Episode 73 - The Grey Wastes
| 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 | Hades |
| Date | 26th Goodmonth 582 CY |
| Time | Late Afternoon |
The assassins entered the portal amid the screams and sounds of Aldareyeth's latest evisceration.
Sneaking through the portal was a simple matter; when the two fiends arrived they were intent on Aldarayeth and failed to notice the assassins hiding in the brush.
The land beyond the magical gate was a desolate place. Dull grey rocks covered the ground beneath a dull grey sky filled with angry looking clouds. The terrain was featureless but for a wide, trodden dirt road that cut through the rolling rock covered hills and disappeared into the distance. Apart from the magical gate which stood behind them, the road was the only sign that anything at all might live in this barren wasteland.
The four assassins looked around them, intently searching for any sign of immediate danger and found none. The deathly silence was unnerving and for a long time nobody moved. A well worn path led from the portal to the road below and without a word Creighton hefted his pack and started walking. Craven waited a moment before he too began to walk toward the road. Keldirk adopted a bemused expression and spoke, his normally sharp voice dulled despite the lack of any other sound.
| Keldirk | Where are you two going? |
Azareth responded, as he took a step along the path.
| Azareth | I have no desire to be here when those two creatures finish up their bloody work. |
Keldirk snorted, thought for a moment then followed behind the others, his footfalls barely making a sound. He suppressed a shudder as he walked, he did not like this place, he did not like this place at all.
The walk along the path to the road was brief. The group looked back and saw the portal standing atop the low hill, a lonely landmark in the otherwise empty vista. The road disappeared to the horizon, going left and right, and showed no sign of any recent use. The earth was tightly packed, as though an army had passed by, months ago, but no fresh footprints were visible. The absence of any sun or moon made it impossible for them to determine a direction; truly an alien landscape in an alien world.
| Craven | Which way? |
| Creighton | (shrugs) Don't see how it matters, one way looks much the same as another. |
| Azareth | Indeed. Let us select a direction and move; this road must lead somewhere. |
| Keldirk | Okay. But wait here while I mark the way. |
Keldirk walked some distance off the road and made a small pile of rocks, then laid out some smaller stones in the shape of an arrow, indicating the direction they would take. To a casual observer it would be impossible to distinguish the small cairn unless you were looking for it. Satisfied with his effort he rejoined the others and began walking in the opposite direction to that he had marked.
| Creighton | Huh? The arrow points the other way. |
| Keldirk | I know. Brilliant, aren't I? |
They covered the miles easily and always the terrain remained the same, though now they could make out some higher peaks in the distance. The ever present road marked their path and Keldirk periodically stopped to construct another marker. Not a sound could be heard but their muffled footfalls, the atmosphere was oppressive. The cold grey light seemed to leech the colour from everything and even Craven's normally flamboyant attire took on a drab aspect. The group walked on in silence, the weight of the silence was palpable and it served to discourage conversation - it was better to remain quiet than to speak and be reminded of their surroundings.
The clouds overhead continued to roil and twist, it looked as though a storm was brewing and who knew what that might mean in this forlorn and desolate land. Their movement in the absence of any wind added to the alien nature of the place and it was better not to look at them. Thus the group walked with their heads down, without conversation, with only their own thoughts for company, cutting themselves off from each other with every step.
Keldirk walked at the rear of the group his mood angry at the situation he found himself in. If it were not for the others he would not be here and he wished, not for the first time that he had never met any of them. An assassin was supposed to work alone; companions were little more than a dead weight that held him back. Their presence prevented him from realising his potential and tarnished his reputation with their failures. If he could just be rid of this anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes he would have a bright future, he knew it.
Up ahead of the group Creighton found himself thinking of his family, his real family, the father and mother he never knew. He was grateful of course for his companions, especially Azareth, and he appreciated the sense of family that the others gave him but Creighton had never given up the hope that he might one day come to know his parents. He looked around and realised that he was walking in the land of the dead, and he did not want to remain here. He never understood why he was left with his Aunty Adai in Three Trees but he knew that if he could find his mother she would be able to explain it to him. Family was important; it's what kept people together no matter what and the bond between mother and son was the strongest of all. Creighton knew that if he could just find his mother she would help him make sense of the world, he knew it.
Azareth was staring at his hand as walked. Alternating between clenching his fist and extending his fingers, fascinated by the play of muscles and tendons as the fingers moved. His hand wielded power, it could create the semblance of reality it could channel the arcane and bend matter and energy to his will - bringing Azareth's imagination to life. Phantasmal energy was among the most powerful magic and Azareth was convinced that mastery of it would allow him to prove his worth, to himself and to everyone else, he knew it.
Craven's thoughts turned to Madam Fifi and her team of dedicated staff. It had been weeks since he had been in the loving arms of a woman and this grey and lifeless realm brought that fact into sharp perspective. He smiled to himself as his mind wandered through the catalogue of conquests and remembered the charms of each one. There was nothing quite like the arms of a willing woman and Craven understood that better than most men. Like a swordfight it could be brutal and short lived or it could be drawn out and elegant, no doubt about it love making was an art and Craven was an artist, he knew it.
The sound grew from nothing and it rose to a crescendo above them before the group even realised what it was; a constant rumble building to an almighty crack of thunder in the clouds above them. The noise shattered the assassins out of their thoughts and they each looked around in shock and fear. Almost as soon as it happened the silence returned, impossibly stronger for having been broken by the massive peal of thunder.
They were nearing the base of the mountains now and they could see flashes of lightning up amongst the tallest peaks. The clouds had darkened significantly and now loomed above them, a storm seemed imminent and none of them wanted to be caught out in the open.
| Creighton | Let's pick up the pace. Maybe there will be a cave or some cover in the mountains. |
| Craven | (nods) Lead the way. |
The four assassins jogged along the road their eyes constantly on the move searching out a place in the mountains where they might gain shelter from the inevitable storm. The lightning grew more frequent and the booming sound of thunder shattered the silence again and again as they travelled, climbing ever higher through the peaks. It was Azareth who spotted the cave first.
| Azareth | (points) I believe there is a cave just up ahead. |
| Keldirk | Good, just hang on while I mark this spot. |
Keldirk once more set to building a small pile of stones set with an arrow as he had done so many times during their walk and just as he finished the clouds opened up. The sound of the rain falling on the upper peaks was deafening compared to the stillness of the past few hours. The rain hissed and steamed as the wall of liquid neared the group.
Craven, who was watching the spectacle had a knot in his stomach, something about this rain did not seem quite right. Just as he was about to voice his fears Creighton screamed as the first drop of moisture struck his exposed skin and began to burn.
| Craven | Acid rain! Run! |
The group did not need to be told twice and the four of them sprinted from the road to the shelter of the cave. They did not quite make it. All four sustained injuries from the burning rain before they entered the darkened hole in the rocks. But their trouble did not end there, the cave in which they sought refuge was not empty and before they could catch their breath Azareth was knocked to the ground as a massive dog-like creature pounced on his acid-burned body.
The others reacted instantly. Creighton drew his sword and kicked the oversized creature hard, keeping it from mauling Azareth with its razor-sharp teeth. Craven stepped forward to prevent the creature from coming forward his own weapons seemingly woefully inadequate for the task at hand, while Keldirk withdrew into the shadows keeping a lookout for any other surprises.
Azareth was able to regain his feet before the creature struck again, but this time Craven was able to deflect the blow and keep the animal at bay. Outside lightning flashed while the acid rain continued to pour down forming pools of steaming liquid among the rocks. A small trickle of acid began to flow into the cave, and Azareth hoped that the deadly storm would not last much longer.
Creighton stepped forward and delivered a massive blow to the dog. His sword bit deep into the creature's thick, mottled fur and yet the beast did not seem to notice the wound. Instead it turned its glowing red eyes at Creighton and let out a bloodcurdling howl. The unearthly cry sent a shiver of fear through each and every one of the assassins but through sheer force of will they were able to resist the desire to flee.
Keldirk had managed to work his way to the rear of the creature and buried his magical dagger deep into the beast's side. The pain from that wound was evident as the dog howled and bucked, trying to dislodge his foe. Keldirk's efforts earned him fast retribution as the dog spun around, tearing the dagger from Keldirk's grasp and snapped at his now exposed arm. The creature's teeth scored deep cuts as Keldirk snapped his arm back before it could lock its jaws on him. Craven took that moment to thrust forward with his rapier, the blade entered the creature's body easily and the blow would surely have killed a normal animal. Not so this dog, which merely leaped back free itself from the blade.
| Craven | Our weapons aren't enough! |
| Creighton | I know, I have an idea. |
Creighton dropped his sword and stepped forward, calling out to attract the beast's attention. The ploy worked and the enormous hound bared its teeth in a snarl. Creighton leapt towards the vicious looking creature, spinning in midair, and wrapped his powerful arms around the dog's body, careful to avoid the snapping jaws. The feral beast struggled wildly in Creighton's firm grip but the warrior was able to work his arms to the point where he could reach Keldirk's magical dagger, still buried in the dog's side.
The hound let out another howl as Creighton gripped the blade twisting it free before bunching his legs and tossing the creature out of the cave and into the rain outside. The effect of the acid was terrifying as it quickly stripped the flesh from the stricken creature's body and the assassins looked on in stunned horror.
The fight was over. Wearily, the assassins bandaged their wounds and waited, injured and exhausted, for the rain to stop.
Hours passed and the storm showed no sign of abating. The group decided it was worth trying to get some sleep while one of them kept watch in case of some unexpected danger. Keldirk to the first shift and he sat in silence in the gloom of the cave. Despite the hours that had passed since they had emerged from the portal, the light outside remained constant, almost as though there was no day or night. There was nothing even as mundane as the passing of a new day to break the monotony of the place. Always there was just a dull, grey sameness, interspersed with periods of abject terror. They had to get out of here quickly, to stay too long would be to invite insanity.
The dull sound of the rainfall itself was soothing and despite his best efforts Keldirk was struggling to stay awake. He had no way of knowing how much time had passed since he had begun his watch but he didn't believe it had been all that long. He looked at his companions and felt the bile rise in his throat, this was their fault. A flash of lightning jerked him from the verge of sleep and he tried to stay awake, focussing on the idle imaginings of his companions being struck by lightning. It would have been oddly appropriate, he thought, for Azareth to be cooked to a cinder by a stroke from the sky above. Keldirk soon despaired of any such deliverance, however, even as a fantasy. The odds were that a lightning strike would never kill more than one of them, and he thought ruefully, that if only one of them had to go it may as well be him. There would be a moment of brilliant illumination, then sweet oblivion. A quick fade to black would be perhaps the kindest escape from this nightmare.
Keldirk sighed. The rain continued to fall while he kept watch as his three companions slept fitfully. No doubt enjoying some dream away from this harsh reality, while he alone remained...
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