Curator POV

Slight reprieve from the, in retrospect, atrocity I've committed it's time to finish up and start the next step of my....solution...to the slaver problem. Shifting my perspective back to Vahlu I can feel his unease as that skin puppet moves.

"Don't worry, this isn't something I intend to make a common thing, merely a way to send a lasting message with the ones I let live. After all, dead men tell no tales." (Curator)

"I understand Curator but this is....it seems wrong in a way I can't put into words." (Vahlu)

"Oh, for sure, but, this will allow me to sneak Poppit in nice and close to the leader of that group. No one would really expect creatures like Poppit to attack in that manner, right?" (Curator)

"I guess...do I need to go with them then?" (Vahlu)

"It would help, it's not required, but, to help get the mudscales to understand I'm not going to do...THAT...to them, having you there would be a boon. Speaking of, how's our first mudscale rescue?" (Curator)

As Vahlu turns his head to look over at the mudscale I can see the poor thing curled tight on the ground. I'm not sure if it's asleep...or maybe terrified at what I've done. That is until I hear the soft snorting of a snore.

"Ah, poor fellah's all tuckered out, that's fine. Honestly bet they've been treated pretty badly." (Curator)

"It's good that he managed to sleep. At first, while you were focused on the...punishment...he was freaking out to the point that he colapsed. Not twitching or screaming like from nightmares though, so, perhaps they'll think the things till now were the nightmare? The others were also some what spooked by what happened, but when I explained the situation, and why you got so mad to do...that...they calmed down a lot. After all, your rage on that was on behalf of us." (Vahlu)

"Ah....sorry about that then, I may have lost myself some to that for a bit. Things are back to normal now though. Well, normal as this situation can be that is." (Curator)

And indeed they were as I turn my focus more toward the Poppits as they move around their 'suit'. The movement is slightly jerky, but much smoother than when I'd gone to check on my actual domain. Need to do something to hide the face though.

"Hey, you, the one I let live, you got a cloak or something to cover my trojan horse there with to better cover what's happened?" (Curator)

"Oh, yes, yes, we shall hide it's nature for now and let them see it's truth later. That is a wonderful idea Great One!" (Greenhorn)

That manic, off-kilter grin, is a bit unsettling, but hey, not my problem...for long, and I mean, if he goes back to civilization and starts telling people of the horrors he saw out here that drove him mad as The Hatter then well, that'll work as a wonderful deterrent I think. Well, at least from people that realize that the risk isn't worth it. Hmmm....well, we should get useful things for making some things from the camp that we keep...might need to go a little ham when my trojan gets in there.

Stolen novel; please report.

"Good, please get to that and help them onto the wagon then head back to your, former, comrades camp. Then, you'll tell whoever's in charge that you two have a very important message for his ears only. From there I'll take care of that, and your job will be to tell the others to surrender themselves to my judgement. Oh, and tell them what happened to this 'Terris' person will be what they can expect should they refuse. Not a fun way to go. Honestly it's probably one of the worst executions I can inflict upon some one at the moment, for something that's not super long." (Curator)

Watching them emphatically nod and get to it, gives me some assurance to this plan. Next, I explain to Poppit what to do. After all, I know they'll act upon my instructions. Honestly this is always a bit...odd...like explaining to a hyper intelligent toddler from before, but, could be worse I guess. When that's done we'll be ready to go.

"Alright Poppit. Here's the plan. The one we left alive will try to get you, he, and the boss of this scum alone. When they say yall have information only for his ears, you'll need to nod your new toy's head. When you are all alone, you need to tackle and pin down the boss and then, well, you get to have another snack, this time it doesn't matter how thorough you are, or how messy. Just make sure you keep them from screaming or calling out for help. When he's out of the picture, I'll send the rest of the yous over, other than the ones keeping the sandscales company, and the one protecting me, as there's gonna be alot of food for ya buddy. Hope ya like the taste of bad people. Not every one is on the menu for you though, it's gonna be a case by case basis, and their slaves are completely off the menu." (Curator)

Judging by the excited writhing under that flesh suit, I'd say they completely understand, and well, are more than eager for a feast. Now that I think about it, if they eat enough will they go through that same...process as when I tasked them, making more and more Poppits as a result? Problem for later if so I guess, although, Poppit and Babe don't seem to NEED to eat to keep going, so maybe that won't be a logistics problem but more a 'flooding of Poppit' problem. Hell, not even much of a problem, more guards that know what all the other guards experience only further secures my domain!

Watching the 'Greenhorn' wrap the surprise tool for later with that cloak makes me glad of one thing. If I still had a body like before I'd be...disgusted by this. Instead it's an obscene fascination with watching the process. Like a twisted nature documentary honestly. The cloak does help though, the billowing cloth masking many of the slightly jerky movements as their helped up onto the driving bench of the wagon. Then Vahlu approaches, carrying the groggy and still waking mudscale over a shoulder and sliding them up under that bench before sliding up under it them self. Clever fellah, utilizing the cloak there to help conceal them some.

"Oh, are they coming with us Great One?" (Greenhorn)

"Yes, I need Vahlu, with the help of his buddy there, to ensure the others of that tribe understand that they will be safe. Also, please stop calling me Great One. I am Curator." (Curator)

"Curator...." (Greenhorn)

Whoa that's....new. As this 'Greenhorn' mutters my name with reverence I can feel a flow of mana out from them, and into me, through Poppit, giving Poppit a good bit of mana as well. So THAT'S what the system meant by Object of Worship. Those that Worship send their mana to me, like a tithe. That's....actually much more useful than I would have thought. I would say everything's comin' up Milhouse, but, well, this is much bigger than just, getting all greens on the way to work or the like back in the day.

"Okay...so...since you so clearly want to revere me, let me ensure I've set some ground rules then. First, treat others how you would want others to treat you. Pretty basic, but a good motto to live by. In practice, this means when some one needs help that wouldn't harm others, help them as best you can. Don't, like, starve yourself feeding people or the like, but do what you can, that is readily in your means. After all, if you starve yourself or the like, you cannot help as many people. Next is to not take the punishment of evil upon yourself. Punishment does have it's place, but you will do more good by helping guide people off that path, than from putting an end to them, and, you may just become the very thing you wished to destroy if you do such things. Lastly, if you find any more like the folks you were sent out to capture in captivity, if you can safely spirit them away to send to my domain, then do so. But you need to do it SAFELY. Again, if you die early, the good you can bring to the world is limited. Capiche?" (Curator)

As I say that, but before the Greenhorn responds, I can feel a flow of mana out of me returning to him. The changes in him are exceptionally minor, only getting a streak of his hair and his eyes changing to the color of my core. Whoopsies. Apparently giving commandments also counts for marking people in this sense. But, hey, on the plus side now I now that at least! Man, it'd be so handy to be able to have that identify ability like they have in like...every one of those old isekai shows that main characters ended up with. Hmm...maybe there's a spell or something for that I can learn, that's something for later on though.

"Yes...I understand Curator. I will follow these commandments as perfectly as an imperfect disciple like me can." (Greenhorn)

With that I can see a new resolve on that face, even if the half crazed eyes seem to burn with a new fire behind them, as he grabs the reins of that wagon turned sleigh and sets the...pack hyena thing, to a soft trot with a slight start. At that, the other hunters watch, waiting for it to disappear into the distance before turning to head toward my domain. That Poppit positioning system is pretty handy. Just by making sure one is with every person, I know where they are, roughly, in relation to my domain at all times, and can observe as needed too. More Poppits really is better.