A Malevolent Rebirth: A D&D Story

| Discovery | Wastelands of Evergreen | Part 2 |

The group holds their breath, slow-moving footsteps step across tile atop the roof of the building they're hiding behind.

The heat bears down on them, sweat drips into the sand, a small group of lizardfolk begin to move towards them, they stop and scan, the lead one perks its head up, the lizardfolk turn and walk away. 

The rooftop footsteps head away from their side of the building, suddenly sliding down a small sand dune across the road from them a figure appears, it hugs the wall of the adjacent building and looks over at them, the group looks back, hands on their weapons.

A singular devilish-looking female darts across the clearing as the guards turn their backs, the rooftop guard above her building glances over just as she ducks behind a broken cart, she finishes her sprint and slides up to the group, hands on her knees to catch her breath. 

As she looks up the group has their blades, wands and teeth barred all pointed towards her. She puts her hands up in a defensive gesture and takes a small step back. The sun shines down on her, giving the group a solid look at her form.

About 5 and a half feet tall, purple skin, long orchid purple hair, and two protruding horns from her forehead clad in light clothing, and carrying a small bag, this youthful tiefling spellcaster of sorts stands before the group.

She takes a large gulp and begins to quietly speak

"Wait, are you all the adventurers sent here? You looked like it so I ran over here."

The group all look to each other, Zasheida wand still pointed at her steps forward.

"And what if we are?"

Zavari tries to move from the tip of the wand, however, Zasheida keeps it pointed at her despite the movement.

"I'm Zavari, I was sent to help you."

Zasheida slowly lowers her wand and gestures to the rest to lower their weapons.

"I don't trust you, but we're also not in a very safe area to speak, so follow us to the Dwarven city of Holdo, and you can tell us everything about you on the way there. How does that sound?"

Zavari lets out a slight sigh of relief.

"That sounds fantastic, I'd like that a lot more than being left here."

The group then slowly and quietly backs away from the wall of the building and makes their way back down the main road.

They begin the trek back, with Zasheida keeping Zavari at the head of the group as to keep an eye on her.

Along the way, Zavari informs the group that she was sent by the High Mage Council. A collection of the most powerful spellcasters in the nation, and one of the two main councils that make up the Brimstone government. The council's work itself is shrouded in secrecy, as their work usually revolves around greater threats to life, than that of the Security Council of Brimstone. The Security Council manages diplomacy, military might, and minor nationwide legislature, they were the group that had previously hired Zasheida for her mission in the Forlorn Woodlands with Slade and the Yuan-Ti. Zavari informs the group she was teleported to Holdo and had come to search for them, only stopping off at the town where they met because she had very few leads.

After listening to Zavari's briefing, the group realizes they can trust her and begin to warm up to her, the first of them being Zasheida, as she tells her a bit about her past and how she met Grym, and about the adventuring group, she has just joined. She mentions all the information they have gathered throughout their initial arrival, and they have a bit of girl talk for a moment, as Zasheida starts to gush about her "boyfriend" who is an Inquisitor. However, she does keep quiet about her mission with Slade as per her promise. The second to begin to open up is Errich who riding on his dog, he trots up below Zavari's horse and begins to go into a deep philosophical rant on the existence of extra-planar entities, uncontrollable fate, and the eventual demise all life has regardless of power, wealth or status, and that is why he chose to live his life in nature, enjoying and understanding his existence and mortality rather than running from it.

Zavari slightly off-put by the discussion, just smiles and nods along as he speaks, moving her horse a bit faster as he wraps up the talk. She begins to pace next to the largest of the group, the Half-Orc Thokk. He just turns and smiles, telling her how he is hungry, and how the hot sun makes his skin cry. Finally, Alain trots up next to her and tries his best to hit on her with a  remark about how beautiful her skin is, but after a failed attempt he scoffs and moves his horseback with Errich again.

The group laughs a bit to themselves as they all tell stories of their funniest adventures, bar nights, and even some darker jokes about the dangers they've faced and times they've nearly died.

As night falls the group sets up camp, only about a day left until they reach the Kingdom, Errich takes first watch as the rest of the group sleeps. He doesn't notice much as he can't see very well in the dark, but he rotates out with Alain after a few hours. The night concludes uneventfully, and the group stirs awake, and heads out at the crack of dawn, while the sun is still low, and the sand is still cool.

They finish their journey, arriving at the gargantuan metal doors embedded in the rocky cliff side of the mountain range that surrounds Evergreen. 

The group dismounts and walks their horses to an indoor stable and entrance area that connects to the large doors. They tie their horses up, and head further in, now standing directly in front of the doors. 

Suddenly a loud gruff voice calls over the wall down to them.

"Oi, what business do ya have here!?"

Zasheida steps forward.

"We are a young adventuring group, we have been sent at the request of the Adventurers guild back in Tarkus. We have just left Evergreen city, and have come to learn more about what has happened in this state."

The voice begins to mumble to another voice atop the gate.

Zavari slightly shoves Zasheida to the side

"Hi, yes, hello. Remember me, I was just here a few days ago, these are the people I was going to look for."

A small head with a braided dirty blonde beard and thick metal helmet peaks over the wall and looks down.

"Oh Ms. Zavari, I'm glad you've returned in good shape, and it looks like you found yer group. I don't see why we can't let you all in. Please wait a moment while we open the gates, a guard team will be waiting for you inside.

Without warning the large metal doors slowly start to swing open, with the chink-chink-chink-chink-chink of moving chainlike mechanism within the doors.

The group enters as the doors THUD against the solid cave rock, then begin to close again.

A collection of about three heavily armored dwarven men walk up to the group, a large manned ballista aimed at the doors, two more guards off to the side, and now visible from the inside, the two guardsmen at the door watchtowers.

The most prestigious of the three dwarves approaching removes his helmet to reveal this wild mess of curly brown hair, and thick bushy beard.

"Pleasure meetin ya, the names Borrin. I'm captain of the guard here in Holdo. If you have any business feel free to find me, otherwise, I believe Ms. Zavari here can escort you throughout the city."

Zasheida and the rest of the group do a light bow and all thank the captain, as he puts his helmet back on and returns to his post next to the ballista, joining the conversation of the two artillerymen currently manning it.

The group looks around the city and take in the sight of it all. Contrary to the two other places they have been, Holdo is a lively city bustling with Dwarven life, the group does get random glares from the Dwarves as they walk by but no one confronts them. They spot the King's castle located at the very end of the main road, however, it seems to be more of a gated off manor. Zavari informs them there is an Inn down a side road that is home to the Dwarf fighting ring and apparently some of the nations best ale, and right next to that is the home of a high elf named Arwin, that helped her get to the Holdo from Tarkus using magic, and that there is a smithy within the market.

The group makes their way to the Inn, deciding to meet with Arwin and the King after they've rested and had a meal other than rations. They enter the Inn, the interior is energetic, jovial, and rowdy, it feels as though nothing has threatened the peace of this place, and the group wasn't sure whether they should be happy they found a safe haven within the desolate state of Evergreen or scared of what could happen to it, should it be discovered.