The Hidden Citadel

Jultar 18th - Arrogan 14th

Chanra Tal knows they are in danger. He gathers Taymar, Scordan Trandeer, Mevik, Taymar and Marvarris - another Marraq new to the group - they keep the sorcerer Scordan in the centre and draw their bows. A lone monk appears to them and walks forward, a Drenai by the name of Staravain. The monk is tattooed and confident that he has the group surrounded. He speaks plainly and with some distaste for the two elves before him - they sense his deep rooted hatred.

Mevik flicks out a hand in distraction then strikes with astonishing speed to fell the monk, Staravain is dead instantly. Soon after the others emerge, hundreds and hundreds of similarly dressed Drenai 'monks' - some with staffs, some with swords but most just relying on their skills with hand and feet. Mevik wastes no time - he casts haste on the entire party and longbows and darkbows are knocked and ready.

Chanra Tal, with his Marraq companion, lead the way. They rain down feathered death on the approaching Drenai monks. Taymar and Mevik find targets with similar ease as the relentless surge approaches. Scores of dead now litter the fields as the Drenai meet the four archers - at the last instance they draw weapons and continue the deadly defence. Mevik's staff of Azael passes through the body of the first monk as though he was a ghost, when it exits out the other side the monks evaporates in a cloud of mist. He swings the second attack through a longsword and through the next monk, dealing him a similar fate.

Viscount Taymar hacks with his deadly longsword and the monks collapse before his crushing strikes. One after another they fall as he takes full advantage of his hasted state. But there is a surprise in store for the plate-clad warrior. Mevik grabs the two Marraqs and casts dimension door taking all three out of the melee to a spot three hundred yards away. Taymar and Scordian face opponents on all sides. The sorcerer casts rope trick but cannot ascend into it for fear of exposing himself to an attack. He takes a minor wound to his chest before Taymar realises the danger and starts to deflect the blows. With hundreds massed round him Taymar roars defiance and meets the monks head on. As the Drenai get within two paces of the warrior they fall; heads hack off, skulls crushed, limbs severed. Not one Drenai gets close enough to even scratch the plate mail. Taymar moves as if unhindered by heavy plate mail - every time his blade moves it kills a monk.

Meanwhile the two Marraqs empty two full quivers of darkbow arrows into the horde, they are not even able to see Taymar in the middle of the battle. They can only hear the screams of the dead as the viscount hacks murderously in the middle. Mevik waits a minute and then casts a second dimension door, this time he arrives beside his two friends and manages to take them back to the Marraqs.

The monks turn to face the group, then the dead and dying that litter the field before them. Three score and sixteen of their number lie before them and their will to face a further barrage is broken. They move back into their hiding places as the group forage for arrows amongst the dead. Chanra Tal dominates a monk, holds him as a guide and eventually forces him to reveal the hidden citadel.

The citadel is underground and the entrance is marked by two huge columns that descend into the mountains. Two monks face them but they do not offer any resistance - in fact the only emotion they show is shame. Chanra Tal realises - from the mind of the man he dominates - that Staravain was their leader. As the enter the citadel they are greeted by almost six hundred Drenais, women and children, old men and young. On the walls are paintings and depictions of a former king; Rufus II, a tyrant who died out almost a century earlier.

Rufus II was a xenophobic racist who led his people through several bloody struggles and was responsible for the death of thousands of elves. Chanra Tal hides his anger even when he comes to the slave pits full of malnourished elves. Four hundred pitiful creatures barely recognisable as elven kind. Quickly he discovers a strong mind, an emaciated Kal called Zaelyan. This elf bares the Drenai no ill will - this adds to the shame of the humans who free their elven slaves.

Taymar decides to spend some time in the Hidden Citadel. He quickly rips down every effigy of the dead king Rufus II and takes control of the place. The Drenai are quick to help the elves and - over the next few weeks - they begin to recover strength and health.

Zaelyan and the elves (many Kals, Khulans and a few Elenorians) are grateful for the help of the Drenai. The grip that Staravain had over them is gone and harmony and peace are the main aims for both races.

When a dead body (human) is found in a dark corner of the Hidden Citadel Zaelyan fears trouble. Mevik stares at the body through his Time Scope, his vision clears and focuses on the exact moment of the Drenai's death. The Drenai was confronted by the unmistakable maimed face of Illyth - queen Illyanth's younger sister - whose face was red with rage. She intones a single dealy word and the Drenai collapses.

They speak to Zaelyan about this and he advises a search for the woman. "She can't be that hard to find."

"If you do find her," Taymar says, "tell her that we bare her no ill will. We wish to talk."

Two days later Zaelyan informs them that the woman has been found. "She fears you all. She does indeed want to talk but fears a backlash."

"I will meet her," Marvarris says, "after all I have never met her but know you all well enough to represent you."

The party agree and a meeting is arranged. Two hours later Zaelyan and Marvarris reach a quiet dark chamber in the Hidden Citadel. Sat perched on a cold stone chair is a woman in a dark robe, half her beautiful face is silhouetted in the dim light. She turns slowly and the full horror of her burnt face becomes clear.

"I am Illyth..."