Jake Bazaar story pt2

I made my way across the black asphalt of the New Bumblefuck public 
library's parking lot. I fought though the onslaught of attacking sun dried, 
decomposing ded skwirls and vicious hog vultures until finally I reached 
the end. 

The new Bumblefuck public library was a beautiful and intimidating sight. 
trees and flowers from its concrete planters had grown wild as a result of 
Fey Garden magic and the buildings walls were tangled with lush green vines. 
The library had once stood at nine stories tall but most of the higher ones 
had caved in over the years.

The proper entrance to the library was gone. The door way buried under 
rubble over a decade ago. A second floor window seemed like my best option. 
I found a tree with some vines growing around it and started to climb. 

I found myself at a ledge outside several large windows. They were all shut, 
but a few good swings of my +2 croquet mallet would solve that. Thank the 
god of lawn games for that +2. 

I cleared away some broken glass from the window frame and my forearm. I 
thought about casting a heal spell but it wasn't bleeding too bad so I 
wiped the wound on my pant leg and went inside. 

I stood on top of a book shelf against the wall of the second floor 
mezzanine. The floor below was covered in overgrown plants. I took a leap 
over to the next shelf and then to the shelf after that. 

The last Bookshelf wobbled and crashed into the ground, taking me along with 
it, throwing me against the mezzanines guard rail.

I muttered a few of my favorite profanities to myself as I checked my body 
over for new injuries. My shin was bleeding and my rib hurt pretty bad. The 
cut on my fore arm had gotten worse.

My healing spell is rank two, which is the max for some one with three ranks 
of squire. If I don't go casting attack spells at everything I encounter I 
normally have enough energy to cast it about four times a day. I closed my 
eyes and rubbed my wounds. Chanting pleasantries to my deity of choice for 
added effect. The pain eased and my injuries faded. My rib still hurt but my 
rib always hurts so I overlooked it and got to my feet.

Leaning over the guard rail I got a good look at the ruins below. The 
library was lit by large holes in the ceiling and the over grown plants gave 
it the illusion of a hilly forest.

Broken pipes from what had once been the first floor had over the years 
formed a water fall that had partially flooded the level below where I was. 
the Mezzanine had no stairs. The walk way leading to the one which did 
have stairs was broken.

I thought over how I could get to that platform. Maybe I could jump. Most 
knights of the Garden kingdom are trained in aerial mounted combat and being 
able to leap great distances is an important skill for that. I never made 
knight but I still had my training and if that wasn't enough I had my 
scalpel. I tucked my bag into sword space and got ready to jump.

A scalpel is a tool used by dragon riders in the garden kingdom. It consists 
of a small barbed blade attached to a thin adamant or mythril chain, housed 
in in a hand-held air cannon. When fired the blade launches and stabs into 
something, and pulls the rider to it or vice versa.

Mine had made a blunt huff noise and jammed. I hit the water like a flailing 
bag of elf meat.

The water was clean and fairly clear. As the foam and bubbles dissipated I 
could see the remains of what had once been the first floor of the library. 
Desk, bookshelves, books, bodies, BODIES! sweet! I surfaced for some air 
and went back down to look for loot.

the corpses were mostly decomposed but the clothing was all 80s. Bright 
colors, hats, back packs all of 80's era fashion. I could analyze my 
love/hate feelings for the 1980s later. I brushed some sediment from an 
occupied desk. There was a few coins and other smallish objects. I snatched 
them up and surfaced.

I pulled my self onto the shore to check out my findings. It was friggen 
cold! I had two changes of clothes but they were blocked off in sword space.

My book bag was still available though. I pulled it out and removed the 
scarf and scrunchie I stashed away. I put the scarf on for added warmth and 
pulled my hair back with the scrunchie. 

Once I felt warm enough I looked though the handfuls of artifacts I 
pilfered. Most of it was change. by my count it was enough for a venti iced 
coffee. Normally for me that would be enough to say "Mission accomplished! 
yay team!" then head home for some coffee, but I had come this far and 
getting out would be an adventure in and of itself. So I decided to keep 
going with this fetch quest.

Also among the loot was a pair of 12 sided dice and an amulet. I threw the 
dice and rolled up 5 and 2, I like the number 7 so I pocketed the dice 
and the amulet.

I gathered my self and my bag and stood to continue when I heard something 
rustling behind an over grown planter "GEE, I sure hope that isn't some kind 
of random monster!" I said out loud as I approached the planter, mallet in 
hand.

Nothing. "Well, I guess it was nothing after all huh?!" I walked away from 
the bush before swiveling back around "aha! caught you!" Three spear-armed 
Fey Garden Goblins we're poised for an ambush. "what now bitches?!"

The startled goblins looked at each other. They were sure their clever 
ambush plan was working. I almost felt bad for them as I charged them with 
my mallet. 

I won't say all goblins are stupid, some of my good friends in high school 
were goblins. Most of them have the same level of competence as your 
average slightly drunk human. I would even say a few could be considered 
equal to a slightly drunk genius, but these three were Fey Garden soldiers. 
Bred by the Gray Elves as cannon fodder and not quite as smart as the 
average slightly drunk sentient potato.

I will not apologize for my statements towards sentient potatoes

I had the first goblin down with a blow to the side of the head. I knocked 
away a spear from the second goblin. the third goblin jabbed his weapon at 
me. I grabbed the shaft of the pole arm. This proved to be a mistake. the 
goblin pulled his spear back. It slipped out of my hand, cutting my palm.

"ouch! screw you guy!" I swung my mallet into the goblin's cheek. 

The remaining goblin was not deterred by his defeated companions. He 
recovered his dropped spear and prepared to charge when a loud hiss was 
heard from the waters edge.

A fairly large mesosaurus had emerged from the water. The New Bumblefuck 
Library had a family of small ones on display and it seemed the Fey Garden 
magic had affected them too.

Taking advantage of the situation I bludgeoned the surprised goblin in the 
side of his head. I was hoping to have a chance to look the bodies over but 
I realized I should probably be running. 

end part 2