A Tale of Revenge - Part 4: Casting a Wide Net

[Corweena]

A Tale of Revenge:

Part 1: The Day the World Stood Still

Part 2: Heretic!

Part 3: Baptism of Fire

Part 4: Casting a Wide Net  <--- You are here

Part 5: Ghosts of Days Past

Part 6: A Blood Soaked Symphony

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For this next chapter in the series, we jump forward in time to the present day, 25 years after the events in Parts 1-3. 

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January 13, 625AE

Maldria, the interior

 

For the last two years, Corwin and his finest intelligence agents had been scouring every corner of Halos for information regarding the Cleric of the Order responsible for his parents death. The search so far had turned up nothing but false leads, dead ends, and disappointment. Until last month, when a local black market rum-runner was bribed to reveal that he had delivered a shipment of rum to Maldria, to a lonely old hermit, rumored to be a former cleric. They immediately set out for the island, and after 2 weeks trekking through the interior, located the old hermit's camp. 

 

"Good evening to you old man" said Corwin, as he walked up to the hermit's fire. The hermit, slowly looked up from his bottle of rum.....his eyes glazed over with drunken stupor. He slowly glanced around at the stern figure in front of him, and then men surrounding his camp, and it came into his foggy brain that he was being robbed. "Pleaaaasththh" he stammered....."jushhht leave me my rum, and you can have everything elsth."

Corwin glanced at the sparse camp with its few remaining supplies "we aren't here for your things old man, we are here for YOU". Those words cut through the hermit's rum-fog like a hot knife, he instantly woke up, as fear washed over him. "Me? Why in the blazes would you want a poor old man wishing to be left alone? 

 

"We have it on good authority that you were once a Cleric of the Order of the faith. And that you participated in and were responsible for the deaths of dozens of poor Citizens" stated Corwin.

The old man replied...."while it is true I was a cleric, I despised those burnings....the head cleric above me was an extremist and forced us to execute those poor people!"

"Still!" continued Corwin, "you were complicit in the deaths of those people, whether you like it or not. I'm going to ask you this once, and answer me honestly old man. Was your master Gerard Bertrand?"

"h-h-how did you kn-" stammered the man.

"Look at me" said Ragnarrson. Do you remember....25 years ago. A man and his wife burned to death in a small villlage. They had a son, and-"

"You're the boy that got away!" cried the old man. "Cleric Bertrand rained holy hellfire on us for letting you escape. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was there that day."

"I know you were. The moment I set eyes on you, I knew you were not Bertrand. I assumed correctly that you were associated with him though. Which leads me to ask...where is that ill-gotten excuse for a priest?" inquired Corwin.

The old man paused, trying to remember through his soupy rum-laden memory..."Bertrand was excommunicated about 15 years ago....long before I left the order. As it turns out, the only thing he loves more than burning heretics is stealing their wealth. The church caught wind that he was taking almost half of all of the gold, jewels, and money that his victims possessed. And for that, he was summarily kicked out and excommunicated from the Order. I can't say for certain, but I heard some rumors that he has setup shops in a few Sea Rat ports....acting as middleman for Black Flagged Pirates and selling their stolen wares back to the very people they stole them from! I would start your search there."

 

"You wouldn't lie to me, would you old man?" asked Ragnarrson. 

"Never! Cried the old man......"please have mercy on me!"

Corwin looked over the old man for a minute, before saying "I had in my mind to kill you where you stand....but it appears the rum is already doing that. I pity you.....and the Old Gods will judge you according to your actions." 

With that, the group of men set back off into the jungle towards their ship, to continue their search for the infamous Cleric Bertrand. The old man cracked open another bottle, intent on drowning the memories of the past in the euphoric embrace of rum.

 

Stay tuned for Part 5 next!

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Some top-down pics of the scene:

 

Edited February 20 by Corweena

[Professor Thaum]

Very nice continuing of the story, we want more !

the idea for the shack is clever and will definetely be borrowed

the ground gradient is well done

[NOD]

Interesting and exciting continuation of the story! The varied terrain of the diorama looks good. I don't like Gerard Bertrand, I hope Corwin catch him someday.

Edited February 8 by NOD

[Corweena]

On 2/7/2025 at 3:09 AM, Professor Thaum said:

Very nice continuing of the story, we want more !

the idea for the shack is clever and will definetely be borrowed

the ground gradient is well done

Thanks Professor! 

I like the shack as well. Took a few tries to get the proper "lean-to" look. I have most of the next chapter built, just waiting on some specialty bricks to arrive to finish it off. 

Most of my collection is classic pirates and 90s era sets. I've been visiting the local used book/game/toy store that sells loose bricks by the bag. Been trying to grab as many modern colors and useful pieces as possible. 

5 hours ago, NOD said:

Interesting and exciting continuation of the story! The varied terrain of the diorama looks good. I don't like Gerard Bertrand, I hope Corwin catch him someday.

 

Thank you! You will definitely like the next chapter coming up