The tunnel under the Manorhouse of Lord Grimaldus was the only real way past the tent city of Knights and mechanized infantry which extended in concentric circles around the holdings. There was always fear of assassins. Deadly Kasanthian Shadowmancers would test the defenses every few months, always trying to kill of a Dunesphereian Noble and replace him with a doppelganger.
Olgog Anarchists trying to blow up the Lord was another common challenge for the security detail assigned to the Manorhouse. As a result explosives sniffers were installed in all windows and doors leading outside, all monitered by the Red Bishop’s power armor and uploaded to a holo-computer held by one of the Inquisitors.
Yet not even the highest ranked Inquisitor present on site knew of the tunnels of the Grimaldus family. Seeing how strongly the Inquisition had come down on the Goblinsbane Family, one of Lord Grimaldus’ ancestors had spent a considerable fortune on the tunnel system and its extensive anti-scanning countermeasures.
When the door opened Windsor stepped out from the tunnels into the rear of the fireplace, which had a roaring fire going. He extinguished the fire with enough air leyas that a gust of wind seemed to come down the flue. The Inquistor Captain already had his service plasma pistol drawn and a bead on Windsor as he stepped out. Around the Inquisitor Captain’s neck hung a strange metal cross, with a nightmare hide leather backing, and falsewyrm sinew necklace, and his offhand stroked it with seeming reverence.
He flicked off the safety on his pistol, and said, “Name, rank, and prayer of faith.”
Windsor realized quickly he had not quite planned for a call and response code, but should have not been surprised. He thought quickly on his feet, saying, “Philip Seldin, Inquisitor Initiate, The Lord is my shepard I shall not want?”
“Improper prayer of faith,” replied the Inquisitor Captain, but he hesitated and said, “Obviously you came a long way for something, Initiate.”
“Yes sir, I have a message, sir,” said Windsor rapidly, “But I was told only to give it you sir.”
The Captain proceeded to fire a crossbow bolt into Windsor’s leg to his surprise. The faux Inquisitor grabbed the wound overly playing up the pain.
“Think of that as a kindness,” said the Captain, “Now begin walking, you stay in front of me at all times. No sudden movements. You can feel free to tell your story during the rites of truth.
Paladins secure that fireplace, it should not allow outside access.”
Windsor had heard about the rites of truth. He realized he was only buying a few minutes at most before they would know he was not an Earther once he reached whatever room the rites would be held in. Windsor could feel the Inquisitor Captain’s eyes burrowing into his back as he walked. Before the door closed behind him, he coughed twice.
The two Paladins were close to the fireplace when an Air spirit rose from it. The blue creature seemed more spirit than flesh and it flowed over the closest Paladin. The Paladin screamed silently as he suffocated inside the spirit.
The other paladin turned drawing his sword, and prepared to yell and alarm. But in the moment his back was turned, the infamous Black Lorne stepped from the fireplace whipping a rope garrote around the paladin’s unarmored throat. He pulled tight, and the paladin gurgled away trying to thrust his sword back towards Lorne’s midsection. The sword cut into the armor, but only sliced a small ribbon of flesh from Lorne’s side. Lorne pulled tight and finally the paladin fell limp.
The weight of the body falling, pulled the sword across, and Lorne felt one of his ribs snap. The pain was intense, but Lorne gritted his teeth, lowered the body gently to the ground.
Both paladins were unconscious, and some strong rope made sure if they did awaken they wouldn’t be going anywhere.
A pair of glowing kolgul leapt from the fireplace and scampered across the room and out into the long corridor that connected the fireplace room with Lord Grimaldus’ bedchamber. They turned to the two paladins who stood in the hall and both fell down on the ground snoring away. Their halberds clattered harmlessly away.
A large booted foot came smashing down on one of the Kolgul which dissipated into fog. In that moment of metal on wood, Lalder had figured out the location of the Red Bishop, and prepared to summon a Chimera nearby.
Black Lorne charged the Red Bishop who turned towards him and blasted him with a cloud of Liquid Nitrogen which froze him in place. With a roar the Chimera was upon the Red Bishop, its claws cutting through the heavy armor. But the soldier inside was a veteran of many battles, and had already transmitted a silent alarm for backup.
Seconds ticked away as the Red Bishop and Chimera fought.
One of the Paladins awoke and grabbed his halberd charging towards the Chimera. Sir Resugent stepped out and blasted the paladin from his feet with healing leyas that forced the knight into unconsciousness.
Zhgog’ol Maklur used the opening to reach the section of floor boards warded against Earth. He began prying up the board, finally smashing it. He turned growing vines across the floor under the Red Bishop.
As the red bishop stumbled, Lalder took aim with his magi pistol. A pair of beams fused one of the power armor’s legs. The Chimera bowled the Red Bishop off his feet, and he forced the Liquid Nitrogen launcher into the creature’s snapping mouth and pressed the trigger.
Zhgog’ol converted Black Lorne back to life, and the pair destroyed the shadow ward together.
The Red Bishop smashed the icy chimera corpse off him, and turned the sprayer toward the attackers.
Sir Resugent had opened the door and stepped into Lord Grimaldus’ bedchamber as the battle continued in the hall.