Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to whomever really owns it. Though I am too lazy to point out who those people are, they know who they are.
Chapter 8
Family Reunion
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"I thought I smelt fish," Glorcia grumbled, wrinkling her nose in disgust.
"What, you don't like fish?"
"Not when it's rotten… or walking around with sharp teeth."
Having heard what sounded like rushing water, the Cowled group investigated where the sound came from, on one side of the path. They were peering over the edge of a hill that cut straight down revealing a rocky shore. It looked to be a small cove, the incoming water consistently beating against the worn looking boulders and pebbles strewn about. Yet the body of water was not part of a sea and instead it appeared only to be the size of a small pond, the farthest horizon being the shadow wall. Despite being inside a planar construct, it looked as if this area were an actual working shoreline, complete with waves.
The simulation of a natural shore was real enough to support some façade of life as swimming in the water and lounging on the rocks was a band of sahuagin. The large fishy humanoids were listless and had not sensed the group's presence and were going about unmindful that they were being observed.
"Fascinating," Madeen wondered aloud.
Korgan commented wryly, "Aww, does the little arse-kisser find 'isself besotted wi' the wee guppies? Why doncha sashay on down there an' introduce yerself?"
Madeen glared daggers at the berserker, "Don't be so vulgar, mercenary! I was commenting about the environment in front of us! Despite these artificial surroundings there seems to be some semblance of ecological order capable of supporting the infrastructure of social existence-"
The mage stopped abruptly, remembering whom he was talking to. Korgan was regarding him with a vacant stare.
"Grrr… they're eating fish," Madeen growled, clutching his head while waving to a scene below.
The others peered over to where he was indicating. True enough, stacked together along one side of the cliff wall were a few small baskets filled with silver glistening fish. Nearby, a sahuagin jumped out of the water with a long spear in its hand upon which were pierced half a dozen more catches. The sahuagin lumbered dripping wet towards the baskets where it proceeded to slide the fish bodies of its spear.
"Interesting… simply interesting," Tolgerias remarked, stroking his trim beard.
Korgan was less than impressed, "So? What be the big deal? I eats fish too."
"No, you rude glutton!" Madeen tried clarifying, "If they've been here for some time then that means they've been surviving on eating fish."
"So?"
"So the fish have replenished themselves."
"So?"
"So in order for living organisms to do that there must be a working environment."
"So?"
"So this artificial cove is actually a genuine operational ecosystem within the Planar Sphere."
"…So?"
"…So you really don't care what I'm talking about."
"So ye finally caught on," Korgan finished, turning to Tolgerias, "Buncha bright 'uns ye've got under ye, wizard."
The Cowled Wizard spoke uninterestedly, "Yes, how fortunate for me, as I've observed from Madeen's scintillating explanation of what we see before us despite your apparent lack of enthusiasm."
"Ye rub off on yer servants, the floozy talks like ye."
Madeen's brief look of pride was instantly crushed when Tolgerias replied, "Please don't insult me, mercenary."
Valygar made his impatience known, "Are we done here? Have you all had your perversions fulfilled from spying on the sahuagin long enough?"
The Cowled Wizards scowled at the stalker but Tolgerias waved them off, "Yes, our gracious host is right. Perhaps we've overstayed our welcome a tad much, let us find this Lavok as we originally intended and be done with all this…"
Everybody began to quietly make their way back down the hill, careful not to make any noise that may alert the sahuagin. Everybody that is, except Tolgerias.
"But," the Cowled Wizard added ominously, "not before we clean house."
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The group continued on more cautious as ever around the senior Cowled Wizard. All the mages (barring Davish, who remains stoic as ever) were filled with awe and more fear whilst Korgan seemed indifferent to what he had done and Valygar continued to send disgusted glares at Tolgerias.
While still perched atop the hill over the cove, Tolgerias chanted a spell that was nothing he had never seen before… and it scared the stalker. The power in the enchantment was so great that it created a swirling ball of bright yellow mist between his hands that even sahuagin noticed but by then it was too late. With a cold gleam he tossed the mist into the cove below and wreaked destruction.
When the ball of mist touched the rocky shore it exploded like a sandstorm, a rolling wave of hazy brown dust smothering the entire area… and the sahuagin screamed as they died.
To their horrified eyes the sahuagin's bodies shrivelled as if they were laid out beneath the sun in a desert. Slowly, like a punctured water balloons, fluids began squeezing through the pores of their scaled skins. Some desperately tried to hold their liquids back in but they were leaking not only through their bodies but their arms, legs, necks and faces, even their eyeballs withering into grey raisins. Others dove back into the water but the gargles of pain proved that even in there they were still could retain their hydration.
The screams deteriorated into low cries and moans of anguish, the sahuagin falling all over the place unable to do anything as their bodies were destroyed. Their normally sea green skin became colourless husks stretching over visible bones. Some even had limbs disintegrate into dust or their muscles having turned into jerky, their mercifully sightless eyes unable to take in what was happening to them. They had become a graveyard of skeletons with their own skins tightly wrapped about them as their burial shrouds.
It was not that the all the sahuagin were wiped out without warning. It was not that included amongst the dead were the smaller husks of sahuagin children. It was not even that they died in horribly excruciating pain.
No, what really bothered Valygar was the awesome display of power Tolgerias wielded. The mage was everything the stalker deemed wrong with magic and that it could create such carnage and devastation only furthered Valygar's resolve on his stance.
Nothing good has come from any of the damn spells I've seen this entire time.
."Look at me any harder, Corthala, and I would think that you find me devastatingly attractive… not that I aren't in any case anyways."
The comment only served to cause Valygar to glare harder, "If, by some twisted ploy of the gods, I ever thought like that I'd sooner stab my own heart with a spoon after castrating myself, you despicable, cowardly, corrupting, piece of shite."
"Tsk, I would think such language becoming of the dwarf but from you it's just unseemly."
"Never mind how I curse you, wizard. What the hell did you do to those sahuagin?"
The other mages listened intently, they too being interested in what Tolgerias did though for more educational purposes.
"I know, it was impressive, wasn't it?"
"Impressive isn't the word I'd use to describe what you've done. Try something along the lines of wanton magical destructiveness."
"Then it was a remarkable feat of inspiring and effective arcane ingenuity."
The other Cowled Wizards nodded in agreement.
"I don't care how you describe it, what in the Abyss was it?"
"That was only a little something I've up my sleeve. I came across the specifics of the spell while on one of my regular research projects at a special library of the Cowled Wizards. I shan't divulge the name of the place to you, surely you understand that such information is of privy between fellow wizards, yes? Anyhow, I won't bore you with the details, suffice to say that while this particular spell is not restricted knowledge amongst the magical community, the ability to cast it is a process few mages are competent of. Only those with enough experience, discipline and power are capable of harnessing the raw arcane energy needed to fully exploit its designated effects… and as you've seen, I am one of those people. Do you know what that means?"
Valygar remained silent though his glare did not relent. Everybody knew very well what the senior Cowled Wizard was implying.
Tolgerias continued ominously, "I am not making jokes nor is it meant in jest when I say that I am a power in this nation. How did you think I came about such a claim? Properly completed paperwork? Shining the shoes of some fat, inept bureaucrat? You've been spitting disrespect at a lion this entire time, Corthala, but I've been lenient because I have further use for you… however I will advise you to discontinue testing my patience. The spell that you've just witnessed was created by the archmage Abi Dalzim and many have died in their pathetic attempts of casting it… but not I. Belay your wretched dreams of ever overpowering me… I am no weakling and I do not make mistakes and the sooner you realize this, the better your chances of staying within my good graces… because that's all I deem that matters in your world right now."
The group continued on in a momentarily silence, Tolgerias and Valygar having not once looked at each other during their entire exchange.
"… You ever realize you talk about yourself far too much?"
"Of course I do, what else could possibly be more interesting?"
"Keep it up, wizard, and I'll make sure the last thing you ever say will be begging me for mercy."
Tolgerias shook his head, "Don't ever believe your own stubbornness is a blessing, Corthala."
Further conversation abruptly ended when they rounded the corner of an outcropping of large standing rocks.
"Ah, finally, I believe we've come to the end with destiny well in reach," Tolgerias' grin feral.
The desolate path ended against a vast shadow wall leading straight towards an open circular doorway similar in size to the sphere's entrance though this was bordered by an encircling series of runes. Encompassing the entirety of the entryway like a veil was vibrating violet energy and of what they could see of the room beyond was tinged a light purple.
They gathered around the entrance though no one made a move to go through. The doorway hummed faintly and a sharp static noise crackled intermittently.
Tolgerias examined the energy field with a critical eye, "I believe it would be best to approach this with extreme caution," demonstrating his point by kicking a loose rock at the entryway.
CRACK!
The entire group startled at the sharp and sudden explosion of lightning that reduced the rock to a smoking dust particle.
Glorcia quipped wryly, "That doesn't bode well as a welcome."
"This could prove quite disconcerting for our health… not to mention a time-consuming barrier," Tolgerias remarked offhandedly, "I espy no energy sources about the premises nor do I spot an opening that would serve as a key hole. Hmm, as well about these runes inscribed upon the frame, they are of origin unknown to me. Did any of you perhaps observe something that I might've missed?"
"Nope."
"Not me."
"Sorry."
"Can't recall."
The senior Cowled Wizard rolled his eyes, "Useless," glaring at the shimmering blanket of energy, "I cannot even describe the frustration I'm feeling right now. We are so close, so very close, I just know it. I refuse to let something as inconsequential as… as a damn light show prevent me from going farther!"
Valygar regarded the doorway strangely, "Have you ever considered that perhaps it's not to keep us out but to keep something in?"
"Ach, enough wi' the delays, what be the 'old up?"
Madeen sneered down at Korgan, "Did you not notice what happens if you try crossing through that magical barrier or is your height detrimental to your vision?"
Anger flashed in the berserker's eyes and he growled low about to retort when he paused, not saying a word. Madeen smirked triumphantly at Korgan's silence. Valygar raised an eyebrow at the berserker's lack of reaction, the stalker having become accustomed to the violently defended pride of the dwarf. He would have thought that any insult, especially one coming from Madeen, would have been responded with murderous threats or at least another scathing insult.
So it came as no particular surprise when, without a word, Korgan stepped up to Madeen and punched the mage so hard in the belly it looked as if his fist had sunk in through to the back.
"Oohf!"
The berserker did not look at Madeen's doubled over form as he kicked him out of the way. Ignoring the heavy wheezing of the winded mage, everybody looked on as Korgan stopped by the one side of the doorway, a look of quiet rage seething on his features.
He began dangerously quiet, "I've had it wi' ye damn uptight-arse wizards. I've had it wi' running aroun' like some flea-bitten mongrel. I've had it wi' yer non-stop stinkin' chatter. I've had it wi' this Abyss damned place. An' I've had it wi' nay getting any o' the bloody that's treasure owed me!" he shouted at the end.
Then with a sudden vicious swing of his enchanted battleaxe, the berserker began hacking into the runic frame encircling the doorway.
THWAK! THWAK! THWAK!
The energy field flickered.
The Cowled group could only look on in amused silence as he continued desecrating the runes along the border. Each hit of his battleaxe bit deeper into the metal inscribed doorway, slashing into the symbols with wild abandon.
THWAK! THWAK! THWAK!
The energy field continued blinking in and out of existence rapidly and froth bubbled on the corners of Korgan's lips as his eyes tinged red.
"THIS!"
THWAK!
"BE!"
THWAK!
"HOW!"
THWAK!
"YE!"
THWAK!
"OPEN!"
THWAK!
"DOORS!"
FFSSZZZ!
With a final sizzle of dissipating energy the berserker had hacked the way open for them.
"…Really, my dwarven mercenary, was that really necessary?"
Korgan breathed heavily and did not reply, still staring rather angrily at the ruined runes as if blaming them for causing him to expend so much energy. However, his straightforward tactics proved productive for they now had a clear view of what lay within the next room.
The berserker glared detestably at the Cowled Wizard, "What be necessary, is fer ye tae shut yer stinkin' mouth."
Tolgerias lost his mirth, a dangerous scowl forming, "I've warned you before, dwarf, don't you ever speak to me like that again."
"An' I've warned ye tae wait fer it. Whatever happens next, death or glory, yer blood'll be splattering yer fancy blankets afore it's all said an' done."
The Cowled Wizard was about to reply back but Valygar stepped between the two, stopping just before the entryway.
With the stalker standing at the threshold silently, they all felt it. Greeting them was not the satisfaction of conclusion but the anxiety of a final hardship. Slight discomfort descended upon them as the waft of a stale odour drifted through the now clear entryway.
"Ahhh," Tolgerias breathed in deeply, undisturbed by the ominous aroma, "Can you smell that? Can you taste it? I can feel it… the closing stages of our expedition is just at the forefront. Be glad, Corthala, for the conclusion of this delightful little alliance draws near… and none the sooner."
But Valygar paid no heed to the Cowled Wizard's words.
Perhaps it was because of the power emanating from the next room. Maybe it was because of their shared lineage. It may have even been because of the revenge crying out within his blood. Whatever the reason, he knew Lavok waited.
Mother, wh-what did you do?
It came to him, slowly at first but gradually it sunk in. Not for vengeance or glory… he was only paying off a family's debt.
Despite his calm appearance, the stalker's heartbeat drowned out the sounds of the world around him. Fear, anxiety, anger, satisfaction, despair and hope all warred within him and the shattered bits he could comprehend did nothing to alleviate the confusion that plagued his consciousness. He knew that feeling, in fact he often welcomed the emptiness. It did not matter his current circumstances or who his "allies" are… he could only expect disappointed satisfaction.
Fulfillment of obligation was in his reach, the taste scorching his throat. He should be scared, he should be satisfied, he should feel something… but he felt nothing. He was as convinced as he was about his own name that beyond this day would be emptiness, an adventure ending without finishing.
What was my point this entire time again? To kill my ancestor?
When he was a little boy he would listen to stories of brave men and women going on amazing journeys accomplishing unimaginable feats and fighting fantastical monsters. In the stories the heroes always began their quests to free their people or defend their homes or to stop evil forces or to right the wrongs. He remembered, as a child, eagerly falling asleep so that he could dream the dreams of a good story, where he would battle off a hundred dragons to save the princess from the mad wizard.
Children stories are always of noble deeds… but Valygar grew up. There is no princess needing rescuing in the next room. Because he learned that that is all stories are… stories. Nothing more than fanciful lies to shield the young as long possible from a life barren of decency and righteousness.
He learned new stories. The bad guy wins. The hero becomes just as evil as the villain they defeated. The friend betrays friend. The people cower and do not rise up. Blood spills indiscriminately for no purpose. The princess dies.
The stories of adults cannot afford nobility as a distraction… only children get to listen to the happy endings…
Mother? MOTHEEERRRR!
… And then eventually those stories are never told again.
I guess in the end it stops being climactic… and now it's always anticlimactic because whatever the ending is… it's never at the end of a fairytale.
Valygar smirked. Blood is the price, just as Korgan said. Whether or not it would be his blood remains to be seen. He flashed back to the deadly inconsequential battles, of halflings destroyed by an unleashed demon, of captured noble knights with dishonour shaming them, the two wizards he had killed and the sphere he had left open to be exploited… no turning back. His regrets are now useless, no matter all that he had done and sacrificed cannot be taken back because everything has led up to this point and regardless of whether victory or death would greet him… he would leave the Planar Sphere empty.
There is no princess waiting for him.
So he stepped through the doorway, emotion undefined… what need of feelings when nothing waits?
Nothing to save.
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The room was huge like an enclosed planetarium for giants. Neck-craning high, natural sunlight poured through the large circular glass window at the very center of the dome-like ceiling. The late afternoon sky of Athkatla could be seen as a small cloud drift lazily by ignorant of the chaos inside the sphere. Along the sides, evenly spaced from each other, were four inclined stone slabs covered with brightly lit buttons and knobs. Extending from four points beside the walls and arching high towards the glass roof were four immense columns of unadorned dark marble.
The walls were of grey stone, unremarkable in appearance other than in its sheer shining smoothness. To the right of where they entered, a long winding staircase rose from the floor to spiral along the walls twice around ending at the top of a fanciful terrace overlooking the room. On the left was another massive round door.
Opposite them a massive contraption dominated their vision. It took up nearly a quarter of the room and looked like a macabre rendition of demonic piano organ composed of debauched machinery. The bottom portion was a complicated connection of mechanisms and moving parts contained within a swarthy collection of thick copper plating. At its center was a semi-circular control panel so wide that a person would only be able to operate by walking from one end to the other. Rising high towards the ceiling from the dark metal gears and slates that bulked up most of its body were green tubes thicker than trees. Within the liquid filled tubes a constant stream of bubbles rocketed upwards.
They took in the immensity of the place before cautiously filing in. They all felt it. Something was in there.
The Cowled group spread themselves towards the center of the room, no signs of anybody spotted.
Tolgerias murmured, "Everybody… I need not tell you to consider the necromancer extremely dangerous… his… energy is everywhere."
"Where in the Nine Hells is he?" Glorcia spoke nervously.
"Shhh!" Valygar hushed.
Glorcia was about to retort at his audacity to shush her but then stopped, perking up her ears. Soon they all heard it.
"Heh heh heh!" a deviously sinister chuckle descended from above.
As one, they all craned their heads upwards and Valygar finally got a glimpse of his ancestor for the first time.
Clinging at the edge of the glass window high above them, a dark robed figure crawled about the circular edge, its movements quirky like a scuttling salamander. The distance was too far to make out any specific features of the person… but it was enough to notice the bright ball of molten flame sent careening towards them.
"Oh shite!" Korgan yelped before he and the rest of the group scattered out of the way.
wwwhhheeeEEEHHOOOOOO- - -BOOOMM!
The fireball scorched the ground where it exploded, and though nobody was caught in the flames, the blast of heat was intense enough to throw them further away. Dark smoke curled around the area, a few small licks of fire scattered on the blackened floor.
Valygar coughed, groaning as he turned onto his back… and saw the figure float lazily downwards, a fiendish shadow descending. The others also recovered, following with their eyes silently. The figure gradually came down in front of the immense control panel of the machine.
The stalker still found it hard to muster the courage to look him in the face despite now having a clear view at Lavok. Even for an ancient planes traveller the necromancer looked inhuman.
He was dressed in torn yet flowing black robes patterned with debauched pictures of coupling skeletons. Outlining the fit of his robes the necromancer was tall and sinewy and what parts of his body could be seen were heavily tattooed with strange purple designs… and cracked with bloody lines of peeking flesh. Lavok's fingers seemed far longer than necessary, bony with claw-like black fingernails and his dry, weathered skin was coal black… yet if Valygar peered closer, at certain angles Lavok's pigmentation tinged a ghastly green.
The subtle beat of fear writhed on Valygar's skin as he memorized the necromancer's face. It was borderline bestial, the mouth that should have been too big to fit on a deceptively elongated head. The outline of a white skull was tattooed on his face that only emphasized the black pits of his eyes beneath the long greasy tendrils of dark hair. Valygar could not suppress the shiver through his body when the necromancer smiled revealing a veritable wall of sharp teeth.
Lavok leaned casually back, elbows propped upon the panel and when he spoke, everybody was shocked. It was not that his hysterical tone pointed to madness or that his words boomed across the room… it was that when Lavok spoke he sounded like many voices, all speaking at the same time.
"Heh heheh, all of you… please accept our… 'waaarrrmmest' welcome…" his posture for all intents and purposes looking exactly like a welcoming host.
"Oh, he be a funny one," Korgan muttered, his tone all too obvious that he thought otherwise.
"Lavok!" Tolgerias commanded from the opposite end, "Cease all hostile actions against the Cowled Wizards. You are surrounded and outmatched. Submit to my will or face the consequences."
Lavok quirked his head, glancing curiously at the Cowled Wizard yet speaking more to himself, "Curious… How long since last you've visited... all these souls… and none recognize any of you…" Valygar tensed when the necromancer turned to him with a feral grin, "except you. You… smell similar… of old…"
"What in the realms is that necromancer talking about?" Glorcia whispered harshly to Madeen.
"I have no idea… I always think he smells like cloves in the morning mist…"
Glorcia nodded once.
Blink.
"…Wait, what?"
"I will not be ignored necromancer!" Tolgerias' voice cut across the room, "Do you not realize your current predicament or has senility finally set into that outdated soul of yours? There is no point in resisting so I ask again, will you submit to my will?"
Lavok chuckled, "Ah hahahah… submit to your will? Whatever for? Ah, perhaps our will is but a small price to pay for my freedom… whoever you are… your visiting here is most fortuitous… heheheh."
Valygar never took his eyes of the necromancer, his insides deadly silent and unable to comprehend the words he was sure he was supposed to say to Lavok on occasions like this, when the adventurer finally meets the villain.
Things about our family and how his evil ends today… isn't this the repartee we should be having between us now?
But Lavok's words halted Valygar's tongue, his eyes narrowing in suspicion at the necromancer's rather… preoccupied behaviour.
Tolgerias also felt something was suspect and asked cautiously, "Your attitude… puzzles even me, necromancer."
Lavok shook violently, agitation echoing in his voice, "Necromancer? Necromancer, necromancer, why, why do you continue to call us necromancer? We just want to leave… feel the air… the blue, the blue, the blue air. Long… such a long time the sky above turned blue… such a wonderous sapphire… and then black… deepest darkest black… tainted by lights in millions…"
"Oh yeah… he's been in here way too long," a Cowled mage remarked to Davish.
"Such a familiar sky I've never seen… but we have… such a chance to taint such purity… with the tang of a crimson flood and the scent of raining blood…"
"I think I see where this be goin'," Korgan mumbled.
"I think he needs to work on his language rules," Madeen added.
"But the sphere wouldn't let us go… kept us in here… kept me here as the sky stayed blue then black but always back to blue," a grotesque smile growing, "Until you opened the way through… turned off the light… how very thoughtful of you…"
Valygar sent Tolgerias a look that said 'I-told-you-so' even though the wizard was not looking at him.
"Hahahaha… Foolish mortals… the way is now clear… Be honoured… for I shall stain the sky red in your names… whatever pathetic tongue they be in…" the threat in his voice clear as he stepped forward.
Valygar finally found his voice, "Lavok!"
The necromancer stopped, regarding the stalker curiously. Unnoticed to him, the others began positioning themselves around the room.
The stalker spoke boldly, "Stay where you are, Shame-of-my-Family, Curse-of-my-Blood. I am Valygar Corthala and you will not pass! I shall fulfill my family's vow and end your hideous life once and for all!"
"'Bout time ye spoke up."
"End our life? End my life? Mortal, do you intend to stop us from leaving?"
"… Your existence ends now, Lavok."
"Ah, how unfortunate for us… yet your words truly matter not for I do so wish to taste this plane... so you will yield, mortal, and fall to your knees."
Valygar drew his katanas, "Your twisted soul will taste my steel before anything else."
The smile faded from Lavok's face, fury overcoming his features.
"I do believe you've upset your ancestor, Corthala!" Tolgerias called out from the side.
In a single instant Lavok shed away his passive attitude and they were surprised to see a dark aura visibly outline his frame, "Pathetic human! You defy me? You threaten us? Do not speak as if your shared existence matters to us! You understand nothing, mortal! His sinful spirit fuels me, strengthens our power and he relishes in the dead eternal darkness I command. I am not who you seek...this be merely our body! Yet…" a callous smile dawning on his face, "ha ha ha… yet he seeks you!"
Like a shot to the gut Valygar stepped back, "Wh-what?"
The necromancer screamed deafeningly, hands raised and clenched, "The way is clear! I will not be denied the material plane! Your blood shall be the first of thousands we TASTE!"
His scream ripped about the room practically rattling the walls and piercing their ears. The Cowled group winced and were about to attack Lavok… but what they witnessed shocked them into immobility.
"AAAAAAHHHH!" and with a downward striking motion with both arms the dark aura whipped about his body like a tornado of black wind.
"What's happening!?" Valygar heard a Cowled Wizard scream but the stalker was too entranced by the transformation taking place.
The darkness enveloped Lavok in a shroud, completely obscuring his body. It twisted, bubbled and warped itself, slowly manifesting into a new form. His legs became like stout trunks, raptor claws digging into the floor. Muscles rippled forth, his body bulging with newfound bulk, a behemoth of physical power making Davish look like a barely fed child. Atop his practically non-existent neck his head reformed itself, hairless but with bloodshot eyes above a pair of smiling black tusks.
Rising up, the newborn body of the necromancer revealed itself in all its seven-foot glory. Completely different from a moment before, Lavok resembled a muscle armoured suit of shadow.
"COME FORTH MORTALS AND LET THE BLOOD POOOOUUUURRRR!!!" Lavok screamed, thundering forward.
BGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBG
The transformed necromancer moved with such agility that Valygar only managed a cry of surprise before quickly sweeping both katanas to the side to block Lavok's swinging punch. The force of the blow knocked the stalker hard off his feet onto his back.
Quickly leaping back up, the stalker cried defiantly as he viciously swung upwards, halting Lavok in his attack.
In that momentary pause the necromancer was hit with a barrage of conjured acid arrows he swatted aside annoyingly. Immediately following, a pair of incoming icicles shattered against his chest and a faint blue haze that was a failed attempt at dominating his mind dissipated harmlessly above his head.
"YOUR WEAK ATTEMPTS AT MAGIC ARE USELESS!" he roared at the Cowled Wizards who were dispersed all around, close to the walls of the room.
"Useless? I'll show you useless," Tolgerias muttered to himself as he prepared to cast another enchantment.
Lavok had resumed sparring off with Valygar though it was mostly just the stalker barely able to block the powerful strikes. With a flurry of chanting the Cowled Wizard pointed a finger at the necromancer citing the final word of his spell.
At once a bright circle was drawn on the floor around Lavok and in the next instant a shimmering sphere of translucent blue energy rose up encasing the necromancer. Valygar stepped back in surprise at the sudden containment of his opponent. Lavok yelled in dismay when he found he could not push his way through the magical prison.
"How's that for useless magic?" Tolgerias smirked.
The others slowly began making their way towards the imprisoned necromancer who ceased struggling, instead regarding the shimmering shield with narrowed eyes. Valygar kept his guard up, not liking the growing grin on Lavok's face.
Not having sensed the stalker's unease, the Cowled Wizard asked proudly, "Well, Corthala? What have you to say about magic now? Is it not the most wondrous solution to most of life's little problems? With that nifty little containment field we are at liberty to devise the most probable scenario of how to conveniently dispatch your ancestor with plenty of affordable time. Huh, I actually thought he'd be more of a challenge… though I am still rather pleased with myself for casting that spell. It's resilient, it's simple, it's genius, it's-"
Valygar gripped his katanas tighter, "It's still damn useless," the hairs on the back of his neck raising.
Tolgerias was about to remark on the stalker's lack of gratitude yet his own grin faltered when he saw the smiling look on the necromancer.
"HEHEHEH," Lavok chuckled
With the tension of a brewing storm the necromancer exploded into a swirling mass of black clouds. Contained within the magical sphere it was like an enclosed tornado, the vicious whipping force causing cracks to form in the shimmering shield…
KEK-CRACK!
The Cowled Wizard could only gape in disbelief as his 'resilient' sphere shattered explosively into a million sparkles… and standing tall, back in his muscular shadow form, Lavok laughed.
"HA HA HA HA! USELESS!" he mocked and with an upraised hand fired off a dark grey ball in Tolgerias' direction.
The Cowled Wizard growled in frustration before diving out of the way.
BRACK!
A cloud of fragments exploded outwards as the ball struck the wall where the Cowled Wizard was standing creating a gaping indentation.
"HEHEHEH!"
The force of the blast rattled the ground as Lavok laughed maliciously… when emerging from the settling dust a squat figure dashed out. Korgan ran full speed at the transformed necromancer, both axes swinging.
"Die, ye bastard!"
Lavok leaned back from the wild arcing swings, his back bending as if he were boneless and like a supple willow. Displaying amazing dexterity the necromancer flowed forward bringing both clawed hands slashing mercilessly down. The berserker barely had time to raise his normal battleaxe to block the blows.
SHATTERRRR!!!
To the dwarf's dismay, his weapon broke and splintered into flying, sparking pieces, a few shards cutting across his face.
The necromancer growled low, a mirthless leer on his face.
"Ye gormless bastard wyrm, that piece cost me ten gold! I'm goin' tae GUT YE!" Korgan yelled thoroughly enraged, throwing aside the now useless weapon handle and swinging his remaining enchanted battleaxe overhead as he charged the necromancer.
He never got to finish his attack. Contempt was written all over Lavok's face as he lazily kicked out with his clawed foot into the berserker's chest sending him flying backwards.
PAF!
"OOF!"
Lavok had turned his back for a second to see where he sent Korgan landing and seeing his opportunity Valygar jumped and thrust his blade forward at the distracted but still larger necromancer's back.
Faster than his eye could follow, Lavok swept around with one hand grabbing hold of Valygar's arm, "YOU CANNOT TOUCH ME!"
The stalker gasped at the sudden cold contact. Before he could comprehend that he had been caught, Lavok flipped him over his feet, slamming his back against the floor.
THUMP!
"Ugh," Valygar barely had time to groan as Lavok picked him up with both hands.
"YOUR SKY WILL BLEED!"
"Gah!" the stalker cried, the chilling cold of the necromancer's touch shocking him.
"DIE FOOL!"
Valygar dangled helplessly in Lavok's grasp feeling the chill bite into his very being, the energy flowing away from his body. It did not help that the necromancer began to crush him in his hands.
He gasped in pain again yet from the corner of his eye he spotted a bright light growing larger…
WHAM!
"AAUUGH!"
The necromancer dropped him, stumbling to the side yet still remaining on his feet. He turned his red eyes to glare viciously in the direction the blast of energy came from, ignoring Valygar as he rolled away to safety.
Standing grimly on the other side of the room, Davish began readying another spell, unmindful of becoming the newfound ire of the shadow muscled necromancer.
"DIIIEEE!"
Before Lavok could reach the big mage, a salvo of arcane energy slammed him backwards towards the control panel.
"He's transfigured himself into some sort of shadow beast! Use spells that harness light!" Tolgerias ordered the other Cowled Wizards, he himself shooting a large bright yellow ball of energy.
Snarling, Lavok quickly dodged the projectile, weaving across the room with impossible speed becoming a shadowed blur. Each missile of energy was easily avoided as the necromancer sped through the gauntlet of incoming spells. Frantically the mages tried conjuring faster but he proved too quick to strike.
"Stop using magic missiles and sunfire spells and cast something stronger you fools!" Tolgerias yelled furiously.
"We-we don't know any that are fast enough Master Tolgerias!" a frantic Cowled Wizard answered back.
Tolgerias made a mental note to severely punish the mage who had spoken if he survived.
"PATHETIC!" Lavok shrieked before charging towards a panicking Madeen and another mage.
Before he could strike at the pair of Cowled Wizards, Korgan intercepted him, bellowing as with both hands he swept his battleaxe across the massive chest of the necromancer.
"BLOOD AN' GLORY!"
There was no ripping, no shredding, no tearing sound, just a faint slurping as the berserker cleaved through Lavok's body.
Ggggllgglgllshhpp…
Instead of a geyser of blood and bone, the enchanted battleaxe cut through the shadow like it was mud, spraying a few glops of black sludge across the floor, the chest regenerating instantly as if nothing happened. Korgan snarled at his non-effective attack yet hesitated to strike again when Lavok smiled broadly, taking a step back, arms open in disarmament.
"HEHEHEHEH… PERHAPS YOU'D RATHER PLAY WITH OUR CHILDREN?"
That is when Korgan noticed a few pieces of the black sludge he had separated from Lavok spasm violently.
Twitching as if they were being electrocuted, the dark ooze warped and grew larger quickly taking shape. Growing rapidly like a child to adult in fast forward each piece of sludge manifested into a dozen shadowy humanoid forms, faceless and unremarkable except for their bestial stance, red eyes and long, vicious claws.
"Oi… that not be fair," Korgan protested.
The shadows gave no heed to his objections as they immediately rushed forward silently swiping with their claws.
Tolgerias had observed the emergence of the new enemy with slight alarm, "This… could be more difficult than I'd calculated."
As the berserker was now preoccupied with fending of the attacking shadows, the Cowled Wizards split their firepower between Lavok and his 'spawn'.
The necromancer began attacking Valygar once again while at the same time managing to avoid the magical attacks of Tolgerias and Davish. The stalker had seen what had come from striking Lavok and was desperately trying to come up with a plan of stopping him though he was preoccupied with dodging the vicious attacks.
"I AM UNSTOPPABLE MORTAL! YOURS SHALL BE THE FIRST SOUL WE PAINT THE SKY RED WITH!"
He's really starting to annoy me… "Damn it, wizard! Do something!"
"Damn yourself Corthala! Why don't you do something other than dancing with him!?" Tolgerias yelled in frustration as another of his spells was easily avoided.
Despite his massive physique, Lavok battled on, striking at Valygar whilst escaping the magical attacks with startling simplicity. His fluid movements would be considered practically beautiful to spectators though to those in the battle it was a deadly dance. There was no doubt in anybody's mind that the transformed necromancer possessed a highly attuned sixth sense.
The strain of parrying and dodging Lavok's relentless assault began to tire the stalker. He was pushed to control his heavy breathing and sweat flew from his flaying braided hair as each strike from the necromancer's powerful limbs hitting his blocking katanas rattled him to the bone. He restrained his own attacks, knowing that he only chanced creating more shadows to battle.
It did not help his confidence that Lavok smiled through their entire fight.
Bastard is toying with me! Valygar thought, feeling more aggravated than threatened.
Meanwhile Tolgerias halted firing spells, instead storing energy into his hands and concentrating on a single one. From the corner of his eye he observed that Korgan and the other Cowled Wizards had already dispatched a couple of the shadows.
The berserker was slashing and cleaving happily after he found to his glee that unlike Lavok these enemies make the deliciously satisfying thunking noises that come from physically chopping down your opponent.
THUNK! THUNK! RIP!
"Ha hah, that be more like it!" Korgan crowed as he left another shadow hacked in half.
Tolgerias focused away from the dwarf's battle as he finished the casting of his spell, a glow in his eyes literally growing brighter until they only emanated bright white.
"How's this for useless?" and an intense beam of electrified light shot forth from his orbs at incredible speed straight at Lavok who did notice until too late.
The necromancer hissed in surprise and tried to dodge the shaft of light but was not swift enough and it struck him, catching him on his shoulder.
SHHHGGLLPGPGLL!
A part of Lavok's shoulder was obliterated, a gaping chunk missing like someone took a bite out of him. He whirled around to face the leering Tolgerias who was already in the middle of chanting out another spell, Valygar having backed off to recuperate his breath.
"YOU WILL SCREAM FOR THAT!"
The Cowled Wizard broke off his spell, not because of the necromancer's threatening words… but because his shoulder had already begun to reform itself.
"Damn you Lavok! How do we kill you?" Tolgerias cried in frustration.
The necromancer answered by firing off a sequence of dark grey balls causing the Cowled Wizard to madly scramble out of the way as they impacted the ground he had been standing in.
BRACK! BRACK! BRACK! BRACK!
The area had been reduced to smoking craters and pulverized rubble in single second and Lavok showed no signs of tiring. He scanned around the room trying to catch where Tolgerias had run off to… but the combined blows of Davish's energy lance spell to his head and Valgyar's flying kick to his back changed his priorities.
THWAP! WHAM!
This time Lavok fought even more wildly, fuelled with rage at these mortals persistence at staying alive though Valygar quickly adapted to the upped tempo of his ancestor's murderous attack. To those that witnessed their battle almost believed that the whole clash had been choreographed, so close to bringing death were the slicing of blade and rendering of claw.
In the detached part of his mind Valygar thought that a bard could probably find some tragedy in all of this… family, no matter how many centuries of separation, trying to erase the other. Of shared blood that had never met but knew, just knew, each other as well as their own bodies… and yet still sought to spill the other upon the cold, hard ground.
"AAAAAAAAA!"
"AAAAAAAAA!"
Both ancestor and descendent screamed their hate at each other… and they fought on. No respect to the past, no hope for the future…
Unforgiving in their measure of annihilation.
"Nnghh!"
Eventually the continuous onslaught of the maddened necromancer finally broke the stalker's combat fluid movement, a particularly powerful strike causing him to stumble back. Seeing his opponent's momentary lapse in concentration Lavok sprung forward, both clawed hands viciously thrashing downwards on the stalker's head.
"DIEDIEDIIIEE!!!"
Valygar saw the attack and his mind raced as time practically slowed down. Acting on instinct he swept both katanas upwards in sweeping arcs with all his might…
SWWIIISSHHH!
Ggglgllgggllglgllsshp…!
… And hewed off both the necromancer's arms.
"AAAAAAAUUUHHHHHH!!!!"
The dismembered limbs flopped onto the ground and Lavok stumbled back armless… but not before kicking out in rage at the stalker's chest.
WHAP!
The force of the kick was lessened by the necromancer's lack of balance and Valygar was only sent flying onto his back.
THUMP!
"AAAUUUHHHH!"
Valygar stared wide-eyed on his back as Lavok did not continue his attack but began stumbling away from him.
"You stupid dog, don't cut anymore pieces off him! Are you trying to create more 'friends' to fight with like that stupid dwarf did?" Tolgerias ranted as he and Davish ran up to the stalker.
However Valygar did not pay any attention to the angry Cowled Wizard, his surprised gaze taking in the retreating form of Lavok and the pieces of himself he left behind.
"What's this, no primitive retort to defend your mindless actions?"
"Master Tolgerias," Davish indicated with a pointed finger, "His arms…"
"What about his arms…?" Tolgerias trailed off, finally noticing what Valygar and the big mage were witnessing.
Like with what happened when Korgan shredded through Lavok's chest, one of the arms was bubbling and twitching madly, numerous shapes distinctly growing from the dismembered limb.
… yet the other arm lay still, remaining a thick splatter of melting dark sludge.
"AAAAAAAUUUUHHHHH!!!!"
They looked upon Lavok and figured out what was different about him from before. It was how his eyes lost their tremendous confidence and grew delicately wary, how he fled back instead of continuing forward…how his screams of intimidation are now of pain.
He was stooped over by the massive machine, his right arm already grown back but it was clutching the stump of his left limb that was regenerating far, far, far more slowly.
"AAAAUUUHHHHH!!"
As one Davish, Tolgerias and Valygar slowly brought their eyes down to look at the katanas in the stalker's grip.
In his left hand was the plain katana… and in his right the intricately decorated katana of his kin.
Continuing as one, they raised their heads at Lavok's screams of pain clutching his left limb's stump before slowly returning their gazes back down at the blade.
Blink.
Blink.
"AAAAUUUHHHH!!!"
"… He screams too much…"
Blink.
"…"
"… Interesting..."
Valygar remained silent as he stood back up, both Cowled Wizards regarding the katana in his right hand with something akin to awe.
"…The blade of my forefathers," the stalker mumbled, shaking his head and focusing with newfound determination on Lavok, "Huh, must be a family thing."
However they were soon reminded of the consequences of mutilating the necromancer because standing between them and him were over two-score newly formed and murderous shadows.
"Well," Tolgerias began as he hastily stepped further back, "you wouldn't want to delay the reunion any longer than you have to, Corthala. Just decimate those beasts up ahead and kill your ancestor, go on, no dilly-dallying, we're cheering for you."
Valygar sneered at the retreating Cowled Wizard. He was, however, surprised to see that Davish remained close, his features stoic as usual as he prepared to cast a spell.
They both shrugged.
Neither the stalker nor the big mage smiled or spoke, keeping their faces neutral though they did acknowledge each other with a short nod of respect before turning to face the assembled shadow horde in front of them.
Valygar gripped his blades tighter, the numbers far too many for him and Davish to tackle head-to-head, "Cast something that'll take a whole lot of them out before they reach us," he told the big mage who nodded in agreement.
"SLAY THEM ALL! WE CANNOT BE STOPPED!! I WANT THEIR SOULS SPILT ACROSS THEIR HORRIBLE SKYYYYY!!!"
The shadows shrieked mutely as they rushed forward, an attacking dark tidal wave threatening to sweep over him and the big mage…
Sssswwhhheewww-Thunk!
… So it was with some annoyance that he saw only a single shadow fall flat on its face with an arrow imbedded in its throat.
"I said a whole lot, not just one!" he scolded heatedly, sparing a quick glance back at Davish before refocusing his gaze on the rushing shadows…
Blink.
Blink.
The stalker gave a double-look back at the big mage.
Davish was still in the middle of chanting his spell… and standing next to him Yoshimo was notching up another arrow.
Valygar stared open-mouthed flabbergasted as the bounty hunter flashed a grin and a sly wink, loosing his barbed missile and sending another shadow back into oblivion, "Not just one, neh? I'll see what I can do!"
BGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBG
FWOOOOMMMM!
Davish had finally released the fireball he had been casting, sending it right in the middle of the flock of shadows.
BHOOMMMM!
The area flashed bright with fire as nearly a dozen shadows were blasted away, leaving a gaping hole in the black mass. They silently shrieked with pain as the light momentarily swept over their bodies. But that still did not stop their advance.
The frenzied attacking shadows gave the stalker no chance to reply as he was now locked in a desperate battle against them all. He barely managed to stave them off with a mad spinning flurry of his blades but they proved too many and quickly surrounded him.
THWAK! SLASH!
He fought with the fervour of a berserker, thrusting, slashing and slicing with wild abandon.
SHRIP! THUNK! THOK!
However the shadows gave as good they got, clawing at his body and lunging with the intent of smothering him in their cold embrace…
"BACK TO THE ABYSS, DARK EVIL!"
"FOR CROWN, SWORD AND ROSE!"
"YOU $#&#ING #&$#&ES!"
Yelling their war cries and profanities, the Knights of Solamnia charged heedlessly on, smashing into the mass of shadows with such force that they drove them back away from the almost overwhelmed Valygar.
"Dear sir, let us assist you in ridding the world of this darkness."
The stalker looked upon the grim face of Ancan as the old knight swung his longsword with fluid expertise, easily dispatching any shadow that challenged him.
SPLACK!
Valygar twirled his katanas, as he prepared to dive back into the skirmish, "You escape only to endanger yourselves here."
"It is our way."
Reyna and Onvo rallied beside the two, forming a square formation that the shadows could not penetrate, the flashing blades proving deadly obstacles. They battled on, an island of humanity amidst a sea of blackness, fighting steel to claw.
THUNK! WHACK! SHLICE!
Reyna cried defiantly as she hewed the head off a shadow, "Solamnic Knights fear no evil!"
SHRACK!
"The Hells with you!" Onvo cursed, stabbing into the chest of a shadow that got too close.
WHUNK!
Valygar fought steadily alongside the knights, holding back the questions he was bursting to ask. He did not know how they came to be here, only that this was the first time all day where a bubble of hope nudged his mind.
His two katanas performed their deadly dance together with the longswords of the knights in perfect choreography, as if they were long time veteran companions. In addition to the damage done by blades, a steady rain of arrows peppered the shadows, Yoshimo expertly sending feathered shafts towards their targets.
HACK! SHLUNK! SHRASH!
Eventually the superior skill of the humans proved their worth against the mindless assault of shadows. Despite the superior numbers, shadowed bodies continued to fall steadily, never to rise again.
"Hold steadfast, knights!" Reyna encouraged, "The enemy has nearly been routed!"
"WHAT'S THIS? MORE MORTALS FOR THE SLAUGHTER?" Lavok roared returning to the fray, "COME THEN AND LET YOURSELVES BE DESTROYED! I WILL GLADLY BATHE IN YOUR WRETCHED SCREAMS!!!"
The necromancer stood like an imposing monolith surrounded by his remaining shadows, his limbs fully regenerated and stalking towards the grimly bold stalker and knights.
"So… this is the evil that has been the source of our imprisonment all this time," Reyna spoke grimly, the other knights standing tall, eyes full of determination.
"Yes," Valygar clarified, readying himself for the confrontation, "My ancestor, the necromancer Lavok. He is the cause, thus he must fall."
"Then the Knights of Solamnia will aid you in battle," Ancan agreed.
They prepared themselves as a frontline as the mass of shadows encroached closer towards them, their blades unwavering and eyes resolute. Lavok strode closer.
"WE ARE ALL-CONSUMING TO YOU MORTALS! I CANNOT BE DEFIED!! YOUR DEATH SHALL BE SLOW AND TORTURO---!!!" he suddenly stopped speaking, eyes growing wide in shock.
FWWOOOMMMM!!
Descending like a comet, a ball of solid flame interrupted the shadow muscled necromancer, striking him thunderously in the chest.
BHOOOOMMM!!!
The ranks of shadows were decimated by the fireball that struck with explosive force, the flames and heat bursting like a popped molten bubble, extinguishing dark bodies ruthlessly.
Lavok was tossed violently back… splitting into two like peeling skin. A large dark form hurtling headfirst into the huge machine and a smaller, smoking, robed body crumpling against the control panel…
So sudden was the explosion that nobody noticed the slight rumbling echoing through the sphere… or how the sky changed.
"Eeeeeeeeeeee! Ten points!"
Valygar turned around leaving the few remaining shadows for the knights to deal with, shocked for the umpteenth time. At first he had thought that Davish had sent another fireball but the big mage had been busy defending Yoshimo, punching away any shadows that slipped through so that the bounty hunter could continue firing arrows unheeded.
Instead, an excitable bundle of unstable consciousness bounded in front of the stalker, grabbing his cheeks and squeezing like an aunt would to a nephew once a year, "Ohhhhhh, are your cheeks okay? Did your ancestor pinch them too hard? Was that him that I just blasted away? …Do you think he is angry with me?" Pan asked concerned.
Even though Valygar was bowing his head slightly within the alchemist's cheek-squeezing grip, she still had to stand tip-toe to get a closer look at his face in her inspection of any abusive pinching.
"Wh-what are you doing here?"
"I would have thought I had made that clear," the stalker raising his eyes to see Jaheira walk gracefully towards them, "we're allies, are we not? This is what allies do."
Valygar took in the sight of the druid coming to stand beside the bounty hunter, his face still in the grip of the alchemist. A million thoughts raced through his mind.
He remembered hearing of situations like this in stories, where incredible acts of honour and nobleness defined the lines that separated belief from change. This is what heroes do, is it not? They came of their own freewill, under no obligation to perform their agreed shared task without reservation. Even the mage girl was here and it was she who stopped Lavok in his tracks.
They stood in front of him, prepared to lay their lives down with him.
He felt he should have come to a realization, he felt he should have come to a conclusion, he felt he should have had an epiphany…
Instead he felt only acceptance.
"Thank you."
"We would've gotten here sooner but we ran into some… interesting encounters, one of which is your knightly friends over there…" the druid said indicating the Solamnic Knights who had joined them after finishing off the last of the shadows.
"Heeeee, are they not so shiny?"
"… And it took some… difficulty to get Pan to leave a rather large lab we had found. Honestly, we had to drag her out kicking and screaming."
Onvo coughed loudly, muttering darkly and rubbing a suspiciously bruising eye as Reyna spoke with a hint of incomprehension, "The young mage did display a rather… unhealthy sudden attachment to the place."
"Ohhhhhhhh… it was so beautiful…" the alchemist began salivating.
Valygar was starting to get nervous being in her grasp, "Then I thank you for making haste."
Jaheira's tone became critical, "And imagine what we would come across in our haste but the aftermath of one of your battles."
The stalker knew what she was talking about, "… I do not have to answer to you, druid… but I will explain later what has come to be."
Contemplating for a moment and then accepting, Jaheira nodded, turning an annoyed look to Pan who still had the stalker by his cheeks, "Child! Let him go this instant, he's a grown man who does not need your coddling."
"Yes," Yoshimo agreed his tone slightly irate, "I don't believe our friend needs your attentions… or close proximity."
"Oh, okaaay," Pan said, relinquishing his cheeks and putting her hands behind her back, a broad grin on her face, "Heeeeeeee, you have a nice, sweaty, firm face."
Jaheira mumbled something under her breath while Yoshimo placed himself slightly in front of the alchemist, glancing at her with a taken aback look on his face.
Valygar allowed brief bewilderment to cross his face, "Uh… yes. Ahem, are you all here? Where is my fellow ranger?"
He was answered by the angry shouts coming from the other side of the room.
"Away wi' ye, ye addled oaf! I didnae need yer help! That last 'un was mine, fair an' square! Bloody Hells, where be yer manners, chargin' in an' stealing other fella's kills like that?"
"It is just that Boo can get so excited with so much evil to slay that I always forget to share the butt-kicking… but you are the traitorous dwarf with mental problems so we don't feel so bad about it."
"…Oi, that still not be a good reason tae nay share…"
"But it is every good reason why we should cut you down right now, dwarf," Jaheira spoke angrily as Korgan and Minsc joined them.
The berserker groaned aloud, not at all nervous that he was in company with the very people he had left behind that very morning, "Ach, not right now, tree-thumper, as if I donnae get enough yammerin' wi' the bloody pansy-robed wizard…"
The rest of Korgan's ire faded away from the stalker as he remembered what had just happened, a blur of screams and hacking shadows. Turning around slowly he settled his eyes upon the two still crumpled bodies… and a feeling, something akin to turning to the last page, stoked his heart. He took one step forward… and then stopped. For the life of him… he could not understand why he would not take another one.
A sudden pressure descending upon his shoulder startled him… and then left him with chills. He turned his head and found intense eyes, the colour of burning wood boring into his own.
"Do you want to finish it?" Pan asked eagerly.
Valygar answered hesitantly, "Finish what?"
"Heeeee, finish off your family, silly."
The stalker held in his breath. It is what he is supposed to do, what his family's oath is all about but the alchemist's words left him uneasy. In their career, the soldier knows killing is involved, their job is to do it, they are trained to do it, they are expected to do it… but when the time comes and the enemy appears and they are ordered to do it, killing becomes altogether something new and foreign.
I have killed, I have murdered… so why do I waver now? Valygar thought, closing his eyes and whispered under his breath so softly that Pan did not hear him.
"Eh?"
Opening his sight on the fallen necromancer, Valygar spoke clearly… coldly, "I said 'no reason not to.'"
He took one more step forward.
The others made to follow but he held up his hand, "No… this is only for myself."
"Finally, as our dwarven mercenary would say, you're showing some 'guts.'"
At the sound of that voice Valygar's anger flash boiled at the presence of Tolgerias striding nonchalantly from out of nowhere towards him. The Cowled Wizard passed by the others without deigning to look at them, stopping beside the stalker, his smug gaze focussed upon the smoking bodies of Lavok. No one missed the other Cowled Wizards surrounding the group, Davish and Korgan joining them.
Despite the heated glares coming from the knights, Jaheira and Valygar, Tolgerias spoke as if just returning from an evening stroll, "Victory… ah, Corthala, does the rush of triumph not fill your veins with ecstasy? The legions of foes have been crushed beneath our heels, easily swept aside like ants. I know not where Pan and her little band appeared from… it is a security issue I will deal with as soon as possible… and the fact that those knights need to be restrained again swiftly… ah, well, nonetheless their assistance has proven useful. I cannot imagine the pride and relief invigorating your spirit as your ancestor lies before us a defeated wreck. The journey is at end and now this place is mine to toy with as I see fit… ha hah, I've conquered the Planar Sphere!"
Valygar sputtered with disbelief, "You conquered the sphere? Where in the Nine Hells were you when Lavok was trying to murder me and your servants?"
Tolgerias looked at the stalker in surprise, "Surely you cannot expect the general of his army to dirty his hands with menial grunt work?"
"You're no damn general!" Valygar shouted, "You didn't even command us! You barked like a dog and ran away like one, leaving us to be butchered by Lavok and his demons!"
The Cowled Wizard's eyes flashed dangerously, "Be careful who you're calling a dog… dog."
The stalker had had enough but it was Jaheira who vented her anger first, "Wizard, he's right, you're the damned dog! How can you stand there spilling your filth after all you've done? You're fooling no one with your cursed tongue for your actions have already proven your menace to the balance. What you've done is so disgusting that Mother Earth would spit your rotting carcass out rather than have the worms writhing through your pathetic body. You're a coward for hunting Valygar, you're a coward for what you've done to these knights, you're a coward for endangering lives and you're a coward for using people for your own damnable goals. I will not stand here and let your selfish schemes ruin anymore lives you deceitful, lying, corrupt… coward!"
The sound of unsheathing weapons punctuated Jaheira's outcry, the knights and Minsc readying their weapons as Yoshimo took position next to Pan, katana drawn. In turn the Cowled Wizards hands glowed with magic, their voices rushed with chanting as Korgan brandished his battleaxe beside Tolgerias.
"… Ooooooh, Jaheira that sounded very harsh."
Valygar remained within the group, too surprised to speak from the druid's vehement tongue-lashing but still able to flourish his katanas with style.
Tolgerias gaped for a moment before spitting, "Shut your mouth, bitch!"
Minsc bristled at the Cowled Wizard's insult at Jaheira, "No!" he roared, "No more will helpless voices like brother Valygar's be silenced in your presence evil man! It's time the cries of justice be heard, yelling in joy as you howl in tears during the boot-stomping you righteously deserve!"
"Yea, you hog's arsehole," Onvo added.
Valygar smirked, "Ho ho, wizard, is that the best you can do? For all your long-winded speeches, you can't even come up with a something better than 'shut your mouth, bitch?'"
"Peace, dear sir," Reyna added, a grim smile on her face, "Do not encourage the cur to try to make up for his lack of eloquence."
Tolgerias nonetheless made the attempt, "I am a coward? Me? Then what of you? I tell you now that it's impossible for me to be the coward because I am the one willing to make the sacrifices for a glorious future. It is not cowardly to trudge within the filthiest ditches in order to conquer the mountains, it isn't cowardly to take from those unwilling to help themselves and it isn't cowardly to command the lives that will forge the course of destiny! I came here with every intention of securing a practical use for this sphere, something that none of you ever had any aim of doing. I'm here for the future… but you're all here to make things difficult."
"We're here because we said we'd be here."
"And for that you're willing to challenge me? Insignificant insects, all of you! What use is it to protect Corthala, to anger me, to defy me? You gain nothing! With this sphere I can become powerful beyond all reckoning, a sweeping force changing the face of Faerûn forever. You're all so damn dim-witted, not realizing what can come from all this, the unstoppable cornerstone of history I can preside in. Even before that time comes it is still foolish to confront me, a mage whose power you cannot comprehend. Are you all so simple-minded, so blinded by your pathetic codes of honour and morality that you would step in the path of such a cataclysmic moment? This is preposterous! What can rangers and druids who sleep in the dirt, boorish knights, a petty thief and a crazy half-elf possibly offer to the world more grand than the destiny I actually have the resolve to create? I could snuff your miserable lives with a mere snap of my fingers, it would make not a difference to me! Those barbaric halflings, the disgusting sahuagin, the necromancer, they all fell before my wrath! My servants, the brainless dwarf, I need none but my own ability to get where I am now!"
Korgan growled dangerously as the Cowled Wizard finished.
"…Snnkkt… heehee…"
All eyes turned to Pan, who tried to keep from sniggering loudly.
Tolgerias was not amused, "Does the fool of a girl find something funny?"
The alchemist spoke up, a strange dancing light in her eyes, "You talk too much and it still does not even make sense. Heeeee, changing Faerûn forever? Making destiny? Not needing anybody? But… you stiiiiiiiiink! I mean, we are here to look pretty but you do not even have a good smell so you cannot do any of those things because people do not take other stinky people seriously, not even with this ball, no matter how big it is! You cannot tempt the world into submission because you will not be able to get anybody to play with it with you. The ball does not bounce, the ball looks too heavy to kick and the ball probably does not taste good. Stiiiiillllll… I guess it is a pretty big ball. Hmmm, you might be able to change the rent prices around here, though I do hear property tax assessment is verrrryyyy complicated so I might be wrong about that which would mean that you really have no reason to be here. Anyways, blah blah blah, I do not like you threatening me… so I think if you try anything I will kill you and all your friends except Killer Korgan because he is so funny… Now can you pleeeeaaaase tell me where Imoen is?" Pan scrunched her nose, sniffing, "… Ugh, and you still have on too much perfume."
"…"
"…"
The two groups stood off with one another, neither attempting the first move. Weapons pointed and magic hummed.
Tolgerias glared.
Tolgerias seethed.
Tolgerias ignored Pan, focusing his burning wrath on Jaheira and Valygar, "I will state once more how futile it is to be so… confrontational. What harm have I done? The sphere is cleansed, Corthala's vow is fulfilled, so in all honesty I am missing the point in raising conflict. Is it to prevent me from acquiring the Planar Sphere? Is it some matter of Valygar's treatment? If that is so… then let me remind you all, that he is a murderer of two men and so is wanted by the Cowled Wizards. That fact alone should warrant him a horrible though justifiable end. That he is alive this instant with all his limbs operational is a testament to the leniency I have graciously bestowed upon his persons."
"Really? Oh, then, thank you for taking care of him!" Pan quipped.
"Hush, child!"
Tolgerias continued, "What is the point? Do you not wish to see the wonders and benefits that can be exploited from this place? Does honour or vengeance truly matter at the forefront of your desires that you would throw away all that can be gleaned from the opportunities presented before us? You are all more incredibly slow than I gave you credit for. Did you forget who I am? It is futile to defy us, the Cowled Wizards do not answer to the pathetic likes of you. We are everywhere in this entire country! I have more power and resources up my robes than anything you could ever contest with… I could have the entirety of the organization tormenting your every move with one simple whisper. Even now you are all surrounded and can easily be destroyed before you so much as take a single step. So what is the point, why don't you stand down?"
"The point," Yoshimo spoke up, "Is that we're here to collect the bounty."
The bounty hunter's statement surprised the Cowled group including Valygar.
Madeen asked incredulously, "Are you serious?"
The band only smiled.
Tolgerias barked a short laugh, quickly joined in by the other mages, "Hah! Are you all mad? Do you honestly think I'm still going to pay you for a task that you didn't even complete? I already gave the prize to the dwarf and it was he who brought in Corthala, not you. That is possibly the most inane thing I've heard! Ha! Hah ha ha!"
"He's talking about the bounty we have on you."
The new voice cut off the mages laughter like a slit throat.
Everyone turned to the person who had spoken, Tolgerias' eyes wide with astonishment, "… Teos? Wh-what're you doing here? What bounty?"
Half a dozen green garbed Cowled Wizards appeared through the doorway entrance, their hands already blazing with magical energies. Calmly leading them was an elderly man in ruby-red robes, his hands clasped casually behind his back. His worn features were accentuated with an unsmiling face, black piercing eyes and long, completely silvery-white hair tied into a single braid trailing over one shoulder.
Valygar saw the look on Tolgerias' face he had not seen before… panic.
Teos stopped before all of them, the other newly arrived mages standing in a line beside him, his voice sternly… bored, "Tsk, tsk. Tolgerias, you always were a disappointment. Isn't it obvious? We're paying them to lead the way… and we're arresting you."
BGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBG
Scratch.
Scratch.
Flip.
"… Hhhhsssss… tell me, what is the traditional sense… hhhhhsssss… of knowledge?"
"Any information, ideas and truths that we know of."
"Our awareness of facts and principles."
"Experienced ideals… and stuff."
"Um, understanding?"
"Yes, yessss. Understanding. What we've… hhhsssss… experienced, what we know of, what we are aware of… all leads to understanding. Everything we do, everything we create, everything we say, everything we think… all is because of what we know… hhhsssss. Considerations, opportunism, prediction, observation, confrontation, preparation, are all as much the inner clockwork gears of knowledge… hhhhssss… as information. The universe itself is the embodiment of all we consider 'knowledge.' Sentient recognition of information, facts, ideals and truth are limitless within the boundaries… hhhhhssss… of cognitive creatures."
Scratch.
"What is comprehended is stored and valued as either… hhhssss… useful… or useless. That is all… there is no morality, no ethics, no honour. It is just knowledge. It is just understanding. That makes it as powerful as… hhhhsss… steel, for knowledge is as much a foundation of any civilization as its sword or magic. Light and dark has risen … by what it understands. Knowledge is not bounded… hhhhsssss… by rules or margins… it is freely associated with all that we deem white or black. It is as grey as the colours themselves."
Flip.
Scratch.
"What you know has no bearing on dark or light. What you know does not make you… good or evil. What… hhhhsss… you know is not coloured black or white. Such decisions are left to be conveniently judged by actions… and actions are nothing more than… hhhhssss… the basic mechanical movements of our bodies, no different from the blade that cuts… or the voice that speaks."
Scratch.
"So… hhhssss… now tell me… if I am correct and knowledge has nothing to do with your soul… then what do you know… of your soul?"
BGBGBGBGBGBGBGBGBG
Her eyes open to a world of broken glass and dead dreams…
She breathes in the stale air of the abandoned…
…And screams.