Part One: Fall of the Masquarade

[aquaace]

Kalen yelled “Mukon, Now!” and without hesitation Mukon raised Lou Mei’s blade into the air and spoke its activation “By My Voice, Dispel.” Kalen, knowing this was coming, quickly resisted its mystical effects, only to see the rest of meadowmere turn in surprise as multiple of the group changed in front of them. Chaos erupts as who they thought were once friends revealed themselves to be changelings in disguise, seemingly to be led by Eilonwy… or rather the changeling who stood where the visage of Eilonwy once was.

An air of shock and confusion permeated the group as the one that had been leading them down this path now stood the one that had been hunting and pulling the strings of the misled sanctuary members. Where Hermies, Aiken and Drandor stood now stood other changelings in their garb, what a close match to it. Two heartbeats fell, and then they struck. The consortium moved with purpose to defend the citizens of Meadowmere and the artifacts. Gladius was brave and took right to his role of a Defender.

“BY MY VOICE, SUGGESTION! KALEN IS THE CHANGELING YOU ARE HUNTING!” Eilonwys’ imposter called as they moved with purpose through the crowd of chaos, all those without the means to resist turning on the very much now outnumbered mage.

Tannas engaged with the changeling that had been posing as Aiken and swiftly delivered one painful cut after another. His years of sword study are on display as he denied the power of the doppelganger’s call. Grimm stood calmly as he took in the fight around him. He looked to Kalen as the call went out, his charm of mental resistance burned away as he moved to help Imend get to their traveling partner when he felt a massive pull stop him in his tracks. From behind he heard the murderous glee in their voice. “You fight for me now.” His head slowly turned to regard Eilonwy. His stomach turned. Standing before him holding the largest “Grimm Favor” he had seen, they stood holding it up like a signed contract. It shined like a beacon. But its color was corrupted. Out stretched and presented they continued, “You fight for me; kill as many as you can and die if you have to.”

As Grimm reached for it, he had the thought to use his sole mystic resist charm. Before he could, a soft violet voice whispered in his ear, “Suggestion: Don’t.” The stone touched his palm. The pact formed. His allies and deals he had been building all looked like targets. Imend immediately in front of him with his back turned. Grimm stumbled. Trying to figure out how to work this deal. Imend caught his partner and held him up as Grimm slumped against his shoulder. The world around them quieted in a moment. Imend asked worriedly, “Grimm, are you injured? What happened?!” He hadn’t noticed Grimm’s sword arm reaching around him.

“I am about to do something… terrible.” Grimm’s sword bit into Imend’s side as it slid across his midsection, his face spelled it all out for his shock. One strike followed another as the blade slashed into his side. Collapsing to his knees as Grimm raised his sword for the final blow.

From behind the barrier protecting the artifact holders, Verrin saw the horrid act. He reached out with his sword and struck Grimm in the back as he moved to strike Imend. The wounded priest rolled with the hit, going to the ground. As Grimm turned from his work, Verrin quickly backed away, confused and on guard with what he just saw. Grimm tried hard to buy his shield before this all had started. Had he finally snapped?

Behind them, questions fired at Kalen from the crowd. “What did she mean?!” Menry pressed, “ Do I need to be worried about you?” The group circled in a wide arc around Kalen.

“I can explain after this is over,” Kalen held his staff in a nonthreatening manner.

All while being unaware of Grimm moving into the crowd of Meadowmere fighters. Striking left and right to those unfortunately too close. His strikes not quite hitting the openings but still striking armor, bringing looks of confusion, concern, and panic as Eilonwy’s voice called out, claiming their victory despite not claiming the artifacts, before disappearing from the fight. As they did, the sway of their magic fell and in the chaos, Imend was once again on his feet. He knew the danger while others were still hesitant. He ran straight for Grimm who was about to lash out again. His sword reached over Grimm’s shoulder, striking him in the leg with the tip as Imend pulled him back into the clearing along the edge of the nearby cliff.

Now cornered, Grimm holds his two blades outward, ready to strike. Kalen readied in front of him and said under his breath “Maybe some distance is what we need right now.” His stance shifts to be less threatening as he holds his staff out horizontally to his side then drops it.

With a smirk, “That was a mistake,” said Grimm.

In a flash, Kalen rushed Grimm and in the last moment before they collided, all of Meadowmere heard Kalen say one word… “Blink” the moment before Gladius let off a golden bolt of energy striking Grimm’s right arm. And just like that, the two of them vanished.

Sam stands among the wreckage of the changeling attack, watching trust crumble like ash among the flames being put out. There’s an air of relief among the citizens of Meadowmere as they mill about and discuss what had just happened.

Or at least what they think happened.

A bounty had been put on Grimm by Verrin starting at five gold for the crime of turning on and attacking the citizens of Meadowmere. Several had voiced their beliefs that this had been an inevitable event. Others had been straightforward in being grateful to finally have reason to go after him. Sam thought it was all bull and had decided that was the correct opinion before anyone had voiced to her otherwise. She was, however, aware enough to know her current cognitive allies were limited here and that she’d have to play her cards close to her sleeve among the rest.

It didn’t take long to find Riana. She sat off the side of a path, watching Gladius and a few others spar off the post battle adrenaline. Sam made her way around, careful to pick her way through the clumps of discussion and stay out of reach of swinging weaponry. As soon as she made it to the edge of Riana’s peripheral vision, she crouched down and joined her in watching.

“Hi.” Riana says, not looking Sam’s way as she picked apart a blade of grass.
“Hey.” Sam responds, crossing her arms over her knees.

There’s a tension in the quiet between them or maybe just around them. Sam glances to the side after a few seconds of it pass unbroken.

“You get hurt?”
Riana shrugs, “I’m okay now.”
Sam hums and looks back in time to see Gladius overtake Zelzor, forcing him to drop his weapon. He cheers and is quick to move on to the next opponent.

“You heard about the bounty?”
“Yeah.”
“So what do we do now?”

There’s more quiet this time, but it’s… contemplative as Riana frowns at the pieces of grass torn between her fingers.

“We clean things up and go after him.” She says after a few seconds, looking back up to the spar with the same frown, “We do what we need to to bring him back.”

Sam shares her frown, following her gaze past Gladius to Hermes and Imend in discreet discussion, “Whatever we need to…”

“You guys okay?”

Sam blinks and looks up at the concerned face of the youngest member of the military who’d paused his sparring to check in with them. Her expression gentles to a smile, waving her hand for good measure.

“Just resting, don’t worry about it. Good form.” There’s a gesture to his sword, causing him to twist it back into grip as he raises it once more with a grin, “Thanks!”

The spar picks up, moving out of the way enough for Sam to see the discreet discussion had dispersed. A few quick glances show the quiet conspirators slipping away to the edge of the group. Sam sets a hand on Riana’s shoulder.

“Stay safe, I’ll be back.”

[Author]

Posts