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The Lich beneath the city
Chapter 2- Gather your party

Chapter 2- Gather your party

This Chapter was a little more late than I wanted it to be. (totally didn't completely switch the names of two characters half way through the chapter, and had to switch it all back. whoops.) I am however glad to give it to you this week. Another slow chapter and the next one will be a little slow as well but action is going to start to pick up after that.  Also let me know if you think I could improve in one area or another. Or if you want to see a specific style like someone POV because I would be happy to do it, I just don't want to randomly change POV in the story. Anyway enjoy the chapter sincerely Lapisgollum.

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Chapter 2-Gather your party

The adventurers auction was a way to introduce newbies to more experienced parties. Parties or other adventurers would bid each other up in the off chance that a diamond in the rough would take a shine to them and help them rake in high reward quests. The party however became responsible for the newbie having to help them acclimate to the new way of life. The newbies weren't the only thing auctioned however, a variety of items and wares that would help any adventurer were also up for grabs. The first thing up for grabs were sets of sturdy leather bags and healing salves. The newer assembled parties quickly buy up the lesser items. After what is considered the lesser and medium class of items are all bought up. The most basic healing salves going for five iron truphles, and quality sturdy leather bags going for upwards of 15 iron truphles.

They move on to auctioning off the newbie adventurers. The bidding for Claire is a little slow, as her strange bout of aggression has deterred many potential buyers. She goes for less than one-hundred iron truphles. The group that buys her consists of three other adventurers two more girls and a guy, all with varying dress. Their expressions mark them as fairly lighthearted people. Serious about their work, but with enough time together to make small talk. One of the females with the same dark hair as Kevin give her a scowl and scolds her.

Griffen goes for a higher price. The bidding going up and up as parties scrounge to grab the charismatic warrior. Griffen goes for nearly 300 iron truphles. A rowdy group of adventurers are the ones that buy Griffen, the two males of the group are already drunk. The two other females in their party are carrying them out of the theatre as Griffen smiles with glee.

The twins go in with a two for one deal, they sell to a group of two more adventurers for 500 iron truphles, or a Single steel colate. The twins are more than pleased showing off their fairly good teamwork by doing backflips and sword strokes, that look almost like an acrobatics routine. They make light chatter to the two who acquired their service after showing off their skill.

Kevin goes for a moderate price 200 iron truphles. The same party that bought Claire make a move and buy Kevin as well. They prop up his body and drag him outside. They pull him into a bunkhouse beside the theatre. The bunkhouse is in sharp contrast to the other buildings. The wood structure is out of place among the brick and glass buildings, made with weather hewn marble and mismatched building faces. After entering the bunkhouse the group of people drag Kevin’s body up to a group room. The 3 females stride to a separate side of the room past a wooden and cloth divider. The male drops Kevin onto a bed, and quickly grabs Kevin’s jaw. With a swift motion he snaps Kevin’s jaw back into the natural position. Kevin stays unconscious, bruising is starting to form around the joints of his jaw.

“WHY THE FUCK DID YOU PUNCH HIM?” Comes from the other side of the divider. The man pokes his head inside the divider. “WELL SANDARA, HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME WHAT THE ENTRANCE CEREMONY ENTAILED” Claire shouts back at the dark haired woman. “HE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO KNOW. THE ONLY REASON HE DID WA-” the girl named Sandara quickly closes her mouth. Her face suddenly washes over with fear and she darts to the door. Sandara glances both ways before slamming the door shut. She hurries over to Claire again. “The only reason he knew was because I got drunk one night and told him. You know what would happen if Nancy found out that I told him.” Sandara whispers this to Claire, her face white as a sheet. The connotation clicks for Claire her face going equally white. “Still you think he would’ve at least hinted at it. You know how I feel about stuff like that” is Claire’s response. “And you know what you selfish bitch he had to deal with it as well. You should know more than anyone how he feels about his body” Sandara white face turns a bright shade of red. The man behind her makes a big ‘X’ with his hands when Claire goes to open her mouth again.

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Claire simply closes her mouth and stomps over to what seems to be her bed. She flops down and screams into her pillow. The female who had been watching the two arguing sits on Claire’s bed and pats her back. “Come on”she says. “You are acting like a child. You do know what happens to children when they have tantrums? Don’t you Claire” the woman has a mischievous grin on her face. “Helen you bitch don’t you da-” is all Claire can say, before Helen begins to tickle her. “Plehehehehe pleHEEEs please please stop hahaha, Helen plehehe, pleheas stop” Claire barely manages to speak as she squeals in laughter at the sudden assault. “Will you act like a grown adult then?” Helen asks. “Yeeees, please stop I’ll be an adult” Helen removes her hands from Claire’s sides.

Sandara sits next to the man on the bed beside Kevin’s, She leans her head on his shoulder, and closes her eyes. Her brow furrows as if deep in thought. “Sandara are you thinking, I can hear the gears in your head groaning in protest” the man next to her says. “Yeah Jacob I am at least I have gears to grind up their” She opens her eyes and look into his ear. “Yup just as I thought you can see straight through to the other side” He puts his arm around her shoulder and looks at Kevin laying on the bed. He shakes his and a smile appears on his face. “Just what are we gonna do with those two?” Jacob asks. “Well if they just admitted that they liked each other instead of him being all coy and her beating the shit out of him” she whispers the reply into Jacob’s ear careful of the two beyond the divider. “Well you know how Helen feels about all that” whispers Jacob. “Uggh why can’t she just say it” Sandara replies. Jacob turns his face towards hers. “You know it isn’t that simple” Jacob replies, his face a mix of worry and concern. Sandara gives him a peck on the lips and smiles, “Not everyone is as blunt as you” Sandara pauses for a moment thinking back to what she just said. “When it comes to your feelings at least”, Jacob smiles at her and goes in for a much longer kiss. Jacob pushes Sandara onto the bed, and she gives a meek squeal.

At this point Kevin wakes up. He glances at the two on the bed and tries to call out with his messed up jaw. “Heh, CWAIHE pweash mok me bach umcomshush”, this startles the two lovers. Jacob and sits back up and scratches the back of his head. “Hey uhh, sorry Kev” Jacob responds sheepishly. “Ooh you’re awake” Sandara says. She sits up and grabs him by the top of his head. Fear blooms in his eyes. Sandara begins mumbling something under her breath and Kevin braces himself. A white light appears around Sandara’s hand and she grabs his jaw. Kevin screams at the white hot pain rushing through his swollen jaw. His vision goes white and he once again blacks out.  His jaw no longer swollen he drifts into dreams of adventure and battle.

A small army of soldiers in front of him, dressed in ragged and torn leather. With chipped weapons, their eyes rotted. Kevin falls into place with them, his sword still dripping blood after murdering his sister. Sandara’s lifeless body soon rises as well in the streets of the city, just outside the guild. They march with the rest of the army slaying all the inhabitants of the city.

Kevin smiles in his sleep. “I’m glad he is having a good dream after what you put him through” Jacobs says pointing a finger accusingly at Sandara. “Hey, I’m his sister. I’m allowed to hurt him” Sandara replies. Jacob laughs and kisses Sandara again. They lay down and fall asleep peacefully in eachothers arms.