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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5665637" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p><em>“ALLHANKOWSH!”</em> Alaria called out. The mighty mystic phrase thundered over the noise of the battlefield and howling winds that held Alaria aloft.</p><p> </p><p> Around the tip of the ever so slender and delicate looking white wand, the air crackled and sparked before a devastating bolt of lightning streaked through the melee. The wand itself crackled and snapped. Alaria watched as veins of light appeared along the wand’s length. With a final snap and static discharge, the wand splintered into a thousand shards and fell from the mage’s hand. </p><p> </p><p> The final use of her mentor’s gift was far from in vain. Goblins and zarx that did not simply fall in blackened charred lumps flew in various directions. Some were lifted and thrown farther from the gale that had engulfed the fighting. Her primary target, a wounded but still savage ogre, also fell from the blast.</p><p> </p><p> In the wake of the bolt, the battle fell silent. No foes remained moving. No survivors to retreat.</p><p> </p><p> The gale that surrounded Alaria, and indeed the whole battlefield, subsided quickly. The R’Hathi mage gently returned to earth as the winds calmed. When her feet touched ground her knees buckled and she simply crumpled into a heap.</p><p> </p><p> The crystal orb rolled from her other hand, her fingers gone as limp as the rest of her. Its swirling cloudy inner light faded from view.</p><p> </p><p> Exhaustion claimed her clouded mind as tears flowed down her cheeks freely. Somewhere some piece of her thought how pathetic her lack of self-control and unseemly her emotional outburst must seem to the remaining onlookers. </p><p> </p><p> She didn’t care.</p><p> </p><p> Alaria lifted her eyes to the body-strewn field. They came to rest on the sundered shield. Her vision blurred and there was a dull awareness of her head hitting the ground before darkness claimed her. </p><p> </p><p> <u><strong><em>3 Days Earlier</em></strong></u></p><p> </p><p> Leaving the Inn at the Lake and getting out of Welford took a bit longer than the group anticipated. With the influx of refugees from South Imer and Lakesdown, the town of Welford was close to swelling.</p><p></p><p></p><p>Mayor Brethel made an announcement in efforts to calm the population. He relayed to the people Rhea’s vision that Welford would not be attacked and that staying in the hamlet was everyone’s safest option. Despite these “official” proclamations, there were several refugees and some locals who wanted to get away from Lake Imerlis.</p><p> </p><p> One of those insistent on leaving Welford was a merchant from the desert empire of Thelitia named Kudjik.</p><p> </p><p> Kudjik was a slight man in both stature and girth. He had darkly tanned skin with large dark eyes that glinted when he smiled. He sported, as many Thelitian men, a full black beard and was swathed in a off-white linen robe and roomy (some might say “poofy”) pants of similar cooling fabric with calf-high boots whose tips had a slight curve to them, reminiscent of gnomish style shoes and boots. His abdomen was wrapped in a wide sash/belt striped in bright colors and covered his head in the traditional Thelitian head-wrapping (turban) of blue fabric.</p><p> </p><p> Kudjik had managed to get to a ship and flee South Imer with his two wagons of goods and four guardsmen before the goblin army arrived there and was hells-bent on moving to a safe place (preferably where they could be traded so as not to make his entire venture a waste). Believing, and likely correct, that no army of any kind would be fool enough to challenge the lands of the Dragonmage, Kudjik decided to move his wares into Daenfrii. The prosperity and generosity of the realm of Daenfrii was well known, though Kudjik himself had never had reason or opportunity to travel that far from his desert homeland.</p><p> </p><p> Being observant and shrewd, as Thelitian traders were (among other things) known to be, the merchant was most complimentary to Alaria and her companions, but mostly Alaria. He showered the wizardess with blatant and transparent compliments about her looks, her dress, her “obvious magical prowess” as a R’Hathi, etc. etc..</p><p> </p><p> Alaria ignored most of these, which were sprinkled throughout their brief negotiations. She gave the tan desert man (who was really no taller than she herself) a quaint smile here and acknowledging head-nod there. It was quickly agreed they would travel with the caravan (in exchange for provisions and rides) as far as the crossing at Bridgetower (the nearest way across the D'Evand river into Daenfrii), three days.</p><p> </p><p>Kujik tried to get Alaria to ride on the first wagon with him, but the mage politely, even coyly, refused. Much to all of the party's surprise (especially Braddok), she opted instead to share one of the two horses Kudjik offered with the swordsman from Denil.</p><p></p><p></p><p> Coerraine found the merchant’s manner toward Alaria to be somewhat insulting and scowled at him regularly. It was common knowledge in the paladin’s southern homeland that Thelitians, in addition to being shrewd, were not an overly trustworthy people.</p><p> </p><p> The young Redstar Knight’s attempt show of warning received a similar glare from the largest of Kujik’s guards. </p><p> </p><p> Gnobert very much liked the bright elaborate fabrics the Thelitians used for belts and was interested in seeing Kujik’s wares. Kudjik, in an interest to secure their safety before business (something most merchants of the desert lands would not be wise enough to do), assured the gnome he could see all of the fabric he’d like when the train reached Daenfrii.</p><p> </p><p> As the group moved out through the hamlet’s farmlands and took the northwesterly road, they picked up additional wanderers who wanted to seek out some safety. Most of the local Welford men were content with what the mayor had said about the Green Witch’s assurance. But there were some who were too cautious or cowardly to stay. </p><p> </p><p> Within their first few hours on the road, the caravan had grown to about 50 people, mostly on foot. In addition to Kudjik’s two wagons or wares, another 3 carts joined them, piled with supplies and goods, some with cages of chickens and hogs. One had two goats hitched up to the back. </p><p> </p><p> In addition to Alaria and the others, there were Kudjik’s four men. They wore the pants and boots similar to the merchant’s own, but with leather breastplates and shin guards instead of robes. They each also had sashes of varying bright colors and patterns wrapped around their middles. </p><p></p><p>Two wore simple wraps on their heads and two wore the Thelitian-styled helmets which sloped towards the back. They all carried shields and weapons with broad “C-shaped” blades which Braddok identified as “khopeshes.”</p><p></p><p></p><p>Two of the guards also carried short bows. One had a spear. The largest, who Kudjik called Jarood, had a second curved scimitar much larger than the khopesh strapped across his back. </p><p> </p><p> There were also, Braddok estimated, about 10 other men among the refugees who could be useful in a fight, if need be. A few carried staves or pitchforks. He did note one man who actually wore a chainmail vest and had a scabbard slung at his hip. Least it'll be something, Braddok figured, if we found ourselves in dire straits.</p><p> </p><p> Also among those vacating Welford was the young owner of the apothecary, Devrim. Alaria told Braddok the bookish wiry youth had some experience on the road of his own.</p><p> </p><p> While Alaria was not pleased at the decidedly slower prospect of moving with a wagon train, the concept of “safety in numbers” could not be denied. She also figured, once they crossed into Daenfrii and parted ways with the caravan, the security of that realm would make the remainder of their journey that much safer and quicker.</p><p> </p><p> So as the train's first day came to an end and Kudjik called for camp to be made, everyone felt fairly secure in their roles as “caravan guards” and looked forward to an uneventful three day journey to the lands of the Dragonmage and then onward (and equally uneventful) to the fabled realm of the elves.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5665637, member: 92511"] [I]“ALLHANKOWSH!”[/I] Alaria called out. The mighty mystic phrase thundered over the noise of the battlefield and howling winds that held Alaria aloft. Around the tip of the ever so slender and delicate looking white wand, the air crackled and sparked before a devastating bolt of lightning streaked through the melee. The wand itself crackled and snapped. Alaria watched as veins of light appeared along the wand’s length. With a final snap and static discharge, the wand splintered into a thousand shards and fell from the mage’s hand. The final use of her mentor’s gift was far from in vain. Goblins and zarx that did not simply fall in blackened charred lumps flew in various directions. Some were lifted and thrown farther from the gale that had engulfed the fighting. Her primary target, a wounded but still savage ogre, also fell from the blast. In the wake of the bolt, the battle fell silent. No foes remained moving. No survivors to retreat. The gale that surrounded Alaria, and indeed the whole battlefield, subsided quickly. The R’Hathi mage gently returned to earth as the winds calmed. When her feet touched ground her knees buckled and she simply crumpled into a heap. The crystal orb rolled from her other hand, her fingers gone as limp as the rest of her. Its swirling cloudy inner light faded from view. Exhaustion claimed her clouded mind as tears flowed down her cheeks freely. Somewhere some piece of her thought how pathetic her lack of self-control and unseemly her emotional outburst must seem to the remaining onlookers. She didn’t care. Alaria lifted her eyes to the body-strewn field. They came to rest on the sundered shield. Her vision blurred and there was a dull awareness of her head hitting the ground before darkness claimed her. [U][B][I]3 Days Earlier[/I][/B][/U] Leaving the Inn at the Lake and getting out of Welford took a bit longer than the group anticipated. With the influx of refugees from South Imer and Lakesdown, the town of Welford was close to swelling. Mayor Brethel made an announcement in efforts to calm the population. He relayed to the people Rhea’s vision that Welford would not be attacked and that staying in the hamlet was everyone’s safest option. Despite these “official” proclamations, there were several refugees and some locals who wanted to get away from Lake Imerlis. One of those insistent on leaving Welford was a merchant from the desert empire of Thelitia named Kudjik. Kudjik was a slight man in both stature and girth. He had darkly tanned skin with large dark eyes that glinted when he smiled. He sported, as many Thelitian men, a full black beard and was swathed in a off-white linen robe and roomy (some might say “poofy”) pants of similar cooling fabric with calf-high boots whose tips had a slight curve to them, reminiscent of gnomish style shoes and boots. His abdomen was wrapped in a wide sash/belt striped in bright colors and covered his head in the traditional Thelitian head-wrapping (turban) of blue fabric. Kudjik had managed to get to a ship and flee South Imer with his two wagons of goods and four guardsmen before the goblin army arrived there and was hells-bent on moving to a safe place (preferably where they could be traded so as not to make his entire venture a waste). Believing, and likely correct, that no army of any kind would be fool enough to challenge the lands of the Dragonmage, Kudjik decided to move his wares into Daenfrii. The prosperity and generosity of the realm of Daenfrii was well known, though Kudjik himself had never had reason or opportunity to travel that far from his desert homeland. Being observant and shrewd, as Thelitian traders were (among other things) known to be, the merchant was most complimentary to Alaria and her companions, but mostly Alaria. He showered the wizardess with blatant and transparent compliments about her looks, her dress, her “obvious magical prowess” as a R’Hathi, etc. etc.. Alaria ignored most of these, which were sprinkled throughout their brief negotiations. She gave the tan desert man (who was really no taller than she herself) a quaint smile here and acknowledging head-nod there. It was quickly agreed they would travel with the caravan (in exchange for provisions and rides) as far as the crossing at Bridgetower (the nearest way across the D'Evand river into Daenfrii), three days. Kujik tried to get Alaria to ride on the first wagon with him, but the mage politely, even coyly, refused. Much to all of the party's surprise (especially Braddok), she opted instead to share one of the two horses Kudjik offered with the swordsman from Denil. Coerraine found the merchant’s manner toward Alaria to be somewhat insulting and scowled at him regularly. It was common knowledge in the paladin’s southern homeland that Thelitians, in addition to being shrewd, were not an overly trustworthy people. The young Redstar Knight’s attempt show of warning received a similar glare from the largest of Kujik’s guards. Gnobert very much liked the bright elaborate fabrics the Thelitians used for belts and was interested in seeing Kujik’s wares. Kudjik, in an interest to secure their safety before business (something most merchants of the desert lands would not be wise enough to do), assured the gnome he could see all of the fabric he’d like when the train reached Daenfrii. As the group moved out through the hamlet’s farmlands and took the northwesterly road, they picked up additional wanderers who wanted to seek out some safety. Most of the local Welford men were content with what the mayor had said about the Green Witch’s assurance. But there were some who were too cautious or cowardly to stay. Within their first few hours on the road, the caravan had grown to about 50 people, mostly on foot. In addition to Kudjik’s two wagons or wares, another 3 carts joined them, piled with supplies and goods, some with cages of chickens and hogs. One had two goats hitched up to the back. In addition to Alaria and the others, there were Kudjik’s four men. They wore the pants and boots similar to the merchant’s own, but with leather breastplates and shin guards instead of robes. They each also had sashes of varying bright colors and patterns wrapped around their middles. Two wore simple wraps on their heads and two wore the Thelitian-styled helmets which sloped towards the back. They all carried shields and weapons with broad “C-shaped” blades which Braddok identified as “khopeshes.” Two of the guards also carried short bows. One had a spear. The largest, who Kudjik called Jarood, had a second curved scimitar much larger than the khopesh strapped across his back. There were also, Braddok estimated, about 10 other men among the refugees who could be useful in a fight, if need be. A few carried staves or pitchforks. He did note one man who actually wore a chainmail vest and had a scabbard slung at his hip. Least it'll be something, Braddok figured, if we found ourselves in dire straits. Also among those vacating Welford was the young owner of the apothecary, Devrim. Alaria told Braddok the bookish wiry youth had some experience on the road of his own. While Alaria was not pleased at the decidedly slower prospect of moving with a wagon train, the concept of “safety in numbers” could not be denied. She also figured, once they crossed into Daenfrii and parted ways with the caravan, the security of that realm would make the remainder of their journey that much safer and quicker. So as the train's first day came to an end and Kudjik called for camp to be made, everyone felt fairly secure in their roles as “caravan guards” and looked forward to an uneventful three day journey to the lands of the Dragonmage and then onward (and equally uneventful) to the fabled realm of the elves. [/QUOTE]
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