1.19

A rogue stream of sunlight cut across the room and startled Bodwyn awake. It felt like claws were digging at the inside of his skull. Bleary eyed, he looked out the window to see the sun had started to spread its lovely art across the sky.

“I feel like I agreed to do something dangerous last night.” Bodwyn rubbed his eyes and slapped his cheeks. A creeping sense of dread rose up from the back of his mind.

“You’re going to stop me?”

“I was just saying that.” Bodwyn whispered his reply.

“Need I remind you what will happen if you back out of our little agreement?” Bodwyn felt the presence recede as it laughed.

In a panic, Bodwyn stretched out his hand and willed a little magic. A small jet of water streamed from the palm of his hand.

Bodwyn left his room and almost tripped on Fenrick as he turned to descend the stairs.

“What job did I agree to do?” Bodwyn rubbed his eyes again.

“To help someone slay an ogre.” Fenrick gave a momentary cold stare then let out a smirk. “I get the feeling you would’ve agreed to any job offered our way last night. We’ve gotta keep an eye on you and the drink.”

“Shit, I’m sorry.” Bodwyn looked at Fenrick. Fenrick shrugged his shoulders and turned to run back down.

Ogres were terrifying creatures. They ranged from anywhere between eight to twelve feet in height and could weigh as much as half a tonne. Violent monsters, they were made up of necromantic energies that were fuelled by angry spirits of those that were wronged, or wasted in bloodshed. Often manipulated into being by those that practised necromantic magic, literally thousands of ogres spawned from the war that ripped Gamerrah apart.

Rapid regeneration and natural resistance to physical attacks and some magic, overpowering an ogre was a difficult task. Anyone that came across one would hope to have access to spells or enchantments that were radiant in nature.

Their bulging, bulbous bodies were made up of rotten flesh. They took joy in torturing their victims before they devoured them.

It was common for small camps and even villages could be wiped out by one of these monstrosities.

“Do you think we stand a chance against one?” Bodwyn asked with a shiver.

“The four of us? No. It depends on this stranger though. They had the guts to even track it down by themselves, so that means something.”

“Oh, okay. Well, it was nice knowing ya.” Bodwyn shivered again.

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“We ready to slay a monster?” Sharampf’s voice belied the expression of concern on her face.

“Did anyone catch the name?” Bodwyn asked. The others shook their heads.

Glayda was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. Her arms were crossed, and her face was as stern as stone.

“You know you don’t have to be this stupid,” she said. “Stay alive, please. You’re the highest paying regulars I’ve ever had.” Her mouth froze as it tried to break into a grin.

“How thoughtful of you,” said Bodwyn.

“Thanks Glayda, I guess,” said Sharampf.

“We have to. He declared in front of everyone that we would.” Fenrick looked past Glayda to see Tad come out of the kitchen, a mischievous look on her face.

“Nobody will care if you back out of it. I’ll clear half of what you owe me.” Glayda sounded as thought she were saying goodbye.

“We’re gonna try our best,” said Sharampf.

“There’ll be an upset elven child if you don’t come back. And a grumpy goblin. Heck, I wouldn’t be too happy either.”

The four of them left The Cracked Cauldron and made their way to the edge of town, where the mysterious figure waited for them. An elegant, white longbow was slung to their back.

“Nice to see that you didn’t back out of the job, I was beginning to wonder if you had really meant it.” There was a light, playful tone to their voice.

“I’m Bodwyn, this is Sharampf, Tad and Fenrick.” Bodwyn pointed at each of them in turn.

“Nice to meet you all, my name is Kimaya.” She lowered her hood. A short bob of jaw-length brown hair matched the colour of her skin. Though she wore a playful smile, her eyes showed a glimpse of some past horror that had aged her spirit. “Ah, one of the Order of the Shell. We might stand a chance yet.”

“Nice to meet you. Shall we get going?” Sharampf asked.

“Yes. I hope you’re all ready for some danger.” The group nodded and started on their way.

“Were you really thinking of taking the ogre on your own before you stopped at Cobbleson?” Bodwyn asked. “I can’t imagine it’s a town with many competent fighters.”

“Maybe. Come, we have more than a day’s travel to even get to where I had last seen the thing.” Kimaya took off at a steady pace, her feet seemed to barely touch the ground.

The group continued to power on for a good three hours, passing through the outer farmlands and yellow meadows of the outer reaches of Cobbleson. Here they slowed their pace a little, as all but Kimaya and Fenrick needed to catch their breath.

Kimaya readied her bow and aimed at a small shrub.

“What is it?” asked Fenrick. He had sensed something amiss as well and was as quick to react as Kimaya was.

“We’re being watched.” Kimaya narrowed her eyes at the shrub. Fenrick was almost disappointed with himself for not having noticed it himself.

A small cat suddenly leapt out from within the shrub. Its fur shimmered with patterns of the galaxies and its eyes were as green as jade.

“You gave us quite a fright,” said Sharampf.

The cat meowed a soft, melodious song. It then turned from them and walked off a little. It stopped, turned back to them, sat down, and meowed again.

“I think it wants us to follow it?” said Bodwyn. Tad wandered over to the cat and nudged at it with her head.

“Tad seems to trust the creature. I trust her,” said Fenrick.

“Its most certainly a familiar. I wonder why it wants us to follow it.” Kimaya lowered her bow but kept the arrow nocked. “If this little distraction seems to go for too long, we’ll need to just ditch it.”

The group followed the cat for a while off the path and out into a small thicket of trees.

Great stone bricks in the shape of a perfect circle, rose high into the air. There were no windows and only a large wooden door with iron bands as a way in.

The cat walked to the door, meowed, and the door opened. The cat walked in.

As the party approached, Kimaya and Fenrick noticed a large, baleful, yellow eye open between the cracks of the stone. It looked at them a moment, slid further down the tower, looked at them again and disappeared as it closed.

“I’ve never seen something like that before,” said Kimaya.

“Me neither,” said Fenrick. The cautious pair readied their weapons.