A Little Fall of Rain

[Goku]

The battle had left all of them tired, even if they had escaped with comparatively mild injuries compared to the majority of their recent encounters. The party took the opportunity to pause, bury the dead – even the enemy got a few words murmured over their resting place – and make camp as comfortably as they could in the fetid, swampy marshland.

After he died, the strange magician’s corpse had lost much of its beauty; a withered husk twisted and curled in on itself as though bitter at the injustice of his own demise. After the last shovelful of earth swallowed up that hateful visage, the group felt as though they could at least catch their collective breath.

As the fire kicked up, Juliet sat down next to Goku. “I was surprised.” She said, “I thought you’d try to, I don’t know, knock him out or something. I didn’t think you’d let me take the shot.”

The spiky-haired man looked sidelong to her, and sighed, tucking his hands behind his head.

“If I thought I could have gotten away with it, sure!” He agreed, “But that guy was strong! If I’d hesitated for even a moment, he could have killed someone. Unfortunately, I’m just not strong enough to try and save everyone. And he made his choice.”

Gabriel settled down opposite the pair next to the fire, and stretched his arms over his head. “We made a good team.” He said, “Hopefully, that’ll be the end of it from here on out. I doubt Dracula has an infinite supply of people that strong to send after us.”

For once, Goku’s expression was the more serious of the pair, his features grim. “I don’t think so.” He replied, shaking his head, “It might not be him, but in my experience, the closer we get to the treasure, the more likely we are to find other people.”

Justin settled an old, battered tin kettle over the fire, and passed out cups with tea all ready to go when the water boiled. “You’re probably right.” He said, “So let’s try and make sure we’re up to strength for the last leg. It’d just be embarrassing to fall at the final hurdle.”

The pale sun started to dip down beneath the horizon, lighting the sky in shades of red and purple as the night closed in – and, wisely, the group allowed themselves to settle in until the dawn could break and light their path for them.



The Golden Flame were an adventuring company of some repute before they found themselves in the Omniverse some three months ago. Kunain Heldenhammer, the leader of the company and proud scion of the Heldenhammer Clan, had wasted no time in securing for himself a network of contacts across the different planes which made up this place. He had little patience, as he ever had done, for the intricate world of politics and intrigue into which it was so easy to be drawn. No, his contacts existed for one purpose and one purpose only: to make him rich.

This miserable quest had proven to be a disappointing one. The dwarf’s brilliant golden armour was now tarnished and encrusted with dirt. His thick, bushy black beard had taken an astounding amount of care and attention to maintain in this long and miserable journey. Ordinarily, he would not have a problem with the hardship of the road – but ordinarily, he would have been kept busy with all sorts of profitable fights! Aside from a few undead and other miscellaneous horrors, there had been nothing to test his skill and mettle against – and none of those encounters had brought with them the appropriate level of gold to which he was accustomed.

Ah well, with luck, the final payoff would be worth it. Anything which crashed mysteriously to the earth had to be worth investigating, and by all accounts the party which had set forth from Dalaran was an impressive one. Probably some sort of magical experiment gone awry. He certainly hoped so; prototype magical items were always worth their weight in gold, if not more!

“Hoi, Omion!” He barked, “Have you found the trail yet?”

The half-elf scout looked over his shoulder at his employer, and narrowed his eyes. “If I had found the trail.” He remarked, as calmly as he could, “I would certainly have mentioned it. Do you think I want to stay in this place any longer than I have to?”

“Well hurry it up.” Rosie interjected. The flame-haired Halfling was juggling balls of fire as she waited for further instruction. “I’m bored, and you know what happens when I get bored.”

Kunain could very well understand the irritation coming from his fellows, they were just as hungry for their share of the treasure as he was, and the pickings had been slim. The only one who didn’t seem to care at all was the newcomer – the one member of the Golden Flame who hadn’t been with them for years.

The figure was six and a half foot tall, broad-shouldered and armoured not in the gleaming gold or otherwise elaborate style which Kunain favoured, but instead a series of thick steel plates beneath a dark olive, hooded cape. His features remained shrouded in shadow, and though he could not see them right now, Kunain knew that there were a pair of wickedly sharp scimitars beneath the tall human’s cape.

“Nothing to say, eh, Acwulf?” The nominal leader of the company asked, nudging his newest employee with his elbow. “I swear, you stay so quiet all the time I wonder if you listen to a word we say. It’s as though you’re too busy daydreaming of the treasure to actually help us earn it!”

The statement had been intended as a joke. The withering look which the grizzled man gave the dwarf made it clear that it had not been taken as such.

“They went this way.” Kunain growled, and began to walk.

“O-Oh yes, of course!” Omion said hurriedly, “I can see it now, this way, come on everyone!”

Kunain shouldered his warhammer, and huffed. There was just something about that guy which gave him the willies.



The night closed in on the tiny camp. Fenchurch and Johan stood on guard over the rest of the party as they slept. Trying to keep their wits about them was a challenge on several levels. Firstly, of course, there was the ever-present threat of boredom. The darkness was near absolute, and although they were absolutely aware of the dangers that lurked out there, it was challenging to stare into the gloomy dark and maintain the focus they needed to be aware of any threats.

Then, there was the challenge posed by their own comrades. By now, they were all too well-versed in the rhythmic snoring that filled the camp. Most weren’t too bad, but Goku! That guy could snore fit to send a bear running, and although they were aware enough (now) to tell the difference between his snorting fits and imminent attack by rampaging monsters, the nocturnal noises issuing from the camp made it difficult to pick out any noises which might alert them to approaching trouble.

Finally, there was the actual physical demand placed on them. They had, just a few hours hence, lost another of their close friends on a mission which had claimed many of their lives already. This was something they were supposed to be ready for; they all knew when they took up the sword and the shield that they might not be returning. The Pale Moors were notorious for claiming the lives of even the most experienced soldiers. But still. They were exhausted. Physically, emotionally and spiritually. Fenchurch himself was already mildly burned, but had insisted that he sit up on watch before he rest – determined to prove that he was not going to be a burden on his fellows.

Any one of these factors would have provided an opportunity; all of them together was a deadly combination.

There was a whisper-soft noise from the other side of the camp, and Fenchurch looked over curiously.

“Johan? Are you okay?”

There was no reply, and that sent a tingle down Fenchurch’s spine. He readied his sword, drawing it in preparation just in case it was more than it seemed.

“Johan.” He repeated, more urgently. “Report.”

Fenchurch never saw the blade that claimed his life. It drew across his throat in an instant, and there was naught he could do but gurgle as blood filled his lungs. In desperation, he threw his shield at a tree stump. The almighty clatter was not the warning that they had agreed upon, but as darkness rushed up to swallow him, it was all he could give his friends before the enemy closed upon them.



Goku sprang to his feet, and it was fortunate that he did. A dagger plunged through the pillow where his head had been a moment earlier, the crazed clatter of metal on wood having brought him rocketing back to awareness. The drow looked startled at the sudden alertness of the warrior facing her, and wrenched her weapon free in a flurry of feathers.

“Aw man.” Goku sighed, “Now I’m going to have to make a new one of those too? You guys are the worst.”

The camp was a mad flurry of activity. Shadows danced around the campfire in the dim half-light, and trying to gauge who was friend and who was foe was just too much of a challenge in the gloom. All Goku could really do was fend off the ones attacking him.

They were quick – but not as quick as the last drow he had fought. The woman dashed forwards and struck out again with her dagger. Goku twisted to the side, swept her leg out from underneath her, and kicked her towards the fire. Another was on him in an instant, and this time he was forced backwards, ducking and diving as the dagger slashed out over and over to try and draw blood.

“Light!” Goku recognised Juliet’s voice shouting above the rising cacophony. “We need light!” Well, that was good, that meant she was still alive.

He also recognised the quiet murmuring which answered her. Prayer from Rosalia. He still didn’t really understand where the woman drew her power from, but that hardly mattered – it was all he could do right now to stay one step ahead of the blade being wielded by his adversary.

“HAH!”

A bright flash of yellow light did stun the drow – but the explosive force packed into the punch did a much better job of distracting her, as she was sent hurtling backwards by the sudden orb.

And then Rosalia’s voice raised up in a triumphant shout, and the camp was illuminated by glorious, brilliant white light. For the first time since he had come to this blighted place, Goku felt as though he were standing under a real midday sun – the purity of it was enough to make his soul sing.

It was also enough to draw startled, surprised squeals of pain from the drow, whose eyes were not ready for the sudden light, and who had been trying to take full advantage of their affinity for darkness. There were a lot of them. There had been thirteen of them at first – Goku was quietly pleased to note that four drow bodies lay sprawled around the camp in various states of consciousness and health. Their attackers had not found them as easy pickings as they had likely hoped.

He was less pleased to notice the two dead bodyguards. Each had been dispatched with a simple cut across the throat. If it hadn’t been for Fenchurch’s final act, they would probably all have met their ends in a similar fashion.

Gabriel and Juliet had taken up position around Justin, back to back over the cowering astronomer. Rosalia’s hands were clasped tight about her sword, her attention now back fully on the battle with the miracle fully summoned.

A sudden hiss caught Goku’s attention, and he raised his arm up in front of him just in time to catch the lashing whip. The serpent coiled around his forearm, viper-sharp fangs sunk deep into the soft flesh, and he let out a cry as he felt the burning venom start to work its way through his veins. He tried to pull free, and was surprised to find that the whip stayed firmly where it was.

“That won’t work this time.” Drisnolu sneered, “He’s stronger than my last. You won’t find it so easy to break him.”

Goku’s teeth ground together and he jerked his arm to the side, allowing him a good look at the woman. She was strong enough to bear the light unhindered, and did not seem at all concerned about the fate that had befallen her underlings.

“Where’s your sister?”

The question took the drow Priestess by surprise, although she tried to cover it. “Why do you care?” She asked, “As you can see, I brought other allies. I don’t need her to finish this.”

“I don’t care what you do!” Justin shouted, “I’ll never help you! I’d rather die!”

That drew Drisnolu’s lips from a sneer into a full-on smirk, her eyes narrowing as she looked past Goku and to the cowering astronomer.

“Good!” She spat, “Because I’m no longer here for any paltry magic. I’m here for revenge.”



On the outskirts of the marsh, the Golden Flame were suddenly treated to a sign. Where before they had been following a trail where they could find it, all at once, a point on the horizon lit up as though it were daytime. Kunain drew his hammer back to rest on his shoulder, the remains of an unfortunate crocodile still splattered gorily over its head.

“Rosie.” Kunain demanded, coming to an abrupt stop waist-deep in water. “You’re our magic expert, what do you make of that?”

The flame-haired woman narrowed her eyes – she herself hovered a half-inch above the surface of the water, refusing to allow it to stain her fine red boots, let alone touch the rest of her finery. “Well, it’s not arcane.” She said, “It probably means that they’re in trouble.”

The dwarf nodded, and turned to his half-elf companion. “Well, what are you waiting for? Lead the way!”

Omion looked reproachful, but did as he was told. “Stay close.” He advised, “I’ll find us somewhere we can get a better view, and decide how to approach.”

Carving a path through the swamp was not something it was possible to do quietly, or stealthily – at least, it was beyond the reach of the Golden Flame, even if the drow had somehow been able to manage it. But they did their best, following the path their ranger picked out for them… all except Acwulf, who seemed to pick his own path – parallel, but separate to that of his ‘allies’.

Kunain was disturbed to note that the warrior’s scimitars were now drawn, and glinted menacingly under the light of the full moon – as though eagerly capturing the reflected light and sharpening it along their edges.

Well, whatever. So long as he went in first, the lad could do what he liked. With a bit of luck, this other party would dispatch the creepy bastard and they’d all have a greater share of the eventual reward!