The Traveller Has Come (Vis IV)

"Vis, its cold up here," Deliah said as the pair hovered a thousand feet in the air above the city.
"It is indeed. Bracing, isn't it! All of the people down there, like ants they scurry, not knowing what we have in store for them."
"For.." Deliah shook her head. "What *do* we have in store for them? You won't tell me," the young assassin pouted at her master.
"Not necessarily 'them', more precisely him," Vis pointed at a largish tower straight below them. "And not us, me."
"I don't understand. Why you? I thought I was here to complete my training."
"Complete? No, you have already done that. You have already proven yourself to me in more ways than I can imagine. This was a commission given to me and me alone. That much was specified." The master assassin looked around at the sprawling city before them.
"Specified... So why am I up here? In the wind, and the cold?"
"I need you to read this scroll," Vis handed the girl a black parchment tied with a blood red ribbon. "She gave it to me with the words 'When you're ready'. I *think* I know what it does." The bard cocked his head, and addressed the parchment in the girl's hand. "We're ready."
The ribbon around the parchment softened and began to glow as if being burned with an inner fire. The light became almost blinding as it burned away, leaving the parchment unscarred.
"Deliah, I need you to read that when I start falling. It is imperative that you finish after I have completed my task, but before I hit the ground at a speed likely to reduce me to a thin red paste."
"Thin red paste... THIN RED PASTE? What are you planning you... you... Bah!" Deliah threw up her arms in exasperation and worry.
"It'll be ok. I trust you. And Her. Ready?"
"Aye. I'm ready. I'll do as you ask. As I always do," she sighed.
"Well then, Off I go! Start reading... now!" With a thought, Vis dispelled the magics keeping the both of them aloft and the Assassin and the girl began to plummet through the air towards the busy city.
Vis flickered in and out of phase as he fell, making sure he still had control over his ring. Control that had been fading somewhat lately since the severing. This world just wasn't as fun anymore. It felt stale, worn out. He needed something new, something... fun.
Deliah screamed the words written on the scroll, and similarly screamed invective into the Bard's mind. "You didn't say anything about us both falling you bastard!"
"Don't worry, all will work out. YOu should miss the tower, and have plenty of time to complete the scroll."
Vis streaked towards the roof of the tower. Thinking for a moment, he began to sing. "Swifter senses, peaked perception, rapid reason, alacritous acuity, the flows of time I bend thy will to me, Karalthi's Hastened Thought, I set my actions free!"
As the magic took hold, a bluish-white nimbus surrounded the bard. The world seemed to stop as his perception of time sped up. He knew this was burning energy at a prodigious rate, and he only had enough to get him through his commission, maybe a bit longer. He had never tried to cast an effect of this power, and he strained with the effort of keeping it active. He streaked towards the tower to the perception of everyone outside the spell's effect. TO him, he drifted lazily, like a bee on the breeze. Of course, the bee had more control over its flight, but the Bard was focused on his task. He fell towards the roof, phased out, and passed right through.
Deliah, was not quite having as much fun. She trusted her master, she really did. But sometimes, she wondered a bit about his sanity. The scroll, fluttering in the hurricane of winds as she fell. Not a big thinker, Deliah struggled to read the words of magic, hopeful that she would finish before they both hit the ground. Suddenly, before Vis hit the roof of the tower, he seemed to explode into blue-white light. She kept reading though. That's what she was told to do.
Passing through the roof, Vis reached behind him and pulled out a sack. He drifted through the roof of the top floor, and found himself inside a bedroom, over a bed. Inside the bed was his target. Some local magistrate or other that had offended some local priest or something. Vis didn't care. He was tasked to kill the magistrate with extreme prejudice. He shouted "Hey! Wakey Wakey!" as he upended the sack over the man's now wakeful body. The magistrate sat straight up as the half ton slab of lead fell out of the bag of holding. Now freed of the spell's effect, the lead slab seemed to stretch slowly towards the magistrate. Vis knew it was falling at an immense rate of speed, and quickly phased back out to avoid getting any magistrate bits on him. The lead slab slammed into the magistrate's head, bursting it like an overripe watermelon. rocketing through the rest of his body, it proceeded to punch a hole through the bed and the floors below destroying everything in its wake. The only parts left of the magistrate were the lower parts of his legs, still in the bed.
Reaching the end of the scroll, Deliah struggled with the final three words. The magic burned in her mind like ice, making her ache for the release. She could hardly think as the ground loomed before her. An explosion inside the tower signalled her that Vis had completed his task. She began the final phrase.
His magic exhausted,  VIs began to perceive his speed. 40 feet from the hard packed earth, he seriously hoped this tower had a basement. Clouds of splintered rock and wood flowed around and through him as he fell the final few feet. He worried for a moment that Deliah's timing would be just a little bit off.
It wasn't.
The final words off the scroll, a blood red shower of sparkling fire surrounded the bard and the rogue. The scroll exploded with an almost physical force as the Bard and his Partner were ripped from the fabric of reality and flung off into the nether.

Vis regained consciousness and looked around. He was laying on his back, suspended in midair about 5 feet over a circular crater. He blinked and shook his head, and what seemed to be a soap bubble around him popped and he was dumped unceremoniously to the dirt. He scrambled to his feet and clambered over the side of the crater. Off to one side, he saw another crater, Deliah suspended within. He ambled over, and waited for her to come to. He studied his apprentice and noticed that her hands, and indeed her arms up to her elbows, and parts of her chest and neck seemed to be burned and blackened. "Hmm, that's not a good sign. She kinda needs those," He thought as he examined the rest of her form for injuries. Her eyes opened and she, too fell the 5 or so feet as the protective bubble around her popped. Vis hurried to her side, and examined her for other injuries. She winced as he touched her arms, the skin burned and raw, but not charred.
"Where the hell are we you bastard?" she shouted at the bard as she pushed him away. She fumbled in her pack for a healing potion, found it and drained it in one long swallow. "Oh, that's so much better. That scroll bloody hurt!"
"You know, I'm not too sure really. I don't think we're on Toril anymore. It doesn't smell right. It smells.. I don't know... fresh."
Deliah sniffed, "No, it smells like burning."
"Well, yes. That too. But, fire is the great renewer you know." Vis teased.
Deliah reached out and smacked him on the back of the head. "You know what I mean. Look, there seems to be a haze in the air. I wonder how long we were out."
"Probably not too long. I'm still exhausted. I couldn't strike a spark if I tried."
"Such a shame. You'll have to use flint and tinder like the rest of us."
"Perhaps. It *is* a bit chilly here. A fire may be nice. Looking at the sky, it seems to be late morning. I think it'll warm up a bit. I hope. We're not really dressed for winter." He mused, looking down at his light clothing, more suited for a summer in the city. While there wasn't snow on the ground, there was a certain crispness to the air.
Deliah took a small bluish ring out of a pouch and put it on. A small zephyr whipped around her as she invoked the power of the ring. She rose slowly into the air, to get above the treetops. "Hey, Vis! There's nothing but trees! No civilization anywhere!" She returned to the ground, and smacked him again. "Where the heck have you taken us?"
"Calm down Deel. I'm sure there's people around here somewhere. In the meantime... bloody hellfire, is it getting dark already? I thought it was early morning... Looks like its getting to late afternoon. Hm. Musta misjudged where north is."
Vis took a small red stone out of his pouch. He squeezed it between thumb and forefinger for a second until it made a popping sound. He then tossed it on the ground where it began to char the ground it fell on. "Who needs tinder when you have firestones?"
Deliah just shook her head. She sat down next to the firestone's cheery warmth and thought. Pulling out a strip of venison that had been dried for travelling, she waited for their next move. Vis pulled a couple of blankets out of his pack, and went to sleep rather quickly after informing the rogue that she had the watch.

Night passed uneventfully for the rogue as the bard slept. She watched the trees, she watched as not one, but two moons rose ofer the treeline. Tomorrow, they would travel south towards hopefully warmer climes in search of civilization. SUrely this whole world couldn't be a frozen, barren wasteland, devoid of humanity. After a time, she grew tired of watching trees and moons and unfamiliar stars, and crawled into the blankets with Vis. At least it was warmer in there. As she was falling asleep, she jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow, and muttered "Your turn."

Vis awoke with a bit of a start and narrowed his eyes at the impertinent wench in the blankets with him. "you know, if I didn't like you, I would have killed you many times over by now."
"Blah blah. Delia sleepy now. Make sure nothing eats us."
"Fine.. Be that way." The bard sat up and crossed his arms. THe firestone was still cheerily burning away, and probably would for another dozen hours. He stood and stretched. " “Magical darkness envelops her form, light bends around her, hiding her body, the darkness fades, her body stays, Now, nothing is seen but a memory." he cast on the sleeping form before him, rending her and the pile of blankets she became when he got up, completely invisible. He turned, and looked around at the trees. "Cat, dog, rabbit or fox, ogre, troll, cow or ox, I change my form to deceive my foes, I polymorph myself to destroy those I oppose." and willed himself to take the form of a rather largish owl. He flew up through the trees to see what he could see. He broke the treeline and was stunned at the clarity of the sky. Two fat moons hung like fireflies well above the horizon. THey seemed to be in a northern coniferous forest. Perhaps 3 miles south of where Deliah slept, he ran into the snowline. A light dusting here and there, making way to larger, deeper drifts. He wheeled and flew on through the night. Gaining as much altitude as he could, he tried to see if there were any lights or manmade sights on the horizon. He could see none. They were well and truly lost. However, he had his bearings, and would be able to travel away from the snowline. At least they wouldn't freeze to death.

As he turned to go back to the camp, he caught a glimpse of a slight glow off on the horizon. Intrigued, he flew over that way, and as he got closer the glow resolved itself into a fire. Not a raging forest fire by any stretch of the imagination, but enough to account for the smell of burning timber they smelled earlier. Vis circled the fire, and saw a group of humanoids milling around the edges of the fire. He roosted in a tree, and watched more closely. The group of humanoids, now seen to be orcish in nature, were grouped around the edges of the forest fire. Every now and then, one orc would run up to, and almost into the fire to the cheers and shouting of the others. The closer a runner got to the fire, the louder the cheers. Vis sat and counted probably 5 dozen orcs all full of adrenaline and fire worship. Every once in a while, one would go too far, and would burst into flames. They weren't wearing any clothing apart from a loincloth that he could see. The rest of the orcs would all point and laugh at the one that caught fire. He eventually noticed one of the orcs standing over a barrel of some substance. The barrel orc was chanting and waving his arms around, and occasionally would throw a handful of whatever was in the barrel into the fire, causing a flash ans a fireball. The dancing and running orcs would periodically pass by the barrel and slather some of the contents upon their bodies.

Deliah and the Dragon (Vis III)

“Why have you come to me little human?” StormPyre the Red said as Deliah crept into his lair.

“Little human… Oh. Hello. Um… O GREAT AND POWERFUL STORMPYRE! I COME TO..”

“There’s no need to yell child. I have excellent hearing. Now, tell me what you want before I am forced to do something horrible to you.”

“Horrible? No, I don’t want to think about that. I was sent here by my master, who was told by his master to send me here. I believe that you’re supposed to give me things. I don’t exactly know what though. I’m still new at this.”

The ancient red harrumphed at the girl, a moist wet cloud of heat rolled damply over the assassin in training. “You intrigue me young human. Full of bravado and charm when you’re moments away from a painful devouring. One reason I shouldn’t eat you is that you’re one of the Mistress’ followers, and she doesn’t appreaciate that sort of thing. Can you give me another?”

Deliah thought for a moment. “Give you another… Because humans give you heartburn? Because I’m cute? Because I have something for you?”

“Something for me? What, praytell would you possibly have for me that I don’t already have?”

“Already have… I have a story. And a dead cow. The Mistress told me you were fond of beef.” Delia placed a small silk circle on the ground that opened into a 10 foot hole. “See? Dead cow!”

StormPyre lazily lifted his head up and looked in the hole. Inside said hole was the corpse of a dead female minotaur. “A delightful present! Please, close it up and I will devour it later. I do so wish to savor it.” He rummaged in one of the piles he was coiled around and produced another such silk circle. “Here. This is to replace that one.” He handed it to the girl.

“Thank you Lord Dragon.”

“Now, this story. Begin.”

Deliah cleared her throat and sat down in front of the dragon. “Begin… I was born, the bastard child of the Lord Meduseld twenty-three summers ago. In a moment of passion, him and my mother were one, and I was the result. I grew up in the manor, my mother was a lady’s maid to Madam Meduseld. Everyone thought I was a product of some passionate knight, but only my true parents knew that there was no ‘k’ involved.”

“A year after I was born, Madam Meduseld had a child of her own. They called him Alyndas. They were so proud of him, he was going to be the continuation of their bloodline. Was I jealous? Not at all, I was barely able to stand, much less hate. Years passed, and I was given the job of scullery maid, under Madame Cory. Not an unpleasant task, but still hard work. Alyndas was raised into Tyr’s embrace, and excelled at everything he did. I think he fancied me somewhat. Hah! What a joke that would have been. Such a scandal! For that reason, my Father warned him away, and sought an arranged marriage to Shaleea d’Beregost, the young daughter of Tüssel Beregost”

“Fascinating.”
“Fascinating… My story?”

“What? Oh, no. I was simply musing on why I haven’t eaten you yet. It does get good does it not? I would hate to miss a thrilling ending by devouring the bard. I said to myself, never again devour the bard before the tale is told. Now, I shall never know what happened at Kellog’s Mills, or why the striped eagle is said to cry at dawn. Please, continue.”

“Continue… Oh. Right. So, we grew up together, in the same house, but different worlds. Him with his tournaments, and me with my scrubbing. Aly and Shalya also grew up together, finding commonalities in their similar lifestyles. Hah. Paladins and Priests. Birds of a feather. Bleedin godbotherers. Pious gits.”

“You’re digressing. Far be it for me to deny someone their hatred of the ecclesiarchy, but I would prefer you get to the good part before my cow goes soft and runny.”

“Soft and runny…” Deliah winced a bit at that thought. “About 4 years ago, this world’s time, Alyndas and Shaleea departed for adventure. A strange messenger came and collected the both of them for some world shattering reason. And we were left in the manor. Aly’s dad didn’t want him to go, he knew it would be trouble. But, a headstrong young knight, and the devoted follower just *had* to leave. So they left.”

“About 8 months or so after they departed, orcs rose in the east. Like a plague of locusts, they descended on the manor. Aly’s parents were killed, along with much of the guard. Only myself, Gramling and Madame Cory were able to escape with the help of the guard captain. We fled west to the Beregost manor, and Lord Tüssel was able to rouse enough support to go smash the orc raiding party. Not before they razed Meduseld Manor, and slaughtered all the livestock though.”

 

The summer was hot. Probably the hottest summer on record. Or would be if the people bothered to keep records. It was stiflingly hot in the evenings, and hot in the mornings. What made it worse was the humidity. It seemed so thick sometimes, that if you hit the air with a stick, it would rain a little. The farmers in the fields were worried about their crops. It was too hot for their corn to grow properly, and even were it to cool a bit, the afternoon and evening thunderstorms soaked the fields almost to the point of flooding. All of that was not an insurmountable problem though. What the true issue was, was orcs. Every time the weather turned hot and sultry, the local orc tribes got restless. Tüssel theorized that it had something to do with the thunder and lightning rousing the orcs to war. It happened every 15 years or so, and this year was probably the worst that the local manor lords had seen.

              Lord Calthas Meduseld looked out over his fields. The sun was low on the horizon, and the skies were aflame with danger. Calthas was wary. He had heard of orc attacks on several of the other nearby manor houses. Skirmishes really. Scouting parties testing a foe. He knew he didn’t have enough men. He knew his manor was woefully underprepared. What else could he do though. He had no money left, and couldn’t afford more men. Where had all his money gone? It didn’t matter anymore. Susilla was pregnant again, and it was a difficult time for her. He was thankful for Gramling’s assistance with her, but there was so much to do lately. He felt that he was just getting mired deeper and deeper in debt and despair.

              He didn’t want Alyndas to go. He ordered him to stay even. But, it was no use. The boy had it in his head that he was going to save the world, and went off to do so. With him gone, Calthas had to work longer and harder to maintain the manor, and he was failing. Things were about to change…

              <You six, you go around to the other side of the house. Wait there for the signal. You, Naz, take your orcs and go through the field. This house is full of money and food. Gal wil fire an arrow and we will attack. Take everything, leave none alive. Go. Go now. The sun has set. For Stoneclaw!>

<For Stoneclaw!> the orc raiding band echoed.

Sara was outside gathering water for the night. She hated walking the heavy buckets back and forth to the cistern in the basement every night. To be honest, she was tired of being a housemaid. She craved adventure and fun. But no, every morning, empty the guzundas, help prepare breakfast. Every afternoon, laundry and cleaning tasks. Every evening buckets of water and dinner preparation. At least she wasn’t working out in the fields, but that would at least be a change. She wanted to go with Alyndas and Shaleea. They were her only real friends, and now, they were off having adventures, and she was stuck toting buckets. Such injustice.

The last rays of light faded from the evening sky and the first stars came out and twinkled. The night was clear and calm as the raiders got into their positions. Nothing to do now but wait.

Calthas watched the fields without looking. He was staring off into the distance, and enjoying a rare cloudless night. “Ah, Susilla, Its nights like these that make me happy to be alive. I wish I didn’t have to worry about money so much.”

“You wouldn’t have to worry about money if you didn’t lend it to the other manor lords. You wouldn’t have to worry if the other manor lords actually paid you back what they owe you. What happens if the orcs come Calthas? They’re bad this year. I’ve heard the rumors. And I’m not blind, I know the house guard is at perhaps a third of what it should be.”

“I know Sus. I know. I’ll send couriers on the dawn to ask the lords for reinforcements against the possibility of orcs. If they all spare 2 men each, maybe we could have enough to defend ourselves without crippling the other houses.”

“That should be fine Calthas. Come to bed, we can watch the stars from here.”

Sara was out by the well, waiting on Jonas to join her. She’d be damned if she wasn’t going to at least have a measure of fun. He was late though, and she was getting mad. Was she not pretty enough? Common knowledge said she was. She’d give the boy another thirty minutes.

With a shower of sparks, the pitch soaked rag was ignited, and the arrow was fired high into the air. The attack was on. Orcs burst forth fro their hiding places and quickly overwhelmed the few guards that were awake. Screaming and howling, the hordes raced for the outlying houses and quickly slaughtered the inhabitants. Farmers and their families were slaughtered in minutes.  Grabbing sacks of foodstuffs and anything that wasn’t nailed down, the outlying buildings were quickly ablaze. Fires and screams pierced the night, and the manor was roused. The remaining guards rushed forth, and put up a valiant, but futile effort. The few guards that remained were quickly dispatched, and the main house was entered.

Sara heard the screams, and saw the fires and dashed for the treeline. She knew she had to get help. She ran as hard as she could towards the Beregost manor. Tüssel would help them. Racing through the brush, she left snatched of dress on the bushes she ran past. Thankfully her natural grace prevented her from losing her balance and really hurting herself on the hard, rocky ground. Onward, she fled. It was about 5 miles to the Beregost manor. She had run it before in about half an hour on a dare. Now, lives depended on her.

Inside the manor, the brutish Stoneclaws killed and looted their way through the manor. Grabbing whatever wasn’t attached, cutlery, art objects, decorations, etc, all went into sacks. Outside the house, the lone remaining guard was shepherding Gramling and Madame Cory away from the house. He didn’t know he was the last, but he did know that he had to get his two charges to safety. All of the buildings were now fully aflame, and some of the fields were starting to catch as well. Orcs ran into the stables and stole the horses. Orcs broke into the stables and slaughtered the cattle, carrying away huge slabs of meat. Orcs descended on the manor house like ants, now that the defenses were mostly defeated.

“My god Susilla, they’re in the house,” Calthas said breathlessly. “We’re done for!”

“Calthas, where are the guards? They’re supposed to be…” Susilla was interrupted by a crashing against the door. “Calthas!” She screamed.

Lord Meduseld snatched his sword and shield from the wall, arming himself against the orcs. “Susilla, get away from the door. No matter what happens, I love you.”

The bedroom door shattered in under the blows of the orc warriors, and a half a dozen greenskinned monsters rushed the room. Calthas felled one of them quickly with a forceful blow. The second one through the door aimed a club at Calthas’ head and missed. Calthas swung and connected with another orc’s arm, almost severing it at the elbow. A third orc pulled off a fierce double overhand blow towards Calthas, only being warded off at the last moment by the Lord’s shield, shattering it, and sending a shock up his shoulder. Calthas dropped to one knee, and was left unprepared for the blow that ended his resistance… and his life. Susilla screamed, “Calthas! No!” and the orcs were upon her in a flash.

About forty minutes later, a dozen manor guards from house Beregost rode up. Sara had summoned them in a breathless gasp. They were too late. The orcs had gone. The buildings still burned, and all that could be heard was the roar and crackle of the fires. Timbers, weakened by the flames, cracked and settled to the ground in a crash. The Beregost guards rode slowly around the area, looking for survivors, but none were found. The Meduseld manor was lost.

“I don’t know what happened Milord,” Pasa the guard told Lord Beregost. “It happened so fast, and we were so undermanned. We were overwhelmed in minutes. We never stood a chance. I got madam Cory and Gramling out, and shepherded them here as fast as I could.”

“Yes child. Good work there. Hopefully others will make it here over the night. Sara the scullery maid is upstairs having a nap. She was almost in hysterics when she got here. I sent some guards to search for survivors, but I don’t have a lot of hope. The orcs are as thorough as they are vicious. I can almost see the flames from here. I doubt that there’ll be any remains with the ferocity of the flames. I fear that now, Alyndas is the last Meduseld.”

 

“Such a senseless waste. Good cows are hard to come by sometimes.” The dragon mused.

“Come by sometimes… Anyway…” as the girl continued her story, the dragon kept noticing her strange verbal tic of repeating the last phrase spoken to her, and wondered quite what it was. Narrowing his eyes while she prattled on about nonsense he *really* didn’t care about, he focused on the girl’s mind, and saw a peculiar thing: the remnants of a powerful mind control potion, mixed with a philter of domination. “Interesting,” the dragon thought. “Usually potions would cause a problem when mixed, but these…” He looked deeper into the threads of magic entrapping the girl’s mind and saw that these two particular potions had been designed to mix perfectly. “How clever,” he thought as he looked at the residue to determine a formula. Now that he knew the girl was being controlled magically, he became aware of a particular scent about her. He thought he could detect graymoss and the spores of the black cap mushroom. “Odd that. That’s usually a paralytic.” The girl was still prattling on about living with the High priest of Lathander, “Yes, yes, that’s all fine and good girl, but indulge me, tell me of how you came to know Vis.

“Know Vis… Master Vis? There’s not much to tell. Something horrible happened at the manor the night Lord Beregost was to come to dinner with Alyndas, and he found me, poisoned and delirious wandering in the wood. He said I was unconscious for three days and nights, and raving for another week. He brought me to a priest, strange fellow, smelled of rose. He had a cure for the poison…

 

<Whyy have you brought her here to me?>

<I need something from you Arkhost. I’m about out of Felmyst, and I can’t keep her like this for much longer. I need your alchemical skill.>

<Are you mad! You’ve been using Felmyst on her? How long?> The ‘priest’ grabbed Deliah’s head and looked into her eyes. Pale and glassy, pupils dilated to the size of the Acheru Chasm, she drooled on Arkhost’s hand. <Her mind is almost gone. What do you want?>

<Arkhost, I need a ‘remedy’ for this situation. I’ll owe you a favor. You know what that means.>

<Hah! I do indeed. Very well, This will not be easy. I can perhaps mix something. It will take a long time. You will need to care for her. She is not my responsibility, and you will owe me two favors.>

<Two?> Vis sighed. <Fine. Lets do it. I am at your disposal…>

<First we will need to reverse the effects of the felmyst. Hopefully she will have retained her faculties. I assume you do not want her to remain a walking turnip?>

<No, I need her lucid, and in control of her actions. But I need her to listen to me. I can’t tell her the truth yet. Perhaps ever.>

<Here. Give her this bluestem extract. It should counteract the felmyst.> Arkhost handed Vis a small greenish blue vial. <Quickly now!>

Vis administered the curative, and Deliah closed her eyes and slumped into the assassin’s arms. <Well, that’s better. > He said, a sarcastic edge to his voice.

<She’s sleeping. It will take some time. Put her on the floor, over there.> The alchemist pointed to a mat in the corner. Vis carried her over and laid her down gently. He covered her with a blanket from his pack as she started shivering.

<Vis, come here. I’ll need your help if we are to do this properly. If you want to bend her mind to your will, we will need to create a mixture that will do so. It will take a bit of creativity, but that’s why you came to me. I need to know what you have given her.>

<I gave her the felmyst, and I may have given her a bit of this.> Vis handed the alchemist a bottle, labeled ‘suggestions’

<Philter of suggestion? Amateur. You want this effect to last, don’t you? Let’s see. If I take this elixir of mind control and combine it with… hmm… Ah yes! Philter of domination, and add a dash of loyalty serum. Perfect. This’ll take a few hours to mix properly. You should have enough for a long enough period to break her. That is what you want, isn’t it?>

<Yes, that should do nicely.>

<You do know that the felmyst will take about a month to purge from her system. You’re going to be here for a while.>

<I know. I think she’s worth it. Gods, the way she moved. Perfect for my needs.>

<She better be. This next month will not be fun for you at all. Or cheap. Or easy.>

 

…and bade me take it every night for a week. I was devilishly sick for a month, I almost wanted to be dead myself! But, their care led me out of darkness, and I’m now having the time of my life! Its all such a grand adventure! I don’t know what would have become of me without Master Vis. He’s been kind and patient with me, and I’ve learned a new trade! Well, two trades if you count the assassination thing. Which I don’t, its just a twist on the thievery. I still needed to take a small dose of the curative once a week though, he told me the effects of that particular poison can linger for months, if not years. I tell you though, it tastes horrible, and my mind seems to spin every time I did take it. But I took it, Vis needs me, I just want to make him proud of me. That’s why I came here! I wanted to prove that I had no fear of… how did he put it? ‘Trafficking with greater powers’”

“Hah. Greater powers indeed.” The dragon squinted at her, and then shook his head. “I smell the stench of the nine hells on you. How have you come by that place?

“That place… Baator. After I got over the remedy, Vis trained me as a common street thief. Pickpocketing and cutpursing in Baldur’s Gate. I ran confidence scams, selling glass jewelery bestowed with magical auras in small towns for a steal and rode off, cat burglar skills. I wasn’t very good at the burglaring, almost getting caught a couple of times… would have had Vis not bailed me out…  and I have a hard time with traps, but the climbing and leaping and tumbling… that, I’m really good at. Vis saw this, and took me to see an old associate of your Master’s.  Johannithazar Kinthil Razlarashi, the renowned Thief-Acrobat. He’s an abashai now. Seems your Master killed him and sent his soul to Baator, and he owed his master a favor. Its convoluted, and Vis worked out the details for days. In the end though, I spent 3 years there, training every day in that… err… hellish landscape.”

“He sent me on errands, fetch this, destroy that, elude those others and whatnot. Every day something different. I performed well, and Master Johann was promoted on my back for the tasks I was doing. Eventually his scales turned obsidian, and he said I was ready to go. I really had no idea how long I was there, it all seems a blur now. Vis came and retrieved me, and we came back to Faerun. Seems only a month or so had passed here for the amount of time I spent there. I was lean, and dangerous, and Vis said he had the largest challenge ever for me.”

 

“Deliah. I’ve missed you so. I trust your stay with Master Johann was informative?”

“Informative… Yes, it was! Look what he gave me!” She held out her hand, and inside it was a smooth metal cylinder, greenish blue to the cast and about 5 inches long and 2 inches across.

“Hm. A cylinder of greensteel! Very nice. I’m shocked he felt he couldpart with such a treasure.”

“Such a treasure… No silly! Look what it does” Deliah closed her hand and sharply twisted her wrist. The cylinder extended instantly to ten feet in length. “It’s a pole vault! He said it was called something, but I forget what he said. Its an instant pole! Isn’t that great!”

Vis cocked his head. “Great… Yes dear! Its wonderful! It shall be useful indeed!.” ‘Wonderful, he thought, now she’s got me doing it. I really need to see Arkhost and get that fixed, Its cute, but sometimes it just grates on me.”

“Useful indeed! Oh Vis, I’m so happy to be back here. I can’t wait to show you what I’ve learned!”

“I can’t wait to see it. For now, lets take a rest for a couple of weeks. Just you and me, no training, lets just relax with each other.”

“Each other… That sounds pleasant.”

A couple of weeks passed, and the two found themselves back in Baldur’s Gate. “Deliah? Do you think you could kill a man?”

“Kill a man… Of course I could kill a man. I’ve… well, I’ve not done it before, but I’m pretty sure I could. Why do you ask?”

“Because Its time you learned how.”

“Learned how… What do you mean? I know how to kill a man. Its really not that hard.”

Vis sighed, “True, the actual *killing* isn’t all that hard. Hell, an enraged housecat could probably do an unprepared wizard. But what I refer to is the art of killing. I am the first of a new order of assassins.”

“Assassins? Tüssel told me they all died when Mrykul destroyed them, and they were no more.”

“Tüssel was wrong. There was one remaining. My Mistress. She trained me because of my special talent with magic.”

“With magic… I really wish you could teach me that. I’d love to learn magic!”

“Perhaps in time my dear. I don’t know if what I do can be taught. In the meantime, I have an offer from a minor noble to kill another minor noble. Its worth a thousand gold… Interested?”

“Interested… A thousand gold! That’s more than I’ve seen ever! Of course I’m interested…”

 

The young soon-to-be assassin ran flat out toward the wall, snapping out her pole at the last second, gliding smoothly over the 12 foot wall. Snapping the pole back into its compact form, she glided across the few feet between house and wall, and landed smartly on the roof. For a moment, a tile slipped under her soft booted foot, and she nearly lost her balance. She quickly recovered and darted into the pool of shadow cast near the balcony.

“Flashy my dear. And perhaps a bit loud, but I do so love watching you run.” Vis thought at her, their linked rings of telepathy allowing them to share their thoughts.

“Watching me run… Pfft. I know. That’s why I do it. Now, hush. I need to concentrate. This window’s trapped, and you know I’m not very good at traps.” Deliah looked the window up and down. She knew there was a tap there, she could see the catch, and the wire on the inside. She sat and stared at it for a time, and couldn’t, for the life of her figure out how the bloody thing worked. She hesitated for a moment, and brought out a small, flat hook. She wiggled it halfheartedly under the windowpane, and gave up when she couldn’t hook the wire. She got up on her haunches, and looked around. Slowly scanning the rooftop, she noticed the chimney. Dashing off towards it, she leaped up and stood at the top of it for just a moment before she dropped down into the house. She shimmied down the chimney and dropped lightly into the fireplace.

Deliah looked around the room, scanning for danger. It seemed that she was in a study. From what Vis had told her, the noble would be in his bedroom at the other end of the house. Deliah crept out of the fireplace and edged out of the study. Slowly she walked down the hallway, keeping her back to the wall as she went. It seemed that noone was awake in the house, and all she needed to do was make it to the bedroom, open the door and kill the noble in his sleep. She edged up to the bedroom door and slowly tried to turn the handle. The door was locked. Of course the door was locked. She was about as good at locks as she was at traps. She knelt in front of the door and pulled out a roll of lockpicks. She inserted the tension bar into the lock, and worked on the lock with a couple of different picksafter a minute or so, which seemed like forever, the lock clicked and the bolt slid back.

She went through the door quickly and clicked it shut behind her. There he was. Her target. All she saw was his sleeping form in the bed on the far side of the room. She drew her short sword from the sheath on her back, drawing it downward swiftly. Approaching the bed swiftly, she raised her sword for the killing stroke, and stumbled over a pair of slippers. Diving forward to catch her breath, she fell across the noble, who sat up with a start.

“Wha… who are? Gua…ggrh!” Deliah managed to put sword to flesh and sliced the man’s throat clumsily. The man’s dog, previously unseen by the girl in her zeal to make her first contract started barking vigorously, and advancing on her, malice in its beady little eyes. The now-assassin leaped to her feet and flipped back toward the window. In an effort to get away, she realized that she could dive out the window and vault off the wall. That, or get mauled by an angry dog, and caught by the house guards. So, she did the only rational thing and dove through the window at a run. Eyeing her mark on the wall, she executed a perfect vault off the wall and landed a few feet from where she started. She suppressed the urge to shout “Ta da!”

“Now what my dear? You’ve made rather a mess of this one haven’t you? A good assassin needs to be able to escape as well as enter.”

“Enter… I killed him. I did. I didn’t see his dog on the floor though. He barked, I panicked. I’ll be alright. I’m good at evading. See you soon.” She dashed off into the night. Flicking out her pole again, she vaulted up the rooftops and ran flat out for their sanctuary. Her sleek form nimbly cutting through the outcrops, gargoyles and chimneys, she flew on towards safety. She truly enjoyed running through the city like this, able to concentrate only on hands and feet, balance and leverage. Her training with Master Johann allowed her to make extraordinary leaps and vaults. She swung and bounded through the city, pausing only to orient herself. Once she was satisfied there was no pursuit, she started moving at a slower, more relaxed pace. Even after that exertion, she was barely breathing heavily. She sat in the shadow of an overhang and thought.

              “I actually did it. I killed a man in cold blood… What a rush!” She thought to her partner, “That was amazing! I want to do it again! What a feeling! That was better than sex! “

              Vis laughed through the link, “Again huh? You’re insatiable my dear. I don’t have another commission right now, but maybe we can do something else that’s almost as fun?”

              “Almost as fun… Well, if you insist! I’ll be back in the inn in a flash!”

 

“Undone by a dog!” The dragon laughed as she related the tale of how she committed her first contract.

Deliah sighed, “A dog… Yes. I was in such an excited rush as I approached the noble, I didn’t check out the room fully. I do that. Vis calls it tunnel focus. All I can see is the target to the exclusion of all else around me. He says I need to not do that.” She humphed, “But I think it makes me better. Sharper. I see what I’m going for, and I get it!” She smacked fist into her open palm to emphasize the point. “He’s the stylish one, I’m the flamboyant one. We’re a pair.”

StormFyre thought for a moment about Vis. ‘If she’s the flamboyant one…’

“So little assassin, what has all that to do with me? And why has the Mistress told you to come see me?”

“See you… She told Vis to tell me to come here for some equipment. That I needed to be properly attired if I was to take my place as his second. Tis a dangerous world, with dangerous people, and I would need powerful protection if I was to survive and succeed.”

“And I suppose you want me to help… Yes?” Stormfyre chuckled at the human.

“Yes… Yes, I want you to help me. I told you, I’m still new at this, and I don’t know half of what I need to know really.”

“Very well, I will help you. You have entertained me, and given me a pleasant snack for later. Lets see what’s in here that would be useful for you. And then, you and Vis can go see the Lady. Lets see here. You’ll need this to start with,” the dragon said, tossing her a leather satchel with brass hardware. “Hmm. You’re fast, but these boots will make you faster,” A pair of grey suede boots followed the backpack. “This brooch will prevent you from being surprised, and these bracers will allow you to parry an attacker more easily. Ah yes,” the dragon said as he held up a small golden circlet, entwined with platinum wire, “This will prevent mind affecting magic from controlling you. And, will look quite delightful on you as well!”

              Deliah giggled and took the circlet from him. She put it on, and StormPyre saw the effects clouding her mind fade a bit, but not disappear.

              “Are you sure it’s doesn’t make the wearer think more clearly? I feel odd… like I haven’t felt in a long time. Its odd really.”

              “Fascinating. Well, lets continue. The mistress did say to equip you well, and I’m nothing if not obedient. You said you’re not good at locks, so, lets give you this cloak that makes doors pointless and this belt and buckle combination that protects as a suit of full plate armor. I have a collar that makes the wearer immune to the slash of a sword, This pair of earrings will allow you to understand any language uttered. A handy feat. Speaking of feats, these gloves will allow you to wield any weapon you touch as if you had mastered its use. Here’s a ring that will allow you to quickly regenerate your wounds. And here is a matched set of elemental control rings.” The dragon handed over a ornate mahogany box with four rings inside. “With this, and perhaps a weapon or two, and I think you’re done. Cliché, but effective, a vorpal blade. Keep it away from your neck. Alrighty now, pack it up, and off you go! I have a cow to eat.”

              “Cow to…” Deliah shook her head as if to clear a troublesome thought, “Thank you for your help lord Stormpyre. Please, let me know if ever there is anything I can do for you.”

              “Yes yes, just go now please. I believe the lady is waiting for you.”

              “Waiting… Yes. I wouldn’t want to keep her waiting. Thank you again.” Deliah turned and left the dragon’s lair.

The Paladin and the Assassin (Vis II)

"You know Grachus, I despise the undead." Vis said as he swept the head from an advancing skeleton, one of the many that he had destroyed this unlucky night.

"Why's that boss?" Grachus asked, swinging his maces and neatly destroying several more.

"Well, for one thing," Vis paused to backpedal out of the way of several advancing skeletons, "They never know when to give up... I mean, its not like we're in any real danger from these pathetic examples of the foul necromancer's art are we?"

"Couldn't say boss." Grachus grunted, never really the orc for words.

"Hang on, take these for example. They just keep coming and coming after us. With no real reason. But, if we take three steps back..." Vis trailed off as he took precisely three steps back and waited for Grachus to do so as well.

Grachus slowly took the hint and stepped back to where Vis was standing. The skeletons ceased their attack, and wandered back to the cave from where they had been resting, their smashed companions laying there on the grass, the animating force blasted from their bones.

"See? They just walk away. You know, if we had something better to do than see what was so important in this bloody hole for that bloody mage... I'd be thinking we could just blast our way in and be done with this in an afternoon and be home in time for tea. What do you think Grachus?"

"Never much liked tea Boss. Like smashin much more."

"Well, yes, that's why I keep you around. But what's the point really? Why do we do it?"

"Err," Grachus' face twisted with the difficulty of the thought coming to him. "Err, we do it for the money? That mage give us lotsa sparklies for this."

"Ahh yes my dear friend Grachus, the money. This indeed is why we do this thing, and right after we get paid, I shall betray you and take your sparklies."

Grachus laughed. "You're funny Boss. I no think you betray me, you like me, and I like you. Lets get back to smashin."

"Indeed! Back to smashin! After you my good Orc!"

 

 

"TYR! Why have you abandoned me?" Alyndas screamed through vocal cords that were nearly bleeding. Kneeling in the rain in front of his destroyed manor house, Aly's entreaties were heard by noone. By nothing. The lands around the manor had been cursed by the death of the orc chieftain long ago, and had not yet been cleansed. Alyndas had been planning to do that after the destruction of Belial, but as always, events conspired against him. All he really wanted to do was settle down with Shaleea in the manor house, and rebuild his family. And now, here he was. His hopes and dreams shattered and burned out with the destruction of his holy sword and a debt that his father incurred. He knew that he should never have travelled to that distant land. He knew it was a trap. He knew it was something he would never be the same after. Alyndas wept in the rain, and after a time, fell over and slept. Time passed for him. Day after day, night after night he hurled his voice skyward with no response. The voice that been his constant companion was silent. He knew that he was no longer a paladin. He knew that forevermore he would be nothing more than a washed up old warrior with a shattered sword. And yet, in the back of his mind, that was ok. After a time, he stopped calling out to the sky and stopped weeping. He realized, slowly that he still lived, and all was not truly lost. He slowly gained acceptance that everything would be alright. He stood one morning and turned to the manor. "Well, I suppose its time for me to get to work."

 

 

"You know Boss, I've not seen anyting like what was down there. Dat mage was truly a crazy bastard," Grachus remarked to Vis as they exited the cave, the supernatural presence now cleansed.

"Well Grachus, they can get a little nutty when left under the ground for a little bit too long with noone to talk with but a corpse."

"So we go get sparklies now?"

"Yes my friend, we go off to get sparklies. And then, my sudden, but inevitable betrayal," Vis spoke with a gleam in his eye, and Grachus laughed heartily at that.

"Boss, I think you been talkin to corpses too!" Grachus laughed some more. "You seemin a little nutty too."

"Nutty? Nay, I'm batshit fucking crazy, my dimwitted friend."

At this, they both laughed uproariously. For different reasons. Vis clapped the orc on the back and they started walking back to Baldur's Gate to collect their rewards.

About a week later, Vis was in front of the mage that had hired them. Grachus was waiting just outside the town for Vis to return.

"Did you find it?" The mage asked hesitantly?

"Yar, we found it." Vis tossed a small leather pouch at the mage's feet. "It wasn’t easy, it took us damn near the better part of a week to clear out the place of all the damned skeletons. Not that kill... well destroying them was hard... they're just annoying. And they reanimated themselves every evening when the sun went down. I swear we killed the same skeletons a half a dozen times. No worries though, we got the Neckie that was down there and  did what you asked of me. And brought you what you asked. There in that bag. Although I still don't quite understand what you wanted with it."

"Never mind all that, never mind. Here is your payment that we agreed on." The mage tossed a small velvet bag to Vis and the half-elf caught it deftly and made it disappear about his person.

"Aren't you going to count it?"

"Nay friend, I don't need to. Because I know that you know that if you cheated me on a payment, I'd have to kill you. And believe me. I would. With pleasure. Nothing personal, mind you. Its just business. Besides, If you shorted me on the cash, I'd just have to kill Grachus and take his share to make up for it. And then come and kill you for cheating me. And maybe kick a puppy or three on my way out of town... just for spite."

"You'd do all that?"

"You bet your bippy friend. Well, maybe not the puppy part... I'm not a monster." Vis turned and walked out of the bar. "Be seein ya friend."

 

 

Sweat dripped off Alyndas' brow as he felled the tree. Good hard work left him little time to reflect on his losses. It was only in the night, when the dreams came to him that he sobbed with grief. Only in his sleep though. Every day he and several laborers worked brutal tedious hours to remove the destroyed Manor and begin rebuilding a new one. Bigger, stronger, more fireproof. It was a good thing that his father had always bee so willing to lend money to the other local nobles, all Aly needed to do was put his armor on, polish it up a bit and go calling around a bit to get the funds he needed to repair the manor. He still felt empty inside though. Incomplete. And it nagged at him. He didn't know whether it was because Tyr was gone from his life or that Shaleea was gone, and probably dead. Shaleea. How he missed her, how he longed to talk to her...

He continued his days by rebuilding his house. Slowly, it took shape and began to resemble the house he had grown up in. He now had a roof over part of it, and shelter from the conditions outside. Winter was falling fast here, and they needed to get most of the shell finished before the snow flew. He thought he might need to hire on some more hands to get it done. He really had nothing else to do, his life had become hollow, pointless. He was readying his house for what? For who? He certainly didn't need it. He could go to Waterdeep and... and... then what. That's where it all fell apart for him. He wasn't important anymore. Even though he never wanted to be, he had gotten used to it. And now, he was nothing. A minor noble with a destroyed house.

Maybe she would come back to him, and they could revive the line and the lands... But that was just wishful thinking. More than likely, she would perish in the line of duty against whatever powerful supernatural evil fouled that beseiged land. Truth be told, he felt like a coward. Leaving them was expeditious. Simple. Could he still be considered even a man? The crash of the felled tree startled him back to the here and now. There was still work to do. 

 

 

"Grachus, I am terribly disappointed in you. I mean, 15 orcs? You think so little of me that you only bring 15 orcs to ambush me and take my sparklies? I'm hurt. Of course, not as hurt as you wi..."

"Shut Up! You no talk now! You give Grachus what Grachus want! Or Grachus and friends kill you!"

Vis sighed. Maybe he really was that stupid. Oh well, he thought, At least this should be fun. "You know Grachus, I don't think giving you what you want will do. But, for your faithful service, I will give you what you deserve."

With that, Vis stepped out of phase for a moment. *Magical darkness envelops my form, Shifting, bending , changing streams of light, now, nothing is seen but a memory* he sang, dropping a cloak of improved invisibility upon himself.

"Get Him!" Grachus yelled, "He not get away!"

3 of Grachus orcs sprouted daggers from their foreheads a moment later and dropped to the ground. Chaos reigned for a moment as Grachus shouted to control his charges. He stepped away from the rest of his orcs for a moment, "Its just a trick! See, there no daggers here!"

Truly, for the daggers had returned to the half-elf a moment after they tasted orc blood. Grachus kicked one of the corpses. "Get up! You not dead! It Illusion!" The corpse, predictably, failed to stir.

*Barriers felt, but not seen, a power stirs to trammel those that

oppose me, a wall of force to imprison you for now, I'll get to you

later... and how.*

"Hah! You do nothing but tricks! Find Him! Kill Him!" Grachus ran forward, and stopped suddenly, as if he collided with an invisible wall. Landing on his back, he stood back up and felt the wall around him.

"You like your new prison Grach? I think it suits you just fine. Now, you can watch as I abuse your followers ina most unpleasant manner."

4 more orcs fell over as daggers appeared in vital areas about them. The panic in the small camp was almost tangible, most of the orcs had frozen, those that moved or tried to run had been slain outright. "As for the rest... Well..." *A tale I'll tell, to make you weep, and when I'm done, you'll fall asleep!* The rest of the orcs, all fell over as the magic took hold over them. Quickly, and efficiently, they were all bound and gagged. And Vis' voice, low and menacing, in Grachus' ear,

"Now, let's have some fun..."

 

 

Alyndas moved with more of a spring in his step lately, his Manor was almost finished being rebuilt, and the grounds around it were takingshape. "Soon, it may even be habitable!" He remarked to himself with a chuckle. Things were looking up for the fighter. People were returning to the area around his manor, and he was granting them leave to work the land, in exchange for small plots on which they could live. He was beginning to feel almost noble again. He was conducting daily prayer

services to Tyr, and had a small flock of regular attendees. He still didn't feel the touch of the god, but that was alright.Showing up in singles, and pairs, sometimes in small groups, he was slowly beginning to attract followers. People that were willing to fight for him and assist in the upkeep and defense of the manor house. Soon, he would need to add on to what he built to house them all. But for now, they were content with the pavillion tents he had set up for them. He worked all day with his people, training them in the arts martial and other things a knight would teach his squires and at night, he taught reading, writing, etiquette, and heraldry to be sure his people could think as well as fight. He was beginning to feel like a man again.

 

 

"AAAAAGGHHRRRRRRHHHHHHUUURGLE!" the last remaining orc gurgled as Vis finished skinning him alive. Long strips of Orc flesh decorated the small clearing while Grachus watched from his impromptu prison. "Well, that was just delightful, wasn't it dear friend? I hope you enjoyed

that show as much as I enjoyed performing it." Vis picked up the corpse, and tossed it on the others, flayed in much the same manner. Blood soaked the ground, now slick and colored red with gore. The bard was covered head to toe in darkening red ooze. "Now Grachus, we turn, at last to you. Whatever shall we do with you now? I can't take you with me, or perhaps, can I? Maybe you have learned your lesson. Hmm, have you learned your lesson my friend?"

Grachus burbled for a moment, stunned at the bard's viciousness. "Grachus learn. Grachus lear.." The powerful orc broke into racking sobs.

"Aww my dear friend Grachus, what is the matter?"

"You killed my brothers and my cousins. Tortured them to death."

“Well, yes, I do seem to have done just that. Maybe this means I should just kill you and be done with it. After all, I can't have an orc with a blood oath to revenge the deaths of his family with me now can I?"

"No. Grachus understand. No more betray. Grachus no want die."

"Ahh, very good. I simply didn't want to lose such an effective fighting tool. But, I will retain the sparklies for the last job and the next 3 jobs for this... indiscretion."

"Yes. That ok.."

"Excellent. Let's move on then. Come along."

"What about wall? Grachus trapped."

"Oh, that. It was gone half an hour ago. You've been free for a while. It does me good to see a spirit so utterly broken."

Grachus stood up and moved forward. The wall was truly gone. He realized that he could have done something to try to save the last couple of members of his family, and started sobbing again.

"Yes Lady?" The bard suddenly said as he knelt in front of shimmering circle in mid air. "A nobleman? Piece of pie. I'll get right on it."

"Well Grachus, it appears your services are no longer needed," the bard said as he lunged forward, shortsword leading. The enchanted weapon dug deep into the fleshy part of Grachus' neck, driving out the back, neatly severing the spinal cord in one blow. "Goodbye dear friend." Vis said as he withdrew his blade, the orc slumping to the forest floor. Grachus' eyes darted around in terror as his brain slowly used up the last of the oxygen in the blood that remained in his head. "See you around."

 

 

Alyndas relaxed in his office. A roaring fire in the hearth kept the place nice and warm and kept the winter chill at bay. He really needed someone to keep track of all these things for him so he could be out among his people more, but he knew that he needed to at least do some of it. His father spent too much time poring over ledgers than was healthy, but it did leave him the legacy of a moneylender. Tracking down debts owed to his family was what was financing the rebuilding,

so he couldn't be too picky he thought. He had several house guards, quite a few peasant farmers and herders, a small chapel and... there was so much to do, and not enough time to do it. He was happy though, that things were finally going the way he wanted. Simple, calm, and most importantly, his life wasn't in any danger. Things were good.

 

 

 

“Is this the man she wants me to kill? Where's the fun in this? Where's the challenge? He's a simple nobleman." Vis observed from his position just outside of Alyndas ' Manor. He had been watching Alyndas for a few days now, watching and waiting as Alyndas performed menial tasks around the manor, met with peasants, and took care of day to day business.

"Most of the day he just sits there and does most of nothing. Grachus, I ask you How possibly is this worth my time? Well, sure she told me to, and that's all I really need to know, and I certainly will do this thing. You're maybe right there, maybe this is indeed a test as to how I'll perform on this task when I'm not being paid for it. Well, yes, I am being paid, but not in gold you know." Vis turned and addressed the rotting orc head sitting next to him, watching the Manor. "Now see here, I'll not stand that sort of remark from you. She's in charge, and I'll not hear an ill word against her." The dead eyes glared back at him, offering nothing beyond reproach. "Well, I suppose I have to go do this thing. Nothing to it but to do it. You keep an eye out and watch my back. I won't be long."  Vis started singing again as he changed shape to become a falcon, flying high above the manor. Night was coming.

 

 

Alyndas couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. For a couple of days now, he had been uneasy. The people around him could feel it.

"Is everything alright Milord?" His clerk asked him after supper.

"I don't know Gramling. Something just feels wrong. Ah, tis of no import. Probably just nerves. Shaleea's father is coming to visit, and I want everything to go well."

"Yes, everything is prepared for his eminence's arrival. Seems his daughter's standing in the church of Lathander has elevated his own standing in that organization. Especially among our people."

"Yes, she is quite beloved here. By the people, and myself. I do hope she's safe. There was something about that place that didn't add up. No matter. We have business to attend to, I'll go upstairs and dress for this evening. I want you to make sure everything is ready."

"As you wish Milord."

 

 

Gramling headed to the kitchen, to check on the dinner planned for the evening. The cook was there as well as the serving girl, bustling around the kitchen preparing something or other. Gramling couldn't be bothered to see what was being cooked, as long as there was going to be something ready for his eminence. "Ah, Gramling, would you be so kind as to run to the smokehouse and fetch me another package of venison for the servant's dinner With all the hustle and bustle, I won't have time to cook anything? Sara here is busy with the place settings, and its dark outside. I don't need her tripping over something out there."

"Of course Madam Cory. I'll check on the stables while I'm out there. See that there's a place for his eminence's coach."

He grabbed a torch from the sconce by the door and lit it. The smokehouse was a small, squat building maybe a hundred yards off from the main house. As he reached the door, he felt a sharp, bright pain in his lower back, and everything went dark for Gramling.

 

Gramling returned to the kitchen, a package of venison in his hand. "E're's yer meat Love!" he said and tossed it to Madam Cory. "I'll be upstairs, seeing to the lord." Madam Cory seemed a bit taken aback at Gramling's meat hurling.

"Very well," she humphed and set about preparing the main course. not noticing the aroma of almond over the scent of the smoked meat. As he walked out the door, passing Sara as he went, she gave a yelp and danced away from him.

"What's the matter girl?"

"He just... Gramling pinched my bottom."

"Don't be silly girl, you must have imagined it. Gramling's too stiff to do something like that. Get back to work."

 

Loping up the stairs, Vis wandered to Alyndas' room. Singing his invisibility spell quietly, he phased out and stepped through the door. Alyndas was sitting on the edge of his bed, dressed, fiddling with his saber. In an instant, something sliced neatly across his throat, severing his vocal cords. He flopped back on the bed, clutching at his throat. Gasping for breath, Alyndas struggled to draw his saber to defend himself from the unseen attacker. Blood flowed freely from the wound, and Alyndas was finding it difficult to breathe. He managed to get his sword out and recoiled in pain as his sword hand was cleanly severed at the wrist. He fell to his knees and then to his chest in agony. Unable to breathe, the last words he heard was "You failed the mistress, Paladin of Tyr. And now, you failed your people."

 

Everything went black as Vis blew out the lamp. He changed back in to Gramling, and went to find Sara. The girl liked having her bottom pinched... He just knew it. Perhaps, she would come with him. Grachus was starting to smell.

 

 

As he was preparing to fire the manor house in anticipation of finding the luscious scullery maid Sara, he heard the sound of an approaching carriage.

“Damn and blast. Who could tha… oh. That’s not good.” He turned, mid sentence and dashed out the back door, pausing only when he almost tripped over the unconscious object of his desire.

“Well, now. That’s a fortune indeed. Well,” he grunted as he lifted the girl over his shoulder, “I’ve never been one to not pick up an unconsidered trifle. Ooh. I could go for some pudding now that I mention it…” He chanted the words to his invisibility spell and wove in a couple of verses to include

the girl and fled the Meduseld Manor.

 

 

 

“Milord! There’s been a terrible murder!” the cleric’s footman called back to the carriage.

Lord Tüssel d’Beregost started out of his chair. “What! Who has been killed‽”

“Milord… everyone has. Everyone. The entire house has been slain.” The footman seemed near tears. Lord Meduseld has had his head nearly cut off… it was horrible.”

The elderly cleric climbed down out of the carriage. “Who could have done such a thing? And why?” He slowly made his way to the manor. “Jacobsen. Return to my manor and fetch the ornate case from the chest behind my desk. Here is the key. Touch NOTHING else. Only the ornate chest.”

The man called Jacobsen unhitched one of the trailing horses from the carriage and dashed off into the night. Half a dozen others and perhaps a half a score of guards remained with the cleric. Tüssel looked down for a moment. “So much for dinner I suppose. Come brethren, there’s work to be done. Some may be saved still, and I owe my daughter a favor.”

 

 

“Where… where am I?” Sara asked, groggily.

“Oh good, you’re awake. I found you in the wood, delirious and crazed. It appears someone had poisoned you. I happen to dabble a bit in herbalism, and was able to neutralize the toxin.”

“I… don’t understand. I was serving dinner, and that’s the last thing I remember. How did I get… well here?

“My dear girl that is not at all important, it matters not where your family went, you have your strength to recover, so drink this potion and forget your lovers,” Vis sang softly, invoking the power to charm the girl. She leaned forward and took the proffered draught and drank deeply of it. Her eyes became glassy and she moved as if in syrup.

“There now. You should listen to me.” Vis said while looking right in her eyes.

“Lissten too youu.” Sara slurred.

“Good. You learn quickly. That’s important for what I have planned for you.”

“Planned forrr mee.”

“What’s your name girl?”

“Ssarraa.”

“Hmm. Nope. I don’t like that at all. It doesn’t fit you one bit. I think you shall be called Deliah.”

“Deeleyah. My name is Deliah.”

“Oh good!” Vis clapped his hands together, “We’re gonna be so good together.”

Deliah clapped her hands as well, “So good together.”

 

 

Alyndas regained consciousness about 3 hours or so after he was assassinated. Tüssel had retrieved his ancient rod of resurrection, and brought the Paladin back to the prime. “Ach. Now there’s a familiar feeling. Funny, you’re more gentle with one of those than Shaleea wa… Wait.. what the hell happened?”

“I was hoping you could tell me, Alyndas.”

“I was here, getting ready for dinner, and now I’m here, covered in what I presume to be my own blood, and you’re holding a rod. I’m guessing I was robbed and you were kind enough to bring me back to this realm.”

“Just as you say Alyndas. But who would rob you here? Your people love you, you’re a man of faith and godliness, Slayer of Evil and Doer of good deeds.”

“Yes. That I am.” Alyndas sighed. “Speaking of good deeds, have you heard from Shaleea lately? I would like to see her again.”

“Briefly. She sent a missive to me about a week ago and asked me to give you this.” Tüssel produced a long platinum chain with a single star sapphire pendant. “Its quite extraordinary really. Its very magical, alteration I do believe.” He handed the pendant to the paladin. “She also sent me a message for you. She told me to tell you, ‘When you’re ready, believe.’ She seemed to have thought that you had a bit of a crisis of faith. Nonsense I say. You’re one of the most faithful men I know.”

“If only you knew,” Alyndas muttered under his breath. “I wonder what she meant by that.” He looped the chain around his neck, the pendant tucked under his shirt, and stood up to see what had become of his manor.

 

 

“Where are we now Vis?” Deliah asked the bard while standing in a landscape of barren red rocks, the stench of brimstone and chaos in the air.

“You know, I don’t really know. Master Johann asked me to bring you here for the next part of your training. Perhaps the spell went wrong.”

“Went wrong. Right.” Deliah looked around the landscape, “I’m not sure this is the righ…”

Deliah ducked as a pair of daggers came whistling over her head. Vis simply stood where he was and flickered a bit. The half elf rolled his eyes.

“You know Johann, a simple Hello would have sufficed.”

<Yessss, perhapsss. But thisss way is ssso much more fun.>

<Common please. Deliah isn’t versed in the tongues of the lower planes. And its… rude.>

“Very welll… Bard. As I said in the message, you were to bring your charge here, and leave her with me so I can impart knowledge.”

“Leave me here! No way you’re leaving me here Vis. I don’t trust him.. it…”

“Now Deliah, you know Master Johann’s not going to hurt you. He comes at the recommendation of the Lady, and had much skill in his previous life. Dontcha Joey?”

“Joey? Were I not bound by the covenant owed my master, I would tear you..”
“Try to tear me. Never forget that. You may have been a talented thief-acrobat in your time, but you’re naught more than an Abishai in hell now. You do this service to better your standing. A favor for a favor remember. You owed your master, who owed my master. I suggested this trade, and now, you owe me. Don’t tempt me Johannithazar Kinthil Razlarashi. Harm her, and I will make you suffer.”

Master Johann screeched at the mention of his true name. “Fiend! Speak that not so loud! I will train her. And she will not come to harm. My master has seen to it.”

“Vis… please, don’t leave me. I don’t want to be here alone. “

“Deliah, I need you to do this for me. I need someone I can trust to be my second. Of course, it helps that you’re as gorgeous as you are dangerous, but your training is not complete. A little more time here, and then I can start training you for your position next to me. Won’t you like that?”

“Oh… yes. I would like that greatly. For you then, I will do this thing. I will be strong, and I’ll make you so proud of me.”

“Deliah, I already am. Johann, she’s ready for you now. Remember well what I said.”

 

 

Alyndas sat in his chapel, staring into the sapphire. “what could she have meant by that?” He held the chain up in front of a candle, the flames flickering blue, reflected off the thousands of facets on the gem. It really was a work of art. He sent it spinning, and flashes of deep blue played on the walls, and Alyndas was back on the battlefield where his sword was sundered. He watched himself leave his party, and his love. A momentary lapse of faith had caused him to lose everything he held dear in his life. Or had it? Had he really lost his sense of justice? His spirit? His will to do good? He had accomplished much in the time he had been back at his manor. Helped people, created a following, Who could blame him for breaking after all that had been done to him. How many times had he died in the furthering of his cause? As each facet sparkled on the wall, he saw a different way of death. Stabbed, burned, slashed, burned, bitten, enervated and so on until it was all a blur. The blur resolved itself into a pair of scales and a hammer. Was this an omen? Perhaps Tyr had forgiven him his lapse. Perhaps he could be whole again. He ran back to his office, and shouted for Gramling.

”Yes milord? What is it?”

“Gramling, help me with my armor.”
“Your armor sir? You haven’t worn that in months. Why now?”

“I’ve had a vision. All is not forsaken! Now, help me!”

Alyndas got dressed in his armor, and belted on his broadsword. He then went back to the chapel and pulled out the sapphire.

“I believe.”

Alyndas disappeared in a sapphire blue flash.

 

 

“What? Just walk in there and kill him?” Deliah asked, incredulously.

“Well, that *is* what assassins do you know.” Vis smiled, his charge’s first kill. “You know, this one is to be savored. Its your first time!”

“My first time? No its not! I’ve killed before.” She replied indignantly.

“Ah, but that’s different. You were in danger then. Cold blood is much more refreshing you know.”

She smacked him on the arm. “I never can tell when you’re serious you know. So, I break in, evade the guards, and kill the lord? That’s it? And for this I get a thousand gold?”

“Yep! So much better than cutpursing at the market isn’t it! A thousand gold for you, and some to me as the guild master.”

“What guild? Its just you. Well, you and one other. But I’ve never met that one. “

“You will. Soon. But you must do this first. Think of it as an initiation.” Vis kissed her on the cheek. “Now, off with you my dear. Don’t forget to tidy up.”

Deliah crept out of the shadow, and ran towards the wall. She reached into a pouch at her back and pulled out a small, cylindrical object. With a flick of her wrist, it extended into a 10 foot long pole. She jammed it into the ground at the base of the wall, and in a heartbeat, her black silken clad figure was up and over the wall and on the roof, pole retracting smoothly as she flew. A quick tuck and roll and she was hidden again in the deep shadow next to the balcony.

“Flashy my dear. And perhaps a bit loud, but I do so love watching you run.” Vis thought at her, their linked rings of telepathy allowing them to share their thoughts.

“Pfft. I know. That’s why I do it. Now, hush. I need to concentrate. This window’s trapped, and you know I’m not very good at traps.”

Deliah squinted at the window, trying to puzzle out how to work the catch without incinerating or stabbing herself. After a moment, she gave up, and headed for the chimney. Jumping up on top of it, she was silhouetted against the sky for a slight moment before she descended into the house. About a minute later, a dog started barking, and about 30 seconds after that, she came barreling out of the window that she couldn’t go in through. Glass shattered around her, and a fireball went off at about the same time. The smoking, burning assassin in training flew smoothly through the air and vaulted off the wall surrounding the house. A backflip and a half later, she stuck the landing right in front of where she assumed Vis was. He wasn’t.

“Now what my dear? You’ve made rather a mess of this one haven’t you? A good assassin needs to be able to escape as well as enter.”

“I killed him. I did. I didn’t see his dog on the floor though. He barked, I panicked. I’ll be alright. I’m good at evading. See you soon.” She dashed off into the night.

 

 

Alyndas’ eyes were filled with the color blue. Slowly, the color drained, and he saw Shaleea sitting in a chair in front of him. “Shalya? What… what happened?”

“Aly? Oh gods! Aly! You’re here! Its been so long since I’ve seen you, I thought you’d never come!” She leaped out of the chair and wrapped her arms around him.
“Shalya, how I’ve missed you!” He hugged her close and kissed her face. “You look… older. Its only been a few months. What happened?”

She pulled back. “Well that’s a fine how do you do. I see you still have none of the tact I never loved you for. Time passes differently out here on the planes. You’ve been home for 11 months, and I’ve been researching here, in Sigil for 9 years. While you’ve been moping about, I’ve been working on something. And I needed you back, so I sent you the sapphire. It was a gategem. Attuned to me, here, and I needed you to be whole again, so I made the trigger your belief. Clever eh?”

“I don’t understand. 9 years? Why did you need me all of a sudden? What’s going on?”

“It’s a very long story. The long and short of it is evil is walking the realm, and it must be stopped. From what I’ve been able to piece together, something big is happening, and Its going to happen soon. There’s need of our *services*. Pfeh. Like we’re horses to be hired out. Come, we have to go now. I was told that we had to go as soon as you got here. I’ll explain on the way.”