"The Errandir Saga"
The following deals with the capture of our toror' Errandir by the drow high priestess Arielana, and the subsequent rescue attempt. At the time of the first story, Errandir has already been captured, and we are trying to locate him.
"The Messenger"
The aura of evil was pervasive. As he
approached the door to the surface, Cat could not shake the feeling that
he was being watched. Strongbow stopped, the two feelings were..
separate.. distinct.. but who?.... He closed his eyes and concentrated on
nothing.. everything.. using the blind-fighting technique Strick had
taught him, he centered his being, and then began to slowly.. methodically
began to reach out with his thoughts.. SORRIL! ...(Errandir?)... The image
was astonishingly quick to his mind! So vivid.. so strong.. and so
painful it staggered Strongbow. He fell to his knees clutching his head in
both hands, the image of his friend falling to the floor strangely
coinciding with his own, as he too fell to his side... but he did not lose
conscienceness. He only wished that he had. Cat just remained where he was
several minutes until he could sit up. His head hurt alarmingly, he had
never experienced a link of that magnitude before.. the power was...
frightening.. Sorril?.. His mind was cloudy, but he knew what he would do.
Since there was no action, and no word, he would see to Sorril. This was
serious.. and at least he knew where Sorril was... perhaps he could find
another set of eyes here..
Strongbow rose shakily, and reached
out to the wall to steady himself, still groggy from the telepathic blast.
"I must rest first..get to the..inn.." Steadying himself, taking
a deep breath, Cat made his way to the surface.
The door to the
Guilded Horseshoe had never looked so good, and Strongbow wasn't feeling
any better. His strength was drained and his head still pounded. He tried
to focus. As he reached for the handle, the door opened and Cat nearly
fell as he stumbled forward into a departing customer. Strong arms caught
him.. he was fading fast.. he looked up and grasped the mans shoulders.."..a
Harper?...It is you! ..Sorril!.. ..help me...Krolen.. I need rest.. need
to talk.. get me to a room....pleeaassse.." And with that Strongbow
dreamed unpleasant dreams.....
Strongbow awoke to the sound of
battle. Swords clashed in the distance, and thunder reverberated
throughout the room.... the room?...
Cat tried to sit up. Again war
broke out, Storm Giants hurled bolts of lightning to land in the center of
his head. "....pela ..tanya ...tampa aiguldur..." he muttered,
and sank back down. The sword clashing was merely silverware being
joustled, and the thunder, voices outside the room. All of his senses
seemed to be magnified, not like one imagines after a night of heavy
drinking, but an actual heightening of his perceptions. He closed his eyes
again. He could almost see the kitchen area of the inn by just thinking in
that direction.. and the voices! They ehoed in his brain.. so many.. he
tried drawing his thoughts inward to himself.... and the voices gradually
subsided. And then he sensed a presence.
"Friend Strongbow?.. ye
awake? Are ye alright?.. " The man's voice was soft, just above a
whisper.
Cat's eyes fluttered open. "Argh, dont shout man..."
He glanced in the direction of the voice and squinted, trying to focus.
His eyes found a figure seated in a chair across the room from him....
What was he doing in my room?.. My room?
"...uummm..awake?... I
think so.... alright? No, definitely not.....I feel like someone hurled me
into the Abyss, and they missed..." Strongbow tried to laugh. It hurt
badly, but he felt better afterwards.
"Where am I...? ...Who are
you..? ..How did you find me...What the hell happened?.."
Krolen
smiled at his slightly addled friend. "Aye Cat, one at a time shall
we? As for where y'are, yer at the Guilded Horseshoe Inn, in Long Saddle.
Who I am is Krolen Silverwind, of The Harpers Guild, and ye found me, not
t'other way around. The last question ye must answer yerself m'friend, for
I have no knowledge of what 'as happened to ye, only that ye asked me to
help, and bring ye here."
"mmm.. I see.. did I say anything
else?.. Where did you find me?.."
"Ye stumbled into the
stables just as I was leavin, barely said two words and passed out.. right
in me arms, so I brought ye here. Ye mentioned that fellow ..Sorril.. I
think th.."
"Sorril?.. Argh!" Pain shot through
Strongbows mind as he fell back onto the bed."Ooooh.. that was not
good.." Cat lay silent for a moment, he thought of Sorril. Suddenly,
he was flying! In his minds eye, he could see Long Saddle dissappear
behind him. His thoughts raced ahead, trees, hills and rivers shot past at
an incredible rate of speed, unerringly towards Neverwinter Woods. Down,
through the trees to the guild hall, through an open window, a darkened
hallway, a turn, another, a door. Sorril! He was still as Strongbow had
last seen him, in a heap on the rug, unmoving.
Cat broke the contact
and struggled to sit up. He shook his head slightly to clear his thoughts
and turned to Krolen.
"I must ask a great favor of you. I
have no right, as I apparently already owe you my life. But I must ask you
to go see about my friend Sorril. I fear for his life. I am in no
condition to go and haste is needed. I know where he is and will give you
directions and instructions for him after you find him.. besides, I feel
he'll need a cleric not a mage when you do. I will do as I told Tizer I
would, and remain here, recuperate, and continue to watch. It shouldn't be
too much longer.. But, I can only ask, you must make the choice."
"Beware of drow bearing gifts..."
The sargtlin after seeing to the faeries
health, returned him to his chains. They had to shorten some of it due to
the fact that the jabbuk had shortened one arm by cutting it off. The fey
elf groaned as he was handled noe too gently, but he would survive his
ordeal. After seeing that he was secured, they picked up the bloody
appendage and moved from the room. One remained outside the door at his
post, while the older one moved up the twisting stairways.
Upon
reaching the ground level, he moved outside the house, then strode into
the tunnel leading to the mainland side of the compound. Thirty minutes
later he entered the barracks of the common soldiery, where he found
twenty sargtlin to deliver the arm as was bid. Already the appendage was
stiffeing while changing colors due to loss of circulation. By the time it
reached it's destination, naut even the finest healer in the realms would
be able to restore it. Passing along Zac's instructions, along with the "gift",
the older house sargtlin returned to his post.
The chosen soon
began to pack their gear for the journey, even twenty well armed and
trained Ilythiieri would move cautiously through the underdark. Two hours
later, they strode forth from the city, into the maze of tunnels that was
their world.
For two weeks they traveled, moving slowly and
with great care. Already three of their number had fell, victims of a hook
horror they stumbled upon. while the bodies were left to rot or be eaten
by creatures. their weapons, money and such were taken by those still
alive. but by the end of that day, they had at last found the tunnel
leading to the surface. The brightness caused them to delay for several
hours, as they waited for darkness to fall. When at last it was dark
enough, they stepped out into the night above, then began filtering
through the woods.
Their destination had led them to the woods
near the town of Longsaddle. There they would begin their search for the
elusive Tizer. Travelling only by night, they would listen near windows,
and doorways. Seeking to deliver their grizzly gift.
Zacnefear
d' Dur'Eben
"The Arm"
It had been just a little over two weeks
since Strongbow had sent Krolen to help his friend Sorril. To Cat, it
seemed like two months. His frequent patrols had still turned up nothing.
His sendings likewise provided no real clues.. only a brief stabbing pain
in his arm and a lingering thought of Errandir.. very curious.. but the
distance was too great.. it was torture most likely.. no, he was not
here.. yet.
He reviewed what he knew of his enemy, their
habits, likes, dislikes, and typical battle tactics. If they do come, he
thought, it will be under the cover of night, and by a secret way. So, he
too would become a creature of the night. Perhaps this slight change of
tactics would net some results. A week later, he was not disappointed.
A scream pierced the night ahead of him. Strongbow dropped to the
ground immediately. He closed his eyes and sent out his wizard's sight
slowly, cautiously. It could be a ruse... it was no secret that he was
here...or why. And the "damsel in distress" trap was a typical
Drow ploy.. lure someone in and then the rest would converge on the
unsuspecting victim. He'd seen and experienced it before. Yes! About fifty
yards or so ahead were four Drow warriors, and someone or something bound
to a tree. As he started to pull his sight back to begin to search the
perimeter, three figures burst in on the four dark-skinned soldiers from
the far side of the clearing. It was the other Elves! Damn! He had told
them to wait... the idiots.. heroic idiots, but foolish ones. As they
closed with the four drow soldiers, Strongbow noticed movement coming from
behind and around the the three elves. They would be surrounded in
seconds! Severing the link, Cat opened his steel-grey eyes and began to
chant as he moved forward. His red glassteel longsword slid from it's
sheath with silent ease as the spirit of the Bladesinger overtook him.
Strongbow danced into the clearing singing a woeful song of death, the
ruby blade flashed in hypnotic crimson arcs, his left hand glowing with
power, tracing the intricate patterns of sorcery. The combatants were
momentarily caught off guard by the eerie sounds and motions of the
Bladesong, and his dance had brought him into a strategic position. Twin
strokes of arcane energy burst forth from Strongbow's palm, taking in the
area between the tree and the three surrounded Elves. When the ozone laden
smoke had cleared, over half of the Drow patrol's complement lay in
smoking ruin. He counted seven left. As if the lightning bolt had been a
signal, the fighting resumed.
Cat sprung forward as two of his
three elven companions were downed by ebon blades. Enraged, he cried out,
"I am Strongbow Firehand, Bladesinger of the Tel'Mithrim, and warrior
of Corellon. Learn to your dismay how I got my name and feel my Lord's
wrath!" He stopped within a yard of the closest of the Dur' Eben
soldiers. Tiny balls of fire sped from his fingertips striking four of the
seven in the chest. As the targeted Drow warriors looked down, the small
spheres of fire spread to engulf their entire bodies in blue and scarlet
flames. They fell screaming and rolling on the ground, but the flames
would not go out. One by one they went limp, nothing but smoldering ash
remaining. A single warrior detached himself from the battle and held
something aloft. As Strongbow realized what it was, a familiar stabbing
pain ripped through his shoulder, stunning him for several seconds. It was
Errandir's arm! The sargtlin smiled and yelled, "A gift for Tizer!
From my Illharess, Arielana of Dur' Eben," and hurled the arm in
Strongbow's direction. He then turned and fired his two hand crossbows at
the last remaining elf's back.
Strongbow looked down at the
severed arm, then looked up and stared evenly into the sargtlin's red eyes
and stated coldly, "I will indeed take Tizer your gift. But I am
afraid you will not be returning to tell of its deliverance. But know you
this before you die. We will find the snake hole that you crawled out of,
and after flushing it out, plug it!" Cat grasped his ruby-red
glassteel blade with both hands, it was time to teach them a new dance,
the dance of steel.
"The Rites of War"
The brass brazier smoldered. Pungent,
acrid plumes of sulphurous smoke wafted from it, filling the meditation
room with their odor. Sitting cross-legged with eyes closed in the lotus
position, the outside world did not exist for Strongbow Firehand. His
voyage, was a sojourn of the mind. A cleansing of the body. And, a
strengthening of the soul.
The three days of meditation had
cleared his mind, and now the dojo resounded as Strongbow performed kata
after kata. Sweat drenched the heavy practice tunic, and the wooden bokken
was slippery in his grasp, but still he did not quit. Twelve uninterrupted
hours later, some water, a quick nap, and he was at it again. The air
crackled with the arcane energies being expended, and the walls bore the
scars of his fury as he battled unseen foes.
The strenuous
workouts continued for three more days. Exhausted, Strongbow finally took
a well-deserved rest. When he awoke on the seventh day, the final
preparations began. He opened the secret door known only to him and one
other, and descended the stairs to his lab. There, the warrior-mage began
sifting through various alchemical ingredients until he had gathered what
he needed. Mixing, measuring, checking and rechecking, in a few hours he
was done. In his hand he held a small vial containing a special ink to be
used to write runes of power and protection for the upcoming battle. He
took one last look. Satisfied, Strongbow returned with the vial to his
lair above.
He went outside to find the elf-maiden Rayella, he
needed her help for the application of the runes, for her skill in runic
magic was considerable. At first, he could not find her.. then, he heard a
screech from overhead. Looking up he saw a strange but familiar pair, and
Strongbow smiled. Rayella, in albino-silver dragon form, and Elwing, his
silver-winged griffon, were playing a game of tag in the clouds. Amused,
he hated to break it up, but there were matters of import to attend to and
little time in which to accomplish them. He contacted Ray's mind gently, "A'mael,
it is time." He then whistled for Elwing, and abruptly the pair dove
to the earth. He walked up to the large griffon, patting his neck, "Were
you having fun my friend?"
"Skerak ss krra kooorskraa!",
cried the griff plaintively.
Grinning, Cat replied, "Ahhh.. not
playing fair was she? Well, I suppose that's a matter of opinion, but I'll
speak to her," he winked at Rayella, " Go now, and find yourself
some lunch!"
Casting a scathing glance at his now-elven
tormentor, Elwing took flight in search of prey, then Strongbow and
Rayella returned arm in arm to the lair.
The pair entered the
meditation/altar room. Strongbow, with an armful of items, and Rayella
with several quills and the small vial of magical ink. They began placing
the items on the small altar, a cloak, a golden ring, a pair of finely
wrought bracers, a blue crystal wand, the vial of ink, and lastly, a
ruby-red glassteel longsword. The two knelt before the item-laden altar,
bowed their heads, and Strongbow started intoning the words of prayer.
"Corellon, father of all Elvenkind, I beseech thee! Bless these
items I have lain before you, that they may serve me better to smite thine
enemies and emerge victorious in our upcoming battle! I would ask also,
heavenly Father, that your son, Tethrin, god of the Bladesingers, might
bestow his special blessings upon my blade, so that it will strike
unerringly, and cause fear in the hearts of our foes. This I would ask my
Lord, not for myself, but for my toror, Errandir, who has suffered greatly
at the hands of the Drow, and must be avenged! Father, hear my prayer, so
mote it be."
As Strongbow spoke the last words, a low hum
began to resound in the small room.. and a pale blue glow began to form
around the items resting on the altar. As they watched in awe, each item
in turn, levitated of its own accord off the altar and sparkled internally
with a divine light. When the last of them had ceased to shine, Strongbow
knew it was time to begin the final preparations. He stood and removed his
tunic and breeches. Dressed in only a loincloth, Strongbow whispered to
Rayella, "You may begin, melamin, I am ready." The beautiful
Elven maiden went to the altar and retrieved the now glowing vial of
specially prepared ink, and taking up one of the quills, began etching
runes of power and protection onto her ashke's body. Starting at his neck,
his chest and back, and both legs were covered with the graceful magical
script that Rayella knew so well. When she was finished, she left the
room, then returned moments later with clothing made especially for this
occasion, and began to dress Strongbow. Then the items were donned in
order: Bracers, ring, cloak, the wand tucked into the azure blue sash, and
the sword. Finally, Strongbow nodded to his beloved, and she finished by
applying the war paint that would strike the dischord of fear into any who
beheld him. Rayella stepped back and gasped, "There Ashke'! Now you
will strike terror into the heart of any creature who dares stand against
you. You shall fight unerringly now."
Strongbow did not
speak, but only smiled grimly. The Bladesinger was ready for war.
"It Begins...."
At last... they had arrived. Strongbow
had glimpsed the flight of the Drow off and on for days. His mind's eye
catching fragments in the moments that the shields had weakened. Other
ways there were to observe them... but he cared not. That he knew where
they were was enough.... that Errandir was still alive.. THAT was what
mattered.. He smiled inwardly at the thought that the fauruk's mind had
missed his presence.. instead focusing on Krolen.. The kidnapping had
indeed unsettled him.. so much the better.
Strongbow stood and
slid his sword from its sheath... his features hardened.. only twenty-four
hours. He opened the door to his room and stepped out into the half-light
of the torches. Zacnefear was standing at the far end of the hallway,
twirling his twin blades.. it was time for the battle of wills.. Strongbow
smiled inwardly.. he knew the faeruk would have to leave, to descend to
the altar.. So he would test Zacnefear's patience.. Cat's steel-grey eyes
caught the faeruks and did not waver, in a steady voice he spoke, " I
had an interesting meet with your Illharess in my room earlier..." he
let this sink in... Zac flinched, no doubt wondering how his charge had
left and returned unnoticed.. Strongbow grinned slightly.. and continued,
"Aye, we talked..about many things.. even you.. faeruk, then she made
the near fatal mistake of attempting to draw her dagger, so I asked her to
leave.. to return to your 'watchful' protection... nay, worry not
Zacnefear, she was not harmed, but know this: I shall probably be the
first Elf you see at the altar, and hopefully, Corellon willing, I will
also be the last...."
With that he spoke no more, the
vigil had begun.. He would stand here and watch until they left, then, at
the appointed hour, he would descend, to battle...
"The Battle for Errandir"
A personal perspective.
Strongbow watched Arielana's entourage
leave the inn. The heated exchange of a moment ago had only served to fuel
the fire of hatred between them. And now he had to wait... give them their
precious time. He never was much good at that waiting thing.. but he had
given his word.. he would not break it. Very soon after, more and more of
Tel'Mithrim began arriving, Tizer, Graywolf, Swordmaster, Vailant,
Starrbolt, Laerithil, and Bloodglade, to name but a few, along with allies
far too numerous for a mere mortal to remember. It was time. Space was
getting tight, and tempers were flaring.. Suddenly Strongbow heard Vailant
yell, "I'll meet ya' at the gate!" and his friend ran out the
door.. so, sensing an escape route out of this claustrophobic hell, the
Cat was out the door before it got halfway closed!
At the door
to the dungeon they paused, for about a second, then plunged through the
floor to the leggy welcoming comittee below. That is when things started
to happen.. bad things man... bad things. Strongbow had eliminated most of
the driders with a cloudkill, and was waiting for Vailant, while watching
Torm battle the remorhaz up ahead. How Torm got there, Cat couldn't say,
but one minute he's there, and the next minute, he's gone! Just vanished!
And he knew that Torm hadn't been swallowed. Then Vailant yelled, "Look
out below!", and the world froze.
Strongbow awoke at the
inn once again.. a little fuzzy but totally intact. Nalynn was there! She
was asking something.. about.. where their.. friends were..Cat still
wondered where he was.. he quickly agreed to lead Nalynn under.. this time
leaving nothing to chance. When he arrived on the second floor, there were
no driders.. only five morons laughing at a remorhaz to big to fit through
the door, so sensing a need to end this quickly, the Cat ran right past
the five fools and slew the poor, ridiculed, defenseless beast before they
could stop him. It was the right thing to do. The pair then proceeded
without any futher interference until they reached the crowded area
outside the altar room. A force seemed to tear at them, orders were
shouted, Strongbow heard a voice, ..Bloodglade?.. "Cat, get in there!"
Cat tried, again and again to get through, and on a final push, wound up
on the other side of the wrong door and almost into another fight!
Strongbow tried to get back through the door, but there were just too many
people.. only one thing occurred to him then.. go to the holder room, take
it, and hold it until they come.. so he snuck past the fight in his way
and proceeded to the exit. But they never came.. one other did, and fled.
Arielana.. Zacnefear.. you have not won. You have but gained
time. A little precious time, and only postponed the inevitable.
Errandir, I have failed you toror, I am sorry. This only strengthens
my resolve...
We were never able to free Errandir, due to the Fall of Neverwinter. There was one other meeting between Strongbow and Arielana of note, and that is the last entry.
"Return to Longsaddle"
Strongbow walked through the woods with
his companions, feeling very happy, and secure in the knowledge that he
had helped Riklaun recover his honor and take his place once again as
Swordmaster. As they continued on, Strongbow started thinking about his
research again.. when suddenly he wondered, " If that scrap was there
in the altar room, what else might I have missed?" He mused over this
for a while and then stopped. "Melloneamin.. I must take my leave of
you.. I have to go back to Longsaddle. It's just a feeling mind you.. but
I've long since learned to trust my instincts, so I must go. You two take
care and stay well."
Strongbow bowed to his Swordmaster. "Sensei?..
Welcome back!" He clasped Riklaun in a brotherly hug and smiled. "You
will hear from me shortly."
"Nal? Make sure he gets to the
Dojo safe and sound will you arwenamin?" He grinned at Nalynn and
winked.
She grinned back. "Certainly Cat.. I won't let him out
of my sight, I promise."
"It is well then,.. Namaarie you
two.. I will see you in a while.." With that, Strongbow pulled his
hood up over his head and disappeared into the woods..
Cat
arrived in Longsaddle without much difficulty. So intent was he on
reaching his destination, that he carefully avoided most of the monsters
he encountered, and quickly dispatched those that were foolish enough to
persist in chasing him.
The Guilded Horseshoe was fairly quiet.
Strongbow strode to the bar and ordered a glass of Fey wine when he felt a
familiar presence. He turned slowly in the direction of a corner table..
it was she! Arielana! Why was she here?... Cat's steel-grey eyes met her
firey orbs without a flinch. He calmed himself mentally and spoke, "So
Illharess... we meet again, black-hearted priestess of Lloth."
"Xas Strongbow, and dos will rue this day." She snarled,
her hand straying to her black dagger's hilt.
Cat noted the move
without concern. "Possibly.. but not in this place Drow." He
indicated the door with his eyes..
"Use the wisdom your goddess
gave you Arielana, and move your hand away from your dagger slowly..."
he showed no trace of fear when he spoke the words, their gazes still
locked in a mental battle of wills.
"Nau Cat, not until dos
heart lies beating on Usstan's altar.." she replied with an evil
grin.
Strongbow's tone was flat, emotionless."You will be
disappointed I am afraid, for I have no time for you right now, ..perhaps
later.. do not let me catch you alone out of this place, for you will not
survive the meeting.. " He quickly downed his drink and left. The
Drow priestess made as if to reply, but Strongbow was already out the
door... Angry at his insolence, Arielana rose, not bothering to finish her
spiced wine, and left, curious as to what would make Strongbow pass up an
opportunity to confront her. She followed him to the entrance to the
dungeons under the city, staying in the shadows undetected. What was he up
to?.... She meant to find out......
Strongbow cautiously
stalked the warrens under the small community of Longsaddle. He paused
outside the temple where the battle to free Errandir took place. He
couldn't shake the feeling that he was being followed, but then again,
this place was always unnerving.. let them come.. if they dared.
He
slowly opened the door to the temple proper, scanning the room, making
sure it was unoccupied, and entered.
He moved silently to the
place where he had found the scrap from Arielana's robe, and started his
search there. He was finding nothing new, the debris in the temple was
largely undisturbed, even after this long, when a charred pile of clutter
caught his eye. Lifting a few pieces of a broken beam out of his way, he
began to sift through the remains. There, in a nitch at the base of the
wall, he found what looked to be the remains of a scroll case. He picked
up the badly burned container, and looked it over carefully. Sure that it
was not magical in nature, he was preparing to open it when a familiar
voice surprised him out of nowhere.
"So Elf, dos has decided to
offer dossta heart to Usstan's goddess after all? Usstan is pleased."
She turned an evil smile towards him, "Now dos will see the power of
Lloth.... prepare to die Strongbow Firehand!...."
Cat's ruby
blade appeared in his hand as if by magic. "It will not be as easy as
all that Illharess, if you wish this heart, you must earn it, foul one...
come Black-Heart, ...just try..."
Enraged, the black-skinned
Drow priestess prepared to cast... suddenly, a billowing cloud of putrid
smelling vapor surrounded Strongbow, he coughed and spun out of it with
amazing alacrity, gaining himself some time. The two were beginning to
face off again, when through the two opposite doors, a pair of floating
eye tyrants came, eyeing the combatants hungrily. They were accompanied by
a few Kraken soldiers.. possibly servants or guards. Strongbow decided he
would brook no interference, and immediately charged the unwanted
interlopers, heedless of Arielana's continuing attempts to capture him.
Cat ran past the first beholder, it snapped at him greedily, grazing him,
but causing no real damage. He continued on to the next, his red glassteel
sword singing a song of death. The tyrant was slain in but a few blows,
and in a spray of ichor, crashed to the ground with a sickeningly wet
thud. Cat turned, ready for the next, bolts from the soldiers crossbows
slamming into the wall all around him........
Arielana approached the
remaining beholder, from opposite where the Elf stood, secretly hoping to
conceal her exact whereabouts, she was dismayed however, as the incredibly
dextrous Elf danced around the beast, inflicting wound after wound, taking
little or no damage in return. The floating orb exploded, and they faced
each other once again. Strongbow paused, his ruby-red blade dripping with
gore. "Now Illharess, ..it is your turn.. let's dance!"
Cat wheeled as two soldiers closed with him, blocking his way to the Drow
priestess. Since he could not directly attack her, he summoned a noxious
cloud of his own.. It rolled towards Arielana, making her cough.. but it
did not paralyze ...She seemed to pause.. as if plotting some evil
mischief.. so Cat struck again.. The evil priestess felt a tingling
sensation as some of the wards she had cast were brought down by the Elf's
magic. "Ach! No!" she cried.. Cat smiled and shouted, "Perhaps
your goddess has forsaken you this day Illharess... fickle is she not?"
and he cast again. As she saw Strongbow preparing to hurl some more
sorcerous deviltry at her, she attempted to avoid it, but tripped on some
of the debris still cluttering the field of battle. The spell settled over
Arielana , and she found herself momentarily unable to disengage herself
from her tangled robes. It was then Strongbow decided to apply the
finishing blow.. he thrust out his arm, palm out, and a bolt of lightning
flew from his hand to strike the Drow squarely in the chest, she was
rocked backwards. "Guards! Guards!" she screamed, then
remembered she had foolishly come alone. Her eyes then caught sight of her
dagger, the crystal diamond glowed brightly, as her knees buckled, she
whispered quietly, "...Zacnefear..."
Moving in for
the kill, Strongbow stopped, his mind sensing the presence of another
mage.. he was approaching the temple. He looked at the Drow, helpless and
wounded, he wanted to finish her, but did not have the resources to begin
a new battle with another foe.. he backed away and in a cold voice said, "Now
you know you have real reason to fear me Illharess.. a lesson learned the
hard way to be sure.. but a lesson non-the-less......we will meet again
Arielana.. " Cat backed out the door and quickly put some distance
between himself and the temple. And in his mind he heard the words.. "Xas
Firehand.. xas... indeed... we shall meet again..."
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