Table of Contents - Introduction - Ch. 1 - Ch. 2 - Ch. 3 - Ch. 4
Chapter III: Veiled Vitiation
In stark contrast to the youth's anxiety and desire to converse with the clergy, the group, following the archer scout, marched forward in utter silence. Two of the swordsmen from the village refused to sheath their weapons and all five would jump if someone stepped on a twig. After twenty minutes if excruciating silence, the Paladin spoke up.
How much ground has he covered?
The scout paused for a second, then said, Not too much farther; he has exhausted the magic in his Boots of Speed. I suspect he's still saving the last bit for when we inevitably catch up.
Dylan asked, Boots of Speed? I thought he was a Barbarian.
Icicles ran down Dylan's spine when, five minutes later, silence remained.
Dylan didn't have time to feel uneasy, for the tracks faded into a nearby grove. The scout fitted an arrow into his bow and the Paladin drew his longsword. Dylan instinctively drew out his Main Gauche and gazed at the blade of the dagger.
Is he in there?
asked one of the village swordsmen right before a great monstrosity leaped from the trees and shattered his sword with a beastly axe.
Don't kill me!
the poor whelp screamed before being lifted into the air by a mighty fist and carried an impressive twenty feet away. The barbaric creature spun on his heel and blocked the Paladin's blade.
Now; Jorge, Armaih.
said the Paladin as the two clerics began praying to their respective gods.
The barbarian let out a holler and sprung to the side and charged the clerics. The four swordsmen scattered and formed a loose semi-circle around the barbarian.
Dylan stood in the Half-Orc's path, and it was far too late for him to leap out of the way. Terrified, he held his dagger in front of him and focused his mind and all his strength on blocking his assault.
There was a spark when the two weapons met and a loud bang as the axe fell to pieces at the Half-Orc's feet. His triumphant charge was ground to a halt.
What the hell?
said Ukhin, exasperated at the sight of such a puny child blocking and destroying his trusty axe. HOW the hell?
That boy-- he's a psion!
exclaimed the younger cleric.
The Half-Orc took a terrified step back as the youth let his sword-arm lower. How did I just do that?
The Paladin smirked, Without your axe, you don't stand a chance, Ukhin.
The four cowardly swordsmen gathered around the Half-Orc, leaving Dylan outside the circle, horrified of his own power. Was that the knife or was that... something else?
A voice echoed across the plains. Eight on one? That's not very honorable of you, Paladin-- or should I say Blackguard?
An arrow whizzed towards a nearby tree right before a young man appeared behind the scout and released a ball of light which exploded on impact with the poor half-elf's neck.
Sorry I'm late, Ukhin.
the young sorcerer said.
The Paladin pointed his sword at the sorcerer, and said, A ventriloquism spell and invisibility? Pretty crafty.
The young man said with a grin, Not enough to fool you, though was it, Blackguard?
The Paladin laughed. A Blackguard? That's golden.
You deny it? I can see the aura of the illusion spell as we speak.
The Paladin's eyes narrowed. Fool.
As the Paladin charged forward, the sorcerer snapped his fingers and a ripple of energy protruded in all directions, tearing away images of beauty and sanctity from the knight and his two companions.
Where once stood a holy Paladin clad in glistening scalemail stood a bald, pale-skinned ogre of a man wearing black onyx armor and wielding a blood-stained longsword. The two clerics were now decaying, profane necromancers with missing patches of skin on their jaws.
Now you've done it,
roared the behemoth man in his true voice. Jorge, Armaih: No survivors.
In a bright flash of light, the four swordsmen were blown to bits by an affliction of negative energy. The sorcerer blocked the bolt with his ruby-red dagger, shielding him and Ukhin from harm.
Dylan closed his eyes and lept out of the way, opening his eyes just in time to see a necromancer standing over his destination with a mace ready. Dylan instinctively slashed the dagger and focused his mind in the process.
An emerald light covered the tip of the blade as it met the arm of the evil cleric and in an instant the cleric's arm was cut clean off and suffered a deep gash to his chest. The man roared in pain and fell to his knees.
Dylan looked up to see the Blackguard attacking at the sorcerer while the Half-Orc beat the other cleric with the hilt of his axe.
The Blackguard looked over and saw Dylan standing over the fallen necromancer and growled beastly.
So, you're still alive? Pitiful psion.
At last, Dylan found his voice. S-shut up, you profane bastard! How dare you fool us into thinking you were a Paladin!
Enough. None of you shall leave here alive. Finish him, Jorge!
The cleric grasped him by the leg and began muttering a foul prayer, but Dylan effortlessly severed his left hand. I think I'm getting the hang of this.
The sorcerer spoke up, And I presume you're going to stop us?
If I can't, THEY will.
the Blackguard said as the four swordsmen stood up, moaning as the undead power overtook their corpses.
What's happening?
asked Dylan, suddenly aware of something very wrong.
Boy! Get over here!
yelled the sorcerer.
Yes, come. Come and face death!
roared the Blackguard as he swung his longsword at the sorcerer.
He didn't have time to react, but he didn't need to. Ukhin had bludgeoned Armaih comatose and stepped in to block his sword with the handle of his broken axe.
Not while I'm standing, bitch!
bellowed the Half-Orc.
Boy, come now.
said the sorcerer. You can trust us.
Dylan scurried over to the sorcerer as the Blackguard engaged in a duel with the Half-Orc. I-I'm sorry I broke your friend's axe.
It's alright. Here's the plan: Take this amulet.
The sorcerer handed Dylan an amulet with a green emerald in the center.
Stay close behind. I'm going to catch him off guard. When I do, press your thumb into the middle of the amulet and we'll be carried off to safety. But you must stay close, you got that?
Dylan nodded. I'll try.
The sorcerer ducked as a piece of Ukhin's axehandle flew overhead. In an instant, they charged forward and joined Ukhin in the fray.
The Blackguard swung his longsword at Dylan as the sorcerer threw a ball of fire at the Blackguard's vulnerable armpit. He screamed in pain and flung his sword, stabbing it right through Ukhin's chest as Dylan caressed the amulet and pressed his thumb into the slight crevice. The massacre before him melted away and it was replaced by a familiar tavern.
Before he could get his bearings straight, a familiar voice yelled from behind him. Dylan! What's happened?
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