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"Out of the Frying Pan" - Book I: Gathering Wood (reprise)
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<blockquote data-quote="el-remmen" data-source="post: 18803" data-attributes="member: 11"><p><strong>Session #1 (part I)</strong></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong>Ralem, the 22nd of Keent, 564 H.E.</strong></span></p><p></p><p>It all began in the city of Verdun, largest and most cosmopolitan city in Aquerra – capitol city of the Kingdom of Herman Land, which is embroiled in a civil war to reclaim authority over its wayward protectorate. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack, black dwarf (1) of some small fighting skill, but mostly just a loyal son to a father of some repute in the small and oft-overlooked dwarven community of Verdun, was walking back from the market with an armful of supplies for his family’s smithy. At the shop he found members of the townguard waiting for him. It turns out Kazrack was eligible for conscription in the war effort. He was given three days to appear before the Council of Conscription at the Temple of Ra. (2) Talking it over with his father, and being the only son (the only one that could carry on the family name), he decided to consult a barrister to see if there might be a legal means to get around this duty. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Malcolm Mac Duligh, a skald from the area of the Archduchy of Wallbrook called the Dubh Moors, where men still live in their traditional clans – and do not consider themselves to be part of the nation or to have any particular loyalty to the Archduke or the King of Herman Land – arrived at Verdun upon a ferry. The stench and noise of the city hit him like a brick – and he immediately was noticeable for his colorful kilt and huge bastard sword strapped to his back. Also on the ferry, but unknown to Malcolm, was Jana – a young girl fleeing her home in the city of Westron (also in the Kingdom of Herman Land). Independently, being new to the city, they decided to head to the marketplace in the Temple District, where information could always be gleaned from the infamous Dwarf Wall. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack was having no luck with the barrister. The elderly gentleman, who never stopped writing while talking with the dwarf, suggested that a character witness who could testify that he was not “of age” in dwarven terms (which was a lie) could be helpful – along with a defense based on Kazrack being the only son – might convince the Council of Conscription show some discretion and defer his enrollment. However the fact that Kazrack was both a dwarf and not of noble blood made such a defense a stretch. A third possibility the barrister suggested was that Kazrack could find employment in the war effort in another way and not be shipped off to front. The lawyer said he had a friend in the Shipwrights’ Guild (3) and perhaps he knew of work the dwarf could do. . . The idea of working on ships made the dwarf uncomfortable. The worst part was the barrister’s help would cost between 75 and 90 silver pieces, a fortune for a common worker. </p><p></p><p>The marketplace was cacophony of activity. A myriad of vendors hawked their goods, while rumor-mongers yelled some of the latest news by the Dwarf Wall, and city guards wandered through the stalls, watching and questioning people all along. Overwhelmed by a city of this size, Malcolm stepped back among some vendors who sold wood-carvings, as he noticed a trio of guards approach him. The sergeant asked Malcolm for his conscription papers, which of course the barbaric skald did not have. After an exchange of terse words, and the threat of incarceration for no real reason, Malcolm was warned that he had three days to appear before the Council of Conscription to be assigned a unit in the Herman Lander Army. </p><p></p><p>Jana was not too far away trying to figure out what was the best thing to ask the rumor-mongers by the wall, as she could not read the postings and graffiti on the dwarf wall - when the market crowd parted to reveal a tall man dressed in shining plate mail with long feathered blonde hair and a helmet under one arm and a great sword in his other hand. Getting down on one knee, beneath the statue of Horus (God of Vengeance) in the center of the market he swore aloud to gain his revenge upon the followers of the Red God of the West and their “false” god. With that the paladin marched determinedly over to the temple of the Red God of the West (4) and began to bang the door to be let in, intermittently calling them cowards and asking them to call forth a champion he could vanquish. </p><p></p><p>The market crowd followed the paladin at a distance to watch the fun. This included not only Malcolm and Jana, but Beorth, a quiet young Paladin of Anubis (Guardian of the Dead) who was watering the plants of the nearby monastery yard when this altercation began. Putting down his watering can, he ran out to get a better vantage point to see what was happening. Meanwhile, Jana looked back to see a group of a dozen young children wildly running to and fro between some of the abandoned market stalls and stealing all they could shove in sacks or under their shirt. The crowd was so caught up in the actions of the paladin, that no one else seemed to notice or care. Jana did not seem to care either. </p><p></p><p>The temple door lurched open, the Paladin of Vengeance stumbled in, and the door slammed shut again. There was the momentary sound of scuffling, then silence. The crowd closed in on the stone steps of the temple – there was nary a breath while they waited to know what would happen. Sensing that the seen could get ugly, Jana moved to the edge of the crowd as to readily flee. The silence was broken by the approach of a dozen city guards. Half went to the temple door and the other half began to try to round up the thieving children. At this moment, Kazrack was walking past the gate to the temple district (on his way back from the barrister) and seeing the commotion came over to see what was happening. He arrived just in time to see a city guard brain a boy of no more than nine years old from behind. The guard made to move towards another of the young rascals, so Kazrack called him over with a deft ploy “Help! I’m been robbed!” The guard came over and Kazrack explained that a man of “vague description” had knocked him down and taken his money. The dwarf now accompanied the guard who pulled people from the crowd asking the dwarf if this or that person was the thief. </p><p></p><p>There was a commotion at the balcony in the tower of the Temple of the Red God of the West, and a figure stepped out holding something in his hand. He was dressed in crimson robes, had a shaven head and wore a ruby inset on a headband. He said, ”Too long have the infidels and followers of false gods attacked us and dogged our progress towards Paradise at every turn. It ends today!” And with that threw the paladin’s head into the horrified crowd. “This is war! Let our sacred grounds be anointed the blood of infidels!” And the paladin’s body was tossed over the balcony, with his ankle bound to something in the tower, so the headless body hung, its blood pouring slowing down the side of white stone. The crowd cheered. And now city guards were trying to get inside the temple. </p><p></p><p>Other members of the city guard began to disperse the crowd. Jana decided this was a good time to secure herself a room and wandered into the Residential District to find an inn. Kazrack reported the guard’s striking the young thief to a superior officer, who commanded the guard to bring the boy’s broken form to the healing house of Fallon. (5) The sergeant then turned to the dwarf and demanded his conscription papers. Explaining that he was given three days to report, Kazrack decided it would be a good time to head back home to his father’s shop. Beorth collected the paladin’s head to put in proper keeping in a crypt beneath the monastery until the rest of the body could be retrieved. Thinking aloud, he mused as to how he could get the body down. Hearing him as he turned to leave, Kazrack offered a suggestion (shooting a flaming arrow at night to burn through the rope). Beorth felt this would be too difficult. Kazrack mentioned the injured boy, so the two of them went to see if he stilled lived, and found that the local Medicus of Fallon was already tending to the boy. The two characters bid each other adieu and went about their business. </p><p></p><p>As Beorth temporarily interred the paladin’s head, Malcolm wandered the market some more asking people if they had seen his friend who had told him to look him up in Verdun sometime. After asking a handful of people, one of the rumor-mongers by the wall volunteered the information that he thought he had seen someone fitting that description at the Slim Stiletto Inn & Tavern – getting directions, Malcolm headed there. In the meantime, Jana had secured a room at the Green Griffon – an inn located next to a chained off and apparently deserted plaza. </p><p></p><p>As Kazrack discussed his fears about the whole conscription problem with his father – the fact that he’d probably drown to death in a sinking ship before ever getting to see the Black Islands, how if he just fled this would expose the family to danger from the local authority, how his absence would leave his father one worker short at the forge – Beorth was getting a little visit from the city guards himself. </p><p></p><p>The guards explained that despite his role as warden of the monastery, since paladins of Anubis are not officially recognized as part of a church hierarchy that he must report to the Council of Conscription within three days. He tried to explain his duty to the following of Anubis, but the guards only insisted that he would have to discuss it with the priests of Ra who run the council. They also suggested that Beorth may be given an officer’s rank in the army. Beorth went on to ask if maybe the priests of Ra could help him retrieve the paladin's body and give it a decent burial. The sergeant suggested that this was a bad idea due to the delicate nature of relations between the followers of the Red God and the rest of the temples - as the Priests of Ra wanted to raze the Red God temple in retaliation - Only the reminder that the paladin had broken the law of the temple district in his attack had kept events from escalating. Beorth agreed and wished them a good day. Finishing the day’s chores, he went to sleep, his troubles resting uneasily in his mind. </p><p></p><p>Meanwhile, Malcolm had found the Slim Stiletto to be filled with a group men that seemed to be in their teens and early twenties. Despite it still being mid-afternoon they were doing nothing but eating, drinking, playing darts and listening to bard. Malcolm procured an ale for a discount price and arranged to play a tune of his own on his bag-pipes, which while well-received by some was hated by others. An older tall balding gentleman seemed very interested and buying Malcolm a drink, struck up a conversation. The man, Deet of Ptah (6), explained that all these young men were “Crumb’s Boys” and had signed up with him to do some kind of job that got them out of the war. Deet suggested that Malcolm might sign up, as he though the bag-pipe playing would be inspirational and helpful during “the long marches”, whatever that meant. Malcolm tried to get Deet to explain more, but Deet said it was not his place to do so, only being the boss’ assistant, and that as soon as Crumb came back he’d introduce them. While they waited they listened to a bard sing a song called “Lalena” (7), about a man whose betrothed becomes a vampire. All the patrons seemed to love the song, but Malcolm found it to schmaltzy, preferring his epic tales of war and death – or mournful tales of love lost forever - like the traditional Wallbrookian song he performed later. (8)</p><p></p><p>After securing her room, and assuring the inn-keep that even though she was from Westron she was of no relation to Gwar of Westron (the infamous murdered of women and children) (9), he gave her the suggestion that when she settles in for the night she bolt her door and not come out no matter what she hears. Not seeming to perplexed by this advice, Jana went back to the market in search of employment with an herbalist. She found what she was looking for in a twisted middle-aged woman seeing herbal remedies on a spread out blanket. “My rheumatism makes digging around for some herbs hard, I could use some help, “ she said. “Meet me at the new cemetery outside of the city at dawn tomorrow.” Jana agreed and returned to the Green Griffon to rest for the evening and get ready for her new job. </p><p></p><p>After discussions with his father, who assured him that he would spend the 75 to 90 silver pieces if necessary, Kazrack walked back to the barrister’s office to discuss the chances of the defense working to see if his father’s money would be well spent. Kazrack seemed to feel that it would not be. Kazrack’s suspicions about the qualifications of the barrister were furthered by the old man’s niece blurting out that he had no clients. The barrister did say that he had spoken to his friend in the Shipwrights’ Guild, and that Kazrack could get a job helping to guard the shipyards of Outretowne (where most of the warships for the war effort are being built) and be able to avoid war service. Of course, Outretowne was perhaps the place most likely to be the target of a Black Islander attack (10). Another option, was to commit a crime and be placed in the dungeons of the city. . . Except that certain criminals were being granted pardons to join the war effort. </p><p></p><p>Downcast, Kazrack left the office again and began to think that he would have to flee the country, and perhaps find a way to bribe officials to leave his family alone in his absence – as much as he was loathe to have to do it. Desperate, Kazrack went to the famed Dwarf Wall and had one of the rumor-mongers read to him some of the things on the wall, in hopes of hearing some news or tale that might help him. However none of the news was helpful. Thinking aloud Kazrack said, “I wish I knew someway to get out of the war.” </p><p></p><p>“I know how,” the rumor-monger said, and pointed out a fat man with a handlebar mustache and thinning hair a little bit further down the wall. “That guy, Crumb, he stands all day recruiting people for some thing that gets you out of the war.” The fat man noticed that he was being pointed out and began to walk over.</p><p></p><p>“Need a way out of the war, son?” he asked. “Well, you have come to the right man. Boris E. Crumb the Third is my name.” </p><p>Boris went to on to explain that he was hiring men of conscription age for a mission to help the Kingdom of Gothanius and whomsoever signed up received a conscription deferment. </p><p></p><p>“Where is this place?” Kazrack asked.</p><p></p><p>“Gothanius? It is one of the Little Kingdoms founded by deserters and the deserted after the failed invasion of Derome-Delem by Herman Land in the 5th Century. . .” (11)</p><p></p><p>“Derome-Delem?” Kazrack could not believe it. “You mean I get out of the war and I get to go to Derome-Delem? Derome-Delem?” </p><p></p><p>“And you’ll get paid. . . “ </p><p></p><p>The dwarf was lost in his own thoughts. Excited to tell his father that he had found an alternative, he began to leave.</p><p></p><p>“Hey, don’you want to know more?” Crumb called.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll be back,” Kazrack.</p><p></p><p>“Meet me at the Slim Stiletto!” Crumb said as the dwarf hurried off. </p><p></p><p>Kazrack joyfully gave the news to his father and aunt (who cried at the luck of Kazrack’s getting to go to Derome-Delem). He and his family went to the secret chapel of the dwarven gods to pray and give thanks. </p><p></p><p>Back at the Slim Stiletto, Malcolm was in the early stages of tying one on and met one of the other guys signed up to go with Crumb, a fellow Wallbrookian named Chance. Crumb walked in to the joyful cheer of all the lads, ordering three pints of dark ale he sat with Malcolm and Deet – the latter introduced the skald to his future employer.</p><p></p><p>“So, gonna sign up with us?” Crumb asked.</p><p></p><p>“What is this all about?” Malcolm asked through his thick brogue.</p><p></p><p>“I am hiring lads like yourself to help the Kingdom of Gothanius take care of a little bit of infestation in an area they annex for their kingdom. In return you get all your room and board and travel expenses paid for, citizenship in the kingdom and a parcel of land – and a chance at a 5,000 silver piece reward.”</p><p></p><p>“Infestation? What kind of infestation?”</p><p></p><p>“Nothing big, just a little problem with a . . .{cough} . . dragon. . .”</p><p></p><p>“A dragon? You are bringing all these boys to go fight a dragon! You’re just bringing it more food!”</p><p></p><p>“Oh, only commoners and some drunk merchants have seen it. It probably isn’t even really a dragon, maybe just a fire-breathing cow or something.”</p><p></p><p>“Heh.”</p><p></p><p>“All you need to do is sign this contract,” Crumb said as Deet pulled out a scroll of paper. Malcolm looked it over and then asked Deet to read it to him. </p><p></p><p>“If you sign, while you are here you get a free place to stay, free food and drink,” Crumb added. </p><p></p><p>Malcolm placed his X on the contract and delivered his fate in the hands of Crumb. </p><p></p><p>----------------------------------------------------------------------------------</p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p></p><p>(1) In Aquerra mountain dwarves and hill dwarves are referred to as Black or Red dwarves (respectively) by humans. Hill dwarves tend to have light brown to red hair and mountain dwarves tend to have dark brown or black hair.</p><p> </p><p>(2) Ra is the head of his pantheon. He is the hawk-headed lawful good god of the Sun and Kings.</p><p> </p><p>(3) The Kingdom of Herman Land is constitutional monarchy, with a parliament made up of representatives of the various guilds.</p><p></p><p>(4) The Cult of the Red God of the West are believers in a monotheistic faith that hold that the Red God is the only true god. They believe that all other gods are really diabolic or demonic forces (fallen angels) that seek to corrupt humans. They also believe that paradise is only for humans, non-humans being aberrations – redemption not being awarded them in death.</p><p> </p><p>(5) Fallon is the Goddess of Healing & Mercy. Once mortal, she ascended to godhood in the Third Age. Her priests are called Medicus, and wear white robes and red headbands to be readily identifiable. They are required to offer healing and mercy to all.</p><p></p><p>(6) Ptah is the god of Travel & Experience – Held to be the Creator of the Universe and the various planes.</p><p> </p><p>(7)"Lalena" is a song by Donovan. I know it isn't REALLY a song about a vampire - just use your imagination. (downloadable at <a href="http://www.matantisi.com/aquerra/ootfp/lalena.mp3" target="_blank">http://www.matantisi.com/aquerra/ootfp/lalena.mp3</a>)</p><p></p><p>(8) "I am stretched on your grave" is a traditional Irish song performed here by Dead Can Dance downloadable at <a href="http://www.matantisi.com/aquerra/ootfp/onyourgrave.mp3" target="_blank">http://www.matantisi.com/aquerra/ootfp/onyourgrave.mp3</a></p><p></p><p>(9) Gwar is a common name in Herman Land (until recently). It is the name of a hero from the times of tribes who may have been king if he had not died in the Battle of the Azmots. The standard foot is based on the length of his foot as he lay on his funeral pyre. The name has recently been disparaged by a murderer of women and children that continually eludes capture.</p><p> </p><p>(10)The Black Islands Barony is the protectorate that Herman Land is embroiled with in a civil war with.</p><p></p><p>(11) Derome-Delem is considered the homeland of the dwarves, Kazrack and his family are originally from there.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="el-remmen, post: 18803, member: 11"] [b]Session #1 (part I)[/b] [size=4][b]Ralem, the 22nd of Keent, 564 H.E.[/b][/size] It all began in the city of Verdun, largest and most cosmopolitan city in Aquerra – capitol city of the Kingdom of Herman Land, which is embroiled in a civil war to reclaim authority over its wayward protectorate. Kazrack, black dwarf (1) of some small fighting skill, but mostly just a loyal son to a father of some repute in the small and oft-overlooked dwarven community of Verdun, was walking back from the market with an armful of supplies for his family’s smithy. At the shop he found members of the townguard waiting for him. It turns out Kazrack was eligible for conscription in the war effort. He was given three days to appear before the Council of Conscription at the Temple of Ra. (2) Talking it over with his father, and being the only son (the only one that could carry on the family name), he decided to consult a barrister to see if there might be a legal means to get around this duty. Meanwhile, Malcolm Mac Duligh, a skald from the area of the Archduchy of Wallbrook called the Dubh Moors, where men still live in their traditional clans – and do not consider themselves to be part of the nation or to have any particular loyalty to the Archduke or the King of Herman Land – arrived at Verdun upon a ferry. The stench and noise of the city hit him like a brick – and he immediately was noticeable for his colorful kilt and huge bastard sword strapped to his back. Also on the ferry, but unknown to Malcolm, was Jana – a young girl fleeing her home in the city of Westron (also in the Kingdom of Herman Land). Independently, being new to the city, they decided to head to the marketplace in the Temple District, where information could always be gleaned from the infamous Dwarf Wall. Kazrack was having no luck with the barrister. The elderly gentleman, who never stopped writing while talking with the dwarf, suggested that a character witness who could testify that he was not “of age” in dwarven terms (which was a lie) could be helpful – along with a defense based on Kazrack being the only son – might convince the Council of Conscription show some discretion and defer his enrollment. However the fact that Kazrack was both a dwarf and not of noble blood made such a defense a stretch. A third possibility the barrister suggested was that Kazrack could find employment in the war effort in another way and not be shipped off to front. The lawyer said he had a friend in the Shipwrights’ Guild (3) and perhaps he knew of work the dwarf could do. . . The idea of working on ships made the dwarf uncomfortable. The worst part was the barrister’s help would cost between 75 and 90 silver pieces, a fortune for a common worker. The marketplace was cacophony of activity. A myriad of vendors hawked their goods, while rumor-mongers yelled some of the latest news by the Dwarf Wall, and city guards wandered through the stalls, watching and questioning people all along. Overwhelmed by a city of this size, Malcolm stepped back among some vendors who sold wood-carvings, as he noticed a trio of guards approach him. The sergeant asked Malcolm for his conscription papers, which of course the barbaric skald did not have. After an exchange of terse words, and the threat of incarceration for no real reason, Malcolm was warned that he had three days to appear before the Council of Conscription to be assigned a unit in the Herman Lander Army. Jana was not too far away trying to figure out what was the best thing to ask the rumor-mongers by the wall, as she could not read the postings and graffiti on the dwarf wall - when the market crowd parted to reveal a tall man dressed in shining plate mail with long feathered blonde hair and a helmet under one arm and a great sword in his other hand. Getting down on one knee, beneath the statue of Horus (God of Vengeance) in the center of the market he swore aloud to gain his revenge upon the followers of the Red God of the West and their “false” god. With that the paladin marched determinedly over to the temple of the Red God of the West (4) and began to bang the door to be let in, intermittently calling them cowards and asking them to call forth a champion he could vanquish. The market crowd followed the paladin at a distance to watch the fun. This included not only Malcolm and Jana, but Beorth, a quiet young Paladin of Anubis (Guardian of the Dead) who was watering the plants of the nearby monastery yard when this altercation began. Putting down his watering can, he ran out to get a better vantage point to see what was happening. Meanwhile, Jana looked back to see a group of a dozen young children wildly running to and fro between some of the abandoned market stalls and stealing all they could shove in sacks or under their shirt. The crowd was so caught up in the actions of the paladin, that no one else seemed to notice or care. Jana did not seem to care either. The temple door lurched open, the Paladin of Vengeance stumbled in, and the door slammed shut again. There was the momentary sound of scuffling, then silence. The crowd closed in on the stone steps of the temple – there was nary a breath while they waited to know what would happen. Sensing that the seen could get ugly, Jana moved to the edge of the crowd as to readily flee. The silence was broken by the approach of a dozen city guards. Half went to the temple door and the other half began to try to round up the thieving children. At this moment, Kazrack was walking past the gate to the temple district (on his way back from the barrister) and seeing the commotion came over to see what was happening. He arrived just in time to see a city guard brain a boy of no more than nine years old from behind. The guard made to move towards another of the young rascals, so Kazrack called him over with a deft ploy “Help! I’m been robbed!” The guard came over and Kazrack explained that a man of “vague description” had knocked him down and taken his money. The dwarf now accompanied the guard who pulled people from the crowd asking the dwarf if this or that person was the thief. There was a commotion at the balcony in the tower of the Temple of the Red God of the West, and a figure stepped out holding something in his hand. He was dressed in crimson robes, had a shaven head and wore a ruby inset on a headband. He said, ”Too long have the infidels and followers of false gods attacked us and dogged our progress towards Paradise at every turn. It ends today!” And with that threw the paladin’s head into the horrified crowd. “This is war! Let our sacred grounds be anointed the blood of infidels!” And the paladin’s body was tossed over the balcony, with his ankle bound to something in the tower, so the headless body hung, its blood pouring slowing down the side of white stone. The crowd cheered. And now city guards were trying to get inside the temple. Other members of the city guard began to disperse the crowd. Jana decided this was a good time to secure herself a room and wandered into the Residential District to find an inn. Kazrack reported the guard’s striking the young thief to a superior officer, who commanded the guard to bring the boy’s broken form to the healing house of Fallon. (5) The sergeant then turned to the dwarf and demanded his conscription papers. Explaining that he was given three days to report, Kazrack decided it would be a good time to head back home to his father’s shop. Beorth collected the paladin’s head to put in proper keeping in a crypt beneath the monastery until the rest of the body could be retrieved. Thinking aloud, he mused as to how he could get the body down. Hearing him as he turned to leave, Kazrack offered a suggestion (shooting a flaming arrow at night to burn through the rope). Beorth felt this would be too difficult. Kazrack mentioned the injured boy, so the two of them went to see if he stilled lived, and found that the local Medicus of Fallon was already tending to the boy. The two characters bid each other adieu and went about their business. As Beorth temporarily interred the paladin’s head, Malcolm wandered the market some more asking people if they had seen his friend who had told him to look him up in Verdun sometime. After asking a handful of people, one of the rumor-mongers by the wall volunteered the information that he thought he had seen someone fitting that description at the Slim Stiletto Inn & Tavern – getting directions, Malcolm headed there. In the meantime, Jana had secured a room at the Green Griffon – an inn located next to a chained off and apparently deserted plaza. As Kazrack discussed his fears about the whole conscription problem with his father – the fact that he’d probably drown to death in a sinking ship before ever getting to see the Black Islands, how if he just fled this would expose the family to danger from the local authority, how his absence would leave his father one worker short at the forge – Beorth was getting a little visit from the city guards himself. The guards explained that despite his role as warden of the monastery, since paladins of Anubis are not officially recognized as part of a church hierarchy that he must report to the Council of Conscription within three days. He tried to explain his duty to the following of Anubis, but the guards only insisted that he would have to discuss it with the priests of Ra who run the council. They also suggested that Beorth may be given an officer’s rank in the army. Beorth went on to ask if maybe the priests of Ra could help him retrieve the paladin's body and give it a decent burial. The sergeant suggested that this was a bad idea due to the delicate nature of relations between the followers of the Red God and the rest of the temples - as the Priests of Ra wanted to raze the Red God temple in retaliation - Only the reminder that the paladin had broken the law of the temple district in his attack had kept events from escalating. Beorth agreed and wished them a good day. Finishing the day’s chores, he went to sleep, his troubles resting uneasily in his mind. Meanwhile, Malcolm had found the Slim Stiletto to be filled with a group men that seemed to be in their teens and early twenties. Despite it still being mid-afternoon they were doing nothing but eating, drinking, playing darts and listening to bard. Malcolm procured an ale for a discount price and arranged to play a tune of his own on his bag-pipes, which while well-received by some was hated by others. An older tall balding gentleman seemed very interested and buying Malcolm a drink, struck up a conversation. The man, Deet of Ptah (6), explained that all these young men were “Crumb’s Boys” and had signed up with him to do some kind of job that got them out of the war. Deet suggested that Malcolm might sign up, as he though the bag-pipe playing would be inspirational and helpful during “the long marches”, whatever that meant. Malcolm tried to get Deet to explain more, but Deet said it was not his place to do so, only being the boss’ assistant, and that as soon as Crumb came back he’d introduce them. While they waited they listened to a bard sing a song called “Lalena” (7), about a man whose betrothed becomes a vampire. All the patrons seemed to love the song, but Malcolm found it to schmaltzy, preferring his epic tales of war and death – or mournful tales of love lost forever - like the traditional Wallbrookian song he performed later. (8) After securing her room, and assuring the inn-keep that even though she was from Westron she was of no relation to Gwar of Westron (the infamous murdered of women and children) (9), he gave her the suggestion that when she settles in for the night she bolt her door and not come out no matter what she hears. Not seeming to perplexed by this advice, Jana went back to the market in search of employment with an herbalist. She found what she was looking for in a twisted middle-aged woman seeing herbal remedies on a spread out blanket. “My rheumatism makes digging around for some herbs hard, I could use some help, “ she said. “Meet me at the new cemetery outside of the city at dawn tomorrow.” Jana agreed and returned to the Green Griffon to rest for the evening and get ready for her new job. After discussions with his father, who assured him that he would spend the 75 to 90 silver pieces if necessary, Kazrack walked back to the barrister’s office to discuss the chances of the defense working to see if his father’s money would be well spent. Kazrack seemed to feel that it would not be. Kazrack’s suspicions about the qualifications of the barrister were furthered by the old man’s niece blurting out that he had no clients. The barrister did say that he had spoken to his friend in the Shipwrights’ Guild, and that Kazrack could get a job helping to guard the shipyards of Outretowne (where most of the warships for the war effort are being built) and be able to avoid war service. Of course, Outretowne was perhaps the place most likely to be the target of a Black Islander attack (10). Another option, was to commit a crime and be placed in the dungeons of the city. . . Except that certain criminals were being granted pardons to join the war effort. Downcast, Kazrack left the office again and began to think that he would have to flee the country, and perhaps find a way to bribe officials to leave his family alone in his absence – as much as he was loathe to have to do it. Desperate, Kazrack went to the famed Dwarf Wall and had one of the rumor-mongers read to him some of the things on the wall, in hopes of hearing some news or tale that might help him. However none of the news was helpful. Thinking aloud Kazrack said, “I wish I knew someway to get out of the war.” “I know how,” the rumor-monger said, and pointed out a fat man with a handlebar mustache and thinning hair a little bit further down the wall. “That guy, Crumb, he stands all day recruiting people for some thing that gets you out of the war.” The fat man noticed that he was being pointed out and began to walk over. “Need a way out of the war, son?” he asked. “Well, you have come to the right man. Boris E. Crumb the Third is my name.” Boris went to on to explain that he was hiring men of conscription age for a mission to help the Kingdom of Gothanius and whomsoever signed up received a conscription deferment. “Where is this place?” Kazrack asked. “Gothanius? It is one of the Little Kingdoms founded by deserters and the deserted after the failed invasion of Derome-Delem by Herman Land in the 5th Century. . .” (11) “Derome-Delem?” Kazrack could not believe it. “You mean I get out of the war and I get to go to Derome-Delem? Derome-Delem?” “And you’ll get paid. . . “ The dwarf was lost in his own thoughts. Excited to tell his father that he had found an alternative, he began to leave. “Hey, don’you want to know more?” Crumb called. “I’ll be back,” Kazrack. “Meet me at the Slim Stiletto!” Crumb said as the dwarf hurried off. Kazrack joyfully gave the news to his father and aunt (who cried at the luck of Kazrack’s getting to go to Derome-Delem). He and his family went to the secret chapel of the dwarven gods to pray and give thanks. Back at the Slim Stiletto, Malcolm was in the early stages of tying one on and met one of the other guys signed up to go with Crumb, a fellow Wallbrookian named Chance. Crumb walked in to the joyful cheer of all the lads, ordering three pints of dark ale he sat with Malcolm and Deet – the latter introduced the skald to his future employer. “So, gonna sign up with us?” Crumb asked. “What is this all about?” Malcolm asked through his thick brogue. “I am hiring lads like yourself to help the Kingdom of Gothanius take care of a little bit of infestation in an area they annex for their kingdom. In return you get all your room and board and travel expenses paid for, citizenship in the kingdom and a parcel of land – and a chance at a 5,000 silver piece reward.” “Infestation? What kind of infestation?” “Nothing big, just a little problem with a . . .{cough} . . dragon. . .” “A dragon? You are bringing all these boys to go fight a dragon! You’re just bringing it more food!” “Oh, only commoners and some drunk merchants have seen it. It probably isn’t even really a dragon, maybe just a fire-breathing cow or something.” “Heh.” “All you need to do is sign this contract,” Crumb said as Deet pulled out a scroll of paper. Malcolm looked it over and then asked Deet to read it to him. “If you sign, while you are here you get a free place to stay, free food and drink,” Crumb added. Malcolm placed his X on the contract and delivered his fate in the hands of Crumb. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [b]Notes:[/b] (1) In Aquerra mountain dwarves and hill dwarves are referred to as Black or Red dwarves (respectively) by humans. Hill dwarves tend to have light brown to red hair and mountain dwarves tend to have dark brown or black hair. (2) Ra is the head of his pantheon. He is the hawk-headed lawful good god of the Sun and Kings. (3) The Kingdom of Herman Land is constitutional monarchy, with a parliament made up of representatives of the various guilds. (4) The Cult of the Red God of the West are believers in a monotheistic faith that hold that the Red God is the only true god. They believe that all other gods are really diabolic or demonic forces (fallen angels) that seek to corrupt humans. They also believe that paradise is only for humans, non-humans being aberrations – redemption not being awarded them in death. (5) Fallon is the Goddess of Healing & Mercy. Once mortal, she ascended to godhood in the Third Age. Her priests are called Medicus, and wear white robes and red headbands to be readily identifiable. They are required to offer healing and mercy to all. (6) Ptah is the god of Travel & Experience – Held to be the Creator of the Universe and the various planes. (7)"Lalena" is a song by Donovan. I know it isn't REALLY a song about a vampire - just use your imagination. (downloadable at [url]http://www.matantisi.com/aquerra/ootfp/lalena.mp3[/url]) (8) "I am stretched on your grave" is a traditional Irish song performed here by Dead Can Dance downloadable at [url]http://www.matantisi.com/aquerra/ootfp/onyourgrave.mp3[/url] (9) Gwar is a common name in Herman Land (until recently). It is the name of a hero from the times of tribes who may have been king if he had not died in the Battle of the Azmots. The standard foot is based on the length of his foot as he lay on his funeral pyre. The name has recently been disparaged by a murderer of women and children that continually eludes capture. (10)The Black Islands Barony is the protectorate that Herman Land is embroiled with in a civil war with. (11) Derome-Delem is considered the homeland of the dwarves, Kazrack and his family are originally from there. [/QUOTE]
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"Out of the Frying Pan" - Book I: Gathering Wood (reprise)
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