Chapter 1-27: Not the Only Black and Silver (2/2)
His finger smoked, charred, turned black, and then burst into hellfire where it touched my skin. I looked at it, incredulous, as he took it back. The instant it was out of contact, the hellfire died, and gentle golden fires swirled over it and began to heal it back to full.
“His Hellpact is reacting to the touch of Good people?” I had to ask sharply.
“Skin contact,” Sir Pellier confirmed with a nod. “Miss Traveler, meet Master Fred, Warlock of the Heavenly Order of the Tome.”
I inclined my head in greeting, and he did the same, glancing at my hair knowingly, but saying nothing. Golden flames flickered above his shoulder and spelled out,A PLEASURE.
I hissed despite myself, even as I flicked a finger to Comprehend Languages and translate his flaming words. “Wow. That is some impressive Wrath control. Do I dare ask what your Hellpact is?”
His very peculiar eyes looked away in resignation. The flames swirled,HUNGRY KISS.
The fact he admitted it was bad enough. I’m afraid my face twisted. “No shit? That sounds, by the look of you, like a right horrible story that I’ve no business hearing unless you want me to.” I zipped my lips, and there was faint gratitude on his face as he just nodded. Of course, he wouldn’t be embarrassed about it, as Heaven had his back, and he was as fearless as the Paladin... or me, but mine was more akin to a mental condition now. “I’m getting the idea you were looking for some peace and quiet, and our friend here was rather loud and distracting?” I jerked a thumb at Helix, who was trying not to stare at Warlock Fred’s face and kind of failing.
At the same time, his Stormblood was probably reacting to the fact this guy was Stormbound...
Warlock Fred just nodded. APOLOGIES, BUT YOU WERE VERY LOUD.
Helix laughed weakly. “Um, I totally didn’t see you there when I came in. You were kind of sitting off to the side and not moving, and I didn’t expect anyone here in the middle of the day...” And he was probably working on his magnificent moving tale and dance number of the Daring Young Sorcerer Helix, but hey.
Warlock Fred waved it off. DO YOU HAVE TIME, PALADIN?
“I’m here kinda to escort her around. Miss Traveler, Master Fred here is not in town for a tourist stop.” No shit; Warlocks didn’t have down time, and a guy like him, with four Pacts, would probably have negative amounts of it. “He’s hunting a branch of Hellbound in the city, some Gilded Heart Pact members who seem to be dealing with wererats of the city with ambition on their minds.”
I had to wince. “I can unequivocally tell you that personally I am definitely not ready to fight any kind of swarms at this time. What do you need us for?”
JUST WATCH THE FRONT AND BACK. I CAN HANDLE THE REST.
This was one confident Four-Pact Warlock. Being immune to fear didn’t mean he was stupid. He really was that confident he could handle it.
“Is that a Grit?” Helix blurted out suddenly. I blinked, and followed his eyes to the pistol inside Warlock Fred’s jacket.
YES.
“Seriously?” Even Sir Pellier was impressed. “I hate to ask, but may I?”
Warlock Fred unholstered it and handed it over in his palm. Sir Pellier took it respectfully.
Okay, that was a monster of a gun. It looked like a weird combination of very modern gunsmithing, but it used an odd revolver design, not a clip. It was obviously not designed for a quick draw with the size of that barrel, but damn if looking down the muzzle of that thing wouldn’t be like looking into a shotgun...
“Damn, this thing must weigh twenty pounds!” Sir Pellier swore, hefting it in two hands. I lifted an eyebrow. Something that heavy would take an unseemly amount of strength to use...
At my ignorant expression, Sir Pellier explained to me, “Grit Firearms is in Detroit. They specialize in firearms for beings with inhuman strength, with absurd levels of quality, made to be magical.”
He held the hunk of steel out to me, and I kind of screwed up my face, wondering how I was supposed to hold onto it. He laughed and accepted my staff, and I hefted the damn thing as I Assayed it.
===
Fred’s Grit
One-Handed Mighty Warlock’s Grit Revolver
QL: 30
Base Damage: 2-16 + Strength (minimum 20)
Variable Caliber
Ammunition Capacity: 10
Range Increment: 150 yards
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It was a QL 30 Named Weapon. Had to be Dwarf-work. I couldn’t find out more about it without spending Valences, which would be kind of rude. Definitely had a range enhancement on it...