From the Desk of the Nagaraja: Prologue.

Chryenth

I've been sitting on this one for *far* too long, but here it is. The final, finished piece of the puzzle. Well, not really. No questions are answered, but the Naga get to kick some serious arse. Again.

Shameless thief of characters: @Jiraishin, @Synbios, @Katzchen. There a re a few others but you're the main (and active) ones.

From the Desk of the Nagaraja: Prologue

 

Pencil-pushing was the most boring part of Jinso’s job.  Unfortunately, it was also necessary – reports from field agents needed to be recorded, expenses needed to be calculated, and the number of heads that the Naga brought in for the bounty project was definitely better dealt with in paper. The result was Jinso’s desk was perpetually covered in stacks and stacks of paper, save for a tiny space for him to rest his current work, and a hole to place a mug of kawhe. After almost twelve solid hours of bureaucracy, however, the mug was empty. The stacks remained, however, stacked.

At this point, any distraction would be welcome.

Knowing his subordinates proclivity for dramatic timings, Jinso paused for a long moment, pen suspended in mid-air. Silent seconds passed and nothing happened, so the Nagaraja sighed and returned his attention to his work.

Nagaraja. Do you have a moment?

Visteon’s voice, through the medium of telepathy, echoed through Jinso’ head. With a silent sigh of relief, he dropped his pen and leant back in his chair.

Go ahead, Lord Visteon.

Shallam’s forces are engaged in Ashtan. Looks like they’re winning, for the moment.

Jinso snorted in derision. No doubt Sarthen or Salis was leading some sort of action against Babel’s city, which he would have seen if his deathsight was attuned. It distracted him whilst he worked, though, and paperwork was tedious enough. If there was any appearance of Shallam winning, it was probably due to Risnat. A master tactician in the Occultists, Jinso’s file on him was starting to grow to worrying proportions.

Whilst they are engaged in the involved process of experiencing Chaos first-hand, there is almost no-one left in Shallam proper. Visteon continued. Jinso nodded, and then remembered the other end of the conversation was probably not even in the city. He frowned for a moment, extending the range of his vision beyond the strictly material.

Jaru. Not entirely unexpected.

What are you getting at, Visteon?

The reply was tinged with a sense of excitement, masked with false innocence.

Well, you were saying how the House’s coffers were a little empty recently…

 

***

 

Having the sun beat down on him was not a feeling Jinso particularly relished, and his fellow Naga shared his discomfort. It took a certain effort to relax, to let the warmth seep into Jinso’s serpentine blood. The heat made him feel calm, relaxed – a feeling that was entirely at odds with the tension of standing within sight of such a target as Shallam.

“Well, Nagaraja? Your thoughts?” Lord Visteon was as bold as ever, a carefully crafted mask of indifference hiding his expression of eagerness.

Jinso took a long moment to think. Shallam was well protected, and her defenders would no doubt come running if they knew she was under attack.

And what concern of that is mine? Strength through Suffering.

“Let’s move.” Jinso said quietly from beneath the hood of his cloak. Visteon nodded once, turned on his heel and stalked off toward the city gates. Jinso kept his eyes on him until the last possible moment, watching him slowly fade from perception, then vanish from reality in the time between two steps. Jinso pulled a skullroot flower from the Rift, ate it and shivered as his mind attuned itself to Thoth’s presence, the better to keep track of today’s operation. Two deathsights immediately settled into his mind.

SALIS… RISNAT…

SARTHEN… RISNAT…

Jinso frowned, put them out of his mind. At least Shallam’s forces were engaged.

Naga. Begin your infiltrations immediately. Jinso’s mental command received a half-dozen acknowledgements. It felt odd to be issuing it over the city’s telepathic channel, but the Tyrannus insisted.

“Why should you get all the fun, Nagaraja?” He had said. “I’m sure there will be enough of the Eastern heathens to go around.”

The discipline of the Mhaldorians was excellent – no-one else in the city spoke. Nevertheless, Jinso could practically feel their enthusiasm and excitement, tempered by the cool detachment of his Naga. Or so he liked to think. Those Maldaathi had better not screw this up. Jinso’s opinion of the Baelgrim’s knights was mixed – they were effective killing machines, but tended to fixate on their precious honour rather too much for his liking.

Nagaraja. Xie’s voice, quiet and restrained.

Report, Xie.

Parasis remains in the city. No emotion flavoured Xie’s thoughts, but Jinso suspected there was a healthy chunk of paranoia being brutally suppressed. Parasis was a blademaster of some renown, famous amongst the Naga in particular for wielding a sword named Enduring Serpents.

We’ll deal with him as and when. Maybe let the Tyrannus take care of him.

Xie did not reply. Jinso took that for an acknowledgement.

Jinso. The Tyrannus’ voice echoed around Jinso’s head as he started towards the city. Report.

Jinso counted the seconds that had passed without communication from his field agents, Xie’s report notwithstanading. Everyone is in position, Tyrannus Sabian.

Excellent. I await your instructions.

Now that was a strange feeling. Jinso had to fight to control his expression, mouth twitching up at the corners. The Tyrannus was waiting on him – and so was the entire population of Mhaldor.

This was going to be excellent fun.

 

***

 

Arbela Park was deserted, which suited Jinso fine. He kept his hood raised out of habit, but allowed himself to stroll along at a comfortable pace, taking time to glance over the gardener’s work. Pointless waste of time and energy.

It had taken him just under fifteen minutes to get from the edge of the city to here, avoiding any notables that might have barred his way. The pleasant stroll through the gardens was almost decedent, by his standards, but it let enough time pass that Jinso could be sure everything was set up adequately. Right on time, Visteon’s voice called over the city’s channel.

Anteion and I have reached the bank. Jinso nodded to himself.

Xie’s voice came next. On Kashshi Way now.

Other Naga reported ready.

Sulamain Avenue is empty.

Scythia square, likewise.

Four decadents at Fish street. That one was tinged with disgust. Permission to inflict Suffering?

The joke sparked a wave of amusement among the listening Mhaldorians, but they had the good sense to keep quiet. Another pair of acknowledgements, and Jinso took over.

Chryenth

[Continued]

Lock the area down. Visteon, Anteion – take everything not nailed down, the nails, and everything no longer nailed down. Another wave of amusement from the Maldaathi and the members of the Ebon Fist rolled over the telepathic channel, but the Naga knew that statement for what it was – nothing less than a direct command.

It took remarkable little time for the hue and cry to go up. Jinso heard the bells start to peal in under a minute, and suddenly guards were running in every direction. His link to realm of Thoth lit up, and Jinso was treated to a running tally of deaths inflicted by the Naga forces in the city as helpless novices and city guards alike were taken apart. He pulled his bow from its concealment, threw back his hood to improve his eyesight and started stalking towards the bank, pausing only to put an arrow through the back of an inattentive Grook magi’s head. She died without a sound, collapsing as Jinso dashed past her. He kept a twinge of pride from his face as the deathsight reverberated around the realm.

LEWYIZ… JINSO…

Then deathsight lit up again.

SALIS… RISNAT…

XIE… PARASIS…

LOSH… SARTHEN…

The Tyrannus was the first to react, and did so with admirable calm. Anteion. We need a target in the city. Prepare for our arrival immediately.

Jinso didn’t hear the reply. He loosed an arrow at a shadowy figure lurking by the park’s entrance, thinking it a Dawnstrider lost in the confusion, only to have his target twist at the last possible second and weave away from the speeding arrow. Jinso barely had time to frown before he registered the sword at his target’s hip. An array of profiles ran through his head in an instant, but Jinso’s pessimism beat his memory to the punchline.

Parasis. Well, Slithspawn. The Maldaathi – in fact, the entirety of the Mhaldorian assault force – were assembling in the bank, no doubt helping the two Naga loot the place as thoroughly as possible. No help there.

Parasis moved like quicksilver, running towards Jinso at incredible speed. The Nagaraja loosed another arrow at him, watched him dodge by leaping onto the wall surrounding the park and front-flip back to the ground without missing a step. Jinso’s amazement was equalled only by his irritation, and he placed his bow over his shoulder in favour of a dirk and whip just in time to intercept the first blow Parasis unleashed. The second blow glanced off Jinso’s scalemail armour, but the third bit deep into his hip. The Nagaraja hissed in pain, disengaging by flicking his dagger across Parasis’ eyes. Since the blademaster was still sheathing his sword he had no ready defence, and he staggered backwards a whole two steps.

Jinso used the distraction to move silently, in the way of the Serpent, hiding in the shadows of the plants until he reached the far edge of the park. He stepped out into the Crossroads of Elysia, acutely aware that he was both out of the area of city that was currently under Mhaldorian rule and had moved away from any armed support he might have called upon. He took a deep breath and composed himself, preparing to report to the city channel about Parasis’ presence-

“Now, Nagaraja. I should warn you that if you attempt to contact your citymates, I’ll sever your head from your shoulders.” Parasis’s voice was, in and of itself, not hard on the ears. It grated somewhat on Jinso’s pride, however, that the blademaster had somehow appeared behind him with being detected. The sword resting a hair’s breadth under his right ear was adding insult to insult. Jinso palmed his dagger, but let his whip drop to the floor in a gesture of submission.

“I’m surprised you didn’t do so anyway, oh merciful warrior of the Light.” Jinso said, very carefully so as not to accidently twitch into the sword at his neck.

SALIS… LOSH…

“Oh, and your friends appear to need your help. You should probably forget me and assist them.”

“Your glib tongue will avail you of nothing, snake. Call your forces off, now.” Parasis sounded so earnest, so serious, so convicted that is was all Jinso could do not to laugh.

“You think I’m in charge here?” Jinso smirked. This might be worth a few moments of talking, just to be able to tell the story later. He could imagine Parasis’ expression, and briefly wished he could see it.

Jinso felt the reply as a tiny line of cool air. His hyper-attuned senses registered the blade moving away from his neck, the cool air rushing in to fill the gap it created. His instinct took over from his rational mind, and he pitched forwards, bringing his right leg up and around in a kick under the arm. Parasis grunted, knocked the weak kick away and swung his sword in a flat arc at Jinso’s torso. A crackle of electrical energy leapt from the pommel, engulfing the blade as it approached - and the Nagaraja moved.

Jinso ducked under Parasis’ blade, letting it skim over his head so close that he could feel the lightning as a tingling in his scalp. His dagger flashed out from his left hand, cutting Parasis’ sword arm in two places. The arm crumbled as Parasis’ eyes rolled back in his head, hand going limp as the epteth and delphinium venoms took effect. Knowing the effect wouldn’t last long, Jinso did the only thing that seemed to make sense at the time. He pulled Enduring Serpents from Parasis’ hand, and then took off at a run towards the bank.

 

***

 

Tyrannus Sabian scowled at the door to Shallam’s bank. Two Maldaathi knights stood flanking them, swords drawn and dripping with blood. He had half a mind to release them into the city to cause some devastation – the two dozen bank staff and the two novice Priests that had been here were hardly worth the killing. With the city’s forces deployed against Ashtan, half a continent away, there seemed to be no real challenge here. He was almost regretting pinning the Nagaraja down at the Crossroads and insisting on a full-scale assault. The constant stream of deaths from the Bastion was only serving to exacerbate his anger.

KIZIM… PORCOE…

“Any progress, Naga?” Sabien called towards the interior of the bank.

“Not as yet, Tyrannus. Moments, I assure you!” Visteon’s voice called back, ever an insufferable mixture of amusement and professionalism. Sabien returned to his ever-angrier watch on the doors, fingering the hilt of his longsword in anticipation.

DREAKER… LOSH…

A novice Paladin attempted to storm the bank alone. Sabien watched in disappointment as one of the Maldaathi on the doors held a rapier out at stomach level and the foolish girl charged straight into it, spilling her guts all over the floor. The splash wasn’t even enough to reach Sabien’s boots, and he sighed.

TASHIA… ANGYER…

“Enough of this.” He waved at the Maldaathi guarding the doors. “Make your way to Mirimar’s temple. Kill everyone in your way.” Both knights saluted eagerly and departed without a word. Sabian called to the other Knight remaining in the bank. “Catsen, you and Ritac will make for the palace. Likewise, inflict Suffering on everything you pass.”

A dark head of hair appeared from around a corner as Catsen acknowledged Sabien’s shout. She hauled a pair of sacks into view, one over her shoulder and the other dragged along the floor. Each one clinked with thousands of gold sovereigns. “Ritac is just behind me, Tyrannus. He insisted on carrying more than I.” She threw the sacks onto an ever-growing pile near the western wall. They landed with a resounding clatter of coins.

Sabien nodded impatiently. “As soon as he arrives, get moving.” An idea occurred to him, and he dismissed Catsen with a wave of his hand. The slender young woman saluted and drew her swords, taking one of the recently-vacated stations near the door. A quiet stream of curses indicated the approach of Ritac, but Sabien ignored him too.

Mhaldorians. My favour and ten thousand sovereigns to the person who brings me Parasis’ head.

“And what prize is there for his sword, Tyrannus?”

Sabien’s head snapped around to the back of the room. Catsen gasped from the door, leaping to his defence as Ritac rounded the corner, cursing and drawing his sword with a flourish. Jinso allowed himself a smile at them all, resting the blunt edge of Enduring Serpents on his shoulder.

The Tyrannus blinked for a second, then laughed. The sound echoed off the marble walls, and the two Knights joined in until the room rang with laughter. Jinso even contributed a chuckle.

“Excellent work, Nagaraja. My favour to you, instead.” The Tyrannus smiled grimly. “Ten thousand sovereigns can wait until we return to Mhaldor, I think.”

“As you say, Tyrannus.” Jinso replied, returning to a professional detachment even as the last echoes of laughter faded away.

Wormhole ready, Tyrannus. We’ll start moving the vault’s contents now. Visteon reported over the city channel.

Good. Mhaldorians, consider yourselves at hazard. Sabien replied, beckoning to Ritac as he did. “We’ll go find something to kill in one of the gatehouses, in that case. Make a sweep of the walls. Jinso, you and Catsen head towards the Basilica. I’m sure Antieon and Visteon can take care of themselves for a while.”

The Knights and the Nagaraja nodded. Catsen slipped towards the door, rapiers in hand. Jinso put Enduring Serpents – edge blunted by means of a length of cloth – into a dragonskin pack and threw it towards where Antieon was emerging, carrying yet more gold, along with a mental admonishment to keep it safe. He then followed Catsen from the bank, stringing his bow as he went.

 

**

 

Jinso and Catsen encountered almost no opposition as they walked through the city. A few guards tried to waylay them; the end result two kills in Catsen’s favour, even when Jinso pulled off a trick shot and put a single arrow through the neck of one and the eye of another. She complimented the Nagaraja on his shooting skills, but Jinso brushed it off. He was as good as he was required to be.

The utter lack of a challenge grated on both Mhaldorians, made them careless. At least, that was the only explanation Jinso could think of. One moment they were stalking towards the Raphaelen Highway along Shallam Road, no target in sight, and the next Catsen was crouched on the paving stones, struggling to breathe. Jinso barely had time to bring his bow to a firing position before he too was attacked.

Parasis struck so fast Jinso couldn’t see the strikes, just a blur of cloth and fingers as his bow was knocked away, and a series of strikes to the sternum, the face, the ears, the neck, the chest-

Jinso’s training let him avoid a few of the blows instinctively, and he avoided being plunged into the Dreamrealm through sheer force of will. His legs locked up for a second before the residual heat of Jinso’s earlier basking swept the feeling away. The pain in his chest intensified, however, as Parasis struck it again. Then the blademaster made a mistake, and lashed out with the back of a clenched fist towards Jinso’s temple.

Jinso leant backwards, letting the blow pass over his nose so close that the breeze it created made him blink. He reversed his motion instantly, tracking the fist as it passed and headed towards the floor. His head snapped forwards towards Parasis’ neck, and the Nagaraja managed to inject enough aconite to stupefy the entire leadership of Cyrene. Parasis stumbled, and Jinso drove a knee into his stomach as hard as he could. The blademaster staggered backwards-

-and screamed as Catsen shoved both her blades through his back and stomach, ripping them in opposite directions. Parasis collapsed into a pool of blood. Catsen kicked him twice for good measure.

PARASIS… CATSEN…

“Sonofa heathen got the drop on me. I hate that.”

Jinso nodded in agreement.

“Worse than those bloody Dawnstriders or dawnwalkers or whatever they’re called.”

Jinso nodded again. Catsen gave him a cool look, and composed herself.

“My apologies, Nagaraja. Let’s keep going.”

“Of course, Lady Catsen. Keep your eyes open.”

Ten thousand sovereigns, Lady Catsen. The Nagaraja has already claimed my favour. Sabien’s voice echoed over Mhaldor’s telepathic channel.

Catsen glanced sideways at Jinso, then grinned. The gesture reminded Jinso of a wild animal, and he twitched the corner of his mouth up in response.

Thank you, Tyrannus. “So what’re you going to do with that sword you stole, Nagaraja?”

Jinso thought about the blade in question, hidden in a backpack that was no doubt already in Mhaldor.

“Oh, I have a display case that’s just been waiting for a prize like this…”

Chryenth

Holy mother of double posts. Whoops.

Mazoth

good read, found it very engaging

Kinilan

Two thumbs down. Correct title for the head of the Naga is "Nagaroni and Cheese"

Synbios

I have this sudden sensation of a writer's block being lifted from my mind. Thank you for curing it, @Chryenth.

Trey

Chryenth said:

Go ahead, Lord Visteon.

I'm sorry, this story was pretty good but I got to this name and mistook it for a moment for...

... and I could not picture anything else for the duration.