Selket Tublue's Story

Selket was excited today. She had woken up early just for this occasion. Today was the day she would be traveling to Thedan on her own to stay. She jumped from her comfortable bed and dressed quickly into her uniform and grabbed her hand carved bow and arrows. She said a loving goodbye to her mother and her friends and made her way to Thedan.

It wasn't a very long journey to Thedan as her village lay right in the wooded outskirts of the cit and she was soon at the gates. They were open for the day and sentries were posted on either side. They gave her a nod as she passed them. She loved the city and it was made apparent by the bright smile on her face as she took in the people bustling about the city. One lady in particular intrigued her. She was frantically heading toward what appeared to be a smithy. Thinking that this could be a chance to make a new friend in the city, she followed her.

She entered the hot smithy not far behind her. She was speaking to a rather handsome elf and what appeared to be a knight. The girl handed them some handkerchiefs and the knight went up to the counter. “Master Dwarf, how’s the armour coming along? Apparently we’ve got a damsel to save...” Duncan paused “How very cliché of me...” This intrgued her very much. She hadn't had an adventure in a very long time and would love to help this damsel. With any luck, she'll be beautiful. "Who are we saving?" she said briskly, as if she was a part of the group all along.

Thurgir cursed the crowd of people under his breath as he finished putting on the last leather strap on the armour. He looked it over a last time, it looked fine. He wiped it clean with a cloth from his apron before carrying it out of his forge with ease even though it was almost bigger then himself, he placed it on the wooden desk and spit on the ground and wiped his hands on the dirty cloth.

'' There ye' go good as new I say. But don' ye' go getting yerself' beaten up by Spirits again ye' sod'' He gave the young Knight a grim look with his one good eye and then turned his attention to Sophie, ignoring the new girl who just bursted into his shop more interested in the people then his craftings.

Sods... This ain't no Tea House, He shook his head before speaking to Sophie over the chatter of the small crowd forming in his Shop.

'' Sophie.. Be a good lass an' make sure Sophira is alright. If it wasn't for that lass I'd starve to death'' He chuckled but it was clear that there was no happiness in that laugh. Was his life really that dull that the bleedin' highlight of his day was getting food from a barmaid. By the Stones of his ancestors' home.

Thurgir Gloryhammer's Shop: Thalion

"Don't be so hard on him," Thalion whispered softly, patting the girls shoulder lightly after hearing her rant towards Thurgir. His eyes flicked to the stout dwarf before going to the doorway. He was eager to leave, to see if his friends had fared well or not.

"Thank you, Master Dwarf, for all of your services," The elf turned to the others of the gradually growing group, "We should head to the graveyard. If they have not done so already, the start to finding Adan is with destroying the relic that is there. With that done, Thedan's nights will be freed."

He left the shop, headed towards the cemetery and with the help of the group, found the entrance to the catacombs below. As they entered the darkness, the air felt dusty, breathing was like taking in a mouthful of sand paper. Thalion coughed lightly, put his arm over his mouth and continued on. The darkness subsided to eerie light that flickered on the walls. Voice's from further in spurred him.

"Qaida?" It was Rissien's voice that called the rogue's name. Thalion's heart jumped for his friends voice held distress. He rushed down the corridor without heed to any danger that might still linger. Upon entering the room, he noted all of the destruction quickly before his eyes looked down upon Rissien holding a still Qaida. He ran forward and dropped next to them, his hands reaching for her.

"What happened?"

"The relic. I don't know if she'll be alright. Maybe she's just unconscious for now, but after she touched the relic a huge ghost appeared. We both would have been dead if it weren't for Xin."

Thalion turned to Xin, his eyes filled with gratitude. He only gave the man a curt nod, "Are you both alright?"

"Fine. Xin's quite the fighter, got to say, I'm glad he's on our side," Rissien said with a grin towards Xin Hai.

"We need to get her to the inn, then we go after Adan."

Rissien's face turned serious, his gray eyes glinting like cold stones. He nodded once towards the elf and then let him take the rogue into his arms. Lifting Qaida easily, he turned to the group that had followed him in.

"Friend's of yours Thalion?" Rissien asked, raising an eyebrow.

"From the blacksmith, funny how Thedan gets all the more interesting the longer we are here," he said softly, though his voice held no mirth in it. His worry was towards the woman he held. Leaving the catacombs, they made their way back to the inn where the rogue was put safely into her room. Soon after, they were on their way towards the abandoned portion of the city. Thalion knew that Adan had made his nest somewhere in the broken houses and warehouses, where, however was a different story. Therefore, the group's journey through the ghost town was long. Until Rissien stopped the elf about two hours into their search.

"Thalion, look," Rissien pointed towards a large building. Specifically, a slightly glowing symbol carved into the stone.

"It's his."

"Yes it is," Rissien turned to the group, "Lets go. Once you're inside, fan out and search for any women. If you find Adan, kill him."

Duncan smiled in glee when the Dwarf handed over his armour. Her ran his fingers of the smoothness of the plates and felt the toughness of the new leather straps.

“Ha! Thank you master Dwarf! Onwards guys, I got myself some ghost to repa-”

"Who are we saving?"

Duncan looked confused at the new woman. He began assembling his armour and placing it upon his body as Sophie and the new woman spoke. He put on all his armour, except his helm which he left off for communication purposes. Duncan chuckled at the newcomer.

“Another one? We should start a club. We could have matching uniforms and secret handshakes...” Duncan said as he was sliding on the last of his boots “We could call it, The saving damsels and killing evil warlocks, wizards and mages club.”

Together all four of them quite briskly headed for the cemetery. It took some fumbling around eventually they found an entrance. To their horror they heard a frantic voice further down the into the catacombs, and from Thalions reactions he guessed it was his friends. He hurried ahead but Duncan and the others decided to approach with more awareness and with a careful demeanour.

Eventually the three found Thalion and three others, Duncan recognized the girl from the Blacksmith.

“From the blacksmith, funny how Thedan gets all the more interesting the longer we are here,"

“Thats it, we should call our club the Dwarfs Blacksmith Club.”

Duncan looked down at the girl worryingly, there didn’t seem to be any threats but Duncan placed himself between the injured girl and the rest of the catacombs just encase.
Thalion and the human picked up the young girl and began to walk with her, they agreed to take her back to the inn.

“Sophie, perhaps do your thing whilst those two carry the poor girl? That “Quida” looks like she could use a healer.”

As they were walking back Duncan found himself walking next to Xin.

“So...A monk a guess? Funny to see another man of the faith in these parts. What brings you down here?”

After they had dropped of the girl they began to search the town for this Adan’s base of operations. Duncan couldn’t really help, he was a warrior, not a detective. He tried to give suggestions, using his knowledge of mages, but eventually just gave up and turned to Sophie.

“That girl we found doing okay when we left? It looked like she had been hit by some kind of magical based attack...those can be difficult to heal I know.” Duncan said scratching at a faint scar across his left eye “Bah! I’m sure you know exactly what you’re doing, she ain’t goin’ anywhere with you as her healer!” Duncan grinned happily at Sophie, trying to take her mind off her sister.

"Lets go. Once you're inside, fan out and search for any women. If you find Adan, kill him."

“Women? So your sister is not the only victim of this man? This Adan truly needs a sword run through him.”

The group approached the building and Duncan finally placed his helm upon his head. It was different to most helms, the metal clung tightly to his skin, whilst he eye holes were much larger than most other plate helmets. This is because it gives the member of the order of Redhearts easy 180 degree’s of vision.

Before entering Duncan stopped and stooped his head

"Blessed be his disciples, we who stand before him, blessed be our swords, they who defend him. He is in the weak, he is in the innocent, he is in the wronged and the right. We are his vanguard, his chosen few. And we will protect him, whatever the cost. Amen”

Duncan raised his head

“So...I got round of drinks for whoever kills this sod, and another round for breaking whatever is responsible for the ghosts. Shall we enter?”

“My sister, Sophira, has been taken by a powerful sorcerer who has been plaguing the city for quite some time. If you are willing to come help us rescue her, I would be most grateful.” the young healer spoke.

"This sounds rather exciting" Selket said with a smile. She observed the knight fix his newly repaired armor about himself and they all set out the door. The graveyard was a bit of a walk from the blacksmith's shop and once there, they quickly entered the catacombs beneath it. The elf rushed into the dust and it would seem that something rather important was done here that he was searching for. As they went further in, voices could be heard from the gloom. There seemed to be someone injured and as they came upon the scene, the elf rushed to a young woman's aid. She was laying unconscious in another man's arms. She expected the healer to tend to the young woman's injuries. The elf and the warrior spoke in rushed voices. As Selket looked around, she saw a man wrapped in cloth standing to the side. He seemed rather strange but to each his own she supposed. The elf took the woman from the warrior and they were soon out back on the streets.

They dropped the woman off at an inn and were on the back streets, searching for the wizard who took women. It took a while, but they eventually arrived at an assuming abandoned house. Upon closer inspection, a glowing rune could be found and the warrior, Rissien, confirmed that this was the place they were looking for. "Lets go. Once you're inside, fan out and search for any women. If you find Adan, kill him." he spoke brusquely. Selket heard the knight speak of his disgust for the wizard and she nodded in agreement with him.

The knight spoke again after bowing his head “So...I got round of drinks for whoever kills this sod, and another round for breaking whatever is responsible for the ghosts. Shall we enter?” Selket gave a slight chuckle. This man would soon find that nobody could out drink her except for perhaps the stout dwarf who had arrived with them.

She walked in behind Rissien and the elf, Thalion, and drew her bow. It would be best to be prepared at this point.

Red Dragon Inn: Qaida

Her eyes opened slowly, the world they saw was blurry. It took a while for the rogue to adjust her focus. When she could see properly she sat up in her bed, only to have her room spin. Closing her eyes, she reached up and pressed her hand into her forehead. It took her several minutes more to actually get up out of the bed. Once she was up, she slowly got her belt back on and checked both her new daggers. Both were intact, so she sheathed them and made her way to the door.

Once she was down in the bar, she caught the attention of the innkeeper, "Olrin, where did Thalion and Rissien go?"

"I don't know, lass. Last I saw they was leavin' with a large group o' people. Something's going to happen, I can feel it," Olrin said, then began muttering under his breath and left the rogue to her thoughts. She left the Red Dragon and made her way down the street.

As she was walking, her senses pricked up, the hair on the back of her neck stood. Her eyes narrowed and she slowed in her advance to take a good look around her. Up ahead of her, she caught the form of Thyra moving swiftly into an opened shop. Acele felt anger well inside and she quickly moved to the shop. The smells of freshly baked goods filled the air as she got closer. The moment she was inside the doorway, she drew her daggers, ignoring the elven woman that eyed her from across the counter at the back of the shop.

"Did you see anyone enter?" Acele asked coldly, her eyes flicking to the woman before she slowly moved into the room.

The moment she got to the counter to speak further with the girl, she felt the presence of someone behind her. Acele ducked just in time. She felt the air brush past her hair, and heard the sound of steel hitting glass. She pivoted while she was crouched down, swinging her leg out to catch Thyra off guard, and also letting her blade's lead the attack. Both daggers barely missed the rogue, but her foot did connect with Thyra, bringing her down.

Acele rolled to get the upper hand, but as she came into place, the other rogue had already moved. She got up, followed Thyra across the room, her blades slashing and stabbing. Steel scrapped across steel as the two women fought furiously. Thyra's lips were curled in a smile.

"Faine want's you back," she taunted.

"He want's my head."

He'll do anything to get it."

"He can try," Acele cursed back.

Thyra lifted an eyebrow, "Is that so?" Then the rogue disappeared, "Would this be enough to convince you?"

Acele's heart stopped as she whirled around to where Thyra's voice had come from. The elven woman was held against the rogues body, her blade against her throat. Acele glared at the woman.

"Taking hostages, threatening me with that is what he's stooped down to now is it?"

Thyra sneered at her, "You want her to live, you'll come with me."

"Oh, she'll live," Acele muttered under her breath, her eyes had spotted a small area where Thyra was exposed. Almost the entirety of her left shoulder was opened. If she aimed right, she would miss the elven woman and take Thyra down in one shot. Acele knew she was fast enough, but she was doubtful of her aim, especially just waking up from being knocked out. She had already felt the effects of her weakness. Fighting Thrya, her reflexes were still slow. However, if she did nothing, the girls life was surely over.

"You can have me," Acele called, distracting the rogue just long enough, "When I'm dead," her hand shot forward, her dagger sailed through the air and sunk deep into Thyra's shoulder. The rogue gave a scream of pain and surprise, let go of the elven woman and stumbled backwards.

"You wretch!" Thyra yelled, then she disappeared, the dagger falling harmlessly to the ground. Acele moved towards the counter, her eyes on the elf.

"Are you alright?"

Abandoned Area: Thalion

They all moved into the two story home. The wood creaking slightly underfoot. Cobwebs and dust layered the furniture and stairs. The whole place seemed like a eerie ghost house. Thalion moved slowly, his broadsword held before him. The elf looked to the others behind him and motioned for Thurgir and Sophie to move down the hall in front of them and for Duncan to look into the rooms that were right in front of them. He moved to the stairs with Rissien and Selket following him. Once upstairs, they began opening doors, Selket on one side, Rissien on the other while Thalion slowly continued forward to the end of the hall.

"Thalion!" Rissien called softly. The elf whirled around to see what it was. Looking inside the room, the three of them gaped at what they saw. An altar stood in the center, a large cauldron off to the side, books strewn across a table behind the altar and blood staining the walls and floor.

"What the..."

"I'm not liking this," Rissien whispered to his friend. Thalion nodded in agreement. Putting his hand on the young warriors shoulder, he gently led him from the room.

"We have to keep searching," Thalion reminded him.

They moved on, further down the hall, until finally they reached the last door. Thalion opened it slowly, his heart in his throat. As soon as the door was opened, the air in the room thickened, making it hard to breathe. The elf knew that feeling and jumped backwards. Whirling around, he grabbed the small woman, shoved Rissien aside and slammed up against the wall with Selket pressed against him. Magic flooded the room, expanding out into the hall. The heat of it burned his leather, the pressure from the blast held him tight against Selket and the wall. Once it faded, he looked down at her.

"Are you alright?"

"Thalion! You bastard! I'll have your head on a silver platter!" Adan's voice echoed from the room.

Turning he glared at the doorway before moving into the room. Adan stood there eyeing him cautiously. Rissien soon entered the room, his sword drawn and ready, Selket right behind him with her bowstring taunt.

"You can try," Thalion growled back.

Adan raised his hands, the air shimmered around them. Pressure built again, but Thalion charged this time. An arrow flew right passed his shoulder, straight and true. However, Adan had his power all around him and before the shaft could pierce him, the arrow shattered. The floor of the room shook and a moment later, the three of them fell through to the first floor. Thalion knew the commotion would have alerted the others. All he had to do was keep Adan there so they could kill him.

Coughing from the fall, he rolled to his side and stretched his hand to reach his fallen sword. The blade trembled, then shifted. The elf's gaze narrowed at the weapon. He realized that Adan was trying to call the broadsword away from him. Thalion rolled to his stomach, his hand just barely brushing the hilt before the blade was wrenched away from him.

"What a fine blade, Thalion. Now you get to die on it," Adan growled.

Thalion turned onto his back, just barely missing his own blade slamming down into the floor and debris. Weaponless, the elf had to fight his own blade and try to kill Adan.

Sinead Nermia's Bakery: Acele

Acele declined the offer for bread, shaking her head as she sat there. As she waited for Sinead to finish her story, the rogue already knew what it was that had happened. Faine had threatened the girl, told Sinead to find her and bring her to him. She shook her head in disgust.

"Well then, Sinead. I'm Acele."

Abandoned Area: Thalion

The fight brought the attention of the rest of the group. Rissien attacked the crazed mage full on while Thalion continued to dodge his own weapon that was being possessed. Adan wasn't using a lot of magic, therefore the elf figured that he was drained from something. What that was, he wasn't sure, nor did he care. Thalion was thankful that the mage wasn't at full strength, he didn't wish to see what could possibly happen to the others if things were different.

"Give up, Adan!" Rissien shouted as he lunged once again at the mage, sword swinging in a downward arc. His blade grazed the mages arm, drawing blood. Adan hissed at him in rage.

"Fools, I'll kill you all."

"I doubt that."

A moment after and the sound of an arrow loosing filled the air. Thalion could feel that something had changed in the room, the atmosphere was different as the shaft was loosed from the bowstring. Adan looked towards the sailing shaft that glowed. He immediately swung his hand up over himself in a high arc, his lips formed words quickly that Thalion didn't hear. The arrow went through thin air as the mage disappeared. The moment the mage was gone, the elf's broadsword dropped to the floor, lifeless as before.

"Well, that's just great. Usual," Rissien complained as he stood there with his sword point down, leaned forward. He slowly stood straight and sheathed the weapon on his hip.

"We'll get him, Rissien."

The young warrior just shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave the room. Thalion knew his friend was upset. He wished he could do something to ease the frustration of losing Adan once again. The only thing he could do was make sure that they caught the damn mage next time. After retrieving his sword, he sheathed it on his back and left the destroyed room as well.

"Did any of you find any women?"

Duncan was still reading through some of the discarded books he had found in a room downstairs. Sophie and Thurgir had moved on, but he was interested to see what this mage was studying, Duncan was familiar with most schools of magic, one of the many perks of having access to the Redheart library. Despite his scholarly knowledge Duncan could not really understand the scribbling in the books, it was some form of necromancy and demonology but nothing he had seen before.

As he peered through the pages there was a sudden bang from upstairs, bits of old plaster fell from the ceiling and the whole room shook.

“Someones started the party early”

He turned for the exit and headed down the hall way with a brisk pace when something else caught his attention. A soft moan, followed by the distinctive sound of shuffling, it was a ghost. Duncan span round the hallway but couldn’t see a thing, he closed his eyes and listened carefully. It was coming from a room to his left, it only sounded like one ghost and he had proven the previous night that they were relatively harmless alone. Feeling safe in that knowledge he carefully opened the door to the room. It was a sight of both awe and repulsion, there seemed to be some kind of alter, candles all around it. To its side was a bed, in it a young girl he guessed to be this Sophira. But there was a serious problem. The ghost seemed to be kneeling before the alter, it was in full plate armour. Duncan recognized it immediately, the ghost was a Knight of the Order Of Grey Wings. A similar order, but more fundamental in their beliefs. They had, at times, feuded with the Redhearts. The ghostly knight turned to face Duncan.

“Ah no...” Duncan muttered as he quickly unsheathed his sword.

It would seem the mage had left the girl with her own bodyguard. He lashed out at Duncan who quickly raised his shield to block the blow. But this knight possessed a large broadsword, the force of the blow sent Duncan reeling backwards. He could hear the ghostly apparition muttering to itself.

“Blessed be his warrior prophets, his warriors saint, the sword, the hammer and the sickle...”

Duncan immediately recognized it as the battle-prayer of the Grey wings.

“Brother! Why do you chant?! You are dead!”

Duncan dodged another blow, it instead connected with the closed door, and splintered it into a thousand pieces.

“Brother you are enslaved, think about where you are!”

The ghost ignored him and struck again ,Duncan side stepped the second blow and the sword sank into the floor.

“Fine!”

Duncan shouted, he swiped his own sword at the ghosts helmet, there was an obvious dent and it would have easily shattered the skull of a live person...but he wasn’t alive now was he? The ghost struck back with a manoeuvre of dexterity Duncan would not have thought possible, this warrior was chosen well. He feigned an attack from above which Duncan went to block with his shield, but keeping all the momentum and power, he brought the broadsword beneath his shield and struck Duncan’s exposed side. Duncan cried out in pain and disgust as he heard the very distinctive crack of a rib. Immediately he tasted the copper blood as it gushed from his mouth.

“Shitting hell!” Duncan yelled once more.

The ghost raised his sword to bring down on his head, but Duncan lashed out with his shield this time, bringing its edge down on the side of the ghosts knee. It in turn yelled out an ethereal scream, that almost made Duncan want to hold his hands to his ears. Duncan’s attack had left the ghost limping backwards, he quickly raised himself to his feet and battled through the pain. His tactic before had been to cut the ghosts head of, but with all that plate that was going to be a problem with this ghost. Lost in thought again, Duncan almost didn’t notice the ghosts counter-attack, another brutish strike with the broadsword, this time Duncan parried the blow and struck the former knight in the head with another crushing blow from his shield. The ghost fell back into the alter and the candles fell around the room.

“oh give me a brake...”

Duncan tried to stamp out the growing flames but this could turn into a fire, quickly. As he was preoccupied with this the ghost hobbled back onto its feet.

“Oh for the love of sin, just die!”

And suddenly without warning, the ghost disappeared. Unknown to Duncan, so had the mage.

“ummm....thanks....I guess”

Duncan stayed on guard, waiting for any more tricks, but there was now another issue. The alter candles had started a small blaze. Thinking quickly Duncan shoved any of the books laying around into his satchel, before running to the nearby bed and picking up the young woman in his arms. Before long Duncan was back in the hall way, coughing violently. Running was beginning to seriously hurt with his rib, but he powered through the pain. He made for the exit shouting, hopefully to alert the others of his party.

“Fire! *cough* Fire! *cough, cough* There’s a bloody fire!”

Selket followed closely behind Thalion and Rissien. Her bowstring still taught. They ket going unitl they reached the last door. Thalion had opened the door cautiously as if expecting something horrible to happen and it did. When it was opened, the air thickened making it incredibly difficult to draw a breath. She sensed something was off and before she realized it, she was pressed against the elf and the wall. Magic flowed from theroom and into the hall. She could smell burning and feel an intense pressure from the magic that was released. "Are you alright?" Thalion asked her kindly.

"I am fine, thanks to you." Sleket said slyly.

A voice echoed down the hallway calling for Thalion's head. "I take it that he is who we are searching for." Selket said seriously looking at the mage standing at the doorway. Rissien and Thalion and took cautious steps towards Adan and Selket followed cloe behind her bow ever taught. The mage raised his hands and a shimmer went through the air. The pressure built once again. Selket took the opportunity, and shot an arrow at the mage. It should have hit straight through his heart, but the magic stopped it and it shattered. She cursed and strung an arrow again. The floor shook and the three of them fell through to the first floor.

Selket coughed from the dust of the fall and clutched her side. It was obvious that she had bruised a rib, but she could feel no other injuries and she counted herself lucky. She looked to see Thalion's blade fighting with he elf himslf and she knew this was a twisted form of magic.

The mage was angered and drained, hs power being split between he battle and something else. Rissin sparred with the mage, and Selket took the opportunity as the mage was being distracted. She shot a kill sot at the rampaging mage. It rang through the air with all the power she could muster and it was clear from the path it took that it was meant to kill. The mage noticed and brought his hands up and muttered words that none could hear. Jsut as the arrow reached him, he disappeared.

"Th-That's impossible." she stuttered. "I-I have never shot and not hit my target." She was clearly stunned by her near miss and looked widely at Tahlion as if he could confirm that she had, in fact, missed. She had not even heard the elf ask if the rest of the group had found anything. She was shaken out of her stupor when she heard a frantic voice calling "FIRE!"

She could smell the smoke rising and quickly pulled the cloth that had been given to her by the healer from her pocket. he wrapped it about her face and breathed the mint in. Hopefully, this would counter any smoke. "Let's move people." She said quickly and made for the door.
.

Abandoned Area: Thalion

The smoke was building, making it hard to breathe. He hadn't heard the first call for 'fire', but when Selket shouted it back at the remaining group, he quickly grabbed Rissien's arm and shoved him towards the door. Once they were outside, the smoke was already large enough to be seen across the city. The elf looked at his group, Duncan was holding a young woman.

"Come on, we must leave this area. The city guards will be here shortly," he said to them and then started down the alleyway towards the populated city. He was intent on getting back to the Red Dragon Inn, there he could check on Acele and regroup on their current situation.

Elaine's Estate: Elaine

Elaine lit a candle on the small desk in her room. The home that she lived in was near the castle of Thedan. It was considered a nobles home, her former teacher had owned the building and she inherited it after him. Elaine sat down gently, a mirror reflecting her beautiful pale face, yellow eyes and hair.

Her slender fingers gently riffled through the papers that were stacked neatly on her desk. Elaine’s servant was very good on keeping everything neat in her room, as well as the rest of the two story house. Elaine tossed many of the papers into the jar next to her. Most of what she received was courtships from the many men in Thedan, the other handful of trash were invitations for her to idly spend her time with the other nobles.

Elaine rolled her eyes as she read through a few of them. You are all full of fancy, empty, words. Nothing more… none of you know anything. She thought sourly. Her yellow eyes lifted to look into the mirror before her. The dark room behind her enhanced the candle light on her face. Her large bed sat in the center of the room; two wardrobes where her dresses were and her nightstand were all that she had.

Elaine brushed her fingers through the lock of hair just over her shoulder, her eyes turning slowly back to the much smaller stack of papers in her hand. She flicked through the rest until her eyes spotted something intriguing. Putting the other notes on the desk, Elaine moved the candle so she could better see what the parchment said.

South side, tomorrow night midnight, we may have a lead.

Elaine’s eyes re-read the short note a few times, her heart skipping a beat with each read. Slowly she set the paper down on the desk. Her reflection looked up, a smirk on her lips. Yellow eyes narrowed, gleaming in the candle light.

Acele

"He'll want your head now just as he wants mine, especially since you've decided not to turn me over to him," Acele started, she eyed the girl that stood before her. Though she was sure she could handle Sinead in a fight, she wasn't sure what kind of fighter Sinead was. If she had magic, than Acele wouldn't stand a chance. Going into any knife fight, the rogue was sure to win, but when it came to magic... well, Acele wasn't schooled in even the very basics of magic.

"You should come with me to the Red Dragon Inn. My companions are there, you should meet them as well. And, you should know that Thyra isn't human. She's dead, I killed her myself a while ago. I don't know how she is still wandering around, probably some foul magic, but we will destroy her and Faine. In the mean time, you should stay with us, being alone could prove fatal around him."

Acele gave one last look around the shop, eyed the now armed elven woman, and then stood, "Follow me, and quickly."

They started out into the crowded streets of Thedan, making their way to the Red Dragon. It took a little while to get there as the noon day rush was just starting. Once inside the darkness of the inn, Acele heard a voice calling to her.

"Acele! Where did you go?" Thalion's voice was filled with worry and a bit of anger.

"I didn't know where you went. So I left to find you. I ended up fighting with Thyra and saving this girls life," she replied a bit colder than she meant.

His deep blue eyes hardened at her, "You fought with Thyra? Acele, you just woke up from your last injury. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine."

His eye's narrowed and his jaw clenched into a fine, hard line, "You can't lie to me, Acele. Sit, eat and drink, you'll feel better."

The rogue rolled her eyes at him, but sat down and allowed him to get her something to eat and drink. She looked around the table that she sat at. Rissien was leaned back in his chair, a cup of ale in his hand. The one called Xin sat next to him quietly. She remembered him, then there was the warrior that Thalion had asked to help in Thurgir's shop. She didn't know his name. There was one more person that she didn't recognize. The woman leaned against the wall next to them, holding a bow in her hands. Their group had grown quite a bit larger. Acele wasn't sure if that was a good thing, or a bad thing.

"Where did you go?"

"Went to kill Adan," Rissien answered, his grey eyes lowered, looking into his cup only. Acele knew that something bothered him, and it was probably about the crazed mage.

"He got away didn't he."

Rissien didn't answer, only raised an eyebrow, gave a short huff and took a drink of his ale. Acele took that as his way of saying yes. He wasn't normally like that, but when it came to killing a very dangerous criminal who enjoyed stealing women, Rissien was as honorable as they came.

"Yes, but we saved the girl. Sophira and Thurgir are upstairs with her now," Thalion answered softly.

"Is she alright?"

"Fine, he only had her under a sleeping spell. She's not hurt."

"Does this mean that Thurgir will fight with us?"

"It might. Would be nice to have a sturdy dwarf on our side."

"What's our next move?"

"Find Adan, kill him. Kill Faine if he shows up."

"Simple enough," Acele shrugged as she took a bit of her meat. Though it sounded simple, she knew it was far from it.

Faine

"You failed to take her," Faine growled in the alleyway. They were far enough away from the crowded streets to be noticed by anyone. Thyra had reappeared in the middle of the small group and had told what had happened in the bakery.

"It won't happen again."

"No, it won't! Because I'll be the one taking her head this time. You're too damned stupid to do it yourself, Thyra!"

"Faine, how are going to do that? She's always with that elf and warrior," one of the men asked.

"We will just have to surprise them. We all go in, kill them all and take her head. Her blood is what I need for this deal to be settled, I don't care who else gets in the way. He isn't going to wait for very much longer. If we don't kill her, than he's going to use her for his own purpose, and we won't get paid. I like getting paid."

"What does he want with her blood?" Thyra asked.

"I don't know, and I don't care. Some kind of ritual that he want's performed. The mage he's working with needs the blood. That's what he told me. That's what I'll get. In return we get lots of gold, now shut up wench, or tell me something that's worth knowing."

"They are at the Red Dragon Inn, Faine," Thyra answered coldly. She had moved to stand against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest. He knew she hadn't taken kindly to his berating her, but he didn't care in the least.

"Burn it."

Acele

Acele looked sharply to Sinead as she just barely whispered the words to the rogue. It didn't take her long before she was out of the chair and both her daggers were drawn, blades flat against her forearms. She faced the double doors of the inn just as they burst opened. Thyra's form faded into existence, in her hands she held burning torches. Her face twisted into a wicked smile as she gazed at Acele, then she promptly threw the torches out into the inn. Fire exploded across tables as it burnt through the wood and caught in the alcohol.

"Acele!" Faine's deep voice vibrated out over the screams of the terrified patrons. The rogue turned her attention to his wavering form through the heat and smoke. He beckoned to her with his knife, then slid the blade across his throat in a gesture that meant he would kill her. Acele crouched down preparing to fight. Faine made the first move and launched himself at her through the fire. Acele ducked under his attack, letting him slide behind her. The rogue pivoted, twisting so quickly that the thief barely had time to get his knife in the way of her daggers.

She came forward, pushing off her back foot from the crouched position she was in. In a single swift move she unhooked one of her blades, swiped it across his face and landed a hard kick into his stomach. He stumbled backwards, wiping blood from his cheek. He growled at her and swung again. Acele was tired from the fight she'd just gone through with Thyra not but a few hours ago. The heat was getting to an unbearable point and she wasn't sure where her companions were.

"Your head is mine, wench."

"Not tonight."

"I wouldn't be so confident," Thyra's voice called from behind her. Acele whirled around to face the other rogue, barely raising her daggers in time.

Rissien

"You have got to be kidding me," he growled as the supernatural rogue tossed the flames into the inn. He quickly stood and grabbed the little elf that was next to him and rushed for the door. Tossing her out, what was her name? Sinead? He turned back to the door and helped hurry out the frightened patrons. It wasn't until he'd lost sight of Acele and Thalion that he remembered the sisters upstairs and Thurgir. He turned back to Sinead.

"Stay here, what ever you do don't go inside! No matter what! Promise me!" he yelled, though he didn't stay to hear if she promised or not. Instead he rushed back inside, through the flames and headed upstairs to warn the other three. All the while, down in the room he rushed past, Faine and his guild were unleashing all hell. Steel rang across steel, and Rissien was sure that Thalion was somewhere in the middle of it.

"Get the girls first, rally the dwarf, then rain death on them," he told himself and hurried on.

Selket stood leaning against a pillar throughout her companions strategy talk. She was still miffed about not killing Adan and it showed clearly on her face. As she was listening, she peered around the room. There were all sorts of people here, families, drunks, travelers and Selket was a little fascinated by the variety of people she saw. In her village it was just one type and all of them archers. From her viewpoint, she was the only Archon in this town.

Her attention was drawn to woman who had just entered and immediately began to set the inn ablaze. Selket jumped into action, pulling the cloth she received from the healer earlier from her pocket and covering her mouth and nose with it. Anything that blocked the smoke now churning through the building was helpful. Acele and the woman immediately began dueling and Rissien and Sinead had gone to warn their other companions. Selket saw it as her responsibility to care for the civilians and set to it. She ran upstairs past Rissien and Sinead talking with Sophie to the guest rooms farther back. It was late, and there was no doubt that many people had already retired for the night. She passed people coming from their rooms, looking bewildered and dazed. Selket pointed them in the direction of safety and returned to the task at hand.

She kicked in door after door, waking people and leading them to safety. She was beginning to feel dizzy and shook her head. Just as she cleared the last room, the building gave a great groan. It was going to collapse very soon, and she decided that now was the time to leave. She bounded down the stairs, fell through the second to last step, and managed to pull herself free. Her leg was bleeding rather badly, having been cut open by the splintered wood, but she put it to the back of her mind.

She could see that Acele and the woman was still fighting, with Rissien now accompanying her in battle. She pulled her bow and shot in the woman's direction, just missing her, but taking a few inches of her hair. She was trying to gain their attention. " We need to leave NOW. This place will fall any second now!" she yelled through the makeshift mask.

Duncan sat awkwardly back at the inn, his ribs still hurt from his encounter with Adan’s ghostly knight. He wanted to ask Mrs Sophie to take a look at his injuries, but she had just got her sister back and he wanted to give them some time before asking for yet more charity from the healer. In the meantime he tried dull his pain with ale, whilst the others sat around and talked strategy. Duncan wasn’t sure which strategy and neither did he care much, he was much more concerned with who the knight was that this Adan had enslaved. The spirits of Knights are protected by holy rites and seals, to enslave one is one of the darkest of actions any mage could take. If the Orders knew about this they’d rip this place apart. He remembered a small town to the south, where a group of mages raised a Knights corpse to fight for them. The Order Of Golden Fury practically wiped the settlement from the map, it was the deepest sacrilege. Duncan was resolved to fight Adan at this point, for this sake, but he was unsure as whether to trust his new companions. They seemed friendly enough, but all this talk of personnel vendettas and some “Guild.” Duncan didn’t care, and neither did he want to get involved with problems of a personal nature.
Yet before he could voice any of these thoughts a strange looking girl wondered into the tavern and calmly threw two flaming torches into the centre of the inn. Duncan sat there almost in shock of the casual nature of this until it became apparent this wasn’t some kind of bizarre arson attack, this was Acele’s former guild and they were raiding the inn. Duncan sprang to his feet, a man came shrieking at Duncan from outside so he clobbered the him with his mug of ale.

“Piss Off!” Duncan yelled before unsheathing his sword and withdrawing his shield.

He began parrying and blocking bows, coming from all sides, one or two got through his defences but not through his plate armour.
“Does this happen to you guys often?!” Duncan yelled across the tavern to Acele and Thalion, the wood was being engulfed by flames with ever quickening speed “When do you sleep?!” Duncan yelled once more.

Duncan began to dispatch his opponents but as the civilians cleared Duncan realized this was not going to be easy. Whatever was happening behind him with Acele had been drawing the attention of the attackers, but it seemed quite a few had readjusted their focus onto him. He counted at least twelve attackers eyeing him up...that was going to be a problem. Duncan began to fight but his attackers numerical advantage meant he couldn’t get a blow in edge ways on them. Finally the Dwarf blacksmith came from upstairs.

“'Who asked for me' hammer?''

“I could sure use it!” Duncan shouted as he seemed to be swallowed by enemies.

Duncan ducked to avoid a swing, before finally landing a blow with his shield. The shield connected with the assailants jaw and it sent him flying through the tavern window into the streets outside.

“I’ve always wanted to do that!” Duncan said satisfyingly.

The enemies seemed to break up more and Duncan began dispatching his opponents one at a time.

He noticed one of the group fall rather awkwardly down the stairs, she was yelling at Acele when another attacker went to charge her from behind. Duncan charged himself, shoulder barging the him into the wall. He turned to the girl with the bow. As he did the whole inn creaked. Duncan coughed violently.

“We need to leave NOW. This place will fall any second now!"

“Archer, is everyone out?! *cough* *cough* Are you okay?”

Just then Sinead took Acele’s hand, it looked like the two young girls were retreating. The building gave another violent whine. The air was beginning to get especially thick with smoke. Duncan wretched violently and fell to his knees, he coughed forth something black and horrible mixed with blood. His ribs were obviously still very injured.

“Ah screw this!”

Duncan charged forward, barging assailants out of the way. He bluntly made his way over to Acele and Sinead.
“Hello girls I do not know,*cough* apparently you’re the good guys though*cough* so we need to get out!”

Duncan looked over her shoulder

“And so do your friends!”

Red Dragon Inn

"I'm alright," Acele answered coldly, though her tone wasn't meant for Sinead. The flames were running rampant and the inn was collapsing. A huge support beam snapped over head. It was a clear sign that they needed to get out of the building. Across the flames she could see Thalion fighting Faine's men, his broadsword glinting in the firelight. She pushed Sinead towards the doorway, the only way out of the burning.

"Thalion!" She cried over the sparks of fire and popping wood. Behind her someone shouted, his voice deep but clear over the fighting.

“Hello girls I do not know,*cough* apparently you’re the good guys though*cough* so we need to get out!”

Acele looked up into Duncan's face. She nodded as the upper level began coming down near the stairs. A hand on her shoulder told her that Thalion was right beside her and ready to leave the fight. Near the door, Rissien had taken up the fight with Thyra, battling the dead rogue with such ferocity it almost made him seem different than his usual self, aside from the smile he wore on his sweat soaked face.

Once outside, Acele turned, the fire bright in her eyes. Rissien came out of the flames several moments after, beams falling right behind him and covering the doorway in a wall of fire. He turned to look at the destruction. It wasn't long after that the city guard came pounding down the streets in the dead of night and there was a call for water to be brought to the fire to put it out before it spread and burned down other wooden buildings.

"What now?" Rissien asked as he turned to the group.

"If we're lucky, Faine is still inside and will die a slow painful death," Acele answered, her eyes narrowed in anger.

"Remind me not to get on your bad side," the young warrior muttered as he eyed her with his grey gaze, a faint smile on his lips.

Acele rolled her eyes and turned to the large group of companions she found herself in. They were all dirty from head to toe from the ash of the fire, some were mixed with blood from Faine's men, and some of that blood she was sure belonged to them. She sheathed her daggers and put her hands on her hips.

"We make use of the abandoned part of Thedan, none of the guard will look for us there. That should help to keep us all under the radar," Thalion said.

"The less the Viscount know's the better," Acele agreed. The less eyes that watched her especially, the better. She didn't trust the guard, in fact she hardly trusted anyone. Not since her last encounter with law enforcement. The rogue scoffed at the memory and quickly pushed it away, unwilling to let it consume her thoughts. The first thing they needed to do was find shelter. Acele started down the street towards the darker parts of Thedan.

Elaine's Estate

"He never listens."

"No, he doesn't," Durion answered softly as he leaned over her. Elaine was spread out on her bed having been woken by the elf's insistence to see her. He sat on the edge of the bed, the upper half of his body right over her. She sighed at him.

"You should have more control."

"What could I do when a man has his mind firmly set?" The elf turned his head to the side, pale blonde hair falling around his shoulder.

"I find that when a man's life is threatened, he'll do just about anything," Elaine replied pulling herself right up against him and whispering in his ear. Her tone, however, was less than inviting. Durion laughed.

"And there are some men, my lady, that don't care about their lives no matter what."

"Then they are fools."

"Oh, come now Elaine, don't treat Thalion in such a manner."

The sorceress raised an eyebrow, "You mean to tell me that he doesn't care for his own life?"

"No, he cares for the lives of those he is in company with. He has always been like that."

She sighed and fell away from him, the pillows of her bed catching her. She turned her head to look out the window, "Well so long as he stays alive, then that's all that matters."

"Why is that my dear?"

Turning her head, she gave Durion a small wicked smile, "You and I both know that we have two different objectives."

Durion reached up and brushed her hair aside, "Ah, yes, but for now our objectives have the same course."

Elaine's yellow eyes glittered in the light of the moon and she reached up her arms to lock them over the elf's neck. She laughed as she brought him down for a deep kiss. When she released him, she pulled herself tight against him, "For now," she said.

Abandoned Area

Several Days Later

"You're kidding me right?" Acele asked, her voice cold and just above a whisper. The group was settled around the dusty table in the large abandoned building they had found several days ago. Since the fire, the rogue had been on a mission to find out if her former guild master was still alive or not. So far she hadn't found anything that told her that he was dead. It didn't sit very well with her and she was more on edge than ever.

"She just wants some help, it's all right, Acele."

Thalion was leaning against the table, his deep blue eyes looking straight at her. He was trying to convince her that Elaine wasn't going to try to do anything to him. The pair stared at each other for some time until Thalion leaned back, sighed heavily and ran his fingers through his black hair. He turned his head sideways and gazed at her again, his eyes softening. Acele only narrowed hers as she watched him, but she knew that she was losing this fight.

"I still don't trust her."

"No, no," Rissien pipped in, he was seated across from her, leaning the chair back onto it's two back legs, his arms up behind his head, "You don't like her. There's a difference."

"Rissien," Acele growled at the young warrior who dropped the chair down and smiled at her innocently.

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

The warrior shrugged his shoulders, opened his grey eyes to look at her and then stood, "I think I'm going to go take watch for a while. Its safer than sitting across from her," he nudged Xin Hai and jerked his head towards the door, offering for the monk to join him outside.

"Don't get shot," Acele muttered as he left.

"Acele, I won't be gone long, alright?" Thalion said.

The rogue pushed her hands deep into her locks of brown hair and glared at the table, "Fine. In the mean time I'm going out to see if I can find out more about Faine."

"You should take someone with you."

"So should you," she shot back.

Thalion stood up slowly, pulling the sheath of his broadsword onto his back, "This is Elaine we're talking about, Acele. Will you please relax?"

The rogue stood up and put her hands on her hips, "Fine, I'll take someone with me."

The elf smiled, took her head in his hands gently and then kissed her forehead before leaving the building. Acele watched him go, a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn't like the thought of him going alone with Elaine. She didn't like him going with her at all. Maybe Rissien was right, maybe it was just because she didn't like the pretty sorceress. Acele sighed softly and turned to the others.

"Anyone up to some fresh air?"

Graveyard: Catacombs

"So, what did you need me for?"

"I found a relic that I've been looking for. I need your help with getting it out," Elaine said as she walked slowly with him down the hall. The catacombs were dark and silent. The air thick with dust. The pair passed the area where Acele and the others had destroyed Adan's ghostly pet and his magical hold on an old relic. The room was destroyed, rocks littering the area. There was nothing left in that room besides rubble.

"Where is it at?"

"Down here a little further."

They walked in silence, Thalion keeping an eye out as he went. Elaine's staff tapped the floor lightly with each of her steps, the noise echoing through the darkness. The top of her staff glowed lightly, casting a soft golden light. Even then, the little light was engulfed by darkness. Thalion couldn't see further than a few feet in front of him. Elaine tugged on his arm as they walked, pulling him off to the right. He went with her.

"It's in there. Could you be so kind as to open the door for a lady?" She asked him, batting her yellow eyes up at him, a small smile curving her lips showing perfect white teeth.

The elf smiled at her in return and went up to the door. The stone door was large with several symbols all along it. The handle was carved into that of a dragons body snaking upwards, it's mouth wide open. Grasping the stone handle, Thalion pulled. Every muscle tensed as he pulled, inching the door open. Behind him, Elaine watched, her eyes wide with anticipation. It was several minutes after and Thalion was out of breath. The door was opened just enough for them to squeeze through. Elaine motioned for him to go first. The elf did so, getting himself wedged between the door and the wall. He pushed at the door, sliding it opened even more.

Turning, he looked inside the room. Fire erupted all across the circular room, the torches coming to life on their own. It startled the elf, but he didn't draw his sword, the room was empty after all. Empty, aside from a stone altar and a small crystal ball on top of that. Carvings were on the side of the altar, a form of elvish from what he could tell. The floor beneath his boots was carved as well, the circles and swirls all connecting and leading up to the bottom of the altar.

"Elaine, is this what you're looking for?"

"Yes it is, my lovely elf," she called behind him.

Thalion turned to look at her, only to meet a blast of her magic right in his chest. It knocked him flat on the ground, pushing the air from his lungs. Surprise rushed through him and he tried to move. Unable to do so, he coughed as he fought to get air back in his chest. A moment later and Elaine was straddling him, her staff held across his throat. Her yellow eyes flashed with excitment.

"The carvings in the stone is a recipe, dear Thalion. My magic, and an elf's blood. Thank you so much for helping me. It's a good thing you heal quickly, otherwise this would be over way before I was satisfied," she said leaning forward, closing the distance between. Her lips brushed his ear, "Too bad for that little rogue."

Elaine stood then, holding her staff over him. Her voice was soft as she chanted, but the more she chanted the more he could feel her magic tightening around him. A little while after and the first attack came. Her power cut through him, tearing open his armor and cutting deep into his skin. He started to heal almost immediately after she'd wounded him, but her magic pulled at his blood, drawing it from the wound before it could heal completely. He ground his teeth against the agonizing feel of her power sucking at him. Acele, I'm sorry...