Deckard Cain
Chapter 11
Cain limped into the tent, followed by Kiara. It seems he hadn't gotten out of Tristram without a scratch. He sat down, heavily, on a crate. Kiara wormed her way onto the cot, and under my arm.
"Cain, what happened? Why didn't you meet me here, and how did you get caught? I'm sure you could have defeated those creatures by yourself."
"Xavier, Xavier. You know mages can only cast for so long before they have to rest. I had followed the Dark Wanderer here. In his wake, he left misery, despair, and terror. Demons rose, and attacked villages, towns, any place of human habitation. The Rogue Encampment was able to fend off the first attacks, but they were slowly losing defenders. I went into Tristram to find a way to stop the demons from exiting the Hell Portal there. I succeeded in closing it, but at a cost. The Dark Wanderer himself found me, and imprisoned me in that cage. A cage from which no magic could be used.
"That is how you found me. I must warn you, Halcrion, what has happened here on Sanctuary must never happen again. I know Tyrael said you would be successful, but that depends on you. You can be defeated. I was. When you face the Three, there is only One other who is as strong." Deckard cast his eyes to the sky, signifying the One he spoke of. "You must defeat them. Only then will this world return to it's former peace."
"But Cain… Why me? Surely there are others who could do this. Surely…"
"No, Xavier. There are no others. You must do it. You, and your companions. There are a few that have arrived. This is to be done by seven, and their mercenaries. Or, in some cases, significant others," he added, with a wink at Kiara. "Two others have arrived here, an Amazon and an Assassin. Both have been briefed on what you have done, and both have received mercenaries from Kashya. They await your orders."
"An Amazon and an Assassin. Kiara, could you go get them? I would like to meet them now. I'll probably be in this bed for a few days, so I'd like to get started on any plans." Kiara gave me a quick kiss, which I returned (of course), and left the tent.
She returned with a tall blonde and slim brunette, followed by Ravina and Paige. The Amazon was tall, about 6' 2", with long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. Her green eyes flashed in the light of the lantern. Her leather armor hugged close to her body, accentuating her curves, and here leggings were the color of wheat. She had a bow secured to her back, along with a quiver of arrows. She had a short sword strapped to her side, and a shield hanging behind the bow. The Assassin was just the opposite. She was about 5' 1", and about as big around as my right arm. Her dark brown, almost black hair was cut short, falling just above her shoulders. Her black leather armor was cut close too, but looked as though it provided more freedom of movement. Her leggings were a light grey. She had a shield also, hanging at her back, but in place of a sword was a different bladed weapon, a katar.
I stood to greet them, thankful I didn't fall flat on my face. "Good day, ladies. I understand you are to join this dark quest?"
"Yes, we are," the Amazon replied. "I am Alanna Harahna, of the Valkyrie clan."
The Assassin nodded. "I am Riega Val Karene, of the Order of the Dragon. My blade is at your service." She swept a deep bow.
"I am Xavier Halcrion, Child of the Army of Zakarum, and this is Kiara Halcrion, Sister of the Rogues, and my wife. Please, be seated." I motioned to the crates, which were all that were in here at the moment. If there are going to be more of us, I'll need a bigger tent. "Cain, if you would be so kind, please tell us where we are needed next."
Kiara sat down next to me, after exchanging a look with Paige. Paige stepped out, leaving Ravina standing off to the side. I motioned her to join us. Cain stood up, allowing her to sit.
"The next task you are requested to perform is to recover the Horadric Malus from the Smith in the Barracks at the Monastery. Charsi was unable to retrieve it before she fled. With it, she will be able to imbue an item with magical powers, but she can only imbue one item per person," Cain drew a deep breath and continued. "The Monastery is deep in the Tamoe Highlands. You will have to advance through the Black Marsh to get there. While in the Black Marsh, enter the Forgotten Tower and slay the newly- risen Countess. Her evil is rousing more in the Marsh itself. Once you have slain the Countess and retrieved the Malus, you must defeat Andariel. She is holding her throne in the Catacombs several stories below the Inner Cloister of the Monastery. Only then will Khanduras be safe from the evil. From here we will travel to Lut Gholein, and meet the Necromancer who will be joining us."
I saw Alanna and Riega exchange a glance. "What makes you think we can defeat this Andariel, Cain?" Alanna asked. "Isn't she one of the Lesser Evils?"
"Yes, that is correct. It does not matter who she is, or what she is. If she is not defeated, Khanduras will stay under this spell, and eventually fall apart. If she is defeated, the Rogues can bring the area back together."
"We will do it, Cain. We will join this Paladin on his quest, and send the Demons back to the Hell in which they were spawned," Riega said. No one dared to say anything back to her.
"Thank you all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get some more rest."
Alanna and Riega rose, followed by Ravina. The three of them left. Cain followed shortly after. I turned to Kiara.
"Go talk to those two. Have them start training Ravina and Paige with swords. I don't want Ravina to run out of magic and not be able to defend herself, or Paige to do the same with arrows."
"And what will you be doing?" she asked, her right eyebrow rising, and a sly smile on her lips.
"Waiting for you to return, of course. I do have a promise to uphold."
She left, but I could tell she was impatient. Ah, the joys of youth. I lowered myself onto the cot, feeling exhausted. I hope that feeling goes away quickly. Kiara came back in, a smile creasing her face. She looked way too happy. I felt I was smiling too. She worked her way out of her armor, and laid down beside me.
Chapter 11
Cain limped into the tent, followed by Kiara. It seems he hadn't gotten out of Tristram without a scratch. He sat down, heavily, on a crate. Kiara wormed her way onto the cot, and under my arm.
"Cain, what happened? Why didn't you meet me here, and how did you get caught? I'm sure you could have defeated those creatures by yourself."
"Xavier, Xavier. You know mages can only cast for so long before they have to rest. I had followed the Dark Wanderer here. In his wake, he left misery, despair, and terror. Demons rose, and attacked villages, towns, any place of human habitation. The Rogue Encampment was able to fend off the first attacks, but they were slowly losing defenders. I went into Tristram to find a way to stop the demons from exiting the Hell Portal there. I succeeded in closing it, but at a cost. The Dark Wanderer himself found me, and imprisoned me in that cage. A cage from which no magic could be used.
"That is how you found me. I must warn you, Halcrion, what has happened here on Sanctuary must never happen again. I know Tyrael said you would be successful, but that depends on you. You can be defeated. I was. When you face the Three, there is only One other who is as strong." Deckard cast his eyes to the sky, signifying the One he spoke of. "You must defeat them. Only then will this world return to it's former peace."
"But Cain… Why me? Surely there are others who could do this. Surely…"
"No, Xavier. There are no others. You must do it. You, and your companions. There are a few that have arrived. This is to be done by seven, and their mercenaries. Or, in some cases, significant others," he added, with a wink at Kiara. "Two others have arrived here, an Amazon and an Assassin. Both have been briefed on what you have done, and both have received mercenaries from Kashya. They await your orders."
"An Amazon and an Assassin. Kiara, could you go get them? I would like to meet them now. I'll probably be in this bed for a few days, so I'd like to get started on any plans." Kiara gave me a quick kiss, which I returned (of course), and left the tent.
She returned with a tall blonde and slim brunette, followed by Ravina and Paige. The Amazon was tall, about 6' 2", with long blonde hair pulled into a ponytail. Her green eyes flashed in the light of the lantern. Her leather armor hugged close to her body, accentuating her curves, and here leggings were the color of wheat. She had a bow secured to her back, along with a quiver of arrows. She had a short sword strapped to her side, and a shield hanging behind the bow. The Assassin was just the opposite. She was about 5' 1", and about as big around as my right arm. Her dark brown, almost black hair was cut short, falling just above her shoulders. Her black leather armor was cut close too, but looked as though it provided more freedom of movement. Her leggings were a light grey. She had a shield also, hanging at her back, but in place of a sword was a different bladed weapon, a katar.
I stood to greet them, thankful I didn't fall flat on my face. "Good day, ladies. I understand you are to join this dark quest?"
"Yes, we are," the Amazon replied. "I am Alanna Harahna, of the Valkyrie clan."
The Assassin nodded. "I am Riega Val Karene, of the Order of the Dragon. My blade is at your service." She swept a deep bow.
"I am Xavier Halcrion, Child of the Army of Zakarum, and this is Kiara Halcrion, Sister of the Rogues, and my wife. Please, be seated." I motioned to the crates, which were all that were in here at the moment. If there are going to be more of us, I'll need a bigger tent. "Cain, if you would be so kind, please tell us where we are needed next."
Kiara sat down next to me, after exchanging a look with Paige. Paige stepped out, leaving Ravina standing off to the side. I motioned her to join us. Cain stood up, allowing her to sit.
"The next task you are requested to perform is to recover the Horadric Malus from the Smith in the Barracks at the Monastery. Charsi was unable to retrieve it before she fled. With it, she will be able to imbue an item with magical powers, but she can only imbue one item per person," Cain drew a deep breath and continued. "The Monastery is deep in the Tamoe Highlands. You will have to advance through the Black Marsh to get there. While in the Black Marsh, enter the Forgotten Tower and slay the newly- risen Countess. Her evil is rousing more in the Marsh itself. Once you have slain the Countess and retrieved the Malus, you must defeat Andariel. She is holding her throne in the Catacombs several stories below the Inner Cloister of the Monastery. Only then will Khanduras be safe from the evil. From here we will travel to Lut Gholein, and meet the Necromancer who will be joining us."
I saw Alanna and Riega exchange a glance. "What makes you think we can defeat this Andariel, Cain?" Alanna asked. "Isn't she one of the Lesser Evils?"
"Yes, that is correct. It does not matter who she is, or what she is. If she is not defeated, Khanduras will stay under this spell, and eventually fall apart. If she is defeated, the Rogues can bring the area back together."
"We will do it, Cain. We will join this Paladin on his quest, and send the Demons back to the Hell in which they were spawned," Riega said. No one dared to say anything back to her.
"Thank you all. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get some more rest."
Alanna and Riega rose, followed by Ravina. The three of them left. Cain followed shortly after. I turned to Kiara.
"Go talk to those two. Have them start training Ravina and Paige with swords. I don't want Ravina to run out of magic and not be able to defend herself, or Paige to do the same with arrows."
"And what will you be doing?" she asked, her right eyebrow rising, and a sly smile on her lips.
"Waiting for you to return, of course. I do have a promise to uphold."
She left, but I could tell she was impatient. Ah, the joys of youth. I lowered myself onto the cot, feeling exhausted. I hope that feeling goes away quickly. Kiara came back in, a smile creasing her face. She looked way too happy. I felt I was smiling too. She worked her way out of her armor, and laid down beside me.