…And Nothing Shall Stand Before Us

The big Warmage nodded, his brows drawn together in a frown. "Well, if there is no going back for you right now, then come along you must. We shall endeavor to keep you alive; see that you stay wary. If my brother finds his efforts blocked, 'tis likely we are expected, so I counsel speed over stealth." Gesturing with one gauntleted fist, he continued. "Between my claymore, the Sword of the Dawn, and my staff, I have very potent weapons. I do not know how well any spells I cast are likely to work here; I have read of the possibility of backlashes. I shall endeavor to stay well away from the rest of you if I cast anything really deadly...my own absorption, and that of some of my gear, plus the reflection enchanted into some of it, should keep me safe enough, but were I you I would be careful until we know what to expect. I shall, in any case, use my blade rather than the Art as much as possible. I counsel that once we are inside Vex's castle, all of you do the same."

His crimson eyes sought out Zerith's as he spoke next. "Zerith, we need your information and advice about the lay of the land and about the layout of the castle. I do not intend to do more than rescue Nyx and kill Vex, and leave." His deep voice was a tiger snarl as he continued. "Much though I would enjoy reducing the castle to a heap of corpse-covered smouldering rubble as a warning to others, we have to ensure Nyx's safe return from this plane, so I will reluctantly curb my proclivities...for now. Mayhap later I shall return and impress on the denizens of this corner of Oblivion the folly of kidnapping Tamriel residents. For now, the mission is a more simple one. Speak, Zerith, and quickly, for we should not linger overlong. Tell us how best to go, and then nothing will stand before us."

(Zerith)

I grinned at the big Warmage. Perhaps a little of Nyx's humour had rubbed off on me, for my next words were, "It has been my intention all along, Lord Balefire, to make great haste. However, 'twould hardly be proper to interrupt you during your fine soliloquy."

Alyssa giggled. Kriella smiled a little, as did Tenaka. Rathine was trying to remain impassive without much luck. Skudge grinned. As for Balefire, He tried to scowl at me without much success.

"Your point is taken, Zerith. Now please, tell us what we need to know."

"Very well. The castle gates are approximately two miles south of here. The gate itself is of adamantium, and guarded by a small troop--ten or so--Morphoid Daedra. There is also a patrol of mortal led by a Daedra Lord named Zul. The group is called Vex's Chosen, there' s a good ten or so of them, plus the lord. They are of mixed racial background and ability, and most of them are Spellswords...however, there were also one or two Battlemages."

"You seem to know them quite well," Tenaka noted. He was not suspicious, merely curious. I could certainly understand.

"I spent a few minutes in their company. I waylaid one and took his armour, then joined the group. I used illusion spells to disguise myself, and later, I used illusions to create a distraction. But that's a later story.

"The castle layout is fairly straightforward, to my knowing. And you are correct, Balefire. There are Magickal countermeasures that prevent the use of magicka. Innate abilities, such as some of Nyx's Shadow Walker skills, aren't affected, but spells are." My face turned grim as I remembered how Nyx had discovered this for herself the hard way.

"What is it, Zerith?" Betrayal asked me.

"I suppose I should tell you that when Vex first took us, Nyx attempted an opening spell on his chamber doors, that we might escape." My heart ached at the memory. "The spell backlashed at her in green fire...she was badly injured and would have died had Vex not healed her. The same can happen to any of us, so I am glad, Balefire, that you will be protected. I still fear for Alyssa, however."

She smiled faintly. "I know how to handle myself, sir."

"Very well, we shall see." Now was not the time for argument. I pulled out a map I had drawn shortly after writing the letter to Nyx.

"Map!" cried the until now silent Skudge. "Want to see!"

I smiled at him. "We'll all see, little one." And I spread it for them to see. "I am a wizard, not a cartographer, so any comments on my attempt should be gentle," I teased my comrades. This produced a few faint smiles.

"This large chamber here--" And I pointed--"Is Vex's Inner Sanctum. He will no doubt meet us there."

"What else will we find?" Kriella asked.

I shook my head. "I am not sure, lady. Most likely Vex's Clannfears. And Vex himself, of course."

I pointed to another room down the hall and to the north. "Vex's chambers, where Nyx is being held, guarded by Red and Blackie, Vex's spider daedra lieutenants."

"What are spider Daedra?" Betrayal asked.

"Horny bastards!" Skudge told him. Even Rathine seemed amused by this.

Kriella described the creatures, and both Betrayal and Alyssa seemed a little green.

Balefire seemed about to speak, but I said, "Forgive me one moment, Archmage, for I think I know what you would ask. I cast contingency on the map, so that it would be in your hands should I be destroyed."

"Well, enough, Zerith. 'Twould seem you have long planned this!"

I nodded. Tenaka was about to speak when an all too familiar arrogant laugh sounded.

"So...at last we meet the mortal masters of war," taunted Lord Zul. Vex's chosen were arrayed in a semicircle, moving to surround us. "Come to sing? Come to dance? Come to paint my master's realm red with your heart's blood? You have one chance, mortals...and scamp...and Dremora. I can return you all now, but for Zerith, to Tamriel."

"We are not here to surrender to the likes of you!" Rathine snarled.

The handsome Daedra Lord's face twisted in a sneer. "Then you are fools, and will die like fools." He began to trace an arcane pattern in the air, even as the Chosen spread out.

First Contact

As for the group of heroes, Balefire immediately darted towards Zul's arrogant figure, first claiming Zul as his own battle, then his warcry breaking forth from his lips in a mighty roar as he broke ranks and charged. The rest of the company moved to whatever position suited them best, with Betrayal drawing Alyssa back a step, and assuming a defensive position between her and the encroaching Chosen.

Kriella and Tenaka stayed side by side, facing a group of three of the Chosen, a pair of Nords, apparently twins, wielding twin broadswords, and a third man, short, and carrying a quarterstaff almost twice as tall as he was.

Skudge had hid behind Betrayal's, and ducked out to stab at the two Elven chosen threatening Betrayal. Alyssa was busily stripping a serviceable staff out of the local vegetation, keeping Betrayal between the Chosen and she. Zerith, crafting a weave of Magicka about himself, hauled off and blasted one of the chosen into thin paste with a fireball, leaving four of the warriors, a female Nord, a High Elf, and two Wood Elves, oriented on him and Rathine, who had ended up next to him.

After Balefire's initial charge knocked Zul back several meters, but failed to knock the arrogant Daedra from his feet, Balefire and Zul began trading blows, Zul's sword ringing as Balefire successfully blocked each and every one of his attacks, and ringing again as Zul neatly parried each of Balefire's return attacks. Zul laughed heartily, and Balefire took the opportunity to slam the end of the quarterstaff into his face, drawing a glare from the Daedra Lord.

"Shut up and fight, you arrogant dog!" Balefire growled as the battle continued. His engagement with Zul had thus far failed to draw blood, so that particular honour went to none other than Skudge.

The little scamp stabbed his spear completely through the foot of one of the Chosen confronting Betrayal, allowing Betrayal to use his pole axe to neatly behead the distracted warrior, with a long, two- handed swing that left him completely open. Alyssa jumped forward, her wooden staff landing smartly upside the head of the Chosen that had moved to exploit Betrayal's opening, and Skudge feinted at the other Chosen confronting the three.

Kriella pounced forward, alongside one of the twin swordsmen that faced her and her beloved. Attempting to slide a long, wickedly sharp blade into the man's side, she was met with the sword of his brother, who neatly deflected her strike, only to be blasted backwards a good dozen meters before landing in the Lake, by a raw destruction spell cast by Tenaka. The remaining twin jumped backwards, and attacked Kriella in a blind rage, tears rolling down his face as he screamed wordlessly. Tenaka yelled as he saw Kriella come under attack, but was too busy dodging the incredibly fast blows of the short man with the staff.

Tenaka turned back to the offensive, the Daedra-forged sword he held in his hands serving double duty as an axe, carving great chunks of the wood sheath covering the iron core of the portly Chosen's staff. The man back-pedalled, and Tenaka pressed the attack, unable for the moment to penetrate the man's expert guard. Kriella's scream echoed across the lake, and Tenaka turned, his foe forgotten, as he saw Kriella slump to the ground, clutching her side. As he saw the wet gleam of the blood on the still-weeping swordsman, Tenaka's visage turned bright red. Without looking, he warded off the attack the earlier- forgotten foe pressed against him, and opened a Window.

The gap in reality opened slowly, it's edges wavering, and crackling with green energy. Ignoring this effect, Tenaka dropped his sword on the ground, and reached through the Window, snapping the man's neck like a twig. As he withdrew his hands, the Window snapped shut, leaving a smell of burnt flesh behind. Tenaka reached towards his weapon, laying on the ground, and fell, joining his beloved in the midst of the battle.

Seeing Kriella, and then Tenaka, fall, Zerith broke away from his hand-to-hand struggle with the person facing him. Glancing over to where Rathine was fencing with an arrogant ease with the remaining three opponents. Summoning several flows of Magicka, Zerith wove them into a disintegrate spell with a twist.. literally. The spell caught the female warrior directly on the well-endowed chest, and she evaporated into a cyclone of displaced flesh, bits of gristle, bone, and blood flying outward into a cone, coating one of the Elves facing Rathine. The anointed wood elf promptly put hands to eyes, attempting to clear his vision, and Rathine aided him by sending him into the next world with the point of his rapier.

Zerith then sprang from where he had cast the spell, instantly repeating it in the direction of the portly Chosen who had already began the swing that would eliminate Tenaka from the battle, and this world. The spell hurtled across the clearing, and impacted on the staff-wielding Chosen, who had the discourtesy to merely slide backwards, and grunt. Looking from his target to Zerith, the man grinned, fingering a bracelet on his right wrist, and charged Zerith.

The mage scholar responded in the way he thought best. Drawing his blade, Zerith side-stepped the man's wild charge, removed the wrist with the apparently magical bracelet on it, and repeated his spell, this time with the desired results, and a thin mist of gore sprayed over the area Betrayal was fighting in.

Betrayal, for his part, was finding it very difficult to defend against two opponents. The occasional, distracting attacks from either side by Skudge or Alyssa were another distraction, and Betrayal was becoming desperate. A quick sweep with the unfamiliar pole component of his Polearm, Betrayal backed off the pair facing him, giving him space to cast a spell. Drawing on the innate Magicka around him, Betrayal wove fire into a thick disc, and hurled it into the face of the man on his right. The disc spun into the man's chest, charring his armour and pressing him back long enough for a strike to the arm from Alyssa's staff, and a blow to the throat from Skudge's spear to finish him.

The unorthodox movements of the people who had been hiding behind betrayal had thrown the remaining Chosen off, and he was easy prey for Betrayal's axe, especially when a tap in the back of the head from Alyssa's staff helped render him very much dead. His body crumpled to the ground at the same time Rathine finished his last target. The clanking and grunting of Balefire's battle with the Daedra Lord echoed through the now-silent clearing, and the group moved to tend to the wounded, watching to assist Balefire with his duel with Zul, if he needed it.

Last Laugh

"You begin to weary me, Zul," snarled the big Warmage, as he parried yet another series of slashes and lunges from his laughing foe. His staff whirled and darted, faster and faster, changing direction and shortening and lengthening the space between them as his hands blurred through eye-baffling changes of grip. "I thought to keep you occupied while your troops were defeated, but your arrogance offends me. Watch, laughing fool, and learn. And die."

His staff described a new pattern of slashing, whistling movement, its speed doubled. Zul's frenzied attacks and parries were forced out of line with ringing clangs like a blacksmith's nightmares. Balefire smiled a cruel smile as his foe backed away to recover his form, and the Warmage withdrew one hand from his staff. The other kept the staff twirling now left and now right, its aura blazing as it keened evilly. A gesture from his free hand, and a blast of green energy flared , striking and enveloping the Daedra lord, dissipating but replaced by another blast, and another, and yet another.

"Think you that your protection will save you from my Wrathbolts, defiler of camel corpses? From a few, mayhap, but I can keep this up all day." The whirling staff flared as it caught and dispelled a blast from Zul, and another roiling mass of multicoloured energy splashed harmlessly about the scarred mercenary.

"What, no more laughter, raper of vermin? Your spells are detestable, pitiful worm eater." Two more verdant explosions crashed around the harried Zul, and then a different gesture and a sibilant word brought a blue-white actinic bolt of eye-searing lightning crashing down on the reeling Daedra.

"Red and Black!" The Warmage shouted his warcry in triumph, as he grasped his staff two-handed and swept it down on his foe with all the strength in his mighty arms and back. His cry was answered by the staff itself, its keening rising to an ear-punishing scream for an instant that seemed an eternity, its unnatural hunger sated for the moment on the powerful lifeforce of the Daedra lord, who dropped bonelessly to the blackened, smoking sward.

Shuddering with the ecstasy of the vampiric staff's shared stolen life energy, Balefire laughed hollowly. He turned his baleful gaze on his companions, and what they saw in those eyes was not good to look upon. Slinging his staff, he unsheathed his claymore once again. The staff whined in protest, but quickly silenced at a wordless snarl from the big dark elf.

"I shall take my next foe with the sword. Not a cleaner death, but a quicker one it shall be. Let us proceed to the castle."

The Anger Of The God

It seemed to Tenaka that he floated in a great darkness. For a moment he wondered where he was and then stopped, for he knew the effort to be futile. He had never been to this place before. Sensing something, he turned and was shocked. Before him floated the great Ebony Helm that marked the presence of the Great Lord of War.

"I am displeased, Dreadlord," said the voice of the God of War. Tenaka merely bowed his head humbly.

"I am displeased, Dreadlord. Thou hast forgotten the cause. Thou was told to always remember the cause, Dreadlord." Tenaka lowered his head lower.

"I did marry thee two on the condition that thou not let the love between thee and her interfere with the cause and thy duty." Tenaka moved ever lower.

"The people with thee must not be trapped in Oblivion and thou art the only one who can return them to Tamriel. Thou risked your life for Dreadmaster Khan. Thou art the one who is important in this quest, Dreadlord." Tenaka knew shame for the first time in years.

"Thou was warned that it is dangerous to open a Window when a Daedra Count attempts to stop it, and yet thou, in thy desire for vengeance, forgot this.

"Let this be the final time I must speak with thee about this, Dreadlord. I have healed thee and Dreadmaster Khan. Remember, Dreadlord. Be steadfast in your cause."

"Thankyou, Great Lord," said Tenaka. The Helm faded from his view and he opened his eyes. He was lying atop Kriella by the Lake of Dreams. He could only faintly feel the burns that had been on his hands and had caused him to fall. He pushed himself up and looked and removed his Daedric gauntlets. The burns were nowhere to be seen. He rolled Kriella over and saw that the wound in her side had similarly disappeared. He pulled cast a simply spell, too small to be noticed by whatever was stopping magicka, and Kriella awoke. He pulled her to her feet and retrieved his sword. After sheathing it ha stooped to pick up Kriella’s two and passed them to her.

Around him he could see most of the company. Zerith seemed in the middle of a healing spell and Skudge was tugging on his arm, trying to stop him for wasting his power. Rathine, surprisingly looked relieved that the two had survived. Betrayal and Alyssa stood with a worried look on their faces. Tenaka looked around and saw his brother, Balefire, still duelling with Zul. Tenaka heard his brother’s mighty war cry of ‘Red and Black’ and watched as he dispatched the Daedra with consummate ease. He saw Zerith shudder slightly at the sound of Balefire’s cry. The call reminded him of the two Spider Daedra!

Balefire put away his staff and looked over at the party. "I shall take my next foe with the sword. Not a cleaner death, but a quicker one it shall be. Let us proceed to the castle."

The Impassable Door

Betrayal looked from his own task, cleaning his axe and dressing a light wound he had received in the battle, after already ensuring that Alyssa was in good health (and fine fettle, after the results of the conflict). The light in Balefire's eyes made something deep in his heart quail at the thought of such power, and such anger, and he bent back to his weapon. Swiftly finishing the scrubbing, and holstering his axe, Betrayal nodded to Alyssa and Skudge.

Tenaka and Kriella had both recovered, seemingly miraculously healed, and were in some sort of conversation. Betrayal ignored them, preferring not to overhear. Zerith and Rathine were also talking, apparently debating the benefits of one of the spells Zerith had used in the prior battle.

"Sure, a corkscrew of current on the disintegration will provide a cloud of gobbets, but what use is that in comparison to a polymorph, something that would cause your opponent to be pelted by a hail of bunnies, or something equally as distasteful?" Rathine stated, his arrogant expression apparently angering Zerith, who threw up his arms in disgust.

"I've told you already, polymorph doesn't work on Tamriel proper! It was forbidden by the gods, if you read the old journals!" Zerith turned away in disgust. "Oh, hello Betrayal. What's going on?" Zerith asked, seeing Betrayal approaching the duo.

"Well, I think he's ready to go." Betrayal said, pointing back at Balefire, who had finished his weapons checks, and was already on his way towards the castle. Zerith started, grabbed his pack and jogged after the big Warmage, the rest of the party stringing out after them.

Reaching the citadel, an awesome sight met their eyes. The twin doors, taller than the adventurers cared to imagine, were tightly closed, sealed by a thick, metallic bar. Affixed to the centre of the bar, was a wheel, spinning loud enough to create a humming sound. The wheel was large enough to guard the bar, protecting it from any interference the heroes might enervate. It extended into a slot in the earth, and was wide enough that it spanned the entire door, and enough beyond to cover the ends of the bar.

When the tail of the group caught up to Balefire, he stepped forward, towards the spinning wheel, and threw back his head.

"EMERALD VEX!" he roared. "COME, FOUL SLAYER OF CHILDREN, RAVISHER OF THE HELPLESS, FILTHY SPAWN OF ALL THAT IS EVIL!!" his voice echoing to the sky, Balefire continued. "FACE YOUR DEMISE, YOUR ETERNAL DOOM, AS IF YOU HAVE SOME FORM OF HONOR!"

At this, Rathine winced. Skudge looked back at him and nodded, understanding the depth of Balefire's insult. As the Warmage's mighty cries echoed and resounded off the walls of the keep, the wheel kept spinning.. almost as if taunting them.

Betrayal winced. Judging from what he had seen of Balefire, what was gonna happen next could not be pretty. As the red-eyed Archmage bent the local forces of Magicka to his will, summoning power that few mortals, and some gods could not hope to match, Betrayal's eyes, along with the rest of the party, grew wide in fear.

for something was wrong. Some twist, some off-putting taint or sense of the nature of the flows that Balefire was forcing into his grasp, so inflamed at the thought of some obstacle coming between him and the rescue of Nyxalinth (or a mug of the Porcupine's finest ale) that he did not sense the inherent wrongness with the spell he was forcing into being. Tenaka leapt forward, his own Magicka flaring into being, also twisted by whatever hellish forces Emerald Vex had wrought around his castle.

"Balefire, STO=----"

The world erupted. A titanic explosion threw the group in a shambles, hurling them far from the citadel's doors. Balefire landed neatly on Betrayal , who caught himself to avoid landing on Alyssa. Alyssa had been thrown nearly straight sideways along the ground. Balefire ended up on top of the young elf, and was dazed by the force of the concussion. Kriella, Rathine, and the others were likewise strewn across the landscape, blown away by the force of the blast. Tenaka, who had sprang to warn his brother, had been thrown upwards, and was caught in one of the scrubby trees adorning the wasted area.

"Foul artifact, demon spawned dark creation, barring me from entrance" Balefire mumbled, shaking his gauntleted fist in the air. "I WILL NOT HAVE IT!"

"Uhm, Balefire?"

"What, young Betrayal?"

"Could you, well, GET OFF ME!" Betrayal shouted, his arms shaking with the weight of the big Warmage on his back. Balefire rolled off to the side, coming back up onto his feet, and Betrayal rolled from his lifted position, protecting Alyssa, onto his back on the other side of her. Balefire turned towards Betrayal, meaning to inquire about the harsh tone in his voice, when he saw Alyssa, sitting up from where he had nearly flattened Betrayal into the ground.

"Ow, my arms-GASP- hurt" Betrayal gasped, massaging his strained muscles. Alyssa shook her head, marvelling at her close call.

"Impressive, young warrior." Balefire said as he regained his feet. "Very difficult thing to do, to manage to protect the lady in the midst of that confusion." Balefire said, with a nod of his head at the young elfling.

"Thanks, Balefire. It's really nice to hear compliments from such an experienced warrior.. " Betrayal said as he rose. "Now if we could just figure out a way past that ward of Gramarye, back there" Betrayal finished, nodding at the citadel while rubbing strained arm muscles.

The scarred Warmage grunted, but his smile was a sincere one rather than the vulpine one he more often showed. "I call them as I see them, Betrayal. I never flatter; 'tis a dangerous thing to compliment a warrior undeservedly, it may breed overconfidence, which is the first note in a death-knell. Forsooth," his grin widened, as he worked his shoulders' stiffness out with ripples of great ropes of muscle, "experience -- since it comes willy-nilly whether we like it or not -- is nothing to be proud of, methinks...'tis *surviving* the experiences that should fuel pride. What's more," his grin turned wry and his deep voice ironic, "this 'experienced warrior' has just made a fool of himself. Your point about Gramarye is an interesting one, however..."

"Gramarye?" Zerith asked, picking up on the strange pronunciation the two had given to the word.

"Yeah.. it's another one of the strange things that my mother.. err.. step mother, read to me as I was growing up." Betrayal said, wincing and rubbing his arms. "We had a huge library." nodding to Zerith, Betrayal continued. "Gramarye is an ancient lore, used by a group of people, chosen at birth by Destiny, to protect the world from the rising of the Dark" Betrayal said, a grin lighting his face. "It's a very compelling group of tales, usually centered around a boy named Wil, who was the last of the 'Old Ones', as these guardians were called... it was a pretty good bunch of stories" Betrayal finished. Rathine shifted himself, where he sat on a clump of mossy rock.

"All very well and good" Rathine said wryly. "But what does that have to do with our current predicament?" Rathine asked, gazing directly at Betrayal.

"Well, it's like this. In the third story, I think, there was a great Wheel, much like this one, that was turning guarding a tower, in which a dead king lived." Betrayal recited in a singsong voice, his eyes growing distant. "The two adventures, Wil, and the bastard son of a great warrior chieftain, had to use the power of a magical hunting Horn to stop the wheel, and enter the tower." Betrayal stopped his recollection of the story, and gazed back at Rathine, before turning his glance over towards Balefire. "Perchance we have anything like that with us?" Betrayal asked, a sad note in his voice.

The group camped near the wheel that night, stymied by the impassable barrier it presented. Tenaka and Kriella tried one of their supernatural abilities, but found only the back of a door, facing a long, empty hallway, with a rapidly turning post through the middle of it. The wheel apparently had no means of turning, and nothing propelling it, yet it still turned with a mighty force. This force was proved when it threw Balefire a good twenty yards when he grappled with it, trying to stop it by sheer brute force. The rest of the crew had no better success, with Zerith being rather amusingly strung up into a tree at one point.

"Y maent yr mynyddoed yn canu, ac y mae'r arglwyddes yn dod!" Betrayal cried, his voice rising on the last note. The wheel continued spinning, unimpressed by the conviction in the young elf's voice. Betrayal turned back to the group and shrugged. "Well, that's the verse I remembered from the tales, but I'm not even sure what language it was in.."

Rathine grinned, his point proven. "Told you that irrelevant similarities to some forgotten tales wouldn't help us here.. What we need is a way to either overpower this thing, or play it against itself." Rathine stated arrogantly. Betrayal dropped his head, muttering, and stepped away from he wheel, back to the rest of the group.

"Well, Rathine, if you are so keen on overpowering this thing, perhaps you would like to craft the spell, fuelled by all of us, that will break this thing?" Zerith asked, a calm expression on his face.

"I do believe that is a wonderful idea" Rathine said, spinning around to face Zerith. "Apparently, I am the only person capable of dealing with the nature of Magicka in this foul place." he finished haughtily.

"You are the only one of us that has ever _been_ to this place, Rathine!" Balefire growled, levelling a finger at the arrogant Dremora.

"True, true.. Shall we begin?" Rathine asked. Receiving assent, he instructed the group on the nature of the spell he was about to pull off.

"We shall have to all be in physical contact with each other, during the power gathering stage of the spell." Rathine instructed. "A clasping of hands, like that at an oathgiving, should suffice. However, all hand armour, gauntlets and gloves, will have to be removed." Rathine stripped off his fine leather gloves as he said this, and tucked them into his belt. "While we are handclasped, I will cast a small spell that will link us enough for you to give your Magicka to me, for this spell. Be careful of your thoughts! Even though I am shaping this spell for a particular purpose, the thoughts and attitudes" here, Rathine levelled his gaze at Betrayal, and Balefire, who he was standing next to, "of it's participants _will_ affect the outcome." Rathine stepped back, considering the group before him. "Shall we begin?"

Knock, Knock, Knocking

Clasping hands, the assembled warriors stiffened at the near-immediate thrill of surging magical force, building up with Rathine as its focus. At the same time, they each were forced to quell their anxiety at the feeling of power being leached from each of them to fuel the Dremora's spell.

Balefire tightened his control, relentlessly crushing his misgivings under the weight of his iron will, and the Warmage's visage remained impassive as he gazed steadily at their unlikely ally. Ethereal fire limned the Dremora's body, his hair began to move in an unfelt wind, now blowing softly and now wildly. Rathine's eyes began to glow, and then his entire body took on the glow, brightening with the nimbus of power. The scarred Dark Elf mercenary forced himself to remain calm, even as the Dremora turned his head to face Balefire, an horrific expression twisting his erstwhile handsome features, near-godlike in the power that suffused him. Coldly, Balefire reflected that if Rathine attacked him now, the consequences would be disastrous...and yet he maintained his mind in a state of calm imperturbability, returning his steady gaze to Rathine's wildly glowing eyes, his thin half smile to the Dremora's teeth-baring grimace. The power built to an impossible peak, and Rathine whirled, snarling, and flung the group's concentrated energy at the spinning doorwheel.

It was absorbed without a hint of damage; the spinning wheel mocked them.

Gasping, expression incredulous, Rathine muttered, "It is impossible. Such power, and it might as well have been a handful of feathers, for all the effect it had." Unfamiliar disappointment rang in his usually confident tones, and he shook his head in disbelief or denial.

"'Twas well attempted, nevertheless, Rathine. And we have learned from the attempt, look you." Balefire's bass rumble carried no hint of mockery or censure. "Neither physical nor magical force will serve to stop the wheel, this is evident. Still..." The dusky Warmage cast his measuring glance first on the spinning wheel and then on the chagrined Dremora. "Your idea of combining our power is a good one. How say you to another attempt, again combining our power, but with a different spell?"

Rathine raised an eyebrow quizzically, and then his expression waxed thoughtful. "Yes...that is worth a try, certainly. Hmmm." A moment's reflection, and then some of his former confidence again entered his voice. "I have, I believe, sufficient reserves to focus such power one more time, no more. And mayhap I have the spell to use. Clasp hands, again, then."

The scene repeated itself, so closely that Balefire required all of his control to avoid bemusement at the feeling of deja vu. The surge of power, the grimace of effort at focusing it, the sudden thrown lance of coruscating energy...

And a floppy-eared bunny, nose twitching, popped into existence before the spinning doorwheel and hopped away.

"A fly, I believe, caught in the most powerful Polymorph spell I have ever witnessed." Tenaka delivered this opinion deadpan, no hint of emotion audible in his voice.

Balefire revealed nothing in his expression, although his jaw muscles could be seen to clench...he chose to say nothing.

Rathine's expression was indescribable, as he muttered something unintelligible before he choked out, "I have not the resources to focus energy at that level again. My apologies."

Thoughtfully, Balefire replied, "No apologies are needed, Rathine...indeed, I thank you most sincerely, as I do you, brother," he nodded at Tenaka, "for reminding me of something I should have considered ere this." He set the end of his staff in the ground and grasped it two-handed, half-leaning on it as he spoke, regarding the steadily spinning doorwheel. "We have been approaching this in the manner its builder expected. That is, like warriors, like powerful invaders or besiegers, applying force to stopping the wheel. I had forgotten what it means to be an archmage, but you have reminded me, for which my thanks. Brother," Balefire's amusement rang in his voice, "you were raised on a farm. You have, no doubt, observed waterwheels, at mills and such."

"Aye..." Tenaka's answer was hesitant, but his eyes widened in sudden realisation.

"And have you seen one after a particularly hard winter, when the spring thaw turns placid brooks into raging torrents?" The Archmage's lips were curved into what could only be called a boyish grin, as he spoke without taking his gaze from the steadily spinning doorwheel.

"Aye, brother, that I have." Tenaka's tone echoed Balefire's happily, and he chuckled aloud.

"So have I, brother, so have I." Balefire laughed aloud then, a joyous, exuberant, triumphant sound. "When I was still an apprentice, comrades, my mentors taught me that, with the Art, betimes it is craft, not force, that serves best." He raised his staff before him, muttering as he set it to whirling before him, its Daedric metal-shod ferrules blurring into a solid-seeming wheel and its nimbus of blue-black light glowing brighter, a whine rising as it spun, in the same direction as the great doorwheel. "Yon wheel," Balefire laughed, "wants to continue spinning regardless of our efforts. So be it. I shall help it. Behold!"

The whirling, red-edged wheel of radiance his staff had become shone brightly, its light waxing and pulsing in time with the grinning Warmage's laughter, and floated softly away from him, to settle around the great doorwheel. And the wheel spun faster. And faster still. Faster than the eye could follow. And faster. Moaning in its speed. Whining. Groaning even as the dusky Warmage laughed, twirling his staff faster. Blurred in its speed. Whirling faster. Ever faster. Rasping. Buzzing, as minute imperfections in balance introduced perturbations into the spin. Which transmitted themselves to the massive mounting of the wheel. Which spun ever faster. And faster. With a roaring buzzsaw sound that hurt the teeth of the onlookers. And Balefire laughed louder, his hands a blur and his face alight with glee.

And the great doorwheel exploded in a shower of splinters and stone shards, rattling like a mad hailstorm against the stone cliff of the castle walls.

Balefire grounded his staff, striving not to look too smug, as he announced, "The wheel has spun its last. Behind it is a perfectly ordinary, if rather massive, door. Not even ensorcelled. Who wants to kick, hew, or blast it open?"

The Somewhat Massive Door

Tenaka clapped Balefire on the shoulder, impressed at the scale of his brother's magic. "Aye, brother," he said. "Behind the wheel is a seemingly perfectly ordinary door. I believe that we should expect tricks, however."

The Dreadlord walked up to the door and pressed his hands against the centre. He ran his hands down the crack that marked the centre line. He stiffened in surprise. The crack was merely cosmetic. Instead of two somewhat massive doors, they had one even more massive door to deal with. He mentally called out to Kriella who came to stand beside him. They each pushed a side of the door and as expected nothing happened. Next they both pushed their strength against the centre of the door. Again, it did not budge.

The two of them returned to the party. "Before us stands but one door, fashioned to look like two," said Tenaka, to no-one in particular but looking at Balefire. It takes more strength than is possessed by us two to open it. Observe." Tenaka twirled around to face the door and pushed his hands out in front of him. As his arms reached their furthest, a green ball of force flew out towards the monstrosity that barred their way. The resulting force explosion was mild and Tenaka waved Rathine to silence before the Dremora could ask questions. The Dreadlord repeated the procedure, but the force flew into the wall beside the door. Again, the explosion had little or no effect. However, Tenaka's eyes widened in surprise. He had been expecting this, but it still surprised him. Kriella nodded at him; she now understood the problem.

"Balefire," started Tenaka. "I am sure that I needn't ask if you felt the same as me then." Balefire nodded, not seemingly understanding the relevance.

"Two identical results from two differing materials is rare, but not unheard of, brother," said the Warmage.

"Aye, brother. But this does add evidence to a theory. Remember this if you ever decide to walk the Labyrinth!" The Dreadlord smiled at Kriella who walked to the door and felt around it. She felt almost the entire radius of the recently destroyed defences and then a slight sound of satisfaction could be heard by the party. She pushed against the door and passed straight through it.

"The door and wall are the same, my friends, but why then would our current nemesis choose to defend a patch of wall. This Vex is subtle. There is a doorway here, but not where we are supposed to expect it to be. Kriella has been able to find it by using some abilities she learned as an assassin." He saw Balefire stiffen. "Relax, brother," said the Dreadlord. "She has never been a part of the Brotherhood, and in fact used to spend her time hunting them down! Anyway, the point!"

Tenaka pointed his arm at the door and released the Antilight. Balefire took the sight quite calmly, having seen it in the Guardian Citadel. But to the others this was something quite unusual. The absence of light radiated from the Dreadlord's arm and stretched out towards the door. As it touched, there was a crackle and the door shimmered before disappearing. Tenaka withdrew the Antilight that had absorbed the magic that had created the illusion. As the magic flooded into him, he fell to the ground, writhing. Balefire came to stand over him, but recovery was swift.

"What happened, brother," the Warmage asked.

"I have absorbed Daedric magic - not a pleasant experience. However, this may be advantageous." Tenaka concentrated and opened a Window back to the Angry Porcupine. None of the green light was in evidence and, satisfied, Tenaka closed the Window. "It would seem that my magic appears to Vex as Daedric and so he no longer opposes me on the arcane level. Would anybody like to experience this to help them?" Balefire nodded, but the others seemed hesitant. The two Ebonheart brothers touched palms and power flooded from Darkflame into Balefire. The elder brother managed to remain standing, having been expecting the sudden pain, but still a slight grimace could be seen on his countenance. Tenaka dropped his hand and replaced his gauntlet. He looked towards the door and smiled.

Now all could see how they had been fooled. The actual doorway was somewhat to the right of where the door had appeared. Where the door had been, the wall continued. Tenaka and Balefire led the way into the palace. As they entered, they saw that they were in a hall that ran off in two directions. "Well, Zerith," said Tenaka. "Which way?"

"Here we have a problem, my friends. To the left lies Nyx's chambers, but it is to the right where Vex may be found. We must either prioritise or divide..."

The Beginning Of The End

(Nyxalinth)

I lay on my side, elation and impatience conspiring to betray me and my guards. I could sense Zerith's presence it was like a distant echo of a lover's voice from another room. I also sensed... Skudge? What was my oathbrother doing here? I had to suppress a grin as I thought of what his reaction to Red and Blackie - Horny bastards that they were - would be.

I was tempted to open my eyes crack and see what they were doing, but I didn't dare risk it. As the Great Lord had warned me, the spider Daedra would only bite me once more.

My nose tickled and twitched warning me of incipient sneeze. "Oh gods, deju vu!" I thought wildly remembering the time I'd hidden under a bed back at the Angry Porcupine to spy on them. All I knew was that I must not sneeze, I must not - "Ahh Choo!"

A trademark all shadow walkers possess is a dark sense of humour. One day I'd look back at this and laugh.. But not now.

Red chuckled nastily. "Looks like someone's waking up," he taunted.

(Zerith)

At last we were inside. My companions stared at their surroundings in a mixture of awe, disgust, and shock. As was typical of Vex's manse, the hall was elegant, opulent and filled with art that ranged from sublime to obscene. Alyssa was blushing nearly incandescent, and even Kriella looked a little embarassed.

"There are no guards," Tenaka noted. "Why is that?"

I shook my head . "I do not know, my friend. I would assume that it is because Emerald Vex wanted us to get in... and that he's gathered all his troops."

"I am inclined to agree," Balefire rumbled. "However, I cannot even begin to fathom his tactics, for I have heard little of this Daedra count."

"Well, you have discovered one thing," Rathine told him pointedly. The Dremora's violet eyes were unreadable, but the corners of his mouth quirked ever so slightly.

"And what would that be?" the dark elf demanded.

"That bellowing like an enraged bull and spouting pompous, overblown taunts has done little to draw Vex to us," Rathine noted wryly.

Balefire's eyes blazed with crimson fire as he demanded, "If you have a better idea, Dremora, do tell us."

Rathine was about to reply and perhaps aggravate Balefire's already vile mood when, deep, wickedly mocking laughter filled the chamber.

We dropped into ready stances at the sound of Vex's laughter. Even Skudge stood ready, steel spear in hand. My admiration for the scamp's bravery--and his devotion to Nyx--grew every minute.

"Show yourself, villain!" Balefire roared. "Let us put an end to this once and for all!"

"Your end, perhaps, Warmage...but most certainly not mine," Vex taunted in black velvet tones. A shimmering image of the Daedra Count appeared amongst us.

Balefire and Tenaka glared twin ferocious glares at Vex. Betrayal stared in awe and curiosity. Both Alyssa and Kriella stared, stunned by his alien beauty--a reaction I could well understand.

"'Tis an illusion," Tenaka muttered.

"Very clever of you, Dreadlord Khan." Emerald Vex's image grinned at us...a grin to reduce the greatest resolve to ashes--Nyx and I knew that from experience.

Kriella looked upon the Daedra Count with awe. Despite her training, it was still difficult to ignore his good looks. Never before this moment had she realised quite this much the problem that her friend Nyx had.

Emerald Vex laughed evilly. He tossed his green, thigh length hair back over his shoulder. "yes...Nyxalinth has felt much the same. She feels many things in the heat of passion...does she not, Zerith?"

I glared viciously at the count, but he only laughed. "But I did not come here to regale you with my consort's sweet nothings. I came to make you an offer.

"Though you butchered my dearest friend, I will still be lenient. You will all die...but I will spare the scamp...and, mayhap, Zerith."

Without hesitation, Skudge spoke the words in my heart. "Go suck lemon, horny green bastard!"

Vex's expression became thunderous with rage. "Very well," he snarled. "Reap them, my minions!"

The illusion of Vex faded, and now we found ourselves surrounded by a mob of Morphoid Daedra, led by a somewhat reluctant Lishara.

(Nyxalinth)

This time, I would not lie passively by and let them bite me. I rolled to the opposite side of the bed and got to my feet. Picking up an ornate torch stand, I brandished it like a staff, yelling "Have at me, you bastards!"

"Oh come now, Nyx," Blackie purred as he moved down the wall towards me. "You can't hurt us with that!"

I examined the stand almost casually. "Oh dear. It certainly looks like adamantium to me!" I grinned. "Come on boys. Less chatter, more batter."

Red smiled and said, "Oh, come on baby. Put that thing away. We'll be nice....very nice." His purring voice told me exactly what he meant.

I gripped the stand tightly. "nice try, Red. But if you want to seduce me out of fighting you, tell me that you and Blackie will never touch me again!"

Blackie shook his head. "We couldn't do that now, lovey. Think of how much you'd miss us!"

I grinned mirthlessly. "Come on and get some, Born to be Vile." I made a great show of spinning the holder, but in reality, blunt weapons are not my forte.

Still they hesitated, eyeing me warily. I'd never seen that look on their faces before. Then, realising what it was...I laughed. "You're afraid to fight me, aren't you? You both know that if you hurt me, Vex will knock you both so far into Oblivion so far by the time you come back your clothes will be out of style!"

"That's quite enough, Nyxalinth," Blackie said sternly. "Put that thing down right now. If you do...we'll plead with the Count to be merciful to Zerith. We like you...we really do. Don't make us dislike you."

A plan formed in my mind and I prayed that it would work. I pretended to hesitate for a moment, then slowly lowered the stand before tossing it aside. It landed in a pool of shadows near an ornately carved table, exactly where I wanted it. Looking at the table brought back certain memories of Vex and myself I didn't care to think of.

I turned back to face Red and Blackie. The brothers grinned and closed in....

Forces Best Divided

Balefire stood rightmost in the party, one hand on his weapons, eyes constantly scanning the halls of the citadel. After their short, but turbulent battle with Lishara and her minions, ending in the death of most of the Morphoid Daedra, with Lishara and the rest of her minions fleeing through the small door the party had arrived through. Zerith's roving gaze left Balefire, tracking across the blood smeared on the floor, all that was left of the Daedra, and came to rest.

Next to him, Skudge stood, watching Balefire's back. Betrayal stood nervously, scanning the halls to the left, his left-handed stance with his polearm complementing Balefire's right-handed (although ambidextrous in a pinch) grip. Alyssa was leaning against the wall between them, her staff also at a ready position. Kriella was approaching him, and Rathine was standing in the middle of the hall, an intense look on his face as he examined the ceiling, pointing out some minor detail to Zerith.

As Kriella reached him, Tenaka smiled.

"What say you, Kriella? who shall go with me, to beard the demon in his sanctum, and who shall rescue the virtue of lady Nyx?" Tenaka asked, a smile on his face over their victory over the door. Kriella grinned as well, and glanced back over the companions, who had begun to scatter around the hall, probing the immediate area for threats and traps.

"Well, Dreadlord. I believe I shall lead young Betrayal, and his charge Alyssa, as well as that insufferable lout Rathine, to go rescue Nyx. I believe Zerith should come with us, to help my team avoid traps and such. Also, no force I know of could come between Balefire and Vex right now." Kriella stated after some deliberation. "Skudge.. well, I think he would like to get a piece of the 'big horny bastard' himself." Kriella finished with another grin. Tenaka nodded approvingly.

"With your skills and judgement, lady wife, I think I shall soon face competition to be Dreadlord." He rumbled, with a wide grin. Then, he turned and striding back towards the group.

"Hail, Tenaka!" Betrayal said, looking over at the approaching Dreadlord, from his conversation with Zerith. "How goes the planning?"

"It goes well, youngling. We have a plan, and merely need to execute it. Gather the others whilst I and Zerith draw out a map." Betrayal nodded, and strode off to retrieve Skudge, who had started a cautious scout down one of the hallways.

When all of the companions gathered together by the false door, Kriella lay the plan out.

"Balefire, Tenaka, you gentlemen will be taking the right path, to confront the ever-so-hospitable Lord Vex. The rest of you shall be accompanying me, to rescue Nyxalinth. Hopefully, Zerith, you will be able to guide us past any traps Emerald Vex has laid for us.." Kriella glanced over the crude map Tenaka had drawn from Zerith's description.

"Actually, lady Kriella, there is most likely no traps or obstacles at all on your path. It leads to Vex's bedchambers, a place of many comings and goings." Here, Zerith winced at his choice of words. "It is most probably untrapped, although it will not be unguarded. I believe my place lies with the assault on Vex himself, which will lead us to his throne, a much deadlier locale." Zerith stated, pointing out the vaguely marked areas denoting Vex's throne, the source of his power.

"I agree, Zerith. That will also balance the teams out, so that no-one is left alone.. Skudge will also be accompanying that party, then. That leaves Rathine, Betrayal, and Alyssa to rescue Nyx with me. we can decide tactics on the way, neh?" Kriella stood, after brushing smooth the map on the floor. The heroes separated themselves, and moved off down the wings of the hallway.

A Fork In The Tale

Kriella looked at the three people that made up her party. Rathine she was familiar with - at least as familiar as one could be with a Dremora. Personally she would have preferred to have Skudge in her party than the enigmatic Dremora - the little Scamps humour, though usually unintentional, could certainly lighten the mood - but she knew the importance of Rathine helping in the rescue part of the expedition. He was the only one who could activate the Soul Gem that Imago Storm had provided, and they had decided long ago that it would be easier to trap Nyx and then kill Vex than to trap Vex. She realised that she still knew relatively little about the other two.

The two strangers confused her, but each in a different way. From Betrayal she sensed a need to impress others, and, equally strongly, a need to protect the woman, Alyssa. The Dreadmaster could tell that Betrayal had skills, but simply lacked the confidence to use them to the full. The woman was stranger still. She felt inherently different. It wasn't simply that she wasn't Dark Elven like herself, but she did not even seem Tamriellan.

The passage that they were walking down was interesting, at least. Of course, in many ways, it was like any other passage, but the decorations clearly showed off the Daedra Count's particular tastes. If this was the way to Nyx's bedchamber, it would seem that the furnishings were meant to inspire him on route. Everything seemed quiet, but it had already been displayed that nothing could be taken for granted here. First had been the Wheel that Balefire had so expertly dealt with. Next had been the illusionary door that Tenaka and herself had seen through. Most recently was the image of Vex and the battle with the Morphoids. She remembered battling one of those fiends back in the Angry Porcupine. It had been beaten - just - but it had also been outnumbered three to one. In this case the Morphoids had outnumbered them by similar odds. Surely the victory should have gone to the Daedra. An idea stuck the Dreadmaster, but that would be for a later date. Now she had a task that took up all of her concentration. Silently, she searched her mind for Tenaka's presence. It was appropriate that the two of them lead the two teams, for it allowed them to keep in touch. She felt her husband's mind and touched it with her own.

***

Tenaka smiled as he felt Kriella's presence within his mind. He was glad that their telepathy still worked in this place where even the ability to construct Windows had temporarily been taken from him. Of course, that was no longer a problem, and before they had split up, he had allowed some of the power to flow from himself into Kriella so that she also could still use the Windows. He sent a silent message to his wife to beware for the ambush set by Red and Blackie. He felt her amusement - of course she would beware. She was a member of the Dreadarmies and it was not their philosophy to barge into traps.

He looked around at his own group. The first man his eyes fell on was his brother, Balefire. They were so alike, the two of them, but he was only just beginning to realise it. He vaguely remembered that J'layah had told him that he looked somewhat like the Warmage, but he had thought it just racial similarities. Even when Twilight, the woman who probably knew more about Balefire than any other living had admitted to having difficulty remembering that the Dreadlord was not Tenaka, he had not thought that they would be related. The Dreadlord was unused to sharing leadership, but he had no problem with sharing the authority with his brother. After a great deal of thought, Tenaka had decided that he would keep his original name. The Prince of Shadows suited him greater than Darkflame Ebonheart, he felt.

He looked next at Zerith, the Mage-Scholar who had managed to win Nyx's love. According to Kriella, Nyx had rarely spoken of his prowess of weapons, but it was clearly there. The Dreadlord could see it from the way he held himself, striding forward confidently. At the moment he led the way, being the only one who knew the geography of Vex's palace.

Finally, Tenaka turned his gaze to Skudge, the funny Scamp. He could understand how Nyx and Kriella came to like the thing, and he had to admit that he was growing quite fond of it himself. This required a massive change in opinion for the Dreadlord - he had been taught that all Daedra were evil, twisted and conniving among other things. But since meeting the Scamp and Rathine he saw that this was simply not true. Surely most of the Daedra must be as he had originally thought them, but these two had shown themselves to be different. Skudge showed a fierce loyalty to Nyx, and Rathine seemed to be in love with the Shadow Walker.

Suddenly Zerith's voice rang out. "Halt, friends," he said. "There is a trap near here, and we must be careful?"