Some of us have gone on to better lives, Seelah reminded herself. Sosiel, Cleric of the Goddess of Love and Beauty Shelyn, went home to tend his vineyard and art gallery, accompanied by his Warrior brother Trever and his Ranger lover Aron Kir. Ember the Elf Witch went on to lead her flock of reformed Demons and Cultists into a new religious movement called the Redeemed Brotherhood. Their charity and good deeds campaign was now spreading across Mendev, in alliance with those of other religions, including Sosiel's church and Seelah's own church of Iomedae, the Goddess of Valor. Woljif the Tiefling Rogue was also sponsoring charity and running an underground market in Drezen last Seelah had heard of him. Regil the Hellknight was back leading his order, she further reflected, and the Noble Oracle Daeran Arende was living in the capitol of the rescued nation Mendev. Both men were sponsoring the land restoration also by fundraising and supplying labor. Daeran's parties gathered the money and Regil's soldiers recruited the workers. Both were very efficient, Daeran in particular. Some said Daeran might be crowned Mendev's new ruler since Queen Galfrey also perished in the Fifth Crusade. Seelah herself wasn't a fan of Daeran as a King, but she tried to stay out of politics.
Other companions' fates were less welcome. The strange Kitsune Wizard Nenio had vanished after the Worldwound closed, mumbling about some research project or similar concern. Greybor the Dwarf Mercenary had disappeared into the ranks of his new Assassin's Guild or perhaps gone back to his family, Seelah was unsure which. The Underground Crusader Warriors Lann and Wendaug were gone too, having split their people into two camps. Lann's adherents were off with him on an ocean voyage adventure, while Wendaug's were back underground with their chieftain, who under the Commander's guidance had reformed her past Abyssal allegiances somewhat. Seelah welcomed this change, yet didn't like that Wendaug's Underground Crusaders preferred exile in the vast caves beneath Mendev to life on the surface- maybe if it was what Wendaug thought best, Seelah supposed it was fine. She could check on them at some point if she decided it was necessary. Other party members' fates bothered her more at present. The insane Shaman Camellia Gwerm had escaped Seelah's view after the final battle just as Nenio had. Seelah was quite worried about Camellia. Why the Commander had put up with the faux highborn Shaman's excessive bloodlust was something Seelah had never understood.
My fellow Paladin Irabeth Tirablade's fate after the Worldwound closed is disturbing to me too, Seelah reflected. Irabeth's retired now, having sustained many injuries in mind and body after our long campaign. Irabeth's wife, the spymaster Anevia, retired along with her. They now live together in the countryside near Drezen, our army's former base camp. I know they've earned their peace, it's just... I'm jealous, she realized. I still feel the call to adventure too, and I can't do it alone. I coud retire like Sosiel or Irabeth and Anevia, but I'm still young and Iomedae needs me in the field. Charity isn't for me either, as attractive as working with others toward such a goal might be.
I want the peace so many of my old comrades have now, she decided as she spurred her horse around a large rock outcropping, but not yet. I have to deal with lingering questions first. The things left behind in the Commander's wake. Matters that were not settled by his death. Some of these, like where Nenio and Camellia went to, really bother me. But even their uncertain fates do not bother me as much as Arueshalae's.
Arueshalae, Arue for short, was an Ascended Demoness, once a Succubus and now something mostly unprecedented as far as Seelah knew. Under the guidance of Desna, Goddess of Travel and Dreams, Arue had pulled herself out of the Abyss and found some measure of redemption. A loving relationship with the Commander and friendship with Seelah and most of the rest of their adventuring party had cemented this noble path. Arue had been of much assistance to Seelah and the other Crusaders during their long campaign. But the campaign was over now, Arue's lover the Commander was dead, and the last time Seelah saw Arue, she was grieving, bereft. Arue flew off to mourn in her own way after the Worldwound was closed, Seelah remembered. I was not able to immediately follow her, and by the time I realized I should have, she was gone.
The fate of their other companions had bothered Seelah more in the beginning. By the time she addressed taking note of their other companions' status as best she could, Arue had departed. Seelah had seen off Sosiel and his associates, the Underground Crusaders, and the Tirablades. She had bid farewell to Woljif, Regil, and Daeran. Camellia, Greybor, and Nenio had vanished. Hopefully Seelah's path would cross with theirs at some later time if they were up to some mischief. At least Ember had been able to direct her to where Arue might be. An isolated cottage near the ruins of Iz, the ancient city that had hosted the Worldwound.
Oh Iomedae, Seelah prayed to her Goddess, please let Arue be okay. Without the Commander's love to guide her, I fear Arue will fall back to the Demoness she once was. That I cannot abide. Not as her friend, and not as a Paladin.
Seelah was a Paladin, a Holy Knight in service to Iomedae, the Goddess of Courage and Truth. Her dark skin and silver armor shone in the moonlight as she directed her roan horse down the road ahead. Her old comrade's cottage was not far now per the directions Ember had given. Thankfully, the path was so far bereft of danger she could not handle. Seelah feared what lay at its end.
I have no evidence she has become Evil again, Seelah told herself. Just gossip and my fear. I remind myself there are plenty of other Redeemed Demons out there- take Ember's Brotherhood, for example. Plenty of Demons in there of many different types, all working to become better Beings, I hope. I even heard a rumor that the Succubi Queen Nocticula was among them... I'll keep my focus on Arue, Seelah decided. I'd rather focus on problems I can actually solve.
If Arue has fallen back to Evil, I will have to end her, Seelah knew. No matter how many times Arue saved my life and those of my comrades during our Crusade, if she has become an Evil Succubus again, she will have to die. I have heard conflicting rumors about her from the peasants near Iz. Some say Arue is a strange hermit who helps travelers and those in need. That would be in keeping with the Arue I knew, the Good Being I thought she was. Her Goddess, an ally of my Goddess, wants that for Arue, and I want it too. So did the Commander, or so I always thought. Other people I've spoken with have expressed fear to me about the Fiend in their midst. So many Demons ravaged Mendev while the Worldwound was open. Quite a few still remain. Arue is a Demon in physical form still, if not in nature. And if her nature has changed back to what it once was...
That should not be the case, Seelah prayed. Love saved Arue, Goddess Desna's and the Commander's. Love took root in Arue's heart and pulled the former Demoness away from Evil. She now dreams of a better world. I always perceived her redemption, as did Ember, who has displayed a better sense for the Goodness in people's hearts sometimes than that which I can sense. I hope Arue's okay, I just have to confirm it. I was Arue's friend, I like to believe I still am. Also, as a friend, I always envied what Arue had with the Commander. I was attracted to him, too, but more than that, I was intimidated. He was the hero of our saga, the recipient of the mythic powers that enabled him to close the Worldwound. Like all his companions, I shared those powers in small amount. Yet I was bothered by the Commander also. Because of that, I never let myself be open to his flirting, even when he directed it at me. Instead I let others- Wendaug, Daeran, those Tiefling twins Kanerah and Kalikke who visited our camp on a couple occasions, and eventually Arue- be the subjects of his affection. I sought other lovers, but not many, not enough.
Why? Seelah wondered, not for the first time. Why did I not let myself indulge in love during the majority of the Fifth Crusade? I'm hardly the iconic Paladin! I'm Lawful Good, yeah, but I freely indulge in violence and foul language against wicked enemies. I morally preach and keep it real. And when I'm off duty as a Crusader, I'm right at home with the hard-drinking and gambling camp followers. I sometimes get relief with free love too. My Goddess understands my need for this, she allows me such relief as long as I don't go back to being the selfish person I once was. I continue to assure Iomedae that will never happen, and accept her guidance to the right path. I'm hardly celibate either. No such vow is expected of me. As long as I only give my loving to the worthy and never force it on anyone or use it to corrupt others, I am fine being polyamorous. My Goddess has assured me of that.
But for various reasons I haven't gotten any loving in a long time, Seelah thought. I was intimidated by the Commander, so I didn't get with him. He never offered either, not directly, even with all the flirting. Perhaps if he had directly offered... No, it doesn't matter. Maybe he knew I was off limits somehow. He was an Oracle as well as a Skald, maybe... No, she shook her head. A possible hookup with the Commander did not bear thinking about now.
