“I’m sorry but what have you done to yourself?” Fetu asked.

“Fucked up this transformation,” I said. Muscles were in the wrong place. My legs were backward to how they needed to be. The only thing I didn’t mess up was my head luckily. I undid the transformation. “For most things, I can just shift just a body part or my whole body. Adding stuff is also easy. But changing that much and using two different animals is more difficult. Once I get the feel for it I will be fine but it's like learning how to use your body as a baby each time I get something new.” I said.

“Huh. Shapeshifting sounds weird,” Fetu said.

“It is. So many things are different. Especially the senses. Some animals don't see as many colors as we do. Or they can see too much. Birds are annoying because oftentimes they can see what's behind them and I have to get used to that. Taste and smells are always different. Every animal has things it likes and doesn’t. I have gotten away with it so far but I might eat something I shouldn’t just because I was hungry. Touch is mostly the same. But for some creatures, everything either feels off or weird. There are about a thousand things wrong with each form but I try to power through them. Now I am gonna try again.” I said.

“Good luck,” Fetu said.

Alright. Head of a wolf. Body of man but expanded with horse and dire wolf skin, fur, and muscles. The legs of a horse and feet of a wolf. Slowly I feel them out and change. Fewer mistakes this time. I take a step and wobble but I stay upright. I need another wolf or horse and I might be able to make my lower half a centaur. If I get that I will need a longer staff. Maybe just get a halberd.

“Alright, I think this will work for now. I can improve some parts with what I have right now but let's test my range of motion. Care for a spar?” I asked.

“Heh. Sure. I haven’t fought a werewolf.” Fetu said.

“I am not a real werewolf so don't worry if I bite you. I won’t do that either but just saying.” I said. I grabbed my quarterstaff. I was probably a foot or so taller right now and had about 2-4 times the body weight. Muscles weigh a lot. Fetu grabbed a pair of nightsticks. His were more like wooden lowercase than the L-shaped things I knew. He seems to be an accomplished duel wielder. “I ask for mercy. I may have strength but I am a novice.” I said.

“Heh. Sure.” Fetu said. I am going to get my ass kicked.

…………

Yup. Ass kicking received. Fetu is a rather skilled fighter. I managed to get in a good hit but that was the problem. Hitting him. He said I had good aim and speed but the problem is that I don't have a good sense for battle. I was a very rigid fighter. My practice swinging a quarterstaff might be helpful but he recommended I spend a lot of time sparring or fighting. He said because I could control how my body worked I also needed to work in surprises every now and then. After weapon sparring I asked for hand-to-hand training. I will eventually move on from the quarterstaff and use claws or fists. I also had the option for teeth but Fetu said that was a great way to get diseases. He is probably right about that but I am sure with time I won't have to worry about most of those anymore.

I asked him about the hag and he said she has been a problem for years. She has lived here a long time but only becomes a problem every couple of years or so. From kidnapping children to cursing a happy family so that they all either die or leave each other. Hags are creatures of jealousy and envy. They want what they can't have and hate things they can't get. I am surprised there is only mention of the 1 hag. The truly powerful usually form covens of 3 or more hags and use their combined strength. This means this hag is either a loner or the worst kind. A hag that has killed her coven and absorbed their power. Hope for the former but plan for the latter. Fetu said we should be expecting minions sooner or later. The hag has sent a variety of fey, undead, and humanoids before. I am expecting all three.

“If she is in town or at least nearby, why not send someone to attack her lair,” I asked.

“Tried that before about 30 years ago. They failed and she hung their heads south of the Othemoor for anyone approaching the swamp to see. She then left what was left of their bodies on the Marquis door.” Fetu said.

“So she just comes into town and takes what she wants, and we can’t stop her?” I asked.

“We stop her when we can. 12 years ago she captured a pregnant mother intending to eat her child, we believe. Her minions had the woman and were taking her through the swamp when our druids swooped her out of their boat and capsized it. She was safely brought back to town and the young girl she birthed is growing up happy. The problem is her lair. There is powerful magic protecting it. But it's not often we learn of her plans before they happen. It is even rarer that she leaves her lair to ensure they succeed.” Fetu said.

“I see. You think we have a chance?” I ask. If I need to call Abaxis and the others I will but I don’t want to win every fight that way.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

“Yes. More than we have had in a long time. The Marquis is pulling in a few favors for this job.” Fetu said.

Fetu does know how to send someone on an emotional rollercoaster. 1 Hag is causing this town this much trouble. That is scary. It means she is powerful but maybe not so much. If she never leaves her home then that might mean she isn't confident about surviving without her protection. So her doing so now means either she is desperate or suddenly confident. Without the warning, I wouldn’t have left this swamp safely. I am going to send a message to Abaxis. I need to make sure they know at least.

“Alright, enough chit-chatting back to work. Your hand-to-hand is sloppy. My grandmother has better footwork than you too.” Fetu said.

…………

“Hey, guys. I'm at Othe. A hag is hunting me. Got help from Marquis Mata. Will keep in contact. Will be fine. See you later. “ I speak into the sending stone.

25 words is not a lot. What is the limiting factor for sending? The amount of words or the information it can send. Because if it is the amount of words someone needs to make a language for sending large amounts of information within that word limit. The stone glows and rubbles a little. I tap it.

“Good to hear from you. That is worrying. We will keep in touch. But glad you landed on your feet. Stay safe and alive.” I hear Devins's voice from the stone. Nice to know they care.

I am currently in a cell located below the main hall. Mata didn’t want to put me anywhere that wasn’t secure and these cells are the best place. I have a key to the cell if I need to get out but the rest of this prison is guarded by about 6 other people. It's not like these bars can hold me. It's more about keeping most things out. I continue to practice and try out different form combinations. Only my horse and dire wolf have enough mass to be of much effect but I can still use several different eyes at once. Right now I am combining bone to allow for more eyes on my face. I hope that with several different sights, I will have an easier time seeing through illusions. No new effects from using multiple brains. I might need to hunt some aberrations for that. There were the mind flayers deep underneath Kraghammer. That is all the way in Taldori. That would take months. Might have to save that for when I get a teleport ability. If I can find one. I don’t know too many things that have it as an innate ability. Now plane shift on the other hand. I know some hags have that ability. Wait! I never asked what kind of hag this was. Shit. Rookie move Edsom.

“Hey excuse me,” I said to one of the guards.

“Yes?” They said.

“What kind of hag is after me?”

“I am not sure.” They said.

Great. I will find out tomorrow and I do not need to lose any sleep over not it right now.

……….

The next morning I met with Fetu again and had a morning exercise and spar. I have gotten most of the wolfman form how I wanted it. Everything is either the same as before or a little better. I have added two extra eyes next to the normal ones. One is a cat and the other is a direwolf. Fetu said I should not use these abilities around people who don’t know me. I mean who wouldn’t freak out at a 6-7 foot tall werewolf with 4 eyes? Around noon Mete came by to interrupt us.

“Good, you two are here. The volunteers I called for have arrived. Come meet them.” Mete said.

I followed him to a different waiting room than yesterday. There were 3 people inside. There was an Orcish man who was covered in tattoos. Not many different ones but several really big ones. He wore little clothing so I could see most of his chest and arms were covered. A bear stretched across his chest, two pythons along each arm, and an eagle with its wings spread out on his back. Either a druid or an animalistic barbarian.

Next was an elven woman I could only describe as an Inquisitor. She had all the markings of a woman of faith. I think I see a symbol of the Raven Queen. So a cleric with domains involving death and probably anti-undead magic as well.

The last person I didn't recognize was a human man in a dark crimson brigandine. He carried a sword on his hip and what I could only describe as the weird shit you would see in an occult store.

"Fetu, Edsom, these are the people I was able to reach. First, there is a Typhoon. A powerful orcish warrior from Xhorhas. Next is Miss Klaneste from Whitestone. She is a follower of the Matron of Ravens. Lastly, the group's leader, Samson. He is a bloodhunter and each of them is a member of the Claret Order.” Mata said.

Holy shit he isn’t fucking around. “The Claret Orders? You know and even got some of the best monster hunters here in a day?” I said. The Claret Orders Is a secretive society of monster hunters that use the powers of evil to fight evil. Their ranks include former warlocks, werewolves, and blood hunters who track down all manner of creatures that go bump in the night.

“You know of us?” Samson said.

“Mostly stories. I know you have a bad reputation because you use some magic most would frown upon or sometimes your members fall to the dark magic you fight. But I know you try and help people.” I said.

“What you have said isn’t untrue. You must be well-read to come to this conclusion.” Klaneste said.

“I know a good amount. Not everything but enough.” I said and looked at Mata.

“They have worked with us before to track down monsters in the Othemoor. We have spoken before about the hag but haven’t been able to agree on anything fully yet.” Mata said.

“You mean neither of us have been able to mount enough forces to deal with this bitch.” Typhoon said.

“Yes. No attack on the hags lair has been successful. We estimate it would take a force of over a hundred to do and take weeks to complete. We haven’t been able to get enough help to take her down without opening us up to attacks here in Othe.” Mata said.

“I have sent letters to others in the Claret Orders myself but have been unable to get enough people to help. The hag is reclusive and her attacks are few. No battle plan we have created has been able to show us winning without frankly unacceptable losses.” Samson said.

Is the hag lair that dangerous? Shit. “Why is the hag lair so dangerous?” I asked.

“I can answer that,” Mata said. “She has built her home near a corrupted portal to the fey realms. She has used that portal to influence the surrounding land and filled it with monstrous fey creatures and mutant wildlife. The last attack that was made on her lair was 30 years ago. The adventurers at the time made it all the way to the portal and chased her across it. We don’t know what happened after that but the Hag returned a week later and delivered their bodies to my door.” Mata said.

“I have consulted others in the orders and we believe she has enchanted a powerful fiendish amalgam on the other side of the portal,” Samson said.

“Fiendish? What kind of hag is she?” I asked.

“A night hag. One that collects the souls of her victims and uses them as currency in the Nine Hells. She can move between the material and the ethereal plane." Samson said.

"So what's the plan?" I ask.

"You're gonna be bait!" Typhoon said.