= ( ALCADAR – ALIKE & HERNSON ) =

Alike cast a spell on her scrying pool. Hernson stood by her side with a possessive arm over her shoulder. They watched the odd sight of demon, baby and goats entering their forest.

“A Demon? What does a Demon want with my forest? And why is he fetching a snack with him. Demon’s aren’t long on patience.”

Hernson looked puzzled for an instant before chuckling. “I do believe that is Gussy, the mage my former self and Dee tricked hoping for an adventure. If so he is looking for Dee and me.”

“Well he’s welcome to the little firebrand but you belong to me.”

“Always love.”

= ( ALCADAR – BRAZOS & CREW ) =

They broke camp at dawn. As soon as the sun was shedding its light on the world Brazos, Oliveira and Duke entered the forest in a loose arrowhead formation, rifles in hand. Behind them followed Natercia and Vitor. They both held one of the seekers.

The local wolves didn’t cause the party any problems due to their lack of stealth. The cave bear that was guarding a statue of another cave bear did give them some problems, as it was able to soak up an incredible amount of damage.

It was a couple of hours after noon that they found the princess. Brazos raised a hand bringing them all to a stop. He signed for Natercia and Vitor to come up. They separated and using triangulation determined the incredibly dirty little gorgon fishing in the stream was the princess.

Brazos pointed at Natercia and then at the princess. Natercia looked down at her weapons and armor and shook her head pointing at Vitor. Brazos blinked in surprise and glanced at Vitor. Their mage carried a rifle but no other weapon.

Brazos nodded reluctantly and gestured for Vitor to proceed.

Vitor slung his rifle over his shoulder and called out, “Princess Deerassa, your brother King Elboran sent us to fetch you home. May I approach?”

= ( ALCADAR – DEE ) =

Dee was patiently lying next to the stream hoping to catch another trout whwn a man called out from the wood. “Princess Deerassa, your brother King Elboran sent us to fetch you home. May I approach?”

She jerked and sat up quickly looking at the woods. “Who – who are you, where are you?”

A slender mid-sized man emerged from the woods, he was wearing blue trousers and a green-brown patchy shirt and jacket. His cloth hat was likewise a mix of browns and greens. He showed his empty hands, smiled and said, “My name is Vitor. I’m with a group of adventurers. We are here to get you home.”

“Um... can you prove that?”

Vitor scratched his head, “I can show you the quest poster, and we have our guild badges.”

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“Oooh! Guild badges. Can I see it! Please!”

Vitor grinned and walked towards her as he pulled a badge out from a storage device. Dee’s eyes widened when she realised this man had a storage device. She had believed only nobles could afford the things. She scurried up to him and grabbed his hand so that she could better see the badge.

It was only then that Dee realized Vitor was a mage. His mana felt wet, like water.

“Wow! You’re a water mage? Aren’t you?”

“Yes princess. Can my friends come out?”

“Yes. What about Sar and Gussy? Have you found them yet? Oh, and please call me Dee.”

Vitor watched as the rest of his party emerged from the woods and smiled. “I’m afraid not Dee. You were our first concern. We will look for the others later. First we have to make sure you’re safe.”

“Yes, and I have soap and shampoo. Also I have some dungeon made clothing that will fit any young princess,” said Natercia as she approached with the other adventurers.

“Really! Dungeon treasure for me!” squealed Dee. “And I can get clean! I can’t believe I want a bath,” she added.

= ( ALCADAR – GUSSY ) =

Gussy woke with the dawn, after all it was impossible to sleep through the baby’s crying. After seeing to his charge, milking the goats and feeding the ever-hungry youngster Gussy saw to his own needs.

All in all it was a good two hours after dawn that Gussy once again set out on his way.

Not long after he came across the remains of the Hag. The forest scavengers has already started to recycle the body. Gussy noted that something had bitten the Hag in the calf and she had died from the venom.

Gussy avoided the body and paid it no more heed, though he did keep a wary eye peeled for whatever had killed the Hag. Very few things had a venom potent enough to kill something like a Hag.

He made his way slowly through the forest. Apart from seeing the fast departing tails of some wolves he saw nothing else until he came across the wolf statues, one was depicted rearing against a tree. He examined them worriedly. He was able to recognise the touch of a gorgon.

“Oh princess, oh my poor little Dee... Five stonings, I fear there is no going back now,” Gussy said quietly to himself. He settled down for lunch, saw to the baby and continued on his way.

* * *

It was getting on for nightfall when Gussy finally knew he was close. He moved carefully through the shadows of the forest and stopped when he was able to clearly sense Dee. Her aura had changed, Gussy felt a scalding tear roll down his cheek when he realized that his goddaughter had passed a milestone and that the system had allowed her to level.

It was only then that he realized she was not alone. It was reassuring that Dee was not frightened so Gussy decided to be cautious. He was confident he could take these strangers down but he didn’t want to. Not if they had befriended his goddaughter.

He concentrated, and determined that there were five of them. ‘So most likely a party of adventurers, their party seems a bit unbalanced. They seem to be specialised in stealth, so not dungeon divers. I’ll have to be careful.’

Gussy prepared and cast a little cantrip to allow his voice to be heard clearly at a distance before hailing what he sincerely hoped were adventurers. “Hello the camp. May I approach? I am Gustravios, a fire mage, and I must warn you I have suffered a magical mishap and am somewhat changed.”

He heard Dee shriek, “GUSSY!” followed by some mumbling.

“Come ahead,” bellowed somebody from the direction of the stranger’s camp.

Gussy saw the campfire in the clearing as he approached trailed by goats and floating cradle. He found himself crossing a divine ward. He stopped momentarily as he sampled the ward. ‘So the priestess has the favour of her god. Always nice to know people on the way up,’ thought Gussy as he resumed his approach. The first thing he saw was Dee as she raced to hug him, snakes outspread and tail waving. He dropped to one knee and hugged her back.

It was only then that he saw he was being examined by the adventurers.

“Interesting mage accident you had, Dee was telling us about what happened. And thanks for showing up. The quest King Elboran sponsored includes you. Recovery of the princess is primary, but he wants you back safe too.”

“I—I am happy to hear that. And the prince?”

The man looked at Dee and shook his head slowly.

Gussy felt a flash of anger, followed by resignation. “In the morning I’ll set up a spell to find Sar.”

“You do that, I’m sure the King will be glad to recover his brother.”