the Jester
Legend
That night, the party rests in Rajah's room. They sit around and stretch their tired muscles, try to relax. Jezebel is on edge; she hadn't counted on such danger following her mother around. She's afraid for Sybele, and quaveringly voices her concerns.
"Don't worry," Sybele says blithely, not sure how to reassure her. "I'm tough!"
As the night deepens, King Malford drops in for a visit. "Malford!" calls the Elementalist. "Good to see you! Here, spark this up." He hands the King a bowl of fine green pipeweed, bristling with reddish hairs and smelling somewhat like a skunk. The group plays cards, smokes the intoxicating buds, drinks fine fey wine from Ketzia. Malford and Lester catch up on old times. The L tells him, "So, Malford, it's been a long time since we hung out- it brings back lots of pleasant memories of saving the world and stuff." He pauses for another hit off the pipe and hands it off to Sybele. "I know you're busy and the Queen would be angry for a time, but I'll stone shape you a little romantic getaway cave to make it up to her if you'll come join us..."
"Heh!" the gnome cackles. "I'd need a little stone room all right, that's where I'd be sleeping if I went adventuring again! No, Lester, it's as I told you- that's my past. I have children and responsabilities now..."
"I have children too," Sybele pipes up. "Well, child," she amends, and caresses her belly.
"And my cohort here, Orbius, could help you shape a simulacrum," Lester suggests.
"Hmph," Malford snorts, but there's a faraway look in his eyes. I do miss my adventuring days, he admits to himself, thinking fondly of the days in which he guided and guarded Dexter. He thinks of all the fine times he's had- why, he's even killed a dragon, and Fuligin... how much glory has he earned? He's God-King Malford the Magnificent, after all, destroyer of the clockwork horrors, First Companion of Dexter, writer (well, okay, re-writer) of the Galadron! From pirate to Baron to King to God-King- and none of it would be possible if he hadn't been an adventurer. A simulacrum, he thinks, turning the possibility over in his mind.
In the morning, Drelvin the Archer is taking his breakfast and tea when a messenger rushes in. "Trouble!" he gasps breathlessly. "The Temple of Elemental Good is in flames!" Cursing under his breath, Drelvin hastily assembles a small squad of the King's Men and speeds down the hill to the temple. When he reaches it he gives a small cry of despair, and sends word to the King who forthwith summons the party, and all descend to the scene of devastation.
There are few survivors.
The temple is a tumble of fallen pillars of stone, with the sacred pools buried under the rubble and the sacred fires doused. Burning here and there, sometimes in the air, is a ghoulish green flame that no water will douse, and even attempts to dispel it fail. This, Lester and Malford know from past experience with Felenga, is doomfire. Horbin the Holy springs into action, healing all the survivors he can, providing succor to many.
One of Lester's few remaining followers groans out the tale. "It was... some sort of lich," he tells them, wincing in pain. "He came... alone. He... he said this was his rebuttal." The main moans, and Lester urges him to rest, then assembles what people in his service remain, distributing coins amongst them.
"Spread our seed," he commands grimly. "This place has fallen, but our faith with endure." He turns to the wreckage of his holy place and raises his hands, channeling the destructive fury of Elemental Earth. There is a loud rumble as the earth quakes, fissures opening to devour much of the rubble and most of the rest settling into a massive pile. Falling to one knee, the Elementalist vows, "By the elements, we will survive!"
Sheva kicks a rock, scoffing at Lester under her breath. She returns to the castle, where Zeebo's corpse lies in state. Clutching his small body to her, she speaks a word of recall and vanishes to her temple in far-flung Tirchond. Laying his form on an altar holy to Coila, she prays fervently for a time, then summons forth a planar ally- a strange, muscular creature that looks almost human save for its bronze skin and complete hairlessness.
"Once, I was made an offer of true resurrection for my friend Zeebo in exchange for the sword Chronovestis, and I refused," she says grimly. "Now the situation arises again, and I would gladly make the trade."
The creature raises an eyebrow sardonically. "I know of whom you speak," it says softly. "I can arrange the trade." The creature extends its hand, gesturing at Chronovestis.
"That isn't exactly what I had in mind," Sheva admits, wishing that the agent of Coila had the ability to perform this miracle itself. "But if that is how it must be..."
***
Zeebo is in a state of utter bliss. Everything here is as it should be. He has passed on to his final reward, and there are maidens everywhere. The smile never leaves his face, and he is accorded the respect of the great.
And then he hears the voice, calling him back....
Has he things left undone?
Zeebo sighs sadly, mussing the hair of one of the gnome virgins clinging softly to his side, and starts to answer the call. He whirls through a timeless silver void, pulled as if by a rope through his belly, and after an interminable period he sees a glimmer shaped like a door. Just beyond it he sees his body. The door is held by a beautiful woman of unfamiliar aspect- he would only recognize her if he had been alive when she offered to resurrect him in return for a blade in the not-so distant past. But even so, he feels her essence, her name and her deity. He knows her in a way that chills him.
Seclaidra, he thinks to himself, vowing to remember the name. Chaotic and evil. And she worships Bleak!
He agonizes for a moment; it could be a cruel trick, a trap to lure him into an untenable position. Dare he cross the threshold?
I've worked against Law for so long, he reasons. Chaos has an interest in aiding me. And I've worked with Sheva, Angelfire and others equally evil for so long... I have to chance it.
Stepping through the brilliant portal of light, Zeebo returns to the living, and at least for now he exits our tale.
Next Time: Well, folks, this will be the last installment of this story hour. The story will continue, however, under a different title and in a new thread as the group's focus changes more fully to the fight against Felenga! Watch for To War Against Felenga!!
"Don't worry," Sybele says blithely, not sure how to reassure her. "I'm tough!"
As the night deepens, King Malford drops in for a visit. "Malford!" calls the Elementalist. "Good to see you! Here, spark this up." He hands the King a bowl of fine green pipeweed, bristling with reddish hairs and smelling somewhat like a skunk. The group plays cards, smokes the intoxicating buds, drinks fine fey wine from Ketzia. Malford and Lester catch up on old times. The L tells him, "So, Malford, it's been a long time since we hung out- it brings back lots of pleasant memories of saving the world and stuff." He pauses for another hit off the pipe and hands it off to Sybele. "I know you're busy and the Queen would be angry for a time, but I'll stone shape you a little romantic getaway cave to make it up to her if you'll come join us..."
"Heh!" the gnome cackles. "I'd need a little stone room all right, that's where I'd be sleeping if I went adventuring again! No, Lester, it's as I told you- that's my past. I have children and responsabilities now..."
"I have children too," Sybele pipes up. "Well, child," she amends, and caresses her belly.
"And my cohort here, Orbius, could help you shape a simulacrum," Lester suggests.
"Hmph," Malford snorts, but there's a faraway look in his eyes. I do miss my adventuring days, he admits to himself, thinking fondly of the days in which he guided and guarded Dexter. He thinks of all the fine times he's had- why, he's even killed a dragon, and Fuligin... how much glory has he earned? He's God-King Malford the Magnificent, after all, destroyer of the clockwork horrors, First Companion of Dexter, writer (well, okay, re-writer) of the Galadron! From pirate to Baron to King to God-King- and none of it would be possible if he hadn't been an adventurer. A simulacrum, he thinks, turning the possibility over in his mind.
In the morning, Drelvin the Archer is taking his breakfast and tea when a messenger rushes in. "Trouble!" he gasps breathlessly. "The Temple of Elemental Good is in flames!" Cursing under his breath, Drelvin hastily assembles a small squad of the King's Men and speeds down the hill to the temple. When he reaches it he gives a small cry of despair, and sends word to the King who forthwith summons the party, and all descend to the scene of devastation.
There are few survivors.
The temple is a tumble of fallen pillars of stone, with the sacred pools buried under the rubble and the sacred fires doused. Burning here and there, sometimes in the air, is a ghoulish green flame that no water will douse, and even attempts to dispel it fail. This, Lester and Malford know from past experience with Felenga, is doomfire. Horbin the Holy springs into action, healing all the survivors he can, providing succor to many.
One of Lester's few remaining followers groans out the tale. "It was... some sort of lich," he tells them, wincing in pain. "He came... alone. He... he said this was his rebuttal." The main moans, and Lester urges him to rest, then assembles what people in his service remain, distributing coins amongst them.
"Spread our seed," he commands grimly. "This place has fallen, but our faith with endure." He turns to the wreckage of his holy place and raises his hands, channeling the destructive fury of Elemental Earth. There is a loud rumble as the earth quakes, fissures opening to devour much of the rubble and most of the rest settling into a massive pile. Falling to one knee, the Elementalist vows, "By the elements, we will survive!"
Sheva kicks a rock, scoffing at Lester under her breath. She returns to the castle, where Zeebo's corpse lies in state. Clutching his small body to her, she speaks a word of recall and vanishes to her temple in far-flung Tirchond. Laying his form on an altar holy to Coila, she prays fervently for a time, then summons forth a planar ally- a strange, muscular creature that looks almost human save for its bronze skin and complete hairlessness.
"Once, I was made an offer of true resurrection for my friend Zeebo in exchange for the sword Chronovestis, and I refused," she says grimly. "Now the situation arises again, and I would gladly make the trade."
The creature raises an eyebrow sardonically. "I know of whom you speak," it says softly. "I can arrange the trade." The creature extends its hand, gesturing at Chronovestis.
"That isn't exactly what I had in mind," Sheva admits, wishing that the agent of Coila had the ability to perform this miracle itself. "But if that is how it must be..."
***
Zeebo is in a state of utter bliss. Everything here is as it should be. He has passed on to his final reward, and there are maidens everywhere. The smile never leaves his face, and he is accorded the respect of the great.
And then he hears the voice, calling him back....
Has he things left undone?
Zeebo sighs sadly, mussing the hair of one of the gnome virgins clinging softly to his side, and starts to answer the call. He whirls through a timeless silver void, pulled as if by a rope through his belly, and after an interminable period he sees a glimmer shaped like a door. Just beyond it he sees his body. The door is held by a beautiful woman of unfamiliar aspect- he would only recognize her if he had been alive when she offered to resurrect him in return for a blade in the not-so distant past. But even so, he feels her essence, her name and her deity. He knows her in a way that chills him.
Seclaidra, he thinks to himself, vowing to remember the name. Chaotic and evil. And she worships Bleak!
He agonizes for a moment; it could be a cruel trick, a trap to lure him into an untenable position. Dare he cross the threshold?
I've worked against Law for so long, he reasons. Chaos has an interest in aiding me. And I've worked with Sheva, Angelfire and others equally evil for so long... I have to chance it.
Stepping through the brilliant portal of light, Zeebo returns to the living, and at least for now he exits our tale.
Next Time: Well, folks, this will be the last installment of this story hour. The story will continue, however, under a different title and in a new thread as the group's focus changes more fully to the fight against Felenga! Watch for To War Against Felenga!!
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