Episode 55 – With Every Beginning Comes An Ending
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 4th Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 3rd / 3rd CE (LE suppressed) (PC) Creighton - Fighter 4th Level LE (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 5th level NE (PC) |
| Locale | The streets of Del Mord, |
| Date | 18th Wealsun 582 CY |
| Time | Before midnight |
It was unseasonably cold for a Wealsun evening. A fresh wind blew from the south and swept through the cobbled streets of Del Mord stirring up dust and refuse. A beggar's cough echoed in the night as four figures moved silently through the deserted streets.
Natasha led Craven and her two vampiric guardians into the heart of Del Mord's Old City. She clutched her companion's arm, enjoying the warmth of his life's blood and the promise of his touch. Never before had she so longed to be with a mortal like him. He was eloquent, powerful, virile, and graceful, but above all else, he knew how to please a woman. She almost regretted the need to complete his transformation, to strip him of his mortality and make him part of her stable.
Almost.
| Natasha | Why have you resisted me, my love? |
| Craven | The reasons seem unimportant now. I am with you now and will be forever more. |
| Natasha | Tonight will be a night like no other. Breathe deeply, love, and savour the night. Embrace the darkness and push thoughts of light aside. You have seen your last sunrise. |
| Craven | (nods) Where are we going? |
| Natasha | Home. To Crossroads. (looks around) It has been a long, long time since I last visited this place. Curious, despite the years some things remain familiar. Do you think you will miss it - the stench, the disease, the weakness, the humanity? |
| Craven | My friends, perhaps. I don't know. |
| Natasha | In time you will forget them. I am all you need. All you will ever need. |
Azareth and Creighton followed Craven and the trio of vampires from a distance. The further they walked the more they realised that they needed a plan.
| Creighton | So what are we going to do? |
| Azareth | Be quiet, I am trying to think. |
| Creighton | Well think faster, we'll miss our chance. |
| Azareth | What you are asking is impossible. Thought can travel no faster than it already does. Your notion that anyone can think faster is preposterous. |
| Creighton | It's just a figure of speech, Az. I mean, they're getting away! |
| Azareth | I am aware of that. Perhaps if we put our minds together we will better formulate a course of action. |
| Creighton | Alrighty. (happy to be included) What have you come up with so far? |
| Azareth | Not much. The spells I have memorised are not particularly useful at this juncture. When I woke this morn I had not planned to confront three vampires. One thing is certain we need to separate Craven from the woman. She has a strong hold over him so our main objective is to wrest Craven from her dominion. |
| Creighton | Duh! |
| Azareth | Excuse me? |
| Creighton | I knew that ten minutes ago. Sometimes your brain gets in your way, doesn't it? |
| Azareth | (stops walking) I will not stand to be disparaged. |
| Creighton | Huh? |
| Azareth | (grips the bridge of his nose and shakes his head slowly) |
| Creighton | Az, are you ok? |
| Azareth | I am fine. I just needed to take a moment. |
| Creighton | Well hurry that moment up, they're getting away. |
Azareth and Creighton jogged to the next corner only to find that their quarry had gathered outside a nondescript building. The two assassins jumped back around the corner to avoid being seen.
| Creighton | Now what? |
| Azareth | Hmm. |
| Creighton | (peeks around the corner) Okay. We'll do this my way. |
| Azareth | (terrified) Your way? |
| Creighton | I'll run out there and grab Craven, you keep the others occupied with your magic. |
| Azareth | (splutters) Me? Keep three vampires occupied? You have got to be joking! |
| Creighton | (risks another glance) They've knocked on the door. Hurry, we've got to do something! |
| Azareth | Where is Keldirk? |
| Creighton | Never mind Keldirk. (draws in a deep breath) Stuff it, I'm going. Whatever you decide to do - make it good. (draws his sword and charges around the corner) |
| Azareth | My goodness. (gulps) |
As Creighton neared the gathering, three figures magically appeared ahead of him. Two wore suits of full-plate armour and wielded broadswords while the other was dressed in a long, black cloak and carried no visible weapons. Creighton slid to a stop before the realisation dawned that these must be illusions created by Azareth to occupy the vampires. Creighton suppressed a smirk and resumed his charge.
Creighton marveled at his colleague's brilliance. With military precision the knights engaged the two male vampires. In moments the swirling melee had spread onto the street and clouds of dust rose into the night air. Truly these were the best illusions Creighton had ever seen. He ran past one combat and was forced to dodge the whirling blade of the other as he closed on Craven's position. The vampire woman grappled with the robed man, her fangs glistening in the moonlight as her claws tore shreds from the man's cloak.
Unfortunately for Creighton, Craven had also joined the fray and was clearly intent on protecting his mistress. Creighton watched for several moments, waiting for an opportunity to snatch Craven away but the duelist was in a maddened state and it was obvious that Craven wouldn't come quietly.
| Creighton | Craven! Listen to me. I am here to help you! Break off the fight. |
Craven ignored Creighton's plea and lunged toward the robed man, his rapier aimed low. The man easily avoided the strike and with incredible speed he spun on his heel and kicked Craven solidly in the head. The powerful blow sent the young swordsman sprawling.
Creighton ran around the combat to Craven's side, careful not to interfere with any of Azareth's illusions.
| Creighton | Craven! Listen to me, we need to get away from here. |
| Craven | (disoriented and crazed, stabs at Creighton, his rapier entering the warrior's thigh) |
| Creighton | Hey! (falls back) That hurt. |
| Craven | Get out of my way! |
| Creighton | (rubs his thigh angrily) No. You have to get away from here. We can do it the easy way- |
| Craven | (jumps to his feet and stabs Creighton in the side) |
| Creighton | (steps back, his face grim) Or the hard way. |
Creighton could tell that Craven was dazed from the robed figure's blow and was obviously not going to listen to reason. He didn't know how long Azareth's illusions would continue to fool the vampires so he had to act fast. He slashed his sword across his body hoping to draw Craven further from the main combat but the strike was easily blocked by Craven's rapier. Before either man was able to properly regain their footing, Creighton punched with his sword hilt, striking Craven solidly on the cheek. Craven's dazed state allowed Creighton to take risks he would not otherwise consider but he knew that his opponent was well trained and this risky approach would not be a wise long-term strategy.
Craven reeled and tried to regain his wits. Beyond Creighton the robed figure continued his combat with Natasha. Craven knew that if he hoped to save her then he would have to eliminate Creighton quickly. Craven knew Creighton's strengths and his weaknesses but he also knew that he would not willingly give up.
| Craven | Leave now while you are still able. I offer you this opportunity to walk away in memory of our friendship. But know this. If you stay, you will die. |
| Creighton | You know I won't leave without you. |
| Craven | So be it. |
Creighton knew he was at a severe disadvantage, his desire to keep Craven alive prevented him from adopting his customary aggressive style. In order to subdue Craven, Creighton was forced to use just the flat of his blade. The strange feel of the sword through the air sent his timing off and what would ordinarily have been clean hits were easily turned aside by Craven's solid defence.
Craven's thoughts felt as though they had to rise through mud. The two savage blows to his head had dulled his sharp reflexes and Craven had trouble keeping track of Creighton's movements. Blood pounded in the young duelist's temples as his anger and frustration rose to boiling point. Craven could feel the preternatural power in his arms and he knew that if he could somehow break through Creighton's defences the fight would be over in short order.
Blows were exchanged at a frenzied pace but neither man was able to gain any clear advantage. Sweat streamed from the two combatants and their ragged breathing steamed in the cool night air.
Azareth watched in stunned amazement.
Azareth had no idea what quarrel Ambassador Shade and his two Knight Protectors had with Natasha but he was thankful for the diversion. He looked on as Creighton forced Craven ever further from the others. He marveled at Creighton's foolhardiness; the hulking warrior seemed blissfully content to ignore the momentous conflicts surging around him.
In a moment of brilliant clarity Azareth divined the reasoning behind Creighton's extraordinary courage. Clearly the big warrior believed that Shade and his knights were illusions, there could be no other explanation for Creighton's casual acceptance of their appearance. The mage stifled a shout of warning to his friend - he figured it would be best not to inform Creighton of his misconception lest his confidence suffer. Azareth knew that the hulking warrior would not be so foolhardy if he knew the full extent of his situation.
Azareth felt useless. His hands were shaking uncontrollably and if it weren't for the wall at his side the mage would surely have crumpled to the ground. He couldn't help but feel the terrible burden of truth; Creighton was blissfully unaware of the gravity of his situation and Craven's madness shielded him from awareness. Azareth shook his head in despair.
Natasha struggled to free her wrists from Shade's powerful grasp. For the first time in over a century the vampire woman knew fear. The man she faced was and Old One, perhaps even an Ancient. All thoughts of victory evaporated her only chance of survival lay in escape.
| Shade | You poison the bloodline. You should know better than to bring humans into the fold. |
| Natasha | (struggles hopelessly) Let go of me! |
| Shade | The Code is clearly stated, the punishment equally explicit. |
| Natasha | No! |
| Shade | Your stench corrupts the air. You must pay for what you have done. |
| Natasha | Please, I beg you, let me go. I will change my ways. I've learned my lesson. |
| Shade | It is much too late for that. |
Carathus forced the vampire back, his magical broadsword arcing blue streaks through the inky darkness. The Knight Protector's extensive training and quality armour shielded him from the brunt of the vampire's attacks, but fighting a creature of this nature was never a trivial exercise. Carathus glanced at his companion knight and took comfort in the fact that Dwight seemed to be on top of his situation. In any such contest, it was important to rely upon one's training. To Carathus' eye the vampire's martial ability was limited but its enhanced strength and speed made up for any lack of skill.
| Carathus | Submit to my justice, evil spawn, your time is at an end. |
But the vampire did not submit, instead it renewed its attack with unrestrained vigor. It was exactly what the Knight Protector had hoped for. The knight stepped back and allowed the vampire to over-extend before he closed rapidly and slid his magical blade through the creature's torso. The vampire's coal-black heart contracted upon itself as the steel cut through and Carathus shielded himself as the body of his foe exploded into dust.
Craven was not as fortunate as the Knight Protector. The vampire's dust blinded him momentarily and Creighton seized the opportunity to thwack Craven in the side of his head with the flat of his blade. Craven fell unconscious to the ground, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Even as Creighton gathered his friend in his arms, Ambassador Shade snapped Natasha's neck with one hand and pierced her heart with a silver blade in his other. The woman's tortured scream pierced the night and the flames of her death bathed the street in a brilliant orange nimbus.
Almost immediately the other vampire exploded into a choking cloud of dust, blinding the Knight Protector and forcing him to his knees. Dwight remained on his knees and coughed uncontrollably as he struggled to clear his airway of the fetid dust.
| Shade | (looks around and spies Creighton carrying Craven away) Carathus! Kill those two. |
Natasha's spectacular death shocked Azareth into action. He assessed the situation and knew that the knight would easily intercept Creighton from behind and immediately the mage began to cast.
Suddenly, from nowhere, a thick fog formed in the air around the combat. Creighton took advantage of the cover and fled. He fought his way clear of the thick fog and neared Azareth's position. He could see the mage gesticulating wildly near the corner. Behind him he could hear the laboured breathing of his pursuer.
| Azareth | The fog will not last for long, here let me help you. |
| Creighton | (shakes his head) No, I've got it. Just run. |
Ambassador Shade and his two Knights stepped out of the fog and watched as Creighton, with Natasha's consort over his shoulder, and Azareth fled into the darkness.
| Caruthus | Do you want me to give chase? |
| Shade | No. |
| Carathus | Who were they? |
| Shade | I don't know. But I'm certain I can find them again if the need arises. For now they are nothing, let them go. |
Mickey Moritz accosted Keldirk almost as soon as he set foot back in the Whistler.
| Mickey | Get into the kitchen now! |
| Keldirk | I haven't got time for this. |
| Mickey | I said now! |
Keldirk, shrugged and followed the diminutive business man into the kitchen. With surprising authority he ordered the stunned staff out and closed the door behind them. He rounded on Keldirk, his fury barely contained.
| Mickey | What in the nine hells just happened here? |
| Keldirk | I have no idea. You saw everything I did; some vampires just kidnapped Craven. |
| Mickey | Kidnapped! He bloody well went willingly, who - no - what were those people? |
| Keldirk | I told - |
| Mickey | (holds up his hand to cut Keldirk off) You know I don't even care. What I want to know is how am I going to explain this debacle to our mutual employer. Our guests have fled and I'm left having to clean up this huge, horrible mess. |
| Keldirk | Listen to me, you insignificant worm. The opening of this tavern is a success by any standard measure. What better way to get people talking about this place than to stage a spectacular show, pass it off as a planned event, I don't care, do whatever you like. Just get out of my way. |
Keldirk pushed Mickey back into a box of avocados and headed upstairs to his room. Fortunately Mickey chose not to follow the young assassin and Keldirk lay on his bed and awaited the return of his companions.
Keldirk woke with a start. The fact that he had fallen asleep was less of a shock than what hovered at the foot of his bed.
| Varashar | Remember our bargain. Bring me the Cardass Staff. I will not ask you again. |
With that the ghost vanished.
A chilling cold lingered in the room for several minutes while Keldirk sat pondering the future.
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