Twenty minutes later they were marching towards the Sovereign bridge, calling out the cadence that Vitaly had taught them.

She didn't know the meaning of any of it, but it fit in perfectly with the march of metal feet, and the clack of claws on beastkin feet as they pounded the cobblestones.

Even Dijornos had gotten into it, belting out rough approximations of the ancient words, compensating for the bits he couldn't get with vulgarity.

Lights across the bridge flickered. Chase felt eyes upon them as they approached, knowing they were backlit by fires that flared in the sky as the dragons fought. Imagining what the defenders saw. Just black figures in the moonlight, almost a score strong.

Chase let her cadence trail away and padded over to Vitaly. “We're going to start getting arrowed here any minute now if someone gets dumb.”

“You're not wrong,” Vitaly nodded. “Column, halt! Novem! Something more cheerful.”

One of the metal men saluted, then took both hands and twisted its helmet. A pair of tubes protruded, folding out and falling into place as gears ground. A puff of air, two, and then the horns blared.

“A horned helmet with actual horns,” Cagna said, then shook her head. “Why the heck not?”

“That'll probably do the trick.” Chase took a deep breath. “Okay. Refuge in audacity. Let's go.”

The bridge had taken a beating. The cobbles sagged, and the footing was uncertain. But the barricade on the other side looked quite sturdy, and the people on top of it had a lot of crossbows.

Their looks of confusion changed to shock, as Vitaly and Chase tromped up, trailed by their respective people.

“Take us to Sir Barriano,” Chase said simply. “We would parley.”

They let them through without an argument.

And as they went, as they walked through the lines and the crowds of the mustering militia, two words were spoken, over and over again.

“Legio Ferrum,” gasped a middle-aged woman holding a halberd.

“Legio Ferrum,” whispered an old geezer stationed on a chair at a crossroads, his bow resting on his lap.

“Legio Ferrum!” cried a boy of maybe thirteen summers, who was running bundles of bolts back and forth between the regiments.

Chase listened, and looked, and saw the wonder rise in the Gnoman's eyes, as the legends of old walked among them on the eve of battle.

“This is better than a Rally the Troops,” Cagna muttered. “They better not see you leaving, Vitale.”

Chase blinked.

It was just a slight difference in accents, southern versus northern. She'd been pronouncing his name wrong, she realized.

Vitale.

Vitals, in the ancient tongue.

The guts of the city, here on parade... no. No. The heart of the city.

“We might not be leaving. Or if we are, we'll be taking them with us,” Vitale said. His wax face was gone now, melted away and revealing the pitted steel beneath, and the glass eyes that Chase had mistaken for the real thing.

Then they were at the gates of the Basilica and through. The courtyard was bare this time, though the bivouacs and tents remained.

The inside of the tiled hall was as she remembered it, mostly; the pews had been pushed to the side, but the altar and frescoes remained. Vitale studied them with a grunt, then pulled out what Chase initially took to be a bundle of rags. He inverted his spear and screwed them onto the butt.

Then he reached up and started dusting them, cleaning the frescoes above the door with the utmost care.

“Is now really the best time for that?” Greta burst out.

“A custodian's job is never done,” Vitale replied. “If I don't do it, then who will?”

Feet echoed on distant tile, and Chase turned just in time to see Sir Barriano enter the room, flanked by two armored figures. He surveyed them with serenity, his face not showing a bit of emotion.

But Chase could read the tension in the way he stood.

“Sir Barriano,” she spoke, before he could. “I apologize for my abrupt departure the last time. It was not my choice, but once my feet had been set upon that course I could not deviate from it.”

“Are you here then to return to my custody? For if that is not the case, then your apology is without worth.”

Chase swallowed. “If that's what it takes, then okay, I will.”

A slow blink. The man's posture eased a bit, then he tensed up at her next words.

“I just ask that you put me someplace I can see Thomasi if you do. We've got a lot to catch up on.”

“You know of that. And you come to me in the company of the Duodecimen themselves. The legendary twelve custodes...” his eyes flicked over Yubai, and the rat-man next to him, and the sheepkin beyond that. “Though some of them are not as I imagined they would be.”

“Time takes its toll upon all,” Vitale said, and the Knight jumped a bit, as if he hadn't expected the metal man to talk. “Fortunately, we were given instructions to account for this. Our Auxilia have the same duties and authority granted to the senior custodes.”

A gleam surfaced in Barriano's eyes. “An authority that comes from an oath to Gnome itself. Have you come then to help us, in our hour of need?”

“In crisis that threatens the city itself, we are allowed to show ourselves, and offer what aid we can to the legally appointed consul,” Vitale confirmed. “And therein lies the problem.”

“Ah,” Sir Barriano said, closing his eyes. “Chase Berrymore, I accept your surrender. I am sorry for what I must do. If it is any consolation, then you and Thomasi will be risking it together.”

“I'm a little confused,” Chase said, glancing from the Knight to the Custode. “How does my captivity relate to the authority over the city?”

“We're the price he has to pay in order to become the Ruler of this city,” Thomasi said, strolling out from behind the altar.

There was a pause, then Bastien was shouting with joy and Chase was barreling past him to leap into the Ringmaster's arms. Thomasi squawked and caught her, then Bastien caught the two of them, lifting them into the air and whirling them around as he laughed.

“Dude!” Dijornos said, coming in and Bastien paused mid-whirl so that Thomasi could bump fists with the big player. “How they hanging?”

“Big and hairy and hard to carry,” Thomasi said, and both he and Dijornos howled with laughter.

“The biggest. What's all this talk about price?” Dijornos scowled at Barriano, who did a double take then stepped back in shock.

“The Butcher of Barvigga? Here?” The Knight's hand whipped toward his sword, then paused.

“Yes. The third Ruler contesting the claim. Right here, right now,” Thomasi said. “Which renders your original bargain rather a moot point.”

“But the second one is still out there,” Barriano tapped his hilt, eyes not leaving Dijornos. “I'll need her resources to find him.”

Chase didn't want to let Thomasi go, but she ground her teeth together. Too many questions! “What are you talking about?”

“There's no time,” Barriano shook his head. “The dragon burns more of the city. I must oppose him or lose all I've gained, lose the last defenders—”

“Viggo. Wait.” Thomasi said, looking down at Chase. “Let me sum it up. Viggo here is an old friend. I used to do spy work for him while I was on the road.”

“Dude, secret quests?” Dijornos said, eyes widening. “You didn't mention that.”

“Well, they were listening to us talk, now weren't they?” Thomasi said. “Anyway, Viggo was in charge of guarding the sacred sites in Gnome. One of which overlaps a respawn point I'd visited. I came back there, and sought his help to hide from the Inquisition. But... things had changed.”

“The Inquisition has grown,” Sir Barriano shook his head. “I warned him that I could not shield him for long. Then the dragon came, and while I was busy holding the city together, Zenobia came to me. She told me that she knew I was shielding him, and offered their help to find and eliminate the players who were contesting my rulership.”

“I advised him to take it,” Thomasi sighed. “The only way the city stands a chance against the dragon is with a properly-appointed ruler. While that position is empty, Gnome's greatest guardians can't act.”

“And your price was Thomasi... and me, after she learned I was in the city,” Chase said, closing her eyes.

“It is not an easy thing I ask,” Sir Barriano said. He glanced from her to Dijornos. “Although... I may be willing to negotiate. You seem to have allied with the third candidate here. If he cedes his claim, then all I have to worry about is the last player, whoever they may be.”

Chase took a long breath. “Oh boy. Okay. First of all, Zenobia is dead. Second of all, the dragon was working with them, so they were playing you from the beginning...”

The room fell silent as Chase told the full tale, as quickly and concisely as she could.

Sir Barriano's face went from ruddy to pale to ashen grey. He closed his eyes and lowered his head, thinking. “Gods. Gods above, I've been a fool.”

“They played everyone for fools,” Chase said, simply. “Up to and including me.”

“And they're jerks,” Greta snorted, folding her arms. “We did the right thing and turned Vaffanculo in to the authorities, and they tried to capture us for our troubles! They almost got Mom and Dad, too.”

“I'd wondered why you were here,” Thomasi said, smiling at her.

Greta scowled at him. “Yeah, you better be worth all the trouble my sister's gone to.”

“So what's this about authority?” Cagna interrupted. “Something about rulership?”

Sir Barriano rubbed his mustache, considering his words before he spoke. “When a Ruler in a claimed domain dies, the domain is open to new claimants. Anyone of a sufficiently high Ruler level may claim the new domain, but they may only do so if all other Rulers capable of doing so either give their permission or depart the region.”

“Or if they're dead,” Dijornos added.

“You knew about this?” Chase shot him a questioning look.

“Yeah, I got the pop-up when we got into Gnome. Domain available: Contesting Rulers equals two.” He shrugged.

“You didn't say anything about this?” Cagna squinted at him.

“Naw. We had a job to do, yeah? And we were trying to stay undercover? Hard to do that and rule a city. Besides, she was still there, and I didn't want to give her ideas.”

“She?” Thomasi asked.

“Speranza.”

“Ah. Oh dear.” Thomasi glanced around, took a step back.

“She's dead too,” Chase explained. “For now.”

“You don't want the throne, then?” Sir Barriano asked.

“No. Too much like work. Even if I didn't have a buttload of people hunting me,” Dijornos said. “You help my crew and I'll give you my permission to rule the city, how's that?”

“I... find that easier than I was expecting it to be,” said Sir Barriano, moving his hand from his sword. Just a few inches. “But that leaves the third player.”

“You're sure he's a player?” Chase asked.

“Zenobia told me so. She wouldn't reveal who it was, she only said that there would be no way I could deal with him on my own, that I'd need her help and resources to hunt him down. And that I would be in great danger when he came for my life. That was the day I invited Thomasi into my party.”

“Ah! You figured out that trick too,” Chase said. “It really helped us against Speranza and P—”

Her mouth snapped shut, as the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. “Rulers. The Ruler job boosts charisma, doesn't it?”

“Charisma, wisdom, and luck,” Dijornos shrugged. “Mostly useless stuff.”

Chase didn't bother to dignify that comment with a snort. Her mind was already churning. “No wonder he seemed more charismatic.”

“Oh no,” Thomasi whispered. “You don't mean—”

“Don't say the name,” Chase interrupted. “We have stuff to figure out before we talk about him, because once we talk about him we'll have to do something about him. Okay. Tell them what you told us about dragon eggs, please.”

Vitale nodded, wisps of steam leaking through the holes around his neck. “The empire was vast, this you know. The Legio Fulminata studied the mysteries of science and magic and nature, this you may or may not know. And as the Empire expanded, and we were forced to deal with the new dungeons that came with new land, so did the Fulminata conduct an examination into their causes and nature. And eventually, they found a way to destroy them.

“That was how the first of the dragon wars begun.”

Sir Barriano sucked in a sharp breath.

“Half the empire burned,” Vitale said, nodding at the Knight's reaction. “Eventually we invoked Concord for intercession, and an agreement was forged. Which is why your position exists even to this day. To guard the dungeons of Gnome, and protect them while the dragons within absorb the blood and magic and emotions of their visitors and feed and grow.”

“What happens when they hatch?” Thomasi asked.

“It is less violent than you would think. A newly-born dragon emerges, and the strong survive to flee to a place where they can rest and grow and learn to feed upon the things of this world. The dungeon stands empty, a shell of what it was. It is the presence of the unborn dragon that shapes them into what they are, without the egg they are simply mundane locations.”

“And by accepting dragon eggs throughout the capital, you protect it from dragons... while helping them grow to adulthood,” Chase nodded.

“It is why these places of antiquity survived,” Vitale gestured around to the walls of the Basilica. “Every new Ruler of Gnome is taught the truth. But since the method of stealing dragon eggs was lost when the last of the Legio Fulminata departed for Icantseeum, it is a moot point. Most know not how to steal a dragon egg. And until today I thought that none knew how to corrupt one.”

Chase swallowed. “Renny knew how to seal them. It's common knowledge where he comes from.”

Vitale surveyed her, glass eyes winking in the light. “Then I expect that when the dragons in his part of the world learn of that, his land will burn.”

“So what do we do about the corrupted egg?” Cagna asked. “That's the real problem here. That's the thing that's probably going to destroy the world, right?”

“I think so,” Chase said. “Corinthia said that her shadow would grow to destroy the world in... about two days time, now. I knew it couldn't be the green dragon, because that one's male. I thought it was Madeline for a bit, but now that I've met her I'm pretty sure she isn't a world-destroying threat. But this thing? I'm willing to bet that what hatches out of there is female. And that black mass sure looks like a shadow.”

“So how do we stop that?” The Muscle Wizaard asked.

“I don't know. I wish I did,” Chase sighed.

“We muster all the forces and advantages we can, and we fight,” Sir Barriano said. “My strategy seems to be the soundest approach, even if some tactical modifications are required.”

“What are you exactly?” Chase squinted at him. “You're more than just a Knight.”

“I'm a Knight Commander,” he said simply. “I strengthen my sworn soldiers.”

Cagna whistled. “You're probably our best bet, here. And Vitale can only lend his full assistance if you're in charge... or that other player. Who I doubt has a more legitimate claim.”

“He doesn't,” Chase said, then took a deep breath. “And I think he's Pwner.”

Oh, THAT caused a fuss.

Sir Barriano's eyes blazed with fury. “Of course!”

Cagna pulled out her pistol and started loading it, growling deep in her throat.

Bastien glowered, and pounded one fist into an open palm with a meaty smack.

Dijornos laughed his butt off.

And Greta spewed curses. Chase winced. They'd both come far from the village, but Greta, it seemed, had spent quite a lot of time with foul-mouthed people.

“Twice someone attempted my life!” Sir Barriano spat. “Once through poisoned food! Then again through a bomb in my stable! I lost three of my best steeds that day!”

“And they both happened after I joined your party. Which is why you survived untouched,” Thomasi nodded grimly.

“Wait,” Chase frowned. “Pwner killed you before, Thomasi. That time in the cave...”

“I had my pvp option flagged then,” Thomasi confessed.

“What? Why would you do that?” Bastien asked.

“I had to! There was no other way to steal Tabita's pelt from her,” Thomasi sighed. “I was easy game then. But now I'm protected from him... as is anyone I group with, unless Sir Barriano attempts to harm him, or anyone in a party with him. Then it activates.”

“Yeah it's a pretty weird and finicky system,” Dijornos said. “I think the programmers half-assed it.”

“That's my world you're talking about here,” Chase protested, but it was a token statement. Her mind was working. “We need to find him. And either convince him to drop his claim, leave, or...”

“Or,” Dijornos grinned, and slapped the Muscle Wizaard and Cagna's backs. They staggered forward, and shot him simultaneous glares. “Or we kill him.”

“Can we?” Chase said. “Every time we've come up against him, he's been an unstoppable force. It's been all we can do to survive his attacks.”

“His attacks,” Thomasi said, rubbing his goatee. “But I know his type. He's an ambush predator. If we can find him, we can turn the tables. At the very least, negotiate from a stronger position, if he's amenable to talking it through.”

Cagna growled louder.

“How do we find him?” Bastien asked. “You were unconscious, dear. And you...” he turned to Chase. “They took you and Renny in a bag, right? You didn't see where his lair was.”

“No, I didn't,” Chase said.

Then she turned to Yubai, and grinned wide. “But I know someone who did.”

“Best prices?” Yubai asked, looking puzzled.

“I sure hope so!” Chase said, patting his leg.

“Even beyond that, we'll need one more thing,” Vitale rumbled.

“What's that?” Greta asked.

“We'll need the green dragon's help.”

A pause.

“Did you miss the part where we just burned down the Inquisition's headquarters and killed their boss? Because we just burned down their headquarters and killed their boss. Why would he help us?” Chase asked.

“He came here to stop the corrupted egg from hatching. Our goals are the same,” Vitale said, leaning on his spear again. “And without his knowledge and power, I doubt we shall be able to stop the corrupted egg from hatching, much less deal with what comes out if it does.”

“You're not wrong,” Chase took off her headscarf and rubbed her ears. “But he has no reason to trust us, or not to burn us on sight. We need to bring him to the table, not the battlefield. So... how...”

“And we need to do it fast,” Greta said, peering out the window. “I'm seeing less dragonfire in the sky. I think Madeline's running out of steam.”

“She's still all right in the party screen. Party Screen,” Chase said, checking it again just to be sure. “Oh. Uh, okay, she's down a bit... and so's Renny. Yeah, we'd better wrap this up quickly.”

“If she's smart she'll fly over some of the monuments and use them as cover,” Vitale said. “The dragon would answer to his own kin if he dared to burn one of their eggs.”

His words dropped into Chase's mind like anvils from the sky.

The halven's eyes went wide.

INT+1

“That's it!” She said, clapping her hands together. “That's how we'll bring him to the table! Thomasi, I need you to seal a dungeon.”

More uproar, this time from Vitale, and the metal men behind him. The beastkin mostly looked confused. The avtomata with the horned helmet blew angry bugle noises.

“No no no shut up, look!” Chase snapped, raising her arms. “The dragon's ALREADY burning your empire! He's breaking the treaty! So you scoop out one of the crystals, and we'll use it as leverage to negotiate a new truce!”

Vitale was quivering. “This... goes against... my mandatum. You don't understand... that I'm trying very hard... not to kill you for threatening the laws and stability of Gnome.”

Chase gulped.

But she was in it now, and the only way was through.

“He already threatens the stability of Gnome,” she said, softly. “And we're not really going to damage the egg. We're just going to lie and say that we will if he doesn't settle down.”

Vitale thought, the gears literally turning in his head.

“You would need a king of liars,” he said finally.

“Well then!” Thomasi said, stepping forward and setting his hand on Chase's shoulder. “How about a king and a queen?”

“You're blushing,” Greta said in the silence.

“Shut up I am not!” Chase snapped.

Every eye in the room moved down to her cheeks, then back up to look at each other.

“She is good. I almost believed that,” Sir Barriano said. “I was staring at the proof otherwise, yet she sounded reasonable.”

CHA+1

Chase angrily swatted Thomasi's hand off her shoulder.

“She is good,” Thomasi said. “The two of us working together... I think we can pull it off.”

“That just leaves the small matter of getting the dragon's egg,” Greta pointed out. “How long does that take?”

“Mayhap too long,” Sir Barriano sighed. “The closest one is beneath our feet. But it is long, and the foes are fierce.”

“You don't say?” Dijornos purred, flexing his arms. “I'm down.”

“As are my legio,” said Vitale, seemingly coming to a decision. “We will go with you to ensure that you keep your word. Although I should point out this will leave the bones of the goddess Cymbal exposed and easy prey for Necromancers and their ilk. Perhaps we could run the Horreareum instead, that might be more useful—”

“Hold on,” Chase said, a brilliant and awful idea sparking in the back of her mind. “No. No, you should run through the Basilica. I have an idea that you won't like but it might be a good desperation move.”

“Oh?” Sir Barriano looked at her with curiosity.

But she kept her eyes on Vitale as she shook her head. “No. He almost stabbed me after the last one. Best to keep this one quiet for now.”

“All right, then that leaves Pwner. And not much time,” Cagna said.

Chase nodded. “Then we'd best divide up into teams and get this done as soon as possible...”

CHASE'S CHARACTER SHEET

Spoiler: Spoiler

Name: Chase Berrymore

Age: 15 Years

Jobs:

Halven level 12, Cook level 5, Archer level 9, Gambler Level 10, Grifter level 15, Medium level 10, Oracle level 18, Painter level 2, Teacher level 6

Attributes / Pools / Defenses

Strength: 75 Constitution: 44 / Hit Points: 119 / Armor: 10

Intelligence: 74 Wisdom: 138 / Sanity: 212 / Mental Fortitude: 60

Dexterity: 147 Agility: 70 / Stamina: 217 / Endurance: 0

Charisma: 247 Willpower: 61 / Moxie: 308 (354) / Cool: 73

Perception: 145 Luck: 300 / Fortune: 445 / Fate: 53

Generic Skills

Archery – Level 1

Brawling – Level 8

Climb – Level 15

Dagger – Level 2

Dodge – Level 13

Fishing – Level 14

Ride – Level 10

Stealth – Level 19

Swim – Level 7

Throwing – Level 31

Halven Skills

Fate’s Friend – Level N/A

Small in a Good Way – Level N/A

Cook Skills

Cooking - Level 20

Dishwasher – Level N/A

Freshen - Level 12

Archer Skills

Aim – Level 9

Demoralizing Shot – Level 6

Far Shot – Level 1

Missile Mastery – Level N/A

Quickdraw – Level N/A

Rapid Fire – Level N/A

Razor Arrow – Level 8

Ricochet Shot – Level 21

Gambler Skills

Ace in the Hole – Level 2

Ante Up – Level 8

Assess Challenge – Level N/A

Cardsharp – Level 9

Deadly Dice – Level 1

Double Down – Level 1

Gambler’s Fortune – Level N/A

Hold’em – Level N/A

Slot Machine – Level N/A

Suit Sorcery – Level 1

Grifter Skills

Bluster – Level 1

Feign Death – Level 7

Fools Gold – Level 4

Forgery – Level 11

Master of Disguise – Level 15

Mega-Moxie – Level N/A (+15% Moxie)

Old Buddy – Level 7

Pickpocket – Level 21

Silent Activation – Level 36

Silver Tongue – Level 34

Size Up – Level 9

Unflappable – Level N/A

Medium Skills

Bad Fortune – Level 17

Crystal Ball – Level 10

Draw Fortune – Level N/A

Focus Vision – Level 5

Fortuna – Level N/A

Good Fortune – Level 18

Object Reading – Level 1

Palmistry – Level N/A

Séance – Level N/A

Stack Deck – Level N/A

Oracle Skills

Absorb Condition – Level N/A

Afflict Self – Level 1

Diagnose – Level N/A

Divine Pawn – Level N/A

Foresight – Level 46

Grant Vision Level 7

Influence Fate – Level 14

Lesser Healing – Level 51

Omens and Portents – Level N/A

Random Buff – Level 9

Short Vision – Level 17

Transfer Condition – Level 15

Painter Skills

Fast Dry – Level N/A

Painting – Level 5

Teacher Skills

Lecture – Level 24

Red Ink – Level 3

Smarty Pants – Level N/A

Unlocked Jobs

Farmer, Herbalist

Gear

Enrico’s Last Hand

Light Leather Armor