The Albionic Chronicles Part 1

A Nice Fella?

Through the shattered remnants of Cambridge, the spectral horses carried Bilo, Peridas, and Sylvester with an otherworldly grace. Their eyes remained fixed on the elusive goal - the Alchemist's shop. The once-vibrant city now lay in ruins around them, yet they pressed forward, determined to uncover any semblance of hope in the desolation.

Upon reaching the Alchemist's shop, an unsettling calm pervaded the air. The devastation seemed to hush its chaos as they approached. The door, bereft of a locking mechanism, offered no resistance to their intrusion. As the portal creaked open, the trio was met not with the expected confrontation but with an eerie silence that resonated through the stillness of death.

Inside, the lifeless form of the alchemist, a tall and fair-haired elf, sprawled on the floor, bathed in a pool of crimson. Sylvester, a keen observer of the arcane and the mundane, scrutinized the elf's body. With a somber tone, he beckoned Bilo's attention. "Ay, Bilo, take a gander at this one." Bilo's eyes descended upon the lifeless figure, and a stark realization unfolded - unlike the mutated horrors they had faced since the calamity, the alchemist bore no visible deformities. His demise bore the unmistakable signature of murder, an event that transpired before the cataclysmic events of the day.

Unfazed by the tragedy that befell the alchemist, Bilo, Peridas, and Sylvester turned their attention to the tangible assets within the shop. The shelves, once meticulously organized, now became a treasure trove waiting to be explored. As they systematically cleared the shelves, they couldn't help but notice a shattered display case, evidence of a prior pillaging that had taken the most valuable elixirs.

Undeterred, they salvaged what remained, securing 15 potions for their venture. With their newfound acquisitions in tow, they departed the scene, once again mounting their ethereal steeds. As they navigated the desolate streets, a collective decision emerged - it was time to rendezvous with Rosanna. The proximity to her location offered an opportunity to reunite the group, administer health potions to their injured comrades, and fortify their resolve for the impending journey to the university.

Approaching Rosanna's shop, the trio was met with an unsettling cacophony that echoed through the desolation. The source of the disconcerting sounds emanated from within, a near-shattering, continual scream intertwined with primal squeals and laughter. The discordant symphony heightened their alertness as they dismounted their spectral steeds, preparing for the unknown that awaited them.

Bilo, ever the bruiser, took charge and delivered a powerful kick to the door, revealing a sight beyond their darkest imaginings. The scene unfolded before them with a grotesque theatricality - a drow woman, her scar-laden back exposed, melded at the waist with the tail of an enormous snake. This grotesque hybrid was entwined with one of the canine creatures, which writhed in the grip of the serpent. The ambient sounds within the shop were a surreal mix of gleeful laughter and an unsettling, almost orgasmic moan, originating from none other than a mutated Rosanna. She reveled in the savage pleasure of the kill, an image that etched itself into the minds of the onlookers.

Sylvester's voice pierced the controlled chaos, calling out to Rosanna amidst the bizarre scene. "Rosanna, it looks like you have this under control, aye?" The snake lady turned her head with a shy giggle, offering an apologetic nod to the party. In the midst of this, an audible snap echoed from the dying wolf man, abruptly silencing him. Sylvester, seizing the moment, informed her of the other survivors they had found and inquired if she was ready to join them. However, Bilo, as always an irreverent bloke, fanned his large beer belly with his stinky sleeveless shirt, rigid with decades of sweat and grease. Then interjected with a saucy tone, "Oi love, great to fin'ly see ya up close and personal like."

Rossana dropped her fresh kill, swiftly slithering towards the red-headed dwarf. Grinning ear to ear, she stated, "I could come with you, I suppose." However, her demeanor changed abruptly as she moved towards Bilo. Her face morphed into a scowl, and with a gaze that seemed to penetrate the tiefling's very soul, she put her finger two inches in front of his face, sternly instructing him never to call her "love."

With a swift motion, Rosanna retrieved a finely embroidered bag of holding from an intricately carved cabinet, carefully selecting an array of wands and artifacts from her well-stocked store. Once satisfied with her collection, she announced her readiness to join the party. As the quartet prepared to depart, Peridas, already positioned outside, gracefully mounted a spectral horse alongside Sylvester. Meanwhile, Bilo, owing to his substantial girth, summoned his own spectral mount. The four adventurers, accompanied by Rosanna's gleeful slithering, ventured forth until they reached the refuge where Evelyn and Dusarris awaited.

Foregoing formal introductions, the staff maker and his wife immediately recognized Rosanna's distinct voice. Sylvester, in his role as the party's potion distributor, provided healing elixirs to the couple. After a brief respite, the six companions felt rejuvenated and prepared to journey towards the heart of the town. The pervasive clanking of the bronze statue persistently hammering the second chain, having successfully freed the first, echoed ominously in the background.

As the party made their preparations, Sylvester tirelessly conjured more spectral steeds. Peridas, however, found himself fixated on a lifeless body sprawled in the street. Sensing the dwarf's contemplation, Bilo approached and inquired about the source of Peridas' fascination. Clearly shaken by the day's harrowing events and second-guessing his decision to join the group, Peridas simply continued to stare at the deceased, mutated guard-presumably crushed by the ogre mutants-uttering, "I ain't no fighter."

Bilo cast his gaze upon the fallen guard, noting the belt, holster, and revolver adorning the corpse. Realization dawned on him, understanding what Peridas was considering. Stooping down, Bilo retrieved the belt, strapped it around Peridas's waist, and remarked, "Mate... maybe y'ar a fighter today." With those words, he turned away and mounted his ghostly steed.

The party thundered down the main boulevard of Cambridge, the ethereal hooves of their spectral steeds striking the cobbled streets like a regiment of cavalry. With strength in numbers and an unwavering faith in their goal, they reached the inner walls. Abruptly halting, the party laid eyes upon a creature hitherto undocumented-a colossal, tan-colored reptilian humanoid. It was bound by chains and confined within the gap in the fortification, gagged and blindfolded.

Dismounting, Bilo approached Sylvester, and together, they pondered their options. The chances of finding another viable gap leading directly to the university were slim. Bilo proposed a daring plan-simply running beneath the restrained legs of this enigmatic monster. Sylvester, caught in a moment of naivety, suggested, "Well, you never do know... maybe we should untie him; he could be a nice fella."

After further contemplation, the two companions decided to cautiously approach the restrained creature. First, Sylvester took the lead, with Bilo trailing behind. Surprisingly, Peridas dismounted, clutching the revolver on his hip, and took up a defensive stance, shadowing Bilo by his own volition. As Sylvester drew nearer, an eerie phenomenon occurred-the chains binding the creature began to phase in and out of reality. Concerned, Sylvester swiftly dashed to the other side of the wall, slipping between the colossal creature's legs.

As soon as the dwarf made it past, the gag, blindfold, and chains inexplicably vanished, causing the formidable monster to crash onto the ground. Clearly agitated, the tan-colored reptilian turned its attention to Sylvester and unleashed a mighty roar. The rest of the group braced themselves for what could be their most challenging encounter yet.