Fantasy The Clueless Wizard (Completed)

[ArcticFox]

"Could be." Revy shrugged.

The water in the sewer was moving faster as they walked, which showed that they were moving downwards. After some minutes, Arden saw several barrels clustered around a series of pillars. The pillars were enormous and made of thick stone.

"These look old." Kogan remarked as he examined the structure.

"They're part of the original sewer supports. There are hundreds of them. They hold up half the city," Revy said.

The moment Arden approached, something moved in the stagnant water. A bloated corpse sat up, swiping a water-logged claw at her.

The undead looked like it had been decaying for several months, though the whispy skin made it no less threatening. The smell was terrible and it watches their group with a baleful glare. Its belly had a long gash across it, which might have been the cause of death. The undead stood close to the barrels, watching Arden with white cataract-filled eyes. Revy moved away, face twisted in disgust.

- Tell Kogan to attack it.
- Attack it with your staff.
- Move forward cautiously.
- Watch the undead to see what it's doing.

 

[Yokai]

》Watch the undead to see what it's doing.

"You've got to be joking," Arden whispered, the words muffled under the weight of her own disbelief. "Actual fucking zombies?" She muttered, tucking her nose beneath the fabric of her cloak again. At some point she had to stop being surprised by the turns that this world had to offer. Maybe if she tracked down Mel -- and forced him to hang out with her -- then she'd be able to get some legitimate answers. Who knew what else roamed about in this world?

Arden shied away slightly, half tempted to use Kogan as a human -- orc? -- shield as she watched the undead man. Dark eyes flickered between him and the barrels curiously. What was he doing there? Was he supposed to be guarding them, and if so why?

 

[ArcticFox]

The undead reached into its pocket and pulled out a small object. It crushed the item in its hand and flames erupted along its fingers and crept up its wrist. The creature turned toward the barrel, stepping forward as its skin burned.

- Let it continue.
- Rush forward and grab its hand.
- Yell at the others to attack it.

 

[Yokai]

》Rush forward and grab it's hand.

When the creature burst into flames Arden found herself completely surprised as a deep sense of dread rooted itself in her stomach. An awful, improbable idea began to form at the back of her mind. The undead had purposefully caught fire and seemed determined to reach the barrels which crowded around the massive pillar. The exact same pillar that Revy had commented supported the entire town. If those barrels happened to be full of something like explosives then...

"No!" Arden lurched forward hand outstretched to catch the creature and to force it away. The possibility of catching flame, of being burnt, was overriden by the intense desire to keep it as far away from those barrels as possible. Arden could heal burns but she couldn't heal being buried under a mile of stone.

 

[ArcticFox]

She grabbed the undead's hand and immediately felt the intense pain as her flesh burned. There was no other way to keep holding onto it without casting a healing spell on herself.

With the spell the pain left her for a moment. It returned almost immediately as the fire continued to burn, but she was able to keep the undead's hand from moving.

The creature tried to open the barrel with its other hand, but Kogan stepped forward and ripped the creature's head off with a strong pull of his bare hands. The creature continued to struggle, forcing Kogan to further dismember it before it finally stopped moving.

Revy opened one of the barrels and the smell of flammable liquid filled the air. It wasn't difficult to guess the plan. The undead would have tried to blow up the barrels and destroy the pillar had Arden not stopped it. She had saved half the city from being sunk into the sewers.

"We need to report this to the Queen." Kogan said.

Together, the three of them returned to the palace. Queen Larissa granted them an audience in the throne room right away. Revy seemed nervous standing before the Queen of Traethia. Kogan summarised what happened as Queen Larissa listened.

"Another Yrantan plot." Queen Ruby says before turning to her personal guards. "Sound the alarm and double the guard. Send me my captains and lieutenants. We need to get to the bottom of this."

Arden, Kogan, and Revy were ignored as Queen Larissa delivered her orders. At one point, the Queen turned to Revy and said. "I have further need for you. Yes, you'll get your pardon."

Revy smiled happily at this.

- Ask Revy about her gang.
- Ask her about her history.
- Ask her about her future plans.
- Wait for the reports in silence.

 

[Yokai]

》Ask Revy about her future plans.

Sometimes Arden found herself forgetting the seriousness of the situation she'd managed to land herself in. It was easier to pretend that this world was a movie or a story book; one where she's the destined hero who will save Blackcliffe. Standing in front of the Queen, her freshly healed hand now cradled gingerly to her chest to ward off phantom pains, it was beginning to settle in.

"What are you going to do now?" Arden asked quietly, once the Queen's gaze had slipped aside. "You've been pardoned." She added, lips quirked up in another false smile she didn't feel. Eventually the shock of her own actions would subside; Arden wasn't used to endangering herself unnecessarily and yet she continously found herself doing just that. Maybe the tower had changed her in some way? The addition of magic probably just made her extra reckless.

 

[ArcticFox]

"I don't know. What do you folks do anyway?" Revy shrugged.

Waiting for the reports proved much longer than anticipated. It was already well into afternoon and all three of them were hungry. They were in an empty room with a large dining table and chairs around it, but no other comfortable furniture. Queen Larissa had left about her business, but she told them to wait for her dismissal. Kogan was dozing off, head on the table.

"Is it always like this?" Revy said as she stretched like a cat waking from a long afternoon nap. "I've been a law-abiding citizen for less than a day and I'm bored out of my mind!"

- "We just fought the undead. How can that not be exciting?"
- "You just got your pardon. Are you that eager to start stealing things again?"
- "I was there when you tried to rob that merchant, you know."
- "Only boring people get bored."
- Something else.

 

[Yokai]

》"We just fought the undead. How can that not be exciting?"

Strangely enough the snail-like pace of the proceedings had helped to quell Arden's raised fears, and suddenly she found it hard to fight back the sleepiness that followed her drop in adrenaline. After the first couple minutes of waiting she'd decided to seat herself in one of the dining room chairs. Her boots propped up on the edge of the table, ankles crossed delicately as she relaxed back in her chair. Revy's comment prompted a warm laugh of agreement from where her head had slipped backward, eyes closed as she fought off the urge to rest.

"I promise it's not normally this boring," Arden grinned, opening one eye to glance over at the thief. "Sometimes I get to read lots of books about magic instead~" Which would actually be appreciated right now, as the only wizard shouldn't she be using her time more wisely? Arden had citizens to help, spells to learn, and people to annoy.

"But hey! We did just fight a spooky, undead creature. Or is that not exciting enough for you?" She teased, winking at the red head as she slipped her boots off the table and snapped her chair forward. Instead Arden's arms came to rest on the table, head pillowed in a mimicry of Kogan.

 

[ArcticFox]

"Oh, that part was wonderful." Revy said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "It's just hard to believe that I'm sitting here in the middle of all these guards and nobody is trying to arrest me. I really do appreciate the pardon. This is my chance to get out, but I have to admit, I'm terrified."

"You aren't pardoned yet." Queen Larissa said, despite her previous words, as she was escorted back into the side room. "We need you to find out what else this Blue Star gang has done."

Revy's cheeks reddened with anger and Arden could see that she was about to argue about the breaking of the deal.

- Stay out of it.
- Urge Revy to help first.
- Remind the Queen she promised the pardon.

 

[Yokai]

》Remind the Queen she promised the pardon.

Revy had probably spent most of her life fearing the crown and now she was sat in the lion's den. Being terrified sounded understandable to Arden. So, when Queen Larissa swept into the room and pushed aside Revy's only semblance of security, well... she could see why the thief was angry.

"That's a pretty dirty trick," Was Arden's immediate and unfiltered response. For a second she debated taking that back and then opted for a more pacifying approach. "I think Revy would be more willing to help if she was already pardoned and you didn't go back on your word. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, right?" She prompted lightly; if Revy hadn't shown them those barrels then Blackcliffe would be half-buried alongside it's wizard.

Then again, Arden didn't know how much sway her words even held. But it also wasn't like the Queen could kill Arden and hope for somebody more willing to come along. Well... she could. But that sounded pretty tedious.

 

[ArcticFox]

Revy nodded enthusiastically at her words as Queen Larissa glowered at her. Finally, a look of resignation passed over the Queen's face as she gave an exasperated sigh.

"You are right, Wizard. It's not how we should do things. We need to find out the full extent of the Blue Stars' involvement." Queen Larissa said, turning to Revy. "Yes, the pardon is yours, but your kingdom needs you."

"I'd be honoured to help." Revy said, bowing with a flourish.

"Well, our first task is finding out how the hells did they get a hold of undead creatures and forced them into cooperating?" The Queen rubbed at her temples, clearly overwhelmed by the whole situation. "Wizard, I want you to take Mel and go find out." Then her eyes strayed to the still sleeping orc. "And get him off the table, please."

- Find Mel immediatelly.
- Go rest first.
- Grab something to eat along the way.

 

[Yokai]

》Grab something to eat along the way.

"Of course," Arden nodded as she stood up from her seat, rolling back her shoulders with a loud crack. "And... thank you, Queen Larissa." She added in a slightly softer voice. The fact the Queen had conceded was unexpected and Arden was determined to wiggle her way back onto her good side. It seemed like the best place to be.

Dark eyes fell onto Kogan's peacefully slumbering form and a sharp grin tugged at her lips.

"Wake up, grumpy-pants~" Arden sing-songed as she jabbed him in the side with Watson's pointer end. "We're leaving and I'm going to find an easily flustered elf... and maybe some food too." She added, recalling her empty stomach. Maybe she could steal borrow some food from the palace kitchens? There was an elf cook that had wanted to meet her if she remembered correctly.

 

[ArcticFox]

Kogan opened his eyes lazily, then his gaze swept over them all like they were the least interesting people in the world. He yawned and stretched and finally stood up making Revy chuckle in amusement. The Queen had already left, thankfully. It seemed that Kogan held no respect toward anyone.

Arden did not get a chance to prowl through the palace kitchens, because Mel appeared on the doors, just as she god Kogan to get up.

Mel rushed into the room, heavily breathing. He was in a hurry.

"You encountered a reanimated corpse?" He said with far too much excitement for that statement. "Necromantic constructs within the sewers… Who would have guessed!"

- Go back to the sewers.
- Say you want to eat something first.
- Ask him if he can banish the undead.

 

[Yokai]

》Say you want to eat something first.

What an actual nerd, Arden thought fondly.

"Yeah, it was pretty gross and horrific!" Arden said cheerfully, tucking Watson closer to her side as her gaze skimmed over the elf's excited expression. "And while your excitement is genuinely adorable... I'm actually really hungry." She admitted, flashing an apologetic smile in Mel's direction. "Do you think we could talk and make a quick detour to the kitchens? ...Pretty please?" Arden asked, fluttering her eyelashes at him in a ridiculous manner.

As much as she wanted to hear him explain the situation that had just occurred -- and as much as she wanted to get to the bottom of this -- Arden doubted she'd be much use without some food in her stomach. Also, she got grouchy when she was hungry. Not Kogan levels but definitely not her normal delightful self.

 

[ArcticFox]

"Uh... you can't go in the royal kitchens." Mel said apologetically. "Not without a permission from the Queen or the Prince."

"Yeah, I heard about that too. Prince got paranoid last year and banned everyone from getting close to the food." Kogan confirmed.

"We can get something for you to eat along the way." Mel said, clearly eager to get going.

- Advise Mel to stay behind Revy/Kogan once in the sewers.
- Ask him if he can deal with the corpses.
- Tell him not to do anything stupid.

 

[Yokai]

》Ask him if he can deal with the corpses.

"Ugh, he is so annoying!" Arden grumbled unhappily with an undoubtedly sad pout -- Prince Tobias ruined all her fun. She imagined that there were probably some delicious foods in the kitchens just waiting to be sampled by her. Her expression turned slightly wistful as she hugged Watson to her chest and headed toward the exit as she'd been advised.

"By the way, will you be alright dealing with the corpses?" She asked, once the food daydreams had cleared and she was able to properly focus on Mel. He was a priest after all. Which also meant that he could either be a secret badass or just as useless as Arden was without magic.

 

[ArcticFox]

"I have come to believe that the gods don't affect the natural word in this way." Mel said. "Instead, they give us strength and resolve to do what is right."

Revy looked to Mel with an expression of uncertainty on her face, clearly not liking that answer.

"At least the priest looks like a slow runner." She said. "If we get into trouble, we just have to outrun this undead-bait."

Mel frowned at these words but said nothing, though Kogan boomed out a rather amused laugh.

"I know where the Blue Star's headquarters are." Revy says as she led the four of them down the dark streets.

"How do you think they did it?" Mel asked.

"The Yrantans have an empire's worth of treasure to throw around." The thief responded. "Pretty easy to pay a gang and give them old magic with that kind of money."

- Ask about old magic.
- Ask does that mean that other people could do magic.
- Ask how do they raise the dead.

 

[Yokai]

》Ask does that mean that other people could do magic.

"Savage," Arden whistled lowly at the thief's comment; the noise being ultimately drowned out by Kogan's amused laughter. Still, she gave Mel's shoulder a sympathetic pat before following after Revy. Coffee coloured eyes flickered over the dark streets with passing interest as they descended into Blackcliffe, only half-listening to their conversation.

That didn't stop her from catching the mention of magic, however.

"Wait, what?" Arden said eloquently, almost giving herself whiplash as she turned to appraise the thief. "Other people can use magic too?" She asked in what could only be described as genuine irritation. "Why am the hell am I here then? Doesn't that make the whole 'tower appointed wizard' pointless?"

Honestly, if she'd been pulled here for no good reason then Arden was going to be really annoyed. This world was amazing and being able to use magic was amazing; but that didn't mean she wouldn't take the first opportunity that arose to return to her old life. Arden's familial and romantic relationships sucked -- that was the truth -- but she still missed her friends and indoor plumbing and coffee and the smell of pollution in the air.

 

[ArcticFox]

"That isn't entirely accurate." Mel said, walking beside her. "It's true that you are the only known person who can create new magic. But there are magical artefacts created long ago that still function."

"Yeah, like that staff you're holding." Revy added. "I remember it. Wizard Thomas used to own it, right? You need to be a Wizard to use it, which is why we never bothered to steal his stuff."

"Yes, I remember seeing him with it too." The orc chimed in.

- Ask about the staff.
- Ask about Thomas.
- Ask something else.
- Keep silent.

 

[Yokai]

》Ask about the staff.

"Hmm, I guess that's fine," Arden allowed graciously with the expression of a mulish child. "If other wizards existed I would have had to pursue a more offensive field of magic. So that I could destroy them." There can be no others; only she can be the new Gandalf. Thankfully she was distracted from this train of thought and blinked at Revy in surprise.

"Wait... Watson's been holding out on me?" Arden asked, looking down at the staff in her hand curiously. "Woah, I just picked him up cause I thought he looked cool. And sometimes it's nice to talk to somebody who doesn't want to kill you." A not so subtle glance in Kogan's direction before she turned to Mel; pretending she hadn't just admitted to talking to her favourite stick. "So, what does he do?"

 

[ArcticFox]

"You got yourself another weird one, huh?" Revy gave a look to Mel, the priest only shrugging in exasperation.

"I'm not sure what your staff can do. It's the same like with your magic, only you can find out and it should come natural to you." He said as they walked. Arden wasn't sure if it was just her imagination or not, but the staff suddenly felt very warm to the touch.

"We're here." Revy said as you arrived in front of a rickety building in the docks, interrupting the conversation about her magical artefact.

The building has a sign of a crudely painted blue star shooting over a mug of ale. It had gotten close to evening as they walked through Blackcliffe following first Mel to some food and then Revy to the hideout. It was the perfect time for the tavern to be filled with patrons, but everything was silent.

"They aren't very hidden for a thief gang." Kogan commented.

"They have tunnels and secret exits." Revy said. "If the guards come, the wanted thieves leave and those with cleaner records keep the law busy. It works well enough. If we're going to learn anything about them, we'll need to speak to their leader. And he's on the top floor."

"What do we do? Just knock on the door and ask to speak to him?" Mel raised an eyebrow.

- Do just that.
- Burst in, weapons at the ready.
- Be sneaky about it.

 

[Yokai]

》Be sneaky about it.

Head tilted back to stare up at the seemingly abandoned tavern, Arden couldn't help but silently agree with Kogan. They weren't exactly being subtle and she wasn't sure whether that was a social commentary on the enforcement status in Blackcliffe or on the power of the Blue Stars. She huffed a considering breath and decided to regroup. Knocking on the door or simply barging in gave their leader time to escape after all.

"Do you know where the entrance to one of those tunnels are?" Arden asked Revy, head tilted to the side consideringly. "Otherwise maybe someone --" And by someone she meant Kogan. "-- can give me a boost up to the second floor and I can try sneak in." She wasn't great at stealth but she had trained as a ballerina for years, lightness of foot was granted.

 

[ArcticFox]

Revy nodded in agreement at her words. "We need to sneak in and capture the boss before he can call to his men, but unfortunately they never showed me their tunnels. I am a different gang after all."

Arden looked at the top floor and she felt the staff growing even warmer. The thick walls of the building were made of brick and had no window ledges to climb. Even if Kogan boosted her up, she couldn't pull herself up and would need to break open a window. As a hideout for thieves, it seemed to be impervious to break-ins. As she considered her options, the temperature dropped and the wind picked up.

She felt rain beginning to fall and it became even darker. The darkness was broken by her glowing staff. The rain poured down harder and small chunks of hail were intermingled within it. As the wind picked up, she found it hard to stand upright.

"What are you doing?" Mel yelled through the roaring wind.

"Stop it, now." Kogan warned, looking at her unamused.

Before Arden could explain that the staff has activated by accident, a great bolt of lightning streaked down from the sky and smashed into the building! The brick wall crumbled down and exposed the rooms within.

So much for stealth.

- Run inside.
- Run to hide somewhere.

 

[Yokai]

》Run inside.

There were very few things that sparked genuine terror in Arden's heart. One of them was small, enclosed spaces where she was terrified of becoming stuck or trapped. And the other, more irrational and intense fear, was being struck by lightning. So, when the winds began to blow and the world began to blur the dread began to accumulate in the pit of her stomach.

"Watson! Stop!" She screamed, genuinely terrified as she abandoned the three to the weather and made a mad dash for the Blue Star's base. Arden would rather be buried alive than struck by lightning.

 

[ArcticFox]

"Come on!" Revy said, climbing up the debris and reaching a hand to help Arden up.

The others followed, with Mel slipping and tripping and Kogan having to pick him up and eventually carry him inside. Once inside Arden's staff stopped glowing, becoming cool and with it the weather calmed.

They reached the top floor easily, with Revy taking the lead. When Arden stumbled through the doors of the previously indicated room she found Revy standing over a very dazed man.

The leader of the Blue Starts was in his mid fifties and looked very big. Although most of his muscle had turned to fat, he still looked like quite a strong man. He had been asleep only a moment before, but now he was wide-eyed and awake. And who would be, after a lighting strike.

Revy held the tip of her sword against the man's throat and looked to Arden for instruction.

- Ask the man about the sewers.
- Ask the man about the undead.
- Ask him about Yranta.