A druid, a warlock, a dwarf, and a boar meet a new companion and find a familiar place at Fort Locke.

***

The one thing Connor thought of that he could complain about in the Mere was how dreary and dark days could get. He was constantly surrounded by nature, that was no problem for him as a druid, but sunny skies were few and far between. The last time West Harbor had looked cheerful at all was the High Harvest Fair that had taken place the day before the attack. Sure, sun pierced the trees once in a while, but clear skies hadn't occurred often.

When he, Savannah, and Khelgar came out of the Mere and into the grasslands, Connor couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when they were hit with sunlight. "Bah," Khelgar held a hand over his eyes, wincing at the brightness. "We could've done better with gradual light."

"I would've thought dwarves came out into direct sunlight often, given how you dig underground," Savannah remarked, though she, too, winced as she tried to avoid being blinded.

"That's true, lass," Khelgar nodded as Connor examined his map. "We dwarves do build underground. Doesn't mean we care for being blinded when we come back up."

"I don't think anyone would," Connor rolled the map back up. "Fort Locke should be at the top of those cliffs back there. We can restock before going to Highcliff."

Khelgar grunted, nodding as he followed the druid. "You humans enjoy building on cliffs. You want a good city, build down, not high up."

"Where exactly does your clan live, Khelgar?" Savannah wondered.

"Ah, lass, that's a complicated question," Khelgar smiled, pulling back to keep pace with the warlock while Connor scouted ahead. "You see, Clan Ironfist used to have a stronghold deep in the Sword Mountains. I heard it was close by one of the only water sources in the mountains . . . a well of some sort. Well, that clanhold's been lost for decades, maybe centuries now. Still, the mountains are where my clan call home."

"Aren't the Sword Mountains infested with orcs?" Connor tilted his head.

"That they are," Khelgar nodded, grinning. "But we Ironfists know how to defend our land."

"I believe you, my friend," Connor patted the dwarf's shoulder as he rounded the corner. "With the skill you have – "

He faltered, hearing a sharp sound that had him holding his arm out. Savannah, paying attention to Khelgar's words and not her brother, bumped right into him, making her stumble. "Connor!" she protested.

"Shh!" Connor hissed, ducking behind a large tree.

Savannah quickly followed while Khelgar crouched down behind a large tree stump. The three poked their heads out cautiously. "Bandits?" Savannah asked softly.

Connor narrowed his eyes. "Unless they wear chainmail uniforms."

Khelgar's eyebrows raised when he saw the quartet of men in chainmail, grey cloaks emblazoned with stars surrounding a sword on their backs. "I know those uniforms, lad. Those are Greycloaks, members of Neverwinter's army."

"Greycloaks man the Fort," Connor glanced past them to the huge, towering fortress behind them. "So why are they – "

Whatever he was about to say trailed off when one of the men, wielding a wickedly sharp longsword, suddenly swung it towards the center of their circle. That was when Connor saw what had made the sharp cry; it was a young woman with short, dark red hair who nimbly ducked backwards to avoid the sword, nervously looking behind her to make sure she didn't back up into another weapon. She wasn't wearing armor of any kind, and she appeared unarmed, too. Savannah's breath hitched, and she tugged Connor's arm. "She has a tail!" she hissed.

Connor had noticed that, too; the woman had a long tail that ended in an arrowhead tip. A closer look, and he saw her pointed ears, red eyes, and short, curved horns protruding from her forehead. This wasn't a human – this was a tiefling, a descendant of a demon or a devil.

And it looked like she was being tortured. "What, demon?" the blond-haired leader of the Greycloaks sneered, glaring at her. "No screams for us? Maybe we should brand you. Maybe that'll loosen your tongue."

"Leave me alone!" the tiefling snapped, narrowing her eyes. "I've done nothing to you!"

The Greycloak sniffed. "Well, now, Commander Vallis will be happy to hear that. It means his work here's all done, he can just give up the Fort and go home."

One of the other Greycloaks snorted. "Still, there's just the small matter of those bounties on bandits he posted. And a bandit with demon blood? Well, there's no telling how much that's worth."

"I heard about bandits being a problem," Khelgar frowned. "I don't think they would get caught easily."

"A-course," the Greycloak leader tilted his head, "you could tell us where your camp is. Vallis will pay more for that, he will, and we won't even have to butcher the lot of you."

"I told you, I'm not with those bandits!" the tiefling shouted in exasperation. "Or are you deaf and stupid?"

"Stupid?" the Greycloak leader snarled, eyes narrowing. "Here we were, thinking of letting you live. Now you've gone and changed our minds."

Connor quickly shook his head, seeing the men raise their swords, and he walked out from behind the tree, casually heading their way as if he'd been walking along the path the entire time, Vhaera behind him. Savannah and Khelgar quickly hurried to join them, drawing the attention of the group. "Eh?" one of the Greycloaks squinted, then chuckled. "Hold on. Looks like she's got friends, she does."

Connor frowned, looking them over. "Leave that woman alone," he ordered.

The lead Greycloak sniffed. "This don't concern you. We're soldiers from Fort Locke, hunting bandits."

"That we are," the other Greycloak nodded. "Caught this demon trying to raid our camp, and we were about to deal with her."

"By killing her?" Connor raised an eyebrow, looking the tiefling up and down. She, in return, looked at them with wide eyes. "What did she take?"

"Nothing yet," the Greycloak grumbled. "But her crew's been hounding these parts. They been raiding merchants, caravans, maybe even killed the old commander!"

The tiefling finally got her voice back. "I told you, I'm not with those bandits!"

"Shut your lying mouth, demon!" the Greycloak leader snapped. "You'll get the blade soon enough!"

"You are not murdering her in cold blood," Connor narrowed his eyes.

The Greycloak leader jeered. "You think you're going to stop us, are you?"

The other Greycloak, however, considered. "You know . . . Vallis might pay for four bandit bounties. He's not one for asking questions."

The Greycloak leader caught on with a grin. "Especially about a demon, a runty dwarf, and two dirty Harbormen who don't know enough to keep walking."

"He left out the boar," Savannah quipped.

Connor snorted loudly as Khelgar scowled. "'Runty dwarf?'" he repeated. "I know you cowards aren't talking to me, or you'll be talking to my fist next."

"Good enough for me," the other Greycloak grinned. "Let's kill them all and I'll sort out the tale later."

Connor grinned and conjured one of his favored spells. Roots sprung from the ground, winding their way around the ankles of the Fort Locke soldiers, keeping them in place. As they shouted and tried to swipe at the roots, Khelgar barreled forward, axe immediately burying into one soldier's chest. Connor drew his scimitar and headed for the leader as Savannah formed a spear of eldritch energy, expertly throwing it into one of the other Greycloaks. The Greycloak leader swung at Connor in a rage, but the druid expected it and swerved to the side, easily dodging. Vhaera charged into the Greycloak headfirst, and with the roots holding him in place, he collapsed backwards. Connor wrinkled his nose, then thrust his blade downwards, killing the soldier where he lay. "That'll teach you," he muttered.

A gurgle made him look up, and he was in time to see the last Greycloak choke on his own blood as he toppled to the ground, away from Savannah, who he had been about to stab in the back. Savannah swung around, startled; she came face to face with the tiefling, who had swiped a dagger from one of the soldiers and was holding it aloft, blood dripping off the blade. The tiefling quickly tucked it into her boot, though, looking around at the mess. "Where did you four come from?" she asked, moving towards the chest a few paces back. "I mean, one moment I thought I was dead, and then suddenly you're here . . . and look at all this blood . . . "

"Are you hurt?" Connor asked, seeing the bloodstains on her clothes.

The tiefling blinked rapidly, then shook her head just as quickly. "No, no," she said. "I know how to keep myself from getting hurt. It's not easy, but when you're as quick as me . . . " She abruptly shut her mouth, then blushed. "Sorry if I sound surprised," she mumbled. "It's just, you know, people don't usually help me out like that. Especially, uh . . . well, people like you, you know. Nice-looking people." She blushed even further. "Does that make me a damsel in distress? I hope not, I hate those women."

As the tiefling spoke faster and faster, Savannah started laughing until she was almost doubled over. "I like her!" she decided.

Connor grinned, too; something about the talkative tiefling cheered him up. "You don't owe us anything," he said, bending down and rummaging through his pack. "No one should be treated like that."

The tiefling gawked. "You're nice?!" As Connor's eyebrows shot up and Savannah laughed again, the tiefling ducked her head, tail swishing back and forth. "Sorry for sounding so surprised," she muttered, scratching the back of her head. "Well, actually, I am. It's just . . . well, unexpected." As Connor fished a healing potion out of his bag, the tiefling continued. "I mean, once folks catch sight of me – usually it's the horns – they run in the other direction. And all those tales about tieflings being cursed don't help much, either."

"Catch your breath," Connor advised, handing the potion over.

The tiefling nodded, taking a deep breath before taking a swig of the potion. She swallowed and sighed in relief. "I'm Neeshka, by the way," she finally introduced herself. "I'm really glad you came when you did. Wasn't really sure how I'd get out of that one." She scowled. "Of course, they never would've caught me in the first place if that 'invisibility' potion I bought hadn't been watered down. If I ever see that merchant again . . . "

"I'm Connor Johnson," the druid introduced himself. "You saved my sister Savannah, the 'runty dwarf' is Khelgar Ironfist – "

"Lad!" Khelgar protested.

"Sorry, Khelgar, I'm going by what they said," Connor grinned. Khelgar grumbled something that sounded like "dirty Harborman," but it was in a much fonder tone than the Greycloaks had used. "And this is Vhaera," Connor finished, patting his companion on the head. "Nice to meet you, Neeshka."

"What're you doing way out here?" Savannah asked.

"Well, I was actually trying to pass the Fort by, make my way farther south," Neeshka answered, waving to the towering Fort behind them. "I thought that potion I bought would help. You see, once the local garrison sees me, they tend to want to throw me in a cell or attack me on sight. Of course, the potion wears off right as I cross paths with those thugs from Fort Locke. They were looking for easy bounties, and I showed up right on time."

Connor frowned, looking up at the Fort. He had thought stopping was a good idea, but if that was the way they were treating passerbys . . . "That's no reason for them to want to kill you, or us."

Neeshka sighed as she finished the healing potion and slumped to sit on the chest. "It's been that way ever since the new Fort commander posted bounties on bandits. Some of his soldiers have been hunting down anyone they find on the road and claiming they're 'bandits.' It's just banditry of a different sort – they rob the travelers, and then get the bounty, too. The roads are even less safe now than they were before."

"Great," Savannah sighed. "So it's good we're heading to Highcliff."

"Yes, it is," Connor agreed. "Speaking of which, we should really get going."

"Yeah," Neeshka's tail drooped. "I guess you don't have any reason to stay . . . look, thanks for saving me, really."

"You don't need to thank us," Connor waved her gratitude off. "Any decent human being should have." He side-eyed Khelgar, who was eyeing Neeshka distastefully. "Or any decent dwarf," he said meaningfully.

"Um," Neeshka shuffled on her feet. "Do you . . . do you think I could join you?" Connor blinked, and she hurried to explain. "Just for now! I won't get in the way, I promise! It's just that I don't know how long I can survive on my own, and, well . . . I do owe you one."

"Can't say I trust her," Khelgar frowned. "Tieflings'll stab you in the back and run off with your purse the moment you drop your guard."

Neeshka immediately narrowed her eyes to slits. "Yeah? Well, dwarves are squat, smelly drunks who'll chop someone in half just to show they're tough!"

"Oh, is that so?" Khelgar growled as Connor and Savannah exchanged amused looks. "Why don't you step down here and say that again!"

"No," Connor shook his head, holding out his hand to stop Khelgar from stepping forward, Neeshka's tail lashing at the air. "That's enough, both of you!"

"He started it!" Neeshka pointed.

"Bah," Khelgar shook his head. "Leave her here. She'll be food for the other beasts on the road soon enough."

Connor scowled. "And why in the hells would I, of all people, leave her on the road?" Khelgar ducked his head, thoroughly chastised, and Connor gave the tiefling a smile. "You're coming with us."

Neeshka's eyes lit up. "Thanks!" she beamed happily. "I won't let you down, I swear."

***

First item of business when we reach Highcliff, Connor thought as he watched Savannah aid Neeshka in buckling her leather armor into place, find an armorer and get better armor for all of us.

He was thoroughly impressed, however, as Neeshka spun a dagger in the palm of her hand, then proceeded to do the same thing on the tip of her tail. "Nice tricks," he complimented.

"Thanks!" Neeshka smiled, walking on his other side as they trekked up the trail to Fort Locke. "I'm not strong enough to use most weapons, but I'm great with smaller ones. Daggers make it much easier to backstab someone."

Khelgar coughed pointedly, but Savannah raised an eyebrow. "There has to be a story there."

"Well," Neeshka held out. "Maybe later. So, what're you going to Highcliff for?"

"We're catching a ship to Neverwinter," Connor answered.

"Neverwinter?" Neeshka blinked in surprise. "Hey, that's where I grew up!"

"Is it?" Savannah brightened.

"Yeah! Though let me tell you, in recent years . . . "

And the girls were off, talking about anything and everything. "See, Khelgar?" Connor gestured to the excited tiefling, who was waving her hands as she talked. "I know you and I will get along better than you will with Savannah. Now she has someone to connect more with."

"I see your point, lad," Khelgar frowned. "But I'm watching her. You know the reputation they have."

"I know it," Connor nodded. "I'd rather not judge a book by its cover."

Khelgar snorted. "'Course you're a scholar."

Connor smiled innocently. "Well, how else will I know the recipes to antidotes or healing potions?"

Khelgar's mouth clicked shut, and laughing, Connor led the way into the Fort. Greycloaks scattered around looked at the druid, dwarf, and boar, then again at the warlock and tiefling following behind them. As soon as she stepped foot in the Fort, Neeshka stopped, then tapped Connor's shoulder with her tail. When Connor got over his surprise at the action, he looked at her curiously. "See how many men the Fort has?" she gestured around. Connor surveyed the Fort, noticing there were indeed many Greycloaks in uniform taking up posts inside the Fort, several looking anxious. "That's because of the stopped patrols."

"So they're stuck here and not protecting the roads," Connor scowled. "That's not good for any Mere villages."

"I imagine not," a vaguely familiar voice behind them said, and Connor and Neeshka turned as a brown-haired man in more elaborate armor walked up, longsword buckled to his side. "You're a Harborman?"

"I am," Connor nodded, raising an eyebrow and gesturing to his sister. "Savannah and I both are."

"I thought so," the man nodded in satisfaction. "Harbormen are tough to miss once you've met one, and I've met plenty being from West Harbor." He held out his hand in greeting. "I'm Cormick, City Watch Marshal of Neverwinter City. You wouldn't have heard of me – a city watchman is hardly a glamorous profession."

"Maybe not," Connor hid a grin; he knew Savannah recognized the name, too, going by the giggle she made before coughing into her arm. "Cormick?" he repeated, shaking his hand. "You're famous in West Harbor, or so they say."

Cormick barked in laughter. "I don't know about famous. West Harbor's a small village, though, so I'm not surprised you know of me." He paused in the handshake, then narrowed his eyes. "Wait a moment," he said slowly, looking between Connor and Savannah. "Hair black as midnight . . . green eyes varying only by a shade . . . " Connor and Savannah simultaneously tilted their heads to the left questioningly, and Cormick laughed heartily. "And the same actions! I recognize you! Daeghun's foster children! Imagine running into you two here! How's the old man nowadays?"

"He's doing well," Connor grinned as Savannah openly laughed. "Thank you for asking."

"Good man, Daeghun," Cormick said fondly. "Especially to take you two in. Last I remember, Connor, you took quite a shine to the swamps." He crouched down, peering at the grey boar looking curiously at him. "Going by that scimitar you carry, you're not a ranger."

"Druid," Connor corrected. "This is Vhaera."

"Hello, there," Cormick greeted the boar, who nudged his hands in greeting. "And you, Savannah?" he looked up.

"Warlock," she answered.

"What a pair you two make," Cormick smiled as he stood again. "You'd be quite the pair. Or quartet, I see," he eyed the other two.

Khelgar grunted in acknowledgement while Neeshka gave a cautious wave. "What brought you from Neverwinter?" Connor asked Cormick curiously.

Cormick's face immediately set in a frown. "I'd heard rumors that the garrison here stopped its patrols," he answered. "Figure I'd look into it; I've always trusted my gut, and it wasn't happy. And, of course, it turns out the rumors were true. No patrols, meaning the roads are crawling with bandits and worse now."

"And attacks on Mere villages," Connor added. "West Harbor came under attack recently."

"What?!" Cormick shouted, making Neeshka wince. "I knew it! I told Vallis to restart the patrols, but I honestly wonder if being in command has gone to his head."

"Why would he make them stop?" Savannah frowned, folding her arms.

"One or more patrols have gone missing, from what I gather," Cormick responded with a snort. "If it were me, I'd gather a large force and investigate. Not Vallis, though . . . "

Khelgar snorted. "Wonder who the Marshal isn't a fan of," he muttered under his breath.

Neeshka snickered in agreement. "Vallis, there's a 'by the book' soldier," Cormick continued. "He's called for reinforcements from Neverwinter, and until they arrive, he's hunkering down. I tried to explain to him that Neverwinter doesn't have any troops to spare, not after that business with Luskan, but he's sticking to the rules. No initiative in that man, I tell you."

Connor frowned. "Maybe there's something we can do."

"I hope so," Cormick sighed. "The sooner patrols are out on the roads, the safer everyone will be."

***

Vallis was a man with perfectly polished dark armor and a gleaming longsword, his dark hair slicked back while he looked down his nose at the approaching party.

Connor disliked him immediately, and that was before he opened his mouth. "Ah, strangers in Fort Locke," he said. "If there's something you want, be quick about it. I have a garrison to run."

"And what a magnificent job he's doing," Savannah whispered to Neeshka, who giggled.

Connor simply raised an eyebrow. "Are you the commander here?"

"I am," Vallis nodded. "And let me tell you, with Fort Locke being the way it is nowadays, it's a good thing. These 'soldiers' need military discipline, and by the gods, that's what they'll get."

"And they'll get that stuck here in the garrison?"

Vallis snorted. "I'm not sending them on patrols, not when we've lost a number of them recently, including one led by Commander Tann. I'm not about to send god men chasing after dead ones, not until I can replace those that we've lost."

"So you're just filling in for the commander," Connor realized.

Vallis narrowed his eyes. "Filling in?" he scoffed. "That fool Tann allowed this place to fall apart. I've spent every waking moment bringing order back to the garrison. He's been missing too long anyhow, probably met the same fate as the other patrols we've lost. I've already sent news to Neverwinter of his loss. It's merely a formality before I officially take charge of this garrison."

Savannah coughed meaningfully. "And you don't think they'll want proof of your commander's death before promoting you?"

Vallis frowned. "True," he said grudgingly. "I hadn't thought of that. But I can't spare the men for an investigation. Three patrols lost, refugees trickling in, and with discipline in shambles, we'd be hard pressed to hold this Fort with what we have."

Connor raised an eyebrow at Savannah, who nodded back. "What if we were to handle this for you?" he suggested.

Vallis's eyebrows shot up. "You, civilians, helping a military garrison with an investigation? Why?"

"We want you to resume the patrols."

"Absolutely not," Vallis immediately shook his head. "Until I know what happened to the others, I'm not risking any more men."

Connor absently examined his scimitar hilt, loftily saying, "But imagine how favorably your superiors would look upon your promotion if you settled this without further loss of men."

Vallis considered. "Fine, I'll resume the patrols contingent upon completion of your investigation. I want to know what happened out there."

Connor nodded, unrolling the map he had. "Where should we begin looking?"

Vallis examined his map before pointing. "All three patrols were lost east of here. We've never had any reports of trouble there in the past few seasons, so what happened to them is a mystery. There's really nothing there except for the plains and an old graveyard. Of course, it is at the edge of the Mere, so anything could have wandered in from the swamp."

Connor's grip tightened on the map at his words, and even Vhaera started growling lowly at the one word: graveyard. He already knew immediately what the problem was going to be, and it wasn't creatures coming in from the Mere. "Anything else we should know?" he finally managed to say.

Vallis gave him an odd look, but didn't comment. "Nothing of note. As I said, we've never had any trouble from the east before. Now, you'd best be going. I have more important matters to attend to."

Connor nodded. "We'll begin our search immediately." As soon as Vallis walked off to attend other duties, he cursed violently under his breath. "Not before I whip up a few potions we'll need."

"That sure of what we'll be walking into, lad?" Khelgar asked as they walked into a more open area of the Fort.
"Fairly certain," Connor nodded. "We're not scouting the Mere. We're heading straight for that graveyard."

"What could the dead do to us?" Neeshka scratched her head with the tip of her tail.

"Walk," Connor deadpanned. "And possibly kill us in return."

***

Meet Neeshka, a tiefling rogue (thief) who, while she has sticky fingers, is very loyal if you treat her kindly. She's always good for a laugh, too, especially with Khelgar.

Next up, the investigation begins, and Connor learns he really hates graveyards.

graphic by marvelity