Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Knightfall's Realmsian Dragonstar (Updated: Sept 08/10)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 442453" data-attributes="member: 2012"><p><strong>Below the Burning Sky (cont)</strong></p><p></p><p>Finkel Sunbottle led his friend Ruby Theragain and Lily Tibbles through the deserted, ruined streets of Beluir. The trio ducked into a narrow alley behind Fanny’s Wicker and Little Treasures to avoid a patrol of Imperial legionnaires. The shop had been gutted, of course, but the remaining ruins were high enough for the three halflings to hide behind.</p><p></p><p>Finkel held his breath gripping the laser pistol he had stole from an Imperial officer, after he killed him. Finkel was wanted by the Imperials. Wanted dead or alive. Preferably dead or at least beaten black and blue. If the Imperial’s sensors detected them he wouldn’t live long.</p><p></p><p>The Imperial patrol stomped down the ruined tangle that used to be Firefly Street. Somehow their sensors had missed them and Finkel praised Brandobaris for their luck. Ruby pulled on his sleeve wanting to go on as quickly as possible. He motioned for her to wait while he made sure the Imperials weren’t coming back to check an anomalous reading on their sensors.</p><p></p><p>He crept out to the edge of the building pistol in hand peering cautiously around the edge in the direction the Imperial patrol had gone. No sign of them it was good to go. He motioned for Ruby and Lily to follow as he dashed across the street using the darkness as cover. Ruby was right behind him dragging Lily with her.</p><p></p><p>Finkel sighed shaking his head. If Lily hadn’t had information on where the Imperials were holding Ruby’s aunt and uncle Finkel would never have let her come along. She was in her Sunday dress and was slowing them down. Finkel had tried to get the halfling girl to put on the same sort of dark breeches and shirt that he and Ruby now wore. But had stated matter-of-factly that she’d never be caught dead in such an outfit. Finkel prayed they wouldn’t find out.</p><p></p><p>The halfling boy had become older over the last few days. He felt all grown up. He didn’t have a choice really. All the adults of the city had either been rounded up or killed. Ruby’s aunt and uncle were two of the last free adults in the city, as they had not given the Imperials any reason to arrest them. Then they had come in the middle of the night, which was not more than two hours ago.</p><p></p><p>The Imperials had discovered that Finkel was Ruby’s friend and had come to take her prisoner. She hadn’t been there but that didn’t stop the Imperials from taking her aunt and uncle. They had left a note saying that if Ruby gave up Finkel and the rest of his halfling freedom fighters, they would let her family go. Of course, she didn’t believe a word of it. They had made similar promises to the desperate and had broken their word.</p><p></p><p>What made it harder to take was that many of these promises came from the Imperial halflings preaching the benefits of the Empire and the Unification Church.</p><p></p><p>Ruby tugged on his shirt again to let Finkel know that they were ready to continue on.</p><p></p><p>“Which way?” Finkel whispered to Lily.</p><p></p><p>Lily looked like she was going to cry pointing down the adjacent avenue that crossed Firefly Street. Finkel knew that avenue was called Windy Leaves.</p><p></p><p>“How far?” Ruby was worried about her aunt and uncle.</p><p></p><p>“About half the way down to the next intersection. That’s where the map said the detention center has been set up in the theater.”</p><p></p><p>Lily had caught a glimpse of a map of the city when visiting the Imperial command center in her role as a faithful convert to the Unification Church. She had been supplying good information to the freedom fighters ever since. Finkel knew that if she said it was in the theater then it was.</p><p></p><p>“Alright,” Finkel pulled his hood up while adjusting his belt so that he could draw his dagger at a moment’s notice. “Lily, you’ve done your part for tonight. Go home and be careful. Ruby and I will handle this.”</p><p></p><p>“B-but there could be guards,” Lily’s voice wavered and Finkel thought for a second that she was more than just concerned for his safety.</p><p></p><p>“Lily,” Ruby grabbed her friend shaking her. “You can’t be involved in this, alright. Now go!”</p><p></p><p>Lily ran off ducking into an ally disappearing from site. The duo watched her leave hoping she would be all right.</p><p></p><p>“You ready, Rubes?” Finkel flicked the safety off his pistol.</p><p></p><p>“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Ruby pulled up her hood drawing her short sword. It had been her father’s.</p><p></p><p>“Ok, let’s go and get your family.”</p><p></p><p>The two halflings darted down Windy Leaves towards the theater. Nothing moved around them but Finkel knew that the Imperials didn’t need to be present to see them. Their technology could do it for them. Finkel quickly crossed to the other side of the avenue staying as low as possible. Ruby was right behind him.</p><p></p><p>They ducked down the alley that led behind the theater. Finkel dived into the shadows quietly as a cat. Ruby slid in next him with a thud. Finkel held his breath praying to Brandobaris for more luck. Imperial sensors could detect the slightest noise variation and Finkel knew there would be such a device around the detention center. Nothing happened.</p><p></p><p>Finkel didn’t like it. Ruby had made more than enough noise to trigger any sensor. Could Lily’s information been wrong? Not likely, she’d never been wrong before. The damn Imperials trusted her. She was the best spy they the freedom fighters had.</p><p></p><p>Ruby looked at Finkel as if to say sorry but he put his hand over her mouth. She’d helped him with missions before but usually only in the planning part of it. This was her first time on a mission. He’d wanted her to stay behind too but she had refused. They were her family.</p><p></p><p>Finkel pulled his hand away looking up for a way in without tripping the sensors. This wasn’t going to be easy. All of the windows would be rigged and if they tried to break the glass the audio sensors would detect it. Ruby tugged on his shirt again pleading to go on. She was becoming impatient. Finkel grabbed her hand shaking his head. He had to think this through.</p><p></p><p>What would the Imperials not have thought of? Every entrance would be rigged and the Imperials understood magic better than anyone he’d ever seen. He did have a Dispel Magic scroll but he doubted it would work against Imperial magic. He had another device as well. A device he loathed to use. He had had a dream the first night of the Imperial attack. The goddess had spoken to him and when he had woke the amulet had been laying next to him.</p><p></p><p>Finkel reached under his shirt grabbing a hold of the symbol of the Dark Mistress, Shar. The halfling boy closed his eyes making sure to keep a hold of Ruby’s hand. He called on the power of the amulet and he and Ruby were pulled into the Plane of Shadow. Ruby hadn’t known about the amulet. He hadn’t told anyone about it. She screamed in terror thinking Gods’ know what.</p><p></p><p>“Rubes,” Finkel shook his friend. “It’s alright, were on the Plane of Shadow.”</p><p></p><p>“H-how did you do that?” Ruby looked as though he were a monster.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll explain later. Right now we need to get your aunt and uncle out of there.”</p><p></p><p>“Out of where? We’re not even it Beluir anymore.”</p><p></p><p>“Actually, we are but we aren’t. Look.”</p><p></p><p>Ruby looked around at the horrid plane. Everything was in black and white. The sky was black but not like at night. There weren’t any stars. The theater was still there but looked more like an abomination of the real theater. Ruby couldn’t help but be terrified. She looked at Finkel in terror.</p><p></p><p>“Don’t look at me like that. I don’t like it anymore than you do. But we needed a way into the theater without being detected.”</p><p></p><p>“But how?”</p><p></p><p>“Look how the building is warped in places. Even now it changes as you look at it. If we take a half-a-step we should end up in the center of the theater. But be careful. Distance isn’t the same here. If you step too far you could end up on the other side of the city.”</p><p></p><p>“You’ve done this before.”</p><p></p><p>“I haven’t had a choice.”</p><p></p><p>“There is always a choice when comes to dark magic.”</p><p></p><p>“Don’t lecture me Rubes! I’m fighting a war here!” Finkel’s skin appeared to darken as the plane’s darkness tore at his soul. “Now, are you going to help me rescue your aunt and uncle or wait here until I get back?”</p><p></p><p>Ruby swallowed hard grabbing Finkel’s hand. She was shaking uncontrollably. “Y-your n-not leaving me h-her, Finkel Sunbottle. But this conversation isn’t over. We are going to talk about this later. Now get me out of here!”</p><p></p><p>Finkel took half a step with his left hand around the symbol of Shar and the other in Ruby’s hand. He closed his eyes again concentrating and they were on the Material Plane again. Finkel looked around. They were near the middle of the theater. Ruby sighed in relief.</p><p></p><p>Finkel stared in shock. There wasn’t anyone in the theater. It was empty. He didn’t understand it. Lily was never wrong. She…</p><p></p><p>Then it hit him. Lily had never been wrong once. Not even off by the minutest detail. He had thought it luck granted by Brandobaris. The cold, hard truth sank into him just as the Imperials burst through the door and windows of the theater.</p><p></p><p>“Oh no.” Finkel fired his laser pistol hitting an Imperial soldier directly in the chest. The laser bolt bounced harmlessly off the soldier’s armor.</p><p></p><p>Ruby screamed. Finkel felt her hand slip away from him as a Imperial soldier grabbed her by hair. The huge man held her aloft as the Imperials surrounded him. Dozens of laser rifles were now pointed at his head just daring him to continue firing. Finkel signed dropping his weapon. He put his hands up over his head.</p><p></p><p>“Finkel,” Ruby whimpered. “How did they know?”</p><p></p><p>The ring of soldiers parted in front of Finkel. Three halflings walked into the theater. The two in front were Imperial officers devoted to the Unification Church. Finkel had known who the third halfling was even before he could see her.</p><p></p><p>“Lily.”</p><p></p><p>Lily looked right at Finkel without emotion or a second thought. She tuned towards Ruby looking at her as a scornful mother would at a bad child.</p><p></p><p>“Yes,” one of the Imperial halflings put his hand on Lily’s shoulder. “Mistress Lily has done the Empire a great service this night.”</p><p></p><p>“Lily, how could you?” Ruby screamed wiggling trying to get free. The Imperial soldier knocked her unconscious.</p><p></p><p>Finkel ground his teeth in frustration. He could use his amulet to escape but he couldn’t bare the thought of leaving Ruby behind.</p><p></p><p>“Poor deluded Ruby.” Lily spoke towards Ruby as if she was still conscious. “The Empire is the best thing to happen to Faerûn since sweat meats.”</p><p></p><p>Finkel lost his temper. “Traitor! I’ll kill you!”</p><p></p><p>Finkel Sunbottle lunged for Lily’s throat. It was the last thing he ever did, as the energy blasts from dozens of laser rifles cut him to pieces.</p><p></p><p>* * *</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Knightfall, post: 442453, member: 2012"] [b]Below the Burning Sky (cont)[/b] Finkel Sunbottle led his friend Ruby Theragain and Lily Tibbles through the deserted, ruined streets of Beluir. The trio ducked into a narrow alley behind Fanny’s Wicker and Little Treasures to avoid a patrol of Imperial legionnaires. The shop had been gutted, of course, but the remaining ruins were high enough for the three halflings to hide behind. Finkel held his breath gripping the laser pistol he had stole from an Imperial officer, after he killed him. Finkel was wanted by the Imperials. Wanted dead or alive. Preferably dead or at least beaten black and blue. If the Imperial’s sensors detected them he wouldn’t live long. The Imperial patrol stomped down the ruined tangle that used to be Firefly Street. Somehow their sensors had missed them and Finkel praised Brandobaris for their luck. Ruby pulled on his sleeve wanting to go on as quickly as possible. He motioned for her to wait while he made sure the Imperials weren’t coming back to check an anomalous reading on their sensors. He crept out to the edge of the building pistol in hand peering cautiously around the edge in the direction the Imperial patrol had gone. No sign of them it was good to go. He motioned for Ruby and Lily to follow as he dashed across the street using the darkness as cover. Ruby was right behind him dragging Lily with her. Finkel sighed shaking his head. If Lily hadn’t had information on where the Imperials were holding Ruby’s aunt and uncle Finkel would never have let her come along. She was in her Sunday dress and was slowing them down. Finkel had tried to get the halfling girl to put on the same sort of dark breeches and shirt that he and Ruby now wore. But had stated matter-of-factly that she’d never be caught dead in such an outfit. Finkel prayed they wouldn’t find out. The halfling boy had become older over the last few days. He felt all grown up. He didn’t have a choice really. All the adults of the city had either been rounded up or killed. Ruby’s aunt and uncle were two of the last free adults in the city, as they had not given the Imperials any reason to arrest them. Then they had come in the middle of the night, which was not more than two hours ago. The Imperials had discovered that Finkel was Ruby’s friend and had come to take her prisoner. She hadn’t been there but that didn’t stop the Imperials from taking her aunt and uncle. They had left a note saying that if Ruby gave up Finkel and the rest of his halfling freedom fighters, they would let her family go. Of course, she didn’t believe a word of it. They had made similar promises to the desperate and had broken their word. What made it harder to take was that many of these promises came from the Imperial halflings preaching the benefits of the Empire and the Unification Church. Ruby tugged on his shirt again to let Finkel know that they were ready to continue on. “Which way?” Finkel whispered to Lily. Lily looked like she was going to cry pointing down the adjacent avenue that crossed Firefly Street. Finkel knew that avenue was called Windy Leaves. “How far?” Ruby was worried about her aunt and uncle. “About half the way down to the next intersection. That’s where the map said the detention center has been set up in the theater.” Lily had caught a glimpse of a map of the city when visiting the Imperial command center in her role as a faithful convert to the Unification Church. She had been supplying good information to the freedom fighters ever since. Finkel knew that if she said it was in the theater then it was. “Alright,” Finkel pulled his hood up while adjusting his belt so that he could draw his dagger at a moment’s notice. “Lily, you’ve done your part for tonight. Go home and be careful. Ruby and I will handle this.” “B-but there could be guards,” Lily’s voice wavered and Finkel thought for a second that she was more than just concerned for his safety. “Lily,” Ruby grabbed her friend shaking her. “You can’t be involved in this, alright. Now go!” Lily ran off ducking into an ally disappearing from site. The duo watched her leave hoping she would be all right. “You ready, Rubes?” Finkel flicked the safety off his pistol. “As ready as I’ll ever be.” Ruby pulled up her hood drawing her short sword. It had been her father’s. “Ok, let’s go and get your family.” The two halflings darted down Windy Leaves towards the theater. Nothing moved around them but Finkel knew that the Imperials didn’t need to be present to see them. Their technology could do it for them. Finkel quickly crossed to the other side of the avenue staying as low as possible. Ruby was right behind him. They ducked down the alley that led behind the theater. Finkel dived into the shadows quietly as a cat. Ruby slid in next him with a thud. Finkel held his breath praying to Brandobaris for more luck. Imperial sensors could detect the slightest noise variation and Finkel knew there would be such a device around the detention center. Nothing happened. Finkel didn’t like it. Ruby had made more than enough noise to trigger any sensor. Could Lily’s information been wrong? Not likely, she’d never been wrong before. The damn Imperials trusted her. She was the best spy they the freedom fighters had. Ruby looked at Finkel as if to say sorry but he put his hand over her mouth. She’d helped him with missions before but usually only in the planning part of it. This was her first time on a mission. He’d wanted her to stay behind too but she had refused. They were her family. Finkel pulled his hand away looking up for a way in without tripping the sensors. This wasn’t going to be easy. All of the windows would be rigged and if they tried to break the glass the audio sensors would detect it. Ruby tugged on his shirt again pleading to go on. She was becoming impatient. Finkel grabbed her hand shaking his head. He had to think this through. What would the Imperials not have thought of? Every entrance would be rigged and the Imperials understood magic better than anyone he’d ever seen. He did have a Dispel Magic scroll but he doubted it would work against Imperial magic. He had another device as well. A device he loathed to use. He had had a dream the first night of the Imperial attack. The goddess had spoken to him and when he had woke the amulet had been laying next to him. Finkel reached under his shirt grabbing a hold of the symbol of the Dark Mistress, Shar. The halfling boy closed his eyes making sure to keep a hold of Ruby’s hand. He called on the power of the amulet and he and Ruby were pulled into the Plane of Shadow. Ruby hadn’t known about the amulet. He hadn’t told anyone about it. She screamed in terror thinking Gods’ know what. “Rubes,” Finkel shook his friend. “It’s alright, were on the Plane of Shadow.” “H-how did you do that?” Ruby looked as though he were a monster. “I’ll explain later. Right now we need to get your aunt and uncle out of there.” “Out of where? We’re not even it Beluir anymore.” “Actually, we are but we aren’t. Look.” Ruby looked around at the horrid plane. Everything was in black and white. The sky was black but not like at night. There weren’t any stars. The theater was still there but looked more like an abomination of the real theater. Ruby couldn’t help but be terrified. She looked at Finkel in terror. “Don’t look at me like that. I don’t like it anymore than you do. But we needed a way into the theater without being detected.” “But how?” “Look how the building is warped in places. Even now it changes as you look at it. If we take a half-a-step we should end up in the center of the theater. But be careful. Distance isn’t the same here. If you step too far you could end up on the other side of the city.” “You’ve done this before.” “I haven’t had a choice.” “There is always a choice when comes to dark magic.” “Don’t lecture me Rubes! I’m fighting a war here!” Finkel’s skin appeared to darken as the plane’s darkness tore at his soul. “Now, are you going to help me rescue your aunt and uncle or wait here until I get back?” Ruby swallowed hard grabbing Finkel’s hand. She was shaking uncontrollably. “Y-your n-not leaving me h-her, Finkel Sunbottle. But this conversation isn’t over. We are going to talk about this later. Now get me out of here!” Finkel took half a step with his left hand around the symbol of Shar and the other in Ruby’s hand. He closed his eyes again concentrating and they were on the Material Plane again. Finkel looked around. They were near the middle of the theater. Ruby sighed in relief. Finkel stared in shock. There wasn’t anyone in the theater. It was empty. He didn’t understand it. Lily was never wrong. She… Then it hit him. Lily had never been wrong once. Not even off by the minutest detail. He had thought it luck granted by Brandobaris. The cold, hard truth sank into him just as the Imperials burst through the door and windows of the theater. “Oh no.” Finkel fired his laser pistol hitting an Imperial soldier directly in the chest. The laser bolt bounced harmlessly off the soldier’s armor. Ruby screamed. Finkel felt her hand slip away from him as a Imperial soldier grabbed her by hair. The huge man held her aloft as the Imperials surrounded him. Dozens of laser rifles were now pointed at his head just daring him to continue firing. Finkel signed dropping his weapon. He put his hands up over his head. “Finkel,” Ruby whimpered. “How did they know?” The ring of soldiers parted in front of Finkel. Three halflings walked into the theater. The two in front were Imperial officers devoted to the Unification Church. Finkel had known who the third halfling was even before he could see her. “Lily.” Lily looked right at Finkel without emotion or a second thought. She tuned towards Ruby looking at her as a scornful mother would at a bad child. “Yes,” one of the Imperial halflings put his hand on Lily’s shoulder. “Mistress Lily has done the Empire a great service this night.” “Lily, how could you?” Ruby screamed wiggling trying to get free. The Imperial soldier knocked her unconscious. Finkel ground his teeth in frustration. He could use his amulet to escape but he couldn’t bare the thought of leaving Ruby behind. “Poor deluded Ruby.” Lily spoke towards Ruby as if she was still conscious. “The Empire is the best thing to happen to Faerûn since sweat meats.” Finkel lost his temper. “Traitor! I’ll kill you!” Finkel Sunbottle lunged for Lily’s throat. It was the last thing he ever did, as the energy blasts from dozens of laser rifles cut him to pieces. * * * [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
Knightfall's Realmsian Dragonstar (Updated: Sept 08/10)
Top