[Displaying], responded the white staff.
A sphere about the size of someone's chest appeared, and images began forming within it.
Four figures in hooded robes, scarves covering their faces, without any adornment that could be seen.
Behind them were six others, much less clothed. The more concerning detail was the patches of bone showing.
"So those are the undead," mused Sasuke.
"They're headed toward the ship compartment," said Naruto.
"Ah," said Kakashi. "Then the only trick is to get there before they do, without being seen, right?"
"What is that," said Sasuke abruptly. "Can you go behind them? Further. Yes. THAT."
There was brief silence from the ninja, the swordswoman, and the mage/ninja.
"An abomination," said Saber, eyes narrowed. "An abomination made as a beast of burden. The entry said that they fashion servants from those they deem enemies. It also said that they were looking for pretexts to add Mid-Childan mages to their ranks."
"Okay," said Kakashi. "They apparently can mix and match parts and sew things together in new and creative manners. I think that if we encounter anyone from this culture on our trip, we should act in the approved manner of ninja when dealing with things like that."
"Burn it with fire?" asked Sasuke, sounding a bit sick.
"Yes, that's it exactly," said Kakashi. "Anyone involved dispute that I'm uprating this mission to S-Rank?"
There was a brief silence, broken only by Sasuke throwing up and Naruto nearly doing so.
"Okay, motion passes," said Kakashi.
"The wind speaks, strangers are near," said Inquisitor Mwnak. He stopped and lifted his staff, which was the skull and spinal cord of a harlot who had dared to try and charge him for taking his pleasure from her. He'd left a bit of skin and most of the hair, just so that any who thought to avoid giving him his due would see and reconsider.
"They are not Serafi," said Punisher Klynag. "Their scents are... one is a female?"
The Acolyte, their fourth member, didn't move or speak - as was proper of his low rank - but his sudden interest was betrayed by his posture.
"Ah, I've never had an offworlder," said Inquisitor Nraom.
"Quickly now, if they are like those Mid-Childans and not those others - they may have strange and powerful weapons," cautioned Inquisitor Mwnak, the air filters on his nasal ridge extending to sample the air. He set the staff into the ground, offering the command words that caused the eye sockets to glow fitfully. "Reveal where they are hiding."
Punisher Klynag drew his rods of office, the pain-sticks that could liquify flesh. He settled his back near to Inquisitor Mwnak, knowing these Mid-Childans favored flying (despite that being against the Precepts) and therefore an attack could come from above as easily as from the rock-scrub around them.
Inquisitor Nraom gave the gesture of third-level-greeting with a side motion of safe passage. These Mid-Childans were simple beings after all, and unbelievers besides, the Precepts stated that deceit to such was perfectly acceptable if one went through the proper rituals afterwards. "No reason to hide out there, strangers. We are simple pilgrims travelling across the desert."
"If we capture them and their weapons, we'll be promoted three ranks at least," muttered Punisher Klynaq. "I wonder if their females break any easier than our own."
"Hello?" said someone out in the rocks. "We crashed. Our ship is wrecked. We need medical assistance."
"So that WAS what that streak of light was," muttered Punisher Klynaq.
"Hush fool," hissed Inquisitor Nraom before calling out in a louder volume. "How many of you are there?"
"Us, just two of us here," said a figure, moving out from behind some scraggly vegetation.
"There!" said Inquisitor Nraom, yanking down a sleeve with one hand and then touching an elaborate tattoo.
A wraith-like Thing of purple mist reached out long spindly arms and rushed the youth. Who abruptly vanished a second before the wraith could catch him.
"Damn it! Too soon," growled Inquisitor Mwnak. He shoved his own sleeve up and brought it to a tattoo. A floating eye appeared over his head.
"What?" asked Inquisitor Nraom. "It was made of shadows?!"
At which point hands erupted from the ground and pulled Inquisitor Mwnak underground. The Eye stared at the spot for a moment before vanishing.
"They're on to us!" realized Punisher Klynaq. He touched a space over his chest, forming a whirling ring of bones around him.
Klynaq grinned under his scarf as several small knives were intercepted by bones. "He who breaks the Covenant - Punishment!" One of the whirling bones suddenly glowed purple and shot off away from the two remaining priest-mages.
"Heretics," said Inquisitor Nraom. "I-"
The purple wraith was abruptly cut in half as a woman faded into view.
"Woman! How dare you wear such scandalous clothing?!" Inquisitor Nraom reached towards a pouch.
A blur and the woman was now within a few feet of the remaining Inquisitor, and held her sword high and to the side. Inquisitor Nraom simply fell in two pieces.
Punisher Klynaq snarled, though it wasn't obvious from under his scarf. These Mid-Childan mages were behaving differently from the reports, and they were a HELL of a lot more effective than that group of dimension travellers had been.
Where had Acolyte Neq gone? Oh. That was him. With only his hooded and masked head sticking up out of the sands. Useless git.
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:04)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.