Swamped Chapter 189 Page 2

I have been isolated for some time, so I needed Sister Kenton to inform me who in town is safe to contact, the Loremaster  explains. We need to warn them of the leak and arrange new codewords. “Of course, the nature of this sort of thing is that one of them could be the source of the leak,” Sister Kenton grumbles. “I have a lot of trust in everyone I named, but you shouldn’t just take…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 189 Page 1

“It is unlikely you know of the Loremaster’s duties, given that he is bound by a magical oath not to reveal many details,” Sister Kenton continues. “However, I believe there are some that you should be aware of, as you’re already tangled up in his messes to some degree. He agrees in principle, so I will explain. Though obviously, there are matters of secrecy that I will have to maintain.” I understand, you reply. “It’s…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 30

It’s a woven basket, but the design is unusual. It reminds you of something… You’re too busy draining ether from the eye to think about that until the creature spews out a batch of ether into the basket. You can stop now, the creature says. I can handle my own form. The creature then vanishes beneath the wheel and emerges again as a bird. You’re not sure why the wheel was necessary, but you turn your attention…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 29

The creature suddenly sprouts four talons from its head and two large horns from the middle of its body. Holding an etherform is making my body unstable, it thinks at you. I presume this is what you were warning about? Precisely, the Storyteller concurs. If you see that happen, you need to drain ether from the extra growths. It is the only way to slow that form’s collapse. Well, that’s simple enough. You drain the ether, and…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 28

The symbol glows with more force, and the next thing you know, something emerges from the wheel. It looks something like a crocodile, only with longer legs and more muscle. And teeth that look sharp enough to pierce a muckbeast’s shell. It only gets more intimidating when it pulls the flames to its body. And it then rushes right at the enemy wizard. And… swallows them whole? Can it just eat ether? You’ve never heard…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 27

For some inexplicable reason, the bird is diving towards the wheel. What’s even more confusing is that the enemy wizard is trying to stop it, using wind magic to knock it off course. Considering they were eager to destroy the wheel, and seemed unconcerned for the bird’s safety, you feel very confused. Then you look down at the wheel. The “shadow” symbol isn’t lit up any more. A different symbol is, one you don’t recognize.…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 26

One of the things about fire is that it produces smoke. This is inconvenient to corporeal beings, but at the moment that category doesn’t include you so you hadn’t really been thinking about it. It does, however, include the bird. Which is starting to choke as the smoke gets drawn towards it. You think what’s happening is that the enemy wizard is trying to divide your attention. Saving the bird is going to take somebody’s…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 25

You recall playing cards with one of the sailors before the ship left port. She was good, and you were a novice, but she was good-natured about it. Told you all sorts of things about how to play the game. You weren’t that interested, but you did find the lessons useful occasionally in other situations. For example, if at all possible, make the opponent do your work for you. The thing about gathering the fire…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 24

The bird flies near the wheel, which starts to burn. I must thank you for the excellent idea, the unknown etherform says. I was so focused on how to get you to destroy the wheel that I forgot I had another intermediary to work through. Various symbols on the wheel start lighting up. You don’t know what’s going on here, but you get the sense it’s nothing good. Damn! the Storyteller shouts at you mentally. We…

Continue reading

Swamped Chapter 188 Page 23

Well. If this is a trap, it’s hastily put together. The circumstances you’re in are quite unusual and it would be hard for anyone to plan for them. Plus, if there were time to plan this, they’d likely give you convincing answers rather than hurried explanations. But it would be obvious that risks raising your suspicions. So they’d try to come up with answers to the most obvious questions you could ask. Questions about the…

Continue reading