A Bloody Rage
Fresh from a partially successful deal with the Snitch and her allies at Camp Banished, Kull made his way to the Stonehead tavern. In the fast approaching night, the place was empty except for Stashka and Roled, who shared conversation and tea. To his pleasure, the latter Dermorian was injured with two freshly broken legs. Stashka, however, had become an annoyance as of late. Perhaps even a problem. His presence at the Banished meeting halted talks. Bearing this in mind, Kull leaned on a nearby pillar to listen cautiously. It became clear the two were former lovers, and Roled was in trouble. He noted both points for later opportunities.
Kull walked to the bar, with Hemmel coming later on, for drinks. He knew Roled was a threat, and always had been. The fool's word carried weight, and therefore discrediting him was a priority.
Friends of Roled, including the physician Evirea, came to drink and sympathize with the injured Dermorian. Pressing his position, Kull sympathized but also accused Roled of an addiction to Moon Silver. He argued back and forth with Roled, continuing to speak lies, while others listened. They did not believe him, that much was clear. Nevertheless, Kull knew that to state something enough would have an effect. People were weak, and eventually could believe even the most obvious of untruths. In this way he had come to be a cynic.
Out of nowhere Stashka burst into the tavern, having left before in a bad mood. The fool went on to claim Kull lied; that Stashka had put Moon Silver in Roled's tea. He revealed Kull's criminal identity. Then, Stashka stormed out, with Sarras in tow.
Enraged, Kull followed the pair with Hemmel at his side.
Stashka must die, he thought. He had no idea
why a well-paid mercenary would act so irrationally. However, the situation called for a swift and brutal response. No one in the Syndicate could compromise their activities, and everyone else had to know threats would be dealt with severely.
They came upon Stashka and Sarras on one of Gugrontid's overlooks. Scribe took up post on a parallel precipice, while Kull watched from the side of a nearby building. All of a sudden Sarras lashed out and hit her friend. In her anger, she reduced his defenses. Opportunity had struck, and seizing the moment, Hemmel attacked with a bolt of Dark Way energy. Kull drew his daggers and rushed forward. He exclaimed, "You have betrayed the Syndicate. Now you will die Stashka."
Stashka pushed Sarras away and yelled, "Get away, now!" But it was too late. Kull let loose a barrage of dagger strikes all over the Dermorian's face, neck, arms and torso. Flesh was sliced off and blood ran freely. Hemmel knocked the woman back with another spell, giving her no time to react. Once again Stashka acted strangely when he embraced Kull, almost lovingly, despite the hate. Letting loose a cry of rage and disgust, Kull slashed a final time; and Stashka fell dead, before his attacker kicked the body over with a gleeful cry. The body disappeared into the Realm of Death as it tumbled through the air, past the precipices and levels of the Kran city.
Kull was overcome with bloodlust, and turned around to hack at Sarras. His face contorted; his yellow, slitted eyes roving about to find her. Once he locked on, the Akkaio attacked. He slashed and stabbed, only to meet a poor defense of arms upraised. Still, she could not stand for long. Yet again, one of his men acted strangely. Out of nowhere Hemmel shouted at the top of his lungs, "Enough!" and captured Kull in a bubble of Dark Way magic. Sarras tried to get away, hampered by her wounds. Nevertheless, Hemmel was yet to achieve expertise in the Way, and Kull had long developed some modest measure of magical resistance. He eventually wore the bubble down, and burst forth to reach Sarras as she nearly came to a main street. He put his left paw over her mouth and drove a dagger deep into her back. She died quickly and slumped in his arms. Quietly, Kull dragged the corpse behind a nearby building. After a few moments it disappeared like Stashka's.
Kull wheeled around to find Hemmel; the Ynwwn had to pay for his treachery. However, the underboss was nowhere to be seen. After disposing of some bloody leathers, and wiping clean his daggers, Kull searched nearby streets and bridges. He came upon the body of Hemmel, who had clearly tumbled over the side from the aftereffect of such magic. Scribe was unconscious and a broken, huddled mess. The bloodlust had dissapeared, and Kull no longer desired vengeance. He felt loyalty to Scribe, no matter what the Ynwwn had done. Purely by an act of good fortune, Evirea came along and treated Hemmel. After some time, the Ynwwn stabilized, much to Kull's relief.
Sitting inside the tavern, Kull recited a poem he had written, long ago. Perhaps he said it to offer comfort. Perhaps he said it to justify his actions; whether Hemmel understood was another matter.
On blood-stained ground, the Deathly Queen
the Lady Dakkru, taker of life, cries fiery
with foul tongue. "Give me your wicked, incarnate hate
Your armed wayward of hearts dreary
The exiled demons forever banished from happy fate
Send them forth, the unsung seekers, fire-bathed to me,
I raise my sword aside Death's Black Gate!"
Deep into the night, Kull departed, his thoughts occupied by recent events. Most of all, he was concerned with the bloodlust. He knew it blurred judgment and could do irrevocable damage to his mission.
