Blackguard Rise

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[edit] Chapter 1: Paladin's Fall

The escape tunnel was far damper and dirtier than Aelthir expected when his sister first showed them that escape route. Under normal circumstances, the paladin would have been more inclined to battle through the waves of attackers; but for the moment, there were far more important things than the paladin’s preference for cleanliness and beauty. Excluding the sound of their footsteps, the trio had remained almost abnormally quiet. “Little sister, where did you say the tunnels will take us?” The cleric asked the elven wizard in front of her, likely more to break the unsettling silence.

“Vielnye Vineyards, I sent a carrier bird to message our friends and send them there. If I’m right, we can make it to the vineyards and set up a choke point before our attackers make it there. We can subdue them then.” Syllae explained and the cleric nodded her head. Aelthir took a deep breath and frowned deeply. The air tasted sweet, and yet rotten; a taste he was all too familiar with throughout his years as a Cultist Killer and he knew that there was a single flaw in Syllae’s plan.

“If that’s your plan, then we best move faster.” Aelthir piped up and drew his sword. “They’re close.”

“How can you tell? I cannot hear footsteps.” Syllae questioned as she stopped and turned to face the cleric and paladin.

“I recognize the air when I breathe deeply.” He watched as Syllae took a deep breath and gagged at the taste. “That’s what I mean. Now, keep moving, we have no time for this chatter!” He ushered the two ladies forward. “They will catch up to us soon if we do not.”

“The first gate is close by. We can slow them down with that, if only momentarily.” The elven Baroness suggested as she turned and ran down the tunnel again. “It isn’t much, but it can buy us some time to set up the choke hold. I can seal it off with magic as well to add an extra edge.”

“Sounds like it could be a wise idea.” Katrin agreed. Aelthir agreed too, but he was focused on listening behind them for footsteps. “What do you think, Aelthir?” Katrin asked and her tone was as serious as one would expect.

Aelthir suddenly stopped running and pivoted on his feet. “From within the light” he murmured as he crouched his body. “Comes your judgment!” cried out the paladin as he charged through the tunnel in a fabulous manner; long hair flowed behind him and light beautifully shimmered from the paladin’s body; as if he himself was as much a weapon as was his Ari’avel Longsword. “Got you! You cannot withstand Holy Triana’s judgment!” he cried out again and cleaved the air with his weapon as he ran. Blood sprayed from the air, but the paladin was not done. Even as the light disappeared from his body, his sword continued to radiate holy energy as he blindly slashed twice more. “Vile cultists, die in my goddess’ name! Victory for Triana!” The paladin continued to cry out his devotion while more blood sprayed out, three corpses now visible. He finally lowered his blade and turned toward the other two. “We must hurry. The enemy is routed only momentarily. There will be more of them.” The paladin’s tone was serious as he wiped blood from his cheek, and shook off excess blood from the blade of his weapon.

“Aelthir, are you alright?” Katrin asked the paladin as she looked to the fabulous elf. He simply nodded his head and smiled to the cleric. She nodded her head and was about to turn away when she noticed an abnormal shadow as it appeared on the ground behind the paladin. “Aelthir, move!” She ordered and thrust her hand forward; at the same time, a lance of radiant light materialized and flew at Aelthir with almost blinding speed. The paladin shifted his body and pressed his back to the wall. The lance flew and temporarily blinded the paladin as it exploded in the air. As the light died down, Aelthir saw the corpse of a rogue upon the ground, defeated by the holy power.

“Thank you, Lady Katrin. Looks like another on the list of debts to you I’ll never pay off.” Aelthir sighed in relief and walked back to the group. He felt a little sick now, but he accounted it to the stench of unreality; it never did sit well with him. “Let’s continue, I’m sick of this stench and the rot.” He commented and ushered them on. Syllae nodded and continued to run, followed by Katrin and Aelthir.

“The checkpoint is close.” Syllae commented, possibly to reassure herself more than the two adventurers.

Suddenly, Aelthir pushed Katrin into Syllae and both fell to the ground as the entire tunnel lit up brightly. “Aelthir, why did you…!” Katrin began as she turned herself to face the paladin and paused at the sight. The paladin stood tall, but he was worse for wear. His armor was cracked, his gauntlets were shattered. A more careful examination revealed that he had bit down on his lip so hard that it bled so he didn't cry out.

“You stupid paladin!” Syllae complained in an annoyed tone as she stood up and dusted off her robes. “I thought I told you that you’re not allowed to get hurt.” She scolded her brother and walked past the wounded man slowly. “When we get out of here, we’re having a long conversation about throwing yourself in danger needlessly.”

“I’m a protector, that’s my duty; a blast of lightning is nothing if I can protect you two.” Aelthir coughed and Syllae glanced to him. His knees were visibly shaking and he was having problems standing.

“Rest for a few minutes, my dearest brother.” Syllae said as an orb materialized beside her through the power of the arcane. Aelthir shook his head, tried to turn around and promptly fell to the stone floor. Katrin frowned and kneeled beside him.

“Aelthir, don’t be stubborn. Let me heal you” Katrin murmured as she placed a hand on Aelthir’s chest and murmured a healing prayer to her patron goddess; Mulinel. Aelthir nodded his head and laid there as his wounds closed up. He still felt sick, in fact he felt even sicker; but the pain was gone and he could still somewhat move his limbs.

“As for you, enemy of my family and my own; I cannot tolerate your affront against us.” Her tone was cold, almost emotionless; even some greater men would find it intimidating. She raised her hand and the air pressure heightened to an almost unbearable level. “Away from my sight!” She screamed out and extended her hand forward. The air pressure seemed to explode into a hundred blades of forced air that shot away from the group. The sound of the air as it tore through stone, cloth and flesh filled the tunnel and alerted Syllae of her killing blow. She turned to face the other two. “Let’s take a moment for Aelthir to rest before we continue.” She instructed. Katrin nodded, but Aelthir rose to his feet anyway and shook his head.

“After we make it to the checkpoint and seal the gate.” Aelthir ordered and waited for the other two. “I’m fine.” He continued and picked up his sword and shield. His eyes trailed to his shattered gauntlets and he kept an emotionless expression at the blackened flesh on his fingers. His body coursed with necrotic energy, but there were more important things to worry about for the moment, such as escaping with their lives and the treasure that the cultists wanted. “Trust me, I can make it. Syllae, Lady Katrin, as we were.” He continued to talk as he assessed the situation, and his prognosis was not a good one.

“Aelthir…” Syllae contested, but as she looked at the paladin’s pleading face, she relented to his wishes and walked forward. “Of course, dearest brother; let us depart.” She murmured as Katrin stood up and followed her. Aelthir followed the other two in complete silence. Syllae walked forward in silence, and Katrin had a pensive expression on her face.

“You wouldn’t be planning anything would you, Paladin?” Katrin asked in an accusing tone. Aelthir simply chuckled and looked at his fingers. His flesh had dark patches, and he generally felt as if he was ready to just fall unconscious and just die.

“Of course not, Lady Katrin; I am just concerned with our safety.” He answered her simply and trudged along a few more feet before he collapsed against a wall. He coughed hard and spit black blood to the stone floor behind him. The sound his sword made as it clattered against the ground was enough to get both Katrin and Syllae’s attention. Syllae quickly was at her brother’s side, and Katrin was not too far behind. The cleric took Aelthir’s arm and looked at the poisoned flesh. “Why didn’t you tell me about the poison when I healed your wounds earlier, Aelthir Baequi’via?” She scolded the paladin and started to murmur a prayer. Aelthir shook his head and brought a finger to Katrin’s lips to silence her.

His left hand took her right hand and stared at her. His right hand took a ring off of his left ring finger. He slipped it onto Katrin’s finger and let go of her hand. “Take care of it, Lady Katrin.” He whispered to her before he closed his eyes.

“You fool; we’re not abandoning you here.” Katrin rolled her eyes at the paladin and sighed in annoyance.

“Fine, just save your energy in case we get attacked again…” Aelthir sighed and took Katrin’s hand again. The cleric helped the paladin to his feet and he sheathed his weapon as Katrin led him down the hall. “Syllae… take my backpack, it’s too heavy for me right now. Please.” Aelthir murmured to his sister and slipped his arm out of his backpack.

“Alright.” Syllae answered and grabbed the strap of Aelthir’s backpack. She murmured a few words and a round disk appeared beside her, which she placed the backpack on. “Got it, you can let go.” Syllae tells Aelthir and he just dropped the whole weight of the backpack onto the disc.

A few more feet and Aelthir coughed out more darkened blood. His vision was hazy now, but he could see the mechanism for the gate a step or two away. With most of the strength that the paladin had left in his body, he pushed Katrin and Syllae to the ground, just past the gate. Then, through the momentum of his moment, he unsheathed his blade and sliced through the rope which held the gate open. “Sorry.” He smiled weakly as the gate came down between them.

Once the dust settled, he leaned against the stone wall gate and closed his eyes for a moment. He didn’t have much energy left, but with what he did, he could at least give his sister and Katrin a little bit more time to get ahead. “Aelthir! Dammit brother! What the hell are you doing?!” Syllae cried out in fear. “I’ll tear this wall down, brick by brick if I have to!” She threatened, but Aelthir knew she was fairly tired from all their running and her earlier casting.

“This is how it has to be, Syllae… I’m your big brother, and it’s my duty to protect you.” Aelthir answered as he leaned against the door.

“Aelthir!” Katrin scolded angrily. “You idiot! What are you thinking!?” she yelled out as well. "Do you want to die here!?"

“My wounds are grave, Dearest Katrin Vielnye. I would only slow you both down if I were to continue. At least like this, I can provide you with some time to create more distance. I cannot allow these cultists to get their hands on the stone and use it for their foul deeds, but more importantly; I cannot allow two of my cherished ones to be hurt or killed.”

“Aelthir! You mustn’t do this! Who do you think you are, being all self-sacrificial, and then trying to sound all cool!? Are you trying to imitate Fal? He wouldn’t pull something stupid like this!” Katrin scolded the paladin angrily as Syllae fell to her knees and cried. Katrin’s expression stayed as annoyed as it was. Aelthir burst out into weakened laughter.

“You caught me. I figured I deserve at least one cool moment in my life, but you’re right. Fal wouldn’t do this, but I’m not Fal. Do you know who I am?” Aelthir smiled again as he turned to face the only direction enemies could approach from. “I’m just a passing through paladin. Remember it.” Aelthir answered as he stabbed a cultist through the chest and watched it fall to the ground, dead.

“Just a passing through…” Katrin whispered quietly before she huffed up. “That’s not cool at all!”

“Fine, fine!” Aelthir yelled back before he crouched slightly. “Then how about this: I am Aelthir Baequi’via, the longsword that smites the unfabulous!” the paladin began as he charged forward again. “Let them hear your beautiful roar, my prestigious Ari’avel! There is nothing unfabulous we cannot cut!” He brought his blade down through the chest of the first enemy, and quickly brought it around and across the throat of the second and third enemies. “I am the shield that protects all his loved ones; I will fight until I have nothing left to fight with!”

The paladin quickly backed up to the wall. “Are you two gone yet!?” he yelled out as he leaned against it for support. He was exhausted, his broken armour would not protect him for long, the poison still continued to ignite his nerves and kill his flesh; but he wouldn’t stop fighting.

“Aelthir, promise me something.” Katrin said through the wall, and Aelthir groaned. “I’m serious!”

“What is it?” The paladin murmured as he took several deep breaths. “I will not make any promises I cannot keep.”

“Of course… promise me you’ll come back to us.” Katrin’s tone left no room for argument from the paladin.

“You sound like you’re worried about me.” Aelthir laughed lightly and spat up some blood, his vision went hazy again for a moment, and his body felt heavy.

“Of course I am. You’re my friend.” Katrin snapped back, obviously annoyed by the paladin’s stubbornness. “Now promise me, or I’ll break through the wall with my bare hands, and I’m not tired.”

“I can’t promise that; but I can promise that I’ll do my absolute best to protect you. Now promise me you’ll be safe” Aelthir demanded as he clashed swords with a cultist who appeared in front of him suddenly.

“I promise you, on my honour as a cleric.” Katrin said as she took Syllae’s hand. “Syllae promises too, she’s just too busy crying.” Katrin continued as she helped the wizard to her feet and the pair rushed off through the tunnel. Aelthir heard Syllae screaming for him in fear, as his sword clashed against the rogue’s right dagger. The paladin tried to move his head away from the rogue’s left dagger at the same time, but the rogue’s weapon caught Aelthir’s cheek and sliced it open, the rogue having been that much faster than Aelthir.

Bound by promise and by will, and released by adrenaline and hope, the paladin screamed out with divine fury and brought his sword down as hard as he could, against the rogue’s daggers. “Lady Triana! Grant me the power to protect my loved ones!” he screamed out as the sword glowed in a radiant light and a golden beam of light tore through the rogue’s body.

The familiar sound of bells echoed in the distance and the paladin smirked. “Aegis Ari’avel! With Almighty Triana, let us make a glorious final charge and bring about victory for my loved ones!” he cried out as he crouched slightly, and balanced himself. He coughed again and his vision became extremely blurry, but that wasn’t enough to stop him; as long as he stood, he’d fight. He took a deep breath, almost as if he felt a second wind take over his body and ran down the tunnel. He couldn’t see if there were enemies in front of him, but he felt the radiant energy as it flowed from his body and the resistance of flesh and bone as his sword struck down all those that opposed him. Finally, after what felt like forever, his knees buckled and the paladin crashed to the earth. Aelthir tried to move his body and tried to force himself to his feet, but his legs refused to work, and his Ari’avel felt as if it weighed over a hundred pounds. His vision returned to him slightly, but everything he saw was tinted in red.

A red shadow entered the paladin’s field of vision, but the paladin could not recognize it. “Why do you fight the great will of the planet?” the shadow asked him and Aelthir thought he’d heard the voice before. “Well, Sir Aelthir? Is it for duty, or maybe it was for honour. Ah hah. It was for love! You love the two you spirited away, do you not?”

“Of course I do. I love all my cherished ones as if they were my own blood.” The paladin answered in a weak tone, the exhaustion almost too much to bear. “At least I know what is like to love.”

“Then I hope you’ve made peace with them, for this is your end.” The shadow finished and Aelthir felt something sharp against his neck; a symbol for his end. He had faith that Lady Triana’s grace led his loved ones to safety, but sorrow overtook him, that he could not grow older with them.

“I’m sorry, Katrin, Syllae; I did my best, and if you’re safe, then I’m glad. Don’t forget me too quickly, everyone.” Aelthir whispered quietly as his world turned dark.

[edit] Chapter 2: Impure Resurrection

The sun was bright when the paladin opened his eyes that he had to shut them again, just to stop the throbbing pain that coursed through his head and body. “What in the holy lady’s name?” He murmured to himself as he tried to sit up, but a strong wave of pain washed through him and forced him back down. “Okay, Aelthir. Try and remember what happened.” He murmured and kept his eyes shut. “We came to Leyandra at Syllae’s request. Katrin and I inspected a gem, Syllae assumed as always and then…” Aelthir paused for a moment. “Oh yeah, we were attacked by Laviege cultists and forced to retreat.” Aelthir mused as his body momentarily relaxed. “Laviege cultists?! Syllae! Katrin!” Aelthir cried out as the realization hit him and leaped to his feet. His eyes snapped open and he looked around. He was in Syllae’s office, and nothing was damaged, nor was there sign of unreality in the air. “Huh, was I dreaming…?” Aelthir asked himself as his body relaxed, but his face spoke of confusion. Another wave of pain washed away the adrenaline rush and Aelthir sat back down on the couch slowly. He placed his head in his hands and shut his eyes again. “I must have fallen or something.” He murmured quietly to himself and tried to fight off the feeling of disorientation that came with the pain.

“Don’t worry, Sir Aelthir.” A voice spoke from one end of the room. “Your body is just adjusting to the few changes it has undergone. You shall feel more alert soon.” A shrill laughter filled the room and it made Aelthir’s head ache even more. The voice was familiar, but he couldn’t place it. He forced himself to his feet again and opened his eyes. At the door, a demonic looking elf leaned with his arms crossed and a dark smile on his face.

Aelthir quickly reached for his side for a sword that wasn’t strapped to him. The pain spread through his body, but he forced it away and angrily yelled “Ralaene!” at the cloaked figure.

“Ah, you remember me. I’m flattered, Aelthir.” Ralaene laughed again. “Why do you look so angry? Aren’t you happy to see an old friend?” He smiled at the paladin. Aelthir glanced around the room and saw a sword that was on the floor. “Of course I am.” Aelthir murmured as he stared back at the cultist. “This time, I’ll make sure you stay dead, cultist scum!” Aelthir yelled out and charged forward. He snatched the sword from the ground and continued his charge.

“Sorry, but I don’t have time to play this second, Aelthir.” Ralaene murmured and snapped his fingers. As the paladin brought his weapon down, a cultist appeared in front of Ralaene and shattered the sword with its staff. Aelthir leaped back took a defensive pose. “I’ll be searching through a few things. Maybe if you’re quick, we can talk about the will of the world.” Ral turned and left the room as three other cultists surrounded the paladin.

Aelthir looked at the cultists and growled deeply. “Ralaene! I will finish you!” he screamed out in anger. The pain had completely disappeared by now and was replaced with an unexplainable rage. “You four will not stand in my way!” Aelthir screamed out and swirls of darkness appeared in his hands, that formed into a corrupted longsword and shield. Aelthir took a step and vanished into thin air. “You’re mine!” He cried out as he appeared behind one of the cultists and slashed his weapon down and through the shoulder of the first cultist before it could react and dark energy exploded from either the wound, or the weapon; Aelthir wasn’t sure and at the moment, Aelthir didn’t care. As soon as the first cultist dropped, Aelthir charged forward with his shield in front of his body and bashed a second cultist as hard as he could. As the cultist staggered back, Aelthir didn’t stop as his blade came down and sliced through the second cultist. A strange dark energy exploded from Aelthir’s body and engulfed the other two cultists. When the darkness disappeared, Aelthir was left in a mostly destroyed room in shock. What was that energy…? He asked himself and threw down his arms. That’s when he noticed his hands were pale with glowing runes on them. Aelthir stared at them for a moment before he quickly moved to a mirror and stared into it. He was shirtless and as pale as Katrin usually was, but his face looked as if it was split down the center, half of it darkened with purple energy that flowed through it. A moment passed and the darkness faded back into pale skin that matched the rest of his face. He looked to his hands again and the runes had disappeared as well.

“Do you see it, Aelthir?” Ralaene asked from behind him. “It wasn’t a dream. You were killed and are now corrupted by the power of unreality. You are a Den'an, like that cleric you gave your mortal life to protect! How ironic!” The half elf tiefling broke out into manic laughter. Aelthir pivoted and took a defensive stance again. “Oh, do you want to fight me? For what reason though, Aelthir. For your goddess, perhaps? The very goddess who abandoned you at your time of need and let you become like me?”

“I am nothing like you, Ralaene!” Aelthir spat at the cultist and kept his guard. “Dead or alive, I am nothing like you!” he yelled as he charged forward angrily.

“Ah, stubborn to the end.” Ralaene opened his arms and extended his fingers. Aelthir suddenly stopped running and opened his arms as well. Ralaene flexed his fingers and Aelthir’s limbs moved in time. "Don’t you see? This is the will of Nathicana! This is the truth of the world!” His tone was notably sarcastic, it was obvious that Ralaene enjoyed every second of Aelthir’s discomfort and anger, in fact it almost seemed like he relished it. He moved his hands and about and Aelthir danced like a puppet. “I can see your doubt in everything you’ve ever believed in, and rightfully so! You can finally see the all the futility, all the pointless struggling!” Ralaene closed his hands into fists and Aelthir’s body crumpled to the ground like a rag doll. “So tell me, Aelthir Baequi’via. For whom and why shall you raise your sword!?”

As the paladin remained on the stone floor, his eyes travelled around. If he wanted to escape and if luck prevailed, he could probably make it through the glass window before Ralaene could react with his Astral Step; but did he really want to escape? The cultist’s words rang with a degree of truth to Aelthir. His goddess had turned upon him at a time when he needed her at the most. Laviege had chosen to give him an opportunity to fight for her, instead of let his soul rot away forever. However, he had pledged to fight unreality and had battled many cultists over the years, could he really just give up his goddess at the turn of a gold terremite?

Ralaene kept quiet, but the amused smirk remained on his lips. He knew the inner quarrel that Aelthir faced at this moment and he just watched Aelthir as he squirmed. Aelthir looked to the cultist and knew he had run out of time. He had to make his choice now!