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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 2076818" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 341The streets of the city were nearly deserted as the company made its way steadily higher toward the massive black walls encircling the city.  Still, they managed to locate several other desperate souls as they made their way closer to the west gate, until they had nearly two score ragged survivors trailing behind them as they turned onto the final rising avenue that ascended from Obsidian Avenue toward the walls and the compact square where one of four exits from the city was situated.  The companions were quite familiar with this gate, for it was the one through which Zenna and Mole had entered the city, just over a year ago, and which they had used in their journey to the Lucky Monkey, in a time when their problems seemed easy and straightforward in comparison to now. Then, they’d only had evil cults, floods, and a were-baboon barbarian to deal with. As they made their way closer to the gate, they could see that the square ahead was occupied, and in fact cluttered with people.  A humble, almost pathetic statue decorated the square; the likeness of an armored man cast in bronze, his specific identity worn away by centuries of the elements, the plaque that had once marked his plinth stolen before most of the current residents of Cauldron had been born.  But the statue still served as a gathering point, and as the companions drew nearer they could make out the familiar form of Jenya Urikas standing on the edge of the platform, the bronze warrior looming protectively behind her.  She was surrounded by a number of people in the uniform of the Watch, and a smattering of Arun’s Hammers, their blue tunics stained by blood and soot.  Around the authorities mingled a much larger crowd of uncertain residents of the city, surrounded by barely-controlled mules and horses, carts, wagons, and containers of every sort, holding what possessions the city’s residents had been able to preserve from the cataclysm gripping Cauldron. As they reached the square, they directed their charges to join the crowd, and started making their way toward Jenya.  The High Priestess looked wan and tired, as if the hours since the first quake had stolen decades from her, leaving her old and frail.  But the spark of determination that shone in her persisted still, and they could hear her voice over the din of the crowd, issuing orders that the people, if confused and reluctant, nevertheless appeared to be following.  The gates were open, and slowly the living contents of the square were drifting through them, to the long road that led down from the mountain to the lowland forests and safety. Jenya saw them before they drew near enough to hail her, and some of the tension gripping her seemed to lift as she waved them over.  That gesture seemed enough to help part the crowd, or perhaps it was the looks on the faces of the adventurers.  As they reached the stone plinth, the High Priestess issued a few more orders to the nearby Watch officers, who saluted and headed out into the crowd.  Then she bent and reached down, letting a pair of acolytes help her to the ground at the foot of the pedestal. “I’m glad you’re all well,” Jenya said.  “With all that’s happened...”  She trailed off, and it was clear that she’d seen her own share of pain and suffering, since they’d parted at the Temple of Helm.“We saw the archon,” Arun said.  “You Called it?”Jenya nodded.  “I gave him the Star of Justice, in exchange for his aid.”  At Beorna’s surprised look, she added, “The Compact requires an exchange, and while I intended to merely summon a protector, as you required, templar... the portal had begun to open, and I could not just let fiends wander the city at will, slaying its citizens.  We needed time, and the loss of the artifact is a small price to pay for the lives saved.”“Speaking of fiends, we ran into a few,” Mole pointed out. “The portal is not yet fully open, but within hours, Cauldron may become a gate-town, a permanent link between Carceri and Faerûn.”“What can we do to stop it?” Arun asked. Jenya looked at him with eyes that shone dully.  “I do not know that it can be stopped, at this point.”For a moment, no one spoke, and despite the tumult around them, it was as if a sudden quiet had fallen over the world. “The evacuation,” Beorna finally said.  “What happens to the survivors?”Jenya shook her head, as if the templar’s words had shaken her from a reverie.  “We are focusing the evacuation to the west and south; it would be foolish to try to bring columns of refugees across the Alamirs at this time of year.”“Especially with demons crawlin’ all o’er the place,” Hodge grumbled softly.  “Skellerang and Tristane are leading a column south to Redgorge,” Jenya went on.  “This group we’ll take to the Lucky Monkey; I’ve already sent riders ahead to begin preparing clearings for a temporary camp.  Other smaller groups have set out on the lesser trails, but we’re going to try to get everyone gathered at one of those two points.  Messages have also been sent to Almraiven, and to the Temple of Eternal Vigilance in Tethyr.  Our enemies may be ascendant, but we will not meekly surrender our realm to their foul scheme!”“No, we will not,” Arun said, his words like cold iron.  “And I, for one, have a few matters to resolve with the Cagewrights.” Suddenly, loud screams sounded from the crowd outside, from beyond the gates.  The companions instantly grasped their weapons, alert for signs of danger.  Arun actually started toward the gate, but a wall of confused and panicked people and animals stood in his way.“What now?” Dannel asked. In answer, a dark shadow passed over the square.  A terrible and familiar wave of sensation rushed over them.  Throughout the open space, already scared people cowered in abject terror as the ancient power of the shadow’s owner spread its fell influence, borne above them on spread wings.It was a dragon, its scarlet hide shining bright in the dull red glow that issued from the stricken city.  It swept low over the wall, barely clearing the empty battlements above, a rush of smoke and ash blasting in its wake, creating an artificial wind that tugged the garments of the terrified people below.  Gliding on wings that might have enfolded an entire house in their membranous sweep, it slid north over the city, toward the town hall.  There, its wings spread to catch the air, and it slowed to grasp the slender spire that rose from the dome of the great structure in its huge claws.The people of Cauldron had seen terrors this day, but nothing compared to the sight of the great dragon Hookface, a monstrosity out of legend, perched on the summit of the town hall, a great plume of fire erupted from its draconic jaws to scorch the sky, laying claim to the wreckage of the city.</blockquote>

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