Hello, Everyone!
Last time, still in the Devil's Hole, our heroes spoke to Jared and found out where the key to their bank vault was hidden. While Mary inspected Nurvureem’s sword and found out it had previously belonged to an Ancient Red dragon, Agatha, Aurum and Bruno escorted the civilians to the surface and came back with a bunch of soldiers to help drag the huge weapon back to Pamagos. The group looted Nuri’s corpse and headed towards the city.
The people seemed so happy to be out in the open! Mary found herself reminded of the way she’d felt after their adventure under Belfast. Seeing the sky for the first time after their journeys in the Underdark was like magic!
Her lips stretched into a small smile.
"Hiii!" The tiefling woman came to greet them. “Sorry ‘bout before, at the tavern!" she said to Aurum, and then, to everyone else. "So glad to see you four! My name is Kresna."
"Aurum. Sir Aurum," the bard said.
"Oh, is that so? I'm Lady Kresna then."
"We saw that you've taken care of the one cultist that got away," Agatha said, making an exploding gesture around her head. "What exactly happened to him?"
"Oh." Kresna waved her hand. "He died."
"Natural causes, I presume?" Aurum said.
The woman chuckled. "I like you!"
"Hah, yeah, I…" Aurum blinked and stayed silent for a good while, as if distracted by something. "Yeah, me too," he finished lamely.
Mary frowned. That looked like he was receiving a message. But he didn’t say anything about it and she didn’t ask. If it had been important, he’d have said something, right?
They headed towards Pamagos, pulling the giant sword and helping the wounded on the way.
When they got to the city, it met them with the same bleakness as when they’d left it. Sparse mist was spreading on the streets, the colors were dull and muted, and altogether, the feeling was that of utter oppression. The victory against the dragon hadn’t alleviated the atmosphere. It was going to take a lot more to do that.
Getting closer to the abode of the ruler of Pamagos, Agatha stepped closer to the others.
“I might be repeating myself,” she said. “But don’t you think that your Mr. Perres isn’t a very good ruler?”
“How so?”
“Well, what did he do about Nurvureem? How did he protect his citizens?”
“Are you serious? What could he have done against a dragon?” Bruno said.
“He could have evacuated the people when he saw that Pamagos was becoming a dangerous place.”
“Pamagos is a big city,” Bruno quarreled. “Do you think he could evacuate thousands of people just like that?”
“Look, Agatha,” Mary said. “Mr. Perres is a very well-versed ruler when it comes to peaceful times. He’s a really good diplomat, the city’s been prospering under his rule. It’s just that… fighting a dragon is not for everyone…”
Agatha murmured something, looking unconvinced.
The Perres Estate was as well guarded as before, but this time nobody stopped them at the gate. The soldiers pulled the dragon sword in the garden and placed it between the rose bushes, and Mary, Bruno, Agatha and Aurum were led to Mr. Perres’ office.
He met them looking much calmer than before. He still seemed very tired, but the news of Nurvureem’s fall had lifted his spirit. He’d prepared a small table with bottles of ale and whiskey, and offered them a drink.
“Yes! Ale!” Bruno exclaimed. ”Please!”
Mary took a glass and filled it with whiskey. She held it for a toast (“To your victory!”) and stared at the amber-coloured liquid much longer than it was necessary. Paulina had been drinking whiskey when they last met. She’d gotten her drunk with it.
Mary took a long sip from her glass and coughed. It was still too strong for her.
“I have to congratulate you on your success,” Dynatos Perres said. “We were so relieved when…”
Suddenly, in the middle of the room, a small bluish lightning appeared. It grew and grew, and it drew the outline of a door in the air.
A figure passed through it – tall, broad and… familiar. It was the second time this figure had appeared in this exact place, but things couldn’t be more different now. Last time, she’d seemed hurt, beaten and helpless. This time, she came triumphant, two-armed again, with her half-draconic grin and the blue wings beating on her back.
It was Tesaya.
Mary’s first instinct, despite her better judgement, was a smile. A part of her had missed her friend. But then, her eyes widened. Tesaya was dragging a weapon behind her. Two-handed, jagged and grey, taller than even she was. The Morgantian axe. The one that had killed Balaine Endoras.
Mary’s hand shot out for an Eldritch Blast before she could even think.
Well, isn’t that an ‘out of the frying pan and into the fire’ situation? Our heroes can’t catch a break! What do you think Tesaya wants? Do you think she’s going to attack Mary and her friends right there, in Mr. Perres’ office?
You’ll have to wait until next time to find out!
Take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide, the Glossaries (Part 1 and Part 2)
and the Map for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: Mary Windfiddle's story is my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum, Bruno and Agatha) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.