It had been all too easy for the vampire elf. Under the guise of being pushed to drastic action by Dimitri, he was able to attack and capture Queen Teleperien and pin the guilt on his half-elf slave at the same time. The only faulty part had come at the sudden arrival and interference of Alia Anor and Raevyx. Vanion had truly been surprised as the Asmodean's will to strike out against him.

A quick teleportation spell later, though, and Vanion Shadowcast had left Dimitri, Alia, and Raevyx in his metaphorical dust. The once golden-elf slung the Queen over his shoulder and looked up at the structure that would be the Temple of Myr'Khul on this world. A short gasp escaped Vanion's lips - he could never quite stop himself from being in awe of this structure. The temple was carved from the inside of the skull of a very giant beast. The Necromancer had summoned the soul of the beast to haunt this place still, and to guard the entrance at the mouth of the massive structure.

Vanion had two things to do - the first would be to have Ignatius torture the Queen (mildly, all things had to be done tastefully). The second would be to leave his message to the City, negotiating her release.

A few minutes later, and the dark elf had Queen Teleperien tied in a magically/telepathically silenced room. Blood stains marked the places in the torture room where other victims had been marred, killed, or worse. Always in the temple was the smell of death, and the unlife beyond death.

She lay there, strapped to the bone wall, with Vanion's apprentice looking after her. Vanion gave him his instructions, and then left to fulfill the second part of his plan.

( Cross-posted from Dojo Darelir > Teleperien of Eldicor )

Xenograg returned to Rhydin City via his magic mirror accompanied by Captain Gwindor and another Ranger. A band of Rangers are riding from Eldicor to the city. Xenograg arranges accommodations for them all in the Dojo.

Answers are found that night in the Dueling Annex. Dmitri witnessed Teleperien's abduction and identifies Vanion as the culprit to Xenograg, Gwindor, and Sylus. Gwindor questions Dmitri almost to the point of interrogation. Xenograg has to calm both individuals: Gwindor of his impatience, Dmitri of his (justified) resentment.

Vanion. Abduction seems an odd tactic for him. What does he want?

( Cross-posted from Dojo Darelir > Teleperien of Eldicor )

The flaming message in the sky was simple, direct, and noticeable by any who looked up that night:

THE RANSOM FOR THE ELDICOR QUEEN'S LIVING RETURN IS MY TEMPORARY ACCESS TO THE KEYS OF EARTH AND WATER.

Obviously from Vanion, broods Xenograg.

'The Keys? How are we to get access to those?' Xenograg does not know. That is not borrowing a Duel of Swords baronial ring like he did that time. Access to the power of the Keepers is just that: power.

'Vanion needs them for something, but what? Perhaps I should just ask him,' muses the Darelir. The Archmage Challenge is tonight, and the last thing Vanion will do is forfeit by absence.

Rhaine was sitting in the comfortable embrace of neurointerface chair of Delwin's ship. Reality was non-existant before her eyes - she watched three-dimensional maps of the world she was currently in, and studied them.

"You need to sleep," ship's voice touched her mind. Soft and almost living... voice reminding her of a friend.
"No, Dar, I do not. "
"You need to sleep. Pilot loses reaction without sleep"
"I am not a human, Dar. Calm down."

The world spinned before her eyes - magnificent slow motion, showing off its beauty to an eye unsensitive to it. Suddenly a white spark flared on the holographic image. Hot white spark, a scream for help.

"Attention. SOS signal received. Shall I transfer coordinates?" - now Dar's voice was metallic. Rhaine smiled softly. Ship designers of Lerdann were excellent in creating artifical intelligence for companions of High Guard.
"Yes, Dar, my dear. I need coordinates and a map from RhyDin city to this place. Scan the location with microprobes and from satellite."

Vampiress managed to conceal a triumphant smile. The elf somehow managed to push the SOS button.

Leaving Anne in milky silence of spell cocoon in heavily warded rooms of Adventurer Guild, Rhaine warped into DarSai's hangar. The ship met her with a warm touch a Lerdanni pilot would love and recognize. She dropped into the soft embrace of sensor chair, logging into neurointerface.

"I missed you, pilot. You look tired," the ship whispered into her mind. This was unity... unity above simple conversation, above friendship.
"Do not worry, Dar"
"Pilot loses quick reaction when tired," soft friendly voice commented. Rhaine smiled.
"I am stronger than humans, Dar. We have an errand run to do, my dear".

It was soft, sweet euphoric dissolution in the warmth of direct contact. The white spark was steady and bright at the map. It was close to dawn, when image of Artemus appeared on the edge of their unified senses. Silently and softly the dark ship dissolved in the morning sky, stealth mode activated.

She landed accurately and quietly, about 2-4 yards away from the group, dark sleek ship materializing in the air from a gust of wind. To her the entire scene looked funny... the contrast between weapons, armor and sleek lines of starfighter was amusing. Entry opened in the smooth surface of the ship, from nowhere.

"Tell them to get in, Art. You should take your places in the compartments, and be ready in five minutes. Do not fear. Allow the seatbelts to wrap around you - Dar will be using A-gravity engines, we may get nasty vibration." Rhaine's thoughts touched the link between her and Artemus, mental voice being soft and calm from relaxing influence of neurointerface.

The trip took almost an hour. Rhaine did not wish Gwindor and Xenograg to suffer from her favorite high-acceleration starts and landings. Judging from the sensors built into the passenger chairs, stealth mode was an ordeal enough for them. Dar asked them to stay seated for a few more minutes, probably to let them get their senses in order, and Rhaine agreed with that wholeheartedly. She needed to get ready for anything awaiting outside.

Vampiress stretched, standing up from ultimate comfort of neurointerface seat, slightly sad to leave the euphoria of unity with the ship. Lerdanni pilots seldom find mates in real life... she now knew why. For a human it was almost a drug - to be one with a ship, to be a part of a powerful and free being. Rhaine sighed, and touched a small panel on the wall, selecting a combination of symbols on it. A transparent cylinder surrounded her. Vampiress removed jeans and t-shirt, and dark thick liquid poured on her skin, tentacles forming it and thickening, molding it into something that resembled an outfit, liquid turning into a polymer material with crimped surface. The effect of the material was strange - Rhaine's form visibly dissolved in the air. Lerdanni technology had means of ensuring efficient stealth action... A dark glassy visor covered her face. Now she was fully armored. Packs of cells, several miniature express-testing appliances, palm-sized device with screen and few buttons - everything found its place in small pockets in the newly formed outfit. The cylinder disappeared. Vampiress grinned, and took a heavy-looking gun from a niche concealed under one of wall panels. Now she was more than ready for action. She walked out of cockpit.

The doors into compartments opened with a quiet "poof". Again vampiress noted how different she looked - a dark shimmering shadow dissolving in the air, even in a well-lit corridor. Well, at least functional. The elf kept looking around, but at least his curiosity was now dimmed by the importance of the mission. Xenograg appeared to be calm and cool. What could be behind this calm face, she wondered. So far she has seen Xenograg using his magic only once... was he trying to keep from using it? or from others seeing his true power? No time to wonder. Artemus looked better than all of them - he seemed unaffected by the trip. Good. Motioning them to the exit, she hopped out.

"Wait for me, Dar. I will return. I promise".

Xenograg appears calm and is quiet during the flight. This is merely the trained habit of a soldier and officer; fear is dangerously contagious and must not be allowed to show. Entering the temple of Myr'Khul will strip Xenograg of almost all of his powers. Rhaine could be wrong about already-cast enchantments, too. Xenograg has entered enemy lairs before, but not in Rhydin and not as an old man. Augmenting strength and stamina is so second-nature to Xenograg that he truly does not know his own natural limits. To tire is to die.

Rhaine appears from the control room. They have arrived.

Vampiress moved towards the Temple - a silent shadow within shadows. She sensed the elf behind her ("Midnight, aren't these elves good in stealth!" ) and presence of Xenograg. However, her enhanced senses delivered more information than that.
Undead. Zombies probably. Inside.
Rhaine cussed quietly.

The dreams were fragmented and broken. Tele?s sleep is fitful. Suddenly cold water is thrown on her. The elven queen gasps and opens her eyes, the first thing she sees is Iggy?s face looming over hers.

?Wakey Wakey!? He says with sinister smile. ?I hated to wake you m?lady.? (he says this with an edge of sarcasm)?But we are not finished yet. Please get up.?

Tele tries, but the pain in her back would not allow her much movement. Iggy reaches over and pulls her up by her hair. Tele gasps and her legs give out. Iggy pulls her up again, but now holds her and pulls her arms over her head and binds them. The same hook that tortured her now is pulling her upward. ..

What happened next.. she cannot remember. She remembers a burning liquid being poured down her throat. She spits and sputters. Iggy curses.
Tele?s head is clear again.. to see a poker, heated blood red two inches from her?

?I don?t like it when I get spit on.? Iggy says severely.

Thick black clouds shrouded the setting sun as the small company made their way toward the keep. Gwindor kept his eye upon Rhaine as she seems to know the area, or her small device shows direction. His elvish sight caught movement near the keep, creatures he?d never seen before.

At the horror he falls into his own language? ?Manacar-?m?a v?la??

Artemus turns to look at him. ?Undead.?

Gwindor lets his breath out in a hiss and draws his blade. ?A bow would do no good here.?

?No. It will not.? Rhaine answers as she readies her own weapon. Gwindor looks at with raised brows. It resembled a weapon that he saw Lady GreyMantle handle at one time. A grim smile crosses his face. Raising his blade he readies himself.

The creatures that once lived upon this plane moved toward them directed by some unseen power. Their blind eyes were black spots on sickly green faces. Gwindor laughs inside himself.

?I have no fear of the dead..? he cries as battle lust awakes in him. As the undead descends on the company he runs to meet them his blade swinging, heads of the undead flying as he begins to plow through the gruesome welcoming party.

Standing before what seemed a counltess undead force, Artemus merely nodded in grim determination and drew a pair of twin druidic maces from under his cloak. The mace in his left hand was adorned with a large black spike coming out of the side like a deformed axe. The weapon in his right hand was curious looking as well..for the head of that mace was adorned the the face of a young,comely looking woman. Runes along the handle marked her as the Weeping Maiden and the group learned why it was named such when it crashed into the head of an oncoming corpse. Just as Maiden sunk into the rotting flesh, several tears of pure white liquid streaked down her face, lighting the monster on fire where the tears touched.

Smacking the enflamed animated corpse out of the way with the spiked mace he charged ahead, crashing through the next group of skeletons and corpses like a berserker, calling on his preternatural strength and speed.
"Everyone get behind me!! " He called as he began to cut an ever widening firery path through the undead legion.

The old vampire's eyes shot open at the first scream of the undead child. It had begun. Vanion Shadowcast forcefully kicked the lid off of his coffin and floated out of it, finding his feet on the bone-littered floor with a sickening *crunch*.

Moments later he silently arrived in the torture chamber, snapping his fingers to gather Ignatius' attention.

"Ingatius. Our Temple is being attacked by infidels.", hissed the dark elf.

"Do you wish me to kill her now, Master?", Iggy replied without hesitation.

"No. Flee the Temple. It is time for us to return to the City... and continue to push our plans. Await me there.", Vanion answered simply, without bite. Ignatius did not respond, but instead disappeared in a flash of light. Vanion then turned to the Eldicor Queen, Teleperien.

"You will leave here alive, tonight, Queen. But you will not be without personal loss for your friends' affront to this Unholy place.", Vanion warned with a grin. Moments later he was gone, and Queen Teleperien was left there, hanging from the wall from a bloodied hook.

It was time to show the group of so-called heroes the error in their folly of coming to the Temple of Myr'Khul.

Xenograg finishes his preparatory spells. Enhanced strength and stamina make his equipment a light burden. His arms and armor have also been given temporary enchantments. Xenograg hopes they will last long enough.

"Undead," Artemus says to Gwindor. They have seen movement in the shadows around the temple. Hearing this, Xenograg makes a last-minute weapon change. He dispels the pick-hammer head from his carved rouwanwood rod and conjures a flanged mace in its place.

Gwindor lets his breath out in a hiss and draws his blade. "A bow would do no good here."

"No, it will not," Rhaine answers.

"I have no fear of the dead," is the elf's reply. Xenograg only grunts, thinking beyond these zombies to Vanion. He is also of the walking dead and a mage. Xenograg the Sorcerer adjusts his helm and shield one last time, and follows Gwindor.

"You will find, Asmodean, that only Myr'Khul magics will work in this Temple? Vanion slashes his blade, his dark features gleaming in the dim, black torchlight of the Temple. "Now, would-be heroes. Which of you will be first to die??

Gwindor is well aware of the undead about them. It made little difference to him they were children or no. If he sensed the magic a-right, they could be changed to fit what form Vanion willed. His eyes narrow as he watches the vampire elf.

He does not know magic and cannot work magic as his queen, but he sees every movement no matter who effortless and quick it may seem. He readies himself. He knows a direct attack would be expected and be rebuffed without effort. He would need to watch and wait to see where he can strike.

Taunts and jeers were only signs of a weak fool.

When the antimagic shell dissipated before activating, Rhaine reeled, as if from a blow. Now she had to rely only on lerdanni technology, built-in enhancements and a heavy weapon in her hand. However this was nothing unexpected... she knew of magic dampening properties of Myr'Khul temple.

Rhaine stepped back when Xenograg changed weapons. Right now it was time for swordmasters... Lerdanni material absorbed energy, making vampiress almost fade in thin air. A fresh pack of cells with a soft "whoosh" fit in place...

Turning into a shadow, concealed not by magic but by technological achievement of another world, Rhaine waited. Silently and calmly. The way an asmodean is trained to wait.

"Males! " Rhaine smirked inside her mind. Any time new burns appeared on Artemus, something inside her screamed, but... there was no time to waste. In any case there was to be someone to distract Vanion... if Art volunteered, that was his choice.

"Follow me," her voice attained a calm cold tone. Clearing the way with blazing plasma blasts, she moved into a side corridor. Any naive zombie's attempt to touch her, resulted in another quiet "whack-whack-whack" and sound of body falling. Time was scarce... and she would try to make sure the shifter does get out of the damn place.

"Follow me." Rhaine commands in a cold voice. Gwindor nods and looks at Xenograg and Artemus, turns and follows Rhaine and Xenograg quickly joins them before they start the hunt. Rhaine holds a device. To answer the question on Gwindor?s face she answers in a barely audible whisper; ?A map that shows where she is. The homing device she has is still with her; at least I hope so.?

?How will Artemus find us?? Gwindor whispers.

?I can only assume by scent.? Rhaine answers as she starts down the hall.

Gwindor?s sharp elven ears can hear the sickening sounds of the undead as Artemus tears their bodies little more than a pile of debris. Gwindor drew his blade and follows Rhaine.

He owed the queen his life. She could have had him executed after the debacle with Meldrath where he was controlled by the beast. Yet she allowed him a chance to prove his loyalty once again. He knew as well that Llewyss GreyMantle had a hand in this second chance. A strange sadness passed through him at the thought of the now deceased ranger, he pushes the thoughts from his mind and focuses on the rescue. Without a word Rhaine gestured and they turned a corner of what turned out to be a complex labyrinth.

The corridors are dank and covered with moss and fully dark save for the willow-the-wisp glow in Rhaine?s hand. Gwindor still did not fully trust Rhaine, but she at the moment was the only instrument that would bring him to the one he swore to protect. Gwindor looks behind the small group to see if Artemus had joined them, but he had not as yet. He could only guess that the shape shifter stayed behind to keep Vanion busy.

It seemed an eternity as Rhaine guided them carefully through this maze. Gwindor felt more and more uneasy as they seemed to get closer to the queen?s prison. He looked at Xenograg who seemed to feel the same way. Xenograg also had the ancient blade the Lady had gifted him in his hand at the ready.

Suddenly Rhaine stops and holds out a hand. They quickly duck into an adjoining hallway and flatten themselves against the wall. A door had been opened, closed and the sound of a key turning. A figure walks by, it resembles an elf, but not so. It has wings and is blue, it holds a poker as well as a couple others that looked like instruments of torture. The creature is covered with blood as is the instruments it carries. Gwindor feels the rising of rage. He wishes to end this creature?s life, but now was not the time. The first order of business was to find Teleperien, then seek retribution.

They wait until all is silent again. Rhaine cautiously looks around, seeing or hearing no one, she gestures for them to follow and stops at a door. She puts her hand on the door and places her ear close to it as if trying to hear what was in it.

Rhaine speaks in whisper, barely audible. ?In here.? She reaches in her pouch and pulls out a small device. It was a silver tube with a switch or two. Gwindor watched with fascination as a brilliant white light entered the keyhole and the gentle sound of a click.

They pushed the door open. It was completely dark so Rhaine lifted the little gadget she brought with her. A light filled the room, but amazing enough it didn?t pass the door. It remained only within the walls. But Gwindor did not marvel at this for there, hanging as if a goose in the butcher?s window was Teleperien. A hook pierced her back, blood pooling below her. She was unconscious her arms hanging limply at her sides.

?Elbereth.. Xenograg come help!? At once Gwindor ran to her, being the tallest he lifted her by the waist to lessen the tautness of the hook and rope.

?Cut her down.? Gwindor?s voice shook with anger and shock. ?Cut her down.?

Vanion Shadowcast let them run past him. He had no intentions of keeping the Queen any longer, but he would make the intruders pay for their arrogance. His tech-blade flashed through the air at Artemus' neck, hoping to sever the annoying amateur's head quickly. There was mild surprise when Artemus brought his mace up to parry - it must have been blessed to parry such a blow, Vanion mused.

What happened next was short and sweet - Artemus countered with a heavy swing of his mace, but the slow, blunt tool sailed right past its dark elf target. Vanion crouched and spun around, avoiding the mace blow and slicing open a fresh wound just above Artemus' knee with his own blade.

Vanion was casually annoyed at Artemus responding to his attack with a quick elbow to the dark elf's nose. The Chosen of Myr'Khul reeled back a few steps and then sneered.

"Why should I waste time fighting you hand-to-hand, Kurgen? I would much rather take advantage of the fact that you are without your mediocre magic here in my temple.", Vanion hissed as he deftly disengaged his tech-saber and sheathed its hilt-device. A moment later, dark energy was ripping through Artemus Kurgen like psychic fire.

"You will pay for the grave error you made in coming here, Artemus Kurgen. And it will be painful.", the vampire spat out with a grin as his hands flowed mystically to upkeep the holding spell on Artemus.

From the shadows, two dozen undead children shambled slowly towards Artemus - creeping with a hunger that could only be satisfied by one thing.

They hurried through the maze, Rhaine's plasmagun working accurately. Supply of cells was not infinite, and she had no need to waste them. Luckily, targeting was easy in this crowd, especially for someone with vampire reflexes. Undead children could have been a problem to someone with sensitive nerves... not to warriors like Xenograg, and not to vampires. Gwindor was carrying his queen carefully, staying behind these two. Finally they were in the room where they had left Artemus and Vanion...

It didn't take Rhaine a second to realize that the myr'khulian was once again triumphant. It was more than enough to see the spectral image of Vanion's spells lashing to tear the wereleopard! She looked at Xenograg, and in a vampire-swift move handed him a small oval-shaped medallion.

"Go. Leave. Save her."

Her voice was fast and barely audible. Vampiress turned around, and lunged into the mass of undead, with fury of a berserk. Blazing plasma streams carved her the way to Vanion and Artemus.

I do not remember if I screamed anything aloud... or said anything... The plasmagun became an extension of me. Balls of plasma ripped into undead children, igniting them and spreading destruction. I did not care if I had enough cells for the entire way out. It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was the dhoine, fully in power of the vampire elf, surrounded by undead.

"Let him go, Vanion! "

(OOC: This SL while in the past tense, meaning it has already happened, can no longer be finished here for the time being. Certain players have over-stepped boundaries and assumed things that were not the case, and between my lack of free-time and lack of patience for such power-playing actions, I have to suspend the end of the story's posting.

It can be assumed that Queen Teleperien escaped with Xenograg, her elf champion, and Artemus. Rhaine was thought to be dead in a battle with Vanion, but she eventually resurfaced a few weeks later back in Rhy'Din. The Queen was poisoned by the dark taint of Myr'Khul, the Clandestine God of the Damned.

Any other questions can always be directed to me personally - this SL may eventually be finished up here incase anyone wants to read it, but who knows... that's all for now!


-Don )