Episode 69 - The Albatross
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 5th Level LE (PC) |
| Locale | The Pauper's Graveyard, outside Del Mord. Azareth, secretly trailing the once-dead Undertaker, suddenly finds himself surrounded. |
| Date | 9th Goodmonth 582 CY |
| Time | Dusk |
Agarat Esiassen watched his quarry with a wry smile; it was just as his divine master had foretold - "Parade the dead and the guilty shall be revealed." This simple instruction had given rise to the plan which even now was bearing fruit. The wisdom and power of Incabulos - The Greater God of Plagues, Sickness and Nightmares - could not be denied.
Agarat emerged from behind a tree and stepped onto the path ahead of the robed man. His hobgoblin acolyte, Kaak'erek, stepped from behind another tree, twenty feet from the path. This robed man had followed Selzcek the Undertaker all the way from Del Mord; the guilty party was revealed.
Agarat saw the confusion and panic in his robed man's eyes and took delight in his fear. The High Priest took two purposeful strides towards the man only to see him turn and run deeper into the cemetery.
| Agarat | (under his breath) No escape that way I'm afraid. |
Agarat watched the scene unfold, a calm serenity over him. He smiled as he saw the trap he had set sprung to perfection and offered a brief prayer of thanks to his almighty god. With a deep cleansing breath he prayed momentarily and felt the divine power flow through him as he cast the required spell.
Ready now, Agarat Esiassen moved slowly toward his prey.
Azareth's head swivelled frantically. To his left was a long, ten foot high, wooden palisade - a barrier he could climb given the time; a commodity he did not have. Behind him strode the once-dead Undertaker, Selzcek Gobayuik, scimitar in hand and now only heartbeats away. Ahead, some twenty feet apart, stood two robed figures.
Stomach churning, Azareth knew he was in trouble. Every fibre of his being was telling him to run.
His only escape was to his right, through the maze of tombstones and mausoleums and ultimately, he reasoned, the outer graveyard wall. His decision made, Azareth hitched up his robes and ran.
Just as he approached the first mausoleum a figure in black stepped out from the shadows and punched Azareth squarely in the nose, sending him sprawling. Eyes watering, Azareth looked up to find the figure holding a rapier to his throat.
| Man in black | Make no move and utter no sound, else I will cut your throat where you lie. Understand? |
| Azareth | (his heart sinking, nods meekly in surrender) |
The undertaker and the two robed figures approached slowly, seemingly in no hurry. Azareth blinked away his tears and fought the urge to wipe his bloodied nose. He was in trouble now, real trouble. The only solace he could find in his current predicament was that he wasn't dead already.
| Agarat | Thank you Blade, I can handle him from here. |
The black-clad figure called Blade deftly sheathed his rapier and stood back, resting lightly against a mausoleum wall. He had an easy confidence about him, a surety in his facial expression and movement that hinted at considerable skill and experience. This Blade was not one to cross lightly, Azareth considered.
| Agarat | You know me? |
| Azareth | No. |
| Agarat | You know him? (indicates The Undertaker) |
| Azareth | (hesitates) |
| Agarat | Ahh, I see recognition in your eyes. And through the power of my god I know that you were involved in his murder. |
| Azareth | Murder? I'm sorry, but I don't know what- |
| Agarat | (eyes narrow as he cuts Azareth short) Know this: I am at this moment infused with Incabulos' divine power and know, also, that to lie to me now is to lie to my god. Other crimes I may forgive, but mockery of the Dark Lord is one transgression that earns no mercy. Speak the truth - you understand me? |
| Azareth | I think I do. |
They had surrounded Azareth now in a tight ring, towering above him and glaring down with a mixture of amusement and disgust.
| Agarat | My name is Agarat. I am High Priest of Incabulos, The Lord of Disease, Harvester of Plague, Reaper of Famine and Bringer of Drought, The Disseminator of Sickness and Master of Nightmares. |
| Azareth | That's, er, quite a portfolio. |
| Kaak'erek | (kicks Azareth in the head) Insolent dog! |
| Azareth | (winces in pain) |
| Agarat | This is Kaak'erek, that is Blade, and of course you already know Selzcek. |
| Azareth | What, what do you want from me? |
| Agarat | Me? Nothing. But Selzcek here has a score to settle. |
| Selzcek | (draws a long, curved knife) |
Looking up at the undertaker Azareth realised that he was in serious danger, he needed to act fast or his life would surely be over. He realised, also, that despite the gleam of wicked cunning in his cold, dead eyes the now undead-undertaker had no will of his own. Selzcek was firmly under the thrall of the one called Agarat.
| Selczek | (places the blade of his knife on Azareth's throat) |
| Azareth | Wait! Please. |
| Agarat | Selzcek - hold. |
| Selczek | (freezes but holds the knife firmly into Azareth's flesh) |
| Agarat | You ask for mercy? Is that it? |
| Azareth | Yes, mercy. |
| Agarat | Did you offer Selzcek mercy when you and your friends cut him down in the street? |
| Azareth | (shakes his head slowly) |
| Agarat | Yet you ask mercy of him? |
| Azareth | I... I don't know what to say. |
| Agarat | Listen carefully. You will answer my questions or you will die. I have cast an enchantment that will compel you to answer truthfully and any attempt to avoid answering will result in your death. There will be no warnings, no second chances. I will simply permit Selzcek to cut your throat. Do you understand me? |
| Azareth | I do. |
| Agarat | What is your name? |
Azareth could feel the magic enter his mind, the spell was insidious as it worked through him.
| Agarat | What is your name? |
The force of the command shocked Azareth and he lost his battle against the magic and found himself completely unable to avoid speaking the truth.
| Azareth | Azareth, my name is Azareth. |
| Agarat | Where do you live? |
| Azareth | (struggles once again but cannot overcome the spell) A tavern in Del Mord. |
| Agarat | (shakes his head and nods once to Kaak'erek) |
| Kaak'erek | (steps forward and kicks Azareth hard) Don't avoid the question, scum! What is the name of this tavern? |
| Azareth | (winces in pain, at least two of his ribs broken) The Whistler. |
| Agarat | Do you live alone or with others? |
| Azareth | (still short of breath) It is a tavern, of course there are others. |
| Kaak'erek | (kicks him once more) You are not thinking are you scum? We can keep this up for hours. Do you really want your final breaths to be filled with pain? |
| Azareth | (shakes his head, barely able to speak) |
| Agarat | (waits for Azareth to catch his breath) Do you live alone or do your companions live with you? |
| Azareth | (coughs) Live... Together. |
| Agarat | Did you and your companions kill Selczek? |
| Azareth | (nods, the pain from his broken ribs tearing into his brain) Yes. |
| Agarat | Why? |
| Azareth | (breathless) Revenge. The undertaker had offended my colleague. It was not my idea, I was merely along for the ride. (winces in pain) |
| Agarat | What are your companions' names? |
| Azareth | (hesitates) Why do you care? You have me that should be enough. |
| Agarat | You are but the beginning; Selczek will have vengeance of his own. |
| Azareth | I see. (thinks) I refuse to make it any easier for you. I will not give up my friends. |
| Agarat | (takes a deep breath and looks towards the former undertaker) Kill him. |
| Azareth | (mustering the remainder of his energy, he tries one final gambit) No! Wait! |
| Agarat | (spits) Why? Why should Selzcek stay his hand? You offered him no mercy. You and your dogs cut him down, murdered him in the street. |
| Selczek | (bends down and rests the knife against Azareth's throat) |
| Azareth | (breathless) What do you gain by killing me? Alive my companions and I could be of more use to you, we are not without skills. |
Agarat considered this for a moment then raised his hand. The former undertaker did not move but at the same time it did not remove the razor sharp blade from Azareth's exposed throat.
| Agarat | What do you mean? |
| Azareth | (takes a number of shallow breaths) Once dead my use to you is limited to such tasks as you now assign Selczek - and perhaps that will satisfy you. But, consider this; leave me alive and my associates and I will perform a task as compensation for the loss of your companion. |
| Agarat | Selzcek was an important asset to me, his death and rebirth have cost me dearly. |
| Azareth | So, we have established that my proposal is sound in principle and we are just haggling over price. |
| Agarat | Indeed. (taps his chin in thought) You realise that any agreement we reach here will bind your friends? |
| Azareth | I do. |
| Agarat | Very well then, the successful completion of one task will buy you your lives. Understand, though, that the task I set will be commensurate with the crime you have committed. |
| Blade | What task can these buffoons perform that we cannot? We are not without skills ourselves Agarat. |
| Agarat | Aye, Blade, but they have one characteristic which you do not. |
| Blade | (offended) And what would that be? |
| Agarat | Expendability. |
| Kaak'erek | (chuckles evilly) Excellent. |
| Agarat | Do we have an accord? One task and your debt to me is paid. |
| Azareth | What is the task? |
| Agarat | That is irrelevant. You agree to my terms or you die today. |
| Azareth | I agree. |
| Agarat | (satisfied that Azareth speaks the truth) Very well. You will be contacted at a later date, it may be a day, it may be a month, it may be a year from now. But when I come you will be ready and will do as I ask. |
| Azareth | (nods) |
| Agarat | Selczek, let him up. |
| Selczek | (visibily hesitates, eventually compelled to comply) |
| Azareth | (wipes the blood from his face, nods to Agarat) You will find me a useful resource and will not regret this deal. |
| Agarat | That remains to be seen. No go, before the sight of you compels me to violence. |
Azareth limped away, each breath brought agony, each step a catalogue of pain. The cold cloak of night enveloped Azareth as he made his way slowly towards the city gates, gates he knew would be closed until dawn. Never had been more miserable.
Never had he been more angry.
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 5th Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 3rd / 3rd LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 5th Level LE (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 6th level NE (PC) |
| Locale | The Whistler, the four Assassins' tavern in the heart of the River Quarter, the rough and tumble area in Del Mord. |
| Date | 10th Goodmonth 582 CY |
| Time | Just after dawn. |
Azareth limped slowly up the stairs to the room he shared with his companions. The pain from his broken ribs was now a dull ache but would become a sharp agony if he breathed too deep. Azareth kept moving by sheer force of will, his humiliation over being caught so easily changed to anger with each step.
This was all Keldirk's fault. If that selfish and impulsive idiot had not insisted on taking his revenge on the undertaker, none of this mess would have happened.
The injured mage paused, taking a few shallow breaths and resisting the urge to fill his lungs. He hated the helplessness he had lived with for the past twelve hours and resolved to do something about it. This was the second time Azareth found himself at the mercy of outsiders and he decided it would not happen again.
With a trembling hand Azareth unlocked the door to their room and stepped inside. Craven and Keldirk were fast asleep but Creighton, busy with his morning exercise routine, turned and smiled warmly. His expression soon turned to concern when he saw the bruises on Azareth's face and the hunched way the mage stood.
| Creighton | Hey Az, what happened to you? |
| Azareth | Hand me my staff. |
Creighton passed the staff to Azareth who then quietly closed and locked the door behind him. Then, staff in hand, Azareth approached Keldirk's sleeping form.
He stood beside the bed glaring balefully at the young thief, watching the effortless rise and fall of Keldirk's chest. With each passing breath Azareth felt his blood boil. Why, he thought, why should this insolent puppy be free to breathe without pain when he was forced to endure this agony. This pain should be his, not mine!
Taking a firm grip of the staff Azareth gritted his teeth and brought the inch-thick piece of hardwood crashing down on Keldirk's unsuspecting back. Then, before his own pain could overwhelm him, he raised the staff once more and brought it down again and again.
| Creighton | Azareth! What are you doing? |
The huge warrior clutched Azareth in a firm embrace and dragged him away from Keldirk's bed. Azareth screamed in agony as Creighton's powerful grip pressed against his broken ribs.
Keldirk, unable to avoid the blows, flopped painfully out of his bed; the dagger he kept under his pillow now in his hand. Catlike, madness in his eyes, he scanned the room still unsure of what had attacked him. Seeing Creighton hold the struggling Azareth, he quickly deduced what must have happened.
| Keldirk | You! You did this! I will kill you, mage. |
Creighton casually tossed Azareth aside and then turned to face Keldirk, blocking his path.
| Keldirk | Get out of my way oaf! That traitor just attacked me in my sleep. |
| Creighton | Back off, Keldirk. Craven! Wake the hell up! |
| Keldirk | (coldly) Get out of my way. |
| Creighton | No. Until we figure out what happened, nobody is killing anybody. |
Craven, now fully awake, rose from his bed and drew his rapier. He saw Azareth's badly injured body slumped against the wall where Creighton had tossed him, then turned his attention to the centre of the room where Keldirk, dagger in hand, stood toe-to-toe with the massive form of Creighton.
The tension in the room was palpable.
| Craven | Creighton, go and tend to Azareth. |
Nobody moved a muscle.
| Craven | Keldirk, drop the knife and let Creighton go. |
| Keldirk | (to Creighton) Last warning. Get out of my way! |
| Creighton | (assumes a defensive pose) Nope. |
| Azareth | (barely conscious) |
| Keldirk | That bumbling idiot attacked me! I aim to finish what he started. |
| Craven | You know the rules as well as I, Keldirk. You can't kill Azareth without permission and judging by the way he looks I doubt he would feel anything you might do to him. Now drop the knife and let Creighton tend to Azareth. |
Keldirk continued to stare at Creighton, his breathing rapid. After a few tense heartbeats the young thief threw the dagger pointedly into to the floorboards and stepped away, returning to his bed.
Creighton waited until he was sure that Keldirk was not foxing, then turned and approached the barely conscious Azareth. With a surprising amount of tenderness he took the mage in his arms and carried him to his bed.
| Craven | Azareth what happened to you? |
| Azareth | (meekly) I was caught, beaten and almost killed. And all because of him! (points in Keldirk's direction) |
| Craven | (alarmed) Who did this to you? |
| Azareth | Powerful people, people intent on vengeance. They wanted to kill me. |
| Craven | But you escaped? |
| Azareth | Not really. (shakes his head weakly) I was released, my freedom in exchange for our services. |
| Craven | Ours? |
| Azareth | Yes, all of us. |
| Keldirk | (spits) What have you gotten us into, mage? |
| Azareth | (glares balefully at Keldirk) It is not I who have gotten us into anything. (breathes slowly) It was you who began the chain of events that have lead us here - you! |
| Keldirk | Me? You're mad. |
| Azareth | I have never been more sane in my life. You are a hot-headed fool, and a risk to everything we are trying to achieve here. |
| Keldirk | What in the nine hells are you talking about? |
| Azareth | You act first think later; it is your way. Your impetuousness carries consequences for us all. And I am not going to take it anymore. Your time has come. |
| Craven | Calm down, both of you. |
| Keldirk | (ignores Craven, his blood boiling) Me? Trouble follows you like a fly on shit. Remember it was you who brought the inquisition to Del Mord with your bumbling experimentation. Don't blame me for your incompetence. You're as useless now as you've always been. If it wasn't for Creighton you'd have been dead a hundred times over. |
| Azareth | The inquisition caused us no harm. Your actions affect us directly. Look at what has been done to me! |
| Keldirk | (sneers) They should've finished the job. |
| Craven | Who is they? Azareth, who did this to you? |
| Azareth | My captors were colleagues of the Undertaker, Selczek Gobayuik. They attacked me and planned to murder me as punishment for the Undertaker's death. |
| Keldirk | You came with me that night of your own free will. You didn't have to be part of it. |
| Azareth | And therein lies the difference between you and I, Keldirk. I could not send you off on so dangerous an assignment without lending a hand; Family loyalty demanded it of me and I was only too happy to help you. But make no mistake, I warned you then that it would lead to trouble and now here it is. We reap what we sow, Keldirk. |
| Keldirk | So this is how you demonstrate your Family loyalty? You come here and beat me while I sleep? Where was your Family loyalty then you son-of-a-bitch? |
| Azareth | I've had enough. Enough of this... enough of you. |
| Keldirk | (laughs humourlessly) So murdering me is your solution? Bravo! |
| Azareth | I had no desire to kill you, foolish boy. I just wanted to share with you a little of what was done to me. Because of your rash decisions and childish penchant for revenge I almost died. |
| Craven | But you aren't dead. You didn't die. You managed to escape and return to us, bruised and broken - but alive! Azareth, you're safe now. |
| Azareth | True enough. But it came with a cost. We now have an albatross hanging around our necks, these wicked men will come one day and we will be forced to do their bidding. |
| Keldirk | Crap. Screw them. Whatever deal you made is null and void. You made it under duress. Let them come. |
| Azareth | When they come we will do as they ask. That is the price we pay for your actions. (to Craven) Trust me, we cannot afford to make enemies of these folk. The undertaker walks once more, I saw him with my own eyes. They are a powerful and well-connected group. They could make our lives in Del Mord very, very difficult. |
| Keldirk | (snorts) I fear no man. |
| Azareth | Then you are a fool! (quietly) Besides, I gave them my word. |
| Craven | (nods, unsure what to say) |
| 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. |