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Chapter 5.16 - Master Toldrei

Toldrei Eshent had risen through the ranks of the Felwardens to become the youngest Branch Master in the last two generations. To talk openly of becoming a member of the High Council was blasphemy, but dreaming of such a station wasn't a crime. Besides, anyone that knew Toldrei knew that she wouldn't be content at her station. She would continue learning, continue training, and continue growing in power.

The old societies had grown weak. Magic organizations that had shaped the course of human history were now relegated to skulking about in the dark and stealing scraps. The Felwardens were no different. Even now, the lone smith in their branch toddled with his books instead of filling the demiplane with smoke from the smithery.

Had the Felwardens fallen so far that another sect of mages would openly steal from them? Had her branch fallen so far?

When the smithery alarm sounded, Toldrei had been more surprised than irritated. She thought that there'd be peace in the wake of the war. She thought that for once she could relax.

She'd been wrong.

There were twenty-one Felwardens in the demiplane—though she supposed the old smith didn't count. Just the fourteen lower ranked mages should be enough to catch the thieves. Despite that, Toldrei roused the magi and the knights in the cathedral. Even if they weren't needed, Toldrei wanted to send a message.

Trespassing would not be tolerated, nor would theft. Master Toldrei would dispense punishment herself.

Toldrei, the knights, and the magi filed through the cathedral, ready to arrest the interlopers.

Gunshots echoed through the demiplane. Toldrei smirked and ran faster.

They must be inexperienced mages to use such crude weapons. That was fine. Toldrei hoped they'd put up some resistance.

Toldrei and her allies exited the cathedral, and her smile dissolved into a frown. Fourteen mages lay on the ground in various states of defeat and distress. Most lay motionless or managed a pitiful groan. A few writhed and pawed at their faces. Black tar covered their hands and their heads.

Anti-magic countermeasures...

Toldrei surveyed the aftermath, paying no attention to the pistol aimed at her.

Finally, she turned to regard the intruders. A dark-skinned man and two women, one middle-aged. All three regarded her with fiery stares. They were dressed like mages, but their disguises were passable, at best. For one, their robes didn't match, and, second, the colors and designations weren't from an order that Toldrei recognized. No wands... No staves...

It didn't matter. Toldrei began the introduction to their arrest. "...by the power vested in me by the Felwardens, you three are under arrest. Remain where you—"

The imposter holding the gun fired at her! She'd been shot in the chest. Now, the same black tar that clung to the other mages was now oozing across her body.

Whatever the material was, it wasn't magic... That fact wasn't as much of a comfort as it should've been.

Toldrei couldn't feel the strange material, of course. A spell of ethereal armor coated her clothes and skin. Nothing could penetrate it. With a flex of her concentration, the magic armor flared with light. The tar dripped down off of her and pooled on the ground.

Not only did they not have the decency to wait until she'd finished, they didn't have the decency to know when they were out of their depth!

Master Toldrei hid her growing disappointment and continued. "As I was saying, you are under arrest. You have the right to undamaged imprisonment."