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Story Hour
pogre's story hour Zandyrium -episode 66- (5/10/2006) A short update.
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<blockquote data-quote="pogre" data-source="post: 1557491" data-attributes="member: 6588"><p>Zandyrium</p><p>Episode 02</p><p></p><p>The door opened into a small corridor. Ginny, the female human rogue stepped back to the front of the party and began carefully searching the passage for signs of traps. A door ended the passage about 20 feet ahead and Thoren was constantly urging Ginny to hurry, but she was undaunted in her careful trap checking. The group finally made it to the end of the passage and another small door. Ginny announced the door was not trapped and Thoren swung it open.</p><p></p><p>The chamber beyond the door had a large broken down table in the middle, a full bookcase, a desk and a chair, and a pair of doors. Justinius went to the bookcase to check the books out.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0201_Justinius_bookshelf.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0201_Justinius_bookshelf_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>“Check out some of these titles,” Justinius began, “<em>Keeper of Destiny, The Druids of Lore, Wizard of the Spring Fire, The Shining Dragon, Apprentice of the Mage's Amulet, Twilight of the Summoned, El-Winbin's Spell, and The Heart of Entrope</em>. They all seem pretty badly water-damaged.” </p><p></p><p>“From the sounds of those titles, that is probably a good thing,” Wassabe quipped.</p><p></p><p>Ginny checked out one of the doors leading out of the room and pronounced it safe. Mōrguhn steeped over to the door and opened it revealing a small bedroom. Ginny checked out the bed and stand next to it. The rogue found a wooden chest beneath the bed. </p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0202_Ginny_bedroom.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0202_Ginny_bedroom_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Mōrguhn watched patiently as Ginny checked the chest over for traps and picked its ancient lock. “Nothing but some old rotten clothes,” Ginny announced disgustedly.</p><p></p><p>“Check it for false bottoms,” Githraldul suggested.</p><p></p><p>“Allow me,” Mōrguhn stepped over to the chest and smashed it to pieces with his weapon. “No false bottoms.”</p><p></p><p>Finding no egresses from the bedroom, the group returned to the room with the bookcase and opened the remaining door. The door opened up to another corridor leading down to a door. Ginny carefully checked the corridor and found no traps. Opening the door revealed a small storage room full of barrels and crates. Four skeletons rose from the dusty corners and attacked the adventurers.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0203_skeletons.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0203_skeletons_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Thoren immediately charged and smashed one of the skeletons to pieces with his sword.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0204_thoren_attacks_skeletons.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0204_thoren_attacks_skeletons_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>The rest of the group entered the room. Justinius raised his arms into the air, “The god of Restful Peace rebukes you unnatural evil spawn of negativity!”</p><p></p><p>The skeletons continued fighting.</p><p></p><p>Wassabe chuckled.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0205_thoren_attacks_skeletons_top.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0205_thoren_attacks_skeletons_top_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Heinrich stepped forward and attempted to turn the skeletons as well, “The Angelic Chords of Victory demand your surrender!”</p><p></p><p>The skeletons fled to the far side of the room. Justinius looked perturbed. Heinrich shrugged his shoulders in a semi-apology to the cleric of Gravitas Morte. Mōrguhn and Thoren wasted no time hacking the mostly helpless skeletons to pieces. The group proceeded to search through the barrels and crates in the room. They mostly discovered rotten food and some oil.</p><p></p><p>“This is not adding up,” Justinius thought aloud.</p><p></p><p>“What do you mean? The undead in a food storage room?” Heinrich asked.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, among other things. What is this whole complex about?” Justinius replied.</p><p></p><p>“A necromancer has got to eat,” Mōrguhn suggested.</p><p></p><p>“He must be long gone,” Ginny said. “The foodstuff has been no good for a long time and the water barrels are empty. I cannot find an exit out of here either.”</p><p></p><p>“But,” Githraldul shoved some large crates to the side, “I have.” The elven ranger pushed a section of wall, revealing a secret door.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0206_githraldul_secret_door.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0206_githraldul_secret_door_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Ginny checked the door over for traps and opened it revealing a roughhewn, narrow corridor cut out of the rock and earth. “I do not like the looks of this.”</p><p></p><p>Mōrguhn stepped into the first part of the corridor, “It looks safe to me. This is good earth. No need to fear a collapse.”</p><p></p><p>“When was it made?” Heinrich asked.</p><p></p><p>“It has been here a while,” Mōrguhn answered. “I do not think it is as old as the finished areas we have been going through so far.”</p><p></p><p>“Do you see a door?” Githraldul asked.</p><p></p><p>“Nay, it winds out there as far as I can see,” Mōrguhn answered.</p><p></p><p>A short debate on the marching order for the group to take as they travel down the corridor ensued. A consensus was finally reached and Ginny led the single file group into the passage.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0207_ginny_leading.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0207_ginny_leading_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Ginny painstakingly checked every inch of the passage for signs of traps, Patiently, the group plodded along behind her, but after a half mile Thoren spoke up. “There are no traps. Let’s just go.”</p><p></p><p>“What is your hurry?” Heinrich asked.</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps you did not see the guy missing half his head due to a trap explosion in the sewer?” Ginny asked sarcastically.</p><p></p><p>“We’ve found no traps and this is boring as Hell,” Thoren whined.</p><p></p><p>“You are bored because you are still alive,” Justinius reminded the fighter.</p><p></p><p>Another couple of hours of slow travel and trap searching continued. Even some of the more cautious members of the group were becoming antsy when Mōrguhn announced he could see the end of the tunnel and a ladder going up. Ginny checked the passage all the way to the end and collapsed at the foot of the ladder. “No traps,” she said quietly and a half-smile crossed her lips. The group found themselves in a 20 feet by 20 feet chamber with a ladder leading 30 feet up to a trapdoor.</p><p></p><p> Ginny pulled herself up to her feet and began scaling the ladder. She reached the trapdoor and glanced back to her comrades. Heinrich gave her a reassuring nod. She opened the trapdoor and saw a finished stone chamber. There were hints of sunlight dancing around the room and in the far end a lone figure crouched covered by a cape and a large cowl.</p><p></p><p>The creature at the far end of the room and reveals a mess of rotted entrails protruding from its abdomen. A deep dark, grumbling voice came forth, “The burning hunger consumes me and now you have found me! All of these years of waiting - Either I shall feed or you shall end the miserable existence of Micon the Wizard!”</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0208_micon.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0208_micon_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Ginny immediately ducked down and began heading down the ladder. The unnatural creature dashed across the room and slid to the trapdoor. It reached down and grabbed the rogue’s arm. The group watched in horror as the rogue hung paralyzed on the ladder. The foul stench of undeath wafted down to the group and Thoren, Wassabe, and Mōrguhn began retching.</p><p></p><p>A pair of Githraldul’s arrows hit home on the foul beast and the creature hesitated in its attacks. Thoren scrambled up the ladder and attempted to pull Ginny down to safety. Thoren heaved mightily, but could not loosen the young woman’s stiffened grip on the ladder. Mōrguhn, like a possessed monkey, climbed over the pair on the ladder and climbed through the trapdoor. His efforts were rewarded with a stiff undead boot to the face. The dwarf tumbled down 30 feet to the ground. A bit of blood trickled out of Mōrguhn’s mouth, as he lay unconscious. </p><p></p><p>Every time the undead creation poked its head through the trapdoor the sharp arrows of Githraldul greeted it. Thus, the party and their undead enemy stood in a stalemate at either end of a ladder. </p><p></p><p>Justinius bent over the dwarf and said a prayer, bringing Mōrguhn back to consciousness. Ginny finally recovered from her paralysis. Justinius then spoke to the group, “I must go forward and destroy this abomination. I believe it is hurt, perhaps badly, and a final push might put it to rest. I will lead a renewed effort up the ladder.”</p><p></p><p>“No, I shall,” Wassabe declared and with cat-like quickness the ex-sailor swung up the ladder as though it were a rigging at sea. The rest of the party scrambled up behind him. Wassabe charged through the trapdoor and was greeted by the cold touch of undeath. It overwhelmed him and he fell to the ground in the mausoleum paralyzed.</p><p></p><p>Wassabe’s effort and sacrifice had not been in vain. The rest of the party gained a footing in the chamber and renewed the attack on the undead wizard. </p><p></p><p>Justinius called upon his deity’s powers to rebuke the undead creature and failed. </p><p></p><p>Thoren waded into battle against the ancient enchanter and hit it solidly a couple of times. The fighter weathered the brunt of the undead creature’s attacks and never hesitated, though his life was bleeding out of him.</p><p></p><p><a href="http://www.pogre.com/0209_micon+combat.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.pogre.com/0209_micon+combat_th.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /></a></p><p></p><p>Micon, the undead wizard, sensing Thoren’s end as near, readied a killing blow; an arrow whistled through the air and landed with a crack at the base of the Ghast’s skull. It twirled 180 degrees and then fell to the floor facedown. The last of its negative energy left its body and the room was quiet save the heavy breathing of the combatants. Githraldul’s remarkable shot had saved Thoren’s life.</p><p></p><p>As Wassabe threw off the coils of paralysis, he assisted Ginny in looking around the mausoleum. They quickly found that one of the tombs was open and contained three small gems and six flasks. Justinius approved of taking the materials, as he believed them to be former property of the Ghast.</p><p></p><p>…</p><p></p><p>Mōrguhn went to visit a dwarven armorer to buy a chain shirt. </p><p></p><p>“Stone and steel,” Mōrguhn greeted the armorer.</p><p></p><p>“Stone and steel young dwarf,” the armorer replied looking up from his work anvil.</p><p></p><p>“You are of Buldarvalt then?” Mōrguhn asked knowingly.</p><p></p><p>“Aye, as you are son of the warrior and charge of Bruk Gahalker,” the armorer let his hammer rest.</p><p></p><p>“You know of me. That is well. You know of my former trainer. That is well. Who are you son of Delgrod?”* Mōrguhn asked.</p><p></p><p>“I am Tadko Bladegrinder,” the armorer answered. “I sell the finest armor and some of the best weapons in Zandyrium.</p><p></p><p>“I need a chain shirt,” Mōrguhn stated. Tadko went to the back of his simple shop and retrieved a dwarf-sized chainmail shirt and placed it on Mōrguhn. The fit was nearly perfect, but Tadko insisted on fitting the piece and having Mōrguhn return in the afternoon to pick it up. A price was settled on and their conversation turned to local gossip.</p><p></p><p>“There is a merchant who is hiring bodyguards for a caravan south. The pay is very good and may give you enough to pursue your studies,” Tadko stated.</p><p></p><p>“Bruk must have told you everything,” Mōrguhn commented. Mōrguhn had not forgotten Bruk, his Guardian Arm was well known throughout the world, even this far south. He wondered if Bruk had shared his frustrations with others about Mōrguhn’s intentions to study the arcane arts. His questioning thoughts were answered quickly.</p><p></p><p>“Enough to know you are leaving the path of the warrior to learn foreign arts,” Tadko replied.</p><p></p><p>“It is my inclination,” Mōrguhn said defensively.</p><p></p><p>“It is not a dwarven pursuit, but to each their own. That is the motto of Zandyrium I suspect,” Tadko the armorer resumed the rhythm of his hammer blows, signaling the end of the conversation. Mōrguhn left the shop thinking about the possibilities of being a caravan guard and what it might bring for himself and his new companions.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Relief washed over Justinius as he walked towards the Temple of Gravitas Morte. The simple chapel gave him a sense of solid balance and the comfort of the inevitable. The mourner guards bowed as Justinius entered and the cleric walked towards the office of Granachus, the Primarch. The Primarch had his eyes cast downward studying a parchment on his desk. Justinius waited patiently.</p><p></p><p>“I sensed you had returned,” Granachus stated slowly.</p><p></p><p>“I did not exactly leave,” Justinius started to explain.</p><p></p><p>“You have met the enemy,” Granachus said.</p><p></p><p>“Yes Father, and in Zandyrium,” Justinius basically blurted out what had happened to the group.</p><p></p><p>“These are evil portents Justinius. I am studying our peace list and there is something amiss,” the Primarch moved the parchments towards Justinius. “Examine them. What do you see?”</p><p></p><p>The peace list was one of the most treasured items in the temple. Within the covers of the bound ledger was the record of every death in the city. The numerous taxmen in the city made visits to the temple whenever someone claimed a tax-delinquent citizen had died. No name in the ledger was <em>prima facie</em> evidence that a death had been faked.</p><p></p><p>“A lot of wealthier folks are dying of late,” Justinius remarked.</p><p></p><p>“No more than usual,” Granachus remarked.</p><p></p><p>“I am not sure I understand,” Justinius replied.</p><p></p><p>“It’s not what is there, it is what is missing,” the Primarch instructed.</p><p></p><p>“Fewer poor folks are dying?” Justinius said. “And no pauper burials in the last week at all?”</p><p></p><p>“Knowing what you do about Zandyrium, does that seem likely to you?” the Primarch asked.</p><p></p><p>“No,” Justinius admitted. “Then where are they going?”</p><p></p><p>“Exactly,” Granachus answered.</p><p></p><p>“I will look into it,” Justinius offered.</p><p></p><p>“I was hoping you would say that,” Granachus replied. “Now, let us retire to the sanctuary and pray to Gravitas Morte for guidance.”</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Heinrich reported to the vigils what the group had found and received a commendation for the entire group. He then journeyed back to his temple for fasting and prayers. Wassabe and Thoren learned in the marketplace and a tavern respectively that an abandoned orc fortress lay in the Darkfall Hills, near Fools’ Pass. They also learned that some mercenaries had returned from there after finding a bit of treasure.</p><p></p><p>The adventurers reconvened as previously arranged in the Greater Market and retired from there to a local pub.</p><p></p><p>There was a great debate on what course the group should take next. The clerics argued to explore the mysteries of the disappearing poor, and Wassabe and Thoren argued to head to the abandoned orc fortress. It was at that moment that a stranger approached the group and introduced himself, “Greetings travelers. I am Mercutio and I may have some insight to help decide this debate.”</p><p></p><p>Thoren asked, “You have a choice worthy of us?”</p><p></p><p>Mercutio smiled and answered, “A challenge, on my life.”</p><p></p><p>to be continued…</p><p></p><p>*Delgrod is the chief Dwarven deity</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="pogre, post: 1557491, member: 6588"] Zandyrium Episode 02 The door opened into a small corridor. Ginny, the female human rogue stepped back to the front of the party and began carefully searching the passage for signs of traps. A door ended the passage about 20 feet ahead and Thoren was constantly urging Ginny to hurry, but she was undaunted in her careful trap checking. The group finally made it to the end of the passage and another small door. Ginny announced the door was not trapped and Thoren swung it open. The chamber beyond the door had a large broken down table in the middle, a full bookcase, a desk and a chair, and a pair of doors. Justinius went to the bookcase to check the books out. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0201_Justinius_bookshelf.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0201_Justinius_bookshelf_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] “Check out some of these titles,” Justinius began, “[I]Keeper of Destiny, The Druids of Lore, Wizard of the Spring Fire, The Shining Dragon, Apprentice of the Mage's Amulet, Twilight of the Summoned, El-Winbin's Spell, and The Heart of Entrope[/I]. They all seem pretty badly water-damaged.” “From the sounds of those titles, that is probably a good thing,” Wassabe quipped. Ginny checked out one of the doors leading out of the room and pronounced it safe. Mōrguhn steeped over to the door and opened it revealing a small bedroom. Ginny checked out the bed and stand next to it. The rogue found a wooden chest beneath the bed. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0202_Ginny_bedroom.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0202_Ginny_bedroom_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Mōrguhn watched patiently as Ginny checked the chest over for traps and picked its ancient lock. “Nothing but some old rotten clothes,” Ginny announced disgustedly. “Check it for false bottoms,” Githraldul suggested. “Allow me,” Mōrguhn stepped over to the chest and smashed it to pieces with his weapon. “No false bottoms.” Finding no egresses from the bedroom, the group returned to the room with the bookcase and opened the remaining door. The door opened up to another corridor leading down to a door. Ginny carefully checked the corridor and found no traps. Opening the door revealed a small storage room full of barrels and crates. Four skeletons rose from the dusty corners and attacked the adventurers. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0203_skeletons.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0203_skeletons_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Thoren immediately charged and smashed one of the skeletons to pieces with his sword. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0204_thoren_attacks_skeletons.jpg][IMG] http://www.pogre.com/0204_thoren_attacks_skeletons_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The rest of the group entered the room. Justinius raised his arms into the air, “The god of Restful Peace rebukes you unnatural evil spawn of negativity!” The skeletons continued fighting. Wassabe chuckled. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0205_thoren_attacks_skeletons_top.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0205_thoren_attacks_skeletons_top_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Heinrich stepped forward and attempted to turn the skeletons as well, “The Angelic Chords of Victory demand your surrender!” The skeletons fled to the far side of the room. Justinius looked perturbed. Heinrich shrugged his shoulders in a semi-apology to the cleric of Gravitas Morte. Mōrguhn and Thoren wasted no time hacking the mostly helpless skeletons to pieces. The group proceeded to search through the barrels and crates in the room. They mostly discovered rotten food and some oil. “This is not adding up,” Justinius thought aloud. “What do you mean? The undead in a food storage room?” Heinrich asked. “Yes, among other things. What is this whole complex about?” Justinius replied. “A necromancer has got to eat,” Mōrguhn suggested. “He must be long gone,” Ginny said. “The foodstuff has been no good for a long time and the water barrels are empty. I cannot find an exit out of here either.” “But,” Githraldul shoved some large crates to the side, “I have.” The elven ranger pushed a section of wall, revealing a secret door. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0206_githraldul_secret_door.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0206_githraldul_secret_door_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Ginny checked the door over for traps and opened it revealing a roughhewn, narrow corridor cut out of the rock and earth. “I do not like the looks of this.” Mōrguhn stepped into the first part of the corridor, “It looks safe to me. This is good earth. No need to fear a collapse.” “When was it made?” Heinrich asked. “It has been here a while,” Mōrguhn answered. “I do not think it is as old as the finished areas we have been going through so far.” “Do you see a door?” Githraldul asked. “Nay, it winds out there as far as I can see,” Mōrguhn answered. A short debate on the marching order for the group to take as they travel down the corridor ensued. A consensus was finally reached and Ginny led the single file group into the passage. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0207_ginny_leading.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0207_ginny_leading_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Ginny painstakingly checked every inch of the passage for signs of traps, Patiently, the group plodded along behind her, but after a half mile Thoren spoke up. “There are no traps. Let’s just go.” “What is your hurry?” Heinrich asked. “Perhaps you did not see the guy missing half his head due to a trap explosion in the sewer?” Ginny asked sarcastically. “We’ve found no traps and this is boring as Hell,” Thoren whined. “You are bored because you are still alive,” Justinius reminded the fighter. Another couple of hours of slow travel and trap searching continued. Even some of the more cautious members of the group were becoming antsy when Mōrguhn announced he could see the end of the tunnel and a ladder going up. Ginny checked the passage all the way to the end and collapsed at the foot of the ladder. “No traps,” she said quietly and a half-smile crossed her lips. The group found themselves in a 20 feet by 20 feet chamber with a ladder leading 30 feet up to a trapdoor. Ginny pulled herself up to her feet and began scaling the ladder. She reached the trapdoor and glanced back to her comrades. Heinrich gave her a reassuring nod. She opened the trapdoor and saw a finished stone chamber. There were hints of sunlight dancing around the room and in the far end a lone figure crouched covered by a cape and a large cowl. The creature at the far end of the room and reveals a mess of rotted entrails protruding from its abdomen. A deep dark, grumbling voice came forth, “The burning hunger consumes me and now you have found me! All of these years of waiting - Either I shall feed or you shall end the miserable existence of Micon the Wizard!” [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0208_micon.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0208_micon_th.jpg [/IMG][/URL] Ginny immediately ducked down and began heading down the ladder. The unnatural creature dashed across the room and slid to the trapdoor. It reached down and grabbed the rogue’s arm. The group watched in horror as the rogue hung paralyzed on the ladder. The foul stench of undeath wafted down to the group and Thoren, Wassabe, and Mōrguhn began retching. A pair of Githraldul’s arrows hit home on the foul beast and the creature hesitated in its attacks. Thoren scrambled up the ladder and attempted to pull Ginny down to safety. Thoren heaved mightily, but could not loosen the young woman’s stiffened grip on the ladder. Mōrguhn, like a possessed monkey, climbed over the pair on the ladder and climbed through the trapdoor. His efforts were rewarded with a stiff undead boot to the face. The dwarf tumbled down 30 feet to the ground. A bit of blood trickled out of Mōrguhn’s mouth, as he lay unconscious. Every time the undead creation poked its head through the trapdoor the sharp arrows of Githraldul greeted it. Thus, the party and their undead enemy stood in a stalemate at either end of a ladder. Justinius bent over the dwarf and said a prayer, bringing Mōrguhn back to consciousness. Ginny finally recovered from her paralysis. Justinius then spoke to the group, “I must go forward and destroy this abomination. I believe it is hurt, perhaps badly, and a final push might put it to rest. I will lead a renewed effort up the ladder.” “No, I shall,” Wassabe declared and with cat-like quickness the ex-sailor swung up the ladder as though it were a rigging at sea. The rest of the party scrambled up behind him. Wassabe charged through the trapdoor and was greeted by the cold touch of undeath. It overwhelmed him and he fell to the ground in the mausoleum paralyzed. Wassabe’s effort and sacrifice had not been in vain. The rest of the party gained a footing in the chamber and renewed the attack on the undead wizard. Justinius called upon his deity’s powers to rebuke the undead creature and failed. Thoren waded into battle against the ancient enchanter and hit it solidly a couple of times. The fighter weathered the brunt of the undead creature’s attacks and never hesitated, though his life was bleeding out of him. [URL=http://www.pogre.com/0209_micon+combat.jpg][IMG]http://www.pogre.com/0209_micon+combat_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Micon, the undead wizard, sensing Thoren’s end as near, readied a killing blow; an arrow whistled through the air and landed with a crack at the base of the Ghast’s skull. It twirled 180 degrees and then fell to the floor facedown. The last of its negative energy left its body and the room was quiet save the heavy breathing of the combatants. Githraldul’s remarkable shot had saved Thoren’s life. As Wassabe threw off the coils of paralysis, he assisted Ginny in looking around the mausoleum. They quickly found that one of the tombs was open and contained three small gems and six flasks. Justinius approved of taking the materials, as he believed them to be former property of the Ghast. … Mōrguhn went to visit a dwarven armorer to buy a chain shirt. “Stone and steel,” Mōrguhn greeted the armorer. “Stone and steel young dwarf,” the armorer replied looking up from his work anvil. “You are of Buldarvalt then?” Mōrguhn asked knowingly. “Aye, as you are son of the warrior and charge of Bruk Gahalker,” the armorer let his hammer rest. “You know of me. That is well. You know of my former trainer. That is well. Who are you son of Delgrod?”* Mōrguhn asked. “I am Tadko Bladegrinder,” the armorer answered. “I sell the finest armor and some of the best weapons in Zandyrium. “I need a chain shirt,” Mōrguhn stated. Tadko went to the back of his simple shop and retrieved a dwarf-sized chainmail shirt and placed it on Mōrguhn. The fit was nearly perfect, but Tadko insisted on fitting the piece and having Mōrguhn return in the afternoon to pick it up. A price was settled on and their conversation turned to local gossip. “There is a merchant who is hiring bodyguards for a caravan south. The pay is very good and may give you enough to pursue your studies,” Tadko stated. “Bruk must have told you everything,” Mōrguhn commented. Mōrguhn had not forgotten Bruk, his Guardian Arm was well known throughout the world, even this far south. He wondered if Bruk had shared his frustrations with others about Mōrguhn’s intentions to study the arcane arts. His questioning thoughts were answered quickly. “Enough to know you are leaving the path of the warrior to learn foreign arts,” Tadko replied. “It is my inclination,” Mōrguhn said defensively. “It is not a dwarven pursuit, but to each their own. That is the motto of Zandyrium I suspect,” Tadko the armorer resumed the rhythm of his hammer blows, signaling the end of the conversation. Mōrguhn left the shop thinking about the possibilities of being a caravan guard and what it might bring for himself and his new companions. *** Relief washed over Justinius as he walked towards the Temple of Gravitas Morte. The simple chapel gave him a sense of solid balance and the comfort of the inevitable. The mourner guards bowed as Justinius entered and the cleric walked towards the office of Granachus, the Primarch. The Primarch had his eyes cast downward studying a parchment on his desk. Justinius waited patiently. “I sensed you had returned,” Granachus stated slowly. “I did not exactly leave,” Justinius started to explain. “You have met the enemy,” Granachus said. “Yes Father, and in Zandyrium,” Justinius basically blurted out what had happened to the group. “These are evil portents Justinius. I am studying our peace list and there is something amiss,” the Primarch moved the parchments towards Justinius. “Examine them. What do you see?” The peace list was one of the most treasured items in the temple. Within the covers of the bound ledger was the record of every death in the city. The numerous taxmen in the city made visits to the temple whenever someone claimed a tax-delinquent citizen had died. No name in the ledger was [I]prima facie[/I] evidence that a death had been faked. “A lot of wealthier folks are dying of late,” Justinius remarked. “No more than usual,” Granachus remarked. “I am not sure I understand,” Justinius replied. “It’s not what is there, it is what is missing,” the Primarch instructed. “Fewer poor folks are dying?” Justinius said. “And no pauper burials in the last week at all?” “Knowing what you do about Zandyrium, does that seem likely to you?” the Primarch asked. “No,” Justinius admitted. “Then where are they going?” “Exactly,” Granachus answered. “I will look into it,” Justinius offered. “I was hoping you would say that,” Granachus replied. “Now, let us retire to the sanctuary and pray to Gravitas Morte for guidance.” *** Heinrich reported to the vigils what the group had found and received a commendation for the entire group. He then journeyed back to his temple for fasting and prayers. Wassabe and Thoren learned in the marketplace and a tavern respectively that an abandoned orc fortress lay in the Darkfall Hills, near Fools’ Pass. They also learned that some mercenaries had returned from there after finding a bit of treasure. The adventurers reconvened as previously arranged in the Greater Market and retired from there to a local pub. There was a great debate on what course the group should take next. The clerics argued to explore the mysteries of the disappearing poor, and Wassabe and Thoren argued to head to the abandoned orc fortress. It was at that moment that a stranger approached the group and introduced himself, “Greetings travelers. I am Mercutio and I may have some insight to help decide this debate.” Thoren asked, “You have a choice worthy of us?” Mercutio smiled and answered, “A challenge, on my life.” to be continued… *Delgrod is the chief Dwarven deity [/QUOTE]
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pogre's story hour Zandyrium -episode 66- (5/10/2006) A short update.
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