Deacon and Ralph spoke more about the quest to save Amanda. Deacon went into detail about meeting Elder Ruby back in Old Mulvaria and the raising of Gossamer. He had no idea she would take it this far. Ralph stared at him slack jawed while he told story. Considering he was traveling with the Cardinal Unit, it wasn’t impossible, but most people would retire from adventuring after an experience like that, not join the guild. Ralph as a little happier knowing what was wrong with Amanda. Now he just had to find her. He then noticed Deacon had stopped talking, so he stopped and turned to face him.

“Did you hear that?” Deacon asked.

“No, I only heard you.” Ralph replied.

“Shhh…” Deacon intoned while he looked around. His eyebrows shot up and gestured to the alley on their left. Deacon’s face then scrunched up in concentration before a ghost appeared hovering four feet away. Ralph hopped back a few feet being startled.

“Can you repeat what you just said?” Deacon asked.

“Please help my sister. There is a monster.” Said the childlike ghost in an otherworldly voice.

New Quest- Lost Boy- Help save the pick pocket children from a monster that is trying to kill them. Kill the Monster. Successful completion will grant a new Nether Monk ability.

“Where?” Ralph replied drawing his weapon. Deacon was already between the buildings sprinting down the alley. He found the first child’s cold body propped up against the wall. This must be the one that came for help. Ralph caught up and became visibly angry. Deacon tried to focus his Soul Sight to get a better look at the alley. There was only about fifty more yards before it opened into a well-lit section of the city. In-between was a series of crates and side alleys.

“You check the left paths and I’ll check the right.” Deacon said.

“Got it.” Was all Ralph said as he ducked into the first offshoot.

Deacon checked his first side alley and found nothing but refuse and sewage. Moving quickly he checked the next one to find closed doors and more crates. On his way back to the main alley he heard Ralph calling for him. Ralph waived him down the alley to his location. They found a broken piece of wall with small child sized footprints leading out of it. They burst into the building to find a young girl being held in the air with a what looked like a man chewing into her neck. Ralph acted first lunging at the creature who spun in place avoiding the blade and never taking its mouth off of the girl. That was its mistake, Deacon hadn’t been idle, a Ice Sickle erupted from the back of the creatures leg forcing it to stumble and drop the girl. Unfortunately that caused Ralph to drop his blade to catch her. The creature turned to face Deacon, mouth dripping with blood, and lunged for him. Deacon managed to stiff arm it but just barely. Both of its arms started grasping for Deacon fast enough he had to use Spectral Dodge to escape.

“It’s crazy fast.” Said Deacon backing up.

“I need a potion she isn’t responding.” Ralph cried out.

“A little busy.” Deacon said dodging another swipe by the creature. Now that he had a chance to get a good look its mouth resembled more of a Lamprey’s. He thought he might have found an actual vampire, but this must be something else. While in his musing the thing got clawed hand into his shoulder. That took ten percent health out of him as it ripped its hand back to lick its fingers.

“It’s a magical creature.” Deacon said dancing back. He then pointed his index finger at the monsters feet and fired off a Nether Beam scoring a hit. The ice built up around its feet keeping it in place. Before Deacon could feel excited about no longer having to hold his arm to fire a Nether Beam, they could all hear the floorboards beneath the ice starting to crack and splinter.

“We need to end this before it gets loose.” Deacon said handing a potion to Ralph.

“Can you make more of that ice?” Ralph asked pouring the potion down the girls mouth.

“I have a better idea.” Deacon said as a serving tray sized Ice Sickle spun out in front of him. He sent it flying at the creatures shoulder area hoping it would dodge and get its head cut off. Instead it forced its weight down toward the cracked boards in a squat breaking the floor and plunging into the darkness below.

“Let’s get out of here in case it has friends.” Ralph said as he picked the girl up and headed to the hole they made.

There were candle lit doorways opening now as they entered the alley. Someone was ringing a bell and the sound of horse hooves could be heard coming this way. Deacon was wondering when these famous guards would show up. They took the girl down the alley toward the well-lit street. Turns out the light was coming from one building that still had quite a bit of foot traffic this late at night. The guards turned up shortly after they emerged, but Ralph did all the talking. Several guards started stalking down the alley way swords drawn. Ralph had given them pretty good directions to find the hole in the floor it escaped through. One of the guards holding the child was casting a healing spell on her. The one remaining guard was speaking into a familiar looking crystal and started giving out orders.

“The captain of the guard would like to speak with you. If you two could wait right here, that would be helpful.” Said the guard with the crystal.

“Absolutely. Anything the guild can do to help.” Ralph said.

“Why is that building so busy?” Deacon asked.

“That is the Mountain’s Shadow Casino and Guild house.” Ralph replied.

“Is it now?” Deacon said stroking his chin.

“Are you gentlemen in need of healing. There is a lot of blood on you.” The guard said.

“No we’ve had a long day that just got extended.” Ralph replied.

“Rough quest?” Asked the guard.

“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. How much longer do you think this will take? We’d love to get back to the Guild.” Ralph asked.

“Here he comes now.” Said the guard waving the two adventurers over to the Guard Captain.

“Guard Captain Fenris Desentes, this is Ralph and Deacon. They found the girl under attack. We have confirmed another child’s corpse in the alley as well. We could not find the creature, but we did find a series of tunnels running under the building we believe the children were squatting in. We also found some stolen merchandise in the building.” Reported the guard before standing aside.

“Tell me about the creature you fought.” Commanded Fenris.

“Yes sir, it was humanoid. Fast and strong. It had a mouth filled with teeth in a circular pattern.” Barked out Ralph surprising Deacon.

“Were either of you bitten?” asked Fenris

“No,” Said Deacon, “Are you related to Armand Desentes?”

“Yes, he is my brother. I’m told you are both Guild members. You may have seen him in passing. He is part of this city’s Cardinal Unit. We are very proud.” Replied Fenris with a jarring change in tone.

“Actually I met him…” Deacon started to say before being cut off by Fenris back in his serious tone.

“I recommend not lingering out tonight. I have reports of an incident involving a high-level monster just appearing at a Lords get together. We were hoping the two incidents were related. Guess not.” Fenris said and turned on his heel to walk away.

“That was weird right?” Deacon asked Ralph.

“I think he has the Just the Facts Perk. Most knights and guard captains have it. Helps them cut to chase in emergencies. Odd that he was out here already. Must have something to do with that report he got.” Ralph said absent mindedly.

Deacon knew better. Some one was trying to cover up the missing people from his impromptu summoning. There was going to be fall out from that. Maybe that’s why the cobbler beat feet back to his home. Just as the Guard cleared the area and they turned to leave four people emerged from the shadows on all sides.

“Mr. Clean would like to see you.” Spoke one of the men.

“This way.” Said another gesturing toward the casino.

“Yea, I guess this was going to happen one way or another.” Said Deacon gesturing for Ralph to relax.

They were escorted into the building. There were tables filled with people all over. Some were laughing and others held their heads in their hands. On the left was a large staircase that led up to an all-glass enclosed office overlooking the casino floor. Deacon quickly flicked some the blood from his now closed shoulder wound on the wall as they passed another set of guards.

Quest update- Houses of Worship- Cheshire would like you to consecrate new locations in his name. 3 of 5 complete.

With that done, Deacon looked up to the top of the stairs to see Mr. Clean seated at his desk arguing with another random goon. The glass doors open and the goon stomps down the stairs in a huff. Then they are led into office and asked to take a seat.

“Mr. Deacon. I’m surprised to see you again so soon.” Said Mr. Clean.

“So am I. Life’s full of little annoying surprises.” Deacon replies getting a smack on the head from Ralph.

“He means what can we do for you sir?” Ralph says.

“I know what he means. Your attempt to soothe my ego is unnecessary Ralph Tanner. One of my subordinates caused Mr. Deacon here considerable trouble. I just want to ensure his appearance on my block has nothing to do with it. We parted quite amicably not twenty-four hours ago.” Said Mr. Clean turning to finally look at them and scrunching his nose up in disgust.

“Don’t worry, it’s not my blood.” Deacon said.

“Considering the volume, I should hope not. Why don’t we cut to the chase? Why were you meeting with the Guard Captain a scant few yards from my doorstep?” Asked Mr. Clean.

“Some kind of monster was feeding on a few pick pockets squatting in one of the buildings.” Ralph replied. Deacon then noticed Mr. Clean grasping the top of his cane a little tighter.

“I assume you two adventurers managed to kill the monster?” Mr. Clean asked leaning forward.

“It got away into a maze of tunnels under that building.” Deacon said paying attention to the cane and finding what he was looking for. At the mention of the tunnels his hand clenched the jewel on top of the cane again, but his face remained impassive.

“How unfortunate. Well if that is all I have business to attend to. I’m glad this had nothing to do with Efimeo’s actions the other day. Happy to put that unpleasantness to rest.” Mr. Clean said standing up and gesturing to the door with his cane.

“Oh but I do want to talk about Efimeo.” Deacon said not standing.

“Have I not made myself unclear. That matter is resolved.” Mr. Clean said visible signs of anger on his face.

“No I want to talk about him crashing two carriages in front of me and using a little girl as bait so I could be abducted and forced to fight in the Hidden Circle!” Deacon said raising his voice at the end. After mentioning the Hidden Circle the men who were walking over to escort them out stopped moving.

“I don’t think I heard you correctly, did you just say Hidden Circle?” Mr. Clean said as he walked around the desk to stand in front of Deacon who was still seated.

“Come now Deacon, we don’t want to bother him with all that.” Ralph said nervously.

“Silence.” Said Mr. clean looking at Ralph. He then tapped on his cane three times the glass windows all went black and the goons in the room turned to look at the pretty black panes of glass.

“What the shit.” Deacon said looking around.

“Pay attention. He is unworthy and very strong.” Came the voice of Zageracks.

“What we are about to say never leaves this office. Am I clear? Just nod. Are you sure it was the Hidden Circle?” Mr. Clean asked. Deacon just nodded feeling the temperature in the room rise by almost five degrees.

“You are sure it was Efimeo that abducted you?” Asked Mr. Clean, getting another nod from Deacon. Ralph was now slumped down in his chair sweating profusely. Mr. Clean walked over to one of his men and started speaking in his ear. When he was done talking to him the goon sprinted out of the glass double doors like he’d seen the devil himself.

“Now you must never utter those words again. There is no place called the Hidden Circle. Nod if you understand me.” Mr. Clean commanded with fiercely glowing yellow light in his eyes. Deacon nodded feeling his skin crawling. Just then a flat yellow sphere started to orbit behind Deacon in a clockwise pattern before winking out of existence.

“What was that?” Mr. Clean asked.

“What do you mean?”, Deacon asked, “I’ve just been nodding like you said.”

“You seriously going to sit there and tell me you didn’t just summon a mote of yellow energy from the Perpetual Plane right in front of me? It was behind you.” Mr. Clean said.

“No clue what you’re talking about.” Deacon said.

“Never mind.” He said as he tapped the jewel three more times returning the glass to normal and allowing his men to turn around to face the interior of the room again.

“Ok so I guess we’ll be going now?” Deacon asked.

“Not so fast. For alerting me to an issue in my territory you deserve compensation. I will grant you one favor of your choice from me personally. Let’s be clear if it is within my power to grant you have earned it. I don’t suppose I could convince you to switch affiliations, can I? I Didn’t think so. Had to try though. Give Jacob my best. Remember not a word.” Mr. Clean then flipped several mirrors up on his desk giving him different views of the interior of the Casino. Deacon and Ralph were then escorted out but not the main entrance. They emerged on a side street only to hear the door close and a lock behind them.