Session 21: The Unbound Spirit Report

Hours passed after the meeting between the Lord Inquisitor and Marcarius at dusk. In that time Kronlim, Roy, and Leowulf went to the tavern overlooking the Vestidian plains. It was the same place that Marcarius, the Masked Master, and Ivan had visited them interrogating the old deserter of Ansor, months before. It hadn't changed much in that time. The central bar top and chimney remained well managed and the tables still ringed around it, while the back door led to the balcony and cold Vestidian air. They sat themselves down at a corner table, talked, and had a few rounds of drinks for competition's sake. After all, there wasn't much to do in Gallows Rock, much less at that late hour.

Night arrived shortly afterward, and the trio went back to the mercenary barracks. Elsewhere, Marcarius had been sitting along the battlements of the keep, staring up into the star speckled sky. His mind weighed heavily. What could he possibly do to avoid a terrible outcome? In honesty, there didn't seem to be many options. He could have just retired, put all this behind him and taken a ship to Everos. That has crossed his mind more than once, but he never did it. A sense of duty is what held him back, especially once he knew the stakes. Now he was caught up in the midst of it and unable to escape. Kicking at the stone flags of the keep in frustration, he got back to his feet and began to move to the courtyard. Flynt was the only lead left, and Flynt was in the keep. He was the last chance at redemption with the Lord Inquisitor and Corgastor.

Flynt was crouched in the dark, within the courtyard but just out of sight. Marcarius found him there and stepped over to him, all the anger of what had happened within the past few hours bubbling over in his mind. "Flynt", Marcarius said in a sharp hiss, standing just a few steps away from him "what did that girl mean to you? Why did you protect her?" The Judge sat silent for a moment, and without opening his eyes responded "The reason is unknown to me, nor does it matter. It was the mission given to me, and needed to be done". Marcarius couched down next to Flynt, staring at him with blank eyes, too distraught to show it in any other way. "Your master has doomed me then, Flynt. Those who sent me required those gauntlets, and now I have nothing to give them. Nothing! I don't even know where they are now." A few minutes passed as Marcarius's eyes darted over Flynt, who still remained silent. Then, Flynt finally opened his eyes and began to speak. He told Marcarius about his mission from Ácolitus to secure the safety of the girl, and thus gauntlets in that circumstance. Marcarius stared at him for a moment, and Flynt asked if he even knew of Ácolitus, and Marcarius shook his head. Flynt took a deep breathe and explained the nature of Ácolitus, for how in the beginning there was darkness, and he created the celestial bodies for light. The Eshan came forth from that energy, and from them in time came mortal life. During the First Feud, he was betrayed by Atûn and stabbed in the back, breaking his mortal form and ending the conflict. He relented to the demands of his children, as the alternative was destroying them and returning to the era of Olûn, where there was nothing but the Void. Marcarius was stunned by this information, but no closer to a solution.

"What would I have to pay you to tell me where Edwyn and Odessa went with the gauntlets?" Said Marcarius with a tightened throat. Flynt did nothing but stare at him with his grey eyes "Nothing, but perhaps Ácolitus would hear your pleas." Marcarius was taken aback by the mere thought, but did not deny him. They spoke on it longer, but in the end Marcarius agreed to serve Ácolitus and forsake the light of Corgastor. It was a tremendous step to take, especially after only a night of conversation. The conversion is profound window into the dire situation of Marcarius at the time. He was willing to do anything to complete his mission, or at least save himself from the fury of Hadrianus. Once they had spoken, Marcarius and Flynt split ways, as dawn was approaching. They made a plan to meet near the great dike in a few hours to avoid the notice of the Lord Inquisitor's men, who were waiting for Flynt to be brought to them. Marcarius took a scrap of paper and scrawled down a quick message, saying that he was going west for personal reason but leaving behind 20 gold as a parting gift. He gathered his belongings and prepared to move out into the wilds once more, determined to find some redemption.

He left shortly before dawn, and found himself on the plains near the gates of Gallows Rock when the night had fully passed. As the sun rose, its light grew in intensity, far greater than at its zenith. The great tendrils of celestial light that radiated from the star began at arc and unite at a single point, thousands of miles away from Qadal. The sky around it became dark, as if the night had returned, and left only the blinding power of Ácolitus's star to illuminate the world. Those awake watched in awe as this spectacle unfolded before them. The point at which the warped tendrils united manifested into a great beam of golden light, and seared forth through the sky and down to the minute form of Marcarius. It tore across the grass, searing it away in a narrow swathe so that only dirt was left beneath. When the beam hit, Marcarius was consumed by fire, sending bursts of yellow roiling through the air. At its heart the energy pulsed with white light, and held within it was Marcarius, brought to his knees. Ringing with fiery core was a halo of red fire, angrily clasping onto Marcarius through the heat. After a few minutes of this extraordinary show the tendrils faded away and the fire dissipated. All that was left in the circle of burned grass was a the crumpled form of Marcarius. He had not been burned as would be imagined, and in truth there were no signs of visible harm done to him.

Flynt rushed over to him to investigate what had happened, and at the moment noticed a small group of riders rapidly approaching from Gallows Rock. Though he couldn't tell who they were, it was clear that any group insane enough to charge in the direction of such power was dangerous. Wrenching Marcarius to his feet, Flynt moved back toward their horses, staring back toward the looming fortress of Gallows Rock. The figures were approaching at a gallop.

Chaos reigned within the walls of Gallows Rock, as the terrified denizens of the fort poured out of their homes, staring to the north where the ground was charred by the blast. Roy, Kromlin, Leowulf, and Yanis were just outside the keep, equally baffled. They muttered to each other about the bizarre nature of what they had seen, which was surprisingly unlike anything that had seen before. As they stood together, Ansor, Koldo, and a number of the guards within the keep rushed outside. "In all of Naarstor, what was that terrible light!?" bellowed Ansor aloud to the assorted folk outside. Koldo stepped out the door, eyes glued to the sky, waiting for whatever might come next. "I don't know" said Roy, squinting out into the distance "it was just some big ray of light that landed out north". Yanis took a few steps forward with eyes locked to the east "the night is a curse from Artam, perhaps we or who ever is down there earned his anger". Leowulf shook his head and waved a dismissive hand "Unlikely, something like that was probably the work of the Ancestors, like the storms of Dagmar's Finger". Ansor ignored the party's conjecture and pointed to the charred ground "whatever the cause, we ought to investigate it". Koldo looked over to him and grabbed at the hilt of his sword "No, I pulled you out of your cell to serve Gallows Rock, not rush off after light. Go gather the guard and ensure nothing rushes into the town or leaves". Ansor turned to face him with a raised eyebrow "I thought you released me to have an opponent for cards". Koldo gave a smirk but said nothing, but turned to the party and ordered them to contend with the threat and earn their pay.

Marcarius and Flynt ride off towards the dike, fleeing from the riders. As they came near, Marcarius made out the figure of Lord Inquisitor Hadrianus, the contact man, and the four troops. Behind them was the rest of the party, riding horses given to them at the moment by Koldo to pursue.

Flynt and Marcarius arrive at the dike first after a grueling ride from Gallows Rock, many miles and all at full gallop. The horses were about dead from exhaustion and every additional step was accompanied by heavy breathing and buckling joints. The pair abandon their horses by the shore of the dike as the pursing Corgastorians arrived. Marcarius and Flynt leap into the dike and begin to swim. Hadrianus orders the contact man to pursue them. Shortly after, the rest of the party arrives and hurl questions at the Lord Inquisitor. Leowulf in particular earns his ire by insulting the name of Corgastor. A fight ensues, where two of the four troops are wounded or killed, and the party was battered. It ended with a truce, as both sides turned to the matter of Flynt and Marcarius.

Flynt grabs the contact man while they are all tumbling through the current of the dike and nearly drowns him. The man is only saved when Marcarius intervenes and asks Flynt to show mercy, the pair then drag the man to the shore. They question him, learn what they can, then order him to tell the Lord Inquisitor that Marcarius is going to finish his mission before releasing him. The rest of the party crosses the dike shortly after, with some minor difficulties due to the dike's current. The Lord Inquisitor and his men stayed on the far side of the dike for the time, tending to wounds and searching for Flynt and Marcarius along the shore.

A day or two pass as the two groups move west separately, unsure of the plan or direction. All Flynt and Marcarius knew is that Ácolitus bid that Flynt move west, so that was all the direction he required. They pair eventually end up in some rocky hills alongside a large river. They came for the night. The rest of the party ends up on the hinterland of Renfed's Wood, through which the dike flows, by moving west along the forest edge. They too arrive at a river. The next day they all meet again at what seems to be an abandoned fort meant to secure the flowing river. Inside, there is a horrific scene of carnage, as mutilated limbs and blood are strewn across the wood plank floor. In the center is a strange icon, recognized by Marcarius and Flynt to be that of Nezhar. The rest of the party stayed outside while they searched, for the stench was so vile that entry was impossible without gagging. However terrible, it was a clue. The cultists of Nezhar had at least come this far west, and had possibly gone further. They searched the place for any valuable loot or information, but came up mostly empty.

To avoid the dreadful scene at night, the party moved a mile or two north. They made camp there for the night, heaving with the hard exertion of the previous days. No talk was made of plans or stories. All that could wait until the dawn came again.