Random says, "Kyrena, sometime I'll have to tell you the
story of the creation of the Drag-al."
Random winks.
Random says, "You folks wanna hear another story?"
Kyrena says, "Sure, Random!"
Turaniel says, "I'm always in the mood for a story,
Random."
Random says, "Well, first I'll tell you that every word
of my story is true. It all happened about four years ago here, in the Spur. I know,
'cause I was here and a part of some of it. I suppose the best place to begin the story,
is with a mirror."
Kyrena raises an eyebrow.
Kyrena says, "Finius' mirror?"
Random says, "No, not that one at all. It was a mirror
made of black obsidian. And it was used to trap the soul of a very powerful
mage. His name was Strangeangel Sondemiroir. And he was helping the folks,
here in Spur, who didn't want to be at the mercy of a tyrant or a devil, or any of the
other forms people around here call Evil. The one who imprisoned him was called Hex
ChunChan. Hex was a very, very strange creature. They're called Recursives,
and more accuratly, Dhuuvghal, or to some, Dhuvghaal. They look just like any other
person, most are San elves or some other more chaotically inclined. Hex, in particular,
was a San. And he was in his twenty third incarnation. Ya see, no matter how many times
you kill them... And I am talking about that most permanent of deaths... They come
back. It takes years, and years though. But, that said about their nature, back to
the story at hand. You see, Strangeangel had collected a special group of amulets known as
The Brood. Controlling the Brood, were the Mother and the Sister. There is
possibly another, but it doesn't matter to this story. Hex needed these amulets to
bind his power and allow him to fulfil whatever dark purpose he was here for. He
hired a Muatana-al thief to steal the Brood, and eventually to kill Strangeangel with a
Fang of Rhangkorre. The Fang is a terrible weapon, for it banishes the victims soul
forever from the land of the living, and this particular Fang was worse... for it bound
Strangeangel's soul to Hex's mirror. Near the time this turning of events had come to
pass, a Muatana of the name Mordecai Stormraven arrived in Spur from some long
journey. He was a very proud man, but at his core was a great sadness for the things
he had lost in his long life, and more-over, for the things he had done in the name of the
Bane. Shortly after Mordecai arrived here, a Leuain of the name Kythor offered him money
to kill a rival, Kyle Ferdain. Mordecai asked why this should be, and was greeted
with indignance. Kythor swore to seek out Witold, the one who had slain
Strangeangel, to do his deed, and left. For some reason I do not presume to know, Mordecai
took it to his heart that the situation was wrong, and that this person needed to know
what was being plotted against him. He sought out Kyle, and found him in the company
of other Leuians. They were gathered in the Gilded Lion, speaking of light things
and laughing merrily. The Muatana, not being terribly up on his social graces, simply said
what had just happened, with barely as much as a greeting between the news and his
arrival. The company of Leuians was not overly shocked, as they knew well the
disposition of Kythor, but were greatly happy to Mordecai for being so forthright. They
invited him to stay with them and spin tales into the night, not letting the news disturb
their revilry. He did, but sat at the outside of the group and listened, he had no talesof
light and mirth to tell, and his old story of love lost and the struggle for survival did
not fit the mood. The tales went well into the night, and soon the Leuians were falling to
sleep in each others arms, until all that were left were Mordecai, and an older couple,
Artaxerxes and Ariellyn. It was then, in the presense of the other sleeping Khats,
that they told him of the tale that came before, and how matters had come to this.
They told him of a Leuian's foolish pride, and his arrogance, and they spoke
truthfully. Neither of the two fueding were particularly more to blame, he was told,
but more the foolish nature of their pride. Kythor was a bitter, bitter follower of
Set, who was said to have slain his own twin brother. And Kyle was a stern warrior
of Rinanni, steeped, in his own way, in his pride for what he was. And further the older
Leuians went, they told Mordecai of how this band had formed, and why they were in the
Spur. They told him of a dark night when Hex had begun to wreak on old, old vengance
on Artaxerxes. He had kidnapped Ariellyn and taken her to the Spur, with Artaxerxes
and his loyal brother and sister Leuians hot on his trail. They tracked him to the
graveyard, here, and to Moonglum's Rest, but were not in time to prevent the curse Hex
laid out. They beat him back, and he fled to the sewers, but his spell upon Ariellyn was
set. Slowly, she was dying. Not by sickness nor any affliction, but by the
death-knell of a magicked dagger set to her heart, slowly closing to snuff her life.
There was nothing that could be done to cease the spell, the Leuians said, and it had
colored their days. Mordecai was greatly moved by their story, and swore he would aid them
as best he could, for they had shown him no ill favor, and welcomed him to their mirth.
The night moved on towards day, and those that were not already sleeping followed their
friends. The next day dawned without advent, as several more. In the early morning
hours, before the sun would rise, Artaxerxes and Mordecai would seek refuge from their
worries and pain in the combat to be had in the poor quarter. They forged a deep
friendship, in those predawn hours, and on several occasions Artaxerxes was called away to
some other task leaving Mordecai with Ariellyn. The two spoke, lightly at first, of the
events that were happing to them. But slowly the conversations turned towards Mordecai,
and his motivations. It was one such morning when Mordecai told him of the human woman he
had loved, and lost, many, many years before. I suppose it was that morning that
Ariellyn came to love Mordecai as a dear and true friend. The friendships continue to
grow, in early morning hours such as that, and time moved on. One morning, after returning
from the Poor Quarter, Artaxerxes left Mordecai outside the Market Circle to purchase some
bolts for his cross-bow. Just before Artaxerxes returned, Hex came in from the
east. Mordecai looked at this San elf he had pledged to kill, and Hex barely
returned the gaze. At about that moment, Artaxerxes returned from the store, at which part
Mordecai fixed his will upon Hex and made Hex's his own. I would imagine the
Dhuvghall was surpised, but that's just my story-teller's sense. Mordecai quickly plucked
Hex's sword away, and prepared to cut him down. But Hex regained his senses and withdrew
another sword, one forged of black diamond. And in a single blow he cleaved Mordecai
nearly in half."
(Jalil clutches onto Kyrena's arm.)
Kyrena winces.
Kyrena hugs Jalil.
Jalil says, "Oh no!"
Jalil's mood is now despairing.
Random says, "The battle went to Artaxerxes then, and he
struck several times at Hex. Hex ignored the blows as if they were nothing more than
a mosquito's bite, and felled Artaxerxes as he had done Mordecai. This was a time before
the Bane was in full effect, and Mordecai's body was slowly beginning to regenerate.
Artaxerxes was granted return by the temple, and came again to land blows on Hex.
Hex taunted him, and then noted that the sun was beginning to rise, and smiled down on
Mordecai's healing body. Artaxerxes feared for his friend, and dragged him away from the
market circle, as the gates there had been locked even as he left, to find a place in the
shade where Mordecai could heal. He dragged the lifeless Muatana into the Bazaar,
all the time Hex followed and taunted the frantic Leuian and the slain Muatana.
Artaxerxes, terribly concerned for his friend's life, as the sun had risen now, and
Mordecai was beginning to burn in it's light, dragged him through the maze like
Bazaar."
Jalil says, "Ohmygosh..."
Random says, "A monitanian was there, buying something
or other, and came across the odd spectacle. Hex arrived to taunt his victims, and
Artaxerxes
struck at him. The monitanian did not understand, and attempted to stop the fight.
He chose a rather effective method. He killed Artaxerxes."
Kyrena gasps.
Jalil gasps.
Random says, "To which Hex laughed uproariously."
(Jalil faints.)
Jalil lies down.
Kyrena pets Jalil.
Random says, "Think I should wait for Jalil to regain
conciousness?"
Jalil shakes his head from side to side.
Random grins.
Jalil says, "Wha' happened?"
Kyrena chuckles.
Jalil sits up.
Random says, "Artaxerxes was granted, again, althogh
more reluctantly this time, return by his temple."
The Thuggian tuba player leans in toward Random listening
interestedly.
(Random pats the Thugian on the head and continues.)
Random says, "By this time, the Monitanian and moved on,
and Artaxerxes continued dragging the Muatana through the winding passages of the Bazaar,
until at last he came to an entrance into the sewers, where he was able to drag Mordecai
to saftey. After some time, Mordecai's body was fully healed and life returned to it.
Thinking the sewer a rather unappropriate place, they followed the passages to another
exit, into the Traveller's Hostel just north east of the square. By this time, the sun was
shining brightly in the sky, Artaxerxes told Mordecai he was going to attempt to find
Kyle, as he would help them against Hex. Artaxerxes found Kyle, and on the way back the
two of them met with Hex. Artaxerxes and Lord, er, Kyle, found Hex as they were
returning to speak with Mordecai. They engaged him in the town square, it was before the
governor had bound it against hostility, and they landed many blows upon him. But
Hex merely laughed at them, and attacked at his leasure. Artaxerxes had nearly worn
himself out, and Kyle was beginning to become very fatigued from their attacks, and
skillful dodges of Hex's blows. Suddenly, Mordecai arrived from where he was in the
hostel. He fixed the Dhuvghal's eyes with his and pinned his will with his Muatana gaze.
Mordecai siezed the diamond greatsword from Hex, and in doing noticed the San also wore
one of the two talisman's which bound the Brood. Hex regained his senses and snarled at
the combatants. The two Leuians began their attacks again, and Hex sought for
another weapon. Mordecai grasped the diamond sword in his hands, and swung it with
all his strength at Hex.. The blow cleaved deeply into the Dhuvghaal's neck, and he fell
to the ground sputtering blood. In a moment, he fell onto his back and was still. Kyle and
Artaxerxes were nearly worn out, but Artaxerxes had the strength to spit on the corpse of
Hex and curse him, and turned north with Kyle to seek the shelter of the Hostel.
Mordecai grabbed the talisman and pulled it free from Hex, and crushed the thing in his
hand. He left the body there and went to his friends. After the three had left Hex,
the Dhuvghal lay in the morning sun for some moments. He too, was capable of
regenerating his health, and shortly he was risen again."
Kyrena says, "Random, being a San, he couldn't just
depart and return?"
Random says, "He was not a normal San. He was a
Dhuuvghal."
Selder says, "Part San, part Muatana?"
Random says, "No, much more complicated than that."
Random says, "Time passed, and it became obvious that
the swords Mordecai had wrested from Hex were not normal swords. Many things happened
during the weeks that followed. Word had spread of the weapon Mordecai had, and one
night he was set upon by several other Muatana who tried to steal it from him.
Fortunatly, Mordecai had the foresight to keep the swords very safe. Later, Kythor and
Kyle met near the square and began to duel. Mordecai attempted to intervene in the
duel, which angered Kyle greatly. The events got rather complicated about then, I'll
try and remember the exact circumstances. Well, first I suppose I should mention it was
much less a formal duel than a one-on-one fight between Kythor and Kyle. There had
been no arrangements, they simply began fighting when they eyed each other. Mordecai
warned that if they did not cease, he would kill both of them. Kythor snorted at this, and
attacked at Kyle again. Mordecai killed Kythor in a single blow, and turned to Kyle who
was, by now, quite furious with Mordecai. I would point out, that on this night Mordecai
did have the diamond sword, and it was this that he was wielding. Kyle told Mordecai that
he knew nothing of Honor, which was a blow that Mordecai was not prepared to defend.
It stopped him in his tracks, and made him doubt his worthiness to the friends he had made
there."
Revised: September 02, 1998.
Copyright © 1995 by Mythic Entertainment.
All trademarks or product names mentioned herein are the property of their respective
owners.
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