Jackal Among Snakes

Even though the bronze golem serving Erlebnis called upon the Blessing of Supersession and alerted all emissaries in the area, Argrave did not feel worried about this battle. He was more worried that someone—namely, Mozzahr, or even Erlebnis himself—would come across them than anything else. That hung above like the blade of a guillotine.

Their assault of the Lodestar was an efficient and well-planned process. The Alchemist, armed with the spell [Requite], countered the bronze golem as it attempted to cast spells. He had the fastest casting speed, and frankly, Argrave didn’t want to use so much of the spirits Durran had painstakingly collected. Let the Alchemist call upon his personal supply. Wind, water, or fire—all of it was rebounded back into the construct, chipping away at the golem’s body surface. It was a sturdy thing, and so they were not afraid of damaging it.

Meanwhile, Durran, Argrave, and Anneliese, standing on the roof, waited for opportunity for precise attacks. It was imperative that they not damage its head, as the Alchemist claimed that was where the core of its power rested. They targeted the rotating orbs of rings comprising its joints, wearing away at those.

Orion, meanwhile, locked down its movement. Physically, he was about its equal in strength—he stood near its feet, contesting it physically whenever it attempted to make a move. He was caught in the crossfire one too many times, but never seemed to complain, let alone notice it.

Melanie was their lookout. Argrave had instructed his Brumesingers to stay with her, utilizing their mist enhanced by the dryad’s mysterious magic. Blindness, magic dampening, and all other foul maladies inflicted the living beings that walked within their mist—emissaries included. Fortunately, Melanie had been immunized with a blessing from a dryad just as all other members of this party.

She roamed the alleys of the City Annals, shielded by the brume as she killed unsuspecting emissaries attempting to support the Lodestar. Raccomen’s blessing allowing her to travel through space was invaluable, as it could completely bypass wards and get her out of harm’s way for any spells. Even without magic—or her sword, for that matter—she proved more than equal to the task. Every second she earned her place in their party even despite her self-doubt.

But Melanie was not infallible—emissaries started to make their way through, targeting all of them with precise magic. They were being surrounded body by body, just as they surrounded the Lodestar, and the circle tightened as they waited out the five minutes. And even amidst all of that, it was abundantly clear that Mozzahr was coming.

Then, like a nozzle turned on a faucet, the five minutes granted by the Blessing of Supersession ran out, and the Lodestar was left with nothing. Argrave perceived the change and shouted, “Hit hard! He’s vulnerable!”

But Argrave didn’t need to speak—the Alchemist stepped forward, spear in hand, and cut right through the Lodestar’s limb. Its metal groaned as it collapsed to the ground, then lunged out at the Alchemist like a beast. He stepped on its huge bronze hand, then plunged the spear into its elbow, dismembering one of its arms.

The Alchemist leaned forth on his spear and jammed his fingers beneath the head of the fallen Lodestar. He pulled, pulled, and pulled upon its head, keeping its body still with his foot. Then, with a mighty creak, it ripped free of the place. The bronze body sagged to the ground, lifeless, yet the head still droned on, reporting its actions.

“Bloody hell!” Durran shouted, jumping off the roof of the building as several spells headed his way. It slammed into the building he’d been standing on, and broken books scattered everywhere. The magic within them dissipated upward, heading for the red sky above. The man collapsed on the ground, grunting painfully. But he was alive—and that was more than enough.

Argrave looked back as emissaries swarmed their position. He realized that Melanie’s good work was nearing its limit, and decided to head down to the Alchemist before he met Durran’s fate. Everyone else had similar ideas. As they came to the Alchemist standing before the body of the Lodestar, he subsumed its head inside himself.

his entire body bubbled

hoping that this wasn’t an ill

but the emissaries seemed to be well familiar with Argrave’s tactic, now. They

done,” the Alchemist said, his voice strained and

using the spear to straighten. Hands sprouted from his armor of bone and reached out to them, grasping their heads, and then he cast [Worldstrider]. The world

his footing in the unfamiliar location. They were on a distant building in the city, but as Argrave looked around, he saw

over, he realized, walking with shaky steps to a railing on the roof. The scene was eerily quiet, as all

was the first thing Argrave heard, as Durran walked about celebrating. “By the gods, that was

could feel the Lodestar’s weakness after your barrage. You

heavy.

“That was a tense fight. But you made the right call,”

was prudent.” The Alchemist looked at the scene. “Erlebnis has vast hoards of knowledge, true. But

him.

had gone to another Annal, far from Mozzahr, and found its Lodestar… it would have been simpler, and safer.

site of their fight. Mozzahr had arrived close, now, and chaos was reigniting as the swarm of emissaries descended upon him

as he is,” the Alchemist continued. “You claim he’s intelligent—and if he is intelligent, he’ll ask the

and huffed in disbelief.

of the Universe are,” the Alchemist said. “Only he, himself, can access what’s within. Alternatively… someone roughly as powerful as him might break in.” His

from Erlebnis’ vault—that person was Oril Valar, the vampire that Argrave had sold down the river at the very beginning of his time here. By betraying him to Erlebnis, Argrave had earned the Blessing of Supersession, an invaluable

much more there. Erlebnis didn’t deal in knowledge alone—oftentimes he needed wealth or items to entice people to give him what he wanted. The vault was built to entice.

damn if that greed wasn’t flaring,

tools meant to sway kings, queens, emperors, and