2024-06-13 # 06: A Dead Douche, but Raxus's Dead Douche
We continued by canoe down the Goldleaf River. Where the river bent north, we planned to leave the water to continue overland, east toward Bizzy Brambles and the Intrepid Hills.
But there at the bend, at a river town called Bitches Bend, we met Arvax the Douche, Raxus's jealous associate from Doku Death Shadow days. (We first met Arvax when he demanded The Cursed's weapon.) Arvax and his crew had embargoed the river and were searching all boats, looking for us and the Lightning Greaves. No one was in the mood to skulk around this lowlife, so we went straight for the docks, where he was peacocking astride a mongoose mount.
Arvax, his mongoose, two giant spiders, and 10 archers immediately attacked us. (Everyone rolled like babies but finally Artemis's cannon went off.) When we killed Arvax and his archers, the beasts scattered.
Then Raxus fished Arvax's body from the river, defiled it by scalping Arvax's dragonborn crest, looted the two Shadow Syndicate rank markers he carried (his own, and Raxus's first), spit acid in his dead eye, then gave him a proper, honorable burial because - as Artemis, said - Arvax might have been a douche, but he was Raxus's douche.
Also, Endra planted Dragonsbane in Arvax's wounds before burial. #druidhumor
Finally, Raxus sent a message via shadows to Doku Death Shadow, using his old rank marker. "Arvax attacked me twice. He's dead. Much love, Raxus." Doku's answer to his unspoken question - "WTF?" - will come in time, thanks to a Prince of Shadows benefit.
Arvax also carried a Brambles heirloom, their signet ring, with deeply sentimental value. How did he come to possess it? We don't know. Who did it belong to? Bizzy Brambles. Boy is Bobby gonna be mad!