Ah, but let us speak more particularly of Kurt Volker, the dwarf whose name scarcely warrants a whisper amongst the tale of the Heroes Journey. A dwarf, seen as nothing more than an oddity—a second-class subject fulfilling his duties. But mark my words, and read the interviews with the Heroes themselves, and you’ll soon discover that it is Hero Volker who stands at the very heart of this band. It was he who, through bonds forged in the fires of loyalty and perseverance, united this motley crew. It was his unyielding spirit and tireless effort that held them together through the fiercest interparty clashes. Listen well to the accounts of the surviving Heroes. They speak of Hero Volker not merely as a comrade, but as a father. Yet the tale does him no justice. Why, you ask? Because the Jeweled Empire, with all its arrogance, could never bear to admit the debt it owes to a people it so ruthlessly subjugated. Regrettably, Hero Volker seems at peace with this reality. For years, he served our great Lord Ranier and risked his life time and again. Who am I to reproach him for choosing the comforts of a quieter life? Perhaps, it is for this reason that we no longer hear of Hero Acciaio. But take heart, for when Hero Volker’s son emerges, perhaps we shall find the rallying figure we need to rekindle the flame of independence for the Dwarven Kingdom. – The Masked One, leader of the Iron God’s Own dwarven independence movement
KURT
Kurt leaned against a jagged wall of a destroyed tenement house. Kurt wiped his face with the back of his sleeve. It didn’t help much. His clothing was soaked with sweat. These long battles were far more physically draining than he remembered. The thick smoke hanging over the city didn’t help. A person couldn’t catch his breath.
The fire started around midday. Kurt wanted to blame it on the Purists, but it could have just been easily a knocked over lantern. In the heat of battle, no one realized how bad the fire was until it burned out the shops and businesses in Low Market. The last Kurt heard it was working its way through the Alsoin and Promenade districts. Pallus was forced to send a couple hundred volunteers as an impromptu fire brigade. Much to Kurt’s surprise, the Purists weren’t attacking anyone busy fighting the fire, even if those fighting the fire were armed. Small favors.
“Two more blocks and we hit the Aponte Wall,” Chief Constable Dalan said, joining Kurt behind the ruined building. With Marteen missing, the chief constable was now the senior officer in the field. Dalan spent the better part of an hour leading a force of constables and some veterans against a probe by Purist heavy infantry. The Purists took heavier losses than Dalan’s men, but they could afford them. Kurt guessed the volunteers were down to maybe a third of their numbers, while the constables were closer to half. Kurt could see the strain in Dalan’s eyes of losing so many of his constables.
“Did you really think it wouldn’t be this bad?” Kurt asked. Dalan shrugged his shoulders. Battle cries echoed a couple streets over from yet another push by the Purists. The Edess Kul didn’t believe in giving the defenders any quarter if she could help it. Kurt heaved himself off the wall and trotted to the growing sounds of battle. Dalan ordered the few constables nearby to follow. By the time Kurt, Dalan, and the half-dozen armored constables reached the fight, the combat was little more than a general melee between Purists and volunteers. Kurt surveyed the scene for a moment and motioned for the constables to form up on his flanks. If they pushed back one corner, they might be able to roll the Purists back.
Kurt raised his shield and charged a Purist. The elf was too focused on trying to kill the volunteer in front of him. He never saw Kurt’s sword as it came down on his collarbone. As the Purist collapsed, the constables flowed into the small hole Kurt made. The hole was forced wider as the constables cut down Purists and the volunteers joined the momentum. Kurt kept himself as close to the front of the line as he could. Much to his chagrin, the volunteers fought harder when a Hero of the Empire was alongside them.
Kurt let his mind dwell on that thought an instant too long and the Purist in front of him took advantage of it. Kurt felt the Purist’s axe ride down along his shield before coming back up and biting deep into his side. The leather and chain kept the axe from opening Kurt’s flesh, but his ribs cracked under the weight of the blow. Kurt stumbled back and the elf pressed his attack. Kurt tried to open the distance by stabbing out with his sword. The Purist pivoted and came down with an overhand strike. Kurt barely managed to catch it on his shield with a ringing block the dwarf felt all the way to his shoulder. The Purist smiled and then screamed in pain as a sword punched through his torso.
Selene wiped the blood off her sword as the Purist collapsed into the street. Her armor was blood-splattered, but at least it looked like none of it was hers. She sheathed her sword and ran her hands over Kurt. He grunted as she touched his side. With a grimace, Selene spoke a prayer under her breath. Warmth spread across Kurt’s body. As it subsided, his pain went from intense to bearable.
“Not that I’m not grateful, Selene, but what are you doing here?” Kurt asked.
“Pallus’s orders. Everyone is to pull back to the Wall before nightfall. The paladins and I were sent out to bring back anyone I could,” Selene answered. She nodded to the fifty men in the green armor of the paladins tearing through the remnants of the Purists.
“I thought you were up at the Liopasto with Robar working at the hospital,” Kurt said as he followed her back to the Aponte Wall.
“My husband ordered me out of the hospital when the runner came looking for paladins,” Selene said in a flat tone. “As he eloquently stated, I’m needed here.” She stopped after a block and looked back at the burning city.
“Kurt, the Gold Gate is open,” Selene said. “Pallus wants you to report in at the Golden Observatory. I need to continue pulling people back to the Wall.”
“I’ll go with you,” Kurt said. She laid a gentle hand on his shoulder and gave him a sad smile.
“Sorry, but Pallus specifically said when I found Marteen or you, I was to send you along to report to him as soon as possible,” Selene said.
“Be careful out there Selene,” Kurt said. “It’s worse than any of the fights we were in during our last adventure.”
“Don’t worry Kurt, I’ve got plenty of experienced paladins with me. I fully intend on not getting in their way.”
Kurt motioned for the constables and the volunteers to follow him back to the Gold Gate. When the Wall was spun, the artisans left no openings. Instead, eight gateways were etched into the crystal of the wall. Even when the humans sealed away the world’s natural magic, the intricate gateways kept enough of their intrinsic magic to stay open. The Gold Gate was the largest and allowed the Boulevard of Light to continue into the Inner City. Kurt saw the sparkles of yellow energy that gave the gate its name a block before they reached the gate. Ragged and worn volunteers and constables trudged into the Inner City. Keeping order in front of the Golden Gate was a line of twenty musket-armed Crystal Guard. A stern-faced female paladin directed the detachment. Kurt guessed she was this Etan. She certainly looked competent enough. Kurt followed the line of defenders through the gate. Just inside the gate, the Knifehand pulled Kurt and Dalan aside.
“Thank the Goddess I found the two of you,” the Knifehand said, “Follow me.”
“Selene said I needed to go to the Observatory to talk with Pallus,” Kurt said.
“He’s not there. He’s at the Arrival Courtyard,” the Knifehand said.
“What’s he doing there?”
“You need to see for yourself,” the Knifehand answered, looking both relieved and worried at the same time. Kurt and Dalan traded confused looks.
“Mortan, why don’t you stay here for when Marteen shows up?” Kurt suggested. “Assuming Selene doesn’t fillet him when she finds him.” Arrival Courtyard was only a few blocks away from the Gold Gate. The Inner City’s side streets were remarkably clear of pedestrians.
Kurt paused as they neared the Arrival Courtyard. Pallus stood at the entrance with a man in the formal green and black uniform of the Capitol Army. Four gold arrowheads glittered on the man’s epaulets in the setting sun. A major, if Kurt remembered Imperial Army ranks.
“Where’s Marteen?” Pallus asked.
“I don’t know. The last time I saw him, Marteen was leading the firebrands to attack the Purists musketeers on the Boulevard of Light,” Kurt answered.
“Of course he would do that.”
“Who’s your friend?” Kurt motioned to the army officer. The officer braced to attention and saluted.
“Major Tark,” the officer introduced himself, “I am General Lopanes’s aide. He sent me ahead to coordinate the Capitol Army’s return with the Lisandra authorities.” Kurt’s eyes went wide.
“The Army’s returning?” Kurt asked.
“The Capitol Army will be coming through the gates starting at midnight. Every gate in the Inner City,” Pallus answered with a detached tone. “Our forces need to hold the Aponte Wall until morning, to give the Army time to organize.”
“Then we’re going to punch right through these motherless bastards and kill that Edess Kul bitch,” the major said.
“Yes, just so,” Pallus said, as if a child said spoken. “Chief Constable Dalan, would you please work with the major on the logistics of moving the Capitol Army through the Inner City?”
“Of course,” Dalan answered, flatly. “Major, let’s go talk with what’s left of my senior constables at the Imperial Gardens. They’ll have a better idea of the conditions right now.” As the two men walked off, Pallus turned back to Kurt.
“Shortly after the major came through the gate, the Diet declared a state of emergency,” Pallus said, “With that declaration, the Suprema sent the paladins to assist us. Unfortunately, we can’t raise the Barrier while any of the Aponte gates are still open.” Pallus looked back at the Wall and grimaced.
“Kurt, you should head back to the Crystal Palace. Get some food and some sleep. I’ll need you to help the Capitol Army when it pushes out into the Outer City. If there are any of the volunteers or the constables you recommend as scouts, please let me know. After you’ve had a chance to rest.” Kurt studied Pallus for a long moment.
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” Kurt said. “Something about the convenient return of the Army.”
“Yes,” Pallus said. Kurt didn’t press the issue. First, because it was probably something to do with elven family politics. Kurt made it a point to stay out of those. Secondly, because he suddenly realized exactly how hungry and tired he was the moment Pallus mentioned food and sleep. Kurt hoisted his sword onto his shoulder and walked down the street to the Crystal Palace.
