The Werehunters

[Nikkii O'seth]

After about a days travel the caravan arrived at the city of Freeport. Nikkii and two other hunters go to get a few more provisions while Kyrinn checks the weapons. The pain from the bite has spread slight into his chest area. After an hour or so they was ready to make the way to the farming village of hodstock.

" Kyrinn I hope you realize that the lycanthrope you faced in the first trial was weakened these will be much tougher."

Kyrinn ingored her comment and countinued to think on his own situation. He looked around at the hunters again and aside from Nikkii the was only one other woman and didn't look very experianced herself. They drew closer to the farming village, some of the crops could be seen.

[glow=purple,2,300]Keyra I am at the Hostock village I want you hear as soon as possible.[/glow]

" Look sharp hunters make a camp ready we shall enter the village soon."

The three remaining hunters from Keyra's group show up at there camp.

" M'lady Keyra took off after the red-headed Lycanthrope and they headed north."

[Keyra]

Keyra was so proud of herself. She had met the lycanthrope in questioned even further got her injured as well as her friends. She was already close to Hodstock and thought that she should cut through the green rift. She renewed her vanish spell and could see the chasm that housed the first house of Neriak, the house Gal'Saris. She remebered That Lady Nikkii woulld come here ocassionally to speak with one of the other prirstests, someone she knew before she became a hunter she guess. She was entering the clearing of the woods wehn she was tripped up by something..... A hand? Keyra turned back to see wwhat was a half buried body. Keyra unburied her and placed her body beside the shallow grave. She was burned badly looked like from some spells. Keyra looked at the girl only to notced that she seen her before on a trip to Fayspires with her mother years ago. Her thoughts drifted as she began to make the grave deeper after a bit of digging she place the girl into the hole and started to cover her up then some of the warriors on patrol saw her.

" You there stop where you are." One of them shouted"

" Your to be a prisoner of the house of Gal'Saris"

" You wish."

Keyra draws her daggers and before the warriors could make a defense the first ones throat was slashed and the second downed before he could yell anything. Keyra then picked up each of them and tossed them down into the chasm that they came from. One of the wizardresses noticed the body's decent down the side of the chasm an called out for help. Kerya took aim at her and hit her with in the heart with a bolt. She then fired her remaining bolts at the warriors that rushed to avenge her, Once she fired her last bolt she retreated leaving the dark elfs to the clean-up. She did get a sense of satisfaction from killing them, to her it was total freedom. Now nothing stood betwwen her and Hodstock. Some of the slaves looked about as she left and began counting the bodies of their captures all the while knowing the loss of seventeen of their owners would surely gaurentee their punishment from the remaining owners.

[Nikkii O'seth]

" Keyra is on her way back her now we move into the village, keep you wits about you and this should go by quickly."

The hunters enter the village of hodstock. Some of the villagers see them comming in and gather their children and rush inside. Sheriff Farmont and a few other men remained out watching the hunters. Nikkii approached the sheriff.

" Where is the verim that we are told of that reside here?"

" Vermin.... of you must be a gypsy then. They have been comming into our village and taking our children."

" Kyrinn ... Take a few with you and search the village."

Kyrinn simply walks away without a second look shaking his head. Four other hunters rush behind off behind him much to his disapproval.

" Is he really working with you m'lady? He doesn't act like he is one of you."

" Nevermind him... tell me has there been anyone acting differently."

" Well now that you mentioned it a man named Slick Svenson has been plundering the food stock always complaining that there wasn't enough meat to satsify him."

Kyrinn walked through the village looking rather annoyed by the way things where playing out. Then one of the hunter with him noticed something strange with a rather large rat and what appeared to his owner. The animal was eating off what seemed to be the remains of a human girl.

" Kyrinn look here they must be the lycanthropes terrorizing the people here."


The comment didn't go unnoticed by the man as he came outside blood on his face and his pet followed him out.

" No you come to kill my pet and take me back to the death trap oasis.... I won't let you do it. TO BATTLE MY PET BUCKTOOTH."

The man and his pet transform themselfs into were-beasts and start their assualt. The human hunter was the first victim having his head bitten off. The wizard started chanting a spell to stirke the pair as Kyrinn entered the battle. Slick was doing majoir damage to the hunters as they slashed away at them not doing much damage to them. The sound of battle reached Nikkii and the other hunters. They rushed to where the other hunters was fighting. Kyrinn was trying his hand at handling Slick. Nikkii was enjoying him getting tossed about by the monster. It was time to bring this to an end Nikkii began chanting a spell as a red light swirled about her then seemed to explode on her giving her armor and body more resistance to physical attacks but she was not finished the sparkles then began to gather around her strenthening her. Nikkii walked up and put herself between Kyrinn and Slick.

" You had your fun.... now vermin your life will be extinguished."

Slick took a swing at her that she easily avoided. Then another swing at her. Nikkii caught his arm and squeezed it . Suddenly two red marks appeared on Slicks chest. Nikkii smiled as she pushed him back with an arcane bolt. Frustrated by this he charges in at her blood began to flow from the brands placed on him. His charge slows as he neared her form the loss of blood. Nikkii drew her mace and sent it charsing into his skull shattering it. Nikkii looked back at the winded Kyrinn and scoffed.

" Still think you could do this on your own?"

[Nikkii O'seth]

" I don't believe you brought so many amatures to this." Kyrinn said as he went to assist what remaining hunters.

Nikkii satisfied that she showed Kyrinn up started healing the downed hunters. The hunters had lost three and Nikkii was healing two injured. The ogres was trying their hardest to kill the smaller ratwere but it was evading them with ease. Kyrinn started chanting and increased his ability. This caught the attention of the ratwere and it quickly whipped its tail to clear the area around him. The hunters backed away to see what Kyrinn would do. The beast lunged at him clawing away at his spear. Kyrinn sidestepped the beast, throwing the lycanthrope off balance. Kyrinn thrusted his spear right into the beast side. It pulled away from the spear tip as a burning sensation as the metal left its body. The human female hunter saw this as an opportunity and charged at it sword drawn. The ratwere saw this comming and swung its claws, sweeping her across the face. With its attention turned away Kyrrin burried his spear in the creatures neck and drove it to the ground.

" Hows that princess.... I bet you was hoping I would have perished like that woman and those three over there."

Suddenly, the two Ogres was downed by the appearance of a large werebear. The bear starts rampageing through and wounding the hunters till only Kyrrin and Nikkii remained standing. The few villagers that was watching quickly moved inside. Nikkii casted her root spell on the beast allowing Kyrinn to regroup next to her.

" So he wasn't alone her... by the looks of it this is a woman." Nikkii said coldly." Kyrinn this one could prove to be more dangerous so I will overlook your flaws for now if you will work with me on this."

Kyrinn nodded his head and charged at the bear blue sparkles surround him from Nikkii's most powerful healing spell. Kyrinn started going toe to toe with the werebear matching it hit for hit. Nikkii casts her brands on the bear like she did with slick. The bear had great stamina even has wounds kept being open on it, it continued to fight knocking Kyrinn to the ground. Nikkii struck the bear with an arcane bolt burning it, but it didn't slow the bear. The bear raised his claw to strike Kyrinn when the bear suddenly roared out in pain. Keyra had leaped onto its back landing several vicious blows to the bear that took the wind out of it. Kyrinn rolled out from under it as it crashed to the ground. The bear reverted to a young woman.

" Kill me like you killed my father and pet.. you heartless murderers."

Nikkii approached the girl grabbing her by the head. She drug her to the cage they had brought and threw her inside.

" No.. You will be taken to the oasis and meet with the elders."

Keyra gathered the bodies of the fallen hunters while Nikkii healed the ones that was still alive. Kyrinn sat by the village well exhausted by the ordeal. After awhile the hunters took the girl back to the Oasis, leaving Nikkii ,Keyra , and Kyrinn behind.

" Your late Keyra."

" My oppologies m'lady butt I found the Lycanthrope we was searching for... They are heading toward the gnome city now."


" Good , I will go there breifly you two remain her just incase there are more here I will return shortly."

Nikkii grabs a hourse and sets off to the gnome city insearch of Darlena.

[Keyra]

Hour has passed since Nikkii departure leaving Keyra and Kyrinn in the village of hodstock. Boredom started to set in on Keyra but Kyrinn simply found a tree to sit under and sharpen his spear. Keyra saw this as an opportunity to talk with him as she sat beside him. Kyrinn ingored this but noticed that she had blood on her but it wasn't hers or the werebears.

" Mr.Kyrinn could i ask you something?"

" What and please stop calling me mister I'm not that old... "

" What house dd you come from..?"

" ..... "

" Well how old are you ?"

" About fory three years older than you."

" Well do you have a girlfriend?"

" Thats a dumb question.."

Keyra was getting frustrated at his lack of responces.

" Well do you think Lady Nikkii is pretty?"

Kyrinn pretended to have fallen asleep.

" Agh your grumpy..." She gets up and starts to leave.

" Your annoying....." Kyrinn whisphers.

[Nikkii O'seth]

Nikkii left Klick with the satifaction that she had now weakened them by taking and turning yet another ally from them and might have given her house the fresh start it may need.

Nikkii was already pass the green rift as night fell, Hodstock not much further. Nikkii was troubled on how she finally caught the lycanthrope she had been hunting only to have it be set free, and on top of that claim to be her child. True there was something about familair about her.. but couldn't be certain.

Hours later Nikkii was back in Hodstock She could see Kyrinn sitting outside under a tree.

" Mongrel where is Keyra?"

Kyrrin looked up at her. "She went to the halfling town upstream."

[Nikkii O'seth]

Keyra came back to hodstock to see Nikkii waiting on her. She saw Wilkens leaving Bobble in tears but didn't care why all that mattered to her was she was in pain. Nikkii simply looked at her and Keyra took the form of a teir'dal again to fit herself in. Nikkii and Keyra found rooms to sleep in while Kyrinn remained outside.

When morning came Kyrinn was already standing at Keyra's bed.

" Get up bandits like to come at this time.... lets go."

Keyra pretended like she didn't hear him and rolled over. Kyrinn turned like he was gonna leave out then grabbed her by the leg and threw her out of the bed.

" You jerk.... why did do that you evil spawn of inno...."

" We are setting out for Wyndhaven shortly."

Kyrinn leaves out and Keyra gets dressed to get going.

[Nikkii O'seth]

As Nikkii, Keyra, and Kyrinn traveled from Hodstock they went to highpass then to Darvar Manor. Even though going to straight to Honjour would be faster Nikkii thought it best to head toward Forkwatch, some Gypsies was at the manor and offered to give them some supplies but they was further south and out of their way. Nikkii elected to get the supplies and sent Kyrrin and Keyra to honjour to wait for her. Kyrinn acted as though her words meant nothing and started towards the troll outpost leaving Keyra behind slightly.


Nikkii boarded the wagon and they departed to the camp near forkwatch. Suddenly the horses stopped and couldn't be moved. Nikkii was getting frustrated with this then noticed a tier'dal girl watching her, she knew she was no threat to her if she was to attack but she was up to something. She dismounted the wagon to see the horses she passed by her and would deal with her in a moment. But as she passed her she spoke a word in Teir'dal language, Nikkii's head hurt then it was like a gate was open. She new the name of the man she married... she had children.... two boys and a girl... and what was done to her. Nikkii staggered back and tears began to fall from her, her child had been made into a lycanthrope by that bastered Xamont N'sier. Then she realized she had been told the truth in Klick anon.... that was her daughter... Naldanii N'sier.

She could remeber her fight with Xamont and that she would tell her father of his tampering, then his promise of curing her before she knew of her curse. He took Nikkii to honjour where she met the girl Slyfoot. Nikkii looked down at Slyfoot who had passed out and smiled. Then remember that when she returned to the village Xamont had hit her with some spell then she awoke in Blakedown with a man standing over her.... Laurence.

" Thank you Slyfoot .. I have much to think on now."

The horses began to move again and before long they was at the small camp. Nikkii took the supplies and the horse Slyfoot had and went to Honjour to meet with her fellow hunters and the place she lost her former life.

[Keyra]

" Kyrinn did Nikkii tell you the name of the lycanthrope she?"

Kyrinn remained silent as they went through the woods.

" She the red-haired teir'dal named Darlena."
Kyrinn stopped and looked at Keyra as she continued." She escaped her in dark solace and went south to oggok...... And she claims to be Lady Nikkii's daughter."

Kyrinn rage welled within him this made too much sence.....that explains why they looks so much alike. The pain had spread though his chest from the infection.

" I saw her myself she was hurt or something she was being carried. I couldn't finish her but her hurt more and I got one of her friends."

[Nikkii O'seth]

Nikkii rode into the troll village of honjour Keyra and Kyrinn was standing beside the coachmans well where he kept the horses. Nikkii didn't get off her horse just gestured that they needed to get a move on. They ride to wyndhaven was a quick one.

" We are seeking a hunter that went missing in this area .. she was like you Kyrrin, she thought she could do all of this by herself. Djivan wishes to see if she still resides here and if she is not then to find where she might be or return the body."

" My lady what is her name?"

" Sarah... "

Kyrrin was becomming sick to his stomach at the sound of Nikkii's voice. His most hated enemies were related and Nikkii's incompidence allowing Darlena to escape got him bit in oggok. They was passing a farming village when Nikkii stopped the group.

" A lycanthrope is in there.. we will start looking there."

The three entered the village. To no surprise the humans there was angered by the presence of two teir'dal but knew they was outmatched. One villager shouted out the name Sarah. Quickly there after a human paladin came out of one of the houses. They began shouting for hr to kill Kyrinn and Nikkii. Keyra readied her daggers and Nikkii and Kyrinn got off their horses. The woman came up to them and sighed.

" Lady Nikkii ... I meant to come back to the oasis but I got side traked here. I took care of the Lycanthrope." She points to a pile of fur and bones under a tree.

" Thats very interesting Sarah... but there is something else wrong here."

A look of fear came across the girls face and almost instantly she morphed into a werewolf and swung at Nikkii knocking her to the ground.

" I WANT TO LIVE I KNEW YOU WAS COMMING TO KILL ME.. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND I GOT BIT... LEAVE ME ALONE." Sarah demaned

Kerya rushed to Nikkii's aid but Sarah knew they others wouldn't sit by and let her attempt to kill Nikkii. Keyra jumped in twirlling and using as many strikes as she could gt in before Sarah could react. Nikkii rolled out of the way once her attention was taken away from her. Keyra attempted to leap away from her but Sarah grabbed her leg and flung her into the side of a house knocking her out. Kyrrin was hesitant at first to join in but seeing Keyra taken out of hte fight showed that it was getting out of hand really quick. Nikkii casted a healing spell on herself and prepared for the charge.
Sarah was losing herself in the battle she started becomming more animal like. Nikkii was defending herself from the attacks as the poison from keyra's attack took its toll, suddenly Kyrinn's spear peirced her heart from behind spashing blood onto Nikkii and ending the fight. Sarah's body slowly changed back to her human form as she fell over with the spear in her.

" Took you long enough... My work is done here... tell Djivan that I won't be comming back to the oasis I'm returning home to Neriak... "

" Too much for you to bare princess?"

" Your an idiot.. I no longer need his help."
Nikkii heals Keyra and gets on her horse.
" Take her body back that way Djivan can have peace of mind." Nikkii leaves them and heads home to Neriak.

[Keyra]

Keyra awoke hours later strapped to the back of a horse right next to Sarah's body.In shock she slid off it falling into the marsh waters of the bog fens. Kyrinn stopped and looked at the young elf as she removed the swamp fungus from her face. She reaked of the smelly water now, she looked for Nikkii but didn't see her.

" She went back to Neriak... " Kyrinn said before she could ask

" Why .. would she go..."

" I don't care why the harlot left just glad I don't have to see her anymore."

" Where are we going?"

" To Darksolace then the Oasis to be cured."

" Where will you go then?"

" You talk to much to be an effective hunter. Probably due to your poor training why don't you go home as well."

Keyra fell silent for awhile then as they was passing forkwatch she made a dash into it.

" I will go to tethelin but only to put fresh flowers on my parents graves then I will challenge you again Kyrinn and show you I'm better than you."

Kyrinn simply smiled and continued on his way.

[Kyrinn the Black]

A full moon...

Benzin leaned back in the desert sand outside of her tent and gazed at the night sky. On her lap rested a blue tinted visored helmet. The helmets workmanship was solid, but plain. It lacked a certain beauty that most of her own creations displayed. Still, the smith that had made it was gifted. She had even had the opportunity to work with him; a Teir'dal by the name of Kyrinn, long dead now-or at least that is what she believed.

He had come to Oasis months ago, seeking a cure to lycanthropy. He was as cold hearted and cruel as any Teir'dal. However he was polite and honorable, and these traits were so very rare in the Hunters of this age. Most of them were now little better than common mercenaries. Even the brands that used to mark one as a hunter and protect against the lycanthropes disease were rare. It was a sad time indeed. Since Kyrinn the only other promising candidate had been Takayo. A human Knight from Qeynos. She had refitted the rest of Kyrinn's suit of armor for Takayo, but she held onto the helmet to remind her of the Dark Elf, so that he might be remembered by at least one person who saw some worth in him.

Takayo had gone north to bolster the ranks in Murnf some time ago. He was one who did not receive the brands...

[Kyrinn the Black]

Elder Djivan was taking a nighttime stroll throughout the camp as he often did when he spotted Benzin sitting alone outside her tent. He approached her somewhat slowly, more from age than from the need to be stealthy, "May I sit down lady Benzin?" he asked.

"Of course ye can Elder."

Djivan slowly lowered himself onto the sandy ground; he would not be able to stand on his own. When he finally settled himself into place he noticed the bluish helm on Benzin's lap. He recognized it as Kyrinn's. He still remembered when Keyra drug him out of the desert. Those were happier times, "That was Kyrinn's was it not?"<br>
"Aye, I've been a bit melancholy tonight, the night sometimes does it to me."

"He was a promising candidate." He said with a mischievous smile.

"A promising smith too, if not a bit coldhearted." Her words slowed as she spoke. Noticing the expression on the Elder's face. It was as if he was a child with a big secret that he just couldn't wait to tell. He was odd like that at times.

Djivan looked around himself checking to make sure nobody was in earshot then leaned in close to whisper to her, "Do you want to hear a secret?" He asked. Before hearing her answer he continued, "The Dark Elf is alive and well."

Djivan's voice was barely audible. Benzin thought she must have miss heard him, "What?" she whispered back.

"Kyrinn is alive."

"How is that possible? If he were alive he would surely be turned. It's been months."

He was successful in his trials. He came to me in the middle of the night, battered and driven nearly mad by the pain of his infection. He wouldn't last another day so I branded him then and there without the other Elders knowledge."

Djivan was almost glowing with excitement; the secret must have been eating him up inside. Benzin was impressed that he managed to keep it this long.

"I do be thinking that you are up to something Elder." She stated.

"I know that you are dissatisfied with the newer Hunters lady."

Benzin scoffed, "They be as worthless as petty thugs."

"I knew you would agree with me," he exclaimed "That's why I kept it a secret until now. The other Elder's still don't know about Kyrinn. They've all but forgotten about him. He's our secret."

"Why would you be telling me?"

"Because someone needs to send him supplies. He's been aquiring provisions and smithing supplies from the hunters stationed in Murnf, but many new Hunters have traveled north. Hunters that are loyal to the other Elders and I do not need them mentioning my little project to them now."

"What project?"

"Ah, that's the best part. I have him training a team of Hunters. Skilled Hunters, like in the old days. Once they're ready he'll be sending them here to be tested and branded. Nothing like the rabble the other Elders have been filtering north to be slaughtered."

"Ye be a sly old dog Elder Djivan."

"I'm not the half-wit everyone believes me to be," he stated with a wink.

The two talked long into the night, going unheard by all but the bloated shiny moon hanging silently in the night sky...

Continued in New Life