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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JollyDoc" data-source="post: 6863296" data-attributes="member: 9546">The Fall of the House of Havelyn22 Rova, 4716 - The Fall of the House of HavelynDay 14Lemmy slipped out of the inn early the next morning, accompanied by Katarina, who had disguised herself as the dwarf engineer Nalond. The pair of them reported for duty to the battlements, informing Captain Barhold about the illness that had befallen his brother, sister-in-law and patrons."Hmph," the captain snorted. "'Twas only a matter of time before his unclean habits caught up to him."Roger left the inn as well, once more in his guise as a day laborer. Kelvin wanted to make sure that the Knot had a presence in the Tower to ascertain the response to the news of the incapacitated engineers. As it turned out, that response came to him.__________________________________________________________________"Bellam! Are you in there?" a voice called from outside the inn's front door. "It's Father Donnagin.""Are you serious?" Tardaesha whispered to her siblings. "We can't be this lucky!""Asmodeus is smiling upon us," Dorian replied. 'Aesha touched the circlet on her brow and her form quickly morphed into that of Bellam Barhold."Coming Father!" she replied. "Just a moment."Kelvin, Dorian and Dakota hurried back upstairs.Tardaesha opened the door and saw the round-faced, jovial priest standing there, a young acolyte at his side."Ah, Bellam!" Donnagin smiled. "You don't look any worse for wear! Have you met Brother Celebus?""Can't say that I have," 'Aesha replied. "I won't shake your hand, though. Don't want to be catching."The acolyte smiled weakly."Glad you're here, just the same," 'Aesha continued, turning back to Donnagin. "Those dwarves have made a wreck of my outhouse, to be sure, but it's my missus that I'm most worried about. She can't even get out of bed.""The poor dear," Donnagin tsked. "I'll have a look at her, but then I must see to the dwarves. The Lord Commander is very concerned about their absence. He doesn't want any further delays on the repairs to the battlements."Tardaesha led the two clerics upstairs to Barhold's quarters. Kelvin had done a masterful job of cleansing the blood and gore from the bedding and floor, and the bodies had been hidden in the secret tunnel in the cellar. Dakota lay in the bed, cloaked in the form of Mrs. Barhold. She moaned and tossed back and forth. Kelvin stood in one corner, once more in his elven form, but looking a bit peaked and haggard. "Who's this then?" Donnagin asked, noticing the strange elf."Ah, this is Master Elarius," 'Aesha said by way of introduction. "He and his family are guests here. They have also been afflicted with the runs, but he has been good enough to help me out where he can."Kelvin smiled politely. Father Donnagin returned the smile and then went to the bedside."Matilda dear," he said in a calming voice, "how are you feeling?"Behind him, Tardaesha drew her sword. Brother Celebus looked at her in confusion, having just seen the unarmed Bellam Barhold pull a sword from literally nowhere."Have you ever seen it's like?" 'Aesha asked the acolyte.Before the young man could answer, she whirled and swung the sword with both hands."By the power of Asmodeus, I smite thee!" she cried as she struck Father Donnagin a vicious blow behind his knees. The priest grunted as he fell forward...right onto Dakota's waiting dagger."Heretics!" Donnagin cried out in pain. "Devil worshippers! Run Celebus! Get help!"The acolyte turned to flee, only to find Kelvin blocking the door."I'm afraid you won't be going anywhere except to meet your bitch of a goddess," the mage smirked, and then he conjured a volley of mystic bolts.Two struck Celebus in the chest, and he fell unconscious to the floor. Another pair hit Donnagin.  The old cleric struggled upright and away from Dakota, then reached around to grab his shield which had been strapped across his back. He began chanting a prayer."Shut your blasphemous mouth!" Kelvin commanded, and he fired another salvo into Donnagin.This time he fell, and he did not rise again.Dakota threw off her blankets and jumped to her feet. She ran to the fallen holy men and bent to examine them both."Still alive!" she crowed. "We need to keep them that way.""I can stop their bleeding," Kelvin replied, pulling his wand from his belt.As he worked, Dakota uttered a brief prayer, and then used one finger to trace the outline of Asmodeus's inverted pentagram upon the brow of Brother Celebus. A moment later, a flaming brand appeared there. "Let's get them downstairs," Tardaesha said. "I have use for them later.""And I'm going to have a bit of fun with them now," Dakota giggled as she began unwrapping her tools.___________________________________________________________Katarina and Lemmy remained at the Tower for the remainder of the day, and during that time Kat managed to quietly disable three of the four siege engines on the roof of the gatehouse with no one the wiser. As evening came on, they left the gatehouse and then Lemmy joined Roger with the line of workers leaving for the day. Kat stayed behind, claiming she had a few more things to see to since she was having to do the work of ten dwarves that day.When Lemmy and Roger reached the inn, the others filled them in on the day's events."Huh," Lemmy grunted. "Dumb luck that.""Or divine providence," Tardaesha grinned. "I prefer to believe the latter. In any case, don't you boys get too comfortable. Freshen up and gather what you need. We're going back to the Tower. All debts are paid tonight!"_______________________________________________________The six of them traveled through the secret tunnel an hour later. Tardaesha had changed her appearance to match Father Donnagin's, and Dakota was disguised as Brother Celebus. Roger wore the visage of one of the acolytes they'd slain on the road to East Watch, while Kelvin walked along invisibly behind them. Lemmy looked himself, as usual.They emerged from the vault into the armory, which was deserted by that time, and then went up the stairs to the flag room. The two guards on duty stared at them, puzzled, when they stepped into the chamber. "Good evening, gentlemen," Tardaesha greeted them in Father Donnagin's voice. I believe that the cholera outbreak we've been experiencing is due to contaminated water. Master Killmister here is going to be inspecting the cistern for leaks. I advise you in the mean time to boil all water before drinking it. Spread the word."The soldiers nodded and saluted. "Aye Father!"The group strode through the courtyard and up to the gates of the keep, where another pair of guards snapped to attention."The magister has taken ill," Tardaesha said. "My acolytes and I are going to attend him. Make sure no one else enters until further notice. We may need to quarantine the building."The guards nodded and opened the huge double doors for them. When they climbed the stairs from the Great Hall to the second floor guardroom, Katarina was already there in her dwarf guise, arguing with the guards."I told ya already," she huffed, waving her hands, "the priest told me to meet'im here! Somethin' about the water supply!""Just so," Tardaesha interrupted. "Our dwarf friends are going to be inspecting the pipes for leaks. The cholera may be in our water. The magister has now taken ill, and I must see to him. I need you two to join the guards outside the keep and make sure no one is admitted. We are under quarantine."The soldiers nodded, saluted and then hustled downstairs. When Tardaesha heard the main doors boom shut below, she turned to her companions."Good work so far," she winked. "Lemmy, Roger, slide that stair cap into place."The half-orc and the dwarf grunted and heaved the heavy stone into the stair well, sealing off the only means of ingress from below. Behind them, Kelvin slowly faded into view. Just then Dakota, who had moved to the inner door, suddenly held up a hand and pressed her finger to her lips."Someone's coming," she whispered.Kelvin began casting a spell at Dakota's warning, and a moment later the entire room was blanketed in silence. Just then the door opened and a single soldier stepped through. He looked around the room in confusion, first at the group congregated there, and then at the fact that he couldn't hear anything. His confusion ended a moment later when Lemmy and Dakota hit him simultaneously with an arrow through the throat and a blast of rocks to the chest. Roger stepped over the dead man and into the hallway beyond. The silence followed him since Kelvin had centered the spell upon him. The others trailed behind.Roger and Tardaesha emerged onto the third floor landing first and found the other guard standing there expectantly, staring down the stairs. His brow furrowed as the area went quiet. Tardaesha, still disguised as Donnagin, beckoned the man towards her. The guard nodded and stepped forward. As he did, Lemmy came up the stairs and sent a blast towards him. The soldier dodged aside at the last moment, then opened his mouth to shout, only to realize again that he could not hear. Tardaesha rushed past and behind the guard, pointing in mock panic back towards Lemmy. The soldier drew his sword and pushed the 'Father' safely behind him. Tardaesha rewarded his loyalty by driving her own sword through his spine. ________________________________________________________________Kelvin's silence spell wore off a short time later, and he knew he would have to recast it if their plan was going to have a chance. He also knew that he ran the risk of his casting being overheard this time, but it was a gamble he would have to make. He spoke the words again, and silence once more cloaked the area, the effect moving as Roger moved. The burly anti-paladin slammed his shoulder into one of the two doors that led from the landing, bursting it open. He found himself in a well-furnished bed chamber with a single large window overlooking the courtyard. Standing in the middle of the room was a middle-aged man dressed in fine robes adorned with a flame motif...Tacitus of Morimun, the Magister of Balentyne himself. The wizard's eyes went wide as sound vanished from his chambers and all that thatimplied. Then Kat darted into the room behind Roger and flicked a dagger at the mage. It struck Tacitus behind his left knee as he was turning to run, hampering his movement. Back out on the landing, as Kelvin finished his spell and was discarding the scroll upon which it had been inscribed, a soldier came hustling down the stairs from the floor above. What he saw was Father Donnagin and two of his acolytes."What's going on down here, Father?" the guard asked in confusion. "We heard chanting, and I sent my partner to alert the Lord Commander.""Well done!" Tardaesha replied. "There's been an attack!"The soldier looked alarmed, but before he could react, two things happened: Kelvin quickly cast another spell and vanished from sight, while simultaneously Dakota spoke a prayer which froze the guard in place, rooted to the floor. "I do love a gullible fool," Tardaesha smiled as she hurried past the paralyzed man and into the magister's room. Behind her, Lemmy cracked his knuckles as he grinned evilly at the soldier."Yeah, me too!" he chuckled.Tardaesha didn't hear the geokinetic blast go off, as she'd already entered the silence zone, but she felt the vibration beneath her feet.As Tardaesha entered his room, Tacitus stared in bewilderment. He saw the face of his friend, Father Donnagin, but he could not reconcile that fact with the more immediate one that Donnagin was with people who were trying to kill him. He raised his hands pleadingly towards the priest, only to have Tardaesha slash him viciously with the sword she suddenly brandished. Tacitus fell back and tried to flee towards his laboratory, but before he'd gone two steps, Roger cut him down. _______________________________________________________________Tardaesha peered into the room that Tacitus had been making for. It was a poorly lit and crowded chamber full of tables laden with strange equipment and apparatuses. On a slab in the center of the room rested a large form seemingly made of ice. Kelvin stepped up beside his sister. "An ice golem," he said, identifying the creature. "It's good you stopped the magister from reaching this room. If he'd been able to activate it, we would have had a problem on our hands."Tardaesha nodded thoughtfully."That gives me and idea," she smiled.________________________________________________________________Lemmy, Katarina and Kelvin led the way up to the top floor of the keep. They reached the landing just as a soldier posted there climbed to the top of one of the ladders leading to the roof battlements. The man lifted the door and called up to the guards above."Oy! We've got some trouble down here! You lot need to get down here on the double!"It was at that point that Tardaesha arrived."Good work soldier!" she cried out in Donnagin's voice. The second silence spell had also come an end. "The Magister's ice beast has gotten loose!!"The first soldier clambered back down the ladder, closely followed by three others from the roof. No sooner had they all gathered around Tardaesha than Kelvin, still invisible, cast a blinding glitterdust spell. The flash of light caused three of the guards to cry out in pain and surprise as their hands went to their eyes. Kat leaped up and stabbed the fourth soldier through the throat with her dagger, sending him gurgling to the floor."The dwarves!" 'Aesha cried. "They've betrayed us!!"As she moved away from the melee, Lemmy proved her accusation by blasting another of the soldiers, crushing his skull with flying debris, and then Roger gutted a third one, leaving only one of the men still standing, blind and panicked. "Lay down your arms," a booming voice called out from behind the combatants, lest you further endanger your lives and your very souls with this villainy!"The members of the 9th Knot turned as one, and saw a man outfitted in gleaming plate armor standing in the door of the Lord's study. He held a shield in one hand, emblazoned with the symbol of Iomedae, and a well-crafted longsword in the other. It was none other than Lord Commander Havelyn himself."Why don't ye lay down on this!?" Lemmy sneered, lifting his finger in an obscene gesture. Havelyn's face reddened, and he raised his shield and advanced forward...until Kelvin placed a grease spell beneath his feet, at which point they slipped out from under him and he landed flat on his back...hard. His face growing an even a darker shade of red, he climbed clumsily to his feet, but as he struggled to do so, Roger rushed in. He swung for the Lord Commander's neck, but at the last moment, Havelyn raised his shield and the blow glanced off it, striking him instead on his upper arm."Blackguard!!" Havelyn roared, somehow sensing the aura of evil that surrounded the anti-paladin. He raised his sword high, and as he did so it crackled with golden energy."By Iomedae's might I smite at thee!!" he criedHis blade came around in a mighty arc, and though Roger got his shield up, the blow drove it aside and cleaved through his breastplate and deep into his flesh. Grunting in pain, the half-orc gave ground."That's it, Lord Commander!" Tardaesha called. "Just hang on for another moment! I'll come to your aid!"Havelyn looked up and saw Father Donnagin moving towards him. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed."Hold!" he commanded. "Donnagin of St. Macarius is like a brother to me, and you, Sir, are not him! Come no closer lest I strike thee down!""Not if I gut you first!" Kat snarled from behind the paladin as she drove her dagger through a gap in his armor and deep into his armpit. Havelyn snarled, whirled, and hit Kat so hard that she slammed into a nearby wall and bounced off, stunned. He turned back towards Roger and raised his sword to finish him off, but then Lemmy was there. The dwarf sent a concussive blast of rocks and earth into the Lord Commander, driving him several steps away from Roger. Before he could recover, Kelvin bombarded him with a magic missile salvo. That gave Tardaesha an opening. Sheathing her sword, she reached out and touched Havelyn with her bare hand. Dark energy wreathed her palm and Havelyn grimaced in agony as corruption filled him. Then, one final blast from Lemmy knocked him from his feet. He did not rise again._______________________________________________________________As Katarina finished off the last of the blinded soldiers, Roger bent down to examine Havelyn, insuring he was dead. He absently placed one hand on the paladin's burnished breast plate, and as he did so the armor transformed before his eyes. No longer shining plate mail, it had become black and baroque, adorned with the infernal iconography of Lord Asmodeus. Roger felt a tingle in his head and knew that his Master was indeed pleased. Events had been set into motion, and there was no going back. Either Balentyne would fall that night, or the Nessian Knot would perish.</blockquote>

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