Episode 58 – The Master
| 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 Null Keyz's room, Guldar's Apprentice, second level of the tower. |
| Date | 26th Wealsun 582 CY |
| Time | Just after midnight. |
While Keldirk and Creighton searched the gnome's two rooms, Craven and Azareth bandaged their wounds and pondered the situation.
| Azareth | Are you sure? |
| Craven | Definitely. He said he was Guldar Heel, mage of the twelfth circle or some such nonsense. I heard it clearly. |
| Azareth | Well I am skeptical. All my research has led me to believe that Guldar Heel is human. I suspect that this little fellow (indicates the gnome's crumpled corpse) declared he was Heel in the hope that we recognise the name and immediately surrender. No matter, it is done now and we have no option but to proceed with our search. |
| Craven | Hmm, I'm not so sure. Creighton is pretty beat up. And I'm not feeling too flash. |
| Azareth | While I have no wish to belittle the nature of your injuries, I do believe that in ten or so minutes you will begin to feel better. The gnome's illusions were expertly crafted and it will take some time for your mind and body to find equilibrium. |
| Craven | (nods) And what of your injury? |
| Azareth | My arm is no longer numbed but it still causes me pain when I move it. If pushed I am sure I could carry out the somatic requirements of my spells. But if we leave now, and the master of the tower returns, then we will be at a great disadvantage should we try and break in again. I say we continue on. But warily. |
| Craven | (nods) See what the others think. But for now I have a job to do. |
Craven knelt down beside the gnome, pried open the demi-human's mouth and, using the gnome's dagger, crudely hacked out its tongue. After the grizzly job was done, Craven examined the dagger, which had felt warm in his hand. He noticed a line of strange symbols along the blade.
| Craven | Azareth, take a look at this. (hands him the dagger) |
| Azareth | (takes the weapon and examines it) Hmmm. I recognize some of these symbols; it is possible that this blade is enchanted. It would be prudent not to use it again until we have a chance to study it further. (returns the dagger to Craven) |
Craven wrapped the dagger and the gnome's severed tongue in a length of cloth and placed the bundle into his backpack. He then looted the body for anything of value. At this time Keldirk and Creighton returned carrying an assortment of bottled unguents and potions.
| Creighton | (places the items on a nearby table) I don't know if they're worth anything but you never know. (shrugs) |
| Azareth | Let me see. |
Azareth examined the collection of jars, bottles and vials and sorted them into to two piles. One pile consisted of worthless minerals and common liquids. The second pile was made up of three jars all containing the same green mottled cream. Azareth's excitement was obvious as he opened the lid of one of these jars.
| Azareth | (sniffs the strange looking contents and looks up, a smile on his face) Do you know what this is? |
| Creighton | Mashed avocado? |
| Azareth | (chuckles) No. It is a magical salve called Keoghtom's Ointment. It can be used to leech poisons or cure disease. But, more importantly, it can also be used to heal physical injuries. These three jars should be potent enough to all but return us to full health. (passes the jars out) |
| Keldirk | (accepts one jar dubiously) How do you use it? |
| Azareth | You apply the salve to the injured areas. |
| Keldirk | (slides the jar back) You go first. |
| Azareth | Very well. |
Without pause, the mage removed his robe and applied the cream to his badly bruised collarbone. Almost immediately the bruising began to fade and within a minute Azareth had regained full use of his limb.
| Creighton | (snatches a jar off the table) I'll have some of that. (begins to liberally apply the salve to his numerous injuries) |
After the group had finished with the healing ointment, they waited for several minutes to allow the curative magics to take full effect.
| Azareth | Any sign of the mage's spellbook? |
| Keldirk | No nothing. We searched his room thoroughly and we couldn't find it. Maybe it's downstairs in the library. |
| Azareth | (disappointed) Perhaps. |
| Craven | We can worry about this later. Let's not waste any more time. |
With that the four assassins stepped back into the oddly decorated corridor.
| Craven | So, do we check that door or return to the stairs? |
| Azareth | I say we check the door while we are here. We may as well be thorough and explore this level to completion. If the master is in residence then I imagine the combat with the gnome and the stone guardian would most definitely have alerted him. And since we have seen not hide nor hair of him I suspect we will be able to search the premises without further confrontation. Creighton, Keldirk, what say you? |
| Creighton | Whatever you reckon, Az. |
| Keldirk | (shrugs and begins to check the door for traps) |
| Creighton | Hey, Azareth, how much of that cream have we got left? |
| Azareth | None, I'm afraid. |
| Creighton | Can you make more of that stuff? It works a treat. |
| Azareth | I'll look into it. |
| Keldirk | Shutup, I'm trying to work here. |
A few minutes later Keldirk turned from the door.
| Keldirk | Well, it's not trapped. And, as far as I can tell, there's no lock. Creighton, after you. (steps aside and moves a short way down the corridor) |
Creighton tried the handle but the door wouldn't budge. He put his shoulder into it but the door remained firm.
| Creighton | It won't open. |
| Keldirk | We can see that. |
| Creighton | Do you want me to break it down? |
| Craven | No, not yet; let's check upstairs first. |
The group walked the short distance down the strange corridor and proceeded up the stairs. A short time later the winding staircase ended at a landing with a single door. Keldirk checked the door and, finding nothing, indicated for Creighton to open it.
The door opened easily and exposed a short, polished-floorboard corridor that ended at an ornate, gold- inlaid wooden door. The assassins glanced at each other before Keldirk padded down the corridor. Three steps in the young assassin abruptly vanished.
| Craven | What the... |
| Azareth | (steps back, alarmed) |
| Creighton | (draws his sword) Where'd he go? |
| Azareth | I don't know. |
| Craven | (ties a rope about his waist and hands the other end to Creighton) If I disappear, pull me back. |
| Creighton | (wraps the rope about him, takes a few steps back and nods) Go. |
Craven drew his rapier and followed Keldirk's path. Suddenly the corridor disappeared and Craven found himself outside the tower. He fell a short distance and crashed against the wall knocking the wind out of him. Even as he began to regain his wits, he felt the rope pull taught and he slid back up the wall into the corridor.
| Azareth | (concerned) What happened? Are you alright? |
| Craven | (panting) It's a trap. It leads outside. Keldirk must've fallen. (rises) I'm going to go back and check. Creighton, keep that rope tight. |
| Creighton | I'm on it. |
Craven crawled down the corridor toward the ornate door then suddenly he was outside, his head and shoulders outside the tower wall. The sun had just begun to rise and Craven felt a little disorientated. He looked back over his shoulder only to see the stones of the tower wall, the rest of his body obscured from view. Shuddering against the strange sensation, Craven forced himself to look down.
At the base of the tower, upon the bridge, a contingent of guards had gathered and two of them were pulling Keldirk from the strange red liquid of the moat. Craven couldn't discern Keldirk's health, or otherwise, and quickly he crawled back to the others.
| Craven | (starts to untie the rope from his waist) We have to hurry. Keldirk's fallen into the moat and the city watch are pulling him out. |
| Creighton | (swears) |
| Azareth | Damn. They will no doubt think him to be a thief. |
| Craven | What do we do? |
| Creighton | We can't leave him there. Can we? |
| Craven | No. |
| Azareth | I have an idea. Quick, follow me. |
The three assassins ran down the stairs to the ground floor and Azareth led them to the large dining hall.
| Craven | Now what? |
| Azareth | Stand aside. (begins to cast) |
| Creighton | (to Craven) What's he planning? |
| Craven | I have no idea. |
Azareth completed his spell and assumed an expression of extreme concentration. The others stared in wonder as his facial features began to change. His eyes became deep set, his hair changed from his usual blonde to a thick curly brown, even his clothing was transformed until Azareth was the very image of the man depicted standing before the panther on the huge mural.
| Azareth | (breathes deeply) I certainly hope that this is what Guldar Heel looks like. You two wait here. |
With that the mage strode out of the room, walked to the front door and boldly opened it.
| Azareth | (clears his throat) Good morning gentlemen. |
| guard #1 | (startled) Oh, good morning sir. |
| Azareth | (pointing to Keldirk) Is he alive? |
| guard #1 | (nods) I think so sir, we heard him fall into the water and we came to investigate. Do you know who he is? |
| Azareth | (sighs) Only too well. You may leave him; I will take care of him from here. |
| guard #1 | I don't mean to be rude sir but can you explain how he ended up in the water? There are no open windows that we can see. |
| Azareth | (smiles) He got there by choosing to ignore my warnings. I informed him when he arrived that there are certain places that he should steer clear of. I suspect his curiosity got the better of him. But no matter. Now if you would be so kind as to carry him inside. |
| guard #1 | (swallows uncomfortably) Ahh, certainly sir. (indicates the man kneeling by the unmoving body of Keldirk) Ricks, take him inside. |
| Ricks | (licks his lips nervously) Yes sergeant. |
The guardsman identified as Ricks looped his arms under Keldirk's armpits and half dragged, half carried his body into the entry. Azareth indicated that he should simply leave Keldirk on the floor and the guardsman happily returned to his patrol.
| Azareth | Thankyou very much gentlemen. I cannot image what might have happened had you not responded so promptly. Please, accept my gratitude. |
| Sergeant | No trouble at all. |
Azareth smiled and closed the door behind him, his heart beating wildly as his nervousness threatened to overwhelm him. Exhausted he slumped to floor against the door and allowed his body to resume its natural form. After a few deep breaths he called the others into the room and went over to examine the unconscious Keldirk.
There were welts all over the young man's exposed skin. Long angry red scars crisscrossed his forearms and similar marks could be seen on Keldirk's neck and face. There were also a number of strange, multi- legged jellyfish clinging to the unconscious assassin's clothes. Carefully Azareth and Craven pried the gelatinous stingers off Keldirk and piled them to one side.
| Creighton | Did he break anything in the fall? |
| Azareth | It is difficult to be sure but it looks as though his limbs are intact. We will not know if he has suffered any serious internal damage until the paralysis wears off. |
| Craven | (opens the front door a little and peers outside) The guards have gone. That was nice work Azareth. |
| Azareth | Quite nerve wracking but, yes, it did have the desired effect. (beams proudly) |
| Creighton | (laughs) Look, Keldirk's starting to drool. |
| Azareth | (examines Keldirk) The paralysis is wearing off. This is a good sign. |
| Creighton | (chuckles) It's piss funny, too. |
| Keldirk | Blurble. Grurple. Hrmph. |
| Creighton | Heh, heh. |
| Craven | (lifts a jellyfish with his dagger) What are these things? |
| Azareth | I have no idea. |
Ten or so minutes later Keldirk was back on his feet. The poison from the stinging jellyfish had not only frozen his nervous system but also left Keldirk feeling light headed and nauseous.
| Azareth | How are you feeling? |
| Keldirk | Like someone who just fell eighty feet into a mug of ale. (clutches his ribcage and winces) I think I cracked a rib in the fall. |
| Azareth | You were fortunate not to drown. |
| Craven | Or die in the fall. |
| Keldirk | (pushes Azareth away) Get away from me. |
| Azareth | (steps aside) |
| Craven | Can you wield a weapon? |
| Keldirk | I'll manage. |
| Creighton | Try it now dumbarse. |
Keldirk drew his sword and tested his range of movement. Satisfied that he wouldn't be completely useless in combat the group returned to the top floor.
| Creighton | (looking down the corridor to the gold inlayed door) So this whole thing is some kind of illusion, right? |
| Azareth | And a damned good one at that. |
| Creighton | So the door's gotta be somewhere else. Let's start searching the rest of the room. |
The assassins fanned out and began to search the area thoroughly, mindful of the trap concealed by the illusion. While they found no secret doors around the landing Azareth did determine that they may have skipped an entire level of the tower. So the group continued their search down the winding staircase hoping to find the entrance to this "hidden" level.
An hour later, thoroughly bored and unsuccessful, the assassins reconvened on the landing of the second level.
| Creighton | We have to smash that door down. It's the only door we've seen that we haven't opened. |
| Azareth | I concur, but I believe that the portal has been wizard locked. |
| Creighton | Wizard locked? |
| Azareth | A magical enchantment that prevents unauthorised access. |
| Craven | Do you know whether it's possible to pick the lock? |
| Azareth | No. The enchantment is quite strong. |
| Creighton | So how do we break through this wizard thing? |
| Azareth | If memory serves me correctly, it can only be removed by the caster or a dispelled by a mage of sufficient power. |
| Creighton | So we're screwed. Is it home time? |
| Azareth | There is another more, shall we say, agricultural method to bypass the spell. |
| Creighton | Yeah, what's that? |
| Azareth | We break the door down. |
| Creighton | (smiles) Enter Creighton. (slaps Craven on the back) Follow me. I have an idea. |
Creighton led Craven back into the room where they battled the gnome and over to the fallen statue.
| Creighton | Now that's what I call a lockpick. (smiles) Give me a hand. |
With considerable exertion, the two warriors lifted the stone guardian and proceeded to use it as a battering ram against the wizard locked door. After several solid blows, the hinges gave way and door fell open.
| Creighton | (panting) That was fun. |
| Keldirk | Loud too. |
| Craven | (draws his rapier and catches his breath) Okay big fella, after you. |
Creighton pushed the broken door aside and peered into the room.
The room beyond was a large, open space with a massive embroidered curtain depicting a sunlit, sylvan scene that hung the length of the room. The early morning light filtered in through a window in the north wall illuminating an elegant wooden table and writing chair. To the south, against the mahogany-lined walls, sat an iron-bound chest. Against the west wall, several feet north of the now broken door, stood a large finely crafted wardrobe.
Creighton stepped into the room and indicated to his fellows that the room was clear. The assassins filed into the room and, at Craven's biding, gathered into a tight group.
| Craven | Before we do anything we need to check behind that curtain. Keldirk, do you feel up to it? |
| Keldirk | Of course I do. |
The angry young thief quietly padded to the south, along the wall to the curtain. With expert hands he deftly moved the curtain aside and peered beyond. Several moments passed before he let the curtain fall and quietly called to the others.
| Keldirk | No threats, just a bed, two bedside tables and a couple of windows. There's a spiral staircase leading up. I'll check the chest to the south. |
Once again the assassins fanned out and began their search. The wardrobe contained a large collection of good quality clothes, representative of fashion in every region of the Flanaess. The chest was obviously unlocked and contained a weather-beaten traveling robe, blood stained and badly torn. Beneath the robe sat a pair of muddied leather boots and charred backpack. Keldirk poured through the backpack only to find standard travelling equipment; iron rations, waterskins, a length of silk rope and so on.
Upon the desk Craven discovered a large sheet of finely pressed velum, an inkwell and quill. A crude sketch of some kind of whip-weilding ice-demon marred the otherwise perfectly crafted sheet.
Creighton checked the area behind the curtain. In the bedside tables he found some sleeping attire, one set obviously meant for female use. Sitting upon each bedside table was a ceramic statue; one fashioned into the form of a panther, the other crafted to resemble an elven female, her facial features disfigured by fire. Next to the staircase, beneath a cotton sheet, Creighton uncovered an ornate, full-length mirror.
| Keldirk | (swears) Where the hell is this staff? |
| Creighton | Upstairs perhaps. |
| Keldirk | If Heel has taken the staff with him, I'll be mightily pissed. |
| Craven | Let's go. |
Creighton was the first to ascend the stairs. His bulk caused the iron framework to creak but the structure was in good repair and the others followed the warrior up. The stairs rose into the ceiling and, curiously, continued to rise further than they had expected. Azareth paid careful attention to the number of steps and calculated the approximate height of their ascent. At one point he called the others to a halt and had Craven tie a rope around Creighton's waist.
| Azareth | I think we have bypassed a level. (indicates the landing some ten feet above their current position) If my calculations are correct I anticipate that this staircase will open up on the same level as that with the illusory corridor. Tread carefully, we approach the Master of the Tower's inner sanctum. |
Creighton carefully peered over the edge as he neared the top of the stairs. The first thing that struck him was the volume of light. Three of the four walls held huge windows and afforded a fantastic view of the Del Mord skyline. Making sure that there was no immediate threat, Creighton stepped up into the room and drank in the warmth of the morning sun.
| Creighton | You guys have got to see this. Come up, it's safe. |
One by one the assassins entered the chamber and marveled at the magnificent panorama.
| Keldirk | I didn't notice any windows when I cased out this place. Magic, I presume. |
| Azareth | (nods) And impressive magic at that. Guldar Heel may be more powerful than we originally believed. |
| Creighton | (sarcastically) Great. |
| Craven | Or he has some powerful allies. Let's not forget the other eight people that appeared in the mural downstairs. They could have helped him do whatever needed to be done. (shrugs) But I don't suppose any of that matters now, we'll just have to continue our search and hope like hell Heel isn't at home. |
The assassins then turned their attention from the windows to the other features of the room. Dominating the west wall stood a huge, silver-rimmed mirror. Its surface reflected the windows and made the room appear truly enormous. A marble podium had been erected in front of the mirror. Into the surface of the podium were carved eight oddly shaped holes, all empty. In the centre of the room was a desk with a single, high-backed chair. Upon the desk was an empty stand, a stand that, by its dimensions, could accommodate a very large book. To the right of the mirror was a simple wooden door that, apart from the stairs, provided the only other exit from the room.
| Creighton | Should we check the desk drawer? |
| Keldirk | Why? Do you think the staff will be hidden in there? |
| Creighton | You never know. |
| Craven | Let's check the door first, if we don't find the staff through there we can always come back. |
| Creighton | What about that? (points at the mirror) |
| Azareth | I suggest we leave that alone. I have no idea what it is. |
| Creighton | Looks like a mirror, Az. |
| Azareth | I am sure that it is much more than just a simple mirror. And I would rather not toy with anything we do not have to. |
| Craven | Makes sense. Let's go. |
The assassins checked the door beside the mirror but discovered that it was locked. As Craven examined the lock he whistled in surprise.
| Craven | Keldirk, have a look at this. |
| Keldirk | (squats and peers into the lock) |
| Creighton | (to Craven) What is it? |
| Craven | A lock. But unlike any I have seen before. It has parts within that have me baffled and I consider myself an expert lockpick. |
Keldirk nodded his head. He, like Craven, was genuinely impressed with the workmanship that had gone into the lock. But, with a wry smile on his face, Keldirk withdrew a small ring of keys from his belt pouch and inserted one oddly-shaped key into the lock. Then, with a click, the door unlocked.
| Craven | Where did you find those? |
| Keldirk | In the gnome's room. Creighton, do your business. (steps aside) |
Creighton opened the door and stepped into the room, his swords drawn.
The warrior found himself in a wizard's laboratory. On stone-topped benches scattered throughout the room were cages filled with strange and exotic creatures (some obviously alive), glass bottles and vials containing a myriad of different liquids, powders, salves and preserved body parts. A large bench along the north wall was occupied by a partially completed statue, similar in appearance to the stone guardian that the assassins had fought in Null Keyz's room. However, of most interest, was the glass coffin that sat on a raised platform in the centre of the room. Inside the coffin, unmoving and wrapped in a long white, loose- sleaved robe, lay the body of a man.
The assassins stopped dead in their tracks, half expecting the figure to burst from the coffin and lay about with a barrage of deadly spells. But the body remained still. Keldirk brushed passed Creighton and leaned forward, not wanting to get too near the coffin but needing a closer look. For several long moments Keldirk remained motionless; he neither breathed nor blinked. Then, suddenly, the young assassin drew in a long breath and turned to face his companions.
| Keldirk | He's not breathing. |
| Creighton | Perhaps he's dead. Az? |
| Azareth | Let us get a closer look. But be ready. |
The assassins crept forward and all, save Keldirk, approached the coffin.
| Azareth | Do not stand on the platform, it may be a trigger of sorts. |
Leaning forward, the three assassins gazed on the stationary form of the man they presumed was Guldar Heel. The figure's stark white robe was broken by an embroidered symbol; a duplicate of the eye motif that hung above the door to the tower. The figure's hands and feet were bare and, as far as the assassins could tell, the man wore no necklace or rings. The resemblance of the man to the central figure on the mural in the dining room left no doubt as to the figure's identity.
This was Guldar Heel, Master of the Tower. And resting upon his chest was the Cardass Staff.
The assassins were nervous and their hearts were beating fast. At any moment they suspected the mage's eyes would flick open - but they did not. As they moved around the coffin, it became obvious that Heel had suffered some terrible wounds. But it was too difficult to tell whether the mage was alive or dead. Azareth suspected that glass coffin was instilled with powerful, regenerative magics that preserved the body in a sort of stasis, making it visibly difficult to detect for signs of life. Apart from the robe and the Cardass Staff, the only other thing Heel had was a pouch belt around his waist.
There was no obvious way to open the coffin and the assassins moved back to the room's entrance to discuss their options.
| Craven | Now what? |
| Creighton | We've got to be able to stand on that platform. We won't be able to get close enough to the glass coffin if we can't. |
| Craven | Then we should check the area for traps. Keldirk, if you will? |
| Keldirk | It may take a while. |
| Craven | Take as long as you need. Be thorough. Creighton, you stand on one side and I'll take the other. Azareth, what spells do you have left? |
| Azareth | None, I am afraid. |
| Craven | Fine, then you check the shelves and benches for anything of use. But keep an eye on things. If things get hairy then we'll need your help. |
The assassins put their plan into action. Keldirk painstakingly crawled around the base of the raised dais then commenced his examination with a series of tentative pokes and prods.
Azareth cast his eye about the room in an attempt to make some sense out of the jumble of odds and ends that littered the room. Then, his priorities decided, he began a mental catalogue of the room, opening vials and testing their contents again and again. By the time Keldirk had finished his search, Azareth had placed a number of potentially useful flasks urns and jars at the end of one bench.
| Keldirk | I can't find any traps. I think the platform's clean. |
As if to prove his own hypothesis Keldirk boldly stepped onto the platform.
| Keldirk | I may as well check the coffin. Any objections? |
| Craven | Wait. (looks to Azareth) Azareth what did you find? |
| Azareth | An assortment of things. Three flasks of naptha, a crystal vial of potent acid, a vial of chloroform, a jar of what I suspect is the base ingredient of Keoghtom's Ointment, some wooden tongs and a few sticks of charcoal. There is a wealth of other material none of which would seem to be useful at this juncture. |
| Craven | Okay Keldirk, do your thing. If Guldar moves at all, get out of there fast. |
| Keldirk | Thank's for the hot tip, genius. |
Time seemed to drag on. Keldirk's progress seemed excruciatingly slow and the others began to feel more than a little apprehensive. They dared not interrupt the irritable young assassin lest he overlook a crucial detail. Finally, Keldirk stepped back and wiped the sweat from his brow.
| Keldirk | All clear. The cursed thing seems to be sealed tight, there's no latch, lock or hinge to work upon. |
| Craven | I have a glass cutter. |
| Keldirk | Good thinking. Let's make a small hole at the end of the coffin and use the tongs to extract the staff. With any luck the mage won't wake up. |
| Creighton | Sounds good to me, I'll get the tongs. |
Craven fished some tar paper and his glass cutter from his backpack and, together with Keldirk, he set about cutting through the glass. It was instantly apparent that this coffin was not made of normal glass. Craven's tool was not even able to scratch the surface. Disgruntled and disappointed he flung the useless cutting tool across the chamber.
| Craven | Now what? |
| Azareth | (raises a vial) Perhaps we could use this acid? |
| Creighton | To eat through the coffin? |
| Azareth | Exactly. |
| Creighton | Hang on, hang on. What's that vial made of? |
| Azareth | Glass, crystal, why do you ask? |
| Creighton | Well duh! (slaps his forehead) If the acid is contained in a glass vial then how will it burn through the glass coffin? |
| Craven | (smiles) |
| Azareth | If the coffin were actually made of glass then we would have been able to cut through it using Craven's glass cutter. Since that was patently unsuccessful we can conclude that, although the coffin looks like glass, it is probably constructed from some other material. With any luck it will not be impervious to the acid. |
| Creighton | Oh. |
| Keldirk | So where do we make the hole? |
| Craven | (shrugs) Same place, I figure. |
| Azareth | That poses a logistical problem. (snaps his fingers then hurries across the room and returns triumphantly with a glass funnel and pipette) Problem solved. |
The assassin's took their places. Creighton and Craven stood on either side of the coffin with Keldirk at the head. Azareth placed the vial of acid on the floor beside him and held the funnel hard up against the foot of the coffin. With a deep breath, Azareth began the delicate work of transferring the acid from the vial into the funnel. A small cloud of noxious gas accompanied an audible pop as the acid began to eat through the "glass".
| Azareth | It seems to be working. |
After what seemed like an eternity Azareth placed the pipette to the side and took up the wooden tongs. It wasn't a pretty hole, but it would serve well enough. With a quick glance towards Guldar's tranquil form Azareth reached into the six inch hole and clamped his tongs onto the base of the Cardass Staff. Careful to maintain a firm grip on the tongs, Azareth began to pull the staff toward him.
Guldar Heel's eyes snapped open and he clutched onto the staff, wrenching it from Azareth's grip.
The coffin lid magically vanished and with supernatural speed Guldar Heel rose to his feet. The assassins recoiled reflexively. Creighton was the first to recover and he launched a savage attack even as Guldar began to cast. Creighton's sword cleaved into the already wounded mage's body, opening a vicious gash and disrupting Guldar's spell. Craven lunged with his rapier and took the mage in the thigh. A heartbeat later Craven's sabre whistled through the air and buried deep in Guldar's side. Keldirk's two knives found home in Guldar's kidneys and as quick as the mage rose his body crumpled to the floor.
The assassins took no chances and as one Craven and Creighton hacked into the fallen mage until nothing but a torn, bloodied corpse remained.
Amazingly, the combat was over almost before it began, but despite the apparent ease the assassins were exhausted. They slumped where they stood and were silent for a good while, enjoying their survival and thankful that they had accomplished what they had set out to achieve. Some ten minutes later, Craven rose to his feet.
| Craven | Come on. Let's get out of here. I don't like the look of that mirror next door and I'd rather not meet any of Heel's friends. |
Azareth wrapped the Cardass Staff in Creighton's cloak and the assassins departed the Tower.
By the time the assassins reached The Whistler the sun was at its zenith. Not wanting to be in possession of Guldar Heel's staff any longer than absolutely necessary, they immediately proceeded through the trap door to the cellar. The cooks and serving staff were a little concerned at first, but a few quiet words from Azareth allayed their concerns and they were content to give the group some privacy.
After Keldirk lit a lantern, Creighton closed the trap door and Azareth called out.
| Azareth | Varashar, we have what you seek. |
Almost immediately the room chilled and the ghostly manifestation emerged through the flagstone floor.
| Varashar | Show me. |
Azareth unwrapped the Cardass staff and layed it upon the ground before the apparation. The ghost floated toward the staff, its robe swaying in a non-existent breeze. After a moment's careful study, Varashar turned to face the assassins.
| Varashar | Our contract is at an end. Leave me. |
| Keldirk | What are you going to do with it? |
| Varashar | I have already told you. I intend to use it to break through the barrier that keeps me from my body. Once I am joined with my material remains I will finally know peace. |
| Azareth | What of the staff? |
| Varashar | It will be destroyed. The retributive strike may be substantial. I advise you to leave the vicinity, immediately. |
| Craven | Can't you wait until later tonight? The tavern is full with the lunch crowd and I would rather not attract any unnecessary attention. |
| Varashar | Leave now. I will not wait a moment longer. |
| Creighton | Surely you can wait a few hours. |
| Varashar | (angrily) Leave. (floats toward the group menacingly) |
| Creighton | (steps back, his hands clear of his weapon) Alright, alright. You don't need to tell me twice. Come on boys, let's make like a tree and get the hell out of here. |
| Keldirk | What about our tavern? If this blast destroys the tavern we'll have wasted our time. |
| Varashar | I care not for the concerns of mortal men. Now leave. |
The assassins left the tavern and gathered across the street, some thirty feet from The Whistler. They waited on tender-hooks, half expecting a cataclysmic event but, to their surprise, nothing out of the ordinary occurred. A little before sundown the assassins returned the bar and ventured into the cellar. Azareth questioned the bar staff but none of them mentioned any unusual occurrence.
Together, Craven and Creighton shifted the barrels of ale from over the hidden trapdoor. Carefully Keldirk opened the trapdoor and shone his lantern down the shaft. Where before the view ended abruptly with the inky-black barrier, now he was able to make out a dirt floor, some forty to fifty feet below.
| Keldirk | The barrier's gone. There's a room, or perhaps a tunnel, a rope-length down. |
| Craven | Should we investigate it now? Azareth? |
| Azareth | I think it would be prudent to wait until tomorrow morning, once I have a full compliment of spells. |
| Craven | It's decided. We'll convene back here tomorrow morning, say an hour before sunrise? |
| Azareth | (nods) |
That night passed without incident. The assassins ate a hearty meal then retired to their room for a well- earned rest. An hour before dawn, Azareth folded his spellbook with a clap and woke his companions.
| Azareth | It is time. Let us see if Varashar has left anything behind. |
The assassins dressed then padded down the stairs to the kitchen. They didn't expect to see anyone in the kitchen until after dawn and helped themselves to a breakfast of cold meats and fruit.
Once the trap door was uncovered Creighton found solid purchase with his grapnel and tied a lantern to the other end. Then, slowly and deliberately, the warrior hand-fed the rope down the roughly-hewn shaft. Once the lantern reached the bottom he stepped back.
| Creighton | Looks safe to me. I think there's a chamber or something down there. |
| Azareth | Who wants to go down first? |
| Craven | I will. |
Craven moved to the edge of the shaft and lowered himself carefully to the bottom.
The irregularly shaped chamber at the base of the shaft was surprisingly large; at least twenty feet high and forty feet across at its widest point. Vast roots of long-dead trees supported the walls and many hung from the ceiling, giving the chamber an eerie, web-like appearance. The floor was dusty and dry. It was clear that the chamber had been undisturbed for a great length of time. Craven picked up the lantern and held it high.
Dominating the centre of the room was a large, stone edifice. Two parallel monoliths rose some twelve feet from the floor and supported a third stone block, creating a bizarre door-like structure. Even at this distance Craven could make out that the dark-grey stone was covered with finely crafted runes.
To Craven's left, crumpled on the ground and against the root-covered wall, was an armoured skeleton. Some of the bones had long since crumpled to dust but, for the most part, the skeleton was in remarkably good condition. Of most interest to the young swordsman were the two black-bladed scimitars that lay scant feet from the remains.
| Creighton | (from above) Is everything okay down there? |
| Craven | (looks up and signals ok) Come on down. |
In a matter of minutes the four assassins assembled in the underground chamber.
Azareth's attention was immediately centred on the strange, stone doorway. He guessed out loud that it was a portal of sorts and moved to investigate.
| Keldirk | Be careful, mage. Don't do anything stupid. |
| Azareth | (innocently) Me? Never. |
| Keldirk | I mean it. If you so much as touch that thing I'll gut you from neck to groin. |
| Craven | He's right, Azareth. Let's not touch anything until we know what we're dealing with. (alarmed) Hey! Creighton, that includes you! |
| Creighton | (pulls his hand back from one of the two scimitars) What? |
| Craven | Don't touch them. |
| Creighton | (steps back and looks at the scimitars distrustfully) What? Why? |
| Craven | They might be cursed or something. Azareth, can you help us out here? |
| Azareth | (reluctantly tears his eyes from the portal) Yes, yes. Step back. I shall check the chamber and determine if anything is magical. |
Azareth uttered his words of magic then lapsed into a period of deep concentration. His eyes scanned the entire area and, at the last, he peered up the shaft to where the barrier had been. Then, shaking his head as if to clear his thoughts, he turned to the others.
| Azareth | The stone archway is highly magical. It glows with an almost blinding luminescence. At this early stage, based on what I saw, I surmise that it is a transportation portal of some kind. |
| Creighton | A doorway, you mean? |
| Azareth | Exactly. But a doorway that leads to a place possibly not of this world. (holds up his hand as he sees Creighton about to speak) But it is far too early to hypothesize on where the portal may lead. |
| Keldirk | What else, mage? What did you see when you examined the skeleton? |
| Azareth | If I am not mistaken, and I am rarely mistaken, the skeleton is just that - a skeleton. It appears too slight to be a human, but you three have had the same anatomical schooling as I. The scimitars are another matter entirely. They glow with the aura of eldritch magic, but it is a magic that is unlike anything I have seen before. Almost as if they have been infused with power through induction. |
| Creighton | Huh? |
| Azareth | Think of it like the swords have been in close proximity to high concentrations of magic and that magic has somehow infused the weapons. Again, more research is required to make any clear, accurate conclusion. |
| Creighton | But they're safe to touch? |
| Azareth | I imagine so, yes. |
| Creighton | Excellent. (reaches for the scimitars) |
| Keldirk | One of those swords has my name on it. |
| Creighton | Fair enough. |
| Craven | Take the swords and let's go. The cooks will arrive anytime soon and I'd rather not have to explain this chamber or our presence in the cellar. |
Creighton and Keldirk each took a sword and scampered up the rope. With a longing look at the portal, Azareth followed them. Craven took a long, hard look at skeleton and nodded.
| Craven | Rest well, Varashar. |
| 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. |