The Tavern

A shadowy figure sits in the back of the tavern, only the dim flicker of a candle makes him visible. His name is Illzev Azari a necromancer from far off land, the necromancer is on a neverending quest for power. He is fixated on a skull in his hands but this is no ordinary skull, it's a powerful artifact he attained long ago from a powerful Warlock named Serta BloodCrest. He stole the artifact from his temple knowing full well the power it contains. This skull has been bathed in the blood of 3000 monks, even Serta himself was too afraid to test it's powers. Now was Illzev's chance to attain the full power he wanted, from legends this spell amplified the spell Well of Suffering a hundred times over. He now has one goal in mind finding the spell, everything else he wanted could come later. A fool drunkard was trying to grope a servent wench while holding a pint of ale in his hands. When the servent wench smacked him his ale spilled all over Illzev's cloak. This could not be tolerated insects must know their place. He stood raising his scepter now with the skull placed at the weapons head. "Foolish drunkard you dare sulley my clothing, you will die..." With a single move of his wand a greenish swarm eminates around the drunkard tearing him apart the spell then claims the life of the servent wench and another hapless fool. Everyone escapes the tavern running for their lives, Illzev is pleased now he can finally be left alone.

Peros, a monk who seeks the legends of the world, was on a walk till he saw a tavern be fleeded by a big group of people. He decided to check it out. As soon as he entered he saw a strange man, possibly a necromance he thought to himself. He also noticed that there was no one else in the tavern, so he decided to pour himself a drink and have a seat near him. Though not at the same table, their eyes still met but what intrigued Peros the most was Illzev skull. It was nothing he had ever seen before, Peros has seen many skulls in his time from the countless villians he has slaughtered but that could give off such an odd aura of power.

He sees a young monk with long black hair, not thinking much of him he tries to clear his mind and concentrate on the task at hand acquiring the Well of Suffering. The window cracks open as a light breeze falls against Illzev's cloak. All the sudden in his mind he hears avoice, "Kill the monk, kill the monk, those taught in the path of light must die." Having no desire to kill this monk particularly, "Get out of my head." He thought, as the voice in his head grew louder, "Kill him now!" "No I will not kill him, i choose who I kill and when skull." Not realizing he said this aloud the monk looks over.

Mashekle, perched on a stair railing hidden in a dark corner, lifts his head at the outburst going on around him. He sees the necromancer kill the drunkard, and then the 2 others. "Such anger.... I have seen worse though." He thought to himself. He then saw the young man with the long hair enter the bar. "He looks like the nice sort." Mashekle grinned a sly smile. "Maybe I can lift a few gold off of him." "No I will not kill him, i choose who I kill and when skull!" Mashekle jumped when he heard this. "Skull huh? I think this guy has been spending too much time with his bone minions.... " Mashekle shuddered at the thought. Deciding to watch a while longer, mashekle silently shimmied back deeper into the shadows.

Strider sits in the darkness concentrating on the skull, and cracks an evil grin of approval as the necromancer slaughters the drunkard and slays the two others. The Necromancer looks satisfied now that he spilled blood. Again he begins focusing on his ancestors skull. "Kill the monk! Kill the monk!" he says knowing that only the holder of the skull can hear. He continues to badger him into killing the monk until the necromancer blurts out "No I will not kill him, i choose who I kill and when skull!" The outbust causes movement in the corner and believes he has found easy prey for the necromancer. "In the corner, a murder want to kill you, kill him first!" he tells the necromancer.

Orizon Deathshadow, a master monk and dangerous breed, also was in the tavern. However, not in such a hidden place. You see, Orizon and Illzev had a special bond, they were twin brothers. How could two so different beings come from the same womb you might ask? That is still a mystery. Nevertheless, Orizon would often accompany Illzev on journeys where no other living person would dare to venture... Illzev's personal healer you might say. As with every other journey the two went on, Orizon was just there to make sure his brother would not be ganged up on. Orizon also knew when Illzev wanted to be on his own. This was one of those times. So Orizon sat in a table across the room taking in the still quiet that Illzev had previously made for them....until....

"No I will not kill this man, I kill only who I wish to." With an uncontrolled motion fires an enormous choas storm directly atop the young monk, who is now feeling the pain of it's choatic energy. "Die, die, die!" Pulling back he summons a Bone Minion which attacks the monk firing a projectile into his shoulder. "No stop, you fools get out of here I cannot control this much longer." Blood starts filling his nose as he tries to resist the skulls possession. He attempts to drop the skull scepter but something within him prevents it. The breeze behind him begins to get stronger, he smells a foul stench and he does not know where it comes from.....

Strider begins fanning the air with his shield, thinking to himself, "It must have been the broccoli." Illzev then turns toward Strider and....

The stench awakens Illzev and snaps him out of his state realizing what had just transpired here. The cause of his temporary insanity was the necromancer before, his stink brings back the memory it must be Strider. "Using a mind skull invocation on me how low, young monk after you heal I must apologize for the attack for this is the cause of it" He points at Strider, knowing that he has now been found out.

Peros glances over in the shadow, he seems a young man who seems to have seen the thrill in all of this, Strider. Peros then looks at Illzev and says "I see, well you shall now be spared under God's grace." and with that he mumble a small chant for a few seconds. With a small pause, a blinding light came from his hand and then a magical white aura shined apon Illzev for a few seconds and all his wounds were healed. He then sighed and smiled "My name is Peros, I see you two know each other already. I'm still confused on the situation, maybe you could enlighten me on it?" When he was finished, he knew that the three were not alone, glancing over to his right and left.

Mashekle, looking at the unusual events unfolding before him, casually flipped off the rail and landed in the middle of the group. "Well then... now that thats over with.. How about we do this right?" He then turned and looked at each of the men in the room one by one. "I bet you that I can kill more undead than any of you in this room, with only my little wand here." He tapped his wand lightly on the nearest table. "So, I know of a place not too far from here just teaming with undead" He winked at that. "The winner of this little competition will get 50 gold from each person entering.." His smile broadened to a wicked grin. "Whos coming?" He then began walking to the door.

"50 gold for each person entering, eh?" Peros says, then thinking to himself "So, if I win this, I should get a hefty amount of money and with that kind of money I'm sure to find something legendary around the corner". With smirk on his face he says "Count m...

before any one else could take mashekle up on his bet they heard a man shouting from out side. "hey get back here with my gold wench!" "I'm warning you sir, Let me go you you will regret it." came a women's voice they all steped out of the tavern to see what was going on. Mashekle got to the door in just enough time to see a big rough looking man holding a small dark haired woman by the arm. before Mashekle could react the lady sent her knee hard into the mans crotch, the man let out a hiss of pain and fell to his knees holding his crotch. then the woman ran strait into mashekle. Mashekle caught her before she fell. now that she was so close he noticed her hair was a strange purpleish black color almost the shade of the flames he had seen around the dark lady in one of his visions off her.

Mashekle feeling the young ladies soft body pressed up against him, was quite surprised, and a little at a loss for words. "Ahem... its nice to meet you young lady." He said smiling his most innocent of smiles. He then turned to his new companions. "So are we all up to this little competition or what?" With a sly smile he turned on his heals to advance. "Oh yes...." He stated as an afterthought. "Lady if you would like to tag along you may see something amazing." With that he barked a loud laugh and continued forward.

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