Kythorn

Just after sunrise, the Harpers arrived in a flurry. One familiar-looking fellow told us to follow quickly for we were urgently needed. The words too had a familiar ring, but I could not place them as we rushed after the band of Harpers. We soon came to a huge rock on a small hammock in the swamp. The rock appeared to be split by frost. The Harpers hurried us between the fragments and all save one stepped back and away. The familiar-looking one put a hand on each rockface and began a low incantation. His hands erupted in white fire.

Above the roar of the flames he yelled out, "The animals of the Moonsheas are rising up, the Seely Court clashes with the Unseely Court. King Tristan's life is most important, if he dies, all is lost, for he represents much of the Goddess' life force! We go to him NOW!

With that we felt the stomach churning lurch of teleportation, and we found ourselves standing atop another large rock. Before us were positioned several archers, rapidly drawing aim. Our guide cried out, "Behold, and audience! Get them! Make sure that all that are marked for death die." And suddenly the face and voice and manner of the man became apparent. It was Malcolm, the leader of the Tragedians. I yelled this to the others as we rushed to engage the archers before the cut us down.

Thoraxis interpreted my yell as a warning and fired a magical bolt at Malcolm. The Tragedian tumbled backward off the rock into a pile of dead leaves. The rest of us dispatched the archers. I paused for a moment before leaping off the rock, thinking that this would be a perfect setup for a pit trap, but Malaggar charged right past me and closed with one of the bowmen. There were few enemies, and they were killed quickly.

We all cautiously circled the rock to look for Malcolm. He lay, nearly buried in the pile of leaves, for all appearances dead. I started to clap. The others who had been through our last encounter with the man did likewise. Malcolm opened one eye and peered about. Seeing that the battle was over, he rose and bowed.

"Now, now, it was merely adequate" he protested, obviously pleased. "We must hurry. Behold in the distance - Caer Callidyrr!" he pronounced and started to run toward the castle.

When we arrived, Malcolm approached two guards at the castle doors and stated, "the Players have arrived" and the guards slumped to the ground. We burst into the audience hall just as pandemonium broke out. The 40-foot square room was crowded with court followers, furniture, and stone columns. Where was the enemy?

I charged into the room yelling "For the Goddess, House Sirillon, and High King Tristan!"

Malcolm said "Everybody on stage" and priests of Bane threw off their costumes, revealing their characteristic spiky armor, emblazoned with the black hand of Bane. Several harpers turned over their lapels to reveal the harp and moon symbol of their order. A half dozen figures near the King, cloaked in brown cast off their cloaks to reveal shining elvish armor. Other courtiers turned to flee in panic.

.......Malcolm quickly stepped up, congratulating us. "A terrible thing befell the Tragedians. The one you know as Kemper was able to scry his future long ago. He saw that you were on a course to thwart his grand plans and so plotted to destroy you. It was he who gave you the rings that brought you to our first performance together. He used us Tragedians because he has stolen our master script. I want you to kill this Kemper for what he has done to us, to you, and to all the elves that have fallen to his plotting. This," he said as he pulled a dagger from his belt, "This is the dagger of adequate deaths. No, wait" he went on, putting the dagger back, and retrieving another, more ornate dagger with a telescoping stage blade. "This is the Dagger of the Most Tragic Deaths. Rodriguez has not been the same since milady slew him with it, "he said with an accusatory glance at Maeli. "Use no other weapons on him and the most tragic of deaths will fall to Kemper. "

"The Lady of Pain will supply the stage for this act," he said with a flourish and a symbol appeared with a lady's face surrounded by blade-like flower petals. It glowed and Malcolm urged us to step through.

..."And of course, the illusion of death is all that is needed here!" exclaimed Malcolm, appearing suddenly. He and several other Tragedians lifted Kemper up and peeled off his carapace as if it were a costume. Kemper seemed very confused by all this, but was unable to resist. "Thank you for your help." Malcolm said. "Tragically, Kemper will now be destined to travel with the Tragedians forever, recreating tragedy after tragedy for the illumination of our audiences. Fare well all!"