Entry 24: Burn your village

Dear diary,
 
The trip back from the temple went smoothly, and we decided to drop the two prisoners off with Zem and Saphira. They could keep guard over them while we dealt with Reynis for the night. Tying him up and blindfolding him hadn’t worked, so we brought some chains, hoping they'd be stronger.
 
Unsurprisingly, they weren’t. In his drake form, Reynis snapped the chains like they were paper. But we were prepared this time, and the fight was over before he could unleash his full strength. Alistan landed the final blow, knocking him out and forcing him back into his true form.
 
We headed back to my cabin at the edge of Ravensfield. By the time we arrived, the two prisoners had woken up. Liliana immediately began her interrogation, but they kept their lips sealed. Unfortunately for them, I have more tricks up my sleeve than just curses. As Liliana bombarded them with questions they refused to answer, I subtly started scanning the leader’s mind, searching for the things he wasn’t saying.
 
As I relayed the information that Vezzir’s goal was to create dragons, the leader realized I was reading his mind. He decided talking might be the better option after all. Like so many fanatics, his cult was deluded, convinced that their twisted mission to turn all people into dragons justified their heinous acts. They even wondered why we opposed them, believing that sacrificing innocent people was a small price to pay. In the end, they were just like any other oppressor, out to rule the world by force.
 
We pressed for more details about the cult’s headquarters in Keralon and Vezzir’s location, but got nowhere. However, when Luke asked about the champion from Arcarost, the leader panicked and bit off his own tongue to stop himself from speaking. The other cultist, clearly in shock from what had happened, caught our attention. Desperate and terrified, he offered to give us the information we needed in exchange for his freedom.
"Nice try," Gael muttered, tightening his grip on his weapon. "But we’re not letting you go."
 
Exhausted and knowing my magic was depleted for the day, we decided to leave it for now. In the morning, I could probe his mind again and get the information we needed. As the night deepened, we made our preparations for another watchful vigil.
 
Before heading off to bed for some well-deserved rest, Luke went to find Dan, hoping his trade consortium had a scroll of polymorph. Unfortunately, they didn't have one, but Dan did offer another possibility. Close to the village, in the Lorewood, there is a magic circle where you can perform a ritual to summon a hag. Dealing with her could provide the aid we need, but at a steep price. Needless to say, I gave a stern no to any plan involving a hag, though I did agree with Luke to check out the place and see if it was connected to Neverhold.
 
The next morning, I returned to the cultist and probed his mind for information about the champion. To our shock, the vision pointed to none other than our travel companion, Robert Talespinner! Could he be their champion? He certainly loves telling stories about dragons. We didn’t have much time to contemplate this revelation, as sounds of panic erupted from the streets outside. Rushing out, we saw people fleeing from the center of Ravensfield, crying out about monsters attacking!
 
Leaving the two cultists in the care of Zem and Saphira, we sprinted to the village center. A wave of undead kobolds and towering dragonflesh golems swarmed between the buildings, attacking anyone in sight. The chaos was overwhelming, but we fought with everything we had.
 
Despite their numbers and resilience, we cut down the attackers one by one. The air was filled with the clash of steel, the crackle of magic, and the cries of the wounded. But we held our ground, determined to protect Ravensfield. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the last of the monsters fell. The village center was a battlefield, but we had prevailed.
 
Breathing heavily, we took a moment to assess the damage and check on the villagers. Many were injured, and some buildings had been damaged, but the immediate threat was gone. I looked at my companions, their faces smeared with sweat and dirt but their eyes burning with resolve. We had faced another attack and come out victorious, but the fight against the cult was far from over.
 
As the rest of our group rushed to the western edge of the village to see where the monsters had come from, I moved around the square to aid those who had been wounded. The air was thick with the scent of smoke and blood, and the cries of the injured filled the air. I worked quickly, using what healing magic I had left and bandaging wounds as best I could. The villagers’ gratitude was a small comfort amidst the chaos.
 
Meanwhile, at the western edge, four minor dragons and their riders swooped down from the sky, ambushing my companions. This fight proved to be much more of a challenge. The dragons were agile, swooping in and out, their riders launching attacks with deadly precision.
 
Bit by bit, we managed to take down the riders, forcing the dragons to engage us on the ground. Their roars filled the air, but we stood our ground, fighting with everything we had.
 
When only two dragons remained, a call came from the sky. A massive wyvern hovered a little distance away, its rider a dragonborn in heavy armor. For a moment, the battlefield fell silent as everyone turned to face this new threat. The wyvern’s wings beat slowly, its eyes watching us with a predatory gaze. The dragonborn rider, his armor glinting in the dim light, surveyed us with a calm, calculating expression.
 
We expected him to swoop down and finish what his lackeys had started, but he didn’t attack. Instead, he approached, and spoke in a voice that was both resonant and cold. "Are you the knights from Keralon who destroyed our temple at Hollow Hill?" he asked.
 
We exchanged glances, wary but resolute. "Yes," Gael replied, stepping forward. "We are."
 
The dragonborn nodded, as if he had expected this answer. "You have disrupted our plans and slain many of my kin. For that, I offer you a choice." His eyes gleamed with a twisted sense of honor.
 
The dragonborn gave us an ultimatum that twisted my stomach with rage. “Evacuate the village and face me and my army alone,” he declared, his voice booming across the trembling village. “In that case, I will spare the villagers. But if you flee with them, I will hunt everyone down and kill them all.” His cold eyes scanned our faces, making sure his threat hit home. “In 24 hours, I will return with my army and burn Ravensfield to the ground.”
 
How dare he call himself honorable! My blood boiled as I thought of the carnage his monsters had already caused. They had stormed the village, killing innocent people even before knowing we were here! His intention to destroy Ravensfield—my home, my steading—had nothing to do with honor, only petty vengeance.
 
With his ultimatum given, the dragonborn ascended into the sky on his wyvern, his two remaining dragons trailing behind. Their shadows cast a grim pall over the village, a promise of the destruction to come.
 
With no choice but to evacuate and face the dragonborn’s wrath tomorrow, I gathered Dan and the village mayor. I laid out the grim reality before them, convincing them that while Ravensfield could be rebuilt, lives lost were irreplaceable. They agreed, and soon, the villagers began packing up, making their way towards Keralon. The exodus was bittersweet, but necessary.
 
Reynis, our cursed ally, vowed to stay with us. “You’ve helped me so much,” he said, determination burning in his eyes. “It’s time I return the favor and get some payback on the cult that did this to me.” We gratefully accepted his offer. His strength would be crucial in the fight ahead.
 
The rest of the day was a whirlwind of preparation. If the dragonborn wanted to burn Ravensfield, he’d do it on my terms. We turned the village into a deathtrap, rigging it with flammable materials and hidden snares. Every street, every alley became a potential ambush point. If Ravensfield was going to burn, it would burn to our benefit.
 
16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree