{"id":223,"date":"2019-04-03T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-03T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-23\/"},"modified":"2023-05-24T12:42:58","modified_gmt":"2023-05-24T11:42:58","slug":"wings-of-chaos-chapter-23","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/04\/03\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-23\/","title":{"rendered":"Wings of Chaos: Chapter 23"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 23: Incessant Fog<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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It didn\u2019t take long for Fillip to be released from prison. The captain of the city watch gave him a copper coin with a strange marking on it and told him that, should they need him in trial, the coin would warm to the touch. Fillip told the captain he was a travelling trader, and may not stay in Waterdeep for long, and the captain thanked him for his cooperation regardless. Fillip wrote and signed a letter testifying what he saw at the warehouse, then began his walk back to the inn feeling surprisingly well rested.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As he walked, he passed a group of passersby gathering around a town crier. The young man, who had a wisp of a beard, held aloft a scroll from which he read loudly, \u201c\u2026furthermore, disaster strikes the north ward! Smuggle operation uncovered along with twelve thousand gold pieces. The city watch warns its citizens to report any strange activity. They are searching for an orange tiefling and a striped tabaxi, believed to be involved in the attack. The reward is fifty gold pieces for their capture\u2014alive. Will this setback be enough to provoke action against Lord Neverember\u2026?\u201d The man continued to spout other news, but Fillip drew away from the crowd and continued to the inn.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe should have seen this coming,\u201d Oszaren said, looking over at Reverence, who automatically hunched his shoulders to hide his face.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip nodded. \u201cWe need to leave Waterdeep. Covering your face won\u2019t be enough, Reverence. An orange tiefling is uncommon enough that they will come here asking questions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI will\u2014be upstairs,\u201d the monk slid from the table. Of the other few patrons in the inn, no one seemed to be looking at him strangely, which was a good sign.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe can\u2019t linger,\u201d Shale said seriously, and Keelan nodded his agreement.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI say we disguise Reverence and leave the city. Where\u2019s Whisper?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019d guess the academy,\u201d Shale told him, shrugging. \u201cWe should send him a message. Although, Reverence told us that it was him who killed those innocent people\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The druid nodded. \u201cYeah, I saw him do it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMaybe it\u2019s better if we leave him behind?\u201d She suggested, unsure. The tabaxi was a hermit after all, raised by wolves, if the story could be believed. If that was the case, then he likely missed out on the moral guidance most children were raised with. Perhaps to him, murder went without consequence.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI was hoping we could speak with Hama and some of the other cult prisoners,\u201d Oszaren said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ll have time for that now.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Before they could discuss sending Whisper anything, the tabaxi\u2019s fey owl swooped in through the door and landed on Keelan\u2019s shoulder, dropping a note into his lap and waiting. Keelan snatched it up. \u201cIt\u2019s from Whisper. All it says is \u2018what\u2019s happening\u2019?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo we tell him to meet us?\u201d Shale asked again.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren took a long breath and finally said, \u201cI really think we should stay in Waterdeep. If we leave the city, we don\u2019t even know where to go next, other than maybe<\/em> north to a roadhouse Azbarra mentioned.\u201d They\u2019d heard Azbarra mention a roadhouse while they were sneaking through the warehouse, before Shale attacked. \u201cBesides, Leosin said the Harpers can get us into the prison.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI can give Reverence a disguise,\u201d Fillip offered, \u201cbut it will be difficult to upkeep.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan pulled out an ink pen and impatiently scribbled something on the back of Whisper\u2019s note and tied it to the owl, which immediately took flight.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat did you just write?\u201d Oszaren asked in annoyance, \u201cwe haven\u2019t decided anything yet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan crossed his arms. \u201cYou heard Fillip. We can\u2019t stay here. The entire city is looking for Reverence and Whisper. Even if we\u2019re allowed into the prison to interrogate the cultists, they can\u2019t risk being here. We need to leave<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI agree,\u201d Shale said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan nodded appreciatively. \u201cI told Whisper to look out for guards, and to meet us outside the north gate in a few hours. That will give him time to get through quietly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll go tell Reverence,\u201d Fillip offered. \u201cI can get started on his disguise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat about Arietta and Zelena?\u201d Shale asked, raising an eyebrow.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh,\u201d Fillip scratched his head, \u201cwe were supposed to meet tonight, but, uh\u2014we can go. It\u2019s fine.\u201d Then the druid took his pack and ascended the stairs in the corner of the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHe got what he wanted,\u201d Oszaren said, shaking his head. \u201cAlright, fine, we leave. Let\u2019s hope we find that roadhouse. Otherwise, we\u2019re directionless.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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As they waited, they eventually received another message from Whisper. \u201cWant to meet Janna\u2019s people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren responded with, \u201cJanna and her people left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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In return, his message said, \u201cSo, find them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan sighed impatiently, saying Whisper needed to head to the gates, not worry about Janna. Oszaren wrote back, \u201cIf you want to find Janna, you can do that, but we\u2019re leaving the city and I suggest you do the same before you\u2019re imprisoned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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After that, they didn\u2019t receive another message, and soon left the inn with all their belongings and Fillip\u2019s empty cart and horse. They stopped at a few shops along the way and Shale was able to purchase a lockpick, which she showed to Oszaren and said, \u201cI have a feeling this might be useful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The beautiful purple tiefling with flowing black hair and a thick cloak that hid her curves strolled arm-in-arm with Fillip as Oszaren led the horse and cart. Shale had to admit in his disguise, Reverence looked fabulous.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The guards posted at the gate were looking carefully through all those who entered and exited. They took a long look at Reverence, then let him pass. They all collectively breathed a sigh of relief, and Reverence jingled his horns, where Fillip had hanged jewels. \u201cGlad that\u2019s\u2014over.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou know, Reverence,\u201d Fillip said thoughtfully, \u201cyou make a very attractive woman.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m inclined to agree,\u201d Shale said smugly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan walked behind them leading his warhorse Ember through the gates and caught up with them shortly. Trigger ran ahead and Shale had to call him back as they walked slowly, wondering if Whisper would try to catch them, or if he\u2019d chosen to stay behind. He had the academy, though she doubted they would harbour a fugitive once they found out what he\u2019d done.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It seemed they were all on edge having the tabaxi continue the journey with them, Reverence especially so, though Fillip told them if they were going to fight the cult, it would help to have a wizard on their side. Shale\u2019s worry, though, was still wondering where the tabaxi\u2019s allegiances lay. It seemed to her that the wizard cared only for his own pursuits. He may have saved them\u2014more than once\u2014but when it came down to him finding more spells or savings their lives, she was realizing he would choose the former. After her own selfish pursuit of revenge had nearly killed Oszaren, Shale vowed she would not put her companions at risk the way she had in that warehouse. She only wished the tabaxi also saw it this way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It didn\u2019t take long for Whisper to catch up to them, slightly out of breath but looking unharmed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow did you get out?\u201d Shale asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cInvisible,\u201d the wizard told her.<\/span><\/p>\n

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There was an awkward silence where Reverence, still in his disguise, glared at Whisper. Whisper ignored him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI can\u2019t find any specific tracks,\u201d Shale told the rest of them, eyeing the busy roadway, \u201cso we\u2019ll all have to look for any tracks veering off. Those could lead us to the roadhouse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cRoadhouse?\u201d Whisper asked, and Oszaren explained to him where they were headed, to try and find another group of cultists and follow them to the recipient of all their stolen treasure.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A while later, as they travelled through the damp day passing various other groups on the road, Keelan dismounted Ember and led the horse to Shale\u2019s side. \u201cI think,\u201d he said thoughtfully, gazing out into the foggy day, \u201cthat you owe us an explanation for your actions in the warehouse.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale had expected this question, but she still felt the bumps rise on her arms as everyone went quiet to listen. Shale dropped her gaze and told them the story of the necromancer who attacked Triel and killed her family, raising them as undead for her to kill again. She held back the tears, but couldn\u2019t meet their eyes. When she finished, Reverence said slowly, \u201cour interests align, Shale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYes,\u201d Oszaren agreed, \u201cand we will help you find justice. It\u2019s a horrible thing, what happened to you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBut,\u201d Reverence added, \u201cyou must\u2014not do what you did\u2014again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd I promise I won\u2019t,\u201d Shale said assuredly. \u201cI can\u2019t apologize enough for what I\u2019ve done. I\u2014I don\u2019t know what came over me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan dipped his head. \u201cI appreciate you telling us.\u201d The paladin then slowed his gate until he walked next to Whisper and said, \u201cI think it\u2019s time you and I had a talk about morals.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper looked at him but didn\u2019t respond.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cFire is good, and it can be used for great purposes, but you must exercise focus and control. You killed innocent people, and that\u2019s not okay,\u201d Keelan looked at the tabaxi, who continued to walk and say nothing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Eventually, everyone returned to their own contemplative silence and Keelan shrugged and mounted Ember. Shale glanced back at Whisper and wondered what the wizard was thinking.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They were in their third day of travel when Oszaren received a verbal message in his mind from Elia, handmaiden to Remalia, leader of the Harpers. He relayed to the rest of them that a red half-dragon had been spotted in Waterdeep. When he told her they\u2019d already headed north, she promised they would investigate, and also warned the treasure may travel by sea. After some discussion between them, they still decided their best lead would be to follow the road, and Elia said they would try to send someone by ship to search for cult activity.<\/span><\/p>\n

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During that time on the road, Whisper worked on a gift for Keelan, presenting to him the necklace he\u2019d used to house his eternal ember once, which now glowed with a smooth rock inside. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d Keelan asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cUse so no need to make armour glow,\u201d Whisper said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan placed the chain over his neck and tucked the glowing part into his cloak.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It was in their fifth day that the road turned away from the coast and brought them alongside swampland. Oszaren pointed it out to them on the map, claiming it was called the Mere of Dead Men.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cPromising name,\u201d Fillip said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As they travelled on, a dull, dark fog hung thickly over the waters of the marsh, and Shale sent her consciousness out across the waters as far as she could reach in search of undead sparks. She felt a few blips of light far across the water, but nothing near. When they came across the next caravan heading south, Shale stopped a haggard looking old woman in the group and asked her about the area. The woman had a dark look in her eyes as she met Shale\u2019s gaze, and she looked as though she hadn\u2019t slept in weeks. \u201cThe marshland is haunted by the Black Death,\u201d she said in a wheezing voice. \u201cNobody who travels around the marsh sleeps until they\u2019ve passed it, for fear of being murdered. There\u2019s a dark ghost that can appear anywhere in the waters. Every time they try to build the road further from the marsh, the waters rise up and meet the edge of it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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When they let the caravan pass, Oszaren looked thoughtful. \u201cI think I\u2019ve heard the legend before,\u201d he said, and Reverence snorted. \u201cDo you sense anything, Shale?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She shook her head. \u201cNothing really near to us, but I\u2019ll keep checking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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With this warning in mind, the party decided to travel on through the night. Two would lead the cart and keep an eye out in the darkness while the rest slept inside. They were restless sleeps, but they passed the majority of the Mere within a couple days without any trouble.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cEveryone, wake up!\u201d Fillip hissed. \u201cThere\u2019s some fat person on the road.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale shot up from her sleeping furs, surrounded by her companions in the tiny, somewhat drafty, wagon interior.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat is it?\u201d She heard Keelan ask, pulling out the glowing necklace Whisper had given him and illuminating their faces.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cOgre,\u201d Oszaren spat and the wagon halted as Shale heard a loud groan, turning to see in the middle of the road a hulking overweight figure with strips of flesh dangling from its arms and torso. The ogre\u2019s body was littered with arrows and the skin was decaying.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale swore and they all jumped quickly from the wagon, grabbing their weapons. If she hadn\u2019t been sleeping, she would have sensed the undead coming near. She cursed herself for that.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When she was on the ground, she saw a half dozen humanoid bodies with decaying flesh and white eyes stumbling toward them on the road. She drew her swords and Reverence ran past her with his spear, dispatching quickly of the first creature. She was right behind him as she leapt into the incoming tide of undead with the rest of her companions. She heard a horrible scream as the ogre grabbed their horse and ripped it free of their wagon, tearing into its flesh with long fingernails and biting into it with rotted teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Mist clawed at their surroundings, making it difficult to see the enemies as they moved in around them. Shale turned and saw a second ogre appear on the other side of the cart as she slashed and dodged an undead human in tattered clothing. The second ogre wrapped its thick arms around the wagon and tipped it over, roaring as the wood cracked on impact, one of the wheels breaking off completely. Whisper shot a fireball, which exploded amid a group of undead, instantly incinerating them. But more were coming. It could be a never-ending army. Shale couldn\u2019t tell in the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan\u2019s horse, Ember, shied back from the wagon and Keelan quickly cut his ropes and swung onto his back, charging at a new creature emerging from the mist. Shale saw as she cut a head from a body that there were three of these creatures with bluish skin and long-clawed hands and feet, heads bald but for a string of black hair knotted at the top. They walked hunched over and long red tongues flicked from between their jagged teeth. Ghouls. She\u2019d heard of them, though this was her first time seeing one in person.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan\u2019s sword crackled with white energy as he slammed his blade into the chest of an undead human as he charged past. The light burst and the body fell.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale and Reverence quickly cut down the rest of the undead moving forward at their slow pace and Shale ran after Keelan and saw Oszaren had come around to face one of the ghouls. She faced another, and Reverence come to face the third. They heard a deafening boom behind them and the ground shook. Shale spun, having forgotten momentarily about the two massive, undead ogres, and seeing Fillip standing behind the wagon with his hands raised. She turned back just as the druid transformed into a direwolf and leapt at an ogre\u2019s meaty arm.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Trigger bounded after Shale, snarling at the ghouls, and she worried their claws would easily kill him. She threw herself in front of her fox as the ghoul snarled back and charged at her, dagger claws flashing as Whisper formed a sphere of hot flames behind it.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The undead continued to stumble through the mist toward their cart and the ogres endured, swiping through the air and grabbing whatever they could get their hands on. Fillip had done a number on the one, which he\u2019d nearly torn the arm off of with his wolf teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Somehow, another ghoul had broken from Reverence, whom Shale noticed was surrounded by more undead, and its claw scraped the back of her shoulder. She continued to batter the two creatures away, Trigger pulling at their ankles, but her swings started to slow, and her limbs felt heavy. She staggered, and another swiped, leaving a thick gash along her jawbone. Suddenly she felt her legs buckle and she collapsed. She tried to get up or move, but her entire body was paralysed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren shouted and Shale saw one of them stumble back as a green blast hit it in the chest. The other hunched over, saliva dripping from its overlarge mouth as it wrapped its claws around her arm, ready to take a bite. Her eyes widened as she watched in frozen horror.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Then, she saw Trigger leap at it. The ghoul hissed and tried to swipe the fox, and then Shale heard a heavy thump in the dirt and the snort of a horse and Keelan came into her view. He whispered something and the feeling returned to her limbs. She quickly turned and saw the paladin mounting Ember. She looked around for Trigger.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The fox had moved back as Whisper\u2019s sphere of fire slammed into the ghoul and sent it shrieking to its death. The ghouls were no more, and it seemed her companions had done a good job of cleaning up the rest of the undead in her moment of uselessness.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As she tried to get to her feet, she felt something heavy slam into her from behind and send her sprawling. She turned over in the dirt just in time to see one of the ogres standing over her with a raised club. She rolled out of the way as the club landed right where she had just been. Oszaren appeared behind the ogre and was cutting at its legs with his sword, trying to draw it away.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When she got to her feet, she could tell at least one rib was cracked. Her side burned, but she quickly retrieved her dropped blades and went to help Oszaren. It was then that she noticed Fillip lying on the ground, back in his half-elf form and not moving. He too was paralysed and was in danger of being trampled by one of the ogres.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The party all moved together, shooting their various spells and cutting with their weapons at the two ogres, who were unintelligent but strong. Keelan healed Fillip and helped him to his feet, then turned his hands and emitted a funnel of flames at an ogre. The flames struck its thick belly and consumed the undead creature, and they made quick work of the last one, Trigger taking a final bite into its throat. The white eyes faded as the unnatural creature expired for the second time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the aftermath they walked through the scattered bodies of the undead, ensuring all of them had been properly ended. Fillip began to work on mending the wagon and Whisper used magic to push it upright onto the road. Their horse, unfortunately, was well past bringing back. Its innards were spread out in a horrifying display, so Keelan reluctantly hitched Ember to the wagon instead, assuring the noble warhorse that it was only temporary. The paladin healed their party and Shale felt instant relief in her side and could breathe more deeply. Finally, they left the gore behind and continued northwards on the road as the dim light of morning appeared through the mist on the horizon.<\/span><\/p>\n

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It took less than an hour in the morning light for them to reach the roadhouse they had been praying for the past several days would be somewhere along their path. There was a tall wooden fence bordering the perimeter of the roadhouse, with stilts built into the mud in areas where the marshland had expanded. The doors of the wooden gate were stamped with the Highroad Charter Company brand. As they approached, they could see inside was a two-story wooden structure, partially collapsed and rebuilt. Fillip turned to the rest and jumped from the wagon, saying, \u201cI\u2019ve got this.\u201d He strode confidently to the front gate and knocked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A few minutes later, the druid was greeted at the gates by a tall half-orc flanked by two humans in ordinary dress. The half-orc yawned, and they exchanged words, and soon enough he returned to the rest and helped them lead Ember and the wagon inside. The half-orc\u2019s name was Balgluk, and Fillip told him he was traveling north to Neverwinter for his grandmother\u2019s funeral, and the others were his guard. He told Balgluk about their run-in with the ghouls and undead creatures on the road, and the half-orc nodded and warned the road was always a danger, especially at night.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As they entered the gate, they saw a large, muddy courtyard. The larger puddles had been filled in with dry straw, which had quickly soaked and turned limp and brown underfoot. A set of stairs led up to an upper floor of numbered rooms. Beneath was a large storage room, which Balgluk pointed to and said, \u201cwhen travellers come through, we put all your goods in storage and take an inventory of everything for you. Any valuables are put in a separate, interior area, which is always locked. The rooms, unfortunately, are not locked. We have rules at the roadhouse. Rule one is that I take care of all valuables and record them in the ledgers. Second is that we respect each other\u2019s privacy.\u201d Balgluk pointed up at the row of rooms. \u201cWe\u2019ve got workers in rooms one and two. You all can have rooms three and four, and I\u2019m over in six.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip was nodding along appreciatively. When Balgluk was finished his speech, the druid passed him a gold coin and said, \u201cnever have I had better service at a roadhouse. Thank you, Balgluk. Your professionalism is very much appreciated.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The half-orc bowed and tucked the gold piece away. \u201cYou can find your breakfast from Gristle Pete\u2014that\u2019s what we call the cook.\u201d He pointed them past the stable to another portion of the building built up on stilts. It had a small door, and the thought of breakfast made everyone\u2019s stomachs rumble.<\/span><\/p>\n

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There were very few people up, though they saw a couple of workers poking their heads out and heading down for breakfast. They looked worn, and their clothing had seen better days. Shale and the others briefly went into their rooms but seeing as the half-orc had told it true and there were no locks, they took their packs with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cShale,\u201d Oszaren grabbed her arm and said, \u201cif I make you invisible, do you think you could sneak inside the wagon and wait until they\u2019re finished inventory, then use that new lockpick for the place with the valuables and see if you can find anything from the cult?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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She nodded quickly, glad to have an assignment. \u201cDefinitely. Watch Trigger for me.\u201d She returned to the courtyard and found Reverence talking with Balgluk. Oszaren took Reverence aside for a moment while Balgluk went to retrieve his papers, then touched Shale\u2019s shoulder and when she looked down, she was invisible. She nodded to him, though quickly realized the warlock couldn\u2019t see her, then tiptoed through the mud and jumped into the back of the wagon just as Balgluk returned and he, Reverence and Oszaren led Ember and the wagon across the courtyard and into the storage room. Balgluk began noting inventory and Reverence and Oszaren helped unload the few items they had and stacked them on a shelf. Shale waited quietly until he finished, and Ember was unhitched and taken out. Once the door was closed behind her and the three were gone, she slipped out of the wagon and crept to the other side of the room where a secondary door was locked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Deftly, she pulled out the new set of lockpicks she\u2019d purchased in Waterdeep and set to work. The man she\u2019d purchased them from had explained to her the movements and feel of picking a lock, and she was surprised to note how easy it was. In less than a minute, she heard a click, and the door swung open. She closed it behind her and went to a lantern in the corner, only dimly lighting it so it couldn\u2019t be noticed through the cracks in the door.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The room had a dozen stacked crates, and Shale set to work looking through each of them and grew more and more surprised to find that all of them were empty. She removed the top ones and checked the middle crates, and found one was incredibly heavy when she tried to lift it. \u201cWhat the\u2026\u201d She tried to drag it off the others, but it wouldn\u2019t budge, and finally she noticed it was bolted to the one beneath it, which was bolted to the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale bent and began inspecting the ground, noticing a slight divot in a line beneath the dirt. She blew on it and saw a crack for an opening. It\u2019s a trap door<\/em>, she realized, then stood and pulled the crates to the side. After a moment of effort, the door gave way and she heard dirt fall through as she raised it. She quietly tilted it until the crates rested against the ground, then peered down. She\u2019d found a dark hole. She raised the lantern to shed some light and saw it was a tunnel, and the walls were slimy.<\/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<\/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

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

Chapter 23 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":747,"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-223","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-3-copy-2.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 23<\/a><\/blockquote>