The Blackhand

Originally published in 1995 by PVG-NSV™ as the short story The Guild of the Black Hand. The Black Hand characters and stories were used in some of the earliest M.U.D. story arks. The tales of the world of Vladius Drakenhend aka Valdian The Blackhand continue in this work. These character were created by PVG-NSV™ in the 1990's.

Today young lads and lasses we learn about a very special young man. Special can mean so many things. As you will see our young man is special in several ways.

Darcheus the Valiant entered the city of Dragonbane. "Laughable" muttered Darcheus. Such a grandiose name for a backwkoods town. Darcheus knew the local legend, this was the burial site of the ancient Dragon, Exandular... the Black Fire.  Blah Blah Blah.  Dragons. None had been seen in the Empire in almost 1000 years. A myth just like the Blackhand Guild. Boogie men and big lizards.  

   Darcheus wasn't good at counting.  Had Darcheus known about forestry he would have noticed the odd shape of the tree line. Had he been a scholar he might have realized that the legends of Dragonsbane spoke not of the burial place of Exandular, but of the dragons that opposed him. According to the legend Exandular did not actually die. Sadly Darcheus was neither forester or scholar and he paid no heed to others or he would have noticed Squire Vern the Mute's angst (who was both a forester and a scholar) when he realized where they were. Vern gulped. Darcheus without noticing decided he needed a drink. Dragonbane had one good thing going, a tavern and a bard. Vern remembered Dragonbane's original name, Draegen.

   Darcheus and Vern entered the Tavern and were immediately surpised at its size and beauty. The walls were covered in enough Black Dragon scale to make armor for the entire Royal guard. The chairs were of ancient Oak yet looked new and had beutifuly embroidered black pillows. The tables were of Onyx and ebony etched with silver runes, Dwarven work! Yet the most incredible feature was the size of the Tavern it was larger than the great hall of the king. Vern gulped again. 

     Within the Tavern there was a set of broad stairs ascending along the walls, at each step there was a door apparently the entire village lived here. Darcheus realized the simple outer buildings were the shops.  Darcheus had had enough, How dare these imperious peasants hide this place from the king and his loyal soldiers. Dragon armor, good quarters. As he was thinking these thoughts an Old Woman wearing a dark robe and silk gloves approached him, "Most Noble Sir would you care for a drink or two, on the house for the King's men of course." Vern tugged on his Darcheus' sleeve. Indicating danger. 

   Darcheus mood brightened,  "Miss I will take that drink and a meal of course a bit of everything." Pointing at an old man telling stories to children nearby, "Also send the bard over I am bored."

   The Old Woman still smiling looked at Darcheus with a knowing gaze and gestures to the hall, "King Asteronusius has been here several times, when he was young mainly. He is very generous in allowing us independent status. I will send the bard to explain....ehr tell you a tale or two."

   Darcheus eyes open, "The king knows about this place and stays in Havern Hall?"  Vern sighed, of course he knows. Draegen is the last place he wants to be.  

    Unoticed the old man sat down to greet Darcheus. "Hello Darcheus Son of Carcheus son of Barcheus son of Archeus of Draegen my name is Val D'yan" The last time I saw you, while you were still a squire....

    Darcheus looming over Val D'yan slowly says "Who...are...you..." 

     Val D'yan smiles and says your "Grandfather's grandfather" pointing at the old lady he says and she is my daughter."

     "Lies!!!! How dare you, Impetous old fart!" Darcheus pulls out his sword and  thrusts it at Val D'yan. It turns to dust. 

      Val is still smiling as the children come sit at his feet. A little girl brings him and Darcheus tea. Giving her a kiss Val D'Yan says "Meet your cousin Carmela". Darcheus sits still fuming over the loss of his best sword.  Merely scowls. Vern sits perplexed at the Draegenites unusual behavior embarassed at Dracheus rudeness to such a pretty and polite little girl.

    "Time for a tale children." The children all cheer as their parents head upstairs. 

    The Old lady returns with food, juice, and beer for Darcheus and Vern. "One pitcher each young man, that was my magik that just saved your life," Pointing to a Black Dragonscale glove holding a dwarven hammer hanging withinin a crystal box with a large rune for "Danger" she continues,  "had you pierced him that might have come to life again and the last time it did...well I'll just say I wasn't always so grandmotherly and him....let's just say that glove would have been on your hand and his soul in your body. That is not my father's first body.

The children fixate on her every word when Val interupts in a gentle, yet clearly irritated manner "Darky dear please don't spoil my stories." 

    Darky stops midsentence realizing her fau pa and says "Of course Lord Blackhand, my apologies."

   The children stop smiling as they look up hearing Darky use the grown up name for Val in expectation and cheer as Val says "Dark chocolate for everyone makes up for the Old Ways".

   Vern laughs, and surprisingly able to speak (apparently he was healed by Darky) asks, "Val could you tell us the story of your first life? Tales of you life have become obscured over time, all that is known is the Orphan's Tale, but between that and your conquest of the kingdom little is known."

    The children look up at Vern, could it be? Was The Grandfather of Draegen finally going to tell them all? Yes he was.

   As Val D'Yan is getting ready to begin, Darky returns with hot chocolate for the children along with Rum and Cider for the grown ups.

    As everyone is served, a dark light envelops the old woman and she is transformed into a young raven haired lass. Her skin is pale and her face has a two x shaped scars over her eyes. Vern and Dracheur just stare, the children gasp, and Val D'yan rolls his eyes in a "women" motion. She turns back to Grandma Darky. "Before you begin your story  Lord Blackhand I will tell my story.  My name children is Dar K'Yera. Darky for short,  Baroness Darkhand to most....I am the daughter and successor of Val D'Yan 'The Blackhand' former leader of The Blackhand guild."  Vern and Darcheus turn white with fear at this point. "Many years ago I led the very naughty boys of Blackhand!"

     "Boys are very very naughty Grandma Darky." states Carmela very matter of fact. She is the oldest girl and is all of a very wise 8 years old.

     "Quite right sweety here is a candy. I will be tending bar if you lads need anything. And Carmela if your brothers or cousins bother you about that extra candy tell them Baroness Darkhand wants to speak to them." she walks away muttering to herself "I swear Dad and I need to have a little talk...."

    The Dark Gauntlet hanging on the wall is seen to be trying to smash the crystal with the hammer, but gives up after a few minutes. Blackhand notices and gulps and shouts back,  "Darky, you know better than to agravate that thing, it took me a whole centurty to get it off the firts time." Darky simply scowls and yells something inaudible. She is surprised but she has gone mute. "There it goes Darky, its not impotent in there you know". Darky Scowls once again.

"Well children as you may have guessed that is a special box hanging on the wall..."

"How special is it?" asks Darcheus getting into the mood. Vern rolls his eyes.

"Very special Darcheus smiles Val." He continues, "Why its so special it allowed the mysterious hero D'yan de Val to subdue Baroness Blackhand even though she had the ability to withstand the very naughty Lord Blackhand's Gaunlet of Exandular, himself a very naughty dragon who...."

A small lizard crawls up to the table and begins to laugh, "I may be no longer the size of the mountain anymore, but 1000 years ago you called me more than naughty."

"Exy my hot chocolate is cold" complains Carmela looking sad.

"To more important matters Val, my friend Carmy needs her cup heated up." Exandular walks to Carmela's cup and shoots a small stream of fire to the cheers of the children. He then heads out a small hole in the wall. 

Darcheus begins to laugh when suddenly Val shushes him with the words, "That was an avatar, he says that because he doesn't want to spook the kids. That's not really a mountain outside." He points at the scales. "We live in his former egg." Darcheus shuts up real quick.

Val D'Yan looks at the hole noticing Exy is peeking out as if paying attention. "Even though she had the ability to withstand Blackhand's Gauntlent of Exandular The Black, Terror of Dragons, Largest of the Giant- tailed (Male Dragons consider this a compliment) variety, and richest of them all." Exandular gives a nod, "Even she could not withstand the Crystal Box of the Dwarvenforged, Hrumdeiger, for it said her power is trapped within it!"

"Isn't D'yan Val a lot like your name, Grandpa Val?" asks a knowing Thomas, who all of 11 years old is the oldest of his peers. "Which means that boys always win..." Carmela glares at her cousin. Oviously getting ready to tattle.

"Who me? "Asks the elderly Val. He points to the box hanging on the wall. "Within that box are the four most powerful energies of this realm." He counts on his fingers and says "Exandular's life force, The Gauntlet of Exandular, The Cursed Hammer of The Last Dwarven Forge, and The Darklight of the Darksight."

"Why are they locked up Grandpa?" asks a puzzled Carmela.

Val sighs and he says as Exy crawls to his covered hand, "Because I was once a very naughty boy who played with naughty lizards." Exandular laughs and laughs and laughs to the puzzlement of the children.

Darky comes to the table and scowls at Exandular her eyes changing for the briefest of moments. Exy stops laughing and says, "Agh yes I was a ver naughty lizard once too."

Grandma Darky then whispers to Grandpa Val and Exy, "There is a small crack in the glass..." 

Suddenly the Darkhand Gauntlet, holding the Hammer shatters the glass box and appears on Carmela's hand as Exy sits on her shoulder. "Sorry guys but Carmela and I want to visit The King's bakery for some cookies." 

Baroness Darkhand laughs and laugh as Vern looks very frightened indeed. Blackhand looks at her very seriously says, "Exy said the same thing when I was Carmela's age and first wore that cursed gauntlet and you remember where that went Darky" 

Exy then interrupts and says, "no Val, that was before. Carmela introduced me to chocolate chip cookies. I'll be back as soon as either Carmela and I am full. 

Val laughs at the joke.  The avatar's belly is small, but it needs to eat to fill a space as big as the inside of a mountain.

Suddenly the Gauntlet is inside the box and the Hammer is resting alongside it.  Carmela and Exy both say "Got You" Val laughs again as Vern faints.