'On
whose orders?'
The mumbling, grumbling figure is quite surprised to see Thanatos approaching him from the left.
“Greetings pilgrim!”
Thanatos has a smile and his hands away from weapons.
“We are fellow travellers, and we too have a mission on the mortal realm.”
“No outbounds they say,” complains the robed figure in the iron mask, “looks like you will be out of luck like me.”
“Not necessarily,” says Thanatos putting a conspiratorial arm on the man’s shoulder, “come with me we might have a way.”
“I cannot discuss our mission in detail,” says Jedran, “my master gave me strict instructions about secrecy. Suffice it to say that we have to find and eliminate a threat... and humans can move much more freely in the mortal realm than demons can. And I believe that we will be able to get through the blockade.”
“This isn’t Tormentriach business is it?” asks iron mask and Jedran scoffs, “Tormentriach, ha, we answer to a master far greater than they.”
“If you can get me through to the mortal realm,” says iron mask, “I’ll certainly help you in your mission if I can.”
“Well you may accompany us,” says Jedran, “but you will have to excuse us for a few moments. We need to discuss some aspects of our mission.” Xav’ nods to the figure and taps his own nose in a ‘hush hush I’m sure you understand’ sort of way.
“Toad! I should have known that. He was being too co-operative, he must have known that there would be an ambush.”
Jedran is fuming and is stomping around their spot out of earshot of iron mask.
“Only he could have guessed that Nightingale might attempt to get onto the Dark Lands and arrange for a welcoming party! No one else knew we were here. No-one. And did he say 'Guys, there may be some trouble?' Oh no, 'just walk down the path.' If the alliance wasn't over, it is now - I'll rip his lungs out. I'll... I'll... calm down and defeat him yet." The liche pulls himself together. Perhaps the strain of recent deaths is taking its toll.
However he is not calm for long when he sees Saffy petting a large, black, familiar-looking demonic wolf. It appears to be the creature which met them at the edge of the forest and was to lead them to the lair of H’ragul.
“Step away from the wolf,” he declares authoritatively only for the creature to growl at him and go back to nuzzling into Saffy.
“It seems friendly,” says Kyrin, but the beast growls at her, “well to Saffy anyway.”
The creature had approached Saffy out of the darkness and as far as she is able to tell it wishes to stay at her side as if it wishes to be her companion and protector.
“Look we know who it’s come from so it will be dripping with spells,” hisses Jedran who has the ‘dead wolf’ look in his eyes.
“Look I’ll cast Detect Magic,” announces Jud’.
<Grrroowwwll>
“I mean Saffy, you cast Detect Magic.”
Saffy nods to Jud’ and casts the spell which reveals no magic on the beast at all.
“Maybe he really does like you,” says Kyrin and Fern nudges the fighter and joins in with, “A gift from a boyfriend it looks to me.”
“Alright,” declares Thanatos, “let’s settle down and make our plans!”
“Look tough and mercenary,” Xav’ hisses to Jud’ as they follow Thanatos towards the mordel, the mage adjusting her walk into an almost manly gait which unfortunately looks a little like she may have constipation.
“Halt!” calls out one of the mordel as the gurauko shuffle to form a line. “You are wasting your time if you wish to cross to ‘otherside’ as no outbounds are currently permitted!”
“What do you mean I cannot pass?”
Jud’ and the others are a little taken aback by the dark voice that issues from the lips of Thanatos.
“Do you know who I am?” he bellows as he strides forwards towards the mordel. “Who's your commander? Who is your lord and master?”
The mordel is caught a little off-guard by the questions coming thick and fast at him and Thanatos is able to get quite close.
“I answer to H’kar,” replies the mordel, “and it is under his orders that we stop anyone wishing to go outbound!”
“Well,” says Thanatos, his stare almost hypnotic, “I have a message for H’kar on the personal orders of Gorgul.”
“Well I can have the message taken to him,” says the mordel as Thanatos touches the ring and moves his hand a little.
“No, you probably think I really ought to be taking these important orders directly to H’kar myself with my comrades.”
“You should take these orders straight to H’kar,” says the mordel as he turns to the guruako and indicates for them to part and make way. The gurauko look a little confused and so do the other two mordel as the groups make their way through with Thanatos in the lead.
“Is this really a good idea?” asks Saffy as she joins Xav’, Thanatos and the others who are already stood at the top of the rise.
Some four hundred yards away is the beach where can be seen the wooden landing stage atop which is a wooden construction from which hangs a huge ornate bell. It looks like the bell is possibly one that is struck on the outside or swung if a clapper is present beneath it. No vessel is currently present near or around the landing stage.
This however is not what is worrying Saffy. It is the massed ranks of mirauko, gurauko, mordel, flying creatures and unusual demonic types that are stood, sat and led in bored waiting. There are over eighty creatures armed with a variety of weapons. The nine flying beasts resemble some form of Dark Wyvern with tails that end at what almost looks like glowing blue organic cudgels.
Thanatos is already off marching confidently along the track that leads down to the landing stage, followed by the others.
Saffy pats ‘growler’ on the back of the head and taking a deep breath she heads down after them.
“On whose orders did you say?”
The voice drips in slime and sweat.
The groups are about twenty yards from the landing stage being watched by most of the force whilst the fat hovering form of H’kar questions them.
“We work for Gorgul,” repeats Thanatos, “Since the K'norian witch has not shown up, Gorgul has ordered us to go and find her. We can blend in among the humans much better than demons can. It is not even clear that she is coming. It seems that the information came from the traitor Walker, who F'nor has condemned to death. We require your assistance to summon the craft at once.”
“You ordering me!” challenges the fifteen foot round H’kar for whom diplomacy is not his way.
“I said,” explains Thanatos calmly, “that we require your assistance.”
“Nastak! Hanarg!” bellows H’kar and from down near the landing stage a four foot long beetle takes to the air being ridden by what looks to be a leather clad dark kin. The dark kin has a strange bag strapped to the front of it.
The beetle hovers next to H’kar who gibbers something to the dark kin who in turn rummages in the bag and pulls out a crystal orb.
“Let us find out why G’orgul has not spoken to me,” declares H’kar as he starts to rub the orb between his fat sausage fingers.
