Episode 29 – Runcas Fairbloom I Presume
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 2nd Level LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 2nd Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 1st / 2nd LE (CE emerging) (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 3rd level NE (PC) |
| Locale | Approximately two miles outside Del Mord |
| Date | 15th Coldeven 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Midday. |
It was good to be out of the City, thought Creighton as he drew in a breath of fresh country air. He and his four companions had been cooped up in that tiny room at The River Snag Hostel for so long they were beginning to smell the same. While Creighton was fond of his three cohorts he was delighted to have more personal space about him and he certainly appreciated the opportunity to stretch his muscles.
Creighton looked to Azareth and nodded: there was a smart man. Yesterday morning the mage had suggested they leave the city to check on Keldirk and Craven's diamond garrottes that were buried a day's walk into Del Forest. He argued that, at the very least, it would give the group a chance to clear their thoughts and get some much-needed exercise. The River Snag Hostel's proximity to the fish-market, coupled with the rising heat of late spring, had made the already pungent odour of their room practically unbearable. To Creighton the fresh air was a taste of heaven.
| Keldirk | (sniff) This countryside gives me the shits. (sniff) My eyes won't stop watering and my nose is dripping so much snot I think I've lost weight. Whose stupid idea was it to come out here, anyway? (sniff) |
| Azareth | What you are feeling are the effects of hay-fever. Your propinquity to nature appears to have precipitated a reaction to pollen - Beory's primary propagation device. |
| Creighton | Try and say that quickly five times. (laughs heartily) Your propinky to nature has prespated a reaction to Beory's primary prostitution device. (chuckles) |
| Azareth | (laughs) It is a common affliction; annoying but harmless. |
| Keldirk | Well you can keep your infernal pollen; give me filth choked streets and smoky taverns any day. (sniff) |
| Craven | Don't listen to him Azareth, this little journey was a good idea. I for one will sleep easier knowing that our diamond garrottes are safe and sound. |
| Azareth | Indeed. I feel it was wise for you to show Creighton and myself where you had hidden them, in case we need to get them for you in the future. |
| Keldirk | I'm just glad we're almost back to Del Mord. (sniff) |
| Craven | I've been thinking. We should probably go to the Whistler and make an effort to get rid of the ghost. If we keep doing nothing we could jeopardize our position within the guild. As much as I detest Mikey Moritz I think he was right: Simpkin is probably pissed that we haven't achieved much and if we want to get anywhere in his guild we'd better stay on his good side. |
| Azareth | I agree, but what do we do? |
| Creighton | Why don't we just go and talk to it. |
| Keldirk | What? (sniff) Talk to a ghost? There's not a snowball's chance in Hell that would work. (raises his voice in a sarcastic falsetto) Please leave the tavern Mister Ghost, my friends and I would reeeeally appreciate it. Thanks ever so much, Mister Ghost (shakes his head) It would never work. |
| Creighton | (shrugs) Why not? I bet none of those fancy priests ever did that. Force didn't work so why don't we try conversation? "There's more than one way to skin a rabbit" - so my Uncle used to say. |
| Azareth | (thinks) That is a good idea Creighton. I see no reason why we can't attempt conversation. |
| Creighton | (flashes Keldirk his middle finger) |
| Keldirk | What about the ghost's last words - "Never Return". (sniff) I received that message very clearly. |
| Craven | Keldirk, we have to try something and unless you have a better idea I suggest we give Creighton's idea a go. |
| Keldirk | (looks at Craven and shakes his head) |
| Azareth | It is an avenue that deserves exploration. The worst that can happen is that we learn nothing. |
| Keldirk | It sounds ludicrous to me. I'll be waiting out in the street while you guys go in and talk. |
The journey back to Del Mord was completed in a little over two hours. Keldirk's sinuses had cleared by the time the group reached the front door of The Whistler, just before the sun set.
| Craven | (opens the front door and steps inside, indicating for the others to follow) |
| Keldirk | (leans against the architrave and waits outside) I'm staying outside. |
| Azareth | (nudges Creighton forward) You first. |
| Creighton | (smiles and follows Craven inside) |
| Craven | (stops two yards into the common room careful to remain within the fading light of the sun) Hello? Is anybody here? |
| Creighton | Yoo-hoo, Mister Ghost? |
The dust swirled in the amber light, settled on the stone floor but there was no sign of the ghost. Creighton walked to the bar, placed a foot on the bar-rail and ordered three ales from the non-existent bar staff.
| Azareth | Stop fooling around you oaf. Come back here. |
| Creighton | (ambles back, muttering under his breath) Mages - no sense of humour. |
| Craven | (with an air of formality) Ghost, we request an audience with your personage; we mean you no harm. |
Nothing.
| Keldirk | (pokes his head into the tavern) Any sign? |
| Craven | Not yet. |
| Creighton | (walks to the centre of the room) Mister Ghost? We just wanna talk with you. Are you there? |
| Azareth | (clears his throat and steps forward to stand beside Creighton) I Azareth of Westwall beseech thee, Shar, to manifest thyself in our presence. We wish to converse with thee on matters of great import. |
| Creighton | (raises an eyebrow and whispers in Azareth's ear) Lay off the drugs Az. |
| Craven | We wish to speak to you about Runcas Fairbloom. |
Suddenly the temperature in the room plummeted. Creighton and Azareth hurriedly rejoined Craven in the doorway and they huddled together, overcome by a wave unnatural fear. Out of the flagstones rose the familiar shimmering figure of white - translucent robes emitting an eerie light.
| Ghost | Leave this place. Begone. The stench of life offends me. (floats menacingly towards the trio, remaining outside the arc of fading sunlight) |
| Creighton | (teeth chattering) We... just... want to... talk. |
| Ghost | (in a breathy, sexless voice) I care not for concerns of mortal men. Leave now or join me in undying damnation. |
| Creighton | (meekly) No thanks. |
| Keldirk | (hears the voice and peers into the tavern) |
| Azareth | (holds up his hands in a submissive gesture) Hold, ghost, I implore you. We only wish to help. We want to help you on your way, to give you the eternal peace you deserve. |
| Craven | Yes. Yes. We only want to help. |
| Ghost | I desire neither your help nor your presence. Leave now or feel my touch. |
| Keldirk | (struck in the lower back by a small crossbow bolt, falls amongst the others and lands in the tavern) Aarghh! |
| Creighton | (spins, his sword in his hand) |
Some twenty feet from the doorway, in the center of the road, stood a green-skinned humanoid, re-loading a hand crossbow and giggling maniacally.
| Creighton | (tears his long sword from his scabbard) Say your prayers, little one. |
| Ghost | (with just a hint of desperation) Harm him not, mortal. |
| Creighton | (runs forward and slaps the crossbow out of the goblin's hands with his sword) |
| Goblin | (shrieks) |
| Azareth | (looks from the goblin to the ghost and back to the goblin) Damnation. |
| Craven | (begins to drag Keldirk out of the tavern by his feet, casting a worried glance at the black bolt standing erect from his companion's back) |
| Creighton | (seizes the goblin in a vice-like grip, his sword held threateningly to one side) Ah ha! Now I got ya. |
| Goblin | (deceptively quick - presses a small, metallic disk against Creighton's forearm) Di' Arak Murgul Po Dak |
| Creighton | (wrenches his arm back, sorely burned) You'll pay for that! (slashes with his sword missing the goblin) |
| Goblin | (steps inside Creighton's sword swing - and stabs the warrior in the groin with small knife) |
| Creighton | (falls like a dead ox) Oughh |
| Azareth | (backs out of the tavern his eyes on the ghost) |
| Ghost | (halts at the door, its voice commanding) Kel du Runcas - aeila mon ethas. Kel! |
| Runcas | No! (with his free hand picks up his crossbow and hooks it onto his weapon belt) I've just begun to play. (cackles evilly) |
| Craven | (draws his rapier and sabre then stands between Creighton and the goblin) |
| Azareth | (with an eye on the ghost, drags the unconscious Creighton out of harm's way - placing him aside the writhing form of Keldirk) |
| Runcas | (smiles evilly, exposing a set of vicious fangs) How's your leg, human? |
| Craven | (closes on the goblin) I remember you! |
| Runcas | (cackles) |
| Craven | (pats his thigh with his off-hand before drawing his sabre) My leg's much better, thank you. But today is the day you'll regret your poor aim. (thrusts forward in a faint with his rapier before bringing his sabre slashing across the goblin's forearm) |
| Runcas | (bares his fangs) Arrghhh! (stabs wildly, slicing Craven's cloak) |
| Craven | (dances back) How's your arm? |
| Runcas | (snarls) |
| Azareth | (withdraws healing herbs and goes to Creighton and Keldirk's aid) |
| Runcas | (raises his holy symbol) El Sulatha Mi' gran comt imigre |
| Ghost | (begins to emit an unearthly keening) |
| Craven | (spins) Azareth, the ghost! (strikes at the goblin, but misses) |
| Azareth | I've got to tend to Creighton, he's at death's door. |
| Keldirk | (almost blind with pain, staggers to his feet and comes dangerously close to the entrance of The Whistler) |
| Craven | (yells at Keldirk) Watch out Valrorn - the Ghost. Get onto the street. |
| Ghost | (clutches for Keldirk, but misses) |
| Keldirk | (the pain from the crossbow bolt shooting through his entire body, stumbles away from the doorway) Get out of the way Craven. I want that little bastard! (draws two throwing knives) |
| Runcas | (still chanting) Hast Hranya la sono ra mira |
| Craven | (jumps back) |
| Keldirk | (throws his blades just as the goblin stops chanting) |
| Runcas | (points a clawed finger at Craven then staggered back in pain as one of Keldirk's knives buries itself in his thigh) |
| Craven | (sees the image of a clenched fist coalesce above the goblin and then fly into his chest, knocking him off his feet) |
| Keldirk | (collapses to the ground, unconscious - giving way to the pain) |
| Runcas | (rips the knife from his thigh, draws his sword and advances on Craven) |
| Ghost | (stops wailing and commands in a booming voice) Kel du Runcas! |
| Craven | (winded from the magical assault, manages to regain his footing) You will pay for that you little bastard! (in a rage, throws aside his rapier preferring the heavier feel of his sabre) |
| Runcas | (flings Keldirk's knife at Craven, the blade piercing his shoulder) |
| Craven | (oblivious to the pain strikes wildly, the blade opening a large gash along the goblin's chest) |
| Runcas | (presses his holy symbol against the wound) Myriak dul Y'uonphor |
| Craven | (his mind focussed only on the goblin's destruction slashes again, his clumsy strike flying harmlessly high) |
| Runcas | (parries several of Craven's blows, awaiting his opportunity) |
| Craven | (rains blows down upon the goblin in an uncharacteristic crude attack, unable to pierce the goblin's defences) |
| Runcas | (darts in quickly, stabbing Craven in the thigh before jumping back) |
| Craven | (sorely hurt, presses the attack - ignoring the pain) |
| Azareth | (looks up from tending Creighton - surprised to see Craven fighting without his usual technique and flare) |
| Craven | (fully enveloped in the darkness of rage, presses on) |
| Runcas | (smiles ruefully, continues to parry Craven's clumsy blows and manages to strike Craven several more times) |
| Craven | (losing blood fast slows in his assault, heedless of his injuries) |
| Azareth | (sees Craven about to fall, rises to his feet) Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran |
| Runcas | (sways back, the pain from the magical bolt wracking his small body) |
| Ghost | (angrily, unable to leave the confines of The Whistler) Kel du Runcas! |
| Craven | (almost spent, renews his desperate attack) |
| Runcas | (looks between Craven and the Ghost then turns and sprints - half running, half limping down the street) |
| Azareth | Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran |
| Craven | (begins to give chase, but his legs fail him and he falls to the cobblestones) |
| Runcas | (struck in the back by a green bolt, falls headlong to the ground before rising and scampering into a nearby alley) |
| Ghost | (vanishes) |
Craven, his face flushed with anger and frustration, climbed to his feet and leaned against the baker's shop next door to The Whistler. He clenched his fist and punched it through the window of the bakery, barely noticing that gash on his forearm from the jagged glass. Azareth looked up from his ministrations when he heard the glass shatter.
| Azareth | (to Craven) What the hell are you doing? |
| Craven | (turns and glares at Azareth, the blood from his badly sliced arm dripping into a pool at his feet) Back off! |
| Azareth | (studies Craven's enraged face, not knowing what to do or say) |
| Craven | (growls and storms across the street) |
| Azareth | (his eyes narrow) You just smashed that window, for no reason. |
| Craven | (turns, the anger subsiding, and sees the broken glass) I. did. (looks at fallen Keldirk and Creighton) Are they alright? |
| Azareth | (nods) They'll pull through. We should get them back to our room. And Craven, I need to look at that arm of yours. |
Craven retrieved Keldirk's knives and the four assassins returned to their room. Azareth bandaged Craven's arm and lay Creighton in bed. Creighton was seriously wounded but Creighton felt the big man would recover soon given sufficient rest. Keldirk was conscious but not at all amused.
| Azareth | (muttering) Kel du Runcas - aeila mon ethas. Kel! |
| Keldirk | What did you say? |
| Azareth | Kel du Runcas - aeila mon ethas. Kel! It's what the ghost said to the goblin after Creighton went down. And he said it again just before the goblin ran. |
| Keldirk | And? |
| Azareth | And it could be important. |
| Craven | (feeling drained) That goblin, Runcas, has attacked us twice now and both times he has managed to escape. |
| Keldirk | One thing's certain, those little crossbow bolts he uses hurt like hell. |
| Azareth | You are lucky not to be paralyzed, a few inches either way and we'd have to push you around Del Mord in a wheelchair. Next time we should not underestimate our humanoid adversary. He has proven to be quite capable of taking care of himself on both occasions. |
| Craven | But each time he had the benefit of surprise. If we take that way from him we will be able to turn the tables. Remember we did make him run and, as yet, he hasn't managed to cause us any permanent injury. |
| Keldirk | (rubs his back) |
| Azareth | True, Craven. But today was a close thing, a very close thing. There is one thing that troubles me about our encounter with the goblin. |
| Craven | What's that? |
| Azareth | You, Craven. During your fight with Runcas you seemed to lose all self-control - you flew into a blind rage and almost got yourself killed as a result. Did he cast some form of mind-altering enchantment over you? |
| Craven | (thinks) I'm not sure, I don't think so. I remember dragging Keldirk out onto the street and then going engage Runcas. As the combat progressed I just got angrier and angrier until all I wanted was to see the goblin dead at my feet. I couldn't focus on anything else. |
| Creighton | What's the big deal, Azareth? We all feel like that from time to time. |
| Azareth | Hmm, perhaps. |
The following day, Azareth woke early and made his way to the Academic Quarter and the Del Mord library. He had decided to attempt to discover what the ghost said to the goblin and proceeded to wade through various texts on language and translation. After consultation he figured the language sounded elvish and started to identify the phrase. By midday he thought he had translated it accurately and he returned to his room, a confident spring in his step.
| Azareth | (enters the room) I have a theory. |
| Craven | Shhh, the others are sleeping. |
| Azareth | (lowers his voice) The goblin is working for the ghost. |
| Craven | We already assumed as much. |
| Azareth | (holds up his hand) But the ghost really needs the goblin alive to do its bidding. Did you notice that the ghost never came out of The Whistler? |
| Craven | (nods) |
| Azareth | I think there is a curse that prevents it from doing so. I have a feeling the ghost needs the goblin to perform tasks for it in Del Mord. |
| Craven | What kind of tasks? |
| Azareth | I'm not sure, but whatever they are they're important to the ghost. |
| Craven | (quizzically) What makes you say that? |
| Azareth | When Creighton attacked the goblin the ghost yelled "Kel du Runcas - aeila mon ethas. Kel!" which I translated to mean "Flee Runcas I need you alive. Flee!" |
| Craven | Interesting. What language was it? |
| Azareth | The linguist at the library said it was an elven dialect. |
| Craven | Okay, so now what? |
| Azareth | Elementary, my dear Craven. We recover from our injuries then we capture the goblin and find out what the ghost wants. When we have the goblin we have leverage on the ghost. |
The group remained in the River Snag Hostel for several days to recuperate. Creighton and Keldirk were bedridden which left Craven and Azareth to replenish their supplies. Keldirk's recovery was impaired due to a poison that was discovered on Runcas' crossbow bolt. Creighton's injuries would heal in time and Craven's wounds, for the most part, were superficial. On the morning of the seventeenth of Coldeven there came a knock on the door.
| Azareth | (slides his spellbook under his bed) |
| Craven | (stops oiling his boots and straps his weapon belt about his waist) Who is it? |
| Voice | My name is Draggart. I believe you have something of mine. |
| Azareth | (shrugs his shoulders) |
| Craven | (opens the door) |
In the corridor stood a large, well built man dressed in banded mail with a barbed mace hanging at his side. His face betrayed no emotion as he stepped boldly into the room.
| Craven | Uh? (steps aside) Come in. |
| Draggart | (points to Azareth) You. Give me my medallion. |
| Azareth | (remembers Draggart from the encounter in the alleyway several nights ago) I'll get it for you. (begins to search through his backpack) |
| Craven | (grabs Draggart's shoulder firmly and spins him around) Who the hell do you think you are barging here and making demands of us? |
| Draggart | (looks purposefully at Craven's hand still gripping his shoulder - a sinister tone in his voice) Remove your hand. |
| Craven | Or what? |
| Draggart | (looks to Craven, steel in his eyes) Or you will regret your inaction. |
| Azareth | (stops searching his backpack and looks toward the confrontation) Craven, there is no reason for hostility. I have his medallion right- |
| Draggart | (brushes Craven's hand off his shoulder and hefts his mace) |
| Craven | (feels the onset of rage, draws a stiletto and assumes a defensive stance) |
| Draggart | (steps back and grins) Your colleague dies because of you. (smashes his mace into the Keldirk's chest) |
| Keldirk | (unable to evade the blow from his prone position on his bed) Erghhh. (his ribs crack audibly) |
| Craven | (dismisses the attack with a nonchalant wave of his hand) I care nothing for them. (lunges, his stiletto sliding harmlessly across the steel bands of Draggart's mail) |
| Azareth | (drops his backpack and reaches for his component belt) Craven! What are you doing? |
| Craven | (in a blind rage attacks Draggart - and misses - this time overextending himself) |
| Draggart | (seizes the opportunity and brings his mace crashing down upon Craven's exposed back) |
| Craven | (flies headlong into the wall, his skull opening a small hole in the plaster) |
| Draggart | (closes on Craven, a flagitious smile on his lips) |
| Azareth | (points his finger at Draggart) Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran |
| Draggart | (rocks back in pain as the magical bolt enters his body) |
| Draggart | (laughs) You chose your fights poorly. |
| Craven | (dislodges himself from the wall and tries to clear his head then steps forward and swipes at Draggart's torso but misses) |
| Azareth | (concentrates in preparation for casting) Comt Airak- |
| Draggart | (spins on his heel and smashes his mace into Azareth's side) |
| Azareth | (falls backward onto Creighton's prone form his spell ruined) |
| Craven | (his head clears and his focus narrows on the form of the large man as time seems to slow) |
| Draggart | (turns to face Craven, a cruel light in his eyes) And now it's your turn. (swings his mace in a wide arc, but misses as Craven avoids the blow with apparent ease) |
| Craven | (as if his opponent were moving in slow motion he steps toward Draggart then brings his arm up in a violent thrust and buries his stiletto - up to the hilt - into Draggart's chin) You first. |
| Draggart | (dies in a gurgling heap) |
| Craven | (withdraws his blade and strikes again and again into his foe's throat) I insist. |
| Azareth | (struggles to his feet and moves against the wall) |
| Craven | (throws Draggart's corpse to the floor and advances on Azareth, the stiletto dripping gore) |
| Azareth | Craven? It is I - Azareth. Remember? |
| Craven | (the room returning to normal, halts his advance) Huh? |
| Azareth | It is me, Craven. Lower your weapon. We're on the same side. |
| Craven | (stares at the blade in his hand then drops it with a clang to the floor) What? |
| Azareth | (rushes to Keldirk's aid, finding the young assassin again unconscious) Craven, bring me my herbs. |
| Craven | (falls to the floor, his head in his hands) What is happening to me? |
| 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. |