Barracker gathered that his words were felt in the war room. He acknowledged the appreciation from his friends and the kind words from Mayor Joseph Pendlebury. After the meeting concluded, his attention was met by fellow friend, High Septum Areleth with a guiding hand to the side, where the two could speak. “So this was your intent behind me joining Second Chance.”
Areleth sighed a breath. “I honestly did not anticipate it ending up like this. I only sought to follow my instincts.”
“Well, your instincts saved them all from a certain death.” Barracker retrieved the letter that he promised Hommas village elder he would deliver.
Areleth was intrigued, not just by the letter too, but Barracker’s words.. “What’s this?”
“From Hommas. I was charged with its delivery to you.” Then he expanded on the mission. “The mission they took for their first venture was Gold Ranked. Nasty business. But then a powerful agent of The Witch Queen showed up too.” He thought of Zell and this Baphomet business, but decided not to say anything. “The path they walk is fraught with danger.”
Areleth’s face was grim. He thought for a second and then took Barracker’s hand. “Thank you, my son. They may be the key to saving the world. You have done a great service to our cause.”
Barracker gave a salute, “The things I have seen from these people, it feels like the mythic age is upon us. If they are only given time and protection to grow, there is a possibility of surpassing even the council of heroes.”
The High Septum took a moment to absorb those words, stroking his chin in thought. Then he asked. “What will you do now?”
The concern on Barracker’s face was noticeable, “The orphanage…”
Areleth interrupted with a raised hand. “Everyone is safe in the Temple.”
Barracker smiled. “You have my thanks. I am in your debt.”
“It was the least I could do for you,” he replied with a smile. “I have arranged beds for all in the dormitory neighbouring your own.”
Everyone began to leave the war-room, bringing their conversation to an end. The priest and Paladin said their goodbyes, “I am glad things turned out this way, my thanks again,” and Barracker departed with Second Chance.
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Less than an hour later inside the confines of the Adventurer’s Guild, Barracker was there to receive the source com message with everyone else. His brain was frazzled in confusion and a flicker of anger in the mix. She was the cause of his vampirism. She was possibly royalty, according to the message. She seemed sure of this Summoning that Areleth suspected. This just made things in his head bring on heavy confusion, bringing on a headache. What came through the block of anger and confusion though, in his logic part, a stamp of injustice he had felt for his friends. It was not honourable or pious to take his friends from their loved ones and world. Just to make them fight someone else’s war. His feelings were cold towards this notion of The Witch Queen, this perpetrator meaning right by the group. She could have been lying about almost everything and using bits of the truth to make it sound plausible.
He had full faith in James as a leader and friend, even the rest of the party for that matter, their values and morales had shined through. Their intentions were for the greater good from what he had learned from being around them and what Zell had told them from along their journey. But then it hit, his anger again. She is the reason behind my affliction, behind that day on the plains, The vampires in her army had followed her plans, and now she is behind Valhiems siege too. So many lives lost across Mytheria. I am a vampire because of you. Barracker found it difficult to order his thoughts.
But the realisation hit him again as he looked around the room at the faces of his friends. They were stuck here. Some of them had died. They had lost their world and loved ones.
This is not about you, right now.
Barracker stuck around for a moment, to be there for his friends in their time of need. He went to his captain and clasped forearms in a warrior's embrace. “I will retire for the night,” he said, and then added a few quite words in his ear. “This may not be my place to say, captain, but their is a web of lies and truths surrounding you and our friends.” he looked James in the eye and said. “Be careful.”
Then he was off down the stairs. Before he left the guild house, he stopped by Fenna and Zell at the bar and placed a gold piece down on the counter. “ A round on me,” Barracker gave them a rub on the shoulder simultaneously, then left.
As he hit th air from outside, he sighed heavily with pity for his friend's circumstance. He would be there for them until the very end.