This was not how things were supposed to be. Neverwinter was supposed to be fine, safe, protected. The lands around it guarded by its Greycloaks and Knights. This was… Nodoka looked out through the ground floor window at the broken and overgrown courtyard. This was not what she was supposed to come home to. Ranma stood nearby watching her. She could see the concern on her temporary daughter's face.
She smiled reassuringly at Ranma who just rolled her eyes and frowned more. Her son wasn't a child to be reassured by just a smile and a few words. Well, it wasn't like she was the one needing reassurance anyway. This sort of thing was, while rather more bloody, fairly similar to what Ranma went through during a normal week.
Nodoka's gaze turned to the other young woman in the group. Nabiki was not someone used to experiencing the chaos. While she had, even while Nodoka had been with them, been at the center of the occasional odd day this was more dangerous than what she was normally involved in.
"Your Highness," Blackburn said as he stepped up beside her.
"What is it?" She asked, turning away from the two younger girls.
"With your permission, I'd like to open a portal to our old base. Agatha can bring the other two teams through in the next couple days. The reinforcements should be helpful if things go wrong. And they still don't know we found you." He said, gesturing to the quiet woman who was standing behind him silently.
Nodoka nodded. "Without knowing what we're walking into it is probably for the best." She paused and glanced over at Nabiki. "Can you do the same for Nabiki? This has gotten more dangerous than I'd prefer to bring her into." Nabiki was her responsibility since she had agreed to allow the girl to come with them.
To her disappointment, her old mentor shook his head. "I can only open one of these portals a day. A period of rest will be required before I can replicate the feat again. I'm sorry, but doing so before tomorrow morning would be difficult if not impossible." He said.
She sighed but nodded. Casting high-level magics took something out of the caster that only time could restore. "I understand." She said, frowning.
"If I may, Your Highness," Blackburn said, "Sending Agatha is far more important than sending Miss Tendo home. We can protect her for a day of walking just fine. Sending Agatha for assistance could be the difference between life and death for all of us."
"I wouldn't worry about that too much Master Blackburn," Nodoka replied with a smile that she directed to her son turned daughter. The other redhead's attention had wandered and she seemed to be looking out the door again at something in the distance. Nodoka sighed. "However, you have a point. We don't know the situation in Neverwinter and people we can count on could be in very short supply." Hopefully, nothing horrible would happen before the next day. "Send Agatha." She ordered.
Blackburn half-bowed at the waist. "As you wish." He said before leading Agatha into the middle of the room where he began to chant while pulling items out of his pouches and making gestures in the air. In moments a tear in reality formed leading to a well-appointed lounge with hardwood floors. Agatha disappeared through it and it snapped shut behind her.
"Mum?" Ranma asked.
Nodoka looked back at her. "Agatha will be informing the rest of their people what is going on. They should follow in a day or two. Hopefully." She said.
Ranma nodded before glancing at Nabiki. "Um, what about…?" She gestured to the other girl who was preoccupied avoiding the rather large, and still expanding, pool of blood that was almost blocking the front exit.
"There is a limit to the number of times Master Blackburn can use that spell in a day, unfortunately." Nodoka sighed and her daughter nodded. "Well, we should get moving." She said loudly as Blackburn walked back across the room. Formond, Mason, and Malleth stood from where they were relaxing on the stone staircase.
"Mason," Blackburn said loudly, "lead us out."
The paladin advanced on the door and, shield held up, stepped out with her eyes raking the area. "Clear." She shouted. Malleth followed her out and Ranma hopped over the blood pool as she left the room.
Taking care to avoid the pool of kobold blood Nodoka followed. Behind her, Formond and Blackburn were talking quietly about something as they skirted the pool of blood. Something, about the size of a coin purse, changed hands. The Wizard weighed it and made a comment that drew a chuckle from the dwarf before he picked up the pace.
The bright light of the afternoon was welcoming after spending the better half of an hour inside the dark and dank tower. The air was far fresher, especially since the bodies had already begun to smell… more than kobolds normally did anyway.
"Where to from here?" Mason asked as Blackburn stepped out of the tower.
"Down the hill. The road should run right by the base of the hill." He paused before pointing. "That way."
"I'll lead then," Mason said and everyone followed her out of the front gate.
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A Ranma ½ Forgotten Realms Crossover
The Crown of Neverwinter
By: Grounders10
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The Jewel of the North
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Walking for five hours was boring if you weren't used to it. It was an annoying fact of life for Ranma. She had spent entire months at a time on the road during her life. They had walked for three months on their way to Jusenkyo in China. It had been a very long walk. One that had seen them nearly arrested fifty-two times. It had made leaving China rather exciting when they finally left, even discounting Xian Pu's involvement.
Their walk from the abandoned outpost and down the road towards her mother's birth city was less exciting than travelling with her father. Less exciting, but certainly more tense. Her mother was constantly watching their surroundings as though she expected more of those creatures to jump out of the trees or fields on either side of the road. The group of adventurers had formed an escort around them. Lady Mason leading the way while Malleth and Blackburn covered the left and right respectively. Formond followed in the back, his blade sheathed and resting in his arms as he scanned the area around them.
Talk between them was short and to the point, again unlike her travels in China or around Japan with her father. While those long walks hadn't always been exactly pleasant, frequently being mixed with some insane training scheme of her father's, there had at least been conversation to help pass the time. This was just tense.
"Mum," Ranma asked as the sun dropped to what Ranma would consider mid-afternoon, "You said those were Kobolds."
Her mother spared a glance from where she was looking around them. "Yes. What about them?"
Ranma paused. "Did they have to die?" She asked. While she wasn't unused to violence there was a difference between the lunacy she was normally engaged in and the bloodbath that they had witnessed earlier. She could kill, she had before, but doing so had always been a last option sort of thing.
"Kobolds are a danger to any humans that live within several days of them," Blackburn said, taking a moment himself to look away from the field they were walking passed. "The official stance of Neverwinter is that all Kobolds within five days of a settlement are to be removed at the first opportunity. You can negotiate with them, but doing so can be difficult and there is little chance of any agreements lasting beyond the current chief. And even then we were already engaged with the creatures. Our chances of successful negotiation were essentially zero once they attacked us."
Ranma frowned but nodded. Her mother sighed. "Earth can be rather… exhausting." She said, "But it is safe. The area around Neverwinter is… was, as civilized as the north can get and yet at least once a year you will hear of a village getting attacked by ghosts, or demons, or some other unnatural force. I know Genma didn't teach you to kill, but not doing so is more of a luxury here than it was back in Japan."
Ranma sighed. "I figured that out." She said, her own eyes moving to scan the trees they were approaching on the road as the abandoned field ran out. "How common are things like Kobolds?" She asked.
"Depends on the region," Malleth spoke up from her left. The half-elf had his bow strung and ready for use, though all his arrows remained in the quiver. "Better patrolled areas rarely have Kobolds and the like, but some places don't have them because there's worse."
"Worse?" Ranma asked.
"Orcs fer one." Formond said, "Orcs, Goblins, Bugbears."
"Lizardmen, giants, trolls." Malleth continued as the dwarf muttered a variety of words Ranma suspected were quite foul in his language. "There's a lot of stuff that's a lot worse than Kobolds running around."
"But none of that is around here, right?" Nabiki asked. There was a distinct lack of reply from the adventurers.
Ranma rolled her eyes as Nabiki frowned and sent a worried look at the trees ahead. Now she was worried. Now, not earlier when they were getting attacked right away. "Nabs, it's been thirty years. Who knows what's around here." She pointed out.
"Don't call me that," Nabiki muttered in reply, but she fell silent.
"So, I can guess what a giant is, but what about the rest?" Ranma asked. The next few hours passed swiftly as the adventurers and her mother explained the many monsters and threats of the region. By the time Blackburn called a halt to make camp Nabiki was looking thoroughly uncertain for the first time in months. Whatever idea of hers that had led to her asking to come along had obviously not included dragons, trolls, or kobolds as potential issues. The amusement Ranma gained from the other girl's discomfort was, unfortunately, short-lived.
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Their campsite was in a clearing atop a small rise just off the main road. The tumbled remains of a wooden structure, possibly a watchtower, were scattered across half the clearing.
"There's a town not far from here," Formond said as he helped gather branches for the fire. "Good ale from the tavern there if I recall."
"You mean Splintwood?" Blackburn asked.
"Yeah, that place. Just another mile from here ain't it?" Formond said as he dropped his armful of sticks and branches beside Malleth who was assembling a firepit. "We'd have made it just after dark at the worst."
Ranma looked up from where she was assembling one of the tents as Blackburn sighed from where he was sitting with his familiar. "Because it's gone." He said grimly.
"What?" Ranma's mother whirled towards him from where she was pulling food out of her bag. Tins of canned food clattered back into the bag and a few rolled across the ground. Nabiki quickly grabbed them before they could roll out of sight. "We're around four hours until the City itself."
"And yet most of the town is in ruins." Blackburn replied, "Midnight flew overhead. There are a few houses still occupied on the south side, but most of the town looks like a war rolled through years ago."
Ranma drove the tent stake into the ground with her hand before standing up. "How many years ago?" She asked.
The wizard frowned, thinking hard. He lit his pipe with a flash of sparks and dragged on it. Midnight hopped off his arm and fluttered off to a nearby tree. He breathed out a plume of smoke. "Hard to say. I'm not exactly an expert of ruined villages." He said, "I'd have to put it around the same time the tower was abandoned. So at least a decade, possibly longer."
"A decade," Nodoka repeated. She swayed in place and Ranma darted over to her side. "Thank you, Ranma." She said as the younger redhead helped steady her.
Frowning, Ranma led her mother over to one of the logs and helped her sit down. She looked rattled. "Are you alright?" Ranma asked. Nodoka smiled faintly.
"I've been better." She said, "This was supposed to be a nice visit home, but now I can't help but wonder what state the city is in." Around the clearing, the others from Neverwinter shared grim looks. "We're mere hours from Neverwinter now, but even here the towns are nearly deserted. Why?"
"A question to be answered tomorrow." Blackburn said, "We'll be there by noon tomorrow. We can get answers from the King himself."
"Yes, yes, my father or my brothers can explain what happened." Nodoka massaged her forehead with one hand, seemingly trying to hide her distress.
"Assuming they're still alive." The words spilled out of Ranma's mouth before she could think to stop them. She winced as her mother inhaled sharply. That had probably not been the right thing to say. Even if it was a possibility.
"Y-yes." Nodoka exhaled sharply. "Assuming my siblings are still alive." She wiped a few tears from her eyes and Ranma privately berated herself. She didn't need to add to her mother's issues. "Ranma." She said.
"Yes?"
Nodoka took a calming breath. "Could you cook the meal? I'm afraid I'm not feeling up to it at the moment."
"Sure." It was the least she could do.
The next hour passed in grim and unpleasant silence as Ranma quickly finished setting up the tent before starting work on the meal. As the sun was setting her mother and Blackburn had once again moved to the side and were talking. Her mother looked tired and she couldn't help but wonder if she hadn't made it worse. She probably had made it worse with her comment. She scowled and sighed as she set a kettle to hang above the campfire, filled with water from a stream nearby. She had had enough of being a girl for now.
Dinner was ready as the kettle started whistling. She quickly yanked it away from the heat and set it aside to give it a few minutes to cool to a less painful temperature while she and Nabiki handed out bowls of heated and freshly spice canned soup.
"Aaaah." Formond sighed as he dipped his spoon back into the bowl for a second helping. "Perfect food for a chilly evening like tonight. I'd forgotten how cool it can get around here." He loudly slurped the soup, earning a disgusted look from Nabiki and a snort from the half-elf who was sitting on the log looking out at the forest around them, keeping what watch he could.
"Can you eat quieter?" Malleth snarked, "I'm sure if anyone finds us it'll be because they followed your ruckus."
The dwarf chuckled. "I've said it before, I'll say it again. Showing appreciation for good food comes first." He said though he did stop his loud slurping.
Ranma rolled her eyes as she tested the kettle with her palm. Long experience told her the kettle had cooled enough to be safe. She lifted it up and poured the kettle over her head. The water splashed down, soaking her hair and dampening her shirt. It was hot, not boil and blister your skin hot, but certainly hot enough that enough of it would have made a very nice bath. And definitely hot enough to undo her curse. Only…
Ranma paused as the water ran out and she looked down at her breasts, now highlighted by the clinging fabric of her shirt. With a rigid and shaky movement she set the kettle down on the folding table she had brought along. It clunked loudly.
"Ranma?" Her mother asked.
She took a deep steadying breath and sighed explosively. She was still a girl, not a guy. Her curse hadn't triggered the way it should have.
"Left the water out too long?" Nabiki snarked, "Should keep a better eye on it."
She shot the other girl a glare that saw her snap her jaws shut with a clack of teeth. "The water was hot enough," Ranma said curtly as she adjusted her soaked shirt. It would dry quickly enough, even in the chilly evening air. She turned to her mother who was looking alarmed. "It's just my curse isn't working." She said. She could feel tears of frustration gathering in her eyes, but she blinked them away, wiping those that didn't cooperate away with her fingers. Figure out why first, then complain.
Blackburn set his bowl down in the grass by his feet. He waved a hand to her. "Come, sit." He tapped the log next to him. "I'll take a look."
"I thought you needed a proper workshop?" Nodoka asked as Ranma hurried over and sat down beside the wizard.
"A proper workshop would let me leverage more ritualistic magics, but I can take a quick look. If it's obvious I might be able to do something about it." He scowled, "I should have made time to take a look back in Nerima."
Ranma sat down next to him. "What're you going to do?" She asked warily. Sure he was friendly, but magic was magic and there had never been a time when it hadn't taken an opportunity to screw with her. Like how her curse was behaving right now actually.
"Just going to take a few… feelings shall we say. Now sit still." He raised a hand to her forehead and… She felt something as he hummed, his hand moving across her body, never touching it. His other hand seemed to poke and prod at nothing, when it wasn't pulling small items from pockets or fishing through said pockets for who knew what. "Strange." He muttered.
"What?" Ranma asked, almost bumping into his hand. He gave her a warning look and she stopped moving, however she gave her best look annoyed look in exchange. It washed off him to no effect.
After what had to be at least ten minutes, during which she had eaten her own bowl of soup once he had moved on from her upper body, he leaned back with a sigh and a frown. "Well?" Ranma and her mother asked at the same time. She shot her mother a look but the older redhead was just looking at the old wizard with a very tired and worried expression... She actually seemed to be more worried than Ranma felt.
Getting locked had happened so many times; either through circumstance preventing her from getting or using hot water or via some direct manipulation of her curse like with the ladle; that she had just gotten jaded about it. She had long since stopped breaking down when it happened, especially since it never seemed to last very long before she found a cure. For her mother though… Well her mother had invested a lot in her being a guy. That stupid seppuku contract that she'd accepted had made that clear enough.
Blackburn sighed, breaking Ranma's thoughts, and he fished out a ring-bound notepad and a ballpoint pen. "Give me a couple of minutes. I found the curse, but I need a few minutes to think on this." He said as he flipped to an unused page and started scribbling things down while muttering to himself.
Ranma waited, fidgeting nervously as the Wizard went about whatever passed for 'magic studies'. This was, despite her previous assertion, rather nerve-racking. Cologne had certainly had plenty of knowledge, but the way Blackburn was quickly filling page after page of the notebook made it clear that there was a difference between someone who dabbled and a master of the arcane.
"I don't mean to rush you, Master Blackburn," Nodoka began as she leaned over his shoulder to see his work.
"However, you would like me to rush." He finished for her, sending her a glance. "You're in my light." He added.
Nodoka leaned back and Blackburn continued writing. After a few minutes, he sighed and paused in his notetaking. "This, I've never seen anything like this." He said with a tone that was at once frustrated and excited. "Most curses I've seen are one and done deals. Even those that have ongoing effects are no more complicated than conjuring fire at the end of it. This though…" He shook his head before flipping back through the pages.
"Let's start from the top. There are three parts to this curse. Most only have one. There's the transmutation itself. Very standard from what I can tell, though rather potent. It's the other two parts which I find interesting. From what I can tell the transmutation part, in your case shifting you into a girl, is intended to be permanent. Someone, at some point, decided to change that and tacked on two additional bits somehow. The bindings between these spells are incredibly complex. It'll take me weeks, maybe months to figure them all out."
He pointed to a page covered in what appeared to be equations. "The second spell is intended to suppress the first, but it is by itself too weak to do so consistently. That's where the third spell comes in. It ties the second spell, which unless I miss my guess was never intended to be used to 'suppress' merely instead it was meant to permanently counter weaker spells. Anyway, it ties the second spell to an external source of power. I can't say what that source is, however. I would need more time. However, that third spell is the issue."
Ranma stared at him for a long moment. That was the most thorough explanation of her curse she had ever received, and it had taken him maybe ten minutes to do it.
"And what is the issue?" Her mother asked before she could get her thoughts in order.
"It's tied to nothing right now," Blackburn said bluntly.
Formond scowled from his seat. "So it's got nothing powering it then?" He asked as he stood, taking his bowl over to the pot of soup.
"Exactly." Blackburn sighed. "As far as I can guess the back and forth change of the curse must be caused by turning the power of the suppression spell on and off. This curse is complex, however, and I can't say for certain I'm not missing a part of it. Right now even if you expose it to the right trigger it has no power. I've read of spells like this before and what happens when they lose their source of power."
Ranma closed her eyes and sighed. "Whatever it was is probably back home." She said with a scowl.
"More than likely." The wizard nodded. "In my readings about spell forms of this nature I discovered that it is not uncommon for them to break when crossing from one world to the next. Especially if the portal you used closes and severs the path of least resistance." He frowned. "This is entirely my fault."
Nodoka looked away from Ranma, who she had been staring at. "Master Blackburn, you didn't know there could be complications. Neither of us could." She said.
He shook his head. "I should have examined Ranma's curse the moment you brought it up." He paused, then amended his words. "Well, once we had been given lodging anyway. As a servant of the Crown, it is my responsibility to account for the strange arcane events that may occur. I failed to consider that Ranma's curse would be any more complex than any other curse I've encountered in the past." He flipped through his notes before running a hand over Ranma's forehead again.
"It's like two different sources were responsible for the curse." He said, "The first feels divine in nature. Like something, a god may have done while the other… Non-divine, more like my own skills." His frown was puzzled as he flipped through the pages of notes.
Ranma rubbed her brow with one hand. "Can you do something about it?" She asked.
"Possibly." He said, "Not get rid of it I don't think. I am a skilled Wizard, however, this magic is of a level beyond even my own skills. Fixing it, however…" He tapped the recapped pen to his chin. "It would take time to study it and I believe I would need to get some assistance from some colleagues… assuming they are alive. I could try and tie it into the weave itself for power. That connect may make it impossible for the spell to function back in your homeland, however. It is entirely possible that all you have to do is go home and the spells will begin functioning as intended once more."
"So just go home, transform, and come back?" Ranma asked. That wouldn't be too bad if it worked.
Her mother sighed and shook her head. "No." She said, "Even if it does reconnect back on earth it would still disconnect when you arrive back here and that would stop the suppression effect immediately." She scowled.
Ranma winced. "Which would lead to me turning into a girl right away." She said.
"Exactly." Nodoka scowled. "I had hoped to introduce you as my son rather than my daughter…" She sighed, "Well, I suppose I'll simply have to explain the situation then." She glanced at Blackburn who winced.
"My knowledge is at your command, your highness." He said, bowing at the waist. She nodded a stiff acceptance.
"So what now?" Ranma asked as she slid off the log to sit on the ground. This mess was draining her energy quicker than their five-hour walk.
"We wait." Blackburn said, "I cannot open a portal tonight, and even tomorrow we may need it later so opening one to test your curse would be… unwise in my opinion. Fixing it would require, as I said, weeks or months of study just to ensure I don't make the situation worse. And it may even be entirely pointless since the spells may well work when you go home."
"So, I'm stuck," Ranma said.
"For the moment." Blackburn agreed grimly.
Ranma sighed and leaned her head against the log. Some days she really hated her curse. This was one of them. Her eyes had closed again as the exhaustion from this mess took hold.
"Well…" Nodoka paused as Ranma opened a tired eye. "At least something can be done about this." She sighed, "I suppose I will just have to settle for a daughter for the moment."
Ranma blinked at her mother who seemed almost… amused? Yes, that was a very mischievous smile her mother was sending her way. Why was she smiling like that? And why did it make her so nervous?
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Ranma took the first watch. It was unusual for there to be a watch at all in her experience. Neither Japan nor China had bandits or other dangers worth setting a watch for. This world, however, was far less civilized and even this close Neverwinter setting a watch was only good sense Blackburn had said. Even if they didn't have concerns about the state of the City and its patrols.
For Ranma taking the first watch meant she had more time to wear herself out before she ventured into the realm of dreams. The more tired she was the more likely she'd just sleep through the night without having a nightmare. Getting locked for any reason always brought up her old fears. Dreams of being forced to marry Kuno or Mr. Tendo, or committing seppuku tended to crop up at times like this and their threat was enough to dissuade her from sleeping despite how tired she felt. A few hours of lost sleep would be better than an entire night's lost sleep.
So she practiced, her back to the fire as she flowed from form to form to form, all the while keeping her eyes on the trees around them. She really hoped it would stay quiet, running into a troll or something like it would just be the perfect way to capstone a shitty day.
She wasn't alone as she practiced, however. While the rest of their group had sought sleep in the pair of tents they had erected, one for the men and one for the women, Lady Mason had volunteered to share the first watch. "You can't look everywhere at once." She had said. Not that she seemed to do much looking. The older woman had taken to her knees with her sheathed blade jammed half-way into the dirt before her and begun to pray quietly. Then her hands, wrapped around the hilt of her sword, began to glow with a soft warm golden light.
Ranma had stopped to stare for a moment before eventually returning to her practice. This was a world of magic where demons, dragons, and even gods were just a fact of life. Not so different from Nerima really. Though back home tended towards Oni, Ghosts, and ancient cursed artifacts rather than Gods and Dragons.
After nearly an hour Lady Mason stopped and the soft glow faded. She sighed and sat back. "It's quiet so far." She said.
Ranma paused, her fist outstretched in the 'face' of an imaginary opponent. "Hopefully it stays that way." She said as she adjusted her shirt and wiped the sweat from her brow. "Another fight like earlier would suck." Normally she loved a good fight, but that had been a bloody slaughter not a… 'friendly' fight.
The older woman hummed quietly. "Tell me." Lady Mason asked, "Have you ever fought in a battle where your only options are life or death before?"
Ranma's thoughts went back six months to their last incident in China. Killing Saffron was not a memory she enjoyed bringing up. "I have." She admitted, "But that was when I ran out of options."
Mason nodded. "And earlier today was nothing like that." She sighed. "We told you a bit about how to recognize many of the monsters and darker races of our world today. Perhaps we should have spent a bit more time explaining Kobolds."
"We have time now," Ranma said, taking a seat on a log by the older woman.
"Some time anyway. Just make sure to keep an eye out while we talk." Mason reminded her, "Now, Kobolds are both complicated and simple. Complicated because they are sapient and like all sapient races their personalities and goals run the full gamut of possibilities. I've met an erudite Kobold who traded in knowledge. Both secret and not. I've seen a Kobold who worshipped Torm like I do, and served as his cleric in that city. On the other hand, I've seen kobolds like those we encountered today. I've seen many like those of today."
She paused for a moment, listening before shaking her head. "Anyways, while you can get scholars, priests, and merchants out of Kobolds most are like those we encountered earlier. Tribal, vicious, and predatory. Most Kobolds worship Tiamat or other dark deities. They prey on the surrounding regions looting and stealing what others make because in their blood flows that of dragons, and Dragons take what they desire." She said those last words with utter disgust. She spat on the ground and scowled. "I've seen entire villages burned to the ground by large tribes of Kobolds all because of their greed. Today's was small thankfully. I doubt they'd been there long so hopefully, we dealt with them before they could start pillaging the region."
"Not that there seems to be much left anyway," Ranma observed grimly as she turned that lecture over in her head. This world, and the other worlds that they had visited, as far less civil than Japan. While Japan had monsters, gods knew she had killed or driven off more than a few over the last few years, they were anomalies… outside of Nerima anyway. Sometimes she had to wonder if the place just had a permanent 'live in interesting times' thing going on. Anyway, while Japan had its monsters it hadn't experienced the sort of horrific slaughter by such creatures that Lady Mason was speaking of… not in centuries at least.
"No, there is not." Lady Mason agreed. "Something has happened and it worries me greatly. Neverwinter is the Jewel of the North, a city of tens of thousands whose lands stretch for over a hundred miles in all directions. It is the only source of civilization this far up the Sword Coast. If something has happened to it…" She clasped her hands together. "Oh Torm, Lord of Justice let my fears not be true."
"Who is Torm?" She asked. That had sounded like a prayer.
"You don't- of course you don't know. You are not of this world." Mason said, shaking her head. "Torm is the God of Justice, courage, and self-sacrifice. I am one of his paladins. I take his light into the darkest places of the world where the monsters dwell and justice is sparse. He grants me the strength to do so as long as I hold true to my convictions and his tenents."
"Is that related to the glowing earlier?" Ranma asked. How literal was the whole 'granting strength' thing?
"A glow can appear when praying, yes," Mason confirmed. She pulled her sheathed blade from the ground and pulled a cloth from her pack to wipe off the leather sheath. "Not always mind you, but fervent prayer can incidentally draw out my lord's power."
The older woman paused. "I was praying for the city and…" She sighed. "I am not confident about what we will find there."
"He talks to you?" Ranma asked. A god that actually spoke to their followers when they prayed? Shinto gods sent messengers, or omens when they needed to communicate. Direct contact was rare even at the best of times.
"He does." She paused in wiping down her sword. "Formond, Blackburn and even Malleth have a god or two they pray to frequently. Who do you pray to?"
Ranma frowned and leaned back. "Well… I'm Shinto. We don't really pray to one Kami above others. Though I was accidentally certified as a Miko at an Inari Temple. When I pray it's usually to them."
"A… Miko?" Mason repeated, "I'm not familiar with the term."
Right, Miko was a Shinto term only. "A Miko is a Priestess. Most are assistants at a temple or shrine who help with rituals or help clean and maintain the shrines. These days at least. Centuries ago they were far more important."
Mason nodded. "I see. I wouldn't have taken you for a religious person."
"I've spent time at a few temples here and there." Ranma shrugged.
The older woman nodded and raised an eyebrow at her. "So how does someone become a shrine priestess accidentally?" She asked.
Ranma snorted. "By not realizing you're taking the exam." She said wryly, "It's my mother's fault I wound up taking it anyway."
"Oh?" The older woman sounded intrigued.
"This old priest my mother knew called the dojo a few months ago. He needed help with running the temple while some of his assistants took some time off. He wanted mother come by and help him but…" She shrugged.
"She didn't feel like it, I assume," Mason said.
Ranma nodded. It had been rather annoying, having happened right at the start of spring break. "I was told to help out and wound up spending a bunch of time at the shrine. When the old priest who ran it found out I turned into a girl." She snorted, "He insisted I spend my time there as a girl since 'pretty girls bring in more people and more people means money for the shrine.' So I spent the next month playing the role of a Miko."
"About a week into it he asked me how I knew so much about how a Shrine of Inari functioned. I told him it wasn't the first time I'd helped out at a shrine over the years. Pops left me at a few during our trip. About once a year on average for at least two weeks. Usually no longer than three. You pick things up."
"The old man's attitude changed after that. Before he'd been a bit… he was a dirty old man. Most of the priests I've run into are for some reason." She frowned. There had to be something in the water around those shrines. "The looking type so I didn't have to break any bones at least. He got a lot more serious after I told him though. He kept showing me new rituals or having me take on new tasks. Day before his assistants would have returned was this big ritual that shrine did ever year. A celebration of a priest who was enshrined there as well."
"A priest?"
Ranma nodded. "Shinto shrines are dedicated to one Kami over all others, but others can be enshrined there as well. Minor Kami or other spirits. I can't remember why that priest had been enshrined there, but it's not that strange. The Tendo's have their mother enshrined in their Inari shrine in the Dojo." She said.
"In the-" Mason paused, thinking. "The woman in the picture on that mantle in the dojo?"
"Yes. That's Mrs. Tendo. If you'd looked close you'd see the foxes carved into the frame. Things like that aren't unusual in Shinto. You'll see it in shrines to Amaterasu, or Susano, or Tsukuyomi or others. I'm only really familiar with shrines and temples to Inari, however. I've never helped out at any of the other ones."
"So you took part in this ritual?" Mason prompted.
Ranma smiled. "Yep. He showed me what to do the day before and said I'd be leading it. There were Priests and Mikos from other shrines and temples there that day. When everything was done I was informed that I had passed the test to be a Miko. I was really, really annoyed with that old idiot." She fiddled around in her ki pocket and pulled out the certificate they had given her. She passed it to Mason who fished out a pair of glasses from her pack. She slipped them on and looked over the certificate.
"So you're a Priestess of Inari then," Mason said.
Ranma shook her head. "Nope. I'm a certified Miko sure, but I've never talked to a god or goddess. They exist too much evidence otherwise in my life. But when I pray I don't hear someone talking back to me." She may not have wanted to be a Miko, but would it have killed
someone to have replied when she prayed? At least once? At least the priests said that was normal so it wasn't too embarrassing. She sighed. "Not that anyone else seems to get a response these days."
"Your gods don't speak with you?" The Paladin asked, surprised.
"I asked the priests doing the exam. It's been decades since anyone has been able to confirm a divine response to a prayer. A vocal one anyway. Omens are common enough, but no one hears from the major Kami personally anymore."
"I see…" Lady Mason handed back Ranma's certificate and she pocketed it. "That is… I can't imagine a world where my lord wouldn't respond to my prayers." She opened her mouth to continue and paused as Ranma heard a small 'crick-snap' from within the trees.
Ranma was on her feet immediately, spinning to face the woods. Quietly she cursed herself. Her night vision was ruined because they had been facing the fire as they talked. The woods out passed the fire might as well have been swallowed by tar for all she could see. Beside her Lady Mason drew her blade, the ring of metal being drawn echoed through the clearing.
"Show yourself!" The Paladin shouted.
The bushes rustled and Ranma glanced about as her night vision slowly started to come back. It was still darker than she'd like, but the glow of the fire did a good enough job of lighting the clearing. Now that she was looking she could see three more places where the brush was moving against the wind.
"At least four spots." She whispered as the rustling stopped.
"That's two more than I spotted," Mason replied, subtly shifting her grip on her sword as she glanced about. "Check on the others, make sure nothing snuck up on them while we were talking, and get them up, go." She ordered.
"They might try and jump you while I'm getting them." Ranma pointed out.
"They will. Go."
Ranma was tempted to argue further. From what she'd seen earlier she was a better fighter than the Paladin, but that would waste time and the tents covered nearly a third of their view. If whatever was out there was hostile it was entirely possible that there were more behind the tents. If they were, well they could have very well slipped into the tents from the back.
Ranma turned and ran back towards the tent. When she did so a roar went up from the trees. She spared a glance backwards. From the bushes around the clearing over a dozen large humanoid figures charged out. Each was hulking with broad shoulders, greyish skin, and a hunched over appearance. Fangs jutted from their lower lips. They all wore furs and were brandishing mostly a mixture of two-handed weapons. Clubs, greatswords, and spears alike were brandished as the lot of them charged forward with a wordless warcry.
"ORCS!" Mason shouted, charging forward. "FOR TORM!" She bellowed, crashing shoulder first into the lead orc. The beast was knocked on its ass as the Paladin spun on her feet and brought her sword around in a swing that separated one of the other orcs from their head.
Ranma turned away and booked it for the closest tent, the one where the men were sleeping. She was half-way across the camp when there was a flash from inside and an orc came flying out of the tent, followed by Formond brandishing his sword. He plunged the blade into the orc's chest with a squelch of blood and breaking bones.
The Dwarf looked up from the twitching orc. "We got this, get ta yer mother." He shouted, catching his helmet that Malleth tossed him as the half-elf stepped out of the tent.
Ranma changed course towards Nabiki and Nodoka's tent. She hopped the fire, scattering embers in her wake. The sounds of battle rose behind her as steel met steel and the crackle of flame roared from the other tent towards the edge of the clearing. The explosion that followed was more than loud enough to wake even the deepest of sleepers. A fact confirmed by the flap of her mother's tent flying open as Nodoka strode out, wrapped in a robe and with a crystal rod clutched in her off-hand and a belt of pouches tossed over one shoulder. Without breaking stride, a single hand came up and a ray of chilling blue light leapt from it to strike a charging orc in the chest. It stumbled, clutching at the frost that covered its chest. An arrow pierced through its hand into its chest and the orc toppled to the ground with a look of disbelief.
"Ranma." Her mother nodded to her. "How many are there?" She asked.
"No idea." Ranma cast about. Mason was duelling a trio of large orcs, all of whom were trying to circle her warily while nursing injuries. Another lay dead nearby. Formond and Malleth were clearing out several more orcs who had tried to sneak around their tent. Five more were circling the fire in a sprint, their eyes locked on Ranma and her mother. One of them snarled something at them.
The rod in her mother's hand came up as Nodoka plucked a tuft of fur from one of her pouches. Words Ranma didn't recognize poured from her mother in a torrent before with a
crack-bang the world was briefly lit up by a blue-white bolt of lightning that passed through the first three orcs running towards them. Their scorched, smoldering corpses rolled to a stop beside the fire as the next two orcs stumbled to a halt in shock.
Ranma leapt the distance, crossing ten feet in an arc that terminated on the face of the first orc. It went flying across the clearing, bouncing and tumbling as it went, until it crashed heavily into a tree and disappeared into the brush. Ignoring the thoroughly dead orc, Ranma spun on her heel and planted her fist into the side of the second orc. Its arc of flight was shorter, but no less brutal as it rolled to a stop halfway to the brush.
More orcs came rushing out from behind the tents. On the far side of the camp Formond shouted something in another language and shoulder checked a pair of orcs into each other. That group was handled in moments by the dwarf and half-elf.
A trio of orcs ran out from behind the girl's tent. Nodoka reacted before Ranma could, firing a glowing blue orb into the chest of the first. The orc fell back, ice crawling across its body in moments before it crashed to the ground and shattered like glass. The two beside it roared in fury and turn on Ranma's mother. Their weapons, a crude iron sword and a steel great axe, came down at her.
They crashed down onto Ranma's open palms. The blades were dull, but even if they had been sharp the hands wielding them were far too weak to harm her. She gripped the weapons and pulled, twisting them as she yanked the orcs off their feet. She elbowed the owner of the great axe as he fell forward, bouncing him towards the ground. She kept ahold of the weapon. Letting go of the sword she struck the other orc over the back of the head with the flat of the great axe. He collapsed blood foaming from his lips.
As Ranma turned to the other orc, who was struggling to its feet with weak breath, a thin white light passed over her shoulder and caught it in the side. With a gurgle of pain the orc collapsed. Ranma glanced back at her mother. The older redhead nodded, breathing heavily as she smiled grimly.
They stood there for a moment before the silence became obvious. Ranma looked around. Formond was standing over a pile of dead orcs, as was Mason. The Paladin was surrounded by nearly as many dead orcs as there had been in the rest of the camp. Blood soaked her armour and clothes.
"Well," Malleth spoke up from where he was crouching by a dead orcs in heavy plate, "This was an exciting way to wake up."
"Barely a warm-up," Formond snorted. The dwarf fished out a cloth and began wiping down his sword. "Not the most capable orcs we've ever seen. Remember that group in Witner?"
The half-elf nodded as he pulled a small coin purse from the hip of the orc. He untied it and poked at the coins within. "Interesting. Waterdeep coinage mostly," He said, "I'm not seeing the eye on any of these- nevermind. It's on a few coppers. Rather old coins though."
"A strange thing for an orc around here to carry," Blackburn said as the old man cast about. He muttered something and made a few gestures with his hands before nodding. "That's all of them."
"Wonderful," Mason sighed, unhooking a bloodstained shoulder pad. "Tell me we have some water on hand. I need to get this blood out of my armour before it starts drying." A few chuckles rolled through her older companions.
Ranma turned away. Something was bothering her. "Where's Nabiki?" She asked.
"Here." Nabiki poked her head out of the girl's tent. "Is it safe yet?" She asked, looking down at the bodies nearby with distaste.
"Safe enough," Blackburn said as he walked across the camp.
Nabiki cautiously stepped out of the tent. She was wrapped in a sleeping bag. Her eyes kept twitching from flickering shadow to flickering shadow. "There aren't any more of those things? Right?" She asked.
"They are gone, though we'll need to see about disposing of the corpses properly," Blackburn sighed.
"We'll get on that," Formond said loudly before he patted Malleth on the shoulder. "Come on, let's get this done quickly."
"Speak for yourself," The archer sighed, but followed the dwarf's lead. They started dragging the bodies out of the campsite.
Ranma's mother hummed thoughtfully as she watched with crossed arms. She looked worried, angry, and perhaps a bit nervous. "We need to get a move on," Nodoka said at last, "We cannot stay here."
"Here should be fine for the night Your Highness," Blackburn said formally, "I doubt there is another group as large as this one around. Or even one smaller."
"It's not our safety that I am worried about," Nodoka replied, her head turning in the direction of the city. She was worried about them.
"Our presence has been missed for decades. A few more hours will make no difference, but the rest we gain could prove to be instrumental in dealing with whatever awaits us," The older wizard politely rebuffed.
The two stared at each other for a long tense moment broken only by the grunts of Formond and Malleth as they wrestled the bodies out of camp.
"Mum," Ranma spoke up. Both of them looked at her. "I'm fine to go on, and they probably are as well, but do you think Nabiki is ready for another long walk this soon?" She sent a pointed look at the other girl.
Nabiki picked up on it immediately. "Nooo, nope. My feet still hurt from earlier," She complained, dancing from foot to foot. She gave Nodoka what Ranma recognized as her best 'take pity on me' look. Ranma had grown mostly immune to the look, but her mother easily fell for it.
Nodoka's look softened. "Of course. You are right," She sighed, "We will wait for morning. For Nabiki's sake if nothing else. We'll start walking after breakfast then." She stretched. "I am going back to bed then. Blackburn, get everything cleaned up and organized for tomorrow. Staggered watch shifts." With that Nodoka guided Nabiki towards the girls' tent.
Ranma watched them go, sagging with sudden exhaustion. She looked at the nearby dead bodies. There was a smell in the air now, a foul cloying reek that raked the nose and turned the stomach. It made her feel queasy.
"Ranma," Ranma looked up from the bodies to see Blackburn standing before her. "Are you alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine," Ranma waved him off, "Just tired."
The old wizard nodded. "Then perhaps it is time for you to get to sleep," He nodded to the tent her mother and Nabiki had gone into. "We will take the rest of the shifts for tonight."
Ranma nodded and turned for the girls' tent, which her mother had insisted on her using after the situation with her curse came to light. "Good night then," She yawned.
"Good night Princess."
The words were so quiet it took a moment for Ranma to process them and when she did, she stopped and turned back to the old wizard with a protest on her lips. It died as she spotted him already across the camp debating something with Mason who was stripping off her armour's outer plates. She watched them for a minute. A strange, unwelcome weight seemed to drop into her stomach. 'Princess'. Her mother was a princess. Assuming she had not been disowned.
Over the last few days, she hadn't bothered to give the topic much thought, instead electing to help her mother pack. Going to visit family she had never known about seemed like a great adventure. A, hopefully, nice change of pace from the frantic madness of Nerima. It had also done an excellent job of burying the implications of what her mother being royalty meant for her.
And now she was, for the moment, stuck as a girl. Temporarily of course, hopefully. Everything they had encountered so far made it clear that nothing was good or fine with Neverwinter. The area around it, which should have been safe, was not. In the absolute worst case…
Ranma turned away and started her walk to the tent. In the worst possible situation, their family here was dead. That left Ranma's mother as the next in line, in theory. Which… which… Did that mean Ranma was, herself, now the heir?
As she ducked into the tent she shivered. The night's air was not cold.
-0-0-0-0-0-
Their party could not get moving fast enough for Nodoka's tastes the next morning. It was not that there were delays, or that things had gone wrong. Merely, instead, that Nodoka was herself feeling rather anxious. Like a student heading in knowing the big test was that day, or a soldier waiting for the battle to start. It was the sort of anxiousness that ate at your energy and haunted your sleep.
So it was that some thirty minutes after sunrise, their party hit the road to Neverwinter. Her home. More than the house she had lived in while waiting on Genma. More than any of the many realms she had passed through during her run away. Neverwinter was her home, and the thought of it being in trouble was terrifying in an indescribable way. It was that same fear which had sent her running away in the first place.
It was a much more sombre group who walked down the road that morning. Lady Mason led the way down the dirt road, her head twisting from side to side as she scanned the brush on either side of the road. Malleth had gone ahead of them while Formond insisted on bringing up the rear of their group. Nabiki was, understandably, hanging close to Ranma. Her temporary daughter was a familiar pillar of protection to the middle Tendo. It was why Nodoka herself was hanging by the younger redhead.
The chatter and discussion of the day before was entirely absent leaving them to march under a blanket of silence. Paranoid eyes raked trees and overgrown bushes that intruded on what should have been a well-tread dirt road. The roads for a hundred miles around Neverwinter should have been clear of obstruction. Maintained and patrolled by the Greycloaks at all times of the year. That they, within hours of Neverwinter, were finding trees and bushes growing out of the roadway… It was disturbing how flourishing trees could speak so easily of a decaying kingdom.
Teeth clenched, Nodoka walked past the bushes, her hands checking the pouches of spell materials that she had put on the night before. They hung from her hips by a belt she hadn't worn since she arrived in Japan. It had been a surprise that it still fit her at all. Everything was secure, just as it had been the last five times she checked. She stifled a nervous sigh. Every step closer to Neverwinter seemed longer than the last. Anxiety was eating at her mind. Was her father safe? Were her siblings?
Even as weighed down upon by worry as she was, they quickly reached the end of what had once been well-tended fields. Trees stretched far off to either side and the path led beneath the canopy.
Malleth was waiting for them by the trees. He waved as they came into sight. "About time," He said as they joined him. "Splintwood is another five minutes in. It's safe by the looks, but the place is… It's a mess, Your highness," He directed to Nodoka.
She nodded. "Blackburn said as much," She said, doing her best to not appear too worked up. She had to wonder how well she was succeeding given the worried glances Ranma kept sending her.
"Is it safe enough to traverse?" Blackburn asked. His voice was as stiff and tense as she felt. Worry for the city no doubt.
"Enough I'd say. No idea who you saw last night, but the place is deserted as far as I can tell," Malleth replied.
Blackburn nodded and turned to her. "Splintwood is the quickest way into town. I had hoped to get news from the people I saw last night, but I suppose we shall simply have to pass through quickly."
"Then lead the way," Nodoka ordered. Malleth saluted then turned and led the way.
As the group followed Blackburn slid up beside her. "I know there were people there last night, something strange may be going on in this town," He told her.
"Something to worry about later. The city first, then the towns around it," Nodoka whispered back. The older wizard nodded and stepped forward, taking a place in front of Nodoka and Ranma. It was, perhaps, a bit cold to not investigate whatever was wrong with the town, but the City and her family took precedence. Still, she had to wonder what had happened. Depopulated towns, abandoned guard towers, a complete lack of patrols or road maintenance. What had happened? Were they going to find that Neverwinter had joined Myth Drannor in the annals of history?
A chill seeped into her spine and refused to leave as they reached the edge of the town.
The first building was a half-collapsed ruin overrun with ivy, grass, and a single tree poking up through what had been the roof. Nodoka's eyes never left it as they passed. Then, past a thin copse of trees, they reached the next structure. It had once been a smithy if the rotting sign hanging from one rusted chain by the frame of what had been the front door was to be trusted. The rest was gone. A ruin overrun by shrubbery and grass.
Even as the road passed from dirt to cobbled stone things did not improve by much. Buildings were missing, or half-toppled. Grass and ivy covered everything in a leafy-green blanket that appeared to be trying to swallow history one inch at a time.
Eventually, they reached a large square at a crossroads. Surrounded on all sides by fallen buildings the small garden that surrounded a silent fountain in the center was overgrown. She paused by the fountain, bringing the entire group to a halt.
"Mum?" Ranma asked, stepping up beside her. She looked away from the wrecked fountain to the younger redhead.
"This place isn't as safe as I was expecting," She said after a moment of silence. The words felt heavy, leaving her lips with the greatest of effort.
"We'll be fine," Her daughter, for the moment, said. Her hand came to rest on Nodoka's upper arm.
Nodoka smiled and patted her daughter on the hand. They would be fine. Blackburn and his people would be fine. Regardless of what they encountered they would probably, be fine. Except for one of them. She turned back to the rest. "Blackburn, are you able to open another portal?" She asked.
Her old teacher looked up from where he was examining what had been a large stone pot. He let the small fragments in his hand fall back to the ground as he turned to her. "I can, though I would ask why, Your Highness."
"Nabiki will be heading home," Nodoka said firmly.
"What?" The middle Tendo spoke up, "Why?"
"I'd say it might have something to do with the orcs and kobolds we've been running into, girl," Formond said, nodding approvingly. He patted her on the shoulder. "This is no place for a lass like you to be."
Nabiki pulled away from the dwarf and stepped forward. She tugged nervously at the conspicuous blue and yellow jacket she was wearing. Oh, why had she let the girl bring something that stood out so much? "I'm not in any more danger here than in Nerima," Nabiki protested, crossing her arms.
"Normally people aren't trying to kill you Nabiki," Ranma replied first, "Sure they come for me, but no one goes after you first."
"And they still aren't trying to kill me more than you," The brunette snapped, "This is general danger. I've been in more danger when Happosai gets into a snit then I've been since we got here." Ranma grimaced and then silently nodded.
Nodoka shook her head. "We are a three-hour walk from Neverwinter," She said, "Look around you. This town was home to several thousand people. It reached that level because Neverwinter could protect it. This town is gone and has been for years Nabiki." Tears began to gather in Nodoka's eyes. She looked away and took a deep breath to steady herself. The group and Nabiki remained quiet as she had a moment.
"We are not going to get a happy welcome," The words seemed to break something inside her as she said them. "Neverwinter… I…" Ranma's hand came to rest on her arm again. She took it with one of her own. "We are going into danger. This, this is not a vacation anymore Nabiki. Dear, please understand. This is not safe for you."
"Of course it isn't safe. I knew this wasn't going to be safe the moment magic came up," The middle Tendo all but snapped. The girl who was not quite a grown woman seemed to puff up indignantly. Beside Nodoka, Ranma frowned, her head tilting to the side in thought. "Back home magic has caused nothing but problems. A world full of it? I'm surprised we aren't all ducks yet."
Ranma snorted. "Like you didn't start looking at it for opp...ortuniteee?" Ranma trailed off, drawing out the last syllable of the world in a contemplative tone.
"Ranma?" Nodoka prodded her child. Concern bubbled at what might be bothering her.
"I…" Ranma frowned at Nabiki. The other girl took a step back as the expression of disapproval on Ranma's face. "Nabiki," She growled, "Are you here to learn magic?"
Nabiki scowled back. "And if I am?" She asked, not even denying it. Nodoka watched as Blackburn rested his forehead on the end of his staff with a sigh and a chuckle.
Nodoka closed her own eyes and counted silently to three and her daughter and Nabiki started arguing. After counting to ten she opened her eyes. "Enough," She snapped. Ranma quieted instantly, turning to look at her in surprise as Nabiki just crossed her arms again.
Nodoka took a deep breath. So Nabiki wanted to learn magic, did she? Part of her was offended that Nabiki had lied about wanting to see Neverwinter. Or perhaps she had been truthful in that. It was hard to say for certain, but… Nodoka's eyes met Blackburn's and the older wizard frowned before nodding once. She raised an eyebrow. The old man's hand around the staff pointed one finger at Nabiki's back then held out two fingers. A second chance then.
So Nabiki wanted to learn magic? Fine. Hopefully, this wouldn't give Soun cause to get mad at her.
"Learning magic is dangerous," Nodoka said with more calm than she was feeling at that moment, "But you have the sense to realize that, even if you seem to lack the sense to simply ask rather than lurk for an opportunity." Perhaps she was showing less calm than she thought, however, at least the middle Tendo flinched at her disapproval. That was good, her words did have an effect on the girl.
"Mum?" Ranma asked. She ignored the younger redhead except for softly squeezing the hand she held.
"Blackburn, see if she has any talent," Nodoka ordered. She would trust Blackburn's judgement on this matter.
"Not a good idea," Ranma muttered beside her. It probably wasn't.
"Thank you-" Nabiki began.
"Do not thank her yet Miss Tendo," Blackburn interrupted, stepping forward. "This path you seem to wish to walk is not an easy one." He looked to Nodoka and bowed, "Your Highness I will do as you ask and evaluate Miss Tendo to see if she has any talent for the arcane. However, this is neither the time nor the place to do so. If I am not opening a portal to send Miss Tendo away then I suggest we leave the town before whatever might be here notices us."
Nodoka considered the young Tendo. The young woman shifted nervously. She could just send Nabiki away anyway. Even if the girl wanted to learn magic she was still under Nodoka's care right now. Still, to learn magic required an understanding of the risks that came from simply practicing… "No, she will stay with us for now," She voiced her decision and noted the frown from Ranma. They would have to talk later.
"As you command. Shall we get moving again?" Blackburn asked. She nodded. "Malleth, the way if you would."
"This way," The half-elf took the lead as they started walking. Nodoka, looked back one last time as they left the plaza. For a brief moment, it seemed as though shadows flickered around the fountain. Strange.
The road continued to be cobbled stone even as they left the town and meandered their way through the forest. The trees eventually gave way to overgrown fields of tall grasses and bushes. The walk was both easier, due to the cobbled road and harder. Also due to the road. Over a decade without maintenance had left the road in very poor condition and small stones constantly tried to trip them up.
She spotted Ranma catching Nabiki as she tripped at least twice.
They passed ruined farmsteads and homes until, eventually, the road began to tilt upwards. They were climbing a hill. The hill. The last hill before the city. The hill was not tall, but this side of it was long and not very steep. Climbing the hill took nearly an hour, but eventually, Nodoka saw Malleth crest the ridge that overlooked Neverwinter and stop. The half-elf turned back to them, who were still a hundred meters behind, and shook his head before kneeling and fishing out a telescope.
Despite herself, she felt her heart drop. No, please no…
She pushed herself, passing Ranma and Nabiki with long strides. Her heart was beating loudly as she passed Blackburn. She ignored the worried look the old man sent her. The road rolled forward, cresting the ridge with her as she broke into a sprint for the last few feet and then…
And then it layout across the plains. Neverwinter, her home. Neverwinter, the Jewel of the North. Neverwinter, a Metropolis and home to tens of tens of thousands. Neverwinter…
The Hill overlooked the northern side of the city and gave a magnificent overlook of the city. From it, she could see past the walls. She could see the Castle above the northern district of Blacklake. She could see the cloaktower in the east of the Merchant District along the walls, and the cemeteries along the south. The three bridges were clear as day where they crossed the river that split the city into north and south. And the docks district in the southwest along the water…
She could see it all. Her home, and yet… It was broken.
The walls still stood, their fastness holding against time and whatever had befallen the city. The castle was missing towers and their crumbled remnants clawed at the sky like a tortured hand. The merchant district on the north side seemed to be missing entire blocks. Blacklake, and the lake it was named after, seemed to be in ruins with the rich mansions and shopping centres laying in pieces. Not everything there was broken, but the lake seemed to have turned darker than she remembered it. An enormous chasm cut through the southern merchant district and everything beyond the enormous temple of Oghma, God of Knowledge, was simply missing. No homes. No shops. Nothing. Just a field of ruin running from the Temple and graveyards all the way to the eastern wall.
The one and only bright spot was the Docks District. Formerly the blight upon the city, whatever had hit Neverwinter seemed to have been a blessing for the former slum and trade center. Plenty of new construction surrounded the glittering dome of the Temple of Torm from townhouses to shops, to taverns and warehouses.
The City had been broken, but it wasn't quite dead.
Her knees gave way and she fell to the cobbled stonework as tears forced themselves upon her. "MUM!" She heard Ranma shout, followed by the pattering of her daughter's soft shoes on the cobbled stone. A moment later Ranma was kneeling by her side.
"Are you okay?" Ranma asked, hovering worriedly.
"I-" She sniffed and wiped her nose. "I had hoped- hoped I was just being hyperbolic." A sob wrenched itself out of her throat and she covered her mouth with one hand. "I never… I never wanted to come back to
this."
"None of us did," Blackburn said softly, kneeling beside her. "Princess, we are here with you. I spent decades looking for you. I am not about to abandon you here, at the gates of our home."
She looked up at Blackburn and smiled through the occasional sob that wracked her. "Thank you," She said softly.
Lady Mason knelt down beside her and fished out a telescope from her bags. "If you wish to see Your Highness," She offered the telescope. Nodoka accepted it with a nod.
"What are we looking at Malleth?" Blackburn turned to his scout who was looking through his own telescope.
"Bad, bad, bad, and something that might be good, might be bad," The scout replied.
"Well don't keep us in suspense," Formond grumbled, stepping up beside the half-elf.
"Well bad: I can see monsters crawling out of that chasm in the south merchant district," Malleth said. A Nodoka raised the spyglass to her eye the half-elf added, "Really disgusting looking to. Might not want to look if you're feeling off."
Nodoka turned the telescope to the south merchant district anyway. A blue glow, nearly invisible with the distance, emanated from the crack that ran nearly half the length of the city. Creatures, some humanoid and some not, crawled from the chasm towards a wall that ran between the Temple of Oghma and the cemeteries. She didn't remember that wall from her childhood.
"I see them," Blackburn acknowledged, "There's a strange blue fire clinging to some of them. Odd. What else?"
"The Cloaktower has movement," Malleth continued, "Can't tell who it is, but they're humanoid."
Nodoka swung the telescope around to stare at the famous guildhall of Neverwinter's mages. The tower had seen better days, just like the rest of the city, but it was standing intact. So was the curtain wall around it. Nothing was visible beyond the curtain wall, but humanoid figures could be seen moving in the windows.
Blackburn tisked and frowned. "Orcs, I recognize the silhouette," He said, though Nodoka couldn't make out the shapes enough to tell if his thought was correct.
"Orcs? In Neverwinter?" Formond exclaimed, "That's not possible."
"Well, it is now," Malleth sighed, "One of them just stopped by a window. Third floor, bottom left." Nodoka quickly spotted the beast in question. Its hulking form loomed in the window of the tower.
"Mum can I?" Ranma asked and she relinquished the telescope to her daughter. The younger redhead stared through it at the tower with a curious expression that Nodoka couldn't quite place.
"We'll get them out of there as soon as possible I hope," Blackburn muttered, "Next Malleth."
The half-elf removed his telescope from his eye and scanned the city for a moment before raising it. "Well, on the obvious side I should point out that the castle does not look inhabited at the moment. Can't see into the courtyard too well from here, but if this took place as far back as the rest of what we've passed, then it's been empty for a while."
Nodoka closed her eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks in rivets. Her family… they were more than likely gone. None of them, or her, would have stood by and let the castle stay in this condition.
None of them.
"Something looks wrong with the lake," Ranma said.
"Wro- oh," The scout trailed off as he turned the telescope. "By the gods, the lake is a disaster. The place looks like a tarpit. I'm being serious. That water looks like sludge."
"Damn mess it is," Blackburn agreed, "Anything else?"
"Yeah," Malleth lowered his telescope and turned to Nodoka. "There's a banner flying over the Temple of Torm. I don't recognize it."
"Ranma," Nodoka held out her hand and Ranma returned the telescope, "Thank you." Raising it to her eye she pointed it towards the Temple of Torm. Hanging from the tallest point was a banner of a lidless eye surrounded by a sparkling flame. She frowned. Who did that banner belong to?
"Well now," Blackburn lowered his telescope, "That could prove to be either helpful or really bad."
"Do you recognize it?" Nodoka asked, her own memory failing to provide an answer.
"It is, I believe, that of a cousin of yours Your Highness. Brand Neverember. Somewhat distant by blood, but a native of Waterdeep," Blackburn replied. He fiddled with his telescope before raising it again, "But I can't imagine what his banner would be doing here… Especially since he would be in his sixties or even seventies by now."
"I'd say its rather obvious," Nabiki said as she found a seat on a rock by the side of the road. "He's here to claim his inheritance."
"Or what he believes is his," Malleth added.
"Please keep the speculation down a bit," Blackburn reprimanded, "We don't know the situation in the city at the moment. Right, Princess," Nodoka looked up at him. The old wizard's brow was furrowed in thought. "I would recommend entering quietly. If your Cousin is honourable he should be willing to help, but if he isn't… I don't know him well enough to know either way."
Nodoka nodded, "And none of my siblings' banners are flying anywhere?" She asked.
"I'm seeing nothing Princess," Malleth confirmed.
No banners. No Family. More tears bubbled to the surface, spilling down her cheeks. "Right," She said wetly as she went to stand up. Ranma helped her up. She nodded to her temporary daughter thankfully. "Right, we…" She closed her eyes and blocked out the sight of the city.
This was not what she had expected to find.
This was not what she wanted to find.
This was what she had been trained for.
She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and stared out over her family's city. Her broken, battered, and ravaged city. "Blackburn."
"Yes, Your Highness?" He responded.
"Find us a way in without alerting anyone." She needed to know what was wrong, and then…
Then she would have to fix it. This was Neverwinter, home of House Alagondar, and she was very likely the last Alagondar. Her duty was clear.
"Well," She said softly enough only Ranma might have heard her. "I was getting homesick anyway." It was probably going to be a long time before she saw her husband again. Looking down at the curious face of her son turned daughter she found it hard to care. Duty came first. Duty and Family.
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A/N: The very long-awaited chapter two of the Crown of Neverwinter. They have reached Neverwinter. Next chapter we see it up close and personal. This chapter has been in the works for a little too long. *sheepish kitsune* and so it is this months end of month chapter by Editorial Request. *Really Sheepish Kitsune*
A thank you to
@Gekkou_Yoko for her help with proofreading.
Further thanks to my Patreons for their support. ^^ *Happy Kitsune*
And if anyone wants to join us talking about things, yes things, maybe including these stories, you can find the link to my discord in the description~
