Sybal and the thralls left, gathering those that were cut down by Arik and Morganne. Morganne found little sleep but was able to relax her muscles and aching joints, letting her regenerative powers restore torn tissue and trivial niches and scratches. She found that she was virtually incapable of sleeping, and the longing to drink blood kept her awake and alert. She went out back and took a big gulp out of a chicken and some livestock there, sating her incurable fiendish appetite.
Narcosse and Orath came in singing and then immediately plopped down and were still like lifeless zombies.
Orath: "Damn it!!! Come look at this!!!" the thief hissed, staring out the window. Out in the street far below were ten black armored mechanized soldiers, rounding up thirty villagers. The leader was a cloaked being amongst them, who wore a black tattered cape and a bladed staff. The leader-figure moved a clawed hand in a gesture of some kind and the black soldiers leveled their staves which shot forth emerald arcs of pulsating energy and smote down the innocent villagers where they stood.
"Incinerate the village, spread out and find them!!" the leader said in an inhuman mechanical voice.
Vor: "Quickly, make a hole in the floor, and another in the floor beneath"
Narcosse stomped a hole into the floor as directed. A few more swift kicks opened it up further, and some powerful hacks of his sword made a huge gaping hole in the ground. "The Innkeeper aint gonna like that much" the barbarian said with a chuckle.
Vor: "Fasten a rope, quickly Nyriddian! And take the children down...you too, rogue. Black guardsmen are searching the downstairs floors. They'll be searching this one next. Morganne cover our escape, watch the door. Arik you watch the door beneath. Teleport to our location once we've made it there safely!"
As the children are guided along, Morganne's door bursts open as two burly black guardsmen carrying a smaller battering ram stand there. They drop the thing and throw spears at the dhampir. She ducks then leaps forward, coming up right in front of them with a side slashing attack with Bonebreaker. The first guardsman ducked, but a second slash cuts him across his armored stomach for -5 hp dmg...the sharp blades drew blood out of him. The wounded guardsman clutched the wound with one hand and snarled "You'll die for that, wench!"
Guardsman #2 roars "I'll finish the bitch!" diving forward he thrusts his longsword deep into Morganne's stomach., laughing (-12 hp dmg)
ARIK: you climbed down to the room directly below, guarding the door when suddenly it bursts open and two vicious wardogs immediately attack. Behind them were a pair of human black guardsmen.
ATTACK DOG #1: as it came dangerously close to Arik, the fighter slashes at its head with his sword (20,84% crit) cutting open its neck and killing it instantly. (24) reversing the gleaming sentient sword in his hand he cut the second dog down with a swift downward arc, decapitating it where it stood.
The two soldiers snarled, "At last we found the little bastard!" then threw their spears hoping to impale Arik. The fighter dove and ducked out of the missiles as they went crashing out the window behind him.
Orath: "Hold them off for just a few more minutes, some heavy fighting but we're trying to reach the wine cellar! Almost there!" the thief and barbarian were flooring soldiers left and right. Narcosse was beheading most of his opponents with vicious violent deathblows of his great-sword.
REACTION?
112 comments:
Morganne takes note of the damage and concentrates not on the pain but on slashing the second guardsman and finishing off the other one.
INITIATIVE: simultaneous
GUARDSMAN #1 dove in with a thrust meant to end the melee, missing the mark by a longshot. The second guardsman came dangerously close with a nice slash, but Morganne crouches low and then rose up, cutting off his arm with bonebreaker (19) the guardsman's limb flew through the air and began pumping a hot fount of unending blood all over his companion. "My arm!!!! My arm! You lousy cunt!!!" he roars. The second guard swung his longsword, trying to fend Morganne off from finishing his companion. The blade nearly cuts Morganne's neck but she blocks it with bonebreaker.
3rd round: the second guardsman struck Morganne on the side of her bicep, -6 hp dmg. She was starting to bleed faster than she could regenerate properly. Finding herself flush with anger she lashes out blindly, without discipline or self restraint and heard the guardsman laughing...."Aint so tough now, huh you little slut?" she heard the soldier hiss. Morganne focused then threw Bonebreaker, removing the guardsman's left wrist (20) as he was reaching for her, groping and hoping to manhandle her.
She then heard more guardsmen coming, and four entered the room and released their accompanying wardogs..."In the name of Dezloz surrender!" one of them roars.
Morganne leaps through the hole Narcosse made and slid down the rope. She saw that two guardsmen were following her down the rope as well. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Arik at the doorway fending off more black clad soldiers, two dead dogs laying prostrate at his feet.
"Use the clasps to get to us" Vor's voice spoke in your heads.
DECISION
"Time to go Arik!!" Morganne says and uses the clasp to teleport herself to Vor's side
Greeding with bloodlust, finally uses the clasp to teleport to Vor. Wishing he could finish what was started, he let himself calm down. Knowing there were more important issues at hand. Breathing more air in, he looks around to see if anything or anyone was on their trail or heading their way. "Lead the way and lets leave this place!"....
Morganne and Arik both entered into the azure blue disc of pulsating light that the magic of the clasp formed for them. Stepping out of a shimmering portal and into a sub basement somewhere below the Inn.
"These passages stretch for miles" Vor said more to himself. Orath lit a torch and looked around. The area was an elongated space, rectangular in shape and its walls and floor comprised of huge blocks of limestone. There was a sulfur smell thick in the air here. Some unreadable graffiti scrawled on the walls in charcoal. Boxes and sacks were strewn about, apparently discarded for some time. One container was full of maggots when it should have been full of sun dried dates, according to the label.
There was a door on the east and west side of the room.
Orath moved toward the door, opening it carefully and peering through to spy into the next room.
The party continues forth, bypassing several uninteresting and empty dark little rooms whose purpose wasn't very obvious. Upon opening one door, Morganne is suddenly struck by a hammer-trap that strikes her in the left breast, knocking the wind out of her. The blow was powerful and painful, but she'd suffered worse.
The party startles a group of men that are obviously outlaws, huddled over piles of recently stolen goods.
On the floor behind them is a young teenaged girl who has been severely beaten to within mere inches of her life and repeatedly raped, it seems. Her clothes were ripped to shreds and she's laying prostrate and naked.
There are seven gathered, each inspecting and examining the contents of the crates and sacks pilfered. There are also several men and women bound and gagged, hogtied up. They don't appear to be here willingly...
The leader eyes the party suspiciously at first, asking "Well? What does Hedrack want now? A larger piece of the pie? Damn it we gave him his share...he can kiss my hinney if he be wanting a bigger cut...you can take those fools over there, leave this little whore for me boys to enjoy...she's got lots of fight in her heh heh"
Upon teleporting to Vor and the otherr's Morganne asks Vor for some healing "...normally i'd shun such assistance unless i'm too far gone to protest!"
upon seeing the captured villiagers and especially the girl on the floor who'd been assaulted, Morganne uses the clasp to speak with both Arik and Orath "....as much as i'd hate to bring more people with us, I can't in good conscious leave them here either! Orath, you speak their language, see if you can convince them that we will be taking the others and especially the teen girl on the floor! Arik, you wanted another chance at some more action? position yourself near Orath lest they attempt to make a move!"
Morganne moves slowly, keeping her eyes on the leader walking nearer to him "...You think you can dictate what Hedrack will or won't take as HIS bigger piece of the pie!" Morganne begins Bone-Breaker still in hand " We will be taking them over there and the girl as well! Hedrack has plans for all of them, and you and your men weakening you knees even more doesn't play into them!!" Morganne says (bluff) (CHR) without waiting Morganne grabs the girl to her feet and pushes her towardsVor "...see what you can do for her, this one's gotta look the part! turning to the outlaw leader she barks orders "..well what in the nine hells are you waiting for? start cutting them loose or would you rather have lost all of your loot and your little cherry pie here!"
The bandit sighed then gestured a lazy hand to one of his men, who took a knife and frees the captives.
The leader nodded "Very well, proceed. Be careful with that little fiery one, would ya? She's the countessa of Yornic. Give Hedrack a good report on our behalf eh lass?"
"Hope we weren't too spirited for ya lassy" the bandit says perversely at the girl with a obscene grin, displaying his yellow teeth.
Orath: "That's enough, lover. Go and busy yourself with gambling like you ought...you don't want to...piss us off. Oh and if you see any black clad soldiers come this way, attack them. They're servants of Dezloz and might attack you for kicks"
The party trudges through a sewer passage and out of a narrow tunnel, not unlike the one they had when they first fled along with these same children and fleeing the same pursuers.
Once you exit the horrid smelling sewer Morganne collapses to the dry earth and proceeds to hurl the contents of her stomach...much of which was half-digested animal blood. As she regained her composure, the party notes that they weren't alone. Several Succundus guards came out and revealed themselves, then escort the group deeper into the woods where Sable and Aronis stood on horseback in wait. The blond haired fighter Garosh was with them and was in a deep discussion with a hooded Elf, and there was a company of thirty elves, while Sable's regiment amounted to fifty heavy lancers. Five Succundus guardsmen were busy dumping arrow studded corpses of several slain soldiers into a recently dug pit.
Narcosse drew his weapon, not sure what to make of any of this. Orath lowered his hand and sword, putting him at ease. Aronis tosses the thief a loaf of bread, saying "Good work! All of you. Vor was crucial in foolproofing our future campaign successes. While you were busy engaged in rescue we freed your family, priest of Lor. They are held in one of our safehouses in Higkor, one of our agents rescued them just yestereve and reported their condition was extremely good. Now, what is your counsel concerning our next move, friend Vor?"
Vor: "To remain here for an hour, have some of your best men posted by the exit of the sewer to round up any black guard who stray out of it looking for us. They can swell the ranks of the Succundus house guard. Like Arik here, they can be normalized and changed after they've left their collective and loose the influences of their totalitarian society. And you must be force commander Sable...a pleasure mi'lady. We were originally bound for Cloudkeep. My counsel is to head there even now. It is perhaps the only safest place until Dezloz forces give up their hunt for us. It is the only haven for us left in all of Scarlor. Soon, ere long a great devastation will occur. Like an incurable cancer are they, those evil black machines. The only way to put a halt to their genocide is to obtain one of them and to create some of our own. Alzor Dam would know how better to proceed, or at least will be able to tap our full potentials for us to discover on our own"
Morganne eyes the corpses of the dead soldiers and goes to inspect them casually, remarking to Sable "..what happened here? Were these your men or some of Dezloz's men?" then using the Succundus clasp to teleport to Sable's side before she can answer.
Sable: "Both. We came across a search party only an hour ago. They were elite loyalists of Dezloz, and fought with fierceness and no care of their own lives, even when I offered them quarter. They took down a few of my men"
Vor: "There are other enemies besides Dezloz we need to be wary of. The Dark Moon Son's are a cult of demon worshipping clerics that will want to apprehend myself, and possess my abilities to prophesy on their behalf and to further their dark agenda. We cannot venture into any large city or town throughout the inner kingdoms. It will be hard to gain provisions, we will need to steal what we require along the way. And there are spies to avoid, ambushes to evade, and assassins at our backs. The easy part is over now, now comes the truest tests of all our characters. If we fail, our futures are forfeit and our lives won't be worth a damn"
"Then failure isn't an option" came a feminine voice from behind a nearby tree. Out came a hooded lithe figure, removing her hood to reveal the familiar face of Ciri...now restored to her rightful height and proportionate size. She smiled at everyone and saunters over toward Arik, standing next to the fighter and beaming him a brightly lit smile.
REACTION
Pondering Vor's words Morganne responds "...and you don't think a group as large as ours would attract any attention? We've had it easy up until now you say? Freeing these children, the Countess of Yonic and a few villagers, surely there's some who would aid us? My own order prefers to stay hidden, away from large cites and what of the...." Morganne begins asking too many questions to humanly answer with any quickness that would appease her. Upon seeing Ciri she smiles "...ahhh..I see you've gotten yourself fully restored and a little rest then? No pun intended, What now? Head for home or throw your sword in with us?
Ciri "I'll tarry along. I would have been a slave of that bastard dark elf if you and Arik hadn't come along and taken me with you. Hopefully I can assist in some positive light, I'll help in whatever way that I can. Your mage friend there was able to counter the dark elf's reduce spell on me"
Aronis: "Right now, we're completely hidden and look like a cluster of tree's to anyone else looking upon us...even the keen eyes of elvish. The spell will last a few hours. This force is not at all large, Morganne. In fact we made it as lean as we possibly could. Sable wanted to bring several more units but I had to lay it on her thick that a smaller force would be less noticeable. Regardless, we've some reserves and reinforcements scattered in strategic positions awaiting command from us"
Vor: "Once we reach Cloak Keep, we won't need any armies for protection. So then, my original route was to take the Gate Mountains to reach the Gate of Heaven and gain passage to Cloudkeep. But perhaps the elves can lend us use of their Moon Gate to make our journey shorter?"
ELF: "No quar solumus trigormloqi, priest of Lor. The Huntress moon will be in position three and a half days from now. The way to the Gate of Heaven is more perilous, froth with unspeakable menace. However, the same can be said about the path of arrows that leads to the Moongate. Pockets of Trolls and Drow have grown more embolden of late. Darkon their master has set them to invade and terrorize the sanctity of the Black Forest. Be cautious, elf-friends. There may be some battle to be had along the secret way"
Looking towards the familiar sound, both of Arik eye's widen. Looking at the full size of Ciri and can't seem to find words to address her. Not knowing that some time has past, as Arik smiles back, "I am glad that you have made it here. I was wondering if you were still trapped where we departed. I am pleased that you have escaped from both your prisons. I have to say, looking at you fully has made me speachless...."
Looking around the group, wonder if our other companions have made it safley back then....
Aronis noticed Arik scanning the ranks looking for others, but they weren't present.
The mage reported thusly: "Unfortunately, the dwarf and elf were slain in battle when they fought against Lord Devanaster. Devanaster's bodyguards killed them in fair battle, though they did suffer enough damage in return for Sable to finish them both and avenge the dwarf and elf. It will be a sad thing for me to report their losses, but their sacrifice was much bigger than they could have hoped. Devanaster's death is a terrible blow for Dezloz. The unanticipated move to free the children and Vor in one fell swoop has not only crippled Dezloz but has him terrified of failure, I'm fairly confident. Without his general, his champion hatchet man he is temporarily leaderless"
"Another will arise, count on that" Sable spoke..."There's an endless reserve of high end mercenaries out there willing to ply their blade or spell for that madman. And remember, his two aides fled with Devanaster's body in tow. Aronis blew it to hell but there was no body found inside. Which could mean that Devanaster may be raised and restored to life, if such is within Dezloz's power"
Vor "That is an effortless feat for him. While he has amassed an army of those black metal skinned monsters, they lack the brains and military tactical brilliance of Devanaster. Does House Succundus have any spare men it could lend us? Once we reach the Moon Gate, we can send a nice little welcoming party to intercept and thwart Devanaster's revival"
Sable: "Aye, priest. I like the sound of your plan. Simple and straightforward. You there! Northron, you look like a capable warrior. Arik and Morganne, and their new friend Ciri if she so wishes for a little come uppance. Though such goes against my coda I will not deny you your revenge, Ciri. Please bring me his sword, it will make a fit birthday gift for Daynar when we see him next in Cloudkeep"
Aronis: "I think I shall tarry along for this...just in case my magic is required...we need to be thorough and prepared when Devanaster is concerned"
Narcosse "I don't take orders from a woman, especially a city bred one!" the barbarian mutters for all to hear. He grabs a loaf of bread out of Orath's hand before the thief could feast on it, gobbling it greedily. "Less you're spreading your legs wide or paying me in large gems and gold, lady in heavy armor"
Sable: "We don't have time for thy pigheadedness, Nyriddian! If you hadn't contributed to the success of this very important mission I'd give you a badly needed lesson in manners and respect"
Narcosse laughs, "Your jest is taken with tremendous mirth, lady. The day YOU can teach ME anything other than feigned civility and prudish pleasantries is the day I retire and become a haggardly old drunkard. But I don't give a damn about these other weakling soldiers you command, they look like they could scarcely slay an orc. And I won't be commanded as though one of they. I'll gladly deprive you and your master of some gold, though...therein you can earn my blade"
Sable: "Very well, barbarian. You'll have gold, enough to buy yourself a harem and some decent clothes besides a flimsy loincloth. Someone get this obstinent bull some damned clothes and armor!"
The surrounding soldiers chuckle and laugh at the command.
Sable sighed in annoyance, having momentarily lost her composure. She turned quickly to Morganne and spoke "Your sisterhood has dispatched some of their warriors to aid us. They will wait for our word in the town of Hetonk. I will dispatch a courier falcon to deliver word to commander Ambria once she is in place, which will be in the next day"
Vor hands Morganne the black cloak of the phase spider. "That's a rare item I would not even spare so willingly even to save the life of myself. Keep it tightly around your shoulders, it will save your life against greater foes. Enemies that attack the spirit and soul of mortals. It will take a solid week to attune itself to your body"
Two succundus soldiers came suddenly, with a cowering prisoner in tow. The prisoner was a Goblin, small even by the small standards of its own race.
Sable: "Report"
One of the soldiers said to Sable "We've found this Goblin by the egress of the sewers beneath the village. It was eating...something I would not care to describe to you, mi'lady. I heard fell voices from the sewer, not the voices of men or orcs. We fled before seeing any of the sources of those strange alien voices"
Sable "Good work. I doubt this Goblin is of much use to us, but bring it along and keep eyes on it at all times. If it misbehaves in any way feel free to ruffle its feathers but do not kill it or cause it any mortal injury"
Sable and the rest of her entourage begin the journey towards the deeper recesses of the Black Forest Kingdom, lead first by the elven contingent who move swifter and with more silence in the woods. Their boots and cloaks make them invisible and without any sounds whatsoever. The Elves also bring with them a peculiar looking dog they refer to as 'Koshee', an Elvish Dog.
"Where is the dark skinned she-elf, then?" Narcosse suddenly remembered to ask.
Sable turned toward the barbarian, saying "She had...left. She told me to bid you farewell and that she will seek you out before long. I sensed that she had some business of a personal nature to attend...very important it must be but I did not probe too deeply concerning the matter. She's her own person, after all"
After three hours of slow riding along the road of many arrows, a seldom used ancient elven highway the party stops in a elven campsite on the side of the road. In the middle of the clearing is a weathered and worn statue of Corellon Larethian, the head of the Elven pantheon of deities. In his hand is a knocked longbow, and his eyes are peering straight and fiercely as though engaged in battle.
"This is holy ground" Aronis said, dismounting his horse. "We're in the threshold of elven imperial territory now. Even the cursed black guard wouldn't be so stupid as to tarry through here without terror of the reprecussions" the mage explained.
REACTION
After hearing the news about his companions, Arik shakes his head, "I am sorry that they did not make it. At least they did not die in vain. At least Vrail made it out. Hope she will return soon, she helped out alot."
With the verbal distuption of Narcosse, Arik just shakes his head.
Arik makes a point to talk with the kids when there is time. Trying to know their names and where they came from.
Arik appears to be in deep thought for the duration of the trip. Thinking on all the events that has transpired. Seeing the situation unfold upon the staue, he will observe and make sure of his surroundings....
Morganne takes the time to "put eyes" on the goblinoid and remarks to Sable "...what reason do you have for bringing this creature with us? Have you considered that perhaps it was placed near our last known location in hopes of our discovering it and taking it with us? Let Aronis question it and get rid of the creature! It's presence is a sure harbringer of doom and misfortune..."
Looking at Morganne, then back to Sable, "I agree with Morganne. Having this goblin here for whatever reason is not a good thing. I say kill it and be rid of the situation. Though I am concerned with the 'other sounds' reported though..."
Sable "I'll take your counsel under advisement, but last I remembered you two were retainers and not my counselors. Aronis can innately pierce any guise with a mere glance. He's bestowed with true sight.
The Goblin lived in the sewers, and if the enemy gained their hands on it it may have betrayed our location. Now more important matters demand my focus. These prisoners you freed from the sewers, they are dignitaries and ambassadors who have gone missing and untraceable even through the most powerful divination. The countessa of Yornic has been gone missing for an entire year. Her abduction caused family feuds to rage and not even Daynar's statecraft could quell the flames of bitter history between the houses of Yornic. Her restoration will gain House Succundus a powerful new ally. Daynar will be most pleased...good work, both of you. You're no longer mere retainers now, my liege has commanded that you're to be offered new positions. Arik, captain of the 13th guardsmen, an elite force personally trained by Daynar himself. Morganne, weapon master and member of Orath's cadre of spies. You'll defer to him from time to time concerning intelligence gathering and general subterfuge style missions. You'll each have two personal non combatant aides to assist you. By now Dezloz will certainly be aware of your existence and thus will take you more of a serious liability to his schemes...we anticipated this and Wrath be praised the timing is right for you to assume more challenging roles"
Sable made a gesture to Aronis, who sat drinking mint tea and pouring over a map. The mage averted his gaze and glided across the tent to sit beside the two of you.
He then gestures for two guardsmen to bring some items. The first of which are custom crafted suits of lightweight yet sturdy looking body-armor.
The mage smiled and pointed to each one. "This is, as you can tell highly special armor. We've taken great amounts of the living metal of Dezloz's new monstrosities and forged this body armor out of it, imbuing it with special potent dweomers that took Rook the master of arms a very long while to do. This metal is very lightweight and fibrous, and it is resistant to fire, acid, electricity, cold, and other types of physical attack. It can also regenerate. So if something actually does damage it, it will mend itself. When you wish to remove it, merely concentrating and commanding it to undress will turn it into a pair of wrist-bracers, metal boots, or a belt. Whatever the form you will it to be. It is fortified and treated against heat metal spells, and you will find it will do well to protect you against blows meant to sever your extremities"
Morganne listens to Sable's words without much comment.."..two aides eh?" Morganne says "...Wrath be praised then, it seems like ages ago when i first encountered a group of these...special children and worked to ensure their safety! Hargath and...hmm..the elf's name escapes my memory now..., anyway, rescuing the countess and the others was just the right thing to do!" Morganne remarks "..I've still some years left before i'm to return to my duties with my order so I'll accept Lord Succundus's offer. When will i meet this new..adjunct assigned to me? What can you tell me about..her or him? With Arik taking command of a leigon of his own, I'm guessing that we will be going our separate ways for a time? Tenspells, what's next for us? For the children?
Aronis: "On the contrary, you and Arik will work very closely. As Weaponmaster it will be your duty to refine and augment the troops individual fighting style, and to write a manual of that style for them to study. As for your aides you'll find out soon enough, it's not so important as to go into their individual history and such...but worry not about where their loyalties lie. The children must be taken to Cloudkeep where they will be trained and provided for, and well protected while the arcane order is called into action to thwart and smite Dezloz's new mechanized troops...those souless automatons you fought are formidable and can pose a threat even Dezloz has not forseen. They will rebel against him and plan a planetary purge of all life on Scarlor I fear"
Morganne smirks for a moment, "...and what is the second item you were going to present to us? This armor is a prototype i presume? Master Rook has done some very exquisite work for me in the past, those Metal...automatons, normal weapons seemed to have no effect on them and If Arik's 13th and I are to be used against them then I'll need some work done on my current weapons as well as those of the 13th to help deal with them! Second I want a small number of the 13th to train as a special unit within their ranks..I'll explain more later. In the meantime, I have a personal request that i'd rather not make in..mixed company Tenspells.."
Aronis: "Denied. Resources are tight, and I've sent some house spies to recruit more men. And no, you aren't to be utilized against the automatons of Dezloz. Daynar's already made a special unit to counter Dezloz with his own creations. The clergy of Wrath has raised a skeletal army from the bones of courageous warriors who've answered his call. These undead fighters fought for Daynar's father during the Undead Wars and were the mightiest and most fell. Daynar's had their bones encased in living metal, empowered with potent spells provided by the arcane brotherhood, my order. These should do well to counter the necroflesh metal soldiers. These suits are as they are, their craftsmanship was painstaking and they cannot be improved upon according to Rook who swears by them. I think if you were to call them anything other than artistry the dwarf will be infuriated by the slight and may have words with you. You don't want any of that dwarf's ire, I promise you"
Orath "Morganne don't get big headed, your new title and rank just means you'll be making less than a retainer and for harder work...though less dangerous. You'll be getting to put others in danger, like we put you in before. You don't get to request more men but have to make do with what's available. Like Aronis said, resources are tight. However, you do raise a valid point. Those masterwork weapons you've got are hardly worth orcshit in a real fight. Let me know if you have the courage to brave a real evil dungeon. That's what it will take for you to get your hands on the weapons you want. Do you think such weapons exist in great number? Hell I have but a single enchanted dag I had to go to great lengths to steal from the royal museum of Corealus. If I didn't actually like this turncoat Arik here I would've slit his throat and taken his sword already. And I might if he gets too big for his breeches"
Narcosse: "Over my dead body"
Orath: "That can be arranged, big boy. My blade's felled bigger ogre's than you, Nyriddian. I'm more cunning, swift of feet and mind, agile and better looking than yourself. Remember that, and you may live long enough to sire issue"
Narcosse: "Bah! You weakling fool! Teach me a thing eh? I've sat at council at 15 winters and sent a company of Jez'zur soldiers to hell. What can you teach me besides the art of prattle?" the barbarian fumed, running up at Orath. The thief hisses and summersaults over Narcosse, kicking him in the back at the same time before grabbing a low branch and swinging over it like a gymnast. The thief twirls then kicked Narcosse hard in the chest. However, the barbarian was pantherish and came in with a hard punch to Orath's face...knocking the thief off guard.
"Enough!" Aronis said in a peculiar deep droned voice...the voice carried a sort of mental command with it, raising a hand and erecting a wall of force between the two..."As entertaining as this is we've more pressing matters than your fragile ego's. You two fools will behave yourselves or I'll turn you into orcs for a day if you continue with this foolishness. Now, while Daynar's metal skeletal warriors will aid in staving off the forces of Dezloz its not sufficient to succeed in destroying the new black guard. We have to take this window of opportunity of diverting his attention toward the children. While he seeks for them vainly we must venture to another plane to seek out weapons with which to combat his treacherous creations. This is the prime direct of my order, who have discerned this new sphere we must venture to. This world is known as Third Earth. It is a world ravaged by constant war and death. On this world is a man, a brilliant man named Trent Castor...an inventor and a geneticist whose being held in a prison somewhere. A geneticist is some form of necromantic magic unique to their world. You must get him to Scarlor by any means at your disposal. This mission was passed down from the queen herself"
Hearing all that has been said and running the information through his mind. "I look forward on whatever task that will be place before us, especially anything going against my former boss. This armor is very interesting and how your smith's can creat such an items is credit to their skill. I shall wear this with pride. On a different note, I do have some personal goals that I would like to accomplish when the time is availible. Mainly the origin of my family and my people. Training to unleash my hidden potential."
Not liking what he heard from Orath, shakes his head and placed his hand on his sword when he noticed Narcosse stood up and exchanged words and fists with Orath. After the ordeal, Arik states to Narcosse, "Thanks for the gesture.." Hearing what was being said about the the Thrid Earth and a person named Trent Castor and what value this person is to the whole scheme on things, Arik nods at Aronis' words. After a pause, "Are we to start after the kids reach their destination? or as soon as possible?"
Aronis: "When we reach Cloudkeep, per Vor's counsel you and Morganne will have an audience with Vor's master Alzor Dam. Alzor will unlock you, and make you more fit and powerful than you are presently. Since we cannot teleport to the damn place we will need to get through the Gate Mountains to reach the high place that provides an aerial ferry across the heavens peaks to Cloudkeep. The winged folk are friends and will grant us safe passage. It matters not if they do, I have brought along some potions of flying which should last just long enough to safely land on the castle itself...hopefully. Regardless, if we should see action in the skies consider the potions to be your insurance of survival. You wont want to quaff them until you get close to the ground ere they expire"
Morganne shakes her head and replies to Aronis and Orath "...I'm not requesting additional warriors, but i will chose five from within those that i'm supposed to train.."
Later after Orath's and Narcosse's squabble, Morganne rests a light hand on the barbarians arm, not to worry friend, i've known Orath for qui9te some time, if it's one thing i've known about him that although he's not someone to triffle with, he tends to speak first and think later..."
later, Morganne turns to Aronis "..of course I want to quest! Gaining expierence and having a purpose IS my base goal in life! When this business with the children is done we'll have to discuss what you're refering to later! My most recent weapon, Bone--Breaker, seemed to be the most effective out of all of my armaments.."
Aronis: "I said quaff, not quest. What I mean? I wasn't speaking in riddles. Vor has already told you that his master can unlock a persons potential, making their souls and their inner spirits more strengthened and realized. Most people scarcely ever reach even twenty percent of their actual self worth...so you will find yourselves empowered with gifts that goes beyond the ken of most common folk. These abilities might even terrify you, or drive you mad...the hazards of premature awakening. Alzor is able to open the divine strength and intelligence inside of us all and make it more plentiful. Arik, you will gain full understanding when you meet this Alzor...if you meet him shall I say. Now that you've rescued and secured the children for the pride of House Succundus it will be your lives in peril as well. So we of Daynar's inner circle are to protect you as much as we can. Our foes will be many. Rival factions and houses pursue us as we speak, but fortunately Orath was able to send them off of our trails with his masterful subterfuges and intrigues"
Narcosse: "Let these dogs come, more sweet meats for my blade. Sounds like sorcery to me, wizard. And I'd have no fool manipulate my body or soul with his fell magic. I'd sooner disembowel such a person rather than give them free custody to malign me!"
Sable was about to say something when Vor interrupted "I'd not subject you to such evil, barbarian. You are young, brash and brazen...my master would simply make you...more cunning, faster, stronger than you are right now. It may be necessary, even vital for events to come. This world's a pendulum, on one hand is evil and the other good. Right now, the hand is facing evil and isn't giving way to good...the balance is distorted and as such, great woe is the result of this power shift"
Narcosse: "Hmph, I seem to trust you for some strange reason priest. You don't seem like the usual sort of clerics I've met. Fine, I will go and visit your master. But don't doubt I'd kill the man if he means me ill will"
Aronis turned towards Arik and said "The armor requires a little bit of thorough explaining. Because it's wrought from living metal, it is slightly sentient and attunes itself to your physical and mental states. You will soon enough discover that it has other utilitarian applications that goes beyond mere protection of your bodies. For instance you can create little scarabs that quickly multiply and can attack and devour a foe in a span of seconds. You can extract a bit off and form a chain or dagger, or even an axe or sword. These weapons are unique, when you pierce a foe a bit of the metal will stay inside and destroy them from within before returning to meld. You will be elated to learn that normal daggers, arrowheads intent on injuring you will be consumed by the armor when it needs to repair itself. The color and style of it is limited only by your imaginations, for the dweomer Rook has set the armor can appear as mere leather if you so will it.
Orath turned toward Morganne and said "If you be needing five men, go find em. All you have to do really is go searching for such in some local pub. There's an endless supply of down on their luck mercenaries with a shred of liquid courage to their names. I'm fairly certain your charming way will sober em up real quick"
Morganne simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders "...that is true Orath, but that will have to wait..lets get moving then shall we
"Well, if we are not leaving at this moment, I'm going to rest up a bit and relax. If anyone needs me, I'll be in my quarters/tent."
Arik excuses himself and leaves. Deep in thought, Arik runs all the events that has happened up till now. Wondering how everything will play out. He will make a point to stop by and check up on the kids and see how they are doing. Once that is done, he will rest in his quarters. He will take the time and look at his weapons more closely, though he didn't have time before....
ARIK: you note the children and study them more closely now that things are a little more relaxed at the moment. Four appear to be in deep sleep, a boy and a girl awake and playing a game of chess against each other. You notice now that the boy and girl are identical twins, and are perhaps the more attractive of the bunch. You also note that they don't physically move the pieces on the board but the pieces move by themselves, mentally commanded by the twins. The other three boys and girl look like ordinary children of average looks. Most have dark hair but one boy has stark silver hair and you notice that he's not a human but a half-elf.
The twins smile and pause in their game. You get the sense of gratitude and happiness at the sight of you, and realize they are projecting these feelings inside of you. The pair of twins smiled warmly and said "Thank you, Arik for saving us. You've done much, when weaker men would have given up. You really are a true warrior! One of the best. Your heart gives you strength, and your strength gives you courage. We don't know why people are after us, bad men but we're glad you and that lady you're with have aided us from harm"
Once you inspect your weapons your mind seems to shift exclusively to your sword. You sense you're completely uninterested in your dagger or crossbow even and that you only care about the newly found sword.
Morganne, standing a little behind Arik while he checks in on the children overhears their thanks to She and Arik and remembers something said to her long ago." People sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough and able men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." nodding her head to the twins and checking on the rest of the children as well. Morganne goes to inspect the men and women of the 13th and give them a surpise inspection and training run before going to get some rest herself.
(chr:17) the men don't receive Morganne very well, and they raise their eyebrows in bewilderment to eachother. One steps forward and says "Begging thy pardon, lady but we've already been trained by Lord Daynar himself. We're his elite, and last we checked our new commander is a fighter named Arik, not yourself. No offense, just think you're a bit...confused on the matter. Weaponmaster's role is to train new recruits, not seasoned house veterans like ourselves" the men continue talking amongst themselves.
A pair of sentries and their watchdogs begin shouting and barking from the north. One sentry roars "Trolls! To the north! Sound the alarm!" Morganne saw a young boy, a runner rush toward the nearby gong that served as the alarm when two darts flew out from the darkness and struck the youth in the back. The youth, perhaps an esquire collapsed and appeared to be sleeping.
REACTION?
Morganne recognizes the dart as a sleeping dart and hurls bone breaker in the direction from which it came from
Hearing the kids talk with him inside his mind, it took a minute to get use to it. Arik kneels down and says, "It was pur pleasure to help you all. When we get you to your final destination, make sure that you take care of the others children. Remember to enjoy life and have fun, you only have one life to live. Make the best of it."
Arik then heads to his quarter and is trancefixed by his weapons. Discarding the others on the floor, Arik lays is bed just admiring the craftmanship of the sword....
If Arik hears the sentry's call outs...
He will run out from where he was relaxing at and with his weapon look towards the the sounds of alarm. He will stop someone if there is one running close by and ask him/her what is going on. If there is no one around at that moment, he will run to the battlements and peer out in the distance and see what is developing....
GUARDSMAN: (to Arik) "The camp's under attack, sir. Trolls have been sighted to the north"
MORGANNE: (19) Bonebreaker cuts the right hand off of a male drow-elf. His companion came then, and looked at him with scorn. The drow fighter viciously cut his own man down with a swift stroke of his sword before turning toward you.
The drow elf leaps straight into the air and slowly floated at Morganne with a longsword pointed forward. Morganne threw bonebreaker again but the drow deflected it with his sword, sending it flying in a circle and returning to Morganne's hand.
Five trolls came lumbering into the camp and surrounding a group of soldiers and their dogs. One Troll viciously tore the dogs down or stomped on them and crushed the animals swiftly. A spearman's thrust of a pike eviscerates Troll #2 in the stomach but the horrid thing feels no pain or fear. With lengthy arms the impaled troll tore into the doomed spearman with razor claws then chomped a evil bite out of his neck, eating the poor soldier's flesh.
Aronis emerged from his tent, a look of anger mixed with curiosity from the disturbance. Two Troll's advanced upon the wizard, who cupped his hands and unleashed a fan of scorching fire at them. The two trolls wailed as the tongue of fire enveloped them and incinerated the grotesque green flesh of their hideous hides.
Morganne felt a stabbing pain pierce her from behind, she turned to see a female drow elf there with a cruel smirk on her delicate features. She sunk a shortsword into the small of Morganne's back. A second attack swung over Morganne's head and missed as she ducked low instinctively.
DECISION?
ARIK: you move towards the sounds of men shouting, dogs barking and spells crackling. From the north you spot ten tall lanky Trolls, their eyes are black empty sockets with tiny red spheres inside and mouths full of jagged stained fangs. The lumbering creatures tear through any resistance and opposition, killing soldiers left and right. Several Succundus elite are firing crossbows with tar pitched bolts at the Trolls, who do not appear afraid as they ought.
Several soldiers are brought down by drow sleep poisoned crossbow bolts. Twelve drow come along behind the trolls. Morganne is fighting two by herself, and you see one lone dark-elf pressing two of Sable's bodyguards and trying to get into her tent.
A drow elf suddenly crept out from behind a tree and was about to sink a dagger into your neck when a Succundus guardsman alerts you of the danger with a timely shout. Ducking, the drow swipes thin air instead and cursed something in dark elven at you. You come up and deliver a deathly kiss of your sword, feeling the keen blade pierce the drow's concealed armor.
Arik makes a note to himself on the guardsman and nods in his direction. Arik yells, "Cover your blades and arrow tips in oil and lite them to do some real damage to those trolls..." Making sure the Drow is dead, Arik will pick up the dagger and throw it at the Dark Elf that is near Sable's tent...
Morganne drops low to the ground to attempt a reverse leg sweep to take her attack off her feet or at least get her moving then will slash with bone breaker again
(2) Morganne fell low and swept but the dark elf body-vaults over the dhampir, a pair of curved dark swords in either hand. The drow-elven fighter swung his left-weapon at her in a feint, then came in and stabbed Morganne in the stomach for -3 hp dmg. She felt her stomach acid churning her insides with horrid pain from the blow, despite her self-healing.
"I've got her" Drow #2 roared, charging in at Morganne from her blind-spot. The dark-elf foolishly snagged his foot on one of the ropes holding the nearest tents up, giving Morganne an attack of opportunity. She cuts off the drow's right foot and he falls to the ground, howling in anger and outrage. As Morganne moved in to finish the fallen foe, the drow-elf errects a globe of magical darkness over himself...one that even defied her keen vision.
ARIK: (9) you fling the dagger at the one of the two drow-elven warriors, who spun on you and narrowed its red glowering eyes at you. The obsidian skinned elf took aim and fired his one handed crossbow at you, plugging your neck with a poisoned barbed bolt. You felt yourself yawn briefly, but yanked the bolt and threw the tainted missile to the ground. The drow's eyes widened in disbelief, "You lucky little bastard!" the drow said while reloading his crossbow...intent on using you for target practice.
A Troll advanced on Morganne, swinging a talon at her. Its head lurched forward and it sunk its jagged yellow teeth into her shoulder (-18 hp dmg) which tore through her preternatural flesh. She hissed in a vampiric way, and all semblance of discipline and self control escaped from her. Her eyes became blood red and she felt fangs grow from the roof of her mouth. Then she sprang at the nearest foe, the drow warrior who casted the darkness spell...attracted by the dark-elf's flowing blood. Grabbing the drow by the ankle, she began draining him from the gaping wound, relishing the sweet seeming unending flow of light made into liquid. The smoky fiery taste of the dying elf's lifeforce erased the evil bite-wound delivered by the troll.
Aronis loosed a spell that unleashed a cackling darkening bolt at the Troll, and at the same time shot an acidic arrow that blasted into the nearest drow fighters. Several Succundus guardsmen stood in the distance near Narcosse who took down several drow and trolls singlehandedly. The barbarian was covered in blood, and his blade was bathed in red. In his off-hand he clutched a dark-elf's head which he callously flung at an unsuspecting orc.
There were only four trolls still standing, ten orcs were in camp but were not engaged in battle. They ran tent to tent searching for...something.
Sable was already roused from the commotion of battle. One single dark-elf mercilessly cut down her two bodyguards with swift skill and cunning blows, like they were mere adepts of the blade. Sable came out of the tent and set the dark-elf on the defensive with a flurry of blows that would have claimed the dark-elfs life had it not been careful. The drow's two hands worked furiously to parry and deflect Sable's onslaught, and the fighter who was smiling in self satisfaction at how easily he slew the two guardsmen was now wincing in frustration.
One Succundus guardsman was about to shout something when a female drow-elf came up out of his own shadow and slit his throat with a dagger. From the west came five scantily clad human women, fine figured and each carrying a cat-o-nine tails whip. Over them rained a volley of arrows that cleared their charge of any resistance, behind them was a group of filthy looking bandits sporting shortbows, crossbows and bolas who were harassing the Succundus troops. Then out of the shadows rode the blonde haired fighter Garosh who charged them from their blind-spot, mowing many down and cutting a bloody path towards their leader.
Narcosse leaped in the air, high in the air and higher than any human should have been capable of doing. He landed on the saddle of one of the whip toting priestesses, smiling at her stunned reaction. The barbarian swiftly knocked her from her saddle and rode to where Morganne and Arik were, laughing with crazed mirth. Behind him were four of the priestesses of pain, cursing him and preparing to unleash spells of doom on the foolish warrior.
REACTION?
Utilizing the clasp,"..Arik, direct the 13th to form a defensive line and protect the children! These Drow and Trolls have to be a distraction somehow!" Morganne pulls Corvus and along with bone-breaker, will attack targets of opportunity
VOR: "Don't bother, the children are safe" the priests voice came in Arik and Morganne's heads.
GAROSH spun his horse and pointed his sword at the troll near Morganne. The Succundus soldiers take down the Troll with a barrage of flame pitched crossbow bolts, which horribly consumes it in wreathing flames.
Someone within Sable's tent plunged a sword through the flap and sunk the tip through the side of the drow about to shoot at Arik with its crossbow. It fell over and died, and out came Ciri who immediately went into a defensive stance as the second dark elf launched a skilled burst of swordplay at her. Arik saw she was cut from the drow-elf's wicked whirring display of swordsmanship.
Before the drow could finish its murderous intent however, a spear shot out of Sable's tent and skewered the dark-elf. Following it came Sable herself, clad in her silver dragon-armor. She donned her helm and drew a two handed sword, running at a group of orcs that were approaching her tent.
A group of riders came from the south of the encampment, and they trampled through a wall of soldiers there...killing two in the process. They were females, each was scantilly clad and brandished a cat-o-nine tails whip in hand. One of these riders had paralyzed the four spear-men who stood in their path with a hold person spell, that much was obvious. Behind them, outside of the perimeter was a band of twenty bandits who were loosing arrows into the camp and firing on random targets to distract any resistance from the female priestesses entry into the camp.
Narcosse tore out of a nearby camp, and behind him was a female officer who was hurriedly donning her equipment. The barbarian stood straight in the path of the advancing riders, but instead of fleeing he leaped straight up into the air and aback one of the priestesses mounts, stunning the woman on it. He gently tossed her off the saddle with a forceful shove, chasing after the main troupe. A lone Succundus guardsman took down one of the priestesses with a mancatcher, and two others hurled a weighed net that snagged yet another but both men were shot down by brigand arrows and died instantly.
Morganne was struck from behind by yet another drow, the same one who had wounded her before. This time the dark-elf scored an agonizing blow to her leg, cutting a long bloodied line there (-11 hp dmg) her bloodlust sated she drew bonebreaker and swung, severing the fighters right forearm at the joint. Despite the crippling blow the dark-elf pressed on, heedless of its own bleak predicament. In a suicide rush it pressed Morganne in an effort to take her down with himself. Instead the now limp drow-elf tripped over the fallen form of one of its own downed dark-elves leaving himself vulnerable. Though Morganne slashed and cut at the drow it moved and wove out of deaths path evasively and with amazing speed.
DECISION?
Yelling to the men, "Press the attack and route these vermin!" As Arik rushes to Ciri and making sure she was ok and to see if any of the cuts need some attention. After that he will assess the battleground and look for any weaknesses in the attack's positions. If it seems that we are winning, then Arik will charge the orcs with Sable. Making sure she had enough room to swing her sword. If not, Arik will address the weakness with himself and some men if needs be....
seeing that the brigand archers were going to be a problem, Morganne hurls Bonebreaker and Covus at them and moves to close the distance between them " Arik! Ciri is fine! Deal with those Orcai and rally the 13th to take out those brigand archers!! Morganne yells to the Sindsun warrior! confident that both Sable and Ciri could handle themselves Morganne uses the clasp to broadcast a message "...we need a few alive for questioning" amd then continues her assault on the Brigand and priestests
Pointing at some men close by, "Get a group of archers and take out those brigand archers now!" Arik runs along and gets any extra men to form up in shooting distance and once he has enough men, "Let loose with all you got!"
The soldier who had cried out a warning call to Arik nodded, saying "Sir yes sir!"
The same soldier turned towards one of the tents and roared out "Rackhir!!!"
"Rackhir!!!!" another voice boomed and resonated, several more chimned it so that the call was heard.
Out of a tent in the middle of the camp came a man clad in a blood red cloak, his face concealed in a hood and with him was a female and male high-elf both with chestnut hair and beautiful features. The red clad archer produced a longbow and knocked four arrows to it, sending each into a bandit and each killed the one it pierced. The female elf fired an arrow that detonated in a explosion of blinding white light which stung the brigands eyes. As the brigands returned fire the red cloaked archer merely laughed as the arrows that came to actually hit him bounced off harmlessly to the ground.
Garosh was now fighting new enemies, for orcs came and behind them were seen Goblins mounted on the backs of Worg-riders. These Goblinoid units advanced on foot or worg and were closing fast. Garosh unleashed a barrage of crossbow missiles into them and decimated the front ranks.
However, a new group entered the playing field. Hooded and mounted they rode from the southeast, quiet and practically soundless. This new calvary rode right into the side of the orc force and fearlessly began cutting them down without hesitation or mercy. Some of the orcs would shoot or stab at these riders but it seemed that the horsemen were somehow impervious to the orcs attacks.
Out of the corner of her eye Morganne noticed a pair of individuals sneak up behind a pair of Orcs and slit their throats, thief style. Her spectral vision identifies the two, a male and female as the same Watcher agents who originally stole into the camp and abducted the younglings. From behind the male figure, a tree sprouted arms and stabbed the young man in the buttock and a blackjack knocked the woman out cold...then Orath came out of hiding and called some soldiers to him to take the two into a nearby tent.
It seemed that the cluster of newly arrived allies had cut a artery through the would-be orc reinforcements and did a most effective job of decimating half their numbers in a span of mere seconds. Ciri and Sable cut a bloody path through the center of the encampment while Rackhir and his two elven friends loaned supporting fire to Succundus archery units who were busy firing on orcs or trolls.
Vor's voice came: "These are Lord Darkon's minions, and this was only skirmishers he sends forth to test a foe. I think he's found us to be tougher than he originally anticipated...otherwise he would have sent forth his elite troops by now. Thank Lor the foul bastard actually hates losing his pawns lives, though he will try his hand again"
Morganne uses the Succundus clasp to contact Arik. "..good, now that you've got some archers providing cover, rally some men to set up skirmish lines and some defendable positions! I'll see what i can do on my own!" Morganne continues to assault targets of opportunity and help any other defenders to quickly take down the opposition.
MORGANNE: she sweeps through several pockets of fighting and aiding some hard pressed soldiers turn the tide against drow, orc or troll. She sprints across the camp when an invisible noose snags around her neck and she shoots straight up into the air, feeling herself gasp for breath in agonizing spurts. Looking below she see's another figure holding the other end of the wire-chord/rope. Two Succundus soldiers saw what happened and set on the stranger, who pulled out one single blade and intercepted the first soldier's spear, dispatching him with a swift under-cut and blocking the second soldier's incomming waraxe with an off-handed shortsword. The man spun low and brought both blades up in an X at the clearly outmatched soldier's neck and slit his throat. In a blink of an eye the melee was over before it had begun and the stranger sheathed his swords. He casually removed his hood and revealed a handsome visage, with olive colored skin and penetrative gray eyes. His hair was stark silver, like that of a drow elf. Morganne's keen sight noted two prickly fangs jut out of the roof of the mans mouth to hang just over his bottom lip.
Morganne slit the chord with a swipe of bonebreaker and landed on a high branch above. The silver haired foe leaped straight up and perfectly onto a low limb. He muttered "Your death will be relished, Morganne. You ought consider it an honor to die at my hands" he says. Then cupping his hands and pointing them toward her, a cone of cold shot out and froze the branch she was on and stung Morganne's legs badly (-15 hp dmg) causing the branch to turn solid ice she merely jumped off and latched onto a vine...throwing Bonebreaker at the man.
DECISION?
Morganne ignores her attacker's taunt, this one like so many before him all boasted that she should feel honored to have the opportunity at their hands. choosing to let Bone-Breaker speak for her instead, Morganne studies this...Dhampir? more closely, her mind tells her that this one is an assassin of some kind with spellcasting abilities. those poor fools who sought to save her only ended up in opening the door to the abyss for themselves.. "...we are always honored to challenge any who present themselves as a worthy opponent!" Morganne replies as she dives for a vine and instincively let's Bone-Breaker kiss this new opponent, to repay him for his cold and biting greeting.
AS Bonebreaker flew at the silver haired fighter, he reached up and snatched it out of thin air with a black gauntlet and threw it right back at Morganne. Bonebreaker sliced her left hand at the wrist and she plummeted then her ankle became entwined by a vine. He threw a dagger which flew out and severed he vine that suspended Morganne, and she fell to both her feet like a cat on the ground below, just a few feet from the assassin.
The swordsman scoffed and threw something at Morganne. A vial full of some yellow liquid. "Drink it, no sport in killing you with such a handicap" he said. Out of the corner of her eye Morganne saw a band of concealed archers a half mile away rooted in the trees with their bows knocked.
"Heard you're good" the man said with a wry grin.
Nodding, Arik barks orders to set up defenseive positions at certain points in the area to cover people if they need help at anytime. Arik looks to see if there are soliders fighting by themselves and will help them get to their allies. Arik wanted to see no one fighting on their own. He instructed the archers to attack the enemy that were in group for max killing. At this point, Arik is looking to see any other incoming attackers....
Morganne eyes the vial and nods her head "...how very noble of you..." as Morganne uncorks the vial and sniffs it, she lets her hand touch her clasp at her throat and broadcasts what she see's to the rest of the party then cuts the transmission "...how very noble indeed," Morganne drinks the potions contents and begins to remove her weapons before her, deciding on which weapons to us against this capable fighter "...care to make it more interesting then? Five rounds, to the pain? Un armed to fully armed combat?" Morganne select Asp, Bone-breaker, Corvus and her adamantium longsword, placing her swords a few pace behind her on the ground and Bone-Breaker and Corvus in their sheaths. Feeling the healing draught begin to work she fingers her phase cloak for a moment and puts her hands up in unarmed combat stance "...I don't know who you are or who sent you to personally challenge me but you have my thanks, it has been far too long since i've had the pleasure of facing an honorable opponent"
The swordsman didn't say anything, or even respond except for silence. He tilted his head to regard her, and spoke in a low din "I'm afraid I'm not much of a gambler. But this I can tell you, the Blood Sire Accords wanted you dead and paid me a fortune to see it through. I'm afraid this isn't going to be much of a exciting challenge for you, Morganne Du'Laq. But I will give you the dignity of fighting death before it comes, unlike others whose lives I've stolen. Besides you are a dhampir, I don't think assassinations work against our ilk"
Vor said (via the clasp) "Be wary, Morganne. That foe is a worthy combatant. I have seen him in my visions. Do not use your throwing weapons against him, he has the ability to catch and throw anything back to the sender and he rarely misses! He is slightly more skilled than yourself and can regenerate faster than you. Your blades can't hurt him, either for he's under the effects of a invulnerability potion. You will have to somehow steal one of his swords and use it against him!"
Orath: "That'll be a neat trick to see"
Morganne straightens up at the mention of the centuries old peace agreement between the warring factions that make up the Kindred nation. "...So it would seem that the sins of my father finally are to be repaid upon his daughter? I can not chage what I am or how i was created! Those Kindred noble who seek to strike back at Lhandros by enforcing the Blood Sire Accords are nothing more than petty and weak! My father forced himself and his...dark gift upon my human mother and he will pay one day but by my hand alone! Very well then, who you are is no longer of any importance now that I know why you are here..."
Morganne removes Bone-Breaker and Corvus and set them on the ground "..no sense in employing these since you obviously are very skilled in their use" Morganne draws Bludkiss and the Chain whip taken from an adversarry so long ago and coils it around her forearm "...very well then, this healing vial you provided should make this somewhat of an even match.." Morganne's mind races as she takes in her surroundings, this warrior, a full blood Kindred and a Slayer of kindred slayers, how ironic she thought as a smirk creases her face "...you face Morganne Du'Laq, Sword sister in service to Wrath, the Storm god, lord of the Tempest. I can feel my injuries healing and soon we may begin this endgame.." Morganne realizes that she will have to find a way to get in close and disarm her opponent in order to survive this day, this is a blood duel and she is honor bound to not ask for any help or quarter. This warrior has all of her strengths and some tricks of his own...
A knowing smile comes acros her face as she fingers her wrist bow, still loaded with a flame bolt and some of the other incendiary weapons in her arsenal. Now to just find the right moment to employ them. Morganne realizes that she can't talk her way out of this engagement and that she's going to have to endure some pain to see this through.
As soon as she's determined that her wounds have all been healed and that she's back to full strength, she will say a prayer to wrath and draw bludkiss, taking care to be wary of making any mistakes, her weapons were only good enough to perhaps block or parry any strikes, she will have to call upon her unarmed combat training to try to disarm or steal one of this warriors weapons.
Speed and paitence is what will see her through this now...
"Wrath, guide my hand..."
"That's right girl, pray" the swordsman spoke softly. He disappeared in plain view suddenly, then reappeared in front of Morganne striking her twice with his double ended sword (-17 hp dmg) his gleaming blades piercing and cutting deep wounds through Morganne's new armor like it was made of paper.
Morganne tried to block one of the assassins blades with asp but her timing failed her. (20) she cracked the chain at the side of the silver haired dhampir's head. The blow would have easily rendered any other unconscious but the dhampir shook his head and smiled condescendingly. The swordsman came in again, this time low and Morganne leaped over the swooping blade. He came again and pierced her straight through the stomach with the opposite end, the tip of his blade shot out of Morganne's back (-14 hp dmg) Morganne's resistance to pain only barely keeping her semi conscious...that, coupled with the adrenalized fury of the moment. But he was not even injured in the slightest, and she knew he held the winning tip of the scale.
SWORDSMAN: "You're beaten, don't waste yourself and let your pride destroy you. I could have slain you quickly and cleanly but your penchant for mortal honor and such I thought to indulge you this mortal nonsense. Keeping you distracted and preoccupied was my only objective...my employer's couldn't afford the price I named to actually kill you...or perhaps they were simply too cheap. If I were you I would prepare to flee if you know what's good for you" he said with a dark look facing south. There were black guardsmen there, and with them were the lifeless automaton counterparts...the souless deathless soldiers of Dezloz overtaking any opposition and resistance.
A cadre of Sable's bodyguards came running toward the assassin. His eyes suddenly pulsated with an eerie red light and they stood frozen stiff in their tracks. The assassin threw a pouch on the ground and the whole area became permeated with a stinking noxious cloud of disgusting putrid gas. It stung at Morganne's nose, and her eyes watered and reddened...her fangs sprouted from the roof of her mouth and she laid on the forest floor bleeding from the fresh wounds.
ARIK: actions?
Seeing what was going on Arik shouts to his men, "Make a defense barrier in the front.". Holding his breath, he will run and pick up Morganne and place her outside the gas cloud. Checking the wounds, he'll call a medic if one is around. If not, he will evalute the wounds and see what he can do...
Morganne, kneeling on the ground manages a smile through fits of gagging, tries to focus her mind on her armour and tries to get to her feet or crawl at best out of the noxious cloud. Holding her clasp she uses her mind to communicate with the others "..Dezloz's forces are almost here get the children and get moving quickly! Fight and move!" Morganne wills her mind to say to Arik.
The red archer unleashed a volley of arrows that made any foes think twice about attacking outright in the open. There were many black guardsmen and they overwhelmed small bands of Succundus soldiers. Aronis having pretty much avoided the entire confrontation now demonstrated the awesome power of his arsenal of magic, ripping lightening bolts, magic missiles, spheres of fire and summoning elemental creatures to smite and destroy the black guard. Once the living black guardsmen did their methodical task of subtracting a good chunk out of the Succundus reserves, the automaton black guards came and they wiped out all remaining resistance. Rackhir's arrows were useless and Aronis's spells only slowed them. Even when downed, their torso's crawled across the floor in eerie fashion and they reassembled themselves, almost like a Troll would.
Just as Arik was barking militaristic commands, a green flash of blinding light detonated next to him, sending him flying back first into a nearby tree where he had the wind knocked out of him. As his vision returned he saw Vor valiantly fending off four black guardsmen with unflinching swordsmanship. The priest easily parried several incoming blows and slit the throat of overzealous black guardsman with a flash of his offhanded dagger. The children were running towards Arik, recognizing him from before. Aronis casted another spell and when it was completed, he erected a wall of ice around the encampment to buy the party some time. Only Sable, Narcosse, Aronis, Orath, Ciri and Vor appeared to be alive, though Sable had six soldiers with her. Garosh was nowhere to be seen. Rackhir came along with his two elven assistants.
"That wall won't hold for long" Vor said. Narcosse and Orath came to his aid and helped him slay the last three soldiers.
As the children ran towards the party, something burst forth out of the earth. Four clawed automatons, their armored bodies were wrapped with cloaks made of..human flesh. The children all winced and recoiled in horror at the sight of them.
Then, suddenly appearing in a blinding emerald green explosion of light came another automaton. But this one was clad in fanciful decor, with a tattered black cloak that flowed from his back and it carried a blade tipped staff. It had sigils engraved on its armored body, and it voiced a throaty inhuman laughter. Orath and Narcosse attacked it from behind but their blades might as well have tickled the thing. Turning around it raised a hand into the air and both barbarian and thief flew upward then fell hard to the ground.
"Death has come for you at last" the thing spoke.
REACTION
Morganne stands on weakened but steady feet, letting her black sword Asp fall from her fingers, breathing slow but heavily "Arik,..." Morganne croaks, voice dry and weak "...time to get your hands dirty..."
Concentrating her mind and will she recites the Sword sister litaney in her head "..the weapon is but an extension of the hand.." and imagines her armour creating an edged longsword that extends from the end of her right gauntlet. "...the hand is an extension of the body" Morganne recites aloud as she wills her armour to create a short-sword in her off hand
The new foe observed Morganne's activities but hardly seemed to care. Behind the dhampir came more black guardsmen automatons, these looked different than the ones fought. They wore bits of flesh on their metallic faces and carried long green glowing staffs. The leader-figure raised a hand and its clawed minions surrounded the children menacingly.
"A valiant attempt" the thing spoke, "But pointless and utterly useless" it said in a mechanical voice. Aronis began chanting softly and in stealth but the leader raised its staff and shot a beam of green light at the mage which sent him flying through the forest and a great distance away. "Your arcane abilities are insignificant, fools. We've analyzed your strengths and weaknesses accurately I assure you" it said triumphantly.
"...so im guessing that you didn't go through all of this trouble just show off your new toys then?" Morganne says sarcastically as she hurls Bone-Breaker at the closest of the Automatons and follows closely with her armour created blades, spining and slashing with renewed fury and intensity
"A foolish move" the leader spoke. Bonebreaker missed him as he faded from existence only to reappear right beside Morganne. He raised his staff and Morganne flew skyward then came crashing down hard. "This living one is only half alive...half dead. She is a kindred spirit in a sense...though she still bears the plague of life in her veins" it croaked. Then it pinned Morganne to the ground with the butt end of its bladed staff and said "Take these fools to the Monolith for information extraction. Find out all they know"
"What of the little ones mi'lord?" asked one of the human black guardsmen.
The automaton leader said "Take them to their new master...so that they can learn the ways of their new God"
down but not out, Morganne wills her armour to form a long chain whip at the end of her off hand and attempt to disarm the leader while speaking to his subordinate, Morganne will attempt to swing at the leader's leg with her sword arm.
Seeing the green light shoot Aronis through the forest, Arik yells, "Analyze this!" as Arik jumps in the air and attempts to cut the weapon arm of the automation and then cut the legs out of it. Assuming that this will slow them down a bit. If that works, then without missing a beat, will work on the automations that have surronded the children. Hoping that the attack might prove to distract them long enough for someone to take the kids and run. Arik will continue to fight until subdued....
When Morganne latches onto the leader's staff with her chainwhip she found the weapon wouldn't break free of his iron-like vicegrip. A green bolt of energy shot out of the staff and struck Morganne in the head, knocking her out cold. With one slender metallic arm the leader grabbed the dhampir and raised her up to her ground. Morganne was barely clinging to consciousness at that point. It narrowed its eyes at her, passive and emotionless. It then hurled her into the awaiting arms of two black automatons that dragged Morganne to a nearby tree and bound her there securely with thin metal chords.
Arik was shot several times by blinding green bolts of pulsating energy. Miraculously he staved off the unholy pain which surged through his body, until he was shot repeatedly from all angles. He heard a inhuman mechanical chuckling resonate from all directions.
"Put the children in the tomb spider" the leader spoke. Orath, Narcosse, Sable and Rackhir were all similarly bound. The leader then spoke "I would enjoy curing you of the pain of life, but Lord Dezloz has decided you suffer life a little longer...he preferred it that you died with humiliation and slowness instead of mercifully quick as I would have afforded. Fret not, this is in a sense very merciful...you will be spared watching the unstoppable genocide we have prepared for your pathetic world and all the living who infest it. The nightbringer will sate its endless hunger here like it has on so many other worlds"
"What of their effects, mi'lord?" a black guardsman chimes in. The automaton lord said "Destroy them you fool, what care do I have for their worthless devices? This world is of no concern to the likes of us. All in it shall be destroyed so it is of no consequence or concern"
The black guardsman sighed. He tosses a bag full of the parties collected items and tosses it into the stream below...it starts to flow downstream slowly...
Arik and Morganne were unconscious, cold, and starving when they awoke an unknown amount of time later. Everyone else was also still unconscious until the sound of a wolf's howling stirred them from their slumber.
REACTION?
Morganne looks around, noticing that she's now bound to a tree and tests the strength of the bonds. "Arik, you live yet?" Morganne asks "..we seem to be bound, i know not how long we have been this way but I swear by Wrath's righteous fury i will see that creatre gasps for it's dying breath.." Morganne takes mental stock of her physical presence and attempts to focus her mind, using her armour to create little serrated blades to cut through her bindings. if un successful she will focus siad blades to begin cutting the tree at her back itself. "...Aronis said that this armour of ours could do anything our mind and will could create! We've got to get free and recover the others!"
Morganne will also use her extended vision to scout the area around them to make sure that they aren't surprised again.
Morganne's armor was removed.
However, from Orath's angle he informs Arik of an arrowhead thats stuck in the side of the tree near his left hand. Plucking it out, the fighter attempts to saw off the strong chord with it...no effect, the chord seems to be made out of the same metal that your armor was...living metal.
Then Arik and Morganne notice there are several Succundus soldiers similarly tied to a nearby tree. They begin screaming as little metal scarabs begin crawling over their bodies and piercing their skin with sharp legs and pincers.
"Revenge is the last thing you ought to be thinking of" Aronis said as he turned his gray eyes towards Morganne. "Survival should be your first though"
Morganne sees that her wounds are severe and every inch of her body is swollen with intolerable pain. She can scarcely stay conscious and her eyes fight to close shut.
Then Arik and Morganne notice a fat looking demi-human nearby, clad in colorful clothes. He wanders about here and there picking up things and stuffing them into a sack. He comes closer and smiled as if amused by the suffering of the soldiers tied to the trees. He moves toward them and takes a few dropped items at the base of the trees they are bound to. One of the men cries out "Free us! Please! I beg of you!"
The big bellied elf smirked and waved a dismissive hand..."Go on to hell now, you'll feel better" he said with a chuckle. He then moved, faster than you would guess a fat person able to and took a few horses then teethered them to a tree before loading a few with some stolen items.
He guided the collection of horses and lead them to where Arik and Morganne was bound. He passes right by as if not even noticing any of you and takes some more horses to add to his growing number. He beams a devilish smile at the party briefly and removes his hood to reveal the smooth face of an elf, with cold dark eyes that seem to drink in details greedily.
"You!" Aronis said.
"The innkeeper?" Orath gasped.
"Oh do you know me?" the elf asked in feigned surprise. "I suppose you do...do you have any treasure or magic items?" he asked. It seemed abundantly clear that he had little concern for the parties predicament.
"Free us right this minute you bloated bag of waste!" Sable hissed.
The fat elf smiled, "You got a lot of fight in you, I like that. Now I'll ask you again only this time any lip and I'll cut your tongue out and fry it up in some orcblood...a delicious snack. Now...tell me what did those black metal things do with your stuff?"
Morganne changes her tactics and instead tries to will her armour to simply absorb the ties that bind her to the tree if she can't will her armour to cut through the tree itself "..I should've guessed, Vron, always looking out for number one eh?" Morganne croaks "..those..black bastards threw anything of worth into the river if you must know, they managed to get us, they'll get you too eventually..." Morganne cackles hoarsley. I see that all of the work i've personally done on your behalf means nothing to you?
Vron chuckles in a sleazy non elven way, stroking his mustache and farting loudly he says "That was business, I felt sorry for you and that pathetic lot you consorted with and decided to give you a simple job. But you let it get personal by insisting I free those slaves. Well I did free them and guess what? They all died, like I told you they would have been better off in my tender loving care. So essentially I paid you good coin, dhampir to free a bunch of slaves and have good flesh rot. Please, I'm not a simpleton to get stuck in such dire straits!" the elf said. He picked up corvus off the ground...the automatons must have missed it, tucking it onto his belt..."Hmmm its not magical but it might be useful to kill someone...how do you use this?" he says, giving the weapon a few practice throws..."Ah thats brilliant" he added.
A pack of wolves came, twelve in all. They had murder in their eyes and hunger in their howls. Vron said something to them that sounded like gibberish. The pack seemed to ignore him and concentrated on the party.
The fat elf spoke again and all of the wolves heeled. Vron: "I'll tell you what, tell me which direction your discarded items went and I'll send these wolves away...be truthful now, I've got the ability to detect lies mind you. These wolves are very hungry, and they wouldn't mind a sweet little morsel like you to feast on"
Orath: "I'll tell you, but you have to let me go...let these other fools wither here to die!"
Vron laughed, "I'm wise to your tricks, you dumbshit. I've dealt with more livelier and imaginative thieves than the carpet crimper...truth hurts...and pain is good for the soul. Now, this northron looks like he might be of some use to help carry all the loot. Hey, you! Wake up..."
The elf casted a spell that freed Narcosse. Immediately the barbarian set upon the elf but a second later something befell him. He had a glazed look in his eyes and started nodding to whatever Vron told him.
"Where's that fool, Aronis?" Vron said suddenly. He barked something to the wolves who started off in a rush, as if searching for...something..."Find him and I'll let you eat the lot of these fools, my friends"
He then came up to Arik and peered at the fighter curiously...pressing a dagger teasingly against his cheek and throat..."You're not a stupid human...hmmm, and you're not one of these bloodsucking idiots either. Uh, Morganne what IS he? I can't say that I readily know. Oh wait....Dran! You're one of those Dran's aren't you. Why are you still bound then? You can't pull the tree out of the earth eh? Hah you don't even know your own strength do you...you damned idiot. Hmmm you might suffice as a temporary bodyguard and minion" he said, smiling..."What say you, lad? You want a job or should I put you out of your misery?"
Vron chuckles in a sleazy non elven way, stroking his mustache and farting loudly he says "That was business, I felt sorry for you and that pathetic lot you consorted with and decided to give you a simple job. But you let it get personal by insisting I free those slaves. Well I did free them and guess what? They all died, like I told you they would have been better off in my tender loving care. So essentially I paid you good coin, dhampir to free a bunch of slaves and have good flesh rot. Please, I'm not a simpleton to get stuck in such dire straits!" the elf said. He picked up corvus off the ground...the automatons must have missed it, tucking it onto his belt..."Hmmm its not magical but it might be useful to kill someone...how do you use this?" he says, giving the weapon a few practice throws..."Ah thats brilliant" he added.
A pack of wolves came, twelve in all. They had murder in their eyes and hunger in their howls. Vron said something to them that sounded like gibberish. The pack seemed to ignore him and concentrated on the party.
The fat elf spoke again and all of the wolves heeled. Vron: "I'll tell you what, tell me which direction your discarded items went and I'll send these wolves away...be truthful now, I've got the ability to detect lies mind you. These wolves are very hungry, and they wouldn't mind a sweet little morsel like you to feast on"
Orath: "I'll tell you, but you have to let me go...let these other fools wither here to die!"
Vron laughed, "I'm wise to your tricks, you dumbshit. I've dealt with more livelier and imaginative thieves than the carpet crimper...truth hurts...and pain is good for the soul. Now, this northron looks like he might be of some use to help carry all the loot. Hey, you! Wake up..."
The elf casted a spell that freed Narcosse. Immediately the barbarian set upon the elf but a second later something befell him. He had a glazed look in his eyes and started nodding to whatever Vron told him.
"Where's that fool, Aronis?" Vron said suddenly. He barked something to the wolves who started off in a rush, as if searching for...something..."Find him and I'll let you eat the lot of these fools, my friends"
He then came up to Arik and peered at the fighter curiously...pressing a dagger teasingly against his cheek and throat..."You're not a stupid human...hmmm, and you're not one of these bloodsucking idiots either. Uh, Morganne what IS he? I can't say that I readily know. Oh wait....Dran! You're one of those Dran's aren't you. Why are you still bound then? You can't pull the tree out of the earth eh? Hah you don't even know your own strength do you...you damned idiot. Hmmm you might suffice as a temporary bodyguard and minion" he said, smiling..."What say you, lad? You want a job or should I put you out of your misery?"
Nodding that he is alive, looks around his surroundings. Trying as hard as he could, he cuts with the arrowhead and noticing that it was a waste of time, informs Orath that it couldn't be cut. Appears to act like the metal that was made of out armor...
Noticing that this elven person controlled Narcosse with ease and wanting no part of that, waited for the perfect time to muster all his stregh to his head and when in range and not excepting it when he leaned in, releasing a mighty head butt to the elf. Hopeing that it will either kill him or knock him out...
The fat elven magic-user sighed..."I'll take your silence as an answer. So be it then, starve to death and get eaten and shit out of a wolf's asshole then!" he said with a cruel smile. Unfortunately he didn't come close enough to get struck by Arik's head. He motioned to Narcosse, "Get over here big boy" Vron said, "Soften this stupid sonofabitch up a little. Don't worry, he's a Dren he should be able to handle it"
Narcosse came up to Arik and began pummeling the purple eyed fighter repeatedly until he had a trickle of blood on the side of his mouth. he felt more than several ribs crack under Narcosse's hammerblows.
While Vron was occupied, Orath managed to get a limb free. The thief used his knack for contortion. The move was good but it didn't amount to actual freedom. His other limbs were still useless.
Vron said "Come along you Nyriddian ninny. I can use your muscle and outdoor survival skills to go fetch these dotards goodies" then the barbarian and the big bellied elf clambered aback the horses and rode off. The horrid wailing sounds of soldiers being torn to pieces echoed throughout the forest. Vron barked some commands to the wolf pack to stay put and guard the party until he gets back.
"Where's Ciri and Vor?" Aronis asked.
"Who gives a shit? Let's worry about getting the hell down from here!" Orath hissed. "Morganne, if I can get my left boot loose I'm going to try and throw it to land by your feet. In the heel hallow is a vial of corrosive acid. It's a one in a ten shot, and the odds aren't good"
The thief after repeatedly shaking his left leg tosses his boot. It lands perfectly at Morganne's feet. This draws stares and curiosity from the wolves. One rather large timber wolf, possibly the leader crept up toward Morganne and sniffed in her direction, licking its fang filled jaws hungrily.
"..doesn't this armour Rook created supposed to have the ability to create weapons our mind can conjure?" Morganne asks, never taking her eyes off of the wolf. Morganne tries to upend the boot and retrieve the vial. if it is close enough to her boot. She tries to clear her mind and focus on her armor being a living thing, obeying her will alone and growing hair made of the same living metal and grabing the vial. Manipulating the vial until it is near hands. "...Wrathful vengence is the engine that drives me to seek my freedom!" Morganne says, "..Vron is what he is and he too will one day get his deserts.."
MORGANNE: your armor was stripped off of you. You have NOTHING except your clothes.
Morganne struggled and maneuvers her feet to snag Orath's boot. Through a struggle of will she moved it to her awaiting hand and was able to feel for the hallowed heel. She removes the vial of acid and dripped two to four drops on her bindings with accurate applications so as to not burn her own flesh.
She simply fell, and awoke an unknown time later...extremely exhausted, dehydrated, flirting with deaths door. As she regained consciousness she noticed that the wolves were gone. When she comes up to her companions they've all fell into a deep coma-like sleep of their own. She removed Arik, then Orath and Sable, lastly Aronis.
"Good work" Sable said, sighing. She moved over towards the distant trees and personally started to clean up after her fallen men...uttering prayers for their souls.
The wolves returned a few moments after. They surround the party and fence you in, growling with purposeful menace. They didn't attack, but they brought more reinforcements along...another wolf-pack, separate from this one.
"Morganne my lovely you have obtained a good deal of riches" Vron's voiced issued from nearby. He came along on horseback, with Narcosse just behind him. He was fondling Bonebreaker playfully. There was also another, a hooded woman behind him. As she peers at you you see a pair of preternatural blue eyes staring back, and two prickly fangs hanging from the roof of her mouth. This female vampire had long dark hair and was not armed save for a simple dagger. Orath snarled and moved on the fat elven magic-user only to be struck hard from Narcosse. Vron: "Don't be an imbecile, my new bodyguard here doesn't have any reservations about killing you, so I'd stop with the theatrics and bravado if I were you" Aronis put a calming hand on Orath's shoulder and pulled him away..."Not now"
Morganne shrugs her shoulders at
Vron "..you always said that every job has it's rewards..I'd never really cared for material wealth but i've learned a hard lesson that it's material wealth that helps to get things done." Morganne says calmly "...as far as those slaves went, freeing them was just a means to an end, freeing and arming them caused enough of a distraction to allow us to escape, had no idea that they'd follow u back to your place..but that's the way of the world i've learned...No good deed goes unpunished" Morganne laughs, her face growing deadly serious "...you and I go back a ways Vron, I have now misconceptions about why we're still breathing at this particular moment when you could've slain us yourself. " Morganne looks around "..got any water by the way?" she interrupt "..Bone-Breaker, Corvus, the few coins and gems you've recovered..they're not what you're really after is it?" Morganne asks "...what is it you want in exchange for our freedom?" Morganne says shortly "...there's a bastard in black that is currently near the top of my list of beings who i'm dying to get my hands on at the moment.."
VRON: "Do be a dear and spare me your moral conundrums and heartfelt idealogies, my sweet. Hmmm, I wouldn't go so far as to actually say we have a history...I hired you and a few other ragtag hooligans to do a simple job for me, recover slaves from that wretched nymph in the Black woods and you blundered that job horrendously. Cost me more headache than you were worth...I think I was so mad at that time that I sent a few hired killers to give you some sport if I remember, hah even more of a waste out of the purse. Bah, your minor effects hardly warrant my interests...though this armor is marvelous I must say, I see Rook's skills have achieved master level" the fat bellied elf tosses a sack full of the party's equipment at Morganne's feet.
The big bellied elf sighed, "And what makes you so certain that I cannot simply destroy you fools right now? Because I gave you your toys back? Hell in your bloodied condition, I could have set these wolves to devour you slowly and watched them gnaw tirelessly on your bones. Even freed a simple burning hands spell would be all the effort needed to turn you scags into piles of ash at my feet. And if you're stupid enough to think about going against that black metal Lord of disaster I should put you out of your misery. The arcane brotherhood, the council of lords and the assassins guild all sent agents to eliminate that thing and they all were destroyed as if they were nothing. It is a creature from another plane, I tell you. Sort of like an undead thing only impervious to any divine magic. It is a curious thing why he spared you at all, for there is no mercy in that monster. A souless golemn only blessed with intellect. It regenerates, and when its destroyed it is reborn again. The Lorian priesthood divine it to be an avatar of a Death God. It sees all life on this sphere as an infestation that requires complete purging. We are all doomed, and the only thing left now is to go somewhere where even they cannot find you. I've the mind to go find the nearest drow city and rest there. Give up your silly notions of heroism in this you fools! I just came from Lor and the entire city is in ruins! Corealus was also attacked, its people enslaved in these enormous floating spider-creatures. Those black mechanical monstrosities know no fear, no pain, and are unstoppable! They will wear you out and tire you out. You think blades and spells can put an end to them! Forget it. I've seen an entire army wiped out in a span of mere seconds...a clear demonstration of Dezloz's power.
Morganne opens the sack and begins retreiving her weapons and armor "...you know, seeing you with these wolves, the thought did cross my mind that you sent them to attack us a few times, but i paid it no more attention. I also don't remember you complaining about how those slaves of yours were rescued in the first place! If we'd done such a piss poor job, why'd you spend more coin on us in the first place?"
Morganne tosses the bag to the others "...as far as Dez'loz and his agents go. It's not for legend or heroics that I pledge to go after them! You should know me by know that I don't care one bit about what anyone thinks about why I choose to do something!" Morganne chuckles "...but i will thank you for your information however, I promise that while you're laying low in the pits of whatever deep pit the Dark elves call home, I and any other who will foolishly follw me will put your observations to good use! I'll even be sure to send word of either my death or triumph, dear Vron..." Morganne says sarcastically
Morganne eyes one of the wolves nearest to her and a thought crosses her mind but she dismisses it for a moment. "..I take it you'll be traveling to other locales to pick up what treasures left behind in the black guards wake? If you've nothing else of importance to impart on us lowly fools then I shall take my leave of you..."
Vron shrugged noncholantly..."These wolves? I just came upon them. If I were to attack you from afar I would've sent a team of rogue drow to do you in...you too, should know me better than that. So be it, you're obviously hellbent on this course of suicide. Why did I let you go only for you to even destroy yourself? Oh well. Ah, I'm a gambling man and the waste of coin while it grieved me so can be easily replenished. My only advice is for you to grow smarter and wiser than you are. Good luck, may you rot in the higher hells!" with that the fat elven mage along with Narcosse rode off into the hills to the north.
You suddenly gain the sense that someone or something was observing you from afar. You couldn't detect who or what it was.
Aronis: "If that fat bastard's telling the truth, then Lor and Nyr are no longer safe"
The metal scarabs on the nearby ground suddenly become animate and attack the party! They are small, spider-like creatures made out of the same material as the special armor you now wear.
REACTION?
moving quickly, Morganne moves to the front of the party, to put herelf between the spiders and the party...
The scarabs swarm about and crawl up Morganne's legs rapidly, biting holes in her new body armor. She hacks and destroys a few with her sword only for a batch of 4-6 to suddenly swell the swarm of metal insects. The swarm tears into her flesh biting holes through her armor. Already on the brink of deaths door she falls in the snow, severely weakened...and passed out again. After Morganne's dealt with the swarm turn on Arik without hesitation. The fighter stomps on a few and scrapes them off with his sword but they simply advance. The ones he destroyed are replaced by more and more lesser swarms that combine to form one large mass of these little creatures.
Suddenly Arik's entire body is coated head to toe in a vat of black slick grease. The little critters slide right off of him completely. You realize it was one of Aronis's spells that did the trick. A second spell from the mage incinerates the scarabs entirely one by one.
Sable: "Arik, take Morganne and bind her up. We need to get out of here and fast. I'm sending you on a secret mission, here are your orders. The rest of us are heading to Ironholme, for now. We will wait there for a week, and from there onward to Cloudkeep like Vor advised. You must find Lord Daynar in the town of Hetonk and tell him of all that has transpired. He should be with a large force of men waiting there for news. Be careful of treachery! You must guide him to Ironholme and protect him at all costs. Listen, all is not as it seems, and even the abduction was a fabricated ruse...staged for Dezloz purposely. It was Lord Daynar's plan, all of it. That batch of children were really assassins shape-changed to look like the children. We figured the only way to get close to him was to use his desire to abduct them against him. So hopefully within a few days, if they succeed in their mission his reign of terror will be at an end. However, if we fail we must be in a place where we can find refuge...for his wrath will be mighty and he will hunt us down to the farthest reaches of this world"
Spitting out some teeth and blood and nodding at Sable, kneels down to bind Morganne. "Speed be with you all. I will do the best I can on getting there and bring Lord Daynar to you." Shaking his head, "With all the deceptions all over the place, it's hard to tell what is true and what is fantasy." Arik will look around the area really quickly and for anything that might help him on the trek to Hetonk...
Sable turns to Aronis and signaled the mage something. He approaches Arik and hands him a scrolltube. "There's a map inside. I charted a route on it, stick to it and try not to stray from route...avoid major highways" then he turned to Orath who stepped up and handed Arik some equipment:
"This is a wristbow, much like a crossbow it fits on your wrist hence the name. Here's a bandolier with twenty bolts. See this one? It's a sort of harpoon with a grapple headed bolt, you fasten a chord at the end and use it as a climbing tool, or to dismount enemy riders. These five orange colored ones use sparingly, they detonate in a big explosion of fire...enough force to kill an ogre in its tracks. These five black ones will release a noxious gas that will water an enemies eyes and irritate their skin, a mild poison. Lastly, these ten are full of poison that paralyzes the muscles of a foe"
Aronis: "Take this cloak and hood and shoes, they will make you practically invisible and soundless in any forest, of elvenkind"
Sable: "Here's food for two weeks, and water. This is all the coin Orath was able to gather, about a hundred gold pieces. Any more you will have to somehow steal or barrow. Take your cloak clasp, it will help you gain aid from any friendlies and allies of our house"
Aronis casts a spell that summons a horse to him. The steed is of a fine breed, and is very intelligent...capable of navigating treacherous roads easily and it seldom tires...having the endurance of a thoroughbred. While Morganne rests in the back of the saddle, unconscious still and ever slowly regenerating from the massive damage she incurred Arik suddenly came into a deep dark forested area. You stop to rest and check your bearings on the map when you notice Morganne is gone. Her beloved glaives and swords are still in the saddle. Arik drew his blade and noted that it was glimmering with a shimmering white light and it imparted the feeling that there was a living thing in close proximity, not far away. He also gained the sense of Morganne's life-force however dim it was.
Looking up Arik noticed a long stretch of thick ropey webbing forming some sort of hideout high above ground.
DECISION?
"Thanks for the items and I'm sure I will be needing these items soon. Take care and be safe..." As Arike looks at all od them, espically Ciri...
Looking around and up and seeing where the rope leads into, will check for any movements and looing around the area for any other way up there via a tree with out using the rope. If there is nothing visible to get there, Arik will examine the rope and check to see what the make of the rope is. Depending on the what he observes, he'll make a choice on either climbing the rope or use the wristbow with the grappling hook...
ARIK: Ciri isn't present, she went with Vor to take the real children to Cloudkeep. She left you a letter saying that she will await you there.
As Arik investigates, he see's the rope is made out of some silky webstrands. Climbing up it, he comes to a cave-like dwelling up in the trees. Various discarded bones lie scattered here and there. He comes on a goblin skull covered in webs. It is dark out but he can sense there's something stirring deeper in the dwelling.
AS Arik continues, an enormous spider descended upon him from above...intent on making him its next meal.
Arik draws his sword and slashed at the huge arachnid, scoring a nice bloodied line across its bloated abdomen. He dove in a sunk the sword straight through the spider and killed it with a well delivered stroke. It collapsed and died at his feet, its twitching legs ceased moving.
Continuing ahead, you come into an inner sanctum of this lair cutting through it with your blade. There was Morganne, and a foul looking creature was busy cacooning her in a web. It looked at first like a humanoid but when Arik drew close saw it had the head and upper-body limbs that resembled a spider. He'd seen such nasties before, they were known as Ettercaps...treacherous and cunning, skilled hunters of men. He'd never actually seen one until now. It appeared as a grayish purple creature with the face of a spider, long skinny arms ending in hooks and short stubby legs with a pot belly.
It doesn't appear to notice you, involved in wrapping up its next meal...
Looking at the creature ahead of him and pasuing only to check where to place his feet to continue to move forward without making a sound and making sure to be in "its" blindspot. Will aim for the middle part of the torso and drive the sword into it, make sure to twist it and rip it while coming out. If the neck is exposed, Arik will attempt to take it's head from it's shoulders.....
Arik snagged himself into an invisible tripwire that made a chime above ring a melodious sound. The creature spun and shot a strand of sticky webbing at the fighter. Arik dove forward and rolled under spider-humanoid's shot web, striking the thing with his gleaming sword with a vicious undercut (-9 hp dmg) the thing gurgled in response to the damage it received.
The thing swiped at Arik with its pointy ended limbs and the Dren swung at it with his blade, neither attacks connected. Several rounds passed with both Arik and Ettercap trying to gain the advantage over the other. Arik dove forward and sunk his sword in the creature's stomach (-8 hp dmg) where green ichor oozed out of it and spilled to the ground.
Cowardly and injured the Ettercap shot a strand of web through a hole in the roof of its lair and yanked itself up and escaped...cheating death over loss of a potential meal.
Hunt the thing and destroy it, or it will hunt you down and kill you in your sleep Arik heard himself say, but he realized that the sword was speaking to him.
DECISION
MORGANNE: you awoke suddenly in a cold sweat, using your armor to slice apart the webbing which bound you. You were still stiff and your muscles wouldn't obey you and realize you were poisoned. It took a few seconds until the bite wounds healed. The poison took a little longer, but after four minutes you regain muscle control.
You're in a cunningly concealed cave-like lair made of web strands high up in the trees, concealed by foliage. You see Arik through a hole in the ceiling of the lair, high up in some branches giving chase to the ettercap.
A man entered the lair suddenly, and by the looks of him appeared as a thief. He had some of Morganne's belongings on his person too and was oogling one of the gems she appropriated from the vampires lair then absently called out "Where the hell are you? Must've caught some elves this time eh you filthy bugger? Nice haul...better than the usual orc shit"
REACTION
Looking at his sword and says, "Thats a good idea.". Arik looks up to where the creature ran into and follows. Wanted the element of pressing the attack. Not letting the creature anytime to rest or get more of his friends...He'll use the grappling hook or if he can find anything else that might help him to follow that ugly thing.
still a bit too weak for direct confrontation, Morganne decides that discretion is the better part of valor, better to observe the thief from the shadows.Seeing the thief enter the inner sanctum cautiously Morganne thanks Wrath for delivering him to her as the theif turns his back to her and begins emptying his sack of it's contents, the items which all seem to have come from her saddle bags! Morganne knocks out the theif and retrieves her items.
After knocking the man out, Morganne reclaims her items and confiscates the thief's own possessions. She securely binds him with some of the sticky webbing.
ARIK: the creature had a distinct advantage in its element, leaping branch to branch with great skill. You fired the grapple-bolt the tip of it struck it from behind, its hooked end shooting open inside of it (-5 hp dmg) you pull on the cord and reel the creature to you (STR: succeeded) but the Ettercap plunges its fangs into your neck and delivers a shot of hot poison into your bloodstream. The wound was horrid, leaving a deep gouge and a weird scar where its fangs penetrated your armor. Enraged you kick it back and cleave its head off from the shoulders with a swift stroke. The wound left you spent and in agony, but fortunately its paralytic poison did incapacitate you. You would have certainly died if it had!
Returning to the creature's lair Arik finds Morganne awake, albeit looking less than tip top shape. There's a man whose bound at her feet and practically stripped naked before her. She seems to be in the middle of interrogating him.
The thief was quite calm and even a little smug, and didn't seem at all angry or scared. He said "Look, woman...whoever you are...don't take any insult or offense because you ran afoul of my pet Ettercap. It's simply...business. A lot of rich fat slave merchants come through this area...and I usually let the slaves go free. Now, I tell you the truth...this forest is quite scary and extremely dangerous. Just two weeks ago a formidable sized adventuring party came through this way, looking for some ruins a mage had hired them to find and explore. I shadowed them from afar and they were ambushed and slain by a Lich that dwelt in those ruins. Not to mention there's a nasty green wrym that dwells somewhere in the woods and happens to love eating anyone stupid enough to pass through its territory. Also be warned there are Grugarch elves that are not so nice either and would attack you simply for treading in their sacred places...you need me. Of course you're a powerful warrior and can perhaps make it through by yourself...sure. However, when you're dying slowly, remember my words please...and remember too your own pride is the thing that destroyed you!"
Morganne eyes the theif cooly, her eyes colder than usual and her face expressionsless she walks closer to the thief "...true, you don't know me and I've lived longer than before you've drawn your first breath of life! Many have made the same claim as you.." Morganne flips one of the thieves own daggers in her hand "...remember your words when my own pride is the thing that's destroyed me..." Morganne says sneeringly "..how many times has a fool uttered those words I wonder" Morganne starts to leave the thief where he is when she spots Arik standing there with a wound on his neck "...Got what you were looking for?" Morganne says "...cut him loose would you? and give him a spare tunic, i think i have one in my saddle bag.." Morganne says to Arik, then looking at the thief adds "...very well, tell you what, guide us through this forrest unseen and unmolested and you'll be free to go your separate way, I'll even give you some coin for your...trouble" Morganne says "..but remember this, the minute i even think that you're plotting against me or my..partner here and it'll be my....Half dead face, burned into your subconscious as your life force flows out of your body and you slip into that not so gentle...good night.."
Morganne disarms the thiefs knife throwing boots and gives him back one of his daggers before she looks at his maps once more to burn their image into her memory and these too she hands back to him. "..get dressed and lets get going then.."
The thief dressed himself up. He was a tall lanky fellow with shoulder length dirty blond hair and a dark patch of stubble on his chiseled jawline. His eyes exuded a calculating yet deceptively soulful look. He eyed Arik for a second then said "I'm Randal Thorn. Don't get so damn smug lady...we're not out of the woods yet...and I'll be the one calling the shots if you wanna get out of here without any issues. First, loose the horses...those damn creatures will draw too much notice. Secondly there's a ton of Sembian and Jez'zur spies in the woods looking for me, just be warned. Kill any on sight, they want me dead. Don't ask me anything about that. We're going to the heart ruins which will take us three hours approximately. Once there you should be good enough to get on by your lonesome"
"..it's your job to make sure we get through these woods quickly and unnoticed! " Morganne puts her hand to the Succundus clasp and tells Arik "...lets not use our real names, use the clasp if you need to tell me anything ok? I don't trust this one any further than we need him. Besides, the less people who know who we are the better! Trust me, i've been in more situations like this than i care to recall"
Morganne simply nods her head "...very well then, we'll travel lighter and loose the horses then." Morganne goes to the mount and retrieves her saddlebag, seeing that she normally travels light anyway save her weapons, she unbuckles the saddle and tosses it aside "Let's get a move on then.."
Randal shook his head, "Don't be a damned idiot, you look like orc shit. Get yourself cleaned up properly and eat your fill, drink something too"
After an hour and a half, Arik and Morganne take what they can carry and shoo the horses to return the way they came. Randal leads you through a narrow trail and the forest becomes more thick after twenty minutes of solid hiking. Then Randal calls for a stop, plucking one of his daggers out of its sheath he points to some smeared prints in the mud of the trail..."Five to seven men, human. And look there, up ahead...a tripwire spans the road and another about neck high if you were riding atop of a horse...seems like someone's watching the way...that can only mean someone's on the lookout for me or you" Randal turned towards Morganne and said "I hope you can fight as well as you prattle on"
*Twippppptttttttt* a pair of flight arrows sank into the ground betwixt Randal, Arik and Morganne. Out of it shot a cloud of black greasy smoke that stung the eyes and caused you to sneeze irritably, hacking up a lung.
Six cloaked figures burst out of hiding holes in the ground, each had some sort of face mask and hood that concealed their facial features. They were clad in charcoal gray and dark ebon cloaks, each sported a short-sword and a saber. A few feet away stood a strange looking figure clad in a purple cloak and hood, and the face was nothing but a void of dark blackness.
A sniper up in the tree's shot at Arik and another in the same tree fired on Morganne. Their crossbow bolts detonated in an explosion of some glue-like resin. Morganne leaped to the side but Arik's feet were covered with the stuff and he was held there, unable to move. Morganne's phase spider cloak rendered her immune to the ichor and she was able to avoid being held.
Randal was saying something in a low voice, and he raised an outstretched hand which caused vines to animate and entangle two of the swordsmen that came out of the ground.
REACTION?
After recovering, he looks down and see how thick the substance is and attempt to free himself by using his stregth. If that doesn't work, then he will use his sword to carve himself out.
ARIK: you burst out of the thick gooey substance before it could solidify.
The swordsmen on the ground assailed Arik, trying to bring the fighter down by overwhelming him. Some of them did hit but the new armor absorbed the damage or negated their blades. Arik noted that his armor left niches in the swordfighter's blades too. But these weren't any common blades for hire, Arik knew they were professional soldiers...maybe even killers too.
Morganne saw the purple robed figure raise some sort of blue transparent shield around himself. It went invisible seconds later. She notes too several large towering giants coming out of the shadows of the trees. Each had pale gray skin and wore helms. They looked strange and evil, too.
The faceless hooded figure bellowed "Xmith morbon katayo na!" and the three lumbering giants advanced on Morganne.
Morganne while leaping to avoid getting stuck hurls Bone-breaker at the nearest of the snipers and hurl Corvus at the second sniper, counting on Bone-Breaker's superior masterwork crafmanship to either take out the sniper or at the least cut through the tree and force him to move.
Arik will be on the defensive while looking at his attacker's feet and legs. He is looing for any unprotective opening that he can strike to make them fall down and out of the fight before he can kill them later....
NOTE: MORGANNE cannot strike 2 separate foes at the same time with different weapons. She also cannot decide if either weapon doesn't hit a target it cuts the tree instead, either.
(15) Morganne throws corvus at sniper #1, it slashes across the soldier's bicep (-8 hp dmg) and he starts cursing profanities at your ancestors. Bonebreaker misses and returns. "You'll pay for that you bitch!" the sniper hisses.
Giant soldier #1 charges into melee distance but tripped and landed before Arik. Arik strikes the gray giant across its muscled leg (-11 hp dmg)
The purple robed mage shot a dart at Morganne. The missile whizzes past her head and into a nearby tree. She saw vapor coming out of the tiny hole the dart made, like something corrosive acid would do.
ROUND 2:
Your enemies gain the upper hand.
The mage casts a spell...
A ball of purple flames explodes between Arik, Morganne and Randal.
MORGANNE: takes 4 points of fire damage (damage reduction from armor and cloak)
ARIK: you take 21 hp of fire damage as the purple flames incinerates your cloak, boots and some of your possessions too.
MORGANNE, ARIK: you take a -2 penalty to all saving throws and your thac0 because of the irritating gas cloud you are in.
Sniper #1 shoots an arrow at Morganne, sinking into the ground at her feet it explodes in a vat of black oily grease. Morganne nearly slips but quickly regained balance.
DECISION?
Seeing that the mage is the more immediate threat, Morganne shifts her attention to him instead of the snipers and giants, moving away from the grease covered ground and the noxious gas Morganne fires an explosive bolt at the purple robed mage. Wondering who thes assailants are (INT, WIS) and why they've attacked them.
"Randal! I hope these aren't friends of yours!" Morganne shouts to their guide as she fires her explosive bolt at the feet of the mage "Arik, dicrestion being the better part of valor...."
(9) Morganne's missile shot into the tree adjacent to the purple robed mage, detonating in a contained explosion of fire and bringing the tree down on the magic-user.
Randal roars "I'm much too important to be captured" and then he ran off into the thick of the forest. The mage, pinned beneath the tree hissed "After him you idiots! Don't let that bastard get away or I'll have your heads!" Randal was laughing as he ran. Morganne saw him purposely jumping over various sections of ground, and some of his pursuers fell into pits or trip on near-invisible tripwires. He tosses a handful of caltrops behind him also and the men who ran afoul of them fell and died...from poisoning no doubt. The giants too came chase, unwittingly providing cover from sniper fire from above. Several missiles shot from the snipers own crossbows felled a giant as they sunk into one giant's meaty leg. The sniper curses and began reloading his crossbow in a fury.
Randal came up behind the pinned magic-user and then positioned both of his daggers at the wizard's neck..."Stand down or I'll slit this fool's throat out, you Sembian slime!"
MAGE: "Do as he says you fools! Lower your weapons!!!"
The two giants and sniper dropped their weapons compliantly.
MAGE: "Don't kill me...if you want your darling whore of a sister to live..."
Randal was livid and promptly inserted both daggers into the magic-user's ears, killing him. Giant #1 charged in but the thief threw his daggers into the Giant's eye-sockets with deadly accuracy. Both daggers came out and flew back to his awaiting hands.
The sniper shot Randal with two bolts, one sinking into the thief's chest and the other into his stomach. He fell to the ground and began bleeding profusely from the well placed shots. The last remaining giant ran away, but foolishly activated one of the traps laid. A spike studded log swung and impaled it from behind. The log ferried the doomed Giant into the air and stuck into a tree, nailing the Giant's dead body into it.
'..just as i thought, they weren't after us at all' Morganne hurls Bone-Breaker at the other sniper before rushing to Randal's side in order to use what little first aid skills she posses to help stablize him before giving him the healing draught she'd taken off of him earlier "Arik, take out the other sniper
*** TWIPPTTTTTTTT ***
Morganne: takes -15 hp dmg as the Sniper shot her perfectly in the small of her back before she could get to the guide. A second missile thudded into the ground next to her and exploded in more dark eye stinging gas. Morganne was hacking and coughing violently, began vomiting as a result. Her sensitive nostrils were drizzling blood.
Incapacitated
One of the hooded snipers was heard saying "Blimey Jomros, it's our lucky day. Da boss is dead real good and we got the bastard Lord Myrick was aft'a. Better go down and slit that last man standing's throat real nice-like. Put a new smile on his face"
As Arik spotted one of the hidden snipers, the crossbowman shot two missiles that flew past Arik harmlessly. The sniper discarded his crossbow and leapt forward, grabbing a rope he swung down and circled through the tree's. Finally he landed in front of Arik, drew a shortsword and a very long dagger in his off-hand. He removed his hood to reveal a handsome youthful face, with beaming alert eyes and a cocksure smug look in his face. "Yes Arik, take care of this other sniper like your friend commanded" he chided Arik with a lopsided grin. "I would very much like to have that sweet looking sword you have there, it seems to be a fitting trophy. Are you willing to die for it, little lamb?"
The sniper turned swordsman came at Arik with great speed. His blades banged against Arik's sentient sword and made his own weapon reverberate from the powerful blow. As Arik's sword came at the man in retaliation he disarms you with a third unforseen blow. The sword flew from Arik's grasp, spun in the air and landed behind the skilled fighter. He grabbed it out of the air before it impaled into the ground...leveling Arik's own sword at his throat and pinning him against the tree. The young man's eyes scrutinized Arik as if searching for something...
The second sniper came along and patted the swordsman on the back...."Nicely done, Zyrack. That swine outlander was no match for you. Now, run him through so we can see what treasure he's got"
The fighter smiled, then spun and cut off the head of his companion with a skilled slash. The headless body fell over and a vat of fresh blood poured freely out of the neck.
The fighter threw the sword point first into the ground at Arik's feet. He said "My thanks, whoever you are. You freed me from that wizard's blasted charm spell. He and these other fools are slave-catchers from Sembia, in service of Lord Myrick Sa'Bott of house Harkamin" the fighter moved over and began stripping some of the fallen of whatever useful things he could glean...coins, food, water, and off the magic-user's hands he took some rings and other trinkets. He took out a pair of rings and tossed one to Arik and placed one on Morganne's finger. Then he put one on his own finger too. The rings were made out of pure platinum and were heavy. "These confer a small but sweet protective aura against those opposing you"
Morganne got up suddenly, and the young brash warrior assisted her to her feet. "You're a fast recoverer, it looks like your guide is dead...or near dying. You'd better take him to Praxus if you want to restore him to full vigor. Take this secret trail west until you come to a camp. Praxus is a good man, a hedge wizard who lives there in solitude with his daughter. He might be of some assistance, but has a propensity towards strangeness...farewell friends!" she heard some man say. Morganne leaned on the side of a tree, still worse for wear and felt like she'd inhaled black grease. She was sick and sleep deprived, her movements sluggish and slowed. The fighter patted her on the shoulder and continued onward, leaping onto the back of a horse and riding into the deep woods.
Morganne looks to Arik sullenly and starts to say something but holds her tongue instead, coughing up whatever vileness filled her lungs "....let's see if we can find anything else of use that may have been overlooked or discarded.let's get moving, our..guide will need some healing and soon, otherwise we'll never get out of these woods"
What do you do?
Looking at the stranger, "Well, not sure what I did, but glad that you got your senses back. Hope to see you agian." As the stranger departed.
Nodding in agreement, Arik starts to look around for different items lying about. After a time searching, Arik noticed Morganne coughing roughly, "You ok Morganne? You want to rest for a bit while I look around?"
"...no i'm not ok Arik, it's taking all of my training to not give in to what's raging inside of me.." Morganne says gravely "...nevermind me, let's get Randal here to Praxus and continue with our business.." Morganne notices the ring on her finger for the first time, feeling it's cold metal against her skin and the power it emanates "..I don't like being out in the open, especially in unknown lands! Let's get moving then.."
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