The death of a goddess and the hunt for Belegar

Cy 715

Jul 4^th

Kiruk stands at the threshold of a ruined Naziri temple. The awesome black katana is loosely held in his right hand – Sirath, the Lord of Law, his father bound into the form of a blade. Behind him stand two good friends; Torren Whitearrow, killer, raconteur, warrior, and Rackhir the Red Archer, a bowman unrivalled across Grayhawk. All three sense the huge spirit within.

"She’s here," Torren says.

"So is Cedron," Kiruk informs them. "Rackhir, pin him down, I don’t want to be disturbed in there."

Rackhir climbs the shattered walls of the dead god aware that a dangerous man lurks in the shadows. Torren sneaks into the shadows, a place he feels more at home in than even a tavern bar, and Kiruk advances. The woman they refer to is dressed all in black, only the eyes are visible from the ninja garb she wears. Without the need for pretence the woman drops her dark veil…to reveal the pure beauty of a goddess. Ishtar, Maiden of the Blades, one of the last remaining Old Gods, stands before the stoic warrior. Most men would shy from such a presence, or flinch from the woman that taught all the Darkland masters how to fight. She hefts a katana of exquisite design – a blade to match Kiruk’s?

"I knew you would come," she says with oily confidence.

"Let’s get it over with woman," he replies with a tone deep with contempt.

Meanwhile Rackhir sees a movement from above, a slight shadow in the darkness. To his amazement – and terror – it is Cedron, the ageless sorcerer sneaks up on the two protagonists who stand before each other. I will get no better opportunity he says to himself. The Red Archer launches arrow after arrow at Kiruk’s brother. Cedron spins at the danger, his longsword slashing at the shafts as they buzz around his head. Cedron knocks each shaft aside with the fluid grace of a dancer…all but one. A satisfying thud propels Cedron back. The arrow embeds itself in the chest of the sorcerer, crimson blood plumes in the dusty air and spills the ground at Cedron’s feet.

Rackhir rejoices, unable to believe that the most dangerous mage on Grayhawk staggers back in pain. The archer presses his advantage with a further lethal volley. For a split second he believes that he will slay Cedron once and for all. But the son of Sirath is too quick. Even the timely intervention of Torren (aka Silk) is not enough to slay the sorcerer. Cedron slips away through a dimension door and is gone…

The sound of steel on steel rings out as Kiruk meets Ishtar head on. The Maiden of the Blades stands toe to toe with the Master of the Sword. Such is the blinding speed of their attacks that it is impossible to see where one attack ends and the next begins. Graceful and elegant Ishtar pushes Kiruk back, her slashing style economical and efficient. Kiruk struggles to turn aside her attacks. Even with Sirath in his hand the sheer talent of the woman forces him back. Small wounds, insignificant on their own, begin to become a problem. As she cuts him he gets slower, his reactions dulled he is forced back against the ruined walls of the temple. It crosses his mind that this woman will beat him…she is combat personified he ponders ironically.

But he knows that there is more to combat than style. I am Kiruk! He tells himself I have slain thousands! With nowhere left to turn Kiruk attacks. Desperate, dangerous and with frightening speed. Sirath bites the flesh of Ishtar’s cheek and her blood flows…her anxiety grows as Kiruk yells like a barbarian, his father giving him strength after tasting her soul.

The next cut is deeper, her thigh explodes and her leg buckles, blood pools around her as the tall warrior bears down for the kill. Even facing death Ishtar defends with skill. Kiruk severs her swordhand and the katana clatters to the ground, the hand still gripping the blade tightly. Sirath bites deep into her chest and exits between her shoulder blades. Tears fall onto the Lord of Law, but the steel absorbs them like it absorbs her soul…Ishtar’s last sound is a cry…a cry of the damned.

Grayhawk shudders at the death of Ishtar. Torren and Rackhir stare to the heavens as a dark storm envelops the entire world…they hear the dying screams of a religion and both men know that every single Ishtarian priest on the planet died when Kiruk struck the death blow.

Jul 5^th

Kiruk teleports Torren and Rackhir back to Kai Mountain in the frozen north of Grayhawk.

Nov 10^th

Torren Whitearrow completes the reading of a book he stole from Ishtar – an ancient tome that she wrote regarding the ways of assassination. It is the Tome of the Seven Valleys, and in reading and understanding it Torren becomes master of the Seven Valleys school of Ninjutsu.

Nov 19^th

Sarasathsa, the Eagle Lord, joins the party on the retreat of Kai Mountain. It has been sent by Simonides – a sorceress from Wintershiven who befriended Kiruk – to guard them and aid them in their quest.

Nov 24^th

The peace of Kai Mountain is disturbed when the party are attacked by Mormegon – a deity of Chaos (the Old Gods) – who was incensed by the destruction of Ishtar. Instead of waiting for Kiruk to track him down he teleported to the summit of Kai where the party were surprised.

A mad god Mormegon has no fear and leaps into the encampment to destroy the Godslayer. Kiruk unleashes Sirath and cleaves the Chaos Lord’s soul-draining sword (Kalinth) into two pieces. Mormegon stumbles back as the rest of the party scatter from the mad god…all that is except Kiruk. The warrior / mage’s face possess the dead eyes of a killer. Mormegon, one of the last of the Old Gods, tastes fear for the first time in his existence. He flees in terror…

Nov 29^th

Nadrak (ninja lord of Stonefist) visits Kai Mountain with his entire school of six score ninja. He pledges himself to the new master, Torren Whiteaarow, and bows to Kiruk. "I am at your disposal."

Cy 716

Jan 30^th

Kiruk, Rackhir, Torren Whitearrow, Satred (an Azurri bowman), Nadrak and the entire school of the Seven Valleys head west for Niole Dra, the capital of Keoland. During their journey through the Kron Hills an old enemy ambushes the party. Belegar, a Keolandish sorcerer, casts an Earthquake spell. The devastating effects of this cause twenty of the ninja warriors to be killed but the party are otherwise unhurt.

Feb 21^st

Kiruk and the party enter Niole Dra. The remaining one hundred ninja disperse amongst the population as the party attempt to find and slay Belegar.

Feb 22^nd

Belegar is seen in the Grand Market of Niole Dra. Torren Whitearrow sneaks off to follow the dangerous sorcerer. Belegar springs his trap by casting powerful paralysis spells on the ninja…he takes Torren deep into the bowels of the citadel he knows so well. His intention is to lure Kiruk and his companions to their deaths.

Feb 24^th

Belegar gives the party a message as to the whereabouts of Torren Whitearrow. "It is a trap," Nadrak tells Kiruk.

"Of course it is," the warrior / mage says, "but it is a trap I will gladly walk into to save my friend."

Nadrak nods his agreement. But Belegar is a manipulative opponent. Somehow his influence has spread to Rackhir, the Red Archer, and the friend of Kiruk suddenly lifts his deadly bow to aim at the son of Sirath. In a heartbeat Nadrak is upon the archer, a deadly wakasashi slices Rackhir’s throat and his life spills out before them.

"Torren is in the temple," Nadrak says to Kiruk. He gestures to the temple of Lady Valkrey, one of the Old Gods of Law, a strange place for Belegar to hold Torren.

Feb 25^th

Kiruk, Satred and Nadrak climb through a skylight of the Lady Valkrey temple and see Torren bound to the altar. A high priestess called Sirandar stands over him. She is pensive and alert to the possibility of intruders.

Satred shoots the priestess in the head and fells her like a tree in a forest; Nadrak leaps down to the altar in an attempt to free his master. But Kiruk senses a greater power within the temple.

Lady Valkrey, Goddess of Law, emerges upon the scene (as Belegar had suspected she would) and her outrage is evident upon her striking face. "How dare you defile my temple!" she screams. "I am a goddess!"

Her hand reaches out and she plucks the heart from Satred, the Azurri Bowman, discarding it nonchalantly. But Kiruk hefts Sirath Urikk and she stares at him with utter contempt. As she raises her hand the warrior / mage falls upon her. His blade carves deep wounds in her face. The goddess cries at her permanent disfigurement…she realises that the wounds that Sirath inflicts will never heal…not even the Great Mother can restore her to her former glory. Before the inevitable death blow Lady Valkrey flees her temple forever. She seeks the exile of the Outer Planes, seeks the refuge of places where her ugliness will be accepted…

Nadrak frees Torren and the party make their escape…but the body of Satred is taken by Belegar. The mage raises the Azurri Bowman. "I have plans for you my friend," he grins.

Mar 2^nd

Satred (under the influence of Belegar) is sent to the Tower of Darkness to attack Kiruk. As Satred attacks him Kiruk realises that his companion is under the influence of his enemy Belegar. Simonides pleads with her friend to spare the archer.

Kiruk draws the blade across the throat of his former friend as Simonides looks on in desperation. As the lifeblood of Satred spills out his eyes give the impression that the influence of Belegar is gone…as if there is a faint hope of survival.

Kiruk decapitates his friend and walks away. Simonides sheds tears for the archer and stares at the fading form of the warrior / mage…

Apr 16^th

Simonides teaches Kiruk the Link ability. They can share and augment their power by touching palms.

Apr 21^st

Kiruk, Torren, Nadrak, Simonides and Sarasathsa teleport to Tangran (capital city of Vakeyo, Darklands). Head for the town of Tashida.

Apr 24^th

Reach Tashida, disguise themselves as fishermen. Belegar’s influence can be felt and the party feel they are heading into a trap. Emperor Nyasin is involved and Kiruk and Simonides decide that if they are to get Belegar they must sneak into the palace (Dimension Room) and await the sorcerer.

Emperor Tashida and Belegar finally meet in the emperor’s bedroom to discuss the situation, particularly the method of slaying Kiruk and taking Sirath. The party emerge from the Dimension Room and attack the emperor and the sorcerer.

Emperor Tashida is a master of the katana. His first strike decapitates Nadrak and his second slays the eagle Sarasathsa. Just when the tide of battle seems lost Torren Whitearrow faces the emperor. His skill with hand and blade are unique. The emperor – for the first time in his life – faces an opponent who is worthy of him. A life of sword combat cannot compete with the silky skills of the killer. Torren dances around Tashida until – inevitably – the emperor makes the smallest mistake imaginable. A parry extended an inch too far…an attack a fraction mistimed. Torren slays the emperor with little remorse…

Belegar faces Simonides, a sorceress of incredible power, but a woman unaccustomed to the brutality of sorcerous combat. Never has she faced such a determined opponent. Belegar throws his power into her and her defences crumble…she succumbs to a deadly tirade of death magic. As she dies Kiruk sneers at Belegar.

"You will pay for that," he says.

Belegar is already moving. His power assaults the warrior / mage, deadly sorcery rains upon Kiruk but the power of his father – the blade Sirath – deflects the magic. Kiruk drives the keen edge through Belegar’s ribcage and laughs as the broken body of the sorcerer falls at his feet. Despite the carnage about him Kiruk exalts at the death of his most dangerous opponent. Torren Witearrow stares at the dead around him and shakes his head. "Time to leave old friend," he says glumly.

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