“W-What is this place…?” Ghost Captain drops to their knees, “This ain’t Shitshack Coldersaaaaaack!”

Impossible. We crossed the Ponty lake and travelled precisely 1.26e+7mm from. This is the location of Coldersack.

No doubt.

“Hast thou good sirsss conssidered the possibility of non Imperial occupation?”

Again, that’s impossible. Imperial towns could only be held by the Imperium. No buts.

“Those… Those barbarians! They’ve ruined Shitshaack Coooldersacck!”

We stare down a town, but it’s not of Imperial make. It’s rough shaven, dilapidated and uncared for, like a Barbarian slum.

This isn’t Coldersack. No, it has some semblance of Imperial architecture. The stone grey wall fence that still stands has bricks of dimensions 225 mm x 112.5 mm x 75 mm.

Although not of clay, they still follow standard sizing requirements, so that’s a big tick.

However, what ruins the whole place are the tack ons… Strange, repulsive things that embellish what I’m sure was once a great town!

“Why are there warbeasts here!?”

Indeed, walking around unrestrained and even leaning upon that Wall are damned Warbeasts! Why aren’t they shackled? I can’t help but think of a worst case scenario.

“Friendsss… Demi humanss have enjoyed sssimilar, if not better rights than humans for a long time…”

Demi humans? The Hell are those? These are Warbeasts! Usually used as fodder during Imperial campaigns.

No way in Absolute Death would Warbeasts ever, EVER acquire such privileges. After all, how can you trust a beast that knows no reason? That’s right, you cannot. Simply not possible.

“Exactly Brick! In this broken, Corrupt Realm…” Ghost Captain sobs, tears of ether rolls down their cheeks, “I feel you are the only one who under—understands me…”

Ghost Captain clings to me and Ribbon.

Needless to say, the Warbeasts, like the deranged animals that they are surrounded us.

Snarling and jabbing, teeth bared.

At least… that was what I expected to happen.

Instead… “Oh my gods, a ghost! It’s a ghost! Call the town militia!” Speaking in an off Leymes, a canid type Warbeast backed away. Their furs standing on end as they wail.

My lord… When—When did the Warbeasts turn into… pussies for lack of a better word?

“Brick friend… demi humanss have always beeeeen like thiss,”

Okay… Strange. But why are they called Demi Humans though? Walking on two legs is not enough to stand within the category of Human.

“Over yond would be why,” They point their head to a — WHat tHe HELL?!

Which Eldritch deity made that freak of nature?!

“AHhh! Where are the acolytes!? We NEED the Igni Sanctus!” Ghost Captain backpedals, but Captain forgets one critical thing!

Captain! Don’t leave me behind! At least take Ribbon with you!

Ribbon! Cover your perception!

AHHHHH!

“Stop screaming! Stop screaming!” Captain screams, “Shit! I got this!” From underneath their gilded cuirass, they pull out a thick leather bound book.

A King Scripture VIII revised edition! It’s diaphanous, like the rest of Captain, but the power and supreme authority it exudes is the real deal.

Brandishing the divine authority Captain presses it toward the thing, immediately halting its approach, “May the power of Deus repel you!”

The effects… aren’t working!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

“Stop screaming! Lemme focus!” Captain screams once more, redoubling his efforts.

Lord save us!

It comes closer, giving me an in depth description of something I don’t want described!

But my bed is forced! I’m made to describe something that exists at the deepest depths of the Uncanny Valley!

“Wann~?” That noise… It’s a total disconnect with its appearance!

Possessing Human like appendages and even a face that I would even dub cute by Captain’s standards. The whole facade is wholly ruined by a certain foreign element.

“It isss simply a wolf demi human… Snek doesss not understand the confussion,”

“Stwange. What’s a ghost doing here, wan~?” It pouts, leveraging a hefty Broadaxe over its shoulder.

It’s Leymes is bubbly around the edges and could be placed under a regional dialect, but what is that diction?

“Brick, it is the speak of the eldritch ones. The tongue of the horrors that we abhor,”

My lord…

“This… This creature. It was human once, but… The poor girl has been corrupted,” Ghost Captain does the poor simulacrum of a deep breathe as they close their eyes, “It is our duty to help her into the afterlife,”

“Wan, that’s fwunny for you to say ghost man,” It waggles their Broadaxe at us.

Wan? More like wan did I ask!

Actually, hol'up. It understands us?!

C-Captain, shits getting real! What do we do?!

“Calm down, soldier. Keep your eyes on the thing,” Captain keeps his stance steady.

Okay kalm, kalm. I have Captain with me. They may be a Ghost now, but they can still use Deus Ex Machina so I have nothing to be afraid of.

“Are you talking to that brick, wan?”

It’s eyes scan me.

They’re human shaped, but it’s wrong! Wrong! It iris is gold, expanding like the pupils of a lizard.

I take back everything I said. I have everything to be afraid of!

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

CApTaIN!

“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!” At the breach of my composure, Captain also breaks. Which is understandable. If the Brick starts screaming you know you're screwed.

But in any case, this isn't good. PaNIk!

“Sssssigh, Snek expected a bit more from Imperial veterans… Perhaps this be actuation of that one phrasse. Never meet thy heroes…”

That’s a lot of hissing and not enough fightin’! Snek! You gotta bite that thing!

“Brick friend, Captain, Snek believesss that diplomacy is not offf the tablesss. As long asss things are done correctly,” Snek flaunts their size, towering over me and even Ghost Captain, confronting the thing in front us, "Do nots sspeak, Snek shall handle thiss,"

My lord. Snek, your sacrifice will not be in vain. I wish you godspeed in your battle against that thing.

That Freak of Nature.