CXXVI. The Siege of Ironrock

General Summary

"Look alive, dogs! Your king has returned!"
-Bryson

Turning the corner with Jäger and the Ring & Wren, Bryson addressed a group of about fifteen warriors. The warriors drew their blades, holding them aloft as they dropped to one knee in salute. Jäger, seemingly uncomfortable with the display, approached each soldier in turn, bidding them stand and shaking their hands. As he did he introduced each one to the party.

"This is the King's war band!"
-Ironbeard Loyalist

Waiting among the soldiers was Jäger's cousin, Regen. Jäger greeted him warmly; Lady Kohinoor, who had adventured with him previously, greeted him cordially as well. Regen had been in hiding in Matthias' tavern for the past week, gathering information to send back to the party. He had managed to sneak the older Ironbeard Honor Guard into the castle while the rest of the Ironbeard loyalists stayed with Matthias at the inn, preparing to enact the plan the group had agreed on earlier; the loyalists in the inn would ring the town bell at dawn, signaling the beginning of their attack on the city and on the bridge at the front of the keep. This would also signal to Captain Callistan and the Storm Giants to begin their attack.

Lying in Wait

In the hour left to wait before sunrise Regen suggested sharing a Heroes' Feast to prepare for the coming battle. The party enjoyed a spread of squid, lobster, fish, crab, goat, cabbage and leeks, seaweed, raspberries, plums, apples, hazelnuts, and starnuts. Hiding down in a forgotten storeroom below the keep's central courtyard, everyone busied themselves, waiting tensely as they could hear the castle's other occupants rousing for the day above them. Jäger brought Regen and King over to a hidden area nearby where the walls there were covered in crude carvings. Jäger explained that this was where he, Ragnar, Roak, Regen, and Regen's older brother Wolke had carved in their personal records for shark wrestling when they were children. King couldn't quite relate to the experience, but thought instead of his own past as a smuggler. Amari closed his eyes and listened to the sea as he had for so many days after Ragnar's death, meditating on the why and what could have been. King joined him, returning from what Jäger had showed him.

"We've seen a lot of violence since we first started...So much of the Ring & Wren--what it is--we owe to the Ironbeards. I think we owe them a throne."
-Drayton King

"We owe them more than that. This is what Ragnar saved me for. This must be it. We have to save his home, his brother. I've learned the different methods of manipulating energy. Initially, it was never for violence, but I've learned over these months that often times the goal is the important part. This one just means something different. We'll do him proud, be here in his stead."
-Amari of the Ring & Wren

With dawn approaching quicker by the minute, Jäger gave his orders to the warriors: they were to try and take over the defensive weapons on the walls of the keep. And for his party, he had one, quiet request:

"...Don't kill him."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"Jäger, I'll tell you this. If it comes down to it, I have one trick left."
-Drayton King

King pulled out the Sixth Shard of the Astral Diamond, a parting gift from Roger. If Roak wouldn't submit, he would be Dominated by force.

"But, you know, we beat Milio and he changed. I can't tell you Roak can't make the same choice."
-Drayton King

"A person can always change. That's what it means to be free."
-Kohinoor Sattari

Lastly, King added:

"A lot of our journey has been figuring out what strength looks like. It's different for each member of the Ring & Wren. For you Jäger, it's usually crushing a motherfucker."
-Drayton King

Then the bells began to ring.

The Ringing of the Bells

The soldiers all rose and looked to Jäger.

"At your command."
-Bryson

"Our rock has been in the deep too long. It's time to bring the tide. But don't do this for me. Do it for your families, your futures, and yourselves."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"We won't be slaves to Dhor. We'll die before then!"
-Bryson

"Good. May Egar give us the strength of a thousand waves, and the courage to brace them. Let our ends be worthy of song, and covered in blood spilt in his name. We are the tide in the morning, we are the lightning at night. We are the tide in the morning! We are the lightning at night! Egar, witness us!"
-Jäger Ironbeard

As Jäger began his prayer, Regen, Bryson, and the rest of the warriors all joined in, chanting in unison. Pushing open the trap door at the top of the ladder, the party was met with shouting: that the keep was under attack, that there was something in the water. The walls began to shake as Storm Giants climbed up and over the walls, picking up ballistas and throwing them. Smoke was rising from the direction of town. Soldiers, limping and deformed, ran to and from their stations in the courtyard.

"ROAK!"
-Jäger and Regen

At once all eyes were on them. The sky above swirled with dark clouds. Ships rose from the depths of the ocean, erupting from the surface with a spray of seawater. Roak's ship The Leviathan could be seen among the rest, chasing down Callistan's fleet. The Honor Guard swiftly left to complete their assignment, leaving the Ring & Wren to charge to the throne room.

"Once more into the breach, Lady Kohi."
-Waythe

Kohi, Regen and Jäger took up the front, cutting down any Ironbeards that lay in their way. Amari and Wynna flew above on the Flying Carpet, covering the party's flanks. Amari managed to dive and dodge a ball of fire that came straight for them, which then laid waste to the barrack houses behind them instead. Soora and King made up the back line, from where they covered Bryson and some of the Honor Guard, buying them time to notice they were being surrounded by deep-touched. Storm Giants crashed down the main gates, charging in. They were followed by a voice on the wind, and Rota Sturmdottir's silhouette could be seen, illuminated by lightning in the dark clouds. The party cut their way up to the steps to the throne room, making their way to a door with a stone archway carved with images of sharks. The doors exploded open into shards of wood; the body of a Storm Giant flew out into the courtyard. Peering inside, the party saw another Storm Giant, its head removed from its body, which was kneeling in front of the great Throne of the Reef. Upon its steps stood Roak, flanked by three Honor Guard of his own. Lightning crackled from his hands, one of which held Jäger's hammer, and the other of which held a greataxe. His gauntlet held a red glow--no doubt that of the First Shard of the Astral Diamond. The party drew their weapons as they walked inside.

The Throne Room

"Welcome home, brother."
-Roak Ironbeard

"Roak, give it up. There's still good in you. I know it!"
-Jäger Ironbeard

"Take it from me, brother."
-Roak Ironbeard

Regen bowed his head sarcastically.

"Cousin...false king."
-Regen Wakerock

"I thought the Giants disposed of you."
-Roak Ironbeard

"They tried."
-Regen Wakerock

Roak sneered.

"I'll deal with you as I dealt with your father."
-Roak Ironbeard

He turned back to Jäger.

"I have one oath, Jäger. And that is to destroy you. I will uphold my oath."
-Roak Ironbeard

"It's not too late. You serve Dhor, but you could give our people everything they ever needed. My allegiance is to the people of this city, to mother and father, and even you. Egar still believes you can do right. I saw him. I spoke to him. He doesn't want us to be like him and Dhor, the endless fighting, the endless darkness... I saw Ragnar, I saw father and mother. Roak, they will forgive you. They all will. You were seduced! Dhor fed on your anger and your lust for power. Don't be his toy, don't let him control you, don't let him win! We can still save them, all of them. I feel Egar, his power still runs through me. We can save them all and defeat Dhor together! Roak, please..."
-Jäger Ironbeard

Jäger dropped to his knees.

"I beg you, brother."
-Jäger Ironbeard

Roak smiled.

"Egar is dead. You served, father served, and you've joined with them. Join them again now. They know who is King of Ironrock. Come take part in our family reunion."
-Roak Ironbeard

Roak's Honor Guard stepped forward: Asgot, Astrid, and Ragnar Ironbeard stood in the flesh. Those who recognized them looked on in shock. Jäger put his head down.

"Only evil deals in absolutes. I'll do what I must..."
-Jäger Ironbeard

The Battle

Jäger raged and tried to summon his hammer back to him. It pulled toward him from Roak's hand, but Roak was able to rein it in. He laughed.

"It belongs to me now, Jäger. Let me reacquaint you!"
-Roak Ironbeard

King joined Amari on the flying carpet as Wynna got off. Soora shot a volley of flaming, poisoned, and busting arrows at Roak, aiming for his hand to try and make him drop the hammer. They hit true, but Roak's strength did not fail. He snapped the arrows out of his skin, scowling. Amari crossed the room quickly on the carpet, then jumped off and used Euclid to fire a Ray of Enfeeblement at Roak, hoping to sap some of their enemy's enormous strength. Roak Counterspelled the beam; Amari tried to counter Roak's Counterspell and force weakness upon him, but the attempt failed: Roak's spell was too powerful. Roak made a gesture with his hand and seven motes of light appeared around his head: a grim reminder of the last time the party had fought him. King fired a crossbow bolt at Ragnar in an attempt to frighten him and take him out of the battle altogether.

"Ragnar, it's not you, so get the hell away!"
-Drayton King

Ragnar seemed to be immune to the attempt, however. A mote of light from Roak fired at King. From the back of the room, Wynna cast Sacred Flame. Jäger looked to Regen.

"Let's do this." -Jäger Ironbeard, to Regen Wakerock

Jäger used the Cape of the Montebank he had bought back in Felstadt to teleport behind Roak. Once there, he shocked his brother in the ass, pushing him ten feet down the stairs. Ragnar took the opportunity to attack Jäger with his glaive, which was wreathed in lightning as well. As he did, Jäger's Wrath of the Storm activated and the three brothers knocked off of each other. Regen ran forward, lifting Mondklinge and casting Holy Aura on himself, Kohinoor, and Wynna. Roak fired off another mote at Regen, but the cloak of protection Jäger had given him deflected it. Though Roak had been pushed away, his Honor Guard still stood at attention:

"Son...you were always weak."
-Asgot Ironbeard

Asgot slammed his axe into Jäger's shield, trying to shield bash him to the ground. Jäger took it without falling, but then got attacked thrice by his father. Roak jeered at him:

"Don't you remember what happened last time?"
-Roak Ironbeard

Roak charged back up the stairs at Jäger, feinting an attack with Jäger's hammer before viciously attacking with the greataxe instead. He then spun and threw the hammer at Kohinoor. It hit her right in the chest, emitting a thunderclap and stunning her.

"There's blood in the water."
-Roak Ironbeard

Jäger's family members all surrounded him in unison and rained blows down without mercy. Amari tried to cast Slow on Roak and the rest of the Ironbeards, but was again foiled by Roak's Counterspell.

"Hey Roak: Counterspell this!"
-Drayton King

King fired several shots into Roak's chest, some of the bursts exploding on impact. Wynna ran up to Jäger and Healed him after the punishment he took from his family; as he stood, lightning rolled off him in a wave, pushing his mother ten feet away. Wynna backed off after that, running to the edge of the room.

"I can only do this with the help of my friends...come get me."
-Jäger Ironbeard

Jäger disengaged from his enemies--his family--and ran back toward where his friends were gathered. Regen overcast the spell Shatter to maximize the damage, just as he had when he fought King Snurre months ago. Roak fired a mote at him, then threw the hammer at Kohi again, though it missed. Once it returned to his hand, he threw it at her again, unwilling to let her recover from being stunned. The weapon would have hit its mark, but Jäger teleported in front of Kohi through the Emboldening Bond and took the hit instead, intending to use the opportunity to try and wrest control of the hammer from Roak once more. As the hammer struck Jäger's chest, another thunder wave washed out, this time stunning Wynna.

"With me."
-Roak Ironbeard

Roak and the Ironbeards sank into the water that coated the floor of the throne room, reappearing next to Wynna. The four of them began to attack her, with Astrid landing seven strikes by herself. Kohinoor teleported into the fray to take one particularly vicious one.

"Now you deal with me."
-Kohinoor Sattari

Kohinoor issued a Champion Challenge to Roak and the Ironbeards, hoping to prevent them from moving away from her so that Wynna could escape when she was no longer stunned. Roak alone dismissed it; the rest were compelled to meet her. Amari dropped a fireball on the crowd, sparing his friends as always.

"And me! I've had it with you!"
-Drayton King

King unloaded into Roak, using his Pale Champion feature. Roak retaliated with a mote of light. Jäger ran to try and attack Roak, but Ragnar, ever the sentinel, stopped him short at glaive-point.

"Brother, wake up!"
-Jäger Ironbeard, to Ragnar Ironbeard

"You are the one who is asleep, brother. Wake up to him."
-Roak Ironbeard

Regen summoned a spiritual copy of Mondklinge, using it to attack Roak and adding to the damage with Booming Blade. Roak fired a mote off at Amari. Asgot tried to knock Wynna to the ground with his shield, but Wynna cast a Shield of her own. When he managed to break through it, Jäger appeared to defend her.

"Father, stop!"
-Jäger Ironbeard

"Boy, you stop!"
-Asgot Ironbeard

Asgot then began focusing his fury on Jäger instead.

"Take shelter from the deep."
-Roak Ironbeard

Water flowed up and covered the bodies of Roak, Ragnar, and their parents. Roak appeared to heal from some of the damage he had taken. He then attacked Regen and threw the hammer at King, though that missed. Wynna and Kohi were attacked by Astrid and Ragnar. Kohi summoned the spirits of the Paladins of her order to prevent Roak from healing any more; Amari tried to cast Hold Monster on him, but Roak Counterspelled it. Jäger pushed Kohi to the side to get to Roak.

"You are my brother, Roak. I love you."
-Jäger Ironbeard

The only answer he received were four blows from his father's axe.

"Leviathan, to me."
-Roak Ironbeard

A huge wave crashed into the back wall of the throne room, breaking all the windows, destroying part of the wall, and knocking the breath from all assembled. Roak's ship sailed into the room through the hole, amidst a rain of stone and glass. Upon its deck was a deep-touched Storm Giant.

"Father, Ragnar, I need you now. I need your STRENGTH!"
-Roak Ironbeard

The bodies of Asgot, Astrid, and Ragnar fell limp. Regen and the Ring & Wren all felt their psyches get assaulted, with Soora getting stunned and Regen, Jäger and Kohinoor getting pushed back ten feet from the force of it. Roak's eyes were filled with hate. He advanced on Jäger.

"Last one standing!"
-Roak Ironbeard

He attacked Jäger, who was nearing his breaking point. Regen teleported in front of him, taking the hit instead.

"He's not alone, cousin!"
-Regen Wakerock

"YOU!"
-Roak Ironbeard

Roak struck Jäger again, managing to knock him down this time. Jäger's Death Ward activated, bringing him back just to the edge of consciousness. Roak threw the hammer at Wynna. As it flew, Jager tried unsuccessfully to catch it out of the air. The Arrow-Catching shield Kohinoor had given to Wynna attracted the aim of the hammer, causing it to miss her person.

"You threw off my aim!"
-Roak Ironbeard, to Jäger Ironbeard

In anger, Roak punched Jäger, hard. Jäger went flying into the wall of the throne room, leaving a dent and cracks in the stonework. He was knocked unconscious once again. Kohi ran up to engage the giant with Waythe and brought Jäger back to consciousness with a Healing Word. Amari Held the giant in place. King used the Mithral Bond to lasso Roak and pull him closer to Jäger, who was now up, before shooting at the giant. As Wynna made to cast Mass Heal on the entire party, it became clear why Amari was allowed to Hold the giant: Roak was saving his Counterspell for just that occasion.

"You'll have to pry it from my dead hands."
-Roak Ironbeard

"Okay then!"
-Jäger Ironbeard

Soora began to sneak up to Roak and try and steal the shard of the Astral Diamond without him noticing; Jäger tried to distract Roak in order to help her. With the hole now ripped in the side of the building, Regen could see the sky once more. He began to float upwards...

"Roak! The worshipers of Dhor fail to recognize the full power of the tempest. You are blind and cold, trapped in the depths of the sea. But the strength of Egar spreads to the winds and sky!"
-Regen Wakerock

With those words, Regen was able to successfully Mass Heal everyone. The fight now going poorly for him, Roak escaped the Mithral Bond and began wading through the water, attempting to flee. King wouldn't have it, climbing up the larger man's body and grappling him. Roak threw the hammer at Jäger for a parting shot; the shockwave stunned Kohi and Wynna, but Jäger caught the hammer at last. Lightning crackled around his hands as he felt the power of Egar flow through him and the hammer submitted to control. He ran up and struck his brother, who fell to his knees, defeated at last. Jäger tipped Roak's chin up with the hammer, forcing him to make eye contact.

"Why did you do this? Do you really worship Dhor?"
-Jäger Ironbeard

"Egar never did anything for me."
-Roak Ironbeard

"It's not what he does for you; it's what you do together."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"We were weak. I made us strong."
-Roak Ironbeard

"Then you'll never understand."
-Jäger Ironbeard

Jäger took the hammer and smashed his brother's head in; the blood splattered all over King. Amari shouted in protest.

Aftermath

As Roak's blood pooled in the water, Jäger took the gauntlet--and its shard--from his brother's dead body. A newfound strength flowed through him. Reaching into his bag, he pulled out a small diamond. Regen touched down next to him as he tried to cast Revivify on Roak, unsure if it would work. Roak opened his eyes and looked tiredly at Jäger.

"I didn't think you had the guts."
-Roak Ironbeard

"It wasn't me. It was Egar. Egar did something for you. If he didn't want you back, he wouldn't have let me do that. And if you can bring them back to their normal selves, they'll stand by you too. And you can be the king everyone knows you can be."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"After everything I've done...you would give it back to me?"
-Roak Ironbeard

"If you do it the right way. This hammer can destroy things, but I think Egar gave it to us to help us rebuild a better world. No more of this focus on strength and razing. Instead of stealing we can make the land grow, and make it beautiful. That's something father always tried to teach us."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"You always listened to father and his lectures. Maybe I should have listened more... ...I cannot, Jäger. He's still in my mind..."
-Roak Ironbeard

At this point, Regen pulled out a sachet of powdered silver, which he spread along his hands, then bent and cupped water in them. Then he took Roak's face in his hands.

"Cousin, fight it."
-Regen Wakerock

Roak screamed, his eyes clouding black as though obscured by ink, then suddenly rolling back and returning white, like those of a shark. At last his eyes closed and he slumped over, but Regen caught him. When he stirred once more, his eyes were still white.

"He's gone. But he has taken something from me. I cannot see."
-Roak Ironbeard

"If I'm being honest with you, cousin, you deserve much worse."
-Regen Wakerock

"Perhaps. Jäger, help me to my feet."
-Roak Ironbeard

Regen passed Roak off to Jäger, who helped him stand.

"...I am at a loss for words. What now, Jäger?"
-Roak Ironbeard

"That's for all of us to decide. First things first though, you call off your men."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"Stand down! By order of your king, stand down! All those touched by darkness, who choose him over this island, leave now and never return!"
-Roak Ironbeard

The deeptouched Storm Giant the party had been fighting left through the destroyed door. The party could see some Ironbeards fleeing over the walls, while others stayed. From the twelve that accompanied them to the island, they counted eight ships left of Callistan's fleet on the horizon. Regen approached Jäger.

"It feels like a new day in the Iron Islands."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"You know he can't lead."
-Regen Wakerock

"I know."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"You may not want it, but it's what makes it right for you."
-Regen Wakerock

"I've been giving it a lot of thought. I think it's time for the Ironbeards to step down."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"For who?!"
-Regen Wakerock

"For some more touched in...diplomatic ways. Someone smarter, who could deal with the Empire. I thought I would be the last Ironbeard, but now there's two of us..."
-Jäger Ironbeard

"Speak plainly, cousin. Tell me what you want."
-Regen Wakerock

"I think it's time for a Wakerock to take the coral throne. There are nicer ways to live than the way we did."
-Jäger Ironbeard

Regen was silent for a moment, stunned. And then:

"...I've been raised my entire life to perform a duty, and that duty is to your family. If this is what you want...I don't disagree that Roak can't, and your heart isn't in it...and besides, as the champion of Egar, you need to find him. And you can't do that on the throne. Perhaps...as a regent, until you are ready, I would be willing to take on that duty."
-Regen Wakerock