Prodical Daughter

Galan savorred the piece of roast chicken, for he never knew when the meal would be his last. Everyone was together. Lucian, Bob, Greyson all sat eating their meals and making small talk. Lucian said he was off to Enron, and Babylon to fill a mission he was given by a new captian that he must have been assigned to though he could tell there was some conflict in his heart about it strange.



"When I last spoke with Jared he was headed north to Assyria, so you'll want to start looking for him there. As the gods smile on us I am headed to Assyria myself. Lord Raquel told me they had received a report that Morgan may by Assyria. Though that was all he had. She was under my command so I'm headed up there to find her. Perhaps our paths lie together for a little longer."



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Galan took just a moment to be in awe. A moment ago in Atlanta and now on the edge of the known world. He had teleported many times through magic, divine gifts, the force, but he still took a moment to be grateful. Looking around what was the capital of Assyria, Ashur, Galan was underwhelmed. Compared to Dragon, Andril, TradeCity, Pingdong, Enron this was a backwater dump. Yet good people lived here, Morgan was here--somewhere.



Lucian lead the way down the street towards what must be a tavern. The buildings and signs were all different here. Passing the mud brick buildings as they walked on a packed dirt road, they stepped into a tavern. When it rains these roads must be horrible. Bob knew his way around this tavern like he had been here before. His kind always did. Galan could not help thinking perhaps Bob was a spy. the Fox knew Galan worked with Khan who had sworn to destroy the crime lord. Even though Remus seemed to want to work with him to take Filtch down, Galan could not be too careful in dealing with a man tasked to him by a man who worked for the Fox. Theives and their shadow games. He thought.



Yet he brought his mind to the task at hand. Lucian approached, "Sir we've got directions to a shrine to Marduk. They say Priest Jared spins his days their praying and lamenting. We are headed that way. No word on Morgan." If the tavern crowd had not heard no one had. It seemed some strange law of the world that anything worth knowing could be found out at the local tavern. No word on Morgan. He did not know exactly where to look next. He knew she was in trouble. She was never good really she had the attitude one would expect from a life time of slavery and forced gladiator combat -- cold and cruel. Though he tried not to judge for he had seen too much combat turn even charitable paladins into cold killing machines. Similar to the look Lucian has in his eyes since he killed Fu Mei.

Faces past as they group made their way through the city to the shrine. She may not have been good but she was not evil, she had something in her capable of love, capable of honor so long as that spark remained they could be saved. Khan was saved because someone believed in him. Galan thought he could save Lanfear, and the story was not over perhaps he still could. He knew he could help Morgan find her way back. Though he thought he was not sure she was evil, he would be surprised if Lanfear had not twisted and turned her to that end. Finding her and taking her back was just the first step. The harder step would occur when light and dark would fight for her heart.

"He's mourning through the day and communing the Lord Marduk, not to be disturbed. He ussually concludes about sunset you can return then." The voice of the priest gave Galan to realize they had arrived at the shrine. Slightly larger than a garden gazzebo and build with a stone foundatin and clay brick pillars, 6 of them, the open air shrine did not give Jared the dignity of mourning in private. Open air walls exposed his spiritually and pain to the world though Jared lamented despite the openness. There was a pool of holy water at what cermony would place as the enterance.

Galan responded to the group instead of the priest, "We have several hours before we need to return here. We'll find Morgan in the meantime." "Yes general." Came the response but Galan never heard it as he had already moved to the holy water. Praying silently to Tyr for sight beyond that of mortals he asked to be shown where Morgan was. He received it. The water rippled just slightly as the reflection of Lucian and Galan turned into the reflection of Morgan tied gagged and locked into a box. Tyr's mercy extended and Galan saw the locked box being carried by a wagon drawn by 4 horses and escorted by a small group of hobgoblins.
Galan assessed the situation and escort and felt heavily under threatened. "Greyson take us there."

With an audible pop the group of heroes arrives just behind the slow traveling caravan. If you could call it a caravan. A horse drawn wagon and 6 hobgoblins trailing it, four armored man plus the driver were in the wagon. Hobgoblins were fierce slow and stupid, this could not be all Lanfear sent to protect what must be her captive. Seeking the grace of Tyr he openned his vision with true seeing. There was an invisible hobgoblin walking along side carriage that carried no sword of club. He did not know hobgoblins could learn magic but it seemed this one had.

One of the Hobgoblins was yelling at them in the gutteral grunting that they were capable. Galan and Lucian pushed past them and leaped both grabbing the wagon as it sped off. The driver must have felt threatenned and charged the horses at full speed. Muscles flexed adn though slightly aged his physical strength left nothing lacking as he easily scaled his own weight to the top of the wagon. Lucian joined him shortly but not before Galan had engaged in battle with one of the armored men who had also climbed up top. A well placed heavy swing of Galans holy two handed sword shredded the man's armor and sent him and his blood over the side.

Lucian engaged another two men as Galan saw the mage hobgoblin keeping stride with the carriage. He had to stop this mage, a man with a sword was simple but there was too much a mage could do often with out you even knowing it was done to you. The bumbs and tumble of the carriage made it difficult to time. He drove his sword down like a spike on top of the creature. The impact drove the blade deep into the creatures shoulder and chest. The momentum carried them both to the ground and causing Galan to skid across the ground and drop his sword, luckily his armor took most of the impact. The Hobgoblin was quick to his feat and charged the Paladin. Clasping his sword he swung still on his knees and caught the beast in his left knee seperating it from the rest of his leg.

He could see back 40 yards by now Greyson had just finished dispatching the rest of the hobgoblins. One light sword in each hand he stood with an almost creepy serenity with the beasts piled around him, then he was gone.

As the beast fell to the Earth Galan got to his feat and brought down and overhead swing. In desperation the beast lifts his arms to block but its not enough to stop the impact the Galan's blade. The threat had been neutralized, but the objective was nearly 60 yards down the road now.
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Lucian pummelled the guard in front of him. The man was tough and returned with a stab to Lucians thigh causing blood to rush as if from a stuck pig. There was a pop and Lucian could see Greyson from the corner of his eye. He threw one of his light swords over the front of the racing carriage and it appeared back in his hand. The last armored man turned from Lucian to Greyson to protect the driver. Greyson just thrust his weaponless hand at the man and the man was airborne. Unfortunetly for Greyson, the armored man was able to grab to the showgun's robes and cause the two of them to tumble from the charging wagon.

Attempting to be steady and not loose his footing as his flooring shook and jerked beneath him caused by the fast speed over the half overgrown road. Then everything changed. There was a snap barely audable, and the horses pulled the driver one direction adn the wagon speed off carried by the momentum in another. Alone, Lucian concerned himself with getting the box morgan was in out before the unavoidable crash. It was too late. The wheels struck a rough part of the old road and jerked sharply as it began to overturn. Lucian, hoping to avoid being pinned under the wagon leaped from the top of the carriage and braced for impact. The overturning of the wagon actually caused the carraige to slide under him and splintered with his impact. His hip hurt most likely bruised but it did not feel broken. That could have been a lot worse. He thought moving debris from himself and looking for Morgan.
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Morgan had heard a lot of noise in the past half hour. Protected and concealed in this box there was little she could do. Though if she was out she was not sure what she would do even then. How had it come to this? Light filled her eyes. Squinting she could see the shilloutee of man and felt safe and reassured just by his presense. He reached down and sat her up removing the gag from her mouth. Her eyes took just a second to adjust and she recognized Raquel Al-Shatel. "Your safe now." He said then turned his attention from her, "General I leave this to your hands and judgement," then back to her, "I'm glad your safe Morgan." When he spoke it was a powerful truth that someone cared about her and what she did and thought mattered and had an impact she was worth something. He left and she was left facing Galan.

"Morgan." He said just one word but volumes travelled in his tone -- relief, worry, judgement, concern, hesitation. Men were so complicated and stupid, even Alrec though she would never see him again. She could not allow herself even the moment of sadness as she responded, "Galan." As cold as she could manage and that was her speciality.

"I'm glad to see you well. It would seem you've made some choices you regret."

Curses, bloody Paladins can sense these things, "I am were life has brought me. And now life has brought me here back to you."

Silence hung in the air for a moment and an entire communication was had. Both wanted to be closer to the other, but were too hesitant to close the distance. After the longest moment Morgan remebers Galan concluded, "You can stay her in the Palace I'll have a room made up for you until you can get back on your feet. I pray the light find and save you."

"Thank you my Lord you are very gracious." She courtesied as he turned to leave and bit back the spit she would have rather thrown at him. Controlling men was easy in one regard but disgusting in others, showing any submission to him bordered on physically painful. In a moment she was alone in her new quarters. Now alone she could allow herself to be sad and furious at all once.
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Lucian approached Galan with a small piece of paper. "We found this in the carriage. We were in such a hurry to get Morgan back I did not want to bother you with it then." He handed the parchment to Galan. Opening it Galan read to himself the letter:

The cargo you carry is extremely valuable. Protect it with your lives because its worth more than all you barrell crawlers combined. Deliver it to the Alchemist and pray to the Dark Lord that he forgives you if your are late.

There was no signature.

Galan just thought, Who is the Alchemist?