Commando Part 59

There was no time for them to explore this entire palace, even if they wanted to. Maurice had to find Mommy Gluton and the keys to any cells holding her prisoners. Leading his team through the wall he found a large chamber. It rested in the heart of the palace from the looks of things. Here the palace interior was sectioned off with dividers. This chamber was divided into five extra rooms. One of these rooms was the throne room from the decorations of royalty, and nobility. Maurice suspected these were all stolen from other houses and auctioned off to her. Whoever was left of the Caligari army either fled, committed suicide, or cut down by an ally or deserted. A pair of wounded Gantronese staggered around in search for a way out. Behind the throne room some fighting went on. It seemed to have ended when the Gantronese made it halfway to them. Behind all the dividers he could hear chatter, whimpering, and chattering of teeth.

A heavily armored humanoid burst out of the throne room. Giving out a roar of a war cry the humanoid raised its weapon, a Warhammer before giving chase to its next target. It went after the Gantronese who fought back to no avail. Then it turned to him and blindly charged at Maurice. Acting quick Maurice and his team opened fire. The Warhammer wielding humanoid collapsed on the floor. Each one waited a moment to see if anyone else would come out. They ignored the screams and went straight for the throne room leaving the humanoid to die. He wasted no time in shoving the dividers down. Inside what was supposed to be the throne room lay couches, chairs, large cushions, sofas, low beds, and backless couches. A few corpses lay on these pieces and on the floor. Sitting upon a hill of pillows, cushions, and a massive bed was a large fat woman with grotesque skin wrapped in large pieces of fabric for clothing. The fabric was sewn together to make clothing for what is presumed to be Mommy Gluton herself. Her hair was messy and curly, her skin was greyish, limbs were the size of pigs, and flabs of skin suck out. Nails were long like small knives and black as if she had them painted black. Gluton Caligari appeared to have been shot multiple times and stabbed by many assailants. Yet she was still alive despite the wounds.

Behind him he heard a large force come in through many halls that ended at the chamber. He stood in the throne room gazing at this pile of flesh. Maurice was oblivious to the other occupants of the throne room. Soldiers tore down the dividers allowing the fearful people to rush out. Bryce and Tenno came up to his side. Each one wanted a word with this Syndicate Boss. In between coughs, babbling, and spasms she told them where the prisoners were located. Without hesitation he marched up to the colossal woman. In a commanding voice he demanded she hand over the keys. With a fat arm she reached for her neck and ripped off a chain that held the keys.

The defeated Caligari tossed the keys to him. It was the last thing she did before drawing her last breath. More Soldiers and warriors poured in the chamber. Bryce handed the keys over to Maurice. He immediately darted for the far corner of the chamber. Shouldering his way through the gathering crowd he found a few members of his party. Toberis, Minerva, Amonif, and Oraceth bumped into him in the crowd. One by one they joined him.

Five companions maneuvered through the crowded chamber that was still filling up. In the very back of this chamber they discovered a hidden door. Behind this hidden door lay a set of stairs. As if no one saw them or noticed they descended to this lower level of the palace. Taking these stairs brought them to dungeons. Caligari’s dungeons were dimly lit with a few lights and lanterns. Maurice took out a flashlight he was equipped with. The flashlight flickered when he turned it on. He illuminated the dungeon revealing walls covered in muck and residue. Hanging from ceilings, walls, arches, and support beams were chains, shackled chains, ropes, skeletons, corpses, and critters scurrying about. Among all this they found the prisoners they were searching for this whole time. The dungeons went underneath the very layout of the palace. Every hall, or section held a dozen prisoners.

Maurice raced over to the closest one discovering it was a Vestrisian who has been held here for some time. He ordered for the rest to help as he freed his countrymen. Overjoyed to see freedom the poor soul cried in his shoulder. He rocked and hushed him before freeing another. When he let another free more help arrived to free the rest of the prisoners. It took a few minutes, but they manage to free one hundred and four of the vestrisians who had been missing in action and captured. Through the process of freeing the vestrisians they found more prisoners.

Approximately 144 others were held in the dungeons. They consisted of warriors, soldiers, nobles, travelers, druids, mages, explorers, tribal elves, barbarians, canine tribesmen, pirates, beast hunters, archers/hunters, duelists, gunslinger ranchers, knights, bird like humanoids, and children who believe themselves adventurers. Every one of these people were held under the captivity of the Caligari Syndicate. This brought the total of prisoners to 248 freed captives who were brought out of the nightmarish palace. Because of the fighting and Caligari’s ruthlessness most of the houses of the settlements were abandoned. Out all the families that were once there just two hundred thirty-six families remained. To their misfortune they were stuck inside this area by force and due to the fighting.  None of them wanted either settlement home. Even they were prisoners, held against their will. In a heart beat's notice these families begged to be taken with them. Maurice had to assist his superiors and other officers with these families after helping their own wounded, dead, and the other prisoners. Many of these families hailed from other parts of the world, at least the places closest to the unknown lands.

There were families from countries like Eoth, Vunnace, Grussia, East Koriv, Kilscar Orvain, and a few other city-states. His superiors advised all of them to have patience while they sort things out. Because of his colonels orders he had to write down names, places of origins, and occupations. Every vessel was currently unavailable due to refueling. Crews either refueled with reserves or stole the fuel from any Gantronese ships. It took them a few days before big decisions on moving were made.