• Chapter 21: Chaos in Chlemousodium

    A great celebration was held to welcome back Brontes and to rejoice in being free from the cult. Even the governor’s wife, Halette Psevdargyros, got to participate. Halette had a slightly lighter tan skin, medium brown hair, and purple eyes. She wore her blue-gray gown and slippers, and played a tambourine as she danced and sang a song of praise to the pantheon for the good tidings that have returned.
    Soon, the day neared its end, and the five got to go to the governor’s mansion, which was on the northeast edge of the city.
    The five joined the governor and his family around their table.
    “So,” said Halette, “I have heard from some of the city folk that you are searching after that vile fiend, Erebus Tonadi.”
    “Yes, Mrs. Psevdargyros,” replied Valerius. “He took my beloved Delphinia captive, and he plans to gather ingredients of the Forbidden Ritual.”
    “Forbidden Ritual?!” asked Brontes. “I’ve heard many of the teens in town discuss that legend. I can’t believe it’s actually real.”
    “Sadly, it is,” replied Galina.
    “I’m not yet certain if there’s another ingredient in the Ionized Ionians,” said Thessalos, “but there is trouble in Chlemousodium that needs a hero’s attention right now.”
    “Chlemousodium?” asked Rouvin. “Isn’t that the place with the trouble with the gang of thugs?”
    “The same,” sighed the governor. “It is not yet known who the actual leader is, if they even have one at all, but they are constantly harassing the town and the island. Even the governor there can’t hold them back for long before the next crime wave hits.”
    “They must be very skilled criminals indeed,” said Valerius. “We shall gladly do our part to counter them.”
    “Thank you,” said the governor. “Tomorrow, I’ll prepare a ship to take you to Chlemousodium.”

    The next morning, the crowd cheered and gave their well-wishes as the five got on a boat to sail to Chlemousodium.
    The sailors sang hymns to Poseidon as the craft soon traveled to the next island.
    Rouvin had started getting a little queasy again, so Zanthe quickly prepared another of her seasickness remedy to help her friend get his sea legs back again.
    Valerius stood near the human captain of the ship.
    “How long has this criminal gang been harassing the island?” he asked.
    The captain replied, “About a decade and a half, but it’s been long enough to drive the people crazy with fear.”
    “We’ve saved Zincnathos from the cult,” Valerius said with confidence, “so saving Chlemousodium from a criminal gang will be easy. I mean, my friends and I dealt with another criminal syndicate earlier in Fog-Gandros—”
    “So you were the ones who defeated that godfather!” the captain interrupted in surprise.
    “You’ve heard, I take it,” Valerius chuckled.
    “Who hasn’t by now?” the captain replied, also with a laugh.
    Before the conversation could go any further, the lookout saw land drawing near.
    “Land ho!” the lookout’s voice cheered.
    “We’re nearing Chlemousodium Island!” said the captain.

    The craft soon docked just north of Chlemousodium Town, which was about the same size as Paxotassia Town, just arranged in a different layout. It started out as a simple farming village which grew into an agricultural powerhouse despite the small size. Their patron deity was Persephone, and the temple to her was within the center of the town.
    However, all was not well with the town. As Governor Psevdargyros warned, the gang of thugs were harassing the people within the land. There were human, elf, and dwarf members of the gang, and they all wore reddish brown biker outfits. Some held classical weapons—short swords, spears, clubs, and hand axes. Others held crowbars and wrenches. And some even had plasma sabers like Valerius held.
    “Hey, we got some jerks muscling in on our territory!” said one elf member.
    A human member replied, “Let’s rough them up a bit!”
    “There’s too many of them to fight, friends,” said Galina. “I’ll handle this.”
    The elf Air Wizard stuck her staff into the ground. Then she motioned with her hands and chanted in her ancient tongue. A large whirlwind grew from around the staff.
    “Go, whirlwind!” commanded Galina. “Take these troublers out of this town!”
    The whirlwind obeyed, as it grew large enough to scoop up the entire gang, yet magically left the innocent civilians alone, and carried them out of the town and off the island. It was not yet known where they were taken, but they would no longer harass Chlemousodium.
    “Well,” giggled Galina. “That was easy.”
    The people cheered as they gathered around the heroes.
    One of the people, Mayor Idas Natriou, emerged to speak. Mayor Idas Natriou was a pale-peach skinned human with graying hair, brown eyes, and wore clothing that was a mix between a higher-wealth rancher and a city official.
    “Good visitors,” said Mayor Natriou, “thank you for driving away the criminals that held us in their grasp for so long.”
    “We had to,” replied Valerius.
    “We wouldn’t want you to suffer any longer from them,” added Nauplius.

    Soon, there was motion in the crowd, and another person emerged to meet the five. This person was not of Chlemousodium, but of the neighboring island of Ithacobalt. This was indicated by his slightly dimmer attire, as well as the style—it was attire of a fishing village.
    “Please,” said the stranger, “I need you to come with me! My home island of Ithacobalt needs your help!”
    “Ithacobalt?” asked Mayor Natriou.
    “Yes, Mayor Natriou,” replied the man. His tan-hazel eyes looked up, as his blonde hair matted with sweat was brushed aside.
    “Good heroes,” said the person. “There is a ghost ship constantly troubling Ithacobalt. Our fishing boats will not dare go near the northern side of the island, since that is where reports say it materializes at night. Even during the day, its influence unsettles sailors there. Please! You must help us!”
    “But of course, we will help you,” said Valerius.
    “We’ve dealt with supernatural threats, as well as regular ones,” giggled Zanthe.
    “Follow me,” said the stranger. “I’m a representative of Ithacobalt, so I’ve been given a good craft to get you to the island quickly as well. Once we’re there, I’ll introduce you to the baron, and he will explain more!”