The portal to the Straight March starts to collapse in upon itself. A blast of light issues forth from it. A figure dressed in electric blue/black springs forth from it, landing near the ashes of Quilon. She turns, revealing a pale copper colored face and skin. Her eyes are black and pupiless. She seems to have some trouble seeing in this bright sunshiny day, blinking back tears. Her dark red hair is cropped close to her head. She starts to run across the garden.
A voice so deep that it could only have come from the nightmares of children rings out from the portal. “You may have escaped me for now, Savi, but I will find you no matter where you go!” A bolt of lightning streaks out from the portal. The impact of the lightning sends Savi hurtling head over heels into the trunk of a tree. She slides down the trunk of the tree and lands in a heap at the base.
Keridwynne is the first to arrive at Savi’s body. She is hurt but not as bad as it should have been. The rest of the party is crowded around the girl taking a look.
“Look at this!” Keridwynne exclaims.
On top of Savi’s head stand two very thick stalked pale copper antenna. They seem to rotate a bit even though Savi is unconscious. Keridwynne lifts Savi’s arm out from underneath her body,tattooed on the inside of it is the number 7196.
Keridwynne spins a spell of healing. Savi’s wounds heal, but she remains unconscious.
“She will be fine. She has a nasty lump and wound on the back of her head where that lightning bolt hit her. She should come around anytime. Anybody know what race she is, I have never seen her kind before.” Keridwynne queries.
The rest of the party shakes their heads. A groan is the first stirrings of Savi’s consciousness. Her black pupiless eyes flick open.
(This is your DM casting Detect PC. Everybody see the friendly pc. Good. This is Liz playing a wizard/warrior named Savi. Everybody tell me what your doing for the week that you seem to waiting for the Resurrection spell to recharge so that you can bring back the king of the Dwarves.)
Keridwynne
,I have travelled into a world after death. I have been here for many months already. I have seen some wonderous things, but one of the most wonderous things that I have seen has been a way to watch you from here. I have spent hours watching the threads of your life start weaving a tapestry. I am able to see things here as they unfold. There are many against you, more that you could imagine but you have cast the first stone into the water and the ripples are forming. With each stone that is cast, the more you upset Ashler's boat. I have watched the world and see a few boulders that you could cast. Conisburgh, a town west of the Pennine Mountains, is where you will find Sherkas. The Abbey of Beale is under siege by the demons of Queen Margowse, it is west and north of the Pennines. Nottingham, due south, has always been a bed of evil but an old friend of the party stands on the edge of joining them or becoming its saviour. These events will not transpire for a time yet and you have plenty of time to reach them or all three should you choose. Be proud of what you have accomplished, you have changed England for the better.
I know that we will meet for a time again in this lonely place, it is because of this that I write this letter. This dark green cloak that I will give you is a cloak of protection a strong one. It also has pockets that can never be filled and never bear any weight. I have taken treasure from the Straight March and placed it within the inside pocket. It should keep you in money for quite some time. The Guardians could care less if you steal gold or jewels.
All the fear has left me now. I'm not frightened of death anymore. I will hold you in my arms again on the other side when you arrive. But for now, I will always be with you. I love you like no other.
Duncan
Time passes as it seems to always do. Many of you have adjusted to your new possessions. It became clear to everyone that Savi has memory loss. She knows nothing of her life before she came out of that portal. No memory of even her race's name. She does remember a few things such as her pets, which are orange squirrels with prehensile tails. Keridwynne in her role as the King of the Dwarves ends up handling tasks of the state for the week including using the shield to try to cure everyone in the town. Nightshade wanders about town leaving little crimson wolf prints everywhere.
December 21, 522 Noon.
Having gathered at Dalor's casket, the party stands ready to depart Pennine. Only this task is yet to be accomplished. Carefully lifting the casket lid, you stare down at the dead form of King Dalor, rightful king of the Dwarves. Keridwynne lifts Caltor's shield and places it on the chest of the king.
Caltors Shield states simply" Resurrection complete."
Dalor opens his eyes not weakly but like a man with a purpose. He sits straight up in the coffin.
"Damn, I lived through that nasty disease. I am stronger than I think." Dalor says, "Its good to see that you all lived as well. I see that you found Caltor's shield, that explains my recovery. What a great dwarven artifact it is. I will make sure that you are rewarded for you part in all this. You have but to ask and I will try to make sure that your demands are met within reason."
(ok, where are you heading now. Your choices are as follows. Conisburgh, a town west of the Pennine Mountains, is where you will find Sherkas. The Abbey of Beale is under siege by the demons of Queen Margowse, it is west and north of the Pennines. Nottingham, due south, has always been a bed of evil but an old friend of the party stands on the edge of joining them or becoming its saviour. These are your choices let me know which direction that you travel. If you have questions or more detail about what you have been doing for the last week ask away. I realize Savi that you have no real reason yet for staying with these people other than the fact that they did rescue you and have heard the voice of whoever was chasing you, but you soon will. :)
December 22, 522 very early morning.
Arkose, the dwarven ambassador that originally brought you here, knocks politely at your door. Seeing that the party is assembling and about to depart.
"Dalor sends his regrets that he could not be here with you at your time of departure. But being dead and then brought back to life again is somewhat disturbing to our people, so he is engaged in matters of the state. He does send his thanks to you for his life, the recovery of Caltor's shield and many other things to numerous to mention. He pledges to you that he will field an army against Ashler as soon as he can. This spring is his deadline. He intends to hunt down the Gnomish and Goblinoid armies that seem to be part of Ashler's cause. The King also wishes to tell you that our door will always be open to you should you need refuge or just some time to rest. I personally wish to thank you for all you have done. I have brought you maps of the southern Pennine mountains. The best course of travel is the not the most direct course but it is probably the safest. This route will take you southeast out of the mountains and into the foothills. There you can travel along the mountains and pass out of them into Bedegraine forest. Stay on course due south and it will take you to the Trent river, follow that into Nottingham. The course due south that you see on the map is the more dangerous but the quickest cutting your travel time by 3 days. It will take you deep into the heart of the Pennines and to the point of origin of the Trent River. Follow that and you will pass out of the mountains into the Bedegraine Forest and then on to Bedegraine the city. In the city you can catch a ferry that runs downstream to Nottingham. It is quite the time saver. Its a week around the Pennines and 4 days to go through."
Arkose rolls up the map that he was pointing at and hands it to Talorc.
"Again my thanks. Good journey." Arkose says departing the room.
Tieron starts out the door behind Arkose, mumbling that he will meet you at the stables after he picks up some packages. The party steps out into the cold morning. It is snowing lightly and very dark and grey. You move down the streets in the quiet of the morning. Hardly anybody is on the avenues. The stablehand as was told the night before has your horses ready. Talorc holds out a bag of gold to him to pay for the time in the stables.
"Keep your money. We owe you a debt we could never repay." he says passing the reins to Talorc. He nods once and walks away.
Tieron shows up in about 5 minutes bearing a new short sword stuffed into his sheath. You saddle up and ride out of Pennine and into the Mountains of Pennine. The trail south is well marked and you ride for the better part of the day. It could be snowing or it could be blowing around, it is difficult to tell. Night falls and the party huddles in the dark for warmth.
December 23, noonish
The wind and the snow have created a blizzard. At least a foot of snow has fallen in the past 6 hours. The horses are plodding along slowly, trudging and struggling for every inch.
Later, the same day, Talorc comes to the point on the map that indicates the turn for heading out of the Pennines.
Talorc lifts his head and stares into a landslide.
Shouting over the wind, he yells "The way here is blocked by a landslide. We are going to have to go through the mountains and follow the river Trent down."
Nightshade from behind shouts "What is that over there?" pointing to an outcropping of rock and a grey piece of cloth flapping in the wind.
Talorc looks hard at the object and starts to move forward. The party follows.
A short plod on the horses to the object and Talorc dismounts, looking almost relieved to be off of his horse. He reaches down and tugs at the cloth.
"Looks like a grey cloak, lodged here. It is stuck in the snow and could be possibly underneath part of this landslide. Savi, can you give me a hand, maybe we can pull it free."
Savi walks over to Talorc, her copper skin contrasting with the white of the snow. Talorc and Savi dig a bit and loosen the snow. They pull at the cloak for a bit and it starts to give way. A little more straining and the cloak pulls free, attached to it is the freeze-dried corpse of a Gnome. But this is not a Gnome of the world you know, not yellow and wiry like those, this one is flesh colored and very protruding bulbous nose.
"That looks like one of those Gnomes that we saw back in the Straight March, with that table. You know the ones that escaped to our world." Keridwynne shouts over the wind.
Talorc sets it down on the snow and starts checking through its pockets. Talorc pulls out some dried food, a few coins made of gold, though the pattern on them is unrecognizable to him. He pulls a short sword from its scabbard, very plain and probably not worth much. From a bag he pulls an antenna, copper colored and very thick. Savi looks at it and then turns the color of the snow. It is just like the antennae that adorn her head. This one severed from its owner. Quickly Talorc places it back in the bag, he opens the bag wider at the drawstring and then closes it.
"There are at least a hundred of those in here." Talorc says grimly. He drops the bag on the ground.
"Why would you collect antennae like that?" Tieron says.
"Only, love, if you are going to get something for them, like gold as in bounty hunters or maybe for trophies." Shateera answers.
Talorc pulls from the body a book of some sort and says, "I think the only thing of value is right here. We will take it with us and read it later. Lets go. This bounty hunter or whatever he was got what he deserved."
You mount back up on the horses and plod along until evening.
Late evening after the fire has been built and supper consisted of dry rations and water, Talorc pulls out the book and hands it to Nightshade.
"I realize that you have trouble reading but could you search it for traps." Talorc grins.
Nightshade takes the book rather roughly from Talorc's hand. Searching it over, she opens it. Drawing in an audible breath, she reads. "Third month, Day 27 in the year of our Lord Sentares. Savi and her comrades have disappeared through a portal of some sort. We followed through to this strange world of jungles and black pyramids. Treasure is all around us but Zordallin showed us the folly of picking any of it up. This whole place seems cursed. We will find Savi and company and return them to prison from whence they came. I wonder how many escapee's have suffered the same fate as Zordallin. Our numbers may still be even."
Nightshade closes the book and with a smirk hands it back to Talorc.
Talorc opens his mouth as if to say something and then closes it. He flips the book open and reads to himself. After an hour of reading, he closes the book.
"The long and the short of it is, that some guy named Lord Sentares put Savi and companions in prison, she escaped. These guys named Zordallin who died in the Straight March, Talerik the now dead writer of this book, Gorg and their leader, Balthar were sent out to capture them. It doesn't say much else except that for each antennae they got and returned, they would be paid handsomely. Any of this ring a bell for you Savi?"
Savi shakes her head. The jolt that she took still robbing her of her memory.
"They shouldn't be looking for you then, Savi." Keridwynne starts, "They came here before you did. Maybe we can get one of them to tell us what he knows about you."
Sleep for Savi is not the least bit restful for this night.
December 24 Early afternoon.
The sun poked its way out from behind the clouds as the road that you have been following started sloping downward. It continued its descent for a long time. The ride got easier and the wind died. The sun came out for good as you descended into the valley of the headwaters of the river Trent. The first sight to greet you is a lake of clear blue water. The lake is just over a hundred feet long and maybe 200 feet wide. A thin stream of the liquid trickles out from the south shore, the beginnings of the river Trent. You notice the lake is unfrozen which is rather strange. As you descend even farther toward the lake, you notice that the snow is becoming less and less. The lake even has some steam rising from it. A 1/4 mile distant from the lake and the snow is gone. The shores of the lake clear of snow, just bare rock. A strange totem pole, with the face of a deformed looking yellow gnome and emeralds for eyes is placed here.
Keridwynne speaks, "A ward against evil, I would say. The gnomes are a very superstitious lot. The fact that snow doesn't stay on the ground and the lake is steaming probably scared them. There are probably at least three others, one on each shore. I would bet that the deformed looking Gnome on them is Urdlen, the Gnomish god of lust and hatred."
The party follows the trail around the lake passing by the north totem and west totem.
Nightshade keeps looking back over her shoulder and then finally comes to stop.
Tieron stops and looks back at whatever it is she is looking at, "What's the matter?"
"That totem pole is turning to keep its eyes on us. And if you notice the other poles are all oriented so that the eyes are following us. This place is kind of creepy if you ask me." Nightshade replies.
They party keeps moving passing very near the west totem. Shateera suddenly motions to everyone and then points to the south. Along the river about a mile away just coming around a bend is a group of yellowish gnomes. About 10 in all give or a take a couple, behind them they are dragging what looks to be a litter. They do not seem to have seen you but you are out in the open. It is possible to take cover behind some of the rocks and hide but the old saying goes if I can see them they could see me.
(I leave you here.)
"Talorc, are you O.K.?" whispers Tieron.
Tieron inspects the gnome closely, knowing that the gnome is more powerful than he in magic, but trying to judge if his magic is from the gods or from the books.
Talorc stands up cursing. With purpose he begins to cast a spell...
Keridwynne is perplexed. "Curses, I don't know if this joker is helping us or attacking us." she mutters the companions within earshot. She rides to Talorc's side and slides from her horse on the side towards him, attempting to see if he needs healing before he charges back into the thick of it. If there is time, and if he will stand for it, I will touch and heal him if he is damaged. If not, or when I am done with a cure light spell, I will remount and wait to see what happens next. I will precast protection from fire on myself.
Magic missiles burst from the fingertips of Talorc ripping through the wall of fire and across the lake, streaking toward their intended target. They pass through without impact. Crossing the lake they strike on the eastern totem pole. A flaming splinter of wood flies from the pole and lands on the eastern shore.
"Who are you and why did you attack us?" shouts Tieron, moving slightly forward with his horse.
"I am she who should be remembered. I am she that is trapped in this world by those cursed totems of Urdlen. Never being allowed to leave. But I do not wait alone." She says.
Savi starts to move her draft horse around the wall of fire, seeking for another chance to strike at the pole.
"Rider, that course of action will find you nothing but death." She states addressing Savi.
Talorc his patience worn very thin, charges the figure as it steps from the water and onto the shore. She passes through the wall of fire unharmed to be met by the steel of Altira. Altira's bite is deep. Though the figure doesn't bleed, it does step back a bit from the force of the blow. Talorc continues to press his attack. Keridwynne unsure if the figure is friend or foe yet moves forward. Talorc was unwounded from his first encounter by the totem poles, but the sword of Altira is glowing a bright green with a reddish tinge. The same strange green glow that was pouring from those totems.
The figure dodges the next blow of Talorc but never returns the blow. She bows her head in concentration and what appears next to her is a large hand that interposes itself between her and Talorc. Talorc attempts to sidestep the hand and is blocked again and again. In rage or frustration, he quickly turns his attacks against the hand, knowing that it will probably be dispelled if he can interrupt the magic that is causing it.
Tieron lets out a low whistle and then says "Nice spell, Bigby's interposing hand. Talorc will have a hell of time getting through that one."
The figure stands directly behind the hand facing Talorc, softly singing "Nothing stands between us here and I will not be denied. I would be the one to hold you down and take your soul away. Kiss you so hard and I'll take your life beyond. Wipe away your tears and close your eyes eternally."
It is haunting, but somewhat familiar to you.
Talorc's next blow never lands on the hand. Altira pulls up long before the sword strikes. Her image projects from the sword, dressed in a full length white lacy gown.
"Love, that is Mishalla Nightraven. She who wrote the song "Possession"." Altira says, "She would not harm us. She must be trying to help."
"Yes, Leave while you can, Bearer of Bladifors. The flame will last for a time but not forever and then those beams will overwhelm you and your friends. Do not strike at the poles by hand they will wither all in a 5 foot radius. The sacrificial gnomes will keep Urdlen's magic busy for a time."
(Are you going to release her or flee? Yes the poles can be destroyed, read carefully. Laura, playing the ever invisible Nightshade has lost her email account, I will be taking over the character until she finds new and better net access. )
Keridwynne's shoulder's relax slightly at the appearance of Altira. "Mishalla Nightraven, do you wish freedom?" "I think we can destroy these poles while they are tied up with your spell. Did you see the chunk go flying when Tieron whammed that one? If I know Gnomes and their superstitions and mythos, these totems are _very_ crucial to Urdlen's worship. The rise of this evil god came about 400 years ago, if I am not mistaken, about the time Mishalla disappeared from our world. If we could obliterate them, his worship might wane, and the Gnomes might not be much less destructive. If we could "frame" a good Gnomish deity, say Flandal Steelskin, who is lord of mining, smithing and fires. If we could for example, get Mishalla to hang about casting faery fires for a while before departing for her afterlife, and leave big scorched spots... (they taught us in religious academy that the priests of Flandal were good, but tended toward pyromania).
Quick decisions anyone?
(If the party agrees, I begin with my contribution, casting "produce flame" which has a range greater than 5 feet. Then I whip out the staff of lightning and blast away with relish.
Savi retreats from the totem and starts an incantation while readying her throwing axes....
Talorc is trying to see if there is a top to the disintegration field. He thinks >that since the poles are cylindrical, the field would either head up to >infinity gradually weakening or would hit a top head without a flat top. >Of course the field may be generated by point source and therefore be >spherical, but ya haveta try right? IF this cleverness works and there is >a hole in the disintegration field on top... Talorc will do the following: >(if not... well we can only dream)
"Who are you waiting with? And if you have all this magic at your control, why haven't you destroyed the totems yourself?" ponders Tieron, looking at the ghostly figure.
"I am waiting here with all those trapped by Urdlen over the centuries. It would take far to long for me to introduce them all. And do you not think that I have tried to destroy these ghastly totems? I have tried and failed for almost four centuries. I have spells but no way to rememorize them. Only those spells left in memory at my time of death did I come with and with each casting I have one less for eternity. I could not even at the best of times have destroyed even one of the totems let alone four. But you are a mage and not a bard, therefore you are prone to their destructive spells. You know nothing of the subtleties of being a bard, who lives by his brain and not by the force of his spells. In this case, I should have been more like you."
"The decision is yours to release her." Tieron addresses the group. "I have only one spell to help destroy the totems and it will not help much."
Savi's only response is start an incantation. It completes seconds later and flaming bloody wood flies from the western totem to make a hissing sound as it is put out when it hits the lake water.
Talorc starts picking up stones and throwing them at the disintegration field. It disappears with a mighty zap. Savi realizing that her axes will most likely disintegrate when the hit the shield as well resheathes her axes and waits. Talorc keeps pitching rocks at the field.
Keridwynne, a strange almost malevolent gleam to her eyes, produces a small globe of flame from her hands directing it toward the totem it explodes in a small fireball. The flame burns for a minute and then goes out leaving a charred totem.
Talorc keeps pitching rocks at the now charred totem, each producing a sharp zapping sound as it disintegrates when it touches the field. A high tossed stone produces no zapping sound and later a splash as it arcs over the totem and splashes into the water. Talorc cocks his head a bit looking at the point at which the stone went over. He lobs another rock and it too sails over the field and totem. With a cry of exultation, Talorc pulls forth his Victory Staff and mighty dagger and starts an incantation. Pulling to within the very sound of field buzz he impales his left hand with the dagger and slowly levitates into the air. Up, up to somewhat higher than the totem he soars. A confirming rock toss slams against the totems just eight feet away. Talorc pulls his body to the horizontal. Reaching over with the staff he levers himself over the totem. Once close enough to contact the totem the pict will give it a push. The totem rocks slightly and the upper most section of the totem contacts its own disintegration field, it disappears with clap of thunder. Sensing a victory of some sort, Talorc levitates lower, careful to make sure that he is not going to touch the field. He lands behind the totem, so the eyes can not lock onto him. Talorc places his hands gingerly on the totem and then withdraws them quickly to make sure that their isn't another trap. Nothing seems to happen, so now placing his hands on the totem he pushes using all the strength that his years of fighting practice have honed. It starts to move closer and closer to the field. Inch by inch the totem is shaved as Talorc's inexorable shoving pushes it into the field. One of the eyes of the totem contacts the field and with a flash of light followed by a loud thunderclap the eye disappears. Talorc continues to shove and the totem falls to the ground. One eye gone, the disintegration field collapsed.
Keridwynne seeing Talorc now moving over the field of totem starts walking to the southern totem. She pulls the short rod from her cloak. "Expand and energize." she says. The rod expands to its full 6 foot length with arcs of electricity caressing the staff. She knows about how far the range of lightning is and stopping just inside that range, she cuts loose with the power of the staff. The lightning surges forth and strikes the southern totem, that was draining the gnomes of blood, sending charred and flaming pieces of wood streaming into the air. The totem's green beams falter and then sweep toward the direction of the bolt. They fall short of the mark by some 20 feet. The beams reengage the gnomes. A second lightning bolt nearly shears the totem off from its base, it hangs blackened and burned by a single fiber of wood. Blood starts to well out of the base of the totem sending whorls of red into the headwaters of the Trent. The eyes of the totem once shining of green and red now go black. Three gnomes look up with their eyes full of fear at the creature that just destroyed god.
The still invisible Nightshades voice rings out in Gnomish,"Urdlen is dead, killed by the hand of Flandal Steelskin. Flee into the night, little Gnomes and tell your brethren that Flandal has returned and he expects homage!!!!"
That is far more than the gnomes can take, they break and run at the disembodied voice of "Flandal". Keridwynne, keeping her distance from the other totems, fires her staff at them. The light from the flashes of lightning playing on the grim face of determination that Keridwynne wears. The charred and blackened totems fall to the ground their eyes winking out. Keridwynne makes her way back around the lake to rejoin her party. "Collapse" she commands her staff. It retracts soundlessly down to its 1 foot size. She drops into the outside pocket of her cloak.
"The speech was a nice touch, Nightshade." Keridwynne states.
The wall of fire sputters out. Mishalla starts to recede toward the center of the lake.
"I thank you for helping me. I have very little that I can give you but if you dig under the pole that Talorc knocked over, you will find a donut shaped amulet of gold. It is very heavy and worth quite a bit, if you need money. It was given to me by a Stone giant once. Should you ever need me, I will be here, awaiting your call."
Mishalla reaches the center of the lake and fades from existence.
Tieron, even before Mishalla was finished speaking had his hand down the hole beneath the totem. With a small grunt he pulls an amulet of gold, a heavy gold chain looped through a donut shaped amulet. No markings of any kind on it but it must weigh about a good twenty pounds. Tieron slips it on over his neck.
"Damn thing is heavy." Tieron says as his head is tilts forward some from the weight.
Savi, still mounted on her horse throughout this entire event, was curious as to what the gnomes were hauling in the litter. Riding over to it she finds it filled with broken weapons,smashed gems and jewels, defaced paintings, shards of pottery and punctured wineskins. A few of the gems could be salvaged and sold but on the whole they have been smashed to a fine powder.
"Why bring your trash out here and leave it for your god?" She asks.
"Urdlen likes blood sacrifices and broken up magic items. He demands them for his rituals. He is a crazy god, don't ask me what he does with them." Keridwynne replies.
Shateera breaks out her sleeping bag and starts to roll it out on the ground,"Personally I am tired. I think that we should camp here for the night. I doubt the Gnomes will be back this afternoon and this is the warmest I have been since we were in that god-forsaken jungle. Coming to bed, Tieron? You can show me your .......amulet."
December 25, 522 A sunny bright morning. Christmas for the Christians in the party.
The party starts following the Trent River. It passes out of the valley of the lake, the ground becomes more and more snow covered with each passing step. The path along the river starts to rise as the river carves a narrow channel through the mountains. Higher and higher the party goes, the temperature dropping lower and lower. By evening, the temperature is well below zero, you call a halt to the marching when you find shelter in a wind protected cave. You luckily are not so far above the tree line that a fire is out of the question. A bunch of firewood is collected, a fire started and the cave actually becomes quite warm with the heat of it. Keridwynne pulls out a few dried herbs and puts some salted beef in a bit of water with dried vegetables and creates a memorable stew out of it. Everyone eats heartily, except Savi, who seems to be outside quite a bit, checking on the horses. Keridwynne steps out with a bowl of stew and presents it to Savi, who promptly throws up.
"What's the matter, Savi? The food disagree with you?"
"No, I have just felt sick ever since we started climbing this mountain."
"Ah, altitude sickness. Sorry not much I can do for you." Keridwynne smiles weakly at Savi and steps back inside.
December 26, 522
It is a still sunny morning when the party arises for the day. Light shining in from the cave entrance. Talorc is reviewing his very gruesome looking spellbook, Tieron and Savi are doing the same but not so gruesomely. Keridwynne is praying. Shateera and Nightshade are busy packing things up. Shateera finished with her packing decides to step outside for a minute to feed the horses.
"Guys," Shateera calls out somewhat distressed, "Can you come out here now?"
The party gets up and rushes to the cave door. Shateera is standing on the trail, looking north, staring at a Stone giant. To the south another giant is approaching. The east is the cave door that you came out of and to the west is the gorge a thousand feet straight down to the river. A small ledge does project out about 10 feet down.
Standing at a height of 15 feet or more, the northern Stone giant moves closer to the cave entrance. His every footstep shaking the ground as he walks.
Talorc crosses his arms and leans nonchalantly against the rock face entrance. He barks out, "Hail, good sirs. I hope we're not trespassing?"
Keridwynne nudges Tieron "Hmm, I wonder if they'll want their amulet back." She then crowds into the doorway near Talorc, looking peaceful and welcoming.
The stone giant looks down at the extremely calm Talorc and says "Nay, You are not trespassing." His English is good but very heavy with a Scottish accent.
Keridwynne walks bravely out to meet them.
To speak with you on more your level, the stone giant goes down to one knee resting his head in his hand, in classic "Thinker" pose.
"I am Tharaksu. My brother," he says gesturing to the other stone giant, "is Noraksu. Our people watch the Loch for the Gnomes and their foul god, to see what wee mischief they are getting into. My people saw the ghost vanish into the lake and the smashed totems. For this we are very much in your debt."
He readjusts his position. His movements sound like sandpaper rubbing together.
Yendor and Lorac scurry over the gorge edge to inspect the ledge while Savi throws up again. Tharaksu peers at Savi curiously.
"As I was saying, we saw the last of what happened at the Loch. Then we saw a sight that astounded our eyes. Your brother," Tharaksu gestures to Tieron, "found the Amulet of Zarakfen. We had thought this amulet gone for a great number of years. Zarakfen, for whom the amulet was named was a great hero. His tales are told around the hearths. The tales state that whomsoever finds the amulet must be the reincarnation of Zarakfen, for only he would know of its final resting spot. It would be then that a new age would dawn for the Stone giants ushered in by the reincarnation of Zarakfen."
He stands facing Tieron, "Zarakfen, we are ready. What is your bidding?"
well... ", Tieron clearly speaks. Recovering swiftly, "I apologize by my lack of knowledge regarding Zarakfen and the Stone Giants. I do not know if I am a reincarnation of Zarakfen or anyone. Yet I have always been amazed and fascinated by giants as a race. I am awed by just your presence here. Please tell me more of Zarakfen and his role in your history."
"We are heading south to Nottingham to help an old friend of a friend. Please travel with us since we need to hurry to help. I would be overwhelmed with joy if you would." smiles Tieron at the two giants. At first, you thought that Tieron was just bullshitting his way through the shock. But as you look at Tieron's face, you see a true fascination in his eyes.
As Tieron starts to pack up his stuff, he moves closer to Keridwynne and whispers, "Is there a way for you to talk to that bitch, I mean Mishalla, without spending two days riding back to her? I would love to find out how she knew about it. How about that mirror that you had? Can it show back in time how it got put there or what Mishalla is doing now?"
Major Keridwynne stands in newfound awe of Tieron, the Emmissary. She reaches out and puts her hand over Tieron's left ear. "Your 'Pah' is strong my child, you must be the Emmissary of the Stone Giants! Truly you were sent by the prophets who live in the Flaming Lake of Trent!
To answer your question, Tieron, er I mean Emmissary, I can contact her through the mirror or the same effect through a reflecting pool. The problem is that she doesn't have a mirror, so she can't talk back. I could ask her yes/no questions and ask her to shake or nod. Doesn anyone read lips? I suppose we could have a grand game of charades. By the way, I didn't think she was a bitch, she saved Talorc and Savi from Certain Death, after all. Surely, one as Grand and Omnipotent as Your Eminence can forgive a little crankiness on the part of a women trapped in a watery grave for a few hundred years? :)
"We will travel with you, Zarakfen, through the Pennine mountains and Bedegraine Forest to the outskirts of Nottingham. The people there would be a wee bit intimidated of us, I am afraid. But we will follow you where ever you will lead Zarakfen." Tharaksu states.
The camp is torn down and travel resumes. Bitter and cold is the day of the 26th of December, but you travel on. You descend rather quickly, the mountains giving way to rough hills. You round the top of a snow covered hill and stare out over the landscape. A carpet of evergreen pines lays before you.
"Bedegraine Forest." Noraksu states. These are the first words that have come from the mouth of the other Stone giant. His voice is much higher in pitch than his brothers, leading you to believe that he may just be a young adult, rather than a full grown Stone giant.
Norkasu continues smiling, "All manner of foul creatures lie in wait in these forests...... or so they say."
Talorc in the lead looks back and up at Noraksu. Talorc pivots his head back to its normal position. If someone could see Talorc's face, that toothy grin has reappeared, as he spurs his horse to a gallop, charging his way into Bedegraine Forest. The party follows but at a much more subdued pace. Bedegraine forest is old and vast. Its towering pines stretching for the sky, stand more that 70 foot in height. They easily cover the stone giants. The branches are thick letting in very little light and very few branches are lower than the giants heads. The ground is covered in old nettles of the pines. The horses footsteps making almost no sound as they walk of the carpet of the forest. The trail is easy going and only here and there are their patches of snow covering the ground. The day has warmed considerably from the beginnings of the trip so many miles ago. Nightfall closes quickly, from the murky sunshine of the day to a sudden and complete darkness that overtakes the company. The evening meal passes without incident and talk of the days ahead come to a close. The watch schedule is set, Keridwynne and Nighshade, followed by Talorc and Noraksu, finished by Tieron, Shateera, and Tharaksu. Savi, recovering from altitude sickness, sleeps the night through though extremely restlessly as all will notice.
Morning on December 27th. The party lets Savi sleep for awhile, she has been fairly quite for the last of the evening. Suddenly she awakes screaming "Balthar!!!!!!"
(Dm Note) I am leaving all of you here because something happened on everybody's shift and you may wish to discuss it. I will let you take it from here.
Strong watch. The first of the evening taken by Nightshade and Keridwynne.
It starts slowly enough. The first hour passing with a review of the day and the unlikelihood of your traveling companions.
Nightshade looks up suddenly, "Do you hear that Keridwynne?"
Keridwynne looks about for a moment, then zeros in on the sound. A haunting sound, like a pan pipe being played and from some distance. It changes rapidly from one melody to the next. It is well played and coming closer or maybe just getting louder.
Savi moans in her sleep and sits up straight in her bedroll. Obviously not awake, from the glazed look on her eyes, she lapses back into her bed and resumes a restless sleep. She continues to do this occasionally.
"The music is now stationary. Do you think that we need to look at it, Keridwynne?" Nightshade asks, "I am wondering if the music is somehow making Savi worse. These strange outcries and seizures started about the same time as the music. "
Keridwynne looks at Savi and then back to Nightshade, "I suppose we should check it out. I wouldn't recommend waking Savi and I just have a feeling that it is nothing to concern the others with either. I think perhaps that it is a traveling minstrel and party maybe. I will take a look."
Keridwynne gets up and starts into the forest. Nightshade takes a couple of steps and is on her heels, stopping her.
"Don't you think I should be the one going? I am light of foot after all and I can't be seen." Nightshade says pointing to her crimson cloak.
"Maybe, but I feel like a walk in the woods and like I said I don't think that this is any trouble and if it is, well I can come back and get you then. I will stay well back and just take a gander." Keridwynne starts into the pines.
She walks underneath the pines, taking in the musty, piney smell that they give off. It has been awhile since she has smelled the smell of a great pine forest. Over a small hillock, Keridwynne walks, her floor length, forest green cloak making her look like a green ghost haunting the woods. A fire light she sees , a large one, more like a bonfire. It burns into the air from a small clearing. Many forms dance around the fire in unison to the wonderful music. She sits down on the hill to watch for a moment or two wishing that she could be closer to better see the humanoids dancing so erotically in the night. She closes her eyes and concentrates on the Lady extending her eyes to the fire. Slowly the backs of her eyelids become a picture. The picture of elves dancing around a fire with music playing in the background. The faces of the elves are painted in blues, blacks and greens. Their pale skin in contrast to the coloring. They move as if they are reenacting a scene from their past. A spear thrust here and one there as if hunting an imaginary beast. By the lady, Keridwynne thinks to herself, these are wood elves, a savage offshoot of the proud elven race. They were thought extinct, for none have seen them for 50 years or more. In her mind, they dance on and on until the goddess sees fit for the vision to end. Keridwynne's eyes flutter open and she looks out over the fire and the elves. They are both gone. She blinks and looks again. Still nothing. She starts down the hill and then hesitates, but she has to know if that was a vision or the real thing. She approaches the spot of the bonfire searching for embers in its wake, knowing full well that she could have been led into a trap. She comes to fire and finds the logs that were burning but look as if they were suddenly and completely snuffed out. There are almost no tracks in the soft nettles to find them by and they are elves. No one tracks an elf in the woods without them wanting him to. She spirals out from the pyre that no longer blazes searching for a sign any sign. Wandering by a tree, she notices that a piece of rolled up bark has been tied to a string and hanging at about eye level. Cautiously Keridwynne touches the bark with the butt of her staff. It swings gently back and forth. Keridwynne snags it in its arc and unbinds it from its cord. It has writing upon it in English.
Ashler never took the light from our eyes. Never let him take it from your eyes, sister. Should your need be great, we will always be here. Always watching and always waiting. Until you come home.
There is nothing more written. You turn to head back to your party, somewhat confused by the whole course of events that just transpired. Standing in the clearing, is a elven male. His dress is tanned deer hide, long black hair flowing down his back and around his face. He is more gorgeous than any man that you have ever seen. He nods slowly to you as if acknowledging that the message was received. He turns and sprints into the forest, his pan pipe slapping rhythmically against his thigh as he runs.
You stand stunned for a moment and then start for the party. Nightshade rises from in front of fire upon seeing you approach.
"So what did you find?" She queries.
You think about trying to explain what just happened and then think she would never believe you.
"You don't really want to know." she answers.
Nightshade wakes you, Talorc, for your watch. You sit up in time to see Noraksu being awoken by Keridwynne. You shake the cobwebs from your mind and sit up, taking watch as you have for the last 2 months with these people. Keridwynne stops by your bedroll and says to keep on eye on Savi, she has been very restless and sitting up in bed and sometimes even mumbles things. You nod and say goodnight. Taking your place by the fire, Noraksu steps as quietly as he can and sits down next to you.
"So are you elven or do you have a bit of mixed blood in your parentage. No offense but you don't quite look like an elf." Noraksu states.
"No, I am not fully elven. Half, though. The best of both halves, I might add."
Noraksu smiles some. Yes, you had thought by the pitch of his voice that he was young and the awkwardness of his sentences and somewhat giddiness of him, he is a boy. Were he human, you would guess him about 14 years of age.
"Do you know magic, Talorc? My brother said that most elves were magic users are half elves similar?"
"Not all elves know magic and not all half-elves do either but yes I do a bit of magic but I prefer my sword to its use but it can be very handy at times." Talorc states.
"Can you do some magic? I have seen some magic in use but my people are not all that talented with magic. Can you fly or anything?"
Talorc turns his head away and rolls his eyes skyward, in a gesture of why me. Then thinking what the hell, Talorc mumbles a bit and weaves his hands in the air and starts to levitate off the ground. Higher and higher, he floats. Noraksu stands and Talorc levitates to Noraksu's eye level.
"How's that?" Talorc asks.
Noraksu's eyes are even wider with excitement, "How high can you go?"
"Higher than the trees." Talorc answers.
Knowing full well what the next request will be, Talorc starts to rise higher and higher.
"Oh cool" Talorc hears from below him. He just smiles and keeps going up. Oh well, he thinks to himself at least I can get a bird's eye view of this place.
To the tops of the trees, Talorc rises. Once at the top, he looks out over the panoramic view of the forest and into the cold night filled with stars. Talorc's eyes slowly shift into the infravision spectrum of light. Now sensing heat images, he starts to descend toward the party again. He notices that the heat image of Noraksu and his brother are much fainter as if almost non-existent. One could pass off their heat as just the heat of day radiating out from inert stone, if you weren't looking for it. He sees the blazing fire and the blazing forms of his companions in deep slumber. Almost on the ground again, something catches his eye. A heat form maybe 60 feet from the party. Small but definitely humanoid in shape. Talorc alights upon the ground.
"Well how was that Noraksu?"
"That was pretty cool. Do you have other magic?"
"Oh yes, I do but right now I have to go to the bathroom. So can you hold down the fort for a moment or two?"
"Oh sure." Noraksu says.
Talorc wanders into the forest toward the infravision blob. It doesn't move as you approach it. You can see it draw up closer to the tree as if trying to hide. Just as you thought, a gnome. One of those wiry bastards, spying on your party. You turn toward him, fearing that he may be found out the gnome runs. No time to warn the others about him, you give chase. He is small and fast, trying to elude you, but you stay with him. He is running with a purpose, you think like he is trying to get somewhere. Lets not let him get there. You increase your speed as you descend into a deep ravine. A small spring, not quite frozen over has covered most of the bottom of the ravine with ice. To make matters worse, the spring has spread a fine film of water of the ice as it continues to flow. The gnome, knowing that it is being outdistanced, throws caution to the wind and flails down the hill into the ravine. Far to fast does he go and crashes into the ice with a thud as his footing fails him. He slides out far out onto the ice and stops still. You give pursuit down the ravine and onto the ice, knowing though that it is very slippery, you gingerly step out onto it. The gnome hasn't moved. You begin to wonder if the little bugger, bashed his head open on the ice. You pull Altira free from its scabbard. The odd greenish-red glow giving a eerie cast to the ice and to the gnome. You approach the Gnome very carefully. You give him a prod with the tip of the sword, he doesn't flinch. Still fearing a trap, you prod a little harder. Quickly the gnome has a dagger in its hand and tries to slam it deep into your chest. He somehow eludes your wariness and plunges it deeply. Though somewhat expecting a shot such as that, you were ready to launch you own attack as he tries to scramble back to his feet. Altira lashes out in your capable hands and tears into the leg of the Gnome sending him crashing to the ground again. He rolls on the ice and tries to get out of the way of your swinging sword. He eludes a few but a slice bites deep into his side. Gouting blood on the ice, he rolls over face up and in broken English says "Surrender, I do."
You stand there sword in his face for a minute or two and then reach for a coil of rope with one hand. He makes no move to attack or to run. You reach down and start to tie him up. The job complete, you pause for a moment to look at your wound. He stabbed you a good one. Its still bleeding pretty heavily.
"Spying, why?" you ask.
He looks up at you and then shrugs, "Follow you to Bedegraine town. Make sure you make it."
"Why?"
"Orders. Surprise for you there. Surprise for you here as well." The gnome stands up, his ropes fall from his body. A dagger in his hand, he wings it at you and starts to run again. The dagger is far from its mark but it forced you to duck. You pull Altira from your back and bring it about. Angered by the gnome and his actions, you point the sword at him and start to charge. As you snap the blade around, a greenish red beam slams into his back. Blood starts to ooze from his pours, just like the totems did to the other gnomes back at the Lake of Trent. The blood issues from him and draws back along the beam to Altira. The blood washes down the blade and is absorbed gush by red gush. Then the beam stops and the Gnome drops to the ground. You rush to his side to see if he survived. He did not.
You come to your feet and look at Altira, "What the hell was that?"
"I do not know. Something happened to me at the lake. My powers have changed. Urdlen's power has changed me, but I don't know in what way." Altira states.
You drop to your knees and rummage through the dry husk of a corpse. He doesn't have much on him of value. You stand back up in disgust and absently scratch at the wound on your chest. Damn thing itches, but oddly doesn't hurt much anymore. You look down to see sealed over skin, pinkish green in the light of Altira.
You return to the party and Noraksu.
Noraksu says "You OK? You were gone for over an hour."
"Fine, I think. Just a bout of something."
Talorc awakens Tieron, Shateera and Tharaksu for the last shift.
The night passes in casual conversation. At one point Shateera asks about the legend of Zarakfen.
Tharaksu relates the story of Zarakfen.
Zarakfen was a Stone Giant of somewhat small stature. He had but one passion and that was to become the story teller of the tribe. He practiced for many years to tell the old stories and to embellish them here and there as the mood suits. He never was very good at it or so the legend goes. When the time came for the Keeper of History to step down from his place in the tribe, he chose another for Historykeeper. Zarakfen was crushed. He left the tribe, vowing that he would return a master of his craft. He left and no one knows much about this part but he found a master of magic and thievery to train him. He excelled like no other of my kind could in those arts. He was a master thief and mage when he came back to my people. He settled among us again to wait his chance at Historykeeper. In the times that followed many legends, erupted. His battles with a white dragon that invaded our village, a clash with a Gnomish army that he destroyed, his finding of the secret valley that we live in. The wealth and the praise kept rolling in for him but it was never enough for that which he wished was just out of his reach. Time and time again, whenever the job of Historykeeper came up, he could not help but lose out. He seemed to have a bad case of the nerves. He found one day a reference to an amulet that would solve all his troubles and change him forever into that which he trained all his life to be. He sought out this amulet and found that it was in two pieces, one hangs about Tieron's neck and the other was a round disc that fits inside the donut shaped hole. Zarakfen had the first piece and wore it always. He continued the search for the second piece. In the end,we don't know what ever happened to Zarakfen but he never returned. He died hundreds of years ago, but the time since has been hard. We awaited his return. It came to be said by the Historykeeper that if Zarakfen's amulet were to be found again, the Stone giants would rise again to greatness not cowering behind the walls of the valley, scared to step out for fear of Ashler, Urdlen and his Gnomes.
"So what was the amulet supposed to give that was so great that Zarakfen lost his life over it?" Shateera asks.
"It would have changed him from a thief/mage to a true bard and allowed him to take the job of Historykeeper."
Tieron starts coughing over a bit of jerky that he was nibbling on.
"Zarakfen, Are you all right?" Tharaksu asks.
"He will be fine. I think that he just bit off more than he could chew for the moment." Shateera smirks.
Your dreams are coming to you in fits this evening as if your memory was trying to get through to you. Just strange images, A black clawed hand reaching for you. A box that no more than 3 feet square. A gnome's hand pushing you into it. This was your prison for a long time. A prison camp scene and people that look like you milling about in it. A friend of yours killed by a wash of black acid. Balthar, the gnome that chased you to this world. You see his gnomish image. Balthar was a telepath just like you. He specialized in thought projection and dream projection. You realize that this is happening now.
You wake screaming, Balthar!!!!!!!!!!!!
Talorc, who has been frowning at Altira in front of him speaks up, "I don't think Bedegraine City is a very wise choice. I'm prepared to go to great lengths to avoid the place now. The gnome I spoke of was the local variety. He didn't appear to be intelligent enough to be bluffing. Normally I wouldn't mind trying to chirurgically spring such a trap, but I'm not sure we're up to it." He turns to Tharaksu, "Be there a path you know of?"
Tharaksu turns slowly to look at Talorc, "Aye, there is a path through the woods of Bedegraine. It will take 2 or 3 days to travel through. There are a few dangers in the forest, but now knowing of the elves that live here, I doubt that we will have many. I know of at least one dragon that inhabits these woods, but it is winter and it never usually comes out of its den until the sun has washed all the snow into the river Trent."
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