Luke's Rebellion

by Gael

When we returned from our journeys in the Feywild, the greatest shock was discovering how Keralon had changed. With the sad passing of Sir Donovan, the open feud between the Long Table and the Briar, as well as the growing surge of Fey energies over the city, the situation was growing dire indeed. So, we decided to act.

To uncover the truth behind the conflict between the Long Table and the Briar, Alistan and Luke each paid a visit to their respective orders.

According to what they learned, It all began two months earlier.

Feeling isolated from the rest of Keralon, the Briar had started buying up several small buildings in districts that were under Long Table’s protection. Naturally, tensions rose quickly, reaching a breaking point when the Long Table discovered that the Briar was also conducting magical rituals in one of those buildings.

Believing these rituals responsible for the spreading Fey energies, the Long Table intervened. They disrupted a ritual and drove the Briar out of the building. Court influence, however, quickly forced them to stand down. And the Briar soon returned. According to Luke, the Briar then ceased performing their rituals to avoid further conflict between the circles.

Needless to say, being forced into submission did not sit well with the Long Table. Yet politically, the Briar had already won. The King had begun favouring the “High” circles over the so called “Lower” ones. Leaving the Long Table powerless in stopping them.

This might also explain the King’s order to remove the borderstones that once shielded the land from the Fey of Lorewood. According to Luke, the reason given was that the stones were starting to fail, whether from age or deliberate tampering. Thus a new barrier would eventually be build. But until it was complete, Keralon was left exposed. Which was a most dangerous gamble, if you ask me.

Sceptical of what he had been told, Luke suggested we inspect one of the Briar’s newest acquisitions ourselves. Just to make sure that everything was ok. Which led us to a warehouse in the Foregate district.

At first glance, it looked quite ordinary. But Liliana sensed something was wrong. So, while Hayley circled the building in search of an entrance, I scaled the wall to find a small opening. A good thing too, for I had just reached the top when two knights stepped outside to find out what we were doing.

Through a gap, I spied a vast chamber filling most of the warehouse. At its centre was a large magic circle surrounding a young tree that had seemingly burst through the floorboards. Three druids stood at its edge, chanting as their magic enveloped the tree in a green light as its vines and branches continued to grow.

Before I could signal the others, Hayley’s voice rang in my head. Luke, as had become his habit, had cast a telepathic bond that morning to allow us to stay in touch. A useful spell to be sure, though it always seemed to startle me. Especially when one’s private thoughts are better left unheard. She had already reported her discovery, sparking a heated argument among us and the knights. Seizing the distraction, I slipped to another crack that led into an empty office.

Now you might criticize me for this, as I should have returned to the others in case of trouble. But I trust my friends and their capabilities. Before things could go too far, I knew they would deescalate things. After all, we had only come for information. Not to fight a war with our allies.

Shifting into mist, I seeped through the opening and reformed inside. The office was indeed deserted. But I still crept carefully to a desk littered with parchments, scrolls, and tomes. Their contents meant little to me, but I knew Luke and Hayley would make sense of them. So I stuffed as many as I could into my pack.

Just as I prepared to leave, the building shook from a familiar sounding explosion. The situation it seemed, had escalated after all.

Sneaking back out, I entered the large chamber. Alistan was already locked in fierce combat with Ser Ruras, a renowned Briar knight. As Liliana fought off a shambling mound by herself. Most likely summoned by one of the druids who were trading spells with Luke while Hayley’s magic targeted the circle and the tree itself.

The battle was hard, but eventually victory was ours. Ser Ruras was forced by Alistan to surrender after his fellow knights fled the building. Though the knight’s bitter scowl promised the conflict was far from over as he followed after them.

I handed the stolen papers over to Luke and Hayley before escorting Alistan to the Long Table. I highly doubted the Briar would retaliate openly in the streets, but there is no harm in being cautious.

In the tavern that served as their headquarters, Alistan met with Ser Kalos and explained the situation. Sadly, the King’s command left Kalos powerless. Especially after the death of his ally and friend, good Sir Donovan. To make matters worse, someone close to the order, by the name of Klaus, had recently gone missing. Meaning that he had hardly anyone to spare. Though he would not share the exact details with an outsider like me.

Just as we were about to return, Luke’s send us a message. He and his sister had deciphered the ritual. It drew in Feywild energies and released it directly into the city. The Long Table had been right. The Briar’s magic was responsible for the rising Fey energies. Fortunately, Luke believed he could reverse it. But he would need the help of his followers. We hurried back to keep to gather what he needed.

Once we gathered our allies, Luke and Hayley began the preparations. Even the hesitant Lumiria joined after some charming persuasion by Luke. But even then, the ritual would still take hours. And time was not on our side.

After two tense hours, the sound of armoured boots announced the approach of Ser Silias, the leader of the Briar. He had arrived with ten of his best knights, as well as a large metal golem. To his credit, he approached us alone, demanding answers. Luke paused his work long enough to explain to him that he was reversing the ritual to protect Keralon.

Unimpressed, Silias called him a fool. The ritual, he insisted, was meant to protect the city. For by flooding it with Fey energy the Briar would be empowered. Which in his mind, was Keralon’s best defence against the Fey.

I truly wanted to believe his motives were sincere, though misguided. But I couldn’t help but feel that it sounded reckless at best, if not outright dangerous.

The debate between the two grew heated. Culminating when Silias ordered Luke, as a Briar member, to stand down. Instead, Luke snapped his fingers and destroyed the remaining circle in crimson flames. “Consider that my resignation,” he said, as he walked away with his followers.

I admire Luke for taking a stand like that. He acted on principle, knowing the cost. I would like to think that if I were in his shoes, I would do the same. But now, cut off from the Briar, his struggle to make them see reason had turned into an uphill battle.

Seeking respite, we went to Irma’s Wish. There, too, change had taken root. Quite literally as a tree now grew through its walls. Much to Feyris’s delight.

Though busy, Feyris sat with us for a while. Talking about the everything and nothing. Yet his gaze kept drifting toward Luke. When Pressed, he apologized but admitted that something about Luke felt wrong.

Pondering this for a moment, Luke produced the elemental heart he carried. Feyris recoiled, calling it vile and urging him to be rid of it. For his own good. Before we could question him further however, a small boy arrived with news that his father needed help. Feyris quickly excused himself, even declining Hayley’s offer to assist.

When he returned, he reluctantly confessed that the city’s Fey surge had awakened new abilities inside him. Such as powers over plants, the ability to sense elemental forces and even healing. It explained his aversion to the heart, since elemental and fey magics often seemed to clash.

But it also left me wondering: were these gifts truly new? Or was Feyris simple rediscovering a part of himself long buried by his amnesia?

It seemed that in our efforts to find answers, new questions had emerged.

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Luke's Rebellion

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