Irabeth frowns. "I...don't know. There is a jeweler here, though. That is a kind of stone, right? Ask her? In the morning, of course."
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"I would be more comfortable with getting some rest before we leave. I want to be fully alert when the time comes." Ehren fidgets a bit, hoping it did not sound like he was using his role in Li'an's impending revival as leverage. He was simply tired, and more or less out of useful magic. Unless something needed a rock thrown at it.
Following an awkward pause, he changes the subject. "Also... I'm going to see about getting a new weapon. I'd... feel more like a crusader if I had a sword instead of a stick," he says, smiling weakly. He tosses nobody in particular a pointed glance, as though daring them to mention a particular something to Irabeth.
The group has a quick quiet moment - they are patched up by clerics of Desna, plan their next move, procure new cold iron weapons and fill their bellies with bland army rations.
Though Valaria and Ary are ready to move on - Markus and Ehren wish to rest. And since Ehren is a pretty vital part of the Reincarnation ritual () - the group concedes to the needs of the tired spellcasters and opt to rest before moving on.
The former innkeeper - a grizzled one-armed man named Kimroth Otai - helps rearrange things to give each hero their own private room - a final favor of Commander Tirablade. He recognizes Valaria - "I'm afraid I already donated your things you left in your room ma'am. I'm really sorry - I didn't expect you to return for them, given the circumstances," he apologizes.
......Unfortunately this night is not to pass quietly.
A few hours after the heroes fall asleep, they awaken to sounds of commotion in the lower floors. A horrified scream. People shouting and yelling - general confusion.
Ary wakes up to Sana in her room, tugging at her blanket. "Ary! Ary! Wake up! I can't find my daddy. What's going on?"
Val just sighs. "I'm not really surprised. Honestly, I think I only survived to make it back through luck. Or maybe divine providence. Or maybe both considering my lady's temperament." She rubs her butterfly mark. "It's fine. There wasn't really anything in there that can't be replaced easily enough." She's simply grateful for a quiet room to rest and and bed to sleep in for the night.
She jumps awake at the screams and shouts in the middle of the night. "What? What's happening?" she mutters groggily, shaken from her rest.
The commotion in the middle of the night brings Markus from one nightmare right into another, so he's not exactly fazed by the screaming. He recognizes his awakeness, though, and grumbles as he goes to get his new dagger and Vagorg's wand. He staggers out of his room out into the inn common room to see what's up.
Markus staggers down the hallway past a body being carried on a stretcher to the medic ward - a crusader man who appears to have been stabbed straight through in many places all over his body. Taking him to the ward seems like a fruitless venture - he has clearly passed on.
The tavern on the first floor is full of panicked people and general chaos. Commander Irabeth is moving through, in tense discussion with several members of the Eagle Watch. There are three dead bodies on the table next to her - one of which is recognizable as Grim, whom the heroes saw earlier.
Val groggily makes her way toward the commotion. "What the... oh no." The sight of more dead bodies snaps her out of it and she hurries to find someone who knows what's going on, leaving Sana with Ary and hoping that the others wake soon. "Commander, what's going on?"
For the first time in a while Ehren is forced to forego his usual meditations. Instead, when he wakes, he quickly straps his newly acquired sword onto his belt and hurries to join the others, eager to find out what was going on.
Ary pulls back on the blanket, "Jus' a nightmare. Go back to be..." and then she notices that the chaos that had seeped into her dream was from reality. She looked down to the little girl and bit her lip. She sighed, and slipped out from under the covers: Still fully dressed from the night prior. She'd been intent on spending the time she'd normally get herself presentable on meditation so she could get straight to business without holding anyone up... but now she was a slightly tangled mess. She still has to strap on Faith and her sword, though.
Once she extricated herself, she focused on the little girl once more. There were choices to be made here. She could lock her in the room and leave her to whatever fate... knowing that she might even just leave the room... or she could take her with her and she'd suffer the same fate (or worse) that Ary did.
'Better to see her close to me, and leave less to chance.' she thought. 'I'll have to pass on devotions for now, I'm sure you understand.' she thought once more. "Come on, let's go find him." she says as she snatches up Sana and heads out the door moving in the general direction that the chaos flows, as she knows she can't head 'upstream'.
Then she spots Grim just lying on the table, and her eyes narrow. The knuckles on her shield arm clench to white, even as she's mindful to be gentle with Sana.
She stays quiet and waits for the SitRep, even as she tries to keep the little girl focused away from her father.
Sana holds on tightly to Ary. When she spots Grim she calls out softly, ..."Daddy? What's happening?" Her eyes well up with tears, and she buries her face in the crook of the crusader woman's neck, in her tangled hair. Ary can feel her little heart beating oh so fast.
Commander Irabeth is interrogating Andisy and Vica from earlier - still dressed, as they are on night-duty after all. Another man strides into the room, making his way towards Irabeth. He is a tall, middle-aged man with tanned skin, a hooked nose, and shoulder-length salt-and-pepper flecked black hair. He wears predominantly white and black leather armor, with a flowing red cape, paired with a longsword.
"What is the meaning of this? What is going on?" Inquisitor Liotr Hawkblade snaps at Irabeth.
Irabeth's expression remains steely. "Clearly, we've been infiltrated. We found these people dead in their beds. I'm working to narrow the field of suspects."
The Inquistor seems furious. "Of course, this would happen under your watch, Chevalier!" His eyes dart to the heroes. "The obvious suspects are sitting right in front of you. Detain them, they'll be screened. With a sin seeker."
Irabeth snaps back, "That isn't necessary. They've been screened. No malevolent auras."
Vica is ghost-white and trembling. "Commander Irabeth, I swear by my heart and my oath, I screened every soul that came through those doors tonight, including these people and your wife."
The Inquisitor scoffs at the notion that a paladin's detect evil could possibly compare to his methods.
"Ehren. Could you do the the sensing thing?" Ary asks quietly, moving her eyes from Irabeth to the inquisitor. What she really wants to do is interpose herself, but with a little girl in her arms, there really isn't much she can do.
She wants to make a snide remark; she'd never exactly liked him, anyway... but under the present circumstances (and the fact that until she has reason to do otherwise, she needs to follow chain of command).
There are a lot of things she wants to do... but none of them are appropriate. Even drawing Radiance to show that she's not a cultist would likely be perceived as a threat.
So, she sighs, and patently ignores the Inquisitor, returning her attention to more important things... like bouncing the little girl in her arms.
Sana's face turns back to her father, streaked with tears. She wiggles, signaling to Ary that she wants to be put down. She moves as if she wanted to go up to her father, perhaps to try and shake him awake... then stops. She grips Ary's hand tightly, thoroughly intimidated by the tall, angry man in front of them.
Commander Irabeth stays stern - not willing to relinquish control to Inquisitor Liotr just yet. "I have the situation under control. The culprit has likely already fled."
The Inquisitor seems.... unconvinced. Liotr crosses his arms and walks up to each of the heroes in turn and giving them a piercing stare.
"There are... methods to fool alignment-sensing spells. But I always find the truth. No demon or witch or cultist can escape my righteous judgment. Your leniency cost us men and women we cannot afford to lose, Commander Irabeth," he spits the words. "Don't you dare forget that...now... what's this?"
He draws his longsword pointing it directly at... Sana?
"Bishop. Hand over the girl. That is an order, soldier." Liotr snaps.
Sana lets go of Ary's hand and moves to hide behind her from the man. "Ary?" she whimpers.
Ary seems torn. At once... she's been taught to listen to orders, but to the other end, she's been taught to trust her heart. It helped that she hated the man that stood before her. Her jaw set as she took a deep breath, and began to speak in her rich voice, though there was a tremor in it; she didn't feel nearly as brave as she was trying to be.
"I have higher orders than yours, sir. 'I will not surrender those under my command. If I betray my heart, I have died.' she says, reciting some of her affirmations. "I will protect the weak. Chevalier... errr, Commander?" she said, trying to get the paladin to back her up.
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"Ary, get away from her," Ehren says slowly, staring at the little girl in horror. She made it look so natural when she ran straight to her father... right past Vica.
Sana backs away, slowly. At once, her terrified act drops, leaving a hollow, emotionless expression on her young face.
"Funny little gullible mortals," she says - but her voice is different - like two voices are speaking in unison. On one layer, a child's voice. But over it, a man's, baritone and throaty. "Infiltrating this fortress was like.... child's play." The demon chooses its words with evil delight, and begins to cackle. Slowly, an inky blackness - like tendrils of shadow start to flow out from her body and into the room.
"Invidiak," hisses Irabeth. The darkness crawls along the floor, the walls, the ceiling - until all is pitch black. Even Markus and Valaria cannot see...
"Crusaders! Someone needs to dispel this!" Commander Irabeth barks. The crusaders fumble around confusedly for a moment, until finally, a robed halfling steps up to eradicate the darkness.
The little girl is nowhere to be found.
"Naturally. Shadow demons can teleport," growls Inquisitor Liotr. He wheels on the elf paladin, Vica. "This Eagle's Watch paladin let a shadow demon into our stronghold on your watch! I expect her to be disciplined accordingly?" Vica buries her face in her hands.
But I... I scanned them.." mumbles Vica.
Val groans. "Of course we have. Because trouble follows us like the gods damned plague. We can never get a minute's rest, can we?"
She leaps back as the inky darkness erupts from Sana. "Kul! Shadow demons. Why did it have to be shadow demons? I loath shadow demons." She goes for her knives, but the unnatural darkness fills the room and the creature is long gone by the time it's dispelled. A storm of curses fills the air.
"Wonderful. So now we have a possessed child to worry about on top of everything else."
Ary slumps and closes her eyes. "You need to stop, Inquisitor." she says, focusing her attention on him. "She did scan us. I neglected to mention that we found her in a cultist ritual. You could be aiding in security. She could have ensured that she had scanned every member here. Our friend gave her life for that little girl who was already possessed when we found her. So if you would please stop being divisive, I would sincerely appreciate it. Ary says, white hot anger flooding out of her. "An entire city is on the line, several men lie dead because of -all- of our mistake, and a LITTLE GIRL cut down her own father. Meanwhile you're fighting over who gets to be the boss? Commander Irabeth is the leader because people will listen to her. Do your job and be an adviser, accept your position, I don't care. Just get over yourself." she says as tears break over the edge of her eyes. She gives a small salute to him, before heading for the door.
"Ary is right, inquisitor." says Markus, trying to be slightly more diplomatic. "Your words, while well-intentioned towards the good of all, are upsetting the people around you. Morale means loyalty. Without loyalty to one another, we already lost."
Markus isn't really surprised that somebody possessed a little girl. Honestly. Evil always likes to...get into your head.
Ehren turns to console Vica, having nothing to add to what everyone was saying to the inquisitor. He already had a decent idea of what kind of person the man was... he just had not expected to meet one so soon.
"You couldn't have known," he says to the crusader, stopping short of touching her shoulder, "None of us thought it strange that the girl ran to her father."
Inquisitor Liotr narrows his eyes at Ary. "Mind your mouth, soldier. If I understand correctly, your group found her. But you didn't think to screen her? ...Oh, that's right. You aren't able to, ranger." He sneers.
His gaze shifts to Markus, and he seems more apt to listen to his words. "I suppose your words are true, mage. Though, from my perspective, the only loyalty we need here is to the Inheritor." He sheathes his longsword and shoots Irabeth a scathing look.
"I can assure you that when the contingent from Nerosyan arrives, my report on what has transpired here will be detailed. Enjoy your promotion while it lasts, Commander." He storms off, red cloak billowing behind him.
Meanwhile, Vica smiles appreciatively at Ehren. "...Thank you. But I have failed my comrades in arms, and now more are dead. I...I must atone."
Commander Irabeth grabs hold of Vica's arm. "Chin up, paladin. Everyone makes mistakes. What sets us apart is how we handle them." She glances at the heroes, next. "What a mess. You all need your rest. We have the situation under control."
Val glares as the inquisitor storms out, then turns to the half-orc. "He's going to be a problem. I don't need magic to know what he really is. He's a petty, bitter man who thinks he should be in charge here rather than just doing his job for the sake of everyone here. I can't give orders, but I'd watch him and try to bring him in line if I were you. He's going to keep being a problem until you do something about it." She pauses, looking at the distraught paladin. "And don't put too much into what he says. He's blaming you because he's angry and he can, not because it was your fault."
She sighs, rubbing her eyes. "I'm going back to bed. What happened to Sana... It's awful, but we can't do anything about it yet. We have to focus on doing what we can. And Li'an and the civilians at Gwerm Manor come first." With a nod to Irabeth and the crusaders, she heads back to bed.
Commander Irabeth glances at Valaria and smiles. "I... don't have a lot of power in the Crusades at large, Valaria. There's a lot of politics to running a war effort, but you should know how that is - coming from Cheliax!"
"Besides. He's an asset to the Crusades and we need what help we can get."
23 Arodus 4713
The next morning is sunny, and warm - finally feeling like summer for once. The skies are clear.
It is late in the morning by the time the two mages are awake and ready.
Anevia is up early. She knocks on Ary's door. "Heeeeeey, Ary? It's me. Got a second?"
Commander Irabeth never slept - she's been going the past two days energized by divine magic. She seems to somehow be everywhere at once, keeping a careful eye on everything that is going on - especially the needs of the heroes who saved her wife.
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Val stops at the door. "Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm old enough to remember the aftermath of the Thrune conquest. War isn't pretty."
She sighs. "Maybe, but you saw how he acts. He's going to start challenging what authority you do have, pushing the boundaries because he thinks he knows better. If he's not willing to be civil and work for the benefit of everyone here, he's not doing anyone any good. I'm not saying get rid of him, but finding a way to stop him from verbally abusing your soldiers and throwing whatever weight he thinks he has around might make things run smoother." Val leaves without another word, heading off to rest before the morning.
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Val digs out her journal and takes her time writing, recounting the trying day on paper.
We made it a bit further before we ran into yet another insane crusader. Her name was Captain Julania and apparently she was trying to keep the carrion birds off her men’s bodies. I guess I can cut the situation a little slack since she’d just watched all of the men under her command die in battle. She was completely out of it and we borderline had to pour some water down her throat to snap her out of the dehydration and heat stroke. She was… strange until we talked her down. Once we helped her properly honor her men’s bodies, she joined our ever growing retinue of refugees, crusaders, and various riff-raff. We’re getting quite the following.
We finally made it to Anevia’s home and SURPRISE! ASSASSINS! Ugh, I don’t know why it was surprising, all things considered. We later found out that one of them was a Silent Shroud agent from Nidal, still chasing Anevia after all these years. She ambushed Anevia and nearly took her down in one shot. My heart nearly stopped when she hit the floor. The fight went rather quickly after that point. Li’an ran down the assassin when she realized that she wasn’t going to win and finished her off with one good stab while her partner made an appearance, some half-orc cultist named Va-something. Didn’t bother learning his name. We killed him shortly afterward anyway. Messing with our friends is completely unacceptable. Turns our Vag was a cultist Irabeth arrested in the River Kingdoms years ago and he wanted revenge. Sounds about right, honestly. He had some cool stuff on his person though. Oh, and Anevia’s apparently a man. Well, she used to be a man, but she was supposed to be a woman and was born with the wrong body. Irabeth bought a potion to fix that error and Anevia’s never been happier. That’s why Irabeth sold her sword, to afford the potion. I wonder if I should be insulted that she thought we’d think differently of her because she wasn’t born with her current body.
Luckily, Irabeth had left a note and some helpful potions for Anevia in a secret place in the house. Turns out the crusaders were holed up in Defender’s Heart. Huh, I’m a little surprised that I’m going back to that inn after what’s happened. It’s strange when little things like that happen, but at least we knew where we were going. We made a quick stop back at the temple of Sarenrae to leave a message for the other crusaders and… it was bad. So bad. There was a group of cultists there, preparing to sacrifice a child on the desecrated altar. Li’an and I slipped around the back and went to rescue her while everyone else attacked from the front. I… They saw Li’an pulling the girl out and she was caught in the middle of them. Their leader had these acid bombs and they were armed and… She was down before we even had time to get in close. We killed them to the man. They didn’t deserve to live. So we sent them on to their master in little pieces. I hope the crows feast on what’s left. We took the child with us when we left.
We carried her… her body to Defender’s Heart and finally reunited Anevia with her wife. Irabeth is rather beautiful too. They’re lucky to have each other, and luckier that they both survived. I’m glad. They deserve some love after what happened these last few days. The fortifications are strong and we found quite a few crusaders alive and fighting. Not nearly as many as used to be in the city, but still a fighting force determined to do what’s right. I can respect that. And Irabeth arranged for us to get our hands on a Scroll of Reincarnation. If she wasn’t married, I’d kiss her. And do other things that I shan’t commit to paper. We got some rest, but in the middle of the night we were woken by a commotion. Apparently the child was possessed by a shadow demon. Three people died and now we have to add finding and helping a possessed child to our to-do list. Damn it, does that mean Li’an died for a trick? I also got a taste of inquisitor Liotr while I was still half asleep. I think he’d be more than I’d rather handle while I’m awake. So I may have been a little testy about his attitude. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Satisfied, she closes her book and packs it away before heading out of their private room. She retrieves her bag of platinum and heads to find the merchants, intent on tracking down someone selling magic items.
In the daylight, the tavern in Defender's Heart is crowded with refugees seeking food and water, as well as a number of merchants set up dealing their wares to the Crusades. (This is, after all, the reason why a merchant comes to a war-torn city.)
There is a jeweler, an alchemist, a scribe, a pair of wandwrights, and an armorer and weaponsmith who deal in magical items. In addition, there is a wizard crafter named Hilda who once owned an Arcanium - she sells a number of odds and ends.
There are a number of other traders that deal in mundane items.
Val makes her way over to the crafter. "Good morning ma'am. I've been told you're a talented crafter of magical items, and I'd like to purchase something specific. Do you happen to have a set of Muleback Cords in stock? We've been finding a lot of salvageable equipment and I feel rather useless not being strong enough to help carry things."
Hilda grins, pulling out a number of sacks and satchels. "Best in Kenabres! What are you looking for? I have a number of wands of feather fall available! The earthquakes have stopped recently... but you never know when you might find yourself falling from an immense height!"
At the sound of muleback cords she grins and rummages in one of the satchels. 'Indeed I do! To the tune of 1,000 gold, miss."
Val grins. "Very much appreciated." She sets the bag of one hundred platinum in front of the enchanter.
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Please, let me be strong enough to bring her back. Ehren did not know who he was praying to. He had venerated the Green, dedicated his whole life to it, but it was no god. Not in the traditional sense, at least. Still, he had offered his prayers before to Torag, to Sarenrae. Perhaps one of them would listen?
Needless to say, the responsibility of reviving Li'an made him very nervous. He had committed himself to performing a ritual he could not carry out alone, with a method he had never tried before. Indeed, he was not all that familiar with Crocris - would the synergy between them be enough? And even if the spell did work as intended, its inherent unpredictability worried him. The individual they brought back would still be Li'an, no matter what, but what would she be? Would she be happy with her new form? With all of these questions nagging at him, it is practically a miracle that Ehren manages to get through his meditations at all.
The druid prepares the very same mending spell Markus had shown to the children, intent on repairing his new clothing. He was not vain nor self-conscious about his appearance, but it felt like a shame to let the clothing that had been gifted to him to go on in tatters. After spending much more time than usual tending to his appearance (the boots remain in his pack, unworn), he heads out to do a little shopping of his own.
After some asking around, he finds his way over to Hilda, grinning at Valaria along the way.
"Good morning. Do you have any pearls of power? One of the weakest variety should suffice."
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When Ary isn't stopped, she doesn't deign to give him a comment, and instead just heads for her room. Part of her still wants to show him Radiance... but she'd rather just get out. She'd shoved her foot pretty far in her mouth with her little tantrum, so best to just leave it; he'd find out about the sword in short order, probably, anyway.
The next morning, Ary has just finished her prayers when Anevia knocks. She lets her in, of course.
"I'm not at all okay." Ary shook her head. "I probably just made things a lot worse for everyone involved with my... tantrum." she frowns. "It's just that... it's not supposed to be like all of this." she motions around. "The Acts talk about all the miraculous victories amongst difficult times... but they don't tell about losing a friend and then murdering another friend by bringing a possessed little girl to him." Tears start to break again, but she doesn't let them. "That little girl is going to live the rest of her life with the memory of killing her father. And that's assuming we can free her before High King Liotr gets to her. The only thing special about the bastard is bigotry and hate. He doesn't honor sacrifice, he doesn't honor his fellows, Iomedae knows he doesn't even try to shine in her legion. He's as bad as Chaleb but with a different set of plumage." she moves swiftly from the upwelling of sadness into anger. "I never expected this." she sighs softly, "I keep thinking of how all the others haven't signed on for this, and I'm the one breaking down."
"Sana walked into my room last night, after killing other people, and woke me up. She didn't try to kill me like she did everyone else. And... I don't understand why." she chewed on her lip, looking away. "I couldn't save her." she swallows, as she wavers back into regret.
Hilda grins at Ehren. "Of course! Of course! Spellcasters should never leave home without them. A thousand gold!" Her spirits are high - she hasn't had such wealthy customers since the chaos began.
Anevia hugs Ary. "Hey now. Don't let ol Liotr Hooknose bother you. Prelate Hulrun is gone - right? So now he's just all talk, without anyone to back him up. That's probably why he's blustering - he's scared."
"I'm sure our lady the Inheritor went through some dark times too. They just don't write songs about it. And you didn't kill Grim. That ... thing did."
She frowns. "I don't know why it didn't kill you. I'm guessing its goals were to sabotage and demoralize, not to assassinate. Breaking someone's will can be just as effective as breaking their body."
She stands up, getting ready to head down into the common area. "Now, come on. We have a whole lot of people still depending on us. Gotta keep heading forward, right?"
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Advertising off her face and running a brush through her hair, Ary follows Anevia down. She first checks one of the wand salesman and then the other, to no avail. A curing wand would have been exceptionally useful. Oh well.. she'd just have to be more vigilant... if only she'd taken a bit or two for Fen'wen, she'd be alive...
She shook her head, hard, pushing herself out of the funk she was in, and spotting Rocky and Butterfly. She headed towards them quietly, as they made their purchases. She didn't have her money with her, regardless, so she might as well not have bothered checking on what was likely the most requested item in the building.
Spotting Ary in the common room, a young boy - maybe 12 or 13 or so - runs up to her with a message.
" 'Scuse me, are you Ary Bishop? You have a message." He hands her a sealed letter with Horgus Gwerm's family crest pressed into the wax.
Ms. Bishop,
Your prompt correspondence is noted and appreciated. I am pleased to hear that you have managed to find safety and other Crusaders within the city. I thank you for arranging for my protection while you are there. In return, when the crusaders come to pick up these squatters that you left in my home, have them bring two or three wagons with them, I would like to make a donation of food for the war efforts. Hopefully things will go back to normal soon, and the neighboring manors will fix up their buildings and yards- they are quite the eyesore from my bedroom.
Praying for your safety,
Lord Horgus Gwerm
After delivering the letter, the boy eyes Ary's shield with awe. "'Scuse me, are you a Bishop as in a Bishop Bishop? Is that Faith? Can.. can I get a closer look? I've grown up with so many stories... never thought I'd get to see it for myself!"
Val takes the leather bands and wraps them around her biceps, adjusting them until they feel comfortable, then buckling them down. She giggles as the bands almost give her arms a muscular look and feels the magic take effect. The weight from her pack lessens quickly and she feels like she could easily carry several times more gear without a problem. "Now to find everyone else. Pleasure doing business with you Miss Hilda."
Nodding appreciatively, Ehren hands over his own payment from Horgus, glad to be rid of the cumbersome bag of platinum. Perhaps banking would not have been such a bad idea after all. The druid holds the small bauble he paid for before his eyes, and then drops it into one of his pockets. It did not particularly matter where it went, but perhaps he would fashion a necklace to hold it later.
"Yes, thank you Hilda."
Ary offers the boy a small smile and kneels down after taking the letter from him. "Yup. I'm a Bishop-Bishop." she says, showing him the shield that's strapped to her arm. "Be careful, the pointy bits are sharp enough to cut demons." she says as she shows him the points that flare out from the embossed sword-symbol in their center. "Who taught you about the Bishops and Faith?" she asks quietly as she tears open the envelope, and waits for his reply.
Her small smile returns as she reads over the letter. It had the extra effect of reminding her that she should really ensure that she's allowed to leave. She'd previously been operating autonomously, but now that she had a leader again... she should check in. She should likely also write Liotr a small letter of apology... but there were way too many caveats she'd have to make in order to be sincere... and she couldn't remember whether she'd called him a bigot to his face or not. Probably easier just to let him know that she was feeling exceptionally stressed, and she'd never have said anything like that if she'd not just lost the three people in Kenabres that she was closest to... in the same day. She'd definitely need to do that.
"Do you have any paper on hand that I could use for a missive? Do you know who Inquisitor Liotr Hawkblade is?"
The boy examines Faith closely, envious. "That's amazing! Ser Lucas Bishop saved my grand-dad - he held off the demon hordes to allow his squadron time to retreat to safety. The stories have been passed down to everyone in my family." He puffs his chest out. "I'm trying to find someone to take me as their squire, then I'll be a Crusader too!"
To her question, he nods. "Yeah, of course!" He fidgets around in his bag for a quill, ink, and parchment. "Inquisitor, Liotr, of course. He's real important!"
"Well... I'm not exactly looking for a squire just now, and things would fall apart without a good messenger." She gives him a grin. "So... what's your name? I'd like to be able to find you if I ever do need you. Also... is there a fortune teller somewhere around here? She goes by the name Veserda the Owl? If she is... And this is really important, tell her that Bishop is still weathering the Avalanche and the Eclipse. And that Gloomy is still trumpeting. She'll know what it means."
She begins scribbling as he answers, writing a quick missive to Liotr.
To the office of one Liotr Hawkblade,
I wanted to apologize for my rash words last night. Had I been in a better state of mind, I would have never said those things to you. You happened upon me after just finding that my two oldest friends in all of Kenabres had died during the same day... both due to my own mistakes. I do apologize for anything that I said that you took personally.
To Better Days,
Ary Bishop
She then passes the note back to him, and withdraws ten gold coins from the purse in her backpack, holding them out.
"I'd give you a platinum...but you'll have an easier time spending these. Make sure you share what you can with your family, and get some good running shoes... And keep doing what you're doing. Excellence is a habit." She gives him a small grin.
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After a solemn few days Hrut seems eager to head back out into the city to help his 'squad' and to get Li'an back. Hrut preforms his morning exercises, tends/polishes his weapons, armor and equipment, spends some time perusing the wares of the base,
"I believe I am ready to go back to the Gwerm estate. I am ready to strike back at the evil we have encountered, let us get Li'an back!"
"E-ethan!" The boy seems taken aback at the payment, but he beams at Ary nonetheless. "Right now I'm just living here with my mum and me sis - I'm trying to stay useful by working with the messenger ravens." He takes Liotr's letter, folds it up, and puts it in his satchel.
"I don't recognize that name, but I'll be sure to ask around! You can count on me, Ms. Bishop!"
Ary then swings by Irabeth, who is busy in conference with some other Crusaders at the war table, including Anevia. Realizing that she's there for orders, Commander Irabeth pauses.
"Go gather your group together. Ingvarson. Valaria. Markus. Ehren. Captain Nalti."
By the time Ary returns with the entire group the other crusaders have cleared out so that it is just the heroes, Commander Irabeth, Anevia, and Captain Nalti.
"Ingvarson," she begins. "Ser Holton Albright has left for Nerosyan. According to our last sending, he should return by the 27th. Nerosyan has been attacked as well, though they... weathered the storm better than Kenabres has. However, I believe your talents are needed here, if we could have you."
"Markus," she continues. "We don't have a whole lot of time right now to swear you in as a formal Crusader. But your help is appreciated nonetheless. If... when things manage to calm down, we'll swear you in officially and you'll be placed with a team." Her eyes flit between Bishop and Ingvarson. "If possible, we will try to keep your group together. From what Anevia tells me, you already are working as a cohesive unit. But that is beyond my control at this time, so I can make no guarantees."
"Finally, Ehren, Valaria," she concludes. "You've gone through a great ordeal. I understand if you wish to leave Kenabres at the soonest opportunity. I do not presume to give you orders, but if we could still have your assistance, it will be received with gratitude." She frowns, reflecting on their introduction to Inquisitor Liotr. "At least from the Eagle Watch, I can guarantee it."
"Bishop," she says, finally. "First, a debriefing. From my understanding, all of the Mendevian cities along the border have been attacked. I am relatively certain that none of the other border cities have suffered a great a defeat as Kenabres. I don't believe that any of the border cities in Numeria or Ustalav have been attacked, but I am not completely certain of this. It appears..." She glances at Ehren, and frowns. "It appears that the wardstone in Kenabres has been destroyed - we can confirm that there is a weak point in the wardstone field over Kenabres through which some demons can move through. I thank Iomedae daily for the inherent disorganization of demons - had the demons made as focused an attack on Nerosyan as they did here - things would be much more dire. "
"Right, now that you are up to speed. Bishop, these are your orders. You are to return to Gwerm Manor with a small platoon of Eagle Watch soldiers." She produces a scroll, covered in cryptic runes drawn about an intricate circle. She hands this to Ehren. "For your attempted reincarnation. I pray that things go well." She returns her focus on Ary. "Should Va'ardalia be successfully reincarnated, she is to be debriefed on all that has been transpired - and these ordered relayed to her. Inform her that her squadron leader, Ser Ilivan of Erages, has survived but for now I am in charge."
"After Li'an's return, I would like for you, Ingvarson, Va'ardalia, and Markus to investigate the Tower of Estrod. It is your tip, so see it through, soldier. If the cultist presence there is small enough for your group to handle - exterminate it and recover as much intelligence as you can. If it is feasible for you to bring back their leader alive, you are to attempt this, for questioning. Inquisitor Liotr has some steam that he needs to let loose."
"Valaria and Ehren are of course welcome to help you, if they wish."
"I'm coming too!" Anevia announces, but Irabeth shakes her head. "Your leg is broken. You need rest so that it doesn't heal back crooked." Anevia pouts, but she quickly relents.
"Captain Nalti. You are to help transport the civilians held up at Gwerm Manor back to Defender's Heart. Attempt to reason with Lord Gwerm that here is a safer place - but if he refuses, Siga will remain with him as a bodyguard."
Julania nods and salutes her superior officer. "Yessir," she confirms.