The door swings open to an almost overwhelming atmosphere of drinking, laughing, and conversation. A waitress with a radioactive level of cheer asks Vardinn, “what can I get you hun?”

“Hello! I was told by Jack that someone was waiting at the,” cutoff mid sentence, “you must be Vardinn! She is right over there” she says as she points to a fiery haired woman in elegant blackened steel armor.

“Ah of course.” Vardinn begins to walk up to the woman before he announces himself, “hello Saga.”

Her fiery hair whipping around as she turns to see who is talking to her. 

“When a small ferret man approached me about helping his friend sneak into the castle, I somehow both expected and never expected it to be you. I see you have become much more accustomed to the Unknown now. You look good.”

“Thank you. Yes, I had wished he would have told me it was you but here we are. What can you tell me about the castle?” he says as he sits next to her.

“Woah! We are not gonna just skirt by it. Haha. you were a ball of frayed nerves and exhaustion when we got to the gate. Why didn’t you go home?”

“In my defense, I never said I wanted to go home. I came to the Unknown to learn its secrets. When I realized that I had a chance to get some answers, I took it. I am an explorer afterall.”

“I suppose I did somewhat force the idea on you. As someone who hates being told what to do, I am sorry.”

“That's alright. So, the castle?” Vardinn asks as he gives her a friendly nudge.

“Right so, the current castle is just outside the pit.”

“The pit?”

“Yeah, so the first king, Inferno, Found what looked like a crater from a massive explosion. He then dug the center out and built a massive Castle inside. Then topped it with a colosseum for battle and surrounded it with a city of roughly a hundred thousand Ruined. After he got the Flame Eater, he was able to use it to grow way stronger and freeze the entire city. It was a green and hot desert oasis, now it’s a bone chilling icy land.”

“Why the crater? and you all call it the Flame Eater? It isn’t like an important cultural relic is it?”

“Something about it being the site of a battle for the ages. and, Yes, it very much is. The only people allowed to touch it are the royal family.”

“So, He was king before he got the device? Why did he work with The Wanderer then? He had to have more important things to do as king.” Vardinn says with a face of disapproval. 

“Well, after a while he grew bored. He wanted to be the strongest there ever was or ever will be. When the Wanderer couldn’t help, he helped himself. Shortly after all that,” Saga said with a wave of her hands as if to indicate an imaginary ‘all that’

“He locked himself inside the castle and left the kingdom to his son who built a secondary castle shortly after just outside the pit.”

“So theoretically, the device is locked in the castle with the first king. Whatever is left of him. How do I get in there?”

“Oh, let me worry about that. I do have one request.”

“Oh no, what is it?”

“I can get you all the way inside the pit but I have to come with you. You wont get ten feet inside the city without me.” Saga says with fierce determination as she sticks out her hand, “deal?”

“I don’t believe I have any choice in the matter. Besides, as traveling companions go, I could do worse.” Vardinn says with a chuckle as he meets her hand, “deal.”

“Good! When should we get going?” Saga says as she stands up from her chair.

“Well, I would have said now buuuut, our mutual friend Jack has invited me to a party to celebrate the name change. So! It would be mighty rude to refuse an invite from the town leader.” Vardinn exclaims with a sly smile and a half chuckle. 

“Rude indeed! To the party then. After you.” Saga steps aside with a gesture to lead.

“To the party!” excitedly marching forward out of the tavern with Saga in tow, they head up through the streets. It is not hard to find Jacks’ home. It is the center of the town, acting as a town hall as well. Lights strewn across the doorways and windows, decorations lining the walkways and walls as they enter. 

The inside of the hall is magnificent. High detailed pillars with beautifully carved stone work. Paintings lining the walls of the most abstract but beautiful images. At the center of the floor, a hall full of guests awaiting the arrival of the host.

In a flourish of frills, fabric, and ribbons, Jack descends from the top floor in an old fashioned suit with a long petticoat.

“Hello one and all! Welcome to the Jacksville renaming celebration! I thank you all for coming.” he glances at Vardinn and Saga, “and I would like to introduce a special guest to our town, everyone welcome,” 

Suddenly the room grows dark. An unsettling dark that chills you to your core. A pool of shadow and inky oil like sludge begins to pool in the center of the room. 

The guests rush to the edges as the pool rapidly grows until it suddenly stops. The pool starts to gravitate toward the ceiling until a thick column links the two. Like passing through a wall of water, a being emerges from the Darkness. 

A head incased in rusted metal, robes of sunken void, and feathered claws of shadow. The Harvestman arrived.