{"id":221,"date":"2019-03-21T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-21T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-20-21\/"},"modified":"2023-03-31T16:34:34","modified_gmt":"2023-03-31T15:34:34","slug":"wings-of-chaos-chapter-20-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/21\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-20-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Wings of Chaos: Chapter 20-21"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 20: Ignoring Blood<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Five Years Ago<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale yawned and rolled over in her sleeping furs as the first rays of morning light peered through the curtained windows.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGood morning,\u201d Kelek said softly, smiling and brushing his lips against hers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMorning,\u201d she smiled back, brushing her hand along his side.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He wrapped his strong arms around her and pulled her closer to him, planting a firm kiss on her forehead, then pressing into her lips again.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI have to go,\u201d she murmured through the kisses.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo,\u201d he whispered, working his way down her neck.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo, really<\/em>,\u201d she insisted with a laugh, pushing him off her and rolling out of the furs to dress. He watched her for a while, content to lay in bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen will you be back?\u201d Kelek asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt\u2019s a quick trip,\u201d she told him, pulling back her black hair and weaving it into a thick braid, \u201cI should be back tomorrow afternoon at the latest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAlright,\u201d he groaned, getting out of bed and dressing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She leaned over and kissed his cheek. \u201cGet the children up, before I leave,\u201d she said, then picked up her pack and stepped into the other room and started on breakfast.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kelek mumbled something and went to get the children.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They ate together. Shale leaned in and kissed her children each in turn: Lonnis, the oldest, her seven-year-old son with a constant grin on his curious face, then the two girls, Farin and Ki. Though they looked very much the same, their personalities were miles apart. Her sweet, middle daughter, Farin, who was always the fighter. Five years old and so much ferocity. Then her youngest, Ki. The girl with a thousand dreams, always imagining up another world in her three-year-old mind.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI love you,\u201d she told them all, and then she left.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale made the short trek back to Triel after leaving the noblemen, who had paid her well to guide them the faster way through the Reaching Woods. The day was bright and sunny, and her stomach rumbled with hunger, but she wanted to get home, so she continued through the outskirts of the town until she reached the southeastern side, avoiding the foot traffic on the roads. She was nearly home when she heard the screams.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale dropped her pack and ran toward the town.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It didn\u2019t take long for her to see the bodies. Men, women and children. Bloodied bodies scattered in the fields and outside of their homes. She didn\u2019t stop to look at their faces. She pounded on tired feet to her house, screaming, \u201cKELEK! KELEK!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She pulled to a stop on the next street over. The bodies on the ground, the bodies of neighbours and friends, they were\u2014moving. Stirring on the ground, though many had arrows in them, and others had their heads smashed in by something heavy. Blood and brains and guts leaked out of the moving corpses as they stood, shuddered, and began moving toward the centre of town. She went silent, not sure what would draw them to her, if anything.<\/span><\/p>\n

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No, no, no, <\/em>she thought desperately, throwing herself against the side of a house to keep from view as a few more corpses shuffled by. She saw Maydeen, the kindly old woman who always shared her garden potatoes with them. She was moaning, a large gash across her throat bubbling crimson. Shale gasped and the woman turned her dead eyes in her direction. She ducked, cursing herself, then waited until she heard the corpse move past her. She caught a glimpse of Anear\u2019s thirteen-year-old son, face pale and unblinking, staring up at the sky, his hand twitching and mouth moving wordlessly. He was on the ground at her feet, but he was starting to turn. <\/span><\/p>\n

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She clambered over a tall fence and ran through Maydeen\u2019s garden, then climbed the other side and landed in her backyard. \u201cKelek?\u201d She whispered frantically. \u201cKids?\u201d She crept into the house, which was dark, and strung her bow, moving cautiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She searched the entire house and found no one inside. \u201cIdiot,\u201d she hissed. The children would be in lessons, across town. Kelek would be at the temple, helping the men fix the roof there. The temple, near the town\u2019s square.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Not daring to put the thoughts in her mind, she bolted out the front door and ran through the town of Triel, the streets nearly empty as all the undead gathered in the centre of town. For what, she had no idea. She saw no sign of what creatures had killed them, nor if there were any living survivors.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Stop,<\/em> she told herself, there <\/em>are survivors. <\/em>Her family was smart. They would have gotten away. The children would have been taken into the cellar at the first sign of danger. Kelek would have hidden inside the temple. Or, maybe he was still on the roof. She slowed as the density of undead became too many, then snuck past, looking toward the centre of town. She saw a flash of red, then heard a booming, magically enhanced voice speak out in a harsh, guttural language she didn\u2019t know. The figure floated up several feet above the gathered corpses.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She hid and glanced out to get a look at the one who had destroyed her home.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Though he was a long distance away, she could see he was a man. He had white skin and a bald head inked with black tattoos, though it was hard to make out his facial features. Around him floated a crimson red robe, and in his hand, he held a flashing orb of light. The corpses looked up at him with dead eyes and listened to his foreign speech.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale tore her eyes away and crept through back alleys until she reached the school, and saw the front door had been smashed in. Forcing the tears away, she leaped through the splintered wood and peered inside. It was dark, the lanterns gone out. \u201cLonnis? Farin? Ki?\u201d She said in a hushed, strained voice. \u201cKids?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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There was a thump, and she raised her bow in an instant to the noise as a figure rose and moved into the light. Kelek.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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His eyes were white.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

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No.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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His dark skin was a sickly colour, and a few arrows feathered his back. He looked at her without seeing, moving toward her. She stepped back until her shoulders touched the wall, shaking her head as he tilted his and shuffled nearer. \u201cDon\u2019t,\u201d she croaked, tears streaming down her face. \u201cDon\u2019t, Kelek. I\u2014I love you. Please.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Kelek stood a foot from her, then opened his mouth as if to scream, jumping toward her with supernatural speed. She dropped her bow and felt his body slam into her and knock her to the ground. He was stronger than her, even in death, and she felt his arms clawing at her neck, threatening to choke her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She gasped and fumbled for her belt, where she kept her dagger. She felt the hilt and grasped it, lashing out, stabbing Kelek\u2019s arms where they held her. He screeched inhumanly and pulled back, and she rolled up and onto him and stabbed him in the chest and torso, over and over, the blade making a sickly sucking sound as she drew it out and slammed it down, drew it out, slammed it down. Her arms were soaked by the time her husband\u2019s white-filmed eyes finally stared up at nothing, his hands dropping and his mouth going slack.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Holding back a sob, she quickly kicked off him and crawled away, toward the cellar door. It was closed. Standing shakily, the dagger still clutched in one hand, she turned the knob and the door creaked open without resistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She descended the stairs into the cold basement, but there was no one hidden inside.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Numb, she climbed the stairs, leaving streaks of Kelek\u2019s blood along the wall as she ascended. She stepped through the shattered front door and came face-to-face with Paelor, the children\u2019s lesson master.<\/span><\/p>\n

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His eyes were white and dead.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He lashed out with his hands when he saw her and she cursed herself for leaving her bow on the ground as she kicked the elderly man to his knees, then grabbed his head and sharply turned it, dagger still in hand, breaking the neck. The corpse dropped, and she saw his original wound was a stab mark to the back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She heard a moan and turned her head as several figures shuffled out from around the building.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNO!\u201d She screamed. She couldn\u2019t hold it back this time. \u201cNo, no, no, NO<\/em>,\u201d she sobbed, clutching the dagger in her sticky, blood covered hands. It was her children.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Lonnis, Farin, Ki, and several other children, all with dead eyes, all pierced with arrows. Dead. Undead. They reached for her as they moved forward on tiny feet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale dropped to her knees and waited for them to come. \u201cThis is it,\u201d she sobbed, letting her dagger clatter to the ground. She forced herself to look up, to meet each of their eyes with her own. Ki. The three-year-old with the fanciful dreams, still unsteady the way she walked. Farin, the fierce one, her hair now matted with blood. Lonnis, the boy who never stopped asking questions, his jaw broken and a deep gash along his forehead. She raised her chin to the sky and closed her eyes, waiting for the pain to end.<\/span><\/p>\n

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No.<\/em> She heard the voice in her head. It was a voice she hadn\u2019t heard in a decade.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Gwaeron?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Get up, Shale. Don\u2019t let it consume you.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Then, everything went quiet. She felt her mind clear, and she opened her eyes. She dropped her hand and darted for the dagger again, the wet hilt slipping in her hand. As Lonnis raised a dead hand at her, she grabbed her son by the neck and thrust the blade into his un-beating heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It was at that moment that the darkness, and the madness, claimed her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Present Day<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale awoke to angry shouts of accusation. \u201cThere\u2019s a murderer in our midst, and we demand justice!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She crawled out of her bedroll and pulled on her heavy winter cloak, as the morning was a chill one, then strode over to the disruption. The cultists stood on one side over the body of the fallen half-elf, with the smeared message \u201ctread carefully\u201d still written on his face in blood. On the other side stood many members of the caravan and the dwarf merchant was trying to placate them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe will look into it, but we can\u2019t spend more time in Daggerford,\u201d the Dwarf insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt was one of you!\u201d One of the cultists, a man with a shaved face and reddish hair grunted, glaring out at the crowd. \u201cWho\u2019s to blame?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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A burly woman with black hair and a scar across her face, one of the cultists who usually kept her hood up, stepped next to the man with arms folded. Whisper had told them her name was Hama, and she was the leader of the group in their caravan.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale hadn\u2019t told her companions about what she\u2019d seen Janna do, so they all had genuine looks of confusion on their faces. Oszaren stepped up next to Shale and whispered, \u201cyou didn\u2019t have anything to do with this, did you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She shook her head and muttered, \u201clater.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She turned back and saw Janna was just starting to stir and rise from her sleeping furs, a look of pure innocence on her tiny, gnomish face.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI investigate,\u201d Whisper said, walking to the body. Hesitantly, the ginger-haired man stepped aside and allowed the tabaxi to check the corpse. He turned it over and pointed to the stab wound, which was a couple inches thick and through the small of the man\u2019s back. \u201cShort sword did this,\u201d he told them loudly, so even the curious onlookers could hear.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The ginger man looked at Shale and her companions, pointing his finger accusatorily. \u201cWas it one of you? <\/em>We saw how cleanly you dispatched of those slavers in the inn. Or those spiders on the road.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCleanly<\/em> is a generous term,\u201d Oszaren folded his arms and widened his stance intimidatingly. \u201cWe are fighters, sure, but we are not ones to cowardly stab someone in the back.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cExactly,\u201d Keelan agreed. \u201cBesides, what reason would we have to attack one of your men? There\u2019s no motive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCheck the pockets,\u201d Shale told Whisper, and the tabaxi did so, pulling out a full coin purse.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThere you have it,\u201d the paladin announced, \u201cthere must have been a personal disagreement between this fellow and someone else.\u201d He paused, looking around at the disguised cultists, \u201cwe will help you find justice for this man\u2019s murder\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHis name is Sadon,\u201d one of the others cut in.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAll show weapons,\u201d Whisper stood up from the body, pointing down to the ginger\u2019s sheathed longsword. \u201cWhoever have shortsword do this.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s half the camp,\u201d Shale said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence turned in a flash and strode over to Janna, picking her up by her cloak and carrying her over to the fallen half-elf. She squirmed, her tiny legs kicking futilely through the air as he threw her to the ground before the cult. He drew her shortsword from its scabbard and held it up. \u201cHere is the one we should be suspicious of,\u201d he said slowly, examining the blade, which looked to be properly clean of any blood. \u201cShe is\u2014new here. She carries the weapon\u2014our tabaxi friend describes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShe\u2019s not the only new one,\u201d Shale said, pointing a finger at Azbarra, who now had a hood over his bald, tattooed head. \u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hama threw a glance over to the red wizard. \u201cHe is not a suspect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFine,\u201d Shale said sharply, \u201cbut we won\u2019t find out who the killer is like this. We must continue our journey to Waterdeep, as Lai here said.\u201d She gestured at the dwarf. \u201cFor all you know, it is as our paladin suggested: your guard Sadon was directly targeted, and now the crime is done, the murderer has hidden themselves. Look around you,\u201d she gestured to the further encampment outside of Daggerford, the hundreds of refugee tents, \u201cthere are endless possibilities here. We must<\/em> move on. You and your group can stay if you like.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She said it firmly, and after a tense moment, Hama raised her chin and ordered the ginger-haired man to clean up the body. Whisper offered to dig a grave.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLeave us to our grief,\u201d Hama said, and the people of the caravan began to stir and go awkwardly about their business.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou know, for people who want to end the world, they sure are sentimental,\u201d Oszaren muttered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale grabbed Keelan by the arm as they returned together to their smoldering fire. \u201cI put the chain in his satchel,\u201d she whispered. \u201cAzbarra\u2019s.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Almost imperceptibly, the paladin nodded. She expected he would test the spell as soon as he had the chance.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She would tell her companions about what happened in the night, but not until she was certain they were alone. In the meantime, she packed up her supplies, stealing furtive glances toward Janna as the gnome packed her own belongings and shot angry glares at Reverence.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For the rest of their journey to Waterdeep, another five days of travel, Whisper spent much of his evenings speaking with the cult members, trying to decide what Azbarra\u2019s presence could mean. Shale kept careful watch of the red wizard, trying to discern if his was the face she remembered.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence spent his days walking alongside Zelena, and the two seemed to have an understanding between each other, though it didn\u2019t seem to progress much further, and Fillip and Arietta\u2019s relationship seemed strained. By the time they reached the outskirts of the impressive metropolis of Waterdeep, Shale was happy to finally break free of the caravan.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Waterdeep was a massive, fortified city along the Sword Coast, with its sprawling Deepwater Harbour full of various ships and barges moving in and out of the area. The city was built into the side of Mount Waterdeep, climbing up the small mountain and otherwise spreading down to the ocean\u2019s edge.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale stared out in wonder, having never seen the city before.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It was then that Reverence had another vision.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The ocean\u2019s horizon was dark, the sky moving like a shadow toward him. He peered at it for a while and saw that the clouds were alive and approaching quickly. The ground vibrated, and the ocean rose up. A mile-high wall of water pulled back the shore, the ships being sucked into its wake. Then it rushed forward and slammed into the great city of Waterdeep. The water enveloped the city, dragging the buildings off the side of the mountain like flesh sloughing from a decaying body.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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When the water receded, there was nothing, but broken stone left. The cloud of darkness continued to move forward. The cloud was thousands of flying dragons.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cA grim future, to be sure,\u201d a voice said next to him, and he turned. \u201cBut, it\u2019s oddly satisfying to watch.\u201d The man next to him was a human with deathly pale skin and garbed in dark clothes, a finely cut tunic and trousers. He grinned, and his mouth was full of sharp fangs.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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The vision faded.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThis city is full of pagans,\u201d Keelan said as he spit on the ground and trotted Ember forward. The caravan reached the main southern gates and scattered, the long journey finally at a close for many people. The family with the cursed daughter, the dwarf in all his fine raiment\u2019s, the ale seller in his grim fashion, all went their separate ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale lost sight of Janna amongst the crowd, and they were soon left alone with their cart, Oyn bidding Reverence farewell and good luck on his journey as he pushed his way through the market, handing his patched coat to the tiefling as a parting gift.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip led their covered wagon after him with Zelena and Arietta sitting amongst the supplies, watching them as hundreds of people milled about. They left Fillip with the twins to sell his spices, and Carlon the Harper retreated, saying he had business to attend to. The rest of them followed the group of carts belonging to the cult from a safe distance as they pushed their way northwards through the town.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI go to the academy,\u201d Whisper told them, his common having improved a lot in his time on the road. \u201cSend me message when you are ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat are you doing there?\u201d Oszaren asked curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTry to join,\u201d the tabaxi said, excitement in his face, his one eye blinking out at his companions. Then, he turned and mixed into the crowd of people, his bobbing ears soon out of sight past the buildings.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe keep an eye on the cult,\u201d Oszaren said to the remaining few, Reverence, Shale and Keelan, \u201cbut we don\u2019t engage. Not until we know what we\u2019re up against.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They followed for another hour, finally reaching the upper portion of the city where the streets were cleaner and the smell less foul, and they were forced to drop back as the crowds dispersed and kept the cult in Keelan\u2019s magical sights as he followed the chain in Azbarra\u2019s bookbag. Reverence ran ahead to keep track of them in case the red wizard was to veer off in another direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Eventually, they were led to a large warehouse, where Reverence stood waiting for them. \u201cThey all went inside,\u201d the tiefling told them quietly as they watched from a street away. \u201cI saw Azbarra\u2014show some symbol, and they were\u2014let in. No one\u2019s has come out since.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNow what?\u201d Shale whispered, feeling anxious now that she knew where the red wizard was staying. Trigger nuzzled her boot.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNow, we keep a constant guard on the warehouse and find a place to rest for the evening. We should talk to the locals and find out what this warehouse is used for and see when the next caravan is leaving Waterdeep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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They all nodded, and Reverence offered to take first watch of the warehouse. The rest of them departed and found some rooms in the Open Barrel Inn.<\/em> Then, Keelan excused himself. \u201cI have my own mission,\u201d he declared, and without any explanation, left the inn.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell,\u201d Oszaren sighed, looking at Shale, \u201cI guess it\u2019s just us. Let\u2019s talk to the locals and meet back at the warehouse in an hour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale agreed, and she and Trigger went out of the inn.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Lord of Waterdeep opened a trade route between Waterdeep and Neverwinter. After the near destruction of Neverwinter years ago from the volcano, they\u2019ve been looking for ways to improve trade and fix the roads. I heard a lot of complaints from locals saying it\u2019s a waste of their money, when the Lord should be focusing the city\u2019s wealth on the poor within their own city,\u201d Oszaren summarized to Shale and Reverence what he had found out.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale nodded her head. She had found out much of the same thing. \u201cThe warehouse is owned by the Highroad Charter Company,\u201d she told them. \u201cThis is the company the Lord hired to repair the trade route. Though, I couldn\u2019t find their connection to the cult. It could be that the cult owns the company, but I can\u2019t say for sure.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt could be,\u201d Reverence said thoughtfully, \u201cthough it\u2019s possible\u2014the cult is simply\u2014bribing them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey certainly have the wealth for it,\u201d Oszaren agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI also found out a bit about the politics of Waterdeep,\u201d Shale began, \u201cthough I\u2019m sure you already know a lot about it.\u201d When Oszaren made no sign to speak, she continued. \u201cThe city is run by an oligarchy, like a council of Lords, but the Lords wear masks. All except one, whom they consider to be the Open Lord. His name is Dagult Neverember. He\u2019s not very well liked, as you said.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell,\u201d Oszaren sighed, \u201cwe need to find out when the cult is leaving Waterdeep, if they are indeed leaving, and what their plans are.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale spoke with the innkeeper and found some messenger boys, paying them each a silver and sending them with letters for Fillip and Whisper to tell them where they were staying. Shale took over Reverence\u2019s watch of the warehouse, leaving Trigger behind at the inn, which made the fox antsy but kept him safe, and Reverence and Oszaren went out to the market to shop. When evening reached the city of Waterdeep, Whisper found Shale and left his fey owl to watch the warehouse while the rest of them convened in the Open Barrel<\/em> over supper.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSo, now instead of the Devoted Blaze, you can call me a Disciple of the Phoenix,\u201d Keelan announced proudly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, none of us actually called you the Devoted Blaze,\u201d Oszaren began to say, but Fillip smiled at the paladin and nodded approvingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cCan\u2019t afford academy,\u201d Whisper said sadly, \u201cwill try tomorrow for scholarship and see if they pay for me or find me patron.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat do you have to do?\u201d Shale asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The tabaxi shrugged and waved his paws grandly, \u201cmake good magic things. Look impressive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell,\u201d Fillip nodded his head, \u201cI have to go back out tomorrow and sell the rest of the spices. I\u2019m thinking I\u2019ll try another sector of the city, so I don\u2019t oversaturate the market.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe don\u2019t know how long we\u2019ll be in the city,\u201d Oszaren warned, \u201cso don\u2019t stray too far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Arietta and Zelena were sitting together at a different table, talking with one another and ignoring their group. It seemed the girls hadn\u2019t found work in the city yet, but Shale would be happy to be rid of them. She still didn\u2019t trust them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOh, did I mention Carlon set up a meeting with the leader of the Harpers tomorrow, and we\u2019re supposed to join?\u201d Fillip said casually. \u201cHe found me later at the market and told me to tell you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s good news,\u201d Reverence said appreciatively, \u201cperhaps\u2014their organization will know more\u2014about the cult\u2019s plans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the leader\u2019s name?\u201d Oszaren asked curiously.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cRemalia Haventree.\u201d Fillip filled them in on the details Carlon gave. They were to meet with the Harpers the following morning at the Yawning Portal Inn.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cPerhaps,\u201d Reverence began slowly, \u201cI should also tell you\u2014of the vision I had\u2014about Waterdeep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAnother vision?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He nodded. \u201cI saw an army of dragons.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhere do the visions come from?\u201d Keelan asked, interested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence shrugged, and Keelan placed his hands on the table and Shale suddenly felt a trickle of energy run through her, compelling her to speak. Had he just placed a spell on all of them?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cIf you\u2014try to use a truth spell\u2014on me,\u201d Reverence said, taking out a book and opening it, \u201cthen I will tell you\u2014nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cJust curious if it worked,\u201d Keelan said innocently. \u201cWhat makes you think this dragon army is real? What aren\u2019t you telling us?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence looked down and pretended to read, so Oszaren waved a hand and the words on the book disappeared, leaving behind blank pages. Reverence slammed the book down and looked at them in annoyance. \u201cI saw them in a vision,\u201d he said, \u201cI don\u2019t know\u2014how it works\u2014or when it will happen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Seeing the tiefling would give them no more, Fillip got up and went to speak with Arietta. Shale decided to test the truth spell and looked at Keelan. \u201cKeelan,\u201d she said, and the paladin looked at her, \u201care you attracted to Fillip?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The young man blushed and said, \u201cI admire him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Shale smiled, then got up from the table and headed upstairs to check on Trigger.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As she slept that night, her mind went back to the memory of a red wizard floating above an army of the dead, shouting in draconic. Was Azbarra the one she\u2019d waited five years to find?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Chapter 21: The Darkness Descends<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n

\n

\n
\n

Carlon found the group of them standing outside the Yawning Portal Inn<\/em>, a massive building with the large carving of an open-mouthed gargoyle in the doorway. Shale couldn\u2019t help but be reminded of the reanimated gargoyles they\u2019d fought in Dragonspear Castle as she nervously entered behind everyone else. Fillip had left in the morning to sell his spices, and Whisper was at the academy vying for a position with them as a student. They promised to report back to them later with their findings.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Inside, the octagonal room had tables and chairs along its perimeter, and in the exact centre of the room were steps leading down a level, where a wide and seemingly endless dark pit was carved out. Around the wall was a winding staircase that went up several floors into closed doorways. It was an impressive structure, and Shale would have been surprised if it wasn\u2019t magic. The pit bothered her, but they had other matters to worry about.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Carlon brought them to a comfortable booth where a few people were already seated, and a man turned away from them stood and they all immediately recognized him as Leosin. \u201cWe meet again,\u201d the monk smiled. \u201cPlease, sit. This is Arthagast Albrinter,\u201d he gestured to a regal and handsome white-skinned human male, who nodded to them, \u201chusband of our fearless leader, Remalia Haventree.\u201d Remalia was also pale, and her skin seemed to shimmer. She had long, silver hair and the pointed ears of an elf.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

A moon elf,<\/em> Shale thought with interest. They were a beautiful, if somewhat sparsely seen, people, known for the mystery that shrouded them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Remalia raised her beautiful face to them and smiled serenely, and the four of them sat. \u201cWelcome, each of you,\u201d she said in a strong voice, \u201cand thank you for bringing Carlon back to us.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They all dipped their heads.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou have come at a good time, it would seem,\u201d her husband said. \u201cLater today, we have a meeting with many important people, those who have caught word of the cult\u2019s dealings. We could use whatever information you\u2019ve gathered. Leosin here has told us much.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDo you know if the cult is working with the Highroad Charter Company in Waterdeep?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Arthagast looked to the other two and they all shook their heads, no<\/em>. \u201cI couldn\u2019t say for certain,\u201d Arthagast told them, \u201cthough we may find out more later today in our council meeting.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSeriously,\u201d Reverence said, anger colouring his voice, \u201cdo you people know nothing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe know only what our people have told us. That, and rumours along the Sword Coast,\u201d Remalia said, giving Leosin a pointed look as if to say, who are these disrespectful people you\u2019ve brought into our midst, dressed as they are in their dirty clothes with their lowborn speech?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWho are these people you\u2019re meeting with?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Drawing her gaze from Reverence slowly, Remalia said, \u201cwe have made a tentative agreement between the Harpers, the Order of the Gauntlet, and the Emerald Enclave, a council to which the likes have not been seen in many generations, so deep and different have the rifts between these groups been. Now, though, with news of the growing cult, we have decided to set aside our differences and meet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou\u2019re only now<\/em> meeting\u2014about this?\u201d Reverence demanded, leaning in to the table and raising his voice, \u201cthe world is about to end<\/em>, and you nobles in your fancy silks with your noses stuck in your own business, are only now<\/em> caring about the cult?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cUntil a few weeks ago, we didn\u2019t even know the cult\u2019s plans,\u201d Arthagast said, his voice rising in response.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale wasn\u2019t sure how long Reverence had been having his visions, but now she suspected it had been a while.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Remalia put a gentle hand on her husband\u2019s arm and looked down at Reverence as if he were an annoying ant. \u201cWe are not so strong as you make think, monk. Our resources are not limitless, and the cult has been secretive and difficult to infiltrate, as we have seen with Carlon and Leosin\u2019s experiences\u2014not to mention your own.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence folded his arms. \u201cClearly\u2014we know more about the cult\u2014than you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhich is why,\u201d Leosin stepped in, trying to keep his voice calm, \u201cwe have asked you to meet with us. So we can exchange information, and decide what next to do about the cult.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDecide what to do?\u201d Reverence barked a humourless laugh. \u201cWe need to destroy them. Nothing else can <\/em>be done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAnd how do you propose we do that?\u201d Remalia asked, arching an eyebrow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence threw his hands up, \u201cshouldn\u2019t you be telling us that? Shouldn\u2019t the Harpers\u2014and the Order of the Gauntlet\u2014and the damned Emerald Enclave\u2014have these answers?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe may,\u201d Remalia said firmly, \u201conce we meet. Later to-day.\u201d She said the words slowly, carefully, iterating each one. \u201cI don\u2019t know who you think you are, you group of mercenaries, but the cult spans wide and far into the past, and there is still much to be learned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have time,\u201d Reverence said flatly, ending the conversation there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Awkwardly, the rest of their group watched the exchange, and finally Oszaren explained, \u201cI think what Reverence is trying to say, is that we need to act now, before the cult resurrects Tiamat and brings destruction to our world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Remalia put a hand to her eyes and rubbed them wearily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThere are many things happening in this world,\u201d Arthagast said finally, \u201ceven above and beyond the cult, though your eyes may be too narrow to see it. Yes, the cult may be trying to end the world. No, they\u2019re not the only ones who\u2019ve tried and failed to do that very thing before. But, rash decisions and tiny feuds are not the way to go about defeating them. Until you learn that, you are of no help to us, or our council.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDamn your council,\u201d Reverence said, standing and flicking his tail angrily at the four of them, \u201cyou are of no help to us. Have your meeting. Do what you want. But we don\u2019t have time to sit around, watching you in your politicking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cDo you at least know when the cult will be leaving Waterdeep?\u201d Oszaren asked, trying to overcome Reverence\u2019s angry tone with his own, calm one.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI believe I can help you with that,\u201d a familiar voice said from behind them, and Janna the gnome strode up on tiny legs to their booth. \u201cThey\u2019re leaving tomorrow. Hi,\u201d she said in greeting to Remalia, Arthagast, Leosin and Carlon, \u201cI\u2019m Janna, and I\u2019m here to join your council meeting. I represent the Zhentarim faction.\u201d She cast Reverence a dirty look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Remalia and her husband shared a look, and the moon elf nodded back to Janna. \u201cWelcome, Janna of the Zhentarim. We will welcome your group into our council gladly. We weren\u2019t sure we\u2019d heard from you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYeah, yeah,\u201d Reverence said impatiently, still standing, \u201cwe\u2019re not waiting around for this meeting\u2014so give us the information we need\u2014and we\u2019ll be on our way.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cReverence,\u201d Shale started to say, but Remalia raised her hand.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cLeosin,\u201d she said, \u201cgive them each an invisibility potion to aid them in their search. I believe our discussions are over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Leosin hurriedly reached into a pack and handed the potions to Oszaren, who pocketed them and thanked the monk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNow, leave us,\u201d Remalia said, clearly done with the conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale gave Janna a nod.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence snorted and turned on his heel, exiting first, Shale, Keelan and Oszaren following behind him, tentatively gazing down at the black pit in the centre of the inn. Strange.<\/em> When they were back out on the streets, Keelan turned to Shale and said, \u201cnext time we\u2019re meeting with a bunch of important, noble-type leaders, we\u2019re bringing Fillip.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThat was a disaster,\u201d Shale agreed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence was already out of earshot, but Oszaren heard them and said, \u201cyou have to admit, it was a bit disappointing to find that, out of all these groups, we know the most.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale was tired and decided not to argue. When Oszaren had walked away, she murmured back to Keelan, \u201clet\u2019s never let Reverence do the talking, ever <\/em>again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Feeling dissatisfied, they followed Oszaren and Reverence back to the Open Barrel<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

They sent a message to Whisper and Fillip again, telling them of their plans to sneak into the warehouse with their invisibility potions. They received a message back from Whisper via his owl very quickly after, and the message said he was staying at the academy all day to read books and wouldn\u2019t join them in their infiltration. Fillip\u2019s message came later and said he needed to finish selling spices before they continued their journey the following day, if indeed the cult was leaving Waterdeep. Shale decided to keep Trigger at the inn, locked in their stables.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

With that, Keelan, Shale, Oszaren and Reverence went back to the warehouse and each drank an invisibility potion. Shale and Oszaren each had a spare for the ones Whisper and Fillip wouldn\u2019t be needing, just in case they stayed longer than the one hour the potion permitted. Then, silently, the four of them snuck into the warehouse, sliding through the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Inside the large warehouse, which was a single-story building, were boarded windows and a few offices on one side with desks and papers. In the main, open area, there were at least a dozen carts being loaded with supplies by workers dressed in gray uniforms.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale felt Oszaren\u2019s hand on her arm and he whispered quietly, \u201cI\u2019m going to check the offices for information. Listen in and see what you can find.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale nodded, then realized he couldn\u2019t see her and said softly, \u201cokay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The crates being loaded into the wagons were stamped with an HR brand, presumably for the Highroad company. Shale snuck to a wagon that was currently unoccupied and slipped in to check inside the crates. Nails, shovels, and other road working supplies were on top. When she checked the ones in the back, she found the familiar gold and gems, the ones stolen by the cult. She paused when she heard Azbarra\u2019s voice, and quickly crept out of the wagon and around the warehouse to listen in.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201c\u2026we want to make sure they\u2019re secure,\u201d he was saying to a gray-bearded, balding man with a wide stomach, who was issuing commands to those loading the carts. They were walking around and chatting, and Shale followed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAnd what about the three we brought in?\u201d Azbarra asked. \u201cCan we make sure they get to the roadhouse without question?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYes, yes,\u201d the older man was saying, \u201cit\u2019s not the first time we\u2019ve had dealings like this. My men are professionals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Azbarra said something too quiet for Shale to hear, so she crept closer.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOur payment was received, of course,\u201d the older man nodded, rubbing his bearded chin. He looked over at one of the larger crates and pointed to a man, barking orders for him to load the heaviest crates at the bottom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Azbarra wrang his hands as he watched the men work, and Shale was so close now she could hear his wheezing breaths. She couldn\u2019t be sure where Oszaren, Reverence or Keelan were. She stepped closer to Azbarra, until she could see the pores on his nose. She was right next to him. So close.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The red wizard licked his lips and stirred, turning back to the offices. His red robes swirled around him as he turned.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale saw the wizard hovering over the town of Triel, words spitting out of his wormy mouth in draconic. Commander of the dead. Necromancer.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Her hands clenched around her drawn machete. She didn\u2019t remember drawing it, but now the bare steel was in her hand and she gripped it tightly, staring at Azbarra.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The man looked around as if he\u2019d heard something, then sniffed and began shuffling away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale heard the sound in her mind of the blade squelching as she drew it out of Kelek\u2019s motionless chest. It took a lot of strength to stab someone. Most people didn\u2019t realize that. She felt sweat trickle down her brow. Time seemed to slow.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Gwaeron\u2019s voice echoed in her mind, barely more than a whisper. Wait.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

It was too late. Shale strode the few steps forward and grabbed Azbarra roughly around the shoulders and pressed the sharp blade against his throat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI told you to tread carefully,\u201d she hissed, the darkness bleeding into her vision as her heart filled with rage. The madness took her again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale pulled the blade across the red wizard\u2019s exposed throat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Azbarra flinched and rolled out of Shale\u2019s invisible grasp, the blade nicking his neck and leaving a trail of blood. \u201cAASHICK<\/em>,\u201d the wizard shouted, spreading both hands before him where Shale stood.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She dove as a massive spectral hand appeared and tried to tighten around her invisible form, but she ducked and rolled out of its large, curled fingers. Suddenly, her invisibility was gone, and Azbarra looked at her with recognition.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cYou\u2026\u201d he started to say in confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAre you the necromancer who killed my family?\u201d She demanded. \u201cWere you the one who destroyed Triel?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cTrie\u2014what? No\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

She threw up her hands and screamed to Gwaeron in her mind, and a giant cloud of fog exploded around them, shrouding them all and giving Shale a chance to run.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cGuards!\u201d Azbarra screamed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oh no.<\/em> \u201cRun!\u201d Shale shouted, not knowing where her friends were. Her head suddenly felt clear, and she couldn\u2019t believe what she\u2019d done. It wasn\u2019t him. He didn\u2019t know what happened in Triel. I may have just doomed them all,<\/em> she thought with despair as she rushed through the fog, careful to avoid the voices of people as they ran about, frantically searching for the intruders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Revenge is a poison.<\/em> She heard the words. They weren\u2019t Gwaeron\u2019s, and she couldn\u2019t tell if they were her own.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Suddenly, she was surrounded in the fog by five guards. She drew her other blade and stood there for a moment, watching her enemies standing there in the swirling fog.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Then, they attacked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

Reverence ran to the doorway as soon as he saw what Shale had done, then cast darkness over some of the men as they ran to take out the ranger. The tiefling cursed and shot out of the door, leaving her to her mess.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He climbed the outside of the warehouse and ran across the roof.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Oszaren started for the door, still shrouded in invisibility, the moment Shale shouted \u201crun!\u201d At the entrance, he turned back and saw, through the edge of the fog, the ranger surrounded. I can\u2019t leave her,<\/em> the warlock thought. Damnit, Shale. What have you done?<\/em> He charged back into the fight just as Azbarra appeared from the fog and a wave of fire slammed into him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Keelan was close to Shale when he saw her appear on the ground, Azbarra waving a magical fist in the air. What is she doing? We\u2019re supposed to be finding information, not killing everybody. <\/em>He knew they couldn\u2019t win this fight. Not against a wizard. Not without Fillip and Whisper.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

As a cloud of darkness flashed up near the doorway, Keelan charged at it and slipped into the edge the darkness, shooting a shield spell over Shale just as his invisibility wore off. He dipped back into the shadows, thinking desperately as he felt the hits against the shield spell wearing the ranger down.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The paladin jumped back out of the darkness with his hands up, ready to cast a spell against the wizard, and saw that the fog cloud spell had dropped, and so had Shale. Oszaren was visible, fighting off too many guards with his eldritch blasts as he tried to run past and drag Shale\u2019s body toward the door. Azbarra flicked his wrist coolly and blasted the warlock off his feet with a swirling blaze of fire. Oszaren didn\u2019t stir from his place in the dirt.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan slipped back into the darkness just as Azbarra looked around the warehouse at Reverence\u2019s black cloud spell, and shouted, \u201csearch the warehouse! There\u2019s more of them!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

There were more shouts as the guards began looking. With a deep breath, Keelan counted to three, then charged out of the darkness for the door. He looked back for a moment, seeing Shale and Oszaren unconscious on the ground, surrounded by enemies. He paused, then sheathed his sword and ran.<\/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<\/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":"

Chapters 20-21 follow 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":741,"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-221","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\/Giants-Gamble-Blog-PhotosArtboard-4-copy.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 20-21<\/a><\/blockquote>