#redemptionquest

Pumpkin’s Labyrinth: Unearthing Wishes and Truths

As the latch thudded shut over the doors behind them, the Mudwangs quickly assessed the situation: locked in the lowest layers of the Archival Stacks, surrounded by a hexad of grinning brutes, and no form or notion to have let anyone know where they were headed. Recognizing their precarious state, Rat quickly mentioned the 'safety word' and the Mudwangs leapt into action as Weylin Enright and his lackeys unleashed their weapons and set upon the group.

Vax flipped over the focus table, giving them cover from a brute with a ring of magical bolts. Rat quickly engaged a closeby group with his rapier and his wit. Shakan quickly began to engage with his would-be blackmailer, his whirling blades spinning green, then red as they found purchase in Weylin's richly festooned gowns.

Over the shouts and clangs of battles, Rat spied a glowing purplish light from under the stone doors at the opposite end of the room, accompanied by a gust of breeze. In this moment of distraction, however, a sudden explosion of white and sticky material caught the drunken bard, affixing him to the floor like a young lads gym sock. Seeing his ally trapped, Vax provoked his patron, bidding the Hexblade to guide his "servant" to best entertain him. A rush of energy filled his body, and the warlock leapt forward from behind the fortification, his shadowed blade cutting sharply through the air.

With the Mudwangs holding their ground, and Weylin's forces beginning to falter, almost nobody had the time to spare as the great stone doors at the Stacks end opened slowly, pushed open by a crispified shell of a man. Walking forward wearing dented, scorched armor, the figure into battle, swinging with a might and strength his appearance may have otherwise belied. Though his countenance was much obscured by blood, soil, and burns, Vax and Shakan quickly cheered once they recognized their long lost revenant ally, Taerus Galva.

With the battle turned firmly in their favor, Shakan quickly used the hilt of his blade to bash Weylin in the nose, knocking him bleeding and unconscious to the floor. His surviving brutes quickly surrendered. Rat quickly ushered them into a Portable Hole in the ground, sealing them up to prevent any further naughtiness. Seeing his allies safe, Taerus collapsed to the ground. As Vax and Shakan succored him to stability, Rat quickly ran upstairs and into the Academy, searching out the Captain of the Order of the Tines, Commander Geier. Rat quickly brought the knights back- but not so quickly where the 3 Mudwangs couldn't loot and requisition their loot- at which point the Knights took the attackers under custody.

As they left through the main entrance, Throfung Diamondgaze, the Archives lead consierge and a friend of Shakan's, cast a furious glance at the boys, wondering what they had done. Master Bake tried his best to explain the situation, but the dwarven advisor quickly hushed him, saying they would speak further of this once Elder Gikandi was available. The weary Taerus tried to speak to his allies, but his exhausted state could only utter broken, unintelligible thoughts... "Master Uki... Runtu... Wendy ... Winnowa..." Though he wasn't ready to give up, the Mudwangs brought him quickly to the infirmary, located at the Conservatory of the Mystics, where he began to be healed and rested.

Staring Into the Inferno

Over the next three days, I spent all my spare time studying with Gothi Uki, learning everything I could of Thelandria and the ways of the Calming Winds from her. Each day I left there I felt better and better, more focused on the path I wanted to take. On the final day, the day of the next Thrembist meeting, I told Gothi Uki of what I meant to do that night, and that I must be the Tempest tonight. She gave me a rare laugh and bid me luck, passing on a blessing for me.

Gaddog and the Marauders were in position and awaiting my signal, because I knew it would become a fight once I did what I meant to - get Winnowa out of there. We made our way back into the basement where Wendy greeted us once again. Some small talk ensued before we were brought into a large room with a sigil in the middle of it; a sigil of Thremmberglaxx himself. There were a few others in the room, and Wendy launched right in to how it was time to burn away the past for good, gesturing to the prisoners, one of which looked like the lady I had seen taken days before, and another, a large goliath Gothi whom Pavelbare looked upon with rancor.

At this point, a few more cloaked Thrembists entered the room, a man and a woman. The woman, despite her shaved head, pallid complexion and strange tattoos, was unmistakable as Winnowa. My heart sank to see her in person as she was in the visions; all signs pointing at too far gone. But I knew I had to try. The man, who I will refer to as “Master of Ceremonies," began his bit about Thremmberglaxx, spewing a story about how he burned down the whole world. The important bit was at the end when he said, “Let the culling begin," gesturing towards the prisoners. I knew my time was up, action had to be taken now before any of these innocents were put to the flame.

I needed to alert the Marauders so they would have some time to make their way down to me once the fighting started, so I fished in my pack and blew into the Horn of Silent Alarm. It seemed the magical fire in the center of the room and the beginning of the prisoner sacrifice held little interest for the Master of Ceremonies, and he asked me what I was doing. I told him I had a ritual of my own as I tucked the horn away and strode into the fire.

It burned. A lot. I used my magic to take the brunt of it but curse me for a liar if I said it didn’t hurt. As I made my way to the center, I spoke a mock prayer to Thremmbreglaxx, "Oh Great Dragon God of Entropy - I beseech you to allow me to burn away my past and remake the world in your name. Please bestow upon your humble servant a sign to mark me as your avatar in this world!" Into my outstretched hand, The Heart of the Ninth fell, and I struck the blade against the flagstones to spark it to flame with my absorbed fire. A hush fell around the room as I stepped from the fire.

You know what the downside to only altering your eyes, hair, and face with the Hat of Disguise is? You can’t easily tell if the glamour has gone down. Well something in that fire removed it from me, and before I could even move to Winnowa, which was my planned next move, I heard her voice greeting me. I was somewhat baffled that she recognized me from a rear-profile, but the jig was up so I went with it, greeting her in return. The Master of Ceremonies called one of his Orc Brutes to seize me, but I knew now was not the time to be taken, now was the time to fight.

The Orc grabbed me by the collar while the Master of Ceremonies called for the other potential acolytes to join Thremmbreglaxx and burn away their past. This apparently meant to come and attack me. Meanwhile in the corner, Gothi Runtu called down the fire of the Stag on one Orc and broke his chains with his own strength. I had an ally and it felt so good.

Pavelbare and another fellow surrounded me, though Pavelbare, to his credit didn’t attack me, though my words didn’t seem to sway him much. The other bastard stabbed me with his daggers hard. The Orc shoved me back into the fire, and again my magic dampened it but it still burned a lot. Cornered and in the flames, I took all the evasive action I could and made my way to stand with Gothi Runtu. It was in that moment that the Master of Ceremonies launched a huge ball of fire at us, incinerating Wendy and the other prisoners.

The fire in the middle of the room expanded, and though I once again magically absorbed some of the fire, it still did more than just singe me. Runtu seemed to extend a golden shield to me as well, which was very welcome. I fought off another Orc, and I could hear the sounds of fighting upstairs, so I knew the Marauders were on their way and close. I ran towards Winnowa, hoping beyond hope I could reach her. Runtu tried to cast a spell, but Winnowa waved her hands and countered it. She also said something to me, and I felt myself overcome with fear.

Suddenly I was back in some far too familiar mountains, being stared down by two Hill Giants. Thorn tattoos swirled up their arms, telling the tale of many lives taken. In their hands they squeezed the life from Griz and Jymba, and Ayeres calls out to me, though I am confused because she was not here at this moment with me. I look around frantically for Jekehm, the saviour, but he is nowhere to be found. I cower before feeling every single one of my nerves go cold. Pain lanced through me, and I found myself back in the room, and I needed to get to Winnowa.

I can’t get to her so I try to bring her to me with my magic, but she isn’t affected. She seems to feel the spark between us though, and she looks at me in a way that reminds me of the girl who would bring me bread. Runtu lays his hands on me and I feel myself revitalized somewhat, though the Gothi falls unconscious to the ground. I plead with Winnowa not to do this, that no one is beyond saving, no matter how much she insists that she can’t go back. I beg her not to join with those who burned her village down, something she seems upset about, which I am happy to hear because I started to fear that she had caused it, or worse, my rejection of her prompted her to it.

The Marauders burst into the room. Moira and Gaddog fought bravely while Erethym supported them, and suddenly Piggledee landed an arrow in the chest of the Master of Ceremonies, appearing a moment later with an insult for his foe. Erethym fell unconscious to an onslaught of attacks, which caused Moira to go into a fury, slaying two foes before dropping her battleaxe and shaking the Tabaxi to try to stir him. Gaddog broke off his fight and revived the bard.

Ayeres once again called out to me, telling me to send her to help the Marauders. I obliged, trusting in her wisdom. She made her way to Gaddog and began assisting him in his fight. I pled with Winnowa again, apologizing, begging, trying to make her see that the past did not define us, but what we did going forward. She seemed to be coming around, but indecision remained.

The flames in the center of the room had grown considerably as the Master of Ceremonies remained within them. I took a last ditch effort, burning that small bit of adrenaline I save within me and pushed myself beyond my normal capacity. I launched a wave of thunderous energy at him. He was pushed out of the center of the flames, but apparently too late. His form became fire, and a conflagration bathed the entire room. I could hear the screams around me.

Runtu’s sacrifice in vain... The Marauders, by all accounts, lured here by me to their death... Pavelbare and the other innocent prisoners dead... Even Wendy, Genavive, and Eric crossed my mind...

When they say your life flashes before your eyes, they aren't lying; I have a final thought of my old friends from the Ninth, Kijiwan, and the Mudwangs. How I would have loved to see them all again. What could have been?

My soul burned along with my flesh, and I was vaguely aware that Ayeres must have been caught in the blast as well. The last thing I felt and heard before falling into oblivion was Winnowa’s hand on my shoulder and her speaking my name.

And all there was was black. Everything and nothing but black and cold and empty darkness.

Parting Ways

I pulled the hat down low over my face and hunched my figure. I was pretty sure Vax was a bit too far gone to follow and the others hadn’t noticed me leaving but I did the best I could to change my profile for onlookers. I felt bad about snatching the hat and exposing Vax out of his disguise, but I knew it would come in far too handy for what I was going to do - what I needed to do. H’rrok take that hag...no, I made my choice. Influences don’t get blame or credit. Look at me, swearing like a Wevir.

“Stealing now are we, Taerus? Abandoning our friends? They could help, you know. They seemed amenable to the idea. Why shut them out after they agreed to go?” The voice of Ayeres cut through my thoughts, a stone parting the river of ideas and plans.

“If there had been time, Vax would have let me have it, you know that.”

I could feel her eye-roll. That is a strange sensation, let me tell you, feeling physical tells typically made by humans. From a spirit bird.

“Oh, come now, he would have...you don’t think he would have? ...You don’t think he would have. You Gods can be so stubborn.”

“Like I keep telling you, I am NOT a God, Taerus Galva. If I was, that would make you a God and we both know the falsity of THAT.” She was wrong, of course. Not that I could explain why I felt that way but that is what faith is by definition, right? Believing something with no provable foundation? She was growing rather sassy about this particular subject though, and I decided to drop it for now.

I weaved through the thinning night crowds of Delta Harbor, continuing to make plans about how to make my way to Buckwatch Outpost. I figured I could find the Marauders and catch their wagon out of town, but the first order of business was to figure out how this disguise hat worked.

“You’re really leaving them? They pulled you out of a very deep pit, but it is one you hover over precariously.” Apparently She was not content to let it lie. Truth of it was that I did have a swelling lump of regret burning hot in my guts. Truth of it was I didn’t know how I was going to pull off what I intended. Truth of it was...I was lost. Hallehaig, for all his crap, provided a direction and a good purpose. I knew that what I aimed to do was a good purpose as well, but to tackle it without my friends seemed daunting. I felt a pull to help Shakan, but the gnawing guilt had finally worn me down.

“I am. I have to. Maybe before all of this I wouldn’t have been strong enough to do this. But I am now.” I lied. I knew I couldn’t truly lie to Ayeres, but the way I see it, if I tell myself good lies, then it isn’t really a lie, it’s a goal, an ideal to live up to and strive for.

“I know. You may not believe it whole-heartedly, but I do. Sometimes the person we need to most convince is ourselves.”

Ayeres support swelled my confidence. A part of me knew she couldn’t completely agree with what I was doing. A part of me felt her presence diminish ever so slightly through my actions. Would the ends justify these means?

“You know how we feel about the ends justifying the means, Taerus. You were a soldier for many years - war is the very manifestation of ends justifying means - and you became quite disillusioned by war. Once you take the first step down the road of choosing between lesser evils or greater goods, your road becomes harder and harder to walk. In this situation, you are doing what you feel is right, not what you perceive to be the best of bad choices, and that is a very good thing. Don’t cheapen it with thoughts of ends justifying means.”