Return to Keralon

The enemy army was content to simply wait and watch as the last remnants of Ravensfield continued to burn to ash. worked to our advantage, as it allowed us us to slip away unnoticed. Now I must admit that, as foolish as it sounds, my mind was quite troubled by it all. Don’t get me wrong, as this was certainly the best victory that we could have hoped for. Not only had we saved the villagers, but also managed to secure our own lives from an unwinnable battle. Still, the sight of Ravensfield left me wondering if there wasn’t more we could have done? Was there some clever tactic we had overlooked that might have turned the tide? Or some weakness that we could have exploited? As I said, foolish indeed, for the rational part of me knows all too well that there was nothing more we could have done at that time. Yet it would be a question that would haunt me as we made our way back to Keralon.
 
This was only made worse by the fact that we had lost Raynis. Not that he was dead, mind you. It was just that during our escape from the village, we became separated and lost track of him. With not a clue as to what direction he took. So with heavy hearts, we decided to leave him be for now. As we simply did not have the time to look for him. Instead, we would have to hope that his survival skills would be enough to keep him out hidden from the cultists hands until the reinforcements from Keralon arrived. And as cruel as it sounds, this might have been for the best. We were already struggling to keep his curse in check when we were at our best. Doing so while traveling with a group of refugees would have been nearly impossible.
 
Fortunately, we reunited with the other refugees after just a day’s travel. Meaning that, should the army decide not to honour Rayld’s promise, we would be able to keep assist them. However there was of course a complication that we had not anticipated. For each night, we would spot a figure flying overhead. A distinctive dragonlike figure flying from the north to the south and back again. Followed by markings we would find the next day, indicated that something the size of a house had landed nearby, relatively close to our camp.
 
Thus, we had but little choice other than sending both Dadroz and myself out at night in order to get a better look at the creature. Wich we managed to do with some difficulty. As mentioned before, its overall shape resembled that of a dragon, but the dark metallic body revealed its true nature as a golem As for what it was doing, it was simply standing there, watching our camp before ultimately taking of into the nights sky once more.
 
With that, we returned to the others to share our findings and discuss our next course of action. Opinions on this were rather divided, with both Luke, Liliana and Allistan wishing to confront the creature, hoping that it might be reasoned with, whereas Hayley, Dadroz and myself were against this. Our reasoning being that this creature likely lacked real intelligence and was simply acting on its programming. And that confronting it could only end in a conflict, potentially endangering the other refugees. Ultimately, after a long discussion we decided on the cautious approach and simple observe the dragon. Content to leave it be so long as it made no moves against us in turn. This however would prove to be a fatal mistake.
 
Our journey back to Keralon would last for about 4 days. Fortunately we were making good time. And every evening, our nightly visitor would return in order to gaze at us once more, before flying away.
It happened on the fourth day. Seeing as we would still need half a day in order to reach Keralon, we decided to halt at noon in order to give everyone one last break. Which is when pandemonium hit us. Before I was fully aware of what was happening, Dadroz had slipped a dagger between my ribs. His eyes cold and unfocused, a telltale sign that he was not in his right mind. And he was not the only one, as several of the other refugees were currently fighting amongst themselves. Even the animals weren’t save as Thorin lashed out savagely to anyone who dared to come close to him.
 
As we scrambled to stop the fighting as quickly as possible, the strange effect suddenly lifted. Instead, the dragon from the nights before, suddenly appeared before us, shedding its veil of invisibility. With a mighty roar it unleashed a breath of pure radiant energy. Allistan and Liliana rushed in in order to attempt to block it with their shield and magics respectfully, but sadly it was in vain. Several of the villagers who were standing closes to us simple burned to ash as the waves of energy swept over them.
 
Fueled by her divine rage, Liliana engulfed her blade in holy flames as she leapt towards the beast. Flanked by both her brother and Dadroz. Together their heavy attacks in combination with Hayley’s cripling magics and Luke’s overwhelming firepower eventually forced the golem to retreat. But it did not get far, as Luke engulfed the creature with one final fireball, bringing it crashing down upon the ground.
 
After applying what little first aide we could to the few refugees that were near us that still lived, we decided to investigate. Though the golem was no longer functioning, we could still feel its lingering magic scratching at our minds. It turned out that this was due to the metal that it was made from. Forged in the infernal pits theselves, it had a passive effect that drives mortals that get too close to it insane. A truly insidious metal that required no magic or power source in order to function. This meant the remains would continue to pose a danger to anyone who dared to approach them. And sadly we did not have the proper means in order to dispose of it. So we did the only thing we could, cover the area in as many warnings as we could and continue on our way. And upon reaching Keralon, inform the circles of the danger that these remains presented and ask them to dispose of them.
 
As you can imagine, morale was quite low after that ordeal. Fortunately, we eventually reached the safety of Keralon’s walls. And although the gates had already closed for the night, Allistan was able to use his authority as a Knight of the circle in order to persuade the guards to let us inside. Though we still had to each give an explanation to the captain of the guard on the situation and where exactly all these people came from. And to his credit, as soon as he understood the gravity of the situation, he immediately arranged for a location where the refugees could rest before a more permanent solution could be found.
 
Following this, Hayley and Allistan decided to meet up with their Circle in order to inform them of the situation. During which, the rest of us, Under Dadroz his watchful eye as a knight, delivered the professor and his fellow cultist to the Briar circle. Where it luckily did not take as much paperwork as I was expecting to place them in their prison. Instead they respected the word of Dadroz that these were dangerous individuals that needed to be locked up, on his authority. Meaning that while they imprisoned them, he still held the final responsibility over them and the investigation into their crimes.
 
With that task complete, we regrouped with Hayley and Allistan, who had one final piece of unsettling news for the evening. It turned out that when the Circles received our letter several days ago, they had immediately sent out three seasoned knights to Ravensfield. And the fact that we hadn’t crossed paths with them on our journey back to Keralon was a most troubling sign in regards to their current whereabouts and safety. Had they fallen prey to the golem we encountered? Or was it not the only enemy that had stalked our path?
 
But seeing as the midnight bell had already rung, we decided to leave these questions for the next day. Giving me the rare luxury of actually sleeping in my own bed. And I can even say that the day ended with a small, if not surprising, piece of good news. For upon returning home to the Greenhouse, I found a letter waiting for me. A golden envelope with silver letters, inviting me by name for a party the very next day in honour of not only the new Embassy, but also for the newly assigned ambassador Ragnar Ergoll. A most welcome distraction that was just what the cleric ordered in order to clear my head of all the hardships of the recent days. If only for a single day.