by
Xaruliz
"Ji-Jibbbllleee!!" he screamed. A Netherbian got up from his corner. He slammed the half conscious Xaruliz on the head, knocking him out once again...
In the bazaar, a scaled party was running around frantically asking about a monk and shaman that had disappeared the last day. An injured haven Officer limped over to them and told them the story of the great monk.
"He came out of nowhere, stronger than all of us! He bounded over the whole fight and beat their leader to death. We then saw the true leader, but we were no match for him. He harm touched the monk and proceeded to pound on the shaman. While Xaruliz was stunned the whole army jumped on him. No man could have survived it, but we had to retreat. If you would like to search for him, you can check the Netherbian Lair. I can give you the map of the Nexus, because we know our way around by now. I must be on my way... ...Good luck, and please thank Xaruliz for us all."
The trio bounded for the Netherbian Lair. They thought if they split they'd find him faster. If they were all alone, they would probably just be joining Xaruliz... So the necromancer split off from the Warrior and the SK. The necromancer went left and the other two headed right. The necro was walking through the hall invis so no one would see her. She heard a hissing moan from across the room.
"Jible!!" she shouted. A Netherbian's head darted up...
"INTRUDER ALERT!!"
Many Netherbians ran in and started swinging around madly looking for the invised necro. She ran past Jible and hid behind a pile of rocks. She felt a drop hit her scaly head. She reached back and wiped it off, but then noticed the smell... "blood!?" she thought. She looked up to see her husband sprawled across the ceiling, implanted by force.
The SK and warrior had heard Select's cries and were clearing a path to her through many Netherbians. When they finally reached the room with Jible and Xaruliz, they noticed over 50 Netherbians Netherbians lying on the floor.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" shouted Drizzite. An angry Select sat atop all the corpses. She then casted a frost spell on the ceiling. It chipped away some of the Stalagmites that held Xar up. He shrieked in pain as his body hit the ground. Select and Drizzite ran over and lifted monk. Casshaak glanced around, making sure no more came. Xaruliz tried to stand, but fell back to the floor of the caves. Cass's tongue flicked through the air, "sssssshhh..." he hissed. A few rocks fell from the walls. The ground shook as a heavily armored figure rounded the corner. It charged at Casshaak, but the knight of death dodged the slow beast and landed a blow to his leg. His MoSS severed the beast's knee. His hand grazed the beast along the shoulder. He jumped back and crouched on the ground. Drizzite took her chance while he was open. She ran in with her two-handed practice sword and landed a slash to the ribs. She hissed as a shield of bristles grew over her scales. The creature doubled her with both arms, but hit spikes each time. He turned to run, but Select casted Darkness on him. He hit a wall and fell to the ground. A mysterious figure casted a frost spell on him, dealing the final blow. The newly-conscious Jible smiled a limped over to Drizz.
"NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" shouted Select.
"What is it?!" asked Cass,
"He-He's- -his pulse-- it's... it's gone!"
"...it... it can't be!!" screamed Drizzite.
She ran over and hugged her son's cold body. Cass turned his back to the three, not wanting to show the look on his face. A Knight of the Dead has never shed a tear, and he couldn't let them see. Without a word, Cass grabbed Xaruliz's body and ran. Drizz and Select followed him to the Nexus.
"Wha- what are you doing with him?" asked Select. He continued on to the bazaar, but it was empty. Then, rounding the corner, was Brickened, one of Xaruliz's good friends.
"Oh dear!" said the short little cleric, "You! Take him to my house! We must hurry while there's time!" Casshaak followed the dwarf to his home in Shadow Haven, where he had set up a mini-shrine of healing. He imediately gathered a few materials and bagan chanting. His hands hovered across Xaruliz's cold scales. The monks eyes darted open...
"Brick? is that you?"
The midget sighed before saying, "can't you ever stay out of trouble? I leave you for one day!"
Xar groaned and sat up and asked, "How did you--"
"--Find you? I didn't, she did," said Brickened pointing to Select. Xar wrapped his hands around the weeping Select.
"I've never seen someone heal so fast when being revived from death," Brick said questioningly.
"I feel fine," replied Xaruliz smiling, for he had mend to aid him from the sliver of life he had when he woke.
"Your friends are waiting for you outside," added the cleric.
"What? Who all came?" he asked as he went into the next room. At a table sat Casshaak, Drizzite, Tode, Xorshaak, Whirlinfists, and Xilanthanax.
"XARULIZ!!" shouted Drizzite as she ran to him and hugged him. Everyone's head glanced up at Xar and Select.
"Great, now I have someone to pick on again," said Xilanthanax sarcastically (maybe.)
"It's a good thing you got back," added Xorshaak, "Cass hasn't said a word since he brought you here."
"Th-that's not true! I was just thinking!"
"Yeah, don't worry, Xaruliz was the same way when you said you were retiring from being a Shadow Knight." Xar's face cracked a grin as he turned away.
Drizzite walked to her backpack and said, "I grabbed this before me and Select ran after Casshaak. I believe you deserve it more than us. You're the hero of this war." She pulled out a beautifully polished breastplate and handed it to Xar.
"I-I don't know what to say, but thankyou... All of you. I didn't think all of you really cared about me--"
"--Hold it," said Tode, "let's not get too mushy here."
"...Right, well... I'm gonna look around Shadow Haven for a while," stated Xar as he headed for the door, "and by the way, don't even think about trying to buy a horse... The only way you could get one is by stealing it... They cost more than the tooth of Veeshan himself!"
The group all laughed at Xaruliz as he and Select stepped out of the door.
"I'm glad you came for me..."
"Me too," said Select smiling, "I'd starve to death!"
They both laughed and walked off to get some dinner...