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Chapter Four- A Heroes' Welcome?
Too easy it all seemed.
The few bandits that responded to Eddis’ and Jerdren’s battle cries
on opposite sides of the camp quickly fell to their blows. Their
startled compatriots, many of whom just seconds before were far off
visiting the comforting realms of Dreamer’s Paradise, quickly surrendered
lest they follow them too quickly into the depths of the Abyss.
After what seemed like just a few moments, the chaotic den of thieves
and cutthroats was silent. Blorys examined the dead and nodded
in approval towards Wylaer after noticing how many fell to his team’s
arrows. Jerdren, Merric, and Thaer were on interrogation duty.
They learned that most were refugees from the troubles in the Wild Coast,
this was their entire camp, and their leader had been in contact for
two years with some mysterious individual who had supplied them with
information in exchange. In the middle of questioning the bandits’
leader, Jerdren unexpectedly patted Thaer on the back once again for
his battle plans, “Though thank the gods they proved useless, your plans
for the bandits’ horses and food did not go unnoticed.” Meanwhile,
Eddis, M’Baddah, and Makaus were off attending to a small child they
found at camp.
The march back to the Keep was solemn, each injunctor of
the Keep’s writ basking quietly in their victory. Some,
perhaps, may have even felt pity for the starving refugees; after all,
they have only to look forward to spending the rest of their lives in
the infamous dungeons of the Keep. Their steps were short, impeded
by rope interlocking their legs together. Their heads were drawn:
their lives were now without hope.
Upon return to the Keep, they were greeted like victors.
It seemed like every inhabitant manned the walls to welcome back their
liberators. But behind the scenes all was not well. Captain
Mebros had orders to invite the heroes to an impromptu feast that evening,
but, also, to arrest Thaer for transgressions against Ghor, the Keep’s
blacksmith. The banquet was thus met by our heroes with mixed
emotions: who was Thaer? What had he done? And what is really
going on inside the soul of the Keep?
The next morning Eddis and Jerdren, along with our heroes,
met at the One-Eyed Cat Tavern to discuss Castellan Ferec’s proposal
that they head out to the Caves of Chaos under the backing of the Keep.
Eddis tells Jerdren that after speaking to M’Baddah, she will agree
to go on the condition that the little girl goes. Jerdren ruffles
at the suggestion and counters that their trip won’t be successful without
Thaer’s magic, “Twice now, our enemies have stopped in their tracks
because of his mesmerizing waves.” Wylaer positions himself behind
Jerdren, subtly reminding Eddis of his position on the matter.
“You don’t know that Jerdren. You seem so bent on giving
him so much credit. But I tell you what, we’ll ask Ferec to free
Thaer to yours’ and the elf’s responsibility, if I’m allowed to bring
the girl.” Jerdren gruffly agrees.
Their march out towards the Caves of Chaos was greeted
with cheers and confetti bidding them farewell. The inhabitants
of the Keep relieved that their may be hope to finally destroy the evil
that has lurked under their doorstep since the days of Lord Mascen’s
rule. Jerdren could not help but feel aglow, and Merric and Makaous
were giddy with such unprecedented attention. Thaer, however,
could not help but feel utter contempt: he threw his spellbook and crossbow
at the walls of the Keep, outwardly cursing the day he set foot in such
a cesspool of impudence, and inwardly marking the day of his return.
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