Chapter 477: The Master Revealed

Milo carefully advanced into the first room of the building, Nina and Onyx behind him, with Belinda in the rear. Both of his siblings had high perceptions and had been earning any skill or enhancement they could that would detect traps or danger. Their time with the Slaver Mage had left deep scars. They were dealing with them, but they weren't going to let something like that happen again. Milo's warning made them doubly wary. Belinda had absolute faith that something bad was going to happen. Her eyes glanced around the room, and then focused on the stairs in the center that went to a landing, turned, and went out of sight. "You guys do what you need to do, I'm waiting for what comes walking down those steps to see who'd burglarizing his house."

Nina breathed deeply, smelling no scents of creatures, only decay, dust, and the acrid smell of something like ammonia or other chemicals. "I'm not sure anyone is here."

"But we are happy to have you on watch, just in case." Onyx was staring around the room, feeling it draw his attention, and happy someone was on guard duty.

The room was lavish, with deep carpeting that had somehow survived the years. Red velvet draperies framed alcoves with display cases, most with cloth covers obscuring the contents. Heavy teak wood chairs and furnishings with moth-eaten cloth seats were piled up in a corner. There were many trophy cases, enough of them that the room had the look of a museum of natural history. It was the series of cases on the wall across from the door that Milo had seen before, and hastily retreated. Each was a glass case with lifelike humanoid figure inside. They all saw immediately that these were actual creatures, preserved with taxidermy and posed for viewing, glass eyes staring ahead. The concealing covers had slid off of the first two revealing their contents. Large brass plaques on the base gave information about the figures.

The first figure was smaller than Milo, much thinner, and dressed in only a ragged tunic with a wooden spikey-stick in one hand, the rough fur was a mottled grey that would help it move unseen through dark, rocky tunnels. The second was taller, dressed in leather armor with a metal weapon. In size, very similar to Milo. The fur of this one was jet black, and it's mouth half open in a snarl of anger.

Common Cave Ratkin

Ratticus Mundane

An example of the Ratkin who live in small caves throughout the world, scavenging and forming small family communities. When several families find a large cavern with enough resources, they form a small village called a Hollow. Such villages never last long, and disperse when large predators begin preying on them as a food source. Despite their low position on the food chain, ratkin are cunning, and stubborn, clinging to life and adapting to their environment. These traits brought them to the attention of the Slave Khemysts of House Vextallon, who began a small breeding and enhancement program that bore surprising fruit.

Reference: Volume 264 of the House Vextallon Histories for basic information, and how to gain access to the details of the program.

Ratticus Militarus

Successfully created and patented by House Vextallon.

From the worthless race of wild ratkin, it was found that after several generations of improved food and training along with a proper breeding agenda that the race was improved enough to be useful slaves and sold to other races as light infantry units. While they often had rebellious streaks, they could be trained to fight, and follow orders. Cheese proved to be a good source of control, and an addiction to the food was bred into them. The resulting slaves were so useful, that many were released back into the wilds near the largest and most successful Hollows so they would interbreed and pass on this addiction to their progeny.

Reference: Volume 392 of the House Vextallon Histories for more information. Need a legion of these fine troops? We offer wholesale deals.

Milo hesitated before looking under the covering of the next display, and turned to his siblings. "In the aftermath of my battle with an invading snail army that marched on the Myconian city, I encountered three Ur-Khemysts from the city of Blothmazdan. They wore complex armored suits that dispersed toxic chemicals, acids, and flames. We didn't get along well. They insisted I was from a slave race, and didn't wish to deal with me. This led to further disagreements when they made claims on Ursula, and the remains of the snails. They had been selling the Myconids chemicals that enhanced their mulch beds, and had the added effect of breeding larger snails as the chemicals ran down into these caves. I believe this was part of a complex plan to create more monstrous snails but also to ensnare the Myconians into creating stronger Warforms for their city. I haven't gotten all the details from them yet, but enough. They are horrible liars and negotiators."

"You think the Ur-Khemysts were telling the truth?"

Milo looked pained, "I don't know. I want this to be a lie, but I can't ignore what is here."

They both nodded, and Onyx said, "Knowledge first, then decisions. And whatever happened in the past doesn't affect what you and your friends are today."

Milo hoped that was true, then pulled off the next covering. It might have been a cousin of Brutus or Justin. The huge ratkin was clad in iron plate armor, and a spiked mace grafted to its thick, shortened tail

Ratkin Brute

Ratticus Bruticus

A naturally occurring but very rare mutation was isolated and the creatures bred until the Brute Ratkin line was established and bred true from generation to generation. With three times the strength of a normal ratkin warrior, these brutes were in high demand. Unfortunately, they also had a longer breeding and maturation time and large armies were deemed unfeasible, but they were sold and rented out by the squad for a tidy profit.

Reference: The Ratkin Project, Volume 19. This stable mutation was created by Number 7 of the 92nd high council, and patented by House Vextallon.

"You're right. This isn't going to go over well with the people in the Hollow."

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The next covering came off, and all three gasped at what they saw.

Wererat Infiltrator

Ratticus Metamorpheus

Another happy mutation discovered by House Vextallon! These ratkin were mutated with ingenious concoctions distilled from human growth glands from a lycanthropic strain and mimic secretions.

Information on this mutation is not available to the public. A negotiated payment of sufficient magnitude can change that.

Nina stared at it, and then at Milo. "This would be the race you picked? "

"Seems so."

She cocked her head to one side. "Can you change into anything else?"

"Umm, maybe, but it's more of a disguise. Let's talk about it later."

"OK, I'll let you off the hook for now. But holy shit...do you think?"

Milo angrily pulled the covering of the largest case so far. Inside was a monster. It wasn't Larry, but something far worse. The creature was at least nine feet tall, heavily muscled with foot long talons, and an impressive tail. Metal bands at ankles, wrist, tail, and neck were connected to sort chains. Large teeth that would be the envy of any shark filled its large mouth. Nina was fascinated by the alternate muscle connections and arrangement, made obvious by missing sections of skin.

Cheese Fiend

Ratticus Fiendus Delux

Utilizing an enhanced addiction to cheese, chemical triggers were bred into the Ratkin race, giving control over when the mutation could be triggered. This gave the frugal Warlord easily controlled pre-fiends that cost little to feed. When the need arose for ravaging shock troops, an overdose of mixed cheeses would create the new Super Soldier. These can be herded into battle to lay waste to enemy soldiers.

This incredible creature was the handiwork of House Vextallon, spearheaded by Number 13 of the Grand Council, and continued by his son, Number 13, and great-grandson, who had also ascended to the now hereditary post of Number 13.

Have a large hoard of gold, and too many enemies? A half dozen of these beauties will solve your problems. Let's talk today!

Milo stood before the display, then grabbed the brass plaque and ripped it from the case. He went to throw it, then with an effort of will, set it down on the floor. "I need answers."

He walked quickly around the room, pulling the covers from the other displays. None of them were Ratkin, but many of them were monsters. Aquatic Elves with crab claws, a large furry spider with a wolflike head, and so many snails he lost count, all documented with reference numbers to the books he should seek out.

Belinda said, "Done? And did you catch what was wrong with the room?"

Onyx scanned it quickly, "It's a mess, for one thing. I'd have never used that color of drapes with this carpet."

Belinda grinned, "Good, it clashes horribly. None of this stuff was made for here. The drapes are too long, and why do you need them as wall coverings with no windows? The carpet pattern is off, you can see where several larger carpets were trimmed and combined to make this one. It's like someone raided a museum and then stuffed it into here, and just barely arranged things."

Onyx looked again at the room, "He couldn't take the castle, so he built a new one and took all the stuff. You're right. Ok, onward to floor number two, where we will have a horrific fight with the minions of the Master, only to have a confrontation on the top floor and an epic battle."

Nina rolled her eyes, "It's not a video game."

Her brother grinned at her, "It will be, or part of one, when I finish the rewrite of Gothic Nightmares 7, I am so stealing this look."

Contrary to Onyx's hopes, there was no fight. There was however a laboratory that would make Victor Frankenstein green with envy. The room was filled everywhere with alchemical tools, glassware, centrifuges, and machinery of unknown use. Old chemical spills where concoctions had eaten through their containers were numerous. They picked their way carefully to the staircase at the back of the room.

Up they went, only to find another laboratory, this one even more complex than the first. Dead snails were in cages along one wall, in many sizes, colors, and shell varieties. After making sure nothing in here was of immediate danger, they went up again. This time, they had two choices of which way to go. One short passage led to a series of lavishly decorated rooms for eating, reading and sleeping. Milo recognized a billiards table in a library filled with so many books his teeth ached with the need to read them. But there was no sign of life here. They turned and went down the other passage. Milo's Stone Sense told him they were moving past the wall of the tower, and were surrounded by solid rock.

Large double doors of heavy wood were partially ajar. Behind them was a fifty foot by fifty foot throne room with a large conference table to one side. Milo noted it had thirteen chairs, each with a number, and the thirteenth chair was at the head of the table.. But what occupied all their thoughts was the person sitting on the large stone throne. It was an Ur-Khemyst, clad in ornate armor of far better construction than the three Milo had faced. No features showed behind the solid, and very ornate helmet. He sat on his throne like a King holding court.

And he was dead. A sharp stone spike had been driven into him from the back, rupturing the front of the armor, and dark stains showed where the blood had run down and pooled on the floor long ago.

Belinda said, "He' dead, Jim."

Onyx wished he had a pipe with him, it was the perfect moment. "Ah, but now we have the mystery of 'Who Killed Number Thirteen', I note the molded stone shackles trapping him on that throne, along with wrist restraints and more around his neck. Nicely done, and it reminds me of the chains on the Cheese Fiend downstairs."

Milo looked at the small stone stool sitting in front of the throne, and ten feet away. "Someone wanted to talk, I think. Someone small, who controlled stone and held a grudge. I'm starting to see how the pieces..."

He didn't finish the sentence as his feet sank into the floor, preventing him from dodging or moving. A half second later a hole opened up, and Milo disappeared from sight