Revelations Part 3 - (The Finale)

Blade with whom I have lived, blade with whom I now die, serve right and justice one last time, seek one last heart of evil, still one last life of pain, cut well old friend, and then farewell.

Revelations 3

Norgarth shouldered his axe and ignoring the revenant form of Vapario, sprinted with all his worth towards the table and the daggers. The urgency of his task surged through him as he collected them up pushing them into pocket, belt and bag and wielding one in each hand, turned to move towards Vapario whose back was now exposed to him.

Haennah had exhausted all her spells, the pain in her chest would not go away, but she had to ignore it and fight on. The magic of the Yuanti-Ti armor she wore  gave her great physical strength and so she tried to use its advantage once more and grabbed out at Vapario, intent on throwing him to the ground. She mustered all of her physical strength yet in despair it was not enough. Vapario's strength came from the grave and was as unnatural as her's but greater. With a wicked smile he peeled her grasp from his shoulder with one hand, and twisted it away. She gasped in pain as with his other hand he touched her, the necrotic chill jolted through her, and her mind reeled! She focussed her will and pushed whatever was trying to assault her mind away, yet she could feel her life force being sapped from her, even as Vapario released her from his grip.

Galthia drew out her Holy Avenger, the divine light radiating from its blade as it sensed the evil of undeath close by. She struck hard at Vaparios form, but her first blows bounced off harmlessly. Vapario looked at Galthia and smiled ' Thank you human, for bringing me that last piece of the puzzle.' And it turned its gaze back upon Haennah.

By that time Norgarth was upon him and struck out at the undead's back, its unnaturally tough body shrugged off the first two stabs of the dagger, but with his third the aim was strong and true. The dwarf buried the ceremonial dagger to the hilt, and left it stuck within Vapario's body.


It arched its back in pain, and Haennah took an opportunity to step back and readying her glaive lashed out, but again missed. She was feeling weaker as something slowly drained away her life, like an open wound draining of blood. Without further hesitation Vapario advanced upon Haennah and struck again. Haennah just stood there.


Galthia and Norgarth had little time to notice as they continued to attack. Vapario raised a hand as if in command. The Red Dragon Orb that Haennah had secreted in her knapsack came free and rose up  and out of the bag and into the air above them, a glow emanating from its core. Vapario then turned his attention to the others and lashed out at them in return.
 

It was only then that Norgarth noticed the shifting light above, so focussed had they all been upon the revenant before them. Looking up he saw to his disbelief that the red orb had joined three others. But they had been safe with their creators the giants? But now the Orbs of Earth , Fire, Air  and Water were together, hovering and circling around each other, as a glowing light started to materialise around them. With them together the fifth Orb, the black orb of Thought could be summoned, and whoever controlled the five controlled fate and time itself!

Haennah disappeared from sight...

Master of Darkness

'Now behold, I shall now live forevermore though her, and I shall hold the keys of hell and of death....."

The moment Vapario had touched her for a second time Haennah felt her will fail. She had been here before, knew this feeling. Like looking up from the bottom of a pool of water, the world was distorted, muffled, and somehow distant from her mind. She felt chill, numb, and all she wanted to do was close her eyes and sleep yet she could not.  Her body was no longer hers and all she could do was watch.

Zhangs voice sounded strange to him as he spoke though this Teifling girls form. He had watched like a dream from the back of her mind all these years. A mote of his soul had remained attached to the crystal heart that she had taken from him. HIS heart!

'You think you can take my soul? No! I will take yours Haennah, and you will be lost forever. And  now I will  destroy your friends!'

Her will had been strong that night, back at the library of Rathmore, and he had not been ready. As perfect as his plan had been it was flawed, but the mortals had been foolish, thinking they could end him by casting his organs into the void. His body had been destroyed and without a new one he could be no more than a spirit, no more than a whisper, weak upon this plane.


His black crystal heart had always held the key to his power, no mortal could destroy it, only by his power could it be undone. Haennah had taken it for her own, to tap into his power, and by doing so a mote of his undead being had been trapped within, forever incomplete without it. As long as Haennah's will was strong he could not be whole. Vapario had been a willing and complaint servant, hunting down the Dragon Orbs, which when brought together would give Zhang the power for his undead soul to be brought fully back into the world, and to inhabit a new body. Vapario's body would have done, but now something better had come.

Haennah had become powerful over the years, and as the effect of the heart had its toll upon her mind, she had started to stray from her own path, and towards evil. The effects of the cursed Yuan Ti armor was enough to take her over the edge to where he needed her to be. Now her body was no longer that of a weak and feeble Teifling girl but powerful and strong. This vessel was now his, worthy of his power and capable of holding it.

A queen of darkness he would be for now, but it would be easy for him to twist and corrupt this body into whatever form he pleased. All he now had to do was keep his vassal Vapario alive until he had allowed the Dragon Orbs to summon the Fifth and it had charged to full power. He could then use it to free himself from his spiritual form, possess Haennahs body permanently and regain all of his former power!

At first they were confused at the sound of Haennah's voice at a distance from them somewhere in the middle of the room. Norgarth had already stepped back from Haennahs last visible spot, already fearing the worst. The strange unnatural hollow to her timbre confirmed his dread. Galthia looked towards the sound but could not see the girl. She was well aware of the Teiflings ability to remain invisible and cast spells. Doubt added to her confusion as she registered what the sorceress had just said.

Zhang could not channel his own spells yet but his possession of the sorceress renewed this body with its power.

'I will feed off Haennah's inner light, as she has fed off me all these years.'

Lighting thundered from Zhangs fingers straight at the dwarf and then an orb of fire screeched towards Galthia and hit her. The heroes staggered under the onslaught, flesh shocked and burnt, they gritted against the pain, as Vapario struck out again at the only target close enough, the paladin.

....Haennah pushed back but the water was cool, and the images distant.....

Armor deflected blows but Galthia was still burnt and hurting from the fire. She stepped away searching for the location of where the firebolt had come from, if she could subdue Haennah, knock her out she could save her from whatever had overcome her, but where was she?

'No! ' Shouted Norgarth seeing the humans hesitation. ' We must stay focussed on our target. We must kill Vapario to stop the Orbs or all will fail!' The dwarf reached into his bag of holding and cast out in all directions skulls. The sorceress could not destroy them all without time, and the more hands upon Vapario the better. Skeletal warriors rose up from the floor, and Norgarth moved back towards his target.

'Despair as the protector casts away his shield, lament as the warrior lays down his sword, for they are undone, and thier will is broken. '

Zhang found it quite amusing as he saw the human and dwarf smarting from his spells, and throwing these trinkets around,  he had forgotten what fun could be had from casting magics. These sorcerous spells were pathetic compared to his own arcane might, but they would do for now, and so like a cat with a mouse he decided to play with the mortal fools!

Galthia reigned down a divine smite with her holy avenger upon Vapario, as he struck out again and Galthia felt the sting of the necrotic touch upon her. Norgarth rush to her side and plunged two daggers in Vaparios back. The daggers were seeming to work, radiant power was imbued in them, each strike against the revenant was as if a mighty sword had laid into him.


While Vapario's spirit was now undead his body was living,  Zhang using sorcerous metamagic cast healing from his vantage  invisible point, taking much perverse glee as the heroes watched in despair the wounds to Vapario start to close up.

The skeletons reached thier target and began to attack also. Vapario was surrounded. Zhang looked up at the orbs, the light had intensified but now a dark disk was beginning to grow in the centre of the four. The Orb of Thought materialised, Vapario  reached out with his mind and focussed the fifth orb on its final macabre task, to bring back Zhang for good. Zhang smiled, it wouldn't be long now, all he had to  do was toy with the heroes a little more and keep them occupied and Vapario alive a little while longer.

'Galthia',  he chuckled, 'So you thought you could call upon your gods divinity to turn me away? You failed... I find your lack of faith disturbing.... you should have faith in me! Now lay down your holy avenger and leave it upon the floor.'

Galthia could not resist the suggestion, and she lay down her holy avenger and stepped back. It was her only useful weapon her other sword was ceremonial only, no better than a giant letter opener.. but the voices command sounded perfectly reasonable. 


....Haennah pushed back but she was tired, she just wanted to sleep...

Zhangs concentration failed and Haennah appeared into view, Galthia was about to stride towards the Teifling but Norgarth called out, 'The daggers!'  He cried out to the paladin, 'They are the key to stopping Zhang',  Galthia grabbed a dagger from Norgaths belt. Uncertain who to attack, was Zhang in Haennah, was Zhang in Vapario also? Galthia struck at Vapario again imbuing the dagger with divine energy as her aim was true. The skeletons stabbed with their swords, and Norgath struck with two daggers but Vapario deflected the daggers away from him. However one more was stuck in his body.


Zhang's amusement ended, the mortals were now boring him and Vapario was surrounded. He cast a spell and a circular curtain of crackling sparks surrounded Vapario like a shield wall. With him safely inside tounges of electricity flicked outward form the wall in all directions. Galthia and Norgarth tried to shy away and cover up but the dwarf was not quick enough. Ribbons of lighting coursed through him and he watched as his skeleton soldiers exploded into chalk dust beside him.


.. Haennah pushed back.. but the water was so deep... the sounds of combat so quiet... let me rest...




Zhang had made a mistake, while Vapario was now safe, he was still visible and Galthia was no longer under his influence. She picked up her holy avenger and it shone brightly like a beacon of good, Norgarth gritting his teeth drew out his mighty axe, and the two of them rushed forward.


Zhangs mind pierced through Haennahs memory, she could fight with this glaive of hers and she could fight well with it! Norgarth was first to get close, but before he was in reach with his axe, Zhang swung the glaive in a broad stroke, cutting deep at the dwarf. He staggered and faltering he stepped in range and swung his axe striking back at Zhang, the first blow missed, but his second and third hit. Galthia was next and once again called upon her divine power to smite at Zhang within the girls body. Radiant damage surged though Zhang as the paladin dealt two mighty blows.


. .. Haennah felt a shock as if slapped awake from a deep sleep.  She was still looking as if from beneath a pool of water, watching the fight helplessly. She could feel Zhang controlling her body making her fight her friends... She pushed back.... but she was too week.


Zhang swung back at Galthia with his glaive, the blade cutting deep, then 'pop' and with a whiff of smoke Zhang misty stepped away from the heroes and then retreated further, glaive lowered in the fighter and paladins direction, waiting for them to foolishly come into range.


The two charged across the room, and slid to a stop weapon tips clashing with Zhangs blade.


'We meet again Norgarth, I am ready, come closer if you dare'


Norgarth looked down at his cut and burnt body, the toll upon him had been great, and he did not want to die at the hands this girl. 'This is hopeless! She is too powerful, we must retreat and fight another day'
Galthia wiped blood from her face carefully keeping and eye on the Teifling. 'We cant give up Norgarth, this must be stopped now, to do or die, there can be no retreat. I have vowed to save Haennah and I will even if I must die trying!'


Zhang could feel his time getting closer, if the these two faltered now, hesitated a moment longer it would be too late for them to stop his plan. Zhangs new body had sustained some serious injury , Galthia's radiant power was dangerous, but in a moment that would not matter, he would be unstoppable.


'Don't be a fool woman ! Rebuked Norgarth, 'why would you throw away your life like this, if we retreat we can return with help. I can't make you come with me, but you can see I speak true.!'


'My oath is my bond , I will not forsake her, this is our moment now or never. Haennah, hear me girl! You are stronger than this, resist the hearts hold on you, you can do it, break free!'


.. Haennah heard her name called, she knew the voice, her friend that she called sister, who had always shown kindness and mercy..... she pushed back... Zhang faltered a moment, his new body weaker from injury.....but no! Still he held on!...


Norgarth ran..


It was an army they needed against this onslaught! If Zhang truly had possessed Haennah then he could not see how they could stop him. If Haennah had just gone mad... well damn her to the nine hells, he wasn't going to die for her! He had watched all these years as she had slowly corrupted herself. Only because she had never done anything to harm him directly had he kept patient, hoping that salvation lay ahead. But no more! He had a life, and he wanted to keep it!
If Galthia was foolish enough to try, then so be it... on her own!


'Oh no dwarf, you are not going yet' cackled Zhang ' come back and fight me!' He cast a spell of suggestion to draw the warrior back, so he could strike him down with blade and spell.  Norgarth's mind was resolute, and he shrugged off the spell, and kept going.

Zhang again had made a mistake. Losing concentration on the wall of sparks Vapario was again vulnerable. Norgarth reached for two of the three remaining daggers on his person and threw them at his target as he ran.

Galthia pressed the advantage as Zhang was distracted with his spell, and struck again with her Holy avenger.

Child of Darkness Child of Light.

The goddess is my shield and I am her sword, where she is light I am her fire.




....The shock again, Haennah felt it, she had seen everything , heard everything that her friends had said, felt the hatred and the glee of Zhang and knew that any moment it would all be too late, and she would be lost forever, her soul destroyed. But as her body weakened with every hit, so Zhangs control slipped!


She pushed again, her essence , her soul raged in desperation against Zhang's control. Like a fire she burned through his mind and into his soul and for that moment she was free, and in control. She fell to her knees beneath Galthia's strike, and screamed out. 'Stop! Stop  its me!'
Galthia waivered, was this real, or a trick?




The daggers struck true at Vapario, deep into his chest, and he staggered, stumbled and fell dead.  The orbs hung in the balance on a knife edge, the time had come, but Vapario was dead, and Zhangs control over Haennah had faltered. She could still feel him there, as if he was held back by the fire of her own soul, she could feel his power just beyond her grasp, and the focus of the orbs. All she had to do was try, try one last time to push herself that little bit further. Zhangs power could be hers for the taking. She would suck him dry and take all that we was for her own! The power of the orbs would  make it happen, all she had to do was reach out!


She would embrace lichdom through this gift given to her by fate, and become a child of darkness. She would be beautiful and powerful and terrible to behold, and she would strike down all who tried to stop her, let the world despair!




Using her glaive for support she struggled to her feet and leant against it, and in that moment saw again  Norgarth sprinting away. Her mind flashed back when Zhang still had control, and she remembered then the look she had seen on his face. Before it had been unclear, shrouded by the control of Zhang on her, but now her memory was sharp.


Norgarth the stubborn, Norgarth the annoying many times, but always Norgarth the brave, the dependable. Yet here she had seen Norgarth the fearful, the broken, the dwarf who saw only death ahead and no way forward.


He had saved her last time when she first got Zhang's crystal heart. He could have left her bleeding body in Rathmore and let the ruined walls crumple and collapse upon her, and become her tomb. He had not, despite their differences, despite thier arguments, and despite his unfriendliness, he had been a trusting and dependable companion. She owed him her life, and she loved the dumb dwarf for that.




She turned her gaze to Galthia. Honest brave and true, a friend she called sister. Sometimes it seemed so mockingly, yet deep down she had always been sincere. Anyone else would have shunned a strange Teifling sorceress, with her bag of marbles mind and demon heart.


In front of Galthia was a Teifling girl not quite 20 years of age, her body cut and bleeding, defiled and scarred by macabre undead magic, with an unhinged mind, who had wilfully let her self slip into evil and succumb to its temptations. But Galthia really cared. It was her way, and she would never abandon Haennah, if she could save her.




But did she even need saving? What from? Zhang would soon be destroyed, and she could have his power... and if she failed, then she would be dead, and would not know any different... yet Zhang would be set upon the world. It was then she had a moment of revelation.




 Zhangs Power raced through her every fibre... She bent his power to her will
'Not this time Zhang.. this time I win!
She raised up her bloody hand and pointed at the five orbs of power. With a swiping gesture she banished them . They receded and winked out of existence.




Legs shaking with uncertainty and fear her sword ready to strike once more, Galthia watched as Haennah turned to face her.  She raised her sword high. 'Galthia please!' cried Haennah. The paladin paused unsure what to do. ' Save me!'


Zhang would never truly be gone, his legacy would live on as long as the crystal heart was whole! And only Zhangs power, that which created it could undo it. Haennah reached under the heavy copper necklace she wore, and grasped the heart that protruded partly from her chest. Channelling all of Zhangs power through her, she sent lighting deep into the crystal heart, as her fingers dug deep into the flesh and ribcage around it. She gasped with pain as nails tore vein and artery, fingers buried deep into flesh and her palm was punctured and raked by the jagged facets of the crystal heart.


Her body shook as the electricity coursed though the heart and Galthia looking on in shock and horror, heard sounds like cracking ice. With a shuddering wrench, Haennah seemed to almost bend double backwards as the heart, its blackened defiled blood pouring from it, was held momentarily in Haennahs bloody hand. The Teifling collapsed lifeless to the ground, the glaive clattering to the floor and the crystal heart struck the ground, cracked and splintered shards broke off its surface.
Galthia brought her sword down in one swift stroke and as it hit the heart it flashed with radiant light, and The Black Crystal Heart shattered.


With desperate urgency, Galthia dropped to her knees beside Haennahs body. Her goddesses power could bring the living back from the dead of she was quick enough, but this was different. She tore the necklace form the girls motionless body, and looked upon a fist sized hole in the Teifling chest.


'Chauntea, Great Mother, Goddess of Life. Heed my prayer and guide my magic to save this girl. If truly her soul can be redeemed you are the Goddess to grant my wish, do not let her sacrifice be in vain. For though she has lived in folly, there has always been good in her, and she has saved us all from evil.'


Healing power glowed though Galthia's fingers, and she hoped that it was enough. As she knelt there over Haennah's body, at first there was no change. Then a small red blob appeared in the hole in the teilfings rib cage. It grew gradually in size, and then started to pulse with  a rhythmic beat. Damaged and torn arteries repaired and attached to the newly formed living heart . Rib and cartilage was reformed and muscle and skin grew over until Haennahs chest was whole again.


For a moment there was silence and all was still. Then a sharp and sudden intake of breath, like the first breath of life.


'I knew you'd make it, chicken.' smiled Galthia.


...End...