Breaking the Rules Pt. 18

Breaking the Rules takes place in an RPG universe, and is the sequel to Bending the Rules. To understand the characters and how the world works, please start from Part 1 of either series. Not based on any particular gaming franchise or storyline, but there may be guest appearances.

Some of the dialogue punctuation in this part uses music note characters. I'm unable to test if this comes out in the app properly in advance - apologies if it looks funny.

Good lord pixies are hard to keep track of. True story.

*****

"Nyaaagh!" Nuru sat straight up in bed, visions of Katlego dancing in front of his eyes.

He flopped back after a moment, listening and not hearing much. The sun was just starting to peer in through the window.

"Ugh... time to go arrange a pickup."

(How you doing over there?)

/Never better! Although if you had a mana potion I sure would appreciate the boost. I've tapped you out several times through the night; if you've got a headache, that's probably just mana burn./

(Have- wait, did you sleep at all?)

/Who can sleep at a time like this? The party's reaching its peak right now. I called a bunch of thralls back and I'm about to make a mass conversion once I do the grand finale. This is a new record for me, I'm going to be sore for days. No way I'm going to keep out of the limelight now; the question is how long it takes for the real players to show up on my doorstep. Get your ass in gear and make a play for the Labyrinth as soon as possible. Shit's about to get real, as you younger mortals like to say, and time's running out./

"Damn. Fingers crossed for our sexy librarian coming through."

/I may have to twist her arm a little to lean harder on this archon. You know, the way I like to do./

Nuru's head did hurt a little, and he wasn't sure he was ready to face the implications of what she was suggesting. One thing at a time, he had to reach Tusa.

(When you see her, tell her I'm coming her way. I think I can reach City of the Damned today.)

/Bring the case straight to her, I like it./

(Dammit, why didn't I think of sending Tusa straight to Furaha? Spectrum probably have Beast Language skills to tell him where she is, or understand him asking for her.)

/This is too important to leave to that kind of chance. If the wrong person got it, held it up by him misunderstanding faction culture, it might have slipped away. Excuse me though, I'm in the middle of something; a crowd of horny demons, specifically. Good thing auras don't cost more with more targets in range, or I'd be a whole different kind of fucked./

(Right, have fun with that.)

/Soooo far ahead of you./

Nuru stopped at a well to wash off a little of the grime of the night before, grabbed a bite for the road, and held only one thing in his mind: reaching his destination. He popped into the library on his way through to check the monster forecast, and found it was only a little bit suicidal. The Random Encounters were rated for Level Sixteen, but they were mostly slower monsters he might be able to outrun, assuming he didn't get surrounded. He considered, just briefly, finding a caravan to travel with, but decided he'd feel bad if one of his growing number of enemies caught up to him, and innocent people got caught in the crossfire. Instead, he picked up a shabby old cloak from behind the shops, covered his nice shirt with it even if it was a bit hot, and walked like a normal person. There was little use in running hard, as it would make him stand out, and Sanaa needed his mana anyway so Weightless Foot would be unavailable. He called through Tusa's oath, and just kept walking. He heard a growl near noon, and stepped off the road, sitting to take a break. Tusa approached cautiously, sniffed the cloak, and then relaxed.

"!Fassada Girma! My friend, I am so glad to see you alive. I worried after I saw what that man could do that he'd cause you too much harm."

[Friend indeed, we are glad to have made the acquaintance of one whose priorities are so well balanced. The object is of great value and urgency, but you have first been concerned with my own health. Father was right about you.]

"Uh, if you don't mind me asking... what happened to the object?"

[It is Father's turn to carry. He is better leveled and able to stand against such a foe.]

"Wow. I would hear more, if you will share it. What happened yesterday?"

[The hunter became the hunted. I have known this feeling before, but never with this much room to run. Such a thrill! He has many tricks, and stopped to call upon the magics of ritual such as I've never seen before. His greatest strength lies in the weapon he carries, of that I feel certain. A great power stores up within, and depletes with use. We had to discover the weakness in his protective skin, in how it travels. Tight places slow it, and hills and protrusions cause it to stray uncontrollably from the path. On an open field, he would be the faster of the two of us, but among the trees I have the advantage. Though his power is unimaginable at its peak, it eventually failed him.]

"Holy crap. So he used up the power of that crystal trying to chase you?"

[Yes. Once triumphant, it was dark and I returned home and explained to Father what happened. He agreed to take the object to higher-level areas in my stead, until I could find you and make some plan to deliver or dispose of it.]

"Tell him I am so grateful and I owe him a Big Favor."

[He was happy to do it. It has been some time since he had a challenge of this sort, and I can tell he enjoyed his time in your service. I will offer it all the same.]

"Thank you. OK, so I think the plan will be... let's see. If he can take the object and run during the day along the road to City of the Damned, I will have someone stand near an intersection with a whistle that only you and he should be able to hear. It is meant for dogs, but I hope that lyenas can hear it as well."

[It is likely. I will ask that he only use the whistle for short periods at a time. This person will not know how loudly it is blowing, and will not appreciate how painful it is to approach.]

"I will pass that on. By the way, there are several roads coming in; please have him run from the direction of the highest-level area that he feels it is safe for him to travel. If my guy does not encounter him, he will try another intersection the next day. Stay with the same road, but don't get too close by taking a road that doesn't have any other intersections before reaching the city. We don't need them knowing where to go to set up an ambush, if we can help it; we have reason to believe the man can find the object from anywhere."

[This was our conclusion as well. It may take a day or two for me to reach Father as he is moving constantly. I may also take the burden so he can hunt.]

"OK. In that case, I will go outside the city to the road that Ace is traveling and pull the Oath so that you know which direction it is. It's a high-level area though, so I won't be out there long. He should recognize Ace, they've met before."

[This plan has merit, though I feel we do not know those roads well, as we prefer to stay away from humans, and may have some difficulty locating the places you mean. I go to do my part.]

"Be well, Tusa. Thank you again."

[It is an honor and a pleasure.]

And like the shadow of an arrow, Tusa was gone.

"Now I just need to avoid getting _myself_ killed," Nuru said.

(I don't suppose you can keep an eye open for me?)

/Nope. My attention is split too many ways already. Give me a bit, though./

(OK. Leave me enough mana to cast Influence Emotions so I can try to calm anything that might be hostile.)

"!Wahayi mai kida!"

Nuru took his drum out and played a soothing rhythm, as much for himself as any would-be attackers. Eventually he found himself caught up in the moment, and danced down the road, just happy to be alive and enjoying the pleasant weather of the day. A cool breeze blew past him and he heard the sound of distant tinkling bells. Something in his memory tripped, but he was having some trouble bringing himself to care. The day was so nice, the grass so green, the sky so blue, and the singing so beautiful that-

Nuru blinked, succeeding in his saving throw against the charm he was falling under. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye, but studied the ground around him. He'd wandered off the road a little, and turned to go back. The gentle melodious voice drifting through the air strangled off with a frustrated cry, and then was joined by a chorus of others that swarmed in around him, wordless cries that threatened to distract him from his determined footsteps, if only for a moment to swat at them. But he knew that if he did so, he'd be lost; multiple voices were singing now, and if he'd been led astray by a single one then several together were probably beyond his resistance.

He checked his MP and discovered it was creeping back up, and decided to make a break for it.

"!Kafa Mara Nauyi!"

For a moment, he thought he would make it. Then he felt a tug on one sleeve, and then the other, tiny hands pulling at him and slowing him down. A few more joined, and then they were no longer pulling backwards, but upwards, and he felt his feet leaving the ground.

"Ah crap!"

His forward momentum slowed, then reversed. He focused on the beating wings, and snapped one figure after another out of Sneak, who each turned to give him a nasty glare. They were smaller than the pixie he'd seen at The Zoo, and weighed even less than the light ninety pounds he had weighed.

"!Iyuan Aram Afak!"

The pixies gasped and then shrieked as his full weight returned, and dragged them all back towards the ground. He tumbled, but failed to get far before his shoes were tied together and he fell to the ground, held down by several fierce little women.

"Well ladies, we seem to be at a bit of an impasse," Nuru said, poking at them and making them squeal in protest.

He settled in, deciding to try to wait them out. He seemed to remember something about short attention spans, and figured they'd get bored and move on. One of the pixies climbed up on his chest and blew a raspberry at him.

"Yeah, well, same to you," he said, sticking his tongue out.

It immediately devolved into a funny-face-off where he tried to find the goofiest expression to give, and let the other pixies judge who was being the more entertaining, as determined by how hard they were laughing.

"Alright, you beat me," Nuru said, grinning and laughing with all of them. "What's your name, beautiful?"

She sang something at him.

"I, uh... wow, that's a lovely name. I'm not sure I can pronounce it, but let me try."

He replayed it in his head several times, trying it out phonetically. He cleared his throat and gave it his best singing voice, two octaves too low.

Nuru: ♫ Nkir-iiii-ka ♫

The pixies squealed and clapped their hands in delight.

"No contest there, my name is just Nuru, nothing fancy. So I guess you win again."

The pixies cheered with the one on his chest as she raised her hands in triumph and did a little victory lap around him. One of the pixies sang something and half of them took off after her as she went off somewhere.

"Hey, where's everybody going? Should I- Ack!" Nuru said, starting to re-tie his shoes.

The pixies remaining behind swarmed him, attacking him with tiny fists that didn't hurt too much.

"Hey, I can't come with you until I tie my shoes again!" he protested.

They settled down, and his two-time vanquisher crossed her arms, sniffed, and turned her head. Nuru took that as permission, and got himself back together, then stood up.

"Alright, where are we go-" Nuru said, turning around.

"G'day mate," said the dwarf standing right there.

"Yipe! I didn't hear you coming," Nuru said.

"An' well ya shouldn't. Me ladies here give us a fair bit a' Initiative when it comes t' tha'."

"Eh, right then, greetings to you, I'm Nuru, at your service," he said, taking a bow.

"Kwame, at me own service," the dwarf said, standing straighter.

"Yes, I see. Is there something I can help you with?" Nuru said. "Or the ladies, perhaps?"

"I desperately hope so. They've ta'en a liking, it seems. Mebbe ye kin get 'em outta me beard for a spell, yeh?"

"Well, they seem fun enough. Where are you from, may I ask? I don't recognize that accent."

"We's the suth'n dworves, natch."

"Oh, from the south, of course. Haven't gone there yet but by all the gods I intend to do so. Did they drag you all this way?"

"Nah, we's here since five months ah so. Met raight hereabouts, more'r'less. Olroit luvz, ah seen th' catch yeh got, nah I'd like a bit a shut-eye 'f'at's olroit wit' ya."

Several of the pixies sang out at him.

"Oi, yoo'z a riot, you is. Y'tink ya make me jealous on account o'this'n? Ye can't be serious, I know damn well I couldn't get rid o' ya. I tried it a dozen times, remember. Do as ye will. An' good luck keepin' up tah ye, Neeroo."

"It's Nu-"

The pixies buzzed their wings at the trudging dwarf angrily. One of them kicked Nuru in the shin.

"Ow!" he said. "What was that f- ow!"

The same had one doubled over, clutching her foot in pain, then lashed out even harder with her fist, as if it was his fault she'd been hurt. Some of the others began looking over at him hungrily.

"Er, sorry for uh, getting in the way of your foot?" Nuru said. "So now what would you like to do?"

He jumped as he took a swat to the ass from behind, a pixie zipping by him to stand provocatively, leaning over to show a bit of cleavage as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Why you little-!" Nuru grinned, taking off running after her.

He tripped on his own pants, which had been stealthily pulled down around his ankles, and he fell on his face.

"Pbff! Gracious, that was a good one, I didn't even notice," he said.

He got up, secured his pants, then took off running after the one that had done it. She ran and giggled and taunted him, flipping forward, back, and side to side out of his reach. The others cheered and egged him on. One of them squeaked something, and they all stopped to look in one direction at once.

"Tag, you're... it? What? What's going on?"

The pixies all took off flying away.

"Aw come on, I was just about to..."

The words died on his tongue as he saw the foreboding form of a pygmy troll caterpillar raised up and swaying menacingly.

(Shit! What do I do!?)

/Sorry, still wrapping things up over here. You're on your own for a bit./

"Aw come on, I was just going to play a game with you!" Nuru said, breaking into a cold sweat.

The pixies turned about, looking back and forth from him to the caterpillar. Some argument broke about among them, that lasted as long as it took for the caterpillar to drop and lurch into motion towards Nuru. He was just about to try his luck with Weightless Foot when the whole pixie swarm went on the attack. They appeared to be winning at first; the caterpillar diverged from collision course with him, but then a bunch of the pygmy trolls jumped out and started fighting back. Battle cries turned into shrieks of pain, and then pixies started falling over with the poison of the blades. He considered running. What did he owe the pixies, after all? They'd essentially abducted him from the road, and pranked him without mercy. This was his chance to get away, while they were all distracted. But he felt oddly attached to the little women; they hadn't seemed to be truly malicious, just playful and under-stimulated. He was also damnably curious about what the dwarf's relationship with them was, and if he left now he'd never find out. And so, cursing his own poor judgment, he turned and waded into the fight with them. Knowing what the tactics were from the last time he'd fought pygmy trolls, he kept his distance from larger groups and watched for enemies sneaking up on him, while trying to even the odds for any of the pixies that weren't lying on the ground. Without Sanaa's warnings though, he was too slow, and the pixies all fell or retreated; the pygmy trolls loaded back into their caterpillar and started off towards him again. He dodged and kicked at the legs of the following segments as they planted on the ground, and he damaged some of them, but the head segment had a nasty looking set of mandibles that had a quick turning radius and followed him relentlessly. The caterpillar stopped and rolled over sideways towards him and he wasn't prepared; some of the legs snagged him and the whole thing curled into the familiar ring to start rolling away at high speed.

"Gods damn it! I'm so sick of you little bastards coming out of nowhere and ruining everything!" Nuru said, catching the attackers' blades on his sleeves to try to keep the poison from getting into his bloodstream.

The whole caterpillar shuddered as the fallen pixies all started wailing something magical, some spell Nuru didn't know. The caterpillar sped up, trolls focusing more on speed than on subduing Nuru for the moment.

"By all th' gods I just want some- YE ANT FECKERS!" the dwarf bellowed as he came on the scene. "!Saurin Yajin Aiki!"

He glowed with some kind of aura, and he seemed a bit taller. He produced a pair of what looked like either fencing swords that had been reforged as knives, or knuckle dusters that had a small blade married to each. His fingers were protected, and he barrelled in with a flurry of strikes that battered the pygmy trolls in a line; he simply followed along the ring of segments where they touched the ground, and smashed through each one as it came down, decimating the first several trolls before the remainder bailed out and ran away.

"Graah! An' dun show ya ugly faces e'er again, lest I make ye into toothpaste!" the dwarf howled, shaking both fists at them.

"That's... rather menacing. But, uh, what does it actually mean?"

"Well, eh, see I smash them up into goop and scrub me teeth... that is... I dunno. Probably like pissin' in me own mouth. I mean, who cares, they'll be dead, raight?"

"True. You could clearly follow through on that, I was just confused."

"Hrrr. Got me blood all up an' hot. Gotta cool down a bit. Mind helpin' me get th' ladies up?"

"Tell me what to do."

"It's a little o'th' poison, an' a little o'th' iron in the blades; they're allergic, see. So we gotta get 'em some mana, the overload will counter the effects. Wait ta see their eyes start t' glow when they max an' then give 'em a little sip."

The dwarf handed Nuru some mana potions.

"Keep a few with you just in case?"

"Aye. But then after... ah, never you mind."

Nuru cocked an eyebrow, but went to the nearest pixie and turned her head up.

She groaned, trying to roll over and go to sleep.

"Now now, I'm just trying to help," Nuru said, gently prying an eyelid open.

He saw a spark and figured that was the sign he was looking for, and popped one of the mana potions open, lifted her head, and tilted the bottle. She sniffed, then her eyes flew open and she jerked at the potion, trying to swallow the whole thing in a gulp.

"Hey! Easy," Nuru said, laughing. "You only need a little bit."

She groaned and sat down, holding her head. He moved on to the next, and one after another they all got a drink of the mana potion. He returned the unopened one to the dwarf, and finished off the partial one to help ease his own headache.

"Hate to see it go to waste," he explained.

Helped with his own headache, too.

"S'pose ye've earned that much. Ye've dealt with their kind b'fore?"

"No, why?"

"Seemed ta get on well, and oftentimes it's hard to keep 'em from downing the potion in that state. Ye knew exactly how ta do it."

"Oh. I'd heard they were a bit... child-like, so I thought that might work."

"Right y'are. So. Ya damn fool human, this close te City o' th' Damned. What're ye thinkin', eh? And under-leveled at that."