Path To Radiance; First Ascent

With the council meeting starting at 9:00 a.m., I have everyone assemble by no later than 7:30. We wolf down the complimentary breakfast and review our plans for any flaws. There's none that anyone can see. Then again, no battle strategy survives first contact with the enemy.

An hour and a half later, I followed Tella to an area around City Hall where we meet with an odd humanoid NPC. I would have said he's part lizard, but I have no idea. He's hooded and kind of shifty. I can smell reptile coming him and his feet are scaled so I am pretty confident I guessed right. He escorts us underneath the council house through an opening from an alleyway some three blocks away. It feels very underground railroad-esk to me as we come to a stop below a trap door. The doors of the "emergency exit" are split down the middle. Light leaks in through the edges and voices can be heard above us.

It's tight quarters as this escape route is only meant to fit two small people at once side by side. I'm glad I had Brick, Moss, and Aeona meet outside the main door to the room instead of down here. When the humanoid leaves us alone and returns to his post, I lean in and whisper to Tella.

"One of these days, you will have to tell me how you set this up."

She tilts her head, "I can tell you now. I'm just that good." She chuckles. My heart stops. There's no way.

I let the absurd thought fly away as a voice carries down to us through the floor. It's rather high and squeaky.

"I am glad you could all make it here today for our monthly meeting. As you are all aware, we have been infested with Adventurers since last week! We are here to discuss methods to clear our streets of the vermin and go back to the way things used to be."

A few cheers echo but I can also make out some muttered dissent. My enhanced Dragonkin senses are dope. By the sound of it, most of the council did not agree with the Governor. I have no idea if that is right or not, but again, I feel confident about it.

A gruff voice is raised in direct opposition. "I am not sure this course is wise, your Honor. These Adventurers are here to protect us. The monsters in the..."

The squeaky voice breaks in. "Enough of your foolishness, Sir Leonard. These filthy little monsters are here to raid our city of its dignity, wealth, and pride."

Tella whispers in my ear, her hair tickling my face. She's careful enough that I could barely feel her breath. "Shouldn't we move sooner rather than later, my Lord?"

I just shake my head and make an involuntary motion with my hands. Even in the dark, Cody would have understood me. It meant "wait for my signal". Tella just gives me a puzzled look, but do I seee a hint of recognition? No way. I'm just homesick. 

I lean in again and whisper back. "On my mark. I want to hear something specific first." I then point up as if saying I want to listen now.

It's still Mr. Squeaky insulting the Adventurers. "Just the other day, I was made aware of an attempted assault and multiple murders. This happened right on a public street, no less. I tell you; the Adventurers are their own kind of awful. They will ruin our city. Mark my..."

Sir Leonard's gruff voice interrupts. "Governor Hawthorne, your honor. No disrespect meant, but tell the whole tale if you're going to use examples. Three Adventurers attacked a fourth. Another Adventurer stepped in and killed the perpetrators. Made good work of them too. I was around, you see, and heard the fight from well off. It was all over before I arrived though. I was able to inspect the scene before the bodies disappeared, however. Must have just missed the Hero, I dear say." There's a brief silence and I can hear the whispers of conversations from all around. "The point is, your Honor, that the Adventures will police themselves. The first set did. They are going to grow in strength, exponentially so. It would be wiser to support and champion these people then to dismiss them outright." Whoever this Sir Leonard is, I want to shake his hand.