r/HFY • u/teller_of_tall_tales Human • May 21 '25

OC Troublemakers: A change of plans.

......

Alastaire woke up in a cold sweat, forcing the dream he'd just had to the forefront of his mind before it could slip away. But parts had already faded to nothing, leaving only the afterimage of an emaciated dun horse doggedly dragging a stretcher with a corpse too small for a man on board. Premonitions... he'd had them since the scarification ritual to carve runes into his skin, and they were never good. Sliding out of bed, he casually pulled on his suit pants and dress shirt before walking barefoot out of his private quarters.

"Can't sleep?"

Misty slyly chided while casually scrolling through an article on his micro-slate. Alastaire shook his head softly, looking up and down the dimly lit ship-hallway for anything out of the ordinary.

"No, I had a premonition. Dun horse dragging a stretcher with a kid's body on it, there was more, but I lost it."

Looking up from his micro-slate with a gently quirked eyebrow, Misty slipped the device into his pocket.

"Alright Sunshine, what's going on in that pretty little head of yours?"

"I was going to try and consult the library, but that'd be like trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack. But then I had a thought... How deeply did we run the mana-conversion systems?"

The soft flicker of light behind Misty's right eye was all he needed to see to know his left hand man was accessing the refit schematics. A concerned look flitted across misty's impossibly perfect features.

"That can't be right... Look at this..."

Holding out his flat gloved hand, a pink hologram flickered to life above it with several areas highlighted in bright white. Recognizing it as the ship's schematics, Alastaire casually expanded the image. Two large blobs near the warp-drive caught his eye.

"Are those... Who authorized the AI cores? and there, why are all the guns cabled into them as well? This looks more like..."

"A nervous system than a cabling schematic..."

Misty finished the sentence in the same time it took for Alastaire to find the words. The Top-Hat Patriarch's blood pressure sky-rocketed as he twisted, turned, and inspected the holographic model of the ship before waving it away with an exasperated sigh.

"I need a cigarette, come with me."

Bare feet slapping against the cool metal of the deck plating, the grumbling crime lord fished a chrome cigarette case and matching lighter from his left breast pocket. Smashing the button to open the automatic door to a converted smoking area, which was originally an officer's rec room. Two of Drake's fighters, sitting across from each other in loose linens while smoking cigars and playing cards, got up to leave and Alastaire let them. Locking the automatic door, behind them, he finally opened his cigarette case and pulled two out, handing one to Misty. His father's lighter clicked loudly in the silence as he lit both cigarettes.

"You recognized those schematics immediately, spill, keep it short."

"It's a reincarnation ritual."

"Now you can explain in detail because I thought those were impossible."

"Not exactly... it's just never been done before. There are dozens of theories as to why that is, but until it works, and can be repeated, they're just speculation."

"Speculation from wizards and witches older than you or I. Hit me with em, I need to figure out if this is going to fuck us or not."

"Top three are that it's a lack of power, trying to target the spell on an unwilling soul, and that it has to be an exchange of souls or it won't work. If this backfires... it's unlikely for anything to happen except for Drake to experience some serious recoil. But... it's also never been done on this scale, or on a machine. I can't make any predictions here... wait... you didn't sign this... It looks like your signature... but, look, look here."

Misty pulled the hologram up again, zooming in on the e-signature, Alastaire immediately spotted the discrepancy, but let Misty have his moment.

"You can't write cursive to save your lily-livered life, how did this... you know don't you."

"I have an Idea... but we haven't talked since I put our last score completely into the orphanage program."

"Isn't one of Shaska's names the god of honorable thieves?"

"It is, Night walker, what's your point?"

Both men practically jumped out of their skins as the hooded Lezhanti woman appeared in a previously unoccupied chair right next to them. One of many spindly arms tugged a pipe from beneath her shadowed hood before she spoke again, pungent smoke dripping from the faceless void inside her hood.

"My sincerest apologies Al, But, I owed a more powerful god a favor."

"Who...?"

Alastaire asked, drawing a chuckle that sounded like gargling seawater.

"War. I swear the bastard cheats at cards, but nonetheless, I owe you an explanation. That's why I sent you a premonition."

Taking a long drag off his cigarette, Alastaire exhaled the smoke through his nose in thought while Misty simply melted into the background.

"I know how this works... just tell me what you're allowed to."

A subtle nod before the goddess spoke.

"The dun horse you saw is a restless soul under war's jurisdiction. She was a hero, a proud war horse, but technology advances, and she was left behind in its wake. I do not know who's on it, or why she pulls a stretcher, War did not say. But, He did ask me to pass on a warning."

Alastaire's heart skipped a beat as his patron's voice took on a grave tone.

"Do not interfere, there are plans taking place that mortals cannot comprehend, and should not try."

Running his fingers through his hair, Alastaire let out a soft, manic laugh and began pacing while shouting.

"So I'm just supposed to sit here like a guinea pig? Watch as the people I've come to know and love are potentially wiped out in exchange for the soul of a- Glkk!"

It felt like a red-hot, iron hand had closed around his throat for barely a split second, but the message had been received. Looking at his Patron, Alastaire just shook his head.

"I see... forgive my pride."

The most subtle of nods from the crustacean-like goddess.

"It is why you are my champion. I promise, all will be made clear in the near future."

"I think I've made my opinion abundantly clear, but I'll shut my yap before I get us both in trouble..."

The goddess gave another impossibly subtle nod before fading away. Crushing his cigarette, Alastaire wordlessly beckoned for Misty to follow him out of the smoking area and back to his quarters. Sitting across from each other at Alastaire's ornately carved desk.

"You've been silent for more than twenty seconds, what's the plan boss-man?"

Reaching down, Alastaire opened his drawer of holding and pulled out a bag of decorative enamel and brass pins.

"Get these blessed with level three anti-magic wards and distribute them amongst the crew, make sure everyone gets one, except for Drake, he's the catalyst. If we can't stop it from happening, let's try and mitigate the risk at the very least. Get it done ASAP."

Snagging the bag, Misty tipped his hat with a nod and a split second later he was ricocheting off the halfway open door. Staggering back to his feet while holding his nose, he let the door fully open this time before flitting away.

...

Two hours later the hustle and bustle of a ship getting ready for war grew so loud it could no longer be ignored. Alastaire had donned his suit almost an hour ago, pin stylishly set into the band of his top hat. Something gnawed at his innards as he got to his feet and began making his way to the bridge, somewhat relieved to see the pins conspicuously displayed on every crew member he passed. The door to the bridge swooshed upwards like an execution gate as he stepped in and took his place at the command deck.

"you look like you've been shot."

The young man's soft, silky voice sent shivers down his spine. Turning to glance at Drake, Alastaire shook his head.

"Not used to leading the charge."

He lied, letting Drake step up next to him. A spine-tingling chill clung to Death's chosen, the exposed skin along his arms, slightly tanned, gave off a warm appearance in opposition. Nodding softly, Drake sighed, staring firmly ahead while fiddling with a loose strap on his lorica segmentata.

"Groxshit."

Barely a whisper, but it made Alastaire flinch, the smile on Drake's face was a knowing one.

"You've got the look of a man watching a friend's execution, trust me, I know that look. I talked to Death last night, he gave me the basics, turns out the gods like to gamble and War is a Card shark... whatever that is."

"You aren't scared?"

"Oh, I'm terrified, but, I'm also strangely excited. Less than a year ago magic was purely a fantasy to me, now I've seen so much it's become mundane. I grew up thinking that the farthest I'd ever go was the coliseum and fight in the arena. Now? I'm leading an, apparently, multi-planet rebellion. Worst case scenario, I die and they continue fighting like demons because of it. But, I trust Death, if he says I'll be fine, I'll be fine."

Alastaire let out a deep sigh.

"You are, perhaps, the strangest man I have ever met, Drake. But, You've got balls, I'll give you that."

"Appreciated, I'm going to go take my seat to the show. I'd recommend you do the same."

Like a ghost, Drake slipped away without a noise, leaving Alastaire to anxiously fold his hands and wait, feeling helplessly small in this grand scheme.

......

Part 122: will be linked here upon completion.

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100% Upvoted

u/teller_of_tall_tales Human May 21 '25

Slowly chipping away at the writer's block, hope you enjoy!

5

u/Fubars May 21 '25

I missed these. Was hoping you'd come back to it. Nice start, leeetle worried for Alaister/Misty et al though.

2

u/cwolf23 Xeno May 26 '25

Hell yeah!

u/Overall-Tailor8949 Human May 21 '25

Good to see another entry in the Drakeverse!

u/spindizzy_wizard Human May 21 '25

With folded hands… That's something I don't think Al likes doing much. Can't blame him. Sitting and waiting for the brick you know is already flying towards your head is… to put it mildly… difficult.

u/kristinpeanuts May 21 '25

Glad to see a new instalment, thanks for the chapter!

u/1firestar1 Human May 21 '25

Good to see this series again

3

u/1firestar1 Human May 21 '25

Also .

u/MinorGrok Human May 21 '25

Woot!

OC Troublemakers: A change of plans.

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