After two days of celebration, the party was awoken by shouts outside of the Silver Stagg Inn. Not the usual, drunken shouts, but cries of fear.
"He's here! Down the road!" One man shouted.
"Hide the children!" A woman screamed.
Groggily stepping out of the bar, their hangovers turning the sun into an enemy. It's bright light blinding them upon seeing the outside. On the doorstep stood Samuel with a clear look of dread, he knew what was coming.
"You boys need to get out of here." He choked out, fighting off his emotions.
Stevie groaned, rubbing his eyes. "Grandpa, what's going on? Who's here?"
Samuel sighed, "Conquest."
Everyone went white. Conquest, one of the Dark Lord's Four Horsemen. The strongest force in the Valerian army.
Aden clenched his fists, his reaction wasn't one of fear, but of hatred.
Samuel's focus changed onto the large wooden gates. They creaked open, revealing the visitor. Mounted on a white armored white horse, his pale skin and messy white hair matched perfectly with his white armor. With every step of the angelic rider's steed, Aden grew more and more angry.
Conquest dismounted, "Good morning Fort West Branch! It is my understanding that the Baron has been assassinated. Don't worry, there shall be no consequences as long as you cooperate. Now, who can point me to his killers?"
The silence was deafening, the villagers would rather die than rat out their heroes.
"Well then. I guess we have to do it this way." He sighed, a hint of disappointment in his tone.
He lifted his arm to the sky, "Last chance…anybody?"
Samuel waved his hand behind the party, a blue rift opened up. The other side wasn't visible but he demanded, "Go now!"
"Grandpa, I'm not leaving you!" Stevie protested.
"Neither am I." Aden muttered, gripping his sword tighter while eyeing down Conquest.
Samuel gave a look to Barb, Talon, Le'Hennessy, and Wilhelm.
"I love you, Stevie. You are like a son to me. Be great, boy. Please protect him with your lives" Samuel said, dropping his robe and walking towards the white rider.
"Grandp-" Stevie could barely get out before Talon covered his mouth and pulled him through the portal.
Le'Hennessy hopped in after Stevie and Talon, refusing to be there any longer. Barb and Wilhelm glanced at one another, like they knew what the other was thinking.
"Fine then." Conquest announced, "I'm sorry it has to be this way."
Before he could move his arm down, Samuel launched a firework spell from each hand.
"I do…it was me! I killed the Baron!" The firework spell attracted the attention of everyone in the fort.
"Ah, I find that hard to believe, old man." Conquest condescended, "But if it has to be this way."
Unsheathing his sword, Conquest prepared for battle. Samuel immediately launched a fireball towards conquest. Without missing a beat, Conquest slashed the fireball in half, rendering it useless. Before Samuel knew it, Conquest had him within range and in an instant, he sliced the old wizard in two.
As his top half dropped, Samuel smiled, knowing his boy was safe.
Aden looked on in horror and unsheathed his sword. Before he could step forward Wilhelm casted sleep on him, knocking him out. Barb then pulled him through the portal, vanishing amongst the blue energy.
"Grandpa!" Sam screamed as he ran from the crowd, charging Conquest.
Before Wilhelm could do anything, Sam was cut down as well, joining his grandfather. With no other choice, Wilhelm began to retreat into the portal. Looking out one last time at the fort, he saw Conquest motion for his archers and in one round of flaming arrows, the fort began to burn down. With his final step in Conquest met his gaze, spotting the portal.
Before anything could happen, the portal closed and the party found themselves on the outskirts of a remote village. Large mountains towered over them, bordering the village from the outside world.