Post by storyteller on Feb 5, 2009 9:00:13 GMT -5
Brother Tobias of the small Christian church in Mittelmarch, swept between the pews one late evening. His nerves began to settle after the Jovian attack a month or so ago. He was sure his practices would not be allowed. But here was another service had taken place, though the numbers have dropped. People’s faith still intrigues him in these dire times.
The doors creaked open and Tobias turned to see four Jovian Soldiers holding torches. Fear came over him.
With a deathly grin one soldier spoke, “Father, your services are no longer required. Don’t worry we’ll be quick.”
The soldier tossed his torch into a drape. Then from the shaded rafters above came a soft voice.
“So will I.”
Like a panther to its prey, the hooded shadow put its foot into the teeth of the sneering soldier. Soldier's head cracked on a pew then the floor. Another stabbed at the shadow, but with ease it slid by and with a precise grab the shadow snapped his arm. Before he screamed a fist crushed his wind pipe. Then the shadow snatched his chin and the back of his head and wrenched his neck till it snapped. The other two readied, but the shadow pulled a small crossbow from its back and fired a bolt into the head of one. The last sped for the door, but the shadow easily caught up sliding, taking the legs out from the soldier, his face crashed into a brass cross that sat on a stand near the door. It all crashed to the wooden floor. He rolled over begging for his life, but the shadow gave no pity. It pulled a dagger from its boot and slid the edge across his neck and eased back up with no care for the soldier. The shadow turned to the Brother Tobias.
“Are you alright Tobias?”
Tobias distraught, “I…Helvaryn…I thought I was surely dead.”
“And you will be if you don’t get out of here.”
The shadow lowered his hood to reveal a pale Elvin man, his long white hair tied back. Helvaryn is his name. Known too many has the Librarian of Mittelmarch. None really knew his past, none really asked. He was once an assassin believed to be from the Second Age, Tobias knew this, and few others as well. It was he started the Thieves Guild many years ago, and it was he who put Oof in charge with it. He noticed that there was more to Oof than he let on. There’s more than shadows for one to hide, he told Oof as he shared with him the ways of the Guild.
“Do you have it, Tobias?” the shadow asked as the fire began to spread around the building
Tobias nodded and grabbed a gothic cross that sat in a corner. He grabbed the circle portions and popped it off the cross. The brown color flaked off to reveal glimmering ruby. He rubbed the rest off. It was the Azoth Gate. Tobias handed it to him.
“Thank you, brother. Now go, you know how to get out of town.”
An hour or so later Helvaryn stood in the hidden Thieves Guild talking to Oof.
“Oof, this cannot be found by Shatar’s men. Get it out of Mittelmarch. I will continue my surveillance in the keep.”
Oof nodded, “I will also warn the other priests in town, it is no longer safe for them.”
“Good idea, my friend.”
Helvaryn walked into the night.
A different war was starting, one that would not take place on the battlefield, but in the shadow of the mighty empire.
The doors creaked open and Tobias turned to see four Jovian Soldiers holding torches. Fear came over him.
With a deathly grin one soldier spoke, “Father, your services are no longer required. Don’t worry we’ll be quick.”
The soldier tossed his torch into a drape. Then from the shaded rafters above came a soft voice.
“So will I.”
Like a panther to its prey, the hooded shadow put its foot into the teeth of the sneering soldier. Soldier's head cracked on a pew then the floor. Another stabbed at the shadow, but with ease it slid by and with a precise grab the shadow snapped his arm. Before he screamed a fist crushed his wind pipe. Then the shadow snatched his chin and the back of his head and wrenched his neck till it snapped. The other two readied, but the shadow pulled a small crossbow from its back and fired a bolt into the head of one. The last sped for the door, but the shadow easily caught up sliding, taking the legs out from the soldier, his face crashed into a brass cross that sat on a stand near the door. It all crashed to the wooden floor. He rolled over begging for his life, but the shadow gave no pity. It pulled a dagger from its boot and slid the edge across his neck and eased back up with no care for the soldier. The shadow turned to the Brother Tobias.
“Are you alright Tobias?”
Tobias distraught, “I…Helvaryn…I thought I was surely dead.”
“And you will be if you don’t get out of here.”
The shadow lowered his hood to reveal a pale Elvin man, his long white hair tied back. Helvaryn is his name. Known too many has the Librarian of Mittelmarch. None really knew his past, none really asked. He was once an assassin believed to be from the Second Age, Tobias knew this, and few others as well. It was he started the Thieves Guild many years ago, and it was he who put Oof in charge with it. He noticed that there was more to Oof than he let on. There’s more than shadows for one to hide, he told Oof as he shared with him the ways of the Guild.
“Do you have it, Tobias?” the shadow asked as the fire began to spread around the building
Tobias nodded and grabbed a gothic cross that sat in a corner. He grabbed the circle portions and popped it off the cross. The brown color flaked off to reveal glimmering ruby. He rubbed the rest off. It was the Azoth Gate. Tobias handed it to him.
“Thank you, brother. Now go, you know how to get out of town.”
An hour or so later Helvaryn stood in the hidden Thieves Guild talking to Oof.
“Oof, this cannot be found by Shatar’s men. Get it out of Mittelmarch. I will continue my surveillance in the keep.”
Oof nodded, “I will also warn the other priests in town, it is no longer safe for them.”
“Good idea, my friend.”
Helvaryn walked into the night.
A different war was starting, one that would not take place on the battlefield, but in the shadow of the mighty empire.