Gyanda Maloran, the Third Archknight

Gyanda Maloran, the Cursed Mage of The Magister's Rage

Gyanda Artix Maloran is the youngest son of Karian Maloran, the leader of the Hem Order and a former leader of the Blackstone Order, best known as Matilda the Bear. His relationship with the latter has been strained for many decades because, while she hoped he would be the first of their children to follow in her footsteps as a templar, Gyanda would become the fourth in his family to enter Hem Academy. While he was eager to walk the same path as his father and the two elder brothers he worshiped, fate had other plans. An ancient curse was placed on his ancestor, Artix Maloran, for helping Helen Winstrom and Nicholai Desmond in defeating Maula during her first excursion into Comalan. This curse inflicted his mind with the spirit of one the Death Goddess' champions from the past who could inhabit and control his body nearly at will. The Demon Knight Garanda would kill several of Gyanda's classmates with his hands, forcing the young oni's expulsion from Hem Academy.

Disenchanted by the inaction of the other Gods in light of his tragic problem, Gyanda grew resentful of them and the society which venerated them. This made him vulnerable to the influence of Samson Amul, the leader of a secret coven of blood mages. The actions that he took while led by his anger and his legendary feud with the Demon Knight are best covered in the memoirs he wrote after a traumatic experience with Erdas, the God of Suffering, forced him to confront the truth of his past misdeeds. His conscience cleared, Gyanda began to lead his old coven of blood mages in a movement to bridge the gap between all practitioners of their forbidden magic and the rest of civilized society. With the Crimson Coven behind him, he brought blood magic into a state of public legitimacy for the first time in history with their discipline's unique ability to cure the Curse of Suffering. This dastardly plague, which nearly wiped out the ancient country of Necros prior to their unification with Coronos was found to be most efficiently treated by a technique developed by Gyanda.

Gyanda as he appears in his Starlight Crusade uniform. Years after his feud with Demon Knight Garanda, he leads Resta's soldiers as captain of the spaceship Morta.

While traveling with the Crimson Coven, Gyanda was dismayed to find that his wife had been captured by the sho'kai, a race of aquatic invaders from the nearby planet Mennon. With her and several other people stranded across the stars, he would join Tir Apollo in spearheading a rescue from across two planets, known as the Starlight Crusade. In this conflict, Gyanda plans to brave the unprecedented trials that face him on the worlds of Allene and Mennon and confront Erdas once more so he can finally lay his demons to rest.

Sara Marle, the Champion of Serenity

Straight from the opening pages of Death Touch, today's post spotlights the Champion of Serenity herself, Sara Marle. Born in the Restan midland city of Beldor, few could keep up with the passion showed for her favorite deities, Serenity and Crane. At the age of 11, she was already aware of the Bishop's Pinnacle and resolved to see it for herself. While there, she heard the voice of Serenity for the first time. It was from that moment that Sara pledged herself in service to the Goddess of Tranquility. Afterwards, she spent some time in the Theia Seminary, where she experienced friendship with clerics for the first time. After a year of studying the Doctrine of Dreams, Sara returned to the mainland to begin her theological education in the Blackstone Monastery.

Upon returning to the mainland, however, she learned for the first time how incompatible the Theian tradition was with other schools of Serene worship. Surrounded by fellow acolytes who favored the Doctrines of Tranquility and Beauty, Sara nearly gave up in her training to be a Serene priestess and started pursuing Crane's knowledge instead. That was until she met Matron Erina, an elder priestess who encouraged her to embrace the differences between herself and her brothers and sisters and assured her that keeping Serenity first in her heart was all she needed to be a successful priestess of Tranquility. So Sara continued her studies with renewed zeal and a new mentor, hopeful that she would hear Serenity's voice once more.

Although this chance encounter with Matron Erina marked the end of Sara's doubts, it didn't mark the end of her discord with her comrades in the Serene faith. After painstakingly completing the ritual that would allow her to become anointed as an acolyte, she prayed harder to hear the Peace Goddess' calming voice. This ambition soon became well known among the other acolytes of the monastery's Serene quarter. As a result, Sara had become the subject of some ridicule for those who believed that to speak to the Gods as she wanted to was far too rare to be a reasonable goal. This earnest desire, however, only motivated her to devote herself so completely to the monastery's teachings that her seniors would remark on her unusual spiritual power. Templars of the Serene faith began to teach her some of their earth-moving techniques in the hope that she might be better suited to their work. Despite this, Sara showed no inclination to harm anyone, which they began to see as a liability; thus they left her to continue her training as a cleric--now with a powerful skill that others in her creed lacked.

When Sara finally heard Serenity's voice for the second time, her experience was the subject of much confusion and debate. Since her desire for this very event was well known, many began to suspect that she was lying about the connection she had made to the deity. Others still questioned Sara's interpretation of the goddess' words, believing it to be a contradiction to their own long-held beliefs. With more people debating why she was wrong than examining her claims thoroughly, Sara became disillusioned with the Serene Quarter once more. So, without a clear idea of Serenity's intent or any hope that anyone would listen to someone with her level of credibility, she left the monastery for the first time in eight years. She experienced more in this journey than she ever expected to, but still carries on with unyielding determination.

Sara regards her role as Serenity's champion with earnest determination. As a lifelong servant to the gods, her sense of duty compels her to do whatever she can to ensure the Champions' victory, even if it means putting her life at risk.

Seth Midas, the Champion of Chaos

Born in Palon, Seth is the last descendant of an ancient lineage of warriors known as the Midas family. Once known for putting roots down all over the world and lending their swords to countless righteous causes, the Midas clan has all but perished under the wrath of countless enemies. When he was born, only he, his older sister Alexis, and a sai'mul survivor of the Akisian Empire remained to carry this once proud legacy. But this was something that always seemed to matter to their mother than the two siblings. With no father, and a mother who spent most of her time away the two siblings found community within the temples of Palon, a binary coupling of Chaotic and Serene temples known for practicing the Doctrine of Shadows. As children, they were praised by the priests for perfectly internalizing the two most basic precepts of their religion in their actions. The older sister was deemed to have exemplified the Serene credo, "Comfort with solidarity" and encouraged to grow into a medical career that focuses on healing warriors and adventurers. Seth, on the other hand was told he was a perfect example of the Chaotic phrase, "Power for justice."

Those three words have had a deep meaning for Seth his entire life. As a child, they meant protecting weaker kids from bullies. As he started to grow up, however, he began to consider that they meant joining the rank of Resta's elite peacekeepers, the spellwarriors of Hem Academy. The day he announced this ambition to his mother was when his life started going to hell. Ruby Midas, a spellwarrior in her own right, was determined that any child of hers who would succeed her in the academy must do so without embarrassing her. She committed to staying home and devoting her energy to preparing him for top grades in his training. As her apprentice, however, Seth would find that she had a rather strange idea of embarrassment as her extreme training methods proved to be intentionally humiliating. They soon came to be known as Loony Ruby and her Oddball son. Meanwhile Alexis quietly thrived as a nurse in the local infirmary and "the only normal one in the family", much to Seth's resentment.

When Seth finally did enter the halls of Hem Academy, he effectively cut off contact with everyone he knew back home, craving a fresh start. Throughout his studies, he clawed for some semblance of the person he was before his apprenticeship, which he was able to maintain by avoiding his mother completely. He did this by intentionally avoiding classes taught by--or in the vicinity of--her and pursuing credits in spells and martial techniques designed for mobility and stealth. Within his first year, purely out of deliberate effort to hide from his own mother, he had earned the moniker, "The Shadow Speedster" from his classmates. For his mother's part, seeing him succeed in his studies gave her every reason to leave him to his own devices. This allowed him to build his confidence back up and thrive among his newfound brethren. Seth happily committed to this new identity he had discovered and spent the rest of his studies training to be a dark knight who specializes in shocking foes from the shadows.

His entire story contrasts to the dynamic he shares with his best friend from outside of Hem Academy, who he met during his second year in a hastily planned trip to Lightning Ridge. Although such an expedition is customary for spellwarriors, Seth was less than thrilled when he learned that he was assigned to a group that was to be led by Ruby. As the mother had intended, Seth opted to skip the class field trip and pursue this experience on his own. No other teacher would have recommended this, for the dangerous predators that litter the region make it extremely dangerous to visit alone. Seth was saved from this mistake by Clint Blackstone, who recognized the gravity of the very same mistake and proposed a partnership. 

So, while Clint explored the sights and challenged some of Lightning Ridges giant snakes, Seth located each of the test sites he needed to receive credit for his visit, both with the security of one extra pair of hands. Seth appreciated how complementary Clint's skills were to his own and found his personality simultaneously charming and vexing. They formed a fast bond that would follow well beyond that day, with Seth taking every chance he could to leave the school and spend time with him. These visits would lead to a short, but cherished affair between the two that ultimately fizzled out because they both preferred the dynamic of their original friendship.

Seth graduated from Hem Academy with top marks, the idol or envy of his class. But when that class dispersed to their respective homes to await their first assignments, Seth returned to Palon, where his reputation had far from recovered. Desperate to escape the humiliation his neighbors inflicted on him, he tracked down his mentor from school and asked to be allowed onto her new assignment. She declined on the grounds that she would be journeying overseas to Midania, but deigned to help him by fast-tracking his request for an assignment by connecting him with another student she mentored. This is how Seth found himself on a long-term countrywide patrol with Luna Skye, otherwise known as the Nocturnal Huntress. In their travels together, Seth didn't seek glory, but the ability to help people before cleanly disappearing. It was on this patrol that Seth encountered the events that led to his role as the Champion of Chaos.

Seth views this new charge with suspicion and terror. Outside of his earnest goal of winning the Royal Boon in the RGT, being forced into the public eye pulls Seth out of his natural element. But he was chosen for the strength he has always shown, with Chaos believing that he still has mountains of potential to tap if he could learn to control the fear his mother had instilled him with. If he can learn to stop fearing himself, he could change the world.

Mia Gold, The Champion of Salica

Long ago, on a clear night in the coastal town of Solan, the local Governor and his wife were brutally murdered. The case was never closed because the only witness to the slaughter was the couple's young daughter, who was far too traumatized to access her memory of the incident. Torn away from her family and slowly losing grip on her sanity, young Mia Gold would find refuge in the arms of her godmother, Dinorah Winstrom. Lady Dinorah would go on to assume the former office of Mia's late parents and take in their distraught daughter as her own ward. It was then that Mia learned that her adoptive mother was the leader of a secret society of noble assassins, whose purpose it was to punish those who plant the seeds of evil in the innocent and guide those who suffer from evil before those seeds can grow. With a mind full of wrath and violent imagery, Mia embraced this new family so she can turn her newfound urge to kill toward a more productive purpose. By day, she is teenage noble with an unassuming smile, but by night, she is a Scarlet Starling. 

Mia's training as an assassin has made her proficient with a plethora of deadly weapons that compliment her stealth, including blades, a garrote, and various poisons. She specializes in disguises which allow her to veil her identity and intentions so she can safely approach her targets in public. This attention-grabbing style of assassination speaks of her pride as a Starling, of whom she has complete faith in their ideology. But this pride lends itself to her greatest weakness: her dogmatic loyalty to her fellow assassins has allowed a lifetime of psychological damage to wither her senses of morality and empathy unchecked. This leaves her with a confrontational personality, a quality that combines with her deadliness to cause distrust in even her allies. Even those to whom she manages to get close find her to be stand-offish, impulsive, and humorless. But those who appeal to her sense of nobility find someone who works her hardest to protect people from the pain she's felt.

Elidol Dawnstrike, the First Avatar of Chaos

Art by Volt

Elidol Dawnstrike is a creature referred to by his creator, Richard Broger, as a flesh golem. With the combined souls of the Demon Knight Garanda and his own son and a body that resembles that of his former host, Elidol is a man who's constantly confused by his own existence. He maintains the memories of the various identities that compose his own soul, making his greatest gift insight into the lives of Gyanda Maloran and his creator. As a result, he possesses their skills and knowledge as well as the strength of the Demon Knight. This combination of power and experience make him the strongest of the Avatars, even without the gifts he's received as Chaos' Avatar.

In personality, he contrasts with the violent rage of Garanda and the timidity of Hector Blackstone, instead exhibiting the positive qualities of both. The result is a charismatic man who's charmed many women and men alike in his short existence. He practices the alchemy of Hector's former life as a trade, although the stubborn nature of Garanda has influenced him to trend towards transmutation instead of his original preference for brewing potions. Although he tries to be easygoing most of the time, he struggles to control his anger, which has caused him to invoke fear in the many who have not personally met him.

It may be some time before we see much of Elidol here on World of Comalan, but Elidol Dawnstrike remains an important part of Comalan's Third Age history all the same.

Zara, the Adjutant of Kerun

Zara, the Adjutant of Kerun

Zara was named adjutant by his dear friend and confidant, Voltairine Maloran, with whom he shares a long past that is mired in mystery and rumor. In recent years, he is known by his association with the Phoenix Blade and the kinship he found with its leader, a fellow Midanian named Takaa. He has made many friends in his travels, and it is common to hear stories involving him from the clubs of Rashara to the seedy pubs of Dalaska. He is generally known for his kind, if eccentric nature, and his love for flowers and animals. He has more than once been compared to the legendary Talib, who circled the world several times after pointing to a line of stars in the sky and vowing to follow wherever it pointed.

***

Zara took a deep breath as he felt the air around him move. It had continued to pick up as the sun dipped lower behind the rolling Galean hills. He noted the slight breeze and took it into account as he aimed carefully, looking down the shaft and adjusting the angle of his arrow. He released the shot and smirked in approval as the point stuck the center of the target, prompting an eruption of cheers and whistles from the small, drunken crowd that had congregated nearby. 

Volt watched, wide-eyed, as she hung on the shoulder of a handsome oni who had joined their caravan. The man seemed preoccupied with her, but she was engrossed in the impromptu shooting contest that had broken out. She turned her gaze to Zara’s opponent — a bearded, golden haired human with a refined Restan accent. He frowned as he eyed Zara’s perfect shot, and took several moments to line up his own. Everyone fell silent, careful not to distract the shooters and inadvertently tip the game in anyone’s favor. 

With a whirr, the man’s arrow stuck the center of the target, prompting another round of cheers from the crowd, who seemed to be taking nobody’s side in particular. They were simply glad for the entertainment. Zara smiled charmingly at the man. “Nice shot, mate.”

The Restan snickered, looking Zara up and down derisively. “The target is a bit close. And a bit still for what I’m used to.” He fumbled casually with his bowstring before fixing his gaze on Zara again, narrowing his eyes. He seemed particularly disgusted with the poppies Zara had braided into his locs. 

Zara ignored the man’s aloof manner and simply nodded in agreement. “In that case, let’s have a bit more fun with it, yeah?” He nodded to Volt, who cocked an eyebrow curiously before grinning and running off towards their wagon. The Restan eyed the woman with interest before she disappeared. Zara continued to study the man, noting his reaction to Volt. The woman emerged a few moments later, carrying a bushel of apples. Zara grinned approvingly as she approached him, giving the Restan man a coy glance. The tall Midanian reached into the bushel and pulled out one of the apples before leaning in towards Volt and kissing her on the cheek before covertly whispering something in her ear. A subtle smile curled her lips as she backed away. “Ready?” Zara asked the Restan man with a playful smirk, tossing the apple between his hands.

The man returned Zara’s smirk haughtily and raised his polished bow. “When you’re ready, Sir,” he replied. 

Zara pulled his arm back and tossed the apple high into the air. His eyebrows perked as it disappeared with a crunch, the arrow taking it out as it peaked. “Nice one!” Volt cheered and whooped loudly for the Restan, giggling and prompting the first genuine smile from the man. She tossed him an apple, and he looked to Zara. Zara nodded.

Zara raised his bow as he followed the apple’s path through the air. He pinpointed it, and moved his arrow a hair’s width to the left. His arrow grazed the side of the apple, prompting a groan from the crowd. “Damn!” he swore, snapping his fingers. “Guess I’m a bit more out o' practice than I thought!”

The Restan man snickered. “Too bad. I suppose fending for oneself is no substitute for proper training.”

“I guess not! Better luck next time, Zara!” Volt called to him with a vacuous tilt of her head. She giggled and stood up, filling a tankard of mead and taking it to the Restan man with a smile on her face. Zara eyed the pair and set down his bow and quiver, doing his best to look dejected as the crowd began to disperse. He shot a covert smirk and wink to Volt when he was sure the Restan’s back was turned. 

***

Volt grinned as she drove their wagon through the darkness, the trees thickening around them as they followed the road north.

“He’s tied up nice and tight, yeah?” Zara asked with a laugh as the air whipped against his face. 

“You know I’m good at knots!” Volt replied. “And anyway, he’s out cold. Prolly will be till we get him back to Resta!”

Zara sighed and leaned back, smiling as he ran his fingers over the finely-crafted bow the Restan man had been shooting with a few hours earlier. “Damn, this is a nice piece. That dick don’t deserve it. Guess that’s one o’ the reasons we do this, though,” he mused, spotting a small line of engraved text on the weapon. “Esia,” he whispered. His eyebrows perked.

“Keep it!” Volt called over to him with a smile as her braids whipped behind her. “It’s just a little bit o’ justice, you know?”

“Yeah, I guess.” Zara sighed soulfully as he gazed down at the item for a few more moments before pulling his gaze up towards the night sky.

Volt sighed, her own smile fading as she spoke with an uncharacteristically serious tone. “At least he won’t be able to hurt no one else anymore. I hope the spellwarriors don’t find out, but it kinda seems like those ladies have done this sorta thing before. At least, I hope so.” She slowed the wagon down as she started to catch a chill. “Karatal can be rough.”

Zara stowed the bow in his pack before folding a blanket behind his head as he continued to stargaze.“Yeah, but you’re right though. They seem like they know what’s up.” 

***

An arrow whirred towards a target and pierced it dead through the center as a few sunbeams poked through the grey sky over Midania. 

“Ooh! Nice shot!” Volt called with a whoop as the sable-haired woman lowered the bow with a surprised smile.

“You’ll have to thank that funny Midanian for me,” she replied as she lifted the bow and ran her fingers over the delicate spirals that were carved into the ruddy wood. “This is a nice item. Not surprising, since it came off that blonde bastard. Shame he couldn’t use all that money to buy a damn conscience, though.”

Volt snickered as she leaned against one of the pillars holding up the rickety building behind her. “Well, he doesn’t need neither where he is now. As for the bow, Zara seems to think it’s rare or something.”

“Well, we’ll be careful,” the woman replied, raising an eyebrow. “We always are.”

James Hawke

Art by Volt

When, as the Avatar of Crane, Richard Broger brought the hidden knowledge of the Windlords back to Galeon, one of the first to line up for this gift was a little-known immigrant who dreamed of seeing the day the Windlords would become an important force in Galeon once again. When James Hawke stood before the Avatar and his apprentice to receive the memories of his ancestor, he learned that he had inherited the knowledge and skills of Abir Dragonscale, the Windlords' last grand master. With both the legacy of the most skilled warrior to enter the halls of Aeros Academy and a lifetime spent promoting the Windlords' cause behind him, James assumed his ancestor's mantle naturally. He was captured in action by Broger shortly afterward when the Avatar betrayed his world in favor of a sinister deity by the name of Erdas. In his short time among true windlords, however, he accomplished what many never thought possible when he killed a kilgor by the name of Aldin with a specially-prepared poison. In effect, he had become the first man on Comalan who has ever killed a god.

As the Windlords' grand master, James has mastered all of the group's secret techniques, but since so few other windlords choose to learn such skills, he is regarded in particular as a specialist in their combat techniques. He is skilled with the use of wind in complement with his hand-to-hand and knife-throwing skills. In close quarters combat, he might throw his opponents off balance with a forceful push of wind, while he maintains the option of creating blasts of wind that cut with the precision of a blade against more distant foes. Completing his range of attack, he can control the air within his line of sight with enough precision to throw his knives accurately for up to 2 miles. Apart from his combat prowess, he is also known to be the most accomplished at the Windlords' catching whisper technique. With sufficient focus, he can listen to any conversation within the same city.

 In terms of personality, James exudes boundless confidence, but secretly struggles to be the most skilled in everything he tries. Since being dragged to the sea planet Mennon, he has supported his companions through broad surveillance. This solitary responsibility has taken his toll on him, as the various conflicts between his friends and the planet's native sho'kai have filled his daily life with stress. Many windlords have had to contend with the fact that their needs in a modern Galeon are vastly different from what was best for their order in the days of Eris. James shares these views, and wonders if he is the best choice to lead his comrades. He spends much of his downtime thinking fondly of his longtime closest friend, and how the Windlords have flourished under her guidance.

Kartal Marle, the Adjutant of Salica

Art by Volt

Kartal Marle was born in Karatal, the easternmost city in Resta and the largest port in all of Mortanis, to an elven immigrant named Ilia. For the longest time, he and his mother lived alone, relatively isolated from the dangerous mobs of the city. This was until Ilia fell to sickness and left Kartal in the care of her one-time benefactor, Victor Brom. However, his new guardian would turn out to be the leader of one of the city's many gangs, The Blades. He treated his new charge with casual neglect at best, and torturous abuse at worst. It was through this upbringing that Kartal learned quickly how to survive among criminals, but he still desperately hated everyone around him. 

Kartal's escape from this life would come with a spellwarrior raid on The Blades' hideout, spearheaded by two cousins by the names of Karian Maloran and Ruby Midas. For reasons best known to himself, the latter would take Kartal to live with his brother Kaleth instead of arresting him. From that moment, Kartal began a reluctant life on Crescent Island with a new family. He was particularly taken with Kaleth's daughter, Adamora, who introduced him to the rigors of the Restan clergy. When he reached adulthood, he set out to Blackstone Monastery to train as a templar, promising to return with the strength to protect her from her curse.

As a fully realized templar, Kartal would finally confront Victor Brom when his cronies kidnapped Ada, forcing him into a rage. But before Kartal could deal the final blow to his longtime guardian and enemy, Victor revealed that he was the one who fathered him. The shock of this revelation sent Kartal spiraling into an emotional crisis that led to him isolating himself from everyone he cared about. This self-imposed exile came to an abrupt end when he ran into Adamora by chance near Lakewatch Tower, one of Resta's Towers of Tranquility. But something was different. Adaling, the witch spirit who possessed her body had freed herself from her host's control. Distraught with this failure, Kartal re-devoted himself to Adamora's protection.

Kartal is known as the Key Keeper for his role in leading the Holy Key Knights during the Archknight Rebellion, towards the end of the Second Age. While the Archknight and his friends searched for the relics they would need to defeat Geos, Kartal led his templars around the world in search of six keys that bound the Gods to their long imprisonment. Upon his turning these keys over to the Archknight so he could turn them, the deities returned to Comalan and provided his relics with the power he would need to win the war. Once the Archknight claimed victory, Resta's new king rewarded the Holy Key Knights with a new order. As the Goodwill Company, Kartal and his followers continue to travel the world, helping people on behalf of the Kingdom of Resta.

During his time at the Blackstone Monastery, Kartal has trained in a mixture of martial and magical skills, all of which lean toward his dual faith. As a templar anointed in the traditions of both Chaos and Salica, he specializes in powerful destructive spells and those that make use of his empathy. He is also a master storm mage, showing expertise in every spell in the discipline, which is a rare quality.

Kartal's emotionally tumultuous life has created a powerful warrior, but has left him emotionally unstable as a result. Although he rarely shows it, even his best day is a struggle. Despite this, his legacy will always be one of selfless devotion to his family, the Gods, and to the innocent.

Telandra Dawnstrike, The Avatar of Nidarys

Art by Volt

Born as Adamora Maloran, Telandra Dawnstrike is known in the Third Age as the Avatar of Nidarys, the Goddess of the Cosmos. She was born on Crescent Isle, a private island just off the coast of Resta, to Kaleth and Lilith Maloran and is the wife of Kartal Marle, the Adjutant of Salica, albeit estranged. Together, the two have a son, who is the Avatar of Geos. Like her cousin, she was born cursed with the vengeful spirit of a minion of Maula. In her case, she was afflicted with Horn Witch Adaling, a clever and devious practitioner of both shadow and dark magic. Unlike Gyanda, however, a young Adamora had managed to suppress her curse; while Demon Knight Garanda has publicly emerged many times, Adaling has only broken free three times. Once, the Shadow Witch famously clashed with the Champions of Resta to protect one of the pieces they required to assemble the Storm of Mercy.

Adamora managed to control her demon by throwing herself into the Serene faith at a young age. It was in the Blackstone Monastery that she learned this ability and she remains loyal to the faith in gratitude. This is despite Adamora's personal disdain for life in the clergy. Underneath this cleric's gentle surface lies the heart of an adventurer. Following a traumatic encounter with both Adaling and Garanda, she abandoned the caution which failed her and chased her true desire. This led to the creation of a new persona, created to protect her from identification by the clergy, the Desert Bandit, Telandra Dawnstrike. Telandra would wander through the Marble Desert, smiting the monsters that terrorized travelers for fun.

Kartal would eventually find Telandra and convince her to return to Resta, where the two were married. But she soon grew restless with her husband, who had become increasingly busy with his responsibilities as a Templar and Goodwill Company commander. Upon learning a terrible secret about her husband, she took her infant son and left him to return to Tanis. While wandering the desert, however, Kaleth was taken from her, and sent into the past. While she was understandably guilty about exposing her son to such danger, Geos' personal assurance that he would grow up to be his Avatar quelled her grief.

After leaving her husband, Telandra assumed her chosen name permanently and was famously captured by the sho'kai of the planet Mennon alongside the Avatar of Life. It was Volt, who bore witness to Nidarys' birth following a convoluted ritual with Kaleth and Aennin, that chose Telandra as the new goddess' Avatar. Since then, Telandra has taken it upon herself to draft Nidarys' Doctrine of Stars, which emphasizes the drive for exploration.

Kartal and Ada

Art by Volt

Tonight's post is an older drawing of Kartal Marle and his wife Adamora (Also known as Telandra Dawnstrike). They are the parents of Kaleth, but are deceased in the timeline he experiences in The Boy Who Shouldn't Exist. In the normal timeline, they are married but separated; the consequences of a terrible mistake.

Clint Blackstone, the Champion of Crane

Clint Blackstone, as he appears during the events of Death Touch, artwork courtesy of Volt

Clint Blackstone was born on Blackstone Farm, a large estate located close to the Restan edge of Lake Whitetree. He is the oldest son to Alfred and Gloria Blackstone and was followed by his younger brother Richard Blackstone, who is known in the Third Age as Broger the Betrayer, and his younger sister Elvira, a noted Restan genealogist whose life goal is deciphering the convoluted links between Resta's largest families. Although his siblings were allowed to follow their academic pursuits thanks to the privilege that their family's wealth afforded them, Clint took great pride in the family farm, which has been Resta's largest farm for as long as anyone can remember. He worked in the fields alongside the farmhands for most of his youth, believing that the security of his family didn't go much further than the success of the farm.

But when new technological investments updated the family business, Clint found his responsibilities taking up less and less of his time. This led to him spending more and more time practicing with his new rifle. As the months went on, he began to find his aim rapidly improving until he realized that he understood the wind and other factors influencing his accuracy well enough to guarantee a hit with each shot he fired. Clint would put this newfound skill to the test one day as ridgewolves wandered into the farm in search of chickens. Even their speed and unpredictable movements were no match for his aim.

With nothing urgent tying him to the farm, Clint would take his gun on the road, continuing to hunt ridgewolves. He had no particular desire for their pelts since he didn't need money, but instead felt that the overpopulation of this particular species was enough of a threat to the rest of Resta's wildlife to warrant putting his skill with a gun to use. He began to invite employees of the farm and members of Seres' local community on his hunts, a frequent tradition that began to be associated with Blackstone Farm instead of himself. This indirectly led to the formation of The Greymont Institute, a wildlife protection service commissioned by the Restan Crown to promote a healthy Restan ecosystem through population control and fundraising for preservation efforts with trophy hunting.

But Clint had stopped hunting in these groups long before the Greymont Institute was chartered. While he believed that their work was an important solution to Resta's wildlife crisis, he felt that the cause had grown too big for him. Seeking a new challenge, he began to explore the Lightning Ridge mountains. While contending with a new threat in the form of the region's giant snakes, Clint would meet a spellwarrior in training named Seth Midas. The two of them would bond over the shared lesson of what comes of visiting Lightning Ridge alone and become fast friends.

From that day, the two of them would get together every time Seth stepped out of Hem Academy's ivory tower. Between forming a team for the RGT, a yearly tournament that is held in honor of Resta's Festival of Chaos and the brief, but passionate affair the two shared, it was clear to them both early on that they would be inseparable for the rest of their lives.

Clint views his role as Crane's champion with disbelief because he doesn't seem to exemplify knowledge compared to his siblings. But the reason for Crane's favor toward him is made evident in the way he solves every problem in front of him. He is a rational thinker with razor-sharp intuition, who is known to learn unusually quickly. While his aim with the rifle will always come in handy, his mind is his sharpest weapon.

Ellie Skye

Ellie Skye, Master of the Windlords and Vice Captain of the Starlight Crusade's flagship, the Selon Res.

When the Windlords rose from the curse of obscurity and returned to their former glory, Ellie Skye was among the first to volunteer. She revealed a lot about herself in a very public interview with Galeon's national newspaper, The Saluki, an act that inspired criticism and bafflement from the intelligence community. She claims that her tell-all article was done to promote a future of transparency, but has secretly reaped a professional benefit from her newfound fame. When savvy targets recognize her, she is able to distract them while a lesser-known windlord carries out their mission in secret.

As a Legacy, Ellie has acquired both the knowledge and experience of her ancestor, former Master Windlord, Eisa Lightbane. As a high-ranking windlord, their training transcends their order's three distinct discipline of dragon, veil, and shadow styles. However, Eisa's speciality was in the shadow style, which means that he, and by extension Ellie, are most comfortable with the use of magic to support their stealth abilities. This pairs well with Ellie's proclivity towards parkour, allowing her to avoid confrontation rather easily.

As pictured, Ellie's weapons of choice include a collection of wind mantras, which are scrolls that contain inscriptions used by windlords to perform powerful wind magic. Given her ancestor's prodigal talent with this form of magic, she alone knows how to use them without any incantations. Furthermore, Eisa's advanced knowledge has extended to the realm of using the wind to move certain particles in the air in such a way as to manipulate the flow of light. This ability allows Ellie to hide herself from view when spotted and create illusory holes in walls through which she is able to look. However, she is limited by her lack of physical and magical conditioning compared to her ancestor. Thus, she often relies on other windlord techniques and her tranquilizer pistol before pulling out her most complex magic.

In terms of personality, Ellie is an optimist who hides a lot of pain from her early life in Resta. While she may not always seem to take anything seriously, there is a competent and shrewd decision-maker concealed beneath her bubbly exterior.

Tir Apollo, the Avatar of Crane

Tir Apollo, the Avatar of Crane

Tir Apollo, the Avatar of Crane, is Galeon's most popular Avatar, respected greatly as an academic and for her pull with the Windlords, who are also highly thought of in the region. She is also revered by the Tanisians for her heroic actions during the sho'kai invasion, to the point where a popular restaurant bears her name. Tir's most controversial position among the people of Comalan is her continued support of her predecessor, Richard Blackstone - more specifically, her personal concern for him and belief that he can be rehabilitated. This has caused many to, at best, question her ability as his successor, and at worst, question her motives. Despite this controversy, those who have met her or worked with her personally consider her to be both confident and trustworthy.

***

Tir was born in the Crowmont territory of Heron to her father Alim, a Galean machinist and inventor, and Leora, a Galean-Heronite writer and seamstress. Alim had moved to a small mountain village in Heron to live with his wife. They had a loving family until Leora disappeared when Tir was eight. She was presumed dead, and Alim told his daughter that she had died of an illness as she slept. 

Tir and her father were very close, and she often felt that he was the only other person in their village who understood her. He avoided telling her stories about Galeon, fearing that they would only make her feel unhappy with the small village that they lived in, but Tir was smart - from a young age, she loved to read, and had learned many things that her father didn't teach her. She was also highly rational for someone so young. She often chose not to discuss certain things with him in order to spare his feelings. 

As she grew older, Tir found she had an affinity for machinery and engineering, picking up the skill quickly under the instruction of her father. Engineering was how they made their living in the small village they lived in, constructing lamps, ovens, and lumbering equipment for the people there. All Tir knew was that the people there valued her and her father deeply. 

Despite the affinity Tir felt for the place she had grown up in, as she entered her teens and twenties, she felt more and more of an urge to leave. She desperately wanted to go to Galeon in order to train in one of the Intalan temples there, and to experience the life she could have had if her father had not stayed in their Heronite village. Seeing how restless his daughter had become, Alim could no longer keep her with him, despite how much he would miss her. He told her that it would be alright if she left, and so she did. 

Tir traveled to Galeon and found she had an instant affinity for the place. She traveled to the Temple of Crane in order to train in the art of foresight, and it was this action that started Tir on the journey that would acquaint her with the first Avatar of Crane, Richard Blackstone, which would eventually lead to her becoming his apprentice and taking his place as Avatar.

Tir in her Starlight Crusade uniform, of which she serves as Fleet Commander, as well as the commanding officer of the Selon Res.

Atunis Astersong, the Avatar of Salica

Atunis in his Starlight Crusade uniform, in which he served as the Captain as the Karashartal.

Atunis Astersong, the Avatar of Salica and brother of the Adjutant of Crane, Eione Astersong, is widely considered one of the most personally approachable and sincere of the Avatars. He cares deeply about his charge and is a devout follower of the gods, leading him to consider his charge a heavy responsibility. As a result, he works hard to make sure he lives up to it - something reflected in public opinion of him. Also, somewhat unrelated to his performance as an Avatar, he is renowned for his beauty.

***

Atunis is very pious, being the child of two priests of Serenity. It is what they taught him in the Theia Seminary, the institution they ran and taught at on Iris Isle. He grew up in the church and was a quiet, well-behaved child, unlike his younger sister, Eione. He spent much of his time in his father's study, reading books about history and mythology. When he grew too old for schooling, he worked in the seminary, primarily as director of the choir. From early childhood, he struggled with bouts of anxiety and depression, but with the support of his parents and the clergy at Theia, he was able to live a fulfilling life in a very nurturing, uplifting environment. 

After the armies of Geos stormed the shores of Iris, he stayed with his parents to help protect the Island, the Seminary, and the Bishop’s Pinnacle. He was terrified at first, but the arrival of a righteous band of Templars to help defend the isle both comforted and inspired him. He became fast friends with one in particular - a Galean named Zaraan. He got his first taste of combat after enthusiastically joining the band in their training regimen and finding he had the makings of an adept swordsman.

After finishing his work on Iris, Atunis moved on to experience the adventure and prestige that came with being a full member of the Templar Order, inspired by the friends he made in the Order on Iris. He did not get far past training, finding that he did not have the temperament for the organization. That, and an upsetting personal clash with one of his commanders made it nearly unbearable for him to stay. After he left the Order, disillusioned, his despair pushed him into a hasty decision to enlist with a clerical expedition to the Vortex Archipelago. He was determined to reaffirm his self worth by volunteering for a dangerous mission in service of the gods. 

This rash choice turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The friends he made while protecting the clergy helped him relearn how to trust others, as well as himself. He found a renewed sense of purpose. Upon his return to Resta, however, he found that his old demons began to haunt him once more.

Atunis credits Lady Salica with the chance meeting that introduced him to Kartal Marle - the templar who would eventually become Atunis' best friend. Kartal had just experienced a grave personal tragedy that he couldn't deal with alone, and Atunis desperately needed a friend and a purpose. It was this occurrence that would eventually lead to Atunis being named the Avatar of Salica, a position which he accepts with mixed emotions - pride and devotion, certainly, but also anxiety and self doubt. 

Atunis Astersong, the Avatar of Salica

The Paragons

When describing the world's great paragons, several terms are constantly thrown around, which each describe a particular relationship with the gods. These terms are Champion, Adjutant, and Avatar, and Archknight. While these terms are often confused, it is important to understand what each of them mean. These terms can be defined as follows:

The Champions

Throughout the First and Second Ages, the gods have maintained a policy of minimal intervention on Comalan in the hopes that mortals would learn to solve their own problems. However, when those problems include squabbling between the gods themselves, Champions are named to represent those gods' causes. Champions have been named for four major conflicts, two of which involve the rebellion of the Goddess of Death, and two of which center on her twin brother, the God of Time.

Nicholai Desmond - Known as the First Champion of Chaos, Nicholai was a man who lived in a Pyrisian colony in Coronos, which would ultimately become the Restan village, Ridge. The terror of his Pyrisian oppressors forged a worthy berserker for Chaos to use against Maula in her first Wave of Death.

Helen Winstrom - Known as the First Champion of Serenity, Helen was a huntress who lived in the western edge of Necros, Resta's southern county. She was a competent and patient warrior who symbolized safety in the arms of the Goddess of Tranquility.

Orion - Orion was the first Queen of Tanis and the Champion of Maula. Although she was meant to be an enemy to the other champions, she was swayed into helping to stop the Death Goddess by the strength and reasoning of Resta's first king, Artix Maloran.

Sara Marle - As a devoted acolyte of the Doctrine of Tranquility, Sara was the Second Champion of Serenity, and the first to learn of Maula's second attempt on the lives of Comalan. In the gods' second charge against Maula, her role in uniting the new champions was critical to their victory.

Clint Blackstone - Clint was the Champion of Crane, and the source of the Champions' successful strategy against Maula. He started as a simple farmer and hunter, but ultimately learned that one's intellect is defined by more than what you do with your life

Mia Gold - Mia, the Champion of Salica, was the last to accept her mantle, but would ultimately join the champions upon learning that she was doing Salica's work all along. As an assassin, she was responsible for wiping out the Clark dynasty and passing on Resta's throne to another family.

Seth Midas - Seth is a spellwarrior that Chaos reluctantly chose as his Second Champion for embodying fury, physical strength, and magical might. He became frightened for his destiny when he was cursed by Maula, but soon found the strength to use that curse for good and defeat Maula.

Dinorah Winstrom - A descendant of Helen Winstrom, Dinorah enjoyed a comfortable life as the mayor of the Restan city of Solan. Beneath the surface, however, Dinorah led a band of assassins known as the Scarlet Starlings. Mia Gold was a member of this organization and a loving adoptive daughter to Dinorah until her designs for advancing Maula's agenda were revealed.

The Mages of Destiny - Two distinct orders of Champion that were gathered to wield the power of six magical rings, each representing the elemental magic of the gods, excluding Geos--who was their enemy at the time--and Nidarys, who didn't yet exist. The first order of the Mages of Destiny was gathered by Seth Midas, while the second was gathered by Kyle Baldus, the Third Age's Restan King.

The Avatars

The Avatars, like the Champions, are handpicked paragons of the Gods, selected specifically to represent them. However, instead of representing their deities in conflict against each other, the Avatars exist to speak to other mortals with the Gods' voices. Being an Avatar bestows not only the ability to do this, but the knowledge of any magic that falls within their particular deities' purview.

Elidol Dawnstrike - Known as the Flesh Golem, Elidol is an undead creature who was crafted from the corpse of Gyanda Maloran (Although he was given a new body of his own). With an amalgamate soul composed of the Demon Knight Garanda and the soul of Hector Blackstone, the son of Broger, Elidol carries not only the strength and wit to be the First Avatar of Chaos, but all of the associated memories of several lives that came before him.

Ekera of Sister - Born on the now-Midanian island of Sister, Ekera was a proud sentinel of her island's unique wildlife until tragedy robbed her of her life and made her into a sai'mul. This should have rendered her precious magic impossible for the rest of her existence, but her fortune changed when she caught Serenity's attention by assisting the Avatar of Chaos. She is an enigmatic figure best known for blending her Serene faith with the ideals of other religious, making her popular with Comalan's inter-faith community.

Richard "Broger" Blackstone - Richard Blackstone was the younger brother of Clint Blackstone, a fact that he chooses to distance himself from with his trademark pseudonym, Broger. Broger is an inquisitive and eccentric alchemist who feverishly pursues the horizons of both magical and scientific knowledge. From his brother, Broger learned that it is not enough to simply learn, but that pursuing information with your own skill is the most important path to Crane, who he served as his First Avatar. Like Ekera, he is a sai'mul, but since he is less reliant on divine magic, he lives quite happily with this condition. His status as an avatar was lost when he betrayed his people and gods, seemingly out of fear for an even more powerful figure. Since this betrayal, he is known as the Second Avatar of Erdas.

Tir Apollo - Tir is known as the Second Avatar of Crane, a mantle she adopted reluctantly following the shocking betrayal of her former mentor, Broger. She has a great love for machinery, and has been trained by Intalan priests in the art of Foresight. With these two skills, she may be the most formidable of Avatars, but her heart and mind remain set on redeeming Broger.

Atunis Astersong - Born on the Restan island of Iris Isle, Atunis Astersong is a templar who serves faithfully as the Avatar of Salica. His path to becoming a templar was hard, and his responsibility as an Avatar was even harder on him. Despite the pressure he feels, he is one of the most beloved Avatars not only for his dedication to the gods, but for his good looks.

Kaleth Marle - Kaleth is the Avatar of Geos, who describes him as a boy who shouldn't exist. He is the son of Nidarys' Avatar, as well as Salica's Adjutant, but lives apart from his parents' lives in the clergy because a mysterious kidnapping broke up his family when he was an infant. Whatever happened during his captivity produced a nervous man who found himself sent back in time to the year he disappeared, as an adult. As such, it took his partner, Aennin Moonstep, to bring down the walls he had put up to defend himself.

Aennin Moonstep - Aennin is the Avatar of Maula and the only pure-blooded elf among the Avatars. In his turbulent life, he was exposed to the hypocrisy of the reverence for life that his people preached. He was once a boy who cared only for his family's clock shop, but tragic circumstances ultimately ripped that and everything else he cared about away from him. In the Third Age, he has become a cynical and hollow shell of the clock maker he once was, who has become more comfortable with death than anything else.

Voltairine Maloran - Voltairine Maloran is the Avatar of Kerun and the wife of the Third Archknight, Gyanda Maloran. Her origins and path are shrouded in mystery, with even the widest reaching rumors being unconfirmed. What is known about her is that she possesses a carefree demeanor and a strong sense of justice that favors the powerless.

Matilda Maloran - Matilda Maloran is the former leader of all templars and the mother of the Third Archknight. She had a reputation for her severe zealotry which was shattered when her allegiance to Erdas was revealed in the Third Age. Although she has worked hard to redeem herself, she no longer commands the templars and will forever be known as the First Avatar of Erdas.

Telandra Dawnstrike - Telandra Dawnstrike, the Avatar of Nidarys, is known as a desert bandit who is actually a priestess named Adamora Marle. She was subjected to the same curse as her cousin Gyanda, which inflicted her with the spirit of an evil witch known as Adaling. She was far better at suppressing her darkness, however, a feat for which she has her husband Kartal to thank. However, her path to becoming an Avatar would involve leaving her life behind and taking on her pseudonym full time.

The Archknight

The Archknight is known as traditionally as the Avatar of Morta, who was not a god, but the first mortal. Similar to the Avatars, Archknights are elected to speak with a powerful voice; in this case, the collective voice of all mortal kind.

Joseph Baldus - Joseph Baldus was the First Archknight and a former apprentice to Seth Midas. Following the Mages of Destiny's first attempt to defeat Geos, he died defending those who remained loyal to the rest of the Fadalians.

Matthew Ryan - Matthew Ryan is the Second Archknight and a denizen of another world entirely. With the blood of Seth Midas in his veins, and the tutelage of Kyle Baldus, Matthew defeated Geos alongside a second order of the Mages of Destiny before returning to the world in which he was born.

Gyanda Artix Maloran - Gyanda is the Third Archknight and a longtime citizen of Resta. A blood curse placed on his ancestors, Artix Maloran and Queen Orion, subjected him to the torment of the Demon Knight Garanda. This horrible fate amplified his latent darkness after he lost all hope for his dream of becoming a spellwarrior. He would instead learn to harness blood magic through the cruel teachings of Samson Amul. He found redemption in his first wife and three daughters, and would become the Archknight just in time to lend his considerable power to the resolution of a worldwide crisis after training with his father to finally achieve his lifelong goal of becoming a spellwarrior.

The Adjutants

The Adjutants are the least meaningful of the paragons, if only because they aren't named by Gods. Instead, they are chosen by Avatars who trust them to carry on in their stead should they die. The Fadalians have allowed this because the Avatars face a threat that is considered beyond the power of their deities and need their trust more than ever. While an Adjutant doesn't have any special power like the Avatars do, they are all chosen for being remarkable individuals in their own right.

Aden Piers - Aden is the recently-ascended Lord of Heron's Piers District. He was named an adjutant by Elidol after Demon Knight Garanda entrusted him with the future of Pyromancy.

Larim - Larim is the first new Stoneguard of the Third Age, selected by Ekera to be the Adjutant of Serenity not only for her devout and responsible nature, but for her strength.

Eione Astersong - Eione is the sister of Atunis Astersong, and the Adjutant of Crane. Although her checkered past has caused many to see her as untrustworthy, Tir chose her as an Avatar because she believed that Eione would find redemption in directing her intellect to the Avatars' causes.

Kartal Marle - Kartal was chosen as the Adjutant of Salica by his good friend Atunis because he is a devout templar and was once the Avatar of Geos in another timeline. He and Atunis alone are aware of this alternate timeline and Atunis believes Kartal to be an ideal choice because he understands the value of being an Avatar and deserves another chance.

James Hawke - James is the commander of the Windlords and was chosen as Geos' Adjutant because his prodigious resourcefulness impressed Kaleth, who doesn't know anyone else who isn't an Avatar.

Nazan - Nazan is a lifelong friend to Aennin and his family and, as someone else who is familiar with Aennin's experiences in Tanis, the only person he trusts to to take his place.

Zarabanda - Born in the harsh landscape of Ravager Isle, Zara was quick to leave his homeland and travel the world, making his living on his skill as a show marksman. He is free spirit and a longtime friend of Voltairine, who chose him as the Adjutant of Kerun because their personalities share a lot of qualities and their shared past has cultivated a powerful trust.

Samuel Desmond - Samuel Desmond, the Avatar of Nidarys, is a spellwarrior that Telandra met during the opening days of Comalan's war with the planet Mennon. They have been together ever since the sho'kai captured them, along with Volt, and dragged them to Mennon. He has become a trusted friend to the newest goddess' Avatar and was chosen to carry on her mantle because the Nidaryn religion lacked any precedent at the time.

Kaleth Marle, The Avatar of Geos

This is Kaleth, and he represents Geos, the God of Time as one of the Avatars. He was born in Resta to Kartal Marle, the Adjutant of Salica and Telandra Dawnstrike, The Avatar of Nidarys early in the Third Age. His story is complicated and best told in The Boy Who Shouldn't Exist. Suffice it to say that he is an eternal reminder to his father of the disastrous consequences of interfering with the natural flow of time and a loving partner to Aennin Moonstep. The two of them live together in Resta's Foldo temple, leading the respective adherents of their respective deities.

EDIT: Once again, the art is contributed by Volt

Voltairine Maloran, the Avatar of Kerun

Voltairine, Avatar of Kerun

Voltairine, the Avatar of Kerun, is one of the most beloved amongst the Avatars. Her origins and past are shrouded in mystery, though there are many a story about her escapades before she was granted Avatar status — nothing confirmed, however. It is well known that she happens to be married to the Third Archknight, Gyanda Maloran. Her choice to take his last name was a convenient one for her, as it has served to further obscure her past from those who may wish to probe. Personality wise, she exudes a carefree demeanor, but she also has a very strong sense of justice that tends to favor the oppressed, and this colors her decision making as an avatar. 

***

The early afternoon sun disappeared behind the side of a mountain as the creaky cart turned along a bend in the path. As they rode through the cold, grey mountain pass, Volt swore and gritted her teeth, pulling the large fur blanket she borrowed tightly around her shoulders and knees. She glared daggers at her travelling partner.

“I hate you. I hate Heron. What good is coin if you freeze to death before you can spend it, huh?” she growled at the smiling, dreadlocked man. 

Before Zara could respond, the cart’s driver looked over his shoulder at the pair, donning a scowl. “Damn disrespectful foreigners ain’t welcome on my cart if that’s how you talk, got it? You want me to toss you and your coin to the rocks?”

Zara chuckled through his own chattering teeth. “No disrespect here, mate! We love your beautiful country and your lovely hospitality!” He nodded emphatically, grinning apologetically at the man before turning to Volt and lowering his voice. “Listen, the place we’re going is warm as a Galean summer. And there’s coin. And beer. And food. Tasty food,” he emphasized. “So chin up! It’ll be worth it, just like you said!” Volt merely scowled back, cursing her decision to take this job as she huddled next to Zara.

“Well, I’m a bloody idiot!” 

*

About four hours later, Volt was cackling gleefully as she and Zara made off from Nacre Hill, jingling with as much coin as they could fit in their clothes, and lugging as many valuables as they could nimbly carry. She whooped as she leapt from one boulder to the next in front of her. 

“I told you this job’d be excellent!” she shouted back at him with an impish grin as her braids bounced around her wildly.

Zara snickered, smirking back at her over the large sack he carried, a golden candlestick poking out from the top. “Like you’re ever wrong about a good time.”

Volt glanced over her shoulder at the path behind them as they made their way up the steady incline. “Okay, with the trail we planted, the guards oughta be kept busy for a good long while — plenty o’ time for them to get in and get out, yeah?” 

The pair reached the peak of this very particular hill, atop which stood an old stone monolith, that likely once carried the Piers heraldry. It was about six feet high and made of stone, with a pair of hooks screwed into the side. Volt pulled a large, crimson piece of cloth from her sack and attached it to the stone. She took a few steps back and put her hands on her hips, watching the signal flag billow in the crisp breeze. 

“That oughta do it.” She turned back towards Zara and picked up her pack before leading the way towards the drop point.

Down the road till you see the stone wolf, turn right through the gap in the pines, take twenty paces to the hollow tree, Volt recalled from the rundown she’d gotten earlier. She and Zara followed the process easily, coming upon the hollow tree just as the full moon had started to show through the clouds. 

Volt leaned over and shook out her top, pouring out a nearly implausible number of coins. The pair divvied everything up and shoved half the coin and any useful items in a sack in the tree, just as was agreed upon. 

“So, ready for a real party?” Volt asked, smirking and leading Zara eagerly back towards the road. 

*

Late into the night, Volt’s laughter could be heard ringing through the hills surrounding the small village they celebrated in. Volt pantomimed comically as a tipsy Zara enthusiastically recounted her actions at Nacre Hill to a group of resistance fighters, along with a woman who was very recently freed from the Nacre Hill dungeon. She had curly auburn hair and a smattering of freckles across her nose — and she watched Volt move with a loopy grin on her face. 

“Awright, so these blokes are all jus’ droolin’ all ovah the tables, watchin’ ‘er shake ‘er you-know-whats, and all of a sudden, she gets real close — too close — and I get awful nervous, ‘cause you know these lords are supposed to be pretty uptight ‘bout stuff, yeah? I was just thinkin’ it might be too much is all, but,” He shook his head and threw up his hands. “Turns out they don’t mind a Galean lady’s hands all ovah them as long as their wives ain’t there, right?” Volt snickered and winked at the auburn-haired girl from across the table as she wrapped her arms around Zara’s shoulders. 

“Yeah, they got pretty handsy, for all their talk o’ piety and shit,” Volt added with a grin.

Zara sighed and smirked. “Not as handsy as you, milady. And whaddya know — before those rich bastards knew it, she’d taken every damn coin off e’ry one of ‘em! I wouldn’t be surprised if one of ‘em woke up tomorrow morning and realized his gold fillings were gone!”

The audience laughed heartily, but a second uproar sounded when Zara gasped upon realizing Volt was dangling his own coinpurse in front of his face. She tossed it on the table before running her hands down Zara’s back and sighing contently, whispering something in his ear. He smiled at her, kissed her on the cheek, and gave her a wink. She rounded the table towards the auburn-haired girl.

“So, you’re a free woman now, I hear,” Volt remarked with a roguish grin, leaning on the table beside her.

The lady turned towards Volt and looked into her enticing brown eyes, lowering her voice. “Yeah. Been thinkin’ what I should do with my first night out o’ that damn cage,” she replied, tilting her head.

“I think I have some good ideas,” Volt replied with a chuckle. “And I’m told I’ve never been wrong about a good time.”