Triumph of the Vanguard – Sheryl, the Fae-Touched – 7.4.2020

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“The second seal is in the Feywild,” Girelle said, his exhaustion gone, face alight with renewed vigour as he had talked to Sheryl and the others.

“Where?” she had asked, practically jumping on the man wanting to know.

“I will tell you… after I have a bath.”

If a man could be described as a deflated balloon, all the exhaustion of the past three days catching up with him all at once, that was Girelle in that moment.

She wanted to know then and there, a nagging feeling starting to get to her. But she had looked at the others, and knew she shouldn’t push. The man had been through an ordeal and a half – torture is no small thing. They had left the ambassador to his hot bath and decided to ask Babis’ severed head some questions instead…

---

Sheryl was the first to arrive at Portal Plaza, Janna’s red hair easily spotted through the crowd around the portal. As with everyone she had seen since she returned, it took the young mage a moment to recognise who she was but once she did the human girl had waved a quick hello and exchanged a few words. Sheryl had purposefully got there early to walk around the plaza taking in more of what was there than she had before. She saw the giant cenotaph etched with name after name of Darites who had fallen to a plague last year. She had not heard much about this but maybe, if she had some time, she would ask around about it later.

Arkadius with Mace arrived next, disembarking from a grand carriage that looked laden down with many letters and parcels. Then came Lillith waltzing up, her bubbly countenance a little more subdued, but still there for which Sheryl was happy to see. Varis was silent with his arrival, Sheryl only noticing him when she had seen a silvery stag out of the corner of her eye. He had looked over to her and nodded a hello, which she had returned, before busying himself with his equipment. Finally, as Jenna was clearing the portal’s pathway for them, Sergeant Grimes of the City Watch, the last of their party, came running over. He had given Mace a particular once over which had Sheryl hiding a smile behind her hand.

Once through and on the other side, two minotaur guards brought her and the others to the waiting room Girelle always greeted them in. Except this time the ambassador had his feet slung up in a laissez faire fashion which had struck Sheryl as odd.

Girelle is normally a confident man, and a little flamboyant, but still…

He had told them about a dignitary from Kundar, Machi Kotens, who had been kidnapped only the night before. He wanted them, Daring’s best, to infiltrate an abandoned wine merchants place where it was rumoured the cellars were more extensive than any normal cellar should be, that in fact it may be a prison instead. This Girelle had also asked them to do the job subtly.

Which had not been anything he hadn’t asked us to do before. Still, I should have listened to my instincts. If Varis had not been as quick to act we may not have been able to get the upper hand we eventually did…

Whilst she had been hesitating Varis had acted. He must have sensed there was something off about the half-elf ambassador – Or he is more suspicious of everything and everyone now. – that the moment the group was alone, the two minotaur guards also having been asked to leave, he told them that Girelle was no longer who he appeared to be. He was, in fact, a demon.

One of the two guards was listening in on them and proceeded to make a run to the imposter Girelle to rat them out. No longer hesitating, Sheryl and everyone gave chase, Varis attempting to Hold the Person in place. But the male minotaur’s wit was too strong for that and the spell did not take hold. Mace was able to bring the man to heel though with some whitiscism none of them actually heard as he ended up collapsing on the floor, roaring with laughter.

Bringing him back to the meeting room, the group tied him up. The second minotaur guard came in, asking what exactly they were doing. The group explained, trying to gauge if she was on the side of the Vanguard or not. Alexa, as her name turned out to be, agreed she would witness them question her fellow guard so long as Varis used a Zone of Truth and Sheryl would relay what he was thinking, honestly, when she Detected his Thoughts.

The male minotaur was still laughing as the two prepared their spells. Sheryl pulled out a shiny copper piece from a small pouch by her hip and was quieting her own mind when Varis spoke to her.

“When I cast the spell, there will be a moment where you can resist it. I would suggest you not do that.”

Sheryl had looked up at him, a soft, whimsical smile touching her lips.

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t planning on resisting your spell.”

It was the first time Sheryl had really cast magic in tandem with someone else. She had felt the touch of Varis’ magic before, after fighting the giants, after the slaughter of the elves of Gotresham. This was the same, and yet more. His spell had the cool scent of a winter wood, mixed with pine and woodsmoke. Solitary and yet comforting.

I like this.

They had interrogated the guard, finding out that he was part of the Vanguard and the Girelle who had greeted them was indeed an imposter, hired to lure them – Daring’s best and brightest – to a trap at the winery. Alexa, feeling betrayed at her fellow minotaur, and admitting in the Zone of Truth to not being part of the Vanguard, agreed to knock him out and showed them the way to the imposter’s room.

The others were contemplating how they would fight the demon, but Sheryl had her own idea of what could be done. Not wanting to miss the opportunity to gain more information, she went up to Girelle’s door and knocked, Varis close by.

The imposter opened the door and Sheryl felt it. The moment the creatures eyes wearing Girelle’s likeness alighted on her the taste of burnt sugar hit the back of her throat and the hairs stood up on the back of her neck. She gripped her harp tighter as her will was slipping, the creature trying to charm her. But then an aura, the strong, solitary yet comforting presence of Varis that was beside her kept her mind firmly as her own and she smiled up at the demon in disguise.

Then Sheryl had woven her own fey magics into her words as she asked if they could come in and he, naturally, succumbed to her charm.

Whilst the others searched Girelle’s rooms for any additional clues or items that could help them, Sheryl talked with the demon, Varis, Sergent Grimes and Arkadius close by. She found out their name (Viranich), where they had come from (Asgurat in the Abyss), and that they were hired by none other than Babis Farstep.

“He is there, at the abandoned wine merchants place, waiting for you. Girelle, the real Girelle, is there too, has been for three days!” They sat back, kicking up their feet onto the table in front of them. “This job was too good to pass up and Babis, he pays well.”

“You were quite convincing, I can see you’ve done your actor’s homework. Well, for the most part. It was a nearly perfect impersonation,” says Sheryl.

“Oh? What gave it away?”

“Girelle is a confident man, some might even say he is full of himself. But he would never have put his feet up in such a way,” she says, pointing to his own reclining form.

“Really?” Viranich says, surprised. He sits up properly, feet going to the floor. He seems to shake himself, adjust one way, then another, and then settles into a more accurate Girelle impression. “How’s that?”

Sheryl doesn’t hide how impressed she is. “Better.” If a little eerie.

“You know,” they continued, their voice changing as they leaned forward, speaking only to Sheryl. “I have other skills other than impersonation. I am a Concubus you see, so my talents extend to a more… personal level.”

“I will keep that in mind," she said, pretending to blush. "But for now, Arkadius? Didn’t you have something you wish to say?”

“Hmm?” he looked at her confused. Then it clicked. “Oh right. Yes.” He gives Viranich a cold look. “Consider your contract… ended.” With a faint popping noise, Arkadius Banished them back to the Abyss from whence they came.

Let’s hope that doesn’t come back to bite me later.

The group couldn’t delay any longer. Determined to save Girelle but not fall prey to the trap they knew was waiting for them, they made their way to the wine merchants. Mace and Arkadius scouted out the place whilst Sheryl and the others waited. It was determined that the entrance was too inviting so all entered with the utmost caution. Sheryl had looked on with curiosity as Varis pulled out two golden statues, striking them on the ground and then in delighted amazement as they both grew to full sized lions. One stayed to guard the entrance, whilst the other came with, seemingly staying close by her. She didn’t mind, actually trying to subtly reach out to touch the golden furred cat, checking to see if it was as soft as it looked.

Their path wove through many empty storage rooms, large and small, and down long, dark hallways – Even in places where a labyrinth doesn’t exist they attempt to make one. – eventually coming to a room where two owlbears were caged with some form of arcane lock. Sheryl attempted to sabotage one successfully, whilst Arkadius tried the other, but failed to disarm it properly.

Seeing the lock that held it prisoner weaken, the owlbear tried to bash its way out. Varis, wanting to nip the problem in the bud, attempted to dispatch it whilst it was still caged, but nearly lost his longsword in the process. Thankfully, the others picked up their cues and the brief freedom the beast experienced was dashed away with it’s life. The remaining owlbear cowered in its cage.

“These statues…” Sergeant Grimes had said, examining the large stone minotaur statues. Sheryl had checked one earlier but like that one, these two were not enchanted in any way. It was as he was looking at them that Sheryl did the same, marking their painted red Vanguard masks.

There is some kind of symbolism here, the way these two are positioned to hold open the door… Like the Seals the Vanguard are trying to break, like the Gates they want to open. Could it be that simple? Or is there something meant by the doors being held?

The others had already started moving through to the next hallway so she couldn’t stay to ponder it.

...A thought for further reflection at a later time.

Stealthily, they made their way through the final hallways to where Babis waited. Peering around the door Sheryl saw Girelle tied to a chair, the minotaur in front of him. Mace subtly dons a red lacquered Vanguard mask and walks in, claiming to be an agent of the cult. Unfortunately, at the mention of the Enforcer, Babis knew he was an imposter and hurled a flaming Ball of Fire at them all.

Safely tucked behind the door, Sheryl was able to dodge the majority of the blast. Ducking low, the iridescent silk of her split cape billowing behind her, she sees Lillith hurl her own ball of pulsating, dark purple energy towards the cultist leader. As the blast from the tiefling’s spell makes him and three other caged minotaurs seethe in agony, Sheryl starts to dart over to where Girelle is tied up. Sergeant Grimes gets to him first though, untying the ambassador’s restraints, so she pauses to take stalk of the room.

Minotaurs, huge, wielding greatswords, greataxes, and other sinister weapons surrounded them… but they are all trapped behind locked cage doors. Just as it all falls into place, she turns and sees Varis, wings of black and red feathers fanned out behind him, the stoney countenance of his face alight as he strikes, the fell swoop of his blade a graceful arc as it separates Babis’ head from his body with a flash of radiant magic.

The caged minotaurs stop shouting as they look at the party that infiltrated their meeting place, the plan they had so carefully laid, in bloody ruins on the floor. The three in the cage that were affected by Lillith’s spell call out to Varis and he goes over. Sheryl watches him carefully, the sounds of the other’s careful searching of Babis’ body fading into the background.

“How much food do you have in that cell?” the Grandmaster asks the one minotaur who had called for release.

They look back at the other two, who are still clutching their heads in spasms and fits then grins at the Grandmaster. “The one should last me… about a week.”

“Then that should be plenty of time to figure a way out for yourself,” he says and starts to turn away.

“Hey, wait! You’re a good guy, you wouldn’t leave us here to die would you?” the minotaur pleads.

Varis stops.

“Good people don’t need rules. Now is not the time to find out why I have so many.”

The minotaur gave him a confused look, then started shouting after him and the others as they all started to make their way out of the room, out of the prison. Sheryl noticed Lillith had grabbed Babis’ head, whilst Arkadius was cursing that Babis’ tome had burnt to ashes. Sergeant Grimes had hold of Girelle, supporting him as they made their swift retreat.

All the while Varis’ words kept repeating through her mind, over and over. Her brow furrowed as Sheryl glanced at the pale warrior every now and then.

What did he mean by that?

---

After leaving Girelle to his bath, the group goes to the briefing room to question Babis’ head. Mace and Sheryl get to work disguising Lillith to look like one of the Vanguard cultists, Mace lending her his mask to wear so his spirit wouldn’t see her face.

With Babis’ head set on the table Lillith’s incense burning on either side of him, she centres herself. Sheryl watches, fascinated. She has never seen this kind of spell, the calling of a spirit beyond the Veil, though she knows it is possible. Lillith suddenly inhales and Babis’ lips part too. Opening her eyes, Lillith starts to ask the questions they had all prepared.

“How many Seals remain?” Lillith asks, her voice deeper, hollow.

Babis’ jaw works itself back and forth before the far off echo of his raspy voice comes from his mouth.

“You should not need to know this… but there are two.”

“Confirm your allegiance by telling me what, or whom the Seals are sealing.”

The impression of a ghostly brow furrowing is overlaid with the rigor mortis of the still, dead face of the minotaur as he answers.

“How dare you question my allegiance, I died in service to our glorious cause. The Vanguard has never forgotten what the rest of the country has repressed.”

Lillith nods and bows her head forward, pretending to be cowed.

“To thwart our enemies, we must know how Seals can be restored so as to prevent them from doing so.”

The ghostly impression of Babis’ face grows still, suspicion colouring it’s half echo of a voice.

“I do not know. It would be difficult though.”

Lillith doesn’t let on she senses the difference but presses on with their questions.

“There has been a communications breach – thus why you are dead. Give me the names of the main communicator that passes information, so we can investigate, but not the concubus. They already have been dealt with.”

“The cond- Wait this is ridiculous. Who are you, some underling seeking higher access? One of my murderers?”

Lillith presses on to their final question.

“We must get word to the Enforcer. She must be warned and she isn’t responding to our usual methods, so we are worried. Tell us how you would have reached and identified her.”

The ghostly image of Babis’ face sneers at Lillith.

“Fuck off, let me rest. You don’t contact the Enforcer – she contacts youuuuuu…”

The incense burns out with the last of his words and Lillith inhales deep. She shakes herself, stands up taking the mask off to look around at the rest of them.

“This is… not good,” says Arkadius from Sheryl’s left.

“Useful nonetheless!” chimes in Mace from Arkadius’ other side.

Sheryl doesn’t say anything, her mind racing.

Lillith turns back to the table where the head sits and picks it up. “I might keep this little head pickled.”

Sheryl looks at the severed head in Lillith’s hands, pondering what they have learned. He had kept a letter from a few weeks ago in his tome that said: If you need to get a message, use the genasi, he is above suspicion.

Who could that be? Every answer only raises more questions.

Arkadius was in the midst of talking to Mace about something and she didn’t want to interrupt them. Looking over to Varis, she saw him standing there, still as stone, silent. She goes over to him and his green gaze falls to her.

“We learned a lot today, through everyone’s combined efforts,” she says. Her hands come together in front of her as she looks up at him. “I am grateful for your help today, Varis. Your insight and presence was critical… I am glad you came.”

“Sheryl, darling, do you still have those potions with you?” Arkadius asks, interrupting what, if anything, Varis might have said. “I’d like to see them if I may.”

“Oh! Sure Arkadius, one moment,” she said turning towards her friend. Sheryl looks back and gives Varis a half-smile, then goes over to the others.

---

After returning to Daring Heights through the portal, everyone started to go their separate ways. Sheryl, not wanting to miss this opportunity, grabs Arkadius before he leaves.

“Feel like getting a drink?” she asks him.

Her tall tiefling friend looks down at her and doesn’t hesitate, “Yes.”

She giggles. “Excellent. Let’s head over to the Fair Winds, there’s a lot to catch up on…”