Disclaimer: see chapter one.
Azalie looked around the room, blood and bones covered the walls and floor. Corpses hung from chains and pikes. Chunks of floor were missing and only bubbling pools of fluid remained. She heard the sounds of demons and undead from the other side of the door. She was use to death, hell she worked with it, but this made her skin crawl. Magnus seemed focused, His sword at the ready. All the rouges had their bows primed, arrows held against the string. The door was opened and they all poured in, Dark ones and shamans that were in the room were mowed down by a volley of arrows. One demon was knocked into one of the pools and began to melt, not the best way to go. The room was cleared, not a demon left standing.
Magnus could sense her presence, such an overwhelming source of evil. He looked at the large wood doors, just big enough for her to walk through. He turned to the group, "Behind these doors are more demons and Andariel herself. Archers, stand away from the door, flaming arrows please. Azalie, Have your summoned creatures lead the way, they are replaceable." He said. A collective ok was given. He threw open the doors, he could see many demons. At the end of the hallway, upon a throne of skull and bone sat the Maiden of Anguish, Andariel. Magnus stood back as the animated horde charged down the corridor, drawing the attention of the main demon forces. Andariel looked at her visitors and smiled, He had returned. She stood up, her claws scraping the bones. "Time to die maggot" she said.
Arrows zipped through the minor demons, piercing the ones behind them. It was down to the motley crew of assembled people and a ten foot tall half naked she-demon. "Ah, my precious angel has returned to die, saves me time to hunt you down." She said. Magnus spat, "You wish," The roomed lit up, all the rouged had lit their arrows, "You see, I didn't come alone" he said. She frowned, "Bastard, I'll kill you slow and painfully for this" she hissed. Magnus's hand went to his sheathed sword, "Sorry, I have other things to do." He said. Arrows flew as he charged. His sword made contact as multiple arrows bit at her skin, the last thing Andariel saw was a bone spear heading straight for her.
The ground under the powerful demon erupted with fire; the flames licked her skin as hell reclaimed one of its own. Andariel fell to the ground, dead. Magnus had a look of relief on his face. The rouges were happy, Andariel was dead and they had their ancestral home back. Azalie seemed pleased, her bone spear went straight threw the demons head. "Azalie, good job" Magnus said. Azalie gave him a deep kiss, "Thanks, let's say we get out of here," she suggested. Magnus nodded, "Yes, let's" he said. The Rouges began to cheer, a great celebration lay ahead. A portal opened and the triumphant heroes returned to camp, in a joyful mood. Azalie and Magnus were the last to leave, they guarded the rear.
The whole camp was energized, everyone was partying and feasting. Charsi sang with a few of her closest friends. Kasha sat, with a pint in hand, listening to the songs and watching the dancers. Cain was asleep, too much food and drink. Magnus danced with Azalie, each with a slight grin. Gheed was eating his hat, (He lost a bet with Warriv). The sun hung low on the horizon, only one couple sat to watch it set. "I see why you people sit and watch this, very lovely" Magnus said. Azalie gave a nod, "yea, but it is better to watch it with someone." She said. He smiled, "I could get use to this real quick, Heaven has got nothing on this" he said. The sun had set, both asleep.
Morning came to the small camp; many a hangover plagued the inhabitants. Magnus sat atop a wall, watching the sunrise. "One down, four to go" he said. He looked towards the sunrise, "Diablo, you will not escape me, I WILL get you." He said. He heard moans coming from the camp, people were waking up. He saw Kasha stumble out of her tent, barely dressed. "Many suffer, but it shall pass. Especially after some coffee" Magnus said. Cain poked his face out of the wagon, "Coffee? I could use a cup." He said. Magnus smiled, "Well, you're not dead, even after all that" he said. Cain gave a confused look, "How so?" he asked. Magnus pointed to the now cold buffet and empty kegs, "That is what I mean" he said. Cain nodded, "Long ago, this would have been normal. Now days I am lucky to wake up in the morning." He said. Magnus nodded, "I hear that. Ten thousand years and I still surprised I look like I do" he said. Azalie walked out of the tent, "What day is it, is the coffee ready, and was there anyone in my bed last night?" she asked. Magnus smiled, "Tuesday, no it isn't, yes I was" he said. She smiled, "I guess I'll live then" she said. He smiled, "Good, because we are leaving today, Lut Gholen is about a 3 weeks away by foot. We should leave ASAP" he said. She paled, "No way in hell, I'll ride the wagon train and get their faster than that." She said. He laughed, "You need to calm down, you'll live longer" he said. Cain was busting up with laughter, "You two act like a married couple after you two have known each other for three weeks" he said. Both looked at each other, "You want to smack him or should I?" Magnus asked. Azalie shook her head, "You can do it, I just want some coffee" she said.
Azalie looked around the room, blood and bones covered the walls and floor. Corpses hung from chains and pikes. Chunks of floor were missing and only bubbling pools of fluid remained. She heard the sounds of demons and undead from the other side of the door. She was use to death, hell she worked with it, but this made her skin crawl. Magnus seemed focused, His sword at the ready. All the rouges had their bows primed, arrows held against the string. The door was opened and they all poured in, Dark ones and shamans that were in the room were mowed down by a volley of arrows. One demon was knocked into one of the pools and began to melt, not the best way to go. The room was cleared, not a demon left standing.
Magnus could sense her presence, such an overwhelming source of evil. He looked at the large wood doors, just big enough for her to walk through. He turned to the group, "Behind these doors are more demons and Andariel herself. Archers, stand away from the door, flaming arrows please. Azalie, Have your summoned creatures lead the way, they are replaceable." He said. A collective ok was given. He threw open the doors, he could see many demons. At the end of the hallway, upon a throne of skull and bone sat the Maiden of Anguish, Andariel. Magnus stood back as the animated horde charged down the corridor, drawing the attention of the main demon forces. Andariel looked at her visitors and smiled, He had returned. She stood up, her claws scraping the bones. "Time to die maggot" she said.
Arrows zipped through the minor demons, piercing the ones behind them. It was down to the motley crew of assembled people and a ten foot tall half naked she-demon. "Ah, my precious angel has returned to die, saves me time to hunt you down." She said. Magnus spat, "You wish," The roomed lit up, all the rouged had lit their arrows, "You see, I didn't come alone" he said. She frowned, "Bastard, I'll kill you slow and painfully for this" she hissed. Magnus's hand went to his sheathed sword, "Sorry, I have other things to do." He said. Arrows flew as he charged. His sword made contact as multiple arrows bit at her skin, the last thing Andariel saw was a bone spear heading straight for her.
The ground under the powerful demon erupted with fire; the flames licked her skin as hell reclaimed one of its own. Andariel fell to the ground, dead. Magnus had a look of relief on his face. The rouges were happy, Andariel was dead and they had their ancestral home back. Azalie seemed pleased, her bone spear went straight threw the demons head. "Azalie, good job" Magnus said. Azalie gave him a deep kiss, "Thanks, let's say we get out of here," she suggested. Magnus nodded, "Yes, let's" he said. The Rouges began to cheer, a great celebration lay ahead. A portal opened and the triumphant heroes returned to camp, in a joyful mood. Azalie and Magnus were the last to leave, they guarded the rear.
The whole camp was energized, everyone was partying and feasting. Charsi sang with a few of her closest friends. Kasha sat, with a pint in hand, listening to the songs and watching the dancers. Cain was asleep, too much food and drink. Magnus danced with Azalie, each with a slight grin. Gheed was eating his hat, (He lost a bet with Warriv). The sun hung low on the horizon, only one couple sat to watch it set. "I see why you people sit and watch this, very lovely" Magnus said. Azalie gave a nod, "yea, but it is better to watch it with someone." She said. He smiled, "I could get use to this real quick, Heaven has got nothing on this" he said. The sun had set, both asleep.
Morning came to the small camp; many a hangover plagued the inhabitants. Magnus sat atop a wall, watching the sunrise. "One down, four to go" he said. He looked towards the sunrise, "Diablo, you will not escape me, I WILL get you." He said. He heard moans coming from the camp, people were waking up. He saw Kasha stumble out of her tent, barely dressed. "Many suffer, but it shall pass. Especially after some coffee" Magnus said. Cain poked his face out of the wagon, "Coffee? I could use a cup." He said. Magnus smiled, "Well, you're not dead, even after all that" he said. Cain gave a confused look, "How so?" he asked. Magnus pointed to the now cold buffet and empty kegs, "That is what I mean" he said. Cain nodded, "Long ago, this would have been normal. Now days I am lucky to wake up in the morning." He said. Magnus nodded, "I hear that. Ten thousand years and I still surprised I look like I do" he said. Azalie walked out of the tent, "What day is it, is the coffee ready, and was there anyone in my bed last night?" she asked. Magnus smiled, "Tuesday, no it isn't, yes I was" he said. She smiled, "I guess I'll live then" she said. He smiled, "Good, because we are leaving today, Lut Gholen is about a 3 weeks away by foot. We should leave ASAP" he said. She paled, "No way in hell, I'll ride the wagon train and get their faster than that." She said. He laughed, "You need to calm down, you'll live longer" he said. Cain was busting up with laughter, "You two act like a married couple after you two have known each other for three weeks" he said. Both looked at each other, "You want to smack him or should I?" Magnus asked. Azalie shook her head, "You can do it, I just want some coffee" she said.