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Curse of Darkness - Interlude on a Dark and Stormy Night
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<blockquote data-quote="Greenfield" data-source="post: 6244808" data-attributes="member: 6669384"><p>Onyx struggled for self control. If he lashed out now, these men would be dead. He'd probably be dead as well soon after. It was raining and he was soaked to the skin. His sodden robes, normally clouds of billowing black silk that masked his form, now clung to him like a layer of mud and reeked of fish and seawater.</p><p></p><p>He had tried one of his signature moves, to vanish when people glanced away, then enter the town unseen. Instead he had swallowed a belly ful of seawater, and ended up having to call for help. And if he went into an inn to dry off, everyone would laugh at him. And then he'd have to kill them, and... It just wouldn't work.</p><p></p><p>He slunk off into the shadows, then trailed his companions to an inn. The private room he sought was expensive, but he stowed his gear there then slipped out a window and down to the streets below. He needed to be alone until his rage had passed.</p><p></p><p>His feet were silent as he sprang to the roof of a low building, then up and over the towns low wall. He was still wet, and would be for the rest of the night, but at least he'd be alone in his misery. Maybe he'd find something that needed killing....</p><p>*** </p><p>"The Signal Lamp"? questioned Ursula, as they approached the inn. </p><p></p><p>"Aye", agreed their escort/guard/guide. "She's a decent place, perhaps priced a bit high for the average sailor, but you'll meet a better class of people." He kept his eyes straight ahead as he said this. If the innkeeper wanted to reject the huge bear-like woman or the skulking panther-man, that was his call. He had recommended the place not so much for their comfort as for his own. He had drawn the duty of keeping an eye on them, and if that meant sitting indoors instead of patrolling the docks on a stormy night, he was going to make sure it was a warm and comfortable place.</p><p>*** </p><p>Smaug and his person had trekked for several miles before they got beyond the farms that surrounded the walled town. The woods were green, a sure sign that Druids had tended them during these dark and sunless days. The rain and wind had swept away all scent of game, and what sign the Tiger could pick up was sparse. These hills had been well hunted. Still, this wasn't simply for the meat. The process of the hunt itself was the stuff of life. And while the winds and rain of this night were a far cry from the snowy mountains of his home, the energy of the storm stirred the blood and brought the entire night to life.</p><p>*** </p><p>The dice game was in it's third pass when the hatch opened, letting in the rain.</p><p></p><p>Ceburn looked up to see the man assigned the deck watch peering down. </p><p></p><p>"S-sir? There a man here, requesting permission to come aboard."</p><p></p><p>Ceburn was about to answer when Captain Artolis replied instead. "Of course he may board. Bring him down below."</p><p></p><p>The deck hand turned to the stranger who had appeared at the rail. The man stood over six feet tall, and even on the storm tossed deck he had an aire of elegance about him, as if the rain and winds meant nothing to him. The man stepped forward at the deck hand's gesture, carefully placed a long, coiled chain in the sailor's hand, and descended the ladder to the galley. </p><p></p><p>The deck hand looked at the chain, with it's assortment of barbed hooks and weights, and realized that the man had been surrendering his weapon. He closed the hatch, oddly thankful that he had to face the storm at night, instead of being locked below decks with that man.</p><p></p><p>"Prince Ceburn, of Dumfries? Lord of Carlisle?", the mas asked politely as he removed his hat. The raucus room went silent.</p><p></p><p>Ceburn hesitated a moment before standing. The stranger was, without question, a fiend of some sort. His skin was like buffed leather, the reddish brown color called "Oxblood". There were horns protruding from his forehead and his feet were cloven. His garb was a rich long coat, a blue so dark as to seem almost black in the witchlight of the hold. It was embroidered with an elaborate tracery of red and gold and, despite the storm outside it seemed completely dry.</p><p></p><p>"I'm Ceburn of Carlisle.", the Barbarian prince declared, his voice almost a challenge.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, well met sir.", declared the stranger. "I am Kyton, and have a small matter to discuss. Would privacy be better?"</p><p></p><p>Ceburn weighed this question and made a quick decision. There was little that could be said that would harm him more in the eyes of the crew than the scuttlebut that would follow if the conversation was secret. He gestured to the common board where a makeshift bar had been arranged.</p><p></p><p>The Devil accepted the hospitality, and the pair settled down to talk.</p><p></p><p>"As you are aware, you and your group have been accorded a certain amount of, shall we call it 'professional courtesy', by order of my master. A commonality of interest has brought forth an alliance of sorts.", the man began with an elaborate courtesy. </p><p></p><p>Ceburn, having heard the slippery tongued Bard talk like that, was immediately suspicious. Whenever Pen spoke that carefully he was up to something. He nodded as a reply, acknowledging what was said while offering no actual agreement.</p><p></p><p>The Devil smiled and continued. "I have a question. The black panther-man, Onyx: Is he a member of your company, or a hireling? He was paid to be a guide in west Africa, but has remained with you long after you left that territory. You haven't had any loot of the field to share since that time so I can't use that to judge his status. So I must know, is he a member of your company, and thus entitled to our protection, or is he simply hired help?"</p><p></p><p>Ceburn considered that carefully. He was tempted to simply claim the man as a companion, and thus provide him whatever safety was being offered, but he knew that if he lied to the Devil it would be known at once. The cat-man seldom spoke to anyone, and was frequently off about his own business. Hardly a trusted companion. At the same time though, he'd never had a servant or hireling that was that casual about attending to his employers. So...</p><p></p><p>"He's a member of our company.", the Barbarian prince replied. </p><p></p><p>"Ah, very well then. You seemed less than certain, so I'll have to gather a consensus from the other members of your company. But thank you for the hospitality, and may Furtuna always aid you."</p><p></p><p>And with that, the Devil finished his drink, rose and returned to the deck. Cebrun watched as he collected his weapon, then strode to the rail and vanished over the side. The Barbarian listened for the sound of leather wings in the night, but if they were there to be heard the sound was lost in the storm.</p><p>*** </p><p>Sylus and Smaug sat still as statues, watching an odd scene play out. They had crossed the tracks of a large creature, Taurian by the trail sigh, and followed them for a time. Then they began to see a second set of tracks, small boot prints, almost child like by the size of them but the spacing spoke of a much longer stride. The boots were following the hooves, and the hunters were following both.</p><p></p><p>They had lead back towards town, to a small farmhouse. There they had spied their primary quarry, a towering creature of muscle and rage, a Minotaur. It was rummaging around an out building, apparently scrounging for food.</p><p></p><p>The local hunters must have nearly picked the hills clean if a man/beast like that was driven to raiding chicken coups.</p><p></p><p>Then a door opened, and a man stood framed in the opening, a lantern in one hand and a hay fork in the other. "Hey, you!, Get out of my henhouse! You leave my chickens alone!"</p><p></p><p>His blade was in his hand quick as thought. If the monster charged that farmer he'd have no choice.</p><p></p><p>To his surprise though, the huge thing turned and fled, straight at the hidden Ranger. It was the nature of such creatures, to either charge straight ahead in a bull's rush, or to stampede away in mad flight. This time it seemed to be doing both.</p><p></p><p>Sylus stood his ground until the last second, then twisted aside as the man/beast crashed past him. Cold iron flicked out, almost casually slashing a long bloody slice beneath the ribs of the towering thing. It bellowed in pain and shock, but continued it's retreat into the night.</p><p></p><p>Sylus considered pursuit. The Minotaur must have been starved indeed if he was unready to face a farmer with a fork, and now it was wounded as well. To hunt such a pitiful thing might be considered an act of mercy, but fate intervened. When the huntsman turned to follow he saw a man standing on the trail. He was standing quite straight, making no attempt to hide, yet he had approached without being heard by either Sylus or Smaug. And the Tiger's senses were sharp as a razor.</p><p></p><p>"I apologize if I'm interrupting", began the man as he doffed his hat and bowed. "My master has bid me to inquire of you, regarding the scout and guide called Onyx. Is he a member of your company, and thus entitled to our professional courtesy, or a hired hand?"</p><p></p><p>Without hesitation Sylus replied. "The Satyr hired him in that village. I don't know why. The cat hasn't guided us anywhere."</p><p></p><p>"Ah, that presents me with a dillemna. You say he's a hireling, but your companion says hes a member. I shall have to inquire further. Good evening."</p><p></p><p>And with that the Devil turned and casually walked off, vanishing into the storm.</p><p></p><p>Sylus listened to the Minotaur blundering through the brush and decided that it simply wasn't worth it. The poor creature had done nothing to deserve death this night. There was other prey they could hunt, prey that didn't talk or wear clothes.</p><p>*** </p><p>Ursula took a long pull from her drink and eyed the man across the table. He had drawn only one card, which meant... She tossed two silver into the pot, just to read his reaction. </p><p></p><p>Across the crowded room her companions looked on and discussed recent events.</p><p></p><p>"He may have prayed to the river goddess for forgiveness", Granwar began. "But if this storm is any sign, she's not in a forgiving mood."</p><p></p><p>"There was nothing we could do. The town had already been taken, her people dead.", argued Twilla. "My master gave his life at her call. Does she demand the rest of ours as well?"</p><p></p><p>"If the river goddess had wanted us dead, we'd be dead.", Imagina offered quietly. "I think this is just her grief for her people. She is sad and so the sky weeps."</p><p></p><p>Their conversation was interrupted when a Devil walked into the bar. He was well dressed, a long embroidered coat sweeping from his shoulders as he used his equally fancy hat to sweep amost imaginary raindrops off of himself. His skin was red, and his horns were as sharp as the barb on his tail. He reached beneath his coat and extracted a glittering chain of black and silver, which he hung on a peg normally reserved for cloaks.</p><p></p><p>He fairly beamed at the party as he crossed the room, his broad smile and delighted manner sending a chill through most present.</p><p></p><p>"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kyton, and although we've never met I've been following you for some time."</p><p></p><p>"Following us, or following our exploits?', the Healer asked pointedly.</p><p></p><p>The Devil had the good grace to look embarrassed, but recovered quickly. "It has been under the orders of my master. Apparently there is an alliance of convenience between Heaven and Hell, however brief and uneasy it might be. I and those like me have orders to afford you and your company, shall we say, special considerations. To date this has taken the form of timely warnings and the occasional distraction."</p><p></p><p>The Devil's explanation was interrupted by the Innkeeper who approached, pale and shaking, and obviously wishing to be anywhere but here.</p><p></p><p>"S-sir, if you please", he began. "My customers have asked me to inquire if you intend to stay?" </p><p></p><p>It was obvious that that wasn't what the rest of the room wanted, but it was as much as the poor man dared to ask.</p><p></p><p>The Devil smiled at him, a gesture that gave the poor man no comfort. "I'll be staying for a time, but you have my word I'll bring no harm to this hall, or any within it. Not this night, at least." He produced a coin from some unseen location and tossed it in the direction of the innkeeper. "A round of drinks for the house if you will."</p><p></p><p>The silvery gray coin sang as it bounced across the floor, as no one had the nerve to reach for it as it flew. Then the Innkeeper picked it up and saw that it was platinum, thick and solid. He all but fled to his place at the bar and began to serve, grateful for the excuse to be away from the generous benefactor.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, don't worry. Love of money is the root of all evil, after all. If I can feed their greed a bit, so much the better.", the fiend laughed as he drew up a chair and joined the companions. </p><p></p><p>"As I was saying, you have been extended certain courtesies, but that consideration is extended only to those of you on the quest to preserve civilization. You have a recent addition to your traveling troupe, a catfolk named Onyx. I must ask, is he an actual member of your company who has dedicated himself to your cause, or is he a mere hireling, here for the pay and gone when it stops?"</p><p></p><p>"Why are you asking us?", Imagina asked. "Shouldn't you be asking him that question?"</p><p></p><p>"I could, but I doubt I'd get an honest answer. Seeing me, he'll say whatever he thinks I want to hear. It's an affect I have on people."</p><p></p><p>The group conferred for a moment, then came to an agreement. "He's a member of our company until he demonstrates otherwise."</p><p></p><p>"Well and done then. You see, he's about to do something very stupid, and my aide was unsure if he should warn him off or not."</p><p></p><p>"Your 'aide' was leading him into trouble", Granwar asked, unhappy with the entire directions of this conversation. He had heard mention of an alliance between some of the gods and the lord of the pit, but this was the first evidence he'd actually seen of it.</p><p></p><p>"Oh no. Mortals make plenty of mistakes without our help", the Devil replied with a chuckle. "For example, the man at the card game across the way. He's trying to decide when to pull that extra card from his sleeve. He doesn't know that your friend, Ursula, already suspects that he's cheating. She'll catch him, and then, well...", he tapered off with a smile. Another platinum coin flew towards the man behind the bar. "Another round for the house! The night is cold."</p><p></p><p>"You're trying to get everyone drunk.", Granwar accused.</p><p></p><p>"No, they're already doing that. I'm just speeding the process along. No one is being forced to drink, after all.", came the smug reply. "That man behind me, the small one with the crooked teeth. He's trying to work up the nerve to steal my chain from the peg by the door. I give him maybe half a minute. It's free will, his mistake to make."</p><p></p><p>"How do you know all this?", Twilla asked.</p><p></p><p>"Ah, it's my nature. I can know the thought of anyone around me, and evil ones come through almost unbidden. "</p><p></p><p>The group watched in fascination as the mousy man gulped down the last of his drink and rose from his stool.</p><p></p><p>"How far will he get?", Granwar asked, an odd fascination possessing him..</p><p></p><p>"The night is dark. I promised not to harm any within this hall tonight, and I am a man of my word. Once he leaves the circle of light shed by the door, however, my promise no longer applies."</p><p></p><p>The man moved with short, hurried steps towards the door. His hand found a cloak that looked too long for him, and as it passed by the hanging chain, the weapon vanished into its folds. Two steps and he was out the door and gone.</p><p></p><p>The Devil made no move to rise, but Granwar did.</p><p></p><p>"It's too late for him.", the Devil called. "You should have acted sooner if you had truly wanted to stop him"</p><p>*** </p><p>The night was indeed dark and the rain came down in wind driven sheets. The Persian quickly looked left and right, but the man was nowhere to be seen. He must have run as soon as he had passed the doorway.</p><p></p><p>He turned left, all but running down the covered walk before the Inn. And there, in the ally, he found the man.</p><p></p><p>The chain had wound itself around his neck, while the far end had looped itself over a cross brace between the buildings, and was slowly drawing the man aloft. </p><p></p><p>The thief struggled for breath, but couldn't even get enough air for a scream.</p><p></p><p>"Stop it!", Granwar ordered, but the chain ignored him. Then the warrior realized that the chain wasn't acting alone. He clenched his jaw and <em>thought</em> as hard as he could, directing his message to the chain's master.</p><p></p><p>"<em>Let him go. He's learned his lesson".</em></p><p></p><p>"<em>Ah, and if I were a teacher that would be enough. But I'm not. Why should I spare one like this? "</em></p><p><em></em></p><p>Granwar thought furiously. <em>"I'll pay. Let him live."</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>"What do you offer", </em>came the reply, obviously in no hurry.</p><p></p><p>Granwar considered. He knew what the Devil traded for, and it wasn't money. "<em>I offer the tenth part of my soul"</em>, he rushed out, regretting his offer almost as soon at it was made. He watched the man's face begin to blacken as he waited five long heartbeats for a reply</p><p></p><p>"<em>Done."</em>, came the self-satisfied agreement. <em>"Shall we offer him the punishment of the law, instead of true justice?"</em></p><p></p><p>"<em>Fine, just let him down"</em>, Granwar replied.</p><p></p><p>He caught the man as the chain abruptly released, easing him to the ground. One end of the wicked thing whipped around the man's arm and began to tighten. There was a cracking of bone and a terrible rending sound as the thief's hand was torn away.</p><p></p><p>"What have I done?", Granwar muttered as he carried the unconscious man back inside.</p><p>***</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Greenfield, post: 6244808, member: 6669384"] Onyx struggled for self control. If he lashed out now, these men would be dead. He'd probably be dead as well soon after. It was raining and he was soaked to the skin. His sodden robes, normally clouds of billowing black silk that masked his form, now clung to him like a layer of mud and reeked of fish and seawater. He had tried one of his signature moves, to vanish when people glanced away, then enter the town unseen. Instead he had swallowed a belly ful of seawater, and ended up having to call for help. And if he went into an inn to dry off, everyone would laugh at him. And then he'd have to kill them, and... It just wouldn't work. He slunk off into the shadows, then trailed his companions to an inn. The private room he sought was expensive, but he stowed his gear there then slipped out a window and down to the streets below. He needed to be alone until his rage had passed. His feet were silent as he sprang to the roof of a low building, then up and over the towns low wall. He was still wet, and would be for the rest of the night, but at least he'd be alone in his misery. Maybe he'd find something that needed killing.... *** "The Signal Lamp"? questioned Ursula, as they approached the inn. "Aye", agreed their escort/guard/guide. "She's a decent place, perhaps priced a bit high for the average sailor, but you'll meet a better class of people." He kept his eyes straight ahead as he said this. If the innkeeper wanted to reject the huge bear-like woman or the skulking panther-man, that was his call. He had recommended the place not so much for their comfort as for his own. He had drawn the duty of keeping an eye on them, and if that meant sitting indoors instead of patrolling the docks on a stormy night, he was going to make sure it was a warm and comfortable place. *** Smaug and his person had trekked for several miles before they got beyond the farms that surrounded the walled town. The woods were green, a sure sign that Druids had tended them during these dark and sunless days. The rain and wind had swept away all scent of game, and what sign the Tiger could pick up was sparse. These hills had been well hunted. Still, this wasn't simply for the meat. The process of the hunt itself was the stuff of life. And while the winds and rain of this night were a far cry from the snowy mountains of his home, the energy of the storm stirred the blood and brought the entire night to life. *** The dice game was in it's third pass when the hatch opened, letting in the rain. Ceburn looked up to see the man assigned the deck watch peering down. "S-sir? There a man here, requesting permission to come aboard." Ceburn was about to answer when Captain Artolis replied instead. "Of course he may board. Bring him down below." The deck hand turned to the stranger who had appeared at the rail. The man stood over six feet tall, and even on the storm tossed deck he had an aire of elegance about him, as if the rain and winds meant nothing to him. The man stepped forward at the deck hand's gesture, carefully placed a long, coiled chain in the sailor's hand, and descended the ladder to the galley. The deck hand looked at the chain, with it's assortment of barbed hooks and weights, and realized that the man had been surrendering his weapon. He closed the hatch, oddly thankful that he had to face the storm at night, instead of being locked below decks with that man. "Prince Ceburn, of Dumfries? Lord of Carlisle?", the mas asked politely as he removed his hat. The raucus room went silent. Ceburn hesitated a moment before standing. The stranger was, without question, a fiend of some sort. His skin was like buffed leather, the reddish brown color called "Oxblood". There were horns protruding from his forehead and his feet were cloven. His garb was a rich long coat, a blue so dark as to seem almost black in the witchlight of the hold. It was embroidered with an elaborate tracery of red and gold and, despite the storm outside it seemed completely dry. "I'm Ceburn of Carlisle.", the Barbarian prince declared, his voice almost a challenge. "Ah, well met sir.", declared the stranger. "I am Kyton, and have a small matter to discuss. Would privacy be better?" Ceburn weighed this question and made a quick decision. There was little that could be said that would harm him more in the eyes of the crew than the scuttlebut that would follow if the conversation was secret. He gestured to the common board where a makeshift bar had been arranged. The Devil accepted the hospitality, and the pair settled down to talk. "As you are aware, you and your group have been accorded a certain amount of, shall we call it 'professional courtesy', by order of my master. A commonality of interest has brought forth an alliance of sorts.", the man began with an elaborate courtesy. Ceburn, having heard the slippery tongued Bard talk like that, was immediately suspicious. Whenever Pen spoke that carefully he was up to something. He nodded as a reply, acknowledging what was said while offering no actual agreement. The Devil smiled and continued. "I have a question. The black panther-man, Onyx: Is he a member of your company, or a hireling? He was paid to be a guide in west Africa, but has remained with you long after you left that territory. You haven't had any loot of the field to share since that time so I can't use that to judge his status. So I must know, is he a member of your company, and thus entitled to our protection, or is he simply hired help?" Ceburn considered that carefully. He was tempted to simply claim the man as a companion, and thus provide him whatever safety was being offered, but he knew that if he lied to the Devil it would be known at once. The cat-man seldom spoke to anyone, and was frequently off about his own business. Hardly a trusted companion. At the same time though, he'd never had a servant or hireling that was that casual about attending to his employers. So... "He's a member of our company.", the Barbarian prince replied. "Ah, very well then. You seemed less than certain, so I'll have to gather a consensus from the other members of your company. But thank you for the hospitality, and may Furtuna always aid you." And with that, the Devil finished his drink, rose and returned to the deck. Cebrun watched as he collected his weapon, then strode to the rail and vanished over the side. The Barbarian listened for the sound of leather wings in the night, but if they were there to be heard the sound was lost in the storm. *** Sylus and Smaug sat still as statues, watching an odd scene play out. They had crossed the tracks of a large creature, Taurian by the trail sigh, and followed them for a time. Then they began to see a second set of tracks, small boot prints, almost child like by the size of them but the spacing spoke of a much longer stride. The boots were following the hooves, and the hunters were following both. They had lead back towards town, to a small farmhouse. There they had spied their primary quarry, a towering creature of muscle and rage, a Minotaur. It was rummaging around an out building, apparently scrounging for food. The local hunters must have nearly picked the hills clean if a man/beast like that was driven to raiding chicken coups. Then a door opened, and a man stood framed in the opening, a lantern in one hand and a hay fork in the other. "Hey, you!, Get out of my henhouse! You leave my chickens alone!" His blade was in his hand quick as thought. If the monster charged that farmer he'd have no choice. To his surprise though, the huge thing turned and fled, straight at the hidden Ranger. It was the nature of such creatures, to either charge straight ahead in a bull's rush, or to stampede away in mad flight. This time it seemed to be doing both. Sylus stood his ground until the last second, then twisted aside as the man/beast crashed past him. Cold iron flicked out, almost casually slashing a long bloody slice beneath the ribs of the towering thing. It bellowed in pain and shock, but continued it's retreat into the night. Sylus considered pursuit. The Minotaur must have been starved indeed if he was unready to face a farmer with a fork, and now it was wounded as well. To hunt such a pitiful thing might be considered an act of mercy, but fate intervened. When the huntsman turned to follow he saw a man standing on the trail. He was standing quite straight, making no attempt to hide, yet he had approached without being heard by either Sylus or Smaug. And the Tiger's senses were sharp as a razor. "I apologize if I'm interrupting", began the man as he doffed his hat and bowed. "My master has bid me to inquire of you, regarding the scout and guide called Onyx. Is he a member of your company, and thus entitled to our professional courtesy, or a hired hand?" Without hesitation Sylus replied. "The Satyr hired him in that village. I don't know why. The cat hasn't guided us anywhere." "Ah, that presents me with a dillemna. You say he's a hireling, but your companion says hes a member. I shall have to inquire further. Good evening." And with that the Devil turned and casually walked off, vanishing into the storm. Sylus listened to the Minotaur blundering through the brush and decided that it simply wasn't worth it. The poor creature had done nothing to deserve death this night. There was other prey they could hunt, prey that didn't talk or wear clothes. *** Ursula took a long pull from her drink and eyed the man across the table. He had drawn only one card, which meant... She tossed two silver into the pot, just to read his reaction. Across the crowded room her companions looked on and discussed recent events. "He may have prayed to the river goddess for forgiveness", Granwar began. "But if this storm is any sign, she's not in a forgiving mood." "There was nothing we could do. The town had already been taken, her people dead.", argued Twilla. "My master gave his life at her call. Does she demand the rest of ours as well?" "If the river goddess had wanted us dead, we'd be dead.", Imagina offered quietly. "I think this is just her grief for her people. She is sad and so the sky weeps." Their conversation was interrupted when a Devil walked into the bar. He was well dressed, a long embroidered coat sweeping from his shoulders as he used his equally fancy hat to sweep amost imaginary raindrops off of himself. His skin was red, and his horns were as sharp as the barb on his tail. He reached beneath his coat and extracted a glittering chain of black and silver, which he hung on a peg normally reserved for cloaks. He fairly beamed at the party as he crossed the room, his broad smile and delighted manner sending a chill through most present. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Kyton, and although we've never met I've been following you for some time." "Following us, or following our exploits?', the Healer asked pointedly. The Devil had the good grace to look embarrassed, but recovered quickly. "It has been under the orders of my master. Apparently there is an alliance of convenience between Heaven and Hell, however brief and uneasy it might be. I and those like me have orders to afford you and your company, shall we say, special considerations. To date this has taken the form of timely warnings and the occasional distraction." The Devil's explanation was interrupted by the Innkeeper who approached, pale and shaking, and obviously wishing to be anywhere but here. "S-sir, if you please", he began. "My customers have asked me to inquire if you intend to stay?" It was obvious that that wasn't what the rest of the room wanted, but it was as much as the poor man dared to ask. The Devil smiled at him, a gesture that gave the poor man no comfort. "I'll be staying for a time, but you have my word I'll bring no harm to this hall, or any within it. Not this night, at least." He produced a coin from some unseen location and tossed it in the direction of the innkeeper. "A round of drinks for the house if you will." The silvery gray coin sang as it bounced across the floor, as no one had the nerve to reach for it as it flew. Then the Innkeeper picked it up and saw that it was platinum, thick and solid. He all but fled to his place at the bar and began to serve, grateful for the excuse to be away from the generous benefactor. "Ah, don't worry. Love of money is the root of all evil, after all. If I can feed their greed a bit, so much the better.", the fiend laughed as he drew up a chair and joined the companions. "As I was saying, you have been extended certain courtesies, but that consideration is extended only to those of you on the quest to preserve civilization. You have a recent addition to your traveling troupe, a catfolk named Onyx. I must ask, is he an actual member of your company who has dedicated himself to your cause, or is he a mere hireling, here for the pay and gone when it stops?" "Why are you asking us?", Imagina asked. "Shouldn't you be asking him that question?" "I could, but I doubt I'd get an honest answer. Seeing me, he'll say whatever he thinks I want to hear. It's an affect I have on people." The group conferred for a moment, then came to an agreement. "He's a member of our company until he demonstrates otherwise." "Well and done then. You see, he's about to do something very stupid, and my aide was unsure if he should warn him off or not." "Your 'aide' was leading him into trouble", Granwar asked, unhappy with the entire directions of this conversation. He had heard mention of an alliance between some of the gods and the lord of the pit, but this was the first evidence he'd actually seen of it. "Oh no. Mortals make plenty of mistakes without our help", the Devil replied with a chuckle. "For example, the man at the card game across the way. He's trying to decide when to pull that extra card from his sleeve. He doesn't know that your friend, Ursula, already suspects that he's cheating. She'll catch him, and then, well...", he tapered off with a smile. Another platinum coin flew towards the man behind the bar. "Another round for the house! The night is cold." "You're trying to get everyone drunk.", Granwar accused. "No, they're already doing that. I'm just speeding the process along. No one is being forced to drink, after all.", came the smug reply. "That man behind me, the small one with the crooked teeth. He's trying to work up the nerve to steal my chain from the peg by the door. I give him maybe half a minute. It's free will, his mistake to make." "How do you know all this?", Twilla asked. "Ah, it's my nature. I can know the thought of anyone around me, and evil ones come through almost unbidden. " The group watched in fascination as the mousy man gulped down the last of his drink and rose from his stool. "How far will he get?", Granwar asked, an odd fascination possessing him.. "The night is dark. I promised not to harm any within this hall tonight, and I am a man of my word. Once he leaves the circle of light shed by the door, however, my promise no longer applies." The man moved with short, hurried steps towards the door. His hand found a cloak that looked too long for him, and as it passed by the hanging chain, the weapon vanished into its folds. Two steps and he was out the door and gone. The Devil made no move to rise, but Granwar did. "It's too late for him.", the Devil called. "You should have acted sooner if you had truly wanted to stop him" *** The night was indeed dark and the rain came down in wind driven sheets. The Persian quickly looked left and right, but the man was nowhere to be seen. He must have run as soon as he had passed the doorway. He turned left, all but running down the covered walk before the Inn. And there, in the ally, he found the man. The chain had wound itself around his neck, while the far end had looped itself over a cross brace between the buildings, and was slowly drawing the man aloft. The thief struggled for breath, but couldn't even get enough air for a scream. "Stop it!", Granwar ordered, but the chain ignored him. Then the warrior realized that the chain wasn't acting alone. He clenched his jaw and [I]thought[/I] as hard as he could, directing his message to the chain's master. "[I]Let him go. He's learned his lesson".[/I] "[I]Ah, and if I were a teacher that would be enough. But I'm not. Why should I spare one like this? " [/I] Granwar thought furiously. [I]"I'll pay. Let him live." "What do you offer", [/I]came the reply, obviously in no hurry. Granwar considered. He knew what the Devil traded for, and it wasn't money. "[I]I offer the tenth part of my soul"[/I], he rushed out, regretting his offer almost as soon at it was made. He watched the man's face begin to blacken as he waited five long heartbeats for a reply "[I]Done."[/I], came the self-satisfied agreement. [I]"Shall we offer him the punishment of the law, instead of true justice?"[/I] "[I]Fine, just let him down"[/I], Granwar replied. He caught the man as the chain abruptly released, easing him to the ground. One end of the wicked thing whipped around the man's arm and began to tighten. There was a cracking of bone and a terrible rending sound as the thief's hand was torn away. "What have I done?", Granwar muttered as he carried the unconscious man back inside. *** [/QUOTE]
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Curse of Darkness - Interlude on a Dark and Stormy Night
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