Butcher of Gadobhra Chapter 526

Suzette was the first to see the group of women running across the fields with a pack of fifty wolves behind them. Two were injured or dead and being carried by their companions. They weren't going to make it, and she had no desire to see people torn limb from limb so close to the town.

"Ozzy, we've got injured people on the way, and wolves are nipping at their heels."

The Butcher ran for the gate and, as soon as he'd slipped through, began running toward the fleeing women. With each step, he grew taller and his stride lengthened. The mercenaries saw him coming, and Darlene yelled out, "That's a friendly. Keep running and don't attack."

Dora fought the urge to slow down and fight the wolves behind her. "And what the hell is he going to do?"

"Whatever he wants, Dora. Shut yer yap and let's get to the town so we can watch!" Ozzy passed by them, flensing hatchets on fire and smoke trailing behind him, a fiery giant over twice their height.

From the top of the wall, Suzette was firing off spells with her staff, the extended range able to reach the foremost wolves. He spells had the power to outright kill the level 8 winter wolves, partially cooking them. As each went down, several fought to devour it. Frozen for decades and thawed too quickly, they had little left but basic instincts and a growing hunger. They didn't know what was killing them, and didn't see the oncoming Butcher as a threat, any survival instincts lost in their rotted brains. They saw him as meat for them to chew and eat. The gate guards let the five women inside and slammed shut. They scramble to the wall to watch.

"HOLYSHIT! That's what Marcy has been fighting?"
"How many flaming giants with leather aprons do you think live here?"
"All I know is this explains how she was gaining skills and experience so fast. If she were fighting that monster."
"Well, I say we get through this wolf-slaying event, and then make contact with the group here and start our advanced training."
Darlene was silent, trying to get a good reading on the sigils that were appearing in her mirror. Canus was still growing, eclipsing everything, but had split into two signs. The Reaper was also growing. The Trickster had rotated into view, riding a goat with a horn. And then, as she sucked in her breath, the Tower appeared on the horizon, with a corona of Hellfire. "Shit, shit, shit!"

"What's up, darling Darlene?"

"Chaos, just chaos. Every bad or harmful Sigil I've studied is showing up, some of them combined. I'm not sure what's going to happen."

"Then put away the voodoo shit and watch this big guy slice up some wolves." Darlene looked up from her augery just in time.

All talk stopped as Ozzy made contact with the wolfpack. He barreled into them, not stopping until he was in the middle. "Your mothers were hamsters and your father was a three-legged skunk. Your fleas have fleas, and I wouldn't trade the lot of you for a cat with the farts!"

The wolves went into a frenzy at his taunting, surrounding him. They clawed at him and tried to bite him, but couldn't leave a scratch on his skin. Inhaling deeply, Ozzy breathed fire and turned in a circle, catching all of them. Then he was stomping on heads and swinging his weapons in a never-ending whirlwind that sent dismembered limbs to wolves in all directions. The fire was causing panic even in their frozen brains. No minion of winter can endure fire for long, and these creatures weren't even half Ozzy's level. As the pack thinned, he paused and tore off several that had latched onto him with their jaws, pulled them off, snapped their spines, and tossed them away. The last half-dozen turned and fled. He started to pursue, but could hear the sound of more packs and the deeper roars of the snarlfangs. Like Darlene's crew had done, he turned and ran for Sedgewick, his long legs covering the distance quickly.

Inside, he caught his breath and accepted a large mug of beer from Suzette. She'd commissioned a couple of 'Ozzy-Sized' tankards after watching him fumble with a small one. "Awesome job. Turns out this group is one of Marcy's squads. They've been out there for a couple of hours killing wolves until they were almost dead."

He waved to them. "Yeah, that sounds like her girls. Glad to see them, we're going to need all the people we can get. The wolves have the numbers, but the Snarlfangs are what will give us problems."

A melodic voice came from a few feet away. "Then we are in the right place. We want to help."

Suzette barely recognized the three women. The last time she'd seen them, they'd been nearly catatonic from the effects of the prison they'd been in. They'd done nothing but sleep and slowly recover since then, but Granny Gorpunkel had given them a clean bill of health recently. The old Hag had surprising talents when it came to calming troubled minds.

Suzette looked at each woman in turn. "Fiarra, Adara, and Calida. We can use all the help we can get. But it means you'll be out in the open."

Fiarra spoke for them all, "So be it. We aren't afraid of our brother any longer. He's going to be busy for the rest of his life trying to rebuild Crystalthorn and doesn't have a lot of political clout. And he'd have a hard time dragging us out of this place. The Baron has offered us protection, and our husband is strong and building alliances with clever allies. We need to do our part to protect our home and show our worth." She looked at her sisters, who grinned back with bright eyes. "And it's been too long since we burned something."

"Damned right. We aren't real fond of some of the nobility, your brother included. He's been blocking our local Mage's Guild from getting formally raised to Level 3. And Baron William isn't going to let anyone tell him what to do on his lands, especially people he values. Let's find you some Fire Staves and suitable clothing for a battle. There are a surprising number of things in the Mage's Guild. The Silver Sorceress brought back some souvenirs from Crystalthorn in exchange for her services. You'd be amazed at what got left behind as they fled. And who! There was a cook named Amelia and some of her helpers trapped in the kitchen who were rescued."

All three women lit up with huge smiles, "Amelia? We know her! She used to sneak us into the kitchen for late-night snacks. Her cooking was one of the things we missed most while imprisoned. Well, and sleep and not being sick all the time. Do you know where she is?"

Suzette did, "She came here to Sedgewick, and works at the Inn. All of her helpers are with her. You'll have to visit her. But for now, get over to the Mage's Guild.
Guild Mistress Belerianne is coordinating the local mages, wizards, and hedgewitches. I'm sure she can find staves or wands for you to use. Don't be shy about grabbing something, and pick up potions at the tavern. And please, be careful, I don't want to have to explain to your husband if something should happen."

The women all looked grim, and Adara said, "Nothing will ever be as bad as the torture of that tower. We were close to ending our lives when that sweet man began reciting poetry to us. That saved us, but we're still angry. Burning wolves will be helpful. Granny has been telling us we need to let off some steam and not hold in our anger."

Suzette smirked a bit, "Can't have that. I've already seen what happens when Ozzy holds it in. Get on over there, load up with some artillery, and start burning some fuzzy monsters." The three women ran off to the Sedgewick Mage's Guild, and Suezetter turned to find someone else standing near her. It was Helga Coppertwist, the banker's wife, looking quite different in a full set of StoneCarved Plate Armor. The gnomish armor was legendary for its toughness and weight. How any gnomes could move in three hundred pounds of armor was a mystery to the rest of the world."

"Helga Coppertwist, reporting for duty, ma'am. The higher-ups have concerns that someone might try to put you in danger. As a gold-tier customer, you are entitled to the protection your local bank can provide."

"Well, convey to your husband and the Royal Gnomish Bank that I appreciate the protection. But I have to ask, one girl to another: Any other reason?"

Helga smashed her fists together, the sharp crack startling many people, "Yeah, I haven't been able to blow off any steam lately. I'm a Battle Stenographer turned Banker's Wife. No complaints whatsoever about that, to be clear. But a girl does like to keep in shape. I'm used to shadowing lawyers and keeping them alive. I'll do the same for you today."

"Well, glad to have you, Helga. Is the bank going to be ok?"

Helga was surprised by the question, "No one, and I mean, no one at all, can break into a Gold Tier Bank. Tiberius is securing everything and preparing defenses. Hopefully, he won't have to use them, but you never know."

Suzette agreed, "No, you never do know what the hell is going to happen next around here."