Whispers in the Wind – Sheryl, the Fae-Touched – 18.02.2020

---

It was different coming back to Daring Heights this time. Not least of all because of what Sheryl and the others had done in helping Girelle, but because even though the mystery of the Vanguard seemed to be getting peeled away bit by bit, each layer was revealing a new complexity, something else to befuddle and confuse them.

This last mission – she could not call it an adventure – Sheryl was once again accompanied by Markas. Their tied curiosity and desire to unmask the ever elusive Vanguard had been an interesting beginning to their friendship. But the more the two of them uncovered, the deeper their friendship seemed to get as well. It was nice. His desire to help people was something she admired about him.

I see why Sunday loves him.

Harmony and Bones had also been summoned by Girelle, two others Sheryl enjoyed the company of and who seemed to want to know more about the mysterious puppeteers. Ghesh was also there – it had been a while since Sheryl had seen the mighty black dragonborn and it was nice to have done so after so long. Was it before the war the last time their paths had crossed? And finally, the newest and probably the most interesting of the lot was G’Lorth, “the Magnificent”. Sheryl was pretty sure there were quotes around that title because she couldn’t quite understand how he was magnificent. Maybe it was because he lived out of a bathtub?

He was rather creative in coming up with the idea of asking to meet with Hestor to talk about trade. It made our reconnaissance easier!

It hadn’t been noticeable right away, but after a while of being in the office of Hestor it was so blatantly obvious he was a wanna be, top member of the Vanguard. Symbols and imagery everywhere. Markas noticed it too. They had shared a look, a nod, and then Sheryl did what she does best. Being able to read the minds of those you spoke to was something she had seen a few of the fey do. It had annoyed her to no end when it had been used on her for sheer amusement. But Sheryl was using it to help piece together one of the greatest ongoing mysteries she’s ever had the pleasure to try and solve.

Girelle hadn’t been too surprised when she and the others had confirmed what the whispers in the jars had said. The grainery was going to be used as a weapon to attack the citizens of Zot Goran by poisoning them. All that was needed was the physical evidence.

When they had gone back to infiltrate Hestor’s office for incriminating documents and to get a sample of the poisoned grain, none of them expected what happened. G’Lorth, with his big brained ideas, opened one of the granaries and the grain itself flew out in a swarm! The airotaurs and minotaurs of the Vanguard who were operating there were clearly unprepared for this and nearly died thanks to the grain swarm.

In the end though, despite not being subtle and letting the guards see them for who they are, the City Watch of Zot Goran were praised as heroes and no mention of the cult, the grain swarm, or Sheryl and her companions were made. Girelle was happy about this, but Sheryl was suspicious. Why wouldn’t word have gotten out that adventurers from Daring Heights had caused a ruckus, even some trouble at their granary? Surely it would have helped the Vanguard’s schemes to have anyone from the Dawnlands labelled as troublemakers?

And thus the mystery deepens.

Sheryl had returned from Zot Goran the day before, so she was surprised to find a message addressed to her and the others from Girelle. It said that Hestor’s body was found the previous night, dumped in an alleyway. Seems like his ambitions are what got him killed. Still, it didn’t sit right with her. If the Vanguard does that to their own members, what lengths will they go to in order to unlock these “Gates”?

Sheryl was turning over the events of the last few days in her mind as she made her way back to the Fair Winds late in the evening, the sunset giving way to twilight. As she walked down the path, the sound of a song caught her attention, making her stop dead in her tracks.

“Hello, little Mer.”

That voice, velvet soft and full of mischief, sends a shiver down her spine. All thoughts of masked cultists and infernal sigils are wiped from her mind. All she can think- no, all she can feel is a desire to run towards the Satyr she suddenly sees standing before her, and throw herself into his arms.

“Kruxeral,” she breathes, her heart aflutter. “What... are you doing here?”


Continued in ‘Finally // beautiful stranger’ 💖