{"id":210,"date":"2018-09-18T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2018-09-18T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-1-2\/"},"modified":"2022-05-25T15:09:43","modified_gmt":"2022-05-25T14:09:43","slug":"wings-of-chaos-chapter-1-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/18\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-1-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Wings of Chaos: Chapter 1-2"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Prologue: A Step in the Right Direction<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Some say the fates are intertwined by destiny. Others attribute strange meetings and new friends as a plan of the gods. Curses, cultists, creationists, they all find their room in this world of magic. Evil, good, there are no rules to the mortal perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It is said, nay, rumoured in the halls of Istus that those who live out tragedy are most easily found by the gods, who seek out mortal pain and make it their own. Some suspect it is cruelty, others boredom, but the most optimistic of beliefs is that they do it to feel something real: to create a bond with mortals and live out the lives of many, touching and loving.<\/span><\/p>\n

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So, no matter which gods you choose, no matter your faith or lack thereof, the world carries on its platitudes of mystery and mysticism, blissfully unaware of the singular consciousness. Thousands of threads, millions of forces all converge, collide and align.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The best stories, however, begin in the simplest of places at the start of the most terrible of times. That is then, predictably, where this one begins; not a mark of one individual, but many.<\/span><\/p>\n

…<\/p>\n

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There was silence as Shale crouched low behind a fallen tree and eyed the hulking figure nearby. She looked over at her companions with one slender, dark-skinned finger over her lips. They pressed closer to the tree, eyes darting and faces stern. The creature was swinging its large, clawed hand through the cold mountain water that bubbled down the Chionthar river, grunting with curiosity. It had hunched green shoulders displaying an appropriate number of boils and warts, and its hair was a stringy brown mess of greasy curtains around its thick, hawk-like nose. With a louder grunt, it speared a claw into the river and pulled up a flopping, skewered meal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With a short wave of her hand, Shale ushered her charges forward and they snuck past, heading back to the road as quietly as a group of scholars could. Once they reached the safety of the road, Fandir, one of the four men, passed a hand through his unkempt hair and nestled his bookbag nearer to his chest. \u201cI\u2019m certainly glad we hired you,\u201d he sighed, checking back behind his shoulder to ensure the road was clear. \u201cWe undoubtedly would have been where that fish is now without your guidance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale smiled and gave a nod. \u201cI take pride in knowing about the forests and lands in these parts. I am happy to bring you to safety, so you can continue your\u2014interesting work.\u201d Shale had little time for reading books and felt that lived experience could teach much surer than words on a page, but she still admired the man\u2019s commitment to research.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fandir smiled awkwardly and turned to consult with another of his companions. Shale watched the trees as they passed, but only the songs of birds and the darkening blue sky moved over them on their journey.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With a heavy sigh, she thought about where her next few days would take her. Whispers of necromancers haunted her in the night. Mere rumours, but ones she sought after. Red cloaks and strangled screams followed her darkest thoughts. Once they reached Candlekeep, Beregost would be her next destination. She had so many questions that remained unanswered. After nearly two years of nothing, she felt certain she was close to finding something. Anything. \u201cGuide me, as I know you will,\u201d Shale whispered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSorry?\u201d Menda, another of the bookish men, asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale dropped her hand and turned to him. \u201cOh, it\u2019s nothing. Come, we only have a few hours until sunset.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Several Days Later<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale sat alone at a table in the far corner of the Burning Wizard<\/em>, sipping on a strong ale and watching the few patrons of the inn laughing, conversing, and otherwise dropping coppers on various games. When her drink was finished, she rose to leave. She had spent a few days in Beregost and learned very little from the townspeople. It had been a fruitless journey, it seemed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Just as she reached the door to leave, a man pushed through from the other side.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cApologies, miss,\u201d he said, bowing his head as he held the door for her. She offered a smile and the man paused. \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t happen to be Shale Dominai? The wood’s guide?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe very same,\u201d she said, stopping in the doorway and looking back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh, then it is<\/em> you I\u2019m looking for. Are you for hire? The shopkeeper of Iron\u2019s Brook<\/em> suggested you may still be in town.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale paused, taking in the man\u2019s appearance. He stood straight-backed in fine, gray robes. As she stood, two younger men similarly dressed shuffled through the doorway to stand behind him. \u201cI may be, actually,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat is your destination?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man\u2019s smile widened, and he graciously gestured for her to re-enter the tavern. \u201cPlease, sit. We will discuss.\u201d The four of them found a booth and sat. \u201cMy name is Leosin,\u201d he said, leaning in. \u201cThese two young men are Nazim and Bram. Students of mine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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As he made introductions, the two teens bowed their heads in turn. Nazim was short, broad and dark-haired. Bram was his opposite in every way, with a thin frame, bony shoulders and pale hair.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShale Dominai, as you already know,\u201d Shale introduced herself, touching two fingers to her right brow in greeting. \u201cAnd where is it you are headed?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe must travel to Greenest. It\u2019s not a far journey, I know, but we would all feel safer to have a guide with us. Time is of the essence, and we are not overly familiar with these lands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEasy enough,\u201d she said, unfurling a worn map from her satchel and pointing to their location on the map. \u201cIt will take a tenday at most, if we travel on foot. Do you have a cart? Horses? Supplies?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have neither cart nor horse, but we will purchase our rations today if you would be willing to leave tomorrow?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTomorrow?\u201d Shale paused, considering her map. It was a relatively short journey, and she had found only old news in Beregost. She rolled up the map and returned it to her satchel. \u201cVery well, gentleman. Tomorrow it is. I would be more than happy to escort you, for a small sum of course.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes, indeed. Will fifteen gold suffice?\u201d Leosin asked, pulling out a pouch and dropping it on the table between them. With a deft finger, Shale pulled the tie on the pouch and looked inside. The contents sparkled. “Paid upon delivery,” he added. <\/span><\/p>\n

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She nodded and touched two fingers to her brow again. Leosin returned the pouch to his belt. \u201cI will see you on the outskirts of town at sunrise.\u201d Shale told them. \u201cBring bedrolls and enough food and water to sustain you, plus any other comforts you can carry on your backs. This will be a swift journey on foot,\u201d she eyed the three men in their thin monk robes. \u201cConsider purchasing cloaks as well, for warmth. The forest grows cold at night, and the season is late.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Leosin stood and bowed to her. \u201cThank you again, Shale. We will see you soon.\u201d With that, he gestured for the boys to stand and they all filed out of the Burning Wizard.<\/span><\/p>\n

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After a few minutes, Shale followed them out, an anxious hand over her left forearm, and headed in the opposite direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Chapter One: Entwining Fates<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Keelan knelt in the cool evening air of the forest surrounded by dozens of flickering red and gold candles. The sky was nearly dark, but the warmth of the candles filled him with calm as he pressed his eyes closed and began to whisper his prayers. His surroundings, and all sound, disappeared as his focus shifted to the divine.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Above him, atop a nearby hill, stood a druid watching this curious display. Satisfied that the human wouldn\u2019t burn down the forest, he slunk back into the shadows to continue his watch.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHold a moment,\u201d Shale whispered to Leosin, and he gestured for Nazim and Bram to pause. The sky was fading quickly into night, and across the field near a cluster of trees, at the edge of the Wood of Sharp Teeth, Shale could make out the flickering of firelight. She looked at the monks and motioned for them to wait there, then passed through the long grass toward the light.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They had been on the road for several days now without incident. While it was not uncommon to cross other travellers on the road, it was still good to keep your wits about you. Bandits and goblins were wont to haunt the forests. <\/span><\/p>\n

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As she approached, she saw a singular figure hunched over the warmth of a new fire, unpacking a small kettle from his belongings. He raised his head suddenly and looked around. \u201cWho goes there?\u201d he demanded, standing slowly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale entered the firelight, hands up. \u201cJust a curious forest guide. Sorry to creep up on you like this, I wasn\u2019t sure who else would be on the road in this late season, and it can\u2019t harm to be too careful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man was now fully visible to her as she approached. He was tall, with angular features and a slight point tipping his ears. His silvery-blonde hair was closely shaved on the sides and long at the top, pulling down to his waist in a twisting braid, a strip of green intertwined in the hair. A half-elf. That explained why he could see her in the near-dark. On his left arm was a massive tattoo of a snake that coiled from wrist, all the way up into his sleeve with seemingly no end.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s quite alright,\u201d he said, face relaxing. \u201cI too must be cautious.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale nodded. \u201cMind if we join your fire? I am in the company of three others. We have our own provisions, but new conversations are always welcome.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The half-elf nodded his head in assent. \u201cYes, it would be good to get out of my own thoughts for a while. What is your name?\u201d He asked as Shale turned to retrieve the monks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShale. And yours?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOszaren.\u201d He smiled and resumed his seat next to the fire. Before she could turn back, there was a sound in the trees. A snap of twigs behind them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale spun around abruptly, scanning the darkness. Her vision was useless after staring into the firelight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat was that?\u201d Oszaren hissed, drawing out a mace and searching the darkness. \u201cWait, I see something.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Two things happened at once. First, a group of hunched figures bounded into the firelight, growling and hissing their battle cries, one jumping at the half-elf, who barely managed to dodge out of the way. Shale could see the creatures now in full, scaly form: kobolds. Short, but nasty dragonesque creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A blast of fire shot through the air from the trees and burst into one of the kobolds, engulfing it in orange flames. A moment later, two more kobolds were diving at Shale. She ducked out of the jab of one spear, but another nicked her arm from the other side. She drew out two blades from her back and twisted them in the air before her, gently stepping around to remove herself from the circle of kobolds.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Beside her, Oszaren\u2019s serpent tattoo began to glow with a greenish light, and two writhing, coiling snakes appeared and shimmered around his torso, merging into a strange, glowing armour which deflected a jab from another kobold.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Another bolt of fire flew from the trees and took down a kobold just as it was leaping into the fray. Shale downed one with her sword and twisted to face another, her blade gashing its side as she struck and parried.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It took less than a minute between the human and half-elf, and the strange firebolts blasting through the trees, to dispatch of the enemies.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCome out of the trees, whoever you are,\u201d Oszaren said, armour still glowing and writhing, mace pointed at the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It was silent for a moment, and Shale kept her blades raised. Then, a large shape bounded out of the trees and leapt at the half-elf, who dropped his mace at seeing the creature. It grabbed his arm where the tattoo no longer glowed and inspected it curiously. Unsure of what to make of this, Oszaren extricated himself from the figure\u2019s grasp and stepped away. \u201cUm, hello friend? Was it you with the fire?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The figure looked up at him with huge eyes and blinked, head tilted. \u201cMake glow again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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With a glance of confusion, Shale broke in \u201cI think he means your arm.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2014I can\u2019t make it glow at the moment, but\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The figure was tall, close to seven feet, and was covered in yellowish fur that was interrupted by soft oranges and streaked with black stripes. It had large ears and twitching whiskers, and its tail swished from side to side beneath its robe. It was a tabaxi, a cat person.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat are you doing out here?\u201d Shale asked, moving up to the large cat and sheathing her blades. \u201cMay I?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The tabaxi nuzzled his face against her shoulder and she scratched him behind the ear. His chest rumbled with a purr.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d Shale asked, patting him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He looked down at her and said \u201cWhisper. Like sound, but quieter.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh,\u201d Oszaren said uncomfortably, inspecting the tabaxi.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAre you a friend? You shot those fire balls?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The tabaxi nodded, excited.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWh-what happened here?\u201d the voice of Leosin broke in as the three monks rushed into the firelight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe were attacked,\u201d Shale explained, gesturing to the fallen bodies of several kobolds. \u201cI was just about to come get you when we ran into this helpful tabaxi fellow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe grew worried when you didn\u2019t return,\u201d the monk told her, folding his hands into his robe. \u201cIs everything alright now?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale nodded and gestured for the three monks to take a seat at the fire. \u201cOszaren here offered to share his fire with us,\u201d she pointed her chin in the direction of the half-elf. “I assume that offer still stands?” When he nodded, she said, \u201cWhisper, would you like to stay with us? I would be very interested in hearing your story.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOh, yes. Stay.\u201d Whisper purred, bounding to the fire and curling up in the warmth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cExcellent,\u201d Shale said as she seated herself. Strange as it was, the distraction was welcome.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan strode down a well-beaten path, looking out at the forest curiously as he went, pack bouncing behind him. It was a warm and respectfully quiet afternoon as he travelled toward the town of Greenest. He still had a few hours left in his journey as far as he could guess, and the road was clear but for the occasional cart hauling turnips, corn and other goods between villages.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He shifted his chainmail shirt as he walked, feeling the sweat culminate between his many layers of clothing. By mid-afternoon, he was forced to remove the chainmail and place it in his pack, but kept his warhammer at his shoulder, easy to draw at a moment\u2019s notice. Glancing around, he thought he saw the shift of a form in the trees not far back. Squinting, he gazed down the road and waited for a few minutes before shrugging and pulling a book from a side pouch in his bag.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Histories and Practices of Kossuth: Part One,\u201d he said in a low voice, donning his pack and opening the book where he had marked it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With that, Keelan continued down the road, open book in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reading and walking, <\/em>Fillip thought, shaking his head at the human as he walked. This is a curious one, indeed. Rather attractive, too.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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The druid put away his sling and sneaked forward between the trees, keeping the human in his keen sight. His quarry, a large hare, bounded through the underbrush and ran from sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A good meal gone, but a more interesting fill to be had. <\/em>He thought.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence walked quite slowly despite his urgency. There was a laziness to his stride that came from a long time spent in stillness. A year of silent meditation. A look inward to find the outward truth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He followed the road with distinct displeasure, his mind humming with remembered visions. He turned over his shoulder and could see, at least a mile off, a lone figure walking down the road behind him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He descended another hill and could feel his pace quicken, if only somewhat. Greenest was nearing. He swished his spiked tail around his shoulder and loosened his cloak as the heat of the day drew beads of sweat past his curled, unadorned horns.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ahead of him on the road, three figures darted across the path and into an adjoining field. He ignored them, thoroughly awash in his thoughts as he crested a final hill and looked out over the sprawling green farm town of Greenest. It was surrounded by cultivated fields of varying yellows and greens and set through by a slow, winding river. With a heavy sigh, the tiefling wove his way down the road toward the large stone Keep at the edge of town.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan marked his book as he approached the two-story stone structure. It had a thatched roof and large wooden doors that were opened wide. It was the temple of Chauntea, goddess of agriculture. A common deity for these lands, but not the one he sought. Inside lay a long room flanked by stone benches facing the tall, carved shrine of varying grains and stalks. Below the shrine crouched a half-elf with graying hair and a face lined with age. He stood and smiled welcomingly as Keelan stepped up to the dais.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh, a devout worshipper? How may I be of service to you?\u201d He gave a slight bow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan held up a hand. \u201cI am a worshipper of Kossuth. Tell me, where is his shrine?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The smile faded from the half-elf\u2019s features, and he gestured to one of the small side doors in annoyance. \u201cThere.\u201d He turned immediately and returned to his prayers without another word.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThank you,\u201d Keelan said in elvish.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man\u2019s eyes remained shut and he did not respond. Keelan turned on his heel and made for the tiny door, pushing it open with some effort. The door had clearly not been used for some time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The shrine for Kossuth was a shining black brazier with a flickering flame dancing above it. There was no fuel to the fire, and yet it burned unceasingly. The room was tiny, no bigger than a broom closet, and everything was coated in a thick layer of dust. With a sigh of disgust, Keelan threw down his belongings and stomped into the main temple, opening doors until he found a straw broom and a neatly stacked pile of priestly cloths displaying the symbol of Chauntea. The half-elf priest purposefully ignored him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He returned to the room and began to clean it thoroughly, sweeping the dust into the main chamber and using the holy cloths of the goddess to shine the brazier. When the room looked to be in order, Keelan threw the cloths out of the door, now streaked black with grease.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He closed the door behind him and held his arm over the flames up to the elbow. The heat licked at his coat and burned away the fabric, and the flesh of his arm began to bubble and smoke.<\/span><\/p>\n

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His scream of pain was high-pitched and nearly inhuman as he pulled his arm away. The skin was red and raw and sticky. With a grunt, Keelan picked up his pack, which jingled with the weight of his chainmail, and exited the room, keeping the door open.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As he exited the temple, he heard the half-elf mutter \u201cfire worshippers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Brew and Stew<\/em> inn and tavern was a warm, hearty atmosphere despite only being filled to half its capacity. Those who were there were enjoying a tankard, or a hot bowl and warm bread and were talking jovially. Fillip, after following the strange human into Greenest, found his way to the inn and, after some flippant bargaining over room pricing, made his way upstairs and changed into clean, finely stitched silks. His face was cleanly shaven, and he proudly stroked his jaw, winking to his reflection in the mirror.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The half-elf flashed a confident smile to himself, then returned down the stairs and scanned the room. Near the back of the tavern sat three somewhat overweight, slightly below-average looking human women peaking beyond their best years. He strode toward them with arms out and dimples in his cheeks. \u201cLadies,\u201d he drawled, and they looked up from their conversation to see his handsome visage. \u201cWho would like to buy me a drink?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of the women snorted and stood, looking surprised that her friends remained. She exited the building with a disbelieving shake of her head. The druid took a seat in her chair and rested his boots on the table, pushing back his silver-blonde hair and casting his blue eyes over the two remaining women.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell?\u201d he asked, and one of the women went red with the flicker of a smile and gestured to the barkeep with a raised hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOne for the handsome\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFillip,\u201d he grinned.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFillip,\u201d she grinned back, showing yellowed teeth, a few stray hairs resting on her upper lip. She pulled free some of the laces on her dress, and her large bosom was in danger of spilling out. With raised eyebrows, her other friend got up and left.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLooks like you\u2019re all mine,\u201d Fillip said, leaning closer with his chin in his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOszaren, you mentioned you were travelling in the area for a while. Are you looking to stay in Greenest?\u201d Shale asked as they approached the outskirts of town.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh,\u201d the half-elf considered, \u201cI haven\u2019t thought about where I might go next, to be honest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, you are certainly welcome to stay here with us for as long as we\u2019re here,\u201d she offered. The half-elf was an interesting man. Not overly forthcoming, but pleasant all the same.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper bounded up behind them and grabbed Oszaren by the arm, dragging him down the road. \u201cStay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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With a smile, the half-elf shrugged back to Shale and the closely following monks. \u201cI guess I will stay, for now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They followed the road through low buildings towards an inn. Whisper ran up to a villager, a stout man with a dirt-smeared face and carrying a large pile of wood and shook the man\u2019s arms. \u201cLook!\u201d He said to Shale.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He shook the man until, eyes filled with shock at this strange encounter, he dropped the stack of wood and shuffled back. Whisper pawed at the logs with interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLeave the man to his work, Whisper,\u201d Oszaren said sternly. \u201cApologies, sir,\u201d he told the man, who quickly piled the wood back into his arms and stumbled away, checking over his shoulder until they were out of sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThis is an interesting companion you\u2019ve found,\u201d Leosin said to Shale as he walked up next to her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale shrugged and nodded. The tabaxi was now chasing a few stray chickens. He caught one and was playing with it. \u201cWhisper!\u201d Shale called, beckoning the cat-person to her side. \u201cDon\u2019t kill their chickens.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo kill,\u201d he nodded, looking back wistfully at the clucking hens as a child emerged from a doorway.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMuuuuum, there\u2019s a giant cat trying to eat the chickens,\u201d the kid said around his shoulder.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCome on,\u201d Shale murmured, and they hurried along before the mother could appear.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Soon, they stood at the entrance of the inn. The tall building had a thatched roof and a sign painted green and gold that read, in common, elvish and halfling, \u201cThe Stew and Brew inn and tavern\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper climbed the building with incredible speed and perched atop the roof, looking out at the town. With a contented purr, he curled up in the late afternoon sun and found a spot amongst the straw and closed his eyes. \u201cShall we go inside?\u201d Shale asked Oszaren and the monks, who all nodded their assent.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The inn was crowded with patrons eating supper and drinking the local brew. There was a long, rectangular table that was partially taken, but they managed to drag a few stools to the end of it and order some food and beverages.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAs agreed,\u201d Leosin said, inconspicuously handing Shale a pouch, \u201cfifteen gold for bringing us safely to our destination.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThank you,\u201d Shale said, counting the coins under the table carefully. Satisfied, she tucked the gold away. \u201cWill you be staying?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Leosin and his students looked around the room and he shook his head. \u201cNot here. In fact, we must be going.\u201d He finished the last bite of honey tart on his plate and motioned for Nazim and Bram to stand. \u201cAgain, thank you, Shale Dominai. If ever we need another forest guide, I will turn to you first.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale bowed her head as they exited the inn. She and Oszaren spent the next few minutes gazing quietly around the inn and observing the townsfolk. There was one man who stood out from the rest. He was leaning in very closely to a woman and whispering in her ear, grinning wickedly. She covered her face and giggled. The man was a half-elf and wore incredibly fine clothing for the establishment, a sore thumb if ever there was one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale nudged Oszaren\u2019s arm and pointed over to their table. \u201cThat man seems strange, doesn\u2019t he? Out of place, and\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cA bit creepy?\u201d Oszaren offered, folding his arms as he watched the display.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale nodded in agreement, and the man turned and saw them both staring. He quickly got up and walked over to them, his confidence a tangible cloak about him. Shale looked down as he strode over.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHello, fine people! I couldn\u2019t help but notice you staring at me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He caught Shale\u2019s eyes and gave her a wink, and she crossed her arms in annoyance, leaning back. \u201cCan we help you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou may certainly try,\u201d he grinned. The half-elf smiled all too much for Shale\u2019s liking. \u201cThe name is Fillip.\u201d He seated himself next to Oszaren, who looked offended by his kinsman\u2019s demeanour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWell, I guess I\u2019ll just leave then,\u201d the woman with whom the man had been engaged with had come over to their table, hands on hips.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBye,\u201d Fillip said lazily, waving offhandedly in her direction without looking.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She harrumphed and exited the inn, slamming the main door behind her and drawing a few curious eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSo, where were we?\u201d he asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNowhere, as far as I\u2019m concerned,\u201d Shale told him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNow, now,\u201d Fillip tsked<\/em>, eyeing her and Oszaren with penetrating blue eyes. \u201cI mean no offense. I\u2019m simply bored and new to the town, hoping to share in some adventure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no adventure here,\u201d Oszaren said grudgingly. \u201cAt least none that we\u2019ve heard of.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale folded her hands on the table. After a pause, she looked at the two men. \u201cHave either of you heard of necromancers in these parts?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNecromancers?\u201d Oszaren shook his head. \u201cNot that I recall, no. Why, have you heard something?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She shrugged. \u201cWhispers, here and there. Nothing distinct.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip wrinkled his nose. \u201cI have not heard anything of that nature myself. Though, I don\u2019t spend much time talking to people, as it were.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t say?\u201d Shale muttered. \u201cAlright, Fillip<\/em>. What are your skills? Are you a fighter? A magic user? A man of incredible wealth and talent? What makes you worthy to sit at our table when you know nothing about us?\u201d It was a bold set of questions, coming from her, but she\u2019d drank two ales and was feeling the warm buzz behind her eyes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip grinned at the challenge and straightened in his stool, looking around. He gazed up at the bar, where several bottles of liquor were lined up on the top shelf. The half-elf drew out a sling, set a small stone into the leather, aimed and released. The stone flew across the room, arching upwards and just barely tinging the edge of a bottle. The bottle rocked for a moment, unsteady, then tipped forward and sailed through the air. With a flash quicker than she could believe, Fillip had released another stone at the falling bottle. It missed, sticking deep into the back wood of the bar, and the bottle crashed onto the floor and shattered into a thousand tiny shards of glass, spraying a dark liquor over the walls and counter.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The barkeep, a brown-haired, strong-boned woman cursed loudly and looked around to see what caused the accident, immediately spotting Fillip, who did nothing to hide his sling. Realizing his mistake, he quickly hid it beneath his cloak, but it was too late. The woman stomped toward them looking harried. \u201cWho\u2019s going to pay for that?\u201d she demanded, looking at all three of them in turn. Shale held up her hands innocently and Fillip just shrugged.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019ll pay for it,\u201d Oszaren sighed, pulling out a coin purse. \u201cWhat will it cost?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThree silver,\u201d she said without hesitation, holding out a hand to retrieve the coins.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren placed them gingerly in her palm and she stormed off without another word. Once she was gone, Oszaren turned to the half-elf. \u201cThat was decently impressive,\u201d he admitted. \u201cNot perfect, but not terrible either.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019ll take the compliment,\u201d Fillip said happily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

It seemed that was the icebreaker they needed. The two half-elves jumped next into discussions of travel, fighting styles and magic usage. After about an hour of conversing, Shale remembered Whisper on the roof. It was growing dark outside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDo you like cats?\u201d Shale asked the half-elf, who had explained to them that he was a druid who had some experience with the natural magics.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI like most animals,\u201d he said, \u201cwhy?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCome meet Whisper.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The three of them went outside and Shale called out for the tabaxi. The striped yellow and black head of the cat-person popped up and eyed them curiously before bounding down in excitement. Oszaren cast a subtle light spell that created a point of dancing coloured light on the druid\u2019s forehead. Whisper watched it for a moment, mouth quivering, before he swiped a massive paw at the druid\u2019s forehead, knocking him off his feet and leaving a sizeable scratch.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhisper! Don\u2019t scratch!\u201d Shale chastised.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren held his middle and began to laugh, his usual stern demeanour having diminished at this display. Fillip got to his feet, wiping blood from his face and casting a light healing spell to remove the scratches. Then he grinned at the tabaxi and patted his head between the ears. \u201cNot bad,\u201d the half-elf laughed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

For the moment, Shale felt her heart lighten at the strange sight, though she knew she couldn\u2019t linger.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale purchased a room for the night and left her possessions in it before returning to the table where the two half-elves, and now the tabaxi, sat. Whisper sat on his haunches and pulled out a ball of yarn from seemingly nowhere and began batting it around the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale had asked a few of the townsfolk in passing if they had heard of necromancers, but they all gave her strange looks and shook their heads. Frustrated and tired from the long journey, she drank in silence as the two half-elves continued their conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cMore ale?\u201d A young serving girl asked, her auburn hair tied back out of her face.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPlease,\u201d Shale said, offering her a smile.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCan we get some milk as well?\u201d Oszaren asked her, motioning to Whisper. The girl nodded and returned a few minutes later with a few mugs of ale and one of milk. She handed the milk over to Whisper with a shrug and the tabaxi picked up the mug gingerly and began lapping up the milk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A shorter human in a tattered coat, looking worn from several days travel, entered the inn. Just behind him, framed in the doorway, came a figure of equal height with curled ram\u2019s horns on either side of his face. The tiefling had burnt-orange skin and black, spiked hair. His eyes glowed a deep red, and as he entered the inn, several faces turned to look upon the strange creature. Tieflings were not common folk in these areas. Shale had encountered a couple in her days, but most were stand-offish and tended to avoid humans. This one removed his cloak with his spiked tail and dropped it into his arms as he approached the bar. The human was passing money to the owner, and the tiefling watched the exchange, looking bored. The innkeep continued to look up at him nervously as she spoke with the human.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip abruptly stood and walked up to the bar, his stool scraping against the wood unpleasantly. Oszaren and Shale watched from afar as he struck a conversation with the human, gesticulating enthusiastically, then took the man by the arm and, showing a massive scorch mark in the fabric, produced a chunk of tree bark from his coat and stitched the material back together by waving the bark around in the air. The human nodded and placed a thankful hand on the druid\u2019s shoulder. After a minute or two, they both came to the table.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis is Keelan,\u201d Fillip said, helping the man find a seat next to Shale. She nodded in acknowledgment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat was that you were doing with his sleeve?\u201d Oszaren asked Fillip, and Keelan held up his arm to show the mended fabric.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI burned my arm,\u201d Keelan told them happily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBurned it? How, exactly?\u201d Shale asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOh, I burned it in the brazier of the almighty Kossuth, god of fire.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOn purpose?\u201d She said, aghast.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He nodded fervently. \u201cOh, yes. I am on a pilgrimage to find the seven braziers of Kossuth, our great fiery god, and gain incredible powers by his grace. I wish to be a paladin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDoes it hurt?\u201d Oszaren asked uncertainly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIt hurts quite a lot, actually,\u201d Keelan told them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The orange tiefling sat himself at a table nearby and shuffled his chair back so he was nearly touching Oszaren where he sat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThat sounds\u2026\u201d Shale trailed off, lost for words.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSounds mad to me,\u201d Fillip finished, then shrugged. \u201cBut, who am I to judge?\u201d With that, the druid held his hands out in front of him and began shaking them as if he were about to roll a handful of dice. Light flickered around his hands for a moment as he concentrated on them, and suddenly a cacophony of dog\u2019s barking emanated from the walls of the inn, appearing to come from every direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper pulled away from his mug of milk, ears flicking, and looked around, alert. Then, he twitched his whiskers and began barking<\/em> back, the sound echoing magically through the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHa ha! Good trick!\u201d Fillip said, clapping his hands together. \u201cI thought I smelled a wizard in that tabaxi. Looks like I am not disappointed.\u201d People throughout the tavern looked around at the barking as it faded, and a few cast glares in their direction. Other, real dogs in the town began to bark and howl.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

We\u2019re making quite the display, <\/em>Shale thought. This evening was turning out to be one of the strangest she\u2019d ever encountered.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cExcuse me, would you like to sit with us, since you\u2019re so clearly listening to our conversation anyways?\u201d Fillip said loudly, looking over at the tiefling, whose horns were basically touching the back of Oszaren’s head now.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He turned in his chair and, with haunted red eyes, said. \u201cI\u2014have come\u2014to warn you all.\u201d He spoke as if there were no words, so slow was his speech.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSorry?\u201d Oszaren said as the tiefling pushed his chair in amongst theirs.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper held up his ball of yarn and handed it to the tiefling, who looked at it but didn\u2019t move to take it. \u201cSomething bad\u2014is coming.\u201d He sighed. \u201cI am here\u2014to warn this town\u2014of a grave danger. It has brought me to the five of you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGrave,\u201d Shale said slowly, \u201cas in, dead? Or serious?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cVery serious.\u201d The tiefling\u2019s eyes darkened again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip looked the tiefling up and down. \u201cThat\u2019s very vague. And\u2014we,\u201d he gestured around the table, \u201cdon\u2019t know each other.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren nodded in agreement, looking as disturbed as Shale felt. \u201cWe\u2019ll need more than that. What\u2019s coming? What\u2019s happened?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The tiefling eyed them all but said nothing. Whisper returned to playing with his ball of yarn, though his ears twitched and it was clear he was listening.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d Shale asked finally.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cMe? Oh\u2014my name\u2014is Reverence.\u201d With that, he stood and walked up the stairs of the inn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThat was sufficiently uncomfortable,\u201d Fillip said, seemingly unbothered compared to the rest of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI wonder what he means,\u201d Keelan said, scratching the stubble on his chin.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI will find,\u201d Whisper said, then looked up at the ceiling and seemed to be focused on something. After a few moments, a bag drifted down the stairs towards them, hugging the ceiling to avoid the wandering gazes of other tavern folk. The bag dropped in front of them on the table, and the tabaxi rummaged through it, dumping out the contents. It contained miscellaneous travel supplies, rations, a water skin, torches, and rolls of scrolls. Whisper unfurled one rather gently considering his paws and began scanning the letters.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhere did you get that?\u201d Oszaren asked cautiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cRev-er-ence,\u201d Whisper said carefully, still reading the scrolls.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t steal,\u201d Shale whispered, making sure no one else was watching them. \u201cCan you read it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The tabaxi shook his head, whiskers twitching. It was easy to forget that tabaxi were incredibly intelligent creatures, equal to the minds of elves. Whisper took out his own blank parchment and ink and began copying some of the messy notes. \u201cCannot read, but will find out language,\u201d he told them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She watched for a moment before sighing and standing. \u201cI can\u2019t be a part of this,\u201d she apologized and made for the stairs. After months of being on the road, she would happily welcome warm blankets and a cozy bed over the company of strangers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In her room, Shale stood in front of the mirror and gazed at her reflection. Her eyes had a few creases, signs of her thirty-odd years of life. She wiped her face clean of sweat and dust from travel and pulled the ties out of her hair. Her hair, when left down, reached to the middle of her back. It was bright lavender, a colour bestowed on her years ago after a strange first meeting with a deity. She liked the colour, though it was unique to only her and often drew staring eyes. Her hair was woven into thick cords, easier to maintain when travelling. Her skin was the colour of dark ale, nearly black, and her eyes were gray. Often when she looked into the reflection of those eyes, she saw the eyes of her mother and father. They were a distinct trait of her people.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Sometimes, Shale forgot her appearance. Normally, she was the strange one. Now, with the odd group she had interacted with this evening and along the road, Shale felt as though she were the most normal person in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A man who burned himself? A tabaxi who barely spoke common, and had magical abilities? A half-elf who was extremely vague about his past? An ostentatious half-elf druid who didn\u2019t look like a druid at all? And then there was that tiefling, with the strange message\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale shook her head and made for the bed in the corner of the tiny room. She tied up her lavender hair in a strip of silk cloth, then pulled the blankets up around her. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sleep took her, as it often did, into nightmarish dreams and sadness.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Oszaren kneeled on the shabby wooden floorboards and looked up at the tiny window in his room. \u201cTell me,\u201d he prayed, shaking his head. \u201cWhy am I here? What is it you want of me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

It was quiet for a few minutes, and he was just about to stand when, in the back of his mind, the voice of a woman said, \u201cwait. You will see.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Chapter Two: Encounters with Lightning<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Shale awoke to the sound of howling dogs and cries in the distance. There were harsh shouts and high-pitched screams. She scrambled out of bed and dressed, donning her leather armour and picking up her weapons. She tore open the door and saw some of the others she had met that night standing in the hallway, looking around in confusion. The tiefling was standing there in only his undergarments. \u201cIt\u2019s happening,\u201d he said, and ran back to his room to dress.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

“Why is he in his small clothes?” Fillip asked casually, combing back his hair. Fillip was standing there, completely nude.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale and Oszaren shared a look, and Oszaren followed Reverence into his room. \u201cNow is the time to tell us what in the nine hells is going on,\u201d the half-elf growled.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence ignored him as he dressed, and Oszaren turned to Shale. \u201cCome on,\u201d she said, and he nodded. They ran downstairs for the door of the inn, which was wide open, Keelan the fire worshipper just behind them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

The town of Greenest was ablaze. Several homes smoked, others burned, and arrows flew out of the darkness. Bells began to ring in the town\u2019s centre, and chaos filled the night air.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale drew her longbow and notched an arrow, then continued to run, searching for enemies. Groups of guards shouted at villagers. \u201cMake for the Keep! Make for the Keep! Grab your children and run!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale grabbed the arm of a guard as he ran past. \u201cWhat\u2019s happening? What is it?\u201d She demanded breathlessly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He shook his head. \u201cWe\u2019re under attack. Scaled creatures,\u201d the man looked terrified, but determined. \u201cWe are moving everyone to the Keep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale nodded and released him. \u201cThank you.\u201d She continued to run until she reached the edge of town, where the screaming was most chaotic. There she found the creatures in question. Kobolds. More of them. What were they all doing here? Kobolds didn\u2019t live in this region, not in these numbers. She dropped her suspicions for the moment and instead raised her bow, aiming at a nearby kobold as it ran after a villager. It was a man running with a child in his arms and another grasping his hand. The creature leaped and tore into the man\u2019s back as he fell. \u201cNo!\u201d she cried. She was too far away. She ran desperately, tears in her eyes as she saw a woman, screaming, run out of a nearby house with a spear. Closer now, Shale raised her bow again and released an arrow into the scaled creature\u2019s throat, which fell on impact. The woman threw herself over the man\u2019s body, gathering the children in her arms and weeping. Shale continued to run toward them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Blasts of magic, stray arrows and javelins soared through the air around her, some striking enemy flesh, others hitting villagers, and many yet which missed their targets entirely. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Just as she came up to the family, Whisper released a bolt of fire, which struck another kobold that was emerging from the darkness. It shrugged off the assault and threw something back at the tabaxi, which exploded midair and sent Whisper and Oszaren, who were near him, flying back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The orange tiefling, Reverence, came up to the family just as Shale was assessing the man\u2019s wounds. Huge slashes cut across his back and he was losing blood quickly. \u201cHere,\u201d Reverence said, gently pushing everyone out of the way. He placed a hand on the man\u2019s wounds, and with a warm yellow light they slowly began to close. When he stood, the man was unconscious but alive. \u201cThank you!\u201d The woman said, throwing her arms around him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The tiefling awkwardly extricated himself from the embrace, and the woman, teary-eyed, coaxed her children forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The howls and grunts of kobolds reached their ears from across the way, somewhere hidden in a dark alleyway. Shale set another arrow and released into the darkness, hearing the arrow strike one of the creatures, which howled in pain. Oszaren was there, bleeding from the forehead. He tossed one of his two maces at Reverence\u2019s feet. The tiefling was currently wielding a broken chair. Both took up arms and ran past into the alley. Keelan ran in after them, warhammer raised. Whisper was crouched on the roof of a nearby building watching the assault and shouting words at the kobolds in a guttural language Shale did not recognize.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip ran from an open house and came up to Shale. \u201cIs he alright?\u201d he asked, gesturing to the still unconscious man.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHe\u2019s alive, but still not looking good,\u201d she told him, and the half-elf crouched over the man, his glowing hand hovering over his body. He whispered a phrase, and the man\u2019s eyes fluttered open.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLet me,\u201d Shale said, ducking under the man\u2019s form and lifting him on her shoulder. The woman took his other arm and, with the children following, they slowly made for the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe need to get to the Keep,\u201d Shale said, and Fillip nodded, running ahead to tell the others.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The fight raged around them, but Shale refused to leave this family behind. Save them first.<\/em> The smaller of the two children reached up and clutched her hand as she helped drag their father through the burning town. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A red-bearded dwarf stood at the doorway of the Keep quickly ushering everyone inside. A fair amount of townsfolk made it in unscathed, but there were others yet who carried grievous wounds, and even a few who were too pale and still, and they had family members weeping over their bodies. Shale helped the woman sit her husband down in a corner of the main room and released the hand of the youngest child. The woman nodded to her gratefully, and the small family huddled together, anxious but secure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper followed them in and handed one of the children his ball of yarn. After a moment\u2019s hesitation, the child took the ball and smiled timidly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale found a guard near the entrance who was making for the door, \u201cexcuse me,\u201d she said, walking with him, \u201cdo you know where we can stand if we wish to fight?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The guard looked genuinely surprised. \u201cUh, yes! Yeah. We will take any fighters we can. Anyone who can bare arms.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBear arms?\u201d Whisper asked, and suddenly an illusion fell over his arms, so they appeared to be massive, furry bear paws.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

After a moment\u2019s pause and a long look at the tabaxi, the guard said, \u201chere, talk to Escobert.\u201d He gestured to the dwarf at the front of the keep, then turned and ran off to organize a new group of arrivals. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She approached the dwarf next, Whisper following her and holding out his bear arms, so passersby’s glanced over in confusion amidst the frantic flurry of people. \u201cWhisper, you shouldn\u2019t do that,\u201d she hissed to him. \u201cIt\u2019s insensitive\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cInsensitive,\u201d he repeated, and the illusion dissipated.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The gruff dwarf sent them to the armoury to be equipped and invited them to head upstairs to see the governor for instructions. \u201cYou look to be a skilled fighter,\u201d he told Shale, then looked over at Whisper, Keelan and Oszaren. \u201cAll of you, grab what you need and go upstairs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They all nodded and made their way to the armoury just as Reverence stormed upstairs, red eyes ablaze, Fillip trailing behind him curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\u201cThere is an underground tunnel that leads to the river. They currently have the temple barricaded with goddess-knows how many souls inside. If you follow it through, it should take you around the back of the temple.\u201d The governor Tarbaw Nighthill stood wearily at the top of the Keep overlooking the town of Greenest, a large gash on his upper arm and burn marks at the fringe of his robe. He had hastily donned a breastplate over his robe, and it made for an odd sight. There were a few buildings in the distance now fully ablaze, and the far-off temple was surrounded by a cluster of people and smoke was rising from it. \u201cAre you up to the challenge?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Without a thought, Shale nodded and shared a glance with Keelan. The young human nodded back. \u201cLet\u2019s not waste any time. We should leave now.\u201d The two of them went for the stairs to the bottom of the Keep near the now-barricaded entrance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cForgetting something?\u201d Fillip said smugly, dangling a large set of keys on the tip of his finger as he rushed down after them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCome on,\u201d Keelan said in annoyance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhere is the entrance to this secret tunnel?\u201d Shale asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWell, if\u2014you had stuck around\u2014you might\u2019ve found out\u2014for yourself,\u201d Reverence said lazily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They said nothing in reply. \u201cIt\u2019s this way,\u201d Fillip lead the way back through the armoury and down another passage. Oszaren appeared and followed them, drawing Shale to the back of the group.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe need a plan if this is going to work,\u201d the half-elf told her intently.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Shale nodded, taking in the motley group of companions she had acquired. \u201cWait, where\u2019s the tabaxi?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren rolled his eyes. \u201cThe cat crawled over the side of the Keep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOver the side? Why?\u201d She asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He shrugged as way of answer. Tabaxis were, everyone knew, rather strange creatures. This one, though, seemed to be especially odd.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

The entrance to the tunnel was in the dankest part of the Keep\u2019s basement. Reverence and Oszaren devised a plan to walk in separate groups, and they all agreed as they made their way into the damp darkness, water sloshing underfoot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan lit a torch for himself and Shale, both having the eyesight of humans. It couldn\u2019t compare to that of an elf\u2019s or even half-elf\u2019s, and definitely not compared to a tiefling. It was said that tieflings were descended from demons, so darkness was their mistress. Shale knew little of them, but she also took little stock in fables.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip and Reverence took the lead. Ten feet back, Keelan walked alone with his torch raised high. A simple spell cast by Reverence kept the torch dimmed so as to light their footsteps and nothing else. Ten feet behind him walked Oszaren and Shale. They walked for several minutes in silence.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWait,\u201d Oszaren said quietly, setting a hand on Shale\u2019s shoulder. \u201cI hear voices. Up ahead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cVoices?\u201d She hissed<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDraconic. It must be more kobolds.\u201d He nodded and quickened his pace to catch up to the others. They culminated in a group near the large grate at the end. It was fastened with a rusted lock, and after a few moment\u2019s struggle with the key, Reverence gave up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHere, let me mend it,\u201d Fillip said, pushing to the front and casting a simple spell over the iron, waving his piece of bark through the air. \u201cTry it again,\u201d he told the tiefling. As he moved back, he kicked a rock and it went clattering to splash across the tunnel floor. Everyone froze, listening.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

There were low grunts in a foreign language. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThey\u2019re coming. Hurry,\u201d Oszaren told them, grabbing the keys roughly out of Reverence\u2019s hands. He jiggled the key in the lock and, after a moment, there was a click. The grate swung forward. \u201cGet back!\u201d the half-elf hissed, and they all threw themselves against the tunnel wall with held breaths. Just then, outlined by moonlight, appeared a massive, lizard-like shape. A drake. It stepped cautiously, sniffing, then turned its shoulder and growled, beckoning a few kobolds to its side.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Then, a ROAR<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

It\u2019s seen us,<\/em> Shale thought desperately, nocking an arrow to her bow and taking aim. She released, and a fresh arrow sprouted from the beast\u2019s shoulder a second later. She threw herself against the wall again and nocked another arrow. Everyone else jumped into action.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence was as fast-moving as he had been all day. The orange tiefling leaped at the drake with a mace, which glanced off the scaled armour, and rounded with a jab of his fist, striking the creature near the wound in its shoulder. It swiped at him but he danced away, and Keelan took the opportunity to run up with his warhammer, the torch left forgotten against the tunnel wall, and drove it up with all his force into the drake\u2019s lower jaw. The hammer crushed its skull in a single blow, and the creature crumpled. The three kobolds, which had been slinging rocks into the tunnel, saw their fallen leader and ran.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They gave chase, Fillip taking out a scimitar and slashing into the back of the slowest one as it tried to escape. The creature stumbled but continued to run and Oszaren released a blast of magical energy into the air, which narrowly missed the kobold. Still running, Shale tried to shoot her bow, but it soared into the darkness and her feet stumbled on the slick river rocks. She regained her footing and jumped to the riverbank, splashing through mud as she drew her swords instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence dashed ahead of her and knocked down two of the three kobolds with a swift kick and a swing of his mace. The last kobold disappeared into the darkness. Keelan heaved a javelin in its direction, but it landed in the river, void of its target. The young man swore and crawled from the river, all of them soaked and annoyed. With a final breath of hope, Fillip shot a rock from his sling at the fleeing creature, but Shale\u2019s human eyes could not see the result.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCome on, we need to get to the temple,\u201d Oszaren told them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Suddenly, a human dressed in patchwork armour appeared at the river bank and, spotting all of them, drew his sword. Oszaren reacted first, firing a beam of crackling cold energy at the man and sending him stumbling back. The man grabbed his torso just as a bolt of fire hit him from behind. The flames coursed up his body, sending an inhuman scream of terror and pain into the air. The stench of burned flesh filled the area as the cries fell short and the body collapsed, blackened.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFire,\u201d Whisper said matter-of-factly, appearing from behind his fallen victim.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThanks for joining us,\u201d Fillip said, climbing up the riverbank with the rest of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLook,\u201d Keelan pointed across the field at the stone temple. A group was crowded around it, and a small fire was being stoked against the wall. They were going to burn the people inside. The thatched roof above was smoking, and there were figures assembling around a battering ram, ready to smash down the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan held out a hand and a few darts of orange light flashed from his spread fingers and shot into the chests of Reverence, Oszaren and Fillip.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Reverence said, holding his chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat was that?\u201d Shale asked, having been untouched by the light.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cHealing spell. It\u2019s not much, but it\u2019ll do the trick for those who were injured in the tunnels,\u201d Keelan told her, hoisting his warhammer. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper began swirling his hands through the air and chanting in another language. Fillip took out a handful of stones and placed one in his sling. Reverence cracked his neck, tail swishing in anticipation. Oszaren gripped his mace and Shale twisted the two swords in her hands. \u201cLet\u2019s kill some mother fu\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The heavy flap of leather wings filled the sky. Baboom, baboom, baboom.<\/em> A piercing roar filled the air. Then, a huge streak of lightning crackled and lit up the sky, and before them, Shale saw a nightmare come to life.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDragon,\u201d Keelan cursed as the outline of a massive beast appeared above them.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter 1-2 follows our adventurers in this Dungeons & Dragons campaign as they cross Faerun, fighting against the rising tide of the Dragon Cult, in this story based on The Hoard of the Dragon Queen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[18,19,17,14,15,13,16,21,20],"series":[],"class_list":["post-210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wings-of-chaos-dungeons-and-dragons-series","tag-campaign","tag-cult-of-the-dragon","tag-dnd","tag-dungeons-and-dragons","tag-fantasy","tag-hoard-of-the-dragon-queen","tag-series","tag-wings-of-chaos","tag-wizards-of-the-coast"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Giant_s-Gamble-Blog-PhotosArtboard-1.png","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/seriously-simple-podcasting\/assets\/images\/no-album-art.png","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"amazon":{"key":"amazon","url":"https:\/\/music.amazon.ca\/podcasts\/09c34bbc-b359-49af-a286-31830ed5634c\/short-stories","label":"Amazon","class":"amazon","icon":"amazon.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_play":{"key":"google_play","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Play","class":"google_play","icon":"google-play.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.google.com\/feed\/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbGV4aXN2ZWVuZW5kYWFsLmNvbS9mZWVkL3BvZGNhc3Qvc2hvcnQtc3Rvcmllcw","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0lcQCRs52MfYlKs35lVX4K","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"itunes":{"key":"itunes","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/short-stories\/id1621456328","label":"iTunes","class":"itunes","icon":"itunes.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/feed\/podcast\/default-podcast","embedCode":"

Wings of Chaos: Chapter 1-2<\/a><\/blockquote>