Thryn walked over to the man and said, "That's a nice secret door. Anyway, I'm looking for employment. Got any?"
"Employment? Well, I could use somebody to organize my wares, but from your looks I don't think that would appeal to you very much," the merchant replied, unflustered.
"Come, now. Do you think anyone with half a brain would mistake this for a merchant's shop? I didn't come here for small talk. I hear the Shadow Thieves are recruiting, and I'm here to sign up. Got a problem with that?" Thryn asks coolly, casually tossing a dagger in the air and catching it.
The merchant inspected him silently for a moment. "Very well. But it's your grave if you fail the initiation. We can't just let young hotheads like you spilling all our secrets, can we?" The merchant walked over and touched a certain spot on the wall, opening the secret door. He motioned impatiently for Thryn to step through. "Oh, and the trials have just begun. I suggest you be on your guard," he says before closing it behind him with finality. No turning back now, Thryn though to himself
He walked down the hall. He emerged into a dark room with stacked crates of varying heights everywhere. Suddenly, he heard the shuffle of feet to his right. He ducked the incoming blade, sweeping the feet of his assailant. As he fell, Thryn grimly slit his throat. He then blended into the shadows, walking silently, making his way around the room. He detected others doing the same. On the other side of the room, a thrown dagger lodged into someone's back, hitting a vital spot and ensuring a slow, painful death. Another dagger came flying at him from up high. Thryn barely rolled out of the way, the dagger scraping his right arm. The next dagger followed seconds later, but this time Thryn spotted the thrower on top of an especially large stack of crates. He dodged it, and slammed into the pile, causing it to come crashing down. The thief on top managed to scramble aside, landing on his feet, but another one was crushed under a ton of falling wood.
Thryn used the speed of his boots to close on the dagger thrower in an instant, impaling the surprised rogue on the end of his repaired sword. Abruptly a door opened in the wall on the far side of the room, and light comes streaming in.
"Very good. Everybody that can make it out of the room under their own power will do so now. Any others that yet live will be put out of their misery," spoke a black-clad woman, silhouetted in the light.
A shadow moved near the door, stabbing towards the newcomer. She whipped out a pair of daggers in a flash, parrying the attack with one and slashing the attacker's throat with the other. Her victim was dead before he hit the ground. "Anyone else want to try that? I don't mind putting a few more of you shity wannabes in your place," she said, her voice was cold and deadly.
Nobody took her offer. They slowly emerged from their hiding places and walked to the door, six in all, including Thryn. Six more lay dead, two by Thryn's hand, one indirectly by his actions. But Thryn felt no remorse. A compassionate rogue doesn't live long.
A series of tests followed, each one examining a different skill. A trap course, a pickpocketing trial, a lockpicking exam. Failure in any one brought death, and by the end only Thryn and two others were left.
"My, but this group is a poor one. Usually at least half survive. Shows that we've already got the best, and that trash is all that's left," the woman stated contemptuously, looking the three over. Her gaze settled especially long on Thryn, making him uncomfortable.
"You two," she says, pointing to the others. "Go find your rooms." She quickly gave them directions and sent them off. "Now for you," she pronounced, turning to Thryn. "I've been watching you. Someone of your skill is uncommon among new recruits. Go to the Promenade after dusk. I'll be hanging around the Circus Tent. There I'll tell you your first assignment." That said, she walked off.
After that, Thryn spent some time familiarizing himself with the place. Then he took a nap, knowing he probably wouldn't be getting any sleep that night. When he woke, it was time to meet the woman.
He found her hiding in the shadows where she said she'd be. "Good. I'm Shadowstalker Llira, a title one earns for showing exceptional skill as an assassin. We're going to meet up with the others outside of the city. The Black Helm has got a weapon shipment coming in. Apparently they got word of our plans to waylay it, and have sent out a few extra guards to supplement the caravan guard. Our task is to ambush this small group before they link up. Shouldn't be too difficult. The Black Helm will be watching the gates, so we're taking the sewers. We must hurry now. Don't fall behind." She crept off into the darkness without a backward glance.
*****
Calahan watched their approach, disgust written all over his face. "I can't believe I'm stuck with cowardly mercenaries," he mumbles. He'd dealt with their kind before. No spine at all. And they'd desert at the snap of a finger if the going got tough, if they didn't outright turn against you. When they'd finally come level with him, he addressed them.
"Okay you no-life's. Know now that the money you get at the end of this depends on the outcome. Full pay if the mission succeeds half if it fails. I'll be the judge of which it is, by the way. And if you desert, don't expect to live much longer. We'll track you down and deal with you soon enough, if you somehow manage to dodge me. Unlikely, I might add. That out of the way, the caravan's behind schedule. Seems bandits along the way attacked them. So it'll be a bit longer of a march than we expected. Setting out now, I expect that we'll meet up with them by dawn."
This news inspired some surly muttering among the group. Calahan singled one of them out. "You don't like it, and I can end your misery right now, maggot. Is that what you want?" he shouted in his face.
"No," he grumbled.
"WHAT'S THAT!" Calahan bellows, brandishing his halberd.
"NO SIR!" the wretched man yells, standing at attention.
"Good," Calahan said, apparently satisfied. "Move out. I'll take the rear to keep an eye on you sorry sellswords."
Calahan started walking outwards in the wilderness; Xandax and the other 4 started walking after him. There were some disgruntle among two of the mercenaries, they kept mumbling that they hadn't signed up for marching.
Calahan sat an impressive pace into the night.
"10 minutes break" Calahan had stopped suddenly.
Everybody sat down and rested.
"So you are the best of the mercenaries this time" Calahan shook his head as his eyes wondered across everyone. "Can you even fight?" He was taunting the group.
"Yes – can you" one of the unsatisfied men said while grinning to what properly was his friend.
"Well let's see" Calahan said and trusted out with his halberd. The other mercenary barely rolled out of the way.
"He is fast" Xandax though as he viewed the spectacle.
The loud-mouthed mercenary stood up, wielding his weapon – a nasty looking mace. His friend did the same.
"Oh, so you both think you can fight?" Calahan kept taunting.
The 2 men charged and were quickly cut down.
"He was very fast and deadly" Xandax though while trying to size up Calahan – "One wouldn't think that just by looking at him"
"We are moving out – let their bodies lie," He said as he started moving out. The last 2 men and Xandax moved quickly after him – nobody said a word. Dawn was coming and they would soon rendezvous with the transport. Xandax reached down, just to reassure him that his sword was still there – the hilt felt warm again.
*****
Virdel gave a final nod to the cloaked man who had been sent to find him. He sent the man back to the Rangers hideout, saying he would follow shortly. The man nodded, and took off through the streets, vanishing shortly after. Virdel turned around, and looked towards the building he and Kierran had taken to, to avoid a few patrolling guards of the Black Helm. The last patrol they dodged had a rather familiar looking member to it, and he could've sworn he knew him. He entered the building, and made his way straight to a small chest.
"We're moving out again, Kierran." Virdel spoke little emotion. He had not grown friendly with the Ranger since they met. Whether it was from what was going that kept Virdel from befriending the man, or it was just how Magus had put them together, without his consent. "Gather your things quickly, it's not far. We're going to see some like people."
Kierran barely moved. He just stood, and gathered his few meager possessions. He made his way to the door, but stopped, waiting for Virdel. "You realize it's been a day, and I still have not been told your name." Virdel didn't look around to face. "You know, it might help towards trusting you, if you at least speak your name." Virdel just continued to pack his things, until turning around. He shot a stare at Kierran, warning him to back off. Kierran just sighed, shook his head, and headed out the door, and waited for Virdel to take the lead.
*****
"These Guilds have grown out of control!" shouted a hooded figure. He and five others sat around a table, and all had the same brown hood covering their features. "It was enough for us to tolerate the Shadow Thieves, and Cowled Wizards, but now... now the Black Helm!" The man's anger was clearly evident, as was his feelings for his colleagues.
"Remain calm." said the man across the table from him. "We know that with the addition of a third Guild to the city, conflict has arisen, but there is nothing we may do about! If we voice or decisions publicly, you, as every one here, know we will have breached our own law. We would be revealing our identities to the public, and then... Well, we all know..." The man remained calm, but his shrouded gaze remain fixed on his counter-part across the table.
"But if we do nothing, then we could have a civil war within our own city!" A third man stood from his chair, and pounded his fist on the table, more for effect then to prove a point. "The Black Helm are nothing but mercenaries, and have caused nothing but trouble in this city!" He snapped his around the others sitting at the table. "We must do something-"
"You will do nothing!" A robed man entered the room, oblivious to the faces of disgust made by the Council of Six. "As of now, everything is as planned. You will not disrupt my plans." Lazal walked to the side of the table. "All three Guilds will remain in Athkatla, and all three will have conflict. Once that happens..." A twisted grin over took Lazal's features as he thoughts of the effects. "Both the Black Helm, and the Shadow Thieves will be no more of a threat then a hapless babe..." He looked about the table, and seeing no objections, whether out of fear, or utter acceptance, he smiled, and turned back to the door.
"Lazal," the second man spoke up, and turned to face the powerful Wizard. "You will cease to disrupt this council any further. Regardless of your position in the Cowled Wizards, and your obvious power, this is the Council of Six, and the governing body of Athkatla. Regardless of your plans, we will do something to remove this threat of a Guild War erupting on our streets!"
Lazal offered another of his smiles, but didn't turn around. "Very Well then..." He turned to face the council again, this time without the smile. A look of anger had replaced it. The council then realized what they had done. Lazal chanted the words to a spell, and pointed at each of the Six. Before any could react, they had dropped each one now a lifeless husk and not even a sweat on Lazal's brow. He snapped his fingers, and the door opened again as six hooded figures entered the room, all with the exact identity of one of the fallen Six. "You know what to do." Lazal turned, and exited the room...
*****
The Black Helm group was walking into a little gully formed between two small but steep hills. A sudden dread filled Xandax- something wasn't right. Calahan stiffened, and Xandax heard the clang of bows. He instinctively rolled behind the nearest rock. A couple of barbed arrows flew through the mist where Xandax was only a second ago. In a flash Calahan pulled out a large green shield strapped to his back, backing against the cliff wall. The shield shone as several nasty-looking arrows speed towards it. But instead of hitting it, they turned about only inches away and speed back the direction they came. Groans of agony erupted from the shadows, and a couple of hooded figures fell from their perches. Nearby one of the mercenaries was hit, and he collapsed to the ground, writhing in his death throes from some deadly poison.
"Shadow Thieves! Get to the other end of the gully!" Calahan yelled, but was cut off by some of the ambushers that jumped from their hiding spots, landing neatly on the ground and blocking the exits.
"This way!" Calahan shouted, and charged the three Shadow Thieves blocking the forward exit. Three more closed from the rear, and two remained atop the cliff, firing down arrows.
* * * * *
Shadowstalker Llira smiled atop the cliff. "We've got them now. I'll get that one. You shoot the one ducking behind the rock over there. When they're down, the rest can surround and deal with the leader," she told Thryn, who was only a few feet away. Thryn's keen eyes homed in on his target, and he pulled back the bowstring for the shot. But suddenly he saw an all too familiar amulet, glowing brightly on his prey…
* * * * *
Xandax rolled behind a rock, just as a couple of arrows hit the ground where he stood just a moment ago. Xandax looked at Calahan reading a shield; Xandax did the same with his.
A couple of arrows flew directly at Calahan, but his shield seemed to deflect them back to whoever sent them flying. Xandax noticed his amulet glowing eerie again.
"What, where and how many?" Xandax though as he tried to get the situation under control. "This way" Xandax heard Calahan yell out. Xandax gets on his feet and prepare to run in the direction as Calahan pointed out.
*****
Llira's arrow flew true, embedding itself deep in the gap between helm and shoulder plate. The mercenary fell to the ground, clutching convulsively at the area around his neck. She grinned, then glanced at Thryn. She saw him fumble the shot, missing his target by a horse-length to clink uselessly against the side of the cliff.
Spinning around, she yelled, "What the hell are ya do'in?"
The second Thryn saw the look on Llira's face, he drew his cloak hood and vanished sliding silently down the cliff side, he leapt, sword high, dagger ready. "Scum!" came the cry from Calahan, as Thryn landed his sword on a massive double-edged blade. Quickly he slipped his dagger through the plate mail. Jumping back, he saw that his dagger, that had before finished many people, had barely scratched this warrior,
"Ha, your puny knife is not that good!" Taunted Calahan, as he reprised with a series of deft swings and thrusts of his blade.
"This is not you fight," said a voice in Thryns head...
*****
Xandax hesitated, watching as Thryn jumped down the cliff. He shook his head as he realized his target. "His brashness will get him killed," he muttered to himself. Any thoughts of going to Thryn's aid were dashed as the three thieves to the rear loosed their arrows. He dropped and rolled out of the way. Once he recovered, he sprang to his feet, and charged his assailants. They each withdrew out an oddly discolored long sword, then fell back, as Xandax came rushing within striking distance, deftly encircling him. "They're good," he thought as he picked his target and lunged.
* * * * *
Llira fumed as Thryn left his position. Damn greenhorn! This wasn't part of the plan. Thanks to him, their systematic ambush was now nothing more than a chaotic free-for-all. He would pay dearly when this was all over. Scowling, she springs after him to deal with the guard leader. Violent thoughts raced through her mind, each one involving Thryn and his slow death for his insolence…
* * * * *
The fight turned from bad to worse. Calahan's speed and strength were incredible. It was all Thryn could do to dodge and deflect his powerful attacks, and maneuvers. A thrust by his own sword bounced off of the tough steel plate with a resounding ring, followed by a countering horizontal slash that Thryn barely managed to duck. Thryn then saw a dark flash behind the warrior, followed by the screech of steel on steel. Calahan spun on his heel, slashing downward, missing Llira's cartwheeling form by mere inches. A volley of three arrows hit his back plate as he recovered, deflecting off with a clink.
As the battle wore on, Thryn realized their meager weapons had no chance of penetrating the thick armour, and even the expert Archers barely scratched the Full plate, a cunning idea sprang to Thryns mind as he surveyed the surroundings. Instead of slashing with his sword, he gave an almighty kick on the back of the plate unbalancing the giant warrior, he than ran for his life from the pursuing man.
Pride hurt, Calahan threw aside his sword, and withdrew his menacing Halberd that had been slung across his back until now. Swinging round to catch Thryn, "Blasted Elf!" Screamed Calahan, soon following the near blur of Thryn, but Llira saw his plan, and gave a brief smirk. Maybe he wouldn't be killed.
Calahan, having chased Thryn a few feet, and near a small desert pond, let a powerful swing loose. Raising the Halberd over his head, and then striking it down, hitting nothing but the water. As his weapon hits the liquid, a bit of it splashed into his face, blinding him for a moment. He took a step back, almost stepping over Thryn's waiting blade.
Thryn, whose plan had worked perfectly, stood behind Calahan, waiting to send his sword through the fighter's back. He prepped his sword arm, ready for the attack, waiting for Calahan to come within striking distance...
*****
Xandax charged at the Shadow Thief directly in front of him, sending a small cloud of dust in his wake. The man was quite skilled with the blade, and parried Xandax's attack. Unfalteringly, Xandax continued his attack, sending his blade in an arc from his mid-section. The Thief dropped his blade to defend himself, sending his partners a quick glance to ensure they were closing in on Xandax.
Xandax, having his blade blocked a second time, brought his knee up towards his opponent's gut. Winding the thief. He then drew his blade back, and jabbed it fiercely into the throat of the man. While doing this, one of the remaining thieves had snuck up on Xandax, wielding a small, poison tipped dagger. The man drove it readily into Xandax, whose armour just barely protected his vital areas.
Xandax felt the blade sink into his skin, just below his rib cage, and he felt the burning sensation of the poison. He turned to meet his new attacks, which had now encompassed him, and were ready to attack...
The blade found the way into the flesh. Xandax felt instantly the effects of the poison. Assessing the situation, he found himself almost surrounded by the thieves. One on his left, and the other two in front of him. How he hated thieves and their use of dishonourable means. Taking a couple of steps backwards until his back hit some large stones Xandax bought just enough time to canalize his strengths and entered his Enraged state. Not feeling the poisons immediate effect anymore, though he still knew that it was doing damage within, he could fight with renewed vigor. His shield, "Curator", glowed silently red, passing on its resistance towards poison to Xandax.
Xandax, empowered by his rage, slowly walked towards the two thieves in front of him, while nonchalantly rotating his weapon hand, so his sword cut small circles in the air.
The thieves, not expecting another advance, backed up a few steps, looking nervously at each other.
"TO THE DEATH!" Xandax shouted. His battle cry ringing strong in the thieves minds. He turned to his left and charged the single thief that now was isolated by a few feet from his companions. That spelt his doom as Xandax almost cleaved him in two with a powerful downward slash with his sword. Quickly drawing his sword out of the body of the thief, Xandax parried a blow from one of the other thieves with his shield, and a rotation movement to the left with his torso caused the other thief' blow to glide of his armour. Xandax slid down to sitting on his knees, span his torso back to the right, following through with his sword. The blow cut of the right leg of the first thief. The man fell down screaming. And fought with all his strength to crawl away. Leaving the man for dead, Xandax concentrated on the last thief, which were lunging out towards Xandax prone status. Still under the effect of his rage, Xandax, not feeling the full weight of his amour, almost jumped back into a standing position, thereby avoiding the mans lunge.
"Do you want to die by my hand, or take your chance with the rest of the Shadow Thieves?" Xandax asked the last man, feeling on top of the situation. He didn't get an answer, as the last thief turned around and ran away. "Didn't think so." Xandax thought.
He quickly calmed himself under control again, trying to find out what had happen to Calahan and Thryn.
*****
As Calahan stumbled, trying to get his bearings, three more arrows came whistling towards him. Two of them again bounced off harmlessly, but one found a gap between plates on the inside of his left elbow. The wound was shallow, but the pain snapped Calahan's mind back into focus. Quickly looking around, he saw his last mercenary send a thief running, two of his comrades dead or crippled at the fighter's feet. Then the idiot just stood, staring off at nothing in particular.
"GET OVER HERE AND HELP ME YOU LOUSY SON OF A BITCH!" Calahan cursed furiously. He sensed a stab from behind, and whirled with surprising speed to block it with the shaft of his halberd. Thryn, expecting a counter slash from the left with the blade, rolled with it. Instead, Calahan brought around the shaft from the other side, dealing a glancing blow on the head. Fighting off dizziness and disorientation, Thryn didn't manage to dodge Calahan's armored kick, which caught him in the ribs and sent him sprawling, winded and badly bruised.
Llira's timely arrival saved his life. She kicked out at the back of Calahan's knee, sending him stumbling backward. She then rushed forward to slit his throat from behind. The move was expertly done, but yet again his speed caught his attacker unaware. As the knife arced towards his throat he snatched her wrist in a crushing embrace. Llira's scream echoed hauntingly through the pass as bones splintered. Meanwhile he maneuvered her around, putting her between him and the archers.
* * * * *
Seeing the last thief flee, Xandax's attention was drawn towards Calahan. Suddenly, off on the horizon, Xandax noticed in the horizon a dark black pillar of energy. "Dark magic, it can only be dark magic, but whom…" Xandax' thoughts became interrupted.
"GET OVER HERE AND HELP ME YOU LOUSY SON OF A BITCH!" Calahan yelled out.
Xandax snapped back into reality and started running towards Calahan. Assessing the situation as he ran toward him, he saw Thryn lying on the ground, all but immobile and Calahan holding another thief up as a shield toward the unseen archers. There were no arrows being fired at this time. "Must be the leader of this band," Xandax thought to himself.
"We got to get out of here," Xandax said to Calahan as he took up position behind him, glancing towards Thryn, who was still laying on the ground.
"WHAT? – You coward, we fight 'till they are dead" Calahan screamed back at Xandax.
"We need to move on – we don't know how many or what we are up against, only fools fight when in such a position."
Whether it was the fool part that made Calahan react Xandax didn't know – but Calahan started moving slowly backwards against the end of this canyon. Xandax followed him, covered behind his shield.
Reaching the end of the canyon, Calahan was about to slit his living shields' throat.
"Let her live" Xandax said.
"What? I am the commander…"
"She is more valurable alive"
Again there seemed to be a word that made Calahan come to reason. "Okay, you carry her" Calahan said as he started tying his hostage.
Afterwards this three-man party moved on towards the point where they should've rendezvoused with the shipment, but it was to late. The people that had been with the transport were dead and there were no sight of the cargo.
"Damn it" Calahan whispered to himself.
"We might as well go back to the headquarters and interrogate this prisoner – for your sake, I hope she has something interesting to say" he said to Xandax.
The trip back was uneventful, neither the prisoner nor Calahan said anything. Xandax' mind wandered, without finding answers. "That dark pillar of energy was intriguing, what force could have created it, what kind of creature. "
*****
