Deacon began stuffing whatever would fit into his new bag. He found more bread, dried meats, some small casks of booze, finally other odds and ends. His eyes swam over the tapestry once more. He decided to roll it up and stuff it in. Upon contact he received a new message from the fates:

New Quest- Discover the truth behind the war of the underdark by delivering this stolen tapestry to Typhus Bloodbeard. Successful completion of this quest will reward a new level, increased status with Typhus Bloodbeard, and access to the underdark.

Bloodbeard? He thought. That’s his family name. A bit ominous. I guess I’ll go look for Typhus. Where am I? I’ve never actually been outside. Better get the lay of the land, first step is going out this inner door. Deacon walked over to the door and heard sobs. He pressed his ear up to it to confirm someone else was in the next room. Multiple people. They had to have heard all the racket he made. There was nothing for it so he decided to just open the door. Light spilled into the room to see many people huddled together chained to the wall. They began to wail, and Deacon put his finger to his lips. He hunched down closer to one of the captives to get some answers when he got another message:

New Quest- Free the captives from the raiders and get them to safety. Successful completion of this quest will reward an area map as well as some treasure.

“Water.” Said the chained man.

“Give me a second, how many raiders are there?” Deacon said as he pulled out his water skin and handed it to the man.

“Thank you. We have seen at least five. You will need to be incredibly sneaky to get past them.” Said the chained man.

“Oh, no I think I’ll try something a little different.” Deacon replied.

“If you can get the keys, we can help you. Don’t throw your life and ours away.” The man pleaded.

“A cursory glance at the condition of the ten of you tells me you wouldn’t be much help.” Deacon said.

Now that he thought about it there was only elderly and children in here. Deacon looked at how the chains were attached to the wall. It seemed like a simple Iron loop driven into the wood via a spike. He began to pull on the loop. The old man snickered at him but immediately stopped when he heard the wood warp and crack. Just like that the chain came slack. Deacon began snapping the chains between their legs and wrists. He figured they could worry about the keys later. The last thing he wanted were easy to find hostages.

“There are windows in the backroom. You could smash them to get everyone outside. Are there any more people I should look for?” Deacon asked.

“They took the young men and ladies two days ago. I’m not sure where they are.” He replied.

With a nod Deacon started toward the door when it slammed open. Apparently one of the raiders heard snapping of wood and metal and decided to investigate. The light was pouring in from the open back room door and his eyes needed to adjust. No time like the present.

“What’s all this racket keep quiet or UHGGG!”

Deacon decided to run full speed at the raider and kicked him right in the nuts. The sound that came out of his mouth was more high pitched keen than grunt. Deacon definitely felt something snap on contact and knew this one would pass out from pain shortly. He wasn’t given the chance as the now freed captives set upon him. Using his own weapon to lose his blood. Time to focus on the incoming.

Several sets of boots started thudding down the hall. Deacon closed the door behind him. The next few minutes will be bloody and disturbing, he didn’t want those people to see anymore of that. The first one came into view, sword out, and lunged at Deacon. He attempted to evade but caught the end of the blade anyway. It skid right past him as the raider expected the heavy weight of body at the end of his sword. That surprise lasted just long enough for Deacon to get his right arm around his neck. He proceeded to pitch him backwards over his hip and down the hall but didn’t release his head. SNAP! The raider stopped breathing. Two down three to go. Two of the men witnessed this at the end of the hallway. One had mace and the other with a crossbow. A bolt bounced off Deacon’s head with a dull thud. It definitely stunned him for a second, but his health was still full. Must have been a move or ability. Good to know he needs to watch out for that. As that thought was going through his head a thick spiked mace slammed into his gut at the same time a familiar energizing feeling came over him. Snapped out of the archer’s ability Deacon laid into the mace wielder with everything he had. The man has obviously been in fights before as he bobbed and weaved. Just then Deacon had the idea to kick the corpse at him. He ducked out of the way of the body, but it managed to get tangled up with the crossbowmen as he closed the distance. Taking the opportunity, Deacon hit the mace wielder with a stiff uppercut right on the jaw. It was clear he had his bell rung. Time to try out this new ability. Deacon activated touch of the void and peppered him with rights and lefts. He was moving much slower now as his breath was now visible. Deacon took this opportunity to snap kick his knee. He could see the important bits of the joint sticking out of leg on the wrong side. That did it. He fell down like a heap giving Deacon the opportunity to jump his body and rush the crossbowman getting to his feet. Leveling his crossbow, he now saw a brown man with glowing fists and eyes barreling at him. The shot went wide from fright. Deacon proceeded to stomp a mudhole dry till his foot got caught in the raider’s innards.

I really need to learn how to fight. Should probably check on the others. I turn around and see a gaggle of people with manacles on staring at me like I have 4 heads. The old man picks up the mace and pushes the others behind him.

“What?” Deacon says.

“What in the ten-hells are you? Your shirt is in tatters, you’re wearing chain over your pants, and your eyes and hands are glowing with some kind of abyssal infection.” Came the reply.

“Huh?” I blurted out, “There should be at least one more. Why didn’t you go out the window?”

“There is nothing but a cliff on that side of the manor.” He said, “You don’t fight like any soldier I’ve ever seen.”

He waved off the comment and focused on the task at hand. Started checking the bodies for anything useful and siphoning their souls. There are two doors at the end of the hallway. He started down the hallway understanding stealth is all but a memory. Opening the door to see a set of stairs going up. Checking the other door, he sees a set going up on the other side. Going up the right set, he sees a foyer open to the second story with multiple doors and a grand staircase leading up to the second floor. At the top of the stairs stands a man in chainmail with a sword and shield.

“So you are the reason my men haven’t returned.”

“Oh they are definitely dead now. Why don’t you take the hint and run along.”

“I’m not giving up on this find. Once I kill you, I’ll go back upstairs and finish my turn on the lady of the house.”

Apparently, that was enough for Deacon. Sprinting up the stairs with a full head of steam he bounced off the shield and fell back down to the first floor. Air knocked out of him, he wasn’t fully aware when the swordsman came flying down, point first aiming for his heart. Deacon rolled to the left on to get smashed in the face by the shield. Clearly out matched by this opponent, Deacon rolled back to his feet.

“This isn’t even good sport. It’s like you have no training at all. Where is your weapon?” he said. Just then he slipped on some viscera that fell from Deacons body. Off balance he wasn’t ready for the shoulder charge Deacon smashed into his shield toppling him over onto the floor. Before Deacon could think of something funny to say, the soldier executed a perfect upward shield bash from the ground. Deacon flew up ass over tea kettle landing hard on his stomach. None of this moved the needle on his health bar but this certainly wasn’t a winning scenario. He didn’t want to end up being an undying punching bag.

Deacon stood up, squared his shoulders, and waited for the next attack. He was going to learn to dodge no matter what. He knows this guy leads with his sword and follows it up with a shield bash. He knows the sword won’t hurt him but one on one he’s outclassed. Deacon has the speed to dodge but he just needs the timing. Here he comes. The raider feigned left but slashed up. Now, deacon thought. The slash missed as Deacon hopped to his right. The shield follow up was going to be a backhand from the raiders right side. Nope, he was wrong, the raider pivoted on his left foot and swung around like a roundhouse shield leading. To Deacons surprise he slid five feet to his right without moving. There was trailing green echoes of his own body and a notification from his slate.

New ability learned- Dodge; Trailblazer has modified this ability and converted it to Spectral Dodge: This ability consumes soul energy to move you out of the way of incoming attacks. This ability will only work while soul energy is available. At current level it will consume one soul per use.

Now we are talking. He let the notification wash over him while his attention was on the raider. Who now seems to be backing up. Deacon steps in to dodge under the sword swipe and punch this guy right in the nuts. The sword goes right over his head and through the ghost image as Deacons right hand lands solidly on the raider’s codpiece. He gasped and shoved his shield arm down to break Deacon’s arm. Deacon dodged backwards starring through his own ghostly images. Once his slide halted, he noticed the back of the raiders armor as he sprinted out the door. He was running. Deacon began to give chase but the freed captives, now without manacles assuming someone must have found the key, called out to him.

“Quickly we must check on the others upstairs.” The old man said.

“But he’s getting away.” I said.

“Yes it was an impressive beating he gave you but you didn’t even scratch him. I think he ran out of fear. You looked like some kind of demon and nothing he did to you drew blood. I’d run too.”