The Ingaran Adventures
Episode
28
“Lord Nadam – Part I”
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Alexander: The Gauntlet of Athena
Zografos: An Ingaran painter going under the
name of Domnhall
Flower:
An Elven girl caring for a human child named Hannah.
Issic: Half Human, Half Gold Dragon Warrior
India: A gypsy girl
Phaidon: A local Tamer of the Beasts
Matrim Borimir: Fighter from Ingara
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The Time:
Summer, Nemed 14-23
The Place: Alisander – A very large city, the largest in
all of Inzeladun, Alisander has a population of 120,000 persons. Although Lamapacher
does not have a capital, this city is the definite hub of Lamapacher's commerce
and power. Situated on the shores of the Alisander River, this town has a history
that dates back to the Fourth Age. Founded by King Alisander, a hero of the
Fourth Age, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Alisander. Alisander existed
as a separate nation until it was conquered by Lord Komaaks and absorbed into
his fledging nation Lamapacher. The city is currently ruled by Baron Nadam,
Champion of Vale. It is rumored that the baron is older than the city itself,
and is none other than the original Champion of Vale from the Second Age! Rumors
persist that he is undead, or a Chronomancer.
Alisander is protected by the Guardian of Lamapacher, a terrible fiend
that arises when summoned by the baron of Alisander. Rumor states that the
Guardian was bound into service by High Lord Chamberlain Troonankhset of Itsitlawikanah
during the reign of Lord Komaaks. The city will well known for its cheese.
It also exports manufactured goods, weapons, armor, ancient artifacts looted
from the massive dungeons and tunnels that crisscross beneath the city to untold
depths. The city-state extends out 50 miles from the city center in all directions,
making Alisander one of the largest states in Lamapacher. Like much of Lamapacher,
slavery is illegal, and many escaped slaves from Drychtnoth and Ingara make
their way here. The rule of Lord Nadam is maintained by Constable Valdemar,
a 19th level LG fighter.
Most of the town is very orderly and laid out, but the rich section
of town becomes a chaotic mess of roads and alleys as the lords of Alisander
build their vast estates without regard to the organization of the rest of the
city. The colors of town tend to be bright, painted in warm colors. Toward
the outskirts, where Absterator holds sway, the colors become more cold and
murky, as if they have become polluted.
The summer night so far was warm and
humid. From the Lord's Tower in Lotharia, a furtive figure slunk. Zografos
went out into the thick woods at night and dug into the ground, finding a box.
The box was carved with wolf designs, and a pentagram. The bottom of the box
said, "Even a man who is pure of heart And said his prayers by night May
become a wolf when the wolf-bane blooms and the autumn moon is bright."
When he opened the box, he saw that it was larger on the inside than on
the outside, and contained a silver handled cane and a pelt of wolf fur.
"A Cane?" thought Zografos. "Interesting..." The
silver handle was in the shape of a wolf's head and the cane and the pelt both
radiated magic. He looked around the woods, but saw nothing but trees, the
tangle of briars and weeds, the soft ground with the dank mattings of infinite
years of decay, and the shadows of darkness that lurked in oppressive silence
in the dim alleys between the trees.
Then the whisper of a female voice floated through the mysterious darkness
to his sensitive ears. She whispered in his ear, "The pelt will turn you
into a werewolf when you put it on, and return you to human when you take it
off."
"And the cane?" he whispered back, his voice sounding loud to
him in the wild woods where the trees sloped fantastically. His surroundings
seemed to swim around him, and he felt like he could hear for miles. A thin
brooklet was nearby that he could not see, but he could hear it trickle in its
dark, narrow bed over squat, moss-coated rocks. The place was not good for
the imagination.
"The cane is a werewolf bane weapon," came the whispered reply
from the dark woods.
"Can I control myself fully when I am in the form of a werewolf?"
asked Zografos quietly. He received no answer. He formed another, willing
his heartbeat to slow down. "If I agree to 'rule' your lycanthropes, are
you going to stop hunting the group I travel with?"
"Of course," came the soft reply of the darkness. He couldn't
tell if it was a voice, or if the rustling of the primal leaves caused the soft
sounds.
"Then let it be so," said Zografos with finality. He felt a
wind blow over him, yet no leaves or plants moved in the humid stillness of
the summer night.
In the tower at the edge of Lotharia, beside the dim chaos of the old
forest, Alexander Maximus, a priest of Athena, was planning on their next move.
He knew he had only a short time to stop the mindflayers. He figured that a
forced march could get them to Alisander in eight days or so.
Zografos slid back into the Lord's Tower and suggested that they use the
Ring and Finger of Vulthois to get to Alisander very quickly.
"Well, the only problem with that is I don't know how to use it to
do that and I am the only one in the group that is protected from the sickness
it causes," said Alexander, dismissing the idea.
Flower, playing with a doll she found abandoned in the tower, asked, "Why
is it important to get there so quickly? Ten days isn't very long."
"Well, we still have to figure out this guardian of the bone
thing before we leave," said Alexander. "We could be pushing it depending
on how long that takes."
Issic looked up from the book he borrowed from Zografos. "I have
been doing some reading on that subject. It will let me talk to a god in my
dreams and summon a shoggoth."
Flower gave Issic a harsh look when he mentioned the shoggoth. She dropped
her doll, kicked Issic, and went over to a window to look into the darkness
shrouding the tower. She shivered at the thought of the unknown things out
there; an odd timidity about the deep voids filled with stars above her had
crept into her soul. She walked along the cold stone walls until she came to
a window that overlooked the town of Lotharia, which was hideously overlooked
by the mysterious forests that brooded eternally over the old town's secrets.
She looked out at the houses of that town, at the wide chimneys crumbling and
the cold stones that held up low gambrel roofs.
"Why would you want to summon a shoggoth?" asked Alexander.
"Protection," said Zografos.
Issic shook his head. "So that it would serve me. At least that is
what the book said. Not that I am currently looking to summon a shoggoth.
That is just merely one of the functions of the guardian."
"There is a way around the sickness the ring and finger causes,"
said Zografos. "I would have to put the ring and finger on."
Flower turned away from the window. "Is that the purpose of the
'guardian'? To 'guard' the shoggoth? Anyway, why is it so important to get
to Alisander in a few days?"
"The Flayers plan a hideous attack in a few days," said Issic.
"So is it only important that one person get there, and deliver a
message?"
Alexander shook his head, "No, we have to stop the attack and I think
the guardian might help us."
"Well, are we going to take ten days to get there or one?" asked
Zografos.
"Okay," said Alexander, "Well if there are no objection,
I think we should move out as soon as possible."
"You will get no objection from me," said India. Phaidon echoed
the same.
"Then let's get going," said Zografos. "I am tired of this
place."
"In the morning," said Flower. "And I think we could find
ways to move quickly."
"Okay," said Alexander, "I think we should stop by town
to get horses and supplies and tell our twelve followers where we are going."
In the morning, the twelve followers of Alexander arrived with the horses,
and mounted up.
"I don't think we should just leave the tower unattended," said
Alexander. "We need to find someone to watch over it until the priest
I sent for get here."
"What are they going to do if Larbius and the others return?"
asked Zografos.
Issic said, "I don't think Larbius will return. This place has been
defiled for his purposes."
"I have no fear, for the Gauntlet has cleansed the tower,"
said one of Alexander's twelve followers. "I will attend the tower."
"I thank you," said Alexander. "Meet up with us when the
priest I have sent for gets here."
The follower nodded and said, "I shall do as you will."
Flower opened the door to the tower and stepped outside into the morning
sunlight. She heard animals, and her unicorn stepped from where it hid to her
side.
Zografos asked Flower, "Flower, would you ask your unicorn if I could
have some of her hair to make brushes with?"
Flower looked at Zografos and then to Ammi, and back and forth, unsure
what to do.
"Paint brushes," said Zografos. Flower told him that by the
time they get to where they are going, enough hair would be shed, and she would
get every hair for him. Zografos thanked the elf and promised to show her and
the unicorn a game when they stopped at night called fencing.
They traveled through fantastic and forbidding scenery for the next few
days. During the day, they crossed mostly areas of gently rolling green hills,
winding country trails, and villages with quaint wooden-beamed street-corner
pubs and noonday cats atop leaning ivied walls. The trails and roads were narrow,
climbing gently up and ribboning back down the green hills, rolling between
fields, meandering casually through woods and over brick and wooden bridged
streams; the whole background formed a pattern of peace and tranquility rarely
disturbed over the centuries. As they came closer to Alisander, however, the
place took on a different aspect. An almost miasmal aura, a haunted look, took
dominance here. Smoke from burned fields and farmhouses, dead cattle and people,
and evidence of armies pervaded the scenery, and grew thicker as they moved
closer. Occasionally, they glimpsed wolves walking along beside them. Phaidon
unleashed his panthers at such instances and chased them off. There was a sinister
quality in the atmosphere which chilled them to the very core. The region was
putrid with the carcasses of decaying bodies and of other less describable things
which protruded from the landscape.
"Flower, stay near the rest of the group. I don't want any harm to
come of you," warned Alexander after another of her common disappearances
ahead of the group.
Soon, ten days later, they came upon the City of Alisander, the largest
city in the West. Vast armies surrounded the great city, and the walls yet stood
strong. Flower looked upon the city with disgust, as if it were a huge shoggoth
itself.
"What Saudian general commands in this area?" asked Zografos.
"Admiral Al-Madhiri rules here," said Alexander. "However,
Lord Nadam has managed to resist and trick the Saudians, if my information is
correct. I believe the city is dedicated to Apollo, despite being a part of
Lamapacher now."
Zografos estimated that several thousand troops surrounded the city.
"India and I can make it into the city come nightfall without too much
of a problem," he said. "I don't know how to get everyone in though."
He noticed that river traffic, despite the land siege, seemed unabated.
Flower said, "I can get into the city, probably with Ammi. I am
uncertain as to what to do with Ammi."
"Okay, everyone," said Alexander. "I can get us in but
we need to rest a while so I can pray." India started to set up camp.
Phaidon set a perimeter guard with his panthers. Zografos yawned. Flower thought
that everyone should steal uniforms from the dead. "We are bound to be
discovered here," she reasoned.
"I hope none of you are afraid of the water," said Alexander,
fondly remember all the trouble Manny caused. India laughed. "Mud doesn't
even bother me anymore," she said, thinking back to her experiences near
the Sea of Storms.
Alexander approached the half-dragon and asked, "Issic, can you carry
someone on your back?"
"If needed."
Flower said, "Umm, Alexander? Umm, don't you think Nadam will attack
us if we try to come over the wall?"
"We aren't going over the wall, we are going to walk out on the water
and catch a ride on one of the incoming ships."
"Won't they attack us?"
"Maybe, but if you have a better idea that you know will work I'm
listening."
"More than likely, the people on the ships will shoot at us,"
said Zografos.
"We can hold out a white flag like we did at Deneet," said Alexander.
"That would probably be a good idea," replied Zografos.
"It seems better than a magical display," said India.
"I was going to use the white flag with the magical display,"
said Alexander with a wry smile.
"Oh." India was concerned. She knew Lamapachan people had
an innate hatred of magic. "Are you sure that is wise?"
"That way the people in the city we know we are coming to help them."
"The magical display will get you mobbed by the city almost as fast
as if you would parade me out in front," growled Issic, obviously
unhappy with Alexander's plan.
"When they see us on the water," said Alexander.
"Okay," said Flower, "Are we ready to try my way? Or are
we doing something else?"
"What is your way, Flower?" asked India.
"We travel into the city," she said, doubting anyone here could
really understand, doubting that she herself even understood, "with the
vines on the walls. It's not something I can explain. It's not something
I even know will work. I have never tried to take anyone else with me to connect
with a plant. I think we can travel in the roots or over the wall as vines climb
the wall, perhaps ending on the other end in a place that is private, perhaps
not private…"
"What do you think will happen to us if it doesn't work?" interuppted
Alexander.
"More magical displays," sighed India.
Flower grimaced to Alexander, "We will spend our lives as roots.
That wouldn't be such a bad life though, truly."
"Why not travel down river for a day and try to get on a boat there?"
asked Zografos.
"There has to be a garden in the city to support the nobles,"
continued Flower. "It must have walls around it. Vegetation travels far
underground." Alexander looked around at the trees around the city. No
large ones were nearby. Apparently Saud's army cut down most of them to make
siege engines. He did feel there were enough to make a raft. He suggested
making one.
"They will pick us up," said Flower, "and probably take
away our weapons."
"Won't we be attacked if we try to enter the city, even on a raft?"
asked Zografos.
"Won't the raft get shot at too?" asked Issic. "There
is a war going on here! I like Domnhall's idea."
"If we have a white flag out they will not shot at us. Most likely
they will think we were ship wrecked."
" Ship wrecked on a river?" asked Zografos.
"let's just go book some passage," said Issic.
"Can you send a missive to Lord Nadam?" suggested India. "Maybe
he can get us in."
Flower said, "I can. I will simply go talk to him."
"I have got it," said Alexander. "I can get him a message
and he can send me one back. But it will be short."
Flower sat down next to India, waiting for the grownups to make a decision,
tapping her foot.
"Ummmm.... I have one more suggestion," said Zografos. "I
could cause a distraction and you all could try to get in during it."
Flower said, "I have it! We will help Saud's men break down the
wall! Then we can walk in!"
"What sort of distraction?" asked Phaidon, ignoring Flower.
"One that will cause a great disturbance and chaos."
"Can we get more specific?" asked Phaidon. Flower sat back
down, sulking that no one liked her idea. She started playing with her new
lantern.
"I could," said Zografos, "but it may disturb some of you
and I don't wish to do that."
"Alexander has all the plans," said India. "I say we let
him decide, and we go with that. Or else we should just all go our separate
ways and meet somewhere in town." Flower agreed with India. Alexander
had always gotten them in and out alive in the past. Then she thought about
Shanagra, and felt sadness.
Flower sat on Issic's lap, and told him that she could get them passage
on a boat, if he knew where a boat was.
Alexander Maximus cast Sending and said to Lord Nadam, "Athena's
Gauntlet is here to help but we are outside the walls. Is there a way for us
to get inside?"
Lord Nadam sent back, "Aye, but it is risky. Go to the standing
stone on the north east side and go under it."
"Follow me, everyone," said Alexander, heading toward the north
east.
Around the north east side they saw a tall standing stone. The stone
was twenty feet tall and seven feet wide, and was made of hard granite. It
was irregular in shape, and seemed larger at the top than at the bottom. Alexander
wondered how it remained standing. He also saw a few toppled stones nearby.
The stone was decorated in tiger designs. Two sentries stood near it. A third
one was urinating on it. All were Saudian troops, wearing turbans over their
metal helmets, and long desert robes over their padded armor. They looked out
of place in the green surroundings, and looked miserable in the humid summer
heat.
Flower walked up to the man who was urinating, giggling as she approached,
her hand inside her hooded tunic, holding onto her new wand. The other two
guards spied Flower, and they charged, weapons drawn.
"Hold there, child!" one yelled. Flower fell to the ground
and discharged her wand, charming them. They stopped running, and walked
closer, putting up their weapons. The third put away his exposed member and
also approached.
Alexander sent a missive to Flower, Tell them to forget they
ever saw us and go back to doing their jobs!
Flower, still on the ground, cried out, holding her foot, "You
made me fall!"
Alexander said to Zografos, "Domnhall, search the stone." He
kept an eye on Flower. One of the guards said to the girl, "Let me help
you, little girl. Perhaps you want to go with me to my tent for some ointment?"
Flower asked them to bring her over to the soft area to the south west, where
she figured they couldn't see the stone. They carried her away, out where they
couldn't see the stone, and where Alexander couldn't see her. She then asked
one of the soldiers to go get the ointment for her.
Zografos went quickly to the stone, scanning it over intently. The stone
stood as it had stood for countless eons. Somehow, the incredible age of the
stone impressed the painter in a loathsome way, and he repressed a shudder when
he touched the stone, a thing from an elder time. Looking around, he
found a large capstone on the ground in front of the stone, mostly buried in
the soft earth. Zografos motioned Alexander over. Alexander and Zografos cleared
away the capstone, then motioned Issic to come over.
"Can you lift it, Issic?" asked Alexander.
India, following behind Issic, cast Bull's Strength on him and
said, "Of course he can do it."
Issic bent down, and strained. Phaidon also helped, as did Alexander,
who cast guidance. Even with the help, Issic grunted and strained.
The thews and sinews of his arms stood out in bold relief as he struggled with
the massive stone. Halfway up, Issic staggered, and only the help of Phaidon
and Alexander prevented Issic from being crushed beneath that impressive weight.
It was struggle for life and death, despite the lack of weapons and intelligence
on the part of the stone, for one false step or move would mean nothing less
than an agonizing death Issic's part, and the half-dragon treated this effort
as nothing less than a battle against nature and gravity. The golden sinewy
fingers of the half-dragon were white-knuckled as he lifted and heaved, his
teeth were gnashed together in a rictus grin, and his legs were spread wide.
His back-drawn, snarling lips exposed his great fighting fangs, and now bloodshot
eyes gleamed in horrid reflection of the weight he was attempting to move.
During the colossal effort, Issic knew and thought only one thing – the stone
would be lifted. And the capstone was lifted up out of place. Below it stood
the victorious half-dragon, his legs spread wide and his whole body bulging
and straining with the effort. Below him gaped a hole in the ground, and a
mouldering wooden ladder.
Issic said in a strained voice, "Everyone in! I can't hold it forever!"
Alexander jumped down, and cast my light, as he climbed down. A twenty
foot cone of light radiated out from his eyes, creating an eerie effect when
he looked around quickly or blinked. Zografos and India followed Alexander into
the hole. Phaidon ordered his panthers into the hole.
Flower, with her increased hearing, heard voices and footsteps. She asked
the other two soldiers to help their friend find the ointment. When they turned
around, Flower whistled a supersonic sound intended for Ammi and hightailed
it out of there. Still holding up the massive capstone, Issic heard the whistle
of Flower, which was far out of the range of human hearing. Once Ammi arrived,
she ran as fast as she could toward the standing stone. She dove into the hole,
and Ammi took off for the distant woods. Phaidon saw that the camp had been
aroused and were on their way. He dropped into the hole. With a bold maneuver,
Issic stepped into the yawning gulf at his feet, dropping in fast. The stone
he had held aloft thumped hard on the earth around the hole, sending dirt cascading
down on the descending half-dragon, but blocking up the hole. Issic's drop
destroyed the ladder, and bruised his wings badly. Listening, Issic heard nothing.
All was silent except for the echoes of those moving through the tunnel ahead.
With considerable difficulty, Issic turned himself around and followed the others.
At the bottom of the ladder, the hole curved further downward, eventually
flattening out to a small tunnel, so small that they had to crawl through it.
It made Zografos think of a grave. It was dirty and they could feel worms and
bugs under them as they crawled on elbows and toes. There was barely enough
room to use their legs effectively, and was pitch black but for Alexander's
light ahead of them, but that was mostly blocked out by Alexander's body filling
up the tunnel.
They traveled in the small tunnel and found that it exited from behind
a metal grill into a worked-stone hallway. A guard stood in that hallway. He
helped the first one through (Alexander) by holding up the metal grill and offering
any other assistance requested. A torch hung lit in a sconce on the stone wall,
holding the cloying darkness at bay.
"Where is Lord Nadam?" asked Alexander as he dusted his toga,
knocking off worms and beetles. "May we speak to him?" Alexander
tried to detect mind flayers, and detected none.
The guard said, "I am Jhillim. I will take you to Lord Nadam if
you are the Gauntlet of Athena." He shivered when he looked into Alexander's
eyes, which still glowed bright, casting rays of light out.
"I am the Gauntlet."
"It is said that demons and elves follow with you. That shall be
the proof I look for."
"The demon, the elf and others are following me."
"Good," said Jhillim. After all had gotten through, including
Phaidon's two panthers, he led everyone through several dank hallways. Zografos
noticed that Jhillim wore the holy symbol of Tenebrion. It was hidden well,
though, disguised as another emblem. Zografos casually traced the symbol on
himself when the guard looked at him, and the others did not see. The man nodded
and indicated through casual sign language that he had information for Zografos.
Zografos nodded in the affirmative.
As they walked, darkness stalked on noiseless feet behind them, closing
in on the spaces they had just left. On either hand they saw dark openings,
but Jhillim kept them to the main corridor, holding the torch aloft. At one
point, they all thought they heard the sound of a woman, weeping piteously,
but Jhillim made no move toward that lonely sound. Vague shapes lurked in the
shadows with unstable outlines cast by the flickering torch and Alexander's
blinking eyes.
Flower trembled, and held onto India's hand. She expected fanged and
taloned fiends to leap at her from the darkness. Her hearing was far better
than her companions' and knew something they did not. The tunnels were not
silent. There were titterings, squeals, long howls pitched far above the range
of human hearing. She heard the pad of stealthy feet, and a cold horror shook
her. Flower hoped that Dark Athena would hear her prayer and keep Ammi safe.
The guard took them to a stairway and explained, "These tunnels were
built long ago by King Alisander, who founded this city, as a place to hide
during siege. They have been expanded upon in subsequent generations, and they
now span under a good portion of the city."
"How are the city walls holding up under this attack?" asked
Alexander.
"Admirably fine, actually. Our engineers have always been the best
of the world."
"Has there been any news of odd happening in the city lately?"
Jhillim said, "Aye, lots of odd things have been happing lately,
but I must leave you now." Jhillim had taken them up through several levels
and layers of subterranean dungeons until they passed into a large antechamber
filled with dying sunlight. Two female guards were in this antechamber and they
said, "We are the next step on your journey."
"Good luck and thank you, Jhillim," said Alexander. As Jhillim
backed away to leave, Zografos hung back with him.
One of the female guards came up to Alexander and said, "Before we
can take you onward, you must agree to a test."
"What is the test?"
"I need either an agreement or a refusal."
"Then I agree to the test"
"Good." The two females opened a doorway and led him through
it. Everyone but Zografos followed. Jhillim signed to the painter that he
would meet him later if he remained publicly available. Zografos signed back,
asking if there was anyplace specific he would like to meet.
Jhillim signed back, letting the painter know that he should spend the
night in the palace. He would meet Zografos in his quarters... if he managed
a private room. All the signing was done while they talked out loud about guard
duty. Zografos signed that he would try to manage a private room. He then followed
the others into the next room and Jhillim disappeared back into the tunnels.
As they walked into the next room, Issic said to one of the guards, "Is
this not proof enough?" as he tapped his flexed arm. It was still sore
from lifting the stone, but was marvelous to look upon. The female guard blushed
and Issic winked at her.
"Remember how did you got into that trouble we just got you out of,
my friend," said Alexander, looking back at Issic.
Issic growled, "If you believe her to be a demon then slay her; otherwise
pay attention to what is in front of you!"
They were taken to a room with two leather-bound doors. "Which one?"
one of the guards asked Alexander. "Which one should you pass through,
and which one leads to death?"
Alexander checked for flayers, but could detect nothing. He then detected
magic, and found that both doors radiated magic, as did all the walls, except
for one door-sized section of wall to his left. He went to the secret door
and opened it. The two guards nodded approvingly and motioned him through it.
"You have passed."
"May we see the Lord now?" asked Alexander. They led them through
several hallways and up several stairs. They were led to a huge audience chamber
filled with sycophants and courtiers. At one end was a giant throne built of
dragon skulls. A huge, muscular man of noble bearing stood when they entered,
and the courtiers split, making a clearing from the Lord to Alexander. The standing
noble was powerful looking, yet old. His hair was grey, and his features were
chiseled. He had a hard look around his eyes, as if he had seen horrors not
meant to be witnessed by mortal man. He had a graying moustache, but no beard,
but he did have rather pronounced sideburns that went down almost to his chin.
He was dressed in dark blue satins and silks, and a large sword leaned within
reach against the arm of the dragon-throne.
Zografos felt that the dragon skull throne would make a great painting.
He was further impressed by the eyes of Nadam, so he set them hard into his
memory. Issic growled under his breath at the sight of the skulls.
A page announced, "The Gauntlet of Athena and her champions!"
The nobleman said, "Greetings, Champions. I am Lord Nadam, Ruler
of this fine city."
Alexander Maximus bowed, "Athena's Gauntlet and the rest of her champions
are here to aid you, Lord Nadam." Zografos thought, When did I become
a champion of Athena? I don't even pray to her.
Flower, very ceremoniously, said, "Hiya, I bet you have never seen
an elf before."
Nadam smiled at Flower, and said, "I have known many elves, little
one, but I still cannot bear to look one in the eyes." He gave Alexander
his full attention next. "I have heard of you, of course," said Lord
Nadam. "What brings you to my fair city? What aid need I that Athena sends
her chosen?"
"Lord Nadam, could we speak to you in alone?" asked Alexander.
"Aye." He stepped down off his throne and passed through a
door nearby. "If the chosen of Athena seeks a solitary audience, who am
I to refuse?" The two female guards motioned Alexander and the others
to follow their lord. In the next room, a grand diplomatic conference chamber,
Lord Nadam seated himself at one end of a long table, and motioned for them
to sit likewise. Zografos remained standing and leaned against a wall as the
others took places around the grandiose table. Alexander scanned the room for
psions or illithids. He detected none.
Alexander began, "Lord Nadam I bring news of great sorrow, your city
is under siege from within as well as from the outside."
"And what evil lurks within the hearts of my men?" asked Lord
Nadam.
"There is a cult growing in this city that will attempt to summon
a great evil 10 days from now. They are lead by horrors called mindflayers which
in turn are being guided by demons."
Flower twittled with her pouch a little, quietly shuffling nonchalantly
into a corner, bringing out the lamp, fiddling with it. She lit the lamp.
"The cult is headed by Absterator," said Issic.
"I am sorry to bring such news to a city already threatened by the
armies of the damned son of Ares," continued Alexander, "but we are
here to help you cleans this glorious city of both evils."
Lord Nadam, uncertain, said, "I have heard of Absterator, but have
not had occasion to meet him. An illithid, you say?"
"Yes, I believe so." Alexander presented him with the papers
they found.
After looking over the sheaves of paper, Lord Nadam made a decision. "I
will accept your aid and your council. What may I do?"
"What have you heard of Absterator?" asked Issic.
"Merely that a man of that name has bothered another citizen by the
name of Dalby."
Alexander looked up in alarm. "Dr. Richard Dalby?"
"Aye. That is his strange name."
"How or what did he do to bother, Dalby?" asked Zografos.
"This Doctor complained that the 'followers of Absterator' were interfering
with his profession."
"Praise be to the gods of Olympus," said Alexander. "We
have more to do here then we though. Thank Athena for guiding us here. Could
you provide us with any information you have on Absterator and Dalby, that would
be the best help we could have for now?"
"Dalby is a doctor, specializing in amputation work. Absterator,
apparently, is leading some sort of organization against amputations."
"Did he go into any detail as to how that was happening?" asked
Issic.
"I didn't hear the case," said Lord Nadam. "One of my judges
heard it. I merely heard of it."
Flower shut off the lamp. Alexander said, "Could you have the judge
summoned to this chamber. Leave that lamp on, Flower." She flipped it
back on.
"Aye." He ordered one of the female guards to find the judge.
Zografos laughed. "What does happen to a doppelganger when you cut
a limb off?"
Lord Nadam said, "It turns to a rubbery limb."
Zografos stopped laughing, impressed that Lord Nadam knew the answer.
"While we are waiting on that judge, tell us how the battle goes,"
said Alexander.
"The battle goes well. The only reason Al-Madhiri and Intaba keep
trying is to save face."
"Have there been any reports of werewolves within the city?"
"Nay. None that I know of. A huntress in town kills any wererats
that show up. I presume she would also hunt down the wolven variety."
"That is good, I have heard that sometimes when sieges go badly for
the armies of Saud, werewolves sometimes start being seen in the city and change
the tide of battle." Alexander knew the tactics of Admiral Al-Nasim, who
conquered Ingara in the name of Saud.
"Who is this huntress?" asked Zografos, interested.
"I do not know her name. My underlings deal with her."
Flower piped up from the corner, "Is your master-harper in town?
The bard, I mean."
"Aye, my master-harper is here, in the next room, as a matter of
point. Why?"
"I haven't heard a good song in a long time," Flower said as
she twittled with her new lamp.
Issic coughed with contempt at Lord Nadam's attitude. "So do you
also have underlings that take care of rooting out the illithids?" he sneered.
"I can ask my... underling... to get in touch with the huntress and
see if she would hunt illithids," answered Lord Nadam diplomatically.
"Could you also get us the huntress' name?" asked Zografos.
Flower said that the master-harper would likely know such information.
1000 exp. for all players
Jhillim, male human Rogue 5:
CR 5; medium humanoid (5'8"); HD 5d6+5; hp 25; Initiative: +7 (+3 Dex,
+4 imp. Init.); Spd 30ft; AC 16 (flatfooted 16, touch 13); Attack +5 (1d6+1
masterwork rapier) or +8 (1d6+1 mighty [str 12] masterwork composite shortbow);
Special Qualities: Sneak Attack +3d6, Uncanny Dodge, Evasion; SV: Fort +11,
Ref +15, Will 8; Str 12, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 14, Wis 10, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +11, Move Silently +11, Tumble +11, Open Lock +13,
Listen +8, Spot +10, Search +10, Knowledge (religion) +6, Disable Device +12,
Use Magical Device +7
Feats: Improved Initiative, Alertness, Lightning Reflexes
Equipment: Masterwork rapier, masterwork mighty shortbow, 20 masterwork
arrows, Masterwork studded leather, potion of darkvision, 6 potions of cure
light wounds, 2 potions of neutralize poison, cloak of resistance +1, 50 ft.
silk rope, masterwork thieves' tools
Notes: Jhillim is a member of the Temple of Tenebrion. He also
works as part of Lord Nadam's security force. He works in the underground labyrinths
that honeycomb the entire city of Alisander, both as patrol and as an explorer.
Cthaat Angartha, the female human guard that winked at Issic, Warrior 1:
CR -; medium humanoid (5'2"); HD 1d8+4; hp 12; Initiative: +4 (Improved
Initiative); Spd 30 ft; AC 14 (flatfooted 14, touch 10); Attack +3 (1d8+2 longsword
or 1d10+2 halberd); AL NG; SV Fort +6, Ref +0, Will +0; Str 15, Dex 11, Con
18, Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 13
Skills: Sense Motive +2, Intimidate +5, Jump +2
Feats: Improved Initiative, Endurance
Equipment: Scale mail, Halberd, Longsword
The Ingaran Adventures 27 | The Ingaran Adventures 29 | Current Adventures in Inzeladun