Headed by a Snake

Tycondrius decided to ignore Athena's ramblings. Her brother was long dead and his influence, more-or-less nonexistent.

"Young lady," He gestured towards the burning building behind them, "I want the Head Magistrate's residence scoured for valuables."

"Oh... okay?" Athena pursed her lips. It seemed she'd forgotten that, in sieging Caeruleum, Letalis Serpentia was operating on a loss. Looting was the only way they'd hope to recoup those losses.

Tanamar frowned, "Shouldn't we... withdraw with the others? The place is in ruins."

Tycon twisted his lips, "You'll... find something, I'm sure... Sculptures, metal trinkets... Ah, I did notice some very nice tiles in the front hallway."

"Tiles, Tycon?" Tanamar grimaced.

"I... I can use my Arcanite swords to pry them off the floor," Athena offered.

"Creative thinking, I approve," Tycon smiled to her, "Do your best while not overstressing yourself, young lady. Once Boxtholomaeus is full or your confidence wanes, withdraw to safety..."

He clasped his hand on Tanamar's shoulder, "Athanasius, I trust you'll keep the Vanzano mistress safe?"

"In this life and the next..." Tanamar groaned, shaking his head...

As Tycon turned to leave, the young man called out to him.

"Hey... Tycon."

...Pausing, Tycon turned his head back, raising an eyebrow, "Yes?"

Tanamar rendered a crisp salute, a steady fist to his chest, "Don't die out there, man."

"Tss..." Scoffing, Tycon placed his helmet back on and continued on his way, "That is my general goal in this life."

...

Priestess Ariadne's chest tightened in anticipation, watching a host of angels descend from the black sky. They fell or flew through the smoky haze... some forms passably resembling humans, and some... far from it.

It made her question who was worse... her enemies... or her allies.

The Tactician had bid her and her husband, Bannok, to travel from their hovel to the city of Caeruleum.

Upon arrival, they found that the snake had an army of monsters with mouths of flesh-rending teeth, wings for arms, and skins of thick steel.

She argued and argued with Bannok for bells on end... to no avail. Bannok still wanted to participate in the siege... to get revenge on the city that killed his best friend and forced him to disband his guild.

Deep inside... Aria was still angry... at everything. She hoped that the monsters would try to antagonize them... to have some spark of conflict. She needed a reason to bite back... to convince her husband that they weren't as welcome as they seemed.

Maybe she just wanted a way to cause problems for Tycon.

It didn't happen... nothing close to it.

In passing, she asked an Elven member of Guild Letalis about why they seemed to be avoided. She learned that the monsters were warned to keep away from the Gold-Rank humans. Those without rank that did not were to be executed.

Also... the order was given before Ariadne and Bannok arrived.

It was annoying-- infuriating, almost, thinking that Tycon knew they were coming without a doubt.

Still... it didn't change anything.

The only reason Ariadne was in Caeruleum... was to keep her husband out of trouble.

...Only a few suns prior, avoiding 'trouble' meant keeping Bannok from drinking himself stupid.

Tycon changed that. He gave him hope for redemption... and a reason to avoid the bottle. It was something that Ariadne did not want to thank him for.

Instead of cheap whiskey, she now had to keep her husband away from pissed off heavenly beings.

And with what? All Bannok wore a cheap iron helmet, a thick gambeson, and grumpy old polecat scowl.

The Calculator, Sorina, had offered them both a full set of armor worn by Athena's Letalis Serpentia. Bannok declined... as if arrogance and cloth were somehow better than steel plate.

She glanced over to Bannok... an old... old... angry human. This was the man she fell in love with all those years ago. This is the man she still loved with all of her heart, regardless of the lines etched in his face... even though he could only embrace her with one arm.

Without a shield arm, Bannok carried a looted longsword over his shoulder.

Obviously, he'd be fine. He had the Weaponmaster Class, after all. But still... using such a large, unwieldy weapon wasn't like him.

It just felt like... neglecting heavy armor... prioritizing offense... seven hells, even coming to the gods-damned city in the first place...

It felt like... maybe Bannok was tired of living.

The thought of it broke her heart.

He never showed weakness around her. When she'd ask about it, he'd laugh and smile... even though she knew he left the bed in the middle of the night to cry... Traveling over, he swore up and down that he wouldn't needlessly risk himself...

And even though she hated herself for thinking the way she did...

Bannok was human.

Humans are natural-born liars.

...Almost as bad as snakes.

"You best be careful, hon," Ariadne warned. "I can't heal you if yer dead."

"I know, wife," Bannok grumbled. "That's not even the first time you've told me that this sun."

"I'm jus' worried," She huffed. "Tha's all..."

​ "Well..." Her husband winked as he wore an unapologetic smirk, "How 'bout you worry a little quieter?"

Ariadne shook her head, too fed up with the circumstances to argue. If things were different, she'd have offered to shove her enchanted quarterstaff up his rear.

A short distance away was an angel, but nothing like she'd ever seen or heard about. Its body was a gorgeous, marble white... and that was where the beauty ended.

It was a huge mass of flesh, twenty feet tall and wider than four gorgons around. It crawled around by undulating its body and dragging itself forward on massive, three-fingers claws. It had no face, but had a huge, stretching maw of jagged flesh that resembled teeth.

With an otherworldly roar, it shot a beam of radiant energy... disintegrating a troop of fleeing humans.

They weren't even part of guild Letalis. They were just adventurers.

Aria knew that angels did not care for mortals. She had the feeling that whatever mage brought them to this world also knew.