The rundown once inn smelled of dried blood, smoke and mildew. The group slowly stepped into it through a rickety front door that fell as if it was going to come off its hinges if any sort of effort was placed into it. Tables were tossed over what looks like the scene of quite a few struggles. Blood splatter was caked onto the floor in a dizzying display of patterns. The liquor cabinet behind the bar was completely bone dry, most likely looted to secure comfort from the darkness.

Sheridan looked to the group. “Alright, take your pick of rooms. We ain’t staying down here. Holler if you need any assistance.”

He began to walk towards the stairs leading to the row of rooms, but stopped as soon as he heard waking sounds rumbling from Abel. The man slowly sat up in the Custodian’s arms and looked around the room. His eyes blinked slowly, and his hand covered his head, his face contorting into a pained look.

“Where am I? Where are we? It hurts. Everything hurts. I felt like I was dreaming forever. For years.” Abel said painstakingly.

Everyone looked at him with a mixture of worry and confusion. Sheridan’s mouth was agape. Abel looked at the group with every growing confusion, and he looked above his head to see the Custodian in his metallic glory. His eyes widened and suddenly startled, he rolled out of the creature’s arms and onto the floor, with a grunt he slowly stood himself up.

“Can someone explain what’s going on? What is all over me? Why does it hurt so much? What is this thing? Where are we?” He said.

Sheridan raised his hands in a calming motion, but Oya spoke first brazenly. “You’re cursed with something. They said it’s about the betterment of the world, but we all know what that means when people say that. You’ve been knocked out for a few days after what you and loudmouth found in the tomb. You also have a weird ass arm now. Did that answer it enough?”

Jaqri gave her a stern look. “Why are you always so mean to him?”

Oya responded. “Because he’s a fucking idiot, and this storyteller doesn’t help either.”

Sheridan shouted. “Enough. That didn’t explain it. Please, let me explain.”

“You always baby him.” Oya mumbled underneath her breath before turning her back to the group.

Lun leaned in towards Jaqri, whispering slowly, but still so far below him in height that he was lucky that the sasquatch had good hearing. “Again, what is her problem? I feel like I’ve asked and no one has ever been able to give me a direct answer.”

“Long story, I can tell you later.” Jaqri responded in a hushed tone.

“Everyone says that.” Lun said, and folded his arms while awaiting for Sheridan to explain to Abel what was going on. Inside his head he was prepared to correct the old man. He didn’t seem to have a good grasp on the gravity of the situation, and he has said more than once he’d sleep on it to act on this. Mental preparations kept running through Lun’s mind on how they’d accomplish this task alone.

“We were wandering through the desert after being attacked by the Imperial mechanika. Do you remember that? It wounded a great deal of us. You then fell through the sand into some sort of tomb, and Lun went after you. “ Sheridan said in a slow and steady tone.

Abel put his hand through his hair, rubbing his scalp before looking back up at the group and responding. “Vaguely. I also remember going inside the tomb you mentioned, and finding some sort of black liquid. That’s about the last I remember before being in intense pain. These dreams. I still can’t quite sort them out. They are swirling inside of my mind, but stuck in the drain. I can’t quite shake them loose.”

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“I’ll shake em loose if you want.” Oya responded from the back, still not looking towards the group.

Sheridan gave her a quick glance before returning to his conversation. “This creature is called the Custodian. He said it’s his job to take care of the Conduit, that’s you.”

“Yeah.. but what is the Conduit? What is this language? Who’s hand is this? It doesn’t feel right.” Abel said solemnly.

“You are imprinted with the part of the Last Incantation. It is a safeguard provided by the Creators to fight against those who wish to unmake the world. I am to guard you so we can collect parts of the incantation. They have already begun to hunt you. Those creatures can smell the magic.” The Custodian said in his usual binary tone. “The arm is a remnant of them. It is one of theirs. I do not know specifically, that knowledge was never granted to me.”

Abel looked shocked at all of these revelations. His vision blurred momentarily before he heard a voice singing to him, it felt like a motherly lullaby echoing through his head. Honing in on that sound, he was able to focus quickly, shaking off the blurriness to stare back at the group, to continue his interrogation into the situation.

“So I’m something to be used?” Abel said. “Who does this incantation? Who can speak it?”

Lun spoke up this time. “We’re not sure. With the information given by the Custodian here, it’s pretty certain that this is the First Language. The same one that I want to learn and be able to speak. I believe that as we find more of these locations that contain more of the incantation, we can use it for good. There’s a massive conspiracy here that goes back generations, the Church is involved. The Queen may have known something before she died. The creatures from the Scar are involved. There’s so many possible facts wandering around, I feel like it’s a giant puzzle we’re going to have to slowly solve. We think the next location is in Owlshead Mountain.”

Abel took all of the information in once again before responding. “Alright. I still don’t fully understand, I still feel like absolute shit and I don’t understand this feeling. I can’t stop hearing whispers, singing, from all these different voices. Where are we? It looks like a fight went on here.”

“Blackwater.” Sheridan said.

“How the hell is this Blackwater? We were here months ago. It wasn’t like this.” Abel shouted.

“Attacks from the Scar.” Sheridan responded back quickly. “Government abandoned them, no shocker there. They’d rather preach their false gospel and suppress people than help them.”

“So, let’s help them. I’m sure we can do something. Train them. Something.” Abel’s voice became louder with every word.

“We can’t. There aren't enough of us.” Sheridan said plainly. “If we stay here, we’ll be killed. Just like them. Plus, if this Custodian is right, we have much more important things to do.”

“The hell there aren’t enough of them. We’re still Queensguard. Whether you like it or not. We’re still the Redlegs Gang! Have you all lost your spine?” Abel screamed.

“Son. You’re too damn pigheaded. You’re also wounded. You said it yourself how you feel.” Sheridan’s voice became tense, and commanding.

The Custodian chimed in rhythmically. “Conduit, I must advise we continue the path. These people are destined for death. The remnants of the Long Death, and the echoes of the Veiled Ones are dangerous.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you just said. I’m staying here. You’re all welcome to go on this quest, or just run away like cowards.” Abel said, standing defiantly.

“You have some nerve calling us cowards. You remember what you did.” Sheridan said, turning his back. “You’ve watched people die. I’m not going to sit here and watch you die too, anyone who wants to stay with this mission can stay, but I’m going to keep on going, find more work.”

Sheridan began walking up the stairs. Abel’s face faded into a grimace from that statement. It shot like a bullet into his heart. He knew exactly what that meant. It was true even. He didn’t know what confidence surged through him, but it wasn’t like him. His mind flashed briefly to the Holy City, not the capital, and the streets running with blood. His comrades lay face down in piles of their own innards. Abel’s mind jolted back into the present, looking at the group.

“I stand by my previous statement that you’re a fucking idiot.” Oya said as she stepped upstairs, head not looking back once towards the group.

“Abel. This isn’t wise, but I can’t watch you throw your life foolishly. I’ll be here with you.” Jaqri nodded, following suit with the others to find a room to sleep in.

Abel looked towards Lun and the Custodian, who remained. The Custodian’s lights began to power down, and gizmos spun as it sat down on the floor, seemingly powered down for the night. It had no choice in the matter, it had to follow the Conduit. That was it’s commandment. Lun stared back at Abel, as the only two in the room before opening his mouth to speak as well.

“You’re going to have to tell me eventually what happened in the capital between the two of you.” Lun dryly sputtered.

“Maybe. It’s not important. We need to help these people. Are you in or out?” Abel demanded.

“I’m here till the end. I will remark that it’s a fucking stupid idea. We have more important things to do and we want to help these people with something that’s going to get them killed eventually anyway.” Lun explained.

“If we don’t help these people, especially if we have the means, are we no better than those we fight against?” Abel said. “I don’t even know where this hidden courage came from. I’d agree with you if it was a few days ago. I feel like I can’t fight against it.”

Lun’s eyes perked up at this revelation. “Is it because of your arm? Those words? That’s a very interesting, but also disconcerting statement.”

“I don’t know, it has to be, that’s the only thing that’s changed.” Abel said, his words quivering borderline on fear. “I don’t know what’s going to happen to me, and I’m scared. There’s something going on. There’s so many moving parts. I don’t know how to handle it.”

Lun rested his hand on Abel’s, and looked into his eyes. “No matter what. We’ll handle it.”