Chapter 1 Bafford's Mansion
Chapter 1 Bafford's Mansion
The most promising acolyte left us, not out of the lesser folly of sentiment, but the greater folly of anger. His heart was clouded, and his balance was lost, but his abilities were unmatched. Even then, we knew to watch him most carefully.
-Keeper Annals
There was a knock on Garrett's apartment door. "Garrett, open up it's Cutty." Garrett took out a dagger and opened the door. He quickly pulled in the fat man and closed his door. The fat man wasn't surprised by this at all. After the couple of months working with the master thief he was used to it. "Sit down why don't you Cutty?" Garrett asked in his mocking polite voice. He poured a glass of ale for Cutty. Cutty only could do business with some liquor he once told Garrett. The master thief couldn't figure out why but he noted that Cutty seemed nerve wrecked talking about thievery so perhaps that was the reason.
Garrett sheathed his dagger and sat down in front of Cutty. The pudgy man took a sip of his liquor and put several rolled up parchments on the table. "So Garrett I assume you're looking for some good cash?" Garrett took an apple from the bowl in the table's center, "Well Cutty this time I'm looking for some rusted relics. You see I'm starting a collection." Cutty chuckled at the sarcasm. "It's a pretty simple job my sneaky friend. There's a noble named Lord Bafford who is going to be out of town in a day or so and he has a nice scepter that I'd like. I got the lay out for you right here." He handed Garrett a map of the manor. Garrett studied it well. "Good lay out indeed Cutty." Setting the map flat on the table the two began discussing things. "This is the front gate that is usually well guarded."
"Didn't think the front entrance was that well looked for." Cutty ignored Garrett's sarcasm. "This is a side entrance that'll take you to the basement. I mean it takes you to the sewage entrance but it'll lead to Bafford's basement. Several guard patrols obviously throughout the manor but I'm sure a man of your…skills can avoid these easily."
"You got that right Cutty. I'll keep making sure when Bafford leaves out of town then it'll be no problem taking care of the scepter. What kind of payment are we talking here Cutty?"
"I'll give you five thousand for the scepter." Garrett shrugged, "That sounds like a fair deal." The two shook hands. Leaving the map and other details behind Cutty headed back for his own house. Cutty knew that scepter was as good as his with Garrett going after it. Cutty hired several independent thieves such as Garrett to pawn off valuable items. Of course very few independent thieves existed, those damn Wardens and their guilds with their cuts. Cutty was nearly out of business. If it wasn't for Garrett he probably would be as now most thieves were under the Wardens' authority so they wouldn't risk imprisonment from the sheriff. Of course he feared the Hammerites more than the sheriff. The stupid Sheriff Robertson was just a pansy. The man was always carrying talismans to protect himself from haunts at night he wouldn't last two minutes against a criminal, not even Garrett who though was a master thief wasn't a killer so Cutty knew and Cutty respected that.
Lord Bafford was in a jolly mood. It was such a beautiful day he decided. He was packing several leather bags of his clothes and jewelry while a servant girl Sarah was taking them down to his coach as he was going to Shalebridge for a week. Lord Bafford was humming a merry tune as he was on his last suitcase. "Milord Bafford." Said Captain Markus West in his usual paranoid-worried tone, "Are you sure that we should be going on this trip? I mean a holiday is nice an' all but it's still…"
"Oh c'mon now there Cap'n West things will be alright. Just because you'll be away for a few days doesn't mean that things will go wrong." The armored man cleared his throat. "If you'll excuse me for saying sir but since I've been in charge of security here not one thief's got away with anything and I mean nothing! Those taffers got cut up pretty good sir."
"That is true Cap'n West. You did make sure that any taffers got their justice as they deserved. But in all seriousness though I would like this trip. Besides the nice relaxation of a holiday I also would like to make some good business with Lord Taylor. I hear he's got some paintings up for sale and with my skills of….negotiations I think I can get those paintings cheaper than their actual worth." The fat man chuckled, "It'll be marvelous! So c'mon don't be a spoilsport Cap'n West!" the captain sighed realized he was defeated, "Very well sir. But I'll see to it that the guard's doubled up." Lord Bafford waved his hand, "Of course do so what you believe is necessary but just so you know we'll be leaving soon so you be ready Cap'n." Captain West left while his master was singing.
Captain West was in charge of Bafford's security for at least twenty years. The man started as a soldier for the Baron and soon became a paladin in the army and received promotions quickly. Not only was he effective with several weapons but he was intelligent, thoughtful, loyal, and a team player. Captain West was discharged earlier for his acts of bravery. Soon he got a job for Lord Bafford by being in charge of the night shifts at the manor. But soon enough he was promoted to being in charge of the manor's security.
Captain West always considered what he did honorable. He tried his best to do so. He dealt with prowlers like he did the enemies on the battlefield: quickly and efficiently. While he hired most of the guards (some were hired by Bafford personally as either favors or other means for someone that Bafford wanted favors from) though Captain West wanted to fire some of those as they clearly weren't that sufficient at their jobs but would give a half assed job. He knew that however there was one other officer in the manor that he trusted as this officer was just as much like Captain West in his work.
In the barracks Sergeant Tim Wyvern ate his lunch in silence. He could've eaten with the others in the Mess Hall but he wanted peace. He had work to do on his lunch break which he wanted to get done. Several parchments lay before him on the table near his plate and mug. He had to do his weekly reports on his units. He was in charge of the day shift from the eighth hour until the eighteenth hour in which Sergeant Henry took over.
Sergeant Wyvern took a bite of his roasted rabbit as he started checking off the names of his men. Some he checked for Clear and the others he checked for Investigate. Of course then he had the tedious paper work for reporting why he needed them under investigation. He started off with Officer Vega when his captain entered the barracks. The sergeant saluted until Captain West told him to ease. "Sergeant Wyvern I'm giving you hard responsibility."
"What do you need for me to do sir?"
"As you're aware of our master is leaving for Shalebridge and I will be going with as his body guard. I'll need someone in charge of security. Someone I can trust. Someone who is like me with their job and so I place the burden on your shoulders to watch over the manor while I'm away." Sergeant Wyvern gulped, "Y-you want me in charge sir?" the captain nodded, "Yes I do sergeant. Will you accept this?" the sergeant nodded fast that he looked like a child's bobbing headed doll. "I will sir. I won't let you down sir!" Captain West padded him on the back. "That's the spirit man! The lord and I shall leave sometime today hopefully before eventide hits us. Also sergeant don't worry about your paper work that can wait since you have other priorities as of now." The captain left.
Sergeant Wyvern knew that he'd need another sergeant. Looking over his list of men he needed to decide who to promote. After a few minutes he decided that Officer Vega seemed like a good choice. He went off to alert the man.
Lord Bafford left sometime past noon to Captain West's pleasure. He had of course checked out with Sergeant Wyvern's decision about Choosing Vega to take charge and he too approved of the man as Vega was willing to put himself on the line, took care with his work and even didn't care of how much overtime he put in. He still asked Wyvern to keep both eyes on Vega.
"So you see Officer Vega that a sergeant's position isn't just paper work but even taking on the patrols yourself are useful to show the men that no matter how high in rank you are you aren't too high to do the grunt work." Sergeant Wyvern was taking Vega around the manor and explaining the things necessary to know for his temporary sergeant position. While Vega wasn't a war hero he was on the City Watch and was a good guard. Lord Bafford chose him as Vega was a nephew of Lord Hector Vega near Eastport and as Lord Vega controlled some of the best merchant ships in the City Bafford figured it'd be good to offer the man's nephew better position and weekly salary than perhaps Lord Vega would kindly help Lord Bafford with some shipments. Whenever he thought of the returned favors he was owed the chunky man would giggle while rubbing his hands out of greed. The floor that Wyvern showed Vega was the "throne room" at the top of the manor.
"This is where his lordship spends most of his time. In case of an emergency use either of those gongs." He showed him the entrance way with a gong on either side of the entrance way. "When that sounds you'll get any of the guards on duty outside of the room."
Dusk was creeping on the steam powered metropolis. Dusk was the time for thieves to go to work. Garrett was sitting near the entrance to Lord Bafford's manor in the Old Quarter. He knew the time was ripe for burglary. The captain gone as a personal body guard making the job easier. He hoped he wouldn't get trouble from Lord Bafford's boss the Warden Ramirez as he knew the fat warden was already sending him threats to join up with him but Garrett didn't want to have to give a share to that man or his cronies. He didn't see any point in waiting. Time to start the job.
Garrett saw the main gateway open to the manor. Four armed guards stood by the front entrance. He heard some conversation between two of them about going to the bear pits. Taking the back way he found a sewer grating. From what he and Cutty talked about the basement was near the sewers. "Cutty better offer a good sum for that scepter." Garrett groaned as he opened the grating and got a whiff of the rotting sewage scent. Descending the ladder he fell into the green water and swam toward what was likely the lord's home. It didn't take long to find the entrance to the basement. Near the shore he saw a large white spider. Readying his sword he cut the bugger in half before it could leap onto his head. Garrett just sheathed his sword without a second thought of the arachnid.
He was now worrying about the guards of the house hold as he now had to make his way to where Lord Bafford kept the scepter. Garrett figured that like of the other nobles he kept his treasure close to his heart and far from his servants on the top floor. The master thief wasn't surprised to see no guards in the basement levels near the sewer as few would get in that way anyway. In the wine cellar he kept to the shadows and kept his ears peeled as he knew he'd start to hear something.
Sure enough he heard heavy footfalls from probably guards. He hid with patience until it was safe to leave his current area. Getting upstairs wasn't hard at all.
Sergeant Wyvern was about to leave for the night. It was a long day preparing everything and he was tired. "Hey Wallace get me Vega." Soon the officer returned with Vega who saluted, "You asked for me sir?" Wyvern nodded, "I want you to make absolutely certain that things are secure on the top floor. The master wouldn't be happy if his scepter was stolen in the night. So make sure that the guards are on their toes up there."
"It won't be a problem sir." With that Vega was dismissed and Wyvern left the manor. Vega quickly did as his master commanded going up and checking the guard. So far things looked good, "Listen if something should go amiss than ring that gong. We don't want to take any chances of things going bad." The guard outside the "throne room" saluted. After Vega left he rolled his eyes, "That stupid taffer thinks he's a big man now just 'cause Cap'n Wyvern gives him a sergeant's position for a while. Oh, look at me I'm a sergeant I'm all high and mighty. Ha ha!"
As Garrett was coming down the corridor on the first floor he realized a guard was approaching his direction. Garrett cursed and quickly backed up to find a safe hiding place. Unfortunately there wasn't much time so he quickly just leaned as close to the wall as best he could. Garrett tried to keep calm as the man walked closer and closer. When he walked past him without notice Garrett still didn't sigh in relief otherwise he'd be caught. He waited for what seemed like a lifetime but Garrett knew that patience was essential for the business of a thief. Finally he thought it was safe as he turned the corner…
"Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing here you…?" before the guard could finish Garrett decked the man hard in his unarmored face. The man went down like a sack of potatoes. He quickly hid the body in one of the dark rooms near from where he came from. Once he made sure the body was well hid he proceeded onward to fine that scepter.
Meanwhile a few miles away from Old Quarter underground in the Bonehoard Felix and his small band of grave robbers were slashing through several undead. Hordes of zombies were coming for them. Felix couldn't believe the horrible and horrifying fate that he and his party ran into. First traveling through several tunnels occupied by burricks was bad enough but now that he was close to claiming his prize he faced the undead and in great numbers at that! Several of the heads of the undead were flying off from the swords but the damned things kept getting closer! Felix watched in horror as Brawler was now being mauled by one of the zombies and soon several other zombies were in on the frenzy chewing away Brawler's flesh. The poor man howled in horrified agony. One of the members Jasper grabbed Felix, "Screw this business Felix! Let's just get the hell out of here!" Felix slapped the man, "Never grab me again nor tell me what to do you bastard! We're finding that horn! It's what we bloody came for you taffer!" The man held up his hands, "Look around you Felix! How many more do you want to lose till we get that damn horn! We lost Gaffer near the entrance, than Terrance in the burrick tunnels, than of course Toby got lost and probably that poor taffer's dead too. Now Brawler's being turned into zombie meat; I ain't staying to become the next meal Felix so good luck finding that horn! Hope you rot in hell with it!" Jasper started to leave when suddenly a skeletal warrior dressed in red clothing with white on the breast plate and a gold hammer in the center came at him. "Oh crap!" the undead Hammerite warrior was too much for Jasper. Somehow it wielded its war hammer with such agility and speed that was impossible for any human.
"Go back to whatever devil spawned you!" Jasper tried fighting back even with his left arm shattered and his right leg was bruised up from the hammer. Jasper's swordsman skills were exceptional and he managed to get a few parries that saved his life but his slashes were of no avail on the undead creature. As he was about to decapitate the hammer haunt a zombie wrapped its arms around Jasper from behind it bit into his right shoulder and bits of his neck. Blood spewed out as the thief screamed in pain. Using what energy left he could muster he grabbed the ghoul and flipped him over at his feet and was about to stab it when the hammer haunt smashed in Jasper's skull with his hammer.
Felix brought his sword down on a zombie's head as it came for him. Black blood and decayed brain oozed out as the decaying fleshy skull split open. Finally with enough space to run through Felix along with Sara, Ripper, Mark, Drake and Lawrence ran for it. They were all exhausted. Felix saw the foot that led to the upper levels of the tombs. "Fifty platinum says the horn's up there." The others weren't so interested anymore. Mark a very tall but somewhat broad man with a scarred face kicked the wall, "I agree with what poor Jasper said a minute ago. Screw that horn and let's just leave!" Felix cursed him, "We've come this far! We've got to proceed onward! If we just leave now then all the other's deaths will have been for naught! Let's finish this! C'mon!" Sara turned to Felix, "I don't think the ghosts of the others are going to rejoice in whatever realm they're in just because we're indulging your obsession! Forget that damned horn and let's leave!" Felix growled his fury, "You too! Sara how could you! You've never shown fear of the dead!"
"Maybe that's before a horde of them came and made half of our party into entrees! I'm with Mark I say we leave! Drake, Lawrence where do you guys stand?" Drake sighed, "I ain't leaving when we're close so I'm staying!" Lawrence looked around. "I saw how Brawler died…and…Jasper too. I'm going to get out too." Felix nodded, "Whoever wants to leave may do so but I am going for that horn so good bye!" Felix and Drake made their way to the upper tombs thinking it might be up there. Sara, Lawrence and Mark headed back out. Passing by they saw the damage of Jasper. Sara lost her lunch while Lawrence began crying hysterically. Mark put his had on her shoulder, "I'm sorry." Mark knew that Jasper and Sara were siblings. The young red haired girl sobbed into Mark. Mark comforted her. Lawrence soon went from crying to laughing hysterically.
The now insane thief received a blow to the head by the hammer haunt. Mark and Sara readied themselves for the attack. Meanwhile Felix and Drake made their way near the top now about a hundred feet above. "I wonder if we'll see more of the undead." Drake wondered to his leader, "It's unlikely or we would…" suddenly skeletal and decaying corpses began to start prying out of their tombs and coffins. Drake was unfortunate to be near several coffins against a wall near the inner section. Several zombies grabbed him and began eating him. Their teeth sunk into him and their claws tore off his flesh and some even started digging into him ripping out his innards. Felix was sickened by the sight and starting backing away from the new horde. Unfortunately for him he didn't look where he was going and his feet slipped over the edge and he soon hit the bottom of the catacombs.
Garrett proceeded through some darkened hallways until he came to a door that opened to a marble floor. The thief sighed, "This is a thief's nightmare." Garrett had several earth crystals which he used to get the next door but discreetly looked to make sure that no guards were outside. He was also angry that if any passed by they might go on alert as to why suddenly patches of moss were now on the marble floor. Knowing there was nothing to do about it he just preceded.
Garrett now accumulated five hundred worth in loot and that was without the scepter. He also decided to do some spying when he found books or parchments but most of it was boring. Some was correspondence to Warden Ramirez which seemed to talk about some woman named Viktoria. Apparently she was a new face in the Underground world of thievery. Garrett never heard of her and didn't care too much about it. Unless she paid well for thieving jobs.
After more traveling and occasionally hiding from a patrol Garrett finally came near to the entrance of the "throne room". One guard standing outside the door; Garrett scoffed, "Either they have some alarm system or Lord Bafford's just as stupid as he is fat."
Officer Crane stood bored outside of the "throne room". It's been several hours and nothing happened not that he expected anything to happen. But his feet were getting tired and he started to hear the groaning of his stomach. Suddenly his world went white. "Hey! I can't see! Nobody better be taffing around!" when it cleared up he saw a cloaked figure with black gloved fist coming into his face and then his world went black. Garrett saw that next to the unconscious guard were gongs. He was glad that they didn't get wrung. Using a key he picked off of one of the guards he entered the large chamber. "A throne room? How pretentious could you get?" Garrett sneered at the thought of the fat man sitting in the large chair being waited on hand and foot. Despite the throne room Garrett knew that Lord Bafford was in a lower level circle of the nobility. Warden Ramirez was his boss after all so he knew that Bafford was clearly lower in level than a worm in the mud.
After some brief searching he found the precious scepter. After tucking it under his cloak he knew it was time to bale. Before he did he smirked to himself as he grabbed the unconscious guard outside and placed him in the "throne". He thought he'd have some fun with this burglary.
When he was leaving the area to the "throne room" he found himself facing yet another guard. "Alright you taffer you just freeze right there, yep right there before I stick you…" Garrett took out a small vial that he usually kept hidden under his fingerless leather gloves. Smashing it on the marble floor caused white and gray vapor to rise over Garrett and the guard. The guard felt a hard punch in his face and went down hard. After a short black out the guard saw the vapor dispersed into the air. He felt his heart leap in his throat when he couldn't find a trace of the cloaked figure. "Now where the hell did he go?" another thing that frightened him was that his sword was gone too! "Eek!" he nearly had a spasm, "That was no man no, no! That was a demon! A demon!" Garrett nearly laughed seeing the guard go insane.
He waited patiently until the terrorized guard was gone and snuck onward to get out of the manor. Garrett was pleased and a little surprised that he didn't run into trouble on the way out. He half expected the scared guard to be telling everyone about the "demon" he encountered. Garrett didn't complain however and once he was safely out of the manor he headed to Cutty's place to get paid.
It was a couple of hours until Garrett would arrive. Cutty was busy looking over various sketches of the Bonehoard that Felix gave him. Cutty heard his front door bang open. Running into the office were at least ten armed Hammerites. Cutty felt the warm and wet feeling of urine in his trousers. One of the hammer brothers held up a piece of parchment, "Cutty thou art under arrest under the Order of the Hammer. Should thou resist than we will crush thee under our hammers." The fat man knew he had nothing to do so he gave himself up. He saw the hammers take the Bonehoard map and other papers on the desk.