Chance’s Gambit

In a dark castle, guarding a pass in the Crystal Mountains, a lone chamber stood in a tall spire, that touched the cold sky. Within the room the walls were covered with ancient glyphs of protection, on the floor a pentagram that marked the boundary of the multi dimensional gate.

Nox stood at the alter. Upon it were symbols of power a jeweled dagger, an ancient scroll, and a brazier that the smoke from the incense coiled like a snake that crawled up an invisible tree. At the outer edge of the table sat two candle burning in holders of pure gold. Their flames flickering in the unseen currents of air that passed though the sanctuary.

A skeleton like finger passed over the ancient scroll of yellowed parchment with ink so dark it drank in the flickering candle light. Nox spoke with a voice deep and foreboding that caused a tingle in your spine.

In the void beyond the vail

Where the dark hunger sleeps

I call forth with this spell

The servant that in silence creeps

To me you shall obey

And you will do my bidding

To my will you will stay

While in the land of the living

There was a bright flash of lightning that split the sky and the loud roll of thunder shook the chamber. A dark formless shadow rose through the gate on the floor. A cloud of inky blackness that had two points of light that pierced the darkness with malicious as its eyes.

Nox smiled and said with a voice chilling and evil, “You will fetch the idol of Vorthis from Baron Blackthorn for it is now mine. You will take it from him and bring it to me. If he resists you may devour his soul.

The dark formless cloud receive its orders and flowed like creeping stain that spilled into the still of the night.

The Baron could feel the approach of evil. He ran through dark alley ways to hide, but the darkness still pursued him. With each turn he could feel it close in on him.

In desperation, he cast a spell of fog to hide in, but the shadow became the mist that was forming behind him. It swirled hungrily as it approached him.

He spun around wide eyed and hurled a fire ball that bathed the ally in a sudden flash of bright light, but it just passed though the phantasm like smoke in the air, for there was no flesh to burn nor heartbeat to stop.

Trapped with no where to turn, he could feel it dark tentacles pierce his body with cold chilling grip. He threw a bolt of lightning from the heavens, it crackled through the air and stuck at the formless creature, but the dark mist let the bolt of power pass through a void it made in its body.

He could feel its darkness, as it sucked the life from him. A terrible cold that seeped into his bones and chilled his very soul. With the last embers of his life he used the idol to make a wish.

The Baron gripped the idol to his chest and with a horse whisper he said, “I wish that Nox will never possess the idol.”

Then he drew his last breath, and the phantasm took its prize. It returned to its master like a faithful dog.

The dark cloud slinked to its master with its prize. Its shadow stretching behind it like a ripple in black water. It floated to the alter, the idol of Vorthis clutched in its darkness. The air crackled as it presented the object of desire to its master.

Nox reach out and sized the idol. It glowed in defiance and his mind was filled with pain. A hot shocking flash jolted his arm and the idol fell to the alter with a loud thud.

Nox said, “Fool, did you think this would stop me.”

He reached for a sealed wooden box. With his boney fingers he pressed the secret release and removed an evil carving of a crystal heart. Using a spell of joining the heart was placed in the chest of the idol without touching the golden statue. It now glowed in a pulsing rhythm that pushed magic through the idol.

It now stood up and said, “Now all you need is my brain to complete me and I shall be alive to do your bidding. Unfortunately you cannot use my power until I can break the final curse. You must get the crystal brain from the Widow Blackthorn. It is on a golden chain she wears around her neck.”

****

In my study I sat. I’m Chance, a Half-Orc that has a reputation of helping people solve their problems, for a fee of course. I was studying an ancient scroll for its secret meaning when …

Jarvis, my servant knocked on the door and said, “The widow Baroness Blackthorn.”

I said, “Come in and sit down.”

The beautiful women moved in a slow dance of desire and she sat down on the couch next to Chance’s desk.

I looked up at the member of the court and said, “My lady, what can I do for you?”

She said in a velvet smooth voice, “I understand you can help people with trouble.”

I smiled and my short tusks gleamed in the morning light that poured through the big window. I looked at her with my large green eyes said, “What problem could a woman like you have that you needed my services?”

“My husband was murder over a family heirloom that I want back,” she said.

“Do you know who did this,” i said.

She said, “Yes, it was the dark Lord Nox.”

I said, “I see. What makes you think I can help you?”

“You have a reputation that speaks of an ability to make things happen when others fail,” she said, “And I am willing to pay you your fee of a hundred gold pieces a day.”