Restoration of the Alliance, Part 3

[Yasden]

Of course, the Per had been revived by Halaster when the drow and troll reached the humming blue portal on their way out of Undermountain. They both slew it, once again, and stepped through the portal that led into the hidden svirfneblin mines. Halfway through the mines on their return trek to the river, Targsk broke the silence.

'Go with Teej. I go back training. I know way back.'

'Ok, General. Wish me luck.'

'You be fine. If Teej put self on line too, dragon no kill both of you unless stupid dragon.'

Nilan shrugged as he turned around, making his way back to the portal, as his stealth skills would easily allow him to sneak through Undermountain and meet up with Teej much faster than if he walked on the surface.

Targsk watched the drow leave, then quickly made his way through the river, coming to the Gloomhaven Barge. He entered the barge, waiting for it to sail. The eelmaster had apparently gotten new giant eels to pull the barge, his jaunts to and from Gloomhaven were extremely fast. The layover time waiting from the south side had, unfortunately, increased dramatically as a result, too. The troll wasn't the most patient creature, so it wasn't long before he pulled out one of his recently sharpened blades and started carving into the nearest wood panel of the vessel.

The troll was just finishing up carving the slogan 'Udos phuul d'lil olath, sarn udossa!' into the wood as the loud *crack* of a whip resonated throughout the dark caves, the barge suddenly lurching forward almost immediately after. Finally, it moved.

The barge arrived at the lower forges of Gloomhaven within minutes, and the troll practically leapt off the barge as it docked, quickly making his way out of the city. He passed through the settlement, which held the duergar resistance. The resistance was a small force who sought to overthrow the monarchy of Gloomhaven, although had never been brazen enough to try. Several water weirds were dispatched as he crossed through the murky waters of the underground river, climbing a chasm and opening a secret trapdoor inside Goortok's home. The ogre magi only offered a casual nod as Targsk moved the boulder aside that concealed his home, obviously in the middle of concocting something.

As the troll made his way through the strongholds scattered throughout Mt. Skelenak, he observed the stone walls that surrounded him. He hadn't ever given this place a second glance until learning of the epic battle ten millennia ago. Now, every time he set foot here, he wondered just how many were buried here, how many had died for the cause back then. How many would die this time? Would he fall just like Arex did?

He pushed those thoughts out of his mind, moving through several herds of buffalo, east through the mountains and eventually coming to the remnants of what was once the Barony of Bloodstone. Even still, after this long, the stench of decay and death lingered over the place like an ominous haze, perhaps serving as a warning as to what will come should the Alliance fail to stop Auzorm'tvorl.

Bloodstone had been home to many criminals, vagrants, vagabonds, murderers, thieves, rapists, the insane, and had even housed an orphanage. It was once truly heaven for sadists and powerhungry humans, as seen by the vast span of charred buildings and structures. The gates had somehow been repaired, perhaps by the few that had resumed life here in an attempt to keep future invaders out. No aid had been sent into Damara to help rebuild, as the place was despised and loathed by most of the rest of the Realms. Rumors spoke of a knight by the name of Gareth Dragonsbane currently travelling the country with his army, seeking to destroy Zhengyi the Witch-King and reunite the country under one banner. Time would tell if he would succeed or not.

The troll tried to remember where Stephan's was in the rubble, nothing being the same anymore as it was before Orcus and his minions sent the place up in a blazing inferno. He came to what was once Cyloc square, recognizing the remnants of the fountain, and headed north, eventually coming to a large intersection. South and east he traveled, stepping over debris, rubble, and many other unidentifiable things, eventually coming to Stephan's. When asked of the whereabouts of Ticarios, Stephan only pointed west out the door, resuming the rebuilding of his inn.

The dark knight was feeding his mount when the troll approached, arms open in a gesture of peace. The troll peered about the area, sensing a lifeform around but not seeing it. Who knew what lurked amongst the ruins anymore.

'Took you long enough.'

'Velg'larn talk much, Teej have many questions for him.'

The young knight smirked. 'We'll wait for Teej to arrive before we begin.'

'We talk much about plan, she have good ideas.'

'Well, to tell you the truth troll, they were mostly mine. But we'll talk about that when she's here.'

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

'Where are they?,' Tocx'enth'orix hissed at the knight.

'They will be used to help us kill the priest, then they will die in turn,' Teej explained. She was dealing with an elder black dragon, and she had to tread very lightly.

'I ask a boon of you, great lady. The drow who'd handled Teflor finally spoke with me.'

The elder black dragon sneered at the mention of Nilan, slashing her tail out irately, snapping a nearby log into splinters.

'He says Teflor had been his spy, until he developed a thirst for power. Then he betrayed Nilan. Nilan says he'd tried to tell us of this, but was unsuccessful. I do not like him and avoid him where I can, I did not help him inform us of the situation if such were his intent.'

Tocx'enth'orix immediately replied. 'He chose incompetant spies. The drow I associated with were smarter in their choice of agents.'

Teej nodded in agreement, adding a simple statement. 'Nilan is a fool.'

'We have a plan to use Teflor's control over Nilan to get them into position where we can kill them,' the knight continued.

'This is necessary?,' the dragon asked curiously.

'No,' Teej murmured softly. 'The plan is already in place, they've established it before deigning to bother speaking with me, we might as well use it. They wish the priest dead. I feel he's done us a great service by flushing out the fools.'

'The priest will die too for his allegience and his role in the attack on the hatchling,' Tocx'enth'orix stated, almost demandingly.

'I agree that his value will end, and when it does, he should also. If I had my way, the priest would be completely unaware of the attack planned by Teflor and Ayra, who seek to usurp his position. We would ambush them, before they could ambush him. We would slaughter them mercilessly. We would continue observing the priest's actions, and discover thus those who are against our efforts.'

'They will die trying, Auzorm'tvorl never had much use for incompetance or for fools,' the dragon hissed, small droplets of acid touching the water's surface in which they were situated.

Teej nodded in agreement. 'Great lady, there is one who'd sought to be my spy. Cirath. He will be eliminated as well. He has yet to report to me. That must be a different plan, however.'

'Does he know anything of importance?'

'He has met with Quanenthur. He knows of the Three. He might be aware that Lilira had acted under my orders. He had never gained trust of the leaders of the Strike Force, or of Tsakchanar, as far as I've heard.'

'I recognize the name now. The hatchling spoke of a poor bargain with him,' Tocx'enth'orix said quietly.

At that, Tocx'enth'orix hooked a talon under Teej's breastplate and hefted her up to head level, crimon eyes glaring. 'All things in their time. The mortals who have or who will betray must die.'

'It is scheduled for the Day of Thunder,' the knight whispered.

Satisfied, the elder black dragon slowly lowered her back down to the ground.

'The priest might be difficult,' Teej said, lowering her eyes.

'He is only mortal,' Tocx'enth'orix replied, as though the knight had asked her a question.

'As are those of us who go to face him,' Teej countered, 'and his silversaan guard, and whatever thanatars he brings.'

'Be less mortal than he.'

Teej grinned. 'It is my hope to have Teflor and Ayra waste themselves assisting the rest of us to kill the priest, and then we shall turn on them. Sonon as well, should he be there. As for Nilan...he understands his error.'

The drake slowly nodded her head. 'My Kin will agree to still bear you mortals, provided you have eliminated the others who would betray us.'

'I ask that you go to Nilan, please. Hear him out, then if you wish him dead he will be at your mercy. Regardless, he will assist us on Thursday, and aims to assassinate Ayra for us and for you.'

'The drow should not try to think. The other Hand knew this, she knew her place,' the dragon quipped.

Teej muttered a few things about Nilan being a very poor excuse for much of anything at all.

'I'll look for him,' the drake hissed.

'I have asked him to meet you at the silver's lair. That he might see the results of his inaction, before he face you,' Teej offered.

'I will see the drow,' Tocx'enth'orix said with a nod.

With that, the mighty elder black dragon rose out of the murky water she rested in, stretched her wings, and took to the sky.

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

The drow observed the carnage that resided within what was once the lair of Tskchanar. Bodies, most mangled and torn to shreds, were everywhere. Blood was splattered all over the ground and the trees. The metallic remnants of thanatars and silversaan littered the ground as well. A few small glimmering scales were evidence of the silver's presence here at one point.

'What have you done, Teflor?' the drow asked aloud, although no one else could hear.

A large shadow suddenly blacked out the sky, and a massive gust of wind blew forest debris around the drow. Tocx'enth'orix landed on the ground in front of the drow, pacing a full circle around the foolish assassin before finally speaking.

'Teej tells me you have something to say,' she said. 'But first, I am aware of the plan the Alliance has set for the Day of Thunder. Once the traitors and this missionary are dead, we will bear you all for the assault on the mountain.'

The drow nodded, bowing low. 'Lady dragon, I am sorry for what happened here. Teflor was my responsibility and I should have kept a better eye on him. But I am not responsible for this attack on your kin, and I would never do such a thing to harm the Alliance.'

'A lesson learned. You are, after all, a mortal. It will not happen again. Should any future mistakes like this occur, I will not hesitate to use your bones to pick your flesh from my teeth.'

Nilan nodded, seeming to bow even lower, nearly touching the ground.

'Your forgiveness will not be forgotten, lady drake.'

'I await the results of your task, Hand of Vhaeraun. Do not disappoint me,' Tocx'enth'orix said, acidic spittle oozing from her maw as she took flight, leaving the drow to contemplate the full magnitude of his arrogant mistake.

{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}{}

Several hours passed, the knight and troll sharing stories, the troll passing on small bits of combat wisdom to the knight. Night came and the sun had begun to rise when the sound of hooves faintly approaching stirred Targsk from slumber.

'Wake up knight, hear horse.'

The knight sat up, and let out a shrill whistle. It was replied to with a low cawing sound.

'Yeah, she's waiting on the gates to open, she'll be here in a few moments.'

The troll suited up, always prepared for danger nowadays, watching the knight do the same. He never could figure out how anyone could fight on horseback. The troll relied on his shield far more than he could an animal that could spook.

Teej entered the room of what was once the Shargass Pet Shop, dismounting her nightmare and tying the reins to the most secure beam she could find.

'Glad to see you could make it here so quickly, General,' Teej said to Targsk.

'Had to lie Velg'larn so he go see dragon right away,' he said with a shrug.

'I think I've come up with a proper means of ambush,' Ticarios said immediately.

'I thought we'd already agreed on the previous plan?' Teej asked.

'We have, but I'm not quite certain on where we should be lying in wait,' Ticarios said. 'I was contemplating hiding out under the stump north of the ferry and waiting there.'

'I don't like it,' Teej said coldly. 'There's orcs and other fiends that lurk down there.'

'I will defer to your leadership, Teej. What about Cirath?'

Teej sneered. 'He will pay for killing Lilira, just like Teflor will pay for betraying Nilan.'

At that moment, a hooded figure stepped out from behind a partially burned wall. Both Teej and Targsk drew their blades, looking around for others coming to join. The figure removed its hood.

Teej gasped. 'Lilira! It's so good to see you're ok!'

The knight sheathed her sword and immediately gave the half-elf a crushing hug, tears welling up in her eyes.

'It had to be done,' Lilira whispered. 'Axater helped me free myself from this, so that I may be of more use to you now.'

The knight nodded. 'And of use you shall be!'

Ticarios, all the while, had been grinning from ear to ear. 'This is what I meant by a change of plan.'

The young knight went on to explain the details of how he would use the supposed death of Lilira to lure Sonon's guilty conscience into escorting the missionary to the monolith. Lilira would unveil herself at the moment the missionary was attacked, aiding Teej's party in the cause.

After he was finished, Teej looked at Targsk. 'You've been quiet, General. Do you have any thoughts?'

The troll shook his head. 'Plan change too much, head hurt now. I just follow what you two decide. We kill silversaan, you kill missionary, all kill Teflor Ayra when done.'

The other three chuckled. The plan was set.

[Sonon]

how do you people play emotions like that? ooc: irl i would love to be able to do that./ooc

[Yasden]

*bump*