December 27, 522
Keridwynne stands up and hefts her pack over her shoulder, "In light of what we have just heard, to Nottingham then?"
Almost in unison, the party nods.
The journey through the forest this day is quite pleasant. The day passes quickly with many miles set down behind you. It is as if the forest knows you are here and is speeding you along. No brambles or thickets bar your way, the path seemingly sloping downhill. You break for camp when the first pinholes of light show through the curtain of night. Unlike the evening before, the night passes uneventfully.
December 28, 522
The day starts even warmer than the day before, tempting you with memories of gorgeous fall day. Tharaksu stops the party early for lunch.
"Not more than an hour ahead stands the home of a great wyrm. Believed to be living here for a thousand years or more. Green in color, she is so old that she sleeps most years away. I wanted a full belly before we crossed in front of her, just in case." Tharaksu says.
An hour later, the party is more visibly tense, even the horses are quieter than usual. The sounds of the forest have calmed as well as if it were holding its breath, waiting for something. You start to notice things in the bushes and underbrush surrounding the path. A broken sword here, a hilt there, a gauntlet, a boot, a shield embedded in the ground, and everywhere you look bones and more bones. Some large, some small and some so old and worn that only fragments are left. The farther that you travel on, the more junk appears until your horses are picking a path around the stuff. Just about then, the road turns and the debris lessens. The path turns due south, changing from its eastern direction. The forest stops holding its breath and life returns to the sides of the path. The journey is smooth for the rest of the sun's advance through the sky.
December 29, 522
The blue of the sky from the previous days has turned grey. The clouds hanging low over the horizon, the promise of wetter weather ahead. You journey. By midmorning the path you travel merges with another path. Able to ride two abreast, now, idle conversation ensues. Tieron and Shateera speaking in low whispers of things that they have done and will do to each other on cold winter nights. Talorc being pestered by Noraksu about magic and the all the cool things that wizards can do. You hear lots of phrase, like Why is that?, Can you?, Can you?, and That would be so cool. Talorc's tone is even and somewhat pleasant but you can tell that he would rather be doing just about anything else. Keridwynne and Nightshade relating some story or other to each other. Only Savi and Tharaksu are quiet but that is usual. By late afternoon, Tharaksu pulls up on the path and steps up to Tieron.
"Zarakfen, Nottingham awaits you over the next rise. We will linger here, just outside the city. Good journey, Zarkakfen." Tharaksu bows and steps into the forest. Noraksu follows, then pauses and turns, "Pick me up something good in the city, will you Talorc?" Then he to departs. Talorc just shakes his head with a why me look on his face.
Talorc taking the lead as is customary, starts his horse over the next rise. Nottingham presents itself in all its glory. From a distance, smoke rises from many a chimney giving the city a greasy, dirty look. This was its first impression, and those can be deceiving but after entering the city you realize that that was its best impression. All the houses are rundown, many are abandoned, every other one has been looted, some have burned to the ground. The people, half starved and in rags, wander the streets going somewhere or other. Most of them, not paying any attention to you, a few of them sizing your party up to see if maybe the could get something from. Many beggars standing in the streets, some of them being robbed by other beggars. What a grand place this is. You wander through the streets for awhile and finally find a business section of town. A few rundown hotels line the streets, a restaurant here and there that you aren't really sure that you want to eat in. A sign over the best looking hotel pronounces itself as the Crystal Garden Inn. You tie the horses up and enter. A modest inn at best. Though it is cleaner than anything that you have seen outside. A tall thin man with blond curly hair and a goatee stands behind the desk. He looks almost frightened by the sound of the door opening and one of his hands slips below the waist high front desk.
Nightshade steps up to the desk, "Three rooms for the night and a place to stable our horses."
The thin man with an astonished look on his face mutters, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You say that you want rooms for the night?"
"Yes," Nightshade says, "Wasn't that what I just said? How much?"
"Three gold for the rooms and the stable," he stammers, "paid in advance, please."
Nightshade pulls out 5 gold and drops them on the desk, "Make sure the horses are well fed and still here in the morning."
"Yes, Ma'am!"
You all turn to head toward the stables, when Tieron points to a sign posted by the door. It has a crude representation of Akilah draw on it. Underneath his picture it says. Akilah, a moor, to be hung at noon in the main square until he is dead for the slaying of Cahla Redlan, the ex-sheriff of Nottingham and for suspicion of the deaths of fourteen deputies. It is signed by Robert McDonald, Sheriff of Nottingham.
The tall thin man having already turned back to his business, looks startled upon Tieron's approach. He is mumbling something like "so if I tap this forest card and then..."
He looks up at Tieron, "Sorry, Sorry. Just thinking about... Never mind. What was that question again?"
He grabs a highly stylized deck of cards and plops them back on a shelf under the desktop.
Tieron looks rather puzzled at the thin man's lack of attention, then says "What is your name, innkeeper?"
"Its Shimmer." He says, using thumb and forefinger to stoke his goatee.
Tieron says, "OK, Shimmer. I said is the House of Redlan here in Nottingham and who lives there? I would like to pay my respects to the family.
"Oh, OK. Well, the house of Redlan is just over at the end of Pine, two blocks east and then about ten blocks down Pine. Uh, well, No one lives there now, Cahla was the only Redlan still left alive. The rest of his family died sometime back."
Tieron ponders this for a moment and then says, "And where is the Sheriff of Nottingham? We would like to find out what happened."
"Well, see the Sheriff is a busy man and not a very good talker, but if you were to go find him, he would be at home or at the jail. But I can tell you the hearsay about the whole thing. If..Iff that is what you want." Shimmer says shifting his weight back a forth a bit.
"So, this Akilah guy comes into town. Showing up not soon after Cahla did. He, ah, seems to have a bone to pick with Cahla. They are seen arguing around town in different places. Always over some guy named Gorath and once in awhile about a girl. Seems that Cahla, when he was the sheriff a few years back came to this Akilah's house to seduce this girl, Akilah's wife I assume. Well, Akilah, um, was away a lot and you know... So anyway, Akilah gets back and something must have gone bad or something, but his wife was found dead. Akilah found about Cahla and his wife. No one knows for sure if they were an item or if Cahla was just trying hard. Rumor has it that Cahla flew into a jealous rage and killed her because she wouldn't betray Akilah and other rumors say that Akilah lost his temper and killed her. Anyway, Cahla leaves town in a hurry, quitting the sheriff job and giving it to his younger brother Lavorst. That was about 2 years ago. They say Cahla, joined an army and rose through the ranks quick, but then starting hitting the bottle. Akilah supposedly went after him. Well, the two of them show up here, a week or two ago. Following me so far?, " Shimmer grins a strange grin, making him appear vaguely elven.
Tieron lifts one eyebrow as a response.
"OK, Sorry, sorry. The short story is that Cahla went back to his house on eve of the 28th and didn't show up for a late night appointment with his cousin, the sheriff. So the Sheriff, sent some deputies out to look for him. Well they didn't come back either. So, he sent some more and they didn't make it either. So, the sheriff rounds up all the people he could find and goes to the Redlan house. He sends a few deputies into the house and all of the sudden a howl of like an animal in pain starts echoing through the streets. The sheriff rushes the door and finds all his deputies lying in pools of their own blood, throats ripped out and large claw marks ripped through them. Being careful, the sheriff and party search Cahla's house and find Cahla in the large dining room hung from the chandelier. His body had been hacked on pretty good. Sword marks all over his body, he would have died from those injuries if not for the hanging. So they search the house some more and find Akilah passed out at the top of the stairs. His broadsword covered in blood, Cahla's they presume. He is injured as well but no where near as bad as the way Cahla was hacked apart. So they grab him and throw him in jail for the murder of Cahla and the suspicion of the fourteen deputies that were killed. They assume he killed them but they can't find the weapon that made those claw marks in the bodies."
Talorc pipes up, "What happened to Lavorst the younger brother?"
"He,ah, died in Bedegraine forest searching for a band of thieves. Though, his body was never found. He could still be alive somehow,but that has been over a year now, since he died. Robert, their cousin took over in Cahla's absence, since the position of Sheriff of Nottingham is hereditary. Cahla was going to the meeting with his cousin on the night he died to presumably discuss taking over the role of Sheriff again. Any.. Anything else?" Shimmer asks, nervously looking around, flipping his hair out his eyes..
Nightshade steps forward, "Well actually, if you would run a few blocks and get my pack from my horse, I would appreciate it."
"Umm, umm, sure." Shimmer says heading out the door. You hear him sprinting down the block.
Keridwynne suggests, "I think that we should go to the rooms and discuss what we just heard and talk it over and figure how to get Akilah out of the cell."
Nightshade turns around and says, "I agree. I think that I should go check out this jail and see how tough it is to get Akilah out of there."
With that said, Nightshade pulls the hood of her cloak over her head and vanishes.
Shimmer returns breathing hard, "Here you are... Miss. Where ....did she.... go?"
Keridwynne states, "She stepped out for a bit and will be back later. I will take her pack. Thanks Shimmer."
Shimmer steps back around the desk. The party starts up the stairs to their rooms. Shimmer pulls up his deck of cards and starts looking at them again.
Nightshade returns in about half an hour, her presence announced by a sharp rap at the door. (Dm note. You can talk amongst yourselves here if you wish.)
Keridwynne explains to Savi "Akilah is a friend who helped us in one of our past adventures. He is taller than you, and as strong asseveral horses. (whispering: He's downright tantalizing too!) So, we obviously have to rescue him. Once in the private room, she continues: That is probably why we were lead to come here in the first place. Didn't Duncan say... (gets out Duncan's letter, which she has kept carefully wrapped) Here it is "Nottingham, due south, has always been a bed of evil but an old friend of the party stands on the edge of joining them or becoming its savior." *snort* Joining them as compost, it sounds more like. Oh well, let's get ready for another Exciting Episode of The Crimson Wolf!"
Talorc opens the door and Nightshade enters. Everybody eyes look up at Nightshade as if to say "So what did you find?"
"The jail is made of stone. Only two windows in the front of the place and none anywhere else. Two, looks like recently hired, deputies are standing guard at the front door. No back door. From peeking in the window, the Sheriff was there doing some paperwork. Grizzled old warrior by the looks of him. Big full beard, long curly brown unkempt hair, big tufts of chest hair sticking out of his shirt, not a very attractive man in the least. He looks to be the problem here, if he is still there by the time we get back. "
(I leave you here. 5pm on December 29th, 522. sun has just set and night is upon you.)
"Noraksu is probably the most likely candidate for the invisibility spell, Tieron, because he might be able to fit through the doors since Tharaksu is the larger of them." Talorc states.
Tieron nods, "True, Well let's try it anyway. He can stand guard outside even if he can't get through the door."
Talorc turns to Keridwynne, "This will probably take longer than you will. So you can either meet us back here, Redlan's house or hang around the jail."
Keridwynne smiles,"We'll find you, I'm sure."
(The party is splitting into 2 groups at this point. Separate stories follow to those respective groups.)
Tieron, Talorc and Shateera grab what things they need and depart. It takes a good 20 minutes to locate Noraksu and Tharaksu. Tieron explains the plan and casts invisibility on Noraksu.
"This is just so cool," Noraksu says as he vanishes from sight.
The party turns back toward town, the ground vibrating as Noraksu walks. A brief stop to explain to Noraksu that he should walk more quietly and the party arrives at the House of Redlan. It is an old house, made of stone. It could be described as a small castle for it is complete with arrow slits in the walls and gargoyles in a true gothic style. Its main door is a double wide door with enough room for Noraksu to bend and get in. Tieron looks around, discreetly checking for people watching and traps on the door. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a lock pick and after a short time unlocks the door. The party slips inside into the dark. Moonlight does filter in through the windows providing a little illumination to see by. After a time, Tieron, Talorcs and Shateera's eyes adjust to the infrared spectrum and the objects in the room take on a reddish hue.
The party fans out to look around. After a moments time, Talorc beckons to the other members. "Look, at this," he says pointing to a faintly glowing reddish track on the floor.
Those seeing in infravision notice a blob on the floor vaguely boot-shaped. Other footprints lead across the floor toward what looks to be the main dining hall.
"If we are still seeing the heat from those prints they can't be more than five minutes old." Shateera states.
Carefully following the path heat trail of the person before them, the party enters the main dining hall of the house of Redlan. The trail leads to the eastern wall of the room. Twenty portraits of what is probably the family of Redlan hang here. The party is lead to Cahla Redlan's portrait. The slight heat signature of someone's hands can be seen on the portrait. The portrait hangs slightly ajar. Tieron looks at it for a moment and then slides his hands underneath the picture. Groping for some sort of handhold or button to push, he finds the nail that the portrait hangs upon. Feeling a groove just above the nail, he gives it a push. The wall just below the portrait slides up, a short crawlway revealed. Lifting one eyebrow, Talorc ducks his head and steps in. Tieron and Shateera follow. Noraksu is far to big to fit through this opening.
With a hushed whisper, Tieron says, to Noraksu, "Wait here."
There is no response.
"Noraksu?" Tieron asks, thinking to himself that the kid is probably nodding his head not realizing that he is invisible.
"Oh sorry," comes the reply, "I was nodding and forgot I was invisible."
Tieron smiles a crooked little smile and steps in after Talorc. The passage is short not more that a walls width. A set of stairs leading down is the only way to go. The walls are made of a grey brick here and cold to the touch but not damp or musty smelling in anyway. In fact, it smells a little like a stable from down below. The air full of animal smells. Talorc slowly slides Altira from her sheath. A slight greenish glow illuminates the party, not enough to shut down the party's infravision. They move down the stairs as quickly and quietly as they can. The bottom of the stairs reveals an oval shaped room. It is well lit from torches on the wall. Stopping just before any one in the room can see them the party stops and listens for any sound of life. Not hearing any, Talorc steps into the room. Standing in the center of the oval is a pedestal. Its is a perfect column of granite, about 4 feet in height and diameter with a highly polished surface. About one foot below the polished top of the column is eight slots cut into the stone. Seven of those slots have a bastard sword sticking out from them. In the floor, just next to the column are the outlines of eight hilts of swords. Tieron steps up next to the column and starts looking over the swords.
A minute or so of time passes, Tieron looks up and says,"The swords all have the house of Redlan crest on them. There are also symbols of magic carved into the column. They correspond to the schools of magic. The empty slot's carving is for the school of Necromancy."
Just then an inhuman howl echoes from down the stairs, piercing the night.
Keridwynne, Nightshade and Savi move toward the jail. Nightshade pulls her hood down over her head and disappears from sight. Keridwynne has donned her most ceremonial of robes to issue last rites for the prisoner. The party walks down the streets of Nottingham toward the jail passing bar after bar. From out of one of them, called the Wolf in the Fold steps two somewhat drunken humans. They pass by the party with barely a second glance, but it is the snatch of conversation that catches the ears of the group.
"They say he killed an army of Gnomes a thousand strong up near the headwaters of the River Trent." one of the humans says to the other.
"I heard that he is working for Flandal Steelskin or maybe the Dwarves of Pennine." the other says.
That Crimson Wolf has to be one tough old bastard. My grandfather spoke of him. Well lets hope he never dies. Its nice to know that someone out there is still looking out for the rest of us. Lord knows the Sheriff never will."
The conversation slips back into the streets from whence it came. If you could see Nightshade, her grin would light up the night. Turning the corner and passing halfway down the street you come to the jail. Savi stops a building or two back from the jail.
"I will look for a weakness in their guarding routine and exploit it if necessary," she says pointing toward the guards, "I will be close in case you need me." Savi steps into the alley between buildings.
Keridwynne and her invisible helper march down to the guards standing before the jail.
"Who are you and what is your business here priest?" the first guard questions in a rather gruff tone.
"I am Gwenyth of the Lady of the Lake. I have come to give last rites to the prisoner." Keridwynne states.
The second guard opens the door, just a bit and sticks his head in, "Cleric out here Sheriff, claims to want to give the prisoner last rites."
"Send them in." is the reply.
The second guard opens the door wider and with a sweeping gesture gets out of the way.
Sheriff Robert McDonald of Nottingham rises from his chair and looks Keridwynne over. Keridwynne tries to stifle a shiver as he does so, it is kind of like being looked at like you were prey and he the hunter.
"Last rites, eh? OK, you better hurry. I don't think he is going to make it to his hanging." He turns and strides down the hall, key in hand. His smell is wild and feral, like a animal about to attack. Its stench is almost overwhelming. He stops just before Akilah's door unlocks it for Keridwynne and then steps out of the way. Keridwynne steps inside the cell. The Sheriff pushes the door shut behind her.
"Call when you are done," he say and then leaves.
Akilah is lying on a cot far to short for his overly tall frame. He is shivering from a high fever and sweating at the same time. He is unconscious but moans a bit now and again. His armor is ripped open at the chest revealing a set of claw marks. His chest is strangely collapsed slightly on one side, making Keridwynne think that he has broken ribs on top of a gruesome wound that cut inches deep into the flesh. Other than the obvious wounds he is much the same picture of a man that Keridwynne met a few months ago. His black hair flowing down his shoulders, his black eyes, black armor and black gauntlets making the picture of an imposing warrior now wounded and dying. Only his battle axe is missing to make the picture complete. Keridwynne does a double take and stares back down at the gauntlets. They left his gauntlets on, those same gauntlets, that lifted Cahla Redlan off the ground, the same gauntlets that bent a sword in half, but of course not knowing of the power of them, the sheriff didn't remove them. Keridwynne smirks a bit and sets to work.
(Mechanics question: Is someone maintaining the torches, or are they continual light? They are real torches burning with all the smoke that goes with them.)
Tieron pulls out his 2-handed bastard that matches the others on the pedestal. Remembering just what this sword can do, Tieron yells to the thing he cannot see yet, "Stop and be silent, Monster."
Talorc shouts, "Hold everything one second!" and darts up the steps. He whispers, "Noraksu?"
"What the hell was that, Talorc?" Noraksu queries nervously.
Talorc hands Noraksu his silver dagger and speaks, "If something comes along that is either a very hairy human or a wolf, shout down to us and get out of here. Don't try to engage it, but use the dagger if it corners you. Its blade is all you can use to damage it."
Talorc bounds down the stairs and starts an incantation of magic.
A long minute passes and no second howl is made.
Tieron speaks up again, "Come down here slowly Monster."
A sound of metal clattering down the stairs is heard. It comes to rest on the floor. It is Talorc's silver dagger laying flat on the last stone stair. The howl goes up again to be joined by more inhuman voices in the night.
(A somewhat ambiguous end I admit. Starting to feel a bit like prey? As to your detect magic Talorc, it reveals the presence of magic on all the swords and the pedestal as well. The swords radiate magic that correspond to their school symbol inscribed just below the sword itself. The pedestal reads as slightly magical with the school being Alteration.)
Keridwynne sets to work inside. Quickly she removes Akilah's gauntlets and begins one of several healing spells to be cast. Akilah's chest wounds close up nicely but his fever is still high. Keridwynne cast a cure disease spell to no effect followed by a remove curse. His fever remains the same. Keridwynnes removes a white sheet that she brought with to cover Akilah as is used in the last rites rituals.
"Hang on friend," she whispers.
"Sheriff," Keridwynne yells down the hall, "I am finished here. You may let me out."
The sound of booted feet starts down the corridor. Robert McDonald pulls out the keys and starts to unlock the door. Suddenly he withdraws the key from the lock and starts to sniff the air.
"You thought you could get away with something didn't you, little priest. Bringing another, I can sense the presence of her in here." He turns quickly and strides down the hall.
"Guards," the sheriff yells, " Get in here in a hurry, close and lock the door behind you. "
Savi on the outside sees the guards run through the door and into the jail. The doors close and lock. The guards and the sheriff start swinging swords at thin air most likely looking for the invisible Nightshade and Keridwynne is nowhere in sight.
Talorc thumbs the hilt of Altira waiting for all hell to break loose.
"Talorc, Let's find out what happened to Noraksu?" Tieron whispers, moving toward the stairs.
"He's either dead or fled, Tieron. I don't think you want to join him that much. They'll be down soon enough. Stay here and get your preps up."
"Damn it! If he is dead... What have we gotten into?" Tieron fishes into his belt pouch and moves his Meld with stone Gem to a easy access pocket.
"Shateera, find a spot to hide. No, wait. Take this Meld with Stone Gem. It has 12 more charges in it. Go and get help. Get Nightshade, Keridwynne and Savi. Hell, get the sheriff, anyone and all."
"The first one that I see will get webbed so stay out of the way, Talorc. It will probably block the passage." Tieron leans his 2-handed bastard against the pedestal with the others for easy reach.
"I'm ready, Talorc."
Shateera takes the stone from her beloved, her hand lingering in contact with his. She activates the gem and disappears into the wall, it is then that all hell breaks loose. Three large black wolves bound down the stairs, Tieron launches a sticky ball of webbing that expands as it flies across the room. It impacts on the bottom of the stairs webbing more than half of the staircase. The lead wolf is close to the front of the webbing as it expands. He struggles for a moment and starts to pull free. Talorc launches missiles of magic at him. The impact slows him for a time but he continues his inexorable advance. The second and third wolves caught near the middle of the webbing are pushing through but time is against them. They will struggle for many minutes before freeing themselves. A fourth and a fifth wolf seeing the condition of their compatriots launch themselves from the highest point of the web attempting to clear the webbing. The first one leaps over and skids to a stop well within range of Altira and Talorc. The second is not quite as lucky, not leaping as far as its brother it lands near the center of the web. Its starts to struggle and becomes so entangled in the web that it can no longer move. The lead wolf rips itself free of the webbing and charges at Tieron. Its mouth snapping and snarling as it approaches. Talorc brings Altira around in a large sweeping arc, the blade opening a great slash in the beast side. Blood starts to drip from the wound. The wolf moves to protects its wounded side and then charges. Talorc dodges the attack and counters with another of his own. It catches the wolf on the shoulder as it lurches by. The wolf is quick and reverses course bringing its jaws to bite into the leg of Talorc. It is but a glancing blow but draws a little blood. The beast pulls his hind legs up underneath and itself and then launches itself at the face of Talorc.
Tieron moves to avoid the rush of the this great wolf. Reaching out for the sword resting by the column, Tieron brings the sword around just in time. The great beast was expecting the wonderful crunch of an exposed throat but instead bites down on the cold steel of the Sword of Redlan. Tieron pulls the sword through the mouth of the wolf, tearing into the soft corners of it. The beast falls back, blood dripping. It starts to circle Tieron looking for an opening.
Talorc thrust Altira out to meet the impact of the wolf, hoping to impale the creature. The blade bites deep into the chest of the beast, Altira tears its way through to the creatures heart. The body of the wolf slam into Talorc. Talorc is not able to hold his footing under the great weight. He lands on the ground with the beast on top of him.
The great black beast moves slowly around Tieron searching and waiting. The impact of Talorc very near Tieron forces him to look and in that instant the wolf charges at Tieron. Using its great speed it ducks under the defenses of Tieron and seizes on to his right arm. Its jaws grinding on the forearm of Tieron. Blood pours out of the wounds and into the mouth of the beast, dripping finally onto the floor. Using his free hand, Tieron lands a series of blows onto the snout of the wolf, it is successful after about five solid punches. The wolf releases its hold on Tieron's arm, but the damage is done. Tieron looks down at his arm to see the bone in it before blood wells over it and hides it from view.
Talorc reflexively covers his face waiting for the wolf to try to rend his face. A shiver courses through the body of the wolf covering Talorc, followed by a whoosh of air as the last breath of the wolf exhales from it. Altira found her mark, the creatures heart pierced through. Talorc rolls out from under the body of the wolf, withdrawing Altira from the body as he goes. From his prone position on the floor, he sees Tierons wolf readying itself for another attack. Its starts an attack run at Tieron. Talorc swings Altira from this ackward position, trying to cut the legs out from under the creature. No hesitation in the wolf as it leaps just inches from the swinging blade and over it. Its great weight slams into Tieron. Tieron's arm not responding as it should to his command reacts to slow to intercept the wolf in mid-flight as Talorc had done. The impact slams Tieron into a nearby wall. Tieron as sure footed as most goats staggers a bit but retains his footing. The wolf comes in for the kill, grasping on to Tieron's leg it try's to bring him to the ground like a deer. It forgot about Talorc, though. Altira cuts hard and deep into the back of the creature. A satisfying bone crunching snap is heard as Altira slices into the backbone and then through it. The wolf goes down hard and struggles to rise. Its back broken, it comes up on its front legs and starts to drag itself away from the battle. As it does it starts to change, first to some strange cross between human and wolf and then just to a human with a skin of wolf draped on top of him. He crawls out from under the skin and tries reach for a torch on the wall. He is unable to come to his feet and sits there clawing at the wall. Tieron hefts the Sword of Redlan and plunges it into the back of the man, sending him into darkness forever. The body slides down the wall and falls face up on the floor. It looks like a younger version of Cahla Redlan.
Talorc and Tieron spin around to see about the other three wolves still caught in the web. Two of them are almost out and the third is held tight. Talorc rushes the first wolf and launches a series of blows to it. It never gets a chance to fight back, before Talorc lops its head off. Tieron has also made short work of other wolf, stabbing repeatedly with his left hand until the Sword of Redlan pierced the heart of his enemy.
Talorc looks over at Tieron, "That arm is really bad, Tieron."
Shateera, Nightshade, and Savi turn the corner and bound down the stairs, stopping at the back edge of the webbing.
Savi rushes across the street, barreling full force into the door. The door cracks on impact and splinters shower the room. The guards and the Sheriff duck from the incoming wood shards. Savi uses the time to recite a spell. Missiles of force burst out of her fingers and slam into the nearest guard. He staggers backward into a desk and topples over it. In her mind, Savi screams, "Fear me, little ones, It is death I bring, flee." Not seeing either Keridwynne or Nightshade, Savi starts another incantation.
Keridwynne looks at Akilah and then at the fight proceeding in the room. She pulls on Akilah's gloves and wraps her fingers around the bars of her cell. The bars start to bend and then they rip apart like taffy being pulled. Keridwynne steps out into the corridor to see Savi concentrating. A second or so later, she finishes and the office of the sheriff is covered in a thin layer of grease. The guards stumble and fall. The Sheriff stands his ground staring straight ahead at Savi, bloodlust in his eyes. A low throaty growl rumbles out from his chest and then turns into a full-fledged howl. The Sheriffs eyes turn a yellow color and glow in the light of the torches. Unknown to him, or uncaring, Keridwynne is quietly standing behind the Sheriff.
"Robert McDonald, Sheriff of Nottingham, turn around slowly and no harm will come to you." Keridwynne states in an even tone.
The Sheriff whips around to stare at his newest foe. Keridwynne doesn't give him the time to react. Snapping her staff up, she slams it into the jaw of the Sheriff. Backed by her newfound strength, Robert McDonald sails across the room and smashes into the wall 15 feet away. Blood and teeth littering the floor as he flew. One of the guards regains his footing and stumbles toward Savi. Savi cuts loose a shot to his head. The guard's footing give out on him at the same moment and the blade passes over his head. He doesn't even bother to scramble to his feet. Pushing off from the desk, he slides toward the door. Savi, seeing the other guard regaining his footing ignores the first guard. Carefully she picks her way across the floor toward him. The sheriff now recovering from the force of Keridwynne's blow, sees Savi moving by him. With a howl and a leap, he lands on Savi's back. Savi was having trouble holding her footing for just one person, the addition of weight brings her down. The Sheriff and Savi collapse into a heap on the floor. The sounds of flesh being torn from Savi fill the room. Blood starts to puddle onto the floor as the Sheriff continues his onslaught. Keridwynne slides across the floor very dexterously. Using her staff as a baseball bat, she wallops the Sheriff across the chest. The force of the blow crushes ribs and punctures a lung judging by the amount of blood that he coughs up. Keridwynne looks down at Savi's wound and notes that it is bleeding rather profusely, but that she will live. Keridwynne turns her attention back to the Sheriff. His eyes are rage as he drags himself to a standing position. His only thought to kill Keridwynne.
Nightshade watched the first guard trying to make an exit out the door. Slowly pulling a dagger from her belt, she carefully crosses the room to stand just behind the guard waiting to make his escape. A dagger shimmers into existence a second before it plunges deep into the back of the guard. The guard drops to the floor, without even crying out. Nightshade flickers back to being visible.
Savi staggers to her feet. She is looking at the guard that she fired the missiles at. His eyes are wide with terror. She picks up her broadsword, She twinges a bit from the movement of her shoulder, blood still seeping from the wound that the Sheriff torn into it. The guard looks up at Savi and promptly faints from fright. Savi smiles to herself slightly and then turns to see how the rest of the battle goes.
Keridwynne meets the charge of the Sheriff. Again she swings the staff, sweeping the legs out from under the sheriff. He hits the ground and slides to a bone jarring stop as he hits another wall.
"It is no use, Sheriff, you can not win. I am better and stronger that you could ever be."
The comment produces the desired reaction, the Sheriff rushes like a wild beast. Keridwynne launches another attack at the Sheriff, but instinct saves him. He ducks at the last instant and using his hand that is like a razor sharp claw rips 5 wide gashes across the stomach of Keridwynne. Blood starts to trickle out of them. Robert McDonald turns and pushes off from his desk to start another run at Keridwynne. Keridwynne pulls her silver fist shaped holy symbol from her neck and jams it into the end of her staff. She raises the staff in and using it like a javelin throws it at the Sheriff. Not even close does it come to him, he smiles to himself and rushes Keridwynne. His blow is never landed, using his momentum, she sidesteps his attack and using her awesome strength, she slams him in the back with both hands speeding him up. He impacts on the stones of the wall. The wall was not meant to take such an impact and crumbles. The Sheriff lies face down outside in a pile of rubble. His body broken, his arms and legs in angles that shouldn't be possible. Keridwynne grabs her staff, checking to make sure that the silver holy symbol is still embedded into the staff. She steps outside, followed by Savi and Nightshade. Rolling the Sheriff over, she sees the bones sticking through the skin in several places. As they watch in horror, the bones start to move back into the skin, knitting themselves as they go. Keridwynne slams the staff into the Sheriff's chest, the silver penetrating his heart. He heaves up, like he is going to sit and then falls back on the rubble to move no more.
"Werewus." Keridwynne smirks.
Shateera runs up to the party in the street breathing hard, "Talorc and Tieron are in the House of Redlan, being attacked by wolves. Come on."
Savi and Nightshade start to run after Shateera. Keridwynne starts to run with them and stops.
"Go on!" she yells, "I have to get Akilah!"
Keridwynne sprints to the jail and into the cell. Reaching down, she grabs Akilah and flings him over her shoulder.
"Ms, Hey, Let me out too, will you?"
Keridwynne stops for a second and looks down the hall at a human calling out to her. She nearly doesn't stop and then one look upon that gorgeous face and she spins about. A incredible specimen of manhood this one is, she finds herself just staring at him for a moment. Seeing no reason not to let him out she grabs the door in one hand and pulls. It tears off at the hinges and she drops it on the floor.
"I have to go, whoever you are, but at least you are free." Keridwynne states.
"My name is Mero and I am indebted to you, lady. Where are you going, maybe I can repay you for my freedom."
"I have friends to help, so I don't have time to banter. Follow or leave the choice is yours. You are free."
Keridwynne turns and runs out the door, with Akilah flouncing back and forth on her shoulder. Mero stops for a second at the weapons cabinet in the sheriff's office and retrieves a short sword filled with roman script. Sheathing it in its scabbard, Mero runs after his rescuer.
You all rendezvous down in the basement of the House of Redlan.
Shateera yells down, "Tieron, Talorc, Are you all right?"
"We have been better love," Tieron shouts back, "but we are still alive."
Keridwynne rushes around the corner carrying Akilah slung over her shoulder followed by a incredibly handsome human.
Savi looks at him and then asks simply, "Who are you?"
"I am Mero. Your friend here rescued me. I thought that I would repay that kindness by seeing if I could help."
(Everybody: This is Mero a Roman descended human thief with unnaturally good looks. I will leave you here to see what your next move is. Since I am sending these messages to everybody assume your characters have just filled each other in on. By the way, tell me what you are going to do with the wolf stuck in the webbing. For your info, 4 of the wolves are just that wolves the other was the werewolf obviously or something like a werewolf.)
I have watched Mero from the time he was little. I have seen him grow from a little boy to the scoundrel that he now is and I am the teller of his tale. I am Mero's grandfather, Tiberius. Mero was born not of the old country but in North Africa just south of Cairo. His father, my son, died soon after his birth. I believe that Mero could have used a father figure in his life. His mother, Shathba, did the best she could with Mero, but having to work for a living, she could not give him the proper lessons in life that he should have learned. He lived more on the street than in the home. He grew up on those streets of Cairo, learning how to borrow things from the wealthy. I have seen him steal many things including the hearts of many a girl. He is a quite handsome boy, at least he grew into one. He uses that ability to his great advantage. Finagling his way into many houses of lonely rich ladies or even the not so lonely, ever escaping into the night when the husband returned to his bed. Mero grew up in this manner. At sixteen, he left Cairo and his mother behind, taking with him my sword. A sword that I had passed down to his father after I left the Roman army. He passed it down to Mero, he knows not yet of powers hidden within it, but soon he will. The strands of his life about to take a new twist. Ah but I digress into the future, tis his past that I still speak of yet.
So, where was I, ah, leaving Cairo for grander things. He traveled a great deal, living a free life. Taking what he needed and using up his welcome. He found himself in Athens. Not a grand place for a Roman to be, as he soon found out. He had a great time at first, new ground and more importantly new rich women. He happened upon a Lady Archelous A ravishing black haired beauty, with a very distinguished greek name. Mero's affair with her lasted nearly a year under the nose of the husband Lord Archelous. Mero became lax in his precautions and he was caught. He was imprisoned in the cell of Lord Archelous for life or so the sentence said. Mero escaped fourteen months later. He returned once to retrieve my sword and never returned to Athens. He will always carry scars, both mentally and physically from that time. He found himself in the land of the Persia and the Arabias. He learned a great deal from a teacher there, some Arabic boy whose name escapes me at the moment. His skills in climbing and lock picking improved tremendously. It was here that my first flash of hope for the boy came. He set loose a band of slaves by picking a lock here and there on their chains. They gained their freedom and he gained nothing. That was the first time that Mero didn't want something in return. I don't know why he did this and maybe even he does not know why, but I began to follow the boy more closely from this point on. He left Persia, without being pursued by anyone or anyone's husband. Another first for the boy. He traveled to Rome and picked up his old habits again. Wine, women and more women. He made a great many enemies, but none so great as Cardinal Pryderi, a Welsh born cleric that gave himself over to the new religion of Christianity. Pryderi was assigned the task of clearing the land around Rome of non-believers. He loved his work and relished it. Pryderi sought out the gypsy's that roamed the lands. It was with these people that Mero found himself. Mero on more than one occasion saved the life and sometimes lives of several of these wanderers. Setting them free here and there, laying a few traps and so on. He fell deeply in love for the first time here with a young gypsy girl named Raina. Pryderi killed her, her family and nearly Mero so the boy thought anyway. He escaped, but he never healed from those wounds. His heart scarred over and he refused to help those in need for a time.
He ended up in Spain, many years later, not really knowing how he got here. His travels aimless, his life the same. Maja changed him. She was a Spanish noblewoman, who took in everyone in need of help. Mero didn't need food or shelter but he needed to learn to live again. Maja had a brother, Vassily, and he was a hater. He hated anything that made others feel good. Mero made Maja feel good and that was enough to hate him. Vassily and Mero clashed in battle, Mero lived, Vassily did not. Maja's and Vassily's father, Kevanish vowed revenge. Mero needed to leave but could not because of Maja. He spent one more reckless night in her arms, when Kevanish sought him out. Mero climbed out the window and down to the ground. Maja, at the last moment decided that she would travel with Mero wherever he went. She tied her sheets together and started out her third floor window. Kevanish, screaming Mero's name, thinking that Mero was on the rope and not Maja cut it. Maja fell to her death at Mero's feet. Mero ran and boarded the nearest ship. It sailed for England and up the river Thames to London. Mero lived here for a number of years, pulling some of the same old tricks he did in his past but never with the same relish as he once did. He watched in silence as a cult grew up around him. Ashler was the name of the god and not more than a week ago, a leader of this religion came to London to speak with the royal court of Camelot. Mero having some pull in Camelot arranged to be at the meeting. Pryderi was his name. His wife, Raina, also in attendance. Mero retained his sense of wits long enough to cover himself up so as not to noticed by Pryderi. Things became more interesting upon the arrival of Kevanish, another respected member of the cult of Ashler, emissary to Spain and even more interesting Archelous of Athens, emissary of Ashler to Greece. Though Lord Archelous was now going by the name Lord Sentares, it certainly was him and his pretty wife the now Lady Sentares. Sentares brought with him an entourage of humanoids that Mero had never seen before. Deep copper colored skin, black pupilless eyes and copper antennae that swiveled on their heads with every passing sound. Mero hung around long enough to hear Pryderi all but come out and say that Ashler would soon rule Camelot and England with or without King Arthur's approval. Pryderi and company were escorted out of the chambers in quite a rush by the Knights of the Round. Moving as quietly as he could, Mero took up residence outside the hotel accommodations of Pryderi and company. He heard tales of troubles caused to Ashler by a group of wandering adventurers, that were soon to be captured in Bedegraine. Mero wanted to hurt the now named Sentares, Kevanish and Pryderi but to get to them he needed help. He set out for Bedegraine and found his way to Nottingham. The local sheriff, Robert McDonald, stopped Mero just before Nottingham and with a short battle took him to jail. A sketch that does no justice to Mero, offered a reward for him. Mero found himself about to be sent back to London, but fate intervened in Mero's life by a copper antennaed female named Savi and an ungodly strong woman named Keridwynne.
The strands of fate weave an interesting tapestry in Mero's life. I am Tiberius, his grandfather, dead now for sixty years. I watch and wait for his future that I have seen to unfold and the powers that he will uncover and unleash. Sit back, have some popcorn and watch as another jumps into the fire.
Talorc shrugs noncommittally. "I don't know. Maybe we should scare it off when the web goes down. Anyway, you guys have to see this down here. It might even be the answer to the curse of Redlan."
Keridwynne thinks it's amusing that nobody seems to wonder about her having a 7 ft tall man slung over her shoulder, I guess the gauntlets are obvious. :) "I just can't help picking up gorgeous men wherever I go." She says carefully leaning Akilah against the wall. Is that a regular wolf? If so, and you killed it's leader it will run off, I think. The sheriff was a werewolf, but he didn't shapechange, so I don't know what he was doing. I'm sure when someone finds the mess we left there, there will be hell to pay. Thanks for coming with, Mero, though as you can see, we seem to be in a bit of a jam. What did they get you for, littering?
"What was I in for?" Mero thinks for a moment longer and then replies "Well, Sheriff McDonald was a strong conservationist, he apparently thought I looked like someone who had been sowing fields that should have been left fallow."
"Who's the Persian?" Mero asks, looking at Savi.
"That's Savi" Keridwynne says and quickly introduces the whole troupe. "She's Persian is she? That's nice to know, her history is a mystery, even to her."
Savi goes down the stairs, broadsword in-hand cutting webbing as she goes. As expected the wolf still caught in the web, runs for the door and departs.
"Keridwynne, Could you please do something about this? I don't mean to interrupt." Tieron tries to stick out his arm that is ripped open, bone showing, and blood dripping down.
"I think I will sit down now. I am getting a little light-headed." says Tieron as he slides down the wall.
"Of course, sorry I didn't notice that." Keridwynne states casting spell after spell into the body of Tieron. Slowly the flesh oozes back over the bone and seals itself showing only a little bit of a scar where once there was a huge gaping wound.
Tieron moves over to the now human body, lying on the ground in a heap of blood. Reaching up to the torch in the wall, Tieron tries to find out if there was a reason why the man-wolf was reaching for it. Tieron tries to pull, twist, push, and other ways, the torch and its holder, to see if there was a secret passage behind this wall.
After a minute or two of twisting and turning of the torch, a sound of rock scraping on rock is heard. A small crack in the wall reveals a door. Tieron puts his fingers into the crack and gives a heave. The door swings open slowly. A passageway has been carved out of the limestone. Water is seeping down the walls of the corridor, making it a very damp and musty smelling corridor. Greenish algae grows along the wall. Booted footprints in the algae, have filled with water, leaving a very easily followed trail in the corridor. Wood chunks, pieces of stone and mud litter the rest of the corridor.
Mero peers in and says "Old Roman aqueduct. It looks like. Must lead somewhere."
Savi whips around and then around again as if searching for something.
The party looks at her questioningly.
"Thought I heard something." is all she says.
Savi swings around once more, "I know I heard it that time, but you did not?"
"No, Savi, I didn't hear a thing." Keridwynne states, "What did it sound like?"
"It was muffled, but it sounded like 'Soon, you will be within my grasp',"
(Where to people? Down the corridor or do you play with the podium of the swords or something else entirely?)
"Well, it seems we have some options. Has anyone had time to detect magick on the podium? Say, I thought you guys were going to get one of the giants to come with. Where are they? I can cast a spell that will let me see what is down the corridor. This might help us with the decision. If we could get to a safe place with a body of water later tonight, I need to ask for a vision on how to cure this curse." Keridwynne gestures worriedly at the limp & feverish form of Akilah. "Oh, and nobody get hurt, I have spent all my healing abilities for the day on Akilah & Tieron."
Savi stands waiting at the entrance to the aqueduct, broadsword in hand and wishing Lorac and Yendor were there to comfort her.
Curiosity gets the best of Savi and she asks Mero "What do you know of the Persians?"
"Sorry miss, I can't help you much with knowledge of your people. I've been to Persia and in fact that is one of the languages I speak, but the only other time I've seen people such as yourself is at Camelot, in the entourage to Lord Sentares. Sentares is in fact a Persian lord so your people may indeed have some link to Persia. He is, however, NOT a friend of mine and I did not feel free to question him at the time. I think I may have confused the issue. When I asked about Persians I was referring to him (points at Akilah) not you." Mero states.
"Oh, Akilah, he's a friend of ours who was falsely charged with murdering Cahla Redlan, the guy who lived here. He seems to be infected with lycanthropy at the moment, so I'd really like to find a cure before he gets done. He said he was Moorish, I thought he meant "from the Moors" the Yorkshire Moors were certainly not the most pleasant place we've been. I think you are right, let's go down the aqueduct. We can take the swords & such with if you like. I don't fancy camping here, they'll probably look here too. What about the giants?" Keridwynne asks again.
Talorc sighs, and moves from the pedestal he had been studying. "Let's go on. Its better than messing around and getting turned into werewolves."
"I say we explore this later." Tieron says as he pushes the secret door closed. Tieron moves over to the podium.
"Is it movable?" Tieron pushes on the podium to test the weight.
Heaving with all his might, Tieron is unable to budge the sword encrusted podium.
"I can probably jerk the podium out of the ground if you want, I'm feeling my oats today." Keridwynne says.
"Miss, no disrespect intended I owe you too great a debt, but the Romans didn't conquer the world by being slow. If it's water you must be finding I suspect we'll find an awful lot of it at the end of that aqueduct." Mero says pointing to the now closed door to the corridor.
Talorc looks vaguely distressed by some inner turmoil. He throws his dagger across the room which clunks butt-first on a cedar block and falls to the floor with an artful clank. Collapsing to the floor, he proceeds to soliloquy, "Look, the way I see it we can either head in now, or we can camp here and try it in the morning. There doesn't seem to be anything to hurry us at least, but I wouldn't try heading back to our rooms. They've probably deputized half the township against us by now." The highlander begins carefully cleaning the glowing-bloody-green Altira with an old rag.
"You're right, I don't think we can go back to the Inn until we've solved the mystery. I hope they won't be harassing Shimmer too much about us." Keridwynne says.
"I think that we should see what is down this aqueduct, before we go any further." Keridwynne suggests. Keridwynne begins the incantation to her spell.
Meanwhile, Tieron grabs one of the swords at random and pulls it from the podium. Its runes show it to be the sword of Illusion. The walls around you fade from the concrete forms that you see now to glass upright coffins. The coffins are set up next to each other along the walls three on wall behind the podium, none on the walls that you entered this room by, two in the wall with the secret door and three more on the remaining wall. Inside seven of the glass cases you find a body, only one is empty. Most look like members of the family Redlan preserved in fine condition. One of the seven, looks like Tieron.
Shateera gasps at the sight of the last one and speaks but one word, "Reardon".
Keridwynne focuses on the door to the aqueduct using magic to peer through it and down the corridor.
"I see, human sized footprints leading farther down the corridor. Rats, and many of them seem to milling about. By the Lady, its Cahla, he's alive! He is fumbling with some sort of lever. He just pulled it."
The way that you came into this room has just suddenly become solid stone. The sound of thunder or maybe the sound of thousands of gallons of water rushing down a corridor is very plain to hear. The sound increases in volume to near deafening.
"Shit!" Keridwynne shouts.
(Whatever you are doing you better hurry. :) Welcome back to Laura now resuming her role as Nightshade. You are here Nightshade, still invisible thanks to the Cloak of the Crimson Wolf. Everybody please add her new email address to your lists.)
"I do not believe it!" says Keridwynne, striding purposefully toward what was the door. She reaches out to touch it and finds that it is truly there. Keridwynne says to Mero "Well, if the party won't go to the water, I guess the water will come to the party."
Mero says dryly, "I wasn't planning on a bath, I don't have a change of clothes. This started when he pulled out that sword, what happens if we put that one back and grab another one?"
Mero grabs a sword and pulls. It slides from the stone podium with a ringing sound. Mero stands stunned for a minute, eyes blinking like there is something in them.
"This is terribly deja-vu...in fact, didn't most of us meet this way?" Nightshade says. Nightshade starts studying the walls and ceiling for a moment and then moves to a section of the floor that looks somewhat odd to her.
Upon seeing the glass sarcophagi, Talorc chirps, "I think it would be a mistake to animate..."
"Reardon, that's impossible!" Tieron stares at the body in the coffin and wonders just why he is here.
As dreadful panic sweeps the party, the pict analyzes the random sword pulling. Figuring nothing good can come of it, he reverses course to the door. Talorc triggers the opening, and runs down the corridor pulling something from his belt pouch. The sound of the huge wave of water rushing down the corridor is deafening. With the sword of illusion still in his hand,Tieron slides it back into the podium. Tieron draws out the bastard on his back and then yells "I don't want your fucking sword, Redlan, I just want to give it back to you. Right through your heart!" as he runs into the tunnel.
"I hope Tieron & Talorc can surf," Keridwynne thinks. Savi runs after Talorc and Tieron down the tunnel. She screams telepathically for Yendor and Lorac to find an exit from this possibly watery grave. Yendor and Lorac start running around scurrying to find any sort of exit. Finding nothing they climb to the corners of the room and brace themselves.
Keridwynne slams her hands into the stone wall covering the steps that lead out from this watery death. An impressive blow that sends seismic shock waves to the surrounding wall. A crack forms in the wall. Keridwynne slams it again. Hoping that she has the time to break it before the wave crashes through the door. Talorc sprints down the corridor, racing toward the water as if wishing to surrender his life to it. In his hand a glass vial filled with a neon blue liquid. Savi and Tieron no more that fifty feet behind. Tieron screaming at the top of lungs about killing Redlan, but the sound of the water is drowning him out.
Mero snaps out of his reverie and steps back as if seeing the room in a new light. His head starts snapping around the room, then to the ceiling and finally to the floor. Keridwynne's reverberating blows still piercing the sound of the water. Talorc is the first to see the wall of water pouring down the corridor, no mere trickle, Cahla just opened a door to the Trent river. The water pouring, reaching out with its icy fingers, to take his life away. Talorc stops, slams the vial of liquid and throws the bottle to the ground, shattering it into splinters. He plants his feet, raises his arms above his head, Altira still in hand shedding its eerie greenish glow. His body forming an X, Talorc looks as if he is defying the wave to take him. The water wall consumes him and he is no more. The wave now turns its attention to Tieron and Savi. Just having seen their friend die in a futile attempt to stop the relentlessness of the water, they turn and run, hoping they can close the secret door before the wave consumes them as it just consumed Talorc.
Mero runs over to the spot on the floor that Nightshade is looking at. "Yes, that's it you have it. Find the latch, there is a tunnel down there." Nightshade scrambles to find a latch. The water and Keridwynne's pounding making it very hard to concentrate. She stands up in frustration and turns back to the podium. "Surely one of these is Simpson's Super Absorbent Sword of Wonders?" She says with a hint of concern in her voice.
The River Trent closing on them, Savi and Tieron see the door into the room where their friends continue to try to find avenues of escape. The water slams into Tierons back, then the wall overtakes Savi. They find themselves hanging on the front of the wave, being propelled toward the door, they will probably make it through the door but the stone wall at the other end of the room will smash their bodies to a pulp. Keridwynne heaves with all her might and the wall shatters into gravel. She turns to see Nightshade pull another sword from the podium. A glowing blue ball springs from the tip of its blade and races out the door into the corridor. Following it trail, out the door she sees Savi and Tieron swept up on the front of the wave and approaching the door at a breakneck speed. The blue ball touches the water just a few feet before the door and then all is quiet. No more sound of rushing water, Just the sound of Mero grunting as he pulls up on the latch he found on the floor, flipping open a trapdoor. "Got it," he says triumphantly.
Nightshade having reflexively closed her eyes for her end, now opens them. She steps to the door and looks out. There is a wall of solid ice. The whole wave of water now frozen solid in the corridor. Hanging like living portraits on the wall of ice are Savi and Tieron, struggling to free themselves from the ice that they have just become entrapped in. Keridwynne strides through the door and using the great strength given to her by the gauntlets of Akilah, she wrests them free of the ice.
Passing through the water and then ice, Talorc finds himself just emerging next to the door that Cahla Redlan opened to trap his party. He floats to the top of the corridor in the hopes that Cahla who has retreated to a drier location will not notice him. He moves closer to see Cahla kneeling with his head bowed. He seems to be speaking to himself.
"Failure and more failure. I have been defeated at their hands twice. The perfect trap, the perfect bait and they still survive by turning our own weapons against us. I wonder how many died before they found the right sword to cause this ice. I wished to hear their screams echoing in my ears!"
He pauses a moment to steady himself from his outburst. His breathing heavy and his voice now several octaves lower, He continues, "I will have a least one small consolation. The screams of the stone giant, my friends captured. I will be able to her his screams in the night as we take the information from him, before we cut his throat. Montossey will praise my work this night at least for that. Soon, I will hear the tortured screams of Talorc, Keridwynne and the others, as well. Akilah, my old adversary, soon you will be one of us and when you are, you will be the final trap. I will control you as I do all the others. That awesome strength unleashed upon your friends. It will be a fitting end.'
Cahla looks up and comes to his feet. His hands are longer and clawed, his mouth starts to elongate into a snout, he snarls and shows a mouthful of teeth. Chest and back widen and his clothing pulls apart at the seams. Now a cross between man and wolf, Cahla starts to move back farther into the corridor. Talorc follows, his airy form floating on the currents. Minutes pass as he follows the man wolf at a jogging pace. Talorc notices himself slowly floating to the ground, his form taking on more weight with each passing second. He touches the ground without a sound. He hefts the sword Altira and waits for the weight to feel just right before he attacks and that moment is now.
Talorc's first swipe is nearly fatal as it slashes across the back of Cahla's neck, biting deep into it. Its exit from the side of his neck sprays the corridor wall with blood. Cahla spins to face his attacker.
"Talorc, my old comrade in arms. It will be good to see you die."
Cahla's claws rip into Talorc's chest leaving lines of blood dripping down his ringmail. The attack is brutal but not enough to change the fact that Talorc has his opponent backing up. Talorc pushes the attack and Altira finds flesh again to bite into. Cahla pauses and then steps back again, not realizing his proximity to the staircase leading to the surface. He stumbles on the first step of the staircase and nearly sits down. He catches himself on one hand and tries to right himself. In his scramblings, Talorc unleashes a flurry of blows, none land. Cahla somehow being in the wrong position for Talorc to strike every time. Cahla lashes out with a claw and rips a hole into the arm of Talorc. Talorc enraged, looks at Altira who flares into light. A green glow now increasing in the corridor. Its light becoming almost blinding to look at. Talorc lashes out again. His blade bites, not deeply but a good strike nonetheless. The blood starts to ooze along the wound in the stomach of Cahla. The green glow of Altira focuses to a single point and pierces the stomach wound. Blood flows back along the beam of light turning a reddish green color. More and more blood is drawn from Cahla, flowing into the sword and then down to the hilt. It touches Talorc's hands and disappears into his skin. A few of Talorc's wounds seal themselves, new flesh sprouting like seeds in fast forward. The beam lets go. Cahla looking weary now but still alive struggles to keep his feet. He feebly swipes at Talorc and manages a small wound, but one that hardy breaks the skin of the upper arm. Talorc launches a brutal attack to the throat area of Cahla and marks the front side of his throat as well. Cahla nearly falls to the floor from the attack but suddenly stands and bounds up the stairs taking them 3 at a time. Talorc rushes after him. Cahla stops part way up the stairs, turns and leaps at Talorc. Talorc has been leaped at too many times today to fall for this again. Talorc ducks and swings Altira as Cahla sails over his head. Cahla's claws bite one more time across Talorcs back as he lands in a heap on the floor below. Talorc rushes down to Cahla. Looking down at him Talorc sees his cut has opened Cahla's chest and various organs peer out. Talorc looks down to see the life dimming in Cahla's eyes.
"At least the third failure to us will be your last." Talorc says.
Cahla reaches out toward Talorc and then the hand drops limply to the floor.
(You have 4 hit points left. Thank Laura for the 2 20's she rolled in that battle."
December 30, 522 4am, it has been a very hectic night.
Savi sits and comforts Yendor and Lorac and takes comfort from them. Silently she wonders if she should stay with this group or go explore this Camelot place that Mero mentioned. For the time being she decides she will stay with them, especially since they have lost Talorc. Savi never felt his spirit leave, so maybe they will see him in the future, or maybe he had no spirit.
Tieron shakes the ice still stuck on his white cloak, face and hands. Still full of rage, Tieron lifts his sword and swings into the wall of ice in frustration. "I want that true bastard!" , Tieron yells venting some anger. "When I am frustrated, I make giant mistakes. So I want some answers!"
"Nightshade, how did you know about that sword?" Tieron asks still seething.
"Well!" says Nightshade, staring back and forth between sword and wall of ice. "That's not at all what I expected. Still, whopping good fortune just can't be knocked. Um, Keridwynne?" she continues, turning towards She of the Mighty Strength, "could you maybe smash a bit of this? Talorc might still be alive in there somewhere....maybe..." and she peers uncertainly through the tons of crystalline death they've so narrowly escaped.
Mero stares into the ice for a moment and then starts to wander about the room.
"Shateera, are you sure that is Reardon and what is he doing here in Redlan's castle? Was he a relation? Is there something on him that will prove that it is him? We can open this coffin."
Shateera wanders over to the coffin that Reardon is in and peers inside, "That is him, there is no doubt. He still wears the pinwafa -a cloak pin- that was the symbol of my drow house. I don't know if he is a relation to the Family Redlan or not but the names are similar Redlan, Reardon."
Shateera starts peering inside the other coffins, "I would say yes judging from the similar appearances of these people, which may mean you are too. Difficult to tell with some of them they are decaying."
Mero starts moving around the coffins staring into them intently then passing on to the podium.
"When this ice melts, this castle will be partially submerged, so I suggest we leave and take the swords with us. Keridwynne, will you try to lift the podium?" Tieron asks.
"It will take hours for that much ice to melt, possibly days down here underground. The water was cold to start with, because the River is frozen on top. Let's be glad you two didn't break like flotsam against that stone wall!" Keridwynne exclaims.
"Tieron, we are all frustrated, but I think it would be premature to leave
here. We have Talorc to think of... (Keridwynne peers into the ice) I
don't see his body in there, I am betting he had some magical way to travel
through the water, he doesn't usually do things without some sort of plan.
Not to mention Reardon and Akilah. Do you *know* Noraksu is dead? I think
we should:
a) put all the swords in and see what happens or
b) explore the tunnel Mero just uncovered." Keridwynne states.
"The obvious place to go is to the forest. We can find the stone giant and tell him of the loss of Noraksu." Tieron mumbles, "...and that was my stupid idea!"
"Keridwynne is correct. It will take many hours for the ice to melt. I think we should pull all the swords then explore the tunnel. If the forest is the obvious place to go, shouldn't we avoid it?" Savi asks.
Nightshade seems awed by this logic. "Yeah...that does seem like a good thought. Hurm. Maybe I'll just hold onto this sword. It seems really useful."
Mero drops into the space below the trapdoor.
Shateera moves over to Tieron and takes hold of his hand, "Noraksu, may have died, Love, and I know it is difficult. But remember what Tharaksu said about his people, they were willing to die for Zarakfen. If you are the Zarakfen, that they hope for, then others are going to die for you. Be strong in your convictions and never doubt that what you do is right."
"Keridwynne, I would like to try what you have suggested, putting all the swords into the podium. Let's try it. " Tieron slides his sword into its slot, his voice overcome with a new sense of purpose.
"Wait!!!!!!" Mero yells from the tunnel below, "Don't stick that sword anywhere."
Mero boosts himself over the lip of the trapdoor and comes to a crouching position.
"Good, I caught you in time. There isn't a tunnel under there just a very small room not more that 6 foot by 6 foot. There is another podium down there, not like this one but similar, it has a scroll on it with a glass cover. This whole thing down here is a magical device for resurrecting the dead, enchancing peoples abilities and curing lycanthopy. It is powered by those swords. Shove those swords in and they all come back to life." Mero gestures to the glass coffins.
Mero continues his narration to his enthralled audience, "That is the house of Redlan, at least a member of each generation of it. They ticked off a Celtic god by the name of the Master of the Hunt by hunting the wolves around this area to extinction. His revenge was to curse them and the entire line of them with lycanthropy. Reardon was the seventh generation of werewolves. He searched the world for a cure to this problem and found it. This is his creation. But he needed a power source for it. The research he found, talked of eight swords that would energize his machine. He set out on a quest to find them. He collected only seven before his life came to an end. Just before he died, he took some of his ancestors from the familial tomb and placed them inside these coffins. He instructed his only son, he had many daughters by the way, Stephen to carry on with his work and find the last sword, the necromantic one and revive him. Stephen by some strange twist never became afflicted with the lycanthropy and decided to rid himself of his ties to the house of Redlan. He moved north to Scotland and into an area called the High Steppes. From there know one heard from him again. Reardon's daughters were not so afflicted either but their sons were and so were the sons and daughters of Reardon's brothers and sisters. A whole new generation of werewolves was born. The story skips a lot here, but Cahla Redlan, also afflicted, whilst still a child explored his ancestral castle, found this place, went on to search for the sword and found it. He was coming home, when he writes that he ran into all of you and Akilah. He lost his sword and fled. Akilah tracked him here and Redlan confronted him about the sword. They fought and Redlan cheated by bringing in a bunch of deputies and making an unholy alliance with something he terms as hydra clerics. Akilah nearly killed them all and thought that he had killed Cahla. Cahla was still alive though and found Akilah and was about to kill him when a thought crossed his mind to frame him. Cahla hung himself by a rope and called his cousin Robert McDonald to "find" him. You can't kill a werewolf by hanging him. Then you showed up with the very sword that Cahla was looking for. Whew, got all that? So lets say we find this stone giant Noraksu, Talorc and Akilah there and put them in the coffins activate this thing and there you go instant alive people."
Shateera looks at Tieron and says "High Steppes, Highstep, Stephen Highstep, bet you Reardon's son changed his name from Redlan to Highstep, Tieron Highstep."
"This is all fine and dandy, but the question is, does it heal wounds?" Talorc says as he staggers bloodily down the stairs, through the gravel wall Keridwynne crushed.
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