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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Wraithdrit" data-source="post: 923845" data-attributes="member: 10820">Chapter 23Darkholm TowerCity of ShadeHarvestide, 1372, A Few Hours Past Midnight Clariburnus frowned at the map layed before him on the table. His finger tapped the spot over Tethyamar, then traced a line between it and a spot to the south and east of Dagger Falls. His gaze shifted to where a small obsidian carving of the City of Shade sat atop the great desert on the map. He licked his dark lips and turned from the map to walk to a shelf lined with books. Dark fingers raked from spine to spine as his eyes scanned the titles. Finally finding the tome he sought he pulled it from the shelf and set it on a small table to one side. He flipped page after page, scanning the words of the ancient journal. He stopped on a particular page and read through the description of what even back in the days of the Netheril Empire was considered an ancient relic. His eyes closed as he remembered the fateful events of the past twelve hours.He had just finished debriefing his agent when the large group of imperial guard had arrived at the tower's doors. His presence was requested. The Lord of Shade knew that it would only take a single scribe telling him to get Clariburnus to appear before him. By sending a squad of his personal guards he was making a statement. He was not happy.Clariburnus did not waste any time arriving in the throne room and he kneeled as low as he could before the inky darkness at the throne. "I just got word from Wyyruth. The drow are proceeding as planned, they seem uncocerned about the Heroes of Tethyamar."Clariburnus frowned, "I hardly think they even know they exist, much less are headed their direction." "So they have entered the Underdark?""Aye, my lord. In a month this will be nothing but a memory.""Are they strong enough to handle the task ahead of them?" The dark lord stood and strode down the steps toward Clariburnus."Only time will tell.""Very well. Make sure you stay on top of this. Find out where they are...""I know their exact location my lord. They are beneath Eagle's Hold as we speak." Clariburnus swallowed and waited for the inevitable reaction."Eagle's Hold? The Netherese outpost?" The dark lord released Clariburnus' shoulder and walked away from him up the steps."Aye my lord. After the fall of the Empire the outpost was used by the dwarves of Tethyamar as part of their defenses."The dark lord paused and looked back at Clariburnus, "And now?""We have not had anyone inside, but the assumption is it shared the fate of Tethyamar.""Overrun by the horde. Interesting. You know they are there now?""Aye.""Good. You are dismissed.""But m'lord..." The blast that hit Clariburnus in the chest was enough to knock him back ten feet. He slid to a halt at the feet of another shade. It was the Lord of Shade's chamberlain. The shade looked down at Clariburnus and smiled darkly."I don't suggest you question him again." Clariburnus stood and spun on the Chamberlain. He grabbed the smaller man's robes and hefted him to him. "I do not suggest you tell a Prince of Shade what to do." He tossed the Chamberlain aside and strode out of the room.The Chamberlain smiled as he brushed himself off. "I think that boy's temper will be his undoing on day." He muttered softly to himself, "Shar willing." The dark lord had settled back into his throne. "I do not trust these 'Heroes'." The contempt in his voice was obvious. "And they have the gem?"The dark lord fumed, "And the Book.""How is the book related, unless..."The dark lord nodded, "Yes. It as well."The Chamberlain whistled softly, "That does present a challenge then."The Lord of Shade turned more fully toward his Chamberlain. "See to it.""Very well my lord. But what of Clariburnus' new 'friends'?" He knew the answer, but had to ask."I suppose we will find out what they are really made of." The dark lord smiled. The look was enough to make even his Chamberlain get a small lump in his throat.He swallowed it away and tried to smile, "Of course, my lord."Clariburnus opened his eyes and blinked away the memories. Another knock on his door and he stood and walked toward it, shaking the mental cobwebs from his thoughts. One of his guards stood on the otherside. He held a scroll out to Clariburnus. "This came for you, lord."The prince took the scroll and unrolled it, noting the symbol of Shar embedded in the wax seal that held the scroll shut. His presence was requested at one of the minor shrines in the eastern side of the city. Curious as to the nature of the summons he quickly made his way to the small shrine. The open sided building was empty, a few small sacrifices still sitting in the offering bowl on the altar. Clariburnus looked down at the altar top and saw incense was still smoldering in a small brazier. The smoke drifted up in a lazy flow that hung in the air. He breathed in the scent and smiled, it reminded him of the High Temple in the center of the city. He let his head lull back and let out a long sigh. It had been a long day already. His eyes opened and he looked curiously up at the vaulted ceiling of the shrine. The drifting smoke of the incense barely filled the very top portions of the vaulted area. He looked back down at the incense. It was barely burned.The shrine had been set up to look like someone had been here some time before and merely left the incense burning. Instead someone had lit it not moments before he got there. If that were the case they would still be here praying.Clariburnus spun quickly summoning his glaive forth as he spun. He sliced at the air in front of him, knocking an arrow out of the air in mid flight. Four men were converging on his position already, a fifth was holding back, knocking another arrow into his bow. The Prince was a blinding blur of motion. He thrust his glaive out at the first of the men as he charged up the steps. Dusky skinned humans, these men were residences of the City but not true shades themselves. Only a small portion of those living in the City where actually shades. The glaive was knocked aside by the man's shield, but Clariburnus had really only intended the blow to distract the opponent long enough for a simple incantation. As the words slipped from his lips Clariburnus let go of the glaive with one hand and held his palm toward the rushing men. Flames spewed forth in a fan shape rippling over the first two assailants. One dived to the side, his jacket on fire, the other dropped his weapons and screamed as his head caught flame. He fell backward down the steps, burning and smouldering the entire way. When he reached the bottom the magical flames had turned him into nothing more than a smouldering pile of burnt flesh.The other two kept coming. Clariburnus ducked the swipe of one's blade and brought the handle of his glaive in to block the blow of the other. He spun the glaive, twisting the blade from the man's hand. As the blade twisted up and twirled in the air the Prince let go of his glaive with one hand and snatched the sword out of the air. The one human left with his sword out was outmatched, but fought well. Clariburnus tucked his glaive behind him and used just the sword to battle man, it was much more efficient in this close of a space. The prince was a master swordsman and began to push the man down the steps. The assailant he had stolen the sword from shifted off to the side and pulled a small secondary sword from a sheath behind his back.Clariburnus stopped, the sword pointing at the one down the stairs, the glaive pointed at the one to his side. "I highly suggest you use this opportunity to flee." He twisted as a pair of arrows flew at him. Both missed cleanly, but the distraction was enough to bolster the confidence of the two close to him still. They rushed in. The prince spun and the sword dissappeared in a flash from his hand. Taking the glaive in both hands he sliced it across the suprised face of the one wielding the small sword. He fell dead, tumbling down the steps. The second swordsman rushed up the steps and slashed at Clariburnus' side as he did. The blade skipped off the prince's cloak as if it were made of stone. The startled swordsman stumbled back a step or two. The prince turned and shook his head, "I warned you." He held out a hand and spoke several soft words. Lightning shot from his hand and pierced first the swordsman and then the archer standing forty feet behind him. Both men jolted from the power then crumpled to the ground smouldering and twitching a little. Clariburnus resummoned the sword from his hand and tossed it to the side and put his glaive away into the magical glove. He walked over to the swordsman who was just finishing shedding the burning armored jacket. The attacker reached down for his sword when the prince's black boot slammed down on top of it. "Who sent you?"The man stammered, "M'lord, we had no choice..." Clariburnus nodded. "I know. Thats the way it works around here. You also know that if you don't tell me who your death will be not only slow but very painful."The man shook his head, "I can't m'lord. He has my family. Please... be merciful." Clariburnus growled, his shadowy self was warring for control. He tried not to shake the man too hard as he snatched him up. He couldn't contain it, the shadow burst forth to control his mind. He flung the man at the shrine. He landed hard against one of the supports. The support cracked as did the man's back. He fell with a yell, whimpering and trying to hold his back. Clariburnus lifted him back up and growled, "Who!?"The man sobbed, "I can't..."Clariburnus flung him at the altar. The man slammed into it and tumbled over the top, then crumpled and rolled down several of the steps on the other side. He was barely moaning when the prince of Shade reached down to pluck him up one more time. The Prince stepped into a shadow with the man, dissappearing from sight.He walked back out of the shadow in the entrance hall to the Chamberlain's palace. The Chamberlain stood talking to one of his underlings. He quirked an eyebrow as the Prince entered and flung the broken swordsman at the Chamberlain's feet. "One of yours?"The Chamberlain shook his head and shrugged, "I don't recognize him."Clariburnus thrust a finger at the Chamberlain, "I highly suggest you stay out of my business and away from me."The Chamberlain held up his hands, "I honestly don't know what you are talking." His smiled enough to let Clariburnus know he was lieing. The broken swordsman reached a bloody hand up to paw at the robe of the Chamberlain, "Please lord, spare my-" The Chamberlain's staff snapped against his head, flashing with dark energy. The swordsman's head crunched as easy as ripe fruit. Clariburnus smoldered with rage. He turned and stormed out. The Chamberlain smiled and turned to his underling. "Now send them... he's used his shadow walk for the day. They will be on their own." The underling nodded and scurried off to fulfill his master's request.</blockquote>

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