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<blockquote data-quote="Milo Windby" data-source="post: 1712" data-attributes="member: 202"><p><strong>Keep of the Borderlands -part twenty-nine (session 6)</strong></p><p></p><p>The group had no time to celebrate their victory. No sooner had Bordamere fallen then a gong from the corner of the room sounded loudly. Milo looked around and spied the altar Bordamere, Paul, and Charles had stood at. Upon it stood three goblets, crusted with blood. </p><p></p><p>Milo grabbed Brigit and ran towards the altar, fishing out his holy water on the way. Mazithra heard, or rather felt, a deep rumbling. She looked down the hall and saw what caused it. Two score skeletons and zombies were marching in step up the main hall, straight towards them.</p><p></p><p><em>"We've got company!"</em> She shouted back to Milo and Brigit. <em>"Lots and lots of company!"</em> She pulled a scroll from her pack. It was one she had been hoping to save to scribe into her spell book, but it would serve them well now.</p><p></p><p>Milo carefully emptied his holy water into the three cups. He was sure not to touch the goblets or the altar as he split the blessed water evenly between them. All the while the marching was getting louder. He pulled out the sanctifying spell scroll the Keep's priest had given him and quickly read over its contents. It was easily cast. He cleared his mind of all distractions. No easy feat considering the rumbling he felt under his feet. He chanted the word of the spell and watched as the holy water within each goblet began to sparkle. The specks of light began to coalesce and grow brighter and brighter. The cups themselves began to glow, it was as if the light was cleansing them physically, pure white shone under the dirt, grime, and dried blood that covered them. </p><p></p><p><em>"NOW Brigit!"</em> Milo shouted.</p><p></p><p>Brigit had readied the blessed hammer before they even reached the altar. With a powerful blow she shattered the first goblet, holy water and shards flew everywhere. She moved to the second cup and smashed it as well. The gong in the corner of the room sounded softer. Brigit moved to the last cup, raised the hammer high, and brought it down with amazing force. The cup shattered with a brilliant flash of light. </p><p></p><p>The gong stopped suddenly. The rumbling under their feet did not.</p><p></p><p><em>"Here goes nothing!"</em> shouted Mazi over the din. </p><p></p><p>She read over the scroll one last time before reciting the incantation. The scroll turned a red orange in her hands before catching on fire. Mazi let go and it floated in the air in front of her, crisping and curling. When it had curled completely into a small flaming sphere she thrust her hands towards the horde of undead approaching them. The fireball flew forward, over the heads of the first four ranks of zombies. A giant conflagration sprouted from the center of the army, spreading out in all directions. An intense wave of heat washed over the adventurers as the blast reached its maximum size. </p><p></p><p>In moments the smoke cleared. Charred skeletons and zombie corpses littered the grand hall. Milo whistled, he was very impressed. Through the smoke shambled three zombies, still smoldering. Behind them eight skeletons advanced. The fireball destroyed most of the forces but there were still some to mop up.</p><p></p><p>They decided to let the undead come to them. Milo pulled out another scroll, this one a protection spell. He cast it quickly on Mazi. All four of them would be protected from evil, undead and otherwise. Mazi cast a spell of her own. She chanted the same cantrip that had disrupted Bordamere and gestured at the closest zombie. The creature convulsed but moved forward after a few seconds.</p><p></p><p>The four friends formed a line, four abreast, and drew their weapons, waiting for the zombies and skeletons to reach them. The three zombies and one skeleton shambled forward and attacked. Not one blow landed on the protected adventurers. </p><p></p><p>Jeremiah's sword sprang into action. He mowed through the zombie to his left, cutting it completely in half. His blade continued on to sever the spine of the skeleton in front of him without slowing a fraction. He completed his swing by burying a good foot of the sword into the zombie to his right. All three undead fell before his attack.</p><p></p><p>Brigit swung her axe at the only remaining zombie. It sunk deep into the burnt flesh of the undead construct. The zombie slumped to the floor as Brigit jerked her axe out of its corpse.</p><p></p><p>As more skeletons advanced to take the place of their fallen comrades Mazi chanted her cantrip again. The skeleton before her convulsed, rattling its bones together and loosing cohesion. It recovered enough to slash at her with its sword, but Mazi wasn't there. She dodged the blade deftly. The other skeletons attacked. Milo ducked under a horizontal slash that came his direction while Brigit and Jeremiah used their armor and weapons to deflect the blows aimed at them.</p><p></p><p>Milo and Jeremiah attacked the same skeleton. Milo's shortsword bit through bone seconds before Jeremiah's sword finished the job. The skeleton crumbled to a heap. Jeremiah's great sword cleaved into the skeleton before him. The tip struck bone and knocked a few out of place, but the skeleton still stood.</p><p></p><p>Brigit made short work of the skeleton facing her. Her axe slashed down at an angle, cleaving through neck and shoulder. Bones littered the floor and flew through the air from her attack. The Trollgrater continued its deadly arc through the spine of the skeleton to her right. More bones scattered as it fell to pieces.</p><p></p><p>Mazi slashed at the skeleton Jeremiah wounded. Her sword chopped through the ribcage and into the pelvic bone. The skeleton flew apart, the magic holding it together dissipated.</p><p></p><p>Three skeletons remained. They advanced on their enemies, compelled to attack. The magical protection that Milo's spells afforded kept Jeremiah, Brigit, and Mazithra safe. The skeletons couldn't quite focus on the adventurers.</p><p></p><p>Milo and Jeremiah worked together again. Milo's sword weakened the skeleton, causing it to lose its coherence. Jeremiah slashed down at the wounded undead and shattered another set of bones. He continued to the next, his strike growing even more powerful in the follow through. The skeleton flew apart, the bones that met the sword powdered instantly.</p><p></p><p>Brigit aimed for the spine of the last skeleton. Her dwarven axe cut cleanly through the bone. The final enemy fell into a heap at her feet. They all stood back and surveyed the wreckage. Bones littered the floor and zombie corpses still smoldered down the grand hall. </p><p></p><p><em>"WOO Hooo!"</em> Milo crowed. <em>"Take <strong>THAT</strong> undead!"</em></p><p></p><p>His friends grinned at Milo and they turned to look back into the foul altar room. Everything was still. Brigit and Milo approached the body of Bordamere.</p><p></p><p><em>"Poor sap just couldn't learn when to quit."</em> Milo said to no one in particular as he shook his head slowly side to side.</p><p></p><p><em>"Aye, he looks good wi' that hole in his head, don't he Mazi?"</em> Brigit said.</p><p></p><p><em>"Heh heh, that he does. Let's make sure he doesn't come back, okay?"</em> Mazithra suggested.</p><p></p><p>The four set about removing his plate mail. They noticed an amulet matching the priests around his neck. They left it and finished removing the armor. Once he was stripped to his tunic and leggings Brigit went to work. She chopped his arms, legs and head off. </p><p></p><p><em>"I don't think you can raise undead twice, but I don't want him coming back either."</em> said Milo as Brigit butchered the corpse. <em>"Well, we finally got those cups! Good job with the hammer Brigit. I don't know if that stopped the armies marching on the Keep. I hope they're okay. I'm certain that Bordamere wasn't the mastermind behind this. I bet whoever did all this is still here."</em></p><p></p><p>They left the altar room and headed down the main hall. Mazi picked her way carefully past the smoldering remains of the undead horde. They made it past the scene of carnage and came to the curve in the passage. It straightened back out and opened into another large throne room. </p><p></p><p>The ceiling stretched far higher than the grand hall, completely carved in the manner of some of the throne rooms in castles Milo had been to in his youth. Curtains adorned the side walls but the far wall is what drew their attention. The wall was slightly translucent and reflective. It was a deep red color and had the appearance of depth. Other than the curtains, the jeweled throne, and a few candelabras the room was empty. </p><p></p><p>They adventurers approached the wall cautiously. The black candles in the candelabras lit as soon as they stepped into the room. They jumped collectively and readied their weapons. Nothing sprang from the curtains or from behind the throne. They continued in, candles lighting with every step they took.</p><p></p><p>Drawing closer to the wall they could see it pulsed rhythmically. A red glow beating in time with the ore veins in the rock walls outside the throne room.</p><p></p><p><em>"Does this remind anyone else of a heartbeat?"</em> Mazi asked. Her voice sounded quiet in the huge space of the grand throne room.</p><p></p><p><em>"Too much-"</em> Milo started before cutting himself short. Brigit had walked closer to the wall and was reaching out to touch it. She suddenly stood stock straight and began to mumble in a strange tongue. All three of her companions tackled her, breaking the contact with the wall.</p><p></p><p><em>"How about we leave the wall of evil alone for now? I don't want to lose any of you to that thing."</em> Milo said in relief as Brigit shook her head clear of whatever overcame her. <em>"What would you bet that this is how Bordamere was subverted? This thing is pure evil. I wonder if we could destroy it?"</em></p><p></p><p><em>"Mayhap, but let's come back to it later. I wanna find that robed scoundrel what started all this. We owe 'im big."</em> Brigit said after a few moments.</p><p></p><p>They all agreed and set about searching the room. The throne was the main attraction. One large red gem adorned the high back near the top. Milo pried out the jewel and handed it to Brigit. She estimated the weighty stone to be worth at least a thousand gold. She remarked on the crystal clarity of the stone as Milo worked on the smaller gems that encrusted the throne. He was able to pry ten opals and ten rubies from the arms and sides of the cushioned seat. He guessed the rubies to be worth around five hundred gold apiece and the opals around a hundred each.</p><p></p><p>There was also a single door near the entrance, on the right wall. Milo searched it, finding no traps. They entered the room, Jeremiah and Brigit in the lead. A short passage led into a long waiting room of sorts. From the garments and gear littering the room they could tell this was some sort of preparation chamber. Another door led to a passage that ended behind a curtain leading into the main room.</p><p></p><p>A further search of the curtains around the side walls revealed another secret passage, this one leading to the side of the mirrored wall. They followed the passage into a well-lit, well-furnished waiting room. </p><p></p><p>Three zombies rose to their feet as they entered the room. Milo and Mazithra leapt to attack the undead creatures. They each scored a hit, slicing into the grey, rotting flesh of the zombies. Brigit moved past Mazi and hacked into one. It fell before it could even attack. Her axe struck the unwounded zombie next. It caused a wound the width of its body deep into its torso.</p><p></p><p>The zombie didn't even notice as it swiped at Milo, who was standing near. Milo jumped back and gave Jeremiah room to move in. The other zombie moaned and swung its fists at Jeremiah. Once again Milo's spell protected him. The zombie wasn't able to strike the large barbarian. Jer roared as he swung his sword into the undead creature. The zombie fell, its head severed from its body. His sword continued through, chopping straight into the wound Brigit had started in the other zombie. Its legs and waist stood for a moment before toppling over to join its torso on the ground.</p><p></p><p>They looked around, wary of any other undead approaching. No other enemies made themselves known. A door led out of the room to the left. They searched the contents of the waiting room before they checked the door. On a table in the corner were an ornately carved flagon and a set of gold goblets. They looked askance at the cups before handling them. Not completely certain that they were done with cursed vessels. </p><p></p><p>Milo braved it and picked one up. It was a normal drinking goblet, with a bit of wine still at the bottom. They poured out the remaining wine in the cups and stowed them along with the flagon for later.</p><p></p><p>Brigit searched the door for any traps. She didn't find any, nor was the door locked. She kicked it in and she and the rest stormed into the room. A robed man waited for them. As soon as Brigit and Milo entered a voice spoke in their mind.</p><p></p><p>Milo heard, <em>"I can give you anything you desire...you fear the Undead? You can become their Master. Riches untold can be yours in a heartbeat.</em></p><p><em>Anything you desire...</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>all you have to do is give me the Elf woman and they will be yours."</em></p><p></p><p>Brigit heard, <em>"I can give you anything you desire...I know the secret desires of your heart.</em></p><p><em>Your sister? I can reunite you with her. You wish vengeance on those who slaughtered and enslaved your Clan? I can give you the one who planned it and carried it out.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Anything you desire...</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>all you have to do is give me the Elf woman and they will be yours."</em></p><p></p><p>Milo and Brigit didn't even consider the offers.</p><p></p><p><em>"Not a chance, she's my friend and you can't have her."</em> Milo said.</p><p></p><p><em>"Aye, she's not fer you, finger-wiggler"</em> Brigit agreed.</p><p></p><p>The wizard didn't say a word. He raised his hand and darkness fell. Milo was disoriented for a second. He heard a crash come from the corner of the room where the man was standing. He chanted a cantrip quickly and light blossomed from his short sword. </p><p></p><p>The robed man was gone. There was a screen near where they saw the man last. Behind it was a passage and a door. Brigit swung the door open and a secret panel sprung open from the ceiling. A shower of small gems and jewels rained down on the party. They ignored the riches and charged through the door. The emerged back in the grand hall just in time to see the robed figure turn the corner. They gave chase, Jeremiah pulling forward quickly, his lanky form and muscles propelled him down the hall after the wizard.</p><p></p><p>They rounded the corner and saw the man turn to the right. It seemed he was heading for the other throne room. They ran after him, not quite fast enough to catch up. He ran down the slanted portion of the hall and took the left branch at the "Y" intersection. </p><p></p><p>They near end of the intersection in time to see the robed figure stop in front of the rock fall. He laughed ominously before chanting a spell. His form went hazy, then smoky. He seemed to dissipate into thin air. The smoke left from his outline moved unnaturally. It seeped into the rocks of the deadfall.</p><p></p><p><em>"He's getting away!"</em> Milo shouted.</p><p></p><p>They ran to the wall as the last of the smoke seeped through the cracks. Milo considered the potion of gaseous form they still had. Perhaps Jeremiah could drink it and catch up to the wizard. That gave him pause. They knew the wizard was powerful, he wouldn't want to face him alone. He was pretty sure that the robed spell caster had some tricks in store and he didn't want Jeremiah coming to a foul end while they were trapped on the other side of the rock fall.</p><p></p><p><em>"That's it. We almost had him!"</em> Milo said in disappointment. <em>"You can bet he'll be back again."</em></p><p></p><p><em>"What was that all about? You said 'she's my friend and you can't have her' Milo. What did he want?"</em> Mazi asked.</p><p></p><p>Milo and Brigit explained what they heard in their minds when they entered the room. Mazi looked concerned but thanked them for their loyalty and protection.</p><p></p><p>They made their way back to the secret door leading into the wizard's room. The passage was littered with small gems. Milo was careful to get them all. He may not have been greedy enough to stop for them earlier, but he was of the firm believer of 'waste not, want not'.</p><p></p><p>Upon entering the wizard's chambers the group noticed a full size mirror standing in a corner. The mirror was full of smoke. The smoke solidified and a stranger stood in its midst. He reached forward and passed his hand through the glass. In it was a piece of parchment. He dropped it and smiled at them. The smoke began to fill the mirror again before it shattered into thousands of tiny pieces. Milo examined one of the shards, all he saw was his own reflection.</p><p></p><p>Mazithra picked up the note. It was written in a unique handwriting.</p><p></p><p>"I await you beyond the Black Mountains.</p><p></p><p>Do not disappoint me."</p><p></p><p>She shrugged and handed the note around. None of them recognized the man or the handwriting. They all exchanged puzzled looks. Milo shrugged too, pushing the mystery to the side to search the room. He found some papers on the wizard's desk. He read through them before handing them to the others.</p><p></p><p>In the same handwriting as the note that was passed through the mirror was this:</p><p></p><p>"All has gone according to plan. Do not be concerned that you have been discovered. Have faith in Me and all will proceed as it should. You may now destroy them. Leave only the elf woman. She MUST NOT BE HARMED or I shall be most displeased. Take her and bring her to me."</p><p></p><p>Two other notes were on the desk. Both in different handwriting.</p><p></p><p>"L,</p><p></p><p>The merchandise has been delivered to the Baron. The gold has been deposited in your account in Luln. The girl is with me as per our agreement and the spell is working as advertised. There was no sign of the sister. I am going to lay low for a while 'til the heat is off. I think Snurre is due for a visit.</p><p></p><p>O"</p><p></p><p>The other note was more of a list:</p><p></p><p>"2,000 Cavalry</p><p>4,000 Light Infantry</p><p>4,000 Heavy Infantry</p><p></p><p>350 Giants</p><p>150 Air Cavalry</p><p>500 Undead</p><p></p><p>10,000 Auxiliary Units</p><p></p><p>300 Wagons</p><p>500 Extra Mounts</p><p>45 Ballistae</p><p>50 Light Catapult"</p><p></p><p>Brigit's breath caught in her throat as she read the note about the sister. Milo deduced it must be in reference to her sister. The man named "L" had offered her reunion. </p><p></p><p><em>"I think we all need to talk. There are sides of each of us that we haven't shown. It may be time to let down some walls."</em> Milo said seriously to his friends.</p><p></p><p><em>"Aye, I think yer right, halfling."</em> Brigit agreed.</p><p></p><p><em>"Perhaps, but I don't think this is the place to do so."</em> Mazithra indicated the room.</p><p></p><p>Jeremiah nodded his agreement.</p><p></p><p><em>"Very well. Let's make our way out of here and camp for the night. Tomorrow we'll make our way back to the Keep. I only hope it still stands."</em> Milo finished.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Milo Windby, post: 1712, member: 202"] [b]Keep of the Borderlands -part twenty-nine (session 6)[/b] The group had no time to celebrate their victory. No sooner had Bordamere fallen then a gong from the corner of the room sounded loudly. Milo looked around and spied the altar Bordamere, Paul, and Charles had stood at. Upon it stood three goblets, crusted with blood. Milo grabbed Brigit and ran towards the altar, fishing out his holy water on the way. Mazithra heard, or rather felt, a deep rumbling. She looked down the hall and saw what caused it. Two score skeletons and zombies were marching in step up the main hall, straight towards them. [I]"We've got company!"[/I] She shouted back to Milo and Brigit. [I]"Lots and lots of company!"[/I] She pulled a scroll from her pack. It was one she had been hoping to save to scribe into her spell book, but it would serve them well now. Milo carefully emptied his holy water into the three cups. He was sure not to touch the goblets or the altar as he split the blessed water evenly between them. All the while the marching was getting louder. He pulled out the sanctifying spell scroll the Keep's priest had given him and quickly read over its contents. It was easily cast. He cleared his mind of all distractions. No easy feat considering the rumbling he felt under his feet. He chanted the word of the spell and watched as the holy water within each goblet began to sparkle. The specks of light began to coalesce and grow brighter and brighter. The cups themselves began to glow, it was as if the light was cleansing them physically, pure white shone under the dirt, grime, and dried blood that covered them. [I]"NOW Brigit!"[/I] Milo shouted. Brigit had readied the blessed hammer before they even reached the altar. With a powerful blow she shattered the first goblet, holy water and shards flew everywhere. She moved to the second cup and smashed it as well. The gong in the corner of the room sounded softer. Brigit moved to the last cup, raised the hammer high, and brought it down with amazing force. The cup shattered with a brilliant flash of light. The gong stopped suddenly. The rumbling under their feet did not. [I]"Here goes nothing!"[/I] shouted Mazi over the din. She read over the scroll one last time before reciting the incantation. The scroll turned a red orange in her hands before catching on fire. Mazi let go and it floated in the air in front of her, crisping and curling. When it had curled completely into a small flaming sphere she thrust her hands towards the horde of undead approaching them. The fireball flew forward, over the heads of the first four ranks of zombies. A giant conflagration sprouted from the center of the army, spreading out in all directions. An intense wave of heat washed over the adventurers as the blast reached its maximum size. In moments the smoke cleared. Charred skeletons and zombie corpses littered the grand hall. Milo whistled, he was very impressed. Through the smoke shambled three zombies, still smoldering. Behind them eight skeletons advanced. The fireball destroyed most of the forces but there were still some to mop up. They decided to let the undead come to them. Milo pulled out another scroll, this one a protection spell. He cast it quickly on Mazi. All four of them would be protected from evil, undead and otherwise. Mazi cast a spell of her own. She chanted the same cantrip that had disrupted Bordamere and gestured at the closest zombie. The creature convulsed but moved forward after a few seconds. The four friends formed a line, four abreast, and drew their weapons, waiting for the zombies and skeletons to reach them. The three zombies and one skeleton shambled forward and attacked. Not one blow landed on the protected adventurers. Jeremiah's sword sprang into action. He mowed through the zombie to his left, cutting it completely in half. His blade continued on to sever the spine of the skeleton in front of him without slowing a fraction. He completed his swing by burying a good foot of the sword into the zombie to his right. All three undead fell before his attack. Brigit swung her axe at the only remaining zombie. It sunk deep into the burnt flesh of the undead construct. The zombie slumped to the floor as Brigit jerked her axe out of its corpse. As more skeletons advanced to take the place of their fallen comrades Mazi chanted her cantrip again. The skeleton before her convulsed, rattling its bones together and loosing cohesion. It recovered enough to slash at her with its sword, but Mazi wasn't there. She dodged the blade deftly. The other skeletons attacked. Milo ducked under a horizontal slash that came his direction while Brigit and Jeremiah used their armor and weapons to deflect the blows aimed at them. Milo and Jeremiah attacked the same skeleton. Milo's shortsword bit through bone seconds before Jeremiah's sword finished the job. The skeleton crumbled to a heap. Jeremiah's great sword cleaved into the skeleton before him. The tip struck bone and knocked a few out of place, but the skeleton still stood. Brigit made short work of the skeleton facing her. Her axe slashed down at an angle, cleaving through neck and shoulder. Bones littered the floor and flew through the air from her attack. The Trollgrater continued its deadly arc through the spine of the skeleton to her right. More bones scattered as it fell to pieces. Mazi slashed at the skeleton Jeremiah wounded. Her sword chopped through the ribcage and into the pelvic bone. The skeleton flew apart, the magic holding it together dissipated. Three skeletons remained. They advanced on their enemies, compelled to attack. The magical protection that Milo's spells afforded kept Jeremiah, Brigit, and Mazithra safe. The skeletons couldn't quite focus on the adventurers. Milo and Jeremiah worked together again. Milo's sword weakened the skeleton, causing it to lose its coherence. Jeremiah slashed down at the wounded undead and shattered another set of bones. He continued to the next, his strike growing even more powerful in the follow through. The skeleton flew apart, the bones that met the sword powdered instantly. Brigit aimed for the spine of the last skeleton. Her dwarven axe cut cleanly through the bone. The final enemy fell into a heap at her feet. They all stood back and surveyed the wreckage. Bones littered the floor and zombie corpses still smoldered down the grand hall. [I]"WOO Hooo!"[/I] Milo crowed. [I]"Take [B]THAT[/B] undead!"[/I] His friends grinned at Milo and they turned to look back into the foul altar room. Everything was still. Brigit and Milo approached the body of Bordamere. [I]"Poor sap just couldn't learn when to quit."[/I] Milo said to no one in particular as he shook his head slowly side to side. [I]"Aye, he looks good wi' that hole in his head, don't he Mazi?"[/I] Brigit said. [I]"Heh heh, that he does. Let's make sure he doesn't come back, okay?"[/I] Mazithra suggested. The four set about removing his plate mail. They noticed an amulet matching the priests around his neck. They left it and finished removing the armor. Once he was stripped to his tunic and leggings Brigit went to work. She chopped his arms, legs and head off. [I]"I don't think you can raise undead twice, but I don't want him coming back either."[/I] said Milo as Brigit butchered the corpse. [I]"Well, we finally got those cups! Good job with the hammer Brigit. I don't know if that stopped the armies marching on the Keep. I hope they're okay. I'm certain that Bordamere wasn't the mastermind behind this. I bet whoever did all this is still here."[/I] They left the altar room and headed down the main hall. Mazi picked her way carefully past the smoldering remains of the undead horde. They made it past the scene of carnage and came to the curve in the passage. It straightened back out and opened into another large throne room. The ceiling stretched far higher than the grand hall, completely carved in the manner of some of the throne rooms in castles Milo had been to in his youth. Curtains adorned the side walls but the far wall is what drew their attention. The wall was slightly translucent and reflective. It was a deep red color and had the appearance of depth. Other than the curtains, the jeweled throne, and a few candelabras the room was empty. They adventurers approached the wall cautiously. The black candles in the candelabras lit as soon as they stepped into the room. They jumped collectively and readied their weapons. Nothing sprang from the curtains or from behind the throne. They continued in, candles lighting with every step they took. Drawing closer to the wall they could see it pulsed rhythmically. A red glow beating in time with the ore veins in the rock walls outside the throne room. [I]"Does this remind anyone else of a heartbeat?"[/I] Mazi asked. Her voice sounded quiet in the huge space of the grand throne room. [I]"Too much-"[/I] Milo started before cutting himself short. Brigit had walked closer to the wall and was reaching out to touch it. She suddenly stood stock straight and began to mumble in a strange tongue. All three of her companions tackled her, breaking the contact with the wall. [I]"How about we leave the wall of evil alone for now? I don't want to lose any of you to that thing."[/I] Milo said in relief as Brigit shook her head clear of whatever overcame her. [I]"What would you bet that this is how Bordamere was subverted? This thing is pure evil. I wonder if we could destroy it?"[/I] [I]"Mayhap, but let's come back to it later. I wanna find that robed scoundrel what started all this. We owe 'im big."[/I] Brigit said after a few moments. They all agreed and set about searching the room. The throne was the main attraction. One large red gem adorned the high back near the top. Milo pried out the jewel and handed it to Brigit. She estimated the weighty stone to be worth at least a thousand gold. She remarked on the crystal clarity of the stone as Milo worked on the smaller gems that encrusted the throne. He was able to pry ten opals and ten rubies from the arms and sides of the cushioned seat. He guessed the rubies to be worth around five hundred gold apiece and the opals around a hundred each. There was also a single door near the entrance, on the right wall. Milo searched it, finding no traps. They entered the room, Jeremiah and Brigit in the lead. A short passage led into a long waiting room of sorts. From the garments and gear littering the room they could tell this was some sort of preparation chamber. Another door led to a passage that ended behind a curtain leading into the main room. A further search of the curtains around the side walls revealed another secret passage, this one leading to the side of the mirrored wall. They followed the passage into a well-lit, well-furnished waiting room. Three zombies rose to their feet as they entered the room. Milo and Mazithra leapt to attack the undead creatures. They each scored a hit, slicing into the grey, rotting flesh of the zombies. Brigit moved past Mazi and hacked into one. It fell before it could even attack. Her axe struck the unwounded zombie next. It caused a wound the width of its body deep into its torso. The zombie didn't even notice as it swiped at Milo, who was standing near. Milo jumped back and gave Jeremiah room to move in. The other zombie moaned and swung its fists at Jeremiah. Once again Milo's spell protected him. The zombie wasn't able to strike the large barbarian. Jer roared as he swung his sword into the undead creature. The zombie fell, its head severed from its body. His sword continued through, chopping straight into the wound Brigit had started in the other zombie. Its legs and waist stood for a moment before toppling over to join its torso on the ground. They looked around, wary of any other undead approaching. No other enemies made themselves known. A door led out of the room to the left. They searched the contents of the waiting room before they checked the door. On a table in the corner were an ornately carved flagon and a set of gold goblets. They looked askance at the cups before handling them. Not completely certain that they were done with cursed vessels. Milo braved it and picked one up. It was a normal drinking goblet, with a bit of wine still at the bottom. They poured out the remaining wine in the cups and stowed them along with the flagon for later. Brigit searched the door for any traps. She didn't find any, nor was the door locked. She kicked it in and she and the rest stormed into the room. A robed man waited for them. As soon as Brigit and Milo entered a voice spoke in their mind. Milo heard, [I]"I can give you anything you desire...you fear the Undead? You can become their Master. Riches untold can be yours in a heartbeat. Anything you desire... all you have to do is give me the Elf woman and they will be yours."[/I] Brigit heard, [I]"I can give you anything you desire...I know the secret desires of your heart. Your sister? I can reunite you with her. You wish vengeance on those who slaughtered and enslaved your Clan? I can give you the one who planned it and carried it out. Anything you desire... all you have to do is give me the Elf woman and they will be yours."[/I] Milo and Brigit didn't even consider the offers. [I]"Not a chance, she's my friend and you can't have her."[/I] Milo said. [I]"Aye, she's not fer you, finger-wiggler"[/I] Brigit agreed. The wizard didn't say a word. He raised his hand and darkness fell. Milo was disoriented for a second. He heard a crash come from the corner of the room where the man was standing. He chanted a cantrip quickly and light blossomed from his short sword. The robed man was gone. There was a screen near where they saw the man last. Behind it was a passage and a door. Brigit swung the door open and a secret panel sprung open from the ceiling. A shower of small gems and jewels rained down on the party. They ignored the riches and charged through the door. The emerged back in the grand hall just in time to see the robed figure turn the corner. They gave chase, Jeremiah pulling forward quickly, his lanky form and muscles propelled him down the hall after the wizard. They rounded the corner and saw the man turn to the right. It seemed he was heading for the other throne room. They ran after him, not quite fast enough to catch up. He ran down the slanted portion of the hall and took the left branch at the "Y" intersection. They near end of the intersection in time to see the robed figure stop in front of the rock fall. He laughed ominously before chanting a spell. His form went hazy, then smoky. He seemed to dissipate into thin air. The smoke left from his outline moved unnaturally. It seeped into the rocks of the deadfall. [I]"He's getting away!"[/I] Milo shouted. They ran to the wall as the last of the smoke seeped through the cracks. Milo considered the potion of gaseous form they still had. Perhaps Jeremiah could drink it and catch up to the wizard. That gave him pause. They knew the wizard was powerful, he wouldn't want to face him alone. He was pretty sure that the robed spell caster had some tricks in store and he didn't want Jeremiah coming to a foul end while they were trapped on the other side of the rock fall. [I]"That's it. We almost had him!"[/I] Milo said in disappointment. [I]"You can bet he'll be back again."[/I] [I]"What was that all about? You said 'she's my friend and you can't have her' Milo. What did he want?"[/I] Mazi asked. Milo and Brigit explained what they heard in their minds when they entered the room. Mazi looked concerned but thanked them for their loyalty and protection. They made their way back to the secret door leading into the wizard's room. The passage was littered with small gems. Milo was careful to get them all. He may not have been greedy enough to stop for them earlier, but he was of the firm believer of 'waste not, want not'. Upon entering the wizard's chambers the group noticed a full size mirror standing in a corner. The mirror was full of smoke. The smoke solidified and a stranger stood in its midst. He reached forward and passed his hand through the glass. In it was a piece of parchment. He dropped it and smiled at them. The smoke began to fill the mirror again before it shattered into thousands of tiny pieces. Milo examined one of the shards, all he saw was his own reflection. Mazithra picked up the note. It was written in a unique handwriting. "I await you beyond the Black Mountains. Do not disappoint me." She shrugged and handed the note around. None of them recognized the man or the handwriting. They all exchanged puzzled looks. Milo shrugged too, pushing the mystery to the side to search the room. He found some papers on the wizard's desk. He read through them before handing them to the others. In the same handwriting as the note that was passed through the mirror was this: "All has gone according to plan. Do not be concerned that you have been discovered. Have faith in Me and all will proceed as it should. You may now destroy them. Leave only the elf woman. She MUST NOT BE HARMED or I shall be most displeased. Take her and bring her to me." Two other notes were on the desk. Both in different handwriting. "L, The merchandise has been delivered to the Baron. The gold has been deposited in your account in Luln. The girl is with me as per our agreement and the spell is working as advertised. There was no sign of the sister. I am going to lay low for a while 'til the heat is off. I think Snurre is due for a visit. O" The other note was more of a list: "2,000 Cavalry 4,000 Light Infantry 4,000 Heavy Infantry 350 Giants 150 Air Cavalry 500 Undead 10,000 Auxiliary Units 300 Wagons 500 Extra Mounts 45 Ballistae 50 Light Catapult" Brigit's breath caught in her throat as she read the note about the sister. Milo deduced it must be in reference to her sister. The man named "L" had offered her reunion. [I]"I think we all need to talk. There are sides of each of us that we haven't shown. It may be time to let down some walls."[/I] Milo said seriously to his friends. [I]"Aye, I think yer right, halfling."[/I] Brigit agreed. [I]"Perhaps, but I don't think this is the place to do so."[/I] Mazithra indicated the room. Jeremiah nodded his agreement. [I]"Very well. Let's make our way out of here and camp for the night. Tomorrow we'll make our way back to the Keep. I only hope it still stands."[/I] Milo finished. [/QUOTE]
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Milo Windby's Collected Story Hour
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