Chapter 11: The Lost and the Damned
"Well what are we going to do Derryth?" Serpent anxiously asks.
"I am not sure to be honest. I wish Gareth was here he has the military mind not me," you frown and consider your options, people will die here today but as you notice a lone figure standing by herself you begin to think that maybe they don't have to, "Perhaps... perhaps this is all a misunderstanding, maybe we can talk our way out of this?"
Serpent only nods, he is uncertain but willing to follow your lead. The two of you slip along to edge of the room to avoid attention.
She is young, maybe a few years younger than yourself, pretty enough you suppose, silver hair and grey eyes, she stands with the quiet confidence of one used to getting her own way. As you approach the figure she notices you and raises her staff but does not attack.
As soon as she sees you she frowns, seems there is something about you that she does not like and to be honest as you give her the once over you must admit that the feeling is mutual.
The two of you just stand there is silence staring at each other so Serpent steps forward and takes the lead, "Warm greeting Miss-"
"I am known as the Black Spider," she responds as she stares at you. She turns her attention to Serpent and smiles warmly extending her free hand to him, "But you may call me Christine."
"That is a rather odd name," you remark coolly.
She shrugs, maintaining an air of general hostility towards you, "It is the only one I have."
The two of you stare at one another for a moment, there is just something about her you do not like.
"Why are you attacking my friends?"
"Oh, you are with the dwarves, then?"
"After a fashion yes."
"We are attacking them because they seek to rob us."
"And who exactly are you?"
"Mother says we are the Damned, closest thing we have to a name I suppose."
"What do you intend if you win?"
"We will kill them all and take the rest of you as slaves I should think. We simply can not take any risks now. Although..." she gives Serpent a hungry smile and a little wink, "Perhaps we do not have to make all of you slaves if you surrender now..."
When she returns her gaze to you her smile fades and the conversation dies again as the two of you stare daggers at one another.
Serpent makes one last attempt to turn the situation around, "Well Miss Christine, this is Derryth and I am One Serpent Green Talon. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," he reaches out to take her hand, still extended towards him. As he does so, she pulls him forward and spins him pushing him up against a nearby bit of wall.
She presses up against him and whispers something in his ear. He blushes as she runs her free hand down his cheek to his neck, "You know , you are actually kind of cute. I think I will bring you home and introduce you to mother. How would you like that?"
This has gone far enough, you are not going to just let her kidnap your friend. You begin to cast immediately, but so does she.
You have a feeling this may not end well as you stare her down, "Let him go," you order with not a little malice in your voice.
"Make me," she gives you a smile that promises nothing but violence.
Well that does it, you know you should not, especially at this range but she is so asking for it, "Serpent, be ready to heal me. I am going to blast this bi-"
"Ladies please!" Serpent is trying his best to defuse the situation and you both stop casting as he grabs your attention, "Christine look at me, do we really have to do this?"
"Well that is up to you gorgeous. Come visit the family, I promise no harm will come to you and I will spare your little follower here," she gestures at you.
You are just barely holding yourself back at this point, if you were not worried about Serpent you would have struck her already, "Follower! I am his friend, I am his boss but I am no one's follower!"
"Could have fooled me, you look like your built for manual labour," she glances at your outstretched hand and gives you that damn smile again, "Just like I thought, farmer's hands, not the hands of a mage."
Concern is written plainly on Serpent's face, he knows your temper better than she does and he knows just how close the situation is to boiling over, "Alright! Alright, Christine, if you promise not to harm my friends then I will go with you."
"Great! You will love it I guarantee," as they turn to leave you move to strike but she is ready.
She throws a small sack at you and as it connects with your outstretched arm it explodes. Fine silver threads bind your hands and ankles together and you fall.
"See lover, I told you I would not hurt your little friend so can we go now?" She gives him a warm smile and slips an arm around his waist.
Serpent sighs, "One moment please."
He slips away from her and walks up to you, sorrow clearly visible on his face. He drops to one knee, "Looks like we must go our separate ways sooner than either of us would have liked..."
"Serpent you don't have to-" you begin but he merely shakes his head.
Looking into your eyes he begins, "Yes I do. I can not prevent her from harming you and I will not have the blood of the only friend I have ever," he stops for but a moment, "I will not have your blood on my hands Derryth."
He places two objects next to you, his sack of mandrake roots and a robe. It takes you a moment to realize that it is one of those makeshift affairs that Brigit cobbled together with the little stars and moons... he kept it... he really...
Your thoughts are interrupted as he rises to his feet, "Live well Derryth."
And with that the two of them walk off together into the darkness of the tunnel.
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Ten minutes, it takes a whole Wyrd-damned ten minutes to finally free yourself of your bonds and as you get to your feet you survey the battlefield.
Jori stands alone, the other four dwarves all lay on the ground dead or incapacitated. His sword is broken, his shield cracked and cast away he is fighting with his gauntlets against the swordsman. Every blow the swordsman strikes seems to drive him further into a rage.
You have seen nothing like it, his followers gone, his weapons broken, he refuses to fall and he is dropping his attackers with deftly placed body blows. As he snaps the neck of the last robed figure only the swordsman remains. The two square off. Jari is by far the better fighter but he must be suffering from dozens of injuries at this point. You are not sure that he will carry the day but for the moment the balance of forces on that side of the battlefield remains equal.
On the other side of the chamber the archer and her remaining followers have the rest of your group pinned down. You can see from your vantage point that Ithapi and Amena are both incapacitated, with serious arrow wounds. Ari and Bari have killed most of the robed figures and spiders but the archer has the range necessary to simply pick them off. Currently she is trading shots with Thaïs who is relying on her crossbow, her magic completely spent for now. You think that the first one to successfully land a shot will win that fight.
The enemy commander continues to observe the battlefield, additional forces have come up from the tunnel and he is now surrounded by ten men and four spiders. He is holding back his forces. He is waiting, perhaps evaluating the abilities of his lieutenants.
Surveying the battlefield he finally makes his move advancing with his men towards Jari.
The dwarf is doomed but as they cross the battlefield an explosion rocks the chamber. Falling debris kills two of the Damned, and a hole opens in the roof. A single figure drops through and lands right onto of the commander driving a boot straight into his face.
"Hahaha! Come! Meet your deaths here, puny spider men!" Tyrvard rolls clear of the group dropping two of their number and three of the spiders as he leaps to his feet. About time the Berserk arrived but you do not see Gareth or Brigit anywhere.
The battle rages before you but no one is yet aware of your presence.
1.What will you do?
A) Aid Jori against the Swordsman, it is your belief that you could completely blindside the Swordsman. You need answers and payment for the escort, if he dies both will probably die with him.
B)Aid Thaïs against the Spider Riding Archer, normally you would not attack a spider that size but as luck would have it the spider is standing right over a satchel charge that has fallen from one of the dwarves packs. One simple create fire spell and boom... of course you will have to really concentrate to hit your target from this range.
C) Tyrvard is currently fighting the entire command group by himself. He has killed over half of them but they are beginning to adjust and are attempting to contain him. The commander is also back on his feet, a bizarre mace in hand and is about to attack the Beserk.
D) You immediately leave the battle and go after Serpent and Christine, sure she "spared" you but you are determined to save your friend and get a little revenge.
E) Nine's voice whispers in the back of your mind , she says that she could end this whole battle in an instant if you would just let her in... You have had enough, damn the consequences, this ends now... you let her in.
F) Freeform
