The
Adventures of The Unknown
Episode 1
“Meetings”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manderkarr: Dwarven master of Axe
and asskicking.
Seth DeCalea: Half-Elven Ranger
Kalidor: Human Death Dealer
Issic: Half Dragon from Sigil
Flower: Elf.
Shanagra Darmal: Nyandarian Druid
late of Drychtnoth.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Place: The Unknown Lands
The Time: Spring, 21 Artim, Sixth Year, Eighth Age.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manderkarr and Issic were walking through the wood. It was spring
and had been lightly raining. The drops on the leaves looked like bright crystals
as they moved through the forest.
“I could get used to this, if it weren't so wet!” said the Dwarf
to the half Dragon as he sludged and tromped through the wet humus. Suddenly,
they saw movement through the leaves. Manderkarr raised his axe. They soon
saw it was a small naked girl.
“What are you doing here like that?” asked the Dwarf. The girl,
an elf, was startled like a deer, seeing the Dwarf and the demonic looking humanoid.
She ran for a tree. Issic launched himself toward her, intending to grab the
little girl. The girl let loose a small little scream that sounded more like
a squeak. He nabbed the little elf.
Kalidor arrived on the scene from another direction. He saw the
naked elf girl run to a tree. He also saw the dwarf and the dragon man.
Hmmm, a demonic looking something, a dwarf with an axe his size,
and a naked elf, I see this every day..., thought Kalidor.
“Hold still,” commanded Issic of the girl. She wiggled and tried
to grab a tree branch. Tree... my safety... got to get to my tree. You’ve
always been my safety. Issic squeezed her harder when she would not stop
wiggling her naked body in her attempts to escape. She hissed like a cute little
cat.
Manderkarr noticed the other man, Kalidor, approaching. The
man had along black cloak with a red tunic underneath. The Dwarf said, “And
who are you supposed to be?”
“I am Kalidor, and who might you be?” said the man.
“I am Manderkarr. What are you doing out here? Hunting elves?”
“Taking a walk. It clears my thinking. I don’t hunt elves... not
naked ones, that is for sure.”
“I gave that up long ago and life's been easier ever since. I let
my axe do the thinking. When I'm unsure or he is, I ask his brother, War Hammer,”
said the Dwarf, turning his attention back to Issic and the elf girl.
“Let me loose. Don’t hurt me!” squealed the little elf maiden,
still squirming her naked body in the grasp of the huge half-dragon.
"Answer the question, what are you doing out here?”
The elf looked up to his face with wide eyes, becoming terrified
at his fangs. She bit him in an attempt to get away. She did no damage, but
an owl landed nearby and told her that the dragon man would not hurt her. She
gave a pitiful cry to the owl, then stopped struggling.
“A well armed dwarf here in the forest, what are you doing here,
dwarf?” asked Kalidor, ignoring the struggles of the elf and half-dragon.
“Walking in the damn rain, what does it look like?”
“It looks like you are looking for something to chop.”
“I was out fighting wars. So what’s it to you?” asked the Dwarf.
Kalidor just shrugged his shoulders.
The elf went limp in the half-dragon’s arms and looked up at him.
“You won’t hurt me?”
“Have I yet?” asked Issic. “If I was going to hurt you, wouldn’t
I have done so?”
“Let me go, please,” she pleaded. “You aren’t supposed to be here.”
The dwarf chuckled. “Beats standing around in the rain watching
Issic, here, torture little girls. On second thought...”
“Are you going to run?” Issic asked the elf girl.
Looking like a trapped squirrel she looked up and said, “No.”
“What does a naked elf do running in the woods like that?” asked
Kalidor.
“Live and love, like every elf,” replied little Flower.
“Naked?” asked Kalidor. Issic released the elf. she jumped up
in the tree as quick as she could, climbing away from them. The Owl joined
her there in the tree.
“Now, go away. You don’t belong here!” said the naked elf maiden.
“Said who, little girl?” demanded Manderkarr.
Her eyes widened upon noticing the dwarf and twinkled, “What are
you doing here?”
“Looking for naked elves for a living... taking a walk lady!” said
Kalidor with sarcasm.
Manderkarr smiled a grumpy grin. “Standing in the rain, are you
all deaf or something. I AM STANDING IN THE RAIN!”
At this point they all saw two more people approaching. Manderkarr
the Dwarf stood tall, ready and in plain sight, drooling at the chance of combat,
watching in anticip...ation. Kalidor got closer to a tree, out of sight from
the newcomers. Flower climbed to the other side of her tree. Issic looked at
the Dwarf and said, “We are getting quite a crowd here.”
Manderkarr sniffed the air. “Another elf, I can smell him.”
Flower wrinkled her nose, “He thinks he can smell an elf.
Wonder when he took a rain last. Those smelly clothes."
The first they saw was wearing a hooded cloak, and his eyes glowed
red from beneath the shadows of that hood. The cloak was dark green. The man
beside the cloaked red-eye knocked an arrow into his bow. That man was shorter
and had a beard bristling out from his hood.
Issic said loudly to the approaching persons, "Put that thing
away before you get hurt."
Manderkarr stepped forward boldly. “And I'm the HURT!”
“Leave the girl alone,” said the short man with the bow.
The man with the glowing red eyes raised his hand in a gesture of
friendship. He lowered his hood and said, "I am Shanagra Darmal. I am
a druid and mean none of you any harm. This," he indicated his companion,
"is my friend, Seth."
Manderkarr eased, but only slightly, lowering his weapon. Kalidor
remained hidden behind the tree.
“Then be welcome,” said Issic. “And does he mean any harm
with that arrow?”
“No,” said Shanagra. “He is just well prepared for any eventuality.”
“That’s good,” said the Dwarf. “What’s an ‘eventuality’? Does
it put up a good fight?”
Flower climbed out on a branch for a better view. A druid?
she thought.
The short man called Seth took his arrow off the string, sliding
it into his quiver and slinging his bow.
“Come forward and be welcome,” said Issic the Half-Dragon.
“I've heard of you somewhere...Shanagra...,” wondered Manderkarr.
Shanagra walked forward. "I was hoping all of you would be
here." Kalidor raised an eyebrow and wondered if the druid meant him too.
“Why is there a naked girl in that tree?” asked Seth. He took his
hood off, revealing the pointed ears common to elves. Manderkarr grunted.
“Two of ‘em. Coulda guessed as much. Is this yours?” he asked, pointing to
the little girl elf in the tree. Seth said, “No.”
Flower slipped and dangled on a limb above the Half Dragon. Her
feet, Issic noticed, were grassstained. Issic raised his hands to help Flower
down. She shimmied down his big arm.
"There should be another among you. A human. Is he here?"
asked Shanagra. The Dwarf motioned toward a tree. “He’s hiding
like a baby deer over there.” Kalidor put his hood on and stepped from behind
the tree.
“Yes, I am here," declared Kalidor. “Who are you exactly and
how did you know I was going to be here?”
"Ah, good. We are all here then. I, like I said, am Shanagra
Darmal. I am one with nature and am in need of all of your talents. I prayed
to Mother and she said if I was to come here I would find a human, an elf maiden,
a dwarf, and a half dragon." He looked at Issic. "I must say, I
was most curious about you. I have never even heard of a half dragon before
yesterday."
“Neither did I,” said Kalidor. “Nor am I surprised there is such
a being. These humans boink with everything these days.”
“Take a good gander,” said Issic, posing and flexing. “Your mother
should tell you more.”
“He's not demon, but you could have fooled me, but a nice demon,
nonetheless.” said Manderkarr.
“You never know what lurks inside though, friend Manderkarr,” said
Issic, grinning.
Shanagra laughed. "Yes, that is true about humans. Speaking
of Boinking, ah... Flower, I must ask that you dress. You are a bit distracting
for us unsophisticated mortals."
“Dress?” She smiled a crooked grin, and then gave a hurt look.
“You don’t like me? But the trees do.”
Shanagra Darmal’s red eyes flashed with humor. "Trust me,
liking is not the issue. You are more beautiful than the dawn and your any
wish would be my honor to fulfill, but I am in need and I request that you dress
for your own safety.”
The owl fluttered beside Flower and suggested to her that she do
as he wishes in this instance.
“Or some of these might take to boinking you, little girl,” said
Manderkarr. “Shame you’re not a 100 pounds heavier.”
Flower asked the tree if she could borrow some of it's leaves for
awhile. She promised to return them to the ground someday. Leaves fell down
around her and, in a swirl of magic sparkles, they formed into a lovely green
gown.
“Talk about your ready to wear,” muttered the Dwarf. Flower squealed
in delight. “You always surprise me!” she said to the tree. She looked at
the tree in awe and wonder as though she had just now seen its beauty for the
first time.
"Shall we go?" said Shanagra.
“Go? I can’t leave,” said Flower.
“Where are we going?” asked Seth.
"We are going, of course, Seth, to Xapur, continuing our quest,"
said Shanagra.
“Go where, druid? How ‘bout some info on the help first, Shanagra?”
said Kalidor.
“What's in Xapur?” asked the Dwarf.
"Ah, information. Quite right. well, there is a sword, forged
in the Fourth Age of Man for the Emperor Gandalf Grimbrand, and it is on the
isle of Xapur. Unfortunately, Seth and I cannot conquer the guardian of the
isle alone.”
Kalidor said, “OK, I’m all into helping and all, but there is a
risk to it; what’s in it for us?”
“It is a powerful weapon, and, for helping Seth reach it, you will
all be amply rewarded,” said Shanagra.
“Yeah, let's go, anything beats this rain,” grumped Mandarkarr.
“What kind of Guardian are we talking about?”
“Speaking of unusual, what is with the eyes?” asked Issic, speaking
to Shanagra, walking as he talked.
"Ah my eyes." Shanagra took off one of his rings, and
his glowing red eyes became normal. "It is a magic ring I wear. It has
the unfortunate side effect of making my eyes glow." He replaced the ring
and his eyes glowed red again.
“Interesting,” said Issic.
Manderkarr warned Flower not to get underfoot, so the little elf
told the Dwarf to carry her then.
“Uh, alright, hop on my shoulders, I need my axe arms free, just
in case...” She shimmied up his back, tickling his spine as she climbed. “Your
skin feels like bark,” she giggled.
“It's called armor, if you need a pad these might be a pillow in
my pack,” said the Dwarf. She held on to his helmet. “Careful, don't break
the other horn; I lost the last one in the war.”
“What kind of Guardian are we talking about?” repeated the Dwarf
to the druid.
"His name is Khosatrel. He is a Demon in human form,” said
Shanagra.
“Kill the demon!, oh, sorry, Issic, not you,” said Manderkarr.
“A demon? and you want us, this bunch to defeat him?” said Kalidor
incredulously.
“I could see where that might be a problem for you, Kalidor,” said
Issic, flexing again.
“I fight demons all the time, just most of them are my own... ale
does that sometimes...” said Manderkarr. Seth started to look impatient.
“But he guards the sword.. that’s kind of a problem isn’t it?” pointed
out Kalidor with sarcasm.
"Yes,” said Shanagra. “He is not at full power. The sword
can defeat him easily. Until recently it rested on top of his slumbering body,
where it had rested for the past 5,000 years. But recently the sword was moved
and the devil loosed. Yes, that is part of the problem, but Mother tells me
that you all can help me."
“You said he is not at full power. What kind of power does he have
now?” asked Issic.
“I like helping people,” said Flower, reaching up to pick a berry
from a bush. The berry practically dropped into her hand before she even touched
it.
“And is your mother always right?” asked Kalidor.
Shanagra looked a little chagrined. "I am not sure what kind
of power he has."
“Do you know what level he originates from?” asked Issic.
“I'll knock him on the level starting at the knees and shredding
my way up,” promised Manderkarr.
“Devil or demon? It makes a difference, you know.”
"No. Nothing specific like that. He was a devil that wanted
to live as a mortal. But mortal bodies were not meant to hold the sort of power
he holds, so he took some sort of limitations and the body underwent... changes.
I do not know if he be demon or devil.”
“They all bleed, don't they, Issic?” said Manderkarr to his long
time friend.
“That is true, Manny, but the way to make them bleed can be different.”
“Do I have your word, druid, that something good will come out of
this for us?” asked Kalidor.
"You have my word, Kalidor."
“Very well, then. I will help.”
Issic sagely stated “The good that comes out of this depends on what you put
into it Kalidor"
“Killing anything like that is good, human, and they call dwarves
greedy. I just want its blood on the ground!” declared Manderkarr.
Kalidor retorted “I just want its soul out of his body, in my grasp.”
Issic, nodding to Shanagra and Seth, said, “Hmm. You sure don't
know much about this, but since I have nothing better to do and there is treasure
to be had I will go.”
Flower questioned Shanagra, “Did the tree tell you about me?”
Shanagra Darmal answered the little elf, "Mother told me about
you, and she is one with all the trees."
“ I didn't know they talked to men,” stated the astonished Flower.
“What's a devil?”
“A devil looks like me only taller and meaner or so I'm told...
I think I need to test that,” said Manderkarr with a growl.
They finally reached the shore of a great river. Across the way
you see a large island jutting out of the river like a huge rock. On top of
the rocky cliffs they saw trees and through the trees they saw green walls and
towers and domes.
“I can't swim. Anyone got anything or should I hack some trees
for a boat or something?” asked Manderkarr.
“I can teach you to swim,” said Flower. “And no, you have to use
branches that have already fallen.”
“Honey, you can’t teach rocks to swim, much less me,” said Manderkarr
gruffly, yet with a smile.”
“Shanagra, we can teach him to swim, can’t we?” asked Flower. “I
once swam and I didn’t get wet at all. The water likes me. If you wrap leaves
around you from the limma tree nothing gets wet. And you float if you find
a spreetree.” Shanagra smiled at Flower.
“My bow can’t get wet,” said Seth. “I’d prefer a boat, but I can
swim. Where do I get some of those leaves to keep my bow dry?”
“Hell, you probably blew in the wind as small as you are. Water
likes me, I don't like it. I need about a dozen trees and some rope and I'll
float,” said Manderkarr to Flower.
Shanagra studied the structure on the island. “The structure was
once the ruins of an Angustian city. It has since been resurrected with the
awakening of the devil.”
“How did you try to defeat the guardian before?” asked Issic.
“I haven't tried. Mother told me I could not defeat it."
“Does your Mother know where he is now?”
“No.”
A loud crack was heard above them all. A giant spreetree branch
fell into the water in front of them. A wind brought several large limma tree
leaves to rest at Flower’s feet. She squealed and clapped. Another wind deposited
similar leaves at Seth’s feet.
“Any other trees volunteering or do I have to get rough with ya?”
said Manderkarr. Issic looked at Flower with a raised eyebrow, thinking, This
might be trouble.
Three more cracks resounded through the forest and three more large
branches fell.
“I don’t like magic,” said Kalidor.
Flower kissed one of the trees and took a bug off of it and placed
it on a plant. Manderkarr started to collect up the branches that were falling.
Never met such agreeable trees before. He got out his rope and tied
them into a raft.
“Ahh. Good thinking, dwarf. I hate getting wet,” said Kalidor.
“Trees always nice. Except to some,” said Flower.
“Magic is bad for the heart,” said Kalidor.
"Thank you, Flower," said Shanagra, impressed.
Flower blinked and looked up to Shanagra, “For what? I didn’t
do anything.”
"For teaching me something about our Mother."
“Well, we should be going,” said Seth as Flower hugged Shanagra’s
leg.
Soon their raft was finished. Shanagra stepped boldly onto the
raft after he returned Flower’s hug. Manderkarr reluctantly stepped on, trying
to balance himself from fear of drowning.
Flower looked at Seth.
“Yes?” he asked.
“Careful, I don’t think the trees like you,” she said, wrinkling
her nose.
“Why do you think such a thing?” he asked as Issic pushed past him
to board the raft and sit down.
“Something wrong with you,” she said.
“They’ll get over it, little missy. They’re just glad to see me
go,” said Manderkarr. Seth shrugged and got onto the raft. Once all the others
were on board and Kalidor saw that the raft was still stable, he got on himself.
“Do we have oars?” asked Shanagra when he noticed they were all
aboard, yet going nowhere.
“I didn’t think about that,” said Flower, shrugging. She paddled
her feet fruitlessly and giggled.
“Don't you druids have sticks for poles or something?” grumbled
Manderkarr.
“How much would we move with hand paddling?” asked Issic.
“It will be slow going, but okay, we can hand paddle it,” said the
druid.
“Not enough, I can get some paddles as I see plenty of them there,”
said Manderkarr. Flower splashed the half Dragon playfully. Issic moved to
the edge of the boat and gave it a great push off the shore with his legs, unfolding
his wings as they got going to grab the wind.
Seth raised an eyebrow. Manderkarr said, “I didn’t know you flew,
demon.”
“There are other things you will learn, Manderkarr,” Issic said
with a friendly grin.
“As will you all,” said the dwarf with an equally friendly grin.
Flower asked Shanagra, “What is wrong with Seth?” Shanagra lifted
a finger to his lips, looking at Flower. Manderkarr started singing a sailing
song; not off key, but a little loud.
They soon reached the shore of Xapur. The shore line was basically
cliffs. The only landing place was at a stairway carved into the rock. Everyone
got off the ramp and Manderkarr and Issic dragged the raft up the stair a bit,
so that the tide wouldn’t pull it away. There was only room for single file
movement up the steps to the top of the cliffs. Seth volunteered to go first,
putting away his bow and drawing his sword.
The Owl flew down and told Flower that the island didn't seem natural.
She looked at the Owl and gave a low moan. “Is it Seth’s home, then?” The
Owl shook his head in the negative.
Seth moved up the narrow stair first. Then Issic moved up after
him.
“I not like this place,” said Flower to Issic. “Do we have to
go here?”
“Yep,” growled Issic.
“Let's get a move on, then,” said Manderkarr.
Shanagra said to Flower, "Please. We will need everyone's
help." His red eyes flared in mild frustration.
Flower played with the end of some twine as she went up the long
stair. “Be careful of the yellow ones,” she whispered ominously.
“Cowards,” growled Manderkarr. “Those yellow ones should watch
out for me!”
They all reached the top of the stairs safely. The forest was thick,
but the trees moved out of Flower's way, making a path for them all. They didn't
actually see the trees and plants move, but they got the sense that things are
suddenly out of her way.
“Hmm. That is an interesting thing to be able to do,” said Issic.
“This magic is starting to worry me,” murmured Kalidor, lowering
his eyebrows.
“Magic?” said Flower. “What magic? Someone does magic tricks?”
“This could be nothing else,” said Kalidor.
“You just have to know how to step,” Flower explained.
“I know how to look at magic,” said Kalidor. “I don’t like it.”
Manderkarr said with a low rumble that passed for a laugh, “Magic
is just a lazy man's way of doing hard work, something everyone needs.”
They soon reached the sixteen foot high green walls. Issic looked
at Shanagra. “Is there a door, or do we make our own?”
“At this point, you know as much as I do,” said Shanagra, drawing
out his scimitar to have it ready.
“Now, we are talking the same language, druid,” said Manderkarr
approvingly.
“I have a rope,” said Seth. Kalidor took off his backpack, unlashed
a shield from it, and put it back on, wielding the shield in his left hand.
Shanagra said, “We may need the rope, Seth, but without a grapple, it will be
hard to use.”
“Guess what I have, boys and girls: a grapple. I was hoping for
an easier means for ya'll, though,” said Manderkarr.
“Can I see it?” asked Seth.
Flower took some of the leaves that she brought from the raft and
squeezed them, rubbing the resulting oil all over her, raising her skirt to
rub her legs. Shanagra blushed as he watched Flower. Seth averted his eyes.
“So that if anyone tries to grab me again, they won’t be able to hold onto me,”
she explained with a smile.
easily
Manderkarr took his grappling hook from his pack and affixed Seth's
rope to it. Seth took the grapple and tried to toss it over the wall. The
grapple failed to catch. Manderkarr took the grapple and expertly threw it
over the wall. The claw caught and held firm. Flower clapped.
“Who's first?” asked Shanagra.
“I will go,” said Seth.
“Me, me, me, me!” exclaimed Flower. Manderkarr gave the end of
the rope to Seth, disappointing Flower.
The Owl flew up and looked around, telling Flower all was clear.
Flower just sulked because she didn’t get to go first.
“Maybe the demon could give you a fly up, Flower,” suggested Manderkarr.
Shanagra motioned for Flower to go next.
“No, I didn’t get to go first!” she pouted.
Shanagra shrugged and went up second, disappointed not to follow
the little elf. A part of him was feeling immature and he wanted to look up
her dress. Issic gave Flower a rough pat on the behind and told her to get
up that rope. She climbed up quickly, followed by Issic. After she was up,
she rubbed her butt a little, giving a mean look at Issic.
“Climb next, Kalidor,” said Manderkarr. “I'm the heavy one who'll
probably break the rope, knowing my luck.” Kalidar half smiled at Manderkarr’s
claim. Then the dwarf clambered up the rope. From above they had a great view
of the city. It was small, and made entirely of the strange green stone. All
the buildings were in ruin, and overgrown with jungle, except for one, in the
center, a great domed building.
Seth drew his sword.
Suddenly, a stone flashed in the light, striking Shanagra, knocking
him back, blood spraying from his head. Issic caught him before he wheeled
off the wall. Seth knelt next to Shanagra, “Is he dead? Where do we go now?”
Another stone flew through the air, aimed at Flower. The owl intercepted
and was killed. Flower screamed loudly. Seth yelled, “Get down!”
The rocks were coming from the interior of the greenstoned city
Manderkarr got out his shield and strapped it onto his back. He
yelled for everyone to get out of his way. Issic threw a few rocks back, trying
to achieve the same arc. Flower picked up one of the rocks and scraped off
some of it to make it more round and natural for throwing. She handed a few
rocks to Issic.
To Be Continued....
Finished Campaigns in Inzeladun
| Unknown02.htm | About Vincent N. Darlage
| Inzeladun Updates
--------------------------------------
Current Events In Inzeladun:
The Guardians met and helped the Legion of Three Hundred. Aethelric, the leader
of the Legion and wielder of the Axe of
Adilbrand, decided to join forces with
the Guardians. (see Nash 23 for more details) (spring, 5 - 7 Artim)
The Guardians were helped out by Groll. Grindill had sent a
succubus back in time to kill Ragnar. The Guardians went back in time and rescued
the baby. Dovinyae actually delivered the future Guardian. Returning to the
present, the Guardians began their journey to Catemar to attack Grindill. Grindill
allowed Yam ibn Saud’s assassins to go into Indor. The assassins killed Daragru
(but he was later resurrected) and in an attempt to kill Dovinyae, Sir Xavier
was destroyed. Sir Xavier’s body was taken Alisander where it was disintegrated.
A silver dragon was sent by Tomodachi to help the Guardians. (see Nash 24
for
more details) (spring, 9-13 Artim).
Yodfah tried to take revenge on the cutthroats who caused his
fall from grace in Muluk (Zakhara). They battled ghouls and then went on a
futile search for Yodfah. (spring, 10-22 Artim) (See AlQadim02 for more details)
Iss'ul took an interest in the doings of the Guardians and targeted
them for immediate termination (and possible digestion. Iss’ul is rumored to
be so evil that he is cannibal). He prepared plans to bring them to his new
citadel in Alisander. Having successfully destroyed Sir Xavier, he now planned
the next assassination.
Stuck in a stormcloud, the Guardians were attacked by the Angels
of Yam ibn Saud. Defeating them they stood poised to attack Alisander (see
Nash 25 for more details) (spring, 14-20 Artim)