Anneli: the main character, a female elf played by Andy. She managed to get her hands on a Dagger of Betrayal, a foul piece of dark technology and sorcery made by the khen-zai, only to find out that her friend Aloysius had plans to use it for dark purposes. She and her friends Fingar and Thungal flat out refused to give Aloysius the Dagger. He's called in his soldiers to take it by force.
Herminus: in a former life he was the head of security of Sabina's Castle. A lovable buffoon, Herminus had helped Spar on many adventures... until Spar died. And Argentum Prime, the city they lived in, had been ravaged by a mysterious dragon. Herminus died, but came back as a revenant, a creature of shadow and vengeance, to kill Salt, Spar's daughter, who Herminus blamed for his death. He wants the Dagger of Betrayal to control the dragon.
The Dragon: a certain Dwarf, who had been a part of the cult of the Leviathan. Assigned to Spar as a handler, the Dwarf had given Spar a Dagger of Betrayal and tried to pressure him into using it. When Spar had died trying to follow his directive, the Dwarf had tried to use the Dagger on its intended target. But a Dagger of Betrayal only really works when you use it on someone you're close enough to actually betray. The darkness in the Dagger bounced back on the Dwarf, and he turned into a horrific dragon, which destroyed the city of Argentum Prime in its birth-throes.
As Anneli looked at the soldiers on the other end of the pikes she realized they were looking at Herminus with disgust. Gambling, she asked if this was really what they wanted to support. All the soldiers flinched at that. Anneli pulled out the Dagger of Betrayal again, saying that Aloysius was trying to use dark magic to bring back their empire. Was this really what they wanted, really and truly? Aloysius commanded them to stand firm. Anneli pointed at Herminus and said this was the empire that Aloysius wanted to build. Their oaths to the empire did not mean loyalty to Aloysius, who would build something none of them actually wanted. Their oaths did not mean loyalty to Aloysius. Fingar, whom the men respected, told them that things were always darkest before the dawn, but that letting Herminus use the depraved Dagger of Betrayal would only let the darkness be permanent. Thungal, also highly respected, begged them not to give into Aloyius's plans, but to hope for something better than he could give. Aloysius commanded them to hold fast to their oaths, which made him their commander; holding to their oaths meant holding to him.
Aloysius reminded his men of all he had done for them, so that the glory of the empire would not fail. All their training, all their effort, everything they'd all experienced together, bound the men to him, specifically. Anneli said that was all well and good, but what he wanted to do with the Dagger changed all that. Aloysius wasn't acting in the best interests of his men and the empire by toying with that darkness. That was darkly hilarious to Anneli, given that Aloysius couldn't stop talking about the light and glory of the empire. Aloysius insisted that that glory was best reflected in his soldiers, and insisted that Anneli was threatening his men and the glory they had. Anneli snapped that glory was directly endangered by toying with forces far too great and terrible for them, and that everything he was talking about would be invalidated by using the Dagger.
The soldiers formed up around Anneli, Fingar, and Thungal, against Herminus and Aloysius.
Anneli put the Dagger back into its cloth. She told Aloysius and Herminus they were free to go. Herminus promised her she hadn't seen the last of him. They were escorted out by the soldiers. Anneli asked Fingar, Thungal, and one of the soldiers who stayed behind to grab all the commanding officers and bring them to her.
When they were all present in the commanding room Anneli informed them Aloysius had been relieved of duty, because he had tried to use a Dagger of Betrayal, which she produced. A lot of the officers flinched and murmured, but not enough of them to make Anneli comfortable. She explained she did not want an army, that the fate of their army was theirs to figure out, but that she had her own mission to carry out and that Aloysius and his like could not win their hearts and minds. The Argentum Empire would be rebuilt, the right way, without using dark and profane powers. Some of the ones who were loyal to Aloysius calmed, but not all of them.
It was up to them now. She had to trust they would make the right call.
Two men came running up to Anneli as she walked away: Brutus and Remus, the former head cook of Sabina's Castle. They wanted to go with her, wherever that was. Anneli told them in a low voice about the Island of Eternal Youth; she had no idea how wish-making worked, so if they wanted a wish she'd no idea if they would get it. They said it mattered little; they needed to try. They then met up with Fingar and Thungal. Thungal teased Anneli about taking on humans. Chuckling, Anneli told her she was getting used to them. Thungal agreed.
They left the fort, heading east, towards the coast. Marian caught up with them. She said she'd ambushed Herminus and turned him into ash, but not before getting the whole story out of them. She congratulated Anneli on how far she'd come. With tears in her eyes Marian thanked Anneli for sailing. She had one request: the Dagger. The Argentum Empire would be better off without the dragon and Herminus had divulged how to control the dragon using the Dagger. Besides, someone actually needed to help the dragon redeem itself, and that would be impossible without the Dagger.
Anneli unwrapped the Dagger and pressed it into Marian's hands, telling her that if anyone could handle the power and evil of the Dagger it was her. Marian's hand twitched in revulsion as she touched the Dagger. she whispered "Oh Thomas, how I wish to be with you again", so softly she didn't think Anneli could hear it.
But she did.
Anneli asked Marian to take care of Nomi. Marian promised she would do so. And she thanked Anneli for sailing, Once she did so Marian would be free to move on; Anneli would never see Marian in this life, ever again. Anneli bowed. Marian chuckled at the formality of elves and gave her a big hug.
It was time to go.
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