Mage Mangler -(Crucible of Ascension)

It was a cold and biting morning when we arrived back on Lasital. The fresh chill was welcome as it tightened the skin on my face and cleared the fuzzy head I didn't even realize I had.

It wasn't Yorkshire, but I felt at home here and relaxed a little more as we set off toward the Engine Works.

We barely made it across the first street before a ragged-looking Grunir kid accosted us. He was a weird looking little thing. About three foot tall, as wide across the shoulders as he was tall, and with straggly beard hanging off his chin, despite being ten years old at best.

"Joren!" he chirped. "Your back." He seemed genuinely happy to see me.

"Sure looks that way," I agreed.

"I was sent to watch for you. My brother just ran back to tell Mosda and the others you're here."

"Great. Everything okay?"

"Yes! Good times. Gorsh is great. He doesn't let anyone beat us and he feeds us better now. Come on." He waved his chunky little hand and set off jogging to lead us back to the base.

Moll and I walked as fast as the kid jogged so the little fella regaled us with more information. "We got loads more people coming to join the Hammers. Even the older kids say they've never known it so safe in the area."

I wanted to know more and I could feel Moll bristling with questions to, but I doubted wed get sensible answers from the kid. So I just nodded and his enthusiasm and kept on walking.

"This is home," I told Moll as the Engine Room came into sight. He was expressionless until we entered and found the whole place heaving with people.

Mosda, Ree, Hendel, and Gorsh were waiting for us as soon as we entered along with three other people I didn't recognize.

I checked their identifiers but they all came back blank. I wasn't fooled for a minute. Despite their disheveled appearance all three exuded strength.

I ignored them for now as Hendel came forward and slapped my shoulder. "Welcome back, Joren! I see you picked up another stray?"

I threw a thumb back at Moll. "I did. I take it you know who Peralt is by now?"

"Oh, I know who he is," Hendel said, looking over Moll again.

"Well this was one of his guys. He got put in the same prison just to kill little old me. He's with us now."

They all just accepted my words despite the obvious risks involved and it was good not to have to over explain everything. "While we're on the subject, I promised to send someone to Haleen to get his family away from there. Any takers for finding someone to send?"

One of the strangers, a tall, slender, bald woman with slate gray skin like polished granite, and large eyes with intense crystal clear iris's answered. "I'll send someone immediately, Joren." She looked to Moll, "Your family will be safe. You have my word." Then, with a nod to one of the men standing with her, they stalked off.

The big assassin sagged, relief pouring off him at her words.

I was just wondering what the hell I'd come back to and if I needed to start killing people. I suppressed the urge for now, but I was ready.

Whether it was because he sensed me teetering on the edge, or he was just a nice guy Mosda was quick to jump in. "Thank you Asha. It's appreciated."

I looked between the two of them and frowned. "Alright. I've been gone a four days… I think. And it's hard not to notice that a few things have changed in that time. Would anyone care to tell me what exactly the fuck is going on here?"

Mosda smiled. "Absolutely, Joren. But perhaps upstairs in the office would be a better place to go through everything. A lot has happened."

"Lead the way. Oh, and any news on Malika?"

"Peralt has her," Ree said, confirming Moll's earlier words.

"Shit."

"We're working on a plan to free her," Mosda said quickly.

"Oh? Well that's real fucking nice isn't it? Where was the plan to free me?"

He chuckled. "The paperwork was being processed. If you'd waited another hour, you would have been set free."

"Fuck. Really?"

"Really," Asha, the tall gray woman said with a thin lipped smirk. I was desperate to ask who the hell she was, but with so many Hammer's present and a strong suspicion she was Siroth I held my tongue a little longer. "Well, at least this way, Moll survived and we've got ourselves a top quality fighter with an axe to grind."

Asha eyed my former cell mate. "I believe the knowledge he has of Peralt's base will be substantially more useful than his physical prowess."

Moll nodded. "Get my family out and I'll tell you everything I know."

Asha's eyes slipped back to me. Those clear irises seemed to look straight through me and I felt a gentle brush against my mind. It was a similar sensation to an increase in Mental Acuity, but far less intense. "Shall we go to the office now? We have much to discuss?"

"You're the boss," I muttered, sarcasm thick enough to trip on, though I couldn't tell from her smile if she was offended or not. Mosda was less of a closed book, worry etched on his face. Ree looked… well like Ree, and Hendel, who was following along whistling, didn't seem to mind her presence at all.

As we climbed the stairs all I could think about was that sensation in my mind. A quick check of my stats showed no change, but something had happened and I didn't like it at all.

Once everyone was seated in the office, Ree closed the door and I spoke first, in an effort to regain some control over the situation.

"So, let's start with the obvious?" I looked to Nix and the Velorian looking man with her. Velorian apart from being blue instead of purple, and sporting a couple of ridges on his forehead. "Who the fuck are you two and do we need to clear the room for you to answer honestly?"

I noticed Mosda cast a look at Moll before he introduced the two new additions. "Earl, this is Nix, and Osha. They are a Siroth Trident. I believe you knew to expect them?"

"What the hell?" I said, looking first at Moll, who was staring blankly into space like he'd been unplugged, and then over at Hendel, who was grinning at me.

"Don't get your britches in a twist, Earl. I've been dancing around the Siroth since before you were probably born! I've known Osha there from our time in the Union Military!"

I looked at Osha, then back at Moll and then finally to Mosda. "Two things. What the hell is wrong with Moll?" Then I turned to Hendel "And you're a Siroth as well?"

He burst out laughing. "Oh hell no. Nothing against them, you understand. But my moral's stretch as far as the next Unitol. Gotta say, I was surprised to find out you were involved. I'm a pretty good judge of character and you fighting for truth and justice just doesn't stick. You're more of an evil bastard than I am, if I don't miss my guess."

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"Ha. Well there's a story behind it."

"There always is," he replied with a knowing grin. "Shame though. I thought we might make something of this little gang of ours."

"Has something changed?" I asked. "Because last time I checked, the Hammers weren't a part of the Siroth. Friendly? Perhaps. But not part of them."

He clapped his hands together. "You'll do for me, boss. That's music to my ears is that. And you should know, while I can get a word in edgeways, we burned the Rats out of the sewers the day you left. Most of their folk are died but the neighborhood is ours. The residents are grateful that the scruffy bastards are gone and there's a few good hands among them that joined up with us. They're looking after the area, but they're ours when we need em."

"The day I left? Why am I not surprised. Glad it's done though."

He grinned. "Yeah, it gets better. The Hodds gang from the south of my territory thought I'd disappeared. Must have thought you'd killed me, so the lunatics made a move on my streets!"

I chuckled. "I bet they regretted that."

"Not for long. Set of bastards. I killed a few of them when I first settled here and we had a thing for a while. They must have forgotten what happens when they cross me. Anyway, most of them are hanging on spikes now. Got a few extra lads from those that survived."

"Brilliant. We need all the men we can get."

"He's not finished yet." Mosda said sourly.

Hendel grinned at the Unalaran and slapped his hands together laughing. "He's right! The fight against the Hodds was so fucking easy, I felt bad getting all the lads together for nothing. So I convinced Mosda to move on the Runners. Their neighborhood's between this one and the Hodds'. Stupid bastards shoulda run when we turned up. We went through them like a dose o' salts, didn't we Mos!"

"We did," the Unalaran replied looking more and more uncomfortable as the conversation went on under Nix's cold stare.

"You's have done amazing." I said shaking my head in disbelief. "All that in four days!"

"Nah, that was the first two days," Hendel said. "On the third day the Mullers, a big gang from the north came down mob handed." he stopped to chuckle for a second. "We ran round like to gather everyone back up to do battle, but when we showed up, get this," he slapped his thigh. "They only asked to bloody join us! Fifty lads they've got."

I was laughing now. "What did they do that for?"

"Old Lars, their leader knew what we'd done. Knew we'd joined all the other districts in the area. He got a message to Dalgom asking him what was going on. Dalgom, the untactful bastard told him we'd be coming for him next and to surrender if they knew what was good for him. Also gave away that he'd been left to run his area still and business was better than it had ever been.

"So Lars just cut his losses, marched down and asked to join rather than end up surrendering. Daft thing though. The Mullers were no bother! I didn't even think to go after them."

He was laughing again, slapping the table with glee while Mosda cleared his throat and pushed a map across the table for me to see. All the new areas had been drawn on. There wasn't much that strummed my emotions, but having my budding gangland area doubled while I was away on business was a damn emotional moment.

I looked up at Mosda and he winced. "It was prudent to take advantage of what you'd started and we now control over half of the criminal enterprises in the city. With another push we can take over the full criminal underground in short order."

Nix stood and leaned on the table, eyes fixed on me. "It's certainly been eye opening seeing what you've begun here, Joren. And with your plans to take on Peralt, I commend your efforts in building a force capable of causing damage to him. However, we don't have time for you to continue your expansion. The time scales on your Peralt job have shortened considerably with the capture of Loosh."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"It means if you don't act, the Siroth are prepared to move directly to free her. She is a well-respected member of the Siroth with a vast wealth of knowledge on our cause. If they break her we will be exposed and that information will get back to the Archons. We cannot allow that to happen. She must be rescued or killed."

"Killed? That was outta left field."

"We do what we do for the greater good. Sacrifices are painful, but necessary. However, the best course of action is to fast track your plan to attack and that is what we need to discuss today."

"I love the fast track, so shoot."

She smiled. It was cold and calculating yet still genuine. "The first thing you need are more fighters the second is information and a plan. With your sudden growth, you're in a better position, but I have taken the liberty of contacting two other criminal enterprises with bad blood toward Peralt. I have proposed a temporary alliance between you until this mission is over."

"That's fine. As long as they know I'm leading it."

She smirked. "Thankfully, we can avoid conflict on this matter as Onlan, Mosda, and Hendel have already expressed their concerns that you would be non-negotiable on that point."

"Yep. Seems they know me well."

"The gangs I've spoken to are content merely to attack Peralt's base with you, in order to claim all of Peralt's assets on their individual worlds."

I shrugged. "Sounds like a fair deal. Unless they're from this planet."

"They are not. Noting they've demanded should affect the Hammers."

"Alright, then. So how long are we all thinking before we attack? I mean Loosh isn't going to hold forever, so we should probably be looking to make a move soon, right?"

"Right." Nix said. "I would suggest a maximum limit of two days. We can't risk leaving her there any longer. We will thrash out plans now, but Moll should be involved. His inside knowledge will be incredibly valuable in the planning."

I looked back over to the still vacant assassin and frowned. "Ah yeah. What the hell's wrong with him?"

"I'm holding his mind closed while we discussed Siroth matters. When I release him, if you could all pretend we are starting the conversation about Peralt's base and thrashing out a plan so it's not to disconcerting for him."

Heads nodded around the table apart from mine. I was busy putting two and two together over the sensation in my mind and it equaled this lanky bitch trying to mind fuck me. She failed, but that didn't mean she hadn't done it. I felt my mood darken, but Nix was oblivious to my anger and continued.

"Before I release him, you should all know I will be taking our Trident away as soon as we have finalized a plan. We will be hunting the contacts between Peralt and the Archon's and either converting them to our cause or disposing of them discretely based on the results of our efforts."

"I'm sure you'll be able to worm into their minds," I said, glaring at the woman.

She smiled back, revealing a mouth full of stained yellow teeth that were remarkably straight despite the impoverished figure she was trying to cut. "There are very few with the ability to withstand the caress of a level 43 Mind Mage. That number reduces again if you bring in their ability to fight a level 39 Warrior." She gestured meaningfully at Osha.

We both knew the real conversation going on here and as far as I was concerned I'd been both attacked and threatened in my own house. Luckily for Nix, I wanted to kill Peralt more than I wanted to kill her right now But once I was done, she'd made it onto my list after this bullshit. With a force of will I suppressed my simmering rage and replied. "Have we got contacts with these other gangs outside of your links?"

"We have," Mosda confirmed.

Nix nodded and then gestured to Moll. "I will release him."

I sat back in my chair and watched as Moll came back to the land of the living. Everyone else had the good sense to be looking at Nix as she began speaking again, but I was curious to see how he would react. There was a little confusion in his eyes but he hid it well as he listened.

"From our sources we have a rough estimate that Peralt will have approximately seventy fighters at his base, a further two hundred in the city around his base, and up to a thousand to call on altogether. Does this sound right, Moll?

He blinked a few times, then nodded. "It changes daily, he could have as few as thirty in the base, and as many as three hundred if he's having one of his meetings. Generally, I'd say seventy is a fair average."

"Doesn't seem so bad," I muttered. "What kind of manpower have we got now?"

"With the new additions?" Mosda said. "We have around one hundred and twenty fighters. Though only forty percent are ascended and only ten percent of them are over Level 15. Then we have around sixty urchins."

"We have made contact with two other gangs, off-world," Nix said, and they can provide a total of one hundred and twenty fighters between them, and they are all ascended. If you want my advice, do not send unascended into this battle. They will be cannon fodder and nothing else."

"I'm not discounting anything yet," I replied. "Might be that they can serve a purpose, even if it's just distraction."

She shrugged but didn't reply.

"So," Mosda continued. "That gives us approximately one-hundred and seventy fighters. Which means we're light for a battle in the city but should be strong enough inside of the actual base."

Nix nodded. "That's what we're working on so far. We think it will be enough, but the level of risk is obviously incredibly high."

"If you started in the city, Peralt would have his reinforcement in place before you ever breached the walls."

"Can we portal close?" I asked.

Moll shook his head. "Unless you know a Mage who can use a Portal stone and knows the inside of the base well enough, then no."

"We planned for that." Nix said pulling out another map and laying it on the table. It was a detailed map of the area around Peralt's base using information from the Siroth informants within Peralt's gang.

There was a surprising amount of detail, but Moll was able to add a lot more information. As he pinpointed guard posts and hotspots to avoid, I was impressed with just how much he was willing to help.

When his well of information dried up I nodded to him. "Thanks for that Moll. It's appreciated."

"Happy to help. I didn't expect you to have so many fighters and of such a good level. We're still underpowered, but I'm actually hopeful now that you can pull this off."

"We will." I replied firmly.

He grimaced, though I think it was supposed to be a smile. "You should all know that many of Peralt's men actively hate him. He rules through fear and if there is an opportunity to force service to the Hammers then do so.

"If it looks like the battle is going in your favor they will probably as not be receptive to the offer. Especially if Peralt is subdued. That's another thing. He and his sister are the only thing that matters. Kill them and the whole thing falls apart. I'd say getting to him as quickly as possible is paramount to your chances of success."

I rubbed my hands together. "I can't fucking wait."