Recalling Experiments

Jami sat there under the tree for a while, resting and thinking. Ever since he heard news of the Hero King coming, the horse monster hadn't been able to sit down and think. His tower had been a whirl of activity to prepare for his coming. Even now, alone in the woods with nothing but his thoughts, Jami struggled to remember anything that had happened in those last days. Just a series of reports, warnings, defenses raised and experiments.

Yes experiments. Attempts had making monsters, making them stronger, influencing humans, all manners of curses and spells in an effort for some advantage to be found. Some edge he could use but not against the hero, at least not at first.

Jami wasn't the brightest monster in the dungeon. But he wasn't blind or stupid, and he was not one to give up his power after actually getting it. Before the Hero had even started making his way to their battle; the horse had been trying to find a way to push himself ahead of the others in the Order of Zugzwang. Back then, he just wanted to have a way to make his status in the Order grow. After all, he wasn't a dimwit like Gonz was; the horse knew where the winds were blowing. Ladja might only be bishop but King Korol was the actual leader or at least that's what everyone thought. That was not the case though.

The horse had noticed how Ladja was carefully puppeteering everyone from behind the scenes. He was the true power, and it was a matter of time before he either took full control of the Order or revealed he had always been the mastermind. Before Jami had simply thought to try and prove himself useful to the actual leader, to secure himself a place when the status quo was changed. Or at least the actors shifted. Right now though?

What need would he have of the other members who had kept failing? Why bother keeping them around?

Were it not for Ladja's actions, perhaps Jami would have died. Were his word choices more refined, perhaps Jami would have simply gone off to find a way back into his good graces. Now though? The horse monster realized it was everyone for themselves as it always had been. Regardless of what he brought forward, even if he brought every possible woman and child that could possibly have even a shred of Zenithian blood, Jami by now as convinced Ladja wasn't going to let him live when the mask dropped. His removal from the board was coming.

Unless he found a way to make his position stable.

That's what went through his mind has he walked through the woods, making his way back to his tower as the memories came back to his mind.

“Are you sure you can do this? Need I remind you the price of failure?” Kon asked the smaller monster that stood before him. He was discussing with some of his lackeys. The hero was coming and none of their experiments would be ready to face him. Not enough to kill him or slow him down. But they had made progress, enough for him to not just throw it all out.

The winged creature before him, a mix of snake and bird, nodded. “Yessssss, we are quite ready to move out.” the Hocus Chimera waved its wings towards the rest in the room. A collection of monsters were with him inside the stoney room. Some of his biggest and strongest minions..., at least the ones that were high in stamina. His combat troops would be with him but these monsters were well known among his minions for their carrying power and stamina, which is what he needed right now.

There was Samigina a large goat with bat wings, standing on it's hind legs. It's eyes stern and bright.

Hippoblockomus, a large hippo like monster with massive shields and armor. A dimwit but few could stop it in motion.

Hellion, the lion like monster that was simply a head and mane, with four arms and legs to run around. It's power and breath would let it brush aside most in it's way.

An Orc king, the boar like monster with hints of intelligence in it's eyes. It had a small collection of Orcs behind him, ready to throw their lives away for the cause.

A Hawk man, a mix of bird bat and human, it's large wings and blade ready to serve. A balanced combatant that could fight with steel and spell, or simply retreat if need be.

And finally the Hocus Chimera itself, this one renown for being a coward, but also the fastest minion in the tower. None, not even the Hawkman or Hellion could match it's speed.

Each one had a a backpack strapped to them or several crates lashed to them. The results of his testing and experiments. He couldn't let the hero find them and benifit from them somehow. The man had been able to turn everything around, several times now, so giving him access to them was far too dangerous. But if Jami won..., it would all be wasted.

"Listen to me! All of you. You have a great duty entrusted to you. The items in your possession must not be found, ever." he waved a hand and another chimera quickly moved from monster to monster, handing over it map from it's beak. Each one had a location marked on the map, the place they were expected to go. "These dens are chosen based off your abilities. Head to them, hide the the results of our work there. Afterward..., I don't care. Live there till the end of time, guarding them, go help others of the Order, find another den; I care not. But let none but me take them from you. Understand?" Jami commanded.

The monsters nodded. One last duty to their boss. And at the very least, they wouldn't be killed by the Hero... or Jami in his rage and frustration.

"Good now..., what is that noise?" The horse asked as he turned to the doorway. A cross between a flying squirrl and a duck flew in, a creature known as an Air duckt. One of his spies for the area. It was in a panic as it flew towards it's master.

“Sir! The Hero is already here! He’s attacking those at the base of the tower! He’ll be inside soon!” the creature reported, it's breath all but spent. Only to be struck across the face as a reward. The blow sent the creature spinning as it fell to the ground. Only for Jami to grab it by it's neck and lift it upward.

“You idiot! Why’d you come inform me and not kill him yourself!” the horse looked at those in the room with him. No, this was probably the best he could ask for all things considered. Kon started to do some rapid plotting in his head with this chance.. “No…wait. Since you are here..” the horse shoved the creature towards the others, hoping to explain quickly. “I don’t have time to explain in depth right now but get them out of here! Take them to the hidden passage and make sure they get away from the tower. Use your life if it takes that just make sure they get away!” The horse bellowed.

The Air duckt gave a small salute and started to get those in the room to follow him, getting into it over the Orc King's minions all coming along and trying to fit larger members down the passage way. Kon shouted for him to get on it while he stalked towards the door. The Chimara floated along after Kon, panicked at what his boss would do as the nose started to close.

“Sir…. You can’t mean too…,” it cried as Kon headed through the doorway, “Why fight, we can just escape and fight him an..” and it was cut off with a hand on its throat.

“I FIGURED THAT YOU MAGGOT!” Kon bellowed in anger. No, not anger. “Can’t get angry right now.” Kon thought. Not when he actually needed to rely on this worm. With a huff he lessened his grip and drew close the Chimara closer.

“You have one last order. Head to the chambers below, make sure everything is taken care of. Destroy anything in progress, bury the rest. Understand?" The creature in his grip slowly nodded. Jami grinned and softly tapped another rolled up map against it's beak. "Good. While you're running around, take this map and hand it to one of those urn monsters, the one out of the way. You know the one. He'll guard it till I return for it. Meanwhile…” He let the creature go and started to walk down the hall way towards the staircase.

“I have a Hero to kill.”

It took a few days but Kon found his way to his old tower, grateful his Ladja hadn’t warped him away too far from it. Still, he had to keep to the woods and hills; anywhere that would be away from prying eyes. While he could kill easily kill humans, he was still sore and hurting from the battle with the Hero. He didn't want to take a chance of some other band of humans trying to get an 'easy kill' nor was he sure he could take some monsters. As down cast as he was, he wasn't sure other monsters wouldn't see him as an easy kill or target.

The horse took a few steps inside his ruined tower. It wasn't the nicest place before but the signs of battle made it look far more morbid. Blood and bones scattered about, scorch marks on the walls from spells, large sections of stonework cleaved or cracked; the hero left a whirlwind of destruction behind him. It was weird to follow in the wake of his fighting.

Jami ignored this feeling and made his way deeper into the tower, towards the hidden basement. As ordered, the Chimara had caused a collapse of the lower levels. The tunnels and chambers were blocked by tons of rubble and stone but the small chamber leading towards them was still intact. Including the jars off in the corner. With a grin, he stalked over to the furthest jaw and put his hand inside. Only to pull back in pain as something bit into his flesh. He growled as he lifted the jar up, giving a good shake.

"You dare bite the hand of your master you pest!?" He demanded before slamming the jar back down to the floor. The object rattled around the ground for a bit before standing back up right.

It turn it's opening towards him and twin lights blinked into existence as they focused on the horse. The whole object started to shiver and shake when it realized who was standing there.

"M... ma... Master Jami, I... didn't know!" the urn spoke, or rather the creature inside the urn. The creature was called an Urnexpected, a strange creature that made it's home in vases and urns. Rather stealthy beings too. Just the sort of thing Jami had counted on, as even if the Hero had found this chamber, he'd maybe not find the Urnexpected... specifically when he was given explicit orders.

"I heard all the noise and was scared Master but... I..., I have the map you left for me sir!" a hand extended from the urn, passing over a leather map to the horse. The larger monster grabbed it with a huff and rolled it open. "Have I done good my lord?"

The map was intact and readable so the creature hadn't damaged it. A good sign for once. While the runners had been giving maps of where to go for their own hiding spots, the map Jami held showed them all. So long as his minions had followed orders or not died on the way, he should be able to find them. A smile crossed over his face.

"You did well enough Minion." Jami thought as he stored the map in a pouch he had found and kept at his waist. He looked down at the urn creature who seemed to still be awaiting something. It was the only minion he still had. He gave an annoyed sigh and started to leave the chamber. "If you don't want to rot here, leave or come with me."

Normally he'd ordered the minion, but while the Urnexpected had some spells, it wasn't a creature that could move fast and a jumping urn would attract attention during travels. But it was his last minion he had access too so his options were slim. Honestly taking the creature with him wouldn't improve his current posistion but it wouldn't harm it either.

Jami noted the sounds of the creature following behind him. Very well, he had at least one follower now. Now to find the others.

After putting some distance between themselves and the tower, Jami called for a stop as he looked over the map. All his minions had been sent to spots within walking distance. Might take a few days to catch up but it shouldn't be an issue to catch up to them. It was just who to actually go after. In the rush to get them out before the hero made too much progress in the tower, he wasn't sure who grabbed what experiment or relic. It would make sense for the stronger or bigger monsters to move the bigger items.

Of course he could go after all of them but he had to decide who to go check on first?