As the travelers enter the camp of the Sister’s, they see a woman dressed in green, carrying a staff that was blue as the coldest ice, with a gold mask on her head covering most of her brown hair. She was talking to a man, whom they would come to know as Warriv, a caravan master. As they approach the woman, whom they determined to be a sorceress, to find out the reason of her being at the camp at this time, they realize that the camp is almost deserted. The group discusses that they should split up so they can talk to the few remaining people quickly and determine what the cause is of the camp being so deserted. Tiger and Sir Drake head for the blacksmith shop. Darthos and Shadow go toward the woman dressed in a robe. Jezter walks toward the man and woman, that they seen talking when the group entered the camp. "Pardon me, but I was wondering why this camp is so desolate", asked Jezter. The woman turns toward him and replies, " I was asking this man the same question." She continues, " I was drawn town this area for some reason and I think I know why now, as your friends are finding out right now." "May I ask something of you, sir?" She asked. "Of course, but we can just exchange our questions together or with my friends, whom I'm certain will have most of the same ones that I do for you," Jezter replied. "I do have one question that I would like you to answer me before we join my companions," he continued, "My name is Jezter, what is yours?" The woman replied, “My name is Rhiannon.” “AH! In what may I interest you young gentlemen?” These were the first things out of the merchant’s mouth. “My name is Gheed! And I’m here to serve you!” Gheed extended his hand, which Tiger took and squeezed rather harshly, making the merchant flinch. He never did trust merchants. But as a holy man, Sir Drake cleared his throat and glared at the barbarian to correct his behavior. Gheed hastily took his hand into his other one to rub it. “Tell me, my good man. What makes the people flee from such a holy place?” Asks Sir Drake. Gheed’s eyes shoot open. He begins to whisper. “All right. I’ll tell you some, but it didn’t come from me! Understood?” The two men nodded. “Well, a man came back, very deeply wounded. He was a man from your type, I take it,” he said, pointing at the Paladin. “He talked about monsters and demons! He also said that corrupted rouges were helping them! He said they were covered in white paint and red blood, and wished nothing more than to cause pain and death!” The man’s eyes were bulging from their sockets in fear and his voice was a whisper of cold air of death. Suddenly he smiled with green teeth, “now, if you wish to go out there, may I suggest some potions or weapons?” Both Sir Drake and Gheed felt Tiger’s sudden urge to remove every single one of that man’s teeth, so Sir Drake quickly said thanks and lead Tiger away from trouble. “What do you think?” Asked Sir Drake. “I think we should pray he’s loony, but if he’s not, bring it on.” replied Tiger. Sir Drake nodded his head in agreement. They walked behind Darthos and Shadow, Tiger looming high over them, causing a robed lady to look up in amazement and declare “Good heavens! What a brute!” “I think I liked barbarian better,” Tiger said. Darthos turned around in surprise at Tiger and Sir Drake sneaking up behind them, placing his hand over his startle heart. “GOOD GOD MAN! Don’t do that!” Then turned back to the old lady. “Thank you so much for your help. We’ll see what we can do about this.” The four of them turned and walked towards Jezter, who was acquainting with some lady in green. “What is the news?” Sir Drake asked. “She talked about demons and evil-spirited rouges,” replied Shadow. Tiger nodded. “Same with our guy,” he said. “Yes, which Tiger was nice enough to startle out of his rightful wit,” The group walked up behind Jezter, who was still talking to the girl in green. Jezter turned around to face us and introduce us to Rhiannon. “Anyways, I wanted to ask something of you.” Said Rhiannon, now talking to the entire group. Everyone looked at her with impatience, waiting for their time to go fight the demons... Rhiannon took a deep breath; "we have a problem..." Tiger bellowed, "Wha-." But that was all he got out of his mouth as yells of alarm rung out all around the Rouge Encampment and four Rouge Scouts were carrying in one critically wounded scout on a stretcher. "Akira! Come Quick!" One of them yelled. The old Matriarch dressed in Purple rushed over as fast as her old body could to the wounded. But when she got there, she gasped and stepped back. Impatiently Tiger ran over (not just because Charsi was there too). He saw a magical seal burning on the chest of the dying scout. "What happened?" Akira asked. One of the Rogue Scouts started; "we tracked our twisted sister Blood Raven to the Monastery Graveyard near the Cold Plains. And then..." her voice trailed off. "A presence of evil that none of us had ever encountered suffocated us and slowed us down. Andariel was there with Blood Raven corrupting her even more. Kiresha attempted to get closer and get off a shot, but then this beam of light shot forth and put this," she pointed to that mark on her friend. "Then Andariel disappeared and Blood raven laughed and ordered us to take her back to you. She said you would know.” The rest of the party closed in to see the mark for themselves by this time. Rhiannon and Darthos gasped at the same time. The mark burned fire out of her chest and then in one moment quickly engulfed the screaming rouge. -Shadow didn't like the look on Darthos face. "What was that?" Shadow asked. Darthos spoke softly, "But He was Defeated!"-Shadow's trained ears then heard Rhiannon say something that made her blood run cold. Rhiannon looked at her and said, "It the mark of Diablo and He's Back..." Darthos and the group turned to look at their companion’s reactions, but only one startled them, Tiger’s. He seemed to be deep in thought, and not at all surprised by this. Darthos walked up to Tiger and gave him an interrogating look. “What? Didn’t you know?” Tiger said. “You KNEW?” Darthos hissed. Tiger nodded. “How?” Darthos asked. This time, Tiger’s eyes dropped in pain. “Ancient Kul-Tarash Klan belief,” everyone came in closer, as Tiger started. “A long time ago, about the time before Diablo first roamed the land, our medicine men had already prophesied his coming, and his return. It’s written; that under the full moon, a set of twins would be born, and the weaker would die on the day the stronger would start his training. I was born at midnight to a twin sister. When my elders were beginning to teach me the art of war, she died. We heard her screams, they were horrible, and when I found her, I saw that very same symbol burned into her heart and before I could touch her, her body went up in flames. Ever since, I grew incredibly stronger. When I was only a youth I could out strengthen my teacher but I still needed lessons in battle. Now it is five years after, and it has been said that a dark wanderer left his home village on that very day.” “I’ve seen this man in my dark prayers?” hissed Jezter. “He is the hero who last slew Diablo, or was?” “Was?” Asked the Assassin. Jezter nodded. “Before he left the pits of hell, a seed of evil entered the hero. Soon, this hero will be no more. His entire body will be devoured by the new Diablo;” everyone stood in silence as Tiger finished his tribe’s mythology. "So the Great Oak spirit was right after all about a change in Balance and the approaching Evil," Darthos pondered out loud. "Probably sitting too close to the local shrubbery again," Shadow mumbled quietly but loud enough to catch Darthos' eye and smiled at him. Sir drake straightened up; "perhaps if we continue our company together we can bring light to this heart of darkness and purify the land of this evil." Akara approached the party, "A great evil has returned to this land?" "So tell me something I don't know," Shadow muttered. "Andariel rules the lands around here, evil minions roaming freely and preventing any trade with nearby cities. I have heard through my scouts that she has also captured a very wise sage named Cain that might be able to piece these mysteries together for you all. But first if you could do our camp a favor and destroy Blood raven. Andariel has corrupted her and her hostile existence continues to threaten our camp and our people. Will you help us?" The unproven heroes looked at each other, each having their own mysterious reason to be involved, and nodded. “We accept this Challenge and will do as you say” Sir Drake voiced for everyone. "Wonderful," Akara thanked them. "Our scouts will lead the way for you." “On the way to Tristam for Cain my bad hairy foot,” Gheed farted as he stomped off glaring at Akara. Tiger looked around the camp one last time before starting to walk to the bridge that separated the small encampment from such a treacherous outside. Filled with anxiety for battle and an incredible blood lust, he led the group into the desolate outside world. Their rouge leaders moved silently and cautiously through the land. Tiger's hands were turning white from the grip of his sword and axe. Darthos and Shadow walked beside of him, blending in their own way to the land, ready for ambush. The necromancer held a glowing dagger and his other hand ready for his sword. Sir Drake had his shield and sword ready for battle, and the group’s new sorceress had her staff in hand, walking normally as if it were a walk in the park. As they came into the view of a seven-foot stone ledge cutting from the ground, the rouges signaled for the group to stop. One turned to them and said, "Blood raven will be a worthy foe even to the most talented barbarian. We believe it best if you were to train in this cave before you fight her. This cave is held from us by evil demons. Some can even revive their dead! If you can clear out this cave and bring sweet light of justice into it, we could use it as a stronghold against the forces of evil. Kill the monsters, and then you might be ready for Blood raven!" Tiger rubbed his sword with his axe, making a 'shing' sound and causing sparks to fly out. As the group begins to venture out on their quest, they come across a woman, bruised and worn out. Tiger is the first to meet up with her and ask what has happened. “A cave...just a short distance from here," she started "I thought I could handle something that seemed that easy myself". As the rest of the group began to gather she sat down on a boulder to tell the rest of her tale. "I had left my village a short time ago...following this...feeling...I had. I could tell that there was some evil that has been growing, but I haven't been able to determine the source of it. From the creatures in the fields here I had thought the cave would hold similar beings...but they were just a slight bit stronger for me. I've been traveling for sometime, and have no gold to purchase new supplies, and my bow isn't quite the best as you can see." Regaining her strength somewhat, Jevanie stands up "if you kind people are going to venture to seek this evil, I wish to join you. But I humbly ask that you allow me to get to a village so that I can see the healer and possibly get some better equipment Sir Drake stepped forward to the Amazon laid a hand on her injured shoulder. A soft blue glow that started from his hand covered himself then Jevanie. Jevanie saw her wounds slowly close and she felt refreshed. Drake opened his eyes and smiled, "Feel Better?" Jevanie stood up, "Heck Yah! I feel great! Thanks." "Now if I recall, I believe I'm ready to take on that cave again. I can re-equip later." Rhiannon spoke up, "I once remember hearing a Bard's Tale about a Mythical Bow hidden inside a Dark Cave, call the Hydra Bow. I wonder if this is the cave?" She pondered. As the rest of the group introduced themselves Darthos pulled Jezter aside. "I have sensed at our last camp that you had another strange dream." Jezter nodded, unsure how the Druid knew about his rare gift. "For I had a dream as well regarding a man in gray, imprisoned in cage, laughed at in a town of fire." Jezter's eye grew wide. "That's the same dream I had!" "Do you think it could be this Cain we heard about from Akara?" Darthos asked. "I believe it is, however I have a strong sense of Death from that place, more than other places...Almost a Feeling of Revenge & Anger mixed into that place," Jezter mused. "I think we should split off from the rest of this group while they explore the cave, we can do some recon and check back with them before they encounter Blood Raven." Darthos said. "I agree," Jezter sighed, "My dreams have been coming more powerfully as of late and this one troubles me especially." "Agree to what," Shadow asked innocently poking into the conversation. Darthos looked at Shadow, "We are going to investigate some things and will return to the group with our findings. I would like to go alone with Jezter, however I know I couldn't stop you even if I tried from coming along," Darthos remembered the many past attempts to do just that. Shadow smirked, "I knew you would see things my way." Darthos turned to the rest of the group and addressed them. “Jezter, Shadow, and myself will take a short leave of absence. We were going to check on...one of these sources of evil and will return to you with our findings before you get to Blood Raven. “ Then before anyone could say anything a strong misty wind came and went as did those three. Tiger grumbled, "He always was aloof and had a flair for the dramatic..." hacked a nearby tree stump, "...Wanted to do things his way...Ok, Let's see what treasures are in this cave..." Darthos, Shadow, & Jezter appeared in the distance walking through a forested area. "Why did you do that?" Jezter asked. "I knew Tiger would be upset, especially whenever things did not go his way," Darthos replied, "So I made choice for him. He'll be fine after he hacks a few monsters." "Now the question remains where exactly this burning town is?" Darthos asked. Jezter smiled and rolled up his sleeves and pointed to a patch of the ground. The Ground shook and then bubbled upward forming a Golem. "Golem, where is the burning City?" The Golem turned to face them its mouth not opening but a sound like falling rocks sounded, "Triiiiiiissssstttttaaaaaaammm..." "Why doesn't it surprise me that 'He' would start with his destruction there?" Shadow, not very trusting of Magic Users, looked the Golem up and down sizing a possible opponent if he were to suddenly switch sides. Darthos summoned 3 Dire Wolves and a Raven. Jezter commanded the Golem to point the Way and with rumbling the Golem pointed to Stony Field. "Let's start over there for clues." They walked for a bit rather quietly; the land seemed uncommonly quiet and barren. In the distance they saw a large stone structure of some sort. "What's that?" Jezter asked. "Don't know" Darthos motioned, both straining to get a good look. "Uh, Guys...We've got company..." Shadow nodded putting 2 metal claws on each hand. In the distance and closing rapidly was Large Tribe of angry red little deformed creatures and Large Hairy Bear like Walking Creatures. The Three turned to face the horde. "Oh, the carnage...I love it," Jezter mused. Watching the trio depart to their own agenda, Jevanie speaks up "this way to the cave, the scouts can return to the camp now." The rogue looks over to Tiger, and he nods his agreement. Along the way they encounter a group of undead zombies, with a strange light glowing around them. Drake points to one in the middle of the group, "Him...he's their leader, and has an aura cast among his minions." Jevanie glances at her bow, and tosses it aside. She then grabs the dagger strapped to her thigh and a small buckler off her back. Running at the undead as the stumble about, she manages to take out the first two before getting hit. The third zombie knocks her off balance and to the ground. Rhiannon steps up, raises her staff and sends some fireballs into the group. She manages to eliminate another three, including the one that blind-sided the Amazon. Drake begins to pull his sword when Tiger stops him. "These monsters are nothing, let the girls take it...they need the experience." Drake releases his sword and stands to the side with Tiger. Jevanie manages to regain her composure and quickly casts a spell. The zombies suddenly become luminescent as she goes in for another attack. The sorceress, seeing what happened, goes in for a physical attack with her counter part. The pair manages to quickly take out the last three minions without incident. They then team up against the leader of the undead band, who manages to get in a hit on each of the heroes. However, on its last attack on Jevanie, she manages to block it with her buckler as Rhiannon throws a fireball directly into its side under its raised arm. The last of the zombies breaks apart and falls to the ground. Tiger and Drake walk over to where the small battle took place as the girls survey the area for anything that might have been dropped. Jevanie comes across a hunter's bow on the ground and picks it up. Tiger then notices something shining where the boss had last stood. He walks over, picks up the amulet..."This looks interesting..." "Yeah...but what is it?" Asked Rhiannon. Tiger shook his head to show his lack of knowledge. "Hand it here, Tiger," Tiger flung it at Sir Drake, who examined it, again, not knowing. Sir Drake handed it back to Tiger, who put it in a leather sack. Tiger looked up with a sudden movement. His sword and axe were instantly bared. The alertness caught the rest of the group's attention, each crouching into a ready fighting position. "What is it?" Whispered the Paladin. "We're surrounded. I can feel them..." the Barbarian replied. Rhiannon and Jevanie looked around in alertness. Jevanie got an arrow into her new bow as Rhiannon charged her fire magic. They saw Tiger's left ear twitch, and in a mere second, through the darkness, Tiger could be seen swinging in a 180-degree turn with his axe, slicing a small red demon's head off! They started charging from everywhere! Rhiannon blasted away with her fire, trying to ward them off! Jevanie stood aside of her, flinging arrows left and right! Sir Drake attacked along side of Tiger, slicing at the small red creatures' bodies, blood spurring from them before falling to lifeless bodies! Tiger stabbed one in the chest with his sword, and with a swing of his axe; he sliced thought the torso of the demon, separating its two halves! He then went to another one, sending his axe down from overhead, giving a demon a serious splitting headache that could only last for so long. However, as the demon fell, a light appeared a couple of yards from behind and around the dead demon, and brought it back to life! Through the darkness, Tiger could see the outline of a bigger demon of the same sort! A leader and it was raising its dead! Anger surged into Tiger's body. "Cover me!" But before Sir Drake could answer, too busy stabbing a demon through the stomach and pulling back his sword into a swing through another's neck, Tiger had taken a tremendous leap into the air! His sword was held, point facing down, and sliced through the leader's head! With a mighty swing of the axe, he took of the monster's head! Everything stopped as all the little demons turned to face at their fallen leader and at Tiger! Tiger pulled air into his lungs, and roared out with the strength of a tiger, making a booming sound in the demons' ears! They held onto their ears and shrieked in pain! "FINISH THEM! NOW!" Tiger ordered. Jevanie and Rhiannon started their onslaught, Jevanie with a bared dagger and Rhiannon with her staff! Sir Drake was slicing the demons like pigs in a ham farm, while Tiger was swinging arms left and right in a terrifying rage! Blood spewed like water in a fire hose water fight! A couple of the demons began to run in the same direction, but Jevanie and Rhiannon took them out with arrows and magic! Soon, the land was a blood-pool cemetery. Gold and potion bottles were everywhere. The group looked around in exhaustion and happiness for this new treasure. "Who carries what?" Sir Drake finally asked. Tiger thought, "Rhiannon carries the blue bottles, which I take to be Mana bottles. Jevanie will carry the red ones. You pick up the gold, and I'll take the heavy..." Tiger was about to say the rest, but the tripped on something and slammed into the pool of blood and bodies. He got up and looked at what he had tripped on. He picked the metal weapon for all to admire. On a pole rested a two-headed hammer. On one side was a blunt pick, and the other was a normal hammer head. "A war hammer," Tiger muttered. He put his sword away and tested the war hammer on his left hand, then switched his axe and hammer and tested it, then smiled. "Perfect." With a flip of the wrists, he flipped both the weapons into leather holes he had on either side for pole arms, each weapon in the opposite side of the arm they were last in so he could cross his arms for his weapons on the appropriate arm. He addressed Jevanie as she finished picking up the health bottles. "Take us to the cave," then he thought to himself, 'c'mon Darthos. Where are you guys? We could really use a hand right about now...' After traveling for a short while, Jevanie pointed to a small hill with a hole in one side, "There it is...this 'Den of Evil'". As Tiger begins to start the decent into the darkness, he here's a fireball being spit off. Startled, he turns around to see the cause of it. Rhiannon begins turns back towards the mouth of the cave, "Some little rodent type monster...skinned my leg with one of it's quills". Understanding, Tiger begins back down to the den, with Jevanie following, then Drake and Rhiannon. They begin to look around as Jevanie begins down one of the corridors. “I don’t think it’s wise to go off too quickly? Drake calls towards her. "It's all right, this immediate area is clear", the Amazon explains as the points to fallen bodies among the rocks. "I did mange to kill some down here before I was forced to retreat." Tiger nods his acknowledgement "Lead the way then". After going around a turn, Jevanie stops as the rest catch up with her. After raising her hand to cast one of the few spells she has, there was a strange light that suddenly appeared up ahead. "This was as far as I made it myself. Whatever those little red things were back there...the one that brought them back to life," she motions with her bow "there's more up there, and something that brings THEM back to life". The barbarian draws his new toy, "Very well, let's get some payback, shall we?" Drake comes up beside Tiger, with Rhiannon and Jevanie in tow. Three fireballs come flying towards the lead. Drake manages to block one, while another hits Tiger in the arm. The final one goes wide and lights the way directly to the far wall. Quickly assessing the situation, the group charges in. "Well, the lady says kill...lets kill!" Tiger rushed into the cave with a barbaric yell, the rest of the group close at his heels, right into the heart of an awaiting group of red demons. The first sight of blood spurred as Tiger's axe immediately sliced the first demon's torso from his hips...Tiger brings his war hammer to bear directly on the head of one of the nearest shamans, knocking it out cold. "Very nice", he states and pulls his axe with his other hand. Drake begins a charge at another one of the demons. Blocking another fireball and managing to slice the chest of his opponent he suddenly hears something behind him. The demon Tiger just slain was once again alive and bringing a fireball to bear upon him. Before the paladin could bring his shield around, he was hit with the flaming attack. "Two can play at this game", Rhiannon states as she sends a series of fireballs at the demon, to kill him once again. Jevanie shouts to Tiger and Drake "Keep them distracted for a minute". "C'mon," she motions to the sorceress "we've got work". Sliding around the battle the 2 locate the boss of the demon minions, and begin an attack on it. "I see, once he's gone, the others will stay dead,” the sorceress states. After sending a volley of arrows and magic, the two realize that they are now shooting at nothing. They hear Tiger "He's over there" as they look off to their left. Sending a blue projectile, the demon suddenly is slowed for a few moments. "Finish him,” the Amazon states. Rhiannon takes a few steps forward and sends a strong fire towards the frozen demon "This should warm you up!" Rhiannon says. . After a few seconds, it shatters into hundreds of pieces of ice then melts into the cavern floor. Turning around, she sees Jevanie send off one more arrow at another red demon just before it's split in two by Tiger. Gathering up the treasures that had fallen, Jevanie says "Much easier with the help...thank you my friends. Shall we finish up here?" “We shall,” said Tiger, “With only one problem.” Everyone stared at him. He pointed at the walls in the room. "Someone or something has made this a complete circle room!" They started walking around the room, searching for a way out. Five minutes of frantic searching were ended by Sir Drake’s exclamation "I think I found something!" He was looking at a cracked wall. He took the butt oh his sword and slammed it at the wall, but it wouldn't give. The Paladin turned to his teammates but saw Tiger walking toward him, war hammer in hand, and a look of rage in his eyes burning so that the Paladin was positive Tiger was about to cave his head in! "Tiger...wait a minute! Tiger...cool down! Tiger...WAIT!" Tiger had swung his hammer to his left and Sir Drake put his arms up to protect himself...or at least try! But a sound of crushing weak stone and falling sandstone made him look at the room. Rhiannon and Jevanie laughed as Tiger pointed with his war hammer at a wide hole in the wall. "After you," said the Barbarian. Sir Drake made the sign of the Holy Cross and muttered, "Sweet Mother of Jesus!" Then turned to Tiger and said, "I know now WHY they call you people barbarians!" Then he stormed through the hole. A couple of seconds after, he flew back through it and slammed against the floor with a loud "Oof!" Rouges in white paint, nearly naked, carrying spears, bow and arrows, and swords came flooding through the hole, followed by another small group of red Fallen and two Fallen Shamans. The monsters filled the room and surrounded us. "Any bright ideas?" The Amazon asked her bow and arrow ready to fire. "Yeah...pray," Tiger said. "Great, and that's your plan? Very comforting!" Rhiannon hissed. "I didn't say, only pray," and with that Tiger had lunged himself at the wall of awaiting monsters! He used his axe to demolish corrupted rouge’s spear and flung the war hammer overhead to a skull crushing smash on her head! The rouge fell to the ground as a white spirit of evil was sent into the ground, straight to Hell! Two rouges tried to come at him from the side. He crossed his arms and then swung them back out, sending the edge of the war hammer into one of the rouge’s stomach, and the axe into another’s lower ribs! They both fell like the other! Instantly Rhiannon and Jevanie came into action, each using their specialty to attack the army! Tiger heard Rhiannon cry out "Tiger!" As he turned around he saw corrupted rouge ready to swing her sword down at his head, but she suddenly went up in flames! An arrow of Jevanie's had been enchanted by Rhiannon with fire and driven into the Corrupted Rouge! As the rouge shrieked in pain, Tiger roared and sent his war hammer at her chin, causing her head and spinal cord to come completely out of the body and slam into a Fallen demon! Tiger saw a Fallen Shaman ready to resurrect it, but that was put to a sudden end as his flung axe sliced right into its head! Tiger grabbed his war hammer with both hands and slammed it to the right at an oncoming rouge, and then to the left at another one, then grabbed his sword with his left hand and sliced through the first rouge's neck and through the other rouge's scalp! The second Shaman was about to resurrect the fallen one, but the instantaneous arrows pierced through it, one at the chest, one at the right shoulder, and one on the left. The Shaman became a blood fountain! Tiger ran for his axe, grabbed it, and went right into a swing at a rushing rouge. Catching it right above the stomach, sending the legs to the ground and the flying top through the air and into the ground, just as Jevanie and Rhiannon teamed up to finish the last of the Fallen demons. After they were finished, Jevanie dashed to Sir Drake's side and made him down a full bottle of healing potion, which took effect immediately. He gave his thanks, and then collected the scattered gold, as Jevanie and Rhiannon gathered the potions. Tiger found an excellent bone wand he stored for Jezter, and handed Jevanie the spears he had gathered. "I wonder how many of these demons there are in here," said Rhiannon. "I don't know Rhi. But I for one am going to have fun finding out," Tiger replied. The companions regrouped and continued on through the darkness. As they did so they heard Sir Drake chanting something. All of a sudden a blue aura appeared around them. "What is this Sir Drake?" Jevanie asked. "Just thought it would help if and when we stumble upon anymore of those demon creatures. You see it freezes them. Thought it would buy us some time" replied Sir Drake. Just as he finished his sentence the group did just that. Except this time there were few demons and a lot of zombie creatures. One of which had an aura around him. "Be careful, Tiger." Sir Drake yelled, "That one is best left to Jevanie and Rhi. Since it gives back some of the damage it takes." As Sir Drake finished telling Tiger to watch out, Jevanie and Rhiannon took the cue. Jevanie let loose a half of dozen arrows as quick as she could. As they hit the zombie, Rhiannon let go of an ice blast. This froze the zombie giving Jevanie and Rhiannon more time to kill him without worrying about being hit. As the two women were working on the boss zombie, Tiger and Sir Drake were very effectively killing everything in sight. Body parts were flying everywhere from Tiger's blows. Demons and zombies were bursting into ice pieces from Sir Drake's aura and sword. Darthos looked toward the nearest patch of grass and summoned forth a Long Vine from it that coiled nearby. Shadow starting working on putting some projectile things together. This Large Mixed Tribe perfectly cut off advancing to investigating that distant Structure of Stone. "Since when did monster tribes work together and get more aggressive then usual?" Shadow spat. Jezter looked the tribe over. Masses of Carvers, half a dozen gargantuan Beasts, and a sprinkling of Corrupt Rogues and goat men. He wasn't worried about the Carvers, but the Beasts were a different story. He looked harder and saw an image of a Black Knight shrouded in dark light behind the Tribe, almost as if pushing them. He looked dressed in the same manor as Sir Drake but yet we was different...evil. Jezter made a mental note to ask Drake about his Order of Knights later on. Both sides stood there, time standing still. Then the voice of the Knight Rang out, "None shall pass!" The Eerie sent chills down their spines. "Wipe them out, all of them!" With that command the Monster force rushed. With the zombie boss and his minions disposed of, the group continues along the dark and dampened pathway of the den. Further inspecting the area, Rhiannon notices a small crevice off to one side. She walks over to get a better look, and notices something nudged in it. She calls the group over to see her discovery. As they arrive, Rhi is attempting to dislodge the item from the rocks. "Let me give it a try" Tiger says as Rhiannon steps back. Pulling his hammer out, he begins to smash the rocks and wall around the item. After a couple of hits, Rhi again pulls on it, and easily removes it. Handing it over to Jev, "I think this is that bow that was hidden here". Jevanie inspects it closer, and slowly a smile appears on her face, "The Hydra bow...this will definitely work". A sound comes from behind them as they see a stray Fallen that wandered to far from its group. Rhi sends a fireball at it, and watches as it screams in agony the last couple seconds of its life. Suddenly a strange light begins to fill cavern. Drake looks around and speaks up "We are completed here...let us return and speak with Akara". Around one more curve is the stairway in which the first entered. Drake sets up a portal to return to the camp. Once there, they first go see the healer to inform her of what has happened. "You have earned my trust", Akara tells them as she gives them all the ability to improve their skills. That done, the band starts to get ready to venture back out to the wilderness and to new adventures. Jevanie first goes to see Charsi. "Hi there" the black smith says cheerily as she walks up. The two ladies chat for a while when Drake comes up to them. Jev turns to him, "Just some girl talk, showing Charsi the bow we found down in the Den. You might want to talk to her too...she's got some swords you might be interested in." Darthos was the first one to get a spell off; a gigantic molten boulder of fiery death rolled outward from him towards the Carvers, who lead the charge. As the Boulder approached it rolled over the smaller ones and exploded sending the small red and blue Carver bodies flying. Darthos allowed himself a grin, but then in a flash of smoke one arouse then another. Darthos swore as he saw the Shaman Fallen Ones. "Jezter, use the bodies quick! Shadow get the Casters!" Jezter starting raising skeleton warriors with his yew wand and sent in his Golem with Darthos' wolves, crow, and poison vine. Jezter focused his thoughts then shouted “BO-NE!” While pointing at the left side containing the large Gargantuan Beast. A shaft of Shimmering Magical Bone shot forth slicing through all the Creatures in a direct line. It killed all Carvers in its path, however it only lightly wounded the six advancing Beasts. Darthos swore, forgetting to summon the oak spirit to enhance his side with increased vitality and energy and quickly did so. Its shinning essence floating nearby him quickly shared its life-giving rays to all his allies. Shadow saw Darthos summon another molten boulder and Jezter shoot another Bone Spear attack into the mass. "There must be at least 50, she thought crazily," as she launched herself into the melee working towards the Enemy Casters who kept raising the ones she just killed, but she got no where fast. So she switched and ran toward were the wolves, skeleton warriors, and golem were fighting away drawing some heat away from the others. Suddenly, a corpse nearby her exploded with a deafen roar clearing some area. Her quick reflexes rolled her out of harm's way and she took a mental note that she surprising took no damage. "Must be Necro magic," she thought to herself as she causally sliced three more dead with her claw blades. Tiring of foreplay, Shadow sighed and called forth her cloak of Darkness. Darthos kept summoning additional spirit dire wolves as needed as did Jezter who kept bring skeleton warriors back from the corpses, occasionally exploding a corpse to prevent resurrection. Both noticed everything nearby got very dark, very quick. "I was wondering when she would do that, she must be bored," Darthos chuckled quietly. Shadow, now cloaked in darkness, was ignored by the horde in a burst of speed she rushed over to the fireball-wielding Shamans. "'Nite 'Nite," She rammed one of her claw through one of the Shaman's Skull just as the Darkness left. The others surprised starting lobbing fireballs at her, which she spun and turned to avoid and launched back with lighting speed, "DRAGON CLAW!" She cut twice, tearing loose another corpse Shaman. The next one got lucky and hit her a glancing blow as she finished her Finishing Move. She spun to the side and launched herself as the spell caster was working on another fireball. "DRAGON CLAW!" And it was over...for the Shaman. Darthos saw the six gargantuan Beasts still closing. Whistled to his Wolves who changed targets. Darthos ran forward pulling out a Gemmed Axe. In mid step, Darthos transformed, in a Half-Man, Half-Wolf and joined the fray. His speed and accuracy increased he sliced at the already wounded Beast and an Electric Bolt enhanced the effects of that hit, slaying it. About the same time, Web of Electricity was set off, as a Trap was triggered shocking two of the more wounded Beasts to death. Jezter was a little perplexed. It wasn't everyday you saw that happen he thought as he shot another bone spear over to aid Darthos and his wolf crew. Jezter's Undead troops where increasing the death radius, his Golem only had one arm of earth left but now was slowly regenerating its other back, now that the Shaman shooting fireballs were gone. With the Jezter's Undead slowly chewing through the remaining Carvers, Darthos and wolves polishing off the gargantuan Beasts, Shadow found herself in a different situation. Shadow noticed that the goat men and Corrupted Rogues did not attack and rather stood protectively around the Dark Knight. His Visor was down and two hot red orbs shown brightly were the eyes should be. The other two heroes finished things off and approached closer to where Shadow stood. "Who are you?" Darthos' howled, still in werewolf form. The Knight seemed amused by the request. "Who am I, you ask?" His hollow voice rang. "I am the Knight of Darkness, the Servant of Duriel." The heroes bristled at that name. "As your you and your rag tag army," he spat blood. "You may have won this small skirmish today, but there will be a price of your blood you will have to pay." With that he opened a blue portal and walked through. Two additional Hordes approached from the left and right side. One of goat men the other of Corrupted Rogues. Pinning them on three sides. "Why does he want to keep us away from that Structure?" Darthos growled and motioned to his Raven to fly there and back. "This is going to be one heck of a long day," Jezter said tiredly. With everyone excited about their recent outing and repaired weapons and armor, Tiger spoke up, “Ok folks, it’s about that time to go after Blood Raven,” as he tapped impatiently. One of the Scouts gave me directions to the Graveyard." The others nodded and together they headed off again this time to the graveyard. They were well outside camp in the Cold plains when they heard it, a loud crash. Sir Drake pointed over to the remains of a Small Cabin. Sitting on part of the house was a large golem watching three large wolves comically follow three skeleton warriors very closely, tongue and tails wagging. Tiger led them over cautiously. "I can't believe you had him sit on the house!" A woman's voice was heard. "Well, I told him to sit down. I didn't think he would actually sit on the house," Jezter's voice was heard. Tiger grinned and lead them over. As the assassin and the Necromancer bickered back and forth, Darthos stayed sitting outside, looking at the star-spangled night sky. A sudden movement from in front brought him quickly to his feet, only to find himself staring at Tiger’s upper chest and lower necks. "You scared the daylights out of me," Darthos said, sighing. "Good! Cause it is nighttime,” tiger replied sarcastically. Darthos glared at him. With a crashing punch at the door, Tiger led the small group inside. The sudden slamming of the door stopped Shadow and Jezter from keeping at each other's throats. "Children, children!" Tiger boomed out. He grinned and helped himself to a basket of bread in the house as he looked through a hole in the ceiling. Jezter stammered to say something, but he needn't do so, for Tiger spat out the moldy bread immediately! "So how'd it go?" Shadow asked, "and would I've enjoyed it?" "Oh yeah," Tiger said, spitting again and retrieving his bloodstained weapons. Shadow shook her head in disappointment “I knew it. How come YOU get to have all the fun?" "Fun?!? I was nearly killed!" Sir Drake scoffed. "Oh, suck it up," Shadow said before departing into the darkness. Tiger and the group followed. The concentrating Druid looked up. "Should we camp the night?" he asked. "If we were going to camp, why didn't we stay at the encampment? That cute blacksmith was about to sell me a superb sword;" Tiger turned to the whining Paladin. "Cute blacksmith?" Drake turned bright red. Tiger patted Sir Drake's chest, leaving him winded as Rhi and Jevanie put on some big girly smiles. "Hey, let me know before you buy anything, so I can get you the better weapon," Sir Drake nodded at Tiger as he gasped for air, making Jezter laugh. Jezter spoke up, "If we stay the night, we could be dead by morning. Those corrupted rouges are superb huntresses," "So we could keep watch," Rhi said. Tiger shook his head. "No. He's right. If we take Blood Raven out now, while still a bit unsuspecting, we might have a greater chance. Yes, I think all of us are strong enough to take her out, but she'll have an army along with her, guaranteed." "He's right. The more time we give her to prepare, the slimmer our chances. It's either stay or go." Darthos added. "Plus, if we defeat her, the Corrupted Rouges will not be able to survive away from great sources of evil. They need...a sort of fountain, so to speak, of evil from which to drink from. We'll come across more when facing Andariel," Jezter stated. "Let's not speak of Andariel yet. One step at a time but lets make them big steps. It's either fight tonight, or die tomorrow. Who's coming?" Tiger challenged... Everyone stood up in agreement, Drake doing so reluctantly. "All right, let's get a move on. I'll let you know the details along the way". They filed out of the house behind Tiger and not a moment too soon. As soon as Shadow crept out of the darkness along the walls of the house, there was a huge crash behind them. The party jumped to attention until realizing what happened. Shadow walks by Jezter "I can't believe you let that stupid rock sit on the house". The necro motions to his golem and they continue on their way. Tiger begins to explain “when we get to the grounds, we’re going to split up and go in on all sides. The rogues told me there are 2 gates on opposite sides, along with a couple of openings from the fences crumbling away." A small band of Fallen appeared along with their Shamans. Jev and Rhi quickly disposed of the Shaman, while the Golem and wolves disposed of the waist-high annoyances. Tiger continues "Darthos and Shadow; you 2 will take the opening near the pathway when we enter the burial grounds. Jezter, take Rhiannon with you to the right. Drake and Jevanie will take the left, and I'll take the far end. Darthos, I'll need your bird to fly the perimeter to be sure everyone is set after you are. Have him start with Jezter and Rhi, and continue along to Jev and Drake." The Druid nods his approval and calls his bird to ready him for action. Looking over to the Amazon, "Jev, once you get the signal that everyone is set from our feathered friend, I want you to send up a fire arrow as our signal to begin the attack. I think with this plan, Blood Raven and her little minions will never know what hit them." They come to the entrance of the Grounds shortly after the plan is laid before them. Darthos and Shadow are the first set. A couple of zombies starts creeping towards them as they make their final preparations, as the bird quickly flies over and disposes of them. After a couple of moments, Darthos sends his bird to check on the others. Picking off one of the undead minions that wandered from the central burial grounds, he flies to each checkpoint and receives his acknowledgement to continue on. Coming to the last of the heroes, he perches upon Drakes out stretched arm. "Let's have some fun, shall we?" Jev asks as she pulls an arrow from her quiver. She then releases the enchanted arrow into the sky as Drake heads towards the battle. Jev readies her bow again for the upcoming onslaught as she hears a deafening howl. She thinks to herself "I wonder if that was Tiger or the wolves" as she takes aim on the first couple of zombies...
Return to Kurast
Back to chapter 1
Continue to chapter 3