"I think we should go now, Kain," Seras droned, "We have what we came for…"
"Give me a moment," replied the Iron clad Vampire, "We are at the very inner sanctum of Nupraptor's retreat…"
Seras nodded, "Yes, and?"
He smiled thoughtfully, and lifted the mentalists head up to face level, "My, my, Nupraptor where are your private quarters… where are they indeed."
Seras blinked, "What are you thinking?"
Kain smiled. "Where would you keep your most valuable mystical artifacts?"
Seras slowly began to smile. "You want to raid the vault?"
"Indeed," he replied, "There are no doors and we've seen nothing of the like so there must be something that triggers a secret door or a portal…"
"I think his head might work…" Seras remarked.
Kain smiled, "Yes… you are right even without life or body, his head still glows with power. It seems to be a potent psionic artifact..."
Kain slowly began to walk around the room, waving the head before him, and sure enough, as he approached the upper corner of the room, the wall opened up an inside was a teleportation portal.
Kain smiled to Seras and held out his arm.
"Shall we?"
Seras laughed and took it. Together they entered the portal.
Moments later the arrived in a small foyer with an open door before them. That door lead into another hallways, one that was once richly decorated and not lay in decay. It likely had not seen upkeep in 30 years.
Slowly they walked up to the first door. It was a small dining hall likely where Nupraptor had entertained personal guests prior to his madness. Chairs and table lay strewn around as if they had been throw by some immensely powerful child's tantrum. Considering who had been master of this place, it was likely the result of Nupraptor's sorrowful lashing out upon the death of Ariel.
The next room, a Libiary also lay in ruins. Cases had been shattered by great forces and books were thrown about here and there.
Slowly Seras walked over to one of the books and lifted it.
"More of that 'Old Nosgoth' runic script…"
Kain nodded, "Yes. It is the language in which magic is commonly found…"
She nodded and placed it back down.
"Well I'll be…" Kain remarked as they entered the next room down the like.
Unlike the others, this room was clean and untouched. It was perfectly preserved. It had once been a shrine but not it seemed to be a mausoleum. In the center of the room where they alter would have been was a stone sarcophagus. On the lid of the tomb was the image of a beautiful woman, and lying on top was a wicked looking dagger.
Seras looked down at the face of the woman. "That’s Ariel, isn't it…?"
With an arrogant smile, Kain walked to the sarcophagus and snatched up the dagger.
With a laugh he gave it a twirl. "Very well balanced…"
Turning to Seras and lifting Nupraptor's head he sardonically remarked, "I wonder what would get more of a rise out of her…" he looked to the head, "Seeing her beloved Nupraptor once more," he then turned to the knife, "Or seeing this lovely blade again…"
"Come on," Seras scoffed, "now that’s just cruel…"
"It may be cruel, but it is also quite amusing," He chucked and held the weapon out to her. "Take it. The knife bares an enchantment. Death magic… very curious."
Seras shook her head, "I'm not going to storm in and raid someone's tomb like that insipid Lara Croft woman."
"Lara who?"
"She's an infamous treasure hunter from back home." Seras replied, "I think I remember her being described as an archeological bulldozer…"
Kain shrugged, "Very well, but do remember she was killed by a fellow member of the circle. I do feel she would enjoy the irony having this blade planted into the back of the one who planted in hers."
"Fine…"
Slowly Seras accepted Ariel's murder weapon and placed it in her belt.
"Happy now?"
"Quite," he replied, "Shall we move on?"
Continuing down the hall past wrecked bedrooms they finally came to a room with a sealed stone door. Kain smiled and lifted the head of the mentalist.
With a labored grind, the door slowly opened, and looking upon the interior, Seras only had one thing to say…
"Monty Haul…"
"What?"
"Oh, nothing…"
Like the previous rooms, Nupraptor's treasure room was a total wreck, strewn with the debris of countless priceless magical items, unidentifiable mystical tools, and a generous spray of gold coin. Despite the devastation, many of the lesser artifacts still remained intact, and the gold remained gold…
Seras immediately began to gather the glittering coins that littered the floor, haphazardly throwing them into a large sac.
Stepping inside, Kain scoffed, "What are you doing? It is not like anyone will trade with us…"
Seras smiled, "You, maybe, but I still pass for human… besides, you could always use your Disguise..."
Kain paused, "You make an excellent point... Very well. You gather the gold, and I shall see if there is anything magical that can be retrieved from this mess…"
Kain began to sort through the mess, claiming numerous Flays, Implodes, Energy Banks, Slow Times, and even a couple disgusting little items knows as Fonts of Putrescence.
"Now what is this?" Kain muttered to himself as he moved the lid of a broken chest. Smiling he lifted a large spiked mace. "If I am not mistaken, this is a Mace of Stunning… very nice…"
"I think I have all the coins I can carry," Seras told him.
Kain nodded, "And I think I have retrieved all that is of value. Let us leave..."
--------------------------------------------
"The Pillars lay to the southeast," Kain absently remarked, as they left the Retreat. "Are you able to assume the form of the bat?"
Seras shook her head, "My master can, but he never taught me…"
Kain frowned for a moment, "I see… I guess we will have to see if I can teach you then…"
Seras nodded, "Alright…"
"Clear your mind and imagine yourself as a bat, flying through the night's sky, free from all mortal bonds."
Seras closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Slowly she relaxed and waited…
"Can you feel the power inside you?" Kain asked.
She nodded, "Yes…"
"Embrace it…"
Seras breathed deeply and vanished into a cloud of bats. For a moment the circled in place and then reformed into her true body…
"Wow…"
Kain smirked. "Can you do it again?"
Seras nodded, "Yes… I think… I know I can…"
She laughed, "It's like riding a bike, once you do it you'll never forget!"
"Right… now do you think you can follow me?"
She nodded.
"Good."
Together they transformed and set off, their destination, the Pillars of Nosgoth.
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(Posted Fri, 18 Mar 2005 02:25)
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