Necessity's Game by Qabian

[Keeper Of Lore]

by Mahakali

*A Shimmering portal appeared over Hammerfall and two figures tumbled through it with a blast of cold air and the smell of decay*

The male rolled and came up standing, his movements swift and graceful like a deadly cat.

The female tucked into a ball and hit the ground with her shield, she came up with a metallic clang and whipped out a fiery blade.

Laughter and a icy voice followed the duo. "Remember you two, no fighting!"

Te white haired elf looked around him and noticed where he was, seeing his Captn, Redcap assumed a swagger most sailors would be proud to own.

"Captn' how be ya?"

The red headed female elf behind him started arranging her gear after her plummet through the portal

[Keeper Of Lore]

"Aaaaanieeeeeeeee" says Cwen is a ghastly voice from near Redcap

[Keeper Of Lore]

Anaie glanced towaard the noise as she and Qabian crossed the small courtyard in Hammerfall. Cwen was near where Redcap and what appeared to be a Blood Knight had fallen out of a portal, but was enveloped in shadows and difficult to spot.

"Hmmm dat one been studyin dark arts... not what I would 'ave expected of 'er.." Anaie half mumbled to herself and half to Qabian, whom she still had by the forearm. He was not resisting, which was good, as she would hate to have to force him to come along, but he did not seem overly enthusiastic about coming either.

" 'ey dere, Cwen, Redcap" Anaie paused a moment, she did not recognize the Blood Knight. "Light stealah... " she smirked. "We will go outside da walls, near da hills to da east, where da kobolds sneak about. I do not wish ta discuss tings 'ere." She wore no armor, only a necklace and a ring would offer her any real protection, and was unarmed, but she knew where she had to be in case things went wrong. Chaindog was somewhere in the hills, ready to strike....

I just 'ope she's as good a shot as I tink she is... Anaie thought, as she made sure the engineering device she fastened to her belt was charged and functioning properly.

Anaie mounted Nageater and told the small group to follow her toward the hills. An odd tingle playing over her skin as the Blood Knight and its steed moved alongside her, just outside the gates.

"Fer da love of da deep... please be tellin' me ya don't 'ave da blade on yer person!" Anaie groaned as she recognized the feeling. This meeting could go very very poorly....

[Keeper Of Lore]

((Chaindog we crosspost on TNG, so don't forget to update your posts there also))

Mahakali looked at the forsaken she was riding with and nodded herhead. With a push of her will a glimmering appears to cover her skinand armor. The area near the elf is filled with an aura of peace andtranquility.

"Did you say something ..... Ar.. Redcap what is your friends name?"

The Blood Knight turns on her steed to look over her shoulder for her brother.

The Sounds of a chuckle come from her front and left side. "Sistero'mine this here be The Bane of The Sea's, the greatest pirate to sailany sea at any time, dis be my Captn, I would tell ya ta call herMistress an hope she rebukes ya in a wa... " sickly green light pulsesfrom the Rogues eyes.

"By the fires of the Sunwell, can you females not let a man grow updifferent than your desires? This my dear sister" Redcap pauses andlooks around as if a small boy looking for a teacher and a ruler,seeing none he continues." is my guild mate Anaie, she is a highranking member of The Grim, you would do well to offer her much morerespect than you would any you have met or known on any plane"

The rogue a smirk coming over his face clambers to his feet while themounts are running for the hills and turns in place and says with a bow.

"Capitan Anaie, Hatemonger of The Grim, may i present to you MahakaliEmilee Dawnspire, Blood Knight and second eldest of my Clan."

The rogue looks back and forth between both females and performs a hop and lands in his saddle with a laugh.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Anaie nodded, her eyes going over the Blood Knights form, scanning for the blade.

"Eh, a pleasure I'm sure..." Anaie said somewhat detatched.

Anaie rode quietly to the spot she wished and dismounted. The area was clear of kobolds, Chaindog probably killed or scared them all off. She scanned the hills looking for the hunter, but could not see her. She had faith, and turned so that the hand sized device hanging on her belt faced where she thought Chaindog would be.

"Da daggah dat Qabian and Redcap found, it is an evil weapon. I requested it be in the 'ands of a Blood Knight, because of one fact, which is revealed by its name alone. Honestly, I 'ad only asked Cwen to come, as I did not tink dat Redcap would give up da blade so easily to anothah. It is good to see 'e does 'ave some sense it dat 'ead. Qabian, I brought you only because you found it first, and I thought you should 'ear what it was."

Anaie paused a moment remembering her fathers rule about important discussions, "Plaguebringer, the Infector." As she spoke its name, she could feel a tingle wash over her again, and her eyes went to the Blood Knight. "Mahakali, was it? I ask you hold that blade in a very secure place, and never, EVER, use it to injure someone. The blade is a plauge spreader, and it can infect anyone that is wounded by it. Their body will be ravaged and they will die, rising again as a minion of the Scourge, much like those that ate the tainted grains." Anaie held up her infected wound on her palm for them all to see. "Look at the wound on my palm and think what it would do to someone that did not already carry the sickness. However, I request that you speak of noone about the blade Mahakali, as people will wish to have a blade of power in thier hands, and if in the wrong ones, much ill can come of it. Think to the ravaging that the Scourge already cause to your homeland, and imagine another way for them to bolster thier ranks..."

"Cwen, more has come to me of late, and I will be meeting with Yichimeti to have him take me on a spirit journey in order to hopefully unlock more. I need you to try to find out anything you can of the Necromantic magics that power some of the strongest of the Lich Kings armies, the Death Knights, and others like them. I am led to believe that such magics were used upon me and that the lack of thier application is having an ill effect, mostly, on my person." Anaie did not notice her hand rested upon her belly again until after she was done speaking, but she quickly lowered it to her sides.

"Paladin... er... Blood Knight, I ask that if I request the blade of you, you will provide it, as I may need its magic to survive. However, ensure I am in a right mind. Do not come to me if you believe me to be not in control of my own actions, or it could turn out badly for you.

"Qabian, you were injured by the blade, and could have contracted the plague. You look well though, and I assume you were not infected from the strike. The wielder must cause the infection to happen, and it seems you assaillant did not know of this. The easiest way is to draw the weilders tainted blood upon the blade, which activates the enchantment, allowing it to be applied to the next victim. While you seem ok, I would ask you ensure such with whomever is an expert in some fashion about the matter."

"Redcap... while your presence and respect of my position is appreciated, of you I only ask one thing. Promise me you will not use that blade again."

With that Anaie ceased speaking, awaiting the acknowledgement of the group, especially the Blood Knight.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Qabian went along with his guildmates, but he did not look particularlypleased about it. There was not enough killing going on.

But when Anaie mentioned the nature of the dagger as the Infector, themage's eyes widened and his hand went to his neck. No scar remainedfrom the few drops of blood he had lost to that fool of a human. Heopened his mouth to interrupt, indignant that he had not felt anythingunusual since he had been cut, but shut it as Anaie continued andoffered the likely explanation.

The mage hadn't actually expected to learn anything he didn't alreadyknow, but he had, and found that rather disturbing. He rubbed at hisneck, looking around thoughtfully. He wasn't sure there was anyone hecould particularly trust to ensure that he hadn't contracted anythingfrom that sunforsaken blade. Perhaps he could just ignore it. Anaieseemed to be removing it from use, which Qabian could only appreciate.He had not enjoyed any of the events that had involved him connectedwith the dagger.

And the news of its nature raised interesting questions about Jastra,although one would assume that it would be quite difficult to riseagain as Scourge once cut into several pieces. However, Qabian did makea mental note not to be surprised should he come across a ghoulparticularly similar to Jastra somewhere in the Plaguelands.

He continued to touch his neck, fingers searching for any remnants of ascar or some sensation of pain, but there was nothing. He felt fine.Qabian was certainly not grateful for the new sense of paranoia he'djust been given.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Redcap nods at Anaie. "I don't need the fancy dagger to kill things with, I like my sword a lot more."

Looking at the Blood Knight Redcap waved his hands.

The female knight thbppts at her sibling and looks around and says "Ofcourse I will keep the dagger out of the hands of children and killers."

"If you are done I can get back to killing, If not let's hurry along,not all of us are drifters." Mahakali glances sideways at her brother.

"Ooooo, zing. You got me, I am the drifter woo hoo. Yep, me thedrifter. Wait... Wait aren't you the one who abandoned the familyduring the war?" Redcap twirls to his left and flings power towards theBlood Knight's face.

Mahakali throws up her shield and pulls out her sword then moves into a attack position.

The rogue grabs his other sword and attacks the female. Sparks spitfrom metal as flaming sword meets flaming sword and shield. The rogueseems to start bleeding from coming into contact with the BloodKnight's equipment. One of his attacks causes sparks and the BloodKnight begins to speed up.

As she calls forth her powers a curtain of flame slams into the earthbetween the two siblings. A icy chill and a shimmering portal appearand a hand covered in hoarfrost plucks the blood knight through theportal. The circle starts to close but the sounds of a voice can beheard before it slams shut.

"You are older than your brother, it is up to you to control yourtemper where he is involved, you will learn to control your anger and....." The gate closes cutting off the torrent of words.

[Keeper Of Lore]

Cwen was disappointed with the reaction of Anaie to the blade. It must the state she's in, she seems less caring. Or maybe Keever is wearing off on her.

She looks at Anaie and then turns and leaves quietly. She skirts around Redcap, and heads north for the plaguelands.