Yet Talina's persistence in her quest from her people proved to be worthwhile. Soon after they had reported to Kashya of their success, the fiery-spirited woman curtly stated that the rogues were at their disposal, Akara had walked from her tent to give them another quest.
"Well done to you both," she said with a smile. "Though it appears that we are dealing with an evil that we cannot comprehend, let alone combat."
"I can offer my services," Geldar offered but Akara shook her head.
"The Church of Light has much to offer but we need older magics," Akara explained. "There is only one Horadric Sage schooled in the most arcane history and lore, who could help us. His name is Deckard Cain. You must travel to Tristram and find him. I pray he still lives."
"I accept your quest," Geldar said, bowing his head as was customary. "But how would we get there? I would have been there sooner but the wall around it is impassable. The river is too deep to ford around Tristram. But," he added with a smile. "I have heard that your people have a way of getting in there."
"Well met, Master Paladin," Akara replied and she went into her tent and emerged bearing a great book. "Here," she said pointing at a picture inscribed with letters neither Geldar nor Talina could decipher. "The Tree of Inifuss bears a scroll that I can decipher; it lies in the Dark Forest on the other side of the mountains past the Stony Field. In the Stony Field you'll find a stone circle that will open a portal to take you to Tristram," she closed the book with a snap and a cloud of dust. "The scroll should tell me the right order the stones should be touched to get there."
"I don't like this kind of magic," Geldar said after they had thanked Akara. "It's next door to witchcraft."
"You and your prejudices," Talina accused. "What's the difference between the magic we wield and what they wield?" She pointed out onto the Blood Moor where the rotting carcasses were attracting the attention of flies. "Intention," she replied when Geldar didn't.
"It's not just that," Geldar replied as they neared Warriv's fire. "Such temptations are against the teachings of the Zakarum. I made a vow when I was made a Paladin that I wouldn't be tempted by any false light, enticing as it seems."
"Well at the very least be practical," Talina said and she stormed off in temper.
"I trust you succeeded?" Warriv asked, coming to the fire carrying a pot and kettle.
The Paladin couldn't resist giving the merchant a blow-by-blow account of his and Talina's assault on the graveyard. Warriv was interested, stopping Geldar in his narrative to inquire about certain fine points which the Paladin was more than happy to explain. By the time they had cleared the plates away and Warriv had brought out his pipe Geldar was finished his tale. Warriv was almost disappointed that it was over and he asked Geldar what they were doing next."
"With luck," Geldar said with a wry smile. "The day after tomorrow you'll have a Horadric Sage sitting around the fire telling sharing tales with us."
"There is one still alive?" Asked Warriv with a disbelieving smile.
"We hope," Geldar said and he stared into the fire.
The journey across the Stony Field was tough, even with the waypoint to pass the Blood Moor. By midmorning when they stopped for a break Geldar had to remove his helm to wipe out the sweat that was building up in it. It would not do for the stout leather there to grow mouldy. Talina splashed her face with water from a skin and drank a little more before loading it into her pack. She looked around cautiously, her spear and danger close at hand, but they were alone for once.
"They're out there," Geldar told her when she had voiced her observations. "It's just they haven't seen us. We haven't passed the stones yet."
"They're ahead," Talina replied. "I caught a glimpse of them when we were fighting those goatmen before. They're heavily guarded." She paused and then asked him another question. "How do we get past those mountains, they're not the same ones that are near the Monastery are they?"
"No, they're further east on the other side of the Dark Wood," Geldar replied, fastening his helm as it was now dry. "But as for the mountain, we go under it. Charsi told me there was an underground passage when she repaired my weapons."
"I've got the feeling that there's evil down there as well," Talina said as she got to her feet.
"Got that right," Geldar said and he drew his sword. "Where did you say the stones were?"
"North," Talina said pointing.
"Then lets get this done," Geldar said and they were off again.
As Talina had said the stones were well guarded. In the middle of them was a green Dark one who cast lightning at them when they neared. There was nothing for it but to kill his minions before facing the demon. Geldar fought him, several times getting burnt by the electricity, until the Paladin slit the monster's throat and he died with a gurgle and cackle.
"Well?" Geldar asked Talina, he wasn't going to examine the stones until it was all clear.
"Go ahead," Talina said, raising her spear.
Geldar approached one of the stones. It was quite large, about twice as tall as he was and about as wide as his arm. On one side it was engraved with a single rune that Geldar could not identify. Slowly he touched it and instantly his hand jerked back.
"What?" Talina asked, she had noticed Geldar's reaction.
"There's strong magic in these," Geldar replied. "By Akarat, I haven't seen the like of it in the West."
"Could it be misused?" Talina asked, she ached to go over and examine it herself but she kept her post.
"No," Geldar replied, pulling himself away from the examination of the stone. "It's not the kind, this is new to me," he cast a depreciating look at the sky. "We'd better get going if we wanted to reach the passage by dark."
It was hard fighting across the plain, there were more corrupt rogues, some were organised with bows and arrows but the vast majority had pikes or ran with swords and shields. Their bodies were white, green even blue and red with the effects of their transformation. Talina even admitted to Geldar that it pained her to fight them.
"I've not seen you yet show any sort of hesitation to kill," Geldar teased her as they walked towards the distant mountain.
"It's not that," Talina said. "It's next door to murder, even though they no longer have souls."
"But they have souls," Geldar reminded her. "When they die their souls leave them, hopeless as they are."
"Never mind," Talina said and she stopped suddenly. "Is that…" she hastened to a run and stopped just before a tree.
"What is it?" Geldar asked.
"It's a book," Talina replied and she stepped towards it.
No sooner than she did when the shrieking of blood hawks came from ahead. It took a few minutes to kill them all while Geldar hacked their nest apart. After a quick glance around the area to see if it was deserted Geldar stepped up to the book to read it as Talina couldn't.
"It's very old," he said, opening it carefully. "And mouldy with the moisture."
"What does it say?" Talina asked.
"Not much," Geldar said, flipping through the book as quickly as he could. "Most of the text is too faint to make out. Ah," he stopped and placed his finger on the damp page as he read. "'And so it came to be that the Countess, who once bathed in the rejuvenating blood of a hundred virgins, was buried alive. And her castle in which so many cruel deeds took place fell rapidly to ruin. Rising over the buried dungeons in that god-forsaken wilderness, a solitary tower, like some monument to evil, is all that remains.'"
"Nice," Talina said ironically. "Is there any more?"
"Just a little," Geldar replied and he kept reading. "'The Countess's fortune was believed to have been divided among the clergy, although some say that more remains unfound, still buried alongside the rotting skulls that bear mute witness to the humanity of this inhumane creature.'" He closed the book and stepped back. "I don't know what to make of it."
"Well you were talking about witchcraft before," Talina reminded him. "This is about as close as it gets."
"There's a difference between that and wild stories," Geldar chided gently.
"With all the evil in Sanctuary today I wouldn't be surprised if it was true," Talina pointed out, there was a pause. "Come on," she said, smiling encouragingly. "We're wasting the daylight."
