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The Doomed Bastards: Reckoning (story complete)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 3846390" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>I have to admit, Varo is often pretty fun to write. Dar too, but in a totally different way, of course. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> </p><p></p><p>* * * * * </p><p></p><p>Chapter 277</p><p></p><p>A HIDDEN PLACE</p><p></p><p></p><p>The screams were a raw, terrible thing, echoing off the unadorned stone walls of the tunnels deep under the Gold Quarter of Camar. None could enter this place save with the proper keys both mundane and magical, but if someone had been able to penetrate this sanctum, they could have followed those wrenching cries to an iron door set into a massive stone threshold at the bottom of a set of stone stairs worn smooth by the passage of untold centuries. There the intruder would almost certainly been stopped, for the door bore several additional wards, markings of potency that few alive today could replicate, let alone defeat. </p><p></p><p>The screams died. </p><p></p><p>In the vault beyond the door, a grim silence persisted for almost a minute. </p><p></p><p>“We have failed,” the Patriarch of the Shining Father said.</p><p></p><p>“You... don’t... say,” the source of the screams said. </p><p></p><p>Talen Karedes, or rather the vampire that the knight had become, sagged in the firm grip of his chains. He was clad only in a simple wrap of white fabric that covered his torso and legs down to his knees. His wrists were held firmly within manacles of silvery-white mithral, firmly attached to thick iron rings that dangled from the low ceiling. Similar bindings, attached to another ring set into the floor, secured his ankles. A magic circle formed of silvered runes encircled him, the markings glowing slightly with a faint light. </p><p></p><p>Talen shifted, although he was unable as of yet to stand on his own. His movements tugged open his garment slightly, revealing the ragged hole that marked the center of his chest. His skin bore an unhealthy pallor, accentuated by the pale light that was emitted by the two crystal globes set into the walls. </p><p></p><p>“What happened?” Dar asked. </p><p></p><p>Allera, her expression tight, dropped a handful of diamonds, now brittle and useless, into her pouch. “The spell could not recover his soul,” she said. “The ritual detailed in the ancient books should have sundered the taint holding him to unlife, allowing my <em>resurrection</em> spell to bring Talen’s soul back to us. But I could not... it was like thrusting my hands into acid, trying to... I could not...”</p><p></p><p>“Shh,” Dar said, coming forward and taking her hands in his. They were trembling. “It’s all right, we all know you did what you could.”</p><p></p><p>“The power that resisted us was... immense,” Patriarch Jaduran said. He and Nelan had added their own spell power to Allera’s spell, using an <em>atonement</em> spell, coupled with a <em>dispel evil</em>, in an attempt to sunder the demon lord’s hold on the former knight. It had been like trying to slay an ancient dragon with a hunting knife. </p><p></p><p>“How do we proceed from here?” Nelan asked. </p><p></p><p>Talen shifted again in his chains; the clatter of metal drew their attention back around. “There is nothing that you can do,” the vampire said. “Orcus has my soul in his grasp, and you fools lack the power to loosen his hold. You have only one choice.”</p><p></p><p>“We will find a way, Talen,” Allera said. “We just need time...”</p><p></p><p>The vampire surged up, his bonds tightening as he stretched to the very edge of the magic circle. He held that position for several full seconds before he sagged back, overcome with weakness once more. Dar’s grip on the hilt of <em>Valor</em> did not loosen for some time after that. </p><p></p><p>“You fools,” he said, finally, his voice thick with weariness. “You don’t understand. You don’t <em>have</em> time, none of you. <strong>He</strong> is coming, and there won’t be anything any of you can do...”</p><p></p><p>“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Dar said. “We’ve kicked the butt of more than one demon; if Goat Head wants to come into my world, he can get in freaking line to have my steel shoved up his ass.”</p><p></p><p>Talen sneered. “You understand... nothing.” </p><p></p><p>“Talen,” Allera began, but the vampire cut her off. He turned his head to look at the final occupant of the chamber, who had stood there silent during the entire ritual, her body stiff like a statue. “Shay. I can’t exist like this... please... help me... put an end to this...”</p><p></p><p>The scout did not move, did not so much as flinch. </p><p></p><p>“He cannot get out of those?” Dar asked Jaduran quietly. </p><p></p><p>The Patriarch shook his head. “Those manacles were fashioned by Artemus Tekal himself. Even if they were to fail, the circle holds him imprisoned within. And even if he could defeat both, the wards upon the door would obliterate a creature such as he, were he to attempt to force his way through.”</p><p></p><p>“It seems like the church might have had dealings with this sort of thing before,” the fighter said. </p><p></p><p>Jaduran nodded softly. “Even in the short time since I accepted my new position, I have learned much about the history of my own faith that I never would have suspected, even as a bishop.”</p><p></p><p>Allera had gone over to Shay, who allowed herself to be led back toward the door. Talen watched her leave, an anguished look on his face. As the five living occupants of the room exited via the heavy door, his voice followed them out. </p><p></p><p>“He is coming!” the vampire shouted. “He is coming!” The sound of his words continued to echo off the long corridors deep under the streets of Camar, even after the thick door clanged shut, and the heavy bolts slid hard into place, sealing Talen Karedes securely within his prison.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 3846390, member: 143"] I have to admit, Varo is often pretty fun to write. Dar too, but in a totally different way, of course. :) * * * * * Chapter 277 A HIDDEN PLACE The screams were a raw, terrible thing, echoing off the unadorned stone walls of the tunnels deep under the Gold Quarter of Camar. None could enter this place save with the proper keys both mundane and magical, but if someone had been able to penetrate this sanctum, they could have followed those wrenching cries to an iron door set into a massive stone threshold at the bottom of a set of stone stairs worn smooth by the passage of untold centuries. There the intruder would almost certainly been stopped, for the door bore several additional wards, markings of potency that few alive today could replicate, let alone defeat. The screams died. In the vault beyond the door, a grim silence persisted for almost a minute. “We have failed,” the Patriarch of the Shining Father said. “You... don’t... say,” the source of the screams said. Talen Karedes, or rather the vampire that the knight had become, sagged in the firm grip of his chains. He was clad only in a simple wrap of white fabric that covered his torso and legs down to his knees. His wrists were held firmly within manacles of silvery-white mithral, firmly attached to thick iron rings that dangled from the low ceiling. Similar bindings, attached to another ring set into the floor, secured his ankles. A magic circle formed of silvered runes encircled him, the markings glowing slightly with a faint light. Talen shifted, although he was unable as of yet to stand on his own. His movements tugged open his garment slightly, revealing the ragged hole that marked the center of his chest. His skin bore an unhealthy pallor, accentuated by the pale light that was emitted by the two crystal globes set into the walls. “What happened?” Dar asked. Allera, her expression tight, dropped a handful of diamonds, now brittle and useless, into her pouch. “The spell could not recover his soul,” she said. “The ritual detailed in the ancient books should have sundered the taint holding him to unlife, allowing my [i]resurrection[/i] spell to bring Talen’s soul back to us. But I could not... it was like thrusting my hands into acid, trying to... I could not...” “Shh,” Dar said, coming forward and taking her hands in his. They were trembling. “It’s all right, we all know you did what you could.” “The power that resisted us was... immense,” Patriarch Jaduran said. He and Nelan had added their own spell power to Allera’s spell, using an [i]atonement[/i] spell, coupled with a [i]dispel evil[/i], in an attempt to sunder the demon lord’s hold on the former knight. It had been like trying to slay an ancient dragon with a hunting knife. “How do we proceed from here?” Nelan asked. Talen shifted again in his chains; the clatter of metal drew their attention back around. “There is nothing that you can do,” the vampire said. “Orcus has my soul in his grasp, and you fools lack the power to loosen his hold. You have only one choice.” “We will find a way, Talen,” Allera said. “We just need time...” The vampire surged up, his bonds tightening as he stretched to the very edge of the magic circle. He held that position for several full seconds before he sagged back, overcome with weakness once more. Dar’s grip on the hilt of [i]Valor[/i] did not loosen for some time after that. “You fools,” he said, finally, his voice thick with weariness. “You don’t understand. You don’t [i]have[/i] time, none of you. [b]He[/b] is coming, and there won’t be anything any of you can do...” “I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Dar said. “We’ve kicked the butt of more than one demon; if Goat Head wants to come into my world, he can get in freaking line to have my steel shoved up his ass.” Talen sneered. “You understand... nothing.” “Talen,” Allera began, but the vampire cut her off. He turned his head to look at the final occupant of the chamber, who had stood there silent during the entire ritual, her body stiff like a statue. “Shay. I can’t exist like this... please... help me... put an end to this...” The scout did not move, did not so much as flinch. “He cannot get out of those?” Dar asked Jaduran quietly. The Patriarch shook his head. “Those manacles were fashioned by Artemus Tekal himself. Even if they were to fail, the circle holds him imprisoned within. And even if he could defeat both, the wards upon the door would obliterate a creature such as he, were he to attempt to force his way through.” “It seems like the church might have had dealings with this sort of thing before,” the fighter said. Jaduran nodded softly. “Even in the short time since I accepted my new position, I have learned much about the history of my own faith that I never would have suspected, even as a bishop.” Allera had gone over to Shay, who allowed herself to be led back toward the door. Talen watched her leave, an anguished look on his face. As the five living occupants of the room exited via the heavy door, his voice followed them out. “He is coming!” the vampire shouted. “He is coming!” The sound of his words continued to echo off the long corridors deep under the streets of Camar, even after the thick door clanged shut, and the heavy bolts slid hard into place, sealing Talen Karedes securely within his prison. [/QUOTE]
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