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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 5961284" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>Fen, Erevan and Haelan looekd up in disbelief at the enormous oak tree that stretched out and up from the opening beneath its roots, through which they had just climbed to exit the mountain of/at/around Nor Gorthok.</p><p></p><p>Alaria wasted no time to pull out the teardrop emerald and began to concentrate again. </p><p></p><p>Braddok stood, alert and weapon drawn, near her and took in their surroundings.</p><p></p><p>Festus emerged from beneath the roots and let out a long whistle at the size and girth of the oak tree that formed a canopy of fresh green leaves, about 40 feet of shade, on the size of the craggy rocks.</p><p></p><p>"We should move." Fen said plainly.</p><p></p><p>"Why? Festus where's Duor?" Haelan asked.</p><p></p><p>Before the satyr could respond, the half-elf druid said, "It is nearly winter. The sudden appearance of a giant tree, in full summer bloom, on the side of the mountain is sure to draw attention...not the least from the lizard folk and behir below us somewhere. We'd best not be here when it does."</p><p></p><p>No one could argue with that.</p><p></p><p>"But where's Duor?" Haelan said again.</p><p></p><p>"He...um...I think...I mean, it seems...he is not coming. He wants to stay and get the treasure." Festus replied. </p><p></p><p>"Damned idiot dwarf." Haelan said in a frustration and chastisement the companions were unaccustomed to. The daelvar hefted his mace to his shoulder and began to trek back toward the opening beneath the roots that had spread out on the surface of the rock face.</p><p></p><p>"Where are you going?" Erevan said, stepping in front of the halfling.</p><p></p><p>"Whatever else he is, " Haelan replied forcefully, "Duor is a Stormrider. And we've already lost one on this venture. I am not losing another. We don't leave anyone behind...least not if they're alive."</p><p></p><p>Erevan's right eyebrow arched in his typical way. Whether it was out of curiosity, concern, surprise at being rebuked by the Hilltender, or anything else was impossible to determine.</p><p></p><p>"He is a grown dwarf, Haelan. Right or wrong, he can make his own decisions." Alaria said, overhearing the exchange.</p><p></p><p>"Did it work?" Braddok asked the magess quietly as she placed the teardrop gem back into her belt pouch.</p><p></p><p>Alaria shook her head in the negative.</p><p></p><p>Haelan continued for the tree. Erevan had stepped out of his way and crossed his arms, but did say, "Alaria is right, Hilltender. Like it or not, he is a grown being. It is Duor's decision to make."</p><p></p><p>"Indeed it is." Haelan replied as he began crawling back between the twisted roots. "And it is mine that I will not let my companion and brother-at-arms meet a foul end with no support from us. We are the Stormriders and I will not lose another of us if it can be helped."</p><p></p><p>The other companions looked to each other and then to Alaria. Before the magess could speak, Haelan continued his argument.</p><p></p><p>"We must go back. Coerraine would never forgive us. I wouldn't forgive myself.</p><p></p><p>"Fen, you spoke of fulfilling your oath. Braddok, I know you are an honorable man and have given your word and sword to our cause all of this time. Alaria, you know Coerraine would not stand for us just leaving him...not to mention you said there is something here we are meant to do."</p><p></p><p>Alaria frowned at the halfling's presumption of arguing with her and then realized, to her own embarassment, that everything Haelan was saying was true.</p><p></p><p>"But...the Eye of Arinane...the Ihs Repahl...we need it to fight the dragon." Alaria made a half-hearted argument.</p><p></p><p>"So...I mean, I don't get all of the ins n' outs of magic stuff...but that crystal orb that we risked life n' hoof to get to the Dragonmange's keep in Daenfrii...specifically to keep it <em>away </em>from Tresahd...Your plan is to spend weeks returning to Daenfrii, get <em>that </em>same orb, and bring it back <em>right to</em> the heart of where Tresahd, or at least his agents, might be?" Festus said.</p><p></p><p>He was polite in the query but obviously confused by this reasoning. </p><p></p><p>Alaria had to admit it did not sound like a wise course of action.</p><p></p><p>"Well, when you put it like that..." Alaria looked to the swamp, spreading out before them, to the north if she wasn't mistaken. "...Maybe it isn't the best idea." she quietly finished.</p><p></p><p>"But we have these other treasures...we don't know what those potions do...or Braddok, this new enchanted blade of yours...By the Blue Star we don't even know where Duor might have gotten to by now." Alaria attempted to make further debate.</p><p></p><p>Braddok then felt a strange vibration in his hand. The handle of his sword was practically buzzing in his grip. A low hum came to his ears. The others seemed not to notice.</p><p></p><p>*<em>Can...doo....can...help....with that.</em>* came an odd sounding buzz of a voice in his head.</p><p></p><p>"I...uh...what?" stammered the warrior.</p><p></p><p>*<em>Can...doo...see....for you...</em>* came the buzzing in his mind in reply.</p><p></p><p>Braddok nearly dropped the blue-glowing blade and then looked at it in disbelief.</p><p></p><p>"What was that Braddok?" Erevan said. The elf was replying in curiosity to what the swordsman said...not hearing the sword, itself.</p><p></p><p>"We should probably head back into the mountain." Festus interjected from abot ten feet below their position along a narrow ledge that wrapped toward the west of the mountain.</p><p></p><p>The satyr looked down from a small flat space of rock, though shielded frmo below by some craggy outcroppings. He readily saw what looked like the ruined remains of a gatehouse at the base of crater's ridge. It was the "tower-like" building from which they'd exited the lizardmen's lair. The long narrow trench that led from there to the base of the mountain was obvious. So too was the slightly elevated and thoroughly overgrown with vegetation of what must be the bulk of the lizardmen's colony.</p><p></p><p>The tree and most of the party would not have been visible from there and they were a good hundred or more feet above the crater's base. But from time to time, the astute satyr noticed the movements of figures through the tall grasses and brush that covered the mound. At this height the sprawling lair was easily identifiable, though from the ground, Festus knew, one might walk right passed it without knowing.</p><p></p><p>"The lizardmen might see the tree and wish to explore it. Or worse, that dragon-snake." the satyr concluded.</p><p></p><p>"Haelan is correct." Fen said finally after several moments of thought. "I am of the Ancient Holy Order first of all. But I am, as are we all, Stormriders. We should not...<em>do</em> not abandon our own." he grinned his charming crooked grin at Alaria.</p><p></p><p>Alaria placed a delicate hand to her temple and closed her eyes. This was not what she wanted. This was not how things should go. <em>Why</em> had she relinquished control of the group?</p><p></p><p>She took a few long calming breaths, as she had learned very early in her training, and opened her eyes. "Alright. You are correct Haelan...and Fen...and you, as well, Festus. I thank you for your reasonable arguments to my irrational reaction. Let's go save a dwarf and bag a dragon."</p><p></p><p>"Or bag a dwarf and save ourselves." Erevan smiled broadly in uncharacteristic joking response. </p><p></p><p>The companions, one by one, RE-entered the passage, now thoroughly concealed by the tree's roots and patch of grass and small yellow flowers that had sprung up around it.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Duor groaned and half-opened his eyes...or eye, as the left was swollen shut. His whole body ached though nothing seemed broken. The dwarf looked and felt about in the total darkness. He was...in a box? A metal box? No...there was no lid. He stared up at the dark circle open hole in the ceiling.</p><p></p><p>He checked, in reflexive panic. He still had his weapons...and pouches clinked with his gems and coins. He...he wasn't dead, as best he could tell. Otherwise, surely, he'd be enjoying a large draught of ale beside the warming fires of the Great Forge. </p><p></p><p>"Where in the hells am I?" the dwarf wondered to himself, silently, and then froze as his ears picked up the sounds of goblins speaking. He couldn't quite make out what was being said, but they were getting closer.</p><p></p><p>"Great." thought Duor.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 5961284, member: 92511"] Fen, Erevan and Haelan looekd up in disbelief at the enormous oak tree that stretched out and up from the opening beneath its roots, through which they had just climbed to exit the mountain of/at/around Nor Gorthok. Alaria wasted no time to pull out the teardrop emerald and began to concentrate again. Braddok stood, alert and weapon drawn, near her and took in their surroundings. Festus emerged from beneath the roots and let out a long whistle at the size and girth of the oak tree that formed a canopy of fresh green leaves, about 40 feet of shade, on the size of the craggy rocks. "We should move." Fen said plainly. "Why? Festus where's Duor?" Haelan asked. Before the satyr could respond, the half-elf druid said, "It is nearly winter. The sudden appearance of a giant tree, in full summer bloom, on the side of the mountain is sure to draw attention...not the least from the lizard folk and behir below us somewhere. We'd best not be here when it does." No one could argue with that. "But where's Duor?" Haelan said again. "He...um...I think...I mean, it seems...he is not coming. He wants to stay and get the treasure." Festus replied. "Damned idiot dwarf." Haelan said in a frustration and chastisement the companions were unaccustomed to. The daelvar hefted his mace to his shoulder and began to trek back toward the opening beneath the roots that had spread out on the surface of the rock face. "Where are you going?" Erevan said, stepping in front of the halfling. "Whatever else he is, " Haelan replied forcefully, "Duor is a Stormrider. And we've already lost one on this venture. I am not losing another. We don't leave anyone behind...least not if they're alive." Erevan's right eyebrow arched in his typical way. Whether it was out of curiosity, concern, surprise at being rebuked by the Hilltender, or anything else was impossible to determine. "He is a grown dwarf, Haelan. Right or wrong, he can make his own decisions." Alaria said, overhearing the exchange. "Did it work?" Braddok asked the magess quietly as she placed the teardrop gem back into her belt pouch. Alaria shook her head in the negative. Haelan continued for the tree. Erevan had stepped out of his way and crossed his arms, but did say, "Alaria is right, Hilltender. Like it or not, he is a grown being. It is Duor's decision to make." "Indeed it is." Haelan replied as he began crawling back between the twisted roots. "And it is mine that I will not let my companion and brother-at-arms meet a foul end with no support from us. We are the Stormriders and I will not lose another of us if it can be helped." The other companions looked to each other and then to Alaria. Before the magess could speak, Haelan continued his argument. "We must go back. Coerraine would never forgive us. I wouldn't forgive myself. "Fen, you spoke of fulfilling your oath. Braddok, I know you are an honorable man and have given your word and sword to our cause all of this time. Alaria, you know Coerraine would not stand for us just leaving him...not to mention you said there is something here we are meant to do." Alaria frowned at the halfling's presumption of arguing with her and then realized, to her own embarassment, that everything Haelan was saying was true. "But...the Eye of Arinane...the Ihs Repahl...we need it to fight the dragon." Alaria made a half-hearted argument. "So...I mean, I don't get all of the ins n' outs of magic stuff...but that crystal orb that we risked life n' hoof to get to the Dragonmange's keep in Daenfrii...specifically to keep it [I]away [/I]from Tresahd...Your plan is to spend weeks returning to Daenfrii, get [I]that [/I]same orb, and bring it back [I]right to[/I] the heart of where Tresahd, or at least his agents, might be?" Festus said. He was polite in the query but obviously confused by this reasoning. Alaria had to admit it did not sound like a wise course of action. "Well, when you put it like that..." Alaria looked to the swamp, spreading out before them, to the north if she wasn't mistaken. "...Maybe it isn't the best idea." she quietly finished. "But we have these other treasures...we don't know what those potions do...or Braddok, this new enchanted blade of yours...By the Blue Star we don't even know where Duor might have gotten to by now." Alaria attempted to make further debate. Braddok then felt a strange vibration in his hand. The handle of his sword was practically buzzing in his grip. A low hum came to his ears. The others seemed not to notice. *[I]Can...doo....can...help....with that.[/I]* came an odd sounding buzz of a voice in his head. "I...uh...what?" stammered the warrior. *[I]Can...doo...see....for you...[/I]* came the buzzing in his mind in reply. Braddok nearly dropped the blue-glowing blade and then looked at it in disbelief. "What was that Braddok?" Erevan said. The elf was replying in curiosity to what the swordsman said...not hearing the sword, itself. "We should probably head back into the mountain." Festus interjected from abot ten feet below their position along a narrow ledge that wrapped toward the west of the mountain. The satyr looked down from a small flat space of rock, though shielded frmo below by some craggy outcroppings. He readily saw what looked like the ruined remains of a gatehouse at the base of crater's ridge. It was the "tower-like" building from which they'd exited the lizardmen's lair. The long narrow trench that led from there to the base of the mountain was obvious. So too was the slightly elevated and thoroughly overgrown with vegetation of what must be the bulk of the lizardmen's colony. The tree and most of the party would not have been visible from there and they were a good hundred or more feet above the crater's base. But from time to time, the astute satyr noticed the movements of figures through the tall grasses and brush that covered the mound. At this height the sprawling lair was easily identifiable, though from the ground, Festus knew, one might walk right passed it without knowing. "The lizardmen might see the tree and wish to explore it. Or worse, that dragon-snake." the satyr concluded. "Haelan is correct." Fen said finally after several moments of thought. "I am of the Ancient Holy Order first of all. But I am, as are we all, Stormriders. We should not...[I]do[/I] not abandon our own." he grinned his charming crooked grin at Alaria. Alaria placed a delicate hand to her temple and closed her eyes. This was not what she wanted. This was not how things should go. [I]Why[/I] had she relinquished control of the group? She took a few long calming breaths, as she had learned very early in her training, and opened her eyes. "Alright. You are correct Haelan...and Fen...and you, as well, Festus. I thank you for your reasonable arguments to my irrational reaction. Let's go save a dwarf and bag a dragon." "Or bag a dwarf and save ourselves." Erevan smiled broadly in uncharacteristic joking response. The companions, one by one, RE-entered the passage, now thoroughly concealed by the tree's roots and patch of grass and small yellow flowers that had sprung up around it. *** Duor groaned and half-opened his eyes...or eye, as the left was swollen shut. His whole body ached though nothing seemed broken. The dwarf looked and felt about in the total darkness. He was...in a box? A metal box? No...there was no lid. He stared up at the dark circle open hole in the ceiling. He checked, in reflexive panic. He still had his weapons...and pouches clinked with his gems and coins. He...he wasn't dead, as best he could tell. Otherwise, surely, he'd be enjoying a large draught of ale beside the warming fires of the Great Forge. "Where in the hells am I?" the dwarf wondered to himself, silently, and then froze as his ears picked up the sounds of goblins speaking. He couldn't quite make out what was being said, but they were getting closer. "Great." thought Duor. [/QUOTE]
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