Vol. 2, Ch. 83: Like a Wurm On a Hook
This should be fine. We have a plan and a means of executing this flawlessly.
So, why am I worried?
Neska wrapped her tail and lower serpentine body around a stubborn evergreen that took root in the cliff, and peered down.
She'd seen the cliffs of volcanic and stratified stone, hanging vines, and stubborn evergreens rooted into the rocky terrain. There were a few cavernous openings that were exceedingly difficult to get to. Most of it was rocky, filled with sharp crags that made navigating from below almost impossible. Small birds flitted in and out of the sharp rocky maze before landing in caves, undermined ledges, and narrow crevasses, where she spotted nests filled with fledglings or, more curiously, eggs.
Nope. She couldn't think with her stomach. “Cassia, why are you dangling off that tree like a wurm on a hook?” Juni hissed above her.
Neska looked up from her hanging vantage point to see Juni looking on anxiously, hands wringing and staying far away from the ledge. “Nice use of a pun, Juni. Sounds like me, almost.”
“Not the point! See anything?”
“Lots of birds and places to hide. I saw a few nooks and crannies to check out, based on where birds were landing. I don't want to test my [Spring Scales] to see how far I'll bounce if I fall.” There had to be a practical limit to the ability. So far, any height landing or speed had resulted in no injury while active.
This, however, might be pushing it. “I need a winged companion for this effort. Or add an evolution with wings. Syra, can't you slosh down?”
“I can only spread myself so far before I would quite literally hurt myself with the hydro form,” She huffed. “The cliffs are dangerous enough, feel that wind blowing?”
She couldn’t possibly ignore the constant windflow up the cliff face, ruffling her feathery strands, and she secured her hat as best she could. Though it had never fallen off, she wondered if there was a subtle enchantment to keep it perched on her head.
She was not taking it off for a mere risk of wind. She curled up and down with her tail firmly secured, and Juni put a paw to her face, shaking her head. “Are you doing curl-ups, just to show off how confident you are?”
“Technically, they are tail-curls.”
“So you’re showing off.”
“I am preparing myself for what could be a rather bad idea,” Neska said candidly. “Professor Kalloway, you’re with Brent and me, yes?”
“Yes. I think bringing too many people in close quarters might be a detriment, not a benefit,” he pointed out. He’d donned a decidedly non-standard armored vest and sabotons on his legs, but the witch hat remained. Fashion before protection, she figured.
Or maybe powerful defensive enchantments hidden subtly in the fabric, like her own. “I want to make it clear: follow my lead, and retreat if I deem the risk too high. Understood? Rocs are capable of maneuvering quite well in close quarters, unlike other specimens of similar size. Cassia, any witch powers that you care to share?”
“My [Woven Root Hex] will be limited. Deep underground, without any vegetation, I can’t do much, though I am trying to work around that issue. I have a [Runic Barrier] from my hat, and a [Baleful glare] that I can use to redirect a foe’s focus. Plus venom arrows.”
Kalloway looked skeptically at the arrows she’d packed into her quiver, now strapped and secured to her body. “That is not a witch thing.”
“My imbued alchemy says otherwise,” she responded, drawing a soft chuckle from him. “Brent’s seen my fighting skills. But, I don’t know yours exactly.”
“I specialized in various blessings and a few offensive hexes. A lot of my points were spent on things that could help with research and rituals. You can’t specialize in everything,” he shrugged. “Mister Brent?”
“I have some aero affinities drawn from wind and sonic effects. It's rather subtle,” he replied, running his fingers through his mane, before he strapped on bracers and snugged them tight. He currently wore leather armor with metal banding to protect his vitals. “You know the thing that worries me? When the Varadur get smart enough to armor and enchant their own.”
“It’s happening already,” Kalloway said sternly, watching the wolf secure a short blade and flex his claws on his hands and feet. “Even a damn goblin has the forethought to put a blade in hand now. The more intelligent monsters they assimilate into their collective, the more dangerous they become. I wonder if that is why they’ve been biding their time for five years–teching up, so to speak.”
“Great. At any rate, I move fast, I can see in the dark super well, and I’m whisper-quiet, so I can scout ahead,” Brent affirmed. “I can also add force effects to my claws and use brief bursts of force to propel myself in various directions. I also took a few abilities for keener senses. It's taken some effort to master them, but I’m hard to hit and good at close range. I don’t mind the bow, either. Good hunting tool.”
“You remember which arrows are which, right?” Neska asked.
He pointed to the straw resin-coated arrowheads. “Standard venom, hit and run tactics while they bleed out or toxins hurt them internally. You also have the greenish foam ones that immobilize a target or deny an area. What is the red one for?”
Neska winced. Imbuing that alchemical fire gel had been agony until her body absorbed it, and she rubbed at her snout. “Incendiary arrows. They may also detonate with concussive force. Do not fire them at point-blank range. Or shake them violently.”
Brent went wide-eyed and stopped tapping the arrow. “Noted. Well, this will be the funkiest way I’ve fought, with uh... biologically enhanced weaponry. And you make this with your venoms?”
“It’s from my [Venom Imbuement]. It’s a weird variant of the witch’s alchemical abilities,” she explained.
“Biological warfare! Do be sure to wash your hands afterward, Brent!” Syra heckled.
His ears flattened, and he let out a playful growl. “Oh, I guess you’ll do, then, you portable bucket of water.” Syra responded by impishly flicking him a rude gesture, and he leaned on the railing. “Two can play this game, Syra.”
“Ahem. We should get going,” Neska interjected. “Juni, in an emergency, dig down and come find us. We might have to search some of the caves before we find a nest. I prefer to disable any Roc we find, or better yet, find a nest unguarded. Prior efforts lead me to believe that the foam arrows may be our best pacifist weapon.”
“And if pacifism fails, my hexes will solve the problem. Speaking of…” Kalloway tapped himself, Brent, and Neska one at a time, and a cool blue circle of light emanated by their feet–or lower coils, in Neska’s case. After a few seconds, the light faded, yet Neska felt an extra layer of faint airflow around her body. “That was a transferable [Ward Barrier] that should reduce the physical force from any blows the Roc might land, or cushion a bad landing. It also reduces our presence to the observant, like a lesser version of the [Sanctuary Blessing].”
They set up the rope hoist, with multiple coils tossed down the cliff, and a pulley system set up that Neska and Juni stood nearby. “I’m keeping my arcane relay open, so if you see anything, give me a ring,” Kalloway called out. He edged to the cliff, then, after a moment of hesitation, kicked off and began rappelling down.
“Well, age before beauty,” Brent said with a smirk.
Neska felt her feathers bristle at that comment. “I don’t think I fit your version of beauty, Brent, juuust saying.”
“What? No, it’s…it’s a saying. Like wishing good luck to the first person down,” he said, averting her gaze and gripping the rope with both hands, and edging toward the cliff. “Not that you aren’t cool looking or anything, but–I’m just gonna shut up, now.”
She found it amusing that his voice got all higher-pitched before he rappelled off the ledge with his powerful wolf-like legs. He arced downward about a dozen feet before contacting the rocks. Neska coiled around her rope, letting out a contented sigh.
How delightfully awkward and amusing. He’s a good boy. Neska allowed herself a small smirk as she coiled down the rope, sliding down by tightening her grip. The woven fibers were smooth and well-formed, not chafing her scales as she went vertical and slid down, soon catching up to Kalloway and Brent. Both of them elected for a simple harness with a friction brake.
Her whole body was one, in essence. Snugs were just extra practice.
“So…” Kalloway let out a huff of exertion as he pushed off the cliff again, and continued as if he were administering a lesson. “Going back to your ritual preparation for this familiar, are you aware of why the materials matter?”
“Conductivity is relevant to the flow of mana, and what shape it takes. It affects the ritual on a variety of fronts. Symbolism matters for rituals as well,” she said as Brent kicked off, his springy legs absorbing the shock well.
“Man, I thought witches were all dark magic and stuff. You guys sound more like wizards than wizards do: all calculated and proper arcanistry,” Brent said in an approving comment.
“It is an oft-misunderstood class, Mister Brent. What do you know of the Rocs?”
He answered in detail. “Razor-sharp beaks and sharper talons than my snark. They can emit discharged energy from their wings that can cause blindness, disorientation, and minor burns. Bigger variants can inflict severe burns.”
She’d prepared both of them to be tactical on this one, with her efforts to try a few new things over the days, and she chimed in. “Meaning, dangerous in close quarters. Their feathers also act as a gambeson, dulling the impact of any slashing weapons. Blunt force, piercing strikes, and anything that burns well are preferred strategies.”
“Quite right! Glad you two are brushing up," Kalloway commended.
“Yeah, we prepped. I like to know what I’m up against.” Brent rappelled further down, past vegetation and vines swaying in the steady winds. The early evening moon was coming into view over the mountains, illuminating the sky even as the twilight faded over the western mountains.
Just for a moment, Neska stared out at the wild world below them, noting small nightbirds flitting between trees at the base of the plateau. They were little more than small sprigs of greenery beneath them. The air carried the scent of vegetation and mountain peaks, and she wished to explore this world, so pure, so serene.
But first, she had to save it.
Brent held on to the rope with his paws, then braced his powerful legs against the hexagonal cut rock. He was grinning from ear to ear, looking proud of himself as he tapped his lapel to talk to Syra, “So, how are things up there?”
“Uneventful. I don’t see anything out there flying below or presenting a risk. Anything below you?”
Brent kicked off and pointed one clawed finger down. “White markings by those rocks, likely giant bird droppings. I also feel a cold draft. I think there are tunnels below us; you can’t see them from the ground because of how they’re angled. I think we’ll be fine.”
“Just bring yourself and the snake alive, or it'll be your furry hide,” Syra called out over the relay, sounding flustered.
Neska let out a soft sigh. “Do you think she's mad at me for keeping her as backup? I know she can stretch her temper a little far, but…” She trailed off.
Brent let out a grunt. “Don't sweat it. Oh, sorry, bad phrase for a reptile. The point is, don't worry about it. You getting a familiar like this, it's probably good for everybody, given what I've seen you accomplish so far. Plus, this is a great way to spend the evening.”
“Dangling like a wurm on a hook, is your idea of fun?”
“It’s not my cup of tea, that’s for sure,” Kalloway grunted. He pointed to a rocky craig and started walking laterally across the cliff, hopping over a protrusion of hexagonal stone. “This used to be an ancient volcanic formation, you see the columns of rock? It’s like giant crystals, essentially."
Brent lowered his tone. “So this plateau was what, maybe a volcano at one point?"
"In theory," Kalloway affirmed. "With millions of years of erosion. Contrary to the idea that a certain snakelike entity devoured the world a few times."
"They really need to stop teaching that myth," Neska sighed.
Brent chuckled as they continued down. "I know it's nighttime, but Rocs don't normally leave their nests unguarded. Cassia, are you okay with stealing from the cradle like this?”
“If they’re such a nuisance, getting rid of them is not objectionable to me. Plus, it's not like I have any other easy alternative for materials if I want to get stronger, and get a good familiar.”
“A fair point.” Brent peered down, grimacing. “You know, I hear some students climb down there for a little…action in privacy. Even with the risk of going splat.”
“Like buying contraband? Performing unethical experiments or discussing banned topics?” Neska asked.
“Mister Brent, don’t indulge her naivety,” Kalloway scolded.
The wolfling chuckled. “Sure, one of those. Anyway, I do know that other people have attempted this, but they were climbing down by hand, or by claw, as might be the case. This is arguably safer. Ish.”
Neska let her focus slip away, and she sank into her thermal vision. Soon, she could see the radiating heat coming off of Brent, with a cooler profile surrounding his extremities.
Down below, she can also see the rocks radiating heat from the daytime sun. The air itself shimmered as the rock cooled from the daytime warming. Occasional shrubs and stubborn evergreens sprouted on parts of the cliff face, serving as handholds she could grab onto, should their rope fail.
Not that she was particularly worried about that. The rope fibers were sturdy, and Syra had told her that it was almost as strong as steel, but as flexible as normal rope.
That said, though, she had seen the serrated beak on one of the Rocs. Better to have a backup plan and a sturdy rope after seeing that.
Below them, at the base of the cliff, she could see a massive rock pile. The stone had likely been eroded from the cliff face over thousands of years, turning large chunks and slabs into rubble. She'd spotted at least three points of interest within the immediate area surrounding the north cliff face. But the vantage point on the top of the cliff hadn’t provided a perfect picture.
Below, she could see a slight change in the thermal gradient of the rocks and could feel a faint air current, separate from the slight breeze that blew across the face of the cliff. The rocks appeared cooler at a rocky outcropping, as if there might be air blowing from an internal passageway. “Right below us, a cold draft of air.”
“Yeah, something down there, alright.” Brent's eyes in the dark bore a dim amber glow as he looked down. “Guess we'd better be quiet from here on in. No need to wake the birds that can chomp through my arm. Usually, I prefer eating chicken dinner, not becoming dinner for chickens.”
Neska gently swayed the rope to land with a perfect springy bounce onto a narrow ledge, with Kalloway and Brent landing slightly thereafter. It was just wide enough to accommodate her body, though she still felt the uncomfortable notion of her tail dipping down the cliff face.
Before them lay a large tunnel leading into the cliff. She made out a few scribblings drawn in primitive chalk that looked like student names or childish and crude nicknames, presumably to leave their mark here. She also saw a few more permanent ones carved into the stone
She found it puzzling when she saw a list of several monster species scrolled in, with little heart symbols next to some of them.
A Wendigo, wolf, feline, lamia, raptor girl, a vampire, what do these all mean? There is also a mention of a kitsune.
If this was what she thought it was, someone had quite a variety of…partners. She narrowed her eyes at this boastful list. I just need one. Wait, which one would I prefer? Do I have a preference?
The wolfling might be–THAT WAS RHETORICAL, VIVI.
Brent followed her gaze and chuckled when he read the list. "Damn, I guess Leeroy has been busy.”
Kalloway and Neska turned their attention toward the grinning wolfling, perplexed. Then his implication sank in, and she looked at the ground in disgust. “Let me guess, is this some rite of passage? Or, judging by your tone, a conquest list?” she asked in an acid tone.
He let out a soft laugh. “Yeah, there's this guy who claimed he’d been with, well, several ladies of a different sort. Are you bothered by this? Your feathers are all…floofy.”
“No. Recreational snugs with extra benefits lead to the production of cortisol, a stress relief hormone,” she countered in as boring and neutral a tone as she could muster.
“Adolescents,” Kalloway grumbled. “Let’s keep moving.”
Neska glanced at the precarious location, and also at the yawning opening into the cavern. The ground was marked with a lot of white substance. "Interesting. This staining is consistent with the somewhat acidic nature of bird refuse."
"That's a long way to say, there's bird crap on the ground.” Brent let out a grumble of displeasure when he saw that the ground was dribbled with dried white markings.
She did her best to slither around them as they entered the cavern. The tunnel serpentined a few times, but was easily wide enough for the birds to fly in and out. She motioned to Brent, pointing to a large passageway. “How far down do these tunnels go? This is just...massive.”
He shrugged while motioning her to keep close. He perked up one ear, then swiveled it gently as if trying to detect minute sounds. "Supposedly, this entire plateau is like one giant honeycomb. There have been theories that these tunnels go deep. Deeper than anybody's been willing to explore, considering actual monsters are under our feet. I also know of a literal city underneath, crumbling to nothing. The academy has been trying to explore these tunnels for years. Rivilat views it as either a liability for a backdoor entry into the city, or an archeological gold mine.”
“Mostly correct. Some are mapped. Much of it is cordoned off to prevent adolescents from having…hiding spots,” Kalloway said in a halting tone, sneering at the mention of hiding spots.
So I guess Kasfew wasn't lying about these little hiding places, Neska concluded.They slowly made their way down the sloping tunnel, avoiding sharply protruding rock faces.
She noted several loose feathers that matched the color patterning and size of the Roc seen before, plus a few more colorful teal and green feathers. More than one species had inhabited the cavern. She nudged Brent with her tail, pointed it out.
He took a low sniff and then grunted, pointing out to a bisecting pass further down. “The scent is stronger in the right-hand tunnel.”
They went down the tunnel, Brent slinking along the edges. A few sparse luminescent crystals embedded in the walls gave off a dim glow, but not much. Neska triggered one of her [Mana Bolts] to sit idle in her hand.
She could see in the dark just fine, but Kalloway seemed to be struggling. He tripped over a rock, recovering and letting out a quiet curse under his breath.
“Should have taken cat’s eye potion. Hang on.” He took a vial from a vest pocket and chugged the contents, letting out a sound of discomfort. In the dim light of the hovering mana bolt, Neska saw him blink a few times, squinting shut. When he opened his eyes, his pupils were narrow slits, and his iris had turned bright yellow like golden orbs. “Lasts about an hour, good enough for our purposes.”
“That's helpful. But why's the effect temporary?”
“Alchemical formulas are strange at times. The body remembers its default state. A potion wearing off is akin to your body purging the alchemical residuals. True transformation seems more limited to evolutions, in your two cases, or certain select classes offer abilities that transform portions of people's physiology.”
She didn't recall that particular bit of information, but it certainly seemed important.
The narrow entryway funneled outward into a large cavern, and Neska noted several bones around the area. Most of them were rodents, mice, and other small mammals and lizards. But the further they traversed through the space filled with stalagmites and rocky outcroppings, the larger the skeletons grew.
More worryingly, she found the body of what could only be someone roughly humanoid in size, with an empty gaze and a perpetual bony grin etched on their skull.
“Lovely. Looks like our Roc has expanded its menu to people,” Brent said with resignation.