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Adventures of Dusty Yote

Chapter 1 - The Newest Recruit

5578 words

Something was amiss in Irilian.

In what had been a thriving and profitable kingdom, towns and villages suddenly came under siege by beasts. Unlike the normal ferals that prowled the woods and fields, these were neither shy nor scared off by hunters. These were more inclined to capture and enthrall those who tried to hunt them down. Local hunters and town guards who went into the wilds in pursuit often went missing, sometimes were found dead, or else were so ill they needed months to recover.

At last, one returned with an extraordinary tale. His group had been ambushed by something that knocked them out, placed a spell on them, and began to extract their life essence. Moreover, it spoke, revealing it was not just some unthinking beast but a true menace. The hunter was somehow able to break free of his magical bonds, fought back, and with the beast at his mercy, asked it the pressing question: why in the world would it do such a thing?

According to the beast, most things walking through Irilian had some sort of magical power flowing through them. These creatures hunted those who were filled with magic as a way of sustaining themselves and growing stronger. It became a new kind of hunger, and while they might feel satiated for sometimes months, eventually they would desire more and need to drain magic again. Unfortunately, it would often feel like one's life was being drained, and so it was that the drained needed to rest and recover until they had regained their magic again.

The solution seemed easy enough, and the wolf King Roderick IV laid out the plan to the mayors and the guards. Do not trespass into the wilds without proper care and concern. Unless they had a reason, do not let anyone into the wilds without permit or verification. Stay in groups, stay on the look-out, and increase the presence of guards to combat the beasts. Finally, a curfew to keep all townspeople accounted for after a certain time.

For a while, the plan appeared to succeed. The attacks became fewer and farther between, sightings went down, and the people felt safer. Some of the laws were lessened, and activities like hunting and woodcutting and herb-gathering resumed so long as they were in large groups and at least one of them was armed. The roads opened again, and they assumed they had managed to deprive the beasts of their primary source of magic. Thus the plague of beasts would end.

It was not to last.

Where it was thought the beasts would be deterred they became only more aggressive and cunning. Those exploring outside would be lured away from their groups and picked off one-by-one. Guards would come back with cuts and bruises, scratches and gashes from trying to fight off something that would take one of their number. And then came the reports of disappearances from within the town walls not unlike those outside, blending in with the crowds and stealing victims from under their noses.

The problem was getting worse, not better. There was another solution, one they had been trying to avoid but now seemed clear. It was time to go on the offensive.

And so the king of Irilian decreed that a Beast Hunter's Guild should be established. Men and women who were able to prove their combat mettle physically and mentally were signed up and sent on missions to take them down. They were to use eyewitness reports, testimonies and interviews, and tracking skills to find and eliminate them. Some beasts even boasted bounties, and those who could bring back a token of their defeat were rewarded by the king's men. Some hunters began to wear the tokens like badges, and became famous for their skill and prowess.

Around the time our story starts, the Guild had just commended a new recruit. His name was Dusty Yote, a thirty-something coyote from the city of Riverwood. The son of a teacher and an artisan, he was whip-smart and soon revealed to be blessed with holy power, and soon gained a place in the Order of the Holy Sacrament. There he studied in the Scriptures and in combat (as defenders of towns and protection against beasts), and grew familiar with both the sword and shield.

In the course of his training, Dusty learned about the Guild, and with the approval of his presiding Deacon, ventured forth from Riverwood to the capital to participate in the tests. He showed proficiency in holy blessings, and though he was somewhat stout, his combat training from the Order made him stalwart and physically enduring. His species also gave him keen ears, keen smell, a good memory, and an independent sense of wanderlust. Equipped with a talisman, sword, and heater shield, he was thought to have potential to be a fine hunter indeed.

Without much deliberation, Dusty was able to pass the Guild tests and become an official Beast Hunter. He wore their sigil on his breast, and was told to report to a guild officer in Riverwood - a known hot-spot of beast activity - to receive hunts for him to go after.

---

Dusty's first action upon returning home was to go to the Church of the Holy Sacrament in Riverwood and profess his new position. The coyote approached a tawny brown mouse who served as one of the acolytes. The mouse had been the coyote's first friend in the Order, though took the more pacifist route of serving the town church instead of going out and facing combat.

Dusty found the mouse cleaning the pews of the church. The mouse looked up to see the coyote smiling.

"Welcome home, Master Yote!" the mouse said, running up to greet him. "You are armed in your finery and are beaming like you have been blessed. What ever is the occasion?"

Dusty was, in fact, dressed in full armor: charcoal-black leather with white edges; bronzed pauldrons, bracers, and knee-pads; longsword sheathed and shield on his left arm; and a pewter circlet with a bright yellow tourmaline set into it just above his brow. It was the standard armor set of the Order of the Holy Sacrament - the circlet being his personal talisman to help channel holy powers - and he wore it proudly whenever he was on duty or otherwise summoned outside of the Riverwood town gates.

"I am feeling indeed blessed, Brother Thomas," Dusty said to the mouse. "I have become a member of the Beast Hunters Guild and will report to their offices in Riverwood for hunts soon."

As though to show proof of this remark, Dusty showed off the new insignia on his chest. Next to the golden, eight-pointed star-and-cross of the Order now stood the silver image of a eye atop a winged stave with a sharp point like a sword or spear. The eye stood for the need to be vigilant, the wings for trackers and those fleet of foot, the stave for knowledge, and the pointed tip for strength. All were considered needed and worthy among Hunters, and were proudest of those who could bear all those traits as needed.

Brother Thomas jumped up and clapped a few times. "Yes, yes, you do have a reason to celebrate, then! May the Creator's light shine its favor on you and grace your path! There are plenty of good deeds to be done in defense of those who need it, and taking on those beasts is most certainly a worthy cause."

"Worthy indeed," Dusty agreed. "There is honor in those who hold the home front and keep our cities safe as our Order does. But there is also honor in those who go out and press such dangers back. The more of that I can do to help our people feel safe and secure, the better I feel."

"And you shall have plenty of chances to do that, I am sure," Brother Thomas said. "But here, let me give you a little something, both as a token of your new standing and what might be a bit of help." He scurried off for one of the vestries aside the altar and quickly returned with a small parchment scroll wrapped in red thread; the heading marked it as "Prayer of Restoration". "Read this one and memorize it," he said, "it should come in use."

"My thanks for the gift, as it seems it was given from our reserves," said Dusty with a slight bow. "But please explain the gift so that I may know how to use it."

"It is a spell from a long time ago," the mouse said, his whiskers twitching excitedly. "It may seem like no more than simple healing at first glance, but it is more powerful than it appears. Not only can it help stopper wounds, it can also heal mild poisons, and has the ability to clear the mind. That is all I can say for now, but know it is a surprisingly multi-faceted spell."

Dusty now looked warily at the roll of parchment he held in his paw. "Given what I've heard and seen of the beasts and their propensities, anything like this must be valuable indeed." He pushed the scroll back to the mouse. "A mere thanks is not enough; I can already see you have given me something precious and sacred far beyond my ability to repay you."

"It is a gift," Brother Thomas said, waving a paw as though to dismiss Dusty's protests. "A gift of the Order that was prepared for you upon knowledge of your heading to the trials at Irilian capital. You who have already mastered three of our blessings so swiftly should have no trouble and perhaps great need of this one. For it was given with a commandment: that you should use this to the benefit of anyone who finds themselves troubled by the beasts, that it would clear away their doubts and help them to recover."

Dusty now took the scroll with a knowing smile. "Aha, not necessarily a true gift but a reminder to carry the weight and significance of the Order even into this more public route. A spell of great use is not always so easily determined how and when one should use it for best results."

"The Order has acknowledged the necessity of something like the Hunters Guild," Thomas said. "But yes. Though you head into something where the ideas of corruption and hard judgments are more likely, the Order reminds you to weigh both the outcomes and the costs. For even though they do not like the beasts, there is yet hope that other methods might bring them back to the path of salvation."

"Then perhaps my background offers yet another advantage," Dusty said. "I may be able to research these beasts and see what makes them tick, and know best how to handle them."

"I do not doubt that you will face some truly devilish and devious enemies," Thomas said gravely. "For that I am glad that I do not have to go with you. But I do think there will be some who will not need the sword, or at least do not need to die by it."

"That we shall see on a case-by-case basis," Dusty said, nodding. "If their intent is truly dark, there may be no other recourse. But I shall stay by our oath, and value the defense of the populace as a whole over true aggression against a single perceived enemy."

"If you stay true to that oath, then my faith and that of the Order is placed with you," Brother Thomas said. "There are not many of us within the ranks of the Guild, and it is important that you consider our reputation as well as your own in these endeavors. Do us proud, follow our oath, and I believe you will come out victorious."

"The weight of the gift has been made significantly less with this knowledge," Dusty laughed. "My thanks again, and I promise I will keep your faith near and dear to me."

"The hunt may take you far," the mouse squeaked, "but do not forget your friends and compatriots here in Riverwood. Remember that we are here to assist you however we can."

"Who knows," Dusty said. "I may need your assistance soon in helping someone recover from these beasts. But I shall also remember to stop by occasionally for simple hospitality and rest from duty in the peace of the Creator."

"I hope the latter more often than the former," Thomas said.

The two clasped and shook paws. Then Dusty left Brother Thomas to continue his duties as a church warden, and Dusty himself headed home to await his orders. The regents in Irilian had told him a letter would arrive when a mark was presented for him, and then he would answer to the guildmaster in Riverwood for more information. But now he was merely to wait, and he would do so with eagerness and expectation.

---

Dusty did not have to wait for long. The very next morning a letter arrived telling him to report to the Riverwood section of the Beast Hunter's Guild and speak with Guildmaster Radan at his earliest convenience. He found the building, little more than a standard cabin with a stone base and wood walls, in the main square and headed inside.

Up front, a pronghorn secretary in simple dress sat at a desk sorting paperwork, parchment, and scrolls into a couple of bins. She looked up and asked Dusty to introduce himself; when he did, she asked him to wait on one of the chairs and she would go fetch the guildmaster.

Soon she emerged from the back room with a stout black bull perhaps a whole head taller than the coyote. He wore the traditional armor of the town guard and was dressed in muted blues with silver armor, and also wore the insignia of the Guild on his chest. The bull came up and held a hand out for the coyote to shake. "You must be Dusty Yote, from the Order of the Holy Sacrament. I am Guildmaster Radan, head of the Riverwood section."

Of course, the bull likely received confirmation as soon as they could from Irilian. "I assume one of the masters in Irilian must have sent a courier almost as soon as I left. I expected to be at home for a few days before getting any notice. But if there is a hunt, I am ready for it."

"Good to hear. I have no need of instructing you of our purpose - you've already gained a fair amount of that in Irilian. But come, let us speak in the back."

The back room was half library and half clerk's office. Radan's desk was full of paperwork and pencils and ink and quills, and there were a massive amount of books in shelves on every available open wall space in the room. There were a few chairs, but Radan actually had to clear some off for either of them to sit down.

"So, as this is your first hunt, I should let you know something. Apart from seemingly growing in magic power whenever they drain magic, most of these beasts are quite large. A few have even taken on our forms, but are abnormally large for their species."

"They grow in size as well as power, then," Dusty said with a smirk. "It seems we are tasked with taking down giants."

Radan seemed taken aback. "You jest," he said. "I do not know what to make of that, as you are the first to do so. Quite often it takes a moment for others to process that, and many become hesitant or wish to alter their plans."

"Quite obviously, I may need to myself," Dusty said, now serious again. "An increase in size may translate itself to an increase in strength or power. But I am beginning to see where the trouble lies, and why our town guards have needed extra help in warding them off."

"I would not have appealed to the Guild myself if that wasn't the case," Radan smiled. "It also makes me feel better that one of Riverwood's own sons would be the one to answer the call for help. And a member of the Order, no less."

"I have heard I am one of the few of our Order to do so."

"The Order is meant more for defense than it is for offense. But far from that being a detriment, it means I may be able to send you both to negotiate some of the stranger ones and without hindrance to some of the more obvious ones who attack openly. I hope to make it clear that the targeting of such groups will not be tolerated, and there are those who will come to their defense."

Dusty already felt assured compared to the feelings he'd gained from Brother Thomas. "Then our missions align perfectly, and I am honored to serve a Guildmaster such as yourself."

"Good. First, I wish to explain the protocol for these missions. Our Guild is actually divided into two sections: the Hunters and the Trackers. The Trackers gain information through talking with locals, spying on particular locations, and using natural tracking and navigation efforts. We then build a report of the beasts' habits, methods, and typical targets. Once we feel we have a good picture, we commission you as Hunters to go and pursue them. As proof of your victory, we will ask for something from you, a token that the beast has truly been stopped.

Dusty considered it. "So the Trackers compile a list of information that is given to us to better understand the beast and the problems we might encounter. It is only once a good picture is created that the Hunters are sent off to actually pursue and take down."

Radan nodded. "You catch on quickly. Now, I do have a mission ready for you if you are willing to accept it."

Dusty bowed slightly. "I am here for the defense of Riverwood; I am at your service."

Guildmaster Radan nodded approvingly. "I admit your first one is already a little strange. It is a skunk who introduces himself as Bernard. He targets the local woodcutters and gatherers at the forest edge. But from what our Trackers have gained from the woodcutters, he's an amiable sort who seems to consider his taking one of their members as a trade. More often than not, he's willing to help out, and frequently cuts enough wood for two."

"This is very strange, indeed, that a group should have so close a relation with one of the beasts," Dusty pondered.

"It very much is," Radan said. "Average recovery time also seems to be a week of lethargy, making it one of the lighter ones in the area. Not only that, but the skunk seems to wait just enough time between his takings that the woodcutters are never exactly down a member for very long. I think some of the times he comes to help out are almost an apology for the one who's currently missing from their number."

"They must think of it as an uneasy truce," Dusty commented.

"The workers do, and so does the Guild, honestly," Radan said. "But the foremen and the Guild itself have come to the conclusion it is no longer sustainable. The kingdom is expanding and the businesses need more wood for construction and trade, and we cannot afford to constantly lose members every few weeks. Perhaps if the magic wasn't there, someone like Bernard could make himself a useful member of society, but it is just no longer feasible."

"Then this seems a simple one to me: tell him we cannot afford it any longer and perhaps might offer him a position if he decides to abandon it. If he refuses to comply, we have no choice but to drive him off for his upsetting the workers."

"You're on the nose, so far as I can see it. Your token for this one is quite simple, too: a tuft or so of his fur cut from his tail. Take it either as a sign of his acceptance or a sigil of his defeat."

"Very well, my mission is clear and I choose to accept. Where may I meet this Bernard?"

"Head north of the city and follow the woodcutter's paths up to the forest's edge. Should take about an hour or so. Continue heading north a little longer to find his usual stalking grounds; the gatherers see him more often than the woodcutters do. He often has a battleaxe that he uses similar to a woodcutter's hatchet, and if he knows how to wield it in combat, he might make for an aggressive foe."

"Caution seems well-warranted, particularly if he has been able to come up with something of a truce. We don't want to overstep his welcome too much. But let me go as an emissary first; he may take better to a member of the church than to a member of the Guard."

"My thoughts exactly," Radan smiled proudly. "Perhaps he will see the act as one of compassion and bother us no longer. But we have other, darker ones yet to come. I have set a few of our veterans on one and have had no signs yet, and another we are currently in the process of tracking."

"Let me make progress on the one first, and I shall help where I can later."

As it was still early, Dusty decided to try his chances with meeting Bernard. Leaving the guild hall, he was given a scroll containing a primer of information on and the last known location of Bernard the skunk. He went home and packed what remained of his armor and weaponry: his circlet, shield, longsword, a dagger he kept for emergencies, and some provisions in case he was out all day searching for Bernard. He also grabbed a few healing herbs and ointments from one of the local apothecaries in case he should face combat, and soon headed for the church to pray.

There was no service that day and the church was empty except for a few acolytes who tended the altar and a few parishioners who were there for much the same reasons as Dusty. The coyote knelt in front of the altar, bowed his head, and repeated a few lines: "Hallowed Creator, guide me in your ways. Grant me strength to face what lies ahead, wisdom to make the right decisions, and temperance so that I may see things with a clear vision." After a few repetitions he felt better and stronger, and began to head out into the wilds.

---

Riverwood was one of the larger cities in Irilian of just over twenty thousand souls, not including nearby small hamlets or trading encampments. It was also somewhat long and thin, so Dusty was quickly able to leave the city as he made his way north. He passed by wheat and barley fields as he continued, part of the ring of farms that surrounded the city. Before the sun had climbed too high he was already leaving the farms and within sight of the small trading encampment that functioned as the woodcutter's base.

To prep himself, he decided to do a little more last-minute tracking and soon found one of the foremen within the woodcutter's camp. It seemed like Bernard's activity had increased as of late and the time between taking people was decreasing, such that there was now often an overlap between one disappearing and the previous one returning. But they had received a letter from the Beast Hunter's Guild to stay away from the usual area for a day so that Dusty could do his business without there being any potential interference. Dusty was pleased, as it may also reduce potential casualties or problems from cross-fire.

The forest path was well within view when he left the woodcutter's camp. The grasses here were short and he could see well in the clear air. He made his way to the forests by late morning with no issue and quickly followed the woodcutter and gatherer paths as far as he could go.

The forests here were filled with oak, ash, and birch trees with assorted bushes around their bases. It was a common spot for gatherers for the presence of wild blueberries and strawberries. The trees were made of good, strong wood, which also made it a good spot for the woodcutters to get good stores. The cutters were not thorough, purposefully chopping down trees almost at random and leaving wide berths available for new growth; already Dusty could see new saplings beginning to rise in the early spring air.

Though there was not supposed to be a member of the Riverwood woodcutters out, there was nonetheless the sound of someone hacking at a tree with dull thuds in the distance. Dusty followed the noise steadily north-by-northwest until he came across what he assumed was his quarry.

Hacking away at a downed log was a rather large black-and-white striped skunk perhaps a full head taller than Dusty was. He was somewhat muscular with a large belly, wielding a battleaxe that may have been close to Dusty's height on its own. He had on a small tunic that was open at the front, exposing his slightly pudgy belly and a definite pair of abs and well-muscled arms and legs. He whistled a little as he worked, a jaunty tune that was a clear sign he expected no one to even try and surprise him.

Dusty at first stood back a little, shocked. He'd heard that the beasts were bigger than normal. But where most skunks stood just under the coyote's height, this was bigger than some of the big cats back at the town. Not only that, he was sturdy and well-built and yet moved with fluidity that suggested still good agility. Was this the consequence of absorbing so much magic? If so, that meant he may have some powerful magics of his own. But Dusty simply steeled himself, adjusted his shield, and went forth.

He waited for a moment until he saw the skunk stand back from the log a bit and looked around as though to survey his handiwork. It was at this point Dusty came up and, from still a fair distance away, put up his free hand and shouted in a bright voice "Hail, friend!"

The skunk looked up and turned around to face Dusty's shout. He seemed quite mellow, turning himself fully around and smiling as he leaned on his ax to wave back. "Hello! What's a little warrior like you doing out here?"

Dusty put his free hand up to his breast and gave a slight bow. "I've gained some reports about disturbances here from the local woodcutters. I came here to investigate on behalf of the town guard."

Dusty waited as the skunk searched his expressions for a moment. He had not technically lied since Radan was part of the town guard and hoped the skunk didn't read further into it. He remembered the Guild insignia at his breast and wondered if he shouldn't have put it in a less obvious spot. But the skunk merely laughed warmly."

"Disturbances, indeed! Yes, there have been a few disturbances around here. I assume you've heard a bit about the beasts that prowl these woods. Well, not far from here lies one, if you don't mind ol' Bernard telling you."

"I will take whatever information you have if you roam this area often. My name is Dusty Yote, and it is my job to keep all our people safe."

"Well met then, young Dusty, and I shall tell you what I know. It appears to be something reptilian in shape but larger than most I have seen. I know reptilians are rare, but this one wields both normal magic and something with a corruptive influence that can lure others away."

"You may have to forgive me," Dusty said. "I have magic in my own background, but I know not what you mean by 'normal' magic. Though whatever it is might be considerably less dangerous than this 'corruptive influence' you also mention."

"Well, many of us have magic flowing through us," Bernard explained. "And that allows us to do many wonderful things with it. Most magic can be classified into varying types. But this reptilian... something is off about the magic it commands. I can sense it coming like a bad smell in the air from a mile away, and find it my job lately to make sure those who come into these woods stay safe."

"Have you seen any who manage to get caught by this reptilian?"

"Terrible state they're in." For once, the skunk's face sunk to a frown, as though legitimately disheartened by it. "I don't know if it's poison or magic, but many of them come back very sick. I've tried reviving someone once or twice, but I won't lie, not all of them make it. It needs to go, but I don't have the talent for it. I find myself immune to its magic, but I have yet to be able to make a dent in it; the most I can do is bring those targeted back to my own place and hope that my own magic can obscure them until the sensations leave."

Dusty nodded. How best to break the news? Bernard's tone was neither hollow nor flat; he very much genuinely cared about the woodcutters and very likely saw them as friends. At the very least, they were something to be protected from something much worse.

"Bernard... I must confess something to you. I am no mere town guard. I have been sent by the Riverwood Hunter's Guild to track down a beast that is in these woods, responsible for sickness or death of the woodcutters and gatherers of my home."

The frown turned into a look of surprise. "I wish you had said so earlier," the skunk said, now quiet but almost fearful. "But now you've placed me in a strange position. Who or what, might I ask, are they looking for?"

"In truth, in speaking with you, I believe they are looking for the wrong thing. But I was commanded to look for a striped skunk who, it is believed, has been draining magic - and thus the lifeblood - from the villagers."

The skunk's head dropped and his hand tightened around the handle of his ax. "They consider me a beast?" he spat at the ground. "Then they have not told you the full story. I am the one who takes the targeted back to my house. It is warded against that foul thing, and I let them rest there for the day. It lets that thing know that these do not walk alone, and that I am also one who can command magic against its desires."

"Your face and tone indicate you do not lie. I believe you entirely on the reptilian and think that this creature warrants investigation. I shall take that information back in good faith to the Guild and let them know. All I ask is that you give me a piece of fur from your tail, shorn from the end, so that I may return with it to the Guild and leave them to ponder your actions in darkness."

The skunk looked up and heaved his ax over his shoulder but he looked hard at Dusty. His eyes were also almost glassy, and there was suddenly a dark shadow around him. "Your actions are nobler than I would have expected of the Guild," he said slowly. "But I know exactly from whence the original command came; I, too, deal in a magic they do not like, and they would take me out purely because of it."

"If magic is being used unwillingly on someone else, whether it is used to the detriment or the benefit of that person, then there is little one can say in their defense if they are still rendered weakened." Dusty took out his sword, unsure of the strange aura that now surrounded the skunk. "Your cause is noble, but many have resistance towards it, and the repercussions reach farther than you have perhaps thought."

Bernard's head dropped and he grasped his head with his free arm. "N-No... I promise you I do not mean harm to anyone."

"You do not mean it, but you have caused it."

"No..." A growl broke out into his voice. "I do not want to, but now I must fight you, as well. I must fend you off, or else there will be no one here to protect them."

Is he... is he corrupted? "I do not want to, either," Dusty said as he readied his sword and shield in his grip. "But it is clear the magic you wield is doing something unusual with you, as well. I give you one more chance: renounce your ways and leave or else I shall force you back."

A dark look came over the skunk's face as he faced Dusty again. "There is nothing for it, then. I must defend myself, for you think me a criminal, and prosecute me as one." And he raised his ax and charged at Dusty.