Disclaimer- ya know the drill....
"Arreat" - Part Four, which is part Five, because of the prologue, but
is part Four of the story, got it? Sure you do….
By Alpha Draconis
"Friends are just enemies who don't have the guts to kill you…."
-Judy
Tenuta
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The running. That's what Adrian would
remember the most about his quest. From the soft grass in the Cold Plains, to
the dry sand in Aranoch Adrian would remember the running the most. Simple running.
The scrounging for armour, the training, the quests… were all a part of quest,
but just the running through the fields, deserts, and valleys. The simple
never-ending amount of running to and fro through the uncharted and foreign
lands.
Adrian could remember it
perfectly. The Blood Moor was foggy and damp, Adrian had slain his first zombie
and resurrected a skeleton from it. He deftly held his wand in his hand
dripping with blood, the torn leather armour clasping against his chest.
It was the first leg of
his journey, the five warriors, The Minister, Phoenix, Ice Angel, Hammer and
The Puppetmaster met for the first time outside the den of evil. The last time
they were together as a group like that was Andariel's death, where Phoenix let
loose her immolation arrows, striking down the demoness. After that Sheila came
into the picture and nothing stayed the same. The next time the entire group
met, was at the Pandemonium fortress, and the river of flame… and Diablo.
Many would have argued
that Adrian dealt the final blow to Diablo via a bone spirit, for none of the
melee attackers were in range, but he has never assumed credit for it. His
Gothic shield, the Doom Shield was extracted from the rigid claws of Diablo.
And he has kept the shield ever since. But despite Diablo, and every kind of
fancy weapon, Adrian couldn't help but think back to the simplicity of the
Blood Moor, and the running…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Adrian woke up to the
sound of a rooster cawing. Adrian looked around the drab Inn. The heroes
arrived at a small barbarian town called Vrummel the previous night and stayed
the night. Adrian yawned and stood up. We walked over to a nearby dresser and
slowly began assembling his armour. Later, he walked out in the town.
Vrummel was a small
Barbarian farming city, forests were still in the area, and the mountains of
the north could be seen in the distance. Adrian strolled through the streets of
farms until he reached the tavern. Wafting odours of grog seeped out of the
tavern. Adrian walked in, the barbarian filled tavern and begun to drag a
drunken Hammer back to the Inn.
"Damn you weigh a ton!"
Adrian exclaimed dragging him across the street. "You gotta lay off the grog
man, and isn't early to start drinking?"
"Who's stopped?" The
drunken barbarian slurred. Adrian groaned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hmm-hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm…."
The Bard hummed gently strumming his lute, walking behind Taloth as the two
walked through an icy valley.
"Must you prattle on
like a simpleton? Do you have any idea where we're going? What's happened
what's going to happen?" Taloth said spinning around to face the minstrel.
"My optimism makes up
for yours, or should I say… lack there of?" He smiled. Taloth was about to
speak when the minstrel continued.
"As for what's happened…
Let's see, the lesser evils of hell banished the three into Sanctuary, where
they corrupted Tal Rasha, The High Zakarum, Prince Albrecht, and his father the
king. Baal and Mephisto were cornered while a great warrior, he was from the
west I believe, killed Diablo. Only to be met with the fate of possessing the
demon." He strummed his lute and continued. "Diablo possessed the warrior and
freed his brothers, and journeyed to hell, where he was banished from his
homeland into limbo…"
Again he plucked the
strings of his lute. "As well Mephisto was banished, but… Their brother remains
and has driven most of hell's forces from their outposts over Sanctuary into
this bitter land, ever northward. And as for what's going to happen… I don't
think any beast, seraphim, or man will know until it occurs… Is that an
acceptable answer my brutish acquaintance?" He snidely ended.
"You really are a pain
in the ass, you know?" Taloth laughed.
"I believe I shall take
that as a compliment." For the first time, Bard took a good look at the
surrounding countryside.
"I say," He began,
"Where are we going? The trees are diminishing, the mountains peaks stretch
higher, the ground-"
"Would it kill you too
just shut up!?" Taloth pleaded. "Your womanish whining has gone on long
enough."
"That is a sexist remark
sir!"
"Shut the hell up you
prissy peacock, emphasis on the last part."
The Bard had enough, and clad in his colourful garment tackled the
barbarian to the ground. Taloth swung fist around and slammed the Bard in his
jaw, while the Bard began flailing punches at Taloth's chest. The two slid
across the across the icy ground apart from each other. The Bard notched an
arrow to his lute…
"Not so fast." The Bard
looked up to see Taloth holding his katana above the minstrel's head. "Not bad
for a prissy boy."
"Not bad for an
intellectual." The Bard said, "If they exist with your kind." Taloth laughed at the musician and sat on
the frozen ground.
"God you remind me of
Alyssan." He chuckled. Bard raised an eyebrow.
"Who, pray tell, is
that?" He inquired.
"Oh a girl who used to
live at the gates with my family." He sat back remembering his life there.
"She's dead." He quickly added. "I saw her corpse as she left."
"Is your entire family…"
Bard began.
"Yep. 'Cept for my cousin, he wasn't there… What about you
'ya peacock?" Any family or are you a bastard, bastard?"
"Droll, very droll. My
family was raised and born in opposite cities. My father worked as a palace
guard in Lut Gholein, and that's where I first discovered my first blah blah
blah, yak yak yak, etc. etc. etc… (as
how Taloth hears it as the two talk) … which made him realize Amazon women were
too femininistic. As for my mother…"
At this point Taloth
lost his patience and noticed a small hare comically running through the snowy
plains.
"Heh heh heh…" He laughed as in bounded over
snowhills, to be picked up by a hawk. "Oh…" He moaned. But then the hawk was
attacked by falcons, letting the hare fall safely to the snow. "He-he…"
"…And then she said 'don't go there,' I mean
it was crazy! Do you agree with me on that?"
"Oh?
Oh, yeah."
"Yeah, I mean at least you listen to what I'm
saying…" He droned on and on. Taloth thought to himself, will this guy ever
shut up?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I may walk in the valley in the shadow of
death, but I am unafraid for the lord is my shield, and his might is my weapon,
his knowledge my crown, and his justice my strength…"
"Cut the crap, it's
ass-kicking time!"
"I got the big guy!"
Since the beginning, it
is never a single soldier who takes on the three. Sure the wanderer was a lone
warrior, but do you think he never had any help from the Vizjerei or the
Sisters of the Sightless Eye? Of course not, and later, there were the five.
The Puppetmaster, The Hammer and the Ice Angel. Of course, two of these have
only been mentioned and never seen. The Minister and Pheonix, the faith and
speed of the team.
The Minister was as you
could have guessed a priest, a reverend and respected man of Westmarch. But
when Diablo made his move the first time, his church was burned, and the land
maimed. He swore vengeance for those slaughters and trained as a paladin of
Zakarum. His missions were secret until the exposing of the corrupted Zakarum
was made public. He fled to the Rogue encampment in disarray, but regained his
faith. He always provided the troops with backup and healing the troops. He
proudly displays his holy water sprinkler as his main weapon, while he is
adorned with a crown and an unusually painted gothic shield, depicting the
gates of heaven.
Aside from the scratches and chips in the shield it's still an awesome sight.
He is the most religious and forgiving member of the group unlike
Pheonix…
Being born on the Amazon
island of Lycander has taught her a few things. She is adept with bows and
crossbows, but is especially quick with her Cho-Ko-Nu, which she can fire
immolation arrow after immolation arrow. She hates chauvinistic men, but is
incredibly attractive, leading to many troubles, like drunken men, and broken
arms resulting shortly after. She has a short temper when it come to the Hammer
and regards him as a pig, Adrian as a runt, and the Minister as a religious fanatic.
She only has something slightly in common with Ice angel, but since the two
prefer different modes of combat, they aren't too close. Her speed is
unrivalled and she wears light amounts of field armour for mobility. She also
carries war javelins, but isn't nearly as skilled with them as she is a steady
longbow.
And of course there was
Ice Angel, the sorceress of the Zann Esu. There is not much to her, either than
she proudly carries the Staff of Lazarus which she was given from Cain (he
takes it in Diablo one remember?) when she travelled to Kurast. She used to
have a kind of crush on Adrian when some of the sorceresses travelled to
Rathma. Of course, Adrian never liked her and her polygamist tendencies, which
must have resulted in being stuck in an all girls mage cult for nearly ten
years before joining the five.
These three are the
remainder of the Courageous five, who are now known as the Valiant three.
Tyreal sent them on their way to the kingdom of Entsteig, but could send them
no further north on account of the growing evils at work. Where was I? Oh
yeah….
The three warriors stood
defensively at the outskirts of a burning village, the smell of blood, flesh,
and demons in the air. Opposite from them were a small group of Goat men, armed
with scythes, pikes, and crude poleaxes.
The goat men ran forward
blindly swinging their weapons. A swirling yellow aura appeared around the
Minister as he stepped forward and swung his weapon mightily, crushing a nearby
goat man's skull into a bloody pulp. Another took a swing at him with a scythe
and the minister ducked out of harm's way and began to circle the foe. The
member of the Moon clan rushed forward, and the Minister easily pushed his
scythe away, and head butted the demon, and using his free hand swung his
shield forward, arcing and slicing the goat's chest open. The demon fell, and
the Minister, without turning around blocked a clumsy attack with his shield,
and spun around impaling the monster in his chest, and kicked him away into
another goat man. He turned to face another foe and he quickly dispatched him
by crushing his skull between his mace and shield. Quickly he turned and threw
a balanced knife at a demon charging him who stopped in mid-step and slumped to
the ground.
"May your sins be absolved,
and your souls be spared." He quietly muttered.
Ice Angel concentrated
hard and quickly shot bolt after blue bolt of energy at oncoming attacking that
froze in their places. She ran forward spinning her staff smashing the icicle
into bloody pieces and then stood coolly waiting for one lone combatant to
approach her. It ran with an inhuman speed, swinging its spear forward aiming
for her heart, in the last second, Ice angel held out her hands and blasted a
bluish bolt at the demon, as she ran up to it and swiftly decapitated the demon
with one kick to the skull. The frozen head had a face of pure shock and
horror.
And the Phoenix, well…
let's just say those immolation arrows made damage that could be seen from the
moon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was nearly fifteen
minutes before the fighting cooled down and the fire of the city became embers.
The warriors began a common practice for all adventurers, scrounging.
Like all adventurers
have their best weapons on the first leg of their journey, of course not!
Picking up the tatters after a battle and healing your wounds were a common
practice for the warriors. They saw their quest as a giant waltz, with three
repeating beats, the calm before the battle, the battle itself, and the
aftermath.
The Minister kneeled
beside a slain goat man and pulled a small wooden cross from in his pouch and
some Holy water. He placed the cross on the demon's chest and poured the water
on it.
"May the body be
cleansed, and the spirit freed. May the light forever shine upon all
creatures…"
Anyone who knew the
Minister knew he was a Holy man, and would perform the last rites on any corpse
of a demon, human, or otherwise.
"Cut that out, you're
wasting your time and energy, and it's not like they'd do the same for you."
The Phoenix boomed slamming the butt one her javelins on the ground.
"Even the spirits of the
damned deserve a chance for salvation he muttered not leaving his work."
"Your life." She
shrugged walking over to another corpse and begun to scrounge for anything of
use.
"Over here!" Ice Angel
shouted while illuminating a corpse with her magic. The other two walked over.
Ice Angel pried a map from a villager's cold fingers. After some effort she
pried it free. "Man, he didn't want to let that go."
Phoenix laughed
raucously while the minister sat solemn.
"What is it?" The
Minister asked.
"A map of Entsteig and
the barbarian lands to the north…" She muttered reading it over.
"Kilaron… Arreat… I don't know where they, or
anything is." She said annoyed.
"It's written in the old symbols of the
Khanduras." The Minister said.
"Can you read it?" Phoenix inquired.
"Sort of…" He grumbled.
"We are here in Entsteig, and we must travel to here," He said pointing to another
section of the map. "In the Kilaron mountain range, here!" He yelled pointing
to a large mountain on the map. "Mount Arreat, that's where Tyreal wants us to
go. Too bad we don't know why."
Phoenix looked around,
"It'll be noon soon, and I want to make the borders of the barbarian lands by
tomorrow… Let's go!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is he drunk again?"
Said Sheila standing up and yawning. Adrian grunted a response, and dragged the
barbarian onto the bed.
"My god, he needs to
lose a few pounds." Adrian said, gingerly rubbing his back. "When he's nice and
sober, we take a boat down the Kilaron River. It'll lead us directly to the
mountain range, and we can find the barbarians, and then Arreat." He finished.
"Well thought out plan."
Sheila remarked packing her javelins and bola whip into a leather knapsack she
purchased at Kurast. "I'm just worried we'll freeze up there, I was born and
raised in Kurast, and then I went to Aranoch, and you're no better growing up
in that city in the volcano." She
ended.
"Well then you could go
shopping for some thermal gear." He suggested.
"Good idea." She mused,
and when Adrian wasn't looking, she stole his gold pouch. He'll thank me in the
end, she thought, but maybe he won't mind if I buy a ring, or broach, or maybe
a bracelet, or necklace….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Regdas, a Minotaur
serving in Baal's army walked through the makeshift shelters and various tents.
The army of Baal's was situated near a small village, so the troops could
entertain themselves as they pleased.
This better be good, he thought, I could be
drinking grog or making merry with the local virgins like the rest of the men,
but no…
The Minotaur approached a large red tent, where
several dozen Minions of Baal sat around the tent, spikes ready to pierce, and
teeth ready to devour. Regdas was slightly nervous, he was only a captain in
the army, and what did Baal want with him? Surely not punishment, for he led
the victory at the gates in the barbarian lands. Congratulations? Surely not,
the lord of destruction does not praise any beast beside himself, but he has
been acting smarter since the deaths of his brothers… He swallowed and entered
the tent. Surely the rumours of Baal feeding men who failed him to his Minions
were lies.
The tent was elegantly
furnished fit a king, or a dark lord. Gold, jewels, weapons, were decorated
throughout the tent. In the center of the room, was the mutating Baal, much
like the wanderer, only blue, and he sat regally at a chess game, with oddly
crafted pieces.
Baal sat moving the
pieces. One small corner contained a necromancer, Sabre Cat, and a barbarian,
while another area had an Amazon, sorceress, and paladin. As well there was
Baal, a Minotaur, and several Overseers. As well, barbarians were scattered
across the board.
"Do you play?" Baal
asked in a deep, mysterious, almost Tyreal voice that seemed so unlike him.
"Chess?" He asked the Minotaur his gaze falling upon him.
"Uhh… no." Replied.
"Pity…"
He moved several pieces on the board.
"An interesting game isn't it?" He spoke
again.
"But one side does not
have all the pieces…" He continued, and pulled a small sword and placed in on
the board. He then moved to sword to make it knock over several barbarian
pieces.
"What is it?" Regdas
asked dumbly.
"A chess piece you
gastropod." He sounded disgusted, and Regdas immediately felt embarrassed.
"But it represents a key
piece… Hephaestus's legacy…" He murmured. Regdas leaned forward, eager to listen.
"Centuries ago, Izual attacked the Hellforge to kill Hephaestus the smith of
the Hellforge, the greatest overlord craftsman of them all. Pity he's gone, he
could've ruled Hell in my absence." He
continued, "Izual learned that the greatest sword in existence, the Shadowfang
was nearing completion…" He breathed in and continued, Regdas keenly listening.
"Held by mortals it was
fair sword, but in the hand of a Prime Evil, or a darkened soul, it is
unstoppable. After Izual fell, we put the Shadowfang into storage for fear of
continued attacks from the light. We placed in storage HERE!" He ended
revealing and throwing a large dagger that skimmed by Regdas shoulder, grazing
it and standing on end on a map of the barbarian lands. Regdas turned to see
the position; the troops must've passed it without anyone noticing it. Regdas
tried not to clasp his shoulder in pain.
"I've sent several
Fallen to retrieve it. It is of no concern to you, except inform me when it
arrives, either than that you're free to go."
Regdas turned to leave.
"And captain…" Regdas turned. "Tell one of
the Overseers to send some of the maidens from town to my personal quarters…"
He sneered, and began to laugh in a hideous malicious laughter that was more
expected of Baal, that echoed through the camp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three
Hours Later….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sheila, laden with
parkas, gloves, and thermal gear (as well as a ring with a fairly large ruby on
it) began walking back to the inn. The city was now bustling and various shops
were opened along the street as vendors of all species purchased goods from
them.
Sheila walked by various
information dealers off the streets, and in the alleys, but she could clearly
hear them with her advanced feline hearing.
"I heard Baal was taking
an entire army northwards to the Kilaron mountain range…." One spoke.
"…. Eight cities already
burned…" Another whispered in the alleys.
Similar gossiped flooded
the alleys until Sheila returned to the inn.
Inside the room was
Adrian and a sober Hammer. Each holding a handful of cards mindfully watching
the other. Each were staring each other down in a war of facial intimidation.
The Hammer licked his
lips and began to speak. "Got any threes?" He asked.
"Go fish." He replied.
The Hammer reached over to the pile of cards and picked up the top one.
"Doh! I mean…. Good…" He
smugly said.
"Got any eights?" Adrian
quickly asked.
"Dammit! You do this
every time…." He cursed, while Adrian laughed at his beaten friend.
"That's ten for ten, pay
up." Adrian smiled.
"Alright…"
"I want the boots."
"What! You're not getting my boots!"
"Ten to zero…"
As much as I enjoy hearing you two ramble,"
Sheila began packing her belongings in her backpack, "We have a boat to catch.
I did a little research while in town, and there's only one boat that goes
north with all the recent trouble, and they'll be costly."
"I'll take those boots later Hammer." Adrian
smiled.
"The hell you will!"
"Gentleman, and Hammer…" Sheila ended.
"Hey!" The Hammer sat up just realizing the
insult.
"Let's go…" Adrian said.
"Did you hear what she called me?" Hammer was
insulted.
"In my opinion, her arrow wasn't from the
mark." Adrian smiled and Sheila giggled.
"I- hey! Is today national pick on Hammer
day? I don't think so…. Is it? "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Much farther north than
our heroes, and somewhat south of Baal's camp the Bard, and Taloth stood in the
frozen wastelands watching a small group of Fallen led by a large green one,
who continually shouted 'Rakanishu.'
"That one's the leader,"
Bard commented while peering over a ridge alongside Taloth spying on them. "I
know for a fact he's the leader of the Fallen, he's been killed once or twice
but he keeps coming back stronger, and stronger. I don't know what the others
are lugging."
Sure enough as Bard
pointed out six other Fallen were carrying a large decorated chest. Two other
guarded it at the front and rear, and Rakanishu strode proudly ahead of the
others.
"I don't care what it
is, but it's valuable to them, which means we gotta take it out." Taloth
sneered looking over the small caravan.
"Are you sure that's
wise?" Bard asked.
"Sure, use that lute of
yours to take out the two guards, I take on the green, the rest will fall,
piece of cake, budda-bing budda-boom, we kick the minions of hell flat on their
asses."
"What if there're are
others?" Bard asked.
"We'll have to hope there aren't." Taloth
smiled and bounded over the ridge.
"Barbarian, barbarian!" Bard yelled then
shrugged and skillfully picked off the two guards with his lute/bow.
The others were aware of the assassin just as
Taloth jumped down in front of the troops. They Fallen unsheathed their
weapons, but Rakanishu stopped them with a wave of his hand. The impish beasts
looked over the young warrior and smiled.
"Just you and me you little faggot." Taloth
ended with rage seeping out of his mouth.
The small warrior
scowled and lunged at him. The barbarian narrowly dodged out the way in time.
And unsheathed his katana, while Rakanishu swung a falchion readily to charge
again.
But instead Rakanishu
held out his chest an a hail of electricity crackled and bolts shot and hovered
over the ground, striking nearby rocks plants and even one of the Fallen.
Taloth ran towards demon that sat ready for him. Taloth ran up to him, and
slammed his sword against the demon's chest holding it there. The blade barely
cut into the flesh, and the handle just touched the demon's stomach. Yet Taloth
didn't move, he only smiled at the demon.
"I can't bear to watch."
Bard said covering his eyes with his hands.
Rakanishu sneered prepared to launch another volley of electricity
when, Rakanishu started yelling a painful, deep growl that seemed to escalate
in volume. Bard uncovered his eyes and smiled. Taloth's sword was used a
lightning rod, diverting the electricity but it exited the blade out of the
handle right back onto Rakanishu. Rakanishu stopped screaming a then a loud
boom resonated and everyone was knocked back.
Taloth opened his eyes realizing he was in a
blood bath, figuratively and literally. The other Fallen had… fallen, and only
the Bard and the barbarian remained.
"I told you I knew what
I was doing!" Taloth yelled. Bard ran to the object the Fallen were carrying
without even commenting.
"You were right!" Bard
said throwing weapons out of the chest. "These are magically forged weapons in
here!" He said tossing them out.
"Most of them are fairly useless, but there are some suitable ones…
Look at this dagger, looks exactly like the Gull, too bad it isn't… I think…"
He said, quickly pocketing the dagger. "Now here's an ugly one," He said
pulling out a long, two-handed sword, that's blade seemed to be like flames on
a fire. It was a dark, dark iron that had hints of a red colour in it. It could
be none other than the Shadowfang. Bard shrugged, and tossed the sword behind
him and searched through the rest of the chest. A voice seemed to call Taloth
to it. He approached the sword, which looked incredibly heavy. Taloth picked it
off the ground and was surprised at how light it weighed. He swung it
masterfully it one hand, that shocked Taloth more than it did Bard… if he was
paying attention.
"I think I'll keep this
one." Taloth said, looking the sword over.
"No accounting for taste…" Bard said examining a jawbone
visor. "Hideous." He replied tossing it aside.
Taloth ran his hands
over the sword it seemed to create dark aura around him. A voice spoke in his
head, and somehow, someway he knew it was the swords, which turned a deep shade
of crimson.
"I can give you
strength," The deep voice murmured, "I can give you power… I can give you
anything you desire…." Taloth smiled wide with greed.
"Great weapons huh
barbarian? Barbarian? Some people…" Bard muttered completely ignorant of the
situation.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Wow, what was once a brilliant fic, is now spiralling out of control
into a cheesy sitcom or soap opera. Maybe your reviews will save Taloth from
the evil sword, or give Bard a personality worth reading about, or better yet,
give the stars of the fic more attention! Sheesh… you think it's all about
Taloth, and the other three heroes…
Read and Review!
-Alpha
Draconis