The Chronicles of Mystria: Times of Sorrow I

[Yesopalitha]

On the way to Caltris

After healing the Samurai, Nirdasil led her Chosen to Caltris, helping people, picking up more Chosen along the way, and creating a positive atmosphere. Not a single blade had been raised by either side yet.. But she knew that a moment would come soon where the new resolve of the Chosen would be tested.

"Ma'am, we'll be needing supplies again soon," reported a Vampire.

Her Dark Fog had helped even her Vampires march in daylight. Yes, it did unnerve people, but she needed them to be able to move.

"Very well... What is the nearest town nearby where we can barter/buy food?" Nirdasil asked.

"Dyrisal, My Lady. They have enough food there that we could buy to last us for a while," the Vampire commented.

Nirdasil started to lead her party to Dyrisal.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Few Days Later, in the Outskirts of Dyrisal

"All right. We march in the open, our weapons visible but not unsheathed. We march in a neat fashion, flags visible and all. Then, we will stand for three hours, to show we don't mean to attack. Afterwards, I will go myself, unarmed, to the city in order to barter. Is that understood?" Nirdasil directed.

"Isn't that risky, Ma'am?" a Vampire asked concernedly.

"Perhaps so. But most Bidden do not know that I changed form. And to have them trust us we must trust first. Now, march!"

The Chosen of Zaiden marched into the open, away from bowshot, but showing that they didn't mean any harm, and set up camp about a half mile from the town, visible from the walls.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan nodded, and slipped into the crowd, vanishing after a moment, his robe black and gray, easily fading into the crowd. He had to find the friend... this was the one that carried the sword, he had said. This meant it was the Duskblade. He remembered the story, and so now he hunted. Tiny, black eyes like onyx spheres popped up, in a slowly-expanding circle around him -inside the walls, searching for her, for the one with the Duskblade.

[Metanih]

Of course, Mari was hiding the Duskblade, because being seen with it would draw attention. She and Cherry were disguised as simple travelers, their weaponry concealed. The eyes would have serious trouble finding her.

[Yesopalitha]

In the Mountains around Terradin

The Trolls had gathered in a huge natural cavern. There were about ten of them, leaders of groups of Trolls that lived throughout the mountains. They had come to hear the Chief.

"All right! Listen you dweebs! The tiny filthy Dwarves have made us hide in these caves for too long! They hoard their riches and don't share! Mean Dwarves! We are Trolls! We deserve to be treated as Kings!" The Chief shouted.

The other Trolls yelled and screamed their agreement.

"So in a few days we're going to attack Terradin! They won't know what hit them, and then the Dwarves will be ours! All their riches! Food! Land! Gold!"

More yells. Of course, no Troll was smart enough to point out that the Dwarves would just come back and kill them all... They just wanted to kill Dwarves.

Then the Trolls started to compare the size of their swords... and yeah. Just boring stuff from here on.

[Crystal Spires]

"Thank you guards. We will heed your advice." Mari said, her and Cherry walking away, towards the side streets, and occasionally asking directions to the main judicial building, which seemed to be similar to the Thane's office. Cherry thought that Jabrill would go there first.

A cheetah beastling sat on the corner of Terradin lighting up a cigarette as he prepared his flamberge sword.

Where is he? He's supposed to have been here days ago if my intel is correct. This is boring.

He spotted Mari and Cherry and approached them with a cunning smile.

"Good day ladies, can I trouble you with some fine wares? They're straight from Caltris, and the best in town. Can I interest you in any of them?" he said with his best smile.

[Metanih]

"What do you sell?" Cherry asked. Mari was occupied with ignoring him. Beastlings were a lot of trouble sometimes, and Mari only wanted to deal with one, Jabrill. Cherry, however, was very friendly, and had no problem with beastlings.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan cursed- the eyes were all over the city, and yet... no Blade. He needed to find her. "Damnit..." he muttered, standing in the center of Main Street, searching for anyone who looked even remotely like they could have a special sword. Not a normal sword, no, he could feel the power. He remembered the feel of the Grimoire, and searched for the same power, the same feel, the strength.

[Metanih]

Of course, the Grimoire was on Cherry, so that magic could be noticeable. Cherry was not paying attention to him, and neither was Mari.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Found it. Dar'khan stepped out of an alley, looking at the pair. One has the Grimoire... does the other have the Sword? he wondered idly, tapping the stones in his hand together, knowing he had to find out. So he stepped out, and gently tapped the woman with the Grimoire on the shoulder. "Pardon me, miss?" he asked quietly, for all the world a normal, old man.

[Metanih]

Mari turned, but Cherry was still speaking with the salesman. "Yes sir? What do you want?" She said in a cold tone. She was only here for Jabrill, and she disliked the town. Everything about it was wrong. Underground, so few plants, so... engineered. Nothing like her hometown. It was putting her on edge. She really disliked it, and it showed.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan looked at the woman - no, the other one had the Grimoire. He would ask the other one. He looked at Mari with a cold, borderline emotionless glare, only showing a small amount of annoyance, and looked to Cherry again. "Miss?" he asked once more, shaking his head almost imperceptibly at the Shopkeeper, and tapping his purse lightly - bribing the man to stop talking to her, and let Dar'khan talk - he would pay the man later.

[Metanih]

"Cherry. Annoying Human-thing here. Wants to talk to you." Mari said, and Cherry turned, a sad look on her face. "But, i might have wanted something." Cherry said, sadly.
"Sorry, this one, being annoying, as i mentioned, wants to talk to you." Mari said, rolling her eyes.
"Yes?" Cherry said.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan looked her over. "Not exactly what I would have thought Jabrill would have given it to..." he murmured, sadly, and then his voice strengthened, a tone of cold rage in his words. "Which one of you has the Sword?"

[Metanih]

"Jabrill? You know him? If you do, i suppose it is ok to mention that i do." Mari said, showing him the Duskblade beneath her cloak. "Assuming this is the sword you meant." Mari said, glaring. This man was cold, in an annoying way, for no discernable reason. It bugged her, quite a bit.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan nodded, in a way of respect, and fetched a small leather pouch from his belt, showing her the Stones. "He said to give these to you, and to say he is sorry. I am also commanded, though not by him, to keep him free. He cannot die, and he must remain free." He nodded, and then remembered. "Ah, and, well, sorry for being so cold."

[Metanih]

"I assure you, with these, Jabrill will assuredly be free." Mari said, picking them up. "Thank you for aiding us, and Jabrill, and possibly whoever ordered you to keep him alive. For now, we share that goal." She finished, as Cherry took off the locket, and began looking for places to insert the stones.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan looked at the Amulet. "You hold three of the Artifacts? Impressive... especially for one not originally a Seeker, that is an accomplishment." He smiled. "Ah... may I please use the Grimoire? I am told it answers any question, and this is important, to me at least."

[Metanih]

"Perhaps. We should go somewhere more secluded for now." Mari said, leading the trio to an alleyway, before getting the Grimoire out, as Cherry worked the Locket. "You want to be in private? Please though, return the Grimoire after using it." Mari said.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan nodded, stepping deeper into the shadows and pulling a small, hollow glass rod, pricking his thumb with a hiss of pain, and scrawling slowly into the Grimoire. How is Nirdasil doing? Is her quest going well? How is the fight against the other Unbidden going? As he waited for the Grimoire to respond, he watched the other two skeptically, afraid they would read what he wrote and realize he was Unbidden, then try to kill him.

[Metanih]

Mari respected the man enough to let him ask the question in peace. She went to helping Cherry with the locket, as she did not want to intrude on the man's question. It was obviously private, and not something to pry about. People had secrets. Nice people allowed others to keep those secrets.

[Crystal Spires]

Her heart unrelenting, she will find the God of Illusions, and he will grant her wish

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan nodded, and then closed the book, walking back over to the pair with a slight smile on his face. "All is well..." he murmured, not intending to say it out loud. "Do you two need help?" he asked.

[Metanih]

"I do believe we will be working to free Jabrill, once he is less publicly detained. After that, I have a few loose ends to take care of, but overall, we should be fine. Unless you would like to help us free Jabrill? It won't be for the faint of heart, i assure you." Mari told him. The dwarves were stubborn, and a great many would likely try to stop her from freeing him.

[Crystal Spires]

But the secret was not being kept, as the Merchant who Mari had rebuffed had been listening in from a safe distance. He watched and waited. He knew once he heard the name "Jabrill" that he would be able to get what he came for. He continued to sell his wares and kept a close eye on the group watching and waiting. Keeping an eye out for some sort of indication. A clue as to where he could find that Traitorous Jabrill.

Oh you can beg to the Thane all you want, but you should have known Jabrill, the Thane would have made this quick and painless. The Hands will make this arduous and slow. You better hope I'm the one who finds you. I might be merciful for our friendship's sake, but since you sold me out, I'm not going to forget this Jabrill.

The Beastling watched Mari and Cherry and Dark'han with his sly cheetah eyes.

[The Inritus Extraho]

Dar'khan snapped, a crackle of black energy twisting around his hand. "I'm less helpless then I appear..." he said quietly, smiling. "How do the Stones work with the Locket?" he asked politely. He spotted the shopkeep, and snarled, pointing at the man. "He heard."