Hell's Rebels - Prolog 5 / Noch 7 Tage (14. Mai 2020)
Toilday, 25. Arodus 4715
THE NIGHT OF ASHES – Die Nacht der Asche
Nichts ist mehr so, wie es einmal war in Kintargo!
Diese Geschichten ereignen sich in der Nacht auf den 25. Arodus.
Ihr erfahrt davon durch Erzählungen in den folgenden Tagen.
Die Geschichte aus Old Kintargo trägt nur zur Atmosphäre bei. Sie hat sich vielleicht genau so zugetragen, aber keiner von euch hat sie erzählt bekommen.
Jarvis End
You awaken in the wee hours of the morning. As your eyes adjust to the dark room, you become aware of a faint, flickering orange glow through your shutters. You lay there for a time and become aware of the smell of smoke. Fully awake now, you realize something must be burning outside! Jumping to your feet you go to your door, opening it to the freezing air outside.
A building is burning a block to the southwest! A plume of smoke arises from a smoldering ruin. Standing in the middle of the street is a man in full armor, a tattered-looking cloak swaying in the chill breeze. His back is to you, his eyes turned towards a group of people coming down the street to the east and heading towards the Castle District. Four more men in armor matching the first are leading a line of six tieflings, shackled to each other.
The lone Hellknight turns around to you.
“These six knaves broke into the Silver Star to rob it, but they did not count on the Order of the Rack patrolling the streets and were caught red-handed. When they realized they were surrounded, they set fire to the building, hoping that their unnatural resistance to fire would protect them and deter us. They were mistaken!”
A tiefling with bulging eyes and forked tongue lolling from his mouth makes eye contact with you.
“But we did not do that! I am inno…”
His plea is cut short by the crack of a whip cutting into his back. He cries out in pain. The armored man walking behind him grabs the collar of his newly torn shirt, wrenching him around.
“Whether you get a trial or die in the street makes no difference to me, creature! Therefore I advise silence!”
The Hellknight who was addressing you turns back to you. “Return to your sleep, citizens. The villains have been apprehended. There is nothing more for innocent men to see tonight.” You cannot mistake the menace in his tone.
Yolubilis Harbor
It is the darkest part of the night when you awake but are surprised to see your room seems illuminated nearly as bright as day. You smell smoke. You hear bells and shouting. Is your house on fire? Jumping to your feet, you run to your door. It feels cold. You throw it open. A squad of men are running down the street. A horse pulling a massive keg of water on wheels is being driven hard by a group of Dottari. A man in armor reminiscent of a flayed man and carrying a lantern is slowly walking down the sidewalk, seemingly peering in the houses. He approaches you. Down the street, you can make out the Thrashing Badger, engulfed in flame, the smoke spreading throughout the block.
The Hellknight stops when he notices you. You cannot see his face under his horrific helm; two dark pits regard you.
“A cult of Rovagug is active in this neighborhood. They have set fire to this tavern to spread fear and sow chaos, as is pleasing to the Rough Beast. Fear not. We shall ferret out these demoniacs and bring them to justice. You are innocent. If you love our Queen, you should return to your bed and not interfere with me.”
His hand moves slowly to the hilt of his long sword.
“You do love our Queen, do you not?”
Villegre
“You’ve looked long enough! Let me see!”
You’re startled awake by the sound of young women squabbling over something. That isn’t out of place in the dormitory of Lady Docur’s School for Girls. Looking to the end of the hall, you see a lamp and three girls huddled around the window, the drapes pulled back.
“It’s MY spyglass, after all!”
says the young noblewoman, Druvalia Jarvis.
She is one of the few humans attending the school, no doubt in keeping with her family’s liberal reputation.
The half-elven girl who relinquished the spyglass, Asmodea, looks over and notices you’re awake.
“Hey, come here! Something is burning in the Greens! Come look!”
Asmodea, you recall, grew up singing in the Infernal Chorus in the Church of Asmodeus and hopes to be an opera singer one day. She does have a beautiful singing voice.
Druvalia gasps.
“Oh… oh my! That is a lot of smoke. See how it blots out the starlight? I think that’s the Victocora Estate! Asmodeus stay your wrath! Lady Victocora is so kind, and Rexus is so sweet! I hope they’re safe!”
Looking out the window, you see across the neighborhood of Villegre. From the high vantage point of the tower which houses your dormitory and with the aid of Druvalia’s spyglass, you can clearly see the walls of the Greens. A orange-yellow glow is visible at the north end of the enclave and a massive plume of smoke rises into the otherwise clear, starry Arodus sky.
The third girl, another half-elf named Lorceli, moves to the window. The young woman excels at dance and is normally lithe on her feet, but not tonight. In her excitement, she knocks over a pitcher, which falls to the floor with a crash. Druvalia, lets out a cry of surprise. Asmodea hisses:
“Quiet you dunce!”
Momentarily, the room is flooded by light and Mialari Docur, headmistress of the school is at the door, holding a lantern. It’s always struck you as odd, how utterly silently the doors in the school seem to open. The elven woman glides into the room with nearly supernatural grace.
“What are you doing my young friends? You should be asleep.”
Mistress Docur’s lilac eyes scan the street. Below, a brigade of Dottari drive a horse pulling a massive cask on wheels towards the Greens.
“A fire you say? And in the Greens no less. I have just heard word that fires have broken out in Jarvis End and Yolubilis Harbor as well. This seems a shocking coincidence. My young friends, your parents have entrusted me with your safety, therefore you are to remain here tonight. No one is permitted to leave. I am going to cancel classes for this week. I want you to go home to your families in the morning. We will resume classes next week. Now please try to sleep. You are safe with me. I am sure everything will be fine.”
With that Mialari Docur exits the room, closing the door behind her. However, it doesn’t seem that anyone will be sleeping tonight.
Old Kintargo
You return to your home in Old Town. It’s a venerable but well-maintained old house that your parents have always taken great pride in. You reach to the door and find it unlocked. Not unlocked exactly, the door latch seems to in fact be broken and the wood of the door split. Fear grips your heart and your stomach tightens as you push open the door.
Inside, you see an absolute mess. Your mother’s artwork has been taken off of the walls and piled up on the floors. The bookcase is empty! Your parent’s books are nowhere to be seen! The fireplace looks like it was left to burn out. Your mother would never abide that. Your father’s large chair in front of the fireplace has been cut open, its stuffing pulled out. The whole house is ominously silent. You run to your parent’s room, calling for them. There is no answer. Their bed has been disassembled. All of the drawers pulled out and up ended. Your room is the same. Your hope chest has been broken open and emptied. You stagger backwards into the hall. What is happening? All of a sudden you feel the presence of someone else in the house.
You look towards the door. A paunchy middle-aged man stands there. He has a crooked nose above a bushy moustache. He wears the uniform of a Dottari and has a club in one hand and a pair of shackles in the other. You don’t know whether to run or not. You notice that your father’s long sword is still above the mantel. You consider running to grab it. The man slowly crosses his arms over his chest, regarding you. You stare back at him, not sure what to do.
After what feels like an eternity, he clears his throat and speaks.
“How old are you, young lady?”
“You are the same age as my own daughter.”
He shakes his head, returning his club and shackles to his belt.
“I cannot do this. It is too much.”
He almost chokes.
“Asmodeus take me, it is too much. Listen to me: When I came by to find you, you were not here. Do you understand? Keep a low profile. Don’t give anyone a reason to come back here.”
He turns to leave and then pauses. He looks over his shoulder and almost whispers:
“Do not wait for your parents to return, young lady. I am sorry.”
With that he puts his head out the door and looks to see if anyone is watching before quickly letting himself out. You are left alone with the ruins of your young life. What are you supposed to do now?
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