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Story Hour
From the Diary of Doorag Marzipan
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<blockquote data-quote="cthulhu42" data-source="post: 6587861" data-attributes="member: 6792361"><p>Rdyr’t 2</p><p></p><p> I have just returned from an exhausting twenty days on Edik, though only two of </p><p>Havilah’s days have passed. My plan worked perfectly, and though I am bone</p><p>weary, I am also alive with excitement over the knowledge that I can use the time</p><p>difference in Edik to my advantage. </p><p></p><p> For some time now I have wished to craft a traveling laboratory. I have had the</p><p>plan, and even the financial wherewithal to make it happen, but thus far I have not</p><p>had the time. Until now. </p><p></p><p> I used my new key to ‘plane shift’ to Edik on the morning of Readyrea’t 1 and</p><p>found myself on a desolate plain. My location was of no concern to me, as I was not</p><p>there for a sight seeing trip, and immediately set to work, first casting a mansion, </p><p>and then having the servants unload my laboratory, which I had carefully packed</p><p>and placed inside our bag of holding for the trip. Once all was ready, I set about</p><p>crafting a portable hole. </p><p> </p><p> Twenty days and ten thousand gold worth of materials later I finished my work</p><p>and was the proud owner of an extra dimensional hole, which I wrapped up and put</p><p>in my pocket, after which I wasted no time in ‘plane shifting’ back to my own </p><p>world to happily find that I had hardly been missed, given the seemingly short time</p><p>I was gone. </p><p></p><p> I had enlisted the services of several carpenters to build a frame in my </p><p>absence, and by the time I had returned, they had completed their task. They had</p><p>followed my design and specifications to the letter, and I was pleased to take into</p><p>my possession a frame work of wood six feet in diameter and ten feet deep,</p><p>separated by a “floor” at the five foot mark, and with a narrow staircase descending </p><p>through top and middle layer. With the carpenters help, I was able to lower the</p><p>thing into my new portable hole, after which I had, in essence, a portable, two-floor, </p><p>room, of just my height, that I can fold up and carry with me! In short order I had</p><p>returned to my Academy room and set up my lab in the hole. It is a trifle cramped,</p><p>but utterly useable and entirely portable! Even now it is folded up and secured in </p><p>Clangeden’s box, awaiting its next usage. I was even able to fit most of my library</p><p>within it!</p><p></p><p> My days in Edik were more strenuous than usual, as the crafting procedure within </p><p>the mansion was, by its very nature, difficult. Each night, before the mansions</p><p>duration ended, I had to carefully pack up my lab and my work, cast another</p><p>mansion, and set everything back up again. It was time consuming and frustratingly </p><p>monotonous, but now that the portable lab is completed, I should never have to go</p><p>through such a trial again. </p><p></p><p> It is a triumph of magic! </p><p></p><p> But now that I am back, it is as if the last twenty days have caught up with me and</p><p>I find myself barely able to keep my eyes open to write this entry. I feel as though I</p><p>have been extremely lax in my journal upkeep, since I was simply too tired or busy </p><p>to write more than work notes during my time on Edik, though I suppose by</p><p>Havilah standards I have only missed two days, so I will not be too hard on myself. </p><p></p><p> I plan to spend the next few days in rest and study for our upcoming mission to </p><p>retrieve Melesandre’s book.</p><p></p><p> </p><p> Rdyr’t 5</p><p></p><p> Evil is afoot, and we are, once again, in the thick of it! Though this time we have </p><p>not sought it out; no, this time evil has invaded the very grounds of the Academy</p><p>and we are forced to look it in the eye and face the fact that we are vulnerable even</p><p>here! </p><p></p><p> Taklinn had returned via ‘wind walk’ earlier this morning and had found me in</p><p>my apartment in the Academy. Though I had resolved to catch up on some much</p><p>needed rest, after a day of lounging about I could sit still no longer and have been </p><p>using the last two days to research the Wildwood further, wanting to be as informed</p><p>as possible about what we might run into. I was deep into a treatise on Himrock Orc</p><p>manhood initiation rites when I recognized Taklinn’s none-too-subtle pound on my </p><p>door. I opened it to find my friend all smiles and good cheer. Obviously his time</p><p>spent with family and fiance had done his spirit well. </p><p></p><p> We caught up a bit and I soon suggested that we fetch Hap and Griff, which we </p><p>did with a quick teleport. Within an hour the four of us stood on Academy grounds,</p><p>making our way toward Nivin’s office.</p><p></p><p> We took a short cut across the Academy training grounds where we had first </p><p>made such a debacle of our crew trial. Happy was able to laugh at it as she pointed</p><p>to the spot where Taklinn had forced Caribdis to apologize for his rash actions</p><p>against Lotte Spangler’s crew. Taklinn just sniffed and looked away, as if still </p><p>embarrassed by the memory.</p><p></p><p> And then all hell broke loose!</p><p></p><p> There was a sudden shimmering in the air that only I was able to perceive. I </p><p>immediately recognized it as portent to several beings about to teleport into our</p><p>vicinity, though it happened too fast for me to even shout a warning. Quick as</p><p>thought, we were instantly surrounded on all sides by four drider and an </p><p>abomination yuan-ti!</p><p></p><p> A chill rent my spine when I saw them, for we have not fought driders or yuan-ti</p><p>since the days to Melesandre. Now, here we were, about to embark on a mission to</p><p>find her book, suddenly being attacked by her old allies. Coincidence? </p><p></p><p> Instinct took over and I took to the air, shooting nearly thirty feet above the</p><p>ground just as two of the driders opened up on us with spells. They fired off twin </p><p>‘lightning bolts’ that zapped into the midst of Happy, Taklinn and Griff. I smelt a</p><p>quick waft of seared flesh and ozone as my comrades rolled out of the way,</p><p>coming up with weapons in hand. Taklinn was already mouthing the words to his </p><p>‘righteous might’ spell and Hap drew her new dagger and winked out of sight. Griff</p><p>drew his new sword in a single, smooth, motion, and squared off against a drider. </p><p> </p><p> As I went aloft, I had also invoked my contingent ‘greater invisibility’, but I </p><p>watched in dismay as the yuan-ti’s eyes never left me. It was then that I noticed the</p><p>robe he wore, decorated with unblinking eyes. I stared hard and the robe glowed</p><p>hotly of magic. I cursed under my breath, trying to bring a spell to bare on the yuan-</p><p>ti, but the lizard man was faster. I saw his lips move and I steeled myself as I</p><p>recognized the words to ‘baleful polymorph’. </p><p></p><p> I felt the magic grip me and attempt to change me. I fought the shift, feeling my </p><p>limbs trying to reform. As it is when fighting any spell, it seemed like a full minute</p><p>passed. In reality, mere seconds ticked away, but at last I shedded the Dweomer and</p><p>glared at the yuan-ti, still in my natural form. Anger gripped me as I thought of the </p><p>audacity of this fellow, porting into my home and attempting to polymorph me. I</p><p>grabbed for components and rattled off a spell of my own even as I heard alarms</p><p>begin to sound all over the Academy. My maximized, empowered, ‘scorching ray’ </p><p>hit the abomination three times in the chest, sending him reeling and gasping in</p><p>pain. Yet he still stood! I had hoped to down the bugger with such a powerful</p><p>casting, but he was made of tougher stuff. </p><p></p><p> Beneath me I watched from the corner of my eye as Griff plowed into a drider,</p><p>severing it’s head from its spider body in three quick slashes. I also heard Taklinn’s</p><p>‘holy word’ shake the very souls of all of us, though it appeared to do little more </p><p>than that to our enemies. </p><p></p><p> I saw a drider wince in pain and stumble, spinning around to hack at empty air,</p><p>but Happy was nowhere to be seen, until another drider showed off its spell </p><p>capabilities by casting an ‘invisibility purge’ which revealed our roguish friend as</p><p>she danced away from her foe. </p><p></p><p> Two arrows whizzed by me as the abomination had seemingly set aside his spells </p><p>in favor of a bow. Fortunately, he missed both times, and I prepared to hit him</p><p>again. But then I saw that Griff had taken down a second drider with Taklinn’s</p><p>help, and now had a straight shot at the yuan-ti. </p><p></p><p> I let him take it, and watched as our warrior barreled toward the lizard man. I had</p><p>already damaged the yuan-ti severely, and he was in no condition to take what Griff</p><p>was dishing out. With a single round house slice, Griff opened up a ghastly wound </p><p>in the yuan-ti’s chest that sent it spinning to the ground in a spray of blood. </p><p></p><p> With the abomination dead, I changed my target to a drider, attempting to ‘hold</p><p>monster’ it, but the evil creature ignored my spell, only to find itself face to face </p><p>with an angry dwarf with a fist full of Clangeden’s axe. He pummeled the drider</p><p>until it staggered back on its eight legs, only to be flanked by Hap, who had slipped in</p><p>behind it. She thrust with her daggers, her arms a blur, and the thing went down. </p><p></p><p> A final drider remained. “Take it alive!” I shouted, not wanting to lose a prisoner</p><p>that might have valuable information. To that end, I cast a ‘bigby’s clenched fist’</p><p>and used it to punch the drider a great clout on the side of its head. The spidery </p><p>beast staggered, unable to cast or fight for a few precious seconds. That was all it</p><p>took for Happy to appear beside it, sap in hand. With a few surgical blows, she beat</p><p>the drider into unconsciousness, and it slumped in a heap. </p><p></p><p> “What the hell was that all about?” Griff demanded to no one in particular. </p><p></p><p> “Yeah,” Happy echoed, nudging the drider with her boot, “Since when do these</p><p>clowns port into the Academy to try and kill us?” </p><p></p><p> “We can figure it out later!” Taklinn cried. “Alarms are sounding and I hear</p><p>battle. We are under siege!” With that, he pounded toward the arena exit, axe at the </p><p>ready. </p><p></p><p> As it turned out, we were not, technically, under siege, though various shock</p><p>troops of drider and yuan-ti had sprouted up in several Academy locations and had </p><p>done their level best to slay as many as they could before either being killed by</p><p>Academy security or fleeing via teleports. By the time Taklinn arrived at the battle</p><p>scenes, there was little to do but tend to the wounded. </p><p></p><p> Griff tied our drider prisoner securely, and we went on damage patrol, looking for</p><p>straggling drider or yuan-ti, and trying to help those we could. Within an hour it</p><p>was over, and the Academy was declared free of antagonistic forces. The four of us </p><p>met again on the training grounds, determined to hurry to Nivin’s office for a</p><p>clearer picture of what had happened. </p><p></p><p> When we arrived we were told by his secretary tat our meeting would be delayed </p><p>for two hours, given the recent attack and Nivin’s responsibilities. This was entirely</p><p>understandable, and we settled in to wait, only then noticing the other figure that</p><p>stood, razor straight, in the corner of the room. </p><p></p><p> He was obviously a fighting man, for he bore light armor and a pair of well used</p><p>short swords at his hips. He was a young human, in his late twenties perhaps,</p><p>though his stance and demeanor betrayed a man who had seen his share of battle. </p><p>Light scares crossed his face, though they did not detract from his rugged good</p><p>looks. He wore the uniform tabard of Havilah’s regular military, and I could see</p><p>from his insignia that he was an officer, probably a major. He was not a large man, </p><p>but I could sense that he was dangerous nonetheless, for his body was like a coiled</p><p>spring, even at his ‘at ease’ position. His jaw was square, and he regarded us with</p><p>steely blue eyes. </p><p></p><p> “Who the hell are you?” Griff asked, bluntly, when he noticed the man.</p><p></p><p> The stranger did not bat an eye. “I am Major Cromwell Throst.” He replied in an</p><p>even voice. “I am here for an audience with Nivin Mottul.” </p><p></p><p> We looked at Major Cromwell Throst and he looked at us for several long</p><p>seconds, all of us, I’m sure, wondering if our two meetings had anything to do with </p><p>each other, but finally deciding to simply wait and see. Our crew made ourselves</p><p>comfortable in the chairs that lined the waiting room walls while the Major</p><p>remained standing. </p><p></p><p> The hours passed with little conversation other than speculation about the recent</p><p>attack, and at last Nivin’s secretary announced that we could go in. To our surprise,</p><p>she nodded at the Major as well, and he led the way, pushing open the double doors </p><p>to Nivin’s office. </p><p></p><p> Inside, both Yigil and Nivin awaited us. Both men wore looks of recent strain on</p><p>their faces, and I imagined that they had been quite busy during the last few hours </p><p>trying to piece together the mystery of the attacks as well as coordinate added</p><p>defense and care for the wounded. Nivin waved to five chairs, and this time the</p><p>Major joined us in being seated, though his posture remained stiff. </p><p></p><p> “Let us get right to business.” Nivin said, his tone serious. “We have been</p><p>attacked within our own walls by forces we believe to have come from Edik at</p><p>Illugi’s command. Certainly Melesandre was not his only peon; we can only </p><p>surmise that this attack was an attempt to judge our strength. We can assume that</p><p>they have not the power to teleport a greater force directly into the Academy, and</p><p>for that we are lucky. It highlights the seriousness of the situation, however, for we </p><p>can now see that Illugi must have some clue as to what we are about and wishes to</p><p>cut us off at the knees. I’m certain that he would have been only too happy had his</p><p>strike force managed to kill the crew of the Broken Blade.”</p><p></p><p> “First things first; I take it that you have met Major Throst in my antechamber?” </p><p></p><p> The four of us nodded, as did the Major, and Nivin continued. </p><p> </p><p> “Major Throst has served Havilah well in her regular army for several years, </p><p>achieving a name for himself as both a fierce warrior and a leader of men. He has</p><p>recently, however, come to me with a request to be assigned to a crew. Now that it</p><p>is assured that Caribdis will not be rejoining the Band of the Broken Blade, I </p><p>thought that the Major might be a fine figure to round out your thinned ranks. It is,</p><p>of course, not my decision. I am merely here to facilitate a meeting between the five</p><p>of you. However, I would submit that a fifth man in your crew would not be </p><p>unwise, and you could do far worse than Major Throst.”</p><p> </p><p> Again, we looked at Throst and he at us. Happy was the first to grill him with</p><p>questions. </p><p></p><p> “Why do you want to join a crew?” She asked pointedly. </p><p></p><p> Major Throst regarded her coolly. “I have grown weary of chains of command</p><p>and having to fight through hundreds of minions only to have Academy crews deal </p><p>with the true threats to Havilah.” He said. “I wish to trade off regular military life</p><p>for a chance to take the battle to our enemies.”</p><p></p><p> Taklinn stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Tis a large pill to swallow.” He said. </p><p>“We have fought well, even without Caribdis, for some time now, and the idea of</p><p>replacing him may be difficult to accept.”</p><p></p><p> “I have no wish to replace anyone.” The Major replied. “I only wish for the </p><p>chance to serve my kingdom in the most direct way possible. I am not Caribdis, nor</p><p>am I a bard. I am my own man and will try to be nothing more.”</p><p></p><p> “Doesn’t matter to me,” Griff shrugged, “As long as you don’t try telling us what </p><p>to do.”</p><p></p><p> “Of course.” Cromwell nodded. “I would not think to consider myself your</p><p>superior in any way. If you accept me as a member of your crew, it would be as an </p><p>equal. That is all that I ask.”</p><p></p><p> “You realize,” I said, “That some might consider us a bit nonconformist.”</p><p></p><p> “And we bicker amongst ourselves quite a bit.” Happy added. </p><p></p><p> “I am familiar with your history,” Cromwell said, “And again, it is not my desire</p><p>to change your crew in any way. I have followed your exploits, and I agree with</p><p>Nivin and Yigil that it is your very diversity and unconventional spirit that is your </p><p>strength. I wish only an opportunity to be a part of that. In no way will I consider</p><p>myself in a position of leadership. In fact, leadership is something I wish to leave</p><p>behind me in favor of traveling with those I can consider my equals.” </p><p></p><p> “He talks a good game.” Griff said, leaning back in his chair.</p><p></p><p> I looked at Nivin. “I know that time is of the essence,” I said, “But may we have</p><p>an evening to discuss this matter? Perhaps the five of us could meet for dinner </p><p>tonight at the Broken Blade to get to know each other under less formal</p><p>circumstances.”</p><p></p><p> “I agree.” Said Nivin. “Time is short, but we can allow a night for the five of you </p><p>to get to know one another and come to a decision. Besides, we still have some</p><p>small amount of study to do. I believe that we will be ready to send you on your</p><p>mission within two days. My suggestion would be to come to your conclusions and </p><p>gear up for your mission to the Wildwoods. Return here on the morning of the</p><p>seventh, with or without Major Throst, and be ready to begin.”</p><p></p><p> “Have you any more information about where we’re going or what we might be </p><p>facing?” Taklinn asked. </p><p></p><p> Yigil took the floor then, responding to Taklinn’s questions. “There is a reason</p><p>that Havilah does not expand into the Wildwoods,” He said, “It is a rough and </p><p>brutal territory, not only in terms of unforgiving geography, but also of its</p><p>inhabitants. You may meet any and all manner of monsters within those dark</p><p>woods, and you will certainly cross paths with the worst that the Himrock Orcs can</p><p>offer. You will do well to remember that Himrock’s, unlike their boorish cousins, </p><p>are far from the lowbrow trash that raid our outlying communities to the north. No,</p><p>Himrock Orcs are intelligent and cagey, and many of them are able to master skills </p><p>that normal orcs cannot, not the least of which is magic. Be prepared! The lair in</p><p>which we believe Melesandre hid her tome will be much like the pyramid in which</p><p>you fought Himrock’s during your formative days, though we believe it will be far </p><p>more dangerous, given its deeper location in the Wildwood and its import to the</p><p>Himrock’s. Most of these pyramids are built to house their dead, so it would not</p><p>surprise me to find guardians that can withstand eons worth of time.” </p><p> </p><p> “Undead?” Taklinn said.</p><p></p><p> “That would be one of my guesses.” Nivin answered. </p><p></p><p> “The pyramid is protected against divination and transportation magic. Even with </p><p>our combined skills we have not found a way to view it directly, and therefore we</p><p>cannot get you directly into the structure,” Yigil continued, “though we have scryed</p><p>a good location about a mile from where we think it is. Doorag, you will want to </p><p>join us tomorrow for a look at the location so that you can port the crew there.”</p><p></p><p> I nodded in agreement. </p><p></p><p> “Beyond all that,” Nivin added, “Prepare yourselves as best you can for anything, </p><p>get to know Major Throst and decide whether or not he will travel with you, and</p><p>meet us here on the seventh. Bare in mind that not only the kingdom of Havilah is</p><p>at stake here, but also the world of Edik. I cannot stress enough the importance of </p><p>this mission!”</p><p> </p><p> We left Nivin’s office with much to think about, and agreed to meet with Major </p><p>Throst that night at the Broken Blade to discuss our possible collaboration. </p><p></p><p> Our dinner with the Major that evening was profitable for all sides. Though he </p><p>seemed unable to shed his military stiffness, he showed up for the meeting in</p><p>civilian garb and attempted to relax a little in our company. We talked for the better</p><p>part of the night, and we found him to be generally inoffensive, and carried himself </p><p>with a calm assuredness in his own abilities. </p><p></p><p> After our meeting with Nivin I had gone to do a bit of research on the Major, and</p><p>had easily found his records of military service, which were exemplary. He had </p><p>fought with distinction in several major battles, including Havilah’s defense against</p><p>Melesandre’s hordes. He was well regarded by his superiors, and his men followed</p><p>him without question. Their loyalty spoke volumes about his character and made </p><p>the idea of his joining us a bit easier to accept. </p><p></p><p> In the end, we could not deny the wisdom of having an extra sword (or pair of</p><p>swords, in the Major’s case) on our side, and by the time we broke for the night </p><p>there was unspoken agreement among Taklinn, Griff, Hap and myself that Throst</p><p>would be accompanying us on our journey. </p><p> </p><p></p><p> Rdyr’t 7</p><p> </p><p> Lands, but it has been a long day! </p><p></p><p> Major Throst met us in the antechamber of our Academy apartments early this</p><p>morning. All of us were geared up and ready for anything. Or so we thought. </p><p></p><p> Nivin and Yigil were waiting for us in Nivin’s office to see us off and offer us last</p><p>bits of advice. With Yigil’s help I had studied the location that we were to teleport</p><p>to yesterday, so I was ready with the image of it in my mind. As we have so many </p><p>times in the past, we joined hands and I cast my teleport.</p><p></p><p> ***</p><p></p><p> We appeared in a dour grove of trees whose canopy blocked out most of the sun.</p><p>Looking around ourselves and listening, we saw and heard nothing. The forest was</p><p>eerily silent and devoid of life, which made us all uneasy. </p><p></p><p> Hap disappeared into the shadow of a tree while I lifted off from the ground</p><p>almost without thinking about it. Griff, Taklinn and the Major spread out, searching </p><p>the area, but finding nothing. I pointed west. “That way.” I said.</p><p></p><p> The five of us made our way through the quiet woods, ever alert for anything.</p><p>Griff led the way by twenty or thirty paces, and suddenly stopped, holding up his </p><p>hand and kneeling down to study the ground intently. It is good that Griff has such a</p><p>keen eye for tracking, for I never would have noticed the subtle claw marks left in</p><p>the earth. Griff outlined them for me with his finger, then pointed to several more </p><p>that led off into the woods. </p><p></p><p> “They look reptilian,” he said, “and whatever it is, it’s got more than four legs. I’d</p><p>say about eight. What do you think it is, Doorag?” </p><p></p><p> Eight legs? Reptilian? The words clicked switches in my mind and I did a bit of</p><p>quick mental research, coming to a disquieting conclusion.</p><p></p><p> “My guess is a basilisk.” I said, somberly. Griff scowled at me, for he was not </p><p>unfamiliar with such creatures. Hap, however, was not so educated.</p><p></p><p> “What the heck is a basilisk?” She asked. </p><p></p><p> “A basilisk,” I replied, “Is a large, lizard-like creature with multiple legs, a long </p><p>neck, sharp claws and nasty fangs, though incurring physical damage should we</p><p>happen upon one will be the least of our worries.”</p><p></p><p> “What’s that supposed to mean?” She demanded. </p><p> </p><p> “He means,” the major answered, showing off a bit of his own knowledge, “That</p><p>the basilisk’s most feared and preferred attack form is it’s gaze, which can turn a</p><p>mortal to stone.” </p><p></p><p> “You gotta be kidding me!” Happy said, wide eyed.</p><p></p><p> “He’s not.” I said. “And, truth be told, it’s worse than that. A basilisk doesn’t</p><p>even need to look at you for its ability to work. All you have to do is look at the </p><p>creature and you have a chance of being turned to a statue.”</p><p></p><p> “Great!” Hap said with a sardonic laugh. </p><p></p><p> “Which way is it going?” Taklinn asked Griff. </p><p></p><p> “Same way we are.” The big warrior replied. </p><p></p><p> “Even better.” Hap grumbled. </p><p> </p><p> There was no help for it. We would just have to carry on and hope that our paths </p><p>would not cross that of the basilisk. Ah, if we were only that lucky.</p><p></p><p> Not twenty minutes later we came across still more evidence of the creature that</p><p>solidified my hypothesis that we were trailing a basilisk. Griff saw it first and </p><p>pointed. It was a rabbit, turned to stone in mid hop. </p><p></p><p> We continued forward, every nerve on full alert now, our eyes and ears peeled.</p><p>Even Ambros had his nose stuck from a hole in my hat, sniffing the air for any </p><p>unsavory scents; but even with our vigilance, we could not avoid the confrontation.</p><p></p><p> Ten minutes later they came, stepping from behind huge trees as if to ambush us,</p><p>scrabbling forward with surprising dexterity for such heavy beasts. There were </p><p>three of them in all, and there was no avoiding the first onslaught of their gaze. </p><p></p><p> The magic in their eyes was palpable, and I felt my limbs attempt to stiffen into</p><p>stone, but I furiously shook it off, as did the rest of us. I responded with a ‘fireball’ </p><p>from my staff on one of them, but was dismayed to see how little damage it did to</p><p>the beast, and I quickly flew behind a tree to stay out of their line of sight.</p><p></p><p> Major Throst charged to meet the one I had scorched and dealt it a blow with one </p><p>of his short swords even as Griff and Taklinn did the same to the second and third</p><p>basilisk. Hap, of course, vanished, and I knew that she would be attempting to get in</p><p>on a blind side for one of her devastating attacks. </p><p></p><p> From my hiding spot I could hear the sounds of battle; the clang of steel, the</p><p>grunts of our fighters, and the screeching roars of the basilisk’s. Knowing that I had</p><p>to help, I took a deep breath and readied a spell. I poked my head from around my</p><p>tree and spotted one of the lizards locked in battle with Taklinn. Not wanting to </p><p>miss, I took a chance and looked straight at the thing, pointing my finger and</p><p>beginning my incantation, but before the words had left my lips, I felt the power of </p><p>the basilisk hit me again. My limbs went numb, and I fought it with all my might. I</p><p>just had time to see my hands go stone gray before everything went black. </p><p></p><p> ***</p><p> </p><p> First there was a dim light that grew steadily brighter, at last forming into blurry</p><p>vision that soon snapped into sharpness. I looked about myself curiously, still with</p><p>my finger pointed in mid cast. I let my arm drop to my side when I realized that I </p><p>was in Nivin’s office. I blinked a bit as I saw Nivin leaning against his desk. Yigil</p><p>stood before me, the remnants of a scroll in his hand. To my right stood Taklinn</p><p>with a worried expression on his face. </p><p></p><p> “What…what happened?” I stammered, confused.</p><p></p><p> Taklinn laid a fatherly hand on my shoulder, his look bespoke grim tidings and he</p><p>said, “I’m so sorry lad, you were turned to stone by the basilisk in the Wildwoods. </p><p>I’m afraid it wasn’t easy changing you back. It’s been three years.”</p><p></p><p> “What!” I cried, my eyes bulging from my head. “Three years! I’ve been a statue</p><p>for three years? How can that…” </p><p></p><p> Taklinn could hold a straight face no longer. With a guffaw, he burst into</p><p>laughter. “I’m sorry, lad,” he howled, tears of mirth squirting from his eyes, “I</p><p>couldn’t resist a little leg pullin’!” </p><p></p><p> My eyes narrowed as I looked at him more closely and realized that his clothing</p><p>was exactly as it had been when I had seen him last, and he still had traces of blood</p><p>on his tabard. I understood that I had been had. </p><p></p><p> “Tis been no three years,” He confessed, wiping his eyes, still chuckling, “Only</p><p>an hour or so. We mopped up those bloody lizards and then found you behind a</p><p>tree, stiff as a board and ten times as heavy. I dumped ya in the bag o’ holding and </p><p>‘word of recalled’ us back here for Yigil to take a look at you.”</p><p></p><p> Yigil could barely conceal a small smile of his own as he explained. “I did not</p><p>have the ‘stone to flesh’ Dweomer memorized, but knowing that time is of the </p><p>essence, I procured a scroll and set things right. How do you feel?”</p><p></p><p> “Fine, I suppose.” I said, scowling at Taklinn. “I’m glad I could provide you with</p><p>a little entertainment.” </p><p></p><p> “Ah, don’t be mad, friend Doorag,” Taklinn said with a grin. “Just having a bit of</p><p>fun is all.”</p><p> </p><p> “All well and good,” I said, stretching my arms, “But we still have a job to do. </p><p>Where are the others?”</p><p> </p><p> “Still in the Wildwood.” Taklinn replied. “We’ll return to them in the morning</p><p>once I’ve cast another ‘word of recall.” </p><p></p><p> “The hell we will!” I exclaimed, “We’re going back to them this minute!”</p><p> </p><p> Taklinn’s face became serious. “Now lad, don’t go acting rash! It’ll not do to have</p><p>no quick means of escape! I don’t like being without the ‘word’!” </p><p></p><p> “That may be,” I said, “But I’ll be damned if we’re going to leave Hap, Griff and</p><p>the Major alone in those woods until you have your spells again! They could be</p><p>fighting for their lives right now!” </p><p></p><p> Taklinn sighed. “But the ‘word of recall…’” He began.</p><p></p><p> “Sod the word of bloody recall!” I shouted, waving my arms in exasperation. “We</p><p>are a crew, and we do not leave half of our members to fend for themselves in an </p><p>area as dangerous as the Wildwood! I just won’t have it! Now listen, here’s what</p><p>we’ll do: We will port back to them, then tonight, we’ll all port back here so you</p><p>can cast your recall. And if things get dicey and we need an escape route, I’ve still </p><p>got teleports to haul us out if we need them.”</p><p></p><p> Taklinn stroked his chin and pulled his beard, considering my words with</p><p>maddening deliberation. “Very well,” He said finally, “But we come back tonight</p><p>and I cast the word. Agreed?” </p><p></p><p> “Agreed!” I said, grabbing him by the arm and already incanting my teleport. </p><p></p><p> “Be careful!” I heard Nivin shout as we disappeared. “Try to be gone for more </p><p>than an hour this time!”</p><p></p><p> I landed us in the grove in which we had first appeared and we immediately began</p><p>a fast trek through the woods. It was nearly a half hours run (or fly, in my case) but </p><p>at last we found the rest of our crew seated amongst a strand of oaks. Not far off I</p><p>could see the three bodies of the basilisk’s, and I shuddered.</p><p></p><p> “Doorag!” Happy shouted with a grin. “We didn’t expect to see you back so soon! </p><p>How you feeling?”</p><p></p><p> “Other than my pride, just fine.” I replied. </p><p></p><p> “Thought you weren’t coming back until tonight.” Griff said, looking at Taklinn. </p><p></p><p> “The lad convinced me otherwise.” Taklinn said with a scowl.</p><p></p><p> “This is good,” Said the Major, “We can get on with the search for the pyramid</p><p>now.” </p><p></p><p> With the Major’s “Ever Onward” spirit motivating us, we determined not to waste</p><p>the rest of the day and set out once again, keeping our eyes sharp for any more </p><p>threats, though I was sorely distracted by a revelation from Happy as we made our</p><p>way through the brambles. </p><p></p><p> Our rogue sidled up next to me as we tramped through the brush and asked, </p><p>innocently enough, if I had anything on me to deal with future basilisk attacks.</p><p></p><p> “What do you mean?” I asked.</p><p></p><p> “Oh, you know, stuff to turn a fellow from stone back to flesh, so we don’t have </p><p>to run back to Yigil if it happens again.” She said.</p><p></p><p> “What, you mean like a scroll of ‘stone to flesh’?” I asked.</p><p></p><p> “Sure, something like that.” </p><p></p><p> “Well, no,” I said, “Though I suppose we could have picked one or two up in</p><p>Havilah. Though what good they would do us I’m not sure, especially if I’m the one</p><p>that gets tagged by a basilisk. ‘Stone to flesh is an arcane spell, and just as I can’t </p><p>cast a ‘heal’, Taklinn would be unable to cast a ‘stone to flesh’, so I don’t know</p><p>what help it would be.”</p><p></p><p> “Oh,” She said, nonchalantly studying her fingernails, “Well, I might be of some </p><p>help in the event that you get incapacitated.”</p><p></p><p> I looked at her quizzically. “I’m not sure I understand, Hap. What are you trying</p><p>to say? I know that some non-casters can figure out how to use wands and such, but </p><p>scrolls are a different matter.”</p><p></p><p> “I know,” She said, with a hint of exasperation, as if I weren’t picking up on the</p><p>obvious, “And I’m saying that I might have an outside chance of using a scroll.” </p><p></p><p> I stopped dead in my tracks. “What!” I exclaimed, loud enough for Griff to look</p><p>back at us over his shoulder. I lowered my voice and caught up to Hap again.</p><p>“What?” I demanded again. </p><p></p><p> “Look,” Hap said, as if it were no big deal, “When I was hanging around with</p><p>Scylla I used to watch her cast her spells. Now she didn’t have to sit around and</p><p>memorize them out of a spell book like you do, she just woke up in the morning and </p><p>had them, right?”</p><p></p><p> “Right.” I said warily, stiffening at the mere mention of the sorceress’ name. </p><p></p><p> “Well,” Hap continued, “I used to see her cast ‘unseen servants’ from time to time </p><p>and I thought that was a pretty neat spell. On the whole, I don’t have a lot of use for</p><p>magic, but that one seemed like a pretty good trick, especially since I was about to</p><p>get married. See, I’ve never been much of a home maker. Cleaning the house and </p><p>learning to cook just isn’t my thing, so I thought, wouldn’t it be great to be able to</p><p>whip up an unseen servant to dust the house and fold the laundry, and for that</p><p>matter, it would sure help my meals if I were able to cast a flavoring </p><p>prestidigiwhatever its called. So I talked about it with Scylla, and she was nice</p><p>enough to teach me a few spells.” </p><p></p><p> I stopped again. “Happy Dorjan, are you trying to tell me that you can cast arcane</p><p>spells?”</p><p></p><p> “Just a couple of the basics,” She replied, “Nothing like you can, and I guess I’m </p><p>pretty much stuck with the ones she taught me, since I cast like Scylla.”</p><p></p><p> I began walking again, my mind spinning with this news. “Happy, why in</p><p>Clangeden’s name didn’t you tell me this before?” </p><p></p><p> She looked thoughtful for a moment and said, “I didn’t think it was important. I</p><p>don’t have any spells that would be useful in combat, so I figured, why bring it up?</p><p>That, and you know how Griff is about spell casters.” </p><p></p><p> “Have you told him?”</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, I told him right before we got married.”</p><p></p><p> “And?” </p><p></p><p> “What could he do? He’s not crazy about it, but he loves me. We just don’t talk</p><p>about it. Besides, he’s not stupid. He knows that magic is what makes it possible for</p><p>us to… well, you know.” </p><p></p><p> I looked at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t know.”</p><p></p><p> Happy laughed at me. “Doorag, you're so innocent sometimes. The magic bracelet</p><p>you made for me allows me to grow bigger, which lets us… you know, be… </p><p>intimate!”</p><p></p><p> “Oh!” I said, blushing furiously and quickly changing the subject. “Happy, I</p><p>really wish you had told me about this before. The fact that you are able to cast </p><p>arcane spells, no matter how sleight your ability, is of major importance! It gives</p><p>you access to all manor of magical items that are usually restricted to casters.</p><p>Wands, staffs, that sort of thing. Generally I’m the one who carries such things, but </p><p>I rarely have time to use them in the heat of battle. We have a wand of ‘haste’, for</p><p>example, which would have been a major boon to our warriors in many a battle,</p><p>especially before you and Griff received weapons with the speed enchantment, but I </p><p>usually find myself with more important spells to cast. If you had had the wand you</p><p>could have put it to use! And yes, you are correct in your assumption that you</p><p>would have a decent chance to cast many spells from scrolls. If I had known this </p><p>then I would have certainly made sure that I grabbed a ‘stone to flesh’ scroll or two</p><p>for you, just in case. Beyond that, I confess that I’m a tad bit hurt that you would</p><p>keep such a thing from me.” </p><p></p><p> “Sorry,” She said, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Like I said, I just didn’t</p><p>think it was all that important.”</p><p></p><p> “My dear,” I sighed, “Every small edge we can get is important. Even something </p><p>as innocuous as a ‘daze’ or a ‘prestidigitation’ can be the difference between life</p><p>and death. You just never know.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, now you know.” She said. “And when you go back to Havilah, pick me up </p><p>a couple of those scrolls. Like you said, you never know.”</p><p></p><p> Our conversation was halted by Griff, who again held up his hand for us to stop as</p><p>he pointed out the steep hill that had revealed itself beyond a strand of thick oaks. </p><p></p><p> The earthen hill, covered by trees, was too steep and too uniform to have formed</p><p>naturally, and we could only assume that we had found one side of the pyramid.</p><p></p><p> “Now,” grunted Taklinn, “How to get inside?” </p><p></p><p> How indeed? We searched the base of the pyramid for nearly an hour with</p><p>frustrating results. Griff and the Major resolved to climb to the top to see what they</p><p>could find, and while they were about that, I decided to use the ‘locate secret </p><p>doors’ dweomer that I had prepared for just such an occasion. It is not a spell that I</p><p>generally have on hand, but on this day I was quite glad of my foresight, for, with it</p><p>in effect, I flew low to the ground, scanning the base of the pyramid, and within ten</p><p>minutes I detected a glow coming from an innocent looking clump of brush. </p><p></p><p> I flew back to my comrades and gathered them together, leading them to my find.</p><p>Griff hacked away at the brush and revealed a gully that led into the pyramids base </p><p>for several feet before being blocked by an obviously humanoid carved slab of</p><p>stone. The slab was massive, and must have weighed many tons, but closer</p><p>inspection revealed that it appeared to be set into a track which meant it was </p><p>probably designed to be slid aside. Griff put his weight into it, but the slab would</p><p>not budge. This, of course, made it Happy’s turn.</p><p></p><p> Our small friend leapt into the gully and studied the stone for several moments, </p><p>testing here, searching there, and finally slipping her fingers into a crack in the</p><p>outer stone. There was an audible click and she stepped back with a satisfied grin. </p><p></p><p> “Try it now!” She said. </p><p></p><p> Griff found an edge and heaved. This time the slab slid easily on its track, and</p><p>disappeared into the mountain to reveal a well built hallway leading into the</p><p>pyramid. The smell of must rolled out into the air, and we could tell that no one had </p><p>set foot in here for quite some time. </p><p></p><p> “Okay,” said Taklinn, hefting his axe, “This is it. Be ready for anything.” </p><p></p><p> Beside me, the Major drew both of his swords, and I saw a hue of steel color his </p><p>eyes. </p><p></p><p> With Griff and Taklinn in the lead we took our first steps into the pyramid, only</p><p>to be immediately stymied by a set of heavy double doors set at an angle not thirty </p><p>feet down the hall. </p><p></p><p> We immediately fell into our standard operating procedure for dealing with such</p><p>things, with all of us falling back a bit to give Happy room to work, and to stay out </p><p>of range of possible traps that she might miss. Our roguish friend searched the door</p><p>for several minutes, tinkering at the lock with her tools, and finally announcing that</p><p>it was both unlocked and free of dangers. Griff replaced her at the door with </p><p>Taklinn at his side, axes at the ready. Griff gripped the handles and flung the door</p><p>wide. </p><p></p><p> I flew toward the ceiling to get a view over their heads and sucked in a breath at </p><p>what I saw. Inside was a room, perhaps thirty feet square. Another set of double</p><p>doors led from it on the opposite corner, but between us and the doors stood three</p><p>iron statues that were far too intricate to be anything other than golems. I cursed, </p><p>knowing full well that my magic would be of limited use against these things, and</p><p>though they had not yet come to life, I had a hunch that it would take no more than</p><p>a few steps inside the room from one of us to animate them. </p><p></p><p> My hunch was right, for no sooner did Griff cross the threshold of the door than</p><p>we saw the glow of magical life spring to the eyes of the golems. With rusty creaks,</p><p>their heads swiveled to look directly at him. </p><p></p><p> I cursed again and did what I could. I knew that the one weakness an iron golem</p><p>has is to electricity, and to that end I cast another spell that I had only prepared on a</p><p>whim. ‘Chain lightning’ is not a dweomer that I often use, but in this case I was </p><p>glad to have one on hand, for I fired it at the middle golem and watched as it struck</p><p>and split to hit the other two. I was gratified to see the three statues immediately</p><p>slow their movement. </p><p></p><p> Griff angled off to the golem on our right, while Taklinn headed for the middle</p><p>one. The Major slipped past Hap and squared off with the golem on our left. </p><p></p><p> Some fights are lengthy and fraught with strategy. Not so, this one. With little that </p><p>Hap or I could do, we were resigned to watch as our warriors traded blows with the</p><p>golems. The only sound was the grunts of our men and the clang of steel on steel. I</p><p>saw both Griff and Taklinn receive terrible punches that would have killed lesser </p><p>men, but they answered with their own devastating attacks, rending the iron skin of</p><p>the guardians. The Major, while seemingly impossible to hit, was having trouble</p><p>dealing any real damage to his golem. It appeared to me that he was made for</p><p>delivering many small hits rather than a few heavy ones, and while his short swords </p><p>pounded out a constant rat-a-tat on the golems iron hide, it was clear that it would</p><p>take him a long time to down the thing. I attempted to help with a ‘bigby’s fist’, but </p><p>even that did little to hurt the golem.</p><p></p><p> Taklinn was having better luck, and I heard a massive crash as his golem went</p><p>down, the light of animated life draining from its eyes, and our cleric turned his </p><p>attention to the Major’s foe. Griff soon followed suit, and his golem hit the floor as</p><p>well. He raced over to add his steel to Taklinn’s and the Major’s. With the three of</p><p>them, as well as my fist, beating at the guardian, it did not take long for us to bring </p><p>it down, and soon we stood over their iron bodies, breathing with exertion. </p><p></p><p> “This one is ready to go!” Announced Hap from the other set of doors. She had</p><p>made herself useful by scanning them for traps and locks already. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn saw to the wounds that needed tending to, and we searched the room,</p><p>though of course, we found nothing. It had been a guard chamber and nothing more, </p><p>so we soon took up our positions in readiness for what might lay beyond the new</p><p>doors that Hap had so recently checked.</p><p></p><p> Griff pulled them open and we breathed easier, at least for a moment. A non </p><p>assuming set of stairs ascended into the pyramid. Griff shrugged and made to step</p><p>onto them, but Happy was quick to insert herself between him and the stairs. She</p><p>insisted that she check them for traps, and a good thing she did, for on the sixth step </p><p>she found a pressure plate that would have dropped several of the stairs from below</p><p>the hapless foot of anyone setting significant weight on it, thus plunging them into a</p><p>pit of unknown depth. She marked the stair and we were careful to step over it as </p><p>we followed her. </p><p></p><p> She continued her search but found nothing more. The stairs ended in a landing</p><p>that took an abrupt turn to the right. She peered around the corner and quickly drew </p><p>her head back.</p><p></p><p> “What is it?” whispered Griff.</p><p></p><p> “Not sure,” she said, “I see something on the wall at the end of the hall, though I </p><p>can’t quite make out what it is.”</p><p> </p><p> “Let me have a look.” He said, stepping up to the top of the stairs and peeking</p><p>around the corner. No sooner had he popped his head around than he pulled it back </p><p>as a ray of dull light narrowly missed him! </p><p></p><p> He cursed under his breath in disgust. “Damn spell casters!”</p><p></p><p> “What did you see?” I asked him, excitedly, as I pushed my way to the front. </p><p></p><p> “Not much.” He said, “Like Hap said, there’s something on the wall down there</p><p>that shot a ray at me, but I don’t think I could describe it.”</p><p></p><p> Over come with curiosity, I made a foolish mistake and poked my head around to </p><p>have a look for myself. At the same time, Happy suddenly launched herself into the</p><p>hallway, hitting the ground in a somersault, coming up in a cartwheel and diving</p><p>down the hall. At the end, she bounced to her left, around a corner, and apparently </p><p>out of the line of sight of whatever magical trap was now shooting its ray at me!</p><p></p><p> The beam struck me between the eyes and I ducked back around the corner,</p><p>sputtering mad and echoing Griff’s curse. “Flaming, damn spell casters!” I spat as I </p><p>felt my essence drain away and several spells disappear from my mind. </p><p></p><p> “Doorag! Are you okay?” Taklinn gasped, coming to my side.</p><p></p><p> “Enervation!” I cried. “It’s a trap that shoots ‘enervation’ rays! It got me! Well, </p><p>we’ll see about that!” Beside myself with anger, I readied a spell and ducked my</p><p>head back out, casting quickly. Before the ray could go off again I used a ‘wall of</p><p>ice’ to block its view of us. The sheet of opaque ice formed at an angle that </p><p>effectively covered the magical sensor.</p><p></p><p> “I probably could have disarmed that thing!” Happy called down to us.</p><p></p><p> “Oh bloody well!” I answered, still infuriated at having been zapped with the ray. </p><p></p><p> “Not to worry, my son!” Taklinn said cheerfully, clapping me on the back. “I’ve</p><p>got just the ticket. Now just stand still…” He cast and I felt the soothing magic of </p><p>‘restoration’ flow through me, returning my essence and memory to me. I breathed</p><p>a sigh of thanks to my dwarven friend, relieved that he had such a ready answer to</p><p>my problem. </p><p></p><p> We joined Hap on the stairs to find her already snooping for more unwanted</p><p>surprises. I am happy to say that she found none, and we followed her up into the </p><p>next level of the pyramid. </p><p></p><p> A short landing led from the top of the stairs to another set of double doors which</p><p>Hap again checked, and again found no traps. She deftly picked the lock and </p><p>stepped aside for Griff to open the door. Inside was a room teeming with obvious</p><p>undead. They were mummies, draped in ceremonial wrappings and already</p><p>climbing out of sarcophagi to deal with us. </p><p></p><p> We fell into action with practiced ease, with Happy heralding our arrival with a</p><p>thrown fire ball via one of the beads on her necklace. Griff, Taklinn and the Major</p><p>fanned out into the room, blades ready and already hacking into mummy bodies. </p><p></p><p> There were nine mummies in all, but one of them, I noticed, was steadfastly</p><p>staying in an alcove of the room, and I could see his hands working to craft a spell.</p><p>Seeing that our fighters were otherwise engaged, I determined to put the caster </p><p>down, and to that end I flew toward the ceiling of the room and unleashed a huge</p><p>max/empowered ‘scorching ray at the thing, hitting it all three times, and though it</p><p>obviously caused immense damage to the thing, I was stunned to see it still </p><p>standing!</p><p></p><p> Fortunately, Griff had extricated himself from his own battle and was suddenly</p><p>upon the mummy caster. Much as it had been with the abomination that had led </p><p>the driders in their attack on us in the Academy, I had sufficiently softened our foe;</p><p>so much so that it took very little effort for Griff to smash the mummy to bits.</p><p></p><p> Between Griff, Taklinn and the Major, the remaining mummies stood very little </p><p>chance, and the three plowed through them with some support from Happy and I.</p><p>Taklinn even managed to turn two or three of them from us, and those were easily</p><p>slain. </p><p></p><p> Yet another set of double doors led from the south of the room, and we followed</p><p>the short hall beyond it to a stairway leading ever upward. At its top, a short hall ran</p><p>toward a room where we would fight for our very lives! </p><p></p><p> We followed the hall some twenty feet or so to find an intersection where we</p><p>could either continue forward or turn to the right. Each path brought its dangers, for</p><p>to our right, we could see four fierce Himrock orcs standing guard. Directly in front </p><p>of us, about sixty feet down, were still more Himrocks. Here was a room with eight</p><p>more orcs seemingly standing guard over a massive sarcophagus. We were able to</p><p>identify at least three of them as casters, if only from their garb. </p><p></p><p> We tensed, waiting for the charge, but none came. I looked closer at the orcs on</p><p>our right, standing in a corner of the hall about thirty feet away, and realized that</p><p>they had not moved an inch since our arrival. They appeared frozen, or paralyzed, </p><p>as did the eight orcs at the end of the hall, and it suddenly dawned on me that they</p><p>were probably in some sort of stasis effect, frozen in time to await intruders such as</p><p>ourselves. </p><p></p><p> I quietly informed the others of my hypothesis and Taklinn nodded, agreeing with</p><p>me. </p><p></p><p> “More magic.” Griff spat. “It never ends. So what’s the deal? You think they’ll </p><p>come to life if we get too close?”</p><p></p><p> “That would be my guess.” I said.</p><p></p><p> “Can we just blast them from here?” Hap asked. “Seeing as how they’re just</p><p>standing there waiting for a good blasting.” </p><p></p><p> “No,” I replied, “Not if they are under the effects of stasis magic. The spell is</p><p>quite powerful and will prevent them from harm until they are freed from it.” </p><p></p><p> “Well then,” muttered Griff under his breath, “Let’s not keep them waiting.” With</p><p>that he gripped his sword in both hands and headed toward the far room before I</p><p>could stop him. He left the hall and entered the room, and, as I had suspected they </p><p>would, the orcs blinked and came to life. </p><p></p><p> All hell broke loose.</p><p></p><p> Taklinn and the Major were quick to follow Griff into the room, and Happy went </p><p>invisible, as I knew she would, slipping in behind our trio of warriors. As for me, I</p><p>quickly scanned the room with my enhanced sight and realized that Griff no longer</p><p>glowed with magic. I could only assume that he had activated his anti-magic vest to </p><p>ward off the threat of spells from the three casters that stood behind the</p><p>sarcophagus. </p><p></p><p> I glanced to my right to make sure the other four orcs were still frozen. To my </p><p>relief, they had not budged, but when I looked back I could see that my companions</p><p>were already in dire straits. </p><p></p><p> The Major had rounded the hall corner so he was out of my sight, but I saw one of </p><p>the casters mouth the words to a ‘slow’ spell in the direction he had gone, and I</p><p>cursed, knowing full well the devastating effect that dweomer could have on a</p><p>warrior with the Major’s fighting style. I could but hope that he had been able to </p><p>resist it. </p><p></p><p> I could just see Taklinn from around the right corner, flanked by a pair of orcs.</p><p>These Himrocks were obviously elite guard, for I saw their great axes bite into our </p><p>cleric again and again, and he reeled with pain, trying to answer with his own axes.</p><p></p><p> Griff was also flanked, and though his anti-magic offered him protection from</p><p>spells, and quite probably much of the damage the orc’s enhanced axes would do, it </p><p>was a double edged sword, for much of his protection is magical in nature, and the</p><p>orcs were able to hit him over and over. Their damage may have been lessened, but</p><p>I knew that Griff would not be able to take the continued pounding for long. The </p><p>field stymied me as well, for with the orcs in its area, I could do little to help him. </p><p></p><p> Instead, I focused on the casters, sending a fireball into their midst. It exploded</p><p>and engulfed the lot of them, scorching them badly, but taking none down. I cursed </p><p>and flew forward a little to get a better view of the room. </p><p></p><p> I quickly realized that we were in a fight for our lives. Within the space of</p><p>seconds Griff and Taklinn had sustained terrible wounds and their blood spattered </p><p>the stone floor for many feet around them. The Major was locked in combat with a</p><p>lone Himrock, but I could see from the way he moved that he had been ‘slowed’,</p><p>and while he was still amazingly hard for the Himrock to hit, he was offering very </p><p>little in the way of return damage to his foe. </p><p></p><p> Happy suddenly slid behind one of Griff’s orcs, her daggers flashing with</p><p>vengeance as she inflicted terrible wounds on the creature, but he still stood! We </p><p>did, however catch a lucky break, for the casters still had not understood that Griff</p><p>was surrounded with anti-magic. The three of them fired off volleys of ‘melf’s acid</p><p>arrows’ at Griff and Taklinn, but all of them fizzled as they hit the field, dropping </p><p>ineffectually to the floor. </p><p></p><p> I unleashed another fireball into them, and they began to huddle back towards the</p><p>corner in an attempt to get away from both myself and the anti-magic field, but I </p><p>pressed on, determined to drop them before they could put their spells to good use. </p><p></p><p> Griff’s Talon flashed and tore through flesh and sinew. Great sprays of blood</p><p>gouted from the wounds of his foes as he pressed his attack. Then, with a feint to </p><p>push an orc back, he retreated a step and leapt onto the sarcophagus, gaining higher</p><p>ground and hacking away with renewed vigor, even though I could tell that he</p><p>barely had the strength to remain standing, so many were his wounds. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn was fairing even worse. Though he had inflicted his own share of damage</p><p>to his foes, they had done far worse to him, and he was now in a defensive fight. He </p><p>dodged and ducked their axes, bringing his shadowy blade around in wicked arcs</p><p>that ignored armor and opened terrific gashes in the orcs. But they refused to die,</p><p>and I knew he would not be able to take much more. With a mighty bellow to </p><p>Clangeden, our dwarf swung, connecting with the orc on his right and allowing the</p><p>momentum of his blow to carry into the orc on his left. Neither went down with his</p><p>attack, but Happy was already in motion. </p><p></p><p> An instant before Taklinn’s swing, Hap had taken a step back and released a</p><p>handful of daggers at one of the orcs bent on killing Griff. Her steel bit hard, three</p><p>times, and at last, the orc sank to its knees, then fell forward onto its face. But </p><p>before it even hit the floor, she was rounding on the nearest of Taklinn’s enemies.</p><p>Her arm pistoned and a single dagger flew from her hand, burying itself to the hilt</p><p>into the back of its thick neck. The orc howled in pain, reaching back desperately to </p><p>try and pull the blade free, but its strength was rapidly flowing away with its life</p><p>blood. The orc spun in a circle like a dog trying to catch its own tail, slowed, then</p><p>stopped, and finally slumped to the floor. Hap was still in motion, her hands already </p><p>full of more knives, spinning to get into position to help the Major, who was gamely</p><p>hacking away at his own foe with his diminished capacity. I cursed myself for not</p><p>having given Hap our wand of ‘haste’ now that I’d discovered her talent for arcane </p><p>casting, knowing that it would have negated the ‘slow’ effect on the Major. For a</p><p>second I contemplated using it myself, but looking at Griff and Taklinn, I knew that</p><p>far more drastic measures had to be taken. </p><p></p><p> Griff was at deaths door, still standing atop the sarcophagus, swaying dizzily, but</p><p>still pounding away at his remaining orc with the Talon. I knew I could do little for</p><p>him, still surrounded as he was by the anti-magic field. As fortune would have it, he </p><p>would not need my aid, for his sword came down in a mighty cleave that broke</p><p>through the orcs armor and bit deep into flesh and bone. The orc dropped like a</p><p>felled tree, and Griff quickly pivoted, bringing his long blade around to catch one of </p><p>the casters beneath the chin with the very point. The caster orcs throat opened like a</p><p>grizzly smile, and blood cascaded down the front of his robes. He staggered, still</p><p>attempting to cast, and died. </p><p></p><p> The battle was turning in our favor, but the remaining two casters worried me. I</p><p>so wanted to finish them off, but looking at Taklinn, I knew that I had to help him.</p><p>Our cleric’s face was ashen from loss of blood, and he was barely able to keep his </p><p>feet as he still faced one last orc. The orc looked pretty bad as well, bleeding from</p><p>several harsh wounds. I realized that one hit from either of them would take the</p><p>other down. I was determined not to let it be an issue, and turned my spells on the </p><p>orc. My ‘magic missiles’ hammered into the orcs chest and face, five in all. Under</p><p>normal circumstances I’m sure this Himrock warrior could have shrugged off twice</p><p>that number, but so badly had Taklinn hurt them during their battle that he was </p><p>unable to withstand the magical barrage. The orc stumbled back against the wall,</p><p>his axe slipping from his bloody grasp. I saw his face contort, as if willing himself</p><p>to live, but the fight was gone from him. His eyes rolled back in his head and he </p><p>died, sliding down the wall to sit, legs splayed, before slumping over on his side. </p><p></p><p> The Major’s orc was likewise grievously wounded, and it took no more than two</p><p>daggers from Hap to drop him. The Major saluted a thanks, but Happy had already </p><p>spun away from him, hurling more daggers at one of the two remaining casters. My</p><p>fireballs had done their jobs, and the wounded sorcerer was ripe for Hap’s attack.</p><p>The two knives landed less than an inch apart in the orcs chest, and Hap was able to </p><p>chalk up yet another foe killed. </p><p></p><p> The last caster, weaving a spell in desperation, cast ‘mirror image’. Suddenly</p><p>there were no less than eight images of him in the corner of the room, and we had </p><p>no way of telling which was the real caster. Griff didn’t care, and waded in, sword</p><p>arm pumping. He connected with three of the images and they blinked out. </p><p></p><p> I did my part, landing to put myself in line with as many of the images as I could,</p><p>and fired off a ‘lightning bolt’ that caused three more of them to disappear. Taklinn</p><p>was gasping, casting a healing spell on himself, and the Major was unable to move </p><p>fast enough to get to the remaining images and the true caster. </p><p></p><p> But Hap was right there. </p><p></p><p> Grinning, our little rouge filled her palms with daggers yet again and let them go. </p><p>The first one struck an image even as the caster was desperately trying to get off</p><p>another spell. The image winked out. With no doubt now as to which was the real</p><p>flesh and blood orc, Hap let go with the remainder of her knives. They slammed </p><p>home, thunk, thunk, thunk, in a neat row from the orcs throat to his naval. With a</p><p>sigh, the caster lay down and died. </p><p></p><p> Shaken a little at just how close some of my friends had come to dyeing, I leaned </p><p>against the sarcophagus. “Are you two alright?” I asked Taklinn and Griff. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn gave me a blood covered thumbs up, and I saw that many of his cuts had</p><p>closed. He had obviously healed himself. Griff was in the process of taking a gulp </p><p>from an oddly shaped bottle, and I watched in awe as every single one of his</p><p>wounds immediately healed! This was no ordinary potion, and I wondered where he</p><p>had received such a thing. He capped the bottle and returned it to his pouch. He </p><p>positively radiated magic now, and it made me wonder all the more, though I would</p><p>not be so gouache as to ask him about it. </p><p></p><p> Griff stepped up to the sarcophagus and heaved at the lid with all his might. His </p><p>muscles bulged beneath his armor and the stone slab shifted and moved. He slid it</p><p>aside and it fell to the floor with a mighty crash. Eons worth of must boiled from</p><p>the coffin, and when it cleared we were able to see the mummified corpse of a </p><p>female Himrock.</p><p></p><p> We immediately prepared ourselves for battle with it should it return to unlife, but</p><p>it only laid there. Griff put his sword through it once or twice to make sure, but </p><p>apparently it had no power to become undead. </p><p></p><p> Griff’s blade had torn many of its wrappings away and Happy grinned as the</p><p>mellow shine of gold was revealed. This orc, some sort of royalty perhaps, was </p><p>adorned with quite an array of jewelry which Hap immediately began stripping</p><p>from it. </p><p></p><p> Griff and Taklinn would have none of this grave robbery, and the Major, having </p><p>finally shaken the effects of the ‘slow’ spell, appeared to have little interest in</p><p>treasure. As for myself, I share Happy’s pragmatism, and felt not a whit of guilt</p><p>over helping Hap secure the trinkets. Far better that we put such money to good use </p><p>than to have it molder away in this crypt!</p><p> </p><p> “Okay,” Griff said, poking a thumb back down the hallway, “Four more to go.”</p><p></p><p> “Perhaps we should rest first.” I said. “Most of my higher dweomers are used up. </p><p>Are you sure you’re ready to deal with more of these guys?”</p><p></p><p> “Aye.” Answered Taklinn, “I’m ready if Griff and Throst are. I’ve enough spells</p><p>left, and I’m as healed as I can be. I say we do them in before we're to rest.” </p><p></p><p> “I’m with you.” The Major nodded. “I’d like to get in at least one decent fight</p><p>before we call it a day.”</p><p></p><p> I scratched my chin uncertainly, but finally sighed in agreement, knowing all too </p><p>well that I would be unlikely to change their minds. “Very well then, but lets at</p><p>least go about this the right way. I have a simple, but potentially effective plan.”</p><p></p><p> “Let’s hear it then.” Griff said, impatient, but no longer selling the orcs short after </p><p>so recently being brought so near death by them. </p><p> “Okay,” I said, “Here’s what we’ll do…”</p><p> </p><p> Fifteen minutes later we were in position. Happy stood hidden in the shadows on</p><p>the stairs that we had originally ascended to get to this room. Griff, the Major and I </p><p>were in the sarcophagus room, with Griff and the Major standing on either sides of</p><p>the entrance, waiting for our victims to come through, while I took up a position</p><p>behind the sarcophagus, peering over it, ready to do my part. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn waited for my signal from his position at the intersection where he would</p><p>only have to walk a few steps to meet the still frozen four Himrock orcs. When I</p><p>was satisfied that we were all ready, I gave him the signal to go. </p><p></p><p> I saw Taklinn disappear down the hallway, his axe in hand. I waited for perhaps</p><p>five long seconds, and then out he came again, running as if pursued by the devils</p><p>from hell! </p><p></p><p> One might think that Taklinn would be an odd choice for bait, given the plodding</p><p>speed with which most dwarves move, but Taklinn is another matter thanks to his</p><p>magically enhanced boots that he has been wearing for nearly two years now. They </p><p>make him far faster than the average dwarf, and for that matter, far faster than the</p><p>rest of us. </p><p></p><p> So it was that he had little problem outrunning the orcs after they awakened to </p><p>find a dwarf intruder walking down their hallway. Taklinn turned the corner, his</p><p>beard flapping over his shoulder, with a broad grin on his face as he barreled toward</p><p>us. He reached our room just as the Himrocks rounded the corner, hot on his heels. </p><p>Taklinn skidded to a stop about fifteen feet inside the room and turned to face them</p><p>just as I cast from my hiding spot. </p><p></p><p> The ‘grease’ spell coated a ten foot area just inside our room, and the orcs never </p><p>had a chance. The first of them hit the grease and both of them lost their footing and</p><p>went down in clumsy heaps, to be immediately set upon by Griff from the left, the</p><p>Major from the right, and Taklinn from directly in front of them. Swords and axes </p><p>fell like steel rain, and blood spattered the stonework, even as the second pair of</p><p>orcs attempted to cross the greased area. One of them fell while his partner kept his</p><p>feet, though little good it did him. Happy had come in behind them and was now </p><p>busy hurling dagger after dagger, while Griff took round house, two-handed swings</p><p>at him. </p><p></p><p> The battle, if one can call it that, was short. Within seconds the four orcs lay dead, </p><p>and not one of us had received a scratch. How different a fight can go with only a</p><p>small bit of strategy and planning!</p><p></p><p> “There,” I said, “They’re dead. Can we call it a day now? I’m running on empty </p><p>over here.”</p><p></p><p> “He’s right,” Agreed Taklinn, “I could use a bit of spell replenishment myself.”</p><p></p><p> “Yeah, okay.” Griff said with a slight grumble. </p><p></p><p> I cast a mansion and we entered, safe for the night, though the Major insisted on</p><p>keeping a watch outside anyway. Even as I write this he is standing his post outside</p><p>the door, even though I have told him repeatedly that he is much safer inside. I </p><p>suppose it is difficult to change old habits. </p><p></p><p> I must say that I am very pleased to have the Major along with us on this venture.</p><p>I don’t believe that we have even seen the best of what he can do yet, but just his </p><p>calm and sure presence in the ranks is a good influence for all of us. Thus far I have</p><p>found him thoughtful and open to planning, as would be expected of a military man.</p><p>He brings a bit of discipline to our otherwise freewheeling crew, and though I doubt </p><p>he’ll ever have us marching in step, he sets a good example of teamwork, and I</p><p>appreciate his being with us very much. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn and I had a small argument tonight. Well, not an argument per se, but </p><p>more a bit of discussion, though not without a bit of my laying on a ploy of guilt to</p><p>him.</p><p></p><p> As we settled in for the evening, he reminded me of my promise to port him back</p><p>to Havilah that he might recast his ‘word of recall’. While its true that I had indeed </p><p>said that, I informed him that, for one thing, it would be a costly teleport, as all I</p><p>had was a scroll of ‘greater teleport’ to work with, and for another, there was no </p><p>guarantee that the spell would even work, given the protective magic’s that</p><p>surround this pyramid, and certainly we would not be able to port back into it. We</p><p>would have to teleport back to our original spot some hours away and walk back in, </p><p>thus giving us the unwanted chance of meeting more basilisk, not to mention having</p><p>to deal with the enervation trap on the stairs below again.</p><p></p><p> Taklinn was fairly adamant about going back though, sighting the fact that he did </p><p>not like being without an escape route. I responded with the fact that I would still</p><p>have the scroll, and therefore we would still have a means of escaping. He argued</p><p>that that would mean that they were all reliant on me, and should I become </p><p>incapacitated, as I had when the basilisk had turned me to stone, the scroll would do</p><p>them no good. </p><p></p><p> I said that that was not entirely true, that I was not the only one among us with </p><p>arcane ability. Taklinn looked at me questioningly while Hap suddenly became very</p><p>interested in a speck of dust on her armor. I repeated my assertion while looking</p><p>directly at Hap pointedly, and at last she cracked, spilling the beans to one and all </p><p>about her abilities. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn was still not to be swayed however, even after Happy’s revelation. He</p><p>countered with the fact that I had promised, and I could do little but agree with him </p><p>on that point, though I did rationalize it by reminding him that, had we stayed in</p><p>Havilah long enough for him to cast the ‘word’, it would have meant leaving Griff,</p><p>Hap and the Major alone in the Wildwoods to fend for themselves for twelve hours. </p><p></p><p> In the end, a promise is a promise, and I withdrew the scroll for a casting attempt,</p><p>though I did it slowly, giving Taklinn plenty of time to reconsider. By this time</p><p>Griff had come to my defense, and before I could begin reading, Taklinn sighed and </p><p>told me to put the scroll away. He would go without his escape route. I don’t think</p><p>he was pleased to do it, but to his credit he acknowledged the wisdom of not</p><p>wasting valuable scrolls that might not even work, and said no more on the subject. </p><p></p><p> It is much later and I should, by all rights, be deep in slumber. Clangeden knows</p><p>that I have enough to do tomorrow without wasting time waxing poetic. </p><p></p><p> Yet, something in me compels me to set pen to paper at this late hour. Sleep</p><p>eludes me as if trying to grasp mercury. I turn over in my mind, again and again, the</p><p>true nature of heroism, and one of my companions in particular. </p><p></p><p> I have never fully explored in writing one of the most fundamental facets of my</p><p>philosophy, namely, that one of the basic reasons for the existence of this crew is to</p><p>facilitate the legend of Griffin Dorjan. </p><p></p><p> It is never far from my thoughts, the reputation and necessity of the figure of</p><p>Griff. Have I said in these past pages how important I feel it is for men such as Griff</p><p>to exist? Perhaps. I am too weary to check the volumes of my journal at this point. </p><p>Even if I have, it bears repeating. </p><p></p><p> Havilah is a city of humans. How odd that I have allowed myself to fall under the</p><p>spell of a city not of my own building. Yet, there it is. I have devoted my loyalties </p><p>to the city, the kingdom, and her ideals. I wonder sometimes if I feel a connection to</p><p>human ambition that others of my race do not share, for I suppose if there is any</p><p>one single trait that sets the races apart, it is the inborn need for humans to explore </p><p>and conquer. That, and their improbable birthrate must certainly ensure them a</p><p>place at the top of the political ladder. </p><p></p><p> It is this expansionism, yet also the fact that it is tempered by wisdom in Havilah, </p><p>that attracts me so to this kingdom. </p><p></p><p> Or is it more basic than that? Is it simply a drama that calls to me; a chance to</p><p>dabble in the epic exploits of a people destined to face the greatest challenges, and</p><p>taste the greatest rewards? </p><p></p><p> One might ask why I would call it dabbling. Surely I have played an important</p><p>role in the events of the last two years. Surely my magic and my council have been </p><p>the difference between victory and defeat on many occasion. Yet, when the history</p><p>books are written, let me be a footnote, let me be window dressing for a man who,</p><p>against his will, has been thrust into the role of hero. </p><p></p><p> I have oft wondered why I keep this extensive journal, almost obsessively, and I</p><p>believe that one of its sole purposes is to chronicle the life of Griffin Dorjan, for one</p><p>day his stories will be taught to children in Academy classes. If it is but noted that a </p><p>Halfling wizard was arcane council to Griffin Dorjan in one-thousand years, I will</p><p>be satisfied.</p><p></p><p> Why do I hold to this notion of Griff as a hero; as the peoples hero? I suppose it is </p><p>because of the ease with which, when I close my eyes, I can summon up the image</p><p>of him, clad in armor, outlined against a setting sun, weary, battle worn, yet still</p><p>standing proudly, hands resting atop the butt of the great sword sheathed at his </p><p>waist. Griffin Dorjan is, whether he likes it or not, the very image of a human hero.</p><p>Yet he is even more. He is a hero that transcends racial definitions. He is a man who</p><p>would stand up for the rights and honor of any good Halfling man or woman, no </p><p>matter their origin. He is a man who will never be able to ignore the plight of any</p><p>being that lives under the light of truth and honor. Griff is the silhouette of the</p><p>strong armed swordsman that gives hope where there is none, for as long as he </p><p>stands, the people of Havilah, no matter their race, will stand and follow and fight</p><p>for what is right and just. </p><p></p><p> I recall those nasty days in Latona, accused of terrible crimes, and rightly so. How </p><p>odd that my main concern was not for our escape from imprisonment, but for</p><p>Griff’s reputation. I laugh now, remembering how cavalier he was about the whole</p><p>mess, how dismissive he was of what others might think, and how angst ridden I </p><p>was over the possibilities that our actions might besmirch his image in Havilah. </p><p></p><p> I believe that the people would forgive Griff's (and likely, the rest of us)</p><p>transgressions in a far away land, but still, better that there be no smear on his </p><p>record at all.</p><p></p><p> I think that Griff understands, deep down, that the people need a hero. I have no</p><p>doubt that he has no wish to be that hero, but in the end, that is what makes him so </p><p>perfect for the job. Griff is the consummate hero: utterly without interest in fame</p><p>and glory, yet rising again and again in defense of the people of Havilah. What man</p><p>or woman could not look to such an icon and find hope? What downtrodden soul </p><p>would not follow such a man in the fight for justice? </p><p></p><p> It is late. Very late, and I am nearly too tired to see the paper clearly. I know it is</p><p>time for bed, yet I am glad to have gotten this out of my system, at least a little bit. </p><p>Tomorrow will bring its share of challenges, and part of my duty is always to be in</p><p>top form, for it would certainly not do to have such a hero die some senseless death</p><p>at the hands of a lucky orc who should have been brought down by magic. No, Griff </p><p>is bound for a better end. I can only hope that I am there to be some small part of it,</p><p>be it glorious death, or the chance to see his face on a coin. </p><p> </p><p></p><p> Rdyr’t 8</p><p> </p><p> As has become our custom, we broke our fast on Taklinn’s ‘hero’s feast’ some</p><p>twenty-four hours after I first cast the mansion. I must say, that’s a handy spell, and</p><p>a tasty one at that! </p><p></p><p> The Major joined us for breakfast, and we could tell that he had stayed up the</p><p>entire night. Obviously a man used to putting in long hours, he was far from</p><p>exhausted, but Taklinn scowled just the same and used a refreshing spell to put the</p><p>Major right, though he warned him that such use of his magic was superfluous, </p><p>given our quarters. The Major only shrugged and cast a wry grin as he dug into his</p><p>food. </p><p></p><p> When we were ready, we left the mansion and headed down the hall where the</p><p>last four orcs had stood guard. Directly to the right of where they had been standing,</p><p>a new flight of stairs led upward, and we began our climb anew, as always, behind </p><p>the watchful eye of Happy, who fastidiously checked each stair for unwanted</p><p>surprises. </p><p></p><p> We followed her to a landing some thirty feet up, and down a short hall to yet </p><p>another set of double doors. Hap checked them and then grimaced. </p><p> </p><p> “Trap,” She announced, “Magical.”</p><p></p><p> Those two words were more than enough to give us pause. She seemed fairly </p><p>certain that she could disarm the thing, or at least circumvent it, but Griff was</p><p>having none of that. He invoked the power of his anti-magic vest once more and</p><p>stepped forward so that the door fell into the radius of the effect. With the trap </p><p>effectively inert, he threw open the doors without ceremony. </p><p></p><p> From behind him I spotted an odd rune on the opposite wall in a medium sized</p><p>room, though that was hardly the least of our worries. Six more Himrocks stood in </p><p>stasis guard here, though they were not frozen for long. Seeing the rune as well,</p><p>Griff crossed the room in three long strides and put his back against the rune, using</p><p>his anti-magic field to dampen it even as it started to glow evilly at his approach. </p><p>His strategy was sound though, for as he closed to within five feet of it, the glowing</p><p>rune was rendered inert.</p><p></p><p> Happy was close on his heels, though she blinked from view as she did, staying </p><p>just far enough away from her husband to ensure that her dagger would work. </p><p></p><p> Conversely, the once inert orcs sprang to life, hefting great axes and stepping</p><p>forward to surround a very visible Griff, slamming down several times with their </p><p>axes. We heard our warrior grunt with pain, but not give a step, remaining</p><p>stubbornly against the wall.</p><p></p><p> Taklinn and the Major charged in after him, throwing themselves at the rear guard </p><p>of the orcs even as Happy went to work with her daggers, bloodying up one fellow</p><p>in a bad way. </p><p></p><p> One orc broke off from Griff to go toe to toe with the Major, while two of them </p><p>turned to face Taklinn. Griff gamely held off two of them while the sixth orc</p><p>slashed at the air wildly in an attempt to find Hap. He was unsuccessful. </p><p> </p><p> As for me, I stepped into the room and did my best to aid the nearest fighter, who </p><p>happened to be the Major. I cast a ‘Bigby’s clenched fist’ and pummeled his orc.</p><p>The beast staggered and dropped his weapon, looking quite dazed from the beating. </p><p></p><p> Long seconds followed in which swords and axes came down, finding flesh and </p><p>armor, clanging away or biting deeply. I continued to try to beat on the Major’s orc</p><p>even as the Major used his whirlwind fighting style to try to bring it down. The orc</p><p>got lucky though, and I fear that I allowed myself to be caught on the ground with </p><p>little protection. The orc spotted me from the corner of his eye, and seeing an</p><p>opportunity to damage someone a little easier to hit than the Major, he took it. He</p><p>had retrieved his axe, and now charged me with it raised high in the air! I ducked </p><p>and tried to avoid the steel, but it was no use. I gasped as the unfamiliar pain of</p><p>being slashed with a weapon roared through me. My back was against the wall, but</p><p>I still had an escape route. I flew upwards at full speed to get out of his range (thank </p><p>the gods that the ceilings are nearly twenty feet high in this pyramid!) while</p><p>directing my ‘fist’ to engage him again. The Major quickly caught up with the orc</p><p>and between the two of us, it was not long before he collapsed. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn had started the fight on a bad note, having swung a bit too wildly with his</p><p>axe and throwing himself off balance. He had righted himself finally, after staving</p><p>off a flurry of axe attacks, and came back around to try to give a better show of</p><p>himself. With a two-handed swing, he cut deep into the chest of an orc, dropping </p><p>him. He cleaved straight through and went on to the next, hacking and chopping</p><p>until that one went down as well. </p><p></p><p> Griff and Hap were just finishing off the last of their orcs as I landed, still shaking</p><p>from having been cut so deeply. I could not feel Taklinn’s healing hands soon</p><p>enough, I can tell you! I don’t know how our warriors can take being cut and hit all </p><p>the time. </p><p></p><p> We waited until we were reasonably sure the rune had run its course, and Griff</p><p>stepped away from the wall. We breathed a sigh of relief when no further magic’s </p><p>were unleashed upon us, and Happy turned her attention to the next set of double</p><p>doors that led from this room. After several minutes, she declared it safe and</p><p>unlocked. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn had been seeing to all of our wounds, and now that he was through and</p><p>we were healthy again, he stepped toward the door, taking Griff’s usual position,</p><p>and pushed them open. </p><p></p><p> What he saw made him gasp. He glanced over his shoulder quickly at us, and I</p><p>could see that the blood had drained from his face, though he tried to keep up</p><p>appearances. </p><p></p><p> “Maralith!” He cried, and I knew immediately his fear.</p><p></p><p> ***</p><p> </p><p> Time seemed to slow down from that point on as Taklinn shook his great mane of </p><p>beard and hair, squaring his shoulders and planting his feet in the doorway. I saw</p><p>the glow from his axe flare in proximity to the evil that emanated from the room</p><p>beyond. </p><p></p><p> Then, we all heard the voice, soothingly sweet, yet indescribably wicked at the</p><p>same time. “Come, son of Clangeden!” The voice taunted with palpable</p><p>malevolence. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn, unfazed now that he had collected his wits, backed down not an inch.</p><p>“Let us dance!” He cried.</p><p></p><p> But it would be the Major who would start the dance, for the words had not even </p><p>fully left Taklinn’s mouth before Throst was charging by him, both swords gripped</p><p>in his fists. I cried out for him to wait, but it was too late. The Major disappeared</p><p>into the room, and seconds later I could hear the clash of steel. </p><p></p><p> “Crazy son of a…” I heard Taklinn yell as he charged into the room hot on the</p><p>Major’s heels. </p><p></p><p> Griff, Happy and I raced to the doorway and beheld the battle that took place </p><p>before us. The room was huge, perhaps seventy feet long and two thirds as wide,</p><p>with a massive and ornate sarcophagus set into the floor at its far end. Four</p><p>Himrock warriors helped to guard the sarcophagus, and they were now busy </p><p>surrounding Taklinn, beating down our dwarf with mighty axe blows. The Major</p><p>had obviously broken through the ranks of orcs with his ill advised charge, for he</p><p>now stood quite near the sarcophagus, and was paying dearly for the honor, for atop </p><p>the stone coffin was coiled a Maralith. </p><p></p><p> Her beautiful female torso and head did little to detract from the horror of the rest</p><p>of her body. Her lower half was all snake, and slithered incessantly as she playfully </p><p>dodged the Major’s attempts to strike her. She also had four arms, three of which</p><p>wielded demonic looking swords with which she parried an attack and then returned</p><p>several of her own. Mere seconds had passed, but we could see that Taklinn was </p><p>outnumbered and the Major was out matched. </p><p></p><p> Griff and Hap broke into a dead run heading in to help even as I cast, using a new</p><p>spell I had learned only the night before. The ‘horrid wilting’ overwhelmed the </p><p>Maralith and the orcs for a brief moment, and I was gratified to watch them writhe</p><p>in pain as the spell sucked the moisture from their bodies. None of them dropped,</p><p>but I had certainly wounded them, hopefully priming them for the blades of my</p><p>friends. </p><p></p><p> The Maralith appeared to shake off the pain of the ‘horrid wilting’ even as the</p><p>Major came at her with everything he had. His twin blades were a blur of motion as </p><p>he struck, but only a single attack seemed to give her a scratch, and she looked</p><p>down on him with something akin to pity. So sure was she that the Major was no</p><p>real threat that she ignored him, instead electing to toy with Happy, who was </p><p>stealthily creeping up behind one of Taklinn’s orcs. Hap was, of course, invisible,</p><p>but the magic of her dagger could not hide her from the Maralith’s gaze. With a</p><p>word and a gesture, the Maralith used ‘telekinesis’ to lift Hap bodily from the floor </p><p>and slam her against the far wall. I heard the Maralith laugh, as if she were a cat</p><p>batting around a mouse before the kill.</p><p></p><p> By now Griff had rounded the orcs and had gotten close enough to the Maralith to </p><p>strike. Anger drove his blade, but I knew that the demoness would simply soak up</p><p>most of the damage he might do, and even though he hit her once, she simply</p><p>looked down upon him, still none too concerned. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn was in a bad way. Two of his orcs had broken off from their battle with</p><p>him to deal with the Major and Griff, but the remaining pair continued their assault,</p><p>and I was shocked to see their axes bite through Taklinn’s plate again and again. </p><p>Taklinn reeled as blood flowed from numerous wounds, and I could tell that he</p><p>would not be able to take another attack like that. </p><p></p><p> “Taklinn, heal yourself!” I cried, as I grabbed for components, and I breathed a </p><p>sigh of relief when I saw him take a step back out of the reach of the orcish axes</p><p>and cast a mighty healing spell that closed many of his wounds. </p><p></p><p> I cast a ‘chain lightning’ that fizzled against the spell resistance of my primary </p><p>target (an orc), but still arced out to strike the other three, wounding them further. I</p><p>did not bother with the Maralith, for I knew she was immune to such electrical</p><p>effects. </p><p></p><p> At the sarcophagus, the Major showed why he has risen through the ranks of the</p><p>military to his position, for even in the heat of battle he could see that his blades</p><p>were doing little against the Maralith, and that our hopes must lay in Griff’s ability </p><p>to lay on massive amounts of damage with a single blow. To that end, he ignored</p><p>the orc that was attempting to chop his head off in favor of trying to take some of</p><p>the pressure off of Griff. The Major stepped up to Griff’s orc and swung like a </p><p>whirlwind, carving three times into the creature, but with every blow his arms</p><p>seemed to get slower and slower, and I suddenly had the idea that something was</p><p>very wrong. Even Griff, upon striking the Maralith again, did not have his usual </p><p>strength and vigor behind his follow up attacks. </p><p> </p><p> The demoness smiled without humor at Griff and seemed to attack him from all</p><p>angles, her three swords a blur of steel as she cut him again and again. He was </p><p>taking a terrible beating and I wrung my hands, trying to figure out the best way to</p><p>help him. The fact that my ‘chain lightning’ had fizzled against one of the orcs told</p><p>me that I could not depend on magic to harm them, and I cursed myself for not </p><p>having another ‘Bigby’s hand’ prepared, or at least a ‘conjuring bolt’. </p><p></p><p> Fortunately Hap had made her way back into the fray, and though the Maralith</p><p>could see her, the orcs could not. She stopped several feet from Griff’s orc and fired </p><p>off a volley of daggers that sent the orc staggering.</p><p></p><p> At the same time, Taklinn was busy with a little wet work himself. He had been</p><p>struck again by the two orcs still bent on his death, but he refused to back off. With </p><p>a mighty bellow he brought his axe around, gutting the first orc and cleaving into</p><p>the second. Already wounded from my spells, neither orc was up to the task of</p><p>living through Taklinn’s attacks, and the second one dropped as well, giving him </p><p>some much needed breathing room. </p><p></p><p> Griff saw the orc that Hap had wounded draw back his axe for a swing at him, and</p><p>he turned his attention to the foe. Perhaps the Maralith had skin thick enough to</p><p>ward off his blows, but not so the orc, for Griff’s blade cut deep and the orc sagged, </p><p>dropping his axe and falling to the floor before he could finish his swing. Griff</p><p>continued the arc of his sword, hitting the Maralith again, though I noticed that </p><p>there was little force behind it. </p><p></p><p> The Major and Hap double teamed the final orc, each of them drawing blood, still</p><p>hitting it even as it crashed to the floor. </p><p></p><p> The Maralith scanned the area. With the four orcs dead, she did not seem so sure</p><p>of her victory now, but she hardly looked afraid either. It was easy to see that Griff</p><p>was barely able to keep his feet after the beating she had given him, and the Major </p><p>was in an even worse way, practically reduced to supporting himself with his</p><p>swords, using them as crutches to keep from falling. She ignored Hap, knowing full</p><p>well that as long as she could keep the little rogue in sight she offered no serious </p><p>threat. The Maralith shifted her eyes from Griff to the Major, as if deciding which</p><p>one of them she would slay first, and I had little doubt that she could do just that. </p><p></p><p> I gritted my teeth and knew that I could not let her slay one of my crew. With a </p><p>leap, I took to the air, flying hard straight for her, waving my arms and screaming at</p><p>the top of my lungs. </p><p></p><p> “Come on, you four armed freak!” I cried, “You haven’t even scratched me! I </p><p>thought you demons were tough! What’s the matter, afraid of a Halfling?” At the</p><p>last possible moment I hit her with a ‘disintegrate’, but, of course, it fizzled against</p><p>her resistance. </p><p></p><p> But my true strategy had worked, for I had defiantly caught her attention. With a</p><p>bemused and twisted grin, she ignored Griff and the Major, and I steeled myself for</p><p>whatever she was going to throw at me. </p><p></p><p> Her ‘blade barrier’ swept across the room and I dodged franticly as whirling steel</p><p>suddenly seemed to erupt all around me. I was fortunate to get out of the way as the</p><p>wall of flashing blades bisected the room, and I breathed a relieved sigh, knowing </p><p>that I’d not only been lucky, but that I’d bought my friends some much needed</p><p>time.</p><p></p><p> The Major refused to give in to the magic’s that sapped his bodies strength. As </p><p>long as he stood, he would fight, and with that philosophy firmly in mind, he threw</p><p>himself at her again, his swords trying vainly to pierce her hide, only to be drained</p><p>more and more with each hit. At last, the Major slumped to the floor, utterly </p><p>without the strength even to stand.</p><p></p><p> Things still looked bad. The Major was down, and Griff was weakened, but</p><p>Taklinn still had a trick up his sleeve. </p><p></p><p> “Stop!” He cried in a voice that shook the walls. I felt the power of the spell that</p><p>accompanied his command, and I saw the horror in the eyes of the Maralith as she</p><p>tried to resist it and failed! Her three swords fell from her grasp and she seemed to </p><p>stagger, disorientated and unable to react to her own body’s commands. </p><p></p><p> It was the opportunity we needed, and a golden one for Happy at that! Hap’s</p><p>daggers looked like a beam of steel as she set them loose, two of them slamming </p><p>home and extracting a terrible toll on the Maralith. Griff followed her example,</p><p>swinging around in his two-handed style, chopping deeply into demonic flesh and</p><p>bone. The Maralith slithered one way, then the next, pain and rage boiling in her </p><p>eyes, but it was too late for her. With a heavy crash she toppled from the</p><p>sarcophagus and fell to the stone floor, dead. </p><p> </p><p> Griff stumbled backwards like a drunken sailor, nearly falling. He was bleeding</p><p>from a dozen places, and Happy raced to his side to prop him up. He wiped blood</p><p>from his eyes with the back of his hand and looked around, his sword still gripped </p><p>in his hand.</p><p> </p><p> “Everybody still alive?” he asked.</p><p></p><p> “It would appear so,” Taklinn said, “Though it looks as if the Major took more</p><p>than his fair share of that fight.” He moved to Major Throst’s side and knelt beside </p><p>him. The Major did not even have the strength to roll over onto his back. His lips</p><p>barely moved, but no sound came out, and his eyes struggled to remain open as </p><p>Taklinn laid a gentle hand on his forehead. </p><p></p><p> “He’s been sapped of all strength.” Taklinn announced, “I believe that the</p><p>demoness and her lot were under the protection of an ‘unholy aura’, a nasty bit of </p><p>magic, that. I can feel my own muscles aren’t what they were at the top of the fight,</p><p>and I’m betting you’d say the same, Griff. With every hit we made on these</p><p>buggers, the magic of the ‘aura’ drained us. We got lucky. Things could have gone </p><p>a lot worse.”</p><p></p><p> “Will he be okay?” Happy asked curiously, looking at the Major.</p><p> </p><p> “Aye, I can help him. Give me a moment.” Taklinn concentrated and grasped his </p><p>holy symbol as he laid his hand on the Major again. Throst’s body, barely able to</p><p>generate enough strength to work its own lungs, seemed to revive by leaps and</p><p>bounds as the power of Clangeden undid the damage caused by the Maralith’s </p><p>magic. As the seconds passed and Taklinn’s lips moved in prayer, strength and</p><p>vitality flowed back into the Major’s body until he was able to sit up, and then</p><p>stand, if a bit shakily. He retrieved his swords from where they had fallen and </p><p>sheathed them, nodding his thanks to Taklinn</p><p></p><p> I made myself useful by scanning the bodies of the fallen for magic, finding a few</p><p>trinkets. In the meantime Happy was scouring the room for any exits, hidden or </p><p>otherwise. When she had searched the room to her satisfaction, she announced that</p><p>this was it, we had come to the end of the line.</p><p></p><p> “Well then,” said Griff, “Lets see what the bitch was guarding.” He waited for </p><p>Hap to check the sarcophagus for traps, and when she gave the all clear, he and</p><p>Taklinn put their shoulders to the lid and slid it aside. </p><p></p><p> The five of us peered over the lip of the stone coffin at the mummified remains of </p><p>still more Himrock orc nobility. This one, most likely a male, lay in eternal repose,</p><p>wrapped in funeral linens, smelling faintly of spice and rot. Its hands were clasped</p><p>across its chest, and within them it held a book. </p><p></p><p> We waited while Hap looked closely, not touching, but examining every inch of</p><p>the book, the corpse, and the interior of the coffin. “I don’t see any traps,” she said,</p><p>“But its hard to tell. That, and I wouldn’t rule out contact poison.” </p><p></p><p> “And me without an ‘unseen servant’ prepared.” I said pointedly to Hap. She</p><p>rolled her eyes at me, then looked at Griff who grimaced but said nothing.</p><p></p><p> “Oh, all right!” she said, and muttered a few words that invoked her own ‘unseen </p><p>servant. We all backed away as she commanded her servant to fetch the book,</p><p>which it did with no fanfare. I held out my hands, draped in protective cloth, and</p><p>she had the servant give it to me. </p><p></p><p> I took it with the same awe with which I regard all ancient tomes and books. It</p><p>was heavy and leather bound and without title. The only feature I could see on its</p><p>cover was a stain of some silvery substance that had long ago been splashed across </p><p>it. Looking closer at the stain, I deduced that it was dried blood, though not that of</p><p>any mortal. No, this was the blood of a celestial, and I wondered at its origin. </p><p></p><p> I was eager to open the book and delve into its contents, but of course I did not. </p><p>Flipping through its pages without first checking it for magical wards and traps</p><p>would be a sure recipe for disaster, as any first year mage can tell you. Instead, I</p><p>reverently wrapped the tome in cloth and summoned my box from Clangeden. I </p><p>placed it inside and dismissed the trunk, sure that it was the safest place for it. </p><p></p><p> “Good enough,” Griff said, spitting some blood onto the floor, “Are we done?</p><p>Can we go now?” </p><p></p><p> “I don’t see why not,” I said, “Shall I try a teleport?”</p><p></p><p> We gathered and joined hands, eager to be out of the Himrock tomb, but alas, it</p><p>would not be so simple, for, as I had theorized in my earlier argument with Taklinn,</p><p>the nature of the pyramid’s protective magic’s would allow neither entry nor exit </p><p>via teleport, and my spell was cast with no result at all. We would have to make out</p><p>way back to the point in the woods where we had first appeared. </p><p></p><p> Fortunately we now knew where the traps in the pyramid were located and how to</p><p>navigate them, and we had slain all guardians on our way up. We made our way to</p><p>the exit unmolested and began our trek back through the woods. Our luck held, and </p><p>we met not a soul on our way, and within an hour we had reached the grove we had</p><p>first teleported to. I cast, and soon we stood again on Academy grounds.</p><p></p><p> “I’m taking the book to Yigil and Nivin,” I announced, “You’re welcome to come </p><p>if you want, though I doubt we’ll get too many answers this early in the game. The</p><p>book will need to be thoroughly cleaned of wards and traps first, which could take a</p><p>day or two.” </p><p></p><p> “Fine with me,” Griff said, “I could use a drink!” He and Hap promised to meet</p><p>with us later in our Academy apartments for a full report, then they headed for the</p><p>gates to find a watering hole. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn and the Major joined me as I headed for Nivin’s office. His secretary</p><p>admitted us immediately and the sage greeted us warmly as we entered. </p><p></p><p> “You have returned,” he smiled, “And in the flesh. I trust all is well?” </p><p></p><p> “It is.” I replied. “Our mission is accomplished. Is Yigil available?”</p><p></p><p> “He is already on his way. I expect him momentarily. </p><p> </p><p> Indeed, even as the words left Nivin’s mouth, the doors to his office swung open </p><p>and Yigil strode in, excitement showing in his eyes. </p><p></p><p> “You have it?” </p><p></p><p> “I believe we do,” I said, “Though I haven’t dared to open it. I figured to await </p><p>your expertise before doing so.”</p><p></p><p> “A wise choice,” Yigil said with a wry smile. “Well, lets have a look, shall we?”</p><p></p><p> And so it was that I called upon my trunk again. Its appearance was cause for </p><p>admiration in the eyes of both Yigil and Nivin who looked at me questioningly. </p><p></p><p> “A gift from Clangeden.” I explained. </p><p></p><p> I brought forth the book from the trunk and gingerly unwrapped it from its </p><p>protective cloth, holding it out to Yigil who took it with great care. The old mage</p><p>examined it closely, being careful not to open it. His fingers traced the bindings and</p><p>he appeared satisfied. </p><p></p><p> “This is it.” He announced. “You have done well. Have you any idea what this</p><p>stain on the cover might be?”</p><p></p><p> “I think it may be the blood of a celestial,” I answered, “Though I could be </p><p>wrong.”</p><p></p><p> “No, I do not believe you are.” Yigil said. “If only these leather covers could talk.</p><p>I would be interested to know how such a stain came to be.” </p><p></p><p> “When will we know something?” Taklinn asked, as always, getting directly to</p><p>the point.”</p><p></p><p> “I fear it will take several days, my friend.” Yigil replied. “We must be sure that </p><p>we have stripped it of protective magic’s before we even dare open it, and then</p><p>there will be the matter of scouring its contents for information pertinent to our</p><p>plans. I must assume at least a week, perhaps longer. Rest assured though, your </p><p>crew will be high on the list of the first to know as soon as we uncover any</p><p>information. May I suggest that you assume the best, that we shall find what we are</p><p>looking for and be ready to send you on your next mission within no more than two </p><p>weeks. Stay close and prepare as best you can, for if my suspicions are correct, you</p><p>will soon be off to Edik to face Illugi there.”</p><p> </p><p> “Then I will await your summons.” Taklinn said. “Clangeden’s strength guide </p><p>you.” With that, he turned on his heel and departed. </p><p> </p><p> “I’ll do the same,” I said, “Though I have a bit of crafting to do. Shouldn’t take</p><p>much time, and when I’m through I’d be interested in helping you with the research</p><p>of the book if you’ll have me.” </p><p></p><p> “Of course!” Yigil replied. “You know where to find me.” </p><p> </p><p> The Major and I left Nivin’s office and headed back into the Academy. I could </p><p>tell that the Major was still at less than full strength, but I said nothing. He is a</p><p>proud man, and I knew that any show of weakness left a bitter taste in his mouth. </p><p> </p><p> I left the Major and headed for my apartment. Even though I was still weary from</p><p>the recent battles and exploration I had much to do to prepare and I am not one to</p><p>waste time. Also I was eager to be at my journal while the events were still fresh in </p><p>my mind.</p><p></p><p> Some hours later I was paid a visit by Taklinn who had it in mind that he wished</p><p>an item crafted. His desire is for a periapt of wisdom crafted in the form of a belt, </p><p>and after discussing it for awhile it was decided that it could be done, though the</p><p>crafting process will have to take place on Edik due to our time constraints. I am</p><p>loathe to leave Havilah, even for the three days that will pass here, but this project </p><p>seems of great importance to him, and I feel that I owe him this favor after our</p><p>recent disagreement. I fear that a trip to Edik may be ill advised, given the nature of</p><p>our current quest to destroy Illugi and the fact that the deity has such a strong grip </p><p>there, but I have weighed the risks carefully and have decided that it is worth it. We</p><p>must simply be wary and keep an escape spell handy at all times. </p><p></p><p> We will depart in the morning. </p><p></p><p></p><p> Rdyr’t 11 </p><p> </p><p> Taklinn and I ‘plane shifted’ to Edik on the morning of the 9th after I had analyzed</p><p>the treasures we had recovered from our enemies in the pyramid and let the rest of </p><p>our crew know where we were headed. Hap and Griff set out for their home in Ester</p><p>the same day while the Major said that he would remain in Havilah. They bid us</p><p>farewell and we were off. </p><p></p><p> It is now, of course, the 11th of Readyrea’t in Havilah and we have returned</p><p>unscathed after a month spent in Edik. </p><p></p><p> The landscape on Edik tells a terrible tale, one that is progressing swiftly. It is </p><p>barren there; and the earth will support no life as far as we could see. Pathetic scrub</p><p>grass struggles to survive in parched soil, and it rained not a drop during our entire</p><p>time there. We spent our month cloistered within my mansion, but we still stepped </p><p>outside from time to time for a breath of fresh air, though the air on Edik could</p><p>hardly be called fresh. There is a foulness there the likes of which I do not</p><p>remember, even from my last visit, as if the evil of Illugi is fast spreading across the </p><p>land, leaving ruin in its wake. </p><p></p><p> It was a harsh reminder that the time differential between our two worlds has</p><p>worked against us as well as in my own favor, for while months have passed for us </p><p>since the defeat of Melesandre, years have come and gone on Edik; years in which</p><p>Illugi has recovered from the loss of Melesandre and gathered his forces again. We</p><p>were far from any civilization and saw not a soul, but I can only imagine the forces </p><p>of yuan-ti and drider and other abominations he has called to serve him, and it was</p><p>depressing to think of the relative swiftness (at least by Havilah time) with which he</p><p>has rallied from the blow we dealt him. </p><p></p><p> On a more positive note, Taklinn’s belt is complete and he seems quite happy</p><p>with it. It was far from inexpensive and it cost him a fair share of his own essence,</p><p>but, like my hat, it will provide him with a considerable boost to his magical and </p><p>divine powers. A worthy trade off, no doubt.</p><p></p><p> It was also pleasant to spend an extended length of time with only Taklinn for</p><p>company, and we spent many fine nights beside the mellow fire retelling tales of</p><p>our journeys and trading philosophical ideals. Taklinn is far more than axe and </p><p>armor; he is far more than a holy symbol as well. I have met my share of priests, but</p><p>Taklinn has reached a point where he shines with an inner light I have not seen in </p><p>any other holy man. I wonder if there will come a day when his word will be</p><p>considered canon to his faith. It would hardly surprise me, for even without his new</p><p>belt, he speaks with a simple wisdom that is undeniable, if perhaps a bit slanted. </p><p> </p><p> Yigil has successfully cleansed Melesandre’s tome of its wards and tells me that</p><p>he will begin his research into its contents tomorrow and has invited me to aid him. </p><p>I am very excited at the prospect of gaining such knowledge, though he has</p><p>cautioned me that much madness may be contained therein. We will have to tread</p><p>lightly, least we suffer the megalomania of Melesandre as well. Between Yigil, </p><p>Nivin and I, we intend to check and balance each other, and I believe that we will</p><p>succeed. </p><p> </p><p></p><p> Rdyr’t 20</p><p> </p><p> Our research is complete and our plan is made. Tomorrow we depart for Edik to</p><p>deal with Illugi, or at least Illugi’s avatar.</p><p></p><p> Yigil, Nivin and I have spent the last long days deep in study of Melesandre’s </p><p>book, scouring it for clues as to the nature of Illugi and how he can be brought</p><p>down. In the end, we have discovered that we probably cannot slay him entirely (he</p><p>is an immortal, after all), but we believe we can eject him from Edik and thereby </p><p>close his door to Havilah as well.</p><p> </p><p> Nivin and Yigil summoned us to Nivin’s office this afternoon. All of us have been</p><p>in the city for the past couple of days, shopping, having things made, and generally </p><p>making ready as best we can for whatever we are to face. We assembled in Nivin’s</p><p>office to learn what secrets we could and formulate a plan.</p><p></p><p> Nivin was seated behind his desk while Yigil paced the room. Melesandre’s book </p><p>sat on the desk, and my eyes kept returning to it as Yigil spoke.</p><p></p><p> “We have learned much from the tome,” He began, “Though unfortunately we</p><p>find it not only written in the style of a woman possessed by delusions of grandeur, </p><p>but somewhat incomplete as well. Still, we believe that we have pieced together</p><p>enough information to justify an assault on Illugi.”</p><p></p><p> “Melesandre refers to her dark master again and again as He Who Returns Again, </p><p>and infers many times that he enjoys the struggle for power as much as the power</p><p>itself. We can gather that he is a dark, intelligent and creative being who delights in</p><p>conquest and pain. He is known on many worlds, usually as the god of serpents and </p><p>arachnids. On some of those worlds he is still young and struggles to gain a grip on</p><p>even a small amount of the populace, but on others, he rules supreme.”</p><p></p><p> “Illugi seeks always to expand his rule. He is patient and cunning, finding gates </p><p>that lead from one world to the next, and insinuating himself there, always with an</p><p>eye toward his next conquest. For some reason that we have yet to ascertain, he</p><p>seems to bare a particular grudge against Havilah and her people, perhaps because </p><p>we have thwarted him again and again. Whatever the case may be, he seeks to</p><p>conquer our world at all costs.”</p><p></p><p> “Edik is his stronghold and his doorway to Havilah. We cannot close the door to </p><p>us, but if we can force him out of Edik, we believe we can close the gate there,</p><p>which would free not only our world, but Edik as well.”</p><p></p><p> “As you know, Illugi is attempting to make headway into Havilah via the </p><p>Himrock orcs who have taken to his worship with a vengeance, and we believe that</p><p>he has taken many of them to Edik to further expand his troops. We have,</p><p>unfortunately, allowed him years of Edik time to prepare, and we can only conclude</p><p>that his army of yuan-ti, driders and Himrocks must number in the tens of </p><p>thousands. Once he masters the art of shipping them here en mass, we may be</p><p>looking at a force that will make Melesandre’s army look small by comparison, and </p><p>without the weak spot that her undead minions possessed.”</p><p></p><p> Yigil paused to let all of this sink in. “Haven’t you got any good news?” Happy</p><p>quipped. </p><p></p><p> “A bit,” Yigil said with a thin smile, “But first I’m afraid there is still more bad</p><p>news.”</p><p> </p><p> Happy groaned. </p><p></p><p> “For one thing,” Yigil continued, “He knows we’re coming. Keeping our plans</p><p>from him has always been difficult, and we have always been proactive in dealing</p><p>with him. He may not know exactly when, where and how we will strike, but rest </p><p>assured that he expects us.”</p><p></p><p> “On yet another sour note, he is not without allies. We have great reason to</p><p>suspect that Scylla has thrown her lot in with him.” </p><p></p><p> “I knew it!” Griff spat, “I knew we should have done that wench in when we had</p><p>the chance!”</p><p></p><p> “Damn right!” Happy agreed with a frown. </p><p></p><p> “Be that as it may,” Yigil said, “After her split with the Band of the Broken</p><p>Blade, she rejected the Academy entirely and began to forge many unsavory</p><p>contacts in the court of the Himrock orcs. One guess is that she desires to rule them </p><p>after they sweep over Havilah. This is, of course, only a hypothesis, but whatever</p><p>the case may be, we have to assume that she means none of us any good and that</p><p>you may encounter her.” </p><p></p><p> “It’ll be the last time we encounter her, I can tell you that!” Griff muttered.</p><p></p><p> “There is also the matter of Sensesi.” Yigil said.</p><p></p><p> “Oh no! Not her as well!” moaned Hap. </p><p></p><p> “I’m afraid so,” Yigil replied, “Though perhaps not in the capacity you might</p><p>think. I’m afraid Nivin and I have a small confession to make. We haven’t told you</p><p>this yet, given your prejudice against her, but after you freed her she contacted </p><p>Nivin and expressed a desire for revenge against Illugi for his having controlled not</p><p>only her, but a nation of yuan-ti as well. She claims to blame him for the deaths of</p><p>her family and friends, and wishes to see him fall. To that end, it was she who told </p><p>us of Melesandre’s book and where we could find it. She also revealed many of the</p><p>steps and components we must accomplish to defeat the deity.”</p><p></p><p> Taklinn frowned. “What makes you think she can be trusted?” </p><p></p><p> Nivin answered this question. “I fear we have little choice, Taklinn.” He said,</p><p>“Thus far her information has been sound, and though this could all be an elaborate</p><p>trap, we have nothing else to go on. Our only alternative is to wait for Illugi to come </p><p>to us, and though Havilah is well on its way to recovery, we are far from being</p><p>strong enough to withstand a force that has had years to prepare. I believe Major</p><p>Throst would agree with me on that.” </p><p></p><p> The Major slowly nodded his head. “Our military is well trained and armed,” he</p><p>said, “But it’s in no condition to take on an army like the one you’re talking about.”</p><p></p><p> “Yes,” Yigil said, “We have decided to chance the sincerity of Sensesi, with </p><p>plenty of caution, of course. We feel that Havilah has not much choice but to do</p><p>so.”</p><p></p><p> “And where is the snake now?” I asked. </p><p></p><p> “Ah, that is a good question.” Yigil replied. “She has disappeared some time ago.</p><p>All attempts to scry her or otherwise contact her have failed. We fear that she may</p><p>have been taken by agents of Illugi back to Edik, beyond the scope of our </p><p>divinations. “</p><p></p><p> “Humph,” I muttered, crossing my arms, “I truly do not like acting on information</p><p>provided by that creature. I just don’t trust her.”</p><p></p><p> “You can say that again!” Hap added. </p><p></p><p> “Be that as it may, our alternatives are few.” Yigil said. “And she, as well as the</p><p>book, have provided us with a strategy which we deem sound. We would not send </p><p>you on a suicide mission, my friends. We believe that this can be done.”</p><p></p><p> “So what is it then?” Griff asked, getting to the point, “What do we have to do?”</p><p></p><p> Yigil picked up the book, flipping through several pages until he came to a crude </p><p>drawing of the temple in which we had recovered the orb that allowed mass transit</p><p>between the Edik and Havilah. “The secret lies in his temple,” he said, “He gathers</p><p>much of his power from the tortured souls imprisoned there, and it must be </p><p>destroyed from the inside out. The souls, including those of several Havilah crew</p><p>members, are held there via the effects of a powerful ‘soul bind’. We believe, and</p><p>the book seems to verify this, that the strategic placement of a few ‘Mordenkainen’s </p><p>disjunctions’ will dispel the powerful magic’s that harness these souls, though it</p><p>will also unleash a guardian the likes of which you have not faced before.”</p><p></p><p> “Oh yeah,” Griff said, “Like what?” </p><p></p><p> “Like Illugi’s avatar.” Yigil answered somberly.</p><p></p><p> “Great cats!” Taklinn exclaimed. “You can’t be serious!”</p><p> </p><p> “I’m afraid I am. Illugi’s presence on Edik is represented by his avatar, and the </p><p>freeing of the souls bound within his temple will surely draw his ire and summon</p><p>that avatar to halt such an incursion.”</p><p></p><p> “Whatever,” Griff said, “If it bleeds, I’ll kill it.” </p><p></p><p> “Well,” Yigil chuckled, “It certainly bleeds. His avatar is the physical</p><p>manifestation of Illugi on Edik, and like any avatar, it is subject to most physical</p><p>laws, including those of the blade. However, I cannot stress enough how dangerous </p><p>this fight will be!”</p><p></p><p> “Wait a minute,” I interrupted, “You said we need to cast a ‘disjunction’ in the</p><p>temple?” </p><p></p><p> “Yes,” Yigil replied, “Probably more than one.”</p><p></p><p> “How do you intend for us to do that?” I asked. “I have yet to master ninth circle</p><p>spells, even though its one that I’ve been studying.” </p><p></p><p> “True,” Yigil smiled, “But I believe that your breakthrough is closer than you</p><p>think, Doorag. You are one of the most able wizards Havilah has ever known, and it</p><p>is my belief that you will soon master the most powerful of dweomers, including </p><p>the ‘disjunction’. But even if you do not by the time you gain access to the inner</p><p>temple, I believe that you will still have a fair chance to cast the spell from my own</p><p>scrolls which I will provide you with.” </p><p></p><p> I looked at him doubtfully. “You think so?”</p><p></p><p> “I do.” He said. </p><p> </p><p> “For all our sakes, I hope you’re right.” I mumbled, not at all pleased to have had</p><p>the cornerstone of this operation placed on my shoulders. </p><p></p><p> “Don’t worry about it, lad!” Taklinn said with a wink, “You’ll do fine. You’ve </p><p>never let us down yet, have you?”</p><p></p><p> “Well, there was that one time…” Happy started, but she thought better of</p><p>continuing her tale as Taklinn shot her a withering glare. </p><p></p><p> Griff got us back on track. “Okay, so we get Doorag into the temple and he casts</p><p>the discombobulate or whatever the hell it is and then we kill the avatar. That’ll seal</p><p>off Illugi from Edik?” </p><p> </p><p> “Theoretically, yes.” Yigil nodded. “Without the power of the trapped souls in the</p><p>temple to draw from, we believe that he will be unable to re insinuate himself into</p><p>Edik. Once that has been accomplished I highly doubt that the current alliance </p><p>among drider, yuan-ti and Himrock orc will stand. Even if it does, they will have no</p><p>way to reach Havilah without the power of Illugi behind them. Either way, our job</p><p>will have been done.” </p><p></p><p> “So what’s the plan then?” Griff asked, “What? We blip over there, teleport into</p><p>the temple, cast and kill? Is that it?” </p><p></p><p> “Not quite, Griffin, my friend,” Nivin answered for Yigil. “The course of time on</p><p>Edik, coupled with the contamination of Illugi, has drastically altered much of the</p><p>architecture of Anvie city. You will see for yourselves when you get there, but </p><p>believe me when I say that it is highly unlikely that the temple you remember has</p><p>not undergone a dramatic change. Everything from the floor plan to the exact</p><p>location has shifted considerably. Not only that, but Illugi will have certainly taken </p><p>precautions against such intrusions. It is simply too easy to seal off an area, what</p><p>with ‘dimensional locks’ and so forth. No, I fear that a more direct assault must be</p><p>applied.” </p><p></p><p> “To that end,” Yigil continued, “We have devised a plan. It is dangerous, but we</p><p>believe it will give us the best chance of success.”</p><p></p><p> Griff looked at the pair doubtfully, unwilling to put his trust in sages and mages, </p><p>especially concerning a military endeavor. “I’m listening.” He said.</p><p></p><p> Yigil poured himself a glass of wine. “Before I speak of this plan, let it be</p><p>understood that talk of this goes no further than this room. I have used many </p><p>magic’s to ensure the security of this office, but I must caution against any loose</p><p>talk outside these walls. Our only hope is to hit hard and fast and to take their forces</p><p>by as much surprise as we can. If word of our plan reaches the ears of Illugi’s </p><p>informants, we will likely be doomed before we can even start. Is that clear?”</p><p></p><p> “Of course.” The Major answered for all of us, though there was nodding of heads</p><p>all around. </p><p></p><p> Yigil looked at each of us in turn until he seemed satisfied. “Nivin,” he said,</p><p>turning to the sage, “I’ll turn it over to you since you have been most in contact </p><p>with the military on this thing.”</p><p></p><p> “Thank you,” Nivin said, standing up and polishing his spectacles. He walked</p><p>around to our side of the desk. “Now then,” He began, “You are somewhat familiar </p><p>with the layout of the temple courtyard in Anvie city. While it is true that we dare</p><p>not try to port directly into the temple, we have been able to scry the courtyard</p><p>enough to know that we can attempt to insert a sizable force there. Our plan is to </p><p>have Yigil create a series of ‘gates’ that will lead from the Academy arena directly</p><p>to the courtyard. A hand picked troop of soldiers, both crew members and Havilah</p><p>soldiers, will enter first to gain a foothold in the courtyard and clear a path for you. </p><p>We expect some resistance, as the courtyard is guarded, but we think that our men</p><p>should be able to handle the bulk of it. You will follow them through and make for</p><p>the temple itself while they secure the courtyard and fend off further attackers. Your </p><p>job will be to gain entry into the temple and find the chamber containing the souls.</p><p>You know the rest.”</p><p></p><p> We looked at Nivin, and then one another for a long moment as we considered the </p><p>plan. </p><p></p><p> “Do these hand picked guys know where they’re going?” Griff asked. “Sounds</p><p>like it might be a suicide mission for a lot of them.” </p><p></p><p> “As Yigil has already said, security is paramount. We have told none of them</p><p>their true destination, only that it is an extremely dangerous mission of utmost</p><p>importance.” </p><p></p><p> “That stinks.” Griff growled, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. “I</p><p>don’t like sending men in ahead of us that don’t even know what they’re getting</p><p>themselves into.” </p><p></p><p> Major Throst answered for Nivin. “They are soldiers.” He said simply. “Theirs is</p><p>not to know or reason why. It is enough to serve for the honor of the kingdom.</p><p>Besides, this is what soldiers do. They know the risks when they enter the service.”</p><p></p><p> “Whatever.” Griff replied evenly. </p><p></p><p> “I have a question.” I cut in. “What happens to them when the rest of Illugi’s</p><p>troops get wind of what’s going on and rally a huge force? Won’t they be crushed?” </p><p></p><p> “Not necessarily,” Nivin said, “For one thing not all of Illugi’s forces are</p><p>contained in Anvie. Indeed, much of his army is spread out over his empire to keep</p><p>order, though we believe he can mobilize them for an assault on Havilah fairly </p><p>quickly when he deems the time right. Also, we know that, while they are allies, the</p><p>chain of command among Illugi’s forces will not always agree with one another.</p><p>We have seen examples of infighting between drider troops and Himrocks, and that </p><p>sort of thing. We have good reason to hope that their diversity and chaotic natures</p><p>will slow them down a bit. If it looks like a no win situation we will do what we can</p><p>to pull them out, just so long as you are able to get into the temple.” </p><p></p><p> Griff frowned. “I dunno. It still sounds half baked to me.”</p><p></p><p> Nivin raised an eyebrow toward our warrior. “I am open to suggestions, Griff.”</p><p>He said. </p><p> </p><p> Griff scowled but said nothing. Truth be told, I was not terribly keen on the plan</p><p>either, but I could think of nothing better.</p><p></p><p> “What can you tell us about this avatar of Illugi’s?” Taklinn asked. “Know yer </p><p>enemy, and all.”</p><p></p><p> Yigil fielded this line of questioning. “This much I can tell you: do not, under any</p><p>circumstances, touch him with your bare hand. You can expect your life essence to </p><p>be drained if you do. You can also expect him to be highly resistant to damage and</p><p>magic. He is also known for a fondness for summoning dweomers. Beyond that, we</p><p>know little.” </p><p></p><p> Happy shifted in her chair, obviously getting antsy and bored with all this talk.</p><p>“So when do we go?” She sighed. </p><p></p><p> “In the morning.” Nivin replied. “Get yourselves ready and meet on the Academy </p><p>arena grounds at sun up.”</p><p> </p><p> “Are there any more questions?” Yigil asked.</p><p></p><p> There were more questions, and Yigil and Nivin patiently answered them all as </p><p>best they could. Finally there was nothing to do but depart and gear up for our</p><p>mission.</p><p> </p><p></p><p> Rdyr’t 22</p><p></p><p> The things I have seen today could fill an entire journal. Where to even begin? </p><p>How to even capture with words the events of the last hours? </p><p></p><p> Imagine a heavy sigh here, gentle reader, for any who have followed my tale from</p><p>it’s beginning will certainly wail with grief and cheer with joy, as I did, when I </p><p>relate the ups and downs we have suffered today. </p><p></p><p> ***</p><p></p><p> We met on the arena field at sun up, as instructed. Nivin and Yigil were already</p><p>there waiting. At first, it was just the seven of us. </p><p></p><p> “So where is this crack team that’s supposed to beat a path for us?” Griff asked. </p><p></p><p> “Soon,” Yigil smiled, “Soon.” He closed his eyes and concentrated, as if feeling</p><p>for something with his mind. I saw his lips move and form a single word: “Now.” </p><p></p><p> At his utterance the half dozen doors that lined the arena walls burst open and out</p><p>poured a stream of men and women, marching in double time toward the center of</p><p>the arena where we stood. I stared in awe at this show of force, for this was truly </p><p>Havilah’s finest. Crew member marched alongside soldier as they formed</p><p>formations and joined, lining up in neat rows near us. At a quick count I reckoned</p><p>nearly two-hundred fighters, all of them geared up and ready for a fight. Swords,</p><p>axes, pole arms, bows and cross bows were all held at the ready, and I could see in </p><p>the face of every warrior there a grim readiness to fight and die in the name of</p><p>Havilah. My heart swelled with pride and I vowed to see as many of them as </p><p>possible return to the city they loved. </p><p></p><p> “Quickly!” Nivin commanded, even as officers formed their warriors into groups,</p><p>“There is little time! We must give them no chance to prepare! Yigil, now!” </p><p></p><p> But Yigil was already casting. He unrolled a scroll and quickly rattled off its</p><p>incantation, and even as the paper burned away, a large extra planar ‘gate opened</p><p>quite near me. Looking through, I gasped, for I was able to see the courtyard of the </p><p>temple in Edik!</p><p></p><p> “Snake Skinners! White Skulls! Through!” I heard commanders call to their</p><p>troops, and immediately an organized charge of warriors made for the ‘gate’. </p><p>Without hesitation, they leapt through and into Edik.</p><p></p><p> Yigil was already casting again, and then a third time. Two more ‘gates opened,</p><p>and more of Havilah’s finest streamed through, and by now we could already hear </p><p>the sounds of combat issuing forth from the other side. I glanced at Griff and saw</p><p>that he already gripped his sword, barely containing himself from jumping through.</p><p></p><p> Yigil cast a fourth ‘gate’ and the last of our troops ran into Edik. There would be </p><p>no more holding back for our fighters. Griff, Taklinn and the Major took off at a</p><p>dead run, leaping through the gates and into Edik. I took to the air and flew in after</p><p>them with Happy hot at my heels. </p><p></p><p> The next thing I knew, I was back on Edik with all hell breaking loose around me.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Cries, grunts, the clashes of steel on steel, and the screams of the dieing assailed </p><p>me. An arrow flew a little too close overhead as I tried to get my bearings. </p><p></p><p> In front of me stood Taklinn, and I could already hear him chanting the prayer to</p><p>his ‘holy word’ spell. His great shout seemed to shake the stone foundations of the </p><p>temple courtyard, and I saw several yuan-ti and a drider freeze in their tracks,</p><p>paralyzed.</p><p></p><p> I shot into the air to get a better view of what was going on, and soon ascertained </p><p>that our soldiers were entrenched in brutal combat with dozens upon dozens of</p><p>yuan-ti, drider, and a squad of himrock orcs. Griff and the Major were already toe</p><p>to toe with a pair of driders, and I was more than likely the only one who saw an </p><p>invisible Happy sneaking around for a shot at Griff’s drider. As for me, I quickly</p><p>zeroed in on a spot where Illugi’s forces were the most dense, and I hit the lot of</p><p>them with a ‘horrid wilting’, wounding several and dropping more outright. I swung </p><p>around, skimming low over the heads of the combatants, seeing Taklinn charge into</p><p>a drider, axe swinging even as the drider launched a ‘lightning bolt’ at him. Taklinn</p><p>soaked it up and shook off the charge of electricity with a grin, slamming home </p><p>with his axe and bringing the drider to its knees. </p><p></p><p> We were all busy for those first seconds as the crew beat down three drider and</p><p>several yuan-ti and himrocks, but finally we regrouped as I pointed at the obsidian </p><p>slate door of the now-oddly shaped temple a few hundred feet away. </p><p></p><p> “There!” I shouted above the chaos of battle, “We have to get to the temple!”</p><p></p><p> “I think those guys might have something to say about that.” Griff said evenly, </p><p>nodding at the temple. I looked again and saw them, seven of the nastiest looking</p><p>himrock orcs I’d ever seen, coming out of the now open temple door. They stepped</p><p>into the courtyard as if they owned it, their course hair bristling. Most of them </p><p>carried evil looking great axes, but it was the three that carried no weapons at all</p><p>that I was most worried about, and I could already see the distinctive sheen of</p><p>malevolent magic on them. </p><p></p><p> They strided several yards into the courtyard, looking around, but ignoring our</p><p>troops for the most part. Then, they spotted us. One of them raised a finger and</p><p>roared out a challenge. They began to walk toward us, fanning out as they did so. </p><p></p><p> Suddenly, a streak of lightning leapt at us, striking Taklinn and branching out to at</p><p>the rest of us. But Taklinn had already cast a ‘holy aura’ that provided us with </p><p>substantial protections from magic. Ironically, Taklinn was the only one other than</p><p>Griff to feel the bite of the spell.</p><p></p><p> I answered with a ‘horrid wilting’ upon them all, but knew then the same </p><p>frustration that the enemy spellcaster must have felt, for I could tell that my most</p><p>powerful dweomer affected only one of them. The rest ignored it via the resistance</p><p>given them by an ‘unholy aura’. Though I felt sure that I had hurt the one I did </p><p>affect, it enraged me to have been unable to penetrate the rest of them. </p><p></p><p> Griff was moving, with Happy, like a shadow, invisible again, keeping pace. She</p><p>peeled off at the last second, as Griff met one of the himrocks head on, the Talon </p><p>singing as it sliced through the air and then armor and flesh, knocking the orc off its</p><p>feet. </p><p></p><p> Major Throst hit their opposite flank, dodging past two warrior orcs to get at a </p><p>spellcaster, piercing him in the side and quickly setting up for another round of his</p><p>dizzying short sword work.</p><p></p><p> Taklinn, of course, charged straight down their center, colliding with a massive </p><p>orc. The orcs axe glanced off of Taklinn’s plate, throwing sparks, but Taklinn’s</p><p>blade, being made wholly of energy, ignored the orcs armor and cut deep into</p><p>muscle and bone. </p><p></p><p> It was a brutal and dirty fight. With each of our two groups being under the</p><p>affects of both ‘holy’ and ‘unholy’ auras, each hand to hand attack was a gamble. I</p><p>shuddered as I watched Griff or the Major wince as strength drained from them, but </p><p>at the same time, even as an orc slammed Griff with his axe, he immediately fell</p><p>blind, and was reduced to swinging wildly. </p><p></p><p> Major Throst came at the sorcerer from every direction at once with his swords, </p><p>and the caster was dead, I’m sure, before he even knew it. But the warriors had</p><p>caught up with the Major by this time, and one of them waded in, damaging him,</p><p>but being struck blind for his trouble. </p><p></p><p> I was, unfortunately, largely ineffective. A well aimed ‘disintegrate’ was ignored</p><p>by one of the casters, and my ‘chain lightning’ was little more than a nuisance to</p><p>them. I cursed and swore that I would have a few ‘dispel magic’s’ ready for them </p><p>next time!</p><p></p><p> Griff had killed one orc, but the blind one still stood, and despite his inability to</p><p>see, he still managed a lucky shot that sent Griff staggering. This, apparently, was </p><p>unacceptable to Hap, and she immediately filled the orc full of daggers.</p><p></p><p> Taklinn took a hard axe blow to the thigh, but returned three in return, dropping</p><p>the warrior orc, and stepping into a spellcaster, slamming him as well and also </p><p>killing him. </p><p></p><p> Throst parried and thrust, stabbing, slashing, and dancing away from the</p><p>maddened and blinded orc. Griff joined him, and cut high as the Major cut low. The </p><p>orc fell dead. </p><p></p><p> A large orc stood back, still protected by warriors. He held aloft the wicked</p><p>looking symbol of Illugi as he imbued strength upon his allies. I flew upwards for a </p><p>clear shot, and unleashed a volley of my most powerful ‘scorching rays’, but again,</p><p>they were resisted! I was furious at my impotency, and was ready to simply throw</p><p>rocks at the priest, but fortunately, that would not be necessary, for Happy was </p><p>already hurling dagger after dagger into one of them while Griff was hard on</p><p>another. Throst slipped through to hammer away at the priest. The three orcs were</p><p>dead before Taklinn could even reach them to lend his aid. </p><p></p><p> The five of us stood amongst the ruined bodies of the orcs, panting heavily, many</p><p>of us deeply wounded. Both Griff and the Major had taken substantial damage, not</p><p>only to body, but to their strength via the ‘unholy aura’ that had protected their foes. </p><p></p><p> Around us the battle still raged, though it was apparent that our forces were</p><p>gaining a foothold of sorts, driving yuan-ti, drider and orcs toward the enclosed </p><p>courtyards exits, surrounding pockets of resistance and overwhelming them with</p><p>sword and arrow. Taklinn did his best to heal those who needed it most, using</p><p>‘restoration’ on the Major as well as some of his more powerful healing spells to get us </p><p>all back into fighting shape. Griff took a great swallow from his odd potion bottle</p><p>that bore the mark of Clangeden, and seemed immediately not only fully healed, but</p><p>positively bursting with energy and vigor. Happy was visible now, and looked </p><p>quizzically at the temples open door, though only until I began to point out various</p><p>magical goods possessed by the now dead orcish elite that we had slain. She</p><p>grabbed what she could while Taklinn healed, and then the five of us made for the </p><p>door, entering with drawn weapons, ready for anything.</p><p></p><p> The antechamber was round, and was similar, though subtly different from how it</p><p>had been the first time I had been here some ten Edik years since. A spiral stairwell </p><p>rose up from the center of the room while several doors, some familiar, some not,</p><p>studded the curved walls. The things that most caught the attention of first myself</p><p>and Taklinn, and then the rest of the crew after we had pointed them out, were the </p><p>malevolent figures that crouched along a ledge that ran around the interior of the</p><p>room some fifteen feet above the floor. These creatures, not moving and nearly</p><p>statue-like, might have been mistaken for gargoyles by the untrained eye, but I had </p><p>fought gargoyles before, and knew immediately that these were no gargoyles.</p><p>Indeed, had they been, it is probable that Griff, single-handedly, could have swept</p><p>through the lot of them, but I knew from my studies that such would surly not be </p><p>the case, for I recognized them for what they truly were.</p><p></p><p> “Vrock,” I said, letting the word drop slowly as I edged toward a wall near the</p><p>door. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn’s eyes narrowed, for he too knew what they were. “Demons,” he spat,</p><p>“And nasty buggers at that.”</p><p></p><p> “Immune to electricity. Bad bite. Watch the claws, and hit the deck if three of </p><p>them start dancing! They can call up a hell of a magical electrical burst if they get</p><p>together on it.” I recited what I knew about vrock in short, clipped, speech,</p><p>attempting to succinctly give as much information to the crew as I could before the </p><p>inevitable attack. Indeed, while the demons still had moved not a muscle, while</p><p>even their eyes remained fixed straight ahead, we could all feel them watching us,</p><p>coiled to spring, as if waiting for us only to take one too many steps into the </p><p>chamber. “Hit them hard, they’ll resist most of your weapon, and darn near any fire</p><p>or cold you throw at them.” I said all of this while at the same time taking a mental</p><p>inventory of my spell supply and gnashing my teeth inwardly at how many </p><p>electrical, fire and cold based spells I had there. </p><p></p><p> I concentrated, allowing my permanent ‘detect magic’ to scan them, and to my</p><p>horror, I saw that they (there were probably fifteen of them in all) were steadily </p><p>charging up with magic. I could see it pulse through them, growing stronger and</p><p>stronger. This did not bode well, and I said so. </p><p></p><p> “Now,” I cried, “Take them now!” </p><p></p><p> Before the words were even fully out of my mouth Griff and the Major had raised</p><p>and leveled their crossbows at a pair of the vrock and loosed their bolts, both of</p><p>which hit home, piercing the mottled flesh of the demons and for the first time, </p><p>eliciting a response from them. Vrock on all sides of us began to move, flaring their</p><p>small wings and flexing their claw filled hands, ready to leap down amongst us. </p><p></p><p> I let fly with a fireball from my staff at a group of three of them, and while I knew </p><p>they would shrug off most of the damage, I also knew that every small bit could</p><p>help, and the fact was, I simply had no other area spells that would hurt them. Even</p><p>as the fireball engulfed them and exploded, I was moving up, flying into the air,</p><p>hoping to make myself an unattractive target. Vrock were, I recalled, poor fliers. </p><p></p><p> Then they were amongst the land bound crew, dropping from their perches and</p><p>flapping clumsily to land on clawed feet, surrounding my friends. Taklinn </p><p>attempted a spell but four of the vrock fell upon him, clawing and biting, and</p><p>snuffing his spell out through sheer weight and damage. He valiantly fought back</p><p>with his axe, crushing one of them, but more or less swinging in broad arcs, trying </p><p>to buy himself some breathing room.</p><p></p><p> Griff, the Major and Happy could do little to help him, as they all found</p><p>themselves with plenty to do. I saw Griff step into a vrock and cut its head from its </p><p>body as two more of them attempted to gnaw on his legs. He swept into a second</p><p>vrock, killing it as well, and I marveled at the incredible power behind his swing. </p><p></p><p> The Major wounded one, though his light swings were having typical difficulty </p><p>penetrating the inborn damage resistance possessed by these demons, while I rained</p><p>another fireball from above, catching two of them in its midst. </p><p></p><p> The vrock seemed to be everywhere. They moved too fast to keep track of, </p><p>clawing, biting, and releasing small, airborne, pockets of spoors that we all inhaled.</p><p>I prayed that Taklinn would have the cure for whatever hellish disease they surely</p><p>carried. </p><p></p><p> But disease was the least of my worries, for as I scanned the floor below and</p><p>wondered if ‘magic missile’ might not be more effective, I noticed three of the</p><p>vrock standing in a circle near a set of double doors on the west side of the room. </p><p>Hands clasped, they began to caper and prance, jumping about in a manner befitting</p><p>the insane, and I watched in awestruck horror as electricity began to crackle around</p><p>them. </p><p></p><p> Slow seconds passed. Taklinn killed a vrock. Griff killed two. The Major pressed</p><p>his attack. Happy killed one with a flurry of dagger attacks from the shadows of a</p><p>room built into the circle of the antechamber. Still the three vrock danced, even as </p><p>their numbers dwindled. I sought to stop them, to interrupt their vile ritual, and cast</p><p>a ‘finger of death’ at one of them, but my bad luck held, and the demon merely</p><p>looked pained, but never missed a step in it’s ghastly dance. </p><p></p><p> Happy, quite near the trio, must have realized that they were up to no good, and</p><p>she too attempted to remove a link from their chain. She hurled dagger after dagger</p><p>into one of them, yet it survived! Barely standing, yet sneering it’s hideous grin, it </p><p>howled and danced, and great bolts of electricity seemed to shed off of the three,</p><p>sparking and crackling, building up to something very bad indeed. The smell of</p><p>ozone was suddenly sharp in my nostrils. </p><p></p><p> Just then, one of the vrock let out an inhumane screech that jangled my nerves to</p><p>the core. For a brief instant, I could do nothing. My mind was a mass of twisted</p><p>thought, and I could not bring any one of them to bear. I watched numbly as Griff </p><p>slew two more vrock, trying to get to the dancing trio. I watched as Major Throst</p><p>reeled backward, his sword points dipping as he was overcome by the screech as I</p><p>was. I watched Happy draw back her arm for another dagger throw, but the steel </p><p>would never have a chance to leave her hand. </p><p></p><p> As if in slow motion, I saw the room spark and fill with electricity. It emanated</p><p>from the three dancing vrock and mushroomed out to fill every nook of the room, </p><p>clear to its seventy foot ceiling. The bolts of lightning sought to engulf us, and we</p><p>dodged this way and that for a single, desperate, second that seemed to go on</p><p>forever. </p><p></p><p> Then, as suddenly as it had been unleashed, it was gone, and though all of the hair</p><p>upon my body now stood at attention, I was still alive, and indeed, unscathed,</p><p>thanks in no small amount to the ring of ‘evasion’ I wear at all times. But the bolt </p><p>had been massive, and so too was the damage inflicted by it. I scanned quickly</p><p>for my friends. </p><p></p><p> Hap, of course, had danced with the electricity as if it were an old and familiar</p><p>partner, and showed not a sign of damage. Griff, however, and Major Throst, had </p><p>not been so lucky, and both of them now nearly sagged to the floor. </p><p></p><p> But it was Taklinn that my eyes came to rest upon. Our dwarf, our sturdy dwarf,</p><p>the pillar that could not fall, lay blackened and charred upon the stone floor. His </p><p>flesh was charred to the color of burnt coal and was stretched across his bones far</p><p>too tightly. What was left of his beard and hair smoldered. His axe lay unattended at</p><p>his side, seeming to flicker and pulse uncertainly. I was forty feet in the air, but </p><p>even from that distance, I knew. I knew that Taklinn was dead.</p><p></p><p> “TAKLINN!” Griff’s voice filled the room much as the massive burst of </p><p>electricity had done just an instant before, only there could be no dodging the</p><p>anguish it contained. It numbed my bones.</p><p></p><p> A surge of blind and single minded rage seemed to sweep over all of us then; a </p><p>thirst for vengeance and the right to kneel at the side of our fallen comrade without</p><p>fear of attack. It gripped us like a madness, as if we were animals caught in traps,</p><p>lashing out to deal pain that might somehow equal our own. </p><p></p><p> Griff, wounded as he was, crossed the room in three long strides and crashed into</p><p>the trio of vrock that now howled in victory. He cut them short, catching one of</p><p>them with a great cleave of steel that sent the demon flying in two separate </p><p>directions. </p><p></p><p> Hap, all of the usual humor in her eyes long gone, had only pure murder on her</p><p>mind, and her daggers flew with enough force to pierce stone. Both of the </p><p>remaining vrock were wounded, and neither of them could stand up to her barrage.</p><p>Down they went. </p><p> </p><p> From the corner of my eye I saw a vrock that had taken to the air. The demon was </p><p>no more than twenty feet from me, and as if from outside myself I heard my own</p><p>scream of rage and sorrow as I unleashed a maximized and empowered ‘scorching</p><p>ray’ that struck him thrice, burning him to the core, yet not killing him. Not caring </p><p>if the thing lived or died, I dove toward the floor, to where Taklinn lay, hoping</p><p>against hope that some small spark of life remained within that charred husk. I</p><p>landed next to his body, and the memory that keeps coming back to me again and </p><p>again even as I write this is the image of tiny wisps and tendrils of smoke that still</p><p>escaped from between his blackened lips. My heart howled and thrashed within my</p><p>chest, unable to accept what was so clear. </p><p></p><p> Through a mist of tears I found another vrock in the room and cast a ‘hold</p><p>monster’ on him. The spell held him long enough for Happy to puncture it several</p><p>times and for Throst to finish it off. In the meantime, still in the grips of his frenzy, </p><p>Griff was cutting a swath through the last of the demons, taking hits, bleeding from</p><p>a dozen gashes and cuts, but making them pay, yes, pay dearly for the life of our</p><p>cleric, and when he was through not one vrock stood alive. Their twisted and torn </p><p>bodies littered the floor of the chamber.</p><p></p><p> I stood in shock over Taklinn’s body, staring, unable to accept his stillness.</p><p>The Major walked near in silence, sheathing his blades and bowing his head in </p><p>respect. I heard him whisper a soldiers prayer to a dead comrade and I think I nearly</p><p>fainted from the purity of sorrow that hit me like an ocean wave. </p><p></p><p> Happy stood near Taklinn’s head, her mouth open, in much the same shock as I. </p><p>Tears welled in her eyes, and though I knew that she and Taklinn had often had</p><p>their differences, I also knew that a small part of her lay there on the floor as well,</p><p>burnt and dead. </p><p></p><p> But it was Griff whose eyes met mine as he stumbled to Taklinn’s side, his sword</p><p>dropped and forgotten behind him. He fell to his knees, reaching to touch the dwarf,</p><p>but drawing his hand back as if from a viper. He shook his head, then looked at me,</p><p>and the way that his face twisted caused my throat to close. </p><p></p><p> “Do something!” He demanded, holding my eyes with his own. </p><p></p><p> “Griff, I…I can’t.” I whispered. </p><p> “What the hell do you mean, you can’t?” He shouted, all logic driven away by his</p><p>pain. “All your magic’s can’t bring him back? I don’t believe that! You bring him</p><p>back right NOW!” </p><p></p><p> I hung my head. “Griff,” I said softly, “My magic and Taklinn’s are quite</p><p>different. I have no direct connection to the gods. I have no spell that will do what</p><p>you’re asking.” </p><p></p><p> “You’re lying!” Griff cried, though I knew that he knew that I was not. His rage</p><p>was without direction, his words, products of a broken heart. </p><p></p><p> “I am not.” I said, and a tear rolled down my cheek. “But more than that, even if I </p><p>could, do you not remember all the times that Taklinn swore that he would not</p><p>return from the dead? It was his wish to fall in battle. He said time and again that</p><p>we were not to attempt to bring him back.” I choked on the words and pressed my </p><p>palms into my eyes until I saw only bright red.</p><p></p><p> “Then I’ll do it myself!” Griff hissed through clenched teeth, and he reached to</p><p>Taklinn’s side and gripped Clangeden’s axe in both fists! </p><p></p><p> Clangeden’s axe was imbued with enough holy power to flat out kill a Yugoloth</p><p>that had once dared to touch it, and now it seemed to radiate heat that I could feel</p><p>from several feet away. Griff’s face sagged in pain as the handle, engraved with </p><p>runes and symbols, seared into his hands. The high, sickly sweet odor of burning</p><p>flesh filled my nostrils and I watched in awe and fascinated horror as smoke began</p><p>to erupt from Griff’s fists. I could hear the sizzling of his flesh, but he would not let </p><p>go his hold on the axe. Happy seemed frozen in place, and the Major’s eyes went</p><p>wide.</p><p></p><p> “CLANGEDEN!” Griff screamed through the pain of his wounds, the pain of his </p><p>burning hands, the pain of his loss. “Clangeden, hear me! Taklinn is your servant</p><p>and my friend and I…want…him…BACK! Hear me and grant him his life! Return</p><p>him now, and I swear by all that I hold true that from this day forward I will serve </p><p>you! Bring him back and you will forevermore count the sword of Griffin Dorjan</p><p>amongst your own! Clangeden, HEAR ME!”</p><p></p><p> And apparently, Clangeden did. </p><p></p><p> ***</p><p> </p><p> With Taklinn’s death and Griff’s subsequent and jaw droppingly dramatic plea</p><p>and vow to Clangeden, I thought I had seen it all. What could possibly shock me</p><p>after the events of the last few moments? </p><p></p><p> But my stomach twisted into an even more complex knot at the sound of a</p><p>familiar voice belting out rhyme with cheerful gusto, and I’m certain that my mouth</p><p>hung with dumbfounded slack as I turned to see Caribdis march through the front </p><p>doors, his beaming smile lighting up the room. </p><p></p><p> Happy rubbed her eyes, as if to make sure that what she was seeing was real, and</p><p>even Griff seemed to forget that his hands were cooking at high temperature when </p><p>he saw our long lost bard stroll through in. But as Caribdis came toward us as if it</p><p>were the most natural thing in the world, Griff must have caught wind of his own</p><p>flesh, for he dropped the axe to the stone floor. The clatter seemed to break the spell </p><p>of shock we were under, and I was dimly aware of Major Throst looking on in</p><p>confusion as Griff, Happy and I drew back from Taklinn’s body and let Caribdis</p><p>into our circle. </p><p></p><p> Hands on hips, Caribdis was the very picture of hale and hearty health. “Looks</p><p>like the old boy bit off more than he could chew this time, eh?” he grinned, nodding </p><p>at Taklinn’s body. “Never fear, I’ve got just the thing! If you’ll allow me a bit of</p><p>room…”</p><p></p><p> Caribdis knelt next to Taklinn and laid a gentle hand upon the dwarf’s brow. In </p><p>his low sing-song voice, he began to chant, and my hackles rose as I felt the</p><p>powerful magic emanate from him. </p><p></p><p> Neither Hap, nor Griff, nor myself had yet said a word, and we remained in dumb </p><p>silence throughout the minute long casting of the spell. We watched as Taklinn’s</p><p>burnt flesh healed and became its normal leather-like complexion. We watched as</p><p>his fingers, fused together by the intense electrical heat, came apart. We watched as </p><p>life flowed back into him with every word that Caribdis spoke, and when his eyes</p><p>fluttered, then opened, I realized that I had completely forgotten to breath. </p><p></p><p> Caribdis sat back on his haunches as Taklinn came to, blinking and sitting up. He </p><p>looked about himself, and his eyes came to rest on the smiling Caribdis. “It’s good</p><p>to see you, my friend.” He said.</p><p></p><p> “Likewise.” Caribdis replied. “It looked like you’d gotten yourself into a spot of </p><p>trouble, so I figured I’d better lend a hand.”</p><p></p><p> Taklinn took a deep breath and gathered himself. “Yes,” he agreed, “I suppose</p><p>you’re right. The last thing I remember is lightning. Lots of it. The next thing I </p><p>know I was in the halls of Clangeden. Funny though, even as I realized where I was,</p><p>I knew it wasn’t my time yet. Clangeden was there and he just shook his head and</p><p>smiled, as if to say that I was right, that I had too much left to do in the land of the </p><p>living.”</p><p></p><p> It was a surreal moment, watching one newly dead comrade pick himself up off</p><p>the floor while another, long dead, friend helped him to his feet. Happy went to </p><p>Griff’s side but he seemed not to notice her. His eyes went again and again from</p><p>Caribdis to Taklinn to his seared hands, and I could tell that much was going on in</p><p>his head. </p><p></p><p> I came to my senses at last and found my voice. “Caribdis! What on earth are you</p><p>doing here?”</p><p></p><p> “I’d have thought that was obvious.” He smirked. “Just bringing back the dead, </p><p>singing a few songs, you know, the usual.”</p><p></p><p> “Don’t be flip!” I said, crossly. I had not yet had time to let the joy of his return</p><p>wash over me, and already he was pushing my buttons. “Why now? Is this just </p><p>coincidence?”</p><p></p><p> “Well, no, not exactly.” He said with that old mischievousness in his eyes.”</p><p></p><p> “What then?” Taklinn asked, all ears. </p><p></p><p> “Let’s just say I’m doing a favor for a couple of higher ups from the other side.”</p><p>He said.</p><p></p><p> “Who?” Griff asked. We all turned to look at him, for the tone of his voice gave </p><p>no room for oblique answers. </p><p></p><p> Caribdis blinked. “Fharlanghan and Clangeden.” He said, simply.</p><p></p><p> “They asked you to come back?” I pressed him, “Why?” </p><p></p><p> “Yeah,” Happy demanded, “And why would you come back for them when you</p><p>wouldn’t come back for us?”</p><p></p><p> “Jeese! What’s with the Q and A?” Caribdis said, defensively, “I thought you’d </p><p>be happy to see me.”</p><p></p><p> “Of course we’re happy to see you back,” I replied, “It’s just quite a shock!”</p><p></p><p> “Well, if you must know, the two gods figured you might need all the help you </p><p>can get on this mission. According to them, if you get killed while taking on Illugi’s</p><p>avatar there will be no coming back.”</p><p></p><p> “Ever?” asked Hap, wide eyed. </p><p></p><p> “Ever.” Caribdis nodded solemnly. “I was on the fence about it, but then this</p><p>thing with Taklinn happened, and well, what could I do?” </p><p></p><p> “Well, whatever the case, I’m glad ye did come back!” Taklinn laughed, clapping</p><p>Caribdis on the shoulder, “It would have been a sore ending to have the final pages</p><p>of my life read that I was done in for good by a bunch of scurrilous vrock!” Taklinn </p><p>bent and retrieved his axe, and I saw Griff follow that motion as if entranced.</p><p>Something was up with our warrior friend. Hap could sense it and so could I. Even</p><p>Major Throst looked warily at Griff, but none of us said a word. </p><p></p><p> “So what now?” Caribdis asked, “I’ve been brought up to date on the mission, and</p><p>truth be told, it feels kind of good to be back in my skin. I’m ready for some</p><p>action!” </p><p></p><p> I eyed Caribdis, noticing a few things about him for the first time. “Speaking of</p><p>your skin, Caribdis, what’s with you’re new color? And how about that mark on</p><p>your forehead?” Indeed, upon closer examination, Caribdis’ skin contained an odd, </p><p>golden, hue, as if he almost seemed to glow. And upon his forehead was a symbol,</p><p>a circle with a line slashed through it and a crescent moon shape. I recognized it as</p><p>the symbol of Fharlanghan. </p><p></p><p> Caribdis shrugged. “Not sure,” He replied, touching his forehead, “Fharlanghan</p><p>touched my head before they sent me back. Maybe it’s a brand.”</p><p></p><p> “Well, a pair of axes would look better, but I suppose it’ll do.” Taklinn grinned. </p><p>“Now what say we heal up and get on with this? Illugi awaits!”</p><p></p><p> There was no denying that Illugi did indeed await, and though I had many</p><p>questions for both of them, not to mention Griff, I decided to wait until a more </p><p>opportune time. As it happened, we still a bit more drama to endure before we</p><p>would be on our way.</p><p></p><p> Caribdis and Taklinn fell into their old ways immediately, looking for wounds on </p><p>us and laying hands on to quell bleeding and pain. Caribdis was all smiles as he</p><p>sang his healing song, but suddenly it died in his throat. His grin faded and a far</p><p>away look came into his eyes. He took a step back, and I saw something new, </p><p>something different flood into him, and his eyes became quite sharp, and quite</p><p>malevolent!</p><p></p><p> “So, the gang’s all here!” He said with a humorless smile. </p><p></p><p> I sucked in my breath in horror as a bell seemed to chime in my head. The voice</p><p>was Caribdis’, but I recognized the tone, the intonation, the hint of sarcasm. I</p><p>struggled to place it, but it was Happy who realized first who it was. </p><p></p><p> “Scylla!” She gasped. </p><p></p><p> “Nice to see you, Hap.” Caribdis said, with no sincerity at all. </p><p></p><p> It hit me like a ton of bricks as I recalled Scylla’s love of the ‘Magic Jar’ spell, </p><p>and I understood that the witch had taken over our bard!</p><p></p><p> Taklinn and Griff understood it too, and their weapons came up in a flash. “What</p><p>do you want?” Griff demanded. </p><p></p><p> “Oh, I just couldn’t resist taking a jaunt in your weak minded friend here,”</p><p>Scylla/Caribdis replied, “And maybe to warn you to turn back now. You’re in way</p><p>over your heads here. You can’t possibly win.” </p><p></p><p> “Get out of him!” Was Griff’s only answer as he took a menacing step toward</p><p>Caribdis. </p><p></p><p> “What, you’re going to cut down your old friend?” Scylla laughed, “What sort of </p><p>homecoming would that be? Besides, you know it wouldn’t hurt me.”</p><p></p><p> “I’ll see him dead before I let you toy with him you twisted…” And Griff drew</p><p>back his blade with a look that said that this was no threat, it was a promise.” </p><p></p><p> Scylla/Caribdis took a step back. “I should let you kill him!” She hissed. “But no,</p><p>Illugi has plans for you all! I came here to warn you, but I know you won’t listen.</p><p>You’re all fools! Come ahead then! Come ahead and feel the wrath of true power!</p><p>Feel the might of a god who will soon trample your precious Havilah to dust!” </p><p></p><p> Griff took another step forward and I flinched, sure that he was going to take</p><p>Caribdis’ head off. But suddenly our bard blinked and looked around. “Well that </p><p>was odd.” He said, a bit puzzled. </p><p></p><p> Griff’s blade lowered as we realized that Scylla had fled Caribdis’ body. </p><p></p><p> “Here!” I heard Taklinn cry. I turned to see that he had found a gem, cleverly </p><p>mounted into a door on the east wall. It had to be the component for the ‘Magic Jar’</p><p>spell, and Taklinn wasted no time in shattering it to a thousand pieces with his axe. </p><p> </p><p></p><p> Caribdis looked puzzled at Taklinn, obviously having no recollection of the</p><p>events of the last few minutes. We were left to tell him, but upon hearing that he</p><p>had so recently been used as a vessel for Scylla, he shrugged with maddeningly </p><p>Caribdis-like aplomb and grinned. </p><p> </p><p> “Well, we’d best get looking for her then, hadn’t we?” And with that, he headed</p><p>for an unchecked door, and before anyone could stop him, flung it wide! Whatever </p><p>he saw beyond that door set his hackles up and the next thing I knew he was firing</p><p>arrows through the doorway and then giving chase with a hoot!</p><p></p><p> We were all too stunned to react at first. The shock of Taklinn’s death and </p><p>resurrection, a seemingly profound occurrence in Griff, and the sudden</p><p>reappearance of Caribdis, not to mention the fright from Scylla, had set us on our</p><p>heels. But it looked as if Caribdis was not going to give us time to acclimate, and as </p><p>soon as we’d gathered our bearings we charged after him.</p><p></p><p> The door led into a long hallway, at the end of which, on the right hand wall, was</p><p>another door. Caribdis was down there, shooting another volley of arrows even as </p><p>he recited a verse that was new to me, though I did catch its discordant message and</p><p>sensed the inherent magic within it. I soon heard the clang and smash of weapons</p><p>on armor from beyond Caribdis’ doorway and our bard chuckled at whatever chaos </p><p>he had caused as he let off still more arrows. </p><p></p><p> We reached the doorway and jockeyed for position. I flew overhead and</p><p>witnessed several himrock orcs in a room, several of them fighting with each other, </p><p>a product, I assumed, of Caribdis’ verse. Still more himrocks were charging for</p><p>Caribdis, but Griff and Taklinn were already inside. They went to work.</p><p></p><p> It was nasty. There was a cleric among them who hit Griff with a ‘harm’ spell that </p><p>nearly brought him down, but fortunately Caribdis still knows a healing verse or</p><p>two and managed to bring Griff back from the brink before another enemy could</p><p>finish the job. </p><p></p><p> Taklinn and Griff bore the brunt of the attack, as they always do, while Hap did</p><p>what Hap does best. Caribdis healed, fired arrows, and aided us all with his verses,</p><p>and I could not help but grin inwardly at how good it felt, even in the midst of a </p><p>fight, to hear his silly lyrics laced with magic. </p><p></p><p> Major Throst waded in as well, and I cast what I could, but, to my disgust, these</p><p>orcs were also under the effects of an ‘unholy aura’ spell, and I had a devil of a time </p><p>with the resistance it afforded them. </p><p></p><p> At one point two of the orcs fled for a door on the far side and we gave chase,</p><p>only to find still more orcs on the opposite side, waiting to pounce. Even I was </p><p>struck once or twice, but Taklinn and Hap managed to take my enemy down, thank</p><p>goodness! Those himrocks hit hard!</p><p></p><p> We cleared them out at last, and I looked around at the dead orcs and my </p><p>wounded friends, knowing that we were not up for another fight like that. </p><p></p><p> “Caribdis, do you suppose we could call it a day?” I asked him.</p><p></p><p> “But I just got here!” He protested. </p><p></p><p> I gave him a withering glare and nodded at Griff, who Taklinn was even now</p><p>using the last of his healing on.</p><p></p><p> “Oh, okay.” Caribdis sighed. I created a mansion. </p><p></p><p> There were several matters to think about before we just turned in. For one thing,</p><p>we were in the belly of Illugi’s temple, not a good place to camp, even within the </p><p>extra dimensional mansion. Also, there was the matter of the remaining Havilah</p><p>soldiers. I returned to the main entrance to find them there, perhaps thirty in all,</p><p>many of them badly wounded. They had barricaded the door to the courtyard. The </p><p>men were bloody and without leadership, their commander having been slain in the</p><p>attack. I heard a sigh beside me and looked to see Major Throst there. Without a</p><p>word to me, he began barking orders at the soldiers, forming them into ranks and </p><p>issuing commands, pointing and getting them organized for a siege. Throst was a</p><p>natural leader to these men and he was in his element. A moment later, he</p><p>approached me. </p><p></p><p> “The men need a commander,” He stated simply, “I am the obvious choice by</p><p>way of my rank. I think it would be wise for me to remain with them, both for their</p><p>sakes and for the sake of your crew. It would appear that one of your original </p><p>members has returned. I understand the balance of these things, and while I know</p><p>that my swords would aid you, I fear that I would do more harm than good. Call it</p><p>superstition, but the balance of a crew should not be tried, especially in such dire </p><p>times.”</p><p></p><p> I could tell that it pained him to say it, that he wanted nothing more than to carry</p><p>on with us, to confront Illugi for the honor of his name and for Havilah. But I also </p><p>know that what he said had merit, and I merely shook his hand. “It has been a</p><p>pleasure, Major Throst.” I said, and then I took a step back and saluted smartly. He</p><p>nodded and saluted back, then turned on his heel to rejoin his men. </p><p></p><p> I offered and even tried to insist that the Major and his men stay in the safety of</p><p>the mansion, but he declined, stating that it was their job to secure the entry way, to</p><p>make sure no more orcs and yuan-ti entered to come after us. He would have it no </p><p>other way, but I at least would not yield on the issue of food. The mansion creates</p><p>more than enough food to feed twice as many of us as there were, so it was agreed</p><p>that the men would enter in shifts and dine as heroes of their caliber should before </p><p>hunkering down for the day.</p><p></p><p> When those arrangements had been made, I headed straight for my chambers. I</p><p>could see Taklinn and Caribdis deep in conversation in the den, so I let them be, </p><p>preferring seclusion. I had much to think about, and I would have liked nothing</p><p>more than to grill Caribdis about what exactly it was he was doing here, but I knew</p><p>that there would be no getting any straight answers out of him for at least a little </p><p>while. He was obviously still enjoying the drama of his return too much to let all the</p><p>cats out of the bag and I didn’t feel like playing that game. As much as I love the</p><p>boy, I was less than ready to listen to his esoteric replies to anything I might ask </p><p>him. </p><p></p><p> And I needed the rest. The sooner we were all at full capacity, the sooner we</p><p>would take the fight to Illugi and Scylla, and I had a powerful thirst to see an end to </p><p>those two, especially the latter. It made me nervous to be here, resting within the</p><p>temple, and I feared for Major Throst and the soldiers, wishing again that they had</p><p>acquiesced to stay in the mansion. The sooner we got moving again, the better. I </p><p>wrote for an hour and then doused the lights.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="cthulhu42, post: 6587861, member: 6792361"] Rdyr’t 2 I have just returned from an exhausting twenty days on Edik, though only two of Havilah’s days have passed. My plan worked perfectly, and though I am bone weary, I am also alive with excitement over the knowledge that I can use the time difference in Edik to my advantage. For some time now I have wished to craft a traveling laboratory. I have had the plan, and even the financial wherewithal to make it happen, but thus far I have not had the time. Until now. I used my new key to ‘plane shift’ to Edik on the morning of Readyrea’t 1 and found myself on a desolate plain. My location was of no concern to me, as I was not there for a sight seeing trip, and immediately set to work, first casting a mansion, and then having the servants unload my laboratory, which I had carefully packed and placed inside our bag of holding for the trip. Once all was ready, I set about crafting a portable hole. Twenty days and ten thousand gold worth of materials later I finished my work and was the proud owner of an extra dimensional hole, which I wrapped up and put in my pocket, after which I wasted no time in ‘plane shifting’ back to my own world to happily find that I had hardly been missed, given the seemingly short time I was gone. I had enlisted the services of several carpenters to build a frame in my absence, and by the time I had returned, they had completed their task. They had followed my design and specifications to the letter, and I was pleased to take into my possession a frame work of wood six feet in diameter and ten feet deep, separated by a “floor” at the five foot mark, and with a narrow staircase descending through top and middle layer. With the carpenters help, I was able to lower the thing into my new portable hole, after which I had, in essence, a portable, two-floor, room, of just my height, that I can fold up and carry with me! In short order I had returned to my Academy room and set up my lab in the hole. It is a trifle cramped, but utterly useable and entirely portable! Even now it is folded up and secured in Clangeden’s box, awaiting its next usage. I was even able to fit most of my library within it! My days in Edik were more strenuous than usual, as the crafting procedure within the mansion was, by its very nature, difficult. Each night, before the mansions duration ended, I had to carefully pack up my lab and my work, cast another mansion, and set everything back up again. It was time consuming and frustratingly monotonous, but now that the portable lab is completed, I should never have to go through such a trial again. It is a triumph of magic! But now that I am back, it is as if the last twenty days have caught up with me and I find myself barely able to keep my eyes open to write this entry. I feel as though I have been extremely lax in my journal upkeep, since I was simply too tired or busy to write more than work notes during my time on Edik, though I suppose by Havilah standards I have only missed two days, so I will not be too hard on myself. I plan to spend the next few days in rest and study for our upcoming mission to retrieve Melesandre’s book. Rdyr’t 5 Evil is afoot, and we are, once again, in the thick of it! Though this time we have not sought it out; no, this time evil has invaded the very grounds of the Academy and we are forced to look it in the eye and face the fact that we are vulnerable even here! Taklinn had returned via ‘wind walk’ earlier this morning and had found me in my apartment in the Academy. Though I had resolved to catch up on some much needed rest, after a day of lounging about I could sit still no longer and have been using the last two days to research the Wildwood further, wanting to be as informed as possible about what we might run into. I was deep into a treatise on Himrock Orc manhood initiation rites when I recognized Taklinn’s none-too-subtle pound on my door. I opened it to find my friend all smiles and good cheer. Obviously his time spent with family and fiance had done his spirit well. We caught up a bit and I soon suggested that we fetch Hap and Griff, which we did with a quick teleport. Within an hour the four of us stood on Academy grounds, making our way toward Nivin’s office. We took a short cut across the Academy training grounds where we had first made such a debacle of our crew trial. Happy was able to laugh at it as she pointed to the spot where Taklinn had forced Caribdis to apologize for his rash actions against Lotte Spangler’s crew. Taklinn just sniffed and looked away, as if still embarrassed by the memory. And then all hell broke loose! There was a sudden shimmering in the air that only I was able to perceive. I immediately recognized it as portent to several beings about to teleport into our vicinity, though it happened too fast for me to even shout a warning. Quick as thought, we were instantly surrounded on all sides by four drider and an abomination yuan-ti! A chill rent my spine when I saw them, for we have not fought driders or yuan-ti since the days to Melesandre. Now, here we were, about to embark on a mission to find her book, suddenly being attacked by her old allies. Coincidence? Instinct took over and I took to the air, shooting nearly thirty feet above the ground just as two of the driders opened up on us with spells. They fired off twin ‘lightning bolts’ that zapped into the midst of Happy, Taklinn and Griff. I smelt a quick waft of seared flesh and ozone as my comrades rolled out of the way, coming up with weapons in hand. Taklinn was already mouthing the words to his ‘righteous might’ spell and Hap drew her new dagger and winked out of sight. Griff drew his new sword in a single, smooth, motion, and squared off against a drider. As I went aloft, I had also invoked my contingent ‘greater invisibility’, but I watched in dismay as the yuan-ti’s eyes never left me. It was then that I noticed the robe he wore, decorated with unblinking eyes. I stared hard and the robe glowed hotly of magic. I cursed under my breath, trying to bring a spell to bare on the yuan- ti, but the lizard man was faster. I saw his lips move and I steeled myself as I recognized the words to ‘baleful polymorph’. I felt the magic grip me and attempt to change me. I fought the shift, feeling my limbs trying to reform. As it is when fighting any spell, it seemed like a full minute passed. In reality, mere seconds ticked away, but at last I shedded the Dweomer and glared at the yuan-ti, still in my natural form. Anger gripped me as I thought of the audacity of this fellow, porting into my home and attempting to polymorph me. I grabbed for components and rattled off a spell of my own even as I heard alarms begin to sound all over the Academy. My maximized, empowered, ‘scorching ray’ hit the abomination three times in the chest, sending him reeling and gasping in pain. Yet he still stood! I had hoped to down the bugger with such a powerful casting, but he was made of tougher stuff. Beneath me I watched from the corner of my eye as Griff plowed into a drider, severing it’s head from its spider body in three quick slashes. I also heard Taklinn’s ‘holy word’ shake the very souls of all of us, though it appeared to do little more than that to our enemies. I saw a drider wince in pain and stumble, spinning around to hack at empty air, but Happy was nowhere to be seen, until another drider showed off its spell capabilities by casting an ‘invisibility purge’ which revealed our roguish friend as she danced away from her foe. Two arrows whizzed by me as the abomination had seemingly set aside his spells in favor of a bow. Fortunately, he missed both times, and I prepared to hit him again. But then I saw that Griff had taken down a second drider with Taklinn’s help, and now had a straight shot at the yuan-ti. I let him take it, and watched as our warrior barreled toward the lizard man. I had already damaged the yuan-ti severely, and he was in no condition to take what Griff was dishing out. With a single round house slice, Griff opened up a ghastly wound in the yuan-ti’s chest that sent it spinning to the ground in a spray of blood. With the abomination dead, I changed my target to a drider, attempting to ‘hold monster’ it, but the evil creature ignored my spell, only to find itself face to face with an angry dwarf with a fist full of Clangeden’s axe. He pummeled the drider until it staggered back on its eight legs, only to be flanked by Hap, who had slipped in behind it. She thrust with her daggers, her arms a blur, and the thing went down. A final drider remained. “Take it alive!” I shouted, not wanting to lose a prisoner that might have valuable information. To that end, I cast a ‘bigby’s clenched fist’ and used it to punch the drider a great clout on the side of its head. The spidery beast staggered, unable to cast or fight for a few precious seconds. That was all it took for Happy to appear beside it, sap in hand. With a few surgical blows, she beat the drider into unconsciousness, and it slumped in a heap. “What the hell was that all about?” Griff demanded to no one in particular. “Yeah,” Happy echoed, nudging the drider with her boot, “Since when do these clowns port into the Academy to try and kill us?” “We can figure it out later!” Taklinn cried. “Alarms are sounding and I hear battle. We are under siege!” With that, he pounded toward the arena exit, axe at the ready. As it turned out, we were not, technically, under siege, though various shock troops of drider and yuan-ti had sprouted up in several Academy locations and had done their level best to slay as many as they could before either being killed by Academy security or fleeing via teleports. By the time Taklinn arrived at the battle scenes, there was little to do but tend to the wounded. Griff tied our drider prisoner securely, and we went on damage patrol, looking for straggling drider or yuan-ti, and trying to help those we could. Within an hour it was over, and the Academy was declared free of antagonistic forces. The four of us met again on the training grounds, determined to hurry to Nivin’s office for a clearer picture of what had happened. When we arrived we were told by his secretary tat our meeting would be delayed for two hours, given the recent attack and Nivin’s responsibilities. This was entirely understandable, and we settled in to wait, only then noticing the other figure that stood, razor straight, in the corner of the room. He was obviously a fighting man, for he bore light armor and a pair of well used short swords at his hips. He was a young human, in his late twenties perhaps, though his stance and demeanor betrayed a man who had seen his share of battle. Light scares crossed his face, though they did not detract from his rugged good looks. He wore the uniform tabard of Havilah’s regular military, and I could see from his insignia that he was an officer, probably a major. He was not a large man, but I could sense that he was dangerous nonetheless, for his body was like a coiled spring, even at his ‘at ease’ position. His jaw was square, and he regarded us with steely blue eyes. “Who the hell are you?” Griff asked, bluntly, when he noticed the man. The stranger did not bat an eye. “I am Major Cromwell Throst.” He replied in an even voice. “I am here for an audience with Nivin Mottul.” We looked at Major Cromwell Throst and he looked at us for several long seconds, all of us, I’m sure, wondering if our two meetings had anything to do with each other, but finally deciding to simply wait and see. Our crew made ourselves comfortable in the chairs that lined the waiting room walls while the Major remained standing. The hours passed with little conversation other than speculation about the recent attack, and at last Nivin’s secretary announced that we could go in. To our surprise, she nodded at the Major as well, and he led the way, pushing open the double doors to Nivin’s office. Inside, both Yigil and Nivin awaited us. Both men wore looks of recent strain on their faces, and I imagined that they had been quite busy during the last few hours trying to piece together the mystery of the attacks as well as coordinate added defense and care for the wounded. Nivin waved to five chairs, and this time the Major joined us in being seated, though his posture remained stiff. “Let us get right to business.” Nivin said, his tone serious. “We have been attacked within our own walls by forces we believe to have come from Edik at Illugi’s command. Certainly Melesandre was not his only peon; we can only surmise that this attack was an attempt to judge our strength. We can assume that they have not the power to teleport a greater force directly into the Academy, and for that we are lucky. It highlights the seriousness of the situation, however, for we can now see that Illugi must have some clue as to what we are about and wishes to cut us off at the knees. I’m certain that he would have been only too happy had his strike force managed to kill the crew of the Broken Blade.” “First things first; I take it that you have met Major Throst in my antechamber?” The four of us nodded, as did the Major, and Nivin continued. “Major Throst has served Havilah well in her regular army for several years, achieving a name for himself as both a fierce warrior and a leader of men. He has recently, however, come to me with a request to be assigned to a crew. Now that it is assured that Caribdis will not be rejoining the Band of the Broken Blade, I thought that the Major might be a fine figure to round out your thinned ranks. It is, of course, not my decision. I am merely here to facilitate a meeting between the five of you. However, I would submit that a fifth man in your crew would not be unwise, and you could do far worse than Major Throst.” Again, we looked at Throst and he at us. Happy was the first to grill him with questions. “Why do you want to join a crew?” She asked pointedly. Major Throst regarded her coolly. “I have grown weary of chains of command and having to fight through hundreds of minions only to have Academy crews deal with the true threats to Havilah.” He said. “I wish to trade off regular military life for a chance to take the battle to our enemies.” Taklinn stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Tis a large pill to swallow.” He said. “We have fought well, even without Caribdis, for some time now, and the idea of replacing him may be difficult to accept.” “I have no wish to replace anyone.” The Major replied. “I only wish for the chance to serve my kingdom in the most direct way possible. I am not Caribdis, nor am I a bard. I am my own man and will try to be nothing more.” “Doesn’t matter to me,” Griff shrugged, “As long as you don’t try telling us what to do.” “Of course.” Cromwell nodded. “I would not think to consider myself your superior in any way. If you accept me as a member of your crew, it would be as an equal. That is all that I ask.” “You realize,” I said, “That some might consider us a bit nonconformist.” “And we bicker amongst ourselves quite a bit.” Happy added. “I am familiar with your history,” Cromwell said, “And again, it is not my desire to change your crew in any way. I have followed your exploits, and I agree with Nivin and Yigil that it is your very diversity and unconventional spirit that is your strength. I wish only an opportunity to be a part of that. In no way will I consider myself in a position of leadership. In fact, leadership is something I wish to leave behind me in favor of traveling with those I can consider my equals.” “He talks a good game.” Griff said, leaning back in his chair. I looked at Nivin. “I know that time is of the essence,” I said, “But may we have an evening to discuss this matter? Perhaps the five of us could meet for dinner tonight at the Broken Blade to get to know each other under less formal circumstances.” “I agree.” Said Nivin. “Time is short, but we can allow a night for the five of you to get to know one another and come to a decision. Besides, we still have some small amount of study to do. I believe that we will be ready to send you on your mission within two days. My suggestion would be to come to your conclusions and gear up for your mission to the Wildwoods. Return here on the morning of the seventh, with or without Major Throst, and be ready to begin.” “Have you any more information about where we’re going or what we might be facing?” Taklinn asked. Yigil took the floor then, responding to Taklinn’s questions. “There is a reason that Havilah does not expand into the Wildwoods,” He said, “It is a rough and brutal territory, not only in terms of unforgiving geography, but also of its inhabitants. You may meet any and all manner of monsters within those dark woods, and you will certainly cross paths with the worst that the Himrock Orcs can offer. You will do well to remember that Himrock’s, unlike their boorish cousins, are far from the lowbrow trash that raid our outlying communities to the north. No, Himrock Orcs are intelligent and cagey, and many of them are able to master skills that normal orcs cannot, not the least of which is magic. Be prepared! The lair in which we believe Melesandre hid her tome will be much like the pyramid in which you fought Himrock’s during your formative days, though we believe it will be far more dangerous, given its deeper location in the Wildwood and its import to the Himrock’s. Most of these pyramids are built to house their dead, so it would not surprise me to find guardians that can withstand eons worth of time.” “Undead?” Taklinn said. “That would be one of my guesses.” Nivin answered. “The pyramid is protected against divination and transportation magic. Even with our combined skills we have not found a way to view it directly, and therefore we cannot get you directly into the structure,” Yigil continued, “though we have scryed a good location about a mile from where we think it is. Doorag, you will want to join us tomorrow for a look at the location so that you can port the crew there.” I nodded in agreement. “Beyond all that,” Nivin added, “Prepare yourselves as best you can for anything, get to know Major Throst and decide whether or not he will travel with you, and meet us here on the seventh. Bare in mind that not only the kingdom of Havilah is at stake here, but also the world of Edik. I cannot stress enough the importance of this mission!” We left Nivin’s office with much to think about, and agreed to meet with Major Throst that night at the Broken Blade to discuss our possible collaboration. Our dinner with the Major that evening was profitable for all sides. Though he seemed unable to shed his military stiffness, he showed up for the meeting in civilian garb and attempted to relax a little in our company. We talked for the better part of the night, and we found him to be generally inoffensive, and carried himself with a calm assuredness in his own abilities. After our meeting with Nivin I had gone to do a bit of research on the Major, and had easily found his records of military service, which were exemplary. He had fought with distinction in several major battles, including Havilah’s defense against Melesandre’s hordes. He was well regarded by his superiors, and his men followed him without question. Their loyalty spoke volumes about his character and made the idea of his joining us a bit easier to accept. In the end, we could not deny the wisdom of having an extra sword (or pair of swords, in the Major’s case) on our side, and by the time we broke for the night there was unspoken agreement among Taklinn, Griff, Hap and myself that Throst would be accompanying us on our journey. Rdyr’t 7 Lands, but it has been a long day! Major Throst met us in the antechamber of our Academy apartments early this morning. All of us were geared up and ready for anything. Or so we thought. Nivin and Yigil were waiting for us in Nivin’s office to see us off and offer us last bits of advice. With Yigil’s help I had studied the location that we were to teleport to yesterday, so I was ready with the image of it in my mind. As we have so many times in the past, we joined hands and I cast my teleport. *** We appeared in a dour grove of trees whose canopy blocked out most of the sun. Looking around ourselves and listening, we saw and heard nothing. The forest was eerily silent and devoid of life, which made us all uneasy. Hap disappeared into the shadow of a tree while I lifted off from the ground almost without thinking about it. Griff, Taklinn and the Major spread out, searching the area, but finding nothing. I pointed west. “That way.” I said. The five of us made our way through the quiet woods, ever alert for anything. Griff led the way by twenty or thirty paces, and suddenly stopped, holding up his hand and kneeling down to study the ground intently. It is good that Griff has such a keen eye for tracking, for I never would have noticed the subtle claw marks left in the earth. Griff outlined them for me with his finger, then pointed to several more that led off into the woods. “They look reptilian,” he said, “and whatever it is, it’s got more than four legs. I’d say about eight. What do you think it is, Doorag?” Eight legs? Reptilian? The words clicked switches in my mind and I did a bit of quick mental research, coming to a disquieting conclusion. “My guess is a basilisk.” I said, somberly. Griff scowled at me, for he was not unfamiliar with such creatures. Hap, however, was not so educated. “What the heck is a basilisk?” She asked. “A basilisk,” I replied, “Is a large, lizard-like creature with multiple legs, a long neck, sharp claws and nasty fangs, though incurring physical damage should we happen upon one will be the least of our worries.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” She demanded. “He means,” the major answered, showing off a bit of his own knowledge, “That the basilisk’s most feared and preferred attack form is it’s gaze, which can turn a mortal to stone.” “You gotta be kidding me!” Happy said, wide eyed. “He’s not.” I said. “And, truth be told, it’s worse than that. A basilisk doesn’t even need to look at you for its ability to work. All you have to do is look at the creature and you have a chance of being turned to a statue.” “Great!” Hap said with a sardonic laugh. “Which way is it going?” Taklinn asked Griff. “Same way we are.” The big warrior replied. “Even better.” Hap grumbled. There was no help for it. We would just have to carry on and hope that our paths would not cross that of the basilisk. Ah, if we were only that lucky. Not twenty minutes later we came across still more evidence of the creature that solidified my hypothesis that we were trailing a basilisk. Griff saw it first and pointed. It was a rabbit, turned to stone in mid hop. We continued forward, every nerve on full alert now, our eyes and ears peeled. Even Ambros had his nose stuck from a hole in my hat, sniffing the air for any unsavory scents; but even with our vigilance, we could not avoid the confrontation. Ten minutes later they came, stepping from behind huge trees as if to ambush us, scrabbling forward with surprising dexterity for such heavy beasts. There were three of them in all, and there was no avoiding the first onslaught of their gaze. The magic in their eyes was palpable, and I felt my limbs attempt to stiffen into stone, but I furiously shook it off, as did the rest of us. I responded with a ‘fireball’ from my staff on one of them, but was dismayed to see how little damage it did to the beast, and I quickly flew behind a tree to stay out of their line of sight. Major Throst charged to meet the one I had scorched and dealt it a blow with one of his short swords even as Griff and Taklinn did the same to the second and third basilisk. Hap, of course, vanished, and I knew that she would be attempting to get in on a blind side for one of her devastating attacks. From my hiding spot I could hear the sounds of battle; the clang of steel, the grunts of our fighters, and the screeching roars of the basilisk’s. Knowing that I had to help, I took a deep breath and readied a spell. I poked my head from around my tree and spotted one of the lizards locked in battle with Taklinn. Not wanting to miss, I took a chance and looked straight at the thing, pointing my finger and beginning my incantation, but before the words had left my lips, I felt the power of the basilisk hit me again. My limbs went numb, and I fought it with all my might. I just had time to see my hands go stone gray before everything went black. *** First there was a dim light that grew steadily brighter, at last forming into blurry vision that soon snapped into sharpness. I looked about myself curiously, still with my finger pointed in mid cast. I let my arm drop to my side when I realized that I was in Nivin’s office. I blinked a bit as I saw Nivin leaning against his desk. Yigil stood before me, the remnants of a scroll in his hand. To my right stood Taklinn with a worried expression on his face. “What…what happened?” I stammered, confused. Taklinn laid a fatherly hand on my shoulder, his look bespoke grim tidings and he said, “I’m so sorry lad, you were turned to stone by the basilisk in the Wildwoods. I’m afraid it wasn’t easy changing you back. It’s been three years.” “What!” I cried, my eyes bulging from my head. “Three years! I’ve been a statue for three years? How can that…” Taklinn could hold a straight face no longer. With a guffaw, he burst into laughter. “I’m sorry, lad,” he howled, tears of mirth squirting from his eyes, “I couldn’t resist a little leg pullin’!” My eyes narrowed as I looked at him more closely and realized that his clothing was exactly as it had been when I had seen him last, and he still had traces of blood on his tabard. I understood that I had been had. “Tis been no three years,” He confessed, wiping his eyes, still chuckling, “Only an hour or so. We mopped up those bloody lizards and then found you behind a tree, stiff as a board and ten times as heavy. I dumped ya in the bag o’ holding and ‘word of recalled’ us back here for Yigil to take a look at you.” Yigil could barely conceal a small smile of his own as he explained. “I did not have the ‘stone to flesh’ Dweomer memorized, but knowing that time is of the essence, I procured a scroll and set things right. How do you feel?” “Fine, I suppose.” I said, scowling at Taklinn. “I’m glad I could provide you with a little entertainment.” “Ah, don’t be mad, friend Doorag,” Taklinn said with a grin. “Just having a bit of fun is all.” “All well and good,” I said, stretching my arms, “But we still have a job to do. Where are the others?” “Still in the Wildwood.” Taklinn replied. “We’ll return to them in the morning once I’ve cast another ‘word of recall.” “The hell we will!” I exclaimed, “We’re going back to them this minute!” Taklinn’s face became serious. “Now lad, don’t go acting rash! It’ll not do to have no quick means of escape! I don’t like being without the ‘word’!” “That may be,” I said, “But I’ll be damned if we’re going to leave Hap, Griff and the Major alone in those woods until you have your spells again! They could be fighting for their lives right now!” Taklinn sighed. “But the ‘word of recall…’” He began. “Sod the word of bloody recall!” I shouted, waving my arms in exasperation. “We are a crew, and we do not leave half of our members to fend for themselves in an area as dangerous as the Wildwood! I just won’t have it! Now listen, here’s what we’ll do: We will port back to them, then tonight, we’ll all port back here so you can cast your recall. And if things get dicey and we need an escape route, I’ve still got teleports to haul us out if we need them.” Taklinn stroked his chin and pulled his beard, considering my words with maddening deliberation. “Very well,” He said finally, “But we come back tonight and I cast the word. Agreed?” “Agreed!” I said, grabbing him by the arm and already incanting my teleport. “Be careful!” I heard Nivin shout as we disappeared. “Try to be gone for more than an hour this time!” I landed us in the grove in which we had first appeared and we immediately began a fast trek through the woods. It was nearly a half hours run (or fly, in my case) but at last we found the rest of our crew seated amongst a strand of oaks. Not far off I could see the three bodies of the basilisk’s, and I shuddered. “Doorag!” Happy shouted with a grin. “We didn’t expect to see you back so soon! How you feeling?” “Other than my pride, just fine.” I replied. “Thought you weren’t coming back until tonight.” Griff said, looking at Taklinn. “The lad convinced me otherwise.” Taklinn said with a scowl. “This is good,” Said the Major, “We can get on with the search for the pyramid now.” With the Major’s “Ever Onward” spirit motivating us, we determined not to waste the rest of the day and set out once again, keeping our eyes sharp for any more threats, though I was sorely distracted by a revelation from Happy as we made our way through the brambles. Our rogue sidled up next to me as we tramped through the brush and asked, innocently enough, if I had anything on me to deal with future basilisk attacks. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Oh, you know, stuff to turn a fellow from stone back to flesh, so we don’t have to run back to Yigil if it happens again.” She said. “What, you mean like a scroll of ‘stone to flesh’?” I asked. “Sure, something like that.” “Well, no,” I said, “Though I suppose we could have picked one or two up in Havilah. Though what good they would do us I’m not sure, especially if I’m the one that gets tagged by a basilisk. ‘Stone to flesh is an arcane spell, and just as I can’t cast a ‘heal’, Taklinn would be unable to cast a ‘stone to flesh’, so I don’t know what help it would be.” “Oh,” She said, nonchalantly studying her fingernails, “Well, I might be of some help in the event that you get incapacitated.” I looked at her quizzically. “I’m not sure I understand, Hap. What are you trying to say? I know that some non-casters can figure out how to use wands and such, but scrolls are a different matter.” “I know,” She said, with a hint of exasperation, as if I weren’t picking up on the obvious, “And I’m saying that I might have an outside chance of using a scroll.” I stopped dead in my tracks. “What!” I exclaimed, loud enough for Griff to look back at us over his shoulder. I lowered my voice and caught up to Hap again. “What?” I demanded again. “Look,” Hap said, as if it were no big deal, “When I was hanging around with Scylla I used to watch her cast her spells. Now she didn’t have to sit around and memorize them out of a spell book like you do, she just woke up in the morning and had them, right?” “Right.” I said warily, stiffening at the mere mention of the sorceress’ name. “Well,” Hap continued, “I used to see her cast ‘unseen servants’ from time to time and I thought that was a pretty neat spell. On the whole, I don’t have a lot of use for magic, but that one seemed like a pretty good trick, especially since I was about to get married. See, I’ve never been much of a home maker. Cleaning the house and learning to cook just isn’t my thing, so I thought, wouldn’t it be great to be able to whip up an unseen servant to dust the house and fold the laundry, and for that matter, it would sure help my meals if I were able to cast a flavoring prestidigiwhatever its called. So I talked about it with Scylla, and she was nice enough to teach me a few spells.” I stopped again. “Happy Dorjan, are you trying to tell me that you can cast arcane spells?” “Just a couple of the basics,” She replied, “Nothing like you can, and I guess I’m pretty much stuck with the ones she taught me, since I cast like Scylla.” I began walking again, my mind spinning with this news. “Happy, why in Clangeden’s name didn’t you tell me this before?” She looked thoughtful for a moment and said, “I didn’t think it was important. I don’t have any spells that would be useful in combat, so I figured, why bring it up? That, and you know how Griff is about spell casters.” “Have you told him?” “Yeah, I told him right before we got married.” “And?” “What could he do? He’s not crazy about it, but he loves me. We just don’t talk about it. Besides, he’s not stupid. He knows that magic is what makes it possible for us to… well, you know.” I looked at her, perplexed. “No, I don’t know.” Happy laughed at me. “Doorag, you're so innocent sometimes. The magic bracelet you made for me allows me to grow bigger, which lets us… you know, be… intimate!” “Oh!” I said, blushing furiously and quickly changing the subject. “Happy, I really wish you had told me about this before. The fact that you are able to cast arcane spells, no matter how sleight your ability, is of major importance! It gives you access to all manor of magical items that are usually restricted to casters. Wands, staffs, that sort of thing. Generally I’m the one who carries such things, but I rarely have time to use them in the heat of battle. We have a wand of ‘haste’, for example, which would have been a major boon to our warriors in many a battle, especially before you and Griff received weapons with the speed enchantment, but I usually find myself with more important spells to cast. If you had had the wand you could have put it to use! And yes, you are correct in your assumption that you would have a decent chance to cast many spells from scrolls. If I had known this then I would have certainly made sure that I grabbed a ‘stone to flesh’ scroll or two for you, just in case. Beyond that, I confess that I’m a tad bit hurt that you would keep such a thing from me.” “Sorry,” She said, “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Like I said, I just didn’t think it was all that important.” “My dear,” I sighed, “Every small edge we can get is important. Even something as innocuous as a ‘daze’ or a ‘prestidigitation’ can be the difference between life and death. You just never know.” “Well, now you know.” She said. “And when you go back to Havilah, pick me up a couple of those scrolls. Like you said, you never know.” Our conversation was halted by Griff, who again held up his hand for us to stop as he pointed out the steep hill that had revealed itself beyond a strand of thick oaks. The earthen hill, covered by trees, was too steep and too uniform to have formed naturally, and we could only assume that we had found one side of the pyramid. “Now,” grunted Taklinn, “How to get inside?” How indeed? We searched the base of the pyramid for nearly an hour with frustrating results. Griff and the Major resolved to climb to the top to see what they could find, and while they were about that, I decided to use the ‘locate secret doors’ dweomer that I had prepared for just such an occasion. It is not a spell that I generally have on hand, but on this day I was quite glad of my foresight, for, with it in effect, I flew low to the ground, scanning the base of the pyramid, and within ten minutes I detected a glow coming from an innocent looking clump of brush. I flew back to my comrades and gathered them together, leading them to my find. Griff hacked away at the brush and revealed a gully that led into the pyramids base for several feet before being blocked by an obviously humanoid carved slab of stone. The slab was massive, and must have weighed many tons, but closer inspection revealed that it appeared to be set into a track which meant it was probably designed to be slid aside. Griff put his weight into it, but the slab would not budge. This, of course, made it Happy’s turn. Our small friend leapt into the gully and studied the stone for several moments, testing here, searching there, and finally slipping her fingers into a crack in the outer stone. There was an audible click and she stepped back with a satisfied grin. “Try it now!” She said. Griff found an edge and heaved. This time the slab slid easily on its track, and disappeared into the mountain to reveal a well built hallway leading into the pyramid. The smell of must rolled out into the air, and we could tell that no one had set foot in here for quite some time. “Okay,” said Taklinn, hefting his axe, “This is it. Be ready for anything.” Beside me, the Major drew both of his swords, and I saw a hue of steel color his eyes. With Griff and Taklinn in the lead we took our first steps into the pyramid, only to be immediately stymied by a set of heavy double doors set at an angle not thirty feet down the hall. We immediately fell into our standard operating procedure for dealing with such things, with all of us falling back a bit to give Happy room to work, and to stay out of range of possible traps that she might miss. Our roguish friend searched the door for several minutes, tinkering at the lock with her tools, and finally announcing that it was both unlocked and free of dangers. Griff replaced her at the door with Taklinn at his side, axes at the ready. Griff gripped the handles and flung the door wide. I flew toward the ceiling to get a view over their heads and sucked in a breath at what I saw. Inside was a room, perhaps thirty feet square. Another set of double doors led from it on the opposite corner, but between us and the doors stood three iron statues that were far too intricate to be anything other than golems. I cursed, knowing full well that my magic would be of limited use against these things, and though they had not yet come to life, I had a hunch that it would take no more than a few steps inside the room from one of us to animate them. My hunch was right, for no sooner did Griff cross the threshold of the door than we saw the glow of magical life spring to the eyes of the golems. With rusty creaks, their heads swiveled to look directly at him. I cursed again and did what I could. I knew that the one weakness an iron golem has is to electricity, and to that end I cast another spell that I had only prepared on a whim. ‘Chain lightning’ is not a dweomer that I often use, but in this case I was glad to have one on hand, for I fired it at the middle golem and watched as it struck and split to hit the other two. I was gratified to see the three statues immediately slow their movement. Griff angled off to the golem on our right, while Taklinn headed for the middle one. The Major slipped past Hap and squared off with the golem on our left. Some fights are lengthy and fraught with strategy. Not so, this one. With little that Hap or I could do, we were resigned to watch as our warriors traded blows with the golems. The only sound was the grunts of our men and the clang of steel on steel. I saw both Griff and Taklinn receive terrible punches that would have killed lesser men, but they answered with their own devastating attacks, rending the iron skin of the guardians. The Major, while seemingly impossible to hit, was having trouble dealing any real damage to his golem. It appeared to me that he was made for delivering many small hits rather than a few heavy ones, and while his short swords pounded out a constant rat-a-tat on the golems iron hide, it was clear that it would take him a long time to down the thing. I attempted to help with a ‘bigby’s fist’, but even that did little to hurt the golem. Taklinn was having better luck, and I heard a massive crash as his golem went down, the light of animated life draining from its eyes, and our cleric turned his attention to the Major’s foe. Griff soon followed suit, and his golem hit the floor as well. He raced over to add his steel to Taklinn’s and the Major’s. With the three of them, as well as my fist, beating at the guardian, it did not take long for us to bring it down, and soon we stood over their iron bodies, breathing with exertion. “This one is ready to go!” Announced Hap from the other set of doors. She had made herself useful by scanning them for traps and locks already. Taklinn saw to the wounds that needed tending to, and we searched the room, though of course, we found nothing. It had been a guard chamber and nothing more, so we soon took up our positions in readiness for what might lay beyond the new doors that Hap had so recently checked. Griff pulled them open and we breathed easier, at least for a moment. A non assuming set of stairs ascended into the pyramid. Griff shrugged and made to step onto them, but Happy was quick to insert herself between him and the stairs. She insisted that she check them for traps, and a good thing she did, for on the sixth step she found a pressure plate that would have dropped several of the stairs from below the hapless foot of anyone setting significant weight on it, thus plunging them into a pit of unknown depth. She marked the stair and we were careful to step over it as we followed her. She continued her search but found nothing more. The stairs ended in a landing that took an abrupt turn to the right. She peered around the corner and quickly drew her head back. “What is it?” whispered Griff. “Not sure,” she said, “I see something on the wall at the end of the hall, though I can’t quite make out what it is.” “Let me have a look.” He said, stepping up to the top of the stairs and peeking around the corner. No sooner had he popped his head around than he pulled it back as a ray of dull light narrowly missed him! He cursed under his breath in disgust. “Damn spell casters!” “What did you see?” I asked him, excitedly, as I pushed my way to the front. “Not much.” He said, “Like Hap said, there’s something on the wall down there that shot a ray at me, but I don’t think I could describe it.” Over come with curiosity, I made a foolish mistake and poked my head around to have a look for myself. At the same time, Happy suddenly launched herself into the hallway, hitting the ground in a somersault, coming up in a cartwheel and diving down the hall. At the end, she bounced to her left, around a corner, and apparently out of the line of sight of whatever magical trap was now shooting its ray at me! The beam struck me between the eyes and I ducked back around the corner, sputtering mad and echoing Griff’s curse. “Flaming, damn spell casters!” I spat as I felt my essence drain away and several spells disappear from my mind. “Doorag! Are you okay?” Taklinn gasped, coming to my side. “Enervation!” I cried. “It’s a trap that shoots ‘enervation’ rays! It got me! Well, we’ll see about that!” Beside myself with anger, I readied a spell and ducked my head back out, casting quickly. Before the ray could go off again I used a ‘wall of ice’ to block its view of us. The sheet of opaque ice formed at an angle that effectively covered the magical sensor. “I probably could have disarmed that thing!” Happy called down to us. “Oh bloody well!” I answered, still infuriated at having been zapped with the ray. “Not to worry, my son!” Taklinn said cheerfully, clapping me on the back. “I’ve got just the ticket. Now just stand still…” He cast and I felt the soothing magic of ‘restoration’ flow through me, returning my essence and memory to me. I breathed a sigh of thanks to my dwarven friend, relieved that he had such a ready answer to my problem. We joined Hap on the stairs to find her already snooping for more unwanted surprises. I am happy to say that she found none, and we followed her up into the next level of the pyramid. A short landing led from the top of the stairs to another set of double doors which Hap again checked, and again found no traps. She deftly picked the lock and stepped aside for Griff to open the door. Inside was a room teeming with obvious undead. They were mummies, draped in ceremonial wrappings and already climbing out of sarcophagi to deal with us. We fell into action with practiced ease, with Happy heralding our arrival with a thrown fire ball via one of the beads on her necklace. Griff, Taklinn and the Major fanned out into the room, blades ready and already hacking into mummy bodies. There were nine mummies in all, but one of them, I noticed, was steadfastly staying in an alcove of the room, and I could see his hands working to craft a spell. Seeing that our fighters were otherwise engaged, I determined to put the caster down, and to that end I flew toward the ceiling of the room and unleashed a huge max/empowered ‘scorching ray at the thing, hitting it all three times, and though it obviously caused immense damage to the thing, I was stunned to see it still standing! Fortunately, Griff had extricated himself from his own battle and was suddenly upon the mummy caster. Much as it had been with the abomination that had led the driders in their attack on us in the Academy, I had sufficiently softened our foe; so much so that it took very little effort for Griff to smash the mummy to bits. Between Griff, Taklinn and the Major, the remaining mummies stood very little chance, and the three plowed through them with some support from Happy and I. Taklinn even managed to turn two or three of them from us, and those were easily slain. Yet another set of double doors led from the south of the room, and we followed the short hall beyond it to a stairway leading ever upward. At its top, a short hall ran toward a room where we would fight for our very lives! We followed the hall some twenty feet or so to find an intersection where we could either continue forward or turn to the right. Each path brought its dangers, for to our right, we could see four fierce Himrock orcs standing guard. Directly in front of us, about sixty feet down, were still more Himrocks. Here was a room with eight more orcs seemingly standing guard over a massive sarcophagus. We were able to identify at least three of them as casters, if only from their garb. We tensed, waiting for the charge, but none came. I looked closer at the orcs on our right, standing in a corner of the hall about thirty feet away, and realized that they had not moved an inch since our arrival. They appeared frozen, or paralyzed, as did the eight orcs at the end of the hall, and it suddenly dawned on me that they were probably in some sort of stasis effect, frozen in time to await intruders such as ourselves. I quietly informed the others of my hypothesis and Taklinn nodded, agreeing with me. “More magic.” Griff spat. “It never ends. So what’s the deal? You think they’ll come to life if we get too close?” “That would be my guess.” I said. “Can we just blast them from here?” Hap asked. “Seeing as how they’re just standing there waiting for a good blasting.” “No,” I replied, “Not if they are under the effects of stasis magic. The spell is quite powerful and will prevent them from harm until they are freed from it.” “Well then,” muttered Griff under his breath, “Let’s not keep them waiting.” With that he gripped his sword in both hands and headed toward the far room before I could stop him. He left the hall and entered the room, and, as I had suspected they would, the orcs blinked and came to life. All hell broke loose. Taklinn and the Major were quick to follow Griff into the room, and Happy went invisible, as I knew she would, slipping in behind our trio of warriors. As for me, I quickly scanned the room with my enhanced sight and realized that Griff no longer glowed with magic. I could only assume that he had activated his anti-magic vest to ward off the threat of spells from the three casters that stood behind the sarcophagus. I glanced to my right to make sure the other four orcs were still frozen. To my relief, they had not budged, but when I looked back I could see that my companions were already in dire straits. The Major had rounded the hall corner so he was out of my sight, but I saw one of the casters mouth the words to a ‘slow’ spell in the direction he had gone, and I cursed, knowing full well the devastating effect that dweomer could have on a warrior with the Major’s fighting style. I could but hope that he had been able to resist it. I could just see Taklinn from around the right corner, flanked by a pair of orcs. These Himrocks were obviously elite guard, for I saw their great axes bite into our cleric again and again, and he reeled with pain, trying to answer with his own axes. Griff was also flanked, and though his anti-magic offered him protection from spells, and quite probably much of the damage the orc’s enhanced axes would do, it was a double edged sword, for much of his protection is magical in nature, and the orcs were able to hit him over and over. Their damage may have been lessened, but I knew that Griff would not be able to take the continued pounding for long. The field stymied me as well, for with the orcs in its area, I could do little to help him. Instead, I focused on the casters, sending a fireball into their midst. It exploded and engulfed the lot of them, scorching them badly, but taking none down. I cursed and flew forward a little to get a better view of the room. I quickly realized that we were in a fight for our lives. Within the space of seconds Griff and Taklinn had sustained terrible wounds and their blood spattered the stone floor for many feet around them. The Major was locked in combat with a lone Himrock, but I could see from the way he moved that he had been ‘slowed’, and while he was still amazingly hard for the Himrock to hit, he was offering very little in the way of return damage to his foe. Happy suddenly slid behind one of Griff’s orcs, her daggers flashing with vengeance as she inflicted terrible wounds on the creature, but he still stood! We did, however catch a lucky break, for the casters still had not understood that Griff was surrounded with anti-magic. The three of them fired off volleys of ‘melf’s acid arrows’ at Griff and Taklinn, but all of them fizzled as they hit the field, dropping ineffectually to the floor. I unleashed another fireball into them, and they began to huddle back towards the corner in an attempt to get away from both myself and the anti-magic field, but I pressed on, determined to drop them before they could put their spells to good use. Griff’s Talon flashed and tore through flesh and sinew. Great sprays of blood gouted from the wounds of his foes as he pressed his attack. Then, with a feint to push an orc back, he retreated a step and leapt onto the sarcophagus, gaining higher ground and hacking away with renewed vigor, even though I could tell that he barely had the strength to remain standing, so many were his wounds. Taklinn was fairing even worse. Though he had inflicted his own share of damage to his foes, they had done far worse to him, and he was now in a defensive fight. He dodged and ducked their axes, bringing his shadowy blade around in wicked arcs that ignored armor and opened terrific gashes in the orcs. But they refused to die, and I knew he would not be able to take much more. With a mighty bellow to Clangeden, our dwarf swung, connecting with the orc on his right and allowing the momentum of his blow to carry into the orc on his left. Neither went down with his attack, but Happy was already in motion. An instant before Taklinn’s swing, Hap had taken a step back and released a handful of daggers at one of the orcs bent on killing Griff. Her steel bit hard, three times, and at last, the orc sank to its knees, then fell forward onto its face. But before it even hit the floor, she was rounding on the nearest of Taklinn’s enemies. Her arm pistoned and a single dagger flew from her hand, burying itself to the hilt into the back of its thick neck. The orc howled in pain, reaching back desperately to try and pull the blade free, but its strength was rapidly flowing away with its life blood. The orc spun in a circle like a dog trying to catch its own tail, slowed, then stopped, and finally slumped to the floor. Hap was still in motion, her hands already full of more knives, spinning to get into position to help the Major, who was gamely hacking away at his own foe with his diminished capacity. I cursed myself for not having given Hap our wand of ‘haste’ now that I’d discovered her talent for arcane casting, knowing that it would have negated the ‘slow’ effect on the Major. For a second I contemplated using it myself, but looking at Griff and Taklinn, I knew that far more drastic measures had to be taken. Griff was at deaths door, still standing atop the sarcophagus, swaying dizzily, but still pounding away at his remaining orc with the Talon. I knew I could do little for him, still surrounded as he was by the anti-magic field. As fortune would have it, he would not need my aid, for his sword came down in a mighty cleave that broke through the orcs armor and bit deep into flesh and bone. The orc dropped like a felled tree, and Griff quickly pivoted, bringing his long blade around to catch one of the casters beneath the chin with the very point. The caster orcs throat opened like a grizzly smile, and blood cascaded down the front of his robes. He staggered, still attempting to cast, and died. The battle was turning in our favor, but the remaining two casters worried me. I so wanted to finish them off, but looking at Taklinn, I knew that I had to help him. Our cleric’s face was ashen from loss of blood, and he was barely able to keep his feet as he still faced one last orc. The orc looked pretty bad as well, bleeding from several harsh wounds. I realized that one hit from either of them would take the other down. I was determined not to let it be an issue, and turned my spells on the orc. My ‘magic missiles’ hammered into the orcs chest and face, five in all. Under normal circumstances I’m sure this Himrock warrior could have shrugged off twice that number, but so badly had Taklinn hurt them during their battle that he was unable to withstand the magical barrage. The orc stumbled back against the wall, his axe slipping from his bloody grasp. I saw his face contort, as if willing himself to live, but the fight was gone from him. His eyes rolled back in his head and he died, sliding down the wall to sit, legs splayed, before slumping over on his side. The Major’s orc was likewise grievously wounded, and it took no more than two daggers from Hap to drop him. The Major saluted a thanks, but Happy had already spun away from him, hurling more daggers at one of the two remaining casters. My fireballs had done their jobs, and the wounded sorcerer was ripe for Hap’s attack. The two knives landed less than an inch apart in the orcs chest, and Hap was able to chalk up yet another foe killed. The last caster, weaving a spell in desperation, cast ‘mirror image’. Suddenly there were no less than eight images of him in the corner of the room, and we had no way of telling which was the real caster. Griff didn’t care, and waded in, sword arm pumping. He connected with three of the images and they blinked out. I did my part, landing to put myself in line with as many of the images as I could, and fired off a ‘lightning bolt’ that caused three more of them to disappear. Taklinn was gasping, casting a healing spell on himself, and the Major was unable to move fast enough to get to the remaining images and the true caster. But Hap was right there. Grinning, our little rouge filled her palms with daggers yet again and let them go. The first one struck an image even as the caster was desperately trying to get off another spell. The image winked out. With no doubt now as to which was the real flesh and blood orc, Hap let go with the remainder of her knives. They slammed home, thunk, thunk, thunk, in a neat row from the orcs throat to his naval. With a sigh, the caster lay down and died. Shaken a little at just how close some of my friends had come to dyeing, I leaned against the sarcophagus. “Are you two alright?” I asked Taklinn and Griff. Taklinn gave me a blood covered thumbs up, and I saw that many of his cuts had closed. He had obviously healed himself. Griff was in the process of taking a gulp from an oddly shaped bottle, and I watched in awe as every single one of his wounds immediately healed! This was no ordinary potion, and I wondered where he had received such a thing. He capped the bottle and returned it to his pouch. He positively radiated magic now, and it made me wonder all the more, though I would not be so gouache as to ask him about it. Griff stepped up to the sarcophagus and heaved at the lid with all his might. His muscles bulged beneath his armor and the stone slab shifted and moved. He slid it aside and it fell to the floor with a mighty crash. Eons worth of must boiled from the coffin, and when it cleared we were able to see the mummified corpse of a female Himrock. We immediately prepared ourselves for battle with it should it return to unlife, but it only laid there. Griff put his sword through it once or twice to make sure, but apparently it had no power to become undead. Griff’s blade had torn many of its wrappings away and Happy grinned as the mellow shine of gold was revealed. This orc, some sort of royalty perhaps, was adorned with quite an array of jewelry which Hap immediately began stripping from it. Griff and Taklinn would have none of this grave robbery, and the Major, having finally shaken the effects of the ‘slow’ spell, appeared to have little interest in treasure. As for myself, I share Happy’s pragmatism, and felt not a whit of guilt over helping Hap secure the trinkets. Far better that we put such money to good use than to have it molder away in this crypt! “Okay,” Griff said, poking a thumb back down the hallway, “Four more to go.” “Perhaps we should rest first.” I said. “Most of my higher dweomers are used up. Are you sure you’re ready to deal with more of these guys?” “Aye.” Answered Taklinn, “I’m ready if Griff and Throst are. I’ve enough spells left, and I’m as healed as I can be. I say we do them in before we're to rest.” “I’m with you.” The Major nodded. “I’d like to get in at least one decent fight before we call it a day.” I scratched my chin uncertainly, but finally sighed in agreement, knowing all too well that I would be unlikely to change their minds. “Very well then, but lets at least go about this the right way. I have a simple, but potentially effective plan.” “Let’s hear it then.” Griff said, impatient, but no longer selling the orcs short after so recently being brought so near death by them. “Okay,” I said, “Here’s what we’ll do…” Fifteen minutes later we were in position. Happy stood hidden in the shadows on the stairs that we had originally ascended to get to this room. Griff, the Major and I were in the sarcophagus room, with Griff and the Major standing on either sides of the entrance, waiting for our victims to come through, while I took up a position behind the sarcophagus, peering over it, ready to do my part. Taklinn waited for my signal from his position at the intersection where he would only have to walk a few steps to meet the still frozen four Himrock orcs. When I was satisfied that we were all ready, I gave him the signal to go. I saw Taklinn disappear down the hallway, his axe in hand. I waited for perhaps five long seconds, and then out he came again, running as if pursued by the devils from hell! One might think that Taklinn would be an odd choice for bait, given the plodding speed with which most dwarves move, but Taklinn is another matter thanks to his magically enhanced boots that he has been wearing for nearly two years now. They make him far faster than the average dwarf, and for that matter, far faster than the rest of us. So it was that he had little problem outrunning the orcs after they awakened to find a dwarf intruder walking down their hallway. Taklinn turned the corner, his beard flapping over his shoulder, with a broad grin on his face as he barreled toward us. He reached our room just as the Himrocks rounded the corner, hot on his heels. Taklinn skidded to a stop about fifteen feet inside the room and turned to face them just as I cast from my hiding spot. The ‘grease’ spell coated a ten foot area just inside our room, and the orcs never had a chance. The first of them hit the grease and both of them lost their footing and went down in clumsy heaps, to be immediately set upon by Griff from the left, the Major from the right, and Taklinn from directly in front of them. Swords and axes fell like steel rain, and blood spattered the stonework, even as the second pair of orcs attempted to cross the greased area. One of them fell while his partner kept his feet, though little good it did him. Happy had come in behind them and was now busy hurling dagger after dagger, while Griff took round house, two-handed swings at him. The battle, if one can call it that, was short. Within seconds the four orcs lay dead, and not one of us had received a scratch. How different a fight can go with only a small bit of strategy and planning! “There,” I said, “They’re dead. Can we call it a day now? I’m running on empty over here.” “He’s right,” Agreed Taklinn, “I could use a bit of spell replenishment myself.” “Yeah, okay.” Griff said with a slight grumble. I cast a mansion and we entered, safe for the night, though the Major insisted on keeping a watch outside anyway. Even as I write this he is standing his post outside the door, even though I have told him repeatedly that he is much safer inside. I suppose it is difficult to change old habits. I must say that I am very pleased to have the Major along with us on this venture. I don’t believe that we have even seen the best of what he can do yet, but just his calm and sure presence in the ranks is a good influence for all of us. Thus far I have found him thoughtful and open to planning, as would be expected of a military man. He brings a bit of discipline to our otherwise freewheeling crew, and though I doubt he’ll ever have us marching in step, he sets a good example of teamwork, and I appreciate his being with us very much. Taklinn and I had a small argument tonight. Well, not an argument per se, but more a bit of discussion, though not without a bit of my laying on a ploy of guilt to him. As we settled in for the evening, he reminded me of my promise to port him back to Havilah that he might recast his ‘word of recall’. While its true that I had indeed said that, I informed him that, for one thing, it would be a costly teleport, as all I had was a scroll of ‘greater teleport’ to work with, and for another, there was no guarantee that the spell would even work, given the protective magic’s that surround this pyramid, and certainly we would not be able to port back into it. We would have to teleport back to our original spot some hours away and walk back in, thus giving us the unwanted chance of meeting more basilisk, not to mention having to deal with the enervation trap on the stairs below again. Taklinn was fairly adamant about going back though, sighting the fact that he did not like being without an escape route. I responded with the fact that I would still have the scroll, and therefore we would still have a means of escaping. He argued that that would mean that they were all reliant on me, and should I become incapacitated, as I had when the basilisk had turned me to stone, the scroll would do them no good. I said that that was not entirely true, that I was not the only one among us with arcane ability. Taklinn looked at me questioningly while Hap suddenly became very interested in a speck of dust on her armor. I repeated my assertion while looking directly at Hap pointedly, and at last she cracked, spilling the beans to one and all about her abilities. Taklinn was still not to be swayed however, even after Happy’s revelation. He countered with the fact that I had promised, and I could do little but agree with him on that point, though I did rationalize it by reminding him that, had we stayed in Havilah long enough for him to cast the ‘word’, it would have meant leaving Griff, Hap and the Major alone in the Wildwoods to fend for themselves for twelve hours. In the end, a promise is a promise, and I withdrew the scroll for a casting attempt, though I did it slowly, giving Taklinn plenty of time to reconsider. By this time Griff had come to my defense, and before I could begin reading, Taklinn sighed and told me to put the scroll away. He would go without his escape route. I don’t think he was pleased to do it, but to his credit he acknowledged the wisdom of not wasting valuable scrolls that might not even work, and said no more on the subject. It is much later and I should, by all rights, be deep in slumber. Clangeden knows that I have enough to do tomorrow without wasting time waxing poetic. Yet, something in me compels me to set pen to paper at this late hour. Sleep eludes me as if trying to grasp mercury. I turn over in my mind, again and again, the true nature of heroism, and one of my companions in particular. I have never fully explored in writing one of the most fundamental facets of my philosophy, namely, that one of the basic reasons for the existence of this crew is to facilitate the legend of Griffin Dorjan. It is never far from my thoughts, the reputation and necessity of the figure of Griff. Have I said in these past pages how important I feel it is for men such as Griff to exist? Perhaps. I am too weary to check the volumes of my journal at this point. Even if I have, it bears repeating. Havilah is a city of humans. How odd that I have allowed myself to fall under the spell of a city not of my own building. Yet, there it is. I have devoted my loyalties to the city, the kingdom, and her ideals. I wonder sometimes if I feel a connection to human ambition that others of my race do not share, for I suppose if there is any one single trait that sets the races apart, it is the inborn need for humans to explore and conquer. That, and their improbable birthrate must certainly ensure them a place at the top of the political ladder. It is this expansionism, yet also the fact that it is tempered by wisdom in Havilah, that attracts me so to this kingdom. Or is it more basic than that? Is it simply a drama that calls to me; a chance to dabble in the epic exploits of a people destined to face the greatest challenges, and taste the greatest rewards? One might ask why I would call it dabbling. Surely I have played an important role in the events of the last two years. Surely my magic and my council have been the difference between victory and defeat on many occasion. Yet, when the history books are written, let me be a footnote, let me be window dressing for a man who, against his will, has been thrust into the role of hero. I have oft wondered why I keep this extensive journal, almost obsessively, and I believe that one of its sole purposes is to chronicle the life of Griffin Dorjan, for one day his stories will be taught to children in Academy classes. If it is but noted that a Halfling wizard was arcane council to Griffin Dorjan in one-thousand years, I will be satisfied. Why do I hold to this notion of Griff as a hero; as the peoples hero? I suppose it is because of the ease with which, when I close my eyes, I can summon up the image of him, clad in armor, outlined against a setting sun, weary, battle worn, yet still standing proudly, hands resting atop the butt of the great sword sheathed at his waist. Griffin Dorjan is, whether he likes it or not, the very image of a human hero. Yet he is even more. He is a hero that transcends racial definitions. He is a man who would stand up for the rights and honor of any good Halfling man or woman, no matter their origin. He is a man who will never be able to ignore the plight of any being that lives under the light of truth and honor. Griff is the silhouette of the strong armed swordsman that gives hope where there is none, for as long as he stands, the people of Havilah, no matter their race, will stand and follow and fight for what is right and just. I recall those nasty days in Latona, accused of terrible crimes, and rightly so. How odd that my main concern was not for our escape from imprisonment, but for Griff’s reputation. I laugh now, remembering how cavalier he was about the whole mess, how dismissive he was of what others might think, and how angst ridden I was over the possibilities that our actions might besmirch his image in Havilah. I believe that the people would forgive Griff's (and likely, the rest of us) transgressions in a far away land, but still, better that there be no smear on his record at all. I think that Griff understands, deep down, that the people need a hero. I have no doubt that he has no wish to be that hero, but in the end, that is what makes him so perfect for the job. Griff is the consummate hero: utterly without interest in fame and glory, yet rising again and again in defense of the people of Havilah. What man or woman could not look to such an icon and find hope? What downtrodden soul would not follow such a man in the fight for justice? It is late. Very late, and I am nearly too tired to see the paper clearly. I know it is time for bed, yet I am glad to have gotten this out of my system, at least a little bit. Tomorrow will bring its share of challenges, and part of my duty is always to be in top form, for it would certainly not do to have such a hero die some senseless death at the hands of a lucky orc who should have been brought down by magic. No, Griff is bound for a better end. I can only hope that I am there to be some small part of it, be it glorious death, or the chance to see his face on a coin. Rdyr’t 8 As has become our custom, we broke our fast on Taklinn’s ‘hero’s feast’ some twenty-four hours after I first cast the mansion. I must say, that’s a handy spell, and a tasty one at that! The Major joined us for breakfast, and we could tell that he had stayed up the entire night. Obviously a man used to putting in long hours, he was far from exhausted, but Taklinn scowled just the same and used a refreshing spell to put the Major right, though he warned him that such use of his magic was superfluous, given our quarters. The Major only shrugged and cast a wry grin as he dug into his food. When we were ready, we left the mansion and headed down the hall where the last four orcs had stood guard. Directly to the right of where they had been standing, a new flight of stairs led upward, and we began our climb anew, as always, behind the watchful eye of Happy, who fastidiously checked each stair for unwanted surprises. We followed her to a landing some thirty feet up, and down a short hall to yet another set of double doors. Hap checked them and then grimaced. “Trap,” She announced, “Magical.” Those two words were more than enough to give us pause. She seemed fairly certain that she could disarm the thing, or at least circumvent it, but Griff was having none of that. He invoked the power of his anti-magic vest once more and stepped forward so that the door fell into the radius of the effect. With the trap effectively inert, he threw open the doors without ceremony. From behind him I spotted an odd rune on the opposite wall in a medium sized room, though that was hardly the least of our worries. Six more Himrocks stood in stasis guard here, though they were not frozen for long. Seeing the rune as well, Griff crossed the room in three long strides and put his back against the rune, using his anti-magic field to dampen it even as it started to glow evilly at his approach. His strategy was sound though, for as he closed to within five feet of it, the glowing rune was rendered inert. Happy was close on his heels, though she blinked from view as she did, staying just far enough away from her husband to ensure that her dagger would work. Conversely, the once inert orcs sprang to life, hefting great axes and stepping forward to surround a very visible Griff, slamming down several times with their axes. We heard our warrior grunt with pain, but not give a step, remaining stubbornly against the wall. Taklinn and the Major charged in after him, throwing themselves at the rear guard of the orcs even as Happy went to work with her daggers, bloodying up one fellow in a bad way. One orc broke off from Griff to go toe to toe with the Major, while two of them turned to face Taklinn. Griff gamely held off two of them while the sixth orc slashed at the air wildly in an attempt to find Hap. He was unsuccessful. As for me, I stepped into the room and did my best to aid the nearest fighter, who happened to be the Major. I cast a ‘Bigby’s clenched fist’ and pummeled his orc. The beast staggered and dropped his weapon, looking quite dazed from the beating. Long seconds followed in which swords and axes came down, finding flesh and armor, clanging away or biting deeply. I continued to try to beat on the Major’s orc even as the Major used his whirlwind fighting style to try to bring it down. The orc got lucky though, and I fear that I allowed myself to be caught on the ground with little protection. The orc spotted me from the corner of his eye, and seeing an opportunity to damage someone a little easier to hit than the Major, he took it. He had retrieved his axe, and now charged me with it raised high in the air! I ducked and tried to avoid the steel, but it was no use. I gasped as the unfamiliar pain of being slashed with a weapon roared through me. My back was against the wall, but I still had an escape route. I flew upwards at full speed to get out of his range (thank the gods that the ceilings are nearly twenty feet high in this pyramid!) while directing my ‘fist’ to engage him again. The Major quickly caught up with the orc and between the two of us, it was not long before he collapsed. Taklinn had started the fight on a bad note, having swung a bit too wildly with his axe and throwing himself off balance. He had righted himself finally, after staving off a flurry of axe attacks, and came back around to try to give a better show of himself. With a two-handed swing, he cut deep into the chest of an orc, dropping him. He cleaved straight through and went on to the next, hacking and chopping until that one went down as well. Griff and Hap were just finishing off the last of their orcs as I landed, still shaking from having been cut so deeply. I could not feel Taklinn’s healing hands soon enough, I can tell you! I don’t know how our warriors can take being cut and hit all the time. We waited until we were reasonably sure the rune had run its course, and Griff stepped away from the wall. We breathed a sigh of relief when no further magic’s were unleashed upon us, and Happy turned her attention to the next set of double doors that led from this room. After several minutes, she declared it safe and unlocked. Taklinn had been seeing to all of our wounds, and now that he was through and we were healthy again, he stepped toward the door, taking Griff’s usual position, and pushed them open. What he saw made him gasp. He glanced over his shoulder quickly at us, and I could see that the blood had drained from his face, though he tried to keep up appearances. “Maralith!” He cried, and I knew immediately his fear. *** Time seemed to slow down from that point on as Taklinn shook his great mane of beard and hair, squaring his shoulders and planting his feet in the doorway. I saw the glow from his axe flare in proximity to the evil that emanated from the room beyond. Then, we all heard the voice, soothingly sweet, yet indescribably wicked at the same time. “Come, son of Clangeden!” The voice taunted with palpable malevolence. Taklinn, unfazed now that he had collected his wits, backed down not an inch. “Let us dance!” He cried. But it would be the Major who would start the dance, for the words had not even fully left Taklinn’s mouth before Throst was charging by him, both swords gripped in his fists. I cried out for him to wait, but it was too late. The Major disappeared into the room, and seconds later I could hear the clash of steel. “Crazy son of a…” I heard Taklinn yell as he charged into the room hot on the Major’s heels. Griff, Happy and I raced to the doorway and beheld the battle that took place before us. The room was huge, perhaps seventy feet long and two thirds as wide, with a massive and ornate sarcophagus set into the floor at its far end. Four Himrock warriors helped to guard the sarcophagus, and they were now busy surrounding Taklinn, beating down our dwarf with mighty axe blows. The Major had obviously broken through the ranks of orcs with his ill advised charge, for he now stood quite near the sarcophagus, and was paying dearly for the honor, for atop the stone coffin was coiled a Maralith. Her beautiful female torso and head did little to detract from the horror of the rest of her body. Her lower half was all snake, and slithered incessantly as she playfully dodged the Major’s attempts to strike her. She also had four arms, three of which wielded demonic looking swords with which she parried an attack and then returned several of her own. Mere seconds had passed, but we could see that Taklinn was outnumbered and the Major was out matched. Griff and Hap broke into a dead run heading in to help even as I cast, using a new spell I had learned only the night before. The ‘horrid wilting’ overwhelmed the Maralith and the orcs for a brief moment, and I was gratified to watch them writhe in pain as the spell sucked the moisture from their bodies. None of them dropped, but I had certainly wounded them, hopefully priming them for the blades of my friends. The Maralith appeared to shake off the pain of the ‘horrid wilting’ even as the Major came at her with everything he had. His twin blades were a blur of motion as he struck, but only a single attack seemed to give her a scratch, and she looked down on him with something akin to pity. So sure was she that the Major was no real threat that she ignored him, instead electing to toy with Happy, who was stealthily creeping up behind one of Taklinn’s orcs. Hap was, of course, invisible, but the magic of her dagger could not hide her from the Maralith’s gaze. With a word and a gesture, the Maralith used ‘telekinesis’ to lift Hap bodily from the floor and slam her against the far wall. I heard the Maralith laugh, as if she were a cat batting around a mouse before the kill. By now Griff had rounded the orcs and had gotten close enough to the Maralith to strike. Anger drove his blade, but I knew that the demoness would simply soak up most of the damage he might do, and even though he hit her once, she simply looked down upon him, still none too concerned. Taklinn was in a bad way. Two of his orcs had broken off from their battle with him to deal with the Major and Griff, but the remaining pair continued their assault, and I was shocked to see their axes bite through Taklinn’s plate again and again. Taklinn reeled as blood flowed from numerous wounds, and I could tell that he would not be able to take another attack like that. “Taklinn, heal yourself!” I cried, as I grabbed for components, and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw him take a step back out of the reach of the orcish axes and cast a mighty healing spell that closed many of his wounds. I cast a ‘chain lightning’ that fizzled against the spell resistance of my primary target (an orc), but still arced out to strike the other three, wounding them further. I did not bother with the Maralith, for I knew she was immune to such electrical effects. At the sarcophagus, the Major showed why he has risen through the ranks of the military to his position, for even in the heat of battle he could see that his blades were doing little against the Maralith, and that our hopes must lay in Griff’s ability to lay on massive amounts of damage with a single blow. To that end, he ignored the orc that was attempting to chop his head off in favor of trying to take some of the pressure off of Griff. The Major stepped up to Griff’s orc and swung like a whirlwind, carving three times into the creature, but with every blow his arms seemed to get slower and slower, and I suddenly had the idea that something was very wrong. Even Griff, upon striking the Maralith again, did not have his usual strength and vigor behind his follow up attacks. The demoness smiled without humor at Griff and seemed to attack him from all angles, her three swords a blur of steel as she cut him again and again. He was taking a terrible beating and I wrung my hands, trying to figure out the best way to help him. The fact that my ‘chain lightning’ had fizzled against one of the orcs told me that I could not depend on magic to harm them, and I cursed myself for not having another ‘Bigby’s hand’ prepared, or at least a ‘conjuring bolt’. Fortunately Hap had made her way back into the fray, and though the Maralith could see her, the orcs could not. She stopped several feet from Griff’s orc and fired off a volley of daggers that sent the orc staggering. At the same time, Taklinn was busy with a little wet work himself. He had been struck again by the two orcs still bent on his death, but he refused to back off. With a mighty bellow he brought his axe around, gutting the first orc and cleaving into the second. Already wounded from my spells, neither orc was up to the task of living through Taklinn’s attacks, and the second one dropped as well, giving him some much needed breathing room. Griff saw the orc that Hap had wounded draw back his axe for a swing at him, and he turned his attention to the foe. Perhaps the Maralith had skin thick enough to ward off his blows, but not so the orc, for Griff’s blade cut deep and the orc sagged, dropping his axe and falling to the floor before he could finish his swing. Griff continued the arc of his sword, hitting the Maralith again, though I noticed that there was little force behind it. The Major and Hap double teamed the final orc, each of them drawing blood, still hitting it even as it crashed to the floor. The Maralith scanned the area. With the four orcs dead, she did not seem so sure of her victory now, but she hardly looked afraid either. It was easy to see that Griff was barely able to keep his feet after the beating she had given him, and the Major was in an even worse way, practically reduced to supporting himself with his swords, using them as crutches to keep from falling. She ignored Hap, knowing full well that as long as she could keep the little rogue in sight she offered no serious threat. The Maralith shifted her eyes from Griff to the Major, as if deciding which one of them she would slay first, and I had little doubt that she could do just that. I gritted my teeth and knew that I could not let her slay one of my crew. With a leap, I took to the air, flying hard straight for her, waving my arms and screaming at the top of my lungs. “Come on, you four armed freak!” I cried, “You haven’t even scratched me! I thought you demons were tough! What’s the matter, afraid of a Halfling?” At the last possible moment I hit her with a ‘disintegrate’, but, of course, it fizzled against her resistance. But my true strategy had worked, for I had defiantly caught her attention. With a bemused and twisted grin, she ignored Griff and the Major, and I steeled myself for whatever she was going to throw at me. Her ‘blade barrier’ swept across the room and I dodged franticly as whirling steel suddenly seemed to erupt all around me. I was fortunate to get out of the way as the wall of flashing blades bisected the room, and I breathed a relieved sigh, knowing that I’d not only been lucky, but that I’d bought my friends some much needed time. The Major refused to give in to the magic’s that sapped his bodies strength. As long as he stood, he would fight, and with that philosophy firmly in mind, he threw himself at her again, his swords trying vainly to pierce her hide, only to be drained more and more with each hit. At last, the Major slumped to the floor, utterly without the strength even to stand. Things still looked bad. The Major was down, and Griff was weakened, but Taklinn still had a trick up his sleeve. “Stop!” He cried in a voice that shook the walls. I felt the power of the spell that accompanied his command, and I saw the horror in the eyes of the Maralith as she tried to resist it and failed! Her three swords fell from her grasp and she seemed to stagger, disorientated and unable to react to her own body’s commands. It was the opportunity we needed, and a golden one for Happy at that! Hap’s daggers looked like a beam of steel as she set them loose, two of them slamming home and extracting a terrible toll on the Maralith. Griff followed her example, swinging around in his two-handed style, chopping deeply into demonic flesh and bone. The Maralith slithered one way, then the next, pain and rage boiling in her eyes, but it was too late for her. With a heavy crash she toppled from the sarcophagus and fell to the stone floor, dead. Griff stumbled backwards like a drunken sailor, nearly falling. He was bleeding from a dozen places, and Happy raced to his side to prop him up. He wiped blood from his eyes with the back of his hand and looked around, his sword still gripped in his hand. “Everybody still alive?” he asked. “It would appear so,” Taklinn said, “Though it looks as if the Major took more than his fair share of that fight.” He moved to Major Throst’s side and knelt beside him. The Major did not even have the strength to roll over onto his back. His lips barely moved, but no sound came out, and his eyes struggled to remain open as Taklinn laid a gentle hand on his forehead. “He’s been sapped of all strength.” Taklinn announced, “I believe that the demoness and her lot were under the protection of an ‘unholy aura’, a nasty bit of magic, that. I can feel my own muscles aren’t what they were at the top of the fight, and I’m betting you’d say the same, Griff. With every hit we made on these buggers, the magic of the ‘aura’ drained us. We got lucky. Things could have gone a lot worse.” “Will he be okay?” Happy asked curiously, looking at the Major. “Aye, I can help him. Give me a moment.” Taklinn concentrated and grasped his holy symbol as he laid his hand on the Major again. Throst’s body, barely able to generate enough strength to work its own lungs, seemed to revive by leaps and bounds as the power of Clangeden undid the damage caused by the Maralith’s magic. As the seconds passed and Taklinn’s lips moved in prayer, strength and vitality flowed back into the Major’s body until he was able to sit up, and then stand, if a bit shakily. He retrieved his swords from where they had fallen and sheathed them, nodding his thanks to Taklinn I made myself useful by scanning the bodies of the fallen for magic, finding a few trinkets. In the meantime Happy was scouring the room for any exits, hidden or otherwise. When she had searched the room to her satisfaction, she announced that this was it, we had come to the end of the line. “Well then,” said Griff, “Lets see what the bitch was guarding.” He waited for Hap to check the sarcophagus for traps, and when she gave the all clear, he and Taklinn put their shoulders to the lid and slid it aside. The five of us peered over the lip of the stone coffin at the mummified remains of still more Himrock orc nobility. This one, most likely a male, lay in eternal repose, wrapped in funeral linens, smelling faintly of spice and rot. Its hands were clasped across its chest, and within them it held a book. We waited while Hap looked closely, not touching, but examining every inch of the book, the corpse, and the interior of the coffin. “I don’t see any traps,” she said, “But its hard to tell. That, and I wouldn’t rule out contact poison.” “And me without an ‘unseen servant’ prepared.” I said pointedly to Hap. She rolled her eyes at me, then looked at Griff who grimaced but said nothing. “Oh, all right!” she said, and muttered a few words that invoked her own ‘unseen servant. We all backed away as she commanded her servant to fetch the book, which it did with no fanfare. I held out my hands, draped in protective cloth, and she had the servant give it to me. I took it with the same awe with which I regard all ancient tomes and books. It was heavy and leather bound and without title. The only feature I could see on its cover was a stain of some silvery substance that had long ago been splashed across it. Looking closer at the stain, I deduced that it was dried blood, though not that of any mortal. No, this was the blood of a celestial, and I wondered at its origin. I was eager to open the book and delve into its contents, but of course I did not. Flipping through its pages without first checking it for magical wards and traps would be a sure recipe for disaster, as any first year mage can tell you. Instead, I reverently wrapped the tome in cloth and summoned my box from Clangeden. I placed it inside and dismissed the trunk, sure that it was the safest place for it. “Good enough,” Griff said, spitting some blood onto the floor, “Are we done? Can we go now?” “I don’t see why not,” I said, “Shall I try a teleport?” We gathered and joined hands, eager to be out of the Himrock tomb, but alas, it would not be so simple, for, as I had theorized in my earlier argument with Taklinn, the nature of the pyramid’s protective magic’s would allow neither entry nor exit via teleport, and my spell was cast with no result at all. We would have to make out way back to the point in the woods where we had first appeared. Fortunately we now knew where the traps in the pyramid were located and how to navigate them, and we had slain all guardians on our way up. We made our way to the exit unmolested and began our trek back through the woods. Our luck held, and we met not a soul on our way, and within an hour we had reached the grove we had first teleported to. I cast, and soon we stood again on Academy grounds. “I’m taking the book to Yigil and Nivin,” I announced, “You’re welcome to come if you want, though I doubt we’ll get too many answers this early in the game. The book will need to be thoroughly cleaned of wards and traps first, which could take a day or two.” “Fine with me,” Griff said, “I could use a drink!” He and Hap promised to meet with us later in our Academy apartments for a full report, then they headed for the gates to find a watering hole. Taklinn and the Major joined me as I headed for Nivin’s office. His secretary admitted us immediately and the sage greeted us warmly as we entered. “You have returned,” he smiled, “And in the flesh. I trust all is well?” “It is.” I replied. “Our mission is accomplished. Is Yigil available?” “He is already on his way. I expect him momentarily. Indeed, even as the words left Nivin’s mouth, the doors to his office swung open and Yigil strode in, excitement showing in his eyes. “You have it?” “I believe we do,” I said, “Though I haven’t dared to open it. I figured to await your expertise before doing so.” “A wise choice,” Yigil said with a wry smile. “Well, lets have a look, shall we?” And so it was that I called upon my trunk again. Its appearance was cause for admiration in the eyes of both Yigil and Nivin who looked at me questioningly. “A gift from Clangeden.” I explained. I brought forth the book from the trunk and gingerly unwrapped it from its protective cloth, holding it out to Yigil who took it with great care. The old mage examined it closely, being careful not to open it. His fingers traced the bindings and he appeared satisfied. “This is it.” He announced. “You have done well. Have you any idea what this stain on the cover might be?” “I think it may be the blood of a celestial,” I answered, “Though I could be wrong.” “No, I do not believe you are.” Yigil said. “If only these leather covers could talk. I would be interested to know how such a stain came to be.” “When will we know something?” Taklinn asked, as always, getting directly to the point.” “I fear it will take several days, my friend.” Yigil replied. “We must be sure that we have stripped it of protective magic’s before we even dare open it, and then there will be the matter of scouring its contents for information pertinent to our plans. I must assume at least a week, perhaps longer. Rest assured though, your crew will be high on the list of the first to know as soon as we uncover any information. May I suggest that you assume the best, that we shall find what we are looking for and be ready to send you on your next mission within no more than two weeks. Stay close and prepare as best you can, for if my suspicions are correct, you will soon be off to Edik to face Illugi there.” “Then I will await your summons.” Taklinn said. “Clangeden’s strength guide you.” With that, he turned on his heel and departed. “I’ll do the same,” I said, “Though I have a bit of crafting to do. Shouldn’t take much time, and when I’m through I’d be interested in helping you with the research of the book if you’ll have me.” “Of course!” Yigil replied. “You know where to find me.” The Major and I left Nivin’s office and headed back into the Academy. I could tell that the Major was still at less than full strength, but I said nothing. He is a proud man, and I knew that any show of weakness left a bitter taste in his mouth. I left the Major and headed for my apartment. Even though I was still weary from the recent battles and exploration I had much to do to prepare and I am not one to waste time. Also I was eager to be at my journal while the events were still fresh in my mind. Some hours later I was paid a visit by Taklinn who had it in mind that he wished an item crafted. His desire is for a periapt of wisdom crafted in the form of a belt, and after discussing it for awhile it was decided that it could be done, though the crafting process will have to take place on Edik due to our time constraints. I am loathe to leave Havilah, even for the three days that will pass here, but this project seems of great importance to him, and I feel that I owe him this favor after our recent disagreement. I fear that a trip to Edik may be ill advised, given the nature of our current quest to destroy Illugi and the fact that the deity has such a strong grip there, but I have weighed the risks carefully and have decided that it is worth it. We must simply be wary and keep an escape spell handy at all times. We will depart in the morning. Rdyr’t 11 Taklinn and I ‘plane shifted’ to Edik on the morning of the 9th after I had analyzed the treasures we had recovered from our enemies in the pyramid and let the rest of our crew know where we were headed. Hap and Griff set out for their home in Ester the same day while the Major said that he would remain in Havilah. They bid us farewell and we were off. It is now, of course, the 11th of Readyrea’t in Havilah and we have returned unscathed after a month spent in Edik. The landscape on Edik tells a terrible tale, one that is progressing swiftly. It is barren there; and the earth will support no life as far as we could see. Pathetic scrub grass struggles to survive in parched soil, and it rained not a drop during our entire time there. We spent our month cloistered within my mansion, but we still stepped outside from time to time for a breath of fresh air, though the air on Edik could hardly be called fresh. There is a foulness there the likes of which I do not remember, even from my last visit, as if the evil of Illugi is fast spreading across the land, leaving ruin in its wake. It was a harsh reminder that the time differential between our two worlds has worked against us as well as in my own favor, for while months have passed for us since the defeat of Melesandre, years have come and gone on Edik; years in which Illugi has recovered from the loss of Melesandre and gathered his forces again. We were far from any civilization and saw not a soul, but I can only imagine the forces of yuan-ti and drider and other abominations he has called to serve him, and it was depressing to think of the relative swiftness (at least by Havilah time) with which he has rallied from the blow we dealt him. On a more positive note, Taklinn’s belt is complete and he seems quite happy with it. It was far from inexpensive and it cost him a fair share of his own essence, but, like my hat, it will provide him with a considerable boost to his magical and divine powers. A worthy trade off, no doubt. It was also pleasant to spend an extended length of time with only Taklinn for company, and we spent many fine nights beside the mellow fire retelling tales of our journeys and trading philosophical ideals. Taklinn is far more than axe and armor; he is far more than a holy symbol as well. I have met my share of priests, but Taklinn has reached a point where he shines with an inner light I have not seen in any other holy man. I wonder if there will come a day when his word will be considered canon to his faith. It would hardly surprise me, for even without his new belt, he speaks with a simple wisdom that is undeniable, if perhaps a bit slanted. Yigil has successfully cleansed Melesandre’s tome of its wards and tells me that he will begin his research into its contents tomorrow and has invited me to aid him. I am very excited at the prospect of gaining such knowledge, though he has cautioned me that much madness may be contained therein. We will have to tread lightly, least we suffer the megalomania of Melesandre as well. Between Yigil, Nivin and I, we intend to check and balance each other, and I believe that we will succeed. Rdyr’t 20 Our research is complete and our plan is made. Tomorrow we depart for Edik to deal with Illugi, or at least Illugi’s avatar. Yigil, Nivin and I have spent the last long days deep in study of Melesandre’s book, scouring it for clues as to the nature of Illugi and how he can be brought down. In the end, we have discovered that we probably cannot slay him entirely (he is an immortal, after all), but we believe we can eject him from Edik and thereby close his door to Havilah as well. Nivin and Yigil summoned us to Nivin’s office this afternoon. All of us have been in the city for the past couple of days, shopping, having things made, and generally making ready as best we can for whatever we are to face. We assembled in Nivin’s office to learn what secrets we could and formulate a plan. Nivin was seated behind his desk while Yigil paced the room. Melesandre’s book sat on the desk, and my eyes kept returning to it as Yigil spoke. “We have learned much from the tome,” He began, “Though unfortunately we find it not only written in the style of a woman possessed by delusions of grandeur, but somewhat incomplete as well. Still, we believe that we have pieced together enough information to justify an assault on Illugi.” “Melesandre refers to her dark master again and again as He Who Returns Again, and infers many times that he enjoys the struggle for power as much as the power itself. We can gather that he is a dark, intelligent and creative being who delights in conquest and pain. He is known on many worlds, usually as the god of serpents and arachnids. On some of those worlds he is still young and struggles to gain a grip on even a small amount of the populace, but on others, he rules supreme.” “Illugi seeks always to expand his rule. He is patient and cunning, finding gates that lead from one world to the next, and insinuating himself there, always with an eye toward his next conquest. For some reason that we have yet to ascertain, he seems to bare a particular grudge against Havilah and her people, perhaps because we have thwarted him again and again. Whatever the case may be, he seeks to conquer our world at all costs.” “Edik is his stronghold and his doorway to Havilah. We cannot close the door to us, but if we can force him out of Edik, we believe we can close the gate there, which would free not only our world, but Edik as well.” “As you know, Illugi is attempting to make headway into Havilah via the Himrock orcs who have taken to his worship with a vengeance, and we believe that he has taken many of them to Edik to further expand his troops. We have, unfortunately, allowed him years of Edik time to prepare, and we can only conclude that his army of yuan-ti, driders and Himrocks must number in the tens of thousands. Once he masters the art of shipping them here en mass, we may be looking at a force that will make Melesandre’s army look small by comparison, and without the weak spot that her undead minions possessed.” Yigil paused to let all of this sink in. “Haven’t you got any good news?” Happy quipped. “A bit,” Yigil said with a thin smile, “But first I’m afraid there is still more bad news.” Happy groaned. “For one thing,” Yigil continued, “He knows we’re coming. Keeping our plans from him has always been difficult, and we have always been proactive in dealing with him. He may not know exactly when, where and how we will strike, but rest assured that he expects us.” “On yet another sour note, he is not without allies. We have great reason to suspect that Scylla has thrown her lot in with him.” “I knew it!” Griff spat, “I knew we should have done that wench in when we had the chance!” “Damn right!” Happy agreed with a frown. “Be that as it may,” Yigil said, “After her split with the Band of the Broken Blade, she rejected the Academy entirely and began to forge many unsavory contacts in the court of the Himrock orcs. One guess is that she desires to rule them after they sweep over Havilah. This is, of course, only a hypothesis, but whatever the case may be, we have to assume that she means none of us any good and that you may encounter her.” “It’ll be the last time we encounter her, I can tell you that!” Griff muttered. “There is also the matter of Sensesi.” Yigil said. “Oh no! Not her as well!” moaned Hap. “I’m afraid so,” Yigil replied, “Though perhaps not in the capacity you might think. I’m afraid Nivin and I have a small confession to make. We haven’t told you this yet, given your prejudice against her, but after you freed her she contacted Nivin and expressed a desire for revenge against Illugi for his having controlled not only her, but a nation of yuan-ti as well. She claims to blame him for the deaths of her family and friends, and wishes to see him fall. To that end, it was she who told us of Melesandre’s book and where we could find it. She also revealed many of the steps and components we must accomplish to defeat the deity.” Taklinn frowned. “What makes you think she can be trusted?” Nivin answered this question. “I fear we have little choice, Taklinn.” He said, “Thus far her information has been sound, and though this could all be an elaborate trap, we have nothing else to go on. Our only alternative is to wait for Illugi to come to us, and though Havilah is well on its way to recovery, we are far from being strong enough to withstand a force that has had years to prepare. I believe Major Throst would agree with me on that.” The Major slowly nodded his head. “Our military is well trained and armed,” he said, “But it’s in no condition to take on an army like the one you’re talking about.” “Yes,” Yigil said, “We have decided to chance the sincerity of Sensesi, with plenty of caution, of course. We feel that Havilah has not much choice but to do so.” “And where is the snake now?” I asked. “Ah, that is a good question.” Yigil replied. “She has disappeared some time ago. All attempts to scry her or otherwise contact her have failed. We fear that she may have been taken by agents of Illugi back to Edik, beyond the scope of our divinations. “ “Humph,” I muttered, crossing my arms, “I truly do not like acting on information provided by that creature. I just don’t trust her.” “You can say that again!” Hap added. “Be that as it may, our alternatives are few.” Yigil said. “And she, as well as the book, have provided us with a strategy which we deem sound. We would not send you on a suicide mission, my friends. We believe that this can be done.” “So what is it then?” Griff asked, getting to the point, “What do we have to do?” Yigil picked up the book, flipping through several pages until he came to a crude drawing of the temple in which we had recovered the orb that allowed mass transit between the Edik and Havilah. “The secret lies in his temple,” he said, “He gathers much of his power from the tortured souls imprisoned there, and it must be destroyed from the inside out. The souls, including those of several Havilah crew members, are held there via the effects of a powerful ‘soul bind’. We believe, and the book seems to verify this, that the strategic placement of a few ‘Mordenkainen’s disjunctions’ will dispel the powerful magic’s that harness these souls, though it will also unleash a guardian the likes of which you have not faced before.” “Oh yeah,” Griff said, “Like what?” “Like Illugi’s avatar.” Yigil answered somberly. “Great cats!” Taklinn exclaimed. “You can’t be serious!” “I’m afraid I am. Illugi’s presence on Edik is represented by his avatar, and the freeing of the souls bound within his temple will surely draw his ire and summon that avatar to halt such an incursion.” “Whatever,” Griff said, “If it bleeds, I’ll kill it.” “Well,” Yigil chuckled, “It certainly bleeds. His avatar is the physical manifestation of Illugi on Edik, and like any avatar, it is subject to most physical laws, including those of the blade. However, I cannot stress enough how dangerous this fight will be!” “Wait a minute,” I interrupted, “You said we need to cast a ‘disjunction’ in the temple?” “Yes,” Yigil replied, “Probably more than one.” “How do you intend for us to do that?” I asked. “I have yet to master ninth circle spells, even though its one that I’ve been studying.” “True,” Yigil smiled, “But I believe that your breakthrough is closer than you think, Doorag. You are one of the most able wizards Havilah has ever known, and it is my belief that you will soon master the most powerful of dweomers, including the ‘disjunction’. But even if you do not by the time you gain access to the inner temple, I believe that you will still have a fair chance to cast the spell from my own scrolls which I will provide you with.” I looked at him doubtfully. “You think so?” “I do.” He said. “For all our sakes, I hope you’re right.” I mumbled, not at all pleased to have had the cornerstone of this operation placed on my shoulders. “Don’t worry about it, lad!” Taklinn said with a wink, “You’ll do fine. You’ve never let us down yet, have you?” “Well, there was that one time…” Happy started, but she thought better of continuing her tale as Taklinn shot her a withering glare. Griff got us back on track. “Okay, so we get Doorag into the temple and he casts the discombobulate or whatever the hell it is and then we kill the avatar. That’ll seal off Illugi from Edik?” “Theoretically, yes.” Yigil nodded. “Without the power of the trapped souls in the temple to draw from, we believe that he will be unable to re insinuate himself into Edik. Once that has been accomplished I highly doubt that the current alliance among drider, yuan-ti and Himrock orc will stand. Even if it does, they will have no way to reach Havilah without the power of Illugi behind them. Either way, our job will have been done.” “So what’s the plan then?” Griff asked, “What? We blip over there, teleport into the temple, cast and kill? Is that it?” “Not quite, Griffin, my friend,” Nivin answered for Yigil. “The course of time on Edik, coupled with the contamination of Illugi, has drastically altered much of the architecture of Anvie city. You will see for yourselves when you get there, but believe me when I say that it is highly unlikely that the temple you remember has not undergone a dramatic change. Everything from the floor plan to the exact location has shifted considerably. Not only that, but Illugi will have certainly taken precautions against such intrusions. It is simply too easy to seal off an area, what with ‘dimensional locks’ and so forth. No, I fear that a more direct assault must be applied.” “To that end,” Yigil continued, “We have devised a plan. It is dangerous, but we believe it will give us the best chance of success.” Griff looked at the pair doubtfully, unwilling to put his trust in sages and mages, especially concerning a military endeavor. “I’m listening.” He said. Yigil poured himself a glass of wine. “Before I speak of this plan, let it be understood that talk of this goes no further than this room. I have used many magic’s to ensure the security of this office, but I must caution against any loose talk outside these walls. Our only hope is to hit hard and fast and to take their forces by as much surprise as we can. If word of our plan reaches the ears of Illugi’s informants, we will likely be doomed before we can even start. Is that clear?” “Of course.” The Major answered for all of us, though there was nodding of heads all around. Yigil looked at each of us in turn until he seemed satisfied. “Nivin,” he said, turning to the sage, “I’ll turn it over to you since you have been most in contact with the military on this thing.” “Thank you,” Nivin said, standing up and polishing his spectacles. He walked around to our side of the desk. “Now then,” He began, “You are somewhat familiar with the layout of the temple courtyard in Anvie city. While it is true that we dare not try to port directly into the temple, we have been able to scry the courtyard enough to know that we can attempt to insert a sizable force there. Our plan is to have Yigil create a series of ‘gates’ that will lead from the Academy arena directly to the courtyard. A hand picked troop of soldiers, both crew members and Havilah soldiers, will enter first to gain a foothold in the courtyard and clear a path for you. We expect some resistance, as the courtyard is guarded, but we think that our men should be able to handle the bulk of it. You will follow them through and make for the temple itself while they secure the courtyard and fend off further attackers. Your job will be to gain entry into the temple and find the chamber containing the souls. You know the rest.” We looked at Nivin, and then one another for a long moment as we considered the plan. “Do these hand picked guys know where they’re going?” Griff asked. “Sounds like it might be a suicide mission for a lot of them.” “As Yigil has already said, security is paramount. We have told none of them their true destination, only that it is an extremely dangerous mission of utmost importance.” “That stinks.” Griff growled, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms. “I don’t like sending men in ahead of us that don’t even know what they’re getting themselves into.” Major Throst answered for Nivin. “They are soldiers.” He said simply. “Theirs is not to know or reason why. It is enough to serve for the honor of the kingdom. Besides, this is what soldiers do. They know the risks when they enter the service.” “Whatever.” Griff replied evenly. “I have a question.” I cut in. “What happens to them when the rest of Illugi’s troops get wind of what’s going on and rally a huge force? Won’t they be crushed?” “Not necessarily,” Nivin said, “For one thing not all of Illugi’s forces are contained in Anvie. Indeed, much of his army is spread out over his empire to keep order, though we believe he can mobilize them for an assault on Havilah fairly quickly when he deems the time right. Also, we know that, while they are allies, the chain of command among Illugi’s forces will not always agree with one another. We have seen examples of infighting between drider troops and Himrocks, and that sort of thing. We have good reason to hope that their diversity and chaotic natures will slow them down a bit. If it looks like a no win situation we will do what we can to pull them out, just so long as you are able to get into the temple.” Griff frowned. “I dunno. It still sounds half baked to me.” Nivin raised an eyebrow toward our warrior. “I am open to suggestions, Griff.” He said. Griff scowled but said nothing. Truth be told, I was not terribly keen on the plan either, but I could think of nothing better. “What can you tell us about this avatar of Illugi’s?” Taklinn asked. “Know yer enemy, and all.” Yigil fielded this line of questioning. “This much I can tell you: do not, under any circumstances, touch him with your bare hand. You can expect your life essence to be drained if you do. You can also expect him to be highly resistant to damage and magic. He is also known for a fondness for summoning dweomers. Beyond that, we know little.” Happy shifted in her chair, obviously getting antsy and bored with all this talk. “So when do we go?” She sighed. “In the morning.” Nivin replied. “Get yourselves ready and meet on the Academy arena grounds at sun up.” “Are there any more questions?” Yigil asked. There were more questions, and Yigil and Nivin patiently answered them all as best they could. Finally there was nothing to do but depart and gear up for our mission. Rdyr’t 22 The things I have seen today could fill an entire journal. Where to even begin? How to even capture with words the events of the last hours? Imagine a heavy sigh here, gentle reader, for any who have followed my tale from it’s beginning will certainly wail with grief and cheer with joy, as I did, when I relate the ups and downs we have suffered today. *** We met on the arena field at sun up, as instructed. Nivin and Yigil were already there waiting. At first, it was just the seven of us. “So where is this crack team that’s supposed to beat a path for us?” Griff asked. “Soon,” Yigil smiled, “Soon.” He closed his eyes and concentrated, as if feeling for something with his mind. I saw his lips move and form a single word: “Now.” At his utterance the half dozen doors that lined the arena walls burst open and out poured a stream of men and women, marching in double time toward the center of the arena where we stood. I stared in awe at this show of force, for this was truly Havilah’s finest. Crew member marched alongside soldier as they formed formations and joined, lining up in neat rows near us. At a quick count I reckoned nearly two-hundred fighters, all of them geared up and ready for a fight. Swords, axes, pole arms, bows and cross bows were all held at the ready, and I could see in the face of every warrior there a grim readiness to fight and die in the name of Havilah. My heart swelled with pride and I vowed to see as many of them as possible return to the city they loved. “Quickly!” Nivin commanded, even as officers formed their warriors into groups, “There is little time! We must give them no chance to prepare! Yigil, now!” But Yigil was already casting. He unrolled a scroll and quickly rattled off its incantation, and even as the paper burned away, a large extra planar ‘gate opened quite near me. Looking through, I gasped, for I was able to see the courtyard of the temple in Edik! “Snake Skinners! White Skulls! Through!” I heard commanders call to their troops, and immediately an organized charge of warriors made for the ‘gate’. Without hesitation, they leapt through and into Edik. Yigil was already casting again, and then a third time. Two more ‘gates opened, and more of Havilah’s finest streamed through, and by now we could already hear the sounds of combat issuing forth from the other side. I glanced at Griff and saw that he already gripped his sword, barely containing himself from jumping through. Yigil cast a fourth ‘gate’ and the last of our troops ran into Edik. There would be no more holding back for our fighters. Griff, Taklinn and the Major took off at a dead run, leaping through the gates and into Edik. I took to the air and flew in after them with Happy hot at my heels. The next thing I knew, I was back on Edik with all hell breaking loose around me. Cries, grunts, the clashes of steel on steel, and the screams of the dieing assailed me. An arrow flew a little too close overhead as I tried to get my bearings. In front of me stood Taklinn, and I could already hear him chanting the prayer to his ‘holy word’ spell. His great shout seemed to shake the stone foundations of the temple courtyard, and I saw several yuan-ti and a drider freeze in their tracks, paralyzed. I shot into the air to get a better view of what was going on, and soon ascertained that our soldiers were entrenched in brutal combat with dozens upon dozens of yuan-ti, drider, and a squad of himrock orcs. Griff and the Major were already toe to toe with a pair of driders, and I was more than likely the only one who saw an invisible Happy sneaking around for a shot at Griff’s drider. As for me, I quickly zeroed in on a spot where Illugi’s forces were the most dense, and I hit the lot of them with a ‘horrid wilting’, wounding several and dropping more outright. I swung around, skimming low over the heads of the combatants, seeing Taklinn charge into a drider, axe swinging even as the drider launched a ‘lightning bolt’ at him. Taklinn soaked it up and shook off the charge of electricity with a grin, slamming home with his axe and bringing the drider to its knees. We were all busy for those first seconds as the crew beat down three drider and several yuan-ti and himrocks, but finally we regrouped as I pointed at the obsidian slate door of the now-oddly shaped temple a few hundred feet away. “There!” I shouted above the chaos of battle, “We have to get to the temple!” “I think those guys might have something to say about that.” Griff said evenly, nodding at the temple. I looked again and saw them, seven of the nastiest looking himrock orcs I’d ever seen, coming out of the now open temple door. They stepped into the courtyard as if they owned it, their course hair bristling. Most of them carried evil looking great axes, but it was the three that carried no weapons at all that I was most worried about, and I could already see the distinctive sheen of malevolent magic on them. They strided several yards into the courtyard, looking around, but ignoring our troops for the most part. Then, they spotted us. One of them raised a finger and roared out a challenge. They began to walk toward us, fanning out as they did so. Suddenly, a streak of lightning leapt at us, striking Taklinn and branching out to at the rest of us. But Taklinn had already cast a ‘holy aura’ that provided us with substantial protections from magic. Ironically, Taklinn was the only one other than Griff to feel the bite of the spell. I answered with a ‘horrid wilting’ upon them all, but knew then the same frustration that the enemy spellcaster must have felt, for I could tell that my most powerful dweomer affected only one of them. The rest ignored it via the resistance given them by an ‘unholy aura’. Though I felt sure that I had hurt the one I did affect, it enraged me to have been unable to penetrate the rest of them. Griff was moving, with Happy, like a shadow, invisible again, keeping pace. She peeled off at the last second, as Griff met one of the himrocks head on, the Talon singing as it sliced through the air and then armor and flesh, knocking the orc off its feet. Major Throst hit their opposite flank, dodging past two warrior orcs to get at a spellcaster, piercing him in the side and quickly setting up for another round of his dizzying short sword work. Taklinn, of course, charged straight down their center, colliding with a massive orc. The orcs axe glanced off of Taklinn’s plate, throwing sparks, but Taklinn’s blade, being made wholly of energy, ignored the orcs armor and cut deep into muscle and bone. It was a brutal and dirty fight. With each of our two groups being under the affects of both ‘holy’ and ‘unholy’ auras, each hand to hand attack was a gamble. I shuddered as I watched Griff or the Major wince as strength drained from them, but at the same time, even as an orc slammed Griff with his axe, he immediately fell blind, and was reduced to swinging wildly. Major Throst came at the sorcerer from every direction at once with his swords, and the caster was dead, I’m sure, before he even knew it. But the warriors had caught up with the Major by this time, and one of them waded in, damaging him, but being struck blind for his trouble. I was, unfortunately, largely ineffective. A well aimed ‘disintegrate’ was ignored by one of the casters, and my ‘chain lightning’ was little more than a nuisance to them. I cursed and swore that I would have a few ‘dispel magic’s’ ready for them next time! Griff had killed one orc, but the blind one still stood, and despite his inability to see, he still managed a lucky shot that sent Griff staggering. This, apparently, was unacceptable to Hap, and she immediately filled the orc full of daggers. Taklinn took a hard axe blow to the thigh, but returned three in return, dropping the warrior orc, and stepping into a spellcaster, slamming him as well and also killing him. Throst parried and thrust, stabbing, slashing, and dancing away from the maddened and blinded orc. Griff joined him, and cut high as the Major cut low. The orc fell dead. A large orc stood back, still protected by warriors. He held aloft the wicked looking symbol of Illugi as he imbued strength upon his allies. I flew upwards for a clear shot, and unleashed a volley of my most powerful ‘scorching rays’, but again, they were resisted! I was furious at my impotency, and was ready to simply throw rocks at the priest, but fortunately, that would not be necessary, for Happy was already hurling dagger after dagger into one of them while Griff was hard on another. Throst slipped through to hammer away at the priest. The three orcs were dead before Taklinn could even reach them to lend his aid. The five of us stood amongst the ruined bodies of the orcs, panting heavily, many of us deeply wounded. Both Griff and the Major had taken substantial damage, not only to body, but to their strength via the ‘unholy aura’ that had protected their foes. Around us the battle still raged, though it was apparent that our forces were gaining a foothold of sorts, driving yuan-ti, drider and orcs toward the enclosed courtyards exits, surrounding pockets of resistance and overwhelming them with sword and arrow. Taklinn did his best to heal those who needed it most, using ‘restoration’ on the Major as well as some of his more powerful healing spells to get us all back into fighting shape. Griff took a great swallow from his odd potion bottle that bore the mark of Clangeden, and seemed immediately not only fully healed, but positively bursting with energy and vigor. Happy was visible now, and looked quizzically at the temples open door, though only until I began to point out various magical goods possessed by the now dead orcish elite that we had slain. She grabbed what she could while Taklinn healed, and then the five of us made for the door, entering with drawn weapons, ready for anything. The antechamber was round, and was similar, though subtly different from how it had been the first time I had been here some ten Edik years since. A spiral stairwell rose up from the center of the room while several doors, some familiar, some not, studded the curved walls. The things that most caught the attention of first myself and Taklinn, and then the rest of the crew after we had pointed them out, were the malevolent figures that crouched along a ledge that ran around the interior of the room some fifteen feet above the floor. These creatures, not moving and nearly statue-like, might have been mistaken for gargoyles by the untrained eye, but I had fought gargoyles before, and knew immediately that these were no gargoyles. Indeed, had they been, it is probable that Griff, single-handedly, could have swept through the lot of them, but I knew from my studies that such would surly not be the case, for I recognized them for what they truly were. “Vrock,” I said, letting the word drop slowly as I edged toward a wall near the door. Taklinn’s eyes narrowed, for he too knew what they were. “Demons,” he spat, “And nasty buggers at that.” “Immune to electricity. Bad bite. Watch the claws, and hit the deck if three of them start dancing! They can call up a hell of a magical electrical burst if they get together on it.” I recited what I knew about vrock in short, clipped, speech, attempting to succinctly give as much information to the crew as I could before the inevitable attack. Indeed, while the demons still had moved not a muscle, while even their eyes remained fixed straight ahead, we could all feel them watching us, coiled to spring, as if waiting for us only to take one too many steps into the chamber. “Hit them hard, they’ll resist most of your weapon, and darn near any fire or cold you throw at them.” I said all of this while at the same time taking a mental inventory of my spell supply and gnashing my teeth inwardly at how many electrical, fire and cold based spells I had there. I concentrated, allowing my permanent ‘detect magic’ to scan them, and to my horror, I saw that they (there were probably fifteen of them in all) were steadily charging up with magic. I could see it pulse through them, growing stronger and stronger. This did not bode well, and I said so. “Now,” I cried, “Take them now!” Before the words were even fully out of my mouth Griff and the Major had raised and leveled their crossbows at a pair of the vrock and loosed their bolts, both of which hit home, piercing the mottled flesh of the demons and for the first time, eliciting a response from them. Vrock on all sides of us began to move, flaring their small wings and flexing their claw filled hands, ready to leap down amongst us. I let fly with a fireball from my staff at a group of three of them, and while I knew they would shrug off most of the damage, I also knew that every small bit could help, and the fact was, I simply had no other area spells that would hurt them. Even as the fireball engulfed them and exploded, I was moving up, flying into the air, hoping to make myself an unattractive target. Vrock were, I recalled, poor fliers. Then they were amongst the land bound crew, dropping from their perches and flapping clumsily to land on clawed feet, surrounding my friends. Taklinn attempted a spell but four of the vrock fell upon him, clawing and biting, and snuffing his spell out through sheer weight and damage. He valiantly fought back with his axe, crushing one of them, but more or less swinging in broad arcs, trying to buy himself some breathing room. Griff, the Major and Happy could do little to help him, as they all found themselves with plenty to do. I saw Griff step into a vrock and cut its head from its body as two more of them attempted to gnaw on his legs. He swept into a second vrock, killing it as well, and I marveled at the incredible power behind his swing. The Major wounded one, though his light swings were having typical difficulty penetrating the inborn damage resistance possessed by these demons, while I rained another fireball from above, catching two of them in its midst. The vrock seemed to be everywhere. They moved too fast to keep track of, clawing, biting, and releasing small, airborne, pockets of spoors that we all inhaled. I prayed that Taklinn would have the cure for whatever hellish disease they surely carried. But disease was the least of my worries, for as I scanned the floor below and wondered if ‘magic missile’ might not be more effective, I noticed three of the vrock standing in a circle near a set of double doors on the west side of the room. Hands clasped, they began to caper and prance, jumping about in a manner befitting the insane, and I watched in awestruck horror as electricity began to crackle around them. Slow seconds passed. Taklinn killed a vrock. Griff killed two. The Major pressed his attack. Happy killed one with a flurry of dagger attacks from the shadows of a room built into the circle of the antechamber. Still the three vrock danced, even as their numbers dwindled. I sought to stop them, to interrupt their vile ritual, and cast a ‘finger of death’ at one of them, but my bad luck held, and the demon merely looked pained, but never missed a step in it’s ghastly dance. Happy, quite near the trio, must have realized that they were up to no good, and she too attempted to remove a link from their chain. She hurled dagger after dagger into one of them, yet it survived! Barely standing, yet sneering it’s hideous grin, it howled and danced, and great bolts of electricity seemed to shed off of the three, sparking and crackling, building up to something very bad indeed. The smell of ozone was suddenly sharp in my nostrils. Just then, one of the vrock let out an inhumane screech that jangled my nerves to the core. For a brief instant, I could do nothing. My mind was a mass of twisted thought, and I could not bring any one of them to bear. I watched numbly as Griff slew two more vrock, trying to get to the dancing trio. I watched as Major Throst reeled backward, his sword points dipping as he was overcome by the screech as I was. I watched Happy draw back her arm for another dagger throw, but the steel would never have a chance to leave her hand. As if in slow motion, I saw the room spark and fill with electricity. It emanated from the three dancing vrock and mushroomed out to fill every nook of the room, clear to its seventy foot ceiling. The bolts of lightning sought to engulf us, and we dodged this way and that for a single, desperate, second that seemed to go on forever. Then, as suddenly as it had been unleashed, it was gone, and though all of the hair upon my body now stood at attention, I was still alive, and indeed, unscathed, thanks in no small amount to the ring of ‘evasion’ I wear at all times. But the bolt had been massive, and so too was the damage inflicted by it. I scanned quickly for my friends. Hap, of course, had danced with the electricity as if it were an old and familiar partner, and showed not a sign of damage. Griff, however, and Major Throst, had not been so lucky, and both of them now nearly sagged to the floor. But it was Taklinn that my eyes came to rest upon. Our dwarf, our sturdy dwarf, the pillar that could not fall, lay blackened and charred upon the stone floor. His flesh was charred to the color of burnt coal and was stretched across his bones far too tightly. What was left of his beard and hair smoldered. His axe lay unattended at his side, seeming to flicker and pulse uncertainly. I was forty feet in the air, but even from that distance, I knew. I knew that Taklinn was dead. “TAKLINN!” Griff’s voice filled the room much as the massive burst of electricity had done just an instant before, only there could be no dodging the anguish it contained. It numbed my bones. A surge of blind and single minded rage seemed to sweep over all of us then; a thirst for vengeance and the right to kneel at the side of our fallen comrade without fear of attack. It gripped us like a madness, as if we were animals caught in traps, lashing out to deal pain that might somehow equal our own. Griff, wounded as he was, crossed the room in three long strides and crashed into the trio of vrock that now howled in victory. He cut them short, catching one of them with a great cleave of steel that sent the demon flying in two separate directions. Hap, all of the usual humor in her eyes long gone, had only pure murder on her mind, and her daggers flew with enough force to pierce stone. Both of the remaining vrock were wounded, and neither of them could stand up to her barrage. Down they went. From the corner of my eye I saw a vrock that had taken to the air. The demon was no more than twenty feet from me, and as if from outside myself I heard my own scream of rage and sorrow as I unleashed a maximized and empowered ‘scorching ray’ that struck him thrice, burning him to the core, yet not killing him. Not caring if the thing lived or died, I dove toward the floor, to where Taklinn lay, hoping against hope that some small spark of life remained within that charred husk. I landed next to his body, and the memory that keeps coming back to me again and again even as I write this is the image of tiny wisps and tendrils of smoke that still escaped from between his blackened lips. My heart howled and thrashed within my chest, unable to accept what was so clear. Through a mist of tears I found another vrock in the room and cast a ‘hold monster’ on him. The spell held him long enough for Happy to puncture it several times and for Throst to finish it off. In the meantime, still in the grips of his frenzy, Griff was cutting a swath through the last of the demons, taking hits, bleeding from a dozen gashes and cuts, but making them pay, yes, pay dearly for the life of our cleric, and when he was through not one vrock stood alive. Their twisted and torn bodies littered the floor of the chamber. I stood in shock over Taklinn’s body, staring, unable to accept his stillness. The Major walked near in silence, sheathing his blades and bowing his head in respect. I heard him whisper a soldiers prayer to a dead comrade and I think I nearly fainted from the purity of sorrow that hit me like an ocean wave. Happy stood near Taklinn’s head, her mouth open, in much the same shock as I. Tears welled in her eyes, and though I knew that she and Taklinn had often had their differences, I also knew that a small part of her lay there on the floor as well, burnt and dead. But it was Griff whose eyes met mine as he stumbled to Taklinn’s side, his sword dropped and forgotten behind him. He fell to his knees, reaching to touch the dwarf, but drawing his hand back as if from a viper. He shook his head, then looked at me, and the way that his face twisted caused my throat to close. “Do something!” He demanded, holding my eyes with his own. “Griff, I…I can’t.” I whispered. “What the hell do you mean, you can’t?” He shouted, all logic driven away by his pain. “All your magic’s can’t bring him back? I don’t believe that! You bring him back right NOW!” I hung my head. “Griff,” I said softly, “My magic and Taklinn’s are quite different. I have no direct connection to the gods. I have no spell that will do what you’re asking.” “You’re lying!” Griff cried, though I knew that he knew that I was not. His rage was without direction, his words, products of a broken heart. “I am not.” I said, and a tear rolled down my cheek. “But more than that, even if I could, do you not remember all the times that Taklinn swore that he would not return from the dead? It was his wish to fall in battle. He said time and again that we were not to attempt to bring him back.” I choked on the words and pressed my palms into my eyes until I saw only bright red. “Then I’ll do it myself!” Griff hissed through clenched teeth, and he reached to Taklinn’s side and gripped Clangeden’s axe in both fists! Clangeden’s axe was imbued with enough holy power to flat out kill a Yugoloth that had once dared to touch it, and now it seemed to radiate heat that I could feel from several feet away. Griff’s face sagged in pain as the handle, engraved with runes and symbols, seared into his hands. The high, sickly sweet odor of burning flesh filled my nostrils and I watched in awe and fascinated horror as smoke began to erupt from Griff’s fists. I could hear the sizzling of his flesh, but he would not let go his hold on the axe. Happy seemed frozen in place, and the Major’s eyes went wide. “CLANGEDEN!” Griff screamed through the pain of his wounds, the pain of his burning hands, the pain of his loss. “Clangeden, hear me! Taklinn is your servant and my friend and I…want…him…BACK! Hear me and grant him his life! Return him now, and I swear by all that I hold true that from this day forward I will serve you! Bring him back and you will forevermore count the sword of Griffin Dorjan amongst your own! Clangeden, HEAR ME!” And apparently, Clangeden did. *** With Taklinn’s death and Griff’s subsequent and jaw droppingly dramatic plea and vow to Clangeden, I thought I had seen it all. What could possibly shock me after the events of the last few moments? But my stomach twisted into an even more complex knot at the sound of a familiar voice belting out rhyme with cheerful gusto, and I’m certain that my mouth hung with dumbfounded slack as I turned to see Caribdis march through the front doors, his beaming smile lighting up the room. Happy rubbed her eyes, as if to make sure that what she was seeing was real, and even Griff seemed to forget that his hands were cooking at high temperature when he saw our long lost bard stroll through in. But as Caribdis came toward us as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Griff must have caught wind of his own flesh, for he dropped the axe to the stone floor. The clatter seemed to break the spell of shock we were under, and I was dimly aware of Major Throst looking on in confusion as Griff, Happy and I drew back from Taklinn’s body and let Caribdis into our circle. Hands on hips, Caribdis was the very picture of hale and hearty health. “Looks like the old boy bit off more than he could chew this time, eh?” he grinned, nodding at Taklinn’s body. “Never fear, I’ve got just the thing! If you’ll allow me a bit of room…” Caribdis knelt next to Taklinn and laid a gentle hand upon the dwarf’s brow. In his low sing-song voice, he began to chant, and my hackles rose as I felt the powerful magic emanate from him. Neither Hap, nor Griff, nor myself had yet said a word, and we remained in dumb silence throughout the minute long casting of the spell. We watched as Taklinn’s burnt flesh healed and became its normal leather-like complexion. We watched as his fingers, fused together by the intense electrical heat, came apart. We watched as life flowed back into him with every word that Caribdis spoke, and when his eyes fluttered, then opened, I realized that I had completely forgotten to breath. Caribdis sat back on his haunches as Taklinn came to, blinking and sitting up. He looked about himself, and his eyes came to rest on the smiling Caribdis. “It’s good to see you, my friend.” He said. “Likewise.” Caribdis replied. “It looked like you’d gotten yourself into a spot of trouble, so I figured I’d better lend a hand.” Taklinn took a deep breath and gathered himself. “Yes,” he agreed, “I suppose you’re right. The last thing I remember is lightning. Lots of it. The next thing I know I was in the halls of Clangeden. Funny though, even as I realized where I was, I knew it wasn’t my time yet. Clangeden was there and he just shook his head and smiled, as if to say that I was right, that I had too much left to do in the land of the living.” It was a surreal moment, watching one newly dead comrade pick himself up off the floor while another, long dead, friend helped him to his feet. Happy went to Griff’s side but he seemed not to notice her. His eyes went again and again from Caribdis to Taklinn to his seared hands, and I could tell that much was going on in his head. I came to my senses at last and found my voice. “Caribdis! What on earth are you doing here?” “I’d have thought that was obvious.” He smirked. “Just bringing back the dead, singing a few songs, you know, the usual.” “Don’t be flip!” I said, crossly. I had not yet had time to let the joy of his return wash over me, and already he was pushing my buttons. “Why now? Is this just coincidence?” “Well, no, not exactly.” He said with that old mischievousness in his eyes.” “What then?” Taklinn asked, all ears. “Let’s just say I’m doing a favor for a couple of higher ups from the other side.” He said. “Who?” Griff asked. We all turned to look at him, for the tone of his voice gave no room for oblique answers. Caribdis blinked. “Fharlanghan and Clangeden.” He said, simply. “They asked you to come back?” I pressed him, “Why?” “Yeah,” Happy demanded, “And why would you come back for them when you wouldn’t come back for us?” “Jeese! What’s with the Q and A?” Caribdis said, defensively, “I thought you’d be happy to see me.” “Of course we’re happy to see you back,” I replied, “It’s just quite a shock!” “Well, if you must know, the two gods figured you might need all the help you can get on this mission. According to them, if you get killed while taking on Illugi’s avatar there will be no coming back.” “Ever?” asked Hap, wide eyed. “Ever.” Caribdis nodded solemnly. “I was on the fence about it, but then this thing with Taklinn happened, and well, what could I do?” “Well, whatever the case, I’m glad ye did come back!” Taklinn laughed, clapping Caribdis on the shoulder, “It would have been a sore ending to have the final pages of my life read that I was done in for good by a bunch of scurrilous vrock!” Taklinn bent and retrieved his axe, and I saw Griff follow that motion as if entranced. Something was up with our warrior friend. Hap could sense it and so could I. Even Major Throst looked warily at Griff, but none of us said a word. “So what now?” Caribdis asked, “I’ve been brought up to date on the mission, and truth be told, it feels kind of good to be back in my skin. I’m ready for some action!” I eyed Caribdis, noticing a few things about him for the first time. “Speaking of your skin, Caribdis, what’s with you’re new color? And how about that mark on your forehead?” Indeed, upon closer examination, Caribdis’ skin contained an odd, golden, hue, as if he almost seemed to glow. And upon his forehead was a symbol, a circle with a line slashed through it and a crescent moon shape. I recognized it as the symbol of Fharlanghan. Caribdis shrugged. “Not sure,” He replied, touching his forehead, “Fharlanghan touched my head before they sent me back. Maybe it’s a brand.” “Well, a pair of axes would look better, but I suppose it’ll do.” Taklinn grinned. “Now what say we heal up and get on with this? Illugi awaits!” There was no denying that Illugi did indeed await, and though I had many questions for both of them, not to mention Griff, I decided to wait until a more opportune time. As it happened, we still a bit more drama to endure before we would be on our way. Caribdis and Taklinn fell into their old ways immediately, looking for wounds on us and laying hands on to quell bleeding and pain. Caribdis was all smiles as he sang his healing song, but suddenly it died in his throat. His grin faded and a far away look came into his eyes. He took a step back, and I saw something new, something different flood into him, and his eyes became quite sharp, and quite malevolent! “So, the gang’s all here!” He said with a humorless smile. I sucked in my breath in horror as a bell seemed to chime in my head. The voice was Caribdis’, but I recognized the tone, the intonation, the hint of sarcasm. I struggled to place it, but it was Happy who realized first who it was. “Scylla!” She gasped. “Nice to see you, Hap.” Caribdis said, with no sincerity at all. It hit me like a ton of bricks as I recalled Scylla’s love of the ‘Magic Jar’ spell, and I understood that the witch had taken over our bard! Taklinn and Griff understood it too, and their weapons came up in a flash. “What do you want?” Griff demanded. “Oh, I just couldn’t resist taking a jaunt in your weak minded friend here,” Scylla/Caribdis replied, “And maybe to warn you to turn back now. You’re in way over your heads here. You can’t possibly win.” “Get out of him!” Was Griff’s only answer as he took a menacing step toward Caribdis. “What, you’re going to cut down your old friend?” Scylla laughed, “What sort of homecoming would that be? Besides, you know it wouldn’t hurt me.” “I’ll see him dead before I let you toy with him you twisted…” And Griff drew back his blade with a look that said that this was no threat, it was a promise.” Scylla/Caribdis took a step back. “I should let you kill him!” She hissed. “But no, Illugi has plans for you all! I came here to warn you, but I know you won’t listen. You’re all fools! Come ahead then! Come ahead and feel the wrath of true power! Feel the might of a god who will soon trample your precious Havilah to dust!” Griff took another step forward and I flinched, sure that he was going to take Caribdis’ head off. But suddenly our bard blinked and looked around. “Well that was odd.” He said, a bit puzzled. Griff’s blade lowered as we realized that Scylla had fled Caribdis’ body. “Here!” I heard Taklinn cry. I turned to see that he had found a gem, cleverly mounted into a door on the east wall. It had to be the component for the ‘Magic Jar’ spell, and Taklinn wasted no time in shattering it to a thousand pieces with his axe. Caribdis looked puzzled at Taklinn, obviously having no recollection of the events of the last few minutes. We were left to tell him, but upon hearing that he had so recently been used as a vessel for Scylla, he shrugged with maddeningly Caribdis-like aplomb and grinned. “Well, we’d best get looking for her then, hadn’t we?” And with that, he headed for an unchecked door, and before anyone could stop him, flung it wide! Whatever he saw beyond that door set his hackles up and the next thing I knew he was firing arrows through the doorway and then giving chase with a hoot! We were all too stunned to react at first. The shock of Taklinn’s death and resurrection, a seemingly profound occurrence in Griff, and the sudden reappearance of Caribdis, not to mention the fright from Scylla, had set us on our heels. But it looked as if Caribdis was not going to give us time to acclimate, and as soon as we’d gathered our bearings we charged after him. The door led into a long hallway, at the end of which, on the right hand wall, was another door. Caribdis was down there, shooting another volley of arrows even as he recited a verse that was new to me, though I did catch its discordant message and sensed the inherent magic within it. I soon heard the clang and smash of weapons on armor from beyond Caribdis’ doorway and our bard chuckled at whatever chaos he had caused as he let off still more arrows. We reached the doorway and jockeyed for position. I flew overhead and witnessed several himrock orcs in a room, several of them fighting with each other, a product, I assumed, of Caribdis’ verse. Still more himrocks were charging for Caribdis, but Griff and Taklinn were already inside. They went to work. It was nasty. There was a cleric among them who hit Griff with a ‘harm’ spell that nearly brought him down, but fortunately Caribdis still knows a healing verse or two and managed to bring Griff back from the brink before another enemy could finish the job. Taklinn and Griff bore the brunt of the attack, as they always do, while Hap did what Hap does best. Caribdis healed, fired arrows, and aided us all with his verses, and I could not help but grin inwardly at how good it felt, even in the midst of a fight, to hear his silly lyrics laced with magic. Major Throst waded in as well, and I cast what I could, but, to my disgust, these orcs were also under the effects of an ‘unholy aura’ spell, and I had a devil of a time with the resistance it afforded them. At one point two of the orcs fled for a door on the far side and we gave chase, only to find still more orcs on the opposite side, waiting to pounce. Even I was struck once or twice, but Taklinn and Hap managed to take my enemy down, thank goodness! Those himrocks hit hard! We cleared them out at last, and I looked around at the dead orcs and my wounded friends, knowing that we were not up for another fight like that. “Caribdis, do you suppose we could call it a day?” I asked him. “But I just got here!” He protested. I gave him a withering glare and nodded at Griff, who Taklinn was even now using the last of his healing on. “Oh, okay.” Caribdis sighed. I created a mansion. There were several matters to think about before we just turned in. For one thing, we were in the belly of Illugi’s temple, not a good place to camp, even within the extra dimensional mansion. Also, there was the matter of the remaining Havilah soldiers. I returned to the main entrance to find them there, perhaps thirty in all, many of them badly wounded. They had barricaded the door to the courtyard. The men were bloody and without leadership, their commander having been slain in the attack. I heard a sigh beside me and looked to see Major Throst there. Without a word to me, he began barking orders at the soldiers, forming them into ranks and issuing commands, pointing and getting them organized for a siege. Throst was a natural leader to these men and he was in his element. A moment later, he approached me. “The men need a commander,” He stated simply, “I am the obvious choice by way of my rank. I think it would be wise for me to remain with them, both for their sakes and for the sake of your crew. It would appear that one of your original members has returned. I understand the balance of these things, and while I know that my swords would aid you, I fear that I would do more harm than good. Call it superstition, but the balance of a crew should not be tried, especially in such dire times.” I could tell that it pained him to say it, that he wanted nothing more than to carry on with us, to confront Illugi for the honor of his name and for Havilah. But I also know that what he said had merit, and I merely shook his hand. “It has been a pleasure, Major Throst.” I said, and then I took a step back and saluted smartly. He nodded and saluted back, then turned on his heel to rejoin his men. I offered and even tried to insist that the Major and his men stay in the safety of the mansion, but he declined, stating that it was their job to secure the entry way, to make sure no more orcs and yuan-ti entered to come after us. He would have it no other way, but I at least would not yield on the issue of food. The mansion creates more than enough food to feed twice as many of us as there were, so it was agreed that the men would enter in shifts and dine as heroes of their caliber should before hunkering down for the day. When those arrangements had been made, I headed straight for my chambers. I could see Taklinn and Caribdis deep in conversation in the den, so I let them be, preferring seclusion. I had much to think about, and I would have liked nothing more than to grill Caribdis about what exactly it was he was doing here, but I knew that there would be no getting any straight answers out of him for at least a little while. He was obviously still enjoying the drama of his return too much to let all the cats out of the bag and I didn’t feel like playing that game. As much as I love the boy, I was less than ready to listen to his esoteric replies to anything I might ask him. And I needed the rest. The sooner we were all at full capacity, the sooner we would take the fight to Illugi and Scylla, and I had a powerful thirst to see an end to those two, especially the latter. It made me nervous to be here, resting within the temple, and I feared for Major Throst and the soldiers, wishing again that they had acquiesced to stay in the mansion. The sooner we got moving again, the better. I wrote for an hour and then doused the lights. [/QUOTE]
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From the Diary of Doorag Marzipan
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