{"id":226,"date":"2019-05-01T11:59:00","date_gmt":"2019-05-01T11:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/141.148.246.190\/index.php\/single-post\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-27\/"},"modified":"2023-06-10T20:32:43","modified_gmt":"2023-06-10T19:32:43","slug":"wings-of-chaos-chapter-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.alexisveenendaal.com\/index.php\/2019\/05\/01\/wings-of-chaos-chapter-27\/","title":{"rendered":"Wings of Chaos: Chapter 27"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chapter 27: Whisper\u2019s in the Dark<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Shale turned as she ran for the door and shot an arrow back, hitting one of the cultists. The men were scrambling back, trying to reach the portal where Rezmir had escaped.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Past her flew an orange blur and she turned to see, blessedly, Reverence sprinting through the door flanked by three lizard people. \u201cHi,\u201d the tiefling said back to her. The lizard folk ran in and began attacking the cultists, heaving spears and javelins.<\/span><\/p>\n

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One of Fillip\u2019s two spiders was brought down, and the other lashed out angrily for its fallen ally. Next to it floated Oszaren\u2019s spectre, who drove his sword through another enemy. They were quickly overtaking the cultists. Keelan was still barely on his feet, constantly being knocked back, his wounds stitching together by Fillip\u2019s healing spirits flittering over him. Whisper looked to be in poor shape and was flanked by two cultists. The taller of the two hit him over the back of the head and the tabaxi fell. The other scrabbled to grab him by the feet and started dragging him toward the alcove.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale turned her bow to the man and shot him with an arrow. The man fell and Whisper\u2019s legs hit the floor limply.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With Reverence\u2019s help, they were able to divide the rest and take them out individually. If Rezmir hadn\u2019t fled, the fight would have gone much worse for them. As it were, they prevailed. Rather than killing the final man, Oszaren knocked him unconscious and tied the man\u2019s hands. He went over to the ether-ed Borngray next and bound and gagged him. Without ceremony, Reverence went to Whisper\u2019s unconscious form and began digging through his robes with a determined look on his face. The lizard men watched with interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d Fillip asked, sounding exhausted as he stepped under his own healing spirit, a spot of blood on his forehead healing up.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLooking for\u2014what\u2019s mine,\u201d Reverence growled. He was looking for his amulet.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip flicked a hand, and the healing spirit hovered over Whisper and the tabaxi stirred. Cursing, Reverence stood and shot Fillip an angry glare. \u201cReverence? What do you want?\u201d Whisper asked, rubbing the back of his head and staring up at Reverence.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m taking back what\u2019s mine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whisper stood to his full height and Reverence looked about to knock him back down.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cGive me the amulet,\u201d Reverence said seriously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo.\u201d The wizard said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe portal,\u201d Keelan said over the argument, and Shale looked at him and nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The paladin and ranger ran for the alcove and through it, letting Reverence and Whisper\u2019s fight dissolve from their ears. The small tunnel opened into a small room with a circular stone platform in the ground with a border etched in glowing blue runes. The room looked ancient and was carved with intricate patterns. Shale could feel the magic pulsating within the moment they\u2019d stepped inside. Mist coalesced on the ground and seemed to swirl and emanate from the platform. Fillip appeared behind them a moment later. \u201cThe portal,\u201d the druid said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale and Keelan nodded. \u201cHow do you think it works?\u201d She asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMaybe a word?\u201d Keelan suggested, \u201cor you have to touch something in the circle?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip shrugged. \u201cOur proper spellcasters should be the ones to look at it. You know, the ones who read all the books.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Shale had to agree. \u201cOszaren might know,\u201d she said, knowing nothing would draw Whisper and Reverence from their argument for the moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Fillip called for Oszaren, and the warlock came through looking harried. \u201cWe have two prisoners we need to interrogate about the cult, and the lizard people have just left.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLook at the portal,\u201d Shale said. \u201cDo you know how it works?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren finally seemed to notice the room and began to pace around it carefully, his eyes glazing to green as he searched for traces of magic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Sensing the investigation would take a while, Shale left the alcove and saw Whisper hesitantly handing the amulet back to Reverence, who snatched it out of his hand and immediately placed the chain around his neck and tucked it into his robes. The skull rested over his chest where it had before tried to burrow through flesh. \u201cDon\u2019t use it,\u201d Whisper warned him, but the tiefling ignored him and spun on his heel to find Oszaren. Shale pointed him to the warlock and came through to search the room.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In the corner lay stone platforms with a coffin in the centre of them. She went there first and knocked on the top of the stone slab. She couldn\u2019t sense an undead presence except for that of Oszaren\u2019s spectre, who floated lazily in the centre of the room awaiting further instruction from his master. On the walls around the coffin were stone reliefs of skeletal dragons with tattered wings outspread. There were no carvings of Tiamat here. She brushed off a layer of dust from the coffin and saw draconic symbols. \u201cWhisper,\u201d she called to the tabaxi. \u201cWhat does it say?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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He stepped over lightly and examined the surface. \u201cHere lies Strongor Bonebinder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBonebinder,\u201d she said aloud. The name tasted sour on her tongue. \u201cIt looks like it\u2019s been opened recently,\u201d she pointed out the marks on the side of the coffin where dust had been pushed away. She pressed her body against it and started to shift the stone.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Seeing what she was doing, Whisper pushed his body against it as well, and the stone shifted and scraped until they\u2019d moved it a foot away. Shale coughed at the dust and saw a human skeleton carefully laid out on a bed of stone, its arms folded over its sternum as though it had been holding something. \u201cIt looks like something might have been taken,\u201d she said, and Whisper nodded and began inspecting the body with careful paws flitting about.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She turned at the sound of loud clattering and saw across the room that Fillip had explored and found crates of gold and gems and had pushed them over and began sorting through them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cLook what I found!\u201d Keelan said, trotting over from Valaxarim\u2019s fallen body and holding up a smooth white stone. He passed it to Whisper, who took a break from the skeleton to turn the stone over in his paws.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cA sending stone,\u201d he declared. \u201cIts twin is out there somewhere. Only the two can communicate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan nodded in interest and pocketed the stone, then went to take Borngray\u2019s sword, which Oszaren had kicked aside when the elf went down. He admired the workmanship of the fine elvish blade.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe shouldn\u2019t stay here,\u201d Shale warned, suddenly aware of the coldness of the place, and the depth of the stone above them.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have\u2014people we need to interrogate,\u201d Reverence said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow were things upstairs?\u201d Shale asked. \u201cYou were able to get the gate closed, I presume?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The monk shrugged. \u201cI was able to fill it with bullywog corpses. So\u2014yes\u2014in a manner of speaking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve suppressed the portal, for now,\u201d Oszaren announced, emerging from the alcove. \u201cIt\u2019s a temporary solution, I\u2019m afraid. Magic of this magnitude cannot be dispelled.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow does it work?\u201d Fillip asked from his corner, now raking gold into bags. Shale wasn\u2019t sure how the druid planned to get all the riches back to the castle above.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cIt needs a command word to function,\u201d he glanced over at the two unconscious prisoners, then looked to Reverence. \u201cCan we get it from them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHappily,\u201d Reverence said darkly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhisper, dig two holes,\u201d Oszaren said, pointing to areas in the stone floor where the ground was broken up from centuries of erosion. \u201cKeelan, can you lower them each down, so we don\u2019t wake them? Fillip, break up the rest of those larger crates so we can cover the holes with wooden slats. Reverence, what do you need from us? How do you want to interrogate them? Borngray is second in command to Rezmir and has been running the castle. The cultist came through the portal with Rezmir and may have heard the command word.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence said, \u201cFirst\u2014I will interrogate the cultist. Then, I work on\u2014Borngray. I will look beaten and worn and\u2014pretend to be a cultist myself and talk to him\u2014as a fellow prisoner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren nodded thoughtfully and Whisper began pulling up large portions dirt and stone and displacing it with magic.<\/span><\/p>\n

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When done, the tabaxi nodded to the floating spectre. \u201cWhen will you send him away?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The warlock sighed and walked to stand in front of the imprisoned soul. The ghostly man stared back unhappily. \u201cThank you for your service, though I know it was not of your volition,\u201d Oszaren said, raising a hand. \u201cI release you from our bond.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The spectre tilted his head and gave a dark look, then closed his eyes and the body dispersed. Shale felt immediate relief, the tension in her chest she\u2019d only just noticed, finally relaxed. She breathed deeply and went to stand by Fillip, who was now separating gems by size. \u201cCan I help?\u201d She asked. \u201cI don\u2019t want to take part in the\u2026\u201d she trailed off.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cTorture?\u201d The half-elf asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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She nodded, and he pointed to an overturned crate that had been too broken to use for roofing on the prisoner holes. \u201cRubies, emeralds and any of the larger gems in this bag,\u201d he tossed her a leather satchel, which she caught and began dividing the riches.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Feeling at peace, Reverence leapt into the dark hole and landed in front of the kneeling black-cloaked prisoner. He tore the man\u2019s bone mask from his face and tossed it aside, staring into his gray-green eyes with contempt. The man had just awoken and had to squint to bring the tiefling into view. A nasty gash on his head, dealt by Oszaren, was likely cause for a headache.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence took slivers of wood from his robes and wrenched the man\u2019s hands up uncomfortably where they were tied at his back. He grunted, and the tiefling took a single, thumb-sized sliver and slowly inserted it beneath the index nail. The man grunted again, and he stuck the wood deeper, drawing blood. There was a crack as he burrowed the splinter, and the man screamed horribly when the nail cracked. He took a second bit of wood and worked on the next nail, then the next, until all five on the man\u2019s one hand were soaked in blood. The man screamed and his body shook despite his efforts to hold back from the pain, but Reverence ignored the cries. He focused on the work until it was done.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNow,\u201d the tiefling finally said, standing and walking around the man whose shoulders were hunched in agony. \u201cTell me about your job in the cult.\u201d The man had gone quiet. It would be a long time before he could use his dominant hand, if ever again.<\/span><\/p>\n

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He shuddered and took a few long breaths, composing himself, then looked up at Reverence and spat. \u201cMy job is to die for the queen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat an unfortunate job,\u201d Reverence crossed his arms. \u201cWhere are the cult\u2019s\u2014headquarters?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDo your worst,\u201d the man growled. \u201cI\u2019ll not tell you anything.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou\u2019ve seen bad\u2014but, you haven\u2019t seen\u2014my worst,\u201d the monk warned. With that, he climbed the rope out of the hole and threw the rest of the slats off the top. He demanded a shovel, which Whisper instantly conjured, and the tiefling began to shovel piles of dirt onto the man\u2019s head.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The man did not react. He simply bent his head to keep the dust from his eyes as more piles fell atop it. Reverence paused and tried to search the man\u2019s mind, grasping his amulet and digging in, but the man resisted. A stone wall inside his mind kept him out. So, the cult trained at least some of their men against torture.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI can help,\u201d Whisper said, gesturing to the shovel.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence nodded, and the tabaxi lifted the remainder of the dirt and dropped it around the man, pulling him up simultaneously with his spell until the man was buried to the neck. Reverence sat cross-legged across from him and tried again to penetrate his mind. The man grimaced, but there was no reaching him. \u201cSo,\u201d Reverence sighed, \u201cyou will tell me\u2014nothing?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNothin\u2019,\u201d the man said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The tiefling stared for a while, then stood and walked behind him, pulling out a dagger and crouching into the dirt to whisper in the man\u2019s ear. \u201cThe cult has killed innocent people.\u201d With that, he slid the dagger across the man\u2019s exposed neck, cutting deeply to the spine and spilling crimson in a gurgling burst of final, gasping breaths that reached no conclusion. <\/span><\/p>\n

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He stood and looked to his companions. The ones who were watching. The warlock, the paladin and the wizard. \u201cHe knew nothing,\u201d Reverence declared. \u201cLet\u2019s move on\u2014to the next one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI want to look abused,\u201d Reverence said. \u201cThat way\u2014Borngray will think\u2014I am a prisoner.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI can make you look beat,\u201d Fillip offered, he and Shale having packed up the rest of the treasure. He took out his disguise kit and spent the next minutes changing Reverence\u2019s face to look bruised and bloodied. Reverence took a black cultist cloak from one of the bodies and draped it over his own robes, pinning it closed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cA few\u2014broken fingers wouldn\u2019t do amiss.\u201d Reverence wiggled his hands.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m going upstairs,\u201d Fillip announced, packing up his kit.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHow are you going to transport all that gold?\u201d Keelan asked in surprise.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The druid shrugged. \u201cI can change into a warhorse to carry it all, if you\u2019ll help me load the bags.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhy not wait here until the interrogations are finished?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cNo offense,\u201d Fillip raised a hand, \u201cbut I\u2019m exhausted, and torture isn\u2019t exactly my favourite way to wind down.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ll go with you,\u201d Shale quickly offered. \u201cTrigger and I. You shouldn\u2019t travel back on your own.\u201d In truth, she was also exhausted, and did not have the stomach for more of Reverence\u2019s schemes. The more she learned of her companions, the more uneasy she felt about the lot of them. A paladin who burns himself, a warlock who enslaves souls, a wizard who has no side on which to plant his allegiance, and a monk who tortures men. It seemed the druid was, surprisingly, the most normal of the bunch. She admired the paladin and could excuse some of his zealotry on his youth, and she understood some of the nature of Oszaren\u2019s pact, but the other two were inexplicable.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan helped them load the bags onto Fillip\u2019s back once he was transformed, and he, Shale and Trigger left without another word, winding their way back through the tunnels and up into the castle. They met no trouble along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSo,\u201d Reverence began in a tired voice, looking across at the newly awakened Borngray, who was bound and gagged. The tiefling had just been kicked into the hole by Oszaren, the slats pulled back over the hole but leaving enough light for them to see each other. His hands were bound in front of him and he inched forward, pretending to be pained as he did so, and pulled down the elf\u2019s gag. \u201cWhat\u2019s your role in the cult?\u201d He asked, leaning back against the wall so they sat across from one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Borngray eyed him as the gag left his mouth and said, \u201cWell, I run the castle for one.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAh,\u201d Reverence nodded knowingly.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cAnd what is your role?\u201d The elf asked suspiciously.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI have\u2014recently arrived,\u201d he said slowly, maintaining eye contact.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI don\u2019t see many tieflings about. New recruit?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cSomething like that,\u201d the tiefling said.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cInteresting first day.\u201d Borngray was testing him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence shrugged and waited a full minute before asking his next question. He cleared his throat first, deliberately. \u201cHave they questioned you yet?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Borngray shook his head. \u201cFirst time being captured?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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He paused, then said, \u201cNo. You?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThird,\u201d the elf barked humourlessly. \u201cThey won\u2019t break me. Others have tried and failed, and these people have no idea what they\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWell, I hope we can\u2014escape before it comes to that.\u201d Reverence eyed the elf. \u201cHow do I know I can trust you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019m the one Rezmir came to help,\u201d he said. \u201cI run the castle in her stead, as you know. But, how do I know I can trust you, nameless cultist?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI kept Rezmir\u2019s secrets\u2014even in torture.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cHm,\u201d he nodded thoughtfully. \u201cWell, we\u2019re in this together I suppose. So, how many of them did you see up there?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey didn\u2019t let me see,\u201d the monk told him. \u201cOnly one of them did the torturing. Broke my fingers.\u201d He held up his hands, where Reverence had insisted Oszaren break them, assuring him that he could handle it, and they could heal him after.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cDid you see a way out?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence shook his head. \u201cSurprise is our best bet.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Borngray shifted in his bonds and said, \u201cWell, we can start with this.\u201d With a flash, a sword appeared in his hands, immediately cutting the ropes and freeing him. He held up the elvish blade, smiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan, who had been studying Borngray\u2019s sword where he stood guard near the pit, looked up as it vanished. \u201cUm, everyone\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren turned on his heel, seeing the paladin\u2019s empty hands. \u201cGet ready,\u201d the warlock warned.<\/span><\/p>\n

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With a sigh, Keelan withdrew his own longsword and held it aloft, waiting.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Borngray motioned to Reverence, and the tiefling held up his hands. He cut the ropes and rubbed his wrists. \u201cNow, we wait for one of them to come down. Then we kill them all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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The elf sat on the ground and rested the longsword over his lap, a look of patience resting over his face. Reverence eyed the blade. \u201cEver thought of using a real weapon?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Borngray chuckled. \u201cAnd what\u2019s your weapon of choice?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cYou\u2019ll see,\u201d the monk smirked, and sat next to Borngray.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey\u2019re not coming out,\u201d Keelan hissed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren stepped over to the pit and held up a hand, a spell spilling over the prisoner\u2019s heads and freezing them in place. \u201cPull the elf out,\u201d the warlock ordered, gesturing for them to cover their faces with the stolen cultist\u2019s masks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Keelan kicked the wood aside and jumped down, manhandling the elf and pushing him up to Whisper and Oszaren, who dragged him. Keelan grabbed the sword and threw it out of the pit, then clambered out himself.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Oszaren began kicking the paralyzed elf. He felt a few ribs crack before punching his face and thoroughly bloodying him. The elf moaned and started to shift as he fought the spell, and Oszaren grabbed him roughly by the shoulders and cast him back into the pit. They all heard the snap as his leg broke. Borngray\u2019s breathing was laboured as he crawled to the wall and limped his way to a standing position, staring back up at them with an angry glare. A shard of bone protruded from his shin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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They returned the wooden slats to the top of the pit, then stepped out of view. Oszaren dropped the spell from Reverence. The monk immediately leapt at the elf and grabbed him by his jerkin. \u201cWhat did you tell them?\u201d he demanded loudly, eyes flashing red.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Hiding the physical pain well, Borngray shoved Reverence\u2019s hands away. \u201cI was out there for ten seconds,\u201d he snapped.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cObviously\u2014that\u2019s all they needed,\u201d the monk growled, stepping back. \u201cWhat did you tell them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Borngray was pale, his face sweaty, but he steadied his jaw.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence jumped forward again and clenched his broken fingers into a fist, punching him across the face with all his strength.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat in nine hells?\u201d He swore as he took the hit and stumbled back on his broken leg. \u201cWe\u2019re in this together, no?\u201d He growled, his voice going dangerously cold as he summoned his sword. It flashed into existence and arced at the monk, but Reverence easily danced back and Borngray was too unsteady on his feet to reach him.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThat\u2019s not what it sounds like,\u201d Reverence hissed back, louder this time. \u201cWhat\u2014did\u2014you\u2014TELL\u2014THEM?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cI told you,\u201d Borngray panted, looking as if he were about to faint from blood loss, \u201cthis isn\u2019t my first prison.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ignoring him, Reverence attacked again, moving under his unsteady blade and punching him in the side. Borngray grunted where his cracked ribs were impacted. Reverence moved back again. \u201cLook at me\u2014look at you,\u201d the tiefling said, circling. \u201cWhy haven\u2019t they killed you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThey want information,\u201d the elf spat. \u201cFoolish initiate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence slowed, dropping his fists. \u201cI was sent here on an important mission for the cult.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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His eyes hardened. \u201cListen here, initiate<\/em>. You don\u2019t tell me who\u2019s doing the bidding of the dragon queen. You don\u2019t get to where I am by being loose with words. I told them nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence nodded brusquely. \u201cThen how do we get out of here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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Borngray paused, watching the tiefling, his sword wavering in his hand before he lowered the tip to the ground. \u201cI think we\u2019re past that. Either we die now, or we let them torture us to death. Neither of us are going to talk.\u201d He stared again, reading the tiefling\u2019s face for any reactions.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Reverence remained stoic. \u201cIf I get us up there, then what?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cThen we fight,\u201d he said. \u201cThere were only three up there that I could see.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cAnd then we use that portal.\u201d He paused. \u201cI have an\u2014urgent message to bring back to them. If you don\u2019t make it, then how will I\u2014get through?\u201d He looked down at the elf\u2019s broken leg, then reached into the black cultist robes, where underneath he wore the robe of patches given to him from Oyn. He ripped a patch free and threw it on the ground, where it instantly transformed into a ladder.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Borngray raised an eyebrow at him appraisingly, then nodded. \u201cImpressive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNot all of us,\u201d Reverence pointed to the longsword, \u201cneed a silly sword.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cOur mission is the most important thing. If you reach the portal without me,\u201d Borngray took a long, deep breath, steadying himself as he straightened, \u201cthen the word is Drazier<\/em>. That will take you to the lodge. From there, the castle in the sky.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cVery well,\u201d Reverence said, shifting his shoulder under the elf\u2019s arm and helping him to the ladder. \u201cFor Tiamat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFor Tiamat,\u201d Borngray responded, clutching the rung and beginning to climb with difficulty. He peered over the hole and summoned his sword, climbing over the edge and swinging his blade. <\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The elf tried to push past Keelan while swinging wildly. Keelan spun in surprise at the conjured ladder. Reverence jumped from the pit a second later and slammed a fist into Borngray\u2019s spine, stunning him with a reverberating spell. A second later, Whisper released three tiny missiles that zoomed and planted into the elf\u2019s frozen back and dropped him. They all rushed over and stood looking down at the body. \u201cDid you get it?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence nodded and grinned, flashing his sharp incisors. \u201cFound out\u2014the password\u2014and the location of their headquarters. A castle\u2014in the sky.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren nodded. \u201cKeelan, can you heal him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan sheathed his sword. \u201cWhy would I want to do that?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe could still get more information from him about the cult,\u201d the warlock said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think\u2014he will tell us anymore. He is not a man\u2014to be broken.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper bent and pulled out the tiny darts in his back and began to bandage them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI think we should kill him,\u201d the paladin said. \u201cHe\u2019s evil.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWe should imprison him,\u201d Oszaren insisted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan bent and picked up the elf\u2019s dropped sword, eyeing it approvingly. \u201cI want this sword. If we imprison him, he\u2019ll keep bringing it back to his side.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The warlock looked at his companions unhappily. Whisper offered no suggestions, but Reverence and Keelan both seemed convinced. \u201cWe should keep a prisoner for the Harpers,\u201d Oszaren told the tiefling pointedly.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence shook his head. \u201cWe\u2019re not going to\u2014travel another two weeks back to Waterdeep. We have a\u2014more important mission ahead.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren huffed, but Keelan and Reverence shared a look, and the paladin bent and put an end to Borngray once and for all. He wiped his new sword clean on the back of the elf\u2019s black robes and replaced it at his sheath. \u201cLet\u2019s go,\u201d he said, and started toward the door. \u201cWe can talk about the portal after we\u2019ve all had a good rest.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Shale and Fillip spoke with Snapjaw, and the druid was able to negotiate a fair portion of the gold, except for that which the lizard folk wished to present as tribute to the Black Death, their dragon patron. Shale worried over their inability to find the sought-after book, and Snapjaw pointed them to a library that had yet to be explored. Fillip asked Snapjaw to relay to the Black Death that they would need to travel further to find the book and ring and hoped the dragon would understand. The lizard\u2019s leader warned the dragon was impatient but promised he would speak on their behalf. The lizard folk had decided to stay as permanent residents of the castle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Fillip went upstairs and found a bedroll. Shale waited for the return of her companions, anxious to tell Oszaren of the library, and to speak with him in privacy about his patron of death.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

In the passing hour, Shale sat with Trigger, stroking his fur and staring at the stone wall, deep in thought. She only broke from her reverie when she heard the lizard people welcoming the rest of her companions upstairs. She found Oszaren, and after a quick recount of the information Borngray gave them, she pulled him aside.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI need to know,\u201d Shale said seriously, walking him toward the library, \u201cis this the first time you\u2019ve done that\u2014thing? You know, where you pushed the soul out of somebody?\u201d She made the motion of slamming her hand into an invisible chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The warlock looked over at her as they walked, his face looking guilty. \u201cI\u2014I didn\u2019t mean for it to go that far. And, no, I\u2019ve never done it before.\u201d He swallowed. \u201cIt happened in the heat of battle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI understand that,\u201d Shale said truthfully. \u201cAnd I trust you, Oszaren. That\u2019s why I felt I could ask. Where is this patron of yours leading you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Oszaren sighed. \u201cI serve the Raven Queen,\u201d he told her. She\u2019d heard the name before, though it was vague to her. \u201cI\u2019ve only heard from her a few times, that\u2019s why I\u2019m looking for books. If I could translate these\u2014messages that she\u2019s left behind\u2026\u201d he trailed off and rolled up his singed sleeve to reveal his snake tattoo. The one that glowed with his spells. \u201cShe gave me this. And my sword. And, I think that silver raven statue we found at Dragonspear castle. If I can find out what it all means, then maybe it\u2019s something I can escape.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale remained quiet as they entered through the small temple room they\u2019d snuck into before, with the wooden statue of Tiamat in the centre. They continued to a second door and found the library with its row of dusty bookshelves and unused oil lamps.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThis\u2014thing inside of me,\u201d Oszaren said finally, \u201cit\u2019s not something I can understand yet. But I\u2019m trying. I swear to you, Shale, I don\u2019t feel good about what I\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

There was a pleading look in the half-elf\u2019s eyes, and she felt a tightness in her chest. A nervousness of things to come. \u201cI trust you,\u201d she said again, and before turning to leave, added, \u201cOszaren?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He looked up.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWill you teach me to speak draconic?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

He looked confused but nodded. She thanked him, then stepped out of the library and went to find a bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

Shale was wakened in the middle of the night by Reverence. \u201cCome with me,\u201d he hissed, and she followed him out, seeing he\u2019d woken everyone but Whisper and was now leading them into a private room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s this about?\u201d Keelan asked, glancing back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI think\u2014you know,\u201d Reverence said, seating himself on a window sill as they all found chairs or places of wall on which to lean on.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Shale remained standing. \u201cWhisper,\u201d she said, tilting her head. She\u2019d been waiting for this conversation for a long while.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence nodded and cleared his throat. \u201cIt\u2019s time we made a decision\u2014on what to do with the tabaxi\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Keelan sighed heavily as Reverence began his speech.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The argument went on into the night until finally, unsatisfied, they all returned to their bedrolls and sleep found them. In the morning, the tension had grown so taut it was near bursting, a wedge that left room for a great divide amongst the members of their party. Shale felt it was only a matter of time before the streambed eroded the rock beneath, and they were in freefall.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

The following day was spent exploring the remainder of the castle. Shale helped Oszaren pick a few locks in the library and they found one book that interested Whisper and Oszaren titled \u201cThe Dark Sermons of Strongor Bonebinder\u201d. The spine of the book had barely kept together. The name matched the one on the tomb and spoke of experiments and research of dragons. Oszaren pointed out an experimental recipe for bringing dead dragons back to life, a sentiment that chilled Shale\u2019s spine. They also discussed the timestamps of the Black Death\u2019s movements through the swamp and concluded the possibility that the dragon was teleporting.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Once they\u2019d moved on from the library, they spent a while combing through Rezmir\u2019s chambers and found a locked wardrobe with a dangerous chemical trap to keep out intruders. They managed to retrieve another book, this one relating to artefacts and the Queen of Dragons. Oszaren read a passage about the coloured masks of the wyrm speakers, and Shale was reminded of the black mask Rezmir wore when they saw her come through the portal. There was speculation within the book that the masks were used to control Tiamat. If not that, then at least to control the dragons. They found a few valuable black dragon statues, which Shale took to later show to Fillip. Finally, Whisper found a vial and handed it to Shale. \u201cIf you drink it, it will bring you to an ethereal plane for one hour.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even know what that means,\u201d she said, taking it and carefully tucking it away.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Whisper shrugged and Shale left to find Fillip in the great hall, stuffing their crate full of gems. While the crate was not in its boat shape, it could carry a large amount of goods. She gave him the statues and he added them to the wealth. She walked the castle alone and found Keelan converting the shrine to Tiamat into one for Kossuth and was passionately proselytizing to the lizard folk, some of whom seemed mildly interested.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They made preparations for their travels and spent another night in the castle. In the morning, Keelan summoned his warhorse, Ember, and they took the path back down into the caves.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

They arranged themselves over the portal. Shale felt anxious and drew her blades, unsure of where this \u2018lodge\u2019 would be. They could arrive surrounded by enemies. They could be dead in a few minutes. She took a deep breath and called Trigger to stand next to her. The fox sat on his haunches, completely unaware of where they would go next. Sometimes she envied his ignorance.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\u201cReady?\u201d Oszaren asked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Everyone remained quiet but nodded.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Reverence stepped last onto the portal, closed his eyes, and breathed the word in draconic. \u201cDrazier<\/em>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The word hissed and echoed, and suddenly, everything seemed to spin. Shale steadied herself, feeling as though her feet might fly out from under her at any moment. Trigger yelped, and the spinning stopped just as it had begun. Everything was blindingly white, and it took a moment for her eyes to adjust from the darkness of the caves they\u2019d left behind.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

The air was frigid and there was a howling wind. Shale looked around the platform and saw they were atop a mountain, surrounded by pinewoods. The air was freezing, their vision obscured by a rushing blizzard. Around the portal were broken stones. Other, abandoned portals. She took a step forward into the wintery world, the icy chill creeping into her bones, and felt she may never feel warmth again.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

\n

END OF PART TWO<\/strong><\/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<\/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":"

The battle against Rezmir continues, and the companions find a transportation circle that drives them across Faerun and, potentially, into the heart of the Cult of the Dragon. Here continues the story based on the Hoard of the Dragon Queen campaign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":743,"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-226","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-6.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 27<\/a><\/blockquote>