Author's note - I've had this idea in my head for awhile and i'm glad it's finally digging its way out. I hope you all enjoy. This will cover the events of games 2 and 3 in depth as well as original stories in between the two and stuff after 3. I hope everyone enjoys and please leave me some awesome feedback. I appreciate all constructive criticism and if you see any typo's please point them out. i hate them but i'm really bad at finding my own.
DISCLAIMER PLEASE READ - So I noticed I posted Chapter 10 and 11 incomplete. This is because of an editing error. Crisis averted. This will be the first time I am ever grateful I did not save a word document and that it allowed me to undo thousands of times to recover what I lost. TT_TT Thank you Microsoft word god. So please if you read the chapters already... reread them. There is important content you missed.
Chapter 1
Khepri kept a steady pace as she approached the gates that surrounded the encampment of the sisterhood of the sightless eyes. With a careful eye she surveyed the outpost that served as a haven for the hunted sisters. The darkening mood in Khanduras had drawn many of Khepri's own sisters away from their home, but none had returned with news. Foul creatures hunted the weak and vulnerable during the night. Demons rose from the shadows and devoured all light before them. Evil had awoken within Tristram. That much was certain.
Khepri entered the gates unhindered. A few of the guards eyed her warily but many ignored her altogether. It made her wonder what others must see when they looked upon her. She had left the sanctum of her clan, the Zann Esu, untested against the horrors that had now become a part of the world of Sanctuary. She was well practiced in the magic arts and learned in the histories of her home, but she had never ventured anywhere outside the Zann Esu sanctum since beginning her tutelage. During her journey from the jungles of Kurast to the west she had seen many sights that had intrigued her. The world around her was fresh and exciting and despite the evil that crept in Sanctuary's shadows, she had encountered little resistance in her travels. Until a few nights ago when she had faced her first true test.
'The foul magic in the air had given life to the newly dead buried in a graveyard a few miles to the north near a small town. As she passed through the woods, they surrounded her. Three came at her from the side, shambling and moaning. The sweet, grotesque smell of decay wafted under her nose and choked her. She barely had time to raise her staff to fend off the closest one when two more closed her off from escape at her front and rear.
The fear had nearly defeated her as they reached for her. She watched, as a chunk of slimy, putrid skin peeled away from the arm of the one nearest her and fell to the ground with a sickening smack. She managed to push aside her fear and leapt sideways out of their path, though not as gracefully as she would have normally. Mustering the small amount of courage left within, Khepri brought her staff up and muttered a low incantation. Though her voice was shaking she clung to the words of power. A great wave of her staff sent ice shards careening towards the three now clustered together in front of her. The shards shredded the skeletal horrors, piercing their soft decaying flesh.
As they collapsed, Khepri felt renewed strength within and turned on the fourth corpse a few yards to her left. Its moan of hunger made her spine tingle as she sent a ball of flames hurtling toward it, burning away the false life it had been given. The last one, now mere steps away from her, lurched back as she impaled it with the back part of her staff. A peel of laughter escaped from pursed lips. More from anxiety and fear that actual joy. The wind carried the sound of it into the darkness before Khepri collapsed to her knees, overwhelmed by the fight.'
It had been over much more quickly than she remembered it, but the memory of the fear she felt and power she had wielded made her tremble in anticipation. She could have died that night, left forgotten amongst the trees in the forests of a foreign land, but fate had something else planned for her. It had called her out from her home, and given her feet wings. The calling had come in a dream and after much pleading and deliberation; her elders had let her go. She knew that she was being called for a greater purpose, but she knew not what the purpose was.
"One cannot discover their own destiny by standing still." Khepri quoted solemnly, noting that she hadn't moved more than a few steps in from the gate. She had been unprepared for the dangers before. Unaware of how the real world could be. No amount of books could prepare you for Sanctuary's beauty, or the danger that evil had awoken under its serene surface. Now she observed her surroundings with a meticulous eye, analyzing the potential threats as her sisters had taught her. She drew in a breath, her chest tight, and exhaled slowly before continuing forward.
Towards the center of camp a large bonfire pierced the darkness around it with orange and red light. Many travelers were gathered around the behemoth flame; some grim faced and sullen, others huddled together for comfort and warmth, and many loud and boisterous. The latter were treating the area like a tavern, drinking ale, picking fights, and telling ludicrous, over-the-top stories of past exploits. Some had fended off a hundred men by themselves, some were former kings, and one even boasted he had felled a great demon lord. Each tale was absurd and clearly fabricated.
Khepri sighed, unimpressed with the rabble that had taken refuge there. Clearly none of them cared for the plight of the world. From the looks of most, they had simply taken advantage of a chance to pick pocket the dead and pilfer the monastery in Tristram. She pulled her hood down, revealing long, dark red hair that cascaded down her back. Her eyes, the shade of purest emerald scanned the riff-raff for any threats.
Khepri's gaze was drawn immediately to another warrior, on the far side of the fire. She sat alone, clothed in all black save for a blood red cloak, hood drawn up to hide her face. She sat much farther away from the fire than anyone, completely still, watching the crowd intently. Shadows danced behind her in unnatural patterns and even from afar Khepri was put ill at ease by her presence. Their eyes met for a brief moment and she shuddered. It felt as if the shadows were also staring at her. Khepri closed her eyes, the feeling of unease passed, but when she looked again the warrior had vanished. Khepri knew, deep down that she would see the mysterious warrior again.
To her right was a sight that, to anyone else, would seem extremely odd. A paladin of Zakarum and a barbarian of the north were huddled together deep in conversation with one another. Unlike most of the would be adventurers, these two radiated with a troubled aura. Approaching with caution, Khepri made her way over to them.
"So should we make for Tristram at dawn, Kalaef? If we want answers then that's the best place to begin. You've heard the rumors same as me. Tristram is a wasteland of corpses and demonic refuse." The barbarian argued. Kalaef shook his head undeterred.
"We don't know if Tristram will provide us with any answers at all. The evil that has laid claim to this land is breeding within the monastery. If we don't find it soon all of Khanduras will fall to the demonic horde. We must make haste to cleanse this land, Faergaus." Kalaef replied. Both glanced over to where Khepri stood, having heard her approach. Faergaus grinned, standing up to greet her.
Even the scrolls at her Sanctum had not truly done justice to the massive stature of a real barbarian. He was easily 6 and a half feet tall, if not more. He was broad. Not just in the shoulders, but everywhere. His fists were as large as her head, his biceps nearly two feet around, his one leg almost the size of her whole self. He was all bulging, rippling muscles, tight, dark skin, and chiseled features. A wild, untamed Mohawk striped down his otherwise bald head and hazel eyes set deep in his face smiled down at her. Despite his massive and intimidating size, he couldn't seem friendlier.
"You're of the Zann Esu clan from east aren't you? Faergaus at your service mi 'lady. What brings you all the way to Khanduras." He asked her, bowing slightly. Khepri relaxed a little, feeling immediately at ease by his smile and deep, vibrating voice.
"My name is Khepri. I don't know if you would understand, but I felt compelled to travel west. I feel fate has led me to this place, and I have chosen to pursue the evil that claimed Tristram." Khepri saw them exchange a furtive glance, before the Paladin joined Faergaus and also bowed.
"Then fate seems to have steered you correctly, for we seek the same thing. I am Kalaef, an acolyte and Paladin of the Zakarum faith." Kalaef replied. Although small when compared to the barbarian, Kalaef was very large for a regular man. He had toned muscles and a large chest, made larger by his armor. He had short dark hair and piercing blue eyes. While he was not a beautiful man, he held a masculine charm that made him very handsome to behold.
Khepri could almost feel the hands of fate interweaving around them, pulling them together, and binding their destinies. She remembered the dark warrior from before and almost laughed at herself for the way she had frozen. No doubt it was a trick of the light. As she spoke with Kalaef and Faergaus, the fear that had clung to her since her attack three days before fled beneath the imposing presence of light within her new companions. She missed the eyes that peered out from the darkness observing her in the flickering firelight. She didn't hear the soft rustle of grass or swish of a cloak as those eyes turned away, heading to a secluded section of the camp.
Anra ran a hand over the hilt of her sword instinctively as she made her way to a small tent set up along the edge of the camp. Though the sword was ancient, no imperfections had marred the beautifully crafted weapon. The presence of it was like a balm, lifting her anxiety away. Even if the whole world turned upside down, it was a constant for her. Her sword was a focal point that could bring her renewed clarity. She stopped suddenly, realizing she had been pacing around a small fire pit and sighed.
"I spend far too much time on my own." She whispered. A derisive sneer surfaced to her face as she bent low, setting the logs aflame with the tip of her finger. Her vision blurred from the onslaught of heat and light but she quickly adjusted. Her mind was working tirelessly, piecing together the facts that had led to the tragedy in Tristram.
"You do seem a bit out of practice in your social skills. I believe that young sorceress was quite frightened by you." The voice spoke to her from out of the shadows. As she sat by the fire the shadows took on a liquid quality, forming a somewhat human shaped figure which stood behind her, amorphous arms crossed.
"I might have approached her if not for you sizing her up. I have asked you many times not to skulk around in the open. If she had been a priest of Rathma, we would have been discovered." Anra hissed. The shadow laughed. It would have caused chills in anyone else, but Anra was used to the harsh and malicious sounds that came from her companion.
"You are so easy to vex, Anra." He leaned toward her, so his mouth, or what would be his mouth, rested near her ear. "I promise to behave for now."
"I give you plenty of freedom, Aros, despite our contract. You are far better off than most demons would be in your position. I want you to remain out of sight," Anra paused turning to look into the red eyes of Aros, whose outline had become sharper, yet remained comprised of the shadows, "completely, so that I can do what must be done to set things right."
Aros sighed, watching as she resumed staring into the flames. Looking closely he could see images of recent events dancing within the fires. "What happened in Tristram was not your fault. You cannot continue to shoulder the blame for every foul thing to happen to Sanctuary."
Anra didn't glance back as Aros retreated into the shadows, but as the darkness faded from the corner of her eyes she closed them and let her head slump down into her hands. He spoke the truth and she knew it. Yet guilt weighed heavily on her heart. Tristram had fallen while she had been absent from Sanctuary. Her righteous vigil to protect Sanctuary had not been enough to stop evil from being released once more. The darkness that came with it clung to her like a cloak, seared her lungs with every breath, and made her feel as if it was consuming her from the inside.
"I will set things right." She whispered quietly to herself. She saw movement to her left and froze, hand griping the hilt of her sword tightly, ready to spring into action if necessary, but relaxed as a group of drunken fools stumbled past. They scarcely gave her a second glance as they staggered away into the darkness. Anra sneered. The peoples of Sanctuary, though they felt the presence of evil in the world, didn't understand the true horror that had been released from the depths of the monastery. Even she wasn't aware of the events that had led to this day. She had been elsewhere fighting a battle that was nothing more than a diversion. Cursing under her breath, Anra snuffed out the dying flame and lay back on the soft grass.
She rarely needed true sleep, but exhaustion crept up on her, pulling her closer to slumber until she drifted into an uneasy rest. Anra knew she would be safe. The sister's walls were protected by powerful enchantments, and Aros watched from the shadows. A silent yet vigilant guardian. He was bound by a powerful contract that could only be broken by Anra. As the world fell away to dreams a small, sad smile graced her lips.
Though the morning came, it was hidden away by unnatural clouds. Khepri awoke with the dawn to the smell of fresh dew and the musk of man beside her. It was something she knew would be hard to get used to. She hadn't set eyes on any men since she had been accepted into the Zann Esu and wasn't entirely sure how to act around them. Faergaus was so massive that he took up a decent amount of real estate in the shabby tent the sisters had provided for them and even in sleep he was very loud. Kalaef leaned against the rough tarp in one corner his head clearly drooped in slumber. Khepri herself had curled up on the bear skin Faergaus had offered to her and managed to sleep most of the night. It was the first real sleep she had managed since being attacked. The presence of the two warriors brought immense comfort, especially the barbarian.
She quietly snuck out of the tent and immediately shivered. Reaching into the tent again she fetched her cloak and pulled it snug around her. The chill seemed to linger on day after day in this country. She was used to the steamy warmth of the jungles of kehjistan. As she prepared her things for travel, Faergaus and Kalaef clamored out of the tent groggily. Faergaus grinned at her, but Kalaef only nodded slightly toward her before setting about building a small cooking fire.
"So did you sleep well?" Faergaus asked. He was so unlike anything she had heard tell of the northern barbarians who were depicted as vicious, savage, and primal.
"I slept very well, thank you. It was comforting to be among people. I have been alone since setting out from Kehjistan." Khepri smiled back, but at the sharp look in Faergaus's eyes she faltered. "Is anything wrong."
"Begging your pardon, Khepri, but I should probably state that you shouldn't be as trusting of the people around you; especially strapping lads with good looks like us. Not all men are as virtuous as us and may have taken advantage of you in the night." Khepri looked horrified, giving him a shifty glance that did not go unnoticed by Kalaef. He sniggered as he struggled with the damp logs.
"Don't worry about us. I promise we aren't vagrants that take advantage of beautiful women like yourself, but from now on I want you to be more wary and guarded. There are plenty of uncivilized types here seeking quick riches from the destruction of Tristram. You should stay alert." Kalaef added before swearing harshly, unable to light the branches aflame.
Khepri bent down and with a few muttered words managed to light the fire Kalaef could not. He sighed but set about frying some sausages and eggs Faergaus had traded off of the sisters.
"You're sweet to worry about me. I'll be very distrusting I promise," she replied grinning as the smells of sizzling meat wafted under her nose. The barbarian strapped on his armor and packed up his gear. Then he took over cooking the eggs while Kalaef did the same.
"We plan to leave in an hour on our quest. If you wish to join us, we'd welcome a spellcaster, though we must choose our destination quickly." Faergaus explained as they finished their meal. Khepri seemed hesitant. She knew very little about either of them, but her instincts were screaming for her to accept.
"I would be honored. I must admit though I don't have much experience in battle yet." Khepri thought about the attack again. She knew that she had much to improve upon, but she was excited to experience the world around her.
"It's fine. Kalaef and I haven't had much experience fighting demons or the undead. People tend to be easier to defeat than hellspawn, but if we watch over each other then we shouldn't have any problems." Faergaus reassured her. Khepri gathered her own things and was just feeling the beginnings of excitement building in her system when movement caught the corner of her eye. The warrior she had seen last night was talking to one of the sisters. Her new comrades momentarily forgotten, Khepri approached the two women quietly. She didn't want to get too close but she was intrigued by this mysterious woman. The desire to find out who she was had overridden all the warnings her intuition was giving off.
"I ran into your captain, Blood Raven, in the graveyard of the monastery. She has been put to rest at last, just as you asked of me, Kashya. I buried what remained of her just outside the gates and marked it. Should the land ever become safe the sisterhood will be able to hold a full ceremony." The warrior bowed. Kashya thanked her, but didn't seem overly thrilled to be in her presence. As the warrior turned away she locked eyes with Khepri and frowned. Neither moved as Kashya turned away to deliver the news to her sisters.
Khepri, in the gray light that filtered in from the clouds, could now see what she had missed the night before. The armor of this warrior was intricate, well-crafted, and unblemished. It covered her leaving few vulnerable places but didn't impede her movement. A black cloak hung down around her, pulled back behind wing shaped pauldrons. An unusual raiment for anyone, but it seemed fitting for her. She was young, with creamy white skin and raven colored hair, but her eyes that peered out from beneath her black hood gleamed with a kind of agelessness only the most wizened masters of her order held.
Before Khepri could speak the warrior bowed, then turned away without a word, disappearing amongst the throng of adventurers gathering around her. They whispered dark words about the stranger that Khepri couldn't quite pick up. The urge to question Kashya about the mystery woman was quelled as Kalaef and Faergaus caught up to her.
"She hasn't spoken a word to anyone but the sisters of the sightless eye. I heard her the other day talking to Akara. I didn't catch much, but I know she's been inquiring about the events that transpired in Tristram. Akara seems to trust her completely, but no one else will even look at her. She's been in camp a week and everyone seems very on edge when she's near." Faergaus said in answer to Khepri's questioning gaze.
"Has she done anything to cause them unease?" Khepri asked.
"As far as we've seen she's been extremely helpful. Just the other night she cleared out an entire den of demon spawn alone on Akara's request. As you just heard, and it's traveling around very quickly, she defeated Kashya's corrupted sister in the monastery graveyard. I've heard twenty different theories as to who and what she is from the morons that are here to pillage the dead, but none of them sound very plausible." Faergaus added. Kalaef suppressed a shudder before turning to look at Khepri.
"I saw her fight one of these poor bastards a few days ago. Wouldn't call it much of a fight though. One of our friendly scavengers was drunk off his ass and trying to force himself on one of the younger members of the sisterhood. Before any of us could react she had his arm pinned behind his back and a knife at his throat. Told him that true men were much more respectful and she would be glad to escort him straight to hell if he tried it again." Kalaef shook his head then, the memory still fresh. He had never seen anything as frightening as the barely concealed rage in those scarlet eyes.
"Of course, the moron he was, as soon as she released his arm he drew his sword on her. He lunged, I blinked, and then his arm toppled to the ground, completely severed." Kalaef went on, his mouth dry at the thought. "I'm telling you she moved like a demon. No one around moved to help him. I think all of us were too petrified at what she might do. She didn't say anything. She just stared him down until he began screaming. Not in agony though, in terror." Kalaef shuddered then, visibly.
"I saw it too. Mind you, the bastard got what he deserved. No man should ever force himself on a lady, or attack from behind like a coward, but I won't be forgetting that scream anytime soon."
Khepri didn't reply for a long while as they set out toward the gate. Someone who defended the weak, but clearly didn't think twice about severing limbs must be either extremely good, or extremely bad. Khepri didn't know much about the world around her, but she did know that attacking another human, deserved or not, would still weigh heavily on the mind. This warrior, however, seemed to be completely unfazed that she had just severed a man's arm. The way she spoke to kashya was respectful, and she had done such a wonderful, if sad, thing in bringing Blood Raven peace. She had helped the sisters with so much, but was equally merciless to the wrongful acts of others.
"Are you still thinking about her?" Kalaef asked. Khepri hadn't said a word since their departure and her eyes seemed troubled.
"I can't help it. Mysteries intrigue me and she is by far the biggest mystery around. I saw her sitting alone when I first arrived. She seemed so lonely then. When she spoke to Kashya, I saw anger in her eyes." Khepri smiled softly. "I can't get a read on her."
"We still have a decision to make. Tristram or the monastery? Either road is fraught with danger, but we must decide quickly." Faergaus shifted restlessly. An evil presence hung in the air like plague. The harsh, flat surroundings seemed to come alive around them. Foliage appeared bigger and more wild than normal and the road seemed to move on its own.
"I still say we should head straight to the source of evil. Tristram was a tragedy, but we will find nothing to help us there." Kalaef practically shouted the words. Sound seemed strangely muffled around them. The only thing they had seen since leaving the encampment had been a few quill fiends. Rodents covered in spiny quills that had grown quite massive in recent months, the biggest ones three feet long, with razor sharp claws.
"I think Tristram will give us an understanding of what to expect, Kalaef. There is much we can learn by going to the scene of the disaster." Faergaus replied heatedly. The sky grew darker as the day progressed, not lighter. The scent of death drifted under their noses. It gagged their throats and clung to their skin. "Khepri, what do you think?"
Khepri had thought long and hard during their trek. She knew if they continued to Tristram the road would grow more dangerous. They may waste time trying to dig up information there that didn't exist. The monastery seemed a logical choice, but she also knew they were untested against the foul beasts that surely used the monastery as a fortress. 'And we may run into that girl in Tristram,' Khepri added internally.
"I think we should make our way to Tristram. It isn't much farther from there to the monastery and if we find anything useful there we will be better prepared to face whatever evil has taken root in Khanduras." Knowing he had been defeated, Kalaef and the others turned toward the road to Tristram.
Anra watched with slight amusement as the trio made their way toward the road to Tristram. She knew from speaking with Akara that Tristram had been sealed off from the world by King Leoric, who, in his ever destabilizing mental state, had barricaded the town from attack. The only way in was through the Cairn Stones not far from where she was.
"They will wander in circles if left on their own, Anra. You should help them." She heard Aros whisper into her ear. He was staying hidden, but couldn't resist teasing her. The wind whipped around on her suddenly forcing her to shield her eyes from the biting chill. The familiar sickening scent of decay wafted beneath her nose. Looking back she saw a herd of rotting dead corpses shambling dangerously close to where the three heroes had paused to rest.
To her even a large group such as that would pose no threat, but, from what she'd seen of them fighting, it would tear through the barbarian and his companions. Aros chuckled behind her.
"This is going to be quite sad." Aros snickered. "They don't stand a chance on their own."
"We have to get to Tristram, today, Aros. Deckard Cain doesn't have the luxury of time!" She snapped but her eyes were still watching the horde of undead making a steady pace toward fresh meat. Aros shifted slightly, stirring the shadows he had chosen to hide within. The group was blissfully unaware of the danger they were in. It would be upon them in mere moments, tumbling on top of them from over a ridge, while Anra debated the issue internally.
"And neither does Sanctuary." Anra added quietly as she made up her mind. The quiet 'shhhk' of drawing a sword was the only noise she made as she advanced toward the mindless horde.
Khepri shuddered visibly. The wind had suddenly picked up and chilled her exposed skin. Kalaef reached across to her and bundled her cloak around her tighter. They had encountered very few obstacles since departing, one of which Faergaus had been cleaning meticulously from the blade of his massive axe. Bits and pieces of sinew fell to the ground, making a wet slapping, sound against the hard, dirt path. Her cloak had flecks of blood splattered on it that she had been unable to clean off.
Kalaef asked if they wanted a fire but Khepri shook her head. Too much unwanted attention, she had argued. "So what do we do now, with the road to Tristram blocked as it is? Do we find another way into the city?" Kalaef opened his mouth to argue, but the only sound they heard was a low, gurgling moan. It had come east of them. Faergaus pulled Khepri behind himself, shouting something unintelligible, as three heavy set corpses shuffled over the top of the small hill they had rested beside. Kalaef leapt forward, sword drawn, ready to attack when the sounds of metal slicing into flesh broke the silence. The faint smell of burning flesh made mingled with the rotten smell.
They watched as more of the foul creatures crested the hill getting steadily closer. Five of them were now closing it at various points and two more were coming in to view. Kalaef prepare to charge when the flash of metal caught his eye. The head of one of the corpses toppled down the hill at his feet as it's body sank to the ground with a sickly slapping noise. At the hills crest stood a tall warrior clad in black and red, cloak billowing behind her, as she expertly beheaded the another one closing in on them. Faergaus and Kalaef made quick work of the rest, but more came into view just yards away from their savior. The warrior was already whirling around, as Khepri opened her mouth to warn her, to embed her sword into the chest of one. She lashed out at the other with a surprisingly agile kick, using her sword and the creature it was sticking in as leverage. As it fell to the ground she pulled her sword out and beheaded the first risen dead, then spun around and impaled the other ones skull. No blood seemed to stain the blade as she sheathed her deadly weapon.
"What are you doing? There are more coming." Faergaus shouted drawing his axe up for another swing as what remained of the horde, enticed by the smell of blood, tumbled over the crest at demonic speed. Suddenly, black flames fanned out from the dark warrior's outstretched palms. It struck the remaining undead, charring them to ash. Khepri marveled at the ease with which the spell had been cast.
"What are you?" Kalaef asked as the warrior relaxed her shoulders. The hood that hid her face, coupled with the winged pauldrons gave her an other-worldly appearance. No one noticed Kalaef had said not 'who', but 'what'.
"Are there more?" Khepri asked, her eyes glued to the location the corpses had come from.
"You are safe for now, but many roam the countryside. I suggest you return to the safety of camp before you all become dinner for one of the foul creatures about," was the reply that came from beneath her hood.
"We may have been caught off guard, but skeletons are hardly a challenge." Kalaef retorted.
"Then scale the hill and gaze upon the true size of their force!"
Khepri, Faergaus, and Kalaef scaled the small hill. The sight that greeted them was grisly at best. At least twenty more undead corpses lay strewn about a large field. It was clear that the warrior had fought her way to their rescue, through far more than they had faced. Finally Khepri approached their unusual savior.
"You were at the camp. I heard you speaking with Kashya. Who are you?"
"That is none of your concern. Go home. I know you seek Tristram and the monastery as well. It will take more than sloppy coordination and half-assed swordplay to reach those goals. You have no idea of the true danger you face. If you continue as you are the evil in these lands will consume you, in one way or another."
Khepri didn't back down. Instead she advanced even closer on their rescuer, a bold look in her eyes that was clearly a mix of awe and bravado. The truth was she had no idea what to expect from this woman.
"You cannot tell us what we can and cannot do!" Khepri told her forcefully. "I may not have much experience here in the world, but I know what is important. Sanctuary is our home and it's in danger. I followed my intuition and it brought me here, where evil is stirring. I won't back down or turn away from this. I know this is where I'm supposed to be!"
"Khepri is right. Who are you to tell us where to go?" Faergaus growled. He and Kalaef advanced so they were standing tall next to Khepri. Faergaus would have been imposing to anyone else, but the warrior merely chuckled, lowering her hood so they could see her clearly.
"That was well said." she chuckled, though clearly not expecting much of a response. She bowed to them, a slight bend at the waist with her hands folded over themselves in front of her. "My name is Anra Nor Tiraj."
It was the first real look Khepri had of her. Anra had long black hair, restrained with a hair wrap at the base of her neck nearly six inches long. Her eyes were a deep crimson the same shade as blood, and pale skin as white as snow. Her eyes were slanted slightly like those of people from the Kehjistan region. She wore a derisive grin on her slim lips. The sword she grasped was as graceful and richly made as the armor she wore.
"Do you think us fools? Why do you laugh?" Kalaef asked. He was eying Anra with disdain, clearly uneasy around her. "And what sect do you hail from?"
"I have trained with many peoples of Sanctuary and as such I am loath to lay claim to any group, but if I must do so then I shall claim to be of the vizjerei." Anra did not miss the sharp intake of breath as Kalaef backed away from her. "Don't worry priest, I don't plan on sacrificing you to the demonic hordes or anything of the like. Demonic magic is not my forte."
"I thought the vizjerei were extinct?"
Anra turned to Khepri again. It was unnerving when those eyes were on you and Khepri gripped her staff tightly, worried she might quiver from them. It set Khepri's nerves even more on edge.
"I do not have the luxury to stand here and answer your questions to your satisfaction." Anra started, her words carefully spoken. She brushed a strand of her bangs behind her ear. They cupped her face gracefully, parted slightly more to one side. "I must make haste to Tristram, but I can provide you some quick answers."
It was clear that Anra was rushed. She seemed tense and alert, especially after the bloodbath she had caused. The tension around her was palpable.
"I laugh because not many have the guts to stand up to me. Indeed most run away at the sight of me though it has been a long time since I've been around people at all." Anra paused. "I've been hunting down demons for years, but I was absent when events transpired in Tristram. I should not have been paying so little attention to what was happening in sanctuary. "
"What do you hope to find in Tristram?" Faergaus asked. It was not his first question but he had a feeling she wasn't open to sharing things about herself. He was watching her closely.
"There is man trapped there. Deckard Cain, the last of the Horadrim, may be the only person who can tell us what happened there." Anra pointed into the distance. "I have an obligation to anyone who can claim the title 'Horadrim'. The only entrance to Tristram now is through a portal at the ancient Cairn stones. I know the sequence to open the portal. You can ask, but I will not tell you how I came by this information. As it is, I will not nor do I plan to discuss my history at all with any of you. From what I gather you were heading toward Tristram as well. Although I'm sure you'll be more hindrance than help I am willing to let you come with me. At least that way you'll live longer."
The silence was steep and heavy around them. They all knew she thought little of their abilities and she was a stranger to them. Her abrasiveness and sharp tongue coupled with her mysterious knowledge of the area and her attitude in general had them all on edge.
"I'm sure that we could benefit from having a strong warrior like you with us. However, once we have found Deckard Cain, we have much to discuss." Faergaus' gaze was impassive, but Anra could guess his mind.
"Then we go." Anra smiled, leading the way.