“Okay, let’s do this. We should also make sure to drop off the quests from the Webbed Wood later today as well. Then we can see about heading back down the chain to the goblin villages and such to do those lower level quests and dungeons.” Gerald tugged at his jacket, looking as though he were trying to adjust the lapel of a suit.
“Sounds good,” Alburet said as they made their way over to the sergeant desk. “Sir,” He addressed the snow-leopard Lunari on duty. “Alpha Company here to pick up the quests you have, sir.”
The Lunari looked up and a single brow rose, “Alpha Company? I thought you were led by an Alburet Two-souled?”
“That would be me, sir,” Alburet said as he fell into parade rest.
“I was told Alburet was a human,” the Lunari coughed, “which you are decidedly not.”
“I completed a ritual, which changed my race, sir. Check my name if you don’t believe. With me are my officers. We’ve been going to each fort to try helping out.”
Snoweye Warmcoat’s eyes narrowed slightly as he pulled the up name bars above the players. “Hmm, indeed. It does appear that you are Alburet Two-souled. I’ll need to report this along to HQ, so our records on you are current.”
“That’s fine, sir,” Alburet replied. “Can we get the quests from you, please, sir? We would like to head out and see what the Snowblind Hills have in store for us.”
“Of course,” Snoweye sat up a little straighter. “Kill me ten of the Snowmakers, ten of the Oracles, ten of the Wardens and thirty of the Pathmakers. Also feel free to Purge the Cave, once you get strong enough.”
Quest: Kill Ten Yeti Snowmakers
Reward: 50 Gold and increased rep with Stormguard guards
Quest: Kill Ten Yeti Oracles
Reward: 50 Gold and increased rep with Stormguard guards
Quest: Kill Ten Yeti Wardens
Reward: 50 Gold and increased rep with Stormguard guards
Quest: Kill Thirty Yeti Pathmakers
Reward: 50 Gold and increased rep with Stormguard guards
Quest: Purge the Yeti Cave
Reward: 100 Gold and an item from the Quartermaster.
“The cave will be beyond us for a short time sir, but we’ll tackle it before we move onto the next higher areas.” Alburet saluted, then he and the others turned and left.
“Why would he report your race change?” Marysue asked.
“The guards are the armies and the intelligence agencies of this world,” Fluff said softly. “They have files on anyone they consider of interest. All of us would be on file, as Alpha Company has been deemed worthy by the crown.”
“Ugh,” Marysue sighed. “I was hoping to not be famous here at least.”
“You’re second fiddle to me here,” Alburet chuckled. “Just keep your head down a little and people will look right past you. They would be wrong to, of course, the healer is always the most important part of any successful group.”
“Tanks being second,” Gerald chuckled.
“DPS comes last in ranking as always,” Karen sighed, “but it’s still way more fun than healing or tanking.”
Once back outside the main gates, Alburet summoned his minions. He called Tiny first and when the smoke cleared Tiny nodded to him, “Greetings, master. How are you feeling?”
“Fine, Tiny. How are the wives?” Alburet replied with a grin.
“They are holding a meet and greet today to decide which other two they want to add to the family,” Tiny rumbled. “When I go home I shall have two new wives to meet.”
Gerald blinked, “Wait, why are your other wives deciding?”
“Do not your wives decide what is best for your household?” Tiny asked.
“I don’t even have a single wife, much less several,” Gerald replied.
“Ah. One day you will and your first wife will then look for others that are compatible with you. The biggest decision you will ever make is who your first wife will be, so choose wisely. She will set the tone for the entire family.” Tiny gave a toothy grin when he finished speaking.
Karen laughed, “Oh, his first wife has already been picked, she just hasn’t told him yet.”
Marysue blushed and Gerald blinked. When he looked at her, Marysue was staring at him, her face unreadable. He swallowed audibly, “Mary?”
“We’ll talk tonight,” she said, her cheeks red. “I’ve been working up the nerve to speak with you about… things.”
His jaw dropped open, then closed with a snap, “Okay.” Worry, fear and hope fought for control of his face.
“Good. She will make a strong first wife for you,” Tiny rumbled. “A strong woman who can mend your wounds, the very best any protector can ask for.”
Alburet coughed, “Okay, that’s enough of that for now. Thank you, Tiny.” Shaking his head, he called Bob to his side, “Morning, Bob.”
“Damn it,” Bob sighed as he puffed into existence. “I was just about to go back for round eight, and why is it so damned cold?”
“We’re in the Snowblind Hills. It’s only going to get colder from here.” Karen paused, then asked the question, “Round eight?”
“Yeah! I had two Succubi Ladies from the Dark Lord’s court treating me like royalty last night. Very little sleep was had. On the upside, they were both talking about marriage when I was called here. So I very well might be starting my own family soon.”
“Once they give birth to a child of yours, they will become Imp Mothers,” Tiny rumbled.
“Yeah. Hopefully neither of them want a child until a few decades have passed at least,” Bob chuckled. “Neither of them seemed in any hurry for that last night.”
“We ready to start moving?” Gerald asked, tugging his jacket a little.
“All accounted for,” Alburet replied, “going to hold off on a Copy until we know what we are up against.”
“Single patrol mobs in between the caves that dot the mountains here,” Marysue told him. “Most of the caves are shallow things with a group inside of them consisting of the three mobs we have to kill ten of. Sometimes there are two groups in a cave. That’s when things get rough.”
“We’re hoping Stacia will be able to use her abilities on them,” Gerald added.
“I will do me best,” Stacia added as she walked along beside Alburet.
As they walked away from the fort, Alburet’s curiosity got the better of him. “Bob, how does the whole Imp Mother thing work?”
“If a Succubus becomes pregnant by an Imp, it changes their body and abilities. They will only produce Imps from any pregnancy from that point forward, regardless of who they get the seed from. They become very large and round and normally reside in one of the hot springs found in the Infernal Realm. When they do give birth, it isn’t to a single child but to a clutch of Imps, anywhere from five to twenty.”
“Ma’ told me once about the change,” Stacia added. “Succubi be able to control when we be getting’ pregnant. What happens to us is we lose all the abilities we used to have and our form changes, like ya did master. Nay as painful, more a euphoric experience from what I been told. What the Imp Mother gains is a secret they hold dear, nay tellin’ others, nay even their own children. No matter the Imp Mother’s rank, the Imps she births be Least Imps and they must earn their way from there.”
“Wouldn’t that mean Imps out number all other Infernals?” Karen asked, having listened to the story.
“Aye, tha’ they do,” Stacia nodded. “Many never go beyond the first few stages of advancement though. Iffin we go back and do the Cursed Woods, we be findin’ a lot of them. Even Infernals can die the final death, we just do nay die from old age. An unbound Infernal has the same chance of the final death as any other person, besides the two-souled. That be why it be viewed as dangerous to nay be bound to a Summoner.”