It had been a full week since Hictor last left the building. He was working feverishly on his project the entire time. He was only still alive from sending his summons out to get food. Though the few breaks he did take were few and far between. The other summons didn’t see much change in him mostly due to not knowing much about his kind, for all they know it was normal behavior.
Torrid scuttled into the break room where Hictor was eating a simple calorie bar as a meal. This was the first time Torrid had seen Hictor without his goggles and veil since he began acting more manic. The skin around his eyes almost looked burnt, yet his eyes themselves seemed perfectly fine. Looking into them worried Torrid as Hictor drew his gaze to the small creature.
“Something to report?” he said after swallowing a bite.
“The bounty hunter spotted in this area you asked me to spy on. He’s scouting the place, he knows you’re here!” Torrid said.
Hictor looked at the creature wide-eyed. “You didn’t send someone to kill him?”
“He had already informed the other hunters. In a mere hour they are going to advance on our hideout. You need to find somewhere new before they arrive.” Torrid said.
“Just my damn luck. How’d they find this place?” Hictor said as he tossed the bar aside and stood up.
“You’ve been sending an awful lot of us out lately. They merely got lucky and spotted one heading here.” Torrid said.
“Alright, we gotta gather everything up. I’ll have some of you hide the stuff in your home dimensions until we find a new place.” Hictor said as he put on his goggles and veil.
“I believe I had identified several places to relocate before.” Torrid said.
“No, we’re staying in Grict. Too much of the plan can be accomplished here. I know where we will be going.” Hictor said.
He walked into the workshop and looked at what he had been working on all this time. A silver column perfectly shined to an almost mirror-like sheen. Hictor placed his hand on the side and the silver receded as if it was liquid, revealing a complex array of lenses, gears, and electronics. He quickly looked over the machine and decided it was safe to move, even if some of it could do with some more securing. With no time to lose, Hictor brought forth the large chitin covered being.
While Hictor would prefer to use it to transport himself, this was the only summon he had capable of safely holding onto it. The creature picked up the column and Hictor de-summoned it. They vanished back to where they came with the column in tow. He then ran into the other room and grabbed a stolen backpack full of various supplies such as water and food. He secured it around Torrid who could barely support its weight, then they were de-summoned as well.
Hictor brought forth Eso, as they were one of their best ways to stay hidden. Ideally Hictor would destroy the building as well to truly cover his tracks. That wasn’t an option at that moment because the only summon capable of doing so quickly is something Hictor only uses as a last resort. Otherwise he would have preferred to properly set the place on fire. There was simply no time for either, so he could only flee.
“We’re about to be raided. I need you to conceal me until we get to the new hideout!” Hictor commanded.
“Okay. Just don’t run too far away, it only goes so far.” Eso said.
Hictor opened the backdoor to the building and ran towards the city. Eso sustained a barrier around it and Hictor that interfered with the sight of anyone who looked their way, making them unable to really understand if they saw anything at all. Unfortunately it does nothing against any kind of magic used to detect them. Eso can only keep the barrier active on itself and one other, otherwise Hictor would have someone else out in case they were attacked.
After only a few seconds of running, an arrow zipped past Hictor. He turned towards where it came from and saw someone with a crossbow standing on a nearby rooftop with three others. They were already here, the scout Torrid saw had been given wrong information on purpose. The hunters were aware that their thoughts could be read. They had made Hictor panic and run out of his hideout, much easier to catch him if he wasn’t holed up in some building. Hictor knew they must be using some kind of magic to detect him as well, Eso’s barrier wouldn’t be much help.
He ducked down behind a wrecked van and quickly de-summoned Eso. They were one of his most valuable summons, Hictor didn’t want to risk them getting killed. His mind raced with who he should summon since he knew there was no way he could fight at least four people at once. While plenty of his summons were good fighters, summoning takes a toll on Hictor and he’s already brought plenty back and forth today. He needed just one good summon.
Just then he remembered he has one perfect for this. He brought forth a thing that resembled a small metallic mushroom with four spindly legs. The creature was metal all the way through, in every way it looks like it is some kind of robot. For all Hictor knew, it is a robot. But he knew it accepted the summoning contract willingly, whatever it was the thing had a mind of its own. It also helps that it’s completely indestructible.
Torrid claimed that it wasn’t actually invincible since it could detect it still has an instinctual need to survive. Likely whatever actually can harm it simply doesn’t exist in this universe. Hictor didn’t particularly care for the specifics, but the utility of such a creature under his control was too much to pass up. Hictor ordered the creature to stop the bounty hunters from attacking him. It wasted no time scurrying over to the rooftop.
The overgrown weeds and various piles of junk provided suitable cover for the creature as none of the hunters even noticed it approaching them. It climbed up onto the roof and jumped with all of its might into the leg of the one holding a crossbow. The creature was small but had a surprising amount of mass behind it, the impact felt like getting his leg swept out from under him. He fell down onto the already fragile roof as the other three noticed the strange creature. One of them drew a warhammer and swung down at the creature, only for it to bounce off of its body causing no harm.
Hictor peeked out and saw the fight between the hunters and the small invincible creature. He sprinted out from behind the van and towards the more populated sections of the city. The hunters were bold but they wouldn't dare try something like that attack in a crowded city street. Hictor didn’t have much of a plan and was trying to improvise his way to the ideal hideout he had devised.
To his luck, he found a perfect escape vehicle. Outside of the abandoned gas station he had passed by when he first arrived, was a motorcycle. It was already turned on, clearly whoever owned it was planning on leaving soon. Without a second thought, Hictor jumped onto the motorcycle and sped off into the city.
He’ll have to ditch it once he’s sure the hunters aren't following him. Hictor just needed to get some distance, drive in a random pattern and then find a disguise once he abandoned the bike. Once disguised he could safely walk to his new hideout without being tracked. This was not the first time Hictor had used this strategy, though it is the first time he has stolen a motorcycle. But all that mattered to Hictor right now was getting somewhere safe so he can continue his work.
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Vaughn was feeling better now, the illness had passed like it always did. Seron claimed she looked up his symptoms online, she thinks it might be something genetic involving his kidneys that was in fact treatable. As much as Vaughn would like to get that problem solved, he had matters that needed his attention first. Right now, Vaughn was on the hunt for the anchor a soul uses to pilot the body.
Vaughn wasn’t willing to murder until someone forced his hand, he suspected an already decayed body might be easier to work with. His only other option then was graverobbing, something plenty of necromancers have been arrested for in the past. It’s also why so many people are choosing to cremate these days. Sure he could buy a corpse through the normal legal methods, but no one who knows about Vaughn would ever agree to it. With no other options for now, Vaughn entered the place he knew he had the best chance of finding one.
Shops that sell magic items are common in the world. They can enhance one’s magic in a variety of ways, so they are obviously sought after by wizards of all kinds. One such variety of magic items they sell are necromancer trinkets. Necromancers need a source of death energy to fuel their magic. Nearly every necromancer will carry around a trinket that emanates death energy. For Vaughn, his glasses and playbook already fill that role in addition to the colossal amount of death energy he absorbed from the bottle. He never once needed to enter an establishment like this.
He entered the store in his normal attire. It was risky since someone could recognize him, but the sheer confusion it would cause should he be reported would only benefit him. No one knew what fueled his magic, so entering a place like this would throw them for a loop. The walls were lined with all sorts of rings, talismans, relics, all organized by the school of magic they belonged to. The sole employee in the store was an overweight gnoll inspecting a bejeweled bracelet, she looked towards Vaughn and set the bracelet down.
“What brings a man like you here?” she asked.
“You know me?” Vaughn asked.
“I absolutely do. I once worked for Monty and Carlo’s smuggling operation, I was there the time you raided the ship I was working on.” She said.
“I remember that job. Jori what’s her name, she had some kind of grudge against them and hired me to trash that boat.” Vaughn said.
“I should thank you. I managed to sneak away with a lifeboat full of stolen goods. Opened this shop with what I had on there. Managed to avoid Carlo’s scorched earth approach to hiding the evidence once he knew he was going to be caught.” She said.
“Maniac tried to kill all of the surviving gang members just to save his own ass, even killed Monty too. I suppose this means you have no hard feelings towards me?” Vaughn asked.
“Let’s just say I know you’re here for something and while I want men like you out of my store, I’m not going to try and kick you out. So tell me what you need.” She said.
“Remains. I know you don’t have full corpses but I know you have bones and skulls sold as necromancer trinkets. I need to see what you have.” Vaughn said.
The Gnoll reached down and pulled out a key ring. She walked over to a wooden cabinet and opened the heavy lock on the front. A multitude of drawers in many sizes were revealed inside. She pulled out a large drawer and set it down on the counter.
Vaughn looked inside and saw mummified tails, calcified organs, bones big and small, and small elaborate knotted lengths of hair. She assured Vaughn these were all obtained legally. Selling remains of relatives to necromancers is nothing new, but there isn't always a whole body to work with. Some corpses are better used as material for trinkets.
“You must have something crazy to power that magic of yours. What do you want with any of this stuff?” she asked.
“I need to test a theory. Excuse me but I need to call upon some help for this.” Vaughn said as he lit a cigarette.
He let out a puff of smoke and brought forth a rarely used member of his arsenal. Claudio Van-Kynne, fortune teller and master of the scrying arts. His act was going onstage and using his magic to show the audience visions of whatever place they wanted to see. Claudio’s magic is imprecise and slow, Vaughn didn’t have a lot of use for him outside of staking out a place for a job. But his magic could work for at least identifying what he needed. The gnoll stood back as the ghostly wizard appeared beside Vaughn.
“Do you sense if any of these still have the anchor in them?” Vaughn asked.
Claudio gazed into the box for only a few moments. Then it reached in to grab a patella bone. The odd blue-ish color to the bone indicated it belonged to a merfolk of some kind. Claudio handed the small bone to Vaughn who gently held it between his fingers. He nodded and dispelled Claudio.
“Alright. I’ll take this. How much?” Vaughn asked.
“Considering how I owe my survival and my shop to you busting up that ship. How about I give it to you for free, you leave right away, and we call it even?” She said, clearly unnerved.
“Lucky me.” Vaughn said with a smile before pocketing the bone.
“Anything else?” She asked, hoping for him to refuse.
“That’s it, good luck and have a nice day.” Vaughn said as he turned around.
“Wait! Before you go. Eventually someone will figure out you came here and will ask me about it. The hell should I tell them?” She asked.
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“Whatever you want. You don’t know enough to be a problem.” Vaughn said before walking out the door.
Vaughn stepped out onto the sidewalk and nearly walked into the path of an elf on a bicycle. He stopped and began to apologize until they both sensed the death energy on each other. The elf stepped back to apologize before he went wide eyed upon realizing who he was. Vaughn stood there, seeing full well the elf recognized him. He breathed in some smoke before he took his wand out of his mouth. Vaughn then entered the mental state he used when dealing with the criminals he often works with.
“Choose your next move wisely, I have no reason to harm you right now.” Vaughn said in a somewhat threatening manner.
“Y-you’re that guy everyone’s freaking out about.” The elf said, clearly nervous.
“Yes and I’m trying not to make a scene so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t either. I don’t like bothering people and a fight here is just going to block traffic. Do you really want to ruin some guy’s drive back from his lunch break?” Vaughn said, leaning towards him a little.
“N-no. That would be rude of me. Sorry for bothering you. Your energy just took me by surprise is all.” He said as he stepped away.
“It should, it’s the concentrated death of entire planets. Alarming to many but I’ve gotten used to it.” Vaughn said.
“Why are you telling me this?” The elf asked.
“Someone’s going to hear about me being here and bumping into you. Just giving them something interesting for you to say.” Vaughn said before stepping away.
Vaughn needed to ensure that the necromancer council won’t kill him if they do catch him. The elf will tell others what Vaughn said and eventually word will reach the council who will want to find out just what the hell Vaughn meant by that. He’s their only way to find out, barring the goddess who made the bottle showing up and telling them. Which would never happen since the gods haven’t actively gotten themselves publicly involved in anything for recent history unless it was world threatening stuff. Vaughn always considered the fact that he hadn’t yet suffered from a spontaneous smiting by some deity as a good sign.
Seron was waiting for Vaughn in a car modified to look like a private taxi cab. Seron was wearing a disguise just in case. Vaughn casually sat in the back as Seron drove out of the alley she was waiting in. Vaughn flicked his cigarette out the window and pulled the small bone out of his pocket.
“Did you get one?” Seron asked.
“Yup. Owner saw my work firsthand on a job I took a good while ago, gave it to me for free even after I offered to pay.” Vaughn said.
“I don’t understand why you went out dressed like that.” Seron said.
“I had to set up a contingency of mine. I do have a plan now for getting the council off of my back. Though setting things up in case it doesn’t work isn’t a bad idea.” Vaughn said.
“Are all criminals this adept at schemes?” Seron asked.
“The ones who survive are.” Vaughn said.
Vaughn examined the bone, he could feel the death energy emanating from it. Seron wondered how he would even extract the anchor. He was always good at figuring out unusual problems, but this is something else. Moving on from there was another story, but Vaughn wanted to take things one step at a time.
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Despite the extensive healing performed on her, Cyreen was still sore. She sat in a dusty chair as Lavor conversed with an imp named Surraid. He was one of Lavor’s supporters before the coup and was sentenced to being an imp afterwards. Rumors of Lavor still being alive had been circulating for sometime. He had been sent to find out what happened to Morot, after being directed to Tsilo he was given the location of Lavor’s hideout.
Cyreen listened in on their discussion. Lavor has the marks, if he killed Deinia then he would be the rightful prince of Deepworld. Such a rule may seem crude and barbaric, but the nature of the marks are what made it solid. Those marks acted almost like a curse from the demon queen herself, forcing Lavor to have nothing but good intentions for his rule. At least that's how some see it. Others see them as an indicator that the bearer has no ill intentions and truly does want what’s best for demons. Cyreen personally believed the latter since the marks seem to have no effect on her. Whatever gave Lavor his political prowess was baked into the guy himself.
The main problem with this plan wasn’t killing Deinia. Lavor easily outmatched her with the lantern at his side. It was the main reason he stole it in the first place. The issue was getting to Deepworld at all.
Deepworld wasn’t a place one can just walk to. It’s a massive underground cavern and the only physical entrance is on a different continent. The only practical way in and out are various portals. Either someone has to use a public portal, or use a privately made portal. Lavor acquired the scroll Jortam used to escape to Deepworld from the witch hunter camp. The covens who looted it felt it was something they should pass on to Cyreen and Lavor, they did owe her for getting Yara to wipe them out after all. The portal however, refused to open. Lavor suspected some kind of protection was placed on it once Jortam went through.
A public portal was possible, but there was no way for them to go through without Deinia knowing. Not to mention trying to smuggle in the lantern is equivalent to bringing a bomb on an airplane. Even Cyreen going through would still alert Deinia due to her having Lavor’s arms. Finding a new set of arms to stick on Cyreen wasn’t an option either, the operation was incredibly taxing on her body initially and it’s the magic seals on her original arms keeping them hidden in the first place. A private portal was the only way to get in undetected.
Lavor was discussing with Surraid on how to potentially make the portal they had usable. It’s almost certain that while the portal was made for Jortam, Deinia was the one who created it in the first place. Such things were simple with the power she now had. So she would have the ability to override the lock. Lavor’s meager amount of demon prince power was not enough to do the job however.
As all three were thinking of ways to make this work, they heard the sound of a motorcycle park outside. Lavor quickly stood at the ready to fight whoever just arrived, but to everyone’s surprise it was not an enemy. Tsilo had entered the gas station, even behind the mask they could tell he was not well. Cyreen stood next to Lavor as they waited for Tsilo to catch his breath.
“Why are you out of breath? You rode a motorcycle here.” Lavor asked.
“It’s more of a nervous habit, also the stress.” Tsilo said as he seemed to calm down.
“What brings you here?” Cyreen asked.
“Deinia, she found out I know something about her and tried to have me killed for it. I’m trying to leave town and lay low, which is why I came to you two.” Tsilo said.
“Why?” Lavor asked.
“You got that portal right? Locked down I assume. I know who can get it open.” Tsilo said.
“But you want something in return.” Cyreen asked.
“Your coven. Not even I can find where they are. The Swampbloods have historically been very adept at staying hidden. I want to stay with them until your friend reclaims the throne.” Tsilo said.
“How can I trust you?” Cyreen asked.
“You know my business model. I never lie. I swear to you I will never bring harm to them. I just need somewhere safe to stay.” Tsilo said.
“Fine, I can arrange it. Now what did you find out?” Cyreen said.
“Deinia, she has a daughter. A tiefling by the name of Seron Ymbaz. The result of a one night stand she had in her younger years and abandoned in one of those non-places to try and cover it up. Seron herself doesn’t even seem to know about her.” Tsilo said.
“Doesn’t sound like she cares for her, why is Deinia trying to kill you over it?” Lavor asked.
“Demons don’t naturally have children. All of those demonic security measures rely on biometrics, they were never made to account for children. Anything only Deinia can do, Seron can also do. She can unlock that scroll.” Tsilo said.
“Where is she?” Lavor asked.
“Currently in the city working as a bounty hunter. But I think she’s a double agent for an infamous necromancer, who I didn’t even know had people working for him. I don’t know the specifics, it’s really hard for me to get information on that guy.” Tsilo said.
“Is he going to be an issue?” Lavor asked.
“I’ve dealt with him before. He’s one of those people who are only a threat when people make them one. Gods help you if he is though. Here’s all I have on where to find her and whatever I was able to dig up on this girl.” Tsilo said as he handed Lavor an envelope.
Suddenly they all heard the sound of Tsilo’s motorcycle speeding away. Someone had stolen it in broad daylight. Tsilo ran outside and couldn’t see who had taken it. He angrily stomped back into the gas station and kicked over a flimsy shelf.
“DAMN IT! How am I supposed to get out now?” he shouted.
“Here, I can help.” Cyreen said as she stepped closer to him. “I’m going to put a small spell on your mask. It’s a system we witches used to communicate in private back when we had to hide from the public. Visit one of the covens in town, they can show you out of the city.”
“Okay…. Thanks.” Tsilo said as he began to calm down.
“Once you are out of the city, head west. The Swampbloods will pick up on your signal and come find you. Explain to them your situation and they will help how they can.” Cyreen said.
Tsilo thanked them again before quickly making his way out of the building. He knew where the covens were and should have no trouble finding one. This wasn't the first time someone had tried to go after him, he’s evaded worse than demons. Tsilo would survive this just fine.
Lavor ruminated on what he just heard. Deinia having an illegitimate daughter would be a massive scandal. It’s considered incredibly immoral for demons to not support any children they make in some way. Seemed like she just tried to hide her away instead. He could use this to turn public opinion against her once the throne was his again. Doing it now wouldn’t do much besides pissing her off. While he found it tempting, in reality it wouldn’t be such a good idea. Keeping a low profile was his best course of action.
Cyreen decided to contact the other covens, see if any of them caught sight of her. Deinia might send someone after Seron now that she knows her daughter didn’t die in that place she was dumped in. Surraid offers to head for the covens to deliver Cyreen’s request. She accepted since they knew there isn’t a lot of time to find Seron before Deinia does. Cyreen just hoped she’ll be ready for another fight, she knew one was coming soon.
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Yara was all too familiar with the workings of black markets. She had used them before to track down suppliers for her operations. Though this time she wasn't here to track down some shady drug supplier. For the first time, she was here as a customer.
An expensive yacht was floating out in the harbor. An elaborate party is thrown once a month, guests from all corners of the city were invited. While the party was lavish and genuine, below deck was where the real purpose of the yacht lies. A compact storage of illegal goods from all over the world. Guests came with their money, they spend it in the store, and leave with what they bought.
Borys Hinger, local real estate mogul and currently the largest owner of properties rented out to various illegal groups. He gave things like drug labs and such a place to stay that wasn’t just squatting in some abandoned shack. Made an effort to dress it all up like a legitimate thing too. All in exchange for charging rent from his clients. A simple but effective scheme that has earned him quite a large amount of money. Right now, he’s lying facedown on the floor of his own smaller private boat.
Yara knew about the man from her previous work. His name showed up often as the one who rented out the labs where she grew up in. Unfortunately he had a system in place to know as little about his clients as he can, at least on paper. Allowing him to leave barely any connection to any operation he set up. Getting information from this guy wasn’t going to provide anything useful about her. Though she found he can be useful in other ways.
As she looked at the man facedown in a pool of blood inside the cabin of the boat, she wondered what to do with the body. She couldn’t dissolve it right now, dumping it over the side into the water could blow her cover, and leaving it in the boat was risky since someone could find it. Things would have been easier if she had gotten to him before he left the harbor. But the man had some tough bodyguards that he thankfully told to stay behind for the party. The less they know the less they can rat on him for.
She could have left him alive, but the knowledge of him willingly renting the labs to her and knowing at least somewhat what was going on there had caused Yara to act out a little. Yara knew it would have made keeping him quiet harder anyway. So she hid in his boat and waited for him to be on his own on the water before cleanly but not swiftly ending him. Yara had no idea what such an act would have on the larger criminal world, but she also had no idea why she should care.
Yara was wearing Borys’s form as she approached the yacht. His body was still stashed in the cabin which thankfully had windows she could shut. No one was discovering the body without breaking into his boat. She made sure to leave no trace outside during the murder as well. Luckily for her he also had a briefcase of money, likely for him to use during the party. This was good for her since the alternative was stealing from these people and she didn’t like her odds of fighting through all of them if she got caught.
She parked the boat near the back of the yacht. Borys was one of the few people who took their own boat here instead of just boarding it at the port. She overheard him saying how this was merely to buy the merchandise and leave, he didn’t have time for partying. Thankfully Yara had the same idea.
She stepped onto the yacht with the briefcase in hand. She walked up some stairs and into a large group of freshly drunk partygoers from all corners of the city. Standing by the buffet table was Queen Yanadeyis, who saw her and subtly nodded her head in the direction of where the black market was. Being royalty, she was usually welcome to attend these parties since they are still presented as legitimate events. She admitted to using the market a few times, that's how Yara got the idea to visit it in the first place.
She stepped inside and walked down some stairs to the lower decks. An armed guard at a heavy metal door recognizes Borys and opened the door. Yara stepped in as the door shut behind her. The room was clearly some kind of small apartment that was extensively renovated into a place to display all sorts of illegal goods. An assimar sipping on a glass of wine looks up from his phone and at Yara.
“Ah Borys. So glad you could briefly drop by for the party.” he said.
“Can we skip the formalities, I want to get my things and leave.” Yara said with Borys’s voice.
“In a rush this evening?” he asked.
“I believe someone may be after me. I can’t know for sure if they tracked me here or not. I need to get back to a safehouse of mine as soon as possible.” Yara said.
“Well then tell me what your heart aches for this night and I’ll get it for you.” he said.
“Tripmines, proximity mines, any kind of trap that is self activating.” Yara said.
“I can guess why you need those. I got some of ‘em. How many do you need?” he asks.
Yara handed the assimar the entire briefcase and says “However much this pays for.”
“Generous today aren't you? Alright let me count it and I’ll have your merchandise as soon as I can.” he said as he opened the briefcase.
Queen Yanadeyis soon saw Borys again in her view, now carrying a duffle bag. She smiled and continued to enjoy the party. Yara carefully placed the bag in the boat and sped away from the yacht. Yara beached the boat on a small stretch of sand. Left inside the cabin was Borys and whatever money was left over, a little treat for whoever found the body. Yara shed her disguise and walked into the city with the bag slung over her shoulder.