[IRP] Return to the Dread Isle

[Andy]

"Hm."

The man took in the news with a look of somber acceptance, and it was long before he spoke again. Tiras had finished his plate and proceeded to get one more hotcake and one more bacon strip.

"I had left this island once before, and heard of Lycia's transformation into a monarchy, but news of its change into an Empire is new, indeed. What of Aquelia? Surely they disapprove of this new church, do they not?" His expression was muted, but it begged confusion all the same. He did not look lost, as a younger man might have, but he did have a look of discontent.

"They did," Tiras answered. "The Schism was a terrible conflict, but the Empire invaded Etruria, sacked Aquelia, and looted and razed the Tower of the Saint. To my shame, I was a part of that conflict, but both my master and I deserted." The 'knight' continued explaining, "From that point, outside of battling the remnants of the lords of Etruria, the army of Lycia set about hunting down the 'enemies and heretics of the holy Saint Elimine,' acting like they were saviors instead of heretics themselves.

"Which, I guess, brings us to why we're here. We were hired to destroy the Dragon's Gate. Our ship had a load of explosives on it, but the crew ran aground, and as the ship was sinking, the cargo detonated. We were lucky to have gotten to a dinghy and away from the ship before it went up in flames. And then, last night, while we were sitting by the fire, we were attacked by morphs."

At this, Renault sat up a bit straighter. Now he looked openly troubled. "There were some left?"