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Sir Gerard d'Montfort - In his own words (a tale of Anka Seth)- Updated Nov 11th
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<blockquote data-quote="Haraash Saan" data-source="post: 5117178" data-attributes="member: 46615"><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Chapter 12 – Skunks, Intrigues, Invasions and a Flurry of Feathers</span></strong></p><p></p><p> </p><p></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">It was after midnight and the thick layer of cloud aided our cautious approach to the hidden entrance of the brigands lair. We stood assembled before the cave, and after several reassuring glances between us, moved in.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Once safe from the prying eyes of the sentinels who were camped at the mouth of the cave, whom we managed to stealthily evade, I conjured a ball of light the illuminated the rough hewn corridor.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Moxadder took the lead, due to his upbringing in the sewers of Iruudish City he needed only faint light to see almost perfectly clearly and also he was without doubt the stealthiest of the Hydra. He crept maybe twenty feet ahead of the main group.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">As anticipated we encountered no guards on our short journey to a store room. Here we armed ourselves as was our want and made ready to carry through with the first violence of the plan. Mortec blessed us in Todesmagie’s name and also used the gods will to bless a small pebble. The effect of which was that anyone near the stone would be completely silent. No noise left the area it affected and none passed into or through it.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Thus prepared we once again set off, Moxadder again in the lead although much closer now. Before us we could see a flickering light dancing in the shadows of the craggy walls. I pinched my conjured light to dismiss it. It seemed as though we would no longer need it.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Moxadder moved cautiously forward and stuck his head around the corner. His own shadow was now cast on the corridor wall behind him. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Suddenly he stepped into the opening in which he had peered and let loose with two daggers. They flashed in the light before disappearing from my sight. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">I charged, rapier drawn. As I rounded the corner I saw a large room with six sleeping men laying in crude cots against the caverns’ walls. In the middle of the room was a small square table at which four men, one with a knife protruding from his thigh, were scrambling for weapons that lay near by. A candle sat in a pool of wax in the centre of the table, scattered at its base were playing cards.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Leaping into the room I thrust my blade into the belly of the nearest man, he slid off it with a soundless scream and then I jumped onto and then over the table top to get to another.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The combat lasted less than a minute, the four men than had been awake had been quickly dispatched by the Hydra and Moxadder had slit the throats of four before they even could even wake.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">You may think that we are heartless and evil men, but you could not be further than the truth. These were bandits, murderers and law breakers. They were only going to get strung up in any case. This way they died peacefully. It was too good for them, in my opinion.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">The remaining two, obviously sensing something unusual in their sleep woke in silence and surrendered immediately upon seeing the carnage that surrounded them. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Mortec placed the silent stone at the entrance of the room, “To give allow us to question them, without their screams waking anyone.” he explained once away from its influence, his tone betraying no emotion.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“So what have you got to say?” I asked our captives, a pleasant smile accompanying my cold eyes.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">They were both stunned mute by the scene before them.</span> </p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“Well let me start you off. How many bandits are on this level and on the level below.” I continued. Hermaeon had explained that the top level only had this sleeping chamber for the guards, and the level below housed the leaders of the bandits and the majority of their men. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Still there was no response. It was then that Argonne decided to accelerate the interrogation. Quick as a flash his axe swung down upon the neck of one of our prisoners. With a bone grinding crunch it passed through, a severed his head from his shoulders. The head flew passed me and hit the ground with a sickening slap before rolling to a stop at the feet of Zhontell. The headless body sat still for a moment before slumping forward and dropping to the floor, blood spurting from the massive wound. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">I gagged I was so sickened by what I had witnessed, but it had the desired effect, eventually.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">It was several minutes before our remaining prisoner (and the others of our party) had recovered from the shock of seeing his comrade so brutally murdered enough to finally give us some details of the scenario below us.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">He, and his butchered friend were Foeldians. They had only been working with the brigands as their families were being because they had discovered forcibly held by Korb and his wicked henchmen.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Remorse momentarily flooded across Argonne’s previously stern and blood thirsty gaze and he knelt beside the headless corpse of the man he had killed. He placed his palm on the dead man’s chest and began what looked like some sort of prayer. Perhaps he was begging for forgiveness?</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">I turned my attention back to our prisoner. Some thirty or so bandits acted as a guard down on the lower level in the main chamber. The caverns below also housed the core of the outlaws’ leaders, including Korb and two mages that assisted him in his evil endeavors.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Argonne, his prayer now finished, became distracted. As the prisoner continued with his information, the woodsman began looking at the ceiling, and then the floor. He shifted the dead with his boots and looked underneath them. He was looking for something and getting more anxious as whatever it was could not be found.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">As I watched him, a skunk rounded the corner from the passage we had come from. I was too perplexed to realize the danger I was in. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">It waddled up to Argonne, who upon seeing it, let out a relieved sigh. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">I interrupted our captive with a raised hand, looked incredulously at Argonne and posed him a question, “What is that?”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“A skunk.” He said matter-of-factly.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“I can see that.” I replied, my patience with him easing. “Where did it come from?”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“Hmm? Come from? He has been here all along. Well he was gone for a few minutes, but everything is OK now. He is back.” Argonne rambled in reply.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Seeing that each one of us had absolutely no idea as to what he was saying, he gave an explanation that was just as ridiculous as his last comment.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“Him.” He pointed to the decapitated corpse, “This,” now pointing to the skunk, “is him as Foeld intended him to be. He says his name is Zwingly.”</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">If it were physically possible I am sure my jaw would have shattered as it hit the ground. Once and for all Argonne had lost his mind entirely. There was no doubt that the appearance of the skunk had given him a bizarre avenue to ease the guilt he felt of what he had done.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">Mortec was more understanding than I. “So you brought him back? The skunk has the soul of that man?” he queried. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">I could not believe the Gnome was entertaining Argonne’s delusions, but he was a priest of the god of knowledge, perhaps he knew something that I did not.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">“Yes. That’s right.” Nodded Argonne rapidly, relieved that at last someone understood him.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">At that moment, the skunk, in Argonne’s hands, turned to face us, lifted its tail and with a small hiss from its rear did the one thing that I had forgotten to fear. </span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">So repulsive was the stench that had drenched Argonne, that not a one of us did not cover our mouths with something to try and avoid it. I even ignored common sense and fled the room to stand back in the corridor trying to suck in sweet cave air.</span></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'">As I ran, I heard Strav remark, “Well he obviously isn’t pleased that you killed him is he?”</span></p><p> <span style="font-family: 'Arial'"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: 'Arial'"></span></p><p> </p><p> </p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Haraash Saan, post: 5117178, member: 46615"] [B][FONT=Arial]Chapter 12 – Skunks, Intrigues, Invasions and a Flurry of Feathers[/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial]It was after midnight and the thick layer of cloud aided our cautious approach to the hidden entrance of the brigands lair. We stood assembled before the cave, and after several reassuring glances between us, moved in.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Once safe from the prying eyes of the sentinels who were camped at the mouth of the cave, whom we managed to stealthily evade, I conjured a ball of light the illuminated the rough hewn corridor.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Moxadder took the lead, due to his upbringing in the sewers of Iruudish City he needed only faint light to see almost perfectly clearly and also he was without doubt the stealthiest of the Hydra. He crept maybe twenty feet ahead of the main group.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]As anticipated we encountered no guards on our short journey to a store room. Here we armed ourselves as was our want and made ready to carry through with the first violence of the plan. Mortec blessed us in Todesmagie’s name and also used the gods will to bless a small pebble. The effect of which was that anyone near the stone would be completely silent. No noise left the area it affected and none passed into or through it.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Thus prepared we once again set off, Moxadder again in the lead although much closer now. Before us we could see a flickering light dancing in the shadows of the craggy walls. I pinched my conjured light to dismiss it. It seemed as though we would no longer need it.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Moxadder moved cautiously forward and stuck his head around the corner. His own shadow was now cast on the corridor wall behind him. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Suddenly he stepped into the opening in which he had peered and let loose with two daggers. They flashed in the light before disappearing from my sight. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]I charged, rapier drawn. As I rounded the corner I saw a large room with six sleeping men laying in crude cots against the caverns’ walls. In the middle of the room was a small square table at which four men, one with a knife protruding from his thigh, were scrambling for weapons that lay near by. A candle sat in a pool of wax in the centre of the table, scattered at its base were playing cards.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Leaping into the room I thrust my blade into the belly of the nearest man, he slid off it with a soundless scream and then I jumped onto and then over the table top to get to another.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]The combat lasted less than a minute, the four men than had been awake had been quickly dispatched by the Hydra and Moxadder had slit the throats of four before they even could even wake.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]You may think that we are heartless and evil men, but you could not be further than the truth. These were bandits, murderers and law breakers. They were only going to get strung up in any case. This way they died peacefully. It was too good for them, in my opinion.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]The remaining two, obviously sensing something unusual in their sleep woke in silence and surrendered immediately upon seeing the carnage that surrounded them. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Mortec placed the silent stone at the entrance of the room, “To give allow us to question them, without their screams waking anyone.” he explained once away from its influence, his tone betraying no emotion.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“So what have you got to say?” I asked our captives, a pleasant smile accompanying my cold eyes.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]They were both stunned mute by the scene before them.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“Well let me start you off. How many bandits are on this level and on the level below.” I continued. Hermaeon had explained that the top level only had this sleeping chamber for the guards, and the level below housed the leaders of the bandits and the majority of their men. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Still there was no response. It was then that Argonne decided to accelerate the interrogation. Quick as a flash his axe swung down upon the neck of one of our prisoners. With a bone grinding crunch it passed through, a severed his head from his shoulders. The head flew passed me and hit the ground with a sickening slap before rolling to a stop at the feet of Zhontell. The headless body sat still for a moment before slumping forward and dropping to the floor, blood spurting from the massive wound. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]I gagged I was so sickened by what I had witnessed, but it had the desired effect, eventually.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]It was several minutes before our remaining prisoner (and the others of our party) had recovered from the shock of seeing his comrade so brutally murdered enough to finally give us some details of the scenario below us.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]He, and his butchered friend were Foeldians. They had only been working with the brigands as their families were being because they had discovered forcibly held by Korb and his wicked henchmen.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Remorse momentarily flooded across Argonne’s previously stern and blood thirsty gaze and he knelt beside the headless corpse of the man he had killed. He placed his palm on the dead man’s chest and began what looked like some sort of prayer. Perhaps he was begging for forgiveness?[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]I turned my attention back to our prisoner. Some thirty or so bandits acted as a guard down on the lower level in the main chamber. The caverns below also housed the core of the outlaws’ leaders, including Korb and two mages that assisted him in his evil endeavors.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Argonne, his prayer now finished, became distracted. As the prisoner continued with his information, the woodsman began looking at the ceiling, and then the floor. He shifted the dead with his boots and looked underneath them. He was looking for something and getting more anxious as whatever it was could not be found.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]As I watched him, a skunk rounded the corner from the passage we had come from. I was too perplexed to realize the danger I was in. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]It waddled up to Argonne, who upon seeing it, let out a relieved sigh. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]I interrupted our captive with a raised hand, looked incredulously at Argonne and posed him a question, “What is that?”[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“A skunk.” He said matter-of-factly.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“I can see that.” I replied, my patience with him easing. “Where did it come from?”[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“Hmm? Come from? He has been here all along. Well he was gone for a few minutes, but everything is OK now. He is back.” Argonne rambled in reply.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Seeing that each one of us had absolutely no idea as to what he was saying, he gave an explanation that was just as ridiculous as his last comment.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“Him.” He pointed to the decapitated corpse, “This,” now pointing to the skunk, “is him as Foeld intended him to be. He says his name is Zwingly.”[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]If it were physically possible I am sure my jaw would have shattered as it hit the ground. Once and for all Argonne had lost his mind entirely. There was no doubt that the appearance of the skunk had given him a bizarre avenue to ease the guilt he felt of what he had done.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]Mortec was more understanding than I. “So you brought him back? The skunk has the soul of that man?” he queried. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]I could not believe the Gnome was entertaining Argonne’s delusions, but he was a priest of the god of knowledge, perhaps he knew something that I did not.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]“Yes. That’s right.” Nodded Argonne rapidly, relieved that at last someone understood him.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]At that moment, the skunk, in Argonne’s hands, turned to face us, lifted its tail and with a small hiss from its rear did the one thing that I had forgotten to fear. [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]So repulsive was the stench that had drenched Argonne, that not a one of us did not cover our mouths with something to try and avoid it. I even ignored common sense and fled the room to stand back in the corridor trying to suck in sweet cave air.[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial]As I ran, I heard Strav remark, “Well he obviously isn’t pleased that you killed him is he?”[/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [FONT=Arial] [/FONT] [/QUOTE]
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Sir Gerard d'Montfort - In his own words (a tale of Anka Seth)- Updated Nov 11th
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