ACT IV: The Return

With book and reward in hand, the journey back to Krakorum was swift. As predicted, there were no grand rewards from the Sovereign General for saving his daughter. Considering you had done more for the benefit of him and Vilory than you had in your own homeland, it would be demoralizing to leave entirely empty handed. Thankfully, that had not been the case: Grand Aluf Adranna had corralled some of her fellow Vilorian leaders had ensured you walked away with something. A chest of jewels that could make you landed gentry in most parts of the world, and some odds and ends. You found soon after the nature of the text that James had requested; a meager advance on his cut of the reward. It was a spellbook, one he intended to display as a gift. Upon passing back through Traity, you had reunited his fiance Thirona, who had only been too eager to see his return. Any concerns you and the others may have had of this being a fleeting romance seem to have been abated by their inseperable nature.

Still, turning the group of four into the group of five with a novice spellcaster who had never been the adventuring sort was problematic. You were **** to comment, given how little you had done yourself before joining this crew, and you didn't want to upset your friends. Bruce, on the other hand, was more open to his views. In the end, he relented and allowed her to accompany you, figuring any arcane knowledge, even that of a student, would be beneficial, but he carried a grudge still that James had never articulated exactly what his plans were. The Dowton Brothers and Bruce were good friends, clearly, and staunch allies, but their individual personality quirks strained the relationship and it's longevity, that at times made you worry about the long term viability.

Departing your ancestral home without incident and gaining an extra person, you continued to retrace your steps to the coastal human kingdom of Krakorum, where Stravaria awaits. What should happen after you return Veserae's hallowed text is uncertain, but either way, you'll be eager to have this adventure behind you. Pulling in to the Rusted Dragon Tavern, where this had all begun, you feel a warm sense of familarity and comfort, knowing that from here it would be easy going.

Or so you thought.

The hearty mood of the venue had departed, as had it's gregarious owner, Drandee. In the dwarf's place was a member of the town guard, armor and all. The crowd had also shrunk, the guests saying nothing and doing nothing other than eating or whatever their immediate business was.

"Well" Kraig was the first to pipe in, standing behind you "This is different. It's like we slipped through to a different realm"

"Or Vilory's ideas have been spreading, which is unlikely" Bruce added "I've got a bad feeling about this. Don't get too comfortable." He cut forward to the group and started to approach the guard behind the bar, with the rest of you following.

"Guard, what's going on. Where's Drandee? This place feels like a morgue without him." The immediacy of his questions underlined his concern. This was more than just idle curiosity about a kindly tavern owner for him.

"Drandee has been arrested without bail, and is awaiting trial." The guard seemed pretty dismissive "the act is pretty procedural at this point, they should just move right to sentencing if you ask me."

"We're _not _asking you" Bruce said sternly, leaning in. "Drandee was an honest sort. One of the most happiest dwarves I've ever met and a cornerstone of the community. You have some nerve throwing him behind bars. What charges did you all invent to put him in there?"

"Lewd and disorderly conduct, inciting lawlessness and debauchery, I think they may have even needed to invent a few just for him."

"Sorry" You spoke up at last "That sounds suspiciously like a show trial. Why would one need to invent new laws just to punish someone for wrong doing?"

"Because we don't have a name for what occurred here..." The guarded pointed to the tables, which you remember had once been arranged in long communal rows "The damned dwarf was running competitions here. There would be a woman at each end of the table, and men would line up over a dozen at a time to fuck them, with a prize to whichever woman could finish her men off the fastest. When it was found out that one of the women was the Baron's own niece, something had to be done."

You turn to Thirona, who had let out an audible gasp. You smile faintly at the reaction, realizing how this all would sound depraved to normal people, but had all somehow become normal to you by now. You wonder how your good friend will adjust to this, and if she'll remain the faithful sort. Turning to your human companions, you let out a "Well, this sounds familiar"

"All too familiar, I'm afraid" The guard commented "The entire kingdom has lost all sense of restraint and decency. We thought it was the working of some strange new cult, but even with their leader arrested, this behavior spreads like a disease."

Kraig sighed out loud "Things are never easy for us, are they?"

"I'm sorry, what does that mean?" The guard asked pointedly.

"Nothing" James spoke up at least "We have some business in the city, and it sounds like things are getting complicated. We'll be taking a few ales and rooms to rent."

Coin exchanged for keys and tankards, the five of you huddle together at a table, and quietly discuss things.

"Well, it's official" Kraig piped in "Stravaria is as crazy as I thought and it's high time we walk away from all of this."

"This has grown beyond her" You add in "She may be the one ultimately responsible for the resurgence of Veserae, but her power and influence isn't tied solely to one person."

"Maybe" James added "But how? I mean, we've all seen it because we've talked to her, held that relic, or whatever. Krakorum is a big place, and even Stravaria can't get that busy"

"The guard may be onto something" Bruce said "he talked about it being a disease. Perhaps that's more accurate than he knows. Someone who's been touched by Veserae is intimate with someone who's not, and they get a portion of that, and it spreads out like so."

"Well, whatever it is" James responded "We gotta do something about it. Let's get Stravaria out, get our reward, and be done with this."

"But, what about the others?" Thirona asked meekly "I mean, Drandee didn't do anything wrong, right? If he's being jailed for this, I'm sure others are. They can't be punished for something that isn't really their fault..."

"That's a much bigger problem" Bruce added "You're not wrong, but that's alot more difficult, and dangerous"