Act 2: The Living Shadow

  Did you hear the news? Word on the streets is that the Heroguard is recruiting! At the turn of each decade, a new calamity rises from the Hells to devour the light of the world. The Witch of the Westlock still lives, and staffing is incredibly short. Budgets are far too tight to deal with yet another world ending occasion.

  The word on The Wind is the Agents of Death are also recruiting! And they have their sights on a new calamity. A creature that has made its debut on every city's bounty board - The Living Shadow.

  The Greenhorn guild has found itself some new recruits - and with a mountain of gold on this new shadowy specter, dead or alive, who are a band of mercenaries to refuse?

  MC (and BBEG) Refresh

  Sariel Sariel "The Black Witch": A feral forest girl. She went on the run with Maddison after being declared a witch by the Heroguard. She is not fully aware that she is running from people. And she is also the only reason the plot is moving.

  Maddison Sungard: A wandering mercenary steeped with grumpy father energy. He's adopted Sariel but will refuse to admit it. In the words of Cody he is "just some guy with a sword".

  Cody: A fiery warlock with a bit of a loose grasp on reality. He is a devout follower of Alina, the goddess of storytelling, and has successfully gaslit himself into believing he is a villain. Great job rescuing Bervolt Cody. Very villainous.

  Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

  Hord'anne: Cody's bestie. Now fun-sized for the whole family! Despite his size, he will still eat a whole family.

  Corian Valdrake: The noble son of a royal pain in everyone's ass. He is a Heroguard trust fund baby turned flesh eating ghoul. The author often wonders why he is still alive. And then remembers they accidentally made him Deadpool.

  Rikkihaylnia (prefers "Rikka", also called "Rikki" by Inprobus and Quibbis): Bet you forgot they had a longer name. Corian's sister, and now victim of very very poor planning on Corian and Justin's part.

  Justin: It's a good thing he's a looker, because he definitely got his father's brains. Corian's childhood friend, who would be in line as the next White Knight if he didn't vehemently believe that magic does not exist. His current status is 'ravine pancake'.

  Inprobus: You know when you're watching a YA TV series, and some guy with swept back blond hair and tailored white clothes comes by, and you're like yeah... that's the evil guy. Well yeah. This is the evil guy. Corian and Rikka's father. He is one of the Heroguard's Archon's, which means Ra'zerun, the god of starlight, is his sugar daddy and gave him admin powers over fire. He also has other powers, which Corian and Justin were unfortunate enough to discover.

  The Spinner "Katryna": WFH BBEG that is responsible for all the arachnophobia triggers. She is the daughter of the fairy queen Athansi, and seems to have some form of relationship with the White Knight. What is that relationship? You'll see!

  Caleb "The White Knight": Bagel's pet human. Ra'zerun's favourite sugar baby. Also, the Heroguard's poster girl.

  New Triggers (aaaand friendly reminders from Act 1)

  - Adultery

  - Psychosis, and I will not elaborate further

  - Even more spiders (leg day, every day)

  - Inprobus and the very air he breathes

  - Half the cast is depressed - probably. If they aren't right now, they will be.

  - Even more POVs (happens when ya split the party with a ravine)

  - There's still gore. That's not really going away.

  - Swearing - and Corian will continue to be stabbed for every trespass. Katryna is allowed to swear freely, because the author likes her.