By Entreri

Artemis Entreri studied the room as he entered the large circular chamber in Hellbent Mountain. No doubt this chamber had been empty for many years as dust covered everything in sight. Studying the dirt floor, the assassin noticed there were no cobwebs or any sign of life that has stepped foot into this chamber for years. What sinister power could have scared everything including rats away? Entreri pondered for a moment on how he might react to an ambush in this chamber when he realized that if the dark power that resided in this mountain could have kept this place empty for years, then it was obviously powerful enough to not have to attack the assassin from behind.

He drew out his weapon then. The Dementor's Blade he picked up in Vesuvious from the Demi-God Vyst glowed with a pale white light, illuminating part of the cavern. In the center of the room he noticed a raised dais in the center of the room. Obviously the Grimoirium Magica ,he had come for, had once sat on this very dais. Now it was gone, perhaps stolen by some adventurer who had wandered in here. He wondered if the person who now held the Grimoirium understood what power they held in their hands.

He was indeed nervous, anxious and, for the first time since he left the Chamber of Abraces, excited. A slight sound behind him forced him to look behind. A glowing purple gateway had been erected behind him. Seemingly from inside the portal a purplish mist began to pour out and swirl around the floor of the chamber. Anger replaced anxiety, and fear replaced anger. What kind of sorcery was this? No ordinary being in the plane of Alyria could do this. If they could, the assassin would have been dead by now due to the lack of friends and the surplus of enemies he had made over his dark career. The portal shone brightly and a figure appeared in the center of the room. Without a word, the figure entered and the nexus closed behind him, plunging the cavern into darkness once again. Entreri shuddered in recognition as he realized what had come for him.

The figure spoke a word and the whole room exploded with light. Yes, he was correct, his dark fears had been realized. Standing on the opposite end of the chamber stood Vree, the Archon Hunter.

Ever since Artemis Entreri had completed the Test of Abraces and had become a legendary figure known as an Archon he had been hounded by beings with no other purpose than to destroy people such as him. They were known as the Ithrix, a race of beautiful, magical people brought up in the magical arts to kill. When he had last fought Vree, he thought he had been victorious. He had left the otherworldly being for dead in the snow covered Mudapa Plains and had barely escaped with his life.

* * * * *

Seeing the flicker of recognition in the assassins eyes, the golden haired Ithrix smiled. At last, after many months of searching, he had finally found the being that had forced him back to his plane of existence. This particular Archon he had been sent to destroy had eluded him for many months. He had actually stumbled upon his trail by accident. With his innate ability to turn Etheral form at will, he had overheard several adventurers talking about Entreri's exploits in the volcano these mortals called Vesuvious and how he was off in search of the Grimourium. Even his people knew the power that was contained in the ancient spellbook and where it was kept for safekeeping. It was amusing how the assassin was being hunted, the hunter stalking his intended prey.

"Flee, little one, and remember the might of the Ithrix race next time the folly of arrogance sinks into your small mind." he promised the assassin. In truth, he barely knew any common, understanding simple words and phrase. All he knew were simple phrases for which he was taught to use to scare the opponent and perhaps make an unwise move.

* * * * *

They stared at each other for some time, a grin on the Ithrix's face, and a grim look on the assassin's face. Standing opposite of the central dais of the chamber, each waited for the other to make the first move. They both charged at the same time, each running for the elevated platform, both seeking the higher ground, with that came the advantage.

The Ithrix exploded into motion as he neared the assassin, a quick thrust with his large ice covered broadsword. Entreri sidestepped inside the thrust and used his own weapon to slide the large sword out wide. At the same time he twisted his torsoand pushed forward, hands outstretched, weapon soaring inside the Ithrix's guard.

Vree had his shield halfway up even before his thrust began. The shield banged loudly as Entreri's sword banged rammed it and slid harmlessly above him. Already recovering from his first thrust he brought his weapon straight down towards Entreri's left flank, right into his readied shield.

Into a stalemate the two fighters went, Entreri's blade blocked by Vree's shield and Vree's sword blocked by the assassin's. Their eyes locked for a moment, hatred shining in each. At the same time, both broke off and backed away from each other for an instant, before rushing back towards the other to start another round of combat. Vree had his weapon up first, and he began to swing his sword so rapidly it seemed to be one blurring motion. Thrust right, reversing the direction, slash down, slash right, thrust low. The fluidity of the Archon Hunter's movements seemed mind boggling, almost impossible.

Entreri matched every movement, but Vree's offensive fury began to push him backwards into the chamber's stone wall. The clang of weapons rang continuously as he picked off each attack. Eventually, he knew that the wall would hinder his ability to parry and dodge, he would have to think of some way to escape.

Vree's weapon came up towards the right side of his head. Instead of raising his weapon to parry, he dived into a forward roll past the lunging hunter. The position had been reversed.

His shield clanged as Entreri began his ascent out of the roll. His jaw nearly dropped. How had Vree manage to recover so fast from his evade? Fully standing now, he brought up his sword just in time to meet another furious attack from Vree's sword. Again Entreri was forced back by the fierce momentum of the charge. Already his cloak was in tatters and he had a couple cuts on his right arm. 'I've fought flying grivnerrs tougher than you!' Vree growled.

As Entreri brought up his sword to parry, he wondered what the hell that meant. The Ithrix did not understand anything he had said to them but they did indeed speak common. The last time he had fought Vree, he had heard similar phrases like this one, not one of the made sense.

Vree's blade came suddenly at neck level. Entreri dropped into a squat below and began thrusting with his sword ahead at the Hunter's exposed abdomen. Arm pumping wildly he forced Vree back several steps. Seeing the advantage was his, he began to gain momentum, coming back with a sword thrust cancelled into a sideways slash aimed for the neck. Vree spun around and countered the slash with a well-balanced backhanded parry. Expecting this counter Entreri brought out his shield and bashed it into Vree's face.

Stumbling backwards a couple of steps the Archon Hunter clutched at his bleeding nose and his cheek had already began to swell. Vree brought his sword up and attempted a clumsy thrust, which Entreri easily blocked with his readied shield.

'Where is a torthubian pinnaud when you need one?' Vree mumbled.

Entreri was on him in a flash, sword wailing away. Vree moved equally fast, parrying and dodging. The assassin came in with a long thrust, almost holding the pommel of his weapon. Vree knocked his sword aside with a strong sweep of his broadsword.

Anticipating the move, Entreri dipped between the broadsword and his own blade and brought his fist into the Archon Hunter's swollen cheek, knocking the mighty Ithrix to the ground. He lifted his sword to deliver the final blow...

* * * * *

Vree smiled, as he saw the sword descending towards his exposed neck. As the blade approached him, he opened his mouth and called upon his innate ability to breathe fire. Brightly colored orange flames burst out of his mouth and into the face of the assassin, singeing his hair and blinding him. Concentration was broken, the blade slipped, and the Ithrix was able to roll out of the way.

Blinded and burnt the assassin stumbled away from the wounded hunter. Leaning against the wall of the cavern he fumbled into his pack, looking for one of the many vials that held a cure blindness mixture, only to find out that his pack was empty. Empty?? How the hell had his pack become empty? Hearing chanting, he had no time to curse this turn of events. Vree was casting a spell.

With him stumbling around like this he would be an easy target for whatever spell Vree was casting. With one hand against the wall he began to run as fast as he could. Tripping over something, he bent over double and fell into a roll as an explosion rocked the cavern wall just above him. A shower of fist sized rocks slammed into him and he grunted as he hit the hard floor. He had no idea how far he had flown from the explosion. Lying flat out he searched for his sword, which he found just ahead of him. Reaching out he grabbed the pommel and shifted the sword.

The movement of the sword had moved something that was touching it. What was that? He heard footsteps coming towards him. Lying still he waited until the footsteps were near and swung his sword in a low arc around him. He caught flesh and heard the grunt of pain from Vree. Knowing this was his chance he rolled forward towards where he thought he heard the sound. His hand caught something metallic and he scrambled to pick it up. It was a vial, one of his no doubt, but he was not sure what was inside. He kept potions of deadly poisons in his bag to throw at enemies. Entreri decided to take a chance, either way he would probably die anyways. Unscrewing the lid he lifted the vial and drank all its contents.

Almost instantly he was able to see again, just in time to see Vree charging at him as fast as he could on a wounded leg. Bringing up his sword he marveled at how fast the cure worked on him, he would have to buy some more of those sometime. Vree's broadsword came down hard, and Entreri nearly lost the grip on his weapon as the two swords collided. He was still lying on the floor, realizing his disadvantage Entreri rolled out of the way of the Vree's onslaught.

Vree would catch him if he didn't regain his footing. He launched a quick left, left, right combination to keep Vree away while he got one knee up under him. His hands working a blur, he pressed forward furiously. Sweat was dripping down the side of his face yet he continued to press on until he had both feet under him and he was standing face to face with his enemy. Vree lifted his sword, intending to slice Entreri in half with a fierce overhead chop. Dodging easily the assassin spun a complete circuit and swept his foot into the Vree's injured knee.

* * * * *

Sinking to one knee the Archon Hunter moved his sword to block but received another kick in the face for all his efforts. His vision was blurring and he knew he was falling backwards. Vree attempted one last sweep with his sword before the assassin's blade slid right through his chest. He shuddered as the sword at away at his strength. Vree knew he was defeated.

* * * * *

All movement ceased as Entreri's blade entered the chest of the once powerful Ithrix. He stood motionless and watched as the last signs of life left Vree's eyes. Making sure that this time Vree did not recover to stalk him once more, he reached down into his belt to pull out a jeweled dagger, and slit the swordsman's throat. He stood for a moment watching the blood roll down the neck and on to the cold stone floor. Saying nothing, he turned and proceeded to recover his belongings.

Standing at the edge of the cave that led deeper into Hellbent Mountain Artemis Entreri wondered if he the Grimoirium Magica was still in the mountain and if he would return. Right now he needed a place to rest and heal, then maybe, perhaps he would return and destroy the great evil rumored to reside in here. Hefting his pack, Artemis turned and walked slowly away from the mountain.