DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: Dawn of Revolution

The Quintuplets

Two weeks before the coalition war began...

Murbella laced up her high-heeled boots, stood up, and smoothed her button-up vest. "Not something I'd wear to an evening ball," she said with a little chuckle, "but it's a good, rugged outft for the road. I'm ready to go." Like her sisters, Murbella was dressed in a practical outfit: a long-sleeved white shirt, the vest, pants, and the boots. A far cry from the elegant gowns they usually wore.

Minerva nodded, her expression tense. "We're all ready. Sisters, this is it. After tonight, we might not see the capital again for many months. There's no going back."

The quintuplets certainly knew that already, Murbella thought, but Minerva was the "oldest" of the five and had a flair for the dramatic. The sisters wouldn't see Sassanoit again until Lorelai's revolution liberated it from the Rhoda monarchy's tyrannical grip... or they wouldn't return at all. The Kingdom of Verhamaine was in for some truly turbulent times.

That's what it took to overthrow a king.

"I'll take the lead," Miranda said cheerily, swinging open the door with a wooden creak. "After you!"

Murbella couldn't help a snort of amusement as she, Minerva, Maggie, and Mozzie filed out of the room, carrying little but the clothes on their backs. Well, Maggie had volunteered to carry their pack, which was actually a rare bag of holding. Inside was whatever the quints would need in the far-off city Coventry, such as formal wear (just in case), rations, their meager supply of coins, some basic thieves' tools (super just in case), and spare writing supplies. The sisters had grown up getting everything they wanted except freedom. Now it was the other way around.

Murbella tried to calm her racing heart as Miranda confidently led the way, descending the tavern's wooden steps and into the bar and restaurant area. The owner, a friend of Lorelai's revolution, had welcomed the quints here, letting them lay low while their father Farraday's hired goons scoured Sassanoit to find them. The quints had only been here a week, but Murbella already found herself missing this place and its hot, affordable dinners of mutton chops and mashed potatoes.

So far, so good. The friendly barkeep/owner, a water genasi man named Holio Vordess, smartly looked away from the quints and didn't bid them farewell, or risk drawing too much attention. But Murbella could have sworn she saw him give the sisters a wink. So kind.

Murbella and her sisters stopped just outside the tavern as a light evening wind picked up, blowing down the street and ruffling the pennants on rooftop flagpoles. "So... our final instructions before leaving," she prompted.

"Right here." Maggie produced a rolled-up letter, and the sisters huddled around it. Before meeting with their revolution allies at Sassanoit's eastern gate, according to Lorelai's instructions, Farraday's daughters needed to visit a few undercover revolutionary agents in this district and collect updated spy reports, some updated city maps, plenty of personal correspondence, and more. Lorelai trusted the sisters to get this done quick, using their extensive knowledge of Sassanoit's labyrinthine streets and back alleys to their advantage.

"Let's split up like this," Minerva, the unofficial group leader, decided. She held up a map and traced her finger along the streets. "Maggie, you visit Kulett's Tavern and make your way to the city gate through these back alleys. Mozzie, you'll head to these apartments on 67th and Murray street. Miranda, you'll visit this opera house in the entertainment district to the south. And Murbella, you'll visit this apothecary on 19th and Wordel street."

Minerva let all that sink in. "And I'll report to this bookstore down the street. I know it's a little scary, splitting up like this. But we don't have much time. I have faith that the five of us can get it done." She rolled up the map and held out a hand, a kind expression on her face. "Trust and love, sisters."

Recognizing their group's silly but absolutely accurate motto, Murbella smiled and placed a hand over Minerva's. "Trust and love."

Mozzie, Maggie, and Miranda did the same, overlapping their hands, then withdrawing them. Then they split up, and with an excited but nervous whooshing sensation in her stomach, Murbella set off down the cobblestone street, heading to the apothecary on 19th and Wordel street. She tried to look purposeful and casual as she went, just an innocent, fair lady wandering Sassanoit on her own business. Her wavy brown hair streamed behind her in the breeze, a nice breeze that made this life-changing evening feel weirdly casual. Murbella even smiled at the sight of two firbolg children, probably brothers, fighting over the last piece of candy their frazzled mother had bought for them at a sweets shop. This city felt so alive when you saw it up close, instead of trapped in Farraday's mansion all day!

"Hey. Young lady."

Murbella froze, her heart clenching in her chest. Who said that? Was it one of her father's men? So soon?

A robed dragonborn man with forest-green scales approached her, his black and white robes rustling as he went, a gold medallion featuring an eclipsed sun hanging from his neck on a gold chain. "These are dangerous times, missy. Best go home quick. Not a good time to be out and about alone."

"I-I..." Murbella swallowed. This was a priest from the Orzhov Syndicate, a church/bank/crime syndicate that was utterly loyal to the crown, as was Farraday. Had Farraday contacted the Syndicate to find his daughters? "I'll be fine. I live just down the street from here. I'll be home in five minutes." She offered a half-convincing smile.

The Syndicate priest gave Murbella a look, his reptilian face unreadable. "Just watch yourself," he told her curtly, then went on his way.

Murbella sighed with relief, then decided this was no time to let her guard down. Hurry! Minerva was counting on her!

"Oh, good evening," the apothecary owner said warmly as Murbella stepped inside. The pungent, spicy, and oddly compelling scent of fresh potion ingredients filled the air, the walls lined with bottles, racks, and bowls of all sorts of goodies.

Murbella knew the code. She confidently strode up to the counter and told the halfling lady behind the counter: "It's a fine evening to be alive."

The halfling nodded. "I can feel the city breathing," she said, finishing the code. She hopped down from her stool and wandered into the back room, soon returning with a small satchel filled with rolled-up documents. "All the latest intel. Make sure Lorelai gets this in Coventry," she said quietly. "Best of luck, Murbella. May the gods bless your journey."

"Thank you so much." Murbella slung the satchel's long strap around her shoulder and tried to look casual as she exited the shop, but she felt twice as nervous, her heart rapidly beating, her nerves tingling. Come on, just follow Minerva's route to the eastern gate... easy does it...

Murbella felt like her nerves were being frayed like old ropes, but to her immense relief, she made it to Sassanoit's eastern gate scot-free, the precious satchel of documents still slung comfortably over her shoulder. She strode down the street, the city wall looming large, the gate's massive portcullis currently lowered. She also saw three of her sisters already grouped up in front of a small shop at the city's edge, a horse-drawn carriage waiting for them a few dozen paces away.

"I'm here," Murbella announced breathlessly, joining the others. "Minerva, Mozzie, Miranda... I'm glad you're here, too. Just Maggie left, then we can go. Right?"

"Yes, that's right. No time to spare," Minerva said. She, too, carried a satchel filled with documents. "I made sure I wasn't followed. Same for Mozzie and Miranda."

"I checked. I wasn't followed, either," Murbella assured her.

"I can't believe we're really doing this," Mozzie said, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. "It feels so real, being here, about to leave, carrying these maps and stuff..."

Minerva motioned with her hands. "Careful, Mozzie! Someone might hear you."

Mozzie winced. "Sorry."

Minerva's stern face softened into a warm smile. "But I do sympathize." She gently clapped Mozzie's shoulders with both hands, and Mozzie looked a bit happier.

"Oh, there's Maggie now," Murbella piped up. She turned and pointed.

"Hooray! Success!" Miranda cheered, raising her hands. "Now we can go. Come on, open roads!"

Minerva's face darkened again. "Hold that thought, Miranda. Something's wrong."

Once again, Murbella felt herself go cold, her heart tightening in her chest. She didn't like that look on Maggie's face as the latter anxiously strode over to the assembled group.

Maggie checked over her shoulder. "I... I think I was followed," she hissed. "City guards. I might have shaken them. But we should make sure."

"It was risky, coming back if you might have been tailed," Minerva admonished her. "You could have led them here. We can't leave Sassanoit as things are now."

"But... what should I have done?" Maggie asked urgently. "I was counting on not being tailed at all! I was so careful!"

"Let's keep our wits about us and figure this out," Mozzie said. "Minerva, do we have a backup plan?"

Minerva tossed her hair. "Yes. We're taking the initiative. Maggie, lead us back the way you came, and we'll fan out to find those agents. We'll lure them in the wrong direction, then lose them and hurry back here. Like this." She got out her map again and pointed out a new set of routes for the sisters. Of course, this was risky too, and the quintuplets weren't exactly experienced rogues... but this was the best they could do. They didn't dare back down or turn themselves in. If Maggie failed to shake off her tail last time, she'd just have to try it again.

Trust and love.

Murbella wasn't entirely sure she knew what she was doing, but it was too late to find other revolutionary agents in the city and ask them for help, and doing so would draw attention, too. Instead, the quintuplets fanned out according to Minerva's instructions, scouring the evening streets and back alleys for any sign of Maggie's pursuers. By now, twilight was falling over Sassanoit, and enchanted streetlamps flared to life, a sight Murbella normally found quite pretty. Not tonight.

The streets seemed clear of pursuers, so Murbella reunited with Mozzie halfway through her search. "I didn't find anyone," Murbella reported.

"Me, neither. Let's wrap this up. I wanna get out of this city." Mozzie led the way, a tense quiet forming between the sisters. Murbella decided to break it.

"Weird as it sounds, I may miss Father when we leave," Murbella mentioned. "I'm not saying I had second thoughts about this! But spending a week in that tavern gave me time to think. I just hope our family can truly be whole again someday."

"Don't forget, Murbella, we're doing this because Father tyrannized us," Mozzie told her harshly. "Come on! Ever since Mother died, he kept us locked in a gilded cage. And now he's helping the king fight the revolution. I can't forgive him for that."

"He's making a big mistake. Yes," Murbella said gently. "But I almost abandoned my family when I ran off with that orc gang, remember? I've regretted that every day since then. Once the king is overthrown and Verhamaine is free, we can talk it over with Father. Try to -"

"I wish he were dead," Mozzie growled. "Don't you, Murbella? Admit it! Father is a monster!"

Murbella gasped, clapping a hand over her mouth. "How can you say that? He's done wrong by us, I know. But wishing him dead -"

"This is what it means to rebel, dear sister," Mozzie said, poking a finger into Murbella's stomach. "You must fully commit! If we are to kill Father to protect the revolution, then so be it. In fact, I'll do it myself so you don't have to. Lorelai would like that."

Murbella lowered her hand, staring at Mozzie in disbelief. "I can't believe you, Mozzie. You'd never say that. It's not like you!"

The sisters stopped and stared at one another, right there in a dimly lit alley. Murbella put her hands on her hips and added, "It's not like you because you're not you... impostor."

Mozzie just kept staring. Then she let out a yell and brandished a wicked knife, swinging it at Murbella's head.

Murbella ducked and kicked at the fake Mozzie's leg, and Mozzie stumbled back. "Are you a loyalist agent? Disguised as my sister?" Murbella shouted.

The fake Mozzie cracked a grin and motioned with her free hand. Wisps of pale blue magic floated around her, and she showed her true form, an air genasi woman close to Mozzie's build, her hair in a braided ponytail. "You're craftier than I thought, you brat," she commented. "Did I overdo it with your feud with your father Farraday?"

"Our father has made many mistakes. But we will never harm family," Murbella declared.

The air genasi agent bared her teeth. "And I have no problem harming you. None of us do." As she spoke, four more armed individuals arrived and had Murbella surrounded. Curses! More loyalist agents? Was the mission over before it even began? Murbella wanted to fight, but it was no good. She was all alone once again, trapped in this city's unforgiving back streets -

One of the agents turned. "Look out!" he hollered.

A new squad arrived, and they leaped into action at once. The newcomers immediately crossed blades with the loyalist squad, and behind them, Minerva and the other sisters jogged to catch up.

"Murbella!" Minerva cried. "We're getting out of here! To the wagon!"

Clearly, the stealthy, subtle part of this mission was over, and that was just fine with Murbella! If she and the others had two fight their way out of Sassanoit, so be it. With the revolution agents risking their lives, Murbella didn't dare hesitate any longer.

Murbella shoved her way free of the bloody melee, shouting her thanks to her rescuers over her shoulder and rejoining her four sisters. The whole time, nearby pedestrians cried out in terror, and uniformed city guards were rushing over to intervene, shortswords drawn and at the ready.

"Run for it!" Miranda cried, and the sisters did exactly that. Murbella's breaths soon came in painful gasps and her legs burned, her wavy brown hair whipping around behind her as she sprinted through the city she once called home. The eastern gate drew ever nearer -

"Look! Right on time," Maggie hollered, pointing. To Murbella's immense relief, the gate's portcullis was steadily going up, and Murbella could actually hear the chains clanking as it went.

"So, I kinda... huff! Had to spend all our money... on bribes," Miranda panted. "Worth it!"

"I'm sorry!" Mozzie added, pumping her arms as she ran. "That loyalist agent... huff! Saw me and used a... a self-disguise spell! I'm the real one!"

"We're sure?" Murbella couldn't help but ask.

"I checked! With personal questions!" Minerva panted. "Now move!"

The quintuplets leaped aboard the waiting horse-drawn carriage, and the bewildered driver lashed the reins to get the two chestnut-brown horses into action. The horses whinnied and broke out into a run, and the carriage was whisked right through Sassanoit's eastern gate, beyond the wall, and into the idyllic autumn Verhamaine countryside beyond. Just the sisters, their carriage, and the open dirt road leading to the endless horizon.

It took a few moments for the sisters to catch their breath and piece everything together. Minerva had been reluctant to call upon revolution agents for help, but with that air genasi woman taking Mozzie's place and other loyalist agents about to corner Maggie, the sisters had no choice but to call in reinforcements. They all grimly agreed that by now, their rescuers had either been arrested and were now being dragged to a dungeon... or had been cut down where they stood. The quints owed those brave fighters everything.

"Our father... what will you do if you see him again?" Murbella asked Mozzie. She had to hear this.

Mozzie made a sad smile. "Do everything in my power to make our family whole again. Father has done so many things wrong, but I still think we may one day forgive him. I look forward to that day."

After hearing the air genasi agent speak such cruel words with Mozzie's face, Murbella couldn't help but throw her arms around her sister in a tight embrace.

"Hey, me too!" Miranda cried, and she wrapped her arms around both Murbella and Mozzie in turn. The three of them couldn't help but laugh.

The quintuplets' carriage slowed to a steadier pace, pushing deep into Verhamaine's wilderness as the moon rose over the horizon and the stars came into full view. Murbella kept her eyes on the dirt road ahead of them until she couldn't see it anymore, lost in thought. For the second time, she was fleeing Sassanoit to escape her father's suffocating grip, but this wouldn't be like last time, when she almost made a warlock pact in that orc camp. This time, she had her sisters and a noble cause to guide her, a cause that would help not just her, but all people of Verhamaine struggling under the king's twisted rule. Once the sisters reached Coventry, the revolutionary army's stronghold city near the Illaran Kingdom's border, things would be different. Very different.

Murbella wondered, once again, what the revolution's leader, the charismatic half-elf Lorelai, looked like, and she wondered what Lorelai would say when the sisters arrived in Coventry to support the cause. At least Murbella knew what she would tell Lorelai first when they finally met.

You'd better make all this worth it.