A Critical Role story - In the Shadow of the Titan

A Looming Shadow

Kima was still worried.

Allura could see she was trying to hide it but the halfling had that slightly distant look she got when she reached a place where she didn't like any of the options. She wanted to fight (as always) but she didn't want to leave her Allura alone when Vecna had obviously targeted loved ones, with both Gilmore and Cassandra taken within moments of each other.

Worse was to follow, a short while later when the message came through from Syngorn that the half sister of Vax and Vex, little Velora, had also been taken. Without discussing it, both Kima and Allura had in the back of their head that the first two abductees would concede that capture was a risk for them in their chosen roles. But Velora had been taken solely on account of her blood ties to the twins, further underlining the twisted mind of the newly ascended god now approaching the city; the undead titan he currently travelled upon now only a few miles from the city of Vasselheim.

Allura had been able to send a message to Westruun, to get Kerek to check on Wilhand Trickfoot.  Neither Whitestone nor Emon reported any further abductions, though no-one had yet been to Castle Greyskull to check on Vox Machina's old staff. And the Ashari reported no losses, though the elemental gates were disrupted. But Kaylie's location was unknown,  as was Grog's old herd. Zahra and Kashew were also unaccounted for, and the Slayer's Take suspected that many of their members were, at best, out of contact in the field and almost certainly worse in some cases.

To Allura, the fact she was still here suggested that there were no plans to take either of them. Knowing the power that the Gate spell required, Allura had a faint, unvoiced, hope that Vecna had weakened himself in the casting. But the way her luck was ...

The Arcanist herself was worried for Kima - the titan was so very huge as it loomed more and more over the city and there was no telling what was within the titan - there was the whole undead dwarf civilisation that had called it home before Vecna brought Thar Amphala through from the Shadowfel. And Devo'ssa and the Vasselheim wyvern flights that had accompanied him reported that, though they had inflicted great losses on the gloomstalkers circling outside of the Thar Amphala, another host of gloomstalkers were visible in the skies around the tower on Entropis in the centre of Thar Amphala, with a white dragon visible through the green light of the shield that prevented further approach.

Earthbreaker Groon had already marshalled his monks and departed for the walls, as had the majority of the followers of the Raven Queen, and the paladins of the Platinum Dragon were  assembling to make their march into position - Kima should have already been within their ranks but her worry for Allura kept her by the Arcanists side.

"Kima, really I understand. You said yourself that you will be more useful on the front lines. If Vecna was looking to take either of us, he would have done it by now. If I need you, I will message you."

"I know this, Ally. It just feels wrong somehow to leave you, I can't explain it." 

Allura knelt before her.

"I'll be fine, I promise. I'm in the sanctuary of the Platinum Dragon." She cupped a hand to the side of Kima's face who looked earnestly back at her.

Whatever Kima was about to say was lost as the acolyte of the Raven Queen who had assisted them earlier came hurrying up.

"Um,  Arcanist Vysoren, I hoped I'd find you. As we departed, we became aware of a minor fracas at the main gates. There was an odd couple, a tiefling and a cleric apparently who wanted to find you and were remonstrating with the guards outside. They couldn't seem to understand that the temple is in lockdown ...oh you've gone." 

Allura and Kima had shared a look then quickly made their way out, leaving the acolyte behind. It took a few moments for them to reach the gate and as they drew near they could hear the rising tone of the tiefling rapidly losing her cool, brandishing a staff.