Diablo
The Awakening of Chaos
Chapter Three
The Barrier Mountains
Rua and Jordan looked up the winding path warily. It led into the Barrier. Somewhere up there was the bandits' checkpoint, where they would be safe. Before and beyond it lied danger. Demons were roaming freely in there. Already the two warriors had dispatched roving bands of Fallen and Carvers. Relayia perched on Rua's shoulder again.
"I don't like this, Rua," she said, "It's so… forbidding."
"I know, little friend," he replied, "Don't worry… we'll make it."
"We better… I don't like the idea of this 'key' at all," Jordan murmured darkly.
Upward and upward they went. The mountains soared high; their twisted crags making them seem like the huge teeth of some terrible beast. Cold winds blew through the mountains, creating hollow whistles and ghastly shrieks. The path curved endlessly, with the wall on one side and cliffs on the other. Sometimes it entered small canyons with jagged outcroppings overhead. The gray clouds drifted slowly above, and fog concealed the paths. The chittering sounds of small animals and demons resounded off of the strange walls.
Rua had eased his gemmed longsword out of its scabbard and was scanning the surrounding area from atop his horse. Blood coated the blade. The demons here proved to be cunning adversaries, and they were using the canyons to great effect. However, between him, Jordan, Relayia, and the small band of merchant guards among them, they had not lost a single wagon. He wasn't going to relax though. Once they arrived at the checkpoint, he'd relax. A little.
Four times he had seen what he thought might be humans. They always tried to stay out of sight, but he saw them. He doubted they were Jordan's fellow thieves. Many people had left their homes and joined Ziatoch's side, sure that the Shadow would win and they would rule all of Creation beside the demons, now that knowledge of the Worldstone's destruction had leaked out and word of Ziatoch's successes had spread. There were demons lurking in the mountains, and Rua was sure that there would be corrupt humans among their ranks.
Jordan trotted over on his mount. His sword was also out, and its blade was coated with blood as well. His eyes scanned the area with Rua's, but he started speaking.
"The Checkpoint shouldn't be too far now," he said, "I can't be sure, since this is a different route than the one I usually take."
"Okay," replied Rua, "Once we're there we can have your… friends… help us with the search. We know what we're looking for."
"Oh? All the info we have is that it's some sort of key. We don't know what it looks like, or where it would be stored. These mountains are huge, Rua!"
"Think about, my friend… these are objects of power. Ziatoch wants them, and from the sound of it, he wants them badly. That means that Heaven had something to do with their creation… possibly to keep away some sort of weapon. Understand?"
"Yes," Jordan said slowly.
"Something like that would be guarded carefully, by powerful minions. And it would be placed in some sort of secret chamber. Probably a tomb, or a vault. How many tombs have been put into the Barrier, Jordan?"
"Next to none… I get it! This place is naturally dangerous as it is. I see your point, my friend."
Rua changed the subject. "I hope you've noticed that we've got humans watching us."
He nodded. "I have. I didn't recognize any of them. I've already alerted the guards."
"Good. I don't want any of Ziatoch's soldiers to catch us in an ambush."
Relayia's voice erupted out about a hundred spans from where Rua and Jordan were.
"Rua! I found something!"
Rua and Jordan looked at each other, and Jordan nodded before turning around and galloping over to the caravans. Rua turned around and started off towards Relayia's call. Soon enough, Jordan and the rest of the merchant guards caught up to him and they topped the rise together.
Relayia was flying a slow circle over what looked to be some sort of campsite. There were multiple ashy fire pits, and crude signs were propped up, strange angular script written on them. Ripped and shredded tents were erected here and there. There looked to be blackened bones within the fire pits. Rua grimaced, and Jordan visibly blanched.
The warriors gradually made their way down to the campsite, which had to be one made by demons. Ziatoch's minions, most likely. They dismounted and began searching through the tents and fire pits. They noticed small weapons: falchions, clubs, and small battleaxes. Weapons that looked like they'd be fit for a small child. But the warriors knew better… these were weapons wielded by Fallen, small, red-skinned, cowardly demons that have a shared hatred for humankind. Camps of Fallen, and their distant cousins, the Carvers, Devilkin, and Dark Ones, were always being sighted in the wilderness of the Kingdoms, and it would be no surprise to find them within the Barrier.
Some of the guards began examining the strange wards that had been erected around the barbaric campgrounds. Rua sheathed his sword and walked up to one of these men and asked him a question.
"Why are you looking at these? Do they mean anything?"
"There are four kinds of these demons, as I'm sure you know," the guard replied while studying the warding, "Fallen, Carvers, Devilkin, and Dark Ones."
"So it's said," Rua replied.
"These demons erect these wards to scare off other creatures, such as us humans. Well, they each have a different writing style, which declares what kind of species the demons are…"
"And what do these wards say?"
"Say? I don't know. I can't read demon script. But I recognize the styles. But this…" he shook his head and grimaced before continuing, "this ward has all four styles of script."
Rua also grimaced. "I thought only Fallen and Carvers banded together, because they're weaker than their cousins."
"You're right. Devilkin are too destructive; that's why you rarely see a shaman among their bands. Dark Ones are different… they don't trust other kinds of demons. But here, all four of them are grouped together. Why are they working together?"
Rua knew the answer, but didn't speak it. Because they're afraid of something else, he thought, something stronger than them… something like the Master of Darkness.
Jordan walked over to his friend. He had sheathed his sword, and he had a troubled look on his face.
"Rua, I've seen signs that there aren't just Fallen in this camp. I've seen tracks and weaponry of bigger demons here, and of humans. The guardsmen are finding pieces of common clothing. I think they've been kidnapping humans for… for food," he finished with a disgusted look.
Rua started walking through the camp, and Jordan quickly followed. The green-eyed warrior spoke.
"But that's not all, is it? There are also humans working with these things, aren't there?"
The bandit lord nodded. "Yes. The tents have human weaponry and armor inside them. But where are they? If they were hunting, they'd have left guards here, to protect the camp. Yet there isn't anyone here."
Rua stopped and turned to his friend. "You're right. I don't like where this is heading."
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Yes. It has to be—LOOK OUT!"
Rua shoved a surprised Jordan out of his way and swiftly drew his sword all in one motion. He swung upward, catching a stranger's blade before it struck down Jordan. The fighters disengaged, and the stranger readied for another attack. However, as Rua jumped backward, he threw a fireball at him. It exploded against his face, and he screamed in pain as he staggered backwards. His upper body was on fire. The green-eyed warrior whipped around, his lethal blade ready.
The camp had exploded into battle. The small, humanoid red-skinned Fallen fought side-by-side with blue-skinned Carvers, orange-skinned Devilkin, and the black-skinned Dark Ones. Taller, more powerful demons that looked like humans with the lower torsos and heads of goats battled beside them, along with more human warriors in common, travel-worthy clothing. They were outnumbered, but the guards and the two heroes had the advantage of experience and Rua's magic.
Jordan lashed out continuously with his huge sword, killing Goatmen and Fallen alike. His sword swung low and cleaved through the necks of three of the smaller demons, and then he took one hand off of his sword's hilt and punched a Goatman in the snout. He took hold of his sword again and beheaded the monster, then dashed over and slashed through the back of another Goatman that was about to kill one of the guards. Three Carvers dashed up to the bandit lord, yelling at him in their strange alien language and brandishing their weapons at him. Jordan's booted foot arched upward and caught the one in the center under its grotesque head, sending the shrieking demon sailing through the air. The other two fled in fear of this large and dangerous foe.
Rua Phase Shifted past another mercenary, cutting across the man's back before reappearing and running him through the side. He dislodged his blade and quickly turned to parry another foe's sword. The green-eyed warrior struck out at the enemy three times, and was parried each time. He went in for another attack, but feinted and rolled across the ground. He shot up behind his surprised foe and slashed upward, his sword biting into his foe's backside. The man fell, and a Goatman jumped over his corpse. The monster bowled into Rua, knocking him down onto the cold ground. Rua's sword flashed out in a rising arc, and slashed open the half-human demon's stomach. The monster screamed as it toppled back. Rua pulled himself up and looked around.
Two guards charged into a band of Devilkin, their weapons striking repeatedly, leaving a trail of slain orange-skinned demons in their wake. However, a shaman, a Devilkin with horns on its head and carrying a strange staff, threw a fireball at one of the guards. It exploded against him, and the man screamed as his burning body fell to the ground. The demon then began casting strange spells, and its dead followers began to revive. Rua raised one hand and chanted out his Flare spell. The cone of fire shot out of his hand and incinerated all of them.
Jordan tried his hand against three mercenaries. They circled him warily, their weapons drawn. Jordan raised his massive sword to his side, eyeing each warrior in turn. His eye twitched, and then he lunged at the opponent in front of him. The surprised warrior brought up his spear to parry, but Jordan's downward swing cleaved through it and split his head in half. He dislodged his blade and the corpse fell to the ground, and he readied himself for the next attack. He wasn't disappointed. The other two warriors lunged at him, and a furious battle of blades began. However, Jordan tripped over the corpse of the mercenary he killed before, and he fell backwards. One mercenary smiled and readied his axe for a killing chop at Jordan, but Relayia streaked by, raking her claws across the warrior's face. The man stumbled backwards, shrieking. Jordan saw his chance and thrust his blade into the warrior's chest, then pulled himself up and removed his blade from the warrior's body. The remaining human turned to flee, but didn't get very far as Rua's Driver attack impaled him to the ground.
The merchant guards quickly finished off the remaining demons, and there were only two casualties among their ranks. Rua looked over the small battlefield and grimaced. Only Ziatoch could make humans battle alongside demons.
Soon, the warriors were off again, making their way through the dangerous mountain range, making their way to the Barrier Checkpoint. And soon, Rua smiled as the wooden walls and stone turrets come into view through the cold mists.
Rua looked around at the Checkpoint as Warriv ordered his wagons inside. It was a wooden fort constructed into a partial square, built into one of the mountains at one corner. At the other three corners, short stone towers with pointed roofs were erected. Hard men carrying bows were walking the ramparts, looking out at the mountainside, watching for demons. People walked in and out of the towers, carrying supplies and tools.
Rua, Relayia, and Jordan entered one of the towers and headed downstairs, under the Checkpoint. Beneath the ground, a small network of tunnels led to jail cells, a mess hall, sleeping quarters, and an armory. Bandits strode in and out of the halls, chatting with others, wooing women, and completing their daily tasks.
Jordan touched Rua's free shoulder and nodded down towards the mess hall. He followed as the bandit lord led them through the cafeteria. Many of the occupying bandits looked up from their drinks and their meals, watching the newcomers enter. Their eyes lit up in recognition. One was their boss, and they all loved him. The other was the crazy one who was determined to stop the Master of Darkness. And there was the flying cat! Who could ever forget something like that?
Jordan stopped a bandit passing by and murmured something to him. The thief nodded and took off at a trot. Rua and Jordan continued walking through the mess hall and Relayia perched herself on Rua's shoulder, and soon they entered another room. It was circular and had a large table. On the table were maps of the Barrier and the outlying regions.
"So now what, thief?" the dragonet asked.
"Now we wait for everyone to show up."
A gong sounded through out the Checkpoint. Minutes later, several of the older bandits began to enter the meeting room and took seats around the table. Jordan sat at the head of the table, and Rua settled to lean against the wall with his arms crossed, his head lowered slightly and his eyes closed. Relayia sat on his shoulder. Once it was clear all of the head bandits were present, Jordan spoke.
"Well boys, we all know that Ziatoch has a legion of monsters hiding up in our home, right?"
They all murmured in agreement.
"And we know that he's set them looking for something. Some sort of key. Well, its not just demons that are looking for them! When Rua and I came through the Rogue Pass, we encountered humans fighting alongside demons."
Shocked looks greeted them, and they exchanged heated whispers.
"If there's some sort of key out there, then it's for some powerful weapon. And if Ziatoch is looking for it, I doubt Heaven wants it in his hands. So… we're gonna find it first."
"What?" one of the bandits exclaimed, "Why, boss? He's gonna rip us to pieces when he finds out that we have it! And he will, mark my words!"
Rua grimaced and spoke, his eyes still closed.
"You're not to have the keeping of it. I'm taking it with me, and then I'll be taking it to Deckard Cain."
"Ain't he that Horadrim mage? The one who helped the Heroes?"
"He is," replied Rua, "Of anyone, he'd know what to do with it."
"I need men to head out and start searching for the key. Me and Rua have already figured out that has to be in some sort of tomb or something. And we all know the people's policies for tombs in these mountains, don't we?
Laughs greeted this, and one person spoke. "People who make tombs in these mountains probably get buried in them right after they're done…"
"Yeah. I want parties of five warriors each, one of them knowing the passes and one knowing how to use a bow. Look for a tomb, and be careful! They're demons and humans in there, and they'll kill anything that isn't one of theirs. Any questions?"
They shook their heads, and began to leave. Rua and Jordan looked at each other, and the green-eyed warrior spoke.
"How long will it take them to find it?"
"They're very efficient," Jordan answered, "So it should be found in about a day or so. They've lived here for years, and Ziatoch hasn't. They've got the highest chance of finding this key."
Rua nodded. "I hope you're right."
He pushed himself up from the wall and strode out of the room. After a moment, Jordan followed, hoping to find some food.
Jordan pulled himself out of a restless sleep and pushed himself up in his bed. He yawned and stretched, then looked around his quarters. His sword was under his bed, and his clothing was stacked on a dresser. Empty bottles of wine were on the floor, and his meal plates were on the nearby table. With a sigh, the bandit lord got out of bed and got dressed. He finally strapped his sword to his back and looked out into the darkened halls. A few guards patrolled the halls, but not many. He stepped out of the hall and made his way to one of the stairwells that led to the surface.
A full moon illuminated the Checkpoint, giving everything a pale glow. Jordan took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air. The air was chilly, but Jordan had been living here for years, and it no longer bothered him. Suddenly, he heard soft music being played from a flute or an ocarina. Jordan smiled a little. Couldn't sleep either, huh?
Jordan entered another tower and climbed up the spiraling stairs, and then left and walked slowly across the battlements. Across the way, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed and playing soft music on his ocarina, was Rua. It was a sad melody, and it tugged at his heart.
As Jordan neared, the music dwindled and slowly stopped. Rua moved the ocarina away from his lips and was silent, his eyes still closed. Jordan stopped and watched him. Finally, the bandit lord spoke.
"How long has it been?"
"Tonight marks the fourth year since I made the promise. So much has happened since that night…"
Rua tucked away his instrument and got off the wall, turning towards the wilderness of the mountains. He placed his hands on the tops of the wall and gazed outward but seeing nothing.
"Ziatoch killed my sister and then left. He completely forgot about me. I decided I would make sure he regretted leaving me alive. I buried my sister at the ruins and left. I met Relayia shortly after, and for a year I trained. I even learned some magic…"
Jordan took Rua's place on the wall and listened carefully as Rua continued.
"Then I heard he was moving against Kurast. I guess he wanted to destroy the Zakarum, now that they've been freed of Mephisto's control. I left for the city that same day, and in three days I arrived at the Bazaars. It was two days later that Ziatoch attacked. He led the assault personally. He was certainly surprised when I ambushed him at Travincal. But he had gotten stronger, and I didn't beat him. He spared the city… I guess he underestimated the rebuilt strength of the Hand of Zakarum. For the next three years I hunted him. I attacked him during several of his key assaults, including his attack on Kingsport and the Amazon Isles. While searching for him there, I found this…"
Rua slipped a ring off his finger and held it up to Jordan to see. It was band of golden metal, and it had a design of four angel wings made of white metal surrounding a small ruby. The bandit lord almost thought he saw the jewel glow.
"I haven't had it appraised, but it has a lot of magical power in it. Something tells me it belongs in an equipment set, but I've yet to find anything that could be linked to it. It's given me an amount of protection, and it's deflected some of Ziatoch's spells."
Jordan looked surprised as Rua slipped the strange ring back on his finger.
"That piece of jewelry has saved your life?" he exclaimed. "What kind of magic is in that thing?"
"I don't know. Probably holy magic… after all, it negated Ziatoch's power, which is obviously demonic. So, perhaps… if I can find other pieces of equipment linked to my ring, I might be able to beat him. All I really know is that it has saved my life a couple of times. But that's not all… I've fought him so many times. After each of his attacks, he seemed to grow only stronger. And yet… here I am. Still alive. I helped break many of his assaults, and I've cornered him in countless battles. Although he was always the greater, he never managed to kill me… why, though? What is it that's kept me alive to this point?"
"Who knows, Rua? It could be your sister looking out for you. Look, if they find the vault we're looking for, we're going to need some rest. Get to bed, Rua."
"I will, my friend. In a moment. I want some time to myself."
"Okay."
Jordan took one last look at Rua before he left to go back to his own sleeping quarters.
Rua's mind was still restless. So many times. And I've yet to be killed. How is it that I've survived?
Could it be that it had something to do with that dream? He had begun having those dreams shortly after his stint in the Amazon Isles. Rua looked at the ring on his right hand. It held strange power, but it was incomplete. He didn't know how he knew this, but he felt it. Was the ring linked to the sword from his dream? The sword imbedded in the glowing blue crystal?
That sword might be the key to defeating him once and for all. But where is it? Where in this world is that sword?
He felt that someday, he'd know.
News came with dawn. One of the search parties had found a tomb with a strange symbol carved on the door. Rua, Relayia, and Jordan ate a quick breakfast before gathering some supplies and leaving with three other bandits to check out the tomb.
They proceeded quickly through the passes to the tomb, and they encountered no demons. Eventually, the heroes arrived at the tomb. It looked to have been carved into the side of the mountain, not built. It had a large circular door, and on its surface was the image of a demon and two dragons. It took both Rua and Jordan to shift the door to the side. Relayia peeked into the dark opening from Rua's shoulder.
"What we're looking for is in there?" she asked.
"Supposedly," replied the bandit lord.
"Wonderful. Just bloody wonderful."
Rua told the bandits to keep guard at the entrance, drew his sword, and then strode into the mountain tomb. Jordan quickly followed and drew his own massive blade. Rats scurried out of the way of the newcomers. Relayia flew above them, a lantern hanging from her mouth to illumine the way of the warriors.
They didn't know that they were being watched.
The two warriors continued through the gloom, and soon they heard chittering sounds. Rua paused, and three Gloom Bats dropped from the ceiling. They looked like oversized bats, with huge talons and glowing red eyes. Without hesitation Rua cast a fireball spell at the center one, killing it instantly. The other two shrieked and flew at their foes. Jordan's sword easily caught both of them before they could strike with their lightning attacks. Both fighters left the corpses of the demons behind and continued down the dark halls.
They turned a few corners and halted as a pack of zombies turned their dead gazes towards them. Slowly they shuffled towards the warriors, hoping for an easy meal. Rua and Jordan readied their blades and charged. Rua's enchanted blade easily dispatched several of the undead, and the size of Jordan's sword easily prevented the rest of them from reviving and attacking them. Rua turned around, and a small, shrieking monster leaped at them. Rua stepped back and slashed upward, easily tearing out the demon's throat, and the corpse fell to the ground. Jordan kicked it over. It had a small, lizard-like body, with too many eyes in its long head.
"What are Leapers doing this far from the desert?" Relayia asked as the two warriors contemplated the demon. Her squeaky voice was muffled from the lantern in her mouth.
"Who knows?" replied Jordan.
The three companions continued through the many twists and turns of the tomb, killing any undead or demon that got in their way. But soon, they came to one last room. It was circular, and strange glyphs covered the walls. Lit braziers illumined the room in a soft glow. However, at the far end of the room, was a skeleton warrior, standing upright and adorned in plate and chain armor. In its bony hands was a nasty-looking warhammer. It slowly raised its skull and gazed at the two warriors, and then charged at them with surprising speed.
Rua and Jordan immediately dove out of the way of its downward swing, and the hammer crashed into the ground. Rua turned and flung a fireball at the skeleton, but the explosion did little to it. It turned and charged Rua, and Rua brought up his blade to parry the incoming attack. It swung again, and Rua stumbled back under the force of the blow. It has to be a member of the Reanimated Horde! But weren't they killed off in the Heretic War? He wondered.
Jordan made a powerful horizontal cut at the monster, and his blade bit through the armor but didn't really damage the skeleton. It turned its eyeless gaze toward him, and then swung its hammer at the bandit lord. Jordan quickly grabbed it by the haft and stopped the blow. He forced it away from him and used the same hand to punch the undead being in the face, knocking it backward. Rua kicked it away to the side and threw himself at the monster as it stumbled away. He swung with a vertical chop, and his sword cleaved through the monster's free arm. He jumped back and raised his hand, and chanted for his Lightning spell. The bolt lanced out and struck the monster in the chest as it turned, forcing it back a few feet. It tripped over a rock and fell backwards. Rua cast another fireball spell, and the being shattered into pieces. The warhammer flew away to the side.
After the battle, the two of them looked around the room. "So, what do we do now, Rua?" Jordan asked.
"Hmm… these glyphs…"
The green-eyed warrior walked over the left side of the entrance to the room, looking at one of the glyphs. He thought a while, and then he smiled.
"These aren't pictures… it's more like a map!"
He placed a finger on the glyph and began to run around the room, tracing the glyphs with his finger, leaving a strange green glow where his finger was. A circle on the other side of the room pulsed with a green light when Rua finished. They soon heard a soft grinding sound, and a stone drawer emerged from under the glowing circle. Jordan walked up to it and pulled out its contents.
He turned over and gave it to Rua. It was a strange stone tablet, made of black stone, with white words carved onto it. It looked like stone, but felt of like metal. Rua looked at it briefly, and his eyes widened as he reread it. Jordan saw this and asked a question.
"What does it say, Rua?"
Rua looked at it for a moment, and then recited what was written on the tablet.
" 'Woe to those who seek the Stones of Resurrection. Created by Heaven
To trap the Chaos, they are the seals that must never be broken.
Six stones for the colors of the rainbow, one the color of Light,
And one the color of Darkness. Eight in all unlock the power of Karognis.
By order of King Tyrael du Ivanos Novahan, if the Resurrection Stones are ever found again,
They are to be destroyed at once, so that the power of the Karognis may never be released.' "
Rua stopped for a moment and stared at the tablet.
"That last part was added on, and there seems to be some parts missing. It's almost like they were erased from the tablet."
"Probably said where to find some of these Stones," replied Jordan.
"I think you're right, Jordan," answered Rua, "We'd better keep this thing with us until we find Cain."
Rua handed the tablet to Jordan, who placed it inside the remains of the pack on his back. As they filed out of the room, Rua kicked the stone drawer shut with this left foot. The drawer slid back into the wall with a loud crash. Suddenly, the glowing green circle above the drawer burst into light. All three of them suddenly turned and looked at the circle. Suddenly, a green, fist-sized orb slid out and dropped to the ground. Rua hesitantly walked up to it and picked it up the Green Resurrection Stone.
"Ah crap," Jordan muttered.
"Now what do we do, Rua?"
"We destroy it, like that tablet said. Jordan, take the warhammer and break it."
Jordan walked over and brought that weapon back. The green-eyed warrior laid the Stone the ground and Jordan hefted the hammer above his head, then swung down as hard as he could. There was a cracking sound… and the head of the warhammer split in two. The Stone was unharmed. Jordan exchanged a dark look with Rua.
The green-eyed warrior picked up the Stone and gazed at it. "This isn't good. If it's as strong as I think it is, friends, we're going to have to take this down to the Hellforge and break it there."
"The Hellforge?" squeaked Relayia.
Rua nodded. "The Hellforge was were the Heroes broke the three Soulstones that were used to imprison the Prime Evils."
"I hope you're right, Rua," Jordan said quietly.
They left the room, and when they were gone, an angry female voice spoke aloud.
"There are eight Stones, not three!"
The warriors returned to the Checkpoint. Warriv was waiting for their return, so he could finish the journey through the mountains and enter the Western Kingdoms. After a quick lunch, the two heroes gathered their belongings and made their way back to their horses, and soon, they left, hoping to make it through the Rogue Pass and into the Rogues' Monastery before nightfall. Rua took one last look at the Checkpoint as they rode out and prayed that they would be spared Ziatoch's wrath.
The heroes continued their trek in relative silence. Rua and Jordan had both drawn their swords again, and Relayia flew in wide circles, on the lookout for potential threats to the caravan. It seemed to be peaceful, but for some reason, Rua thought things were wrong. He wasn't sure why, but he felt it in the air. The peace couldn't last.
The attack came without warning. The hairs on the back of his neck began to stand up, and his hold on his gemmed longsword tightened, but there was nothing he could do. A bolt of lighting struck down in front of Rua and Jordan's mounts, causing them to rear back in fear, throwing off their riders. They both struck the ground hard as Relayia gasped.
A cruel female laugh cut through the air as the dust cleared. The two warriors picked themselves up and stared warily at their new enemy. The smoked cleared, and they gaped in surprise. She was a tall, fair-skinned woman, with very long blonde hair, with some of it tied back into a large ponytail. She wore a white silk slip that was tightened around her impressive bosom, and there was a strange black robe draped around her, with the sleeves hanging from her wrists, and baring her stomach and legs. Her bared skin was covered in strange markings and tattoos. A white choker bearing the insignia of a Zann Esu sorceress was around her neck. Her laughed slowed and stopped, and she gazed at the warriors with cold, dark brown eyes. A smirk slowly formed on her face.
"Well, well, well!" she chuckled in a sultry, melodious voice, "I finally get to meet the great Rua Dragonheart and the infamous Jordan Brewer! What a wonderful surprise this is!"
Rua growled as he readied his blade, the words for several spells fresh in his mind.
"Who are you?" the green-eyed warrior demanded.
"Call me Kara, boys. Kara Llewelyn. Now, I believe you boys have something that I want."
Jordan's eyes narrowed, but his carefree grin spread across his face.
"Now what would that be, honeypie?"
The woman's eyes also narrowed. "I know your tricks, Brewer, and they won't work on me! You know perfectly well what I want! Give me the Resurrection Stone, or I'll make you both suffer!"
Rua felt cold. How does she know about the Stone?
"Well. A shame, really," Kara said, "Lord Ziatoch wants that Stone, Dragonheart, but it looks like you won't give it up, and now I'll have to kill you slowly."
She raised her right hand up and snapped her fingers, and a strange, wicked-looking staff appeared in her hand. It had a long black haft, topped with a strange cone covered in intricate designs. The cone held up a blue sphere, which was topped with four angular blades of bronze shaped like hooks. This was Kara's preferred weapon, and she lovingly called it the Tormentor. She instantly felt dark power flow into the staff and back into her. Warriv directed the wagons to retreat back and let the two warriors deal with the threat.
She quickly raised one hand and fired a short volley of multiple fire bolts. Rua and Jordan dashed out of the way of lethal projectiles. Rua ran a tight circle and cast his own fireball spell at the dark sorceress. It exploded harmlessly against a magical shield she erected, but was just what they were hoping for. Rua and Jordan both charged their opponent as she was occupied with the fireball. However, Kara deflected Rua's attack with her staff and raised a hand to Jordan. There was a sound like a whip crack, and Jordan was sent back flying. She turned her head and smiled at Rua. Her Lightning spell struck him in the chest and propelled him into the nearby wall.
Rua pushed himself from the wall and charged his opponent again. This time the expanding electric ring of her Nova spell shot out of her body, but Rua used his Driver attack to propel himself over the spell and attack Kara head-on. She nimbly leapt backwards, out of the way of the attack, and she quickly struck out with her staff. Rua rolled over to the side to dodge the blades on the end of the staff and then struck again with his sword. This time his blade scored a hit across her arm. She shrieked in pain and anger, and she lashed out with another Nova spell. It struck him in the chest and pushed him back.
Jordan had ducked under the second Nova, and then he quickly rose up and encircled the dark sorceress with his arms. He pinned her against his strength and attempted to crush her. Before he could do anything, a lightning aura zipped up her body and suddenly he staggered backwards, releasing her as she forced his arms from around her body. Kara's Static Field spell had numbed his arms, and he was helpless for a moment. She smiled cruelly as she readied her Inferno spell to incinerate the bandit lord.
A psychic force struck her in the side suddenly, and she stumbled away. She twisted her head around and glared at the interloper. A young woman wearing dark leather armor stood on a nearby bluff. She had shoulder-length blonde hair, and she stared at the dark sorceress with determined faded blue eyes. Under her right eye was a tattoo in the shape of a green horizontal stripe. The new woman was in a low battle stance, and in her hands were a pair of katars; special hand-blades used for fist-to-fist combat. Kara's eyes widened at those blades. The girl was a Viz-Jaq'taar mage slayer, more commonly known as an assassin. She might pose a little of a problem! She thought coldly, but it doesn't matter! I'll kill them all and take the damned Stone to Lord Ziatoch!
Kara raised her hand and fired a Glacial Spike spell. It shrieked towards the assassin, but the girl easily launched herself upward and over the spell, and it shattered harmlessly against the bluff. As the assassin jumped, she struck out with a Psychic Hammer attack, forcing the sorceress back several more feet and delivering a sharp blow to her chest. The girl then dashed forward, her claws held low at her sides. Kara cursed and jumped backward, and then grounded the end of her staff into the rocky soil. The ground beneath the assassin's feet exploded, and the girl had a surprised look on her face as she was thrown into the air.
Rua pulled himself up and charged at his distracted foe. As he came closer, he Phase Shifted past, leaving another gash in the dark sorceress's arm. She shrieked in pain, and he reappeared twenty paces behind her, and he whipped around and threw another fireball spell at Kara. It fizzled away into nothing before it touched her, and she smiled as her lightning bolt struck him in the chest and sent him flying away.
Meanwhile, the assassin had recovered, and she had snuck around Kara. She laid out a large shock web: special devices that threw out an electric field for enemies. She was in the middle of this when she felt the hairs stand up on the back of her head. She whipped around and dove out of the way as another lightning bolt lanced out at her. She readied herself for another attack, but the dark sorceress never got the chance.
Jordan had picked himself up and charged towards Kara with a mad yell, his sword forgotten. The sorceress whipped around when she heard his shout, and she launched several firebolt spells at him. The bandit lord hunkered down as he charged, putting his shoulder out first. He snarled in pain and anger as the firebolts scored his arm and back, leaving a number of burns, but he kept up his mad dash. His shoulder caught the dark sorceress under the chest, causing her to drop her staff and fly backwards, right into the assassin's shock web. Instantly the devices activated and emitted bolts of lighting back and forth to each other, zapping Kara in the process. She screamed as they did so, and soon she cast a Static Field into the web, destroying them.
The enraged woman pulled herself up and summoned the Tormentor. It reappeared in her hands, and she raised it over her head and began to chant. As she did, a ball of black energy formed over her head, emitting a strange purple light. Particles of energy were drawn in, and the ball grew in size. The three fighters stared at it, transfixed. Kara opened her eyes and screamed.
"Now it's time for you to die!"
She flung the orb straight at Rua. The green-eyed warrior braced himself as it came screaming through the air towards him at unbelievable speed. But quite suddenly, the angel-winged ring on his finger began to glow, and a barrier of magic formed around his body. The dark ball plowed into him, but the shield absorbed most of the impact. He was thrown back into the rock wall, and he collapsed to the ground, still alive. In the meantime, Kara turned her attention to the other two fighters.
Jordan had picked up his sword and put himself into a ready stance, and the assassin did the same. The circled the sorceress warily, waiting for the next round of magical assaults. Kara raised her free hand and cast her Chain Lightning spell. The silvery bolt of energy lanced out and struck Jordan in the chest, and in doing so, electrocuted him for a moment and then bounced off and shot out at the girl. It struck her in the side and flung her away. They quickly picked themselves and began dodging the powerful spells Kara threw at them. Soon, Jordan lunged at the dark sorceress as she cast another spell, his sword raised over his head. However, her Meteor spell slammed down in front of him, causing the ground to explode before him. Jordan was sent sailing through the air, where he slammed against another rock wall and bounced off. He tried to push himself up and continue the fight, but darkness overtook him and he slipped into unconsciousness.
Rua pulled himself up and grimaced in pain. It has to end, his mind cried, and I will make it end!
He drew into the very essence of his being and crafted a new spell. He didn't realize it, but the ring was glowing a fierce blue. Unknowing the chant rolled off his tongue, and four points of light winked into existence around him. The points each fired a beam of light to one spot, and when they collided, a much larger beam of energy shot out, straight at Kara's unsuspecting backside. The sorceress felt the surge of magic and looked over her shoulder in shock. Rua's Pulse Laser spell struck her in the back, sending her flying forward. Pain wracked her body as she wearily pulled herself up.
"You may have won this battle, brats, but I will be back! I will make you pay!" she screamed at them. A red portal suddenly sprang up behind her, and she backed off into it. She disappeared, and the portal vanished.
"So who are you?" Rua asked their new friend. They were back at the caravans, and they had already treated their wounds from the previous fight. The assassin walked beside Rua's mount. Jordan was resting in one of the wagons, still unconscious, and his horse was tied down to wagon. The green-eyed warrior had introduced himself and his two companions.
"I'm Rayne Tamriel," she replied with a grin, and then added, "You seem to have made powerful enemies, Rua. That was Kara Llewelyn. Do you know her?"
"No. I'm guessing she's one of Ziatoch's minions, since she mentioned his name."
"More than that! Kara is one of the Master of Darkness's most powerful generals. I have been hunting her for some time now. I heard that Ziatoch would be striking at the Western Kingdoms soon, so I deduced that she'd be with him when he did."
"He will strike, once she informs him that I have what he seeks. He'll stop at nothing to get it from me, and he'd love nothing more than to destroy me."
Rayne looked at her new friend in surprise. Ziatoch wanted him dead? That was really intriguing. What's so special about this young man? I'll find out soon enough, won't I?
"Rua, I would like to join you in your battle against Ziatoch. As you have seen, I am a mage slayer, and you will need my help in fighting against his sorcerers. Will you and your friend have me?"
Relayia fluttered down and landed on Rua's shoulder, then whispered into his ears. "Something tells me you'll need her help! Accept her offer!"
Rua looked thoughtfully at the assassin, then nodded and held out his hand. Rayne eagerly shook it.
"Welcome aboard, Rayne."
The ensuing trek through the mountains was uneventful. Rua and Jordan showed their new comrade the Resurrection Stone and the tablet that discussed them and the Karognis. She told them that her order might be able to assist them in searching for the Stones, but she didn't say how. Or she wasn't allowed to. After a while, signs of life began to show, as grass started to appear in small bunches, and plants grew through the cracks in the walls.
Sunset soon came, and Rua topped the next rise and heeled his mount. He looked down the hill, and at the sprawling grounds of the Monastery of the Sisters of the Sightless Eye. The huge building was over a mile long, designed like a fortress. At its center were the barracks housing the female archers, with Inner Cloister leading to the central Cathedral. The wagons soon caught up with him, and Warriv ordered the caravan down to Rogue Monastery, their dangerous trek complete. Rua gazed down for a few more moments, and then started moving down to the Monastery.
Soon I'll know what you're looking for, Ziatoch. Soon, I'll know what to do to stop you cold!
I apologize for the delay! School was difficult, and I didn't have internet access for a long time! I've got these two chapters done in the meantime, and the fourth chapter, Rogues' War, will be up soon. I hope you like the story so far.
Rising Dragon