A Dangerous Bargain – Torren's Demands
Mellali's words hung in the air as Captain Torren leaned back in his chair, his calculating eyes locked on the two of them. For a moment, Mellali thought they might have convinced him, that Torren could see the writing on the wall—that Gregor's time was running out, and loyalty to a crumbling noble wasn't a wise business decision. But Torren wasn't someone who gave anything away for free, and the look on his face told Mellali that this negotiation was far from over.
Torren's lips twisted into a smirk, his rough voice cutting through the silence. "You make a good point, outsider. Gregor's debt has been a thorn in my side for a while, and I've had my doubts about whether he could keep his promises. But if you want me to cut ties with him, it's going to cost you. I don't deal in goodwill—I deal in coin and power."
Hadjer glanced at Mellali, her eyes narrowing slightly. She could sense where this conversation was heading, and Mellali didn't like it either. Torren wasn't going to be satisfied with vague promises of future rewards—he wanted something concrete, something he could use to further his own position.
Mellali kept his expression neutral, though inside, his mind was racing. "What do you want, Torren?"
The mercenary captain's smirk grew wider. "Simple. You two are gaining quite the reputation in this city—playing both sides, walking that fine line between noble and commoner, trying to keep the peace. If I'm going to back you, I need to know that when the dust settles, I'll come out on top. I want assurances that if Gregor falls, I'll be compensated for my loyalty—and I don't mean in words."
Mellali's brow furrowed. "Compensated how?"
Torren leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with greed. "When Gregor falls, his lands and influence will be up for grabs. The other hardliners will tear each other apart trying to claim what's left of him. I want first pick. His estates, his mercenary contracts, his power—I want it all. And I want your word that you'll support me in taking it."
Hadjer shifted beside Mellali, her tension evident. This was more than just cutting ties with Gregor—Torren wanted to position himself as a major power in the city, using the fall of the hardliners to solidify his own standing. It was a dangerous bargain, one that could shift the balance of power entirely if Torren decided to exploit it for his own gain.
Mellali clenched his fists under the table, struggling to find the right response. If they agreed to this deal, they would be tying themselves to a man as ruthless as Gregor, someone who cared only for power and coin. But if they didn't agree, the hardliners would remain strong, and the chance to weaken their grip on the city would slip away.
Torren's eyes flicked between Mellali and Hadjer, sensing their hesitation. "Think of it this way," he said, his voice smooth. "You need me. Without my mercenaries, Gregor will stay strong, and the hardliners will crush any chance of reform. But if I turn on him, the rest of the hardliners will scatter, and you'll have the leverage you need to push for peace. All I'm asking for is my share of the spoils. After all, power has to go somewhere when this is over. Better me than someone worse."
---
The Bargain – Mellali's Choice
Mellali glanced at Hadjer, trying to gauge her thoughts. Her expression was carefully neutral, but he could see the flicker of concern in her eyes. This was a dangerous game, and one wrong move could lead to disaster. But they both knew that if they didn't make a deal with Torren, Gregor would remain untouchable, and the hardliners would continue their march toward violence.
Hadjer spoke first, her voice measured. "If we agree to this, we'll need your loyalty—not just for the fall of Gregor, but for what comes after. Rivermouth is going to need stability, not just another power-hungry noble filling the void."
Torren chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Stability? You're asking for a lot. But fine. I don't care about ruling the city—I care about making sure my men are paid, and that we have a strong position when all this is over. If you can guarantee me that, I'll play along. But don't expect me to be a saint."
Mellali weighed his options. There was no perfect solution here. Torren was a mercenary—his loyalty was only as strong as the promise of reward. But Gregor's fall was essential if they were going to push the hardliners toward reform. They couldn't afford to leave the power structure untouched.
Finally, Mellali spoke, his voice low but firm. "You'll have your pick of Gregor's holdings, but only if you follow through. We need to bring Gregor down first. Once he's out of the way, you'll get your reward. But if you try to undermine us, or if you go back on your word, you'll be no different than Gregor. And we'll deal with you the same way."
Torren's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, though Mellali could sense the edge of ruthlessness beneath his smile. "Fair enough. I'll gather my men and prepare to turn on Gregor when the time is right. But remember—if you betray me, you'll regret it."
---
Moving Forward – Setting the Trap
With the deal struck, Mellali and Hadjer left the Iron Wolves' compound, the weight of their decision settling heavily on them. They had made a dangerous bargain with a dangerous man, but for now, it seemed like the best option. If Torren kept his word, Gregor's power would collapse, and the hardliners would lose their most valuable asset—the mercenaries that enforced their rule.
But there was no turning back now. They had promised Torren a piece of the spoils, and once Gregor fell, they would have to keep their word. It was a delicate balance—ensuring that Torren got what he wanted without allowing him to seize too much power.
As they walked through the darkened streets of Rivermouth, Hadjer finally spoke, her voice tense. "Do you think we made the right choice?"
Mellali sighed, glancing up at the moonlit sky. "I don't know. But we didn't have many options. Gregor had to fall, and Torren's the only one who can make that happen. We'll just have to make sure we're ready when the power struggle begins."
Hadjer nodded, though her worry was clear. "Torren's dangerous. If he decides to take more than we bargained for, we'll have another war on our hands."
Mellali frowned. "I know. But for now, we need him. Once Gregor's out of the picture, we can deal with Torren—one way or another."
Gregor's Desperate Move – A Violent Confrontation
Lord Gregor had been cornered. Mellali and Hadjer's subtle moves, along with Kareth's information and the agreement with Captain Torren, had worked faster than expected. The hardliner's power base was eroding, and rumors of his massive debts had started circulating among the other nobles. The mercenaries that had once been loyal to him were growing restless, sensing the weakness of their employer. Gregor, realizing he was losing control, decided to make a desperate move.
Instead of waiting for his world to collapse around him, Gregor struck first. Under the cover of night, he began consolidating his forces, gathering what remained of his loyal mercenaries and making a last-ditch effort to seize absolute power before the tide fully turned against him. He knew he couldn't maintain control through diplomacy or negotiation. No, this would require force. He needed to remove the threats to his authority—starting with Mellali and Hadjer.
---
The Ambush – Gregor's Lair
Mellali and Hadjer had been expecting a move from Gregor, but they didn't expect it to happen so soon. As they made their way through the narrow, twisting alleys of Rivermouth, they were ambushed by Gregor's men—mercenaries still loyal to him despite his growing desperation. The attack was sudden and violent, leaving no time for talk. It was clear that Gregor had decided to deal with them the only way he knew how: with brutal force.
Gregor himself stood at the end of the alley, watching from a distance with cold, calculating eyes as his mercenaries charged. He was dressed in dark armor, his hand gripping the hilt of a wicked-looking sword that pulsed with an unnatural glow. He wasn't just relying on mercenaries—Gregor had clearly acquired dangerous magical artifacts to bolster his strength.
Mellali and Hadjer immediately dropped into combat stances, their training and instincts kicking in.
---
Mellali's First Move – Psionic Assault
Mellali, as an Aberrant Mind Sorcerer, had a natural advantage when it came to mental assaults. His psionic abilities gave him a tactical edge in combat, especially against enemies who relied too heavily on brute strength. As the mercenaries charged toward him, swords drawn, Mellali raised his hand, his eyes glowing faintly as he reached into the minds of the first wave of attackers.
With a flick of his fingers, he cast Mind Spike (3rd-level spell), targeting the leader of the group. The mercenary stopped mid-charge, his face contorting in pain as Mellali's magic tore through his mind, revealing his every move to Mellali. The man screamed, clutching his head as the psychic energy flooded his mind.
( Damage: 14 psychic damage)
The mercenary's mind was now an open book to Mellali for the next hour, granting him valuable information on their tactics and positions.
The other mercenaries hesitated for just a moment, unnerved by their leader's sudden collapse, but Gregor barked an order from the shadows, his voice cold and commanding. "Kill them! They're just peasants with tricks!"
---
Hadjer's Bladesong – Into the Fray
Hadjer, an Eladrin Wizard Bladesinger, moved like lightning. As the mercenaries rushed them, she activated Bladesong as a bonus action, her body becoming a blur of graceful, deadly motion. Her rapier shimmered in the moonlight as she stepped forward, meeting the first mercenary head-on.
With her Bladesong active, Hadjer's speed and agility increased, her AC boosted as she dodged and weaved between strikes. The first mercenary swung a heavy axe at her, but Hadjer ducked low, spinning with impossible grace, her rapier flashing out in a deadly arc.
The mercenary stumbled back, blood pouring from a deep cut across his chest, but Hadjer didn't stop. She used her momentum to slide past the next attacker, her body moving with the precision of a dancer, her eyes focused and cold.
As she moved, she cast Mirror Image (2nd-level spell) on herself, summoning three illusory duplicates that flickered and shifted around her, making it nearly impossible for the mercenaries to land a hit.
(Attack from the mercenaries: 14 vs. AC – hits an illusion, 1 illusion destroyed)
One of the mercenaries swung at her, but his blade passed harmlessly through one of her duplicates, which shimmered and disappeared in a puff of arcane energy.
---
Gregor's Response – Dark Magic
Watching his mercenaries struggle against Mellali and Hadjer, Gregor's patience wore thin. He strode forward, drawing his sword with a dark grin. The blade, imbued with some kind of necrotic energy, pulsed as he muttered an incantation under his breath.
Gregor lifted his free hand, pointing at Mellali. "You think your mind tricks will work on me, boy? You're nothing compared to the power I've harnessed!"
With that, Gregor cast Blight (4th-level spell), a wave of necrotic energy rushing toward Mellali, intending to drain the life from him in a single, devastating strike.
(Damage: 36 necrotic, reduced to 18)
Mellali winced as the necrotic energy washed over him, burning through his body like a cold flame. He barely managed to resist the worst of it, but the pain was still intense. His vision blurred for a moment, but he remained standing, his mind focused on the task at hand.
---
Mellali's Counterattack – Psionic Blast
Gritting his teeth through the pain, Mellali raised his hand toward Gregor. This wasn't just about winning a fight anymore—this was about survival. He couldn't afford to let Gregor's power overwhelm them.
Summoning all of his strength, Mellali unleashed his most powerful spell: Psionic Blast (3rd-level), a cone of force erupting from his mind and slamming into Gregor and the nearest mercenaries. The air itself seemed to warp and crackle with raw psychic energy as the blast ripped through the alley.
(Damage: 25 force damage, Gregor and the mercenaries are knocked prone)
The blast sent Gregor and the mercenaries flying backward, their bodies slamming into the walls with bone-crunching force. The two mercenaries were knocked unconscious, their bodies crumpling to the ground. Gregor, however, struggled to his feet, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, his face twisted with fury.
---
Hadjer's Finishing Move – The Dance of Death
Seeing Gregor stagger to his feet, Hadjer took her chance. With her Bladesong still active, she darted forward, her movements too fast for Gregor to follow. Her rapier gleamed as she leaped into the air, spinning gracefully before bringing the blade down toward Gregor in a precise strike.
But she wasn't done. As she struck, she muttered an incantation, casting Booming Blade (cantrip) with her attack. The air around her blade shimmered with arcane energy, and as her rapier pierced Gregor's armor, the energy exploded outward, trapping him in a vibrating field of thunderous force.
Gregor screamed as the energy coursed through him, his body convulsing as the thunderous energy held him in place. He dropped to his knees, his sword falling from his grasp.
---
Gregor's Last Stand – The Final Blow
Gregor's breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to stand, his hands trembling. "You... you think you've won?" he rasped, his voice filled with pain and desperation. "You're fools... all of you..."
Mellali stepped forward, his eyes cold and focused. "It's over, Gregor. Your time is up."
Gregor sneered, but the fight had gone out of him. He was too weak to continue, and the mercenaries who remained were either unconscious or fleeing the battlefield. With a final, desperate scream, Gregor lunged at Mellali, but his movements were slow, uncoordinated.
Mellali didn't flinch. As Gregor stumbled forward, Mellali raised his hand one last time, casting Mind Sliver (cantrip), sending a sharp psychic spike into Gregor's mind.
Gregor's eyes widened in horror as the psychic spike drove into his skull, his body convulsing one last time before he collapsed to the ground, dead.
Aftermath – A Fragile Victory
The alley was eerily quiet now, save for the sound of Mellali and Hadjer's heavy breathing. The bodies of Gregor's mercenaries lay scattered around them, and Gregor himself was dead at their feet. The once-powerful lord, who had ruled with fear and brutality, had been defeated—but the victory felt far from triumphant.
Mellali wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind still buzzing from the intensity of the battle. His body ached from the necrotic energy Gregor had unleashed, but the pain was dulled by the adrenaline still coursing through him. They had won, but the weight of what came next loomed heavy in the air.
Hadjer, still in her Bladesong stance, scanned the area, her breathing slowly returning to normal. The shimmering illusions of her Mirror Image spell had flickered out, leaving just her, Mellali, and the scattered remnants of Gregor's forces. She looked at Mellali, her expression serious but calm.
"It's over," she said quietly, though there was no joy in her voice.
Mellali nodded, his eyes drifting to Gregor's lifeless body. "For now."
---
A Power Vacuum – What Comes Next?
With Gregor dead, the power structure of the hardliners would be thrown into chaos. The other nobles who had allied with him out of fear or necessity would now find themselves without their most brutal leader. Some might attempt to seize power for themselves, while others might see Gregor's fall as a signal that the time for reform had come.
But there was another looming problem: Torren, the mercenary captain, would soon come to claim his reward. Mellali had promised him a piece of Gregor's holdings in exchange for his betrayal, but how much power Torren would take, and whether he could be controlled, was an open question. Mellali didn't trust him—and with good reason. Torren was as ambitious as Gregor had been, and now that the balance of power was shifting, he would want his share.
Hadjer sheathed her rapier, her expression still tense. "Torren will want to know what happened. We need to be careful with him."
Mellali sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. We're walking a fine line, and if Torren thinks he can take more than we agreed on, things could get messy."
Hadjer nodded. "We can't let him become the next Gregor. We need to make sure that the moderates have a chance to step up, or we'll just end up with a new tyrant."
---
The Nobles React – Whispers of Change
As Mellali and Hadjer made their way back to their safehouse, the streets of Rivermouth were still dark and empty. The city was quiet for now, but Mellali knew that wouldn't last. By morning, the news of Gregor's death would spread through the noble circles like wildfire, and every faction—moderates and hardliners alike—would be scrambling to reassess their positions.
In the dim light of the early morning, they reached the small, nondescript building that served as their safehouse. Kareth was waiting for them inside, his usual calm demeanor replaced with a flicker of excitement as he saw them enter.
"It's done, then?" Kareth asked, his voice quiet but urgent.
Mellali nodded. "Gregor's dead. His mercenaries scattered. But it's not over. The other hardliners will move to fill the power vacuum, and Torren is going to want his share."
Kareth's eyes narrowed, and he leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms. "Torren's ambitious, but he's not a fool. He knows the power in Rivermouth is shifting. If we play this right, we can keep him in check—and use Gregor's death to push the moderates into a stronger position."
Hadjer stepped forward, her voice firm. "But we need to act fast. The hardliners are going to be in disarray, but that won't last long. If we can get to the moderates before they do, we might be able to stabilize things before another fight breaks out."
Kareth smiled faintly, though there was a hint of caution in his expression. "I'll start reaching out to the moderate nobles, but we need to be careful. The hardliners will be on edge after Gregor's fall, and some of them might get desperate. Keep your eyes open."
---
The Next Step – Securing the Future
Mellali leaned against the doorframe, his mind still racing from the fight with Gregor. There was so much to do—so many threads that still needed to be pulled. The fall of Gregor had been a necessary victory, but it was just the beginning. Now, they had to secure the peace they had been fighting for. They had to make sure that Gregor's death didn't lead to a new round of violence and power struggles.
Hadjer, sensing his thoughts, placed a hand on his arm. "We'll figure it out," she said quietly. "One step at a time."
Mellali nodded, though the weight of what they had started still hung heavy on his shoulders. "I just hope we haven't made things worse."
Kareth's eyes gleamed with determination. "We haven't. Gregor was a tyrant, and his death will force the others to think twice before following in his footsteps. But we need to keep moving. We can't let the hardliners regroup."