It had been months since their elimination of the threat of the Everblooming Flower. All had been quiet on the extraplanar front, and so Darius and the others had been hard at work rebuilding his battered barony.
The natives of the River Kingdoms were hardy folk, and very quickly began taking matters into their own hands as well. Elina – the ever ingenious proprietor of the Beer Mug Inn – took the opportunity to really make her establishment stand out. With some help from the locals she used the remains of the Giant Owlbear to really spruce things up.
Elina had also apparently taken a shine to Ekundayo, and concocted a surprise catered birthday party for him in the Royal Hunting grounds. He was not at all sure what he thought of the attention.
One day Octavia and Regongar rushed in to tell Darius that someone had been seen in the capital tavern. Kalannah – the Technic League Conjurer from whom he had originally rescued them – was sitting in the Tuskdale Tavern! This bore immediate investigation. Both for Octavia’s and Reg’s safety, and also because Darius had no interest in allowing Technic League slavers access to his barony.
When they confronted her, she claimed to be offering them information. It seemed Maestro Janush – her superior and Octavia and Reg’s former owner – had *not* been pleased with her for returning empty-handed. And so she had been hiding out in the Barony. She had discovered Janush was in the area looking for his former slaves, and he had sent an agent to lure Octavia and Reg into an ambush. Figuring that she was safer with Darius, Kalannah had taken it upon herself to ambush the agent and then warn Darius.
Reg and Octavia did *not* trust her in the slightest… but everything she described made perfect sense to them for how Janush operated. Kalannah merely offered a map of Janush’s hideout, with notes as to force composition and distribution. She had no intention of joining them on this expedition – she just wanted to nudge the odds in her favor.
Approaching the compound, things appeared much as described. They quickly infiltrated and began eliminating the perimeter guards.
When they made their way to the main chamber, they found Technic League soldiers guarding wooden cages full of recaptured slaves.
Janus then appeared, and sprung his trap. But not quite the one they had anticipated. He instead appealed to Reg and Octavia to take Kalannah’s place as his senior agents! They looked at each other as if he were utterly insane, and then immediately attacked.
Janus’ forces did not last long against Darius’ crew.
He was a talented mage, but between Octavia, Darius, and Angelique he was outgunned. As Kwan, Maja, and Reg chewed through his forces he decided to cut his losses. He hurled a fireball to collapse the exit… and set the slave cages aflame! And then turned to flee.
Reg badly wanted to chase after Janus to get his revenge, but Octavia was able to convince him to prioritize saving the slaves over vengeance. It was a close call. He *really* hated Janus. But in the end, he made the right choice
Exploring afterwards, they found Janus’ chambers. Among his belongings was a ledger… detailing slave trades for the last 30 years! Neither Regongar nor Octavia really remembered their families or origins, but with research this ledger could provided clues for both of them!
Reg was still angry about Janus’ escape, complaining that “now that they were strong” they would never see Janus again to enact their revenge. Octavia asked him to repeat that, slowly, until he realized that this meant that they were free…
They were all in good spirits returning to the capital, but Jhod and Tristian had warning for them. The bald hilltop would be active again soon. They had some time to prepare, but who knew what would emerge this time. To say nothing of what longer term consequences would present themselves.’
When the Hilltop did erupt, they were ready. Although this time it was fey enhanced Wyvern’s and Dire bears erupting from the portal.
But they were stronger now. Much stronger. Darius and Angelique led a blistering magical assault, as the others either contributed by bow or cut off any beasts which emerged from the maelstrom.
At the center was yet another corrupted Dryad – attempting to respond with mind-clouding magic of her own. But she could not maintain it in the face of their withering bombardment, and soon fell with her minions.
They had blunted the fey incursion – more quickly this time. But for now all they could do is return to the capital and see what surprises it had unleashed.
Author’s Notes:
This is actually where Reg is forced to choose between CN – and ultimately life with Octavia – and CE pursuing revenge against their former master. And it is very easy to see why he would be torn either way without being “stereo-typically evil”. Very well done I think.
Leave a Reply