Thanks, Dakkareth. The feedback is always welcome, and we're always glad to hear from someone who's enjoyed the story hour. I like to joke with my players that our story hour is "
the lurker's choice".
While we're waiting for Zad's update, here's a quick "Meanwhile" update...and a question for anybody who frequents the story hour:
We'll be going Epic, soon. I've been discussing with Zad about starting a new thread when that begins. What are your thoughts?
Now, then..........
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Meanwhile....part the first
"Did you see the Steading?", Dortmundd whispered, as if there were more than just the two of them. [/i]"It's no less than they deserved....but the destruction, Jacob,
the destruction."[/i]
Jacob stared around the tent he shared with the infantry captain. Dortmundd, he knew, was a fool. Competent in battle, but little more than that, he often acted like a goggling farmboy when confronted with something beyond his experience. But in this case, Jacob agreed.
"It is wise to keep such observations to yourself," he cautioned.
"Unless Skullkiss is near, it is foolish to talk openly of such things. You risk treason, at best, your life at worst."
"Surely you don't think the Duke would..."
"Have you killed for being a loose-jawed jackanapes?" came the deep baritone voice. Neither had heard the flap open, nor the Duke himself enter. A filttering of cloth in the darkness confirmed, for Jacob, at least, that Skullkiss the Scarlet was present, as well. One of his spells, perhaps? It didn't matter.
"You'll guard your tongue or you'll lose it, captain. I expect better of my men. I've waited too long and lost too much to lose it to simple carelessness. Hello, d'Celdane." He nodded at Jacob.
"We need to talk. Can this one be trusted to keep silent?" He gestured towards Dortmundd without looking at him.
"I think so, my lord. Once he understands the gravity of his predicament...and ours."
"Our....predicament?", Dortmundd said, clearly not comprehending.
"Be quiet and listen, for a change," Jacob chided him.
"Your grace, what are we going to do? How long can we play this charade? When I was a boy, I played with tindertwigs, and nearly burned my skin off. You play with gnomish fire-powder."
Instead of irritations at the cavalry-master's words, the duke smiled. His face looked older than it should, and the smile was a sad one. The beard on his face hid the scars from The Retreat, as the men called it, but the scars on his soul were harder to see. The Duke had lost almost everything to the giants...and he intended to pay them back. The men said he had a clipping of his daughter's hair and that with each dead giant, he threw away a single strand. It was said that the Duke of Geoff would not rest until he had discarded every last one.
The Duke walked slowly to a nearby cot, and sat himself in it. though not in the best of shape any longer, he was still a brute of a man, once called a Giant himself, before that nickname became a title too cruel to label a man with. His tired eyes gazed over at Jacob, many years his junior.
"Still the firebrand, just like your father, eh? Hmmm. I know Chavram and his dog-men can't be trusted, Jacob. But I don't care. We have similar interests, if not common goals. He's not going to betray us, yet."
"You're sure of this?", replied Jacob, suprised by the Duke's confidence.
"Did you see what became of the Frost Giant's fortress? What they did to the inhabitants?"
"WE. HAVE. SEEN. MORE. THAN. YOU. KNOW."
Jacob shuddered. Though no match for Chavram, the Duke's wizard was puissant and dangerous. He made Jacob uneasy, and his hideous looks and strange, alien voice made it even harder to be at ease around him. He spoke in a strange, clipped tongue, every word always sounding like an effort. He always hid in shadows, concealed in cloaks. It was often joked at court that he was merely there to inspect the duke's curtains, though not to his face.
"
Seen what?" Jacob asked. "
What could be more horrific than..."
"THARIZDUN."
With one word, the wizard had made the room suddenly cold as ice. Jacob's heart felt as if it had frozen in his chest. The mad god of darkness. His memories washed over him, and for a moment all he could see was a quick knife, a dying priest and his own impiety. Without meaning to, he glanced at the long-healed scars on his hands.
"
Yes," said the Duke. "
I saw the temple, myself. The giants had help. Lots of it...from the cult of madness itself. Chavram's hate was terrifying. His rage was what you saw the results of. The giants who survived...he calls them Animus', like his son and grandsons."
"
Tritherion keep us safe. But I have seen these monstrosities, high upon the hill, as you must know...if these nightmares are not what you are here to talk about, then what? And why are you so sure that Chavram will not betray us? We need him now far more than he needs us."
"Chavram is not as untouchable as you may think, Sir d'Celdane. He has vulnerabilities that can be exploited, and he is not omnipotent." A new, unknown voice joined the conversation. It was vaguely familiar to Jacob, though he could not immediately place it. As he tried to place it, the air next to the Duke's throne began to shimmer, as if someone had placed a great flame on the floor. In a matter of seconds, the form of a tall, pale man appeared next to throne, standing patiently.
"
Peace, PEACE!", the duke yelled as both of his captains reached for their swords. "
He is a friend." Both men, relaxed slightly. The pale man looked young and was dressed in a simple velvet outfit of mostly forest green. Somehow, the wizard Skullkiss had appeared on the other side of the throne. Was this his doing? The war weary captain examined the strange visitor. It took a few moments for recognition to set in. When it did, Jacob's jaw dropped open.
"
Yes, I see you know who I am, now. My name is Kaltin, and if you wish to learn how to defeat Chavram, then I can help you."
Jacob stared, increduous. "
How do we know we can trust you? You could be a plant from Chavram!"
Kaltin merely smiled. "
Hadn't you heard? My brother's a living saint. Saints never lie."
