Born a Monster

Yeah, Strength and Labor of six each. I’m pretty sure I bungled the Charisma/ Perform/ Acting/ Fake Weakness check, but nobody mentioned it as we moved around, seemingly from mud puddle to dung heap, to sticky rut to temporary normality. But the point is among us we managed to move a cart that would have taken two horses.

I blinked. “Hey, did we get a new tent?”

“Crap and Fuck.” Mohgson said.

“We forgot the palettes, too.” Ayya said.

“How in the name of Loki’s beard did we all manage to forget palettes?” Corporal Drikt asked. “At least we have shovels. Turn over just enough topsoil to get this ash underneath the surface. We’ll get enough of that crap blowing through, without being a source for it ourselves.”

If you were expecting me to be annoyed or surprised, then I’m sorry for being a different monster than you take me for. We took the seams off of burlap bags, and sewed them back together in ways that would never, could never, meet with a quartermaster’s approval.

We soaked the improvised floor mats with oil to keep the water out, and set out what we could to further protect what few goods we had.

“What are you thinking, Pale Worm?” Tigrin asked me.

.....

“I’m wishing we had tree sap, or perhaps tar. If we could raise a burlap wall coated with that...”

“Might as well wish for honey.” Denson said.

Siegen was looking to the south. “It looks like our human troops have been replaced with people.”

I wondered why that was. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Who was it who had told me that?

Tigrin tried to slap me, and I was so distracted I just dodged. “Good reflexes.” he said. “First thing you’ve done competently since joining the unit. Now pay attention. Oil won’t work on the walls, so we’ll need to use water.”

I blinked. “Why would water work better?”

“Just shut up and help me do it.” he said.

It was easy enough work; I could both keep up and spend some time thinking. “How well guarded is the supply caravan?” I asked.

“Doesn’t matter.” Mohgson said. “We’ll be done here and on our way south before then.”

“South, toward the capitol?” I asked

“South, toward some ancient graveyard.” Ayya said. “Gathering place for ghouls.”

“But... how many ghouls could be left there?” I asked.

“What do you mean, Pale Worm?” Denson asked. “Who cares? We get enough of them inside the walls, and the siege is over. Ever here of ghouls transforming people with their bite?”

“Simple holy water stops that.” I said.

“Once.” Denson said. “It stops the ghoul plague, but it doesn’t do anything for the next bite. Sooner or later the defenders run out of holy water. Or the ghouls otherwise get creative.”

I rubbed my eyes. “Effectiveness aside, what is the point of turning a city into ghouls?”

“When they open the gates to run, the city falls.” Denson said. “And then, we let our human allies loose upon the ghouls. Divine casters have powers against all the undead.”

“But ghouls aren’t undead.” I said.

“Of course they are.” Ayya said. “Why would they hang out around graveyards if they weren’t?”

“But...” Not all truths need be spoken. “Okay, so the ghouls defeat the walls, and the Kamajeen defeat the ghouls?”

“And then we slaughter the humans.” Tigrin said. “Those who don’t follow the true religion.”

“It looks like that’s going to be all of them.” Denson said.

“Filthy humans.” Mohgson said. “By the way, Pale Worm. Take a bath, you stink.”

I didn’t even bother faking to smell myself. I knew. “Should be time between dinner and when we fall asleep.” I said.

“Nah.” Ayya said. “It’ll be time to wash the walls again by then.”

“Unless it rains, may Loki kick Thor in the groin.” Denson said.

“It doesn’t look likely,” I said, “groin kick or not.”

“Besides.” Siegen said. “Soldiers can see what we have, they’ll want it.”

“As long as they sign for it.” Tigrin said. “I don’t want to haul supplies anywhere by myself, ever again.”

“What is all that smoke off to the east?” I asked, seeing it for the first time.

Ayya licked her upper lip. “Looks like the humans are starting burn and clear agriculture on their land.”

“Meh. Let them sow, the people will reap. The good ones will know this is just an easy first year; the others will betray themselves.”

“You don’t need to sound so happy about it.” Siegen said. “Sometimes crops just have a bad year, no matter what the farmers do.”

“Sounds like a common farmer’s excuse.” Tigrin said, “If they’re going to take time off from work, they can at least spend some of that time coming up with something unique.”

“And that,” Corporal Drikt said, “is why you, Tigrin, are not in charge of deciding who is a victim of Thor and who is just being lazy.”

“Loki protects.” Tigrin said.

“Even Loki can’t be everywhere.” Mohgson said.

“Blasphemy in the second degree.”

Mohgson muttered something.

“WHAT WAS THAT?” Tigrin said, nostrils flaring.

“I said, you aren’t a priest.” Mohgson said. “You’re just a soldier, the same as any of us.”

“NO KNIVES!” Drikt screamed, but it was too late.

Tigrin leapt, knife in either hand. Mohgson had only the one, but he held it defensively.

“Shit.” I said, dropping the burlap.

“No, Worm. Stay away!” Denson followed this with a body block.

I sprawled on the floor, wondering how so much pain could be contained in just six health points. “What?” I asked.

“It’s honor.” said Denson.

“For honor!” said Tigrin.

“For honor!” said Mohgson.

“No tearing the walls.” Drikt said.

Without my recently purchased defenses, it would have been painful to watch. Mohgson tried to defend himself. He tried.

He had the raw Valor score, but it was obvious looking at him that he hadn’t worked on his parrying. Or, I noticed, his attacks. Mohgson reached the same conclusion, and pulled his maul from inventory.

Tigrin smiled. “Okay, then. We’ll do it that way.” His was a wavy sword, purchased at some unknown price from the Kamajeen.

“That’s...” I said.

“Glorious.” Ayya said. “If not for the rules, I’d kill Tigrin now.”

“He’s not going to win.” Siegen said.

“Hah! Shiny silver says he does.” Ayya said.

“No bet.” Siegen said.

“Because you know I’m right.” she said.

It was hard to see, because Tigrin was faster. But I saw it.

“I’ll take that bet.” I said.

“Show your silver.” Ayya said.

“When DO I get paid?” I asked.

“Shut up about that.” Drikt said. “When the convoy gets here, and not before. Why bother, Pale Worm? We both know you’re just going to buy tools.”

“And a shield.” I said.

“No coins, no bet.” Ayya said. “I’ll take your silver later.”

Mohgson was bleeding from his right cheekbone, and the split in his ear.

Tigrin was like a dancer, in then out, and in...

And Mohgson struck him a glancing blow against his back, cracking his shoulder blade with a loud popping noise. Tigrin screamed, and just...

I’d seen berserking during my time in the islands. This was the same. Tigrin stopped thinking, letting rage and wrath guide his movements. No longer defending, his every move intended to strike Mohgson with a final blow.

“Damn it.” Drikt said.

A low sweep of the maul sent Tigrin sprawling, his sword slicing through the floor without effort. And he brought it up... right into Mohgson’s downward blow.

.....

“Bwaha! My EYE!” Tigrin screamed, all fighting forgotten for the moment. “You ASS, Mohgson! You’ll pay for that.”

Mohgson raised his maul to finish things.

“That’s enough, Mohgson.” Drikt said.

“But... Eieyarg!” he screamed, as Tigrin, still mostly prone, struck. His sword entered Mohgson’s side below the rib cage.

“I said ENOUGH!” Drikt said. “Victory to Mohgson! Tigrin is a cheater.”

“I... WHAT?” Tigrin said.

“You struck after she called enough.” Denson said.

“But she didn’t! She didn’t call it.” Tigrin said.

“I heard her call it enough.” I said.

“Silence, worm! I know where you sleep.”

“Tigrin.” Drikt said. “Stand down, or keep fighting. But you HAVE breached the code of Loki.”

“BLAS-FEM-ME!” he shouted, pulling back to strike at her.

He fell with a crossbow bolt lodged in his bad eye.

“Gik.” he said, dropping first his sword and then himself to the floor.

“Siegen!” Drikt called. “Medical bag!”

But I was closer, and I was the one who hurled it to her. I was too busy helping her treat Mohgson. I never noticed who slit Tigrin’s throat.

“Damn Thor the Brute!” she cursed. “We’re NEVER getting these bloodstains out.”

“Actually.” I said, “If we can get this to the river before it sets...”

“She means we’re never getting the bloodstains out.” Denson said. “Come on, help me carry Mohgson to the medical tent.”