored Samantha, aka Nymonei — she never noticed one even bother landing on her. Azure was not so lucky. In fact, she drew them worse than any other, to her frequent cursing.

Feeling bad about her suffering, Sammy designed a spell ‘buff’ for her: ‘Repugnant Aura.’ It wasn’t scent-based, which she knew Azure would hate, it was more of a ‘vibe.’ While it made the others in the party not want to be near her, it kept the pests away, for the price of personal FE. Sadly, it did not fit the criteria of ‘inspirational’ for the free REX buff use, and was possible thanks to the Fate domain, she was sure.

While Azure tried to refuse such a hassle, Sammy wouldn’t hear it. Ultimately it was clear that Azure appreciated it, however exasperated she was for the attention and cost.

A small price to pay for my Phoenix. Get fucked, you nasty-ass bloodsuckers!

After they’d gotten down the road some distance, Devero dropped back and tipped his hat to Samantha. “Madam. You seem more awake, alert, alive, and unaffected than any two others on this night raid. My compliments.”

He’s definitely taken note of oddities, in other words. Ugh. I don’t like overly observant and curious rogue agents, much as I need this one. He’s probably the only reason we even knew to look for this damn hideout.

“Thank you, Devero. It’s kind of you to notice. Sorceresses must have their means to keep up appearances, after all. And the capacity to maintain absolute focus. We train in this.”

“No doubt, no doubt. Quite a culture there must be in… Weirtoss, wasn’t it? Passed through there once, though it was many years ago. Loved drinking the ale from bowls in the ale halls — get more for your money, I think.” He smiled and winked amiably.

“That’s neighboring Greiz you’re thinking of,” Azure cut in with, eyeing the rogue across from her goddess. “A quaint practice, but our quality is much better if you err further east, oh mercenary. In most things of any civilized nature, at that.”

“Ah, so it is! Greiz, yes. Forgive me, I always get the two mixed up.”

Samantha maintained a polite smile. “I am no ale fan at all if I’m honest. I much prefer wine.”

Devero nodded in understanding. “As a variety man, I understand the appeal. Strawberry wine is divine in these parts. Does there tend to be a good culture in Weirtoss as well? Grapes, perhaps?”

Once again, Azure answered. “No grapes. Whiskey and gin, if anything. Most liquor is imported from further north, and certainly wine. Everyone knows Traesh makes the best wine in the world. Indirectly makes it even into the cellars of Dominion nobility.”

“Of course. The few that try to compete fall short of their storied expertise, hmm? In any case, I feel as if you two have been around a bit, especially to be seeking adventuring quests.” There was something in the way he said ‘you two’ that was faintly ironic. He really meant Seddia, who’d been doing all the talking suddenly.

Even with her face covered, Azure’s eyes showed a tolerant smile. “I’ve been around. You might say Madam Dym spent a lot of time as a recluse.”

Samantha added the touch of looking a bit defensive. “I’ve been to several interesting places, thank you. Though I do want to see Traesh with my own eyes someday.”

Devero did seem amused by the exchange. “I recommend it. The people are rather stoic, but it has many charms, including the beauty of its women. At first glance, I thought you two might be natives of the region.”

Both women had a brief chuckle at his roundabout compliment. But Sammy knew it for what it was, along with his polite grin — just him easing the conversation away from the suspicious aspects of his queries. It was a tactical go-to.

Way, way, way too curious. And I can’t trust him. But he sure makes me want to with this mind and mouth of his. I could put it to use.

Just as Samantha was going to respond, Dart sent an urgent mental message to her: “Boss lady. Got this wizard guy doing some weird shit.” Then images of said wizard burying some stone into the ground well outside the camp were sent. He cast some spell over the stone, then moved on along the perimeter.

Sammy had to tune everything else out as she watched the wizard walk a rather straight line to some angle related to the first point and the central camp. Then he buried another stone and cast his spell. This time Sammy watched carefully, and discerned some of the gestures and incantations as translated by Dart’s observation.

Some kind of fucking alarm spell! He’s warding the place. Shit. It’ll form some kind of radius…

Devero had definitely noticed her try and focus inwardly while atop a horse. Such did it absorb her attention, Azure had her horse very close, a hand steadying her by the shoulder to keep her from falling off.

The concerned Devero met her eyes, as Ever burning with the unsatiated desire to know the unknown. “Care to tell me what it is?”

“Their stupid wizard,” Sammy answered with annoyance. “Making things difficult. He’s putting up some kind of barrier or ward. Alarm.”

Nodding, tongue poking around on the inside of his cheek, Devero finally shrugged. “I bet I can trip it and get us through without triggering it. The standard low-level version is like a bubble. When you’re in, you’re in. If you can note where the foci are placed and the means of placement, I’ll disable it. Temporarily, probably.”

Sammy blinked at him. “You can? You know all this?”

“You didn’t think breaking into facilities and camps was one of my capabilities? I’m a mite insulted, Madam.” Teasing.

“I’ll apologize after you succeed.”

“And I just love bonus rewards! Agreed.”

Smirking, Sammy instructed Dart to make a precise note of the exact location of the buried items, after the wizard had walked off. She was wary of getting close to the fourth one… the positions seemed to cover the whole way around the camp at that point.

Ultimately, she had to make the choice of whether Dart was inside or outside the ‘bubble,’ and quickly. Outside was a significant distance when having someone inside was a great advantage of information. So she told him to go inside of it and stay away from the perimeter. AND to stay well out of sight, prioritizing his stealth.

I’m sure the alarm ignores a certain small size of creature to avoid false triggers, but better safe than sorry.

The posse continued down the road, bypassing the fortress at Highpoint, going well, well wide of it to avoid questions from any sentries. The moon and the stars lit the way, and the wilderness seemed to call out and beckon them off from the beaten path. Inevitably, they would have to heed it.

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