The Beginning
Arma arrived back at the collection of blue and white tents cold and tired, she was greeted by her two companions; Kerith and Muashi. Arma dismounted and tied the horse up to a nearby oak tree just as Kerith strode over and hugged Arma warmly, the leather straps of her horse still in hand. The darkly armoured samurai looked his friend up and down and grinned at Arma after noticing the blood on her.
"Lets get you some food", grunted Muashi
Arma smiled as Muashi jogged off; she followed Kerith back to their campsite and sat down around the fire. Muashi came back shortly with a tankard of ale and a bowl of cold boar stew. The monk took the bowl, sniffed it and recoiled. He turned to the others and smiled calmly as he got to his feet; he looked around at the surrounding forest and headed swiftly off. Muashi passed the frothing tankard to Arma, she accepted it graciously as she drank deep. Muashi let out a silent chuckle and laid an iron clad hand softly on Arma's shoulder.
"It's good to see you back in one piece." he whispered serenely,
Muashi turned and sat on a log opposing Arma, he stared thoughtfully into the leaping fire. The elf looked over her tankard as a soft smile creased her cracked lips.
The monk, Kerith, returned several minutes later with the bowl in one hand and various twigs, leaves and mushrooms in the other. He settled down crossed legged on the floor and began crushing, cutting and adding the different herbs and fungi to the broth. He poured the mixture into a pewter pot that hung above the roaring hearth. The viscous liquid hit the metal with a hiss; as the smoke rose a scent of pure ecstasy filled the air.
After two or so minutes of silence Kerith reached out and poured the stew into its original bowl and offered it to Arma.
"There you go my dear, eat up."
The elf reached out, took the bowl and picked up a wooden spoon that lay on the earth beside her. She dipped it into the steaming liquid and passed it into her mouth. A grin that spread from ear to pointed ear resided on her face; she dipped in again and again; eating so hastily the others just stared on in amazement, wide grins spread across their faces to.
The three settled down around the blazing orange fire; relaxed and content as they exchanged stories, as always the assassin had the most gripping tale. After the sun had set and the moon hung lazily in the deep blue sky, the group, heavily eyed and full to content of Keith's cooking began to head back into their different tents. Arma was the first to get up and say good night to her long-time companions; she crawled through the portal of her tent and collapsed on the comfortable bed roll. She groaned tenderly as she felt her aching body relax; in an instance her eye lids slipped close.
A firm hand shook the sleeping woman; Arma awoke to the comforting smile of the wizard Frall Balzaar staring down at her. He helped the elf back through the door which led to the dim orange glow of the campfire embers. Illuminated by this light were her two comrades; sat closest to her was a thoroughly disgruntled Muashi, with a sympathetic Kerith opposite
"Are you alright Arma? I asked this wizard to leave his business till morning but he says it is urgent." announced the monk respectfully as he got to his feet to help Arma sit down.
"And I apologise my poor girl, I know you wish to stay here with your friends and settle down for a bit, but I sent word to the orc tribes to the South, they have all ready gathered a large force and are waiting for a signal." Interupted Frall impatiently, causing the others to look at each other in despair
"Now, before this week ends, Muashi and you, Arma, will follow me up into the forest to a small cave, here the both of you will travel though the caverns that lead into the great City of Waterdeep. Once you have found your way through this underground stronghold, head up into the city and unlock the southern gates for the orcs; then open the northern gate for us. Captain Trent knows of this plan." He finished.
" Oh and Kerith I need your help, could you follow me? " Ended Frall Balzaar.
Arma and Muashi just nodded tiredly, Kerith looked puzzled then reluctantly left his friends and followed the Wizard away.
Arma shrugged and started to lethargically sharpen her weapons; Muashi mumbled something to do with caves under his breath, got up, kicked a few rocks then retired back to his tent.
Two days past and Arma and Muashi hadn't seen Kerith since Frall Balzaar took him away. The elf was sat huddled over the dim glowing fire; just as the early morning sun began to rise reluctantly into the pale, misty sky. Muashi was sat nearby laying out and admiring his master crafted blades one by one. A rustle of leaves stirred the peace, as both Muashi and Arma looked up to see who had intruded.
Frall looked down on them fondly as he tucked a stray wisp of long grey hair behind an ear. The samurai reluctantly sheathed his swords and stood up to greet the wizard; Arma stayed seated, probing the barely burning embers with a charred twig. Frall Balzaar beckoned the two to follow him as he strode off silently into the forest. Arma went quickly into her tent and collected her backpack and weaponry, Muashi did the same.
The two adventurers and the elderly wizard cut a path through the dense forest rapidly; reaching their goal even before the morning dew had left the leaves. As the three stared into the dark recess of the roughly hewn cave, the wizard turned and faced the others.
"You two know what to do. Sorry if I sound harsh but at the moment, the chances of us retaking the City of Waterdeep is on the edge of a knife. Remember fire will alert the orcs and us; use something that will burn quickly. Finally I wish you both good luck" said Frall Balzaar
Frall put out his hands and asked for Arma's blade, a comforting smile creasing his lips. At first the assassin did nothing; but after some mental deliberation she drew the mighty great sword off her back and passed it to the wizard.
The wizard raised an eyebrow and looked down at the blade. He began to whisper a chant which made all the hairs on Muashi's neck to stand on end; after a few seconds, bright white light began to seep from the ends of Frall's finger tips. After a flash of pristine light the wizard stopped and handed the weapon back to Arma. She studied her now glowing blade and nodded appreciatively.
Arma turned to the samurai and patted him on the shoulder reassuringly; he stared into the darkness as mumbled curses could still be heard under his breath. Frall Balzaar said nothing as he turned on his heel and strode off back into the wood.
Arma looked around the cave entrance and walked in. The cavern was wet and the steps were roughly cut, uneven and covered in a film of algal slime. Arma cautiously walked down into darkness; Muashi followed reluctantly behind her. As they ventured further down the corridor, the cave got wider and suddenly the ground dipped down and turned very steep. As she descended down the steps her footsteps became quieter as she headed further away from the bulky warrior who followed behind her. Muashi plodded along, grunting and mumbling, his amour chinking as he walked.
In the course of a second, Muashi slipped and hit the floor with a crash; he stumbled and began to slide down on the steps gaining speed as he went. He caught up with Arma; his eyes firmly shut as he braced for impact with the elf. Just as it seemed collision was immanent she sprung into the air and back flipped, landing on the steps behind her. Muashi somersaulted and fumbled all the way to the bottom; crashing into the wall at the terminal of three corridors. Arma steadied herself and quickly ran down the steps. Muashi lay heavily on the flag stone floor, complaining gutturally.
Arma grabbed his arm and pulled him up.
Muashi pushed him self up and grunted. Arma punched him playingly and smiled as they began to walk as silently as possible down the passageway; cautious of the low humming sound resonating in the distance. The two companions both looked at each other as it gradually grew louder; Arma stood still and Muashi drew his Katana and held it perfectly still in front of himself as a floating creature slowly drifted towards them. The head-sized ball of putrid coloured flesh hovered slowly past the motionless adventurers; its single eye darting about the cavernous tunnel. As the odd creature flew past the two explorers and down the corridor, Muashi turned and grinned at Arma. He was about to ask what her panicked expression was for when instincts told him to turn and face the on-rushing hideous orb that was now swooping through the air towards the heavily armoured samurai.
The beast stopped half a foot from Muashi's face; several small eye-tipped stalks rising out of the dingy flesh that hung over the beholder-kin's spheroid body. As the two adversaries eyes met a horrid grin began to stretch the features on the floating creature; uneven and unsymmetrical fangs became announced in the beast's jaws.
Muashi chuckled at this miniscule opponent and motioned towards his glinting blade that hung loosely by his side. A couple of the creature's alien like optical appendages turned and studied the glinting sword, when all of a sudden it blasted the samurai with a electric-blue Arcane beam.
"Ahh son of a bi…" Roared Muashi as the creature repeated this process
Muashi stumbled backwards as anger began to boil within him; he rose to full height and held his katana threateningly to the hovering fiend. Unintimidated, the monster redoubled its assault and pounded Muashi time and again with numerous coloured rays of energy; sending the samurai straight to the hard stone floor. Arma looked on in shock and wonder as the little blasts of magic took their tool. The weird creature stopped his attack and flew around his, now prone, victim. Muashi went to get him self up and the creature zapped him down again, a fountain of rainbow sparks bounced off the dark steel plate that the samurai wore. Arma caught eye contact with Muashi and whispered "Play dead". Thinking of no alternative Muashi gave up and laid there not moving; and as predicted the beast eventually lost interest and flew off. Muashi rolled on to his front; then pushed him self up and shook his head. Arma smiled and walked down the passageway leading left. The cave air was moist and cold; and it only got worse as the two adventurers walked further down the dank tunnels, that surface dwellers called the Underdark.
Arma stopped in her tracks and looked up, as an odd site caught her eye; a perfectly circular tunnel that led upwards into the bed-rock. Muashi on the other hand just looked up, shrugged and carried on walking.
"We need to go up here", whispered Arma
"How do you know?" replied Muashi
"I don't but its here for a reason so lets go up it" spoke Arma happily as a wide grin broke her features.
Muashi nodded and took a few steps back. Arma searched through her backpack and found an unusually made crossbow; she held it out in front of herself and smiled once more to the samurai. She placed a strangely designed bolt onto the contraption with a grappling hook head attached to the top of the shaft. She aimed and fired it into the darkness, a trail of rope following the bolt's path. The dull sound of metal and stone connecting echoed down the tunnel. Arma gave the rope a sturdy tug, then hastily climbed up it, ascending into the unknown.
She easily climbed up the tunnel and on to the ledge, which her hook had caught onto. Unfortunately the new tunnel Arma was now in was extremely cramped; it was just small enough for her to be crouching on all fours. Muashi examined the rope and gave it a reluctant tug; he then slowly began to climb up the tunnel. As he clambered up; the warrior's armour continually scraped with the tunnel walls causing a nasty sound to resonate throughout the vicinity. The samurai clambered up on to the ledge and let out a sigh of relief. Muashi gathered the rope and held on to it as he crawled through the passage. Arma easily managed to move her tiny frame through the tunnel at a good speed; the opposite could be said for Muashi who struggled to crawl through, his armor kept getting snagged on the low, roughly hewn ceiling. Arma made her way along, cautiously looking out for another tunnel leading down wards. She eventually spotted this after a few minutes of crawling; Arma, just as easily as she had climbed up, shifted her self over the hole and carried on. Muashi who was quite far behind Arma just dragged him self on slowly, humming to himself. That was, until he reached the hole. He had no idea of its presence until he slipped and fell head first down it. He tried turning him self in the air but the tunnel was way to small. Muashi smashed into the ground head first and extremely hard.
A loud thud echoed up through the tunnels and into Arma's ears, she cringed and turned her self, nimbly, around. She crawled to the hole and could here Muashi moaning and trying to move about. She lifted her self into the circular void, braced both sides of it and slid her self down; landing with a leg either side of the prone samurai. Arma stepped aside and slowly walked down the passageway, Muashi gritted his teeth as he pushed him self up. His arms and legs ached after the fall but he carried on with his quest alongside his companion.
The two adventurers stopped, as the tunnel presented them with a massive stone door; ether side stood a huge statue, at least twice the height of the bulky samurai. Each one held a two-handed greatsword vertically; its blade hid the central details of the armoured figure's helmets. Muashi stepped confidently forward to the door.
"Stop! You may not enter " bellowed the statues in unison
Muashi ignored the armoured sentinels and stepped forward, out of the corner of his eyes he noticed the smallest of movements from the statues; his warrior reflexes kicked in as he ducked the two swinging blade. As both guardians reacted to their fumbled attempts, but so did Arma. She quickly drew her great sword and swung it just above Muashi's ducked head and into the statue's legs; all in one fluid, precise and highly trained motion. The legs crumbled and shattered as the victim of the assassin's blow fell heavily to the ground. Undeterred by his fellow's demise, the second construct advanced on the samurai, Muashi jumped to the side and drew his wakazashi and parried three blows from the enormous sword.
A loud whooshing sound filled the ears of the two adventurers; followed by an ear splitting crash. A huge force hit into Arma, Muashi and the remaining statue, crushing them against the stone door. As the beast charged and collided with the group, the elf managed to spin on the spot and drive her blade into the creature.
The huge mutant beholder floated backwards leaving a scene of carnage. Arma fell to her knees gasping for air. The statue lay shattered on the stone floor of the cavern in a thousand or more pieces, where as Muashi was left completely fine. He stood him self-back up and clicked his neck, flexed his arms then charged drawing his two swords. The creature sent a flurry of tentacles towards the samurai; most were swiftly cut down in seconds. Thick green ichor got sprayed across the masonry walls. Still Muashi charged forward hacking down the never-ending supply of tentacles.
Arma finally found her breath and got up; grabbing her great sword as she did. She watched the samurai butcher forward into the beast's forest of mouthed tentacles, then sprinted forward. Instead of cutting the tentacles down Arma simply dodged them as she made her way forward. The assassin raised her sword into the air and brought it down and impalling the creature's massive eye. Greeny-white goo seeped out of the eye and ran down the beasts face as it let out a deafening roar. The flailing appendages swung about in a rage, Muashi saw his chance open and charged forward driving both swords in to the creature's body then ripped them outwards. The beast's organs spilled out; followed by a gallon or more of the unnatural lime blood. Muashi watched in deep awe as he studied a large torn archery begin to endlessly pump the viscous liquid on to the floor until.
Muashi stepped back and grinned as he re-sheaved his weapons. Arma swung her sword around in her hand then sheaved it and started looking for a way to open the door. Arma found an indent in the side of the wall, which led up wards. She cleared the indent and found on side of a metal rod goring from floor to roof. She took a few steps back and looked off down the murky passageway.
"Stay here Muashi" said Arma
She smiled and ran off down then passageway until she found the perfectly cut tunnel. She crouched down then sprung up into to the tunnel, whereby she quickly braced her arms against the sides and climbed up. She lifted her self over the edge and quickly crawled down the tunnel. After a minute or so the now dust covered assassin arrived at a round, cavernous room covered in cobwebs; at its centre sat a small wooden stool; with a pile of rags and bone by its side. Arma entered the room on her belly, got up and quickly searched the place. She stumbled in the dark for some time before revealing some kind of ancient mechanism linked to a cracked wooden leaver. She rummaged through a leather pouch on her belt and removed a small stick topped in some kind of alchemical dust. She struck the artifact against the rough stone floor and it instantly burst into a bright orange flame.
She ran the light source along the ground and examined the leaver and its adjoining machinery; after a few minutes of this she stopped then gripped the wooden pole tightly. She pulled it down and winced as the cogs clicked into place…
The deep rumbling grind of stone on stone echoed up through the room. Arma smiled and quickly scurried off down the tunnel and slide her self down the hole and ran towards the astonished Samurai.
Arma greeted her friend and both adventurers walked together through the now open doorway into a dimly lit corridor.
The badly lit passageway was lined either side with heavy, braced oak doors and reminded the two of the dank Waterdeep dungeons they had both visited briefly many years ago. The only difference that lay here was the obvious fact it was deep underground and in desperate need of repairs; throughout the entire corridor the sound of small pebbles and sand dropping from the ceiling could be heard. As the companions traveled further along the place was more like a mining site; there were support beams against the walls and the ground was littered with wooden planks, lying evenly across the floor.
Arma and Muashi watched in silence as a large man walked out of a room and began strolling away from them; at first glance Arma was sure the man looked exactly like her adventuring partner, Muashi; he wore heavy black armour and bore several swords at his waist. The elf turned and looked at Muashi and he smiled back, just as another door opened just ahead. Arma's reflex's kicked in she jumped against the wall and sprung up on to a support beam and slide her self in between the roof and the beam, all in one quick and silent movement. Muashi stood still, put on an intimidating stance and then marched forward. A roughly dressed man stepped through the open portal into the corridor. He bumped into Muashi, and looked down at the floor in shame.
The man was sweating heavily and seemed very out of breath, Muashi just glared at him evilly
"Sorry boss I didn't mean to stay in there for so long… It was just so good and… And I've been drinking a lot at the feast… please don't uh… discipline me" stuttered the figure
"Pathetic Fool! Get back to your post before I gut you!" roared Muashi in a threatening manner.
The bloke nodded and ran off; Muashi stepped forward and entered the room. He was knocked back by the humidity and the sickly stench of sweat; as his eyes readjusted he noticed that he was confronted with a dozen or so couples of men and scantily dressed women lying in various positions on several large piles of animal furs. A sly grin quickly grew across Muashi's face as his eyes looked over the skimpily dressed prostitutes who were either groping each other or the other men. He stepped back and bumped into Arma.
"You're going to have to dress like one of those whores" smirked Muashi
"You got to be shitting me," snapped Arma
"You're kind of popular down here aren't you? Ummmm let me think; no! They see you we're screwed, you need some sort of other identity, disguise or whatever you stealthy types call it" replied Muashi
"Don't give me that, you know that if someone sees me I will kill them before they raise the alarm" argued Arma
"Aren't we meant to be doing this stealthily?" said Muashi
"I aint doing it! I aint some common whore" Shouted Arma aggressively
"What is going on here? Keep your dog in check or I'll show her how real men treat their women!" grunted a man behind them
"Don't worry I got her in check! Get in this room and get changed" grunted Muashi
Muashi grabbed Arma by the neck and forced her into another room adjacent to the one full of whores. Arma turned around eyes locked onto Muashi, her fists tightly clenched, rage building up inside of her.
"Fine" said Arma
Arma kicked Muashi out of the room and she got unchanged and put her leather armour in her backpack, She grabbed a small pouched and pulled out a large box from inside of it. She opened the chest and began to sort through all of her various clothes she had accumulated over the years until she found what she was looking for. She slipped in to a very revealing outfit; returned the box back into the small pouch, then continued and put her backpack and all her weapons in the arcane leather bag to.
The assassin left the room and Muashi smirked, Arma looked at him with a stare of pure disgust. The samurai pushed her forward and the two walked off down the passageway, eventually they reached an even larger, iron studded double door, with two guards posted either side. The two men grasped a handle each and slowly opened it as black armoured samurai walked forward. The guards bowed as the adventurers walked through. The sound of cheering and laughing filled there ears as Arma and Muashi stepped into a massive, cavernous hall. The high stone walls were lined with grotesque tapestries depicting scenes of battles or death, whereas the centre was bustling with long oak tables, full of drunken men fighting, singing or eating the over flowing feast that littered the table tops and filled the two comrades noses with the sweet scent of food. Most of the men seemed to be the petty guardsmen but there were a few armoured up like Muashi, in black full plate-mail.
It was the samurai who led Arma along the tables to a comfortable spot. As they sat down, Muashi pushed and kicked a few of the nearby guards away to allow a comfortable position. Arma looked down as a tankard of blood was thrust in front of her, followed by some kind of meat. Muashi grabded half a leg of roast boar and started taking chunks out of it.
Arma stared down at the deep red liquid that lay in front of her. She grabbed the tankard of blood and downed it; spilling most of it over her upper body and face. Taking a hint from Muashi, she also grabbed some meat from a nearby bronze-glazed suckling pig and started eating and cheering with the rest of the raucous men. The same was being done by her companion; who was laughing, joking and who also thought the need to stand on a table and show off his fighting techniques was appropriate.
Arma continued to blend into this crowd, telling jokes and tales of past victories; when one of the guards passing by, made a space for himself and settled next to the elf. He grinned to her, showing all his blackened stumps of formless teeth, then put his sweaty arm over her shoulder.
"All right there love? Fancy coming to the… umm… back rooms and have some… uh… fun with us lads?" slurred the obviously drunken guard,
Arma looked at him with an air of humour, mixed with disgust. The bulky warrior then began to conspicuously slide his hand down to Arma's breast; his grin growing ever wider. Quicker then lighting Arma pushed his arm away grabbed his head and smashed it into the thick oak table at least four times. As the dazed, bloodied man reached vertical again, Arma leant right back; pulling a steel blade from her leather boots. She grabbed the knife and swung forward, using the momentum to impale the guard's stubby hand. Blood sprayed upward as the weapon pieced through right into the wood underneath. The man screamed as thick blood seeped out from the wound and spread across the cluttered table. At once the hall fell silent, as all eyes turned to stare at Arma; even Muashi looked on in disbelief.
"HAHAHAHA you just got your assed kicked by a whore!" shouted one guard
The room began cheering again, its enthusiasm redoubled by the events. Muashi got out of his chair and grabbed Arma. He pointed his head toward a door at the far end of the hall.
The assassin got up and followed closely behind Muashi as he led the way through the bustling crowds. As they left, a group of grim looking men from their table got up also.
The two companions scurried at a quickened pace out of the thick braced door and down some dim corridors. They carried on through the faint light until they stepped through a large, central door to find themselves face to face to a uniformly amoured guard sitting on a small wooden stool next to a ledge. The man saw Muashi and scuttled to his feet.
"How far is it to the ground?" Asked Muashi as he stood and looked down into the vast abyss that stretched out in front of them.
"About two hundred feet sir, but its been closed off now; I heard 'em say you've got to get to the other ledge that lies on the other side to get out these days… Although I would of thought you'd know more than I do. replied the doorman
"And why the hell is she covered in blood?" he continued, pointing his short-hafted spear to Arma.
"We had a scuffle at the feast…" responded Muashi carefully
The man looked at Arma suspiciously and raised a particularly bushy eyebrow "Hmmmmm… Haven't I seen you before? Aren't you… ARMA!" shouted the guardian as he jumped back nimbly.
"Arma is here! Alarm!" he roared, as he instinctively began to lower his spear,
but Arma was to quick and to highly trained; she darted forward and round house-kicked the man on the side of his head. He staggered backward drunkenly as beads of blood ran over the gnarled features on his face. Then, without warning stumbled off the rocky ledge, out of sight, into the darkness that lay below. The terrified scream echoed about the cavern as he fell through the chilling air, it gradually lost volume as he descended but was abruptly silenced by an almighty, sickening thud in a matter of seconds. Muashi closed the door and locked it. While doing that, Arma searched through her rucksack for her rope and grappling hook. She found them and dug the iron hook into the hard rock surface.
The acrobatic elf jumped off the edge of the rocky outcrop, rope in hand and fell weightlessly through the darkness. The cold air whistled past and sent her thick dark hair to trail behind her. After a few seconds the rope went tight and Arma gripped hard. She swung with the force, causing her to fly feet first into the craggy cavern walls. The elf looked down and grinned to herself, then effortlessly climbed the remaining ten feet to the hard, wet ground.
Arma called up and Muashi began to steadily descend.
A minute or so passed before the samurai's iron shod boots connected with the rock beneath him. He turned to Arma and sent her a reassuring smile.
The elf grinned back then approached the dangling rope; she grasped it tightly and then sent a wave like tug up the cord to make it come free. She took a few steps back and allowed her rope and hook to glide to the ground. Muashi, on the other hand just stood starring through the dim light to the motionless body that lay sprawled out across the floor. He kicked it softly causing entrails and blood to spill out across the area.
A large crash was heard from the ledge above, followed by loud, guttural shouting; Muashi watched dozens of ropes come cascading down through the darkness. With a single quick idea he rapidly began to rub the blood that lay on the ground on to him self. He then collapsed to the ground and laid there groaning. Arma looked at him and rolled her eyes, she then moved her gaze upward to see scores of men abseiling down the cave wall. Arma instantly sprinted off across the rocky expanse. She got close to the opposite side then jumped for the wall and began to climb up quickly.
"Sir are you o.k?" asked a guard as he landed several feet from the fallen Muashi
"Yeah I am good, Arma went that way" grunted Muashi, pointing in the direction of the elf
The men ran off, Muashi stood up and gave chase just as Arma reached the over hang of a ledge opposite to the one her and Muashi had just climbed off. She sprung off of the wall grabbing the ledge edge with one nimble hand and swung wildly. She quickly gripped the edge with her other hand and pulled her self up and rolled over onto the ledge.
Arma looked around the small flat protrusion from her prone position and saw no threat; she stood up and looked down over the rim. Two grappling hooks flew up, barely missing Arma. She dodged to the side as they both imbedded themselves into the rock. Arma leant forward and studied the ropes that tumbled behind the iron grappling hooks. She stared innocently and watched the men slowly climb up. Muashi grabbed one of the ropes to and began to ascend.
As the men reached about three quarters of the way up, Arma kicked one of the grappling hooks off of the ledge and watched as her assailants tumbled through the air. Their screams, curses, then finally a gut-wrenching crunch echoed throughout the huge cavern.
Arma span around to be confronted with a roughly hewn tunnel; she dodged inside and jogged around a sharp corner and waited in silence as her pointed, elven ears prickled to the sounds of groans and grunting that echoed up from below her. She just smiled grimly.
Luckily for Muashi he was on the other rope and carried on climbing; ignoring the falling individuals that cascaded down past him like some kind of twisted water fall. After a few more minutes the group eventually made it up to the ledge and pulled up the rope, pulled out weapons and got ready to set off.
The assembly walked forward cautiously toward the completely dark passageway. The bravest of the men took lead point and was the first to step into the tunnel. He hit the ground hard as the elven assassin darted out and effortlessly tripped him over. In a fluid motion she span, then sprang upward; her feet connecting with the next guard in the armoured procession. She twirled acrobatically in the air and landed knee first on the firstly tripped individual. Ribs cracked and blood sprayed like a crimson fountain out of the victim's mouth. She rolled backward onto her feet and into the tunnel, her lips creased into a smile.
The rest of the men readied themselves for attack, but Arma was quicker again. She ran forward and nimbly hand-sprung herself into the air; launching herself off the fallen guard. Arma traveled like a highly sprung arrow as she shot through the air feet first into the collected guards. Her leather boots connected hard with the jaws of two the men. As the force of impact flowed through her agile frame; she exploited the momentum to twist her body around and land effortlessly on her feet facing the other direction to the men. She turned her head, sent a final grin their direction then sprinted off into the blackened tunnel.
Muashi pushed through the guards and gave chase, a few guards rushed on as well. The four hit by the assassin's onslaught lay motionless on the hard ground, two twitched unnervingly at irregular intervals.
Arma sprinted off at a great speed darting her way around corners and ducking and jumping over debris that littered the floor. She ran in to a large room; the smell of death hit her hard causing her to stop. She looked around in shock as her eyes fell onto a large, bulky man lying on the flagstone floor. She moved closer and noticed that his armour was riddled with burn marks and the body lay surrounded by a crimson stain on the floor. She looked around and a smile slowly crept over her face.
I know this place. This is where I fought to avenge Avisre'al… The elven girl who was murdered by...him. Arma spat on the grossly decomposed corpse then smiled darkly to her self.
The clattering of iron-shod boots on stone echoed up into the room followed by a horrifying scream.
Muashi gracefully pulled his blade out of one of the guard's neck, span on the spot and drove it deeply into another member of the brigades gut. Gore and blood drenched the samurai; still he continued his assault. He turned on his heel, wrenching the finely crafted blade out of the internal part of the man and brought it round in a scarlet arc. It went high and tore through the neck of another of the warriors; his head dangled twitching.
Muashi stopped dead in his tracks, his head bowed. The samurai wiped his glinting red blade then re-sheathed it. He looked up ward, smiled warmly then moved over to greet Arma.
Muashi ran out of the tunnel and into the dark, bare room and saw Arma waiting for him; she waved and then ran off through a badly charred door way. Muashi ran after the nimble assassin, who ran silently through a room that had experienced a great deal of intensified fire and ruthless battle. Bodies lay sprawled across the floor, in a highly decayed state with burn marks all over their skin. As Muashi ran on through another destroyed wooden door into a thin reception-like room, he passed a slouched human at a desk with two arrows imbedded in his head and thick, crusted blood covering his face. The samurai shrugged and jogged on through. The room lead off into a passage way and random armored and unarmored men lay rotting on the floor; most were covered with either burn marks or puncture wounds. Muashi continued to stumble after the elf, his armor chinking as he ran; eventually he reached Arma who was standing at the end off the passageway.
Arma was looking upwards in a mass of darkness; she scratched her head and then looked at Muashi.
"There is meant to be a Ladder here", sighed Arma as she squinted into the dark expanse above her
"How high is it"? Grunted Muashi as he bent over double to regain his breath,
"Just over two hundred feet I reckon… My rope will be to short… Unless I use…" trailed Arma.
Muashi watched Arma search through her back pack and pull out her grappling hook firer, she examined it, smiled then loaded up her rope and iron grappling hook. She looked along the shaft into the darkness and then fired it up into the black.
The grappling hook flew off into the shadowy expanse, the rope trailing behind it like some enormously long tail. A few moments passed before a light clink was heard echoing down from the conduit. The rope could just be seen some distance above them.
"Stand on my shoulders and try and grab it", announced Arma as she stared at the slowly swinging hemp rope.
Muashi nodded slowly and reluctantly approached Arma. She squatted down near the wall and braced herself; Muashi came over and stepped onto her shoulders as carefully as someone wearing full scale armour could. The two companions swayed nervously as the samurai balanced him self using the wall. Muashi's large metal boots dug into Arma's shoulders as she started to push herself up. Her muscles bulged and her bones almost creaked under the weight as she began to try and stand vertically. Arma cringed as Muashi's weight started hurt the dexterous elf, but still she continued to lift her friend. A few minute passed before Arma was finally standing straight.
Muashi flailed upward, holding one hand against the wall for balnce, yet still he couldn't reach the rope.
"God dammit I still can't reach the sodding rope!" cursed Muashi as he crouched down slightly to stay balanced
"Argh… you're gonna have to stand on my hands" stuttered Arma with an uneasy tone
Muashi looked puzzled but nodded to the elf; Arma lifted her hands up slightly so it was like she was posing and showing off her arm muscles. Muashi shakily lifted his right foot up and placed it in her feminine hand; as he did so it rapidly began to shake as Muashi's weight was felt on Arma's right arm. He quickly stepped onto her left palm and Arma cried in pain as she slowly began to lift the fully clad samurai up into the air. Arma gritted her teeth and closed her eyes as she finally got her arms fully extended allowing Muashi to grab the rope. He clutched it tightly with his iron gauntlet and pulled his weight off of Arma. He clambered sluggishly onto the rope and began to ascend. The elf on the other hand still stood in the same position holding her arms straight, a few moments passed before she collapsed, breathlessly to her knees weeping in pain.
Minutes passed and Muashi called down to Arma, she looked up stretched out her arms clicking her joints and then rolled backwards onto her feet. She studied the masonry wall and took a few steps back; the elf then sprang forward, jumping and running up the vertical stone surface; until she finally pounced for the rope. She grasped it tightly then rapidly scurried her self up the rope.
A minute or so passed before Arma was in arms reach of Muashi. He leaned over into the opening, grabbed her and effortlessly lifted her out of the tunnel and onto the flagstone surface he lay on. The elf smiled genuinely to the brutish samurai, then collapsed to the floor breathing heavily.
"Give me five minutes please", requested Arma
Muashi thought to him self, and realized that for the many years he had been good friends with the elf, never has she asked for a break to recuperate. He nodded at the elf and smiled while she lay on the cold floor with her eyes closed. Fifteen or so minutes went past until Arma got up and stretched out her aching body. She rummaged through her belongings for a drink, but it was Muashi's kindly hand that produced the water-skin.
"Thanks Muashi" whispered Arma gratefully
"No problem Arma" replied Muashi, smiling down on the assassin's tiny frame;
Muashi patted Arma on the head, then laughed and walked on. They carried on until they reached a bolted oak door; Muashi grinned to Arma then violently kicked the door to splinters. Arma looked on and raised an eyebrow. The two companions walked into a large storage room and walked straight towards the huge warehouse doors that lay in front of them. They went on through and into the streets beyond.
They both looked at each other and smiled as the fresh, salty air filled their exploited nostrils. Arma turned to Muashi and both grinned once again, before running at full speed into the city of Waterdeep.
The two comrades sprinted along the main road known to the Waterdavians as Trade Way and then sharply careered right, they maneuvered through the back alleys and side streets heading southwards and thus toward the southern gates.
After half an hour or so of pushing through the bustling port of Waterdeep the two companions were finally confronted with the towering gate house that guarded the way into the City of Splendors.
"Lets get in to character", murmured Muashi
Arma nodded as the samurai stepped forward in an intimidating way and Arma quickly clung onto his arm as they walked towards the gate house. Muashi hammered on the door hard.
"What the bloody hell do you? We're busy so piss off," came a gruff voice from inside
"Let's see what my superiors think of that, I think you will be gutted for your insolence. So open up now you waste of space!" shouted Muashi aggressively
Movement was heard in side then the door slowly opened
"Uhh sorry" stammered one of the men.
Muashi stepped inside and all four men backed off; Arma quickly stepped in behind him; then closed and silently locked the door. Muashi drew his steel katana swiftly and charged the men; savagely hacking each of the men down, as blow after blow rained down upon them. Arma watched in shock as Muashi went through his spree of killing. Blood began to seep out over the wooden planked floor as the four men lay slumped over each other. Arma noticed that not one managed to draw a weapon in defense or got a chance to call for help, Muashi's assault was relentless.
Arma ran to the door which lead to the roof and quickly climbed up the rope ladder that hung down. She scurried up it and reached the parapet of the great wall that housed Waterdeep. The assassin moved with graceful speed along a wall section towards the outermost gate. She quickly reached the trap door and kicked it in with a single forceful blow. She looked downward then nimbly dived through the hole headfirst. Just as she connected with the ground she rolled with the force and fluidly got to her feet. She carried on and opened the thick hardwood door, only to be greeted by another four mercenary-guards standing and sitting around a table.
As the half naked Arma entered the room they all turned and smiled grotesquely. The thief strode forward, just as the men got up and went to intercept her. The elf burst into action and jolted forward punching one of the men in the face; she then spun around and struck another. Before they could fall to the ground she jumped backward grabbing another of the warrior's swords from their belt then started the carnage. Four strokes meant four bodies lying motionless and bleeding around the room.
Arma rapidly scanned the bare room; she grabbed a belt and leather scabbard off one of the fallen warriors and quickly put it loosely on over her revealing clothing then sheaved the stolen long sword. A few seconds past as her elven eyes searched the room for the gate's mechanism; as soon as it fell within sight she pulled the leavers and was rewarded with the sound of the metal gates grinding below.
Once the gateway was open, Arma took a body of one of the guards, threw it over her now bloodied, bare shoulder and brought it to the top of the guard house. She used some rope to tie around the unfortunate individual's ankles; the other end was lashed around a nearby torch-holder. Arma smiled as her grim task was almost complete; she perched the corpse upon the stone rampart, then let him go. The body fell several feet before the thick rope pulled taut, resulting in a stomach-wrenching crunch from the dead warrior's foot and leg bones.
The cadaver hung in mid air and swung with the momentum as Arma stood witness to her disturbing act. She took an unhindered step forward and pulled out a bottle of clear liquid from a small leather pouch that hung at her waist. She plucked the cork from its glass restraints, and then poured the viscous liquid over the upside down corpse. Arma then produced her flint and tinder and rapidly set about her task. In seconds the swinging body blazed in the evening light. She felt no remorse as she turned quickly around and made her way to Muashi.