A Matter of Honor

Share your original RP stories here.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:33 am

Hi Guys,

This story entitled A Matter of Honor is a collaborative tale written by myself and Duhgaw. It tells the tale of when Duhgaw, a dwarf paladin and Nilan, a drow assassin meet for the first time.

We both worked hard on this one and we hope all enjoy it.

Thank you guys,

Nilan - Hand of Vhaeraun, Drow Assassin
and
Duhgaw - Dwarven Paladin

Enjoy
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:37 am

Duhgaw walked north on the road towards Waterdeep. He had hoped to save Jahlur, his griffon’s strength for the journey north from Waterdeep. Besides, it was a cool and gloriously clear afternoon for a stroll. He had just spent nearly three months in Baldur’s Gate.

His mornings were spent at the Chapter House of Holy Knights practicing his blade with the various masters, and resident paladins there. His blade skill was already beginning to create a stir amongst the Holy Knights. His practice sessions would typically entail first the local blade master. Then adding another master or high ranking student at a time, the training would continue until struck once. Many times he would reach five or six other opponents before a blow would land on him with practice swords.

After his morning exercise, he would proceed to the library to study the old records. There was a rumor of an old Ballista design that he intended to recreate in defense of Mithril hall. Most days he would spend hours reading old scrolls and texts. Learning many things but never quite finding the design he sought.

His afternoons and evenings were spent at Warta’s weapons. A family craft he had begun learning as a child, it was quick that Warta recognized his skill. Warta took the time to rest as Duhgaw crafted special ordered blades for nobles and knights alike.

It was not until one night, at the Golden Stag, that he met a fellow dwarf and blacksmith that knew of the design’s location in the library. He bought the dwarf several ales before the knowledge flowed freely but it was well worth the time, and effort. The time would finally prove worth it, he could return to Mithril hall.

Having finally made his way past the lizard marshes, Duhgaw began to relax his wariness a bit as he en-tered into the territory controlled by Waterdeep. That’s when he heard the sounds, the whistle and the snap of crossbows, swords clashing, and in it all, the sound of a woman and child screaming and crying. His short dwarven legs would not carry him fast, and wearing his armor slowed him even more, but he covered much distance in a short time. Someone was in trouble, there was no time.

Cresting a small knoll he observed the scene before him. Two wagons were stopped, while a third, a carriage of some sort, had toppled onto its side. There were 6 guards remaining alive, but many already dead. Bandits surrounded the small caravan. Some were Humans, others Half-orcs. He quickly surveyed the battle to pick out the most dangerous opponents and the leader. The leader was a lean Half-orc wreathed in a Red Aura who wielded a wicked looking great-sword. This sword was well made, perhaps even of a magical nature. He was facing off against three of the remaining guards. The other three guards faced four opponents. Seven against six should not normally be bad odds for well- trained merchant or caravan guards, but the Half-orc was of considerable skill. It appeared he had trained his fellow bandits as well, for Duhgaw easily recognized the similar styles of swordsmanship.
He prayed momentarily to Clangeddin Silverbeard, and having witnessed no arrows or archers, he then charged the Half-orc at a full sprint.

“Too your aid I come guardsmen!” Duhgaw shouted, as he charged down the hill. As he began his charge the Half-orc viciously cut down two of its opponents with a single slash. The final guardsman facing the Half-orc retreated in full defense, but there was no need. The Half-orcs full attention was on the paladin as he charged into the fray. Foolishly, one of the bandits tried to step into Duhgaw’s path. His blade “Khorian” cut down the bandit, Duhgaw did not even slow. As he passed he heard the guardsman, now left with one enemy to deal with, strike a deadly blow against his opponent. Now 4 guardsmen remained and four bandits. The leader was Duhgaw’s only concern now.

“Khorlan” hummed, covering Duhgaw in a magical armor and blessing him with the might of Clangeddin. Duhgaw channeled his own divine power, increasing his stamina and strengthening his armor. While the Half-orc did have some small skill with the blade, he was no match for Duhgaw’s swordsmanship and divine power. He fell quickly after three parries. Duhgaw turned to notice that the guardsmen had easily dispatched the remaining bandits, since they no longer had to be concerned with the Leader.

Duhgaw quickly went to the carriage, the source of the women’s crying and at least one child. He climbed atop the carriage and pulled open the door. Two Human women obviously of some wealth were inside, each with a child. Duhgaw pulled them from the cart and helped them easily to the ground.

Two bandits remained alive, Duhgaw grudgingly bandaged their wounds. They would live to see justice in Waterdeep. The paladin helped load the women and their belongings onto one of the able wagons that remained and escorted the guardsmen and two women to Waterdeep. He said his goodbyes to the merchant’s wives, refusing any reward for his services. He then escorted the bandits to the local authorities and made his way to the Yawning Portal for a night of rest. In the morning he would begin the long flight to Mithril Hall, Jahlur had rested long enough.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:39 am

Nilan crouched low in the deep brush along the road heading north toward Icewind Dale. Pulling his cloak around his lithe form, the assassin sensed something was amiss. Crimson eyes scanned the shadowed path for any signs of movement. Patiently the assassin waited, hoping his pursuers would reveal themselves. For two nights, an uneasy feeling washed over him, and Nilan, ever the master at his craft, knew well enough to trust those feelings. “Shadow” vibrated eerily in his grasp, the sentient blade seemed to sense that something was not quite right.

“Shhh,” the Hand of Vhaeraun whispered to the god-touched blade, “I sense it too”. His grip tightened around the adamantium pommel of the dagger and his eyes continued to scan the area. Whatever or whoever was tracking him, made no noise and moved almost as silently as he did. Occasionally, Nilan detected a slight snap of a twig or the rustling of leaves, but otherwise his pursuers remained hidden from his sight.

Frustrated, the assassin decided to double back in the direction that he had come, hoping to close the distance and catch sight of whatever dogged his steps. Keeping as concealed as he could, the drow moved as close to the road as possible. Lowering his hood, Nilan scanned the area for any signs of movement. For several moments the drow held his position before slowly beginning to rise to his feet. “Shadow” suddenly whispered a warning and Nilan scrambled to his feet in a effort to take cover. The unmistakable sound of a bow string being pulled back and the whistle of an arrow was the only warning the drow had before the wicked arrow pierced his side, knocking him off his feet sending him sprawling heavily on his back bringing with it a muffled groan of pain as his breath was stolen from him.

Gasping, Nilan winced painfully, and scrambled to his hands and knees to retreat into the brush as arrows rained down all around him. The long shaft, caught in the errant twigs, snapped in half, bringing with it a cry of pain as the assassin crawled free of the brush, leaning heavily against a tree trunk. Shouts echoed around him, and Nilan quickly assessed the wound. Working the arrow free, the assassin spat a curse tossing it aside. Though blood flowed freely, the wound itself was not deep as his hip bone seemed to stop the wicked arrow from doing any serious internal damage. Nilan sheathed “Shadow” electing to instead to pull a pair of throwing daggers from the bandolier fastened across his chest. Coating each blade with deadly poison, the assassin took a position behind the huge tree trunk, his eyes scanning the path.

“I hit him, quick come this way,” came the melodic yet cold shout from his attacker.
Nilan immediately recognized the voice and the accent as elven and groaned inwardly. The sound of brush being trampled indicated that these were multiple pursuers and they were heading his way. Nilan held his position, suppressing the urge to flee further into the forest. He knew that if he stood any chance at all, he needed to deal with some of his trackers before the rest were upon him.

Two elves burst into the clearing, bows drawn seeking their prey. Nilan immediately released both daggers in rapid succession as he dove from the cover of the brush across the open path in order to assure that he had a clear throw. Two arrows whistled through the air cutting harmlessly over his rolling form as he winced painfully, his injured hip impacting with the hard ground. Though the assassin did not see the impact he heard two muffled cries indicating that his throwing daggers had each found their targets. The assassin knew the elves would be dead in a matters of moments as the deadly poison worked fast.

Nilan scrambled into the brush, drawing “Shadow” once again from its sheath and headed north trying to put as much distance as he could between himself and his attackers. Shouts and curses behind him told the drow, that the bodies had been found and that once again the elves were moving in his direction. Blood flowed freely from the wound in his side down his left thigh causing him to wince painfully. He stopped briefly, tearing his cloak and wrapping it crudely around his waist in an attempt to stem the flow of blood. Gasping painfully, Nilan pressed onward heading north.
Last edited by nilanstabby on Sun Jul 22, 2018 9:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:41 am

Duhgaw rose early in the morning. The room the merchant had allowed him to sleep in was well appointed. Most of the wood seemed of a human craftsmanship, simple but well made. A porcelain wash basin and water pitcher sat atop a well-made stone table that appears to have been crafted in Mithril hall itself. The workmanship of the table was fine, as was the scrollwork on the Ivory this merchant had done well for himself. All of that was of little concern to the paladin and his work but it was noted as he appreciated quality craftsmanship of any kind.

As the gates of Waterdeep opened he stepped through with the morning crowds. Walk-ing a bit would do him well and then he would call Jahlur to speed the trip to Luskan and beyond. It was a brisk morning early in the fall and he should make it to Mithril Hall before a deep winter sets in.

He walked the road a while, stretching his legs and taking in the air and the surroundings. As late afternoon approached he decided it was time to make up a bit of distance. He then called on Jahlur after he cleared from the morning crowds and began his flight that would quickly take him to the Luskan ferry. He could stop just south of the ferry to allow the griffon a bit of rest. He decided instead to camp there for the night, and made his way again in the morning, taking flight.
As he passed over the Luskan, Jahlur stirred in flight a little, indicating to the paladin that it had detected something odd. Usually while in flight it was a smell, but the griffon’s eyes were also sharp and Duhgaw had long learned to trust him. He whispered in the griffon’s ear “show meh what ye find”. The griffon clucked in affirmation of the request and began slowly circling down over a small clearing.

As the griffon circled closer to the clearing, Duhgaw finally began to realize what his trusted mount had detected. At the edge of a clearing two bodies, lay not far from each other, carrion birds had already started to do their work if dismantling the corpses. The paladin scanned the area for more bodies but saw none. There appeared to be no further threats in the area as well, this must have happened the day before. He set the griffon down near the bodies and dismounted, holding fast long enough to ensure his sense of evil and danger did not spike. Then he whispered to the griffon “Stay sharp now ya here, there meh beh more about, circle above.

He drew Khorlan from its sheath and approached the two bodies slowly. “Elves” he spat. Take down quickly, but not by surprise, both had bows in their outstretched hands. After examining the bodies for a moment, he saw the symbol with the broken, black arrow over a teardrop on their armor. “Shevarash elves at that” he spat again. Two generations ago elves of this lot had stolen Khorlan from the body of his slain grandfather and kept it as a trophy. It was a symbol of their dominance over the dwarves as they saw it. Duhgaw was no friend of elves, but this particular group he harbored a hatred for. Whoever they were hunting here, he would see what they were up to.

He walked in the direction the elves had been facing when they fell. He noticed first the crushed branches and leaves in the area, then he saw some blood. One of the arrows, perhaps from one of the two elves he had found, had reached its mark. He followed the blood trail easily northward, also noticing there were many boot prints on the ground. Perhaps eight or ten people, he could see not the boot prints of the one they pursued, but that blood trail was easily followed.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:43 am

Try as he might, the Vhaeraunite could not shake his pursuers, and the further he pressed northward, the less brush and cover remained. He heard the shouts of the elves tracking him and knew they were closing in. From the direction of the shouts, it appeared to the assassin that the elves were spreading out in an attempt to surround him. Nilan groaned understanding all to well the dire predicament he was in. Dusk was approaching, but darkness would not be upon him for several hours. His many years on the surface had allowed the drow’s eyesight to see in daylight, though not as well as those inhabitants who lived here, and with the brush and cover diminishing, the further north he trekked placed him in an obvious disadvantage. Taking up a position on the edge of the covered path, Nilan waited, in one hand a throwing dagger coated with poison, in the other “Shadow” hummed eerily sensing the elves approaching.

Nilan squinted, making out two elves closing in on him, expertly following his every footstep. One elf had outdistanced his companion and Nilan caught a glimpse of the insignia on his leather armor, the mark of Shevarash, Hunter of Drow. Nilan spat, muttering a curse, his thoughts going back to days of his past. His crimes against Lieuthilspar and Evermeet were many - his assassination attempt on the Elven Queen, the alleged tainting of an Elvish Relic, and his failure to honor an Oath to the Tel’Quessir following the conclusion of the War against Azormtvoril were but a few of his transgressions. In truth, Nilan was perhaps guilty of only one of those offenses, but the sheer number of elves killed by his deadly daggers was probably the only excuse these followers of Shevarash needed to hunt him, that, and the simple fact that he was Drow.

The young elf did not see the assassin as he approached and knelt briefly to inspect the random blood droplets that splattered ground. Rising the his feet, he realized his folly as a wicked dagger tore into his throat with a sickening thud. Blood gurgled from his mouth as he sank to his knees, he was dead before he hit the ground. Nilan gingerly approached the body of the dead elf. Dropping to one knee, the Vhaeraunite quickly removed the elf’s backpack and rummaged through it hoping to find some clue or information as to why this troupe of elves was tracking him so vigorously. A rustle of branches brought the assassin to his feet as a larger elf charged him, a gleaming blade in his agile hands.

Nilan retreated several paces, his left hand grasping at the cursed stiletto at his waist, tearing it from its sheath. Both men encircled one another and it was the elf that slashed out first in an attempt to size up his opponent’s battle prowess. Nilan parried the glistening blade easily, noting the elvish runes that ran its length. The drow recognized it as an elven moonblade, sinister and deadly, the assassin made a careful note to avoid its bite. The larger elf snickered, “Time to die, drow, time to face justice for your crimes against our Queen,” Spitting on the ground in response, the assassin glared coldly. The elf charged the drow in a relentless assault, but the assassin expertly parried each slash, turning his final parry upwards, drawing with it a thin line of blood across the elf’s forearm. The elf grimaced, though the wound was not deep it served to infuriate him and his next slashes came in hard and wild. Nilan dodged the first blow, twisting to his right suddenly as the moonblade whistled barely inches above his head. The assassin staggered, the wound in his side opening once again to bleed freely. He scrambled away trying to keep his balance as the moonblade slashed at his retreating form, barely missing his twisting body.

Crashes and shouts through the brush, told the Vhaeraunite that the elves were almost upon him. “Kill it, kill it now,” the sentient blade whispered in his mind, “we don’t have much time, my Chosen.” Nilan turned to face the elf once again, the Shevarash hunter smiled smugly at him, obviously buying time, fore he knew his kinsman were almost upon them. Nilan knew it too, time was running out. Left with few options, Nilan charged the elf, double daggers moving with expert speed seeking their target. The elf held his ground, bringing the moonblade before him. As Nilan closed the distance, the elf slashed the blade in a wicked arc that would have disemboweled the assassin had it found its target. Nilan dropped into a roll under the deadly blade, driving both daggers upward in a vicious strike that found its mark. Embedded in the elf’s abdomen, warm blood bathed his hands and Nilan knew both blades had struck deep. The elf fell forward and the assassin continued his roll tearing both daggers free in an effort to avoid being pinned beneath the body. The elf withed in agony, screaming in pain as he slowly bled out. Nilan sheathed the cursed stiletto and scrambled to his feet. Staggering northward, he heard elves crashing through the brush from all directions.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:45 am

Every hair on the back of Duhgaw’s neck rose as the sense of an evil presence was obvious. What he saw as he peered through the thick brush ahead was a gory scene. On the ground lay a young elf dead, throat slashed. A drow was there, obviously injured and the source of the blood trail, rummaging through its backpack. From his right he heard another elf, larger and stronger, charge out of the brush. He watched as the battle ensued, impressed by the drow’s ability to fight off so many enemies. This elf was obviously skilled in combat yet the drow held it off, parrying slash after slash from the moonblade. “Time to die, drow, time to face justice for your crimes against our Queen”, the elf said. The drow spat in response and stared the elf down without fear. The elf charged slashing expertly and quickly with its moonblade yet the drow parried every attack. With a quick slash after a parried attack the drow drew blood on the elf’s forearm. The elf angered by the wound lost some of its self-control and began to attack and slash wildly. One of those slashes nearly made contact and the drow staggered back. It was his blood that had been left on the trail, the paladin could see it flowing freely now from the drow’s side.

Crashes and several shouts could now be heard through the brush. Then the drow did something unexpected and charged the elf. As the elf slashed out in a wide arc, Duhgaw thought for sure the blade would strike and split the drow nearly in two. Suddenly, the drow dropped and rolled towards the elf, the moonblade barely missing. Coming out of his roll the drow stabbed upwards with daggers in both hands. Both blades drove deeply into the elf and the drow continued his roll avoiding the falling body of the dying elf. The drow sheathed both daggers and headed off to the north.

Duhgaw backed away slowly, he could hear the other elves crashing through to woods. Unlike their normal stealth, it appeared their zeal for the blood of this drow had caused them to forget their woodcraft and instead they intended speed. He would not intervene into the affair at this point. He would follow and watch, the injured drow would not confront the dwarf if he found him, and the elves would believe he was just on his way home to Mithril hall. He hoped none of the elves remembered Khorlan or that may cause a confrontation he wished at this point to avoid. The business of Shevarash elves and drow would normally be of no mind to the paladin, but this drow intrigued him. He could have hidden, perhaps continued running. Yet he seemed to face each attacker with valor as well as skill, two things that Duhgaw, a follower of Clangeddin, prized highly in any member of any of the races of Faerun.

Duhgaw waited as the elven band passed, quickly on the trail of the drow. To this point it appeared the drow had dispatched four of them, assuming that’s all he left to be found. After a time he called for Jahlur. He would fly ahead and maybe spot them from the air and hope they weren’t foolish enough to try and bring him down. He hoped in these parts that a griffon soaring through the skies would go largely unnoticed. The drow would have to head into the Tarsellian Forest if he hoped to escape or survive. Mithril Hall or Griffon’s Nest would surely pin him between two choices for death and leave no room for escape. He spotted the band of elves from the air, but no sign of the drow. As he landed the griffon inside of the forest he sent it on its way.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:48 am

The assassin tried to run but the growing pain in his side slowed him down. Shouts seemed to come from all around him and Nilan continued his desperate run northward. Grimacing, his mind vaguely registered where he was. The north belonged to both the barbarian tribes of Griffon’s Nest and the dwarven stronghold of Mithril Hall. Both the barbarians and dwarves would no doubt kill him on sight should he venture into either realm. Tarsellian Forest lay toward the northwest. Though dangers lurked in those woods, Nilan reasoned that he would stand more of a chance at survival in the forest than he would out in the open or at the hands of any barbarian or dwarf.

The sounds of booted feet approaching and the trampling of twigs, forced the drow into a dead run toward the forest. He could see the thin line of trees and the welcomed shadows of the darken woods in the distance. Shouts rang out and arrows thudded in the ground all around him, forcing the drow to alter the direction of his run sending him sprawling to his hands and knees. Clutching the bloody wound in his side, Nilan grimaced clambering to his feet, only to fall back to his knees as an elven arrow ripped into the back of his thigh. A scream of pain burst from his lips and his hand instinctively reached back grasping at the wound and the bloody shaft.


His attackers moved all around him now. Though the hunters of Shevarash still maintained their safe distance from the wounded but deadly drow, Nilan could hear the cold laughter as a bow string was being pulled back. The assassin’s bloody hand shook as he grasped the wooden shaft snapping it off, shortening its length. Gasping in pain, Nilan desperately tried to regain his footing, his right hand gripped “Shadow”tightly and he placed both hands in front of him in an effort to rise. Jeers and taunts erupted as an arrow thudded into the ground inches from his wounded leg. Nilan staggered, he knew that he was out of options and had nowhere to run, rising to his feet he turned to meet his attackers head on. Glaring defiantly he held “Shadow” before him taking a defensive stance as he assessed the deadly predicament he now found himself in.

Eight elves fanned out in a circle surrounding him. An elf wielding two moonblades sneered at him. From the looks of his chainmail armor and weapons, Nilan could tell this one was in command. The assassin glared in all directions holding his defensive stance and watching as the elves encircled him. Any thought of reaching the sanctity of the forest had long past. “You’re going to die drow, but you know that don’t you. It won’t be quick, that much we promise you,” the armored elf taunted bringing with it laughter and snickers from his seven companions.

“Our orders were to bring him to Evermeet, to face the Queen’s justice,” a younger elf cut in, drawing a look of ire from the commander that quickly silenced him.

The leader sneered back at the Vhauraunite with disdain. “A lot can happen on the road to the elven city, drow. Besides, our lord Shevarash demands that we take our own vengeance upon Vhaeraun’s Chosen.” Snickers and jeers erupted from the elves moving into position all around him.

Nilan spat in the direction of the armored elf, “Why don’t you fight me, coward of Shevarash, and let us see who sends who to hell.” The assassin expertly rolled “Shadow” over in his grasp, the sentient blade humming in anticipation of the kill. Nilan gingerly took a step in the direction of the elven leader but stopped abruptly, wincing as his torn leg fought to bear his weight.

Seeing the assassin grimace, the leader merely nodded in the direction of the elf closing in behind the drow. In a flourish, the elf attacked coming in hard with a single thrust to the drow’s back. Nilan side stepped the thrust awkwardly, his dagger flashed suddenly in a blur of motion parrying the elven blade and landing a minor hit as he turned spinning to come face to face with his attacker. Cheers and taunts rose up from the crowd and they started to advance toward the fight their weapons at the ready. The elven warrior raised a hand stopping them in their tracks, “He’s mine,” the elf barked angrily and slowly circled the drow. Nilan took a step back bringing “Shadow” protectively around guarding his vitals. His other hand clutched at his side trying to stem the flow of blood and alleviate the growing pain.

Glaring back toward the elven commander, Nilan growled, “Are to so afraid to face me in single combat that you send another to die in your place. You, elf, are a coward in the service of your pathetic god.” Nilan spat the final words in disgust. The elven commander only snickered watching intently as the warrior once again moved in on the wounded drow. Blades flashed as the two came together in a whirlwind, light and dark parried in a brilliant display of battle prowess. The drow once again scoring a hit on the elf’s forearm, before staggering backwards as his leg buckled beneath him.

Nilan managed to maintain his footing keeping himself from falling to his knees. But the warrior was on him suddenly, the barrage of slashes driving Nilan back on his heels as he desperately parried each slash. The drow suddenly cried out in pain, twisting his body as the elven moonblade cut a thin line across his shoulder. Though the wound was superficial, the magic of the goodly moonblade pierced his very soul. “Shadow” briefly hung limply by his side as his arm went numb from the magic coursing through his body. Removing his blood stained hand from his side, the assassin grabbed his shoulder tightly, staggering backwards from the blow. The warrior glared at him taunting, “Hurt’s don’t it drow, wait until you see what justice we have planned for you. You will beg for a quick death but you most assuredly will not receive one.”

As the elven magic of the moonblade began to diminish, Nilan flexed his fingers tightly around the pommel of the sentient blade, bringing it once again before him. Both men collided simultaneously in a deadly dance of steel. Drow and elf closing the distance on one another with deadly efficiency, each man trying to score the killing blow. Nilan gasped suddenly, the strong hand of the warrior closing around his throat, his dagger pinned momentarily between his own chest and the elven moonblade, as the two men came together. Crimson eyes locked with those of the warrior, who only grinned wickedly and tightened his grip.

Nilan groaned, pushing the elf away from him at the same time he staggered backwards pulling his final throwing blade from the bandolier fastened across his chest. In a quick fluid motion he let the blade fly, twisting his own body to avoid the slash from the warrior’s moonblade. “Shadow” parried the blade easily, as the dying elf fell to the ground at his feet, a dagger embedded in his chest, piercing his heart killing him instantly.

Curses shouted all around him and Nilan staggered backwards suddenly. Another arrow ripped into his already wounded leg piercing the front of his thigh and dropping the proud male painfully to the ground. Writhing in agony, Nilan desperately fought to drag himself away from the advancing elves. They were upon him in an instant. Nilan slashed out with “Shadow” in a futile attempt to keep elven hands from seizing him. One such elf reached for him grabbing him roughly by the shoulder. With his free hand, Nilan grasped the elf and with all the strength his battered body could muster the assassin groaned, jerking the elf forward. Off balance, the elven hunter sprawled atop the prone assassin, who drove “Shadow” home, plunging the wicked dagger deep into the elf’s chest. The Shevarash hunter died screaming, as the god-touched blade eagerly drank its fill.

Nilan suddenly felt himself being pulled from all directions as he was dragged out from beneath the body of the dead elf. Hands were upon him and Nilan desperately tried to crawl away from their deadly grasp. A ragged cry of agony was wrenched from his lips as the elven leader grasped the broken arrow shaft embedded in the back of his thigh twisting it before viciously tearing it free. Blood erupted from the wound and Nilan’s body writhed uncontrollably. He lay gasping, trying to breathe as he struggled to remain conscious.

“Take him,” came the harsh order from their commander. Rough hands grabbed at him, rolling him onto his back pinning him to the ground. Nilan struggled to break free but there were too many of them. Strong hands held him down as others grasped and pinned his wrist in an effort to strip the deadly sentient blade from him. Nilan desperately tightened his grip and “Shadow” vibrated urgently sensing the dire situation the Vhauranite was now in.

A vicious kick to his ribs from the Shevarash commander momentarily ceased his struggles as he was forced to gasp for breath taking in as much air as his lungs would allow. Still the assassin refused to release his grip on the dagger in his hand. Gasping, Nilan saw a blur of elven steel. In one swift motion, the elven commander drove the tip of moonblade deep into the drow’s forearm. White light exploded behind the drow’s eyes and his blood curdling scream pierced the northern air. The Vhaeraunite writhed, screaming as the goodly power of the elven moonblade burned and tore into his very soul. His grip on “Shadow” failing along with his strength, Nilan felt the sentient blade being kicked aside out of his reach. With his forearm impaled by the the wicked moonblade, the assassin could do little to retrieve the dagger, though his fingers futilely tried to reach for it.

Basking in the agonized cries of the pinned and impaled drow writhing at his feet, the elven leader watched one of his men secure the deadly dagger, wrapping it in cloth and stuffing it into a backpack. Another elf tore at the cursed stiletto at the assassin’s waist sheathe tossing it to the elf who had retrieved “Shadow”. When both blades were safely secured and the assassin was divested of all weapons, the Shevarash commander tore the moonblade from the drow’s forearm. Nilan’s anguished cries slowly ceased as the burning power of the moonblade dissipated and his breathing became labored and irregular. Barely clinging to consciousness, Nilan offered no further struggle when two elves bound and secured both wrists tightly together with elven rope.
Last edited by nilanstabby on Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:51 am

It was not long before the band could be heard approaching, they knew their prey was wounded and slowed. There was no more need for stealth, only speed. The blood trail would be easy to follow for any child so the elves raced to catch the drow. Luck, or Clangeddin, had landed Duhgaw in the right place.

What he witnessed and heard was no scene of honorable battle, or intent of justice. He watched as the drow tried to fend off eight other elves. An elf with two blades that Duhgaw now recognized as the obvious leader faced him while the others formed a circle. Yet the drow never gave in, never was there a plea for life or freedom. He heard the leader speak “You’re going to die drow, but you know that don’t you. It won’t be quick, that much we promise you”. The elves all laughed together, yet one spoke up, a young sounding elf replied “Our orders were to bring him to Evermeet, to face the Queen’s justice”. Followed by the leader saying “A lot can happen on the road to the elven city drow. Besides, our lord Shevarash demands that we take our own vengeance upon Vhaeraun’s chosen”.

The drow challenged the leader to face him in single combat and tried to approach him. The wound he had taken, when Duhgaw first found the trail, hampered the drow and he winced in pain. The leader nodded and an elven warrior standing behind the drow attempted to strike, but the attack was parried with a dagger and an awkward step, and somehow a counter blow landed against the elf. The paladin knew this would not end well for the drow but he was not yet ready to intervene for one of that kind, a race well known for evil atrocities and treachery. However, he had seen the drow fight, knew of his skill, and recognized his bravery. Something tugged at Duhgaw’s mind, an itch maybe, a feeling that struck him as odd. He felt a need to assist for some reason, to help the drow faced with such odds and yet relentless bravery and skill. He suppressed it for now and would continue to watch. The elven warrior then raised a hand to the others moving in to assist him and they backed away. The two danced steel on steel for some time. The drow was struck in the shoulder by the warrior’s blade and countered with a strike to the forearm. The drow was tiring quickly, yet would not give up. The elf pinned the drow momentarily with a hand around his throat. Yet, the drow was able to break free of the grasp and loose one more dagger which struck its target, killing the elf. The elves gasped, and snarled as the warrior fell, an arrow loosed and struck the drow in the leg. Another grabbed his shoulder, a fatal mistake, as the drow’s blade struck home. In his weakened state, the drow was unable to keep the dying elf from falling on top of him and he was pinned. As the drow tried to scramble from under the body he was grabbed from all sides, the leader twisting the arrow imbedded in the back of his thigh. He was caught, but yet would not release his blade until the leader drove a sword into his forearm. One elf secured his blades and Duhgaw noticed they wrapped them in leather cloth before trying to touch them. Others bound him and Duhgaw could see that the dark elf was badly injured and bleeding from multiple wounds. He heard one speak of going to Silverymoon for a wizard portal, but most of it was lost in the laughter of the other elves present. He would follow them there if he could maintain his stealth, which he did not understand even at this point how he had not been found out.

But then he heard it, the one thing that would not allow him to stand idly by anymore. The commander spoke of simply executing the drow before reaching Evermeet, before a trial, and that itch became something more; Duhgaw knew he had to act.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:53 am

“Get him up”, the commander ordered. “justice and revenge for our fallen comrades.” The elf snickered driving his boot once again into the ribs of the drow at his feet, causing the assassin to gasp painfully as he struggled to catch his breath. “Lets get off the main road, then we execute the drow, give him to Shevarash and save Evermeet the need for a useless trial. The end result is the same”

Several of the hunters laughed and nodded in agreement glancing down at the battered form gasping for breath at the their feet. At the nod of their commander, two elves roughly dragged the drow to his feet, but the assassin’s wounded leg buckled beneath him. Strong hands kept him in a standing position and slowly the drow shuffled painfully in the direction the elves were taking him. Each step brought with it a groan and blood ran freely down his torn forearm bathing his hands and the bonds that secured them in the warm sticky substance.

Nilan staggered, gingerly trying to put some weight on his badly wounded leg as the two elves grasping his arms dragged him forcefully in the direction of Tarsellian Forest. The assassin scanned the area, desperately searching for some way out. His weapons taken from him, he realized he was quickly running out of options. The entrance to the forest lie only a few paces up ahead and for the first time the assassin felt actual fear. He struggled in the grasp of his two captors. “Stop your fighting drow, it'll all be over soon enough.” the elf directly behind him barked, giving him a rough jab in the back with the butt end of his spear. Nilan winced stumbling forward. Off balance and bound, the assassin would have fallen to his knees had it not been for the two elven guards that secured his arms. As it was, they dragged him roughly into the shadowed forest.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:54 am

The paladin continued to follow, with no idea of what he would do next. If they actually carried out the leader’s ideas of execution without trial he would have to step in. The drow was bound and dragged, barely supported by the elves deep into the Tarsellian Forest. When they stopped he could hear the drow, his heavily accented voice riddled with pain, again saying “allow me to fight and we shall see who is a coward”. Duhgaw could not make out all of the words but the feeling was unmistakable. This drow, somehow had honor and courage beyond any he had seen. There was no pleading, no begging; only a will to fight, and if death was the end result so be it.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:56 am

Once within Tarsellian Forest, the elven commander, turned suddenly to face him, unsheathing one of the two moonblades at this waist. Grinning, he twirled the blade glaring mercilessly. “On your knees, drow!” he roared and he took a step toward the dark elf.

Though bound and badly injured, Nilan refused to kneel and shrugged off the two elven guards grasping his arms, taking an unsteady step toward the elven commander. Spitting defiantly, the drow glared coldly at his executioner. “Put a blade in my hand, coward of Shevarash, what are you so afraid of,” Nilan gestured holding his bound hands out in front of him.

“Get him on his knees,” came the order. Though Nilan never saw the sweeping blow from the spear, both legs crumpled and the drow dropped suddenly to the hard ground groaning in pain. Hands were upon him in an instant, securing both arms tightly on either side. The elf who had wielded the spear grabbed his shoulders forcing him to remain on his knees. Nilan futilely struggled in their grasp as the elf of Shevarash advanced toward him, the gleaming sword in his deadly grip.

Lowering his gaze, the drow whispered a prayer to Vhaeraun before once again daring to stare defiantly into the cold unyielding eyes of his executioner, who now stood before him, moonblade in hand ready for the killing blow that would tear into his chest.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:57 am

“Get him on his knees”, he heard the commander say. Then he heard a thud, and a groan of pain. As Duhgaw stood up and walked into the middle of them the drow was praying to his god. The elves looked astonished at the paladin. Dressed in full armor, yet somehow he had escaped their detection. Duhgaw did not recognize any of the elves thankfully as he approached the elven commander and the bleeding and bound drow who had been forced to kneel. Some of them had bows with arrows knocked and ready to fire. Others of them, including the leader, had swords drawn.

“Well, I’ve heard enough me thinks of this nonsense”, the paladin said sarcastically. “They’ll be no more speakin of killin’ helpless peoples and such”. The Paladin looked down at the kneeling drow who now was barely conscious, slumped slightly forward as he was held loosely between two elves on either side.

“This is no concern of yours dwarf”, the leader spat contemptuously, and raised his blade to carry out the execution. But, that blade only struck cold forged steel, of what metal none knew but the gods. Sparks erupted as the two blades met, and all were blind. Only the leader of the elves, the dwarf, and the drow in prayer retained their sight for the time being. The kingfishers emblazoned on the dwarf’s blade began to glow and a pale blue light began to surround the dwarf. “Now didna say, that no one would be killin any helpless people round here?” asked the dwarf. The two stared at each other, the elven blade locked into the talon like hilt of the dwarf’s sword.

As the other elves stepped back, Duhgaw kicked the drow over, sending him sprawling just into time to avoid an arrow, aimed at the drow’s chest that surely would have killed him. “You’ll be putting yer weapons away, now, ye deaf wine swilling fool” the dwarf said brazenly. “If there be anyone doing anything with this one”, the paladin nodded slightly toward the barely conscious drow, now struggling futilely to rise to his knees. “It’ll be meh”, said the paladin.

The elven leader pulled his blade free of the talon like hilt on the dwarf’s sword and at-tempted to strike again. Again the blow was parried, only this time forcefully, knocking the weakened drow back down to the ground with a thunderous sound. Three of the elves, the youngest, it appeared to Duhgaw, blindly thrashed their way into the forest. Three had regained their sight and drawn swords, moving into assist their leader. Blades flashed as the leader regained his feet. Two fell quickly to the paladin’s blade, novices he thought, no business being here in this mess. He felt a pang of guilt as he struck them down but they had left him little choice in the matter. Only two elves remained in the ring now, the leader and an elf of some skill. Duhgaw battled with both as he always had. He was lost in a place that had no thoughts or emotions, only the blades existed in his mind. After time only the leader was left. After a feint which cost the paladin a sizable cut to his right thing, he had struck down the skill elf with a single powerful blow to the chest. Now only the leader remained. “We can end this elf, and still be having a talk instead of shedding blood”, the paladin said as he parried incoming attacks. “I’ll not parlay with the likes of one that would save a drow”, returned the leader. After a time the dwarf could not know, the leader lay disemboweled by a final strike from the paladin’s blade. Duhgaw took stock of his wounds, there were many, the leader was quite skilled with the blade. He prayed to his god, and his wounds began to close.

He looked down at the badly injured drow, still confused by what had driven him to save this person. “Welp”, said the dwarf. “I guess I better be bandaging ye up a bit before you go and die without telling me what in the name of dark ale happened here.”
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 2:59 am

The clashing of swords and the sounds of battle caused the barely conscious drow to stir weakly. He vaguely recalled the clash of steel, the bright flash of light that burned his sensitive eyes and the sharp thud to his body forcing him to the position he now found himself in. Bound and bleeding, Nilan rolled onto his back and caught a glimpse of a stout muscled warrior standing over him in full platemail, holding a huge sword, blood running the length of the magnificent blade. A dwarven paladin. Nilan recognized him for what he was as he had had run ins with holy knights before, though never a dwarf. The assassin quickly rolled back on his side, pushing his torn body away from the paladin and more importantly that holy blade. Pain wracked his body and once again he became all to aware of his grievous injuries.

Gritting his teeth, the assassin could not suppress an agonized cry and he once again rolled onto his back, groaning. He looked up at the dwarf and saw the confusion in the man’s eyes. Of all the surface races, Nilan had had very little dealings with the dwarves of Mithril Hall. The dwarf took a step toward him, but that step was uncertain, wary, and cautious, if this dwarf wanted to kill him, he knew he’d be dead already.

Nilan winced, gingerly raising his bloody and tightly bound hands gesturing toward the dwarf to release him. The wicked gash deep in his forearm brought with it stabbing pain and the drow weakly let both hands fall back down. “I aint one for releasin’ ye just yet drow,” replied the surly voice looming above him. The dwarf scanned the area and moved off toward the scattered backpacks. Nilan watched as the paladin rummaged through a few packs before finding what he was looking for. Shouldering the pack, the knight once again moved to stand over him. In heavily accented common, Nilan glanced up, his voice wracked with pain, “My…my…weapons?”. The dwarf smirked down at him and chuckled, “An ye aint gettin’ those just yet either. I seen what you can do with em, already.”

Nilan groaned trying to move into a seated position. Seeing the painful struggle, the dwarf placed a hand on his shoulder giving him the support he needed. “Thank you,… I…I believe… is the word,” Nilan slowly uttered nodding up at the paladin. The dwarf crouched down, inspecting the arrow shaft jutting from the front of the drow’s thigh. “We got be movin’ drow, it not be safe ere. Them hunters might be itchin’ ta return and come back for finishin’ the job.”

The dwarf gingerly reached for the arrow shaft and felt the drow wince, his torn leg shaking involuntarily. “It gotta come out, I can’t be movin’ ya like dis. Once we find shelter away from ere, we worry bout dem other wounds,” came the surly reply. Nilan only nodded and the dwarf could feel the man’s body tense suddenly. The dwarf gingerly snapped the wooden shaft and began to work the elven arrow free. Blood began to run from the wound and the Vhaeraunite groaned with each tug upon the arrow. “Tis barbed,” the paladin muttered glancing into the drow’s pain filled crimson eyes. The dwarf’s strong hand held the wounded leg firmly, preventing any movement. With a quick sharp thrust, the paladin pushed the barbed arrow through ebon flesh, before pulling it free and tossing it aside. “Damn elves,” he spat maintaining a strong hold on the drow’s writhing body. Nilan tried to suppress an agonizing scream that came forth as a muffled cry. His weakened body falling back once again in a prone position. Gasping the assassin tried to control his breathing as the paladin proceeded to bandage his leg.

Several moments passed and the paladin rose to his feet, gathering his holy blade and his packs he gazed back down at the dark elf. Nilan slowly got himself to a seated position. Gritting his teeth, he nodded to the dwarf and tried his best to rise to his feet, gasping suddenly as his leg buckled. Had it not been for the sudden grasp of the dwarf’s strong hand upon his shoulder he would not have made it to a standing position. Gingerly the drow took a tentative step, testing the tightly bandaged leg to see if it would bear his weight. “We take it slow elf,” the paladin replied assuringly, “There be a place not to far from ere, we can rest, and I be takin’ a look at them other wounds.”

Together, paladin and assassin moved slowly along the forest trail, the drow wincing with each slow deliberate step, and the dwarf walking along side of him, sword in hand ever vigilant should the elves of Shevarash decide to return. The unlikely duo traveled in silence for some time before Nilan stopped unsteadily and asked, “Where…where…. are you taking me, …..dwarf.” His hands still bound tightly before him, the drow shuffled his feet to better take the weight off of his badly injured leg. “Am I your prisoner now?” he groaned, lifting his bloody hands secured tightly by the elven ropes to emphasize the point.

The paladin chuckled, “Come, drow, we git off this ere road and we talk. There is a cave I know jist over the hill, we take shelter there, yer wounds need bandagin. Can’t have ye dyin’ on me till I ere what in the nine hells them hunters of Shevarash wanted ye so badly fer.” The dwarf motioned for the drow to continue onward with a nod of his head. Nilan groaned taking a tentative and cautious step forward before trudging ahead. It was some time before the pair arrived at the small hill, and the dwarf could sense the drow was moving with increasing difficulty.

Though the incline was not steep, it proved challenging to the bound and injured assassin. Blood flowed freely from the deep gash in his forearm and the wound in his side, and Nilan staggered with each step. He struggled to fixate on the path ahead, but the path slowly began to fade in and out of view. Still the drow did his best to move forward in the direction of the cave the dwarf had pointed out. Sweat beaded on his forehead and his leg trembled with each step. The forest floor began swirling and spinning in a dizzying display before his eyes and Nilan, could no longer maintain his balance. Groaning he dropped to his knees, his bound hands reached out in front of him breaking his fall. He was vaguely aware of the paladin stepping toward him and with pain filled eyes he tried his best to focus. The dwarf faded in and out of his view and Nilan squinted trying desperately to get his eyes to focus on anything at all. Nausea and dizziness came upon him in waves and Nilan felt his body rolling to one side. His breathing became irregular and shallow, yet he did his best to cling to consciousness. He felt a hand upon his shoulder and heard the dwarf’s voice but he was unable to make out any of the words. Confusion and panic caused the assassin to struggle painfully against the paladin’s strong hold upon him, until the dwarf slowly faded from his view altogether as darkness fell all around him.
Last edited by nilanstabby on Mon Jul 30, 2018 1:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:01 am

As the drow lost consciousness Duhgaw was able to easily lift his body onto a shoulder. He was unsure of using his healing abilities granted to him by Clangeddin so he thought to continue his more conventional methods of healing in the cave. He had already spot-ted several herbs that he could use to treat the drow’s wounds. He carried him the rest of the distance to the cave and laid him carefully on a clear patch of earth far enough inside to avoid any unlikely passersby. He made a small bed of grass, leaves, and ferns for the drow to rest in. Covering him with his cloak he set out the short distance to the stream for some fresh water, gathering some of the herbs he would need along the way. If he could get the drow to drink there would be a tea that could ease his pain. Others would hopefully keep infection from setting in.

He returned to the cave to find the drow covered in sweat and sleeping fitfully. He did not have a great knowledge of drow constitution but had to assume it was much like the elves, weak in comparison to his own. He started a small fire, and set some water to boil for tea and to make a salve for the wounds. After, he kneeled down beside the drow and rolled him onto his back so that he could assess the wounds on his front. The forearm wound was deep, bleeding freely, but was also fresh so therefore still easily treated with some bandages. Carefully, the paladin loosened and removed the rope that tightly bound the drow’s hands. The dwarf could not help but notice what looked like a slender bracelet of scarring that surrounded the dark elf’s right wrist. At first the knight thought that the drow must have been a prior prisoner as the scarring could have been from iron manacles or chains, but closer inspection revealed no such scarring on the drow’s left wrist.

Puzzled by what he saw, the paladin careful lowered the drow’s hand and considered how he would deal with the freely bleeding forearm wound. He could put the salve on it later after the bleeding had stopped from the pressure of the wrapping. The drow began to writhe and fidget painfully during the bandaging but in his weakened and unaware state he was easily controlled by the paladin. As Duhgaw laid a hand on the the elf’s shoulder to keep him still, he felt an unusual warmth from the drow's body. “I wonder do ye beh always dat warm, drow?” he asked himself uneasily. The paladin just did not know that much about these humanoids. As he lifted and unfastened the drow’s leather armor it was tough to tell reddened skin from regular skin on the drow’s dark form. But he could recognize that the edges of the wound in his side were not well. The edges of this wound were quite swollen, and a clear yellowish fluid had started to ooze from the jagged gash. “Aye, as I thought” the paladin said softly, “the wound be sour”. “Well, I guess it be the tea and salves first then meh boy” said Duhgaw. “You’ll not live without em”.

As the water began to boil the paladin carefully added a small amount to a bowl of herbs he had crushed and attempted his best to grind. They needed little moisture as they were not yet dried and the salve came quickly into mix. He also poured some into two cups, one filled with a regular strong Dwarven tea, the other a mixture of some tea and other herbs to help relieve the drow’s pain, help him fight infection, and to help him sleep more restfully. He could remember helping his mother do this to many Dwarves that returned from adventure or battle. She had taught him much about regular healing, when he was young. He had used the practice many times but never on any other than his own kind. He hoped he could find the skill.

He first removed the bandage from his forearm and put a small amount of salve on the wounds there and re-bandaged them quickly. He turned his attention then to the wound on the drow’s side that had already started to sour. He had no idea in what order the drow had received so many wounds. He was also impressed that one of a race thought to have such a weak constitution could survive so much brutality and injury. He washed the wound out and was able to cut away some of the rotten tissue without the drow stirring too much, the tea seemed to be working well. He smeared a good amount of the salve on the wound after it was clean and placed a new bandage over the injury. He saved some of the old bandages so they could be washed and boiled. This would need to be done a few times each day for the next few days. The front of the drow’s leg seemed to be healing and doing fine. The small arrow hole left was easily washed and bandaged with a small amount of the salve in place. As he rolled the drow over, he could see the damage to the back of the leg was fairly severe. It appeared one of those barbed arrows that Duhgaw had pushed through, had been torn out from the back of the drow’s thigh. The wound was jagged and swollen, already infected, and would not heal easily. Duhgaw finished with his bandaging and allowed the drow to rest, pouring more the tea into the drow’s mouth seemed to work as the drow swallowed without much problem.

A few days passed and Duhgaw would spend any time not bandaging, hunting, or gather water, on prayers. He needed guidance from his god. The drow, he was sure, would be dead in a day or two without divine healing. His salves had helped temper the sourness of the leg wound but the wound in his side raged on. The drow stirred and blathered in his sleep about many different things that Duhgaw could not understand. Duhgaw con-tinued to pray to Clangeddin for direction and guidance. One night the paladin had a strange dream. He dreamt that he saw the drow, fully healed, levitating slightly above the ground surrounded by a pale white glow. He used the same type of speech that he babbled while resting fitfully but the dwarf seemed to understand it in the dream. “What have you done to me?” the drow said.

As the dwarf awoke from his dream he understood, he must lay hands on the drow to heal him or he would surely die from his wounds. His fevers had gotten worse though the babbling and fitfulness of sleep had stopped. The drow was now barely breathing and never stirred. The paladin knelt silently in prayer to Clangeddin. “If this not be your wish my god, please stop meh afore I offend ya” the paladin spoke softly. As he reached for the drow he prayed, hands beginning to be surrounded by a soft glow. The drow was wracked by spasms as the dwarf touched him. The minor wounds that had not required bandaging began to close as the glow surrounded the drow. It lasted but a few seconds and then the paladin noticed the drow stir and slowly open his eyes.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:02 am

Nilan’s eyelids fluttered open and slowly he began to regain consciousness. After several seconds the assassin’s gaze made out a form sitting on a stone slab several paces across from him. Nilan recognized the paladin who had managed to save him from a bloody execution at the hands of the elven hunters of Shevarash. It appeared to the drow that the dwarf was in deep thought, or prayer, or perhaps both. The paladin was glancing down at his own hands and Nilan noticed the faint glow surrounding them. Nilan immediately gazed down at his most grievous wounds. The wound in his side was all but healed, as were the arrow wounds in his leg. As Nilan gingerly extended his leg struggling to move to a seated position he fully expected a shooting pain to radiate through his body. Instead, the drow felt no pain, just physical exhaustion and weakness from the grueling and brutal ordeal. Nilan lean back against the stone wall of the cave and immediately gazed up at the paladin who now looked into his crimson eyes meeting his gaze and nodded.

“I…I know what you did, for that I…I suppose I owe you my life,” the assassin whispered stoically. “But tell me, dwarf….why?….why come to my aid, why heal me?…You of all people, know what I am.” The drow then raised his now unbound wrists and gestured toward the paladin, “Am I not your prisoner?” he inquired, his voice riddled with confusion.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:04 am

“Some of dem I have neh an answer fer”, Duhgaw spoke softly. And a thought to him at the same time, I don’t really know. “Twas mostly a feelin’ I guess, there was a push, I can’t figure it meself”. “I know ye be a drow elf, of that I’m certain”, the paladin continued to speak softly, he wanted the drow to feel no threats, even from his words. “I never be knowin any of yer kind to fight with that skill and bravery, I figure if yer gonna be dyin then it ought ta be in a fair test”, he said to the drow. “As fer being my prisoner, neh, not that” said Duhgaw a bit more forcefully so that the drow could understand he meant it for true.


“Wary I be of yeh, I can feel the dagger in the pack, and feel what emanates from you, but somehow the feeling from yeh has lessened some” the paladin attempted to explain it, “I can tell yer evil, but I can also tell you mean no evil towards me”. As he said that, he handed the drow the pack containing his weapons. He wouldn’t trust the drow quite yet and leave his guard down, but he knew, there would be no attempts on his life.

“I’ve a few questions of me own”, Duhgaw said. “Why dem elves be wanting to kill ye so badly?” “I’ve no love fer dem Shevarash elves meself, but I dunna think they’d be tryina kill me in the dark forest without a trial”, Duhgaw explained. “I be Duhgaw. And ye? Who might ye be, elf?” The paladin paused briefly seeing the drow hesitant to respond. “Where ye be headin from here?, perhaps I can escort ye a ways to make sure yer strength be comin back?”, Duhgaw asked cautiously. He did not want the drow to feel that he was prying so much as offering his assistance.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:06 am

The assassin caught the pack as the dwarf tossed it to him, eagerly tearing open the ties he pulled out a piece of cloth. The drow could hear the sentient blade whisper to him, calling for him. Unwrapping the cloth, Nilan grasped the god-touched blade in his right hand. “Shadow” hummed eerily and Nilan’s fingers absently caressed the adamantium pommel as he whispered softly, “Vhaeraun, dos inbal ussta quortek. Usstan tlun dossta, mrigg ussta velve.”

After several minutes, the drow slowly looked up aware that the dwarf’s eyes were upon him. Meeting the paladin’s gaze the assassin paused briefly before slowly replying in heavily accented common, “Nilan…..my name is Nilan.” The dwarf smiled inquiring once again about the elves who hunted him so vigorously.

Nilan considered the paladin’s question. Clearly the knight had a right to his inquiry, after all the dwarf had risked his own well-being to come to his aid. Nilan felt he owed the dwarf a response, but he chose his words carefully when he answered the paladin’s question. “Hunters of Shevarash need little reason to hunt me, dwar…err Duhgaw.” The drow continued, “You speak of a trial….there is none in Toril that will give me a trial, dwarf, let alone a fair one…..No, what you saw the other day…that was the trial I would get, from elf, human, dwarf, and yes…even from paladins….your ilk would see me dead…just as much as those hunters of Shevarash…tho maybe their methods would be quicker and less….brutal.” Nilan saw the dwarf scowl slightly, or perhaps it was confusion written upon the paladin’s face. “You speak of a trial when it comes to someone like me?…..You are….very different….very different indeed, Duhgaw.”


The paladin’s gaze locked suddenly with his. Nilan paused slightly, before continuing, seeing that the paladin was less than satisfied with his response. Gazing at the huge holy sword at the dwarf’s side, the assassin slowly explained, “My crimes against Lieuthilspar are….are many,…..I don’t deny it. I do not expect you to understand, but there are reasons…reasons why I did what I did…sometimes out of necessity for my own survival…other times because….” He stopped abruptly, eyeing the holy sword and the knight, concerned he might have said too much.

The assassin smirked suddenly before trying his best to change the subject, “So, Duhgaw….how long were you following me? I have had run ins with paladins before, though never a dwarf. I can honestly say, most of those encounters were…umm…less than pleasant.” Nilan paused briefly before adding, “ And never has one actually …. saved my life…yet, you have done so twice now, so it would seem. First rescuing me from a rather cruel execution, and second….laying hands on my many wounds, which I know were severe.”

Nilan slowly rose to his feet, allowing the dwarf to consider his words. Though his wounds were all but healed, the drow was still somewhat unsteady as he took a step toward the dwarf in order to get a better look outside the cave entrance. The sun appeared to be setting and soon darkness would cover the lands. Gazing back at the paladin, Nilan asked, “How long…how long was I out?”
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:09 am

“Welp Nilan, I see ye prize yer blades as I do, so that be another thing we have in common” the paladin said, still speaking in even tones with a low tone of voice. “Most paladins, for true, see things in black and white, I be one that see things real. I study warfare, old and new battle tactics, only one thing remains true and unwavering. The victor always be the one writing what happened. The victor always be determining why the battle was fought or to put it simply, who was right and who was wrong,” said the paladin. “There are few places in this world where men, elves, or dwarves can be true. One of them be combat,” the paladin explained. “You canna fake it there, people do talk a lot about their prowess, but when it comes to blades, you either win or lose” “What I saw in ye was a warrior, asking for death in battle, without wavering or consideration of his own condition, that be bravery at its heart. That’s what I be respectin. Perhaps that’s why I felt driven to come to ye aid” the paladin said, almost asking the question as much as explaining to the drow.

Duhgaw wanted to answer Nilan plainly, but he lacked the understanding of his own actions to do so. There were times in a person’s life when things are obvious and the reasons clear. Others are not so, people call it gut, or divine guidance. Duhgaw knew not which it was in this case as of yet. But he knew he was right to do as he did. “Ye were out a few days, wounds festering, none of me herbs or things learned from me ma was helping ye” the paladin explained. “I dunnae know why I laid hands on ye, foolish as it sounds, I had a dream about me doing it” Duhgaw shrugged to accent his confusion on the matter. He knew time spent in the meditation of blade work might bring the answers to him. “Ye be free teh go as ye will Nilan”, the paladin said. “All I ask is that ye consider yer actions from this point”, Duhgaw tried to sound wise. “Clangeddin led me teh save ye, and he led me to heal ye. He seen something in ya others did not” the paladin spoke. “Consider that as ye travel this world.” The paladin pulled a small pipe of ivory and wood from his pouch and loaded it with some leaf he had acquired while in Baldur’s Gate. He lit the pipe and as the smoke rose around his reddish hair he sat back against the cave wall and considered Nilan carefully.
nilanstabby
Sojourner
Posts: 30
Joined: Sat Jul 07, 2018 3:24 am

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby nilanstabby » Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:10 am

Nilan stood at the entrance to the cave listening to the dwarf as he spoke. The paladin was right about several things, history for one was written by the victors and in a battle you either killed or you were killed. Never had the assassin ever envisioned sitting across from a holy knight conversing, let alone owing his life to one. And now, this same paladin had just given him his freedom as well. Watching as smoke swirled around the dwarf, the assassin slowly backed away from the cave entrance considering his options.

Slowly moving to a rocky slab within the cave, Nilan sheathed “Shadow” sensing that Duhgaw posed no threat to him. “I understand, …..what you speak of,” Nilan stated nodding in the direction of the dwarf. Gathering his bandolier that the knight had obviously removed while healing him, the drow expertly fastened it to his leather armor across his chest. Once the rest of his gear was in order, Nilan again glanced in the direction of the cave entrance. Darkness had fallen and the drow owned the night. The assassin knew that under the cover of darkness it would be safest for him to return to Dobluth Kyor, the surface outpost in Vhaeraun’s control. Glancing back, he noticed the paladin was watching him in silence.

“Ye be leavin’ then”, Duhgaw asked between the puffs on his dwarven pipe. Nilan moved in the direction of the cave entrance stopping to stand before the paladin. “Your offer of giving me escort south is appreciated,” the drow replied in earnest. “But the night sky gives me all the cover I need to pass undetected by any Harper patrols to the south, besides,…” Nilan paused briefly, “I can travel quicker and in silence on my own. I will only place you in further danger should we be discovered. You have done more than enough for me already.”

The assassin heard the dwarf grumble as he took another puff on his pipe, “Watch yer self, drow.” Duhgaw snickered, “I may not be ‘round the next time ye get yerself in a mess.”

Nilan grinned, pulling “Shadow” and the cursed stiletto from their respective sheathes, he took a step toward the dwarf. Arms crossed, the drow bowed low, in the custom of his people. Lifting his head, he met the dwarf’s gaze, “Thank you…. for my life….one day perhaps I shall return the favor. Until then, be safe, Duhgaw.”

Nilan rose to his feet and quickly moved toward the cave entrance, unsure of what else needed to be said. The chill of the night air was exhilarating and the drow paused briefly, though he did not look back. Stepping into the darkened forest he heard a surly voice reply, “Ye too, Nilan.”

The drow whispered a prayer to Vhaeraun and shadows swirled around his lithe form. “Shadow” vibrated eerily in this hand, and Nilan felt the power of his God touch his very soul. Ever so silently, Nilan blended into the darkness heading for his surface homeland in the night above.
Krimondon
Sojourner
Posts: 11
Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2018 8:17 pm

Re: A Matter of Honor

Postby Krimondon » Sun Jul 22, 2018 3:13 am

THE END

Hope you all enjoy this tale. I hope we didn't break to many boundaries for your sense of adventure. We have enjoyed greatly creating this story for you and wish you to enjoy it as we do.

Duhgaw - Krimondon.

THANKS FOR READING.

Return to “Stories”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 18 guests