The fallens revenge

“We were known as the ‘Defenders of the Realm’. We helped dismantle corrupt governments, bring peace to fey domains, slay devils and demons and,” Gizelle chuckled, “close down many pubs with our excessive drinking and fighting.” We all laughed.

She looked at a framed photo on the wall of five friends, standing arm in arm in front of an Inn. “Sam, Daz , Reenie and Dryalis.” She beamed as she said their names. “Sam was the muscle of the group. I once saw her rage and with one swing,” she made a whoosh motion with her hand, “she knocked that troll's head clean off its shoulders.” Smiling, she closed her eyes and reminisced. “That woman was fierce. A Goliath with the heart of a giant.” Her face slowly changed from what I assume was anger to a deep sadness.

“Then there was Daz. He was brilliant and no one was better at tinkering than him. Whether it be traps, weapons, armour or jewellery, his imagination was his only limitation. He once made a ring that could control the elements themselves, allowing us to walk through flame and ice unharmed.”

“Of course, you know Reenie.” She paused again, taking the time to stare at the wedding photo that hung next to the group shot on the wall. In full armour, she stood next to Reenie. Reenie wore a glowing effervescent white dress and sorcerer's cloak. They were smiling and holding hands. 

I stared towards the study where Reenie had been sitting with her face buried in her many books. Lately, she’s been in there every day for hours, scouring every tome and record about curses and cures. She was the most powerful sorceress that I had ever known. I had heard stories over the years of how she learned to wield her wild magic at will.

“Lastly, there was Dryalis. He could sneak like a mouse and kill like a viper. His roguish abilities helped him master suffused weaponry combat. His skills in combat were only matched by his control of his psionic powers. ” 

I focused on everything she was telling us but I was still lost to its purpose.

“You're probably wondering why I'm telling you all this.” She let her gaze travel the room, making eye contact with each of us. Clarissa, sitting on the sofa in her colourful druidic garb. Lucius with his deity Mieliki’s symbol draped around his neck. Gurt, the kindest half orc you could ever meet-unless they were raging of course. Tavra, her lyre resting on her legs and me, Edmon, her adopted Aasimar son, a righteous Paladin like his mother. These were the members of my party, my chosen family. 

“Hand me that photo behind you, Clarissa.” Gizelle opened the back of the frame and unfolded the photo. In it was a sixth person. “There's one member of our party that I never told you about. Ziegen. A fallen Aasimar. He was once touched by heaven, but…unfortunately, he lost his way and we had no choice but to banish him. There wasn't supposed to be a way for him to come back.” Her face darkened.

“Mom.” I looked up at her, worried. 

“While we lived our lives enjoying peace, he was scheming and planning his revenge. We received a package not long agob and suffice to say, within it was proof that he's already succeeded in killing Sam.” She paused. “He's hunting the rest of us. Daz has buried himself in the mountains. Dryalis is always on the move, and as you know, your mom and I are here.”

“Safe.” I stated confidently. 

“Not exactly.” She lifted her sleeve and dark lines of necrotic damage ran up her arm. “I don't know how long it will take to kill me, but I know that it's only a matter of time.”

I looked at her in disbelief.

Lucius spoke, “What can we do to help?”

“Reenie is strong enough to keep us hidden for a while. That's probably why he hasn't found us. I'm telling you this now because his final words to us before we banished him was that he'd come back and take that which means most to us.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “He knows that that’s you.”

“Then we take the fight to him.” Gurt interrupted. 

Gizelle, my mother, the mighty Dwarf Paladin, locked eyes with me and continued, “I cannot tell you what to do or not to do. You deserve to know what the fates have set in your path. That is why I am telling you this. This is not my story anymore, it is yours.” 

“We have never shied away from a fight, and this one is no different.” I stood up, ready to do what needed to be done.

“There’s one more thing you need to know, Edmon. It’s about your father.”

***

“It’s been twenty years that I’ve been locked away in that cage. A dimension of yours and their creation,” he spat, “stuck, bound to nothing but my desire for vengeance.” He stopped, “No no no, scratch that, my need for revenge. You slit a couple of throats and collect a few trinkets to remember the kills and everyone freaks out. What made your deities goals and ambitions virtuous and mine depraved and evil?” He paced around the room, depthless pools of darkness followed every step.

“No matter really, in the end, it all worked out. I had nothing but time to plan.”

“Master.” A cultist opened the door to Ziegens chambers. “We’ve found him, he’s on the move. It looks like he’s heading north and, he’s not alone.”

“Good, follow him. It’s only a matter of time before he comes to us.” The cultist left the room, closing the door behind him. 

“As I was saying,” Ziegen reached for a blue crystal that was sitting on a shelf. Next to it, four empty slots waiting to be filled with their own crystal soul cages. “You were just the first Sam. Soon, the rest of the ‘Defenders of the Realm’ will feel the same torment I felt all those years. Well, not the same actually. I’ve made sure to make each crystal uniquely nightmarish for each of you.” 

Ziegen put the Sam's soul crystal back on the mantle and holstered her holy axe onto his back. “In the meantime, I have some more preparations to make before I have the pleasure of meeting my son. Don’t go anywhere.” Zeigen left the room, his hollow laughter echoing down the corridor. With a wave of his hand, the heavy metal door to his chambers shut swiftly behind him.