THE SIN LORDS ARE BACK IN TOWN

After a couple days of travel, the gang makes it back to the town of Llyne.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Our first order of business is to return the boy we captured from the village to the king and await further instructions. While we are in town, please refrain from getting into further trouble. We caused enough beating up half a village and the news has surely reached the king by now. As long as we lie low, the heat should die down and allow us to—"

As he turns around to continue to address his party, he notices only four of his members remain with him. Gula rocks on his feet anxiously, Invidia listens on eagerly, and Iras is staring at the sky. Desidia is sound asleep on Superbia’s back.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Where are the others?"

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Probably doing the opposite of what you just said."

FIGHTER, INVIDIA
"I think they went to the bar. That’s always a good bet."

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
*sighs* "No surprises there. Then why are you still here, Iras?"

WARLOCK, IRAS
"I haven’t decided yet if me being with you would irritate you more or not."

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Delightful. We will press on and catch up with them later than."

The remaining tieflings march through the town center towards the castle where the king resides. The townsfolk throw side eyes and hushed whispers their way as they proceed. Others inspect their pockets and run inside buildings. Tieflings are not a rare sight, but this many, and this group in particular, certainly are.

The group enters into the grand hall of the castle. Red carpets, polished marble flooring, and royal insignias drape from rafters. The hall is empty, save for a few guards posted at each pillar. The tieflings' footsteps echo as they approach a white throne upon which sits the High King Velimar. An advisor whispers in his ear. The king’s face does little to hide the truth of bad news. At the foot of the throne, Superbia falls to one knee. Invidia undoes her bindings, putting the captive down, and imitates Superbia. Gula shakes in place, bowing his head and supporting himself against his staff, studying the decor. Iras offers a nod, his highest indication of respect.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Your grace, High King Velimar, in your revered holiness, we have returned successfully from our mission having secured the target."

High King Velimar waves away his advisor and sits upright on his throne.

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"Successfully? Perhaps. That much is apparent. But from what I’ve been told, it was not without its… complications. However, I am not one for rumor or hearsay, but the fact of the matter remains; you have returned with the boy. That much I am grateful for. May he be unbound so I can see his face?"

Velimar rises from his throne gesturing to the boy. Invidia jumps to her feet, grabs a dagger, and cuts the gags about his eyes and mouth, leaving him tied to the chair. The boy gasps for air as he looks around, inspecting his environment. He meets the king's gaze, speechless, and unable to make an appropriate gesture. Once gathered, he begins to plead his case.

ORAM
"My King, your Highness, these Devils kidnapped me from my home, attacked the ones trying to rescue me, and destroyed our inn. Please free me from my captives! I beg you! These monsters are not to be—"

The king raises a hand to cut him off. He eyes the boy softly and in a gentle tone explains.

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"I know, my son. I am the one that sent them to, forgive me for lack of a better term, retrieve you. There is much I need to explain to you. I will do so in greater detail later when you are cleaned, fed, and rested. But for now, hear me. I know of your mother and how she was killed in a raid some years ago. We wished it hadn’t come to this."

ORAM (Confused)
"What are you saying?"

In frustration, he begins to fight against his restraints.

ORAM
"How do you know my mother? What right do you have to speak of her! Release me! I want to go home!"

With a great attempt, the king holds back tears and steadies his voice.

HIGH KING VELIMAR (Shakily)
"You are home, son. There’s no easy way to put this, but I am your father."

ORAM
"No! Mother said my father was a great man who died protecting us when I was younger. A great man who wouldn’t leave his family!"

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"We were young, dumb, and in love. She wanted you to have a normal life, and I wanted her to be happy. She made me promise that if anything were to happen to her I would find you and protect you."

ORAM
"Protect? Protect!? Where was your protection when raiders fell upon our homes, burned our fields, and killed her in cold blood? Where were you then!?"

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"Listen to me, boy! The news of her death was hard on me as well. But I could only do so much from my position without drawing her unwanted attention. I did my best for her. For the both of you. But clearly it wasn’t enough. That weighs heavy on my heart as a King, as a father, and a lover."

Velimar suddenly remembers his place and fixes his posture. Signaling over a group of guards, they begin to remove the rest of the boy's restraints and lead him out of the room. Shouting and fighting follow as the guards move him out of the room.

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"We will continue this conversation later. Now, as for the rest of you."

Superbia stands at attention with the dignity of a soldier. Gula scribbles vigorously within his notebook. Iras, wide eyed, is munching on a bag of dry snacks. Invidia smiles to herself, contemplating what had just occurred.

FIGHTER, INVIDIA
"I head-butted a prince? Awesome!"

WARLOCK, IRAS
*crunching* "Damn. Libi missed this for some ass? He’s gonna be so pissed. We kidnapped a prince! Nobody tell him."

Velimar shakes his head and returns to his throne before addressing the tieflings once more.

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"Yes, yes. Royal bloodlines, politics and such, you know how it goes. As for your reward, I haven’t much substantially pertaining to your request. These Seals you speak of were unknown to my scholars, but I believe I have a lead for you."

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Any information you can bestow unto us will be of great use, my king."

HIGH KING VELIMAR (Pondering)
"It’s odd; you bunch. Most other tieflings relinquish information about their patrons or infernal objectives quite fondly. But you lot seem to be shrouded in mystery. If you could pardon me; I had my scholars research what they could about you and your patron, but much like these Seals, they came up empty-handed."

WIZARD, GULA
"We hail from a lesser known sect of hell. We are here, simply, to alleviate such mysteries. To spread our influence, if you will."

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"Is that so? I will be sure our libraries are the first to record your deeds then, for better or worse. Regarding that; my lead tells me of a better source of information that may contain the knowledge of these Seals you are looking for. However, their exact location is one heavily guarded, as all great houses of knowledge. And the extraction of such will not be easy. It is The Halls of Illium that hold what you seek."

FIGHTER, INVIDIA
"Can I fight it?"

WIZARD, GULA
"No, Invidia. The Halls of Illium is a highly prestigious museum housing this land’s greatest libraries. And I presume, your highness, your contacts say they hold the information of the Seals within the library's greater vaults?"

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"Precisely. But to even attend such a grand affair would require a greater effort than beating up homesteaders."

Iras and Invidia smile at each other.

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Unlikely."

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"I fear this information alone is not a proper reward. To grant you the greatest assistance I can, I will absolve you of any recent crimes… for now. Furthermore, I will instruct my court to procure an invitation to the Halls’ recent upcoming event."

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"You honor us, my king."

HIGH KING VELIMAR
"However, this will take me some time to conclude. Meanwhile, I ask of you and your party to grant me one last favor. According to my reports, the inn you trashed was, in fact, a den of a drug distributing criminal organization. I am a king that does not deprive his people of their wills, but, nonetheless, does look out for their wellbeing. I will not persecute the users of such habits but will instead seek the ones that intend to poison my citizens. Return to the village and bring justice to those I have deemed deserving. I have some suspicion they are also responsible for the raid that took my son’s mother from him."

The tieflings give salutes in their varied fashions.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Yes, my king. We will bring honor and justice to these criminals. In the name of your holiness."

The tieflings are dismissed with their new objective and begin the search for the remainder of their group.

The Beaver is bound in thunderous comradery. People are drinking, singing, sleeping, and losing more than they came in with. The Beaver is known throughout the town to cater to the lowest of characters. After most run their luck or overstay their welcome in the other inns, The Beaver is there to offer a place to spend their few remaining coins. The owner, Rob, isn’t one to turn down a quick copper, no matter the customer’s credit. Hiding in the recesses of the town's shadier alleys, it provides a safe retreat for those with nowhere else to go. Unless The Beaver is exactly where you want to be.

Avaritias and Libidine escaped their main party together with the same intention: to have a little fun while the rest of them took care of business. Weaving their way into the inn and around the crowds of attendees, they make their way to the innkeeper to pay their respects.

BARD, LIBIDINE
"How’s business, Rob?"

Libidine pulls out a stool, rests his back on the bar, and speaks over his shoulders. Avaritias joins his companion and places a handful of coppers on the bar in exchange for a round of drinks. He scans the crowd in search of his next score.

ROB
"Business is going well. Those who come down on hard times come down to The Beaver, and the way things have been within the kingdom, it seems hard times never end. Can I expect the rest of your pact to be joining you?"

BARD, LIBIDINE (Teasingly)
"Why? Is our business not enough? I thought you loved me, Rob."

ROB
"Hahaha. I’d tell you to shove it, but I can’t stand to hear you ask where again. No, no. You’re always welcome. It’s just when the entire gang’s here it seems to drum up a bit more business, for better or worse."

Avaritias spots potential customers. A group of shady characters huddled around a table throwing dice. Gambling, Avaritias preferred sport.

ROUGE, AVARITIAS
"Who are they? They got money?"

ROB
"Them? Nothing but some local thugs. Made a quick coin on an easy score. Now they think they’re high rollers."

Before Rob could finish, Avaritias is jumping off the stool, heading for them.

BARD, LIBIDINE
"Well, Keep, you helped him find his people. Think you can give me a hand?"

Libidine gives Rob a cheeky wink. Rob stares at him unamused.

BARD, LIBIDINE
"How about a little tip?"

Now propped upon his elbows, batting eyelashes affectionately. Not willing to submit to more, Rob nods towards the stairs.

BARD, LIBIDINE
"Thanks, love. And, uh, here’s a little extra. Consider it the cleaning fee."

He tosses a few coins into an empty mug. Rob examines the coins and mug with disdain, contemplating the origins of the coins. Libidine approaches a group with warm welcomes, seemingly friends of his, and they ascend the stairs to dank rooms.

BARD, LIBIDINE (To the reader)
"You might not want to be here for this, kids. Better go spend some time with your Uncle Avar."

With a chuckle, he enters a room with a menage of races and slams the door.

Avaritias pulls up a chair to the table surrounded by thugs. They eye their new mate with reservation before he pulls back his hood.

GOON #1
"Well, well, well. If it isn't our Devil Dog’s resident rat! Here to claim our reward for a hard day’s work. Or at least he thinks."

The thugs erupt into laughter. As it dies down, the first thug slams a cup in front of Avaritias, lifting it to reveal a set of dice. Avaritias takes them in one hand and throws an ante on the table with the other.

ROUGE, AVARITIAS
"I hear you boys like easy scores. After I take what lunch money you have left, you might be looking for more work."

He throws his hand and begins counting his score. A good lead. The smiles on the thugs' faces begin to fade as his premonition seeks truth in one roll.

GOON #2
"What? You some kinda crime lord now? Think you can just hire on anyone to do your dirty laundry?"

The thug's smugness withers as his roll results in a negligible score and harassment from his companions.

ROUGE, AVARITIAS
"I do have a habit of… collecting, despite this town not having a proper fence, I must admit. But I’m not looking to thrift off lost belongings to you. I’ve come across something greater. Something a little too hot and out of my repertoire. But for you youngin’s, I believe, should make for a delightful payday."

A couple of hands continue around the table until the dice come back to Avaritias. He takes his turn and notices the faces at the table becoming a little more eager to listen. The rounds continue. As not to lose his potential partners, he signals an attending barmaid and orders a round for the table. An investment, he thinks. Keep them baited.

ROUGE, AVARITIAS
"I have a few packs of what my partner called Krystaal."

The thugs' heads perk up at the name and they look at each other with ferment. Avaritias pulls a package from his bag and throws it on the table. The first thug reaches for a knife to examine the package. Puncturing the wrap with the tip, he observes the powder. First rubbing it between his fingers, he then brings the knife to his nose and inhales deeply.

GOON #1
"Oooooh. That’s good. Where’d you get it?"

He asks Avaritias with a cool collection as the rest of his group panic about the money they are about to lose. Avaritias was never good with people or words, not as good as Libidine, but this was his realm. He can not show signs of weakness.

ROUGE, AVARITIAS
"I… found it? Made it? Does it matter? I have more where that came from and just by the dilation in your eyes, I can tell it’ll sell like candy. Given you and your friends don’t use it all."

He reaches over the table and begins gathering his winnings to exasperation and disgruntled mumblings from around the table.

ROGUE, AVARITIAS
"Now, seeing as I might have won the allowance your mothers have given you for the week, I'm willing to front it to you. In good faith, of course. I will be back for the rest once you’ve sold it off. I’m not usually this friendly with newbies, but I can be—"

GOON #1
"You must be stupid. You see—"

The thug interrupts Avaritias, twirling his knife in one hand and examining the package in the other.

GOON #1
"There’s only one group that makes and distributes Krystaal in these parts. And they have a tight control over who makes money off of it, let alone who sells it. We happen to be employed by that very group. Now, if we were to… inform our boss that some grubby tiefling happened to get his hands on such a large amount of his product and is trying to resell it? Without paying a proper tribute? Well, that does not look good on your part."

Avaritias’ blood runs cold. Sweat begins to bead on his forehead. Alone and outnumbered; his games have gotten him into trouble. He glances around the room, looking to make a run for it, but the floor is crowded, too crowded to make a dash for the exit. He looks towards the rooms above, remembering Libidine, concerned of the trouble he brought. The thugs get up, pushing back their chairs and brandishing weapons. Before Avaritias could execute any plan, he finds himself surrounded.

GOON #1
"I’m feeling quite charitable as well, you see. If you return your winnings, and whatever else you have on you, I’ll be willing to oversee this transgression and forget that this ever happened at all."

Snickering, the thugs point their blades at Avaritias as panic sets within him. From across the room, above all other voices, Avaritias hears an all too familiar cry.

FIGHTER, INVIDIA
"I GOT FIVE ON THE BIG GUY!"

Within the same moment, Avaritias watches a gauntleted fist batter the first thug’s jaw, sending him into a spin. Startled, the other thugs aim their attention to their new assailant. Avaritias slips away in the distraction and notices the rest of his party, retreating to them in a hurry. The inn is reinvigorated in a great clamor, watching as Invidia fends off the thugs. Rob hops onto the bar and begins to shout.

ROB
"Ante up, Ante up! Everyone's favorite Devils are back in town. Place your bets now before it's too late! Watch as Invidia, the one and only Sin Lord of Envy, jumps into a one v. five! We’ll be running bets on everything from who wins, to how many teeth are lost, to who cries the hardest!"

The rest of the arriving party shoulders their way through the gathering crowd and warm reception. They approach the bar and greet Rob.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Robert."

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Bobby!"

WIZARD, GULA
"Evening, Rob. Two, please."

The crowd roars at the sound of splintering wooden furniture. Rob smiles at his new customers and signals to the cooks.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"How’s business?"

Curdling wails follow a collection of gasps from the spectators.

ROB
"Better, now that the whole gang's here! Nothing like a little late night entertainment."

He places a mug in front of each tiefling and two plates of the steamed goose entree in front of Gula.

DRUID, DESIDIA
"Why’s it always so noisy where we go?"

Desidia rubs the sleep from his eyes and climbs on to the shoulders of Superbia.

WARLOCK, IRAS
"You awake now, buddy?"

As Desidia nods in drowsy confirmation, he gives a big yawn. Desidia is quite small for a tiefling, shaped more like a goblin with horns. Iras reaches for Desidia and places him in his lap, eyes barely looking over the bar. Rob smiles pleasantly and places a glass of milk in front of the sleepy Devil.

DRUID, DESIDIA
"Thank you."

ROB
"Now, what can I do for ya’?"

Oohs and awes are cast around the room. Superbia reaches for his coin purse but is stopped by Avaritias, sullenly staring into his mug, and places a few coins of his own on to the bar.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"First, we’ll be looking for rooms for the night. Second, some information."

ROB
"The information is free. A premium for my esteemed guests. As for the rooms, your companion is currently banging half the bestiary in most of them, so you may have to wait a while. What are you looking for?"

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Crime."

Iras takes deep swigs, finishing off his drink in a few gulps. Rob pours him another glass, looking for an elaboration. Gula answers through a mouth full.

WIZARD, GULA
"Whey shtuhmbled awn a chris—*gulp* a Krystaal operation. The king has entrusted us to eliminate the production and distribution of the drug."

DRUID, DESIDIA
"What’s a drug?"

ROB
"Krystaal? Yes, I’ve heard. A new fad among the young and the working class. You’ll be looking for the Rally Dogs, led by a self proclaimed Wolf King. It would seem your friend here has already introduced themself to some of their members."

He looks at Avaritias, who seems to not pay any attention to the conversation, busy nursing his drink.

ROB
"And the other, over there, is currently brawling with the five of them."

Shattering glass is followed by cheers as a body flies through a window.

ROB
"Make it four."

Iras turns around in his chair and cups a free hand around his mouth.

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Hey Invid! Keep one of them alive for us!"

A horned head pokes from above the crowd.

FIGHTER, INVIDIA
"ONE? I THINK I CAN DO THAT!"

A hand engulfs her face and brings her back beneath the rumble. Desidia reaches up to Gula’s plates and steals a boiled potato, chewing enthusiastically.

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Hmph, Wolf King? That’s fucking lame."

ROB
"Like Sin Lords is any better."

PALADIN, SUPERBIA (Angrily)
"Do you mean to mock us?"

ROB (Nervously)
"Ahem. I, uh, I hear your recent ventures seemed to have inadvertently crossed his path. Fate has a weird way of bringing us together, aye?"

Superbia eases back into his drink. The audience gives a round of cheers and applause as an impromptu announcer delivers the results of the evening's bout. Invidia returns to the party, dragging behind her one of the thugs. She pulls herself a seat and gives what would be a toothy grin, save for one missing from the top row. She licks the gap before looking admiring her trophy.

FIGHTER, INVIDIA
"I think I broke it."

She drops the body against the side of the bar and reaches for a mug Rob has prepared for her. Iras collects his bets from two unhappy gamblers and gives a coin to Desidia, who discards his potato and starts chewing on the new shiny coin. Two of the remaining thugs carry a third towards the door shouting to the tieflings at the bar.

GOON# 3
"We won’t forget this! You think you can find The Wolf? HA! The Wolf finds you, Devils!"

They rush out the door, escaping the flying rubbish and boos. Iras and Invidia clink mugs before downing them and ordering another round.

WIZARD, GULA
"Thank you, Rob. Sorry for always causing a ruckus."

ROB
"Think none of it. I should be thanking you. You lot are bad news that brings good business. If there’s anything else you need, you know where I am."

He leaves them to tend to other patrons sitting at the bar. As Rob leaves, they see Libidine descending the stairs. Her belts are a bit looser and her eyes hold a euphoric satisfaction. Spotting her party, she rushes to greet them, throwing arms around Iras, who pushes her away in disgust. Invidia snatches Desidia from Iras' lap before Libidine could crush him.

BARD, LIBIDINE
"Guys! I missed you so much. I thought of you the whole time."

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Gods, I hope not."

He surveys her closely.

WARLOCK, IRAS
"Had that much fun, uh?"

BARD, LIBIDINE
"Well, it’s not every day that you get to be at the service of a centaur, and when the opportunity arises, one must take all the advantages."

She holds Iras tight, who resists greatly, getting what bodily fluids are present on him. Invidia wrestles the coins from Desidia’s mouth in futility.

FIGHTER, INVIDIA
"Don’t eat that! You don’t know where they’ve been."

PALADIN, SUPERBIA (Impatiently)
"Enough! All of you. We have a task at hand and must give it our utmost attention."

The troublesome tieflings pause their games and divert their attention.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA
"Now that we’re all here, we have much to discuss. Gula, if you would, please disclose the day's events for those who were absent. Or not paying attention."

WIZARD, GULA
"At the conclusion of our last mission, we discovered that the farm boy we captured was actually the king’s bastard son. In return, the king could not enlighten us about the Seals we seek. In an attempt to remedy his impotence, he told us of a location that may hold the information we are looking for. It resides within a vault, within a museum, within a fort, upon an island: The Halls of Illium. This world’s greatest and most secure horde of knowledge. It contains everything from the arcane to the spiritual. History, to botany, to—"

Gula stares deeply into the distance, drool beginning to spill from the corner of his lips as he contemplates The Halls' potential secrets. Superbia snaps fingers in his face, bringing him back to reality. Gula wipes the drool with the back of his hand.

WIZARD, GULA
"Excuse me. The Halls are run by a secret syndicate of high society dwarves, called The Order, who forewent the collection of valuable earth minerals for the culmination of lost and forbidden secrets. Getting there, though, is of no easy feat. As a favor, the king is going to acquire us an invitation. He has asked us, in return, to seek out this Wolf King, the major distributor of Krystaal within his kingdom, and eliminate him and his operations."

After completing his summary, Gula glances up to see Libidine and Iras slumped together, snoring. Invidia has surrendered and joined Desidia in eating coins. Avaritias, still sulking from his failure, nurses the same drink and longs for his loss in profit. With a heavy sigh, Gula looks towards Superbia to continue for him. He takes one last swig from his mug before sliding it down the bar to Rob.

PALADIN, SUPERBIA (Tipsy)
"There you *belch* there you have it, folks. Thems the breaks. We have *hiccup* We have our objective. I want everyone to get some rest. *hiccup* We prepare at first light and depart shortly after. We got a Wolf to hunt!"

He stumbles off towards the stairs, bumping into a couple of people on his way. The rest collect themselves and head for bed. Another successful quest under their belt as the Sin Lords continue their grand adventure.