Manifest Destiny

Welcome back! I suppose it's time to continue with our story. Let me see. Where was I? Ah yes...

As I mentioned, it took about 18 months to get the keep fully built and staffed, and during this time the group became vital members of the Maren community. They were respected almost as a police force. Although they weren't given completely free reign, they generally had their run of the place.

Theddis and Cade spent most of their time in the local tavern, which became something of a second home to them. That just so happens to be where this story starts. Seems like a common starting point, don't you think?

This time, though, it wasn't just Theddis and Cade in the pub. It was Theddis' 40th birthday, so everyone was celebrating. Blain was highly inebriated, and was sleeping it off with his head on the bar. The rest of the group, other than Cody and Orm, were drinking and having a good time. Well, Cody was also having a good time, but you can never tell with Orm. Their party would soon be interrupted.

A loud voice rings out from a table on the other side of the bar. Drinks are on them! This is a welcome sound for some, until the reason for the generosity is revealed. They all have gold to spend because they received a government contract. The entire group, sans Blain, notices and perks up their ears. Theddis takes only a few moments before drunkenly, violently, stumbling to their table and taking them to task. He calls them cowards and sell-outs, as would be expected of someone with such an intense hatred for the government. The others try to calm him down, but soon an argument ensues. The argument spills outside where a fight is narrowly avoided, but Theddis makes sure to point out that if they ever come back to this tavern they will be leaving on crutches, or worse. Three of the four men listen well, but the fourth doesn't seem phased. Our group returns to the bar, and sits in somewhat stunned silence.

A few moments later, sure enough, the fourth man returns. He seems about as average as you can be. Average height, average weight, black hair, and brown eyes. His description would describe the majority of males in this town. Aside from his incredible, yet heretofore unknown physical prowess, that nondescript appearance makes him even better at his line of work. He slides into the bar without a sound, and would've easily been able to leave unnoticed had he not decided to give goodbyes to his new acquaintances. He pats Theddis on the back and says simply "Happy birthday."

Theddis detects the obvious sarcasm in his kind words and spins around in his stool. He attempts, rather sloppily, to deliver an elbow to this man. With a quickness that borders on precognition he avoids this blow, kicks the stool out from under Theddis, and lowers himself onto Theddis with his knee pressed firmly on his neck. He stands, adjusts his shirt, and introduces himself. "My name is Kaz, nice meeting you all." With those words he heads to the door and leaves. Theddis follows him, naturally, never being one to be shown up. However, when he gets to the door the man is long gone, as if he has simply vanished into the night air.

After being somewhat reprimanded by his friends, and by the bartender, Theddis finally calms down and apologizes for taking his authority too far. It's one thing to police the town, but it's another entirely to act like a bully. It would be especially bad if the government influence here got wind that there was a group so opposed to their work. As a matter of fact, it was that very worry that prompted Orm to want to investigate further. His watchtower archers took notice with their keen eyes of everything that went into and out of town. He would check with them to see if he could gain any information. During the argument the men said they were simply hired to transport something on behalf of the government, but that wasn't nearly enough information to calm Orm's troubled mind.

Sure enough, the captain of the archers did have some information. The arrived into town, but from the oft-ignored western entrance. Through his spy glass he counted seven men total, and they appeared to be transporting a large animal of some kind. The cage was covered and locked, but was noticeably shaking, and several times the men had to poke short spears through slits in the cover in order to get its contents to calm down.

Cade took this information and took it upon himself to search for a little more. Whereas Orm used military style surveillance, Cade used his underground contacts. It turns out that the men were hired to transport something, although he wasn't sure what it was. They had purchased it through a middle-man, and were not given the identities of the original sellers. Well, this was certainly something. Cade was under the impression that this animal or creature was being delivered to the government by these men, but it turns out that they were actually purchasing something and transporting it out of town. Certainly a new twist, to say the least.

Cade told the rest of the group this information, and it was decided that the best course of action would be to run a little recon. They would station themselves at a room in an inn across the street, and keep an eye on their room. Meanwhile, Cade would sneak in and look around, trying to find anything of note. Once this was done, they would ambush the caravan, take whatever it was they were transporting, then use false credentials to pass along false information to the government. They would simply tell them that they were unable to purchase whatever it was they wanted. This should send them on the wrong trail, and give them time to find out what is so important to the government that they're willing to go through such strange channels to acquire it.

Later that night they went into action. Cade searched the room and found nothing out of the ordinary, until he found a small compartment carved into the bottom of the bed frame. Here he found a locked metal box. With ease he picked the lock. Inside this box were the government credentials, seven different pieces of paper with information specific to each of the men. He studied them quickly, noting their seals, writing style, and watermarks. He felt confident that with his skills he would be able to forge similar documents for others. More importantly, at the bottom of the box was a piece of paper that contained coded information. Cade couldn't make heads nor tails of it, but he hoped someone else would.

During this time, Tristan followed one of the guards out of town, trying to get an idea as to where he was going. He followed him out the east gate, then up north. There he discovered a small campsite set up amongst some large rocks. He saw the covered cart, as well as three men he didn't recognize. One thing he did recognize, however, was that he was probably not going to be able to learn anything more on his own. He would report back with the information and they would proceed from there.

With all of the information gathered, the group discussed their plan further. Orm recognized the information Cade copied immediately. It was military code, giving a meeting location and a time. Perfect! Now they knew exactly when and where to spring their ambush. With that final piece of information, they were able to finalize their plan. Orm and Blain would take Cody up north to get information from the campsite, and find out exactly what it was they were transporting. Cade would continue to sneak into their room and gather as much new info as they could, with Theddis and Derrick watching from across the street. Finally, Tristan would scout the town, making not of anyone from the other group coming or going. After all this was done, they would finally wait and ambush the men on their way out of town.

The first group headed north, and Cody did a little acting. He must've been inspired by Orm's magnificent work back at pointed pass. He claimed to be a lost child, trying to find his way back to town. His amazing ability to read people and to bluff them came in handy here. Despite telling a reasonable shaky story - the town was just south on the path, and easily in view despite the darkness - he managed to keep the guard's attention long enough for Blain and Orm to move into place. Once the other three guards got interested in the distraction, the ruse fell apart. Cody had begun to ask casual questions about what they were doing here, what they had in the cart, and the like. Perhaps he pushed it a bit too far, but the guards got aggressive. Orm and Blain saw this attack on Cody, and they struck. Orm jumped from a high rock, using the magic in his boots to land softly, and ran one of the men through with a single blow. Blain rained down eldritch blasts from the top of the rocks, taking out two of the others. Orm cut down the last man with only the slightest effort. Cody avoided combat somewhat, but still helped support the other two with his magic. With the men having barely broken a sweat, the battle was over. News from Tristan that other men were returning to the campsite cut their search short, and they left under the cover of night, still unaware of the contents of the covered cart.

No new information was gained from their final search of the other group's room, either. By the time Cade went back it was completely empty and cleaned up. They had checked out. During one final cursory search, Cade heard footsteps coming from the side room, but saw nothing. Perhaps he was hearing things. He saw an open window and assumed that someone had passed by outside. He couldn't quite convince himself of this fact, however. Perhaps he remembered hearing Theddis explain how this man, Kaz, had seemingly vanished upon leaving the tavern, but something wasn't right. Maybe that story wasn't just the ramblings of an angry, drunk man.

Now that everything was in place, it was time for the ambush. They were to meet up with their contacts ten miles out of town, and a mile north of the main road. The group decided they would ambush them on the main road about five miles out of town. The terrain was too rough for them to take an entire cart off the road at this point, so they only had one way to go. After deciding where to position themselves for an ambush, they made their way out. Once there they got into position. Although no one said it at the time, quite a few of them had an uneasy feeling of deja vu, Theddis in particular. Regardless, they were steadfast in their resolve and they waited patiently.

At long last, they could see a the small torches from the front of a caravan lighting the horizon. They knew that was their mark. Blain stepped out into the road with Derrick, intercepting. Sure enough, the man at the helm was Kaz. Blain asked with a cocky arrogance where the rest of his help was, and Kaz replied that four of them turned up dead, and the other two ran off in fear. Derrick then demanded that he turn over the cargo immediately. Kaz refused, saying that it would be akin to signing his own death papers. He jumped from the carriage and the fight was on.

The other men joined quickly, but Kaz was able to bounce around the battle field and strike quickly while staying out of harm's way. More than that, he was able to make himself completely invisible without the use of magic. Orm noted this as quite an amazing feat. Tristan was becoming particularly worse for wear as the battle went on. He was the first to strike, and was the first to feel the force of Kaz's unseen spiked chain. Using his invisibility to deny his foes the ability to prepare for his strikes, he was able to strike true and inflict a great deal of damage. The others gained the benefit of observing the results of Tristan's hasty attack, and were able to defend it somewhat. Shear numbers began to get the best of Kaz, so he had to think quickly. He ran and tumbled around the back of the cart, and with one quick motion unhooked the lock that strapped down the cover. As the bindings fell, he reached through the cover and pulled down over top of him the metal gate of what appeared to be a cell. He did this just in time that a strong blow from Derrick was deflected by the gate, preventing serious damage. He immediately vanished again and was gone, never to be seen blah blah blah.

The group took a moment to search around, but found nothing. They didn't have much time to search, however, before the contents of the cart finally became known. Emerging from the cage like a cannonball, a monstrous humanoid barreled straight into Derrick, sending him flying back. Finally able to get a good view, they saw a massive green man, nearly eight feet tall. He was all muscle and brandishing a huge two-handed axe. He didn't appear nearly as beast-like as the creatures they'd seen at the keep, and they detected hints of human emotion in his eyes. Nonetheless, he was enraged and ready to destroy everything in his path. Orm was the first to feel his blow. With a mighty swing of his axe he nearly collapsed Orms chest, sending him stumbling back ten feet. Even the more stealthy combatants had their problems. Although they were quick enough to avoid some of his blows, he seemed to have an almost uncanny ability to shift his body at the very last second to avoid very precise, and more importantly very deadly strikes. Once again, however, the numbers began to get the best of him. More noticeably, fatigue was catching up to him as well. It would appear that sustaining that type of inhuman rage was too much for his body to handle. Once a mammoth of great power, he was now hunched over, having great trouble swinging his weapon as well as defending himself. The group took advantage of this and cut him down at last.

With their final threat gone they checked the contents of the cart. They saw a locked box, which Cade easily opened. Upon opening it the group was in awe of the gems they saw. They were absolutely exquisite, and many members of the group couldn't take their eyes off them. They were also absolutely worthless, a point Cade quickly made after examining them. Something was wrong. Even if the gems were valuable, the government has more gold than it can even spend, and there's no way they'd take such an indirect route to acquire something like this. Cade studied the chest and got to the bottom of it quickly. Both the situation, and the chest, to be specific. Underneath the false bottom was huge book. Orm removed it and studied it. He saw no magical qualities to the book, so he opened it and began to read. Written by a man named Rolan, a lot of it was just notes and scrawling. He had an incredibly difficult time making out the specifics, but he was able to decipher one thing. This book contained a list of towns and names.

He quickly leafed through the book until his hand, and very possibly his breathing, stopped at the page for the town of Brightwood. With his eyes wide he read aloud: "Cody Baker." This book contained a list of countless magic users from all over the continent! No wonder the government would go to such lengths to get their hands on it. Now more than ever they knew they could never let this book leave their possession.

After gathering themselves they realized the job wasn't finished. They packed everything up as best they could and continued on to the meeting area. Blain was able to easily convince the soldiers sent that they were unable to retrieve the item, and they were free to go. However, this wasn't before the soldier gave a warning. There will be an investigation into this matter, and if it turns out they're lying, there will be hell to pay.

The group disregarded that warning and considered the operation a success. After all, they weren't the men actually hired for the job, so if the government sent scouts or soldiers to investigate they would be entirely on the wrong trail. Yes, there was absolutely no way anything from this operation could possibly come back to haunt them...

With all that settled, they were all itching to get this book back to Eli to study. Surely he would be able to find out information and point them in the right direction. If this was truly a manifest of magic users, they would be able to be one step ahead of the government at all times.

They would finally have an edge.

The Emerging Homefront

Quite some time has passed since the viewing of Al Hazarde comet. The group attempted to glean details about its supposed significance, but the information given wasn't exactly detailed. They would just have to wait, they supposed.

In the meantime, something peculiar had happened out west. After bi-weekly correspondence, contact was lost with a semi-independent resistance group just outside the mining town of Maren. Let me explain the significance of the town before I go any further.

Maren exists far to the west. So far, in fact, that the area is still mostly uncharted - at least according to the maps that can be found throughout the various towns around the Great Ring. At this time the military, although somewhat active in the area, still hasn't gotten a strong foothold. There are no major outposts at this point, and even those that exist aren't heavily manned. What this means is that their influence is barely felt, if at all. This fact has proven highly beneficial for the resistance, because Maren sits a few miles from the most bountiful mithral deposit on the continent. Sure, they're supposed to mine it and turn it over to government-licensed merchants. That, however, doesn't always happen. Maren has actually been supplying some of the resistance's biggest supporters. This has allowed them easy access to mithral goods of the highest quality.

Just north of the town, overlooking the city from the foothills of a large mountain range, is the creatively named Overlook Keep. Up until recently it would seem, this keep was occupied by a group of six members of the resistance, along with their hired help - soldiers, scouts, cooks, and so on. This fact alone would have raised quite a bit of suspicion, but the letter sent from the town was the final confirmation. It would seem that the group had gone missing. Even worse is that the few who went to the keep to investigate never returned. Since the group stationed there acted as something of a police force for the town, banditry has also been on the rise. Needless to say, this had to be investigated.

The group set off the following morning on what would be a long trip. After many boring days, the group spotted on the horizon something they had never seen before. Something truly awe-inspiring, but something that also filled their hearts with nervous uncertainty. They saw a forest. Not just a haphazard collection of haggard trees, either. No, this was a magnificent forest, stretching north and south as far as the eye could see. They approached the forest in the late afternoon. After some discussion, they decided to press on, despite the fear that they may be traveling through it during nightfall. Such fears were quickly realized, as it soon became far too dark to safely continue. They decided to make camp in a small clearing, guarding in shifts.

The night was uneventful at first, but the silence was interrupted by... well, an event. Closing in on the camp was an owlbear. At the time they had no idea what it was, but its name explains it all. As is becoming abundantly clear, naming conventions during this time valued functionality over flare. The group didn't have much of an issue taking care of them, with four of them left dead, and another two being run off into the forest by Cade of all people. So he says, anyway, and his sterling reputation gives us no reason to doubt his claims. Yeah...

After another day of travel, the group finally emerges from the forest on the other side. They are immediately given a pause by the color of their surroundings. The plant life seemed healthier and more plentiful. The sky, brighter, bluer. Even the grass was greener on this side. It was truly the type of situation that someone should write a proverb about. After taking in the world around them, they continued on to Maren.

They met with town officials, and after some discussion they agreed to investigate. The town was so grateful for their help that they agreed to deal directly with the resistance when moving their mithral, instead of through independent merchants.

The next order of business was strategy. Due to the layout and position of the keep, approach could be difficult. The path leading north to the keep was very steep on both sides, leaving any approaching party at the mercy of those in the guard towers. Approaching from the east required them to traverse very difficult terrain, and even then left them wide open once they had done so. It was decided that the best course would be to bypass the pathway, climb through the foothills, then approach from the west. Seeing as how this was the best course, that's exactly what they did.

It was at this point that our group noticed two sentries in the southwest guard tower, both struggling with the sun. They were large, green humanoid-looking creatures, the likes of which the party had never seen. Using his magic cloak, Cade took the form of a viper and began to climb the side of the keep. The guards noticed this and attempted to spear him, but missed clumsily. Once he finally made his way to the top, Theddis did what he does best. He used his psionic ability to swap places with Cade, putting him between the two man-beasts. He easily defeated them and climbed down into the keep. Working from the inside and outside, the group was able to take advantage of one the damaged sections along the wall, making a hole large enough to provide entrance.

Once inside, the group immediately noticed a large pen in the courtyard, which housed a wolf. Not just any wolf, but a wolf the size of a horse. The group came to the very wise decision to just leave it alone. That is, until it spoke to them. It asked in common speech, much to their surprise, to be set free. In return for their help it promised not to harm them, and to give some information about the occupants. After some initial grumblings from Cade, Orm set the beast free. It explained that the new occupants all slept during the day and had difficulty seeing in the sunlight. None would provide much of a threat, except for the two "masters." The wolf motioned to the north building, indicating their location.

The wolf entered the southwest guard tower, and cries of pain and surprise were immediately heard throughout the area. It emerged, covered in blood, with a severed limb gripped firmly in its maw. Without a second look it was gone, leaving the group behind. The group members split up and easily took care of the occupants of the other towers, leaving only the "masters," whatever that meant.

As the men approached this building, its eastern doors swung open, and a large group of humans ran out. They ran straight for the northwest building and entered, stumbling over each other in the process.

Bursting into the room, the group finally got view of the "masters." They were green humanoids, like the others, only much taller and ferocious. They stood about 9 feet tall, and attack with razor-sharp claws, rending their foes at any point they could get a firm grip. Although the group was easily able to out-fight them, they seemed to heal wounds almost miraculously. After finally dropping them both, the wounds still seemed to slowly heal. It would only be a matter of time before they were back and ready to fight again. It was at this time that Tristan reminisced about his childhood.

Before you contend that this was neither the time nor the place, let me assure you it was with good reason. He recalled an old bedtime story that he was told as a child, one that he had planned on telling his own child one day, about large man-eating creatures that could regrow lost limbs. In the story, only fire could truly end their lives. Lacking any other suggestion, Cody went to work. He ignited their bodies with his magic, turning the beasts into mere piles of ash.

Now that these creatures were dealt with, it was time to question the humans. They learned that they were brought here to work in the cave a few miles north of the keep. A group is taken there each day and sometimes returns in the evening. No one speaks, and no one is truly sure of what actually takes place there. It is then decided that the group should prepare, rest up, and then go to this cave at the same time the prisoners normally did.

The time finally came and they made their way north. Upon approaching, Derrick immediately got a feeling of strong unease and dread. There were clearly dark forces at work here. Upon entering the cave this terrible feeling felt even stronger, with good reason. Cade scouted the small cave from the shadows, and saw what appeared to be a pile of human corpses. After passing along this grim news, Derrick immediately sprang to battle. The surprised group followed suit. Upon full entry into the cave, they saw the culprit. He was a pale man with sunken features, and armor that seemed to be made from bone. His name was Kurjan, and his hatred knew no bounds. He swore that until his dying breath, he would destroy the world of the living.

His first act of battle was gruesome, to say the least. With a wave of his hand, the corpses sprang to life - unlife, actually - and lurched forward horribly at the shocked men. Derrick attempted to use his own divine connection to turn them away, but it was no use. This area was unhallowed by some vile power, and his connection to St. Cuthbert was all but severed. Kurjan then waved his hand again and surrounded himself with some form of barrier. The coward!

The undead proved to be little threat, but their shear numbers made them difficult to defeat. Meanwhile, Kurjan still stood. Seeing that the group was not in any real threat, Orm attempted to engage him. After a few attempts to pass through this barrier, he finally was able to summon the will to fight through the magic, and found himself face to face with this unsettling man. Keep in mind that this was no victory, because upon entry Kurjan was quick to inform Orm that he was fully capable of defending himself. He did so not with words, but with two well-timed mace shots to the skull. Orm was sent reeling, but was still steadfast in his determination.

As the undead dwindled in numbers, members of the group began to break away and face off with Kurjan until finally each member of the group was free. Those who attacked him earliest were a bit worse for wear, but their numbers made it impossible for him to win. This certainly didn't stop him from trying, though. Insanity can be a dangerous motivator. He called upon as much divine might as possible, although the "divine" part is up for serious debate. Any god that would allow such terrible degradation of life is surely no god at all. Kurjan's final act of desperation was to call a ring of magical blades which surrounded him at all times. Several members of the group had to back away and avoid combat, lest they be sliced to pieces. This was particularly difficult for Derrick, who wanted nothing more than to destroy this man in the most horrible of ways.

This stalemate may have continued long enough for Kurjan to escape, had it not been for Tristan. With total disregard for his safety, he continually closed the distance with Kurjan, attacking him with a bloodthirsty zeal. The blows were quick and precise, and despite many painful, violent slash wounds, Tristan was able to put him down. Derrick plunged his sword down into the man as well, you know, just to be sure.

The battle was won, but none of the men would soon forget the abominations they were forced to witness. But in the end they stood tall and rose above their fears to stand against the darkness. Truly heroes in the end.

The town was true to their word, providing them with everything they promised. The group also decided that Overlook Keep would be the perfect base of operations for them. It was secluded, secure, and somewhat out of the government's view. Father Benjamin agreed with them, and provided them with the resources they needed to rebuild it. The process took a year and half, and during this time they trained soldiers, hired help, and created a strong foundation of trust within the communities of Maren. Even Father Benjamin's most trusted adviser, the incomparable Eli Deschain was sent to reside there. Eli was truly the most knowledgeable man in the world. He had unparalleled intelligence, but also the wisdom to understand its impact. Also, might I add, that he progenated some of the most amazingly awe-inspiring descendants to every exist in any of the worlds... ever.

Yes, Overlook Keep truly became a stronghold in every sense of the word. It was a good thing, too, because in the coming years it would most certainly need to be.

A Little Backstory: The Revenge

So, do I have a treat for you! If you recall, I mentioned that Theddis' activities during his time in Greenmont were more or less unknown. It turns out that I've recently learned some information from some very reliable sources. I still don't know very much, other than this one story, but it's quite entertaining, if I do say so myself. But really, which of my stories aren't?

Don't answer that. Anyway...

This all takes place about a year before our group came together. Unlike most stories involving Theddis and Cade, this one doesn't start at the tavern. Outside of Greenmont is a small guard outpost. These things are everywhere, like pockmarks. Sometimes, when the military doesn't think it can exert proper control over an area it contracts out to local militias. Honestly, anyone who values money over their integrity can hold the job. Cade got wind of when their next payroll delivery would be, and decided to muscle his way in and take it. Actually, let me rephrase. Cade decided that Theddis should muscle his way in and take it. You see, they had formed something of a strange relationship. Cade needed someone strong to stand behind, and Theddis needed to eat. But don't worry, it's not that Theddis became a thug or anything. As a matter of fact, his morals - regardless of how much he tried to suppress them - are usually what kept Cade in line.

The job seemed to go off without a hitch. They got in, got out, and got the gold. Sadly, their victory was short-lived. They were eventually out-numbered and captured. The attempts of the militia to interrogate the prisoners were futile, and that's being nice about it. They weren't highly trained in this kinda thing. The weren't highly trained in anything really, a trait that was easily exploited by Theddis and Cade. With minimal effort they were able to free themselves, dispatch their aggressors, and escape. They really couldn't ask for anything more, given the circumstances. Except the gold, of course. I should mention that they were never able to retrieve the gold during their escape.

The two men took some time to sulk. After all, they were this close to being able to live the good life for a few months. I'm not going to get into any specifics details about their sulking, because its somewhat uncouth, but let me just say it involved a young halfling woman, Tiny Tina... a prostitute...

Things got back to normal for them, and they still found the right combination of brains, trickery, and well-timed physical blows to the head, that they were able to make ends meet. One day, however, while they were enjoying themselves at the tavern, something strange occurred. Two men entered the tavern, armored heavily. Before anyone could inform them that weapons were not permitted inside, they noticed the crests on their capes. They were military. Very high-ranking. Little did they know exactly how high, but that's a story for another time. The taller man, sporting two small, slightly curved blades questioned the bartender. He asked about Theddis Noren. The bartender was able to defer his questions, but not without frustrating the normally calm man. With blinding speed he lept upon the bar and drew his blades, placing one against each side of his neck. Before anything else happened a third voice spoke up out of nowhere. A cloaked individual, seemingly lighter than air, simply said "He's telling the truth." With that, the man was down from the bar and the three of them left without another word. Whew! The crisis was seemingly averted. For now, at least.

If that event wasn't enough, a few days later something else happened. Not nearly as ominous, but still strange nonetheless. None of the normal servers were working. In there places were two new faces. The names that go along with those faces are Doral and Sherice. They seemed friendly enough, and struck up conversations with everyone. They wanted to know everything about them, it seemed. I suppose those are the traits of a good server, you know? To seem like friends after having only known you for a few minutes.

Theddis and Cade didn't really pay much mind to this, nor did they pay much mind when three young men were forcibly removed from the bar. They didn't notice the heated discussion that the new male server/bouncer was having with them outside, especially when he informed them that Theddis and Cade ratted them out for stealing and carrying weapons into the tavern. They most certainly didn't notice the scroll containing a charm spell that really drove the point home to the three men. They did, however, notice immediately when one of the men returned to the bar and demanded that Theddis and Cade meet them outside. Both men were somewhat confused by the accusations, having never said anything of the sort. Cade would, however, keep in mind how effective such accusations would be, if he ever needed to use them. An attempt to disarm the situation was futile, and a fight broke out immediately. Although it was a wholly one-side affair, and although the young men ceased their aggression after the near fatal wounding of their "leader," a particularly perceptive observer might have noticed how intently the new servers watched the battle, and the slight smile they cast each other when it was over.

The next day, the strangest of all events leading up to this point took place. Not only was it unheard of in this town, but it was also the most distressing sight Theddis had laid eyes on since coming here. Closed. That was all it said. The tavern, his second home, was closed. In the middle of the afternoon. After a short discussion it was decided that Cade would break in and check it out. Theddis caused the necessary distraction, bellowing out horribly about withdrawal and "the shakes," symptoms that may or may not have been actually occurring.

Within seconds they were inside. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Theddis helped himself to some rum, and noted that the place looked just as it did when they left the previous night. It was as if no one bothered to come open the place. Also worth nothing is that both Theddis and Cade were close friends with the bartender. So close, that he knew their true identities, and helped set them up on their "jobs." This fact made it all the more strange that he'd be completely gone without so much as a word.

They decided to check his home, and in doing so their fears were realized. The place was torn apart. Whether or not it was a robbery or a brawl wasn't something they had the skills to discern, but the lack of blood was a good sign. The first in days, actually. The fact that the fire seemed to have been smoldering for days was strange, but didn't inspire in them any other thoughts. Hey, give them a break. They're not bounty hunters. They both probably came to their next course of action at the same time. If things got heavy, or anyone got pinched, their plan was to meet up at the usual place outside of town. It was in the ruins of a large building, completely shielded from view from all of the main roads. This is where they met to discuss deals, and to exchange whatever gold or treasure they came upon.

They waited until nightfall and set off. Sure enough, someone was there. But what, what was he doing?! Through the would-be windows of these ruins the men could see a fire burning. This was a grave sin in such criminal dealings. It was like hanging a banner that said "please investigate." Something was wrong.

Cade waited, hidden around the corner and out of sight, while Theddis took the more direct route. As he got closer a figure slowly came into view. Young, average height, average build, completely shaved head. His most noticeable physical trait was the gaping wound which took up nearly all of his lower torso. It was Hayden!

Theddis stopped in his tracks. Before he could muster the strength to speak, the figure spoke to him. "Why did you leave me to die. This is your fault." Theddis began to apologize, still in disbelief. The figure spoke again, this time in a more cryptic fashion, almost in another voice entirely. "You shouldn't keep such horrible memories at the surface of your thoughts. It's a wonder you can even make it through the day." Theddis paused again, still unable to act.

Cade watched these events for long enough. His confused observation gave way to fear. Theddis never acted like this. He hastily stood up from his hiding spot, calling aloud to Theddis. That's when it happened. He barely had time to ask Theddis about the situation when he felt it. It was familiar, but never this bad. It started off as a cool tingle, but then the horrible burning came. The last thing he felt before his arms and legs went numb was the warm rush of liquid pouring from his back. This was it. His actions had finally caught up with him. He was dead.

But no! This wasn't death. Although he couldn't move, he was still aware of his surroundings. His assailant ran off into the shadows, becoming invisible beneath their veil.

Theddis immediately realized what was happening. His mind was able to fight off the illusion before him, causing his former apprentice and friend to appear for what he/it truly was. A gray-skinned humanoid with minimal features, able to read thoughts and change his shape at will. His revelation was short-lived, as he was now in a fight for his life.

Using his considerable skill, and making full use of his incredible physical fortitude, he was able to hold them off, but he knew he couldn't keep this up for long. Just as he thought he was going to be overwhelmed, he came roaring back. The doppelganger was crafty, but not hardy, and had to withdrawal to survive. This left only the assassin, who upon further inspection was none other than Sherice, the new female server at the tavern! Her skills were much better suited for ambush than direct physical combat, and soon she saw herself nearing the end. It was at this time that another voice spoke out. Appearing out of nowhere was Doral, the other server, who was standing over the unconscious body of the bartender. In no uncertain terms he demanded the surrender of Theddis and Cade, and in exchange for this he would let the bartender live. Theddis made one final attempt at a power play, trying to use his psionic abilities to allow him to switch places with the bartender. Sadly, since he was unconscious, Theddis was unable to get into his mind to complete the switch. Not wanting harm to come to his friend, Theddis reluctantly agreed.

Doral explained that Theddis apparently stepped on the wrong feet recently. If a group is willing to hire them to exact their revenge, it means that normal methods didn't work. This does make sense, after all. The guards wouldn't want their gold source to know they were weak. They would be replaced. He also explains that the fight at the tavern was intentional, so they could get a good idea what their skills and tactics would be. After this somewhat stereotypical disclosure of motives, Doral said with a smile what turned out to be his last words: "I changed my mind." He then plunged a dagger into the helpless throat of the bartender. The pool of blood forming around his still body said all that needed to be said. His life was over. Seeing this, Sherice screamed out at him. "What are you doing? You said no one else was going to die!" With that, she vanished, leaving on Theddis and Doral standing eye to eye. Charging at each other, they met with thunderous force and began their battle.

Cade had seen enough. Having recovered from the poison, he saw his chance to strike. Flanking their opponent, each man was able to land strong blows. Each of these was countered just as heavily by Doral, who was turning out to be quite the capable combatant. Even against two men, he was gaining the edge. Cade was particularly worse for wear, having to leave the battle to recuperate. With only one opponent, Doral looked to end the fight. Theddis was proving to be much tougher than he expected, taking damage that would kill most other men, yet continuing to fight with no sign of slowing down. It was at this moment that something unexpected happened. That sensation that Cade felt, this time Doral felt it, too. His eyes opened wide as he looked over his shoulder and saw Sherice, her knife plunged into his lower back. This time, with a vicious grin, she twisted the knife once, sucking all the life from his body, and sending him to whichever of the nine Hells had a particular interest in a cold-blooded killer-for-hire.

The battle was won, if such a battle could have a winner. Their friend was dead, and old mental wounds were once again brought to the surface. Cade, never one to let a stab go unreturned interrupted Sherice and Theddis' conversation to deliver a blow to the young assassin. As the attack was coming, she as able to notice and avoid it somewhat, saving herself from death. But, the message was sent. She would not retaliate, but that considerable wound was her payment, and she considered them even. She apologized again for the death of their friend, and once again vanished into the cool night air, never to be seen again. Keep in mind that I like the drama of that phrase - "never to be seen again" - but that it isn't necessarily always true.

Theddis and Cade took a few moments to take in what had just happened. Although neither would say it aloud, both were thankful to have the other there. They were more than just business associates, and although they'd probably never admit this either, they were friends. In times like these, that's more valuable than any treasure. Cade would especially never admit that.

Speaking of treasure, Cade's ever-astute eyes noticed a small pouch, which must've been dropped during the battle. He opened it immediately and saw it. 3,000 gold pieces!! It must've been the payment this group required to do the job. What luck! They would be able to live well, after all, for at least a year if they're careful. What good timing, don't you think?

As Sherice ran through the plains, feeling the refreshing cold breeze against her face, she somewhat lamented the loss of the gold. But, those two men had won, and they deserved it. Besides, she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she kept it, not after what Doral did. She didn't worry long, though, and knew in her heart that dropping the pouch for them was the right thing to do. As she disappeared over the horizon, she had a feeling she'd see them again, sooner or later.

Together Again

The messages were sent. The carriages arrived. It was time.

Cody, Derrick, and Orm each packed their belongings and left in the morning. They had no idea where they were going, nor when they would reach that destination. So they waited.

The two carriages finally converged on a small dirt road about mile away from town. I'd love to give you the name of the town, but I don't know it. I could give you list of all the towns it was said to be, but that would take quite some time. It was as non-descript of a town as you'll ever see. It's the type of town someone immediately forgets as soon as they leave. Hell, it's the type of town that someone immediately forgets while they're still there. It takes a lot of effort make a town well known; to really put it on the map, so to speak. Let me tell you this, it takes even more effort to take it off the map, but that's exactly what they did, and with good reason.

Upon arrival they exited their carriages, which turned and went the way they came. The pleasantries were short, if they happened at all. Sure, it had been a long time since they'd seen each other, but there were more pressing matters. Two men who looked as if they just so happened to wander to the town line as the carriages arrived looked over the visitors. Then, strangely, they each removed a monacle from their pockets and looked upon the visitors again.

"Please come with me" is all that was said.

They followed the men into what appeared to be a tiny greenhouse. It seemed that this town was attemping the ever-daunting task of growing plant life. They seemed to be succeeding to some degree, which is to be admired. but in this case the plants were a mere afterthought. Although the onlookers were unsure of what exactly happened, a tile in the walkway shifted, revealing a staircase leading underground. The men lead them down, through a complex maze of underground caverns, and then to an underground structure.

Once inside they were greeted calmly, and their two escorts left them.

"Welcome," said one of the guards. "He will see you now."

Orm and Cody were no doubt curious as to whom they were to see, but Derrick knew full well. They were here to see his father.

They were led into one final room, and the guard left them. There, sitting at the table was the man behind everything. Father Benjamin, in the flesh. No more than a dozen people had laid eyes on him since he organized the resistance. His presence was commanding, yet kind, not unlike Derrick's, but he exuded such powerful confidence and steadfast resolve that even the strongest of wills couldn't help but be intimidated. His soft, yet strong voice pierced the silence.

"Welcome. I've waited a long time to finally meet you both. It is my pleasure."

With that, the story was told. As much as it could be. He assembled the original group with a purpose, and more of that would be revealed in time. Right now, however, they were short one. Actually, two...

"Blain," he yelled. "Come here!"

Blain casually walked from the room next door, from a doorway which was seemingly absent a split-second ago. He greated his brother and friends in his typical, sarcastic style, but his smile gave away his happiness. He was glad to see them, and glad to be moving on.

So now they were only short one. They needed to find Theddis Noren. After years of misinformation and faulty leads they finally found one. A contact who knew the real Theddis Noren: the smartest, most cowardly soldier. Willem Boscogne. It would seem that he had made something of a life for himself in Greenmont, a town that's a noted haven for liars, thugs, lying thugs, and thieves. Apparently Theddis had, too. The mission was clear. Bring him back at all costs.

The four men were off the next morning. They were all given amulets that allowed them to silently communicate with each other over great distances. A distinct advantage in many situations. Their trip was uneventful to say the least. They took the time to catch up and exchange stories about the last five years until they finally arrived. Word is that Willem hung out at the tavern. This wasn't exactly news to anyone, because in a town like this just about everyone hung out at the tavern. The tavern was like town hall. It was not only the biggest structure in town, but easily the most well-built.

The tavern didn't allow weapons, so they had to check them at the door. Orm, never feeling very comfortable without his massive blade, which he began to call "Sizzle," at arms length, opted to wait outside. The others did as required and gave their weapons to the attendant, then began their search.

Cody went off and tried to put some of his skills to the test. He began playing Three Dragon Ante with some of the bar patrons, besting them in nearly every hand. They were so impressed that they opened up to him quickly, but none of the information they gave was of any more use than what they already had.

Derrick and Blain started where most people would likely start, with the bartender. He was told that Willem often came in later in the evening, but wasn't currently there. Derrick didn't recognize anyone in the bar, but questioned to himself if he would recognize this man even if he saw him. He took the opportunity to ask the bartender about Theddis Noren. An old, fat, grizzled man at the bar appeared to peak up ever-so-slightly at the mention of this name, then put his head back down in his drunken haze. The bartender did, in fact, know Theddis. What luck! Could it be possible that all along he would be this easy to find? He followed the direction of the man's finger, but oddly enough didn't see anyone. Confused, he cast his gaze down ever so slightly and saw him. Theddis? No, of course not. This man was barely over 3 feat tall. Clearly a halfling. Was this also going to be a dead end? Before any questions could be asked of him, Derrick received a message from Orm outside.

A man was walking up toward the tavern and glanced over at Orm as he passed. He stopped, did a double take and continued. He took a few steps before stopping dead in his tracks. He barely had time to remember Orm's face when he looked forward and saw Blain, who had since moved into the doorway. He tried to run but was easily subdued. Orm took this opportunity to message Derrick, who along with Cody, joined them outside.

Willem was understandably terrified to see these men again. It was, after all, only five years ago that he watched every other member of his assignment killed unmercifully by these very men. He said the first thing to come to mind.

"You've come to kill me, too. Please don't. I'm no harm. I'm done with the military, I swear."

His ramblings were cut off by Derrick, who explained the situation. The man was so panicked that he didn't even require the gold they were going to pay him, although he was given some for his troubles. He explained the situation, and clarified a bit of confusion. Theddis often was in the bar, so often that Willem didn't remember a single time that he was in there and didn't see Theddis sitting at the bar. It was weird, though, because apparently he'd been calling himself something else. Kain maybe? Cade? Yes, that was it. Cade. Another guy, the little guy, was calling himself Theddis. He wasn't sure why, but just assumed it was to help him stay hidden. He said one other thing, in passing, that struck a chord with a few members of the group: "Geez, a lot of people looking for this guy, lately."

With that done, they allowed him to leave, and leave he did. It's been said that most humans, regardless of size and athletic ability, can only run about 120 feet in six seconds, but I'll be damned to the nine hells if this guy didn't run at least 200 feet in that time.

Now that they had their info, they just had to wait for the real Theddis to arrive. The agreed to play it cool and strike up a conversation with the fake Theddis to maybe get some information. Blain took the reigns and began. He stood in front of the table at which the diminutive fellow was sitting and spoke.

"I'm looking for Theddis Noren," he said, loud enough for the entire bar to hear. "Has anyone seen him? I'm an old friend of his from a few years back."

"I'm Theddis, mate," spoke the man.

"Wow! It's great to see you again. Have you gotten taller?" He said with a smirk. It was the typical Blain smile that you couldn't forget even if you tried.

The banter went on for quite some time, with each group member getting involved in various ways. Except for Orm, that is, who continued to wait outside. After a time the game became tiresome for everyone, but Blain is the one who finally took the next step. Underneath of the table he called upon his Eldritch energy, fueling it with fire called from the brimstone of the Hells.

"Enough of this game," He spoke, calmy, an expression of carefully suppressed anger on his face.

The halfling did his best to swindle his way out of it, but wasn't the least bit worried. You see, he made a very specific point to employ an insurance policy for just these types of situations. It was a good thing, too, because he found himself in situations like this quite often. Seeing the trouble from the bar, the drunken, passed-out old man sprang to life and darted toward the back, wrapping his hand around Blain's neck.

"And who might you be?" Blain asked, all the while maintaining his Eldritch energy.

The question wasn't answered with words, but nothing could've been more definitive than what wasn't said. From this man's hand came a blade. Not a hidden dagger or wrist knife, but a mental blade. The very same weapon that Theddis had used. They found their man!

Blain managed to spin away from his grip, and the standoff lasted a few seconds that seemed to be hours before they agreed to discuss the situation like men. With their weaponry dispersed, they talked. Now that they knew, they could all see Theddis' thinner, younger, clean-cut version hidden amongst the dirty, unkempt, out-of-shape body they saw before them. Their diplomatic relations barely had time to take off before the halfling, having snuck off during the staredown, made his play.

He informed the barkeep that the strangers had snuck in weapons and threatened his life. Immediately the bartender dispatched his bouncers to take care of them. Three men marched to the front of the bar and told the group to leave. Having no weapons, and being in no position to start a war, they obliged.

If you're wondering why they weren't searched or questioned to verify the accusations, the answer is simple. In a town like this, you pay your dues and eventually work you way into the social inner circle. They do not take kindly to strangers, and if one of those circle members wants you gone, you're gone. Simple as that. Not only that, but you deserve to go home with a black and blue reminder not to come back... if you go home at all.

The bouncers did what they do best, and tried to rough up the members of the group, as Theddis and his small friend watched from the doorway.

During the commotion, something else somewhat curious happened. Another man, as inconspicuous as any other, was looking for his wife. Not at this very moment. Not literally anyway. I mean, she wasn't in the bar or anything like that. His search up to this point was haphazard at best. He went from town to town, asking anyone who would listen, but turning up nothing. It was recently that he heard the rumor of the midnight caravan of great importance that was hijacked by the resistance, and of the magical boy that was rescued. Of Theddis Noren. This piqued his interest a great deal. Hmm, I suppose I should tell you his story before I go on.

His name is Tristan Ludlow. He was an unassuming man in an unassuming town in the middle of somewhere. He was upstanding and outgoing, and took an important role in the town guard. He finally married the love of his life, Quinn, and was ready to settle down. He thought he knew everything about her, but little did he know her one huge secret. On day, shortly after their marriage, the extraction crew came under cover of night. They took her, and although Tristan did all he could to stop them, he could not prevail. Since then his demeanor changed drastically. He is now morose and quiet, and his combat skill has taken a turn for the much more ruthless. He has shut down his softer emotions, and barely keeps himself from drowning forever in his sorrow with the thought that his beloved might still be alive somewhere. He will stop at nothing until he finds his wife or destroys those responsible for her disappearance. He will display their corpses for all to see, as a macabre warning of what happens to those who harm the innocent.

Back to the story. Once Tristan saw the strangers removed, he stood up and took action himself, albeit in a subtle way. He knew that the town guard would be arriving shortly, and although the tend to look the other way quite often, they never avoid a fight, and very often fight to the finish.

Theddis, despite his hesitations, and his desire to never see these men again, would not have wished these events on his former allies. He wanted to help them, but refused to let himself go back to his old life. He knew in his heart what was right, but he just couldn't find the motivation to act. Luckily for everyone, the motivation found him.

The town guard arrived, and upon surveying the situation, took a shot at Cody and tried to muscle him to the ground. Perhaps Cody was tactically the best target, or perhaps the guard was simply ruthless and cowardly, and wanted to take his shots on a young man who was still a week removed from his 18th birthday. Nevertheless, seeing this aggression awoke something in Theddis. Maybe it was the flood of memories of where things went wrong with Hayden, or maybe it just his innate good nature finally escaping from it's prison of alcohol, self-loathing, and fear, but he couldn't let this happen. Not again. He activated his mindblade a sprung into action.

Tristan also saw his opportunity, darting into the weapon room with nearly magical quickness and grabbing his trusted halberd. It would finally get a taste of battle. Cody also took this same opportunity. He surveyed the area, and with a subtle gesture pulled the hood of his cloak over his head, activating it. With that, he was gone. Invisible, he darted to the weapon room and retreived those of his comrades. He returned them to their respective owners, who were no doubt happy to have them. Now that each side was armed and prepared to fight, things escalated quickly.

The group made short work of the bouncers and town guard, but knew that more would be on the way shortly. Their victory was even more short-lived than before, as the bartender - who already had something of an aversion for Theddis and his friend - screamed at them. It was clear that they were no longer welcome.

After a heated discussion about the nature of right and wrong, good and evil, and of course, the double-standards that come along with fighting an enemy, the group left together. The real Cade took this opportunity to introduce himself.

The group didn't exactly convince Theddis to join up for their cause so much as he wanted to protect Cody. He still wasn't able to completely differentiate these men and their tactics from those they were trying to usurp, but he could see the good in them. He also didn't trust that they were going to act in the best interests of the boy they rescued. Despite their assertion to the contrary, Theddis believed that they viewed Cody as a weapon to be harnessed instead of a person. He didn't know if protecting this boy would be able to heal the scars that came from Hayden's death, but at this point it was the best he could do.

Cade, having grown used to having his muscle at his side, came along as well. Despite his own complaints and accusations, he knew it was the only option. Besides, he also had his own code by which he lived, and the idea of being a thorn in the side of the entity that made it so hard for him to live his life from day to day was definitely appealing. Sure, he was a thief. He would readily admit it. But oppression and cold-blooded murder? That made his blood boil. Actually, who was he kidding? This was all about steady pay and lodging. He didn't give a shit about all that other stuff... did he? The group wanted nothing to do with him, but getting Theddis back was paramount, and if Theddis required that he come along there was no avoiding it.

Finally, there was Tristan. He saw these men as his best lead to finding out what happened to Quinn. He was welcomed by Blain and Derrick, who appreciated his help at the bar. They didn't know if they could fully trust him yet, but they were not ones to turn away a potentially strong ally. He seemed genuine, but where do his loyalties lie?

They returned to Father Benjamin immediately. Arriving back in town on the eve of Cody's 18th birthday. Father Benjamin spoke to them briefy, although he did not allow Tristan or Cade into his inner sanctum, although both were no less amazed to be in the presence of such an iconic figure. He was unable to explain the specifics to everyone at the moment, but theorized vaguely about important events. He asked them to return just before midnight and he would explain further.

As the time approached, the men showed up to meet him. Before someone could ask what they were doing here, Benjamin interrupted and pointed to the sky and the full moon. With perfect timing when midnight struck, they saw it. Streaking across the sky was the Al Hazarde comet, a portent of great events, bathing the sky in emerald light as it passed.

Father Benjamin seemed more relieved than anything else. He closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again he spoke.

"That is the most important event you will ever witness."

The Past Five Years

Good day, friends. I apologize for such a long delay in the story. I tend to go where the wind takes me sometimes. You should be thankful my retelling didn't take as long to continue as the actual events. Five years have elapsed since that fateful night on Pointed Pass. Let's get you up to speed, shall we?

After the rescue of Cody, those within the great ring unsurprisingly raised the level of security in the various towns. Most of their inquiries into this event went cold, and their investigation eventually hit a wall. During this time, those men responsible for the rescue were separated for their protection.

Derrick and Cody were kept together. The plan was for Derrick to look after Cody and raise him during this time. The two naturally became quite close, which I imagine one would expect, and they soon began to look at each other as uncle and nephew. I hope I don't have to say which was which. He also spent a good deal of time training the boy as best he could, all the while honing his own skills. Through this training his connection to St. Cuthbert became stronger than ever. Was it wrong to feel the urge to use these new-found connection to smite evil on the battlefield? No, he thought, and I can't help but agree. The wicked deserve their penance, no matter what that may be!

Cody's time was also spent in training, although obviously a different kind. With literature delivered secretly, he was able to better harness his talents. He still wasn't nearly as strong as he would one day be, but his progress was amazing. One would think that his progress would have been even greater had he not spent so much free time playing cards at the local tavern, but one would be wrong. I know it doesn't make much sense to you and I, but hear me out. His natural gifts gave him many advantages, but during these games of chance he began to notice something else. What for most people is a mere chance, for Cody it began to take on near-tangible properties. The more he played, the more he noticed it. Would it be possible to manipulate fate and spin it in a different direction? He wasn't there yet, but he felt close to finding out.

For Orm, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Even with his disgust with the military, his time was spent in a very similar setting. Realizing that his talents were unique, he was sent to train other soldiers within the resistance. If they were to truly take the next step, they needed better organization and tactics. Who better to teach them how to counter military tactics than a man who up until recently spent each and every day learning them? But more so than that, he was to train a certain breed of soldier. Let me say one thing - and I want you to know that I hate stereotypes and the unfair expectations that they create - magic-users are for the most part fragile and squishy. I'm sorry, but it's true. However, sometimes you find a select few that are a bit hardier. These are the men he wanted. He trained them to hone their magical skills in combat the same way he did, and soon created a small but formidable group of talented combatants.

In what could be viewed as a blessing or a curse, Blain was kept separate from Derrick during this time. He was told that keeping him with his brother would be a poor tactical decision. This was the consensus, and if anyone asked it was the answer they were given. However, anyone who knew the brothers could probably dig a little deeper. Both were wildly charismatic, but chose to use it in different ways. Derrick was engaging and kind, using his personality to draw people to his cause openly to his cause without ever looking down upon them. Blain, although good and caring at heart, tended to be more, um, cocky. Sorry for the hesitation, but I was trying to be kind. His natural charisma was used to manipulate and deceive. Both brothers are fighting for the same end, but in very different ways. Cody also had an amazing natural charisma, but at his young age he walked a fine line between likable and confident, and snooty and arrogant. The way he was raised would play a huge role in which direction he went, and naturally it was decided that he should have the more upstanding influence. Blain's actual role during this time is still somewhat vague, but he did spend a lot of time at the center of the resistance, keeping in touch with the others and noting their progress. This made him feel sheltered and frustrated, the latter of which began to fester within him. Why should he sit here doing this type of work while his brother is given important responsibility? He wasn't even sure exactly why every correspondence had to be logged. He thought it was just a way to keep him busy, but there was a much deeper meaning, whether he chose to see it or not.

Sadly, the scrying eye lost sight of Theddis during this time. He truly went through great lengths to erase his existence, and through, most likely, sheer force of will he was able to stay hidden and start a new life... if you could call what he did living. Their search did turn up what they thought were a few leads, but they ended up being misinformation and the search was abandoned. Unless Theddis lost about 150 lbs - and 3 feet from his height!- their search was a wild goblin-chase. That is until one day, they finally got the breakthrough they were hoping for.

As comfortable as everyone had become these last five years, it was time to go back to work.