Decisions and Faith...Death, Life...or Both?
The sun began to fall and Bodi was notified by a zhentarim soldier that it was time.....Without a second thought or pause the human began his ascension to the city streets.....and eventually to the garden just outside the west gate.....Squinting all the while searching for Alryus until he noticed the stealthy figure come forth before his nose.....
Master Bodi.....the Lathanderite High Priest approaches Selgaunt.....the men and stage are set......the hill will prove a perfect vantage point...
Bodi responded as he ushered Alryus forth onto the road with a nudge..
Then it is our place to perform...Alryus....we..... can not fail....brother.....let us make haste to the lookout....
Not many a word left either of the men's lips as they strode to their stage.....a few brief misleading conversations maybe when passing the corrupt Black Knights that were posted at various points on the roads closest to the port city...
A slow dark smile came over Bodi's face as they made way to the encampment and he caught a glimpse of the child bound and helpless....
Yesss....*nods* she will do just fine...
A soldier, whose stepps seamed untraceable, galloped into the encampment and spoke directly to Alryus as Bodi took mental notes of the stage...Visualizing his chess board and how the game would be played..pulling at his lower lip when he needed to concentrate....
Alryus eventually approached Bodi to pass the recently garnished news..
The louts have made camp up the road....there are two guards traveling with the Lathanderite Priest...they will not reach us under the cover of night...the scoundrels fear what lies in their nightmares will come true....what say you?
Bodi thought quickly...
Which of your men are the most fleet of foot?
After a brief moment Alryus pointed at the soldier who brought the news and another watching their flank..........then with a snap of his fingers Miles and Gasthrid approached and bowed their heads before the High Priest....and behind them...a slender figure made herself visable...
Ignoring Mashia for the time being Bodi spoke with a doomful tone..
You two will take the child......close to their encampment.....just close enough for her screams to be heard.....when you are confident this is so.....ungag her....and clip one of her toes off......they will follow you...indeed they must.....run straight up this hill...toward the camp
Bodi nods satisfied and motions for the two to commence at once, and then turns toward the robed woman and Alryus.....
Mashia....trust my judgement....you can not be harmed....if I fall it will be your task alone to complete the artifact for the Dark Lord....to the top of the hill...conceal yourself until the last moment is upon us....Alryus...place the men at the base of the hill.....when the Lathanderites come they must only take out the two guards...leave the priest to me......once th guards have been dispatched......rush the priest and overwhelm him.....if I have not already taken him...then we will bind his appendages quickly and gag his mouth....after which you must regroup the men....tell them not to Fear the being that will be summoned down to our plane...for The Dark Lord will strike Fear into it's soul using me as a vessel and we will pity it as it cowers awaiting its end......
What felt like countless hours passed until leaves and branches were heard in between the screams of a yound child approaching at a hastened pace toward the camp....without a break in stride the two soldiers hoofed up to the hillside......and then continued up towards a campfire.....moments behind them were three men matching almost the soldiers pace......Bodi spoke loudly clenching his gauntlet tightly....
Father of Fear.....Bringer of destruction upon all that fall deaf to your gospel....bring down the sky upon these fools!!!!!
A gleaming burst of devine and flaming energy blasted down upon the hillside scorching the grass and leaving a gaping crater where the three men had just passed......Bodi had taken too long and in his confidence...the men had pressed past his prayer's mark.....
The soldiers worked their arrows quickly upon the two guards and Alryus moved through the night like a panther striking them with crippling blows from their blind spots......The guards fell before they even knew what hell they had happenned upon......The Priest looked frozen in time....Bodi had spoke and directed a prayer at the Lathanderite during the heat of battle....this time with acuracy....a prayer that left the Lathanderite motionless.....Helpless as the toeless child.....and all watched as Bodi Labored over to him....Layed hands upon his cheek and speaking with an eary malevolence that they had only dreamt of.....
Feel the Black Hand of my Lord upon your flesh.....remember his touch for it will be just a taste of what is to come!
Bodi left a searing mark upon the priests face with an unholy prayer that looked as if it would reach a pinacle of pain upon the benefactor.....as the rest of the soldiers who were within range hurrieldy bound the Priest and gagged him sensing the earlier prayer was wearing off....watching the tears drop from the Lathanderite Priests face as he observed the Small girl wriggling near the fire......held down by two dirt faced guards....
After some time had passed the stage was set once again for the ritual....Bodi spared no time as was his nature.....He motioned the guards to hold the Lathanderite tightly.....and place two sharp blades at his neck.....then ungagged him and spoke...
You will summon to our plane a celestial of which serves your Lord......and make no mistake...it will be with your dieing breath that you do this.......I will spare you any trickery....and let you know your fate..
Bodi laughed halfheartedly which eased the men around him....feeling his confidence.....The Priest gathered his composure and shook his head....with a beaten look he muttered....
I will not....would never....do your worst......to me....I would take your punishments for eternity before....
Bodi cut the Lathanderite Priest off and laughed once again, this time with a full roar which echoed in all around him for minutes afterwards....
Do you take me for a fool.....I suspected nothing more ....but what of this small child of Lathander...yesss...*wipes his iron gauntlet accross the girls face*.....what of her fate.....should it be spared....should she get the opportunity to live....feel.....thrive.....Or should she suffer......
Bodi began to chant the words to the prayer he had unleashed upon the Priests face ealier.....there was purpose to this infliction......and all watched as it unraveled....The lathanderite bursted out into pleas...
No....Please.....spare the child the horrid pain....spare her...she is innocent....*his head hanging in agony and despair* ...*softly*...what....what would you ask from me in return...and how would I know you will not harm her....that she will be released?
Bodi pauses and releases the child with a slow smile
I have made my terms already!!...and you have my word I will not harm her!!...*staring into the priests eyes with confidence and true belief*.....Now begin your work.....bring forth this ally of Lathander!
The Lathanderite priest shook his head......and began to speak believing Bodi's words....but fearing what this summoning may cause upon his eternal soul..........
I can not...I have not the ability bestowed upon my will to call such favor....choose another task...and I will complete it for you...I swear it....
Bodi looked deep into the man's eyes and decided he was bluffing....Bodi took forth his sacrificial dagger and gripped the child by the hair tilting it's neck sideways.....
With a shriek the Lathanderite entered into a chant.....
Morninglord....Hear my words....through you I have seeked to foster hope and aid those around me in need.....It is you who have taught me to nurture and care for the young and vibrant.....It is through you I ask to be honored by the presence of a celestial ally......Bring forth to this plane such a being to aid your faithfull this day..
Almost before his last word was muttered a devine light shone down upon the encampment......most awestruck sat motionless.....a celestial being strode out from the light before them unsheathing a huge sword ablaze with a white hot flame.....
The Lathanderite Priests life lay forfeit as the servants of the Black Network sliced his neck at the first sign of the planar being....
Bodi stepped forward...proud and determined he pulled forth his symbol crafted by Fzoul's own apprentices and Barked out commands to the Archon.....
Kneel down before the symbol of Bane and beg for your existance to be brought quickly to and end.....
Alryus sieged this moment to stick the Archon in the Back...causing little damage but instead unleashing the wrath of this being....
The Celestial turned to Alryus and in less then three swings of his blazing giant sword put him down lifeless to the ground....
Bodi shook his head in doubt and tried barking orders and demanding the Celestial to mark his words......not understanding why Bane had not given him the power to turn this ally of Lathander he began to feel despair.....But continued unwavering....one hand swinging his morningstar at the being....and the other...holding tight to the Symbol he cherrished so... Barking dark words in between blows....until before long the Being turned to face only him......all the others lie dead.....save for Bodi and the Celestial.....both half beaten and bleeding from many wounds....
With magical speed and a blast of arcane energies the Being was thwarted from behind......Mashia had revealed herself and now had to face off against the Archon as it turned and swiped her belly open in one motion....grafting shut the wound with white hot fire as it passed through.....Bodi saw his mistress' life teetering and began to swing his heavy Morningstar with a newfound fury seldom missing his mark......until the Archon lay twitching on the ground in front of himslef and a barely alive Mashia.....
Mashia looked to bodi with a curled lip and dropped the leather book to the ground...
Finish this.....now.....
Bodi drew what strength he had left and sliced a deep cut into the Archons wrist with the sacrificial dagger he was gifted by his High Confessor.....the blood did not flow freely.....Bodi crushed down upon the wrist and squeezed the blood onto the pages of the open book.....which began to write themselves with unnavagable speed...
Mashia shut the book and bode for the two of them to return to the Citadel....Bodi did not argue...he was tired.....but before he followed...he took up the body of his fallen brother......and bore him over his shoulder...Bodi thought brielfy upon his distatse for how the sorceress gutted the small child but took refuge in the fact that he had no part in her death......honoring his word to the fallen Lathanderite......
If I muster up the energy I will write the final passage which will be "the reception".......otherwise this was all she wrote.....
The mark of a well written story in my mind is the ability of the writer to decide the hero not based on action morality but on circumstances. Very well done.