Disclaimer: I do not own Dungeons and Dragons
A/N: Well here it is, the beginning of Shadows Falling. I hope you like it. Here we go….
Chapter One: Gathering Flames
Neliel raced down the stairs of the inn, flames licking at her heels, her pack bouncing crazily on her back. She didn't know who had started the fire, but when she found out they were going to pay. She just made it out the door of The Falling Blossoms Inn when the roof collapsed, crushing those still inside. Breathing heavily, Neliel sat down hard on the packed earth of the road. Only once she had caught her breath did she notice the other buildings wreathed in flames.
"So, this wasn't aimed at me." Neliel suddenly became aware of the sounds of battle and screams coming from the direction of the north gate. Stowing her belongings in a niche in the alleyway across from the remains of The Falling Blossoms, she sprinted off down the street to see what she could do to help these people.
* * * * * * * *
The black armored soldier in front of Erik never saw or heard what killed him. Recovering his kukri, Erik sneered in disgust.
"Humph, we were a lot more aware when I was in the service."
"Enemy at the gate!" came a shout, and as Erik turned he saw four more of the black garbed warriors charging him, longswords drawn.
"Well, shit." Erik rushed the four, his twin weapons drawn. At the last second he pivoted, driving his left handed kukri into the fastest of these foolish soldiers. His right handed blade parried and then corkscrewed around the next warrior's sword, sinking deep into his chest only to be ripped free a second later and hurled into the eye of a third soldier. The last of the four, suitably cautious, began to circle Erik.
"Oh, enough of this farce." Erik snarled as he charged.
* * * * * * * *
"Anna, Lily, when I tell you to run, you run and don't look back." Father Jacob turned his attention back to the ruffians in black armor, brandishing his morningstar.
"He's one o' them martyrs from the Ilmatieri church. He can't harm a fly, it's against their code." The officer sneered. "Kill 'em!"
"Run children!" the Father turned, his shield held steady, his weapon held loosely, ready to strike. The men surged forth, battle cries on their lips. "My lord, forgive me, but I must protect the children."
"Die, Ilmatieri priest!" The Father's shield turned the first blow and he blocked the next with the head of his morningstar. He shifted slightly, shoving his shield forward and swung his weapon overhead, bringing it down on the head of his foe, staving in his skull. He dodged to the left, narrowly avoiding a thrust from his second assailant and catching the follow through with his shield before crushing the man's right arm with his morningstar.
The officer rushed Father Jacob, his blade whirling in his hands. The man was good, very good. The Father was hard pressed to keep the man's sword from his flesh, barely able to block the blindingly fast slashes and thrusts. The officer suddenly stumbled over an unseen stone and Father Jacob took the advantage, slamming his weapon into the man's chest, crushing his armor. The man crumpled, and Father Jacob's morningstar came away covered in blood.
The man whose arm had been crushed still lay on the ground, screaming. The Father approached him and knelt on the ground beside him, light streaming from his hands as he touched the man's injury. The arm healed in seconds.
"Though you little deserve them, go with the blessings of Ilmater, my son." The priest stood and walked away into the darkness with a heavy heart, towards the north gate.
* * * * * * * *
Sean rushed along the street in a panic, looking from side to side like a man possessed.
"Where is the Father?" he thought frantically. Sean felt the air change suddenly and leapt to the side and rolled away as the spot he'd been standing in a moment before exploded in a fiery blast.
"Come out, coward!" Sean heard a snicker from above his head and looked up to see a man standing on the roof of a small cottage, robed in black and pointing a red, glowing rod in his direction.
"Aww and I wanted to see a garou burn…" the man laughed once more but the smile never touched his eyes. "Oh well…" the man jumped out into open space and, as if an unseen wind spurred him on, he flew away into the night.
"Hey, more meat for the grind!" a shout came from behind Sean and he turned to see six men in black armor running down the street, swords and axes drawn.
His silver eyes shining, Sean charged, roaring out his battle cry, the single, curved edge of his greatsword glinting in the light of the fires. He hit their line like a rolling boulder, scattering their ranks.
Sean deflected a strike from one soldier and spinning tore him in half before bringing his sword around in a flat arc to split another's skull. An axe dealt him a glancing blow, but the cut was shallow and Sean's greatsword shattered the weapon before removing the man's hands at the wrist. An overly lucky warrior got inside Sean's guard and performed a stop thrust that should have pierced his chest but instead deflected off of the breastplate hidden beneath Sean's tunic. For his trouble, Sean rewarded him with the same attack, his sword shearing through the man's armor like a hot knife through butter.
The remaining two soldiers turned tail and ran, unable to stand before the power of the man before them. Sean howled at their retreating backs, bearing his fangs in a snarl, but before he could give chase, his sensitive ears picked up the sounds of battle to the north, and the unmistakable sound of Father Jacob's voice.
Sean turned and ran as fast as his legs could carry him towards the sounds. As he turned a final corner, Sean stopped, transfixed from the sight before him. A beautiful, half-elven woman stood in front of two small girls, a short spear in her hands fending off a man in black armor, her gray eyes wild, her waist length, teal hair waving in the breeze that fanned the flames all around them.
Across the courtyard, a man in black chainmail armor fought off six of the black armored men, his twin kukris wreaking havoc all around him.
Sean's eyes found his mentor similarly engaged against four of the invaders.
"Don't just stand there boy, help them!"
The Father's words spurred him forward and with a mighty roar, Sean charged…….
Cliff hanger! What will happen to Neliel? Will Sean be able to save her in time? What about the mysterious man in black robes who attacked Sean? Find out in the next chapter of Shadows Falling.
16Fangs