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Fortunately, the RPMP's own Kristof Raynor, the so-called Jailer of Ridgemark, had been there to back them up. Zeff had not heard of this Jailer before, but from the way the battle had been described to him, most of the Miroans would have perished if not for that man's presence.

And even though Zeff was not familiar with him, several of their reapers were. Iziol, Dimas Sebolt's reaper, made sure to lead the charge in informing everyone about what an asset Raynor would be as an ally.

Apparently, the "Jailer of Ridgemark" was still a relatively new moniker, and Iziol had instead been more familiar with the man's exploits as an aberration hunter for the Vanguard. Raynor had supposedly been the first person to fight and survive against the most powerful aberration ever recorded, Abraham Maximilian--or Max the Merciless, as he had come to be known.

Octavia Redwater had used a sword made from his bones during the Siege of Rheinhal.

Where that weapon was now was anyone's guess. The Gargoyle of Korgum had no doubt taken possession of it, but there was no telling what she might've done with it. Zeff highly doubted that it would be with Octavia here in Vantalay.

Regarding Raynor, however, Iziol claimed that the man's efforts against Max had been instrumental in bringing to light just how dangerous the aberration was. Ultimately, of course, it had been Sermung who slew him, but without Raynor, Iziol said, the casualties could have climbed into the millions before Sermung ever even heard Max's name.

Naturally, though, learning about the man's past ties to the Vanguard had been some cause for concern--especially because Raynor wasn't even the only one. But Vance had given the Rainlords assurances that not only did the RPMP have no affiliation with the Vanguard but that several of their members, Raynor included, "despise that organization with the passion of a thousand burning public school teachers."