Clemency

Sakiran took off her cloak and cut it into bits, wrapping it around her mouth and nose. The hallucinations died down and she saw the disgusting fleshy mess for what it was. She handed some cloth to Leoric for him to cover his own face, and she reattached what remained of her cloak.

The deck was covered in a lattice of flesh, coming away on their boots in sticky strands. They heard a pulsing like a heartbeat as they walked towards the command room. They saw through the window that the entire room was covered in the fog, seeping out of the cracks in the door. Sakiran saw something large in the centre of the room, with a few figures surrounding it. Leoric detected a lot of heat coming from the middle figure. Sakiran advised they open the door first. Leoric said they should prepare. Sakiran advocated for the loud approach, suggesting she smash the windows then give them time to jump in. As she smashed it, the fog was moist on her skin. The fog was rapidly fading. Leoric stayed at the window and told Sakiran to take the door. They burst in and took stock quickly.

The entirety of the floor was covered in red and black flesh, leading into a central amorphous figure. There were several humanoid figures fused into the floor, with veins and tendrils all over them. At the edge near the console, they saw Amalius with tendrils in his arms and spines. He was connected to the computers through the fleshy network.

Leoric determined that they were alive but braindead. They were being drained into a central figure spewing the fog.They dispatched some of the surrounding bodies, though underneath the floor they felt buckling. Towards the left, the panels on the floor started buckling upwards as a tendril bursts through and twisting around the cabin. The central figure remained motionless.

Leoric asked Sakiran to try and disconnect him from the systems. She sawed through, but as she made contact with the cartilage, psychic scream pierced her mind. As she kept sawing through, he went limp and was disconnected. The central figure's large, bright blue eye opened and stared directly at Sakiran. She and Leoric are completely unable to look away. As they look deeper into the eye their vision starts to swirl. All they could see in their vision is the eye staring at them.

A moment later, they were both able to look away as they saw it has extended some tendrils out and wrapped around their hands. The flooring had burst completely. Underneath them, they saw a flesh mass that is bright red. The ship itself twisted and crunched, being absorbed into a fleshy mass. Sakiran was able to see a small cape in the distance, about 300-400 metres away.

Sakiran jumped off, holding Amalius. Leoric too jumped off. They felt critters on their legs biting into them. The ship sank underneath the waves, taking the APC and their goods with it. When swimming to shore, Leoric was struggling at first, getting water in his mouth. He was lagging behind Sakiran, though as he saw land he had a second wind. Sakiran reached land first. As she dragged herself to the sand, she saw that the entire landscape had a dark, reddish purple hue. The mist was still around. The rocks had pulsating tendrils. The entire island looked partially like the ship. Leaning against a flesh rock, there was what looks like a person with a cleaver stuck in their head.

Leoric washed up and crawled over to Amalius to see if he is still alive. Amazingly, he was. His eyes were red and bloodshot, blood coming out of his mouth as he vomited. He gasped for air and lost consciousness again. Sakiran saw a person with a cleaver in his head and wondered if he was still alive, since they had already witnessed the miracle of Amalius being alive.

The person was actually a machine and rusted. Its core chest was exposed, with rags attempting to look human. It had been attacked by someone who didn't realise it was a robot. It was performing self-diagnostic and repaired some of the damage caused. It tried to cast sleep, though it does not work on Sakiran. She recognised the feeling as a sleep spell. Fine gas sprayed out from its chest as another defence. Rust and stagnant water sprayed out as it became jumpy. Its eyes flickered and glowed. Sakiran removed the cleaver from its head. Inside, there were faintly glowing lights and a crystal with a slight cut inside it.

The robot asks what she was doing there. Sakiran noted that he can speak and found it interesting. He started scanning himself to determine what is wrong. His paint was damaged, his joints were rusted and the top of his clothes were missing. The robot turned his head towards Leoric and asked what he was doing there. Sakiran explained that he is with her. They hear what seemed like a whale cry that reverberated around the entire island.

Leoric tried to drag Amalius over. His skin was pale and gaunt and he was dripping blood from his mouth, tainted with black and silver. Sakiran used one of her healing stims on him clumsily. Despite her clumsy application, it seemed effective. He stopped bleeding from the mouth. His skin was still pale, but he was breathing easier now. Sakiran asked for the robot;s name. It pointed to his chest. R.E.E.R0K in Elvish. Sakiran introduced both her and Leoric. Reerok offers rations to them both, though they are soaking wet and mouldy. Sakiran explains that they cannot eat them because they are mouldy. Leoric then asks why a robot has rations. Reerok points towards the bottom of the ocean. Then asked if they should head away from the creature swimming towards land. Sakiran whipped her head around and sees he is pointing to debris. A creature started to emerge as things drop off of it.

Things scuttled towards them, flesh mounds with crab claws. Sakiran scooped Amalius up and ran towards the trees. Reerok stood and also ran with Leoric. As the bits crawled towards them, they reached a clearing with two paths. Both appeared well worn. Sakiran pointed left and they carried on running. The ground was flatter and the trees were turning verdant and green. They were becoming exhausted as they see light in the distance. They kept running towards the light. They hit an energy field with a metal and wood barricade. It looked like a very small village.

Someone in a guard tower motioned for them to come in as the shield was lowered. The creatures popped as they crash into the energy field. The main gate opened as people came out. They had sunken faces with their skin hanging off, misshapen boils and their eyes had huge bags. They had bony growths on their hands and arms. They were holding spears and bows. They looked at Reerok and muttered in an unfamiliar language, poking him with a spear. Sakiran asked if Reerok knew what they were saying, but he did not.

They heard shouting from within the small village. They think they hear common as a 7 foot tall orc steps out. He was once in a Gratus uniform, but the neural nails have been partially removed. He was well spoken though jittery and unhinged. He had cracked teeth with bone spurs and he was massive. He asked how they ended up there, bare rage in his eyes. The orc asked if they were also sent by boat. Leoric said yes, and he didn't look much like other orcs. He looked more like the people around here. He tried to hide the growths and said it will take them, too. Sakiran held up her mutated claws, bitterly remarking it already had.

The orc said he likes them, even the metal one. Reerok looked uncomfortable. He invites them to eat and drink and Sakiran asked his name. He introduces himself as Lagrath. Inside his hut, there are furs, a massive cauldron, a massive keg of beer. To the right, there were four women chained up with no clothes. They looked quite bloodied. Sakiran noted it looks almost like home, but spared a furtive glance towards the women. Leoric said it was lucky that he ate before jumping ship, so wasn't hungry. Lagrath suddenly became very angry, so Sakiran quickly excused him, being familiar with their culture as a tribal herself. Reerok asked if he can kill him. Lagrath laughed and patted him on the shoulder. He grabbed a liquid and poured it over Reerok, shutting him down.

Leoric asked where he was from in Orcish. Lagrath seemed to be taken aback by hearing his own language. He said he was number 4, sub 248. Breacher squad. He started scratching at where the nails used to be. Lagrath waved away and refused to talk on the matter further. Sakiran asked if it was difficult being a leader and accused him of weakness. He was about to attack her when she told him that she would not attack back, just like the women he had chained up could not. He told her she had the spirit of a man. She stared at him silently. He walked over towards the women, grabbed their chains so they fell over and then said they don't deserve to live. Sakiran yells that the weakness is his, not theirs.

He went towards her and asks if she was challenging his leadership. Leoric interjected and Lagrath begins to doubt himself. Leoric invited him to walk out. His footsteps were heavy as Sakiran freed the women. Lagrath asked what his orders are. Leoric led him towards the fertile land. He was in a docile state. Lagrath asks why they are there, he is no worker. Leoric says as far as I'm aware, Lagrath, your orders are finished. Lagrath looks confused. Leoric repeats that his mission is over and invites him to sit down. He drags his huge hand across the earth. He falls to his knees. He quickly turns around and asks if they are free. Leoric is looking at the sun and says yeah. you're free. He gets his gun out and Lagrath turns to look at him. Leoric tells him he needs to do him a favour. Think of home. The plains of your homeland.

Lagrath admitted he had never seen his homeland before. Leoric said he would be home soon as he fired his gun. He lit up a cigarette.

There was some shouting from the camp. Leoric was approached by tribals who kicked the orc's body. They removed a necklace from his pocket and handed it to Leoric. He passed it on to another tribal. He holstered his weapon and walks away. The tribals were very confused and speak in their language.

He entered the chief's hut. Sakiran was surrounded by the women she had unchained. Reerok walks out of the tent, having been reactivated. There seemed to be a gathering around the body. He saw a hunched over figure appearing to give a sermon. They see Reerok and stop. They speak in Elvish. "An activation unit?" They continue the sermon in their other language. They walk over to Reerok with their walking stick. He reminisces with him, introducing himself as Rinche, and tells Reerok not to die.

Leoric checked on Amalius. He was starting to get a temperature. Around his cybernetic eye, pus and blood was congealing. Leoric soaked a towel and places it on his forehead. Sakiran tried to find a healer. She saw a hut with bone charms and incense burning. The entire room was covered in skulls with candles on top. Humanoid hair was attached to the roof with small bells and charms hanging off. Sitting down on a bed, there was a hunched over figure with a big two handed walking stick, Rinche from before. There was an uncomfortable silence when she walked in. Sakiran asked if he is a healer. Rinche replied that he can be at times and he is staring at her intently.

Rinche pulled off the hood. He asked what she had done to herself. He said he can't cure that, motioning to her arm and the spreading growth. She led him to Amalius. His hand glowed slightly as he moved his hand over his body. He engaged in a long conversation with them, refusing to help them until Sakiran tries to ask Leoric to kill him. Rinche cried as he criticised the party. Sakiran asked if he wanted to die, and asked his name. He used his real name, Ythrain.

He produced a set of six circlets and dived into the Altarnie Network. They were thrown through a tornado of blue, black and purple energy. After what felt like hours of spinning, they felt a presence outside of their bubble. Ythrain's voice echoed around. They saw the continents around them, with five towers spread out that keep the star in check. All were red apart from one, with an orange alert signal. Sakiran noticed that of the population centres, where the Izcanytlan tribe are is a very faint green.

The hologram started shattering as thick black tendrils reached around the entire planet. Ythrain grabbed all of them as their presence is yanked back. They were slammed with black sludge ripping at their skin. Their souls were being shredded, especially Ythrain. Finally, they were back in the hut. They were sweating. They saw Ythrain, slumped over. Sakiran shook him and he was barely breathing. His eyes were bleeding. He grabbed her hand and Leoric's. There was a transfer of magical energy as an idea forms in their head - they learned the location of The Shielded City.

He says nothing can be done for him. Sakiran decides to give him the only gift she could - she slashed his throat with the same knife that the mother killed herself with in the slave market. He died in moments. She named the knife Deliverance and prayed over Ythrain's body.