Fire in the night

Following the festival's conclusion and the departure of our friends on their hunting trip, Wolf’s Rest grew noticeably quieter. Which did little to ease my guilt in not being able to join them. But considering that I had yet to acquire a new horse after poor Idrhil’s demise, I knew that I would only have slowed them down.
 
Thus, I decided to use the peace and quiet to further my research into the leper’s rebellion instead. Hoping to uncover some clue about Vincent’s identity. Though sadly, my efforts proved largely unfruitful. Though I did manage to gather a few new details about the rebellion’s leader, nothing concrete emerged. One intriguing discovery, however, was a seeming connection he had to the old alchemy guild. Though I highly doubted any of those records still existed. Or if they did, would be easy to access. Thus I decided that I would most likely had my focus on a topic that was closer to home.
 
Our friends, however, had better luck on their trip. Having been able to catch up with the mercenaries near a tavern a few days from Keralon. When confronted, the mercenaries admitted to being hired by an unknown individual in order to raid the keep. As for the identity of their employer, they had no idea. Only noting that, judging by his fine clothing, he was clearly a man of means who wore a fox mask.
 
This revelation didn’t ring any immediate bells however. For while I wasn’t naïve enough to think we hadn’t made at least a few enemies through our recent actions, none came to mind who would go so far as to hire mercenaries against us. And, if I were being honest, the way they described him sounded more like a bored aristocrat than a criminal mastermind. Yet, with the chaos that would follow shortly, concerns about this attack quickly faded into the background.
 
The moon was still high in the sky when the acrid scent of smoke jolted me awake. Rushing to my window, I peered outside in horror. An eerie orange glow crept over Keralon’s walls, accompanied by the distant clang of church bells. The city was burning.
 
Along with Hayley, who had also woken from the bells, we hurried in waking the others before setting out towards the city. Seeing the gate of the city standing wide open, we made our way through the waves of panicked citizens fleeing from the city. It seemed that several fires had erupted in the Solemn district.
 
Something wasn’t right. Fires happen, but five separate blazes erupting simultaneously? That was too much to be mere coincidence. A sentiment shared by both Liliana and Hayley. Our suspicions were further reinforced when we spotted a group of wounded guards slumped against a wall, their injuries unmistakably from combat.
 
When we questioned them, they explained that while on patrol, they had stumbled upon a group of vagrants painting strange symbols on the walls using oil. But when they moved to intervene, the vagrants revealed their true nature, they were zombies. The guards managed to fight them off just before the fires ignited.
 
Worried, we were about to set out to figure out where these zombies came from when Luke pointed out that he could see some suspicious movement near the cathedral. It seemed the fires were merely a distraction. Thus we made haste towards the building, unaware of the horror that we would face inside.
 
Upon entering the cathedral, our eyes fell on the unconscious form of Galiene sprawled across the floor. But more alarming still was the monstrous figure standing over her. At first glance, its massive frame and greenish skin could be mistaken for a troll. But one look at its face shattered that illusion. For it had none. Only a human skull in place of a head.
 
Later, Luke would explain that this abomination was a Lich-Troll. An unholy fusion created through a dark ritual, similar to a lich. But by placing a mage’s head onto the body of a sacrificed troll, the caster would gain the troll’s immense physical strength and regenerative abilities. However at the cost of their magical prowess being somewhat diminished. Which is why most mages tend to look down on this practice.
 
Realizing it had been interrupted, the creature dismissively kicked Galiene aside, sending her skidding across the cathedral floor. Furious, Allistan charged at the monster in a blind rage. But before he could reach it, a skeletal minotaur flanked him, blocking his path.
 
Following his lead, I rushed toward Galiene to heal her. Only to be intercepted in turn by a ghast that seemed to materialize from thin air. Fortunately, Liliana stepped in, intercepting its attack.
 
With all of us engaged, the Lich-Troll turned and retreated deeper into the cathedral. . However this would prove to be a mistake as the maneuver gave Hayley an opening. Without hesitation, she warped the space inside the building, teleporting Allistan to Galiene’s side. Allowing him to revive her with a goodberry.
 
Irritated, the lich waved a hand, conjuring a thick, putrid green mist around himself before continuing deeper into the cathedral.
 
With Galiene healed, Allistan stood, ready to give chase. But before he could move, Galiene suddenly threw her arms around his neck and in an instant, they vanished, teleported away.
 
Though surprised, we remained focused on the battle at hand and dispatched the remaining undead. As soon as the last one fell, I sprinted toward the mist, assuming Allistan and Galiene were already engaged with the lich beyond it. That was a mistake however. For not only did the noxious cloud immediately sear my skin, but had I waited just five more seconds, Luke could have easily dispelled it.
 
As I caught my breath, I heard the sound of shattering glass, followed by the heavy shuffle of approaching footsteps. Two zombie ogres emerged from a hallway. Trusting the others to handle them, I used my magic to bypass them entirely.
It didn’t take long to locate Allistan and Galiene, but the situation was dire. Allistan was locked in combat with two additional undead ogres, while Galiene desperately tried to keep a lance out of the lich’s grasp. But just as he was about to strike her down, a massive wall of fire erupted around him and his minions, courtesy of Luke. This marked the beginning of our counterattack.
 
However despite our best efforts, we were unable to stop the lich from claiming the lance and vanishing into the void. But remembering the look on Allistan’s face as he gazed into Galien’s eyes, I knew we had protected what truly mattered that night.
 
Galiene explained to us that the lance that the lich had stolen was in fact a relic of a legendary knight who had once used it to slay a great dragon. And due to this, it was imbued with potent magic that made it especially deadly to dragonkin. Which was certainly concerning, especially when you take into account the effort that the lich had taken in order to acquire it.
 
But there was no point speculating whatever the goals or reasons of the lich might be. For outside, the city still burned. Thus we spend the majority of the evening and early morning in assisting with the rescue work. And I am happy to say that after hours of hard labor, the fires were finally extinguished
 
With the crisis contained, we were able to not only send word to our respective circles in order to report the break in. But also to finally be able to meet up with ambassador Rachnar.
 
After a round of pleasantries, Rachnar explained that he wanted our opinion as Keralon knights on a grave matter. For the Black Knight had been sighted near Latebra Velora, the capital of Velora Morenthene’s lands.
 
At this, both Allistan and Liliana visibly stiffened, a sharp glint of predatory focus entering their eyes. Which was understandable, as it had not been that many years since they had lost their older brother to his blade.
 
Thankfully, no new victims had been claimed yet, but his presence alone warranted concern. Especially as to my, admittedly limited, knowledge on the matter he rarely strayed far from his keep, Zwartkeep.
 
Seeing as Rachnar’s forces lacked experience in dealing with this this particular adversary, he hoped that Keralon would be willing to send some knights to assist in the investigation. And, given our past acquaintances, had an even greater hope that we might be willing to take on this task personally.
 
Naturally, we accepted.
 
With that, we bid Rachnar farewell and began our preparations for our journey into the Dragonlands. Hoping, above all else, to keep Allistan and Liliana from letting vengeance cloud their judgment.