Sir Fumblies, the Blood Clan's half-orc military co-leader, scanned the village with a thoughtful expression. In spite of his occasional lack of physical coordination, Sir Fumblies was gifted at getting out of even the tightest spots often with ease and so he wasn't terribly worried about the possibility of getting in over their collective head. And yet, Wildfall was another story altogether. He paced nervously behind Todd and Fumblies, eyes darting everywhere.

Like Sir Fumblies, the Ireacan known as Jarlsboris Wildfall had become accustomed in his life to spotting hidden dangers. They were surrounded by ninjas who could be potential threats, although they weren't the ones worrying Fumblies and Wildfall.

"I'm telling you, man," Wildfall said in an uncertain voice. "We should get out of town and double back before they get the jump on us. There's trouble here, I can feel it in my bones."

Especially creepy were the the ninjas who seemed to almost fade in and out of view in Wildfall's peripheral vision. Despite the silliness of the stereotypical ninja outfits, they certainly seemed to be legitimate ninjas.

As Fumblies was too busy scouting to talk, Wildfall spoke again. "I can't believe those idiot slavers were able to take over part of this village after how badly we beat them last time."

"Well I wonder if they were acting alone since like you said we beat them pretty badly no more than a few days ago." Fumblies commented, watching the ninjas thoughtfully. He had left the pair of Brutes and squad of Knobs just outside of the village, so they would have to be called in one way or another to be of any help. Also with the troops were a pair of skeleton warriors that he had picked up just before the last time he had been through the village. "Or there are more slavers that we first thought."

"Maybe they're just stupid," Wildfall answered with a thoughtful nod. "Even so, havin' the ability to raise the dead and maybe making them tougher in the progress is no small thing. You think they might have other tricks up their sleeve we'll only find out about the hard way?"

"Depends on if they have allies or not." Fumblies commented as he looked around for any sign of the slavers.

"So anyway," Wildfall said, impatient and hopeful. "Got a plan yet?"

"Not really, but I think we need first find out if these ninja guys want to attack us or not."

Wildfall grinned. "One good way to find out, hm?"

"What are you thinking about doing Wildfall? That way I know if I need to save your rear end or not." Fumblie cracked smile at the slightly curious comment as he kept his eyes on the ninjas, his hand resting on the sword at his hip.

"I figured we'd just go up and ask one," Wildfall said with a shrug. "And you have you brutes 'discuss if further' if we don't like the answer."

"Small problem with that plan," Fumblies was watching the closest of the ninjas. "The Brutes are back at camp along with the rest of the troops."

"Oh."

Wildfall motioned for Fumblies to keep talking as he moved over to some bushes. He then suddenly dove into them. and - from the shouting- found something or someone inside it- out popped Todd, paws up defensively as he backed away. "Hey hey HEY! I'm on your side Wildy!"

Wildy, for his part, stumbled backwards nearly tripping over himself. "Man, please do not startle me so!"

Todd smirked. "It's called 'bein' foxy.' Maybe you two should try it instead of trampin about like the Slavers aren't even here!"

"We haven't been moving at all Todd; been figuring out the lay of the land." Fumblies retorted in light exasperation. "Beside you have an edge in the being 'foxy' department, Mr. Fox."

Todd chuckled with the semi complement- and more. "You can't lay the land, man. It's too big. Now- there's this waitress at the Tree? Mmm.. That girl's ass is juuuuust...."

Wildfall interrupted. "How can you even tell it's a woman in that ninja burlap?!"

"Huh?" Todd broke his reminiscencing of female posteriors. "Was talking about the Weeping Tree." He looked over at the ninja Wildfall indicated. "Although.. if that one IS a girl she'd give Dianne a run for her money in the booty department." And, other than a 'rawr' or two, he settled into silent contemplation- staring really.

"So we have went from two guys unsure about the side the Ninjas are on to two guys and a pervy fox who have no idea if the Ninjas will try to kill us or not." Fumblies muttered as he finally just decided to figure out what was happening by approaching the nearest ninjas.

Todd took his eyes off the Ninja and huffed. "If these guys wanted to kill us, why invite us to help with their problem? Even if- they'd wait until we'd succeeded to act."

Wildfall snapped his fingers. "Unless it's a trap!"

Fumblies by then had stopped few feet from the closet ninjas and cleared his throat. "Hello I am Sir Fumblies of the Blood Clan and I am here with a few allies to help with your problem."

"I am intrigued," the first ninja said. "Tell me, kind sir who is here with allies to help with our problem, do you refer to our problem with insidious, bloodthirsty invaders taking over a majority of our town and driving us here in great shame? Or to our inability to get fresh fruits in a timely, affordable manner?"

"The insidious, bloodthirsty invaders." Fumblies replied with a slight smile while he waited for a reply. Todd added to that- giving a description of the Slavers that was quite colorful and totally unprintable.

The ninja nodded sagely. "An accurate description, my friend. Tell me, newcomers, what do you know of the undead?"

The ninja stretched his arms as the others gathered around to hear the conversation.

"That there are several varieties and each requires a particular method of returning them to the state of being only dead." Fumblies replied with a bit of professional insight. "For example, skeletons are best killed with clubs and maces, vampires often require a wooden stake through the heart or decapitation, and zombies take a lot of hacking and slashing with sharp weapons or a lot of fire."

The ninja paused, hunching over as Fumblies spoke. "Ahh, but what do you know if them beyond the technicalities of killing them?"

"Uhhh that they are a pain to kill when there are a large number of them." Fumblies paused for a moment. "Remember that huge undead near apocalypse a while back?"

The old man pondered. "Yes, those days are well known but this is a different situation altogether. Children?"

The ninja motioned for two younger kunoichi - female ninjas. They stepped forward, heads eternally bowed in respect. They were dressed in white silk gowns which seemed to flow into the ground around them like water.

Said the first, "Even time, in time, must come to pass."
Said the second, "Focus now, on now, and not the past."

Said the first, "You must know your enemy to strike the killing blow."
Said the second, "So know your foe, and know her well."

The ninja turned to Fumblies, but said nothing, eager to see what the half orc took from the lesson. Wildfall looked somewhat confused. "Is this a riddle?"

The elderly ninja answered without turning to face him. "It is if you wish to think of it as a riddle, young one."

Todd looked thoughtful. "You say 'know her well.' Is this just the way it's done here? Or is our foe really a chick?"

"It is a metaphor," the elderly ninja said. "Or perhaps a simile."

"Okay then...I don't know about you but last I checked we a incoming army of hostiles." Fumblies cut in matter of factly.

"In order to be victorious.." The elderly man took a few steps back. The two girls stood in front of him, each girl spun in such a way as to bring her flowing silks off the ground. As the girls spun faster, the old man became temporarily obscured by them. "You must learn to see beyond the obvious."

"What's that.." Wildfall started. The two girls stopped spinning and darted into the village.

The elderly man was gone.

Todd snorted. "Okay.. that was... about an 11 on the Weird-o-meter."

"That's one way to put it." Wildfall shrugged. "What now?"

"Now?" Todd showed fang for once. "We kick ass and chew bubble gum."

"Do you have any bubble gum?" Fumblies asked.

"Nope." Todd grinned. "but I betcha I can find something in there to chew on!"

Wildfall's stomach grumbled. "Could go for some breadsticks to chew on right now."

Todd chuckled. "We'll stop at the zombie pizzeria on the way. Let's get moving."

"What?" Wildfall asked with a grin. "Thirty minutes or the next resurrection is free?"

Fumblies just shook his head slightly as he started in the general direction of the supposed trouble. Wildfall got his weapon ready and followed. Todd smirked and unslung his axe, following the others. Wildfall and he just seemed to click on all cylinders. He kinda liked that.

As Fumblies walked a his armor seemed to ripple as if something had moved through it and heard a faint childish voice whisper something in his ear.

Another Todd and Wildfall piece, and of course we had Fumblies here as well. The Todd/ Wildfall interaction I’m biasedly fond of, and I’ve expressed how good a storyteller Fumblies can be as well. This didn’t have much in the way of action – it’s coming soon! - but the characterization was, in my opinion, top notch. It’s kind of a shame as I write this AIL is over.. all I have to do is finish up the Grand Finale. But maybe new games will loom on the horizon!