Paul the Tarot Mage: Betrayed Freedom

[mercenary30]

It has been a long time, but I have a new Paul bit here for you.

Here is the links to all the Paul story threads. They have been placed in order for your convenience.

Paul the Tarot Mage: Leaving the Nest

Paul the Tarot Mage: Arrival at Quellbourne

Paul the Tarot Mage: Making Friends and Enemies

Paul the Tarot Mage: Outside the Walls

Paul the Tarot Mage: Webs of Intrigue

Paul the Tarot Mage: Smithing the Soul

Paul the Tarot Mage: The Fringe of Lunacy

Paul the Tarot Mage: Obsidian Legs of Hrassk

Paul the Tarot Mage: Betrayed Freedom

[mercenary30]

Parri watched as the black robe quietly made his way up the rocks. He headed straight towards the ledge where she had viewed the spider temple last night. She kept perfectly still in her perch on a Windak tree and to help keep from being spotted she cast a hues spell and changed color to blend with the tree. She watched the Hrassken priest stop right where she was lying the day before. He paused while apparently taking in the same view as she. As his head turned to the left, he froze, as if he heard something. Parri hadn’t heard anything but she instinctively held her breath; the black robe knew she was close.

The Venom started to scan the tree line down hill from where he stood. She would have seen him heading up here from this vantage point. The question he had was, would she run away or hide and watch? He quietly cast a spell to detect life as he made his way back down the rock ledge.

Parri watched him as he went from the rock shelf to the animal trail which meandered just outside of the range of the Windak’s branches. He stumbled slightly as he walked past her hiding spot, but he continued down the path. She barely breathed at all until the black robe disappeared behind an outcropped rock further down the animal trail and even then she did not move for nearly a quintar. When she was sure he was gone Parri got out of the tree and went back to the ledge. It wasn’t very long before Parri watched the Hrassken priest arrive back amongst his flock. She had no doubt he would be back and with extra help next time. Parri decided that it might be a good night to see the temple up close.

Askylor approached the curtain Karamon’s room. “Permission to enter, Great Mind of Hrassk.”
“Granted” was the response. Askylor no sooner moved aside the curtain. “What is your report on the lycanthrope?”
Askylor stepped further into the room. “She has been scouting us from the ridge. I sensed her life force in a tree on my way back down the path.”
“And how do you propose we deal with her?” the Mind inquired.
“Myself and six hunters should be able to bring her in,” was the Venom’s response.
After a pause to consider, Karamon said, “Let Trandel lead the hunters south and then they can sweep around behind. I want you to go back up the path alone, so she will not see our numbers.”
“I will send the hunters and the Fang of Hrassk immediately, Great Mind.” Askylor turned and headed out the curtain.
Karamon added, “If you cannot capture her, make sure she dies.”
The Venom nodded as he moved past the curtain.

Parri watched a black robe and six followers head out of camp. It seemed a bit late for a hunting party. After they left the clearing she climbed further down the rocks behind the temple until she got herself positioned behind a large boulder. From here she could still see most of what was going on in the Hrasskan camp, so she got comfortable and waited.

It was near evening before another priest left the temple and headed back down the path that lead to the ledge. Not even waiting until he was out of sight, Parri made her way around the boulder and headed towards the black temple. She only had so much time before they realized she wasn’t on the ledge, and then they would be back. She had no intention of still being down here by then. She just hoped that she could do this without getting caught. If Frynia were here this would be much easier.

[Moonbow]

This has really made my day... I'm so happy to see you here Merc.

... and you bring a gift too, a new episode. I need to read back a bit though, the last one was posted July 06! You better have a good reason for making us wait that long!



Moonbow*

[Alissa]

I'll be interested to see where things continue to develop next for Paul and his companions. It was nice to come back to this piece, I'm glad you're still sharing your gifts here with us all.

[mercenary30]

Mikel came in that evening with the food and fresh pails as always and went through his normal routine putting food in the cells and changing the waste buckets. When he was finished he left them in the darkness. Paul was sure he heard some scratching near the ceiling that seemed to head down the tunnel. He silently cast his presence spell and found three of them leaving the area. Within a few minutes of the black robes departure, Haf opened the now unlocked door on his cell.
“Quietly now,” Haf whispered to the others.
Yau Sh’en and Frynia both stepped out of their cages, but Paul found his cell door locked.
“Why not mine?” Paul asked.
Haf tried the door from the outside and it did not budge. He turned to Yau, “Go down the hall and our stuff should be in a bundle there.”
Frynia tapped Haf on the shoulder and then nudged him out of the way so she could get to the lock. The tiny sounds of metal moving within the lock sounded like gongs for the few moments she fiddled with the lock before the click of freedom sounded in their ears.

With the door to Paul’s cell opened the party quietly welcomed each other with some pats and hugs until the monk arrived with their bundle of belongings. They quickly gathered up their stuff, and realized that all of their travel gear was missing. There was no time for a search so Frynia took the lead and the rest followed touching the one in front of them to keep their way in the pitch darkness. The burglar had night vision, but even that was severely hampered in this place. It seemed to Paul that the corridor angled to the right and just after they passed the corner the dancing of light could be seen at the end of corridor. As they approached the partially opened door Haf motioned them all back against the wall before he peered through the gap. He closed the door until it was nearly latched and then stepped back.

After what seemed like an eternity Paul noticed a presence approaching the door and he involuntarily tensed up. They all held their breath as the door began to open, and the shadow of a robed figure danced across the wall. Yau was ready to strike at the unknown person until a flicker of light across the figure’s face showed it to be Mikel. Yau stood down as Mikel surveyed the group. An angry visage crossed his face as Haf approached.
“He was not to be freed,” Mikel whispered harshly as he jabbed a finger in Paul’s direction.
Haf’s visage grew very dark and replied, “I decide, not you.”
A more subdued Mikel responded, “But he is for her, chosen one.”
The beastmaster angled himself between the black robe and Paul, “Not today he isn’t,” he explained very quietly.
Haf moved towards the door way, “Is there anyone out there?”
“All’s clear, ‘cept for the….”
“Which way to get out?” interrupted Haf.
“The doors are t’ the left.” Mikel answered.
“Good.” Haf looked at the group. “Head towards the doors and don’t stop for anything.”

They all made their way through the doorway and found themselves in a huge domed chamber, black as night with a web like structure of some blood red metal supporting it. In the center of the chamber was a dais topped by an altar with four lit candelabras around it. Sputtering torches were mounted outside of doorways across the dome from the group as well as next to the exits on their side of this grotesque temple.

The domed room was vacant as proclaimed, so party headed straight towards the exit . They noticed three huge spiders scurrying around those doors laying web. Yau and Frynia started to slow and a dagger appeared in each hand of the burglar.
“The spiders are fine, just get through the door.” Haf hissed.
“Wait,” Mikel rasped. “There are guards in the entry.”
Haf rolled his eyes as he sighed about the unexpected information. “Mikel, you go first and distract them.“
Yau and Frynia got on either side of the doors to follow behind the black robe, and hopefully gain the element of surprise on the sentries. Paul prepared a shield spell to help him incase the fighting got nasty.
Mikel opened the door and went through. They heard a stern voice in challenge just as they made their move.

The surprise of the guards was complete and it appeared that the monk and the burglar were not going to have a problem but as Paul and Haf came through they were nearly shocked at what they saw; a submissive Mikel standing before a Hrasskan Priest.

[Moonbow]

Nice to see you didn't keep us waiting too long this time Merc.

So... Betrayed Freedom eh? Who and why....

[Pook]

I'm glad you're back too Merc...missed seeing you hanging around.

I dont know where this Paul thing is headed though....2 cliffhangers in one week???

[mercenary30]

With complete focus, and trust that Haf and Paul would take care of the unexpected presence of the Hrasskan Priest, Yau and Frynia went after the two guards. Within seconds one was sliding down the wall of the entry hall after meeting it head on and the other slumped where he stood after Frynia retracted her dagger like claws from his lower back.
The Eye of Hrassk reacted to the sudden assault from inside the spider temple by shoving Mikel back into Paul causing both to stumble and Mikel to fall.
Haf turned and cast a spell that created a sticky web to seal shut the inner temple door they just exited.
The priest followed up with a hand gesture and some arcane words, but Paul just stood there momentarily, stunned by the web spell he just witnessed from Haf.

With an up stretched hand, the Hrasskan Priest sent a black and red tinted rope of magic that wrapped around Frynia and held her immobile.
“Betrayal!”, Faeldin, the Eye of Hrassk shouted.
With a flick of this other hand a much smaller magical rope seemed to entangle itself around Yau that slowed him considerably.
Having completed his effort to prevent any reinforcements from within the temple, Haf pulled his second sword and headed toward the Priest.
Paul tried to move towards the Priest as well but he found that Mikel had wrapped his arms around his feet and using his weight to hold him in place. Paul pulled out his sword and slapped the acolyte across the side of his face with the flat of the blade, leaving a welt and drawing a line of red across his cheek. As he jumped clear of Mikel’s now loosened arms, Paul saw the front doors of the temple begin to open.

Parri watched the Priest through the opened door as he thrust forward his hands releasing a blast of darkness that brought the Beastmaster to one knee.
“For the glory of Hrassk!” Faeldin cackled as he pulled a dagger out of the sleeve of his robe. She casted a hammer strike spell on her staff as she swung it down on the Priest’s head.
A loud crack echoed the entry hall and the Priest jerked to a stop, dagger dropping to the floor as blood started oozing out of his mouth. With a sickening splat, a second hit to the side of the Hrasskan Priest’s head sent him into the wall before he slid down to the floor.

“We must be away from here, now!” Parri hissed as she made her way over to help the magically held Frynia. Yau moved to the other side of Frynia to help Parri lead the burglar outside, as the spell on him had nearly worn out.
Paul leaned down to help Haf up.
“Leave. T..Take the others and g..go.” Haf stuttered to Paul.
“No, Haf,” Paul replied. “We are not going to escape and just leave you here.”
Haf was still jerking from the dark stun bolt the Eye of Hrassk blasted him with. “My path … does not side with you… anymore.”
“But they will sacrifice you to their spider god!” cried Paul.
“She does not want me in sacrifice,” replied the beastmaster.
The tarot mage just stood there, as the pieces fell into place.
“Hrassk wants you, though” he added, “and as long as you remain in Quellbourn you will be hunted. So you must leave here now, and run far away.”
Paul gave him a look of resigned acceptance as he stood up and backed away.
He turned and went out of the temple down the wide obsidian stairs. He looked back to see a bloodied Mikel trying to tend to Haf, before he hurried to catch the others.

“Where is Haf?” Yau asked, once he realized that only Paul had caught up to them.
They all stopped for a moment, and looked back. Haf stood at the top of the stairs near entrance of the temple, with Mikel at his side, a half a dozen of the hide wearing followers stood near the base of the stairs with rough hewn obsidian tipped spears.
“Flee from here and do not stop.” Haf bellowed. “This chance at freedom I owed to you.” He slid his blades back in their sheath. “But the next time we meet, do not consider me a friend.”
“Go, I will explain later,” Paul prodded, and with saddened and confused looks the party made their way down the path away from the temple.