Episode 25 – The Flame
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 2nd Level LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 2nd Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 1st / 2nd LE (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 2nd level NE (PC) |
| Locale | near the Free Market - Del Mord |
| Date | 11th Coldeven 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Mid Morning. |
Keldirk had been wandering the streets since sunrise. He was sick of waiting for his companions to recover from their injuries and knew if he spent another moment listening to Azareth's pathetic excuses he would do something rash. They were lucky the other night, in their battle with the Zombie and Priestess, and Keldirk realised that Azareth's incompetence had nearly cost him his life.
As he walked by the Gold Digger's General Store he spied a small crowd gathered before a noticeboard. He muscled his way to the front and read the sign which had captured everyone's attention:
Let it be known that on this day, 11th Coldeven 582 CY, midday, there will be a Town Meeting at the Market Square. By order of Prelate Wyndonsmirth of Del Mord.
| Man#1 | What do you think it's about? |
| Man#2 | Dunno. It's nearly midday now - let's go and find out! (leaves) |
Keldirk followed the two men to the town square and was somewhat surprised at the sheer number of people in attendance. He checked the position of the sun and figured he had about an hour before the meeting was due to begin. He couldn't help but wonder who was protecting the houses and business establishments from the thieves and their ilk. No doubt the local Thieves Guild welcomed "Town Meetings", thought Keldirk with a wry smile. The assassin slowly pushed his way through the crowd until he stood at the base of a hastily erected platform.
Fanfare heralded the commencement of the meeting and two robed priests climbed the stairs to the platform, accompanied by six heavily armed guards in red cloaks. The whispers in the crowd labeled these soldiers as "The Reds", personal guard of the Prelate. Once the benediction was over, four bare chested men climbed to the stage bearing a large wire cage, all but covered by a heavy red cloth. The cage was placed beside the two priests and the four men withdrew.
The taller of the priests raised his hand, his long sleaves rippled in the gentle wind, and an expectant hush fell over the crowd.
| Priest | For those among you who do not know me, my name is Canon Destrier, head of the Cathedral and personal advisor to Prelate Wyndonsmirth. It is my sad duty to gather you here to issue a warning. There are those among us who would violate the sacred laws of our divine father by consorting with vile spawn of evil. |
| Crowd | Oooohhh. |
| Canon Destrier | Several nights hence a foul creature, born of darkness, was discovered in the Halls of Government, in the very rooms of an honoured guest of Del Mord. This creature was summarily destroyed and I bring its corpse before you as a testament to our power and as warning to those who would bring darkness into our home! |
With considerable flair the other priest whisked the red cover from the cage and stood aside. The crowd let out a collective gasp at the emaciated body of the creature contained within. Hanging upside down, its feet nailed to a wooden cross-beam, swung the small, winged corpse of a tanar'ri. Its skin was faceted, had the appearance of grey stone and its unsettling visage caused those in the front rows to recoil in fear.
| Canon Destrier | Such was the outrage at this violation that the Prelate has summoned The Pelorian Inquisition! |
| Crowd | (rapturous applause and cheers of approval) |
| Keldirk | (examines the caged creature closely) It couldn't be... could it? |
| Canon Destrier | (clutches his holy symbol in one hand, silencing the crowd with the other) Once The Inquisition arrives from Chathold we will bring those who would invite such evil among us to justice! They will be brought before Pelor and their corrupt souls cleansed in his holy light. |
| Crowd | (thundering applause) |
| Keldirk | Azareth, what have you gotten us into? |
| Canon Destrier | This creature will remain on display for seven days, anyone who can furnish us with information that leads to the capture of the guilty party will be rewarded. (leaves) |
| Crowd | (rapturous applause) |
The canon and four of The Reds left and the crowd began to disperse soon after. Two Reds and the second priest remained behind to answer questions. Keldirk waited and tried to get a better look at the dead creature but soon gave up and made his way back to the River Snag Hostel.
Keldirk's progress was closely followed by a lithe young girl who had seen no more than sixteen summers. She stayed a discreet distance behind the young assassin, never allowing him to get too far ahead but always careful to remain out of sight. She followed Keldirk into the River Quarter, intent on following him to his destination, but lost him shortly after in the chaotic bustle of The Strip.
Keldirk entered their room and found his three companions playing dice on the floor. Craven's leg was bandaged and he sat awkwardly next to Creighton, whose arm was in a sling. Azareth looked up as Keldirk entered.
| Azareth | Creighton is instructing us on the tactical intricacies of Hydra, it is quite an addictive game. Are you interested in joining us? |
| Keldirk | (ignores the question and sits on his bed and begins to clean his fingernails with his knife) Have you heard back from your tanar'ri friend, mage? |
| Azareth | No, not as yet. |
| Craven | (looks up from the game and raises an eyebrow at Keldirk) Why do you ask? |
| Keldirk | I have reason to believe that you never will. |
| Azareth | I am afraid I do not follow you. |
| Keldirk | While I was walking around the city, I learnt about a town meeting. Having nothing better to do, I decided to stay and listen and, let me tell you, it's a good thing I did. It seems, mage, that you've unwittingly stirred up a hornet's nest. The priests have the bony corpse of your little pet on display in the town square for all to see. What's more, they have summoned a group called The Inquisition. I have no idea who these people are but the general populace seem to like them. I got the impression that they aren't well disposed to people who summon devils. In fact, their sole purpose in Del Mord is to bring the summoner of that creature to justice. |
| Azareth | Are you certain it was the same creature? |
| Keldirk | From the description you gave us, I would assume so. Besides, the priest said it was killed in the Halls of Government, in the home of a guest of Del Mord. I believe that guest could be Ambassador Shade. |
| Craven | (nods) It's too much of a coincidence to be anyone else. |
| Creighton | (to Azareth) You haven't summoned any more, have ya? |
| Azareth | No! |
| Keldirk | So once again you bury us all in your personal crap. I can't speak for the other two but I'm getting tired of cleaning up after you, mage. |
| Azareth | (rises to his feet, his face flushed with anger) Your entire argument is based on a solid foundation of ignorance. I have already told you that I am unlikely to be identified as the one responsible - nothing has changed. There are a great many things you do not know, thief, among those are the gifts bestowed upon us by our divine benefactor. |
| Keldirk | Listen here- |
| Azareth | No! You listen! The only way, and I mean the only way, they could trace Lor back to us is through divination magic and we are all protected from such dweomer-born scrying. Let this Inquisition come, thief, they will bumble about in the dark and go home to Chathold empty handed. What you fail to realise is that there is more to being an assassin than skill with blades. Do not judge me against your limited frame of reference. I am a mage and a damn good one at that. While you may not always see my contributions rest assured that they exist, you merely lack the cognitive powers to recognise them. |
| Keldirk | (somewhat taken aback) |
| Azareth | In time I will learn how to react in combat situations, but you will never learn how to control magic! I have unlimited potential; the best you can hope for is that your aim improve. Do not belittle me or my craft because, in time, you will come to rely on my strength! The great mages can level entire cities, summon fantastic creatures to do their bidding, alter the very fabric of reality and cheat Death itself. That is my destiny, Keldirk, what is yours? |
| Keldirk | To be rid of you. (storms out, slamming the door behind him) |
| Creighton | Whose turn is it? |
Keldirk paid little attention to where he was going. If he had stayed in the room any longer he would have given into his aggression and attacked Azareth. After several hours of walking he found himself near the Del Mord wharves. The River Quarter was always a hive of activity, and no place more so than in the infamous Strip and wharf regions. Tonight the streets were unusually busy. Dock workers lugged heavy nets and crates around, their foremen barking orders and treating the ears of the passers by with the most colourful language Keldirk had ever heard. Street performers loitered around the entrances of the multitude of taverns that littered the Strip, some juggled knives while others swallowed flaming brands. From the windows of the two storey buildings harlots propositioned the men and women below, their bold callings promising untold pleasures and delights. Food vendors sold steaming sticks of unidentifiable meat to unwary passers by and street musicians plied their trade under the streetlamps.
Keldirk stopped and allowed a man on stilts to walk by then continued on, warming his hands in the chill air. To most naive visitors The Strip would be a source of amusement and wonder, but to Keldirk it was a dangerous place. He saw what commoners overlooked or chose not to see. Where others saw a poor unfortunate beggar, Keldirk saw a wily thief - quick of hand and quicker of mind. He watched as fleet footed lads weaved in and out of the crowd, their hands darting into the pouches and pockets of the unwary. In the darkened alleys Keldirk caught glimpses of movement - a dark cloak here, the flash of a dagger there.
This, thought Keldirk, was home.
Tish couldn't believe her luck. Not only had she filched a tidy sum in a relatively short time, but she had again stumbled upon Keldirk's trail. She followed him through the crowd, intent on staying close to avoid losing him a second time. Her heart began to flutter when she thought of the gold Keldirk's capture would bring. She saw him enter a dockside tavern then, making certain he was settled for the night, hurried away to make contact with the others.
Keldirk settled himself down at a table near the fire, ordered a jug of ale and began to drink alone. It was not long before he attracted the attention of an opportunistic whore, looking for some free drinks and perhaps a few copper. The hours rolled by and Keldirk became very drunk. It was unlike him to seek solace in drink but for some reason it seemed like the thing to do. He remembered with a shudder the beatings he had received at the hands of his drunken father after his mother had left home. Keldirk realised that he was drinking to quell the anger he felt toward Azareth. He studied his ale and saw, reflected in the dark liquid, the face of his father. He thrust the mug aside in disgust. He had seen, first hand, what suppressed emotion can do to a man and vowed never to make the same mistake. Azareth was a bumbling fool, of that there could be no doubt, yet for some reason the mage's words affected Keldirk more than he cared to admit. With each drink, Keldirk became more convinced that Azareth was responsible for his sense of frustration. Only through direct confrontation would Keldirk be able to exorcise his demons. His decision made, Keldirk pushed the wench that had accompanied him all evening unceremoniously to the floor and rose unsteadily to his feet.
| Keldirk | (in a drunken slur) You're wrong Azareth. There is no destiny, except the one we make for ourselves. |
| Wench | (picking herself off the floor) Hey, lover, where're you going? (clutches Keldirk's arm) |
| Keldirk | (slaps her hand aside hand and staggers towards the door) |
Once outside, Keldirk steadied himself against a nearby lamp post and waited for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. He resisted the urge to vomit and plodded off wearily into the night. Thoughts of plunging his knives into Azareth's kidneys kept his feet moving. Such was the depth of his reverie that he didn't notice the thief cut away his purse until she was fleeing down the mouth of an alley.
| Keldirk | (draws his knives and stumbles after her) Stop! Thief! |
| Tish | (falls to the cobblestones and clutches her ankle in feigned agony) |
| Keldirk | (slows to a walk) Now I have you, you little bitch! |
| Man #1 | (emerges from a shadowy doorway and smashes his club into Keldirk's stomach) |
| Man #2 | (steps from a second doorway and brings his club down on Keldirk's skull) |
| Keldirk | (falls to the ground unconscious) |
| Tish | (springs to her feet) Well done boys. Get his weapons, tie him up and take him to the barge. |
The gentle rocking of the boat threatened to give rise to overpowering nausea as Keldirk regained consciousness. As he took stock of his surroundings, the young assassin tried to make sense of the situation but the throbbing in his head prevented any higher form of reasoning. One thing was certain, he was no longer on solid land. He lay in an inch of freezing water at the bottom of a barge and once he realised this fact his body began to shiver and his teeth chatter uncontrollably. Keldirk turned his head to the side and made out the shape of three figures silhouetted in the moonlight. One figure sat at the rear of the small barge, a hand resting on the till, while two larger figures sat on a bench-seat pulling on oars. Keldirk's entire body was numb and he could barely feel his extremities. In time he realised that his hands and feet were bound.
Keldirk tried to clear his mind, but the liquor and the blow to his head had addled his brain. He was resigned to the fact that he was in a hopeless situation and resolved to relax and gather his strength. Keldirk took some comfort in the knowledge that if his captors had wanted him dead then he would already be dead. Lying back, the sore, young assassin closed his eyes and waited for the next phase of his journey.
The barge was moored at a makeshift jetty, little more than a collection of sticks and twine. Strong hands pulled Keldirk to his feet and threw him over the side into the foul smelling mud. Keldirk tried unsuccessfully to wipe the mud from his eyes. Once again he was pulled to his feet and dragged unceremoniously into a nearby shack. Keldirk couldn't make much of his surrounds, and it was only when the mud was wiped from his eyes that he saw the faces of his captors. The two rowers were large men, one sported a tattered beard the other wore a patch over his left eye. Their clothes were typical of river folk; loose trousers tied with cord and a colourful, tight fitting jerkin. The third person was a young girl who, if not for the inch of grime on her face, could be considered pretty. But the person that caught Keldirk's attention was a fourth man, seated at a nearby table. The man's tailored black robe fell gracefully from his broad shoulders, the expanse of black velvet broken only by a single yellow and red flame embroidered upon his chest.
This man signaled to the rowers and they closed on Keldirk and viscously forced him to his knees. With two deft slashes of a knife Keldirk's bonds were cut and blood rushed painfully to the assassin's fingers and toes. Keldirk's eyes betrayed his surprise as the two large men left the shack, leaving him alone with the girl and the man seated before him.
| Tish | I have his equipment, sir, where do you want it? |
| Man | Lay it on the ground; he offers no threat to me. You have done well, Tish. You may go. |
| Tish | Thank you. What of the others? |
| Man | Leave them to me. If this one proves unsatisfactory I may call upon your services again. |
| Tish | (leaves) |
Keldirk resisted the urge to leap for his weapons and strike the arrogant man down. Instead, he took the opportunity to rub feeling back into his numbed limbs and sat back on his haunches. Right now, time was Keldirk's ally.
| Man | Don't look so angry, young man. I mean you no immediate harm. |
| Keldirk | So I can leave? |
| Man | (laughs condescendingly) Not yet, no. I haven't gone to all this trouble only to have you walk out on me now. (chuckles) You may not leave until I grant you leave. |
| Keldirk | So what do you want? |
| Man | Allow me to introduce myself- |
| Keldirk | If you must. |
| Man | I am Darvon The Flame. |
| Keldirk | Auspicious name. Is this where I'm supposed to kneel at your feet and beg for mercy? |
| Darvon | (a frown replaces his smile) You would be wise not to aggravate me, Valrorn. You have already cost me time and money. |
| Keldirk | How so? |
| Darvon | You have something of mine and I want it back. (smoothes his cuffs) In fact, you have one hundred and one things of mine. |
| Keldirk | Am I supposed to know what you're talking about? |
| Darvon | You have my orb and one hundred of my platinum plates. |
| Keldirk | I don't know what the hell you're talk- |
| Darvon | (raises his voice) Do not lie to me! I know you, or one of your friends, have them. I want them back! |
| Keldirk | Or else? This is where you threaten me, isn't it? |
| Darvon | (eyes narrow to slits) You are playing a very dangerous game, Valrorn. I could squash you like a bug as soon as blink at you! |
| Keldirk | I've had just about enough of mages for one day. (leaps for his weapons belt and charges at Darvon, a knife in each hand) |
| Darvon | (quickly withdraws a small piece of iron and spits out a few words of magic, his fingers moving rapidly) |
| Keldirk | (falls to the ground, his muscles frozen) |
| Darvon | (pries Keldirk's knife from his hand and calmly severs the small finger on the assassin's left hand) I know you can hear me, Keldirk. How does it feel? It must be strange sensation - wanting to scream but being unable to do so. The pain must be exquisite. But remember, young fool, you brought it upon yourself. If you commit another thoughtless indiscretion I will take more... drastic measures. (wipes the blood from the knife onto Keldirk's mud-covered jerkin, then sits calmly back on his stool. With wave of his hand, the spell which held Keldirk immobile dispelled) |
| Keldirk | Argh! You son of a bitch! (wraps his bloodied hand in a fold of his shirt sleeve) |
| Darvon | Quiet, Valrorn, we wouldn't want to wake our neighbours. (smiles) You will deliver the orb and one hundred platinum to me in two days. Bring it to me at the Del Forest Road turn off to Two Trees. I will be watching. (helps Keldirk to his feet, allowing the young assassin to pick up his equipment before leading him outside) If you fail to comply you will suffer a similar fate to the poor unfortunates who live in those shacks. |
With surprising strength Darvon pushed Keldirk to the ground. As the assassin rose to his elbows, Darvon retrieved a ball of bat guano and a small sulphur crystal from his pouch. He uttered several arcane words and pointed to the collection of shacks. A tiny red bead of light shot from Darvon's fingertip into their midst where it exploded into a massive ball of flame; instantly and utterly consuming the buildings.
The intense heat from the magical eruption sucked the air from Keldirk's lungs and he raised his hand over his face reflexively. Before Keldirk's eyes had recovered from the bright flash, Darvon was gone.
| 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. |