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Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Part 4: The Doom of the Reavers
"This has to be the two most boring weeks of my life," said Kham. He was sitting on one of the wagons, his chin in his palms. They were left alone to their own devices; the dwarves were uncomfortable in open spaces and allowed human teamsters to drive the wagons.
"It was exciting enough when we got to Nevanne," said Quintus, watching the scenery go by. "Master Elabac has far more influence with the Coryani Senate than I suspected."
Ilmarė was testing the strength of her bow. "The commander was right to be concerned. This caravan carries enough weapons to equip an army."
Vlad, next to Kham, was sharpening his dagger. "I imagine the invasion of Moratavia last year by Coryani legions didn't help." He looked over at Quintus.
"The threat of a dwarven embargo is enough to even open the Empire's doors," said Quintus. "If those blades are as good as you say they are, the legions have a vested interest in keeping the dwarves in business."
"That includes seeing the curse continue," Ilmarė said, twanging her bowstring.
Quintus stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Actually, I believe the story goes that only the clan that creates the perfect item is exempt from the curse. Not the entire race."
"Save one clan, doom the rest," added Ilmarė.
"What is this curse anyway?" asked Vlad.
Quintus leaned back into his seat. "The dwarves were giants once, tasked with protecting humanity. But they turned on their charges and made themselves as gods, forcing humans to worship them. When Illiir discovered their treachery, he cursed them all. It was only through Sarish's mercy that they have a chance to return to their true forms."
The wagons slowed to a halt in front of a warehouse with a sign of the Legendary Blades smithy.
"We're here," said Kham.
After the trains were unloaded, they followed Elabac to an Ansharan temple just outside of Tralia.
The austere temple had prayers engraved to Anshar similar to other gates, but it was strangely deserted. No one attended the braziers; no one kept the incense burning around the central idol of Anshar.
"If nobody's here, does that mean we can go home?" asked Kham half-heartedly.
They followed a winding staircase to a dimly lit chamber. In the center was a Gate of Anshar, a monolithic archway fashioned from marble and covered in prayers to Anshar. Flanking the gate were several hooded figures, all chanting a low mantra.
A young Ansharan priest rustled up to the doorway. His eyes were gray, a sure sign of Val heritage.
"Master Elabac! You made it! That's great!" He rushed over and gave Elabac a hug. The priest was talking so fast that he was stuttering. He began rustling back towards the gate. "If you'll step up to the gate I'll be happy to transport you through-"
"Wait." Ilmarė put one arm in front of Elabac. "Something's wrong."
The priest froze.
Quintus lowered his longspear. "What is it?"
"Not all of the monks are moving," she said.
The priest suddenly ran off to the side, almost tripping over his robes in his haste.
"Not good," Kham said as he reached into the two holsters beneath his armpits and pulled out both handgonnes.
The remaining monks threw off their robes to reveal five squat creatures of dwarven stature, covered head-to-toe in spiked armor. The armor had no latches or straps—it was permanently attached to their bodies.
"Reavers!" gasped Elabac.
Quintus dropped his shield off his back and put it in front of him. "Elabac, stay behind us! Kham, Ilmarė, try to find a weak spot in their armor. Vlad-"
Vlad's longsword and shield were already out. He charged into the room as three of the Reavers unsheathed broadswords. Their leader wielded a huge axe that had a spike at the other end. Still another unrolled a long, weighted chain covered in wicked-looking spikes.
The lead Reaver twirled his axe, first over one shoulder and then the other. The other Reavers waited even as their leader stepped forward. He was daring Vlad to attack him.
"Vlad!" Quintus couldn't get out anything more as the spiked chain snapped in the air, inches from his face.
Kham took aim. "Alright my dears, let's go to work." He fired and a Reaver's head bobbed to a loud SPTANG! as the bullet bounced off of its helmet.
Ilmarė snapped an arrow at the Reaver threatening Quintus, but he slapped it out of the air with the spiked chain. "I cannot get a clear shot at the other Reavers," she shouted.
Vlad rammed his shield into the lead Reaver's weapon in an attempt to pin it against the smaller dwarf. To his surprise, the dwarf held his ground and jabbed underneath Vlad's shield with the pointed end of the axe. Vlad made a clumsy swipe to give himself some breathing room as the other Reavers circled him.
"I'm working on it!" shouted Quintus. The spiked chain smacked into his shield and the tip snapped around the edge, gashing the signifer's arm.
Vlad blocked two more blows with his shield but made one Reaver pay with his life as his blade cut deep into the dwarf's less-protected neck. The Reaver went down without a sound. But he paid for it as one of the Reaver's blades pierced his side. Vlad backpedaled as fast he could but stopped short as he collided with the stone wall. He had nowhere to run.
"Vlad's dead if we don't do something, fast," said Kham as he reloaded one of his handgonnes. He nodded to Ilmarė. "Cover me!"
Kham ran into the large chamber and dove as the chain swept in a low arc. He tumbled and rolled up in front of Vlad, both handgonnes out. The two Reavers who flanked Vlad paused in momentary surprise as the yawning maws of two dragons in their faces.
BLAM! BLAM!
Quintus crouched behind his shield and waited. The chain snapped through the air towards him like some angry metal snake. He thrust his longspear into its arc and twisted, causing the chain to whistle around and around the longspear.
"Ilmarė! Now!"
Ilmarė reached into a pouch at her belt and withdrew a pinch of something. "Faer ned I gwaew, daro nin coth!" she whispered as she blew the dust from her palm.
The sparkling substance wafted through the air with a life of its own, spiraling its way into the Reaver's helmet. The dwarf's grip on the spiked chain relaxed as it staggered backwards.
Quintus rushed forward and speared the longspear through the Reaver's chest.
"Now what I had in mind," said Quintus, "but that will do."
He dropped the longspear, still tangled in spiked chain.
"LETUM INFIRMUS!" he shouted as he ran towards Kham and Vlad with gladius drawn.
Vlad was propped up against the wall, blood seeping from an abdominal wound. He clutched his side as Kham blocked a sword blow from one of the Reavers with the guard of his handgonne. Two other Reavers lay dead, smoking holes in their helmets.
"Ha!" Kham shouted as another blow bounced off his handgonne. "Victoria's a saucy wench, but she can take what she gives out. You'll have to find a bigger… " His eyes widened as the lead Reaver lifted his axe over his head. "…blade."
Quintus smashed into the Reaver with his shield, sending the axe flying. Before the lead Reaver could react, he followed up with a thrust of his gladius into the dwarf's ribcage. The Reaver staggered backwards and collapsed.
With a start, Quintus realized his back was to the last Reaver. He whirled…
Ilmarė stood over the last Reaver's corpse, her sword dripping dwarven blood.
"How did you get over here before me?"
Ilmarė shrugged. "I am a daughter of Osalian," she said, "god of the Wind."
Quintus wiped off his blade and sheathed it as he walked over to Vlad. Kham was hunched over him.
"He's hurt. Bad."
Vlad winced as Quintus put both palms on him. "Illiir, iuvo sana sua vulna levis," he said.
A golden glow emanated from Vlad's fingertips. Vlad blinked as he struggled to his feet.
"That was very foolish, Vlad," said Quintus. "Discipline is life. Never forget that."
Vlad nodded. "You saved my life Kham. I didn't…
"Expect it?" He smirked. "I'm full of surprises."
Kham finished reloading both handgonnes. He pointed them at the advancing Ansharan priest, who had snuck out of his hiding place behind a pillar.
"You've got fifteen seconds to make the ladies here forgive you," said Kham. "And it better be poetry, because they aren't cheap dates."
The priest's face was streaked with tears. "They killed the other priests! They said they would kill me if I warned you!" He looked pleadingly from face to face.
"Please," said Elabac as he tottered from the safety of the doorways, "haven't we shed enough blood today?"
Kham spat a curse and put his handgonnes back in their hostlers.
Quintus gathered up his longspear and walked over to the portal. "Make yourself useful, priest. Open the gate."
The Ansharan priest hurried over to the portal and began chanting, waving his hands over its runes.
"Aren't you going to ask me if I counted my blackpowder?" asked Kham.
Quintus looked the Val up and down. "Did you count your blackpowder?"
"Nope," he said with a wicked grin. Then he hopped through the portal. The last thing he saw before he was surrounded by blue light was Quintus' look of horror.
It was worth it.
"This has to be the two most boring weeks of my life," said Kham. He was sitting on one of the wagons, his chin in his palms. They were left alone to their own devices; the dwarves were uncomfortable in open spaces and allowed human teamsters to drive the wagons.
"It was exciting enough when we got to Nevanne," said Quintus, watching the scenery go by. "Master Elabac has far more influence with the Coryani Senate than I suspected."
Ilmarė was testing the strength of her bow. "The commander was right to be concerned. This caravan carries enough weapons to equip an army."
Vlad, next to Kham, was sharpening his dagger. "I imagine the invasion of Moratavia last year by Coryani legions didn't help." He looked over at Quintus.
"The threat of a dwarven embargo is enough to even open the Empire's doors," said Quintus. "If those blades are as good as you say they are, the legions have a vested interest in keeping the dwarves in business."
"That includes seeing the curse continue," Ilmarė said, twanging her bowstring.
Quintus stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Actually, I believe the story goes that only the clan that creates the perfect item is exempt from the curse. Not the entire race."
"Save one clan, doom the rest," added Ilmarė.
"What is this curse anyway?" asked Vlad.
Quintus leaned back into his seat. "The dwarves were giants once, tasked with protecting humanity. But they turned on their charges and made themselves as gods, forcing humans to worship them. When Illiir discovered their treachery, he cursed them all. It was only through Sarish's mercy that they have a chance to return to their true forms."
The wagons slowed to a halt in front of a warehouse with a sign of the Legendary Blades smithy.
"We're here," said Kham.
After the trains were unloaded, they followed Elabac to an Ansharan temple just outside of Tralia.
The austere temple had prayers engraved to Anshar similar to other gates, but it was strangely deserted. No one attended the braziers; no one kept the incense burning around the central idol of Anshar.
"If nobody's here, does that mean we can go home?" asked Kham half-heartedly.
They followed a winding staircase to a dimly lit chamber. In the center was a Gate of Anshar, a monolithic archway fashioned from marble and covered in prayers to Anshar. Flanking the gate were several hooded figures, all chanting a low mantra.
A young Ansharan priest rustled up to the doorway. His eyes were gray, a sure sign of Val heritage.
"Master Elabac! You made it! That's great!" He rushed over and gave Elabac a hug. The priest was talking so fast that he was stuttering. He began rustling back towards the gate. "If you'll step up to the gate I'll be happy to transport you through-"
"Wait." Ilmarė put one arm in front of Elabac. "Something's wrong."
The priest froze.
Quintus lowered his longspear. "What is it?"
"Not all of the monks are moving," she said.
The priest suddenly ran off to the side, almost tripping over his robes in his haste.
"Not good," Kham said as he reached into the two holsters beneath his armpits and pulled out both handgonnes.
The remaining monks threw off their robes to reveal five squat creatures of dwarven stature, covered head-to-toe in spiked armor. The armor had no latches or straps—it was permanently attached to their bodies.
"Reavers!" gasped Elabac.
Quintus dropped his shield off his back and put it in front of him. "Elabac, stay behind us! Kham, Ilmarė, try to find a weak spot in their armor. Vlad-"
Vlad's longsword and shield were already out. He charged into the room as three of the Reavers unsheathed broadswords. Their leader wielded a huge axe that had a spike at the other end. Still another unrolled a long, weighted chain covered in wicked-looking spikes.
The lead Reaver twirled his axe, first over one shoulder and then the other. The other Reavers waited even as their leader stepped forward. He was daring Vlad to attack him.
"Vlad!" Quintus couldn't get out anything more as the spiked chain snapped in the air, inches from his face.
Kham took aim. "Alright my dears, let's go to work." He fired and a Reaver's head bobbed to a loud SPTANG! as the bullet bounced off of its helmet.
Ilmarė snapped an arrow at the Reaver threatening Quintus, but he slapped it out of the air with the spiked chain. "I cannot get a clear shot at the other Reavers," she shouted.
Vlad rammed his shield into the lead Reaver's weapon in an attempt to pin it against the smaller dwarf. To his surprise, the dwarf held his ground and jabbed underneath Vlad's shield with the pointed end of the axe. Vlad made a clumsy swipe to give himself some breathing room as the other Reavers circled him.
"I'm working on it!" shouted Quintus. The spiked chain smacked into his shield and the tip snapped around the edge, gashing the signifer's arm.
Vlad blocked two more blows with his shield but made one Reaver pay with his life as his blade cut deep into the dwarf's less-protected neck. The Reaver went down without a sound. But he paid for it as one of the Reaver's blades pierced his side. Vlad backpedaled as fast he could but stopped short as he collided with the stone wall. He had nowhere to run.
"Vlad's dead if we don't do something, fast," said Kham as he reloaded one of his handgonnes. He nodded to Ilmarė. "Cover me!"
Kham ran into the large chamber and dove as the chain swept in a low arc. He tumbled and rolled up in front of Vlad, both handgonnes out. The two Reavers who flanked Vlad paused in momentary surprise as the yawning maws of two dragons in their faces.
BLAM! BLAM!
Quintus crouched behind his shield and waited. The chain snapped through the air towards him like some angry metal snake. He thrust his longspear into its arc and twisted, causing the chain to whistle around and around the longspear.
"Ilmarė! Now!"
Ilmarė reached into a pouch at her belt and withdrew a pinch of something. "Faer ned I gwaew, daro nin coth!" she whispered as she blew the dust from her palm.
The sparkling substance wafted through the air with a life of its own, spiraling its way into the Reaver's helmet. The dwarf's grip on the spiked chain relaxed as it staggered backwards.
Quintus rushed forward and speared the longspear through the Reaver's chest.
"Now what I had in mind," said Quintus, "but that will do."
He dropped the longspear, still tangled in spiked chain.
"LETUM INFIRMUS!" he shouted as he ran towards Kham and Vlad with gladius drawn.
Vlad was propped up against the wall, blood seeping from an abdominal wound. He clutched his side as Kham blocked a sword blow from one of the Reavers with the guard of his handgonne. Two other Reavers lay dead, smoking holes in their helmets.
"Ha!" Kham shouted as another blow bounced off his handgonne. "Victoria's a saucy wench, but she can take what she gives out. You'll have to find a bigger… " His eyes widened as the lead Reaver lifted his axe over his head. "…blade."
Quintus smashed into the Reaver with his shield, sending the axe flying. Before the lead Reaver could react, he followed up with a thrust of his gladius into the dwarf's ribcage. The Reaver staggered backwards and collapsed.
With a start, Quintus realized his back was to the last Reaver. He whirled…
Ilmarė stood over the last Reaver's corpse, her sword dripping dwarven blood.
"How did you get over here before me?"
Ilmarė shrugged. "I am a daughter of Osalian," she said, "god of the Wind."
Quintus wiped off his blade and sheathed it as he walked over to Vlad. Kham was hunched over him.
"He's hurt. Bad."
Vlad winced as Quintus put both palms on him. "Illiir, iuvo sana sua vulna levis," he said.
A golden glow emanated from Vlad's fingertips. Vlad blinked as he struggled to his feet.
"That was very foolish, Vlad," said Quintus. "Discipline is life. Never forget that."
Vlad nodded. "You saved my life Kham. I didn't…
"Expect it?" He smirked. "I'm full of surprises."
Kham finished reloading both handgonnes. He pointed them at the advancing Ansharan priest, who had snuck out of his hiding place behind a pillar.
"You've got fifteen seconds to make the ladies here forgive you," said Kham. "And it better be poetry, because they aren't cheap dates."
The priest's face was streaked with tears. "They killed the other priests! They said they would kill me if I warned you!" He looked pleadingly from face to face.
"Please," said Elabac as he tottered from the safety of the doorways, "haven't we shed enough blood today?"
Kham spat a curse and put his handgonnes back in their hostlers.
Quintus gathered up his longspear and walked over to the portal. "Make yourself useful, priest. Open the gate."
The Ansharan priest hurried over to the portal and began chanting, waving his hands over its runes.
"Aren't you going to ask me if I counted my blackpowder?" asked Kham.
Quintus looked the Val up and down. "Did you count your blackpowder?"
"Nope," he said with a wicked grin. Then he hopped through the portal. The last thing he saw before he was surrounded by blue light was Quintus' look of horror.
It was worth it.