Johannes could feel his heart beating. His body pulsed in his steel shell of armor like a chiming bell. It seemed like the whole world could hear its thump.
Thump. He threw himself on the back of his horse.
Thump. He grabbed and snapped the reigns.
Thump. Fury began to gallop forward.
Thump. The Samurai swung out his guisarme and wrapped its hook around Johannes' neck.
Johannes felt the hook slip beneath his helmet and enclose his windpipe, and, as Fury continued forward, his body began to lift off the saddle. Time grinded to a halt.
This is it, thought Johannes.
I'm going to die. . .
As his body began to float, on the brink of being dismounted, memories flashed before him: Hadric, Jacqueline, Brant, Adwonis, Dwalin, Imbellem, Mikael, Alldyde, Steyus, Marcus, Taisiya, Larlben, Keldan, Pyrra, Elora, Zinvaris, Darus, Biff, and. . .
Rysan. . .
I can't die. . . not yet.
In that second, a thousand prayers came to his ears, and he tightened his legs around the body of Fury. The hook of the guisarme pressed against his neck, but his legs held on, tensing his muscles beyond anything before. And the guisarme was pulled right out of the Samurai's hands.
Fury galloped forward at blazing speed, carrying Hadric and Johannes across the courtyard. Johannes grabbed the guisarme dangling from his neck, inadvertently carried with him.
"
Go!" Johannes rasped to his steed, to Jacqueline, to everyone, though voice was non-existent after such a trial on his throat.
Jacqueline, now in possession of the Treaty of Essex, sprinted alongside then ahead of Fury and slipped out the crumbling gap in the wall.
"No!" shrieked the Witch, whose ethereal voice sent tremors into the earth. Her ghostly body was then wreathed in flame, flames which spread from her in indiscriminate rings of death, and did not cease to do so. The ground was lit aflame. The spear-wielding bandit was lit aflame, and perished. Even the Samurai seemed alarmed and retreated from her.
The elven bandit-archer saw his role in this fight was over. Putting away his bow, he spread his arms and fell backward off the wall, gracefully disappearing into the water.
Johannes did not tarry. Guiding his mount, they burst through the crack in the wall, breaking off several bricks as he landed on the shore, and, finally, leapt into the water. Jacqueline dove alongside them, and they swam together, reaching the midpoint of the pond. Something in the courtyard exploded. Waves rippled through the pond as though it were an ocean caught in a storm, and a great pillar of smoke rose from the ruin.
The adventurers reached the other shore and watched the fire overtake the keep, overpowering the walls, burning the vegetation, and billowing from the old tower that had once been their prison, now seeming like a smokestack hard at work. For a little awhile at least, for some distant world, there was a new star in the sky.
"
Johannes! Lady Jacqueline!" cried Ludwig, emerging from the woods on a horse.
"
Ludwig! Where is the councilor?" asked Johannes.
"
Safe. I hid him in the woods and came back for you. I'm glad to see you're alive."
"
How do you fare?" asked a different voice, one of a soft tenor. The elven bandit appeared, whose clothes (like theirs) were soaked from the swim.
"
Well enough," replied Johannes. "
With some thanks to you. Your help back there was greatly appreciated – crucial even."
The elven bandit held out a hand, offering a handshake. "
My name is Sfinn. This may be abrupt, and perhaps unnecessary, but let there be no hostilities between us."
Johannes accepted his handshake. "
Agreed. In fact, any who fight alongside us like that I would even call my friend."
"
Come!" bellowed Ludwig, rearing his horse. "
Let us escape with haste!"
And as the blaze engulf the keep, crackling loudly, the battle-worn adventurers fled into the woods, and were swallowed by the night.
***
3 Days Later...
Ludwig stopped the horses as the carriage broke over the crest of the hill. "
There it is."
Before them laid the city of Deon's Rise, the capital of Perdane. It was nowhere near as large as Herrod, in terms of sheer size and population, but Herrod could not compete with the city's grandeur. Stone building upon building, spires upon spires, terraces upon terraces – all imbued with elegance and history. Certainly, few other places built by man could rival it.
Councilor Rodinger stepped out of the carriage, his arm in sling but his spirits bright. "
We made it. For awhile there, I didn't think we would."
Johannes, too, stepped out of the carriage. "
I had faith," he said cheerfully. He walked to the two-horse team at the front of the carriage which, oddly enough, had one horse of brown color and the other white. Johannes rested his hand upon the white one. "
Thank you my friend for pulling this extra burden." Johannes fed him an apple, which Fury gladly ate.
"
Do you see any pursuers?" called out Rodinger.
Sfinn, the elf, leaned over Ludwig from atop the carriage. "
Our trail is clean, Sir."
"
I'll second that," added Jacqueline from the back.
The councilor nodded proudly, then chuckled. "
It's funny. I started with one crew, yet by the end of the journey, ended with a very different-looking one. . . Speaking of which, where's Hadric?"
"
He's in the carriage, isn't he? Hadric?" said Johannes as he peered into carriage.
It was empty. A feeling of alarm washed over Johannes. "
Hadric!?" he shouted loudly.
"
What?" replied Hadric as he stepped from the woods. "
Can't a man take a piss without anyone thinking he's been kidnapped?"
Everyone laughed.
Councilor Rodinger turned to them. "
I'd like to give my thanks to all of you. This journey was a Victory, a Victory that almost wasn't. It was unorthodox, with many unexpected disasters, but each one was somehow surmounted as it came, thanks to your wit and your passion. This mission was meaningful for the city-state of Herrod. By bringing me and the Treaty of Essex here safely, we will be able to establish our new Republic legally here in the Kingdom of Perdane – ensuring Herrod's safety and stability for the foreseeable future. You will be able to travel the world at ease and in comfort, knowing that Herrod will be a stable and welcome refuge for its citizens, including you whenever you grow tired and weary. Your reward for this mission will be waiting for you at the Representative of Herrod's Office here in Deon's Rise. You may also address letters to me there if you ever have need of doing so in the future. And so I say, Congratulations."
You have completed the quest!
***
quote:
Rewards from the Representive of Herrod's Office:
(Each player was awarded 2000gp and a 7th Level Random-Chest, which the Office had recently recovered from captured bounties. Rolls for the chests and items therein may be seen in the Dice Log.)
Johannes gains:
2200gp
Golden Circlet, embedded with four aquamarines (worth 3500gp)
Glove, embedded with jewels (worth 2500gp)
Guisarme + 2 (acquired from the Samurai)
Hadric gains:
2700gp
Scroll, containing 2 Spells: Ray of Enfeeblement & Levitate
Longspear + 1
Potion of Darkvision
Jacqueline (NPC) gains:
Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
She winks and hides her spoils. "My secret!"
Sfinn (NPC) gains:
1000gp
Pardon for the crime of Banditry
quote:
Experience:
Johannes gains:
- 350 Quest XP
- 125 Combat XP (from defeating Anshil)
- 100 Bonus Combat XP
- 250 Roleplaying XP
TOTAL: 825 XP
Herr Johannes has LEVELED UP to Level 8, and currently has 8669 XP.
Hadric gains:
- 350 Quest XP
- 125 Combat XP (from defeating Anshil)
- 100 Bonus Combat XP
- 80 Roleplaying XP
TOTAL: 655 XP
Hadric has LEVELED UP to Level 7, and currently has 7580 XP.
Jacqueline (NPC) gains:
- 350 Quest XP
- 125 Combat XP (from defeating Anshil)
- 100 Bonus Combat XP
- 30 Roleplaying XP
TOTAL: 605 XP
Jacqueline is Level 6, and currently has 6987 XP.
Congratulations! You have completed "Season 2: The Road to Perdane."