I am leaving this Lidija and Zora. I can use better support. In this case that I have screwed open Dalek-3H and am improving his engravings. I cannot cast [Pipes of War] on him. But thinking that I need to do so is a mistake. If there is to be a pipe between us I am perfectly happy with him activating it. And while we are at it, I am adding a fourth arm with a blade on it. As that improves him, he shall henceforth be know as Dalek 3-IH.
There’s a knock on my door.
Z: Have you upgunned your floating traffic cone?
P: I’ve named him Dalek-3IH. And no, but he’s got a bladed weapon know.
Z: Preparing for close combat? Anyway, we have prepared the ritual on the small hill northeast of the hotel. And Lidija has her stones. He was a bit reluctant to do two „tainted“ stones, but we got him around quickly.
P: Do I want to know now? Actually, could we play good cop and bad cop?
Z: I suppose. It is not much play. I don’t trust him.
P: Neither do I. He is GDN. That is why we must keep him with us.
Z: What?
P: Ethics aside, we need one more ritual at a minimum. And do you want to leave him here with the children? He is still iron rank, abilities blocked or not blocked.
Z: You are right.
--
Once again I am fortifying a hilltop. Only that this time Zora is also mining its approaches
P: Have you gotten anything for fortification?
L: No, my new powers are rater ghoulish. They require that something or somebody die before I can make use of them.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
P: Kinky.
L: You really are a dark one, aren’t you?
P: Dark humour is like food. Not everybody gets it. - Josif Džugašvili
She is not the only one to laugh. I am surprised.
L: Are you telling us that without essences you’d be fat?
I bow. This women’s tongue is military grade.
--
Z: I am done. Everybody ready?
Nods all around. Jan looks around with questioning eyes. We nod again.
The circle lights up.
The result is underwhelming. None of the monsters make it to the mines.
Z: To the town now?
M: Yes!
L: Wait!
M: What is it now?
L: We need to first figure out how to deal with the boss. It would appear right after we defeat the rest of the anomalies in the town, right?
Z: Yes, the answer strogly suggest that. I am afraid you are right.
J: Is there a need to fundamentally alter the tactics?
P: How are we supposed to know without knowing what the boss is? Obviously a mine field would not work, if it can fly, for example.
Z: Provided it can fly. In terms of environment, not basic capability.
P: Do you want to fight it under water, or what?
Z: Nope, inside a building. I already trapped a house.
--
We have been discussing tactics the whole trip long, which we are doing in my, now repaired, car. The discussion has been going in circles, with nobody being able to come up with something better than Zora’s plan.
J: Does the ritual have to be here? I have bad associations with this place.
P: I am sorry, but it has to. We were really badly mauled as we entered the street between the buildings.
Z: You are preparing a ritual, while we are digging and toting junk metal, so stop complaining.
We have decided that Zora is to explosively demolish the interior of the house next to town square, so that we have enough more or less rod-shaped pieces of scrap metal to serve as lightning rods. And a walking hydrant did not seem to be among the nimblest of entities, so digging traps also might serve us well.
--
J: The ritual is ready.
P: Do you all know your assigned positions? We have to assume that he arrives immediately after the fight.
Nodding all around.
The ritual again goes into effect. And again the number of enemies left is too small to cause significant issues.
L: What is that?
Yes, she has an aura power now. Yet within seconds we all sense it from a distance far greater than we usually would. The boss is coming. Knowing a direction, I send my spy eyes towards it.