D the Stampede presents
Shards and Shadows
Chapter One-Attack, Ruins and Farewells
One
Late into that night, Darius was awoken by Bevil bursting into his bedroom, shouting, "The village is under attack! West Harbor is under attack! You're safe! Grab a weapon; we need to help defend the village!"
"Bevil, what in the hells is going on?" Darius asked, and then winced at the stupidity of his own question.
"I don't know! They came pouring in from the swamp and started tearing the village apart!" Bevil exclaimed.
"You'd better hurry in getting ready, Darius," Amie said from outside the door, "I saw some of them following us on the way here."
"Right," Darius replied having finished dressing and grabbing his sword and spell book and then following Bevil's lead downstairs.
Two
Just as they reached the bottom of the stairs, the front door was broken down and in burst a trio of; "Duergar? What the hell could grey dwarves want in West Harbor?" Darius exclaimed in surprise before unleashing a magic missile spell on the lead dwarf.
"What's it matter? They're destroying our home!" Bevil shouted back he finished off the stunned dwarf with a slash across his throat. Meanwhile, Darius engaged the second dwarf sword to club while Amie summoned a wolf to attack the third.
"It matters because West Harbor is a farming village with nothing worth stealing, Bevil," Darius replied as he continued his fight with his dwarf, "If this was a raid on one farm by the lizards, that would be different."
"Darius raises a good point, Bevil," Amie as she killed the third dwarf with her crossbow. This freed her wolf to attack Darius' opponent, who quickly fell afterwards.
"Right, it's time to go join the real battle. Amie, conserve spells by using your crossbow. You two made it sound like there are a lot of them out there," Darius said.
Three
Once Outside, the trio were greeted by Brother Merring, "Ah, Darius, Bevil, Amie, it is good to see you safe as I saw those creatures enter Daeghun's house. Georg is fighting more duergar at the bridge into town. You must accept this blessing of Lathander and go to his aid." That said, Brother Merring cast a bless spell upon them and they rushed towards the bridge, Darius casting shield and ghostly visage spells on the way. With the trio's help Georg and the two Harbormen for at the bridge quickly defeated their assailants.
"It's good to see you alive, Darius," Georg said, "There's been no sign of your father and I feared you'd been killed as well. Anyway, I need you to rally the Militia."
"Alright, where are they?" Darius asked, feeling a little put out. As a wizard's apprentice, militia matters weren't in his job description.
"The militia is likely disorganized and scattered about town. Find around a half dozen men and meet me at the Starling wheat field. That's the best we can hope for," Georg stated before running across the bridge into town.
"Ward?" Darius heard Bevil say behind him.
Turning around, Darius saw that it was a bloody and badly wounded Ward Mossfeld that Bevil had found laying in the grass, "Ward Mossfeld, can barely see you through the blood."
"Come to gloat you half-drow bastard?" Ward replied.
"Gloat about our hometown being razed? Ward, you're an idiot. But since you're also militia, I'll go find Bother Merring and see if he can help you," Darius said before rushing back towards where said priest was treating the wounded.
"How goes the battle?" Brother Merring asked.
"Georg has me rallying the militia to the Starling farm. Also, I've found a badly wounded militiaman in need of aid," Darius explained.
"I see. Take this," Brother Merring.
"Moss?" Darius asked.
"It is indeed swamp moss mixed with some herbs. It should stop the bleeding and numb the pain long enough for them to get back into the fighting," Brother Merring explained.
"You're back," Ward asked as Darius returned.
"Told you I would be," Darius said, pulling out the jar of moss and using some on Ward's wounds.
"Thanks, Darius, you didn't have to help me with our history," Ward said before charging off towards the battle shouting, "Gonna kill me some grey runts."
Next, crossing the bridge themselves, the trio found Lazlo Buckman in a three on one fight with duergar warriors, but were ambushed themselves by a pair of duergar wizards as they ran to his aid. Once these enemies were defeated, Darius informed Lazlo of the plan to rally at the wheat field. Then he noticed Ian Harmon cowering by a nearby house. So, he walked there and asked, "You're a member of the militia so why are you hiding here?"
"What? You came to drag me out there to die? Not on your life," Ian said.
"How about yours, coward?" Darius asked, brandishing his sword.
"Ha, big words, but you wouldn't," Ian sneered. To which, Darius struck him with the flat of his blade. "Ow, what did you do that for?"
"It will be the sharp part, next," Darius said, "There are others waiting to meet up at the wheat field."
"Alright, alright, I'm going. I'll see you there if I'm not dead when you arrive." Ian said, running towards the field.
As Darius and his friends turned towards the center of town, they were stopped by a wizard duel happening between Tarmas and a mysterious green-skinned mage. "Master, hold on, we can help!" Amie exclaimed, preparing to rush into the duel.
"Amie! No!" Darius shouted as he attempted to grab her and stop her from joining the duel, but he was too slow. She launched a magic missile spell that splashed harmlessly against the green mage's already prepared shield spell.
"So, the whelp seeks to test herself," the green mage rasped with a sneer, "How pathetic." And that said, he cast a flame arrow spell that struck the unprepared Amie, burning her alive.
"No!" Bevil shouted the denial, charging at the mage himself.
"It is not here, I'm through wasting time," the mage rasped while summoning three giant spiders between him and Bevil. Darius rushed forward and set one of the spiders ablaze with a combust spell while Bevil slew one with his sword and Tarmas beat the third repeatedly with his staff.
"The foolish girl, I could have told her she needed to stay out of it," Tarmas said.
"Master, who or what was that mage?" Darius asked.
"I don't know, but clearly he was skilled in the art and the leader of this attack as well," Tarmas replied, "We must hurry to the Starling wheat field."
"We'll join you there, master," Darius replied, "We have to find more of the militia."
"Amie, no," Bevil was repeating quietly while holding her body in his lap.
"Bevil, get up," Darius said, placing a hand on Bevil's shoulder.
"No! We have to get help for Amie!" Bevil exclaimed.
"Bevil, who are we going to get?" Darius asked soothingly, "Brother Merring is the only Cleric in town and he can't perform resurrection spells. We can't help Amie; we can only save those who live still."
"Alright," Bevil, wiping tears from his eyes, setting Amie's body down gently and standing, "Let's go."
A groan from nearby led them to Wyl Mossfeld, who like his brother before him was wounded, "Darius," he groaned, "you wouldn't have seen Ward anywhere, have you?"
"Yes, he was wounded by the village's attackers, but thanks to Brother Merring, I was able to heal him enough to get back to the fighting," Darius replied, pulling out the swamp moss.
"My thanks, Darius, I know we give you a rough time of it," Wyl said as Darius applied the moss to his wounds, "Thanks again, I'm feeling better already."
Darius then found Pitney Lannon, who had received a gut wound and helped him the same as Ward and Wyl, "My thanks, Darius." Pitney said, running to the wheat field.
Next, Webb Mossfeld was still fighting, though his opponents weren't duergar. "Great, now there's bladelings involved."
"What are bladelings, Darius?" Bevil asked as they rushed to Webb's aid.
"An extraplaner people who are about as friendly as they look," Darius explained.
"Those things are covered in blades and spikes," Bevil deadpanned.
"Exactly," Darius said as they rushed to help Webb. Soon the bladelings were dead and they were rushing over to help the militia's only woman, whose name escaped Darius. Then, finally they were joining Georg and the Militia at the wheat field and just in time as a large wave of enemies swarmed in from the swamp as soon as they had. Darius unleashed a cloud of bewilderment spell in the middle of the group of attackers, temporarily stunning and blinding many of them and making them easy prey for the militia and Darius himself. A second wave of enemies arrived as the last of those attackers fell and this time, Darius rushed the middle of the enemy line and used a fireburst spell to burn several duergar. Next was a sleep spell. As the battle dragged on, however, Darius was running short on both memorized spells and stamina. Then it happened. Several duergar made it past the defenders and broke into the Starling home.
"Cyric's blood!" Georg exclaimed upon seeing that, "They're entering the Starling house. But if we don't stop the next wave…"
"Darius, we have to stop them," Bevil said.
"I'm with you, Bevil," Darius replied.
"I knew I could count on you. I hope my brother and sister know to hide," Bevil said.
"We could use your sword here, but I understand," Georg said.
Four
Once in the Starling home, they found Bevil's mother Retta in the entry hall with the hounds awake and surrounding her. Two duergar were dead at her feet, their throats ripped out by the dogs. "Bevil, Darius, thank goodness you're here," Retta said upon seeing them.
"Where are the children?" Darius asked.
"When we heard fighting I told them to lock themselves in their room. But now, those creatures are in the living room between us and them." She explained.
"Well, Bevil, sounds like we need to greet your guests," Darius said, "In fact, I think a little more company is in order."
"You're right. Locke, Muttonchop, Nasher, come on. We've got hunting to do," Bevil commanded the dogs as he opened the living room door. They rushed past him to attack the duergar with Darius and Bevil right behind them. In short order the intruders were dead.
And when Darius and Bevil checked on the younger Starlings, Bevil's brother was more excited then scared, "Darius, can we see the bodies?"
"How about no," Darius was quick to reply.
"Why? You and the dogs killed them."
"Just listen to Darius," Bevil said.
"We would have waited forever to be rescued by you, you big ox."
"Why, you ungrateful little goblin…" Bevil started to say.
"It's not too late to say the duergar got them," Darius said, massaging his temples.
"What? No! Mother!" the kid exclaimed.
"Okay, that was a joke. And it's over," Bevil said.
"Yes, a joke. Now lock your door and yell if you hear anything. We have to get back outside," Darius said.
"I'm sorry," the kid said as he shut and locked the door behind them.
Five
As they rushed back out to the fight they saw Ian Harmon fell to the sword of a bladeling. Darius then noticed the master Tarmas was fighting with a crossbow instead of spells and Brother Merring must have helped the wounded to the best of his abilities since he had joined the battle with a crossbow of his own. He then learned not to think too much during a battle when a bladeling nearly split his skull with its sword. Being out of spells himself and with his protective enchantments long spent he ducked and weaved in and out of the fighting carefully. And then, Georg was saying, "Good thing that's over, we would not have held them much longer." This was when more bladelings and duergar appeared. Darius was glaring at Georg for saying something so stupid when the enemy at the opposing side's front received an arrow through the skull. "Daeghun!" Georg exclaimed.
"Much blood has been spilled. Let us make the enemy pay in kind," Daeghun stated. And then the fighting started again.
Six
"Glad that's over," Georg said, "How many did we lose?"
"Ian, Pierson, Vera," Darius heard one of the village women cry. He wondered how Pierson died when he hadn't been fighting.
"What were those things, anyhow?" Georg asked, "Never seen anything like them."
"They are known as bladelings," Brother Merring replied, "They are rarely seen in our realm. They dwell in a place beyond."
"Well, what in the nine hells are they doing here?" Georg demanded to know.
"Lathander doesn't illuminate all mysteries for me. We must rely on our own wit and resources," Brother Merring replied.
"One of those dwarves said they were searching for something. Anyone have any idea what it is?" Georg asked.
"Boy, come here," Daeghun said suddenly, taking Darius' attention away from that conversation, "It seems you survived the attack unharmed. Many were not so lucky and other lost their lives. I heard you lost a close friend to this attack. She was a talented young mage or so I've heard."
"That's all you have to say!" Darius exclaimed.
"Do not burden your resolve with loss. There is more that must be done. Tonight," Daeghun said, "Those… Bladelings were here to find something and I fear I know what."
"What is it?" Darius asked.
"There is an item, a silver shard," Daeghun said, "I fear it may have drawn these creatures down on us."
"Where is this shard?" Darius asked.
"I placed it in old ruins in the mere. Once you reach the farthest chamber of them look for a strongbox. Inside is the shard," Daeghun stated.
"Is there anything else?" Darius asked.
"Yes, you should not go alone," Daeghun said before calling out to Bevil, "Bevil, I need you to accompany my foster son to the ruins."
"But Georg said the ruins have been overrun by lizardfolk," Bevil said.
"Which is why you must go. Together, two can succeed where one might fail," Daeghun said before turning and walking away.
"No offence meant, but your father makes the hairs on my neck stand up," Bevil said, "Still this sounds important, so we should probably hurry."
"I'll need a moment to memorize spells, Bevil," Darius replied.
"Oh, right. Well, once you're ready, our best way into the swamp is the road by the river," Bevil said, "I hope these ruins aren't too deep in the swamp, we could be looking for them all night."
Seven
The ruins were thankfully not the far into the swamp, though Darius and Bevil did see battle to reach them. Not only from lizardfolk as expected, but swamp beetles as well. Darius did wonder about the behavior of the usually non-violent beetles, but shrugged it off as unimportant compared to retrieving the shard. Upon reaching the ruins, Darius had a curious feeling of being watched, but seen nothing when he looked around. Noticing Darius do this, Bevil asked, "What is it, Darius?"
"Probably just my nerves acting up, Bevil. Don't worry about it," Darius said, "You ready?"
"Would you turn around if I said no?" Bevil asked in reply.
"No," Darius said, "I want to know what this is about." And so, they entered the ruins.
Eight
After several more skirmishes with lizardfolk, Darius and Bevil reached the back of the ruins only to find that the lizardfolk had converted that chamber into their temple. In fact, the tribe's shaman was conducting a ceremony, "The other lizardfolk tribes attack us, they wage war. And before we fight them for our ancestral hatching grounds, we ask for your blessings, oh stone god."
And then, Bevil drew attention to Darius and himself, "There certainly are an awful lot of them. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."
"Warmbloods, here?" the shaman snarled, "your very presence offends the stone god!"
"We were just leaving," Darius said.
"There is no leaving warmblood, you will make a suitable tribute to our god," the shaman said, "Kill them!"
"Right then, let's all try to kill each other," Darius said, "Bevil, get the shaman!" That said Darius started casting a fireburst spell as the lizardfolk surrounded him and closed in. Meanwhile, Bevil rushed the shaman, dodging a melf's acid arrow spell as he did so. Then, as he planted his sword in the shaman's skull, Darius' fireburst burned most of the other lizardfolk to death. However, one, while badly burned, lived to jump on Darius' back, knocking him down and clawing away. Darius screamed and tried to buck him off with no luck. Bevil, seeing his remaining friend in distress, rushed over to kill the lizardfolk.
"Darius!" Bevil shouted, shaking the half-drow.
"Ow! Damn it, Bevil, quit that." Darius replied weakly. Bevil did immediately. Darius continued, "Now, in my pack, you'll find potions of cure light wounds. Give me… two of them, I think." Bevil quickly found Darius' pack and pulled the curative potions out before he handed them over. Darius popped the cork out of one of the vials and downed the blue concoction. "Ugh, wish they made these taste better," he complained. He then drank the second one. Then slowly standing up, he asked Bevil, "Tell the truth, this wizard's robe is ruined, isn't it?"
"Looks like it. But why worry about your robe when you nearly died?" Bevil asked in return.
"Gift from master Tarmas," Darius said with a shrug.
"Oh," Bevil replied.
"Right then, let's find out what this has been all about, shall we? I think I see the strongbox over in the far corner of the room," Darius said, walking that way. Then, after he had opened the strongbox, "Huh, is the really the source of the night's troubles?"
"That's it?" Bevil exclaimed as he examined the chunk of silver in the palm of Darius' hand, "Daeghun can do his own blasted quests from now. If you done exploring, let's get out of here."
"Let's go," Darius agreed.
Nine
"You have returned and you brought the shard," Daeghun greeted.
"That's all you can say? We could have died out there! Darius nearly did!" Bevil exclaimed.
"I knew you could complete the task and you have," Daeghun stated.
"Yeah, well, you weren't out there getting attacked by lizardfolk," Bevil said.
"No, Bevil, I was here attending to the wounded. Now go find Merring and do the same," Daeghun said.
"I don't see how you put up with him, Darius," Bevil said as he walked away.
"That was no way to treat Bevil, foster father," Darius fairly snarled.
"His complaining tires me and he will be of no use to you where you're going," Daeghun said.
"Where I'm going? No, wait, let's start with you telling me about the shard," Darius said.
"That shard is one of a pair, both of which were found after the battle that destroyed West Harbor long ago. When I found them, I took them to Neverwinter, where my half-brother Duncan and I had a mage examine them. He found nothing but faint traces of magic, a residue of the battle most likely," Daeghun stated.
"It has power now, I can feel it," Darius replied.
"Strange, perhaps the attack awakened it. If so, a second look may have a different result, but such divinations are beyond anyone in West Harbor, including Tarmas," Daeghun said, "As such, I need you to head to Neverwinter, retrieve the other shard from Duncan and take them to a mage you both can trust."
Darius opened his mouth to protest, shut it and then finally said, "Fine. I'll go get ready to go." That said, he head to the house he shared with Daeghun to grab his travel pack, grumbling under his breath, "Damn elf knows I was going to head toward Waterdeep."
Ten
Bevil met Darius as he was leaving Daeghun's house, saying, "So, Daeghun's sent you to Neverwinter. As if everything that's happened tonight hasn't been adventure enough."
"You could come with, Bevil," Darius said.
"It's not that I'm not tempted, but after tonight the village needs every member of the militia. I can't turn my back on that." Bevil said.
"Well, farewell then," Darius said, "Any help you can offer is welcome, though.
"Well, I do have a healer's kit here, though I do hope you won't need it. Oh, and take your pick for our loot from the ruins, you definitely earned it with how badly that lizardfolk hurt you and all." Bevil replied, rummaging through his pack.
"Bevil, that's mostly weapons," Darius said, "I was grabbing them for the militia. I guess I can take the gold pieces and gems we found. I've heard that the trip to Neverwinter can be expensive." With that decided they shook hands after Bevil gave Darius his part of the loot.
After Bevil had left, Daeghun walked up, "I see you have said farewell to Bevil."
"That's right," Darius said, "And I have several other farewells to say so let's talk about my travel plans."
"I have told everyone that you head directly for Neverwinter by way of the high road," Daeghun said, "Instead, once you have left the mere you will travel to the small port town of Highcliff and board a ship to Neverwinter. Your trip will be faster by water and it is my hope that my deception will mean you will be in Neverwinter before our foes know where you have gone."
"How do you know there will be a ship available," Darius asked.
"I have sent a message ahead of you by bird to one captain Flinn of the Double Eagle. He is an old friend and will grant you passage to Neverwinter." Daeghun explained.
It was master Tarmas that Darius spoke to next. Or rather, Tarmas spoke first, "You're leaving at a very inconvenient time, Darius. You've proven to be the apprentice with a lick of sense and now you're off to the gods know where."
"I'm sorry about Amie. I tried to stop her. And you've known I was leaving for a while now," Darius replied, "Be it tomorrow for Waterdeep or tonight for Neverwinter, its happening."
"Just remember the lesson Amie taught you. A needless sacrifice like hers just helps your enemy. The fool girl," Tarmas said with pain in his voice, "And blast it all, I can't send my remaining apprentice into the wider world so unprepared. Take these spell scrolls."
"These are…" Darius said.
"Yes, yes. They are scrolls for the fireball and lightning bolt. You are after all an Evoker. So study them and scribe them into your spell book," Tarmas said.
"Yes, master Tarmas," Darius said.
"And you can stop calling me master now. Though, I do some final words of advice. Get yourself some new robes since a wizard looks ridiculous without them. And, although you like to think of yourself as skilled with the sword you insist on carrying around, you should hire an addled-brained young local as your bodyguard. Best piece of advice for a wizard there is." Tarmas said.
"Thanks, Tarmas," Darius said, "And farewell."
Next, Orlen the farmer walked up to Darius and placed and potion of cure moderate wounds in Darius' hand and said, "Remember that us Harbormen look out for each other, unlike those city folk. If I had more to give I would, but with the season we've had this year, that's it."
"I heard you and Georg talk about that. Why has this year been so bad?" Darius asked.
"That there is the three platinum question right there. I've heard it said West Harbor was settled because it was the only land in the swamp dry enough to support crops. And the soil is still rich as ever."
Brother Merring was next and told Darius that as a humble priest he only had prayers to offer, but that Darius would be in them.
Retta Starling was the next to speak, "Thank you for bringing Bevil back from the swamp safely. You should know that he's pretty shaken up by whatever happened out there as well as the death of your friend."
"I know Amie's death shook me up. And now, my foster father has me shipping out for Neverwinter before I can even bury her." Darius said, feeling another rush of anger towards Daeghun.
"Anyway, I can't help you on your journey in anyway since those dwarves looted my home, but I wonder if you'll listen to an old widow's request." Retta said.
"Alright," Darius replied.
"Oh, thank you," Retta said, "As you know, my eldest son Lorne left to fight for Neverwinter in the war against Luskan and he's never returned. So…"
"I'll let you know if I find out anything," Darius promised.
"Thank you, it's been so long," Retta said.
Darius was almost to the road when Georg stopped him, "So, your father's sent you to Neverwinter, eh? I can't say I approve. If it were a militia matter, I wouldn't send you alone, but I can't tell him how to raise his child. Can you at least tell me why you're going? Your father wouldn't tell me a thing."
Darius paused for a moment, knowing full well that besides being the head of the militia, Georg was the town's biggest gossip and tale teller. Ultimately, that decided it for him. What better way to get the attackers to leave West Harbor alone then for his possession of the shard to be the talk of the town. So, he said, "He's having me take what the attackers wanted away from here."
"You know what they wanted? They tore apart half the houses in town. What is it?" Georg asked.
"An enchanted chunk of silver," Darius replied.
"A chunk of Silver, that can't be all," Georg said, surprise and disappointed mixed in his voice.
"A highly enchanted chunk of silver that I'm taking to Neverwinter to find out what the enchantment is," Darius said.
"Actually that does sound important. More important than staying here," Georg conceded, "Also I've noticed the others trying to help you out. So, here take this shield. It's helped me out of some scrapes and even if you can't use it maybe you can sell it for some gold and it'll help you out that way.
Darius held in a sigh, knowing that Georg meant well, but that he should know that Darius didn't have any training with a shield. Darius could use a longsword and bow, yes, because of Daeghun training him in their usage, but not a shield.
A/N
I know that no one is going to read this, except maybe myself, so adding author notes is a pointless exercise, but I just want to reassure my non-existent audience that I am trying to write faster. As someone without the standard excuses of work or school I should be able to do better. On this and Joe the Wanderer as well.
