Dramatis Personae

Criminal Insurgents

Lord Pryus, Unknown

Cordas, Crimelord

Opposition

Norris Delaen, Exiled Ranger

Shen, Kara-tur Samurai

Selena Shademoor, Priestess of Tyr

Cerdan Engeven, Guildmaster

Dace, Mercenary

Cyrael, Astral Deva

Church of Tyr

Galin Saudere, High Prelate

Charell, Cleric

Author's Note: Please don't put spoilers in your reviews. Thank you.

Turning Point

(5:00 PM)

"I think he's still alive, but he's lost too much blood!" Selena shouted as she checked the easterner for life signs. The priestess looked around at the others, then pointed to the weapon in Dace's hand. "You! Give me your dagger, I need to cut a swath of cloth for a makeshift bandage."

Dace did not make any movements. "No."

Norris suddenly lunged in, shoving the mercenary in the side while snatching the weapon from his hand, then passed it to the priestess.

The mercenary immediately moved close to the ranger and leaned forward. "Try that again, and I will use that same blade to cut off your hand."

"This man saved our lives." Norris said, turning slowly to face the blackheart. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Then you have not been paying attention."

"Be quiet, both of you!" said the elven woman as she slashed a length of yellow cloth from the base of her own robe. The priestess frantically cut off the easterner's bloody sleeve and wrapped his arm in the fabric. "This will only slow the bleeding; he needs a healer's art as soon as possible, and most of my healing spells are already expended. We have to take him back to the temple right now or he'll die!"

"Agreed," Norris replied. The ranger looked toward Dace. "Unless of course you intend to oppose us?"

Sneering at all members of the group, Dace gave a short shrug. "I will comply, but only because the easterner indicated to us that Cordas is proceeding toward the tower. It matters very little to me whether this foreigner lives or dies."

While he didn't bother pressing the matter, Norris snorted at the man's callousness. At least he was going along with their next course of action. The ranger glanced up at the Tower of Tyr, hovering over the district like an ivory giant.

So his journey had now come full circle; he was heading back to that accursed tower once more in order to save the life of a friend. His hatred for the knights and clerics still burned in his heart, but as he watched the red-haired priestess desperately working to preserve a stranger's life, Norris couldn't deny that perhaps there were some faithmongers who genuinely desired to save others.

Maybe there was some stock in faith after all. Cyrael certainly seemed to voice that belief. Wait…

"What happened to the celestial?" Norris asked aloud, glancing around. The others looked about as well, noticing the astral deva's absence for the first time.

Cerdan scratched his head. "Say, that is odd. He was last with us back at Cordas' brothel on Southside Row. I thought he was with you two…" He pointed at Norris and Dace. "While I was working on the vault."

"Clearly he abandoned you," muttered the mercenary, "Perhaps you misjudged his good will."

As if on cue, a gust of wind swept through the alley and a familiar figure in a white coat emerged from behind the nearby wagon. "Mind your words, blackheart, for not all think and act the same way as yourself."

The mercenary frowned as the blond celestial approached and eyed the man with clear distrust.

"I apologize for failing to intervene on your behalf," the celestial said in his echoing voice, "But it was imperative that I keep my presence hidden from the crimelord's associates. And it was necessary to allow your capture so that we might gain better awareness of Cordas' objectives."

"Was it necessary for poor Shen here to donate a gallon of blood as well?" Cerdan murmured.

"I did not expect that to occur, but I assure you that my cause is just. The safety of Faerun is at stake, and sometimes it may be necessary for a single man to make a sacrifice for the greater good. There is no greater honour or glory than that."

The celestial's eyes fell on the blue ice sphere, sitting on the ground beside the easterner. Without demanding explanation or details, he walked over and picked it up in his bare hands, not showing even the slightest sign of discomfort.

"If we intend to leave this place, then something must be done about that artifact. I can sense its aura; it is far too dangerous a weapon to be abandoned here," he said, voice echoing, "If there are no objections, I shall move it to a place where it cannot harm others."

"Yes, of course." Selena gave an absent nod to the celestial, then returned to treating the easterner's wounds.

"It could be useful in the future," said Dace.

Sending a dark gaze at the mercenary, Cyrael closed his eyes and spoke a few words. The ice sphere was instantly enveloped in a burning yellow light before vanishing from his hands into thin air. Dace continued to glare silently, but voiced no other protests.

Selena motioned for Norris to help her lift the Kara-turian. The ranger took Shen by one arm and Cerdan came forward to take the other. With some difficulty, they managed to lift the easterner high enough to carry him toward the temple.

"We think the easterner was trying to tell us that Cordas is heading for the tower," Norris said over his shoulder to Cyrael, "Just before Shen came outside, the priestess told us that she thinks Cordas is planning to steal some artifact called 'the Sigil'."

"The Sigil of the Fallen," Selena corrected, bringing out the second Sigil that Dace had given to the party. "The two amulets each carry some divine essence and enough power to destroy an entire city. I have no idea how this 'Cordas' would come to know of it, though."

Norris followed as she led the group away from Cordas' hideout, and they began to make their way toward the tower.

"If the crimelord is on his way to the tower, no doubt he'll be heading for the chamber on the top floor. There is a hidden portal there that opens to a tiny pocket plane where we store our most dangerous relics and curios. That's why he ordered you to break into our basement vault, ranger." Selena glanced back, looking Norris in the eye. "The item they stole was the portal key."

Then all that has happened, all that will happen, is partly my fault, Norris thought to himself. Will there be even more blood on my hands?

The ranger shook his head slightly, trying to push the doubts from his mind. No, they were right. They all were… Norris had to stop lamenting about the past and future, and focus on what was going on now. Setting his sights on the Tower of Tyr, Norris stepped with renewed vigour, ready to face his final encounter with Cordas.

(5:07)

"Well, it certainly was a lucky break that the easterner suddenly decided to help us, wouldn't you say?" Cerdan cracked a grin at Selena. The priestess said nothing and continued to march forward, not even acknowledging the thief with a glance.

"After all, I had him pegged for an average thug. Good thing I don't know everything, right?"

Again, she paid him no heed.

"By the way, I like what you've done with the hem of your robe. I think I can see you ankles now," he said with a smirk, glancing down at the torn part of her garb.

"Shut up," she suddenly growled, wheeling to face the rogue. "You have no right to make light of everything that's happened, not after what you and that blackheart did!"

Their companions paused as Selena stopped, watching the two elves with uneasiness. Cerdan cleared his throat and held Shen's arm out to Cyrael. The celestial quickly gave his support to the Kara-turian, and the others continued off in the tower's direction, leaving the elves to follow up from behind on their own.

"You." Selena thrust a finger in Cerdan's direction. "I specifically told you that I wouldn't abide by the murder of that man back at that brothel."

"Tavros, his name was Tavros. And yes, it was a mistake, but only because he didn't know anything useful after all."

"That's beside the point!" she said, "I knew the blackheart wasn't going to stop his torture of that prisoner, and I depended on you to restrain that madman. You are as responsible for his death as the mercenary! I may have been able to overlook some of your usual… indiscretions committed with your thieves' guild, but cold murder! That's a crime that goes beyond my personal tolerance for what you do."

Cerdan shrugged and continued walking. "If you think that's bad, you should hear about all the worse crimes I've committed. For example, there was this one time back in Waterdeep, when I –"

"Stop it, I don't want to hear about any more of your atrocities!" Selena dashed in front of him. "This isn't something you get to joke about. I wish I didn't have to take action against you, but it's something that can't be ignored…"

Letting the smile leave his face, Cerdan gave the priestess his full attention. " And what, praytell, do you intend to do? Arrest me? Kick me out of your intrepid band?"

"The only reason I'm letting you continue to accompany us is because we're heading toward my tower. After we have dealt with Cordas, you can be sure that I will personally take both you and that blackheart into custody."

On the inside, Cerdan was still smirking. She was naive, there was no doubt about that, but he admired her utter devotion to her beliefs. It kept her… uncorrupted. It wasn't easy to find people like that, especially not in his walk of life.

On the flip side of the coin, he was also immensely disappointed in the red-haired elf. It truly pained him that she was always so quick to judge. Her naiveté was something that she'd have to work on some day. Maybe if the priestess didn't live such a stiff and cloistered life… After all, even Cyrael acknowledged that the greater good sometimes outweighed the drastic measures taken to achieve your goals.

"Well," Cerdan slowly replied, "I can't say I'm pleased with your decision, but I know you'll do whatever you feel is right. Believe it or not, I do have faith in you. I'm just sorry that you can't say the same about me." He took on a more serious tone. "Sometimes, a person has to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. I just hope you never have to make such a decision yourself."

With that said, Cerdan continued past her in pursuit of the other members of their party. She was probably wondering why he was still following rather than fleeing into the nearest crowd. It that was true, then she obviously didn't know him quite as well as she should. No doubt she was still glaring at him from behind, but there was little he could do about that for now. He looked up at the tower, wondering what new twist fate would throw at him next.

(5:12)

Such former opulence, thought Cordas as he gazed upon the gold statue of Tyr. He stared at the blade indentation that his men left in the middle of the of the idol's forehead. Good to see the bloody faithmongers taken down by a peg…or more.

The crimelord looked about the wide central concourse of the temple as men and women rushed about, nearly oblivious to his presence. They were currently wheeling carts across the damp floor, hurrying to get the frozen corpses out of the building before they thawed out. Other knights were watchfully keeping guard over the room, occasionally barking orders to search every person that approached the main gates.

"But not so watchful as a diviner would be," Cordas said under his breath. Taking a moment to adjust his green cloak, the old man knew that his disguise was effective enough to fool any faithmongers he crossed. The paladins at the gate did not cry afoul when they examined the unicorn pendant at Cordas' neck. They truly believed the crimelord was a faithful of Mielikki.

No doubt Norris was dead by now. It was a shame, really, to have waited all this time and then miss the chance to witness the ranger's demise. At least he left a valuable memento; perhaps the pendant would be useful in future tasks, when the crimelord established new operations away from Baldur's Gate.

Patience, he chastised himself, don't become smitten with future prospects. Focus on the present task. Grinning to himself, Cordas walked toward the stairs and began his ascent to the room at the tower's apex.

(5:15)

Selena glanced back at her allies, all standing at the edge of the road and beyond earshot. How would she justify their presence to the paladins? She approached the main gate alone and caught the attention of a knight standing guard.

"Priestess Shademoor!" he called, hurrying to meet her. "It's good that you've returned, we have a situation…"

The elf shook her head. "I'm sorry, but whatever it is must wait. There is an insurgent in the tower, and I need someone to organize a squad of knights, without the attention of the High Prelate or any of his Royal Horsemen." She ran a finger over her forehead. "Also, I have some… associates that must be granted entry to the temple."

At that moment, they were joined by a familiar cleric of Tyr. Selena nodded to the newcomer and noted the woman's worried expression. "Hello, Charell… is something wrong?"

Charell nodded rapidly. "Several things, priestess. After you left, there was a magical assault on our premises. We couldn't even get inside until a little over an hour ago."

"What?" Selena pushed past the pair and approached the archway. She immediately brought a hand over her mouth as she laid eyes on the mutilated, frozen corpses littering the large foyer. Sections of the room were still covered in the blue ice, and the bright tapestries that adorned the walls were now soggy and noticeably faded. "Oh, gods…"

"There's something else, priestess," Charell continued, "Just before the attack, Prelate Saudere issued an order to his Royal Horsemen that you be detained and brought before him. He's convinced that you're in league with some criminal elements in the city."

Selena felt her cheeks burning, but kept her hand over the lower part of her face.

"But he has since sent most of his personal guard out into the western districts of the city… he thinks that the Shadow Thieves are providing refuge to Caden the Bloodletter. Our own knights and clergy are too busy with the recovery to be bothered with apprehending you, but if and when the Royal Horsemen get back…"

Swallowing a lump in her throat, Selena nodded and placed a hand on the cleric's shoulder. "Thank you for everything you've done, Charell. I'll go see the Prelate myself, but first I need to deal with another matter. We have an infiltrator in the building, and I need you to start assembling as many able bodies as you can…"

(5:17)

"This is taking too long," Cerdan murmured as the five others stood by the road outside the temple gates. "I don't like the looks of this." He narrowed his eyes at the priestess in the distance, but her back was turned, so he couldn't read her lips.

Norris shrugged and gesture around. "I imagine it's no small matter to let people like us into the building. Especially me." Who could blame her for being overly cautious? After their heist earlier in the day, it was mind-boggling to believe they would openly permit a party of thieves and killers to traipse around the temple grounds.

"Mmm. All the same, I think it would be better if I find my own way in. Scout out the place from the shadows within."

"Yes, because we all know how well that went back at Cordas' place on Southside Row…" Norris cleared his throat and made a subtle nod toward the black-clad mercenary.

Cerdan shrugged and began to stalk off. "You're forgetting that these are paladins we're dealing with now; they wouldn't know stealth if it came down from the heavens and smote them on the spot."

Shaking his head slightly at the elf's nonsense, Norris looked back toward the priestess in the distance. While he couldn't make out any words, he could clearly see the priestess locked in a heated discussion with a young cleric of Tyr. The elf was constantly pointing through the gates at the temple and she kept on brushing a hand across her forehead. Oddly enough, they seemed more concerned with something inside the temple than with Norris and the others.

"Perhaps we should just march our way past them," said the ranger, "It's not as if they'll just turn away a wounded man… before demanding payment, at least."

"You talk too much," Dace replied, folding his arms.

"Do not assume such a manner of speech toward those who are your moral superiors," intoned Cyrael, "Were I free to do so, I might exact righteous judgment upon you."

"And yet, you have made it abundantly clear that you are not free to perform such acts, so I care little for your personal vendettas."

Norris loudly cleared his voice again, hoping to keep their argument from escalating. "Look there, the priestess is returning." The others fell silent as Selena made her way toward them from the temple gates.

"You may approach the temple," she began, "but you must follow me closely. There have been several… developments that have put my people on guard, and they will be wary of any strangers in the building."

"But not wary enough to prevent the entry of a crimelord planning to rob their vaults," muttered Dace.

Ignoring the mercenary's remark, the priestess continued, "I've also ordered some of the temple's clerics to – hold, what happened to Cerdan?"

"Ah," Norris said, glancing around, "he grew impatient, so he went to find his own way inside the temple."

"Damnation… that idiot." The elf woman looked around, but couldn't spot the thief anywhere within sight on the temple grounds.

Norris remained quiet on the subject, knowing that pushing this matter might put her past her wit's end. Besides, they had a more important criminal to track down. "Well, what about Cordas? Is there any sign?"

Selena faced the ranger. "No, unfortunately my people cannot be certain if they saw a man matching his description or not. You'll need to keep watch for him when we're inside. In any case, you should all refrain from interacting with any faithful we encounter, and let me do the talking. They won't stop you so long as I am escorting you, but do not forget that the permission to enter this tower is a privilege.

"We'll leave the easterner with some of our clerics, then the rest of us will begin the ascent to the upper vault. Now come, and remain aware. I've asked my friend Charell to gather a squadron of paladins and then meet us at the tower-top. If we hurry, we may find this 'Cordas' before he gets too far."

(5:23)

"Caden, you're here somewhere," Prelate Saudere growled aloud as he stared out the window at the cityscape. The elderly man's knuckles were white as he gripped the marble sill. The Bloodletter was out there, no doubt hiding his face like a coward and probably laughing all the while. "But you won't laugh for long, once you're bound in chains and awaiting the taste of justly retribution."

The Prelate pushed away from the window and paced across his chamber. With the number of knights and guards they had deployed to the city's east end, it should only be a matter of time before they uncovered the villain's nest. Even his best paladin, Sir Rennemar, was leading the search, and would no doubt yield results.

He could hear voices coming from outside his chamber door, but Saudere tried to ignore them. Somehow, all of today's events had to be linked to the Bloodletter. The theft from the temple's basement vault, Priestess Shademoor's mysterious correspondence, the golden insects, and the ice attack… it was all connected, and that female elf had to be at the root of it.

"I should have known from the beginning," he grumbled, "Elves cannot be trusted."

The sounds beyond his door continued, and the Prelate finally caved and moved to the door to find out what was the matter.

He could hear a female voice through the door's wood paneling. "…and you're the first person I've come to. She needs you and some other paladins to join her just outside the upper vault."

"I'm supposed to be guarding the High Prelate while his Royal Horsemen are out."

"Yes, but we may have a more immediate problem, perhaps a continuation of today's earlier theft…"

Saudere yanked the door open and found the cleric, Charell, speaking with an armoured man in the hallway. "What is the meaning of this nonsense? I'm trying to concen–" He froze as his eyes fell on the armoured man' face. The Prelate instantly recognized that villainous identity.

"Caden the Bloodletter! Foul murderer, I'll see you punished for your vile crimes, you monster!" He instantly lunged toward the man, but Charell immediately grabbed the Prelate by the shoulders.

"Sir, wait, calm yourself! That's not the Bloodletter, that's one of our knights!"

Saudere blinked for a moment at the startled man, and realized that it was just a young human paladin, and in fact looked nothing like the Bloodletter. The Prelate lowered his arms and straightened his posture. "Ahem. Of course, my mistake."

"Are you feeling well, High Prelate?" asked Charell, "This is the third time today that you've accused someone of being the Bloodletter."

"Never mind that, what is this 'more immediate problem' you were discussing just now?"

The cleric briefly glanced at the paladin. "Uh, it's not so critical as I may have made it sound. I'm sure there are better things for you to deal with, anyway." She quickly bowed and began to back away.

"Hold there," Saudere ordered. He leaned in close toward Charell, "Have there been any findings concerning the priestess' golden insects?"

"Oh, yes sir. One of our diviners found that they're magical constructs, designed to leave a faint ethereal trail in whomever they sting. We don't know what purpose they serve yet, but –"

"I know their purpose. Priestess Shademoor is in league with the Bloodletter. Show me to this diviner, perhaps they can answer some other questions I possess."

"Uh, I'm already occupied with a few other tasks, Prelate, but I'm sure your escort would be willing to –"

Saudere fixed her with a harsh gaze. "Do not defy my orders, cleric. I outrank anyone else in this building. Obey your duty."

Charell swallowed and nodded to the Prelate. Saudere couldn't be certain, but her shaky composure indicated that she was hiding something. Bah, he shook the thought from his mind and motioned for the young woman to lead on. Right now he had a more pressing threat to deal with.

(5:29)

Norris couldn't concentrate on anything, not with so much weighing on his mind right now. He barely paid any attention as the party passed through the damp concourse to hand Shen over to the clerics, and even less as the priestess led them up the first spiral stairway toward the upper levels of the tower.

Cordas was up there waiting for them, and Norris was running through dozens of different possible scenarios in his mind. Most involved the old man having his head cut off by the fallen ranger. Sighing loudly, Norris shook his head and rubbed his temples. The crimelord deserved to die, Norris had no doubt about that, but he couldn't shake the unpleasant stirring in the back of his head that kept telling him to reconsider his intentions.

If he killed Cordas, what would that mean for his future? The priestess made it abundantly clear that she was abhorrent of killing for any purpose. No doubt she would instantly arrest the ranger, should he exact the final blow to end Cordas' life. Would that be worth the penalty?

"You appear drowned in thought, ranger," Cyrael suddenly whispered. "Do you intend to strike the crimelord down?"

Norris hesitated in replying, completely lost on what he should say.

Before he could form an answer, Dace cut in. "It makes little difference. If he does not murder Cordas, I will." The volume of the mercenary's voice drew the eyes of several clerics standing nearby as the party passed through the corridor.

The elven priestess wasted no time pouncing on the mercenary's words. "Is that your immediate answer to everything, you blackheart?" she snapped, "Unbridled violence, and nothing else?"

"Not a problem in the world that cannot be solved by killing the right fool."

"Horrible," she scoffed. Norris observed her hand make a fist, and then release. "Do not assume that such actions can escape punishment indefinitely. And there are better, more forgiving methods than wanton killing."

Shrugging, the mercenary set his gaze forward and continued on. "Forgiveness is overrated. Vengeance is a far more human course of action. That is something you clearly cannot grasp."

"Barbarian," she muttered under her breath as they approached the second spiral staircase.

Their conversation made Norris feel as if he was torn between the opposite sides of his own conscience. I can't change the past, he said inwardly, but what of my future?

He absently touched the back of his neck, but couldn't feel anything. Cyrael's pain-dulling magic wouldn't last forever; he was still doomed if he didn't receive the cure. If I am to die, then I'm taking Cordas with me. But Shen was already dying on one of the floors below... Deep down, would he want me to live, so long as justice is carried out against Cordas?

Justice or vengeance? He once had a clear understanding of both concepts. Now Norris didn't know what he would do when he faced Cordas. He began to climb the first steps of the stairwell and looked up as the others followed the priestess toward the top.

There was no going back. There was nothing he could do to take back all the pain and suffering that had been wrought up to this day. No more distractions or diversions. For Norris, after so long, it was finally time to discover who he really was.

(5:35)

Gripping the handle, Cordas gave the metal knob a twist. The metal vault door was locked, naturally, but it was a simple matter for the crimelord to unravel the spell scroll he carried hidden in the sleeve of his green robes. He quickly spoke the words upon the parchment and concentrated on the keyhole in the door. The Knock spell slowly took effect, and he could hear a series of 'clicking' noises from within the locking mechanism.

Of course, the simple door wasn't the main defense of the faithmongers' vault. No, the true defense was the vault's camouflage; perhaps the knights weren't so inept when it came to stealth, after all. Then again, they hadn't done a particularly good job of keeping men like Cordas from penetrating the hidden room.

Cordas pushed the door open and stepped inside. This was the sole chamber at the height of the tower, and it was almost completely devoid of furnishings. The sole object in the dusty room was a tall, grey marble archway that stood directly in the middle.

A large window was visible at the back on the opposite wall, and was currently sealed shut, blocking the view of the outside. With no light source beyond the lone torch outside in the spiral stairwell, Cordas had to move to the back of the chamber and with much difficulty, managed to force the shutters open, letting the orange sunlight stream in from just above the horizon in the west.

Was it nearly sunset already? Cordas turned to the marble arch, knowing that time was running short. All he had to do was remove the Sigil of the Fallen from the pocket plane, then meet with Pryus' associates at the palace. Then the crimelord would be free to pursue his own goals, independently of the red lord's interference.

He removed the small metallic box from within his pocket and opened it. Inside lay the portal key; a tiny piece of diamond, cut in the shape of a holy symbol of Tyr. Cordas smirked, knowing that Norris would be outraged, had the ranger known that this miniscule bauble was the true reason for the heist earlier in the day.

The old man tossed the metal box aside and held the diamond symbol out before the archway. As soon as the stone came within a metre of the arch, a flat swirl of violet mists appeared at the centre of the structure, opening a clear portal to the secret pocket plane that lay within.

Cordas grinned to himself as he strode through, ready to seize the Sigil and approach the finale of his mission at long last.

(5:41)

"Curses," Selena mumbled, peering back down the stairs. "Where is Charell? She was supposed to meet us here with backup."

"Do you truly require an entire squadron to arrest a single old man," asked Dace, "or did you want to have your men in place to arrest us?"

"No, just you, blackheart," she replied without missing beat.

Norris groaned softly, hoping they weren't going to start this again.

The mercenary continued as an open doorway came into view at the top end of the staircase. "Perhaps you would arrest the ranger as well, then. Did he not tell you that he is no different than I? He worked for Cordas as a hired killer. How many people has he slain in cold blood for his own purposes?"

The elf stopped and turned to the ranger. "Wait, is this true? You never told me you killed people for the crimelord…"

Norris suddenly shoved past them. "Enough of this chatter. You won't keep me from Cordas."

Ignoring the protests from the red-haired priestess, the ranger stormed into the chamber and saw the archway with its magical swirling doorway at the centre of the room. A moment later, a robed man in green emerged on the opposite side, his back to Norris, and the portal winked shut as the old man flicked a tiny gemstone out the window. Looped in his other hand was a flat, fist-sized amulet.

(5:45)

Selena started forward after the ranger, but there was a sudden burst of light and heat from the side, and a sword made of pure flame appeared before her, blocking the elf from reaching Norris.

Cyrael held his weapon out horizontally, and slowly shook his head at the priestess. "No. This is his battle to fight. We have done all that we can to show him the path to salvation. Now it rests solely on the ranger himself to decide whether or not he will walk it." His voice continued to reverberate as he spoke, "I am sorry, but it isn't our place to interfere."

(5:46)

"Cordas!" Norris bellowed, charging toward the man at top speed.

The crimelord spun around at the sound of Norris' voice and appeared stunned for a moment with his eyes wide. He then started to fumble at his breast pocket, no doubt to remove the antidote vial. Norris collided with the old man, seizing his arm just as the green phial came out. Cordas was slammed against the base of the window behind, but managed to keep hold of the antidote.

"Let go of me or I'll drop it!" shouted the crimelord, dangling his arm back and holding the vial out.

"I don't care any more, you old man! We either see the Nine Hells together, or not at all!"

Cordas growled and swung the vial forward, apparently trying to smash the glass against the ranger's face in a desperate move to gain the upper hand in their fight. Norris caught the crimelord's arm and cracked it hard against the low wall. The movement caused Cordas to lose his hold on the object, and the vial fell from his hand before rolling away across the floor.

Norris slammed his forehead into Cordas' face, dazing the older man and giving the ranger the momentary advantage. With all his strength, Norris hoisted Cordas up by the shirt onto the window sill and put his arms out, threatening to drop the old man over the edge.

"Gaah! N-no, don't do this!" Cordas cried, tightly gripping Norris by the wrists. The old man braved a glance over the side as a light wind blew in from the west. Norris knew they were at the highest point of the entire city. Even with so many healers nearby, there was no possible way that the old man could survive a fall from this height.

Norris leaned forward and brought his face close to Cordas. "You destroyed me. Because of you, I lost everything I believed in, everything I ever had." He let those statements hang in the air as beads of sweat started to pour down the crimelord's brow. All it would take was to let go, and let gravity finish off the old man…

Still sneering, Norris suddenly pulled back, yanking the old man back inside and tossing him to the floor of the chamber. "But I also destroyed myself," hissed the ranger, "Maybe I can't change who I was in the past, maybe I don't know if I have a future. But I can control who I am, here and now. And I won't let myself fall any further."

Norris leaned close and tore the unicorn pendant off of Cordas' neck. "You don't deserve to wear this. I want you to suffer for what you've done… the priestess is going to arrest you, and I intend to make sure you never walk free again."

"You'll go to prison too, Norris," growled the old man, "You've killed people in cold blood before. Even if it was under my orders, it was your choice to follow them." He waved toward the green vial that had rolled to the other side of the room. "Are you really willing to give up a new life like that?"

"We'll see what happens. For once in my life, I am more focused on the present than ever before."

The ranger bent down and took the black Sigil from the ground. He continued to stare silently at Cordas as he heard the priestess and the others approach from behind.

"Well chosen, ranger," said Selena, smiling broadly. "You've done admirably. I promise you, I'll see to it personally that Cordas is imprisoned for a very long time for his crimes."

Norris nodded to her, and handed the Sigil to the elf. "I take it you'll want to keep this some place secure…"

"Yes, but I saw Cordas throw the portal key out the window…" She brought out the second Sigil of Fallen that Dace had given her earlier. "These artifacts are far too dangerous to remain here. The many incursions to the tower are proof of that."

On the other side of the room, near the doorway, Norris could see Cyrael pointing at Dace.

"Remain here, blackheart," uttered the celestial, "I will not allow you to enter this room and disturb all that has been accomplished here." Dace snorted and folded his arms, then leaned against the wall of the stairwell outside.

Stepping toward the ranger and priestess, Cyrael gestured toward the Sigils. "Priestess, I have a solution for you. Other evil forces will attempt to seize those artifacts some day, and you will not always have fortune and allies on your side. With your permission, I may isolate these relics in a place beyond the planes, as I did earlier with the sphere of ice. I can truthfully assure you that no being shall ever use them for wicked ends again."

"Thank you," Selena bowed her head and presented the Sigils to the celestial. With that done, the priestess pointed to the green phial on the ground by the window. "Well, ranger, now that this problem is dealt with, you may be cured of your ailment." Shielding her eyes so that she couldn't see the window, Selena walked toward the antidote vial.

Norris cast a final glare at Cordas, then silently turned away from the old man and gazed out the window as the sun began to fall below the horizon. "I feel at ease already…" he whispered. For once, he let a smile appear on his lips. "I imagine our quest is now complete; there is nothing left to be done."

"Well," said Cyrael from behind the ranger, "I would not be so certain of those words."

The blade of a flaming sword suddenly burst out through the front of Norris' chest.

(5:57)

The ranger's body went tense as the sword of fire then slashed across, searing its way out of Norris' torso. A moment later, the human's legs gave out and he collapsed to the ground in a heap, hands stiffened like claws as he grasped at the massive, blackened hole in his torso.

"Great gods, what are you doing!" screamed the elf, staring wide-eyed at the astral deva as he dismissed the fiery sword from his hand.

Cyrael said nothing and raised his arms in the air. A cyclone of wind rose up from his feet and quickly encircled his entire body, throwing off his white coat and allowing the celestial to spread his white wings at full spread.

In an instant, the blackheart appeared in the doorway to the celestial's left, obviously attracted by the commotion. Before either Dace or Selena could take a step toward him, Cyrael swung his arms across his chest like a long 'x', pointing an open hand against each opponent.

Two fierce gusts of wind erupted from the celestial's form, knocking back both elf and human. Dace was hurled off his feet, striking his head against the back wall as he fell. His limp body continued to tumble loudly down the staircase, quickly disappearing from view. Selena cried out in shock as she was tossed back and thrown out the tower window by the massive winds, also falling away out of sight.

Cyrael made a flicking gesture with his wrists, and the winds blew against the door and window shutters, slamming both shut. Lowering his hands in the now-darkened room, the celestial paced toward Cordas, who was still curled up on the ground and now cowering in the shadows against the wall.

"Wh-what is this? I don't understand. By the gods, what are you doing!" wailed the old man.

With a single snapping, gesture, Cyrael summoned the flame sword into his hand once more, creating a sole blaze of light in the blackness of the chamber. Without any hesitation at all, the astral deva swung the burning blade across, cleaving the human crimelord's head from his shoulders in a single motion.

"What am I doing?" Cyrael repeated softly, "Merely saving the world."

The celestial closed his eyes and lowered his arms, allowing his sword to dissipate into the air. A moment later, his entire winged form was enveloped in a golden light, and the room was filled with a violent gale. In seconds, the light began to fade away into nothingness, and Cyrael was vanished from the tower.

(5:59)

He couldn't see anything, nor could he feel anything below his neck. A short wheezing sound that came from his own lips was the only sign that he was still conscious, though clearly not for long. Norris tried to lift his head, but couldn't move it beyond a slight roll to the side.

The ranger could feel the tip of his old unicorn pendant pressed between his cheek and the floor. It felt cool to the touch, and caused no burning pain as it once had. It was a comforting thought, at the least.

Why did this happen, he wondered, too dizzy to focus on anything, is this the end…

Norris' eyes felt heavy, and finally closed as he felt a coldness creeping over him. It's not such a…

I feel… I feel…

And with that, Norris Delaen was gone.

(6:00 PM) Dusk