Loud knocking stirred Titania from her sleep. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and shaking her head. Her eyes wearily blinked trying to make sense of the evening darkness. She slid out of bed, with only an undershirt to cover her. The sound of knocking was louder now and it hurt her already considerable headache. Scratching her neck, she walked to her wardrobe and pulled out pair of cloth pants and slid them on before finally going to the door.
“Who’s there?” Titania called out.
“Where does the wind blow?” A gruff voice replied. Titania instantly slapped her forehead with her hand, snarling furiously.
“Goddamn you, Groggy, it’s too early for this!”
“Answer the passcode!”
“THAT DUMB PASSCODE WAS YOUR IDEA NOT-”
“Fine, whatever! Just open the door!” Titania sneered and threw open the door, ready to beat a dwarf over the head for waking her.
“I’VE GOT HALF A MIND T-oh….Oh my God…” Standing before her was not only Grognor, looking exhausted and muddy, but close beside him were two young elf women. One carried a lute in her hand, while the other carried a small bag of food and clothes. They both stared up at her in surprise and Titania found herself blushing. “Th-this changes things…”
“Let us in…please.”
“What the hell happened?” Titania opened her door wide and allowed all three to get inside. “I didn’t expect you to bring them so quickly.”
“Things are happening fast, and we didn’t have time to second guess things.” Grognor replied. “I saw an opportunity and I took it. We slipped out through Aynor’s escape tunnel.”
“What opportunity? What’s happening?” Titania asked.
“I’ll tell you everything…but first…erm…” Grognor motioned to Meriel and her mother who were still standing near the door, filthy and looking more than a little nervous. Titania nodded and hurried to them, smiling warmly.
“Come in…I’m Titania. It’s nice to-”
“We know who you are,” the older of the two replied, “we know…”
“Mom, stop it!” Meriel hissed. “It’s nice to meet you too…sorry this is all happening a little fast.”
“Tell me about it…no really…I want to know what’s been going on. But why not get some tea going first? Maybe something to eat?” Titania lead the two to her table and they sat down as Titania lit the fire under her kettle. “I don’t have much…but what’s mine is yours. I guess I’ll have more hunting to do.”
“What class are you?” Meriel asked, politely.
“Warrior…though I’ve dabbled in fire magic.”
“Typical of ogres.”
“Mother!”
“No offense taken.” Titania giggled. “I assume you’re a bard?” Meriel smiled, strumming her lute in answer.
Classes were the new terms for occupations. Many peoples, after the Cataclysm, learned that the common jobs that once people aspired for were now mostly obsolete. What use were there in lawyers, pharmacists, analysts, telemarketers, or anything of those job types when life had regressed from the age of information to an age of mere survival. Thus, people began adopting classes and roles more befitting the race, gender, age, and surroundings they found themselves in. Certain races, like humans, elves, and dwarves, were highly versatile and could fill many different roles. Ogres and Orcs, on the other hand, were much more specialized towards combat classes, further adding to the prejudice against them.
Titania set out cups and began to fill them with tea as Grognor pulled out his pipe to smoke. Titania shot him an accusing glance to which he snorted.
“Shut up.” He grumbled.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“No, but you’re giving me the accusing Mom glare.” Grognor remarked.
“Look,” Titania sat down at the table and crossed her arms. “If we’re all relaxed now, can you fill me in on what’s happening in town? Is my family okay, Groggy?”
Grognor jumped into the story, telling everything that mattered. He brought up Jessai’s decision to invade the neighboring elf lands. How he had been commissioned to arm all of his armies. How in the night, an Arch-Angel of the Inquisition had attempted to assassinate Jessai and had freed Meriel and her mother in the process. How they’d come to Grognor for help and he’d led them to Aynor while Jessai was still worked up about the Inquisition’s presence in town. Every detail was added and Titania didn’t interrupt, though she gave appropriate responsive expressions or sounds at the right moments. The part about the Inquisition sent a shiver down her spine that even Meriel and her mother noticed.
“Alright, I see how this is turning out.” Titania grumbled. “No wonder you were in such a panic.”
“More to the point,” Grognor sighed, puffing on the pipe in his teeth, “I got these two here…but now we need to figure out how to get them out of Orcshire and to safety.”
“What’s the plan now?” Meriel asked, curiously. Titania sighed and rested her cheek on her hand.
“The plan? There is no plan right now.” She admitted. “Getting you out of Orcshire means getting you through the Western outpost and out to the Western lands. The forests are perilous and the mountains are dangerous. I’ll have to escort you myself. It also doesn’t help that the Orcs are in a panic. They’ll be watching the boarders closely.”
“West? Couldn’t we try to go west towards Serindal.”
“No. Going east from here takes us through Woodbark Haven.” Titania replied. “It’s where the halflings and dwarves are put to the mines and forests for mining and cultivating resources. Too much Orc security. Even if we did get through, we’d need to go South again to Sea Watch Town, buy a ship, and get across Blythedurn Gulf. Even if we do get through all that, Jessai still plans to invade Serindal soon, right Grognor?”
“She’s setting up a small amphibious assault plan at Sea Watch…building small and fast boats to get them across the gulf.” Grognor agreed. “Serindal wouldn’t be safe for long.”
“But further East is….is…” There was a long silence and Meriel’s voice trailed off.
“Nirvana…” Grognor finished, smoke softly blowing through his nose.
In this age of strife, fear, and savagery, the kingdom of Nirvana is supposedly a Utopia. A blessed oasis among the desert. There the races live in relative harmony. Technology is more advanced there than the outlying lands. It’s walls are so tall and strong, no invading race could threaten it. There, work is plentiful, laws are just and fair, and discrimination is nonexistent. All who spoke of it or claimed to have seen it FAR to the
East of Serindal and further than the Dark Lands. All hoped one day to find Nirvana…but by now…
“It’s a myth, dear.” Meriel’s mother answered. “We’ve been over this. Nirvana is just a legend that travelers talk about to make people feel better.”
“One can’t really know, can they?” Grognor said encouragingly. “I mean…seeing is believing, right? Perhaps if we could indeed find it, we could believe it.”
“Yes, but the word ‘if’ is the key one.” Meriel’s mother snapped. “I will not risk my life or my daughters life chasing a silly mythological city that we don’t have any chance of reaching.”
“Your mother’s right…” Titania sighed. “I’m not saying Nirvana doesn’t exist, but even if it is out West, as we’ve heard…getting there from here is seven different levels of insanity. East is our best option.”
“What’s West, then?” Meriel asked.
“Lovenshire.” Grognor answered. “A halfling settlement.”
“A halfling city!?” Titania laughed. “Why hasn’t Jessai stomped them out!? Halfings don’t stand a chance against an Orc army.”
“Because between Lovenshire and Orcshire is the Swamp of Rotmore. The waters that flow down the backs of the mountains pile up in that swamp, and the mists there are thick and dangerous. Monsters of all kinds live there…and there are mutants as well.” A dark and ominous chill fell through the group at the mention of the mutants. When the Cataclysm struck, most everyone who did not remain human became one of the six races. But some did not. Some mutated into horrific creatures, losing any trace of their former humanity and degrading into vicious, flesh eating beasts, with intelligence and creativity to boggle the imagination. They were feared and loathed by everyone…and not even the Inquisition dared send its forces to purge that swamp, with all the mutants hiding within.
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“Either way, we’re trapped…” Meriel sighed. “Are the northern mountains…”
“Too steep and treacherous to climb.” Grognor explained. “You remember when Jessai first took power, right? She chased many into those mountains…none came back alive. Either killed by beasts or unable to deal with the sharp cliffs.”
“East is our best course. We won’t run into as many orcs that way, and if we’re careful…we might make it through the Rotmore Swamp.”
“Might…” Meriel’s mother growled. For once, Meriel did not argue. It did indeed seem an unlikely salvation. To the south was the Orcshire capital. To the North were mountains too dangerous to cross. To the West, a deadly swamp with only a halfling village waiting for them beyond it. To the East, the promise of possibly Nirvana…but so many obstacles in the way. Where could they go?
“What would you recommend, Titania?” Grognor asked.
“Like I said…West is the best course. I can try and help escort you through, but one ogress isn’t much compared to some of the mutants in that swamp. I think it’d be best if we waited here for a time and-”
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
Meriel and her mother went stiff as statues at the pounding on the door. Titania got up fast and grabbed the club sitting by the fireplace. It was a large kanabo, with metal studs in the wood. She marched towards the door and glanced back.
“Everyone hide in the back…” Grognor took Meriel and her mother back to the bedroom to hide. Once there, Titania sighed and placed a hand on the door. “Who is it?” She called.
“…h-help me…” Titania didn’t recognize the voice, but she heard the pain in its shakey stammer. She opened the door and gasped.
His armor was torn and mangled. His arm was bent the wrong way, and one of his swords, dangling from his belt, was snapped in half. He wore a mask over his face, but blood dripped from the bottom of it, and he was limping on what was clearly a broken leg. But what was worse was he was hugging his stomach with one arm as a large red stain was dribbling around his arm. This was a dying man.
“It…hurts…” Titania rushed to him and caught him before he fell.
“God in Heaven, how’d you get here!? GROGNOR! CLEAR THE TABLE!” With ease, she ripped the armor from his body as if ripping off toilet paper. His body was toned and young, no body hair to speak of. There was a fierce and ugly gash in his side and as she removed his helmet, she saw blood on the young mans chin. Before she could finish, his good hand rushed up to stop her, grabbing her wrist.
“P-please…l-leave…on…”
“Friend, you’re in no shape to argue.” She didn’t wait for him to argue, as she ripped off the mask. As she worked to disrobe him, Grognor was throwing items off the table to make room. Meriel dared to peek around the door frame and gasped at the sight.
“IT’S HIM!” She cried. “Th-that’s the assassin! The Arch Angel!” Grognor stopped what he was doing instantly and stared at the young man.
He looked barely 15…maybe even 14. He was young, and lithe. His face was soft and almost feminine with delicate features. His ears were pointed, but not as long as Meriel or her mothers. The blood on his mouth and face was from coughing blood, and his longer hair was matted with sweat, as he was running a fever from his injuries.
“T-Titania…we need to get rid of him!”
“What!?”
“If he’s the one that tried to kill Jessai, then all of Orcshire is looking for him! They’ll come here, find him, and they’ll think you’re harboring him!” The boy opened his mouth wordlessly and then closed his eyes, the pain too great to speak. Meriel’s mother stepped forward, daring to speak up.
“This might be our chance to escape! If we turn over the Arch Angel, then Jessai will calm down and we can-”
“The hell I will!” Titania barked, causing the anxious elf to back off. Titania picked up the boy and carried him to the table, laying him down. With his body exposed, she could look over him better. “I’m not a doctor like Aynor…but we don’t have time to get him. He’s losing too much blood. Anyone know any medical tricks?” No one budged…just staring at the state of this dreaded assassin. Titania spat and sighed, adjusting her shirt. “Well, fine…I’ll handle this.”
“You know medical skills?” Grognor asked.
“I got my first aid merit badge when I was in the Boy Scouts.” Titania said hopefully.
“You were a BOY scout!? So you were one of the ones who-”
“We can talk about the past later.” Titania snapped, blushing fiercely. “Groggy, go to my room and get me an old shirt…any old shirt will do. Take it outside and rinse it in the clean water bucket, the bring it here. Meriel, go to the cooling box and find me a slab of meat. Make sure it’s cold.”
“Now isn’t the time to eat!”
“I’m not going to eat it. I’m gonna put it on his head to help cool him off! GO!” She barked. She then looked to Meriel’s mother. “I know you don’t like me much, lady…but you have to help me save this kid. Go to my cellar and grab me a bottle of booze. Alcohol. I need at least one bottles worth.”
“….” She didn’t budge…but stared at the boy and then at Titania.
“Lady…”
“It’s Jennifer.” She snapped. “My name is Jennifer.” Titania blinked a moment. Most who were transformed gave up their human names…a way to let go of their past. It had been a long time since he’d someone continue to call themselves by their human name. It made Titania feel even more sorry for this woman…she hadn’t accepted this world at all.
“Jennifer…sorry.”
“I don’t want any part of this. I just want my daughter and myself to get out of here and I want us to live a quiet and normal life! I want…I want…”
“Jennifer, right now there’s a young man who wants to live. He freed you and Meriel when he didn’t have to. He terrified Jessai and his Orc army. He fought their hordes while you ran away from the Citadel. You owe this boy your life…and I can’t look away from someone in need of help. I can’t make you help him…but if you’re not going to help, get the hell out of my way.” Jennifer stared at Titania for a long moment, but after a silent curse, she ran to the cellar to get the alcohol. As she left, Titania placed a hand on the boys head, checking his temperature.
“You’re going to be okay…I won’t let you die, alright?” Titania assured him. The boy nodded weakly, faintly opening his eyes.
“Y-you’re…an…an…ogress…”
“I am…” She nodded. “My name’s Titania.” The boy bit his lip and suddenly gasped in pain, coughing fiercely.
“Not human…filth…enemy…must…AAAH!” He cried. Titania grabbed his arm and placed a hand over his wound.
“I’m not your enemy, kid! Just stay with me, you got it!? What’s your name…you got a name, kid?” At first he didn’t answer. The door opened as Grognor ran over with a wet shirt. Titania took it and began cleaning the wounds, making the boy shout louder in agony.
“Someone will hear him…” Grognor muttered.
“Then go keep a look out.”
“…Right.” As Grognor walked away, the boys eyes got heavy and he started to fall into unconsciousness.
“B-Blemish.” He moaned.
“What’s that?”
“M-my name…is…Blemish.” With his name finally given, the assassin called Blemish passed out from pain. Titania frowned in frustration at the name. It confused her beyond words. Who would name themselves that? Who was this boy? She took Blemish’s hand and squeezed it as she continued her work.
“Alright…just stay alive Blemish. You’re not gonna die on my table…I’d never be able to eat on it again.”