A Black Knight
Jultar 21st - 24th
Malethrax leads the party west across the vast plains of Myrid, a green a luscious land in the full bloom of summer. The party aim to reach the Myrid Highway, the main arterial route across Myrid, which will lead them to their goal – Van Myrid. It is not long before they see a huge herd bisecting their path heading north. Almost a thousand horses on the move.
As they close on the horses they notice the entire herd is shepherded by a lone horseman, who makes his way towards them. Malethrax spirit senses both him and the herd and can sense something unusual, though he cannot discern exactly why the man is so special. He is called Ashar of the Green Glade, half human half elven he bears the distinctive features of Elenoria.
The horselord is guarded with information but pleasant, he and Malethrax exchange what little information each is willing to divulge – Malethrax cannot gain much from ESP either as the elves have a natural resistance to such magic. Whilst conversing Malethrax feels the unmistakable brush of another mind on his; not the touch of a Marraq mind – this is more subtle, more powerful…it is from within the herd.
As night falls the party reach the Myrid Highway. The road is well maintained, heavy with traffic and has many roadside hostelries along the way. The party decide to take refuge in one such place, Malethrax buys a ground floor common room for the night whilst Hujal and Danat sample the food and ale of the bust taproom.
A large Bretonian man wearing a cloak that barely conceals his armour is present. His men-at-arms hurry about him like compliant ants attending to the small details such as stabling his horse and preparing his food. Hujal decides to feign drunkenness at the bar and eavesdrops as the Knight tells the barman he is looking for a young woman with black hair (Raven). He pays the man well for information and returns to his friends.
Danat tries to buy information from the barman; only when a gold coin is passed over does he become more responsive. Zavien Scourge decides to take up the offer of a game of dice; he is able to keep an eye on the Bretonian whilst he gambles. All of the party can clearly see the small – yet noticeable – symbol of Malakar pinned to the knight’s lapel. The barman reveals his name to Danat: Vostrar.
Zavien does not sleep this night. Instead he perches on the rooftop, which affords him a good view of the knight’s room. The only unusual event is that a host of butterflies exit the shutters a couple of hours after midnight – Zavien wonders why such daytime creatures are present…he avoids them and continues to watch.
The next day the party move off the road at lunchtime to cook a meal. When Vostrar and his six men-at-arms come into view the large knight approaches them. With exquisite manners Malethrax invites Vostrar to share their food and the knight reveals a little more of his task. Malethrax does not reveal his name to the knight, instead he uses a pseudonym (Vellius) and soon the knight is on the way once more.
The next evening the party looks for another hostelry. When they see Vostrar’s horse and the ant-like men-at-arms around it they enter and find the knight once again. But Vostrar’s mood is not as pleasant as at lunchtime. There is an edge to him; his dark eyes are dangerous like an oncoming storm. The conversation is no longer about Raven; instead the attention turns to the elementalist. Vostrar focuses himself on the Menelothian and utters the word Malethrax. He informs them that Raven is captured and is upstairs. "She has revealed much," he says.
There is a long pause.
Hujal reaches for Retaliator – his dark crossbow pistol – and violence erupts in the taproom. Only Danat Peres, martial artist, is able to initiate any form of rapid attack…but none are faster than Vostrar. The dark knight unleashes a broadsword in one fluid motion, before anyone can blink Malethrax is propelled back onto the floor the blade has severed his left leg, an horrific plume of arterial blood drenches the taproom.
The men-at-arms are also moving; their blades search out the remaining party with deadly efficiency. Hujal is mobbed by two blades, his defence is too slow and a longsword finds him in the eye and the Nadir falls dead beside the screaming Malethrax.
Zavien looks for a quick exit, a place in the shadows to remove himself. He calls on all of his training but the taproom is too crowded, there are no opportunities to slip away. As he looks the men-at-arms lash at him with their swords. Distracted he sees one blade a fraction too late…there is a stupefying pain in his side, as he looks down the man-at-arms wrenches free the longsword that he sheathed inside Zavien. The assassin falls next to Hujal and dies in seconds.
Malethrax regains his composure. He puts aside the mind-numbing pain of the wound and casts Invisibility – he then rapidly crawls back out of the quickly-emptying taproom. Despite his enemy being invisible Vostrar lungs after him, slashing wildly at the elementalist. Malethrax is spared initially; the knight’s blade does not bite his flesh a second time.
Elkin and Danat are back to back, the men-at-arms fight in concert and pin them into a desperate defence. When Elkin screams Danat Peres realises that his companion has fallen. He faces six highly-skilled swordsmen alone! But Danat is tenacious, strong and skilled. His initial reaction is to attack but the odds are stacked firmly against him. A number of small wounds (most notably one to the side of his head) begin to wear him down. Only a matter of time he thinks as the blades nibble away at him. He turns his attention to escape. From great reserves of courage he distracts the men-at-arms momentarily – a skill martial artists use to deceive an opponent. In the brief moment of hesitation Danat Peres flings himself out of the window and into the courtyard.
Malethrax meanwhile casts phantasmal force and creates a fake trail of blood. Vostrar follows it, still slashing at thin air. Malethrax crawls to the threshold of the doorway and can see freedom only feet away.
Danat is up quickly aware that the men-at-arms will be after him. He runs rapidly, though painfully, heading out onto the Myrid plain. As he runs he sees a great white stallion galloping towards him. A proud beast which flanks him as he runs. A skilled horseman and trainer Danat leaps onto the back of the stallion and is away.
Once in courtyard Malethrax can feel stone beneath him and casts an earth elemental – the stone envelops him and he descends to the safety of the solid earth. After a minute he casts a water elemental and this power holds the stump of his ruined leg, staunching the terrible flow of his lifeblood.
Vostrar is furious. He stands in the courtyard bellowing orders to his men-at-arms. "Bring the girl! We must find these men!"
Danat Peres reins in the stallion. The commotion of the hostelry has died down and he witnesses Vostrar’s outburst. He sees Raven carried out and placed unceremoniously onto one of the men-at-arm’s horses, bound, gagged and looking as though she has been tortured.
With their attention elsewhere Danat sneaks back into the taproom. Amongst the carnage of his fallen companions he takes Asgar, Hujal’s soul compass, Retaliator, the Ring of the Fettered and the Ring of the Enchanted wood. As he leaves he wraps up the severed leg of Malethrax in a discarded tunic and heads out to the stallion.
It is an hour before Malethrax emerges to greet Danat Peres – the martial artist is astonished that his companion still lives. In the secure bosom of the earth elemental they camp for the night. Danat observes Vostrar, the men-at-arms and the bound Raven as they move on towards Van Myrid.
Danat tends to his own wounds as best he can but it is only sleep that will heal him completely…