A Raven's Blessing | Vax'ildan x OC | TLOVM

Spark of Rebellion

"Take care, young one," she told a child with their parents. She put her hood up to make her way home for the night. She stopped once she heard their footsteps approaching her. She knew they weren't from Whitestone but couldn't see them in the darkness despite her lantern's glow.

"Greetings, strangers. We don't see many new faces these days."

"Keeper Yennen, tell me, what do the Briarwoods make of your sermons?" Percy asked.

"They don't attend my services. But their Pale Guard tolerate me, for now."

"You truly believe the Dawnfather will send a sign?"

"Shh," she whispered, "That name is forbidden." She stepped closer to Percy. Her lantern illuminated his face.

"It's you," she gasped immediately recognizing his face. "Oh, but you're not the same. Little Percival, what have you become?" she asked placing a hand on his cheek.

"I am what they made me," he said with anger as he gently removed her hand.

"What matters is that you're back."

"I'm not back," Percy moved away, "I'm only here for one thing."

"Then you want what the people want. A trusted de Rolo can lead them to freedom. They'll listen to the rightful heir."

"What I need to do requires discretion. Groups can be messy."

"But you're leading this group," Yennen concluded causing Grog to scoff.

"No offense, Percy, but you're a teeny bit too wittle to lead."

"Wait, we have a height requirement?" Scanlan asked.

"Uh, obviously," Grog stated.

"W... I-I thought we were all sort of co-leaders," Keyleth said causing all of the others to protest. Athena rolled her eyes at their antics mouthing a silent apology to Yennen causing a chuckle out of her.

"Follow me," she said. Yennen led them to a tavern that was across the street. An older man was sitting below the sign of it. The sign creaked with the footsteps of a giant that was patrolling the street. Once the giant passed, Yennen let out a whistle. The man let out a high-pitched whistle back.

"We're clear," she said leading them across to the side of the Tavern.

"Hey, I'm a huge fan of taverns, but this place kind of looks like shit," Scanlan gritted.

"Looks can be deceiving," Yennen smirked as the sides of the barrels on the side opened up revealing a secret passage.

"No, it's, uh... it's shitty on the inside, too," he said after they entered a small room in the basement.

"An old resistance hideout. We can speak freely here."

"Hmm?" Grog noticed a line of barrels with spouts on them. "Yes!" he squealed at thought of ale as he turned the nozzle only for nothing to come out.

"Wait." He grunted as he broke the nozzle. "Wait. No. Oh, gods, no," he continued breaking the other barrel's nozzle with no ale coming out of them.

"What is this hell?!" He yelled into the barrels as rats came out.

"Thanks to the Briarwoods, all our resources are dwindling. Including ale."

"I will fucking murder everyone!" Grog roared out, throwing one of the barrels. You can't mess with his ale.

"You preach pacifism while associating with rebels," Percy wondered. It was strange to Athena that for the type of holy woman she was that she was willing to aid the resistance measures of violence. However, she knew just as much that war changes people. To do what is necessary to win.