At the burnt remains of Richardsburgh...James, having obtained new confidence in life, refuses to give up on the ancient custom of 'loot what you destroy'! He looks for something that isn't burnt down!
[James searching roll: 2]
Those villagers sure were thorough! They've burnt down everything! Even the basements (how do you even do that?)! They've also taken apart any stone walls stone by stone! Whatever place they were heading for next is surely in great danger. Heresy is a powerful force, it seems!
In the lair of the currently unoccupied Bernie von Glautzenheiser...Vincent suddenly knows what he must have! A tail! A better one! One that's longer and can grab things better! He writes out his wish on a piece of paper and shows it to Bernie!
[Literary eloquence roll: 6]
Most Honored and Dear Master,Recently you, in your neverending generosity and kindness, decided to allow me, a pathetic worm that hardly deserves even a smidgen of your attention, to ask for a boon of sorts from you. After establishing that I am truly unworthy of the secrets of magic and that you would not (your Excellence maintained that your Excellence could not, but I know your Excellence was merely trying to spare the wretched author's feelings, for is there anything your Excellence cannot do?) teach me to use cosmically powerful forces, I was struck with a flash of inspiration! A tail! My own wretched, mundane tail is of no use to me in its current state, so I deign to ask of his Excellence but a small favor - could your Excellence provide this worm of a servant with a longer, more grabby tail to better serve his Master?Sincerely,
Vincent, Your Excellency's most humble servant
Vincent presents the note to Bernie!
[Attention roll: 4+1]
Bernie immediately takes and reads the note with great attention! When he's done, he stuffs it in his pocket!
"Fine groveling, my minion! Perhaps the finest I've seen! Vincent, your name was? I'll make sure to remember that!"He writes out a note:
Sister, this is my minion Vincent. His good performance and fine manners have made him greatly favored in my eyes! Improve his tail until it is at least as useful as an arm! I will make sure to inspect your work.Signed, your brother.
He gives the note to Vincent and sends him to his sister!
Jordan, feeling spiffy as ever, follows him!
Vincent and Jordan enter the cottage! Bernie's sister is still there with her twitching grin and odd posture, reading a book on corpse preserving.
[Attention roll: 3+1]
Sis looks at Jordan, then at Vincent! Vincent provides his note!
"Greatly favored, are we? Interesting. So, you wish for a better tail? How is it you have a tail to begin with?"Vincent shrugs!
"Ah. Must be from birth. This will be fun!"She takes Vincent by the hand and leads him back into the mausoleum!
"I say, I had a question for you, young lady!"She takes no notice of him! Jordan decides to follow behind her.
She goes into the mausoleum, but takes a slightly different route than Bernie. Eventually she and the two minions reach a slightly smaller hall than Bernie's. This one, however, is better furnished, with many shelves containing strange liquids, preserved body parts, what look like modified carpenter's tools, tongs, surgical equipment and other sorts of unusual objects. There is a slab that appears to have recently been used for surgery in the middle of the room.
"Welcome to my playground. Cozy, innit?"She motions to the slab.
"Lie down, Vincent."Vincent does so! Meanwhile, Bernie's sister puts on a leather apron and fetches some tools along with what appears to be a skeletal arm.
[Surgery roll: 4+
1]
She begins to put her tools to work, laying Vincent face-down.
"It sure is a fun little tail you have there, Vincent. Did you know that all people have tails? It's just that they're tiny little stubs that don't even protrude from the skin. Yours, on the other hand, is a completely different matter.""I say, milady, would you care to...""Don't interrupt a lady while she does her work, please.""Right, then. I should probably fetch my fine friend, too.""Feel free."Jordan walks off while the sister works her magic. When he returns with
Samuel, who is still playing around with his magic cane, Vincent is up from the table! His tail is now less of a tail and more like a
third arm, but longer and quite powerful-looking!
"I think Bernie wouldn't have any objections to this bit of modification, don't you?""So, milady, your brother asked us to perform a task for you, and...""Is that all of you, then? Weren't there six?""Well, yes, there were six, milady, but I seem to have violently disposed of at least one while two more remain lost.""Three left, huh? Oh well, we can fix that."She pokes her head out of the room.
"BERNIE! DON'T YOU THINK YOU NEED MORE MINIONS? HALF OF THEM ARE GONE!"""DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO, WOMAN! THAT IS NOT THE NATURE OF OUR RELATIONSHIP!"There is a moment of silence.
"YOU DO HAVE A VALID POINT, THOUGH! I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!"There is a faint *schwing* sound.
Author
Topic: Life Begins At Death - Epilogue: We Live And Live Again (Read 565489 times)