Elmar and Bashoon led the way to Anful\u2019s cottage while a small crowd of people and a horse-drawn carriage followed. Everyone was masked and kept their distance during the journey. As they went through a forest, the wind rustled, making the hair on Bashoon\u2019s neck stand on end. \u201cEnsign?\u201d asked Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI always figured forests from the Under-realm were creepy at night,\u201d muttered Bashoon. \u201cYou know, because of the ghosts and dangerous animals that usually live in them. This, however? I don\u2019t know what dangers lie behind any of the trees!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe DO have dangerous animals here, such as bears, wolves, and cougars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCougars? Here in the Over-realm?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDuring the War of the Realms, Mid-realm soldiers brought them to try and kill any forest dwelling people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid the Over-realm bring any dangerous animals to the other Realms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy, yes. My ancestors were instrumental in introducing bears to Under-realm forests. That\u2019s actually the reason why Anful\u2019s family hates mine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause they were against setting bears on people?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, they believed the bears were best suited for the Mid-realm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You mean you guys hate each other because of a disagreement where bears should have been introduced?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t say that our feud is logical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was something your ancestors did, though! Why do you guys continue it now?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You know, I never really got a straight answer on that subject.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen maybe now\u2019s a good time to discuss ending it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s up to the heads of our families. Regretfully, for both sides, they wish to continue the feud. If I may sound like a Goblin for a minute, it\u2019s cutting into any chance of true profit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018Feuds fuel poverty\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSir, I hate to interrupt,\u201d called a female Troll, \u201cbut can we please focus?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s quite all right, Lieutenant,\u201d assured Elmar. \u201cWe can afford a little chat.\u201d That was when things went wrong. Someone fired magic blasts and spooked the horses, knocking their riders off, Elmar and Bashoon included. The supplies were saved, thankfully, but the horses weren\u2019t coming back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho\u2019s the wise guy?!\u201d demanded Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTake it easy, Ensign,\u201d advised Elmar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell excuse me for being a little annoyed after someone used us for target practice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure there\u2019s an explanation. \u201cLet\u2019s get to the carriage and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSIR!\u201d called the Troll Lieutenant. \u201cThe carriage\u2019s gone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cG\u2026Gone, Ma\u2019am?\u201d gulped Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, Ensign, gone!\u201d confirmed the Troll. \u201cSo\u2019s Tulmek!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to get help here!\u201d declared Elmar. \u201cEnsign, Lieutenant, there\u2019s a cottage south of here, about six mebs away! Get there and raise the alarm!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, Ensign!\u201d urged the Troll. Before the two could go anywhere, the Troll was knocked off her feet by a magic blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLieutenant?!\u201d yelped Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeave her!\u201d snarled a voice. While more magic blasts distracted the group, the voice\u2019s owner stepped from the shadows. It was a cowled Minotaur woman with red eyes with only the pupils to discern any shape to them. \u201cIt\u2019s not fully safe yet,\u201d growled the Minotaur, \u201cbut when this gel-pox pandemic is over, we WILL settle our affairs\u2026Cadet Barmek!\u201d Bashoon gasped as she recognized the Minotaur!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cROOSHEE?!\u201d yelped Arsha once Bashoon had brought the Troll to the cottage and raised the Endeavor<\/em> over a video call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was her!\u201d replied Bashoon. \u201cShe was responsible!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut\u2026how\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t know, but she must have done something to the carriage! I\u2019m sure of it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis is bad! She\u2019s supposed to be in prison!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI think she must have taken advantage of that mass breakout after the Over-Union festival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat is the status of the rest of the group?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFrom what Elmar told me on the way, the supplies reached their destination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnyone lost?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust Tulmek.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope Lieutenant Tulmek\u2019s all right; I\u2019m supposed to be officiating his wedding next month.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019m pleased to say that Arsha DID get her wish\u2026somewhat. Tulmek was found alive but broken. Just like last time, the smoldering wreckage of the carriage was in a forested clearing. Tulmek would be found wandering a churchyard about a por north, babbling all the while and smashing in the stained-glass windows. Unfortunately, Tulmek was out of his mind, his sanity utterly destroyed by the ordeal he went through, the specifics of which would never be known as Tulmek would spend the rest of his life as a gibbering wreck in an institution. When Bashoon provided a statement to the local investigators, the case was reopened. Unfortunately, given that vaccine progress was still a month out, Realmfleet couldn\u2019t send its own investigators to assist in the matter. In fairness, they couldn\u2019t risk an outbreak of artificial gel-pox across the Realms, but it was still frustrating to hear the news, especially for Marshii. She was stressed out as she had to fix up Elmar on top of assisting in vaccine research. His recovery took longer than usual, lasting a good half a month before he was released. When he was, Arsha, her lovers, her senior staff, Endea, and Bashoon met in the conference room. \u201cAll right,\u201d began Arsha, \u201cRooshee\u2019s most likely going after us because of what happened in Vorkath. Everyone, we need a solution to put her back into prison.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBashoon,\u201d recalled Denstra, \u201cyou said that Rooshee\u2019s eyes were red with just the pupils.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI did,\u201d confirmed Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s not something a Minotaur usually does,\u201d muttered Gorfanth. \u201c\u2018When a Minotaur\u2019s eyes are red, all sense of decency is dead\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMeaning?\u201d asked Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhenever our eyes are red,\u201d explained Gorfanth, \u201cthat\u2019s a good indication that we\u2019re in a feral state. Our higher brain functions just shut off and we fall onto our animalistic tendencies. Yes, we even go THAT far whenever we\u2019re feral. Thankfully, such cases are rare. Rarer still are cases where a Minotaur purposefully goes that far because they\u2019re still in control. Usually, the way to tell the difference is to see if their eyes are totally red or if there\u2019s a pupil in them. Bashoon, you said that you could see a pupil and that she could speak, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d confirmed Bashoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen Rooshee\u2019s in a much more dangerous state for all of us. She\u2019s still capable of reasoning.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd that plus animal instincts make for a dangerous combination,\u201d shuddered Arsha. \u201cI think we can safely believe that revenge is on her mind.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat actually gives us time to prepare,\u201d piped up Bashoon. All eyes were on her at that point. \u201cShe\u2019s only going for ranged attacks, not willing to get up close and catch gel-pox. She said to me that she would settle her problem with me after this pandemic is over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen we need to be trained for her,\u201d declared Arsha. \u201cI want all crewmembers to prepare to fight a Minotaur that\u2019s controlling their feral state. Gorfanth, I know you\u2019re not a member of this crew\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI can give pointers on how to fight a Minotaur,\u201d interrupted Gorfanth. \u201cFeral though she is, she\u2019s still got the same weaknesses as us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen I need you to advise\u2026\u201d Arsha was interrupted by a lieutenant bursting into the conference room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain! News just reached us!\u201d yelped the Lieutenant. \u201cRooshee\u2019s accompanied by Androashius Ganshar!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAndroashius Ganshar?\u201d repeated Bashoon. \u201cAs in, Dr. Ganshar, Jansha\u2019s mom?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe same!\u201d replied the Lieutenant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat, two ladies out for revenge,\u201d muttered Thangred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy the carriages?\u201d Rooshee asked Dr. Ganshar when they reconvened at<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCut off transport, supplies dry up,\u201d replied Dr. Ganshar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, what, we destroy every carriage to send a message?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to create a new ground for my experiments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat experiments? Vaccine-related ones?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t be absurd. I\u2019m a roboticist, not a chemist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know, ever since we broke out, you\u2019ve always had cryptic remarks for my questions! For once, answer straight!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf science isn\u2019t straight, why should my responses be? Now, we must lay low until the vaccine is completed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cElves!\u201d Rooshee stomped out of the lab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMinotaurs,\u201d grunted Dr. Ganshar as she continued her work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Remsu was in front of a full-length mirror, examining her backside and wishing she had wings and a tail again. Because the tail isn\u2019t thick enough to be used as a weapon and the wings only carry a Succubus or Incubus over a short distance, most Lust Demons use them as mana stores. Remove them and the Lust Demon is forever weakened. There were methods of restoring them, but it would take a lot of mana and years of study of the particular subject. Even then, the Lust Demon with new wings and a tail would need a severe mana transfusion to get them back to full power. She released a sad sigh before her mood turned angry, recalling the events that resulted in them being chopped off. The man she was once with had robbed her of them and promptly executed for it. The damage was still done and Remsu still felt like she was violated in the worst way possible. That incident was what prompted her to believe killing is the only way to deal with crime. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts, she didn\u2019t notice someone approach. \u201cYou know Cy\u2019s doing everything in her power to regenerate them,\u201d assured a voice. Remsu gasped before she saw Tensam standing in the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know,\u201d she sighed as she rubbed her arm sadly. \u201cThe pain just burns so much.\u201d Tensam entered the room and approached Remsu. Remsu leaned into his chest and hugged him as Tensam wrapped his arms around her in reassurance. They stayed like that for a good minute before they heard a woman clear their throat. They turned to see Femfaf standing in the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t wish to interrupt,\u201d she began, \u201cbut Dr. Borg has all the mana needed to restore your missing ligaments and return you to full power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?! Already?!\u201d yelped Remsu. \u201cWhere\u2019d she\u2026?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have massive mana stores,\u201d replied Femfaf. \u201cIt was easy for me to donate what I could.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell\u2026thank you!\u201d breathed Remsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe procedure\u2019s ready when you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOn my way!\u201d Remsu escaped Tensam\u2019s embrace and practically ran to the operating room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFemfaf, have you been rewarded yet?\u201d asked Tensam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJust earned a seat on your wife\u2019s council,\u201d replied Femfaf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA perfect reward. We could use you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI aim to please.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Elmar and Bashoon led the way to Anful\u2019s cottage while a small crowd of people and a horse-drawn carriage followed. Everyone was masked and kept their distance during the journey. As they went through a forest, the wind rustled, making the hair on Bashoon\u2019s neck stand on end. \u201cEnsign?\u201d asked Elmar. \u201cI always figured forests […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,236],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-3-the-first-strike","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2982"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3022,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions\/3022"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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