The Paladin of Masks

After leaving the Baron's domain, we spent a few days hunting some jordr deer. They are earth elemental based monsters that have incredible tough hides that are used in magic leather armor. It didn't take much for Lariss to track them for us but she was the only one that could kill them easily. They could sense tremors in the ground and needed to be attacked from a distance that left her with the only good attacks. Thelora's Cloaking skills were completely ineffective with them.

There was concern that Baron Teinnroth would send someone after us but if he did, they never found us. Other than a few days in the wild hunting our side trip was rather uneventful.

After we got back to the city we rested a few days, joining each other for meals in the Union hall and light training. Lariss was kind enough to give Kay a set of antlers. We introduced Thelora to Uhtric and Vegaror and she slipped him a vial of the Troll Transformation potion which instantly endeared her to them. I made sure to go through Raginhard for any Union business I had, even though Borhildr approached me a few times.

Floriana came by the second night I was back and we enjoyed each other's company. I decided that I would show her what we had collected from the Baron's study.

"Hmm, this is interesting. Potions that transform a person into a monster are among the wishful dreams of an alchemist just below the philosopher's stone. You could take a normally average or weak person and turn them into a power house. There must be side effects." She said as she traced her finger on my chest.

"The notebook doesn't mention any but the brothers did say they weren't supposed to take multiple potions back to back. Their corpses didn't revert back fully but that might have been because they were dead." I said.

"The use of the ice thresher imagery is concerning. The last time it was used openly, the north nearly destroyed itself. With the nobles so consumed with fighting, the monster got out of hand and ravaged the countryside." She said.

"Have you heard of any current organizations that use it?" I asked.

"No. I'm aware of a few secret cabals among the nobles to gain more power for their factions but none use the ice thresher to the point that it is known outside their circles. I'm not even aware of any using experimental potions either." She said.

"I'm not sure what to do with this. I don't know the nobles well enough to know who I could send this to without wondering if they are a part of it all. While I'm sure I could trust the Duchesses' people to take care of it, I'm concerned she'll ask how I found these items." I said.

"Plus she already has her eye on you because of the whole Bandit Queen succession." She said.

"There's that too." I hadn't told her about that part before. I wonder when she learned about it.

"One day I hope to hear why you both want to remain anonymous and strive to be a hero. In the meantime, I'll get the word into the ears of the right people to place suspension on Baron Teinnroth. Either hide items or destroy them if you don't plan to turn them over. If you're caught with them it would be trouble." She said.

The next day I hid the notebook and the map in the park near the Union where I carved the cross on a boulder in memory of my family from Earth. I used my earth motes to create a crevice in the rocks and then sealed it back up.

I was hoping that I would have some time to take it easy after the busy schedule I had lately. There weren't any pressing personal issues and I had more than enough gold to last a few months. Unfortunately fate didn't think I deserved a break.

One day as Lariss, Thelora, and I were having a late lunch there was a commotion in the main hall of the Union. People were all gathered towards the entrance welcoming someone with a great deal of enthusiasm. Whoever it was was shorter than those around them, so I couldn't get a look at them.

"Oh, I think Adalgard is back." Lariss' eyes lit up.

Thelora and I looked at her as if that was supposed to mean something to us.

"She's a very popular adventurer from the Silver Tongue guild that's been on an extended quest in the east. You'll get to know her as she is the most friendly person I have ever met." Lariss continued.

"Doesn't matter to me." I didn't want to get involved with someone I didn't have to at this time.

My back was to all of them and I heard the scrapping of chairs as everyone quieted down.

"Hello everyone I'm back and it's good to see all of you!" I heard whom I assumed was Adalgard say. With cheers and more welcomes as a response.

"Thank you for the warm welcome as usual. Now let me tell you about our quest to pacify the orcs near Kirinstrand. Their new chief has accepted that they can't keep raiding without consequence." She said to more cheers.

"What happened to the old chief?" Someone asked.

"Well that is an interesting story. The two of us had gone back and forth for months both in diplomacy and battle. Since he wouldn't see reason and insisted that their people had the right to 'farm' others' hard labor I had no choice but to deal with him with my sword." Another round of cheers erupted.

Orcs were a monstrous race that came from corrupted elves. They were on average stronger than humans. Among some of their tribes there was a belief that they were entitled to raid and pillage those around them as a part of their heritage.

There were four major tribes in my father's western province and he only had trouble with one of them. The rest lived peacefully with the other races. But hostilities were still common between races that came about from corruption and those that have been around since the creation.

"It was in the valley of Hjordket that we had our final duel. His war axe was stained with the blood of the innocent while mine shone with the glory of justice for them. It was a fierce battle but the Elder Watchers of the Court were on my side. As he came at me in a wild rage my blade met his axe and his weapon shattered under my might. Before the metal shards of his broken weapon could hit the ground I pierced his heart with my perfect blade." The cheers this time were the loudest yet and people stood to cheer her.

My curiosity got me and I turned around to see who they were cheering for. I got a view of her back as she stood on a table to tell her tale. She was shorter than most, with two braids of dark brown hair and was wearing plate mail that had a few icons that I recognized from the Court of Masks.

"That's enough, that's enough. It's good to be home. Now tell me what's been going on since I left?" She said.

People started yelling about different quests they have been on and she would comment, tease, and question them at a rapid pace. That all ended when she turned in my direction and our eyes met. A warmth spread across my forehead and as I opened my spiritual senses I saw a complex set of spiritual ripples connecting us by a thin strand.

"You!" She called out to me. "Who are you?!?" After jumping off the table she made her way towards me. Everyone else started to give me a look, wondering who would have pulled away the talkative Adalgard. A few that recognized me from sparring with Lariss and Thelora scowled at me.

"I'm Wilmaer, just a D ranked adventurer." I wondered what she was about to pull me into.

"Well the Lady of Twisted Fates has decided that you will be my companion for the time being. What guild are you a part of?" She asked.

"I'm actually a freelancer." I replied.

"What!?! That makes it easier. Ludolf where are you? We're adding this young man to our guild." She said.

"Alas my dear, he's already refused." Ludolf came out of the crowd.

"Well, he'll be working with me for a while. I don't know what the Elder Watchers want but he's going to be involved." Adalgard said.

"I'm more than happy to accommodate. Plus you'll be able to spend some time with Lariss again since they're good friends." Ludolf said.

"What? Lariss!" Seeing her on the other side of the table she rushed over and gave her a hug. "It's been so long. Are you still with those nimrods of the Burnished axes? Even if you are, you need to come back to the Silver Tongues."

"It's good to see you too. I'm happy being a freelancer right now." Lariss' eyes shifted slightly in my direction.

"Really." She looked me over once more. "I guess I can see the appeal."

As it became clear that we were having a more personal discussion most people started to move away from us with a few stragglers giving me a side eye.

Adalgard slid into the seat next to me. "So, tell me about yourself?"

"Not much to tell. I came from the capital once there was nothing to keep me there and have been working as an adventurer ever since." I said.

She gave me a disappointed stare. "That's your introduction? You can't say anything about your family, what drove you to be an adventurer, what your first quest was like, how you met these two, just about anything more than what you said."

Before I could speak, Thelora interrupted.

"If he's not willing to talk, we can provide a few answers. I'm Thelora by the way." She said.

"Spill it sister." Adalgard said.

For the next several minutes Lariss and Thelora told her most of what they knew about me. Thelora told the fake story of how we met. Lariss and I were out training in the wild as she was headed north to join the Union here. She found us interesting and we have been together ever since.

"Well let me tell you a bit about myself. If you can't tell, I'm a fifth circle paladin of the Court of Masks. My family was highly disappointed when I joined the Court since they are big supporters of the Church of the Holy Light. It didn't help that my dad's an Earl and I refused an arranged marriage to some Bishop.

"I left the north east province when I received the call from the Elder Watchers. It's a little strange to call it the north east province since it's to the south of here but it is what it is. After working as a freelancer myself, I joined the Silver Tongues and have risen to a B ranked adventurer." She said.

"It's good to meet you. I don't suppose you have something you need help with? From what you said, you've been divinely sent to me." I said.

"Nope, nothing that comes to mind. And it's the other way around. One of my major blessings is from the Lady of Twisted Fates, that means those that can aid me will come across my path. Most of the time I don't even realize they have been placed there until later but every once and awhile I get a spiritual connection with someone that will be more involved in my life for a short period of time. The connection I have with you is far greater than any I have even experienced." Adalgard said.

Just as I was thinking this might be similar to when I met Vesta or Floriana, nothing dangerous happening, a taller stocky man stood up on the stage on the far end of the main hall. I had never seen this man before but from how everyone went quiet and gave him their attention, I could tell he was important.

"Thanks for your attention, I have an important announcement to make. I have just received word; the Gylltaine Stag has been sighted in the far north west of the province. Duchess Torgeir has announced the start of a grand festival and hunt to be started in two weeks." He said.

The crowd erupted in a deafening roar.