Chapter 19 – Perilous Pursuit

Chapter 19 – Perilous Pursuit (Corvo)

“Have any of you seen ‘em?”

“Nah, I’ve checked everywhere I can think of. No sign of ‘em.”

“Same here, and I’ve checked everywhere twice! ”

“Pfft, no you haven’t!”

“Stow it, both of you. We’re not getting paid unless we find ‘em. Fan out and search again, quiet as you can.”

Corvo listened to the clamor from a flat rooftop nearby. He poked his head over the ledge, spotting an Electabuzz, Magmar, and Skuntank splitting up in different directions.

“Tch, amateurs,” the Snivy scoffed, rolling his eyes. He slinked back into cover, pulling out his silver coin as he decided to wait before moving again.

His trip to Cloudcroft was turning out to be a lot more heated than he thought it would. Even before he arrived, he reckoned that something was sketchy when William and Andrew didn’t come back to the guild.

After their standoff, Corvo and Andrew agreed to not go for each other’s throats, for now. He had passed off his info to the Axew– that there was a lead on the missing coins they were looking for, in Cloudcroft. Andrew went out to tell William, while Corvo gathered supplies and told Zoey what was going on. He then waited for them to come back.

But thirty minutes had passed and there was no sign of them, so Corvo went to check himself. He had ventured out into the woods north of Wolfhaven, and it didn’t take long to find what looked like the scene of a skirmish. Burnt leaves and charred wood littered a clearing near the river.

“Still dunno if that was their handiwork,” Corvo said to himself. “Or if they even went this way.”

But with no other leads he headed north, hoping that the other two made their way to Cloudcroft, too. He had left around noon, and traveling alone meant that he could go as fast as he wanted. Hours passed and the rolling, grassy hills gradually became drier and more barren. Bushes became scarce, and cacti took their place as the land turned from pale green to soft red. Around sunset he arrived at the mesa, climbing the red-stone steps into town.

But before Corvo could start looking he was ambushed by those three goons, almost like they were waiting for him. They had chased him around the town’s adobe houses, and Corvo slipped by them by vine-grappling onto the roof where he hid now.

“Guess I should be used to it by now, gettin’ chased,” Corvo said to the reflection in his silver coin “Still… who are they?”

They couldn’t be anyone Corvo had run into before. This was his first time in Cloudcroft, so there shouldn’t be any bounty on his head. Those thugs didn’t look like officers or bounty hunters, anyway.

“Maybe they’ve got somethin’ to do with that burglary,” he murmured to himself. “And maybe bonehead and tusks ran into ‘em. Not like I’ll figure it out sittin’ here, though.”

The sooner he met his lead, the sooner he’d figure out what the hell was going on. With any luck, he’d run into the other two at some point.

So Corvo stood up and dusted himself off. He raised a hand over his eyes, scanning the dusky town for the quickest route to the meeting point– an old, crooked mineshaft on the west side of Cloudcroft. After a few seconds he spotted it in the distance, several blocks away.

“At least I can just hop across these weird box houses,” he said as he picked up his bag. “Don’t gotta worry about keeping my balance.”

He swung his bag around, but accidentally bumped his hand, knocking the coin out of his grip.

“Oh, dammit!” Corvo swore under his breath as the shiny silver flew over the ledge. He leaned over and saw his coin plop onto the dirt road, puffing up a bit of dust.

 His lips formed a thin line. Not only was it too far away to grab with his vines, but the coin was too small and smooth for his vines to grasp it anyway.

“Those guys are still huntin’ me,” he reminded himself. If he went down to retrieve it, he could get spotted. “It’s… just a blank coin. It ain’t got any value.”

Hesitantly, Corvo turned toward the next building and started walking toward it. “It’s not important,” he said, trying not to remember where he got it from. “I don’t need…”

He stopped. Nostalgia nagged at him. “Ah, hell.”

Corvo turned back and peered over the rooftop ledge. Glancing left, right, then left again showed no sign of anyone. He climbed over and latched his vines onto the adobe. Slowly, he lowered himself to the dusty ground. 

As soon as he touched down he scurried over to his silver coin. He kneeled and gingerly picked it back up, wiping off the dust. A sense of warmth welled up within him as he saw his reflection in the blank silver again.

“Alright.” He swung his bag around carefully, placing the coin back where it belonged.

Suddenly a shadow loomed over Corvo, blocking out the setting sun. He slowly turned and found that the Electabuzz from earlier stood within arm’s reach. The black and yellow gremlin had unkempt fur and a gnarled face, and he stared at Corvo down, cracking his knuckles.

“…How ya livin’?” Corvo broke the silence.

The air crackled with electricity as Electabuzz slugged out a Thunder Punch.

Corvo jumped and sparks erupted as the buzz’s fist hammered the ground. He shot a vine toward another rooftop, swinging through the air as he pulled himself skyward.

“Nice miss,” Corvo called as he landed. “Who taught ya how to throw a punch, your mom?”

“Ya little green shit!” Electabuzz snarled.

“You’ve got a face only she could love,” Corvo continued. “Bet she’s your sister, too.”

Electabuzz brought a hand to his mouth to whistle. “Found ‘em!” he hollered. “He’s on the rooftops!”

“Time to hussle.”

Whatever he planned now wouldn’t matter unless he could shake off these goons. Corvo took off in a mad dash, leaping across adobe houses as footfalls clattered down below. Nearby he could hear Electabuzz barking orders as he and the others pursued him. The townsfolk of Cloudcroft stirred as they heard the commotion outside.

“The hell’s going on out there?”

“Hey! Some of us are trying to sleep!”

Corvo cleared three more houses and a taller, two-story building was straight ahead. Vines at the ready, it would be easy for Corvo to grapple onto it. But suddenly purple fumes bellowed from the alley below, forming a venomous curtain. He slinked back– it must have been that Skuntank, using Poison Gas.

“Damn!” Corvo pinched his nose. “What does this guy eat?”

Once again the air crackled with electricity. Corvo spun around and saw a Thunderbolt arcing toward him– he leaped as the lightning narrowly missed him, striking the roof instead. Within a second another Thunderbolt shot up toward him, forcing him closer to the Poison Gas cloud.

“Not good…!”  Corvo hastily shot his vines toward another ledge, flinging himself away from the attacks and into another alleyway. Dust coated his body as he rolled over the ground, which he shook off as he rose to his feet. “So much for the high ground,” he huffed.

Nearby, even more shouting erupted.

“Assault! Someone’s being chased!”

“I’m calling the sheriff!”

“My money’s on the red one.”

Corvo hurried as he heard a pair of mons running toward him, their footfalls echoing off the adobe. The noises came from different directions, like they were trying to flank him. The constant thumping rivaled his own rapid heartbeat.

Before long he came to a fork– two pathways that hopefully led to an open road. With no time to think he darted to the right, but within seconds he spotted an ominous, orange light around the corner ahead.

“Magmar!” he whispered.

Corvo planted his feet in the dust, carving twin lines through the dirt as he tried to halt his momentum.

Magmar rounded the corner dead ahead, reeling back a flaming fist that made the walls glow.

Corvo slowed to a stop right in front of his pursuer–

POW!

Searing pain erupted in Corvo’s gut as Magmar slugged a Fire Punch into him. His feet left the ground as the impact launched him.

He crashed and tumbled over the dusty path, dizzied from spinning ground, dusky sky, and ember flakes swirling around him.

“Son of a… bitch!” Corvo groaned and clutched his burnt belly. Through his shaken vision he saw Magmar approaching him, flaring up his flames. Behind him, the clatter of footfalls grew even louder.

“I don’t… got time for this.” Corvo unsheathed his vines. A direct attack would hurt only himself, but he had something else in mind. With several swift lashes he struck the dirt between him and the fire-type, spraying up a wall of dirt and sand.

Magmar vanished behind the cloud of debris, uttering a wail as if his eyes had been stung.

With cover in place, Corvo shakily rose to his feet and bolted in Magmar’s direction, hoping he’d avoid notice. He tried to run, though his wound forced him to hobble his way through the dust cloud. Past the dusty veil, he saw the fiery behemoth flailing, and ducked to avoid another flaming fist.

Once Magmar was behind him Corvo tried to run again, but his body protested in pain– the burn sapped his energy. All he could do was hobble his way to the main road, and hope he could figure out something once he got there.

Out in the open many of Cloudcroft’s residents had gathered to see what all the noise was. A number of them pointed and gasped as Corvo limped out of the alley.

“Look out!” a Donphan yelled.

Corvo turned and his eyes widened as a blistering Flamethrower streaked toward him. He stumbled and fell on his back, dust pluming as he hit the dirt. The infernal blaze singed his snout, threatening to scorch his whole body if he got up again. Once the flames receded he tried to push himself back to his feet, but his burns hampered him like chains.

Meanwhile, Magmar rushed out of the alley and onto the street, chasing Corvo like he held a grudge. “They ain’t gonna recognize ya when I’m through with you,” he growled.

Corvo swore under his breath as he scrambled, using all of his might just to sit up–

Out of nowhere a black blur crashed into the Magmar, chomping their neck and wrestling them to the ground. Corvo blinked a few times as dust bloomed, and he made out the mon attacking Magmar: a Houndoom.

The dog pinned Magmar to the ground, and Corvo noticed that, instead of a skull pendant around his neck, Houndoom had a badge with a star engraved on it.

“You’re under arrest,” Houndoom barked. “You and the other two are going away for a long time.” A trio of Houndour flanked him, making sure the Magmar had no chance to get away.

The town sheriff just saved his ass. Corvo would’ve laughed if he weren’t struggling to stay conscious. The scent of his own charred snout filled his nostrils, making him cough.

“Check the Snivy,” Houndoom ordered, and one of the deputies walked over towards Corvo. The Houndour wore a grim expression as he kneeled down beside him.

“You okay, sir?”

“Do I look okay?” Corvo spat as he collapsed, showing his burnt belly. He hissed, sucking in a pained breath through gritted teeth.

Houndour winced at the sight. “Right, dumb question. That looks… real bad.” He raised his head. “Hey! Any doctors ‘round here?!”

Corvo rolled to his side, groaning and clutching his belly as his vision faded. A few blurred figures surrounded him as his awareness dulled. Amid all the clamor, he made out a few words.

“Make way. I’ll take him.”

Everything else fizzled away as Corvo slipped out of consciousness.

---

After a few bleary blinks, Corvo awakened from a dreamless sleep and the world came back into focus. He groggily rubbed his eyes, erasing the blurred edges from his vision. It seemed like he wasn’t outside anymore– he was in someone’s den. The house was dimly lit, with warm colored walls– probably adobe, like all the others. The furniture and rugs were a pale red, and tables were carved from aged wood. On the far wall was a shelf with books and some totems.

“So I got knocked out,” Corvo mumbled. “Great.” There was nothing worse than being left at someone else’s mercy. Whoever brought him here could do whatever they wanted with him, until he was able to stand on his own two feet.

The rest of his senses slowly caught up, and he realized that he laid upon a couch. A damp towel laid across his belly, smelling faintly of Rawst berries. A cool, fluffed pillow supported his head. Somewhere else in the house he could hear water boiling, reminding him of soup.

“Been a while since I ate,” Corvo said as his hunger also came into focus.

Light footsteps caught his attention. Seconds later a mon appeared in the archway, slowly walking into the den. They poked their head out, revealing a white skull-cap.

“Will?” Corvo said, tilting his head up. “How is it you always show up wherever folks need ya?”

“Coincidence,” the Cubone said simply. He stepped up to the couch, examining Corvo. “How are you feeling?”

“Like a piece of meat that’s been chewed up and spit out,” Corvo grumbled, letting his head fall back. “Wouldn’t be as bad if ya didn’t have to carry me here.”

“There’s nothing wrong with getting a little help,” William said gently. “Though it wasn’t me who brought you here.”

“Then who did? Where are we, anyway?”

“We’re at Andrew’s house. And it was his father who brought you in, just after you lost consciousness.”

“Tusks’ place, huh?”

Corvo thought back to when he met the Axew, remembering how he mentioned living in Cloudcroft. He also recalled how Andrew hired him to steal Enigma Elixir so he could take it to his dad. Then Corvo tried to get some more money out of Andrew at the last minute, and that whole deal went sideways…

Suddenly, a sinking feeling weighed him down. Andrew’s dad needed that medicine, so he said. Corvo almost never ran into people after he’d give them a… not-entirely fair deal. He actively avoided them, and for good reason: he liked keeping his own face intact. If Andrew’s shouting match with him yesterday was anything to go on, imagining his dad’s reaction made Corvo’s heart skip a beat.

“Are you alright, Corvo?” William asked. “You’re looking suddenly pale.”

“You said tusks and his dad both live here?” Corvo replied.

William nodded. “Andrew and Henry.”

“So…” Corvo took a deep breath, struggling with a weird feeling he wasn’t used to. Guilt? “You remember what went down between me and tusks, right?”

“I do.”

“I was just thinkin’, do you think his dad knows…?”

“Well well, look who’s awake!” A new voice called out as a tall, olive-skinned dragon appeared in the doorway. The Haxorus sauntered over towards the couch, carrying a corked glass bottle. Not far behind him was Andrew.

William stepped aside as the Haxorus kneeled beside Corvo, and the Snivy froze. He felt as if the only part of him that moved was his quickening heartbeat, and he cursed his helplessness.

“How ya holdin’ up, sonny?” Henry asked.

“I’ve been… better,” Corvo answered in a small voice. He couldn’t take his eyes off the pair of axe blades on the dragon’s mouth, thinking of how easily they could chop him into salad. Corvo shifted his eyes to Andrew, who stared on with an unreadable expression.

“I can imagine,” Henry continued. “Those crooks roasted ya. What went down ‘tween you an’ them?”

“Er…” Corvo’s words were stuck in his throat, like food that wasn’t chewed enough. How could he explain something that he didn’t even know, especially when he was worried about what this guy might do to him next?

“He may have been attacked,” William spoke up, “by the same mons who ambushed Andrew and I in the forest, north of Wolfhaven.”

“We saw those thugs watchin’ our house, too,” Andrew added. “Just an hour ago.”

Corvo deflated with a sigh of relief. It took him a moment to process their words: William and Andrew had also been targeted. That explained why they never came back to the guild.

“Is that right?” the Haxorus replied grimly. “Well, the sheriff’s got ‘em rounded up now. If there’s anymore crooks out there, maybe now they’ll think twice ‘fore comin’ after ya.”

“I would hope so,” William said. “Assuming these thieves and thugs are working together, they’re putting up quite a fight to keep what they stole.”

“Almost makes me worry that guild mighta given ya more than you can handle,” Henry said.

“Y-yeah,” Corvo propped himself up. “That museum robbery. There’s a lead here in town, a Cacnea. I gotta go meet ‘em–”

But Henry placed a hand on him, gently pushing him down. “Sorry sonny, but you ain’t goin’ anywhere with that nasty burn. We gotta keep ya here until you’re recovered.”

At those words Corvo sighed in relief, though his body was still tense. On one hand it seemed like this Haxorus wasn’t mad at him. In fact, maybe he had no idea what went down between him and his son. But on the other hand, as strange as it was, Corvo actually enjoyed working on this job. He had been looking forward to cracking this case, and didn’t want to let this chance to solve it slip by.

“I get what’cher sayin’,” Corvo replied. “But it’s not like I can leave that guy hanging. And he said he wouldn’t talk unless I show up.”

“Well don’t worry, sonny. I’ve got just the thing to help mend ya lickity-split.” He turned to Andrew. “Andy, go fetch some Pecha juice, please. Might need it.”

The Axew nodded and scurried back through the archway.

Meanwhile, Henry lifted the bottle he had been holding, plucking out the cork. “Drink this, it’ll getcha better in no time. But whatever you do–” he raised a finger, “–do not spit this out, ya hear me?”

Corvo hesitated, still not entirely at ease. It could be that Henry actually did know how he tried to screw him over, and now he was about to get back at him with poison? He glanced at William. He wouldn’t let that sort of thing happen, right? …Then again, he did help Andrew back then. Were they all playing a long-con against him? What if–

“Oh, shut up, ” he thought, challenging his paranoia. “If they wanted to hurt you, they would’ve done it already. Besides, this wouldn’t be the first time a stranger gave you actual help. Like… Elizabeth…”

“Hey.” Henry snapped his fingers. “Ya ain’t gone deaf on us, have ya sonny?”

Corvo shook himself. “No, I mean, yeah, I hear ya. Don’t spit it out, got it.”

“A’right then. Sit up.”

He did as he was asked, just as Andrew walked back in with a glass of sweet Pecha juice. All three of them moved closer to Corvo. Both of the dragons offered him something to drink, and William offered advice.

“Brace yourself,” the Cubone said. “This will leave a spicy and smoky aftertaste.”

Before Corvo could ask William how he knew that, the bottle was pressed to his lips. He tilted his head back, letting the medicine flow into his mouth. Once it flowed down his gullet he broke out into a vicious coughing fit, wondering if he had just swallowed literal fire.

Andrew stepped closer, offering a glass of Pecha juice to wash it down, which Corvo promptly gulped. Yet it wasn’t nearly as cool or sweet as he expected. In fact, he could barely taste it at all. His coughing fit slowed and a numb, tingly sensation pulsed through his mouth, slowly spreading throughout his body.

“W-what is this stuff?” Corvo rasped.

“Enigma Elixir,” Henry answered heartily. “The last bit of it we had. It’ll getcha good-as-new after some sleep.”

Corvo blinked.

Slowly.

Enigma Elixir. That same medicine that Andrew hired him to get, and caused a rift between them. That same medicine that he tried to keep this guy, Henry, from getting, just so he could make a little extra gold.

And now Henry, no longer a faceless stranger, gave it back to him when he needed it. If he wasn’t so exhausted and numb, Corvo might have laughed at the sheer irony. He laid back down as his eyelids became heavy.

“Get some rest now,” Henry said. “Once ya wake up, the medicine will have done its job.” He stood up from the couch, facing William and Andrew. “And once that happens, you can help him wrap up this little mystery.”

They both nodded.

“In the meantime, how ‘bout some gingersnaps?”

The two dragons left for the kitchen, though William lingered in the den.

“I’ll save some cookies for you,” he said to Corvo.

Though Corvo didn’t have the energy to nod. He let his eyelids shut, handing himself over to restorative sleep.

---

Slightly before dawn, Corvo awoke and found his wounds had healed completely. He got William and Andrew out of their beds, and the three of them ate a quick meal before heading out to meet Corvo’s contact.

Cloudcroft’s dirt roads were empty and quiet. Even though that was typical for any town before sunrise, Corvo didn’t let his guard down. He often glanced over his shoulder and peeked past corners before rounding them. Meanwhile, William filled him in on how he and Andrew had a run-in with some silent strangers in the woods, and how they escaped.

“So you’re telling me,” Corvo said as they walked, “that you threw your bone through his fireball, and it literally caught fire?”

“Indeed,” William nodded. “I don’t quite understand it myself, nor do I know how I thought of it. It just… came to me.”

“Either way, it was impressive,” Andrew said. “Maybe you’re related to islander Marowaks?”

“Whatever it is,” Corvo said, “it’s like whacking stick, climbin’ hook, and a flint-striker all in one. You’ve got yourself some kinda wondertool.”

William turned his club, looking at its side. “There are plenty of possibilities, but this is a mystery for another day. We already have another one to solve.” He turned to Corvo. “You said our contact is a Cacnea?”

“That’s right. Some kind of antique maniac like that old fire turtle. Says that some guys were trying to jack his stuff, too. But this guy caught a glimpse, so he says. If we’re lucky, he can help us connect the dots and track down whoever’s behind all this.”

“This looks like the place,” Andrew said, pointing at a mineshaft.

It was an old, rickety building, made of sunbaked wood that hadn’t been cared for in ages. Its tin roof was rusted and weathered, and nearby crates and barrels were similarly worn. One such barrel was knocked over, emitting a sickly odor that hinted of something beyond expired.

“Charming,” Corvo remarked. “Bet it’s a real nice place to sleep in.”

“Pfft, sure,” Andrew replied. “Once you get past the cobwebs, and put up somethin’ to keep the roof from fallin’ on ya.”

“Oh what, you don’t wanna get woken up by wood crashin’ on top o’ ya?” Corvo jabbed. “That’s the best part.”

Andrew snorted, covering his mouth with his hands.

“Well, we better head inside,” William spoke up. “No point in making your contact wait any longer than necessary.”

Corvo nodded, walking in along with the other two.

Inside, the old mineshaft seemed even more unwelcoming. The lanterns on the walls had thick layers of dust, obscuring their glass. The scent of powdered blast seeds permeated through the narrow tunnel, which was held up by old wooden beams, creaking as they passed under them.

“Okay seriously, why’d he ask to meet here?” Andrew asked.

“Your guess is as good as mine, tusks.”

“Andrew,” the Axew corrected.

Next to him, William held up their own lantern. Andrew breathed a tiny flame into it, lighting it up.

“Say Andrew, wasn’t this a mine for evolution stones?” William asked as they walked. “I read that such mines led to this town’s founding.”

“I think so,” Andrew replied. “But I reckon you know more than I do. This mine’s been all dug up, that’s why it’s abandoned.”

While the other two talked, Corvo ran a hand alongside the rocky wall. He felt an indent in the surface, as if a Leaf Stone used to be embedded there. If he hadn’t struggled to feed himself as a kid, maybe he would’ve evolved by now. There have been plenty of times when he could’ve used the extra strength from becoming a Servine, but there was no point in dwelling on it. Corvo saw evolving like getting his next meal: better late than never.

They soon arrived at the central shaft of the mine– a sprawling pit that bore straight into the ground, with creaky wooden beams holding back masses of dirt. A wooden platform hung over the edge, overlooking a spiral slant that clung to the walls, leading down the vertical tunnel.

Corvo leaned over the edge, noticing that it was too dark and deep to see the bottom.

“Well now. That’s a long way down…”

“Are those lifts over there?” William pointed to the right, where there were three wooden platforms tied to ropes. A set of weights and pulleys kept them in place.

“I wouldn’t trust those…” Andrew warned.

“Seconded,” Corvo said.

The trio walked left, descending the spiral walkway into the depths. William’s lamp cast a soft, lambent light on the warm-colored walls, revealing more hollows that once held precious stones.

The scent of blast seed powder grew stronger, and the wood beneath their feet seemed to creak louder as they descended. Once or twice they paused as a distant echo grazed their ears, telling of tumbling pebbles or shifting dust somewhere else in the mine.

The noise in the mine, the silence from the other two, and the outright creepiness of the place, it all wore down Corvo’s nerves. Every few seconds he jerked his head up, thinking he saw a moving shadow. Was someone following them? He idly rubbed his silver coin between his fingers, just to have something else to focus on.

Finally, they reached the bedrock at the bottom. The pit forked into four new tunnels, yet three of them were caved in with large boulders blocking their paths. Only one tunnel was clear.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Andrew broke their silence. “Shouldn’t we have seen ‘em by now?

“I have to agree,” William added. “Is it possible that your contact isn’t here anymore?”

Corvo shrugged. “Honestly? Might be. They didn’t give me a specific time, just to meet ‘em here ‘at night.’” At least when he peddled ‘cargo,’ his partners would give him exact times and dates…

“H-hey!” An unfamiliar voice called out from the darkness, and they all froze.

“Who’s there?” Corvo called back.

“Step into the light,” William said. He raised the lamp and shadows shifted through the mineshaft. “Slowly, please.”

From the one open tunnel, a stocky, spiky, green-looking mon tilted his head out.

“That’s him,” Corvo said, and took a step forward “Ey, Cacnea. Your cousin Brendon sent me. Ya know, about the burglary?”

“Oh? Oh yeah!” The Cacnea emerged from his hiding place, sauntering over to them. “Yeah, yeah, I’m here! I waited and waited, started thinking you weren’t gonna show! I might’ve also, like, fell asleep…”

“Well, what’s your name?” William asked.

“Oh oh, call me Roland!” replied Cacnea.

“Alright Roland,” William continued. “If I may ask, why meet down here?”

“Seriously,” Andrew spoke up. “Of all the places in town, you pick one of the creepiest?”

“Oh oh, you can’t be too careful, ya know?” Roland said, fidgeting his arms. “I-I figured them burglars wouldn’t think to find us down here, ya know? If they’re a-looking for treasure and goodies, why come down to the one place that everyone knows is dried out, ya know?”

Corvo crossed his arms. He could understand covering his tracks, but hiding in plain sight was easier than most people thought it was. “Uh-huh… Now let’s get down to business. You said that these guys tried to jack your stuff.”

“Oh oh, yes! Yes indeed they did!” Roland bounced in place. “I’ve got a nice collection of lots of fancy old things, like this shiny gold trinket, still in good condition! It’s so pretty, oh oh, I really ought to show you guys–”

“We’re kind of in a hurry here,” Corvo interrupted. He wasn’t all that surprised that this guy was turning out to be a nutcase.

“What my friend is trying to say,” William spoke up, “is that we appreciate your… enthusiasm. But we’d be able to solve this a lot more easily if we focused.”

“Oh oh, right, sorry!” Roland held up his hands. “So, as I was saying! I spotted them getting their grubby paws all over my pretty collection! But here comes the weird part, you see? I had my jar fulla money nearby. Ya know, coins and suchlike. But they weren’t interested in none of that, no sir-ee!”

“So they were goin’ after objects, not money,” Corvo noted. “Like Loomis’s museum.”

“Oh yes, yes! You say they hit Mr. Loomis’s place too? Oh oh, no! I love that place, Loomis has an awesome collection! He don’t deserve to get stolen from!”

“Yeah yeah, real tragic,” Corvo said, rolling his eyes. “Now let’s get back on track. The guys who stole from you, who were they, exactly?”

“Did you happen to see any of them?” Andrew asked.

“Oh oh, yes I did! Why, I very nearly missed them, I was boiling a cup for tea and had to rush back, but–”

“Roland,” William interrupted. “You can spare us the details. Please, just tell us who you saw.”

“Oh yeah, sure sure. It was Aipoms. Two of ‘em! Twins, they looked like! Saw ‘em trying to pick some locks in my collection room. Boy, my brother said buyin’ locks would be a waste o’money, but I sure showed him–”

“What didja do when you found ‘em?” Corvo asked.

“Oh yeah, right right! When I saw ‘em I shouted at ‘em and started firing off some o’ my spikes, see? Oh I was so lucky I didn’t hit anything important! Anywho, they went and scattered, floppin’ themselves out my window and runnin’ and runnin’ as fast as they could!”

“Where did they go after that?” William inquired.

“Oh ho, I wish I could tell ya, but them mons just vanished into the dark o’ night. Couldn’t catch a glimpse of them. I started movin’ my collection to a relative’s house the mornin’ after, didn’t wanna meet there in case you guys got followed!”

Corvo put a hand to his chin, thinking back to Loomis’s museum. “So, you mentioned Aipoms. We think those same monkeys might’ve been the ones who robbed Loomis, and we’ve got reason to think they’re not workin’ alone.”

“Good observation, Corvo,” William nodded. “I was thinking the same thing.”

“And on toppa that,” Corvo continued, mentally connecting dots. “We know they’re goin’ after just antiques, not money. And since they might’ve been attackin’ folks, includin’ us, we know that they’re fightin’ to keep what they stole and cover their tracks.”

“Why, though?” Andrew asked. “Who’d go through so much trouble for antiques?”

“That’s the real question, isn’t it?” William said. “We don’t know who these people are nor do we know their motives. But it would be in our best interest to find out, especially before they can target someone else.”

“Well, do we know anyone else who carries shiny trinkets?” Corvo asked.

They all went quiet, even Roland, surprisingly. If these ‘treasure’ hunters were targeting anyone they could know, who would that be? As they pondered, William formed a grim expression.

“Jacob,” he said.

“That Charmander?” Corvo mused. He recalled how flametail chased after him and William when they raided the pantry.

“Yes, him,” William affirmed. “He carries a copper pocket watch. He told me… It’s the last thing he has from his old family.”

“His old family?” Andrew asked. “You mean, he never met them before?”

William nodded solemnly.

“So ya think these guys might mug him next?” Corvo asked. 

“Indeed,” a deep voice answered.

Everyone stood up straight, spinning around as they searched for the source of the voice.

“Who’s there?” Andrew called.

“Here,” they called from above.

William raised their lamp, casting its lambent light on a mon who stood on the spiral slope of the mineshaft. It was a tall, slender mon, coated in red and silver metal: a Bisharp. In one hand he held some kind of globe made of a cool-colored glass.

Corvo’s collar and tail went rigid. He was right– someone was following them. He kept his vines coiled, ready to lash out.

“I should have known,” the Bisharp continued, “that those seed-brained ruffians would not be enough to deter you.”

Ruffians? This must be the guy who sent Electabuzz, Magmar, and Skunktank after them. There was something strange about this Bisharp– just having him around made the air seem… charged. Why was he showing his face?

“So you’re with those trinket thieves, eh?” Corvo spoke. “Real impressive, stealin’ from old turtles and crazy cacti.”

“Hey!” Roland yipped.

“Do not mistake me for a diminutive foot soldier,” Bisharp chided. His words were clear and sharp like the blades covering his body. “I sincerely doubt that any of you have the patience or foresight to understand, or appreciate, what we are aiming to accomplish.”

“And what exactly is your goal?” William called back. “More importantly, who are you referring to by ‘we,’ since evidently, you’re not working alone?”

The Bisharp bowed his head, staring at the glass globe in his grasp. “What we seek is merely a means to an end. What if I told you about the hidden properties of matter? How the secrets of the world can be unraveled to the benefit of all monkind?”

Corvo folded his arms. Airy claims, vague words, and exaggerated promises. He’s heard this sort of stuff before. “I’d say that you’re a grandstander cookin’ up a crock o’ shit.”

Bisharp shook his head. “Your close mindedness is no surprise. But our goal is not to convince you– it’s to continue our own research. And I can tell you that your assessment is correct. The Charmander’s artifact is what we seek. You could help us attain it with no further violence, and that would be in the best interest of all parties involved.”

“Guys,” Andrew spoke up. “I recognize his voice.”

Everyone turned toward the Axew as he explained. “When I spent the night at Moonrise, two mons wandered toward my camp at dawn. They chased me, I had to dive into the river…”

William’s face twisted in anger. He turned to face the Bisharp again. “We will never bargain with you.”

Bisharp’s rigid expression hardly changed. “Pitiful,” he called back. Slowly, he raised up his glass globe, which began to glow. “Perhaps if I gave you a demonstration of our capabilities–”

“Watch out, guys!” Roland hollered. “I dunno what that thing does, but I don’t wanna find out!”

Without warning the Cacnea aimed his right arm at Bisharp and fired a volley of Pin Missiles. The needles whistled as they cut through the air, and while many plinked off Bisharp’s steel skin, the orb in his hand cracked as the flechette pierced it.

“Stop–!” Bisharp commanded, but fissures raced across the glass in his hand, spilling out its eerie glow. Before anyone could react the orb burst, releasing a shockwave of light that rattled the entire mineshaft.

Everyone stumbled as the ground began to shake. Wooden support beams creaked and snapped, causing the rocks above them to give way. Dust showered from above, warning that larger debris would soon fall.

“What did you just do?!” Corvo exclaimed at the Cacnea.

“I-I dunno!” Roland replied.

“You cretin!” Bisharp yelled, and he rushed up the spiraling slope.

“The mine is collapsing!” William shouted over the noise. “We need to move!”

They raced for the walkway, but rockfalls cascaded down the shaft, battering the spiral slope. Countless stones crashed on the path, cracking the planks and shattering into shards. Pieces of the slope crumbled into gravel as the earthen avalanche roared through the mineshaft.

“We can’t go that way,” Andrew said. “Those rocks will crush us!”

Corvo jerked his head around, searching for something, anything they could use to escape. His gaze locked onto a set of nearby ropes that connected the rickety lifts, anchored by their counterweights.

“We’re not diggin’ our way outta here,” Corvo proclaimed. “C’mon, this way!” He led the charge over towards the lifts and their ropes.

“B-but we can’t pull the lifts down fast enough!” Roland stuttered.

“We’re not waiting, climb the ropes!” Corvo ordered, pointing upward. “Trust me!”

As another rockfall crashed a few feet away from them, William, Andrew, and Roland leaped onto the set of three ropes, one for each of them. They shimmied upwards, but the quakes grew so intense that they all rattled along their ropes.

“We can’t climb fast enough, either!” Andrew bellowed.

“You won’t have to,” Corvo said in a steely tone. The leaf on his tail glowed white.

“Wh-what are you–” Roland began, but he was cut off, literally, as Corvo leaped and spun in one swift motion, slashing all three ropes at once with Leaf Blade.

Freed from their counterweights, the ropes flew upward as the lifts fell, yanking the climbers skyward. As soon as Corvo cut the ropes he shot vines out of his collar, clinging onto the middle rope as surprised shouts echoed off the walls.

Dust showered them as they soared through the collapsing mine. The pull of gravity threatened to hurl them down if anyone slipped their grip for even a moment. The lift platforms raced downwards, and the one in the middle careened and crashed into one of them–

“Andrew!” William shouted as his friend was knocked off course.

Corvo’s blood ran cold as he saw Andrew fall. Without thinking he pushed his feet against the wall, swinging out right beneath the Axew. The cacophony of noise, rocks falling and mons screaming, all drowned out as Corvo opened his arms–

“Gotcha!”

He clutched the dragon as they collided, swinging with him while his vines strained to keep hold of the speeding rope. Andrew wrapped his arms around Corvo, and the two sped through howling darkness. More debris dropped past them, crashing and shattering at the bottom of the mine. The whole space filled with the rumbling drone of a landslide. Corvo shut his eyes, gritting his teeth.

“Hang on! Whatever happens, just hang on!”

“The end’s up ahead!” William hollered.

Corvo forced his eyes open and struggled to lift his head up. The ropes raced toward the pulleys at the top, the end of their ride.

“Get ready!” Corvo called, roughly measuring their distance. “Let go… now!”

William and Roland did so, releasing their ropes a second before their lines flipped over the pulleys. The two sailed upwards, carried by momentum.

Corvo retracted his vines, too, feeling their strain as they snapped back to his collar. He and Andrew shot up through the air, slowing as they sailed past the edge– then fell.

The four all landed together, stumbling onto the central platform.

Corvo fell onto his hands, struggling to catch his breath. His makeshift plan actually worked . Soreness wracked his collar as his vines were strained to their limit.

But the collapsing mine was indifferent to his exhaustion, as the quakes continued and the shaft shook itself apart. Total collapse was imminent.

“Keep running!” William urged.

Even though his limbs were as flimsy as jelly, Corvo mustered all of his strength and ran alongside William, Andrew, and Roland. Up the path, under the beam, then daylight was in sight. Together they closed in on the exit, throwing themselves out of the abandoned mine.

Corvo dived and slid on his belly, aggravating his burn from yesterday. Behind them, splintering wood and scraping metal made a cacophony as rumbling aftershocks rocked the ground. The mine shook itself to pieces as the roof finally caved in.

He rolled onto his back. Dawn had broken over the horizon, as early sunlight beamed over the town from the east, lighting up the plateau.

“…Is everyone okay?” William asked.

“I… I am,” Roland answered.

“I t-think so,” Andrew stuttered.

Corvo propped himself up. “Still in one piece, brother.”

Though to be honest, he was still absorbing the whole ordeal.

This started off as an investigation– someone’s coin collection got nicked, so he and William were signed on to track them down and get them back. It sounded simple enough, something appropriate for apprentices in a do-gooder guild.

They found some clues, followed them to some leads, and they wound up going to Cloudcroft. From that point, they had been stalked, chased, and attacked, escalating all the way until this point– almost getting buried alive in a creepy old mine.

That made Corvo wonder two things. How did things get wild so fast, and was it worth all the trouble?

“Where… where’d that Bisharp go?” Roland asked.

They all glanced around. A few of the townsfolk had poked their heads out of their doors, likely woken by all the noise from the mine. Yet there was no sign of Bisharp anywhere.

“I don’t see him, but we can’t stay here,” William said. “We need to contact the sheriff, tell them everything we know. Then we can get back to the guild. If that Bisharp and his people, whoever they are, are really targeting Jacob…”

“I hear ya,” Corvo said, pushing himself to his feet. Handing this off to someone higher up the chain sounded like the best move.

“You guys can rest at my place before you leave,” Andrew offered.

“Thanks Andrew,” William nodded. “I’ll meet you there after I reach the sheriff, where can I find him?”

“I can show ya,” Roland volunteered, and the two promptly left the others as they walked into town.

Meanwhile, Corvo sat in place, finally catching his breath. If Bisharp was still at large, would he send more thugs after them? If they were gonna keep getting attacked, maybe it would be easier to cut his losses and move on…

“Hey.”

Corvo glanced up and saw Andrew standing next to him. The Axew offered a hand, smiling at him graciously. “Thanks. Seriously.”

Corvo smiled back, accepting Andrew’s hand as the latter pulled him to his feet. “Don’t mention it, brother.”

The two began walking back to Andrew’s modest abode. Whatever choice Corvo made, he could at least get some rest first.