Disclaimer: I don't own Blizzard Entertainment, Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction, the characters from the series; although I do own A COPY OF THE GAME – the characters I create are mine though.
Chapter 2 – Wanted: He Who Slew Baal
Three weeks later, the caravan pulled into a small encampment along the trail from Tristram to Lut-Gholain. Merec was beginning to think that he should have stayed back at home; the rain and hard riding was not doing wonders for his health. As he sneezed he thought to himself: "Better than chasing Fallen around the wilderness looking for the old bat's rock."
Merec noticed the messenger he'd followed speaking to a woman in purple robes over by a large tent in the south-eastern corner of the camp. "That must be the weirdo bitch Agrela was yapping on about. I think the bat told Suuto about her." As if his thoughts were a summoner's chant, the woman in purple came over to him.
"Suuto told me you were the one who saved most of the town from the demons' attack."
"Well, yeah, but I just whacked a few fallen so they wouldn't kill the kid they were tormenting. BY the way, why are you guys out here? I thought your monastery was safe after that Paladin came through here, Whatsisname."
"Slayer Daelus Minnith, you mean? Yes, in fact, that's precisely why this hole of a camp is here. We thought it might be a good rest stop for big caravans heading eastward, since it's such a long trip."
"Ahhh. Well, I'd better make sure Suuto told you the right story; sometimes he likes to add in junk. Half the town thinks he's half bard."
"Yes, he told me that the fallen stole a powerful artifact that Daelus had left behind after returning to Kurast in the East. Well, that is grave, but hopefully we can find him, now that the Waypoints are up and running…."
"Well, how do we find him, huh? I want to find those little bastards and make them about a foot shorter."
"Calm down, Merec, is it? I understand that you hate most demons, they are foul enough to begin with, what with the ceremonies they perform, not to mention what they do for 'fun'."
"What are you trying to say! Spit it out, all ready!"
"I know that your uncle was the Hero driven into insanity by Diablo in the first place fifteen years ago. (I'm assuming that Diablo 2 took place five years after the original Diablo) That is not an easy thing to cope with, and I hear from my occasional messages to Cain that you have dealt well with it; although I do wish your temperament was slightly less aggressive."
"Blame that on my lineage."
Merec was tired of mincing about, so he thought it was time for some even blunter questions;
"So, how we gonna go get this Day-su character, anyway? Just hop the nearest Waypoint to Kurast or something?"
"No, unfortunately for all involved; the Waypoints refuse to work between kingdoms. Perhaps it has something to do with the landscapes around the different areas. However, once you ride onward to Lut-Gholein, you can sail to Kurast in comfort."
"I don't care about the hardships, I just wanna get that rock back so I can get home. Cain told me that if any demons get their slimy claws on it, we'll have another Baal wandering loose around Sanctuary, doing whatever pleases him, including blowing the hell out of any town he feels like."
"Very well; I'll arrange something with Warriv. I don't know what it is, but he seems to like us; he keeps coming back again and again. He says he's gotten used to the cold around here, but I think it's something else."
"Fine, talk to whomever you need to so I can get out of here and on my way."
"Very well, by the way, my name is Khora – I'm Akara's daughter."
"Great, another weirdo who's obsessed with magic. Say hello to the old bat for me, will you?"
"I will, and by the way, this is for calling my mother an 'old bat'."
She slapped him hard on the face.
"Sorry, I just can't stand casters; something about them creeps my flesh."
"You're forgiven, for the moment. I'll go talk to Warriv now."
(Please forgive me if I take a few liberties with Warriv's appearance; I can't exactly make him out very well in the game.)
And with that, Khora left, stalking over to an average-sized man, with tanned skin, wearing a leather jerkin, cloth pants, and light boots. She spoke to him quickly, and from Warriv's expression, Merec could tell he'd struck a nerve with the crack about her mom. "Ahhh, women casters."
After Khora walked back to her tent, Warriv strolled over and called out a greeting to Merec.
"Greetings, stranger. I don't see many people from further West in here; mostly traders coming in to add to Gheed's greivances against me. He's been in apperplexy ever since I led a few interested spice merchants back from Lut-Gholein. But enough about my personal standings with annoying thieves, Khora tells me I should take you East with me. We'll leave just as soon as the caravan's prepared."
"Thanks. I'm starting to get restless around here. By the way, did you see the man who came in with me – quilted shirt, multi-colored leggings, light boots?"
"Yes, he left for Tristram, with a message for Cain and the townsfolk."
"Good – if someone doesn't look after him, Suuto can get into a lot trouble."
"Well, don't worry, Khora already knew about that too. She sent back a few of her Rogue scouts as an escort."
Merec let out an explosive breath. "I just hope those gals can keep him on a straight path back. He likes to stop and smell each rosebush along the way."
That night, the caravan left following the monastery road eastward, after coming out of the Waypoints at the Black Marsh. Merec knew that even with the demons and corrupted Rogues gone, the wilderness was no place for rest and relaxation. He kept on his guard until they reached the monastery, stopping only just overnight. That was one battle Merec had had to fight quick and hard to win; Warriv would have stayed a fortnight with his friends if he'd had his way.
So, another chapter done! I hope the description of Warriv wasn't too off the mark; I can never make out just exactly what he looked like well enough in the game. I actually ignored him most of the time. To all action/adventure fans who might be reading this, I apologize; it takes a while to set up the plot. Hopefully these "maneuvering" chapters will be few and far between. Please review and let me know what you think.
P.s. Merec may seem like a semi-Barbarian; it's due to the fact that yes, I wanted to throw in a relation to the warrior; I thought he must have relatives since there are a million allusions in Diablo and Diablo 2 to Tristram being a big town before "Big D." destroyed it.
