Rumors & RP of Darkhold

[Nomster]

//An exchange between two people. Unless you were there, you do not know of it. Let alone know of Telia's thoughts. I trust you... with the insight to a humble Black Cloak's mind.//

Welcome, My Lord

Magus Navra entered the large doors of Darkhold and stopped by the solid dragon statue, gazed up at it like she had done many times before. Snow melted in her hair and clothes but she paid no mind to it, her attention was all on the dragon. Sometimes she had the feeling it would blink at her and come alive, its jaws open to breathe at her... but not today. Today it stared back just as dead as the Spymaster and Agent Iria was said to be. The former Lord Magus was still alive, relocated. Did he have a hand in their demise? The Magus wished it were different and that their roles were changed; the dead alive - the alive dead. Though she knew too well that wishing was useless.

Someone was behind her, panting heavily. Had the doors opened and she not heard, or someone quietly managed to walk up to her? Unlikely. Then how, who... She turned around and watched the man, who was kneeling on the stone floor with his back turned against her. Even so, the Magus recognized the figure instantly. Time appeared to stand still for a brief moment as she considered her options. The only people who knew of the Lord Castellan's identity were not present in Darkhold. No one would question her if she attacked and killed the Prelate of the Radiant Heart, especially so since he had managed to sneak in under their roof. Even if people realized who he actually had been afterwards, he had failed and there was no room for failure in the Black Network. The Magus walked around the man, slowly. Climbing a few steps so that she stood above him, looking down, with the doors behind her. Cutting him off from leaving and making it easier for her to leave, if it would come to that.

The silence was broken by her speaking first, "A pleasure to see you, sir Eliphas Valkarian." This was the man she had tea with in the Friendly Arm Inn, who had teased Ameris of his overly polite manners. That occasion had been the first time she had met Brenda Du Vale as well. It had been quite a pleasant gathering. It was the same man who had stared down at Ambrose in Triel, calling him sorcerer and commanded him in front of everyone else... and Ambrose had obeyed, because he knew. Had anyone else understood that?

Eliphas Valkarian, or rather Lord Castellan Greldinard, stood up slowly and brushed aside the long strands hair from his face to look at her with a grim expression, "It is good to be home, Lord Magus." There. That was his sign. No one else knew of her new role and the only other one present at the meeting was another Agent. The Magus fought back the urge to laugh and controlled her expression, speaking the words carefully as if she was afraid her mask would slip, "I had not expected you to grace us with your presence so soon again, My Lord." Was he warded? How quickly could she disable them? He had a blade in one hand. The talking one. The distance between them was short, leaving no room for errors.

"Neither did I, Telia. Neither did I." The only people in the castle who called her by her name were either dead or gone and he had not earned that right. Yet there was something different about the Lord Castellan. The Magus wanted to correct him but other words came out of her mouth, "Are you injured My Lord?". Like a caring servant, not at all wondering how to best kill her superior. He was bleeding at the neck. She could reach out so easily and bleed him dry. The moment passed by as the Lord Castellan cast a healing spell on himself. "I will survive."

The Magus watched him heal and made her decision. "Good." Perhaps this had been her one and only moment but she was painfully aware of that she did not have the strength to secure the castle, not with the others gone and the remaining Agents so incapable. Maybe this choice would haunt her however, many things did already. The Lord Castellan sheathed his blade, almost as if he knew her thoughts but of course he could not have, "Unfortunate that I could not prolong my stay at the Chapterhouse... but I did bring you something to look at." He tossed a pair of gauntlets towards her.

"Oh? Gifts, for me...?" She was slipping, speaking too carelessly and teasingly. "How... unexpected." As the Magus looked at the gauntlets, she extended a hand and spoke a few words, making the gauntlets float mid-air. She would not give him the pleasure of lowering herself to pick the pair up from the stone floor. "Unexpected, indeed. Pryed it from the dying hands of the Chancellor of the Most Noble of the Radiant Heart." The Lord Castellan's words were mocking.

"Suppose I shall need to clean it first then. Do you know of its properties, My Lord?" He answered her question with a smirk, "Not yet. That is your job, not mine." The Magus pulled out piece of cloth from one of her sleeves and spoke as she wrapped the gauntlets in it, "Oh but you could have made it so much easier... My Lord.... but it seems I am not that fortunate today." As she took the bundle in her hands, she cast a spell of Non-Detection over it.

"Is there anything specific you wish for me to try and discern, My Lord..?" She made sure to not touch the gauntlets directly, even if the Lord Castellan had not been hesitant to do so. "Just find out what they can do. Maybe there is more value to them than bragging rights." Bragging rights. Of course he cared about it. He was rather vain after all. The Magus smiled, ever the dutiful servant, "Of course, My Lord."

"Excellent, Telia. Excellent." Like we were friends... The Magus chose a more proper facial expression than the one she wanted to show. "I suppose you have questions...?" The Lord Castellan crossed his plated arms and looked up at her in a sinister way. The Magus knew her 'welcome' had not been the expected one but she only smiled ever so pleasantly in response to his look. "I will admit I have a few questions, My Lord." Of course he would want to tell the story and have her amazed at it. "I hate waiting." Of course she would be expected to ask the right questions to build up his magnificent story.

Instead, she asked something else. "What is the truth of the drow rumours which surrounded the Radiant Heart...?" The Lord Castellan made no sign of annoyance or surprise. His expression did not change at all but he answered her questions. When he had done so, the Magus asked him what he had wanted her to. "How did they expose you, My Lord?"

"My squire was more resourceful than I thought." The squire who was likely going to be praised for exposing yet another evil in this foul world. "That would be dear Cecilia..?" No doubt. "Indeed. Dear mauled Cecilia. Arkaine smashed her face in when trying to assault me." The Lord Castellan appeared thoughtful as he said it. "In any case... I will present myself to the rest of the fortress."

Interesting. Was he troubled by it? "Oh? How did that come about?" The Magus asked with a smile. The Lord Castellan had began to walk away but turned halfway to answer her question with a grin, "Hostages make great shields, you know." Not quite troubled no. She watched him walk away and returned to look at the statue.

"Did you hear it all my dear friend?" The Magus came to the realization that the Lord Castellan would likely be stepping all over her own plans now, no longer hindered by the need to hide his face. Patience. She must cling on to that. Not waiting for a response to her words, the Magus walked towards the mage tower. At a table there, she unwrapped the gauntlets, still not touching it with her bare hands. Before doing anything else, she cast all five energy immunities and warded herself against death and negative energy magics. She then shielded her mind with another spell. Now of concern would be any holy magics. From a pocket the Magus fished out a small pendant and placed it around her neck, brushing her fingers over the stone to active its spell resistance ability. With another glance at the gauntlets, she cast a ward which would absorb any wayward magics. After all, this was not the first time a potentially dangerous item had been thrown her way. Plenty of time went by before the Magus remembered something. She laughed as she realized she had forgot to bow to her Lord.

[Xanfyrst]

///Continuation of the above post. Meta-rules apply here as well.

Welcome, my Lord. Part deux.

A guard flew up from the stairs and hit the pillar. A loud crack was heard and the lifeless body dropped to the floor, alarming everyone in the war-room. A white-haired tall human walked up. He wore a black eye-patch and shiny black and white armour with a slight dent at the shoulder.
"Incompetent fool!" the man uttered loud as he climbed the stairs, every step screaming with authority and integrity.
The two men that were ordered to guard the stairs for the war room were instantly alarmed by the powerful display of violence. Once their initial disbelief at what had happened at faded, the were to draw their swords on the one-eyed man, but were stopped before it could come to that. The Ebon Knights who were in the room when it happened were pointing their swords at the necks of the guards. One of them spoke, his voice calm but dark and sinister.
"Draw your weapons on your master and you will be drinking your own blood tonight, guardsman."
The guards looked at each other and swallowed their spit. They slowly removed their hands from their swords' hilts and raised them in the air in surrender. They looked at the man in front of him, at first wondering why the Ebon Knights had reacted the way they did, then a second later realising it and went down in a kneeling position.
"Forgive me, my Liege!" they both managed to say, keeping their eyes on the ground in front of him.
Lord Eliphas kept walking past them, ignoring the two guards 's existence. He seated himself at the chair at the end of the long-table.
"Incompetence has no room in this fortress as long as I am its Castellan. Remove the two and show them the error of their judgement. " The Zhentilar which came behind him moved with perfection towards the two baffled guardsman and dragged them off into the cellars. Obviously the treatment was unfair as nobody except a few had any chance to figure out who he was. But he had to make sure nobody forgot who he was and what he was capable of.
"Come brothers of the Ebon Scepter... we have plans to make." he invited the Ebon Knights to the long-table...

/fade to black

[Torgerias]

Whispers of dark rituals being performed by a terrifying new priest of Bane fly from Darkhold with the caravan guards like lightning.

At the stroke of midnight, the murmurs say, a ceremony began as undead attendants beat a military march upon great drums. As a crowd of anxious Zhentilar look on in varying degrees of delight, horror, or terror, a black-armored priest stands at the altar of Bane above a chained and tortured half-elf, his arms raised to the ceiling and weapon held aloft, and chants in measured verse the dogma of Bane:

Serve none but Bane.
Fear him always and ensure that others fear him more.
The Black Hand always strikes down those that stand against it in the end.
Defy Bane and die-or in death find loyalty to him, for he shall compel it.
Submit to the word of Bane as uttered by his ranking clergy,
for true power can be gained only through service to him.
Spread the dark fear of Bane.
It is the doom of those who do not follow him
to let power slip through their hands.
Those who cross the Black Hand meet their dooms early
and with harsh penalty from the lord of Tyranny.

Whether or not the Zhentilar join in, the dark priest ends the chant in a frenzy, the drumbeats gaining in tempo into a crescendo and stopping suddenly has he brings his morningstar down upon the half-elf on the altar.

The priest orders the assembled Zhentilar to proceed in file to the altar, where he then anoints each of them with a blessing in the name of the Black Hand using the blood of the sacrifice.

"May your fear, hatred, and rage be sweet succor to the Lord of Darkness. It brings you fully into his embrace, and with your loyalty to Bane will come swift death to our enemies."

// some creative license taken with the (poorly) written stock dogma of Bane

[Torgerias]

More rumors make their way from Darkhold into inns and taverns with caravan guards, who now claim to have seen first-hand the wrath of the castle's terrifying new priest.

Early in the morning, they claim, a dark-armored figure is seen at a distance wandering through the midst of the Zhentilar conscripts training in the castle courtyard. A purple haze can be seen floating before his glowering visage, and he stops occasionally to stare at the increasingly uncomfortable soldiers. When a captain asks nervously what he is doing, the priest replies curtly that he has been granted the sight of Bane in order to weed out traitorous conscripts from the ranks of the Zhentilar.

He begins to step uncomfortably close to soldiers, though whether he is simply randomly selecting individuals or is indeed granted some divine sight is unclear, coming within inches of them and fixing them with a baleful glare. After four or five such interactions, he steps up to the smallest and weakest of the conscripts and slugs him in the gut with impressive (and assuredly magical) strength. As the conscript crumbles to the courtyard's flagstones, the priest grabs him by the hair and begins dragging him towards the temple of Bane, shouting to the other soldiers, now stopped and staring wide-eyed, "Bane holds only one punishment for traitors!"

[Nomster]

A Dreadmaster's Duty

23rd Elesias, 1350 DR

The Magus strode out of Darkhold along with a group of Agents. They stood in a half circle around her. A man clad in dark armor was addressed first, his chin held high and awaiting what was to come. "Priest, let this be a reminder of the importance of following the hierarchy in Darkhold." The words were lost to the guards who observed the courtyard from the walls but what they could see was the motion of her hands, weaving a spell which failed. There was a long moment in which nothing happened apart from the Priest and the Magus staring at each other. Something was then said by the Magus followed by more hand weaving and then more staring. The Magus pulled out a wand, aiming it at the Priest. It had no effect. "Dispel your wards, Priest.", the Magus' words were a command. The Priest's mouth twitched and he obeyed.

The Magus made successive castings from the wand, the Priest was clearly being affected this time. With his strength taken away from him, he dropped down to a knee. The Magus cast the initial spell again. Blood welled up from the Priest's eyes, he gasped and writhed under the painful effects. "BY THE BLACK HAND OF BANE!!!" the Priest called out as blisters began to form on his skin. The shouting was loud enough to be heard by those stationed on the walls. "I ENDURE MY PUNISHMENT IN THE NAME OF BANE! MY RAGE STRENGTHENS ME AND I GROW AS I SERVE MY SUPERIORS AND MY GOD IN MY PENANCE!!!!" The Magus stood calmly before the Priest as he screamed and rolled on the cold stones on the ground. As the Priest began to claw at his armor, the Magus appeared as if she was going to cast another spell but then she lowered her hands and did nothing except for observing with a thoughtful expression. At last, the effects wore off. Zhentilar guards who saw the scene would later claim the spell effects lasted longer than a man could comfortably hold his breath for. The welts vanished from the Priest's skin. Wheezing, he managed to pull himself back up to a kneeling position. The stones around him were slick and red with his blood. "Thank you.....my lord.....", the Priest croaked in a voice hoarse from screaming. ".....your punishment strengthens me......Bane is pleased......." He coughed and spat blood, having bitten his tongue during the spell.

The Priest's words struck something in the Magus. The only way she showed it was by a respectful nod to him. He knew this was the way of things; that he had overstepped and she as his superior was expected to make him see his errors and remind him of the proper ways. It was not meant to be personal, it was meant to be duty. The Magus tried to not think about that she had extended the spell because the drums sounding from the temple the other day had given her a headache. She thought of Ameris, imagining the condemning expression he would likely wear if her actions this day would ever become known to him. He was once in a standing where he too had to punish subordinates. Had he done it himself or ordered someone else to carry it out? The Magus thought back to their talk in the dungeon. As opposed to him, or the man he had been, she took little delight in this kind of control she had over others. She tried to stop thinking about it, turning her attention to an Agent, standing to the left of the Priest. Ariel Valent was wearing simple clothes, red in colour and had looked horrified at what happened to the Priest. "You chose a good colour, Agent Valent.", The Magus said about the clothes and wondered if the Agent would understand the full meaning of her advise of not to wear armor this day. As Ariel's eyes met the Magus' her features hardened, "...Thank you, milady." The Magus forced away any reluctance in her mind, she needed to be like... like steel.

Spells were cast, one after the other, each taking away the Ariel's physical strength until she could not stand upright any more. The Magus pulled out a scroll from her sleeve and proceeded to read it over the Agent. When it had no effect, the Magus smirked. She felt a sort of pride at the Agents resisting her spells. It meant they were strong, that they had a place in the Zhentarim. The Magus took care of it by using the same wand as she had used on the priest. Ariel's screams echoed in the courtyard as her strength of both mind and body was taken away from her. The Magus slipped the wand inside one of her sleeves and then her hands weaved in the air, followed by words she unleashed on the Agent. She had recalled the horrified expression Ariel had and turned the Agent's fear against her. The Magus did not need to do much else and folded her hands behind her back. As the Magus observed, she wondered what Ariel saw, what it was Ariel feared the most. Ariel flailed on the ground, taken over by hysteria, her eyes wild and darting around. There would be no doubt in anyone looking at the woman that she was completely overtaken by terror. Gradually, as the spell wore out, Ariel calmed down and managed to compose herself; slowly and carefully pulling herself up to stand on her knees. The Magus admired the strength the Agent had found to do so but did not let it show in her own expression. The spell was one she had tried on herself and she knew how tempting it was instead to remain curled up on the ground.

When the disciplinary actions were done, the Magus considered. Should she say something? Act outside of your rank or question me again and what you experienced now will be mild comparable to what lies in my power to do? No. They knew it already. There was no need for her to state it. Instead she turned to the third and last Agent, who had observed the proceedings with little change in her expression. "Make sure the Agents see it inside. We have some things that need to be taken care of." The Agent nodded slightly and spoke calmly, "As you command." The Magus walk past, not sparing the two kneeling Agents another look.

Inside and out of sight of anyone, the Magus gulped down the wine she had in a goblet left on the meeting table and with shaking hands refilled it. She drank more slowly, trying to compose herself. The priest was the first to return, his eyes staring at her impassively. The Magus forced herself to show nothing and took in his appearance. His wounds appeared mended, though he carried himself heavily, as if he was only able to restore the physical damage done. "There are High Inquisitors in Zhentil Keep who would envy your command of magical tortures.", the Priest said matter of factly, placing a hand on the back of a chair and stood as straight as possible. As a response, the Magus inclined her head at his remark. Here she was struggling to compose herself and he was... complimenting her? The Magus felt an urge to laugh but the sight of silver armor approaching them made her suppress everything with far more ease than she thought she could have mustered. Steel. Cold steel.

As the Priest and the Magus greeted the Lord Castellan, the two other Agents came inside. One carried by the other. Ariel said and reacted little as she was more or less thrown onto a chair. As if all her strength, mental and physical had been taken away. The Priest raised a brow and surprisingly asked, "Should I tend to her, Lord Magus?" The Magus wondered if she had weakened Ariel too much but by not allowing her to pass through the ordeal herself, the Agent would appear weak. "Unless she looks like she is dying there should be no need to, Priest." The Magus tried to tell herself in her mind that she was doing Ariel a favour.

[Nomster]

Priorities: Wine

It is rumoured in Darkhold that Magus Navra was interrupted during a business meeting. She was soon after seen in the courtyard, inspecting wagons with Agent Kagger. That the Magus would inspect the wagons herself was an unusual thing which some would notice, as she has never directly interfered in the actual handling of goods before.

The merchant and his entourage were treated with high suspicion until the goods and trade papers were inspected. At last, the Magus appeared to be convinced of that the merchant was not an impostor or a threat to Darkhold. Several kegs of wine were offloaded (and tested for poison) and after some considerations, provisions and iron. The merchant seemed willing to overlook the cold treatment at the beginning and stated that he would interested in future dealings before he took his leave.

Later, it became clear why the Magus was handling the trade matter suspiciously as she strode towards one of the guard captains, demanding to know how a lone merchant had been let inside the great hall of Darkhold alone, without a proper escort. She made it clear that it was a breach of security and that she expected the guards responsible to be subject to disciplinary actions, which she would leave at the discretion of the Pereghost - who would also be informed of the transgression.

[Nomster]

Be ready for death for it is at hand and uncompromising

The Lord Magus of Darkhold strides outside, standing atop of the stairs leading to the large doors of the castle. In her hands she clutches several papers and indicates for traffic in and out of Darkhold to cease, casting a bright light on herself. Her voice rings loud and clear in the courtyard, which in itself is enough to draw attention as her voice is usually soft and quiet.

"Let it be known that on this day, the 23rd of Eleint, the following bounties issued by the Black Network are active."

After the Magus is done reading the list, she dispels the light surrounding her and gestures for activity to return to normal. Copies of the bounties are then sent out of Darkhold.

______________________________________________________________________
//Outdated//

Hidden: show

The Black Network is issuing the following bounties:

Myhun Kren
Former Zhentarim officer, wanted for high treason and various offences against the legal sovereignty of Darkhold. He is a dangerous wizard capable of disappearing into shadows without trace. Keen perception will be required for those willing to go after this traitor.

Description: An elderly human male who walks with a limp, often supporting himself with a staff. He has a distinct foreign accent. His skin is tanned, his eyes brown. Wears a turban. Claims to have had his mind meddled with, resulting in some kind of loss of memory.

Reward
Alive: 50 bags of gold
Dead: 30 bags of gold



Alaan
A delusional vagrant who spews hatred and threats against the Zhentarim openly. A deserter and a traitor by his own admission. He is capable of slipping into shadows, keen perception will be required to capture this criminal.

Description: A tall, fair skinned human male with black hair reaching to his shoulders. He has blue eyes and a stubble of a beard. He is usually found clad in black clothes.

Reward
Alive: 5 bags of gold
Dead: 1 bag of gold



Ameris Santraeger
A Harper who was found guilty of an assault on a Zhentarim officer, his sentence was death. It would seem that even in death he refuses to follow the letter of the law. Anyone who can execute his sentence and make sure it stays in effect will be well rewarded. He is an Ilmateri cleric of considerable power and a Harper, subtlety is advised. He can usually be found around the temple of Ilmater in Baldur's Gate.

Description: A Tethyrian human male with short brown hair, green eyes. Reserved but polite. Noble manners. Always wearing a symbol of Ilmater.

Reward
Dead: 20 bags of gold
Irrefutable proof of dealing with drow: 50 bags of gold


Cecilia Lafayette
A war monger from Cormyr who, by her own admission, attempted to drag both the city of Baldur's Gate and her home nation of Cormyr into war with Darkhold. She was sentenced to death but remains breathing to this day. While she is of little consequence, the law must be enforced. She can usually be found around the Radiant Heart chapterhouse in the farmlands or the temple of Tyr in Baldur's Gate.

Description: A Cormyrean young female aasimar with blonde hair, pointed ears and blue eyes.

Reward
Dead: 2 bags of gold
Irrefutable proof of dealing with drow: 50 bags of gold


Za'than Za'mal
Wanted for an assault on a Zhentarim officer. His trail can be picked up near Candlekeep or around the Friendly Arm Inn.

Description: He is a blue skinned tiefling with black horns, red eyes and a moustache. He usually carries a staff with a flaming skull.

Reward
Dead: 5 bags of gold


Alleyne
Wanted for an assault on a Zhentarim officer. She can usually be found around the Friendly Arm Inn spewing nonsense, or near Candlekeep.

Description: An air genasi wizard with blue tinted skin and short cropped white hair.

Reward
Dead: 5 bags of gold


Sani
A blood mage of the most heinous kind, wanted dead for using blood magic and attempting to undermine trade in the north. Take caution around this woman as she can use others blood for sinister purposes. She is often seen with Mercury, Terri and Koryeneer of the group known as Trust of which she is also part of.

Description: A tall, pale skinned and frail young woman with brown hair and always seen wearing eye glasses. Prefers dresses with a gold trim.

Reward
Dead: 75 bags of gold if a vial of her blood can be gathered. Otherwise 50 bags of gold.


These bounties are only to be pursued within the northern region. Any acts of aggression outside of its vicinity will make the aggressor subject to local laws. Anyone who successfully claims one of these bounties can expect more well paying work in the future as well as temporary sanctuary in the Visitors' Tower if required. If you are claiming a dead bounty then you will have to provide irrefutable evidence of their demise.


//OOC NOTE: These are NOT assassination contracts, PvP rules are to be followed (unless there is an agreement between the bounty hunter and the target, but that is between them). "Only to be pursued within the northern region" is an IC nicety. Cover your own tracks.

If you complete a bounty write a RP post in this thread, or PM TheZhentarim account with an RP post if you wish to remain anonymous. You will also have to provide proof (both IC and OOC - screenshot) before collecting your reward. If you are bringing in the bounty alive send a PM to TheZhentarim account and/or contact one of the known Zhentarim members if you see them online. We check the account on a regular basis so the wait should not be long at all.

For those who have bounties on them, if you wonder what will happen to you in case you are captured or have concerns, you are welcome to PM us. We have re-worked our approaches to captivity etc after previous feedback.

[Layla0340]

*after a bit of haggling, Sani purchases a copy from a passing Merchant*

*eyeing the paper she mutters*

They were willing to pay more for me then there own traitors. I wonder if I have had the highest bounty ever from them?

*tucks the sheet in her robe and mutters* I will hold on to this for a day or two, I have to show my friends for bragging rights.

[Heartfilia]

After nearly two moons of absence, Lucy had finally returned, and upon her first meeting with Isaac, she would recant him with the tale of being tricked into chasing a devil through a portal to a strange plane, filled with an ocean of ice as far as the eye could see.

"A pit fiend tricked me.. I don't know how.. how it got into my memories.. it taunted me with visions of Leah.. It showed me her trapped in that City of Ice, tortured by the creature's minions.. I followed it there. For some reason, in that place, I could not hear Her voice.." Lucy motioned to the ruby bishop hanging from Isaac's neck. "All my powers failed me.."

"I scraped by and stayed out of notice for the first two months, and then I caught a Horned Devil wandering by itself at the edge of the city.. thankfully my monastic training hadn't failed me."

Isaac couldn't help but smirk at that comment.

"That devil told me its name.. I have one year to set it free in the Prime in a specific location.. a castle in the High Moor. If I fail, I will find myself trapped within the City of Ice once more."

He took in her words, spending a few quiet moments in thought before asking, "Was there a contract drafted?"

Lucy nodded grimly. "Once the deal was struck I experienced.. nothingness.. Perhaps it's similar to sleep." She shook her head, continuing, "It felt like weeks.. and when the nothingness ended, I found myself on the roof, here in Darkhold."

Isaac shook his head with a smile, speaking softly, "We will figure something out." He drew Lucy in, wrapping his arms around her. "You came back to me, that is all that matters." Isaac leaned in, planting a kiss on her lips.

***

A few tendays later the two cloaked figures made their way solemnly toward the bleak structure in the distance. Lucy leaned into Isaac, nudging him playfully in an attempt to lighten the man's mood as she gave him a warm smile. Isaac tried his best to hold back his own smile, but it would show itself, if only for a moment, before his face returned to grim determination.

They stopped briefly, Lucy spending a few minutes to review a map, finally determining they were perhaps a day from Dragonspear Castle still. Lucy put the map away and glanced at Isaac quietly, speaking in a hushed voice, "You don't have to do this, you know. I made this mess myself, I can clean it up myself.."

Isaac looked at her for a moment, his quiet demeanor causing her to tense up some. Finally he'd smile, rolling his eyes and turning away from her to continue up the road. Mirth would be clear in his voice as it finally rang out over his shoulder, "How many times do we have to go over this? Your mess is my mess. I do not have to help you, I need to help you, otherwise I risk losing you again. And I need my knight at my side, especially now."

Lucy seemed stunned by his response, staring at his back for a quietly for a few moments before her legs started finally moving her to stride beside him once more. The two continued on without saying much more, the castle growing ever larger on the horizon.

***

Traveling into the night and the early morning hours, the two quiet travelers were able to slip past the hold of Tempus with relative ease as they finally arrived in the castle's courtyard. Lucy stopped, peering around and listening intently as she assessed their surroundings. She would make a sign with her fingers to Isaac to indicate safety, and Isaac spent a moment in thought before speaking quietly, "This is the place the pact specified?"

Lucy smiled sincerely, nodding to him in confirmation.

Isaac bagan to prepare the area for the ritual, casting several incantations and placing a magic circle down before nodding to Lucy. The elf would then begin her own spell, chanting softly and speaking an Infernal name clearly into the air as her Gate sprang open.

Just like that, Lucy was face to face with the creature she had made a deal with those few moons past. Isaac's hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of his blade as the devil stretched to its full height and flexed its leathery wings, staring at the two with amusement. "I did not expect the time to come so soon, elf."

She grimaced as she looked up to it, her voice a mixture of revile and acceptance, "As was agreed, so have I done. I've only to release you now, and our contract will be fulfilled, yes?"

The devil snickered, nodding in response to the tiny woman, its voice booming once more, "I speak it true, as soon as you remove my binds, elf, the deal will be fulfilled."

Lucy glanced to Isaac, nodding once more. Isaac was more than a bit nervous, but put it aside as he moved forward and began to unravel the part of the weave that formed his spell. As Isaac removed the binding circle, a grim smirk crossed the creature's face as he looked at the man, a satisfactory tone in its booming voice, "The contract called for the elf to remove my binds.. I don't recall ever making any such deals with you."

Lucy frowned pensively as she felt the weave shifting around the creature, and without warning, a dozen portals sprang open around the two. She looked to Isaac to indicate that something was very wrong, just as devils began to pour out of the openings into the courtyard, weapons drawn and bearing down on the two. Lucy and Isaac looked to each other for only a moment before entering a flurry of spell casting, both of them empowering themselves in their own fashion.

Without any further question the two flew into the fray as they had done countless times before. The fighting would eventually drive them to a few dozen yards apart from each other, but the devils were seemingly no match for two, falling one after another. White-hot flames sprang from Lucy's hands and feet as she waded into one group of them, her movements in combat as graceful as any dance, and where the flames struck, devils vanished as they were banished to their home plane.

As Isaac felled another one he wiped the sickly black blood from his blade, obviously still tense despite being able to defeat the creatures handedly. He looked across to Lucy as the woman defeated what appeared to be the last of the devils. Lucy beamed a smile to him, and in that one brief moment she let her guard down. A devil sprang forth from a portal that coalesced behind her, it's enormous sword cleaving into her and jutting out the front in the same instant. Panic gripped Isaac and he reached to his waist and grabbed a dagger, flinging it into the devil's sternum and crying Lucy's name so loud it hurt his throat, his legs pumping beneath him as he crossed the distance. The devil drew its sword from Lucy's flesh to turn and face the Spymaster, but it was too late; Isaac dispatched it before it could even raise the blade in defense of itself.

More portals sprang open all around them, but time seemed to stand still for Isaac. Lucy looked up at him, the life quickly leaving her eyes as he leaned down to try and tend to her wounds. He realized immediately the injury was fatal, his face growing grim.

"Silana.." Horror gripped Isaac's voice as he spoke the word.

She tried her best to smile, coughing blood as she spoke weakly, craning her neck upward from his hand to eye the Pit Fiend that stood at rear of the horde, barking orders at the lesser devils now.

"Shut up, I'm trying to think of a counter-strategy."

That weak smile still on her lips, Lucy feebly attempted to giggle, the sound cut off by a sharp inhale as she slipped quietly off the mortal coil. Isaac looked up with murder in his eyes as he began chanting, and tracing several arcane symbols in the air. As quickly as they had opened all of the portals snapped shut as his Dimensional Lock fell into place, and he drew his swords, slipping to the shadows.

All he had to do was get her out of here, he thought to himself. A voice echoed in his head: "There is still a chance."

After crossing the distance to the devils, Isaac leaped from the shadows, descending on the Pit Fiend. Faster and faster he moved, casting a spell as often as often as he swung a blade, but the creature matched him blow for blow in what seemed an eternity. He didn't even consciously realize it when he finally killed the fiend, blood flowing free from his many injuries. The fiend's minions were on him now. One devil fell, and another, but Isaac had grown fatigued and had run through most of his spells. Despite his fury he knew he had overplayed his hand when he felt one of the creatures' spears pierce his ribs, a second thrust taking him through the back of the leg. His vision grew dim, and as darkness closed in around him his eyes were drawn to Lucy, her crumpled form all he could see. His hand clutched the ruby bishop around his neck, and in the end, he didn't even feel the blow that ended his life.

[Hitman Hard]

The imagery still waving in his mind, the look of shock and betrayal on Sani’s face as he slashed into her paleness on a alarming sudden, like the sun scourging a too comfortable moon. . .

Another thing he said he’d never do.

A rueful smile on Valiant as he proceeded forwards, reluctantly. He shook his head a few times and donned a cold expression, hollow and uncaring as empire. The scouring, frigid wind trying to knock him down.
Valiant raps on the door once, twice, three times.

The canvas bag moved a bit on the edge of Valiant’s shoulder, uselessly.
“Be still, wench."
Valiant lowers the bag and gives it a hard smack. Telia was outside now and a hulking figure in dark armor, Telia looks at Valiant and then the sack.
“Best not to sit with such goods outside.... “
“Indeed, The contents might spoil."
The bag made incoherent noises.
Telia frowns at the sack and then opens the door, “assist with the goods,” she says to Kagger.
Kagger clasped the bag, “Where would you like it placed."
“In the dungeons."
“As you wish."
“Did anyone see you," Telia looks at Valiant.
“Commit the act? no."
“This way...The hells are you..." A groan.
Valiant removes his hood.
“Go after him."
“He went into the Upper-level?"
“No, somewhere.....” A sigh.

Valiant looks back in the direction of the Beholder Guardian and assesses the canvas bag in the cell before saying: “Thought she would never split up from her lover-band. I felt a magical pull half-way here."
“Right. Someone shake her out of that bag and secure her to the manacles on the wall." It was Telia.
“Val, would you like the honors?" Kagger across the room, standing in a militant stance.
“I don't have a key.” Valiant eyes Kagger.
“Open the door for Valiant.” Telia says to Kagger.
“Yeah, I will oblige."
Valiant lifts the canvas bag and turns it backwards, cutting a hole in it for her to fall forth.
Sani falls on the ground and attempts to roll over quickly, Valiant takes her by the arm unemotionally and opens the door. “Come now."
Sani touches Valiant's face.
“Please don't make this difficult.” Valiant’s features hard and cold, devoid of any sympathy for her plight.
“No, the..... manacles inside the cell."
“Ah."
“ .... the hells, did you not bind her?"
“May I?"
Telia said sternly,“Get a rope and bind those hands and feet, I do not want any toes or fingers being wiggled."

Numerous things started to happen to Valiant, Sani formed into a stream of blood and streamed right into Valiant's face. Valiant jolts back, uncontrollable, godless magic begun to infect him.
Kagger’s voice coming in gruffly, “I ask that you stand still or die. So be it."
Valiant tugging at his face in all resistance, “Ahh meddlesome trickster.”
“Valiant, hold still, I have to kill you to get to her," Kagger instructed.
Telia watches Sani... pretty much being absorbed into Valiant. “The hells is this..."
“She's just like my friend Merek!A Blood Magus!"
“Take care of it, I want her alive and bound."
“FINE!"
Valiant thrashes, with a lack of clarity and screams instantly as the lightning rains down.
“Don't melt me. . .”
“ .... not quite the.. method.... I had.. imagined."
“She still in him?"
Valiant’s tongue hanging out like a dog, eyes open and unblinking.
“Where did she go?" Kagger's voice, a current of disbelief about it.
“This is..." Telia sighing.

This is failure, I always was my own worst enemy. Valiant thought morosely, as he faded away into unconsciousness. As the world got smaller.

[Layla0340]

--- wiped at request ---

[Xanfyrst]

/// I'd prefer if the DM involved would post this and not you, Layla.

-Xan

[Layla0340]

/// I'd prefer if the DM involved would post this and not you, Layla.

-Xan

(((ok, wiping

[Darkcloud777]

/// I'd prefer if the DM involved would post this and not you, Layla.

-Xan

"removed"

[DM Theophanies]

///Keep it IC folks, take it into tells or send us a PM