The adventurers returned to the prison on the middle floor of Thistletop and found that Tstuo and Lyrie were still unconscious. Draul and Corita expended the last of their magic to heal themselves and their friends before the paladin took Nualia to her cell. She was still unconscious, giving Draul the chance to tend to the injuries she sustained during the fight with cloth bandages. Razvan searched around the dungeon and found a pair of manacles that they could use to keep Nualia's hands bound together. Draul clapped the manacles on her wrists, glad that they were able to find a way to restrain Nualia despite her demonic arm. Afterwards, he locked her up in the cell and was confident that the metal bars would be enough to keep her contained.
Afterwards, Draul pulled his companions aside to the chapel of Lamashtu. It was far from the perfect place for his confession but he didn't want to risk any of the prisoners overhearing him when they woke up and ruin what he had to say. Corita and Razvan gathered around him while Kennick leaned up against a wall, watching him. Mariel sat down on the floor, reading through Nualia's journal but promising that she would hear what Draul had to say. He had already told Nualia a part of who he was in the past, and now, he was going to tell the full truth to his closest friends.
"This isn't easy to admit but you all deserve to know who I was before I dedicated myself to the Dawnflower as one of her redeemers," Draul told his friends, his voice soft. "I never knew who my parents were and I was taken in by a vile man called Lasho Dobresan. He was a crime lord in Magnimar, not one of the major players, but he was smart. When he found me as a child, he saw that I had what it took to be one of his enforcers, his trained killers."
"But you resisted him, right?" Corita asked. "You're not a criminal."
Draul shook his head. "I'm not a criminal now but I didn't resist him. I didn't know any better back then. I was young and I wanted a place to call him. I thought Lasho gave me that but all he wanted was another weapon. Still, he taught me how to fight, and for five years, I served as his enforcers. I killed many of his enemies, and unfortunately, I killed those who didn't deserve it."
"This…" Corita muttered quietly, unable to finish her thought.
"You lied to us," Kennick grunted.
"I kept this from you, yes, but I don't consider it a lie," Draul said, sighing. "Yes, I was a crime lord's executioner for five years, but that isn't who I am today. I even took up a new name to show that I left that life behind me."
"And how did you move on?" Razvan questioned, crossing his arms. "Between the authorities in Magnimar and Lasho probably not wanting you to go on your own, you couldn't have escaped so easily."
"As it so happens, I was saved, even if I didn't realize it at first," Draul continued. "I was eighteen when I met Mythren. I was acting as Lasho's bodyguard when Mythren sent him a message, telling him to give up his criminal ways. Lasho laughed and refused to do so, and in turn, Mythren went on the offensive. He was precise and deadly, striking at anyone who worked for Lasho one by one. I was the last line of defense for Lasho but I couldn't stand against Mythren. He cut me down, and if it wasn't for my orcish blood, I may have bled out then."
"But you're still here," Corita pointed out, her voice soft.
"And I take it Lasho didn't make it out alive after Mythren got past you," Razvan said.
"That's right," Draul answered with a nod and clasped his hands together. "I was arrested by the proper authorities and scheduled for execution. Then, one night, Mythren visited me in my cell. He offered me a chance to make amends and find redemption through the Dawnflower. I took it, and the next day, I was released into his custody. Apparently, he had connections with the Lord-Mayor that he used to follow up on his deal. And that's how my path to find redemption started."
While Draul was ashamed with who he was years ago, he had made peace with who he once was. One of Mythren's first lessons to him was that while not everyone can be forgiven for their crimes, anyone can find redemption if they worked for it. Draul had claimed the lives of many during his time as Lasho's killer, both the damned and the innocent, and not only was he able to become a better man, he was chosen as one of Sarenrae's paladins despite his past. He took it as a mission to save as many souls as he could through redemption. If he could find redemption then he was certain that anyone else could find redemption.
Of course, telling the truth of his past had opened the eyes of his companions. Corita looked down at the ground, at a loss for words after what she heard. Kennick kept silent although Draul could see that the coldborn glared at him intensely for keeping such a secret from the group for so long. Mariel didn't look up from the journal she read but she nodded along. Razvan shook his head after hearing the story, deep in thought. Draul kept silent, wanting one of his friends to say something. What was important now that the truth was out was to show that he was still a good man at heart and that the dynamics of the group didn't need to change because of his past.
"I can see now why you're so eager to save our enemies despite their crimes," Mariel noted, glancing up from the journal. "However, just because you were saved doesn't mean that they can be. Nualia and her cohorts are unrepentant as of now."
"When I first agreed to Mythren's deal, I was more interested in my own survival than redemption," Draul told Mariel. "Give it time and I may be able to change their minds."
"Time they might not have," Mariel pointed out calmly. "Given their crimes, Sandpoint is well within their rights to hang them."
"So all that trouble we went through to take them alive was for nothing?' Corita asked, shaking her head.
"I can talk to Mayor Deverin and Sheriff Hemlock to see if I can change their minds," Draul said. "After what we've done, I think I can arrange a deal similar to what Mythren did. I'm not ready to give up on them."
"Draul-" Mariel started.
"I say we go for it," Razvan interrupted Mariel, surprising her and the others.
"Razvan, are you serious?" Corita asked, looking up from the ground at him.
"I sure am," Razvan nodded, determined. "There are some things in life we can't change. Draul couldn't have changed who it was that found him when he was a kid and I couldn't change that my parents were a part of the Sczarni that raised me to follow in their footsteps. Nualia and Tsuto couldn't change the circumstances of their lives and maybe that goes for Lyrie and Orik too."
"So you were part of the Sczarni like Aldern thought," Corita gasped.
"I am but that doesn't change anything about us," Razvan said. "I'm still with all of you no matter what."
"So because of your own criminal nature you think that Draul's plan is a good one?" Mariel questioned with a frown.
Razvan shrugged. "That's not it. Draul hasn't led us wrong since we've met him. If he wants to do this, I'm going to follow his lead."
"Thank you, Razvan," Draul nodded with a smile. "This means a lot coming from you."
Draul had suspected that Razvan was keeping something from the group just as he did with his own past. Razvan being raised into the Sczarni wasn't as terrible as Draul being a killer but he was still associated with a criminal syndicate. It certainly explained how a cook was able to fight off against goblins and disable traps. Still, Draul wouldn't hold Razvan's association with the Sczarni against him. Razvan had proven himself loyal to the group and that's what mattered to the paladin.
"That settles it," Corita took a step forward. "I'm sorry that I doubted the both of you just now after everything we've been through. We're Sandpoint's heroes for a reason and we have to stand together. If you wish to try to help our enemies find amends, then I'll help out."
"I'm glad to hear that from you, Corita," Draul said. "I'm sorry for keeping my past from you."
"I don't blame you for that," Corita told Draul with a smirk. "If you had told us that you were a killer when we first met, I probably would have stayed as far away from you as I can."
"What about you, Kennick?" Draul asked, looking at the coldborn. "You've been through a lot and I know this isn't easy for you but I want to hear from you all the same."
Kennick snorted. "We fought by each other's side but the trust between us has been broken."
"I know," Draul nodded apologetically. "I will do everything I can to make amends for keeping my past from you"
"We'll see," Kennick closed his eyes and exhaled. "I don't think that Nualia and Tsuto can be saved after what I've seen of them recently. Still, they were my friends once. If you wish to spare them, I won't object, but I am worried that they will tell Sandpoint what I really am."
"I will do what I can to limit who they're allowed to see until I know they can keep your secret," Draul assured Kennick. "One day, I hope that you don't have to hide that you're a coldborn."
"One day…" Kennick sighed.
"This is actually happening," Mariel said, and after a moment, shrugged. "Although now that I think about it, maybe I have been a bit cruel with my thoughts on what we should do with them. I don't consider myself violent by any means but I worry about what would happen if they don't change."
"If that comes to pass, I shall deal with them myself," Draul told Mariel. "I may be insistent when it comes to redemption but the Dawnflower teaches that we need to be wise enough to know when someone can't be saved."
"I hope you're wise enough to not want to redeem Malfeshnekor," Mariel smirked.
Draul chuckled. "Malfeshnekor is another story altogether. Thank you for trusting me, Mariel."
"Think nothing of it," Mariel waved her hand dismissively and glanced back down at the journal she had.
Draul was relieved by his companions' support after he told them of his past. He couldn't keep the truth hidden from them for much longer and was worried that they would come to see him in a different light. While he needed to work on rebuilding Kennick's trust, he was glad to hear that they supported his plan to help their enemies and even more glad that they would continue to work together. As for whether Nualia and her allies would accept the offer of redemption, that was another matter altogether. They would likely resist at first and it was possible that the leaders of Sandpoint would have something to say, but for now, Draul would focus on dealing with Malfeshnekor.
"Mariel, have those journals told us about what Malfeshnekor is?" Draul asked.
"I've found out a little about Malfeshnekor," Mariel answered, flipping through the next page. "Nualia dreamt of Malfeshnekor when she became a follower of Lamashtu after the Late Unpleasantness. Apparently, she thinks that Malfeshnekor is a barghest and has been chosen by Lamashtu to help her find vengeance against those that tormented her in Sandpoint."
"A barghest?" Corita blinked in confusion. "What's that?"
"Barghests are fiendish hunters that are believed to be connected to Lamashtu," Draul explained, recalling the information from religious texts he studied. "They're also said to be related to the goblins and clever and more powerful barghests often find goblin tribes to lead."
"That might explain why there are goblins in Thistletop," Razvan said. "Maybe they're connected to this barghest. It doesn't explain how Malfeshnekor ended up locked away."
"There's nothing in this journal of how or why Malfeshnekor ended up in Thistletop, only that he did," Mariel chimed in. "There's much to read and I am growing tired."
"Can we defeat a barghest?" Kennick asked.
"It's possible," Draul nodded. "Barghests can be dangerous but they're far from powerful. They're more of a local threat than anything else. They're resistant to typical weapons, but between my divine powers, the magic Mariel leads, Razvan and Corita's newfound magical swords, and your own ferociousness, it'll be a close fight."
"Is there anything we can do to improve our odds?" Razvan asked. "I'd hate to end up releasing a great evil that we couldn't kill."
"What if we use Nualia's sword as well?" Corita suggested. "I saw faint runes across the blade. It might be magical as well."
"That it is but a bastard sword is difficult to wield," Draul told the adventurers. "I couldn't even master the scimitar. That's why I prefer using a simple greatclub."
"In that case, I may be better off fighting as a coldborn than with a weapon," Kennick nodded in agreement.
"Although Corita did give me another idea," Draul said.
"I think I know where you're going with this," Mariel looked up from the journal with a frown. "We can't trust our prisoners not to stab us in the back."
"Most of them, sure, but Orik's been helpful," Razvan pointed out. "I don't think he would turn against us."
"And he fights with a bastard sword," Draul added.
"Perhaps," Mariel sighed. "I suggest we should sleep on it for now. Perhaps one of us will be able to come up with a plan before we settle on freeing one of our captives."
Draul and the others nodded in agreement with Mariel's suggestion. He wouldn't push the matter given that he had already lost the trust of some of his companions but he thought it was worth considering giving Orik a chance. If the mercenary fought against Malfeshnekor, it would show that he was willing to work toward redemption, and the others may be willing to follow in his example. It certainly helped that Orik was committed to Nualia's cause outside of the money he was paid in and that he did provide his captors with vital information.
The truth was that they needed all the help they could get against Malfeshnekor. Barghests were cunning and dangerous foes. The adventurers may have numbers on their side like they did with Nualia but that may not be enough against a barghest. Draul knew that his companions had come a long way since fighting the goblins during the Swallowtail Festival but a barghest may be strong even for them. It would be a matter worth bringing up again when it came closer to time to confront Malfeshnekor.
"So we're resting up for now?" Razvan asked. "What time is it?"
"I don't know, but after all those fights, I could use a break," Corita admitted with a yawn. "I'm exhausted."
"Tomorrow, we can patch up our remaining injuries, decide on a plan for Malfeshnekor, and do what we can to stop him once and for all," Draul said. "We'll need to keep watch over our prisoners as well, just in case."
"I would offer to help but I think my time would be best spent trying to learn what I can about Malfeshnekor from Nualia's journal," Mariel told the group.
"I'll take the first watch," Kennick offered with a shrug. "I'm not that tired yet."
"Then I'll take second watch," Razvan said with a nod. "I'll be ready when it's time."
"I'll take third watch then," Draul said. "Tomorrow, we make sure that no one ever frees Malfeshnekor."
Corita nodded with a smile, thankful that she could sleep without having to worry about taking a watch shift. They were close to finishing the fight they had set out to when they left Sandpoint. Once Malfeshnekor was dealt with, the group would be able to return to Sandpoint and celebrate their hard-earned victory. It may be a tough fight but Draul had faith that his friends would do whatever it took to ensure Malfeshnekor's destruction.
A/N: With this update, I'm probably going to take a break from Burnt Offerings until the weekend to work on other projects. I'm still on track to get this story done by the time I mentioned last time.
Until next time.