[At Keith's question the townspeople exchange uncertain glances, and one after the other hesitantly explains that in theory there might have been other kidnapping-happy creatures out there, but they only ever spotted the Wispmera alone! That's until someone chimes in with "Well, and the merrows, and the megalodon", and the others nod.]
But the one who took our children, that was definitely the Wispmera!
[Hijikata sighs, and the mayor of Apkallun, having been informed of the good news by now, luckily chooses that moment to approach the small assembly. When he sees the Wispmera's body he lets out a small gasp, then beams at its slayers, enthusiastically shakes their hands and asks for their names.]
Sir Keith and Sir Hijikata! With this heroic deed you have earned the lasting gratitude and admiration of the people of Apkallun! While we cannot quite afford new statues at the moment you can rest assured that miniatures in your likeness will be created as souvenirs for those who want to remember you... and, of course, you deserve this reward from all of us!
[He hands Hijikata (probably because he looks older one between the two of them) a polished mussel shell set that has been fashioned into a clasp purse of sorts. The samurai can already feel the pearls rolling around inside like marbles as he accepts it.]
Thank you. If you don't mind I'll go dispose of the body now before it scares any kids.
But more people will want to view it!
Fine, but only for today. After that I want to study it, to be honest with you - I do that with all monsters I slay -, and I don't need it to already be decomposing for that.
[Is he good at pulling excuses out of thin air, or what? Poor Wispmera, but this is probably as good as it gets... as more townspeople arrive and exclaim their shock and surprise Hijikata briefly takes Keith aside.]
I think if we tell them the truth it'll only make things worse - they either won't believe us, or if they do they might turn against us, unreasonable as that'd be. I'll wait this out and then take body and soul to the Lady of the Lake to ask her to liaise me with a lake-based necromancer. If you want you can call it a completed mission at this point; you're not a death mage after all.
[He's still very thankful for Keith having been around for this mess, but he doesn't want to needlessly make him stand by to help a ghost he can't even see or hear.]
no subject
But the one who took our children, that was definitely the Wispmera!
[Hijikata sighs, and the mayor of Apkallun, having been informed of the good news by now, luckily chooses that moment to approach the small assembly. When he sees the Wispmera's body he lets out a small gasp, then beams at its slayers, enthusiastically shakes their hands and asks for their names.]
Sir Keith and Sir Hijikata! With this heroic deed you have earned the lasting gratitude and admiration of the people of Apkallun! While we cannot quite afford new statues at the moment you can rest assured that miniatures in your likeness will be created as souvenirs for those who want to remember you... and, of course, you deserve this reward from all of us!
[He hands Hijikata (probably because he looks older one between the two of them) a polished mussel shell set that has been fashioned into a clasp purse of sorts. The samurai can already feel the pearls rolling around inside like marbles as he accepts it.]
Thank you. If you don't mind I'll go dispose of the body now before it scares any kids.
But more people will want to view it!
Fine, but only for today. After that I want to study it, to be honest with you - I do that with all monsters I slay -, and I don't need it to already be decomposing for that.
[Is he good at pulling excuses out of thin air, or what? Poor Wispmera, but this is probably as good as it gets... as more townspeople arrive and exclaim their shock and surprise Hijikata briefly takes Keith aside.]
I think if we tell them the truth it'll only make things worse - they either won't believe us, or if they do they might turn against us, unreasonable as that'd be. I'll wait this out and then take body and soul to the Lady of the Lake to ask her to liaise me with a lake-based necromancer. If you want you can call it a completed mission at this point; you're not a death mage after all.
[He's still very thankful for Keith having been around for this mess, but he doesn't want to needlessly make him stand by to help a ghost he can't even see or hear.]