Thaylis Beign and Thorfinn Kitt

Thaylis Beign, The Blade of Pelar and Thorfinn Kiff, The Speaker for the Hands of Dru'el

"Its a hell of a place to die."

Thaylis sardonically thought this to himself as he ran toward the ruined keep, a heavily built M'Chekian Sergeant at his right side and the lithe form of a Le'Nofaythen yeoman to his left. Poorly aimed enemy arrows arched over head, while others found their marks in the advancing allied forces intent on the destruction of Voivode Kasseshisrath. Smashing against the barricades like waves crashing against a jagged shoreline, the strike force swarmed against the Drotid defenders.

In the chaotic moments that followed, Thaylis could see his friends and comrades around him, driving the defenders back, giving as well as receiving punishing attacks. The greatswords of Silver and Rode, rising and falling, delivering pain and eternal rest to those on the receiving end of the massive blades. The Le'Nofaythen scouts, using shadows to work in unison to bring down the defenders. The stoic form of Lieutenant Wallace, throwing deadly arcane magic into the ranks of the Drotid. The small form of June covered in blood, most of it not her own, tending the wounds of the fallen. The Le'Megen officers in their silver, gold and red, fighting with ferocity unmatched.

"Kill them! Kill the Hissers!!"

It was a savage, horrid yell that emerged from the Brigadier's mouth. Thaylis knew the strike force was hopelessly outnumbered, deep behind enemy lines, and unless they fell upon the Drotid fortress with a hungry ferocity they would be repelled and broken. Disciplined ranks dissolved into individual struggles of life and death, enemies as close to one another as lovers before pain and death took hold of the combatants in a cold embrace.

The heavy broad sword of the M'Chekian Sergeant caught the Shaahesk brutally from the side, piercing the lungs of the enemy intending to take the Brigadier's head from his shoulders. A single nod of thanks from Thaylis, and the Sergeant moved quickly to his left toward a small group of allied troops being pressed back by the Drotid defenders. It was at this time that everything changed.

Rather than seeing the dead and dying at the approach to the gate of the ruined fortress and the clashing of two large armies intend on the other's destruction, Thaylis was looking inside the walls of the Keep. Viewed from a slightly elevated position, the vision he saw showed Kahas, the legendary Breath of Pelar, battling the Voivode behind a protective magical field. Within moments, the twin blades of Kahas were silent, resting beside the broken and unmoving body of Pelar's Chosen.

"Noooo!"

Thaylis staggered forward slightly as his vision returned to his present location outside the walls, not realizing he had screamed the word out loud. Anger filled his eyes as he looked toward the Keep with a feral expression. Within seconds, his view changed once again with a blinding flash of bright light; this time he knew precisely where he was.

Inside the Keep, inside the protective magic that shielded the Voivode from the attacking allied forces Thaylis stood next to Thorfinn. Kahas was a short distance away, his body lying in a spreading pool of dark blood. Several vicious wounds were apparent, bone clearly visible in the carnage that was his body. Just beyond the prone body stood Voivode Kasseshisrath, his cruel halberd in his scaled hand, looking at the two humans with a look of both surprise and anger. Unspoken words passed between the Brigadier and Warmaster as they glanced at one another, each knowing precisely what needed to be done. Divine powers had brought the two men to this place and time. Both would give their lives in the attempt to take the Voivode's life.

Before either man could react, the Voivode hissed the following, his words dripping with contempt.

"My many years in the confines of crystal have not left me unable to stand my ground. It is clear now that my people were too weak for what I had planned. In time, they will be the competent force I require."

With an uncommunicated signal, both men reacted instantly.

"For M'Chek!"

"Besvel T'Nanshi!"

Thaylis and Thorfinn yelled their battle cries together as they leapt at the Voivode, hammer and sword clashing loudly against halberd. Within moments, two drangonari elves joined the struggle against the enemy. Thaylis paid little attention to them, as soon they were fighting each other, their blades ringing in the confined space. His focus was on the Voivode. Only the Voivode.

Fighting with the skill he's never known before, Thaylis swung his two-bladed scimitar methodically and rhythmically, searching for weakness in Kasseshisrath's defenses. His blades were a blur of motion, tearing into the Voivode with devastating results, slicing great gashes deep into his scaled hide. Thorfinn's war hammer, Le'Athyed'Dru'El, slammed repeatedly into the Voivode, cruelly crushing bone and muscle. He continued to strike coordinated blows against Kasseshisrath unmercifully.

Wearing the Voivode down, the two men pressed their attack. Slowly, step by step, Kasseshisrath retreated toward the steps leading to the battlements. In a last desperate action to give him time to flee, the Voivode swung his massive weapon in a vicious arc, forcing both men to leap back from its acid bite. Turning and taking the steps 3 at a time the Shaahesk leapt up the steps with the humans close on his heels. Sensing his chance of escaping slipping away, the Voivode turned at the top of the steps, once again attacking the two warmbloods with fury and rage.

Thaylis and Thorfinn fought at a distinct disadvantage. Fighting shoulder to shoulder on the narrow stone and wooden stairs, one would block the Voivode's blows while the other struck with his weapon. Thorfinn used his shield to block the tremendous blows, while Thaylis struck deep with the exquisite blade that once belonged to Warlord Kasslesstha, Kasseshisrath's son. Other times, Thaylis would deflect the Voivode's desperate, brutal attacks while Thorfinn rained down crushing blows with Le'Athyed'Dru'El. As Thaylis' blade slashed deeply one last time into the chest of Kasseshisrath, with a bright flash of flame, the Voivode's corpse was consumed in magical fire.

Exhausted and bleeding heavily, Thorfinn took the last steps to the top of the battlements, shouting with a commanding voice across the ruined keep and outlying battlefield before collapsing against the rails.

"THE VOIVODE IS DEAD!"

Covered in blood from several deep gashes, Thaylis staggered down the steps to the side of Kahas, dropping to his knees and fumbling for bandages in the leather pouch at his side. Noting the magical field is now gone and seeing allied forces swarming inside the Keep, he called out to the arriving reinforcements.

"Someone find June. Now!"

Turning back to Kahas, Thaylis applied several bandages to the worst of Kahas' wounds. Soon, the Breath of Pelar opened his eyes, glancing with recognition at the blood splattered, bearded man above him. Slowly climbing to his feet with the Brigadier's help, Kahas looked to Thorfinn on the battlements, then turned to address Thaylis.

"I see Pelar answered my final prayer. Thank you. Thank you, Blade of Pelar."