Deacon and Farmer Ed made their way through the main hall toward the stairs. The two guards managed to get back to their feet and dust off their clothes. They looked at each other with weary eyes and slowly walked back to the section of the building they were barricading. Clerk Fallsworth finally got his breathing under control and ran after Deacon. On the first landing Deacon turned to continue up noticing the farmer had a slow limp. He invited the Farmer to join his party. Farmer Ed looked at Deacon then checked his slate.

“I’ve never been in a slate party before. You have one hundred and fifty percent health? I didn’t know that was possible. Am I healing?” Farmer Ed asked as he looked through the notifications.

“Bending the rules a little bit but it looks like it worked. Seems I’m the only one that needs to be in good standing with the guild for the perk to apply. That’s very good to know.” Deacon muttered.

“This is wonderful. I haven’t felt this good since this whole nightmare started.” Ed spoke while putting his hands on hips above his butt stretching with a loud crack.

“Speaking of which, how did this all start? I have an idea of what’s going on but why is beyond me.” Deacon said.

“Perhaps the Mayor should tell the story. All I know is I found the bridge out a week or so ago and all hells broken loose.” Replied Ed as they made it to the second-floor landing. Up here there were only two doors at the end of the hall. One on the left and one on the right. Ed knocked on the door on the left getting no response. He waited a minute or two and knocked again.

“What is it?” Came an angry voice.

“We have a member from the Adventurer’s guild here to meet with you, Mr. Mayor.” Ed said before being bodily shoved out of the way by the clerk. Deacon looked at the little shit who opened the door, went inside, and closed it behind him. All of this while Deacon was helping Farmer Ed up to his feet.

“The fuck was that?” Deacon asked Ed.

“I better head downstairs. Don’t want to be involved in whatever this turns into. Thanks for helping young man.” Ed said steadying himself on the railing leading back to the staircase.

Deacon turned to look at the door. He could easily kick it in, but he’s supposed to be here to help these people. The excited murmuring of people talking began drifting through the door. Deacon didn’t know what the clerk was saying but he assumed he’d be on the back foot when starting this conversation. Deciding to just stand here and wait, Deacon crossed his arms leaning against the wall. Finally the door opened slowly.

“Please come in Adventurer.” Came a voice Deacon assumed was the mayor’s. Deacon walked into a well-appointed room that had food stuffs piled along one wall and barrels of water along another. This gave off the impression that the mayor was in charge of the rationing. Deacon looked at the man that had a sheathed sword atop his desk and an irate looking Clerk Fallsworth hovering behind his chair.

“Hello, my name is Deacon. I was asked to come check on this city. I see there has been an incident.” Deacon said keeping his expression flat and professional.

“How may troops did you bring with you?” asked the mayor purposefully not introducing himself.

“I’ve got a Cardinal Unit and my own party. The Minister of the interior is attempting emergency repairs on the bridge across the chasm. We were unaware of the issues in this town. Can you enlighten me as to what is going on here?” Deacon asked.

“You didn’t bring any troops!” Yelled the Mayor slapping his hands on the desk and getting to his feet.

“I advise you to calm yourself, we are all you’ve got right now. We can get word back to the Minister and they can march the knights they have with them here but that would just be a massacre. If you could help me understand what happened, we might be able to help all those people out there.” Deacon said forcing down his anger.

“Now you listen to me. We have been stuck in here for two weeks. All those peasants out there went crazy and started killing each other. You should be out there dealing with them instead of in here bothering me. Now do your job, adventurer. Don’t come back until it’s safe. Brandon, get him out of my office and have the cook prepare my dinner.” Ordered the mayor. As his son, the family resemblance being obvious seeing them together, came around the desk to force Deacon out. Deacon, having met his limit in what is obviously an attempt to put him in his place, grabbed the door and tore it off his hinges. He threw the remnants of the now broken door into the hallway. Brandon stopped in his tracks as a bead of sweat ran down his face. The mayor just sat in chair mouth agape.

“Now you listen to me you fat pompous piece of shit, I came here to help. I know those people are being mind controlled to do this. You have one chance to tell me how this whole thing started before I crush your son like the bug he is, strip your clothes off, and throw you bare ass naked out of that window.” Deacon threatened pointing one finger. Unfortunately the two guards from downstairs clomped their way up the stairs due to the racket of the door.

“My guards will deal with you. I knew you were just here to steal our food. All this nonsense about the guild and the Minister were all just lies. In times like these it’s important for the nobility to maintain order.” Said the Mayor as the two guards made it to the office. His face screwed up in confusion as the two guards attempted to grab Deacon but started screaming and running back down the hall. Deacon having restarted his Ghastly Defender ability. Before Deacon could advance on the clerk, Typhus’s shadow popped out of Deacons.

“Stop, this is not helpful. There is something outside you need to see.” Said Typhus’s clone. Deacon looked at the shadow and back at the nobleman playing mayor.

“You know he’s eating all their food and only giving them scraps right?” Deacon said to the shadow unwilling to disengage.

“You cannot solve all the problems of the world. Outside, now.” Came the voice of Typhus now projecting through his shadow. Deacon looking defeated turned on his heel and started back into the hallway only to hear the sound of steel being drawn behind him. Looking over his shoulder he could see the mayor had drawn the sword on his desk and it was emanating a brown glow. Suddenly rocks began forming a dotted line around the mayor. Not needing anymore incentive, Deacon dove into the hallway on the right side of the door. Where he was standing started being pelted with stone. Hard enough it started to eat away at the door frame and into the wall. The shadow version of Typhus just looked at Deacon. It now had the appearance of Swiss cheese. It reached out for him before falling apart like water vapor from dry ice.

Deacon decided to just phase through the floor to get downstairs. Once he dropped down, he noticed all the inhabitants huddled around one of the windows toward the front of the building. Farmer Ed waved him over. Deacon jogged up to the position and immediately picked out what all the commotion was about. The mob of people parted and at the edge of stood a large Mulvarian with a ruby mace wearing chain and plate armor. This Mulvarian was familiar to Deacon. In fact he knew exactly where he knew him from. This was the champion boulder thrower from New Mulvaria known as Henry. He once tried to crush Deacon before the battle of Gossamer, but General Taurant talked him down. Now it seems he’s had an upgrade in gear but he’s still working for Ruby.

“It’s back!” One of the townsfolk shrieked.

“It’ll leave again. I know it will. It has to.” Said another.

“I wonder what it wants now.” Added a third.

“Open the doors and come out. Join your friends and neighbors in the bliss of High Priestess Ruby. You were so happy to find the mine of rare stones. We will give you all the precious gems you could ever want. Just come out.” Said the large Mulvarian. The light on his mace flashed once and several of the gathered mind slaves ran over and formed a makeshift chair for him to sit on. Deacon could see the strain on their limbs as they strained against his bulk.

“Well this is horrible.” Deacon said under his breath.

“Do something.” One of the townsfolk inside pleaded.

“I don’t have a way to free their minds. All that jewelry they are wearing is controlling them. It’s all cursed. I have friends working on a way, but I don’t know if they can. Best I could do is keep that big bastard busy.” Deacon explained.

“If there is even a way.” Said another citizen.

“There is, I’ve seen the church of Astrael remove a cursed ring just like them.” Deacon replied.

“Church of Astrael? There is one on the south side of town. Don’t know what happened to the clergy though.” Said Farmer Ed.

“Really?!” Deacon asked.

“Yes. Fat lot of good that’ll do us here.” Replied Ed.

“I’ve got a really bad idea…” Deacon said.