Session Recording:
1. The Road
Everyone knows that fate moves in mysterious ways, but few people can point to the exact moment fate stepped in. Not so for the six adventurers who found themselves drawn to the small city of Blackwater Hollow that lay just southeast of Lookshy near the border of the Confederation of Rivers.
Who were these people whose lives were about to become so entangled? They were friends, acquaintances, widowers who wanted to forget, craftsmen who had no guild. There was a doctor, an apothecary, a warrior, a socialite, a spy, and a munitions expert. One was on the run from a persecuting homeland. One was a folk hero with a hidden identity. One killed spirits. Several talked too much. One was mute. One had nowhere else to go. Five shared a common secret, being chosen of the sun. One was still mortal, for now.
They had their own reasons for going there, which they alone knew. One was following up a lead on an apparently rogue god. Another’s master had suggested a meeting in the city. Two had been told to follow the Bright Star as they needed them. One was seeking a place to hang a hat. But they all went, and so, by happenstance, they all found themselves on the road to Blackwater Hollow.
Rubra Cabra
Rubra Cabra’s feet echoed across the dirt road as he ducked behind a ramshackle building that barely concealed him. He glanced toward the large sign that read “Budget Rent a Ride Stables.” Moments later he was plodding the northbound road on the back of a well outfitted horse while three young ladies waved goodbye with more enthusiasm than one might expect from such a short meeting.
Rariga Kanida
Deep in the forest, Rariga Kanida felt the wind rush through her hair as she leapt to another tree. She was making good time southwestward toward Blackwater Hollow, but she would have to hope that there was some evidence of Final Moon Slumber when she got there. But first, a drink. She leaned forward and spit down from the tree before lining herself up for another jump.
Meira, Emi, Achmed
Nearby, Achmed Achoo sat on the ground and started making a grass whistle as the carriage approached. Inside, an argument was brewing about him, but he could not know that yet.
“We have to give him a lift. He might be injured,” Emi Tamis insisted. She put a hand on her medical supply bag, ready to leap from the carriage to assist Achmed as soon as they paused.
“He might be carrying some kind of disease,” Meira Raziela shot back. She made a show of looking the man up and down and shuddering.
“Meira. We are stopping,” Emi insisted.
Meira opened her mouth to argue, but catching sight of the earring the man wore, she shrugged. “We need a stop!” she called to the driver.
Emi was already out of the carriage. She examined the patient even before she was close enough to take care of any injuries. “Everything alright, friend?”
Achmed looked over his left shoulder, then his right before responding, “Me? Oh yes, I’m just taking a break.” He smiled as Emi and Meira approached. Smoothing his hair back, he said, “But what about you? Two women travelling alone together. I could accompany you as far as Blackwater Hollow.” A squirrel scurried around him and perched on his shoulder. Achmed nodded, “Squeaker says, ‘The road is dark and full of terrors.’”
Emi giggled, “He’s adorable. Can we keep him?”
Meira looked the man up and down. She bypassed the grime streaked face, overlooked the matted hair, ignored his tattered robes, and fixated on the glowing star on his earring. Outloud, she quipped, “He needs better clothes.”
Emi again giggled, “Don’t we all?”
A sing-song laugh met Emi’s question. “No,” Meira said, “I don’t. I suppose he’ll be joining us then?” Achmed opened the door and placed one foot on the tread of the carriage when an inane, sing-song voice again rang out, “Oh, no. You’re not coming in in ...that”
Achmed slipped back down off the carriage, “Of course not”
Meira shook her head, “No. And you are?”
“Achmed Achoo,” he bowed low down.
“Yes, well Mr. Choo, you are welcome to sit up top with my driver, but in the future, you might go by Velma, because the old one is named Velma, and it would be so much easier for you to have the same name.”
Achmed shook his head. He was grateful for the ride but was not changing his name for anyone. “We’ll decide that when the time comes,” he said as he climbed up top.
Gill Kidu
Elsewhere, deep in the jungle east of the small town, Gil paused to take in the beauty of his surroundings. Orchids lined the sides of the well-established road, but Gil ignored them. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small journal and wrote a single line of poetry down: Blood red on green ferns. He smiled and put his book away before continuing on toward Blackwater Hollow.
2. Bungle in the Jungle
They had the same destination, and they had all made the same foolish mistake; they were travelling at night. A dark rain began to fall.
Inside the carriage, Emi again began entreating Meira, “Could we let him in?”
Meira held firm, “No! He talks to rodents. Why would anyone ever talk to a rodent?”
“He might be cold,” Emi insisted staring blankly out at the rain.
“No! No! No!” came Meira’s sing-song. She too peered out the window.
In the storm and the rain as the lightning flashed, Emi, Gil, Meira, Achmed, and Rube all saw a rotted face...walking toward them...several rotted faces.
Emi looked at Meira, “Tell them to go faster,” she commanded.
“Velma 1 and Velma 2 please go faster!” Meira called up.
The zombies continued coming toward them and even began gaining.
Should I take out my sword and risk...Meira’s thoughts trailed off, and she breathed a sigh of relief as Emi reached into her medical bag and pulled out axe and knife. “Don’t ruin the upholstery,” she said to her friend.
We aren’t that far from Thorns, Emi thought. She yelled up, “Please go faster.”
Rariga
Deep in the jungle, Rariga continued jumping through trees, seeing nothing of the swarms of undead that were gathering below. She dropped down from the treetops right in front of one of them. YAARRRGGGHH! The thing roared in her face, smelling like the wind over an open grave. It began to flail its arms as if to hit her. Rariga raised a slow eyebrow. “YEEARRGGGGGG!” She roared back and punched the creature in the zombie face.
Rubra Cabra
Farther away, Rube spurred his horse onward through the swarm, barreling through the congregated undead. Hitting one, he tried desperately to continue toward the city without engaging them in combat.
Gil
Elsewhere, Gil cleared his mind by baring and sheathing his sword. There is no reasoning with creatures like these. Calling upon his sword to join the fight, he grit his teeth grimly under his hat and readied his mind for battle.
Achmed
Atop the carriage, Achmed threw himself belly down on top of the carriage in his efforts to hide from the encroaching creatures of darkness. THINK! He commanded himself. I think my way out of situations! He racked his brain, but the only answer he received was a voice in his mind saying Yeah, well, how you gonna think you’re way of of this one, smart guy? He pushed himself further into the top of the carriage praying to every god he knew that he would remain hidden. Unfortunately, this only gave him a better view of the zombie that latched itself onto the carriage at the wheels.
Rube
Another zombie bit through the saddle into Rube’s horse. The poor animal reared in pain, but Rube spurred it forward.
Rariga
Rariga started swinging like a mad woman but hit nothing but air. Damn!
Emi, Meira
Emi opened the door to the zombie holding on. Using her knowledge of human anatomy allowed her to cut its hand off with her axe. Its arm flew back, but it held firm to the side of the carriage.
Meira reached over and took the knife out of Emi’s hand. Leaning out over Emi, she brought it down into the zombie’s hand expertly before stabbing wildly. “Get off of my carriage! I did not invite you!” She cried aloud. It dissolved into dust and cracking bone as the carriage drove over it with its wheels.
Gil
Gil had twelve zombies surrounding him. Jumping from one to another, ducking under their arms like a whirling dervish of steel and poetry in the rain, he sliced the drops as he sliced their heads. Twelve zombies collapsed to the ground. He returned the blade to his side, and the rain stopped.
Rube
It was still raining on Rube. He pulled his arms back to smack the zombie biting his horse only succeeded in flailing wildly and nearly falling off. Rube wobbled forward and pulled back with all his might to right himself in the saddle and regain his balance.
Emi, Meira
Another zombie launched itself at the carriage, this one attacking the right front horse. Inside the carriage, Emi and Meira heard Achmed’s series of high pitched wails. Meira shook her head. Could he really be the one we need? Emi joined in Achmed’s screaming by yelling at Meira. “Don’t they teach you nobles how to fight or something?”
Meira stared at Emi for a beat before she began shaking her head. “No!” She looked around the carriage one last time before yelling to Emi “We have to...out there!” Emi grabbed her book, Meira grabbed the doctor’s hand and leaped through the window. She signed to the driver that she was making her way to the horses and leapt to the back of the left front horse. “Jump!” she ordered the driver, Emi, and cowering mortal.
Achmed’s yelling shifted as he screamed down, “But I don’t want to jump!”
Rariga
Rariga had had enough. Several zombies were surrounding her. She went into a very fast spin and punched each in the face in turn. The zombies all began to fall, one after another. The rain stopped. As Rariga began to walk away she cursed under her breath, “I need to make it to the bar! I need a drink.”
Achmed, Emi, Meira
Achmed’s jaw dropped as the driver hopped to the horse behind his mistress. He shrugged, dropped a grenade on the carriage, and leapt onto one of the horses. Emi flew off the carriage to the same horse as Achmed. Just as Emi landed, the carriage burst into a fireball. The wheels flew off which made the driver’s seat collapse downward and released the horses.
Fear filled Achmed’s eyes when Meira turned around. She caught sight of him and laughed inanely, “Thank you! Now Daddy can buy me another! He’ll be so pleased.” She reached down and used the knife as a screwdriver to unhitch the horses. The horses ran off with the one being attacked running off into the woods. The rain storm stopped.
Rube
Rube had just regained his balance when suddenly an arrow came out of nowhere hitting the zombie attacking Rube’s horse. One look down assured Rube that the horse was capable of making it to the city. Turning, he saw her. Rube’s breath caught as he saw the beautiful woman. Her long, blonde, flowing hair flew out every which way behind as she ran full speed toward him. He extended an arm in a gracious gesture but missed her, riding just past her. He quickly turned the horse around and attempted to gallantly gallop back toward her, but again for some reason he could not slow the horse in time and galloped past her again. He signed to himself and trotted back toward her feeling foolish.
The blond woman gave him an annoyed look and asked, “Seriously?”.
Rube turned the horse. Grinning rakishly, he said, “That looked a lot cooler in my head. Sorry about that.” He leaned over, and she accepted the proffered arm up onto the horse. Spurring on toward Blackwater Hollow, he was surprised to feel her slap his shoulder.
“Turn around,” the woman urged, “quickly! Hurry!”
“Oh man! Really?”
“We need to hide!”
“I’ve got a perfect place to hide. In the city, where I’m headed”
“I really need to get out,” she insisted.
He could almost smell strawberries and cream as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Rubra sighed, “Ok, well you are nice.” He turned the horse, and they rode for a while. Neither of them commented on the change in weather.
Two miles down the road, she patted Rube on the arm. “Stop here.” She climbed down and took off her cloak, folding it up neatly. I like where this is going, Rube thought, but, being charming, he said nothing. She looked up at him. “Take this back to town for me, and if anyone asks, you never saw me”
Rube shook away his fantasies of a woodland encounter. “Oh, well, can I have your name at least?”
“Regina. Head to the Screaming Goat Inn. They’ll know what to do.” With that, she disappeared into the night.
Looking at the cloak, Rube shook his head. He needed to make sense of this strange encounter. The cloak was beautiful and finely made: black silk, trimmed in silver thread with a star embroidered on its hood. Still, the evening made no sense. He shook his head, turned his horse, and continued his solitary way toward Blackwater Hollow
4. Four Strangers from Lookshy, A spy, and a Mortal
Around the same time, they arrived at the city to find large gates locked against any intrustion. Guards paced the top of the three meter high wall. Peering up through the increasing darkness, Emi called up to the guards, “I need to talk to a captain, somebody! We’ve had a problem! Help!”
Achmed looked sheepishly at Meira, “I am sorry again.”
Meira did not even glance at him, “I meant it. Thank you.” She sounded honest, so Achmed decided to let the issue drop.
The guards called down, “Who goes there?”
Emi rolled her eyes, “A damn healer. Open the door!” She pounded on the gate.
Meira called out too, “I’m cold, and I’m wet. Let me in”
The guards glanced at each other, “They sound human. Let them in.” With that, the doors opened.
Rube
As Rube got closer, the same thing happened, “Who goes there?”
Rube said, “A friend to Blackwater Hollow”
The guards shrugged, “Human. Open the door.”
Gil Kidu
At still another gate, the guards asked, “Who goes there?”
Gil opened and closed his mouth several time. Searching everywhere, he began scratching out his message on the ground: Can’t speak. Am human. Let me in?
A guard eyed the message. He said, “That seems more complicated than what we usually see.” They opened the gates to Gil. As he entered, he doffed his hat to allow the guards a clearer view for a more thorough looking over, “Seems good enough. Screaming...Goat...Inn...Thaaat...waaaay,” the guard offered as if saying it slower made it easier for Gil to understand.
Rariga, Emi, and Meira
To the guard’s question, Rariga replied, “Someone in need of a drink. Don’t deny me.”
“Another one? Open the door.”
Rariga joined the group as Emi and the captain discussed the situation with the undead. They had been surrounding the city every night for a month in ever growing numbers. Glancing down, Emi smiled at the line of salt at the gateway. It would help. Meira snuck to the back of the group and did a credible job of slipping away. No one noticed except for Emi who called out, “Toodles. Have fun buying another carriage.” Meira rolled her eyes but said nothing. No one paid any attention to the shocked mortal who had come with them. Achmed wandered off on his own through the strange city. Turning to Rariga Emi smiled, “I’ll see you at the bar.” To the captain she questioned, “Any reports of anyone being infected by the undead?”
“Many reports of people being bitten when they first arrived. They’ve been quarantined, looks like the plague.”
Emi dusted herself off, “Let’s go. Toot sweet, honey.” She turned back to Rariga, “Save me a drink. I’ll meet you at the bar.” Rariga nodded.
Meira had faded into the shadows but continued watching the conversation. What did you have in mind, Madame Serenade? Then, she saw the two stars on Rariga’s collar and followed Rariga toward the bar.
Rube
Upon learning about Rube’s horse’s condition, the guards had panicked and insisted he “put the animal down,” so Rube had found himself in the nearest stable. He immediately started the waterworks.
The stable master nodded with understanding, “Alright, lad, I understand this can be hard losing an animal. Look, if you want, I’ll take care of it for you. You won’t have to watch. Would you like a lock of his hair?”
“Yes.”
“How about the ashes after he is cremated?”
“Yes. I will take them to his favorite drinking spot.”
“Where should I send these?” he asked as he cut a lock of the mane.
“I believe I am staying at the Shrieking Goat Inn”
“The Screaming Goat? I know where that is. I’ll have the innkeeper keep them for you.”
As soon as he was out of sight of the stable, he whispered, “I need a drink.”
5. Black Water City
As Gil meandered his way toward the Screaming Goat, he happened upon
Emi on her way to the infirmary. “Gil, are you? Are ok? Did you meet any undead?” Gil nodded. Emi said, “Did they hurt you?” Gil wrote, Am ok.
It was then that Emi noticed the gleaming star on the hilt of Gil’s sword. She smiled. “Do you want to come with me to a plague house? You’re coming with me to a plague house. It’s going to be great fun. Let’s go. Come on. It’ll be great. Let’s go.”
The guard led them the rest of the way up a hill to the one floor hall that served as a hospital. The smell of decay wafted through the air. The guard raised an eyebrow and asked, “Are you sure you want to go in there?”
Emi put her hands on her hips, “I’m sure. Let’s go. Gil, you stay out here for now. I’m going to check it out, and if I need you, I’ll let you know. If you need me, just bang on the door.”
Emi crossed to the worst of the cases. Black and purple pustules had formed around the necks and legs of three patients. Plague then, she nodded. These three need attention immediately. Looking around, there were at least six others whose eyes and faces appeared sunken in, and four more were exhibiting flu-like symptoms. They had at least two weeks before there was anything to worry about. She popped her head back outside, “I’m going to be a while. I need you to take a message to Meira in the Screaming Goat. Let her know that I’ll meet her later tonight, and make sure you get rooms for us too.” Gil sighed and wandered off on his own again.
Emi returned to the patients. Laying her hands on the first, the blisters immediately began receding and light returned to his eyes. “Thank you. You are an angel.” She just smiled and began treating the next patient.
6. Come Together... Right Now
Meanwhile at the Screaming Goat, the man at the bar continued wiping out a glass as Rube sauntered in. The Eclipse plopped himself on one of the stools slightly removed from the unkempt woman eating a plate of meat with her bare hands and pounding her fourth beer. A fifth stood by, untouched. He also avoided the scruffy young man who was sipping fastidiously at a single ale. Rube flashed the barkeep an obol of jade. The man nearly dropped glass and rag. He turned to face Rube his eyes lighting up. “So, a couple of drinks for the night, a room, and your discretion,” Rube said.
The man put the glass down and put his hands on the bar. “Sir, you have whatever you want....Are you actually going to give me that?” Rube nodded. “For that you can have a room here for the rest of your life. I will name a whole wing after you.” Rube smiled and put the jade in the man’s palm. The man shook his head and he started rambling without ever looking away from the jade in his hand. “Would you like chicken? We have lots of chicken. Or steak? We have steak. It’s...very rare now, but I’ll take care of that for you. We can have it delivered to your room.”
Blast. I’m going to be jumped, Rube thought. “Whatever you are serving everyone tonight will be fine. I’ll have a Blackwater Porter.”
“It’s on the house, sir. The name’s Phil. If there is anything at all I can do to help you, please do not hesitate to ask.” Phil smiled.
The door opened again, and Meira entered the bar disguised as an old woman in torn clothing. She nodded as she noticed the silver star on the cloak Rube was wearing and crossed to him and rasped, “Dearie, are you drinking alone?” Rube nodded. “Come with me.” She led him to Rariga, who had knocked back yet another beer. “May we join you?”
Rube blinked. “So I get to enjoy the company of not one, but two lovely ladies this evening.”
The old lady seemed to be ignoring his charm. “That young man there, he looks lonely. He should join us.”
Rube laughed,”You are just the most adorable matchmaker, aren’t you?”
Meira almost raised an eyebrow. “Yes? Will you ask him to join us? Let these tired bones rest?”
Rube was all chivalry and charm. “Of course, here’s a chair. I’ll go get the random youngster.” He made his way to Achmed, “Excuse me, the name’s Rube. I’ve got a weird favor to ask you, even though we’ve never met. Do you see that woman there?”
“Uh, the old one?”
“Yeah, she’s sitting at the table with the kinda average looking chick. The little old lady would like us to have dinner together.”
“I have no money.”
“How’d you get the beer then?”
“Well, I got it, but I haven’t paid for it yet.”
“I like your style. Come join us,” Rube nodded to Phil, and the innkeeper made a note that the party’s food would be on the house for the evening.
Gil entered the bar and handed a note to the bartender. “Sorry, sir. Haven’t seen anyone matching that description.” Meira glanced up at the drenched stranger. At his side, there was a sheathed, slashing sword. Embedded in the hilt was the symbol of a star.
Meira nudged Achmed, “That young man there? The one eating alone. He looks lonely.”
“I prefer women,” Achmed said.
“That’s nice, dearie. Ask him to join us. No one should eat alone. He should be with us. Go. Time is wasting! Go get the young man.”
Achmed rolled his eyes and waited, but looking at the old woman’s expectant face, he shrugged and lumbered toward Gil. “A lady over there wants you to join us for dinner.”
Gil got up. He showed the group the tablet. Green eyes? Blond? Meira?
“I know a Meira” the old woman said.
“Wait! I think I might know her too,” Rube mused thinking of the woman whose cloak he was carrying. Wait her name was Regina, “Nevermind. Wait. Hold on. That was a different blonde.” He returned to studying the fire.
Gil wrote Staying here?
“I don’t know,” the old woman said, “Why are you looking for Meira?”
Have message from a friend was the response.
“Well, I have not seen Meira today, but I see her frequently. Perhaps I can help you.”
Can you take me to Meira? Gil wrote.
“Not right now.”
“Have you all ordered yet?” People look around.
“I’ll have your goat stew,” Rariga says.
“It’s actually beef, ma’am.”
“Oh it’s beef. Well that, and some bones,” she ordered.
“I think we can accommodate that”
“Some stew for us all” Rube ordered.
“And another round,” the old woman requested.
“Yes Ma’am.”
Friend will be here soon.
“Who is your friend?”
Doctor friend.
“Is this young Meira’s friend Emi?”
Gil nodded.
Twenty minutes later, Phil brought the food back, “So, if you need anything, my name’s Screaming Goat Phil, anything at all, let me know.”
They proceeded into awkward small talk and introductions while eating. Knowing it was best to keep her personas separate, Meira lied and said her name was Tenys. Gil took out his pad of poetry and jotted down a haiku:
Live life to the hilt,
Killing zombies in the rain
Dance, dance with a blade.
“Can we see what you wrote?” Gil slid it across the table, but Rube could not make heads or tails of it.
Rariga slapped her spoon down on the note, picked up the note. She read over it, and it brought a manly tear to her eyes. “Oh, it’s about those undead guys we totally took down in the forest. But there’s nothing about the fire in here. Still, I wish I would have saw this fight. This. This was a fight.” She wiped her hands on her shirt front and started smoothing out the wrinkles on the page.
“Wait,” Rube said, “so you fought undead on your way into the city tonight?”
Gil nodded. Rube turned to Rariga.
“Yeah, there was all these undead guys, and I had to fight them. And somebody set a carriage on fire on the way into the city. That was bomb.”
Achmed laughed, “Yeah, it was a bomb.”
“Wait! Wait! You too?” Rube asked.
“Dead? Undead?” Achmed asked, “It’s all the same.” He hiccupped loudly.
The old woman said, “Not me.”
“Oh, well then there goes my whole theory,” Rube sighed. “How weird is it that the four of us just came into the city for the first time tonight. And this old lady’s bringing us all together. It’s like she wanted us to come together!”
“Neat,” Achmed muttered and downed the rest of his beer.
“This guy! This guy is my guy!” Rariga clapped him on the back.
The old woman drew a butterfly in the condensation on the bar table. Rariga glanced at it but shrugged it off.
“Do you all have someplace to stay tonight?” Rube worked it out with Phil for everyone to have a suite of rooms all together for the evening.
7. The Bright Star
Emi walked in clutching her book. She joined her friends. “Hey! Everybody’s here! I don’t know you. Or you!”
Rariga laughed, “Are you drunk already?”
Emi laughed. “I’m exhausted.” She looked at the wood nymph on the table and smiled at the old woman, “It’s soooo nice to see you!”
“And you,” Meira said. Emi gestured to all the people there and drew a star in the air. Rube looked intently at Emi. Could you be the one I’m looking for? He thought. Meira nodded, “Have you all noticed that all of you have a star?”
Rube peeled the cloak off. “Oh, this isn’t mine. I appreciate the commonality that we all have stars, but…”
“Does that mean you all are a team? The star team?” Meira asked as the old woman.
“I don’t think that’s how this works,” Rube commented.
Emi said, “There was this one patient of mine and he was this seer and he said I need to find the stars in Blackwater Bay and…”
Everyone looked at her like she was crazy. Everyone except Rube who was staring at the blonde woman who had just walked through the door.
“Regina!” he called to her. She looked around nervously, her eyes widening at the mention of her name. She walked right past, heading upstairs. Rube got up and followed her.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Did I not see you earlier today?”
“I have no idea who you are.”
He bowed a bit too low. She paused for a moment, seeming torn. “I’ve just been through a bit of an ordeal this evening, and I thought I saw someone who looks exactly like you who helped me out of a bit of a jam.”
She came a bit closer than was entirely necessary, “Look, I don’t know what you are talking about, but I suggest that later...you hang around the second floor.”
Rube spun on his heel with a wide grin. He knew that could only mean one thing. He returned to the table. “All of you have stars, and you all fought undead tonight. What are the odds?” the old woman was saying.
“Wait, you fought undead too?” Rube asked Emi.
Emi shrugged, “Yeah I was with him. Blew them up.”
“So we have the five death fighters, and the old lady,” Rube said.
“She’s cool,” Emi assured.
“You are a wonderful man,” Meira rolled her eyes at Rube. “Where are you all from?”
“Out of town,” Rube said a bit too quickly.
“You?”
“The next best. Nexus,” Achmed said.
“You are the strong silent type,” she said to Gil, “I like it.” Emi smiled proudly at Gil and nodded at Meira.
Achmed sat up, “I got it! I got it! There’s five of us and when we draw where we’re from on a map it makes a star!”
“That’s exactly what I was thinking!” the old woman lied.
“And we need to go to the center area.”
“No! I wasn’t thinking that.”
“No one was thinking that,” Rube muttered.
“He’s trying,” old woman scolded, “You are not helpful!” Gil snapped in the sassiest way imaginable, but the old woman softened, “Who was that young woman you were speaking with earlier tonight?”
“I’m trying to figure that out myself. I believe we have some business later this evening.”
“I love a good mystery,” she began, but Phil interrupted by bringing over what appeared to be a bill.
“Are you serious?” Rube looked at the barkeep in alarm.
“It’s nothing major, sir,” Phil bowed slightly as Rube picked up the note.
Room 213 It read. Rube was already doing mental celebrations in his head as he kept going. Bring your friends. -BR He cancelled the parade.
“Guys, this is really bizarre, but Phil just slipped me a note that I need to go to room 213 and bring my friends. I’m assuming you guys are my friends.”
“Well, we’ve been getting along for this dinner,” the old woman pointed out. She sighed, “We should do more of this.”
“I like this idea, but how many of you are scrappy in a fight.” The old woman had her hand up at the word “scrappy.” Achmed and Rariga barely stifled their giggles. “Alright, alright” Rube vamped. “And you?” he pointed at Gil.
“He’s pretty good,” Emi vouched. “And she’s not bad either,” she indicated Rariga.
“You know, you should not underestimate people, young man,” Meira in disguise advised Achmed.
8. Room 213 B.S.
Rube motioned for everyone to follow. Rariga had to prop Achmed up to help him up the stairs. The strange group managed to make their way to room 213, and Rube knocked.
The woman from earlier unlocked the door, “Come in,” she backed away toward the window.
“You want them too?” She nodded, so Rube reluctantly held the door for everyone, tapping his foot as he waited for first Achmed and then the old woman to shamble through the door.
“You have the cloak? May I have it back please?”
“Thank you for coming. Thank you for keeping my cloak. I have no idea why he chose you guys.”
“He?”
“My friend”
“Your butterfly friend?” Emi asked.
“My butterfly friend?”
“That’s a no,” Meira said before Emi asked any further questions.
The woman seemed very hesitant, glancing from person to person and shaking her head.
Emi insisted, “Look we need you to be upfront with us. Come on. Doctor patient confidentiality.”
Regina balked, “You’re a doctor?” She looked a bit brighter at this prospect.
Meira stepped forward, “Miss, I am very tired, and I am very old.”
Regina was not interested, “I can see that, which confuses me even more.”
Meira tried again, “I don’t have time for your hesitation! Out with it!”
The woman was almost talking to herself. “And he’s a mortal, which is confusing too.”
Emi was determined, “He’s fine. He probably won’t remember this conversation in the morning. It’s fine”
Regina did not soften in the least, “Ok.”
Gil wrote, What do you mean mortal?
Regina explained, “He is obviously very drunk, which usually means he’s not very strong. The rest of you? You’ve been drinking all night. I’ve seen you.”
Emi winced, “Not me”
“We’ll get you caught up,” Rariga said, pounding back another beer. She slammed the stein down on a nightstand.
“I’m sure all of you have seen the undead outside since I rescued one of you, and Master Judgment told me about the rest of you.”
“Whose Master Judgment?” said four voices in unison. Gil started writing on his slate while Achmed was bracing himself against a wall for balance.
“He’s a good friend of mine. If it weren’t for Master Judgment, I wouldn’t be here.”
“No, but legitimately, who the hell is Master Judgment?” Emi demanded.
Master Judgment alive? Gil’s slate read.
“Yes. You know him,” Regina assured.
Can I talk to him?
“That’s why I’ve been sent. He is alive and in good health. But he probably will not be available for very long.”
“He is another martial arts master?” Emi asked Gil.
Probably his slate read.
“Is he in danger?” Emi asked.
“Not him, per se.”
“Are you in danger?”
“I’m always in danger?”
“Dearie, this is taking a very long time,” Meira noted.
“If you need bed, old lady, you can go.”
“No, we need you to speed this up,” Emi demanded.
“I don’t need bed. We need more information,” Meira insisted.
“You’ve seen the undead. And you know why they’re here.” Regina continued.
“I’m guessing it’s the shadowland.”
“As far as we can tell…”
“But that never happens here, right?” Emi asked.
“Not until recently,” Regina said.
“But it’s a thing that happens like every 500 years, on occasion” Emi insisted.
“That’s not true at all,” Regina said.
Meira tried, “Why do they keep--”
Emi had had enough, “So why are they here. Because obviously you know.”
Regina caged, “I know only what Master Judgment has told me”
Emi demanded, “So what has he told you”
Regina was no more forthcoming, “There’s something dark here.”
Emi rolled her eyes, “Yeah, it’s called the freakin’ undead.”
Regina was almost there, “Something bigger than that.”
Emi threw her hands up, “Ok that explains the undead.”
The blond woman continued, “It attacked someone very dear to me. You probably haven’t heard of him. There was once a god here called Final Moon Slumber who was responsible for taking care of those who had died. And we have not had an undead attack or even a hungry ghost here.”
Meira asked, “So what happened to Final Moon Slumber?”
“He was attacked by something. He barely survived, but now everyone thinks that he caused the undead attacks.”
Meira asked, “Who would think such a thing?”
“People are easily swayed when the undead are knocking on their doors.”
“What would you have us do, dearie?” Meira asked.
Regina scoffed at the question, “You can go. I was told to come here by Master Judgment. I don’t care. I have been handling this just fine until now. Because of Master Judgment I am choosing to trust you, and I haven’t had a reason to trust anyone in a very long time.”
“You can trust him with your clothes,” Meira pointed out.
“And I thanked him for that. I needed him to take that cloak so that whatever is hunting me wouldn’t find it.”
“What’s hunting you besides the undead?” Emi asked
“Something dark. Something I think is dead. Something that is hard to kill. I’ve hit it several times.”
“Why you?” Meira asked.
“Why me what?”
“There are so many people. Why you?”
“Because I’m one of the few people who are equipped to do this. Though I grant that it’s interesting that you’re here,” she sneered at Meira’s disguise, “at least most of you.”
“What do you want?”
“I was told to bring you to Master Judgment if you are willing to come”
“Dearie, how far is Master Judgment because there are those who will be requiring our assistance soon in the city?”
“The whole city needs your assistance according to Master Judgment”
“But there is one in particular.”
“Why one in particular?”
“Because I said so.”
“Who are you looking for?” the woman almost whispered.
Rariga shouted, “I’ll tell you who I’m looking for! Where’s this Final Moon Slumber?” Regina backed up slightly, “Well I’m on my own mission, and I’m going to find him and slap him on the face and ask him why the hell he’s demanding so many sacrifices and ruining so many poor people.”
“Ruining the poor people?”
“He’s turned on his own people who were worshipping him. My job is figure out why and fix the problem.”
Regina balled her hands into fists and took two steps toward Rariga. “That is a lie!”
“Well, that’s what I’ve been told.”
“That is not what’s happening.”
“That’s why I need to go talk to him. I’ll figure out who’s the truther and who’s the liar.”
“We are going to Master Judgment, and while we are there you will see Final Moon Slumber.”
“Oh perfect,” Rariga sat down.
When Meira finally spoke it was in carefully measured tones, “We are looking for one on whose fate may hang the fate of the city.”
Regina’s level of frustration had risen to such a high level that she suddenly erupted in a golden glow and shouted, “On my fucking fate hangs the fate of the city.” There was a golden bullseye in the center of her forehead. Rube sat up. She’s just like me! We are a pair. I need to talk to her.
“Excellent,” Meira said. “Let’s go find Master Judgment.”
“That’s it?” Regina asked her breathing ragged.
“I don’t have time, dearie,” Meira smiled.
“Let’s go,” Emi demanded.
Regina threw her hands up, “Now?”
“Tick tock,” Meira said. “Time is of the essence.”
Regina took a few deep breaths to calm down. She straightened herself and took another deep breath. “You know, I don’t think I told you my name, even though I know all of you. Bright Star Regina.”
“Ah. Bright Star!” Emi cried aloud.
“Oh dearie, this could have been so much easier,” the old woman admonished.
Bright Star Regina eyed the group carefully. “I still don’t know if I can trust you,” she said.