The Malkarian Epic

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[Malkaris]

A Rising Threat


“Steady now. Wait... almost… now!” a voice yelled. Suddenly one dozen inquisitors stood from their hiding places and unloaded their pistols. White plumes of smoke and fire erupted from their barrels as pieces of lead raced towards their target.
 
“Quickly now, the beast still moves!” again the voiced ranged out. The inquisitors drew their blades and moved in towards their wounded prey. The fallen beast screamed with ferocious anger and pain. The inquisitors wasted no time in silencing the beast.
 
The inquisitors patted each other in congratulations. Young Brun stood in front of the monster with a still apparent look of shock on his face.
 
“You have done good kid.” one of the inquisitors said to Brun. “It seams you have what it takes… and you haven’t lost yourself in the horror you just witnessed. Good luck Interrogator.”
 
“Thank you Master. I shall not fail you” an eager Brun answered.
 
Brun moved in to help the rest of the inquisitors move the body onto a make shift pyre. As Brun stood back, two of the inquisitors took torches and lit the pyre of fire in several locations. The Inquisitors then drew back a few feet as the flames from the pyre began to reach towards the sky.
 
Brun Kessel was an Acolyte within the ranks of the Inquisitors of Orbis Penitens. As he walked with his “brothers” he began to think back to the days before he met the Inquisitor, before he met the horror that beset his simple family farm.
 
- - - - -
 
Brun was a simple farmer working in his family fields when he heard a silence piercing scream coming from his family’s house. He looked towards the house with fear and saw that something didn’t look right. He dropped his tool and ran towards the house.
 
As he ran he ripped an axe out of a tree stump and made his way inside. He ran up the stairs to the second floor and saw his mother laying on the floor outside of her bedroom. He knelt down to hear dropping the axe to his feet.
 
“Mother, what has happened?”
 
In a dazed voice she replies “i-its your Father… h-he has a… uhhh” and then she passed out.
 
Brun grabbed the axe and stood up. He crept closer to the bedroom but was hesitant as fear gripped him. Just inside he could see his father under a blanket. Pausing to take a deep breath, Brun crept closer to the bed side. He could hear his father moan slightly and the covers moved in an unnatural way. Brun looked at his father’s face but his eyes were closed and his tips tight as in pain.
 
Brun bent down to pull the covers off. In one quick motion he reached and ripped the covers off. He gasped as he fell backwards onto the floor. From the torso down his fathers legs had turned into long monstrous tendrils. The tendrils twitched with the sudden gush of air and his Father moaned in pain. Brun gathered himself and stood to his feet. He grabbed his axe and walked towards the bed side.
 
“Forgive me Father”. With that Brun raised the axe high in the air and swung as heavily as he could through the tendrils just above the mutation. His father’s eyes opened wide and a shrill scream came forth from his mouth. Brun raised his axe and slammed it through the other side.
 
Brun’s Mother was coming to and was at the door entry. “Brun!” she sreamed.
 
“Mother, get some bandages… and a torch! Quickly now or he will bleed to death!” She just stood there for a few second “Mother right now! He will die!” explained Brun.
 
With that she left the room and quickly got what he asked for. The tendrils still twitched but began to move less and less. Brun’s Father had went back to sleep or perhaps even a coma. Moments later Brun’s Mother returned. She laid the stuff near the foot of the bed.
 
“Mother please! I need your help!”
 
“I-I can’t”
 
Brun’s Mother then moved away from the bed and fled through the door. Brun quickly went to the foot of the bed and took the torch and lit it. We walked over to his Father and pressed the hot torch into his Father’s wounds. His Father once again screamed in horrible pain then fail silent. Brun then took the bandages and wrapped his Father’s stubs.
 
After finishing Brun looked around and saw that the tendrils had stopped moving. He quickly then took a bed sheet and warped the tendrils in it and rushed down the stairs to out side. From there he placed the bed sheet in a spot in the yard and lit fire to it. Brun then went for his Mother.
 
Inside the house he found her weeping silently on the floor. “Mother, I need to find a priest” he spoke to her in a caring voice “Father needs to be healed of what ever affliction has grabbed him.” Brun’s Mother only nodded and seconds later Brun was out the door.
 
- - - -
 
Hours and pass and Brun returns with a priest… and a man in a long coat who insisted to go with them. Brun didn’t trust the man as he constantly looked over Brun. There was something that was just odd about him but the preist didn’t seam to mind. He almost seamed to be frightened of the man.
 
The trio enters the house and Brun found his Mother right where she was lying before they left. Brun came closer to her but she didn’t move as he called her name. He reached down tried to roll her over but he fell over backwards.
 
The priest and the man ran over to the woman and found a tendril had grown out of her mouth and her eyes were replaced with black eyes. She started to make a terrible hissing sound. The man pushed Brun out of the way as he pulled out a pistol and fired it straight into her head.
 
“No!” screamed Brun as he went after the man. The man caught Brun off balance and made him fall to the floor.
 
“Kid, your Mother was taken by chaos, not me!” the man said to calm him down.
 
Tears started to run down Brun’s face, then getting up he charged screaming “murderer!”. The man took the back of his pistol and struck Brun on the face causing him to fall to the ground.
 
“Yea, that’s right kid. I have been called that before but right now I am not a murderer” the man said placig his pistol back in its holster.
 
Brun lay dazed on the floor but was rubbing his jaw. The man walked over to him and reached out his hand. Brun knocked it a side and tried to get up himself. He then fell back down to the floor and tried to brace himself up once more.
 
“Look kid, we don’t have time for this, take my damn hand!” the man said with a outstretched hand. As he tried to help up Brun, the three heard clamoring from upstairs. “Kid, I thought you said you had cut off your Father’s legs?”
 
Brun replied “I-I did.”
 
The man looked at the priest and then he pulled out his rapier sword and his freshly reloaded pistol. The man, the priest, then Brun ran up the steps but cautiously. The man crept on the second floor once he reached it, keeping a vigilant eye out for the source of the racket. Then he saw it.
 
Brun’s Father had further mutated into a horrible spawn of chaos, his arms where hardened claws with his stubs now sprouting many tendrils to walk on, and his skin had turned an unholy color of putrid decay. The man whispered back “Brun, stay back with the priest and don’t look!”
 
The man advanced upon the abomination of chaos but he didn’t get its attention. Slowly the man got closer and closer. Brun was with the priest but he knew something horrible was around the bend… something terrible had happened to his Father. Brun began to move around the bend when the priest tried to stop him. The priest attempted to grab young Brun but he was too quick and slipped out of the grasp.
“Get back here” the priest whispered.
 
Brun ignored the priest and turned the corner and saw his horribly mutated father. “Father!” Brun yelled. The monster turned and saw the creeping man and shot out a tendril that knocked him down. The man gathered himself and took his pistol and shot it through the horror’s flesh but it still moved. Another tendril rushed towards the man and grabbed his ankles and pulled him towards the monster.
 
Brun grabbed the man’s sword and quickly ran towards the helpless and cut right through the tendril. The monster let out a sharp shriek and soon more tendrils were slithering down the hall way. The man pulled out his other pistol and shot another hole through the monster causing it to howl with pain. Still the monster moved closer to the trio.
 
The man then pulled out a small black ball and lit its fuse. “Everyone, back downstairs” lit and threw the grenade down the hall. The black ball rolled along the wooden floors as the fuse crept its way down to the explosives. The three made it downstairs in a hurry nearly tripping or falling over each other. Moments later an explosion shook the house and caught several rooms on fire.
 
The man helped up the priest and Brun and they ran out of the house. “Quickly Brun, we need to torch the house!” Brun ran and got a few lanterns from the shed near the house and the three threw them into the house causing them to break and dispense their flammable chemicals. Brun has ignited a torch and threw it into one of the house’s windows causing the oil from the lanterns to catch fire.
 
As the house was consumed with flame the three could still hear the shrieks of the vile mutation inside. The man then turned to Brun, “Kid… you did good in there. I think we could use somebody like you.”
 
Brun stood there realizing his parents were dead. However he realized that even this strange man was not to blame.
 
“Tell me more about this chaos.” replied Brun.
 
- - - -
 
Brun and the other inquisitors came into view of a wagon. Slowly they piled on and the driver took the reigns. The driver shook the reigns and the horses started to move. Sitting in front of Brun was his Master, the man from the house that changed Brun’s life forever.
 
“Still thinking about that night?” asked his Master.
 
“Yes Brother Kern. I have been thinking about that night, every night for the past year. How many more of these beasts must we slay before we can even make a dent into Chaos?” Brun asked.
 
“You must understand, my Acolyte that within every mortal’s heart beats chaos. To destroy chaos is to destroy all living things of thought. You know more so than most of our brothers here what happens when Chaos settles too great in mortals.” replied his Master.
 
“Brother Kern, when will our Retinue meet at the Monastery?” asked Brun.
 
“Actually my Acolyte, we are headed there now. Although the Retinues of the Penitent Circle rarely meet when we do it’s once every ten years. Patience and you will see some of the greatest Inquisitors of the Penitent Circle.
 
The wagon jerk as it rolled over a few stones along the dirt trail.
 
“But Brother Kern it was my understanding that the last council was called nine years ago.”
 
“You are right Brother Brun. However we have received word from the other Retinues that the even though we only meet every ten years we still receive orders from the Monastery on a regular basis…”
 
The wagon clicked clacked as it rolled over some fallen branches.
 
“Brun, we have lost contact with the Monastery. All Retinues are converging onto the Monastery. We fear it might have been over run.”
 
Brun sat on the wagon stunned. “How could the Monastery be overran?” he thought to himself. “Master, the Monastery… our very order has stood for thousands of years. Are you suggesting that the very Penitent Circle could be injeopardy?”
 
Brother Kern sat with a grim face and replied “Yes my Acolyte. Yes I am.”
 
The two grew silent and only the click clacking of the wagon could be heard. The wagon traveled down the dirt road. Everyone on that wagon that the holy order of Orbis Penitens could be coming to an end. Unknown to them it was only beginning.

- - - -

The Monastery’s location had been kept secret for countless generations. Only the leaders of each Retinue knew the exact location of this sacred place. Much as Kern had told Brun all active Retinues were advancing towards the Monastery. Due to the nature of the possible threat the Retinues converged on the small town of Kelsburg, just ten miles from the Monastery.
Brun sat from his room at the inn watching the wagons come and go within the small town. The life of an inquisitor was hard with either extreme action or in his current moment, extreme boredom. As he continued to watch the streets he noticed another wagon enter town. From the way the men on the wagon dressed and Brun’s keen eye spotting the sacred emblem on one of the men’s necklace, he knew that the last Retinue had arrived.
 
Brun got off his chair and walked towards his sleeping Master. “Master” spoke Brun trying to wake Kern “Brother Kern, the last Retinue has arrived”. Kern had been heavy with sleep since the long journey to Kelsburg.
 
Kern rolled from slumber and sat up “Brun, go now and gather the Retinues. We will hold council in one hour.”
 
“Yes, Brother Kern” replied Brun.
 
Brun ran off as Kern prepared himself for the council of Retinues, outside of the sanctuary of the Monastery, perhaps an event that happened one hundred years ago and not much before that.
 
 - - - -
 
“I call this Council of the Retinues of the Penitent Circle to order” commanded Kern as he hammered a small gavel on a table in front of twelve similar tables before him. “As we know” continued Kern, “communication with the Monastery has been lost”. Kern seamed to be burdened more so after speaking this out loud. He continued “in the entire history of the Penitent Circle, communication has only ever been disrupted once before. This disruption was caused by a chaos infiltration.”
 
The other members of the council began to rumble with murmurs. “Order” Kern spoke as he pounded his gavel. “What we must do know is descend upon our holy sanctuary and discover the true circumstance and situation of the Monastery. Brother Brun, please stand up and explain the plan for the council.”
 
As Brun stood from the council table, Kern sat down. “Brothers and Sisters of the holy Penitent Circle” Brun took a breath “this is our plan”…
 
Hours pass and the Retinues are on the move…
 
- - - -
 
The Monastery was situated among a low laying range of mountains that could be seen from Kelsburg. Carved from a valley face and hidden by an ever present fog the Monastery proved to be an excellent location for the headquarters of the Penitent Circle.
 
Brun’s Retinue with his Master where advancing upon the Monastery. They slowly crept in to avoid detection as they wanted to scout out the location from a distance. Once in view, Brun got down to the ground and crawled towards the Monastery to keep out of sight as his master and the other Retinue members did the same.
 
Brun pulled out a spy glass and peered towards the great stone structure. “Master, I do not see anything out of the ordinary. To be certain I even see our own sentries!”
 
“Careful kid, just because they are dressed like us doesn’t make them friendly. Look there!” replied Kern.
 
Brun swung his spy glass in the general location of where his Master was pointing. From the distance through the spy glass Brun saw what Kern was pointing to. It was He, the One, the Inquisitor Pius, the order’s own Holy Inquisitor, the leader of the Penitent Circle. The two spied the Inquisitor Pius talking with several inquisitors as if nothing was wrong.
 
“Certainly this changes our plan, Master? asked Brun.
 
“Perhaps, perhaps not, young Brun. Come; let us go back to the others.”
 
The scout Retinue returned to the others. They could see that the other Retinues were anxious of the news. “Brothers and Sisters, it would seam that all is well with the Monastery. However I am not so swayed by the calmness. Brun and myself with travel to the Monastery alone. If you do not hear from us in five hours, you will know our fate.” Kern look over everyone standing there. “If it comes to that then proceed with the plan.”
 
Brun got a lump in his throat. “It is one thing to fight against the monsters of chaos, buts it’s entirely different to kill one own’s brother.”
 
“Brun, lets move out!” ordered his Master.
 
- - - -
 
Brun and Kern walked the lonely dirt road towards uncertainty. They didn’t know what exactly was going on at the Monastery. Perhaps nothing at all but the fact that the Monastery had grew silent in the past few months disturbed them greatly. Brun grew more disturbed by this.
 
“Master, what is to become of us if we have made the wrong choice? he asked.
 
Kern was silent for a few moments then replied “kid, I don’t think you want to know. If there is some chance that this has been some kind of misunderstanding and all is well then we have no worries… then again if we do, then it’s good to know that we have one hundred inquisitors at our back”.
 
“But Brother Kern…”
 
Kern interrupted him “look kid, you will have to understand that fear can be just as deadly as chaos.”
 
Brun understood this all too well and grew silent. The two continued along their journey as the great stone Monastery grew larger in the distance. Brun began to grow more anxious and ready for conflict and Kern noticed this. “Brother Brun, remember we are all friends here. We don’t want to unnecessarily tip them off.” Kern said to Brun, trying to ease him a little.
 
The two encountered the first sentry along the path, perhaps a mile or so from the Monastery entrance.
 
“Halt! the sentry ordered. “You are trespassing!” he continued.
 
Kern stepped in front of Brun. “I am Inquisitor Kern of the Righteous Fist Retinue. This is Brun, my Acolyte and friend.” Brun was stunned when Kern called him friend. “Our retinue has lost communication with the great Monastery and seeks guidance with Inquisitor Pius Malkaris.”
 
“Yes, Inquisitor” and the sentry motioned them forward. Brun noticed how the sentry lacked any real personality or emotion.
 
“Brother Kern did you noticed how flat that sentry was?”
 
“Yes, my Acolyte, but did you noticed that he didn’t even recognize an inquisitor? We must be on our guard.”
 
Brun and Kern continued their walk. The aura around the Monastery was of death. There were no birds, no animals of any kind, just the low roar of the wind within the cavern. Soon they were upon their goal, the stairs to the front entrance to the Monastery. The two climbed the stairs and still saw Inquisitor Pius Malkaris speaking with various inquisitors at the top. As they approached he saw them.
 
Brun and Kern were still approaching the top of the stairs when Inqusitor Pius spoke.
 
“Ah Brother Kern, so nice of you to visit the Monastery and this must be your Acolyte.”
 
“Thank you Inquisitor Pius. This is Brun. He and I have been through a lot over the past year.”
 
As the introductions concluded the two inquisitors shook hands with the leader of the Orbis Penitens.
 
“I wasn’t expecting you Brother Kern for another year. Tell me, Inquisitor, what brings you home to the Monastery so early?
 
“Brother Malkaris, surely you are aware that the message bearers have stopped their routes? Why has the Monastery grown so silent?” Kern asked with a near distrustful tone. Bren looked at the Inquisitor Pius over seeking any sign of deception.
 
“Oh, I am not aware of this Brother Kern. How long have the runners been silent?” The Inquisitor Pius put his arm around Kern and lead him into the Monastery. Brun was right behind him.
 
“Ah well Master it has been several months since the last bearer.” Kern was a bit shaken up for even him. Those in the order never touched another unless it was direly needed.
 
“Come Master Kern and Acolyte Brun, we shall discuss all this in my chambers” an eager Malkaris said. He showed them to his chambers and as the two entered, Malkaris shut the heavy wooden door and latched it closed.
 
“What’s the meaning of this? shouted Kern.
 
“Be calm Brother. I must warn you that the order has been infiltrated with the agents of chaos!
 
Kern immediately grew silent. “But how Master? How did this happen?”
 
The Inquisitor Pius sat in his strong looking wooden chair. “It started about the same time that I ordered the message bearers to stop.”
 
Kern straightened and exclaimed “you, you stopped the message bearers? But why?”
 
The Inquisitor Pius continued “Will you let me speak Inquisitor?”
 
“Yes, Brother Malkaris, forgive me.” Kern replied in an apologetic tone.
 
“Now where was I? Ah, yes as I was saying it started after I ordered the message bearers to stop their routes. You see, high ranking inquisitors within the order, within this very Monastery had become tainted with chaos. We knew that we could only trust the field Retinues to purge the Monastery. Thus, you can imagine how the Retinues would react if all of a sudden communication was lost with the Monastery. However I am surprised that only the two of you had appeared and in an overt fashion, Brother Kern.”
 
Kern relaxed to the point where it would allow him to sit on his chair in front of the desk of the Holy Inquisitor. “Who are these tainted inquisitors? Why haven’t they been dispatched already?”
 
Brun stood over the shoulder of his teacher and listened to the Holy Inquisitor. “Quite frankly Brother Kern, we do not know who to trust. The only Inquisitors capable of purging this taint are the ones who have been out in the field. Now you must understand that I have compiled a list of those whom I believe are untainted and among the saved. I need you to help me purge the heretics from this monastery.” Malkaris looked at both Kern and Brun and then spoke once more “I am uncertain how few of us can complete this grisly task however. It seams we are vastly outnumbered and no other Retinue has come to our aid.”
 
Without thinking Kern said “we are here.” Soon after he spoke he realized he should of held that back. Something about the whole situation just didn’t seam right, but he soon realized in his hope and disbelief that the holy order could in fact be destroyed revealed that the Retinues where indeed near the Monastery.
 
“Oh they are, Brother Kern?”  Malkaris inquired with a curious voice.
 
Kern hesitated for a moment then continued “Yes Master, all field Retinues are awaiting for our return, all one hundred thirty souls.”
 
“Excellent news Brother Kern! We shall win this day yet!” Both Kern and Brun could see that Malkaris was joyful excited about this development. “Tell me Brother Kern, tell me where they are.”
 
Kern didn’t want to reveal the exact location of the inquisitor so he spoke in generality “they are positioned approximately a mile from the Monastery, hidden from view”.
 
Kern stood with an uneasy posture “Tell me Brother; how I know that you haven’t fallen to this taint?”
 
“Ah you are indeed wise to ask this Inquisitor. Come with me and I will show you!” Holy Inquisitor Malkaris stood from the table and walked over to a plain wall with a single burning candle mounted on it. He grasped the candle holder and pulled on it. The section of the wall gave way to grinding noise as the wall slide back revealing a path. From inside Malkaris grabbed a torch and used the candle to light it. “Come now.”
 
Brun and Kern followed the Holy Inquisitor down the steps the torch lighting the way. “Understand this my Brothers, chaos has the power to change minds and weaken hearts. We have found one of the earlier conspirators and by his words alone we crushed his will to resist us. We are too few here in the Monastery to purge the tainted but you shall indeed see that I speak the truth.”
 
After the winding path the three descended a number of stairs until the path opened into a larger chamber. The chamber was dimly lit with burning torches scattered here and there. They could begin to here the screams of the confessor. As they approached Brun could see the bloodied instruments of the interrogators… his next promotion. Soon they came upon him.
“Sister Sesra, how goes the interrogation?” Malkaris asked.
 
“All goes well Master. This monstrosity has revealed a great many things.” the female interrogator replied in an almost satisfactory tone.
 
Brun noticed the beauty. Her face was certainly prettier than most of the farm girls Brun had grown up with. Her blonde hair was another uncanny trait for the locals… most had brunette color hair.
 
“Excellent Interrogator. Now Kern if you are ready, ask this abomination your questions.”
 
Kern stepped closer to the interrogated and Brun stood idle for a moment staring at Sesra before he too moved closer to the interrogator. The prisioner was strapped by the wrists, ankles, and throat. Brun winced hard as he saw the man’s finger nails on the floor and various bloodied pools of blood sitting under the chair.
 
“This isn’t meant to be seen by you Brun, not just yet.” Kern said trying to steady his acolyte. Kern took his gloved hand and pulled up the man’s drooping head. Brun gasped as he saw the man’s empty eye socket and slashed face. “Can you speak spawn of chaos?” Kern asked.
 
The prisoner gurgled and choked a little on his own blood. He tried to spit out the blood but could only manage a bloody drool. “I-I can.”
 
“Well good. Now tell me chaos filth, how did you infiltrate this Monastery. How many are you?”
 
The interrogated sat in his prison and tried to vocalize but wasn’t able to. Kern took one of the many hooks stuck in the prisoner and slowly twisted it.
 
“Uagghhhh!” the prisoner screamed half choking on his blood.
 
“Good your still alive. Now how did you infiltrate the Monastery!?! How many are you?!?” asked Kern in an enraged voice.
 
The prisoner continued in intermittent coughs. “Aggh… it was several months ago… eghhh… I-we followed… agggghhh… inquisitors to here from Kelsburg. We were trying to conv-v-vert town. Didn’t know Monas…” Kern grabbed the hook and twisted it some more “Aghhh! Monastery was here… couldn’t pass up finding here.” The prisoner then passed out from the lack of blood and pain.
 
Kern let go of the man’s head and it flopped down. “Wake up!” Kern raised his hand and struck the man’s bloodied face. “Wake up! Damn you!” Kern slapped the man’s face once more but no luck in trying to revive him”
 
“Brother Kern!” Brun tried to get him to stop but he wasn’t listing to him “Kern, stop! He is of no use dead!”
 
Kern struck him for the last time then stopped. “There you see Brothers. Do you see why I need your help, all of the Retinues help?” The Holy Inquisitor put his arms both around Kern and Brun and motioned them back towards the stairs. Brun caught himself staring once more at Interrogator Sesra.
 
Malkaris pushed a block in the wall at the bottom of the stairs and another passage revealed itself. “Now quickly if you dare, this passage will lead you safely outside. Please gather the Retinues and lead them through here. The journey will be covered and no one will suspect your coming. Go now and may Sigmar be with you!”
 
Brun and Kern quickly went through the passageway. Using a torch to light their way they were soon outside of the passage and amazingly just a few hundred feet from the Retinue camp.
 
Kern got his bearing and rushed towards the camp. “Quickly my Brothers! The Monastery needs us! There is no time to waste!”
 
Brun lead in the front as Kern lead in the back. A long line of one hundred and thirty inquisitors snaked their way underground until they reached the other side where Inquisitor Pius Malkaris was waiting for them. “Good, good. I wished I welcome our inquisitors under different circumstances but please make way for the others.”
 
The inquisitors quickly completed their journey and all were waiting down in the torture pit. “Listen my brothers! The mutant, the heretic, and the unclean have taken this holy sanctuary, our Inquisitor Pius ensures us that the clean are safe. This place of filth must be cleansed! To arms my brothers! For the glory of Sigmar!” Brother Kern yelled in a defiant voice.
 
Kern ran up the hallway of stairs and entered into the chambers of Malkaris and quickly unlatched the door. Flowing from the chambers like a great plague of locusts the Inquisitors of the Retinues descended upon the Monastery.
 
Pistol in one hand and rapier sword in the other Kern hacked the first of the unclean then used his pistol and shot square in the head of another. Not bothering to reload his pistol, Kern holstered it and continued his assault. The other inquisitors ascended from the depths of the torturer chamber.
 
The yelling and fighting alerted many around the Monastery and began to flock to the Great Hall where the assault began. Many were clamoring to arm themselves…
 
Kern continued the assault. He continued his bloody path knocking all heretics to the ground. After slaying his sixth heathen one of the unclean was armed and ready. Kern gripped his rapier sword with a stern hand and locked swords with his opponent. The two struggled and Kern pressed right up against the man forcing the swords to lock between the two bodies. He then drew out his other loaded pistol and shot point blank range into the heretic’s body causing him to stumble. Kern withdrew and saw the man grab his gut and looked down at his bloody hand. Soon enough he had collapsed onto the stone floor.
 
“Continue the assault! Purge the unclean from our holy sanctuary! screamed Kern.
 
Brun was at the back of the line waiting to engage in combat. Kern thought it was best to ensure the kid’s safety. As the line began to thin someone touched his shoulder. Brun turned around and say Sesra standing there before him. “Quickly we must go up and help our Brothers” he said waving up the hall way.
 
“Stay here… with me” Sesra said as she moved closer to Brun.
 
“W-we can’t we must move to hel” as Brun was talking Sesra moved in and kissed Brun.
 
“Stay with me” Sesra spoke once more after releasing her embrace with Brun.
 
“O-ok…” spoke Brun in a hesitant manner.
 
Top side in the Great Hall the heretics had gotten armed and were meeting the inquisitors in force now. Although the inquisitors caught dozens off guard and quickly dispatched them, there still remained a sizeable force. Losses were beginning to mount on the inquisitors’ side as well as the resistance grew.
 
Kern reloaded his pistols and continued his fight “Cleanse this place! Inquisitors never forget your duty!” With his pistol he shot at another heretic causing him to fall to the ground dead. Kern took the empty pistol and threw it at another heretic causing him to be off guard. Kern took his rapier and ran it through the heretic. Pulling it from the dead heretic he with drew it and in a clean sweep decapitated another heretic.
 
“That’s it, the hall is cleared! To the barracks! Let us finish this purge!” Kern ran in front of several of inquisitors as they headed for the barracks. Coming upon the rooms Kern took his foot and bashed the door in. Using his remaining pistol he shot the occupant then decapitated him. As Kern walked out of the room he saw the carnage that was being wrought throughout the barracks. Dozens of the heretics were cut down as they hid in their bed chambers.
 
Kern walked out of the barracks section of the Monastery with dozens of his inquisitors. Their clothing stained with the heretical blood of those they splayed. They soon entered the Great Hall. Standing outside of his chambers stood Inquisitor Pius clapping. “Thank you great Inquisitor... the blood of these innocents shall please Khorne indeed.”
 
“Wha-what are you talking about Holy Inquisitor?”
 
“Hahaha… holy you say, well once but no more, foolish Inquisitor!” replied Malkaris.
“You will die for this treachery!”
 
“I don’t think so Brother Kern. You see… with your blood lust you have staind these once holy halls with innocent blood.” Malkaris kicked one of the dead “heretics” and chuckled “You see I endowed by the powers of the Chaos gods long before you came here. While my numbers were insufficient to over run the Monastery… the combined force of the Retinues would prove very useful indeed!”
 
Kern dropped his sword with a clank and fell to his knees. “What have I done! What of the prisoner who was tortured?”
 
Brun layed with Sesra and heard the treachery. He began to get up but Sesra grabbed his arm “Let go of me women, my Master needs me!”
 
“Hahahaha, young fool! Your master is now Slaanesh!” replied Sesra “You shall prove to be a great marauder of his!” Sesra arm begin to turn purple and her eyes turned an unholy color. She pulled him down towards her and the screams of Brun could be heard upstairs.
 
“Brun… what is happening to Brun?!?” cried Kern.
 
“Oh that… well Brother Kern that is your “friend” being consumed with the loving embrace of Slaanesh. But for you I have a different plan.” replied Malkaris.
 
“My inquisitors attack this foul beast!” ordered Kern.
 
“Oh I don’t think so Brother Kern… in their blood lust in this tainted haven of chaos they have turned their hearts to me… just as you will!”
 
“Never! I will never turn to chaos!” cried a defiant Kern.
 
“It has already begun inquisitor. Quickly now, grab him and hold him down.” The fallen inquisitors did as they were ordered and grabbed Kern and held him fast to the floor. “Kern you shall make a great Chosen for Chaos Undivided!” and Malkaris placed an unholy helmet upon Kern’s head. The armor came to life and began to grow itself upon his skin forever binding itself to him. From this armor Kern screamed the most horrible scream as flesh melted to metal.
 
Malkaris stood before Kern as the transformation was complete. Kern got his feat bolstered by this unholy armor. His eyes began to glow with crimson pin lights. As he exhaled his breath could be seen steaming from the helmet. From the Inquisitor Pius’ chambers rasping breath could be heard… Malkaris turned and say the abomination of the Brun the marauder with Sesra shortly behind him.
 
Malkaris turned around back to the crowd of fallen Inquisitors. “Behold the end of the inquisitors and embrace the rise of the Fallen Inquisitors of Orbis Penitens!
 
“Chaos! Chaos! Chaos! Chaos!” erupted from the unholy host.

The chants began to slow down to a slow murmur. Then from behind the horribly disfigured Brun, Sesra stepped forward. She had regained her exotic beauty and no one would be the wiser of her partial transformation with Brun. “My Master, I have done as you requested. Bless me with the touch of the dark gods.”
 
The newly self proclaimed “Unholy Inquisitor” turned around. “Ah Sesra, my must trusted servant. You shall be rewarded for your loyalty. Indeed the dark gods demand great of their servants but they reward equally as great. Come forth and receive your blessing.”
 
Sesra stepped closer to Malkaris and he placed his hands upon her face “bless this one oh dark gods. She has proven to be your faithful servant and a loyal companion.” Dark energy began to erupt from the finger tips of Malkaris as purplish black electricity coursed from him into the body of Sesra. “Here you have received your reward, oh apprentice magus. You must train your mind to become a great magus and if you prove yourself even greater you shall bound with the disk of a dark god”
 
Sesra fell to the floor “thank you Master, thank you dark gods”.
 
“Rise Sesra and bask in our victory!” replied Malkaris.
 
Sesra rose to her feet and took her place at the side of the Unholy Inquisitor and, before them stood the last of the inquisitors, a sum numbering eighteen. Considering the purge greatly decimated the numbers of the inquisitors much to the success of Malkaris’ plan he reorganized the Retinues into three groups of six. These retinues would be less than the ancient old number of ten but the ferociousness of the damned inquisitors would surely make up for this short coming.  
 
Malkaris made further alterations to the age old order. The most prestigious Retinue within the Orbis Penitens would be altered as well. The Righteous Hand was renamed the Unrighteous Fist. This retinue would prove to be the elite Retinue of the fallen inquisitors.
 
As the followers of Malkaris listened to the edicts of their master, someone was listening to their plans. Her name was Iryla, daughter to one of the slain inquisitors. She had managed to escape the carnage that befell those who were within the barracks. There she stood behind one of the massive columns of the Great Hall.
 
She overheard Malkaris plans. “Minions of Chaos! This is our next task. Forces of the Old World are converging to swell the ranks of Destruction. This coalition comprise the greenskins, the dark elves, and other followers of chaos. We will ride out and join our brothers in a glorious pilgrimage. First we shall sack the village of Kelsburg. The dark gods demand sacrifices… and I demand slaves! Take all alive and those who resist… no mercy!”
 
Iryla gasped and didn’t catch herself. Many of the fallen inquisitors turned their heads towards the sound and Malkaris noticed as well “kill whoever that was!” he snarled. Just as he spoke the fallen inquisitors leapt into action. As they ran towards the sound they drew their sabers. Iryla saw the incoming inquisitors and quickly ran away.
 
The inquisitors began to enclose on her but then ran into a small opening into the stone air passages. She quickly scurried up the dark tunnel but the inquisitors were too large to fit in. Clamoring to get at the girl, Malkaris called them back. “Inquisitors! We ride!” shouted Malkaris.
 
The great steel gates of the Monastery burst open and eighteen riders dressed in black garbed burst forth. The main entrance from where these riders came from was from the west side. It would take the riders longer to reach Kelsburg but the usage of horses and wagons would have been restricted if they took the path of Brun and Kern hours before.
 
The child Iryla climbed out of the ventilation tunnel and was standing on a thin ledge over looking a canyon. Iryla pushed herself flat against the rocks and slowly worked her self to the side of the wall of the Monastery. She looked and saw her best chance to get down was a narrow gap between the wall and a small rock ledge that would lead down to the stone staircase that Brun and Kern climbed earlier.
 
Iryla was barely age ten but she knew what dangers existed for the village of Kelsburg. She grew strength from what her deceased mother had thought her and the courage of her father’s training. She also knew that if she treaded fast enough, even on foot she could beat the riders to Kelsburg… she had to warn the villagers!
 
Quickly she climbed down the stone staircase. There were no sentries like before for they fled into the Monastery at the start of the conflict. She did however see curious blood trails streaking across the dirt road but from where these came from or where they lead she did not know.
 
What luck! Iryla came across one of the ponies that the Retinues had used to get to the Monastery. Climbing upon the animal Iryla quickly rode off. Racing through the dirt road her horse kicked up a mighty dust trail. Iryla quickly pressed her animal faster and faster till it almost seamed to levitate above the ground. Soon the village of Kelsburg was in view.
 
Iryla came rushing into the village spurring up all sorts of attention. Many villagers along the various building of the village rushed to her aid. “T-they are coming” she said as they dismounted her.
 
One of the villagers asked “who, who is coming dear?”
 
Iryla continued “monsters of chaos, they slaughtered my family, they will be here soon and they will slaughter you all” and then over come with fear, exhaustion, the memories of seeing her parents killed, she passes out.
 
The villagers scramble, moving in all directions. They are unsure when the chaos minions will arrive. Many say that they should flee while others try and rally the villagers to some kind of defense. Many simply fall to the ground and begin to weep.
 
One of the villagers on look out notices a dust plume growing larger in the distance. The plume begins to get larger as it heads for the village. The lookout cries out “here they come!” Many more of the villagers begin to grow in panic. Such a village far from the wilds of uncivilized lands never had to encounter a threat such this.
 
The fallen inquisitors quickly descended upon the village like a cloud of locust on a harvest. The villagers who managed to muster themselves were quickly cut down as the riders used their rapier swords. Several of the riders used their horses and corralled many of the villagers into smaller groups. Soon wagons with iron crossbars opened their back gates and the villagers were forced into the wagon at sword point.
 
Kern had arrived after several of the riders and quickly dismounted from his horse. Both when he was an inquisitor and now as a chosen he always preferred to fight on foot rather than on beast. He shouted a terrible warcry “blood for the blood god!” and quickly used his war axes and cut down many villagers. The villagers simple farm tools and wood axes were no match for a chosen of chaos.
 
However in Kern’s blood lust he began to kill villagers who had already surrendered and in several cases who already were shackled waiting to be loaded into the wagons. Unholy Inquisitor Malkaris rode up to Kern “Kern, I wanted those villagers alive!” and shot forth dark energies that seamed to envelop Kern.
 
“Agggh” Kern screamed in pain “Yes, Master” he continued in a hoarse gurgled voice.
 
Minutes later the villagers were either rounded up and placed in the wagons or killed. Some had managed to slip through the riders and were running from the village but they were gunned down by the pistols carried by the unholy inquisitors. After all villagers were either killed or captured, Malkaris ordered the village to be burned down.
 
Soon the riders were miles away as the black smoke from the village headed for the sky. Malkaris rode in front with Sesra beside him. Behind them were the inquisitors with the wagons full of grieving weeping villagers. “Master” Sesra spoke “Where are we going? Where shall our new Sanctuary be?”
 
The two traversed a little before Malkaris replied “Sister Sesra, the sands of change are upon us. Those who do not fall to chaos will fall to the blade. Tzeentch’s minions are beginning to amass and we shall join them. However we will be joining up with a powerful ally on our journey of Chaos Undivided. We will be cross this wretched land and head toward the Sanctum Desecrates Custodis, the vault of texts of the Unholy Legions of Anti-Sanctus Chaotica. From there we join our brothers of darkness.”
 
“Yes Master” spoke Sesra.
 
The two grew quiet as the caravan moved forward. From the back they could still hear the cries of the captured villagers. The caravan continued its journey but unknown to even Sesra Malkaris was leading them to a secret Orbis Penitens.
 
- - - -
 
The caravan approached a mountain base. Malkaris guided the caravan through a small passage into rock. A large cave opening lead into a deep cavern and from here Malkaris gave the order to dismount and in unified fashion the inquisitors dismounted. The villagers were stirred as the wagons came to a stop.
 
“Unload them and strip them down!” ordered Malkaris.
 
The villagers were off loaded and where still shackled together. Led and forced to form a single line Malkaris walked the line pointing out villagers. These villagers were unshackled and separated. Malkaris then walked over the side of the cavern and pushed in a stone revealing a passage. Using some flint he ignited a torch. “Bring the chosen.” he barked and the inquisitors lead those he picked out of the line down the dark tunnel.
 
Meanwhile those who were left standing at the wagon were given simple cloaks to wear and where led back into the wagons. One of the inquisitors pulled out a sack of bread and threw several loaves into each of the wagons then followed with several skins of water into each one.
 
As the now “slaves” grabbed the water and bread, one of the slaves began to eat feverishly into the bread when they noticed a small girl crawling out from underneath. It was Iryla! She had curled herself underneath of the wagon. The inquisitors hadn’t noticed the girl but the slave broke off a piece of the bread and gave it her. Iryla nodded to the slave and crawled back underneath.
 
Malkaris, the “chosen”, and the inquisitors who went with him entered into a large chamber with many crates and barrels. Sesra was right behind Malkaris. Malkaris ordered a few of the inquisitors to grab as man of the crates and boxes as they could. As they did this Malkaris lead the rest deeper into the outpost until they came upon a room where a large basin was in the floor perhaps something like a pool.
 
Malkaris ordered the “chosen” to line up along the pool. Coming behind them he drew his knife and slit the throats of each of the sacrifices. The bodies fell forward into the basin and after the last one fell Malkaris spoke “Oh Chaos gods, these sacrifices are made in your honor! Grant us the power to fell our enemies!” The Unholy Inquisitor than took a cloth and wiped the blood clean and sheathed it.
Soon there afterwards Malkaris, Sesra, and the inquisitors headed back into the main chamber where most of the crates and barrels were gone. As they were in the main chamber Malkaris headed for a chest lying on the floor. Malkaris knelt down and used a key to unlock the large lock on it and opened it. From the chest there emitted an eerie glow and Malkaris removed a strange talisman.
 
What is that!” inquired Sesra.
 
“This Sister Sesra, this is a chaos artifact I found several months back. This artifact wouldn’t be safe anywhere within the order as the old inquisitors would have destroyed it. In simple terms Sesra, this is power.” Malkaris than put the talisman in a piece of cloth and stuffed it in his pocket. The Unholy Inquisitor then took out the last of the contents. It was a book but no simple book. The book was made of flesh and inked in human blood. It was a tome of great power for a particular Magus Malkaris knew. “Here take this. Read from this tome and grow in strength, Sister.”
 
Sesra took the book and held its unholy greatness in her hands. She could actually feel the draw of the power contained within the book “Thank you my Master.” she finally spoke.
 
They and the inquisitors with them returned to the caravan. Soon the caravan was once more on the move. Iryla who was still holding onto the bottom of the wagon overheard one of the inquisitors speaking with another on the next location the caravan was headed for, Ashton. From Ashton the caravan would be almost impossible for anyone to follow. So then she made up her mind. She must escape and find help, any type of help that could deal with this menace before they reached Ashton.
 
Coming upon a cross roads, Iryla saw that there was an Imperial outpost not many miles away. With luck on her side she let go and fell to the ground and quickly scurried away under the protection of bushes and brush. Iryla then quickly made for the outpost.
 
- - - -
 
Iryla arrived at the outpost exhausted but was greeted well. She explained the situation and the imperial troops were slow to believe her. They had of course never heard of the Orbis Penitens or even believed the location of the Monastery. While the outpost was only a day’s ride from the Monastery they had never heard of any thing of the order. Of course this was due to the nature of the order and was to be expected.
 
The imperial troops however did act when Iryla told them that chaos was on the move. They did hear reports that a small village was destroyed and a regiment was dispatched to the village. This new report from the girl made them grow concerned for the possible causalities of Ashton. A small cavalry detachment was dispatched to intercept the fallen inquisitors… it was the best they could afford.
 
- - - -
 
The dark riders approached the river village of Ashton. Quickly like before they descended upon the village but found no one. Growing concerned and looking for a trap they began to move towards the flatboats that would take them to sanctuary. As the riders rode on towards the boats they turned towards the regiment of cavalry!
 
The cavalry charged into the inquisitors and fierce fighting took place on horse back. The light cavalry fought heroically but their weak armor was easily pierced by the lead shot of the inquisitor’s pistols. Sesra after reading from the unholy book conjured her first spell of destruction. Calling forth the dark energies of chaos, several fire balls erupted from the sky and devastated both man and beast. A few of these fireballs missed their target and burst buildings into flames.
 
The calvary routed the inquisitors rode pass in quickened haste. They abandoned their horses and unloaded their slaves. The cavalry regained their composure and formed to make another assault but the magic of the magus and the lead shot of the inquisitors made it difficult for them. The fallen inquisitors departed from Ashton the same way they did Kelsburg, on fire. However this time many lives were saved due to the warnings of a young girl.
 
The boats carrying the fallen inquisitors, the traitors to the Empire, left down the river. Soon they would continue their journey and sooner yet the local Imperial troops will learn of the great tragedy that befell the once mighty order. From the lead boat stood Malkaris and his most trusted follower. For many in the past few days proved to be their end, for these two it only proved the beginning.

[Malkaris]

A Dark Evil Returns


Time passes as it always has. Through the years the Penitent Circle grew within its lair at the bastion of evil of Anti-Sanctus Chaotica. There exist only eighteen members of the devastated village of Kelsburg. These slaves have been fully integrated into the Penitent Circle as loyal servants but only so loyal of the fear that the fallen inquisitors bring them.

Iryla, the girl who witnessed the carnage of the destruction of her very own village has grown both in her body and her hatred for the cloaked butchers of all she knew. For the past decade since the second founding of Orbis Penitens, she has trained and grew skilled with the sword and the torture chair.

For the past ten years, Iryla has searched for the one who destroyed all she knew. Following the tracks of an inquisitor is difficult enough but to follow the tracks of one of the very best was nearly impossible for her. As she continued her journey she would take contract work as either a bounty hunter or hired “muscle”. Seeing each fallen foe as a test of strength and skill, these jobs made her even stronger and this strength is what she sought.

Finally, after years of training, Iryla got her break…

Following one of her contracts to the small town of Haroskiln, Iryla learned that several citizens had gone missing including her contract! Investigating this matter further, Iryla learns that her contact was last seen from their tavern’s room.
So now begins her final trek to find the Fallen Inquisitors.
 
- - - -


The stillness of night fell upon the town of Harosklin. The hustle and bustle of travelers, traders, and townsfolk fell to quiet murmur as the crowds dispersed with the dipping of the sun. Although the streets became quieter the retreating townsfolk and outsiders began to fill the local taverns with laughter and song. One in particular was especially filled with life.

The Drunken Dwarf was operated by Glan Ironside, a respected dwarf local. In the rowdy tavern he was busy with filling the steins of frothing beer and carrying the tune of a local song with the other patrons. The air within the tavern was growing murky with the excessive smoke of pipes and rolled tobacco. With the low light of the tavern it created an almost homey feeling but a hellish environment for those not accustomed to it.

The door to the tavern opened with the creaks of its dried hinges suppressed from the loud song and laughs of the patrons of the tavern. In walks one of the nightly regulars but nearly behind his very step in walked a cloaked figure. The figure move gracefully towards the signing and laughing dwarf, and as Glan finished pouring a stein and began to drink it as the figure stood directly in front of him.

A feminine voice came from the cloaked figure.

“Dwarf, I want to see the room of the missing man… I am his bounty hunter.”
 Glan stopped drinking as he was enticed by her voice but couldn’t see her face under the shadow of the hood. Glan took another drink from his stein. The patrons of the taverns mostly continued their song and boisterous laughter but some began to notice the cloaked person.

Glan was more intrigued with the body that he couldn’t see of the lovely voice.

“So tell me my dear.” He leaned forward. “What is a fine las like you doing in a place like this?”

The cloaked woman removed her hood exposing her elegant face and long hair. The woman slowly moved her hand towards the beard of the dwarf. Her hand softly gripped the ragged, food encrusted beard, and the gripped firmly. With a tight pull she pulled the dwarf’s head into the counter getting it wet with the spilled beer of many songs.

Several of the patrons saw what had happened and moved towards her. Still holding onto the dwarf’s beard she pulled out a pistol and held it at the patrons. The stunned patrons stopped their advance.

“Gentlemen please, take your seats.” she said.

The patrons moved back towards their signing circles. The song and laughter in the tavern died down as more onlookers started to realize what had happened. The cloaked figure gripped the dwarf’s beard firmer and holstered her pistol. She pulled the dwarf’s face towards hers.

“Now dwarf, how about that room?”

The dwarf fumbled with several keys behind the counter. He dared not to reach for the long knife that lay next to them… he knew enough that this woman would strike him down faster than he would be able to pull it above the counter. Also the ten steins of beer he had wouldn’t of helped matters much either.

He placed the key on the counter “Here you go las.”

The woman let him go and he fell backwards onto the floor. She drew out two gold pieces and threw them on to his chect. “For your trouble.” she commented as she began to walk towards the stairs to the rooms of the upper level.

As Iryla walked up the stairs the sound of music and laughter began to fill the tavern once more. As she walked towards the second level the sound began to become muffled but still loud to her the lyrics of drunken patrons. As she walked she looked down and looked over the key. She eyed the crudely engraved number on it.

“3.” she said aloud and continued to walk past “1” and “2” carved into each door.

Coming across the door with the carved in “3” she placed the key in the door lock and turned. The lock “clicked” and she pushed. As the door swung open it creaked. Iryla looked around as she stepped into the room. She lit a candle then several more. It had seamed if the drunken dwarf, Glan mind you, not the tavern itself, had cleaned the room. However much of the cleaning was poorly done just like the rest of the tavern.

Iryla took from her puch on her belt a rectangular cut piece of red colored “glass”. She held it up to her eye and looked through it. Through the “glass” she could see the various stains, grime, and other disgusting sights of the tavern more clearly. There was one particular stain on the hard wood floor that interested Iryla more than the rest.

She put the “glass” back into her pouch and knelt down to the floor where the stain lay. She reached back into her pouch and took out a small vial of liquid and poured it onto the stain. The liquid began to fizzle and foam then it turned to a grayish color.

“Gotch’ya”

Closing the vial she placed it back into her pouch and blew the candles out. She exited the room proceeded to head down the stairs. For the past ten years she has sought out those who destroyed her home, the monastery and the village that lay near it. Now she was close. From her test she knew for certain that the fallen inquisitors where here recently, to about one day ago from her estimation.

She drew up her hood and quickly walked past Glan who was filling more steins. She threw the key into one of them and headed out the door. As Glan swore a Dwarven curse two figures moved away from the patrons and proceeded out of the door.

Walking into the cool air of the night, Iryla knew she was being followed. This could be the extra clue she needs to track down the Fallen Inquisitors. Knowingly heading into a dead end alley she walked towards it. They two dark figures continued to follow her. The two figures entered into the alley but they couldn’t find Iryla. The figures walked deeper into the alley but were confused as to where she went. Moments later Iryla leapt down from one of the walls behind them.

“So, they sent only two? That’s insulting” she said to mock them.

One of the figures pulled out a sword as it gleaned in the dim lights of the town. The other drew out a repeating crossbow. The figure with the sword advanced quickly but Iryla was ready to meet his blow with her own. The two were locked in a duel as the second figure with the crossbow tried to get a lock on the woman.

Iryla and the swordsman were locked in conflict. Their swords were held strong until Iryla twisted her hilt and a dagger was pulled out from it. She took it and plunged it into the swordsman chest. The crossbowman saw the hit and began to shoot wildly towards her mostly hitting the swordsman. Iryla began to rush the crossbowman and he tried to hit her but her uncanny acrobatic like moves missed them all. “Clank” the crossbow jammed… Iryla ran towards the crossbowman and used the wall as a springboard to leap into the figure.

Her force pushed him down onto the ground with her on top of him with a dagger to his throat. “Now tell me, where can I find your employer?” she asked in a calm voice. The figure laid helpless then soon Iryla saw him bite down on something. “NO!” she exclaimed. Soon froth began pouring from the figure’s mouth and then his body lay slack.

Iryla got off the figure and slumped against the wall of the alley. She was shaken to be so close but yet to be set back once more. She began to curse herself for her soft interrogation of the figure… she is better than that. Then she grew confident once more “this attack” she thought to herself “is proof enough that I am close, so very close.”

As she sat against the wall she noticed the mud on the boots one the crossbowman. As she looked at it closer she realized that this color of mud wasn’t from around here. It was in fact from the foothills of the mountains that lay only kilometers from the town. “So the trail continues” she spoke aloud as she got up. Off in the distance she could hear the shouts of town guards coming. She quickly disappeared into the shadows of the town.

- - - -

The road leading from the village had long ago turned into a narrow path way cutting into the mountains. Iryla held her cloak closely to her body as the temperature fell a cool fifty degrees. She had been exploring the side of the mountain and traveling on the path for the better part of the day. The mud color on her would be assassin’s boots was the only clue she had to go on but now was the area where she expected the mud originated from. She had only one problem that she knew of, she her areas for exploring where beginning to wane.

As day turned into night, Iryla decided to set up camp and continue her search in the morning. There was no sense in missing a step and falling several hundred feet onto a bed of rocks. At her camp site she had a low burning fire off the trail in a secluded alcove of brush. As the night crept on she ate her meal of dried meats fruit. Later, as she stared into the fire she thought a lot. Her thoughts went from the trail she was exploring, to her childhood of the monastery, to the grisly dwarf at the tavern. However, the sound of distant talking broke her daze.

Iryla quickly stamped her fire out with her boot and grabbed her sword lying near by. From her alcove she slowly crawled to the edge of the trail leading up the mountain. From a distance away she could see glowing torches against the night. Cautiously Iryla traversed the trail heading up towards the sources of light being ever vigilant of the edges of the trail. As she neared the sources of light she could tell who they where. Inquisitors!

She neared them using almost cat like stealth against the blackness of night. From behind the two talking inquisitors she could spot a trap door leading into the mountain. It was disguised as stump… she had passed by this location several times during the day and had missed it! Slowly Iryla circled around the inquisitors and crept behind them. Iryla pulled her dual daggers out from their protective sheaths and neared closer to the inquisitors. From behind she reached around the two inquisitors and with precision cut both their necks in quick fashion. The inquisitors fell to the ground with only the sounds of gurgling and quick death.

Iryla headed towards the open trap door and climbed down the wooden ladder. At the foot of the ladder she could see a stone tunnel slightly taller then her and about two bodies wide. The stone tunnel was lined with torches that dimly lit the interior. The tunnel seamed to traverse for hundreds of feet. Iryla continued down the tunnel and noticed that there were chambers carved out from the tunnel. There was an entire complex underground here!

Iryla quickly searched through the chambers she explored. To her surprise the complex was largly unpopulated. It appeared to her as if this complex was a “safe house” or even an elaborate storage “cellar”. Iryla then came across the armory. This room was larger than the others and all sorts of equipment, supplies, and munitions were all neatly stacked around the room. After she scanned the room she left and walked out into the tunnel.

“Halt!” a man yelled.

Iryla saw the fallen inquisitor and ran straight for him. The black clothed man tried to pull out his rapier but Iryla was too quick and slashed his throat. Behind the bloodied inquisitor where two more fallen inquisitors. They had more time to draw their weapons. The one pulled his black powder pistol from its holster and pointed it straight for Iryla. He pulled the trigger and a flash sparked and smoke filled the immediate area. Iryla saw the gunman and dodged the attack. She ran straight for him and thrust her dagger right into his chest cutting through the heavy leather duster coat. As the fallen inquisitor fell to the stone floor of the tunnel, Iryla tumbled over his body pulling out the dagger.

The second inquisitor was shaken by the lost of his partner and prepared to fire his pistol. As Iryla finished her tumbled she through the dagger straight into the neck of the second inquisitor. As the inquisitor fell to the ground she stood up. Iryla then continued to rush down the tunnel at an ever growing pace. She knew that if any other inquisitors were in the complex they would of surely heard the pistol firings. As the thought sunk in she pulled out her dual pistols and quickly searched other rooms.

Seconds later an inquisitor stepped out into the tunnel system cautiously however exposed himself to a lead ball shot from Iryla’s pistol. Iryla drew near the end of the tunnel that opened into a rather impressive library. However, there were inquisitors waiting for her.

Iryla took aim and shot dead an inquisitor who stood near the door way. From around the room four inquisitors began firing at Iryla. Iryla quickly took cover behind a large pile of dusty books. Ripped paper and dust flew into the air as lead balls slammed into their pages. Kneeling behind the pile, Iryla reloaded her pistols. She then turned around behind the pile and sprung up and fires both pistols into two inquisitors.

The other two inquisitors were busy reloading their pistols when Iryla continued her assault. The first inquisitor she attacked was nearly finished in reloading his pistol. She took her empty pistol and threw it at him, causing him to drop his weapon. She drew out her dagger and thrust it right into his chest. As he fell to the ground, she bent down and picked up his fallen pistol. Rather than shoot the next inquisitor, Iryla shot a chain holding the ball of oil. The ball swung free straight for the inquisitor. The force of the metal ball caused the inquisitor to fall to the floor unconscious.

- - - -

Kalen woke with a splitting headache. His vision was blurry but slowly cleared. As he strained to see he was trying to remember what had happened. He knew that he was trying to repel a trespasser of the sanctuary but then… what had happened? He then noticed that he couldn’t move. Something was holding his arms and legs. His vision cleared then he knew. He could make out the face of a woman… he then realized he was her prisoner. He quickly bit down on his tooth but realized that all he could do was taste the blood in his mouth.

- - - -

Iryla stooped down to make face contact with the prisoner. She could tell that he was trying to bite down on his suicide “tooth” so she held out the bloody mauler.

“I am sorry dear inquisitor, but there will be no easy escape for you. You will tell me what I want to know.” she told him.

The inquisitor was trying to say something, no doubt something defiant and dignified but he never had the chance. To prove her point, Iryla took a long metal shard she had found and forced his jaw open and began poking and probing the gaping hole where his tooth once was.

Soon, Iryla would have her answer.

- - - -

Iryla had her answer. She knew where her query is headed. It seams that he had just left this “sanctuary” to travel to some underground castle with whom he holds allegiance to. Soon Talios Malkaris would die by her blade and she shall finally fulfill her desire for vengeance. As Iryla left Kalen to his managed self she stepped over cut off fingers, fingernails and other “proof” of Kalen interrogation. It was surprising but not so much to Iryla to see him still alive. He couldn’t speak anymore but could only moan the pain he felt. From the library Iryla grabbed several books and a map… she then headed for the armory.

Iryla entered into the armory and grabbed a small barrel of gun powder. She pulled the cork out and began pouring a thin black line through the stone tunnel all the way back to the ladder to the outside. At the bottom of the ladder she poured the last of the gun powder out and began her climb back up. Top side she grabbed one of the dead inquisitor’s torches and dropped it down the shaft. Quickly Iryla ran towards down the trail nearly loosing her footing along the narrow path. Quickly in the stone tunnel, a spark ignited the black powder and raced its way down the tunnel to the armory… BOOM! The vengeful inquisitor could hear the resulting explosion and could faintly see smoke pour from the trap door. The earth above the tunnel complex sunk in slightly as the rooms collapse.

Iryla recovered from the loud explosion and beagn her way back down the trail. She would soon have her vengence.

- - - -

Weeks pass as Iryla travels towards her final confrontation with Talios. Using the book and the map recovered from the tunnel complex, she knew that soon she would be upon him. It has been days since she left the main trail and carefully navigated her way using the map. There she came upon a base of a mountain. The map indicated a secret passage and soon she found it. The passage was hidden behind a rock face in a cave covered by vegetation. Iryla took out her sword and cut free a small opening for her to pass through.

Through the passage way she entered into a dimly lit tunnel. The tunnel was made from a simple stone and small gas torches were mounted throughout the complex. Caustiously she continued through the tunnel, ever vigilent of foes. Soon the tunnel came to an end... a dead end to be specific. Iryla searched along the edges and all over the stone doorway until she found a trigger that released the lock. The door groaned open.

Iryla passed through this door and entered into a grander hallway. its floor was black as obsidian but decorated with imbedded stones of red. The lighting was greater here as the gas fed torches burned brighter. She quickly went through the corriders with a determined grace. She acted as if she knew the way.

Soon she heard someone talking. The voice grew louder as she approached. Soon she was able to make out what was being said. "This is your Dark Apostle" the voice spoke and continued "I am here to give news to all of the troops in Anti-Sanctus Chaotica. Iryla could hear the murmir of a large crowed in agreement to this statement. Iryla slowed to a walk as she neared an even greater hallway. She was only a hundred feet from the source of the voice.

"Things are picking up as we sweep across this land like a black plague and we shall sweep further into the empire."

Iryla could the moan of someone over the near manic speaker. She crept around the corner of the hall and spotted her quary. Talios stood over a peasant dressed in his garb and hooded from her view. She spotted a sacrifical blade behind his back.

"Silence" demanded Talios, directed at the peasant on the floor. The peasant  grew quiet but as he turned his head down the corridor he spotted Iryla.

"Someone, please, help!" cried out the peasant near Iryla's direction. Talios had enough with the peasant and pulled his sacrifical dagger out and plunged it right into the chest of the peasant. Iryla looked away as Talios tore into the man's chest and pushed his hand into the cavity. Talios pulled from the chest the heart of the man. His hands covered in blood, Talios shows the heart to the troops and continues his speach.

"Behold what will happen to those who will not convert to our power and to those who will not bow to the power of the Dark Lords. You shall see from this that we will continue to harvest hearts from those who do not follow us."

Iryla was about to move from her location until she heard someone else closer to Talios. "Hello Father" she heard the man say.

"What?!? Who are you? No, thats impossible!" cried Talios. Then then dropped the heart of the peasant and lunged towards the man with his dagger. Iryla saw the two men struggle. Seconds later Talios drifted back from the man and fell to the ground with a dagger in his stomach. Apparently he had stabbed himself in the scuffle.

"No!" Iryla thought to herself. She started to move from her spot but the man moved in front of the troops. She held back. Iryla knelt there patiently as the man introduced himself. Apparently this, "Fox" was Talios' son and was in charge of some sort of rebellion against the Empire. How rediculas would it be to overthrow the empire in such a dire need of it? She knelt there a while longer listening to his words.

"Perhaps" Iryla spoke softly to herself. As she continued to listen to the words of Fox Malkaris, she had a change of heart for the empire. She knew first hand growing up what the witch hunters had brought against even the most innocent of the empire. She knew what Orbis Penitens had done. What atrocities had been brought to all those within the empire for the sake of keeping it alive.  

"And with my contacts" Fox began to  finish his speech to the troops "we both shall overthrow this empire, and then we shall deal with each other after that is done. But for the time being I will burry my father. This is Fox Malkaris. I shall see you around."

Fox waved to the troops and then proceeded to head down the corridor towards Iryla. She became flustered. She wasnt sure if she should kill Fox for taking away her vengence or priase him for inciting rebellion. She soon sorted that the liberation should come first. She moved from her knelt position towards the rebel leader.

"Fox" spoke Iryla "Talios was your father?"

Fox stopped and looked at her "at one point he was, then I learned to think of him as not."

Iryla approached him "I have seen the things that your father has done, but I am sorry for your loss."

"Thank you but your comfort is not needed." Fox continued to walk.

"Wait a moment Fox!" Iryla called out and walked towards him.

"Excuse me miss, but who are you to follow me around? I do you even care, especially being from a place like this?

Iryla stopped "I am not one of them... I was like your father once. Well atleast I was training to be like him."

This peaked Fox's interest "so you were among the inquisitors? What brings you here?

Iryla came closer to him. "Talios, your father murdered my family, my whole family! Not just my mother and father, but all of those who didn't join his insane bid for power!"

"Well then miss, you and I share a common history. Talios murdered my mother and my sister. He would of done the same to me if it wasn't for a inqusitor who didn't follow his idiotic plans."

Iryla was stunned "murder your family, why?"

Fox stiffened "becuase it was presumed that chaos had gripped them but they showed no signs, no hints, and never waivered from being loyal citizens of the empire."

Iryla grew softer "is this why your leading a rebellion?"

"Yes, miss. Such atrocities shouldn't happen to families... yours or mine. Tell me, what is your name, and since when do dark elves care of such emotion?"

Iryla was stunned for a moment "I-I am not a dark elf." she looked down at her arms and hands and saw a milky blue tint to her skin... "I was born a high elf!"

Fox looked at her perplex. He raised his hand and move it towards hers. She resisted at first then accepted his hand. Fox walked her to a grand mirror about fifty feet from where they were talking and position her in front of it. "Look" he asked.

Iryla looked into the mirror and moments later lowered her hood. The last she had peered into a mirror was when she was a child. She marvled at how she had matured but then grew frightened. She noticed her skin... had indeed changed into that of a Dark Elf. Could her years of hatred and anger touched her greater than she had imagined? She pushed away from the mirror.

"Chaos. Chaos does strange things to all those it touches. It isn't always as destructive as seen in the northern maraduars. I am sorry miss." Fox said trying to comfort her.

"Iryla."

"Excuse me" asked Fox.

"My name. It's Iryla"

Fox and Iryla walked to retrieve a means as to carry his father for burial. Later that night they both dug a grave. One would be burying his father and nemesis while the other buried her hatred and vengence.

- - - -

"Master! The master is dead!" snarled Brun. The skulking maradaur smashed a wooden table with its giant claw. "All is lost! What shall we do?"

"Calm yourself down now or I'll calm you permently!" ordered Sesra.

The grotesque chaos maraduar slowed his rage.

A hulking, plate armored cladded warrior approached Sesra. From its great metal helmet, twin pin hole red lights glared. As it spoke "Mistress Sesra, what shall we do know that the master has been slain?" eerie fog came from its mouth.

"K-k-kill them all!" answered Brun in a gurgled roar.

"Silence!" Sesra yelled towards the brute. "We must know who to kill first!" Sesra looked towards the hulking armored cladded warrior "Chosen,  take Brun and find out who dared to kill the Fallen Inquisitor. Do not strike at him. Leave that for my pleasure."

"Yes, Mistress." The chosen spoke.

Sesra reached to grab the edge of a plate and pulled with unnatural strength at the armor, lowering the chosen to her "I said do not strike at him!" She then let go. The armored warrior nodded and the maradaur followed him through the stone arch and into the hallway.

- - - -

Through the streets of Kaldor, Fox walked under a long coat. He was a wanted man in this town and he wasn't planning on getting caught. He continued his walk sometimes looking nervously over his shoulder or to teh left or right. Soon he was upon his destination. Infront of him stood the back of an imperial armoury, one that supplied a large regiment operating from the town.

Fox stood in the alleyway and looked around seeing if he was being watched. When he was sure that no one was around he knelt down and placed a small box on the ground. He then opened the box as its lid was turned over against its hinges and he removed a curious cylinder. With this metalic object he placed it at the base of the wall of the armoury. From the box, Fox removed a rectangular stick and began to screw it into the chrome cylinder... he then pulled on a metal ring and ticking sounds could be heard from the object. Fox gathered his box and picked it up by its handle and quickly walked from the alley way.

Tick. Tick. Tick.... BOOM! A loud explosion shook the section of town that the bomb was placed in. The initial explosion tore right into the brick building and ignited stores of gun powder causing secondary explosions. The alley way where Fox stood only moments ago was engulfed in flames and smoke.

Quickly Fox made his way out of the town. As he walked at a quickened pace, town folk and fire brigades quickly ran to the devestated section of town. Soon he was nearing the outskirts of the town and over the bridge that connected the town and the main road. As he neared the edge of the main road he heard shouts from behind him.

"Halt in the name of the Emperor!" shouted imperial troops.

Fox turned away from town and moved into a sprint but was quickly stopped as Imperial troops came marching towards him from the opposite direction. Fox put up his hands.

Moments later shots fired out from the bushes on teh edges of the road falling many of the imperial troops. Men and some women dressed in civilian clothing emerged from the bushes covering Fox's escape to a waiting horse. The Maquis quickly dissapeared from the ambush site in which they came. By the time the Imperial troops from town arrived at the ambush site, all they found were dead Imperial bodies.

- - - -

The chosen and maraduar had been tracking the foe that killed their master for weeks now. It seamed to them that this "Fox" was the son of Talios and in a scuffle Talios was stabbed with his own weapon. However, now they needed to know where Fox was hiding.

Upon his demonic steed, Kern watched from a distance as Fox and his Maquis ran across the fields of green and then suddenly dissapear. Kern kicked his horse in its side and it quickly galloped in the direction in which they disspeared. Brun quickly followed on his own mount.

The two raced out to the field and stopped at the location in which Fox and his followers disappeared. Brun got down from his mount and got down on all fours and sniffed around. Moments later he uncovered a hidden passage.

"There, he growled. Shall we return to the Mistress now?" he growled.

Kern looked down upon his former apprentice and answered "No... we shall enter."

"B-but Mistress Sesra told us not!"

Kern moved closer to Brun and kicked the maraduar right in the face casuing the atroctious monster to fall backwards into the mud.

"Fool! Would you dare to draw out Sesra to a place like this and be wrong? I should run you through now for such a thought!"

Kern dismounted from his steed. His boot splashed into the mud and sunk slightly under its shear weight. The chosen warrior walked near the entrance and with one solid tug pulled the entrance  cover right off. The mighty warrior grabbed the maraduar and threw him down the dank hole. Then he himself jumped through.

- - - -

"Friends, tonight we celebrate!" exclaimed Fox. "Congratulations to all on a sucessful raid and may we continue to have many more!

Fox took his raised stien and then brought it to his mouth and drank from it. Those around him did in similiar fashion. Indeed, today was a good raid. They had managed to detonate the Imperial armoury hampering the activities of the Imperial army for many miles around. What was more grand about this raid was that they hadn't lost a single man.

The cheers of the crowd continued as they drank more from their underground hideout. Fox sat down to a wooden table and began to eat his meal of hot turkey with all the fixings. Today was a celebration indeed, no dried meat and fruit rations where in sight!

To the right of Fox sat Iryla. She had really got adjusted to the fight for liberation than for revenge. However, it took a while for the other members of the Maquis to welcome in a "dark elf". She still struggled with the stares of passer bys, but she has accepted who she was. Only thing that matters to her now was who she would be.

- - - -

Kenfa was standing guard at the entrance when he wished he could be apart of the celebration. It wasn't everyday that fresh food was being served. He began to think to himself "that turkey smells so good right now... I wonder if any will be le---". Kenfa looked down to his stomach and sees a bloodied sword point sticking out from his stomach. He tries to speak but chokes on his own blood.

Kern pulls his sword from the body of Maquis. As the dead rebel falls to the ground, Kern steps over it and continues his advance into the Maquis hideout. Shortly behind him follows Brun. The two approach the outskirts of the main mess halll and they spot a Maquis with the description of Fox.

"There. That one in the middle. He must be Fox." declares Kern.

Brun pushes the chosen off balance and runs forward "for the master!" he cries.

The rampaging maraduar slashes Maquis as he charges for Fox. The other maquis scramble for either cover or weapons. Brun smashes through rows of wood tables and splinters them in half. Fox sees the maraduar charging straight for him and pulls out his pistol and shoot Brun square in the chest. The blow slows Brun but his assault continues.

Kern realizes what Brun has down and withdrawls to the shadows... he doubts Brun will be able to kill Fox but Brun will not be returning with Kern.

Fox pulls out his sword and lunges from the table towards the maradaur. Iryla follows suit. Behind Fox, she fires off her hand held cross bow. A steal bolt plunges straight into Brun's head. The maradaur takes his unmutated hand and pulls it from his skull... blood seeps from his wounds. As the maraduar, Fox, and Iryla clash they enter into a deadly melee. The other Maquis scurry to stay out of the way.

Iryla takes a dagger and thrusts it into the back of the maradaur. Brun lets out a terrible roar as he takes his massive claw and smashes Iryla aside. Fox takes his sword and makes a swift upper motion straight through Brun's skull while he was distracted with Iryla. Brun pushes Fox aside and then pulls the sword from his head. The maradaur walks towards Fox.

"You have got to be kidding me" Fox says as he is on the floor trying to back away from Brun. Then, Brun collapses onto the floor.

Fox moves over to Iryla. As Fox checks her wounds she moans slightly in pain. "Take it easy, Iryla. Your going to be fine."

Fox gets up and checks other wounded Maquis. The unwounded Maquis approach the maraduar. Fox stands up from a wounded Maquis and makes a general order "take that thing outside and burn it! We are leaving."

- - - -

Kern made it top side and retrieved his demonic steed. Quickly he was off in a fury. As he jolted as quickly away from the rebel headquarters he looked over his shoulder and saw Bren being dragged out of the hole.
 
“Stupid fool”
 
Kern continued to ride hard and fast back to Mistress Sesra. The ride would take several days. “Perfect” as he thought to himself. That would allow for him to come up with an excuse as to why Brun was dead and more importantly to Sesra, why they had even came in contact with Fox and the Maquis.

- - - -


“Leave those supplies. We can’t afford to take them with us!” ordered Fox.
 
Hours had passed and most the headquarters had been evacuated. All that could be loaded and secured on horse or wagon had been with the exception of several miscellaneous items. As the last of the Maquis exited from the dug in headquarters, a single torch was thrown down the hole. Inside the once safe haven of the rebels, now lay a blaze, destroying what little remained.
 
The Maquis had always operated in a fashion that allowed it tear apart its operation and be ready for transport within a few hours or rather quicker if only essential items and equipment were taken. This detail had always allowed the rebels to stay one step ahead of the empire and now as it seamed a new enemy. Soon the Maquis were on there way, down a lonely road, to a new haven. Scouting and always having a secondary base were always helpful in the event the headquarters need to be moved.
 
The long procession of horses and wagons was headed by Fox and Iryla. He looked over at Iryla and then behind them as he shouted “onward freedom fighters! We shall be at Liberty’s Torch in a few days!” With that, Fox struck his fist in the air and directed all to follow. The road that lead to Liberty’s Torch was a dangerous one at best, but it stood as the best chance for the rebels to relocate without being caught in the open for too long.
 
Iryla looked at Fox “I thought we had lost contact with that outpost, Fox?”
 
Fox grabbed the reins of horse tighter and then looked back “Iryla, indeed we have. I can’t say how I know but I know that what ever hit the outpost wasn’t Imperial and it wasn’t our mutated friend. It is something else. We have no choice Iryla. We need to move to a new haven and quickly.
 
Iryla turned her attention to the dust of the road. She knew within her own heart that Fox had an uncanny ability to sense danger. She only hoped that she could trust it now, more than ever. She began to loose focus as the dust began to glimmer in the dusk sunlight, the orange and yellow rays of the sun cresting the trees and around them. She sighed. This could be the calm before the storm.

- - - -

“Kern! What did I say?!? How couldn’t you follow the most basically of orders?”
 
Sesra’s hand glowed as she casted a powerful beam of light onto the chosen. Kern moved in pain, a bad pain.
 
“Mistress! It wasn’t my fault! We followed the murderer to his hole and I wanted to turn back, but Brun charged right in! We were outnumbered and I knew I had to return to you… aggghhh! I had to return t-to you to report where he was!”
 
The light began to fade and Sesra approached him. Kern fell to the ground while gasping and having difficulty in keeping himself from falling face first into the stone floor.
 
“I doubt your story Kern, but for right now I need you more alive then dead. Kern, I want you to gather the last of the inquisitors… and gather the chaos hounds!”
 
“Yes, Mistress.” Kern spoke as he tried to pick himself up off the floor.
 
“Oh, and Kern, I will be joining this hunt. I shall not give you a second chance!”
 
- - - -
 
Sesra and Kern rode upon their demonic steeds as the last of the fallen inquisitors follow from behind. Their party numbered seventeen. Through the Great Purge and the subsequent raids and the hooded pursuer of Talios, their numbers had been greatly reduced. Ahead of Sesra and Kern were two chaos hounds, their guides, as they sniffed the air and tracked the Maquis. The chaos hounds had picked up the Maquis trail after they searched the torched remains of the former headquarters.
 
- - - -
 
The Maquis came upon a lightly trimmed trail off of the main road. The convoy began to turn as they followed Fox down the narrow trail. Iryla looked at Fox and spoke “other than those bandits Fox, this trek has been easier than I originally thought.”
 
“Yes Iryla. I have noticed that as well. Perhaps what knocked out the outpost has made its presence known in this region. We must press on to the outpost however. We have no where else to go. The imperial troops are looking for us and they have spies everywhere. We will have to deal with what ever this presence is to buy us a place to rest.”
 
Now, the whole convoy was on the path and making its way towards the outpost. Within hours, the convoy will reach the outpost.
 
- - - -
 
As the convoy approached the stone keep there was an unsettling quietness. All that could be heard was the clip clop of horse hooves. Fox and the rest of the Maquis were on alert however ever vigilant of what might be lurking. Soon the keep was in full view.
 
The outpost was several miles in from the main road. This obviously ancient keep was constructed right into a large rock face. All around the keep lay broken barrels, tools, tables, and signs of weapons. However no bodies or dead animals could be found. The woods around keep appeared to be dead and rotten. The weather itself proved to add to the dreary atmosphere.
 
Fox dismounted. “OK everyone, listen up! Iryla and I are headed in to scout out the outpost. I need a few volunteers.”
 
Nearly all of the Maquis took a step forward. Fox pointed to three of them and they gathered their weapons. Soon Fox, Iryla, and the volunteers stood before the stone steps leading to the door of the keep. As Fox approached he could see the doors were already open but they seamed to be fine, no forced entry. From his sack, Fox pulled out a torch and lit it. He touched his torch with another held by a volunteer and the group headed inside.
 
Inside the keep the air was stale. The group could see from torch light that this room must have been impressive at one time but has turned considering the weight of time. As they looked over the room, smashed chairs, vases, and bits of food were thrown about. Off in one of the corners of the room were bedrolls more than likely left by the initial Maquis scouts, however there was no sign of them.
 
“What happened here?” asked Iryla.
 
“I can’t say for sure” spoke Fox “but I think there was a struggle in this room. Look at how the bits of food are scattered throughout the room. Perhaps they were hit while eating.”
 
The group pulled their weapons and Fox drew his pistol. Soon the group headed into next room, then the room after that, then the room after that. They hadn’t found any other signs of struggle or even signs of the scouts beyond the scraps of food and their bedrolls. The group continued their search of the keep and couldn’t find anything else for that matter. The keep appeared clear… until they noticed the breach in one of the walls of the last room they explored. The breached opened into a long tunnel. Its sides were unfinished and rough. The group followed the tunnel as it lead into darkness.
 
- - - -
 
Young Maquis fighter, Draken, was stoking the fire, when he felt something hit and tackle him down to the ground. He could feel great pain as the creature tore into him. He could taste a strong copper taste as blood flowed into his mouth and he gagged as he tried to scream. Soon his vision went to black as the creature bit through his neck.
 
Other Maquis saw the creature lunge at Draken and tried to repel the beast but they were unsuccessful. The chaos hound turned and lunged towards another Maquis then another. The fallen inquisitors on horse back soon roared into the center of the Maquis camp. They slashed with swords and decapitated a few.
 
A few of the Maquis managed to get a few shots off killed several of the horse riders. Soon rode in Kern, with his heavy plate armor causing many of the Maquis shots to bounce off. Kern held his mighty sword up and slit a retreating Maquis in half.
 
Although the Maquis managed to kill several fallen inquisitors, the fight was one sided. Soon the Maquis were all dead outside of the entrance to the keep. Their victor’s surprise and viscous attack proved too strong to repel. Sesra rode in on her demonic steed and took in the horrific sights.
 
“Inside, my minions! Take the head of the one who killed our master!” she cried as the fallen inquisitors flowed into the entrance of the ancient keep.
 
- - - -
 
The long tunnels finally lead into a small cavern. Pillars of rock lined the floor and the ceiling. Some were naturally forming; others appeared to have been carved into intricate works of art. The ground itself began to form into more finished rock giving it a flat, shinny black look. The group continued to head deeper into cavern and as they progressed the refinement of the cavern grew.
 
The group neared the end of the small cavern and witnessed the large stone archway right before them. Within the arch way stood immense doors made from a metal unknown to anyone in the group. Along the doors and even in the rock, hieroglyphics were etched or carved. Fox took his hand and brushed over the symbols. Although he couldn’t remember seeing the hieroglyphs before, he had a sense that he could understand what they meant. He tried to focus his mind on their meaning, but he could picture them. The meaning was just out of focus, on the outskirts of his mind’s eye.
 
The great metal doors were already opened but with just a crack. Fox, Iryla, and the volunteers all pushed opened the great doors. The doors creaked with the age of eons as they gave way to a more impressive cavern, one that looked as if it was a great hall during one point of existence.
 
“What is this place?”
 
“I do not know, Iryla, but we must press on” answered Fox.
 
The group continued through the larger cavern. Centered in the floor of this great cavern was great chasm that must have measured twenty feet across at least. All around the chasm stood ornate stone statues of fine quality. The floor itself grew more intricate and impressive as it got closer to the chasm.
 
Off in the distance, the group could hear the roars and howlers of the fallen inquisitors. They were falling in on them in a moment’s time.
 
“Fox!” cried Iryla “what shall we do?”
 
“We should…”
 
“Foxsss” a low and dark voice called by the chasm. Fox turned his head back to the chasm. He tried to turn away but couldn’t. He felt compelled to stare into the Abyss.
 
“Fox!” cried Iryla again. “OK men, steady yourselves!
 
The volunteers took a defensive although somewhat nervous stance. Seconds later, a chaos hound leapt into one of the volunteers. There sheer weight of the beast caused the volunteer to fall over backwards knocking Iryla over. As Iryla hit the stone floor, she hit her head on the base of one of the statues. He vision went blank as she lay unconscious. The chaos beast tore into the volunteer and then ripped into the poor man’s throat.
 
The closest volunteer took his sword and thrust it right into the great beast. The sword penetrated its hide causing the monstrosity to howl an evil sound. The volunteer then took his torched and slammed it right into the beast causing it to flare with unatural brilliance.

Fox was unable to move as he continued to stare into the void. He awareness of his surroundings began to fade. He longer was aware of the dire fight that was place around him. In his thoughts, he was  alone. Moments pass and a sound began to come from nothing. What started as a low hum had grown in intensity. The sound turned into a voice.

“Foxsss” the Abyss spoke in an unerving manner.  The voice attempted to speak  other words but it was unintelligble to Fox. Seconds later the voice changed into something that Fox could understand. The Abyss latched itself onto Fox's mind and gripped with great focus.

"I have waited for centuries for one like you... those who came before you said you would come." The voice broke off as it finished its last sentence. Fox was struggling against the Abyss and distracted it. "I can see deep within you Fox... you are strong willed. Your will will be your undoing, as it is for all!"

The Abyss grew in strength and intensity. It began to form from the depths of the chasm and arch its way towards teh surface. Fox began to convulse slightly and then began to shake violently. The Abyss narrowed and entered through the pupils of Fox casuing him great agony! Fox collapsed on the ornate flooring.

The battle with the fallen inquisitors was going poorly. At this time, the inquisitors had surrounded the two remainging volunteers. Another chaos hound appeared from the shadows. The repulsive beast lept and plunged right into one of the volunteers, seconds later he was dead. The last volunteer made a valiant last stand as he unsheathed his rapier and charged right into a fallen inquisitor. He rapier pierced the heart of the doomed man and fell to the ground. However, it wasn't enough. The chaos hound soon found a new victim.

Fox awoke to find himself surrounded in a semi-circle by twelve men cladded in dark clothing, weapons drawn. Fox got up from the floor and stood there and didn't move. His eyes were a glazed hazel color, his hands stiff.

The lead inquisitor barked "I want his head!"

All inquisitors lept at the same time towards Fox. Time seamed to slow down to Fox. His eyes darkened, then went to pitch black. Fox stretched out his arm and five tentacles sprung from where his hand used to be. The black tendrils darted stright for the inquisitors. The first five punched right into teh inquisitors. The slimey appendages ripped and tore at the insides of the men. The sheer strength of the tentacles picked the inquisitors off the floor and then Fox flung his arm over the chasm and letting them fall into the near bottomless pit.By this time, Fox had turned his other arm into tentacles and was dispatching another five inquisitors. Soon they two were thrown down the dark hole in the ground.

Now there existed only two more inquisitors, the one demand the head of Fox, and the other one running away. Fox brought in his tentacles and jumped twenty feet into the air as he landed on the fleeing inqusitor. Fox raised his hand infront of the inquisitor's face and his fingers formed to tentacles once more and dugged through the man's eye sockets, nose, and mouth. The man screamed in utter agony until his life ended.

Fox got up from the dead inquisitor and turned his attention to the one who would have his head. The inqusitor feel to his knees in utter disbelief and despair. Fox walked towards the man. When within reach, Fox grabbed the man and brought him closer. Fox took the fallen inquisitor's face with his hands and brought it half a foot from his face.

The inquisitor broke down "y-you are but a man... we once served your father, Fox. Do--"

Fox interrupted him "I am the Corruptor of Ways!" and with that a energy force pealed from the man's face and funneled into Fox's eyes and mouth. Once the life force energy of the inquisitor was gone, Fox dropped the dead man to the ground.

"Ahhhh, life!" shouted the Corruptor of Ways. The sound of footsteps tore him from the high of absorbing the Essence, his first in thousands of years. He turned around and saw Sesra standing off in the distance. Sesra turned and ran towards the great metal doors. The Corruptor of Ways lept to the air and began chasing her.

The Corruptor of Ways pounced upon Sesra and tentacles began sprouting from his hand once more. "Wait, no! Please!" pleased Sesra. When the Corruptor of Ways was about to end her life, Kern walked in. The Corruptor instead took his hand and flung it straight into Kern's heavy metal plate. The corruptor got up and walked towards Kern, still drilling through the chosen's body. When the Corruptor was feet away, the tentacles burst out through Kern's helmet. The Corruptor of Ways then withdrewl his tentacles. He turned back to Sesra.

Sesra was crawling backwards away from the Corruptor. He brought his hand forward and she started to recoil in terror. He spoke to her with his mind, "I know what truly drives you Sesra. I have a use for you. Join me and I shall spare you." Sesra then reached for his hand. The Corruptor walked towards one of the statues and knelt down to the pedestal and pressed a small button. A secret compartment popped open and he removed a map, carved from stone.

"Take this, and prepare for my arrival." he ordered her. Sesra grabbed the tablet and ran off through the great arch and into the smaller cavern. The Corruptor turned around and felt weakened all of a sudden. Pain struck him in all directions. He could feel his grip on his host begin to wane. "No! This one is mine! It cant possibly be strong enough!" Moments later, the Corruptor fell to the ground. He struggled slightly and moaned slightly with pain, then collapsed. His eyes opened, they began to return to their natural color. Soon the rest of Fox began to show itself through. Even his skin pigment returned to normal. He fell unconscious.

- - - -

"Fox! Wake up Fox!" cried Iryla. He held him trying to wake him up. "Can you hear me?" Fox began to stir.

"Ah, w-what happened, Iryla?"

"I-I don't know Fox. I woke near one of the statues and found you here on the floor. That was hours ago! B-But look around us. Who killed these inquisitors?"

"I don't know Iryla. Let's get out of here."

Iryla helped Fox to his feet and slung his arm over her shoulder. With Fox in one arm and a torch in other hand she began to lead him out of the great hall. With a few steps, Fox noticed something off in the distance. It shimmered slightly in the faint torch light and drew them in. As they moved closer to the glimmering light, they could tell a brilliant gem was encased into the wall. Around the gem it appeared if a stone cover was embedded into the wall.
 
“Look Fox. That gem might be a way of opening that slab”
 
Fox regained some of his strength and managed to stumble towards the stone slab. He took his hands touched the gem. The gem began to shine more brilliant as it glowed with an eerie blue. Along the edges of the stone cover, dust began to fly out from the crack. The stone cover began to withdrawal from the wall and slide into the side, revealing a rather large storage compartment.
 
Iryla took her torch and shone it into the storage compartment, and within the stone compartment lay armour of obvious ancient design. Iryla and Fox looked closer at the armour. They could see the intricate designs of eyes and and the subtle shading of blue on parts of the heavy plate. They looked around inside of the compartment and noticed other artifacts. Lying beside the armor was a sword, a shield, and a helmet.
 
“Fox, this looks like the armor of Tzeentch. How long could this armour have been here?”
 
Fox leaned in closer to the armor and answered “it has been here for thousands of years, but this isn’t ordinary armour. Help me pull this out from and let’s get more light on it.”
 
Fox and Iryla got some rope from a satchel carried by one of the dead inquisitors. The tied the rope around the biggest section of armour plate and hauled it out of the compartment. It crashed with a loud thud as the armour dropped to the ornate floor. They abandoned the rope and began carrying other pieces of the armour out along with the helmet and sword.
 
Fox and Iryla stood above the pieces of armour. Fox knelt down to one of the massive gauntlets of the armor suit. “Iryla, I can’t explain how I know, but if I were to” Fox took his hand and placed it into the gauntlet. Fox was startled as the gauntlet latched onto his hand and shrunk slightly to better fit his hand. Fox recovered himself but he didn’t try to remove it. The gauntlet felt incredibly light to Fox and he could move his arm with ease despite what appeared to be a heavy piece of warfare.
 
“What is it? Fox are you alright?”
 
“Yes, Iryla. This armor is alive! I can feel it. It is almost like the exoskeleton of insects.”
 
Fox took the other gauntlet and placed his other hand in it. Just like before, the gauntlet resized and better formed to Fox’s body. Fox could feel the strength in the gauntlets. He picked up the heaviest part of the armour plate with ease and then laid it back down.
 
Fox spoke, “I wonder how these…” then the gauntlets fell off.
 
“What happened?” asked Iryla.
 
“I think I willed these gauntlets off of me! I thought to myself how to remove them and here they came off!”
 
Fox knelt back down to the floor where the gauntlets lay and placed his hands into them. He then went back to the armour plate and began to put on the pieces of armour. Within minutes Fox was covered in armour plate from neck to foot. Although the plate armour resized to his body, with the armour he must have stood at least a half a foot taller. Could it be possible while he adorned his armour the plate itself grew?
 
Fox moved in the armour and was surprised at its ease and light weight feel. Fox wanted to test the strength of this new suit of armour. He moved closer to the wall near the empty compartment and punched with full effect square into the stone. His fist punched a solid foot right into the stone. Bits of stone and dust flew in all directions. Fox removed his hand and looked at his fist… neither a scratch nor dent, and his hand felt fine.
 
“Impressive” spoke Iryla.
 
 Fox picked up his helmet and placed it over his head. He could feel the armour close and now his entire body was protected by the magical artifact. His vision was enhanced by the helmet he noticed. Soon he noticed all of his senses were greatly improved. He could see beyond the darkness and even hear Iryla’s heart beat!
 
“Now” spoke Fox “lets leave!”
 
Fox picked up his sword and lead Iryla towards the entrance of the keep. He felt greatly invigorated and great. This suit was amazing. He still marveled at how heavy it looks but still at the same time, light and graceful. Soon then entered into moonlight and Fox Iryla’s heart sank, as they saw the death that had occurred here. Fox fell to his knees, seeing the death that was brought upon his followers.  
 
“Fox, what shall we do now?”
 
Fox got back up on his feet.
 
He sighed, “I-Iryla. I want you to go to the city of Graystill. I have a contact there that will help you. Go to the Silver Horn and asked for Hagen. Tell him that I sent you.”
 
“You’re not coming with me Fox?”
 
“Iryla, something has happened today. The bulk of our movement has been smashed. I can’t remember what happened to us back there near the chasm. I don’t know why this armour so familiar to me! Please, go!”
 
“But, Fox I want to stay with you!”
 
“Iryla, please. I don’t think I can handle if something would happen to you. I can’t lose you as well as the movement. Something, someone needs to make it.
 
“Oh, Ok Fox. I shall wait for you in Graystill.”
 
Iryla moved towards Fox and gave him a quick hug and then found a horse and strode off on the trail. Fox thought to himself “how could I move unnoticed in this armor?” Then his armour began to shake and quiver. His gauntlets, helmet, and even his sword moved. Then to his horror, the armour began to peel from his skin. It became melted and moved like slime over his body and collected around his neck. Moments later, a blue pendent, with a chain, formed around his neck!
 
Fox regained his repose, grabbed the reins of a horse, leapt on, and off on his way.

- - - -

From the deep recesses of Fox’s mind a trapped consciousness waits in torment. It sat and waited for centuries within its prison. Now, it found itself sitting within another. However, this time it was different. While it couldn’t quite understand how its host was able to resist its full power, it could feel the sensation of the world all around itself.
 
- - - -
 
Fox rode fast and hard on his horse. He couldn’t understand where he was headed but he knew it was important. He rode from night into day, stopping only when he had to. Into the second night he had to stop to rest. With his horse tied off at a tree, Fox laid on his bed roll and soon fell asleep.
 
Fox began to dream…
 
Fox saw a man in his dream. He was young, perhaps in his twenties. He ran and Fox couldn’t see his face. The sunlight was golden as it began to set. The sands glistened slightly as the rays hit it. The man stopped and turned his head. It was Fox’s face but not him. His doppelganger charged straight for him and kocked him over. The two struggled in the sands and his doppelganger pulled out a knife and thrust it straight into Fox’s chest.
 
Fox awoke with a startle. His skin was sweaty from the nightmare and his eyes wide, but they soon changed. The whites of Fox’s eyes grew dark until complete night replaced them. His skin lost its pigment and grew taught. He stood from his bedroll.
 
He looked down at his hands slowly rotating them in the soft moonlight and could feel the cool air of the night brush against him.
 
“So, this is the game. A dominating will but lacking at slumber.”
 
The Corruptor took his clothes and packed them in a sack but soon found the amulet that Fox had worn.
 
“Ah… my old friend.”
 
He grasped the amulet in his crooked hand and thought to himself to spring forth the great armour but nothing happened.
 
“Obey me! How dare you!”
 
The Corruptor grew angry and threw the amulet down on the ground.
 
“So, you have found a new master? Ironic that he is of the same body as me! But no matter. You shall be mine once more.”
 
The Corruptor of Ways knelt down and picked up the amulet. He placed chain with the blue stone around his neck and finished packing. He walked closer to the tied off horse. It started to neigh and buck as the Corruptor approached. He placed his hand on the reigns and his other on the horses head. Moments later a putrid color of energy came from his fingers and moved to cover the whole animal. It started to buck wildly but he had a firm grip on it. The horse’s skin lost its hair and drew taught. Its color turns to the black of night and puckered with taint of chaos.    
 
The Corruptor of Ways grabbed the reins of the horse and leapt upon it much in the fashion that Fox had down the night before.
 
“Yaw!” he shouted and the mutated beast reared and broke into a fast pace. Its nostrils flared and its eyes burned red. Quickly down the path the two rode. The two had rode for hours until they came upon a dried river bed. “haha” the Corruptor laughed in a deep voice “I remember when this was but a small stream!” Soon he motioned his demonic steed along the bank then into he dried river bed.  
 
Down the riverbed they rode and their pace quickened. The Corruptor knew soon that they would be at their destination and grinned in eager anticipation. There before them rose in the distance, was an ancient outpost once used by the Corruptor. It had since overgrown with vegetation and much hidden by those would pass by. But he knew his way well.
 
There, he stopped, at the base of the stone ruins. The Corruptor got off his horse and moved towards the center of the ruins. There in the center he felt around until he released a lever. A grinding sound soon came and an opening appeared. He crept down the stone stairway, guided by the light of burning torches.



TO BE CONTINUED

May 2012

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