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Chapter Text

Prologue 

The thunder crashing through the night was a reflection of Korik’s mood. Fitting torture for his final night alive: unable to sleep in his cramped prison cell barely able to contain his massive frame. Clearly it was not sized for an Inox. Restless but unable to pace, exhausted but mind-racing. He listened intently, able to hear Par’s scratching in the next cell over. Clearly also not able to sleep in this storm. Resigned to consciousness, Korik sat up and called out to Par.

“Didn’t even give us a last meal, and they call us savages.”

A grunt was the only response, but it was clearly an agreement. The scratching continued and then Par finally spoke.

“We won’t be needing a last meal, Korik.”

“How do you mean?” said Korik, now suddenly hopeful to speak to the Oak once more.

“Are you ready to spill some blood? Jethra’s awake too.”

Korik felt it again: his heart beating fast, adrenaline. An escape plan! Finally… 

“What do you need from me?” Asked Korik.

“Wait for it,” said Par ominously.

Korik waited, he wasn’t sure for how long but he had become acclimated to holding position. Waiting for prey in the Dagger forest or watching the guards of Red Oak change their shifts. This was no different, wait for the sign. He wasn’t sure what it was but he figured he’d know it when he heard it.

The thunder began to die down and now the echo of a steady pitter-patter of rain through the jail corridor. The rainfall was finally interrupted by a rattling of metal. Steel and stone clanging together as loud as one could imagine, it made even the stoic Korik wince. If this was Par’s plan, they would never make it out without alerting all of the guards and as if on cue: torchlight began to illuminate the previous pitch black corridor.

“You brutes want to meet the rope early” growled a human as the torchlight drew closer.

Korik didn’t have to wait anymore. The sickening crunch of something against bone, a scream, the sound of clanging metal and the flickering of the torch that had fallen to the stone floor. It rolled across the corridor near Korik’s cell. Leaning down to scoop it up as Par did his grisly work, Korik called out.

“The others will be here soon, we only have a moment”

As the gargling and screaming suddenly ceased Korik heard a heavy thud that followed the clinking of mail and then the more tinny sound of keys clinking against each other. The cell door whined, as if to offer an objection, but was ignored. Seeing Par in the torchlight finally, Korik smiled. His face and horns were covered in blood, gold eyes sunken in with exhaustion. Opening the door, Par stepped away, his large frame barely able to move within the hall and moved to Jethra’s cell. Korik stepped out to see the mess that once was a guard: a necessary sacrifice.

Korik leaned down to the former guard and snatched his coin purse, pulling out ten coins to place in the guard’s hand and begin to whisper a prayer.  

“You’re wasting your breath on that human ritual,” said a less gruff, more airy but still deep voice. Jethra.

Closing the guard’s eyes with his fingers, Korik stood to face his comrade. “He knows not the crimes he commits nor the atrocities of his masters. It would be rude to treat a dog with disrespect. Suriad will not be given the same kindness when he returns to The Great Life.”

Their discussion was interrupted by Par, taking the blade from the guard. “Move.”

Par was always terse but he seemed especially hurried.

Rushing to the door Par pressed his ear against it then motioned with his fingers: Three.

Korik rushed under a table as Jethra also sought hiding as they discarded the torch to a far cell. It was only a moment later that the door swung open and the guards stormed towards the cells beyond. The moment it took to scan the room was a moment too much. The three inox leapt out from their hiding spots and although the guards were armed: they were only human. The towering Inox quickly dispatched the first two as Korik grappled with the captain. Both disarmed and brawling on the floor the captain suddenly found himself pinned. His face twisted to despair as Korik lowered his three horns.

There was no time to offer them respect. They had to leave now. Rushing past a room where the four men were playing some sort of card game, Par rushed up a set of stairs and cracked the dungeon door. It was clear and the three stepped into the dark courtyard. With no moon to shed light and their steps muffled by rain and thunder, escape was easy. The city of Red Oak loomed ahead: a large thriving city to the humans but a bitter defiled graveyard to others. Korik took a moment to stare at the centerpiece: a towering oak with vibrant red leaves still shimmering sanguine in the dark of night. The tree was evergreen: even in winter she did not shed her leaves and when spring came they only became more vibrant.

Watching closely, he saw it: one gentle leaf plucked from the highest branch cast down to the city below. Louder than the summer rain he heard her: a mournful wailing only they could hear. She was in pain.

Silently renewing his vow to her, Korik followed Par to a nearby stables. The hunter would steal the steeds and they would be off to the Dagger Forest. Korik hoped that his other allies had survived. As he left town, his optimism waned and into the woods they went.

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: The Dancing Rat

It’s broken. It’s so obviously broken. The metal fingers uncurled so slowly, the mechanical wrist twisted in a jerky fashion but at least the elbow motion was fluid. Fluid enough at least. Lissa had spent the first few hours of morning trying to fix her arm. It was the only part of her body that was mechanical, having lost it a few years ago during a run-in with the heralds of Xorn. Their gift would have resulted in her dying in the most excruciating way but instead she only lost her sword arm. As a painfully normal being of flesh and blood she had no special way to recover from this. Hence the mechanical arm, the somewhat effective mechanical arm. It was evident she couldn’t do any more and needed to find Calden, the local tinkerer.

Finally she admitted defeat as she stood, deciding instead to get ready for the day. Putting on her tunic, tying up her hair to keep it out of her face and grabbing her scabbard, her ritual was interrupted by a knock at the door. 

Jasper .

Her orchid friend was early. As much of a friend one can have as mercenaries, he so rarely expressed emotions. Judgment? Yes. Friendship? Hardly. He always seemed so distant since Autumn passed away. It didn’t matter though, she told herself. The goal of today was just to get through this morning meeting, find the tinkerer and find a new job. She probably couldn’t afford the repairs and the last thing she wanted was for someone to know her arm was compromised. She could fake it at least for a bit. Standing up straight, glancing in the mirror for a moment to make sure nothing looked wrong. Nope, looking good, just some tired blue eyes staring back. Time to go to the door and with a swing she revealed a very bored looking Jasper.

“Hey there, you’re early!” she offered, waving her hand at him enthusiastically.

“How bad is it?” he offered immediately, “Your arm.”

Shit .

“It’s not that bad! Honestly.”

Stepping into the room as if he owned the inn, he started examining the cracks in the walls.The Dancing Rat was the only place they could afford nowadays but at least they had private rooms. His glowing golden eyes as uncaring as the walls themselves. No, nevermind, the walls didn’t stare with an aura of scrutiny. His scalp studded in turquoise and emerald, crystals jutting in an angular fashion that almost made him more intimidating than the more crystal domes of the other orchids. His skin was a pleasant blue and despite being a fighter, wore incredibly light armor. Running a gloved finger down the wall, he finally said something. Well, he scoffed. 

“The last bounty wouldn’t pay, your arm needs attention, Mefili won’t leave her room after you rejected her help.”

“She can’t repair an arm! She’s an amateur!”

“I know. You were right to tell her no.”

“Then why bring it up at all?”

It was at that moment she realized her voice was raised. Yet Jasper in all his calmness hadn’t matched her energy. He took a moment to respond, waiting a beat to say anything. The silence filled her with shame. It was effective, she didn’t like appearing out of control.

“I was giving you a report on the current status of the Blades. She’s inconsolable. The Gardener seems to be the only one in working order.”

“So what does that mean, you’re also out of sorts?”

“No. I’m fine,” he said flatly. It was a correction. He always liked being right. She wasn’t going to let it get to her.

“Inconsolable?”

“Perhaps a bit harsh, but she hasn’t come out of her room since she asked. I’ve been out and I have something I’d like to mention.”

Oh no, he’s leaving the team.

“Is it bad?”

“No. It’s a job offer.”

Oh good .

“Don’t scare me like that, Jasper,” her voice wavering with relief.

“Never intended to. Are you ready?”

“I’ll rally the Blades.”

“The Gardener is outside. I’ll be in the common room, I’ll make sure food is in order.”

Lissa composed herself a bit before knocking at Mefili’s door. Lissa was worried, Mefili was a very proficient telepath, scout and fighter but an artificer she was not. She didn’t need an amateur fooling around with her arm. Raising her metal fist to the door, she rapped several times. The scampering sounds from within sounded far too excited and energetic to be inconsolable and when Mefili opened the door, her expression also didn’t match that description.

“Come in, come in, come in!” Mefili urged, flapping her paws urgently as if fanning a fire. Luckily, there was none.

Mefili’s rat-like ears were attentively pointed up and her furry face in a gleeful expression. She stood at about half the height of Lissa who considered herself somewhat short for a mercenary but that wasn’t any reason to underestimate Mefili. This time though, she wasn’t showing off her battle prowess. Scurrying over to the other side of her bed, her bare tail flicking as she cleared the floor of the failed trinkets. Then with both paws held toward her she revealed the cause of her excitement: a half fur, half metal trinket in the shape of a rat with glowing blue eyes.

“Oh my it’s a … I’m so sorry, what is it?” Lissa asked, her confusion obvious.

“It’s a rat! ” exclaimed Mefili with boundless energy.

“A rat. It’s… of course it’s a rat,” offered Lissa, awaiting more information.

Mefili’s expression remained bright and pleased but offered no more explanation.  Lissa dropped her facade of interest.

“Mefili. I don’t know what you’re supposed to do with a rat. Is this what y-”

“You don’t do anything, it’s just a rat!” she interrupted and set the mechanical rat on the floor.  The rat began scampering around, scooping up some of the coins Mefili had strewn about the floor.

Lissa was shocked. Not necessarily at the ability to scoop up coins but the fact it was working! The mechanical rat continued until it had scooped up five small coins and ran back to Mefili who was clapping her paws excitedly, her whiskers perked up.

“That’s amazing, but how did you get it working?”

“Power core.”

“Ok. Sure,”  Lissa had no idea what that meant, “And did you kill some rats for the fur?”

“No! Never! Rats are our friends!”

“Right, so then-”

“Bats.”

“Bats?”

“Bats,” Mefili confirmed.

“Where did you get the bats?”

“Outside? Where else do you get bats?”

“Right, I don’t know why that didn’t cross my mind,” she said, realizing she was wildly off topic, “Hey, Jasper is getting breakfast. I’ll go get Gard and meet up with you two.”

Mefili nodded her head rapidly and began gathering her tools.

The day was overcast, the ground wet, and the wind didn’t make it any better. This of course bothered Lissa but not The Gardener. The tallest of the four, standing a full two heads over Lissa the metal-forged being stood amidst the greenery outside of the Dancing Rat. A mix of steel and stone, The Gardener’s origin was definitely not well known, some place north of the Coppernecks, but what Lissa knew was they were reliable and kind … most of the time. Today they seemed to be concerned with a rather large red oak leaf.

“Hey there buddy, enjoying the weather?” she offered sarcastically.

“I hadn’t noticed,” they said, not noting the tone, “This is a red oak leaf.”

“So it is, hey I know you don’t eat breakfast but we’re rallying the blades for Breakfast.”

“It isn’t autumn.”

Even though they clearly were referring to the season, the time of year when the deciduous trees would let go of their leaves, she remembered her former mentor. The loss still stung.

“You’re right. You know it was really stormy last night? I got almost no sleep, probably just a strong wind, it happens all the time.”

“No. The Red Oak is no ordinary tree. A storm could not have done this.”

She grew more agitated at The Gardener ignoring her.

“Please come inside.”

“It could have been cut, but this looks natural. It’s wilting.”

“The Red Oak is dying? Don’t tell the Merchant’s Guild that.”

“They probably already know. This is quite a distance away, if she’s shedding her leaves, it’s probable that many have already fallen. This only got this far because-”

“Of the wind, yes. Gard. Inside, please?”

“Oh, alright, miss.”

“Please don’t call me miss.”

“I’m very sorry, miss.”

With that the duo went inside to meet Jasper and Mefili.

Assembled around the table, Mefili asked permission for Ratley, her new rat-toy, to also sit with them and Jasper begrudgingly allowed it. Probably only to prevent another tantrum. Lissa was setting her coat on the chair as Gard sat down, staring strangely at the mead before him. Mefili seemed to have forgotten that they don’t drink. Or Eat. Or Sleep.

Jasper stood the moment everyone was settled, “So we all know the last job didn’t pay. We’re digging into our coffers and they’re close to empty. I could elaborate as to why this is a problem and what we need to do, but we already know that and we know how to fix it. So I have done the initial leg work and found a good bounty. This time we outnumber them. We won’t even need to get crafty.”

Lissa was immediately skeptical, “Ok so it’s some big monster that needs put down?”

Jasper shook his head, his face still all business. Stoic. 

“No. A single Inox.”

“An Inox?”

Mefili had already finished her breakfast and was distracting herself with a new project to tinker with. 

The Gardener decided to join the conversation, “I assume that this Inox has allies.”

Jasper smirked. Finally, some emotion.

“I’ve already done the research. They have two lieutenants, so technically we have three Inox to take care of.”

“Who is the Inox in question?” asked Gard.

“Korik.”

Lissa winced immediately. She knew Korik.

“The murderer. The Inox that can split a human in two? Didn’t he already get arrested? Wait, he’s being executed today, right?”

Jasper shook his head, “Not anymore. Escaped last night during the storm. The captain watching over the jail was a bloody mess, Korik gored the poor lad. They said the scene was morbid to behold so I had to get a look with my own eyes. So to speak.”

Jasper could manifest crystals and then do all sorts of things with them, sometimes terrifying things. Despite his appearance, Jasper was the most proficient warrior of the group. Lissa pondered the news, staring at her mead and then turned to Jasper.

“So it pays well?”

“Over a hundred.”

Lissa’s eyes went wide and Gard’s eyes glowed, they would have went wide if they had eyelids.

“A hundred.”

“Each.”

“EACH?” the trio responded, Mefili finally joining the conversation.

“Enough to fix your arm now get moving. I have a lead and I don’t want to lose their trail. They’be been starving in a jail and I don’t want to give them time to gather their strength.”

Gard and Mefili went back to their rooms to gather their things but Lissa stayed.

“Hey Jasper. I don’t know why Autumn picked me over you. If you wanted to, I’d let you be the leader.”

Jasper shook his head, the smug energy from before now gone.

“It was always yours to have. I know my place. I was always Autumn’s second in command. It’s a good fit for me. When Granx and Domager gets back we’ll have more numbers, until then we have this job. Plus Gard and Mef like you more than me.”

“It’s no wonder, you’re less likable than Domager. And it’s just a large sentient bundle of rocks.”

Jasper smiled just a moment.

“I’ll meet you outside.”

Chapter Text

Chapter 2: Danath

“Gruesome barbarians,” muttered the captain, his voice matching his broad shoulders and face. His scowl reflected his mood.

He’s not wrong about gruesome though, the whole scene looks worse than Lissa had imagined. The guards looked like they were tossed about like ragdolls, haphazardly cast aside. The only one that looked like they put up a fight lay in a bloody mess on the floor of the jail. The grisly scene was made more eerie by a distinct lack of windows, the minimal light reflecting off the blood everywhere.

Lissa tried not to wince, she’s sure she did.

“So how’d they manage to escape?”

The captain shrugged nonchalantly, “Not my job. You got what you need?”

Lissa turned to her companions: Jasper stoically stood seemingly uncaring of the massacre. The Gardener was talking with one of the jail patrolsfor details, that’s good. Mefili was still cowering behind Lissa’s legs. What a nice group, she thought.

With a sigh, Lissa pressed, ““What’s with the coins, that’s not an Inox ritual.”

The captain shrugged again, “Are you reporters or mercenaries, what do you need to find them?”

Lissa scoffed and looked down to Mefili, “Can you do anything here?”

Mefili quickly shook her head, two bursts of head-shakes, “No-no! I need someone alive. Were there any witnesses?”

The captain gestured to the dead bodies in the room.

Jasper’s stern voice cut the encounter short, “We’re done here. Gard, let’s go.”

“I’m glad you’ve taken up the offer, mercenaries,” called out a voice from behind, in a grand and possibly exaggerated affectation. 

Flanked by several armored guards, the man was shorter than expected, being just shy of Lissa’s height. The clothes matched the man’s bravado and poise: clothes that clearly outclassed everyone here. Red, beige and black doublet, dark long boots and a big hat with an even bigger feather. His dark eyes contrasted his pale beard which he clearly took a lot of care into shaping. The broad-faced merchant stepped forward with a grin.

“Danath, very nice to meet my new recruits. The creature is a menace. They murdered even more guards on the way in. You should have seen those scenes. Far worse.”

Jasper already looked agitated at being called a recruit but scoffed after Danath finished, “I saw them, they’re not worse than this.”

“Well forgive me, murder is murder. I take it the offer is sufficient, will you be leaving soon?”

The disdain in Jasper’s voice escalated with every sentence, “The offer is fine. There a particular rush on this? Seems a high bounty too, I’ve not seen anything above fifty this year.”

“This particular problem we want dealt with quickly. We might have to call in professional help if you’re not up to it.”

“What a terrible bluff, there isn’t any situation where you’re going to involve Sin-Ra with an angry Inox problem. You’d rather them be gone than the Inox. We have the situation under control, have the money ready.”

Jasper began walking out past the guards when the lord-mayor Danath grabbed him by the wrist. Jasper’s eyes glowed for a quick moment and he turned to snarl at the man, “I have the money, that’s not the problem. Don’t fuck this up, Orchid. The roads are no longer safe in the Dagger thanks to the Inox.”

Jasper wrestled his arm free and walked out. Lissa and the others followed.

Catching up with Jasper, Mefili squeaked, “What an awful-awful man. Why is he in charge?”

Gardener offered, “Most of the Merchant’s Guild enjoys controlling the status quo since the revolution. Given he’s the most significant representative here and the populace sees no particular reason to get rid of him as they’re relatively cared f-”

“That’s enough Gard, thank you,” interrupted Lissa. “Mef, he’s just got the most money. It’s how things work.”

“What if WE had the most money?”

Lissa laughed, “I don’t think you understand how much wealth the merchant’s guild has.”

Her ears flopped down like her mood. Lissa immediately felt bad.

“Hey, maybe we can get rich with your new … robot-rats. Could create little mini-gardeners!”

“Actually,” corrected Gardener, “Those are non-sentient devices and would not have the same autonomy that I do or any of my kind. Although built and constructed in possibly similar ways the end result is vastly different, miss.”

Lissa nodded, noting Gardener watering one of the clay pots he had mounted on his large backpack which now has new hooks connected to his body.

“Get some new upgrades, Gard?”

“I did, yes. At this point I think I’ve replaced most of the original parts since arriving from the Coppernecks.”

Lissa grinned, “Hey, I’ve been working on catching up to you,” pointing at her arm.

“You understand how humans work, better than I do, yes?”

Lissa sensed a follow up question, “Not as much as I’d hope but go on.”

“At what point in replacing parts are you still the same being as when you started? I am still Gardener, but so much is different. What about you? At what point if we were to replace you would you be an entirely different person?”

“I’m far too sober for this conversation.”

Mefili offered, “I don’t think beer would help you understand any of this any better.”

Lissa smiled at Mefili’s improved mood. “Beer helps everything.”

Outside the mercantile on the east side of time Jasper did his best job at being quartermaster, gathering supplies and distributing them amongst the four.

“We should head out tonight, it’s going to be harder to track in the morning. We might get a bird or a squirrel that saw them and Mefili can give us a better heading.”

“Squirrels are so chatty,” said Mefili absentmindedly investigating a toad near a pond.  Gardener walked over to kneel near her to investigate as well. 

Jasper frowned at Mefili and back to Lissa, more quietly saying, “You shouldn’t baby her so much.”

Lissa waited for more, but nothing came, “She gets scared, she needs the assurance.”

“If you say so, but you’re enabling her. I know she’s young but you have to let her grow up. I know you got used to how Autumn treated you as their own-”

A resounding slap made Jasper flinch but only just barely, enough to get him to stop talking.

“Don’t talk about them that way,” Lissa commanded.

“I’m sorry to have upset you, I’m only trying to help.”

“ Stop helping, then ,” said Lissa between her teeth.

Gardener and Mefili had taken notice and had approached. 

Mefili’s voice filled their heads, her tone sorrowful: I can hear what you say, even in whispers. Please stop treating me like a child, both of you.

Solemnly, Mefili gathered her things to move to the gate. Jasper quietly followed.

Lissa looked to Gardener who held up another clay pot, “New plant, Miss.”

“Not now, Gard.”

The dagger was far ahead so at the very least they could travel without having to worry about the inox preparing an ambush. Unlike their normal journeys filled with mirth there was tension lingering from the verbal confrontation earlier. Mefili awkwardly scampered a bit away from the rest of the group, Lissa was avoiding eye contact with her companions and even Jasper lacked the smug expression he usually bore. Only the Gardener seemed undeterred, stopping occasionally to investigate strange moss on a rock.

Gardener broke the silence, “I found another red leaf on my way out of town.”

It wasn’t effective, they continued.

“I have a theory that it is infused with some magic that makes its cycle not perennial but attuned to some other force than a change of seasons.”

Lissa finally entertained her mechanical friend, “What is attuned to, then?”

Gardener shrugged, “I’d have to investigate it but they’ve added more guards around the tree. They shut off access to the tree except through the temple.”

“The temple? That’s accessible to the public.”

“Correct. The guards are stationed inside of the temple. I had asked for a sample and they just asked where my quatryl was.”

“Rude,” commented Lissa with a sigh, “I suppose we don’t get many self-aware machines.”

“Sentient Unfettered.”

She nodded, trying to pretend she understood the nuance of the correction. Staring at Gard, she noticed the contrast of some of the older to newer parts, his piecemeal armor of steel, stone and wood similar to a patchwork quilt. Except 8 feet tall and as strong as an Inox.

Jasper decided to join the conversation, not bothering to look at his companions, “So you have any theories or were you just musing there, Gard?”

Gard’s head turned to the orchid, the jade crystals of his head facing the group, shining in the setting sunlight, “I have many. The Red Oak wasn’t always a permanent fixture here says history but rather after humans began to claim territory. A great battle was fought here. Some say blood magic tainted the tree and has given it power. There is a blood cult in the city to the east of us, supposedly, they might know more.”

Jasper didn’t acknowledge the theory, walking but his posture indicated he was listening.

“Another theory is that it is a blessing from the Great Oak, a sign that the victory was destined by fate and the Red Oak is a reward for their triumphs and sacrifices. This is why the temple is built at its roots.”

Mefili offered a quiet squeak, “Then that sounds like the Oak approved of the slaughter of those who once lived there.”

Gard nodded, “Good observation. Alternatively perhaps just to bless the survivors. We don’t particularly know. There is a sect that calls the Red Oak blasphemous but as far as we know that’s more of the fanatical sect. I believe some in White Oak were to call out this belief as a heresy but no official statement is made. As of now, The Great Oak watches over Red Oak.”

“So is it blood magic waning, a blessing running out of time or a pillar powered by blasphemy?” asked Jasper.

Gard shrugged once more, his metal gears making a louder sound this time, “That’s why I wanted to be let in. They won’t let me near the tree at all.”

Lissa finally remembered, “Wasn’t that the sight of the murder, where Korik slew those guards? Before they were arrested, that is.”

“Yes,” replied Jasper directly, now facing the group as he walked, “Seven soldiers slain.”

Lissa frowned, “Why was Korik in there?”

Gard shrugged yet again, “Perhaps they’re as curious as I am. I do wonder if it is blood magic though, that would be quite ironic. I am using that word correctly, aren’t I?”

Lissa finally smiled, “Yes, that would be ironic if the great oak priests worshiped a tree fueled by blood magic. Maybe that’s what Danath is up to, blood rituals in the night!”

Gard raised a single finger as they rebuked Lissa, “Not at all, there is no source of magic within that man. He is utterly impotent.”

Lissa and Jasper both smiled as the group continued towards the Dagger, eventually allowing themselves a restful night of sleep. The tension had faded from that afternoon’s arguments and the next few days were more peaceful until the great forest loomed before them. Gard took point, his machete emerging from his right arm and torch from his left as they stepped into those dark woods.

Chapter Text

Chapter 3: Into the Dagger

Lissa was so very worried, staring at the towering castle of ice. This venture was already their strangest yet: first all of the drakes. She had heard of drakes in the Coppernecks but they were already rare, Lissa had never seen a drake before let alone fought one. Then encountering a self-aware mechanical being who wanted their help, half-frozen and damaged. Now a castle of ice in the middle of this blizzard and the only wildlife nearby was horribly mutated and mutilated. Despite being plagued their bodies still continued to fight.

Navim, a quite clever quatryl with glanced at the desiccated corpses they just felled, scanning it with a strange device. Lissa could barely see, still snowblind from the blizzard but Navim had some goggles, at least someone could see.  Jasper knelt near Navim to look at the device.

“Plague,” said Navim in a nasal tone. “This place isn’t safe, it’s even in the conifers and the soil. The palace must be the source.”

Lissa turned to the palace once more to make out Autumn and Granx arguing again. Autumn was a striking commander, multi-toned short hair of red, orange and blonde, strong features and gorgeous brown eyes. They were only slightly taller than Lissa but felt like their presence commanded that beyond Granx who was easily eight feet tall. Granx, a strange inox warrior outcast from his tribe, looked agitated at Autumn. His three horns a great shadow amidst the blizzard. Granx had found the greatest treasure ever and Lissa doubted him. She was always skeptical of grand treasures, especially so far away from civilization. The places Granx took them resulted in them fighting strange plague-creatures and bodies rising from the dead. From researching crypts, basements, cellars and ritual chambers. It didn’t add up, but he was fiercely loyal, did his fair share and was a brutally deadly warrior.

Granx’s deep voice cut through the blizzard, “I have the key to the palace, let’s get inside.”

Autumn called out to Lissa in their strong but alluring tone, “Your arms are going to fall off if you don’t come inside, come over here.”

Lissa smiled, Autumn’s humor always did.

Granx knelt before the great palace wall but this time up against the structure, they were safe from the wind and snow. Shivering Lissa watched as Granx laid out a tome still surprised at how such a powerful warrior was also booksmart. He pulled out a strange staff adorned in skulls and began chanting.  Lissa shivered again and Autumn stepped close, wrapping their heavy fur cloak around Lissa.

“Hey there girl, are you doing ok?” Autumn whispered in a calming tone.

“I… I don’t like it h-here,” chattered Lissa, “D-Did you hear w-wwhat Navim said?”

“Yeah don’t worry about it. We won’t stay here long enough to be corrupted by whatever this is. This is a smash and grab, once we have the treasure we’re out of here and back to camp. Hey remember, I’ve got that cocoa you like.”

Lissa already felt warmer thinking about it. Maybe it was the cloak, maybe it was Autumn. She smiled even wider. 

“Fine, smash and grab, then cocoa.”

“XORN!” called out Granx loudly, the moment gone now.  The chanting was over and staff glowing faintly as the doors began to glow green and pale blue now slowly swinging open.

Navin’s device started clattering, not like a siren or a scream but like a ticking that erratically and loudly spat out several ticks per second. Looking down at the device he turned to autumn, “Commander, this place isn’t safe. At these levels, we can’t even be in here an hour, we-”

“We won’t need an hour,” bellowed the confident and deep voice of Granx, now holding the skull staff and walking inside.  

Navim shook his head, “This is a bad idea. Autumn listen to me-”

Autumn called out, “Back to camp, Granx. We should reassess what we want to do here.”

Granx ignored them, the glowing staff now a sickly blue-green against his body.

Skittering noises erupted about the chamber, the clicking of insects against stone, the buzz of wings and the chittering of bugs.  Navim instinctively pulled out his left arm and pointed it in the direction of the noise, a spray of ignited liquid filling the room and just in time: hundreds of swarming bugs were only a moment away from swarming the diminutive creature. Luckily the fire was effective, the mass of bugs not particularly interested in being set aflame.

Autumn took out their claymore as many more of the harrowers burst into sight ahead: creatures made of swarms of insects. These hive-minds of nefarious intent were made humanoid forms and even donned similar garb and masks which only served to make them more terrifying. Their expressionless masks bore no fear nor remorse.  With a sweeping blow one of the swarms was temporarily forced into two, trying to regroup as the rest of the bug climbed up their arms.  The new mechanical friend  had joined the fray lifting some of the temple blocks and crushing the bugs en masse with force.  Lissa realized she was staring and took the moment to draw her bow for a moment realizing it was useless, changed to her sword and shield and began joining Autumn.  Back to back the two fought the swarm no longer feeling the freezing cold but outside but adrenaline causing her to sweat as she fought off these strange beings.

As she fought there was a moment of reprieve, Lissa glanced at the inner chamber. Granx seemed to have to have dealt with his own bug problem, masses of strange bugs on the floor of either side of him now but the staff now pulsed sickly green energy.  The green glow matched Jasper’s as he stepped into the chamber with Granx.  Jasper’s angry voice called out to Granx.

“There’s no treasure here, Inox.”

“Oh, there is. The greatest treasure!”

“Traitor!” accused Jasper as he began to form a long javelin-like edged crystal, aiming for the Inox.  

“STOP!” cried Autumn. Jasper looked back at them, “Granx, what are you doing?”

Granx had froze once he saw the crystal spear and took a moment to survey the scene before him before shouting, “PRAISE XORN!” and driving the staff deep within the altar he had climbed.  

Jasper let loose the javelin sending it across the palace and into Granx but it went through to the stone walls behind, shattering into a thousand pieces as a glass-like shattering echoed through the chamber. Lissa winced a moment before staring at Granx: He was being twisted and torn and his smug cry changed from confidence to terror as he became consumed with insects and plague. The visible portions of his body became twisted and bloated. Jasper touched the crystal pillar near him and was gone in a moment as Autumn called to Lissa: “RUN!”

As Granx began to twist the whole palace began to fill with a deathly cloud.  Navim at the entrance was still fighting the bugs with the strange mechanical creature, the last of his contraptions failing as Jasper created a swarm of crystal blades and brought them from the sky to shred the remaining bugs.  The mechanical creature lifted Navim, weakened and hurt from the fight as they sought to flee the place. Lissa staggered behind Autumn calling out to them. A fierce pain shot through her right arm.

“FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! SHIT! AHHHHH!” screamed Lissa as Autumn scooped her up before leaving the cursed palace. Autumn gently placed Lissa in the snow outside.

“Hey, c’mon girl, you’re fine. You’ll be fine.”

The strange mechanical creature spoke finally, “The quatryl is gone. Plague. It spreads fast.”

Jasper reeled backwards looking at the now twisted corpse of Navim. Lissa looked at her hand, tearing off her sleeve to reveal twisting black and grey energy going from her wrist to her elbow.

“OH FUCK IT’S SPREADING. HELP HELP HELP OH SHIT PLEASE-”

“Lis, Lis, hon you gotta calm down, it’s ok, you’re gonna be fine,” they promised as Jasper went to grab one of Navim’s devices, trying to use it on Lissa to no avail.

“NO I’M NOT, FUCK STOP IT, FUCK STOP IT STOP IT, CUT IT OFF! FUCK!” Lissa screamed, no longer able to keep her composure as the black energy in just a few moments moved past her elbow and drawing closer to her shoulder.

As if taking orders the mechanical creature grabbed a temple stone and dropped it on Lissa’s right arm.  A sickening crunch and Lissa’s howling only intensified.  Seeing some of the black flesh still visible the mechanical creature’s arm drew a blade and began cutting.

All she could hear was Autumn's voice, “Girl, you’re going to be ok, please, Lis, please don’t let go.  You’re gonna be ok.”

All she could do was scream.

Lissa couldn’t breathe. She was being suffocated. Her eyes shot open to show Jasper lit by moonlight, his glowing jade eyes concerned staring at Lissa. Barely visible in the dark of night, only somewhat backlit by a small fire some distance away. 

She was sticky with sweat: tense, terrified. Realization set in and she began sobbing, reaching for Jasper.  Jasper embraced her, whispering, “I’m sorry.”

Her tension slowly fading, her fear numbing her emotions she let go of Jasper and took stock of the camp. A dim fire near Mefili who looked more scared than Lissa and Gardener who was collecting sticks and seemingly ignoring the scene.

“The whole Dagger knows where we are,” stated Jasper flatly.

“Fuck Jasper, this isn’t the time to chastise me. You know-”

“I’m not,” he interrupted, “I’m giving you a status report. Ready yourself for battle just in case.”

Sometimes she hated Jasper’s complete lack of emotions. He had them, of course, but some moments he became so callous and detached that it ate at her. He wasn’t wrong though, if she had been screaming, it’s no surprise they weren’t already ambushed.

She gathered her mail armor and slung her sidearm and shield as she knocked an arrow into her bow. Gard stood stoically nearby, nothing drawn as per usual and Mefili’s glowing eyes meant she was attuned to something or someone, we’d know more soon. Jasper moved to the side, crouching beneath some shrubs. His ability to attune himself to rocks and crystals was sometimes terrifying but his ability to become an ordinary stone was sometimes useful.

Mefili squeaked. “Fourteen? No, sixteen no! More! Ah! They’re here!” 

An arrow zoomed past Lissa and she quickly spun about to return fire. She only got one arrow off before ducking down, there were too many of them!  A scream from the woods indicated she hit her target but the chorus of bowstrings meant that they were answering tenfold. A great barrier suddenly appeared before her. Gard’s entire left arm had become a wall sheltering themself, Mefili and Lissa. Lissa changed to her sword as dozens of arrows bounced uselessly against the barrier.

“Move forward,” urged a voice from the woods.

Where the fuck is Jasper thought Lissa. Gard let go of the barrier, toppling it towards the woods. Loud cursing and a scream indicated it definitely got at least one of them. As it was falling Lissa charged up the barrier and leapt atop it, descending on an unsuspecting bandit, his blood now painting the forest floor. Following up on a second bandit between the now fallen barrier and the nearby tree she thrust again stepping back in the darkness.  She glanced at Mefili seeing one of the bandits moving to her, “NO!” cried Lissa as she abandoned her position to save the vermling.

The bandit’s blade went through the vermling into the damp soil. No blood, the projection vanished in a moment. The confused bandit’s eyes started to glow as he turned on his own. Now seeing some turn on themselves and a giant unfettered now using fallen limbs to bury bandits, chaos was in full swing.

A cloaked man barked orders, putting his torch to a nearby bush to set the camp ablaze but dropped the torch into the damp earth a moment before he could light the fire. A narrow crystal blade had found its way into this throat. Jasper, intimately close, behind the man held the blade to his neck as the crystal blade widened, eventually being a foot across beheading their leader. Jasper's eyes were no longer stoic and devoid of emotion but wild and alight with fervor.  

One of the bigger bandits charged at the slender orchid, heavy spiked club in hand.  Jasper broke the crystal blade into pieces and shot them at the charging marauder, pieces of shrapnel entering him causing him to stagger forward onto the ground. The pieces of crystal had new life, finding their way in and out of the man, making new holes in his chest and face with each passing second.  Jasper strode toward the rest of the bandits, collecting the crystal pieces from the horrifying mess that was a man forming a slender blade once more.

One bandit had already shot off into the woods as Mefili controlled two men in a fist fight with each other, knocking each other into exhaustion as Gard and Lissa took down the main force in the middle, Gard now distracted with a trio of men trying to surround the great automaton.

Lissa suddenly was winded as the tall man in front of her kicked her in her belly as she w ent to block his blade. Taking a step back to gather her breath she drew a dagger and tossed it at the man who screamed.  Not wanting to lose the momentum she staggered atop him. Drawing one of his daggers from his belt and trying to drive it into his chest. He grabbed her wrist and sought to turn it on her. He freed one hand and punched Lissa with a glancing blow on her shoulder. She returned in kind with her mechanical arm, hitting the bandit in the head. She was stronger.

He raised both hands in surrender as she brought the blade to his chest. She scowled at him and spat, “What are you doing here?”

An eruption of glass shards from the earth beneath impaled the cowering bandit’s skull a moment later.

“Jasper, what the fuck, he surrendered!” shouted Lissa as she stood up now surveying the scene.

Mefili was crying next to Gardener near the fallen barrier. Sometimes her telepathic abilities took a toll and she had been doing a lot turning scoundrel against scoundrel. Gardener was kneeling down to comfort Mefili and Jasper was smugly rifling through the bodies.

“What were you going to do, let him go back to Red Oak so he could begin a new life of crime?”

“He could have had information!” she shot back.

“Lissa, they’re highwaymen at the edge of the Dagger. They just wanted to ambush merchants but they didn’t have merchants. They had a small pack of mercenaries who gave away their position.”

His words stung. She didn’t want another fight, not after this, not after tonight.  She instead moved to Mefili.

“Hey girl, you ok?” she said softly, suddenly reminding herself of how Autumn used to try to calm her.

Mefili sniffed and nodded, squeaking, “Sorry, I just… I felt their fear as they passed.”

“Yeah that’s rough. You did great though. We couldn’t have fought them all like that.”

Mefili managed a weak smile at the words of encouragement, “Thank you, Miss.”

“Oh come on, please don’t keep calling me that.”

“Ok, miss.”

Gardener had finished scanning the defeated, moving them to a spot away from camp, “Danath wasn’t wrong, the roads in the Dagger aren’t safe.”

Lissa agreed, “Well it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. You ok, Gard?”

The Gardener nodded, already trying to fix his left arm that seemingly got twisted in the fight.

“There were no Inox though,” pleaded Mefili.

The other three looked at her.

“Danath was wrong, he said that the Inox were to blame. None of these bandits were Inox.”

Gard tilted his head to Lissa, “She’s right.”

Then how far ahead are these Inox, pondered Lissa. At this point the head start they had meant they probably could be reunited with their tribe, then it wouldn’t be three  starved and weakened Inox but a whole group of them. They wouldn’t be ready for that.

Jasper walked over to Lissa, “Twenty two gold, plus some other things we can shill to the mercantile. Not a bad haul.”

Something felt wrong, Lissa couldn’t quite figure it out, “You get a funny feeling about this one, Jasper?”

Jasper nods, “Always do. The merchants don’t care about us. You’d be a fool to think his intentions were pure, but I do believe he thinks they can better keep the peace if there isn’t an Inox upstart in town.”

Lissa looked down at her left hand: it was still shaking. From battle or from the nightmare? It didn’t matter, she wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight. Slumping down near the fire she took watch until sunrise.

Chapter Text

Chapter 4: With Blades Drawn

The body crumpled instantly to the forest floor.  It was smaller than Par, significantly, but so were most people. In the dim light of dawn he stood over a snide-sneering merchant, clearly unflustered by the death of his comrade. The merchant wasn't dressed for a walk in the woods clad in crimson and cream velvet and leather.

"Your predicament is unchanged. It matters not how many you kill, the guild will find you. I've a much better offer than Danath will ever give you."

From the shadows behind Par, another horned figure emerged. Clad in plain robes and wielding a a cudgel, Korik and their serious but passive eyes looked down upon the intruding merchant and his now remaining two guards.

"Foolish of you to think we'd let you live. You're lucky I was here to stop him," said Korik, indicating the menacing figure of Par whose axes looked thirstier by the second.

"Threats won't work on me. You know that the situation becomes worse if I don't return."

"It wasn't a threat, I'm the only one who knows you. It was unwise of you to assume I'd have eyes on you. What's your offer, merchant?"

"Turn yourself in. You can save your friends, the guild doesn't want them, only you. Your life is already forfeit but if you come peacefully, you may have a chance at mercy and more than certainly they will forgive your friends. You've been labeled as an inciter, a rioter, a problem, a thorn that needs removed. If Danath can't remove you himself, he will involve his associates in White Oak."

Although his tone was that of a pleading friend, asking for help Korik knew what it was: a threat. A veil so thin even his less wily associate Par could see through it. Korik pondered the words a long moment.

"Mercy for a murderer? No, that's not how he works. He wants to make an example of me and I have no plans of being a martyr. What's in it for you, if I make this deal? You wouldn't come all the way out in the woods without assurances."

"Clever but I'm not willing to share that. Certainly there's a benefit to bringing you back, dead or alive. I'd like to bring you back alive so that we can have peace. There's a mercenary team headed your way, right now. They certainly have other plans."

Korik took their time to respond, as they tend to do. Surveying the woods, they knew that both sides hadn't yet played their hands. This wasn't a conversation between a few. There were words being exchanged here but blows being exchanged elsewhere.  Korik's eyes wandered as their mind did and they finally looked back at the intruder.

"Who did Danath send?"

"The mercenary team, the Blades of Autumn."

"With the red-haired warrior with the iron hand?"

"Yes and her giant mechanical guardian. Those aren't even the scariest of them. Are you aware of Jasper?"

Korik had to admit, they didn't know much of the Orchid mercenary. They'd seen them in town on occasion but he didn't seem too imposing. Maybe this was a bluff.

"Oh, it seems you aren't," taunted the intruder with a mocking tone, "Worry not. He'll be here soon. He's not far behind."

"Are they your backup? Seems you're out of cards to play, merchant," retaliated Korik, tired of the conversation.

He cackled in response, "Oh no no no, hardly. If you're not willing to come peacefully. I will have to ask again, with more leverage," and he threw a hand signal to the sky.

The soldier immediately to his flank drew a horn and blew it, echoing through the valley. The leaves shook against the brassy tone and even Par winced slightly at the off-putting instrument's blare.  The silence that followed only lasted a few moments.

From the bushes around the camp came a dozen or so Inox soldiers, carrying with them wounded soldiers. As the merchant saw what came of his ambush, he took a step back, shacking.

Par's wild eyes lit with delight as Jethra dragged the body of what clearly was some kind of captain or leader, missing some parts. She tossed the body at the merchant. 

"Sorry chum, cavalry's not coming, not for you anyway," as his previously smug face had changed to horror.

"I'm so terribly sorry, Korik, you must understand. I had no choice but-"

"Leave. Now."

He didn't need to be told twice. The remaining wounded soldiers gathered themselves, limping out of the camp. The inox began to dig graves for the fallen.

Par frowned and turned to Korik, "Not wise. They'll be back."

"I know," he said calmly, "But not soon, we've bought time. Time is what we need, I need to speak to her."

"She's already begun to weep," said Jethra, concerned, "How much time do we have?"

"I don't know. We cannot rush this like we did the last time. We won't be able to make another escape from their prison, they will be ready next time."

Par turned to Korik, "The mercenaries he mentioned, what of them?"

Korik turned to return to his hovel, "They won't be a problem."

Jasper raised his hand, concerned and turned to the other three. Mefili heard it too, her ratty ears perking up.

"A horn? Do Inox use those?"

Lissa smirked, "Technically they all have three so I'd assume so."

"Lissa, I heard a horn, maybe a battle horn. It wasn't the braying of a garralev. This was of artificial make. Perhaps they're ready to strike."

Lissa frowned, "Already? They were barely ahead of us. How would they be already be poised to attack Red Oak?"

"I don't know, but we need to do something. You need to do something."

For a brief moment Lissa forgot: she's the one who gives the orders around here.

"Right. Mefili, think you can get eyes or ears on that? Gard, how's your repairs going?"

"86.67 percent done, repeating, of course."

I don't know what that means, thought Lissa, but he sounds optimistic.

"Great, Jasper. Let's increase pace a bit. I don't want to miss out on whatever it is happened. How far do you think it was?"

"Given we're in earshot? Close enough. I don't want to be caught by surprise. We don't operate well without the element of surprise."

As Mefili quickly scurried ahead, Lissa marched forward and tested her arm. Still not perfect, the joints still whined a bit when she moved.  Throwing a glance to her right, it was obvious that Jasper detected her testing her arm. He chose to remain silent regardless. For the better though, if a fight was coming up it was best they not have an argument now.

Gard did the best job as trailblazer, using their mechanical arms to push away limb and stone to clear a path for the other two.  The Dagger wasn't especially kind to humans and most of the forest were untouched by arbor guilds and the like. Given Red Oak has had trouble making leeway into claiming the land and Gloomhaven far to the east, it left most of it uninhabited.  Well, uninhabited by the kinds of people Lissa was familiar with.  She pondered for a moment if Granx knew the inox that called this place home. As she thought about Granx, her mind flashed to Autumn again and she starkly remembered that dream, the nightmare. She felt it in her gut, remembering Autumn's last moments. She wasn't able to dwell on it for long, Mefili returned.

"Inox. Dozens of them. Bodies of merchants and soldiers. A battle!" she squeaked.

Lissa and Jasper stopped. "Dozens? That's not what the posting said!" she proclaimed angrily but in her best hushed tone.

Jasper shook his head, "Call it off. This is a loss. We should return to Red Oak," as Gard stopped blazing a trail, freezing ahead as the two started arguing.

"Are you kidding? We've already lost time and money getting this far. We can at least get eyes on them to see what their forces look like.


"DOZENS!" squeaked Mefili, louder this time.  Both Jasper and Lissa shushed her.

"Lissa. Don't be an idiot," chastised Jasper, "It's time to go home."

Idiot.  The words stung. Jasper knew it instantly too, his face changing from impatience to remorse.

"Lissa..."

"Jasper. Do not call me an idiot again, understood?" Lissa's voice was stern and commanding, hiding her swallowing the truth: she was being reckless.

Jasper nodded silently.

Lissa called out to Gard, "What's the path ahead look like?"

Gard refused to move, their arms raised.

"Gard?"

The unfettered body of steel and stone refused to move as Lissa surveyed the path ahead, Gard wasn't alone.  A tall Inox wearing pelt and bone had an axe poised menacingly at Gard as another robed Inox with their face caked in white clay in a very intricate fashion stepped forward.  Holding a cudgel at their side they grinned, "The Blades of Autumn?" they questioned.

Lissa nodded quietly, stunned she was found so quickly.

"I am Priest Korik, Speaker of the Red Arbor, Leader of the Weeping Grove. You're tasked with hunting me and bringing me back to Red Oak for Danath?"

Looking around and realizing she was heavily outnumbered, she realized this was likely the end. Putting her trust in the wrong person: herself. She shouldn't have taken this job. She shouldn't have led Mefili to her death. A thousand thoughts went through her mind and she pondered Korik's words.

Eventually she just nodded, "Yes," she said, her tone defeated.

"Do you want to live?" they offered.

Lissa's eyes turned up to Korik, realizing they'd dropped to her feet as she contemplated her own death. She never thought she'd be bested by her own hubris but a way out suddenly shook her with vim.

"Fight me," she commanded.

Korik's eyes opened widely, "What was-"

"Fight me," she repeated, interrupting the priest.

Korik smiled, "I know not of the traditions of the mercenaries of Gloomhaven but in the Dagger, we do things differently. Tell me though, why do you want to fight me? What is it you want?"

"I want you to spare my comrades, I want for them to make it back to Red Oak safely. I want you to command your allies to stand down. I want you to come back to Red Oak with me."

"For why?"

"The bounty. You know what you did. You're a murderer."

"I killed three city guards, I am not a murderer."

Lissa was confused. "Did you not just contradict yourself, you killed-"

"I killed three men, I did not murder three men. You do know the difference. If you throw the gauntlet to a fellow mercenary and fight to the death, is that considered a murder?"

Jasper finally decided to speak, "Why did you do it? Why did you kill the guards."

"She's weeping, you built your town around her. Your city is her prison. Your priests defile her with their ornaments and their monuments. You name your city after her and yet you make a mockery of her."

With every sentence, she felt the stinging pain in their voice.  Lissa focused on the priest's eyes, Korik spat accusations at her but she did no such thing. She's just a soldier: a mercenary from Gloomhaven. An orphan. She served whoever could shove the most gold in front of her.

"I... I'm sorry they did that, but you still killed three men."

"I will kill many more if they stop me from speaking to her. Although I'd much rather not resort to such means, they have forced my hand. Just like you, I will fight you but you will lose. You are tired, your soul is wounded, I can feel it. I will break your body if you demand it of me, but rest assured: you will lose."

They were right. Although she had a second wind, she wasn't confident it was enough. The previous fight had taken it's toll and they went right back to marching.

She looked at Mefili's bewildered eyes, then Jasper's stern face. Emotionless, unreadable. No help there. She turned back to Korik.

"Let them live, no matter what happens."

Korik nodded, "If they do not raise arms against us, I will let them live."

Lissa sighed, "Thank you."

She drew her sword and stepped toward the Inox priest. They discarded their shawl and brandished their cudgel towards Lissa. With blade drawn, she charged.