Jo rocketed down the packed street, dodging and weaving through the stunned crowds. What seemed liked half the city – from wagons and carriages to the civilians on the sidewalk – had frozen in place, everyone pointing at the tongues of flame that licked into the sky, thick stacks of smoke accompanying them. Further up the street, Griffon Riders flew about the place, crisscrossing through the air as they surveyed the scene.

Panting, Jo glanced backwards and was relieved to see Pavel and Cruck’aa hot on her heels; she didn’t know why she was running straight towards epicenter of what was more than likely a deliberate attack, but a part of her felt as though she had to help, if she was able to.

Evidently, the other half of Waterdeep seemed to feel the same. The paralyzed crowds slowly gave way to more animated masses, growing thicker by the block. Rubbernecking civilians began to pull away as mercenaries, retired veterans, and adventurers like herself all tried to shove their way forwards, clogging the street and sidewalk. So congested was the mess that Jo had to stop and shove herself against the wall of a building, paces away from the intersection where the street crossed with The High Road, the apparent origin of the attack. Black smoke blanketed the sky, and though she desperately wanted to see more, Jo couldn’t find a space to slip through.

Pavel and Cruck’aa almost ran into her; Jo turned sideways to face them, yelling to make herself heard over the crowd.

“You two good?”

“Yeah!” Pavel had his hands on his hips, controlling his breathing; Cruck’aa bent over, hands on his knees, having no such control. “Can you see anything?!”

“No, too packed!”

“Fuck!” Pavel yelled. “It’s like everyone and their mother wants to see!”

“We’re a part of that group too!”

“I guess!”

Pavel sucked in a deep breath, his breathing finally steady; Jo glanced back, scanning through the crowds, until she spotted a small opening barely a few paces away.

She pointed to it. “I think we can get through that way, come one!”

“What?!” Cruck’aa gasped, looking up. “Just let me fly –”

Jo flipped around, ignoring the Aarakocra; immediately, Pavel grabbed her shoulder and tapped twice – a signal that meant he was ready. Old instincts flaring up, Jo shoved forward into the crowd.

Slipping through was easier than she had expected; many were too busy yelling at the front or loudly talking to those next to them, their voices swirling into a horrible cacophony. Occasionally, a lone Griffon Rider would swoop low overhead, sending ripples through the crowd as they shouted orders that no one paid any attention too.

Jo grimaced as she elbowed past two men wearing full plate armor, two walls of iron amidst a sea of bodies; perhaps having a city full of adventurers, retired and current, wasn’t such a good thing as many believed.

When she finally broke through the crowd to the intersection proper, however, Pavel still at her shoulder, Jo couldn’t help but understand why so many seemed desperate to help.

A column of City Guard blocked off entrance to the crossing, holding back the crowds with spears at the ready. Behind them, a sea of grey rubble and stone chunks filled the intersection, almost choking off the square entirely. Jo’s eyes followed the rubble as it rose higher and higher to the left, only to gasp as she spotted the source.

Like a corpse left out in the sun, the blackened and charred shell of what was once a stone building stood precariously on the street corner, almost directly to the left of the crowd. Only half of the building remained; its roof had caved in, and its once beige walls were now covered in soot. Rubble and destroyed chunks of wall spilled out like entrails from a disemboweled corpse, filling a massive swath of the intersection, almost covering the street entirely.

So thick was the debris field that Jo quickly realized that it couldn’t have all come from the same building. Though she couldn’t see past the first, Jo knew that the building behind it must have been in even worse condition; beyond that was more than likely the origin of the explosion, though that was easy to tell with the tower of flames that still sprouted into the air. Distantly, from further down the road, Jo thought she could make out the shouts and orders of more City Guard.

Stomach twisting, she tore her attention away from the ruined buildings, casualty numbers actively climbing in her head. Only then did she see the chaos that filled the intersection beyond the wall of Guard.

Towards the right of the square, close to a line of guards further down, blocking another entrance, a triage station had been hastefully erected. Men and women dressed in leather vests and bright red tunics tended to those who had survived the explosion. Many were covered with soot and blood, sitting in various states of shock as their wounds were tended to. Further back, almost out of sight, a large white tarp was laid out on the corner sidewalk on the other side of the square, the tell-tale signs of bodies hidden underneath.

Jo swore and ducked her head, heart aching with each beat; such an extreme act of violence and for what?

Pavel tugged at Jos’ shoulder, pulling her from her thoughts; he leaned into her ear, the only way to be heard over the crowd.

“You okay?!” he asked, eyes wide.

“No!” Jo shouted back; one of the guards gestured with his spear, agitating the crowd. “I’m not! This is fucking horrible Pavel!”

“I know!”

“What was even the point?!”

Pavel shook his head.

Jo sighed and rubbed her face; it had been so long since she’d seen such an act of violence that she could barely keep her emotions in check. How much she wanted to run into the square and –

“Think there’s anything we can do to help!?” Pavel asked.

“What?! No!” Jo stared at him. “We need to stay out of this! Everyone in the city wants to help, it would be chaos trying to do anything! Better to let the Guard handle it! They’re trained for this in the first place!”

“I know, but I still feel like we should do something!”

“What could we do!?” Jo looked back at the intersection and gestured at it with both hands. “Aside from getting –”

Jo’s eyes went wide, her words dying in her throat.

To the left of the triage station, closer to the rubble and somehow missed by Jo initially, sat Serena, hands in manacles, with two City Guard towering over her, one armed, one unarmed.

Not an ounce of soot covered her body, tunic and long skirt looking as clean as they always did; her skin was a shade darker, almost a deep tan, while her hair had changed to a shocking shade of white, like snow. She ignored the two guards who seemed to be speaking to her, a look of intense concentration etched across her face.

A cold sweat broke across Jo’s back; Serena looked completely fine compared to almost everyone else in the intersection, which frightened Jo to no end.

She flipped around and yanked Pavel in front of her, pointing out Serena. As she did – Pavel’s own eyes growing wide – Cruck’aa finally managed to shove his way to the front, a look of utter disgust painted across his face.

Without a word, Pavel began to shove his way towards the middle of the crowd. Jo, equally silent, grabbed Cruck’aa’s arm and pulled him after her, the crowd thankfully drowning out the Aarakocra’s protests.

She was glad Pavel was leading the way; Jo could barely think straight, fear flooding through her body like an icy wave. Despite how angry she was however many minutes ago, there was zero reason for Serena to be manacled on the ground next to the largest act of potential terrorism Waterdeep had seen in some time. Absolutely no reason at all. Whatever they believed her to have done, Jo knew they were wrong. They had to be. They had to be.

As Pavel shoved his way through the middle and towards the line of guards, Jo and Cruck’aa on his heels, four City Guard stepped forward to meet them, leveling their spears at them as they broke out of the crowd. As they did, everyone behind them immediately shied away, leaving Jo, Pavel, and Cruck’aa to stand alone.

“Move!” Pavel yelled, oblivious to the four spears pointed his way. “We –”

“Sir!” One guard bellowed back. “No one is allowed into the square! If you continue to move forward, we will use deadly force!”

Cruck’aa ripped his arm out of Jo’s grip, fury in his eyes; before he could say anything, Jo grabbed him and pointed his head towards Serena. He sputtered as he caught sight of her.

“That’s our friend in there!” Pavel continued to yell. “We need to get to her!”

“Sir! I will not repeat myself; you are not allowed in there!”

“But that’s our friend!”

“Sir! I cannot allow you in there!”

“But we need to see our friend!”

Pavel and the guard fell into a loop of shouting, neither getting through to the other; as they did, the guards on either side slowly began to creep forward, until a loose semi-circle of spears pointed at them. This did nothing to deter Cruck’aa, however, as he marched forward to stand with Pavel.

Jo cursed under her breath, fighting off her full body tremble; perhaps she shouldn’t have pointed Serena out to him.

“You would deny us the comfort of attending to a family member?!” He spat at the guard. “How dare –”

“Sir!” The guard’s head snapped to Cruck’aa. “If I let everyone in who said the same thing as you, this entire place would explode! You cannot come in!”

“And what gives you the right to do that!?”

“My –” That had caught the man off guard. “Sir, I refuse to debate this with you! Please leave, all of you!”

“I’m not leaving until I at least talk to my friend!” Pavel yelled. “Can we at least do that?!”

“No, for gods sake!”

“And why not?!” Cruck’aa pointed a talon over the guard’s shoulder at Serena; one of the guards beside him followed it with a quick turn of his head. “She’s obviously in distress! We need to speak with her!”

Barely contained rage filled the guard’s eyes, sending a chill down Jo’s spine; just as her tremble subsided and the proper words formed in her head to hopefully defuse the situation, the guard exploded.

“Deneir’s Balls!” He bellowed. “I am sick and tired of you people refusing to listen!” The guard shook his spear in Pavel’s face. “We have a job to do, and no one lets us do it! Stay back, let us get everything under control, and we’ll see that you can get to your loved ones! But if you keep! Fucking! Asking! Then I will have no choice but –”

The guard next to him slapped a hand on his shoulder, scaring the angry guard; he whispered to him, then pulled away, leveling his spear back at the three of them.

All trances of anger had vanished from the first guard’s face. Brows furrowed, he looked over his shoulder for a moment, then twisted back around.

“The Drow is with you?” he asked.

“Yes!” Jo shouted past Cruck’aa and Pavel, both of whom looked confused. “Yes! She’s with us, that’s who we’re worried about!”

“Uh, right, well…” The guard lowered his spear. “Wait here please. Do not leave. If you try to, we uh…we will arrest you.”

And without another word, the guard spun on his heel and jogged back into the intersection; the line of City Guard immediately closed rank, filling the gap he had left.

Jo bit her lip, heart hammering. That wasn’t good.

Evidently, Cruck’aa and Pavel seemed to think the same; Cruck’aa crossed his arms, eyes narrowed, while Pavel laid his hands on the back of his head, a stricken look across his face. And though Jo couldn’t read their minds, she knew the singular thought that all three of them currently shared.

What had Serena done?

The guard they had spoken to halted in front of the unarmed guard next to Serena; the look of concentration shattered on Serena’s face as the two began to speak, her eyes going wide. Her head shot up, her blue eyes – shining brilliantly even from a distance – scanning the crowd. Jo threw her hand up and waved, causing the guards to shout at her.

But it worked; a shocked expression leapt across Serena’s face as she spotted the three of them. She immediately tried to stand, only for the armed guard to push her back down.

“What are they doing to her?!” Cruck’aa shouted.

“Easy,” Pavel said, laying a hand on the Aarakocra’s shoulder. “just making sure she stays put. Don’t do anything.”

Muttering a curse, Jo caught Serena’s gaze again; she jerked a finger at the flames further down the street – thankfully dying out – then pointed back at Serena, raising her brows as much as she physically could.

Serena looked over at the ruined building and stared at it; she grimaced and hung her head, sending a jolt of fear lancing through Jo’s body.

Before Jo could panic further, however, Serena’s head came back up; she met Jo’s gaze and shook her head, a sad look in her eyes.

Jo breathed a sigh of relief.

The guard that they had first spoken to stepped to the side and saluted; the unarmed guard that he had been talking to marched across the intersection towards them, a grim look on his face. It was only then that Jo caught the single stripe sewn onto his left shoulder.

The lieutenant barked an order as he drew close to the line of guards; immediately, the guards pulled their spears away from Jo, Pavel, and Cruck’aa. They split down the middle, creating a gap in their line, eyes still focused squarely on the three of them.

“You three!” The lieutenant shouted. “Step through the line!”

Jo immediately followed the order, Pavel and Cruck’aa right behind her. Shouts of anger rang out from the crowd behind them as the guards closed the gap.

Somehow, the lieutenant seemed more serious than any of the other guards; his bald head shone brightly in the sun, his narrowed eyes searching as Jo halted in front of him, Cruck’aa and Pavel behind her. He crossed his arms over his chest plate, his eyes flicking to and staying on Pavel. Just as Cruck’aa was about to make a comment – a rude one, Jo was sure – the lieutenant spoke.

“Explain to me what the Champion of Waterdeep and his two friends have to do with a terrorist.”

“What?!” Cruck’aa screeched; the lieutenant ignored him.

“Terrorist?” Pavel asked, voice quavering slightly. “I know Serena and she’s everything but a terrorist.”

“Well, by all means, explain to me how she isn’t.” The lieutenant nodded towards the rubble. “This Drow comes stumbling out of the ruins of three buildings completely unscathed, not a soot mark on her. From the epicenter, mind you.” He cocked his head. “I’m not sure how someone can escape a three-block wide explosion like that and not be the one casting whatever magic was used to make the explosion in the first place. And we know she’s a magic user, the signs were more than enough.” The lieutenant scratched his chin. “Doesn’t help that she’s a Drow…quite honestly, that’s more than enough for me.”

“I…” Pavel’s voice broke, his eyes wide.

Cruck’aa began to step up, about to say only the gods knew what, only for Jo to shove past him towards the lieutenant. She ignored the stare that threatened to bore a hole through her skull from behind.

“Sir,” She began, heart hammering. “I feel as though the evidence here is…circumstantial at best. While it’s true that my friend is a sorcerer, she can’t produce an explosion as big as the one that occurred here. She’s just not that powerful. It’s entirely possible though that she was able to use her magic to shield herself from what happened, which would explain why she looks fine. In addition, I can attest for her character; she wouldn’t do something like this in the first place. I –”

“I find it hard to believe that a Drow wouldn’t stoop to this level.” The lieutenant said plainly.

“The circumstance of one’s birth doesn’t dictate one’s character, sir. Considering that the Guard hires half-orcs alongside everyone else, I feel as though you should know that.” Jo gestured at Serena. “Besides, she’s only half Drow.”

“That changes nothing.”

“That changes everything, based on your raciest argument.”

The lieutenant sighed and shook his head.

“Ma’am, I’m not here to argue. I was hoping that I could get a little more information out of you three regarding our suspect here, but I see now that I was wrong. Your friend is going to be taken in, and unless you find some miracle piece of evidence, she won’t be seeing the next sunrise. Now –”

“Excuse me?!” Jo yelled, icy fear rushing back through her body. “Is she not entitled to a trial of her peers?! At the very least?!”

“Drow aren’t entitled to the same legal protections offered to citizens of Waterdeep.” The lieutenant uncrossed his arms. “Now, I need all three of you to leave. We have –”

“CLEAR THE WAY!”

A voice tore through air, bellowing clear over the cacophony of the crowd, ringing off the buildings around them, and silencing everyone in the road.

Jo, along with everyone else, flinched violently, Pavel’s hands shooting up to his ears. She flipped around and began to search for the source of the voice, though it didn’t take her long to find.

The crowd began to split apart, adventurers and civilians alike shoving themselves to the sidewalks and away from the middle of the road. A monster of a man, perhaps seven foot and decked in golden plate-mail that gleamed in the sun, came thundering down the road astride an equally imposing jet-black horse. Another horse rode behind him, carrying an occupant who looked somewhat ridiculous in their large purple robes and steel helmet; the visage of a screaming woman was carved into the front of the helmet, sending a shiver down Jo’s spine – one that she recognized.

The pair came to a skidding halt in front of the line of guards; in the same motion, the large golden guard leapt off his horse and bellowed at the crowd behind them.

“YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MASKED LORD OF THE CASTLE WARD!” Said Masked Lord hopped off their own horse and brushed out their robes. “IF YOU ARE NOT HERE ON OFFICAL BUSINESS, LEAVE TO YOUR HOMES IMMEDIATELY!”

With that, the massive crowd began to scatter, many turning tail and running back down the street – from fear of the Masked Lord, or their guard, Jo couldn’t tell.

Without so much as a glance, the Masked Lord strode towards the line of City Guard, who split to make room; another shiver crept down Jo’s spine as she made out the details of the Lord’s helmet, gleaming horribly in the sunlight. It looked much too realistic for Jo’s liking.

The lieutenant suddenly shoved past her, the three of them quickly forgotten, and met the Masked Lord and their guard halfway; the line of City Guard quickly closed rank once more.

“Sir,” The lieutenant bowed; Jo almost jumped from the shift in his voice. “a pleasure, sir. I wish I could greet you at a better time.” He straightened up and looked around. “Uhm, if I may ask, where might be the rest of your procession? I was expecting seneschals and –”

“Where is the woman?” The Masked Lord demanded, barely looking at the lieutenant; Pavel shivered as the Lord’s distorted voice rang out over the clearing.

“I – uhm, the woman?” The lieutenant asked hesitantly.

“Yes, the woman, the Drow, the one who supposedly did this? Where is she?”

“Oh!” The lieutenant gestured over his shoulder. “She’s over there, sir. We’ve already –”

The Masked Lord moved past him, marching straight towards Serena; the lieutenant sputtered and flipped around, mouth slack, as the giant golden guard followed a few paces behind.

“Now what do they want with Serena?!” Cruck’aa hissed.

“Isn’t that the Lord from the tournament?” Pavel whispered.

Jo shushed them and glanced at the lieutenant, who thankfully wasn’t paying attention to them, still standing dumbstruck; no doubt they weren’t supposed to be this close to one of the city’s rulers.

The guards next to Serena stepped back some paces, worried looks on their faces; Serena stared up at the Masked Lord as they halted in front of her, refusing to break the gaze of the Lord’s horrible visage.

Jo narrowed her eyes; there was something about the way Serena stared at the Lord that almost spoke to a readiness, as though she had been waiting patiently for this very conversation.

“These are not ideal circumstances for us to meet again.” The Masked Lord’s voice rang out clearly, though it somehow sounded quieter. “Have you been treated well?”

Serena thought for a moment, then shrugged; she held her wrists up to the Masked Lord and shook them.

“I apologize for that, but regulations must be followed, especially with one capable of magic.” The Masked Lord said. “Do they pain you?”

Serena shook her head.

“Good. Now, please answer me honestly. Did you take part in creating this explosion today? Did you commit acts of terrorism against the city of Waterdeep?

Serena flinched, a look of horror across her face; she shook her head so hard it almost made her look guilty.

“As expected. Thank you. I will discuss matters with you soon.” The Lord paused as Serena’s face darkened. “I understand that you have much to say to me, but I must attend to my city, first and foremost. You have my word, Serena Lash, that I will speak with you before the day is out.”

With that, the Masked Lord turned on their heel and marched back to the confused lieutenant, her massive guard still her shadow.

Jo’s eyes remained on Serena; her face remained dark, as though she’d been cut off mid-sentence. The Masked Lord, however, seemed more relaxed than they were when they first arrived, as though a weight had been lifted from their shoulders.

“While she is innocent of this terrible tragedy,” The Masked Lord said, halting in front of the lieutenant. “I would still like her transported to the nearest prison cell, for her own safety. Relocate any prisoners so that I may discuss matters privately with her once I am done here. Inform me once this task has been completed.”

“Innocent?!” The lieutenant gaped. “Sir, with all due respect, she’s a Drow trying to –”

“Her apparent ancestry is of no concern to you, regardless of the fact that she looks nothing like a Drow. You will do as I say immediately, or face the punishment fit for disobeying an order from your lord.”

The lieutenant snapped up straight, then bowed.

“Of course, sir! You will be done!”

Without waiting, the lieutenant sprinted towards Serena, gesturing at the two guards next to her. Together, all three hauled her to her feet, and began to lead her through the stunned and silent triage station, past the line of City Guard to the right, and down the now mostly empty sidewalk. Serena did not look back as she was escorted away.

Jo breathed a sigh of relief, Pavel relaxing next to her. Before Cruck’aa could say anything, however, the Masked Lord’s gaze flipped to them, the sudden movement sending a jolt through Jo.

“While I understand the concern for your friend,” they said. “I will need you three to leave. There is much work to be done and I cannot risk having civilians getting in the way. Even if they happen to be the Champion of Waterdeep and his friends.”

“Uhm, right, right.” Jo nodded. “Thank you for your help. I’m – we’re glad you could see reason where others didn’t.”

“Of course. Serena Lash doesn’t seem the kind of person to commit such a horrible act of violence in the first place, though my lieutenant had no way of knowing that.” The Lord gestured a gloved hand past them. “They should be taking her to the Southern Jail if you wish to wait for her there. Be aware that she will not be release until after I meet with her. In private.”

“Of course, of course.” Jo glanced back at Pavel and Cruck’aa. “I suppose we will make our way over there, right?”

“Right.” Pavel said. “Not much else for us to do here anyways.” Cruck’aa grumbled but did not clarify himself.

“Thank you again for making sure nothing happened to her.” Jo said, looking back at the Masked Lord.

“Of course.” They replied. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”

The Masked Lord turned and began to make their way towards the triage station, their massive golden guard right behind them. As the pair left, a few guards stepped out of line, and gestured towards the road that Serena had been escorted down.

“Well,” Pavel said as they were escorted away. “that went much better than I thought it would go.”

“I suppose.” Cruck’aa mumbled.

Jo sighed and shook her head; for once, she agree with Aarakocra.