The Fatal Conflict (GBS2G7) (Round 4: The Huntsman's Garden)

Originally posted on MSPA by Ixcalibur.

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As Kaja descended the structure he passed by squat metal houses, the same as he had seen on the top level. He hadn’t given them a second thought back when he had those kids to deal with. Now that he was paying attention he could see that inside most of the houses there was a rough circle of sleeping bags, and sometimes teddy bears and other miscellaneous toys scattered across the hard metal floor. Wary kids in white robes would peer out of the houses as he went past, their eyes filled with panic at the sight of the alchemist.

The further down he got the more barbaric the shelters became. First it was bloodstained sheets and sewn together white robes hanging in front of the door and alarming stains upon the vibrant green metal. Then as he neared the bottom there were drawings daubed in blood, children’s heads jammed onto poles or piles of bones and rotting flesh. The kids that peered out of the shacks here were not fearful, they were wary perhaps; distrustful of such an unusual stranger. As Kaja felt their probing black eyes upon him he rested his hand upon his sword, hoping that he would not have to use it again but willing to do so if there was no other option. These kids did not seem like the type that would listen to reason.

Eventually after what seemed like a very long descent he found himself at the foot of the titanic structure and stretching before him a vast shimmering desert. Going wandering in deserts was highly inadvisable; he did not need to be told. However the desert as inhospitable as it was presented a greater chance for vegetation to flourish than the tarmacced surfaces that surrounded the alchemist in every other direction. He needed his herbs; he could not fight with this sword, he was simply too fragile to risk it.

And so, with the knowledge that this was an extremely bad idea Kaja set off into the desert. As he walked through the featureless expanse he couldn’t help but be reminded of the old days, back in the world he came from. It reminded him of walking into the deadlands, being drawn by the scent of a mysterious new herb he had to collect a sample from. They were, all in all, good memories. For a moment he could fool himself he wasn’t in this battle to the death, he was just on a long trek to find new and interesting herbs. In the distance the sand-necropolises dominated the skyline, all towers and spires. Kaja knew that he should stay away from, that even being this close was taking his undeath into his own hands, but there was that sweet smell. That tantalising aroma that told him that just a little further there was something he could use. He took a deep breath and followed that scent, drawing closer to the sand-necropolises than he had ever dared before. He hoped he would live to regret it.

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SpoilerJust so we're clear on this there are no sand-necropolises in the sandpit, and in fact there are no such thing as sand-necropolises. Ymirhoggr is messing with Kaja. He's likely to believe that any kids he come across are some kind of undead equivalent.