Diamonds Aren't Forever

Two of Pavlichek's bodyguards walk through the door, with Pavlichek following immediately behind, and then two more of them guarding his back.

Pavlichek stops for a second to cast a cold glance at the infant playing at his feet before the group carries on into the bar.

As he does so, the infant slams the door behind him, causing Pavlichek and the guards to jump a little and reach for the hilts of their weapons. When they see it is just the brat, they relax a little. Pavlichek looks with annoyance as the kid rushes past their legs and runs towards the bar.

'Come on now, youngster' says Tharnald to the boy. 'Stop bothering people and come and play with your Uncle Tharnald and Uncle Darry.'

'And later Uncle Tharnald's going to be playing with Uncle Darry!' adds Darry, much to the mirth of many of the regulars.

Pavlichek is not amused and throws the pair of them a stare that shows his feeling that freaks of nature such as they should be put down like the sick animals they are. He and his guards carry on into the room.

Bennett the Witchfinder rises from his position and makes his way towards them.

'Is he here?' mutters Pavlichek tersely.

'Follow me' says Bennett as he guides the group through the tavern.

One or two of the patrons of the bar look at Pavlichek as he passes, before whispering to their partners. It is obvious that Pavlichek is too well known in the city to avoid his being recognized.

Bennett and Pavlichek's group arrive before Reinburger and his orcish bodyguard. Pavlichek's lead guards part to let him see the Witchfinder General.

'Mr. Pavlichek, please let me introduce you to the righteous Witchfinder General of the Town of Dvur Kralovye, Mr. Pavel Reinburger.'

Reinburger stands, without emotion on his face, and brings his hand up to shake that of the Guildmaster.

'I'm not one for formalities, Reinburger' says Pavlichek, trying to dominate the meeting. 'Let's just get on with it. I hope that you've arranged somewhere private for us to talk. I don't want any of this rabble listening in on us.'

'Naturally' replies Reinburger, as Winnacer tries his hardest not to let Pavlichek intimidate him, having to forget his natural courtesy. 'I have arranged for us to use this meeting room.'

'Come on then' replies Pavlichek, impatiently.

Reinburger starts to make his way towards the room. Xavier the orc and Bennett the Witchfinder start to join him.

'Stay here' barks Pavlichek at the two of them. 'You too' he adds, speaking to his guards.

Bennett and Xavier look at Winnacer, checking to see what his reaction would be. Winnacer nods at them, as if to tell them that he thinks that he can take on Pavlichek alone, providing that the rest of the party deals with the guards.

The guards sit down at the table vacated by Reinburger and Bennett and Xavier do the same. The guards stare at the two of them while Bennett and Xavier stare back.

Reinberger opens the door to the meeting room and gestures for Pavlichek to enter. Pavlichek stops at the doorway and peers in. Seeing that the room is totally empty but for a table and some chairs, he walks in. He sits down at one end of the table and crosses his arms behind his back.

Reinberger closes the door behind them and sits at the opposite side of the table. He sees 'Old Bohavia' laying on the table.

'What's this?' he asks, picking up the weapon.

'It was dropped by one of the rebels as they tried to make their escape. It's one of the only clues that they left us with.'

Pavlichek investigates the weapon, examining the hilt carefully.

'A relic from the old days' he says. 'Looks like you've got a "noble" stirring things up' he sneers, obviously having little respect for those of high blood.

He places the weapon back on the table, much to Reinburger's relief.

'So let's cut to the chase, Reinburger. What is it that you want from the Diamonds and what's in it for us?' Pavlichek asks.

Reinburger is taken aback somewhat at the forthright approach of the Guildmaster, but doesn't let it panic him.

'To capture the rebels in return for gaining control of Dvur Kralovye' Reinburger replies, trying to match Pavlichek's approach.

Pavlichek smiles a cold smile at this:

'Well that's certainly an interesting prize, but are you sure that you're not making promises that you can't keep? You might think that you're in control of Dvur, but I'll wager that Malek has other ideas. And what makes you think that the Blue Dragons are going to vacate the town without a struggle?'

'The rebels have brought great embarrassment to Malek too. I can guarantee that he will do whatever it takes to bring the rebels to justice. His entire reputation is at stake here. As for the Dragons, I'd heard that they were mere amateurs compared to the mighty Diamonds. Or is my information incorrect?' Reinberger smiles.

Reinburger guessed at Pavlichek's weak spot, as the Guildmaster answers him angrily:

'Of course that is correct, the Dragons are just a bunch of lucky chancers who've only got to their position by sucking up to the Nyemetz. Take away the Nyemetz' cloak of protection and we'd take them out in no time.'

Reinburger smiles, knowing that Pavlichek cannot help but be interested now:

'So are you saying that you'll take the job?'

'Not so fast' counters Pavlichek. 'I need more information before I can make a commitment. I need to know everything about the rebels' activities. I don't take a job on unless I know that I can accomplish it. There's no point in taking the job on if the rebels have already fled. How do you know that they didn't slip across the border into Polonia already?'

Reinburger then starts to tell Pavlichek a carefully crafted story about the rebels.

Meanwhile, the air of tension in the rest of the tavern is fast becoming unbearable. All from the meeting room is quiet and the party is wondering when Winnacer is going to give them the sign to swing into action. At the table, the bodyguards continue to observe their opposite numbers in cold silence. Bennett and Xavier do the same.

Things have started to get a little tricky in the remainder of the tavern. A number of customers are starting to ask why they are having to wait so long for their meals, and why their drinks are so slow in coming.

Barra is starting to get irritable. Now that the tavern is over half full, (s)he really has her work cut out in order to take the orders and deliver the drinks. As (s)he is forced to work faster and faster, (s)he starts becoming more and more irritable, telling the customers to 'keep their bleedin' hair on' and 'I've only got one pair of hands, ain't I?'.

Things reach a head when she delivers a glass of ale to one of the visiting groups of merchants who have been drinking heavily through the evening. As Barra comes up to one of them, (s)he says:

'My, my, what a buxom filly we have here' and proceeds to pinch her behind.

At this, Barra/Robert finally snaps and punches the glass of ale straight in the merchant's face. The sight is horrific. The man's face is now just a mass of blood, glass, gristle and ale.

There is a moment's pause before all hell lets loose.

The man starts to scream.

The customers start to scream.

Tharnald and Darry start to scream.

Barra starts to scream.

Kiddie-Yaz starts to cast. Knowing that the fun is about to start.

The bodyguards start to look round with hands on hilts, trying to see what is going on. While they are distracted, Xavier and Bennett draw their bastard swords quietly, ready to lay into the guards.

The kid finishes his utterings and gesticulations. Yaz, Jihan, Faewen'il and Robert all feel blessed by Prirodna, although Robert just thinks that he's starting to develop a migraine.

Faewen'il reaches into Darry's apron and pulls out a pinch of red, blue and yellow powder which she tosses towards the bodyguards while uttering an incantation and gesticulating. As the powder flies through the air, it suddenly turns into a prism of incredibly bright colors, dazzling everyone for a brief second. The first of the guards screams out in pain and puts his hands to his eyes. The second slumps to the ground looking stunned.

Jihan reaches under the bar and pulls out a couple of daggers dripping with a thick fluid. He starts to make his way towards the guards along the side of the wall.

Robert also comes to his senses. He lifts up his skirt revealing a tantalizing glimpse of thigh and pulls out the shortsword that was tied to his leg. He starts to make his way towards the guards from the opposite side.

Kiddie-Yaz wastes no time in starting more incantations. Faewen'il recognizes the incantation as the same one that Flint was using in the combat against the Witchfinder in the building. He gestures towards the last of the guards, who starts to sweat.

Xavier has his bastard sword in his hand and lashes out at the blinded guard sitting straight in front of him, trying to take as much benefit from the situation. With the guard blinded, Xavier can hardly miss. He hacks through the guard's mail and cuts deeply into him.

Bennett has Sorrow in his hands immediately. He lashes out against the two guards sitting opposite him. With the element of surprise, he easily hits the first of them, damaging him quite badly, but the second just has time to leap to his feet, avoiding his blow. The two of them both try to strike back, but the first misses by a wide margin and the other's blade fails to find a way through the Witchfinder's robes.

The blinded guard draws his shortsword and lashes out in the direction that Xavier's blow originated from. The guard, either through luck or great judgment, manages to connect with Xavier, causing him some damage.

The customers in the tavern are starting to go frantic, screaming and shouting at the top of their voices. Most of them start running towards the door, trying to vacate the tavern as quickly as possible. Others just sit in their seats, paralyzed with fear.

The commotion inside the tavern couldn't fail to be heard from inside the meeting room.

'What the hell's going on out there?' cries Pavlichek, rising to his feet and starting towards the door. Winnacer sees his opportunity and goes to pick up 'Old Bohavia' from the table. However, the hilt was on Pavlichek's side of the table and so he has to move around the table in order to pick it up. In his haste to retrieve it, Winnacer, true to style, doesn't see the chair to his side and stumbles over it, crashing to the floor.

'So it's a trap, is it?' cries Pavlichek as he sees Reinburger sprawled on the other side of the table. He draws his shortsword from its scabbard and Winnacer sees, to his horror that the blade is dripping with a green-colored liquid.

Pavlichek mounts the table, showing a startling amount of dexterity for a man of his advanced years, but still not sufficient for him to be able to land a blow on the young knight, who manages to dodge his blow.

Winnacer doesn't let this stop him and is soon back on his feet scrabbling for the hilt 'Old Bohavia', finding it eventually. As he does so, however, he provides an opening for the Guildmaster, who thrusts the poisoned blade deep into Winnacer's side. Winnacer gasps at the pain as the cut was deep. He is more worried, however, about the green liquid that must have been injected into his bloodstream. He does not, however, feel any effects. Yet.

Worried that he might soon do so, however, he decides to summon aid:

'POISON!' he shouts to the others.

Jihan immediately changes targets as soon as he hears Winnacer's cry and starts towards the door. Yaz was about to start casting another spell, but realizes that he is the only one that can do anything for Winnacer if he really has been poisoned and so dashes after Jihan as fast as his tiny kiddy feet will allow him.

Robert reaches the table between the guards and Bennett and Yaz. Taking his shortsword, he neatly cuts the throat of the stunned guard.

Faewen'il is casting again. They all hear her chanting the now familiar words of the sleep ensorcellment and see her tossing a pinch of sand towards the farthest two guards. As the sand hits the floor, one of the guards, the one damaged by Bennett earlier, slumps to the ground asleep. As he hits the ground, Robert cuts his throat immediately.

Xavier strikes out at the blinded guard again. Once again, he is an easy target, as he cannot see the blow coming and Xavier strikes him with another deep cut. The guard is obviously a great veteran, however, as he soaks up the damage with ease. However, the direction of the blow gives the blinded guard all the clues that he needs in order to determine where Xavier is, and manages to cut him again, although the wound is not too deep.

The guard facing Bennett is starting to squirm and moan now and Bennett can see that his mail is starting to glow because of heat. Bennett attempts to add to the guard's discomfort by striking him, but his blow fails to connect. The guard strikes back at Bennett, but is thrown by the heat of his armor.

Robert has got himself behind the blinded guard now. He brings his shortsword up and attempts to stab him in the back. However, at that time, sight returns to the guard and he is just able to avoid the barmaid's attack. It does, however distract the guard so that Xavier is able to get another strike upon him, weakening the guard still further. The guard strikes back at Xavier. Able to see again, the guard has no problem in hitting the orc, although the damage is slight.

Bennett launches out at the guard in front of him, but the guard manages to avoid his attack. The guard's mail is, however, starting to glow and his robes are smoldering. The guard cries out as his skin begins to fry. In pain, he lashes out at Bennett with his broadsword, catching the Witchfinder unprepared and inflicting heavy damage upon him.

Faewen'il stands fingering a cobweb. She has just one spell left memorized, but doesn't see an opportunity to use it upon the guards locked in melee. The searing heat of the guard's armor would simply burn away the web instantly. She rushes over towards the door of the meeting room to see if she could be of more assistance there.

Jihan quietly opens the door to the meeting room to see Pavlichek and Reinburger locked in combat. Winnacer attempts to land a blow upon Pavlichek, but he feels somewhat weak and is unable to strike the Guildmaster. The poison is starting to have an effect. Pavlichek tries to land another blow on the Witchfinder General, but his blade does not penetrate Winnacer's robes.

Jihan sees his chance with the Guildmaster being preoccupied with finishing off Winnacer and tries to plunge his dagger into Pavlichek's back. The Guildmaster, however, is prepared for stealthy attacks and turns to face Jihan, avoiding the dagger blow. He is not, however, expecting his opponent to be carrying two daggers and Jihan cuts into his arm with the second. Jihan looks on as the poison enters the Guildmaster's bloodstream. Two can play at the poison game.

Yaz remains outside and starts to cast again. Upon finishing the spell, a three-foot blazing ray of red-hot fire springs from his right hand. The toddler rushes into the room and attempts to hit the Guildmaster with it. Upon seeing a three year old bearing a ray of fire taller than he is, Pavlichek is understandably surprised for a second. That second is all it takes for Yaz to strike the Guildmaster, sending him crying in pain as the flame sears his flesh.

Trying to ignore the pain from the poison that is running through his body, Winnacer attempts to strike at the Guildmaster. However, his ebbing strength is not enough to carry the strike forwards. Jihan attempts to lay another couple of blows upon the Guildmaster with the daggers. The first misses, but the second catches the Guildmaster in the neck, severing a vein that sends blood spurting across the room. Pavlichek looks inches away from death now.

Back in the tavern, the fight between the guards and Bennett, Robert and Xavier continues in its fury. Robert again attempts to strike the first of the guards, but the guard easily manages to deflect his blow. Once again, however, it takes his attention away from Xavier, who manages to get another good hit on him. Xavier realizes that he is finally starting to make some progress on the guard, who is starting to slow. The guard, however, manages to get another blow on the unfortunate Saxon at the same time. Xavier's wounds also are starting to take their toll on him.

Bennett strikes out again at the guard he is facing, who is now in agony as a result of the white-hot heat of his mail. He is so overcome with the agony that he doesn't see Bennett's blow coming, with the result that Sorrow takes a terrible toll upon the guard. The guard is in no fit state to take another blow at the Witchfinder.

Robert tries again to land a blow on the first guard who is locked in combat with Xavier, but his blade cannot find a way through the guard's mail. Xavier launches himself into the guard with renewed vigor, attempting to finish him before the guard gets a chance to do the same to him. However, Xavier's blow also glances off the guard's mail. The guard is getting weak, however, and his blow fails to connect with the orc.

Bennett lashes out at the other guard who is writhing in agony from the burning mail. However, he suffers the same fate as the others, as Sorrow fails to cut through the white hot mail. The guard, however, can no longer keep the burning hilt of his sword in his hands and drops it before he gets a chance to attack the Witchfinder.

Inside the meeting room, Pavlichek is fighting for his life and fighting to stay awake. His lids are growing heavy as he tries desperately to fend off the attacks. Winnacer is also trying desperately to fight off the effects of the poison, and has no chance of getting a hit on the Guildmaster. It is thus Yaz who gets the final deathblow in on the Guildmaster, with another blow from his fiery sword that pierces Pavlichek's leather armor and strikes deep into the Guildmaster's heart. He falls into a deep sleep - a sleep from which he will never awake.

'Yaz, see to Winnacer' shouts Jihan as he dashes out of the room. 'I'll help finish off the guards.'

Seeing the Guildmaster dead, Winnacer's strength finally deserts him and he falls to the floor. The face of the Witchfinder General has taken on an ashen color and he is sweating badly. Yaz sinks to his knees beside him and starts casting a cure. However, the spell has little effect upon his condition, as he starts to lose grip on consciousness.

Back in the tavern, the fight with the guards enters its final stages. Robert, frustrated with his lack of success to date tries again to take out the guard, but once more he is foiled by the guard's mail. Xavier's blow fails to connect at all. The guard has similar luck to Xavier. Bennett strikes again at the other, but he too has no joy.

The guard has been well and truly toasted by the heated armor but, as its effects subsides, he still stands. Feeling the heat dispersing, he stoops to pick up his discarded sword. As he bends down, Jihan's blades flash above his head. The elf/dwarf curses his lack of luck in picking that exact moment to attempt a backstab on the guard.

The fighting continues. Now all are getting tired from the frantic fighting and all find it hard to get shots upon their targets. Bennett cuts into the guard he is facing once again and it almost looks as if the guard is finally going to fall, but he just manages to cling on to life.

Robert finally manages to pierce the guard's mail and is delighted to see that he has caused a large rent in the guard's back. His joy is short-lived, however, as the guard exacts revenge upon the hapless barmaid with a wild strike that brings the barmaid to her knees.

'Yaz' cries Jihan seeing Robert fall. 'Your boy needs you.'

Yaz, hearing Jihan's cry, raises himself from besides Winnacer's sweating body and rushes to Faewen'il, who is keeping an eye on both situations from her position by the door.

'Faewen'il, there's nothing that I can do for him. See if you can do anything for him with your herbs.'

Faewen'il rushes to Winnacer's side and rummages through her herb bag to see if there is anything that could aid him. She has no experience with poison and is unsure as to what could work, and so she tries a variety of herbs on him.

Bennett finally gets another blow in on the guard. Although the blow is weak, it is still sufficient to despatch the terribly scarred guard, who falls to the floor with a bang.

Xavier, Bennett and Jihan all put their attention towards the last remaining guard now. Although his position is hopeless, he has decided to fight to the death rather than face the wrath of his bosses for failing in his duty.

There is a blur of metal as the guard tries to keep the three of them at bay. Jihan manages to slash at his legs, but still the guard keeps fighting, getting another blow in on Bennett in retaliation. Jihan finally manages to see an opening and plunges his knife under the guard's arm, sending him crashing to the ground. The combat is over.

Yaz is at Robert's side. He casts a healing spell on the barmaid and (s)he comes to with a start.

Robert/Barra looks round in confusion, trying to work out where (s)he is:

'I've just had a terrible dream' (s)he says. 'I dreamed that I was really a man!'

The others have no time to bother with Robert for the moment, however, after seeing that (s)he is now OK. They all rush into the meeting room to see Winnacer's situation. They see him lying on the ground, his body covered in a thick film of sweat. Next to him are Tharnald who is praying devoutly to Prirodna to help Winnacer fight off the effects of the poison and the form of Darry, who is looking terribly concerned:

'It does nae look good. Ma herbs are keepin him from goin under, but they aren't helpin him to come out from the effects.'

Winnacer feels Spravedelna calling him to her realm, as he keeps falling in and out of consciousness. He is starting to get delirious.

The handful of remaining customers, petrified out of their wits, simply sit in their seats staring at them.

As Faewen'il still ministrates to his poisoned wounds, Winnacer shaking and sweating looks her in the eye with a half-smile:

"I would have to say this really sucks. Almost as much as wolves." Winnacer's eyes slide shut and he lies as still as a corpse for a minute or two.

Soon after he starts to violently shake:

"Uhhhoooooh. No! Stop! Stop! Don't put me in the barrel! Don't put me in the barrel! Help me! Let me out, Let me out!"

Gratefully, he lapses into quiet again. For those whom care about Winnacer, the pain-twisted expression on his face is really difficult to look upon, as such a look of agony is truly a rare sight.

'He's getting delirious' says Jihan, listening to Winnacer's murmuring. 'I think that there's little that the six of us can do for him here. I think that we need to get him back to the Dragons' safehouse as quickly as possible before his condition deteriorates still further. Hopefully Boris may be able to provide a solution.'

'Let's not overlook the fact that these bastards might have some items of use to us, however' the elf continues. 'Bennett and Xavier, can you go through Pavlichek and the guards' possessions and lay them out? Faewen'il, could you get the Witchfinder's staff and check everything for magick. Then we should get out of here as quickly as possible.'

Faewen'il feels absolutely awful as she gazes down at Winnacer's poisoned wound and is unable to do more other than to stabilize him. She then looks over the dead body of the Guildmaster and a small hope brightens her dwarven eyes.

"Someone check tha body o tha guildmaster for an antidote to this stuff! Surely he must have one in case he has an accident with his weapon!"

The others nod and rush to their tasks. Xavier and Bennett quickly go through the guards' possessions while Robert checks those items belonging to Pavlichek. They find 47 gold pieces after going through the pockets and pouches of the five of them, and take off three valuable gems that the Guildmaster was wearing. Robert does not, however, find anything similar to an antidote upon his person. Faewen'il looks sad as Robert gives her the news and then goes upstairs in order to bring down the rod.

A couple of minutes later, she returns with the rod and swings it over the possessions arrayed before her. All look on as they see the gem at the tip of the staff begin to glow as it passes over the Guildmaster's sword, his scabbard and one of his rings. All of the guards' equipment proves to be non-magickal.

Jihan scoops up the coins and the magickal items and hangs them from his belt:

'No time for investigating further' says Jihan. 'We can check them out in more detail when Winnacer is more comfortable. Let's get out of here. Bennett and Xavier, I think that the two of you should drag Winnacer back to Boris' place between you. Pretend that you're a couple of drunks carrying your friend home after a hard evening on the drink. I shall take point. Faewen'il, Yaz and Robert, you three can bring up the rear.'