Editing Tarred and Feathered

{{TErow| 25 | [[Halfling]] | {{h|Henrietta|0=}}: We were walking along the path that [[Tlamac]]'s friends had pointed out to us as a relatively safe one, even for those who had not spent their entire lived in the jungle. We could relax a little here; trying to stay on top of every rustle and shadow was profoundly wearisome, after all. I, however, could not afford such a luxury, as the commander must always be on the lookout. I had begun getting the hang of these woods, and many things previously hidden from me were no longer escaping my attention—but this time, I would have stomped by, never learning the most important thing in my life... if it hadn't been for [[Wynona]]. The [[dark elf]]'s ear twitched, and the next instant she was leaping into the bushes with a dagger drawn. After a few seconds of tussle, she dragged out... a [[halfling]]. He was gray-haired, emaciated, and clad in some rags. I examined his body and hands first, trying to decide if he could pose any danger, and only then did I look at his face. It was like another strike of lightning from [[Frederick]]'s dynamo. A blast from the past. A memory I thought erased.<p>“Unc… [[Uncle Kett]]...?”<p>'''[[Kett]]: '''“I used to go by that too... [[Moonchild]]?!”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: “[[Kett]]! It's me. Me! [[Henrietta]]! What moon child? Have you forgotten me?”<p>'''[[Kett]]: '''“How could one forget you? That's just what I'm saying. Never thought it'd be you who I’d see before croaking. Just hoped to tell someone. We're fighting. Not all of us have become [[demon]] meat yet. There's a war going on.”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: “What war? The [[devil]]s are upon someone again? I heard they had gotten served in [[Erathia]]. And who's ‘we’?!”<p>'''[[Kett]]: '''“We... the ones who stayed behind when you left. Some call us guerrillas, others like ‘cave rats’ more... heh, heh, damn right, we do bite. And when we do, it stings. And you… ohhhh.”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: “[[Uncle Kett]]! What's wrong? [[Wynona]]! He's barely breathing!”<p>{{h|Wynona|0=}}: “Look here, [[Henrietta]]. This wound... and this one... If there was any time at all, I could try to drain the infection out of them and reconnect the vessels. I'm sorry, but it's too late now. He's dying. Here’s all I can do...”<p>[[Wynona]] gave the dying man a whiff of some elixir, and his eyes opened. Gasping, the [[halfling]] mumbled:<p>'''[[Kett]]: '''“Listen to me, [[Henrietta]]... [[Erathia]] and [[AvLee]] have invaded [[Eeofol]] and are fighting the [[devil]]s. We wanted to help, so we gathered everyone who could hold a weapon from all our hideouts. Our squad attacked a coastal town of the [[Kreegan]]s—we snuck in there through an undercroft, and then we got betrayed. [[Olema]], the cursed half-breed... sent those who survived the battle to [[Kreelah]], for [[Lucifer]]’s pleasure, but the ship got sunk by [[pirate]]s... I made it out alone...”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: [[Kett]] started wheezing horribly and rolling his eyes back. I grabbed his head and gave him a shake:<p>"[[Uncle Kett]]! Unc… Please, breathe, don't go... Your squad? Were there others? And all of them died?”<p>'''[[Kett]]: '''“Ahhh… [[Moonchild]]... How good to have seen you... Please forgive. I beg you for everyone who... Your... your mother's name was [[Auna]]. Ask [[Tavin]] about her…”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: “[[Tavin]]? [[Tavin]]'s alive?! [[Kett]]! [[Kett]]!”<p>{{h|Wynona|0=}}: “He's gone, my friend. Let him rest. He earned it”.<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: I sat on the ground with the old man's head in my lap, swallowing bitter tears. There were no words.<p>{{h|Wynona|0=}}: “I think I know where we're going when we get off these islands.”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: “[[Wynona]], I–”<p>{{h|Wynona|0=}}: “You know it full well yourself. I've only known you a short time, but I've learned a lot about you. Your heart is where you were born. [[Eeofol]] has lived in your soul all these years. I don't know that place, but it must be beautiful. To bring freedom to your land—what a goal for a true warrior!”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: “Do you think I'm a warrior too?”<p>{{h|Wynona|0=}}: “‘Too’? You mean there are others who say so? Well, then it's time to accept your calling.”<p>{{h|Henrietta|0=}}: “I need to think about it. Maybe [[Tlamac]] can help me understand myself…”</p>}}

{{TErow| 32 | [[Pactal]]'s Lair | [[Tlamac Hundred Thoughts]] spake:<p>[[Pactal Child Eater]] is a great leader. Surprised to hear me talk of him so, aren’t you? I am simply way too old to let hatred cloud my judgment. He is strong and flexible, as hard and sharp as a bloodsucker frog's tooth, but his mind is malleable and receptive to anything that might benefit his tribe. Your airboats were attacked by his [[wyvern]]s—I don't know where [[Pactal]] found them, and he certainly doesn't worship them like we worshiped the [[Couatl]]s... but somehow he's managed to levy such powerful creatures, unheard of in our lands, into his service, and not just them. He was able to make fighters out of the dogheads, who we always thought of as vermin unworthy of even a kick—an angry shout was enough to make them scuttle into the bushes. His warriors sail between the islands in ships, fight in formation, wield weapons and use implements I have never even heard of, and he himself suddenly pops up here and there, and never sleeps in the same field camp two nights in a row. As if he were able to see his enemies' plans two steps ahead. I know something about him, however...<p>[[Pactal]] wants to claim all of the islands—if not for himself, then for his son. A few years ago, he stole the clutch laid by the fifth wife of the [[Bloodied Feathers]]’ old chieftain, but contrary to his custom, he left some of the eggs uneaten. He is raising one of the girls, intending to marry her; children by her will be his key to unlimited power over all the [[lizardmen]] of our islands. And I am not convinced that it would be a bad future for my kin...<p>Anyway, if you are to snatch the [[Hollow Eye]] from [[Pactal]], you will have to find the place where the [[Child Eater]] is keeping his future wife. Surely that's where he spends all his time between his campaigns. Old [[Tlamac]] has friends among the unseen spirits of the woods and marshes. Listen to what they told me…<p>Only the select few [[Pactal]] has no doubts about can enter his lair. Those are the commanders of his guard, and there is also one pirate captain, the one who sold him the [[Hollow Eye]], who enjoys such trust. Fortunately for you, the [[lizardmen]] have a very poor memory for human faces... They recognize the captain by his armor, shield, trident, and crown, all intricate artifacts of great power. I think you could try to find similar ones. If one of your warriors appears before the guards wearing them, they will take him for the captain and allow him to enter. They will demand that the artifacts be handed over to them for safekeeping, but at that point, that will no longer matter.</p>}}

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{{hero row|79, 40, 0|green|Henrietta|Mercenary}}

{{hero row|82, 39, 0|green|Wynona|Mercenary}}

{{hero row|4, 6, 0|blue|Shaabar|Beastmaster|image=Wystan}}

{{hero row|4, 36, 0|blue|Xolo|Witch|image=Merist (HotA)}}

{{hero row|104, 104, 0|pink|Renglie|Captain|image=Leena}}

{{hero row|47, 105, 1|pink|Dagdaro|Warlock|image=Alamar (HotA)}}

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