Episode 24 – A Bloody Reunion
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 1st Level LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 1st Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 1st / 2nd LE (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 2nd level NE (PC) |
| Locale | In the dark streets of the Old City - Del Mord. |
| Date | 9th Coldeven 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Just after Midnight. |
| Jock | Okay, here we are: The Old City. How long do you want me to hang around? |
| Craven | We hired you for the night, so shutup and do what you're told. Now that you've lead us here we want to you to find us a chapel, one that is home to a priest of Pelor or St Cuthbert. |
| Jock | Hmm, that shouldn't be too difficult. This joint is littered with them; the entire populace is full religious zealots who have nothing better to do than listen to some old fart crap on about the merits of the sun. It keeps them out of their homes, at least, which is good for business. (smiles) Follow me, I know just the chapel. What do you want with a chapel, anyway? |
| Keldirk | We pay you to guide, not question. If you step over that line once more I'll gut you like a fish. |
| Jock | Got it. |
Jock lead the four assassins along the narrow streets of the Old City, through a tangled maze of slums and alleys. It was slow going, Jock was forced to take several long detours to avoid hot spots; places overrun with street gangs and thieves. At one point the group almost stumbled into the midst of a gang war, and only Jock's familiarity with the area enabled them to pass through the neighbourhood unscathed. A little over an hour into the journey it began to rain, the light but constant drizzle soon had the assassins thoroughly drenched. Jock hurried the pace, and before long he motioned for the group to stop. He looked around the corner of the alley then turned to address the group.
| Jock | You'll find a chapel a hundred yards that'a'way. (motions with his thumb) You won't be able to miss it; it's the only place that isn't covered in shit. |
| Craven | You wait here. We'll be back soon. |
| Jock | Sure. |
The assassins left Jock behind and walked down the street in the direction of the chapel.
| Craven | So, does everyone know what they're supposed to do? |
| Creighton | (nods) |
| Azareth | (nods) |
| Keldirk | Of course. |
| Craven | Okay, let's get to it. And remember, we don't attack until we're off the street. Creighton, you're with Azareth and Keldirk you watch our backs. |
Azareth assumed a weary, sick expression, leaned heavily on his staff and allowed Creighton to help him along. Keldirk readied his crossbow, but kept it hidden beneath his cloak. Craven approached the not-so- grand chapel and knocked loudly on the oaken door. A few minutes passed when a peep-window slid open emitting light from a small, hand held candle-lantern. A young, fresh-faced lad peered through the hole.
| Lad | What brings you out in this weather? |
| Craven | (indicates the sick looking Azareth) Our companion is gravely ill, and he needs help. |
| Lad | (looks at Azareth slumped in Creighton's arms) What is wrong with him? |
| Craven | We have been hunting down the zombie that is terrorising the city, and he came down with a sickness. It came on suddenly and without warning. Please, can you help? |
| Lad | I'll see what I can do. The rector is asleep and I'd prefer not to wake her, but I can have a look if you like? |
| Craven | Yes, anything you can do would be appreciated. |
The lad slid the peep-window shut and unbolted the heavy, iron-bound door. Keldirk flashed Craven an evil grin as the lad ushered the group inside. The chapel was warm and homely, two rows of pews lead down to a quaint altar behind which, hung a tapestry depicting the sun in its full, life-giving glory. The lad closed the chapel door, had the group hang their dripping cloaks on the coat-pegs and instructed Creighton to lay Azareth on the nearest pew.
| Lad | He is a sickly looking fellow. (leans closer to examine Azareth) |
| Keldirk | (wondering why no-one has attacked, decides to take matters into his own hands. Sweeps his crossbow out from under his cloak and fires - the bolt piercing the lad's skull) |
| Lad | (dies) |
| Keldirk | Heh! Chalk one up for the bad guys. (smiles) |
| Craven | (looks to Azareth) Do you think he's a priest? |
| Azareth | (sits up) I'm not sure. He did mention a rector. No harm in finding out I guess. (looks at the young lad's crumpled form) Hmm, Creighton - could you do the honors? |
| Creighton | Huh? |
| Azareth | We need to bathe the orb in his blood, I suggest we go for the heart. Open up the boy's chest and expose the heart, I'll prepare the orb. |
| Craven | Whatever you do, do it fast. |
| Creighton | (draws his dagger and rolls up his sleeve) This'll be just like gutting a pig. I used to do that all the time back in Three-Trees. The hardest part is getting through the ribs. I remember one time- |
| Keldirk | Shutup you bloody moron, just do it! |
| Creighton | (tears off the lad's nightshirt and makes a long incision, cutting the sternum in two) Now, stand back and I'll just get the ribs out of the way... (Strains for a moment before a loud crack indicates his success.) There you go, Azareth. All yours. (smiles and wipes the gore onto the lad's nightshirt) |
Suddenly a door near the altar opened and a middle aged female dressed in a night gown entered the chapel, lantern in hand.
| Priestess | Bormin, is that you? (sees the assassins and screams, backs through the door and slams it behind her) |
| Keldirk | Damn! Creighton, go get her. |
| Craven | Let's all go; she's a priest remember. |
The assassins charged down the isle to the door. Keldirk re-loaded his crossbow and Creighton kicked open the door, his swords held before him. The room beyond was dark, and there was no sign of the priestess.
| Keldirk | Azareth, go get the lantern you useless piece of shit. |
| Azareth | (runs back to the entrance and gathers the lad's candle-lantern) |
| Creighton | (moves tentatively into the darkness, his warrior senses coming to the fore) |
| Craven | (follows Creighton in, his rapier and sabre held at his side) Creighton, watch where you swing, I'm right behind you. |
| Creighton | Gotcha! |
| Keldirk | (crouches low, his crossbow held before him) Hurry up, mage! |
| Azareth | (hurries back) |
| Priestess | (emerges from an adjoining room, mace in hand, a magical light emanating from her holy symbol) Begone defilers! (begins to chant arcane words) |
| Creighton | (sees the illuminated room for the first time, hurdles a stool, and charges at the priestess - swinging his swords low) |
| Craven | (moves to his right, keeping next to a wall, and closes in to strike) |
| Keldirk | (unable to get a clear shot, curses colourfully) |
| Azareth | (places the candle-lantern on the altar and waits) |
| Priestess | (completes her spell, and points her mace at Craven) |
| Craven | (suddenly blind, lowers himself onto his haunches - his blades moving defensively before him) I can't see! |
| Creighton | (misses with one sword, but drives the second blade into the priestess' thigh) |
| Priestess | Arghhhh. (grips her mace in both hands, her face resolute) |
| Keldirk | (drops his crossbow and enters the room, a knife in each hand) |
| Creighton | (smiles) I've never killed a girl before. (lashes out with one long sword, lightly grazing the priestess' abdomen, the other blade striking the wall harmlessly) |
| Priestess | (delivers a powerful sideways blow to Creighton's chest, expelling the air from his lungs and forcing him back) |
| Creighton | (winded, falls back) Ooomph! |
| Keldirk | (seizes his opportunity and flings both knives at the priestess, striking twice) |
| Azareth | (hears a loud bang at the main chapel door) Oh dear. |
| Creighton | (lunges forward again, but misses with both blades) |
| Priestess | (swings wide, her mace shattering a vase on a wall cabinet) |
| Azareth | Keldirk, there's something at the door! |
| Keldirk | (looks at Azareth, then back to the priestess, then back to Azareth, again) Handle it, mage! |
| Craven | (rubs his eyes with the back of his hand and tries unsuccessfully to restore his sight) |
Suddenly the main chapel doors burst open, splinters of wood and iron sent flying in all directions. Azareth turned in time to witness the arrival of a massive, humanoid zombie. Its hulking frame lumbered through the shattered doorway, and directed its attention toward the stunned human near the altar. With a speed and agility that belied its size and nature, the zombie raised a pew above its head and casually launched it the length of the chapel at the now terrified Azareth.
| Azareth | (struck in the shoulder by the wooden missile, falls to the ground - unconscious) |
| Zombie | (strides down the aisle to the open door and the sounds of combat) |
| Keldirk | (throws another knife at the priestess but misses - then glances over his shoulder in time to witness the seven foot, walking corpse step over Azareth's unmoving body and enter the room) Holy shit! |
| Priestess | (sees the zombie - gasps - and clutches her holy symbol in one hand) Pelor, guide me! |
| Craven | What? What's going on? Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on here, slowly? |
| Creighton | (glances at the zombie and steps away from the priestess) Whoa! |
| Keldirk | Craven, it's a zombie and it doesn't have a face! |
| Craven | Argos? (puts his back against the wall and raises his swords in futile defence) |
| Creighton | (looks at the priestess) Hey, bitch, do something! |
| Priestess | (turns and runs down the corridor - plunging the room into semi-darkness) |
| Creighton | Not that something! |
| Argos-Zombie | (raises its clawed hands and turns its faceless head towards the cowering Craven) |
| Keldirk | (squinting in the dull light) Craven! It's coming for you! |
| Craven | Well, kill it. I can't see a thing! |
| Keldirk | (to Creighton) You heard him: kill it! |
| Creighton | I'll try. (closes in on the zombie, placing him self between it and Craven) |
| Argos-Zombie | (rakes its iron-like claws through Creighton's chain mail, opening four long gashes in his chest) |
| Creighton | Ouch! (thrusts forward instinctively, both blades sliding home) Suck on that! |
| Keldirk | (drops his knives and draws his shortswords, plunging one deep into the zombie's back) |
| Argos-Zombie | (spins around, tearing the sword from Keldirk grasp) |
| Keldirk | (backpeddles) |
| Creighton | (strikes at the zombie's unprotected flank, biting deep with both blades) Die mother... |
| Argos-Zombie | (ignores the fleeing Keldirk turns and strikes Creighton with the back of its hand, sending the warrior flying) |
| Creighton | Urrggghh... (collapses against a wardrobe; unconscious and losing blood) |
| Argos-Zombie | (directs its ghastly visage on the blind Craven) |
| Keldirk | Craven, Creighton's down and it's coming for you! |
| Craven | (scrambles to his left) Where is it? |
| Keldirk | Go left! Go left! |
| Argos-Zombie | (hooks Craven's calf in its iron grip and begins to drag him to its gruesome maw) |
| Craven | It's got me! Do something... |
| Keldirk | (picks up his crossbow) |
| Craven | (swings his swords wildly, biting into undead flesh and bone) |
| Priestess | (re-enters the room, dressed in chain mail and holding her holy symbol before her) Pelor! I beseech thee to grant me the power to banish this creature of undeath from your sanctuary. Sear it with your everburning fires of life! (raises her mace and closes on the zombie) |
| Argos-Zombie | (strikes at the priestess with it's free hand, knocking the holy symbol from her grasp) |
| Priestess | (screams) |
| Keldirk | (weighs his options and decides to shoot the zombie, the steel bolt entering the walking corpse low in the back) |
| Priestess | (smashes her mace into the zombie's arm, breaking its elbow and causing the arm to bend at an unnatural angle) |
| Argos-Zombie | (straightens its arm with an audible crack and strides towards the priestess, dragging Craven behind) |
| Priestess | Give me strength! |
| Craven | (battles unconsciousness and swings his swords feebly) Keldirk!! |
| Keldirk | (raises his sword and attacks the zombie from behind, hamstringing it) |
| Argos-Zombie | (falls to one knee, but continues to amble forward, trapping the priestess in the corner of the room) |
| Priestess | (swings her mace at the zombie's head, scoring a glancing blow) |
| Argos-Zombie | (reaches around and withdraws Keldirk's short sword from its midriff. Whipping its arm around with inhuman speed it impales the priestess against the wall) |
| Priestess | (dies) |
| Keldirk | (slashes at the zombie's back, opening a long wound) |
| Argos-Zombie | (throws its head back in a silent scream and turns to face Keldirk, releasing Craven) |
| Craven | (falls to the floor, semi-conscious - his vision returning) |
| Argos-Zombie | (lunges forward and smashes a fist into Keldirk's shoulder) |
| Keldirk | (his left arm useless, possibly broken, lunges forward in desperation. He drives his blade through the zombie's chin and up into its brain) |
| Argos-Zombie | (falls forward onto the pommel of the sword driving the blade through its skull - dies) |
Keldirk overcame his desire to collapse and tended to his associate's wounds. He found Creighton alive but losing blood, Craven was conscious but in extreme pain and, after a moment's deliberation, Keldirk ensured that Azareth was in no danger of dying. Once he was satisfied that his companions were stabilised he withdrew the orb from Azareth's backpack and bathed it in the blood of the impaled priestess. The young assassin fashioned a sling for his arm then sat quietly with his back against the wall, waiting for the others to recover.
| Craven | (winces) Are the others okay? |
| Keldirk | Creighton's been hit pretty hard, and the mage's shoulder might be dislocated. |
| Craven | The orb? |
| Keldirk | Done. The mage's mistake could have cost us all our lives, we were extremely lucky tonight, that zombie could have killed us all. |
| Craven | (looks at the zombie) That can't be Argos' body, it must be over seven feet tall! |
| Keldirk | Did Argos have any distinguishing features? |
| Craven | No. (thinks for a moment) Last time we saw him he had a decent sized hole in his gut. |
| Keldirk | (crawls over to the corpse and cuts away the shroud covering its body) Check this out. (points at a metal plate sewn over the zombie's stomach) |
| Craven | (leans forward) Let's see what's under here. (cuts away the stitches and removes the plate, exposing a gaping hole) |
| Keldirk | That clinches it, agreed? |
| Craven | I suppose so. But how did he get so big? |
| Keldirk | I have no idea but I know who might. |
| Craven | (looks at Keldirk and raises his eyebrows) Who? |
| Keldirk | The Undertaker. |
| Craven | (thinks) You could be right. But a lot of bodies have been stolen from the graveyard, it still could be anyone. |
| Keldirk | I think the graveyard will be a good place to start You're right, it could be anyone. |
| Normal Text | Character's words or descriptive text if part of a paragraph |
| Italic Text | Character's thoughts or actions if surrounded by parenthesis |
| Bold Text | Character is shouting. |