#134 - Advancing Above and Below

The Journal of Wynn Dennavar 

Zarantyr 26th, 999 YK

We slew the remainder of the demons and enemy casters in the increasingly cramped rail car. There was no time to linger once the area was clear. We’d saved those we could, but at least one civilian had died during the conflict.

Past the bulk of Magnus’s great white wolf, I saw a warforged standing outside the door to the next train. The others dispersed—Cypher and Clarion and Izzeth joining me and Bale, Aleae, and Magnus clambering back to the roof. He left his wolf, glaring around with blood caked on its mouth, resenting whatever delay kept it from the fight.

From what I could see through the small window on the lightning rail’s heavy outside door, the warforged bore no insignia. It and its companion carried weapons, nothing else. After Cypher unlocked it, I cracked the door a few inches and asked who they were.

“Concerned passengers,” one replied.

I had trouble believing that. Two experienced Karrn veterans leaping in to finish off a troll, I understood. Two armed and unmarked warforged feeling concern for a random assortment of travelers? By now I could imagine a warforged like Clarion feeling and demonstrating concern, even Cypher when it came to his Brelish loyalties, but they showed that concern visibly in the styled gear they carried, and through speech and action. These two had none of that.

One looked upward and wordlessly started climbing the precarious ladder toward the roof, where the others were. I braced the outer door and called for them to stand down. Neither did. Instead, the one facing me drew a greatsword from where it hung on its back.

Sounds of combat began above. I had full confidence that Aleae alone could throw it off the rail if it caused trouble, let alone with the assistance of Magnus and Bale. The warforged on the ground level turned abruptly away, and in an easy motion yanked free one of the pins keeping the rail cars coupled. That it came free meant the chains were already removed—their work?

I threw open the door and between myself and the two truly concerned warforged, and we took the unmarked one down before it could pull the remaining pin. Above, the rooflings leapt across—the second warforged predictably and unceremoniously flung beneath the rail by unseen magic.

The Karrns looked to me for orders again. I worried that the dangers here were beyond those any normal soldier could face, even those whose loyalties I knew I could trust. But when I suggested they guard the surviving passengers, they told me they wouldn’t be able to assist if left behind. Ultimately it was their choice. I waved them over and we pulled the final pin.

Ahead in the next car, something had caused the others pause. Not knowing what was going on, I quietly approached Izzeth, who whispered to me that more foes were holding hostages out the windows—ready to drop them if we did not surrender.

A moment later, as if from some unheard signal, Clarion called a charge and burst through one of the ajar doors flanking the hall.

Advancing after him, I saw one lean, crossbow-armed human and another unmarked warforged. The enemy rogue shouted orders to yet-unseen others to drop the hostages. I also heard the distant, muffled song of harpies—too quiet to affect those of us inside the car, but hopefully the rooflings were becoming inured by now.

I glimpsed the warforged pause, staring upward for a moment, empty hand extended out the window, before turning after Clarion. Remembering Aleae flinging bodies from the train, I could guess she was hoisting the hostages upward to safety with her spell of telekinesis.

The rogue produced a crossbow and struck Izzeth. It appeared to do more harm than a simple bolt merited, given his reaction. I suspected some trick or poison. Here I didn’t spot any demons or casters, but we were being endlessly slowed on our progress to reach the Mire, and Sharn drew ever nearer as the lightning rail ascended a mountainside.