The small fortress was a decent construction at first glance. Built in a clearing amongst the woods around two cleared dungeons, wooden walls had been erected into a rough rectangle covering the area. Small tents, a couple of modest huts, and a traditional campfire paired nicely with this little outpost the group had put together to survive out here.
Not that Sally particularly cared about any of that. It was just another prison for her - or perhaps a place of execution. Brian and his lot had every right to be mad at her for the murder of their friend, and she couldn’t blame them for whatever justice they cared to decide on. Even if it meant her death.
Of course, that didn’t mean she would take that result laying down. If she had to murder the rest of them to escape and continue her mission, then that was a reasonable option. She still might die in the process. It wasn’t nighttime, and she didn’t have a horde of pals for assistance, so her usual advantages weren’t available.
Maybe she could leave this for Theo to sort out and go home.
Ah, but Cross. Although she was keen to count her chickens, she almost forgot that egg she wanted to crack. Just to see who Pippy really was and get his side of the story.
It was highly unlikely that Brian would be receptive to that request, and most likely would end up hunting down the undead goblin. But, then again, it was a beautiful day. She could relax and worry about those bridges before she crossed them. As they approached the gates of the outpost, Brian raised an eyebrow at her.
“You’re probably wondering how we survived out here.”
“Farming out incomplete Dungeon respawns for resources?”
He turned up his nose. “That was a rhetorical question.”
“Oh.” She crossed her arms. “Wasn’t much point in saying anything then, unless you’re after validation.”
Brian grunted but didn’t respond.
A couple of the more melee orientated Players pushed the wooden gates open, and the rest followed in. Sally was truly trapped now, as she heard the gates closed behind her once everyone was in. It seemed… quaint enough on the inside. No torture cages or heads on spikes. They were out here living and doing what they could. Shame one of them fell into her stomach.
The leader took her over to an empty space that must be their town square, where a small stage of dark wood sat. As the three Parties filtered out into a small crowd, she followed Brian’s lead in stepping up on to the stage.
“If you want me to do any tricks, I’m going to need a nice hat first.” She beamed at the gathered people.
“Best you just remain silent unless asked. I'm sure you can appreciate the gravity of the situation.” The leader ran his hand through his hair and sighed.
“Is that also a rhetorical question? Are all your questions going to be rhetorical?”
His eyes narrowed. “Do you believe being annoying will grant you any reprieve?”
Sally fidgeted, but remained silent. That was probably rhetorical. Bugging people often got them angry and off-guard. Reckless. Possibly not the best idea when her fate was in their hands, but it sometimes paid to have the advantage of having the cooler head when things started to go sour. Would be nice to lean on the random appearance of her created zombies, but the ones in this world were so slow it would take them hours to show up.
“Right then, if you have no more smart comments to make, we will start the trial of…”
She raised her eyebrow in silence.
“What is the name of the defendant?”
“Can you still hold me accountable if you don’t know my name? Perhaps you have the wrong gal?”
Brian rolled his eyes. “Yes, we can. Unless you are keen to be referred to by something bordering on derogatory.”
That seemed rather unfair - although they had been rather accepting of her considering she was on trial for murder, and she definitely did it. “Sally Danger.” She saw the mage from the previous evening and waved eagerly at her.
“Ms Danger, you are-”
“Oh, it’s probably Mrs now. I guess? Still not sure how that really works in these different worlds. I am figuratively married, if you’ll allow me that.”
Any fervor in Brian’s eyes had all but faded away. He hadn’t accounted for the accused to have the special power of being aggressively exasperating. “Fine, Mrs Danger. You stand before us today on trial for the murder of-”
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“Yeah, I did it. It was an accident, though.” She grinned.
The crowd didn’t seem to share the same nuanced view of the situation, and were quickly souring to her presence. Probably looking to vote to have her turned into fertilizer, by the amount of glares and murmured conversation grown from her attitude toward the murder.
“Well, we had planned to bring up witnesses…” Brian looked out to the remainder of the victim’s Party as Sally waved to them again. “But your admission is proof enough, I suppose. You are a monster who consumes the living, an outsider to this world that could hold no good intentions for our continued existence. A killer showing no remorse at taking one of our own. How do you plead?”
“I feel like there’s more nuance to it, but let’s just go with guilty to get this over with.” Sally narrowed her eyes at the man. Other than an immediate fourteen versus one revenge murder, she still had options of getting out of here alive.
“Very well. You are hereby sentenced to imprisonment until we can decide on your punishment as a community.” Brian turned to the crowd and raised up his arms. “If there is anyone here who disagrees with this judgement, please let it be known now.”
Sally tapped her foot on the stage, but her glare was up over the walls to the distant land. She mostly hoped that the others were getting along fine. Theo needed to protect Cross and guide the other weirdos into helping save this world, even if she was locked up or they decided to…
“I object!”
All eyes turned to the side of the crowd as a figure stepped forward. An elven man with bright blonde hair, soft blue eyes, and a smile that was so positive it almost repelled Sally off the stage. He wore a simple outfit that had a blue flower in the pocket.
“Who… the fuck are you?” Brian scowled and put his hand to his side to draw a weapon.
“You can call me… Bernard.” The man stepped up to the stage, his eyes alight with pleasant confidence.
Sally clicked her fingers. “What a coincidence. I’ve been looking for you… but I wouldn’t have expected you to look like… that.”
“Oh, let me assure you, Sally, my actual form is grotesque and inhuman - this is merely a projection.”
Bria mirrored the tension in the crowd. “You’ll have to be more specific. You’re not someone that I know, and if you’re siding with this criminal, then you’re just as much as a threat.”
Bernard tilted his head towards the man and gave him a warm smile. “Oh, well, you see, you might also call me the aspect of Life for this world.”
----------------------------------------
Theo rubbed the side of his head with the edge of the hammer. “Well, that’s convenient. Saves these guys from having to hunt him down.”
Bernice nodded, before looking out to the horizon. “My brother is fickle and might not free the zombie from her fate, but he will tip the balance towards a better outcome.”
“So…” Claude pulled a face. “He is here to preserve life, so he probably wouldn’t want her to be killed?”
The manticore shrugged. “Unless killing her would save more life in the long term.”
“Ah.” Theo deflated. “That might not work out so well for us then.” He of all people knew when push came to shove, the zombie would gladly commit whatever evil was necessary for her to meet the ambitions she had fueling her.
“Nothing is guaranteed.” She smiled down at the vampire. “Both of you have already been a huge boon in shaping the course of this world. From stagnant and dying, to active and dying.”
Theo leaned over to pick up the zombie goblin, who had been pressed up against his legs.
“Puh-pip-pipee,” Cross announced.
“That’s right, you are Pippy. A dead goblin is an odd choice for you to resurrect into, but who am I to judge?” The vampire looked at the hammer held in his other hand. “Say, it’s not a magical effect that is preventing you from speaking, is it?”
“Puh, puh!”
[Poppy: I think that’s a no!]
[Poppy: Perhaps a terrible idea to pulp him and find out <<]
“Perhaps.” He put the goblin down on the ground again. “Sally asked me to protect him, and I will give my life to do just that."
[Poppy: ^^!]
[Poppy: You’re not tempted to run off and try to save her? I am…]
“No.” Theo grinned, the light catching his fangs. “She only gets one of those a day. I’d die being so underpowered anyway, so it’s more important to follow her instructions.”
“Mm-mah, puh.”
“That’s right, Cross. I’m sure momma is already out of there and on her way back to us already.”
----------------------------------------
“Perhaps we’d better lock you both up then.” Brian stood with his jaw clenched, hand still on his weapon. “Unless you have any proof of such a wild claim?”
“Of course!” Bernard stepped up onto the stage beside Sally. “Please allow me to demonstrate.”
He tilted his head forward slightly as his hand rose up, palm facing the tense leader opposite them. Bright eyes narrowed as the constant smile faded away briefly.
“Now, breathe and continue living.”
Brian paused for a couple of seconds before his brow furrowed. “I was planning on doing that anyway…”
“Oh!” Bernard relaxed and smile widely again. “How fortuitous that our goals are aligned! I can take the zombie away now, right?”
There was a shuffling in the gathered Players as the fighter from the previous day pushed forward. “If you are Life, then can’t you bring our fallen friend back?”
He tilted his head to regard the man. “Unfortunately, while my sister and I are the arbiters of Life and Death, our roles are more nuanced. Just as Death did not personally end your companion, I cannot bring them back.”
“Then what good are you?”
“Oh, I’m the best.” Bernard now turned fully to the crowd and raised his arms wide. “In fact, I am about to save all of your lives by taking the zombie away.”
“That’s… not…” Brian grimaced as he tried to find a response that didn’t involve threats. “We can’t just let a murderer roam free.”
“If I leave her in your possession, she will kill you all.” The light in Life’s eyes dimmed. “It is because she is a murderer that you can’t be trusted to keep her safe. Tell me, my good sir, would you continue to fight if your eye had been plucked from your head? How about if you lost an arm and broke a leg? Were bleeding to death? Would your desire to continue wane?”
“Well, I don’t… I mean…” the leader fumbled for his words, put off by the sudden change in tone from the previously affable elf.
“Sally would use her last undying ounce of strength to tear your throat out. Isn’t that right, Mrs Danger?”
She nodded eagerly.
“Your only options, Brian of these wayward Players, are to keep her and perish, let her leave with me, or kill her on the spot right now. What fate will you choose?”
Brian eyed the zombie before looking into the crowd. The group was a mixed bag of anger, confusion, and apprehension.
Hand still clasped to his belt, he looked at Sally and made his decision.