THE FOOTSTEPS OF EVIL

CHAPTER 5 Tree of Inifuss

Arc and Telin had had surprisingly little problem reaching the Waypoint and returning to the Rogue's camp. With the Blood Raven destroyed, many of the undead had simply fallen lifeless to the ground, and the remaining monsters had little desire to stay in such a concentrated group. Some had been assembled under a few of Blood Raven's more powerful lieutenants, while many had just scattered aimlessly. None of Blood Raven's lieutenants were powerful enough to raise a significant number of undead, and certainly not to raise the better protected passed Rogues, so they all left the vicinity of the Rogue graveyard. None were in the mood to tangle with those that had disposed of their powerful leader.

So Arc and Telin had reached the Waypoint with only a few minor skirmishes, and were now reclining comfortably in Akara's tent, relating their tale to the high priestess. The high priestess, and indeed, the entire camp had been amazed that the two had not only succeeded, but even returned alive and well. Now the camp was in celebration. For the moment, the immediate threat was passed, and while the evil ones were still rife in the land, there was no presence powerful enough to unite them to wipe out the Rogue camp.

"My part is done, Akara. Now it is your turn to fulfil your part of the bargain." Arc reminded the priestess. Akara nodded.

"What is this?" Telin questioned.

"We struck a bargain." Arc explained. "For my service in assisting you in your quest, your priestess would relinquish the information I will need to reach Tristram alive."

Telin snorted in amusement. "Handled like a true sellsword." The derision was still evident in her tone, but gone was the antagonism and anger, replaced now by a friendly, perhaps even playfully mocking tone.

"So you have performed you service, so will we give you your just reward." Akara agreed. "As we already told you, the way to Tristram is blocked, overrun with the forces of darkness. Even with your impressive skills, you would never reach the town alive. But there is an alternative. A secret way established long past."

"You speak of the Cairn Stones." Telin injected. At Arc's questioning glance, she explained. "In the place called the Stony Field, where we passed through to reach the burial ground, there are five obelisks, standing in a circle, called the Cairn Stones. They say that they were created long ago to provide quick magical access to neighboring towns in time of need."

"Yes." Akara said. "However, the correct ritual is lost to us. But if you pass through the Underground Passage located in the same place, you can reach the Cold Plain, which is the place of the Tree of Inifuss. There, with the proper ritual, you can generate a new ritual that can take you to Tristram."

"Sounds great." Arc said. "So how will I find these Cairn Stones, and this Tree?"

"That will be provided for when you leave."

"I leave tomorrow morning. Early," Arc said.

"Very well then." Akara nodded. "I will arrange it for you tonight."

Arc nodded, satisfied, then excused himself to take his leave. He would leave early tomorrow and so he would need sleep.

He slept restfully and rose just prior to dawn. He gathered his things and arranged his pack. Before he left, though he wanted to bid farewell to Telin. He probably wouldn't see her again. He wandered around the entire camp, searching for her, but she was nowhere to be found.

At the end of his circuit, he reached the Waypoint, he saw she was there already, with Kashya and Akara. Cursing himself for a fool, he realized she must have been waiting there for him to bid him farewell.

As he approached, Kashya greeted him. "Greetings, friend Arc. Know that you have earned my trust, and you will be forever welcome in the house of the Rogues." She bowed politely, and continued. "As promised, we have provided all the information you need. I have assigned one of my Rogues to accompany you, and act as your guide."

Telin grinned and winked at him.

Arc objected. "Really, that is unnecessary, I will be risking my life, and I do not wish to risk yours as well. I don't even know if I will ever head back in this direction after I reach Tristram."

Telin shook her head. "I owe you a debt Arc deQuester, and I decided that by taking this position it will help me begin to repay that debt. Even if it means serving under you again." She rolled her eyes.

Arc laughed. "Very well then."

"Before you go." Akara stopped him as he started to leave. "There is one other thing. Along with her assignment as guide, we have given Telindhra another. She is to accompany you to Tristram and find an Elder of that village named Deckard Cain, and ask him to return here with her. If you can, I ask that you assist her in her quest, as she assists you in yours."

Finally, Kashya presented Arc with a new long sword to replace his destroyed one in the battle with the Blood Raven. As Arc grasped the sword, the blade burst into flame. Experimentally swinging his new sword, Arc found that the sword was also enchanted with unbelievably balance and control. "This is a truly fine sword," he marveled, "and a rich gift indeed." He thanked the leaders of the Rogues, bowing his head.

"And a worthy gift for one such as yourself." Akara answered. "Go now, and may the gods bless your path."

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Arc and Telin crouched in the pitch darkness, waiting for the receeding footsteps to fade away. For hours they had stalked this cave, the Underground Passage that would lead then to the Dark Wood and the Tree of Inifuss. From the Waypoint they had soon arrived at the entrance of the cave, only to discover that the cave had been occupied by one of the former lieutenants of the Blood Raven. The Underground Passage was now a base of operations for the forces of darkness and was crawling with monsters.

Discarding the direct approach, Arc and Telin had opted for stealth, avoiding big confrontations and taking their time in silently wending their way through the passages. Already they had fought two small skirmishes with little difficulty, but in the main they were avoiding direct confrontation, relying on stealth. The latest group they had watched go by had been a large group of zombies and skeleton warriors. Some had walked dangerously close to the little cove that the two were crouching in, and Arc wondered how they could have possibly past them without hearing the thunderous thumping of his heart.

Despite all the anxiety and fear that came with this silent penetration of an enemy camp, Arc found himself grinning almost maniacally to Telin as they eased themselves out of their hiding spot. She grinned back and he could tell that she was enjoying it as much as he was. Though they were deep within the borders of the enemy's camp, the enemy seemed to be stretched out in small groups throughout the cave, and Arc was confident that even if they were discovered they would have no difficulty dispatching any who got in their way.

Bringing their light radius enchantments back into effect the two pressed on. From the slope in the cave floor Arc guessed that they were heading towards a cave opening and were reaching the end of their underground trek.

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Blinking in the sudden light, Arc exited the cave, followed by Telin. They had quickly dispatched the group of over a dozen skeletons and Fallen that had guarded the cave exit. Between Telin's arrows and Arc's quick charge they had killed a large part of the group before they had a chance to react and ready themselves for combat, and then it was a simple battle that was fiercely one sided due to the skill of the Rogue and swordsman.

Wasting no time, they traveled to the east for about half and hour, until a huge tree could be seen in the distance. "Keep your eye's peeled, something doesn't feel right," Arc cautioned Telin as they approached the tree.

Nodding her head, she drew an arrow and drew it into the bow, ready to fire at a moment's notice.

The tree stood in a small clearing, surrounded by a thin forest of dying trees. Arc and Telin were making their way through one of the paths that lead to the center, and the Tree of Inifuss, when they both stopped simultaneously. Glancing at each other, they both were trying hard to suppress a laugh of disbelief. Perching in many of the trees surrounding the clearing were Fallen ones, obviously lying in wait, setting a crude trap for anyone coming to the Tree. Even more amusing was all were busily watching the tree, and none were watching the paths.

Wanting to end that farce quickly and retrieve the scroll which they had come for, Arc silently eased his shield from his back and slipped it onto his left arm while Telindhra took aim and sent a shaft into the back of the nearest Fallen. Giving a cry of surprise, it fell from the tree, and struck the ground at bone crunching speed, ending its deathcry as abruptly as it began.

All the closest Fallen tried to twist around to find their attacker whilst keeping their balance and not falling to their death. These Fallen made easy targets for Telin's skilful bow work and almost a half a dozen more had been shafted before the rest started to climb down to face their attacker.

"Almost too easy," Telin laughed gaily at the comical scene of the incompetent Fallen struggling to muster a force to confront them.

Suddenly, a decomposing arm burst from the ground at her feet. Biting back a shriek, Telin leapt back. More arms began to burst from the ground all around them, some still decomposing, others skeletal. The arms were followed by heads, torsos and eventually entire bodies, as a rough circle of zombies and skeletons were rising around them. Arc cursed himself for falling for such a trick. The Fallen in the trees were obviously a feint, bait for the confident warriors to snatch in their eagerness to win the prize. A trap within a trap.

Despite Telin's quick bow work and Arc's sword play, more than a score of monsters had risen to surround them in a circle. In the clearing, three Skeleton champions had risen and were ordering their minions to close in on the heroes and dispatch them.

Both Arc and Telin knew that their only chance was to break away from the circle quickly. Surrounded like this with such overwhelming odds, they stood little chance to come out of this alive. Arc surged forward, his shield leading. No time for finesse, he slammed shield first into a skeleton, knocking it to the ground, than brought his sword in a huge arc to strike a zombie, cutting a huge diagonal slash from shoulder to opposing hip. Telin followed up backwards, shooting with multiple arrows as fast as possible in an effort to keep the rest of the monsters back.

Arc knew that from that point he could have broken out of the circle, but not without abandoning Telin's back to the other monsters. So he danced left and right, catching attacks on one side with his shield while attacking furiously with his sword on the other side. He had no time to defend with his sword so he attacked outright, often trading wounds with monsters. Telin managed to hold the monsters off just long enough for Arc to knock down enough on his right to open a small hole. Grabbing Telin, he practically dove through the gap in the circle and came up to his feet.

Though they were out of the circle, things still looked bleak. In the few seconds it had taken for Arc to fight open a gap for them to escape, he had taken four hits to his sword side, one on the arm that was bleeding profusely, and another near his ribs that was aching like the devil and would restrict his movement.

The monsters, however had only lost about half a dozen of their number, with more than a score advancing on the Rogue and swordsman, including a trio of Skeleton champions that had made their way to the front of the pack.

Arc and Telin locked stares with the Champions. An unspoken communication passed between the two adversary groups, as they acknowledged that the monsters would probably slay the two, but not before Arc and Telin would kill as many of the monsters as they could.

Now the groups were barely two sword lengths away. The central Champion raised his sword high in the air, ready to bring it down in a signal to attack.

Only to have the sword fly off, as the skeleton's arm was disconnected from the shoulder by a flying, thrown axe, that continued to bury itself in the chest of an unfortunate zombie that was standing behind.

Everyone jumped back, from Arc and Telin to the monsters, as another axe hammered into the wounded champion's skull. As the champion crumbled, all eyes were drawn to the source of the mysterious throwing axe.

A lone figure stood on the path. Towering more than seven feet in height and powerfully muscled, the figure discarded his last throwing axe in contempt and drew instead another melee axe with his right hand. The blue tattoos that marked his face and arms showed him to be a Barbarian, as they are the mark of the tribe and clan he belonged to. This one was larger, than the small throwing axes, being used for hand to had battle. Then with his other hand, he drew forth a wickedly spiked mace.

Giving a piercing warcry, the Barbarian charged the hoard, unmindful of the odds and seemingly oblivious to the surprised Arc and Telin.

Not one to pass up an opportunity, Arc opened his consciousness to the Opening Trance and brought forth an Aura that would increase the fighting power of his companions, and charged into battle next to the huge barbarian. Telin began drawing arrows and started shooting down any enemies that tried to work their way around the two fighters, either to flank them or to attack her.

Monsters, who seconds before were eager and confident for a fight, now found they had little taste for this battle. Arc had fallen in to the right of the huge Barbarian, and together they created a semicircle of destruction that few monsters could penetrate. The Barbarian could wield both his weapons simultaneously with ease, and while he could attack to his right with his axe, Arc's shield on his left could catch any attacks that slipped past the Barbarian's axe. Any thing that approached could be guaranteed that they would not get by unscathed.

These monsters were undead, however, and were unafraid of physical damage. They pressed in ruthlessly, lead by the two skeleton Champions. Arc's perfect sword technique, the Barbarian's unmatched raw power, Telindhra's arrows unerringly finding enemy targets, all backed up by the power of Arc's offensive Aura, combined were taking it's toll on the ranks of the enemy. However, pure numbers, added with the skill of the Champions, weaving in and out of the monster's ranks, striking and engaging with fine precision at all the weak points in the fighter's front, were beginning to take their toll too. For each monster the two fighters downed, a scratch, a small cut, a painful bruise or a bleeding wound would be inflicted on the warriors, each more serious than the last.

Soon, though the monster's numbers were seriously depleted, the fighters were purely on the defensive. As they were pushed back, step by step, they maneuvered their weapons with all the speed they could muster to block and parry away the multiple strikes and attacks the remaining rank of monsters pushed at them. The undead had already learned not to attempt to get past the fighters for fear of the inevitable arrow, and were concentrating all their numbers on beating the fighters down. Telin, bereft of a possible target, backed away nervously, nocking an arrow in the event one of the fighters got cut down, fiercely hoping she wouldn't have to fire it.

It was clear that they had lost their original offensive push and wouldn't get out alive if they didn't get it back. Both Arc and the Barbarian knew it, and knew they both were aware of it. The Barbarian mustered up all his hidden power gave out a fierce, keening warcry, imbued with all the fey power he could instill in it. The monsters leapt back filled with horror that surpassed even being dead. For an instant they hesitated, pushed back in an instinctive urge to flee. Only an instant before their natural evil nature overrode it and they surged forward again.

But this instant was enough. Both Arc and the Barbarian surged forward to engage pockets of warriors independently. Telin instantly started off a stream of arrows passing in between the two. From a rank and file battle, with that cry it had become chaotic as each warrior broke off from each other to kill as many monsters as they could by themselves.

Arc charged in at two skeleton warriors and a Champion, his shield parrying blows and his sword waving back and forth at breakneck speed, delivering precise head high slashes that put all three monsters back on their heels, forcing them to concentrate purely on defense.

Still almost running, Arc suddenly spun and crouched on his heel, delivering a horizontal slash that cut two spinal cords and, breaking the two warriors into two. Still spinning, he blocked a savage sword midthrust with his shield and launched into a spinning jump cresent kick that knocked the skeleton to it's knees, and completed the spin with a backhand diagonal slash that reduced the skeleton's torso to a dusty ruin.

The other champion was moving to take Arc in the back during his furious attack, but changed it's mind as it took a fiery enchanted arrow in the back. It spun, just in time to catch another arrow in the right shoulder. The next arrow, though, it caught in it's shield, as with the next as it charged Telin with it's sword raised.

Telin calmly paused in her shooting, and froze, her arrow fletching resting on her cheek, her arrow ready to release at any moment. She waited. The charging skeleton champion drew closer, and just as it came within sword range, drew back it's shoulder for a fraction of an instant, ready to pound it into her as she came in range. In that instant, she fired, knowing that the skeleton would be unable to move the shield fast enough to fully cover itself. The arrow slammed exactly into the right shoulder joint, knocking the arm clean off. The Champion faltered, its charge momentum ended with the arrow slamming into it, removing the arm. Then Telin leapt forward, her left arm swinging her bow while her right grabbed her next arrow. The Skeleton, off balance, in one instant found it's shield in it's left being knocked far wide by a swinging bow, the next instant standing defenseless, staring down an arrow shaft point blank aimed at his head.

"Bad luck," Telin said, and let fly with the arrow, which was less than a foot away from the Champion's head.

With the Champions dealt with, the rest was merely mopping up the remainder. The Barbarian had been given no trouble in the direction he had charged off in, his axe and mace easily hacking and bludgeoning through the off guard ranks of mainly zombies. Now, without the champion's influence, the monsters were confused and could not muster a coherent offensive, remaining scattered. The three companions, however, came together, sensing victory was near, and easily cut down the remainders.

With all opponents lying face down, the three knew it was time to find out who was who. Arc and Telin stood facing the large warrior, weapons lowered but not put away. The Barbarian similarly stood, but wary of any sudden movements. Arc was appreciative of the Barbarian's help, indeed for saving their lives, but he was also a fearsome looking person, and the tales of the wild, uncultured and often unlawful Barbarian tribes made one wary of huge fur clad warriors.

Suddenly, the Barbarian slammed his weapons into the ground to shake the blood and gore from them. Both weapons stood by themselves, an attest to the power of the man who buried both weapons, even the spiked mace, deep enough into the dirt to allow them to stand. Arc and Telin jumped back, weapons on the ready.

The Barbarian stretched, loosening his muscles. "A worthy battle," he noted.

"It was indeed. Many thanks for your courage and prowess." Arc replied, slowly lowering his blade. Telin, however, still did not lower her bow. "We owe you our lives, and are in your debt."

"It is the duty of all warriors to battle the forces of darkness where they may." The Barbarian replied, grinning. "We should share camp. It is good for warriors who had shared battle to eat together and speak of glories."

"Indeed. You are welcome to share our camp and our meal tonight, my friend. I am Arc." Arc said and bowed, extending his hand.

"Greetings friend Arc." The Barbarian replied, taking the offered hand and shaking it vigorously. "I am Jorg of the Tu'Kyon tribe, of the Ar'Heyen clan."

Telin lowered her bow and said. "I am Telindhra, of the Rogues."

Jorg grinned. "You are his shield-mate?" he asked.

Telindhra glared. "No" she denied forcefully. She turned to head towards the clearing.

Jorg grinned again and leaned towards Arc "You should ask for her. She is a fine warrior." He advised in a low, conspiratory tone.

Telin's gaze snapped back. "Let's just get what we came for, ok Arc?" She stalked off to the sound of Arc and Jorg laughing together.