Diary Entry 41

Today was the second event, the Discus Throw, which I had no confidence in. After a small breakfast, I dropped over to the postal office to drop off my report on the Javelin Throw before heading over to Acme Stadium where several other contestants we're already warming up.

We were just getting ready to start the second event, the Discus Throw, when when little Leroy came scampering onto the field and climbed up to my shoulder. I didn't even have time to process because the ground began to tremble. An explosion sounded from the southern city wall, followed by distant, panic-filled screams. The event announcer then announced that the games are temporarily on hold as a horde of chimeras had just broken through the city walls and were currently rampaging through the streets (trust an undead to announce an emergency like they were announcing a carriage being towed).

The announcement had barely finished when the ground shaking grew in intensity as the chimeras burst into the stadium. I noticed Chan Lee stood in front of one of the charging monsters just before I suffered a glancing blow from another chimera. Picking myself up, I saw my opponent turn around to begin a second charge. I quickly ran through my options in my head, the enchantments on the field and stadium prevent me from using Earth or Plant Magic, I didn't have any forms sturdy enough to shapeshift into, and the thing had two heads so Mind Magic would be difficult. Besides a javelin, that left me with either Fire Magic or Lightning Magic so I conjured up a wall of fire which startled it out its charge. As my opponent paused to shake off its confusion, I sent lightning bolt spell after lightning bolt spell at it. After about a baker's dozen of lightning bolt spells, the chimera finally fell.

In hindsight now that I had time to think after the fight, all the whispers and such I had been hearing at the Phoenix's Nest made sense. Chimeras, for those of you who don't know, are the result of a group of animals and/or monsters being fused together by a Mana Storm (in the wild). This was strange though, usually there are only small amounts of them produced. Curious, I examined the slain chimera, looking for a possible explanation for their numbers this time. The base seems to be some sort of boar monster, the other head clearly belonged to a deer, and the creature had the color pattern of an Azure Monarch monster, but there didn't appear to be anything visible that could explain why there were so many of them. I didn't have the time to carry out a dissection either, so the mystery will probably have to wait.

I turned around to check on Chan Lee, and to my dismay, I saw that nutcase had survived his bullheaded collision with his chimera, and naturally he did so in the most ridiculous, and yet cleverest, way I have seen yet. With his feet dug into the ground, the chimera's charge should have sent him flying while snapping his legs off at the ankles, but instead, his legs just kept stretching and stretching until his body snapped back, and using the momentum of the rebound, Chan Lee retaliated with a devastating punch! The knucklehead had used a Wonder Gummy Bean (a magical candy created by a wizard, that has a magical effect that depends on the flavor), and from the elastic properties of his legs, I would say he ate a yellow one with a red stripe (strawberry banana flavored) which turns the body into highly elastic rubber for five minutes.

After a few more chimeras in the stadium were defeated, I hobbled over to the medical tent, which, thank goodness, was still standing, to have my broken ribs, some burnt fingertips, and a few gashes healed. In the sky I could already see the military harpies taking flight to protect the civilians. After a quick check to make sure Leroy was okay, I am still not sure how he managed to stay on my shoulders unharmed the entire time, I left the stadium to head back to my room at the Phoenix's Nest.

I was followed, naturally, on my way back, by Chan Lee. For once, though, I was glad for the backup. The streets, or what was left of them, were a battlefield full of adventurers, soldiers, civilians, and chimeras. Now that I could use my Earth and Plant spells, I was able to fly through the fighting (not literally), sending a Escalating Rock Pillar spell at one chimera in front of me, followed by a Vine Lasso at another charging at me from the side.

By the time I had reached the Phoenix's Nest (luckily the place still only looked like it was on fire), I was running on empty. Chan Lee knocked on the door which was answered by a muffled voice saying something I couldn't quite make out, to which he responded by giving our names. A few seconds later, there were some unlocking sounds and the door opened a crack. We barely passed through the door when the innkeeper slammed it shut and locked it again (I could have sworn the door didn't have so many locks on it this morning). I went upstairs to my room and opened my Dimensional Carpet Bag, pulling out a 5 Hourglass Stamina Potion, a commercial mana potion, whatever gear I could quickly put on, and Tear-jerker. Downing the two potions, I left my room trying to walk and put on my gear at the same time, so naturally I collided with my scaly acquaintance who was doing the same thing.

Leaving the inn now that both of us were both geared up, we made our way to where a red-haired harpy in shiny armor was taking on several of the chimeras at the same time. Even though she didn't seem to need it, we decided to give her a hand, besides I figured we could ask her for information. I sent a barrage of pointy rocks at the chimeras on her left while Chan Lee dove into the cluster of chimeras on her right. Swinging her very painful-looking whip (seriously what is female warriors and scary whips, I am just glad Zilla prefers to use a glaive and shield), the harpy was able to make quick work of the the remaining chimeras in front of her as well as the ones behind her.

Now that we weren't engaged in combat, were able to ask the harpy (she never did give us her name) if she had any information about the chimera horde stampeding around the city. From her shiny armor we figured she was probably a high ranking officer in Avis-Poulí's army and as such, would be able to answer questions such as where the chimeras are concentrated in the city, where in the city wall did they break through from, or if they are still coming in. I figured even if she didn't know she could fly up and find out, but she was able to tell us that the chimeras had broken through at the South Gate but were spreading out into the city like a river delta (her words, but still, an interesting comparison, I might use it sometime).

emergency save the city

With the harpy leading, we aided the remaining people on the street as we pushed towards the direction the chimeras were coming from. The harpy informed us that her sisters (as in the other officers) were doing the same thing (I am going to just assume she was contacting them with her Rune Bracelet) and that we should meet up with the other defenders on the poorly named (in my opinion) Chimera Crossroads. From there, we were able to seal them off until the only direction they could escape was the big hole in the wall they made at the South Gate. We slowly reduced their numbers until they stopped trying to bulldoze through us and fled outside the city walls.

Finally, what remained of the chimera horde was pushed into a nearby forest where they could be "monitored and reintegrated into an appropriate ecosystem" as the Ippodromía branch of the Monster Tamer's Guild put it. However the damage done to the city was nothing to sneeze at, streets full of buildings that either resembled a cheese with holes in it or completely reduced to rubble. The Acme Stadium had arches on top missing and would need a new field. The damage was so bad that it appeared that the Athlitikós Agónas might be put on hold for about four years as they rebuild everything but unlike Chan Lee, I'm not complaining. Chan Lee says he is going to stay a while to help guard Ippodromía until they repair the city walls, as for me, I am going to go see if I can catch up with my party after I submit my report to my editor.