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Harbinger enchanted one of his gauntlets with a light spell, illuminating the underground labyrinth. Tornar lead the way, juggling Bal Vyr and the map with ease. I could only imagine the reaction the Drow would have once he woke up in the arms of a Dwarf.
The Goliath looked upon me as I began to follow. “How are you holding up?” he asked. I assessed myself, taking a few deep breaths.
“I’m gonna be sore for awhile,” I replied as my chest burned from the bruising Grendel gave me. My cheek was scabbed over and some purple spots were along my exposed arms.
“Need some healing?”
I gave a small smile and shook my head. “No thank you,” I said, “best you save your magicks in case we run into trouble down here.”
Harbinger reached out and stroked my cheek. As he did, he whispered a few words to which warmth spread through my chest. I wanted to scold him for not honoring my refusal, but I smiled, thankful for the extra relief from my pain.
We made our way through the labyrinth for what felt like hours. Bal Vyr did wake up and that made for a small scene due to Tornar seeing though the Drow’s disguise. The Dwarf listened to our reasoning of him being marked like us and that, for a Drow, he was decent company. Miraculously, Bal Vyr didn’t do anything further to endanger our new comrade. Alas, that could just be due to all of us being present. May Tornar never be alone with the Drow.
The evil and darkness of the catacombs we were able to escape unscathed. It felt like a few hours had passed since our dealing with the Mayor. The exit opened up to the woods, the moon overhead giving a soft glow to the trees about us. Everyone felt certain we were north of the town, so I flew up and out of the tree lines to get a better view. Despite the glow of the moon, I couldn’t see the town at all. A moment of panic swept through me. It was like de’ja vu. I had seen these woods before! They were the very ones I got lost in when I left Raæin to find a cure for him... but I hadn’t been bitten this time.
I quickly descended and was grateful to see my companions still in the thickets below. I informed them of my inability to locate the town. Harbinger confidently pointed in a direction southwest of where we were, stating that we should travel toward the farmlands where it was out of Elven territory and therefore safer to sleep for the night.
There was some discussion about just going back into town, grabbing our stuff, and fleeing, but it came down to the fact that we were given the opportunity to get out of that dismal place. Chances are if we went back, something bad would happen to us.
Once everyone was in agreement to head toward the farmlands, I then corrected Harbinger that the farmlands were southeast of where we were (if we truly were north of town.
As we walked, Bal Vyr asked Tornar how he became so scarred. The Dwarf’s eyes hooded over and he let a long sigh out.
“It’s a mite bit of a story,” Tornar began.
“We have all night really,” the Drow answered. The Dwarf gave a nod of his head and dove right into his tale. It was a lot he disclosed with us as he talked about how he left his home so long ago to pursue after his God, Kord. It was there, when he was learning and part of his initiation, that he fell into the hands of Ravagers of Erythnul.
“I, and some other clerics, were protecting a local village from these Ravagers. During the raid the other clerics were all killed or fled out of fear,” he described. A shudder worked up my spine. I remember when Rehm was raided. No one but ourselves where there to protect us. Meryth and I had barely escape, though my fate was sealed by the vicious blade I was stabbed with.
“Being young, I believed that I could fight them all off. Instead I was captured,” he continued. He then described the years of torture as they strived to corrupt him. How he’d get cut until he was nearly dead, only to be healed and repeat. He’d also be thrown into the pits to fight other Ravagers at unbeatable odds. A wooden sword was his weapon while they attacked with steel and poison.
There was a heaviness in my mind. As he retold his story in great detail, I couldn’t help but relive my time in Hell. I looked at my skin. The porcelain white that was marred only by the wounds I’ve obtained since my return. Underneath it, in my mind, lingered all the scars from Hell. However, I remained and never conceded to the dark ways of Erythnul. Tornar did not. Then again... I was never marked.
“Everyday, for years, they would torture me. At the end of the day they’d ask, ‘Do you accept The Many as your only God to do his will? Are you willing to do his work? If you say yes we will put down our blade.’
“I refused 2 years, spitting at their feet and declaring, ‘Kord is my protector.’ In the end it was too much for me. I grew weak and became a Ravager!” he said with contempt. No one spoke for it was clear how much Tornar loathed his failure. I hadn’t expected him to disclose the detail of what he ended up doing, but he did.
“I spent many years torturing innocent people, killing women and children. The most grievous part was the day I didn't even consider them to be people... just slabs of meat. About 36 years of my life was corrupted.”
A lightness suddenly came about his voice, “Thank Kord for taking pity on my soul for one day I was in my tent looking for my whetstone when I found a tiny scrap of paper saying, 'He who would use his might to destroy is at heart weak.' I don’t know how it got there, but it was part of a book of Kord's teachings I used to carry. At that moment my faith in Kord returned as did my morality. So I escaped the camp and ran as far as I could.”
Tornar looked to us, his eyes lined with worry knowing he had told us secrets that would make any person hate him. “Please friends,” he stated solemnly, “try not to judge me for my past actions. I realize I have made many mistakes but I am not a cruel nor evil man.”
No one spoke right away, but it was I who broke the silence, “I for one cannot judge you. I can’t really speak for everyone here, but I would think it safe to say we all have our past we wish to bury.” Tornar gave a nod as he acknowledged my words. “When did they place the mark of Erythnul upon you?” I asked.
“The very moment they captured me. One of the many things that immersed me into the Ravager’s culture,” the Dwarf answered. I nodded. It made sense to what I remembered of the mark. It wasn’t immediate that the evil would take over. Perhaps that was why Rekka killed herself... the evil began to consume her and she had just enough will power to prevent herself from becoming Erythnul’s tool.
However, how was it Tornar overcame the mark’s influence? Was he playing us or did Kord give him the strength to overcome it?
“You are very fortunate to have freed yourself of the mark’s influence,” I said. The Dwarf gave a single nod. “Now how did you come about the curse mark on your leg?” I asked, “We all woke up in a metal basin without a clue of how we got there. Last I recall was living in Dijon, France,” and had just invented a toilet.
“Actually, that’s exactly where I found myself Blackwing. Woke up in some metal bowl and began to make my way home,” Tornar answered.
“So how’d you end up imprisoned in Lake Town?” Bal Vyr asked.
“Like I said, I was making my way home. I ventured into that town hoping to make some money, but with the mark of Erythnul upon me, they took me prisoner saying they didn’t want any trouble from my kind. They didn’t even give me the option to leave.”
We fell silent again. We walked until we came to a river. If we followed it south, it would take us right into the Mayorless town. Harbinger placed Gendel on the ground and carefully removed his helmet. The crusader’s face was black with his mark and he groaned as came too. The Goliath moved a few paces away as Grendel took in his surroundings. Tornar walked to him and tried giving a hand to our comrade, but Grendel refused it. The Goliath then held out the helmet he took to which the crusader snatched it quickly from him.
“How are you feeling?” Harbinger asked. Grendel looked about us without answering the question. His eyes settled on Tornar.
“Dwarf, how did you join us?” he asked.
Tornar gave him a questioning look. “I was in the same prison as you,” he began, “Then we fought you and a bunch of other people and now we’re here.”
“Where are we and where are we going?” Grendel asked.
“Somewhere north of Lake Town and headed toward the farmland to camp for the night,” I answered.
“Maybe we should just camp here instead?” Bal Vyr suggested.
“Yeah, it would be a pain to get all of us across with all our armor and equipment,” Harbinger noted. I would have offered to fly some of the heavier things across, but without my full strength, I figured my attempts wouldn’t be as easy as I would like.
“Why are we here then?” Grendel asked.
“A lot has happened since we lost you-” the Goliath began.
“More like LEFT me!” the crusader accused.
“Left you?” Bal Vyr and I echoed, “I went back and looked for you for a little while,” the Drow continued.
“And I should trust your word?”
“You did before.”
“Why should I now?”
“Because we just saved you!” Bal Vyr spat, “Maybe we should have left you instead.”
“Why didn’t you?” Grendel seethed at us. I didn’t understand his disposition with everyone. He was acting so... child like!
“Because you’re one of the group!” the Drow snapped. Then with a mocked voice to mimic Grendel said, “‘Why should I trust you?’ Seriously? I don’t know how your kind goes about it Grendel, but we’re not leaving a member behind!”
There was some silence as the tension hung thick in the air. Harbinger was the first to dare break it.
“Grendel, where did you go back when we entered that crypt?”
“I don’t know!” the crusader lamented. The Goliath tried explaining how they all had been teleported, leaving me behind, but Grendel snapped at him saying he hadn’t asked him for an explanation.
“Perhaps we should focus on getting some rest instead,” I said dryly.
“Yes, let us do that Blackwing,” Harbinger agreed. I heard the crusader scoff under his breathe at my new name. “Grendel, you’re welcome to stay with us, but if you’d rather, Lake Town is just down the river,” the Goliath continued.
“Well I plan on staying,” Trickfoot piped in. I was certainly thrilled to have his company. One more pleasant person among the Drow and crusader in the party.
I sat down since it sounded like we were to camp where we were by the river. Harbinger removed his armor and followed suit. I wrapped my cloak about me. It was going to be a colder night without the protection of my tent and bedroll, but at least it wasn’t winter.
“Trickfoot,” Bal Vyr called out as he, and the other’s began to sit down in a circle, “What happened to you? How were you caught?”
“Oh,” the Gnome began, seeming bothered by the memory, “I had finished performing at an Inn and as I made my leave, some men took me. Then for whatever reason they’ve been holding me in a cell.”
“At least you were only there a week. How long were you there Tornar?” Harbinger asked.
“Can’t say. I’ve lost track of time,” the Dwarf replied. I nodded. So have I, I thought to myself. I haven’t bothered to learn the new calendar system here, if it is all that new. I can count the days in my journal if I really wanted.
“Well, on a positive note, we did destroy the Mayor. Can you believe he was a wrath?” The Goliath said, trying to lighten the mood.
“What about that blood snake the robed figure transformed into?” Bal Vyr added.
“He turned into that?” I replied.
“Yeah.” The Drow then rubbed his neck where he was bitten.
“Did anyone else notice that he too had the mark and channeled it?” Harbinger mentioned. I jerked my head to look at him.
“No, I was too busy getting strangled,” Bal Vyr said.
”I noticed that,” Tornar said.
“Don’t you think it strange that not only was the Mayor some dark spirit, but he was being advised by someone else who has the mark? Let alone taking prisoners who were marked.” Harbinger let that hang on the air. If anything, the Goblins were right. There was a darkness in town and it very well could be us who bare the curse.
“Well I know nothing of this mark,” Tornar responded, gesturing to his leg.
“Did that man ever some and visit you Tornar? The robed one?” the Goliath asked.
“Or did anyone interrogate you or Trickfoot?” Bal Vyr asked.
“No,” both the Gnome and Dwarf answered.
Things got quiet and soon the Drow was conversing with Grendel (who sat a good distance from the rest of us) about the orb. As he did that, my attention was once more brought back to Tornar. I began to scan the magical auras about him. Sure enough, Erythnul’s mark lit up.
My stomach turned as worry of the mark overcame me. What if he tried branding us with it? Then I remembered Billy... he was nothing more than a faint memory of the world I came from... all of them were who I left behind. But the point is when I touched the marks of Heinul, they didn’t transfer like I was told. Then again, I remember watching my sister get marked, so it is true in the sense that Erythnul's mark alone transfers through touch. Surely the Dwarf's mark will act exactly how I remember.
“Araja, what is you history with Erythnul?” the Drow suddenly asked.
“Araja?” Tornar interrupted.
“My full name is Araja ‘Blackwing’ Eloirakn. Harbinger gave me my honorific. However you may call me by either,” I answered the Dwarf, “As to Erythnul, I was trained up to destroy him... but clearly I failed at that,” I replied nonchalantly.
“Yeah, taking out a deity never works, unless they’re a wimp like Pelor,” Bal Vyr stated. I cracked a smile.
“Why do you say that? He’s one of the few God’s alive, isn’t he?” I inquired.
“Oh yeah!” the Drow said with much enthusiasm. He reached into his pack and pulled out a journal, “I found this ballad that talks about our mark! Trickfoot, by chance do you know anything about it?” Bal Vyr asked as he flipped through the pages.
“Shh!” Abu suddenly said, snuffing the light spell he had going, “I hear something.” We all listened for a moment and sure enough, some faint voices were heard. I was certain some Elves came upon us..
I hunkered down with my cloak pulled about me and my wings shielding my face. I felt Harbinger duck down next to me and all I could hope for was that nothing bad would happen.
“They saw your light spell Abu,” Bal Vyr whispered, “and they saw it disappear. They think it might have been a will-o-wisp so they’re heading back.”
“Well lets get a move on it then!” I suggested, “We can continue down river toward the town.”
We then heard footsteps approach and all went silent again. Harbinger placed a hand on my exposed back as he shifted closer. I would have thought I’d’ve felt safer having him guarding me, but my heart continued to thump loudly as the Elves drew nigh. I peaked through my wings to see where everyone else was. I then heard armor clanking and saw Grendel take a few paces. Surprisingly, he made a motion suggesting we keep down. My eyes remained glued to him as he continued to walk toward what I was sure were Elves.
“Hail!” He called out. Some sharp whispers were exchanged before someone responded, “What human dares to enter our realm by night?”
“One who has communed with the Druidess about the Sylphsbane Clade.” The Elves were silent a moment, a single word being cursed under their breathe.
“What do you speak of?” an Elf went on.
“I speak of trying to eradication the human opposition to the Elf domain,” Grendel responded.
“We know of no such deal with the human scum. Surrender now or -or,” an Elf stuttered.
“You can try to kill me Elf, but it did not fare well for the last person. I mean you no harm and am just making my way to my camp outside these woods,” the crusader interrupted, “Will you allow me to do that with my Dwarf friend here?” My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t see Tornar, but I worried that pointing him out wouldn’t bode well.
The Elves began to bicker with each other, but after a minute, one of them finally said, “We care not what devious ploy you’re trying to attempt Human, but be on your way before you face the wrath of the Elf lands,” he said unconvincingly. There were hurried footsteps trailing away from us.
“Can we go now?” Grendel asked after a moment, clearly weary from... well everything I guess. Bal Vyr tried patting the crusader on the back, but was met with a growl.
“You know your hostile attitude may be why we didn’t get to you sooner,” the Drow stated..
“Perhaps,” Grendel said without humor.
“By the way, I did catch them saying they’re going to go report what happened here,” Bal Vyr added.
“So let’s go,” Tornar suggested. Harbinger called Dawn over and gave her instructions of ‘warning.’ She then darted off into the woods while we then continue down stream toward Lake Town.
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