It turns out the only way higher up the Spire is through the Baron.
Thankfully, he wasn’t interested in eating us.
He was interested in making a deal.
The Baron explained he’d been ordered to stop anyone climbing higher. He didn’t seem especially happy about it, but he wasn’t about to disobey those orders either. Instead, he offered us another way forward.
Three witches living in the nearby swamps have been trying to kill him.
Poisoned food. Exploding presents. Assassins in the night.
It all sounded rather dramatic.
If we deal with the witches, he’ll help us continue our journey.
Simple enough.
Well… almost.
The agreement came in the form of a magical contract. We had to swear we’d genuinely try to stop the witches, and promise we wouldn’t come back afterwards and kill the Baron ourselves. Around here, breaking your word doesn’t just weigh on your conscience. The land changes you. Sharp teeth, twisted features and worse.
So we signed.
I still think helping people is usually the right thing to do. Of course, we’ve only heard the Baron’s side of the story. Perhaps the witches have good reason to want him dead. I suppose we’ll find that out soon enough.
Before we left, we learned the meaning behind the strange eye symbol.
It belongs to Caleb, the god of spies and secrets. The black-robed cultists carry his mark.
They’re the ones who trapped Oriel beneath the well.
Everyone else seems focused on climbing the Spire.
I am too.
But if climbing it brings me closer to finding those cultists, then perhaps it brings me closer to saving Oriel as well.
I left her behind because I had no choice.
I refuse to let that be the end of her story.
So our next destination is clear.
The swamps.
Three witches.
And, if all goes well, a path further up the Spire.
Somehow, I don’t think any of this is going to be as simple as the Baron made it sound.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.