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<blockquote data-quote="Enk&amp;D'Shai" data-source="post: 480025" data-attributes="member: 7569"><p><strong>"Double Vision," or "You Never Gnome Who to Trust"</strong></p><p></p><p>D'Shai? What the heck are you doing?</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Packing! Only 60 more days until the ENWorld Ohio Gameday!</span> </p><p></p><p>Uh, I hate to break it to you, but that's still about 2 months away.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Yeah, but I get to be a <em>player</em>, Enk. You hear? A PLAYER!</span></p><p></p><p>So?</p><p></p><p> <span style="color: skyblue">That means the return of the ultimate swashbuckling pirate character!</span> </p><p></p><p>Why do I ask... I suppose that he'll have an eyepatch?</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">As a matter of fact, yes he will. How did you know?</span> </p><p></p><p>Because all of your characters have an eyepatch. Geez, why don't you come up with something, oh, I don't know, original?</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Like a swashbuckling pirate beholder? With an eyepatch! A really <em>big</em> eyepatch! I got the idea out of the new Dragon!</span> </p><p></p><p>Yeah. That's exactly what I meant. Sometimes your mind reading abilities amaze even me.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Well, when your working with such a small space it's easy to find what you're looking for. So let me try again - you're going to play a fighter and show all these ENWorlders exactly how bad you roll. Or will you play a non-combative cleric, mage, bard, or something else that doesn't have to roll to hit?</span> </p><p></p><p>That's it, I'm taking my dice and going home.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">But you are home. And those are my dice. Wouldn't want to have another "dice incident," would we?</span> </p><p></p><p>How was I supposed to know Champ was using Fett's dice? And we found 'em anyway. <span style="font-size: 9px">Well, most of them, at least.</span> Can we just move along? You've managed to dredge up every painful gaming memory I have, all the way back to childhood so far. Too much more an I'll just, well, develop psoriasis.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">It's a good thing you weren't involved in the photocopier incident or we'd be here all day. Oh well, TIP O' THE DAY!</span> </p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">Never throw dice at the gaming table - especially when they're not yours. Corollary to the Tip of the Day: never make fun of your DM when he is gearing up to actually play, you slacker.</span> </p><p></p><p>You know, I'd normally say I'd been duly berated, but I know where you keep your high school prom pictures, mullet boy.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: skyblue">You're in those pictures too, baby face.</span></p><p></p><p>And on with the show!</p><p></p><p>This week's post gives us a little break in the action, so take a deep breath, as it gets bumpy from here on out. We're also trying out using multiple points of view in a single post, so bear with us!</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>"Double Vision," or "You Never Gnome Who to Trust"</p><p></p><p>Theo knew instantly that it was Pack careening toward them by the oversized rucksack that rested on his back, but the priest had never seen the bard run so fast. As the halfling fully rounded the corner, two bolts shattered against the wall behind him and a third sank harmlessly into his backpack. </p><p></p><p>Theo rushed past the halfling brandishing his flail. “Quickly, before they can sound another alarm.”</p><p></p><p>The great war priest then bounded forward, prepared for a mighty horde of goblins. What instead awaited him were three crossbow-laden goblins frantically trying to reload. Theo lowered his head behind his shield and rushed the closest one. The cleric’s charge smashed into the goblin, lifting him off the ground and propelling him backwards into a wall followed by the full force and weight of the rushing cleric. </p><p></p><p>The sickening snap of crushed bones echoed through the large chamber the cleric now found himself in. The room was long and narrow, with straw targets at the near end and a short barrier blocking the other. The barrier resembled a crude archer’s wall and behind it stood more goblins, crossbows at ready. </p><p></p><p>Theo pulled his shield around, back to a defensive position, allowing the crushed goblin to slide lifelessly to the floor. The priest barely brought his shield to bear as the two rear goblins loosed their bolts, granting cover fire to the retreating pair. The bolts slammed into the cleric’s shield splintering the already damaged wood. </p><p></p><p> “Always carry a round shield lads! Archers can’t resist; it looks just like a practice target!” Theo cried at the passing woodsman and feloine, who both shot a glance back at the crude circular targets near the priest, before speeding on ahead. </p><p></p><p>Theo also moved forward, admiring his two warrior companions as they engaged the panicked goblins. They poor creatures had not been able to get the bows loaded, nor their melee weapons drawn, before the twin furies were upon them weaving their destructive dance. Only one goblin survived the initial assault by ducking under the crude wall, and he ran with all his heart trying to get to an adjoining hallway. </p><p></p><p>Theo almost felt bad for it as he stepped right into the path of the terrified creature swinging his flail to meet its face. The ensuing impact caused the goblin’s nose to explode and propelled its head backwards. The priest followed through with the well placed blow, causing the creature’s feet to cartwheel back over its head as the body tried to continue its frantic run forward.</p><p></p><p>“I think we got them before they could cry for help.” Ander said while the war priest removed his water skin and began cleaning his flail head.</p><p></p><p>“I agree.” Ashrem chimed in. “But besides the way we entered, two passages and a door also lead from this room. If a goblin had managed to escape before we got here, it could have been in any direction.”</p><p></p><p>Theo looked up once he had finished with his cleansing task and peered around, taking a moment to look down each dark hallway as far as their meager spells and torches allowed. Each hallway appeared long and empty, filling the priest with a sense of dark foreboding that caused him to mutter a quick prayer to the Storm Lord. “Wash away my doubts, Zuras, as your rains have cleansed a thousand valleys, and grant me the strength, like your tornados, to follow my path.” </p><p></p><p>“Say one for the rest of us as well, good Theo.” Ander cut in. “I think we could all use a little divine inspiration.”</p><p></p><p>The priest turned and saw that the entire group was now lined up next to him eyeing the dark hallways, and each member of the small band had the same disheartened look upon their face. It appeared to the experienced cleric that the wounds of battle, both physical and mental, were beginning to wear on the young heroes. One he could cure with Zuras’ divine gift, the other one was up to the individual to overcome. Still, Theo prayed, a little inspiration couldn’t hurt, a sign that they were actually helping and making headway. </p><p></p><p>“Oy! Is somebody out there? How ‘bout a bit o’ help in here?”</p><p></p><p>* * * * *</p><p></p><p></p><p>Aurora’s ears perked up at the sound of the thin voice. “Did you hear that?” she asked to no one in particular.</p><p></p><p>“Yes, Lady, I did.” Ashrem answered. Aurora could almost hear the curiosity in his velvety voice. “And I believe it came from the other side of this door.” The feloine glided over the stone floor toward the source of the sound.</p><p></p><p>“Careful, Ash. Theo, Pack, take that side – I’ll take this one. Aurora, you and Meepo guard the rear.”</p><p></p><p>“Pixie Dust! I’m not helpless here, Ander!”</p><p></p><p>“Aurora, this isn’t about…”</p><p></p><p>“I said,” Aurora let the ice in her voice show her anger, “I am not helpless.” </p><p></p><p>Ander looked at the sorceress with sad eyes, and she felt as if she had just been hit with another crossbow bolt. As her stomach sank, she could see the worry in face. After an awkward pause, the woodsman answered again, this time with more calm in his voice. “Aurora, you and Meepo take Pack’s spot. Pack, keep an eye out behind us.” Aurora looked over at Pack, and the halfling shrugged back at her in response while he moved into position.</p><p></p><p>During this exchange, Ashrem had been busily checking over the door itself, with a little ‘help’ from Meepo who mimicked the feloine’s motions perfectly. When he was done, Ashrem turned back toward his companions and with a nod that Aurora assumed to be an ‘all clear’ signal, he pulled the door open. </p><p></p><p>“I was wondering when you would finally get around to doing that.” The voice they heard was weak, yet strangely merry. “Never expected me rescuers to be havin’ a domestic squabble ‘afore they busted me out.” </p><p></p><p>The flickering torches barely lit the interior of the room Ashrem had opened. The feloine led the way in, with Ander following close behind. Meepo then slinked in, ushered forward by Aurora, who in turn was guided by the Brother Theo’s reassuring hand. In the chamber sat thirteen small, huddled, and chained forms. Almost all of them were kobolds, but one was something small and bearded, and adorned with a huge nose. It was this person that continued speaking. “Well? What are ye waiting for?”</p><p></p><p>“Who are ye, er I mean, who are you?” Pack said from behind the friends. As he worked his way underneath the crowd toward the front, Aurora began to see why Ander had asked her to guard the rear. “Why are you here? And where are you from?”</p><p></p><p>“Well, I’m from all over the place, really. I’m here because I got captured by those stinking goblins. And, me name is Erth Snydenose, at yer service. I’d shake your hand, but I’m a bit tied up at the moment.” The little man hefted his chains to punctuate his point. “Anything else you want to know before you get me free?”</p><p></p><p>Ander answered the prisoner. “No, that should do for a start. Ash, you think you can get him free?”</p><p></p><p>“Give me a moment of relative peace, and I do believe I could.”</p><p></p><p>“In the meantime, Erth, maybe you should tell us a bit more about how you came to be here…”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, me lad. Me mates and I had been contracted to…”</p><p></p><p>Aurora watched as the feloine inspected the chains, tracing the links up and down the length of the open cell. Just as he set to work in earnest, Meepo tugged at the sorceress’ hand. He whispered to her in broken draconic, “Rora Angel free Meepo clan-mates now?”</p><p></p><p>“I didn’t know those kobolds were from you’re clan, Meepo.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, from clan. Free now?” The kobold looked up at her with pleading eyes, like her youngest brother asking for a bit of pastry. “Please?” </p><p></p><p>In the short time since Aurora had met the kobold, Meepo had never asked for anything. On the contrary, the scaly beast had instead given the sorceress and her friends as much help as he could, without a second thought. He had even fought beside them, and, from what Theo had said while healing her bolt wound, had led the initial charge to the goblins behind the halfwall. Aurora couldn’t find it in her heart to tell him no.</p><p></p><p>The sorceress moved around the three companions interrogating the little man – <em>Actually, he looks a lot like a gnome, now that I think about it.</em> Careful not to interrupt their conversation, she came up to the feloine. “Ashrem, do you think we can set the kobolds free as well? They’re part of Meepo’s clan.”</p><p></p><p>The scout growled at the sound of Meepo’s name, and Aurora instinctively looked around for the kobold. Meepo had strayed from his normal place at her side and was instead talking with the other kobolds in the cell, spending just a few moments with each in turn as he made his rounds.</p><p></p><p>“I do not believe I will have a choice in the matter, Lady, as their bonds are interconnected. Freeing the gnome – <em>so he is a gnome</em> - will free the lot of them.”</p><p></p><p>“It needs to be done anyway. Not only is it the right thing to do for Meepo, I think it will make it easier for us to deal with Yusdrayl after we get the dragon. I don’t think we should trust her.”</p><p></p><p>Ashrem regarded her with a long stare. “My Lady, that is the first thing I have heard you say regarding the kobolds that makes sense. Now, if you will excuse me?” The sorceress fumed at the feloine, anger flashing in her eyes, and was about to retort when she heard a quiet huffing chuckle. She had heard it once before, after the oh-so-proper scout had snuck up on Pack during their journey overland. </p><p></p><p>“Are you making fun of me, Ashrem?” She let a bit of steel creep into her tone.</p><p></p><p>Ashrem continued focusing on his work as he answered, “I would never seek to embarrass a Lady, my Lady.” He tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the humor out of his voice. He cleared his throat, “However, I believe you are correct about the level of trust we should place in the kobolds.” He paused for a moment, as if ready to say more, and looked over toward Meepo, who was finishing his rounds of the kobold prisoners. “You should check on your pet, Aurora, before he rouses the rabble.”</p><p></p><p>Aurora stepped away from the feloine, perplexed by his manner as always, and patted Meepo on the head. When she did so, she saw the chained kobolds’ eyes widen, and several fell to their knees. <em>What has Meepo been saying to them, I wonder?</em> “Come on Meepo, let Ashrem do his work.” The kobold guide took her hand and waddled away from the prisoners. Then she patted him over to an empty corner of the room and turned her attention back to the gnome, who seemed to be finishing his tale.</p><p></p><p>“…and that’s about all, I guess.”</p><p></p><p>“Gods,” Pack exclaimed, “that’s amazing! So you and your band of stalwart fellows were hired by a powerful mage to find a magic elixir and came to this underground keep and fought the goblins we saw and you threw that spear through the goblin and pinned it to the wall and then you fought the rats where you got separated from your friends and run into a goblin patrol who captured you and beat you and put you here?”</p><p></p><p>“Well, I would have said it with more breaths, and in fact I did. And I would have given more detail, which, come to think of it, I also did. But yes, that does sound familiar. Mage, elixir, keep, goblins, rats, captured – yes, that about covers it.”</p><p></p><p>Theo interrupted, “There’s only one thing I have a question on, Erth. How did someone of your, ahem, stature manage to bury a spear through a goblin and into solid stone?”</p><p></p><p>“That would be from me chain gauntlets. If I were wearing them right now, I imagine I could’ve broken through these chains already.”</p><p></p><p>As Erth pointed to the chains, the metal links began to move with a clinking sound. Then, suddenly, the main chain connecting Erth’s bonds to the both the wall and the rest of the prisoners snaked through the rings holding it. Aurora looked over at Ashrem, who was yanking arm length after arm length of rusty iron through the rings set into the walls and depositing them in a heap at his feet. Soon, the gnome and a dozen kobolds stood, and moved gingerly around the room, as if testing their legs to see if they still worked. </p><p></p><p>“I’m much obliged to ye, friends. Now what about these shackles?” The gnome again held out his arms, which had been bound securely with manacles. “Might I impose on ye a bit more?”</p><p></p><p>“Ashrem? You think you can do these too?”</p><p></p><p>“Of course, Ander. Give me a moment to collect my tools, please.”</p><p></p><p>Aurora stepped away from the gnome to give the feloine room to work, as did Ander and Theo. Pack, however, continued talking. “So where will you be going when we get you loose? Want to come with us?”</p><p></p><p>“No, me boy. I don’t think so. I need to be getting back into friendlier lands. You see, I got…”</p><p>Aurora’s attention was pulled from the conversation by the feeling she was being watched. She looked behind her, and saw a row of thirteen kobolds staring at her back. Meepo stood in the center of the former prisoners. As if on cue, they kobolds moved quickly in two lines up to the sorceress, and each kobold in turn knelt at her feet. They proceeded back away from Aurora and silently lined up before Meepo. </p><p></p><p>Then, each kobold embraced the small guide and shuffled out the door. On their way out the opening, they murmured something to Meepo that Aurora could barely make out. “Aurora angel bless us all. Meepo save us all. We not forget…” Again, the sorceress wondered what their guide had told the kobolds, but by the time she found her voice the prisoners were gone, heading back in the direction of the kobolds’ home. </p><p></p><p>Meepo simply looked at her, showed his teeth in what she had come to recognize as a smile, and promptly sat down where he was to fiddle with one of the goblins’ discarded crossbows.</p><p></p><p>She started toward the guide, full of questions, when she felt a hand on her backside. Stifling a squeal, she jumped out of the way of the hand’s owner.</p><p></p><p>“Sorry lass! Just on me way, you know.” Erth sauntered by the sorceress and stood framed in the doorway. He turned back toward Aurora and the rest of the friends. “Now remember, if ye find me gloves, or the elixer, I’d be appreciative if…”</p><p></p><p>“We’ve got it, Erth.” Ander waved to the gnome. “Look for us in Icemist. Hopefully we won’t be away too much longer. You sure you don’t need supplies before you go?”</p><p></p><p>“I’ve told ye, lad – I can take care of meself.”</p><p></p><p>“Gods watch over you then.”</p><p></p><p>“And over you.” The gnome turned away to leave, but looked over his shoulder as he moved slowly away. “Remember, lads and lassie, I owe you one.” Then he was gone.</p><p></p><p>Aurora turned back toward her friends. “Well? Which of the hallways do we check first?”</p><p></p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Next Time!</p><p></p><p>"Sorry, Wrong Door," or "RUN AWAY!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Enk&D'Shai, post: 480025, member: 7569"] [b]"Double Vision," or "You Never Gnome Who to Trust"[/b] D'Shai? What the heck are you doing? [COLOR=skyblue]Packing! Only 60 more days until the ENWorld Ohio Gameday![/COLOR] Uh, I hate to break it to you, but that's still about 2 months away. [COLOR=skyblue]Yeah, but I get to be a [I]player[/I], Enk. You hear? A PLAYER![/COLOR] So? [COLOR=skyblue]That means the return of the ultimate swashbuckling pirate character![/COLOR] Why do I ask... I suppose that he'll have an eyepatch? [COLOR=skyblue]As a matter of fact, yes he will. How did you know?[/COLOR] Because all of your characters have an eyepatch. Geez, why don't you come up with something, oh, I don't know, original? [COLOR=skyblue]Like a swashbuckling pirate beholder? With an eyepatch! A really [I]big[/I] eyepatch! I got the idea out of the new Dragon![/COLOR] Yeah. That's exactly what I meant. Sometimes your mind reading abilities amaze even me. [COLOR=skyblue]Well, when your working with such a small space it's easy to find what you're looking for. So let me try again - you're going to play a fighter and show all these ENWorlders exactly how bad you roll. Or will you play a non-combative cleric, mage, bard, or something else that doesn't have to roll to hit?[/COLOR] That's it, I'm taking my dice and going home. [COLOR=skyblue]But you are home. And those are my dice. Wouldn't want to have another "dice incident," would we?[/COLOR] How was I supposed to know Champ was using Fett's dice? And we found 'em anyway. [SIZE=1]Well, most of them, at least.[/SIZE] Can we just move along? You've managed to dredge up every painful gaming memory I have, all the way back to childhood so far. Too much more an I'll just, well, develop psoriasis. [COLOR=skyblue]It's a good thing you weren't involved in the photocopier incident or we'd be here all day. Oh well, TIP O' THE DAY![/COLOR] [COLOR=skyblue]Never throw dice at the gaming table - especially when they're not yours. Corollary to the Tip of the Day: never make fun of your DM when he is gearing up to actually play, you slacker.[/COLOR] You know, I'd normally say I'd been duly berated, but I know where you keep your high school prom pictures, mullet boy. [COLOR=skyblue]You're in those pictures too, baby face.[/COLOR] And on with the show! This week's post gives us a little break in the action, so take a deep breath, as it gets bumpy from here on out. We're also trying out using multiple points of view in a single post, so bear with us! ***** "Double Vision," or "You Never Gnome Who to Trust" Theo knew instantly that it was Pack careening toward them by the oversized rucksack that rested on his back, but the priest had never seen the bard run so fast. As the halfling fully rounded the corner, two bolts shattered against the wall behind him and a third sank harmlessly into his backpack. Theo rushed past the halfling brandishing his flail. “Quickly, before they can sound another alarm.” The great war priest then bounded forward, prepared for a mighty horde of goblins. What instead awaited him were three crossbow-laden goblins frantically trying to reload. Theo lowered his head behind his shield and rushed the closest one. The cleric’s charge smashed into the goblin, lifting him off the ground and propelling him backwards into a wall followed by the full force and weight of the rushing cleric. The sickening snap of crushed bones echoed through the large chamber the cleric now found himself in. The room was long and narrow, with straw targets at the near end and a short barrier blocking the other. The barrier resembled a crude archer’s wall and behind it stood more goblins, crossbows at ready. Theo pulled his shield around, back to a defensive position, allowing the crushed goblin to slide lifelessly to the floor. The priest barely brought his shield to bear as the two rear goblins loosed their bolts, granting cover fire to the retreating pair. The bolts slammed into the cleric’s shield splintering the already damaged wood. “Always carry a round shield lads! Archers can’t resist; it looks just like a practice target!” Theo cried at the passing woodsman and feloine, who both shot a glance back at the crude circular targets near the priest, before speeding on ahead. Theo also moved forward, admiring his two warrior companions as they engaged the panicked goblins. They poor creatures had not been able to get the bows loaded, nor their melee weapons drawn, before the twin furies were upon them weaving their destructive dance. Only one goblin survived the initial assault by ducking under the crude wall, and he ran with all his heart trying to get to an adjoining hallway. Theo almost felt bad for it as he stepped right into the path of the terrified creature swinging his flail to meet its face. The ensuing impact caused the goblin’s nose to explode and propelled its head backwards. The priest followed through with the well placed blow, causing the creature’s feet to cartwheel back over its head as the body tried to continue its frantic run forward. “I think we got them before they could cry for help.” Ander said while the war priest removed his water skin and began cleaning his flail head. “I agree.” Ashrem chimed in. “But besides the way we entered, two passages and a door also lead from this room. If a goblin had managed to escape before we got here, it could have been in any direction.” Theo looked up once he had finished with his cleansing task and peered around, taking a moment to look down each dark hallway as far as their meager spells and torches allowed. Each hallway appeared long and empty, filling the priest with a sense of dark foreboding that caused him to mutter a quick prayer to the Storm Lord. “Wash away my doubts, Zuras, as your rains have cleansed a thousand valleys, and grant me the strength, like your tornados, to follow my path.” “Say one for the rest of us as well, good Theo.” Ander cut in. “I think we could all use a little divine inspiration.” The priest turned and saw that the entire group was now lined up next to him eyeing the dark hallways, and each member of the small band had the same disheartened look upon their face. It appeared to the experienced cleric that the wounds of battle, both physical and mental, were beginning to wear on the young heroes. One he could cure with Zuras’ divine gift, the other one was up to the individual to overcome. Still, Theo prayed, a little inspiration couldn’t hurt, a sign that they were actually helping and making headway. “Oy! Is somebody out there? How ‘bout a bit o’ help in here?” * * * * * Aurora’s ears perked up at the sound of the thin voice. “Did you hear that?” she asked to no one in particular. “Yes, Lady, I did.” Ashrem answered. Aurora could almost hear the curiosity in his velvety voice. “And I believe it came from the other side of this door.” The feloine glided over the stone floor toward the source of the sound. “Careful, Ash. Theo, Pack, take that side – I’ll take this one. Aurora, you and Meepo guard the rear.” “Pixie Dust! I’m not helpless here, Ander!” “Aurora, this isn’t about…” “I said,” Aurora let the ice in her voice show her anger, “I am not helpless.” Ander looked at the sorceress with sad eyes, and she felt as if she had just been hit with another crossbow bolt. As her stomach sank, she could see the worry in face. After an awkward pause, the woodsman answered again, this time with more calm in his voice. “Aurora, you and Meepo take Pack’s spot. Pack, keep an eye out behind us.” Aurora looked over at Pack, and the halfling shrugged back at her in response while he moved into position. During this exchange, Ashrem had been busily checking over the door itself, with a little ‘help’ from Meepo who mimicked the feloine’s motions perfectly. When he was done, Ashrem turned back toward his companions and with a nod that Aurora assumed to be an ‘all clear’ signal, he pulled the door open. “I was wondering when you would finally get around to doing that.” The voice they heard was weak, yet strangely merry. “Never expected me rescuers to be havin’ a domestic squabble ‘afore they busted me out.” The flickering torches barely lit the interior of the room Ashrem had opened. The feloine led the way in, with Ander following close behind. Meepo then slinked in, ushered forward by Aurora, who in turn was guided by the Brother Theo’s reassuring hand. In the chamber sat thirteen small, huddled, and chained forms. Almost all of them were kobolds, but one was something small and bearded, and adorned with a huge nose. It was this person that continued speaking. “Well? What are ye waiting for?” “Who are ye, er I mean, who are you?” Pack said from behind the friends. As he worked his way underneath the crowd toward the front, Aurora began to see why Ander had asked her to guard the rear. “Why are you here? And where are you from?” “Well, I’m from all over the place, really. I’m here because I got captured by those stinking goblins. And, me name is Erth Snydenose, at yer service. I’d shake your hand, but I’m a bit tied up at the moment.” The little man hefted his chains to punctuate his point. “Anything else you want to know before you get me free?” Ander answered the prisoner. “No, that should do for a start. Ash, you think you can get him free?” “Give me a moment of relative peace, and I do believe I could.” “In the meantime, Erth, maybe you should tell us a bit more about how you came to be here…” “Of course, me lad. Me mates and I had been contracted to…” Aurora watched as the feloine inspected the chains, tracing the links up and down the length of the open cell. Just as he set to work in earnest, Meepo tugged at the sorceress’ hand. He whispered to her in broken draconic, “Rora Angel free Meepo clan-mates now?” “I didn’t know those kobolds were from you’re clan, Meepo.” “Yes, from clan. Free now?” The kobold looked up at her with pleading eyes, like her youngest brother asking for a bit of pastry. “Please?” In the short time since Aurora had met the kobold, Meepo had never asked for anything. On the contrary, the scaly beast had instead given the sorceress and her friends as much help as he could, without a second thought. He had even fought beside them, and, from what Theo had said while healing her bolt wound, had led the initial charge to the goblins behind the halfwall. Aurora couldn’t find it in her heart to tell him no. The sorceress moved around the three companions interrogating the little man – [I]Actually, he looks a lot like a gnome, now that I think about it.[/I] Careful not to interrupt their conversation, she came up to the feloine. “Ashrem, do you think we can set the kobolds free as well? They’re part of Meepo’s clan.” The scout growled at the sound of Meepo’s name, and Aurora instinctively looked around for the kobold. Meepo had strayed from his normal place at her side and was instead talking with the other kobolds in the cell, spending just a few moments with each in turn as he made his rounds. “I do not believe I will have a choice in the matter, Lady, as their bonds are interconnected. Freeing the gnome – [I]so he is a gnome[/I] - will free the lot of them.” “It needs to be done anyway. Not only is it the right thing to do for Meepo, I think it will make it easier for us to deal with Yusdrayl after we get the dragon. I don’t think we should trust her.” Ashrem regarded her with a long stare. “My Lady, that is the first thing I have heard you say regarding the kobolds that makes sense. Now, if you will excuse me?” The sorceress fumed at the feloine, anger flashing in her eyes, and was about to retort when she heard a quiet huffing chuckle. She had heard it once before, after the oh-so-proper scout had snuck up on Pack during their journey overland. “Are you making fun of me, Ashrem?” She let a bit of steel creep into her tone. Ashrem continued focusing on his work as he answered, “I would never seek to embarrass a Lady, my Lady.” He tried, unsuccessfully, to keep the humor out of his voice. He cleared his throat, “However, I believe you are correct about the level of trust we should place in the kobolds.” He paused for a moment, as if ready to say more, and looked over toward Meepo, who was finishing his rounds of the kobold prisoners. “You should check on your pet, Aurora, before he rouses the rabble.” Aurora stepped away from the feloine, perplexed by his manner as always, and patted Meepo on the head. When she did so, she saw the chained kobolds’ eyes widen, and several fell to their knees. [I]What has Meepo been saying to them, I wonder?[/I] “Come on Meepo, let Ashrem do his work.” The kobold guide took her hand and waddled away from the prisoners. Then she patted him over to an empty corner of the room and turned her attention back to the gnome, who seemed to be finishing his tale. “…and that’s about all, I guess.” “Gods,” Pack exclaimed, “that’s amazing! So you and your band of stalwart fellows were hired by a powerful mage to find a magic elixir and came to this underground keep and fought the goblins we saw and you threw that spear through the goblin and pinned it to the wall and then you fought the rats where you got separated from your friends and run into a goblin patrol who captured you and beat you and put you here?” “Well, I would have said it with more breaths, and in fact I did. And I would have given more detail, which, come to think of it, I also did. But yes, that does sound familiar. Mage, elixir, keep, goblins, rats, captured – yes, that about covers it.” Theo interrupted, “There’s only one thing I have a question on, Erth. How did someone of your, ahem, stature manage to bury a spear through a goblin and into solid stone?” “That would be from me chain gauntlets. If I were wearing them right now, I imagine I could’ve broken through these chains already.” As Erth pointed to the chains, the metal links began to move with a clinking sound. Then, suddenly, the main chain connecting Erth’s bonds to the both the wall and the rest of the prisoners snaked through the rings holding it. Aurora looked over at Ashrem, who was yanking arm length after arm length of rusty iron through the rings set into the walls and depositing them in a heap at his feet. Soon, the gnome and a dozen kobolds stood, and moved gingerly around the room, as if testing their legs to see if they still worked. “I’m much obliged to ye, friends. Now what about these shackles?” The gnome again held out his arms, which had been bound securely with manacles. “Might I impose on ye a bit more?” “Ashrem? You think you can do these too?” “Of course, Ander. Give me a moment to collect my tools, please.” Aurora stepped away from the gnome to give the feloine room to work, as did Ander and Theo. Pack, however, continued talking. “So where will you be going when we get you loose? Want to come with us?” “No, me boy. I don’t think so. I need to be getting back into friendlier lands. You see, I got…” Aurora’s attention was pulled from the conversation by the feeling she was being watched. She looked behind her, and saw a row of thirteen kobolds staring at her back. Meepo stood in the center of the former prisoners. As if on cue, they kobolds moved quickly in two lines up to the sorceress, and each kobold in turn knelt at her feet. They proceeded back away from Aurora and silently lined up before Meepo. Then, each kobold embraced the small guide and shuffled out the door. On their way out the opening, they murmured something to Meepo that Aurora could barely make out. “Aurora angel bless us all. Meepo save us all. We not forget…” Again, the sorceress wondered what their guide had told the kobolds, but by the time she found her voice the prisoners were gone, heading back in the direction of the kobolds’ home. Meepo simply looked at her, showed his teeth in what she had come to recognize as a smile, and promptly sat down where he was to fiddle with one of the goblins’ discarded crossbows. She started toward the guide, full of questions, when she felt a hand on her backside. Stifling a squeal, she jumped out of the way of the hand’s owner. “Sorry lass! Just on me way, you know.” Erth sauntered by the sorceress and stood framed in the doorway. He turned back toward Aurora and the rest of the friends. “Now remember, if ye find me gloves, or the elixer, I’d be appreciative if…” “We’ve got it, Erth.” Ander waved to the gnome. “Look for us in Icemist. Hopefully we won’t be away too much longer. You sure you don’t need supplies before you go?” “I’ve told ye, lad – I can take care of meself.” “Gods watch over you then.” “And over you.” The gnome turned away to leave, but looked over his shoulder as he moved slowly away. “Remember, lads and lassie, I owe you one.” Then he was gone. Aurora turned back toward her friends. “Well? Which of the hallways do we check first?” ***** Next Time! "Sorry, Wrong Door," or "RUN AWAY! [/QUOTE]
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