Hello, Everyone!
Last time, our adventurers investigated the clearing where a Demon of some kind was summoned. Mary found out that its name was Glabrezu, and her friends learned that the (now dead) cultists were trying to perform some convoluted ritual to help their master (who wasn't even this particular Demon).
After finishing their investigation, Mary sent out a familiar to scout ahead, and she found the forementioned Demon strolling along in the Swamp, breaking the surrounding trees like twigs. There was some kind of an object stuck into its hand, and Mary supposed that it was the Anchor keeping it stuck in this dimension.
"We should leave the Demon alone," Bruno said. "It's not part of our mission."
"But it’s in pain!" Mary protested. "We should try and help it!"
"Mary!" Tesaya said through gritted teeth. "This is NOT a wounded kitten. It's a Demon, and it has already killed at least four people! We have to get rid of it!"
She looked uncharacteristically angry. But of course she was. Most Paladins were sworn to destroy creatures like Demons wherever they encountered them.
"But look at it from another point of view,” Bruno said. “Fighting might slow us down and spend a lot of our strength and resources. And if we left it in the swamp, it could detain the Order and let us pull ahead of them.”
"Or it could wander off to the East instead," Agatha said. “Pay a quick visit to y’all’s fortress?”
The group fell silent. Mary felt her chest tighten, thinking about Moira and Dalia. They’d just found a safe place after so much hardship, and it could be taken away from them just like that.
“Maybe if we removed the anchor, it'd go back to its Plane and leave ours alone?” she tried.
“I… might have a solution,” Bruno said, not really listening to her. He was fidgeting with his Holy symbol. “There is a spell that Ord can grant me. It can Banish a creature back to their Plane of existence.”
“That's great!” Mary said. “We can help both parties!”
“The only downside is that I don't have it right now,” Bruno added. “I have to pray for it, and Ord will bestow it upon me in the morning.”
“Well, if what Mary’s familiar saw was true, the thing doesn't seem to be crossing our path anytime soon,” Aurum said. “We can go on our way and check with it in the morning.”
The others agreed. The Demon continued on its path, flattening the swamp before it. Its roar echoed in the afternoon air and it went ahead, unwavering and persistent. It was moving more quickly than Mary and her friends, and soon they started falling behind.
The more the five of them approached the Dragon's prison, the worse the weather got. When the group decided to finally stop for the night, having Bruno's platforms and Mary's Orange tree was a true blessing.
The group made their night-time arrangements away from the clearings, but close enough to be able to perceive it if there was any movement over there. After all, if not the Demon, then the Order could surprise them at any moment now.
“Someone should get out of the Dome from time to time,” Mary said, “to check if the Demon has changed direction. Maybe climb to the top of a tree to see better?” She glanced at Agatha but didn’t say anything else.
"Oh, I think Tesaya is perfect for that task!” Aurum grinned. “She can do that single handedly!”
The Paladin chuckled and smacked him on the back of the head.
“I can go,” Bruno said. “If I left my armour here, I could…”
“I'll go,” Agatha cut him off. “I think Mary meant me, anyways.”
They arranged the night shifts and Agatha disappeared into the canopy.
Before they went to sleep, Mary saw Bruno do a Sending to someone. She moved closer and sat next to him.
"Can you send one to Lilly, too?"
"Sure. What do you want me to say?"
"Tell her I miss them? See if Mr. Perres' soldiers have already taken them towards Zerakas tol. I'm worried that if they put off their departure, the city might get attacked before they were able to leave."
Bruno sent the Message. Mary could see his eyes smile, getting the answer.
"Your mom says they are all right. She didn't know about any soldiers coming to take them. Asked how you were. She sounded quite worried, ya know?"
Mary was afraid that might happen. Making Lilly and Bramble worry was the last thing she wanted.
"Please tell her that we're alright. Explain about the soldiers, tell her to get ready to leave as soon as they come."
She hoped that no matter what happened to the rest of the world, at least her family would be safe.
Morning came with the heavy footsteps of the Demon approaching from the north. The dome of the Orange tree had just shrunk back into the wand, and Mary and her friends were getting ready for the next--and hopefully last--rainy day ahead of them.
"It's coming!" Agatha announced, jumping off of a tree. "We still have time to avoid it, but we have to hide well."
They scampered and ducked all throughout the nearby vegetation. Just then, the Demon broke through the treeline, scattering trunks and branches in all directions. It saw Bruno’s platform and paused for a second, as if considering what to do. Then its hand--the one pierced by the Anchor--convulced in pain and it roared. It lashed out and stomped on the platform, until it was no more than a pile of splinters on the surface of the swamp.
Then, it started on its way once again. Mary could see it wince and scratch at the Anchor with its free hand, unsuccessfully trying to remove it.
Her heart tightened.
Yes, it was a monster. Yes, it had killed people. But was it really its fault? It was trapped, and it was in pain. And, maybe, if they did something to help it, it would leave this world and its inhabitants alone.
She couldn’t hold it in any longer. She looked at the creature and touched her copper ring.
”Are you in pain?” she sent into its head. ”We can help!”
The Demon stopped and slowly turned around.
Uh-oh! Mary, what are you doing! This is a Demon, not a wounded kitten! I hope you know what you're doing!
Well, we'll see what happens next time!
Until then, take care and be well!
(Also, here's a link to the Chapter Guide, the Glossary and the Map for the series. You're welcome!)
An important disclaimer: Mary Windfiddle's story is my notes from a D&D game turned into a narrative. All the worldbuilding and NPC encounters belong to our DM, and all the actions of the other main characters (Aurum, Bruno and Agatha) belong to my co-players. My contribution to the story is only everything Mary-related (actions, reactions, inner thoughts), as well as the writing itself.