Subject: [Dagger] [porc] The beginning of the end Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 11:23:10 -0800 From: Nick Casler To: dagrfall@ods.com Here is the latest! this post was authored by Sherrian, who is currently on a strictly rationed diet of internet access.. hopefully, she'll be back at the table with the rest of us soon enough! anyway, on with the show! Nyx I lay on my side, elation and impatience conspiring to betray me and my guards. I could sense Zerith's presense 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 supress 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 didnt dare risk it. As the Great Lord had warned me, the spider deadras 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 humor. One day I'd look back at this and laugh.. But not now. Red chuckled natsily. "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, Dread Lord 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. Nyx 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, eying me warily. I'd never seen that look on their faces before. Then, realizing 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.... -/\/ Nick Casler caslern@matnet.com which is faster? 95 MPH, through a window. 98 MPH, through a window with a fancy frame. 5.1 MPH, wearing a red hat, riding a penguin. or, running at WARP speed? os/2 Warp 4. engage