Episode 57 – The Apprentice
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 4th Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 3rd/3rd LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 4th Level LE (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 5th level NE (PC) |
| Locale | In a dining hall located on the ground floor of Guldar Heel's tower. |
| Date | 26th Wealsun 582 CY |
| Time | Just after midnight. |
Beyond the curtain was a well-appointed kitchen. A large stone topped preparation table dominated the centre of the room, upon which sat the remains of a meal. A dormant greystone hearth, complete with small cauldron and spit, was crafted into the centre of the west wall. The slate covered floors were clean and the wooden bench tops devoid of clutter. Two doors provided exit, one in the southeast corner of the room and another smaller door in the northeast corner. Upon the floor on the far side of the bench was a wooden trapdoor.
| Craven | (sniffs the air) Damn. |
| Creighton | (leans forward) What? |
| Craven | (moves into the kitchen) Sweetbread. I smell sweetbread. We're not alone here. |
| Creighton | The wizard? |
| Craven | (moves across to the table and examines the leftover meal) One plate, one fork, one knife. |
| Keldirk | (moves quietly across the kitchen to Craven and digs a finger into a small piece of pumpkin) It's still warm. |
| Craven | Heel's servant, perhaps |
| Azareth | Or his apprentice. |
| Creighton | His apprentice? Are you saying there could be two mages in here? |
| Azareth | That's exactly what I'm saying. |
| Creighton | (curses) I don't like mages. |
| Azareth | (raises an eyebrow) |
| Creighton | Oh, um, you're the exception, Az. |
| Craven | Well there's nothing in here, let's keep moving. |
| Keldirk | Wait. Let me check the pantry. (returns after a moment) Nothing of interest. |
| Creighton | I'm hungry. |
| Craven | This is hardly the place to stop for a quick bite. |
| Creighton | It's a kitchen. What better place is there? |
| Craven | You know what I mean. |
| Creighton | (sighs) I know but that bread smells so good. What harm would one slice do? |
| Keldirk | (caustically) That depends on whether the person who was eating it saw us breaking in and decided to poison the meal before they left. (indicates the food) By all means, help yourself. Be my guest. |
| Azareth | (smiles) |
| Creighton | (sheepishly) Maybe I will leave the meal alone. |
| Craven | (indicates the southern door) Let's keep moving. |
| Keldirk | Wait. What about the trap door? |
| Craven | Forget about it for now. I suspect what we are looking for is upstairs. |
| Keldirk | You're the boss. |
Keldirk listened at the plain oak door then checked the handle to see if it was locked. Satisfied, the young assassin stepped aside and indicated for Creighton to proceed. Drawing his blade, Creighton turned the handle, opened the door and stepped into the room beyond.
This room was obviously a lounge area, it was illuminated with the same eerie blue glow as in other rooms. Three single-seated leather lounge chairs faced an ornate fireplace that occupied fully a third of the southern wall. Beside the fireplace, stacked in a brightly polished brass wood-bin, were several large logs. Against the east wall sat a comfortable three-seater lounge in front of which sat a long, wooden coffee table. Upon the walls hung a series of excellent paintings. All were landscapes save one, a portrait of a religious leader addressing his congregation. Beneath this large painting was a brass plaque bearing an inscription of some kind. There were three other doors in the room; one to the west, another smaller door nearby and a third in the south wall, near the fireplace.
| Creighton | (quietly) All clear. |
The assassins moved in and quietly examined the room. Keldirk proceeded to the west and checked the doors to see if it they locked. Azareth read the inscription beneath the portrait while Craven made a cursory search around the fireplace. Creighton stood watch, listening intently. In a matter of moments the group converged and shared their findings.
| Keldirk | The west door leads to the blue corridor with the statue. The other door opens into a shitbox. |
| Craven | There's nothing of interest on the coffee table or near the fireplace. The embers are cold. |
| Azareth | The inscription beneath the portrait reads "To Guldar, many thanks. Walk always in Pelor's heavenly light. Your friend, Patriarch Kelmiore". |
| Creighton | Yeah, and? |
| Azareth | And if I am not mistaken Patriarch Kelmiore reigned over a hundred years ago. |
| Creighton | (thinks for a moment) Yeah, and? |
| Azareth | That means that our mage has been alive for quite some time. |
| Craven | Or he's a half-elf. Come on, let's keep moving. |
| Azareth | (to himself) Well I thought it was interesting. |
The south door opened into a darkened library. After raising the shutters of their lantern, the assassins carefully examined the library and determined that the large room was empty save for a sizable collection of books. Azareth suppressed a squeal of delight and plucked a book at random and was immediately engrossed in the text. It was with great reluctance that the mage agreed to leave the room empty handed.
| Craven | (gathers the group in a tight huddle) Alright. We have to back track. There must be stairs around here somewhere. |
| Keldirk | There's a door we missed in the corridor. |
| Craven | (nods) Let's go. |
In moments the assassins stood before the only door on this level that they had not yet opened.
| Craven | Keldirk, check for traps. |
| Keldirk | (examines the doors thoroughly) All clear. I think |
| Craven | (steps back) Creighton, if you please. |
As before, Creighton drew his sword and carefully opened the door. As they had expected the chamber beyond contained a spiral staircase and, like the library, the room was dark.
| Craven | Creighton, you go first, we'll follow. Keldirk, you stay here for a few moments in case something unexpected happens. |
| Keldirk | No. Fatso can stay behind; he's too loud for delicate work such as this. I'll go and call you up if the way is clear. |
| Craven | Makes sense. But I'll follow you up just in case. (to Azareth and Creighton) You two wait here until I give you the signal. |
Keldirk placed a foot on the first step and instantly the stone began to glow, then one after the other, each stair flared into light.
| Keldirk | (jumps back) Whoa! |
| Craven | (chuckles) Nice touch. A little ostentatious, perhaps, but all in all a very nice touch. |
| Keldirk | (breathless) Scared the shit out of me. |
| Craven | When you're ready. |
Keldirk, then Craven, carefully moved up the magically illuminated steps. They were soon out of Azareth's lantern light and could see only a short distance ahead as the curve of the stair obscured their vision. Some distance later the stairs ended at a landing, a small room identical to that below. A single door offered an exit and, across the landing, the stairs continued up. After a brief discussion the pair decided that they should investigate this level prior to making their way higher. While Keldirk was left to examine the door Craven fetched the others.
In moments the four assassins were assembled on the landing. After Keldirk finished checking the door for traps, Creighton opened it then stood back and whistled in surprise. The area beyond the door was not what any of them had expected. It took them a few moments to understand what they were seeing.
The walls and ceilings were decorated to resemble a clear night sky. So effective was the artistry that the painted stars seemed to twinkle in the near darkness. The assassins' lantern light was all but absorbed by the inky black of space but still managed to feebly illuminate two doors that seemed to float in the void. Azareth studied the scene with a keen eye, trained through the countless hours of seeking flaws in his illusions, but even he could detect nothing to mar the perfection of the paintwork.
| Azareth | That is one of the most incredible examples of interior decorating I have ever encountered. This Guldar Heel is a genius. |
| Creighton | Is it safe? |
| Keldirk | (slides a copper common through the door and watches as it rolls safely along the floor of the bizarre corridor beyond) Looks sturdy enough. Get going. |
Creighton's stepped hesitantly into the corridor, gingerly placing his foot on the floor. He shifted his weight slowly to be sure that the floor was actually real. After a few tentative steps, the big warrior was convinced that everything was normal and he stepped fully into the scene. Azareth watched Creighton's initial awkwardness with amusement; for one so physically strong Creighton's fears manifested themselves in the strangest of ways.
One by one the others filed into the corridor and gathered around as Keldirk checked the door on the left. After a few moments the young assassin rose from his scrutiny.
| Keldirk | (quietly) It's locked but there are no traps that I can see. |
Null Keyz lifted his head from the scroll he was studying and listened intently.
The gnome magic-user had had his nose buried in the document for several hours and he was on the verge of reaching some kind of breakthrough. But something distracted him from his research. He cocked his head and remained perfectly still.
There! He heard it again. There was definitely something outside the door.
Instantly the gnome apprentice extinguished his lantern then slipped quietly off his stool. He waited a few heartbeats for his infravision to take effect before moving to his bed and tying his component belt about his waist. With genuine anticipation, Null moved into his living room.
| Null Keyz | Kala Kurithan |
One floor down the blue statue's eyes snapped open. The dweomers that had bound it in stasis were suddenly released and the giant stone creation took an awkward step from its pedestal. The living-statue craned its neck heavenward; instinctively it knew where it was needed.
As it strode down the corridor to the stairs every movement was accompanied by a loud stone-like scrape. With each step the creature's freedom of movement increased and what began as a slow lumbering stride rapidly accelerated into a purposeful, driven march.
| Creighton | (steps back from the door) Did you hear that? |
| Keldirk | Of course. Quickly, open the bloody door. There's somebody in there. |
| Azareth | And that somebody is casting a spell! |
| Null Keyz | (inside the room) Pol Min Killiardos |
Suddenly the tower's magical light disappeared and the assassins were plunged into darkness. Fortunately they had a lantern prepared which Azareth immediately unshuttered.
| Creighton | (kicks open the door and leads the others inside) |
What they saw within lasted but an instant. The room was large and cluttered, jammed full of stuffed animals in various poses. In the centre of the room stood five gnomes, magically shifting and swirling in perfect mirror images.
Spitting out a few words of magic the five gnomes pointed gnarled fingers at the invaders and abruptly their lantern was extinguished. The door had burst open before Null had completed all his preparatory spells but now with the light extinguished he was able to continue. The gnome moved deftly around the furniture to a position behind a large, eight-legged, taxidermed hound. Here he withdrew the next material components for his spellweaving and addressed the invaders.
| Null | I am Guldar Heel - Magius of the twelfth circle, slayer of Milkiath - black wyrm of the Adri. Surrender or die. |
| Creighton | Light! I need light. |
| Keldirk | (slips into the room and moves to his right, hoping to get around and behind their assailant) |
| Craven | Mage, get some light in here. Now! |
| Azareth | (flings the darkened lantern into the corridor then kneels down and attempts to light a torch) |
Guldar's apprentice continued his spellcasting, keeping one eye trained on the three by the door and another on the lone figure that picked its way along the wall. With the completion of this last spell Null's body, and those of his four mirror images, were enveloped in a sheath of wispy violet flames.
Keldirk hunched down when five gnomes suddenly illuminated the darkness. Each figure shifted disconcertingly back and forth, visible only by a purple, fiery nimbus. Keldirk recalled from his studies that only one of the images was likely to be real. But determining which was the actual gnome was impossible short of magical divination or attrition. Cursing his ill-luck, the young assassin moved nimbly along on his haunches, remaining as low to the ground as possible and keeping as much furniture between himself and the array of gnomes. He pulled two knives from his bandolier and prepared to throw.
Craven and Creighton charged the five gnomes, their swords whistling. The gnome seemed unperturbed by their approach and simply concentrated on his next spell.
Three knives arced across the room - one embedded itself into a stuffed beaver, another bounced from an invisible barrier mere inches from a gnome's face and the third flew through a mirror image causing it to wink out of existence.
As one, the four remaining gnomes released their spell and bolts of magical energy flew from their pointed fingers and into the advancing swordsmen. Craven and Creighton reeled as the green tinged missiles struck home.
Keldirk drew another pair of knives and steadied his aim. But before he could release his blades a large, stone, man-shaped figure squeezed into the room.
| Keldirk | Mage, behind you! |
Azareth turned in time to receive a stone fist to his face. The blow sent him flying across the room and into a small table, which collapsed under the impact. The statue surveyed the room and strode over to the stunned mage intent on squashing the human's head beneath its stone heel.
Creighton broke off his attack and ran to the aid of the stricken mage. Craven noted Creighton's departure with some alarm but stabbed out regardless, striking another of the phantasms.
| Null Keyz | Throw down your weapon and I shall be merciful. |
| Craven | (ignores the gnome, thrusts with his blade and causes yet another of the images to vanish) |
| Null Keyz | Comt Airakan Khea Jair Soth Jalaran |
| Craven | (reels as four bolts of magical energy wrack his body) Only two left, you can't hide forever. |
| Null Keyz | You ignorant fool. You are out of your depth. Lay down your arms. |
| Craven | Or die? Yeah, yeah I've heard it all before. |
Azareth rolled just as the stone guardian's foot smashed down, missing his head but crushing his shoulder against the tiles. Azareth screamed in agony even as Creighton barreled headlong into the creature, forcing it away. Despite its weight and ungainly appearance the statue was agile enough to grasp Creighton as the warrior closed. In a single motion the statue flung Creighton into a wall, shattering a display case and bringing down an array of pots and vases in a deafening crash. The giant, with new focus, ignored the disabled, whimpering mage and lumbered across to finish the petulant warrior.
Keldirk threw two more knives at the shifting gnomes and the last spectral image disappeared. Weighing up his options in a heartbeat, the young assassin decided that the gnome was the bigger threat and moved across to help Craven.
| Craven | (smiles as the last illusion disappears) Now you die. |
| Null Keyz | How droll. Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before. |
Keldirk vaulted a stuffed aurumvorax and lunged toward the gnome mage, opening a nasty gash in the demi-human's thigh. But the instant Keldirk's blade entered the mage's flesh he fell to his knees in pain. His thigh burned with a supernatural fire and Keldirk felt as though his flesh was melting away. Whatever pain he had inflicted on the gnome had been returned two-fold and Keldirk was thrown back in the magical recoil.
| Keldirk | (wincing, rises to his feet) |
| Craven | (glances at Keldirk) What? What happened? |
| Keldirk | I don't know. He's ensorcelled somehow. |
Craven was taken aback by Keldirk's odd statement but continued his attack regardless. A deft series of cuts and thrusts forced the gnome against the wall but the subsequent magical kickback brought Craven to his knees.
| Null Keyz | (smiles despite his wounds) Surrender. |
| Keldirk | (lunges at the gnome, intent on grappling him to the floor) |
| Null Keyz | (artfully dodges the assassin's attack and begins to cast) |
Across the room Creighton battled on. His opponent was neither quick nor overly cautious but what the stone guardian lacked in finesse it made up for in strength. Again Creighton was struck and again he flew across the room, slamming heavily into a wall. The living-statue marched on, intent on the human's destruction.
| Creighton | (breathless) Azareth, do something. |
Azareth was unable to cast his spells; his shoulder was numb and the arm all but useless. But he knew there was more than one way to skin a cat. Azareth placed his feet against the erect, taxidermed bear and, with all his might, kicked out toppling the shaggy animal over - directly into the statue's path.
With an audible rip the stone guardian's left foot broke through the bear's torso. For a brief instant the statue looked as though it would maintain its balance but, thankfully for Creighton, the bear rolled under the statue's great weight sending the stone guardian crashing to the floor.
That was all Creighton needed. In an instant the warrior scrambled to his feet and set about hacking and slashing into the stone back of his foe. Azareth crawled over as fast as he dared and stabbed at the statue's ankles with his dagger. Any help was better than no help.
Null Keyz released his magic and pointed at the two assassins. A pair of large snow owls fanned their wings and launched off their perch with a screech. Talons extended, the two great hunting birds swooped upon their targets and began a savage attack.
| Craven | (fends off one owl and spies another circling Keldirk) Look out! |
Keldirk dove to his left, tucked, rolled and came to his feet some five paces from his starting position. He was further from the gnome mage but had managed to elude the snow owl's vicious claws.
Craven hadn't fared so well. The snow owl had landed on the back of the duelist's neck and began to tear long chunks of flesh from his skin. Craven stabbed madly, but his rapier met no resistance. Cursing his ill- luck the young assassin dropped his weapon intent on grabbing the bird and breaking its neck.
Null maintained his illusions, struggling with their unexpected separation but knowing that if things proceeded to plan his two adversaries would soon believe they had lost their eyes. His master's stone guardian had fallen but Null was confident in its ability to recover.
Azareth threw his dagger aside in disgust. His attacks were all but futile and he reasoned that more damage would be done if he and Creighton were to use bludgeoning weapons. Casting his eyes about Azareth spied a sturdy metal stand that had supported the stuffed bear. Pulling and prying, the mage was able to extricate the pole from the bear's splintered carcass.
Creighton's blows had chipped away a significant chunk from the guardian's blue shoulder but it was becoming all too apparent that his sword would not last much longer.
| Azareth | Creighton, we need blunt weapons to hurt this thing. Catch! |
The mage gritted his teeth in pain as he tossed the heavy pole to his colleague. Creighton dropped his sword and caught the iron stand allowing the guardian time to regain its footing.
As Creighton renewed his attack against the stone guardian, Azareth stepped back to assess the situation. He saw in the dim, violet light the two snow owls harrying Keldirk and Craven and was about to move to assist when he stopped. He noted that the concentration on the gnome's face and, in a moment of clarity Azareth deduced that perhaps the owls were illusory. With carefully trained eyes Azareth sought evidence to support his hypothesis and he found it in the two motionless owls atop a cabinet.
| Azareth | Illusions! The owls are illusions! |
Having heard the shouted warning, Null realised that his gambit was exposed. Letting the illusions run their natural course, Null began once more to chant.
For perhaps the first time in his life, Keldirk heeded Azareth's words. He looked upon the winged creature with distrusting eyes and was relieved to find the mage had spoken the truth. With an evil grin the angry young assassin ignore the fluttering illusion and closed upon the gnome mage.
Craven was not so fortunate. He heard Azareth's warning but the blood running down his back and the weight of the bird on his shoulders belied the mage's words. This creature was real. Of that Craven was certain and he continued to extricate himself from its iron grip.
Null released his magic and sent four magical missiles into the approaching human.
Keldirk flinched as the bolts struck home, but continued forward, clenching his jaw against the pain. With a dexterous flick of his wrists, he unfurled his cloak and fanned it over the gnome covering his head and plunging the room into near darkness. After a moment's hesitation Keldirk leapt upon the gnome and wrestled him to the floor. With his superior size and strength Keldirk soon had the demi-human's hands clasped firmly behind his back.
Azareth moved to the door, retrieved his torch and resumed his efforts at lighting it. Before long, the torch flared to life.
Creighton wielded the iron stand like a man possessed. The pole was awkwardly weighted and it took the warrior several painful exchanges to come to terms with its use. The stone guardian showed no sign of pain even when a large chuck of its blue face was chipped away, but Creighton could tell that this weapon was proving more effective against the creature.
Suddenly the owl disappeared and Craven clutched the nape of his neck to staunch the flow of blood only to discover that his wounds had also vanished. With renewed vigour, Craven looked around then moved to assist Keldirk in maintaining his hold on the squirming gnome. But before Craven could get closer the gnome managed to scramble free, a dagger in his hand.
| Craven | Drop it. |
| Null Keyz | (edging to his left) Strike at me and you cut yourself. |
| Keldirk | (snarling, approaches the gnome warily) |
| Craven | Drop your weapon. |
| Null Keyz | (thinks for a moment) Very well. |
Keldirk stopped his advance when the gnome complied with Craven's request. He watched closely and noticed that the violet flames that licked from the gnome's body began to dwindle. He knew that in but a few moment's he would be able to strike.
Null placed the dagger on the floor at his feet then rose and immediately began to cast a spell that he hoped would grant him escape.
As soon as the first incantation escaped the mage's lips the flames died and Keldirk attacked. He thrust one blade into the gnome's torso and buried the second into the demi-human's side. Craven took his cue, and with pinpoint accuracy drew his blade across the gnome's neck. Both Keldirk and Craven took a hasty step back as a fountain of the gnome's lifeblood sprayed into the air.
| Keldirk | Nice shot. |
| Craven | (wipes the blood from his tunic and shakes his head) This is likely to stain. |
Creighton was on the verge of exhaustion. He had been hammering away at the statue for what seemed like an eternity and while his own wounds were driving him ever closer to collapse, the statue appeared to suffer no ill effects. Then, after one solid blow, abruptly the statue stopped. It rocked on its heels and after teetering for a moment tumbled to the tiles with a loud crash.
Creighton allowed the iron stand to slip from his grasp then fell to his knees, and breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
| Creighton | What was that thing? |
| Azareth | (fashioning a sling for his arm) A golem, I believe. |
| Creighton | Well, it's decided, from now on Craven fights the golems. (collapses on the floor) |
| 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. |