[HQ Ignorance] Scene 27: The Essence of Judge Kraken

[Lev Lafayette]

After they conferred with the Talar Malaskan Phillipe,
ruler of Arolanit, and with his blessing the
Fellowship sought out the Essence of Judge Kraken.
Heavy was the heart of those who entered his spartan
residence, in the dull grey city that the Wizards
called the Palace of the Pentacles. Through the magics
of those present they conducted the seance to contact
the Essence of their erstwhile companion.

"These words do not come easily", the Essence wrote.
"I left the Fellowship as soon as I heard that
Arolanit was organising an invasion of Seshnela.
Although my loyalty to the Fellowship is great,
greater still was my loyalty to the Brithini, greatest
of the immortal sorcerers of the Invisible God. I
could not let these Perfecti die against the forces of
the decadent and cruel heretical king of Seshnela
without my assistance."

"Yet when I arrived here and spoke to the Talar of our
Quest, he suggested instead that I could hunt down
this monstrous creature we know as Wilkairtha and
retrieve the Axe of Talor's fellow. Full of pride, I
took up this errand thinking you would consider me
well if I succeeded."

"But I did not. For a whole week I rode towards the
Iron Mountains and the Castle Coast where the monster
was last sighted. But the Beastmen caught me. They
told me that after Arkat the Destroyer cursed the
Telmori, great numbers of them went to these lands
under the leadership of Wilkairatha. For a decade they
rampaged in fury, cutting down many who travelled the
roads at night, until, eventually, order was
established. Now they inhabit the woods of near the
Castle Coast. They work with the Centaur King of
Guebelle, and do not contest with the Aldryami of the
Kanthor's Isles."

"And then I met Wilkairatha. He was ... strange, as
the descriptions would befit him. Most unusual of all
was his skin. Although I was held during a great
storm, water seemed to slide off his skin like I have
never seen on any other person. And then, through his
magics and those of his den, he infected me with
Talor's Curse. A fitting judgement, he said."

"I returned here to seek magics that could remove this
stain from me, but none could do so. My Essence
permanently tained, I could not live with myself, and
thus I took my own life rather than live with this
shame. I have remained here, knowing that you would
come to hear my story. Now it is told."

"I am sorry."


       
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