Steel to steel and beard to beard!

A small crowd gathered today east of Shadowdale not far away from the tower outpost. A man in a mysterious dark armor and a manly beard stood on the road looking into the direction of the Fox Ridge, holding a mighty blade pulsing of dark energy. First the road was empty but soon a figure appeared walking along the road towards the man. A figure in a grey silvery armor and a grey beard under his hood. The grey man stopped on the road in a distance to the black armored man and as he unsheathed his sword it started radiating in an extremely bright light.

The dark man was Azzelas who recently returned to Bane and the Zhentarim. The grey man was Karovir, a grey guard and defender of Myth Drannor. Two different persons but best friends until this day.
Azzelas told the other people who stood by the road watching to step aside and give them space. Both agreed to prepare and started to cast wards and drink potions until both were ready.

Azzelas started to charge. Karovir casted a spell but it had no effect on the experienced dark warrior. One loud roar later steel met steel and both older warriors fought each other with all might leaving no sign of their friendship. Azzelas hits were extremely strong and hard. Karovir returned the hits but couldn't keep up with his enemy's pace and received one cut after another. His divine wards couldn't protect nor heal him fast enough. The dark energy of the evil sword made him fall back. There was only one chance. Karovir channeled his divine powers and started to prepare a spell which allowed Azzelas to hit him a few more times. Almost sinking to his knees the older grey man tried to concentrate on this one spell. Being not the first time in such a situation and maybe with some luck he releases the spell and almost instantly his wounds closed. With new strength Karovir attacked again. Azzelas seemed perplexed backed away only a step and started to drink a few potions which gave his opponent only more chances to hit him and then he fell.

The grey man takes a short moment to catch his breath as his new wounds started to heal slowly. He walks to the unconscious dark man ready to finish the task he got when he received his sword. A druid approached quickly and wanted to push him away but was held back by the huge Taeron. Karovir thrust his sword through Azzelas body and took his sword grimacing at the feeling of it's negative energy. He then picked the dark armored man up and dropped him in front of the feet of the Zhentarim who were watching. "Give him a proper burial." Was all he had to say. The Zhentarim took their returned soldier and walked back to their city.

Later Karovir can be seen returning to Myth Drannor. Right before he entered the city the evil sword he took vanished. His hood pulled down to hide the sadness in his face, his armor stained with blood and covered with numerous cuts he talked to some of the Akh'Velahr and others who approached him, dealing with some of the usual duty issues before he left the city again alone for a stroll...

Ardylan hears of Zephyr's return to the Zhentarim and death from Karovir himself. He attempts to comfort Karovir with what might seem to be a rather awkward gesture - a hug - but was quickly pushed away. He decides not to push the subject, but lets Karovir know that if he needs to talk, he will listen. He didn't place any blame on Karovir for having to kill Zephyr, looking more concerned about Karovir, for once.

Looking shocked, upset, and hurt at the news, Ardylan ventures into Myth Drannor on business, thankful that it gives him the opportunity to hide his face so that the others don't see the few tears that begin to prick at his eyes. He wipes them away and tries to force it out of his mind, or at least replace the sadness with anger at the Zhentarim for taking away yet another person.

Later on, he confides in his friend Kethtril: "I hate admitting that I look up to anyone... but I looked up to Zephyr..."

After the duel is done, the group returns to the city and they each go their own way, Taeron heads back to the roads - continuing his patrol.

The only thing he has to say about the matter is:

"I am not surprised."

The next day in Myth Drannor, Karovir tells Amar and Piak of Azz betrayal. Piak went inside to buy a couple of hin ales to toast on an old, lost friend.

"Onto Azzelas.... was fun while it lasted."