Chapter 2: "Vekaura"
My notes will be underlined as such
Character's thoughts will be Italicized as such
I do not own rights to anything here
Kai'sa and Taliyah stood at the edge of the town, it was sorta like docks, only for unloading weary caravans from the desert. You could only see a small part of the town from where the two stood, there was the town gate that held a majority of the town of Vekaura in it, only the traveling caravans section was outside of the gate still on the edge of the dunes. The air smelt sweet and humid for the desert, Kai'sa peering around the edge of the gate wall sees the shimmer of water, it looks like a river flowing into the town, but she never knew any water to flow through these parts, only the Path of Dust. "Hey Tali is that… water?" Kai'sa bumped Taliyah on the shoulder then pointed at the sight in the distance. Taliyah stood up on her tippy toes and looked "hmm… definitely looks like more than just an illusion. Maybe someone here knows, Let me do the talking." Taliyah said before jogging over to the guard standing at the gate. "Brother of Shurima, May the great weaver bless you this lovely morning!" Taliyah said to the guard "Ummm.. good morning to you miss.." Kai'sa walked to behind Taliyah just close enough to listen to the conversation. "So I'm curious, I've seen many sand illusions, but that river looks awfully real, yet I've never heard of any water flowing through these parts?" Taliyah asked the guard.
"Hahaha yes, you're right my dear. That is no illusion. The Great Azir has awaken the Mother of Life, The Waters of the Oasis of the Dawn flow once more! Now WE ALL WILL THRIVE THANKS TO THE GREAT EMPEROR!" The guard said with great excitement. "Pfff We thrived just fine before he came… come on Kai'sa I know a good restaurant in the town" The first line Taliyah said in a mutter, then raising her volume to make sure Kai'sa could hear her as Taliyah started walking through the open gate, Kai'sa said nothing in reply, just timidly followed. Being around so many people made her extremely uncomfortable. "Wait" The Guard said. "Who is this with you?" The guard questioned looking at Kai'sa. "This is Kai'sa, My friend and of no danger or concern to you." Taliyah said with a condescending tone to the guard. "On the contrary, the safety of Vekaura is my duty and concern. And this Kai'Sa(the guard pronounced her name with a heavy emphasis on the apostrophe mark in her name)
Has some incredibly dangerous rumors told about her." The Guard stated. "ALL LIES! I'm sure of it. She Saved my life, Saved many people's lives. Fought the void all her life. SHE IS OF NO THREAT TO YOU!" Taliyah said emphatically.
The guard stood still a second, pondering what she said, Kai'sa standing silent this whole time. "Are you as she says?" The guard asked, directly looking at Kai'sa.
"I am just here to get something to eat and rest a bit. I mean none of you any harm."
Kai'sa replied softly. "Very well, I will let you pass." He gestured waving them through,
Now as Taliyah was walking past the guard through the gate and Kai'sa on her side, the guard grabbed Taliyah by the arm and pulled her to the side leaning in to speak into her ear, Kai'sa felt the rush of energy flowing into her arms as she readied for a fight but she did not change her posture at all at to not alert people around her that she was ready. "I will not stop you, but you must know, there are others in this town who would have her head, and not because of rumors, there are witnesses of her crimes that live here. She wouldn't be the first person to lose themselves while fighting the void you know…" the guard whispered into Taliyah's ear (Kai'sa unable to hear what the guard said) as she yanked her arm free from the man's grip and only responding with a menacing look. Taliyah kept walking past the guard ignoring what he said, Kai'sa after a brief pause decided to follow Taliyah into the town.
"Everything okay?" Kai'sa asked Taliyah in the same soft tone. "Yeah… just fine…
We need to get you something to wear. Attract less attention." Taliyah replied. "Wear… oh okay" it had been so long since Kai'sa had concerned herself with clothes. Taliyah hotfooted to the first merchant shop in the town she saw, still very close to the gate, looking around she picked out a dessert abaya cloth over dress, held up to compare it to Kai'sa's size them swapping it out for a bigger one realizing kai'sa was a bit bigger than herself. The store clerk was just staring at Kai'sa, confused as to what she was wearing, his stare was interrupted by Taliyah setting the outfit down in front of him. "How much for this?…one sec… I also want these." Taliyah said, grabbing 2 bedrolls made of cloth mats. "4 gold coins. Unless it's noxian coins then it will be 10. Cheap bastards clad their coins." The store clerk said. "Still a little pricey, but you have a deal. You have a place to change?" Taliyah asked the clerk.
"Yeah out the front and around the back is an outhouse." The clerk replied, Taliyah only responding with a bit of disgust being told to use the bathroom to change. "Ok come on." Taliyah waved to Kai'sa, gesturing that she follow her.
The two walked around to the backside of the store, Taliyah opened the outhouse only to almost barf at the sight of the inside of it, Kai'sa stands there looking like she is thinking please don't make me use this. "Yeah okay there is no one here lets just put this on here." Taliyah said handing Kai'sa the outfit. Kai'sa paused for a second, looking confused, and glancing at her own shoulder pods not understanding how she could wear this cloth. "Here Silly!" Taliyah took the outfit back, pulling out a small knife she carried on her for cooking and survival uses slashed to big long holes into the back of the abaya. "There ya go" Kai'sa just smiled and accepted, still not sure how this was concealing who she was, since her shoulder pods would still be visible.
Putting on the cloth outfit was annoying, not only had she grown used to having nothing restraining her movements, but also all the sharp edges kept caught on the cloth as she pulled the pants section over her legs. Taliyah lending a hand help pull the cloth over her torso section manhandling Kai'sa's shoulder pods into the cutouts.
"What's your plan to hide those?" Kai'sa scuffed out with a small laugh. Pulling out her knife again Taliyah grabbed the bedrolls she bought and began cutting a U shaped hollow into them making sure to leave the bedroll ties at the ends untouched so they maintained their shape, Taliyah then placed the cutout bedrolls over Kai'sa's shoulder pods and laced them secure to the cloth desert outfit.
"TADAA! There You look Just like a Desert Nomad! Besides the purple shoes hehehe" Taliyah said quite proud of herself. Kai'sa looked at herself for a second genuinely impressed at the stone weavers ingenuity, "I'm impressed, good job" Kai'sa replied. "Thanks! Now let's go get you that meal as a thank you for saving my life a few times." Taliyah said, Kai'sa just nodded in reply. The two walked back into the street, Taliyah leading the way, she walked like she'd been here before. The town was truly bustling with people, Kai'sa's senses soaking up the activity, the smells of fruits from across the lands, languages she'd never heard before, and the feel of humidity in the air all were luscious to her. "This way" Taliyah said waving Kai'sa to follow her as Kai'sa was falling behind her by looking around too much. Taliyah wasn't to thrilled about Vekaura being so crowded, she liked the town much more when it was quiet and peaceful. Taliyah stopped dead in her tracks when she saw the river flowing through the town after the two turned down a street that gave a clear view of the river, "No! NO NO NO!" Taliyah said putting her hands to her face to hold back tears,"it's all gone…" Taliyah said again quietly. "What's gone?" Kai'sa asked. "There was no river before, just the Path of Dust… there was all these shops and restaurants on the side of the path for traveling nomads like my family… the river washed it all away…" Taliyah said somberly. "I'm sorry Taliyah, I… I hope anyone you knew made it out of there in time." Kai'sa replied putting a hand on Taliyah's shoulder to comfort her.
"TALIYAH MY LITTLE TROUBLE MAKER" A load jubilant voice echoed out on the side of them, it's was a large elderly man ruining a sorta food stand with simple tent stakes and a cloth awning. "Jaubood You're here!" Taliyah responded, running to give him a hug. "I was just going to take my friend Kai'sa to your place but then I noticed the river." "Hahaha yes my dear! Well come here, Welcome to the new Hotfoot eatery!" Jaubood replied. "Oh, um… it's a little more… open air style from the old place" Taliyah said trying not to offend his tent stand restaurant. "Haha you always were so funny my dear. Come come sit" the man said, pulling two stools out and placing them in front of the counter of his food stand. The two sat down, Taliyah leaning forward to place orders for them both. "Must been a shame losing your restaurant to the river" Kai'sa opened up and spoke softly, having a bit of confidence in her disguise made her feel a little less out of place… just a little.
"Nah nah are you kidding, i mean sure the place was nice but now i have ten times the customers! What is the point of a nice place if there are so few people in the town that you can serve eh?" Jaubood replied then noticed Kai'sa's purple chitnis hands resting on the counter. "Wow what lovely gloves you have miss," Jaubood stated. "Oh, um, thank you sir." Kai'sa said sheepishly as she pulled her hands off the counter to hide them.
"You are Welcome to off you burden miss, no wanna going to steal your bedrolls haha" The chef said to Kai'sa. "I'm fine, thank you" Kai'sa replied. So how have you been Taliy, been a long time," He asked. "Been good, been a few years, traveled to Noxis then Made my way to Ionia, I only returned home when I heard of the rizen ascended returning. I knew my home needed me" Taliyah replied. "Many are very happy about the Ascended's return. Hey, it is definitely good for my business that the river of life is flowing again" Jaubood said. "I've seen the lies of power from Noxis, they give you what they want to make them your slaves" Taliyah said, a mild venom in her tone. "Now you sound like your father Taliy, the world isn't always your enemy" the chef said as the flames bursted upward from him stirring the firewood. Taliyah sat still for a bit deciding not to reply, Kai'sa just sat and looked at her face from the side trying to figure out what she was thinking, Kai'sa's thought was then interrupted by the sound of clanking mater behind her, she swiveled around on her stool to look behind. "Mercenaries, come to this town to sell their stolen wears." The chef said as he saw Kai'sa looking at their swords (her second skin itching at the sight of danger). Kai'sa noticed a young girl in the band, armed with golden kuba, she must be no older than fourteen but she has a rage in her eyes that both made Kai'sa scared of her and pity her. The girl saw Kai'sa staring and stared back at her as the party walked past them. Something was familiar about her but Kai'sa couldn't remember what "Hey… don't stare at them unless you want a fight." The chef said leaning over to Kai'sa so the party of mercenaries didn't hear him. Kai'sa quickly swiveled back around on her stool and listened to the chef's advice.
"HERE YA GO For the lovely Ladies!" Jaubood said while setting down two plates of food in front of the pair. Taliyah's was roasted green onions with chicken and a date suice. In front of Kai'sa was a goat roast with garlic cloves on top of the meat and peaches below the meat with a bit of collard greens on the side. "It smells wonderful." Kai'sa said as she was about to start eating she felt a poke in her side, it was Taliyah poking her with Kai'sa's fork that she wasn't going to use. Kai'sa let out a little smile and a little nood to Taliyah as she accepted the fork and disciplined herself to not eat with her hands. The two enjoyed their meals as a few hours passed, Taliyah taking a long time to finish her meal because of telling way too many stories to Jaubood about her travels.
"Thank you Jaubood, I'll see you around" Taliyah said waving goodbye as the two left the food stand, "Bye" Kai'sa let out a timid goodbye to not be disrespectful. The two walked down a street by the river working their way to walking down by the rivers edge. "Thank you Taliyah, this was very nice…" Kai'sa said genuinely. "Hey it's the least I could do, take it as a… a tip for all your years of fighting for the people of shurima." Taliyah replied as the two walked along the river, the sun high in the sky as it was about noon time. "I cannot stay here, I must go back to fighting the Void alone." Kai'sa said. "Wha Why alone! I've seen the Void. Don't get me wrong you fight the Void well. But I'm sorry but you can't defeat them alone. It's gonna take an army of people as strong as you to stop the Void" Taliyah replied. "Yes, but alone I don't have to worry about anyone I care about," Kai'sa said. "Awww so you do care about me? '' Taliyah said, poking Kai'sa on the shoulder. Kai'sa just replied with a little shrug implying maybe. "You don't need to leave right away, you still need some rest. It's been a hard week, '' Taliyah said again. "It surely has," Kai'sa replied.
Few more hours passed as the two walked around exploring the town. Now they were making their way back to the gate to leave, Taliyah had picked up a bunch of supplies including a backpack sack full of food and other necessities and a few more small bedrolls since the ones Kai'sa had on her back were purely decorative, Kai'sa also held four water skins for them both. The two continued to walk to the gate until they came to a crowd blocking the street leaving the town through the main gate. "We know what you are monster!" A prominent young man stood out front shouting. They all held out their weapons in fear, many were from the same mercenary band they had seen earlier but many others in the group were not. "Have you come to do to Vekaura what you did to Bala-sheth monster!" A young woman spoke out from in the crowd, she could not be seen because she was in the middle of the mob. Kai'sa didn't not remember what she was referring to. "What Is You're guys problem, can't some travelers have just a normal day in the town without a lynch mob forming!" Taliyah shouted back. "Oh there's nothing normal about that one you have with you girl" the man at the front of the crowd replied. "She may not be normal, but she's done more for all of your good than yourselves!" Taliyah replied. "TELL THAT TO ALL THE SURVIVORS OF BALA-SHETH THAT ARE HERE" the man shouted back, the crowd's anger growing. "What are they talking about?" Taliyah turned her head to Kai'sa quietly asking her. "Something that had to be done," Kai'sa replied as she remembered what the crowd was talking about. "Untie my back please" Kai'sa whispered to Taliyah who did as she asked and unleced the bedrolls on Kai'sa's back.
"I do not wish to hurt any of you here, but I will defend myself" Kai'sa growled as her voice grew more menacing. "We Are No Longer Afraid of You, Today we make you pay for your injustices!" The crowd leader said. "Then you clearly didn't learn from the lesson I taught you. YOU SHOULD BE AFRAID!" Kai'sa said, her voice turning into a cruel distorted tone as she put on her helmet and broke her shoulder puds free of the disguise and purple fire starting to glow in her hands. "STOP, EVEYONE!" Taliyah screamed. "Why do you protect this creature woman?" The crowd leader asked.
"She saved my life, and many others lives," Taliyah replied. "Maybe she just wanted to gain your trust." The man replied. "No it was not that! You must be confused. She fights the void so it doesn't kill everyone! She is not with the void! She is the best fighter against the Void I've ever seen." Taliyah said back. "Is that so '' a deep voice said, coming from behind Taliyah and Kai'sa. It was a tall dark skin man with long braided hair and bits of gold armor all about him, two strange golden armored soldiers stood on his sides. These soldiers seemed odd for they clearly were not human, though their shape was human, their faces looked as if they were made of a shadow, and their entire bodies seemed to drip with sand blowing off them almost as if they were made of it. "In the name of the Holy god-emperor Azir as an emercary of the reborn Shuriman empire I Kurmed the Dunekeeper command, No Blood shall be spilled today!" As He said it with his booming deep voice, the two sand soldiers marched to stand in between the crowd and Kai'sa and Taliyah, one of the sand soldiers lowered its spear at the crowd, the other lowered its spear at the Stoneweaver the Void hunter.
The crowd quickly put down their weapons and began to disperse, for an attack on a representative of the reborn empire no one in the town wanted in fear of recompense from the same power that restored the river of life. Peace was a fine option for Kai'sa as well, so she calmed herself, letting her suit relax and the energy in her hands dissipated. "This isn't over" the man from the crowd said before he left with the others, walking away down the street. "Thank you both for being civilized." The Dunekeeper said. "Thank you, but we were just leaving." Taliyah said as she grabbed Kai'sa's hand pulling her along as Taliyah began to walk. "Is it true what she says about you fighting the void?" Kurmed asked Kai'sa. "Um… yes" Kai'sa replied as she stopped to listen to the man. "The Void is of great concern to his majesty Azir, Please may I delay your stay a night? I can get a top notch room for you at the best hotel in town, you look weary. All I ask for in return is information regarding the Void." Kurmed Said. Kai'sa stopped for a moment giving the man's offer a thought, she looked to Taliyah to try and see what she thought of his offer. Taliyah subtlety was shaking her head no. Kai'sa turned back towards the man still thinking over his offer, "I suppose that doesn't sound like a bad offer, given that I will gladly give information to anyone on how to fight the void for free." Kai'sa replied, ignoring Taliyah's subtle protest.
"It won't do us any harm to speak with him" Kai'sa whispered into Taliyah's ear.
"Wonderful! His majesty will be so pleased with your valuable vantage point. Follow me, you can tell me everything at the hotel." He said as he led the two back into the town. "Kai'sa please don't meet with this man, he serves Azir. And if the stories are true. Azir possesses more power than anyone should have. He will probably just use your knowledge of the void to gain more power. He is only interested in the void because it's a threat to his Reborn Empire bullshit." Taliyah said to Kai'sa venomously but quite so Kurmed didn't overhear. Kai'sa didn't respond immediately, she thought about what Taliyah said for a moment as the two walked behind the emperor's emercary. "Even this Azir does seek knowledge of the Void just to save his own power… that still is better than the nation being ignorant of the dangers that lay below us all. Not everything is black and white Taliyah… sometimes the side you must pick is the lesser of two evils. We'll just stay for tonight, I'll tell him just what he needs to know, then we can be on our ways first thing in the morning." Kai'sa replied.
Taliyah thought about how Kai'sa said "ways" as a plural meaning she was going to go back to being alone, the thought made her sad. Hopefully she'll change her mind, Taliyah thought. The two continued to follow the man as they walked up to a gated palace which was the finest shurman hotel outside of the great seaports and the capital. Golden guiding covered much of the stone architecture and all manners of rare flowers hung from planter baskets along the walls as well. "Do you mind if I go to the room alone? Since it's just you two that wanna chat." Taliyah said with a bit of bitterness at Kai'sa Kurmed. "Of course my lady, I shall pay the hotel clerk right away" Kurmed replied as he placed an extremely large gold coin with the image of Azir on the hotel lobby check in counter, the clerk did not speak, only nodded and handed him a golden pair of keys for the room. "The room is the first room up the staircase" The Dunekeeper said to Taliyah as he handed her the key to the room.
"Perhaps a trip to the bar Kai'sa for our little chat?" Kurmed asked Kai'sa, pointing to the bar that was in the courtyard of the hotel just outside the lobby. "Umm… ok." Kai'sa replied, she had never actually had any alcohol. I sure hope he doesn't want me to drink with him, Kai'sa thought.
Across on the other side of town, three mercenaries were huddled around a small campfire. One was the leader of the crowd that confronted Kai'sa, he was tall in stature, thin also but muscular still, he looked seasoned and experienced but he also looked extremely young on his face, no older than 16, he had a scar on the top of his head that looked like someone ripped the flesh off then put it back on afterwards, the scar was clearly visible because his buzz cut hairstyle. The other was a young woman, looked about 22 years old and had curly brown hair that was undercut on both sides, she carried a sack full of corrosive spiders on her side, luckily the critters don't run much if you keep them fat from food, she also had a hook made of quartz as a weapon she carried on her side. The third person was the girl Kai'sa spotted in the crowd earlier. She was no older than 14, she wore a desert garb with a low hoody that she even wore at night almost covering her face completely.
"The emercary has taken her to the grand palace, we are not gonna be able to touch them in there," the eldest woman said. "What's the plan then Tena? You've heard of the crimes she has done. Who hasn't at this point, we can't let her disappear again." The young man replied, "we couldn't hire a tracker." Tena replied. "What tracker would ever be crazy enough to chase down the daughter of the Void." The man replied. "Only one I can think of," Tena said. "No. No no no.. he's crazy! I'm pretty sure he worships Renekton with how crazy he is" he replied. The girl in the hood sat and listened, being completely silent. "You got a better Idea Jaffa?" Tena asked. "We must avenge what that monster did to Sehla's father. So it will never happen again." Tena said again. "What do you say about this Sehla?" Jaffa asked the young girl.
She paused for a few seconds, not replying or saying anything for a bit, then slowly lifting her head and taking her hood off her face. "Get Raz… don't hire him to track her down. Hire him to rip her into pieces. He'll enjoy that request." The girl said quietly but with an anger that made the other two's gut cringe. The camp fell silent for a minute, no one responding. "So who's gonna talk to him?" Jaffa asked. "He doesn't like to do business with women, so buck up and do it yourself" Tena replied.
Few hours passed and Jaffa was walking over to the killcamp, where the most vicious sellswords hung out. The time was past midnight now, and the full moon hung high in the desert sky, as the sound of campfires and drunken banter echoed through the kill camp. "Ummm… I'm looking for Raz," Jaffa said aloud, the killcamp falling dead silent at the name. "Raz Bloodmane!... I have an offer for your services. Paying 500 shuriman gold coins!" Jaffa raised his voice hoping the man he was looking for would hear him. Jaffa's hair stood on the back of his head as he felt the thuds of something massive walking behind him, turning around he saw a giant man riding a Shuriman desert crocodile with two crocodiles walking beside him. The man had a large barbarian sword on his back and a great spear made from some massive tooth that had been sharpened. "What spoiled family squabble would you BOY have to ask me for! My pets have had hares bigger than you for late night snacks!" Raz said, spitting in Jaffa's face. "I heard you like a challenge, thought you might be interested in a more fierce monster that is passing through this town." Jaffa teased. "RRRAAAAG, HOW DARE YOU BE SO INSOLENT BOY!" Raz yelled, levelling his spear to Jaffa's neck, his crocs licking their teeth as the small meal. Gulp… Jaffa paused a second before responding, "the Daughter of the Void is currently held out at the grand palace hotel, me and my associates were gonna take here, but a emecary of Azir is with the Void creature at the moment. We thought, we should hire a tracker to follow the beast into the desert and kill her there. But I had the Idea, hay I'm sure Raz wouldn't like being out done by a kid like myself so maybe we should, out of respect, let him have this glorious hunt." Jaffa said cunningly. Raz stopped for a second, then lifted his spear from Jaffa's neck. "You quite clever with you words little
rabbit." Raz Said before speaking again, "Thank you oh Great Brutal one, for out of the mouth of this Snack you have shown me the way! The way I shall be known as a true servant of the Butcher of the Sands! YOU WILL KNOW MY NAME RENEKTON AND BE PLEASED!" Raz said to the sky with jubilation. "Go Rabbit! You have a deal!"
As the sun rose early the next morning it's light landed on Taliyah's face waking her to the sight of a beautiful sunrise, she had forgot to close the curtains because she was looking at the sky last night before she went to bed, but she was okay with the sun waking her up for it was a beautiful sunrise and she normally got up early. Turning around from the window she looked to see if Kai'sa was in the other bed. The bed was disturbed, meaning Kai'sa had gotten to the room fine sometime late last night after her chatting with Kurmed, but she was no longer there. Taliyah checked the room to see if she had left a note or something but she found nothing. Taliyah quickly got dressed and ready herself grabbing all her stuff and ran out the door. Into the lobby she ran, then checking the courtyard of the hotel. As she looked for Kai'sa, every place she didn't find her made Taliyah's heart ache more, she knew Kai'sa had the right to leave, but not like this, not without at least saying goodbye.
Running out of the grand palace hotel onto the street, Taliyah noticed Kurmed standing on the corner of the street speaking to a message runner. "Hey! HEY YOU!" Taliyah said as she marched over to him. "Excuse me miss but I was in a conversation here" The Dunekeeper said, annoyed at her rudeness. "You can get back to your conversation after you tell me where my friend is," Taliyah insisted again. "You are not one for subtlety are you… I have done nothing to her… she left on her own will an hour ago" Kurmed replied, still annoyed at her. Taliyah didn't reply; she just left him and went back to jogging, now heading to the city gate leaving town. She couldn't have gone to far, probably still within sight if I find the right vantage point, Taliyah thought to herself. Looking around as she jogged to the gate Taliyah noticed a watchtower looking over the city wall some 4 blocks to the right. That will do, Taliyah thought. Running up to the towel she noticed the door to the watchtower was guarded and locked but the tower itself was made of stone. This should be easy, she thought Taliyah blasted a rock out of the ground and jumped onto it like a surfboard then rushed up to the tower at full speed, the guard jumping to the side in fear of being run over. With the moving of her arms Taliyah made the outside of the tower pop out a ledge of rock that spiraled around the tower all the way to the top. Taliyah rock-surfed on the ledge all the way to the top, letting the stone revert back to normal after she landed on the roof of the five story tail watchtower.
Pulling a spyglass out of her bag, Taliyah scanned the dunes around the horizon as she ignored the protests of the guards below her at the base of the tower. Zooming in, she noticed one person walking alone in the dunes, probably 6 miles away, it just looked like a speck, but it had to be Kai'sa, no one else would venture out into the desert alone with not even a mount to ride. Taliyah noticed something else, a very large pack of mercenaries riding crocodiles that were just leaving town, and they were in full speed sprint, not something you would do if you were planning on crossing the desert. They are hunting, Taliyah thought. Taliyah looked again and noticed the direction the hunters were going, "shit they are going for her!" Taliyah said. Immediately she forced the stone in the tower to launch her forward and over the city wall, she landed on the sands outside the city wall and then with all her might ripped up a rock from beneath the sands and began rock-surfing as fast as she could. Hoping she could reach the bandits before they reached Kai'sa.
Oh boy I'm excited about where this may lead.
Note some of these new people are cards from Legends of Ruinterra.
"Kurmed" is "The Dunekeeper"
"Tena" is "Vekaurian safecracker"
"Raz" is "Raz Bloodmane"
Also the mentioning of what kai'sa did to bala-sheth is talking about Kai'sa's official story called "monstrous" the name of the town I made up because it's not said in the story.