Javen stepped forward towards Radegast, holding out the arrow to her fletching-first. “I said, I believe this belongs to you,” Radegast made no move towards the inquisitor. “Lord Javen, certainly there’s a way for us to walk out of this room to complete our mission,” Bob called from behind the bookcase. He stepped out to regard the approaching High Commander. “Oh, certainly, I agree with you,” Javen said. “And there is – by you returning what you have no doubt stolen from the Gilded Eye’s sacred archive and confessing your sins.” Tarmikos swept his gauntlet-shod hand through the air and cast zone of truth. Radegast, Bob, and Varien felt a ripple of enchantment course through their consciousness for a moment. Varien felt his inhibitions fade under the glow of Tarmikos’s demanding gaze. Radegast and Bob, on the other hand, had little trouble resisting the Inquisitor’s spell. Tarmikos arched an eyebrow. “Well, well. I am impressed with your mental fortitude, if not your forthrightness,” he said with a slight wince. Brother Vartan stepped forward. “High Commander, please,” he said imploringly. “This is a library, not a place of violence.” “ Quiet , lorekeeper,” Tarmikos said. “Look, we’ve not taken anything from you,” Varien called out, stepping towards the High Commander. “As for me, I just want to kill some demons.” Hear, hear, whispered FIENDSBANE. “Your motives are plain,” Tarmikos growled. “Well then,” Varien said, and made for the library doors. As he approached the High Commander, Varien felt as though he was stepping over a threshold of barely contained menace. The paladin blinked. Clearly, the inquisitor was channeling his deity’s divine energy into an aura of conquering presence aimed at dominating those who dared cross him. Javen gave a quick signal of his hand and one of his guards nodded and left the library. The second guard stepped in front of the library’s doors, planting his boots and squaring his shoulders. Varien saw this and sighed. “High Commander Tarmikos!” Radegast shouted, getting the inquisitor’s attention. She slowly and deliberately knelt on the carpeted floor of the library. “I was acting alone and I surrender alone!” She put her hands behind her hand, the fingers on her right hand wriggling into the sleeve of her tunic to grip the holy symbol of Talos lashed about her wrist. “But know this – I will tell you nothing you don’t already know, and whatever truths I have learned here have already left this room.” She cast sending , intent on sending a fleeting mental message to Captain Kraklos outlining where the intelligence was being stashed, and that the Gilded Eye’s plans for Neverwinter were dire in intent. Brother Vartan’s eyes widened as he realized the bard was casting a spell. He quickly sketched an intricate pass through the air with his free hand. “Your spell is countered, young lady!” he shouted. Radegast paled as the thought bubble she was conjuring popped. Her confidence faltered and she paled, realizing that her last chance to connect with Kraklos had failed. “I-I-” Radegast stammered. “I swear to you I was acting alone. These two-” she gestured to Bob and Varien – “they are members of the Lord’s Alliance and were not involved in any plot against you or the Gilded Eye! I surrender to you!” Javen’s lip curled in a sneer. In the armory, Birdwen was preening himself as Hilde cleaned up the scattered plate armor. He stopped suddenly, his beaked face snapping up as the wheels inside his mind worked. Where are my friends?  he thought. Jamie Lysandra cleared his throat and raised his hands, his eyes locked on Radegast. “Gentlemen, lady, please. You will find that things will go easier for you if you comply with the High Commander’s wishes in this matter.” “Yes indeed,” Javen said. “And it is my wish that you-” he pointed at Radegast and smiled. “ Confess .” The word had a magical undertone to it that Bob knew he had to counter. Radegast felt her tongue begin to loosen. She was ready to give it all away. “No, no, no!” Bob said, wagging his finger back and forth at Javen. “We can’t have that!” A globe of magical energy formed around Radegast’s psyche, strengthening her resolve. “I have nothing to confess to!” Varien said. “I confess!” Radegast said. “You what?” Varien blurted. “You what?” Bob said, confused. “Oh yes, I confess,” Radegast said with renewed energy and a twinkle in her eye. “I confess to plotting against Helm’s Hold, but I have seen the error of my ways. Under the watchful gaze of Helm I have seen the light!” “You what?” Varien repeated. “No you didn't! No you haven’t!” Jamie put a hand to his forehead and sighed quietly. Javen’s sneer curled even more scornfully. “You are quickly turning what could be the grounds of your exculpation into the grounds of your execution,” he said to Radegast. “Choose your next words very, very carefully.” Radegast shrank back as she was suddenly overcome with fear. Javen’s expression was terrifying in its resolve. “Look,” Varien said. “I don’t want to know what’s going on here. But if you let us go down into the dark below, we will deal with the evil plaguing Helm’s Hold and then we can come back up and you can put us on trial for whatever crime you like.” Again he began to walk towards the library’s exit. “Lord Javen,” Bob said. “Perhaps we should get others involved in this dispute. Maybe the Order of the Gauntlet or perhaps the Lord’s Alliance can help us get to the bottom of the problems we all face here.” “The Gauntlet?” Tarmikos exclaimed. “The Gauntlet would stand on a hill and watch a village burn rather than intervene to stop the arsonist! Those cowards under arrest in their pathetic chapterhouse did nothing to prevent the rise of the Prophet and her Ashmadai minions, and nearly lost Helm’s Hold forever. In fact,” he growled. “Those quivering milksops promised that they would not attempt to thwart the Gilded Eye’s efforts here, which I now see,” he pointed at Radegast, “was a bald-faced lie intended to placate me while they tiptoed around my back. But no longer!” The High Commander drew himself up to his full height. “Their chapterhouse shall be emptied, and they shall be cut off from the worship of Helm in this city for all time.” “And as for the Lord’s Alliance, they treasure power, safety, stability. We hold the line here in Helm’s Hold and provide the members of Alliance a bulwark against threatening forces to the east and south,” Tarmikos smiled. “I have their blessing to complete my work.” “Then it would appear that we are at an impasse,” Bob said. “I know I’m looking at an imp’s ass,” Radegast whispered. In the armory, Birdwen pecked at the length of cord that tied his new wooden mask to his leg. He succeeded in knocking the mask to the floor, and he bent down, flipping it with his beak so that it was right side out, and pressed his face to its face. Birdwen could feel a wave of magical enchantment course through his avian body, as the mask melded with his bird features and began to spread a covering much like bark over his body, as though it was barding. I’m armour-plated, Birdwen thought. I must share this news with my friends. Birdwen squawked and beat his wings, taking flight as Hilde dove for cover. There was the sound of metal on metal as he knocked over a rack of halberds to the stone floor. He swooped out the armory exit and wheeled through the great-room, heading in what he hoped was the right direction. He landed in a hallway next to a set of closed doors. This must be the place , he thought. He reared back, extended a talon and kicked open the doors. There was a sudden smashing sound as the library doors flew open, knocking the Gilded Eye guard sideways. The room’s occupants gaped as they took in the sight of the giant eagle standing proudly in the hallway outside the library, something like wooden armor adorning his head, breast and back. “What now?” Javen muttered. Varien turned to Jamie and spoke in Abyssal. “ Poz izh lash'ov sa vo'hahsh o acha ozh ai izh ov acha?” Jamie looked at Varien quizzically. Javen turned to Varien, a strange look on his face. “What did you say?” he hissed in Common. Varien gulped. “Oh, way, you don’t speak Abyssal? Uhh, sorry ,that language isn’t my strong suit, what I meant to say was ‘ Oo co so op seack sloum eel sop etha. ,” which when translated from Celestial meant “Me, you, him, everyone, we can all be friends, yes?” “Why are you speaking Celestial?” Jamie said. There was a sound of ringing metal as Javen Tarmikos drew his greatsword. “Whoa, whoa, I definitely do not understand what is happening here!” Varien said. Javen affected a look of regret and sighed. “I have tried to be reasonable, but it is clear that you would prefer the way of pain.” He turned to Jamie. “And as for you-” He sheathed his sword in Jamie Lysandra’s chest. The Aasimar ranger gasped as Tarmikos channelled divine energy into a smite that drove a crackling bolt of radiance deeper into his body. “A spy for the Order of the Gauntlet? Here, in my home?” Javen snarled, withdrawing the sword and striking Jamie with it, the weapon glowing with blinding radiant energy that seared Jamie’s eyes, sending the Gilded Eye agent stumbling, hands pressed to his face in agony. To his guard he shouted, “Take them!” The Gilded Eye guard got to his feet and swung his sword wildly at Varien, missing with his first strike but connecting with the second. Varien felt himself on the receiving end of a divine smite and realized he did not like it one little bit. Birdwen perked up as a door to the north of him opened up. He could see three Gilded Eye guards gaping at him before they charged towards him, weapons raised. He tried to shield himself with his wings as the blows rained down. Radegast let out a wordless shout as she unsheathed her silvered Elven shortsword. Swallowing her fear, she raced towards Tarmikos and slashed at him. Tarmikos parried her strike and the two stared at one another through their crossed swords. “You just couldn’t take a prisoner, could you?” Radegast said. “It wasn’t enough to have someone at your mercy!” “Child, your fate was sealed the moment you chose to move against the Gilded Eye and against Helm.” “Helm spits in your eye,” Radegast hissed. “Go ahead and kill me, but in this life or the next, you’re done.” There was a burst of feathers and Erwen felt himself fall to the floor, standing on his Halfling feet before the trio of Gilded Eye guards. He winced at the cuts and bruises from attacks that had made it through his barkskin armour. “What’s this?” one of the guards said, his voice full of contempt. “Was there a Halfling riding that giant eagle?” “Well, you see,” another guard said, “If the Halflings had ridden the giant eagles all the way to Mount Doom, they could have-” Erwen cast erupting earth . The building shook as the floor gave way to a churn of earth and stone that swept up the three guards in a welter of dirt clods. There was a crashing sound as the hallway’s wall was ground to flinders, a sound drowned out by Brother Vartan’s keening wail as the library’s east wall fell to ruin. As the guards tried to extricate themselves from the debris, Erwen dusted himself off, got to his feet, and wildshaped into the form of a giant boa constrictor, slithering into the exposed library as dust and plaster fell from the ceiling. “What now!?” Javen shouted, exasperated. The ceiling above the library groaned in a rather important and distressing way. Jamie straightened up and removed his hands from his eyes, revealing a burning scar that blistered across them. He coughed and spat blood. “Yes, I am a member of the Order of the Gauntlet!” He groped for his trident and brandished it. Bob grabbed him and turned him to face Javen. “Thank you, Trevelyan,” Jamie whispered. “Now, High Commander Tarmikos, you must answer for your crimes. You shame the Holy Watcher with your malevolent conduct!” He stabbed at Javen but missed. “Right!” Varien said, drawing Fiendsbane. With his shield he gave Javen a rough shove, knocking the High Commander prone. Hey, this one’s no fiend , Fiendsbane growled in Varien’s psyche. I will not waste my time. “What?” Varien said, and struck Tarmikos with two divine smites. Varien frowned even as his weapon hit home. It felt like Fiendsbane was holding back somehow. Javen growled and got to his feet, whipping his greatsword about. Varien attempted to parry, but the sword got past his defences and struck him soundly, with the echoing radiant blast of a divine smite rattling Varien’s teeth. Varien managed to duck the inquisitor’s second sword swing. Brother Vartan began to cast spiritual weapon to manifest a spectral longsword, the favoured weapon of Oghma. “No, no, no!” Bob said gleefully, wagging his finger at Vartan and doing a little dance as he counterspelled the priest’s magic. One of Javen’s paladin guards cast heroism on the High Commander, who straightened up with renewed vigour. The other guards managed to get themselves free of the rubble and charged into the library. Varien brought up his shield to block the swings of the guard attacking him. Another guard leapt into the battle, landing a stabbing attack, and a third’s swords clanged harmlessly off Varien’s shield. Radegast swung her shortsword at Javen, who parried effortlessly. She cast a healing word on Varien. Erwen-Snake slithered towards Javen and wound himself around the High Commander. “Damn it!” shouted Javen as Erwen-Snake constricted him, pulling tight around the High Commander’s armor, which squeaked in protest. Erwen-Snake stretched out his neck until he was at eye level with Javen, and proceeded to bite him on the neck. Tarmikos roared. Working his sword arm free, he stabbed at Erwen-Snake in an attempt to dislodge him. One of his guards slashed at the giant constrictor snake. Bob cast bane on Javen and the nearest Gilded Eye guards he could see.  Varien dropped Fiendsbane, using his divine light to heal himself as he did so. “Dammit, FIENDSBANE!” he shouted and drew Talon from its scabbard. Javen strained and broke Erwen-Snake’s hold on him. The snake slithered onto the floor. Brother Vartan began to cast a banishment spell on Varien. An arcane circle, glowing fiery orange, sketched itself into existence beneath Varien’s feet. “No, no, no!” Bob started triumphantly, but couldn't get the counterspell off in time. “Ha!” Vartan shouted. “What, should I be worried about this?” Varien looked down and stepped out of the way of the circle as it flared to life. Orange tendrils erupted through the void the hole made in the floor, casting about searchingly, and then slithered back into the demiplane from which they came. A Gilded Eye guard skirted around his commander and struck Radegast with his sword. Another guard attacked Bob, missing him with two swings of his sword. The third guard stabbed at Jamie, running him through. Jamie’s body stiffened and for a moment, a radiant outline like that of angelic wings blinked into existence around him. He turned to Radegast, a look of disbelief tinged with regret on his face. “Pitt, I…” he said, and then collapsed. Radegast screamed, her rage and grief echoed by a peal of thunder from outside the library. Her eyes went white with divine retribution as she lunged at Javen Tarmikos, digging her hands into his face as she cast inflict wounds. Tarmikos screamed as skin began to slough off his face. Radegast’s hands burned with necrotic energy as she twisted her fingers in and dug deeper. Erwen-Snake took the opportunity and exploited Javen’s distraction, winding his way back up the High Commander’s body and beginning to constrict. “This again?” shouted Javen. Bob knelt down beside Jamie’s fallen body and healed him. He leaned in close and whispered “Lannisters never die,” as Jamie’s eyelids fluttered open. “Get this wench and this snake off of me!” Javen shouted to his guards. One of them swung his sword at Radegast. As he connected, a lightning bolt burst through the library’s ceiling and struck the guard squarely, electricity coursing over the man’s armour as smoke curled up. Varien whispered a prayer and swung his sword at the restrained High Commander, slashing him violently with a critical strike that staggered the inquisitor. Bob’s attacker landed a heavy blow with his sword and followed up with a glancing cut. A second guard attacked Varien, striking him soundly. A third guard slashed again at Erwen-Snake in an attempt to cut him off the High Commander. The fourth guard laid on hands and healed the High Commander. ‘Enough!” Javen’s voice boomed in the confines of the library. “You dare?” he shouted at the adventurers. “You dare raise your arms against the Order of the Gilded Eye?” “Hey, you shot first,” Radegast said. Then she thought a moment. “Wait no, I shot first.” Heedless of his ruined face, Javen channelled his divinity to exude a terrifying presence that swept over the party members. Only Bob was able to keep his fear in check. Varien, Radegast, Jamie, and even Erwen-Snake found themselves unable to meet Javen’s baleful gaze. “You are hereby marked by the Order of the Gilded Eye. You will confess your sins, you will atone for your crimes, and only then will you be cleansed,” Tarmikos shouted, his voice full of righteous fury. From the roof of the Gilded Eye’s chapterhouse, a bell began to ring.