Dungeons & Dragons: MADNESS

Chapter Three

After resupplying themselves, the group now known as "Ragtag" completed their first mission together, and for now, that's all that mattered.
With a knock to the door, Gelisane and Alex both whipped their necks to see. "You both almost done here?" Sebastian asked, leaning against the doorway.
'Damn, re~ally wish I could screw him, but I'm on this business trip. Hate keeping things professional.' Nodding, Alex nodded in unison also but before Gelisane could get a word in, Alex cut her off.
"Yes. We will be done momentarily, we are just finishing the room before we go."
"Understood, the boys and I will be waiting by the gates." Leaving, the half-fiend packed the rest of her things before heading towards the door.
"Hey! You have to make the bed before we go!" Scoffing with a roll of her eyes, Gelisane twirled around, giving a glare while scowling.
"And why should I? These people obviously have no respect for neither one of us if they knew, might as well have the satisfaction of them cleaning up after the ones they hate."
Strolling out the doors and towards the gate, she met up with the guys before throwing her bag into the cart and hoping in.
"The hell are you doing?" Z raised a brow.
"What does it look like to you?"
"It looks like you're trying to hitch a free ride."
"Well then it's exactly as it looks. Besides, this ain't your cart so keep your opinions to yourself." Laying against the hayed cart, Gelisane tried making herself comfortable as Alex and Mana ran to the group.
"Since everyone's here now, let's get a move on."
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*One Week Later*
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"So, what's our next mission?" Alex asked curious, slightly out of breath from the lack of breaks.
"From the scroll I've received by a crow the morning when we left, it seems we must kill some royal named Elizabeth Goldberg along with her brother Edward." Sebastian commented, peering into the scroll as he talked.
"What the hell is that?" Inaros pointed over to the mist turning into fog before Ragtag's eyes.
"No idea, but it ain't none of our business." Gelisane commented, getting out of the hay cart as Z started bickering at her that it was now his turn to sleep.
Screams engulfed their ears as the fog enveloped the group hole. "That wasn't any of us, right?" Alex spoke as the team simultaneously said "No" followed up with a "ruff" by Mana, everyone reaching for their weapon as squeals grew closer.
"Shit--get ready to fight!" Gelisane was tackled to the ground before Sebastian could finish his shout, even through the fog, Gelisane saw what attacked and her blood ran cold as a deformed monstrous rat tried its hardest to use its teeth to chop against Gelisane's neck.
Headbutting the creature, it was shocked for a moment but a moment was all she needed. Closing her eyes, she dazed the creature before shoving her fingers as deep as she can into the rat; blasting a few missiles from the tips of her fingers. "You alright?!" Alex shouted to no one in particular; too focus on her own battle.
Rolling her eyes, Gelisane made her way into the hay cart just as Z raised a brow. "Aren't you going to help them?"
"And why should I? I'm exhausted."
"Maybe because we can't really do anything without them?"
"HA! Speak for yourself short-stack. If you're trying to get me to help them, why don't you put in a little work for a change." Staying silent, Gelisane scoffed. "That's what I thought."
"EVERYONE INTO THE CART!!" Sebastian ordered, without hesitation from Alex --grabbing Mana in the progress-- nor Inaros, they jumped into the cart; barely missing the two who were already in the cart. "HIYA!" Sebastian ordered his horse to run straight, barely missing the monstrous rats that followed quickly behind.
As his horse crossed a certain line that was man-made, the rats stopped following. Growling and squealing in frustration as they retreated back to where they came.
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Entering a deserted sort of town, the four --five including Mana-- in the cart made their way out before the last person; Inaros, fell face first against the pavement. "Naros!" Alex shouted in concern, kneeing in front of the young Cleric as she helped him up. "Naros, are you okay?"
"He's infected." Gelisane stated, pointing behind his forearm that was dripping with blood. "He needs to get it clean and then healed if he doesn't want to suffer a plague."
"Alex and Corrie, take Naros to an Inn if you can, I'll be snooping around and see what I can come up with."
With the half-elf nodding in agreement, Alex picked one side of Inaros up as she waited for "Corrie" to help her. Gelisane raised a brow at the Sargent but rolled her eyes as she understood what he meant, this time, Gelisane will be babysitting both Alex and Inaros.
Once Sebastian made sure Gelisane held Inaros's other half up, he strolled on over into the pub as Z took his horse and cart to the stables.
The common people didn't seem to like Sebastian by being a foreigner by stander as he walked towards the bar. "Good evening sir, how may I help?" Annoyed at the traveler, the Bartender rolled his eyes as he began to clean the glasses.
"Hello, yes uh...I was just wondering, why haven't my compatriots nor I have seen many people around here?"
Silence met Sargent Sebastian as the few humans in the bar glared at him. Placing a hand in the air, the humans looked away out of respect to the bartender as he answered Sebastian's question. "Those who tried to escape the fog are never to be seen from again. You'd hear their screams not even close to a mile out, we're stuck in this reached place. And now you are too."
"I'm sorry, but my compatriots and I are only passing by." The bartender gave a grimace chuckle before setting the glass down.
"You had a run-in with those rats, didn't you?" Scrunching his brows confused, Sebastian was cut off before he could get a word in. "They're there so that we can't leave. The only ones who can are the royal family at the Green Mansion, but even they do not leave."
"And why is that?"
Leaning closer to the bartender, the bartender followed his movements as well, giving a blank stare as he spoke. "Do yerself a favor man, stop asking questions while you still can." Retreating, Sebastian's interest perked. "Now I'll ask once and nicely, get the fuck out me bar." Nodding his head in thanks, Sebastian left with all eyes on him.
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Entering through the Inn's doors, a note laid on top of the check-in desk; "take whatever room you want." along with another note written in Z's hand writing, "we're in room 10 and took different key rooms for us all." Sighing while pitching the bridge of his nose, Sebastian thought "fuck it" as he walked up the small steps to room 10.
Entering the room without knocking, the wild card Gelisane quickly put her bastard sword at the edge of Sebastian's throat, realizing that it was only him, she put her sword back into it's sheath without a word.
"Did you get any information?"
"Not much, but some. Apparently there seems to be something in this town that prevents anyone from leaving, and now we're trapped here."
"So you're saying we'll never be able to leave this fucking place?!" Gelisane muffled her screams in annoyance.
"Wait, hold on a second." Inaros stated, weakly getting up from the bed as he held his arm in pain. "Is there any possible way to get out of here?"
"The bartender was the only one who talked to me. He said that the royal family in Green Mansion are the only ones who can leave, but they choose not to. This place also just happens to be where our next mission was assigned."
"Why the hell don't they leave? It doesn't make sense!" Z snapped, jumping down from the dresser and standing in front of Sebastian.
"Not sure, but one of us could ask the villagers where they are so we could get some answers." Sebastian suggested. Agreeing with him, Gelisane began walking out the door as she yelled.
"I need some air anyway. Getting tired of the suffocation in the room!"
Giving Z a look, Sebastian nodded his head at the female who left. "Keep an eye on her will you? Who knows what could happen around here with her short temper." Groaning with a roll of his eyes, Z complied before running to catch up with Gelisane in annoyance.
"Oi! Monochrome bitch, wait up!" Z announced, walking by Gelisane's side as she glanced around the town.
"What do you want Midget?" Smirking, Z glared before putting the name calling aside.
"Here to make sure you don't kill anyone for information."
Scoffing, Gelisane stopped, staring at the halfling before her. "Unlike a child-looking douche like you, I'm a grown up who can take care of myself." Walking further up ahead, Z started imaging ways to beat her to a pulp as he started asking a few townspeople questions.
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Walking back into the room, the two glared daggers down each other's throat as they told Sebastian and the others what they knew. "So far the royal family lives on top of the hill not that far from here. Ever since the fog rolled around though, they haven't been seen coming out their mansion. I also asked questions about Elizabeth and Edward and was told that Edward died a few months ago."
"From what I learned; for whatever reason, people with royal blood can't get hurt unless it's by another royal while in the mansion. But it's also whoever has royal blood specifically that can leave the town and pass the fog. Our target; Miss. Elizabeth Goldberg, is at Green Mansion and hasn't been seen since after the fog rolled in. But since I'm assuming none of us seem to have royal blood, our mission is fucking screwed unless we get her to come outside."
"Perhaps, but maybe we can find a way to indirectly kill her?" Sebastian commented as Inaros raised a brow.
"I know that this is a mission, but why do we have to kill her? It seems almost unfair."
"Hey, do you want to get paid or not? If so, then keep those useless opinions to yourself." Gelisane snapped, glaring at the cleric as she sat down on the only dresser in the room.
"Anyways, how should we go about this? Do we just go up to the place and say, "hey! We're looking for the royal and hopefully someone could kill her for us?' Cause I don't think that will work out well for us." Alex stated, crossing her arms while Mana whined in agreement.
"I'd say we wing it for now." Gelisane commented, swinging her legs. "Since none of us can agree on an actual plan right now."
"Seriously? Why don't we all make a will while we're at it." Z interrupted, grumbling to himself.
"Hey, winging it while lying is better than admitting we're there to kill someone."
"As much as it's not something to go on, I agree with Corrie. If this is our mission, perhaps making no plan is the best plan of all." Alex agreed with Gelisane, much to her dislike.
"Alright, then it's settled. But what should we do if they ask us why we're there?"
Humming in thought, Gelisane jumped from the dresser onto the ground. "We'll just say that no one in town is willing to speak to us, and we're hoping someone inside will. It's not a complete lie since it's true."
"But I've just spoken to someone?"
"Yes, but the rest of us haven't. So all you need to do is keep quiet if they ask personally."
And with this half-ass plan of Ragtag, the group made their way towards the mansion.
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Knocking on the double doors, a butler revealed himself, surprised at the group as some bowed to the butler. "Good evening, we're travelers who came to your town by mistake. No one in the area is giving us any answers, so we were hoping someone here would be willing."
"I would need to check and see if it will be alright with my mistress."
"What would be alright?" A gorgeous long haired blonde human female with emerald color eyes walked down the stairs, a bit tense and jittery as she forced a cheery smile to the group.
"These folks seem to have ended up in the mist, they're asking if they may come in for answers." The women smiled brightly at this, adding a hop to her step as she finished descending down the stairs.
"Of course! Come in, come in!" Once the group stood in the middle of the lobby, the women greeted herself. "Hello! My name is Elizabeth, it's so nice to meet you all! What can I do for you?"
"My lady." Sebastian smiled, holding her hand while giving it a kiss. "My compatriots and I are here clearly by mistake. But if fate brought us here, who am I to judge?"
'Smooth, very smooth.' Z and Inaros complimented Sebastian quietly after Elizabeth went towards the stairs again as a thump was heard.
"I'm very sorry, there's something that I must attend to. I will be back shortly to answer all of your questions, for now, Berto will see you to the guest rooms." As Gelisane squinted to get a better look, beads of sweat were coming down Elizabeth's neck. Suspicious of the women's actions, Gelisane closed her eyes for a moment to allow herself to concentrate after putting her hands behind her back to make the hand signs for her spell.
"Clairvoyance." She whispered as quietly as she could. Once Gelisane successfully entered the room through her minds eye, her blood ran cold as her skin turned to a paler white; her gag reflex preventing her from barfing.
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"Brother Ed, please calm down! There are guest here." Elizabeth's "brother" was a walking corpse of tar that left black gunk whenever he moved but the gunk would soon follow him as if they never left a trace. "Please be a little more patient, okay?" Walking up to her brother, Elizabeth placed her hands on either side of his cheeks, smiling psychotically as Gelisane realized she has lost her mind. "I have to go greet the guest again, I need you to take the passageway and hide until I come to get you." With no words leaving the brothers lips, he began moving to a secret door in the wall as Elizabeth covered a book called "Book of Vile Darkness" with a piece of paper.
Canceling her spell, Gelisane rubbed her arms as she began getting fits of shivers. "If you all will follow me." The butler spoke somewhat distasteful to the group as he eyed Mana the most. Elizabeth came out the room, apologizing to the group as she spoke about an important matter in the garden. Telling them that they are welcomed to stay until the mist dissipate, leaving towards double glass doors that lead outside to a garden.
Staying quiet about what she saw, Gelisane, Alex and Mana were put into a room with two beds while the other three males went with the butler.
"I have to tell you something." Looking around to make sure she wasn't being eavesdropped, Gelisane continued. "I used my clairvoyance to see what Elizabeth was doing."
"WHAT?!" Shushing the half-elf quickly, Alex was almost furious. "Why the hell did you do that?! What if she had magic too? Didn't you think what would happened if she sensed you!?" Whispering her yells, Gelisane groaned.
"Of course I've thought about that!" Huffing, Gelisane came closer to Alex, whispering as softly as she could. "She had some book and fucking brought her brother back from the dead! He's a literal walking corpse!" Scanning the room, Gelisane's back hairs stood at the mere thought of how Ed reeked of decay. Of course she had experienced a lot worse than his gruesome figure, but the putrid image of him will surely haunt her memories for a couple of days at most.
"Okay, then if that's the case how should we tell the guys without eyes watching our every move?"
"I'll think of something, usually got a thing or two up my sleeve. Firstly, I'm gonna see if she isn't in the room and then I'll burn the book and see if that'll do anything. While I'm doing that, you'll have to find the guys and tell them to meet at Elizabeth's room when I give the signal."
"How would I know what the signal is?"
Looking at her with a blank face and a raised brow, Gelisane sighed. "To put it simply, I'll send you a message." Nodding at her, Gelisane went right and towards Elizabeth room while Alex went left with Mana to meet with the guys.
Upon entering the room, it was empty. Searching for the book, Gelisane found it almost instantly, but as she touched it, a shiver went down her body and she felt a sort of comfort with the book in hand. Some sort of spell was masking the evil aura it was giving off, making it easier to steal and read without anyone noticing. Copying the book as an almost replica --leaving a few things out, changing a couple of things, creating a few fake ritual's and a recipe to make bread using bones-- while writing it in Common rather than Infernal. Gelisane finished copying the book before stuffing the original version into her haversack, casting her spell and sent Alex a message that the close was clear.
A few minutes later and the door opened to reveal the group. "Where's Z?"
"No idea, he said he was going to scout around but he's been gone longer than usual." Sebastian answered.
"Well there's nothing we can do for him now. I tried burning the book but nothing happened. I think there's some sort of protection spell on it that prevents it from being destroyed."
"Alright, then let me hold onto the book until we finish this mission and get the hell out of here" Handing the book to Inaros, it seemed as though her lie had convinced everyone. 
"I'm going to see if that thing is still here." Using her clairvoyance again, the disturbing image of Ed was still in play, standing by a burning fireplace just as she saw Z walking almost like a puppet towards the decaying corpse.