Episode 40 – And Then There Were Three
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 3rd Level LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 3rd Level LE (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 4th level NE (PC) |
| Locale | In the sewers, beneath the streets of Del Mord. |
| Date | 3rd Planting, 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Unknown. |
Azareth slumped against the wall, his head held in his hands. The blood from his head-wound seeped between his fingers and into his eyes, but the mage didn't notice. All he could do was replay the last few minutes over and over again. After several long moments, Creighton gave voice to Azareth's silent dismay.
| Creighton | If only I hadn't slipped. If only I had kept my feet, Craven might still be alive. |
| Azareth | (raises his head and looks across to Creighton) It's not your fault, Creighton, it was the crocodile that finished him. There was nothing you - nothing we could've done. |
| Creighton | (shakes his head in disbelief) I can't believe he's gone. |
| Keldirk | Get over it. (studies his two colleagues with contempt) What matters now is our safety. Craven's gone and that's all there is to it. Crying after him will help nobody. |
| Azareth | (glances at Keldirk, disgusted) |
| Creighton | But... he was our friend. |
| Keldirk | Wrong! |
| Creighton | Huh? |
| Keldirk | He was a colleague, a workmate, nothing more. |
| Creighton | You cold bastard. |
| Keldirk | (shrugs) I'm not here to win any popularity contests. |
| Azareth | Don't worry about him, Creighton. Be thankful that you are not devoid of emotion. It is unhealthy to be divorced from your feelings. It is right to grieve. |
| Creighton | (nods) |
| Keldirk | Bah. (turns his back on his companions and continues to take stock of his surroundings) |
A solitary torch flickered dimly from its sconce and illuminated the area in a dull glow. The three assassins were in what appeared to be an L-shaped room with a door in the far corner, some fifty feet from the sewer. The walls and floor were made of the same material as the rest of the sewers but where the stones in the tunnels were wet and slippery, this area was dry.
Keldirk moved over to the pier and examined the net that hung across the waters. The young assassin removed the torch from the sconce and held it up high. He peered intently at the net and, in particular, where it joined the ceiling. After a few minutes of careful study he laughed out loud.
| Azareth | (looks up) What is so amusing? |
| Keldirk | This net. It was supposed to be a trap. |
| Azareth | What do you mean? |
| Keldirk | (points to the bottom of the net, now dragging in the waters) If I'm right, this end was supposed to be attached to the roof, there. (points to the roof) I guess whoever owns this place uses it to catch things in the sewer. (begins to scour the walls, searching for the release mechanism) |
| Creighton | (to Azareth) What could someone possibly hope to catch down here? |
| Azareth | (smooths his hair back from his eyes) I don't know, but judging by the strength of the net I'd say something big. |
| Creighton | A crocodile? |
| Azareth | Perhaps. |
| Keldirk | (harshly) Do you lazy shits want to help me, or what? |
| Azareth | (rises to his feet) Perhaps if you tell us what you are looking for we will. |
| Creighton | Keldirk, the door's that way. (points) |
| Keldirk | I can see the door, you idiot. I'm looking for the mechanism that releases the net. |
| Creighton | Oh. |
| Keldirk | (triumphantly) I've found it. (removes a stone in the wall to reveal a small, iron handle) |
| Creighton | (pushes forward) Lemme have a look. |
| Keldirk | I reckon when this handle is pulled those clasps release (points to the roof) and the net falls. |
| Creighton | Pull it. |
| Keldirk | (sneers) Why? |
| Creighton | I dunno. (walks to the water's edge, muttering under his breath) You found it and I just figured you'd want to pull it. I mean, why go to all that trouble to find something if you're not going to use it? |
| Azareth | (without a tinge of sarcasm) It is an extraordinary achievement to have found the net release, Keldirk, but it doesn't get us any closer to the surface. How about we concentrate on finding a way out of here? |
| Keldirk | Fine by me. (replaces the stone in the wall) That is, if you've both stopped crying. |
| Creighton | That's it! (pushes Keldirk against the wall) You're beginning to piss me off, little man, and that is a potentially career-ending activity. Understand? |
| Azareth | (places a restraining hand on Creighton's shoulder) Come on, let him go, he's not worth it. Let's get out of here. |
| Creighton | (casts Keldirk a withering glare) |
| Keldirk | (stands up straight, smoothes back his hair and tries to regain his composure. Suddenly he remembers) Shit! |
| Azareth | What? |
| Keldirk | That little weasel had the map. |
| Creighton | So what? This place wasn't on the map. |
| Keldirk | I know that. But we still want to find out where the map leads, don't we? And without it - we're stuffed. |
| Azareth | (nods) Well there's nothing we can do about it now. |
| Keldirk | True. Here, mage, take the torch and get behind. (hands Azareth the torch) Okay Creighton, let's check the door. |
| Azareth | (takes the torch and follows the others toward the door) |
Creighton and Keldirk had made it half way to the door when, without warning, the floor dropped away beneath them and they plunged into darkness. Azareth leapt back on his heels as he saw them drop then stood in horrified silence as the floor rose and snapped back in place. As soon as the two halves joined, Creighton and Keldirk's screams abruptly ceased.
| Azareth | Oh dear. |
Azareth re-seated the torch in the sconce and crawled carefully across the floor in the direction of the pit. As he neared the area he noticed a faint outline of a hinge in the stone. Azareth placed an ear to the floor, held his breath and listened.
In the absolute darkness of the pit Creighton and Keldirk regained their feet. Keldirk had jarred his ankle in the fall and winced in pain as he tried to stand. Creighton's fall had been saved somewhat by a large, squishy mass of filth.
| Creighton | What? What's wrong? |
| Keldirk | I twisted my ankle. |
| Creighton | Can you stand? |
| Keldirk | (tests his sore ankle) I'll manage. |
| Creighton | (draws his sword) |
| Keldirk | Hey! Don't go swinging that thing around; you're liable to hit me. |
| Creighton | Get behind me, then. |
| Keldirk | Okay. I'm coming towards you. Keep your blade... Did you hear that? |
| Creighton | What? (strains to listen) |
| Keldirk | I don't think we're alone. |
From the darkness they heard a soft, chitinous clicking. Keldirk limped away from the sound and toward Creighton. The big man's arm reached forward, gripped Keldirk by his jerkin and dragged him behind. Keldirk stumbled and fell to his knees even as something heavy crashed into Creighton's midriff.
| Creighton | (falls backwards, trips over Keldirk and lands flat on his back) Oomph. |
| critter | (scampers onto Creighton's chest and clamps its pincers around Creighton's swordarm) |
| Creighton | Arghhh! |
| Keldirk | (trapped under Creighton) Get off me! |
| Creighton | Get it off me! |
| Keldirk | (tries unsuccessfully to wriggle out) |
| critter | (clamps its pincers tighter) |
| Creighton | It's breaking my arm (heaves to his right and rolls off Keldirk) |
| Keldirk | (finally free of Creighton's weight, draws in a deep breath) |
| Creighton | (with his free hand, tries to break the critter's grip) |
| critter | (feels its pincer about to snap, releases and scuttles away) |
| Creighton | (gets to his knees, draws a dagger and nurses his sore arm against his breast) Keldirk! |
| Keldirk | (draws two knives) Right behind you. |
| critter | (scurries up the wall and leaps onto Keldirk) |
| Keldirk | Ah, it's got me! |
| critter | (snaps one pincer onto Keldirk's shoulder and another into his side) |
| Creighton | (closes his eyes and attempts to bring his 'blind fighting' skills to bear) Keldirk, try to be quiet. |
| Keldirk | (screams in pain) |
| Creighton | That's not exactly what I had in mind. (draws a deep breath) Here goes. (stabs with his blade, striking the critter) |
| critter | (clicks and clatters in response to the wound) |
| Creighton | (triumphantly) I hit it! |
| Keldirk | Again! Hit it again! |
| critter | (sinks its mandibles into Keldirk's back) |
| Keldirk | Ahhh! |
| Creighton | (lashes out again but misses) |
| Keldirk | (tries to dislodge the heavy critter) Get it off me! (lashes out with his knives - one slides off the critter's tough exoskeleton, the other strikes Creighton in the forearm) |
| Creighton | (reels back in pain from Keldirk's thrust) Watch it! (grips his sword in both hands and raises it above his head) Keldirk? |
| Keldirk | What? (his voice weak with pain) |
| Creighton | Stay still! (with his eyes clamped shut, brings his sword down with all his might - cracking the critter's shell) |
| critter | (dies) |
| Creighton | I think I got it! (pauses) Keldirk? Hey, Keldirk, say something? (pauses) Talk to me! |
| Keldirk | (moans and spits out a mouthful of the critter's gore) |
| Creighton | (slumps to the ground and nurses his sore arm) How do we get out of here? |
| Keldirk | (wheezing) I hope... there aren't... any more of those things. |
| Creighton | (rubbing his tender forearm) Me too. |
Once the sound of combat ceased, Azareth waited for a few moments before calling out to his fellows.
| Azareth | Are you two alright? |
Nothing.
| Azareth | (louder) Are you two alright? |
| Keldirk | (hears Azareth's voice) Mage, is that you? |
| Azareth | Yes. It's me, Azareth. Are you two okay? |
| Keldirk | Get us the hell out of here. |
| Creighton | Yeah, and hurry. |
| Azareth | Don't worry, I'll get you out. |
| Keldirk | (under his breath) We're doomed. |
Azareth sat back on his haunches relieved that his two companions were alive. He looked around the area and searched for something, anything that would help him free his colleagues. The only things of any possible use were the net and the handle in the wall. Just as Azareth was weighing his options, the door on the opposite side of the pit-trap opened and a skinny rat-like humanoid emerged. The five-foot tall lycanthrope stepped into the room and levelled a loaded crossbow at Azareth.
| wererat | Surrender, human! |
| Azareth | (raises his hands above his head) You got me. I surrender. |
| wererat | (sniggers and licks his lips, its pointy teeth glistening in the torch light) You lie down! |
| Azareth | (thinking fast) Okay, okay. (lies down and secretly withdraws a piece of fleece from his pouch belt) |
| wererat | (smiles) Don't move, human. (with his crossbow still trained on Azareth, moves around the corner and out of sight) |
| Azareth | (immediately scrambles to the edge of the pier, moving as quickly and quietly as possible) Spa l'ding Moklorin Han Namol Cai th'Ness Duk |
Azareth created the illusion of himself lying prostrate on the ground then slipped into the black, rapidly flowing waters. The mage held onto the pier with his fingertips and peered over the edge, waiting for the wererat to return. The chill water made it difficult for Azareth to maintain his concentration, but the mage was well taught and in few moments he had focussed his mind.
When the wererat emerged from around the corner its full attention was on the illusion. The small lycanthrope ordered the phantasm to stand and Azareth caused his illusion to react accordingly. The wererat motioned for the illusion to head to the door and again Azareth complied. As the two figures neared the door, Azareth climbed out of the water and silently moved along the southern wall, desperately trying to maintain his focus. As soon as the figures passed through the door, Azareth ran around the corner. Azareth knew that his illusion would remain for several minutes after he had ceased concentration, such was the power of his spell.
As soon as the wererat closed the door, the illusory Azareth stood stock-still. The wererat barked a few curt commands - all of which were summarily ignored. Finally the wererat grew impatient and fired its crossbow into the illusory Azareth's back. Naturally the bolt passed straight through the phantasm and thudded into the opposite wall. Without Azareth's control the illusion disappeared.
In the meantime, Azareth had turned the corner, located a lever and pulled it hard to opposite lock. Just as he'd hoped, trap door began to open even as the wererat re-entered the room.
| wererat | (looks at the open trapdoor, then charges angrily at Azareth) I'll not fall for your tricks this time! |
| Azareth | Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran (points at the approaching lycanthrope) |
| wererat | (struck by multiple bolts of magical energy, grimaces in pain) |
| Keldirk | (watches as the trap door opens) Quick, let me boost you out. |
| Creighton | No, I'm too heavy. |
| Keldirk | Don't argue with me! I'm in no position to fight. (cups his hands and braces himself against the pit wall) |
| Creighton | (clambers out of the pit) |
| Azareth | (draws his only silver-edged dagger and defends himself) |
| wererat | (lashes out with his short sword - opening a long gash in Azareth's midriff) |
| Azareth | (stabs feebly, his body beginning to tire) |
| wererat | (hears Creighton clambering out of the pit, tries to usher Azareth away from the lever with a series of savage thrusts) |
| Azareth | (holds his ground, taking two nicks in the process) Somebody - help me! |
| Creighton | (climbs out of the pit and calls to Keldirk) Toss up my sword! (catches his sword and hurries over to help Azareth) I'm coming. |
| Azareth | It's a lycanthrope - a wererat. You'll need silver. |
| wererat | (turns to face its new, more dangerous, foe) |
| Creighton | (swings his silvered sword in low arcs and advances in a warrior's crouch) |
| Azareth | (backs away from the combat and runs to help Keldirk climb out of the pit) |
| wererat | (deflects two of Creighton's lazy thrusts and tries one of its own) |
| Creighton | (deftly steps aside and brings his blade down on the lycanthrope's skull, cleaving it in two) |
| wererat | (dies) |
| Creighton | Heh! (remembers his battle with the were-panther and smiles) One all. |
| Azareth | (on his belly, reaches down into the pit) Take my hand! |
| Keldirk | (climbs out of the pit with Azareth's assistance) |
| Azareth | (breathless, rolls onto his back and sighs) |
| Keldirk | (ignores Azareth and limps around the corner to Creighton) Is it dead? |
| Creighton | (kicks the corpse with his boot) See for yourself. (chuckles) |
| Keldirk | (peers at the bloodied mess but spins when he hears the door open) |
| wererat #2 | (takes stock of the situation and charges at Keldirk) |
| wererat #3 | (glances at the prone Azareth, dismissing him as dead, then advances on Creighton) |
| Keldirk | (whispers to Creighton) I'm not gonna last too long. |
| Creighton | (grabs Keldirk by his shoulder and pulls him back) Get behind me! |
| Keldirk | (steps behind Creighton and draws his silver knife) |
| Azareth | (climbs to his feet and moves to see the combat) |
| wererat #2 | (slashes at Creighton, but has its strike turned aside) |
| wererat #3 | (lunges forward and stabs Creighton in the leg) |
| Creighton | (with a powerful backswing, all but severs wererat #3's arm at the elbow - forcing it to drop its blade) |
| wererat #3 | (squeals and moves to pick up its sword) |
| Azareth | (casts his final spell) Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran (points at wererat #2) |
| wererat #2 | (struck in the back by two magical bolts) Aie! |
| Creighton | (strikes wererat #3 in its neck as it bends to retrieve its weapon) |
| wererat #3 | (falls to the ground, mortally wounded) |
| Keldirk | (moves around the combat and finishes wererat #3) |
| wererat #2 | (redoubles its attack, stabbing and thrusting wildly) |
| Creighton | (shrugs off a minor wound and lashes out - hitting wererat #2 in the thigh) |
| wererat #2 | (looks around then drops its sword and surrenders) I give up! |
| Keldirk | (kicks the sword aside) |
| Creighton | Stiff cheese, rat boy! (skewers wererat #2 in the stomach, burying his sword to the hilt) Yeah! |
| Keldirk | Mage, shut the door. We don't want anymore surprises. |
| Azareth | (moves to and closes the door) |
The assassins tended to their wounds. Creighton had suffered several minor cuts in addition to a severely bruised forearm. Keldirk's ankle was badly sprained and his shoulder and side bore the grievous wounds caused by the insectoid. Many of Azareth's healing herbs were lost or ruined in the sewers and they had to make do with the tattered clothes of the wererats to bind their wounds. Of the three, Azareth fared best save that he was physically exhausted.
| Azareth | We need to get out of here. |
| Keldirk | (claps) Bravo. You are truly a genius amongst men. (shakes his head) You have the knack for stating the blindingly obvious. |
| Azareth | (ignores Keldirk's barb) Shall we try the door? |
| Creighton | I reckon so. But we're probably gonna need the torch. |
| Azareth | This lever operates the trap. As far as I can tell it has three settings: where it is now opens the trap, the middle setting arms the trap and the far setting locks the doors in place. |
| Creighton | (pushes the lever to the far setting and hears the trap doors close and lock in place) |
| Keldirk | Get the torch, mage. |
| Azareth | Fine. (walks across the trapdoor, retrieves the torch and returns) |
| Creighton | Do you think we should rearm the trap? |
| Keldirk | Don't be stupid. We might need to flee this way and I'd rather not fall down there again. No, let's leave the trap locked. |
| Creighton | Sure. (moves to the door) Ready? |
| Azareth | (nods) |
| Keldirk | (draws two knives) Born ready. |
| Creighton | (opens the door and moves inside) |
They found themselves in a small room, no more than twenty feet by twenty feet. Three sleeping pallets, a crude table and a medium sized, ironbound chest all but filled the room. There was no sign of exit.
| Keldirk | You two check for secret doors, I'll check the chest. |
| Azareth | Of course you will. |
Creighton and Azareth began a careful search of the wall while Keldirk checked for traps on the chest. Some ten minutes later Azareth declared that he had found the mechanism to open a secret door in the east wall. Keldirk had not detected any traps and set about examining the lock.
| Azareth | (watching Keldirk work on the lock) Keldirk? |
| Keldirk | Shutup mage, I'm trying to concentrate. |
| Azareth | But Keldirk... |
| Keldirk | (venomously) I said, shutup! |
| Azareth | (sits on a pallet and waits) |
Several minutes passed before Keldirk sat back, frustrated.
| Creighton | What's up? |
| Keldirk | I can't open the bloody lock. |
| Azareth | (winks at Creighton) Perhaps this key will be of assistance? (shows Keldirk a key that had been hidden with the secret door mechanism) |
| Keldirk | (snarls) Give me that. (snatches the key) |
| Azareth | Why, of course, Master Thief. |
| Keldirk | (fumes) |
| Creighton | (chuckles) |
Inside the chest were several items of clothing, rudimentary eating utensils, a small pouch of coins and a short sword. Keldirk placed the pouch into his backpack and handed Creighton the short sword.
| Creighton | What do I want with that? |
| Keldirk | I don't know, it might be magical. |
| Azareth | (condescendingly) Don't you think, dear boy, that if said sword did, in fact, bare an enchantment that the recently deceased lycanthropes would have used it in their defense? |
| Keldirk | (casts Azareth a steely glare before thrusting the blade into his belt) At worst it's a functional short sword and worth a few coins. |
| Azareth | Actually, at worst it could be a cursed short sword. |
| Keldirk | What is your problem, mage? |
| Azareth | No problem, merely pointing out your many shortcomings. |
| Keldirk | My shortcomings? That's funny coming from you. |
| Azareth | (dismisses Keldirk's bleating with a wave of his hand) I don't know why I bother; you are both fatuous and jejune. |
| Creighton | Are you two finished? Good. Let's go. (opens the secret door) |
The three assassins moved tentatively into the next room. A ladder in the centre of the room rose to a trap door in the ceiling and the floor was filled with small, round packages. The room appeared to be a storage cellar and the strong stench of cheese filled the air. Creighton moved to one of the packages and slit it open with his blade. Sure enough, the package contained a round, blue-veined cheese.
| Creighton | (pinches his nose) Cor, that stinks! |
| Azareth | It's only cheese. |
| Creighton | It's stinky cheese. |
| Keldirk | What is this place? |
| Azareth | (looks around the room, then at a label on one of the packages) We seem to be in the cellar of the Del Mord Cheese Factory. |
| Characters |
Blade - Human Fighter, ? Level, Alignment: ?? (NPC) Anders - Human Ranger, 7th Level, Alignment: NG (NPC) Morgul- Half Elven Wizard, 7th Level, Alignment: CG (NPC) Quill - Human Rogue 6th, Level, Alignment: N (NPC) |
| Locale | In a small grove of trees, in the swamps at the mouth of the Trask River, North Province. |
| Date | 3rd Planting, 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Midnight |
After an arduous expedition through a lizardman stronghold, the four surviving adventurers lay down their packs and set up camp. Anders lay Sanson's body at the base of a tree and covered it with a blanket. After a warm meal the discussion turned to their two dead companions.
| Anders | A toast. (raises his cup in the air) To old friends. |
| Morgul | (in his customary soft voice) To old friends. |
| Quill | To old friends. |
| Blade | To old friends. |
| Anders | To Barak, the stoic dwarf who laid down his life to save us all. He was a good friend and died valiantly. And to Sanson, may Ulaa care for him until the day he is returned to us. |
| Morgul | Here, here. (sips from his cup) |
| Quill | (empties his mug and turns to Blade) I sure hope that skull was worth their lives, Blade. |
| Blade | (pats his backpack) It's value cannot be measured. (meets each of his companions gaze in turn) You have my word that I will do everything in my power to bring Sanson back to life. My family is quite wealthy and I am sure that we will be able to arrange a resurrection. |
| Quill | Good. (rubs his arms wearily) I tell you what, when we get back to Eastfair I'm gonna sleep for a week. No, a month! |
| Anders | We have to get there first. (sighs) Okay, who wants first watch? |
| Blade | I will. |
| Anders | (quizzically) You? |
| Blade | It is the least I can do after all you've done for me. (gravely) I know I wasn't much help to you in the dungeon, with the combat and all, but I figure my eyes and ears are as good as any of you - save perhaps Morgul. |
| Anders | (thinks) Very well. If you hear anything, even the slightest noise, wake us immediately. |
| Blade | Without fail. Now, all of you get some sleep. You've earned it. |
Blade idly tended the fire and listened to the sounds of the night as he waited for the three adventurers to fall asleep. The trek through the lizardman stronghold had been difficult and all the surviving members of the party, even Blade, were carrying some injury.
Once Blade was sure that the others were sleeping soundly, he quietly opened his backpack and retrieved the glass vial he had saved for this moment. Within the vial was a clear liquid, a healing draught powerful enough to restore him to full strength. He swallowed the potion in a single gulp and waited for the magic to take hold. Slowly his body was suffused with a warm sensation that began in his stomach and spread throughout his body. The magical heat burned away all feelings of pain and signs of injury, closing all of his open wounds.
Once the magic potion had completed its work, Blade drew a stiletto and crept quietly to where Morgul slept. Of them all Morgul had the sharpest senses and if Blade was forced to flee he did not want the half-elf alive to track him down. With one hand held firmly over the mage's mouth, Blade thrust his stiletto into the half-elf's chest. Morgul's eyes snapped open and he began to struggle. Blade quickly withdrew his blade and stabbed again, this time striking vital organs - ending the mage's life.
| Quill | (a light sleeper, wakes in time witness Morgul's death) Anders! We are betrayed! (draws his short sword and rolls to his feet, his eyes locked onto Blade) You die tonight! |
| Anders | (tears his two long swords from their scabbards and warily approaches Blade) Why? |
| Blade | A fair question. (assumes a defensive stance) |
| Anders | (angrily) So, answer me? |
| Blade | I needed a group of adventurers to help me get the skull. Now that I have it your usefulness has come to an end. |
| Quill | (dances in from the side, stabbing low) |
| Blade | (his eyes still on Anders, disarms Quill effortlessly) |
| Quill | (hurries to retrieve his weapon) |
| Anders | You down-played your abilities on purpose! |
| Blade | But of course. (chuckles) Why risk my life in combat when I have yours at my disposal. |
| Anders | (eyes narrow in hate) Who are you? |
| Blade | I cannot tell you. |
| Anders | I must know. |
| Blade | Get used to disappointment. |
| Quill | (calmly withdraws a magical throwing knife from his boot) |
| Anders | (looks over at Morgul and notices the growing pool of blood) Killing a sleeping man is the act of a coward. |
| Blade | Au contraire, my friend. It is the act of an intelligent man. You see I am willing to do whatever is required to succeed. And that fact alone is what separates us. |
| Anders | (spits) People like me have honour! |
| Blade | And people like me have power. (laughs then his eyes steel in resolve) You will not see another sunrise, nor will any of your friends. |
| Anders | We shall see. (launches into a savage attack only to have each thrust parried) |
| Blade | (circles warily, keeping Anders and Quill in view) Was that you best? |
| Anders | (ignores Blade's jibe and concentrates on measuring Blade's defences) Perhaps. (winces as one of his wounds re-open) |
| Blade | Then a word of advice, dear boy. If that is the best you can manage, surrender now and I will send you on your way with dignity. |
| Anders | Never. |
| Blade | (shrugs) As you wish. (lunges at Anders, his rapier and sabre whirling in a deadly onslaught) |
| Anders | (parries each of Blade's attacks, then steps back) |
| Quill | (watches from the side and awaits an opportunity to throw his magical knife) |
| Blade | (closes again on Anders) |
| Anders | (his swords meet, and deflect, Blade's lighter weapons) |
| Blade | (parries, thrusts and ripostes, still unable to penetrate Anders' defence) |
| Anders | (suddenly leaps to his left) Now! |
| Quill | (throws his magical knife, striking Blade in the side) |
| Blade | Agh! |
| Anders | (seizes the opportunity and closes in, tearing one of his longswords across Blade's leather armour, opening a deep gash in the swordsman's chest) |
| Quill | (rushes in, his short sword darting crazily) |
| Blade | (sorely wounded, defends himself desperately) |
| Anders | (presses his advantage, keeping Blade on the defensive) |
| Blade | (regains his composure but maintains the appearance of desperation) |
| Quill | (sets upon Blade with renewed vigour) |
| Blade | (allows Quill to over-extend, then thrusts forward with his rapier) |
| Quill | (struck in the throat, reels back in shock and collapses to his knees) |
| Anders | (takes advantage of Blade's concerted attack, swings wide and carves a long wound in Blade's thigh) |
| Blade | (almost loses his balance and is forced to abandon his assault on Quill) |
| Anders | (breathing heavily, desperately tries to maintain a strong defence) |
| Blade | (now genuinely concerned, studies Anders defence intently) |
| Anders | (continues his offensive, but each blow is turned aside) |
| Blade | (notices Anders' blows are weakening, decides to launch a series of half-hearted but wide- ranging attacks) |
| Anders | (forced to parry a myriad of blows) |
| Quill | (stems the flow of blood with a piece of cloth, then retrieves another knife from his backpack) |
| Blade | (notices Quill's movements but continues to press Anders' endurance) You are tiring. The end is near. |
| Anders | (lacking the energy to respond, focuses his all on the combat) |
| Quill | (tries to position himself for a better throw) |
| Blade | (circles to keep Anders between himself and Quill) |
| Quill | (barks in dwarvish) Get down! |
| Anders | (drops to his haunches) |
| Blade | (anticipates the move and rolls to his left) |
| Quill | (throws his knife but watches in dismay as it misses its target and flies off into the foliage) |
| Blade | (slices low with his sabre, opening a long cut in Anders' shin) |
| Anders | (hobbled but manages to regain his feet) |
| Blade | (closes in on Anders and cuts the ranger's left hand with his rapier) |
| Anders | (his hand cut badly, loosens his grip on the sword) |
| Blade | (savagely twists his rapier, sending Anders' sword spinning into the trees) |
| Anders | (grips his remaining sword in both hands) |
| Quill | (closes in, his short sword held before him) Now or never. |
| Blade | (eyes narrow as he awaits his moment) |
| Anders | (nearing exhaustion, concentrates his effort into one desperate gambit) |
| Blade | (moves deftly to his right, narrowly avoids Anders' ferocious blow and slides his sabre across the ranger's throat) |
| Anders | (falls to his knees, his eyes wide) |
| Quill | (looks on horrified) |
| Blade | (smiles wryly and captures Anders' gaze) Tell me, Anders, what good is your honour now? |
| Anders | (falls face first into the dirt) |
| Blade | (turns to Quill) |
| Quill | (feebly raises his sword) |
| Blade | (slowly removes the knife from his side and tosses it away) You. |
| Quill | (gulps) |
| Blade | You, I will kill slowly. |
| 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. |