Season 4, EP 4: New Dawn
The first rays of dawn, a soft, golden light after the infernal nightmare, crept over the horizon, painting the sky in hues of rose and violet. They found the Crimson Eclipse sprawled on the cold stone steps of Runeshire Manor's walkway, still clad in their battle-tattered gear, the grime and scorch marks of the Nine Hells clinging to them. A collective groan rippled through the group as the sun's warmth roused them, slowly pulling them from the depths of a much-needed, dreamless sleep.
Vyska, ever the early riser, was already seated nearby, meticulously cleaning the silver gleam of her greatsword. She glanced over, a dry, almost amused glint in her eyes. "Well, well. Look at you lot. I thought the maids would declare you all dead. You've been out cold for a full twenty-four hour cycle. Even I needed a moment to ensure your "Pneuma" hadn't simply evaporated."
Sam laid there still, emotionless, "Ha ha."
She paused, then tilted her head. "So, the inferno is behind us. For now. What's the grand plan, then? More sleeping on hard stone?"
Sam stirred, rubbing his eyes, a faint taste of ash still on his tongue. "Twenty-four hours, huh? Felt like ten minutes." He pushed himself up, wincing at a stiff shoulder. "The plan... that's the question, isn't it? After all that, I've had some time to think. My research into the Wring Apparatus back in Gale, and what we saw in Ezodwyn... it's clearer now. That thing was designed to suck out Pneuma, that lifeforce everyone has. And Legion wants it. They're feeding. We need to find D.S. Dagon Stormbrewer in Kaldenhal. He built that damned machine, he knows someth...ugh!" Sam grabbed his rib, his wound was still very fresh.
"Easy there," Vyska replied, "That wound is going to take months. You all just came back from hell, after all."
Crystal, slowly sitting up, ran a hand through her tangled golden hair, the royal ring on her finger catching the light. "Kaldenhal... it's far. And my duty is here..." She looked out at the still-scarred city. "Runeshire needs us. My people need me. My place is here, helping to rebuild. My curse, Jackie's memories... they're a torment, yes, and Lady Tasva Goldenfall in Kaldenhal is my only hope for an exorcism. But my people come first. Always."
Wong groaned, stretching luxuriously. "Duty, schmooty. A man's gotta eat. And my restaurant in Cloudheath... I've got employees there, people counting on me. And with pockets of Legion still lurking, I can't just leave them to the wolves. Besides," he added, a mischievous glint in his eye, "the Temple of Bahamut near Kaldenhal holds the next ingredient for my perfect brew. It's calling to me, but I can wait for you guys to recoup. There's no rush."
Goen nodded as he stood up, his armor the least damaged from the fight. "Kaldenhal makes sense. But before we rush off, I'll need some time to dig deeper into this Stormbrewer character. My contacts might have something."
Vyska relaxed her legs on the stone floor, "Speaking of contacts, Garthok...he said that we put a real dent in Legion. Said that their forces have gone into hiding. He's going to be scouting ahead, said that he will be in contact if anything changes. I swear that half-orc never sleeps."
"Good," Crystal said with renewed vigor, "We're going to need time to rebuild. Time away from all this. A much needed break."
The group looked to Thane, who was already awake before everyone else, seated on the short stone wall, looking out toward the West.
Thane remained seated, staring out at the rising sun, his expression unreadable. "My path... it's a tangled one. Mormesk and Stormvalley... the Shadowfell... it's all there, waiting. I'm not so sure this is a path I need to walk alone or not. I need time to think on it."
Vyska listened patiently, then gave a slow nod. "It seems Kaldenhal is the nexus of your immediate needs. A master artificer, an exorcist, a sacred ingredient, and a path to a forgotten past. And perhaps, another of the Pillars of Aegis." She stood, her gaze distant. "Even though Legion went into hiding. Their "Mother" is probably also rebuilding, wherever she is. But you take the time you need, you need me here Crystal, just say the word. This 'rebuilding' is merely a pause. The true battle is yet to begin."
Vyska, ever the early riser, was already seated nearby, meticulously cleaning the silver gleam of her greatsword. She glanced over, a dry, almost amused glint in her eyes. "Well, well. Look at you lot. I thought the maids would declare you all dead. You've been out cold for a full twenty-four hour cycle. Even I needed a moment to ensure your "Pneuma" hadn't simply evaporated."
Sam laid there still, emotionless, "Ha ha."
She paused, then tilted her head. "So, the inferno is behind us. For now. What's the grand plan, then? More sleeping on hard stone?"
Sam stirred, rubbing his eyes, a faint taste of ash still on his tongue. "Twenty-four hours, huh? Felt like ten minutes." He pushed himself up, wincing at a stiff shoulder. "The plan... that's the question, isn't it? After all that, I've had some time to think. My research into the Wring Apparatus back in Gale, and what we saw in Ezodwyn... it's clearer now. That thing was designed to suck out Pneuma, that lifeforce everyone has. And Legion wants it. They're feeding. We need to find D.S. Dagon Stormbrewer in Kaldenhal. He built that damned machine, he knows someth...ugh!" Sam grabbed his rib, his wound was still very fresh.
"Easy there," Vyska replied, "That wound is going to take months. You all just came back from hell, after all."
Crystal, slowly sitting up, ran a hand through her tangled golden hair, the royal ring on her finger catching the light. "Kaldenhal... it's far. And my duty is here..." She looked out at the still-scarred city. "Runeshire needs us. My people need me. My place is here, helping to rebuild. My curse, Jackie's memories... they're a torment, yes, and Lady Tasva Goldenfall in Kaldenhal is my only hope for an exorcism. But my people come first. Always."
Wong groaned, stretching luxuriously. "Duty, schmooty. A man's gotta eat. And my restaurant in Cloudheath... I've got employees there, people counting on me. And with pockets of Legion still lurking, I can't just leave them to the wolves. Besides," he added, a mischievous glint in his eye, "the Temple of Bahamut near Kaldenhal holds the next ingredient for my perfect brew. It's calling to me, but I can wait for you guys to recoup. There's no rush."
Goen nodded as he stood up, his armor the least damaged from the fight. "Kaldenhal makes sense. But before we rush off, I'll need some time to dig deeper into this Stormbrewer character. My contacts might have something."
Vyska relaxed her legs on the stone floor, "Speaking of contacts, Garthok...he said that we put a real dent in Legion. Said that their forces have gone into hiding. He's going to be scouting ahead, said that he will be in contact if anything changes. I swear that half-orc never sleeps."
"Good," Crystal said with renewed vigor, "We're going to need time to rebuild. Time away from all this. A much needed break."
The group looked to Thane, who was already awake before everyone else, seated on the short stone wall, looking out toward the West.
Thane remained seated, staring out at the rising sun, his expression unreadable. "My path... it's a tangled one. Mormesk and Stormvalley... the Shadowfell... it's all there, waiting. I'm not so sure this is a path I need to walk alone or not. I need time to think on it."
Vyska listened patiently, then gave a slow nod. "It seems Kaldenhal is the nexus of your immediate needs. A master artificer, an exorcist, a sacred ingredient, and a path to a forgotten past. And perhaps, another of the Pillars of Aegis." She stood, her gaze distant. "Even though Legion went into hiding. Their "Mother" is probably also rebuilding, wherever she is. But you take the time you need, you need me here Crystal, just say the word. This 'rebuilding' is merely a pause. The true battle is yet to begin."