Merchants of Death

Merchants of Death

by SexyLizard

This is a sequel to MULTIVERSE NETWORKING.

Disclaimer:
I do not own Buffy The Vampire Slayer, the X-Men, or Dungeons &
Dragons. This is a work of parody created for non-commercial
purposes.

Rating: Adult

Warning:
Incest, Femslash, Drug Use, and Nonconsensual themes.

Prologue

The continent of Faerun on the world of Toril was in most respects a
primitive land. The majority of the people were farmers who lived
lives of near constant toil, hardship, and death. While science and
technology were virtually unknown.

Though magic was relatively common in Faerun, but only among the
powerful, wise, and wealthy. Most of the people on the continent had
to live without its benefits. Surviving in a manner similar to the
people who had lived in medieval Europe on planet Earth.

The land was dominated by potent magics and powerful dynasties. And
perhaps no place in Faerun epitomized this better than the rich and
cosmopolitan (by the standards of Toril) city-state of Silverymoon.

It had been ruled as long as anyone could remember by the powerful
and seemingly immortal mage Lady Alustriel Silverhand. The Lady's
(for the most part benevolent) rule was protected and strengthened by
the loyal Knights in Silver. Which was considered one of the most
powerful armies in the region.

And among the Knights in Silver, there was perhaps no fiercer
defender of Silverymoon or dedicated champion of Lady Alustriel than
the Paladin Sir Galahad Evernear. A devoted worshipper and cleric of
the god Lathander the Morning Lord, Sir Galahad viewed the beautiful
mage who had ruled his homeland with almost equal reverence.

Always among the first to respond to any apparent threat to
Silverymoon or Lady Alustriel, Sir Galahad had taken himself and the
twelve other Knights under his command on a Goblin Hunt.


A tribe of goblins had been attacking trading caravans as they went
to or from Silverymoon, striking out of the small forest on one of
the main trade routes. According to the reports Sir Galahad had
received, the goblins showed unusual coordination and discipline and
fought with strange and dangerous weapons.

But Sir Galahad was not at all worried. For he was confident that
the power of his god and the discipline of his Knights could overcome
any obstacle.

Sir Galahad and his soldiers were all mounted on large well trained
warhorses, they all wore gleaming silver armor over most of their
bodies that was enchanted against harmful magics and strong enough to
repel most swords, arrows, spears, and axes; and all the Knights had
at least one magical weapon on their person. Moreover, one of the
Knights was also a competent wizard, as well as being a decent
swordsman.

Sir Galahad Evernear couldn't imagine such an elite force being
seriously threatened by mere goblins.

Once they approached the forest that the goblin camp was known to be
in, Sir Galahad's second in command, the Knight known by the nickname
Magic Man (for he was the only one in their group with any real skill
at magic) suggested that they send one of the Knights to scout ahead
of the group, in case of ambush or other hazards.

"No…if we all attack at once the villains will have far less chance
of escaping…besides lowly goblins could have no chance of effectively
ambushing Silverymoon's Fist" Sir Galahad replied arrogantly.
Referring to his group by its unofficial nickname.

Magic Man's tanned and scarred face twisted into a frown. He had
never approved of his leader's frequent recklessness, and sometimes
feared that it would get Sir Galahad and everyone under his command
killed.

But their foes were only goblins, so Sir Galahad's 2nd said nothing.
Besides he knew that the Paladin probably wouldn't listen anyway. For
the only opinions other than his own Sir Galahad truly valued were
those of his Lady and his god.

The youngest member of the group, a Knight who was uncharitably known
as Baby Face thanks to his innocent looking features, paused before
saying something.

Baby Face had seen little actual combat at this point and did not
enjoy the respect of his peers. The other members of Silverymoon's
Fist thought Baby Face was too inexperienced to join their group.
But Sir Galahad had allowed the young soldier to become part of his
small unit because of Baby Face's great skill with the blade and his
almost fawning admiration for the Paladin himself.

But if Baby Face had been as lacking in courage as some of his
resentful comrades assumed then he never would have remained a
soldier this long. Looking his idol (a man who was famous within the
Knights in Silver) in the face, Baby Face breathlessly asked Sir
Galahad "where are they Sir?"

As a Paladin Sir Galahad Evernear had a number of magical abilities
granted by his god. Including the power to detect nearby evil, as
interpreted by Galahad's god.

Using his power to detect the closest concentration of evil, Sir
Galahad closed his eyes in an uncharacteristically thoughtful
expression.

"That way" Sir Galahad Evernear said with absolute self assurance,
pointing ahead with the blade of his holy sword Purifier, his silver
armor gleaming, the muscles of his large body prominent in the areas
not covered by armor, the chin of his handsome face jutting outward,
his large mustache giving his features just a hint of roguish charm.

~Why does he always pose like that…its just us here~ Magic Man
thought with a long suffering sigh.

The knights in shining armor galloped in the direction that their
leader had indicated. Making no attempt to hide or mask their
presence. Confident that they could handle whatever their enemy
threw at them.

As their horses ran through the forest Magic Man became increasingly
nervous. Tall trees and other plants surrounded them on all sides.
Providing excellent cover for any enemy who wanted to ambush them.

Magic Man muttered a quick spell under his breath. Reassured when it
didn't detect any hostile magics.

Then without warning six of their thirteen horses screamed in pain.
Falling to the ground as new wounds in their sides suddenly erupted
blood.

What sounded like distant explosions surrounded the soldiers of
Silverymoon's Fist, and the remaining confused warhorses soon went
down in showers of blood too. Whinnying in pain as the enemy
projectiles tore through their bodies.

As Sir Galahad's warhorse Germane fell to the ground the Paladin
leapt free just in time to avoid being pinned under the massive dying
animal. Sir Galahad Evernear spared his beloved mount one last
glance before turning to back to his men.

The Paladin warrior was shocked at how badly they were fairing. Over
half of his soldiers were dead, their armor providing almost no
protection against whatever was striking them. The rest all seemed
to be coping with various wounds. Shocked and appalled that they
could be struck down with such speed and apparent ease.

"WHAT FOUL SORCERY IS THIS" Sir Galahad screamed in outrage.
Convinced that only the darkest and most powerful magic could be
striking down his soldiers like this.

"Not…not…not magic."

Sir Galahad turned to the hoarse speaker to find his 2nd barely
clinging to life. Magic Man's breastplate had multiple holes in it,
blood gushing out of every one, as his limbs visibly trembled with
the effort of holding his mortally wounded body up.

Magic Man gazed soulfully into his superior's eyes. Finding that in
his final moments he no longer cared about rank or social mores.

"Galahad Evernear…you are such a stup…"

But Magic Man's heart gave out before he could finish, his final
words never to be completed.

Sir Galahad turned away from his long time comrade sorrowfully.
Certain that Magic Man had meant to say something reassuring and
heartfelt in his final moments.

Then he realized that the enemy had finally revealed themselves.

They were indeed goblins, but they fought like no goblins Sir Galahad
had ever seen.

There were only fifteen goblins, emerging from their hiding places
among the trees and other plants to strike at the knights from close
range. Slowly advancing towards the remains of the Silverymoon force
as they continued to fire their weapons at them.

Their weapons reminded Sir Galahad of the one musket he had seen
(taken from a former pirate), but these weapons were smoother and
sleeker looking. Striking with a speed and power Sir Galahad had
only ever seen tools of magic demonstrate.

Moreover, these goblins did not engage in any of the taunts or verbal
abuse he expected the bestial looking and scrawny humanoids to hurl
at their victims. Only the biggest and strongest goblin spoke at
all, calling out orders and encouragement in his kind's guttural
tongue. The rest simply did their best to aim at and fire upon their
targets, wearing expressions on their bestial features that ranged
from anger to joy.

The goblins were firing at the soldiers of Silverymoon from all
sides, giving the knights nowhere to hide from their deadly
firepower. Yet as Sir Galahad watched not a single goblin fell to
friendly fire. For the goblins had positioned themselves around the
knights to avoid such a scenario.

~Someone trained these foul beasts in the use of these weapons~ the
outraged Paladin realized as he watched the goblins tactics.

Then Sir Galahad Evernear looked around and realized that most of his
knights had fallen while he paused for a moment in thought. The only
two soldiers still standing were Sir Galahad and the young knight
known as Baby Face.

Baby Face's normally cheerful features were twisted into an
expression of hate. Staring at the goblins who had just killed his
comrades with the deepest malice.

Pulling out his sword and getting ready to charge the goblins as he
ranted "these are DISHONORABLE weapons…they killed Magic Man, George,
Henry, Adolph, and all the others…I'm going to cut off their damn…"

But Baby Face was stopped in mid sentence, fired upon by multiple
goblins before he could go more than a few feet. His body jerking
briefly as he was struck over half a dozen times, then toppling
over. Dead before he hit the ground.

Sir Galahad Evernear screamed wordlessly in outrage upon seeing the
last of his knights fall. Taking out his sword and charging towards
the apparent leader of the goblins with almost superhuman speed.

One of the goblin warriors was so unnerved by the sight of an angry
Paladin Knight charging towards his general position that he began to
fire wildly, hitting one of his fellow goblins on the other side of
the main group of knights in the chest (killing him instantly). But
all the other goblins aimed their weapons at the knight in shining
armor.

Over half the goblins missed, but six of them hit their shiny
target. The strange weapons struck Sir Galahad's body with punishing
force, his heavy armor offering no protection as the foreign objects
tore through his blood and bone. But the Paladin warrior still ran
on, driven by love of his nation and faith in his god.

Then when Sir Galahad was only a few feet from the goblin chief,
pulling back his sword Purifier for a blow that would cut the goblin
leader in half, the chief aimed his weapon at the knight's knee and
fired. Destroying Sir Galahad's kneecap in an explosion of blood and
bone.

Not even a Paladin warrior as powerful and strong willed as Sir
Galahad Evernear could run with a leg that was barely in one piece
anymore. Sir Galahad toppled backwards, hitting his head on a rock
as he fell on his back.


Yet the Knight felt no pain, and Sir Galahad realized that his body
had gone into shock. His wounds too severe for even his strong and
divinely empowered body to take anymore.

The goblin chief moved to stand by the fallen Knight in Silver,
appearing amazingly large as he loomed over the helpless Paladin.
Sir Galahad tried to lift Purifier now that the leader was within
reach, but the chief stepped on his sword hand, and the knight was
too weak now to resist the goblin's strength.

The savage looking goblin was only about half as tall as Sir Galahad,
but his muscular and virtually naked body filled the Paladin's vision
as he pressed the muzzle of his weapon against Sir Galahad's
forhead. Then the goblin leader spoke in surprisingly good Common.

"Like my gun big man…its got armor piercing bullets…guess what
they'll do when I use them on ya head."

Sir Galahad Evernear, decorated member of the Knights in Silver,
Captain of the Cavalry unit known as Silverymoon's Fist, and Paladin
and cleric of the god Lathander the Morning Lord, could not believe
this was happening.
His entire unit had been wiped out by lowly goblins without
inflicting a single casualty on them. He himself was dying at the
feet of the goblin chief while that chief smirked down at him.

These sorts of things were not supposed to happen.

"No…no…this cannot be…my god will not allow it" Sir Galahad said
faintly as he began to choke on his own blood. What little blood he
had that wasn't bleeding onto the ground flooding his lungs and other
internal organs.

"Maybe your not as important as ya think pink-skin" the goblin chief
replied in a voice filled with a thousand generations of racial
resentment and rage.

The last thing that Sir Galahad Evernear felt before the bullet
entered his brain was disbelief that a mere goblin had been able to
look down on him with such contempt.