The Best Laid Plans

((This takes place before the events Here ))

Staroda crept a bit closer toward Tyr’s Hand. He looked left and right, keeping an eye out for anyone -or anything- that might alert the Scarlets to his being there. Almost in sight of the gates, he hesitated. Harrigan did say do not go alone. No harm in looking, mind, but if I run into trouble I will never hear the end of it.

Star decided to turn around, head back for camp and wait to complete his scouting with Jurik when he saw a small figure picking their way through the dead landscape. Small, red dress…and head of red hair Star recognized.

He approached her, even as she spotted him and frowned. “Delphiee. There you are.”

The missing paladin hissed, “Staroda? What the fel are you doing here?”

Moving to stand over her, frowning at her tone. “Looking for you, of course. What are you doing, everyone is worried…” Star trailed off as Delphiee takes his arm, forcefully tugging him farther away, out of sight of the front gates to the Crusade’s base.

“What do you mean looking for me?” She asked.

Star opened his mouth to answer, then noticed her dress. Low cut, red, showing much more skin than the warrior was used to seeing on the paladin. He quite purposefully looked away, “Most of the Dragoons are out here, Delphiee. You went MIA, the Commander is having us search for you.”

The paladin started to swear, using a large variety of words and phrases. “If I find that girl I’ll ring her neck…”

Staroda began pulling out his guildstone, to update everyone on the situation as he asked, “What are you doing out here?” Seeing the stone, Delphiee quickly grabbed his hands.

“Don’t do it Staroda. I’m looking for someone, I’ve come this far and I’m so close.”

“You have Dragoons scouring the Plaguelands for you, ma’am.” Star replied, pulling back away from her. The paladin shook her head.

“I left my stone with someone who was supposed to check in for me.” She turned to leave, “Should have made a better choice…”

Staroda began following her without even thinking about it. “Where do you think you are going?”

Delphiee turned, still walking toward Tyr’s Hand as she did, “I’m fine, you can all go home. I’ll be back soon.”

“Unacceptable.” the warrior replied.

“I am fine! None of you should be here!” Delphiee said, stopping again.

“We had no way of knowing that. This is no place for someone to be just wondering around like this.” Star eyed her form fitting dress, “Especially dressed like that.”

Delphiee flushed a bit, “I know that now. And I’m hardly wondering. I’m going back in for her. I’ve been in, he…they don’t suspect me. I can get her out.”

“If I walk away now, and leave you like this, the Commander will likely lose it. I am sorry, Delphiee, but you will need to come along with me for now. We will come back and help your friend, I promise you.” Star told her, stepping closer.

“I’ve been fine, I’ll be fine, besides there are far more important matters that need attention. Just tell him I lost my stone, I’m clumsy, he’ll believe it.” She turned to go, “I have to go.”

Staroda shook his head, “Delphiee, if you go in, I will be following you in. One way or another, we go together.”

“You can’t! They’ll kill you on sight…and me along side you. Just go home Staroda!” Delphiee said.

Staroda grinned a bit, “They might could try, I suppose.”

The paladin turned to him, giving him a shove back, “I mean it Star! Don’t make me make it an order!”

Staroda shook his head, “With all due respect, you are considered MIA. You do not have the authority to order me anywhere.” As Delphiee narrowed her eyes, Star added, “I would not listen regardless. Not when I think it would be at the risk of your life.”

As Delphiee opened her mouth to respond, there came the sound of hooves. Approaching from the direction of the gates, four figures road into view. Four were clearly muscle; well armored and armed, almost as tall as Star himself and muscular. The last was a human female, well dressed and clearly in charge. She road her horse up to the two Dragoons, even as Star slipped himself in between the unarmored Delphiee and the approaching group. The four guards quickly surrounded the two.

“Halt.” The woman said, looking down at the two of them. The took a closer look at Star’s tabard, her eyes narrowing. “Who are you, Dragoon?” she directed to him.

Delphiee shoved Star out of her way, moving up to the mounted woman. “He was trying to solicit me. I told him I was already paid for, he was just leaving.”

The woman smiled at Delphiee. “Don’t lie, dear. The truth will set you free.” She turned back to Star. “Your name?”

“I do not believe my name is of any concern to you, miss.” Star responded, his hand drifting loosely toward the weapon strapped to his back.

“It is a simple request, and expected in polite company.” The woman dismounted, moving to stand in front of both Dragoons. The guards quietly dismounted as well, keeping them surrounded.

Staroda narrowed his eyes. “Staroda. Skymane. And yourself?”

The woman smiled a bit, “As you wish. I am Marda Theresa Sowelu Du Bois.  Inquisitor of the Scarlet Crusade."

Delphiee paled a bit, stepping away from the woman and a bit closer to Star. The warrior’s hand was now inches from reaching for his weapon, as the woman turned to the girl. “And you my dear? Your name?”

“Del.” she replied

“A pretty enough name, if a bit short.” Marda said.

“Easy to remember,” was the reply.

“I have heard of you, Inquisitor.” Star said, causing the woman to focus her attention on him again.

“Have you, Dragoon? I’m flattered.”

Star grinned at her. “Do not be.” Straightening, Star added, “If you will excuse me, miss, I will take my leave. The girl will be going with me as well.”

Shaking her head, Marda sighed. “I am afraid not.”

Delphiee shook her head, “Right. He’s going, I’m not.”

Marda shook her head as well, “No. You will give your weapon to my men and join me for tea.”

The warrior shook his head, even as he pulled his weapon from his back. Almost as long as the woman was tall, blades on both ends. Holding it loosely at his side, Star shook his head, “Surely you to not believe that.”

Delphiee took a step to the side as the woman laughed, “I believe in the Light, Dragoon. I know you will be coming with me.”

Staroda shook his head. Thinking of Loryth, of how he spoke to Elune’s priestess, the warrior could not help but laugh, “The Light has little to do with me any more. And less to do with you, or those who follow with you.”

The Inquisitor looked at him a moment, then gestured, speaking a word quietly. Star had just enough time to recognize a priestess’s shadow magic before his body was wracked with pain. He struggled to stay upright, raising his weapon toward the woman.

“Enough! Stop, befo…” Staroda is forced to stop when the priestess gestured again. The pain intensified as the guard descended on them. One knocked his weapon from his grasp as the others began raining blows on to Star’s body. Star slumped to his knees, still working to stand through it all.

“Stop!” Delphiee yelled, moving toward the woman. “This man was in the wrong place at the wrong time. No need to punish him for my deeds.”

“Disarm and bind him.” Marda told her guards. Turning to Delphiee, she smiled. “As for you, Del.” Without warning, she backhanded the paladin, hard enough to make Delphiee’s head snap back. The younger girl fell to the ground.

The guards pulled both to their feet, binding Star’s hands securely in front of him. Forcing them to march toward the city’s gates, even as Marda spoke into something in her hand. A few minutes later, a dozen additional guards rode up. “Take them inside and search them, thoroughly. Put them in separate cells. The special ones.

As the additional guards approached, Delphiee suddenly extended her hands toward the ground. The dead earth seemed to come a bit more alive as the paladin poured holy power into it, consecrating the ground below her. Their captures flinched back, even as she gave Star a shove, “Go! Run, now!” she yelled, even as she broke away in the other direction.

Star began moving, his hands reaching into his bag. He pulled out two items, the first being his guild stone. He activated it and began speaking quickly, “Assistance requested. Inquisitor Marda has Delphiee and myself, approaching the gates of Tyr’s Hand.”

Marda frowned at the flinching guards, and the fleeing Dragoons. She waved her hand, muttering more words of shadow magic. There was an explosion of shadow magic, focused outwards from one of her guards. The blast knocked into both Dragoons, pushing them to the ground. The recovering guards moved to pick them both, beating the warrior again before hauling him to his feet. “Bring them both. And the stone as well.”

Staroda palmed the other item he has pulled from his bag, a small gnomish speaker box. He pushed a button on the side, causing an alert to sound over the device. As the guards dragged him away, the warrior could only smile.