Passing through the gates of the duke’s mansion, Fellaroth and Dyyajolies saw the rescued people of Cruwshant trying to re-find their place in the world. Some were seated on the ground consoling each other, while others wandered the streets of the town aimlessly trying to gather their thoughts, while yet others had returned to their homes and had started cleaning and putting things to right, in an attempt to regain some normalcy. Though life had returned to the city, it was a hollow life, devoid of joy or laughter. Making their way through the city, Fellaroth and Dyyajolies came to see that other people had arrived in the city and were actively trying to help its inhabitants find their feet.
“Who are all of these people?” asked Dyyajolies on seeing the collection of new faces. “I thought you said you and your party were alone?”
“We were!” answered Fellaroth, scanning the faces of the new additions to the city. “The Queen’s request went out to all guilds across the Kingdom; these people would likely be the other parties who answered her request.”
“There are hundreds of them! You humans really do respect your Queen, don’t you?”
“She offered four gold pieces to any party who could return with information about what had transpired here. You’d be hard-pressed to find a party that would be able to turn down that kind of reward. And then there is the benefit of getting your party’s name known to the Queen herself. Any party that turned down that sort of reward should reconsider being adventurers.”
“So it was all about the reward, was it? No willingness to help your fellow man?” asked Dyyajolies, clearly losing what respect he had gained for the humans.
“Helping the people is all good and well, Dyyajolies, but adventurers risk their lives for reward. They take on jobs that normal people either can’t or won’t do, and for that, they are rewarded; make no mistakes about that.”
“But you, you did have ulterior motives, didn’t you?”
“Don’t ask stupid questions, Dyyajolies. You already know that my purpose in this world is to discover the identity of the false Gods and put a stop to them, to guide my people back onto the right path.”
“Is such a thing even possible, Fellaroth? I mean, I have no doubts that you will find out who these false Gods are and put an end to them, but do you actually think you will be able to change the nature of man? Your time might be better spent rooting out the rotten souls within your race and weeding them out; that alone would weaken the hold of the false Gods.”
“You’re not entirely wrong in that, but these Gods have the ability to bring out the worst in people. They bring their hatred to the surface, glorify and justify it, before rewarding and promoting it. I first need to deal with that before I can attempt to cleanse the people.”
“Cleanse? Is that really the right word to use in this instance?”
“Take it as you will.”
“Fellaroth!” called a voice from up ahead as they approached the adventurer’s guild. “You’ve made it out. Does that mean you’ve dealt with whatever was down there?”
“Yes, Calvin, it turns out that a pretty powerful lich was behind all of this. He was using the life energy he had stolen from the people of this town to try to bring his Gods into this world.” Answered Fellaroth.
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“Did you happen to see any traces of the Head of the Order of Knights, or the Guild Master, by any chance?”
“I’m sad to say we did not, though we were not aware that we should have been on the lookout for them down there.”
“I understand, it’s just that there has still been no sign of them anywhere, and without one of them present, there is no one here to take charge of this city. Especially considering the death of the Duke.” Said Calvin, making sure to lower his voice on adding the last part.
“Dyyajolies, do you recall them ever having been brought down there?” asked Fellaroth.
“Honestly, I don’t even know what they looked like, so I couldn’t be certain. However, I can say with certainty that the people who were brought down there all appeared to have been civilians; there didn’t appear to be any soldiers of any kind down there.”
“And with the clear lack of soldiers and adventurers in the city, it does leave one to wonder what has become of all of them!” added Fellaroth, thoughtfully. “Perhaps the lich didn’t want to take anyone who would put up too much of a resistance?”
“Let's head inside and speak with the others, they’re going to want to hear about what happened down there.” Added Calvin, before turning and making his way up the stairs of the guild hall.
“Where have you been, Calvin?” yelled Riegert from across the guild hall on seeing them enter. “Fell, you’ve returned! I take it that that means the evil being has been dealt with?”
“It has!” answered Fellaroth, while Dyyajolies handed the borrowed axe over to Jackson, thanking him for the use of it.
“There isn’t much time to waste now. We’ve found an aristocrat from this town among the survivors; he’s a cousin of the late Duke and has offered to stand in here as leader of the city, until we can report back to the Queen and have a new representative instated.”
“Do you know the name of this aristocrat?” asked Dyyajolies.
“His name is Margrave Octavian Benedictus de le Croix. I don’t know of him personally, but apparently, he is well known in the city to be a good man.” Answered Riegert.
“He is. He was head of the merchant guild here in Cruwshant. He is a just and fair man. You couldn’t ask for a better man to take on the leadership of this city.” Answered Dyyajolies.
“Well, he’s the best we’re going to get, at any rate. For now, I think that we shouldn’t waste any more time here. We need to hurry and get to the capital and make our report to The Queen.” Said Riegert on finding another person who supported de le Croix as interim governor of the city.
“Very well, we should head out immediately then.” Said Fellaroth, prompting his party to gather up their belongings in preparation to head out.
“One moment, if you would?” interjected Dyyajolies as the party was preparing to head for the door.
“What is it, Dyyajolies?” asked Fellaroth.
“I no longer have any wares to sell in this place, and considering all that has happened here, I think it might take some time for this city’s economy to get back underway. Now I know this is a lot to ask of people who don’t know me from a pebble in the street, but might I travel with your party? I am skilled with a Warhammer, and though it is not my main trade, I am a skilled blacksmith. I could help with your party’s weapons upkeep!”
“You fought by my side against that lich and showed no fear while doing it. If your skills as a blacksmith are half as good as your skills with a weapon, then I would welcome you. However, that is not a decision for me to make.” Said Fellaroth, turning to face his party.
“Dyyajolies, was it? As you said, we don’t know you; however, you were prepared to stand by Fell’s side and fight off that lich without question, and if you have Fell’s ok, then I see no harm in letting you travel with us.” Said Jackson after some contemplation.
“Are you sure about this, Dyyajolies? You are a dwarf after all! You will find no love from the people in the human lands; it will not be easy for you.” Said Riegert.
“I am a dwarf, yes. And provided that you and your party take no issue with having a dwarf travel with you, then I can see no issue. I have been peddling my wares in the human lands for a few hundred years now; your people’s mistrust of my kind is nothing new to me!”
“Very well, then I see no issue. Your skills with a weapon and as a blacksmith will be of great use to us.” Said Riegert, looking to Calvin to get his thoughts.
“I personally love the idea. A powerful dwarven fighter and artisan wants to travel with us. How could we ever say no!” answered Calvin excitedly.
“Very well, then we should head for the castle at once!” announced Fellaroth.
“Castle? I thought your intended destination was Xendalore?”
“You will soon see!” answered Jackson with a smirk.
