Sebek and Baul (pt4)

It is Sebek who comes up with an idea for getting the remaining Briarland troops safely out of the citadel by utilizing Silver’s affinity for animals, asking Baul for his permission to take the lead. The group then does so despite Baul’s refusal, and he gives orders to his men to protect them.

Afterwards the group discovers magical sparkles in the shape of an arrow that Sebek recognizes as Baul’s magic: “He’s pointing the way for us. He has faith that we’ll catch up.”

They find a badly injured Baul facing down over a dozen Silver Owls by himself (Lilia having gone ahead with the egg at Baul’s insistence). Baul refuses to retreat in order to protect Lilia and the egg, sending the rest of the group on without him. Sebek, however, refuses to leave him behind, telling Silver to go to Lilia: “Protect what you hold dear! And I’ll protect what I hold dear!”

Sebek explains, “My fighting here won’t change what happened in reality. Nonetheless… There are some things I will never yield,” and takes down the remaining Silver Owls and their armored excavator on his own.

Baul compliments Sebek’s fighting and refers to him by his name (instead of “human”) for the first time, and blesses him “to honor the birth of a new warrior.” Sebek is then magically knighted with Briarland royal guardsman armor and the magearm of a fallen ally, as well as a crocodile mask.

Baul explains, “Among those in our squadron, only I am permitted to wear a crocodile mask.” He dubs Sebek a “half-fae warrior” and encourages him to continue fighting as well as he has been.