The Shadow Within, Part 4

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About the Saga

The murders pile up, including the master of the Sellsword Guild, and the Blackrazors making a startling -- and deadly -- discovery about the murderer's identity.

Timeframe

Cast of Characters

Notable Quotes

“Oh, well, that would explain all that missing time I had” – Scrappy

What Has Come Before

A string of murders has shocked Obsidian Bay. It began with Calvin Cloudmore and continued with two members of the Sellsword Guild, including that mercenary guild's leader and one of the guilders that recently shook down Scrappy. Read The Shadow Within, Part 3.

The Saga

Flocktime 20, CY 591

To the Depths of the Darksea

As the sun dawned on Flocktime 20, CY 591, the city was greeted by news of yet another murder, this one more shocking than all that had come before. This time, the victim was Laslo Manderlin, leader of the Darksea Guild.

He was found dead in his house in the High Quarter along with his wife. As with the others, they had deep slashing wounds but no corresponding cuts in their bed clothes. Two bodyguards found the bodies after hearing screams come from the room, but they did not see the attacker, nor did they find anyone fleeing the estate. The time of the attack was 2 a.m.

Fallen Blades

After investigating the murder, the Blackrazors decided to follow up one of their slender leads -- the fact that one of the dead Sellswords had tried to shakedown Gaiseric. At the guild hall they met with the guild's acting guildmaster (and the former second in command) Andath Kithpold.

The crass, ill-tempered guildmaster displeased to see the Blackrazors, who arrived as he was ordering a contingent of Sellswords to take punishment laps around the block. "Damn fools need to learn to be vigilant! Bastards let our own damn guildmaster get killed -- in our own guild hall!"

The Blackrazors proceeded to ask him about the Sellsword that attacked Scrappy. " Khithein? Another freaking idiot," he growled. "Worked with Lester Goodman. Another idiot. The fool actually argued with the guildmaster." The man scowled and shook his head.

Speaking for the Blackrazors, the Trithereonite Ellington asked if the he knew anything about the Sellswords condoning the shaking down of area businesses. Kithpold laughed disgustedly. "That's what Goodman was arguing with the Guildmaster about. Wailhorne, he was content to work with the Darksea Guild you see, and thought the guild should follow their lead. But Goodman, well, hew as from Alhissa, and they do things different at the guild there. He said the guild should be moving in on the small businesses in OB, said no one was exploiting the niche. Idiot. Never asked if there was a reason why no one was exploiting the niche. Anyway, he argued with the guildmaster, lost the argument, and said he wouldn't be shaking down businesses. Guess he lied."

"Where is he know?" Ellington said.

"Got me. Hasn't been around for a few days now. Can't remember the last time I saw him or his crew."

"His crew?"

"Yeah, he had a couple of Sellswords hanging around him -- 3 or 4. Kithpold was one of 'em. Taur was another one -- so was Numin. None of 'em have been around the last few days. Good riddance I say. Can't follow orders, shouldn't be in a guild."

With that, the Blackrazors left, their concern growing all the greater. While they still didn't know whom was doing the actual killings, they thought they had a motive. Someone was trying to set Scrappy up for the murders, and Goodman was looking like that someone. After all, Gaiseric had refused to submit to Goodman's "mark", which would allegedly have prevented the mundane businessmen from reporting the Sellsword to the City Watch. This might be an attempt not only to discredit Scrappy, but to imprison him forever. Of course, it might not be Goodman committing the murders … but it could be someone in his employ.

The Murderer Revealed

With this theory fresh in their minds, the Blackrazors decided to head down to Scrappy's "Shop of the Mundane" in the Wharf District. They suspected that Scrappy's enemy would next attempt to plant evidence implicating him in the murders at the mundane one's business. When they arrived at the shop, they quickly split up and began searching the shop for evidence.

And that's when it happened.

Scrappy was struck dumb at the others crossed the threshold of his shop. An alien presence -- a cold, vile presence that seemed to numb his very soul -- had just moved to the forefront of his mind.

And it spoke to him.

"Gaiseric … it is time that all is revealed to you…" the voice whispered sickeningly.

"I am Argolith … and I know the dark desires that lurk in your heart. I know them … and I acted on them. Your enemies? I have slain them. Those who despise in the Darksea Guild? Dead. And the one who made you a fool? He is dead."

"I have done all of this, and I can do much, much more … with a word from you. With an agreement from you."

"You see, you were long held by my dark master, the Blood Lord of the Plains of Chaos. He was impressed by your strength of will … and by your hunger for the power that is rightfully yours. The Blood Lord admires such ambition … and seeks to reward it."

"He offers you my services, for as long as you shall live … and with the acknowledgement that no act of his -- direct or through an agent -- will end your life. He further offers you the boon of serving in his army upon your death. No, not as some lowly dretch, but as a lieutenant in training. To be sure, a demon whose soul is bound to my dark lord, but that itself is a great boon"

"And all that he asks in return is your loyal and unwavering assistance in avenging himself upon the vile Blackrazor Guild."

"Think of it … you could rule this city's underworld. Any enemy could be slain, any obstacle removed. You could know power beyond most mortal's kin. So … do you accept this offer? Or shall I kill you … and take your soul anyway?"

Scrappy refused the demon's offer and he was consumed by darkness.

Battle Among the Shadows

The rest of the Blackrazors didn't notice the change that had come over Scrappy until it was too late. The Shop of the Mundane's floorspace was filled with a damning darkness that ripped at the souls of those caught within it, including the elven aristocrat Elrandir, elf-ranger Erilar, the halfling-wizard Fontain, the cleric Ellington and the street fighter half-orc Mugwort.

The absolute darkness that followed, Erilar was struck by knives that plunged through his leather armor without a pause and seemed to penetrate to his very bones. Ellington, acting quickly, was able to banish the darkness with a burst of daylight. The burst of light revealed a terrible site -- a humanoid like figure with great, bat-like wings spreading from its shoulders. It was wreathed in shadows, and long, razor-sharp talons descended from each hand. Of Scrappy there was no sign.

The Blackrazors scrambled to fight the beast. Erilar broke away from his attacker, and unloaded a flight of arrows into the creature to little effect. Elrandir did the same, and when the two elves realized how ineffective their attacks were, they began hacking their way through a wall in a bid to get outside. There they would have room to maneuver, and time to plan. They were soon joined by Mugwort, who was able to make short work of the wall.

Fontain unleashed a barrage of spells on the creature, but few seemed to have any effect. Then the creature motioned at him, and Fontain was horrified to see his own hand wrench itself from his wrist and go flying off into the air. It then turned a ghastly, incorporeal gray color, and came streaking back at him. Horrified, he turned to flee only to be attacked by the hand as he ran. Fountain felt the life force drain from him whenever the hand hit him, spells evaporating from his mind as his very soul seemed to run out of his body. He staggered, and readied more spells to fend off his horrific attacker.

Meanwhile, the elves and Mugwort had successfully broken through the decidedly mundane wall of the shop, and were outside. Realizing that light might be their best weapon against the shadow creature, they immediately began working on burning down the shop.

Ellington stood his ground, buying the others time to leave as he wove defensive spells around himself. The demon turned its attention on the cleric, striking Ellington again and again, leaving deep slashes beneath his armor. Ellington returned the blows strike for strike, pausing only to long enough to destroy the hand assaulting Fontain with a surge of divine power.

The effort proved to be his last, as the shadow demon continued its assault and slew the cleric.

The creature's victory would prove to be shortlived. Outside, Erilar and his fellows had come up with a new plan -- tie a rope to Erilar and then send him into the darkness in hopes that the expert bowman would be able to kill the demon.

Erilar plunged into the darkness, listening carefully for any sound that might give away the demon. He heard the slightest creak, and unleashed a volley of arrows in that direction. One struck home, and proved to be enough to kill Scrappy. As his body fell lifeless to the ground, the magical darkness seemed to collapse inward upon his corprse. Then it rose again, taking on the form of a winged demon before fading away.

The shadow within had been vanquished.

Experience

Not available.

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