Ashild and her companions stood on a cliff overlooking the vast wasteland of Avernus. The companion nearest to her placed a hand on her shoulder, as if to soothe her. Ashild hadn’t even noticed she was shaking, anticipation that was mistaken as fear or reluctance. The former amnesiac looked at the delicate yet firm hand of Everr Adaunis. The woman was a graceful looking sea-elf with sea-foam coloured skin and tumbling green hair that nearly reached her ankles. At first glance, the wizard could easily be mistaken as a Nymph or a Siren. She had an ancient wisdom that betrayed her youthful appearance.
“What are your plans, now that you are freed?”
Adaunis smiled sadly, closing her eyes in a sagely manner, “I have been imprisoned for so long, my friends and loved ones have all died. I have no immediate plans.”
Ashild looked behind her at the others…A half orc knight in gleaming steel armour, with a tower shield and longsword tilted his armoured head at her. He had an otherworldly magnetism about him, and she could swear whenever she glanced away from him she could spot the glowing of a halo surrounding his head from her peripheral.
Saint Brazzik shook his helmet, his white dreadlocks and beard pooling out from under it clinked with gold beads as he did so. “I fear the same is true for me as well. It has been over a thousand years since I was taken prisoner, and I remember little other than the oath I swore to Selune…So long as I abide her will, and follow my oath, I have little else planned, I will serve you for a time, should you require my aide, Lady Ashild.”
Ashild nods, “If that is your wish, I will be honoured to receive your assistance in my endeavours.”
“It is the least I can offer you after you saved me from that wretched fate.”
Ashild turned to face the last of her new companions…
Tanavera, aptly named “The Titanic” was a half-giant Cleric of Tempus. The offspring of a frost giant and some other race which Ashild hoped had not been the the mother out of the two parents. She was massive compared to a human, but not so much that she couldn’t pass as a slightly larger goliath. She was adorned in furs and armour which indicated a rank of high honour.
“It is the same for I…Every one I had known would have been dead long ago…even the elven ones would not have lived this long…Until I find a new path, I will travel with you if you will have me.” The young woman’s voice had shocked Ashild when she’d first heard it…soft and quiet, like a cool breeze.
Ashild nodded, “It will be an honour to travel with all of you.”
She failed to mention to the three that their souls now belonged to Gargauth, a price she had easily offered to her god for their being freed from the coins and brought back from the dead.
With their help, they would lay waste to all the cults and churches of rival evil gods. Any survivors cunning enough to make it out alive, she could leave to Hieronymous’ capable hands.
The church of Gargauth would see a massive influx of new recruits, and soon.
