"Well, thanks to those wolves, we know Logram is down here somewhere, and Issani as well by the sounds of it. Though why would humans want to ally with orcs?" Marcus asked, as they made their way along the winding passages of the second level of Logram's lair.
"That I do not know," Casavir replied. "Neverwinter sadly has many enemies, so it could almost be any faction."
Neeshka raised a finger to her lips, indicating that they should be quiet, as she was a little ahead of the two men. Sure enough, both Casavir and Marcus could hear voices from around the blind corner they were approaching.
Carefully they peered around the edge of the rocky wall. About ten feet farther down the passage were three men. One wore robes of some sort, while the other two seemed to be wearing leather armour.
"Our prisoner still refuses to talk," the robed man said, sounding slightly irritated. "Prepare the rack. We shall have to employ more... primitive methods. Lorne will expect results."
Marcus frowned on hearing Lorne's name, but he very much doubted they were talking about Lorne Starling.
"At once, sir," replied one of the other men. "We'll break him eventually."
"Only then can he be turned," the robed man said with an evil smile. "If he cannot be turned, then we will have to find Lorne another emissary to strike within Neverwinter's walls."
"I think my friends and I might have something to say about that, you know," Marcus said as he stepped around the corner, followed by the rest of his party.
The robed man turned. "Kill these Neverwinter dogs!" he cried.
Marcus, Khelgar and Casavir charged the three men head on, while Neeshka let loose with her shortbow and Elanee cast several buffing and healing spells, as needed.
"These men come from Luskan," Casavir informed the harbourman after the fight. "All have a ring bearing the city's seal."
"Why would Luskan want to ally with the orcs? Unless... but why?" Marcus wondered.
"What's the matter, Marcus?" Neeshka asked, concerned. "You look like someone just walked over your grave."
"I feel like someone just walked over my grave, Neesh," the harbourman replied. "There's something very dark going on here and we need to find out what," he said.
"I agree. If Luskan is involved with Issani's disappearance, then we need to know why," Casavir replied.
"Huh, guess we better go find his lowness Logram, then," Khelgar said.
"So, Neverwinter dares not send its grey whelps to face me in true battle. Instead, they send assassins," Logram growled. The orc chief was easily ten feet tall and ugly as sin.
"We are not assassins, Logram," Casavir said coldly. "You sent the tribes against the people of Neverwinter who dared settle here... so we are here to stop you," the paladin stated, matter of fact.
Logram studied Casavir for several moments. "The katalmach, the one who has been attacking us, giving the grey whelps time to rest between each assault... why my men fear to face you in battle is hard to see," he said, dismissing the threat that the paladin posed.
Marcus let out an ironic laugh. "You'd be wise not to underestimate Casavir, ugly," he said with a shrug. "But I'm not that concerned, as your reign ends here, Logram."
"Someday, perhaps, but not by your hands," the orc chief retorted, overconfidently.
Marcus grinned. Ah, the true weakness of orcs, their lack of intelligence and really big egos, he thought. "Really?" the harbourman asked. "You and your four misfits really expect to stop us when a cave system filled with orcs, and the approach, which was very well defended, couldn't?" Marcus asked, trying to goad the orc chief into attacking in a blind rage. "If you think you can, let's see you try," the harbourman challenged.
Logram and his four men charged.
Commander Callum looked up at the young woman with a frown. "So you're not going to tell me the name of your leader, are you, Katriona?" he asked.
"No, sir. I was ordered not to," Katriona replied crisply.
Callum sighed. "So why are you here, then, and where is your leader?" the dwarf wanted to know.
"He's joined forces with a party of four adventurers, sir; they've gone to face Logram," Katriona said, hoping she didn't sound as worried as she felt.
"Ah, that explains why you're here, then. If they fail, Logram will hit us and hit us hard," Callum said. "You best find a spot to call home and rest up. Let's hope they can take Logram's head."
Katriona saluted the dwarf and walked away. She hoped Casavir would be alright, for she was worried about him. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so useless.
"Bigger they are, the harder they fall," Neeshka puffed, looking down at the dead orc chief.
"Well, he won't be needing his banner now, will he," Marcus said as he pulled the flag from its wall mounting.
"No sign of the emissary though, lad?" Khelgar asked.
"No, none, but there seems to be at least another level to these caves," Marcus said, pointing to a path that led downward.
"The sooner we are out of these caves, the happier I will be," Elanee admitted.
No sooner had Marcus and his friends had entered the third level of Logram's lair than the five companions stopped in their tracks, for the sight that met their eyes was disturbing. There were bodies, lots of them, but not just orcs. There were human corpses as well. Marcus looked round, worried, as there was something about the way the bodies were laid out and prepared that bothered him, and he couldn't remember why.
Casavir was the first to speak. "These corpses... I know these men and women, I served with them," the paladin said slowly. "Some of these soldiers fell in battle against the orcs, but their bodies were never found," he said, confused. "I do not know how they ended up here." There was an edge of anger to his voice.
"Uh... I don't know what this cave is, but maybe we should back away and move on," Neeshka said. "I don't like this. I'm not above looking around... maybe robbing a corpse or two... but this place just feels wrong," the tiefling said as she shivered.
"I trust your instincts on this Neesh, but I'd rather know what's here than have it come after us later," Marcus said softly.
"Alright... but sometimes I'd rather have something way, way behind me rather than face it straight on," Neeshka replied.
"We should be careful. Something is wrong here... the feeling in the ground and from these bodies, it's like... a shadow, like death," Elanee said as she looked round.
"Like death, she says. That we can see," Khelgar scoffed.
"I sense it, too," Casavir said gravely.
"I've felt this darkness before, deep within the Mere. The shadows are thick here, seeping into the land... whatever is in the Mere is touching here as well… it is like an undercurrent that runs through the ground, through the land," Elanee said apprehensively.
Marcus looked sharply at the druid but kept his silence. "We have a responsibility to find out what's going on here, as no one deserves to be piled here like this," he said, looking back at the human bodies. "These bodies deserve funeral rites, not to rot in a cave like this. We owe them those rites, before we continue on."
"I agree. I want to know who has done this, and why," Casavir said firmly. "They deserve that much, at least. I thank you for showing respect for those I stood with," the paladin said softly.
After Casavir had read the last rites for the fallen, the five companions hadn't walked much farther into the cavern when its purpose became all too apparent.
Casavir looked around, horrified. "This place... someone is using the dead for experimentation... defiling their bodies instead of allowing them to rest," he said.
Marcus nodded. Now he knew where he'd seen this before, in a book that Tarmas had on necromantic magic. The harbourman shivered
The sound of footsteps echoing on the cavern floor drew the attention of the five companions. Appearing at the end of the cavern, from around the bend, was a shadow priest, but he wasn't alone. He had two minions with him who were clearly undead, but it was the robes that they wore that bothered Marcus. The robes were those worn by students at the mage academy in Neverwinter. He knew this as he'd seen plenty of them walking the city. But how did they end up here?
"Another priest?" Neeshka spat. "How many of them are there?"
"What is it with you and these priests, lad?" Khelgar asked. "At least we'll get a fight out of this."
"Ah, I thought I felt a stir within my domain... like a bright, shining light, trying to cast away shadow," the shadow priest said in a slightly condescending manner. He was clearly having a go at Casavir.
"These people... what have you done to them?" Casavir asked angrily. "You deny them their rest, deny them their peace," he accused.
"Peace?" the priest asked mockingly. "Come now... surely you recall how they died, paladin," he said. "These mountains have been covered in blood since your arrival," the priest reminded Casavir. "After all, you led these dead into one glorious charge after another... I think what I have done is mercy in comparison," he stated. "And I shall also grant them a chance at revenge, I think."
"We will not, cannot allow this defilement to continue," Marcus said as he drew his longsword, ready for battle. "Your unholy life ends here, priest!"
"Our leader speaks true, you face us all," Casavir said.
Both Khelgar and Neeshka gave a nod of agreement, as did Elanee.
"I do not know what power you worship... but I can sense the evil thick upon you. It has touched you, and it runs deeper in your soul than you know."
"Oh, paladin... shadows always run deeper than one knows... even deep in your heart, I think," the priest replied mockingly.
"When the shadow does not belong, it must be cast out." Elanee said coldly. "You should heed our leader's words... many are the ones left on the road behind us who did not." she advised calmly.
The priest faced the druid. "Druidess, spare me your warnings... especially when so many others of your kind are willing to listen to me." The priest replied sounding slightly smug and incredibly board.
"What?" the druid asked, confused "There are no more left to listen, thanks to the likes of you."
"Yes, little druidess... of course not." The priest said condescendingly "But this talk bores me and I would be a fool to turn away such new material for my rituals. Come now, shadow awaits."
Casavir's ability to turn undead came into its own, for as almost as soon as he used it, it incapacitated the two undead mages, rendering them helpless and unable to cast, and leaving the shadow priest an easy target. He was soon overwhelmed, and then the two undead were put out of their misery by Casavir's warhammer.
"Don't know about you, harbour boy, but I'm glad to be out of those orc and undead filled caves," Neeshka said with great relief.
"I don't think you're the only one, Neesh," Marcus said. "The emissary was also very pleased to be out of there." He turned to the paladin. "What did you make of that shadow priest's journal Casavir?" the harbourman asked.
"Nothing good," Casavir said gravely. "There seems to be some sort of shadow cult in Blacklake, operating out of one of the family crypts."
"How in the Nine Hells can that have gone undetected for so long?" Marcus wondered. "But it at least explains how those unfortunate mages ended up here, partly, anyway." The harbourman rubbed his temples. "Gods, why do I get the feeling we're being pulled into something?" he asked.
"You do indeed walk a strange path for a harbourman," Elanee observed dryly. "As do we all that follow you," she said.
"No truer words have been spoken, El. Come on, let's find a place to camp. We all could do with a rest," Marcus replied.
"So what do you think of me asking Casavir to stay, if he wants to?" Marcus asked the tiefling, who was leaning against him. The harbourman was sitting against a large rock with his legs apart, and Neeshka had settled herself in between them, her back against him. Marcus had his arms securely around her waist.
"It's up to you, harbour boy, you're the group leader," Neeshka said, trying to sound indifferent, but failing.
"Not in this case," Marcus replied as he kissed the tip of her left ear. "I know Casavir's aura makes you uncomfortable. That's why I'm asking what you think. This is going to affect you more than anyone else," Marcus said, his voice filled with worry.
Neeshka was lost for words for a few moments. This was a very alien concept for the tiefling: someone asking her thoughts on a decision they were thinking of making, as it affected her. Neeshka wasn't used to this kind of consideration. Okay, the person who was doing the asking had feelings for her…she was still having a hard enough time getting her horns around that.
"Neesh?" the harbourman asked, concerned about her long silence.
"Yeah, sorry, just thinking," Neeshka replied, trying to allay the fears of her boyfriend. The tiefling grinned at the thought. She had a boyfriend, and he was really worried about her. It was pretty nice, she decided. "Anyway, about Casavir," she went on. "He was really useful against those undead, and as far as paladins go he's pretty cool." She smirked. "I still say that girl, Katriona, has the hots for him, though."
"Hmm," Marcus said as he nuzzled the tiefling's neck. "Comparing her to anyone we might know, by chance?" he asked playfully.
That remark earned him a swat on the arm and a giggle. "Stop it, you!" Neeshka said. "This is serious!"
"Really?" Marcus asked innocently as he placed soft kisses on the nape of her neck. "Never would have known, Neesh."
"Gods, would you behave?" Neeshka cried. "You're too distracting to be safe." Although she had to admit, it was thrilling what the harbourman could do to her, and somehow she suspected he wasn't really trying all that hard.
Marcus chuckled as he rested his head on her shoulder. "Alright, I think I can resist your charms for a few minutes while we finish our talk about Casavir."
"My… charms?" Neeshka asked, surprised. "Why you… insufferable…" she broke down into giggles. "That's it! I'm really going to have to watch myself around you, you know that, right?"
Marcus just grinned.
"Anyway, about Casavir," the tiefling said, regaining her composure. "Actually, I don't mind if he stays 'cause I've got my brave harbour boy to protect me from the big mean paladin, you know?" Neeshka said with a grin.
Marcus just laughed and kissed her soundly.
Casavir sat quietly, observing the goings-on in camp as he had often done the past few nights, after he'd joined up with what had to be the most diverse group of adventurers he'd run into in a long time. However, the two he'd been watching the most had, unsurprisingly, been Marcus Cole, the group's leader, and his girlfriend Neeshka. These two were an enigma to the paladin. Neeshka was a tiefling and Marcus was human, yet despite this, or maybe because of it, they'd become very close. Casavir could not deny the attraction he'd seen between them. Yet, he still did not know what to make of it.
He looked up as he heard footsteps approach. It was Marcus.
"May I speak to you, Casavir?" the harbourman asked, as he sat down next to him.
"Certainly. What's on your mind?" the paladin replied, curious.
"What are you planning on doing when we get back to Old Owl Well?" Marcus asked. "Will you rejoin your men? Or return to Neverwinter?"
"In all honesty, I do not know," Casavir said. "I will not be rejoining the fighters of the Well. It is now free from the orcs with Logram's death, and Callum will be able to hold it." The paladin looked over at Marcus. "Why do you ask?"
The harbourman smiled. "Well, truth to tell, I was wondering if you'd like to stay? I'd be a fool to say no to someone with your experience and abilities. And I'd say, judging by the way you can discern troop movements and such, you've had officer training, correct?" Marcus asked.
Casavir nodded. "Indeed I have. But what of your tiefling friend?" the paladin asked. "She wasn't that pleased to see me."
The harbourman grinned. "Heh, true enough, but Neesh's fears are not about you as such. Her upbringing could have been better, but it could have been a lot worse," Marcus said. "I've talked with her and she's okay with the idea of you staying, though your aura will still make her feel uncomfortable sometimes. But we can work around that, I'm sure."
Casavir nodded. "Very well, I accept. I'll stay with you and see where the road leads." The paladin looked thoughtful for a moment. "You're strongly attracted to her, aren't you?" he asked at last.
Marcus gave a shrug. "It's no secret that we're close and we've been spending the nights with each other. Won't be able to do that after the next few nights I don't suppose," Marcus said bitterly. "But that's not what you're asking, is it, Casavir?" he asked. "You want to know what I'm doing with a tiefling as a girlfriend?"
Casavir nodded. "Yes. You have to admit it is unusual, to say the least."
"I'm an unusual individual," Marcus responded dryly. "I better start at the beginning. You see, I'm an orphan, raised by my foster father Daeghun, in the village of West Harbour," he said. "While Daeghun raised me well enough, and taught me much about bowcraft and tracking, he was always distant, as if he really didn't know what he was doing." Marcus tried to explain. "As I grew up, I tended to spend more time with Georg who was the leader of the militia, or Tarmas, our resident wizard." The harbourman grinned. "There was nothing I enjoyed more, after militia drills and a few tall stories with Georg, than to lose myself in one of Tarmas's many books for a few hours. So when I met Neesh on the road I was more open-minded than most. I saw her for a woman, not a tiefling. Things have gone from there, really," he finished with a wry smile.
Casavir nodded in understanding. An upbringing like that would make one see the world differently, and that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. "I appreciate your trust in telling me. But what did you mean about not being able to spend the night with her after the next few nights?" he asked curiously. It seemed an odd remark to make.
"Ah well, there's Duncan, Daeghun's half brother and owner of the Sunken Flagon back in Neverwinter, where we are staying," Marcus said ruefully. "He's not that pleased about Neesh's presence in his inn, and even less about my attraction to her. We'd been trying to keep it quiet, but after that adventure in the Tomb of the Betrayers, and a visit to Ophala's, well… our secret is well and truly all over Neverwinter." The harbourman shrugged. "Duncan doesn't like the idea of his kin, though we're not related by blood, thank Torm, dating a tiefling. Much less sleeping with one."
"Oh," was all Casavir could think of to say. "I can see how that's a delicate situation."
"That's one way to put it, I suppose," Marcus said with a grin. "Though I'm almost tempted to mention in passing to Duncan that we've slept together, since he'd take it to mean we've had sex. It would almost be worth it, just to see the look on his face!" The harbourman's grin grew. "Though I'll think we'll wait till we actually have. Much more enjoyable that way."
Marcus had to smile at the mildly shocked expression on Casavir's face. He looked around the camp before he spoke next, in a low voice. "I'm also seriously considering marrying Neesh when the time is right."
It took the paladin several moments to realise what Marcus had said. "I am honoured by your trust, but why do you tell me all of this, when you have other companions who travelled with you for such a long time and know the two of you much better?' He was somewhat confused.
Marcus looked a little embarrassed. "Well, I don't think I could have talked to Khelgar about it, you know?" he said, shrugging. "Don't get me wrong, I trust him, and he's good in a fight. But to start with, he doesn't trust Neesh. As for Elanee… well, she's a woman. I certainly don't feel right about talking it over with her. Duncan is out for obvious reasons." The harbourman gave an apologetic smile. "Which just leaves you, Casavir. You're a paladin, a holy man, so there is that trust. And…" he paused a moment before he added, thoughtfully. "And… you're what I hope my father was, for I never knew him. You have a sense of justice, fairness and honour. Things I try and aspire to."
Casavir was silent for several moments before he extended his hand to the harbourman. "I'm honoured. I'll do my utmost to guide you as you and your lady require it," he said in a low voice. Perhaps Tyr himself as at last revealed a purpose to me, he thought.
Marcus took the paladin's hand and shook it. "And I'm honoured to accept. I love her and I'd do almost anything for her," he said, then added with a mischievous smile. "Which reminds me: does Katriona have feelings for you?"
Casavir looked stunned. "Whatever are you talking about, Marcus?" he asked.
"What? You mean to tell me you haven't noticed?" Marcus asked, suppressing a laugh. "You've been out here how many months, fighting the orcs with Katriona?" The harbourman found this ironic. "If I were you, Casavir, I'd pay more attention to what Katriona says and how she says it when we next see her," he said, then he stood up. "Well it's getting late. I better get some sleep." He walked to his bedroll, which wasn't empty, and left Casavir to ponder his words about Katriona.