The guards moved to the table and surrounded me. The old tortle man spoke, “I understand you might be confused about this but the enemy you face is a tricky one. We can’t allow danger to befall our city so we need to make sure you haven’t been hexed. Please come with us.”

Holy shit. It's not paranoia if someone is out to get you. And what does he mean hexed? Have I pissed off a witch? How did I piss off a witch? I don't even know any witches.

"How do you know this? I just got here last night. I haven't even had time to make any enemies?" I said.

“I have been told it is about who you are, not what you have done. The vision isn't clear. Just that she will cause great devastation if she gets her claws into you. That is why you must come with us.” He said.

Oh shit. That sounds bad. But how does she know what I can do? She must have been spying on me. Since when? I need to know more.

"Alright. Lead the way." I said.

"Thank you." He said. For an old tortle he moved quickly as I followed him. I was still surrounded by the guards. They seemed like a mix of Zho and some other kind of guard. Their armor wasn't the heaviest thing, more like something to wear as a uniform. They wore helmets and cloaks but when I looked their skin was covered in bark. Oh barkskin. I know that spell basically acts like armor. We walked away from the Stark Docks and toward the center of the Apa-feids. I am leaded to a large building that sits higher than all the others I could find around. This tortle isn't as simple as he seems and that worries me.

“We here in Othe are more connected to the natural world than many others along the Menagerie Coast. We receive nature's bounty and protection and in return we give back everything that has been given. Last night I received a warning from the spirits of nature that inhabit the Othemoor. The spirits told us you have caught the eye of a hag that lives in these swamps. She has been a source of constant annoyance and danger but we haven’t been able to fully hunt her as her domain is tainted with dark fey magics.” He said.

Ugh I hate fey. Hags are the fey I hate the most. They are deal makers and curse creators. They are more likely to create a curse just so they can make a deal. I had hoped to avoid them for my entire life.

“How and why does she want me?” I said. I had an idea but I hope I am wrong.

“I do not know. The spirits were vague. They showed that she has stopped many things and has actually left her section of the swamp to find you. You were fortunate to have rested at the Escape. Teo gets his incense from a group of pixies he befriended. The stench drove her away temporarily but she is still near.” He said.

“Fuck me I guess. Next question. Who are you?” I asked.

“Hehe. I am Mata Laau-afu. I protect this city from dangers.” Mata said.

“That and more! You are the Marquis.” I said.

“Oh I flattered you know of me. But that leaves me at a disadvantage as while I know the hag hunts you, I do not know who you are.” Mata said. We had now entered into a private room inside what I can only assume is either a town hall or his house, I am not sure.

“I am Edsom Lewis. Formerly a Zhelezo in Feolinn, I am now a solo adventurer.” I will try and keep my cards close until I am asked. If a hag is really after me then she can be watching at any time. I need to be expecting all kinds of spells and curses and ones I shouldn't expect as well. Fey can be just that tricky sometimes.

“Former? You are young to be a Zhelezo, not to mention a former one. I hope then as a former Zho you would give me the respect my station deserves and tell me all you know about why the hag might be looking for you.” Mata said with the full weight of a leader of 8,000 citizens.

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There it is. You don’t get to be marquis unless you have either connections or power. Mata is described as a clever and shrewd politician. But that's fine, this is a negotiation about not letting the hag win. I am already in the town and according to him if the hag gets me then the damage done to the swamp will be drastic. So he needs to keep me safe while the hag is dealt with. What we are discussing is the amount of my involvement and whether or I am a participant or a prisoner.

“I also possess a connection to animals like you. If I kill them and consume their flesh I can become that animal. I don’t have to fully become the animal either.” I said and created crab legs from my hand.

“I see. That power isn’t too different from that certain druids cultivate. But that wouldn’t be enough to draw this much interest.” Mata said.

“I am not sure what drew her eye. I haven’t tested my power all that much on things that aren’t animals. I might have more potential than I realize. She might know.” I said.

“Hmm. What have you done recently?” Mata said.

“Oh boy, that's a long story. So let's go back about a month ago…” I gave a retelling of the past month starting at my mothers death, joining the Zho, meeting the party whose name I didn't get, giving the journal to Alamad and the month after. I ended the story with killing the dire wolf and arriving in town.

“So you really haven’t spent any time in the Othemoor other than flying to Othe?” Mata asked.

“Yup.” I said.

“This is most concerning then. I agree that the only thing she might want from you is your ability to wildeshift. There might be more to it than we know.” He said. Oh boy you don’t know the half of it. That is the only thing I can think of that might be it. I don’t know the full explanation for my connection to that world but I have a theory. I believe the soul dream world thing is actually my soul itself. I am a living soul cage then. If I capture the soul of anything I kill then I am a walking necromantic treasure chest. She is probably going to try and either steal my power or mind control me. I hate mind fuckers and the people that use that magic. Necromancers might get a bad reputation and some of the worst necromancers go on to become tyrants and mass murderers, you can’t say that true practitioners of mind enchantments aren’t doing the same. Look at the Cerberus Assembly and the bastard Trent Ikithon. He is the number 1 mind fucker and deserves a worse ending then he got in the campaign. I am going to make sure that the Nein collar his ass or kill him. That guy isn’t getting away.

“I don’t want to be hunted by a hag for the rest of my life. I would prefer to help you all deal with her.” I said.

Mata sat there for a second considering his words. I have no idea what the old tortle is considering but I am not happy about this. If some random hag can just figure out my power I need to cover that weakness immediately. I need to kill something with magic resistance and make that ability permanent for all forms. Next I will need counter magic of my own. An anti-scry item. This means money. I could sell information. Maybe the names and locations of several powerful criminals. I know the Myriad has a persons of interest section with its leaders listed. Sell that to the cobalt soul or a Marquis. Sadly the guides don’t include the location to any magic items or at least none that are close enough for me to care about getting.

“I can’t allow you to move through these lands unprotected. The hag is a cunning trickster and we do not want her to complete whatever she is planning. But at the same time arresting you and dropping you off outside of the Othemoor isn’t an option either. The hag might chase you, she might not. Doesn’t change that she lives in my backyard. " Mata said.

"I'm in then. What's the plan then Marquis Mata?” I said.

“Excellent. You are going to stay here for now. I have sent the call to several locals that are trustworthy.” Mata said.

“Okay. Can I get a room to practice my abilities while I wait.” I asked.

“Of course. Fetu, take him to the training hall. See to his needs. Don’t let too many people near him.” He said to a guard in all black leathers and a hooded cloak. I couldn't tell his race and honestly I couldn't hear him even when I was looking at him. “I am sorry but I need to prevent you from speaking with too many people. The hag will try many means to get you and she isn’t above hurting the families of my employees. I have told them all to be on alert but despite what some people might think I don't control everything in town.” Mata said.

“That's fine. I would prefer less of a crowd for what I need to do.” I said. I am going to practice a man wolf or man horse form. Maybe a man wolf horse form. I followed Fetu and we entered a large room with a sand pit in the center. The walls had shelves with training weapons and dummies. This would be perfect.

“All right you lot. I need the room for a bit. EVERYONE OUT!” Fetu said and the room cleared in a hurry.

“Thank you Fetu. I am sorry to bring this trouble but I don’t know what I did.” I said.

“No problem. I want the hag dead and you have given us an excuse.” Fetu said and locked the door preventing anyone else from getting in.

I had set my things down. I looked for a pair of larger pants I had prepared for this. “I am going to change a bit. I would like privacy but if you can’t leave I can deal with it.” I said. He didn't move. Shit. Oh well. I didn’t fully strip but I changed my pants and took off the armor and my shirt underneath. I need to find where I can place all the parts of both forms. I followed the muscles in my arms and moved them down my chest. Its going to be tough. I probably won't be getting super tall right away but I can manage. If I increase my muscles too much I risk ripping my skin so I need to use all the skin on the horse and dire wolf. The fur will make good protection from blades so I leave that over my chest and shoulders. I also need it on my back. Okay my legs I can mostly just replace. Half horse and half wolf. The horse for its strength and the wolf for its paws. That should be good. I will replace most of my head with the dire wolf. Keep my eyes for now as I haven’t got anything better than a humans. Same with my brain. I don’t know the full extent to changing my brain but so far there hasn’t been a change either way. So I will just keep mine. The design is all laid out now time to practice. I never thought it would happen but here it is. I have become a furry.