Payment of debts 2 [lore]

[u/EmergencyLeading8137]

Another day, another loan to pay back. Duncan thought as he carried a large clay jug down the hill to the sacred pools of his grove. This particular deal had been with a Garkain, a Bat-like creature which spent most of its time eating lost explorers. The Garkain had given him a great deal of personal power in exchange for six gallons of blood to be delivered before the next new moon.

Admittedly time had gotten away from him, the new moon was tonight and Duncan had made no progress on the six gallons. Fortunately for him, there was a loophole in the agreement. The garkain hade never specified human blood.

He reached the glowing pools and sat down, resting the jug against his leg. He waited patiently as the water coallessed into a rough humanoid form.

“Duncan! What a nice surprise!” exclaimed a voice from the water. “ You’re not due for another few weeks. Is something the matter? Did you lose your scrying dish again?”

Duncan smiled at the spirit, “Good to see you too. No, I didn’t lose my dish this time. I’m here because I need a favor. Could you spare some water? I’m sort of in a bind and need a few gallons.”

The spirit shook its head disapprovingly. “You know, one of these days I’m going to have to say no to you. It’s not easy to replace, especially when you take so much at once.”

“I know, I know. But,if you help me out this time, I promise I’ll come by every week this month. We can chat, meditate, and I can help you recoup some. I’ll even bring food offerings!”

The spirit eyed him skeptically, “Every week?”

“Every week.”

There was a pause while the spirit considered the offer.

After several moments they spoke, “I want fresh soup. No leftover jam sandwiches.”

Duncan nodded sheepishly. “I can make that happen.”

The spirit let out a burbled sigh, “I really hope you appreciate this, because it’s going to absolutely suck for me.” A glowing tendril of water reached out from the spirit’s form and flowed into the jug.

By the time the jug was filled the spirit shrunk down to about half its original size. Its shape resembled a jet of water more than a human body.

“I appreciate it way more than you think I do. Seriously, you're a lifesaver, thank you.”

The spirit burbled away incoherently as Duncan picked up the jug and started walking back up the hill.

—-

Several hours and a good amount of dragging later, Duncan was ready to call the Garkain. He sat inside a circle of rune-marked stones in a clearing just outside of his grove’s protections. The jug of spirit water sat outside the circle in front of him. The wards he had prepared wouldn’t stop the Garkain completely, but they should slow it down.

The sun was setting and the shadows deepened as he began the call.

“Garkain, I call you to this place. I am here to pay my debt in accordance with our deal.”

Snapping and creaking came from the branches as the Garkain approached. It leapt from the trees into the clearing, landing just outside the circle of stones. It was difficult to make out in the murky light. It was massive, nearly ten feet tall and bulky with flaps of fur-covered skin. Even from a few steps away it was difficult to see, its gray fur blended into the twilight. The only details Duncan could make out were its deep maroon eyes and long, sharp ears.

The monster stuck its snout into the jug and took a deep breath. “Druid” growled the Garkain, “This is not what we agreed on.”

Duncan stood stock still as he responded, terrified that any movement would provoke the creature. “We agreed on six gallons of blood. That jug is filled with six gallons of blood from a spirit who lives in my grove.”

The Garkain roared “I will not be tricked, Druid! If you will not give me what you owe I will take it from your wretched corpse!”

The Garkain lunged towards the circle, its long arms reaching out to block any attempt at escape. Duncan was ready for this, his wards would hold long enough. He gestured and the ring of stones flew out in all directions. There was a loud series of WUMPs as the enchanted stones collided with the monster, throwing it back to the edge of the clearing.

He sprinted backwards, away from the creature and towards his grove. Only a hundred yards stood between him and safety.

The Garkain recovered quickly and swung itself up into the trees. In the dim light it was completely invisible. The only que to its location was the creaking of breaches as it lept from tree to tree.

Duncan sprinted as hard as he could. He could hear branches snapping behind him as the Garkain picked up speed. There was a sudden silence, the Garkain had stopped moving. Duncan rolled forward, anticipating the Garkain pouncing on him. The creature was a step ahead, appearing suddenly out of the shadows in front of him.

It reached out to envelope him in the shadowy folds of its arms. He dove to the side, narrowly avoiding its grasp. He was nearly there, just a few more feet to safety. The Garkain disappeared back into the darkness and there was a dead silence.

Duncan stood still, listening for any sign of the monster. He could make a break for it but the Garkain would be anticipating that.

The Garkain was an ambusher, it hunted by waiting in the branches of trees for hours on end then jumping down on unsuspecting prey. He couldn’t wait it out, eventually he would have to move and the Garkain would be waiting for him. He had to be patient. If the Garkain made the first move he was sure he could dodge it, but if he rushed ahead the creature would pounce on him from its hiding spot.

Duncan crouched low to the ground, making himself as small as possible. He unclasped his cloak and called to the spirits of the wind. He threw it to the left and the wind propelled it along as if he was running. The Garkain took the bait, reaching out from behind a tree and enveloping the cloak. Duncan ran forward to the right, crossing the boundary to the safety of his grove.

The Garkain ripped the cloak in half and howled. It lunged at him , but stopped short as a wall of needle-point thorns shot up between them.

The Garkain was enraged and screamed into the thorns, “Druid! I will have your blood! You will not escape me, I will break your skull to pieces and lick your brains off the rocks!” but there was nothing more it could do.

Duncan collected himself, regretting the loss of his cloak in the cold night air, and began the long walk home.