Disclaimer: ditto the last nine chapters
A/N: All right, honestly? The verdict is in, and it seems Kaerion is about to get an early release from this fic. I won't kill him off yet, but I'm just going to plain stop talking about him until we get to the end of chapter one. He still gets his job done, but we just won't hear about it. Sound good to everyone? All right, let's get on with it then!
-Kaia
Peninsula District, Neverwinter…
The Peninsula. A dark, dreary district made up of tall office buildings and apartments, but mostly dominated by the two largest structures in the city besides Castle Never and the Halls of Justice. There was the prison itself, a corrections facility that housed anywhere between seven and fourteen hundred people on any given month, and then the headquarters of the City Guard. Both buildings occupied the same mile or so of land, separated only by a large wall with spikes and the like protruding from every surface. In front of these two buildings was a large square filled with the debris and wreckage caused in the early days of the prison riots and the mass exodus of civilian residents.
Like the Beggar's District, the peninsula was a veritable maze of back alleys and side streets nearly impossible to traverse with both a lack of light and good sense of direction. Here, Chaos ruled, and may the gods help the poor fool who would dare trespass.
Kaerion…
"Fire!" the crack of bowstrings filled the air as the harassed city guardsmen of the Peninsula Unit fired a round of arrows into another wave of wild, former prisoners sallying forth from the protection of the sturdy walls surrounding their hideout. The battle was far from one-sided in the guardsmen's favor, unfortunately, as the prisoners had broken into the barracks and liberated enough weapons and ammo to arm a legion.
"Master!" Pavel cried out above the clash of steel on steel, and the death cries of fallen combatants. "Help!" he awkwardly blocked a downward stroke on the haft of his mace and countered with a weak thrust to his enemy's gut. The criminal bared his teeth in a psychotic grin as the attack went awry, putting Pavel's blow to shame with an answering one that knocked the boy hard onto his back.
Kaerion heard his squire's call, but was too deeply imbedded in his own battle with a trio of axe bearing half-rocs. "Tomi!" he called out over the din, blocking a bone-shattering blow on his shield and another with his blade as it came at him from the right. "Go help Pavel!"
"Aye, cap'n!" the halfling rogue skittered through the crowd unnoticed, gutting and hamstringing preoccupied fighters with his flashing kukri as he passed. "Pavel lad, hang on!"
Pavel was on the verge of collapse, backed into a corner by a tough looking human wielding a pair of chains in either hand, when Daelin and Tomi came to his rescue. Hewing down a pair of dwarves with his double-sided axe, the noble half-orc was indeed a fearsome sight. There was a flash of tawny hair, and Tomi appeared by Pavel's side, curved blades dripping streams of blood to the muddy ground.
"You alright, kid?" the rogue asked, chest heaving from exertion as he rushed to support Daelin as the half-orc engaged a pair of veritable clones of himself.
"Fine!" Pavel levered himself to his feet and sung wildly with his mace, managing to actually strike a killing blow on a preoccupied halfling rushing by.
"This is it men!" Kaerion's deep voice rang out over the battle as he hefted his sword in the air and swung it forward. "Advance on the Prison! Take no prisoners!" the militia men roared a battle cry and surged after the charging paladin, a hail of arrows announcing their arrival to the convicts huddled behind their flimsy barricades of stone and wood.
The ensuing battle, though not as chaotic as the backstreet fighting they'd gone through on the way to the prison proper, was relatively short and to the point considering how badly the entire enterprise could have gone. The well-trained militiamen, though outnumbered two to one by the masses of convicts, fought brilliantly in units of four, supported from the back by both archers and mages.
An hour, or perhaps scant minutes later, quiet reigned throughout the square. All Pavel could hear was the heavy breathing of his friends, and the sullen murmurs of the remaining guardsmen.
"Everyone alright?" Kaerion wiped his blade on the rags of the fallen before sheathing it wearily, dirt, sweat, and blood staining his golden hair and fair skin. "Is there anyone in need of healing?" there were a few answering grunts, and the paladin administered a couple of precious healing potions to the wounded.
"It seems our efforts remain unrewarded." Daelin rested a paw like hand on the iron gates shutting the task force out of the prison proper, massive chest heaving from exertion. "We may have killed the convicts wandering the streets, but there's still an entire legion of them resting within these walls."
"Yeah," Tomi added, scratching his hairless chin. "And it don't look like my picks will work on a big ol' door like this one."
"So," Pavel began hesitantly, "does that mean we get to go home?" he shrank back as a withering glare assaulted him from four directions. "I guess that's a no then," he mumbled as the adults turned their attention back to the problem at hand.
"Well," Kaerion glared as though the force of his eyes would burn a hole through the cast iron. "Anyone have any ideas?"
"What about that Whentwhistle lady?" Tomi piped up after a moment. "Didn't that guy we saved say something about a secret way in? A tunnel of some kind?"
"Yeah! He said there was a spare key under the… under the…"
"Welcoming mat," Kaerion finished Pavel's sentence with an easy smile. "Good job lads, figuring out our next move. Now, let's get lost before another group of bandits shows up"
The four men, leaving the large guard force behind to keep an eye on the Prison, disappeared into the dark alleyways and began the long walk to the northernmost part of the district.
Majandra…
Majandra, Sharwyn, and Boddyknock made good time in the Peninsula District, especially so considering all of the obstacles lying in wait when they'd barely gotten through the gates. The sergeant in charge of the militia checkpoint was a hardened soldier, veteran of many campaigns against the forces of evil and bandits alike, and didn't believe for a moment that Majandra was who she said she was.
It took a substantial amount of gold, and a bit of persuasive magic from Sharwyn, before the three were waved through the checkpoint and admitted into the district proper. Almost immediately Majandra halted their progress and gestured for silence.
"What is it?" Sharwyn asked after a moment, green eyes flicking about from shadow to shadow with sharp wariness. "Is something coming?"
"No," Majandra shook her head slowly. For a moment there, she thought she'd heard the sounds of battle coming from nearby, but it seemed her ears were playing tricks on her. "Let's move on." Slipping from shadow to shadow, the three moved steadily in a spread out formation that kept all angles of attack in sight; Majandra in the front as the stealthiest, and Boddyknock and Sharwyn bringing up the rear as long ranged fighters.
Boddyknock was bouncing along as usual, babbling under his breath about planes and pancakes, when he heard a slight intake of breath to his left. Before he could even say, "leaven bread", a gang of convicts came charging out of the surrounding alleyways screaming wild cries.
"Majandra!" The fey'ri halted at the sound of Sharwyn's faint cries behind her and immediately drew her weapons, every instinct screaming danger. "Help!"
Looks like we have to save them, then. Rekkei sighed regretfully, crimson blade pulsing once in Majandra's hand. But afterwards, can we kill the gnome? Majandra ignored the frequent request and stepped back into the shadows, fading into the darkness like a dapple skinned shade.
Keeping a hand to her blades, Majandra crept around the corner of an apartment complex and then froze, emitting a low growl at the sight awaiting her. Sharwyn and Boddyknock, both looking a lot worse for wear, were trapped with their backs against a wall by a group of armed thugs led by a half-orc of gigantic proportions.
"Weeel, weeel, weel," the orc said, leering at Sharwyn's well endowed chest as he spoke in terrible Common. "Lookee at the purty thing thas fallen into me territory! Me thinks fun is ta be had wif such a treasue!" he reached forward with a clawed hand and groped the bard roughly; ignoring the feeble blows she rained on his head as she struggled in his grip.
"Mmh mmph mmmmmph!" Boddyknock's voice was muffled by the hand around his mouth, both that and the whip tied about his wrists keeping him from casting spells in defense of both himself and the bard.
"Get your filthy hands off of me!" Sharwyn cried as she kicked one of the men holding her in the nether regions. "Don't you have any idea who I am? I am the daughter of-" SLAP! The orcs fist came across her flushed face, whipping her head to the side.
"No talking for you!" the bestial man held the dazed bard up by the throat as her knees buckled, chuckling with his men as they gazed at Sharwyn with predatory eyes.
Off to the side, Majandra's eyes had been steadily darkening in fury until she could barely see from the bloody veil covering her sight. Unbeknownst to her, the pupils of her eyes narrowed until they resembled those of a cat, and the outline of a pair of wings was becoming steadily more visible every second.
No. Majandra couldn't tell who's thought it was through the rage that had her shoulders shaking and her weapons held in a white knuckled grip, but found that she didn't particularly care either. NO! She's MINE to do with as I please, and I won't allow those bastards to touch her! I'll kill them!
The fey'ri warrior stepped out of the shadows behind the gang members and made her presence known with a throwing dagger that drilled into the forehead of the man holding Boddyknock like a hot knife into butter. (A/N: Sorry Hakubi, but I had to borrow Rei's blades for this scene!) For a moment, everyone stared in shock as the human slumped limply to the ground, freeing Boddyknock to squeak, "Majandra!"
The gang leader whirled around as the cloaked woman stepped forward, twin wakizashi shedding an eerie light about the narrow street, crimson fighting for dominance with cerulean and winning. "Who the hell ye be?" He snarled, tossing Sharwyn to the ground and drawing a huge war axe as he spoke. "Ye killed my man!"
"And I'd do it again, and again, and again," Majandra's voice was silky, more reminiscent of Rekkei's than her own. "It was a joy, really." Speaking of the demonic entity, the fey'ri could see her counterpart standing over the unconscious Sharwyn with a crooked grin gracing her lips.
This show is yours, Maggie dear, She cooed, an evil glint in her eye. I'll keep an eye on the prize.
"Grrr," the orc growled, "Get her!" the five remaining men pounded towards the stationary fey'ri standing half a block away, swinging their swords and maces wildly in anticipation of the kill.
Majandra waited until they were almost upon her before exploding into action, throwing another dagger into the throat of the foremost enemy, a halfling armed with a slingshot, and dancing to the side as weapons crashed through where she was standing. As their smallest companion crumpled to the ground, the other four quickly circled the fey'ri, eyes locked onto the seemingly unworried woman with feral grins twisting their faces.
Now. A voice whispered into her mind, and the deadly dance began. Closing her eyes, Majandra swayed back as an axe slashed at her head, turning the blow with little effort with the edge of Tekkei and letting the force of the strike throw her into a punishing spin kick. She felt the dwarf's neck snap beneath her boot, but ignored his lifeless body and threw herself to the side in a roll that carried her beneath the legs of a massive human man wielding a greatsword. Her blades flicked out to the sides mid roll, and she felt the tendons in his thighs snap like rubber bands.
"Gahh!" He screamed as his legs collapsed beneath him, rendering him useless to his companions. His cries were cut short as another throwing knife whistled through the darkness to silence him forever.
Suddenly aware that they were the last remaining fighters in what had been a group of five, the last two, a hulking half-orc and a weenie looking human shared a glance and came at the demonic woman from both sides. Majandra caught both blows with her wakizashi and then leapt straight up into the air. For a moment, she heard a slight flutter behind her back and felt herself hovering over their heads, safely out of reach of their dual ripostes.
"What the-" Their voices were cut off as one, Majandra's boots shattering their shoulder blades as she carried them to the ground with her. Her blades flashed once as she quickly severed their brainstems and ended their miserable lives.
Wordlessly, breaths steady, Majandra rose to her feet and turned towards the gang leader watching her with a shocked expression on his face and his weapon held in slack hands. Behind him, Boddyknock had managed to get his wrists unbound and was kneeling beside Sharwyn's still form, tiny hands moving to cast a healing spell. Rekkei still stood watch over their friends, a satisfied, bloodthirsty smile on her face as blood dripped from the weapon clasped in her hand.
Magnificent! She breathed, grin widening as Majandra stalked forward, wings flaring out behind her creating the image of a dark, avenging angle come to collect her next victim. Can't you feel it? The power rushing through your veins? The scent of terror threatening to make his heart explode? Why do you resist this so?
Majandra halted four paces in front of the frightened half-orc, lips curling in a smirk. "I'll bet you wished you had stayed in your prison, don't you?" she asked softly, hands toying with Rekkei-maru. "Three square meals a day and a bunk to sleep in? Safe from the dark things that go bump in the night?" she stepped closer as she spoke, eyes locked onto his, until she could smell his rancid breath in the air.
"S-stay away from me, demon!" he stuttered out, cringing as the fey'ri's eyes narrowed a fraction and an annoyed expression flitted across her features. "Leave me alone!" he saw her eyes glance over her shoulder, and was about to turn as well, when a foot of steel erupted from his chest with a squelch. "Ugh." He groaned as he crashed to the ground, an enraged Sharwyn standing behind him with a double bladed sword clasped in both hands.
"That bastard!" she hissed, using the long weapon like a staff to hold herself up. "How DARE he touch me like that! And you!" she whirled on Majandra just as the fey'ri woman was about to lend a helping hand and slapped her across the face. "Where were you? I nearly got raped for crying out loud, and you took your sweet time in coming to my rescue!"
Majandra raised a hand and touched her cheek, hurt and confusion echoing in her eyes for a split second before they turned cold. "If you hadn't been so far behind, then we wouldn't have had to deal with them to begin with. Don't you understand the meaning of stealth? Your calls could have alerted who knows how many other thugs in this area!"
Sharwyn sniffed and walked off, Boddyknock heeling her like a faithful dog. "Come on, fey'ri! We haven't anymore time to waste feeding your bloodlust!"
Now can I kill her? Rekkei asked as she came up beside a fuming Majandra. I think she deserves it, and we can always find another way into the labs! The gnome could probably blast a way in for us.
"No, Rekkei," Majandra gritted out as she stalked after the bard and wizard. "You can't kill her. Yet. Do be a dear though and think up an alternative for me, will ya?"
Sure thing… was the reply as the fey'ri faded back into the darkness, features reverted back to normal underneath her notice.
A/N: SO! Do you think I should stop here? It was a hard fight, but I've finally beaten my writer's block! Yes, I know, some of you out there are like "Days? I've had a block for MONTHS!" Well, just to give myself a break, I will put a little interval here before I start writing again. Don't worry, I'll post the next half in a couple hours!
How Kaia Broke Her Block by Kaia Moonchild
Hallo! This short little interval type thing features characters from Never Again, as well as a guest character from The Darkest of Nights by Faithless Shadow. I was terribly mad at my computer, and was attempting to crush it with my keyboard when this dialogue began flowing through my fingers. Ok, so it's really random, but I hope you enjoy!
Rekkei: That was quite the display of violence back there, Kaia. (Buffs fingernails) I knew you'd warm up to me in time.
Kaia: (shrugs) frustration does crazy things to people. Like, I just may have something HORRIBLE happen to you guys within the next couple of pages
Majandra/Rekkei/Tekkei: (blinks) WHAAAAAT?
Kaia: oops! Gotta dash then! (Scampers off)
Kyral: appears on scene where's that dumbass author? I want my chapter!
Majandra: uh, nowhere! ( --Wimp)
Kaerion: Greetings! (Bright smile) what do you fine ladies do around here? My name is Kaerion, and I-AHHHHH!
Kaia: (wipes off sword) HA! I did it! I finally killed Kaerion! (dances around body)
Kyral: hmph, you killed the wimpy paladin. Great... (deadpans)
Majandra: yay! (Big grin and peace sign) ya got the bastard!
Rekkei:... I wanted to kill him!
Kaia: Ah well! (Swings sword in a waaay cool pattern before sheathing it) aren't I entitled to killing people too?
Kyral: ... No.
Kaia: (starts crying) why do you guys have all the fun? Here I am, trying to figure out a way to make your lives miserable, and-AHHHH
All: (blink) where the hell did that come from?
Rekkei: (inspects body) yup, heart failure
Majandra: (crying into her hands) she was so young, so talented! Why do my friends have to die?
Kyral: look, do you want to die too? We just killed the only way I'm getting my bloody chapter, AGAIN, and I didn't get to do it! (Advances with dart in hand)
Rekkei: oy! Kill her and you kill me too!
Majandra: Rekkei! I knew you cared (hugs self)
Kyral: (blinks) you people are completely insane, you know that? (Perplexed glare)
Majandra: blame Kaia!
(Miles below earth, or perhaps even another plane, a dark presence observes the exchange and plots)
Kaia: Why am I always the one who gets killed? That poison stuff really sucks! (Glares up at the scene unfolding in the mortal realm)
Flame #1: You died of a heart attack this time, dearie. The gods felt that your evil deeds were due reckoning!
Flame #2: what, did you expect to get away with mass murder, torture, and defiling a paladin in the sacred temple of her god?
Kaia: (blinks) well, yeah!
Flame #3: ... you're really evil... (shudders)
Kaerion: oh! Kaia! What are you doing down here? (BIG smile)
Kaia: Kaerion... what the hell are you doing in Hell? You're a PALADIN for chrissakes! I made you irritatingly perfect! (Looks horrified)
Kaerion: (grins) well, the gods gave me the choice of becoming a celestial paladin and coming down here to keep you company. I chose my duty to you, my beautiful creator!
Kaia: you've got to be KIDDING ME! (Starts beating on the walls and shouting) HELP! MAJANDRA! REKKEI! ...KYRAL! YOU"VE GOTTA GET ME OUTTA HEEEEEEREEEE!
Kaerion: oh, that doesn't work. I had to do something really nasty in heaven to get sent down here.
Kaia: really? (Evil glint in eye) something nasty, you say?
Kaerion: (nods innocently) Uhhuh! You have to get their attention.
Kaia: (thinks for a moment) Kaerion?
Kaerion: hmm?
Kaia: (seductive grin) strip.
(Insert scene of Kaerion stripping to "I'm too sexy" and beginning to pole dance in his heart covered boxers)
Kaia: (tries hard not to throw up) Uh, good show Kaerion! Now, just hold still while I...
Kaerion: (nods) Kaia? What're you doing with that rope?
Kaia: (winces as her hand passes over the tent in Kaerion's boxers) tying you up! What does it look like?
Kaerion: I didn't know you liked it like that (leers)
Kaia: (piercing glare) I don't. You told me I had to get the gods attention, so I'm going to do it in the most confusing, nastiest possible way! Now, Flames, get your arses out here!
Flames: (bow wearily) yes, mistress of darkness?
Kaia: (cackles wickedly) #1, roast this man alive, but be a dear and do it slowly, kay? #2, find that old Ashley Simpson CD shudders and put "pieces of me" on repeat!
Kaerion: (howling in fear) No! No! Anything but that!
Kaia: (dark grin) #3, if you will, please remove that (gestures towards Kaerion's obvious discomfort in the nether regions) from my sight. Use whatever method you please, just make it painful!
(A few hours of the hideous torture pass before Kaerion dies. again.)
Kaia: laughing madly muahahahaha! Hey Tyr, you like that! You like that? Hahahahahaha. Whoa, (pauses and scratches head) I feel... light?
(Back on Toril)
Majandra: I am NOT a wimp! I'm emo, and dark, and a really good fighter! I'm also good with the ladies, so there! (Crosses arms and pouts)
Rekkei: hahaha you? Good with the ladies? Those're all MY moves, kiddo! As neutral girl, you got the NEUTRAL emotions! Passion ain't one of them!
Kyral: (dark muttering) why do I even hang out with these losers? Maybe if I killed them... but that would leave me with Kia and Peregrine... maybe later. Yes! I will drown them in their own blood and create a finger painted masterpiece with their entrails! Insane giggling (I do believe I've driven her stark, raving mad with constant exposure to Majandra and co. unless she already was!)
Kaia: (appears suddenly) huh? It worked!
All: blinks
Kyral: haven't I killed you enough to get you to stay there?
Majandra: Kaia! (Hugs)
Rekkei: how the hell did you get back here?
Kaia: (snarky smile) oh, I'm sure if you resurrect Kaerion, he'll let you know! Now, time to write! (Disappears)
Majandra: uh, what was that sexy smile for? Wait, she isn't like that, is she?
Kyral: I think we'd know by now. (Starts playing with an arrow)
Rekkei: (Green in face) no, guys. I think she did "something" with Kaerion...
All: ... EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!
Til Next Time!