Sun Snake again felt the chill. At the look, and the fact the man had not drank. Had the innkeeper not done as requested? Or had the man simply ignored it?

It felt wrong. Sun Snake stood up uncertainly, playing upon his own nerves, while having to ensure they did not come out so much he accidentally revealed the sword at his hip or his features under his cloak.

He gave a broad nod to the man at the table, then made a show of embarrassment and quickly moved to the door.

The moment Sun Snake left the inn, he turned his nerves into energy. He moved swiftly on the wings of his discplines towards the stable boy and his horse, as quick and quietly as if they were his prey.

"You can ride a horse, yes?" asked Sun Snake, dropping his accent as he grabbed his shield from the horse's back. He took the two gold crowns he had set aside, and pulled out an extra one, tossing all three to the lad.

"One more crown for you if you use my horse and ride as fast as you can back down this road. You'll encounter a troop of mounted knights within half an hour, I hope. Tell them the Kai Lord has found the murderer of the prince, and they need to get back as fast as they can. The King may well reward you for your part in this if you get to them in time. You may even find your name spoken in the stories of this day!"

Sun Snake again moved back to the door on the swift wings of his disciplines. He parted his cloak and eased the fine blade from its scabbard, shield in the other hand. He took up position where the door would swing around, hoping to take his foe by surprise. The Kai Lord felt the weight of his shield in his off hand, and the balance of the jewelled sword in his good hand. He murmered a quiet prayer to Kai to guide both, and the mind behind them.

Sun Snake found a comfort in the lack of thought that now came. Thinking meant he had to imagine the consequences of drawing a blade on a powerful foe to apprehend him, with back-up - even urged on - still too far away to matter.

Instead Sun Snake concentrated on the coming moment as if waiting for a rabbit, trusted to his reflexes honed under Hunting classes to strike true, and stretched forth his Sixth Sense to detect the man's prescence. Perhaps one sure blow would make the man consider his mortality. Perhaps one sure blow would lead the man to surrender and divulge what he knew.

Sun Snake had to work hard to stop alternate thoughts from forming.

OOC: That's all assuming the lad can ride a horse, of course! Anyway, try to surprise the Helg... man coming out, and if that doesn't work out too well, hopefully an opponent with bloodlust can be made to chase the Kai Lord for an hour until help arrives!

The stableboy's eyes bugged out at Sun Snake's words, but he obeyed nonetheless. Snatching the coins from the air he dropped his rake, jumped up onto the Kai's horse and sped away as if Naar himself was behind him.

Sun Snake quickly armed himself and took up position behind the door. If his suspicions about the cowled man were correct, he would need to act quickly.

The door opened and the man stepped out, eyes unblinking and staring at the retreating form of the stableboy on his horse...

OOC: Ok he hasn't seen you yet. Make your move whatever it is. Also, in your next post give me your modified COMBAT SKILL, including the bonus from your shield.

Sun Snake tensed up as his foe came out. Striking an unarmed man should be an action below a noble warrior such as a Kai. However, Sun Sname recognised the great evil of this man.

Had there been a simple person at his meeting then Sun Snake would have approached this differently, but this was no innocent. This was no complex man, his simple choices for evil had been obvious even to a corruptable innkeeper. This man was no unwilling nor lowly pawn in the crimes done this day.

Sun Snake did not doubt the power of his foe nor the seriousness of the situation. Sun Snake knew he was severely out of his depth. A simple page had managed to injury the Kai Lord, and the wound - even with the healing he had managed to apply to it afterwards - was still present under his bandage as a reminder of the young man's mortality.

Sun Snake ensured he was already striking his blow - aimed at the arm he recalled the man used to lift the cup - before he cried out words of challenge. Hopefully the yell would be loud enough to be heard inside.

"In the name of the King, surrender for your treacherous crime this day!"

OOC: Combat Skill is 14 with the sword and shield. Luckily, I actually rolled a 0(10) for this first combat round! Hopefully Kai will forgive the unannounced attack.

Sun Snake tensed as the strange man came outside, then struck with all the force of his body behind the blow! His sword cut clean through the man's arm, severing it from its elbow. The man cried out in shock, and yet, no blood spurted from the wound. Turning around he faced Sun Snake with a look of rage across his face.

"Now you die foolish boy!"

He hissed.

A startling transformation started to take over him then. His face appeared to melt away leaving only a grinning skull, with blazing pinpoints of light for eyes. The flesh covering his other arm withered away to reveal a bony appendage, which the creature, the Helghast, raised and wrapped around Sun Snakes throat. Its touch burned the Kai like nothing he had ever felt before and slowly he could feel his life slipping away...

Sun Snake: -2ep

Combatants  Endurance
Helghast:   13
Sun Snake:  30

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:59, Sun 22 Jan 2012.

The moment of shock wore off, in a way. Sun Snake thought he had committed some foul act slicing the man's arm off, and yet when he realised the horrific truth, he wished he had aimed for the head.

Kai had sent him the innkeeper's words, and his own senses, to warn his disciple of the danger. He should have trusted in Kai.

Sun Snake knew he was outmatched, and yet acted on instinct as the secondary horror overwhelmed his rational thoughts. He just felt like a trapped animal. All he could think of was to break the hold this thing had on him by aiming a blow at its other arm. His Kai given gifts already wanted to spring him far away from here, engage in a game of cat and mouse - even though it would be the wrong way around. Running free from this thing... from the terrifying pain in his neck...

OOC: Ok, gamble time - if the Helghast seems that wounded, and has his arm wrapped around Sun Snake's neck, perhaps trying ot evade wouldn't be the best idea. Although that was the original plan if it was a Helghast! Let's try another attack, fingers crossed for a good wound to intimidate it to let go - then perhaps run!

Still, CS 14 is pretty poor - I'm hoping not to risk an instant kill here! Might need to investiogate my own death with a new character!

Edit: Rolled a 1. Oh dear :(

Sun Snake attempted a blow at the creature's arm but the strike had little strength behind it. The Kai was running short on air and the burning touch of the Helghast was beginning to severly weaken him.

The Helghast sensed this and grinned rictusly, tightening its grip even further.

"You are no ordinary mortal, this I can sense.But whatever you are it will avail you naught! Now die!" It said with relish.

Sun Snake: -12 end

Combatants  Endurance
Helghast:   12
Sun Snake:  18

Sun Snake knew he was going to die. He had not thought things through. Then again, how was he supposed to know this creature was going to be the one he met? Only luck in the gift of the King, and paranoia in his actions with the thing and the stable boy had given him any chance...

Would the Helghast realise how lucky Sun Snake was?

He tried to laugh, despite the panic rising. He clung to his plan like a small plank of wood in a storm.

"You...are ordinary...darkspawn. No...imagination. No...paranoia. Gladly sacrifice life...to spring the...trap..."

Sun Snake hoped with his panicking mind his words were false. That the Helghast, which dealt in lies and deception, would be very susceptible in turn and have the imagination to question Sun Snake's easy discovery of it and viscious wounding of it earlier.

Sun Snake gave one final panicking manoeuver to slice at the creature's other arm before he blacked out. Perhaps he could make it admit something if he could just injure it badly enough, taunting it with lies about the King's knowledge to force it to reveal greater secrets. And perhaps that could make it flee. He just needed to be freed, and then he just needed to hope his luck that had kept him alive would hold to see this abomination defeated.

OOC: Ok, this one will be an evade, if such a thing is possible. If it is, then use hunting/sixth sense combination to keep out of its reach (luring it away fro mthe main part of the inn to round the back). And if things get really bad, then use hunting/tracking/camouflage combo to try and evade it until it gives up in fear. I can hope, right? :D

Anyway, roll - damn rolled a 9! Can we swap those last two rolls? Anyway, ignore damage to it, in the hopes of breaking free or being more convincing on the bluff if evasion is impossible.

EDIT: Altered above to reflect lack of evasion...not sure I want to drop damage for the chance at bluffing!

The eyes of the Helghast dimmed as doubt appeared to flood them at Sun Snake's words. It loosened its hold on Sun Snake's neck for a moment and asked:

"Trap? What trap young fool? Speak!"

The Kai Lord used that moment to strike, his blow cutting through most of the Helghast's bony arm! The creature threw back its head and howled in rage. For a moment appeared to be very vulnerable, one good blow would surely seal its doom...

Combatants  Endurance
Helghast:   03
Sun Snake:  18

"The trap where a Kai Lord ends the plot of your masters dead by murdering you with a weapon of the King! Your plan is surely foiled!"

Sun Snake allowed himself a moment's pause, as it turned out in hubris. He'd managed to trick the pausing and had wounded it terribly. A second ago Sun Snake was fighting for his life. Now, Sun Snake fought against every instinct to end this thing's life. Just one moment longer to let the creature betray the next stage of the plan of its masters, before he ended its life.

Of course, his instincts were Kai given, and Sun Snake realised a split second later that he had made a terrible mistake not killing the thing dead when he had the chance.

OOC: Ouch, just rolled a 2. I doubt I get 3 damage there, which means Sun Snake and the Helghast will be down to the wire here... not a good position when even a good hit loses 2EP!

This message was last edited by the player at 22:23, Sun 22 Jan 2012.

The Helghast tightened its grip again and all uncertainty fled its hellish eyes.

"It matters not, pup, whther you are Kai or not. Soon your life will be over and victory will be mine."

Sun Snake gathered his last reserves and slashed out again. His blow struck true but there was little force behind it.

Sun Snake: -10ep

Combatants  Endurance
Helghast:   01
Sun Snake:  08

Sun Snake cursed, then cried out in agony as much as his choked voice would allow. His delay had cost him his chance at destroying this creature, and he had not gained a scrap of information in return. Apparently, darkspawn were above the hubris of Kai Lords, and this Kai Lord felt his strength drain with his pride.

Still, it made the path clear. Sun Snake had gathered no useful intelligence that required him alive. Before his young mind could fully grasp the implications, his instincts lunged at the creature to ensure that his death would aslo see the death of the spawn, gripping on tightly to the thing's arm and actually pulling it towards him while thrusting with his sword.

OOC: Darn, too much to hope a Helghast would be all 'haha, you fool, we have three more Helghast placed if I should fall!' And of course, Sun Snake needs to live passed the combat round to tell anyone!

Fingers crossed, let's see what is rolled... a 6! Holy crap...I'm hoping that's enough to still be in the land of the living!

Dark spots filled his vision now, and Sun Snake gathered together his remaining reserves into one final lunge at his foe. His sword pierced the Helghast's skull, exiting the other side and the foul creature immediately released its grip upon the young Kai Lord and fell to the ground in a heap. It struggled, trying to move but then lay still, the light fading from its eyes until there was only darkness left.

Sun Snake swayed as blood rushed back into his head, and the darkness in front of his eyes began to clear. He still felt weak however, and his throat burned from the Helghast's infernal touch.

Sun Snake:-6 endurance

Sun Snake collapsed to his knees as the reality of the conflict caught up with him. He slowly realised that he hadn't made peace with his fate, and that he was both ashamed to be crying and greatly relieved for his life.

He muttered an incoherent thanks to Kai, and took a moment to savour his new life....

And then the adreniline started to fade and the huge pain of his neck wounds plagued him. He pushed himself up off the ground with the point of his sword, then cursed himself for using such a magnificent weapon as a glorifed walking stick. He looked to the blade, needing repeated attempts to wipe his eyes before he could focus on it. He quickly wiped the grim and ash from it, and then sheathed it with a nod.

He needed a moment to stand against the wall, and gingerly tried to touch his neck. However, it was too sore and he soon stopped. He did not want to look in a mirror right now.

He forced himself upright, straightened his cloak, then checked his eyes were dry as became a Kai Lord. He took a deep breath, feeling the agony of it, and then opened the inn door.

"Infamy!" he tried to cry, though it came out hoarse. "Innkeeper!"

The Kai Lord gestured to the man.

"I am an agent of the king, and the horror that scared you so was nothing less than a spawn of the Darklands! You are closed this day! Attend my wounds, and think well on all the spawn said to you and what it did. Knights of the king already ride here, and the king will wish to know every detail. He may well reward you handsomely. Certainly it is your duty to keep your lands safe by sharing this knowledge."

Sun Snake collapsed into one of the chairs of the table he had been on before. His legs felt weak, and speaking out loud had aggrivated his throat to the point he feared he would black out.

OOC: Yeah! Sun Snake survived! Who says a CS 10 Kai Lord is doomed? You know, as long as the GM can cripple anything he fights first, and as long as he gets some luck!

The innkeeper, who had witnessed the fight from a window hurried over to Sun Snake with a pitcher of cool water in hand.

"Take this, my lord," he said in a quavering voice, his hands shaking as he put the pitcher on the table in front of the Kai. The other two patrons in the inn were staring at Sun Snake wide eyed, and whispering excitedly among themselves.

Sun Snake sat in his chair for a while, feeling the pain ease from his throat and felt vigor return to his body. Suddenly the sound of horns was heard in the distance. Intriuged, the Kai and the others in the inn crowded around the doorway and saw a company of knights coming towards the inn.

Sun Snake nodded his thanks to the keeper. For a moment the Kai Lord simply allowed his eyes to close and bis body to rest. He wondered if he was managing to gain the power of Healing as he felt his wounds ease. Then again, the body was a wonderous thing even before Kai blessed it.

Internally Sun Snake was relieved when he heard the horns. However, he felt a curious pride. He was not going to be found exhausted and resting when the knights dismounted.

"Innkeeper, whatever wages or succour you give your stableboy should be doubled. Those knights were a great distance from here, and he appears to have brought them to us in record time."

Sun Snake gingerly stood, straightened himself out as best he could, used some water to wash his face and hands quickly, and then went back outside to meet the agents of the king.

He ensured he stood with his hand on the pommel of his sword, bopdy straight and firm, despite the wobble in his legs and the palpitations he felt in his chest when he looked to the area the Helghast had once stood.

Sun Snake was startled to realise he had half expected the creature to leap out at him whenhe re-opened the door.

"Hail!" yelled the Kai Lord, waving his hand to the approaching group of knights.

OOC: Even if Sun Snake is shaken, he's certainly going to act every inch the hero for the knights. Flying the flag for Sommlerlund!

This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Sun 22 Jan 2012.

One of the knight's slowly trotted over towards Sun Snake, the dimming light glinting off his plate and mail.

"Greetings Kai Lord." He said in a gruff voice, the sound echoing out through his helm. "Did you manage to apprehend the assassin's employer?"

The knight glanced down at the remains of the Helghast, which were by now simply ash and bits of bone, but did not deign to remark upon them.

The Kai Lord gave suitably formal greeting to the knight in return before answering.

"The assassin's employer was none other than a Helghast, a fell agent of the Darklands. Only the gift of your king saved me from becoming a victim to it, for it is immune to normal weapons," said Sun Snake, allowing his neck to show.

"I did try to delay in its destruction, goading it that we knew more than we did. Unfortunately its bloodlust was greater than its need to gloat. It almost proved a fatal mistake and I was forced to end its life with no more knowledge of its greater plans."

Sun Snake had been contimplating the next move already.

"A Helghast can be anyone. It may well have imitated more than this hooked nosed man. The king might well check for staff in his home or of his trusted advisors who now do not return to work."

Another thought occurred to the Kai Lord.

"The Helghast could well have simply taken on the appearance of a page this day. There must have been a reason it decided to commit such a foul deed at one step removed, relying on human greed instead of its own skills."

Sun Snake still felt too proud to ask to sit down, nor ask for medical aid. At least the innkeeper and the others had observed the fight. Sun Snake did not wish to have the knights question his word on this matter. It sounded too far fetched, and perhaps in this area of the world they saw the Sommlending obsession with the Darklands and its machinations as something of a joke. Sun Snake prayed his actions this day might allow them to keep thinking that if so.

OOC: Hmm, so were the Darklords trying to set up another country to create turmoil, or worse yet was the page actually another Helghast that has now murdered its way out of prison?

The knight nodded at Sun Snake as the Kai finished recounting his tale and gave his advice.

"Truly, it sounds like an epic battle, against a foe most treacherous. Would that I would have the chance to do the same one day. Come then, it is time you returned to Feravan and reported to the king."

Realizing his work here was done, Sun Snake joined the knights and together they trotted back down the road and started on their way back towards Feravan. It was late night by the time they arrived. Sun Snake was shown immediately to the guest quarters, where he was told by a page that the king would see him in the morning, and that he had ordered the Kai to get some rest until then.

Now that Sun Snake was back in a guest room, it was easy for the day's events to seem like a strange daydream. Only the vicious wounds on his neck reminded the Kai Lord how close he came to death.

It was not a comforting thought, and so he happily found distraction in once again taking quill to parchment in an effort to straighten out his thoughts.

This time, the encounter itself held no real details, and he was left writing many questions he had no answers to.

Why would the Darklands target this place, and why now? Why remove the prince? Or was Sun Snake looking at things the wrong way around - had someone more mundane wished the prince dead? If so, had the Darklands merely been in the right place at the right time to secure a foothold by offering their aid?

With too many thoughts, Sun Snake decided to take advantage of the accomodation and get a decent night's sleep.

Some odd lingering doubt - that this place was not secure from the influence of the Darklands - made Sun Snake take a precaution. He balanced his sword against the door, hoping if someone tried to open the door stealthily the sword would be puhed into the floor and jam the door. And hopefully it was a set up that could be written off as the sword slipping from rest elsewhere if a page came for him in the morning.

Sun Snake tried to laugh off his paranoia, but then recalled that such paranoid thoughts had saved his life this day.

He settled in bed, getting himself comfortable, but found his Sixth Sense kept stretching out, and his sleep was light as his Hunting instincts kicked in.

OOC: Just because you are paranoid doens't mean they aren't out to get you! Anyway, see how that goes. Roll a Test incase anything happens durign the evening - rolled a 5.

Oh, and would there be any healing items available like Laumspur or even a physician to tend to Sun Snake's wounds if he asked? That might be an idea before bed!

At Sun Snakes request a physician came to see him before he slipped off to sleep. The wizened old man bandaged the Kai's throat, and provided him with a bitter herbal elixir to drink. Thereafter the Kai Lord drifted off to sleep.

The next morning arrived and Sun Snake awoke, feeling refreshed and ready for the new day. He had only finished washing himself when there was a knock at his door and a page stuck his head in (causing the sword propped up against the door to fall in the process) and announced that the king was ready to see him now.

Restore 3 endurance.

Sun Snake was embarrassed he'd slep so soundly in the end, but was glad to feel a little better in the light of a new day.

He nodded his thanks to the call of the page, and got to work quickly dressing himself suitably. With chagrin he picked up the noble sword gifted to him by the king, and proudly sheathed it.

Checking himself and making sure he was presentable for the king once more, Sun Snake indicated to the page he was ready to go.

The page led Sun Snake through the large corridors of Castle Whiterock towards the throne room. Two guards opened the large double doors leading inside and Sun Snake walked across the plush red carpet towards the throne, where king Maric sat awaiting him.

"Noble young Kai, you have done well." The King began.

"My knights told me of your battle with the evil creature, and how you emerged victorious, nearly at the cost of your own life. For that, you have my eternal thanks. It appears this evil plan was hatched in the Darklands, to rob me of my heir and to cause tension in this region by putting the blame of the assassination on another nation. Thanks to your heroic actions however, the true perpetrators are now known and we will remain at peace with our  neighbours."

"I am as my masters trained me, your majesty," says Sun Snake, bowing. "The Order of the Kai, and the Sommlending people, always stand ready to give our aid and lives in the service of defeating the evil of the Darklands."

Sun Snake hopes his words are correct for the occasion, but secretly feels great pride that he has managed to give such a great victory to the forces of good. He hopes his masters will be proud, and the name of the Kai will be spoken of with fondness from now on in this region.

OOC: The king isn't going ot become an Helghast, right? I've won, right? :D

The king nodded and smiled sadly at Sun Snake's words.

"Would that Magnamund had no need of your order's services, but this day all of Illion has come to realize how real the threat of the Darklands is."

King Maric rose and stepped down from the dias, coming to stand in front of Sun Snake. Raising a hand he put it on the young Kai's shoulder and said,

"Know that you and your brethren will always be welcome in Illion. Together we will stand strong against the tide of evil that threatens all upon Magnamund. Come now, tonight there will be a feast to honor your victory, and tommorow you can return to your homeland in truimph and with honor, carrying the frendship of Illion with you."

And with that, Sun Snake was dismissed. The feast later that night was filled with much revelery yet also tinged with sadness at the passing of king Maric's son. Sun Snake regaled his audience with the tale of his battle with the darkspawn, and they listened rapt with attention.

The next day the Kai set out back towards Sommerlund with the blessing of all the court of Feravan with him, and also carried a letter for the grandmaster of his order, a letter that had in it words of praise and an offer of an alliance with Feravan. Thus did Sun Snake uphold his duties and bring honor upon the Kai.

OOC: GAME OVER. (you can feel free to make a closing post however) :)

Sun Snake is proud to return home after a simple mission, with such a positive result to show for it. The mental and physical scars of his battle with the Helghast are enough to ensure the Kai Lord will now devote himself more to the lessons of the Order.

Sun Snake's jewelled Sword is not by his side on the return trip. He asked the king if the king would retain it for Sun Snake. It would be a reminder that justice had been done for the king, and something that could be gifted to any Kai that came to Illion to aid them in whatever mission they attempted.

And of course, if the king sent the sword as a message, Sun Snake himself would return to wield it once more for the king.

OOC: Hah, and thus a CS 10 Kai Lord, with some GM intervetion, did not die :D

This message was last edited by the player at 19:47, Mon 23 Jan 2012.