A Diplomatic Exercise – Sheryl, the Fae-Touched – 12.08.2020

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Astra was uncharacteristically quiet towards Sheryl and had been since she returned from the Shadowfell, especially after telling the story of what happened. There had been a disagreement with some choice words, a period of silence, and then apologies on both sides. After her talk with Arkadius the previous evening however Sheryl could not stop thinking about Arvel, about the Raven Queen, and where these changes to her life have come from.

Or where they could be leading her.

“Take to the skies Astra!”

As the winged unicorn took flight, Sheryl called out to Balto’s Beaters and they charged forward to assist Baine and the Height’s Harriers, inspired by her song.

This military exercise was not the sort of thing Sheryl would have participated in before Avernus. She found a growing appreciation of the synergy needed between people like her – those who performed on a larger, sometimes even grander stage set with individuals of great strength – and those who are part of the chorus, who would crush a soloist like her on her own.

After all, a mock battle cannot be won by the side whose individual soldiers are most mighty, but by the army that fights as one.

And Daring’s battalions showed the K’ul Goranians just how well they could fight.

General Razorback and his second in command, Mazra, watched their mock battle from a hilly bluff. Before the battle, everyone’s weapons had been enchanted so no blows that were dealt would be lethal. The point of this exercise was not to kill and maim, but to teach and learn. Some of the soldiers tried to touch the once deadly ends of the weapons but they drew their hands back as if shocked by some sort of lightning energy.

Just because their weapons weren’t sharp did not mean the fae-bard could let her attention stray. It got drawn to a familiar minotaur scout who was blowing a kiss across the stage of the mock battle to her best friend. Arkadius, attempting to keep his composure, was nearly shot out of the air. The indignation was easily discernible and Sheryl couldn’t help herself.

“Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame. Kassandra gives love a bad name.”

“Oh shut up Sheryl!”

Her tinkling laughter echoed across the field as she and Astra flew down, calling out to Bugloss, one of the few lesser experienced members on the Daring side. The dragonborn cleric was holding his own against a different minotaur fighter from the Errant Guard before charming them to run away. Together, they took the opportunity to attack the retreating figure, but only Sheryl managed to land a piercing blow on them. Still, her nod towards him was both to hearten and acknowledge the bold move he made before Astra took to the skies once more.

That’s when it sounded, a horn, drifting over the wooded and hilly landscape, barely audible over the sound of shouting soldiers and clashing swords.

“What is it? What do you see?” Sheryl asks Astra.  

“A battalion- No. Several battalions. But they do not fly the K’ul Goran colours.”

“Auxiliaries, stand down!” Sheryl shouts to the large battalion she was in command of. The men and women follow her order, some of them looking to the east in curiosity, others keeping an eye on the K’ul Goran soldiers to make sure they did not try anything. The K’ul Gorani were already moving away though, forming up into lines to oppose the unexpected force that entered from stage right. Sheryl could see General Razorback along with Mazra coming down from the bluffs so she knew it was not good.

“Form up! Be ready, but do not advance unless I say so.”

Astra flew to where she saw Baine was heading on his warhorse. Worry was trying to tie Sheryl’s stomach into knots but she clamped down on those feelings quickly. Deciding it would be best to sheath her rapier, Sheryl noticed the enchantment the wizard’s had put on it was gone. Once more, it looked sharp enough to cut the air.

“Baine, do you recognise any of them?” Sheryl calls down to the half-orc.

“I do. It’s the Shunned.”

“The Shunned?” Astra looks back to her mistress. Sheryl can sense her partner’s unease at the name, and she puts a calming hand on Astra’s side.

“I will explain later,” Sheryl promised. Astra nodded, landing beside Baine and folding in her multifaceted wings to stand majestically before the Shunned forces of orcs, hobgoblins and trolls.

“What the hell is going on?” Sergeant Grimes asks Sheryl as he comes over to stand on her other side. A sardonic grin flashes across her face.

“Nothing good…” she utters quietly.

The Shunned forces do not move, holding their position. From amongst their ranks steps a female hobgoblin – shaved head and with a type of gait only seen on those who have seen many battles.

Baine lifts his head in acknowledgement muttering, “Captain Krosut?” under his breath. Before he can speak Krosut does.

“You are in violation of the truce as outlined between our peoples. You are threatening our lands. What are you doing here?”

Sheryl hears someone speaking behind her but she cannot understand what is being said over Baine’s response.

“Stand down both your armies.” Baine’s voice carries across the hills as he looks back to the K’ul Gorani forces, with a pointed look to General Razorback on a ridge some thirty feet or so away. Then he looks back to the captain. “Right now.”

Tensions seemed to ease bit by bit after that, Sheryl seeing Baine use words instead of his hammer to convince both sides. It was plain to see the big lad did not wish to have what could have been a severe breach of treaty laws be stirred because of Daring’s desire to assist their allies.

“There’s no way this wasn’t planned,” Sheryl confides to Astra, looking around at the K’ul Goran forces. Her gaze lands on Mazra and with barely any insight needed she could tell how uncomfortable the airotaur was getting the more Baine spoke and the more General Razorback questioned the situation.

Already knowing her intentions, Astra deftly takes off and flies over to where the general and his second were talking, Arkadius moving closer to stand between Kassandra and them at the same time. Sheryl locked eyes with her best friend, and he nodded. As she pulled out a copper coin from her pouch he cast out a Zone of Truth. All around him, including Kassandra, the General and Mazra fell prey to it.

Unlike the last time Sheryl had cast this spell combination with Varis – where the very air had a dichotomy to it, smelling of cool, deep wood pine and the heady spice of summer heat mixing together – with Arkadius it was as if there was fire in the air, the smell of brimstone mixing with summer cloves to create a burning feeling in the back of one’s throat.

It was merciless.

Together the two interrogated Mazra then and there in front of the General. As the airotaur spoke it became increasingly clear they were unabashedly prejudiced against the Shunned and they knew full well the location of the military training exercise was in violation of the recent Rift War Treaties the K’ul Goran senate had agreed upon with the Shunned.

Kassandra looked at Sheryl and asked loud enough for Mazra to hear, “Is it possible they are a Vanguard cultist?”

As soon as she said the name ‘Vanguard’ Sheryl could read and feel just how abhorrent Mazra thought the cult to Zariel was. Sheryl firmly shook her head.

“They may have extreme prejudices against the Shunned, but they are no Vanguard cultist.” She turns to look at the airotaur and the feathers of her cloak quiver a little as a shadow of something else passes over her face. “They find the idea abhorrent.”

General Razorback seems to deflate before their very eyes. Sheryl empathises with the old minotaur. What could have happened today would have been disastrous. But with Baine’s choice words, along with her and Arkadius’ interrogation skills, meant a disaster was quite thankfully averted. The General exchanges a few words with Captain Krosut, apologising for what could have very well been an extremely bad situation. The Shunned captain seemed appeased enough.

“Just know you will always have an ally with the Crimson Fist,” Baine says to Krosut after she tells her troops to fall back.

“I know. But you should know as well, I will always put my people first.”

Irons were clasped over Mazra’s wrists and they are being led away when they suddenly break from their guards. They do not get far, but it does not seem like they were looking to run away as they shout towards Baine, Sheryl and the others.

“You call yourselves our allies, yet you stand aside as these things steal our lands, and starve our people? What right have you to decide the fate of K’ul Goran? The peo–” They are cut off as one of the guards forces a gag into their mouth.

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A few days later as the two of them walk back from another evening meal with Baine, Varis and the soldiers of the Crimson Fist, Sheryl looks up to her partner, her friend, and lightly runs her fingers through the shimmering, moonstone-like hair of Astra’s body.

“I try to make wise decisions but it’s something I have always struggled with,” Sheryl starts. “I am more impulsive, emotional and driven by the wants of the heart than anything else. This is why… I need your guidance Astra.” She looks up to the equines starlight eyes. “I have come to rely on you in ways I couldn’t have imagined. But I will also protect you, not out of a sense of duty towards Lord Eachthighern… but because I love you.”

Astra slows to a stop, looking down at Sheryl, the twilight glow in the sky making the spiralling horn on her head glow a little.

“I have grown to love you too Merla, even though you are a bit small. But I do not see you always being so.”

A half smile lifts the corners of her lips. “So you see the future now?”

“I have seen your dreams in the music you sing. I never wish to know things you do not want to tell me. But sometimes…” Astra’s head dips down and she touches her horn to the gem in Sheryl’s circlet. The light within swirls as if a wind has blown through it. “Our bond makes it easy to see what’s in your heart.”

Sheryl is surprised. She has never told anyone what her deepest desires are, what she dreams about in the darkest of nights. Part of her feels embarrassed that Astra knows, whilst another part of her is mildly upset. But in a way it’s nice to share one’s dreams with another. It makes them seem achievable.

“And you, Astra? You know my dreams but what about yours?”

She bumps her muzzle into Sheryl’s bosom and slowly blinks at her.

“I have found my dream with you.”