The Life of Arkadius Hogg

’Time to Clarify Matters’

Arkadius had just returned to Port Ffirst from his latest expedition to K’ul Goran. It was tiring, exhausting, but as always fruitful and fun. They’d prevented a calamity befalling the nation yet again, in the form of preventing the K’ul Gorani Navy’s newest sails being destroyed on demand by the Vanguard, and he’d also spent half an hour talking to Kassandra, which admittedly had taken several days to happen, preventing him rom properly helping out in the businesses this week… But regardless. Everything that had happened called for… a celebration.

He was sat at his desk, his natural resting place when he wasn’t flying about the air of Port Ffirst, or adventuring to wherever had laid claim to his time that day. He smiled to himself for a moment, opening the drawer that he’d stashed something very special in, a bottle of Fey Fire Whiskey, Faerie Fireball, that his best friend Sheryl had acquired for him for his birthday just a few weeks prior. He pulled off the stopper, the air becoming filled with the glorious smell of cinnamon. He giggled to himself for a moment, pouring a glass full of the liquid, watching it swish around inside.

He raised the glass to his lips, and took a rather large swig. He let the liquid envelop his mouth for a moment, the taste sweet and beautiful. It felt like his mouth was simultaneously on fire and full of ice at the same time, it felt amazing. The feeling persisted for a good minute or two as he swallowed. It now felt like a little bubble was floating around inside of him, and it felt quite funny. He let out another giggle, picking up his fine quill and starting to make notes.

He couldn’t shake the bubbly feeling however, and his eyes kept darting back to the bottle, and the glass. He couldn’t resist, pouring himself a second glass… followed by a third, fourth… the whole bottle was gone. He felt utterly bubbly and happy, and couldn’t contain himself… a hiccup forced its way out of his mouth, a beautiful red-coloured sparkly mist joining it. Noticing this, Arkadius couldn’t help but giggle again, this time at the marvellous sight beholding him.

---

Two and a bit hours had passed, full of occasionally beautiful-coloured hiccups, with Arkadius marvelling at each and every one.
’Hello, Arkadius,’ a voice drifted from the shadows in his office, from behind a cabinet. ’It has been too long, has it not? You’ve stopped thinking about me, and we can’t have that, can we? And… well, I don’t want to go quite to the extreme of saying that you are failing me, Arkadius… but,’ a figure stepped forwards out of the shadows, ’You are failing me, rather badly. And I think now is a good time to resolve that.’

The woman, a tall, smartly dressed humanoid approached the desk, her feet carrying her across the room almost instantly, as if the length of the room were a fraction of what it was. As she approached the desk, a seat materialised out of thin air, which she sat on. She immediately looked Arkadius straight in the eye, hands neatly folded in her lap. ’Let’s not beat about the bush, let’s just burn it down and talk about what’s bothering me. The Vanguard. What do you know about this force?’

Both Arkadius and the woman sat silent and still for a good ten seconds, staring at each other, before Arkadius hiccuped once, entirely out of his control. The woman sighed, shaking her head from side to side. He felt enough scorn in that one action to gulp, loudly. He hadn’t faced her wrath in a number of years, and he wasn’t prepared for it now.

---

He awoke with a startle, the empty bottle on the desk all the evidence he needed to confirm what had happened. It had all been a... horrible nightmare, hopefully?

‘Returning to Work’

It had been a grueling few days. But it was over. Things could start to return to normality. Arkadius’ first thought, on returning to Port Ffirst, was his staff. The people who relied on the work he provided them to live, feed their families… survive. This brought him a moment of solace, as the key turned in the lock of the front door. The stale air hit him, and made him smile as the door swung open, a slight squeak of the hinges.
Okay. Could be worse. Then again… not like there’s much in here people would want to loot anyway. Not like many people were posting things or shipping things before we went to Avernus anyway.

It took Arkadius a few hours, but several handwritten letters were now prepared on his desk, one addressed to each member of his team, reading:



He relaxed as he signed the last letter with his standard flourish. He knew where each of his team lived, and he had time to hand-deliver each to them before the week was over. He’d spend time with each of them too, two hours or so, getting to know their families, their children, their loved ones. He’d like to see them all be happy, playing and having fun, or spending time with friends and loved ones. And all the time he’d be thinking of those who didn’t make it back alive, who left people behind. Anyone looking closely would see sadness in his eyes, but he masked it well on his face. Telling jokes to the children, and kind words to the husbands and wives. Being social, and making people happy.

For now, things were fine. He was still sad, still emotional. But he was slowly processing the events of late. He’d spend time flitting between the two businesses, returning to the weekly pattern. But he knew, deep down, that one day… another threat would arise. Maybe even Zariel herself again. And one day… one day soon… he’d be back to normal.

‘Time to Say Goodbye’

(This narrative write-up is available in podcast form right here!)

The little ball of fur on the desk stirred slowly, shaking as she did. Ida opened her eyes, looked up to where she would usually see Arkadius sat at the desk, and frowned. He was nowhere to be seen. She stood up on all four weasel paws, looking around the rest of the office. She squeaked loudly, letting it reverberate around the room. No response. Her head tilted to the side as she thought, reaching out using the mental link they shared. Arkadius? Where are you?

There was no response to her mental call either. She felt him nearby, he was within range and he was conscious. He could respond, he just chose not to. She climbed down carefully from the desk, and made her way towards the office door, which was open just enough for her to squeeze through. She pawed her way down the corridor, past the sales desks and out through the door to the yard. It thought that it had to be midnight, it was pitch dark and none of the staff were there. All the horses and carriages were in their places, most of the horses sleeping soundly. But in the middle of the yard, petting one of the horses, was Arkadius. Ida recognised the horse, it was Arkadius’ warhorse, Sacha. She’d been with him much longer than she had, and the sight of them together… made Ida smile. She wandered over, and started climbing up Arkadius’ leg.

You should ride her more. I’m sure she would appreciate attention from you, and not the yard staff, she said. Arkadius chuckled for a few moments.
“I’m sure you would appreciate that, wouldn’t you Sacha?” he replied, smiling and giving Sacha a few more pats. “But I just don’t have the time between delivering mail, saving the world and serving two rather powerful beings,” he said aloud, reaching down and picking up Ida in his hand, bringing her to his shoulder to rest. He gave Ida a few soft scritches on her head, and smiled. Ida saw the sadness in his eyes. What’s wrong?

“Ida, I’m… I’ve been considering our situation over the last few weeks, and I think I have an idea how to solve several problems at once. But…” he paused, sighing deeply. “I won’t go into the detail of the plan, mainly because… If everything goes to plan, you…” A tear formed in the corner of Arkadius’ eye, and Ida watched it roll down his cheek.
“If everything goes to plan, you won’t be around to see it happen. I have to let you go. You’ve kept me company for so long, you helped me keep Ambassador Veluss alive. You helped me keep so many people alive, and… I have to let you go.” The tears were coming thick and fast, flowing down both of his cheeks.

Ida nodded, I know. I’m here because of Swan. I’m a… figment of her power that you’re using, and when you face her… You’ll lose that power, and by extension, you lose me.
“So, while it hurts deeply, I have to let you go. I have to… face her without you. I have to face everything from this point forward without you. You’ve been there through everything with me over the last year, and I’ve really enjoyed having you there.”
I accept that, Arkadius. I’m sure you’ll miss me greatly, and I have enjoyed being here with you. And…
“You’ll be back. This isn’t forever, Ida. I will find a way to bring you back. I promise. And I do not make promises lightly, you know that.”
And if you don’t? Will you at least say goodbye to Sheryl for me?
“I have you to thank for quite a few of my friends still being alive, Sheryl included, and I have you to thank for me being anywhere near successful this last year.
And I will miss you.”

Ida didn’t have time to respond. On finishing his sentence, Arkadius had closed his eyes, and started the mental action to dismiss her from the Material plane, one final tear dropping from his cheek to his shoulder where Ida had been sat just a few moments prior.

’The Return’

Poof. I hate this bit...

The transport circle in Daring’s Portal Square shone brightly for a brief moment, a barely visible figure hidden within the magical light. As the light faded away, the figure of a winged tiefling was revealed, left standing there eyes firmly closed and six-fingered hands outstretched, balancing himself. The tiefling stood stock still, no movement at all, however the prevalent smell of brimstone had suddenly permeated the area around him. The figure sighed, then spoke aloud to nobody in specific, loud enough “Okay, Arkadius. You've put this off long enough, it's time to face the music.”

The winged tiefling stepped away from the portal space, allowing others to proceed with their business through the portal, looking around the square. He waited until he was in a clear enough space and took off into the sky with a flourish, cloak flapping behind him as he flew upwards high above Daring Heights.

He still remembered some of the details of his target, he thinks he knows where they would be. It wouldn't be too much of a task to fly around until he saw them, and swoop in. He'd have the upper-hand, before he would lose control of the narrative and initiative. He had the semblance of a plan. It was a terrible plan, he thought, but a plan nonetheless.

It took four hours flying circles around the Four Fair Winds, landing every so often on nearby perches to keep his energy conserved, before he saw the person he'd been waiting for. They seemed to be walking with a purpose, so he had to strike fast. He dived headfirst, before flipping around to land solidly behind the target, feet hitting the ground with a loud enough thunk to stop the person in their tracks. Arkadius’ brain worked quickly to make sure everything worked.

The words tumbled from his mouth as quick as he could say them. “Hey, friend. I… Meant it when I said I owe you bigtime. Let's go for a drink, sometime? Please don't kill me, I'm sorry.”