Looking ahead, Amy gets some extra horses and papers from the Duke to help with their passage through Sigel and Posa. She hopes to acquire an ice schooner later on to help speed up time in getting to their destination. After saving Lady Ellysa Attenmoor and finding one of the Bloodswords, the group returns to the relative safety of Bird Keep. Kazier and Dril are there, having already given the Duke the good news that his future wife had been saved from the depradations of the Goblins.
Duke David is very pleased to see her, throwing his arms around his beloved. Her recovering handmaidens are then tended to by various healers. "You must all return to Bird Keep when we are married. This will not happen for a few months but I want you to be here for it."
"We’ll be honored, your Dukeness" replies Dril.
Though he wants Amy Cedar to stay, he understands the importance of her guiding the group to Draman Del. He knows that the Knights of Discord are going in that direction, and should they accomplish whatever it is they are attempting, all of Corvel will be in grave peril. While they are away he will make sure their cottage is taken care of and looks forward to everyone’s return.
Looking ahead, Amy gets some extra horses and papers from the Duke to help with their passage through Sigel and Posa. She hopes to acquire an ice schooner later on to help speed up time in getting to their destination.
The group rests up for a day at the home of the Cedar Sisters as well as drinking it up some at the Sword and Fight Inn. Ganam Oore is utterly thrilled to see the Bloodsword, or what he calls "the Hanji-Sha." The crystalline blade with red-running veins almost seems live in the light of the tavern. To him it is a piece of ancient history, proving beyond any doubt of the existence of the god Averness, who had been slain by Marg and his blood gathered by his followers. His blood was forged into weapons to fight evil. All of this happend at the fortress of Draman Del, in the middle of the Cursed Woods.
Ganom looks from the Bloodsword to the group. "Since this blade is real you must know that what the Knights of Discord intend is also equally real. They are part of Marg and will do all they can to bring him back. We can’t let them win."
Preparations are made for the journey, supplies, weapons, blankets are purchased for this trip. Talia and Alric spend some time together before they leave. "I don’t like the cold here," says Talia with a small smile. "I like it a lot more on the coast. It’s not very nice here."
Alric holds her hands and looks into her eyes. "It’s nice here, you just have to know where to look."
During this time Maurice starts to hear a distant voice. It is from the Bloodsword and he retires to his room to see what is truly going on. The voice is indeed from the blade, whispering "Fight . . . In the name of . . . Avranis."
He nods, holding the blade in the air and gazes at it’s form. "Avranis’s foes are mine. Marg was the enemy of Avranis and of Corvel, and is my foe as well." The blade glows a little when he says this and he looks over his shoulder to make sure nobody is around. "People would think I’m crazy if they saw me talking to a sword."
Getting their equipment ready as well as their mounts, they head off into the frozen mountains of Sigel with Amy Cedar as their guide. Talia stays behind, waving sadly at Alric as they ride out of the southwest gate of the city. Maurice, Kazier, Dril, Alric, Jinx, Ganam, Amy, Alex and the Dreznat gallop on their way.
Once away from Bird Keep Amy turns them onto the northern road. She hopes to get to Posa where they can get an ice schooner with the papers she has. If this works they will be able to travel much faster. No one is certain what they will find there, but it will be where Marg will be either reborn or stopped. That is something that weighs on the minds of all.
It is exceptionally cold, with icy winds clawing at them, snows dusting their cloaks, hats, and hoods. The day passes and they make camp, with Dreznat being able to magically manipulate some of the snow drifts making a rough shelter for them. A small fire is made, the horses fed, and some songs are sung. The entire group sleeps close together, trying to keep as warm as possible. Some cuddle more than others though. Alric crawls very close to Jinx, keeping warm between her breasts as she sleeps.
The next day they are hit with a blizzard, making them nearly snow-blind. Amy remembers that there is a small monastary nearby and they all head for that. The snows get very deep and the landscape turns into a blur of moving white. As it begins to darken a white shrouded structure is seen set onto the side of a mountain. "That’s it!" Cries Amy, waving them forward.
They move past a small wall and gate and into a courtyard. The mountain and small walls here make for an excellent wind break, getting rid of some of the awful biting chill. There are mounds in the heavy snows here, and are frozen shrubbery. Ahead are some barely discernable stairs leading to a doorway.
Pulling her cloak tightly around her shoulders Alex shudders in the freezing air. "If we don’t get some shelter I think we may be staying here for a while," she says to her sister.
Jinx moves over to the side and brushes at some of the snow on the ground. She uncovers what appears to be a frozen pool. Looking into it deeper she sees the staring, dead eyes of a man in white robes. It startles her and she steps back, giving a small cry. In his eyes there is a look of dark horror.
Maurice stomps up the snowy steps and shoves the double doors open with a great heave. Inside is a large room and it is very dark now with the light beginning to die outside. Alric casts a small spell to illuminate the area and and several passages and a spiral staircase leading up can be seen. Kazier stalks in, quickly moving about looking to see if there is any immediate danger and can find none.
The horses are brought in and a small fire is started from some wooden debreis nearby. There is a chandelier above and Alric flies up to set the oil candles alight. Everyone looks around, but are all still very cautious. Air vents for warmth are seen on the walls indicating that there might be a furnace somewhere. The place seems completely deserted.
Still a bit shaken from seeing the body in the ice, Jinx looks around. She feels something but can’t determine what it is exactly. "There’s something . . . wrong here."
Amy and Alex start feeding the horses. They might have to make a quick retreat and they want their rides to be well fed. Ganom writes the days events into his book, chronicling the events of what has been going on.
Kazier and Dreznat decide to go check the upper levels of this place out before settling in, and Maurice goes along as well. By torchlight they go exploring. They find many rooms that show signs of extreme violence, the wooden windows here having been bashed in. A sense of dread and forboding is slowly creeping into each of them.
In what appears to be a library, dozens of books are covered with a gloss of ice. Their cases are broken and smashed, books strewn haphazardly across the stone floor. The body of a white robed person is slumped across a desk. On the desk is a partial circle of what looks to be old garlic cloves. Dreznat finds a parchement and book there.
‘Day 64 of the last quarter, 951 post
I know him for who he is . . . Rellion have mercy on my soul, for it isI who have brought this curse upon our house. Thus it is up to me to save us . . Those who are still alive . . . Whether it is the light or the heat he fears I know ot, but my trap shall give him plenty of both tonight.’
It’s skeletal hand clamps around her wrist as the figure begins to move. Eyes of green glare with absolute loathing. It begins to rise, preparing to strike with claws as Dreznat stumbles backwards.
With incredible speed Maurice draws the Bloodsword and slashes the undead-thing in half, it’s body puffing into dust. With a flick of his hand he sheathes the sword and looks around. "You hurt Drez?"
"I’m fine." Still holding the paper she reads more, seeing that it is a prayer.
‘Oh Lord Rellion, thou who watches over the lands of men with thine golden countenance. Look in mercy upon our accursed monastary in this our hour of need! For we are beset by a nameless evil against which there seems no defence. It comes at the stroke of midnight and kills without discrimination. Only four of us remain now. Brother Cook and Brother Apocathary have retreated to the meditation room and seem resigned to death. Only Brother Abbot Zemal still works feverishly on a solution. I, lord Rellian, put my fate in your hands and repent my sins in the name of St. Cuthbert who once walked like us in the lands of men. I ren-
-He comes!’
Very cautiously the three continue on, aware that something very evil is at work here. In another chamber there is a cadaverous body on the floor, surrounded by parchments with a shattered lamp in one hand. Examining him at a distance the faded image of a rose tatoo can be seen on his skeletal chest. His clothing and immediate area are drenched in oil. Obviously he was trying to set himself and the room on fire but didn’t get the chance.
"Probably Zemal," says Kazier.
Slowly and carefully they move by the body and go on further. In another room two more robed bodies are found. By it’s design it appears to be the meditation room. The figures are face down, side by side. Kazier moves closer to one, his curved elven blade in hand. "I want to turn this one over to have a look." Before he can extend his hand it moves. With great speed the shrivelled corpse kicks Kazier’s legs out causing him to fall. It then starts crawling on top of him, shrieking inhumanly. The other leaps to it’s feet screaming as well.
Downstairs the horses begin to whinny in fear and start straining at their tethers. "Woa boy!" Says Alex trying to calm hers down. She sees that something is frightening all of them. Jinx shudders, feeling something unnatural, something evil.
The front door bursts open and in start staggering a huge host of rotting corpses. Their clawed hands extended and their white eyes glaring, they begin to advance. Everyone draws weapons, stunned by this sudden appearance of so many hateful dead. There are dozens and dozens of them, moaning and hissing as they march forward to rend and devour.
Straddling Kazier is a hideous unliving corpse trying to kill him. Skeletal hands claw at his face. Trying to push it back with one hand he stabs forward with his sword, plunging it into the underside of the thing’s mouth, piercing it’s head. One rotted eye pops out and it heaves before collapsing into a pile of dead dust and bones.
Dreznat weaves a spell and slaps it against the other undead. It staggers from the magical blow, reacting as though it had been struck with a great club. Maurice lunges forward and strikes with his Bloodsword. In two swift slashes the corpse-thing tumbles into ragged pieces.
Seeing a surging mass of howling undead monsters makes Alric gurgle in fear and disgust. Flying high into the room and extending his hands he calls upon the powers of his enchanted ring. From it blasts a huge wave of flame, exploding over a dozen of the creatures. Many shuffle about, the magical fires consuming what little of their flesh remains, collapsing only when they have become charred skeletons. Another blast from the ring slows down their attack, giving Ganam time to draw his bow and fire an arrow or two. Though he has destroyed almost half their number, a grotesquely large amount remains.
Hearing the sounds of battle below, Maurice, Kazier, and Dreznat go rushing as fast as they can down the staircase. Maurice leaps onto the chandelier, swings in a summersault and then dives down into the fray at the doorway. Kazier jumps onto the stairway railing and slides down like a surfer, before leaping to Maurice’s side. Dreznat just starts jabbing with spells as soon as she sees what is happening.
From behind Jinx comes another column of undead, charging in from one of the many passages. She turns and tries to cast a spell but they swarm all over her, burying her beneath their writhing and snarling bodies. For a moment it looks like the end for Jinx, but she draws on her spiritual powers and literally blasts the creatures off of her in a burst of holy light.
More undead try and attack but they are dealt with quickly. Spells, swords, and arrows strike and destroy them as they make their moves. The battle is over in a few moments with everyone breathing heavily and looking about at the great amount of carnage that is everywhere. Many feel lucky to be alive with what has happend.
Flying to Jinx and landing on her shoulder Alric looks at her. Jinx’s hair is a mess and there are a few scratches on her face. "Pesky zombies aren’t going to get me!" She says with a grin, dusting herself off of their clinging remains.
With what has happend it is decided to explore the remaining upper levels as quickly as possible. There is another imminent attack coming in at midnight and nobody wants any more surprises. A few more skeletal remains of the white-robed monks are found and are dealt with by a quick blow to their heads or necks in case they should spring to unlife.
Some statues are found as well as another folding staff, an elven cloak, some gold and a very elegant crossbow. The cloak is given to Alex by Maurice who examines it and sees that at the collar is some writing. ‘Thanks for your help. Prince of Glades.’
Jinx is taken up to set to rest the body of who they think is Zemal. She can feel something wrong here, a very bad aura. She thinks that Zemal did something awful to become the Abbot, probably murdering the previous one and taking his place. Perhaps the wronged Abbot is paying them back?
Ganam and Amy find the furnace in the basement below the main floor. Ganam lights it to start warming the frozen monastary up for there nights stay.
Some casks of wine are found and both Maurice and Kazier bring them down. Alex looks at them and shakes her head. "You stole the Abbot’s wine."
Maurice just chuckles a bit. "Well, I don’t think he was going to use it any time soon."
With midnight approaching the entire group, along with the horses, goes to a nearby dining area with only two entrances and a window. If something is going to happen they want to have as few ways to attack them as possible.
They wait for midnight in this icy grave. . .
TO BE CONTINUED . . . .
Chronicled by Ken Paynter aka...Maurice leChevalier
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