Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 1855851" data-attributes="member: 3285"><p><strong>Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Epilogue</strong></p><p></p><p>They were all seated around a long table carved from solid stone. It seemed to stretch the length of the entire cavern itself, fading out into darkness at the far end of the table, lit intermittently by tapers that sputtered and hissed.</p><p></p><p>Quintus hunched over the table, his features shadowed by the candlelight. He hadn't spoken since they had left Ventaka. Kham was sprawled across the table, one leg up on the bench, which prohibited anyone else from sitting next to him. Ilmarė sat perfectly still next to Vlad, who chewed on something thoughtfully.</p><p></p><p>"What is this?" he said between bites.</p><p></p><p>"You are eating a fungus," said Ilmarė.</p><p></p><p>Vlad nearly choked.</p><p></p><p>"Mushrooms," Kham said. "Eat them long enough and they taste like beef."</p><p></p><p>Vlad took a few more thoughtful chews. "It really DOES taste like beef!"</p><p></p><p>Just then, Elabac entered with his entourage. They escorted him to the head of the table. Quintus didn't even look up.</p><p></p><p>"Thank you…my friends…for seeing my task…to its conclusion."</p><p></p><p>Kham nodded. "Hey, no problem. Any time you want to go into Canceri to make a complete—"</p><p></p><p>Vlad shot him a look. Kham covered up the conclusion of his sentence by taking a sip from the metal goblet in front of him.</p><p></p><p>"In gratitude…you may each have…one of my failures."</p><p></p><p>"We are honored," said Vlad, inclining his head towards the wizened dwarf. </p><p></p><p>"Quintus…" began Elabac.</p><p></p><p>Quintus' head snapped up. </p><p></p><p>"We have a guest…from the Coryani Empire…here to see you..."</p><p></p><p>Before Elabac could respond, a man dressed in lorica segmentata armor stiffly entered the room. </p><p></p><p>Quintus stood at attention, nearly tripping over the bench as he did so. He put his right closed fist over his breast in a salute.</p><p></p><p>The legionnaire refused to make eye contact with Quintus. He unrolled a scroll.</p><p></p><p>"Quintus Aurelius Ignatius," he read out loud, "due to your assistance in resolving the abduction of Senator Tensen-Balin's son, you are invited to attend a hunt at the request of General Menisis val'Tensen, Defender of the Empire."</p><p>Quintus blinked. "It would be an honor for I and my comrades to attend. We were all responsible for the child's safe return."</p><p></p><p>The legionnaire snapped the scroll shut and marched back into the darkness.</p><p></p><p>Vlad looked from Quintus to the spot where the legionnaire had read the scroll. "What was that all about?"</p><p></p><p>Kham thrust his chin out in Quintus' direction. "It's a rank thing," was all he said.</p><p></p><p>Quintus sat back down, all the anger drained out of him. He stared thoughtfully into his cup.</p><p></p><p>Beldin, sitting to Elabac's left, leaned forward. "Master Elabac wishes to extend his gratitude to the Coryani Empire as well." The young dwarf looked unusually somber. "He would like to send his envoy to deliver a gift on behalf of Solanos Mor."</p><p></p><p>Elabac gestured with one hand and pointed at a man that no one had noticed before. His most striking feature was his pale white hair. The man rose at Elabac's gesture and bowed slightly towards Quintus. There was a lacquered box in his gloved hands.</p><p></p><p>"I would be honored to present this gift on your behalf, Master Elabac," he said quietly.</p><p></p><p>The old dwarf nodded in approval. </p><p></p><p>"He doesn't look like a dwarf to me," Kham said to Vlad. Vlad shrugged. </p><p></p><p>"You can call me Sebastian Arnyal," the white-haired stranger responded.</p><p></p><p>Quintus squinted at the man. "From whence do you hail, Sebastian?"</p><p></p><p>There was a moment's pause. "Canceri," he replied.</p><p></p><p>Kham shook his head and took another sip of his drink.</p><p></p><p>Beldin waved at some of the other dwarves standing at attention around the table. Lacquered boxes snapped open in front of each of them: for Ilmarė, a silvery, thin longsword; for Vlad, a thick-handled longsword; for Kham, a beautifully gilded scimitar; for Quintus, a spear with a silver tip, its three sections laying side by side in the velvet case.</p><p></p><p>"Wow!" said Kham, fondling the scimitar. Vlad held the sword before him reverently, stroking the blade. Ilmarė simply took the box without comment.</p><p></p><p>Everyone turned to Quintus, who was staring at the open box before him. After a moment, he closed the box and took it under his arm.</p><p></p><p>"Very well, Sebastian," said Quintus. "You may join us."</p><p></p><p>There was an audible sigh of relief from the dwarves.</p><p></p><p>"I should like to see my home again," Quintus said. And with that, he left the table.</p><p></p><p>"Don't worry about him," said Kham to break the awkward silence that followed. "It's been a rough couple of weeks."</p><p></p><p>"I understand," said Elabac.</p><p></p><p>"You've been given a second chance, dwarf," said Ilmarė. "Don't waste it." She followed after Quintus. </p><p></p><p>Vlad and Kham exchanged glances. "Thank you so much for the honor of these weapons," Vlad said, bowing deeply. "I will wield it with pride." Then he left. </p><p></p><p>Kham pushed off the table and rose to make his leave. Then he changed his mind and grabbed the bottle of wine off of the table.</p><p></p><p>When Kham was out of earshot, Sebastian turned to Elabac. "Those were your champions?"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="talien, post: 1855851, member: 3285"] [b]Bargains of Spirit and Flesh - Epilogue[/b] They were all seated around a long table carved from solid stone. It seemed to stretch the length of the entire cavern itself, fading out into darkness at the far end of the table, lit intermittently by tapers that sputtered and hissed. Quintus hunched over the table, his features shadowed by the candlelight. He hadn't spoken since they had left Ventaka. Kham was sprawled across the table, one leg up on the bench, which prohibited anyone else from sitting next to him. Ilmarė sat perfectly still next to Vlad, who chewed on something thoughtfully. "What is this?" he said between bites. "You are eating a fungus," said Ilmarė. Vlad nearly choked. "Mushrooms," Kham said. "Eat them long enough and they taste like beef." Vlad took a few more thoughtful chews. "It really DOES taste like beef!" Just then, Elabac entered with his entourage. They escorted him to the head of the table. Quintus didn't even look up. "Thank you…my friends…for seeing my task…to its conclusion." Kham nodded. "Hey, no problem. Any time you want to go into Canceri to make a complete—" Vlad shot him a look. Kham covered up the conclusion of his sentence by taking a sip from the metal goblet in front of him. "In gratitude…you may each have…one of my failures." "We are honored," said Vlad, inclining his head towards the wizened dwarf. "Quintus…" began Elabac. Quintus' head snapped up. "We have a guest…from the Coryani Empire…here to see you..." Before Elabac could respond, a man dressed in lorica segmentata armor stiffly entered the room. Quintus stood at attention, nearly tripping over the bench as he did so. He put his right closed fist over his breast in a salute. The legionnaire refused to make eye contact with Quintus. He unrolled a scroll. "Quintus Aurelius Ignatius," he read out loud, "due to your assistance in resolving the abduction of Senator Tensen-Balin's son, you are invited to attend a hunt at the request of General Menisis val'Tensen, Defender of the Empire." Quintus blinked. "It would be an honor for I and my comrades to attend. We were all responsible for the child's safe return." The legionnaire snapped the scroll shut and marched back into the darkness. Vlad looked from Quintus to the spot where the legionnaire had read the scroll. "What was that all about?" Kham thrust his chin out in Quintus' direction. "It's a rank thing," was all he said. Quintus sat back down, all the anger drained out of him. He stared thoughtfully into his cup. Beldin, sitting to Elabac's left, leaned forward. "Master Elabac wishes to extend his gratitude to the Coryani Empire as well." The young dwarf looked unusually somber. "He would like to send his envoy to deliver a gift on behalf of Solanos Mor." Elabac gestured with one hand and pointed at a man that no one had noticed before. His most striking feature was his pale white hair. The man rose at Elabac's gesture and bowed slightly towards Quintus. There was a lacquered box in his gloved hands. "I would be honored to present this gift on your behalf, Master Elabac," he said quietly. The old dwarf nodded in approval. "He doesn't look like a dwarf to me," Kham said to Vlad. Vlad shrugged. "You can call me Sebastian Arnyal," the white-haired stranger responded. Quintus squinted at the man. "From whence do you hail, Sebastian?" There was a moment's pause. "Canceri," he replied. Kham shook his head and took another sip of his drink. Beldin waved at some of the other dwarves standing at attention around the table. Lacquered boxes snapped open in front of each of them: for Ilmarė, a silvery, thin longsword; for Vlad, a thick-handled longsword; for Kham, a beautifully gilded scimitar; for Quintus, a spear with a silver tip, its three sections laying side by side in the velvet case. "Wow!" said Kham, fondling the scimitar. Vlad held the sword before him reverently, stroking the blade. Ilmarė simply took the box without comment. Everyone turned to Quintus, who was staring at the open box before him. After a moment, he closed the box and took it under his arm. "Very well, Sebastian," said Quintus. "You may join us." There was an audible sigh of relief from the dwarves. "I should like to see my home again," Quintus said. And with that, he left the table. "Don't worry about him," said Kham to break the awkward silence that followed. "It's been a rough couple of weeks." "I understand," said Elabac. "You've been given a second chance, dwarf," said Ilmarė. "Don't waste it." She followed after Quintus. Vlad and Kham exchanged glances. "Thank you so much for the honor of these weapons," Vlad said, bowing deeply. "I will wield it with pride." Then he left. Kham pushed off the table and rose to make his leave. Then he changed his mind and grabbed the bottle of wine off of the table. When Kham was out of earshot, Sebastian turned to Elabac. "Those were your champions?" [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Arcanis: Gonnes, Sons, and Treasure Runs (COMPLETED)
Top