The Blood Moor and the Cold Plains

Chapter 4

Leading the way out of the camp, I turn to the left, following the river. Walking along the water's edge, I study my companion. She is beginning to get the hardness to her that only comes from true battle, but overlaying is still the innocence of youth. She walks as though everything is beneath her. Must be from one of the more civilized cities in Sanctuary, I think. She freezes, her eyes locked on something in front of her.

Turning to look, I catch a glimpse of quills above the brush. "Quill rat," I whisper, drawing my sword. The noise alerts the creature, and it turns toward us, approaching cautiously. I see the quills start to rise, and one comes shooting out at Ravina. I push her to the side, bring up my shield to catch it, then spin and run my sword through the creature.

"Thanks," she says. "What was that?"

"A quill rat. They can throw their quills," I add. "didn't think you wanted to be hit by it."

"You're right, I did- Feuerschraubbolzen!" A fire bolt leaps passed my head, impacting another quill rat. I feel the hair on my face crinkle.

"Sorry, no time to warn you," she says.

I take her outstretched hand and pull her up. "Ok, now we're even," I laugh. "Let's not make it a competition."

"That's easy for you to say. I've been having to prove myself since I started my training."

We continue on our way. "I started at the School of Sorcery when I was seven years old. We start young in order to properly hone our skills necessary for survival. I haven't had much chance to practice magic, though. Since I am, and was, so small, all the other kids picked on me. I hardly ever had a chance to study. Until a few years ago. Then the boys in the village started realizing there was more to me than just a little girl. They started respecting me for myself. A few found out the hard way about teasing me. One had to go see the healer several times, complaining of flames leaping out of his hands. Another nearly lost his leg. It suddenly froze on him. I'm not quite sure why he was chasing me."

"It seems like you learned to defend yourself," I said. "What took you so long?"

"Well, I didn't want to hurt anybody, at first. I was so scared that they would force me into it. I finally complained to a teacher, and she took me aside and taught me a few spells to protect myself," she replied. "Once, she even went to the headmistress and had her talk to the parents of a few of the boys. After that, I was left alone wherever I went."

As she talked, I was scanning the countryside. I spotted movement out of the corner of my eye. Raising my hand, I motioned her to stop. She raised her staff, and looked over at me.

"Fire bolt," I whispered, pointing with my hand, "into the bushes."

"Feuerschraubbolzen!" she cried, her hand pointing dead center into the shrub. A pair of Fallen ran out, shrieking. I darted after the first, my sword slicing into it's small, useless wings. It finally spun, swinging it's sword wildly. I knew it hadn't a chance in hell of hitting me, so I stepped close and removed it's head with a single stroke.

"Gaaaghulp," I hear behind me. Turning, I see a charred body fall to the ground.

"He was almost too fast," Ravina pants. "I almost missed him, that time."

I see burnt grass in patches leading from me to their hiding place. "Thanks," I say, wiping the black blood from my sword on the grass. I pick up some coins and a few mana potions from the bodies. I give the potions to Ravina and split the coin with her.

Seeing a fence ahead, we decide to follow it, keeping something solid to one side. In the distance, there are a few zombies stumbling along. Pointing them out, I ask Ravina if she can hit them from here.

"No, they are too far."

"Ok, we'll have to do this the hard way." But before I start, I increase my aura. The faint blue glow surrounds her, also. "Stay within fifteen feet of me, and this aura will protect you, as well."

"No problem," she forces out, preparing her mind for the battle. We creep up, almost within spitting distance. One of the zombies sees us. Raising his arms, he emits a groan. The others turn and close in.

"Here we go."

My sword flashes in the sunlight, removing the closest one's arm. It barely notices, so I disembowel it. The zombie drops to the ground, it's entrails spilling around it. I turn to see one covered in flames, and it stumbles into the other. Both zombies fall, and struggle to rise. Ravina launches another fire bolt, and the explosion destroys both zombies.

"Well, that was interesting," she mutters.

"Um, yeah," I reply, picking up some armor. It was quilted, but not quite as sturdy as my leather armor. It was glowing a faint green color. "Watch for a while, I have to identify this."

This item has been identified as:

Arctic Furs (Quilted Armor)

Increases defense and resistance to all elements.

Other items in this set:

Arctic Mitts (Light Gauntlets)

Arctic Binding (Light Belt)

Arctic Horn (Short War Bow)

I hand it to Ravina, thinking she may be able to use it. She slips it on. I also grab the sword that fell from one of the charred ones.

We hear a shout. It seems like it's along the fence line, so we start running towards it. We see a Rogue standing at a gate, rapidly firing her arrows across the fence line. Arriving, we see some dead Rogues running toward the open area. Ravina immediately launches two fire bolts, igniting the undead creatures. I brandish my sword, and catch the next to approach. The Rogue, having taken a breath, resumes her attack, dropping her dead sisters in a pile. It ends as soon as it began.

"Thanks," the Rogue pants out. "I'm Flavie. I was set here to defend against such a thing from happening. It seems Blood Raven is getting bolder. She has to be stopped!"

"That's where we are headed." I began searching the bodies, handing Ravina some items to carry. I find a ring, an amulet, two swords, a mace, three sets of armor, and a pair of boots. The jewelry, the mace, and the boots were glowing. We ended up with a Ring of Luck, a Prismatic Amulet, a Mace of Quality, and Tireless Boots. I gave the boots and the amulet to Ravina, and slipped the ring on my right ring finger.

Slipping the rest of the items in my pack, I asked Ravina to open a portal. I told Flavie we would bring her more arrows.

Stepping into town, we went immediately to Charsi. I dropped the equipment on the ground. Picking up the mace, I hung it off my pack, in reach but out of the way.

"Charsi, these are for you." She gives me 500 gold coins in return. "Could I get some arrows? I'm taking them to Flavie."

She hands me the arrows. "Thanks."

"Anytime, Paladin," she turns away and begins picking up the assorted items. Ravina and I walk off. I hand half the coin to her, and tell her to check out Akara's selection of wands and staves. She leaves, and I go talk to Kashya.

"We're going after Blood Raven now," I say, explaining what happened at the gate. "Tomorrow may be too late."

"Very well. Go with my blessing. You may need to get Akara's, as well."

I see a faint relieving of the stress lines around her face. "We won't let you down." I turn, "Ravina, we don't have all day!"

She runs over. "Sorry, I was just asking about a staff. I can't afford it yet, though."

"How much do you need?"

"It costs twelve hundred. Don't worry, Akara said she'd hold it for me. I'm sure I'll be able to get it later."

"Are you ready to go? We're going after Blood Raven tonight."

"Is that wise?" she asks. "It'll be dark."

"Makes it easier for us to approach unseen, and get through the Cold Plains."

"Let's go, before I find some other excuse, then," she says.

We step back through the portal. I hand Flavie the arrows.

"We're going on," I tell her. "We'll stop Blood Raven in her tracks."

"I'll provide what covering fire I can, but when you get too far out, I'm returning to the camp. I don't want to stay out here too long."

"Go now, don't risk yourself. We'll be ok," I tell her. She opens a portal.

"Good luck, you two," Flavie says, and disappears.

I draw my sword and start off into the Cold Plains. Ravina hurries to follow.

"How do you propose we do this?" she asks. "I mean, how should we approach this Rogue? She's obviously fought off the Sisters, so how can we even get to her?"

"You keep her busy with fire bolts," I answered. "And I will deal with her minions, then we'll take her together."

"It will be that simple?"

"I certainly hope so."

Our conversation is interrupted by the approach of some corrupted Rogues. Only two have bows, so I tell Ravina to start with them. I take on the three with swords. They fall in minutes. Ravina finishes off the others, and we collect their droppings. Two scrolls, a couple of swords, some arrows, and one bow. I secure the bow and arrows to my pack, and hand one of the swords to Ravina.

"Just in case they get too close," I tell her.

The other sword I leave, thinking it won't be very valuable.

We encounter a few skeletons, some Fallen, and four zombies on our way to the cemetery. They only yielded a couple of clubs, shields, and armor pieces, none of which prove to be of much use.

Halting at the entrance, I turn to Ravina. "Are you ready to enter," I ask, "or do you need mana?"

"Let's go," she answers.

We enter, instantly attacked by skeletons. They drop, and we get forty gold coins. Continuing around the outside, we fight more skeletons and zombies, which drop a few magical items – two swords, a ring, a helm, boots, and a pair of gloves. Not having the time to identify them, we toss them in our packs and continue. We enter the graveyard itself, and see Blood Raven.

"Join my Army of the Dead!" she shouts, her eyes burning like the pits of Hell.

"No thanks!" I return, slashing into the closest zombies. Ravina launches several fire bolts, then runs to change position and fire again. Blood Raven looks between us, and decide Ravina is the greater threat. Arrows begin flying at her. I finish off the zombies and approach the fallen Rogue. She turns toward me, and raises her bow. An ice bolt flies toward her, freezing her. I take a final step, raise my sword, and drive it into her chest. Her body shatters, and falls to the ground.

"This Rogue will haunt us no more," I say, then kneel and offer a silent prayer for her soul.

"Xavier," Ravina says, "should we give her a proper burial?"

I look up at her. "No, Ravina. We don't have the time. Let's return to the camp. I'll send some of the Rogues out to do that."

Looking into the deepening twilight, she nods. I gather some weapons and equipment dropped by the zombies. Ravina opens a portal, and we return to the camp. Kashya meets us as we step through.

"Did you finish her?" she asks.

"Blood Raven is dead. I suggest you send some of your Rogues to give her a burial."

"Very well. In regard to your efforts to defeat her, I will allow you each to hire my Rogues to assist you in your further quests. I believe, Paladin, there is one who insisted upon accompanying you. Sorceress, another has volunteered to assist you, as well.."

Kashya raised her hand, and Kiara and another Rogue rose from their camp and ran over to us. Kiara smiled at me, and said to Ravina, "This is Paige. She will cover you as you use your spells."

Paige smiled shyly. "It would be an honor to help you, Sorceress."

"No, Paige, call me Ravina. Please?" She told the young Rogue, and led her away to talk.

I turned to Kiara. "So, you insisted to Kashya that you wanted to be with me? I bet she didn't take that too well."

"Of course she didn't," she replied. "I am her daughter, after all."

"Oh, great. So it would behoove me to keep you alive?"

"Yes, if you don't want the entire Rogue camp after you."

"I'll keep that in mind."

I head over to the chest and pull off my pack, then my shield and sword. My armor and helm follow, then my gloves. I sit down and pull out the items we collected. The magical items were Chance Guards (unique gloves), Boots of Revivification, a Ring of Life, and two low quality magical swords. I add the Chance Guards and boots to my pile, and decide to give the Ring to Ravina. The swords and the other non-magical equipment I take to Charsi, and trade for two bows, one with fire damage, the other with cold. I then buy two helms, one that glows with an internal light, the other with poison resistance, and two pieces of armor, to give to Paige and Kiara.

Both Rogues thank me for the items. I then proceed to Akara, to find out what else in this place we have to do.

"Deckard Cain is in Tristram," she begins. "I believe he has been captured by the evil denizens that once again inhabit that blasted town. If you can rescue him, he would greatly aid us in our fight."

"So, Cain's gotten into more trouble than he can handle," I respond. "Very well, we'll get him." I have got to stop agreeing so readily; it will get me in trouble.

"To get to Tristram, go to the Dark Wood and retrieve the Scroll of Inifuss. It is the key to open the gateway to Tristram. Go, young Paladin, and bring the last of the Horadrim out of his torture."