Herman meets the mayor – takes place during the game on 27FEB21:
10
MAR/21
Herman woke. He laid there in bed hardly moving. He did not want to disturb Jinxie. He stared up at the ceiling. What was going on. The longtime of piece was now broken. Without hardly moving he turned his head to look at Jinxie. It gave him great joy that she stayed the night. It filled him with warm knowing she was there. As he looked over, he saw nothing. She was gone. He rose and looked around the space, “Jinxie, you here.” A cold feeling came over him as no response came.
He rolled out of bed. A small panic came over him. That panic grew and engulfed him. Did something happen to her. He looked for some sign of struggle. How could someone come in here and take her. How did he not wake? He looked at the blank screen that was Oni’s vision. He seemed to be still sleeping. Panic started to rush through him. In that panicked state he searched the space. He looked to the two exits. He moved from the bed to the kitchen. There it was. Calm washed over him. A note was on the counter. Herman read the note, “I woke early and headed to the jail.”
Herman washed his face and antenna and headed out. The streets were still full. The main difference from yesterday were the weapons. Almost every creature moving about was now armed. Some even had armor. Herman thought to himself, “that was quick.” He was wearing the dagger and wanted armor. He knew just how vulnerable he was. He wondered if Oni would even know if he was killed in the Nexus. He thought yes somehow. He started to look at each person he passed. He was trying to find his next assassin as he went.
He had a few close calls, from his perspective but arrived at the jail without an issue. He quickly stepped in. Jinxie was working at a small desk. The Sheriff was now fully armed and armored. Herman went over to Jinxie. She was working on a flier. They were looking for some deputies. She was creating a set of fliers to put up in town. The Sheriff was working at a much larger desk. He was reading through some paperwork and making notes. Herman gently touched Jinxie on her shoulder as he walked over to the display on the wall. He was the only one with a real interest in it. He turned it to Oni’s channel. He watched it for a little while then looked over to the Sheriff, “what are you doing.” The Sheriff looked up, “huh, oh, I am looking at what it would take to build a bigger jail. We are going to need it.”
Herman stretched over the table to read through the papers. It was good quality imported paper. If felt good to the touch. Both jerked to attention as the door flung open. The Sheriff came up to attention, “Mayor, how can I help you.” A devilish looking creature walked him. He scanned the room, stopping at Herman, “you must be how this all started.” He moved into the jailhouse, closing and barring the door behind him. He gave a smile to Jinxie that made Herman’s blood boil ever so slightly. What made it worse was her response as she gave him that same coy smile, she had the other night. Herman moved over by her, making sure part of his leg was touching her leg, “Yep, I am the cause.”
The Mayor: “we need to find out what is going on.”
Herman: “We know. Someone is broken the peace and attacks are now possible.”
The Mayor: “But who has broken that peace.”
Herman: “No Idea.”
The Mayor: “who would want you dead.”
Herman: “no one.”
The Mayor: “who would want to harm your master?”
Herman: “hummm. Tons of people and creatures. The list is huge. Oni has harmed many terrible monsters.”
The Mayor: “That is what we need to know. It might tell us how bad this is. And the overall impact to the Nexus.
Herman: “what can we do?”
Jinxie blurts out: “The Oracle.”
The Mayor: “yes, the Oracle. Herman, you must go to see the Oracle.”
Herman looking back to the display: “I can’t, he needs me.”
The Mayor: “You must. He will need to be fine until you return. It should only take you a day.”
Herman: “I can’t, I have responsibility for him.”
The Mayor: “You must. It is your task and yours alone. You will travel to his mountain home and gain an audience.”
Herman still staring at the display: “I can’t. I at least need to watch him.”
The Mayor pulls two objects out of his pocket. The Mayors clothes have pockets and not pouches. His style is not familiar to Herman, but it seems better than what he is used too. The Mayor hands him a large bracelet. It has the tiniest buckle and large glass top. He continues to run the other object through his fingers, “this is a portable display. It will let you watch Oni everywhere you go within the Nexus. You no longer need to use the public displays. My guess is after this, you should never use the public displays again.” The mayor walks over to turn the room display off. Herman was strapping on the portable display, “Okay. How do I get an audience?” The Mayor came back across and handed Herman a finely crafted small white box, “The Oracle is an old friend. He has wanted this for a very long time. Give it to him. He will know I sent you and he will help.” Herman shifted as he made his hand display work, “fuck.”
The Sheriff walked up, “you will need armor.” He handed Herman a scroll, “take this to shop three doors down.” Herman looked at the scroll, “thanks” He looked to Jinxie debating if he should ask her to go with him. She was busy and he did not want to put her in more danger. He breathed out a huge breath, “I will do it.” He looked over to Jinxie to say goodbye. He hoped not for the last time. He pulled his hood over his head. He had heard of these things called hoodies and he now wanted one. For now, the hood of his cloak would work. She moved out into the street and headed to the armorer.
Herman went down three doors and stepped into a shop. He was expecting to find armor on hooks throughout the shop, but it was filled with nothing but backpacks and travel gear. The shop owner came from a back door, “How can I help you.” Herman handed him the scroll, “I was told you had armor.” The shopkeeper took the scroll and as he unrolled and read it, “no not me I just do leather… oh, okay please step to the back.” Herman looked at him and both his Antenna moved his direction. He smiled as he waved his hand to the back, “sorry, I do not have any armor, but I can measure you and make some. Depending on what you need it will take a couple of days to a week.” He looked at Herman with all the arms, “for you likely a week.”
Herman started to walk to the back, “shit”. The shopkeeper started to gather up a pad and measuring tools, “some’um wrong?” Herman nodded, “I was just hoping to get it today.” Herman was measured. The shop keeper had to take a lot of extra notes for the extra arms and his back shell, “do you need the back shell exposed.” Herman looked over his back looking at it, seeing it maybe for the first time. He popped it a little and vibrated it. He had a sad look upon his face, “no, I need protection.”
Herman was about to head out. The shopkeeper stopped him and through him a backpack, “here, have my bug out bag.” He burst into laughter with his pun. Herman took the bag and headed out. He started to use the back streets as he moved through the streets to the edge of town. Herman started to sing to himself within his own head, “Am I original? yeahhhhahahah.” He slipped into an alley, “Am I the only one? Yeahhhahaha.” He reached the edge of town and he started to head towards the mountain home of the Oracle, “Am I sexual? Yeahhahahahha. Am I everything you need? You better rock you body now.”
He was moving through the woods. He still had his hood up. This was a mistake. It blocked his vision as he moved through the woods. As he walked down the tail he stepped to the right in a curve. A dagger sliced through his right shoulder. He was lucky he moved, or it would be sticking out the center of his back. In a smooth move, he never knew he had, his hood was down, and his dagger was out. He stepped behind a tree for cover. Using his antenna, he centered in on the person. It was a single person. He felt the wind blowing through some feathers. He looked up just as a hawk like man glided down to him. He stepped to the left. His dagger plugged as the hawk went by.
Herman, now pissed and feeling saucy, “now we both have a cut.” The hawk moved up on him. He had a short sword out. Herman wished he had paid more attention to Oni. That would have helped him now. If he survives, he will pay that attention. He sparred off with the Hawk. The hawk was not a fighter either. The hawk lunged in, giving Herman another gash, now on the left side. He was being whittled down. The hawk moved in again. He over extended. Herman shifted. As the hawk stumbled past, his dagger plunged deep. The hawk fell to the ground. Herman ran over to him. Bleeding out without hope, the hawk looked up, “sorry. I had no choice.”
Herman searched his dead body. The hawk had a few real coins, a shortsword, and a couple of daggers. Herman had watched this scene many times with Oni and his friends. He took them. He strapped the shortsword on so he could grab it with one of his hands. He was still bleeding. He wished a healer was here. He used the hawk’s clothes to make two makeshift bandages. He would need to be more careful. Leaving his hood down, he continued to the mountain.
Towards midday he found the entrance to the Oracles home. It had a long set of switchback stairs that led up to a rock balcony. The cave opening was open, but a door could be seen just inside. As he entered this mostly empty chamber, he saw tiny red lights. He went in and up to the door. It was made of metal. Strange in the world where he came from but not odd here. The room lit and a disembodied voice came out, “what do you want?” Herman looked around but he could not tell where the voice was coming from, “I am looking for the Oracle. The Mayor sent me.” The voice laughed, “sure he did…go away.” Herman reached into his pouched and pulled the white box out, “He gave me this to give to you.” The door opened.
Herman stepped into a finely finished entry room. It was the real entrance for his home. The room had three other doors. One opened. Herman went in and followed a couple of open doors, finally entering a parlor. A creature was sitting with his back to the door. He was reading a book. His head turned all the way around, with it shoulders never moving. He was an owl. Herman moved up and handed him the box. He took the seat next to him, “are you the Oracle.” The Owl popped the little box open. He looked over to Herman as if trying to understand him, “sure, I think some call me that.” He smiled as much as a bird can smile with a beak, “but you can call me Weasleton.”
Weasleton closed the box. He stared at it as he spoke, “Now let me guess. You are here for a question. So, what is your question.” Herman could tell the box and its contents had some great meaning for him. He could never know what is might represent for the Owl. He also thought about the words as they came from his mouth. Weasleton’s comment came out like he was saying something profound, but it was the only reason someone might come here. Herman wanted to not sound sarcastic as he answered, “yeah. Someone broke the peace within the Nexus. Two different people have tried to kill me… here. Sadly, both died.”
Weasleton stood and headed to a side door. He was moving with great concern, “come, we must find out.” Herman rushed to join him. The room next to the parlor was more of the magical study. It was filled with magical gear, and a small selection of book. Weaselton raised his hand towards the bookshelf as he moved through the room. A large tome flew to his hand. It reached him just has he reached a book stand. He sat the book down and started to leaf through it, “where is it, where is it.” He was moving through the pages with lightning speed. Herman could not even see his hands as they moved. He finally stopped on a page.
He started to read the book to himself. Without looking up he pointed to a table, “hand me the crystal ball.” Herman walked over to the table and grabbed a fist size crystal ball. He set it down in front of the Owl. He started to chant. His eye rolled into the bird skull. He was in a trance for about an hour. Herman was becoming impatient. Just as he was about to leave Weasleton came out of it. He looked at Herman and fear ran through his eyes.
Herman: “What is it?”
Weasleton: “She found the Nexus.”
Herman: “who?”
Weasleton: “Tiamat. Some two thousand years ago me and a few other survivors hid this place from her.”
Herman: “how did she find it?”
Weasleton: “I do not know. My guess is someone talked to the old gods, and that made it possible.”
Herman knew it must have been him. He was playing poker with them regularly. He unknowingly brought the sight of the ten eyes upon this place. He was in a panic. That beast knew of him and his master. That is why he was at risk. He paced a little as the thoughts went through him. Everyone he knew in the Nexus was at risk. He felt a panic. He started to head to the door, “I need to go. I must warn the folks in town.”
Weasleton through his feathered hand out,”wait on more thing. It looks like he can’t come here yet. So he only can influence us here.” Herman stalled at the door to look back, he was starting to breath heavy. Weasleton gave a whistle, “it looked like only six of her evil ten eyes can see anything here. Red, Blue, and Green. Black and White are not here at all.” Herman did not know what to make of that, “anything else?” The owl pulled two little white buds out of the box, “no. Come back if you have questions.” He placed the buds in his ears. As Herman turned and headed out the door, he thought he heard music coming from the owl.
“I levitate up, and feather fall back down
I cast fly, and move all around
I like slow, to cast on my enemy
I got ho ho ho hold person, it helps tactically”
He rushed back to town.
Once Herman left:
Weasleton took one of the listening buds out of his ear.
“Is he gone?” Weasleton asked into the air.
“He is” the Mayor answered stepping out of the shadows.
“I am here as well,” the Sheriff said in a quite whisper stepping out with the Mayor.
“Tiamat has finally found us. I feel our passive role in this as come to an end. Herman does not know the power of the cards he holds. He must go back to Oni now. We must assist.”
“We cannot! It is against everything we hold dear!” the sheriff pleaded.
The mayor agreeing with the sheriff interjected, “and if she hasn’t found us, she will for sure if we do such a thing!”
Weaslton took the second bud out of his ear, “Damn that is good music.” He turned his head to look at the both of them, “They need to get to Raam now, how do you propose that happens if not for our interfering? They need the divine granddaughter, and the one who’s scales are forbidden to complete this prophecy. So much is at stake. So many pieces moving, and so few of us to maneuver them. The gods who bide and plan, the snakes that give visions with guidance, and us… the forgotten. We have no choice. Gather the loyal now please.”
Weaslton watched the mayor and the sheriff nod their heads, turn and leave. With their absence, he decided to get a few more minutes of this music from a time long forgotten.”