Olyvar's Dangerous Path - Baths of Betrayal - Pt 2

[mindwanders]

The Captain of the City Watch, Brother Harrold, was livid as he stood before his guards in the dimly lit barracks. His armour gleamed dully, a stark contrast to the darkness that clouded his expression. The recent encounter with Inquisitor Olyvar had left a bitter taste in his mouth, and he believed his men had failed in their duty.

"Fools! Incompetent fools!" Brother Harrold roared, his voice echoing through the room. "How could you let that so-called 'Inquisitor' walk all over you? You had him outnumbered, and still, you cowered like frightened children!"

"But, Captain," one of the guards spoke up, "he's backed by the Synod, and his reputation—"

"His reputation means nothing to me!" Brother Harrold interrupted, his eyes narrowing with anger. "He's nothing more than a glorified cheerleader, spouting his empty words of unity and acceptance. Have you forgotten what the Lineaged truly are? They're corrupted, living embodiments of the crime of idolatry! Their very existence mocks the purity of the human soul!"

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, knowing that their captain's stance on the Lineaged was unyielding and extreme. But they also feared him, for Brother Harrold was ruthless and his hatred for the tainted ones ran deep.

"You failed to uphold the true values of Highguard!" Brother Harrold barked, slamming his gauntlet against the table. "It is our duty to cleanse this city of their taint, and yet you let this Inquisitor and his ilk parade around unchallenged!"

"Captain, with all due respect," another guard hesitated, "Inquisitor Olyvar has the support of the Synod. We can't act against him directly without facing severe consequences."

"Consequences be damned!" Brother Harrold spat, pacing back and forth. "There must be another way to deal with that insufferable Inquisitor. We can't let him undermine everything Highguard stands for!"

It was then that an idea began to take shape in Brother Harrold's mind. He had heard whispers of a skilled and ruthless warrior—a member of the Unconquered, a group known for their cunning and stealth. They specialized in sabotage, terror tactics, and targeting specific foes on the battlefield. If there was anyone capable of dealing with Olyvar in a way that couldn't be traced back to the City Watch, it was an Unconquered.

"I know what must be done," Brother Harrold said, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. "We cannot act against Olyvar directly, but we can hire someone who can. I will meet with an Unconquered—a shadow in the night—and we will put an end to this madness once and for all."

The guards looked at their captain, uncertainty mingling with curiosity. The thought of dealing with Olyvar in such a covert manner intrigued them, but they also knew the risks involved in employing the Unconquered.

"Captain, are you certain this is the right path?" one of the guards asked cautiously.

Brother Harrold's eyes glinted with determination. "It is the only path left to us," he replied, "for the sake of Highguard, we must act in the shadows, just like the darkness that plagues our city."

And so, the City Watch's captain set his plan in motion, venturing into the hidden realm of the Unconquered, seeking out a shadowy figure whose skills could match the legendary Inquisitor's. As the night grew darker, a storm brewed on the horizon, signaling that the confrontation between Olyvar and the captain's newfound ally would be a clash of wills and blades—a dance of deception and danger that would shape the destiny of Highguard itself.