Portal to Another World

Morning light reaches the guild’s main hall, The Lone Wanderer wakes up and heads downstairs. Finding Logan standing over a table with maps and notes.

His tired expression is focused, and several fresh lines are marked in dark ink.

Logan unfolds a rough map and points beyond Honorhold’s outer farms. The route is peaceful for now, though its isolation could make any investigation visible to those aiding the rival kingdom.

The Lone Wanderer leaves guild main hall behind and arrives at Honorhold.

Beyond Honorhold’s western fields, the quiet road ends at an abandoned waystone half-swallowed by weeds. Ettel, Logan, Leonard, and Mari spread around it as pale sparks drift over its cracked surface.

The Lone Wanderer circles the monument with careful footing, following violet flecks across damp grass rather than disturbing them. They lead behind the waystone to a narrow shelf of rock.

A calm elf man stands on the rock shelf with one hand raised over a fading ring of light. His expression is composed, and a folded map rests beneath his other arm.

The fading ring of light snaps shut behind Maximus. Two women step onto the rock shelf beside him: a demoness and a tall fighter, both poised to attack.

The demoness shifts her stance, watching the group with open menace. The tall fighter rests one hand near her weapon and measures Ettel, Logan, Leonard, and Mari in turn.

Maximus uses magic to create a portal to the rival kingdom and escapes. Karah'das and Francine lunge towards Ettel's group to attack.

The Lone Wanderer lunges as Francine closes on Ettel, catching the tall fighter’s weapon arm and driving her off balance. Francine hits the rock shelf hard and loses her grip.

Karah'das darts toward him, but Ettel intercepts her with a braced shield. Logan raises a warding hand while Mari snatches up a loose stone from the shelf.

The Lone Wanderer fights Francine and keeps her away from the group. Overwhelming her with his attacks.

Logan and Mari help Ettel fight the red demoness.

The Lone Wanderer drives the tall fighter back from Ettel, twists her pinned arm behind her, and strips away the weapon. Francine hits the stone, stunned and subdued.

Karah'das lunges through Ettel's shield. The Lone Wanderer meets her charge, turns her momentum aside, and knocks the demoness onto her back before she can properly attack.

He wrenches Karah'das's arms behind her and binds her wrists with cord from Logan's pack. Ettel secures the tall fighter beside her, keeping both prisoners away from their weapons.

Karah'das smiles against her restraints, while the tall fighter watches him with guarded silence. Ettel keeps both prisoners secured, allowing the question to settle without interruption.

The answer identifies Vahlheim and confirms the Capital Wasteland crews are supplying its military through Maximus's crossings. Ettel's grip tightens on the tall fighter's restraints.

The tall fighter shifts against Ettel’s restraints, studying the Lone Wanderer’s face. Karah’das’s smile fades slightly, as though the question has reached beyond the orders they expected to defend.

Ettel’s expression hardens. The answer turns the shipments from a simple contract into an organized bargain, one designed to keep the crews loyal after every crossing.

The Lone Wanderer leaves abandoned waystone beyond Honorhold’s western fields behind and arrives at Honorhold.

Honorhold’s western gate rises ahead beneath a hard afternoon sky. The Lone Wanderer arrives with Karah’das and the tall fighter secured, while Ettel keeps pace beside him and the city’s bells mark their return.

The group crosses the gate yard beneath wary stares. Ettel maintains the prisoners’ restraints, and the Lone Wanderer’s swift escort leaves neither captive a chance to delay or escape.

The council chamber doors open as the white-robed magistrate approaches. Judge’s gaze moves from the bound prisoners to Ettel, then settles on the Lone Wanderer with grave attention.

Judge’s officers take custody of Karah’das and the tall fighter, securing them inside the council chamber. The successful delivery places both prisoners under Honorhold’s law, while the evidence of Vahlheim’s operation waits to be examined.

The Lone Wanderer remains in the council chamber as Judge reviews Mason’s letter, the prisoners’ statements, and the route evidence. Clerks compare each detail against their records while guards watch the bound captives.

He watches the magistrate’s eyes move between the map and the written testimony, noticing where the accounts agree: Vahlheim, Maximus’s crossings, and Capital Wasteland supplies intended for war.

The council reaches its result. The prisoners are held for lawful questioning, the evidence is secured, and Honorhold will prepare to counter Vahlheim's attack.

Judge closes Mason’s letter and gestures toward the sealed records. Karah'das remains restrained beside the tall fighter, both watched closely as the chamber’s officials prepare the next orders.

The decision is clear: the captives stay under lawful guard, the evidence remains secured, and Honorhold begins its measured response while the Lone Wanderer is free to leave the chamber.

The Lone Wanderer leaves Honorhold council chamber behind and arrives at the guild.

The guild’s familiar warmth closes around the returning party. Lamplight glints off weapon racks, rain ticks against the shutters, and Calimakal looks up from the tavern counter as Ettel leads everyone inside.

Ettel guides the group toward a broad table near the hearth. The young bearded man carries his notes close, the elderly bearded man watches the crowded room, and the bunnygirl immediately claims the nearest chair.

Calimakal sets steaming bowls before them. Beyond the windows, the city settles into evening, while inside the guild’s ordinary noise gives the returned traveler a quiet place to recover.

Morning breaks over Honorhold beneath a gray sky. Judge crosses the guild courtyard in travel armor as troops assemble beyond the gate, carrying provisions toward the western border.

Ettel stands beside the gate with a packed field kit, watching the column form. The troops move in disciplined ranks, leaving the city under Judge’s measured command.

The Lone Wanderer leaves guild courtyard behind and arrives at western border.

The western border lies beneath a bruised sky, its old road cutting between broken watchtowers and wind-bent grass. Honorhold troops hold a defensive line around supply wagons while Judge and Ettel survey the distant ridge.

Across the road, Maximus Starfall stands beside L'Sara and The Ascendant Lord.

A dozen Honorhold troops tighten their formation. Beyond them, Maximus raises one hand as a pale ring of light forms over the road, framing the three hostile figures.

The ring flares, and figures begin moving within its light. Judge draws his sword as the troops brace, while Ettel shifts beside the Lone Wanderer, leaving him a clear position at the front.

The ring of light widens over the road. Maximus stands within it beside L'Sara and the Ascendant Lord.

Honorhold troops lock shields around the wagons. Judge steps forward with his sword drawn, and Ettel raises her shield beside the Lone Wanderer as violet light spills across the grass.

The Ascendant Lord advances through the fading ring, armor dark beneath the stormlight. Approaching Judge, his old rival.

Judge surges forward as the troops brace behind him. The first clash begins at the wagons, with Ettel moving to meet the Ascendant Lord and Maximus lifting both hands toward another spell.

The Lone Wanderer breaks from Ettel’s shield and sprints through the clash. Honorhold troops hold the wagons as Judge engages the invading line, while the Ascendant Lord presses forward.

He slips between locked shields and crossing weapons, passing the fight and reaching Maximus at the center of the ring.

The Lone Wanderer confronts Maximus at close range, cutting off his clear path through the light.

Behind Maximus, the ring churns with unstable light.

Maximus stands directly before him, separated from the battle by only the unstable ring of light and the narrow space between their raised hands.

The Lone Wanderer steps through the unstable ring and seizes Maximus's raised wrist before the next spell can form. The light stutters around them.

Maximus twists to break free, but the Lone Wanderer drives him against the relay stone and pins his casting hand. The ring collapses into scattered violet sparks.

The battlefield remains beyond the broken light, separated from him.

The Lone Wanderer wrenches Maximus’s arm behind his back and locks both wrists together with cord from the relay rig. The effort tears his sleeve and bruises his forearm.

The Wanderer shoves Maximus against the relay stone and checks the knot. The elf’s hands are secured, his casting arm pinned, and the collapsed ring cannot reopen from his position.

Across the broken light, Judge and Ettel hold the Honorhold line against the advancing forces.

The Lone Wanderer leaves Maximus bound against the relay stone and turns back through the broken ring. His forearm burns from the struggle, but his rifle is still secure and the battle remains before him.

He rejoins Ettel beside the wagons as Judge drives the invaders back from the defensive line.

The towering barbarian charges from the wagon line with a roar, while Ash braces beside the soldiers and the silent hunter slips toward the invaders’ flank. The defensive line holds.

Judge meets the first attackers at the road while Ettel intercepts the Ascendant Lord. Their weapons clash beneath the storm-dark sky, each refusing to yield ground.

The towering barbarian slams into the advancing line and scatters its front rank. Ash shields two shaken troops, while the silent hunter disables a flank fighter and vanishes behind the wagons.

The Lone Wanderer returns to the line, his bruised forearm burning as he raises his rifle. Honorhold troops advance together, forcing the invaders away from the wagons while Maximus remains bound against the relay stone.

The Lone Wanderer braces his rifle against the wagon rail despite the bruised forearm, tracking the advancing invaders through the storm-dark haze. Honorhold troops hold formation around him.

He fires in measured succession, striking weapons and shields from the front rank while Bingus crashes into the opening. Ash keeps the shaken soldiers covered as the silent hunter cuts off the flank.

The Lone Wanderer answers with another precise shot that knocks the Ascendant Lord’s weapon aside. Ettel seizes the opening, disarms him, and forces him to his knees before the wagon line.

Judge leads the countercharge. Bingus scatters the remaining attackers, Ash shields the troops, and the silent hunter drives the last invaders away from the border road. The assault breaks.

The assault has broken. The Ascendant Lord kneels disarmed before Ettel, while Maximus remains bound against the relay stone and Honorhold troops secure the road.

Maximus studies the rifle, the captured relay, and the disciplined troops surrounding him. The Lone Wanderer’s words leave him a narrow bargain: cooperation preserves his usefulness, while refusal leaves Vahlheim exposed.

Maximus turns his restrained wrists toward the relay stone. With careful concentration, he redirects the remaining charge through the cracked equipment, and a tall ring of violet light forms over the road.

Through the open portal, dark battlements and torchlit roads appear beyond the violet threshold. Honorhold troops hold position around the captured relay, while the passage to Vahlheim stands ready.

The Lone Wanderer enters the violet portal with Ettel, Ash, the towering barbarian, and the silent hunter. The crossing twists his balance, and his bruised forearm strikes the relay frame before he clears the threshold.

They emerge on Vahlheim’s outer road beneath a cold sky. Dark battlements rise ahead, torchlight burns along the walls, and the portal seals behind them in a fading ring.

The Lone Wanderer steadies himself against the rough roadside stone, flexing his aching forearm. The pain is sharp but manageable, and his rifle remains secure across his chest.

Ash takes position beside Ettel while the towering barbarian scans the walls. Together they move from the portal site toward Vahlheim’s outer gate, fully inside the rival kingdom and facing its guarded streets.