Rats Among Spires II

"This is not part of our maps."

Our scouting force stands on the shore of a vast wetlands, drowned plants coating the surface of the water like a pox. Unholy fog drifts down over the water from countless spirits that dance overhead. These ones are harmless as far as we can tell from down here. Summer explained that according to her father, mad spirits like the one we fought can not fly. Although I'm not sure how true that is, considering it leapt from the damn trees. She claims it's far more likely the spirits up there are of small animals like birds and rabbits that are simply lost and trapped. That doesn't explain why we can see them however.

Through the spirits, the arch trees loom like ever-angry gods, glaring down on the arrogant mortals who intrude on their domain. Fuck, those are some big trees. How could anything be that large? They must be taller than mount Rayderant two times over.

Andre pulls out his map and lays it out for all to see. "Cartographers have never accurately mapped the Spires, but I'm damn sure they didn't miss this shit. Our separation point was somewhere beyond this marsh."
He stares at the map for a moment, then directly up to me. Frustrated, he groans and says, "Change of plans. Eclipse, you'll be headed for Jerrod. Templars, you'll head for Zendari, politics be damned."

I sense an opportunity to abandon our scouting duty. "You want the group of inexperienced, underequipped rangers to navigate the sudden marshlands in a land haunted by endless monstrosities out for our blood?"

His face contorts in a blind fury before restraining himself, realizing I have a point. His glare redirects to each of the Eclipse rangers as he explains, "You have Zuwald, the most horrifying monstrosity currently in the Spires. You have Scars, able to impale any beasts out of your league with a thought. And then there's your dumbass, whose very presence repels spirits like idiots repel thoughts."
He stands, displaying his armour. "I will sink into the mud faster than a drunk sinks into the booze. You. Will not."

All fair points, but that's not my only strategy. I ask, "You're not concerned we'll try to escape?"

"No."
There goes that bluff. He turns to address the others. "Everyone is to rendezvous here at the dusk of second day. If someone is not here by then we will assume you dead. Stay low, stay quiet, keep moving. Let's not waste time sucking our thumbs, get moving."

In one motion the map is rolled, stored, and his squad commanded to move. With a sigh of frustration, I lean towards Scars and whisper. "I tried. I suppose we're leaving here with some nasty scars and glory. Whatever good that'll do for us."

She stares at me, inscrutable under her helmet. Her eyes dart around, unsure of what to say or do. And so she simply nods.

Stoler, hefting his greatsword onto his should approaches. Great. What does this asshole want? He faces me directly, but addresses all of us as he says, "May Sol inspire your blade Eclipse. Stay safe out there."

Toross and Naz thank him and return the polite gesture, while Wal and Scars bow. What is he getting at? What the fuck does he care? I wave my spear towards Jerrod and bark out, "Let's head out. Naz and I'll lead. Scars and Toross in the centre and Wal and Maheed will cover our ass."

Once a decent distance away, Naz asks, "What happened to weakening animosity?"

I hadn't forgotten about that so much as I chose to ignore it. Besides. "He's scheming something. He's more cunning than he looks."

Naz groans. "What could he possibly be scheming with wishes of good fortune? He wants us to survive, that dastardly villain."

"Don't patronize me Naz. We'll sort this out when death doesn't hang in the air above us sprinkling us with its dust."

He grumbles, "Doesn't matter how long you try to spin your tale Segugek. When you're wrong, the only way to fix it is to admit it."

"Keep your ears on the path in front of us old man."

He curses at me in his guttural language but says nothing further. The thin and sparse patches of grass squelch under our boots, bunches of soaked twigs and branches offer steps free from mud. We weave through drowned and surprisingly dry trees, often snapped in half and impeding our path. We cross over large swathes of unnaturally freezing and shallow water, as though we're walking through snow in our bare feet despite it being early Autumn. Wal and Maheed must have it worse seeing as they are in their bare feet. We trudge on, forced to scrap off globs of mud that gather and hug our feet, weighing us down with the muck. Every so often Naz or I will sink into the freezing mud up to our thighs thanks to soft spots in the ground. Fucking mud. This shit sucks.

Bones of creatures I'll never recognize decorate the water surrounding us, all with the flesh meticulously picked clean. Insects, thankfully the size of insects, flitter and dart about. They are still Spire insects though, buzzing in an incessant rage, nipping at the ranger's flesh with tiny jaws, leaving me unbothered for some reason. Large bubbles of a sickly yellow rise and burst in the deeper waters cursing my nose with the stench of eggs left out far too long. Were there nests here? Nests of the birds that dangle overhead or perhaps some other creature? Or is this merely the effect of cursed waters? I'm sure Scars knows something about it.
I peer back at her. Her breaths are concise but steady, her eyes wandering but precise. She's stable for now, but she'll probably crack under too much pressure.

Naz stops me. "Did you hear that?"
He starts clicking, angling his ears forward and surveying the waters. "I can't find anything with all these damn bugs."

"What did you hear?"

"A beast that shouldn't be here. One from far far beneath the mountains."

"Where did the sound come from? We'll give it a wide berth if it's that dangerous."

He points to our right and somewhat behind us. "Let's pick up the pace then."

We march faster, hanging left and jogging when we can. We jog for a while passing more of the same drowned trees, obscured in the fog of lost spirits. 
Scuffling and scratching come from behind the trees. I warn the others who might not have heard and order our eyes be kept sharp. A man-sized, carrion-headed beast of red fur and dark plumage clings to the dead tree like a squirrel. It's long neck unfurls and cranes to stare at us. One cold eye blinks, sizing us up. Much to my surprise, the beast makes the smart choice, scurrying back up the tree and gliding from trunk to trunk away from us.

Wal growls behind me, "Expect its return. Those gryphites are pack hunters."

Great. Shouldn't be an issue though. Not with Wal and Scars here anyway. We fight through the swamp and bugs as more and more of the gryphites gather around us, practically frothing to swoop down and devour us. We pass under a great branch, fallen from one of the arch trees, yet still teeming with massive grayish-green leaves. Countless carrion-headed gryphites lurch their heads to stalk us. Almost a hundred of them burst awake with a sprint, scuttling across the branch and launching themselves at us!

I brace my shield in the mud and order, "You're up Scars. Knock 'em out of the sky!"

Toross' bow thumps surprisingly fast as arrows sink into the gryphites' heads, their bodies convulsing and tumbling to the marsh. Wal emits a bellowing growl before grunting with effort. Bones crunch under a yelp of pain and a weight slams into the mud behind me assuring me my back is covered. My spear finds itself imbedded in two flying beasts before a carriage of water crashes through them, wings uselessly flapping against the sudden river they've found themselves in. They're cast to the marsh before the carriage swings back, assailing the next flock of gryphites, then again and once more.
The beasts halt and assess the situation. Realizing they can do nothing but get smacked around like kittens, most flap or swim away well out of reach of Scars' magic. 

After a brief moment of nothing, I say, "Looks as though they'll let us pass. Keep your magic flexed to ward them off."

She holds a globe of water over our heads, casting what little light we have in front of us in a oddly beautiful array of light slivers. Who knew water could make something so eye catching. Pushing the beauty to the back of my mind, we haul ourselves over the gryphite corpses and the bones of their prey, stopping only to gather Toross' spent arrows and the beast's feathers which Toross plans to make into arrows later. I don't know how he plans to hold them all and keep them in useable condition, but caring would take too much focus.

The gryphites once again stalk us at a distance, gliding between trees or crawling along behind us. Fucking gryphites. Don't they have anything better to do? As we progress, the water gets steadily higher and higher, leaving almost no grass to walk across. Most of our steps are through bone chillingly cold waters. Even so, I refuse to shiver. It's undignified.
We suffer through cold and bugs until I curse at the sight of an impossible silhouette. In the centre of a wide expanse of fallen trees and water, a collection of rock formations jut out of the water as though being yanked from the ground by invisible lanky fingers. Debris hover around the formations, creating a gentle barrier, sometimes dipping in and out of the marsh, disturbing the otherwise still water.

Unlike the demon on the Spires' border, this one has no discernable shape that could have conceivably once been alive. Even still, empty and eternal eye sockets shift in place watching us with such apathy, it may as well be reading a particularly boring book for the sole purpose of reading. It could not care what we do, if we rage or weep, if we cry out in ecstasy or despair, if we live or die. Despite that it watches with bleeding eyes.

Water endlessly pours out of the eye sockets, so cold that frosty mist plays around the demon. How long have they been bleeding like that? How many years must this thing have sat here to drown every plant around for an almost two hours march in all directions? More importantly... What killed this thing? And if it can slay demons like this, is it still around? I glance at Scars and Wal, hoping to hear some sort of explanation, or even just their thoughts. If anyone had insights it would be them. They stare at the demon as bewildered as I am.

I suppose I'll have to ask about it later. Just as I give the order to keep moving, Naz whispers, "I think the rackuzilg is here."

Wal growls, "Explain this creature. How does it fight?"

"Normally it hides in caverns and ambushes whatever it can. But that's under the mountains. There's no telling what it'll do on the surface."

Before his sentence was finished, distant wood croaked as though bitten by an axe. Through the fog I can only make out the shape of a colossal spider and swaying lights dangling underneath the behemoth.

"Prepare a spike Scars."

Naz grumbles, "It won't work. They've a natural armour tougher than mail."

"Can you handle that?"

She nods. Attempting to make her voice as gruff as possible she says, "Permit me some time."

That's all I need. "Ensure he is not disturbed. Toross, cull the gryphites and scare them away."

"I've not enough arrows for all of them."
He draws an arrow from his quiver and takes a single elongated breath. His muscles flex and bulge as he yanks on his bow. The bow barks as it looses the arrow at a distant gryphite. "They'll never know that however."

Toross continues to pick off gryphites while the rackuzilg, as Naz called it, creeps across the trees as though it we couldn't see the colossal creature. Little more than spindly legs hoisting a rough block of external fangs and crawling mouth, it glides towards us, each leg burring itself into a tree with a substantial crack as it moves. It's impossible to tell if the zilg can sense us or is just mindlessly brushing for food with its dangling lights. Best to assume it's specifically out for my blood.

The gryphites decide they won't die for no reason, leaping off their trees talons and claws bared. They're trying to get us to run. Not so eager to die, most halt just out of reach of my spear awkwardly flapping in place and screech blasting my ears in a burning pain. I lash out, thrusting at the beasts, but they bat my spear aside or flap out of reach.

Naz cries out a warning causing me to duck. Talons rip past my shoulders, shredding the skin! I growl in pain and slink back to the rangers, keeping an eye on the gryphites flying overhead who wait for an opening. They surround us, swiping with claw and talon bobbing in and out of range. They smack away my spear again and again, saving themselves! Naz is useless like this, unable to reach the fuckers. Damn it, I can't hit these bastards!
If this keeps up they'll realize they can overwhelm us in a flurry of strikes. Something needs to change. "Toross, focus on the divers! Wal step away from our formation! Don't die! Naz, keep a wall around Scars with your eyes on the sky!"

They each obey. Wal crushes his way out of the barrier of gryphites, growling with each arc of his mace! They swoop on their opportunity to pick one of us off, savagely throwing themselves at Wal who spins with blurring speed, smashing bones and crushing organs! Toross burns through his supply of arrows, plunging them deep into the beasts diving on Wal!

The few left are driven into a frenzy, finally committing to the assault on me. I feint, baiting deflections before sinking my spear into their grotesque necks! As they reel back, I stab at gryphites flying past me, allowing those fuckers to tear at my legs! I roar through my teeth as I bring my spear back with a vengeance! More gryphites soar at Scars, forcing me to abandon my vengeance.

Naz yells, "Duck Segugek!"

I squat down, aiming my spear at the sky. Just as it's about to entre my range, I rise, thrusting my spear skyward! It falls on my blade, screeching and scrabbling at my weapon while I throw it to the ground, slamming it on its friends!

Maheed calls out, "Big wave coming!"
I continue to fight when a massive wave crashes into my back, throwing me to my knees. Fuck, that was cold! Water coughs out of my mouth, as I rush to my feet again. Talons sink into my back!

I cry out in pain as a gryphite carries me off the ground! Naz's massive hands grip my boot, preventing the beast from flying away while Toross draws his bow and nails the beast through the skull! I tumble to mire face-first, splashing in deathly cold waters before the beast crashes on my back! The holes in my back scream when I move my spear arm, forcing me to shove the dead gryphite off with my shield arm alone! I heave and heave, unable to break myself free! I refuse to drown in ankle deep waters! With air running out, I dig my knees into the mud and drag myself, slipping from under the fat fuck finally bursting up for air!
With my shield raised above my head, I cough and hack unable to catch my breath! Maheed calls out again, "It's a another big spider thing! In the water!"

Why the fuck wouldn't it be? Where the fuck is the first one!? I glance around before catching a glimpse of a strange light overhead. I glance up to find the sky covered by a bone white monster, legs surrounding us like a massive cage! "Scars!?"
Arms with giant sharp tongs on the ends reach down for us, threatening to crush and steal one of us away! Silently, Scars rises from under Naz's shield and flicks her wrist straight up. A needle of water zips past with a 'shush!' The needle pierces through the zilg's centre, causing the monster to seize! Fuck yeah!

My joy dies as soon as I realize it's going to fall. Fuck! "Run!"
I hobble after the others, blood gushing from the wounds on my leg. The gryphites scatter, flying off on all directions before circling back for another attack. The zilg crashes into the mire, its legs scraping the water and getting caught on trees, nearly squashing us. Scars flings a barrel of water at the closest gryphite, knocking it out of flight. The rest hesitate, finally deciding this isn't worth it. They dive and collect the fallen gryphites, before flying off towards their nest on the arch tree's branch.

How close is the next zilg? A giant scythe-like leg digs into the body of the dead zilg, carrying another massive block of natural armour and crawling mouth. Damn it all! We can't out run it, we can't hurt it, what the fuck can we do? Through coughs I order, "Defend us Scars!"
I just need a moment to fucking think!

"How!?"

"Walls, rivers, who cares!? Keep it's claws off us!"

The monster reaches for me, one claw twisting sideways to crush me in half. The monster's mouth pieces wriggle in delight, eager to taste my blood. A flying river flows around me pressing against the claw, slowing the monster and allowing me a chance to hobble away. "Toross, did you see that opening?"

He barks, "Indeed. Allow it to get closer."

What? I don't like putting my life in the care of someone I met yesterday! He raises his bow with one arrow on the string and his last held in reserve. The river floats away, allowing the claw unrestricted access to my bleeding flesh! I hobble away from the claw like in a nightmare, uselessly and slowly. The armour plates covering its mouth slide away in anticipation. The exact moment they open, Toross takes a sharp breath, yanks the bow back and releases! The bow shouts the arrow into the monster's gullet! The claw spasms and the mouth jitters in place attempting to close. The bow shouts again, nailing another arrow deep into the monster's guts!

It clambers away in a vain attempt to retreat before lowering itself to the water, dying much more gently than the first. I stumble in place and say, "How's everyone looking? Any serious injuries?"
Injuries other than mine?

Wal and Maheed have both taken various deep lacerations, but none that will truly hinder them like the holes in my back and leg. Even so, I order Scars heal some of their wounds first. They're far more valuable in a fight than I am. Once she heals the last hole in my back, she leans close and whispers, "I am incapable of healing anymore. A small wound at most."

"Can you still fight?"

She nods. If we can make it out of this swamp without running into anymore beasts, we should be fine. On dry land we can sneak through the brush and keep out of sight. But how are we supposed to cross this deep water? It would be too hard to swim with our equipment. We'll have to work our way around. And fast.

Wal speaks up. "Kar'Desh. I must leave these waters soon. If I am too cold, I will be unable to fight properly."

Even more reason then. I'm not navigating the Spires without him. Toross collects what arrows he can, leaving him with ten useable arrows. That's really not a lot. We jog around the water bleeding demon, struggling to find solid ground to traverse, smacking blood sucking bugs the entire way. I can't wait to be rid of this fucking place.