MH3 - Chapter 12: Bartender, Brewmaster, Samesame

Frost-biting wind whistled past Dolli’s ears atop Nubiri’s modified harness. Behind her were the ingredients necessary to make just enough Egg Noggin-Fogger for all twenty-four of them. Beside her rode the twelve elves on their reindeer, hopeful and terrified.

Dolli checked her Vital Line message again.

Bruno: Decreases brewin’ times by thirty percent. More if I’m the one doin’ it.

They’d have a stable brew in just four days. Travel time back to the town was eating way a precious few of those hours, but Dolli had sent the recipe ahead of them so Bruno could prepare.

The town was in sight, though sparsely lit by torches and glowing windows in the night. Roodaulf’s satchels jingled merrily with gold as they descended. They landed in the square outside Bruno’s bar to hushed glances out the windows. The villagers were warned monsters were coming, and Dolli was sure they were curious.

Bruno stepped out to the street and leaned down to shake Taffy’s hand. The elf kept one hand resting on the hilt of a dagger as he did.

“You’re doin’ us a mighty favor. I’d ask what for, but don’t wanna look a gift reindeer in the mouth,” Taffy said, holding Bruno’s hand tightly though the barkeeper tried to pull back.

Bruno chuckled nervously and looked to Dolli. “Ya’ll a might bit wary, I understand. I’m doin’ this because you’re payin’ us more than we could ever hope to see again.”

Taffy pulled him in closer. “And what happens when one’a them realm hoppin’ rats pays more?”

Dolli smirked. She’d been there to see the fury in Bruno’s eyes when the heroes tried to skip on their bill and doubted this was all about gold. Despite being thrust into the leadership position, Bruno took it seriously, just as Dolli had. He wanted to protect his people.

Bruno tightened his grip to match Taffy’s and knelt to his height. “They can’t offer what Dollitrice promised: an end to the heroes’ reign over Hafheim.”

Taffy loosened his grip and his hand fell away from the dagger at his hip. “What’re we doin’ wasting time out in the street, then? Show me these magic kettles.”

Bruno turned him toward the bar and a maid came out to help stable the reindeer—and get her hands on a bit of the gold, Dolli was sure. Bruno approached Dolli with a nervous glance at Nubiri.

“That thing gonna bite me?” he asked.

Nubiri turned her snake-like to Bruno. “Only if you deserve it.”

Bruno cursed. “You talk too, huh? Let me guess, you were the town aviary keeper?”

Nubiri snarled. “I’m a sky-scar, a fierce wyvern warrior.”

“She adopted us as pets,” Dolli said, smiling at the memory that felt an age ago.

Nubiri laughed loudly and threw her head back, making Dolli hold tighter to the harness. “And this whole time I thought we were equalsss. It’s good to see you finally accept your place.”

“Right, well the uh—the supplies?” Bruno asked, looking to the pack strapped to Nubiri’s back.

“Of course,” Dolli turned and unhooked the bags. Nubiri bounced from the lost weight and sighed contently.

Bruno slung the packs over his shoulder and headed for the door. Dolli jumped down and followed after him, stopping him before he reached the door. “If you fail…”

He set the sacks down and scowled. “I ain’t never failed a brew in my damn life, ‘cept the one I poured all over that hero.”

Dolli crossed her arms. “This would be a horrible first.”

Bruno laughed. “No doubt about that. Look, I get that yer nervous. I’m lettin’ a bunch of monster elves into my home that could be inhabited by demons of nerhold_TK at any second. But you did sump’n for me no one’s ever done. You stood up to those wretches, and I know deep down in that swirlin’ storm of purply gold in your chest there’s a heart that beats for this world.

“I’ve got them,” he said, hooking a thumb at his bar and brewery. “You go get that weapon.”

The elves’ raucous laughter and excitement at the sight of the kettles was heartwarming. Perhaps they were in good hands. Bruno picked up the equipment and headed inside.

“Don’t let Taffy push you around, he’s… spirited,” Dolli settled on a less-harsh word than what came to mind.

Bruno chuckled. “If they don’t behave, my tables and chairs’ll gettem.”

Then, he disappeared into the bar. Dolli heard him calling orders from behind the door as she watched through the windows. “Alright, let’s get to work everyone. I don’t wanna be caging no demon elves in my basement.”

“Ain’t no cage that can hold these muscles,” Nog retorted, flexing. The group laughed, even Bruno. At least they were in good spirits.

“Overlord,” Nubiri snorted and startled Dolli. “We should return.”

“Right,” Dolli took one more look at the elves and opened her Overlord menu. She selected Nubiri and sent her back to the Lifewell, then herself.

In a black blink, Dolli was back in her cottage.

“Was startin’ to wonder when you’d be back,” Katrina said.

Dolli whirled to see the mage lounging in the reading chair next to the hearth. She’d lit a fire and was playing with the flames. Heroes…

The mage kept her back turned to Dolli. “You’re dead set on this suicidal plan? There’s no way I can talk you out of it?”

“Suicide is just a two-hour detour for us,” Dolli said with a shrug. “We will get the Shillelagh.”

Katrina’s shoulders slumped and she muttered, “It won’t even be worth it.”

“And why not? What do you know that you’re not telling me?” Dolli asked.

Katrina whirled on her. “You rely on me to tell you everything, but you want me to disappear forever? Why don’t you just go find out for yourself then!”

Dolli kept her composure. “You’re giving up your Officer position, then?”

The mage’s brow furrowed, and she frowned. “Not like it’s a real position anyway, and not like I’ll have it much longer if you succeed…”

Dolli held out her hand. “Badge.”

“What?” Katrina gasped, putting her hand over her heart where the hand-crafted badge with a portal stone inside rested. “No, it’s mine.”

“I can’t have you ferrying invaders into our home because you’re sour about my stance on closing the portals to your world. Hand it over, or I’ll take it off your corpse,” Dolli threatened.

Katrina’s eyes glistened with indignance. “It can’t create portals, or close them. It’s just a stupid, limited time event switch. You could make it snow, or give every townsperson luau shirts, or activate the Twelve Days of Christmas early. That’s it!” Katrina threw her hands up, tears slipping down her cheeks.

Dolli crossed her arms, unconvinced.

The mage went on. “It’s just a dumb, cosmetic item. That’s why no one had done the dungeon dives to put it together. No one cared before you went after it.”

“Then why is VV going to destroy it? Why bother unless they feared its power?” Dolli asked.

“They’re just trying to lure you in! They want Boji’s plans for the zeppelin.”

The crackling fire was the only sound in the cottage as Dolli considered it. Katrina didn’t want Dolli to succeed at this, she never did, and now that Dolli was so close, she’d do anything to stop her. Wasn’t that what she’d said? Was there no way she could talk Dolli out of it? Well, here she was trying her best.

“Badge, now,” Dolli demanded again, her hand extended.

“Stupid fecking NPC.” Katrina ripped the metal from her robes and threw it on the ground. “I can’t wait to say I told you so.”

She started the cast for homecall and her body was enveloped in golden light. The mage winked out of existence, and the fire snuffed into a wisp of smoke. Dolli picked up the badge and set it on the table next to all her plans and schemes.

Dolli couldn’t let the impudence of once realm rat distract her, she had a city to siege and a Shillelagh to capture. With that, she put Katrina out of her mind and turned to her Overlord abilities.

TK_she does the stuff and gets a new ability for herself. Gods what is this new ability? I love her bread and butters, they’re really fun and the combos work well, so maybe a passive? Orrrr… Heck, Dolli should be about ready to hit her next evolution at 20… Fack. Maybe I’ll have her save her points for when she evolves…. UGH writing is hard. Moving on, I have things to do and words to write.

With that, Dolli closed her menu and looked to the map. The green glowing icon of Monster Haven marched ever closer to their destination; SiegeCity_TK, the Victorious Victorian’s seat of power.

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Henlo my dudes. Forgive my rampant TKs. Life's been kicking me in the junk. I'm fine. Everything's fine. Book coming, please enjoy more of book with rampant TKs.