"The newest captives, as you've ordered," says the gnoll taskmaster. He bows so low that he matches the height of the three kobolds chained together and standing neatly in a row within the large shaded and intricately-decorated tent.
Sitting upon a divan on the far end of the shaded tent, with a woman and a man on either side of him waving palms, is an elegant man of soft feminine features, adorned with transparent silks and bejeweled with piercings and bangles and other golden delights.
Tik Tik marvels with wide blue eyes at the sight of the beautiful and mysterious creature. She winces when she sees the bloodstained fingers of the noble finger dip into a bowl of crimson fluid to pull out a glistening and raw slice of some unidentified flesh.
He opens his mouth wide to reveal long, curved teeth. He rolls out an elongated tongue, catching the dripping blood before it falls upon his immaculate chest, and he slurps the meat down. He chews it with a disinterested gaze over towards the three captives.
All are silent before the leader. They wait for him to finish masticating and swallowing his morsel and for him to speak in a deceptively calm and courteous voice.
"Three kobolds from different areas of the world," he says, raising a sharp-nailed hand, backward compared to most creatures, and yet seeming quite natural for him. "There is much diversity in their appearance, as I've been told. Yet, the number doesn't match our manifest. Tell me, how did you and your ruffians come across this selection?"
The gnoll keeps his head down and responds in a growl. "Lord Anish, the canine was brought to us by arcanalocomotives from the east. The knocker was procured through a debtor's network, and the draconic one we found in the desert.."
"And you did not immediately suspect her to be the work of a Miraj?" the lord snaps, sitting up. "Do you wish to bring calamity to my enterprise through your hasty actions?"
"Not at all!" The gnoll whimpers. "In fact, you should have received the artifact that we took from her earlier."
"I have," Lord Anish says, snapping his fingers. The young manservant hops up and runs off behind the tent. "My newly-acquired magical expert has been looking it over, and I've been hearing some intriguing reports about its properties. I'm surprised a lowly slavemaster as yourself would recognize its potential."
"I only know that it appeared magical, my lord." The gnoll admits this, shuddering.
The servant returns with a small chest in his hands. He kneels before his master, head bent low and box proffered.
With a quick flick of the latch, Anish opens the box, revealing within it the glowing bright white light from within. Before he even pulls it out, Tik Tik knows what it is.
"The Stick of Champions," Anish says, hovering his reversed hand over the box but not touching the hidden artifact within. "Quite a flex on mortals this little godly trinket is—a wand that allows one to travel towards an object or person of their desire, or, more importantly…." His gaze turns towards the three kobolds standing before him, his eyes narrowing as they match Tik Tik. "It allows the chosen owner to travel to the place or person of her desires."
Tik Tik gulps, trying to quell her shaking shoulders as she locks eyes with him...
"You are Tik Tik," Anish says finally, tapping his index fingernails together. "You are the little Eroarcanist kobold who has had many great adventures out west. You've survived the Wildlands and visited the grand metropolis of Anteronia: quite the feat for such a tiny creature."
Tik Tik sighs, nodding finally. "Yes, I'm Tik Tik."
Her two companions watch her with wide eyes.
"II knew it. I knew it!” Seppel says.
"You're the teacher of the great Tournament champion?" Asuka answers
Anish sighs, resting his cheek upon his knuckles. "Yes, there are so many stories about Tik Tik, but I can't just expect that you are she."
Tik Tik blinks.
"A test of your capabilities is in order," Anish says. He reaches over towards the female servant.
She hands him a tiny bell, which he holds with the opening up, the handle pinched between two fingers. Flicking his wrist, he sends a muted chime throughout the tent. "We shall see if you're worth purchasing from these brutes for my own personal amusement."
A few quiet moments pass before the tent flap behind them opens up. A humanoid figure is standing in the entryway, blocking the sun with broad shoulders and a barrel chest.
He is over six feet tall and rippling with muscle. His firm biceps bulge with veins as he crosses his arms over his chest. He wears a pair of simple leggings and pointed shoes, as well as bracelets over his wrists. But, by far the most unusual part about him is that above those shoulders and collar, there is absolutely nothing—no neck and no head.
"Come forward, Caput," Anish says, waving his hand at the gnoll. "As for you, pull these others aside. I wish to test this so-called Tik Tik.”
The hulking man steps forward. With the brightness of the sun dissipated from the closing of the flap, Tik Tik can see his bronzed skin and his large, piercing eyes resting right on top of his pectorals.
Caput lowers his arms. His hands rest upon his chest. Just underneath his eyes is the rest of his face, sitting right in the middle of his torso, nearly stretching over the entire size of his broad body. His mouth curls down in a frown as his gaze meets the lord.
Anish licks his lips, dropping the bell in the waiting hands of his woman servant. "I have a plaything for you to test out, and you are free to have her as you please, once our gnollish friend lets her free."