Entry 21: Cultists twarted

Dear diary,
 
A week has passed since I last wrote here, and a whirlwind of events has swept through our lives. The city has been abuzz with activity for the past five days, all in preparation for the grand welcoming of Norgar Laar and Rachnar Ergoll. On the 10th, they will be officially received by the king, and the anticipation has everyone in a frenzy. Merchants and bards have flocked to Keralon, turning the city into a vibrant tapestry of color and sound.
 
Alistan and I, ever mindful of our new duties, decided to lend our hands to the city guards, helping guide the chaos into something manageable. While we were busy maintaining order, the others indulged in the festivities. My brother, Luke, seemed intent on diving headfirst into another romance, with Gael as his wingman. However, our elven companion proved more interested in forging useful connections than flirting with barmaids.
 
The most intriguing development during this time was the arrival of Robert Talespiner, our old friend and former travel companion. Robert, who had journeyed past Ravensfield to reach the city, brought with him a letter from Zem and Sapphira. Their message was alarming: Ravensfield has been plagued by thefts and mysterious animal attacks.
 
After sharing the troubling news with the group, I made my intentions clear. Once the festivities are over, I plan to head to Ravensfield to investigate. The city may be caught up in celebration, but some things cannot be ignored. The safety of our friends and the tranquility of their village are paramount, and we must act to protect them.
 
The procession to the palace would pass right by Erna’s Wish, which was perfect for us. We decided to watch from the tavern's roof, promising Feyris we wouldn't damage it. Early in the morning, we gathered there, savoring our dragon-themed breakfast and steering clear of the already drunk crowd that had spilled out of the inns and onto the streets.
 
When the procession moved below us, we tried to catch the attention of Rachnar and Norgar. Liliana, ever the subtle one, started waving her flaming sword around. It worked—both Rachnar and Norgar noticed us, waving and bowing in return. Then, without warning, Norgar collapsed from his drake.
 
It says something about us that we immediately suspected foul play. Without hesitation, I sent Fiachna swooping down to deliver a healing spell to Norgar, all the while scanning for signs of trouble. Just then, I spotted three cloaked figures on a neighboring roof, and Liliana pointed them out to the rest of us.
 
With practiced ease, our group sprang into action.
 
Gael and I acted in sync, weaving our respective magics to trap the assassins. Vines and thorns erupted from the rooftop, forming a dense barrier around them. Meanwhile, Alistan executed a near-impossible dash across a washing line, aiming for the opposite roof where a spectral figure had appeared to attack us. It was astonishing—seeing someone in such heavy armor pull off a feat like that.
 
The most dangerous threat, however, descended from the sky. A huge manticore crashed down onto the roof right next to Gael, ready to strike. With the assassins contained and the specter dealt with, we focused our combined might on the flying beast. It attempted to flee, but a well-placed arrow from Dadroz ended its flight, sending it crashing back onto the roof, lifeless.
 
With the battle on the roof over, we turned our attention to the chaos unfolding on the streets below. Cultists clad in the same red robes as those we had faced in the palace were attacking the draconian guards in what seemed like a suicidal mission. They stood no chance against the skilled fighters, but it was all a diversion. Amidst the chaos, another cultist managed to steal something from Norgar’s pack and fled down the streets.
 
Alistan, Dadroz, and Gael gave chase, while Luke and Liliana dealt with the surviving assassins. I perched on the roof and shifted my vision to Fiachna, my trusted companion, to give chase from the sky. Luckily, I did. Unhampered by the crowd, it was much easier to keep track of the fleeing cultist and guide the others in the right direction.
 
The chase finally ended in a square a good distance away from Erna’s Wish. Two other cultists were waiting for us there, and another fight broke out. It quickly became clear they were no match for Gael, Dadroz, and Alistan. With nowhere else to go, the leader of the cultists yelled, “Release the beast!” in a language my companions didn’t understand. Luckily, I did, so I managed to give them a warning right before a door burst apart and a massive flesh golem lumbered into view.
 
The grotesque creature towered over us, its patchwork body stitched together from various sources, emanating an aura of sheer terror. Its soulless eyes locked onto us, and with a guttural roar, it charged. Alistan, Dadroz, and Gael immediately switched their focus, recognizing the threat.
 
With no magic weapons or offensive spells available, fighting the monster would be impossible. Alistan, quick on his feet and even quicker in thought, grabbed the stolen gem and they bolted. His stroke of brilliance wasn’t just in the escape, but in luring the rampaging beast toward a group of knights. These knights, armed with magical swords, made quick work of the golem, dispatching it with practiced ease.
 
By the time Liliana, Luke, and I arrived at the scene, it was all over. The once-threatening golem lay in pieces, and the square was slowly calming down. Shortly after, Sir Donovan arrived with some of the royal guards. Already informed of our intervention in the assassination attempt, he was mightily impressed with our actions, especially in recovering the stolen gem.
 
In a show of gratitude and respect, Sir Donovan casually gifted a magical sword to Alistan, declaring it improper for a knight to be without one. He then offered two of his own gemmed rings as a reward to the rest of us. Bless Luke for being sensible and taking them, especially since Gael and Liliana wanted to refuse out of modesty.
 
With the excitement over, we headed back to Erna’s Wish for some well-deserved food and drinks. And, of course, to repair the roof—we did promise Feyris, after all. Luckily, I know exactly the right spell for that! As I cast the spell to mend the roof, we couldn’t help but laugh at the day’s wild events. The roof, much like our spirits, was soon restored, ready to face whatever adventure awaited next.
 
10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree