After the rebellion...

The time had come once again for the sibling herders to guide their herd to market so that they could sell the most recent batch of honey globules and trade the older creatures for young kank. And the old ashik had taken it upon himself to accompany the brothers and continue to regale them with his tale.

The shady looking Elf, Sirius, tells Scar that she will need to go to the Drunken Giant tavern near to the Elven Market and present the clay token to the female Elf bartender. He is also very specific that she must go alone. With that, Sirius leaves and Scar is left to contemplate the potential of finally getting some answers to questions that she has had since being a little girl.

The following morning the group find that while Kank is improving he is still bedridden and so they leave him to sleep while they venture out into the streets of Tyr to find out how the city is recovering. The city seems to still be in a state of shock, but there is evidence that someone has started to take control and organise a cleanup. Groups of City Guard can be seen moving through the streets with wagons picking up the dead bodies of those affected by the city wide yellow mist, and those that died in the resulting skirmishes. There is no sign of any Templars with the patrols, but there is clear evidence of former slaves working with the guard. Rumour also has it that there will be a general meeting the following day and a couple of the group agree to escort Mila, the proprietor of the Golden Inix, to the meeting.

The next afternoon Arthur and Scar leave the bar with Mila, leaving Miloch and Balboa keeping an eye on the bedridden Kank, all be it from the comfort of the bar. Mila leads her new found protectors along the Caravan Way towards the Ziggurat, they turn left around the rainbow coloured structure and pass the stadium and into the Templar’s Quarter. There are still small pockets of fighting within the walls of the Templar’s Quarter, and Mila is glad of the reassuring presence of the muscle bound Dwarf and the lithe warrior woman. They pass through unmolested and make their way to the base of the Observation Tower, and join several hundred people in the large open space within its ground floor.

Arthur and Scar instantly recognise several of the speakers, there is Rikus the Mul gladiator and the noble Agis of Asticles as well as the beautiful female Half-elf called Sadira. There is also a Templar sharing the stage with them, Arthur recognises him as the man stood near Rikus and Neeva as the group were escaping the arena. When he asks Mila, she identifies the Templar as Tithian. A hush comes of the large crowd as Rikus calls for quiet, he tells everyone that they have been discussing what will happen now for the last few days and that they have agreed to run the City State of Tyr by a Council of Advisors.

Rikus goes on to claim that King Kalak has definitely been destroyed; he then gestures for Tithian the Templar to take the stage. Tithian announces that the City of Tyr will still require a ruler, and he then shocks everyone by announcing that he will be assuming the kingship. But those on the stage behind him nod their agreement and the crowd seems to accept the decision, Tithian then says;

As my first order of business I abolish all forms of slavery within Tyr!

The majority of the crowd burst into a massive cheer, including Arthur and Scar, but a sharp eyed Arthur spots that several of the other nobles in the crowd are a little perturbed by this news. Tithian announces that they will now accept arguments for membership to the Council of Advisors and the meeting turns into a political posturing competition. Arthur lasts thirty minutes before he is bored with the antics and leaves Scar to watch over Mila.

Scar pays close attention to the proceedings and hears Rikus nominated as the leader of the newly formed Tyr Guard, the fact that all former Templars will be declared renegade if they do not present themselves for pardon within the next twenty four hours. After that time a bounty of five silver pieces will be paid for any Templar captured or killed. Those Templars that ask for pardon will join the ranks of administrators running the City and will don a white tabard and carry an official wax seal to denote their new allegiance. Scar also hears people in the crowd saying that the Templars are no longer able to cast spells.

The former High Templar, Felitash, has not been seen since the incident in the arena and was last seen dragging the body of Kalak away to safety. But the body of Kalak was found and there was no further sign of the High Templar or his followers. By the end of the day twenty seven councilors have been appointed and there is a general sense of the city getting back to a sense of normality as Scar escorts Mila back to the Golden Inix.

During that day, Balboa and Miloch had made themselves comfortable in the bar of the Golden Inix, and both were surprised when Fleck entered leading Kollus, To-Gahl, and Marista who was leaning heavily upon a crutch and dragging a severely injured leg. There are warm greetings all around and Miloch buys the newcomers a round of drinks, and once they are seated Kollus begins to tell the pair of his team’s adventures. Not long afterwards Fleck leaves saying that he needs to work out what is happening now he is free, and Arthur arrives in the company of Marvek who he had met just outside.

Marvek is accompanied by a female Elf by the name of Babinette, and a male Mul who he introduces as the mighty Nordin Far. As the day progresses the Golden Inix starts to get busy, it is the first time since the slave rebellion, and the strength sapping mist, that a semblance of normality has fallen upon the bar. In the absence of Mila, Balboa decides to work the crowd like a good host and the bar is rife with rumour and gossip. Some are worried about the rise in crime, others say the lots of Templars have become renegades, others are convinced that Kalak cannot be dead and that if he is who is going to protect them from the dragon. He hears mentioned several times that there was a murder at the Weary Artisan but that it was but one death in the thousands that died during the rebellion.

Arthur asks Marista about her injury and she says that her days as a fighter are over as her leg is beyond the power of the Earth priests to heal, and with Kalak dead there are no Templars with the power to do it either. Arthur looks at Balboa and the Mul nods, the big Dwarf then checks with Miloch and Kank and all agree that Balboa should use the heal spell carved into the clay tablet that the group had discovered to heal Marista’s leg. Balboa escorts Marista up to one of the group's rooms and casts the spell, as he does so the clay tablet crumbles into dust and Marista starts to get an unusual itching in her leg as it begins the process of healing. Marista says that she is indebted to the group and with all in a positive mood it is agreed that everyone will put up at the Golden Inix and heal before making the journey back to The Village of The Free.

On the fifth day after the rebellion Kank is well enough to leave his bed and make it to the bar for a drink, he spends the day catching up with everyone and swapping stories with Marista and Marvek of the day of the rebellion. In the late afternoon Scar slips quietly out of the Golden Inix and heads for the Drunken Giant Tavern, as she moves closer towards the Elven Market she notices that there are several shady characters loitering in doorways and in groups on the streets, she lifts her head high and grips the pommel of the Sword of Kemalok beneath her cloak. And no one is willing to intercept the tall, purposeful warrior woman.

Scar enters the tavern and seeing an Elven bartender she heads to the bar and orders herself a wine, as she is paying she slides her clay token across the bar with her payment. The bartender tells her to take a seat and she will bring her drink over. When she brings Scar her wine she leaves the clay token on the table with the drink. After an hour when nothing of note has happened Scar orders herself another drink and some food. Not long after her food arrives the shady Elf Sirius enters the Drunken Giant and takes a seat at Scar’s table. Sirius smiles and says;

Finish your meal and I will introduce you to those you seek!

As soon as Scar is finished, Sirius leads her upstairs and shows her into a room on the first floor of the tavern. Scar enters and Sirius closes the door and waits outside. Inside, the room is gloomy and Scar can make out two robed and hooded individuals sitting behind a small table. Both individuals rise and greet Scar, they introduce themselves as Romila and Aetheriak. Scar can’t be sure, but she believes Romila to be a female Elf and Aetheriak to be a Human man. Romila tells Scar to sit and describes the difference between Preservers and Defilers, she also makes it very clear that The Veiled Alliance does not tolerate the actions of Defilers and their harmful magics.

They quiz Scar over her intentions in seeking out The Veiled Alliance and Scar explains that she was taught as a young child by her parents and a mentor how to cast Preserver magic and that she is once again interested in developing her gifts. The pair are impassive and say that in order to join The Veiled Alliance and gain access to further mysteries Scar must first prove herself by delivering them a head of Gloomvine, a small purple flower shot through with black veins, one head of the plant will be enough to brew one potion that can cure disease.

Next, Aetheriak slides a book across the table and asks Scar to read from it. Scar picks up the book and nervously fingers it before admitting that she is unable to read. Aetheriak says that in order to further her skills she will have to be able to read and write, and until she can do so she will not be able to join The Veiled Alliance. They tell Scar to keep the clay token, and when she is ready to join she should contact them again. Scar thanks them for their time and leaves, saying;

I will see you soon!

Scar returns to the Golden Inix and tells the group what has happened and they all agree to help her in her quest. The following morning Arthur suggests that Scar ask the others from The Village of The Free about Gloomvine and she discovers from Kollus and Babinette that the plant often grows near tombs or in damp subterranean places. With Kank well enough to travel the group agree to set out the following morning in the Mekillot wagons heading back to The Free, Scar also manages to convince Babinette to teach her how to read and write and the mysterious Elf suggests that she purchase a book from the Artisan’s Quarter to practice with. And as luck would have it, Scar finds a tome on plant lore.

The following morning three Mekillot wagons flying pennants of the Merchant House Wabir pass through the gates of Tyr and head out into the desert. Balboa spends a large part of the journey discussing earth rituals and ceremonial practices with the mighty Nordin Far, Kank spends some of his time with them and surprises both of them on occasion by making very astute suggestions. Kank spends the rest of his time chatting with Marista about fighting styles and losing limbs. Kank also gifts To-Gahl the iron battleaxe that he took from the Templar under the arena, To-Gahl is shocked at such a generous gift and says that he is indebted to the powerful Mul.

Five and a half days later and the wagons draw up outside the walls of the The Village of The Free, they are greeted by Major Drog and the Dwarf guides everyone into the presence of the leaders of The Free where they are asked to tell their tales. Everyone is pleased with the outcome, and mourn the deaths of the three gladiators from Marvek’s team. There is also great concern about the yellow mist and the black orb that was shattered by Rikus’ spear throw. Such an orb had appeared throughout many carved scenes on tombs across the region which means that Kalak may have been thousands of years old.

And so the group settle back into their lives in the Village, with training and patrolling their main focus. Scar visits the oasis outside the village walls to find out about Gloomvine from the priest and druid, when she is there she spots a giant mountain lion warming herself in the sun. When she gets back inside the walls she goes to the training arena to find Kank and let him know. Kank heads out towards the oasis but when he is only halfway down the ramp he spots the mountain lion bounding towards him, he quickly triggers the power of the Earth ring to enhance his strength but it is still not enough to catch the large beast as she leaps on him. Kank lands on his back and stares up into the face of the massive cat and then laughs as she starts to lick his face with her rough tongue.

Once he has freed himself from under the friendly lioness he spends time with her by the oasis and feels a sense of calm and peace come over him. Eventually he hears a familiar voice in his head, but this time the lioness seems to be more comfortable with the common tongue. She tells him that her name is Ferulah, and says that she waited for Kank in the Under Tyr but that she was captured and placed in a cage under a large building, which Kank guesses must have been the arena. Ferulah goes on to say that there was a mist that seemed to affect the Humans and she was able to escape and make her way back to The Village. Kank apologises for her treatment, but says that she should avoid large groups of people as they would not understand that she is special.

Ignoring Kank, Ferulah says that she would like to go into the village and so Kank goes and gets Major Drog and introduces him to the massive lioness. The old Dwarf is bemused at first, but when Ferulah talks to his mind he admits that she is a special case and agrees that she can come and go as she pleases. From that day onwards it is not often that Ferulah leaves Kank’s side, even going out on patrol with him, and she becomes a regular sight within the walls of the village.

A little over a month since the group arrived back at The Village a patrol returns dragging a blindfolded and bound Templar of Urik. He is taken before the leaders of The Village and interrogated. Later that day the group are summoned to meet with Bartras and Falcar, the leader of The Free and the groups commanding officer, and told that the Templar has admitted that Urik is mobilising to go to war against Tyr, this war has been triggered by the fall of Kalak and the fact that iron is no longer flowing out of the mines of Tyr. Iron that Urik and King Hamanu want. Bartras asks the group to travel back to Tyr and deliver a letter warning the Council of Advisors of the coming war.

The group leave to get ready and are met outside of the meeting hall by their old friend Ka-Reen the healer. Ka-Reen says that she has heard that Scar was asking about Gloomvine, and that it is a coincidence that The Village is in need of the healing properties of Gloomvine as a disease has begun to move through the population of freed slaves. And so the group agrees to try and find some of the plants for her.