Vox Machina Book One: Nobodies to Heroes

Chapter 16: The Resistance of Whitestone

The party kept their eyes on the hanging corpses as the crows were picking at the corpses, Kyria removes her hands from her mouth, "The Briarwoods are truly monsters." Jason growls, gripping his mace tightly in his hand. "The Briarwoods know we've come," Percy warns them.

"They're sending us a message, trying to scare us off?" Kyria asks, looking at the others. Vax frowns at her, "Might be." he answers. "W-We should cut them down," Keyleth tells Percy. "No," he answers and turns away. "The Sun Tree's obviously being watched," he warns and keeps walking.

The party ran through the streets, trying to find a safe place to hide, but Percy stops once again, seeing children in the streets. "Quickly. This way." A woman calls out as she waves for the children inside the alley.

Then she spotted the party in the streets, "Are you crazy? Out of the streets. Hide!" she shouts, waving for them to join her. Scanlan and Grog just peek back as the party joins them.

But the thudding footsteps gets their attention as it was right behind them, "We got to move." Grog tells them and they immediately run into the alley, quickly hiding. They peeked out, seeing another giant walk past them, only this time it was more clear to see.

It was an undead giant, its flesh blue pale, gaps of its skin rotting from limbs, and peeling from its face. It groans loudly, marching down the street. "Okay. Undead giants. Good to know." Kyria mutters.

Keyleth just shot a nervous smile at her, "Grog, you're part giant. Can you vouch for us?" Scanlan asks, making goliath frown at him. "Oh, what, 'cause we all fucking know each other?" he questions him, "Well, I mean, yeah, kinda." the gnome answers. "Question, when something dies, cause the knowledge of past language gone or still there?" Jason asks.

The two blinked and look at him, the woman hiding with them, spotted the buttons on Percy's jacket. With a gasp, she grips his coat, for him to turn to her. "Why are you wearing this? A-Are you part of the resistance?" she asks him.

Percy just blinks confused and startled. "Uh, sorry, I-I don't follow," he answers. "The de Rolo crest. Maybe the resistance is using it." Vex points out. "We're not with them, but we do share an enemy," Vax informs the woman.

Percy just frowns to himself "Whitestone is worse off than I expected." he mutters, "Briarwoods are dicks." Grog mutters. Jason just huffs. "Perhaps we can be of use to each other." Percy said as he steps closer to the woman, "Tell me, is Keeper Yennen still alive?" he asks.

She just frowns at him, "Why do you wanna know?" she questions. "If you want to change here, Yennen is the only one who can bring it," he answers, and the woman just looks at him.

~8~8~8~

The villagers were gathered at the fountain that was long dried up as Keeper Yennen was giving a public speech.

"Friends, I know you have suffered. My heart weeps and my back breaks under the weight of these past few years. But anger makes us reckless. Violence doesn't burn away the clouds. It only makes more smoke."

Keeper Yennen shot a look over at the guards that were standing close by and the next second was gone.

"Have faith and wait for a sign. A new dawn is coming, friends. And soon we will bask in its glory. Together."

The people gathered whispered and mutters to themselves as their hope was not yet extinguished.

Not long after, night approached as the people disburst and left for their homes, Keeper Yennen waves them goodbye. "Take care, young one," she tells them, then pulls their hood on and walks off, with their lantern.