Meanwhile, in Bordertown...
Though Leda had recently discovered the probability that the city that Bordertown had once been was known as Portland, in the state of Oregon, it was no longer subject to the laws of geography. As was evidenced by the fact that several of it's inhabitants had gotten there from other countries.
And also, that it was occasionally, a coastal city. The shipyards were generally accessed by the Mad River, but for those determined enough they could sail in via the ocean. Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Faerie, it did not matter.
Not all of Bordertown's citizens knew this. And of those who did, not all of them were of a savory disposition.
In point of fact, one of it's more despicable residents knew of this, and took full advantage of it. The exiled Unseelie Lord of House Alton, nephew and sole heir of the late Lord Corwyn he was. He was known in the border city as Lankin, or Long Lankin, as he was tall even for an elf. Lankin was not his name. None knew his true name. Lankin was the Elven word for the monster that mortals had dubbed, Vampire.
Blood magic was his stock in trade, and it was such a repellent discipline that even the Unseelie shunned it's users. Hence his exile.
But he had managed to carve out a very profitable and comfortable niche for himself in his new home. One of the businesses he derived satisfaction and income by was euphemistically called "Human Trafficking".
Stick's katana swept down and through the lock holding the gate shut, even as his fist smashed the face of the guard. Nearby, Eli, Berlin, and Laura took on the bulk of Lankin's small cadre of enforcers. Bordertown's various "heroes" had begun working in tandem more and more in recent months. Typically they kept to themselves, only involving themselves if they happened to be in the neighborhood or if their own interests were threatened.
It had been the emergence of the honest to goodness costumed hero "The Rowan Gentleman" that had sparked their more proactive and concerted efforts. Of the group, only Berlin knew that the Gentleman was in fact, the Rowan GentleMEN. At least until today when she had managed to rally the biggest group to date in order to rescue several of the Rowans from Lankin's intended vengeance.
The advance guard dealt with, the companions advanced upon the floating headquarters for Lankin's more horrific work. Long ago, before Faerie and Earth had been separated the first time, certain Elves had attempted to use blood magic to lenthen their already long lives. In their experiments they had learned many secrets best left alone.
It was the glow they saw first. Light from several small sources. And all around them.
"Oh, that can't be good." Berlin muttered, her own sword out. "People's eyes should not be glowing. That's just generally a bad sign."
There were, in point of fact, quite a lot of glowing eyes. From several sources, not all of them humanoid. And they were all around them.
"It's a trap." Laura growled. Her own eyes were glowing in a similar fashion. The demon that inhabited her body was the result of one of Lankin's curses after all.
"Oh well spotted." a mocking voice called from above. On the deck of the ship, Lankin himself stood, gazing with contemptous triumph at the surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered fighters. "Does it make you feel good cur? To figure that out at precisely the moment that it's too late to escape? Yes, it's a trap. That is, I've found, the best way to deal with troublesome vermin." His eyes sought out Eli in particular.
"You, slave."
"Yes cousin?" Eli grinned. He'd grown considerably more confident since his part in vanquishing his father.
His words scored a hit. Lankin had already been gunning for this one simply out of vengeance, but now he remembered that he needed to remove this twig from his family tree.
"Quite. I'd a speech prepared but that would be tiresome now. Atta-"
Music cut him off. From seemingly nowhere, a violin began playing a rousing tune. It started slow and built quickly. Stick and the others felt a renewed strength and vigor that they immediately took advantage of, laying into the unfortunate horde with a force never seen this side of the border.
Lankin himself howled with rage as he felt a whirlwind lift him from his feet, and hurl him several feet. Before his eyes his carefully laid trap turned into a route, and then he spotted the cause of his defeat.
A waterspout erupted from the sea just as the music reached a crescendo. Standing atop the column of water was one of the more recent emigrants from Faerie, the adopted daughter of Queen Leda. The girl had apparently not only mastered bardic magic, but was well versed in the natural craft of the Merfolk as well.
Typical to Bordertown's unpredictable nature however, magic rarely worked precisely as it was meant to. In this case the steering of the waterspout went rather awry. She had intended to smash it into the ship, hopefully damaging it and the laboratory within beyond repair. And with luck putting an end to Lankin himself in the bargain.
Instead the spout stubbornly went ashore, where it scattered Lankin's allies and foes alike, before dissipating and dropping the half-elf several feet. Fortunately Eli had the presence of mind to take to his dragon form and catch her.
"The fuck was that?" Berlin demanded. "Lankin got away and you almost drowned us!" Which was Berlin's way of thanking Sila for bailing them out.
And also, that it was occasionally, a coastal city. The shipyards were generally accessed by the Mad River, but for those determined enough they could sail in via the ocean. Atlantic, Pacific, Mediterranean, Faerie, it did not matter.
Not all of Bordertown's citizens knew this. And of those who did, not all of them were of a savory disposition.
In point of fact, one of it's more despicable residents knew of this, and took full advantage of it. The exiled Unseelie Lord of House Alton, nephew and sole heir of the late Lord Corwyn he was. He was known in the border city as Lankin, or Long Lankin, as he was tall even for an elf. Lankin was not his name. None knew his true name. Lankin was the Elven word for the monster that mortals had dubbed, Vampire.
Blood magic was his stock in trade, and it was such a repellent discipline that even the Unseelie shunned it's users. Hence his exile.
But he had managed to carve out a very profitable and comfortable niche for himself in his new home. One of the businesses he derived satisfaction and income by was euphemistically called "Human Trafficking".
Stick's katana swept down and through the lock holding the gate shut, even as his fist smashed the face of the guard. Nearby, Eli, Berlin, and Laura took on the bulk of Lankin's small cadre of enforcers. Bordertown's various "heroes" had begun working in tandem more and more in recent months. Typically they kept to themselves, only involving themselves if they happened to be in the neighborhood or if their own interests were threatened.
It had been the emergence of the honest to goodness costumed hero "The Rowan Gentleman" that had sparked their more proactive and concerted efforts. Of the group, only Berlin knew that the Gentleman was in fact, the Rowan GentleMEN. At least until today when she had managed to rally the biggest group to date in order to rescue several of the Rowans from Lankin's intended vengeance.
The advance guard dealt with, the companions advanced upon the floating headquarters for Lankin's more horrific work. Long ago, before Faerie and Earth had been separated the first time, certain Elves had attempted to use blood magic to lenthen their already long lives. In their experiments they had learned many secrets best left alone.
It was the glow they saw first. Light from several small sources. And all around them.
"Oh, that can't be good." Berlin muttered, her own sword out. "People's eyes should not be glowing. That's just generally a bad sign."
There were, in point of fact, quite a lot of glowing eyes. From several sources, not all of them humanoid. And they were all around them.
"It's a trap." Laura growled. Her own eyes were glowing in a similar fashion. The demon that inhabited her body was the result of one of Lankin's curses after all.
"Oh well spotted." a mocking voice called from above. On the deck of the ship, Lankin himself stood, gazing with contemptous triumph at the surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered fighters. "Does it make you feel good cur? To figure that out at precisely the moment that it's too late to escape? Yes, it's a trap. That is, I've found, the best way to deal with troublesome vermin." His eyes sought out Eli in particular.
"You, slave."
"Yes cousin?" Eli grinned. He'd grown considerably more confident since his part in vanquishing his father.
His words scored a hit. Lankin had already been gunning for this one simply out of vengeance, but now he remembered that he needed to remove this twig from his family tree.
"Quite. I'd a speech prepared but that would be tiresome now. Atta-"
Music cut him off. From seemingly nowhere, a violin began playing a rousing tune. It started slow and built quickly. Stick and the others felt a renewed strength and vigor that they immediately took advantage of, laying into the unfortunate horde with a force never seen this side of the border.
Lankin himself howled with rage as he felt a whirlwind lift him from his feet, and hurl him several feet. Before his eyes his carefully laid trap turned into a route, and then he spotted the cause of his defeat.
A waterspout erupted from the sea just as the music reached a crescendo. Standing atop the column of water was one of the more recent emigrants from Faerie, the adopted daughter of Queen Leda. The girl had apparently not only mastered bardic magic, but was well versed in the natural craft of the Merfolk as well.
Typical to Bordertown's unpredictable nature however, magic rarely worked precisely as it was meant to. In this case the steering of the waterspout went rather awry. She had intended to smash it into the ship, hopefully damaging it and the laboratory within beyond repair. And with luck putting an end to Lankin himself in the bargain.
Instead the spout stubbornly went ashore, where it scattered Lankin's allies and foes alike, before dissipating and dropping the half-elf several feet. Fortunately Eli had the presence of mind to take to his dragon form and catch her.
"The fuck was that?" Berlin demanded. "Lankin got away and you almost drowned us!" Which was Berlin's way of thanking Sila for bailing them out.