Chapter 5

Well… I’ve learned a lot today. About the world, about my friends, but mostly about myself.

The beginning of the battle for the western wall went fairly well. With the aid of Ragathel, our trumpet archon ally, we allowed our small army the opportunity to advance, and we even finally destroyed that advanced shadow demon who had been plaguing us - the one who had possessed Admiral Thrune in Cheliax. The demons did break through the gate, however, but I met a lieutenant in the army, a cleric of Sarenrae by the name of Mishra, who came forward and helped fight. Just then, we saw a red dragon flying overhead due east - the Red Rasper. I could not let him reach the city, so I handed command of the army to Mishra and we teleported after him.

The Red Rasper tried taunting us before attacking. I tried getting a spell off at him that should’ve done some major damage, but I could not overcome his resistances. Unfortunately, I had moved up in a position that placed me closest to him, so he came straight for me… again. After a couple of spells cast on me, I was plummeting to the ground. I believe my last thoughts were “Ugh… not again.”

I awoke in a most peculiar place - the outpost in Cheliax, with Saggaroth and Vincent. I demanded an explanation. Saggaroth said that after they finally killed the Red Rasper, he took my body to a priest in Mendev for healing. Unfortunately, Saggaroth had taken the form of a bat to be able to fly, and since he didn’t bother changing back to actually talk to the priest, the priest assumed that this was some demon, and attacked Saggaroth with magic. Still not turning back into a person capable of communication, Saggaroth responded with a fireball spell, damaging the church and instantly slaying the poor priest.

I was appalled at his actions and demanded that he take us back to Mendev at once. Vincent came too, saying that he had permission from his queen to join the battle, but that he could not, sadly, bring any other troops; something about the slave rebellion costing too many resources. When we got back to Mendev, I immediately placed Saggaroth under arrest and called for a man who could deal with him - the witch-hunting Inquisitor Hulrun, known for being ruthless and dogged in his persecution of wicked mages. I also talked with Irabeth, but she seemed a bit upset at the situation and left, after continually reminding me that Saggaroth was my friend. Mishra showed up as well, saying that the battle had gone well, especially after Galfrey and her cavalry arrived.

When Hulrun arrived, he surprised us all by being rather lenient with Saggaroth. He kept looking for excuses to pardon him or reduce his punishment for murder. I simply argued that the punishment should fit the crime, that nobody was above the law no matter how powerful; we decided to hear what the Queen had to say about it. Saggaroth had very little to say in his defense, even supporting my own position at times. After Hulrun left, however, I followed him and confronted him about his strange behavior. He claimed that the stories about his ruthlessness were blown out of proportion, that he was really a man of compassion at heart. He also kept saying that we were at war and Saggaroth’s power could be a useful tool. After he brought up my race to try to sway me, I bid him good day and went back in the church.

When Queen Galfrey arrived, she had Saggaroth explain the situation. I had assumed that she would be on my side, but I was mistaken. She, too, saw Saggaroth’s good deeds in the past as excusing this action, and insisted that he give a monetary fine to the church of 20,000 gold pieces, as well as undergo an additional punishment as selected by me. I decided to have Saggaroth help us reclaim the Sword of Valor - a sacred banner that could ward a whole city against demonic invasions - from a nearby citadel, then he could go on his way.

Additionally, I tried to talk to the Queen about Mishra’s role in the battle. I commended her for her bravery and good job leading the troops after I went for the Red Rasper, but Galfrey shocked me by saying that we had lost more than half my force of 800 men in the battle, and that they all would have been killed had the Queen not arrived. What’s more, she placed the blame for this tragedy on my shoulders, which was probably deserved. Perhaps I should have stayed and led the battle at the front, but I felt I had to go after the Red Rasper to prevent him from wreaking more disaster on the city, and for justice for those tens of thousands killed in Cheliax. Galfrey also said that I “needed to stop upsetting Irabeth”, and suggested that I go talk to her.

I asked around and found out from Vincent that Irabeth said she was going to go scout out the perimeter. Vincent also said that he was getting dirty looks from the other crusaders for his Hellknight armor; I assured him that once they knew him like I did they’d see that he was a good man. I went looking for Irabeth, but first I found Inquisitor Hulrun. He tried to chat with me about the Queen’s verdict in Saggaroth’s case, which I found irritating - he seemed smug that the Queen had taken his side. He then shocked me by inviting me back to his home for dinner, which I declined with an excuse about having to help rebuild the city. As if I’d ever be interested in that smug, slimy Inquisitor… something about him really puts me on edge.

I found Irabeth shortly thereafter. She was sitting alone on the remnants of the battlefield. I tried talking to her, but she blew up at me. “For five years I saw the way you looked at Arueshalae, but ever since you got back from Cheliax you’ve only had anger and frustration in your eyes. And now this business with Saggaroth… is this the way you treat your friends? Am I next?” I won’t reprint our conversation in full, but she really tore me a new one… and it only hurts more because she was absolutely right. I couldn’t find the right words to respond, so I thanked her and left. I made myself busy with the aftermath of the battle so I didn’t have to think about what had transpired. Nonetheless, I have a lot to think about. I just hope Irabeth knows that I’m trying the best I can, even though I continue to make mistakes.