When they get to Caed Nua on the way to Raedric's Hold, after helping out in Stalwart some more to make sure they'd be alright this time, they find Kolsc waiting for them and Aufra waiting with a hug of thanks - and she's much further along in her pregnancy, making Cera dearly hope they can stop the Leaden Key somehow before her child's soul is taken.

Trumbel and his family gratefully thank her for letting them stay in Caed Nua all this time, and Kolsc takes the six adventurers aside to a room that he's temporarily made a war room. There's a large map of the Hold spread out on a table, and he points them to the easiest route inside unless they find a way to get the guards to let them inside somehow.

Cera gets a gleam in her eyes, and asks "How many of his guards are there?"

"There shouldn't be too many, now. Even the mercenaries Raedric's hired are starting to desert him. Osrya, the animancer Raedric hired to ensure his child was not Hollowborn fled mere minutes after the birth and the results were announced, I've heard."

Aloth incredulously asks "He turned to another Animancer to keep his child from being Hollowborn?"

"Yes, shortly after Caldera, I believe. She was an expert on some field in Animancy, and sought her out specifically because of that. If what you said before is true, then nobody could keep the child's soul in its body - she barely escaped with her life, as you can imagine."

Cera's got a look in her eyes that spells trouble for Raedric and whatever guards he has left, and says "I may be able to get us in the Hold. You guys remember the Iron Fort?"

Aloth says "Yes, and you barely made it to the command tent."

"That was with a lot more people, There'll be, what, ten people I'll have to distract?"

Kolsc says "Barely that. My scouts say Raedric's mercenaries are deserting more by the day. The bridge is unguarded now, barely any men patrol the walls. The most soldiers will likely be in the Throne room. What exactly do you have in mind?"

"I'm a Cipher, I can…shall we say, distract the guards long enough to get inside. I don't usually do stuff like this, but I'll just be keeping them from getting killed so…"

Eder grins and says "Besides, Raedric's gone insane, right? Nearly killed all of Gilded Vale trying to 'cleanse' the Legacy. Don't think people will mind too much."

Kolsc asks "You could…just have them open the doors? Let you walk right in?"

Cera shrugs and says "Among other things. I usually don't, but sometimes it's just the less violent option." Aloth doesn't say a word, but Cera can feel how much he dislikes the plan - he keeps thinking of how it took nearly all her concentration to control the Iron Flail members long enough for them to get to the Command Tent.

Kolsc shows them the map of the Hold, and the throne room is a straight shot from the courtyard - which should be empty, or almost empty.

When they get there, Cera focuses for a moment and says "The place is nearly deserted. Most of the men are patrolling the upper floors…something about getting away from Raedric's growing madness. Anyone in sight…potential target…he's started hanging the mercenaries now. His kid's birth sent him over the edge. Oh, and apparently his wife still worshipped Eothas in secret."

Eder whistles and says "Brave woman, her. Keeping faith after everything, and knowing what he'd do."

Kana asks "Are you sure you can distract all the soldiers?"

"No need, only the few that are in the courtyard and the brave few that are in the entrance hall. The ones upstairs won't hear a thing of the fighting, and the ones on the walls are more focused on how they want the shift to stretch on forever rather than if anyone would be crazy enough to come here and be the next to be hung by Raedric."

Aloth mumbles "Glad we got out when we did…"

Cera gives a tired smile and says "Me to. We'd likely have been the first few to be hung."

"Or you'd have made a distraction for us and we'd have escaped."

Cera shrugs, then gets a familiar look of concentration on her face - though far less strained than back in the White March. Aloth takes her hand and leads her in, while the others go ahead of them and cast wary glances at the guards with glazed-over expressions.

The door gets opened for them, and they quickly move inside as Cera has the guards close the door behind them - so nothing is different from when they blanked out. Kana raises an eyebrow at Aloth when he sees the two elves' hands together, but doesn't comment on it - they've got bigger things to worry about anyway.

Cera's look clears almost instantly once the doors are back in place, and she quietly says "Raedric is in the throne room - alone for the most part. Two…three guards with him, and none of them really want to be near him for fear they'll be the next to be hung. Fairly certain they won't be much trouble."

Eder says "I'll take Raedric on myself. Let's just say its personal."

Cera nods in sympathy and understanding, and then they head into the room.

Raedric has gone absolutely insane, ranting about how he'll save Gilded Vale from the Legacy no matter what - and even the last few guards run in terror when Eder reveals the Eothasian Symbol on the back of his cloak. And for good reason, as he went over the edge of even coherent speaking at the mere sight of the symbol.

Twenty minutes later, Raedric is dead - and even the mercenaries he hired look grateful and relieved - and Edér has several cuts and bruises, having been Raedric's main target since he revealed his faith. It quickly turned into a duel between the two men, with the others cheering Eder on enthusiastically - which Eder ultimately won, cutting Raedric's head from his shoulders cleanly.

And as expected, the mercenaries don't put up any kind of fight once Raedric is dead - truth be told, they were afraid of what he'd eventually do. And now they're all mostly feeling relief that he's dead.

When they get to the bridge, Kolsc is standing there with a look of pure shock on his face. Cera says "It's done, Raedric is dead. Anything else, Kolsc?"

"Uh…no. No, that's more than enough. Thank you, Lady Cera. Gilded Vale owes you a great debt."

"No, you don't. Raedric would've killed everyone. You all don't owe me anything. If you really need a reason, consider it preventing a war or something, as Raedric would more than likely have gone to war against Caed Nua at some point."

Kolsc nods slowly, and says "Thank you again. This…this is a new start for Gilded Vale."

Kana asks "Where to next? Now that the threat of one highly insane Lord Raedric is out of the way…?"

"You want to take another venture into the Endless Paths, don't you?"

Cera's grin is teasing, and he asks "Did you hear that in my thoughts?"

"Maybe, just a little. Your practically screaming 'please say we'll go down further into the Endless Paths.' But it's also written all over your face."

Kana blushes, and says "Fair enough. So, can we? At least until we have to turn back? Or learn something new?"

Panic crosses everybody else's face at the thought of going until Kana finds something new to learn - he's a rabid historian at times, and trying to turn him from the hunt of something is impossible.

Cera says "A few floors, alright? But then we've got to get back to Defiance Bay. The Sanitarium, remember?"

Kana nods slowly, and then they're off again.

AN: Alright, Raedric's dead! And, he won't be coming back - I don't really think decapitation is something you can come back from, even in Eora. At any rate, it's back to Caed Nua and the Endless Paths! If memory serves, they've made it to at least all those Xaurips. Anyway, enjoy! More chapters coming soon!