Rooftop Diplomacy – Sheryl, the Fae-Touched – 27.10.2020

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Word on the streets of Kundar was abuzz with the mission Sheryl, Akradius, BB, Ghesh, Baine and Taffeta were there to do. The appearance of koble vampires at the Necromance Ball a few weeks ago was the fire that needed to be lit in order for something to finally be done.

For the first time in many years the kobles (Kobold Nobles) were not holding all the power in the desert metropolis. Instead it was swinging more and more towards the two disparate temples of Tiamat and Bahamut. It seemed the Temple of Tiamat had more invested in the removal of the vampires than the Temple to Bahamut. Apparently they had attempted to steal a shipment of blood which was due to arrive at the Temple of Tiamat, but another group from Daring Heights had stopped the vampire’s nefarious plans.

Now, the time had come to put an end to them entirely.

Maria Ralone, a priestess of Tiamat, was to accompany Sheryl and her friends to the koble manor house where they were told the two master vampires lived. Ambassador Patricia Panbas explained how important this mission was, not only to rid an evil from these lands but for what it could mean for Daring Heights.

“I’m confused…” BB had started.

“I believe the Ambassador is talking about the Aegis Accords,” Sheryl deduced. She had not been closely following the progress of the proposed alliance the Daring Council was trying to arrange between itself and the nearby, allied nations, but it interested her a lot for many reasons.

A slight, sly smile spread across the fae-bard’s face. “That is what you are referring to, right ambassador?”

Patricia blinked in mild surprise, slightly impressed.

“Ah, so this is like an audition for Daring Heights,” Baine guessed, and Patricia nodded. “Either way you put it, sounds good to me,” he said leaning back in his chair, hands going behind his head.

It had been decided they were to go to the Denato Estate at night, just as the sun set. This would mean less collateral damage overall to the citizens of Kundar, but it would also mean their job would be a lot tougher. Other groups of soldiers, gladiators, and clerics from the two temples would be striking the other nests at the same time their group would be taking on the master vampires.

They had discussed at length how they were to go in and prepared in advance for their assault. Sheryl did not want to underestimate the vampires and what they could do, so with each blessing and every magical aide Baine or BB gave to her and Astra she welcomed gladly. Her own preparations were minimal, a subtle casting of True Seeing upon herself. Sheryl’s heart was racing in anticipation and excitement as she and Astra, with Taffeta riding behind her, and Arkadius flew up to the roof of the Denato Estate, whilst Maria, Baine, Frankie, BB and Ghesh made their way to the front door, their plan to kick it in.

It was a perfectly executed plan… until the first of the koble master vampires was slain.

“Hussanthum, why?! I thought we-” Rent had vehemently called out to the dark as in a blur, Ghesh decapitated him, cutting off his words.

The moment Rent died the darkness started to gather and coalesce into a gigantic creature of horrible, necrotic shadow. It stood on the ground but it was head and shoulders over the height of the six storey palatial estate. At the same time, though Garai could have gotten away, she involuntarily froze mid step. All of the darkness within her was aggressively drained out of her so only a cold and lifeless mound of shadow remained of her form, her flesh and bone body turning to dust.

Taffeta fired her crossbow, a knowing and slightly fearful look to the halfling’s eyes, whilst BB summoned her Crown of Flowers and sent one that struck the monstrosity with radiant force. But Hussanthum ignored them all. Instead he turned towards the glowing Summer form of Sheryl astride Astra who shimmered like starlight. The shadow demon tried to strike at her, but it could not. Something about Sheryl stopped it dead. A wicked grin had spread across her face.

Instead, it turned its attention to the flying figure of Arkadius. The smile fell from her lips as she saw her best friend seize up and plummet from the skies.

“Come Merla! We can take on this creature together!” Astra heaves with effort. They had been in the aura of the giant creature too long and Sheryl could feel her partner growing weaker.

“No, we will fall back,” the fae-bard commanded, a concern for Astra’s safety taking precedence. The winged unicorn swooped out the way of a tendril of shadow as the two flew out of Hussanthum’s draining aura.

Sheryl looked back to Baine as they went, saw his lips moving but could not pick out the words. Inspiring him with a kulning call, Sheryl shifted her attention back to the gigantic shadow demon. Drawing the Sylvan symbol of music in the air with her Harmonious Rapier, the fae-bard blasted it’s mind with psychic energy that was full of the chaos and brightness of her favourite Summer Court revelries.

An unbidden memory of verdant green eyes and a wicked smile flashes through Sheryl’s mind.

Frankie stepped forward, Baine’s lips still moving, his cindermaul alight. He attacked once, twice. On the third, it was like the sun breaking over the horizon as light burst from where he connected to the form of the shadow demon. Hussanthum reeled back, looking to be undone as large pieces of its shadow form broke off.

Then it loomed forward, ready to retaliate against the half orc. But Ghesh was there beside Baine, no fear, all rage, and in a similar rush of blurred movement, hastily and deftly finished off the gigantic shadow creature.

From across Kundar, they all could see flashes of combat from where the other groups had gone to root out the remaining vampires. Her eyes, still seeing with Truesight, saw a series of shadows rapidly get pulled into the fading form of Hussanthum before disappearing into the ground.

The vampire scourge plaguing the city of Kundar was finally over.

Sheryl had Astra fly over to Arkadius, a wave of healing energy spreading out from her as they touched down. Her best friend had not fallen far. Still, she stuck close with him as they had made their way back to ambassador Pambas’ to inform her of the successful mission.

“We will sign the papers,” Maria informed Patricia, much to the ambassador’s delight. “After seeing how bravely you all fought, there could be no doubt how beneficial such an alliance could be to us, to Kundar.”

She then informed them that, with the success of the raids across the city, there would be celebrations which they were all more than welcome and encouraged to attend.

“I’ve been away too long, I should really get back,” Baine objects politely.

“I’m sure Varis wouldn’t mind if you decided to stay one more night, Baine,” Sheryl said. “Besides, some of us should stay, to represent Daring.” Arkadius gives her a look. “And Port Ffirst,” she added.

“No it’s not that,” the big man said quietly, shuffling his feet. “I’ve, uh, got… a date? Or sort of a date. I think? I don’t know…”

A flush started to creep across Baine’s face as he trailed off. Everyone, Sheryl very enthusiastically, tried to find out more but Baine was either holding out or did not want to jinx whatever the date-not-a-date was. Sheryl suggested he might want to bring back a growler of a special Kundarian brew, since Baine had mentioned going for drinks with this person – something that would not be found in Daring.

They were all standing near the teleportation circle, their search for a unique brew successful. Taffeta mentions she wants to get home as well to be with her family so she offers to teleport Baine and Frankie back. Baine asks if he could take Garai’s longsword, telling them he would give it to Varis. Seeing as none of them objected he gave each of them a portion of his share of gold from the ambassador for their successful mission.

“Well, I’d like to say, ‘No need to give us your share,’ but you are stronger than me, Baine, so I’m not complaining,” Arkadius muses as the half orc stops in front of him.

“Our shared dislike of the Feywild makes us friends now, Arky. Take the gold,” Baine drawls, clapping the tiefling on the shoulder. Arkadius nearly stumbles as the two share a companionable laugh together.

Sheryl however frowns and Baine notices.

“They wanted to eat my dog and take my hair as payment for food, I will die on this hill, sorry Sheryl, okay bye guys!” Baine rattles out in a rush, quickly retreating to the teleportation circle with a wave. Frankie bounds after him, many of the kobolds rushing to get out of the bear-sized dog’s way. Taffeta shakes her head, gives Sheryl an apologetic look, then follows after both of them.

Astra stomps her hoof, exhaling sharply, sensing the roiling emotions in her mistress.

“What ‘friends’ these people be, to think so kindly of our home,” the winged unicorn fumes sarcastically as she turns to follow the others who were heading back towards the nearest celebrations.

“Baine has not been to the Summer Lands…” Sheryl halfheartedly starts but cannot continue. Baine’s derision, even if it was in jest, still stung, leaving a hollow wistful feeling that would not leave her for the rest of the evening.