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Into the Icy Darkness: The Great Demon War
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<blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1352737" data-attributes="member: 15043"><p>This next part, part 9 of the adventure on 1-30-04 (almost near the end! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> )is called</p><p></p><p><strong>Battles, Fights, and General Meanness</strong></p><p></p><p>Tess, Shaun, and others immediately freeze as the officer’s voice echoes up the hall. The man, large and burly with a mean look on his face, lumbers up the hall towards them.</p><p></p><p>“My quarters were supposed to be cleaned almost five hours ago, and still no one has touched them! I want you to march over to my quarters by the garden, and clean them this instant!” he snarls as he approaches, until he sees Tess and Elenya turn around. He stopped dead in his tracks, and a lascivious grin spread over his face.</p><p></p><p>“Well, well, well... I never knew they hired such fine ladies as washerwomen here. You two can stay in my quarters for a little bit after cleaning them up,” he grinned.</p><p></p><p><em>This man reeks of sliminess,</em> Tess tried hard not to wrinkle her nose in disgust, and with some very serious misgivings, gave him a wink. Elenya beside her just trembled.</p><p></p><p><em>I can’t believe I just sank that low,</em> Tess’ mind thought, <em>I feel so dirty after that</em>. Unfortunately, the guardsman wasn’t leaving yet, and instead tried to start flirting.</p><p></p><p><em>God! Someone make him go away!</em> Tess wanted to scream.</p><p></p><p>As if answering her prayers, Shaun pushed his way to the front of the group, and promptly grabbed his mock chest while giving the man a suggestive grin. While Elenya thought he was cute in his disguise, it was obvious the guardsman didn’t, and he bid a quick, if ungentlemanly adieu with a slap to Elenya’s rear, and walked down the hall.</p><p></p><p>“Shaun,” Tess said a few minutes later when she was sure the man was gone, “as much as I find you obnoxious... I owe you... big time.”</p><p></p><p>Shaun gave a rather girly giggle, replying, “Its no problem... I was going to be hog-tied before I let him do more to Elenya than what he managed to do...” Elenya’s face blushed a tad, and the group pressed forward, slowly coming within sight of the garden.</p><p></p><p></p><p><em>Is it true?</em> Siabrey’s frightened mind tumbled. <em>Is it true? I am the child of a demon? I’ve been exposing and hurting my Lucius all this time?</em></p><p></p><p><em>No, it can’t be! I have no horns, and my mother surely would have told me! No child of a demon would be allowed in the Temple of Hieroneous! They would surely see such residual evil and strike it down!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>My mother said my father was a noble man, not one that would recklessly attack people for no reason!? How did mum get so close to him then? She LOVED him! She wouldn’t have loved a thief and murderer!</em></p><p></p><p>As parts of her brain wrestled with the Princess’ allegations, the rest of her mind concentrated on what she saw from Lucius... and more tears formed as she didn’t feel him encircle her, protect her, but instead stare off into space, his hand flexing and releasing.</p><p></p><p><em>He won’t love a demon child!</em> part of her mind said sadly, <em>He’ll spurn you as he would spurn a rabid dog!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>But... I am more than that, if that’s my ancestry!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>He is a NOBLE, Siabrey! They care little beyond ancestry!</em></p><p></p><p>As she cried, she saw him blink.. once... twice... three times. His eyes, which had been blank with confusion, now had their old hardness back. He had made some decision.</p><p></p><p>“Your Majesty,” his voice began, distant and slow, “I have made my choice.” The Princess crossed her arms in triumph, a smile playing on her lips.</p><p></p><p>“After the rebellion is crushed, after I am restored to my throne, I shall have a Countess..“</p><p>his voice grew stronger, and his eyes looked directly at the Princess, his face like stone.</p><p></p><p>“...and she will not be you.”</p><p></p><p>Siabrey’s mind froze for a few seconds, as the magnitude of what she just heard sank in.</p><p></p><p><em>He’ll have a Countess... and it won’t be the Princess...</em> her mind, dulled by the tortures of now knowing parts of her ancestry and fear of losing him, stumbled, <em>then... it will be...</em></p><p></p><p>She let out a little shriek, and grabbed Lucius. She felt his reassuring arms circle her, and she tried to pull herself as close to him as possible.</p><p></p><p>“Siabrey, I couldn’t leave you,” he said softly, resting his head on hers. Siabrey did not hear the Princess’ huff of fury and indignation, though she knew the woman she loathed was still around because Lucius broke off his tight hold of her rather quickly, and turned to face the Princess.</p><p></p><p>It was her turn to be livid, to have the color drained from her face. She had been spurned by someone below her station, and below her age...</p><p></p><p>“You! You are a...” her voice rose in fury.</p><p></p><p>It took a few moments for Siabrey to realize the small popping noise she heard at that moment was nothing normal, but the noise a man’s neck makes when it is broken. Her mind snapped to combat mode only when a crossbow bolt wickedly slammed into the Princess’ shoulder...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Tess and Elenya were the first to walk from the lower level hallways out into the Governor’s private garden. In the darkened courtyard in front of them stood many oaks, elms, and fruitwoods, giving off a distinctly pleasant odor. Flowers bloomed along the edges of the garden, as paths wound, crisscrossing through it. Standing near the middle was the governor, involved in a deep conversation with a cloaked figure who had his back to the party.</p><p></p><p>”What’s our plan?” Tess signaled Shaun, who was soon at her side. </p><p></p><p>“I’ll sneak off to the right,” Shaun whispered. “If someone could distract them, I would have the time to place a shot with my bow into one of their vitals...”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll sneak behind in,” Elenya volunteered. “It’ll put me in position to heal either Tess or Shauny, depending on who gets hurt...hopefully no one.”</p><p></p><p>“I’ll head till I’m within 30 feet of them,” Tess said, “I can use my spell magic that way. Pellaron, you should probably stand in the doorway, to block anyone coming in, and also to dash into the fray if needed.” The paladin nodded.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll provide the diversion,” Xanadu offered with a smile.</p><p></p><p>“Why the grin?” Shaun asked quietly. <em>Maybe he’s grinning because he’s nervous.. like I am.</em></p><p></p><p>”I think I know this tiger headed chap,” Xanadu said. “Trust my diversion. Don’t move until I have their attention.” He grinned again.</p><p></p><p>“Are you sure, Xanadu? I know you are a powerful wizard and all, but if this Rakhasa has been around that long, he has undoubtedly gained formidable wizard powers as well... I don’t want you getting hurt unnecessarily.” <em>You might be a bastard at times, but you know things, and you add firepower... we can’t afford to lose you.</em></p><p></p><p>“I know what I’m doing,” Xanadu said with a grin, and with the flash of a hand, he was floating slightly. A snap of his fingers and a word, and he was invisible. The party sat for several minutes, waiting, watching. A few guardsmen walked in the halls, and the party quickly pretended to be going some gardening... at night. The guardsmen seemed to be of the rather dull type, and merely shrugged (DM’s note: The guardsmen, rolled ones on their intelligence checks to realize few people garden at night).</p><p></p><p>The governor and his friend continued their in-depth conversation, only pieces of which drifted through the air so that the party could hear, among them phrases such as “triumph... Hieroneous’ fall, destruction of the Church...” </p><p></p><p><em>Yep... they’re the culprits,</em> Tess’ mind thought. <em>Now, we just have to take down an ancient Rakhasa and his doppelganger buddy, disguised as the most powerful man in the Valley...hooray.</em></p><p></p><p>Tess slipped forward, trying to hear some of the conversation, when her foot slipped on a gardening rake left outside in the gloom. While she didn’t fall, the rake made a clattering noise, which echoed throughout the courtyard.</p><p></p><p>Luckily for her, at that moment, Xanadu reappeared on a balcony above the two figures with a shout of, “I’m here! I see you!” The smile on Xanadu’s face is unnatural, as he merely stands on the balcony, and waits...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Siabrey’s combat instincts took over, and whatever loathing she had towards the Princess was instead replaced by the bodyguard mentality of “defend the defenseless.” She rushed over, and pulled from the gasping Princess’ shoulder the crossbow bolt, which had been hollowed out, allowing more blood than normal to gush out freely. The princess stood to her feet, as another bolt slammed Siabrey in the upper shoulder. </p><p></p><p><em>Dammit!</em> Siabrey’s mind screamed, as she yanked the new bolt out of her own shoulder, blood now freely coating her armor in a slick mess. Lucius was immediately by her side, his sword drawn. The Chamberlain held his staff in a defensive pose, and to Siabrey’s surprise, the Princess, with no weapons, stayed, extending one of her hands and adopting a defensive posture.</p><p></p><p><em>So she knows unarmed combat?</em> Siabrey’s rational mind interjected before her combat reflexes took over again. A heavy mist suddenly fell on the area, and in the approaching gloom, Siabrey could barely make out three figures, slinking, low, on all fours. As they drew near, they stopped slinking.</p><p></p><p>And started bounding.</p><p></p><p>Out of the gloom, three feline-like creatures, with belt pouches as a man would carry, and fingers and toes like a man, save their claws, bounded up and launched themselves at the Princess, Siabrey, and the old man. The chamberlain swung, connecting with his staff, but the enraged beast merely pounced on him, and shredded him apart literally, leaving his jugular in one location, and most of his lungs in another.</p><p></p><p>The second charges the Princess, who right as it leaps, jumps forward, her leg extended, and delivers a powerful kick to its jaw. The blow was so forceful the creature, despite being taller than the Princess when it stood on its hind legs, was knocked fully on its back.</p><p></p><p><em>That was pretty darn impressive!</em> Siabrey’s rational mind jumped in again, only to be butted out by the creature that jumped towards her. Right as it was jumping, her katana flew out of his scabbard, slashing across the creature’s lower body. Its momentum was too much, and it slammed into her anyway, biting and clawing.</p><p></p><p>Another one of the hollow crossbow bolts slammed into the ground at Lucius’ feet as extended his hand towards the creature harming Siabrey, his voice rising towards a shout full of anger, hate and vengeance. The creature broke off its attack, clutching its throat. It stumbled backwards as Lucius’ hand began to glow red, and blood began to trickle, then pour out of the creatures mouth. It collapses backwards to the ground, a small fountain of blood gurgling from its struggling lips for several moments. (DM’s Note: a modified version of the <em>drown</em> spell... except when Lucius gets pissed, the person drowns in their own blood... quite evil <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> ) Seeing her chance, Siabrey leapt forward, and slashed off the dying creatures head, sending showers of gore all over Zoe, herself, and Lucius. </p><p></p><p>The creature attacking the Princess received another sharp blow to its jaw, and the group was rewarded with a sick, cracking noise as its head separated from its neck, and it fell to the ground, twitching. This distraction however, kept the Princess from seeing the creature to her side that have freshly killed her Chamberlain, and it leapt at her as well. As Siabrey ran over, katana upraised, she noticed three more figures closing in the gloom... two more slinking, and one walking.</p><p></p><p>AS they emerged from the gloom just as she dispatched the Princess’ new attack, she made out in the two creature’s hands short, wickedly curved swords... kukris. And the walking figure she saw was tall, thin, with blond hair...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The two figures in the garden immediately spun around to face Xanadu, and the cloaked figure tossed off his hood, revealing the back of a tiger’s head to the party. His hand extended forth, and from it leapt a small, white bead towards the balcony. Xanadu, to the shock and amazement of the party, didn’t more... nary he didn’t flinch, as the bead of the massive <em>fireball</em> exploded around him.</p><p></p><p>A massive concussive roar thundered through the courtyard, as the balcony vanished in a massive explosion, far larger than the fireball that Lucius had unleashed on the demon. Parts of the stone base of the balcony fell, glowing hot, towards the group, yet when the smoke cleared, the party saw Xanadu floating where the balcony was, looking with alarm at his cloak, which had been burnt to ruin in the blast. It was apparent he had a few soot marks, but was otherwise unharmed.</p><p></p><p>“You ruined my coat!” his plaintive voice of annoyance rises in the courtyard.</p><p></p><p>“We’ll ruin far more than that you arrogant fool, Xanadu the Bright!” the rakhasa snarled.</p><p></p><p><em>What the?</em> Shaun’s mind asked in wonder. He was aware magic was powerful, but he didn’t know any magic that could have stopped an explosion that big.</p><p></p><p><em>Don’t question what you don’t understand... keep sneaking</em> his mind instructed, and Shaun carefully took position 30 feet directly behind the governor. In the darkness, he could barely make Tess and Elenya slinking forward as well. He carefully set his bow, and aimed for the rakhasa’s back.</p><p></p><p>Something went wrong, and he never quite figured out what it was, but his arrow flew just behind the creature’s ear. It spun around, as did the doppelganger, and the two now realized they were surrounded. Tess’ shout of music rose in the air, directed straight at the Rakhasa, who shivered under its effect, but continued to turn.</p><p></p><p>Pellaron chose this moment to boldly dash forward, now without his disguise and in the full gear of a paladin of Hieroneous, and run towards the cat creature. His charge lets him land a mighty blow on the surprised cleric of Hextor, ripping him open from shoulder to stomach. The mighty rakhasa stayed up, however, and another bead formed in his hand, and another <em>fireball</em> exploded around the one party member the creature could clearly see... Pellaron, who emerged badly burned, but very furious.</p><p></p><p>Elenya’s hand extended, and a small light shot forth, causing the rakhasa’s whiskers to grow icicles. It snarled, and yelled, “Kardatic, take care of these fools! I shall deal with Xanadu!”</p><p></p><p>The Governor drew his sword, and charged towards Shaun...</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Siabrey braced herself as the three figures charged, one of the creatures and the man at her, and the other towards the Princess. The Princess was the first to feel their wrath, as one of the creatures slashed her in the leg with its kukri, just behind the knee. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony.</p><p></p><p>The creature that attacked Siabrey found a sword sticking <em>through</em> its neck, and it twitched for a bit before with a kick and push from her leg, she pushed it off of her blade. The third unarmed one them bounded at her, and slashed her across her stomach, causing her to gasp in pain. </p><p></p><p>Lucius’ hand stretched out again, and it glowed red even brighter than before, as hard, vicious words coursed through the air, and the creature broke off its attack, blood spurting, gurgling, and then flying out of its mouth in a small fountain. As it collapsed, its body went pale as a bloody mess made the ground slippery and wet.</p><p></p><p>The human and Siabrey by this point were engaged in a duel of blades; her katana versus his midnight black, wickedly grooved short sword. The weapon slashed into her flank, causing her to start bleeding heavily, but nonetheless she landed several hard blows on him, driving back on his heels. He stumbled over the body of his still bleeding comrade and fell.</p><p></p><p>Lucius’ sword twirled in the air, as the second one armed with a kukri slashed him hard in the shoulder. Fortunately, it wasn’t his sword arm, and his skill using a bastard sword one handed paid off as the creature suddenly found itself without a belly or the guts within.</p><p></p><p>Lucius then had dashed over to the princess, who now had a creature snarling over her body, shredding her apart. A timely sword slash removed its head from its body, and the princess’ once perfect face was now covered with bits of gore and spinal fluid. As Siabrey clutched her side and started walking over to the rising boy with his blade, Lucius dashed over, and with the butt of his sword, sent the young man into unconsciousness.</p><p></p><p>“Are you alright!?” he said hurriedly to Siabrey, who clutched her side, which continued to bleed badly. She winced, and shook her head no. With the little training he had, Lucius managed to bind the wound up enough that the bleeding was staunched, and then both hobbled over to check on the princess.</p><p></p><p>“Your Majesty, can you walk?” Siabrey asked, as Lucius got some rope and began binding the man that had assaulted them. The princess gave a brave, gritty smile, and then gasped.</p><p> </p><p>“No,” she managed to say, “My leg is torn to shreds...” Siabrey managed to put a tourniquet on her thigh, to keep her from dying of blood loss. Then, with a grunt, Siabrey lifted the princess onto her back, as Lucius did the same to the unconscious assassin. The group knew not where they were going to go, save they wanted to move quickly.</p><p></p><p>“The Temple of Kord isn’t too far from here, Lucius,” Siabrey said quickly, “Your Majesty, would you mind being healed there first?”</p><p></p><p>“Not at all,” the princess smiled, trying to hold back another cry of pain as the ribbon that was once a leg dangled by Siabrey’s thigh, “Maybe their strength can keep me going.”</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The Governor’s blade barely missed Shaun, who ducked off to the side in the nick of time. The air beside his head crackled with electricity, and he felt the singe of heat from the blade.</p><p></p><p><em>Note to self! Stay away from the sword!</em> his mind shouted. With a flick of the wrist, he ripped his dagger out of his place in his belt, and slashed forward with it. The governor, to his surprise, deftly dodged, and Shaun then dropped his dagger in favor of his rapier.</p><p></p><p>Tess, meanwhile, filled the air with her shout of music, assaulting the Rakhasa once again. The creature covered its ears in pain, though it grimly pressed forward. Elenya launched another small ray at the beast, adding icicles to its ear hairs. Shaun heard her curse loudly at the ineffectiveness of her spells. He would have shouted a quip in return, but the governor’s swinging blade found his stomach, and Shaun felt a unique stinging pain, as a jolt of electricity and a burst of flame leapt through his body. He brought his blade down on the governor in return, lancing the creature through the shoulder.</p><p></p><p>The rakhasa then cast several spells on himself, and a thin glow grew from his body as his <em>mage armor</em> took effect. Another spell later, and with lightning reflexes, he begins moving menacingly towards the party.</p><p></p><p>Xanadu, meanwhile, casts his hands in front of himself, and disappears once again. A few second later, the party hears something rather ominous.</p><p></p><p>A massive <em>whumph</em>, as is from the largest wings they could think of. The noise came again, and the rakhasa turned around just as Tess launched another, final song strike at it, frying its brain and sending its sizzling head falling towards the ground.</p><p></p><p>The governor manages to stab Shaun again as the rogue, now remembering he needs to take the governor alive, starts smacking him with the butt of his rapier. The governor seems barely fazed, even when Pellaron’s crossbow his him, until behind him, several trees are suddenly flattened, as if an immense object had fallen on them.</p><p></p><p>The governor turned around, just in time for the party to witness him smacked around like a rag doll before flying 15 feet from the final blow. They dash over, to find that he’s unconscious, but still alive. More importantly, his spell has been broken, and his true, sickly grey form now sticks out from underneath the governor’s clothing.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“Grumki!” Siabrey shouted as they approached Church of Kord, as she now was starting to labor under the Princess’ weight. “Someone help!” The princess had, thankfully for her, fallen into unconsciousness from the pain, as a tired and bloodied Lucius carried the assassin as well.</p><p></p><p>A few acolytes, most without shirts, and some still holding the chains of their “Test of Strength,” came out of the modest sized temple. Upon seeing who was one Siabrey’s back, a multitude thundered out, and immediately began helping the party inside.</p><p></p><p>The Princess was taken to the holiest part of the temple, the wrestling ring where participants proved before Kord and all who saw their strength and blessings, to be healed. Grumki himself showed up a few minutes later, and oversaw the healing of Lucius and Siabrey. True to his nature, Lucius stubbornly and angrily insisted that Siabrey be healed first. </p><p></p><p>Finally, the would-be assassin himself was healed, after stronger, more permanent bonds were applied. </p><p></p><p><em>He looks familiar</em> Siabrey thought. Then she noticed that his blond hair still had very small black tips... and a snarl grew in her throat. <em>You sick, rotten, perverted bastard!</em> It was Siabrey would administered the kick that broke his unconscious slumber.</p><p></p><p>“You... you...” she snarled before adding as many profane insults she could remember at the man who not only had just tried to kill the Princess, her, and Lucius, but had also drugged Tess and killed the Imperial Chamberlain. Unlike the Temple of Pelor, cursing was expected here... the strength of Kord is sometimes known through insults and brave words. Such words did not move the boy, who despite his bonds, merely laughed.</p><p></p><p>“Weak, witless woman,” he laughed, “Do you think I’ll talk to you? About why I tried to kill you?”</p><p></p><p>“Kill me?” Siabrey’s rant stopped suddenly, and the boy smiled rather evilly. </p><p></p><p>“Of course, my dear. If you die, Lucius goes mad... and my mistress wins. I speak that much freely as there is nothing you can do hear that can get me to speak more.”</p><p></p><p>“Wait...” she said, her voice now quiet... “If I die.. you win?”</p><p></p><p>“Why yes!” the boy laughed, in a rather frightening and unstable manner, “You’ve noticed that his darker side comes forth when you are attacked? You had to! His mother did, as did my parents... why capture him, when we can kill you, and drive him to our side by the very evil within him...”</p><p></p><p>Siabrey’s face once again seemed almost crushed, and she spun away from the monstrous little boy, just as Grumki arrived with the phrase, “Grumki wants to hear you talk... if you do not talk, Grumki will make you scream...”</p><p></p><p><em>It’s not true! Lucius wouldn’t go mad if something happened to me!</em> one part of her mind tried to console her. <em>He’s not like that! He’s not evil at all!</em> Her walk away from the assassin sped up, as she heard him screeching from Grumki lifting him into the air.</p><p></p><p><em>Siabrey!</em> another part shouted, <em>Look at what he did to the spider that attacked you! To the demon that imprisoned you in ice! And now to the assassins that tried to kill you! If causing people to drown in their own blood is not evil, I don’t know what is!</em> Her walk sped up more. She had to get to another room... another place, so she could think.</p><p></p><p><em>But he loves me...</em> a weaker part of her mind called.</p><p></p><p><em>Yes, and you are a weakness</em> her bodyguard mind chimed in, <em>You are a way they can reach him. Not to mention that if your ancestry is truly demonic...</em></p><p></p><p><em>She lied!</em> Siabrey’s mind snarled as she sat down in a chair in the next room in the temple, holding her head in her hands, <em>She lied hard to get Lucius to stay away from me!</em></p><p></p><p><em>What if she’s not... what if she told the truth? Then, not only are they trying to get him by getting you... he is being exposed to demon blood every day...</em> Tears started flowing from her eyes, as her bodyguard mentality jumped in again.</p><p></p><p><em>He’s truly safer without you,</em> it said slowly, softly. <em>If you aren’t close to him, that is one less weakness they can exploit...</em></p><p></p><p><em>No! If I break away from him, it could hurt him... it could push him over the edge!</em> the other parts of her mind called, weaker as the bodyguard mentality increased.</p><p></p><p><em>Siabrey... do you want to stay with him because its best for him... or because its best for you? If you love him... you will protect him from this attack, by distancing yourself...</em> the bodyguard mind continued, rationally and thoughtfully. <em>Siabrey, you promised to always protect him... do so now!</em></p><p></p><p><em>But I can’t decide!</em></p><p></p><p>Her minds troubles were interrupted as she heard footsteps coming into the room. She looked up, and saw Lucius looking down on her, his face drawn from exhaustion and concern.</p><p></p><p>“What’s wrong, hon?” he said quietly.</p><p></p><p>She got up and walked out of the room.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>“So... this is a doppelganger?” the Captain of the Guard asked, looking at the unconscious figure in the governor’s clothing. “If so, where is the governor?”</p><p></p><p>“We don’t know,” Tess replied, as Elenya went about healing injuries. Xanadu had reformed as a half elf amidst the chaos he had caused, with a small grin on his face. He had avoided all questions from the group as to how he did it, and now was setting about rifling through the crushed rakhasa’s body.</p><p></p><p>“Well, I’m afraid I’ll have to take you all in for questioning... along with the servants that witnessed this... just to be...” and the captain’s voice trailed off as one of the guardsmen ran by screaming, “Princess Zoe was attacked! Assassins are about! To the Temple of Kord!”</p><p></p><p>Before the guardsman could speak, Tess volunteered that the party would go with, taking the unconscious doppelganger along.</p><p></p><p>It was fully ten minutes later when the group arrived at the temple. They found the Princess limping around on a newly healed leg, shouting at a young boy... whom Tess immediately recognized.</p><p></p><p>“Shivalas!” she snarled, and came close to kicking him in the ribs. She stopped as she saw the tears flowing rapidly down his face. Grumki’s “persuasion” had worked wonders....</p><p></p><p>“Don’t hurt me anymore!” he cried between sniffles, and it was then that she realized his age...</p><p></p><p><em>He’s not much older than Lucius at the eldest... who would send their child to kill on such a mission?</em></p><p></p><p>”Boy,” she said quietly, “I owe you many things, but as life goes, many debts go unpaid. Tell me... are you the son of Rogar Mithras?” The boy sobbed, and nodded.</p><p></p><p>“Can you tell me where you mother and father are?” she asked gently. “I won’t hurt you.”</p><p></p><p>“Mum,” he blurted out between sniffles, “she’s... out east... somewhere... dad... I don’t know. They said I’d... earn my... spurs if I pulled this off...”</p><p></p><p><em>Poor kid,</em> Tess suddenly found herself saying. <em>While I still hate his guts for pulling me like a fool... I still feel sorry for him. This is the life he knows...</em></p><p></p><p><em>Chances are that’s about as much as we can get out of him here...</em></p><p></p><p>“Guardsman,” Tess volunteered, “perhaps he could be taken to the Temple of Hieroneous for alternative questioning? I doubt we’ll get much more out of him by physical force...” </p><p></p><p>The guardsman grunted, and trotted off to ask a superior.</p><p></p><p><em>He needs someone he can trust right now... he’ll tell all to them. I can’t be that person, I despise him too much despite feeling sorry for him...</em></p><p></p><p>As those thoughts finished, the doppelganger, bound and now awake, found himself tossed beside the boy for interrogation. </p><p></p><p>“Who are you?!” the Princess snarled, a new target for her ire. “Speak, or you will speak under pain!”</p><p></p><p>The doppelganger refused to open its mouth... until Grumki came yet again and lifted him skyward. After a quick struggle, the creature was summarily dropped, and the Princess posed her question again.</p><p></p><p>“I... am... Kardatic...” it barely managed to speak. “I... I follow the Church of Hextor....”</p><p></p><p>Over the next half hour, Tess listened as the creature spilled its guts to the party... how he was an agent for Hextor... how he killed and took over the governor’s body to destroy the Temple of Hieroneous... how the rakhasa (named Palador) was the leader of the regional Church of Hextor. However, when posed a question about the Countess, he reacted with confusion... not even knowing about her rebellion....</p><p></p><p>Tess did not hear the rest of his blatherings, as by this point, tired of interrogations and the like, she wandered into the next room, only to see Lucius, with a broken face, talking to Xanadu in low tones. After the boy nodded at the wizards’ final statement and left, she walked up beside him and asked what was troubling Lucius..</p><p></p><p>“Siabrey won’t talk to him, won’t even be near him,” Xanadu sighed. “I don’t know why... but I intend to find out.”</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>It was several hours later back at the Temple of Pelor... far past the bewitching hours of midnight, when Siabrey flipped through the fifth book in the Pelor library she found on the siabrie.</p><p></p><p><em>Hmm...same as the others... desert dwellers... quiet... stay to themselves... only harm those that harm the desert and its inhabitants...</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>It says nothing here about wanton destruction, vicious anger, or demonic ancestry... they’re closer to nymphs than they are to demons...</em></p><p></p><p>She flipped the page and continued reading... part of her scared at what she’d find, and part of her scared of what Lucius thought.</p><p></p><p><em> He’s probably sure you’re a demon now,</em> part of her brain chimed in. For all that she wanted him to stay away now, for his own safety, she still desired his attempted passes earlier in the evening.</p><p></p><p><em>I want him to come by and ask what’s wrong, but I don’t... this is too confusing!</em> She was about ready to slam the book shut in frustration when she heard a knock on the doors to the library.</p><p></p><p><em>It’s him!</em> part of her strangely jumped for joy. Despite her isolation from him, he still loved her. <em>I... I.. shouldn’t open the door</em> the rest of her mind decided quickly. <em>He... he has to get used to not being able to see me... and... I must get used to the same.</em> She was long past the point of tears, but if her tired eyes had any, one would have fallen.</p><p></p><p>“Open up... its Xanadu!” a voice called from beyond the door. She got up, and quickly skittered through the hall, opening the door.</p><p></p><p>“Siabrey,” he said before she could even give a greeting, “we need to talk.” He gently pushed his way in, and she didn’t resist as he closed the door, and then turned to face her.</p><p></p><p>“Before the question I know you’re going to ask,” Siabrey said quietly. “Can you tell me if you’ve seen any siabrie before?”</p><p></p><p>Xanadu once again got that very vacant, distant stare, as if he was looking deep into the past. He blinked, and then returned to the present.</p><p></p><p>“Yes... I’ve known many, my child... why?”</p><p></p><p>“The princess says that I’m descended from their blood... from one named Kelir... did you ever meet him?” Xanadu’s face grew into a big smile, and he gave a small chuckle.</p><p></p><p>“Many many years ago, I met him once. A good one. He helped me immensely at that time with a problem I was having out in the Obashi Desert. He’s like the others... quiet, tend to stay out of the way unless they are lonely, and rarely bothers outsiders. Thankfully, the outsiders that were bothering me bothered <em>him</em> as well!” Siabrey smiled distantly... before being pulled back into the present by Xanadu saying he had a question for her.</p><p></p><p>“Its about you and Lucius,” Xanadu said, looking her in the face. “Why are you avoiding him?”</p><p></p><p><em>Oh god... where do I start? I want to be with him, but I love him, so I can’t?</em></p><p></p><p>“It... it was the assassins... they went after me... not Lucius. They wanted to kill me to turn him into something he hates, something he loathes... into the evil that is his mother!” Somehow, Siabrey’s body found more tears, and they started flowing again. “So I want to stay away from him... I love him enough that I don’t want him to become something like that! If I have to love him from a distance, I will!”</p><p></p><p>Xanadu sighed, and let her rest her head on his shoulder. “There, there, my child,” he said softly. “Its ok.” After a few moments, he pushed her away gently and looked her in the eye.</p><p></p><p>“IF he doesn’t have you at his side, who will be there? You are the one most qualified to defend yourself if they go after his loved ones, Siabrey. I here you took down three assassins single handedly. No one else in our group can do that...”</p><p></p><p>“But... I don’t want him being turned into something he hates on my account,” she said again. Her voice was muffled as she continued to cry.</p><p></p><p><em>It’s so hard to choose!</em></p><p></p><p>“Siabrey,” Xanadu said, holding her by the shoulders, “did you love him before the assassination attempt, before you knew all of this?” She sniffed, and nodded yes rather firmly.</p><p></p><p>“You should still love him now then,” Xanadu said quietly. “And I know he still loves you. If you love him... go to him. Talk to him. Don’t avoid him... its tearing him apart.” I’ll look up more information if you want, but you have more important things to do right now.”</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Emperor Valerian, post: 1352737, member: 15043"] This next part, part 9 of the adventure on 1-30-04 (almost near the end! :) )is called [b]Battles, Fights, and General Meanness[/b] Tess, Shaun, and others immediately freeze as the officer’s voice echoes up the hall. The man, large and burly with a mean look on his face, lumbers up the hall towards them. “My quarters were supposed to be cleaned almost five hours ago, and still no one has touched them! I want you to march over to my quarters by the garden, and clean them this instant!” he snarls as he approaches, until he sees Tess and Elenya turn around. He stopped dead in his tracks, and a lascivious grin spread over his face. “Well, well, well... I never knew they hired such fine ladies as washerwomen here. You two can stay in my quarters for a little bit after cleaning them up,” he grinned. [i]This man reeks of sliminess,[/i] Tess tried hard not to wrinkle her nose in disgust, and with some very serious misgivings, gave him a wink. Elenya beside her just trembled. [i]I can’t believe I just sank that low,[/i] Tess’ mind thought, [i]I feel so dirty after that[/i]. Unfortunately, the guardsman wasn’t leaving yet, and instead tried to start flirting. [i]God! Someone make him go away![/i] Tess wanted to scream. As if answering her prayers, Shaun pushed his way to the front of the group, and promptly grabbed his mock chest while giving the man a suggestive grin. While Elenya thought he was cute in his disguise, it was obvious the guardsman didn’t, and he bid a quick, if ungentlemanly adieu with a slap to Elenya’s rear, and walked down the hall. “Shaun,” Tess said a few minutes later when she was sure the man was gone, “as much as I find you obnoxious... I owe you... big time.” Shaun gave a rather girly giggle, replying, “Its no problem... I was going to be hog-tied before I let him do more to Elenya than what he managed to do...” Elenya’s face blushed a tad, and the group pressed forward, slowly coming within sight of the garden. [i]Is it true?[/i] Siabrey’s frightened mind tumbled. [i]Is it true? I am the child of a demon? I’ve been exposing and hurting my Lucius all this time?[/i] [i]No, it can’t be! I have no horns, and my mother surely would have told me! No child of a demon would be allowed in the Temple of Hieroneous! They would surely see such residual evil and strike it down! My mother said my father was a noble man, not one that would recklessly attack people for no reason!? How did mum get so close to him then? She LOVED him! She wouldn’t have loved a thief and murderer![/i] As parts of her brain wrestled with the Princess’ allegations, the rest of her mind concentrated on what she saw from Lucius... and more tears formed as she didn’t feel him encircle her, protect her, but instead stare off into space, his hand flexing and releasing. [i]He won’t love a demon child![/i] part of her mind said sadly, [i]He’ll spurn you as he would spurn a rabid dog! But... I am more than that, if that’s my ancestry! He is a NOBLE, Siabrey! They care little beyond ancestry![/i] As she cried, she saw him blink.. once... twice... three times. His eyes, which had been blank with confusion, now had their old hardness back. He had made some decision. “Your Majesty,” his voice began, distant and slow, “I have made my choice.” The Princess crossed her arms in triumph, a smile playing on her lips. “After the rebellion is crushed, after I am restored to my throne, I shall have a Countess..“ his voice grew stronger, and his eyes looked directly at the Princess, his face like stone. “...and she will not be you.” Siabrey’s mind froze for a few seconds, as the magnitude of what she just heard sank in. [i]He’ll have a Countess... and it won’t be the Princess...[/i] her mind, dulled by the tortures of now knowing parts of her ancestry and fear of losing him, stumbled, [i]then... it will be...[/i] She let out a little shriek, and grabbed Lucius. She felt his reassuring arms circle her, and she tried to pull herself as close to him as possible. “Siabrey, I couldn’t leave you,” he said softly, resting his head on hers. Siabrey did not hear the Princess’ huff of fury and indignation, though she knew the woman she loathed was still around because Lucius broke off his tight hold of her rather quickly, and turned to face the Princess. It was her turn to be livid, to have the color drained from her face. She had been spurned by someone below her station, and below her age... “You! You are a...” her voice rose in fury. It took a few moments for Siabrey to realize the small popping noise she heard at that moment was nothing normal, but the noise a man’s neck makes when it is broken. Her mind snapped to combat mode only when a crossbow bolt wickedly slammed into the Princess’ shoulder... Tess and Elenya were the first to walk from the lower level hallways out into the Governor’s private garden. In the darkened courtyard in front of them stood many oaks, elms, and fruitwoods, giving off a distinctly pleasant odor. Flowers bloomed along the edges of the garden, as paths wound, crisscrossing through it. Standing near the middle was the governor, involved in a deep conversation with a cloaked figure who had his back to the party. ”What’s our plan?” Tess signaled Shaun, who was soon at her side. “I’ll sneak off to the right,” Shaun whispered. “If someone could distract them, I would have the time to place a shot with my bow into one of their vitals...” “I’ll sneak behind in,” Elenya volunteered. “It’ll put me in position to heal either Tess or Shauny, depending on who gets hurt...hopefully no one.” “I’ll head till I’m within 30 feet of them,” Tess said, “I can use my spell magic that way. Pellaron, you should probably stand in the doorway, to block anyone coming in, and also to dash into the fray if needed.” The paladin nodded. “I’ll provide the diversion,” Xanadu offered with a smile. “Why the grin?” Shaun asked quietly. [i]Maybe he’s grinning because he’s nervous.. like I am.[/i] ”I think I know this tiger headed chap,” Xanadu said. “Trust my diversion. Don’t move until I have their attention.” He grinned again. “Are you sure, Xanadu? I know you are a powerful wizard and all, but if this Rakhasa has been around that long, he has undoubtedly gained formidable wizard powers as well... I don’t want you getting hurt unnecessarily.” [i]You might be a bastard at times, but you know things, and you add firepower... we can’t afford to lose you.[/i] “I know what I’m doing,” Xanadu said with a grin, and with the flash of a hand, he was floating slightly. A snap of his fingers and a word, and he was invisible. The party sat for several minutes, waiting, watching. A few guardsmen walked in the halls, and the party quickly pretended to be going some gardening... at night. The guardsmen seemed to be of the rather dull type, and merely shrugged (DM’s note: The guardsmen, rolled ones on their intelligence checks to realize few people garden at night). The governor and his friend continued their in-depth conversation, only pieces of which drifted through the air so that the party could hear, among them phrases such as “triumph... Hieroneous’ fall, destruction of the Church...” [i]Yep... they’re the culprits,[/i] Tess’ mind thought. [i]Now, we just have to take down an ancient Rakhasa and his doppelganger buddy, disguised as the most powerful man in the Valley...hooray.[/i] Tess slipped forward, trying to hear some of the conversation, when her foot slipped on a gardening rake left outside in the gloom. While she didn’t fall, the rake made a clattering noise, which echoed throughout the courtyard. Luckily for her, at that moment, Xanadu reappeared on a balcony above the two figures with a shout of, “I’m here! I see you!” The smile on Xanadu’s face is unnatural, as he merely stands on the balcony, and waits... Siabrey’s combat instincts took over, and whatever loathing she had towards the Princess was instead replaced by the bodyguard mentality of “defend the defenseless.” She rushed over, and pulled from the gasping Princess’ shoulder the crossbow bolt, which had been hollowed out, allowing more blood than normal to gush out freely. The princess stood to her feet, as another bolt slammed Siabrey in the upper shoulder. [i]Dammit![/i] Siabrey’s mind screamed, as she yanked the new bolt out of her own shoulder, blood now freely coating her armor in a slick mess. Lucius was immediately by her side, his sword drawn. The Chamberlain held his staff in a defensive pose, and to Siabrey’s surprise, the Princess, with no weapons, stayed, extending one of her hands and adopting a defensive posture. [i]So she knows unarmed combat?[/i] Siabrey’s rational mind interjected before her combat reflexes took over again. A heavy mist suddenly fell on the area, and in the approaching gloom, Siabrey could barely make out three figures, slinking, low, on all fours. As they drew near, they stopped slinking. And started bounding. Out of the gloom, three feline-like creatures, with belt pouches as a man would carry, and fingers and toes like a man, save their claws, bounded up and launched themselves at the Princess, Siabrey, and the old man. The chamberlain swung, connecting with his staff, but the enraged beast merely pounced on him, and shredded him apart literally, leaving his jugular in one location, and most of his lungs in another. The second charges the Princess, who right as it leaps, jumps forward, her leg extended, and delivers a powerful kick to its jaw. The blow was so forceful the creature, despite being taller than the Princess when it stood on its hind legs, was knocked fully on its back. [i]That was pretty darn impressive![/i] Siabrey’s rational mind jumped in again, only to be butted out by the creature that jumped towards her. Right as it was jumping, her katana flew out of his scabbard, slashing across the creature’s lower body. Its momentum was too much, and it slammed into her anyway, biting and clawing. Another one of the hollow crossbow bolts slammed into the ground at Lucius’ feet as extended his hand towards the creature harming Siabrey, his voice rising towards a shout full of anger, hate and vengeance. The creature broke off its attack, clutching its throat. It stumbled backwards as Lucius’ hand began to glow red, and blood began to trickle, then pour out of the creatures mouth. It collapses backwards to the ground, a small fountain of blood gurgling from its struggling lips for several moments. (DM’s Note: a modified version of the [i]drown[/i] spell... except when Lucius gets pissed, the person drowns in their own blood... quite evil :) ) Seeing her chance, Siabrey leapt forward, and slashed off the dying creatures head, sending showers of gore all over Zoe, herself, and Lucius. The creature attacking the Princess received another sharp blow to its jaw, and the group was rewarded with a sick, cracking noise as its head separated from its neck, and it fell to the ground, twitching. This distraction however, kept the Princess from seeing the creature to her side that have freshly killed her Chamberlain, and it leapt at her as well. As Siabrey ran over, katana upraised, she noticed three more figures closing in the gloom... two more slinking, and one walking. AS they emerged from the gloom just as she dispatched the Princess’ new attack, she made out in the two creature’s hands short, wickedly curved swords... kukris. And the walking figure she saw was tall, thin, with blond hair... The two figures in the garden immediately spun around to face Xanadu, and the cloaked figure tossed off his hood, revealing the back of a tiger’s head to the party. His hand extended forth, and from it leapt a small, white bead towards the balcony. Xanadu, to the shock and amazement of the party, didn’t more... nary he didn’t flinch, as the bead of the massive [i]fireball[/i] exploded around him. A massive concussive roar thundered through the courtyard, as the balcony vanished in a massive explosion, far larger than the fireball that Lucius had unleashed on the demon. Parts of the stone base of the balcony fell, glowing hot, towards the group, yet when the smoke cleared, the party saw Xanadu floating where the balcony was, looking with alarm at his cloak, which had been burnt to ruin in the blast. It was apparent he had a few soot marks, but was otherwise unharmed. “You ruined my coat!” his plaintive voice of annoyance rises in the courtyard. “We’ll ruin far more than that you arrogant fool, Xanadu the Bright!” the rakhasa snarled. [i]What the?[/i] Shaun’s mind asked in wonder. He was aware magic was powerful, but he didn’t know any magic that could have stopped an explosion that big. [i]Don’t question what you don’t understand... keep sneaking[/i] his mind instructed, and Shaun carefully took position 30 feet directly behind the governor. In the darkness, he could barely make Tess and Elenya slinking forward as well. He carefully set his bow, and aimed for the rakhasa’s back. Something went wrong, and he never quite figured out what it was, but his arrow flew just behind the creature’s ear. It spun around, as did the doppelganger, and the two now realized they were surrounded. Tess’ shout of music rose in the air, directed straight at the Rakhasa, who shivered under its effect, but continued to turn. Pellaron chose this moment to boldly dash forward, now without his disguise and in the full gear of a paladin of Hieroneous, and run towards the cat creature. His charge lets him land a mighty blow on the surprised cleric of Hextor, ripping him open from shoulder to stomach. The mighty rakhasa stayed up, however, and another bead formed in his hand, and another [i]fireball[/i] exploded around the one party member the creature could clearly see... Pellaron, who emerged badly burned, but very furious. Elenya’s hand extended, and a small light shot forth, causing the rakhasa’s whiskers to grow icicles. It snarled, and yelled, “Kardatic, take care of these fools! I shall deal with Xanadu!” The Governor drew his sword, and charged towards Shaun... Siabrey braced herself as the three figures charged, one of the creatures and the man at her, and the other towards the Princess. The Princess was the first to feel their wrath, as one of the creatures slashed her in the leg with its kukri, just behind the knee. Her legs buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, screaming in agony. The creature that attacked Siabrey found a sword sticking [i]through[/i] its neck, and it twitched for a bit before with a kick and push from her leg, she pushed it off of her blade. The third unarmed one them bounded at her, and slashed her across her stomach, causing her to gasp in pain. Lucius’ hand stretched out again, and it glowed red even brighter than before, as hard, vicious words coursed through the air, and the creature broke off its attack, blood spurting, gurgling, and then flying out of its mouth in a small fountain. As it collapsed, its body went pale as a bloody mess made the ground slippery and wet. The human and Siabrey by this point were engaged in a duel of blades; her katana versus his midnight black, wickedly grooved short sword. The weapon slashed into her flank, causing her to start bleeding heavily, but nonetheless she landed several hard blows on him, driving back on his heels. He stumbled over the body of his still bleeding comrade and fell. Lucius’ sword twirled in the air, as the second one armed with a kukri slashed him hard in the shoulder. Fortunately, it wasn’t his sword arm, and his skill using a bastard sword one handed paid off as the creature suddenly found itself without a belly or the guts within. Lucius then had dashed over to the princess, who now had a creature snarling over her body, shredding her apart. A timely sword slash removed its head from its body, and the princess’ once perfect face was now covered with bits of gore and spinal fluid. As Siabrey clutched her side and started walking over to the rising boy with his blade, Lucius dashed over, and with the butt of his sword, sent the young man into unconsciousness. “Are you alright!?” he said hurriedly to Siabrey, who clutched her side, which continued to bleed badly. She winced, and shook her head no. With the little training he had, Lucius managed to bind the wound up enough that the bleeding was staunched, and then both hobbled over to check on the princess. “Your Majesty, can you walk?” Siabrey asked, as Lucius got some rope and began binding the man that had assaulted them. The princess gave a brave, gritty smile, and then gasped. “No,” she managed to say, “My leg is torn to shreds...” Siabrey managed to put a tourniquet on her thigh, to keep her from dying of blood loss. Then, with a grunt, Siabrey lifted the princess onto her back, as Lucius did the same to the unconscious assassin. The group knew not where they were going to go, save they wanted to move quickly. “The Temple of Kord isn’t too far from here, Lucius,” Siabrey said quickly, “Your Majesty, would you mind being healed there first?” “Not at all,” the princess smiled, trying to hold back another cry of pain as the ribbon that was once a leg dangled by Siabrey’s thigh, “Maybe their strength can keep me going.” The Governor’s blade barely missed Shaun, who ducked off to the side in the nick of time. The air beside his head crackled with electricity, and he felt the singe of heat from the blade. [i]Note to self! Stay away from the sword![/i] his mind shouted. With a flick of the wrist, he ripped his dagger out of his place in his belt, and slashed forward with it. The governor, to his surprise, deftly dodged, and Shaun then dropped his dagger in favor of his rapier. Tess, meanwhile, filled the air with her shout of music, assaulting the Rakhasa once again. The creature covered its ears in pain, though it grimly pressed forward. Elenya launched another small ray at the beast, adding icicles to its ear hairs. Shaun heard her curse loudly at the ineffectiveness of her spells. He would have shouted a quip in return, but the governor’s swinging blade found his stomach, and Shaun felt a unique stinging pain, as a jolt of electricity and a burst of flame leapt through his body. He brought his blade down on the governor in return, lancing the creature through the shoulder. The rakhasa then cast several spells on himself, and a thin glow grew from his body as his [i]mage armor[/i] took effect. Another spell later, and with lightning reflexes, he begins moving menacingly towards the party. Xanadu, meanwhile, casts his hands in front of himself, and disappears once again. A few second later, the party hears something rather ominous. A massive [i]whumph[/i], as is from the largest wings they could think of. The noise came again, and the rakhasa turned around just as Tess launched another, final song strike at it, frying its brain and sending its sizzling head falling towards the ground. The governor manages to stab Shaun again as the rogue, now remembering he needs to take the governor alive, starts smacking him with the butt of his rapier. The governor seems barely fazed, even when Pellaron’s crossbow his him, until behind him, several trees are suddenly flattened, as if an immense object had fallen on them. The governor turned around, just in time for the party to witness him smacked around like a rag doll before flying 15 feet from the final blow. They dash over, to find that he’s unconscious, but still alive. More importantly, his spell has been broken, and his true, sickly grey form now sticks out from underneath the governor’s clothing. “Grumki!” Siabrey shouted as they approached Church of Kord, as she now was starting to labor under the Princess’ weight. “Someone help!” The princess had, thankfully for her, fallen into unconsciousness from the pain, as a tired and bloodied Lucius carried the assassin as well. A few acolytes, most without shirts, and some still holding the chains of their “Test of Strength,” came out of the modest sized temple. Upon seeing who was one Siabrey’s back, a multitude thundered out, and immediately began helping the party inside. The Princess was taken to the holiest part of the temple, the wrestling ring where participants proved before Kord and all who saw their strength and blessings, to be healed. Grumki himself showed up a few minutes later, and oversaw the healing of Lucius and Siabrey. True to his nature, Lucius stubbornly and angrily insisted that Siabrey be healed first. Finally, the would-be assassin himself was healed, after stronger, more permanent bonds were applied. [i]He looks familiar[/i] Siabrey thought. Then she noticed that his blond hair still had very small black tips... and a snarl grew in her throat. [i]You sick, rotten, perverted bastard![/i] It was Siabrey would administered the kick that broke his unconscious slumber. “You... you...” she snarled before adding as many profane insults she could remember at the man who not only had just tried to kill the Princess, her, and Lucius, but had also drugged Tess and killed the Imperial Chamberlain. Unlike the Temple of Pelor, cursing was expected here... the strength of Kord is sometimes known through insults and brave words. Such words did not move the boy, who despite his bonds, merely laughed. “Weak, witless woman,” he laughed, “Do you think I’ll talk to you? About why I tried to kill you?” “Kill me?” Siabrey’s rant stopped suddenly, and the boy smiled rather evilly. “Of course, my dear. If you die, Lucius goes mad... and my mistress wins. I speak that much freely as there is nothing you can do hear that can get me to speak more.” “Wait...” she said, her voice now quiet... “If I die.. you win?” “Why yes!” the boy laughed, in a rather frightening and unstable manner, “You’ve noticed that his darker side comes forth when you are attacked? You had to! His mother did, as did my parents... why capture him, when we can kill you, and drive him to our side by the very evil within him...” Siabrey’s face once again seemed almost crushed, and she spun away from the monstrous little boy, just as Grumki arrived with the phrase, “Grumki wants to hear you talk... if you do not talk, Grumki will make you scream...” [i]It’s not true! Lucius wouldn’t go mad if something happened to me![/i] one part of her mind tried to console her. [i]He’s not like that! He’s not evil at all![/i] Her walk away from the assassin sped up, as she heard him screeching from Grumki lifting him into the air. [i]Siabrey![/i] another part shouted, [i]Look at what he did to the spider that attacked you! To the demon that imprisoned you in ice! And now to the assassins that tried to kill you! If causing people to drown in their own blood is not evil, I don’t know what is![/i] Her walk sped up more. She had to get to another room... another place, so she could think. [i]But he loves me...[/i] a weaker part of her mind called. [i]Yes, and you are a weakness[/i] her bodyguard mind chimed in, [i]You are a way they can reach him. Not to mention that if your ancestry is truly demonic...[/i] [i]She lied![/i] Siabrey’s mind snarled as she sat down in a chair in the next room in the temple, holding her head in her hands, [i]She lied hard to get Lucius to stay away from me![/i] [i]What if she’s not... what if she told the truth? Then, not only are they trying to get him by getting you... he is being exposed to demon blood every day...[/i] Tears started flowing from her eyes, as her bodyguard mentality jumped in again. [i]He’s truly safer without you,[/i] it said slowly, softly. [i]If you aren’t close to him, that is one less weakness they can exploit...[/i] [i]No! If I break away from him, it could hurt him... it could push him over the edge![/i] the other parts of her mind called, weaker as the bodyguard mentality increased. [i]Siabrey... do you want to stay with him because its best for him... or because its best for you? If you love him... you will protect him from this attack, by distancing yourself...[/i] the bodyguard mind continued, rationally and thoughtfully. [i]Siabrey, you promised to always protect him... do so now![/i] [i]But I can’t decide![/i] Her minds troubles were interrupted as she heard footsteps coming into the room. She looked up, and saw Lucius looking down on her, his face drawn from exhaustion and concern. “What’s wrong, hon?” he said quietly. She got up and walked out of the room. “So... this is a doppelganger?” the Captain of the Guard asked, looking at the unconscious figure in the governor’s clothing. “If so, where is the governor?” “We don’t know,” Tess replied, as Elenya went about healing injuries. Xanadu had reformed as a half elf amidst the chaos he had caused, with a small grin on his face. He had avoided all questions from the group as to how he did it, and now was setting about rifling through the crushed rakhasa’s body. “Well, I’m afraid I’ll have to take you all in for questioning... along with the servants that witnessed this... just to be...” and the captain’s voice trailed off as one of the guardsmen ran by screaming, “Princess Zoe was attacked! Assassins are about! To the Temple of Kord!” Before the guardsman could speak, Tess volunteered that the party would go with, taking the unconscious doppelganger along. It was fully ten minutes later when the group arrived at the temple. They found the Princess limping around on a newly healed leg, shouting at a young boy... whom Tess immediately recognized. “Shivalas!” she snarled, and came close to kicking him in the ribs. She stopped as she saw the tears flowing rapidly down his face. Grumki’s “persuasion” had worked wonders.... “Don’t hurt me anymore!” he cried between sniffles, and it was then that she realized his age... [i]He’s not much older than Lucius at the eldest... who would send their child to kill on such a mission?[/i] ”Boy,” she said quietly, “I owe you many things, but as life goes, many debts go unpaid. Tell me... are you the son of Rogar Mithras?” The boy sobbed, and nodded. “Can you tell me where you mother and father are?” she asked gently. “I won’t hurt you.” “Mum,” he blurted out between sniffles, “she’s... out east... somewhere... dad... I don’t know. They said I’d... earn my... spurs if I pulled this off...” [i]Poor kid,[/i] Tess suddenly found herself saying. [i]While I still hate his guts for pulling me like a fool... I still feel sorry for him. This is the life he knows...[/i] [i]Chances are that’s about as much as we can get out of him here...[/i] “Guardsman,” Tess volunteered, “perhaps he could be taken to the Temple of Hieroneous for alternative questioning? I doubt we’ll get much more out of him by physical force...” The guardsman grunted, and trotted off to ask a superior. [i]He needs someone he can trust right now... he’ll tell all to them. I can’t be that person, I despise him too much despite feeling sorry for him...[/i] As those thoughts finished, the doppelganger, bound and now awake, found himself tossed beside the boy for interrogation. “Who are you?!” the Princess snarled, a new target for her ire. “Speak, or you will speak under pain!” The doppelganger refused to open its mouth... until Grumki came yet again and lifted him skyward. After a quick struggle, the creature was summarily dropped, and the Princess posed her question again. “I... am... Kardatic...” it barely managed to speak. “I... I follow the Church of Hextor....” Over the next half hour, Tess listened as the creature spilled its guts to the party... how he was an agent for Hextor... how he killed and took over the governor’s body to destroy the Temple of Hieroneous... how the rakhasa (named Palador) was the leader of the regional Church of Hextor. However, when posed a question about the Countess, he reacted with confusion... not even knowing about her rebellion.... Tess did not hear the rest of his blatherings, as by this point, tired of interrogations and the like, she wandered into the next room, only to see Lucius, with a broken face, talking to Xanadu in low tones. After the boy nodded at the wizards’ final statement and left, she walked up beside him and asked what was troubling Lucius.. “Siabrey won’t talk to him, won’t even be near him,” Xanadu sighed. “I don’t know why... but I intend to find out.” It was several hours later back at the Temple of Pelor... far past the bewitching hours of midnight, when Siabrey flipped through the fifth book in the Pelor library she found on the siabrie. [i]Hmm...same as the others... desert dwellers... quiet... stay to themselves... only harm those that harm the desert and its inhabitants... It says nothing here about wanton destruction, vicious anger, or demonic ancestry... they’re closer to nymphs than they are to demons...[/i] She flipped the page and continued reading... part of her scared at what she’d find, and part of her scared of what Lucius thought. [i] He’s probably sure you’re a demon now,[/i] part of her brain chimed in. For all that she wanted him to stay away now, for his own safety, she still desired his attempted passes earlier in the evening. [i]I want him to come by and ask what’s wrong, but I don’t... this is too confusing![/i] She was about ready to slam the book shut in frustration when she heard a knock on the doors to the library. [i]It’s him![/i] part of her strangely jumped for joy. Despite her isolation from him, he still loved her. [i]I... I.. shouldn’t open the door[/i] the rest of her mind decided quickly. [i]He... he has to get used to not being able to see me... and... I must get used to the same.[/i] She was long past the point of tears, but if her tired eyes had any, one would have fallen. “Open up... its Xanadu!” a voice called from beyond the door. She got up, and quickly skittered through the hall, opening the door. “Siabrey,” he said before she could even give a greeting, “we need to talk.” He gently pushed his way in, and she didn’t resist as he closed the door, and then turned to face her. “Before the question I know you’re going to ask,” Siabrey said quietly. “Can you tell me if you’ve seen any siabrie before?” Xanadu once again got that very vacant, distant stare, as if he was looking deep into the past. He blinked, and then returned to the present. “Yes... I’ve known many, my child... why?” “The princess says that I’m descended from their blood... from one named Kelir... did you ever meet him?” Xanadu’s face grew into a big smile, and he gave a small chuckle. “Many many years ago, I met him once. A good one. He helped me immensely at that time with a problem I was having out in the Obashi Desert. He’s like the others... quiet, tend to stay out of the way unless they are lonely, and rarely bothers outsiders. Thankfully, the outsiders that were bothering me bothered [i]him[/i] as well!” Siabrey smiled distantly... before being pulled back into the present by Xanadu saying he had a question for her. “Its about you and Lucius,” Xanadu said, looking her in the face. “Why are you avoiding him?” [i]Oh god... where do I start? I want to be with him, but I love him, so I can’t?[/i] “It... it was the assassins... they went after me... not Lucius. They wanted to kill me to turn him into something he hates, something he loathes... into the evil that is his mother!” Somehow, Siabrey’s body found more tears, and they started flowing again. “So I want to stay away from him... I love him enough that I don’t want him to become something like that! If I have to love him from a distance, I will!” Xanadu sighed, and let her rest her head on his shoulder. “There, there, my child,” he said softly. “Its ok.” After a few moments, he pushed her away gently and looked her in the eye. “IF he doesn’t have you at his side, who will be there? You are the one most qualified to defend yourself if they go after his loved ones, Siabrey. I here you took down three assassins single handedly. No one else in our group can do that...” “But... I don’t want him being turned into something he hates on my account,” she said again. Her voice was muffled as she continued to cry. [i]It’s so hard to choose![/i] “Siabrey,” Xanadu said, holding her by the shoulders, “did you love him before the assassination attempt, before you knew all of this?” She sniffed, and nodded yes rather firmly. “You should still love him now then,” Xanadu said quietly. “And I know he still loves you. If you love him... go to him. Talk to him. Don’t avoid him... its tearing him apart.” I’ll look up more information if you want, but you have more important things to do right now.” [/QUOTE]
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