Chapter 26
After waking, I took Karlach, Wyll, Shadowheart and Halsin to the lift in the Sharran temple. We ascended through to another section of the temple and as we opened the doors to the outside world, I felt it. The malicious, hungry darkness permeated the air and soaked into the earth, like a heavy fog. Being so close to it I felt something… else in the pristine darkness, an element of it I cannot describe but hung on the barest edge of energies that wove its way through the magical malaise.
I was shaken out of my musings by the wind blowing out the brazier that hung over the door. I felt the darkness closing in on us as I pulled my amulet off my neck and willed bright blue light through it. "Everyone stays within the light!" I ordered as we moved forward.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness around us, I noticed that all the trees and plant life in what could have been an ancient forest were long dead. Not just malnourished from lack of sunlight but drained of energy entirely and the bark seemed to have a sickly green energy swirly within it. Walking, even within the relative safety of my wizard light, in this barren land was exceptionally unnerving. I expected the land to feel rotted or putrid from all the dead plants and animals around, but I felt nothing. An endless, overbearing sense of absence. It reminded me of the dark magic used by the Red Court and other truly dark wizards, this 'Shadow-curse' was born of a magic that had nothing to do with life or the changing of energies. It was made of the opposite of such things. Fitting for a Goddess of Night.
As we continued down the path, we spied some light coming up ahead. A group of people were walking through the cursed lands with troches raised high. They were armoured in leather and those not holding torches had bows and short swords at the ready. They also noticed our light coming down the path as they turned around, bows and swords pointed in our direction.
"Who are you? State your business here?" A more heavily armoured woman with a crossbow ordered as she pointed the weapon at my head.
"We're people trying to survive out here. Same as you. And our business is our own. But if you let us pass, I could help you. As you can see, I have a more sustainable light source." I offered gesturing to my amulet.
Before the woman could respond to my answer a scream could be heard from the group. A blonde man was being dragged into the darkness by a large, hooded shadow.
"Yonas! You alright? Can you find the torches?" The armoured woman shouted.
"I can't see anything. Something's wrong. Argh" Yonas cried as I heard a cracking and squelching sound.
"Yonas!" The armoured woman cried. As she did, Yonas began walking back towards her, now covered in the sickly green and black energy that filled all once living spaces.
"Join me… join ussss." The undead Yonas wailed as four more shadow beings stood up beside him.
"Lux Pendeo!" I cast as I threw my amulet up into the sky where it blazed brighter and brighter and began to hover in the air like a miniature sun, illuminating us and the armoured group, ending just at where Jonas and his buddies were stalking. "Stay in the light and burn these undead bastards before they take any more of us!" I cried as I threw a goat of flame at the undead Yonas, burning a hole through his chest, and dropping the poor man.
"You heard the man. Harpers to arms!" The armoured woman bellowed as the other Harpers dropped their torches and produced their weapons.
With that order, the fighting started. The shadow beings slipped into the lit area with a cringe but began to attack the Harpers. Their strikes with sword and bow were useless, merely passing through the translucent aura of the monsters. My fire bolts were slightly more effective, but they merely reeled back from the blows and did not burn like they should. It was only Shadowheart's light globes that did any real damage to them, as she took down two of them with quick castings. Barcus was right, only light could harm these beings of pure shadow. I was about to order Shadowheart to turn up the pressure on the attackers when a shadow-being appeared behind her and threw the half-elf into the darkness behind my spell light.
I screamed in outraged panic as I looked into the darkness after her but had to abandon the effort as I dodged a strike from one of the shadow beings. I had to drop these things and fast. Think Harry, they reacted to the fire, but only the light it produced, and they cringed as they walked into the amulet light. I looked at my amulet and had a crazy idea. As I dodged another attack from the monsters I aimed my staff at my hovering amulet, focused my magic and added a dash of soul fire. I cast, "Fuego Riflittum!" The bolt of fire hit the amulet and smaller bolts of fire infused with the wizard light burst out over the area, destroying the shadow beings like acid rain.
I quickly retrieved my amulet from the sky and went looking for Shadowheart, who was walking back from the darkness, noticeably unharmed. "You're okay!" I exclaimed as I pulled her in for a hug. She accepted it woozily as I pulled back and said, "Wait you're okay. How?" I asked.
"I… just wasn't affected." Shadowheart said a smile spread across her face, "Do you know what this means? I must be blessed. Lady Shar is protecting me where others are left to face her wrath. She loves me. She must do."
That presented a whole new set of questions. Did Shar know Shadowheart was here? It stood to reason she did, it is covered in a curse of shadows. But if she knew Shadowheart was here, she knew I was here and that was not a great thing if she was the one Nicodemus sacrificed Maggie to.
Shadowheart saw the worry on my face and asked, "Something the matter Harry?"
I frantically looked around the area to find something to turn the conversation away from any questioning of my mood, when I saw a purple flower that bloomed healthily in the barren darkness. I quickly picked it up and turned to Shadowheart.
"Just noticed this nice purple flower. It kind of looks like that night orchid you described to me. Did I get it right?" I asked with a mostly genuine grin.
Shadowheart chuckled, "Yes, you did. It's beautiful, thank you. I don't have anything to give you in return, I'm afraid."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll think of something." I teased touching her arm lightly.
"I'm sure I can," Shadowheart said a sly grin replacing the more exalted one.
"If I could interrupt." The armoured woman asked in an impatient voice.
I turned around, a combination of annoyance and embarrassment on my face, "Sorry. Are you and your men, okay?"
"Aside from poor Yonas, we're all still alive at least. And that's thanks to you and your little light show. Thank you. We need to get out of here. There's a safe place- follow me." The armoured Harper woman said.
We followed the Harpers back to their safe house which was surrounded by a dome of pure light. We walked inside the dome I felt the energies of the shadow curse dissipate. "Impressive warding. Who cast this?" I asked.
"Can't say till the High Harper's had a look at ya. Sorry mate, orders." Our armoured guide informed us. The woman then guided us across a small bridge and called out, "Jaheria! I have some people here. Got us out of a bind. They need protection from the shadows."
At the armoured woman's call, another older woman with grey plaided hair turned around. Jaheria was a half-elf judging by the length of her pointed ears. She was wearing green and gold leather armour with intricate designs of red and gold on the chest. Two curved swords were strapped to her back. Jaheria stared at me intensely for a moment before reaching down into the earth with her magic to summon vines to wrap around my legs.
The points of the greenery sank into my legs as the vines gripped me tight. "Ya know. I'd like to say is an uncommon greeting for me. But lately… this is honestly par for the course." I quipped trying to ease the tension as I saw all the Harpers around the angry half-elf draw their weapons.
"These types of welcomes have become far too common in these times," Jaheria responded seriously as she walked up beside me and shoved a jar at my face. Inside was a mindflayer tadpole which squirmed and bit in response to my parasite. "For this very reason." Jaheria continued drawing her swords, "You should never have come here, True Soul."
"I'm not a True Soul. If I were why would I save your people." I said reaching for my power in case words would not convince the High Harper of my innocence.
"I'm not interested in the Absolute's manipulations. Kindness is far too often a decoy." Jaheria spat.
"Druid! By Silvanus's grace, I implore you to hold." Halsin commanded walking closer to me to find Harper blades at his throat.
Jaheria scoffed, "Do you believe me a fool? You're not the first of our people to be used against us by the Absolute."
"I am no True Soul. Test me with your specimen. You will see for yourself."
Jaheria walked up to Halsin cautiously and thrust the tadpole jar at him. There was no response.
"What is this?" Jaheria asked.
"These people are not slaves to the Absolute. They have been infected yes but have been granted protection by an artifact of unknowable power." Halsin said.
"Why should I believe you?" Jaheria responded commanding her men to lower their weapons.
"If you would not take my word as a druid. Then take it as a warrior, who has fought at your side before. I was there during the battle that spawned this… abomination unto Silvanus. I fought on the front lines against the Dark Justiciars that tormented these once vibrant lands. And I watched as Throm rendered them asunder as a last measure to spite our victory. I have come back to these accursed lands to fight the Absolute menace and bring this place back to Silvanus' grace. And so have they."
Jaheria's eyes flashed with many emotions rage, frustration, recognition and finally doubt. She came back to me, "Is this true? Did you come here to stop these monsters?"
"Yes. I came here to defend people from the power of the Absolute… and save those I could." I said a slight hitch in my voice as I gave the last statement.
Jaheria stared at me for another long moment and then released me from the vines "Then you have found an ally in me. I'll not pretend to know what that artifact is, but I'm old and wise to recognise a sliver of hope when it crawls out of the darkness. Welcome to Last Light Inn. There should be some beds inside, and some aloe oil in case the vines gave you a rash. Settle in, then come join me for a drink. You may just be the godsend we've been praying for."
As Jaheria walked I processed the name of the Harpers sanctuary. Last Light Inn. An inn! The tracking spell traced Mouse back to an inn near Moonrise Towers. Maggie was here. My heart burned with joy, while also jumping into my throat with worry. What if she's been infected? No. If she's here that means she's safe. Unless she isn't.
I was interrupted from my panic attack by a high-pitched squeal from none other than Karlach, "Oh my gods soldier. That was Jaheria, the Jaheria." Karlach said.
"You a fan fire girl. Didn't take you for the tree hugger type." I teased.
"Oh, come off it. She's an absolute legend. Years ago- over a century- Jaheris was part of a group that saved Baldurs Gate from Sarevok. A Bhaalspawn trying to plunge the city into war. My mum used to tell us stories about them- the legends who protected the city from evil. She said Jaheria was a powerful druid. Adamant. Tough. Can't believe she wants to talk to us about working together. What a day." Karlach giggled like a girl being offered to sing on stage with their favourite pop singer.
I smiled at my hulking friend, "Then we better not keep her waiting. Off to adventure." I said in my hammiest voice.
We walked further into the courtyard outside the inn. There were about a dozen and a half Harpers stomping around the place, guarding, resting and sharpening their weapons. There was a small barn and forge, with a familiar face manning the hammer.
"Dammon is that you?" Karlach asked with delight.
"Karlach! I thought you'd be in the city by now. We were ambushed by cultists. Half of us were captured, the other half ran here." Dammon responded.
"Off the anvil and into the forge. We'll find them hopefully." Karlach said
"Before you go run off into the belly of the beast, there's something I need to tell you," Dammon said gravely. "Well… two things. Good news and bad news."
"Which do you wanna hear first Karlach." I asked.
"The good news, obviously!" Karlach responded with the tone of someone stating an unmissable fact.
"I only need one more piece of infernal iron to craft an insulating chamber that could make it possible for Karlach to…"
"Touch people?!" Karlach interrupted with wild desperation.
"Exactly!" Dammon answered.
"Oh, my gods. It's really happening. It's been so long." Karlach breathed joy and relief rising in her voice as she looked to Wyll, who had a warm smile on his face, "We've got the iron- let's do this thing!" Karlach said exalted.
"Hang on- I think you'll want to hear the bad news, too," Dammon warned.
"Yeah, sure, but first- fix me. Please." Karlach asked desperation burning in her voice even hotter than the flames around her.
"We should hear Dammon out first. It's probably important." I advised.
Karlach looked incredulous for a moment before Wyll said, "He's right Karlach. Hear Dammon out, please."
Karlach rolled her eyes, "Fine. What's wrong Dammon?"
"That engine of yours- it's contained for the moment, but it's too hot to exist here in the material plane indefinitely. I know you know that, but the thing is, there's a cure. I wasn't making any headway with the mechanics- none at all. The environment here is just too cold to sustain metals like the ones inside you. You have to return to Avernus- for good- or this thing is going to burn you up from the inside out. And sooner than you think."
"The minute I set foot back in Avernus. Zariel will force me back into service. I'm not doing her bidding again. I'd rather die" Karlach said with adamant conviction.
"But you wouldn't be going alone this time. I'll come with you. The Blade of Frontiers at your side, we'll find a way." Wyll interrupted, his own desperation growing torrid.
Karlach gave him a look of gratitude and sadness, "That's very sweet darling. But not even you could fight Zariel on your own… especially with Mizora on your tail."
Wyll's face dropped. Desperation and shame lumped his features as he turned to me. "Harry, you must agree. Staying here to die cannot be an option."
I looked at Wyll and then to Karlach. She was standing tall, firm and unyielding in her decision despite the fear I could feel in her. I racked my brain searching for a solution. Winter cold could cool the engine. No. If the flames came from Avernus, it was no doubt hellfire and that melted its way into Arctis Tor, the heart of Mab's kingdom. No ward would work for the same reason. I wanted so badly to agree with Wyll, but… I knew what it was like to work for a monstrous force. So did he. Hell. I couldn't even judge Karlach on basically setting herself up for death. Didn't I hire an assassin to do the same for me?
"If that's what you want Karlach. I respect it." I responded finally.
"Thanks, soldier. Wyll?" Karlach asked looking to the staring warlock.
Wyll was a mask of pain for a quick moment before pulling it back and saying in a small voice, "Alright. If it's what you want."
"Alright, Dammon do it," Karlach said excitement still radiating in her tone despite everything.
Once again Dammon took the infernal iron and bashed it into shape, instructing on how to install it. The metal clicked into place and Karlach asked, "Did it work?"
"Only one way to find out," Dammon responded.
On that note, Wyll turned Karlach around gently by the shoulder and kissed her with all the passion and fear they were both feeling. During the embrace, Karlach's flames turned from crimson red to a calmer blue. As the kiss ended Karlach smiled as she looked into Wyll's eyes.
"You're alright. No burns. Can we go to bed now?" Karlach asked with a happy little giggle
Wyll smiled despite himself and said stroking her cheek. "Whenever we get the chance love." They stayed like that for a moment. We gave them some space before they rejoined the group.
We entered the Last Light Inn. It was a modest building, with wooden floors that had little in the way of carpeting. There was a fire pit in the middle of the room and a bar on the far end. Many of the tiefling survivors huddled around both, seeming lost in thought or drink.
I ignored their pain. I ignored Jaheria's look of invitation to talk at her desk. I ignored my companion's strange glances as I wrapped the string of dog hair around my amulet and willed power into it. I followed the tracking spell to a room on the right of the main hall. Inside was a group of soldiers that looked vaguely familiar. I did not care. There was a bandaged man muttering in pain in one of the beds in the room. I did not care. I walked towards the other bed where a small figure in a plain black and white school uniform. Her white dress shirt was speckled with mud and dirt and her skirt was torn revealing a skinned knee. I walked towards the girl who was accompanied by a behemoth of a dog. I heard something that vaguely sounded like a warning about a 'crazy protective mutt'. I did not care. I kneeled beside Mouse whose hopeful energy was replaced by a mournful whimper as he noticed my presence. I looked over my daughter, Maggie's light brown skin was unmarred, her small face was blank and featureless, as peaceful as a fresh corpse. I moved my hands over her chest and mouth. She's breathing. Heart's beating. But something was… wrong. I reach out to my daughter with my wizard senses, pushing my boiling emotions down to interpret the magic. Maggie's life force was unmarred. Maggie's soul was intact. But her mind… I felt no psychic energies coming from my daughter. She was nothing but a body, a combination of functions to keep meat fresh. The raging, burning storm in my chest ramped up to a tempest. Someone ripped my little girl's psyche from her body, and they did it to support Nicodemus Archleone. I felt my magic building and building as my breath became more ragged and strained. As I felt myself slip from sanity, I felt a strange rough wetness slap my face gently. Looking around I saw Mouse licking my face.
I focused on the dog to bring myself back to reality. I looked around the room. Everyone was looking at me, with expressions that ranged from worried to actively afraid. The only person to walk up to me was Jaheria.
"The child. She is yours?" Jaheria asked in a soft voice.
I nodded feeling tears fall down my cheeks slowly.
Jaheria placed her hand on my shoulder for a long moment before I was able to croak out, "What happened?"
"We found the girl in the near darkest part of the Shadow curse. The only thing keeping her from being taken over being a bright blue light coming from this animal." Jaheria said, Mouse responding by lowering his head in shame.
I scratched my loyal friend behind the ears and turned to Jaheria, "Can you help her?" I asked desperately.
Jaheria shook her head, "Not without ridding ourselves of the curse. And the only lead we have is the muttering man behind us."
I looked at the muttering bandaged man. Unlike Maggie, he was sweating and speaking like a man with a fever. Specifically, a nursery rhyme that peaked Halsin's interest.
"Thaniel. This man speaks of Thaniel. This could be the clue we need." Halsin said with a hopeful voice.
I painfully pulled myself away from the still form of my daughter and looked to Halsin, "How? Whose Thaniel?"
"Thaniel is the spirit of land. If we can commune with him, he could dispel this unnatural curse… And perhaps help your girl." Halsin said trying to comfort me.
I looked over the sleeping man. He had tanned skin, and ruffled brown hair and was muttering a nursery rhyme involving climbing a tree with Thaniel. He was bandaged from the chest down and was sweating like a man trapped in a night terror. A woman was tending to him, one of the soldiers, who I now recognised as one of the Flaming Fist from back at the burning building.
"Who is he? Where did you find him?" I asked the Fist.
"From the uniform we pulled him out of, he's a Flaming Fist. Records have him as Art Cullagh. His unit came to this hellhole nearly a century ago, Flame Cullagh is the only survivor, trapped in the Shadow curse the entire time." The Fist answered.
"How did he survive that long?" I asked, allowing the shock and curiosity to take my attention away from my despair and rage.
"Most likely that is Thaniel's work. Keeping him alive as well as safe from the shadow curse." Halsin answered.
I opened my wizard senses again, looking over Art Cullagh I could feel the psychic damage done to him. The curse has locked his memories inside himself, clouding them in a heavy fog. But whatever protection Thaniel gave him, protected his memories from being lost completely. A strong reminder of them should shake some loose, maybe even wake the soldier up. I scanned the man up and down with my regular senses. He had a few scars that were old enough to be bandaged, some tattered trousers for modesty, and his hands had some rough calluses around the tips of his fingers probably from a musical instrument like a guitar.
"Did he have any personal items on his person? Letters, nick naks, phot… portraits?" I asked pulling back on the last item.
The female Fist handed me a letter scrap. "This was in his pocket. He doesn't seem to have much reaction to it now, but he held onto it for a hundred years, anyway."
I looked at the paper scrap. It mentioned a mission to the House of Healing near Moonrise Towers. A good lead as any. I nodded my appreciation to the Flaming Fist and turned to leave.
"Before you go chasing that lead. We still have things to discuss, there are more threats to your daughter than the shadows." Jaheria warned.
I wanted to rage at the High Harper for placing another hurdle between me and my solutions to Maggie's problem, but she was right. The Absolute is arguably the biggest threat to Maggie, and my only lead to who precisely took Maggie's consciousness away.
I walked towards the door to the main hall following Jaheria and finally noticed the rest of my companions. They were wearing expressions that ranged from sympathetic pain to weary curiosity. They were probably surprised to find the man who had heard all of their ugly baggage was hiding a secret so big. Shadowheart especially seemed conflicted on what to feel, either sympathy for my hurt, or pain over my hiding this from her.
I looked to all my friends but spoke mostly to Shadowheart, "We'll talk about this later… and some other things you need to know." I said vaguely. They seemed except that for now and we moved to the main hall again where Jaheria awaited us at her desk.
Jaheria passed me a glass of wine, "You probably need this about now." She said gently.
I passed the glass back, "Need to stay sharp for what's coming next. So, what is coming next, High Harper?"
Jaheria smirked a little and said, "First introductions. You know me, Jaheria. High Harper. Either from our spat outside or from the abhorrent ballads. But I do not know you?"
"Harry Dresden. Wizard. No bards tales I'm afraid." Unless you count my appearance on Larry Fowler I thought to myself, "My crew here are Wyll, Shadowheart and Karlach. You've already met Halsin.
A little giggle came from Karlach's chest when I mentioned her name in front of Jaheria, which the Harper ignored.
"A pleasure. But forgive my caution. I need to know if the tadpole has had any altering effects on you. People tend to lose more than direction when the Illithids get their hands on them. I speak from experience. So answer me true and do not lie. The parasite is changing you isn't it?" Jaheria asked.
"Yes. It's trying to exude control over me in subtle ways. The classics really. Offers of power, and protection. We're resisting but we need these stowaways out as soon as possible. Before if we're able." I answered.
Jaheria lit a fire in her hands with magic and used it to light the room, "Look around you: good men, good women, stranded here- two feet in the grave. If we're to survive, I have to trust you. Can I?" Jaheria asked a hint of weary desperation in her voice.
"I give you, my word. I'm here to save my daughter, and to make sure everyone else gets out clean." I answered seriously.
Jaheria looked me over for a moment, she seemed to believe me, but was still cautious about it, "I suppose that will have to do. I have every reason to be cautious. I've traced people like you, people with parasites in their brains, all the way from Baldurs Gate. The cult of the Absolute is spreading through the city- quietly, quickly and with unsettling deliberation. We tracked them to an ancient village only to be faced with a man we killed and buried over a century ago."
"No. So you mean…"
"Yes Halsin. Ketheric Throm has returned. And he is the leader of the Absolutist's." Jaheria said with disgust.
In response to the news, I saw fear in the big druid's eyes. They were quickly replaced by anger and determination. But it was there, anyone who frightens a man like Halsin is someone to take note of.
Jaheria turned her attention back to me, "Throm was a Sharran once- took to building an army of Dark Justiciars beneath this very village. Alongside the local druids, we made it our business to see him deposed- dead and buried. But he's returned. Not only does General Ketheric Throm live again, but it seems he is no longer mortal. He has become in fact invincible.
Another invincible, immortal agent of darkness. My blood boiled at the thought, did Nicodemus throw Maggie to this General Throm because of their shared invulnerability? The thought threatened to send me spiralling until I felt a wash of calming thoughts from Shadowheart. I looked at her as she smiled and said psychically, "Just returning the favour."
I refocused on Jaheria. "He must have some sort of power source or deal going with some devil. We find them, we find a way to gank the bastard." I said excess rage spilling through my words.
"That is exactly the plan. Protected by your artifact, you can infiltrate his forces at Moonrise Towers, posing as a True Soul. Find out what makes him invincible so we can strip him of his advantage. Once Ketheric is without his shield. The sword. Together we assault his tower, and put a final end to this blight… And perhaps save your child in the process." Jaheris said, softening her voice on the last statement.
"We're taking that son a bitch down. For Maggie." I said whispering the last words.
"Without a cure for your infection, your days are likely numbered. Yet you selflessly offer to spend them fighting for your child and for us. I like you." Jaheria said with the first warm smile I'd seen on the old half-elf's face. "I will do everything I can to make sure you survive this. Any cure starts with understanding the disease. Whatever magic Ketheric is using to control these tadpoles, it must be at Moonrise."
"How do we get to Moonrise? The towers are covered in shadows?" I asked.
"You're not our only secret weapon. Isobel- a faithful cleric of Selune, and a light in the darkness. She cast the Moon shield around the inn. It's the only reason we're still alive. She's upstairs in her chambers. Tell her I sent you and she'll see you through the shadows safely."
I nodded my appreciation to Jaheria and turned towards the stairs, "Harry." She said before I moved, "For what it's worth. I'm sorry about your girl. I'll do what I can for her."
"Thank you," I said, noticing a sad, knowing look in her eye. The look of a fellow parent, giving their sympathies.
As I walked towards the stairs, Raphael was sitting at a chess board near the window, apparently considering moves and placing himself in the tableau of a megalomaniacal king. His eyes lit up with delight when he noticed us, "Harry! It's good to see you again. I'd ask if you've made any progress with your little problem, but the tell-tale twitching of your eye is answer enough. Oh, and by the way. My condolences about dear Maggie. A mind is such a precious thing to lose."
My mind was upended. Knowing about my name and the hellfire quip was one thing. Having Maggie's name meant he knew me, intrinsically. "How do know about Maggie? Who told you all this about me?" I demanded.
Raphael shook his head, "Harry, dear Harry. You of all people should know the price of information like that." Rapheal said smirking the smile of a fisherman with a juicy fish on the line.
I pointed my staff at the devil lighting the runes on it with amber, green flame, "Tell. Me. Now!" I snarled.
The devil just laughed, "Oh, Dresden. Even if you had the power to kill me before I eviscerated you. The battle would burn this little refuge to the ground. A practice your quite adept at sure. But are you willing to sacrifice the poor tieflings and their inadequate Harper protectors?"
I snarled at the smirking bastard and lowered my staff.
"That's better. Don't worry my friend. If you want to know more, I could work it into the terms of our future deal. But the time for quibbling over clauses and contracts hasn't quite arrived. You'll be limping back to me soon enough. Ta-ta for now." Raphael said as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
I cursed myself for letting the devil go. I then walked up the stairs to Isobel's room. On the balcony outside the room, was a woman with bright silver hair and a grey and black cape producing a ball of starlight from her cupped hands which flew out to the translucent dome and added to the protection's strength. The woman then turned around and I saw her profile. Isobel had long silver hair, and slightly pointed ears and was wearing a leather robe coloured grey and black. The shades of the moon.
"I didn't realise I had an audience." The cleric said in a light British accent. We followed her back into the room and turned to speak. "The True Soul who's going to save us all, I'm Isobel. Pleased to meet you." Isobel said with a hint of humour in the title.
"Harry Dresden, cleric of the moon and banisher of shadows. The pleasure is mine." I said matching her tone.
"Selune and I are doing what we can to hold the line. I hear you and your tadpole will be our offence. Free from the Absolute's influence, yet able to walk amongst cultists."
"Well, you what they say. Networking and a dysfunctional brain worm are the keys to success." I joked.
Isobel gave a light chuckle, "Quite. It's almost too good to be true. But I'd be a poor cleric indeed not to avail myself of a blessing when I see one. Let me guess: Jaheria's sent you to beg a protection spell off her favourite cleric."
Isobel then produced another ball of moonlight and shone it over us all. There was an oddly warm yet cool feeling that engulfed me. Like feeling the rays of the moon on a warm summer's night.
"Perfect. It'll make you immune to the lesser effects of the shadow curse, which will get you closer to the Towers. But there are places it won't help places where the curse is darker. Stronger. The cultists are able to traverse even the deepest shadows though. I don't know how- the Harpers are trying to figure it out." Isobel said.
"Selunite magic. Dark Lady forgive me." Shadowheart said in disgust.
"Good nose like a nasty little terrier." Isobel shot back.
"Ladies. Maybe save the religious tension for after the illithid cultists are dealt with, please." I asked turning to Shadowheart, who rolled her eyes and nodded.
"Right, you should be off then, dear saviours. While you're busy in the Towers, I'll be sure to- wait. Do you hear that? Something's wrong." Isobel warned. As she did I heard it the flapping of great wings as a man wearing Flaming Fist armour came flying onto the balcony.
The man was light-skinned, had straight long hair and had two bony, malnourished wings sticking out of his back, "Hello Isobel." The winged Fist said menacingly.
"Marcus- is that you? What's happened to you?" Isobel asked in shock.
"I've been blessed. You can be too. Come with me and you can hear it all from Ketheric himself.
"You can't believe them, Marcus. Ketheric will never give you whatever it is you've been promised." Isobel pleaded.
"He already has," Marcus said opening his rotted wings.
"What? Those two chicken wings super-glued to your back. If that was the price for selling out your fellow man. You got a lower bar than a back-alley dope fiend bird boy." I quipped pulling out my blasting rod and aiming my staff.
The next words Marcus spoke were to me inside my head, "True Soul. My instructions were clear: take the girl to Ketheric. Alive."
I used the tadpole to push deeper into the traitorous Fist's mind. He was telling the truth. Ketheric wanted Isobel alive. But for what? Marcus didn't know. A loyal soldier never questions the command of his general.
"Take one more step, and I'll see how those bird wings taste crispy." I snarled in response inside the man's mind.
"Pathetic. The Absolute see's all- your treachery will be punished." Marcus declared aloud as he then let out a mighty roar that shook the wood of the inn and summoned a pack of winged monsters. The creatures were humanoid, but so skinny that you could see their rib cages and on the end of their sticklike arms were razor-sharp claws. Their skin was as pale as a fresh corpse, and they had bat-like wings that protruded out of their spiked spines. "Time to go Isobel."
The battle started with both the winged creature and Marcus trying to strike Isobel. I was able to block Marcus with my shield but the strike from the monster found its mark. Isobel reeled back with the pain and suddenly froze in place, paralysed. All three of the winged monsters tried to strike again but Wyll blasted with a circle of thunderous power. Unfortunately for me, Marcus's second strike broke through my shield and set me flying backwards. Before he could make another move on Isobel, Shadowheart used her golden protection spell to block attacks on the moon cleric. The mark on her hand bit into her and in that distraction Marcus was able to strike her and knock her into a pillar, leaving her dazed. It was at this time, that Karlach and I engaged with Marcus again. He tried to smash Karlach with his magical-infused greatclub, but she was able to block it with her axe.
"Blasphemous fools! You will not stop the glory of the Absolute. The General is her will incarnate and he will have his desire." Marcus spat.
In response, I cast a bolt of fire at the Fist, which singed the armour slightly and pushed him off Karlch. The flaming barbarian charged the winged True Soul, but the man used the aforementioned appendages to fly above the tiefling and out of range of her attacks. I tried to shoot the cheating menace out of the sky, but my shots were either avoided or blocked by his armour.
During this exchange, I noticed the battle between the three winged horrors and Wyll and Halsin. The two men were fighting the monsters while also trying to protect Shadowheart, who was only focused enough to keep the protection on Isobel but not enough to fight. As one of the flying corpses tried to slash at the dark-haired cleric, Halsin as a black panther jumped at the creature and cut it with his agile claws. The other two beasts weren't fairing much better as the warlock Blade of Frontiers blasted the first with green bolts of energy while the other was cut down to size by his quick rapier work. The two remaining wounded horrors were in Halsin's sights who turned back to his humanoid form and summoned spiked vines to wrap around the monsters' necks and snap them like week-old twigs.
The display of power gave me an idea, I focused my staff on the evading Marcus and spat, "Time to ground you fly-boy. Gravitas Unicus!" The spell increased the gravity around the bastard's puny wings, breaking them instantly. As the former Fist fell to the floor, Karlach, rage bright and manic, charged the cultist. Marcus gave a poor attempt to spar with the blazing woman but his pain crippled his resolve and he was soon cut in half with a final barbaric bellow from Karlach.
I checked on Shadowheart who regained enough composure to heal herself and then Isobel who came out of the paralysis. Jaheria came running into the room, slightly bloodied, likely from other winged horrors that invaded the inn.
"Isobel! Are you alright?" Jaheria asked.
"I'm fine" Isobel responded.
"Marcus was with us from the start- they've been tracking us this whole time. And this was no random attack- you were the target, Isobel. They know how important you are. But they don't know about you." Jaheria said turning to me. "Ketheric will strike again. We need you to strike first. Discover the source of his invulnerability. Make him mortal, so we can make him bleed. Good luck." Jaheria declared as she left to check on the damage.
"We're in more danger than I knew. If something happened to me, everyone in this inn is dead. Like that." Isobel said seriously, snapping her finger for emphasis.
"Marcus wanted you taken not dead. Why does Throm want you?" I asked both thinking aloud and asking the cleric.
"Why does a man like him do anything? Power-spite- some kind of twisted personal morality. I don't want to find out." Isobel said in genuine fear.
"I won't let him near you," I assured Isobel, all my instincts backing my statement.
"No mercy. For Ketheric will have none on you. End this."
"Any more information you can give me before we go?" I asked.
"Yes, there is. It's about Ketheric. He used to be the leader of this village. A good and respected man. A Selunite. But he turned to Shar and raised an army of Dark Justiciars, and was eventually killed by the Harpers in the Throm mausoleum. This man, who was once a Selunite, had family, friends. He abandoned them all to become a monster." Isobel said with a bone-deep sadness that didn't just come from a bleeding cleric heart. Ketheric's fate was personal for her. Why? "Here., I found this in a wall must be a hundred years old." Isobel said handing me a small portrait of an older-looking half-elf with long silver hair and beard sitting next to a woman with similar hair.
"Whose the woman in the picture?" I asked probing Isobel.
"Long dead by now. Everything Ketheric touches dies, either quickly by violence or slowly by decay. I don't fear death, but I do fear him. So, watch yourself, my not-so-True Soul champion." Isobel said in a mournful voice that confirmed my suspicions. She knew Throm and the woman in the picture. I had my suspicions as to how, but I couldn't press them right now. I needed rest and I needed to tell my friends the truth about me, the whole truth. And by the light of the campfire, I would do just that.