The Banite threat

[Eyes of Sundren]

An Eye of Sundren was lying in wait at the Trading Camp. Clues of Drow, Banites, and Trolls were being gathered patiently... systematically. It was as slow night however and he was growing weary. He considered moving on and then it happened...

A bright flash. The earth trembled. A loud roar. A hellish gate opened and demons spewed forth and attacked all those around the campsite. Guttural threats to submit to Bane filled the air as shocked onlookers began to fall at the fury of the cursed creatures. Havoc and mayhem ensued for what seemed like eternity. And then as quickly as the demons appeared, they disappeared back into whatever hell they were summoned from.

Though caught off guard like the others, the agent kept still. His training took hold of him. The shadows hid him. His task was to observe, not fight. And observe he did.

"The Banites grow powerful. If they wield the ability to summon such fiends at whim, Sundren will be in grave danger." He begins to note something however. "There are certain individuals not being named and targeted by these demons. Could it be that those not named are Banites themselves? I must observe more and watch. In the meantime, I must inform the others."

With his final thought, the agent disappears into the darkness.

[me_less]

((this looks like a good place to keep Banite related posts....))

With a lips dry and his neck tender to the touch, Duskthorne awakened in the church of Ilmater. He tried to get up and ask a priest what happened but his body did not cooperate and his throat was raspy and sore. He could only surmise that some priest brought him here. He laid himself down again.

"What happened? Why am I here?" His thoughts swirled in search of clues. He remembered following a Banite and taking something from him. What it was he can no longer recall. A quick search of his bodily possessions reveal nothing. Someone must have taken it.

More memories seem to ebb in. He is now listening in on the conversation of three Banites. Their armor were ornate and fearsome to behold. Their helms in the design of a skull. He recalled gaining much information but was interrupted by yelling. The rest he sees as if it was a dream.

"Up the road!" cried one of the Banites. Duskthorne was surprised at being discovered and began to flee down the road. There was no way he could dispatch three Banites at once. He noticed too late however that it was not him they discovered but the tiefling Zack! His position was compromised nonetheless. He continued to run.

The largest Banite was magically hasted however. He quickly bore down on him with his mighty Axe. Duskthorne's single stride was met with his two. As he got close enough, his axe went high into the air and straight into his back. Within three cleaving swoops, Duskthorne flew forward sprawling into the road in front of him. The Stoneskin spell he cast hours before saved him from being cleaved in two. Barely conscious and alive, he was dragged back to their camp. All he can remember left was his throat being slit and crumpling into the ground.

Duskthorne's hand felt for his throat where he felt the sharp blade last. "Elijah's new god, Ilmater, must have shown great mercy. We live to fight another day." Though he remembers little of the event that will provide clues to the Banites' identities, the skull helms he remembers well. "Their numbers are growing. Perhaps I need to enlist more support for this fight."