The clouds were thick and black , promising rain . The wind had picked up and blew down the vally with gale force speed . The town was silent , except for the howl of the coming storm .The two robed figures riding into town looked round at the deserted streets . " are you sure this is the place " asked the taller one , his eyes glowing beneath his horned helm . The other , shorter only by a few inches held up his hand and a image of a compass appeared , pointing to the nearest Tavern . " Yes this is the place . Victor should be in that tavern "
In the Tavern Victor sat drinking his ale in silence . He was drawing stares from the other patrons . He was used to that . Not many people got to see a four foot tall humaniod bat so he expected the stares . The ornate swords he wore kept the stares from becoming comments so he ignored them. The Fact a Troll Raider sat opposite him was also a good deterant . Mr Fist looked down at Victor . " when are the others arriving ?".Just then the door opened and the two robed men entered . The one with the horned helm glided over to Victor and mr Fist and sat down without saying a word . The other pulled back his hood and smiled . " Victor , it has been too long old freind" he said embracing the bat before sitting down . " Greetings Richard " said the troll , nodding in Richards direction . The other man coughed . Excuse my manners" said Richard " This is Khurg Raven , a temporal wizard and good freind of mine " . Khurg Nodded . " Khurg this is Mr Fist and my oldest freind Victor " . The troll and bat nodded to Khurg . " So victor why have you called me after all this time ?" . Victor's smile dropped . " The Storm Lord has returned Richard and he wants us . Already Nolok and Celas are dead . He killed them both near the misty lake and cdroppedv their dead bodies in the city to let me know he is back ." Khurg turned to Richard . " who is this storm lord?"
"many years ago , this whole region was under the control of a group of mages known as the elemental masters . One of their number however wanted all their power for himself and killed them, using a staff of darkest magic to absorb their power .Soon after he began to conquer the neighbouring towns and villages . Hundreds deid in his attacks and hundreds more he captured and sacrficied in rituals to increase his power . Then myself , Victor , Mr Fist a paladin called Celes and a monk called Nolok wandered into the province and without provocation the storm lord had his minions attack us . In retaliation we destroyed his lair , killed all his minions and i turned his magics back on him and he was torn apart ". Richard took a sip from his drink. "he was destroyed but it seems he has managed to cheat death "
Khurg smiled , his eyes glowing ." then we will have to go put the dog down once more my freind". Richard looked at Victor and Mr Fist. " we are with you Richard , to avenge Celes and Nolok " said the troll
Many hours later As the others went to their rooms Khurg sat alone in the bar . Even the innkeeper had gone to bed , leaving the robed wizard alone in his thoughts . As the night past Khurg sat in silence , not moving . The assassin creeping up behind him thought he was asleep and an easy mark. He wasnt prepared for Khurgs sudden movenment or the Black sword that thrust between his ribs and burst through his back. Khurg lifted the screaming assassin into the air . " scream all you want " he hissed " no one will hear you ". The assassin slid down the blade , his cries of agony making his throat sore . Khurg placed his hand on the mans face and soon the screaming stopped .
The next Morning the group paid up and left the Inn . No one noticed the body concealed at the back of the stables . Even if they had , they would have assumed by how dessicated it was , it must have been there all through the summer . Victor sat at the front , his Pony although smaller than the others was a gift from the fey and easily able to take the lead . Mr Fist had a Troll horse . Troll Horses were huge , said to be a mixture of warhorse and troll, bred by the troll shamans to carry their warriors into battle . It was easily twice the size of a human warhorse and its body was covered in thick bony plates with pebbled skin between them . Khurgs horse was nothing more than insubstantial shadow formed into a mount by his will power and Richard rode a creature that while looking in all ways like a horse , gave the impression of not beeen of this world . All together the four conpanions and their mounts were not the most inconspicouse sight .
Elsewhere
The Villagers ran in fear as the gang of Borg " Rip your kidneys out" Burganheim rode into town . It was tribute time and Borg was not a man to be kept waiting . He was Huge , nearly seven foot tall with thick notted muscles covering his massive from. He had hair down to his shoulders and his face was a network of scars . As the Villagers ran in panic he dismounted his horse, slapped his neck as something bit him and laughed . " give me my tribute weaklings" However his laughter turned to confusion as a man , only five foot ten walked out of the tavern . This man , who wasnt running in fear was dressed in black leathers . Accross his back was two bastard swords and a selection of daggers hung from his belt . The man was whistling , a mug of ale in his hand and seemed fairly unconcerned that Borg and his men stood less than fifty paces away . " oh vill you shut up " he said pointing his mug at Borg who went red with anger . " who are you that would talk to me in such a way " he roared , unsheathing his sword . The smaller man smiled and dropped his pint . " im the man who is going to kill you ". Borgs men laughed and as did borg ." you think you can take me in combat ?" he asked to which the smaller man started to laugh. " i have no need to seeing as ive already poisoned you as you got off your horse " he replied holding up a small tube ." the poison my dart delivered to your blood vill by now be reaching your heart . its a nice concoction made from the blood of the fire newts of the deep sumantia rainforests , distilled in the blood of a vampire serpent, a rare breed of snake from the potagon lowlands . It vill make you very hot, ignite your blood and cause you to explode . I have an atidote , but you vill have to beg me for it " . Borg felt the lump on his neck and panic set in . Already he felt hot and was sweating . He ran up to the stanger in panic and fell to his knees . " Please save me " he begged . His look of panic turned to horror as the man sliced open his throat . " actually i lied , the dart vasnt poisoned , i didnt have time . fooled you though " . Boris fell forward , his last words lost in a gurgle of blood . The rest of the company looked shocked as the black clad man let their boss's body fall into the mud . Unsheathing his swords , a smirk on his face he said " Ok my name is Klytus and vhich of you fatherless bastards is next ?"
Brother Mordredd walked outside the tavern to see Klytus smack his sword around the head of one of the bandits , while slicing off the hand of another . Brother Mordredd broke into a run and launched hismelf through the air , knocking another bandit from his horse . He swung his staff as he landed , striking the man in the wind pipe . Then spinning quickly he kicked out the teath of a second bandit who was trying to sneak up behind him . Above the noice of combat Klytus was laughing . Mordredd ignored him to concentrate on the fighting . klytus sliced through the knee of the bandit in front of him and then his throat as the man fell. With the help of the monk , Klytus was half way through the band and was really enjoying himself . The monk was taking it far too serously tho . " thats becouse he, unlike you is sane " said the head of his wife from the pouch on his belt . Klytus hated the way Lilith read his thoughts . " shut up voman , im fighting " he replied , cutting open the stomach of another bandit . " oh fine way to talk to me , not that beheading me wasnt enough, no now you have to shout at me as well " . Klytus sighed . Sometimes he wished he really was mad , that Lilith was just a figment of his imagination . But she had been dead a year and her head was in no way decaying . Matter of fact , apart from lacking a body , she still looked as beautiful as she had the day they wed and he killed her for adultery . " which " she replied , reading his thoughts again " was a bit of an over reaction on your part if i may say so " . Dropping one of his blades , klytus reached into the bag and pulled her out , kissing her with passion . " Vell i have said sorry " he said looking into her beautiful green eyes where he saw the reflection of a bandit about to hit him. Without thinking he swung lilith into the mans face and screaming she bit down on his nose , tearing it off and spitting it into the dirt . Using the distraction , Klytus stabbed him in the throat . " damn i love you voman " he said , kissing his wife again
Within ten minutes the few remaining Bandits , badly injured ran from the village . Klytus placed Lilith back into the pouch and picked up his other sword before sheathing them both . Brother Mordredd walked over to him . " Sometimes my freind i feel that you enjoy this far too much " . Klytus slapped the young monk on the shoulder . " Not as much as this" he replied picking up his mug and heading back into the Tavern . Brother Mordredd looked skywards . " sometimes my goddess i wonder what ive done to offend you " . As he entered the Tavern he swore he could hear her laughter on the wind
later that day Klytus and Brother Mordredd were on the road again . Brother Mordredd was not used to riding , but it was the only way to keep up with Klytus and for some reason the goddess had decided that Klytus should be Brother Mordredds initiation quest . Klytus was , as far as Mordredd could tell completly start raving bonkers . He had his wifes head in a bag and he often spoke to her . Brother Mordredd could tell by the fact that Lilith was apart from being a severed head complelty intact that magic was at work . It seemed to him and he suspected this was his Goddess's plan , that he had to help Klytus restore Lilith . How was a complety different matter .
Richard and his party Reached the Black spectre inn at the town of Cravenford just before nightfall , a few minutes before Brother Mordredd and Klytus also arrived . After Getting their rooms and stabling their horses both groups sat in the barroom amid the reguler patrons . Brother Mordredd sat with his mug of water while Klytus was drinking the regions famed Black Apple cider . On another table , in the corner of the room Richard , Khurg, Mr Fist and Victor sat . The night was farly cold outside and the inn was crowded . "Eventually" thought Victor " some one will say something " . he was right , although he didnt expect the trouble maker to be nobility . Cederick Kravanstein , son of the local Baron and his gang of hangers on entered the tavern . Ignorant of who they were he imedialty went up to the table at which Richard and his freinds sat . " what the hell is that ?" he shouted pointing at Victor " pets should be in the barn ". Mr Fist went to rise , but Khurg shook his head . Cederick continued . " And a troll " he laughed " shouldnt you be under a bridge " His cronies laughed and Mr Fist grabbed his big knife . before he could react however klytus shouted from accross the Room . " Cederick you loud mouthed sack of sheeps tecticles , shut your mouth or ill beat you as i used to do at school" . Cederick turned round . " You" he shreiked , almost lady like , his face turning pale . " kill him" he screamed at his freinds " kill him now"
Cedericks companions moved towards Klytus who casually stood, mug still in hand. "Ah Cederick, are you so scared, you have to send your boys to fight. Vell vhich vun of you vants to die first?" The men stopped, noticing that despite the fact they were all armed Klytus was facing them only with a tankard. That meant he was either stupid or very good. Cederick shouted again. "Kill him, kill the bastard". Klytus threw the tankard. It sailed past the startled men and smashed into Cedericks face with a sickening crack. Cederick screamed as he fell backwards, blood spraying from his ruined nose. His friends turned back to Klytus who was now holding two nasty looking swords." Vell who vants to die?" The men looked at Klytus, then at Cederick, sprawled on the floor, crying in his own blood. One ran forward, his sword aimed at Klytus's face. Suddenly Brother Mordredd was moving. In a matter of seconds he had disarmed the man, pulled his arm around his back and smacked his head into the table. The others decided they were not going to risk it and left the tavern. Richard leaned over tot he crying Frederick and cast a spell. Blue energy appeared around the nobleman's face and the bleeding stopped. "You will be ok in a few days" he whispered "if you drop this matter. If not, who knows what will happen to you. Now I suggest you leave and take your friend with you and thank your gods how lucky you are that we have chosen not to kill you". Frederick stood up and ran for the door, grabbing his friend as he past. Klytus waved goodbye and sat back down. "Oh damn, I vasted my pint " he muttered in disappointment. Richard got to his feet and walked over to Brother Mordredd and Klytus. "Gentleman, would you care to join us for dinner. We have cider". Klytus's look of disappointment vanished as a broad grin appeared upon his face. "Vell Lilith, it looks like today isnt a disaster after all".