The Monster Mashers woke up refreshed and got to exploring the city right away looking for signs of the three living dolls. Racknar was a bit worried since the one being a warlock meant not only did it have a soul, but depending on the patron, a problem from the word go. If they are the same patron type that Davy has it would be a problem as Davy's patron is the only great old one Racknar knows of that is chill. The rest are insane, agents of chaos, or would be tyrants.

  There are those that ask for things like souls or some other sacrifice but Racknar could understand being cautious about warlocks. Ariagoria spoke up as the party searched in order to voice her own thoughts. “So this isn't exactly a posted quest, and I'm wondering why we're doing this again. Is it just because someone created something like Mari and the implications of that?” Racknar closed his eyes for a moment. “Honestly, kinda. A living doll with a full human soul like Mari is not something that happens normally. Mari was a unique existence before now. If I heard of another black iron spider Beast-kin I'd want to find them ASAP. I imagine it's the same for her.”

  Marionette nodded. “I imagine it's a natural curiosity, when you discover there's someone out there like you. I appreciate you taking the party on this detour.” Ariagoria nodded. “Alright then. On to more important matters. What's going on with your rage? Also how did Davy know what song you were about to sing so he could cast prestidigitation?” Davy shook his head. “I cast no such spell during that.” Racknar nodded. “It was part of the rage manifesting I think. Normally getting angry isn't hard for me, because I hated myself so much. I was always mad at myself and thus all it took was thinking about that and I could draw from Stigia.”

  Racknar’s head was suddenly following distant movement but he continued talking. “However, after the angel statue trial I simply can't find it in my heart to feel that way about myself anymore. Like doing the trial helped me work through whatever my problem was somehow. I was finally able to let go of my anger. Unfortunately, my anger was one of my best tools. Since I've drawn on other circles of hell before I figured I could use the fact I'm technically in heat to tap into Tempest through my hornyness.”

  Ariagoria nodded. “Right, because it's still late fall. Sometimes I forget just how many quests we take. It feels like a lot of time should have passed because we do all these missions but it's only been a few weeks at most because we take a mission almost daily.” Racknar nodded, but suddenly stopped and raised his arm to let the party know to do the same. “We're being watched.” Krys'tal nodded. “I feel that too. Be on guard.”

  The streets were empty, it was starting to get dark, and the atmosphere was spooky thanks to the architecture around them and the near nighttime cloudy sky. Racknar's hairs stood on end and reflex kicked in. His shields were summoned and he spun around to block two shortswords. No, large scissors like what Marionette used to use. Racknar pushed his shield back sending his would-be attacker who was still suspended in the air back.

  The scissor half wielding individual looked to be female. Short and nearly childlike. Made to either resemble an adolescent or someone short and petite. She was dressed in a Gothic Victorian style similar to Marionette but her outfit didn't have leather armor worked into it but instead had more white frills. On her neck is a sort of bowtie with a purple cat’s eye like gem as decoration in the center. Her hair was long and blonde creating a contrast to the black outfit and Marionette's mid-length black hair. The woman also had bright blue eyes that contrasted Marionette's brown eyes.

  Her body was pale, and her doll joints were visible. From the looks of it she was made of a similar ash wood to Marionette and was not hiding her existence as a living doll with an illusion. She let out a sound of frustration. “Gah, how did you know I was coming?! My technique was flawless.” Then a second doll came out from the darkness. This one held a book in her hand that had a blue cat's eye gem decoration on it. “He must have a danger sense like a barbarian or martial artist, that or some training to acquire a similar feature.”

  She also had a Gothic Victorian looking fashion, but her flowing long dress with frilled edges was purple with white. This second doll was taller and made to look more well endowed. On top of her head sat a pointed purple witches hat. Her doll jointed body and pale skin looked similar to the first doll's. She had black hair and blue eyes, her head was upturned and her gaze was aimed down her nose. “Face it Anna, your tactics don't work on everyone. Maybe you should have aimed for the demon in a nun habit. She's likely the healer.”

  The shorter doll, named Anna, snapped back. “Shut up Bella, I don't see you helping. Can't you use illusion magic to turn me invisible?” A third doll comes out of the shadows from a third direction effectively surrounding the party. “Because you didn't ask beforehand and simply jumped in ahead. You're surprisingly reckless for a stealth type.”

  This third living doll was dressed differently. Her outfit was still black with red roses on it giving a Gothic feel, but it was more akin to lingerie or a swimsuit with most of her skin exposed. It looked like it might have been a one piece swimsuit at some point but instead of one solid cloth it has large gaps and holes making the ensemble look like vines or webs wrapping around her and crossing over one another being thicker in some areas and thinner in others. She had a red cat eye gem decoration on a choker and was built to look even more well endowed then the mage.

  She held a thorn whip with a rise in the handle that she stretched and flexed in gloved hands. Actual vines wrapped and extended down from her main outfit to the gloves as well as down her legs to stiletto high heels. Her midsection was even scalped to resemble abs while the rest of her body was made to have a muscular and toned look despite being a doll carved from a pale ash wood just like the rest. She cracked her whip and her lips. “Though I guess this means I get to play more~” She spoke in a sinister yet seductive tone.

  Racknar narrowed his eyes. “Wow, it's the puppet maker's barely disguised fetishes.” He spoke in a sarcastic tone. “I'm guessing each and every one of you is anatomically correct.” Marionette shifted back and forth. “To be fair, so am I. Though I chose that myself, so I guess that's not relevant.” Anna put her fists to her hips in an exaggerated full body pout because her face can't make expressions. “It's not like we chose to be built this way. What we did choose however was to go solo and leave that weirdo mechanicus behind.”

  Racknar let out a low growl. “A mechanicus? That might be a problem. It's basically the artificer version of a lich.” Donna shifts around on her heels making her own full body pout. “All this talk is boring. I wanna play~ Give me the big guy, something tells me he can take a pounding~” Racknar summoned his two swords causing his illusion to break. “You wanna play, I'll play. You might want to establish a safe word though because I play rough~”

  Donna took a more provocative pose. “I'm made of iron ash wood, so feel free to get as rough as you want~ I assure you I can take it~” Purple smoke and pink lightning started coming off Racknar's arms. Ariagoria gestured to the situation. “Seriously, are you two going to fight or fuck. I can't tell anymore. Also, what smells like pomegranate and passion fruit?” Donna flexes her whip in her hands. “Honestly I could go either way~ I mean just look at those four muscular arms~” Anna glared at her sister. “Seriously? We know nothing about these people. They came looking for us so for all we know the mechanicus sent them.”

  Racknar growled. “Actually, I didn't know a mechanicus was involved until now, we sought you out for other reasons. But if you tell us where your maker is, we'll gladly take care of him.” Davy meanwhile complains in the background. “This woman isn't even a Drow, what the fuck is going on?!” Bella sighs. “As tempting as it is to let you go after our creator and get rid of him for us as you suggested, I'm not going to tell you how to reach him unless I'm confident you can beat him. So best us in a fight and we'll tell you everything.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  Ariagoria looked to Racknar. “Are we doing this and why?” Racknar looked at the party. A mechanicus poses as much of a threat if not more to this world as a lich. I get it's not exactly our main quest or our business but if left unchecked it'll be a huge problem in the future. We can't simply depend on their being someone else out there that can handle it. I feel this is the right move.” Ariagoria nods. “I trust you.” She then rubs her nose. “Just ease up on that rage ability, it's starting to make me feel weird. I think my demon-blood is reacting to it.”

  Racknar nodded. “Keep your distance and don't smell me.” Bella took a step forward. “Let's make this as fair a fight as possible, as I'll assume you're all at the same skill level as one another. Three on three, non-lethal attacks only. We’ll let you choose who's fighting.” Marionette cracks her knuckles creating a strange sound since she's a doll. “Let me have a crack at them, I'll show them my father is the superior doll maker.”

  Racknar looked at her. “Think about this logically, the small one is a Rogue as well, and although I can't tell the subclass just by looking at her it's possible that unlike your dad, her creator built her with combat as the intent. In the end it would come down to who has the better stats and equipment. I don't think having Davy cast detect magic and identity before the fight would be sporting if we intend to hold ourselves to keeping this fight fair unless you intend to allow their mage the same opportunity.”

  Marionette crossed her arms but didn't bother arguing. She knew their best chance of winning was to allow Racknar to choose the team. His knowledge of Creatures and Catacombs has come in handy so often that she stopped questioning decisions made based on it some time ago. “Okay Racknar, I'll trust your decision.” Racknar nodded and put his hand on her shoulder. “Then you'll understand the reasons I'm asking you to sit this one out.” He then gives a side nod before letting go. “The three will consist of myself, Ariagoria, and Krys'tal. Davy, I hope you understand my reasoning behind having you also sit this one out.”

  Davy gave a nod. “Aye, this setup is probably our best bet considering how I imagine this fight going.” Davy and Marionette walked a distance away from the groups and simply watched. Racknar kept his strange rage mode powered by lust active. He flexed his knuckles on his swords before sending them away as it was difficult to avoid killing with them. “Alright sisters, consider us ready.” Bella did a light bow. First, introductions. My short sister is Anna, I am Bella, my other sister is Donna. Together, we are the sisters Nightshade.”

  Racknar also bowed slightly. “I am Racknar Aradae, Duke of Camelot. This is Ariagoria “Charity” Wrath, nun of Longinus. That is Krys'tal of the Shatterkin. Our two friends not participating are Marionette Abstergo and Davy Jones. The reason we sought you out is because like you, Marionette is a living doll with a soul, she was created by Giuseppe Abstergo. Until now, she was a fully unique existence.” Donna gave a slight nod. “I see. Well without further delay, let us begin.”

  Donna excitedly exclaimed. “It's play time~” As the two groups started moving to fight. Right away things started getting heavy as Donna whipped at the ground causing her whip to go into it. Thorny vines then shot out of the ground restraining Racknar. Although there was some added flavor, Racknar recognized this as the spell “Entangle”. As soon as he was restrained Anna appeared behind him and slashed a few times at his back only getting shallow cuts into the natural armor.

  Then Bella opened her book with one hand and gestured with the other. Pointing at Racknar he suddenly let out a grunt of pain as a black line shot him causing his body to be covered in black smoke for a while. Ariagoria immediately used a minor healing on Racknar in response to him taking damage. She considered taking out her guns but they made remaining non-lethal difficult. Ariagoria opted to go after the mage with her mace, charging it up with holy flames before slamming it down on the mage. She then goes for a second attack but this time is blocked by a magical ward conjured by the mage.

  Krys'tal thrusts out her hand causing a small gem to come out. It flipped a few times and grew in size to being about eight feet tall and three feet wide at its center ending in points at the top and bottom as it floated above the ground. The crystal beacon was purple like Krystal but sent a gentle translucent rainbow to themselves as well as Ariagoria and Racknar. Racknar forced his way out of the entanglement, breaking the vines. His first instinct was to go after the caster, but when he saw Ariagoria was already engaged in melee with her he decided it was best to maintain distance from Ariagoria.

  Racknar starts humming the tune to “Porn Star Dancing” by “My Darkest Days” as he approaches Donna. The music played softly as if by magic as he hummed the song. Donna grinned as Racknar made his way to her. “Come on baby, don't start holding back on me~ Be as rough as you want~ I want you to ruin me!~” Racknar continued his humming as he swung a fists at the extremely sexual living doll with the first fist charging up with pink lightning. “Infernal Strike!” After sending and landing his second punch he smacked her with the sides of the shields without activating the chainsaw.

  Donna let out a sensual moan with every strike. “Yes. Yes~ Harder, do me harder~ Pick me up with those four strong arms of yours and throw me around like a ragdoll~” She cracked her whip at Racknar causing a wave of sound and light to burst at him. Bella then pointed at Racknar and fired two rays of light blue energy causing ice to form on his body. Anna then tried again to slash at Racknar's back only to meet his shield. Ariagoria once again tried to go after Bella swinging her white flaming obsidian mace at her gut. Slamming into her but once again being blocked on the second hit. Krys'tal aimed her bow at Anna before firing three magically enhanced arrows at her, causing frost to spread on her body.

  Racknar could feel his body reacting differently, as he's been hit with multiple spells that he knows reduce movement speed. It was one thing to know the numbers but another to actually feel the difference. However, since Donna didn't do anything to increase her distance from him she was still in melee range. A mistake she'd come to regret. Racknar sent away the shields before punching her six times with the first being boosted by Infernal Strike. He then puts his four hands on her sides as she staggers from the blows and lifts her off the ground before slamming her down onto her back, hovering over her and breathing heavily with every breath being like a short growl.

  Bella waved her hand casting a spell, something that looked like call lightning as a storm cloud formed but the bolt was an ice blue and caused more frost to form on Racknar. Anna then came in and slashed at his back from above a few times. Ariagoria once again went after Bella, hitting her once with her flaming mace. Krys'tal once again shot three icy magic enhanced arrows at Anna and landed all three. Racknar remained hovering over Donna who was unconscious, breath growling as he glenched the grass at her sides with his hands and tried his best to focus.

  Anna once again slashed at Racknar savagely with her blades. Donna hits him with another lightning bolt having somehow maintained consintration on the spell. Ariagoria seeing Racknar is looking a little rough and not fighting back used one of her stronger healing spells on him and even used her abilities as a sorceress to maximize the effect. Krys'tal considered using a healing ability as well but decided to focus on trying to take out one of the enemies. Using her engaged arrows one last time.

  Bella seeing the healer of the group down and her on damage simply sat on the ground and put her hands up. Anna seeing she's the only thing me standing also puts her hands up. “Yeah, you win.” Bella sighed. “Maybe focusing on the tank wasn't the best idea. I probably should have focused on the healer instead.” Racknar still hovered in place over Donna who woke up with a start after being knocked unconscious. She saw Racknar hovering over her and put her hands on her face in an exasperated way. “Oh my~ Are you actually thinking of taking me?~ This is all so sudden but I suppose I really don't mind. You did just toss me around rather roughly though so maybe you could be gentle?”

  Marionette stomped over one gave Racknar a useless shove. “You shut your whore mouth! Stop trying to seduce him.” Racknar didn't budge or respond so Ariagoria walked over and waved her hand in front of Racknar who's rage mode was still active. “Fight’s over Racknar, you can stand down now.” Racknar suddenly shot to standing but the mist and lightning were still coming off his arms. He turned around and reached out to Ariagoria gently grabbing her face. “You smell… good.”

  Ariagoria slapped Racknar hard. “And so do you, but we need to focus here.” Racknar shook his head and took a step back. “Sorry, I'm trying really hard to not give into the power I'm drawing from but every instinct in my body is screaming at me. Telling me I need to…” Racknar cut himself off and started doing breathing exercises. The mist and lightning finally died down. Donna made an exaggerated full body pout from the floor. “Aww, that's disappointing. Here I was hoping I'd get the whole experience. Fightin’ and fuckin’.” Marionette kicked her in the ribs. “Knock it off, the fight is over so you can stop with the sexy distraction tactics.”

  Donna gripped her side and got up before casing some form of healing magic on her group. Racknar let out a long growling sigh. “We take a long rest, then we head straight to the Mechanicus. Shut him down before he becomes a major treat.” Bella nodded. “And the two groups stay in separate magic huts. I'm not risking Donna messing things up with her nonsense. Donna full body pouted again but didn't object.

  Racknar agreed so Davy and Bella each summoned their own magic hut. Once inside Racknar used his dimensional doorknob to bring out better beds then the ones the hut spawns with. Ariagoria then casts a spell to detour most monsters and wild animals that could be roaming the area. Once rested the two groups would head out to confront the man that created the sisters Nightshade.