Mysterious Allies
Jacen laughs, and steps forward, ready to finish this fight. There is a slight shimmer in the air around the combatants, and Jacen's face takes on a look of indescribable pain, before he quite suddenly collapses in several pieces. Koravel looked just as startled as the rest of the Tyrrans. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth, as it were, he counter-attacked the four assassins ferociously.
**************
Inside the temple, T'riss tapped Azrael on the shoulder. "Who are you waiting for, aasimar?"
Azrael replied without glancing up. "A man named Kerth. He is a reliable… friend, a former assassin. He should have the information we need to—"
T'riss' eyes glaze over. "By the hells! Shael! Outside, we've got trouble!"
Azrael shrugged. "Well, I wouldn't say that. The Zhentarim aren't even in Waterdeep, as far as my contacts know."
"Not the Zhents… Tyrrans. They're after Kor!"
Shael nodded, swinging her war-mace over her shoulder, and darted outside.
**************
Koravel was hard-pressed to fend off all four assailants. He had managed to wound one rather seriously, somewhere in the man's chest area, but his invisible ally had not seen fit to strike again, and the half-elf was getting tired of swinging Gil'rad around, just attempting to block the assassin's blows so that he might live for awhile longer.
All four assassins were not paying attention to anything going on behind them, and the effect when Shael struck was rather like a bowling ball when it hits pins. The wounded man was put out of his misery rather quickly by Fafnir's hoof smashing down on his head, and another was taken in the back by Shael's club. The ensuing commotion allowed Koravel to decapitate the third, and the last took off down the street as fast as he was able. Shael and Koravel watched him go, neither wished to kill the man.
"My thanks, Shael of the North," Koravel grinned at the barbarian before fading back into the shadows, in case someone from the temple came to investigate. If one looked closely at where he had vanished, they could have noticed a shimmer in the general vicinity, as Koravel returned to his more natural self.
Shael gave him a lopsided salute, and then set to cleaning up the mess.
Shree returned to the temple, just sheathing a blade that is red with blood, muttering something about the stubbornness of dwarves. She seemed rather startled at the five bodies that littered the street, and looked questioningly at Shael.
"More assassins," the big woman grunted. "After Koravel."
Shree nodded, and looked around for the half-elf. Not spotting him, she set to helping Shael clean up the mess.
It was about then that there was a sudden commotion, as Impi suddenly tossed her mane up and snorted, before moving with a lightning-quick to grab the clothes of a small girl who had apparently been trying to steal the horse.
Shael laughed, and headed over.
Endellion looked up from her grisly work. "Who's that?" She grimaced as she asked, and reached under her cloak. There was small flash of light, presumably from a healing spell.
Shael smiles, "Just a little girl what tried to steal the horses. From what Flit tells me, she nearly did to, with all the commotion. T'riss'll want to be speaking to her; she sends little waifs like this off to stablehand jobs with various nobles."
The little girl gasps and Shael laughs, "That's right, little one. All those fancy palfreys and coursers are begging to have their manure scooped and if our horses say you're good enough to do so, then we'll send you there. No common horse thief are you, much as you probably think otherwise."
Shael bends down and whispers to Endellion, "T'riss will hardly fail to notice something is bothering you unless you sincerely cheer up. I'm not going to pry, and T'riss won't either, but she'll be concerned and if she's concerned enough, she'll ask anyways. I swear the woman's got mind powers sometimes." She taps her temple.
There is a sudden shout from the stairs of the temple of Lathandar, and a troop of Dawn Knights storm out of the temple to surround Shael and Endellion. They take one look at the insignia on the men's cloaks, and since it is the holy symbol of Tyr, they immediately draw a false conclusion. "Murderers! Surrender yourselves and you may live, for the time being. You will be entitled to a fair trial under the watchful eye of Helm. Though remember that while Helm controls the court, the light of Lathandar shines on you and we will pray for your souls, despite your heinous crime."
As the dawn knight speaks the last words, Kerth comes racing back to the temple. He looks rather scared as he glances at the bodies of the five Tyrrans, and doesn't stop to inquire, but runs into the temple. Where the first thing he sees is T'riss. "DEMON! There's a demon in the temple!" He swings a mace at T'riss, but Azrael steps inbetween the two, and takes the mace right out of Kerth's hand. "Silence. Perhaps you should wait to see if people are hostile first, before you go killing them."
Kerth opened his mouth once or twice, aghast at the site of Azrael and the teifling standing there calmly watching him. Unable to think of anything else, he says, "There's been murder committed on the steps of this very temple, Azrael."
T'riss laughed. "Nonsense. It was self-defense; the Tyrrans were after a comrade of mine."
Kerth looked smug as he replied. "You might want to tell the Dawn Knights that before they haul them away to trial."
"What?!" The teifling burst outside, and the Dawn Knights turned their weapons on her. "By all the hells! First a murder on the very doorstep of the temple, and now a fiendling inside the temple itself! What is Faerun coming to?"
A strange warmth comes over everyone in the near vicinity as a tall aasimar walks in, his armor glowing subtly, as if it reflects some inner light. A large great sword is slung across his back, with a large white cloak trailing down and brushing along the floor. He appears to be only in his late twenties, but the look in his eyes seems to suggest years beyond count.
When the Paladin speaks he is calm, but there is an unmistakable sadness in his voice, "Be calm Brothers, the Tyrrans started this battle. They have for years now been acting... questionably, and corruption is suspected by the church of Helm and certain chapters of Tyr outside of Waterdeep. As for these adventurers, they are here in peace," he finished.
Endellion slowly gets up off the step, a hand wrapped round her middle as the wound she had healed not so long ago refuses to stop spilling blood. Turning to the dawn knight that spoke she raises her free hand in surrender.
"Please," she says. "I don't know who this guy is but he speaks the truth." Sensing somehow that her world alone is not enough she very slowly, so as not to raise alarm, pulls off her glove with her teeth to show the 'lead' dawn knight a small tattoo on the back of her hand - though she is careful not to show anyone else at all.
The tattoo itself is a small silver harp, circled by a crescent moon and four stars dotted around the edge - the symbol for a Harper.
"I would not lie to you but if you need more proof of my loyalties I have it..." she stops as she falters again, sending another useless wave of healing magics through her body, whatever has wounded her will not heal with her meager magic alone. "But first, if you don't mind..." she drops to her knees in a gasp of pain and has to speak through gritted teeth. "I would really like a little help with this damned hole in my side."
The Paladin sees the symbol and kneels down in front of the half elf. "I implore you, be still good lady..." he says removing a gauntlet from one hand, as he does so, his hand glows white and he presses it gently against the wound, sending warmth through her body as the wound seals its self up and the blood vanishes as though there had never been a wound at all.
He feigns a check up, using it as an excuse to whisper quietly to her, "Be wary, there is more to each person here than it may seem, I sense a subtle evil, and it comes from even the priests them selves... you must watch your companions' backs and pray they do so for you," he says quietly and stands up straight again. "You were most fortunate today my lady, the gods have found you worthy of continued life."
The Dawn Knights do not look happy, but they appear to know the aasimar, and return to their duties inside the temple, content to let him sort out what happened.
Kerth nearly falls, but manages to sit down on a nearby bench. "When this is over, do not ever seek me out again, strange things happen around you." He shakes his head.
Endellion gets up off the floor and quickly puts the glove back on her hand before anyone else, other than the Paladin and the Dawn Knight that spoke to her, notices the Harper insignia - she catches the Paladin's eye hoping the tattoo will never be mentioned again in public.
"Thank you," she says gratefully to him, adding a smile when she looks at Shael for a brief moment. "I am in your... and your god's debt, whoever that may be. The name's Shree..." She stops.
Something in her words suggests she doesn't wish to speak in the street and she gestures to Shael and the Paladin to the temple.
"At least someone here has a shred of compassion," she adds glaring at the Dawn Knights before sweeping past them in a flurry of cloak and into the temple, clearly more than annoyed at the events and wanting to distance herself from the Dawn Knights.
********
Endellion is about to speak again with the Paladin and turns around to see if he is following, as she does so she spots Azrael. As soon as her eyes clap on the black-winged Aasimar she grins broadly, her initial annoyance has completely vanished.
"Hey!" she says patting his shoulder in a friendly fashion when she gets near enough. "I won't ask what you are doing in a temple dedicated to Lathander but..." she pauses and folds her arms though there is no malice in her eyes, only mild curiosity. "Actually, yes. Yes I will ask. Come on, what's going on and what does this have to do with the Zhentarim?"
Shael shrugs and bows gracefully to the Dawn Knights, "Gentlemen."
She then follows Endellion into the Temple, carefully watching her to make sure she's okay to walk. Also carefully thinking over the glimmer of silver she caught on Endellion's hand. The child tugs on Shael's hand and protests the fast pace. Shael apologizes and slows her walking.
As she sees T'riss and Azrael she hollers over, "Heya, T'riss! We got ourselves a little horse thief here!"
Shael swings the little girl up, catches her in both hands and places her gently in front of T'riss, who kneels down. The girl is shaking at T'riss' appearance. T'riss grins softly, downplaying her pointed teeth that would no doubt frighten the girl worse.
"What's your name, little one?"
The girl trembles a bit, overwhelmed by the events. "K-kayla, l-lady."
"I'm T'riss. Did you like my horses?"
"Yes, but I promise, I won't take them! I won't take--"
T'riss laughs gently, "Easy, Kayla, it's okay. My horses like you two. You know what they told me?"
The girl's eyes get wide, "They talk to you!"
"Sort of. More like I can hear them. My horses tell me you can learn; would you like to learn?"
"Yes, ma'am! But… but I can't go afford to go to school..."
"It's okay, little one, I have a special friend in the city who can teach you. Do you know where Lord Piergon's estate is?"
"Yes! It has the big barn, but I've never been there...the walls are too high."
T'riss takes a stone carved with a signet and presses it into the girl's hand. "Go around the wall to the side door and show this to the guard there. Tell him that you wish to see Master Pember. Master Pember is the Lord's Horse Master, he can talk to horses too. He'll take care of you."
The girl begins to jump and T'riss stops her and looks at her seriously, "Kayla, it's a lot of hard work; it won't be easy!"
Kayla shakes her head, "But I want to, lady! I don't mind work!" She shows T'riss her little callused palms, "Please! Please!"
T'riss laughs and lets the girl go, "Go along then. Be careful on the way, and if anyone stops you, tell them T'riss Halidor sent you."
Kayla squeals and races out the door, grinning.
T'riss rises, smiling widely. "I'm sorry, Azrael, were you about to fill us in? My apologies for the interruption."
Azrael nods. "It is simply that we are hunting Zhents, and Kerth here not only knows where they are, but has secured proper berthing for all of us onboard a ship that will take us close to the Zhentarim's hideout. As long as we take him with us. And please, try to not annoy the priests, anymore than you already have." He rolled his eyes at that last bit.
The paladin understands fully the half-elf's desire to keep her secret secure and complies. "I am known only as Lord Whiteblade, I am a champion of Lathandar, taking his light to the darker corners of the world, I am here simply visiting the place of my upbringing, alas, only the Sunrise Lord still remembers me," he says.
Upon seeing how T'riss deals with the child he gains a sad look in his eyes and looks away, pretending to be busy, when she goes his eyes meet with the tiefling. "You... you are the one that the Sky elf seeks...." he says to her, standing quite still like someone relaying already known information to a friend, seeking their confirmation of a rumor.
Endellion inwardly sighs with relief as Lord Whiteblade keeps her secret. To Azrael she bows her head in compliance.
"I admit I was rude for no reason other than I was... having a bad moment and these people turned up at just the wrong time," she says quietly. "I apologize for my hostile words and I'll stay my tongue before I say other things in needless anger."
"Sorry," she says to the Dawn Knights in general. "I get grumpy when I hurt."
"Dawnbringer," she says politely and inclines her head in greeting to the priest, then glances around the temple. The Dawn Knights are worrying her a little.
"If you don't mind... I'll just wait outside," she smiles sweetly and goes to leave.
T'riss cocks her head at the Paladin, "I am unsure of what you refer to, Whiteblade. I do not personally know any Avariel, but that does not mean one is not seeking me. If you hear from him, please, give him my location and my welcome."
Flitter comes flying in and perches on T'riss' horns. She lifts up a hand and Flit jumps into it and T'riss idly pets her while looking thoughtful.
Shael frowns a bit as Endellion leaves and mutters "She shouldn't have to apologize… she was bleeding for Uther's sake. City folk...bagh."
Shael bows to Kerth, "We'd welcome you, Dawnbringer."
T'riss arches an eyebrow at Azrael, "Not that I'm doubting you, but have you told the good Dawnbringer about our...mercenary? I believe it'd be pertinent, given Lathander's opinion of his sort."
Kerth almost jumps up when he hears something about a mercenary. "What mercenary? What opinion?" He looks at Azrael somewhat angrily.
Azrael sighs. "You are better off without knowing, as always. You know what happened the last time."
Kerth suddenly looks scared as Azrael reminds him of something that happened to him previously.
Azrael does not look at T'riss as he speaks to her. "Some people are better off not knowing." Azrael follows Kerth out of the temple and heads west to the docks.
Endellion is far more cheerful once out from under the watchful, if somewhat 'strangling' gaze of the Dawn Knights.
As Azrael passes her Impi unties herself and trots over to Endellion, the half-elf takes a loose hold of the reins. She'll find somewhere to tether Impi once they are in the Docks area.
Endellion isn't sure where Koravel is and waits for T'riss, Shael and Whiteblade while hoping the mercenary sees them leave - she's like that, now she is getting used to having them around.
T'riss shrugs and turns to go, Shael following along. They collect their horses, leaving Jareb for Koravel to collect.
"Kerth, do you have a horse? If you don't, I can either go pike to get you one or you could ride double with Shael," T'riss offers. "Once we get off the ship, I think most of us are riding."
Kerth seems slightly angry when T'riss offers him a horse, and retorts quickly. "I do not bargain with demons." He completely ignores the teifling and turns to Azrael. "I have secured a ship and a crew, as well as the location of our "dear friends". They are waiting for the "Black Cauldron" to set sail, it was damaged and will be here for awhile. The owner of the ship is a merchant with friends among the Zhentarim, he will however most likely be in the nearest inn with his crew."
Azrael nods. "Then we can kill them easily and board our ship to Baldur's Gate. It will be more difficult to track down the agents there."
Kerth shakes his head. "Not necessarily. I have a friend there that still owes me a favor, he will get us the information."
Azrael seems to smile but it's hard to see clearly. "Good. They will soon pay for their insult to Jergal." Azrael thinks for a while. "And she is not a demon."
Kerth bows his head "Maybe, but I still do not trust her." He takes a quick look at T'riss to make sure she isn't trying to kill him, all the while keeping his hand on his mace.
T'riss laughs, "Silly little priest, do you think Lathander would have even allowed me in your Temple if I intended harm?"
Shael shakes her head. She never could understand how T'riss could just brush away people's reactions to her. When T'riss had been found by her Tribe, they would have burned her right then and there if it had not been for Shael's father. Even if the jarls and thanes were willing to burn someone who had no crime except their birth, at least against them, he knew the law and honor and the tribe's chieftain was always wise enough to listen to his shaman. Yet, even if they had not withheld their torches, T'riss would have just shrugged them off and smiled.
Shael grins and dances Fafnir to slam into Liridon, "Foul demoness! You have tempted my horse into unholy love with your own!" She draws a hammer from her belt and mock swings at T'riss, who moves Liridon to the side effortlessly. T'riss smiles, "Aye, and tempted you to anger! Look at how your sense runs like water from your ears. Have you considered earplugs to hold it in?"
Shael laughs and puts her hammer back in its loop. "Aye, Tiefling, but you took them in the night."
"Well that's what you get for gold plating them. How do you think I paid for your ale?"
Shael just roars with laughter.
A dagger flies past T'riss' head hitting the wall behind her, yet Kerth never seemed to turn. "Do not mock me fiendling." He seems ready to take something out from his robes.
Shael curses, but waits to see T'riss' reaction. T'riss, of course, doesn't do anything but laugh, "Well, someone wasn't always a nice little Dawnbringer. And I'll mock you as I please until you treat me as I deserve. I've done nothing to you, Kerth, nor do I plan to." She plucks the dagger out of the wall and trots over to Kerth, offering it to him hilt first with a little bow from the saddle, "Dawnbringer, your dagger."
Kerth snatches it out of her hand with a muttered curse, and T'riss falls back alongside Shael.
Whiteblade walks with great strides, easily overtaking the band. "I would talk with you for a moment..." he says to T'riss, stopping her. "The sky elf, I saw him more than a ten day ago, and it took him a great deal of courage to meet me face to face; he seemed to know I would meet you at some point, but could not meet you at the same moment. My guess is that human cities trouble him as much as surrounding walls and ceilings do, and I highly doubt I shall see him again soon.
"What he told me implied that he sought you at the request of a friend you two share in common, much more I did not catch before his phobias took hold and he was gone."
T'riss thinks for a moment, "Well I have a great many friends who I'm sure have friends of their own. We'll be on the road after we get to Amn, no doubt, so unless he has no problem with ships, I'm sure he could meet us there. Or I suppose I could wing up myself sometime and see if he'd meet in the air. I'll have to see. Thank you, Sir." She bows and continues with her party, knowing Azrael would start the ship without her if need be.
Whiteblade bows slightly, his head doing more of the bowing than his body and he turns, walking back up the street, intent upon leaving Waterdeep.
Outside of the city he moves purposefully along the roads, a noise he had been fully expecting doesn't stop him but he talks out loud, not looking to see where it came from.
"They sail south, to Amn," he says simply and continues on his way.
Eilsar, from his perch, hears the paladin and nods once, taking off quickly and gracefully, taking care to avoid passing over the city directly, Ships did not worry him; so long as he remained above deck and dry.
*****************
Koravel watches as the events unfold from his hiding place. When the paladin shows up, he leaves for a while, finding the nearest inn and paying for the largest cask of ale he could find. Going back to his hiding place, he uses any excuse he can to drink some of said ale.
"A toast t' thee, good aasimar, fo' your wonderful *hic* skills o' 'ealing!"
"A glorious move, o teiflin'! O what a kind 'eart she 'as!"
"A blessed insult, barbarian! T' sharp wit that flows from your tongue is *hic* some o' t' greatest I 'ave ever 'eard! Like this ale!"
"A toast t' me for findin' this blessed nectar we call ale! *hic*"
Gil'rad pipes up. "You? I was the one who saw the tavern, not your drunken eyes!"
"O, shut up. You're a bloody sword. 'ow do you see anythin' a'tall?"
He slips from behind the statue where he was waiting, falling in behind the party, only letting Endellion catch sight of him. For such a big guy, he is awfully quiet. He doesn't trust paladins or priests, for good reason. He is hauling a large cask of ale over his head effortlessly, Gil'rad gripped in his other hand. He remembers something T'riss told him, what seems like a long time ago. "Hehe. Bet 'er nose is itchin' like mad."
***************
Far off down the road leading away from Waterdeep, a lone man is running as fast as his legs can carry him. He is obviously terrified, and keeps glancing behind him. His robes mark him as a Tyrran, and the bloodstains mark him as one who has recently been in battle. He finally slows, his breathing returning to normal, as he glances behind him one last time. With a sigh, he turns back, ready to strike out once more. A man is standing directly in front of him. Acting out of instinct, he struck, his sword swinging around in a decapitating arc. There is a metallic clang as it strikes the man's neck and glances off.
"Interesting. Do you attempt to behead all travelers you come across, Tyrran?" When he speaks, his voice is ice-cold, like the robes that he wears, which seemed to emanate a strange chill. They are a light-blue color, almost identical to that of the sky on a cloudless day, yet paler in tinge. The man's eyes are a fierce orange, and his gaze drew the Tyrran in.
"What are you?"
"You do not recognize me? Pity. I thought possibly you had heard of me, since your master uses mercenaries to do his dirty work."
"That's a lie. His Holiness hires no mercs." The Tyrran spat at the mercenary's feet.
The merc's eyes narrowed. "You recall what happened to your leader? You believe that was the work of that undead you were after? No? Well then, my good man, who do you think it was?"
"A wizard, obviously, one who was hiding—" The man's breath exhales in a sharp gasp as he belatedly put two and two together. "But why? Why would you help him?"
"Ah yes. I fully intend to kill him myself. Couldn't have you taking that pleasure away from me. Nor can I have you informing your superiors that you know someone is helping him. Would have served you better to remain dumb. Ah well. We live and we learn. Well, I guess that's not exactly true in your case…" he chuckled at his little joke.
The Tyrran gave a moan and attempted to dart around the merc. A black tentacle blasted out of the ground and hoisted the unfortunate Tyrran upside-down, so that he was dangling in the air in front of the man's face. The mercenary's eyes narrowed to slits and their color changed to a deep blood-red. "Tell the devils that Hellcrist sent you." The sun's last rays reflected off the flash of a scimitar. There was a deep, cold chuckle, and then Hellcrist was gone, with a last twirl of his robes.
In the morning, the authorities would find the body, of course, with a little puzzle waiting for them. What sort of murderer collects the heads of his victims? And why?