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Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 1882810" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Temptations of the Flesh - Part 4: Strangers in the Night</strong></p><p></p><p>Kham waited patiently until Quintus's snoring fell into the steady pattern that indicated deep sleep. Fortunately, Kham's dwarven neighbor on the other side of his room was easier to monitor—Beldin nearly shook the foundations with his snoring.</p><p></p><p>He tiptoed over to his holsters and strapped them on. Kham had changed into his usual pants and shirt; he had no intentions of sleeping that night. He then strapped his scimitar onto his belt and shrugged on his overcoat.</p><p></p><p>Kham rubbed his forehead. The others were out of their league, more accustomed to facing their foes than having to look over their shoulders. Kham, on the other hand, had been looking over his shoulder since he was born. Someone had manipulated Ilmarė and he intended to find out who. </p><p></p><p>If only he could stop his headache. Kham had suffered from hangovers before, but this was different. He took another swig of a goblet of wine near his bed. The wine didn't deaden the pain; it just made him care about it less.</p><p></p><p>Kham slowly opened the door to his room, mindful of it squeaking too loudly. After he stepped into the hallway, it took an eternity to push the door silently back into place. There was a click behind him.</p><p></p><p>A young man in servant's garb had just rounded the corner. Kham didn't release his hand from the door's handle, feigning as if he was about to enter rather than leave his room.</p><p></p><p>"Oh, I'm sorry," said the servant. "I didn't mean to wake you."</p><p></p><p>Kham's eyes darted everywhere. "That's alright," he said.</p><p></p><p>There was a long pause. "I thought I heard someone walking about and came to investigate."</p><p></p><p>"Well, that would be me," said Kham. "I think the fresh air did me some good," he said with a slight smile. </p><p></p><p>More uncomfortable silence. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I must report back to the Major Domo."</p><p></p><p>"Right," said Kham. He stepped back into his room and closed the door. </p><p></p><p>Kham listened to the man's footsteps pad away into the distance. When they were inaudible, he slumped against the door in relief.</p><p></p><p>"Whew!" That was too close. Kham wondered what it was the servant thought he heard.</p><p></p><p>Then he remembered: none of the servants in the manor could speak because none of them had any tongues!</p><p></p><p>Kham flung the door open and stuck his head out into the hallway. There was no sign of the servant.</p><p></p><p>He ran into the hallway. A figure disappeared down another hallway to his left. </p><p></p><p>Kham jogged back to Beldin's room and hammered on the door. "Wake up, dwarf! Get Quintus! I think you should take a look at this!"</p><p></p><p>The snoring stopped for a second, started again, and ended with a "zzzzzwha?"</p><p></p><p>Satisfied that he the dwarf would eventually wake up, Kham ran down the same hallway the servant had taken. He came skidding to a halt at the end of it.</p><p></p><p>Doors branched off the hallway, but none were placed at the end. Only a small table and a vase filled with white flowers greeted him.</p><p></p><p>"Has to be a secret door here somewhere…" he said to himself.</p><p></p><p>Kham leaned forward, holding onto the vase so that it wouldn't tip over as he peeked behind the table. </p><p></p><p>There was a brief grinding sound and then the wall swung backwards into darkness. Kham mentally congratulated himself as he stepped into the dark secret passage. </p><p></p><p>Then something happened, something that had never happened before. </p><p></p><p>A deafening high-pitched buzzed screamed through his brain. Kham's headache flared so brightly that he was momentarily blinded. Everything was bathed in a stark white light. He saw, in the unbearable brightness, a white shadow of an arm bearing a wicked-looking dagger. It sliced downwards towards his head…</p><p></p><p>And then he was back in the darkness. Kham dropped to the ground and felt the same wicked dagger slice across his shoulder blades instead. He tumbled to his feet and unsheathed his scimitar in one smooth motion. </p><p></p><p>The servant lunged at him, but Kham was ready. There was another flash of whiteness, and Kham watched in fascination as the faux servant feinted a dodge to the left but struck at Kham's left side. Then he was back in the darkness of the tunnel and the servant was dodging left.</p><p></p><p>Kham casually stuck his scimitar out, looking dumbstruck at the weapon as the servant impaled himself on it. The look of shock was mirrored on both their faces. Kham had no idea just how sharp his scimitar was. He felt no resistance as the blade slid through the man's torso like butter.</p><p></p><p>The servant was lying dead on the floor when several legionnaires of the Defiant Shield arrived, led by a half-dressed Quintus. </p><p></p><p>"What happened?" he asked, tucking his tunic in.</p><p></p><p>Kham winced. There was a bloodstain—his blood—smeared behind him on the wall he was leaning against. </p><p></p><p>"An assassin is my guess," he nudged the corpse with his boot and jabbed a thumb in the direction of the alcove behind him. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė, wrapped in a white robe with her hair down, inspected the alcove. She looked considerably different from her appearance at the dinner. </p><p></p><p>The alcove had a glass tube with a rubber bulb attached at one end to a small peephole. Ilmarė leaned forward on her toes, removed the tube, and squinted through the hole. </p><p></p><p>"Attalus val'Virdan is asleep in that room," she said. </p><p></p><p>Ilmarė popped the bulb off of the tube and some powder flaked out of it. She dipped one pinky into the powder and tasted it. </p><p></p><p>"Helvasta," she said.</p><p></p><p>"Helvasta? Are you sure?" asked Quintus.</p><p></p><p>"Yes. It's a strong hallucinogenic. It induces paranoia and homicidal madness after enough exposure."</p><p></p><p>Quintus' expression was grim. "That powder is used by Larissan priestesses for some of their religious ceremonies."</p><p></p><p>He exchanged looks with one of the legionnaires, who wordlessly marched off to retrieve Oriena. </p><p></p><p>Kham took off his overcoat and shirt and began wrapping his torso with strips of cloth. </p><p></p><p>"What were you doing up fully dressed anyway?" asked Beldin, his beard unkempt and his eyes puffy with sleep.</p><p></p><p>Kham looked over at the legionnaires, who were watching him curiously. "You know an awful lot about poisons," he said to Ilmarė, quickly changing the subject.</p><p></p><p>"Of course," Ilmarė replied. "It is just one more tool to use in the War."</p><p></p><p>"What war?" asked Kham. </p><p></p><p>"The Final War. When the Elorii shall avenge themselves on the Gods of Man and their servants."</p><p></p><p>Quintus looked bewildered. "The Gods of Man?"</p><p></p><p>Sebastian finally arrived, wrapped tightly in a robe with his hands buried in its pockets. Trailing behind him was Attalus, rubbing his eyes. </p><p></p><p>The legionnaires brought Oriena in, hands on her elbows. She shouldered them off. </p><p></p><p>"Brutes!" she hissed. "I don't know why you dragged me here!"</p><p></p><p>"We found Helvasta in this bulb here," said Quintus, holding it up in the torchlight. </p><p></p><p>Oriena strode over to Quintus. He was careful to look her in the eyes—her sleepwear was especially revealing. She dipped one pinky into the bulb and sucked on it, her eyes closed.</p><p></p><p>Quintus swallowed hard.</p><p></p><p>"This is not mine," said Oriena. She opened her eyes and pointed at the assassin's body. "And I have never met that man before in my life."</p><p></p><p>"He's not one of your servants?" asked Kham.</p><p></p><p>"No. My servants are all much more attractive than that brute. Besides, why would I try to drive Attalus mad? I have nothing to gain from it."</p><p></p><p>Attalus nodded in agreement. "I believe you. Someone wished to show a Nierite to be the reckless brutes we are all perceived to be. But who?"</p><p></p><p>Quintus looked down at the corpse. "We may never know." </p><p></p><p>The legionnaires escorted everyone back into the hallway and removed the body. Beldin peeked out one of the hallway window slits. "There are horses and a carriage outside. Is someone leaving?"</p><p></p><p>"The General received urgent orders to leave for Coryan at once," said another of the legionnaires. </p><p></p><p>"Convenient," muttered Kham. </p><p></p><p>"I recommend that all the delegates sleep under armed guard tonight," said Quintus. The legionnaires nodded. </p><p></p><p>Oriena pouted and looked around the hallway. "And whom shall I sleep under tonight?" She licked her lips.</p><p></p><p>Ilmarė rolled her eyes as the other men sputtered and looked away. Oriena sidled up to Sebastian.</p><p></p><p>"Perhaps you will protect me?" she asked, entwining her arm around Sebastian's elbow. </p><p></p><p>Sebastian smiled slightly. "I really should get some rest."</p><p></p><p>"It's okay," she whispered into his ear, "I don't mind your ta-"</p><p></p><p>Sebastian shushed her and walked stiffly into his room. Oriena gave everyone a sly smile and slipped after him, closing the door behind her.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 1882810, member: 3285"] [b]Temptations of the Flesh - Part 4: Strangers in the Night[/b] Kham waited patiently until Quintus's snoring fell into the steady pattern that indicated deep sleep. Fortunately, Kham's dwarven neighbor on the other side of his room was easier to monitor—Beldin nearly shook the foundations with his snoring. He tiptoed over to his holsters and strapped them on. Kham had changed into his usual pants and shirt; he had no intentions of sleeping that night. He then strapped his scimitar onto his belt and shrugged on his overcoat. Kham rubbed his forehead. The others were out of their league, more accustomed to facing their foes than having to look over their shoulders. Kham, on the other hand, had been looking over his shoulder since he was born. Someone had manipulated Ilmarė and he intended to find out who. If only he could stop his headache. Kham had suffered from hangovers before, but this was different. He took another swig of a goblet of wine near his bed. The wine didn't deaden the pain; it just made him care about it less. Kham slowly opened the door to his room, mindful of it squeaking too loudly. After he stepped into the hallway, it took an eternity to push the door silently back into place. There was a click behind him. A young man in servant's garb had just rounded the corner. Kham didn't release his hand from the door's handle, feigning as if he was about to enter rather than leave his room. "Oh, I'm sorry," said the servant. "I didn't mean to wake you." Kham's eyes darted everywhere. "That's alright," he said. There was a long pause. "I thought I heard someone walking about and came to investigate." "Well, that would be me," said Kham. "I think the fresh air did me some good," he said with a slight smile. More uncomfortable silence. "Well, if you'll excuse me, I must report back to the Major Domo." "Right," said Kham. He stepped back into his room and closed the door. Kham listened to the man's footsteps pad away into the distance. When they were inaudible, he slumped against the door in relief. "Whew!" That was too close. Kham wondered what it was the servant thought he heard. Then he remembered: none of the servants in the manor could speak because none of them had any tongues! Kham flung the door open and stuck his head out into the hallway. There was no sign of the servant. He ran into the hallway. A figure disappeared down another hallway to his left. Kham jogged back to Beldin's room and hammered on the door. "Wake up, dwarf! Get Quintus! I think you should take a look at this!" The snoring stopped for a second, started again, and ended with a "zzzzzwha?" Satisfied that he the dwarf would eventually wake up, Kham ran down the same hallway the servant had taken. He came skidding to a halt at the end of it. Doors branched off the hallway, but none were placed at the end. Only a small table and a vase filled with white flowers greeted him. "Has to be a secret door here somewhere…" he said to himself. Kham leaned forward, holding onto the vase so that it wouldn't tip over as he peeked behind the table. There was a brief grinding sound and then the wall swung backwards into darkness. Kham mentally congratulated himself as he stepped into the dark secret passage. Then something happened, something that had never happened before. A deafening high-pitched buzzed screamed through his brain. Kham's headache flared so brightly that he was momentarily blinded. Everything was bathed in a stark white light. He saw, in the unbearable brightness, a white shadow of an arm bearing a wicked-looking dagger. It sliced downwards towards his head… And then he was back in the darkness. Kham dropped to the ground and felt the same wicked dagger slice across his shoulder blades instead. He tumbled to his feet and unsheathed his scimitar in one smooth motion. The servant lunged at him, but Kham was ready. There was another flash of whiteness, and Kham watched in fascination as the faux servant feinted a dodge to the left but struck at Kham's left side. Then he was back in the darkness of the tunnel and the servant was dodging left. Kham casually stuck his scimitar out, looking dumbstruck at the weapon as the servant impaled himself on it. The look of shock was mirrored on both their faces. Kham had no idea just how sharp his scimitar was. He felt no resistance as the blade slid through the man's torso like butter. The servant was lying dead on the floor when several legionnaires of the Defiant Shield arrived, led by a half-dressed Quintus. "What happened?" he asked, tucking his tunic in. Kham winced. There was a bloodstain—his blood—smeared behind him on the wall he was leaning against. "An assassin is my guess," he nudged the corpse with his boot and jabbed a thumb in the direction of the alcove behind him. Ilmarė, wrapped in a white robe with her hair down, inspected the alcove. She looked considerably different from her appearance at the dinner. The alcove had a glass tube with a rubber bulb attached at one end to a small peephole. Ilmarė leaned forward on her toes, removed the tube, and squinted through the hole. "Attalus val'Virdan is asleep in that room," she said. Ilmarė popped the bulb off of the tube and some powder flaked out of it. She dipped one pinky into the powder and tasted it. "Helvasta," she said. "Helvasta? Are you sure?" asked Quintus. "Yes. It's a strong hallucinogenic. It induces paranoia and homicidal madness after enough exposure." Quintus' expression was grim. "That powder is used by Larissan priestesses for some of their religious ceremonies." He exchanged looks with one of the legionnaires, who wordlessly marched off to retrieve Oriena. Kham took off his overcoat and shirt and began wrapping his torso with strips of cloth. "What were you doing up fully dressed anyway?" asked Beldin, his beard unkempt and his eyes puffy with sleep. Kham looked over at the legionnaires, who were watching him curiously. "You know an awful lot about poisons," he said to Ilmarė, quickly changing the subject. "Of course," Ilmarė replied. "It is just one more tool to use in the War." "What war?" asked Kham. "The Final War. When the Elorii shall avenge themselves on the Gods of Man and their servants." Quintus looked bewildered. "The Gods of Man?" Sebastian finally arrived, wrapped tightly in a robe with his hands buried in its pockets. Trailing behind him was Attalus, rubbing his eyes. The legionnaires brought Oriena in, hands on her elbows. She shouldered them off. "Brutes!" she hissed. "I don't know why you dragged me here!" "We found Helvasta in this bulb here," said Quintus, holding it up in the torchlight. Oriena strode over to Quintus. He was careful to look her in the eyes—her sleepwear was especially revealing. She dipped one pinky into the bulb and sucked on it, her eyes closed. Quintus swallowed hard. "This is not mine," said Oriena. She opened her eyes and pointed at the assassin's body. "And I have never met that man before in my life." "He's not one of your servants?" asked Kham. "No. My servants are all much more attractive than that brute. Besides, why would I try to drive Attalus mad? I have nothing to gain from it." Attalus nodded in agreement. "I believe you. Someone wished to show a Nierite to be the reckless brutes we are all perceived to be. But who?" Quintus looked down at the corpse. "We may never know." The legionnaires escorted everyone back into the hallway and removed the body. Beldin peeked out one of the hallway window slits. "There are horses and a carriage outside. Is someone leaving?" "The General received urgent orders to leave for Coryan at once," said another of the legionnaires. "Convenient," muttered Kham. "I recommend that all the delegates sleep under armed guard tonight," said Quintus. The legionnaires nodded. Oriena pouted and looked around the hallway. "And whom shall I sleep under tonight?" She licked her lips. Ilmarė rolled her eyes as the other men sputtered and looked away. Oriena sidled up to Sebastian. "Perhaps you will protect me?" she asked, entwining her arm around Sebastian's elbow. Sebastian smiled slightly. "I really should get some rest." "It's okay," she whispered into his ear, "I don't mind your ta-" Sebastian shushed her and walked stiffly into his room. Oriena gave everyone a sly smile and slipped after him, closing the door behind her. [/QUOTE]
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