The Light from Risembool: Chapter 2

Getting past the entrance was easier than anyone expected. The Face’s plan was to disguise them as blacksmiths delivering various armor and weapons. After that, it was Shino’s business. Each of them held a box of different sizes and wore old tattered clothing. Smudges of coal and dirt artfully adorned different areas on their bodies. 

“Could we not have looked like clean, well dressed blacksmiths?” Eleathea said. It was neither out of vanity nor comedic relief that she proposed this, but out of concern of being apprehended. These disguises were obviously a hoax. Ulysses gave a hearty laugh and Kauis’ mouth gave another poorly-hidden smirk. 

Razeil shook his head. “Amateurs,” he sighed. “Follow my lead.”  He cleared

his throat as they approached guards.

“Greetings!” the Face proclaimed cheerily, “we are but simple blacksmiths, here to deliver some weapons and armor to the good protectors of this fine…establishment.” His introduction sounded rehearsed, and the guards looked at each other, unconvinced. A tall-for-her-nature halfling opened her mouth as if to speak.

Shino cut her off before she could. “We need to take these supplies to Vinaldur, I presume he still manages the Mogdan family crypts?”

The guards shifted their attention to the dwarf. Glancing back and forth between Razeil and Shino, the halfling replied, “Haven’t heard any news of equipment comin’.”

Razeil chimed back in, switching gears. “We received a request via wing not three days ago. It says that the guards are in need of some updated leather and steel.” Out of thin air, he presented a letter. He glanced at the paper for dramatic effect. “Rather, it says here they deserve new leather and steel…” He held the so-called letter out, letting her read it but being careful as to not let her touch it. 

Razeil continued. “Is this letter not from Vinaldur?” She squinted her eyes, looking at the parchment.

“Well, I should say….Yes! That’s Vinaldur’s handwriting. Always knew he’d be lookin’ out for us, treatin’ us to this, that and the other. Proceed to the Mogdan crypt entrance, that’s where you’ll find him.” She gave them a wave, intrigued with this information. 

As they passed the guards, they all seemed to exhale with relief as one. There was silence for a solid minute or two as they followed Shino through stone passageways. As they advanced, Shino was not Shino anymore. Rather, he had changed his appearance without notifying anyone and without anyone noticing. His hallowed grey cheeks had become flushed with color. His salt-and-paprika beard was now a vibrant auburn. His thick muscles now pushed the limits of his shirt. One would swear he grew six inches. He became beautiful. No one seemed to notice or care but Kauis. He opened his mouth, ready to address it. 

“Was anyone taking notes?” Razeil asked playfully. “Some poise, a bit of charm, and a hint of magic sprinkled in can fool any dull-witted guard.” He boastfully passed the “parchment” around to all.

“Hmph,” Kauis expressed, looking over the paper. The handwriting was horrific and the names Shino mentioned were misspelled to hells. He passed it to The Recon, who in turn gave his famous bellowing laugh. 

“See, this one gets me,” the Tiefling said.

A cliche nearly escaped Kauis’ lips. “Fucking bar-”

“Don’t say it, Triton!” Razeil snapped. “This fucking bard got us into this god-forsaken… glorified tomb, so I’ll accept that as a compliment and a thank you.”

“Thank you, I’m grateful,” said Elethea. Not technically a lie. “Let's keep moving.” 

They advanced into the crypt, “stealthy” making their way down several flights of stairs. Shino had taken the spearhead and the group was trailing along behind him.

Ulysses’ little legs did not hinder him from keeping up with the party. To look upon him, he seemed to slither down the stairs, lizard-style, his feet creating pitter-patter sounds that made small echoes off the stone walls. Kauis’ weight and strength did not make for a quiet journey either, despite his attempts at remaining noiseless. Even the Tielfing bard, humming loudly to himself, did not seem to get attention from any personnel that may be on watch. 

“Something is wrong,” The Doc said. “As mute as we may try to be, minus the bard, there has to be more than unintelligent, easily-influenced guards “protecting” all these vaults and their respective riches. Where is the defense keeping it all safe?”

Shino shrugged his shoulders, unconcerned. “Must be lucky,” he said dismissively, “Maybe they’re all on holiday.” 

Kauis and Elethea found themselves glancing at each other, knowingly: there is something this dwarf is hiding. 

~~~

Eventually, they did creep up on a group of guards. There was a wooden door between two of them, slightly open. “This is the place,” the dwarf said, “now get me in there.” The Face made eye contact with his party, gave a little wink and strutted towards the door. 

“Ah, so this is where my wife’s family ancestors are sleeping,” Razeil said, hands on his hips, “as is the inheritance I’m owed.” The guards stared at him in silence. He poked one of them with his elbow. “At least she was good for something, yaknowhatimean?” His eyebrows did a little dance. The guards did not move an inch. 

The Doc stepped into view. A tear dramatically slid down her cheek, uncharacteristically. “Gentlemen, we all need to pay our respects. I have not rested since my dearest mum-in-law passed and we have traveled far to visit with her. I was notified that her body had been put with her ancestors?” 

The guards did nothing. They did not blink, they did not move, they even looked as if they need not breathe. 

“Look,” Razeil said, his voice dropping two octaves. The air around him turned black, his eyes dilated and he began to turn red. “We’re getting past this door. You fine gentlemen have two options: die at our hands or let us pass. I won’t say it again.” The rest of the party held their breath.

This time, the guards looked anxious. “N-no problem, sir,” one said. “Just have to get clearance from the boss, but no problem sir, no problem at all.” Both scurried away quickly. 

The tiefling smirked and he appeared normal again. “See?” he posed, “this “fucking bard” knows what the fuck he’s doing.”

“And if we do not obtain clearance?” the Muscle asked. 

“Then they die,” he replied, flinging his hands up. “Did I stutter?”

Intimidating as he may be to the guards, the party gave no thanks. They would be in a heap of trouble if this ended poorly. 

“Tsk,” the Recon said, “watch this shit.” He waddled towards the door, quickly, and quietly pushed it open. He looked back at the group, waiting for them to follow. They all did.

After they passed, they were presented with another wooden door. The dwarf gave it a hard push but it seemed to be locked from the other side. “Great,” he said, impatient. 

“I said watch.this.shit,” Ulysses asserted. “Air genasi, I need a lift on the other side. Got it?” She nodded. Suddenly, his small lizard-like form became an even smaller lizard-like form, to all other’s dismay. He scurried under the door and gave a squeak and knock from the other side.

“Shit,” Kaius said, “I hear the guards returning. They’ll notice the open door.”

Silently, Eleathea shrouded them in darkness. “Do not make a sound,” she said, barely above a whisper. They each saw a guard pop his head to look into the small corridor, but finding nothing but candles and shadows, he returned to his very important post. “‘Spose they’re gone, Ed. Now, whose turn was it?” he trailed off and they were once again alone.

Eleathea slowly raised a hand towards the door, levitating Ulysses from the other side so that he may unlock it and allow them access. They heard a small click sound and they all looked at each other, the feeling of relief palpable. None of them knew what awaited on the other side.