Adventure and Intrigue

Though the Unwild, with its strange customs and new experiences, was difficult for Stratos, he left Aberholme feeling pleased. They had rescued someone else, a young tiefling girl and now he felt that the cast was complete.

To welcome any more companions would dilute the performance, but each of the adventurers on the road with him now contributed uniquely to the performance. He was particularly excited about Leilia, the newest companion. She was a tiefling, like Sasha, and she provided perfect counterpoint to her. Where Sasha was noble to a fault, vigorous and forward, Leilia was furtive and timid, quick to flinch and slow to trust. She was every inch the shiftless and untrustworthy tiefling stereotype that Sasha was trying to change. Aelen was sure that the two of them would lock horns, black against gold, many times. Sasha’s intense plea to show the Unwild a better kind of tiefling and her enraged outburst were beautiful. Such drama! And all of it perfectly real and unfeigned.

Leilia seemed indifferent to Sasha’s quest, but respectful of her anger. Still, she was secretive by nature, resisting every effort to learn who she was. Aelen pried into her eagerly, excited at having another mystery. To his delight, he discovered that she was a warlock, and that her pact tied her to Lady Vestae! Lady Vestae, duchess of fire. She was known to Aelen and to most of the Feywild as an inciteful and fractious elemental. Even among the Fire Courts, she burned at the fringe. Her feud with Lady Cumulus was as famous as it was mysterious; no Eladrin knew how it began, and no elemental shared their knowledge.

The young warlock had been sent to Aberholme to investigate some matter wrapped in secrecy. The appearance of a wizard who was the descendant of Gavin the Terrible and who sought to resurrect Necromancy may very well have been her mission… but perhaps she’d been sent only to interfere with the performance of a young Sword Artist trying to gain the favor of Lady Cumulus!

Stratos walked alongside the cart towards the great Unwild city of Perringham, or something, with confidence in his stride. He had a stout and sturdy dwarf companion, perfect to provide contrast to Stratos’ grace and beauty, a noble tiefling warrior, as troubled as she was beautiful, and a new rival, to cause trouble and chaos. A mystery lay before them all, on the very cusp of mortal danger. Stratos smiled and hoped that the Necromancer would strike soon!