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Hydromancer Louis of the Field (#3920)

Owner: 0x24D7…e52b

Chapter 1: Leaving Goblin Town

Once he was sure that the lowlife hadn’t followed him out of Goblin Town, Louis doubled back around the outskirts of the bustling trading post, keeping to the fields and hedgerows and heading east. The dark, swollen mass of the Quantum Shadow boiled on the horizon.

He had recognised the man as soon as he walked into the tavern – one of the scoundrels serving under the smuggler captain Zarq Khattak. Khattak made his living moving illicit goods from Red Wizard Capital, Calista’s Citadel, and Alessar’s Keep across Kelpie’s Bay to the Black Market in Goblin Town. Even for a smuggler, the man was devious and greedy, always trying to squeeze a little bit extra out of every deal, his piercing blue eyes sparkling brighter with every coin added to his pile. Although Louis had no proof, he was sure that Khattak was also directing the acts of piracy that were becoming more and more frequent on the Bay’s murky waters.

While Khattak was a Rudimental, he had managed to use his wealth and influence to gather a crew that included the rougher and more mercenary types of warrior (even kobolds), and assorted delinquent magic-makers. Through his spy network, Khattak regularly collected dirt on a number of wizards who frequented the unsavoury haunts of Goblin Town, using this information to blackmail them into lending their sorcery to his endeavours when he had need of it.

Zarq’s agent, Wizard #3911, now followed Louis’ cousin Hagar and the Arch-Magician. Goliath was a well-known mercenary in all the ports along the coast of the Bay; Louis found it curious that Zarq would use the man for an undercover mission… Perhaps the smuggler was losing his touch.

Louis wondered whether Khattak hoped to kidnap Isaac and hold him to ransom. It would be very fitting if he met his end by over-reaching to such a ridiculous degree, Louis thought. The laughable idea of the smuggler coming up against the illustrious Wizard #3922 cheered Louis.

Still, no need to take any chances. He would find out what the spy was up to, and allow Hagar and Isaac to make their getaway. After that, he would take the more usual route to the south – by boat, along the river and across Kelpie’s Bay. There would be plenty of boats heading across the Bay and down the Boister, the river running through the heart of Chronomancer’s Riviera. Goblin spirits were wickedly strong and fetched a high price on the Riviera – well worth the trip for any trader.

Although Louis’ destination was the high northern plateau that was home to The Sacred Pillars, it made no sense for him to head in that direction. It was far quicker to use the portal at Atlanta’s Pool to travel to Dream Master Lake, where he could open another portal straight into the mountainous home of the Elders. He was sure The Sacred Pillars would come to Isaac’s aid, but the Elders were not known for swift deliberation, so anything Louis could do to speed up the process would help Isaac’s cause. Before he left the tavern earlier that day, Louis had agreed that on his return from the Pillars, he would wait for Hagar in Yellow Wizard Haven until he returned from Atlantis.

As he neared the southern edge of Goblin Town, Louis spotted Hagar and the Arch-Magician emerging from the gate. Although Hagar had paid the guards richly on arrival in the town, he was forced to go through the motions of the customary bribe. The two bulky kobolds, armed with rugged clubs sporting an assortment of rusty spikes, accepted the token payment after just two attempts to raise the price, letting the Atlantean pass before beginning to squabble with each other about how to split the coins.

Louis smiled admiringly at the clever move. It was just like Hagar to give the guards an odd number of coins, sparking a dispute that would leave them in a particularly belligerent mood when the Hedge Wizard tried to exit the town.

Louis continued to make his way across the fields as Hagar led Isaac swiftly along the path out of town towards the bridge over the swift, narrow river that flowed westward to Kelpie’s Bay. From there, they would head towards the BattleMage Mountains. Even if the one airship that regularly travelled between the mountains and Goblin Town had been operating, Louis knew the captain was never keen on taking passengers… That meant less room for cargo, and the price to get around that particular problem had no upper limit other than whatever number took the captain’s fancy.

So Hagar and Isaac would make their way to the lower reaches of the mountain range by foot and from there seek a local guide to see them through the treacherous passes, keeping out of the territories of the monsters that lived high in the peaks.

Hopefully, in the meantime Louis could throw any other potential spies off their scent with his own trip downriver… Back in the town he had two old acquaintances he could count on to pose as his companions, while Hagar and Isaac took the faster route to Atlanta’s Pool.

Unfortunately, there were no portals linking with the Pool in this part of the Runiverse – the closest was the gateway on the island in Dream Master Lake. Braving the mountains was their best hope of getting the Arch-Magician to Hagar’s father, the King of Atlantis. Louis had been sure that Khattak or some other goon would catch wind of their presence in Goblin Town, which was why when Isaac found Hagar, Louis suggested this plan to him. Louis had no qualms about being the bait for an empty trap. Khattak was not the only one with connections in these parts.

Tobago should by now have made it to the Great Owl Obelisk to gather news from across the realm, brought there by the Coalition of Owls. Louis’ familiar could travel the airways to pass high above The Quantum Shadow in a direct line to the Obelisk. The Great Owl would find Louis wherever he ended up, he had no concerns about that, but he was anxious to learn more about the unrest in the south. The conflicts could have dire consequences for his future trading exploits in Kelpie’s Bay and along the coast of Asmodeus’s Surf, not to mention their current mission travelling through the territory of the Yellow Wizards.

He turned his attention back to the town gates, where Goliath was now struggling to haggle passage past the guards, who were loudly demanding some kind of non-existent exit permit or the payment of a hefty fine. Louis ducked behind the hedgerow and ran along bent double, moving to a better position from where to intercept his adversary.

Chapter 2: An unexpected visitor

Louis rose from his hiding place and hurled Kelpie’s Fury. Lightning flashed in its watery depths as he fed the Rune of Jupiter into the spell, which gushed in a wide arc around Goliath, rising in a wave that crested and then crashed down on the helpless wizard. But instead of spraying in all directions, the water held together, trapping its victim in a wobbling, amorphous mass.

As the other wizard’s face began to turn blue, Louis flicked his wrist and the globular form shifted, growing bulbous around Goliath’s chest as it retreated from his head. The man gasped, choking and spluttering before drawing air into his lungs in ragged bursts.

“Didn’t think I would recognise you, smuggler? Tell me everything you know of Zarq’s plans!” Louis said, his voice deathly calm.

A bewildered look crept across Goliath’s face, but before he could say anything the ground began to crumble and disintegrate, giving way under Louis’ feet as the ground swallowed him up. The watery binds collapsed, dropping Goliath onto the churned up soil.

Sallow fingers scraped over his leg as a haggard figure pulled itself up out of the ground. Folds of pallid skin hung from its rotting skull and its jaw sagged unnaturally to the side. Frozen with fear, the Hedge Wizard watched as the ghastly apparition dragged itself over the earth towards him.

The zombie grinned; a tooth wobbled, then fell from its mouth. “The Voidlord is displeased, Void Disciple,” it slurred. “I am to bring you back to the Valley. You will need to explain your failures to the First Disciple.”

The colour drained from Goliath’s face as he tried to stammer a protest, but the zombie was upon him, grabbing him by the throat in a surprisingly powerful grip. The stink of the grave washed over him, taking hold of his senses, stifling his breath and constricting his chest. He felt lightheaded; his vision swam and blurred; he slipped into unconsciousness.

Chapter 3: Paths crossing

Zeromus peeled back the worldly membrane and allowed the other two wizards to step past them into the world of the living. Now that the spell’s protection was no longer needed, Zeromus released the diaphanous bubble their Dryad’s Ear had formed around Lux and Burnside, then sealed the exit from the Void.

In the distance, the Quantum Shadow loomed, large and foreboding. To the west, Goblin Town squatted like a toad next to the river that flowed through the vast plain between the Shadow’s outer border and Kelpie’s Bay. South of the town, a patch of earth had been churned up around a hole surrounded by short, wiry grass. The area at the edges of the fractured ground was sodden.

Zeromus cursed as they rushed over to the scene. The group had been trying to follow the trail of the zombie that had once been Ofaris of the Circle, but it seemed that they had arrived too late again. Zeromus felt the heat on their back as Burnside’s skull burst into flames. They heard Lux tut in annoyance and shuffle away from the frustrated Pyromancer… Zeromus had made their two companions promise to aid in the pursuit of the creature before taking them to find the Shaman.

As the Necromancer focused their power on picking up the zombie’s trail once more, a groan floated up from the pit. With the help of Burnside, who had thankfully managed to extinguish himself, Zeromus pulled the man coughing and spluttering back to the surface. He shook his dreadlocks, sending a shower of dirt clods and dust in all directions.

Following a brief conversation, it was clear that the Hydromancer had little recollection of what had happened to him. Wasting little time, the trio bid him farewell and set off again after their quarry.

Louis watched with raised eyebrows as Zeromus parted the fabric of reality and split the membrane between worlds, the three wizards disappeared and the sky knitted itself back together behind them. It was one thing knowing about the Void, but to see it for real was a disturbing experience. Suppressing a shudder, he turned back towards town, a cloud of dust floating behind him as he headed for the riverside port.

Story Arc Index:

Prologue: Soul #7186

Part 1: Wizard #314

Part 2: Wizard #2398

Part 3: Wizard #134

Part 4: Wizard #3920

Part 5: Wizard #7935

Epilogue: Wizard #291

Entered by: 0x24D7…e52b and preserved on chain (see transaction)