Moturdrn

[03-Aug-2005]

*a letter with the seal of the Kaldorian Intelligence Services of Gorimdor*

For the attention of: Commander Cal Soulshadow

Commander,

I write to you with information in regards to the female body found at the residence of the Bludhaven's.

Whilst the identify of the body is still unknown, it has however been confirmed that it does not belong to Visko Bludhaven.

Another body, suspected to be that of one of the cultists has been found, this time not far outside of the port where the Gorimdor-Akalabeth ferry docks and sets sail.

The chipped piece of bone helm has also gone under examination, and we believe it to be several months old at the most.


I shall write to inform you of any further progessions in the investigation.

Signed
Intelligence Officer Úistean

__________________

Moturdrn

It had been over two and a half years. Two and a half years since she the first time she'd set foot on the soil of Gorimdor. Well, the first time since she was left in Akalabeth as a child at least.

Two and a half years since the betrayal. Betrayal by her own family, her brother, a cultist. She had fought in Raza's name before, against many in Akalabeth, but that night she had truly been baptised in fire and blood against the cultists of Xathos. Yet, one still eluded her, Raugin.

She'd travelled to and from Gorimdor and Akalabeth, constantly in search, chasing him. But when she arrived, he'd either move on and left destruction and death in his path, or had been fended off. She'd grown weary of these cat and mouse games. The quicker this was over with, the better. Then she remembered that tome.

Two and a half years since she had gotten rid of that... Well, to be honest she didn't actually know what it was. Sure, it was a tome, that much was known. But it felt much more, and it still called. Perhaps she just imagined it. No... It felt much more... real. She saw it plummet, disappear into the fiery depths of the molten rock, yet still it was here. Yet still it was unscratched, untouched by the fires, the red and green colouring as deep as it was the day she came into possession of it. She thought back, possession was rather ironic. The tormented screams that returned with it, seemingly replacing the parts of her being that left with its return. The presence had returned, and whilst not controlling, it didn't prevent it from staying quiet, from retreating.

It's a threat, it must be destroyed...

Such thoughts still lingered with her. Thoughts not her own. She'd deal with it another time, however. For now, she wanted every advantage she could use against Raugin. It had become like an obsession. One that must be stopped, no matter the cost.

Carefully wrapping up the Soul Trap Gem into a silk cloth, she placed it delicately into a pouch suspended from the belt on her kilt. The light emanating from the gem still visible, until the pouch was securely closed.

NIKO
She called out, the Armourer hurriedly answering the call.

Y..yes Visko?

Ye all set for the journey?

Aye, everythin' be packed up and ready to go.

Grand... Go on ahead, I'll catch up with ye later.
Niko nodded, then left as quickly as she had entered.

She put down the notice from the General. The recall had been given. The timing couldn't have been better. Raugin had apparently been setting up camp once more in Gorimdor, and this time there'd be no escape.

One way or another, this would soon end...

__________________

Moturdrn

She looked up. The walls were higher than she'd imagined they'd be. Steel, all the way up.

You did your best...
She turned around and noticed the figure becoming darker, retreating into the shadows as it spoke. The voice trailing off, she till it was almost a mumble. The shadows soon enveloped her.


*************************


Ye best be hopeful as that's the truth...
She turned away from the cultist she'd been interrogating. Well, interrogating wasn't quite the word. To be put simply, he'd been through hell and back. Still, she had her answer.

It is... Not that it'll do ye any good. He knows you're here. He knows your plan. You have no hope to survive.

I'm aware. I'm also aware that he knows my whereabouts, else ye'd nay 'ave found me. No, he want's me to seek 'im out, else someone more adept would've been sent then yeself.
She turned her head slightly to look at him out of the corner of her eye.

Release me and I'll show ye how much ye've underestimated me.
He snarled through clenched teeth. Or at least he would've, had most of them not been knocked out. Visko raised an eyebrow. She had to admit, this one was entertaining at least.

No... Ye'll be more use te meself alive. For now at least. We move.


-------------------------


The flaming cultist was a great success as a distraction. Granted, it had also shut the sap up, but that was merely an added bonus. She slipped into the tunnel network undetected, the guarding cultists now pre-occupied with this sudden appearance of one of their own in a ball of flame.

For several hours she travelled deeper and deeper into the tunnels. She sensed the power closer with every step that she took... Every step, until there she was at the ledge.

I'd say I knew ye were comin' 'ere, but ye already knew that, sister.

She looked around, she was on a stone platform, in a large stone cave. Below was only darkness. Opposite was another ledge, upon which was...

Raugin...
Visko snarled.

In Vas Por!

The cave hardly shook.

Raugin tilted his head to the left slightly and laughed.
Ye nay thought it'd be that simple did ye? These tunnels were chosen fer a reason. A simple earthquake spell will nay bring then down. 'n what's this, no friendly greetin' fer yer own brother now?

Ye quit bein' family when ye became a follower of yer dead God, when ye 'ad our own father murdered, when ye made attempts on nay only myself, but also the army.

Pity. I was prepared to give ye one more chance te redeem yerself. One more chance te be able te fight side by side, how we both once wished. One more chance at true power.

Ye know I'd never accept.

Then ye know what comes next...

Aye...

The fighting commenced. Spells were flung back and forth. The darkness below illuminated briefly as the spells were directed to the opposite side.
Necrotic death spell, after necrotic death spell. Raugin continued to cast the spells woven of chaos at Visko.
Visko retaliated each time with her own compBluent of spells. She harnessed the power of the withering cold, and the burning fire, and cast them effortlessly towards Raugin.
Each deflected the others spells, until they were all but finished.

Ye've improved... It would be a pity te 'ave te kill ye, but alas, such is fate.

I'd say the same about yerself. Visko looked around herself, at where the spells had missed. But yer couldnae even 'it a non-moving target.

Raugin laughed.

Nor could you, sis.

True... or at least it would be, were ye the target.
Raugin looked surprised, taken off guard by this. He looked around himself, giving Visko the chance to begin casting uninterrupted once more.

In...

Raugin glanced at the stone walls that surrounded them, where the frost and fire spells had impacted, and whisper to himself.
What possible purpose could...
His eyes widened as he realised.

Vas...

Panicked, he looked at the platform he stood on, where more of the spells had impacted. Sure enough, he began to see the cracks. The constant freezing and heating up of the stone weakening it.

Por!

Quickly he looked over to Visko, realising the plan all to late, as the earthquake began to take effect on the weakened stone.

Small pieces of rock began to fall, followed by larger and larger pieces, until eventually both platforms gave way under the stress, and both began to fall to the darkness below.

*****

She looked around. She was no longer in the tunnel network. Around her was rivers of fire and blood. Infront of her stood a great city of steel.

Impressive isn't it, child?

Visko turned and stepped back in shock.

F...ather?

Koyla nodded.

Aye, tis indeed.

Visko looked around.

It's greater than could ever be imagined... I'm speechless.

Koyla smiled.

Ye did well, Visko.

Raugin... is he?

I cannae say. He's too far gone from us te know. All that surrounds him is death and decay, but I feel there's nay more te fear from 'im.

Visko closed her eyes.

Ye did the right thing. He'd turned his backs on us all, distorted by the power of Xathos. Tis better it were yeself 'n nay someone else te end it.

She nodded and opened her eyes, turning back to look at the city. She looked up. The walls were higher than she'd imagined they'd be. Steel, all the way up.

You did your best...
She turned around and noticed the figure of her father becoming darker, retreating into the shadows as it spoke. The voice trailing off, she till it was almost a mumble. The shadows soon enveloped her.


*************************


... but it is not yet your time.

She awoke with a start, the room was silent, save for the sound of her breath. She was lying on the cold stone floor. The cold stone floor that was bathed in a crimson red and littered with rocks. She looked over to a large pile of rocks. Blood still dripping from inbetween them, directly below where Raugin would've fallen from. It was done. All there was to do now, was to leave. For now, she'd close her eyes and rest. It hurt to move, it hurt to think. Infact, it just hurt like hell. But she was alive. No, she'd rest and close her eyes for now, and move when the pain had dulled. She was in no rush now.

She closed her eyes, and for the first time in a long time, drifted effortlessly off to sleep.

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