Both Sides of the Coin

[Kangleton]

A bird, soaring from the highest balcony of the Necropolis, came bearing an almost identical message to that of the magic missive recieved only moments ago. With the bird came Landaren's orders, and with the missive came Elric's ignorant request.

"Time to choose..."

Karthus looked around for a brief moment, studying his surroundings. To his left and right were dozens of disgusting undead, limping about, and no sign of a single living creature amongst them. As per Landaren's orders though, the undead made no hostile movement towards Karthus. Everything seemed to be going according to plan - or more accurately - plans. All that was left to do was decide which plan to follow.

"Nekrosa, Gnas'Rym!"

As the echoing words rang through the air, part of the sky itself ripped open, unleashing a hail of brilliant red boulders, heading directly towards a collision with the Necropolis itself. Inside was a desperate Elric, pleading for a concentrated bombardment from who he thought was his ally, while on the floor above was an impatient Landaren, expecting to see his enemies crushed by a flurry of fiery explosions, beneath him.

So long, had Karthus been feeding selective information to both sides of this war; so long had he been playing all the angles - but this was the deciding moment. This is where he would choose which force of ignorance he would stand behind, and which he would stand against.

The massive, flaming projectiles came nearer and nearer to the Necropolis, and nearer and nearer to both of his allies, of which were both enemies to each other. However, in as much time as it would have taken to flip a coin, one of Karthus' allies had become an enemy, with the only indication being the impact that followed his choice.

Smashing through the walls of the fortress of darkness came the bombardment that Elric had hoped for. The halls of the Necropolis were filled with fiery impacts, shaking the foundation of the building itself, and paving the way for the enemies of Landaren to reach his stronghold on the third level. Moments later, without remorse, a second bombardment of burning hailstones collided with the structure, disrupting the undead ranks that had been advancing on Elric's position.

"And so shall it be..."

Karthus lowered himself to one knee, catching his breath, as the tide of the battle within the Necropolis began to turn. The coin had been flipped, and this time, he had finally chosen a side.

[Kangleton]

Memories came flooding back, drowning out the noise of the battle that took place in the damaged structure. Memories of Landaren's friendship, and the alliance they had reached at the begining of this dark war; memories of his fabricated commitment to Nulinus and the resistance. Memories that were now irrelevant.

As the thoughts began to fade and pass, Karthus brought himself to his feet. Knowing that Elric's forces would be only moments away from the final confrontation, Karthus began to make his way to the entrance of the Necropolis, heading eventually to the top of the structure, still protected by Landaren's misguided orders. At the height of the dark fortress, was an interesting sight.

At the moment that Karthus crossed through the final hallway, he witnessed Elric being surrounded by the corrupt spirit-slaves of Bane, as Tifton and Landaren stood at the top of the shrine. What was most unusual though, was the figure of a devil, bellowing a call for individual combat with the Dreadmaster.

[Kangleton]

The battle that ensued between the devil and the Dreadmaster Landaren was epic. Foul incantations, divine radiance and unholy energies exploded throughout the chamber as all others stood still, affected by nothing short of awe. After minutes of lengthly combat, in a movement that surprised Karthus, the devil stabbed its talons through the enchanted armor of Landaren, sundering it apart as blood spewed from the feared Banite's chest. The moment of silence that occurred thereafter might as well have lasted for hours - it sure felt that long, Karthus thought.

"So this is how it ends..."

The moment of silence was broken by the devil that had started it, as she cried for more blood. This time, though, it was the blood of Tifton that the beast desired. Having what must have been no interest, Tifton made no hostile movements in response to the hellish creature, and instead, retreated along with Landaren in what was perhaps the first and last defeat that they would ever experience against the men and women assembled in the chamber of the dead.

With victory secured, and the climax having come and passed, the forces protecting Sundren from the Ill'Koresh began to depart the scene of the epic battle. Elric began composing his tales of heroism as his steps carried him to the lower levels, while the others prepared to fight their way back down through the way they had entered, destroying the few remaining agents of Landaren.

As the room emptied, Karthus remained behind for a single moment.

"They'll never know how differently things could have gone, if only the wind had blown another way."

[Kangleton]

Someone knew. Karthus was in a panic.

How they could have found out, he did not know... but the whispering wouldn't stop! No matter where he went, the disgruntled woodsman heard that terrible, knowing voice in his ear.

"Traitor," it would say, as it dangled vague references to Bane in his tormented ears. At the campfire, in the taverns - the voice was inescapable. It knew everything.

How could he have been discovered? It shouldn't have been possible! He had set everything up so perfectly. Nulinus, Gromlin, Yashia - they all trusted him, just as Landaren and Tifton had! Neither side was aware that they were being betrayed for the interests of an independent party, and there were never any witnesses to the exchange of hands, on any occassion! The whispers didn't care, though. They were not concerned with the improbability of Karthus having been discovered - they had intentions of their own.

"We will be in touch..."

[Lollercide]

Somewhere, some time after, a certain paladin remembers this traitorous bitch.