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+---- Thread: Reaping the Benefits of the Treasure of Thay (/showthread.php?tid=1374)
Reaping the Benefits of the Treasure of Thay - Balanor - 08-02-2012
“Friendship,” murmured the archwizard master after he watched his agents succeed in defeating the Sentinel of the Treasure by calling on the aid of their fellows. It was quite disappointing to discover that the Treasure of Thay was not any possession or powerful magic - but instead allies and friends.
He snorted and shook his head. If he had known it would be so easy to defeat the Sentinel that had taken up residence in his tower’s caverns, he would have done it long ago rather than instruct Naglatha to do so. But, at least these among his agents had been smart enough to prevail against it where so many others -including himself- had failed. And they had recovered some powerful items that had been gifted to his previous, less worthy agents, long ago. And now, ten years after his ‘death’, his tower once again belonged solely to him!
His thoughts returned to the present as his agents, now engulfed by the power of the departing Sentinel, disappeared before his eyes - no doubt returning somewhere far above ground and ‘safe’. With a smirk he moved forward out of the darkness of the far wall to study the bodies of the fallen and begin planning his next moves to reclaim the tower. It was time to return to his full glory and return to his rightful position of Zulkir of Transmutation. He would need to defeat the new zulkir of Transmutation, but he was confident that wouldn’t be a problem.
“First you Druxus Rhym,” growled the powerful wizard “And then Szass Tam...”
“Why wait,” a disembodied voice questioned from the entrance of the large cavern.
The archwizard turned slowly, refusing to show his surprise. But despise his resolve, it was evident as Szass Tam strode toward him.
“Maligor,” said Tam calmly “It is a shame the collapse of the Thayan Gold Mines the Harpers had trapped you in did not kill you as we thought all those many years ago.”
Tam narrowed his eyes and with a cold smile continued “So it *is* you leading the so-called ‘Vengeful’. No doubt this guardian taking up refuge in your old home was a slight you could not stand, hmm?”
“But did you truly think you could use the Tharchioness’ spy network to reach your goal here to dispose of it without me knowing it as well?!? I have been aware of this last party’s activities since the clue the Sentinel placed in Eltabbar was discovered by the Tharchioness! As it became apparent they were working -at least indirectly- for the Vengeful, I knew now was the time repay you for the embarrassment Velsharoon caused me on your behalf, as well as your meddling that has caused delays in my plans.”
“And now you have been drawn out through the use of your pawns,” Tam’s smile widened as he raised his voice in anger. “So here now, in the caverns of the very place you once called your own, you will be buried again. This time for good!”
Maligor’s only reply was to start his incantation.
---------------------------
Most in Amruthar had no idea that minutes of time stood still. All heard the rumblings coming from the long-abandoned and monster-infested tower near the western part of the city, and all felt the earth shaking. But none in the realm of the Red Wizards knew the truth of the terrible battle occurring there between perhaps the greatest archwizards of Thay.
None, that is, except for the one who was the greatest archwizard of Thay. From a crystal ball deep within the ancient tombs he called his home, he watched the terrible spell battle.
Would Maligor succeed in defeating Tam - all the better to remove one of the Vengeful’s most dangerous enemies? Would Tam succeed in defeating Maligor, the loss of which would be a blow to the Vengeful’s Arcane Circle as it would be leaderless for a time? But if Tam thought the leader destroyed, then all the better. Or would they both survive the battle, in which case Tam would no doubt expend energy and time trying to find Maligor and finish what he started?
The archwizard, and true leader of the Vengeful, briefly considered assisting his protégé whom he had saved from the Gold Mines of Thay over a decade ago. But the outcome should he intervene was not guaranteed, and he could not risk revealing himself when his centuries-long plan was so close to fruition. Patience was needed now to prevail - not just in this battle, but in the long shadow war they were fighting.
Only time would tell...