First Blood
A cold wind blows in from the east, dark clouds like midnight towers are driven before it, blotting out the stars so that they can not be seen anywhere. An icy rain hammers down from the heavens, hitting the ground hard enough that it springs back up. Everywhere there are deep puddles and lines of slush being half washed away by the rain that is itself partially a snowfall. The gates are open, but not for much longer. There's not many people; most having rushed inside to escape the weather. The guardsmen watch the skies and wonder at the weather.
One figure alone has braved the weather this evening, one seemingly unconcerned by the icy wind and mixed precipitation. Seldan has been there for much of the afternoon, and had spoken openly to the guard when he arrived. A heavy traveler's cloak is thrown over full war panoply, sword and leather all oiled against the elements, the wooden stakes that replace the arrows in the quiver at his hip soaked through. He had asked permission to loiter where none were normally allowed, explaining that the creature stalking Wilderness Pointe may be who he seeks, and had taken up refuge quietly in the eaves of the inn, remaining quiet and out of sight, as he were allowed to do so.
The guards seem happy to have him, more than one of them recognizing the paladin. One asks for his autograph on a doll for his daughter. Tells Seldan that it makes her feel safe at night and thanks the man for his service to the city. It's a long wait.
Eventually however a figure makes it's way down the path from Wilderness Pointe toward the city. It might have seemed an innoxious figure really. Just one more man hurrying toward the gates, but he's not hurrying. If anything he's walking perhaps a touch slowly. Rain pours down his head and over his shoulders. Unstopped by anything. No cloak, no parasol. His green-eyed gaze is distant, and once Seldan notices him, it's impossible to mistake him for anyone else in spite of the fact that he doesn't cut a particularly obvious figure.
GAME: Seldan casts Protection From Evil. Caster Level: 8 DC: 19
Seldan is nonplussed and somewhat embarrassed by the attention, but signs any and all autographs willingly enough before withdrawing into quiet shelter and assuming his usual quietude. When he spots the figure, though, he straightens, and murmurs to any guard close enough to hear him. It is a low thing. "I am correct," he warns seriously. "Get out of sight, and meet not his eyes."
He waits no further, but reaches for the crescent-and-sphere that hangs over his armor. "Holy Dreamer, with your wisdom and grace guide my hand. Shield me from the influence of that which is evil, and if this creature be naught but fell dreams, then in the name of Your holy light, let it be banished whence it came." With that, he steps forward, and into the light.
The man's eyes are glazed over, his expression somewhat distant, though an eerie smile is plastered on his lips. It almost looks as if he were not in his right mind. Something has him distracted beyond the reason that normal men know. The guards scurry away under Seldan's direction. One of them lingers, as if considering joining Seldan in his efforts, but firms and turns away as the man's green eyes land on him. Avoiding all eye contact. And then those green orbs land on Seldan. "Where is amber-eye?!?"
"None by that description are known to me, Kol Demontry." Seldan shows no reaction to the eyeballing from the vampire, only moves to stand two or three paces away, in his path, even as the rain slacks off and then stops abruptly. "What business have you in this place?" He speaks loudly enough for the guards to hear him clearly, but makes no move towards a weapon.
Abruptly the eyes slide away. His shoulders slump. He begins walking toward the city, dismissing Seldan's presence and that of the guards. "Amber-eye." Kol mumbles to himself, step after step carrying him away from Seldan.
Again, Seldan moves to intercept that inexorable walk towards the city, although the response is definitely different, and enough to raise the paladin's inner eyebrows. "You are not the same man who served Salina," he says quietly, his gaze measuring and wary. "The Mourner was right. Naught do you recall. Whence come you here?" His hand moves to his blade, and although he does not yet draw, he clearly also does not intend to let the vampire past him into the city.
There's a blurr of movement from the vampire and he's suddenly just standing in front of Seldan. There's no recognition in his eyes, nothing. They're empty of anything but a need that is so deep that it's left the man inside like a washed-out shell. "Amber-eye. I am looking for him. I promised him pain. You, are standing between me and him." The darkness is rising in those green eyes, filling them up slowly. Like he'd been asleep until now and Seldan is watching him awaken with his eyes already open. "Are you standing between me and him?"
_Not the plan, but if he means who I think he does, then there is but one thing to be done._ For answer, Seldan takes one step back and draws his sword, his even words suddenly as icy as the puddles of slush on the ground. "Come then, Kol. I stand between you and the city gates, and you shall face me, do you do aught other than turn and leave this place. You have no right to any who may be within."
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+29: (8)+29: 37 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Seldan rolls fortitude: (9)+28: 37
Like lightning the vampire responds, a manic grin spreading across his features. "No one stands between me and him!" He slams both hands into Seldan's chest, pushing the paladin back half a step with the strength of the blow and Kol motions with both hands for Seldan to come at him. "Come. Give me pain, give me SOMETHING!"
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se: aliased to weapon1+charisma: (4)+24+8: 36 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma-5: (15)+24+8+-5: 42 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma-10: (3)+24+8+-10: 25 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se: aliased to weapon1+charisma: (17)+24+8: 49
GAME: Seldan rolls 1d8+10+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+10+8: (6)+10+8: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (16)+31: 47 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (11)+31: 42 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (2)+31: 33 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (20)+26: 46 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (14)+26: 40 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (16)+21: 37 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (7)+26: 33
Seldan staggers back half a pace. That was at least as hard as he remembers, and he breathes out. "Dreamer, be my sword and shield as I banish this evil!" he shouts. then touches the chestplate of his armor. It instantly speeds him up, and he lashes out with the blade, an opening sally intended only to get the measure of the man. One lands, but this will be a tough fight, and he knows it the instant only one lands. He is focused now, silent, not responding to anything spoken.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (8)+7: 15 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (14)+7: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (15)+7: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (18)+7: 25
Kol lets loose a similar barrage of attacks, but his are faster, and more of them hit Seldan. The man is facing several punishing blows, most of them to areas where his armor offers him less protection than he'd like. One blow actually manages to hit Seldan in the face, making his ears ring with the sound of nothing for a half-second.
GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of SMITE EVIL. GAME: Seldan spends ONE use of LAY ON HANDS. GAME: Seldan rolls 6d6: (22): 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+29: (11)+29: 40 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (18): 18
Seldan staggers back under the force of the attack. Kol is as dangerous as he remembered. Maybe more so, and right about now he seriously wants to be ill, because that _hurt_. Better idea - he, too, has a few new tricks. He reaches for the edge of the cloak and pulls it over himself, shouting a single word, then uses the same hand to lay a hand on his shoulder. "Be my shield and my strength, holy Dreamer," he mutters, silvery light forming under his hand.
Kol steps forward, not caring about the short distance that Seldan puts between them and reaches out for Seldan. The blow is a another double-fisted slam. It looks for a moment like it hits, but Seldan's cloak is an illusion and he is actually standing just a few inches to the side. "Just move aside. Let me in the city. This little pain you have offered is _nothing_." He seems dissatisfied.
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (8)+24+8+1: 41 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-5: (10)+24+8+1+-5: 38 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-10: (19)+24+8+1+-10: 42 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-10: (12)+24+8+1+-10: 35 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (1)+24+8+1: 34 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-10: (18)+24+8+1+-10: 41 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (10)+31: 41 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+31: (4)+31: 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+26: (13)+26: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (20)+21: 41 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+21: (18)+21: 39 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (3): 3 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (51): 51 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (56): 56 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (16)+7: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 2d10+7: (11)+7: 18
Kol looks at the lost arm, a low sound of pleasure spilling out of his mouth, his eyes half-lidding. Oh yes, he'd done it on purpose. Letting the blow take him. "I need him." It's almost pleading. He looks at Seldan. "You know him do you not? You know who I seek. Tell me where he is. You can not destroy me, you can not stop me. Just tell me what I need."
He attacks again, punctuating his words with a blow that makes Seldan's arm CRACK. The sound echoes in the stillness of the night. "Please." The words are strange on his lips, but he seems desperate.
GAME: Seldan casts Disintegrate. Caster Level: 16 DC: 24 GAME: Seldan rolls ranged+1+1+se: aliased to ranged+1+1+charisma: (7)+19+1+1+8: 36 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16+4: (3)+16+4: 23 GAME: Seldan rolls 1d20+16+4: (14)+16+4: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+22: (4)+22: 26 GAME: Seldan rolls 5d6: (19): 19
For just a second, there's a hint of sympathy there. For just a second. Seldan staggers backwards again with a cry, clutching at his quite obviously broken arm with his other hand. "Agh! I - I do not. Your quarry is not known to me." There is nothing but truth in that, and he releases the arm long enough to trace a swift set of sigils in the air. Breathing fast, he speaks a choked word, and the spell bursts into sickly green fire. He touches the sigil, and it forms into a ray that lances out towards Kol, dissolving a bit of his flesh, leaving it to crumble into dust.
"Why is your need so great, Kol?"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+29: (18)+29: 47 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20: (6): 6
Kol looks at Seldan, disappearing then reappearing right in front of him. He grabs Seldan by the front of his armor and hefts the paladin up into the air. His eyes are manic with pain and pleasure, and something more. Desire. Need. "I promised him. I told him I would give him pain and pleasure such as he had never experienced before. And then he was taken. GONE. If you-”
His words are cut off as one of the guardsmen stabs his sword deep into Kol's body. Completely disobeying the paladin. "Sorry! I couldn't leave you to fight yourself ser Seldan!" It's the man who'd had Seldan sign the doll for his daughter. Kol turns his head slowly toward the guardsman who blanches but studiously stares at Kol's sternum.
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-2: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-2: (15)+24+1+8+-2: 46 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-2-5: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-2-5: (20)+24+1+8+-2+-5: 46 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-2-10: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-2-10: (16)+24+1+8+-2+-10: 37 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-2: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-2: (19)+24+1+8+-2: 50 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-2-5: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-2-5: (6)+24+1+8+-2+-5: 32 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+haste+se-2: aliased to weapon1+1+charisma-2: (3)+24+1+8+-2: 34 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8: (7)+9+8: 24 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8: (7)+9+8: 24 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8: (6)+9+8: 23 GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (1)+25: 26 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Seldan rolls perception: (18)+25: 43
"Agh!" There is no strength in that broken arm, and Seldan kicks out, forcing the vampire to let him go. Hitting the ground is excruciatingly painful, and one armored knee hits the sodden mud. The paladin swaps Reunion to the other hand, and lashes out, this time with less-practiced and more desperate strikes. Several of them find purchase, though, more than before, even as a deep female voice shouts desperately from the blade in his hand, "Seldan! He's healing the arm!"
"Get out of here! Get that to your daughter!" the paladin grates out. "Fly! I shall hold!" Again, he assumes a defensive posture, letting the cloak cover him even as multiple deep blunt injuries take their toll. "You are more like to kill a man in your present state, Kol. Who commands you?"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+29: (7)+29: 36
Kol lazily lashes out at Seldan, but he is more thoughtful than anything as the guardsman pulls his blade free. "No one." He lifts his arm. The one that was cut and flexes the... growth at the end of it. It's already practically grown back. It's sickening to watch his wounds close so rapidly that it has to hurt him to heal this fast. "I returned to her, but she would not take me. I wanted... But there is no one to give me what I need but myself. So I must have him. I must keep my promise."
The guardsman at Seldan's side firms his intent and shakes his head at Seldan. "What kind of father would I be if I didn't protect the city she lives in ser? I'll keep my eyes low, but I will not go." He smiles grimly. "The only way I'm retreating is if you do Seldan, Silverguard of Eluna."
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2: (1)+24+8+1+-2+2: 34 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2: (11)+24+8+1+-2+2: 44 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2-10: (2)+24+8+1+-2+2+-10: 25 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2: (10)+24+8+1+-2+2: 43
"You are not entitled to another, Kol Demontry." Keeping his gaze on Kol, Seldan gestures with a headtilt to the guard to go around behind him, then effortlessly runs his weakened hand along the blade, just enough to draw blood. "Stand and fight." He lashes out suddenly with the off-handed blade, but even with the distraction, only one blow finds purchase, and that a shallow one. He is weakening, and he knows it. He need only hold.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+29: (7)+29: 36
Kol rushes forward at the sight of blood, his world suddenly narrowing to Seldan. The paladin steps neatly to the side, and narrowly avoids the vampire's reaching grasp. "You do not understand! He needs me!" Kol's teeth snap. "Let me in!"
Meanwhile the guardsman stands behind Kol, offering a bit of distraction and timely assistance.
GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1: (4)+24+8+1: 37 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2: (2)+24+8+1+-2+2: 35 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2-5: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2-5: (18)+24+8+1+-2+2+-5: 46 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2-10: (20)+24+8+1+-2+2+-10: 43 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2: (16)+24+8+1+-2+2: 49 GAME: Seldan rolls reunion+se+haste-2+2-10: aliased to weapon1+charisma+1-2+2-10: (19)+24+8+1+-2+2+-10: 42 (THREAT) GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8: (6)+9+8: 23 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8: (4)+9+8: 21 GAME: Seldan rolls reuniondmg+sedmg+reuniondmg+sedmg: aliased to 1d8+9+8+1d8+9+8: (5)+9+8+(3)+9+8: 42
"None need that manner of torment, Kol Demontry. Ever shall you remain a deranged monster." Is Seldan better on his off hand? The inquiring mind could be left to wonder that - or perhaps the guardsman provides _just enough_ distraction. "It is time that you were sent whence you came, by Her holy light!" The moonlit blade flashes multiple times, working their way up the ladder. The final blow is true, and struck _hard_, enough to sever neck and spine, sending green eyes flying into the mud and darkness with a wet, meaty _splat_.
Blood sprayed in every direction as the head left Kol's shoulders. His head rests on the ground, grinning up at Seldan but his body... It doesn't fall. Instead bends over and picks up the head. There's a moment of pure horror and disgust as the vampire settles the head on his shoulders and holds it there. His eyes are pinpricks for a moment and then they resolve and suddenly the vampire is... whole.
"Kol! Get out of there!" A disembodied voice commands the vampire, a whisper, but still a command. There's no sign of anyone, but just a voice.
"Let me eat him." The vampire says. Somehow.... Somehow he's still alive. Still _speaking_.
"You're getting yourself killed. Now. Leave. Or we part ways now." Kol's eye twitches but he nods, disappearing like a shadow. Gone. Like a dream. Or a nightmare.
As if held upright by the needs of the fight itself, Seldan drops to one knee, Reunion's tip plunged absently into the mud at his feet. He is covered in mud, blood, and ichor, and quite plainly in a great deal of pain. "Please," he gasps out to the guardsman, his flickering image settling into a single one that is, interestingly, closer to Kol than the other image suggested. "You - have my thanks. One - more thing must I ask of you. Send - word to the Temple of Daeus." He's breathing shallowly, as he has been since first Kol struck him.
"To - Sunguard Zeke. I return to the shelter. He should - meet me there. At - his convenience." He places his forehead against the pommel of the blade, and begins another spell.
"You have my word of honor that I will get the word to him immediately!" The guardsman said urgently, but makes his way - after sheathing his own weapon - towards Seldan. "But you're so badly hurt ser Seldan! You should come with me to the infirmary!"
"It is - not safe." Ser Seldan, not safe in the infirmary? What is he talking about? Is he delirious? "Tell the Sunguard," he gasps out, clenching his teeth as he draws the necessary sigils with a gauntleted hand in the mud at his feet. "_Korinis desita dai._ Tell him - Kol is driven off. For now. Protect his patient."
He completes the last of the sigils, and says, eyes squeezing shut, "First and last. Before and after. Here - and home."
The world collapses around him, and the magic resolves its disorienting, twisting effects, but the paladin is nowhere to be seen. When did Ser Seldan learn to teleport?
-End