Threadbare - Complete Trilogy, page 103
“Never change, okay?”
“Oh that’s an easy promise for golems to make,” Fluffbear said.
“It is, isn’t it?” Cecelia said. “And that’s what we are now, more or less. There’s no going back, is there? This is it, isn’t it?”
“Stahting to sink in, huh?” Madeline said, bumping her sympathetically with the side of her muzzle.
“It didn’t until my body was dead. If it was my body at all, and not just… mostly daemonflesh.” Cecelia sighed. “I’ve been trying to sort out how I feel about it.”
“I’m still very sorry about that,” Threadbare said. “I forgot she was being affected by Mastoya’s spell.”
“Oh Threadbare…” She reached over and rubbed the back of his head, where the hat didn’t cover. He leaned into it. “No. It’s fine. Daemons are nothing but trouble. I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t have worked out, and… well, I wouldn’t really be alive, either. Just trading one shell for another.”
“You got a pretty good shell now,” Glub said, as they reached the top of the stairs and started down a long hall, past a pair of dwarven guards.
“Thanks Glub.” She smiled. “Well. There’s no point in feeling sorry for myself. We just saw an abject example of that, and I’ll be hanged before I go that route. One more thing to do, one more thing to get through, then we can figure out life, the universe, and everything.”
“There you are!” Kayin said, waving to them from next to a pair of large, oaken doors. “You’re late, desu.”
Emmet moved forward and pushed the oaken doors open, revealing one of the mess halls of Fort Bronze. It was vast, and it was empty… save for King Grundi, his honor guard, Hidon Fingers, and a stubble-bearded human clad all in grey. The stranger studied them for a long moment as they came in.
Your Adorable skill is now level 47!
“So you’re Caradon’s legacy…” The man murmured, walking over and kneeling down, offering a hand.
“One of them. I’m Threadbare. He’s Emmet. She’s Missus Fluffbear. And these are our friends.” Threadbare put his paw in the man’s hand and shook.
“I’m Jericho.” He turned blue eyes to Cecelia. “I’m sorry for the circumstances, milady.”
She shook her head. “It’s all right. I’m very glad Mordecai found his way to you.”
“You made Bak’shaz very, very happy, when he told him how you’d saved him.” Jericho smiled. “I’m glad you made the right choice.”
“Believe me, so am I.” She shook hands with him as well, and he escorted the toys to the table.
“Now that’s all well and done we’ve still got a Kingdom to save,” King Grundi said. ”But before that, I’d like to make sure we’re all on the same page. So as to prevent trouble afterwards and all.”
“Trouble?” Cecelia asked.
“Aye.” Grundi shared a glance with Jericho. “I’m just going to hammer it straight, here. We don’t think you can be queen.”
“Okay,” Cecelia said. “Who gets it then?”
“I mean, there’s a number of reasons why, and it’s not a dig against YOU-“ Grundi caught himself. “Okay? That’s all you have to say?”
“I never wanted to be a queen in the first place. It was just the duty I thought I had to do. But I’m not the heir anymore, now am I? Not by dwarven law.”
“It’s more the undead thing for the people of the North,” Jericho said. “Well, the immortality thing in general. We don’t want immortal rulers on Cylvania’s throne.”
“But it’s that last part we’re having some disagreement on,” Grundi said. “Cylvania’s throne.”
“We’re hoping you can help break our disagreement.”
“Me?” Cecelia asked.
“Well, all of you,” Grundi said. “You may not be good candidates for ruling, but let’s face it, we have no prayer of victory without you, we’ve only got this far because of your help, and if you can handle Melos and save us all then I really don’t want to have to fight you if you disagree with us THEN. So I’d like to hear your thoughts on the matter NOW.”
“What’s the disagreement?” Threadbare asked.
“For years we’ve fought because we’ve dreamed of a Cylvania at peace,” Jericho said, flexing his gloved fingers, running down them with his thumbs in nervous habit. “The survivors of Balmoran, and we who joined them, I mean. Driven into the woods, forced to a nomadic existence, down to a tenth of the population we once were. The dream has been to reunite the country with the Tyrant’s fall.”
“And I’m saying that there ain’t no country left,” Grundi’s voice was uncharacteristically soft. “You got the west, that’s what, four villages? Then a few villages in the East. South’s gone, lad. Taylor’s Delve and Grubholm and Outsmouth were the last holding it. They’re gone. There’s no point in having a Cylvania anymore.”
“Grubholm’s still there, but it’s all gribbits now,” Cecelia spoke up.
“Gribbits? The frog monsters? That’s no good,” Jericho said, frowning. “We’ll have to clear them out once-”
“No!” Fluffbear jumped up. “They’re nice froggy people! They helped us sneak in here!”
“What? What d’ya mean?” Grundi asked, leaning forward in his Kneelchair.
“She’s sayin’ that theah actually decent folks. Just a bit territorial,” Madeline said. “Which maybe brings up a point. Might not be many human settlements left, but theah’s some groups of monstahs out theah that might be on boahd with being all civilized and the like. Or at least not having to fight humans. Er, and dwahves, too.”
“Like raccants!” Fluffbear spoke up. “They’d love to help humans! They’re just… kinda bad at it,” she admitted.
“That’s a point,” Cecelia said. “Leaving out goblins and ogres and the other things that can only be trusted to be malicious, there’s creatures living here now that might be up for… something. We can’t have the old Cylvania back, but we can maybe make a new one.”
“We might be able to help with that,” Threadbare said. “A lot of monsters seemed to react better to us than they did to humans. Perhaps we could travel around and see if they’re interested in… what, exactly?”
“In a council,” Grundi said, steepling his fingers. “Aye. That would work. Better than the dwarves having to take over the whole damn thing. My folk have tried ruling over humans before, never goes well. Never ever.”
“I’m honestly not sure if it would work, but…” Jericho rubbed his stubbled chin. “So long as neither of you are planning on seizing the throne once this is all said and done, we can focus on DOING it, rather than trying to maneuver for the spoils afterward. All right. I’ll agree to this. We’ll give a council a whirl, and sort out the details afterward.”
Grundi nodded, and snapped his fingers. Hidon pulled out a mass of parchment, ripped entire sections of words out, taped a few new sheets in, scrawled quickly, and handed it up to his King. The King read it over, nodded, signed, and slid it to the rest of them.
And with a few strokes of a pen, Cecelia signed away any claim she might have on the throne. The rebel leader signed his part, and Grundi nodded with satisfaction as he stuffed it into one of the compartments of his armrests. “Now that that’s done, how are we going to take down Melos? Without killing everyone, I mean?”
“You told Jericho about the dungeon situation we’re in?” Threadbare asked.
“Aye.”
The ranger nodded. “We’ve suspected something like this was going on for a while. The Hand show up as midbosses, it’s plain as day on their status. Speaking of which, we’ve got maybe a week before they respawn. Possibly less.”
“Less than that,” Threadbare said. “The daemons are our real foe. Anise lost here, and right now she doesn’t know the fort has been taken. But once word of that gets out, we’ll lose our backdoor into the castle.”
“Backdoor?” Jericho asked.
“The Waystone chamber,” Cecelia said.
“That’s a deathtrap.” Jericho shook his head. “The security on there is ludicrous. We’ve considered and rejected it. Even if we had the passcodes, it would be almost impossible to survive, let alone get through with a force that could storm the castle.”
“Ah, but when you throw a mastah merchant into the mix…” Madeline leaned in.
“I see what you’re thinking, but it won’t work. The very first thing that happens when you teleport through, is a battery of dispel magics, from the wizards on duty. So merchant’s packs explode, the invasion forces in them are revealed, then the room seals and…“ he trailed off, as he realized.
“The room seals and fills with poison gas,” Cecelia finished. Then with a grin, she reached up and tapped her nose.
“Okay, so you don’t care about that. But there’s the other traps to consider, and the guards beyond. And that helps your lot, but I’m sorry to say that I don’t think you can do it alone. You’ll need us for backup, and even if you can, I don’t know, golem through all the traps, we can’t.”
“Which is why I’ve got a plan. And in an hour I might just have someone to help with the initial breach…”
It took five hours, actually, before Mastoya caved in, and agreed to help.
But that was more than enough time, for the golems to wrap up their dreamquests, refill their pools, and ready themselves for what lay ahead.
They said their goodbyes, and took one last look around Fort Bronze.
One way or another, they wouldn’t be coming back.
*****
Waystone duty was boring. The guards on shift hated it, the four wizards encircling the chamber and watching through windows above hated it, and the alchemists in the slaughterpits below hated it.
That changed the second that the bell tolled. The guards went from numb boredom to wide-awake adrenaline.
This was an unscheduled incoming arrival.
“Dispel Magic! Dispel Magic! Dispel Magic! Dispel Magic!” The wizards did their thing. Nothing exploded, so the guards relaxed. A bit, just a bit.
“You have ten seconds to utter the passcode! Fail and you die!” The sergeant on duty called through the grated door. “Ten nine eight seven-”
“Gladius Piscine!” Mastoya snapped. “Fort Bronze has fallen. Get ready to shatter the waymark!”
The guards paled, and stared beyond her, at the pillar in the center of the room. For twenty years it had stood, emblazoned with glowing glyphs, allowing easy transit from the center of the Realm to the Eastern and Western edges. “Ma’am? I…” The sergeant stuttered. This was way, WAY above his paygrade.
“FUCKING DO IT!” Mastoya yelled, slamming her gauntlet against the door. “AND GET ME OUT OF HERE BEFORE THEY STONE IN!”
“I… I…” The sergeant said, after she was past the barriers and traps. “Yes Ma’am. Will you, will you sign the logs at least?”
Mastoya looked at the book. She picked it up and ripped it in half, with such force that the wooden toy on her belt jiggled and rattled. “I’m calling in Damocles protocols and you want me to sign the fucking book that is irrelevant after today?” She snarled.
The sergeant swallowed, and turned gray.
“Do it, before-”
The bell tolled. The wizards doled out dispel magics, and were answered by arrows. LOTS of arrows. “Rapid Fire! Razor Shot!” Mordecai and Jericho bellowed in unison, and mages screamed as glass shattered.
“Damocles!” The sergeant bellowed, running for the door. “I declare and authorize Damocles! Blow the room!”
Mastoya snarled, and pushed her way through the mob of guards. Behind her, the gas rolled in, the explosions started to shake the room…
…and unnoticed in the chaos and fury, two rangers used temporary waystones to return back whence they came.
Five minutes later, as guards rushed past her, she turned a corner, opened a door, and walked into guest chambers that hadn’t been used in months.
“Alright,” she cleared her throat. “We’re safe.”
“Dude,” Glub said, untying himself from her belt. “That was intense. Waymark!” he said, as he touched the floor. “You got the thingy?”
She handed him the Greater Waystone, and without a word, he took it, and faded, disappearing from Castle Cylvania…
…and reappearing back at Fort Bronze.
With a sigh, Mastoya sat on the bed, and looked in the mirror. Soon the little fishman golem would be making waystones, and handing them to the invasion parties. Soon the room would be full of invaders. And the last one to arrive would bring her the waystone that would take her back to her cell.
Her part in this was done.
And though she’d never admit it, for the first time in years, she was very, very relieved she wouldn’t be around for what came next.
THREADBARE’S CHARACTER SHEET
Name: Threadbare Age: 5
Jobs: Greater Toy Golem Level 16 Cave Bear Level 14 Ruler Level 14 Scout Level 8 Tailor Level 11 Model Level 11 Necromancer Level 11 Duelist Level 11 Animator Level 14 Enchanter Level 12 Golemist Level 20 Smith Level 11 Sculptor Level 13
Attributes: Strength: 151 Constitution: 173 Hit Points: 404(514) Armor: 62(76) Intelligence: 270 Wisdom: 237(244) Sanity: 507(679) Mental Fortitude: 52 Dexterity: 183(190) Agility: 150(157) Stamina: 343(467) Endurance: 72 Charisma: 133(162) Willpower: 256 Moxie: 389(528) Cool: 20(55) Perception: 134 Luck: 105(112) Fortune: 239(356) Fate: 20(27) Generic Skills Brawling - Level 63 (+36) Climb - Level 14 Clubs and Maces - Level 21 Dagger - Level 9 Dodge - Level 18 Fishing - Level 1 Magic Items - Resist Fire 29 Ride - Level 12 Stealth - Level 17 Swim - Level 5
Greater Toy Golem Skills Adorable - Level 47 Bodyguard - Level 9 Gift of Sapience - Level NA Golem Body - Level 34 Innocent Embrace - Level 17 Magic Resistance -Level 17
Cave Bear Skills Animalistic Interface - NA Claw Swipes - 52 Darkspawn - NA Forage - 13 Growl - 2 Hibernate - 37 Scents and Sensibility - 23 Stubborn - 10 Toughness - 25
Ruler Skills Appoint Official - Level NA Emboldening Speech - Level 19 Identify Subject - Level 10 It’s Good to be King - NA King’s Quest - Level 15 Noblesse Oblige - Level 37 Organize Minions - Level NA Royal Audience - Level 22 Simple Decree - Level 15 Swear Fealty - Level NA
Scout Skills Alertness - Level 3 Best Route - Level 3 Camouflage - Level 13(20) Firestarter - Level 11 Keen Eye - Level 12 Sturdy Back - Level 13 Wind’s Whisper - Level 19
Tailor Skills Adjust Outfit - Level 5 Clean and Press - Level 20 Recycle Cloth - Level 2 Tailoring - Level 54(69)
Model Skills Adjust Weight - Level 14 Call Outfit - Level 5 Dietary Restriction - Level 55 (+110 to all pools) Fascination - Level 9 Flex - Level 21 Makeup - Level 11 Self-Esteem - Level 21 Sexy Pose - Level 2 Strong Pose - Level 16 Work it Baby - Level 55 (+55% to raw item bonuses) Necromancer Skills Assess Corpse - Level 12 Command the Dead - Level 28 Deathsight - Level 9 Drain Life - Level 8 Invite Undead - Level 12 Mana Focus - Level NA (+11% to sanity) Skeletons - Level 19 Soulstone - Level 45 Speak With Dead - Level 24 Zombies - Level 3
Duelist Skills Challenge - Level 11 Dazzling Entrance - Level 17 Disarm - Level 2 Fancy Flourish - Level 13 (20) Guard Stance - Level 22 Parry - Level 22 Riposte - Level 1 Swashbuckler’s Spirit - NA (+20 to cool) Swinger - Level 2 Weapon Specialist - Level 43 (Brawling +21) Animator Skills Animus - Level 41 Animus Blade - Level 15 Animus Shield - Level 4 Arm Creation - Level 7 Command Animus - Level 19 Creator’s Guardians - Level 70 Dollseye - Level 18 Eye for Detail - Level 20 Magic Mouth - Level 18 Mend - Level 68
Enchanter Skills Appraise - Level 30 Boost+5 - Level 25 Boost +10 - Level 5 Disenchant - Level 24 Elemental Protection - Level 18 Glowgleam - Level 26 Harden - Level 36 Soften - Level 31 Spellstore I - Level 40 Spellstore V - Level 18 Spellstore X - Level 8 Wards - Level 3
Golemist Skills Armor Golem - Level 2 Bone Golem - Level 1 Call Golem - Level 4 Clay Golem - Level 3 Command Golem - Level 24 Flesh Golem - Level 1 Golem Animus - Level 66 Golem Guardians - NA Invite Golem - Level 12 Mend Golem - Level 60 Program Golem - Level 43 Toy Golem - Level 83 Wood Golem - Level 19
Smith Skills Adjust Arms and Armor - Level 20 Refine Ore - Level 15 Smelt Down - Level 7 Smithing - Level 52
Sculptor Skills Detect Clay - Level 8 Mend Ceramic - Level 6 Refine Clay - Level 18 Sculpting - Level 61
Equipment Journeyman Tailor’s Apron of fire resistance (+6 Armor, +10 Tailoring, Resist Fire 9)(+3 Armor, +5 Tailoring, +5 Resist Fire from WIB) Okay Quality Bling Ringtail Master’s Coat of fire resistance (+5 CHA, +5 LUCK, +5 Armor, +5 Fate, +10 Resist Fire 10)(+2 CHA, LUCK, Armor, Fate, +5 Resist Fire from WIB) Rippen Tear Cloak (+10 to brawling, +5 Armor)(+5 Brawling, +2 Armor from WIB) Rod of Baronly Might (+5 CHA, +5 WIS, +10 Cool)(+2 CHA, WIS, +5 Cool from WIB) Sneakypants (+5 Camouflage)(+2 Camouflage from WIB) Yellow Belt of Bravado (+5 AGL, +5 DEX, +5 to the Fancy Flourish skill)(+2 AGL, DEX, Fancy Flourish from WIB) Toy Top Hat (CHA +10)(+5 CHA from WIB) Golden Laurels (Enables the REST skill, usable every two hours.) Inventory A Folded-steel Dagger (Dagger Level 10) Tailor’s Tools 5 vials of Green Reagent. 1 Vial of Blue Reagent A pouch of assorted crystals, rank 1-4. Minorphone (Enhances voice and social skills focused through it twice per day) Quests
Unlocked Jobs Air Elementalist, Berserker, Cleric, Cook, Cultist, Grifter, Spirit Medium, Tamer, Wizard
The Sins of the Fathers 2
“Theah!” Madeline said, as Emmet’s massive hand reached into the pack. “It’s go time!”
“Makeup. Parry,” Threadbare said, smearing his face with paint and feeling it shift into the patterns that resembled a grinning, cocky goateed face. He moved to the front, grabbed his brother’s gauntlet, and rode it out.
He arrived to a large bedroom full of dwarves, hopped out of Emmet’s grip, and started looking around until he saw the familiar form of Kindness. Feeling relief, he moved over to it and tapped on its knee with his scepter. “Are you okay in there?”
“Just waiting for the signal,” Cecelia said. “Activation is loud. I can’t risk doing it until-”
The room shuddered. A gong rang outside, echoing through the castle.
