The Perils of Westcliff
Sparrow and Andrew entered the Bandit Coast area and moved along rather easily killing bandits. Sparrow and Andrew were swift and strong easily mowing down bandits in a whirlwind of fury and steel. Jessica and Maria used their guns from the back easily picking off snipers and spotting ambushes. Hunter said he wouldn't waste his time on bandits, because balverines were his only quarry. Hammer was obviously new to the Hero game, because Monty ended up saving her life because she wasn't paying attention. She swung that Hammer of hers around clumsily and often missed. After clearing their way through the coast and freeing a few slaves they arrived at the great barricade.
"This must be the infamous barricade…it doesn't that tough." Hammer said.
She smashed down the gate and the bandit leader, a Highwayman, jumped the group with the last of his bandits. The Highwayman put up a good fight, so Sparrow and Andrew took him together. Andrew used Slow Time and fired his revolver in rapid succession, while Sparrow used the same trick to rush in and hack and slash the bandits guarding him. Hammer fought a few bandits with Jessica at her side and Maria covering them. Once the fight was over, Monty trotted up to the Highwayman's corpse and began peeing on him. "Monty no, that's gross!" Sparrow cried.
Monty sunk his head and whimpered, "Oh you're not a bad boy, you just have to remember time and place…we have ladies with us boy."
He barked happily and looked at Hammer wagging his tail. Obviously the two had made a good first impression of one another. They continued the trek to Westcliff, and upon arriving in the heavy rain Hunter took a deep sniff of the air. "Balverines…a whole mess of them are here…"
Hammer then began to ramble on about stories she'd heard of Balverines and what they were like. Hunter's face remained stony, but with each new tale his eyes filled with rage. Either she was dead wrong about balverines, or she was spot on and that made Hunter jittery. They continued down the path until they spotted their first balverine. "Bugger, it ran off…maybe it was afraid of us?"
The balverine dropped down right behind Hammer and Hunter blew its brains out with the Scarlet Robe, "No…it just wanted to get close enough to rip out your throat…balverines are sneaky bastards…everyone stay sharp."
They made it through a few balverine encounters without too much incident as Hunter was finally in his element, he would deal with balverines before they even became a threat to the Heroes. They passed a burned down cabin, "Dear Avo," Andrew said, "You don't think balverines did this do you?"
"No…" Hunter replied, "I think a group of humans tried to burn the balverines alive…I'm sure it didn't work."
They heard a scream, "There's someone in trouble, come on!" Hammer cried.
They ran up the hill, and saw the woman there. Hunter shifted uneasily and Andrew knew something was wrong about her. Hammer and Sparrow engaged her while Jessica and Maria tried to comfort her. "What's your problem?"
"She's a balverine." Slade said simply.
"How can you tell?"
"She reeks of blood…human blood."
"Well she did say she just lost her family."
"No, I don't mean on her clothes…centuries worth of blood is soaked into her hands, her body…but also a scar…made by a Hero of Will."
Jessica approached the two, "That woman is a balverine." She said.
"How is everyone figuring this out but me!?"
"My ancestor Thomas once made mention of a Lilith who preyed upon traders in Westcliff. She was a white balverine who posed as a weeping woman…I believe she's the same…but don't worry, Sparrow and Hammer can handle whatever her plot is. Warren said it had to be them who dealt with it…my ancestor had once warned Lilith to stop her ways, because one day another Hero would come and kill her…obviously she thought he was lying."
"So what do we do?" Andrew asked.
"We part ways," Hunter replied, "We head to the Balver Temple at the mountains and root out the main Balverine Order."
"Do you think Lilith can hear our plan?"
"Undoubtedly…but if she's down here picking off traders, I think we're doing her a favor…she's obviously been here longer than they have…they're just punks to her."
Andrew pulled Sparrow aside, "Hey, we've got to part ways here…me and my group have a mission of our own…don't worry brother, we'll see you off at the Crucible."
"I trust you Andrew…and even if you aren't there I know you'll see me off to the ship."
"That I will brother…"
They parted ways, and Andrew's party made their way to the top of the mountain. Much to their surprise, Warren was waiting there to meet them. "Theresa realized this might be too much to handle on your own…for some reason she forgot that the annual meeting was going on…there will be hundreds of balverines in there, and none of them are stupid animals like the ones you fought on your way here."
"So now you're allowed to aid us?"
"I'm on a tight leash," He replied taking a deep swig from his flask, "Shall we go?"
They entered in through the intricately carved door in the mountain-side. The cavern was carved out, and torches flickered along the walls. Hunter did his sniffing thing, "Do you smell them?" He asked Warren.
"I do…at least 250 balverines are on the other side of that stone door…take a moment to prepare yourselves…when we cross through, all hell will break loose. Jessica, you might want to stick to support through magic, Maria load your pistols and your rifle with the silver bullets Hunter gives you. Hunter you have experience here so I don't have to tell you what to do. Andrew…stay safe…"
That was the nicest thing Warren had said to him, "Um…thank you…"
They entered and the people all turned to face them. The leader was inducting a new member when his eyes settled on Warren, "MEST!"
"Hello again, Romulus…how's your brother? Still worm food?"
This obviously set off the man and he changed into a white balverine, the tips of his fur were red. "Kill them all!" He roared.
The new balverine changed, revealing its black fur and charged Warren. In an instant the fight was over as the balverine shifted back into a man holding the smoldering husk of where one of his eyes used to be. The blade in Warren's head was obsidian, with a silver edge. It had a wolf's mouth hilt and was wrapped in black leather and fur. Blue flames danced across the blade with a mind all their own. "Now, who's next?"
They all changed and attacked. With the balverines in the air, Jessica cast Blades and Maria fired. She emptied her guns and reloaded quickly, her marksmanship never ceasing to amaze him. Hunter seemed to go mad with blood-rage, jumping into the thick of it laughing like a madman with two hatchets spinning splashing blood across the walls. Andrew swung and spun, trying to keep the balverines off himself and bring them all down.
Warren walked calmly through the masses. Fifteen balverines jumped him and fifteen Blades found their marks in their hearts. His will lines glowed gold and he seemed fixated on Romulus. Romulus roared a challenge, and then Andrew saw something that terrified him. Warren changed into a golden balverine before his very eyes and returned the challenge with a roar. They charged together and clashed head own, biting and clawing neither one giving way.
Upon closer inspection, Andrew noticed Warren was actually encased in the balverine. It was a shimmering extension of his Will, and his eyes were the brightest gold like a shiny new coin. They clashed, and Andrew continued to slay balverines. Soon their numbers dwindled, and some began to flee. They didn't get far as Hunter drew the Scarlet Robe and fired on any who tried to escape.
Soon the balverines numbered at twenty, and the Heroes were exhausted. They had formed a small circle around Jessica who was exhausted from spell use. She was rifling through her bag for a mana potion, which were hard to find, since few alchemists knew how to make them anymore. Maria was down to six bullets and Hunter was completely out of ammo.
Andrew eyed the enemy warily and decided to use his own Will. He fired a barrage of fireballs that exploded, splashing molten goo everywhere. A few balverines were hit and hissed and shrieked as they burned. They he heard a cry of strain. Warren's avatar had dissipated and Romulus had him by the throat. Romulus was covered in cuts, and was missing his right arm. "You die here Wanderer!"
Andrew broke the formation and ran at Romulus. He didn't know what compelled him to do so; he didn't like Warren that much…all he knew is that he didn't want him to die. He screamed and swung his axe. The blade cut through his head cleanly as he carried through with the swing. The weapon pulsed again, and the blood from Romulus' body flowed up the axe and dyed the iron of the axe-head red with the blood.
Warren stared in awe at the weapon and so did Andrew. The silence drowned out the noise of conflict as the balverines were killed. In the end they approached the only survivor, the one whose eye Warren had cut out. "May the Void damn you all you ignorant BASTARDS!"
Hunter closed in with his hatchets before Warren stopped him. "You are Lugaru correct?"
"Go to hell!"
"We shall let this one leave."
"What! Why!?"
"Because he must live to test another group of Heroes…they will not know it yet, but he is needed."
The coward ran off into the night, and Warren turned to face them. "Where did you find that weapon?"
"In the Guild Hall…why?"
"That is Changeling…one of five weapons designed to change as the user completes trials that allow him to grow…it is different in each wielders hand, but the fact that you were chosen is extraordinary…to my knowledge, only those descended from the Hero of Oakvale could wield them…they were made by a friend of mine…he would have been my father-in-law had he lived…"
"Really? It's that special?"
"It is very rare…these are not his crowning achievement, but they are extremely powerful."
"Amazing…so wait, this means I've completed a trial!"
"And by slaying Romulus, not only have you freed me from a long-term rival…but you have killed the man who slew Hunter's parents."
They all turned to face Hunter, the gruff man looked away, "You let one escape…but I trust you know what you're doing…"
"I do," Warren replied, "One more thing before I forget."
He opened a chest at the back and threw a set of revolvers to Maria. "These are Spellshot…they will act like gauntlets and harness your innate Will abilities…and they don't need to be reloaded."
The black and silver pistols coursed with blue light. Maria inspected them and found her families mark on the back. "These are Highwind make?"
"These are among the Great Destroyers…weapons your family forged and destroyed the blueprints to so they would never be recreated…weapons like the Dragonstomper .48."
She marveled at the guns, "But if you're not too busy I do believe you have a boat to catch."
They rushed over to Westcliff just in time to see Sparrow exit the Crucible. People cheered and he waved; a new weapon in his hand. A silver axe that he showed off like a trophy…it probably was one. He reached Andrew and saw the axe had changed again, "I take it you succeeded in your endeavor?"
"And you in yours…" Andrew replied, "Crucible champion eh? Does that mean I get good seats next time?"
Sparrow laughed and patted his friend on the back, "Come on…I'd like you to see me off."
He followed his friend to the docks where he was force to relinquish his gear to Hammer; he went behind a crate and changed into a simple pair of boots, trousers, and a grey shirt. "Alright, I'm ready to go." He turned to face Andrew, "I will see you soon my friend."
