We're introduced to some new NPC's in this bit by Sassy.

Just like last mission, we get a lot of Sassy roleplays and a lot of good stories from her as well. Sassy's eyes are still bugging her as this one opens up and you can clearly see the effect of the bats' attack on her earlier.

 
The sun hurts my eyes and I am meeting the others to talk about setting out from Seaside Town. I still have some minor problems with my eyes and especially with bright lights since that fight but I hope that it is getting better. It seems to be getting better and I hope that is the case. I round the corner in the market and there they are; Bristle and Icy and Linger. I walk casually up to them. "So, you all ready to go then?"

Bristle looks at me with concern; "Are you okay, Sassy?"

"I think I am. I feel fine."

"Then why are you squinting with your eyes?" asks Icy.

"It's nothing. I am okay."

"Linger know," Linger says. "It da bright sun. Does sun hert eyes, Sassy?"

"Yes, maybe, just a bit." The three of them look even more concerned at me. Finally Bristle says, "Do you want to get that checked out before we go?"

"No, not really. Besides, where we are going it will be dark mostly."

I look around the market and, even though I barely knew her, I realize that I miss Grelva. I guess I am lost in my thoughts for a bit, but I feel a hand reach up and tap my knee. I look down at one of the tiniest street urchins I have ever seen.

"Oy, hey you lady," the urchin calls out in a squeaky voice. "Seed you fight the other day. Seen them rats and bats get Grelva. Bad that was, wa'n't it?"

"Yes," I say and look into his tiny face with his beady shifty eyes. "It was very bad."

"Was thinkin' about helpin' but then that big guy scared them all away. You going after them rats and bats?"

"Yes, I am. Is that any business of yours?"

"Might be, might be. Ya see here is how it is, lady. My name's Mole, had me another name once, but mostly they calls me Mole now. Anyways, it suddenly dawned on me t'other day that this is a battle. We are at war with the bats and rats. This is my town. Well, I don't mean I owns it or nothin' but I cares about what happens here. My home it is, my livin' it is. I wants to help if you would take me with you."

I shake my head sadly as I look down at him. "No, I am not sure you can help us. You had best stay here where it is safe." I start to turn away from him, but Linger's hand rests gently but firmly on my shoulder.

"Wait," he says, "me tinks him can he'p us. Meba we gib him a try?"

"Huh? I don't see how . . ."

"I think what Linger means," interrupts Bristle, "is that if we are going to go into caves and tight places, a person of Mole's stature and character could be a real asset."

"Yes," agrees Icy. "If he thinks he can help, let him help."

"Yes," I say, looking down at him. "But how can he help?"

"Well, for one thing lady, if I was yu, I'd lose that crossbow and sword. Yu needs a weapon for close quarters."

"Like what?" I ask.

"Like this!" he says and draws a short-handled double-bladed axe from his belt. "This slasher is just the trick, i'ninnit?"

I let out a whistle of approval. "That would sure do it all right."

"Great for close quarters and good for slashing them good," he says with pride.

"Or else, you could try one of these!" says another small voice and I see a little girl and she holds a small double-headed mace. "A skullbuster it is, fer sure. Name's Gem. If 'e's in, I'm in too."

I look from Gem to Mole and from Mole's slasher to Gem's skullbuster. "Well, I guess you are both in then. You are right Mole, we need to get some better weapons for cave fighting. Wonder where we can find them."

"We know, follow us," the two urchins say and we follow them through the market to a weaponsmith. I purchase a slasher and skullbuster. Bristle buys a slasher. Icy looks at them with a slight unease. She finally decides on a short double cudgel. Linger looks over the weapons, but doesn't like them better than what he already has, so he says he will stick to his club and whip.

Armed to the teeth, we start our way out of town. The plan is to find the bathole in the plains and show them a thing or two. Linger looks quite concerned about this plan.

"Linger still not like bats or caves," he says in a melancholy rumble. It is clear that even though he doesn't like them, he doesn't want to be separated from them.

"Hey Linger," I say, "been meaning to talk to you about something."

"Wut dat?"

"Well," I start. "I was thinking that we won't be able to take all of our weapons into the bathole with us, will we?"

"Dat right, but wut den?"

"Well," I say. "How does this sound to you. Why couldn't you stand guard over our weapons just outside of the cave's entrance. That way, you don't have to go inside, and we can be sure our weapons and goods that we don't take with us are safe, and should any bats come your way you could squash them from outside."

"Dat sound like a good idea'y. Me be like a guard den."

"Right. Would you like to help us that way?"

"Me proud to do dat. Dat my kinda ting. An' me can squash bats wid ma club. Dat good, real good."

With that little problem solved, we head into the plains toward the bathole. Mole and Gem seem quite happy to help us; maybe they think that they can get something in return. Doesn't matter. It is good to have lots of help, even if some of them don't come up to my knee. I smile to myself as I keep going but I can't help wondering if Mole and Gem will be able to help us out or not. Just as long as they are not leading us into a trap.

There they are, Gem and Mole!

This piece caused voter Ichiro to again state how he loves how Sassy does voices in her stories, saying "it just gives so much character." However, he cited some awkward writing as well, using this sentence as an example. "I still have some minor problems with my eyes and especially with bright lights since that fight but I hope that it is getting better. It seems to be getting better and I hope that is the case."

I'm also personally fond of the bit with the weapons, which manages to show off the usefulness of Gem and Mole, prepare the group to fight in the caves and even gives Linger an excuse to not have to deal with the caves himself. We'll see the next twist in this story soon, but next up is an award winning co-write. Hehe.