💰Journal Entry 3 - Delivering The Goods

The journey from the Arctic Crust to the Three Vapours was an easy journey, even with the 3 captured animals. I followed the treeline of the Arctic Crust until I hit the coast, and then I traveled south along the edge of the Rust Bowl, until I reached the crossing for the first island of the Three Vapours. My captured bounties: the Pelican, Owlbear and the Arctic Wolf. So far, they’do been easy cargo. If anything, they had felt more like traveling Compienons than wild, untamed animals. However, as we crossed onto the Pieous lands, everything changed. All 3 of them became unsettled. They started fidgeting and growling, becoming more distressed. I was thankful that soon they would no longer be my problem. As I traveled further into the Three Vapours, along the rugged and dry terrain, I had to cover my face to protect myself from the putrid smell. I’d visited this land before, years ago. It didn’t smell back then. Anyway, this was more than just a strong odor - it felt like a heavy film across the air. Like the air itself had an inexplicable tension to it. Maybe that’s what had the animals so worked up.

I made my way toward the grand entrance of the Pieous domain - a towering gatehouse, built so high that it was clear no Octopie could ever climb it. Guards from the watchtower saw me approach, and the doors slowly creaked open. As it slowly opened, the Pieous emerged. But not just one or two - it was a whole squadron of them. A dozen Octopies stepped out in tight formation, heavily armored. They walked with a strict seriousness that must be a requirement to survive in these barren lands.

The Hunstman waiting outside the gatehouse of the Pieous.

The group approached me, stopping about 10 tentacles in front of where I stood. Two Pieous Octopies stepped forward. They weren’t clad in armor or carrying weapons like the rest, but were instead in white lab coats and carrying clipboards. They began to ask me a flurry of questions, like where I found the animals, how I captured them, if they were injured, if they attacked me, and so on. I gave them brief answers while they wrote down every word I said.

At the same time, the security detail approached my captured animals and began to load them into small cages. Cages barely big enough to even fit the animal in. Seeing the mistreatment of these majestic creatures is never easy. But this is the job. As they finished engaging the Pelican, the Owlbear, and the Arctic Wolf, I felt a shiver through my hunter's instincts. Am I getting too soft for this game? Regardless of my personal quandary, the Pieous guards carried the caged animals away. The Scientists thanked me for my time and followed suit, still making notes as they walked away. One of the guards revealed a bag of coins, tossing it my way. I caught it and could tell from the weight right away - they had paid me well for this unsavory work..

Aside from the specific questions about the captured animals, the Pieous barely uttered a word. Their dismissive approach left me with the feeling of being a pawn in a game I didn’t want to be playing. I stood for a minute, processing what happened and watching the Pieous leave. As the gate opened up again to let the Pieous back in, I caught a glimpse of what was on the other side - more creatures, looking unwell and beaten, by the crate loads! Stacked on one another and with very little room. I felt uneasy. But I reminded myself: Do the job. Get paid. Go home. It was time to make my way back.

I expected this journey to be quick and uneventful. On the one hand, that’s exactly what it was. Nothing interesting took place and it was a fairly quick travel time. On the other hand, I couldn’t shake the questions bubbling to the surface of my mind. I’d done many odd jobs, with strange requests and peculiar tasks. But that was always as one-offs or for individuals; eccentric Octopies with more time and resources than morals. But for an entire Slice to be requesting my services, to just round up animals? It did not sit well with me. After a short while, I arrived at my small home in the land of the Piesons and found a surprise waiting for me. It was a scroll of paper, fixed to my door with a knife. I froze. How could this be possible? Nobody but a few trusted allies knew where I lived. Paranoia swept over me as a i reached out and unstuck the knife. I opened the scroll, and began to read.

Another bounty from the Pieous. And this time, they had visited my house. I became struck with unease. How did the Pieous discover where I live? When did someone do this? Had they been watching me since the Tavern? Had I been followed home? Were they still watching me, and was this a contract that could even be refused!? I hurried inside, locking the door behind me. I was about to throw the scroll away and ignore the new bounty. But the weight of the coins from the last bounty made me pause. One more job with a payout like that and I could take the rest of the year off. Sure, the Pieous were strange. Scary even. But they had no reason to do me harm, especially not if I was doing jobs for them. Plus, there was nothing wrong with their money, so who am I to play favorites…