@ All:
Osiris’s messenger quickly departs to return to his companions, and the Crimson Wolves quickly gather their belongings.
The hatch Blood uncovered leads you through a winding network of tunnels. Despite the confusing layout of the area before you, Blood seems to be able to follow the map exactly, never once having to backtrack or stop to question the path. It is not long before you find yourselves in an enormous chamber, the same that is marked to be under Headsman’s Hill on the map.
The chamber’s sparse contents are covered in layers of dirt and cobwebs. There are a few remnants of rotting chairs and there are a few old torches collecting dust in the corner. Unlike the previous chamber, this is devoid of any amount of small comfort. There are not tables, bookshelves, or anything else to indicate someone had attempted to make the area as home-like as possible. This definitely appears to have been some kind of staging area for the first assault on Headsman’s Hill so long ago. You can’t help but to wonder exactly what Dethys had done in this place to change the tide of the battle.
You follow your Ageless leaders to the center of the room while the Crimson Wolves look on in silence. You can see the worry present in the deep creases of Vartan’s ageing face. Though his eyes sparkle with excitement, there is sadness and reluctance in the turned down corners of his mouth. His worry for his mother is evident, and the same sadness can be found lurking in the shadows of Blood’s own grim expression. It is apparent she is reluctant to leave her son’s side, especially after his absence and their recent reunion.
“Remember what I told you,” reminds Blood. “As soon as you have Aeliana and her guardian in your care, you get them, and yourselves, out of this place immediately.”
Vartan nods obediently.
Ciar steps forward. “Here…” He places a small vial into Blood’s outstretched hand. “If you get close enough to Fortuna, it should do the trick. Be careful though. Even if you can knock her out, I don’t know how long it’ll be until she wakes up again.”
Blood nods in reply. “Thank you, Ciar.” Blood turns her gaze to Dennan. “Dennan… I think it’s time.”
Dennan lumbers forward and stops in the center of the room. He crouches towards the ground and places his hands in the dirt. “It’ll take me a few moments. Once it starts, be sure to keep your footing. We’ve got a long way up and it will make for a nasty fall.”
A strange, glowing, brown light, accented with flecks of green and amber emanate from Dennan’s hands and seem to feed into the earth before him, causing the area of ground you are standing on to tremble and quake in reaction to whatever it is he is willing it to do.
Vartan rushes forward, his arms wrapped firmly around Blood’s neck. “Be careful, Mother.”
Blood offers a rare, but dazzling smile for her son’s sake. “I always am.” She winks. “Go, Vartan. This journey is not meant for you. Your road leads back to Avalon. I’ll join you there soon.”
Vartan nods. He manages to let go of his mother, but with a great deal of reluctance and a heavy heart.
“Blood…” Dennan’s voice, guttural and strained brings Blood’s attention back to the task at hand.
Blood immediately becomes all business. “Alright. This thing’s going to move fast. As soon as we hit the surface, get to your positions immediately. We can’t waste a single second.” She gestures to the only mage currently in attendance. “Lene. We’re ready for you.”
You watch as Lene’s form is enveloped in a radiant, violet light. Her hands move before her in strange swirls of motion. Around all of you forms a small dome, some type of forcefield meant to protect you from the earth above.
The ground below you begins to vibrate even more violently. You can see beads of sweat erupt from Dennan’s brow as he uses his WISDOM to cause the earth to move.
“Won’t they feel the vibrations?” asks Honor.
Blood shakes her head. “We’re too far below the surface for them to take notice. They might hear us coming just before we break through, but by then it will be too late. We’ll have the advantage.”
The ground below you begins to levitate first a few inches, then a few feet off the ground.
Blood puts her hand on Dennan’s shoulder then gestures for Honor to do the same. The hands of Blood and Honor begin to pulse and glow with their own light and you quickly realize what is occurring before you. The Elder Immortalis are lending the General’s son a bit of their own power to bolster his own.
The earth under your feet explodes upward, a rapidly ascending platform that propels you towards the surface.
@Aeliana:
Your worst fears are coming to pass. With a glowing sense of doom, you begin to realize that your window of departing this place has just slammed shut. Punisher’s eyes close, and you can tell he is just as unsettled by this news as you.
Within moments, footsteps can be heard down the hall. They quickly draw nearer and you know in your heart that Fortuna, the High Sorceress of Darastae walks with a purpose, and that purpose is to see to your end.
Through your puffy eyes you can just make out her slender form in the doorway. You had known of Fortuna for some time, simply by reputation of her cruelty and power alone. Only recently had you been unfortunate enough to meet her face to face, and in that meeting, she incapacitated you with the same ease that a child would discard an unwanted ragdoll.
You had put up a valiant fight when three Forsaken, including Navar Coward, had come to capture you. All the while, your guardian had valiantly done battle with your foes, keeping them at bay as long as he could, but it was obvious his skills were outmatched. He managed to hold the stairwell of the ancient library you had been exploring, but eventually he was overtaken by Navar Coward. It was then they were able to make their way to you. One of them you managed to severely wound with Riven Earth, and a second had, at least from what you could see, been instantly killed by your Lightning Spell. How a mere mortal could have killed an Immortalis would be a point you deem worthy of consideration should you ever escape this place. Coward had managed to wound you considerably, his knife leaving a nasty gash across your forearm. His ability to hide in the shadows and move with incredible speed had allowed him to take you surprised several times. However, even he had been violently expelled backwards with the force of your Stun spell.
It was only then that Fortuna decided to join in the fray. In fact, rather than appearing angry that you had dispatched her companions, a smirk of amusement had affected the corners of her lips. Her pale skin was a stark contrast to the deep purple hue of the floor-length dress she wore. Her red hair cascaded over her shoulders and her brilliant green eyes practically glowed in the dim light.
“I thought you might be reluctant to accompany us… In fact… I rather hoped you would be.” Fortuna had spoken.
You could see the malice in her eyes and attempted to cast your Shield spell, but Fortuna was too quick for you. With a simple flick of her finger, you found yourself seized by the ankles by some spectral force and ripped upside down into the air. You attempted to wriggle around to try to right yourself, but found yourself completely unable to move, absolutely paralyzed where you dangled in the air. Fortuna walked towards you, muttering some unfamiliar words under her breath, and in her hands appeared the binds that hold you even now. You could not resist as she placed them around your wrists and there they have remained since then.
“My Lady,” Punisher bows deeply before Fortuna.
“My, my… You look much worse for the wear, Aeliana. You really should make more of an effort to take pride in your appearance. You look like a horrid mess. I wouldn’t even dishonor the death hounds by feeding your sorry form to them. I’ve a feeling they’d turn up their noses at your hideousness.” Fortuna crosses her slender arms over her chest. “I’ve grown quite weary with you. It is obvious you do not intend to cooperate.” Fortuna seizes you roughly about the throat, slamming your head against the wall and causing your vision to blur.
Fortuna’s blood-red lips curl into a sneer. “Which is why I will relish watching Punisher work. Hmph! Look at you. There were many who thought you might even be the final piece of the Archmage Trinity. Cleo, the Seer. Dethys, the Scribe. And you… they said you, with all of your vast knowledge, could be the Scholar. The last piece of the puzzle…” Fortuna laughs with derision, contempt present in her voice. “But I can see it in your eyes. Even now, the blood flows down your wrists and pools upon the ground. You are dying, and where is the Divine to intercede on your behalf? What comfort have you here in your final moments?”
Fortuna bends forward and collects something from the ground by your feet. You realize with dawning horror what she is holding. “Even your dear companion can’t offer you words of kindness now.” She places one hand on his chin while her other hand dangles his disembodied head by the hair. She begins to move the chin up and down, making it appear as if he is speaking. Her voice changes, and in her words, you hear the perfect impression of your late guardian’s voice. “Oh, Aeliana. If only you’d given them what they wanted, I would be alive, but instead, you let me suffer and die for you.” Fortuna’s own voice returns. “Some friend you are, Aeliana. Well, I suppose I can use his skull for a rather fashionable goblet. He’ll be of better use dead than he was alive.”
“So tell me… did you really care for him? Does your heart hurt to see him with another woman?” Fortuna presses her lips to Faustus’s cold, blue dead ones. “Well, does it?”
You want nothing more than to hurl all manner of insults at this woman, but you find your voice paralyzed by certainly supernatural means. She cares not to hear anything you have to say, and you guess that the only thing she will allow to escape your lips are your final screams.
You set your jaw in defiance, your eyes glaring into hers. Without warning, Fortuna holds Faustus’s head aloft and slams it into the side of your face, causing your neck to snap to the side. Your whole body aches and you are coming to terms with the truth of her words: you are dying.
“I must say, Punisher, I have been having a rather vexing day. Surely the Ageless will be here soon enough. I have Ravana, Navar, and the Childer guarding the compound and keeping an eye on the area. They will surely emerge from the woods. Osiris and his men were obviously attempting to buy them some time. We dispatched them rather quickly, save for Osiris himself and a few of his men who retreated into the earth. I feel I need some levity in my life, so her death must suffice for my entertainment.” Fortuna smiles widely. “Alright, Azazel. Make it hurt. I want to hear her scream.”
@All:
The chamber is impressively tall, but within seconds, you make contact with the earth above. Luckily, the forcefield that Lene put in place protects you all from impact with the ground above. You watch as you are propelled through earth and rock, and moments later, you explode through the surface. Dennan forces the platform to the side, leaving the gaping hole below exposed in order to prepare an easy extraction for Aeliana and her guardian.
@Aeliana:
Punisher, his axe in hand, make his way toward you. His eyes are cold and devoid of compassion. His expression is blank and uncaring. Without another word he swings his axe forward. Screams erupt from your lips and your body tenses for the agonizing pain to come. A shock reverberates through your body as you find your binds have been severed in two. The cuffs are still attached to your wrists, but you feel their power evaporate and the smallest bit of magic slowly returning to your form.
Deftly, Punisher whirls on his heels, his axe trained on a stricken Fortuna. “RUN!” His voice explodes from his lips.
Outside, you hear a loud, roaring sound and fear grips your heart as you wonder what you may encounter outside. You stumble a few steps forward as Punisher’s axe embeds into Fortuna’s side, and pins her form against the wall. The shock is present in her eyes and you can see her hands glow as she tries to muster an offensive spell. You have only moments to escape, but you feel your feet fail beneath you as you collapse to the ground. You feel strong arms scoop you into the air and you find Punisher is holding you against his chest as his form thunders forward at a breakneck speed.
Behind you, back in the chamber you were held in, there is an eruption of flame and a primal scream that carries Fortuna’s fury to your ears. Your body feels progressively weaker and you realize you are not long for this world. These are your final moments.
Punisher heads towards the front of the building. You near the doorway and he lowers his shoulder, slamming it into the door to break it apart and allow you both to make your escape. Instead of the satisfying crunch of splintering wood, there is a flash of blue light and you are both thrown violently backwards where you land hard upon the ground.
Your vision is blurry. You turn your head to the side and can see the advancing form of Fortuna.
“I knew you were weak, Azazel. Your heart is too soft. I knew her honeyed words would corrupt you with compassion,” taunts Fortuna. Fortuna steps over you, and you see she is holding Punisher’s axe in her hand. “My this is a fitting death, Azazel. The Punisher must be punished, and when I am done with you, I will see to Aeliana’s death myself. Oh... and Azazel.” She bends her head lower to whisper into Punisher’s ear.
He fights to writhe away from her but it seems as if his entire body is paralyzed and unable to move.
“I will be sure to give your regards to Kella and your poor, dear son. Their souls will be a fitting sacrifice to our cause.” Fortuna spits down upon him, her saliva adhering in a shining glob upon his cheek.
You can feel your life slipping away as your heart slows within your chest. The blood pours from the wounds upon your wrist and you begin to lose consciousness. Suddenly, a strange current begins to course through your entire body. Your form is enveloped in a brilliant, golden light. You feel your wounds close and heal, your strength renew, and your power return to your body.
In your mind, a deep voice, so brilliant and full of kindness that it causes tears to appear in the corners of your eyes. No one else appears to react to the words that follow, as if only you are able to perceive it.
“Aeliana, you have suffered much to ensure the information you hold does not fall into the wrong hands. Your sacrifice will be rewarded. You have been chosen by the Divine.”
@All:
Outside, you and the Ageless immediately spring into action. Dennan and Lai take their places around the gaping hole in the earth in preparation to dispatch any who draw too near. Honor beckons for Siron and Fjorin to follow him towards the rear of the compound where prisoners would likely be held. Blood pauses in her tracks and seems to be trying to sense something. Her eyes close for just a brief moment, and when they snap open again, you can guess she has managed to discern Fortuna's location. She heads in the opposite direction of Honor, Siron and Fjorin. She appears to be making her way towards the front entrance of the building.
"Navar!" You hear a woman's voice somewhere behind the building and moments later a beautiful young lady with raven-black and a form-fitting black dress appears before you. She is flanked by a pale figure with short dark hair and even darker eyes. There is a black hood over his head and you can correctly guess this is Navar Coward.
Sig and Sembas immediately move to intercept their marks.
Honor, Siron, and Fjorin reach the rear of the building. Honor takes a running start, slamming his shoulder into the wall. His exceptional strength opens a gaping hole through the wooden planks and the three of you find yourselves in what appears to be a torture room. There is a body upon the ground, recently relieved of its head, which has been discarded nearby.
"I think we may be too late," speaks Honor, his face pale. His eyes search the room. "That was likely Aeliana's guardian, but there is no trace of her. She must still be in the compound. We need to move!" Honor moves to rush through the door and bids you to follow him. "Quickly and quietly, let's go." He moves towards the doorway and begins to lead you down the hallway. There is a loud commotion towards the front of the building and you can hear a woman's voice jeering at someone named Azazel.
Honor stops in his tracks, his voice a whisper. "Fortuna... Take great care and do not draw too close to her, or it may spell your doom."
You enter a large room. You can still hear Fortuna taunting her victim further down the hall. In the dim light, you see that this room leads to another narrow hallway, and through there, you will likely find Fortuna in the room that follows.
As you make your way across the creaking floorboards, you notice Honor's shoulders stiffen. "Someone's here," he whispers.
Right on cue, a shadow emerges from the hallway in front of you. Before you stands the Childer Immortalis that had been stationed in this place with Azazel Punisher. In the dim light, you can just make out a set of rather familiar features, as the man who stands before you bears a striking resemblance to his younger brother.
"Hello, little brother."
Recognition dawns upon Siron's face.
Catujel.
