FINAL REWARD: PART IV
by: Taliaferro Erucolindo
"We will await your signal, Kiren" said Telree, as Darshan began
to cast the spell that would teleport himself, Kiren, Thanoslug, and Taliaferro
to Faydwer. "We'll contact you as soon as we've recovered Soulfire from
the guildhall," promised Kiren. "SEE YA!" yelled Tal, just as
the teleport took affect. Several of the guild chuckled at Tal's favorite teleportation
epitaph. "Okay, people, let's go over the plan once more...." began
Telree, turning back to the battle map laid out before the guild.
.......
Kiren, Thanoslug, Taliaferro and Darshan stepped into the Guildhall in Felwithe, after their brief trek from the Druid Ring of Butcherblock to the Greater Faydark forest. Following a set of hidden passages, they came at last to the Hall of Heroes. A place set aside to remember those who had served with Giliath Lang, in its various incarnations. As Kiren unlocked the massive doors leading into the nigh-sacred room, Darshan spoke to Thanoslug, nearly in a whipser, "Have you been here before, Thanos?" The young Dwarf shook his head, "I knew this place were 'ere, but I had nae lain eyes on it before now." Tal stood at somber attention as the doors swung open at Kiren's push. Before them lay a veritable treasure trove. Weapons and armor of all makes and description, each one placed almost reverantly upon a pedastal. Each pedestal bore the name of a member who had fallen or was missing in action, or met an untimely demise, or simply had retired from service to the guild. Walking solemnly past several pedestals, the party approached one upon which the name "Lorfindur Galadhgil" was carved. Upon this memorial lay a single two-handed sword. It looked quite normal sitting there. "Thanos, my friend, only a Paladin may hold the Soulfire. We'll need you to convey it safely to Lorfindur, its true mistress," said Kiren. Thanos looked at the narrow blade, and closed his eyes, whispering a quick prayer to Brell. The three Fier'Dal smiled as their sharp hearing picked up part of the prayer, in which Thanos asked Brell to make his future weapon of station "a proper axe, nae a bleedin' pigsticker". Thanos opened his eyes, and lifted the sword from it's mount. Flames instantly burst forth from the blade, lighting the entire room with it's brilliance. Even Thanos was impressed by the aura of the weapon. Willing it's flames to subside, Thanos slid the sword into a scabbard, and strapped it onto his back, making sure it would not interfere with the drawing of his own weapon, a massive two-bladed iron-backed axe. As Kiren sealed the chamber behind them, Tal nodded to Darshan, and signalled into his guild talisman, "My friends, we're on our way. Strength and honor to us all!" The magick once again surrounded them, transporting their bodies to the Druid Ring in the Western Commonlands.
.......
"Strength and honor," replied Telree, as he motioned for the remaining druids in the guild to cast their teleport spells. As the druids all began to weave their teleportation spells, the majority of Giliath Lang readied themselves for the battle ahead, while a small portion of them knew that they were headed for the fallback point at the Druid Ring in Eastern Karana. Slowly, Telree saw the familiar setting of Freeport become the harsh plains of Lavastorm. The diversionary force, once assembled and ready in Lavastorm, began their march to the south, heading directly towards the northern border of Nektulos Forest.
.......
Darshan, Kiren, Thanoslug, and Taliaferro raced across the commonlands towards the southern border of Nektulos Forest. Camoflagued and hastened by magick, with another spell to enable them to see one another, the foursome bypassed the denizens of the Commonlands, resolute in their purpose. As they neared the southern entrance into Nektulos Forest, Kiren held up a hand to stop their progess. Kneeling to the ground, the Ranger of Tunare examined the tracks which led into the narrow cleft in the hills. Looking back at his companions, Kiren held up three fingers. Tal raised an eyebrow at his friend and gestured with his hands to ask what race the three were. Kiren signed back that there were two Teir'Dal, and an Ogre. Sliding forward to peer around the edge of the cleft, Kiren saw them sitting by the entrace to Nektulos. One Teir'Dal, a Necromancer by the look of him, looked around suspiciously, as the other Teir'Dal and the Ogre, both in plate mail, took turns drinking and bashing each other with their mugs, shouting obsceneties to no one in particular. "Apparently," Kiren thought, "Warriors are that way no matter what race they are..." Motioning his friends forward and signalling them to be quiet, Kiren moved stealthily from cover to cover, keeping an arrow nocked and trained on the Necromancer. Tal and Thanos came next, each with their weapons at the ready. Even though he knew that Darshan's spell kept him invisible, Thanos was painfully aware of every sound his metal armor made, wondering to himself, "How the bloody 'ell can these gangly Elves move so damn quietly, even Tal in 'is platemail!" Darshan came last, using a levitate spell to remove all sound as he passed. The three slipped undetected past the Dark Ones, and were almost to the forest when the Necromancer shouted out a warning in Dark Speech. All four whipped their heads and weapons around, ready for combat, only to see the Dark Ones looking not at them, but at a pair of young human adventurers who had stumbled upon their camp. The young humans' faces registered terror at the sight of the three Dark Ones, and the terror grew even wider as the Necromancer threw a handful of bones upon the ground, bringing them to a mockery of life with dark magick. As the Dark Warriors charged the youths, the two humans turned to flee, but the Necromancer cast a spell which rooted one of the humans to the spot! The second human stopped and bravely brandished his weapon, standing guard over his companion, despite the certain death rushing towards them both.
As one, the four members of Giliath Lang lept from their concealment to defend the helpless youths. Kiren and Darshan both cast spells which ensnared the two Dark Warriors in mid-charge, slowing them down considerably. Thanos bellowed out a Dwarven warcry, and brought the wrath of Brell down upon the undead servant of the Necromancer, blasting it nearly apart with a powerful ward. The Teir'Dal Necromancer, surprised by the attack from behind, turned in time to see a Fier'Dal Warrior barrelling directly at him, twin short swords flashing. He only had time to begin to utter an incantation when both swords bit deeply into his robes and flesh, drawing blood each time. The Necromancer fell back from the assault, but Tal raced past him and directly towards the Ogre and other Teir'Dal. As he charged the two Dark Warriors, Tal saw an arrow shoot past his ear, striking the Teir'Dal in the shoulder, as a lightning bolt arced down from the sky and blasted the Ogre, staggering the brute. The Necromancer, recovering from the initial onslaught, turned to cast a spell at Tal, only to feel the weight and impact of an axe sink deeply into his back, between his shoulderblades. Dropping to his knees the Necromancer called to his undead servant to help him, then turned to see a Dwarf wheel about full circle and smash his axe down through the ribcage of the skeletal servant. The Ogre and Teir'Dal Warriors were trying their best to double-team Tal, but Kiren quickly joined the fray, with sword and spear driving deeply into the Ogre, while Tal parried and riposted the attacks of the Teir'Dal. Darshan called forth a swarm of insects which descended onto the suddenly panicked Teir'Dal Necromancer. As the drones slowly devoured his flesh, the Necromancer saw his skeletal servant shattered irrevocably by the Dwarf's axe, and in a last ditch effort tried to summon up enough mana and concentration to step into the shadows to escape. Hearing the words of dark magick, Thanos turned from the remains of the skeleton and once again brought his axe down full force upon the Teir'Dal Necromancer, silencing his voice forever. Meanwhile, Tal circled the Teir'Dal Warrior, again and again parrying the attacks of his opponent while striking back at every opening the Dark One gave him. Making a desperate lunge, the Teir'Dal overextended himself, and Tal smashed one short sword down on his opponent's blade, driving it into the ground. With his other blade, Tal swept upwards and sliced into his opponent's throat. As dark blood spilled forth, the Teir'Dal dropped his weapon and clutched at his gaping wound, leaving Tal the opening to thrust both blades into his opponent's chest. Pulling his blades free, Tal kicked his dead opponent to the ground. Seeing his companion fall, the Ogre bellowed in rage, but another lightning bolt arced down from the sky and blasted the Ogre, distracting him enough to leave Kiren an opening. Slicing upwards with his own short sword, Kiren ended the Ogre's miserable life, just as its scream began.
As the dust settled, the two young humans offered a quick but heartfelt "Thank you!" and retreated back towards the safety of Freeport. Darshan and Thanos began to cast healing magicks onto the victories allies, as they regrouped and looked back towards the forest. Glancing at Kiren, Tal grinned and said, "Mine hit the ground first." Kiren smiled back and responded, "Mine was taller." Darshan laughed as he re-cast the spell which would camoflague them. Thanos cleared his throat, "With all due respect, me friends, if we be through pattin' each other on tha back, we've an appointment ta keep." "Aye, my friends, the diversionary assault should be just beginning. Now that we're warmed up, let's do what we came here to do." responded Kiren. With a solemn nod, the four companions plunged into the forest.