Oil of Etherealness

When I wake up, I go to the guild. Another personal request, I return to the Alchemy Guild, and the old man says.

" Miss Dior had to leave for a meeting, adventurer Ru. I have the details of the quest. This is a passage for the caravan. Here are the details of the quest, and this is a book with some details if you have curiosity. "

I grab the small pouch with all, inclusive a few coins for expenses, and go to the caravan stop. Dior gave me a few instructions to travel unnoticed. Nothing special, but closing a cloak makes me more a traveler, and less an adventurer. The caravan continues the journey, I remain listening the bragging of the escort, until my scan detects that we are going to be attacked. Is time to see if this walking Copper, or the seated Silver worth their value.

The guide looks experienced, but the adventurers ignore that the load is a bait asking to be robbed ... Dior is testing me ... Need to consider this ... Ru is still a wood plate adventurer, and I don't plan to change that ... They begin the attack ... and from what I see they are Dogfolk bandits ... armed with swords ... like it is described on the book.

I kept the book on my belly on my inventory, and I've been reading it during the travel. The last thing I need is those poor adventurers think I'm a noble ... And this mercenaries Bandits are described there. This is their area, and humans insist in passing here ... to have an excuse to send adventurers, and take this territory ...

After the first wave, the rest of them comes out of the rocks ... and our guide pushes the caravan forward. Smart, but is not sufficient ... a little Medium Telekinesis and a few of the bandits can't dodge. The caravan tears the way through them. Some a little far retreat, while others met a brutal end. One jumps from a rock to hit us, I pull out my dagger, and rip his arm.

Gravity, plus his weight are the excuse that the guide sees ... the truth is that I used a little of my true strength. And since our escorts are all dead ... I use my inventory to recover a few corpses ... There is not much to learn from them, but they have meat, bones, and if necessary I can use one more face.

On the end of the road I see a town ... and looks less ... magical. I can see a woman throwing a bucket into the river, and starting to pull it back with a rope. I read again the details of my quest, using the inventory, while the caravan waits on the line. According to the guide, our papers were with the adventurers.

The guide continues to talk, I begin to read, while pretending to listen. The quest is to gather ingredients to make an oil, that when applied will give the temporary effect of the Etherealness spell. This might be what I'm searching. Potions that can simulate spells. This oil is interesting ... Ghost goo is good when being chased by bandits, or enter a house when you forget the key. That is how an adventurer thinks, but from the thieve's point of view ... it doesn't need to be your house. With the oil of etherealness you can go around the place to map it out. Inclusive ignoring all traps. A firewall, can be passed walking right over it. A labyrinth, be passed through all the walls.

And to make it, I need to collect a list of ingredients ... First the a ground-up Pearl of Power. The only one the apothecary had, and reserved for Dior. No problems here, just need to show him the book, and give. 1,000 gp. Seems much, but the shopkeeper doesn't say nothing. Probably the price agreed.

Second ingredient is to collect the dirt from a fresh grave. Someone who died within three days is fresh enough according to the book ... Dior test was not about my skill as an adventurer .... but as a scholar. Following the book all looks easy ... after reading it. According to the notes there is power that can be harnessed to ease the passing from one plane to the next, on this dirt.

One ingredient left ... slime from a freshwater hagfish, that is the base of the concoction, magically symbolising slipping into the ethereal plane. I wonder if adventurers know what potions are made of ...

For the hagfish, the book says to talk to an old fisherman that is always alone, because here is the real difficulty, doing nothing for hours. seeing him making the same gesture over, and over ... again, and again. After I showed him Dior's message, he just nod, but every time the fishing rod returned with a piece of junk ... not fish.

I used my scan, and notice a few o them moving underwater ... so I repositioned myself several times, until I got close to the water, but away from him. Nothing special, just a bored adventurer ... that is now sending the thin tentacles into the water ... and moving the hagfish into your fishing net ... and here it is ... One hagfish caught. _All three ingredient delivered to the local Guild ... but the old man is not happy.

" Give me that ... Do you know how long I'm waiting ? "

He continues complaining, while I see the potion being mixed, then he does what I was expecting ... and casts the Etherealness spell. Potions, oils ... is the same ... they are vaults for spells ... the blue oil begins to appear ... and he seems to smile ... a little.

" Finally ... Dior always has the best materials ... So fresh ... Why the caravan took so long ? "

He continues to complain, and I begin to understand ... he has no idea how fresh are Dior's materials ... On the end of the process he hands me the oil, and a parchment.

" From Dior. "

Two words, and a message. Dior says that I can take the oil, or the headstone to her. It's logical, I can only reach this point after reading the book ... she is appealing to my sense of adventurer ... and is giving me an excuse to touch the oil.

I need to play this properly. First step find out who is the party that is going to ... be shouting on the main hall about an hag ... Two barbarians, discussing their plan.

" Easy coin, Hrothgar. "

" Yes, Thorgar. "

Hrothgar means famous spear, Thorgar means Thunder spear ... and a Mage trying to calm them.

" It's an Hag, muscle brain ... It's not easy coin. We need to find the lair, before more people get sick."

People getting sick ... that is a good trail ... but they stop talking ... and the Mage is looking at her cup, so I say.

" Where are the people getting sick ? "

All eyes on the table turn to me, and Thorgar ... or his brother ... they look similar, is covering the quest parchment.

" The quest is ours. If you want to join our party, you'll get the small slice, stranger. "

Only thinking about coins ... even the sorcerer ... four people 25 % each is fair, to get the small slice ... they want to give me, 10 % or less ... Barbarians wear Copper, the Mage wears Silver, so I place my wood plate on the table.

" I accept. What are the spears made of ? "

" Making a lot of questions ... Do you think you are the leader, wood ? "

" Hags can only be hurt by cold iron or silver. Tell me all you know, and I found the hag, Silver. "

" She looks smart, Thorgar. "

" Yes, brother ... Why join. "

" It's personal. Hrothgar. "

" Personal ... Yes ... Hrothgar understands. You have plan."

" Thorgar understands. "

" I was supposed to be the Mage on this party, but you convince them in an instant ... For a Wood hunt an Hag ... You did a lot of preparations ... "

" All useless, without Barbarian muscle, and your spells. Let's go. "

" Go where ? "

" To the Blacksmith ... I doubt that Barbarians use spears with cold iron tips, and they don't look silver ... But is best to confirm with a specialist. "

She nods, and we walk towards the Blacksmith. Before arriving she tells me all the details she knows, and I begin to understand what is really happening on this town.

" The tip of the spears are made of steel, Wood ... Why do you need cold Iron ? "

" Mage wants to save a village, Barbarians want easy coin, and I want to kill a Hag. "

" A Hag ... You read to many fairy tales, Wood ... There is no near our town, and. "

" Silver. "

One word, and the Mage shows the parchment with the Quest. The Blacksmith scratches his head.

" If you are hunting a monster, and is not an Hag ... Cold iron weapons is your end ... How much gold you have ? The weapons are not cheap and ... "

" We have no gold ... Borrow us spears with silvered tips, and Mage includes your name on the report. "

" Silver is expensive ... But my name on the report will bring more clients ... But if you fail ... "

" If we fail, we fail. And you know what that means. "

" You're serious ... Why someone so young, and with the rank wood wants to hunt an Hag. "

" It's personal. "

" Ah ... now I see why ... Two Barbarians, one Mage ... and one Wood ... with fire on her eyes ... Spears ... why not a great axe, or a sword ? "

" The Barbarians use spears, so it will make no difference for them. The Hag is almost ending her plan, and preparing to leave to another area. "

" You seem to know a lot about Hags, Wood ... "

" Wood against an Hag ... this is not a song of the brave acts of the Hero that we can listen on the taverns. We don't have the blessings of a Patron ... if we fail, we fail ... So I prepared. "

" No hesitation ... you earned your spears ... Give me one moment. "

The Blacksmith looks under the counter, and pulls out the shiny spearheads, then begins to attach them. The Mage doesn't look happy. The Barbarians look confused.

" Wood ... I know you have a plan ... but Spears agains a Hag ... what about ... "

" Wood has plan ... Spear look weak. Why ? "

" Hag Killer. Two Brothers. Hit. Hit. Hit. Easy Coin."

" Hag Killer ... "

" Hit. Hit. Hit. Good Plan. "

The two Barbarians begin to repeat the plan, until it becomes a song. The Mage is still worried.

" The Hag has ... "

" I'll **** her to manifest, when that happens use all you have, and sing the song. They can't stop. "

" **** to manifest ... How are you going to ... "

" I'm a Thieve. "

" Oh ... so your big plan is ... If you fail, you fail ... "

" And you will not be exposed to any danger ... "

" You're an idiot, Wood. Hahaha. "

The plan is ready, and we walk until our destiny. They are all surprised when we arrive the small village.

" This was the place where the ... disease started. "

" Yes, Mage. Take the Brothers, and go ask some questions about a new case. "

" Questions ... a new case ... You think she will end when she started, Wood ... "

_She has doubts, but follows the plan ... they are clueless ... But not me ... The Hag is in front of me ... the only signal that my scan can't detect ... yet. I need to level up fast ... But for now is time to follow the plan ... An area without much people ... She is luring me ... and is already trapped. One thin tentacle sucks her mana slowly ... And she can't even feel_ it ... Used to eat low rank adventurers made your senses dull, my dear.

" Why are you following me ? Are you planning to rob my pouch ? Or stab me with your hidden hand ? "

" Rob you pouch ... Stab you ... a nice story ... I'm sure it worked before ..."

I lift my mantle to show her the heartstone on my hand, and she looks seriously to me.

" Who are you ? You better give that back or ..."

" Give ? No ... I'm here to make a deal. "

" A deal ? Good ... good ... Give me that back, and I can offer you ... "

" Your life ... But you will never make that deal. So I'll borrow you my stone, and you will return it. "

" My life ? Borrow ? Hahaha ... amusing ... You are young, I'll have plenty of time to grab my stone back. "

And with this sentence I explain her my plan, but leave the final details out ... After grabbing the heartstone so long, the scan worked fast ... and maybe this can work ... For now is returning to my party. Mage looks at me, and says.

" You were right, Wood ... We have a new case ... But the temple already secure the place and ... "

" And is getting dark ... We should pay him a visit. "

They don't say nothing, just follow me. The Mage already guessed what I'm going to do, and is not happy. We wait hidden the door of the village's chief, and when the Cleric is on sight, I hit his head with a small club. The Cleric falls, and I take his cloak.

" Bait ... "

Whispers the mage. She was thinking that I was going to prevent him from enter the house, not take his place. I adjust the hood, and enter. The Chief is on the bed, prepared to sleep.

" Why are you silent, Cleric ? Are you forgetting our deal ? "

A deal ... humans never stop to surprise me ... I just wave my pouch in front, the Mayor nods.

" Money ... no, donations ... that's how you call it, right ? Do your part ... I'll double my ... efforts to the temple. "

He prepares to sleep, waiting for my Protection from Evil and Good ... a basic magic for Clerics, that prevents possession ... but all he gets are my thin tentacles draining his mana fast ... to put him to sleep. A simple side effect of mana depletion, and his exhaustion ... The poor Chief is too worried about the Hag. So I open the door to let my party come in. When the Mage sees him sleeping, she prepares to cast the spell, I show her the oil.

_" That is ... expensive, Wood. _You didn't cast the spell ... to use him has bait ... and you are planning to ... "

She stops talking when she sees the facial expression of the chief. A clear sign of a nightmare. I step to the side, and walk slowly around the bed ... until I am on the other side. Then I open the vial, and let the oil spill all over me. In one second I'm on the Etherial plane, and see the Hag in her real form, grabbing the head of the Chief.

" You came ... alone ... and I have the hearthstone ... Tell me why I can't kill you ? "

" Because we make a deal. "

" Hahhaha ... Oil of Etherealness ... a good shortcut for someone that can't do magic ... I can offer you ... "

" Later, you have all the eternity to lure me into your plans ... "

I go closer, and reach my hand. The stone is on my hands, and we appear on the Mundane plane. The Mage is surprised, but the Barbarians don't wait.

" Hit, hit, hit. "

" Hag-Killer. "

They sing while they stab the poor creature, then the Mage recovers her senses, and releases her spell. The Hag without the stone begins to spill her fluids, until she says.

" Curse you, humans ... I was a hero. "

The Chief wakes from his sleep, and looks at his hands, then to the Mage, and the Barbarian celebrating.

" She's gone ... I don't feel her power anymore ... You did this ? "

The mage shows the parchment, and looks for me ... then she sees that I'm not there ... or the stone. On the last house of the village, a little girl is sleeping ... and an Hag comes closer her. Then she looks to the side, and sees me.

" You knew ... Are you going to kill me now ? "

" I just want the stone ... What you do with your daughter, is your business. "

" The spearheads were silver ... if I hadn't the real stone hidden, and made an illusion .... Hag Killer ... a fine name. What side are you, adventurer ? "

" Keep your part of the deal, don't return to this village, leave the Chief alone, and give me my stone. "

" First you save me, and my daughter in exchange of the life of a dirty man, and stone I can remake in ... "

" One month, yes ... "

" You know what they are going to do with the stone ? Without me, it's useless ... "

" Without you, it can be used 10 times, before breaking. For each time, the price of of the cure will grow, increasing the difference between the rich and the poor. Tell all your sisters how you died ... "

" So that this petty trick won't work again ... You allow the dirty to live ... so that we have more larvae to sell ... Hahahaha ... You are very interesting, adventurer ... Here is your stone ... I hope to see you again. "

" After seeing what your kind can do, my friend ... Is best that you don't see me again ... "

" And the worse part ... is that I sense that I feel that you are correct ... You are the Hag-Killer ? "

" Only if they get close, my friend ... I can understand how ... useful is your work, so please tell all of your kind to stay away ... I'm a simple adventurer with a Wood plate, so I have no use for your plans. "

" No use ... Hahhaha ... If you ask, I can show you how is the lower plane, and ... "

I walk away, she stops talking. I return to the town, to enter the next caravan ... The Mage is there waiting for me.

" It's called a location spell ... you used us to get the stone, Ru ? The guild has your name, Wood. "

Location spell ... a simple form to track people ... she saw my position barely ... With her level of magic, she can't tell the difference between buildings, so she thinks I was hiding ...

" Without me you had no plan, or a way to beat to Hag. I entered alone the Ethereal plane, and stole it under her nose, allowing you to end the quest. The oil was an expensive risky bet, it payed off. Why your party accepted a suicidal mission, is beyond my understanding ... but I saved your lives. If you want to stop me, do it. The caravan is leaving. "

" What are you going to do with the stone, Ru ? "

" Sell it, easy coin. "

" Defeating an Hag is easy for you, Ru ? "

" Every coin we spend is easy coin, Mage. You only spend, if you are alive. You delivered the report ? "

" Yes, and forgot to mention the name of the Thieve that helped us ... But remembered the Blacksmith that sponsored us ... The Chief is preparing a huge party for the heroes. "

" Then the heroes should go, Mage ... Invite a healer for your party ... and you will be better. "

" A healer ? That's a good idea ... Two Barbarians, me ... and a Cleric ... "

She continues to talk, I'm already on my caravan ... about to be robbed again ... this time during the deep night. The escorts are scarified so that we can pass ... tough world ... I return to my town, and go directly to the Alchemist. It's very late. Lights out ... no one is here ... except Dior opening the door. Before she says anything I hand her the stone.

" I want to hear all the details, Ru. "

" Got the potion, used the potion, got the stone. "

" That is not enough, Ru ... I need ... "

" The quest was to deliver the stone. The stone is delivered. I'm tired, Dior. Is time to go to bed. "

" I agree ... Tomorrow I'll have several people that want to talk to you about ... "

" No. I'm not good in reports, and have a terrible memory. "

" You don't understand, Ru ... If you share your details we can ... "

" Hunt Hags ... that are asking what was promised ... I read the book, Dior ... All parts of the book. The Hag makes a deal, they accept the deal, they pay the price ... One of them didn't payed, so you get a stone ... And he walks away. I don't want to be part of that. "

" Others know that book, Ru ... And they don't need the oil ... any Mage can cast the spell ... "

" So they don't need me. "

" If you keep the details, it will be hard to continue giving you quests, Ru. "

" I'm not interested also, Dior ... It was useful ... but the price for Alchemy ... is not for me. "

" Facing the Hag ... was too much for you ... I'm sorry, Ru ... I'll get the money and ... "

" Send it to the orphanage ... I have no idea how much that stone worth, but I know the price of the oil used to get it ... An adventurer with that amount of money will not last long. "

" The orphanage ... You are planing to leave the town, Ru ? "

" Take care of them. "

I walk away ... back to my room ... and to my bed ... My secondary plan also worked ... all red caps on that area, were planted by my slime puppet deeper ... No fairies this time ... The bed is clocking the door ... and I melt ... I wonder if an Hag can visit me on this state ... and how tasty she must be ...

" Scan complete. Ethereal skill unlocked. "

_Oh ... I guess I have now a ghost puppet also ... No need to make tunnels anymore ... Just pass the walls ... But before returning to the Maze need to get stronger ... A night without problems ... a new day begins. And a letter under my door ... Dior needs to talk to me ... _But this time I don't go to the Alchemy Guild ... This is her house ... near the orphanage ... She opens the door, points to a crystal ball, and explains.

" A gathering of book lovers, interested in discussing ideas ... Not about how to hunt, but how they live. The ball doesn't show names, or faces ... only sound is transmitted. "

" Anonymous ... so they don't know who you are ... "

" Yes ... and besides that, your voice is listen ... in a different way ... "

" This device is to ... express opinions ... "

" Yes ... but only valid opinions ... every time someone says something ... it can be debated ... On the other side can be a human, or any other race ... This device allows to share knowledge ... Without discrimination. If you wish to speak, just touch it. I'll do that same. "

They begin to talk, I listen ... All read the book, but didn't understand it.

" Hags are carnivores, it is stated that they love the taste of flesh. "

A nice valid point, but misses the basics ... Dior looks at me, when I touch the ball.

" Hags live here and there, so they eat here and there. Here is flesh, there is dreams. Nightmares are created consuming dreams. Desperation is created consuming hope. Without hope, and dreams, the flesh crumbles. And when all is gone, they consume the souls. "

My declaration makes Dior stop sipping her tea, and she now looks frozen in time, while processing all I said. There is no point explains to them that Night Hags lack maternal instincts or any concern for their daughters, and that they always left their children in the care of others, most of the times the birth father. The daughters are future assistance if necessary, and only changed at that time.

_The process to change a hybrid into a full Hag is feed the daughter three times with human souls. If the process is interrupted, the child would not be transformed. _Hags use human souls, as food, material, but most important for them ... as currency. The ball shines again.

" There are only a few Hags, we know that because the cases of disease without cause are rare. "

A good point, logical, perfectly expressed ... but wrong ... again they fail to see the basics. I touch the crystal again.

" The cases we know are rare, but we ignore the cases we don't know. If we consider them, and assuming that an Hag has a limit to eat a day, then there are Hags are not rare, but uncommon. The first case we ignore are the outcasts, such as criminals. We all know that how dangerous is their way of living, and how short is their life. So several Hags can feast on them unnoticed, because no one will call a Cleric to a lair. Second we have the ones dying on their sleep. Remote villages, away from all, that are only remembered during the tax collection. Hags can feed on them also. And finally we have the cases we know. The supernatural plague resistant to all forms of healing, leading some to try to quarantine the area, and leaving the people trapped with a hungry Hag."

Again the ball is silence after I talked ... until a single voice talks ... but not with a declaration. It's a question.

" How can I recognise a Night Hag ? "

No one answers, I once more reach for the ball.

" The book has a perfect description. Night hags are small female trolls, with the strength of ogres hidden behind decrepit frames. They look weak, but are strong. Their skin tone made their entire forms seem dark blue-violet. Their flesh has grotesque warts, open sores, and diseased blisters brought on by planar plagues. This part makes no sense, considering that they can self-heal. So it's their nature, not a plague. The author is referring not the physical aspect, but the signs to search for when in doubt of the presence of one. How recognise a Hag ... don't ... Keep yourself on the right path, identify what is inside your heart, and seek help when the darkness begins to blind you to the cry of innocents. "

The ball stops shining, Dior looks at me, and says.

" Your ideas are ... different, Ru. "