What remains of the campsite

You reach the edge of camp and immediately notice something is off. Around the camp are the bodies of about six dead orcs. Among the corpses is another dressed in a recognizable set of silver plate. It’s the body of Krest. His severed left arm lay a few feet from where he fell. You hold back the instinct to vomit when you hear something peculiar. The flapping of fabric in the wind alerts you to the presence of Petra’s tent on the other side of camp. Cautiously you approach it as you peel back the entrance to the tent. It is immediately clear Petra is not here.

Closer inspection is what actually causes you to throw up. You stumble back and expel vomit across the forest floor, your brain is seared with the image of the attack that likely occurred here. You wipe the vomit away from your mouth as all you can do is look at the ground and hold back tears. You fall to your hands and knees feeling sapped of strength.

“I failed them” you say to yourself. “cause’ of me Krest is dead and Petra is-“ you **** up as you can’t get the final words out. A voice calls out to you from across the campsite.

“It’s our fault.” The voice corrects you. You look to the stump Krest once sat on and see Bax sitting there with his hood up once again. “I take equal blame for this, I let myself get carried away and our allies paid the price.” He gestures to the body of Krest as if it wasn’t obvious what he meant.

“There’s gotta be somethin’ we can do, this can’t… I can’t… I won’t let it happen like this.” You stammer grasping at the dirt below you.

“What done is done.” Bax says shrugging. “We can’t unkill Krest, same as we can’t unrape Petra. We failed but you still live. Take that as a blessing and go.”

“YOU WANT ME TO TAKE THIS AS A BLESSIN’?” you say unable to control your rage at Baxter’s lack of remorse. “WHAT THE HELL WOULD I MOVE ONTO NOW? WHO’D WANTA BE IN MY PARTY AFTER SOMETHIN’ LIKE THIS.” You slam your fist into the dirt as you now kneel looking up to the sky.

“Come with me then.” Bax says almost coldly.

“And go where exactly?” you say quieter but still seething.

“I’ll make you my bride. We can travel, settle down, whatever doesn’t matter. I was serious about you last night.”

You exhale loudly as Bax’s words haunt your mind. Why is he so cold and collected about this?

“WHAT THE HELL? WEREN’T THEY YOUR FRIENDS BAX? WHY DON’ YOU CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED HERE?” you yell getting angry again. Baxter stands from the stump and approaches you slowly.

“I do. I just can’t change it. It wouldn’t be all that different if you perished in the attack as well.” He says now standing above you. “But I can change the future, just come with me.” Baxter extends his hand downwards as he offers to help you up. Baxter seems confident in his ability to provide for you. But if he’s this cold now, would he ever love you? Or would you just become his plaything. Petra might still be alive somewhere out there. You could try and track her down, possibly springing her free from whatever situation she is in.