PART X - NOBODY HAS PERMISSION TO DIE
After Rowani had finished her report, the entire team offered their water to the three Healer recruits so they could wash the sticky and dried Pantherkin’s blood off their hands, and then Tazrok conjured more when that ran out. After her requisite ten minutes were up, Tasi and Rowani took their leave to return to medical so the Master Healer could do a full exam, heal the remaining damage, and make sure there weren’t any lingering issues. Before they left, Tasi emphasized again that Ambria and Lhawni had both done great work, and Rowani echoed Tasi’s praise before adding a slightly embarrassed ‘thank you’. You could tell she was still feeling foolish about her lack of preparation and what it led to, once again grumbling to Xera and the other officers about feeling old.
“Given the new information, are there any changes you wish to make to your plan, Sergeant Callie?” Xera asked Callie once Tasi and Rowani had left.
Callie rubbed her head, then pulled on her pigtails as she mulled over Rowani’s report. She looked up, seeing all the other recruits looking at her expectantly, and suddenly had a flash of overwhelming pressure. “Get your shit together!” Callie thought to herself. She had to break this down. Had anything changed? Not a lot, really. They had known about the zombie wildlife. They’d known the swamp water would be infected. The distance was actually closer than expected, so that was a good thing. Assuming they were of similar size to Melga’s Drakeling flight form, the overhead Drakelings probably weren’t a significant problem for anyone except Tazrok in kitty or weasel form, or possibly Pixyl if they were hungry enough. If she couldn’t defend herself easily, the rest of them could protect her.
“I don’t think anything has really changed,” Callie finally said. “Maybe that the amount of larger infected wildlife appears to be higher than we expected, but the basic plan hasn’t changed, at least. Do we need more people?” She looked expectantly at Reynard and Celeste.
“You tell us, Sergeant,” Reynard replied, a bit of a smile on his face. He was having fun with another tiny moment of unhelpful torture.
“Cute,” Callie said, rolling her eyes.
“I think we’re fine,” Pixyl said with a shrug. “Maybe you Rangers can clear some things out from the hillside before we approach, but more people probably isn’t a great idea. We’ll start to get into each other’s way and just attract more ferals.” Callie took an immediate note that despite her initial surprise, Pixyl now seemed quite comfortable with everything going on, almost excited. and didn’t stutter in the slightest. It was almost as if the more in control of the situation she was, the less likely the Pixie would stumble over her own tongue. Callie had seen it before, but never really connected the dots, as it were.
Callie gestured towards Pixyl. “Anyone object to her thinking? Speak up.”
A wave of shrugging shoulders was the result from the remaining recruits, which was completely unhelpful. Callie looked at the plastic faces of both Reynard and Celeste, and then to the Legate and Xera for any sign. Nothing. Finally, she caught the eyes of Thorn, who tried to appear as stoic as the rest, but along with a quick wink, sent her the smallest of affirming nods.
That was all Callie needed, just someone experienced to provide a tiny sanity check on her own thinking. “Fine, we’ll go with this,” she said, addressing the rest of the team. She almost asked if that was okay with everyone, but the echo of Natala’s directive about making final decisions and not second-guessing it rang in her head. Still, she needed a contingency. “When we get there, if we feel something’s off, we’ll rethink our approach, or go back tomorrow with a bigger team.” Callie didn’t wait for any acknowledgements, and instead turned back to the Commandant, trying to show they were ready.
“Excellent plan,” Xera said with a sharp nod. “Before you depart, I wish to address your people, if I may, Sergeant?”
“Of course,” Callie replied.
Xera cleared their throat and addressed the entire team. “I will keep this brief so that you may all be on your way. I know this mission has come as a surprise to all of you, as well my choice of who to lead it. But I never would have tapped Sergeant Callie to lead this if I didn’t believe she had the ability, and I never would have approved her choices of who to bring if I wasn’t likewise confident in yours. Your mission is simple. Destroy the Bogwump nest, assuring that none of the hatchlings escape. But you have a second, and to me, more important mission, as well. That mission is, all of you, to come back in one piece. If the nest proves too difficult, then abandon the attack and return. We’ll deal with it using a stronger force, just as the Sergeant said. Do not risk yourselves unnecessarily. Knowing when not to attack is as important a lesson as anything.”
As the Commandant had been speaking, a wave of encouragement seemed to wash over all the recruits, very similar to how they felt after Koda likewise gave his pep talk. Callie was now sure this was part of the Command Aura that the officers could produce to improve morale, or at least something similar, and found she welcomed it. She doubted herself less, and she trusted her team even more than she had before. She was ready. Her people were ready. They were all ready.
“We would never dare wish anyone ‘good luck’,” Xera said, a wry smile on her face. “That is far too inviting to the fates, after all, and the last thing we want is their dark gaze looking our way. Instead, I simply wish you all ‘good hunting’.”
While it wasn’t quite shouted, there was a unified, “Thank you, Commandant!” from all ten.
The Fairy looked at Callie. With a sharp nod, they said, “Sergeant, the mission is yours.”
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The team of ten were heading for the outfitting building to collect the supplies Reynard had requisitioned. The walk from the Commandant’s had been upbeat, with many camp personnel wishing them all ‘good hunting’ as they passed. What Callie found interesting, almost fascinating in fact, was how quickly the word had spread about the mission, showing once again that the camp’s rumor mill was the fastest form of communication in existence.
They stopped briefly by the crafting area. Another fountain was available there to provide both drinking water for refilling the waterskins as well as a second basin for washing. This allowed the three healers to work for a few minutes on any of Rowani’s remaining blood they hadn’t been able to wash off earlier.
While that happened, Vonn slithered out from under the canopy of the unlit forge, carrying a large duffle over one shoulder. She hailed Reynard, who returned the wave.
“Asss you requesssted, I retrieved all their ssswordsss,” the Lamia said.
“Thank you, Vonn,” Reynard replied. Together, sharpened blades were handed out to everyone. Callie was unique in that she received only a single Gnome-sized longsword, while her second blade was much shorter. For anyone normal sized, it would simply be a small dagger, but for Callie it was more akin to a shortsword.
Reynard and Celeste demonstrated to all the Rangers how and where to attach the scabbards to their belts, and for Callie her dagger’s sheath had leather straps that would hold the end firm against her thigh, preventing it from flopping around.
“Do not draw your swords in camp!” Reynard warned, his voice serious. “When we take a break, the Major and I will give you some instructions, but these are real steel, and are deadly sharp. You do not draw them unless you intend to use them. Understood?”
As one, all four Rangers nodded, replying with a clear, “Yes, Sir!”
“Good,” Reynard said, satisfied he had been heard. He turned to Vonn. “Thank you for your assistance.”
“CCCertainly happy to help. I wish you all good hunting.”
Before the group could continue their trek towards the outfitting office, a voice called to them. Fizzlebek, panting from running hard, raced up to the team.
“What’s wrong?” Callie asked.
“Nothing,” the Gnome replied, “but I have something for you that might help.” He fished in a bag he’d been carrying, producing one of his Egg-sploding Screamer devices. “I heard from Vonn what you would be facing, so if the wildlife is attracted to sound, these might give you a good distraction.”
“Oh, cool,” Callie grinned. “Great idea!”
“I only have two, but you can have them both.”
“What does it do?” Celeste asked.
“Makes a loud noise and then explodes,” Fizzlebek said proudly. “Throw it far away from you once you start the timer. My hope is that the infected animals will rush towards it. Once they bump it, it will explode.” He gestured towards the wind-up knob. “Twist that all the way to start a twenty second count on the noise.”
“Good thing we got an Ogre,” Callie said, gesturing towards Tazrok. “He’ll be able to throw it a good distance.”
“Yes. Throw good,” Tazrok confirmed.
“You’ll want to cover your ears,” Fizzlebek warned Callie, also gesturing towards Lhawni. “It’s really loud for us.”
“Thanks for the warning,” Callie said appreciatively. Then she added, “And thank you for the help, too. They might be really useful. If we use them, I’ll let you know how well they worked when we get back.”
“Excellent,” the Artificer said, a giddy excitement in his voice. “Good hunting, to all of you.” he added.
The team said their goodbyes to the crafters as Reynard ushered them all towards the next destination. Tazrok volunteered to carry the Egg-sploders in his backpack, and he knelt down while Jesca put them both safely inside. The Ogre expressed his eagerness to see the bombs in action, once again reminding everyone how well he could throw.
“Trainer Reynard,” a familiar Elf called out with a wave to the group as they approached. “We’ve managed to get everything in order for you and your team.”
“Not my team, Balneis,” Reynard corrected. He gestured towards Callie. “She’s leading this expedition.”
“Oh! Um…” the Elf got a confused look on her face, thankfully not launching into the common disbelief nearly everyone else had responded with. “There may be too much for the Little One to carry as leader.”
“She’ll have to figure that out,” the Foxkin replied with a shrug.
“Very good,” the logistics Elf said, smirking at the teaching moment, and giving Reynard a wink. “Well, let’s begin with potions.” She looked out at the group. “One at a time, come up and tell me your class.”
Each in turn, the members approached, stated their class, and Balneis assembled a small basket with a small pack of summoned cloths for use as toiletries, and several potions which varied slightly for each class. For Tazrok, his potions were larger, probably twice the size of everyone else's. In Callie’s case, there were two blue, one red and one green potion. Balneis also added four additional green potions and finally two purple Rejuvenation ones that Callie recognized from all the times she had run her mana to empty. With that many, the basket was heavy and Callie stepped aside before needing to set it down.
“Alright, listen up,” Celeste said once everyone had their baskets. “I don’t know if any of you have covered potion protocols in your classes. I know mine hasn’t, so just follow along if this is a repeat.”
Holding up her single blue vial, she said, “Blue potions are for mana. They go on your belt on your right side.” She slipped it into a pocket on her belt, securing a flap with Scufrow to keep the elixir from falling out.
Everyone else had received two mana potions, and each person slid them into the matching belt pouches as the Major had done.
“Health potions go on your left,” the Major continued, adding, “towards the front. Each of you should have one.” She showed the correct location, slipping her own red potion into place. “For those that received a stamina potion,” she continued, holding up one of two vials of yellow liquid she’d been given, “they also go on your left, behind the health potions.” Only the Major, Pixyl and Tazrok had received stamina vials.
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“Finally, other potions can go in any of the pockets behind them or around your back.” She held up the green one. “This is the Resist Disease that we’ll be drinking when we get there.” She slipped it into a pouch on the back of her belt, closing the flap to hold it in place.
“What do I do with all these extras?” Callie asked, gesturing to the other vials she had received.
“You’re the leader, so you get to carry the purple Rejuvenation ones, and the other greens are for your bows,” Reynard clarified.
Inwardly, Callie groaned at all the extra weight she’d need to carry.
“Why would we specify where to put each of your potions?” Major Celeste asked the group using her training voice.
“So we know where they are,” Thucax replied with a shrug.
“No,” Jesca countered, shaking her head at the Gnoll. “So everyone else knows where they are.”
“Very good!” Celeste replied, gesturing to the Cheetahkin. “Exactly that. If you need to grab a potion off someone else’s belt, you know where to look, at least as far as mana, health and stamina. That’s also why the others are held in back, so that if you were to grab one of them, you know that it could be almost anything and you need to double-check the color.”
“Well, this is too many for me to carry them all,” Callie said, pointing to the five potions still in her basket. “I don’t have enough pockets.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” Reynard asked, a glint in his eyes. “You’re the one in charge. Shouldn’t the leader carry the important extras?”
Callie looked at the Foxkin, and then narrowed her eyes. Yeah, he was right! She was in charge! Time to give some orders. “Fine! Ambria and Lhawni, you each take one of the Rejuvenations since you’re more-likely to come to someone’s aid with it. Shul’an, Thucax and Jesca each take your extra disease potion and I’ll keep the one for my bow. Remember the Healers have the Rejuvenations if any of you need to unmelt your brain.”
Reynard actually smiled while Callie gave her orders and handed the extra vials around. Up to now, his student hadn’t really had to give a lot of direct orders. Yes, she’d sought input from the rest of the group or the officers, and then laid out the actions based on consensus or logical conclusions. This, however, was barely prompted and he was quite pleased to see the Gnome was rising to the responsibility of command, even if this was nothing more than the smallest first step.
“One last thing about potions,” Celeste continued. “Who can tell me why you shouldn’t drink a healing potion?”
“We have healers,” Jesca said, shrugging.
“Yes, but why else.”
There was a long silence before Shul’an hesitantly spoke up. “Potion sickness?”
“Exactly,” Celeste said. “You need to wait five minutes, at least, between potions. If you don’t, you’ll likely get violently sick, and strange things could occur. I once drank a stamina potion too soon after the previous, and all my fingernails suddenly grew six centimeters! And that’s considered a mild side-effect!”
“Most likely, you’ll be using your mana potions in combat, and a good likelihood you’ll be on potion cooldown,” Reynard said, picking up the Major’s instructions. “So, if you get hurt, call for a Healer. We have three of them including the Ogre. As for your healing potion, you can pour it on any open wound to at least stop bleeding and do minimal repairs regardless of cooldown state. In combat, drinking it should be reserved for only if you are injured internally and a Healer can’t get to you, and honestly, only if you’re coughing up blood or one of your organs. Make doubly sure it’s been at least five minutes since your last potion, though, unless you have no choice. If you explode, no healer is going to be able to put you back together.”
There was an awkward chuckle through the ranks, the recruits unsure if Reynard was being serious about the exploding warning. He didn’t look like he was kidding.
“Druid Healing Berries are a little different,” Celeste continued. “You can eat no more than five of them, or you can face similar side effects. You’ll want to wait at least two or three minutes before another if you’ve reached that limit. The Berry cooldown does not conflict with the one for potions, either.”
"Juniper said the leaves on your Heartwood bows have their own cooldown," Reynard added. "Without knowing that cooldown duration, I'd give it at least fifteen minutes before you eat a second. Five is probably sufficient, but best to be cautious."
The crash course in potion mechanics completed, the outfitting continued, with both Ambria and Lhawni, as the two designated healers, receiving a ‘healer’s bundle’. The contents were simple first aid items. This included, among other things, long, clean strips of cloth to wrap wounds, some super-absorbent cloth that could be used to pack a wound to help stop bleeding or otherwise wipe things, and a magical sleeping tincture that could knock someone out in under twenty seconds for about fifteen minutes. Both healers put the bundles into their backpacks.
“A bunch of rags,” Balneis said, looking at a list in front of her as she slapped a pile of square cloth scraps onto the counter.
“Are these real or summoned?” Callie asked
“Summoned,” the Elf replied. “Do you need them to be real?”
“We shouldn’t, as long as they’ll last a few hours. We just need to use them to wipe our bows with the disease potions when we get there.”
Callie was curious whether they needed to bring things back with them, or if they could just be discarded in the wilderness. Since they were summoned, they could just be thrown on the ground once used, dissolving when the magic ran out, just like their food bundles would. Callie handed the bundle to Jesca for her to carry.
“Two pickaxes, two lengths of rope” Balneis continued down the list, setting each tool on the counter, one after the other. She then added two lengths of thin but strong rope to the pile. “These are all real. If you can, bring them back.”
Tazrok stepped forward, picking up both pickaxes in one hand with a grunt, and passing the ropes to Shul’an to hold for the moment with his other.
“Two canisters of Dragonfire Oil,” Balneis called out, setting two metal containers on the counter. These had actual metal caps screwed to the top to keep them absolutely airtight. “The contents burst into flame about ten seconds after being exposed to air or water, so they are sealed,” Balneis warned. “Don’t open them until you’re ready to use them! Once the oil ignites, it burns extremely hot, and for several minutes, ” she added. “These are the only two we have, so if you don’t need the second, try to bring it back.”
“Um…” Callie said, her eyes making a frown. “If you only have two, I think it’s best if we just take one. If we have to abort and try again tomorrow, it will make sure there is still one available.”
Balneis glanced at Reynard, who shrugged in return.
The Elf turned back to Callie. “You’re the one leading this thing, right?”
“Yes,” Callie replied with a sigh. “I am.”
“Okay. Only one Dragonfire Oil it is, then.” She removed the second metal container, setting it below the counter. “Then as leader, there’s a couple things for you. First, here’s your tracker.” The Elf leaned over the counter and handed Callie a stone.
Callie examined the smooth, gray, magical rock. It was similar in size and shape to Tasi’s magical medical diagnosis stone. As Callie turned, the tracker would change to a red color when she faced southeast towards where Rowani must have dropped the guiding beacon.
“And finally, with ten people, you get two body bags. Here you go.”
It took a half-moment for Callie to register the words. When they did, she turned back to the logistics Elf, dropping the tracking stone to the ground with a resonating thump.
“What did you say?”
“Two body bags,” the Elf said casually. “In case you need them. Sergeant’s are responsible for getting the bodies back, after all. Good news, they’re enchanted, so anything inside only weighs about one-twentieth normal.”
“What …?” Callie said, her brain locking up and grinding to a halt. Within seconds, Callie’s world seemed to collapse in on her and she found it hard to breathe. Suddenly, the small exhilaration she’d been starting to feel putting this expedition together crashed and shattered. Body bags. They were in case somebody died. That really meant people could get hurt. People could … die. That’s what body bags were for, right? Dead … people …
Balneis smiled brightly, gesturing to two twine-wrapped bundles that were surprisingly small. “Here you go.”
Callie tried to reach for them, but her arm wouldn’t move. She just stared at the black, tied bundles. Body … bags … For dead people. Her dead people … Her … friends …
Major Celeste saw the color drain from Callie’s shocked face, and instantly knew why. She walked over and knelt down, grabbing Callie’s face in her hand and forcing it to look at her. “Hey!” she snapped. But Callie’s eyes were huge and distant. “This is standard equipment. One for every five people.”
“What?” Callie whispered.
Celeste glanced at Reynard, who had started to walk towards the Gnome too. Subtly, the Major shook her head at the Trainer, waving him off before returning her attention to the Gnome. Callie had turned to the black bundles again, shock still evident on her face. Celeste glanced at the other recruits. Most also had ghostly looks on their faces, in part because of the mention of body bags, but also because their friend, who they had fully accepted as their leader, had just frozen up. Only Tazrok and Shul’an seemed nonplussed, although concern for Callie was still evident in their eyes.
“Everyone, listen up,” Celeste said, sending out a small Command Aura pulse to break everyone out of their daze. “You especially,” Celeste added to Callie. “This is standard gear on the chance something unthinkable happens. Nobody expects to need them. In all the years of this camp, never has a mission or expedition needed them.”
“But …” Callie started to reply.
“No!” Celeste said, cutting the Gnome off harshly and once again turning her face so they could lock eyes. “Don’t overthink this. Standard equipment. Just like Ambria’s bandages, and all our healing potions. There, if we need them, that’s all.”
“But …”
“We really need a better name for these things,” Celeste said with a snarl as she glanced up at Reynard.
The Ranger trainer shrugged. “That’s what they’re for, although they can be used for other things, of course. We found a bunch of wild Haver Mushrooms a couple terms back. Filled a bag almost to overflowing; to bring them back for the alchemists that is. The weight reduction was hugely helpful.”
“See!” the Major emphasized, looking again at Callie’s purple eyes. “They can be used for other things. They are just a big bag for carrying stuff!”
“Carrying stuff?” Callie replied weakly.
“Right! Carrying whatever needs to be carried.”
Callie’s brain finally lurched back into motion, processing the last sixty seconds in a blur. The logical side of her head fought for control, working to push the shock aside. They were just bags. They weren’t a harbinger. They had other uses. Right?
There was a thumping sound as Tazrok dropped the two pickaxes. He left the gaggle of recruits and walked to Callie. Slightly-less-than-gently pushing Celeste aside, causing her to lose balance and fall on her rear, he knelt down in front of his housemate. They locked eyes, the little Gnome looking up at the confident gaze of her friend.
“Nobody dies,” the Ogre said simply, calmly and slowly. “This, I have decided.”
Like a receding wave, the tension suddenly was pulled out of the air. Callie’s shocked expression softened, and then seemed to even brighten somewhat. The Ogre and the Gnome continued to stare at each other, and for Callie, the panic she had been feeling simply evaporated. Tazrok’s definitive pronouncement was absolute and unbreakable. Nobody would die. They wouldn’t need these body bags for one of them. Tazrok had decided that was the case, and that was the end of the issue.
“Okay,” Callie said, strength slowly returning to her voice. She nodded in growing confidence, still locked in a gaze with Tazrok. “Okay! Nobody dies.” Callie turned to focus on the other recruits. “Nobody dies!” she ordered, pointing at them. She looked at Reynard, her voice growing even more steady. “Nobody dies. Understand?”
Reynard’s furry face lightened in relief and broke into just the tiniest smile. “Understood, Sergeant. Nobody dies.”
Callie drew even more strength from her Trainer’s response of confirmation. She turned at the Major, still sprawled on the ground. “Nobody dies!” Callie ordered simply, pointing, her voice now even stronger.
“Absolutely, Sergeant!” Celeste replied with a sharp nod. “Nobody has permission to die.”
Tazrok nodded sharply with a grunt, standing again, as if his work was concluded. He offered his huge hand to Celeste, and she wrapped an arm around it so he could help her stand. “Sorry for push,” he said meekly.
Celeste looked up at the huge Ogre towering over her. He’d used his aura again; his Chieftain's Inspiration that was. The power that was similar to, but at the same time so so different from Command Aura. Celeste had tried to talk to the Ogre about it twice over the last two weeks, to get a better sense of what it was and what it could do. But Tazrok had just responded that he had no idea what she was asking about, even when pushed to query for the effects. Whatever it was, it was primal, powerful, and absolutely unwavering in its certainty. It was … perfect.
“Not a problem,” was all Celeste could finally say, curiosity still evident in her voice. The Ogre grunted, turned, and walked back to the rest of the team, holding a hand to his head.
Callie, herself, walked over to the outfitter’s counter, accepting the two black bundles from Balneis. They were incredibly light and perhaps the size of a softball, and Callie wasn’t sure how such a small object could become so large. It felt like it was constructed from something a little like leather, but at the same time, not leather. It was as if the object was confused about what it was made out of. Then she remembered the comment about the bag reducing the weight of things put into it, and a part of her brain said simply, ‘It’s magic. Go with it’. So she did, simply accepting it was all strange magic and a part of her hoping that she’d never have to find out more.
“Here, you carry one,” Callie said, tossing one of the tied bundles to Reynard. “If I screw up and you have to take over, then you should have one, too.” She sloughed off her backpack, storing the bag inside next to her lunch and several pieces of snack jerky left over from earlier in the week. Reynard stood perplexed for a moment, looking at the bundle in his own hands, but then realized Callie had a point, and he might as well carry one. He likewise removed his pack, shoving the bound bag into it next to the lunch Callie had provided.
Callie was about to put the metal cylinder of Dragonfire Oil into her own backpack as well, but Major Celeste extended her hand, offering to carry it.
The mood, which had taken a sudden dark turn, was now much improved, and the recruits were once again chattering with each other in anticipation of setting out for the Bogwump nest. Outfitting now completed, Callie thanked Balneis for her help and looked to Reynard. “I think we’re ready.”
“Very good,” Reynard replied.
“Good hunting,” Balneis said, before smiling and adding, “and everyone stay safe.”
Moving as a group, the team of Bogwump hunters set off, passing through the South Gate, before turning southeast to follow the direction the tracker pointed. They felt prepared, or as prepared as they could be. The comforting words of Koda and the officers still filled them with a confidence in themselves and each other, while the strong, simple words of Tazrok filled them with the simple knowledge that he had decided no one would die.