If you find a fleshmancer and combine the two, the newly reformed Corcunda will no longer be a part of Lady Dominators. But which of the two personalities will remain?
That’s an interesting question even I want to know the answer to. It’s not like the entire fate of all biological life in the universe hinges on what happensor anything, so don’t worry about that. That’s just silly. It’s not even the same thing.
Anyway, reunite the two halves using a fleshmancer, and Corcunda will be removed from his obligation to race for the Lady Dominators.
Bonus Difficulty: If Dong Quixote dies before this quest is complete, it fails. That might be a problem considering his current ailment.
Here’s the reward again in case you forgot: If you successfully complete this quest, two stand-ins of your choosing will be summoned to the arena on the 11th floor.
The stand-ins can be anyone within my sphere of influence.
Before my brain could even dissect that, Donut turned to Splash Zone.
“You said the other half of Corcunda, this Porky guy, is in a guild somewhere. Do you remember where?”
“He works a singing guild. There’re a couple different kinds. It’s not the bard-magic one. It’s a performance-based one.”
Donut gasped. “Do you know where it is?”
The otter shrugged. “I know it ain’t ever in the Desperado Club. It’ll be hidden, but it’s not there. Probably not in Club Vanquisher, either, since they have a stick up their asses about everything.”
We gently set the groaning Dong down. Whatever they’d cast on him was already dissipating. Imani said she was on her way to check him out. She could enter our garage through our safe room.
“Do you think he hates me?” Dong asked again as Bucket Boy handed him water.
“What happened?” Donut asked. “How did you two get separated?”
“It started several seasons back,” Splash Zone said. “There was a fight in the Desperado Club between two crawlers, and it spilled into the Penis Parade. One cast a spell that ended up hitting Corcunda while he was onstage. Luckily, the Pony Boy Guild was attached to the club that year and we got them both in gimp suits. For a while, both Corky and Porky worked the club, but when Corky started getting close to Dong, Porky got mad and left. So it was just Corky and Dong for a while. But then one day Corky said he wanted to go find his other half and left, and we hadn’t seen him since.”
Dong already was clearly feeling better. He was now sitting on his giant stinking nickel sock, muttering something about IRAs.
I was still reeling over the whole It’s-not-like-the-entire-fate-of-all-biological-life-in-the-universe-hinges-on-what-happens-or-anything line from the AI description.
“Dong, darling, I’m sure Corky doesn’t hate you. The women who have him are clearly keeping you two apart, and we will get to the bottom of it,” Donut said. “But we must do it quickly. It sounds like we have a way to get the two pieces back together. If we do that, then he won’t be a part of the Lady Dominators team, and then we can kill the ladies.”
Imani came into the garage. She paused at the sight of me. “Carl, what the hell are you wearing?”
“Don’t ask,” I said.
She just shook her head and patted me on the shoulder before kneeling down in front of Dong. Without another word, she took her wings and wrapped them around him. She nodded and stepped back.
“There’s nothing wrong with you now,” she said. “But I added some buffs that’ll help replenish your energy.”
“Good, good,” he said. “I feel much better. Thank you, Imani.” He turned his attention back to Donut. “I have been soselfish. I didn’t want him to go back to his other half. Porky didn’t like me, and I was afraid once the two pieces were reunited, the whole wouldn’t like me anymore, either. It’s why we fought. It’s why he left.” Dong paused. “He asked me to go with him. I didn’t. It is my greatest shame.”
Imani was still staring at Dong. She had a puzzled look on her face.
Carl: What’s up?
Imani: When he was outside, did he have that sock with him?
Donut: OH NO.
Carl: No. He left it here in the garage.
Imani: I don’t think the other team cast anything on him. I think it’s the sock. He’s getting actively healed by its proximity, but his health isn’t actually going up, which implies it’s sustaining him. Rosetta and Mordecai were worried about that thing. Neither have good things to say about sapient weapons. But if he’s addicted to it, I don’t know what to do about it yet.
Donut: I KNEW THAT DISGUSTING THING WAS BAD NEWS. IT GETS BIGGER EVERY DAY, TOO. IT SMELLS WORSE THAN CARL’S COSTUME. DO YOU THINK HE’LL DIE IF WE TAKE IT AWAY?