A Bone to Pick

Raindrops pinged off of Wislaw's steel helm as he trudged through the muddened streets of Suzail; a cacophony of water and metal. A great dread had followed the baron as he made his way from Nightstone and through the great portal at Waterdeep. It had given him no respite from its oppression even as he arrived at the other side of the continent, in the imperious capital of Cormyr. This was not the first time he had undergone this quest; this trial. Nor, he feared, would it be the last.
"My lord, are you sure this is the way to Kareltew's?" Even the voice of Wislaw's trusted friend and liegeman, Waldek, could bring him no comfort, for his words bode ill for the future. "Also, my lord, if I may be so bold, why are we wandering the streets so late in the night?" Question after question tormented Wislaw, even as he knew the valiant knight deserved an answer. He opened his mouth to reply, when he heard it. Screaming. Nearby. Someone in need. An excuse to not see Kareltew.
Within seconds, Wislaw's gauntleted fist had reached down, and a spark of lightning arced forth from it, igniting the ancient Netherese symbol for "speed" engraved on his armour. The rain seemed to hang in the air as the world slowed around Wislaw, and he raced toward the source of the disturbance.
In mere moments, Wislaw had arrived outside the open door to a modest residence. Two guards seemed to move through mud as they made their sluggish way in flight from the terror within. A nimble halfling fought for his life against an horrific beast, which Wislaw recognised only from the reports of Aial and Doctor Varuxath. A bone devil.
Lightning swift sprang forth the baron, pushing aside the brave halfling and standing before the vile fiend. Sensing a new threat, it raked at him, but his bulwark of a shield intercepted the blow. He returned in kind, with three blindingly quick jabs at its ribs, which shattered before the arcane force of his enchanted gauntlets. At once, the beast saw its doom in the aasimar, and sought easier prey. Leaping over Wislaw with a mighty beat of its wings, it dashed forward toward the fleeing lightfoot.
With no time to waste, Wislaw spun, grabbed hold of the doorway, and hurled himself back out into the rain in pursuit of the creature. He caught it just as it reached its quarry. Wislaw smote its back with a blow of his fist, but it nonetheless fell upon the small warrior before it. With fright did Wislaw watch as vicious claw flew, only for its host to be halted by righteous might from its very prey. The bone devil stumbled, and fell back, unmoving, as the blade of the halfling slid free from its mangled ribs.
Wislaw gazed down upon his unexpected comrade, with not a small amount of respect for the short champion. "Tell me, good warrior," spake Wislaw, "what is your name?" The halfling took a moment to respond, seeming more shocked by his own actions than Wislaw was. "My name is Zalnan Tearabbit, paladin of-..."
The haste spell ended.
Wislaw awoke moments later, lying in the mud, face staring up into the rain. Zalnan and Waldek both stared down at him. The knight spoke first. "Are you alright, my liege?" Wislaw stifled a groan, before stumbling to his feet. In spite of recent events, Wislaw did indeed feel alright. Perhaps he would be forced to investigate this strange occurance, for to protect those beneath him was his calling. Perhaps the dread would dissipate, perhaps-...
A distressingly familiar voice broke through Wislaw's revelry. "Cousin!"
The dread did not dissipate.