We return to the land of standing, to discuss what our next course of action is.

  A trip to the Leaky Shaft for freshening up; clothes included.

  "It’s been days since we were genuinely clean and if we need to be sneaking around anytime soon it will not work if they can smell us before hearing us.” Rhua said after examining herself.

  Horace being the more turned-out chap that he is, nodded in agreement. So I took the lead walking us to the south gate where the Leaky Shaft is located. A sort of all-in-one, repair shop, tub-house, laundry room, airer and a co-operative, run by agents voted in at the capitals of each race. The money generated returns right back into the place keeping it running.

  It’s the only true neutral store on the entire world so it’s everywhere. Even the Koan’s have outlets, and they generally fear anything mechanical in origin. As we pass through the entrance, the receptionist waves us to step closer but not before the smell of Klohrain cleaning solution, intoxicates us for moment.

  The receptionist Cud Dle - according to the name tag, was wearing the Leaky Shaft attire. Black overalls with notably white pockets typical of dual coloured silk specifically from the Algota species of Arachnae.

  “Sorry about the smell, if you’re here every day it just becomes the norm” Cud said with a deep guttural growl that did not fit his size.

  “We need the big package today my friend and can you include a box of deodorisers in that? It’s been rough lately and we could do with keeping fresher for longer” said Wardi. Cud nods pointing us in the direction of the tub-house changing rooms and we head on inside.

  The water when we entered the tub-house, felt exactly like that one hug you received growing up: Warm, engulfing and a perfect remedy to a harsh day.

  As expected, others were here in the tub-house. It’s also a common place frequented like taverns, particular those that deem themselves a bit more upmarket. Wardi was talking with a robust and strong soldier type towards the small waterfall continuously refreshing the water.

  Making hand gestures towards Horace in which I was asking if he had seen Rhua he replied shaking his head. And without warning, a nimble hand and cold looking hand appeared to touch Horace's shoulder, the pale frosty fingers triggered shivers through his body as they clamped down. In a reflexive motion, he leapt up, accidentally headbutting the poor girl trying to get his attention.

  A ferocious right hook came from a fiery haired Rhua in response, who sent Horace underwater contemplating funeral songs. “Hiyooo dearies” The young woman sobbed, trying to wipe away the tears whilst holding her bashed in nose. The familiar tone she spoke with, quickly filled me with delight.

  “Lucy! it’s good to have you back with us! I said rushing over with a cloth to dry her eyes with.

  “I bumped into her whilst coming out of the changing room and we thought it be fun to prank one of you, so thanks for beating up a small defenseless young Haberdashphylacterist Horace” said Rhua angrily.

  Horace having been publicly shamed, continued to stay underwater as punishment and raised his hands together in a praying motion above the water to ask forgiveness of Lucy. She conjured a water pillow to float him to the surface and patted his head.

  “Don’t worry deary, it was my fwault for scaring you” Upon further inspection I realised, this is the first time in two or so years I’ve seen Lucy outside her hat, was she always this short I thought to myself? Noticing she’s barely got her head above the water. Well, she is only twenty and normally wears large, heeled boots. Her distinctively fizzgum blue hair was barely visible with the towel covering it earlier, makes sense why I couldn’t recognise her before. Wardi having finished his conversation, heads over to join us.

  “Hey, Hankay, ~, glad to have you back with us, what’s been occurring whilst you were away?” Wardi says in a cheeky tone.

  “WARDI, just because I am one doesn’t mean you should call me it in a dumb way, say it properly meanie!” Lucy responded with pulling a huffy face. “I am well, it is good to be back with the party especially with the recent weird events happening here lately.

  Lucy gave us the rundown and it became apparent that us reuniting with our resident Lùth enthusiast, was likely going to prove essential in the days ahead.

  “Larry has gone missing…strange noises in and an unfamiliar energy in the manor… and the towns people acting suspicious? This is an award-winning recipe for danger…” Rhua said with a worrying tone.

  “WHERE shall we start? Horace said after a moment of silence.

  “I say we try and get information from the townies can’t be sure if any are being influenced and I don’t think we should take any chances…I think I should use the bosh soon” Wardi said hesitantly, whilst pulling the silver adorned keg from his bag. A full keg should give me about an hour’s use, should be able to gather the intel before it runs dry.

  We gathered our equipment from the lockers in the airer room. I forgot how great we looked after we put our gear back on and glanced at myself and party members in the long mirror built into the wall.

  Rhua now her hair washed away of the built-up layers of grime, stood out with a long thick hair shimmering the colours of burning coal; the shape of it fell like tigion’s mane giving her a wild look, heavily contrasting the orderly Sillva scale plate mail she wears. As a Chevallier/Caller hybrid. She faces the brunt of attacks and the occasional support, her shield and shield abilities have been vital to our longevity.

  Horace his hair white against his ashen skin was short and neat pairing well with his red boofal leather attire… I never noticed before, were his eyes always so turquoise? Though he soon looked like a fool again with that helmet. With a crossbow at hand and as an Artillerist/Syntheneer hybrid class, Horace fights at the back using a multi-purpose turret that attacks primarily through explode on contact style shells. Through buttons in his spare hand glove, he can set timers and manually detonate his shells, this is especially true for his debilitating or support shell. And as a Syntheneer, he’s able to make his own concoctions whilst being on the move.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Wardi’s distinctively neat dirty dark hair colour, looking ready to entice anything that looks at it. His eastern combat garb with its distinctively loose and black cloth was unusual for a frontline fighter though he swears by it, and I must agree; he’s certainly a remarkable sight during a fight. Wardi uses his Prancer abilities to fight up front with me and Rhua using high speed and precision, his nature and background are what typically lead us through the day to day.

  Lucy of course was in her familiar brown mage’s hat, smiles and all. Her face being the only thing visible and the outline of her extendable wand. Using her wand for extremely basic arts that do not require focus or channeling like quick dispelling… or bonking the head of enemies that get slightly too up close. As a Haberdashphylacterist, Lucy is our main Offensive fighter with supportive duties on occasion. Without her, enemies that are immune to physical attacks are absolutely off limits. Not to mention she can heal us far better than what we can afford for healing items lately.

  Now that Lucy has returned to us, we have a stable group, one that could manage slightly more dangerous threats if they should arise. Of course, as an undefeated non sentient I’m capable of soloing anything in front of me zing-zing-ZINGERONI I thought to myself almost breaking into a laugh.

  Stepping back onto the streets, we noticed despite it being only a couple of hours into the afternoon, it was eerily quiet which is unusual for a town on a main trade route in fact the only people on the streets were clearly just merchants with cart and horse birds on their way to other towns.

  “Taverns are always a good place to gather information and from what I’ve seen so far, The Prince Albert has my gaze drawn since I arrived, I’m not going in there alone however!” Lucy said, her voice not coming through so well due to the nature of her newly reacquainted garb squeezing her face whenever she speaks.

  “Good as place as any to start then, I’m familiar with Hattie the owner, good woman that one, I’ll save the Bosh until she points me in the right direction.

  “I think this will be plain sailing troops zing-zing, I’m placing bets that Larry is in the manor somewhere…40HFC” I said, probably not the best time to place bets but it gives everyone something to look forward to when I win.

  “Heh, I’ll raise you 60, Larry is out of town unrelated to all this” Rhua says confidently. Horace aims for a high five jive signalling he’s in on the bet with Rhua, but she turns him down hurting his very fragile being. Lucy pouts and tell us not to be silly in a time like this, it could be a sad ending.

  Wardi has already entered the Tavern and is talking with the bartender as we finally get in. It’s darker than the previous locale we visited, yet cosy. Also, a suitable place for someone to take advantage of stealth and take out targets quickly if it came to it. We grab a booth to sit in and owing to the number of pub goers, decide I’m going to be safe and create a little privacy for us I thought.

  I pull out my almost past it's use by date -Mizfitters Muter Sphere, it’s rare and when I checked the auction house last; was expensive as hell.. Lucky for me however, I acquired it in a chest that was randomly out in the open near Coch Manor before Areya went loopy.

  I threw it up in the air and a jade mist whooshed out and enveloped the booth, a circular barrier continuously swirling prevents any external tampering.

  Horace was surprised I had one but im not sure why he was, it’s only rare in the sense of you don’t see them very often, most guilds use them. Mizfitters isn’t exactly known for selling stuff that isn’t market vendor purchasable either, there’s probably someone in town selling one just at a ludicrous price.

  We talked about what had happened until now with Lucy and vice versa. She left us before we had made our temporary base in Hawkestown. Running a separate request which happened to coincide with needing to go near Et-Navn.

  Deal with a Sludgineer that had been aggravating Ribbos at the potpourri swamp. Anytime that an unfortunate poor soul took a wander past, he got them all fired up and they started beating on them.

  Being highly vulnerable to arts this was a walk in the park for her and it took her no time to see them off deeper into the area and then give him a good head wobbling and put a stop to it. The request giver only gave the Scrollitorium as a reward destination so imagine her surprise when she arrived only to find it closed.

  “Before you ask, Zooport Counts was no help at all” she quickly finished with “They’re only ever interested in helping, if the request is higher than a five on the grand scale. I piped up with an annoyed tone, shaking my head in disbelief.

  “You know how it is, guild league tables can make or break an adventuring guild, and they’re too focused on keeping up with the Ponty Pincers for joint 3rd. I said/

  “I’m still not sure what a sport club is but it sounds like a guild, but nothing of actual value to society occurs within and only causes rivalry without any benefits” Lucy said laughing.

  It got me thinking, which is rare as you’ve probably realised by now. She has a point. When I think about it, sports only benefitted the players back on Terra, players would get paid, regardless of a loss or win, but the fans never got their money back if the teams lost. The more I thought about it, the more I started to suddenly lose track of my thoughts and suddenly I’m in the room zoning out.

  ***

  Hiyo all~, it's me, Lucy, I’ve been away doing other things, so I know you have not had time with me around, allow this little Haberdashphylacterist to give you all the important bits without any terrible jokes!

  The higher up the league table, the greater selection of requests offered by the guild. The top guilds are usually working alongside the most well-known individuals across Maliterr, the kings, queens’ celebrities and of course the highest ranked sentients, which are heads of top guilds themselves, dealing with the most difficult or dangerous Maliterr has to offer.

  Zooport Counts as my mentioned earlier, managed by Emcee Wotters, feisty and …not good at makeup. Yet a fearsome wind arts and Broadsword user if the situation asks for a sword. Her class is ‘Current Seeker,’ a master of aerial fighting. I once saw her charge into a haunting of banshees single handedly over two hundred scary femme fatales waiting to shriek at her!

  Then in the next few seconds, her broadsword had impaled at least fifteen in violent motion and straight into the ground. Blowing up meters of dirt as it embedded itself. She landed on the hilt of it and channeled an ancient wind art then blew the rest of them to dust. I couldn’t believe my eyes getting to see arts like that in action. I consider myself talented, yet it would take eight of me to produce that sort of power.

  The guild leaders are all high calibre people, whilst not all may be an Emcee in combat, they can make up for it in other ways.

  Sentients; Galgu for example. Are high ranking crafters. Most crafter and gather types use tools and machines made at the Unending Toil guild ran by Galgu. He can turn a toothpick into something strong enough to fight monsters beyond a five on the grand scale. Which is a true story or so I've heard.

  That’s all from explanation guide Lucy; talk again soon!

  ***

  I’m not sure how long I zoned out for, though I sensed that somewhere, out there, in the great sea of stars, an uncountable number of sleeps just occurred at once reading an essay nobody asked for. I ask if anyone had seen Wardi yet and Rhua replied to me that it’s been at least twenty minutes since he went upstairs.