Tales from Sanctuary
Sisters of the Sightless Eye
Pamela stood looking around awkwardly near where the cart driver had unceremoniously dumped her travel chest. Not that it mattered, since after the long sea voyage from the island Lycander to Kingsport, then overland to Tristram and beyond, there was nothing in the weather stained and travel beaten chest anyway. All Pamela had in her possession was a stack of about sixty training javelins and a training buckler she had brought from home. A lucky card game aboard the Pig's Pride, the merchantman that had brought her to Kingsport had also produced four minor healing potions the alchemist had sworn would heal any minor wounds in a short time. Pamela wondered if she would ever need to see if they worked, as she re-adjusted the way they hung from her outfit. She had temporarily fastened them to her leather breastplate with some straps cut from the leather wrappings wound about her thighs. She had had to awl out the holes for the straps herself. The sullen cart driver, after having taken her last three gold pieces for the trip from Tristram, had no interest in doing the job in return for the two scrolls she also possessed. Not that she blamed him; Pamela wondered if indeed the one scroll could identify magical items, or that the other one would teleport her to the nearest place of safety as the old conjurer had promised. Pamela frowned as she thought how much those two pieces of paper had cost her, but then she had always had a fondness for all things magical even as a child.
"Welcome young Amazon," a friendly looking man greeted as he approached. He was continually rubbing his hands and stamping his feet, causing Pamela to surmise that he was a easterner, like herself, used to a warmer clime than that offered by Khanduras in late fall.
"Hello," she replied, shivering, "Do you know where I may gain some employment in this place?"
"Oh, you should see Akara for that. The foul beasts and demons seem to retake that evil cave no matter how many would-be adventurers clean it out. One thing you can say about Fallen is that they do know how to breed. Zombies on the other hand… Well I'll just say that there are enough shallow graves out there," he motioned to an area across from the small river running to the east of the encampment, "to be corrupted and the occupants turned into those foul undead."
The easterner was still prattling along as Pamela surveyed her surroundings more thoroughly. The encampment in which Pamela found herself was fortified on all sides, with a large and sturdy gate on the western side, through which the carter had entered. Opposite from the gate, there was a small stone bridge, crossing the river, where some women, Rogues Pamela guessed, held watch.
"That is Akara's tent," he motioned. Just to the north of the bridge there was a small tent, with a small woman pacing up and down in front of it. Pamela took it to be the person the easterner was pointing out.
"I am Warriv by the way. Forgive me my manners, but I see so many hopeful young ones come here. Sadly most of them also end up dying here and I therefore don't find much use for names nowadays."
"Thank you for the information Warriv," she smiled at him. "I am Pamela the Amazon."
Warriv was taken in by her lovely smile and managed a small smile himself. "You have the smile of a sunrise in this dark place," he mused, "I think you may yet go further than those before you."
Pamela nodded, then turned on her heel to go and see Akara. Halfway there a stern looking woman with red hair accosted her. The woman was wearing a chain-mail dress and had a wicked looking dagger stuck in a leather garter.
"Another Amazon!" she screeched, "Take care that you don't get corrupted too. I'll be watching you wench!"
"Calm down Kashya," a motherly voice soothed, "Hello young Amazon, I am Akara."
"Err, hello, I'm Pamela."
"Please forgive Kashya child," Akara said as she took Pamela by the elbow and gently nudged her away from the spot where Kashya was obviously still fuming. "She feels personally responsible for the situation we are in and has lost a lot in this struggle."
"I think I understand."
"Oh do you child?" Akara questioned, lifting an eyebrow, "We shall see about that. I see that you have already met Warriv," she continued, "and no doubt he has told you to come and see me. You will find the Den of Evil outside the encampment, in the area we refer to as the Blood Moor. If you wish to start winning Kashya's trust and be of service to the community here, you'd best hurry to catch up to the young Paladin that left here an hour ago."
Bemused and not altogether confident, Pamela turned around and walked over the stone bridge, readying her javelins and tightening the straps of her buckler.
Caesar was bone weary. He smiled nonetheless as he thought how literal that phrase was, considering his circumstances. Flecks of bone and scraps of decaying flesh clung to his buckler and littered his trousers and leather breastplate. The pair of cracked leather gloves he had scavenged barely fit, but it did protect his hands. The linen sash he had found in a crude cache under a large rock did make carrying small paraphernalia much easier. He currently carried five minor and a light healing potion, as well as a small flask of some purplish liquid, in the pockets provided by the sash. He made a mental note to ask Akara about the potion once he made it back.
Also tied to the sash was his money pouch, currently containing the princely sum of sixty-two gold pieces. Caesar wondered what his Zakarum teachers would think if they knew that not only had he defied their authority by coming to Khanduras, but that he was currently also breaking their law of poverty as well.
Caesar looked up and noticed a figure rapidly approaching from the north. He knew it had to be a living person as his encounters with the Zombies in this area of the Blood Moor had left him in no doubt as to the slow, if not entirely innocuous, speed these creatures exhibited. He sat down on a small outcropping, dropping his shield to the ground and letting his notched small sword rest across his knees.
As the figure approached he noticed it was a woman. She seemed to be running with an athletic gait, somewhat reminiscent of the Zakarum priestesses, but her hair was blonde. She was unlike any of the woman back in Kurast, so she had to be native to this land or perhaps the Amazon Isles. Perhaps she was a Barbarian woman, but that was highly unlikely, given their xenophobic distaste for anything outside of their own lands to the north. Caesar decided to wait and have his questions answered soon enough, while he took this welcome break.
"Hi, I'm glad I caught up to you," the woman called as she neared him, "I'm Pamela,"
To call her a woman was perhaps a little premature. Caesar smiled again at this new irony. She had the build of a mature woman, he could see, but her voice and exuberance was surely that of a much younger one.
"I am Caesar. I am honoured to meet you," he greeted in turn.
"Have you killed all those… those things by yourself?" she asked.
"Yes, I am bound to rid this world of all foul undead," he replied.
"You must be a good swordsman then," she commented, eyeing his blunted sword.
"Ah, yes, a sword is not the best weapon when dealing with the undead," he agreed, "They tend to blunt ones weapon, while it harms them little when one cuts already dead flesh."
"So what would be better then?" she asked.
"A blunt weapon, such as a mace or holy scepter, is much better. One needs to bludgeon and crush the undead to effectively stop them."
"I guess using my javelins then would be ill advised," Pamela stated.
"Yes, but if you are accurate at throwing them, they may be useful against the spiked creatures that seems to also occupy this area."
"Oh, I have killed a few of them on my way to catch up to you. Only one was able to hit me with those barbs they seem to shoot out."
"Did Akara send you?" he asked, suddenly tiring of talk of weapons.
"Yes. She also said you were a Paladin. Do you require my help, or should I look for the cave myself?" she asked.
"I am weary," he admitted. "A companion would be welcome. Two are stronger than one after all."
Night was fast falling, as Pamela threw her last javelin at another of those pesky spiked animals.
"I guess I'm going to have to punch them now," she grinned. "Would a hand be considered a blunt weapon?"
Caesar smiled. It was refreshing to have this humorous girl along for the task. She had thus far proven capable enough with range at her disposal, often staying out of melee range of the Zombies and the spiked animals. He was thinking less of her as a ward, and started seeing her more as an equal.
"Can you use any other weapons?" he asked.
"I can shoot with a bow, faster than you can blink," she claimed.
"I suggest we return to the Rogue's for the night and continue our search at first light. With the gold we have managed to reap from those fallen in battle, I am sure we can procure a bow for you from Charsi. Your buckler looks too worse-for-wear to see much more use anyway."
"That sounds like an idea," she replied, "It's a training buckler we use in my homelands anyway, I'm surprised it has lasted this long."
"Are you tired?" he asked.
"Not yet," she replied, "I can still go on for a bit."
"Never mind, I think now is as good a time as any to find out if these so-called 'town portal' scrolls are worth anything," he determined as he silently mouthed the words on the scroll. The scroll itself disintegrated after he had read the last phrase.
"Just as I thought…" he started, but was shocked to silence as a blue shimmering portal suddenly appeared next to him.
"Shall we?" he enquired, wondering where the magical portal lead to.
"What have we got to lose?" Pamela replied in turn as she stepped into the shimmering haze.
"Oh, I say, that's neat!" she enthused, as Caesar joined her, seconds later standing inside the Rogue's encampment.
"I think I need to see Akara about some things. Care to join me?" he invited.
"Sure."
The both walked to Akara's tent, making sure to avoid contact with Kashya. Once at Akara's they found the small woman busy tending to the wounds of one of the Rogues. When she had finished, she turned her green eyes on the pair.
"Back so soon?" she enquired.
"We have yet to find the Den," Caesar admitted, "but we do have some questions. Also, it is getting dark so we thought to continue our search at first light."
"Demons don't sleep at night you know," Akara admonished, "but if it is knowledge you seek, perhaps I can help you."
"We have seen some peculiar animals out in the Moor," Pamela started, "What are they?"
"Ah, those are Quill Rats. They are not evil as such, but the corrupting power of the evil in this land has made them a little less tolerant of humans than they normally are. They also like to line their nests with shiny object, much like magpies do and can therefore often be a source of gold for those brave enough to hunt them."
"Ah I see," said Caesar, "What about these potions? Can you tell us what they are?"
"The violet one is a rejuvenation potion. It will instantly heal any minor and light wounds you may have, unlike healing potions that take time. Furthermore it will also somewhat rejuvenate a weary spirit so that you may continue to use your magic, if you were thus gifted of course. The other potions are all fulminating potions. They explode on impact causing for the most part, minor burns if flung at an enemy."
"I see," said Pamela, "Do these scrolls really work?" she asked handing Akara the scrolls she owned.
"Oh yes child, these will either identify a magical item so that you may use it properly or as Caesar here has shown, will open a magical portal to the nearest place of safety. These are based on Horadrim magic, but there are also fixed portals out in the wilderness created by the Horadrim themselves which act as waypoints. When you come across them you need to activate them and then think of the destination you wish to go to. This will instantly transport you there, much like the town portal brought you here."
"Can anyone use a town portal?" Caesar asked.
"No child, fortunately not. Only those fighting on the side of good may enter them and be transported. You may safely keep your portal open till dawn when it will close once you return from whence you came. Everyone here knows to not go through portals they themselves hadn't created, especially after Gheed went through one and almost didn't make it back. He had probably been smoking that demon weed he so likes and stepped through a portal by mistake. I doubt he'll make that mistake again soon."
"We thank you spiritual mother," Caesar said, "Your knowledge has been of great help."
"Think nothing of it, child. If you are half as efficient in killing the evil out there as you are polite, I think I shall soon be thanking you in return."
A little later they visited Charsi at her outdoor smithy.
"Oh hi there!" the strawberry blonde greeted them as they approached. "Can I help you with something?"
"We'd like to have a look at your wares, Charsi," Caesar replied.
After having the barbarian smith repair the usable items, Pamela could still not find a bow to her liking.
"Where could I find a long bow?" she enquired.
"Oh, you might find some at Gheed's," she replied. "You don't happen to have any equipment you wish to sell? I'll even take it if it's broken."
"What would that help?" Pamela asked.
"We are constantly running short on supplies, so anything you don't plan on using I can melt down or re-use in some or other way to provide weapons and armor."
While selling the items they had no use for, Charsi suddenly stopped them.
"You're not thinking of selling that buckler are you?" she enquired.
"Why?" asked Pamela, "Isn't it worth something?"
"Well yes," Charsi replied "but it is far superior than the one Caesar is currently using. It also has a gem socket, see here," she went on, pointing out a small, but ornamental socket on the inside of the buckler.
"What does that mean?" Caesar enquired.
"Well, as far as I know you can slot a gem, rune or jewel into the socket and it will cause the buckler to be imbued by the item you use. There is rumored to be powerful rune words one can create if using the right runes in the right order in an item. I have never seen anything like that, but have come across some items imbued with gems. A good thing to look for would be a diamond, as it will imbue that buckler with prismatic resistances to the elements and also poison."
"In that case, I shall rather sell you my old buckler and keep this one," Caesar decided.
After selling all their cracked and low quality items, Pamela and Caesar had the following items:
One linen sash
One pair of leather gloves
Two full quivers of arrows
One suit of quilted armor
Three keys
One superior buckler with a single gem socket
One magical ring
"Don't you think it is time we identified that ring?" Pamela asked.
"Ah, yes, I had nearly forgotten about it," Caesar replied. He pulled out one of his identifying scrolls and read the words. Suddenly the words warped and changed, spelling the word 'Beryl' before the scroll also disintegrated.
"A beryl ring?" Pamela mused, "I wonder what that means."
"I guess we should visit Akara again," Caesar suggested.
"Oh, no, that won't be necessary," Charsi replied, "Gheed and I also know what properties magical items can possess. That particular ring will give you some slight protection against any poison."
"I see," said Caesar.
"Mind you," Charsi warned, "be careful to only wear one ring on each hand. This ring may not seem all that powerful, but wearing two rings in close proximity to each other often has the effect of nullifying their magical properties. Also, some rings are so powerful that one dare not wear it on the same hand with another powerful ring. It is said that the magic contained within can cause catastrophic results in such a case."
"Oh, my!" Pamela gasped as she suddenly realized that the magic she was so fond of since her childhood may also have negative effects.
"We thank you for your warning and knowledge, Charsi, and bid you farewell for now," Caesar greeted.
"Oh, I love you Paladins!" Charsi enthused, "You're always such a polite lot."
The pair could hear her giggling as they walked away, seeking out Gheed.
"Good day to you partner! I can see that we will become the closest of friends in this accursed camp," Gheed sniveled.
Caesar could sense the dishonesty of the man and made a mental note of that for any dealings with him.
"A spare weapon, some gold, a gem or two, I will gladly trade for my fine wares. The finest in all of Khanduras you might say," Gheed continued.
"I'm sure Charsi would disagree," Pamela remarked.
"Oh, Charsi is a fine girl, but her head is not always in her business. As long as I keep filling it with tales of adventure, I'm raking in gold hand over fist."
"That remains to be seen Gheed!" Caesar replied, drawing his sword slightly from its scabbard.
"Oh, there'll be no need for that," Gheed said hastily, eyeing Caesar cautiously. "What can I do for you my dear?" he asked, positively gawking at Pamela, his eyes focused mainly on her ample bosom.
"Charsi tells me you sell long bows, is this true?"
"The finest in Khanduras…"
"You mentioned that, and please look me in the eye rather than the breast when speaking to me!" Pamela replied sternly, "If not I shall be forced to run you through with that trident you have for sale here. I'm sure I'll be doing Sanctuary a service in that case."
"I'm sorry, the two bows I have are right over here," he motioned, making sure to avert his eyes.
Gheed had two long bows on display; one had three of those ornate sockets, while the other glowed slightly with magical power.
"How much?" Pamela asked, weighing both in her right hand.
"For you, I'll let the one with the gem sockets go for four-hundred-and-eighty gold. The bronze long bow I cannot sell for anything less than five-hundred-and-ninety."
"I'll give you four-hundred-and-sixty gold and not cut out your sniveling tongue," Pamela offered.
"Four-hundred-and-seventy and we have a deal sister," Gheed persisted.
Caesar readied himself for action, but noting the quality of Gheed's wares, he was sure that Pamela was just bluffing to get a better price. He seemed to get more respect for the young woman as every minute passed.
"Four-hundred-and-sixty-five, but if you call me 'sister' once more, I will have your tongue regardless."
"That will be acceptable," said Gheed as Pamela counted out the money, "and to prove to you that I meant no offense, I will instruct you on what to put into the sockets in your bow for a modest fee of say, five gold?"
"Let's hear your advice first Gheed, then we can decide on the price," Caesar answered.
"I'm sure Charsi has mentioned to you the importance of sockets, since I can see your buckler also has a gem socket?" he asked.
"Yes, she mentioned using gems, jewels or runes to imbue the piece of equipment," Pamela replied.
"Ah, but has she told you what gems to use?" Gheed asked, "You see I am a kind of connoisseur when it comes to gems, as I make a living off trading for them," he continued without waiting for their answer. "Gems are generally graded in five grades. These grades may vary slightly throughout Khanduras, but in general gem merchants and jewelers agree on them. A specimen like this," he said holding up a very small and uncut emerald, "is uncut and very small. It further has quite a few chips and flaws and is the lowest quality gem a merchant will buy or sell, but more importantly for you, is the lowest grade that will work in a gem socket."
"All very interesting Gheed, but you haven't told us anything worth five gold yet!" Pamela reminded him.
"Patience sis… I mean my lady, I shall get to that. A specimen like this…" he continued. A little while later Pamela and Caesar were fully educated on the five grades of gems as well as the prices they may expect to pay and sell them for.
"Now there are only six types of gems that have any magical properties. Those are diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, topazes, rubies and amethysts. Furthermore, the skulls of certain beasts and demonic creatures are said to also be able to transfer their magical qualities once properly placed into a gem socket. Gems imbue different qualities if put into a weapon, than say a shield. Likewise, helms and armors are also imbued differently. For shields, which protect the body from attack, the four elemental gems offer elemental resistance and resistance to poisons. Ruby will protect against fire, emerald for poison, sapphire for the effect of cold and topaz to protect you against lightning. For weapons, these four gems will instead add that element to your attack. If you were to imbue your bow," he said, pointing at Pamela's new acquisition, "with a ruby for instance, each and every arrow fired from that bow will magically be imbued with a burning flame."
"What about diamonds and amethysts?" Pamela asked, her eyes wide with wonder. This was magic she could control and make happen herself. Caesar, who had grown up more used to magic, showed less enthusiasm, but nevertheless also found Gheed's lecture fascinating. Gheed may be a crooked man, but he wouldn't make money if he were a stupid crook.
"Amethysts will help you aim your bow better, or hit surer with a melee weapon. Diamonds will add additional damage against the undead, something I'm sure you are familiar with Paladin?"
"We used to have weapons like that back in Kurast," Caesar agreed, "I now know how they must have worked."
"Anyway, in shields, an amethyst will add to the defense of the shield, while a diamond…"
"Will add prismatic resistance!" Pamela finished for him.
"Yes, you are correct my lady. For helms and armor, being close to the body, gems have different effects. Rubies will add to your life force, while sapphires will add to your mana. Amethysts will give you magical strength, while emeralds will help you be more dexterous. Diamonds will once again help you to aim better, while topazes will help your luck."
"Luck?" Caesar scoffed.
"Scoff not my friend. A Barbarian that toured through here once found the most amazing magical weapons and other equipment, just because he had added topazes to his helm and body armor. Try it for yourself and you will see if I tell you the truth."
"What about skulls?" asked Pamela.
"I'm afraid you will have to find that out for yourself my lady. I have much experience with gems, but don't deal with skulls. I don't have any love for Necromancers and therefore will have nothing to do with the trade of skulls either."
"So you have scruples after all?" Caesar marveled.
"Nothing that can't be bought," Gheed assured him.
"Here's your gold Gheed, if for nothing more than an entertaining lecture," Pamela said, counting out three gold pieces.
"My price was higher than that sister…"
Gheed was suddenly faced with an arrow almost piercing his left eyeball.
"I am sure that I could pin you to your wagon behind you and let your good eye watch yourself die!" Pamela threatened.
"That won't be necessary Amazon!" the voice of Kashya said behind her, "We offer sanctuary to all who come to this camp and even though I would delight in the death you just described for this pig, he is under my protection. I would therefore ask you to lower your weapon and be on your way."
Looking around Pamela saw a half a dozen Rogues with their bows aimed at her. Resignedly she lowered her own.
"Let us go Pamela," Caesar invited, "We have nothing more to gain here."
"You are right," she replied, tossing three coins at Gheed's feet, "we got what we paid for."
"A wise decision Amazon," Kashya agreed as she watched the duo leave.
"They underpaid me Kashya…" Gheed started.
"And you probably still made a tidy profit!" the commander closed for him, "I suggest you close 'shop' for tonight, merchant."
The next morning Caesar was up early. He had had a strange dream where an angel of the Light had been instructing him on the art of sacrifice and smiting an enemy with his shield. He sat on his sleeping pallet, praying to the Light for guidance, when Pamela awoke next to him.
"I had the strangest dream," she commented, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
"You too?" Caesar asked.
"What do you mean 'you too'?" she enquired, rather surprised.
After telling her about his dream, Pamela shared hers with him in turn. In her dream her mother had taught her the art of using an inner sight to find enemies easier in the dark, as well as how to strike an enemy where he is most vulnerable.
"We should ask Akara about this," Caesar concluded.
"Go ahead, I need to speak to Kashya about last night. I may need to apologize to her."
A short while later the two re-united at the portal Caesar had cast the previous evening.
"What did Akara say?" Pamela enquired.
"She said we were being instructed to fight the evil. Each person had certain hidden talents that could be unlocked by doing good deeds. She also seemed to hint at the fact that her reward for cleansing the Den would also entail unlocking one of these talents."
"That is good news, as I'm sure we will need these talents and skills in the days to come."
"How did your 'meeting' with Kashya go?" he asked.
"Let's just say, she accepted my apology."
Caesar did not press for more. Instead he stepped through the portal and found himself back where they had left the Blood Moor the evening before. The portal closed behind him, but without Pamela. A half an hour later, Pamela stopped next to him, slightly out of breath from her jog to join him.
"I owe you one," she grinned, "I needed the warm up."
"I guess we both learned something Akara didn't tell us…"
"Don't step through the portal you created first, unless your comrades need the exercise," she finished for him.
"I'm glad you can laugh it off like that," he smiled.
"We are both new at this," she replied, "As long as our mistakes aren't deadly ones, I can live with that."
With that Caesar glanced up and motioned. The Den of Evil was looming up before them another hundred yards to the south.
They had been fighting the denizens of the Den for quite a while. There were Zombies, Fallen and some large and burly animals. Caesar sensed no evil from the animals, but they were no less dangerous. Enraged as they were, they could easily crush a man if left to do so. Luckily Pamela mostly took care of them using her bow. They had also found a chipped sapphire, which Pamela had put into the first gem socket of her bow. The bow had glowed briefly as the gem settled into the socket. What surprised them both was that the whole bow had discolored around the socket, turning blue, like the sapphire. Pamela found afterwards, that all enemies struck by her arrows would be chilled for a second or so. Sometimes they even shattered like ice, if Caesar killed them while they were in a chilled state. This often helped when killing the normal Fallen, as their shaman could not resurrect them then.
They had devised a strategy where Pamela would target the shamans and the beasts, while Caesar would close for melee combat with the Zombies and the normal Fallen. The Fallen amused Pamela, even though she knew that in numbers they might be quite dangerous. Fortunately they were a cowardly sort, running off at the first sign of one of their comrades being killed. This worked to their advantage as they could rest or drink healing potions in the brief respite this proved to be. Always the Fallen would curse and shout insults while rallying together for another assault. The shamans were braver, standing their ground, but could do nothing to rally their underlings. The shamans were the most dangerous enemies though; they were adequate fighters, but their use of magical fireballs made life dangerous to be around them.
During their sojourn, Caesar had another of those epiphanies, learning how to use his first aura. This aura really helped, since if Caesar prayed continuously during combat he found his own wounds and those of Pamela healed by the Light. This still did not replace the use of healing potions, as the rate of healing was very slow, but ensured that the singed skin from shamanic fireballs didn't take long to heal. Deeper cuts and bruises still required the occasional use of potions.
At last they came upon a pack of Zombies that seemed to fight in a more cohesive manner. The leader was a sickly green hue and seemed to unite his troops with guttural moans.
"Pain," moaned the Zombie.
"Pain," moaned his followers.
Suddenly he seemed to notice the combating duo and started shuffling towards them.
"Corpse Fire bring pain," he seemed to growl at them.
"And I bring the Light!" Caesar answered as he closed in combat with Corpse Fire.
Pamela sniped at Corpse Fire's follower, but her arrows seemed to have little effect. She did manage to slow their already pedestrian speed down even more by chilling them, but Caesar was basically overwhelmed by Corpse Fire and about four or five other Zombies. Caesar was bleeding from several wounds and at times also seemed to be chilled. Pamela's eyes widened as burned skin appeared on Caesar. He was being overwhelmed and would die soon if she didn't do something quickly. She grabbed a town portal scroll from her backpack and hastily read the words. Sure enough the portal appeared as the scroll turned to dust. Slinging her bow over her shoulder, she ran to Caesar's aid, dragging him through the portal just as Corpse Fire's claw dragged across her upper arm. All of a sudden her arm was on fire with venom coursing through her veins.
She barely made it to Akara, shouting to Kashya for help. Together the Rogue commander and some of her soldiers helped to carry the dying Caesar to the healer's tent. Pamela pried open a light healing potion and poured the contents down Caesar's throat, before collapsing herself.
Caesar came to as Akara was speaking quietly to Pamela.
"I see you have met Corpse Fire," she commented.
"That's a bit of an understatement," Pamela replied, "That Zombie is dangerous."
"Now you understate child," Akara chided. "I think you now start to understand why we have never been able to cleanse that cave in all the time we have been forced to live here. Corpse Fire has got the right name I'll warrant. He uses a spectral energy from beyond the grave. I would hazard his power comes from the very hells themselves. The best defense against him is to isolate and kill his followers, then using a prismatic shield of sorts to combat his powers, take him on with a sturdy mace or club and kill that foul monster."
"What would happen if we managed that?" Caesar enquired, "I have a feeling he won't remain destroyed."
"I am glad you are feeling better Paladin," Akara answered. "Sadly, yes, the Den will remain free of evil for a week or two before Corpse Fire gets re-animated again. The evil in that cave is too strong for now to be totally eradicated, but by not allowing the Fallen a foothold this close to the camp, we ensure the prolonged safety of all who take shelter here."
"I shall take your words to heart when we step through that portal again," Caesar vowed as he got up. "By the Light, I will avenge those who died to that undead," he said as he walked out of the tent.
A short while later he was back, brandishing a fearsome mace. His buckler also had a magical glow about it and had been discolored to a pristine white. Pamela thought of how well the color suited the Paladin.
"Gheed asked me five hundred gold for a chipped diamond, but I am sure the price will prove warranted if this buckler helps to defeat Corpse Fire," he mentioned.
"Are you ready?" Pamela asked, casting a glance at Akara.
"Oh, he is ready child. This is what any Paladin longs to do more than anything else. Take care of him, that could be his folly one day."
As they stepped through the portal, Corpse Fire and his followers were shambling along a fair bit off, having seemingly forgotten the previous battle they had been a part of. Pamela fired an arrow at the leader to attract his attention, while she and Caesar retreated slowly. The trick seemed to work on the mindless undead as he shambled in their direction without his followers. Having established a safe enough distance between themselves and Corpse Fire's followers, Caesar joined in battle with the undead.
As opposed to the previous battle this one was rather short lived. Caesar still sustained wounds, but thanks to his gemmed buckler, the effects of those wounds were much less severe. Constantly praying throughout the battle also helped as the healing aura gently infused him and Pamela. Soon enough, the dreaded Corpse Fire fell, shattered at their feet. Searching through his grizzly remains, Caesar found a pair of magical boots. They must have belonged to a previous victim of the dangerous undead, and shortly Caesar had them identified. Once again the scroll's wording warped and shifted, settling on the word 'Tangerine', but unlike the previous time, the wording warped and shifted a second time before spelling out 'of Balance'.
"Tangerine boots of balance?" he mused.
"I guess we'll have to ask Charsi again when we have them repaired," Pamela suggested.
"Yes. Now let's finish off his followers."
Without their leader dealing his spectral damage, they were no match for the combined might of the Paladin and sure aim of the Amazon. Soon they also lay dead as the cave suddenly shimmered. Pamela stood transfixed as a woman she knew to be the goddess Athulua appeared to her.
"You have done well my child. I am Athulua, the Amazon goddess of war. I have taken note of your eagerness for battle, but also your frustration when your ammunition runs out. Henceforth you shall never again run out of arrows, but shall rather summon magical arrows by your will."
Just as suddenly as she appeared, Athulua vanished, leaving a dazed but otherwise elated Pamela staring into the gloominess of the cave.
"You have had a visitation from a god?" Caesar asked. He had not seen Athulua, but had nevertheless felt her presence.
"Yes, it was the goddess Athulua herself. She gave me a gift too," Pamela bubbled.
"Will you show me?" he asked.
Concentrating her will, Pamela drew back her bowstring. Slowly at first, until she started mastering it, a magical arrow appeared seemingly from thin air. With a last thrust of her will Pamela solidified the magic arrow, before releasing the bowstring. The arrow sang as it pierced the air, shattering into nothingness as it hit the far cave wall.
"That could be handy," Caesar commented, as he once again used a town portal to transport them to town, "I think our work here is done."
Akara was elated as the two approached.
"You have cleansed the Den and have my thanks. As I promised, I will now tutor you in any skill you choose. However, I sense that you both are at a point where your destiny precludes you from learning anything from me at this junction."
"When will you be able to teach us then?" enquired Pamela, still elated at the knowledge imparted by her goddess.
"Soon child, soon," Akara assured her, "Now let me see to your wounds. I note they are a lot less severe than last time I treated you two."
"We were better prepared," Caesar smiled at the healer.
"I am glad to hear that Paladin. I have a task for you," Kashya commented from behind them. Pamela wondered how the Rogues, and especially their commander, managed to sneak up behind them so quietly.
"I have just had report from one of my scouts that Blood Raven is up to her old tricks in the Burial Grounds. This abomination has to be stopped and since I am currently a little short on troops, I shall be enlisting the two of you to deal with this."
"If we refuse?" Pamela asked, feeling snappish.
"Then you may leave this camp the way you came Amazon."
"Where can we find this Blood Raven?" asked Caesar, letting his companion have no chance to anger Kashya again.
"The Burial Grounds is a sacred place where all Rogues are buried; at least all those that don't lie rotting in the wilderness out there. Now, once again, Blood Raven is raising an army of undead from those buried. As if not having peace in life is not enough, our rest in death has to be disturbed as well. Seek her out to the west of the Cold Plains, but beware, Bishibosh still has dominion over the Fallen in the Plains."
"And where may we find the Plains?" Caesar enquired again.
"Talk to Flavie. She is my best scout and may be found in the southeast corner of the Moor. She will give you more information. Now good day," Kashya greeted as she turned around and prowled off to harass some of the camp guards.
"Is she always this abrupt?" Pamela mused.
"Blood Raven was her closest friend young one," Akara explained, "She has lost more than you can imagine during these trying times."
"I'm sorry," Pamela apologized.
"If you wish to apologize to Kashya, put Blood Raven to rest," Akara urged.
"The Cold Plains are to the east of here," Flavie explained once the two had walked to where Kashya had indicated. "To the north of it you will find the Stony Field, but for your mission you need to go almost due east from here. Beware, the evil is strong out there."
"We thank you for your directions," Caesar replied.
Flavie seemed to nod her head and then continued scanning the horizon, dismissing them.
Caesar was wearing his new boots, nicely cleaned and repaired by Charsi. They offered minor resistance to lightning and also made him more agile in battle, allowing for quicker recovery after being struck by an enemy. Charsi had also altered his quilted armor to fit Pamela, as he now wore leather armor. He had sold his short sword, preferring the damage done by the mace he wielded against Corpse Fire. Pamela was also wearing the sash he had replaced with a light belt Charsi had made for him. Both of them wore leather gloves as it helped them grip their weapons, while protecting their hands a little from attack. Caesar also wore a skullcap to protect his head from attack.
"How can we find this Bishibosh?" Pamela asked.
"I thought you had gone already," Flavie sighed, "You cannot miss his camp. It is right on your way to the Burial Grounds. He is the sole reason Kashya has not yet sent an expedition to deal with Blood Raven. I would hazard that you'll soon enough find out why."
Seeing that they would get no more information out of the surly Rogue, the duo walked off in a southerly direction. Soon enough they stopped again as Pamela noticed some strange markings in the dirt, off to one side of the pathway. Upon inspecting it, Akara's words came back to them. They had found a Horadric waypoint. Activating it was a fairly simple affair, as they simply had to light the magical sconces on either side of the waypoint circle. However, the waypoint was guarded by a pack of Corrupted Rogues and the burning sconces attracted their attention. They all brandished spears, but fortunately they weren't very experienced with them. Pamela killed two while they ran to approach, and killed another two once they engaged Caesar. He blocked and parried, but still sustained a few wounds. Shortly though, only the leader was left, and as Caesar stepped inside the range of her spear, he lashed out at her with his mace. This was a slight mistake, as a wave of lightning bolts erupted from the erstwhile Rogue. Caesar gasped as the bolts coursed through his body, shocking and stunning him.
"Get away!" he heard Pamela shout. He did just that as she pierced the Rogue again and again with her chilling arrows. Fortunately this slowed the Rogue's advance and he could get clear of the dangerous concentration of bolts close to the Rogue. With Pamela firing and both of them dodging the bolts, the Rogue soon breathed her last. Searching the almost naked body produced some chain boots, both of them knew were more than just ordinary magical boots. They were also surprisingly light and just touching them seemed to invigorate them both. After identifying them, they now had in their possession Hsaru's Iron Heels. Once again Charsi would have to tell them more about these boots when she repaired them.
"Now that we have activated the waypoint, how do we use it?" Caesar mused.
"You focus your will, Paladin," Flavie said. Once again the stealth of the Rogues had allowed her to sneak up on them unheard. "I will show you how, as I need to report the death of these Rogues to Kashya anyway. We need to pray to the Sightless Eye to prevent them from being further corrupted and possibly raised as Zombies or Skeleton warriors. Their bodies also need to be cremated, before we attempt to bury them."
After some short instruction, the three of them materialized in the Rogue camp. Flavie went off to report to Kashya, while the other two went off in search of Charsi.
"You have found Hsaru's famous boots!" Charsi enthused as she set about repairing them, "They are part of a set of legendary items you know."
"What does that mean?" Pamela asked.
"Hsaru was a great warrior and when he passed on he left behind a legacy of items. As far as I recall, there are two more items to complete this legacy, a buckler and also a belt. These boots however will provide quite a bit of resistance to fire and allow for faster travel. That's why they are so light in weight compared to other chain boots."
"What is so special about using his whole legacy then?" Caesar asked.
"Well apart from the magical attributes on each of the items, the whole legacy or set resonates with even more magic when the items are used by the same wearer. If you were to wear these boots and the buckler, Hsaru's Iron Fist, it would imbue the wearer with more strength and reduce physical damage, but because the items would start resonating, the two items together would also give back damage to any attacker. A hidden magical attribute would also appear on either of the two items, which was not previously there. All these additional magical attributes just get more pronounced if the whole legacy is worn together."
"Rather like the whole being more than the sum of the parts?" Pamela enquired.
"That's right," Charsi confirmed. "So, who gets to wear these?"
"Pamela does. She killed that Rogue where the lightning bolts would have been too much for me."
"You killed a lightning enchanted Rogue?" Charsi asked, her eyes wide with wonder.
"It was nothing really. I realized that the bolts were getting sparser further away from her, so the better way to combat her was to use a ranged attack. After Caesar retreated far enough, it was merely a matter of keeping her at bay while slowly killing her. I do feel sorry for her, she looked almost human again towards the end."
"Yes, the corruption leaves our sisters when they die. It is small solace knowing that a sister may once again be free in death."
"Akara, I almost didn't hear you coming," Charsi greeted.
"I am getting old then," Akara smiled ruefully.
"What can we do for you honored mother?" Charsi asked.
"I have come to ask these warriors another favor," Akara replied.
"What can we assist you with?" Caesar asked in return.
"I would ask that wherever you encounter any of our corrupted sisters and out of necessity need to slay them, that you would open a town portal to where their corpses are. We can thereby assure that the proper rites are performed, and that the bodies are cremated, preventing the prevalent evil from corrupting even their corpses. I would supply you with town portal scrolls, free of charge, if you would do this for us."
Pamela nodded and replied, "We would be honored to help you."
Akara smiled, "You have been too long in the company of this Paladin. You are starting to sound like him child."
To this they all burst out laughing, a sweet sound like water rushing in a desert devoid of mirth.
When they returned via the Cold Plains waypoint, the slain Rogues had been removed. It was raining steadily, forcing the pair to don cloaks.
"Even the rain here is cold," Pamela shivered. She had found that quilted armor quickly got sodden with rain, providing no isolation to the cold at all.
"Let's find someone to fight then," Caesar suggested, being in slightly better condition against the rain, as his oiled leather armor was waterproof for the most part.
His wish was soon fulfilled as the pair blundered into a camp of Fallen. The first sign they had of the ambush was a fireball whizzing over Caesar's head, and then the chanting, bickering, swearing and screaming started.
"Bishibosh!" one of the shamans cried, while his followers echoed with cries of "Rakanishu!"
Though startled, the pair quickly reverted to their normal battle tactics, Pamela taking care to eliminate the shamans while Caesar occupied the attention of those Fallen brave enough to approach him. However, unlike in other battles, someone or something was also resurrecting the shamans when they died. It quickly became clear who it was; Bishibosh stepped closer in the falling rain, surrounded by a retinue of five other shamans. His eyes seemed to glow with an inner fire, no doubt fueled by the fires of hell.
"We will gnaw on your bones today!" Bishibosh taunted as he slung a fireball at Pamela.
She ducked just in time and returned his fire with an arrow of her own. She gaped, as the arrow seemed to be incinerated as it hit Bishibosh's body. Caesar acted instinctively, knowing that they had to kill Bishibosh first if they had any hope of winning this battle. He ran forward to force Bishibosh into melee combat, giving the latter the chance to release a volley of fireballs at him. Where the fireballs from the normal shamans had in the past mostly just singed them, these burned like hellfire. There was definitely something out of the ordinary with this leader of the Fallen.
Caesar was locked in combat with Bishibosh, as Pamela did her best to eliminate his retinue. Fortunately Bishibosh was too occupied with fending off Caesar's attacks to resurrect his fallen comrades. The lowly Fallen warriors were scattered seemingly across the whole Plains are they ran here and there after each successive death of their shamans. Soon enough Caesar forced Bishibosh into a fatal error. As the enchanted leader fell, his body seemed to swell and then exploded, sending chunks of searing flesh in all directions. Caesar blocked most of it with his shield, but where the flesh came in contact with his skin it burned terribly.
With Bishibosh dead, most of his followers lost their spirit to fight and they were quickly routed by the duo. Though Caesar had sustained nasty burns at the hand of Bishibosh's death explosion, a healing potion later and the constant healing from his prayer saw him in good enough condition to continue the fight against the denizens of the camp. Soon the only sound heard in the camp was the constant rain and the heavy breathing of the two victorious combatants.
"These Fallen are a messy sort," Pamela stated, pinching her nose to keep out the foul smell permeating the camp. Here and there piles of chewed bones were attracting buzzing swarms of flies, not even the rain could chase away. The camp was littered with all manner of things, gold coins, crude and broken pieces of various armor, a chipped gem or two as well as a glowing light belt in the middle of a ring of fleshy chunks, once belonging to the mighty Bishibosh. Somehow it was unblemished, and Caesar quickly identified it.
"Arctic Binding!" Caesar called as Pamela rummaged through the more interesting spoils, littering the camp.
"Sounds like another of those legacy items!" Pamela called back, holding a chipped gem to the light.
"Found anything else?" Caesar asked as he packed the Binding carefully inside his backpack.
"I found two chipped gems and what looks to be one of those skulls Gheed was talking about. There's also a ring here, but I'm fresh out of identify scrolls."
"So am I, let's go back to town," Caesar suggested.
"Do you have any scrolls?" Pamela asked, a grin forming on her face.
"Err, no," Caesar had to admit, after searching through his pack.
Fortunately it was only a short jog back to the waypoint, but the pair had learned another valuable lesson. If they quickly needed to retreat from an overwhelming battle, they needed to have a supply of town portal scrolls on hand.
"Arctic Binding is part of one of the Arctic Gear sets. These were sets of items created by the Mage Clans when they tried to do research in the frozen climes to the north of the Barbarian lands," Charsi explained.
"Is it worth anything?" Caesar asked.
"Oh, not only does it grant the wearer a good amount of resistance to cold, which might be handy in this rainy weather," Charsi smiled, "but also offers greater than normal defense. If I recall the ancient lore correctly, used with another part of the set, it will also grant the wearer a lot of luck when finding magical items. The odd thing about all the Arctic sets is that they always have a bow as part of it, almost as if the mages using them would not want to be caught in close combat. Of course the whole set is geared to reducing the effects of cold, while at the same time using those effects against enemies, but also grants other aspects like increased life, speed of attack and accuracy to the wearer. Altogether the Mage Clans knew what they were doing when creating these sets for their exploration efforts."
"Do you know anything about these?" Pamela asked, showing Charsi the skull she had picked up.
"Isn't it a skull of some sort?" Charsi asked.
"Thanks," Pamela smiled, "Perhaps Akara can tell us something about it."
Caesar opted to sell his old light belt, wearing the Binding instead. As he put it on a warm glow seemed to diffuse his body, driving away the effects of the cold rain stinging his face.
Unfortunately, Akara knew very little about the effects of skulls, but did say that she thought it might leech away the life and energy force of enemies if used in a weapon's gem socket. She did have some more information about Bishibosh however.
"From what you two describe, I would guess that Bishibosh was fire enchanted," she explained, "A monster or demon such enchanted, will carry over fire damage to any of its attacks. That is why his fireballs hurt more than normal. Also on death, the fiery energies enchanting the monster will dissipate so rapidly as to cause the body of the fallen monster to rapidly expand, ending in an explosion. The backlash of this explosion is often also dangerous, since the stronger the monster was to be able to contain the enchantment, the more fiery energy will try to dissipate on death. I would use caution when dealing with these foul creatures."
"Is there any way to deal with these creatures then?" Caesar asked.
"Let her kill them," Akara said, nodding in Pamela's direction.
The pair thanked her and soon were back in the Cold Plains, on their way to the Burial Grounds.
After about half an hour's walk, the pair came upon another cave entrance.
"Do you think we should go inside?" Caesar asked, poking at the weeds and trailing plants, partly obscuring the entrance.
"It could be another staging area," Pamela replied, thinking back on their adventure in the Den.
"You could be right," Caesar said as he lit a torch and proceeded inside.
To their surprise the cave was a lot sparser populated than the Den, but nevertheless contained enough demons and undead to keep them occupied. It was definitely a staging area of some sorts as they encountered two galleries filled with Fallen, almost the same size as Bishibosh's camp.
A new element added to the mix was the returned dead they encountered. These were hideous animated skeletons of slain warriors, still brandishing their rusty weapons and oftentimes still wearing tatters of their armor and other clothing. Pamela's arrows made virtually no dent in their ranks, often missing as it passed right through the skeletal remains. Caesar had far better luck, as his mace splintered and crushed their bones. Not even the foul magic animating them could re-knit the bones as these skeletal warriors were destroyed for a second, and final time. A tougher, but more putrid version of Zombies also occupied the underground areas. These had a greenish tinge of mould or moss, showing that they had been 'dead' much longer before being brought back to life by evil magic.
The pair fought valiantly against all the monsters encountered, but were surprised when rounding a corner, arrows came whizzing past their heads. Some more of the corrupted sisters were waiting for them under the leadership of a particularly frigid mistress. The air around the leader seemed to drop in temperature, and as one of her arrows struck Caesar's buckler, it chilled his whole shield arm. Fortunately his Arctic Binding soon thawed his arm, but they realized they were facing a foe worthy of respect.
"I will let Blood Raven resurrect your frozen corpses!" she hissed at them.
"And who may you be? Blood Raven's lackey?" Pamela asked rather sarcastically.
"You will serve as my personal slave in your afterlife archer," the Rogue spat, "I am Cold Crow."
"Let us see who is the better archer then Snow Cow!" Pamela sneered as she let fly an arrow, neatly piercing the eye of one of Cold Crow's minions.
"I shall enjoy killing you slowly!" Cold Crow replied, letting fly one of her own arrows.
"I hardly think six to one is a fair contest," Pamela called, while dodging the arrows of the minions as well.
"I will give your companion to them then," Cold Crow replied, indicating to her minions, "They haven't tasted the blood of a man in a long while."
Caesar seemed to laugh, then stood rigid for a moment. He seemed to be having another of those epiphanies he seemed to have, and it was all Pamela could do to fire arrows at Cold Crow and her followers to distract them. When Caesar recovered, a new aura seemed to suffuse Pamela, adding force to her attacks as she became more and more caught up in the fervor of battle.
"Where darkness dwells, might is right!" Caesar cried as he closed in on the first of the minions. Heedless of any arrows hitting him, he followed to the next and the next and the next. Soon only Cold Crow remained, badly wounded by numerous arrows sticking from her body. It seems in their corruption the Rogues preferred to prowl the wilds half naked, eschewing the use of any armor. This was unfortunately to their detriment as it allowed any attacker to harm them a lot more than had they prudently worn the armor they had thrown away.
Suddenly Cold Crow stopped shooting, "Ask my sisters to forgive me, archer. I thank you for releasing me from this bondage," With that Cold Crow arched backwards, releasing a ring of frost, chilling both Caesar and Pamela. A blue short bow dropped from her unclasping hand as Cold Crow breathed her last.
"I guess I was the better archer Cold Crow. Rest well in death," Pamela mouthed, as she shivered and ached from the cold, and then collapsed.
Caesar, picked up his comrade, opened a portal and ran to Akara. Once again his Binding had saved him from the worst effects of the nova of frost that had hit them both. Pamela, with her soaked armor and no items to help her combat the cold would feel the effects far worse however.
"You have defeated Cold Crow. I am impressed Amazon," Kashya stated as she entered the tent.
"How long?" Pamela asked, still a little dazed.
"A day," Caesar answered, "You had severe frostbite, but Akara says you won't suffer from any serious effects however. Luckily your hands were protected by the gloves, else your days as an archer might have been at an end."
"Why?"
"Cold Crow was cold enchanted Amazon," Kashya mentioned. "It seems that Blood Raven wasn't the only one of our lieutenants to be corrupted by the evil. She will rest well in death, we made sure of that."
"She was using this," Caesar said, laying the blue short bow in her lap.
"It is the bow 'Pluckeye'," Kashya informed her, "It is the only one of its kind, and was the bow bestowed upon her before she became corrupted. As a token of our thanks, we want you to have it."
"I cannot lift it though," Pamela mused.
"You need more experience Amazon. The Sightless Eye doesn't deem you worthy yet of using it," Kashya explained.
"What happened to you?" Pamela asked of Caesar, "You choose the most inopportune times to have conversations with the Light."
"The Light bestowed the righteousness of might upon me. I did not know it would be cause for alarm, and I am sure the Light was protecting me during our conversation."
"Is that what I felt afterwards?" she enquired.
"Yes. It seems, like my prayer, I can project might as an aura. I have heard of some of the Zakarum Paladins being so righteous that they could project and envelop others in their auras for thirty or more yards around them."
"Well I for one am glad you used might. It sure made the fight with Cold Crow easier."
"I am glad I could help. For now, if you are up for it, we best get back to tracking down Blood Raven."
The pair found a second level to the cave, and apart from a Fallen overlord and his frightened minions, a Fallen shaman and more of the little warriors and some Skeleton warriors, there was nothing more to fight. The pair could not figure out why this small spelunk would be inhabited until they came across a glowing chest in the darkness. Opening it proved difficult however as it was locked.
"Let's try one of these keys we have found," Pamela suggested.
Extracting one of the keys from his pack, Caesar was surprised to see it warp and change as he brought it closer to the keyhole of the chest. The key seemed to fit perfectly as he turned it in the lock and creaked open the lid of the chest. Inside, it contained some gold, numerous healing and mana potions, a potion of vigor and four magical items.
One was a knifelike blade, attached to leather straps, Charsi would later identify as a katar. The other was a wand, probably belonging to some long dead mage. Akara would later enlighten them, claiming that it must have been used by a Necromancer. The third was a bronze amulet, which helped Caesar's aim and accuracy, while the fourth was an azure quilted armor of charged bolt. This would protect Pamela slightly from the effects of cold and also on occasion release four charged bolts, not unlike the lightning enchanted Rogue they had killed at the Cold Plains waypoint.
Having raided everything, the pair decided to return to the outside, and apart from a few more Skeletons and Hungry Dead, had no more encounters. After another hour's walk, they found the entrance to the Burial Grounds. It was twilight as they entered the gloomy and fog enshrouded burial place of the Rogues. They soon came across some more of the Hungry Dead and Skeleton warriors, even though most of them were now clearly female in build. These must have been the dead Rogues Blood Raven was resurrecting for her invading army. As their backpacks were becoming heavy with loot, they decided to open a town portal, just outside of the Burial Grounds.
As they stepped into the Rogue encampment, Akara was there waiting for them.
"It is time I made good on my promise," she said, as she led them to her tent, "I sense you are now experienced enough as warriors to appreciate the gifts your gods and I will now bestow upon you."
Pamela looked at Caesar, then at Akara as the high priestess used a shiny bauble to entrance the Paladin.
"You may now use the holy fire of divine virtue to aid you Paladin. This is my gift to you. You may now communicate with the Light," she said as she turned to Pamela.
Pamela tried to look away from the bauble, but found herself unable to do so and soon was captured in a dreamlike trance.
"This is how to magically split your arrow to hit more than one target," Akara intoned, "This is my gift to you."
Then Pamela heard the voice of her mother, like in the dreams she had had the first night in the encampment. She now knew how to dodge any melee attack launched against her. Then it was the turn of a stern warrior to speak to her in her dream.
"I am Karcheus, the god of cold. I am well pleased with you my young child. I bestow upon you the power to enchant any arrow you wish with the chilling ability of my frozen halls. May it serve you well in your battle against evil."
Pamela woke up, still standing at Akara's tent, looking as dazed and confused as Caesar next to her.
"That was something," she stated.
"Praise be to the Light," Caesar replied, "My enemies shall fear striking at the chosen ones of the Light in future."
"I take it you have learned how to use more of your auras?" Pamela asked.
"Yes, indeed," Caesar replied, "I think Blood Raven will find us a formidable team now."
"My debt to you is now repaid," Akara voiced, "Now go and release Blood Raven from her curse."
"Curse?" Pamela wondered.
"Hmm. I guess it is time to tell you what you are up against," Akara mentioned, "Blood Raven, Cold Crow and Kashya were friends from a very young age. When the troubles in Tristram began, Kashya had just been chosen as commander of the Rogues, therefore only Blood Raven and Cold Crow were sent to Tristram to help. Only Blood Raven came back, somehow changed from her encounters beneath that corrupted church. When asked about Cold Crow, she always maintained that Diablo's minions had killed her in the catacombs. It is clear to me now, that both Blood Raven and Cold Crow had been corrupted already by what they saw in those dark places beneath Tristram. Cold Crow must have been corrupted sooner, as she never returned to us, but Blood Raven must have known about it. When our Monastery was overrun, Blood Raven revolted against Kashya's authority and many of the Rogues followed her lead. All of those that rejected the Sisterhood are the ones now stalking the wilderness."
"Is that why Kashya has never dealt with Blood Raven before?" Caesar asked.
"Yes. Up until recently she had still had hope that Blood Raven would return to us. This business in the Burial Grounds finally opened her eyes."
"I guess waiting for morning's light is out of the question then," Pamela resolved as she bowed and turned away.
"May the Eye protect you both!" Akara called after them as they strode towards Charsi to sell their loot and have their equipment repaired for the upcoming battle.
"Join my army of the dead!" Blood Raven boomed with an unearthly voice.
Pamela and Caesar had systematically circled the cemetery itself, but had met with little resistance. Once inside the rusty gate, things had rapidly changed however. A mob of close to two-dozen Hungry Dead and another half a dozen Skeleton warriors surrounded Blood Raven. Caesar saw that they would soon be mobbed and decided to use his thorns aura. As the mob clawed and beat on him, their damage was returned to them three and fourfold. Soon a bleeding but triumphant Paladin was all that remained of Raven's initial army. This did not perturb the Rogue at all as she gestured three or four times at the open graves in the cemetery. At first nothing could be seen, but pretty soon decaying hands reached up from the graves pulling rotting bodies up from within.
"We have to kill her soon!" Caesar shouted as he drunk down a healing potion, "We will grow weaker as she just keeps on replenishing her ranks."
"That is not an easy task," Pamela replied, "She runs like the wind."
"Use the skill Karcheus has given you!" Caesar suggested.
Pamela aimed and let go, just as Raven aimed a shot at Caesar's unprotected back. The arrow hit Raven squarely in the shoulder, causing her to shoot wildly, while at the same time chilling her and slowing her movements.
"What have you done?" she screeched.
"A little taste of your own medicine Raven!" Caesar laughed as he smote a Hungry Dead with his shield, while reducing a Skeleton to dust with his mace.
"I will…" Blood Raven started, but got no further as another arrow struck her in the thigh. The next blow to land crushed her left forearm as Caesar's mace landed. Soon she was no longer in any shape to fight.
"Tell Kashya I am sorry," she said as she collapsed.
"Rest well Blood Raven," Caesar said, as he picked up her corpse and stepped through the portal Pamela had opened.
"I can hardly believe you have defeated Blood Raven!" Kashya exclaimed as she saw Caesar and his burden.
"She asked you to forgive her, just before she died," Pamela mentioned softly.
"She was my friend. I hope she will find rest now," Kashya replied, turning away.
"I'm sure she will," Pamela consoled, putting an arm on Kashya's shoulder.
"I thank you Amazon. I may have underestimated you and your friend. Please accept my apology for my behavior towards you both. As an offer of peace, I offer you the services of some of my best Rogues."
"I don't think that will be necessary."
"Oh, I do Paladin," Akara stated, "It is clear that we are facing an evil difficult to comprehend, let alone combat. There is only one man alive that can provide us with the answers we seek. His name is Deckard Cain, the last of the Horadrim. However, I fear for his safety; he was last seen in Tristram, before it fell and I have no assurance that he is still alive. You need to travel to Tristram and find him, if you can, but it is far too far to travel by foot. Cain may very well be dead by the time you get there. Find the Cairn Stones in the Stony Field, then go through the Underground Passage to the Dark Wood and bring back the bark of the Tree of Inifuss. Once I have deciphered the runes, you may use the Cairn Stones to create a portal directly to Tristram. Go now, hurry!"
"So how do we get to these Cairn Stones?" Caesar asked of Amplisa, the Rogue mercenary that agreed to accompany him at Kashya's insistence. The four adventurers had just finished clearing the last of the monsters in the Burial Grounds. They had to enter both the Crypt and Mausoleum to do this, and apart from a tenacious Skeleton warrior by name of Bonebreaker and his minions, no serious opposition was met. Amplisa and Elly were welcome additions to the party, using some of their Rogue skills to augment the combat skills of the party as a whole. Amplisa was able to imbue her arrows with fire, while Elly could imbue her arrows with cold, much like Pamela could also do. Both were not exceptionally apt in these departments however, choosing most of the time to fire normal arrows at their enemies.
"As Akara had mentioned, it is in the Stony Field. That is to the north of Bishibosh's camp," Amplisa replied.
"And the Dark Wood?" Pamela asked.
"The path leads to the entrance of the Underground Passage in the northwestern corner of the Stony Field. It is rumored that Rakanishu is set to guard the Cairn Stones. He is a hero to many Fallen, but actually belongs to another sub-species. He and his kind are known as Carvers. That in itself does not make him all that dangerous, apart from the fact that he is lightning enchanted," Amplisa elaborated.
"Luckily three of us are archers then," Pamela grinned.
"There is also a waypoint in the Stony Field, but its whereabouts is unknown to us," Elly volunteered.
"I'm sure we shall find it," Caesar proposed as he started jogging back to where they had slain Bishibosh and his camp of Fallen.
Soon they were in the Stony Field, battling more of the Hungry Dead and Skeletons. Two new additions to their battles were the goat men and Blood Hawks that frequented this area. The goat men were sturdy, two-legged warriors, with the torsos of men, but the legs and heads of goats. These, belonging to the Moon Clan, were capable warriors nonetheless, but with Caesar to attract their attention, using his thorns aura to return the damage to them, and with the combined firepower of the three women in the party, they didn't stand for long. The Blood Hawks were little avian pests, diving down to peck and scratch at the party's faces. They were mostly harmless and offered the opportunity to the archers to hone their skills.
After some time they found and activated the waypoint and having procured some quilted armors, hunter's bows and leather caps for Elly and Amplisa, they returned to the encampment briefly to have Charsi repair their gear.
"I think this is it," Elly stated, as she pointed at the cave mouth gaping at them from the base of a steep cliff face.
"The Underground Passage?" Pamela asked.
"Yes," Elly replied, "As you can see, with this mountain in our way, there is no other way but through it. The Passage provides that way, but since our retreat from the Monastery, it has no doubt become the haunt of our enemies."
"I guess we have no choice but to face those enemies then," Caesar said, as he tightened the chinstrap of his helm. With that the foursome plunged into the darkness that awaited them.
After what seemed like hours underground, they again made it to the surface. Going down a false exit had them go down to a deeper level of the passage, but once again finding one of those glowing chests, made this side trip worthwhile. Seeing the dark sky of night outside, the party decided to retreat back into the Passage and await morning. Sharing some trail rations, they took turns to sleep, while one of them stood guard. That night, both Pamela and Caesar were again visited in their dreams. Pamela learned the skill of using certain poisonous herbs and extracts in small leather bladders tied to her javelins. During flight these bladders would explode, delivering a deadly cloud of poison to any enemy walking through the flight path of the javelins, while at the same time poisoning the intended target. Caesar learned how to project an aura of defiance to his enemies, bolstering his own and his party's defense against attacks.
Early the next morning they cautiously entered the Dark Wood. It was the home of numerous Carver camps, some more of those spiked beasts like the Quill Rats, Skeleton Archers, Corrupted Rogues and also the protector of the Tree of Inifuss. Most of the monsters in the area stayed clear of the Tree, but the party only later noticed this. Finding no serious resistance the party slowly made its way north, until they found the Tree in a quiet clearing.
"There is something not right here," Caesar stated, eyeing the edge of the trees surrounding the clearing.
"This is the Tree of Inifuss, the one Akara spoke about," Amplisa mentioned, keeping her bow drawn.
Pamela approached the Tree, and seeing a piece of bark glowing softly with an aura of magic, she proceeded to tear it from the Tree. Suddenly there was a great howl, as a massive Brute, Treehead Woodfist, and two more Brutes stormed the party from where they had been watching and waiting. Treehead was not evil by nature, but would nonetheless attack anyone or anything that tried to approach the Tree.
"Retreat!" Pamela shouted, as she and the Rogues desperately shot arrows at the Brutes. This just seemed to infuriate the beasts more, as they gained speed in their charge.
"There's a waypoint over there!" Elly called as she pointed to the east.
"I'll hold them off, but activate it quickly," Caesar suggested, as he turned back to face the three oncoming beasts.
"We'll help you," Amplisa said, as she and Elly both let fly with their arrows.
"There's no time. Amplisa, use your fire arrows to ignite the waypoint," Pamela shouted, "I'll take your place."
Caesar could hardly be seen as the three Brutes towered over him. Pamela and Elly let fly with their arrows, chilling the monsters, giving Caesar the valuable reprieve as they swatted and clawed at him. After another massive blow from Treehead, his buckler broke in half, but just as the fight seemed to be lost, one of the Brutes staggered and fell, its shaggy coat pin cushioned by arrows.
"It's lit!" Amplisa shouted, as she ran for the waypoint once more, the rest of the group following. Caesar smote Treehead with his broken buckler, stunning the huge beast, as the other Brute also keeled over dead. Taking advantage of this, Caesar sprinted for the waypoint, running for his life. Treehead was after him seconds later, catching up to him just as he reached it.
"Oomph!" Caesar grunted as he felt his wind being knocked out of him. He flew forward, sprawling, very nearly cracking his skull on one of the stones lining the fire pit. He was safe, if badly bruised, in the Rogue encampment.
"You're a little foolhardy with this Paladin stuff," Pamela admonished, as she helped him to his feet, "It's a good thing you have three women looking after you."
"Someone has to do it," he smiled, wincing as he tenderly touched what he suspected was a cracked rib or two.
"Best let Akara have a look at that," Elly laughed nervously.
"That was a close call," Amplisa said, coming upright after catching her breath.
"I'd appreciate your humor more if it wasn't for my ribs," Caesar smiled, trying hard not to laugh.
Pretty soon Akara had healed all of the Paladin's wounds, and as he had Charsi repair his badly damaged gear, Akara proceeded to decipher the runes on the piece of bark Pamela had pulled from the Tree.
"You must touch the Cairn Stones in the order I have indicated," Akara admonished. She had drawn a diagram on the back of the piece of bark. Pamela made a note of the order, before storing the bark in her backpack.
"As soon as the Paladin rejoins your group you should hurry to Tristram. I fear Cain's time is getting short."
Pamela nodded, and then went to store some items in her travel chest.
"I wonder…" she thought as she looked at Pluckeye. Touching the bow, she was elated to realize she could pick it up. She tested the bowstring, as she felt healthier than before. Putting the bow back down, the feeling of health subsided, but returned as she picked it back up. Pamela seemed to see better as well, almost as if the bow radiated a light radius all of its own, driving away the dark.
"Elly, I think you should use my old bow," she called to her mercenary.
"I'd be honored to," Elly replied, as she handed Pamela her hunter's bow. By this time, Pamela's old longbow contained a chipped sapphire, topaz and ruby, adding these three elements to her attacks. Elly's bow contained no gem sockets, and only added cold to her attack when she was able to imbue the arrow before firing.
"Are you ladies ready?" Caesar asked as he returned from Charsi.
"Nice shield," Amplisa stated as she looked at the brand new large shield strapped to Caesar's arm.
"I bought it after Charsi told me how much it would cost to repair my old buckler. This one also has three gem sockets as opposed to the buckler, and Charsi assured me that the flawed diamond I had put in the first one, would already be more effective than the chipped one I had used for the previous one."
"I see you have a new weapon too," Pamela stated.
"Yes. I have seen how effective chilling our enemies are, but often you are not attacking the same foe I am. I wished to chill my own opponents as well, therefore when Gheed offered me this morning star with gem sockets I jumped at the chance."
"I hope you didn't make it that obvious to him?" Kashya asked.
"I have learned from Pamela. I no doubt still overpaid slightly, but my haggling skills are improving."
"I see you are able to use Cold Crow's bow now Amazon," Kashya stated.
"Yes, and I think it will come in handy as we travel to Tristram."
"Beware as you go. We have not heard any reports from Tristram after it fell. The only person coming from there was the Dark Wanderer and his companion. Soon after he left our Monastery, the troubles began. I am not sure if he is any way linked to the destruction, but you can be sure that Tristram is not a pleasant place to visit."
"We'll keep our eyes open and our arrows sharp sister," Elly said, as they walked towards the waypoint.
The party was once again in the Stony Field. Since the road curved from the south to the northwest, where the entrance to the Underground Passage was, they decided to explore the southeastern corner of the Field. Sure enough, after battling some more Blood Hawks, Skeletons and Hungry Dead the Cairn Stones loomed up in the distance. Harsh laughter could be heard, and as they approached they could see some Carvers sitting around in the center of the ring formed by the Stones. They were seemingly playing some game of chance, using gold pieces, pieces of armor, chipped gems, stones, bits of bone and other paraphernalia as betting currency. Every now and then a slightly larger Carver than the rest would laugh harshly, as he won yet another round of their game.
"Let's concentrate on the leader," Caesar suggested, "Once he dies, the threat will mostly be over since these creatures are so cowardly."
"Sounds like a good plan," Pamela agreed, as she notched an arrow.
The arrow sung as it sought its target, but Rakanishu was not a hero for nothing. He deftly deflected the oncoming missile with his scimitar, as he and his followers jumped up to defend against their unseen enemy.
"Feck off!" he swore, "Rakanishu kill!"
Again he laughed as three more arrows pierced the air around them. One struck him in the shoulder, causing a wave of sparks to emanate from his body, while another pierced the chest of one of his followers. The third was again deftly parried, but the death of one of their numbers caused his followers to scatter. Shouts of fear pierced the air as Caesar hunted the followers down one by one and killed them.
"Rakanishu come for you!" he screamed, trying to rally his troops, "You feck off!"
Again and again sparks of lightning erupted, as more and more arrows found their mark. Standing at a safe distance from their target, Pamela, Elly and Amplisa were safe from harm, as Caesar approached Rakanishu for the final showdown. He had killed all of the followers, and Rakanishu was already badly wounded. Quick as lightning, Rakanishu struck out with his scimitar, but his blow glanced harmlessly off Caesar's shield. Caesar struck back in reply, his heavy morning star connecting with the ribs of Rakanishu. There was a sickening crunch as ribs broke and cracked, then a wave of sparks were again released, causing Caesar to gasp in shock. It was the last wave however, as Rakanishu fell over backwards, gurgling as he died. A broken rib had pierced the little demon's black heart.
"A good fight!" Caesar exclaimed, congratulating his comrades.
"A little bit of teamwork goes a long way," Pamela agreed, as she approached the Stones.
As she touched the first a low humming sound could be heard, while a blue glow emanated from a rune carved into the top half of the stone. As she touched the second, third and fourth, the humming increased in tone and volume, until building to a crescendo when she touched the last stone. Out of nowhere, clouds gathered above them, darkening the sky, then the sky was lit by hundreds of flashes of lightning. Lightning also flashed between the five Stones, forming a pentagram. A red portal started to glow in the center of the pentagram, as the clouds above dissipated and the lightning stopped. Again the afternoon sky was blue and cloudless as it had been the whole day.
"I guess that's our portal to Tristram," Caesar guessed, "Shall we?"
With a last look behind them, the party stepped one after another through the portal, leading to Tristram and hopefully Deckard Cain.
The first thing they noticed was the smell. It was the smell of death, smoke and charred flesh. Whatever evil had laid hold of Tristram had had no mercy for its inhabitants. Pamela was shocked; she had been a guest to the tavern just scant weeks ago. More horror was in store for her as they slowly started scouting the perimeter in a northerly direction. Goat men were guarding the burning body of Adria the witch. She had been tied to a stake, just outside her hut, and a large bonfire still burned around her charred body, no doubt fueled by hellfire rather than any natural pyretic. Pamela seethed with rage, as she started shooting at the surprised goat men. Soon these Night Clan members were dead, and as she stormed forward to cut down the body of the witch, she suddenly understood better how to strike at an enemy's most vulnerable areas. At the same time, Caesar had another visitation from the Light, learning how to banish the undead with a righteous bolt of holy light. This holy bolt would also heal his comrades if aimed at them, rather than the undead.
West of Adria's burned and gutted hut, they came across some Skeleton warriors and archers. They were tougher than ones previously encountered, being Returned Warriors rather than mere Skeletons. Caesar's holy bolts flashed, as he strolled purposely forward to engage the warriors in melee combat. Soon nothing was left of them but shattered pieces of bone. As they reached the western edge of the town, they turned south, still proceeding along the perimeter. Seeing the large-scale destruction, they had little hope of finding Cain alive, yet they continued. Soon they came upon another body. It was poor Wirt; the peg-legged boy Pamela had given a loaf of bread to during her stay.
"I can't believe this," Pamela said as she stared around her, "I was here myself a couple of weeks ago. Everyone was alive and merry, celebrating the defeat of Diablo at the hands of a mighty warrior. I did not get to meet him myself as I only stayed here a day or two, but a great celebration was even planned in his honor. Now this…"
"Have faith and be brave," Caesar consoled, "We will cleanse this evil once and for all."
Looking east, they saw another charred body.
"That must be Gillian, the barmaid. Ogden was sweet on her, but she lived in her own house rather than in the tavern," Pamela stated.
"We will avenge them," Elly promised.
As they moved towards the center of town, they came across the burned remains of Ogden the tavern keeper and Pepin the healer. They also had an encounter with some unusually strong Returned Archers. They were the animated bones of champion warriors of the past, but they were soon dispatched back to the burning hells that spawned them.
"Help!" a cry rang out from somewhere above them. As the swirling smoke cleared momentarily, they could see a gibbet, with a cage hoisted to its top. Inside the cage was an old man, desperately looking at them as his saviors.
"Are you Deckard Cain?" Caesar shouted up at the caged man.
"Yes!" Cain replied, "Thank all that is holy you have come."
Pamela opened a town portal as Caesar untied the ropes keeping the cage up. Together with the Rogues, they slowly lowered the cage. As it touched the ground a loud moan was heard behind them. As they turned around, a new horror faced them.
"Griswold?" Pamela asked, rushing to aid the poor blacksmith.
"Get back!" Caesar shouted, letting loose a salvo of holy bolts. "He is undead now Pamela!"
His warning came too late however, as Griswold with inhuman strength swatted at Pamela with his bare hands. She fell to the ground, feeling her broken bones grate as she did so, before the darkness enveloped her. Griswold turned to face the others, softly mouthing the curse he had been imbued with by the powers of evil. Caesar rushed forward, unaware that he had been cursed, striking his foe with his morning star. Griswold returned his strike and Caesar was surprised at how much his blows hurt. Griswold was merely hitting back with his bare hands, but to Caesar it felt as if a battle hammer was pummeling him. This decided things for the Paladin, as he used his thorns aura to return this damage to his attacker. After what seemed like an eternity, Griswold's body collapsed to the ground, his servitude to his evil masters at an end.
"Elly, help Cain to the portal. Amplisa and I will deal with Pamela," Caesar commanded, as he gently lifted the fallen Amazon in his arms. As he stepped through the portal, Akara was already there, weaving a healing spell over the stunned, but otherwise unhurt Cain.
"Bring the child to my tent," she commanded as she saw Caesar's burden. He hurried to comply.
"I wish to thank you for my rescue," Cain stated as Pamela sat up groggily. "As a token of my thanks, I shall identify any magical objects for you free of charge. As the last of the Horadrim, I am well versed in the arcane magic that permeates this world. I am also well schooled to recognize any magical attribute a weapon or armor may possess."
"What happened?" Pamela asked.
"Griswold knocked you out, but in the process managed to break a few ribs and other miscellaneous bones," Akara replied, "I have healed what I can, but I would advise some rest for now."
"I think we can manage that," Caesar stated, "There doesn't seem to be a quest that requires our urgent attention right now."
"No, you don't seem to understand," Pamela sighed, "I meant, what happened to Tristram?"
"Even I am still uncertain of the answer to that," Cain replied, "It all started when the Dark Wanderer left our village after vanquishing Diablo in the hell underneath our corrupted church. It now seems to me that, great warrior that he was; he had still been tricked by Diablo somehow, and now carries the essence of the Lord of Terror within him. I suspect, from things I have witnessed myself and from what others have told me, that he has somehow embedded Diablo's soul stone into his own body. This would mean that he is even now struggling with the corrupting influence of the Prime Evil he carries within him. Judging by the evidence left in Tristram and from what Akara and Kashya have been able to tell me about the fall of their citadel, I have a suspicion that the warrior is losing the battle against Diablo. If that is true, the Dark Wanderer will cause terror to reign wherever he may go as the Lord of Terror is once again set loose upon the world."
"You tell a grim tale my wise friend," Akara stated.
Cain nodded as he continued, "As for Tristram, my young Amazon, all of the residents were killed during the night of the banquet to honor the dark warrior after he defeated Diablo. He left before the banquet would have started and terror followed soon after. I recall you had left Tristram just a day or so before and it is good that you did. You would at that stage have been in no position to combat the terror you and this brave Paladin faced when attempting my rescue. I can sense you have learned a lot since then, and that aided you to face what you did, when you did. I also thank you for helping to put poor, unfortunate Griswold out of his nightmarish existence."
"I see," Pamela stated as she lay back down on her sleeping pallet, "I will rest now."
The others turned and left the tent. Once they were outside and out of earshot Akara broached the subject that had been troubling her.
"Young Pamela seems very despondent. Her physical wounds are almost healed, but her spirit is waning. These are the same symptoms our own Rogues exhibit before they give in and become fully corrupted. We need to get her to do something good again, something to lift her spirits if we wish to save her."
"I know just the thing then," Kashya volunteered.
"You do?" Caesar asked incredulously, "I thought you disliked outsiders Kashya?"
"Though she would never admit it Paladin, she does care, but I know Kashya also has our safety at heart," Akara answered.
"Yes, if she were to become corrupted, and with her current talent with both bow and javelin, we would be hard pressed to defend against her. Already she far surpasses anyone but a few of the Rogues here in this camp. I would hate to lose more of my warriors, or even my own life to defend this camp against her."
"I see," Caesar replied, "What of this quest then?"
"In the Black Marsh, there is an unsightly gravestone marking an open grave. The Dark Tower has long been a source of worry, since the treasure it purportedly houses has been like a magnet, drawing in even some of my own Rogues, only to have them die in that accursed place. It would be good if someone cleansed that evil place, taking any treasure they found, so that rumor of it may cease altogether."
"When will Pamela be ready to travel again?" Caesar asked of the healer.
"My guess would be tomorrow already."
"We will travel to the Dark Tower at first light then," he stated.
Early the next morning the party stepped again through the waypoint in the Dark Wood. Cautiously they looked around, ready to teleport back to the Rogue's camp at the first sign of Treehead lurking around. Fortunately the beast had become bored since their last visit a few days prior and had wandered off.
"How do we get from here to this Black Marsh?" Caesar asked of Amplisa.
"It is to the east of here," she replied.
"Then let us go with all speed."
During the few skirmishes along the way to the entrance to the Black Marsh, Caesar noted a new grim determination in his Amazon companion. She seemed to enjoy killing their foes with more than usual glee. Caesar brooded on this, but decided to give it time. If his companion were falling into a dark malaise, he would do something about it when or if she exhibited more signs.
In the Black Marsh they encountered more Brutes like Treehead as well as more Carver groups, mostly consisting of a shaman and four or five followers. There was also another species of Blood Hawks. Soon they also found and activated the waypoint, and when they looked up, a dark mass loomed up not too far away.
"Is that the Dark Tower then?" Caesar asked.
"I have not been here before," Amplisa answered.
"It is indeed," Elly replied, "I have ventured in there once, when we still occupied our Monastery. The Tamoe Highlands and the Monastery Gate are not far from here, perhaps a half a day's march."
"What do you say Pamela, shall we cleanse this evil?" Caesar prompted his companion.
"If there is hell spawn to kill, I say yes," she replied grimly.
As they approached, the Dark Tower loomed up threateningly out of a fog that seemed to surround it.
"Kashya named it aptly," Caesar mused, "It looks indeed like a gravestone marking an open grave."
At closer inspection the party noticed that the tower was more of a small castle, but over time the wooden floor of the second story had collapsed. Unlike any other castle though, this one had not only a cellar, but also five more catacomb levels beneath it, where the Countess had performed her dark rites.
"What of this Countess?" Caesar asked.
"It is rumored that she was the chatelaine of this tower," Amplisa replied, "She performed dark rituals to attain eternal youth. Some even say she bathed in the blood of a thousand virgins. Others say she made a pact with evil. Either way, she was also very rich and her kind of evil has a way of spreading to others. Her closest advisors and friends are said to have succumbed to a mindless greed. They murdered her and burned this tower down around her that same fateful night. No body was ever found, leading to the whisperings that she never died, but haunts her tower still, to this day. Many have died here, in their search for her fabled treasure; therefore something has to be down there in the catacombs. Whether it is the Countess or not, we shall find out for ourselves pretty soon."
Caesar grunted as he lifted the trapdoor leading to the cellar.
"Something surely doesn't smell too good," Pamela smiled, holding her nose.
"It is the smell of death," Elly stated to no one in particular.
The party met no serious resistance however. Quite a few Corrupted Rogues had taken up residence in the Tower, along with some Devilkin. There were also some more of the goat men, Blood Clan members, and a new and frightful enemy. Ethereal Ghosts seemed to chill them and sap away their energy and were difficult to defeat. Due to their immaterial essence they seemed to stack one on top of another, making it difficult to isolate and dispatch one at a time. Their attacks were also compounded as one had to deal with four or five attacks at the same time, before attempting a counter attack. The party prevailed and soon was on the last level of the catacombs. Still no sign had been met of the Countess herself. As they went into the first room to the left they could see the glint of something on the ground.
"Is that gold?" Pamela gasped as she stooped down to have a closer look.
"I do believe it is," Caesar stated, "The whole floor is covered with piles of it."
Soon they had collected so much gold that it was hard for them to carry it all in their backpacks. Fortunately there was an empty chest or two lying around, which they filled with their find.
"We should leave these by the stairs," Elly suggested, "then we may continue exploring this level."
Together they dragged three small chests, filled to the brim with gold pieces, to the stairs. They then set about exploring the small room to the right and again, gold seemed to line the floor from wall to wall.
"This is incredible!" Pamela enthused, collecting and packing coins into anther small chest.
Once they had finished, there were seven small chests, neatly stacked at the stairs leading to the upper level.
"Let's see what those last two rooms contain," Pamela suggested, a glint in her eye.
"Why not?" Caesar agreed, happy that his companion seemed to have shaken off the depression she had harbored.
They entered by the left side, but found that it was merely an antechamber to a central room further off. As the approached the central room, a wall of fire suddenly barred their way.
"Care for a blood bath?" a disembodied voice echoed out to them.
"I do believe we are about to meet the Countess," Pamela stated, notching an arrow.
"Your blood will boil!" the Countess screamed as she and about half a dozen of her acolytes swarmed to the attack.
Caesar quickly brought up his shield, smiting one or two, while Pamela and the Rogues let loose with a rain of death. Soon only the Countess was standing, defiantly, with blood dripping from numerous wounds. She laughed then, a maniacal sound, before collapsing, her back arching in a most unnatural way. A mist started collecting above her corpse, while an unfelt wind seemed to whistle through the room. Soon the mist started moving off towards a central chest, swirling and engulfing it. As if by evil magic, the chest popped open, spilling gold and all manner of other treasures on the ground. When the last gold piece tinkled to the ground, the mist dissipated and the lid of the chest once more snapped shut. Caesar walked over to it, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not pry it open.
"The tower's trove for the taking!" Pamela cried, as she and the Rogues started collecting the spilled treasure.
Pretty soon, a town portal opened up in the Rogue's camp as Elly and Amplisa struggled through, almost dragging two chests along with them. They dumped the chests only a small way off, before returning through the portal. Four more times the two Rogues issued forth from the portal, burdened with more of the seemingly heavy chests. Then Pamela and Caesar also stepped through, together pulling a cloth satchel, made from two banners that previously adorned the Countess' chamber. In it were a number of magical armors, weapons and other equipment.
"A good find?" Cain smiled as he stepped forward to help the adventurers identify and catalogue their find.
"This should go far to fund the rest of our quest," Caesar agreed, "What makes it all the sweeter is that we also rid these lands of a dangerous enemy."
"You have my thanks Paladin," Kashya congratulated them, "I am sure Charsi will appreciate any of this weaponry you won't be using yourselves."
As the sun slowly set, the party was still found counting and dividing their spoils.
That night Caesar and Pamela both again had dreams; they once again had visitations by the gods and others from the ethereal realms. Caesar found upon awaking that he now knew how to better aim his weapons and also convey that knowledge to his comrades in battle. He could also at times call up a zealous frenzy where he would be able to strike at many enemies at once. This skill required practice however, as his current level of proficiency only allowed him to strike at two enemies at once. He also learned how to charge boldly into battle, his shield raised high while his courage and valor carried him forth to triumph.
In one dream Pamela had another visit from the goddess Athulua, whom imparted on her the knowledge of slowing down all manner of missiles in mid flight. In another dream, Pamela's mother gave instruction on how to avoid enemy missiles altogether by dodging them at the last instant. In a dream where the goddess Zerae visited her, she was instructed how to turn her javelins into bolts of lightning to strike down her enemies.
"There is something I have been hesitant to ask of you," Charsi admitted the next morning as they sold off all of the unwanted treasure from the Countess' tower.
"Ask freely Charsi," Caesar prompted the smith.
"I feel very foolish asking this, but when we fled the Monastery, I left behind my Horadric Malus. It is a small smith's hammer, but the Horadrim imbued it themselves, ages ago, and can create wonderful armor and weapons. I have heard rumors that a demon simply called The Smith is now using it to outfit the demons currently occupying the Monastery. I would very much want you to retrieve it for me if at all possible. I would join you for this quest, but my duties here do not permit me to do so."
"We will find this Malus!" Elly assured her fellow Rogue.
As the party stepped again from the Black Marsh waypoint, they turned east and after crossing a small bridge, found themselves in the Tamoe Highlands. A new threat was encountered here, as Returned Mages, firing fire bolts at them, often assailed them. More Corrupted Rogues, Returned Archers and packs of Quill Rats also attacked them. These Quill Rats were of a type that would shoot two or three spikes at them at a time. All this resistance was easily met by the determined efforts of the three archers while Caesar kept the melee enemies at bay. Not too long afterwards, following the winding and twisting trail, they came upon the Monastery Gate.
"So this is the site of Andariel's atrocities?" Pamela mused, to herself more than anything else.
"She is not so easily trifled with as you may suggest," Elly replied, "We Rogues have little to fear inside our Monastery, but the evil unleashed by the Dark Wanderer and subsequently by the machinations of Andariel, are not something to be scoffed at."
"I do not think Pamela meant it lightly," Caesar soothed, "I can sense great evil here, but the sight of no enemy resistance, and that right at the Monastery Gate, would also cause me to think twice. It is often the gate of a fortified position that is guarded best, therefore lack of guards is something to be wondered at."
"Forgive me," Elly offered, "I have not been part of any great sieges in my time and misunderstood you Pamela."
"It is nothing Elly," Pamela accepted, "Now let us move through this gate and find what is inside the Monastery that would permit for no guards to be posted."
Together they pushed open the great ironbound doors of the Monastery Gate and entered into the citadel of the Rogues.
Just inside the gate was a largish entrance hallway in the form of a cross. There was a colonnade down the center leading to another pair of ironbound doors, leading to the Inner Cloister. Guarding the hallway was a pair of Returned Mages, but before they could react to the intruders, Pamela and the two Rogues had already dispatched them back to the burning hells that spawned them. Caesar paused before the doors, listening, and could hear the grunting of something on the other side of them. He motioned for the three archers to take position while he backed up and charged at the doors. They burst open, slamming into some Devilkin, while Caesar propelled into a massive Yeti. It was a shaggy beast of the same family as the Brutes, but with a grayish coat. The Yeti swatted at him, but he deftly blocked it with his shield. Pamela and the Rogues let loose some volleys of arrows at the Devilkin and their shaman, while Caesar did his best to ward off the attacks of the Yeti and some Black Rogues. Soon the Inner Cloister was littered with the bodies of their fallen foes, while they noticed another waypoint next to a large fountain in the center of the Cloister. They activated the waypoint and continued their search for the entrance to the Barracks where they hoped to find the Smith and ultimately the Horadric Malus Charsi had spoken of. The Outer Cloister was also set out like a cross, with the entrance hallway forming the bottom leg of it. The two arms of the crossbeam contained nothing more than a few more Yetis, Black Rogues and Devilkin. Each was separated from the center of the Cloister by a pair of great ironbound doors. At last the party found themselves in the head part of the cross and could see another pair of ironbound doors guarding the entrance to the Barracks.
Caesar again swung open the great doors, but what little sunlight shone on the Cloister was hardly able to penetrate the gloom inside the Barracks. It was possibly darker still than some of the caves the party had been spelunking in during their journey to the Monastery. In the dark there were a few spots of torchlight; they knew however Devilkin shamans carried those. Once inside, they also encountered more of the Black Rogues and a new kind of Skeleton Archer. These skeletal warriors had bleached bones that seemed to glow chillingly in the dark. The arrows they shot, although not chilling when they hit, still managed to convey the cold menace emanating from these Bone Archers. Another clan of goat men, the Death Clan, was also employed by Andariel to protect to Barracks from intrusion. With these formidable foes, progress was slow into the interior of the Barracks, but progress was made nonetheless. At last, with the guidance of the two Rogues, they came to the stairs leading down to the Jail. This was rather puzzling, as no sign had been seen of the so-called Smith or the Malus he was keeping.
"Surely this Smith would use Charsi's old smithy as his own?" Caesar voiced his concern.
"Perhaps," Elly replied, "but we have been to the room she used for that and apart from that pack of Death Clan champions, there was nothing there."
"Is there any part of the Barracks we have not investigated?" Pamela enquired.
"Only the storerooms," Amplisa replied.
"Perhaps this Smith has relocated there, since demons are inherently lazy and being closer to his metallurgic supplies would suit him better in that case."
"I will lead you there," Elly volunteered, "Amplisa was a Jail warden before, therefore I have better knowledge of the Barracks."
Soon the party had retraced their steps back to an alley where they had turned left, leaving the right hand exit undisturbed. Caesar in his usual position of point opened the door, startling some Devilkin behind it. He charged in to engage the shaman he knew would be lurking close by, but faltered slightly as out of the gloom a voice thundered.
"Your souls shall fuel my Hell's Forge!"
"It's the Smith, watch out!" Pamela cried out, as she spied a huge shape closing in on the Paladin. He moved with hellish speed and shattered a wooden chair in his way with one swipe of the smith's hammer he carried.
"I shall make weapons from your bones, mortal!" the Smith replied to Pamela's warning cry.
"Not if we can help it," Caesar taunted the mighty overlord.
With a clang, the Smith's hammer dashed against Caesar's shield as he managed at the last moment to block the blow.
"I shall feed your steaming entrails to these gibbering Devilkin!" the Smith warned again.
"Not one for varied conversation, are you?" Pamela laughed as her battle lust waxed. During their battles in the Tamoe Highlands, Outer Cloister and Barracks, she had had many close encounters and could therefore dodge her enemies' melee attacks even better and her judgment of a critical strike was also growing in precision. Caesar on the other hand had become more proficient in his zeal and could now strike at no less than three foes simultaneously. This also aided him when facing a single foe, as he would strike three consecutive blows in the time a single normal blow could be struck.
While Caesar's zealous blows landed frequently, the Smith was also struck again and again by arrows let loose by the three archers. The two Rogues would also from time to time shoot at those Devilkin that were being resurrected by their shaman, but knew that the Smith was the greater threat. After what seemed an endless time, the Smith's blood lusting roars turned into a bloody gurgle as his arms fell limply to his sides.
"You are still doomed mortals," he taunted a last time, before falling forward, finally destroying Caesar's shield.
With their great overlord and leader destroyed, the Devilkin fled, together with their shaman, leaving the storeroom eerily quiet.
"I wonder if Charsi will be able to do anything with this?" Caesar grinned as he held aloft the shattered fragments still strapped to his shield arm.
"I'm sure with this little hammer in her hand she'll be able to," Pamela smiled as she lifted the Horadric Malus from the special stand the Smith had placed it on.
"She will be very pleased to have her Malus back," Elly assured, as she opened a town portal and stepped through it.
"I'm sure all of the Rogues will be happy that such a mighty foe was vanquished also," Caesar mused as he and Pamela both also stepped through the portal, followed by Amplisa.
"I'm so glad you have found my Malus!" Charsi enthused, "Now I can use it to imbue your weapons or armor with great magical power."
"How does that work?" Pamela asked.
"While the results from imbuing a piece of equipment with the Malus are often unpredictable, they are always to the good," Cain replied, "May I?"
"Sure," Charsi permitted as she handed the Malus over to Cain.
After a short investigation, he handed it back to her, saying, "I can sense that the time that this Malus was used by the Smith, has slightly corrupted it. Where in the past the results would often be of great value to the person wishing you to imbue an item, it will now leave its corrupted mark on that item, resulting in a poorer imbue, if you wish. From now on, the power of the imbued item will be significantly less than previously, but such an item will often still be better than a plain magical item."
"Are you saying we should not have Charsi imbue any of our items?" Caesar asked.
"The choice is up to you noble Paladin," Cain concluded.
"Well, I for one will wait until I actually have some worthwhile piece of equipment to imbue, before allowing Charsi to do so with that Malus of hers," Pamela decided.
Caesar nodded, "That would be a wise choice. One I am willing to make myself, having seen the wisdom of your suggestion. Was there something you wished to discuss with us honored Cain?"
"Ah yes, you are becoming quite perceptive Paladin. It is clear that what you face inside that Monastery, is none other than the demon queen, Andariel. If you remember, she was instrumental in the banishment of the Three by their weaker brethren. It is therefore surprising to me that she is willingly aiding Diablo, for I am certain now that is whom the Dark Wanderer is becoming. Perhaps she is currying favor, perhaps she was forced by some dark pact Diablo forced her into, but nevertheless it does not bode well that he chose such a formidable adversary to guard his passage east. There is hope however, as even though Andariel was spawned in the fiery pits of hell itself, she is said to have no fondness of fire. This may be useful in combat against her."
"You make is sound easy Cain," Akara accused, "I can assure you that Andariel will have surrounded herself with numerous hellish minions. Not that she needs their protection, for she is a fiendish and capable opponent herself. I would advise the carrying of antidote potions, as many of her attacks are poison based. She is like a cross between a scorpion and some vile temptress, and twice as deadly."
"She even looks the part," Kashya scoffed, "Be especially careful of the poisonous bolt she seems to fire from her hands from time to time. Many of my Rogue sisters have fallen instantly to this attack. Her poisonous nova, also emitted from her hands, as well as her poisonous stings can be combated fairly well by use of equipment giving poison resistance."
"But, we are running ahead of ourselves," Akara sighed, "You have barely reached the stairs to the Jail. You still have to go through that ordeal, no doubt braving the sights of countless tortured sisters, then upward for a brief respite in the sunshine as you come to the Inner Cloister. Then onwards into the Cathedral and from there into the Catacombs as you search for Andariel's lair at the bottom levels. A dangerous adventure still lies ahead of you, but we have utmost faith that you will be up to it."
"An adventure we shall continue in the morning though," Caesar yawned.
"I agree," Pamela grinned, "It's been a long day spent looking for that little hammer."
Early the next morning, the team stepped through the portal, startling the Devilkin and their shaman who had returned during the night. There was no sign of the Smith's corpse and they could only assume the little cannibalistic Devilkin had feasted on it during that time. Thinking they had ingested the powers of the Smith along with his flesh made them a lot bolder than usual and a nasty little skirmish erupted when two of them cornered Elly. After Caesar, who had charged to her rescue, killed them Elly had to drink two healing potions to heal the wounds she had sustained. The fight with the Smith the previous day had gone so well, they had allowed themselves to start thinking they were immortals. Nothing could touch them was subconsciously adopted as their motto, but this was quickly revised. Death was but a heartbeat away in these dangerous surroundings.
After half a day of following Amplisa through twisted secret passages and entering secret rooms in the Jail they thought they had seen it all. Slow and painful death was in evidence everywhere in the Jail. Eviscerated Rogues were tied to tabletops, with a silent audience of chairs surrounding it. Beheaded Rogues, still kneeling at the chopping block as their heads stared silently up at oblivion. Ripped apart, all that was left of some were the limbs still tied to large circular hooplike devices of torture. Not all the death they found was due to torture though. Some Rogues were found still sitting at the dinner table; clear evidence that whatever overtook them did so with the element of surprise on its side.
Fighting against them were a new kind of Fallen, the Dark Ones, along with Bone Mages and Archers, Death Clan goat men and a new and tougher kind of Ghost they decided to simply name Wraiths. Intermixed with these normal monsters were a few champions and one or two that exhibited unique and often dangerous qualities. Death was met and resisted, often with the aid of Caesar's prayers or healing or rejuvenation potions. The monotony of the seemingly endless attacks was luring the group into a kind of lull where they were less attentive.
"Does this madness ever end?" Caesar enquired as they neared the stairs down to the third level of the Jail.
"We have to trek through one more level before we get to the Inner Cloister," Amplisa answered, "It is long and arduous work, I know, but fortunately we have not yet seen any of the Tainted."
"Tainted?" Pamela asked.
"They are the corrupted watchdogs the Sisterhood employed to guard places like the Jail, the Monastery Gate and the Catacombs. Andariel twisted and bloated their bodies, while giving them the ability to spit balls of lightning at their enemies. They are also quite dangerous when at melee distance, as their teeth and claws will rip through light armor and flesh with equal ease," Elly explained.
"Fortunately they prefer to attack from a distance, something they would never have been cowardly enough to do when they still guarded the interests of the Sisterhood," Amplisa spat.
As if their own words had cursed them, they ran into a pack of Tainted mere minutes later. The first thing they noticed was the barking sounds coming from a room they had to go through. Caesar opened the door before Amplisa could warn him and was immediately hit by five balls of lightning. A sixth also hit him, but this was different in that he could feel the effects of a cold enchantment carried with the ball of lightning. Once again Caesar got cursed without his knowledge, but in the darkness of the Jail, Pamela was able to discern the slight aura above his head to indicate this.
"Fall back Caesar!" she shouted, "You have been cursed."
"It is Pitspawn Fouldog!" Amplisa cried.
Caesar refused to retreat though, and merely lifted up his shield to try to ward of the lightning balls; this did not help, as the balls just seemed to pass right through his shield and shock him nevertheless. Fortunately none of the Tainted had closed to melee distance and he was therefore fairly safe from additional harm.
"This is as good a chokepoint as any!" he exclaimed over his shoulder, "Make good use of it."
The three archers let fly with their arrows as one by one the Tainted were slain. They weren't very tough opponents and fell quite easily to the continued barrage, until only Fouldog remained. The situation was getting dire however as he had decided to close the distance and was now biting and clawing at Caesar's repaired shield. Soon it quite resembled the state it was in after the fight with the Smith and Caesar was starting to take some serious damage. Being cursed seemed to double any physical damage he received and soon he started to falter in his parries and return attacks.
"Open a portal, Elly!" Pamela commanded, "Amplisa, get ready to help evacuate Caesar!"
A shimmering blue portal sprang into life as Elly read the scroll, while Pamela and Amplisa continued to fire at Fouldog. With a last snarl he fell over backwards, blood spurting from a fatal neck wound. Time seemed to slow down however as Pamela watched the ring of frost start outward from just above Fouldog's corpse.
"Fly you fool!" she shouted at Caesar, who seemed to be in some kind of daze.
Amplisa and Elly were both running forward as the frost hit first Caesar then them. Caesar seemed to become alert once more, before to Pamela's dismay he started to slowly crumple to the floor. Being the only one untouched by the frost nova she stared in horror as the world slowed down even more. Chilled as they were, the two Rogues seemed to never get to the slumped body of Caesar. She ran forward herself, slinging Pluckeye over her shoulder. Together they carried and stumbled with Caesar to the waiting portal.
"He is out of serious harm now," Akara explained the next morning, "The Arctic Binding helped a lot to reduce the effects of Fouldog's enchantment, but the constant barrage of the lightning balls, with Fouldog's also carrying the additional cold damage each time took their toll. I did not find any potions in his belt slots, so I must assume that Caesar ran out of them towards the end of that fight."
"Are all Paladins like that?" Pamela asked.
"What do you mean child?" Akara asked, taken aback by the sudden change in direction from the young Amazon.
"The brave fool could have started praying at any time, yet he kept up his might aura, so that the girls and I may receive the added benefit to our own attacks."
"Ah, I see what you mean child," Akara replied, "However, I am not so sure that his prayers would have helped much in this instance. It is not one of his strong auras, therefore he probably thought a stronger offense would be a better form of defense."
"Still…" Pamela mused, "Why do you continue to address me as 'child'?" she suddenly asked.
"Well, child," Akara stressed, before continuing, "you are probably the youngest of all the warriors in this camp. I find it amusing that you just referred to Elly and Amplisa as girls, when in fact, both of them are easily ten years or so older than you. When I'm speaking to you, I mean no disrespect, as I'm sure you didn't either when referring to them. To me everyone is but a child in these dark times, but in your case your youth also counts towards me using that term of address."
"Elly and Amplisa… But you all look so young?"
"It is the effects of wandering and working under the constant gaze of the Sightless Eye, child. A seasoned battle veteran of the Rogues can often look to an outsider as a young woman, scarcely out of training school."
"Your situation must weigh heavily on Kashya and yourself then?" Pamela enquired.
Akara laughed, "Sometimes child you simply astound me. One minute you truly act your age, the next you say or do things like someone twice as old and thrice as wise. You are very perceptive; if Kashya and I are starting to show our true age, we must surely be sick to death of our plight. I wish with all my heart that you and Caesar may overthrow Andariel and restore our Monastery, our safe citadel, to our keeping. But for this curse, Kashya would have long ago torn down Andariel's stronghold and sent her back to hell. If Cold Crow and Blood Raven could have bested the worst Diablo could throw at them under Tristram, Kashya would be even more capable of taking on one such as Andariel, even in single combat if needed. However, this strange corrupting curse prevents us from reclaiming what is rightfully ours."
"We shall prevail, though I fear for the safety of Elly and Amplisa."
"I am sure they would consider it an honor without measure to fall in battle or to this curse if it meant that it helped to bring about Andariel's downfall," Akara assured her, "Now, enough of this dark talk. In all this time since leaving the Monastery, and with everything you have accomplished in the last few weeks, we have nearly forgotten what season it is. It would have been a sad thing, and a small victory for the dark forces at work, had we forgotten that tonight is Yule Eve."
"Has it been that long?" Pamela mused, more to herself than anything, "I left my homeland almost a year ago, seeking adventure. Though I am often visited by my mother in my dreams, I am rather homesick from time to time."
"You share our plight, Pamela, and we do appreciate your efforts on our behalf. To honor you and Caesar, we have organized a little celebration tonight. We would be most honored if you could both attend."
"Will he be up for it?" she asked.
"I am sure he will be rested enough by then. Besides, I am sure that you two would not even think of going out fighting tomorrow when it is Yule?"
"Perhaps a Fallen or two for the fun of it," Pamela grinned, as she sprinted off to get Elly.
"I do think your spirit is what is sorely needed around here, child," Akara sighed as she watched the young Amazon go.
"Elly, come on, let's go!" Pamela urged as she entered the tent where the Rogues had their quarters.
"What is the rush?" Elly asked, "Is Caesar ready? I have not seen Amplisa leave our tent."
"They're not coming. How far would you say it is still to the Inner Cloister?"
"Probably about an hour or two, depending how infested the third level of the Jail is."
"Good. Can we expect any serious surprises, apart from what we have already seen? Pamela further enquired.
"There may be a champion or unique overlord or two, but probably nothing as dangerous as Fouldog. Why all these questions though?"
"Do you know what day it is today?"
"I think it is Yule Eve."
"Yes, and isn't it customary among you Rogues also, to give one another gifts on Yule?" Pamela asked.
"Yes. In fact I think it a custom most tribes on Sanctuary have. Why?"
"I'd like to give the Inner Cloister waypoint to Caesar as a Yuletide gift tomorrow."
"I see," Elly replied, seeing more with the uncanny vision of the Eye than with her own.
"Now are you going to help me or not?" Pamela asked.
"I will help you," Elly smiled as she picked up her bow and quickly set to stringing the bowstring.
Two and a half hours later, the tired, but satisfied pair again stepped into the Rogue encampment from the waypoint. They had achieved what they set out to do and the satisfied, and in Elly's case knowing grin, on their faces was a welcome sight to all those preparing for that night's festivities. Even Gheed was less than his surly self when Elly approached him a little later to conclude some business of her own.
As the flames licked at a cloudy sky, sparks drifted up to meet a full moon. Around the bonfire, many of the Rogues, at least those not on guard duties, were clustered in groups, drinking herb wine. The herb wine was made from a special recipe, only known to Akara and other healers throughout Sanctuary. It was a recipe only used for Yule Eve, but had the magical property that for a short while after drinking it, the person so imbibed could discern any good or noble feelings others had. This often had the uncanny result that many a romantic relationship started or even ended on Yule Eve, as the drinkers of herb wine could discern the true feelings of those they were romantically involved with or wished they were. This night was no exception, but try as he might, Gheed soon found that there was none of the Rogues, nor for that matter anyone else, who would even remotely consider having anything to do with his 'sacred scepter'.
As Akara had predicted, Caesar had recovered enough to join the Rogues and for this Pamela was very glad. She had decided to surprise him, but was still nervous as to how he would receive her invitation. They had become so accustomed to fighting together as a team; she didn't know how he would react to an invitation of fighting some monsters without the aid of the two Rogue mercenaries. With the aid of Akara's herb wine she could discern that he did care for her. She could also discern that it was not quite the kind of caring she would have wanted him to display. Nevertheless she was sure that over time she could mould what had started as a mere chivalrous gesture for his part, into something more to her liking. Already a friendship had grown between them in the time since that first encounter in the Blood Moor. Pamela decided on her course of action, but as she approached him she was stopped by Elly.
"Are you going to invite Caesar to the Inner Cloister?" she asked, trying not to be too direct in her true questioning.
"Not that it is really any of your business, Elly, but yes, I was planning on taking him there. Why do you ask?"
"If you are going then I think you should give him this," she said as she held out to Pamela the labor of her negotiations with Gheed earlier that day.
"Oh Elly, forgive me. How did you know?" Pamela asked.
"They Eye reveals much. I knew the minute you came to my tent to ask my help this morning."
"I cannot accept this. It is worth too much," Pamela said as she held the ring Elly had offered her.
"Oh nonsense Pamela!" Elly admonished, "It is a cobalt ring, protecting the wearer against cold. I think that Caesar would discern the significance of that and that would ally you in anything you may choose to do after presenting it to him."
"You have done this before?" Pamela asked with a grin.
"I have had my heart set on a man or two in my life. As Sisters we are not permitted to marry a man, but we may from time to time lay with one. If a child is conceived by that union and it is a girl, it is a way for the order to grow. If it is a male child, the mother must set out and return the baby to the father. This does not often happen though, as Akara has certain other herbs one can drink that will ensure the birth of a girl."
"Akara mentioned that you are much older than I thought you were. From your advice tonight I know that now to be true." Pamela sighed.
"Have you a plan?" Elly persisted.
"If possible I will kiss him. I will let the moonlight, the gift, the herb wine and the night for what it is, do the rest." Pamela explained.
"Will you let me know?" Elly asked with a twinkle in her eye, "The Eye sees much, but some things only become apparent over time."
"I am indebted to you for at least that," Pamela smiled.
"Then go now, and may the Eye aid you in your quest."
"A quest to capture a heart," Pamela smiled as she turned to approach her quarry.
Caesar was standing at the bonfire, his head slightly fuzzy from the herb wine. As a Paladin he was not of the habit of drinking anything alcoholic in nature. It was Yule Eve however and he did not wish to insult his hosts by not drinking at least one cup. He was being set upon by Gheed. The merchant was plying him with tales; most he knew to be tall in stature, about his own conquests. Most of these stories were about Gheed's dealings in business or with tavern wenches. Caesar wished with all his heart to be relieved from this form of torture. As if in answer to his wish, there was suddenly a touch on his elbow, as if someone was trying to attract his attention. He turned around to see Pamela standing behind him with a slight smile on her ruby lips.
"Pamela, it is good to see you," he started, "Have you come to join us at the fire?"
"As much as I'd want to hear all of Gheed's tales of conquest, I have not come for that," she replied with a hint of sarcasm, "I have come to show you something. Will you follow me?"
"Certainly," he replied as he turned to Gheed, "I'm sorry my friend, but your tales will have to find another ear."
Fortunately Gheed did not mind too much. In fact he had drunk a little much of the herb wine and was quite content to continue telling his stories to nobody in particular.
"Do I need my weapons?" Caesar asked, as he saw the direction Pamela was taking.
"Oh no, not tonight," Pamela smiled back at him, "I just wished to show you something through the portal. I can assure you it is quite safe."
"If you say so, then how can I not," Caesar replied.
As they stepped through the portal, Caesar gasped.
"Is this where I think it is?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"But it must have been so dangerous coming here?" he trailed off.
"It wasn't much," she assured him, "Elly was with me and it only took us an hour or so. Besides, you wouldn't have been able to protect us anyway."
"Still, you should have waited," he admonished.
"And you should not be so noble always," she returned.
Caesar did a double take as he ingested that, then smiled, "I do tend to get myself in harms way more than is often required?"
"Yes, you crazy, brave fool," Pamela smiled, "Fortunately it is a quality I find endearing. That is why I thought you should have this gift," she continued as she held out the cobalt ring to him.
"What is this?" he asked incredulously.
"It is a cobalt ring," she replied simply.
"I see," he stated as the significance of the gift hit home, "And would you have a gift in return? Some boon?"
"It is Yule Eve," she smiled, her heartstring feeling like that of her bow.
He smiled, more warmly this time as he looked above her head at the colonnade under which they were standing.
"Is that mistletoe I see hanging above your head?" he asked.
"I think so, but what of it?" she asked, knowing that it was, since she had stood right at that spot earlier that day when she had deliberately opened the town portal there.
"It is said that on Yule Eve, if a person is standing beneath some mistletoe, it requires a person of the opposite sex to kiss that person."
"Is that so?" she asked, smiling.
"Well yes," Caesar smiled, warming to this game, "I do believe I am required by custom to give you a kiss now sweet Pamela."
"Are you only obliged by custom?" she asked, playing her last card in the game.
"Oh no," he replied, as he took her in his arms, "I am also required by my heart."
Pamela seemed to melt as she looked up at him.
"Merry Yuletide my Caesar," she breathed.
"Merry Yuletide my Pamela," he managed, as their lips met.
The next morning, nothing needed to be said to Elly, as she had seen the cobalt ring on Caesar's finger, therefore knowing the outcome of the previous evening. She smiled softly as she continued to oil her bowstring, while the party, once again at full strength, prepared to brave the last vestiges of Andariel's stronghold. They would attempt the Cathedral, no doubt corrupted by now, and if successful, enter the Catacombs beneath it.
"Are we ready?" Pamela asked, as she unslung Pluckeye and unlatched the cover to her quiver of arrows.
"Let's finish this," is all Caesar said as he stepped up to the waypoint and vanished.
Once standing in the Inner Cloister, Pamela notched an arrow, while glancing at the mistletoe from the evening before. Hopefully after vanquishing Andariel, could the Rogues also enjoy happiness here again as she had. She had no more time for reflection however, as Caesar had already reached the closed Cathedral doors. With customary flair he banged them open, fetching a Dark One or two a smart smack in the face. They shrieked, trying to rouse the shaman, as Caesar's mace lay about them. Soon the air was filled with their cursing and screaming, as well as the well timed and aimed arrows from the three archers. Their enemies weren't restricted to Dark Ones; Tainted and Wraiths also shared the burden of protecting their mistress' domain, all to no avail however. Their resistance was met and simply overcome by the thrusting wedge the party formed. Caesar as always was the fine cutting edge of the wedge, while the combined effort of the archers at his back or flanks helped to drive it home. The Light would shine in this place come hell or high water; considering the geographical location of the Monastery, the latter was highly unlikely.
Inside, the Cathedral was in chaos. Pews had been broken, overturned or both. There were dried splatters of blood and other unidentifiable gore everywhere, as if some macabre form of baptism had occurred here. The founts heightened this effect, where holy water was substituted with blood. The drapery over the altar was torn, in some place shredded, as evil anger had been at hand to destroy every last symbol and vestige of the Light. Caesar was shocked by all of this, but it made him all the more determined to cleanse this place, once and for all.
In further parody, instead of being met by a priest at the altar, a grizzly, glowing Skeleton awaited them. Bone Ash was a Burning Dead Mage, bestowing on his silent congregation, not blessings, but rather a poison dart, befouling the air and causing sudden illness to any receiver thereof. To make matter worse, he was cold enchanted, and being a Skeleton, mostly impervious to arrows fired at him. It would be Caesar's duty to take care of this abomination, but with the gift from his lover on his finger, he proved more than up to the task. His mace crushed the bones of his opponent, fueled by his might aura, as Bone Ash vainly tried to escape this onslaught. At last he crumbled to dust as the frost nova enveloped Caesar. He glowed coldly blue for a few seconds, but was otherwise mostly unharmed.
After a short search, involving two short and rather one-sided battles with more Dark Ones, they found the stairway leading down to the Catacombs.
"At last our quest is nearly done," Caesar remarked.
"I doubt it will be easy though," Amplisa cautioned, "Neither Elly nor myself are familiar with the underground labyrinth that makes up the Catacombs. Apart from the burial of a leader, like would happen with Akara or Kashya, no Rogues would venture down here much. The only ones that would have had a fair knowledge of the place would have been the clergy serving here in the Cathedral, but they were all killed during the first assaults by Andariel's forces."
"At least we can be sure that Andariel is aware of our progress, and with any luck is starting to feel gnawing doubt in her secure status here. At the very best she has learned to fear us as well, but that might be to much to hope for," Elly encouraged.
"Let us find out then," Caesar stated boldly, as he turned and descended down the stairs.
The trek through the first level of the Catacombs was long and arduous, even if not very dangerous. The team had by now formed a cohesive force, with Caesar always taking point or charging, shield raised, into battle when opposition was met. It would often be his duty to pinpoint a leader or lieutenant and charge forth to meet that monster in single combat. Pamela and the Rogues always ran in a wedge like formation, behind Caesar, with Amplisa in the lead. They would fan out when meeting up with monsters, providing dangerous and often deadly covering fire, while the pack's attention was on Caesar. Though Caesar met with the brunt of each attack, the killing rate of the deadly trio almost always surpassed his. He did not mind however, seeing it as his sacred charge.
After spending two whole days, with interspersed trips to the Rogue camp via town portals, they managed to find the stairs. Akara and Kashya were of little help, since even these leaders of the Rogues were at a loss as to the layout of the Catacombs. Resistance was light however, consisting mainly of packs of six to eight Dark Ones with a shaman, some giant arachnids they simply called Arachs and some cowardly little pigmies. The pigmies seemed to have an inordinate amount of rat totems on their corpses, once killed, and the party decided to refer to them as Ratmen. They would rush up to the party, brandishing knives as long as they were tall, stab at them fitfully, then run away, only to repeat this form of attack. Caesar soon realized that their normal battle tactics would not do for these little pests, but since they were such small numbers, the problem did not need their immediate attention for now. They were however, frequently swarmed by these attackers, causing the Rogues to resort to their daggers, while Pamela had to lug out her shield and javelins to combat them at melee range. This broke the force of their own attack, but more ominously, posed a real danger to the party as a whole. Caesar was sure that in greater numbers, they could even prove deadly.
If the party thought that the second level of the Catacombs were to be traveled easier, due to their newfound cohesion, they were sorely mistaken. The resistance was once again not dangerous in itself, but sorely taxed their battle tactics. They were set upon by packs of Afflicted, another sub-breed of the Tainted. As soon as Caesar charged one, it would retreat to a safer distance, while the others concentrated their lightning balls on him. Fortunately the three archers could dispatch most of them quickly and efficiently. Another new type of monster they encountered, was a form of Vampire. These Banished ones could siphon off the life force of those they attacked. Also, like the Afflicted, they preferred to rain their fireballs on the party from a distance, while their leeching ability made them even harder to kill. Often a rain of arrows would almost kill one, when it would suddenly seem healthier as its claws scraped on Caesar's armor or a lucky fireball hit one of the archers. After three days of searching, countless healing potions and trips back to the relative safety of the camp later, they had found both the waypoint located in an obscure area of the second level and the stairs leading down, yet more to the third level.
One of the latest finds they had made was a suit of ring mail with three gem sockets. Caesar sold his old and worn hard leather armor to Charsi, opting instead to wear the slightly heavier ring mail which afforded him quite a bit more protection from the melee attacks of his enemies. Having by now amassed quite a collection of chipped gems and skulls, the ring mail was soon imbued with three rubies, adding a small but significant amount of life force when Caesar wore it. He also wore a gemmed helm, containing one chipped emerald and one chipped amethyst to bolster his dexterity and strength. His shield was a rondache, a special shield used only by the Paladins, giving a natural, but small amount of prismatic resistance to its user. To this he had added a chipped ruby and topaz, giving him more resistance to fire and lightning based elemental attacks. With the memories of that first lightning enchanted Corrupted Rogue and the death explosion from Bishibosh etched in his mind, he had smiled grimly as he had constructed his shield. His trusty mace was replaced soon after the battle with Bone Ash, as the innards of one of the Arachs yielded a scepter it probably ingested while consuming its previous unfortunate victim. After Charsi had repaired, cleaned, polished and oiled it, it became Caesar's new weapon. Being the weapon of a righteous Paladin, it helped his skill in zeal, allowing him to strike five consecutive blows in the time span another person might only strike one blow. It also contained one gem socket, as yet left empty by the Paladin. He had taken note of the leeching ability of the Banished and of that Pamela was employing, and wished to find out more about the abilities the skulls they kept on finding and collecting would imbue, before committing one to his new weapon. On his hands he wore a simple pair of rare heavy gloves he had gambled from Gheed and his feet were shod in heavy boots, obtained in a similar manner. Both the gloves and boots added paraphernalia of minor boosts to his elemental resistances, dexterity, strength, hit recovery ability, stamina and other abilities like finding extra gold or magical items. Girding his waist was still his faithful Arctic Binding, while he also wore the cobalt ring pledged to him by Pamela. A magical amulet of remedy and beryl ring helped a little to boost his resistance to poison and combat its duration and effects.
Pamela wore studded leather armor, gemmed, like Caesar's new ring mail, with two chipped rubies. On her head was to be found a gemmed skullcap, containing two chipped sapphires as her attacks frequently used up more mana, this helped her by adding to it. She still wore Hsaru's Iron Heels on her feet; while her hands were encased in soft, yet pliable rare leather gloves she had also gambled while at Gheed's. She preferred this, as she needed nimble fingers to use her bow. Around her slim waist she wore a rare light belt Elly had found quite recently from a chest, while her jewelry consisted of an ocher amulet of the jackal, a silver ring of chance and a ring of the leech. Though her amulet, belt and gloves afforded only slight boosts to her overall resistance to the elements, she hardly ever found herself in danger, as her leeching ability would replenish her life force as soon as she retaliated, which was very often. On her back she also had slung a round shield, gemmed with three chipped diamonds and a stack of magical javelins with enhanced damage. In her hands as always she had Cold Crow's trusty Pluckeye, enhancing her life force, accuracy and granting her the ability to leech mana and also receive mana for every kill she made. Strapped to her right thigh was a quiver of arrows, she had to periodically fill from either Charsi or by picking up those spent in battle, but still serviceable.
The two Rogues had often equipped themselves with better weapons, headgear and body armor, eschewing for some reason the use of any other gear apart from the simple boots they wore and the quivers of arrows they strapped over the shoulder and tied fast to a belt. As Kashya had pointed out to Caesar once, after he enquired about this behavior, if a Rogue could not kill her enemy with the bow in her hands, she deserved to die. The helm and armor and her own natural agility only helped to postpone that death by one more arrow, fired at her foe in defiance for all that was evil. A Rogue would only draw her dagger when a bowshot was out of the question, and here again the defenses she had would only help for long enough that she could perceive the weakness of her enemy and so could plunge her dagger into its heart with her dying breath. Armed and armored thus, the party spiraled once more down, this time to brave the third and last level of the Catacombs.
"I sense great evil here," Caesar commented as they crowded round the base of the stairs they had just come down from.
"Yes, even the darkness looks darker here," Elly agreed, "We must be close now."
"But first we have to face these," Pamela indicated as they heard a familiar moaning coming from the dark.
Shuffling towards them were more of the now familiar Zombies. Caesar stepped in their path, raised his rondache and lay about the rotting undead with zealous abandon. He soon realized the folly of this as these were much tougher opponents, but with a rather disturbing trait. Those not felled by his sturdy scepter, would fall upon their fallen comrades, consuming their dead flesh and be somehow, supernaturally invigorated to continue the fight.
"Ghouls!" Amplisa shouted, as one managed to pierce Caesar's defense and rake his arm with a chilling claw.
"It stings like the cold of the grave," Caesar said, standing for a moment bemused, before blocking again the clumsy swipe of another Ghoul.
"No matter," Pamela cheered, "We'll see if they like the touch of lightning."
With that she raised her own shield, Pluckeye for the moment slung over her shoulder, and threw a lightning bolt at the nearest one. She looked for all of Sanctuary just like Zerae, come to join them in their battle. Bolt after bolt pierced the dark, lighting up the scene as she threw her imbued javelins at their foes.
Many times over this scene replayed itself throughout that third level of the Catacombs. With the visibility being so bad, the team switched naturally to two defending members, while the Rogues shot at anything that moved to stop them. Helped by the strobe effect of Pamela's lightning bolts, their enemies seemed to make a jerking advance, only to fall down, destroyed, in a similar jerking fashion. This strobe effect seemed to also confuse the simple-minded Ghouls, making their attacks less effective. They also encountered more Banished, but these monsters also fell to their onslaught.
After another such battle, the air suddenly grew tremendously bright, signifying to Caesar at least, the arrival of the Light. This was the first time the other three had seen it however, and they shielded their eyes as they all fell to their knees. The Light touched Caesar twice, before disappearing, leaving the area around them still diffused with a gentle glow. The reason for this soon became apparent, as unseen due to the blinding radiance of their previous visitor, they could now discern the others who had also come. Pamela's mother was the first to act, as she gently laid a kiss on each of her daughter's cheeks before stepping back, watchful. Pamela suddenly understood how to change what she had previously learned about using her javelins to deliver deadly poison. With the simple switching of an ingredient or two with a more virulent type, she could deliver a veritable plague to her enemies. She also now understood how to penetrate more easily the defenses of any enemy, thereby adding to her accuracy, whether shooting arrows, throwing javelins or being engaged in melee combat. Then it was the turn of the Amazon gods to speak.
"Caesar, we have seen the coldness of the gift our child has given you," Karcheus spoke chillingly.
"We have also seen the warmth of her love for you," Hefaetrus smiled warmly.
"And we know the power of her bond with you," Zerae added arcingly.
"Therefore we grant you vengeance for all those that would do her harm," they voiced in unison, "May the powers of ice, fire and lightning aid you in her defense."
"Since you have chosen a union based on cold," Karcheus continued, "I will grant you each a gift based on that. For you my child," he said, turning to Pamela, "the gift to freeze your enemies with every arrow, turning them to ice for a short time. For you, brave Paladin, the gift to chill the very air around you with holy freeze, slowing any who would approach you to harm."
"I too have a gift for you my child," echoed Athulua, "From now on you will be able to guide your arrows to their target by your will. With this gift you will never miss, even in the darkest dungeon."
Again the air brightened, as the Light enveloped them all, returning to lay a small, glowing hammer in Caesar's hand, before darkness returned once more. Their visitors had gone, but Caesar could now imbue his friends with vigor or concentration as the need arose, while also being able to call forth the blessed hammer in times of peril. Their new skills came none too soon, as a short while later, they came upon the dark and blood stained stairs that could only lead to Andariel's lair.
The fourth level of the Catacombs was in fact little more than a physical manifestation of the burning hells in Sanctuary. According to the Rogue's knowledge, the Catacombs had never had more than three levels and they could therefore only assume that this had been the work of Andariel as she was preparing her abode as a more permanent staging post into the physical realm. The air was hot and acrid, with smoke and sulfurous fumes billowing up from numerous fissures in the cobbled floor. Visibility was very poor, as these fumes strove to distort anything seen in the dim torchlight emanating from a few spluttering torches in sconces upon the walls. These walls were in places broken through by huge and hideous hornlike bones, each in turn sprouting smaller spikes in rows upon rows down the length of these horns. Parts of the bodies of dismembered rogues were pinned to these spikes as if to feed some giant butcherbirds. This macabre form of decoration must have been in Andariel's taste, but perhaps also a form of warning to any would-be trespassers into her domain.
Further evidence of the torture endured by those Rogues unlucky enough to have been captured alive by Andariel's forces littered the scene. Manacles with the torn-off remnants of female arms still attached, hung from the walls in places. Here and there the entrails of a disemboweled Rogue littered the floor. A more grizzly sight met their eyes as they pushed open the small door, leading to an even larger area. A pool, perhaps twenty feet across, was filled with equal parts of dirty, muddied water and blood. In it the bloated, decomposing bodies of at least half a dozen Rogues were visible. The floor too, in this area, was pierced here and there by the hornlike bones, but these were relatively free of any human flesh. Some Ghouls and Dark Ones were in attendance, but they were soon dispatched in revenge for those Rogues slain in this place.
Finally, after what felt like months, but had been only four weeks of trials, the four adventurers stood before the massive ironbound doors leading to Andariel's inner sanctum.
"Now we shall see what the Demon Queen is made of," Caesar said in a low voice.
"Indeed," replied Elly sharply, "She shall pay for the evidence in this room!"
"Don't forget these," Pamela mentioned, as she handed out an antidote potion to each of them.
With that last preparation done, Caesar took a step or two back, lifted his rondache and charged. The doors burst open, once again surprising the hapless Dark Ones standing too close too it. Caesar laughed as he closed in on a shaman, while the three women set about decimating the ranks with the fleet flight of arrows from their bows.
"You will die maggots!" the unearthly voice screamed at them.
They all looked up involuntarily, beholding for the first time the body of the demoness, as she towered over her minions. A bolt of green shot from her left-hand index finger, traversing her throne room at the speed of an arrow and pierced Amplisa. The unfortunate Rogue cried out in pain, turned green briefly as the vile venom filled her veins, then collapsed on the floor before being able to even touch the antidote potion hanging from her belt. Something snapped in Caesar's mind as he stormed forward, shield raised and collided into the legs of the demoness.
"Fear me!" Andariel challenged, as she sprayed an arc of her vile poison in their direction.
Caesar was protected by his shield, which left a gap in the ever-widening arc. Pamela quickly realized this would be their only tactical advantage, as she called Elly closer to her. Together they stood behind Caesar, forming once again their battle-wedge. Caesar was trading blows with Andariel, as she bent over time and again, allowing the poison stingers on her back to sting at the paladin. Some of these he could block, but often they would pierce even his ring mail, adding more venom to his bloodstream. Fortunately the combined protection afforded him by his ring and amulet, although weak weakened the worse effects of Andariel's poison. He had not yet needed to drink his antidote, and was using a slow, but steady supply of healing potions to help him in the battle.
Having lost their only member dealing significant amounts of fire damage, the battle was a long and dangerous one. Often times Dark Ones or Ghouls would close in on Caesar, forcing the two archers to concentrate their fire on them, rather than Andariel. Their persistence paid off however, when as they thought they could not possibly fight any longer, Andariel shrieked in pain. A fissure had opened up under her feet, spewing forth a fountain of fire, as her physical body was consumed by it. They had managed to weaken it enough that it could no longer contain her evil essence, forcing her back into the ethereal realms of the burning hells that had spawned her. Firestorms laced the floor, killing those Dark Ones or Ghouls in its path instantly. Andariel's body blackened to ash, which floated down and settled on a heap. Amongst this ruin, sparkled a normal quality diamond, as its intricate chemical composition strove to contain the dim light generated from the torches upon the walls. Caesar dropped down to one knee, letting his shield and scepter drop as he wearily drank his antidote potion. Pamela and Elly investigated the rest of the less gloomy throne room, dispatching a last Dark One or two. The gloom was being dispelled in a large part by the blue shimmering of a town portal, close to where Andariel had fallen. Caesar stooped down to pick up their fallen comrade. Together the three remaining members of their team stepped through the portal, back to the waiting reception of the Rogue's camp.
"Congratulations, heroes!" Cain enthused, "This is a great victory indeed!"
"At what cost?" Caesar asked, shaking his head, "Amplisa died!"
"Caesar," Kashya replied, "Amplisa, like anyone of us as Rogues, knew what she was facing. Also, like anyone of us, she would gladly have given her life to know that the Monastery was once again safe and a home to the Rogues."
"Her death was not in vain, noble Paladin," Akara joined, "Through her sacrifice, and your efforts, we can reclaim what was rightfully ours. A great evil has been banished, and not just the Rogues, but all farmers and others living in the areas from the Blood Moor to the Tamoe Highlands can rejoice as they return to their homes."
"My scouts have even reported that Treehead Woodfist has become his good natured self again," Kashya continued, "He is still protective of the Tree of Inifuss, but the evil nature the Brutes, Gargantuan Beasts and Yetis have exhibited since Andariel's occupation of the Monastery, has dissipated. Many of our former corrupted sisters have also been returning to us, though they will carry the scars of their corruption for the rest of their lives."
"Banish your dark thoughts Caesar," Cain admonished, "Amplisa has died so that many other may live peaceful and happy lives."
"I for one am happy we didn't kill poor Treehead," Pamela smiled.
"I can live with that then," Caesar sighed, "but I vow this by the Light. I shall not rest until I have sought out the Dark Wanderer and carried out vengeance on the Lord of Terror himself for what he has done here."
"If it is any condolence," Akara stated, "Amplisa will be laid to rest in the Catacombs, once we have cleared the last evidence of Andariel's many atrocities. She has earned her position as a hero of the Rogues and such a burial is only fit."
"What of Elly though?" Pamela asked.
"She is free to go wherever she pleases. For what she has helped to do, we have released her of her bond to the order and she may choose her own fate from now on. If that fate is to continue in your service, then so be it." Kashya replied.
"If she is a free Rogue then, I cannot hold her in service, but if she chooses to accompany us to Lut Gholein, I will be happy for it. She has become a friend, rather than a hired mercenary."
"I will go with you, Pamela, as your words honor me," Elly stated, bending as she entered Kashya's tent.
"Indeed, your new status seems to allow you to eavesdrop on private counsel," Kashya frowned.
"Your tent has no eaves to drop, Kashya," Elly grinned as she sat down next to Pamela.
"A good thing for you then," Kashya smiled, "lest they drop on your ears."
"What plans though?" asked Elly, "As I've not been dropping eaves, only overhearing Pamela as I came near, I am in the dark as to what we do from now."
"We will be following the Dark Wanderer's path to the east," Cain replied, "Warriv has been long overdue in Lut Gholein with his caravan, and he has offered that we accompany him. The desert is a dangerous place, with even more danger no doubt being created by the corrupting influence of the Wanderer. He will need able soldiers to act as mercenaries to his caravan, so we will perform that service, while enjoying the hospitality of his leadership during the trek."
"As soon as I get to Lut Gholein, I can buy some supplies to outfit the Rogues properly. I am sure the retaking and cleansing of the Monastery will require many items, my caravan can provide," Warriv continued.
"Then I will go with you," Elly stated, "I have never seen much of the world and if we are going to be chasing Diablo and righting his wrongs in the process, I wish to be a part of it."
"My caravan is prepared," Warriv mentioned, "We can leave tomorrow at first light."
"Then we shall do so!" Caesar stated, as he got up to leave.
"Before you leave," Akara halted him, "Some of our scouts have gone through the portal to Andariel's throne room, and they found these where she fell. We thought you might want them."
Akara placed the diamond and a chipped amethyst and sapphire in Caesar's hand. She then gave Caesar a quilted armor, folded up in a bundle.
"Cain has identified this armor as being one of the Arctic Furs. Charsi has repaired it and told me that you already posses an Arctic Binding. Though it is but quilted armor, together with any other item of the legacy, it will give exceptional defense to its wearer. The wearer will also be slightly stronger, while in your case the Binding will also increase your luck quite a bit. The Furs also grants a small amount of prismatic resistance to the elements, something I'm sure you can afford," she continued.
Caesar looked down on his gemmed ring mail, and smiled, "I guess this mail has just become obsolete then, but I don't think Charsi will have a use for it now that Andariel is dead."
"If everything that has happened here is any indication of what we can expect in Lut Gholein, you will surely find a buyer for it there," Warriv advised.
"Then let us prepare for the upcoming journey," Caesar replied.
"We would be honored if you would join us for a small farewell festival tonight," Kashya enquired.
"I am sure we can attend," Pamela confirmed.
The next morning, after saying farewell to Akara, Kashya, Charsi and the rest of the Rogues, the caravan set off to the east, following the rising sun and the waning humanity of the Dark Wanderer.