After the fall of the Severed Hand the Legion of the Chimera largely scattered to the winds. Katarina and her companions took a moment to rest and recover in Kuldahar, and then took stock of the situation. As bad as the Legion’s methods and means had been, and as twisted as Isair and Madae had become, they had a point. There were a lot of outcast populations scattered about Icewind Dale. Some were mostly evil, some were pushed that way by the reactions of others, and some were just attempting to survive in an uncaring and sometimes hostile world. There was a *need* there that the Legion had filled. And nobody felt that stronger than Solstice and Kordaal – who had been cast out of their own home for Solstice’s mixed heritage and sorcery, and been shunned elsewhere for their Gur cultural heritage.
Katarina had never wanted to be a Lord or Lady. But she had never originally wanted to be a Paladin either. Now she found just as she had eventually been drawn to take up her Grandfather’s religion, so was she also being drawn to belatedly take up her father’s mantle. As a De Winter she had access to social connections and cachet to legitimize a fledgling colony – giving it diplomatic and legal status that had been far more questionable for the Legion.
And so it began. Katarina became Lady Katarina de Winter, Protector of the town of Wanderer’s Rest, Defender of the Dale. As so many of the Legion’s followers had been drawn to the area around the Severed Hand, she built her new residence on that very site, and developed a thriving village at its base – explicitly welcoming the same outcasts that flocked to the Legion’s banner and promises. So once again Orrick found himself residing in a Wizard’s Tower on the outskirts of a small town.Percy became Sir Percival Took, Captain of the Guard, Minister of Defence, and Spymaster extraordinaire. Larger folk may have had trouble taking him seriously elsewhere, but too many in this small community had friends or family who had trained with him the guard. They knew exactly who and what he was. So much to his chagrin, the “poor, harmless little halfling” act only worked for him any more on long distance diplomatic missions.Solstice became Lady Solstice, Katarina’s primary advisor on Magic, the Arts, and the health and well-being of the people in her domain. Solstice and Kordaal could move among and interact freely with the misfits and outcasts their settlement attracted in a way a noble like Katarina never could – simply by virtue of who and what they were. Her true love was music and dance, and with that she could connect to almost anyone.Kordaal was free to be his rascally self, heart in the right place, but mixed up in everything from the black market to smuggling operations. Of course, part of this was cover. His real passion was the League of Llira, a clandestine order sanctioned by the Lady of Joy whose mission was freeing slaves and smuggling them to safety. His reputation and appearance allowed him access to places that would never show themselves freely around the likes of Katarina and Percy. His ability to switch on a dime between “carefree fun-loving roustabout” and “focused deadly warrior” served him quite well in this capacity. And he could always call on Solstice when they needed extra firepower. Particularly when the Red Wizards of Thay were involved. And he frequently collaborated with the Black Raven monks.Garin was made Chief Warden, and roamed the wilderness seeking out trouble before it grew and spread. Of particular interest to him were the beasts which often fell prey to cults and evil bands. Chimeras, Displacer Beasts, Owlbears and the like. These were sometimes irredeemable, but sometimes reachable. He was always searching for those who could be rescued, and maintained a large hidden valley preserve in the Spine of the World where such magical beasts could take shelter from those who would use and abuse them.Elara often accompanied Garin on his patrols. She was far more comfortable in the wilds with him than in any settlement. She was by far Katarina’s best advance scout and early warning system, being able to take to the skies in Eagle form and report all she saw for leagues around. She made frequent trips to Kuldahar to help with healing the Great Tree, and she always felt a sense of peace from basking in its presence. But she was never as comfortable with the people there. Too insular. Too different. The wilderness was her home.And so a new land was born, just as the Legion of the Chimera had claimed to want. But truly devoted to making a home among the other residents of Icewind Dale rather than carving out a home by force.
One response to “IWD2 Winter’s Warriors: Epilogue”
atcDave
That is a perfect epilogue for this crew. Katarina and her band grew to become the great heroes they needed to be,
Garin bandaging the griffon is my favorite of this bunch, awesome!
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