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Message: <blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 4642068" data-attributes="member: 3285">Songs: Part 8a – Dark VengeanceBeldin found the carriage pulled off to the side of the road.  An unarmored man held a gladius to Anulee’s throat; she hung shackled to a low-slung branch of a tree.  She showed no signs of injury.“I am Aglamar, brother of Lantross Arnyal.”  His face was painted blood red.  “I know why you have come and if you knew even half of the truth, then you would realize this woman deserves to die.”“We know what she conspired to do.” Beldin dismounted.  “And what it cost your family.  But she was coerced by Venton—““I don’t CARE that Venton coerced her!  She had her moment to tell the truth but lied and condemned my brother’s life to keep her dirty little secret safe.  I wanted Venton, that miserable piece of garbage, to suffer as well, but hurting the cripple was too easy…”“So it was you who attacked the elves and Augustus?”Aglamar nodded.  “Hurting Venton by framing his son Kuros…now that was well worth the effort.” He pressed the blade against Anulee’s neck.  Her eyes were wide with terror. “So it comes down to this.  Will you stop me and let their actions continue to make a mockery of the fabled Milandisian honor and justice, or must you force me to end your life as well?”Beldin’s axe and shield were out. “I cannot allow you to harm her.  She must face justice; even human justice, as flawed as it might be, is better than petty vengeance.”“So be it.” Aglamar stepped away from Anulee.  “I should warn you I am a shaman of the wolf.  The powers at my disposal are more formidable than you can imagine.”“I was a titan once,” snarled Beldin.  “Your magic holds no secrets.” And with that he charged forward.A huge black hound the size of a man slammed into Beldin as he passed the tree where Anulee was held captive.  He rolled to his feet to face it. “Meet Raze, my pet,” said Aglamar.  The hound had a bright red streak running down its back.  Its eyes glowed a hellish red.  Beldin ducked down as flames spewed from its maw.  The fire washed over his shield and singed his beard.Then Raze was upon him.  He bore the brunt of it on his shield, but the snapping jaws threatened to tear off his face.  Beldin hacked downwards, shearing off an ear.  The hound yelped in pain and jumped backwards.Before it could recover, Beldin surged forward, cracking the hound with his shield.  He followed up with his axe, finishing it. The dwarf spun to face Aglamar once more.Aglamar pointed at him.  A gout of flames blasted down from the heavens.  Beldin looked up just in time to see it coming.  He raised his shield overhead as the conflagration struck.When it went out, Beldin was still standing.  The surrounding vegetation was blackened to a crisp, the grass and brush smoking from the attack.  Beldin himself was covered in soot.  Only the whites of his eyes were visible.  He took a step towards Aglamar. “You are like a big, stupid dog who can't stop eating.” Aglamar raised one hand heavenwards.  The other pointed at Beldin.  “Even though your master said you've had enough!”There was a terrible crack and the air was filled with the taste of ozone.  A lightning bolt struck from the skies, connecting through Beldin’s helmet.  The dwarf shook it off.“Now it's time to put this bad dog to sleep... for good!”Aglamar pointed again, and lightning struck again.  Thrice.  Four times.  And still Beldin took slow, shuddering steps forward.Bolt after bolt surged through Beldin’s body.  The tips of his beard were on fire.  His armor was blackened, his flesh cracked and bleeding.  And still the dwarf kept coming.“Why won’t you die?” shouted Aglamar.Aglamar thrust one hand into the air, his hand an open claw.  Trees and shrubbery reached around the grab Beldin’s feet.  The dwarf kept moving forward, one shuddering step at a time.  The brush that clung to him carved great furrows in the dirt.Beldin stood within striking distance of Aglamar.  He had since dropped his shield.  With two hands, he lifted his dwarven battleaxe over his head…The hideous sound of snapping bone gave him pause.  He looked down.Aglamar had thrust his gladius up to its hilt in Beldin’s abdomen.  The pommel had the word “Brother” engraved in Low Coryan on it, and it sported a snarling wolf-head motif.The dwarf collapsed just as Sebastian and Kham arrived.</blockquote>

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