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Shackled City Epic: "Vengeance" (story concluded)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1822456" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 249</p><p></p><p>“You saved our lives,” Dannel said to Annah, still shivering even as Zenna continued to cast healing spells upon him. </p><p></p><p>Both had come to the very edge of death, before Arun’s healing powers had drawn them back from the brink. Only Zenna’s innate resistance to cold, and Dannel’s selfless sacrifice had saved her life, and it had quite nearly cost him his own in the bargain. She was quick to tell him that once she’d been revived, but the scolding was not fierce, and it was clear from the way her eyes shone that she knew just how close both of them had come. </p><p></p><p>The bard shrugged. Zenna had offered to heal her, but she’d declined, using her own bardic powers to treat the burns she’d suffered from the sorcerer’s fiery blasts. </p><p></p><p>“I may not be a shining scion of Good,” she said, “but I have no patience for assassins, especially ones that try to trash my favorite inn.”</p><p></p><p>“Those three knew a lot about us,” Zenna said. “They knew our abilities, and how to neutralize our tactics.” She coughed, her own body slow to recover from the beating it had taken, despite the healing that Arun, Dannel and she herself had channeled into her. </p><p></p><p>“Stupid to attack us ‘ere, all together,” Hodge said. “Ida waited ‘til we was alone, or sleepin’, or somesuch,” he said. </p><p></p><p>“This was no casual assault,” Annah said. “They had a number of powerful spells layered on them, spells that my <em>dispel</em> slid right off of.”</p><p></p><p>Zenna nodded. “She’s right, this was coordinated by someone more powerful, and they <em>had</em> to attack us quickly, together, before all of the spells wore off,” she said. “It was an all-or-nothing ambush.”</p><p></p><p>“They will learn soon enough that their effort failed, if they do not know already,” Arun said. “When that woman reports their failure, they may try again.”</p><p></p><p>Loud shouts from the front room drew their attention around. Mole was standing near the archway, and she looked through and reported back. “Looks like the Watch, finally,” she said. </p><p></p><p>“Let me do the talking,” Annah offered, as a patrol of muscular half-orcs led by a tall human lieutenant of the Watch entered the room. </p><p></p><p>They followed her advice, and after an hour of questions, with the occasional threat inserted for flavor, they found themselves out in the street again. The Morkoth had been closed for the rest of the night, and a few patrons lingered on the street, talking about the attack in small, quiet groups. The companions could sense the covert attention focused upon them, and Zenna felt particularly exposed here, where eyes could be watching them from any of a hundred hiding places. </p><p></p><p>“I must be going, to speak to my friends,” Annah said. </p><p></p><p>“Our thanks, again,” Dannel said.</p><p></p><p>“It would seem that I was in the wrong place at the right time,” she replied, turning away. Zenna, however, forestalled her. </p><p></p><p>“Wait, a moment.” </p><p></p><p>“Yes?”</p><p></p><p>“What happened to Todd Vanderboren?”</p><p></p><p>The other woman’s face clouded for a moment. “We were ambushed in the tunnels under the city. We were sent to investigate reports that band of kuo-toa had come up close to the surface, and were threatening the city. A wizard attacked us... in hindsight, he seemed to be quite knowledgeable about our tactics. He struck us with several lightning bolts before we even knew he was there... Todd was too slow, and was killed. The rest of us barely escaped with his body and our lives.”</p><p></p><p>The companions shared a look, and Annah looked thoughtful. “Do you think there is a connection between this attack and the ambush on us?”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know what to think anymore,” Zenna said. “But I’d watch yourself.”</p><p></p><p>“You as well.”</p><p></p><p>“One last question,” Zenna said. “You said you were ‘sent’. Who hired you, to investigate these tunnels?”</p><p></p><p>Annah’s expression darkened. “Ike Iverson. The second-in-command at the church of Kelemvor.”</p><p></p><p>* * * * *</p><p></p><p>“What interest would the church of Kelemvor have in killing adventurers?” Mole asked a short time later, as the companions made their way down Obsidian Avenue. “Half the town worships there, or at least pays the monthly tithe.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, everybody dies,” Hodge said. “So they be guaranteed business from ever’body, at least once.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know,” Zenna said. “I find myself saying that an awful lot since we got back here, and I don’t like it.” </p><p></p><p>“The matter bears investigating,” Dannel said. “But first we need to talk to Jenya, and see what she can tell us.”</p><p></p><p>Darkness had fallen over the city, and the streetlamps were mere pale, flickering orbs that turned the familiar street into a netherworld of shadows and mystery. The curfew that had been placed over the city after the tax riots had been eased, but there were few people on the streets, and the patrols of the Watch shot them hard looks as they passed. </p><p></p><p>“I think it would be a good idea if we all took quarters together, at least for the moment,” Zenna suggested. “I have a spell that can give warning if someone else tries to break in while we sleep.”</p><p></p><p>“Bloody hells, let’s just find us a vacant lot and sleep in yer magic house,” Hodge said. </p><p></p><p>“I could ask around, see if I can find out who wants us dead,” Mole suggested. </p><p></p><p>“Well, let’s see, shall we?” Zenna said. “There’s the survivors of that slaver operation we broke up. The Last Laugh, though we haven’t heard anything from them for a while. The cultists we defeated in the ruins under the city. The kuo-toa. That demon that almost killed us. Kaurophon. Did I miss anyone?”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, don’t forget that one of the hags got away,” Mole added helpfully. “Oh, and that beholder we saw, in Kazmojen’s bazaar.”</p><p></p><p>“Beholder?” Hodge asked. </p><p></p><p>“Sounds like you all were getting in way over your heads long before I came along,” Dannel said. </p><p></p><p>“Let’s focus on the current threat, shall we?” Zenna said. “Maybe Jenya will be able to tell us something.” She gestured ahead, where the tall cupola of the church of Helm was just becoming visible around the bend. </p><p></p><p>The wide front doors of the church were closed, and the lantern that often shone above them as a welcome to worshippers was unlit, leaving the recessed nave of the entry dark. The companions, frequent guests of the clergy of the Vigilant One, turned instead to the narrow gate that led to the courtyard beside the main temple building, and provided access to the low buildings that made up the rest of the complex. A soft light shone through the shutters of the rectory, indicating that at least <em>someone</em> was up and about at this hour. </p><p></p><p>The gate creaked slightly as they opened it and stepped through, but a moment later a familiar hiss interrupted them—the sound of a sword being drawn. </p><p></p><p>“Hold it right there, and nobody loses an arm,” came a rough voice behind them.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 1822456, member: 143"] Chapter 249 “You saved our lives,” Dannel said to Annah, still shivering even as Zenna continued to cast healing spells upon him. Both had come to the very edge of death, before Arun’s healing powers had drawn them back from the brink. Only Zenna’s innate resistance to cold, and Dannel’s selfless sacrifice had saved her life, and it had quite nearly cost him his own in the bargain. She was quick to tell him that once she’d been revived, but the scolding was not fierce, and it was clear from the way her eyes shone that she knew just how close both of them had come. The bard shrugged. Zenna had offered to heal her, but she’d declined, using her own bardic powers to treat the burns she’d suffered from the sorcerer’s fiery blasts. “I may not be a shining scion of Good,” she said, “but I have no patience for assassins, especially ones that try to trash my favorite inn.” “Those three knew a lot about us,” Zenna said. “They knew our abilities, and how to neutralize our tactics.” She coughed, her own body slow to recover from the beating it had taken, despite the healing that Arun, Dannel and she herself had channeled into her. “Stupid to attack us ‘ere, all together,” Hodge said. “Ida waited ‘til we was alone, or sleepin’, or somesuch,” he said. “This was no casual assault,” Annah said. “They had a number of powerful spells layered on them, spells that my [I]dispel[/I] slid right off of.” Zenna nodded. “She’s right, this was coordinated by someone more powerful, and they [I]had[/I] to attack us quickly, together, before all of the spells wore off,” she said. “It was an all-or-nothing ambush.” “They will learn soon enough that their effort failed, if they do not know already,” Arun said. “When that woman reports their failure, they may try again.” Loud shouts from the front room drew their attention around. Mole was standing near the archway, and she looked through and reported back. “Looks like the Watch, finally,” she said. “Let me do the talking,” Annah offered, as a patrol of muscular half-orcs led by a tall human lieutenant of the Watch entered the room. They followed her advice, and after an hour of questions, with the occasional threat inserted for flavor, they found themselves out in the street again. The Morkoth had been closed for the rest of the night, and a few patrons lingered on the street, talking about the attack in small, quiet groups. The companions could sense the covert attention focused upon them, and Zenna felt particularly exposed here, where eyes could be watching them from any of a hundred hiding places. “I must be going, to speak to my friends,” Annah said. “Our thanks, again,” Dannel said. “It would seem that I was in the wrong place at the right time,” she replied, turning away. Zenna, however, forestalled her. “Wait, a moment.” “Yes?” “What happened to Todd Vanderboren?” The other woman’s face clouded for a moment. “We were ambushed in the tunnels under the city. We were sent to investigate reports that band of kuo-toa had come up close to the surface, and were threatening the city. A wizard attacked us... in hindsight, he seemed to be quite knowledgeable about our tactics. He struck us with several lightning bolts before we even knew he was there... Todd was too slow, and was killed. The rest of us barely escaped with his body and our lives.” The companions shared a look, and Annah looked thoughtful. “Do you think there is a connection between this attack and the ambush on us?” “I don’t know what to think anymore,” Zenna said. “But I’d watch yourself.” “You as well.” “One last question,” Zenna said. “You said you were ‘sent’. Who hired you, to investigate these tunnels?” Annah’s expression darkened. “Ike Iverson. The second-in-command at the church of Kelemvor.” * * * * * “What interest would the church of Kelemvor have in killing adventurers?” Mole asked a short time later, as the companions made their way down Obsidian Avenue. “Half the town worships there, or at least pays the monthly tithe.” “Yeah, everybody dies,” Hodge said. “So they be guaranteed business from ever’body, at least once.” “I don’t know,” Zenna said. “I find myself saying that an awful lot since we got back here, and I don’t like it.” “The matter bears investigating,” Dannel said. “But first we need to talk to Jenya, and see what she can tell us.” Darkness had fallen over the city, and the streetlamps were mere pale, flickering orbs that turned the familiar street into a netherworld of shadows and mystery. The curfew that had been placed over the city after the tax riots had been eased, but there were few people on the streets, and the patrols of the Watch shot them hard looks as they passed. “I think it would be a good idea if we all took quarters together, at least for the moment,” Zenna suggested. “I have a spell that can give warning if someone else tries to break in while we sleep.” “Bloody hells, let’s just find us a vacant lot and sleep in yer magic house,” Hodge said. “I could ask around, see if I can find out who wants us dead,” Mole suggested. “Well, let’s see, shall we?” Zenna said. “There’s the survivors of that slaver operation we broke up. The Last Laugh, though we haven’t heard anything from them for a while. The cultists we defeated in the ruins under the city. The kuo-toa. That demon that almost killed us. Kaurophon. Did I miss anyone?” “Oh, don’t forget that one of the hags got away,” Mole added helpfully. “Oh, and that beholder we saw, in Kazmojen’s bazaar.” “Beholder?” Hodge asked. “Sounds like you all were getting in way over your heads long before I came along,” Dannel said. “Let’s focus on the current threat, shall we?” Zenna said. “Maybe Jenya will be able to tell us something.” She gestured ahead, where the tall cupola of the church of Helm was just becoming visible around the bend. The wide front doors of the church were closed, and the lantern that often shone above them as a welcome to worshippers was unlit, leaving the recessed nave of the entry dark. The companions, frequent guests of the clergy of the Vigilant One, turned instead to the narrow gate that led to the courtyard beside the main temple building, and provided access to the low buildings that made up the rest of the complex. A soft light shone through the shutters of the rectory, indicating that at least [I]someone[/I] was up and about at this hour. The gate creaked slightly as they opened it and stepped through, but a moment later a familiar hiss interrupted them—the sound of a sword being drawn. “Hold it right there, and nobody loses an arm,” came a rough voice behind them. [/QUOTE]
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