Prologue: A Gathering of Heroes - Part 3

Oslando wants to tend to the stranger’s severe wounds, but nothing more than a small pile of dark grey ashes remains. He looks down at the burned pile as the wind slowly takes him away, piece by piece, spreading the celestial being across the pale rocks of the mountain.
He turns his attention to the other peculiar phenomenon of this event, trying to identify the “H” that stands out of the red wax that seals the letter. It looks rather fancy with curly edges at the end of it and the envelope seems to be made of some silver fabric. Without any more procrastination, he opens it and takes out the piece of parchment inside of it.

“Oslando, Keeper of Peace,

You have made quite a name for yourself in the last months. I would like to say I’m very impressed and satisfied with your achievements with the civilians of Mercury Creek, but I would rather use these entitlements of your past achievements for one of your future ones, hopefully.

I write this letter to you with one single purpose: to persuade you to help us save the world. I speak on the behalf of the entire angelic council of the Silver Circle when I say that we need your help. The first signs of an imminent threat have presented them in the last few days and we believe this could be the omen of something immensely dreadful.”

Captured by the weighty text, the half-elf reads on. Within his chest, a spark ignites his righteous passion, one that always burns fiercely as injustice pops up its ugly head.

“An evil cult of blood magic using heretics has stolen a certain relic from our temple, an artefact used to help us maintain the balance from the heavens we reside in. They murdered the protectors - my friends - and took it away, using it for their own malicious rituals.
Oslando, this is distorting the scales of good and evil. I can feel the passing of it. My brethren have fallen ill and no cure lies within our reach without your help. Our prophets believe a handful of mortal heroes are the solution to rid the world of the grasp of evil and the worlds beside us forever. You are most certainly one of them.”

And there it was: a calling, a cause, a goal. He always tries to be the best version of himself, challenging himself every day to improve, helping everyone around him and now he is met with something to live for. How can he say no to an angel, almost begging him to assist in saving the world?

“I will enlighten you with all details upon your arrival as I can’t share everything with you right now. I fear the cultist will learn too much of what we’re planning if they get to my messenger before he gets to you. Continue your travels through the mountains. When you get past them, you’ll reach a more lush land, a land where you can find Crimson Gulch. I’ll be waiting.

You have no idea how high the stakes are and we are forever grateful for your assistance, eldritch knight. We will find a way to reward you when the time comes, but now you must make haste.

Yours sincerely,

Hadriel, First Descendant of the Seraphim”

He reads the last part again, memorizing his route, and starts walking. The winds are pushing him forwards and the mountain path looks passable enough for him to be swift.

“Too bad there aren’t any horses back in Mercury Creek”, he sighs as he sees the outstretched land before him, “but that would be taking the fun out of the challenge.”