(Zzoid’s POV)

Well Joat’s gone off and gotten into trouble again…and only 2 days before we have our last important meeting (foreseeably). Typical of him. Time to get him out of there I guess.

Everyone else who was arrested due to curfew were let out but Joat hasn’t been and he nor SirStripy have been seen, according to DillyDally who ended up messaging me due to Joat not responding to his messages either.

*Sigh*

Time to gather the squad I guess.

…

(Charmine’s POV)

“Now pour the crushed juices of the Antaran leaf into the boiled mixture and keep stirring until it goes a light purple” Master Quell walks slowly around the small group of training pharmacists, all sweating away from their small cauldrons.

Sweat can completely change the composition of a mixture.

5 days of learning how to collect and make different kinds of basic pharmaceutical potions was slightly more boring than I’d imagine but as boring as it should be.

The potion making isn’t hard per say since it’s like chemistry, there’s just a lot of little steps and each potion takes some time to create, having to wait for things to boil and cool and evaporate takes a large portion of time.

So of course we were given books on plants to study and learn, since collecting your own ingredients is far cheaper than just buying them.

That’s been pretty useful to learn.

*Ding*

Oh Zzoid’s sent a message to the new Jinxed squad group chat that we made a few days ago.

Joat’s gotten into trouble, he needs saving, come to the adventurer’s guild within the hour please

Why am I not surprised.

“Master Quell, may I take the day off once I have completed this potion, there is something important I must do” Oops need to stir the mixture

“Disease and death never stops! But yes you may my little darling”

“Oh and me too please” Zzand raises his hand next to me, what a cute little kid he is.

“Fine you too” He rolls his eyes waving him away.

Joat why do you always get into trouble?

…

(Baila’s POV)

“And you’re dead again” Rassin’s knife nicks me in the back of the next as punishment. “You leave your back too open, for people like me that’s a free pass to killing you”

“But I can’t see you how can I block you?”

“Learn, Watch, experiment. All people you fight will have a pattern, and each type of person will have a pattern. Guards will usually favour defending their right side, while a merchant will always have his back protected by another. Learn how your enemy fights and then you know how they don’t” Getting off of me, she walks over to the rickety rocking chair by the unlit fireplace. “Again”

*Snore*

Rolling to a stand, I pick up all my knives along the way. I can’t believe I have 16 knives and I have to learn how to fight with them all and how to use them together as well. So much to learn!!!

Right, she’s sitting on the chair, facing away from me. That means I can attack from any angle and have that split second before she knows…

Let’s try from above.

Stealthily jumping onto the pile of books and then onto the top of the bookcase, I can reach the rafters if I jump, but I need to stay quiet.

*Ding*

What is it now? Oh it’s from Zzoid

Joat’s gotten into trouble, he needs saving, come to the adventurer’s guild within the hour

Within the hour, gives me more than enough time to get a hit on Rassin.

*Creak*

Ah sh-

*Thunkthunkthunk*

“Don’t make any noise. Again”

…

(Miss Nameless’ POV)

“Bolt” A the green and silver bolt flies out into the air.

“Warlocks are so cheaty” Lenny whines a lot for an old man who is super powerful. “Ignis lord of fire blast mine enemies with fire made air FIREBALL” His fireball is HUGE.

“Waah” I’ve seen it so many times but it’s still really cool.

“It is cool but it takes forever to cast, no one has that much time in a real combat and also keeping the intonation correctly…warlocks are so cheaty”

Lenny’s been so nice helping me learn how this ‘Fel’ works. He even showed me how he makes food…with magic!

Although I can’t do it because apparently my magic is different and uses souls and not mana. I don’t like being a ‘warlock’ as he calls it.

“Aqua queen of water fill the air with water RAIN…the annoying bit is having to shout it at the end, hurts my vocal chords” Anoobis also whines like the wet jackal he is.

“Spells are surprisingly easy to learn though” Ravenna stops momentarily from her writing to look at the small rain cloud coming her way “Ventus being of wind let your breath blow the winds to the shores of east GUST” a small wind kicks up blowing the cloud away from her, they’re all really good at this.

“They are but if you get the intonation wrong, backfire. If you get the wording wrong, backfire. If you get the name of the being your using the power wrong, backfire with possible death-” Lenny starts counting off all the reasons why spells backfire.

He really drilled us with information as to why it’s hard to cast spells.

“I still don’t get the whole borrowing power from those guys, isn’t that more a druid than a wizard?” Anoobis asks a lot of questions, but they are really good questions.

“Well they kind of stop people willy nilly going insane and destroying everything with power. Also once you’re a recognized wizard and you get a contract with one you will be able to cast certain spells without so much incantation” He taps the two rings on his chest, apparently red is for fire and brown for earth.

“Sounds like a druid still” Ravenna nods from her writing. She’s writing spells as I learnt a few days ago “Oh Anoobis, try this: Ignis lord of fire burn all imperfections within my body Cure!”

“Ignis lord of fire burn all imperfections within my body CURE”

Anoobis is on fire

“QUENCH” Lenny directs a little hose of water towards the burning Anoobis. “Wording was wrong, target then description”

“Interesting” what’s interesting Ravenna?

*ding*

Joat’s gotten into trouble, he needs saving, come to the adventurer’s guild within the hour

“Lenny”

“What is it my dear warlock?”

“my friend is in trouble, can I go and help him please?”

“Of course you can but do you remember the spell I taught you?”

Open hand passing over face “Disguise”

“So cheaty” All three of them are whining, why? I can’t do cool things like make all that delicious food…

“Mistress” Krudel suddenly appears in the lawn with the rest of us “Ah I see you’re already prepared”

“Krudel, I believe you cannot go out in town looking like that” Lenny puts a hand on him, quickly making a series of gestures with his hand “Umbra blackness and darkness supreme cover flesh with shadow DARK CLOAK”

Krudel is now wearing a cloak and he’s human now? Cool!

“You know too many cool spells” All us say at the same time. It’s true, he knows like every spell there is!

“Only four thousand and thirty seven and when you divide them into types, and magical circles I haven’t learnt many at all” Lenny is such a cool old man. If I had a grandpa I’d want him to be mine!

Ok to help Joat! I’m excited to show him all my new spells!!!!

…

(Honey’s POV)

“I’ll give you 150 gold for the bags and the tents”

“Wait a second, the tents are worth 50 each and each of those sleeping bags are Eljchmarz feathered each worth at least 10 gold each”

“You say the tent is new but I can see grass stains at the bottom from use, so 40 gold for that one at most. Plus 50 gold for a 6 man tent? That’s pretty pricey and we both know that.”

“Prices go up as demand go up, and you’re not going to find some nice big tents like this anywhere else here”

“True, but I can get a canvas and ground sheet for so much less and that’d cost me 20 gold to fit 18 people? 35 gold a tent, and 30 for the used one”

“…”

“And I’ll buy 13 of your feathered sleeping bags, if you can guarantee their quality”

“Here have a feel”

“Ooh that is some nice feather, Eljmarz you said?”

“Yep, well used by aristocrats and the more money-wise people like us”

“Then 200 gold for it all”

“250”

“215”

“235”

Joat’s gotten into trouble, he needs saving, come to the adventurer’s guild within the hour

“220”

“230”

“Deal” Ah so much money lost, thank lord I’m able to take out a loan with the company…though it needs to be repaid before the interest gets too high.

Hmm if it takes a month to repay that’d be 253 with the 10% interest not too bad in all fairness. And i got some nice 6 man tents and sleeping bags for a swellingly good price.

It was supposed to be 350 originally, but after a little ‘persuasion’ from a few interested buyers in tents that went down. Of course the interest but lack of money made him lower his prices quite substantially. But then again, it’s better to sell at a small profit then don’t sell at all.

Having accomplices is very helpful.

Now off to help Joat since he has gotten himself in trouble once more. At least I’m the one handling the money.

…

(Pinky Juniour’s POV)

Joat’s gotten into trouble, he needs saving, come to the adventurer’s guild within the hour

“Sister” Pinky Seniour kicks our opponent in the groin and then knees him in the face as he bends over, a trail of blood spurting out his nose on the way down. She needs a little more training to be a bit calmer against her opponents.

“Yes I know, give me a minute” And he should be passed out by now? Yep. Releasing my arm from around the now unconscious teenager’s neck, I stand up and look towards the tall dark hunk of an ex-gladiator “Robert, have we got any more opponents today?”

Robert just points at the arena filled with a dozen burly teenagers and grownups all groaning or unconscious.

“Right, well we’ll be off for today then”

“Come beat these little whips tomorrow” One sentence a day with him as always, I hope he isn’t as short and sweet in other situations, and I can’t believe I’m thinking this but like Joat.

…

(Zzard’s POV)

“HAMMER, HAMMER, HAMMER, HAMMER, TURN, HAMMER, HAMMER” Norn reminds me of Daren with his constant shouting and ordering…but he’s not as throwing you into it and good luck-like but rather very controlling over literally everything I’m doing.

Joat’s gotten into trouble, he needs saving, come to the adventurer’s guild within the hour

Ooh big brother and Teacher need me!

But I have to finish this shield…in an hour?

“WHY AREN’T YOU HAMMERING?” OK BOSS

I CAN DO THIS IN AN HOUR, I CAN, FOR BIG BROTHER AND TEACHER!!!

…

(BoneCracker’s POV)

Joat’s gotten into trouble, he needs saving, come to the adventurer’s guild within the hour

*Rip*

Crocodile teeth acquired.

Seems like that blighter needs help

…

(Zzoid’s POV)

“Hello there Zzoid” Ah Honey is first it seems and only 10 minutes in, wearing some nice clothing too, very fit for an up and coming merchant I hear.

“Come join me at the table. A glass of milk for my friend please Julie” Glad I know the barmaids name, it helps service quite a bit when you’re personal with people.

“Am I the first one?”

“Damn he’s the first one, and we even rushed over here!” Ah my beautiful loli-baba jumps through the door with some bloody leather armour. Oh what has she been up to, getting such stuff on her?

 “Where’s Joat!?” Pinky Seniour jumps in right after her must more desirable lookalike, also wearing lookalike armour similarly bloodied.

“Come sit and have some milk. We’ll wait for the others to come before we begin”

“Big Brother!!” Little Zzand! Haven’t seen you in 5 days.

Giving my little brother a massive hug, ah it’s good to see him in game again. 5 days of being apart doing our own thing is actually rather lonely.

“Hello Zzoid”

“Charmine” I hope she hasn’t done anything bad to you as well little brother or I will be having a long talk wih her.

She’s as terrifying as ever, looking all innocent and quiet when really I know what she’s actually like. Terrifying woman indeed.

*Grunt*

That sounds like BoneCracker, and it is, looking as hulkingly massive as ever and wearing beginner clothing, though I can smell swamp on her from here.

“BoneCracker” Charmine gives her a hug, “Have you got what I need?”

“Yes” She doesn’t really speak much to anyone except Charmine but at least she’s slowly opening up a little bit.

Already there’s been a good response with 8 of us here already.

“BROTHERRRR” Make that 9

“BROTHERRR” Running up to him I give him a big old hug with little Zzand squeezing inbetween, family lives off hugs that’s for sure.

“Alright you lot stop being so overlydramatic, it’s not like you’re connected or anything” Baila walks in past us huffing for some reason

“Oh Baila don’t be jealous just because your hugging partner’s currently in big trouble”

“He’s not my hugging partner, and I would be surprised if he wasn’t in trouble” I don’t believe you for a second Baila, also what’s with the grey half-cloak?

It’s been about 20 minutes since I sent that message, how did they all take such little time in coming?

“Hello is there room for two more?” That voice…

Swiveling round

…

..

.

“As much as I would enjoy your presence we’re having an important meeting” This woman is beyond gorgeous, gosh if I wasn’t loli-baba’s knight I would be hardpressed not to become hers but that voice is confusing me to high hell...

Also I swear I have seen that face somewhere, maybe a model agency or something, so absolutely stunning with that straight cherry hair and sparkling purple eyes.

…

..

.

“Princess?”

“How did you know?” She gives me a mouthwatering shocked look. Wow even though it is Princess, zombie and all somehow or maybe not, she is absolutely enthralling. I won’t be able unsee this ever.

“The purple eyes gave it away Princess”and the voice too but a cloaked man who I actually only noticed now speaks from just to her right is correct. Krudel as well is different: he’s wrapped in a dark cloak and I cannot actually see his face at all and he’s got fleshy hands too?!

“Oh that isn’t good” She even pouts like a princess. She is truly a sight.

“How…” Baila speaks for us all there

“Oh Lenny’s teaching me some really cool things like this!” She smiles brightly with a small giggle…I can still hear the slight gurgle but without her looking undead the whole image is completely different.

So she’s still undead I can assume since she’s got the same purple eyes?

“Mistress remember”

“Oh yeah!” Her face falls deadpan serious “Forget I said anything”

Secrets about magic? I’ll leave Joat to get the backfire for trying to make her talk. Talking about him.

“Right, almost everyone is here” I begin ushering them towards the table “only Thrash is to wait for. But in all honesty I can begin talking the problem now”

“But shouldn’t we wait for Thrash?” Princess looks worried.

“He catches up quick, plus he might not be so suitable for what’s going to be planned”

“Oh don’t keep us on our seat forever Zzoid, tell us why you’ve bunched us all together here 2 days before we have our meeting” Baila is really not in a good mood today, maybe the lack of Joat is doing it.

“Well as you all know Joat is in prison” whoops not what I meant to say

“WHAT?”

“I meant in trouble”

“And he’s in prison?” Honey re-asks

“Yes, and not only him, SirStripy if you remember or even know who that is”

“But isn’t he supposed to be quite responsible?” Honey seems like he knows him

“Possibly, but he’s also in trouble so it might not have been Joat’s fault at all. He was also with another 6 people apparently but I have no idea who they were or if they’re here or not. So we don’t have much to go on really”

“So you brought us here to tell us Joat is in prison but why?” Pinky Seniour missing the point

“To help us break him out of course little pinky” my loli-baba of course hits the nail on the head.

“He shouldn’t need help” Now wait a second Baila this is Joat we’re talking about “He’s already gotten out before” I stand oddly corrected

“HUH?” Seriously people we’re talking about prison break, hush somewhat.

“I did it not him, he just followed” Krudel speaks up. Oh that makes more sense. Joat’s great at getting himself into trouble, out of it, well that’s up to debate.

“Oh” Baila stands corrected too “Well then how do we get in?”

“Through the front” BoneCracker smacks her tankard of milk on the table.

“That’s a terrible idea, you can’t just walk into a prison through the front door and not be noticed” Honey has a point “But if there aren’t any witnesses” He still has a point, morbid but a point.

“But it’s bad to hurt people” Both Pinky Seniour and Zzand say that. Such sweet kids the both of them.

“Yes, but they’re bad people if they’re locking up Teacher” Zzard not quite correct

“Actually Zzard, chances are Joat did something wrong and kind of deserved it” Loli-baba you’re perfectly correct.

“Well going back to the front door idea, it’s not that plausible” Bringing the conversation back to where it’s supposed to be

“Well actually” Charmine, you’ve got something nasty up your sleeve don’t you

“Tell us”

“I may be able to put the guards asleep” I feel like pharmaceutical potions weren’t the only ones you studied…

“And any that don’t won’t be much of a problem” Baila, it’s been 5 days but you sound a lot more scary than usual…somethings definitely happened with you.

“It’s not getting in that’s much of a problem, or getting out really. The problem is finding Joat, who is likely in the deepest and most secure part of the prison” Krudel knows best but I’m sure Joat hasn’t done something THAT bad right? “Especially as last time he was arrested in suspicion for killing someone”

…

..

.

Baila you need to hide your facial expressions better. While everyone else was shocked you were…guilty? So you’ve definitely changed in these past few days gee.

“Well I mean it’s Joat and I don’t think he’ll do that, what do you think Baila?” Now to test the theory

“He’s not that type of person” Aha! So I can now assume you murdered someone. Seriously last time I saw you, you were trying to catch a cat...

“Ok so let’s assume he’s innocent, so if they falsely accused him for something before, they will definitely falsely accuse him again. So we’ve got to get him out of there”

“Last time they said they’ll execute him so the sooner the better” Krudel thanks for the information.

“You guys mentioned an execution? Are you talking about the one that’s going to happen at midday?” Wendy butts in, hmm how long has she been listening?

“I know but I’d rather not see an execution” Let’s see if she knows anything

“Yes it’d be a shame” Wendy shows literally no sign of knowing anything...that’s worrying since as a fox-beastlady I would assume she’s heard a large amount.

She walks back behind the counter, I’ll keep an eye on her later, right now Joat.

“So we’ve got er…2 hours…front door plan?”

“Front door plan is looking good”

“I’ll go get what we need for the sleeping gas” So you ARE learning strange things…I kind of want you to teach Zzand but at the same time…

“I’ll get my tools” Baila jumps off her chair “30 minutes and meet at the location?”

“30 minutes is enough for brunch right Sister?”

“Food sounds good, I did make a big buy this morning, oh wait until you feel the sleeping bags”

“Ooh food and sleeping bags? They have those here?”

“Food”

“What’s a sleeping bag Krudel?”

“It’s a piece of camping equipment Mistress, nothing exciting”

“Nothing exciting you say, it means camping!”

“Camping, I love camping, Big brother we’re going camping!?”

“Well if we’re leaving the town we will end up going camping so yes. Also some breakfast would be nice, Julie” Breakfast is always necessary, even before a prison break.

…

(Thrash’s POV)

“I NEED TO FINISH THIS NOW” GIRL, I THINK, NEEDS ME

“WE CAN DO IT HERE HAVE SOME WATER”

“I CAN SEE SOMETHING PEEKING FROM THE WATER WE’RE SOOOO CLOSE”

…

(Zzoid’s POV)

“Alright so are we all here?” Minus Thrash, he’s also mysteriously nowhere to be found…but it’s Thrash, so he’s probably fine doing his own thing.

“Yep and so is our little helper” Charmine waves a little bottle with a green mist swirling inside. I’m officialy more scared of you than Baila and she’s killed someone in game. “It needs to be released in close proximity and they’ll be asleep for about an hour”

“I’ll take it. I shouldn’t be affected or noticed right?” Krudel takes the bottle out.

“Exactly”

“Before we go in and do a Joat, we need to plan who does what floor”

“I thought you’d discuss this while we I was getting my tools?” Baila doesn’t look happy.

“Well breakfast kind of killed the conversation time” I mean food in the adventurer guild was basically rations but there was a lot of it.

“There are 4 floors all connected with a main spiral staircase, we go straight to the bottom and work our way up. Since last time there should be more security so make as little noise as possible” Krudel…that was simple short and sweet.

“Well let’s get to it and try not look suspicious” Everyone suspiciously shuffles…except Baila, where is she, oh over there. Damn that woman’s slowly becoming a shadow.

Everyone’s growing so much in such a short time it’s strange. I mean I haven’t done anything in the past week but watch people and cook.

“Hey guys hold your breath and come in” Krudel’s already done? And the guards are already asleep? And he’s a skeleton again!?

Quickly shuffling inside the prison, which has a large routine of sleeping guards at the entrance, damn that potion worked fast.

Running through to the spiral stairs and down we go.

Huh it’s rather simple so far.

Walking down the stairs, breathing again, we reach the first underground layer.

“O-”

…

..

.

“Cut the windpipe and they cannot speak even if they survive the bloodloss” I mean I know that but you still scare me. Joat’s really going to have his hands full with this one hah.

Right moving on from that, I do note Krudel is shielding Princess from the sights. A good bodyguard, much I can learn from him.

“My loli-baba don’t look at that”

“Zzoid, my darling, I’ve spent the past 5 days in an arena beating people into submission with my fists. I can suffer a little death”

And you were there with Pinky Seniour, the little girl? You are not a good aunt but you’re amazing nonetheless.

Anyways, level minus two and no more guards visible as of yet, so straight to level minus three and all the way to minus four.

This is so easy it’s rather stupid. So much for increased guard

Anyone can break into this prison, seriously. There’s like 30 guards for the whole place?

And I guess any that are in town so 30+. Oh maybe should’ve left someone up top.

“Krudel, go up top, make sure anyone who comes doesn’t speak”

He nods quickly disappearing upstairs.

Right that’s sorted, now to find Joat.

I take left with Princess, Baila and my brothers, leaving the right side for the others.

Reaching the end of the corridor where there’s an old wooden door, Baila kneels and gets out a few small pieces of metal.

Oh you learnt how to lockpick? Well with your current ‘skill set’ I’m not surprised.

*click*

Seems like she’s becoming a rogue. Useful to have in a party I guess, especially suited as I remember the rabbit story Joat told me.

She opens the door and immediately slips through, soft gurgling heard from the other side.

And that’s a dead person, with a hole in the side of their neck blood literally gushing out…and what’s that knife she’s holding?

It’s li-gone dammit didn’t even get to see what it’s like just strange would be an good description for what I saw.

Baila is way too relaxed in killing people, I mean Npc’s but still a person.

Ok checking each cell, empty, empty, empty, more empty and a hobo huddle unmoving in a corner. Well he’s not here.

“Hey you guys” Oh he’s alive “Let me out please”

“You’re in the deepest level of the prison you probably shouldn’t be let out”

“True, but what if I said my crime is living” Being a hobo don’t doubt it. “And what if I said I know where Joat is?”

…

..

.

No one mentioned Joat…?

“Where is he?”

“Let me out and I’ll show you” Hmm

“He said Joat’s name so he probably does know him” I guess we’ve just got to trust fate then.

“Baila” I gesture to the locks, yes a rogue is very useful in a party.

*Click*

“Thanks, I thought I’d actually die today. Guess not. Right, on to finding Joat” He takes out a thick black and white tome from underneath his robes. How did the guards not find this? “DAEMONIUM DENUNTIO”

 “SH-” That’s a demon dog appearing out a black hole from the floor woah woah woah what have we just unleashed.

“INVENIO” The devildog, well more like molten-lava devildog with bone spikes across it’s back, starts sniffing. “My little helper will sniff out wherever he’s ended up”

“Ended up?”

“I don’t know, I got arrested early in the morning, he’d disappeared by then to god knows after we had some angel and devil weed. That stuff takes you places”

…

..

.

“Absolutely fricking typical Joat, wait till I find you and give you a right thrashing for having us freaking break into prison for you!” Baila is certainly pissed. I mean this isn’t the first time Joat’s done messed up something…and it certainly won’t be the last.

Guys, time to leave, Joat is off galavanting free somewhere else

…

(Joat’s POV)

Oh my Aiag my head feels like someone’s got six jackhammers on full power while a team of ogres with a sledgehammer take turns bashing the sides of my skull. And that's underwhelming description...

“You look pretty destroyed, here have some tea Joat” a red hand offers me a cup of steaming tea.

“Ah thank you…but…who the hell are you?”