Chapter 147 (Book 4 Chapter 24) (Patreon)

The Stonewarden's holding cells were significantly more fortified than Rob had expected. While buildings in Elatra tended to be constructed of sturdy materials to account for the average person's marginal Strength increases, this was the first time he'd encountered a place meant to detain high-Level Combat Class users. It was evident that Grant was taking their Party's opposition very seriously.

Currently, they were enclosed in small, isolated cells surrounded by walls of pure steel, each at least two feet thick. Opening the cells seemed to require unique magic spells, and once closed, they were sealed shut so tight that Rob couldn't see where the door's seam began and ended. Instead of traditional prison bar openings, there was just a tiny slit at eye level; a minor concession to ensure that its occupants didn't suffocate. Out of everyone in the Party, Rob estimated that only Keira might be able to brute force an escape, and either way she'd be rewarded with a pair of shattered fists for her efforts.

None of that actually mattered, because Waymark was a thing, but it was impressive nonetheless.

Rob breathed deep, gathering his composure. He'd spent the long walk to his prison cell thinking about how he was going to rally his friends. They were...in a bit of a bad state. Within the span of an hour, they'd been betrayed by the Stonewarden, introduced to the idea of nukes, informed that the aforementioned nukes were going to blow up Fiendland, and finally, learned that Fiends were descended from monsters. Even one of those things would have been a lot to take in.

Which left Rob with the unenviable task of getting them back on track. Unlike the rest of his Party, he'd known about the Fiends/monsters thing already, and nukes weren't a foreign concept to him. He was holding up okay – relatively speaking. They needed his guidance now more than ever.

Diplomacy, wish me luck, he thought, opening up a Message.

Group Message Started By Party Member: Rob
Rob: 'Sup, everyone.
Rob: Not going to mince words. We don't have the time for that.
Rob: Yes, I knew that Fiends were descended from monsters. No, I don't think it's important. Yes, I think they're still people.
Rob: I will fight anyone who says otherwise.
Rob: That includes you, Faelynn.

He heard a despairing sob coming from the adjacent cell.

Message Continued
Faelynn: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
Rob: Don't apologize for existing.
Faelynn: It isn't just that. The Stonewarden...when I met with him...he interrogated me about how Fiends...
Faelynn: Gods, I can't even say it. The very notion makes my skin crawl.
Faelynn: But regardless of how I felt, I should have warned everyone that he was mistrustful of me, rather than wallowing in my own misery.
Faelynn: I'm to blame for all of this.

Admittedly, a heads-up would've been preeeetty helpful, but saying that out loud was probably not a great idea at the moment.

Message Continued
Rob: It isn't your fault. The Stonewarden was going to turn traitor no how that talk of yours went.
Rob: According to the Seneschal, he's been nursing a grudge for who knows how long.
Rob: And even if we knew that Grant was acting sketchy, I don't think any of us would've predicted that he'd go this far.
Faelynn: I should have. Any Leader, when confronted with the truth, would have condemned us just as quickly as he did.
Faelynn: We're monsters. Monsters. The other races were right all alo-

Rob punched the wall of his cell as hard as he could. A dull gong rang throughout the prison.

Message Continued
Rob: Ow.
Keira: What happened? Are you alright?
Rob: I fought a wall, and the wall won.
Rob: But Faelynn got jarred out of her downward mental spiral, so it was worth it.
Faelynn: I...please don't. You don't have to pretend to want to associate with me.
Rob: Faelynn, I'm from another world, I died and came back, my soul is a patchwork abomination, and worst of all, I like reality TV shows. I'm a bigger fucking freak than anyone here. You've got nothing to worry about.
Faelynn: It's different. You weren't raised in Elatra. The term 'monster' doesn't mean the same thing to you as it does us. Monsters can't be people.
Rob: Don't be racist against yourself.
Faelynn: What does that word mean?

Rob paused, blinking several times, before shaking his head and diving back into it.

Message Continued
Rob: Sorry, got culture shocked for a second there.
Zamira: If I may interject?
Zamira: For what it's worth, Faelynn, I think no less of you.
Zamira: It...was a surprise. That, I will admit. Time will be required to grow accustomed to what I now know.
Zamira: But you have been a stalwart friend since nearly the day we met.
Zamira: I see no reason why that should change.
Malika: Yeah!! Plus, I already knew anyway.
Orn'tol: WHAT?
Malika: Archmages can figure it out! That's what the Stonewarden said. Weren't you listening?
Orn'tol: I...it's not important.
Orn'tol: You're our friend, Faelynn. I'd be sad if you left.

The rest of Riardin's Rangers sounded off one after another, affirming that they didn't want to excommunicate Faelynn or start a witch hunt against all Fiendkind. Some of the tension coiled within Rob's chest relaxed; his Party members were honestly taking the revelation better than he'd expected. Apparently, he wasn't the only one who'd grown inured to Elatran Bullshit™.

Another sob came from the adjacent cell. But instead of being full of despair, this one was halfway relieved, in a fragile, tentative sort of way.

Message Continued
Faelynn: If...
Faelynn: If you give me this hope, and then later take it away, I'll never forgive you.
Rob: Wouldn't think of it.
Rob: We're here for you. I swear.
Rob: And I really wish I could leave it at that and let you process things, but we've got a very large, very explosive problem on our hands.

He could practically sense the mood dropping throughout the room. While Riardin's Rangers may have been willing to look past the Fiends' true nature if it meant supporting a friend, accepting the existence of nukes was going to be a harder pill to swallow.

Message Continued
Vul'to: So, um, Rob.
Vul'to: Were you, perchance, exaggerating? When you described the destructive capabilities of Titan's Fist, I mean.
Rob: Wish I could say I was.
Vul'to: Ah. I see.
Vul'to: And there's no such luck that this is just a nightmare, either.
Rob: Oh, that part I can agree with. It's definitely a nightmare.
Rob: We were screwed long before we ever set foot in Dwarven territory. The gods have got Grant in the palms of their hands.
Rob: They buttered him up with harmless inventions that strictly benefited society, then moved on to the big guns, ensuring that he'd literally worship his new toys like divine artifacts.
Rob: I'd be shocked if this is anything but a top-down plan to kill as many Elatrans as possible.

The Party fell silent, dread creeping up their spines as Rob's words sunk in.

Message Continued
Meyneth: It is imperative that we return to Fiend territory immediately and warn them of what is to come.
Meyneth: If we advise the Grand Overseers to order a nationwide evacuation, perhaps the loss of life can be mitigated.
Meyneth: The sooner, the better – I have no intention of being caught in the blast radius when Titan's Fist descends.
Rob: You're right, but before that, we need to verify some things.
Rob: First, Elder Alessia should be informed of our plan. Waymark is going to leave her behind.
Faelynn: Then I relinquish my spot in the Party. She can-

Punch. Gong.

Message Continued
Rob: Think I bruised a knuckle that time.
Rob: No self-sacrificing martyr stuff. You aren't in the proper state of mind to decide that. Alessia wouldn't allow it, regardless.
Rob: Second – and this is the main reason I'm not immediately rushing home – is that the Stonewarden said he wouldn't fire his nuke for three days.
Rob: I want to find out if he was bullshitting us. Fortunately, there's a person in this room with a Skill that can suss out people's true intentions.
Rob: Unfortunately, that person is a huge asshole.
Keira: You're referring to the Seneschal and his Cold Reading?
Rob: Yeah. That conversation will be...fun.
Keira: Oh, assuredly.
Keira: I would offer to speak on your behalf, but Sylpeiros is unlikely to be cowed by threats of violence.
Keira: An earnest discussion is more within your realm of expertise.
Rob: Thanks anyway.
Rob: Guess I'll go get this over with. Alessia first.

After kicking someone at random from the Party, Rob peered through the tiny gap in his cell and located Elder Alessia's cell at the other end of the room. A dozen Dwarves were standing guard, completely unaware that a jailbreak was formulating right under their noses. Rob sent a wordless Party invite to Alessia, then sent her a Message as soon as she accepted.

Message Started Between Party Members: Rob, Alessia
Rob: Okay, so-
Alessia: Is Faelynn well?
Rob: As well as she can be.
Alessia: Good. Are you returning to Fiend territory?
Rob: Yeah, right after I check in with the Seneschal.
Rob: Want to ask if Cold Reading picked up anything.
Alessia: Report back to me after you do.
Alessia: There are some matters I've been contemplating. Sylpeiros' findings may put my own into a different context.
Alessia: Oh, and contact him alone. You'll learn the most from him if he has the chance to bare his thoughts in a setting where no one else is watching.
Rob: You know, you're really taking all of this in stride.
Alessia: This is nothing new to me, Rob. I watched nations burn once before.
Alessia: Let us do everything in our power to prevent it from happening again.
Alessia: Now go.

He didn't need to be told twice. Kicking Alessia from the Party, Rob glanced at Seneschal Sylpeiros' holding cell, and with a small sigh, sent him a wordless invite. From inside the cell, Rob heard a shuffle, followed by a low curse.

Your Party Invite Has Been Declined!

You little shit, Rob seethed. He sent another one.

Your Party Invite Has Been Declined!

He sent another one.

Your Party Invite Has Been Declined!

He sent another one.

Your Party Invite Has Been Accepted!

There. Was that so hard? Without further ado, he started up a Message, just between the two of them.

Message Started Between Party Members: Rob, Sylpeiros
Rob: You've probably got some questions right about now.
Sylpeiros: The fuck?
Sylpeiros: What in the name of Lothren's lordly ass is this?
Rob: Ha, yeah, never gets old.
Rob: Essentially, I have the ability to contact people within my Party by using psychic Messages.
Rob: Think of it as a form of telepathy.
Sylpeiros: Like the Gellin?
Rob: The what? That name sounds familiar, but I can't put my finger on it.
Sylpeiros: They are a minor race who live in the far reaches of southern Elatra. Gellin resemble large, floating jellyfish, and they possess extraordinary psychic...
Sylpeiros: No. You're not distracting me, Human. How are you doing this? When did you learn it?
Rob: Around the same time I gained the ability to restore Loci of Power.
Sylpeiros: That explains absolutely nothing – a fact which you are fully aware of.

Rob paused. As much as he would've loved to mess with the Seneschal for a little while longer, they were on a schedule.

Message Continued
Rob: Tell you what. How about we agree to a mutual exchange of information?
Rob: You answer one of my questions, and I'll answer any one of yours.
Rob: No snark or doublespeak involved.
Sylpeiros: Hmm.
Sylpeiros: ...I accept your terms.

That was easier than I expected, Rob thought. Which makes me a bit worried, but it's too late to stop now.

Message Continued
Rob: Awesome. Question one: when the Stonewarden mentioned that he would be launching his nuke in three days, was he telling the truth?
Rob: Cold Reading should've been able to pick something up.
Sylpeiros: It is not infallible. No Skill is.
Sylpeiros: With that in mind, I sensed no guile coming from the Stonewarden. He is being honest in his depravity.

Rob wiped tears from his eyes as a wave of relief flooded his body. The sensation was sudden and instantaneous, as if he'd been suppressing it until that exact moment. We have time. We can stop this.

Message Continued
Rob: Thanks for letting me know.
Rob: Your turn to ask a question.
Sylpeiros: Are you a Human?
Rob: ...Huh?
Sylpeiros: Answer me.
Rob: Um.
Rob: Well, that's what it says on my Character Sheet.
Sylpeiros: Typical. What were your words, again? No snark or doublespeak?
Rob: I'm not sure what else to say. It's a complicated question.
Sylpeiros: Every other Human I've met could have replied with a simple Yes or No.
Sylpeiros: Although I suppose that your hesitance is its own form of answer.
Sylpeiros: Very well; I'll accept it. You may ask your next question of me.

"How gracious of you," Rob muttered to himself. He'd really only cared about verifying the three day time limit, but there were a few other things that might help shed light on their dilemma.

Message Continued
Rob: Why are you here?
Rob: As in, why did you agree to help out Dwarfland in the first place?
Sylpeiros: ...
Sylpeiros: Do you wish to kill the Dragon Queen, Human?
Rob: That's answering a question with another question, but I can spy a lead-in when I see it.
Rob: I don't want to kill anyone. At all. Ever.
Rob: But I also doubt that she'll give me a choice.
Rob: So if I could press a button that instantly ends her life right now...I probably would.
Sylpeiros: A fair, measured response.
Sylpeiros: Personally, I want her head on a pike. I don't care how it happens, or who deals the finishing blow. She is a gangrenous rot that must be excised from this world.
Sylpeiros: During the past week, Queen Ragnavi has slaughtered two Elven villages, down to the last man, woman, and child.
Sylpeiros: And in the time since I've departed from Elven territory, she's likely to have slaughtered a third.

Rob's mouth opened and closed, like a fish out of water gasping for air.

Message Continued
Rob: Oh.
Sylpeiros: Yes. 'Oh'.
Sylpeiros: You can see, then, why I would beseech assistance from anywhere I possibly could.
Sylpeiros: That includes from interloping Humans. You seem to have a knack for toppling creatures above your station.
Sylpeiros: If an opportunity arises to kill the Dragon Queen, take it. I will personally honor you for your service.

Rob didn't know what to say. Between the heartfelt request from a man who hated him, and the knowledge of the Dragon Queen's newest rampage, it was his turn now to be shocked into silence.

Message Continued
Sylpeiros: My question comes next.
Sylpeiros: Do you intend to escape your confinement and prevent Grant from launching Titan's Fist?
Rob: Yeah. We'll be executing our plan soon.
Sylpeiros: You divulged that information rather quickly.
Rob: No snark, no doublespeak – and we wouldn't be able to hide it anyway. You'll see in a bit.
Rob: ...Here's my question. If we break you out of jail, will you help us?

There was a pause.

Message Continued
Sylpeiros: I do not know.
Rob: He'll use nukes against Elven territory, too. Only a matter of time. It won't stop with just the Dragon Queen and the Blight.
Sylpeiros: Possibly.
Sylpeiros: Yet that is not guaranteed. Additionally, later chances may arise to dethrone him and dismantle his operations.
Sylpeiros: Consider my options. If I am forced to choose between Grant potentially betraying us in the future, or watching helplessly as the Dragon Queen razes my lands to ashes, then what choice do I have?
Rob: There's thousands of Elves still in Fiend territory.
Sylpeiros: And they shall be sacrificed to preserve the lives of hundreds of thousands.
Sylpeiros: These are the types of decisions that a Leader must make, Human. Be thankful that you don't have that burden on your soul.

I'm losing him, Rob thought, his panic rising. Having the Seneschal on their side would be an enormous advantage in the fights to come. It might mean the difference between success and failure – and this wasn't a battle they could afford to lose.

Message Continued
Rob: I wasn't exaggerating when I said that nukes are like a Cataclysm ray times ten. And when launched en masse, they'll be just as bad as the Cataclysm in its entirety – if not worse.
Rob: For the sake of argument, let's assume that the Stonewarden sticks to his guns and only targets the Blight and Dragon Queen. Even then, his plan is inherently flawed.
Rob: The Blight and Dragon Queen aren't going to be sitting around in open, empty wastelands, waiting for him to blow them up. They'll be in cities. Tearing up the place for fun.
Rob: Then a nuke drops, and sure, they probably die. But everyone around them definitely dies. Catastrophic collateral damage will be unavoidable.
Sylpeiros: Was that information acquired from your home world?
Sylpeiros: And to be perfectly clear, that was not my next question. I already know its answer.
Rob: ...Ah.
Rob: Well.
Rob: I'm guessing the Villagers gossiped?
Sylpeiros: They gave up that piece of information after being questioned. To their credit, they resisted my efforts.
Sylpeiros: I'll ask this of you next. It is a fitting question for an outsider who is, nominally, some manner of Human.
Sylpeiros: Why don't you care that the Scouring slaughtered your people?

Rob’s eye twitched.

Message Continued
Rob: You wanna run that by me again?
Sylpeiros: Elves took part in the Scouring. Dragonkin took part in the Scouring. Dwarves, despite their insufferable demeanor, took part in the Scouring as well.
Sylpeiros: And here you are, allying with each of them. Shaking hands with those who dug your kinsmen's graves.
Sylpeiros: Quite frankly, that manner of behavior can only be explained by your status as an outsider. If any Humans yet lived, they would never have forgiven the other nations of Elatra.
Sylpeiros: On some level, I can understand the disconnect you must feel. You did not know those who died. Still, they were Human – as you too mostly are.
Sylpeiros: Does that mean nothing to you?

Another gong rang out as Rob punched the wall, a snarl tearing free from his throat.

Message Continued
Rob: Really? REALLY? You're doing this now?
Sylpeiros: We may never speak again. It would be remiss to let the opportunity slip by.
Sylpeiros: Kenzotul worries, you know. He dreads how your opinion of him will change when you learn the exact details of his atrocities, rather than treating them as vague, faraway sins.
Sylpeiros: Blissful ignorance can only last so long.
Sylpeiros: You once told him to atone by living for the future. Could you have done that if you knew him? The real him?
Sylpeiros: Or would you have told him to fall on your sword without a second's remorse?
Sylpeiros: I suppose he is lucky in that regard. There are other Elves with pasts similar to Kenzotul, and you've joined forces with them as well. Mere seconds ago, you sought my aid, of all people.
Sylpeiros: Even if this paradox has crossed your mind, it certainly doesn't seem to bother you.
Rob: Of course it bothers me, you walking trash heap.
Rob: You want answers? Fucking fine.
Rob: When I first came to Elatra, the Scouring's shadow dominated every facet of my life. Elves tried to kill me multiple times. I had almost no allies for weeks. The people of The Village hated me, all for atrocities THEY committed a world away while I was in freaking grade school.
Rob: And you know what I did? I smiled and nodded. Because I had to. Because the alternative was to try and make it through Elatra on my own. I'm not an action hero – this world would have chewed me up and spat me out.
Rob: Well, here I am. Alive. Because I looked the other way.

He punched the wall repeatedly, smearing red marks as its smooth surface began to dent inwards.

Message Continued
Rob: What in the world did you expect me to do?
Rob: Run up to every single Elf who participated in the war and tell them to submit to my judgement?
Rob: Burn my tiny sliver of social capital by reminding grief-stricken mourners that they were partially culpable for their loved ones' deaths?
Rob: There's no Geneva Convention in this world. I was just one guy.
Rob: And yes, every now and then it'll cross my mind. I'll look at an Elf and start to wonder.
Rob: Were they involved?
Rob: What did they do?
Rob: How far did they go?
Rob: And then I shove it aside, because those same Elves are my comrades-in-arms. I've bled for them, and they've bled for me. At this point, whatever they may have done, I don't want to know.
Rob: It's difficult enough keeping people alive – I don't have the time, energy, or wherewithal to start seeking justice for the dead.
Rob: Regardless of how I feel when I stop to think about things.
Rob: So yes. It BOTHERS me. Thanks for bringing it up for no goddamn reason. Just one more stressor to throw onto the pile.
Rob: Fuck you, have a nice day.

He punted Sylpeiros out of the Party and immediately added Elder Alessia.

Message Started Between Party Members: Rob, Alessia
Rob: Done.
Alessia: How did it go? Your conversation lasted longer than I anticipated. And there were the sounds of-
Rob: It went super great.
Rob: tl;dr is that Sylpeiros can confirm that Grant will wait three days to launch his nuke.
Rob: Also, he told me about the Dragon Queen going batshit.
Alessia: Ah. Ragnavi. He informed me of her crimes in my meeting with the Leaders.
Alessia: It...is a problem for another day. She will meet her reckoning in due time.
Alessia: Good work, Rob. That is all I had to ask of you.

Rob took a deep breath. He packed up his negative emotions into a box, locking them in a trunk for Future-Rob to deal with – and just like magic, he was totally fine again.

Message Continued
Rob: Thanks. You sure you're okay with being left behind?
Alessia: Of, very much so. I am looking forward to speaking with the Stonewarden once he demands to know where your Party disappeared to.
Alessia: There are glaring discrepancies in his planning that stand out when contrasted with his usual level of competence.
Alessia: To start with, he wishes to raze Fiend territory and kill the Blights and Dragon Queen, yet he seems to have only a single Titan's Fist available. Waiting until he has built more would be the wisest course of action. By prematurely launching just one, he loses his element of surprise in the high likelihood that there are survivors.
Alessia: Additionally, why give a time limit at all? What is stopping him from launching today? And even if there is some arbitrary restriction, he had no reason to inform us of it.
Alessia: I don't possess answers for these discrepancies – but they're something to think on.
Rob: Got it. Stay safe, and I'll see you in twenty-four hours.
Alessia: Remember to bring something to break through the cell walls.
Alessia: A crate of Firebombs may not be sufficient.
Rob: Already taken care of. Before they locked me up, I placed a Waymark point just outside my cell door. It's close enough that I can activate it from where I am now, and when I Waymark back, I'll be transported to that spot outside the door.

Rob heard muted chuckling from Elder Alessia's cell. A few Dwarves looked at her funny, but they said nothing, probably chalking it up to an anxious prisoner losing her marbles.

Message Continued
Alessia: Marvelous. Go forth, Rob.
Alessia: And remember that I believe in you.

A ghost of a smile spread across his face. It was still there seconds later, when Rob and Riardin's Rangers vanished in a shower of sparkling blue motes.

--

Sylpeiros' thoughts were in flux. Everything the Human had said over the past few days was whirling around in his mind a hurricane, emotions tossed about as if they were scattered detritus. No matter how hard Sylpeiros tried, he couldn't fit Rob into the carefully-constructed template he'd prepared when first learning that a Human was alive.

He was actually grateful for the distraction when, out of nowhere, a flash of blue light shone out from within most of the prison cells. The Dwarven guards scrambled over, peering inside, their faces turning white as sheets.

"The prisoners!" one shouted, in strangled Dwarvish. "They're gone!"

"I am not," Elder Alessia stated, with calm surety. "Notify me when the Stonewarden wishes to speak. I imagine it won't be long."

Sylpeiros couldn't help it. He lifted his head, opened his mouth, let out a deep belly laugh that came from the bottom of his soul. I'll give the Human credit, he thought, tears of mirth glistening in the corners of his eyes. His entertainment value is second to none.

--

Author's Note (read this, is about the schedule):

For a variety of factors, I'll be taking a break from posting after this chapter goes live. Essentially, due to a combination of real life stuff and the more recent chapters taking longer to write than anticipated, my backlog is essentially wiped out - which is a problem, as each chapter goes through several staggered edits before going live. I need some time to build my reserves back up, and to just relax for a little, as burnout is starting to creep up too. In all honesty, I should've started the break a while ago, but didn't want to stop at a bad spot and leave people hanging...only for every chapter to end on a big cliffhanger. Congratulations, I played myself.

Tentative day that updates resume will be September 12th. Thanks for your patience, and for reading, as always.