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Al-Qarin: Into the Desert (3-1-24)
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<blockquote data-quote="EternalNewbie" data-source="post: 5552812" data-attributes="member: 6489"><p>“We have to go after him,” Geoff pleaded, turning to Khalid.</p><p></p><p>“Pay attention,” Gorak growled. “I can't keep this up forever.” The ice at the edges of the disc began thin and splinter, drifting away downstream.</p><p></p><p>“I know that place.” Geoff said. “Looks like they're on the south side of the hill.” He continued to study the scene carefully, committing it to memory. A few seconds later, the image cracked in two, and the pieces floated away, melting into the water.</p><p> </p><p>Gorak tossed the clothing aside and stood up. He lifted up his gaze from the pool, and stared at Geoff, the scowl on his face darkening. “You've got maybe five hunnert people in that village, maybe two hunnert able bodied defenders at most. Whut could he really tell 'em other than that?” Before Geoff had a chance to respond, Gorak continued. “Whut's really going on here?”</p><p></p><p>“He's a traitor to his kith and kin. He needs to be dealt with,” Geoff retorted, flushing slightly in indignation, but not, Khalid noted, answering the question posed by Gorak. “It's going to take almost an hour to get back to the village, then another hour just to get right back here. The hill is this way,” he pointed almost directly away from the village, “another four hours or so. I need your help, if I'm going to have a chance.”</p><p> </p><p>“That's a pretty serious request.” Gorak grunted.</p><p></p><p>“From what I've seen, you four are pretty serious people. I wouldn't ask unless I thought you could handle it.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, give us a minute.” Khalid asked. Geoff nodded and walked away.</p><p></p><p>“You wanna do it, don't you?” Shayla asked Gorak, a hint of accusation in her tone. </p><p></p><p>“Ah, they are in a difficult situation,” Khalid replied, trying to gauge Gorak's intentions.</p><p></p><p>“I gotta say,” Gorak grumbled. “I am feeling a bit sympathetic to their cause.”</p><p></p><p>“Any excuse to spend time marching through the bush.” Shayla muttered. </p><p></p><p>“That might be part of it,” Gorak agreed. “And I don't got much use fer traitors. I'd like to meet the man that would throw his family, everybody he knows, to the wolves. Khalid, whadda ya think?”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, yes, well, most of the arguments I made the last time we were in this situation are still relevant. There are too few safe places remaining in the east and these people need our help.” That wasn't all, and Khalid was honest enough with himself to admit it. Their failure at Caer Morag still gnawed at him, enough to spur him into action he wouldn't have otherwise considered.</p><p></p><p>Azarek remained silent, but the look of disgust on his face made it clear what his choice was.</p><p></p><p>“At this pace, we're never going to get home,” Shayla complained.</p><p></p><p>“We ain't in that big a hurry,” Gorak rumbled. “And besides, I get the feeling there's something else going on here.”</p><p>“Ah, I sensed it as well,” Khalid offered. “What do you suspect?”</p><p></p><p>“I ain't quite got it figured yet,” Gorak grumbled. “But whatever it is, these are good people in a hard spot. Can't say I'd think much of myself of we just left 'em twisting.”</p><p></p><p>“Do I get my say in any of this?” Azarek rasped.</p><p></p><p>“Not really.” Gorak replied. Ignoring the black look he received in return, Gorak turned to Shayla. “It's on you darling, what do you say?”</p><p></p><p>“Fine.” Shayla said, throwing up her hands in air, in exasperation. “I'm not happy about it, but then again I'm not gonna feel any better staring at Khalid's hound dog expression all the way to Gem-Sharad. If we're going to do this thing, let's get it done.”</p><p></p><p>“Alright,” Gorak said, in a louder tone so Geoff could hear. “We're with you. Lead the way and let us know when we're getting close.”</p><p></p><p>They made surprisingly good time through the heavy brush, guided by Geoff's intimate knowledge of the forest. Picking up well hidden game trails and low running creeks, they moved almost unhindered through the trees. Although he couldn't see the sun, Khalid judged it about midday when Geoff called a halt. “You wanted to know when we're close? Well, the hill is about a half mile southeast of us.”</p><p></p><p>“Good enough,” Gorak grunted. “Stay put.” He raised his arms and shifted form, flying up above the trees. Geoff watched him fly away, a pensive expression on his face.</p><p></p><p>A few minutes later, Gorak landed in front of them and reverted back to his natural form. The wicked grin on his face told Khalid everything he needed to know. “They're still there,” Gorak growled. “Camped up on top of that hill, and they didn't spot me. The party got a little bit bigger, but it ain't nothing we can't handle.”</p><p></p><p>“What are we facing?” Shayla asked.</p><p></p><p>“Four ogres and that Orc, plus your man there. Shouldn't be a problem to nip in, bury the goons and truss up your friend.”</p><p></p><p>Geoff looked grateful, if a bit hesitant. “Are you certain? I have no choice but to ask for your help, but the stakes have increased significantly.”</p><p></p><p>“Oh I wouldn't worry about that,” Shayla replied, with only a hint of sarcasm. “I'm betting Gorak's already worked out the plan.”</p><p></p><p>With a wink at her, Gorak settled down onto his haunches and sketched out the terrain in the dirt with a short stick. After a few minutes of discussion, they had a rudimentary plan worked out and everybody knew their roles. Khalid took the opportunity to fortify his defences, before granting himself and Shayla the ability to fly while Gorak rumbled out the words to one of his favourite spells, causing the wispy clouds overhead to gather and rumble ominously. Thus prepared, they followed into step behind Geoff and headed toward the hill.</p><p></p><p>From Gorak's vision they knew the hill, while not that tall, was fairly large, a little less than fifty feet from the bottom to the top at a difficult but not impassable incline. Both the top and the area around the base were covered by only sparse vegetation, undoubtedly the reason it had been chosen for the meeting, since it eliminated any chance of surprising their foes. Khalid had finished running through his memorized incantations for only the fifth time, when Geoff held up his hand to stop and put his finger to his lips. Khalid could see gaps in the trees ahead and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves.</p><p></p><p>Gorak looked at each of them in turn, and when they all signalled their assent, he sprinted the last ten feet into the clearing. Holding his hands out at his sides, he began to chant in a huge voice, slowly raise his open palms to the sky. Following a step behind, Khalid could only grin at that shouts of confusion. In front of them, in a huge area, the scrawny grass and shrubs dotting the ground, trebled in size, becoming lush and green. His words still hanging in the air, Gorak lunged forward, vanishing into the thick foliage at a dead run. </p><p></p><p>The ogres weren't so fortunate. Shouts of confusion rose up as Khalid willed himself into the air. Struggling against the impeding plants, they moved forward slowly, their muscled bodies snagging on the tough briers that surrounded them. Seizing upon the opportunity, Khalid tore open a rift, drenching two of them in noxious rust coloured fog. Grinning to himself as the sounds of violent retches replaced bellows of anger, he glided forward while looking back over his shoulder.</p><p></p><p>One of the ogres fought clear of the brush onto a patch of bare stone that bisected the hill. Picking up speed, he charged forward, a wicked axe held high overhead. Shayla, rising out of the trees, fixed him with an intense stare and mumbled out words of power. Twin jets of flame erupted from her fingers, scorching terrible wounds across the ogre's torso. The burst of fire was trailed only slightly by a green fletched arrow, shot from Geoff's bow. A second, in the air before the first buried itself in the ogres chest mere inches away. Azarek, war hammer in hand, moved to intercept the beast before he could reach Geoff. The ogre, grievously wounded and now more falling down the hill than running, swung awkwardly at Azarek. Twisting to meet the blow, Azarek skillfully turned it aside rather than try to absorb the force of the blow, sending a shower of sparks cascading to the ground. Caught off guard by the lack of resistance and carried forward by his momentum, the ogre stumbled past. Pivoting on his lead foot, Azarek swept around behind him, his hand almost at the end of the shaft of his hammer. Swinging in a huge arc, the hammer struck the ogre at the base of his skull with a sickening crack. Collapsing, the ogre slid along the ground a half dozen feet before coming to rest, twitching on the ground.</p><p></p><p>Gorak raced unhindered through the thick undergrowth, calling out the words to a spell in his huge voice. Gesturing over his shoulder, where the sole ogre left unscathed, the Orc and the ranger were trying to flee, the grass and shrubs, already grown thick and lush, became animate, writhing and grasping at everything within the span of his magic. Ensnared, the three struggled in vain against the crippling effects.</p><p></p><p>Shayla, turning her attention to one of the retching ogres unleashed another blast of flame, causing him, to howl in agony amid gut wrenching gasps. Seeing no immediate threats, Khalid conserved his energy, waiting for a situation to develop that required his intervention.</p><p></p><p>The words to his last casting barely off his lips, Gorak began anew, this time summoning a ball of elemental fire, directly at the feet of the Orc. A blinding stroke of lighting followed almost immediately, felling the screaming Orc, who burst into flames as he collapsed upon the glowing orb. Geoff and Azarek, kept at distance without clear targets, held their weapons at the ready, awaiting instructions from those with better vantage.</p><p></p><p>Her face an expressionless mask, Shayla continued to focus her considerable power on the two ogres suffering from the effects of Khalid's toxic mist. Relentless, she battered away at them, alternating jets of flame with orbs of force, finally driving them to the ground. </p><p></p><p>Khalid, circling the battlefield, was forced to dodge aside as a fist sized rock sailed past his head. He watched as the orb of flame burned its way through the weeds to brush up against the ogre, who was still twitching from a bolt of lightening arcing down from the heavens. Seeing the ranger struggling closer to the boundary of Gorak's magic, and feeling as though he should be helping, tossed out a tiny spark that burst in a cloud of golden dust that clung to the ranger and ogre. With more than a small amount of disappointment, he realized that his spell has been only half effective, blinding the grievously wounded ogre. The ranger, contorting his body, twisted from of the branches that held him. Momentarily free, he lunged forward, his feet barely touching ground as he sought to escape. Frowning, Khalid warned the others. <em>The ranger is fleeing. He's broken free of Gorak's snares and heads south.</em></p><p></p><p>“Whut to you expect me to do about it?” Azarek yelled. Weighed down by his cumbersome armour and forced to circle the worst of the magic, there was little hope he could catch the woodsman.</p><p></p><p>“Nevermind,” Gorak growled. “I got him. Finish off them ogres.” Raising his arms above his head, the brought them down sharply, feathered wings propelling him into the air. </p><p></p><p>Shayla, not needing the added instruction, continued her deadly assault while Gorak flew off into the trees. As the last ogre fell, a bolt of lightening split the sky. The rumbling thunder still lingered in the air as a second bolt flashed down. Khalid, not overly concerned for Gorak's safety in the present circumstance, drifted down toward Geoff an Azarek. Seconds later, Shayla joined them.</p><p></p><p>The waited silently for a few minutes. Khalid was about to suggest flying off to find Gorak when he appeared out of the trees behind them, hand resting on the shoulder of the ranger. With a shove, he sent the ranger sprawling forward, falling at Geoff's feet.</p><p></p><p>“It's harder to motivate him proper if'n he's already half dead,” Azarek rasped, eyeing the blistering burn that covered the ranger's left side. The dagger in his hand leaving no doubt as to his meaning.</p><p></p><p>Gorak shrugged. “He needed some convincing that the first one missed on purpose.” </p><p></p><p>“What did you tell them?” Geoff demanded, the rage in his voice barely concealed. Gavin simply looked away, a look of grim resignation on his face.</p><p></p><p>“Want me to ask him?” Azarek asked, curling his metal clad hand into a fist.</p><p></p><p> Before Geoff could answer, Shayla let out a low whistle, and stood up from where she had been rummaging through the ranger's belongings. “Well, whatever he told them, they sure paid him well for the information.” She held out a hefty sack of gold and gems, taken from Gavin's pack.</p><p></p><p>Geoff rubbed his hands over his face as though to scrub himself clean of the unpleasant situation. Indecision etched clearly on his features, it was clear to Khalid that he was weighing the safety of his village against his sense of morality. In the end, the needs of the village won out and he turned his back on Gavin, and nodded to Azarek.</p><p></p><p>Azarek walked over the the man, and drove the toe of his iron shod boot into his solar plexus. “Last chance before I start cutting off bits that won't grow back.” As he knelt down, drawing a dagger from his belt, Gavin's will broke.</p><p></p><p>“Everything,” he gasped, still struggling for breath. “I told them everything.”</p><p></p><p>“You betrayed your oath?” Geoff's face paled. “How could you?” Gavin didn't reply, but Khalid could clearly see the shame lurking behind his defiant gaze.</p><p></p><p>Gorak, his glance shifting from Geoff to Gavin, growled. “What do you know about this Orc? The one that's got 'em all riled up. You meet him in person?”</p><p></p><p>Gavin, clearly relieved to break away from Geoff's disbelieving stare, said, “Only once. It's not hard to see why they rally to him, he is an imposing figure and uncommonly persuasive for a full blood.” He looked back at Geoff. “And he has power. He could be the one.”</p><p></p><p>Geoff closed his eyes and turned titled his head back. Taking a deep breath he asked, “Are you sure?”</p><p></p><p>“I think so. I never got too close to him, but from what I saw he could fit the legends.”</p><p></p><p>“Maybe he's lying,” Azarek rasped. “Gimme a few minutes alone with him to ask him proper.” Khalid was a pretty good judge of character, and didn't sense any falsehood in the man's manner or words. He suspected Azarek was just disappointed.</p><p></p><p>“Why would I lie?” Gavin asked. “They don't owe me anything now that our business is done. They'd just as soon kill me as look at me. The best I can hope for now is that your hired thugs just rob me of my gold.”</p><p></p><p>“You got that right,” Shayla replied, a hard edge in her voice.</p><p></p><p>But Khalid could see that Geoff was torn. Executing a man you had known all your life was not a simple thing, and the emotion that filled his gaze was not anger, but pity.</p><p></p><p>“Maybe we should talk things over,” Gorak growled. “Gag him.”</p><p></p><p>Azarek complied, and they drew away a little, out of earshot. “I don't think I can do it.” Geoff admitted, before anybody spoke.”</p><p></p><p>“Yer kiddin'?” Azarek spat. “This sorry sack jus sold you out to some filthy Orcs...”. He glanced at Gorak, “No offence.” Gorak just glared at him. “Damnit,” he cursed, leaning back against tree. “I never get to have no fun.”</p><p></p><p>“I fought beside him. I owe him my life, as do a dozen others in the village,” Geoff replied. “He was a good man once, I'd like to believe he could be that man again.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, well, might I just add that, speaking from experience, our loose ends tend to bite us in the ass,” Shayla said. “This guy is just one more headache that we can cure right now.” She turned to Geoff. “You wanted us in this? Well, we're in it now.”</p><p></p><p>“Well,” Azarek rasped, pushing himself up. “That's two votes fer and one aginst, by my reckoning. Khalid?”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, yes, well, perhaps, yes, perhaps Geoff is right,” Khalid replied. </p><p></p><p>Azarek scowled at him, and then turned to Gorak. “A'right, Orc, break the tie and lets get on wit it.”</p><p></p><p>Gorak rubbed his jaw and regarded Geoff silently for a few minutes. “I ain't so sure.” Azarek snorted in disgust, clearly surprised. “I'm not so sure I want the blood of a worshipper of Ilsadora on my hands. Maybe we've helped out enough here, without getting our hands into some really unpleasant business.” He pulled a tiny silver chain out of a pocket in his vest, the one he had taken from one of the bodies at the way stop, and tossed it to Geoff. “I'm betting that under his armor there, I'm gonna find one of those.”</p><p></p><p>“Ah, Ilsadora?” Khalid asked, puzzled. It wasn't a name he was familiar with.</p><p></p><p>“Yeah. Ilsadora, Mother of the Green. Took me a while to puzzle it out. Known as Shedaska, the Jade Princess, in the West. Not so popular there, what with the desert and all, but some of the jungle tribes pay her tribute. As far as gods go, she ain't a bad one, if you're inta that sort of thing. And I figure these lads are into it, in a big way. The woodsmen at least, and probably the whole village too.”</p><p></p><p>Geoff nodded. “We never sought to conceal that fact,” he replied, somewhat belligerently, his eyes locked on Gorak.</p><p></p><p>“But you ain't exactly singing her praises from the rooftops, these days, eh?”</p><p></p><p>Geoff lowered his gaze. “We aren't immune to whatever has happened to all of the other faithful. Our prayers are met with silence.”</p><p></p><p>“Maybe she just got bored wit you lot, and buggered off,” Azarek rasped.</p><p></p><p>“A possibility all have considered, in our hearts if not aloud. But it's just as likely that the problem lies with each of us. Perhaps they are still speaking and we can no longer hear. Either way, we don't believe it was by choice.”</p><p></p><p>“You're still not telling us the whole story,” Gorak growled. </p><p></p><p>“You're right,” Geoff admitted. “And when I tell you, you'll understand both the reason why and the depth of our desperation. Our village was built to hide something ancient, something dangerous. Orc priests and mystics have sought what we have kept hidden away for centuries. And now that we need her the most, when we are discovered, Ilsadora can not aid us, nor we her.”</p><p></p><p>“So what is it?” Shayla asked, straight to the point.</p><p></p><p>“An idol that is said to bear a tiny sliver of the essence of Rasha'gaur.”</p><p></p><p>Gorak's eyes narrowed. Glaring at Geoff, he snarled, “That's just a myth. Something for the crazies to trot out to incite other crazies into doing something stupid.”</p><p></p><p>“I wish it were,” Geoff replied.</p><p></p><p>Khalid stroked his beard, a worried frown on his face. He didn't recognize the name but he was taken aback by the vehemence in Gorak's tone. But that wasn't what concerned Khalid the most; it was the other note in his voice bothered him. Something he hadn't heard in a long time. </p><p></p><p>Fear.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="EternalNewbie, post: 5552812, member: 6489"] “We have to go after him,” Geoff pleaded, turning to Khalid. “Pay attention,” Gorak growled. “I can't keep this up forever.” The ice at the edges of the disc began thin and splinter, drifting away downstream. “I know that place.” Geoff said. “Looks like they're on the south side of the hill.” He continued to study the scene carefully, committing it to memory. A few seconds later, the image cracked in two, and the pieces floated away, melting into the water. Gorak tossed the clothing aside and stood up. He lifted up his gaze from the pool, and stared at Geoff, the scowl on his face darkening. “You've got maybe five hunnert people in that village, maybe two hunnert able bodied defenders at most. Whut could he really tell 'em other than that?” Before Geoff had a chance to respond, Gorak continued. “Whut's really going on here?” “He's a traitor to his kith and kin. He needs to be dealt with,” Geoff retorted, flushing slightly in indignation, but not, Khalid noted, answering the question posed by Gorak. “It's going to take almost an hour to get back to the village, then another hour just to get right back here. The hill is this way,” he pointed almost directly away from the village, “another four hours or so. I need your help, if I'm going to have a chance.” “That's a pretty serious request.” Gorak grunted. “From what I've seen, you four are pretty serious people. I wouldn't ask unless I thought you could handle it.” “Ah, give us a minute.” Khalid asked. Geoff nodded and walked away. “You wanna do it, don't you?” Shayla asked Gorak, a hint of accusation in her tone. “Ah, they are in a difficult situation,” Khalid replied, trying to gauge Gorak's intentions. “I gotta say,” Gorak grumbled. “I am feeling a bit sympathetic to their cause.” “Any excuse to spend time marching through the bush.” Shayla muttered. “That might be part of it,” Gorak agreed. “And I don't got much use fer traitors. I'd like to meet the man that would throw his family, everybody he knows, to the wolves. Khalid, whadda ya think?” “Ah, yes, well, most of the arguments I made the last time we were in this situation are still relevant. There are too few safe places remaining in the east and these people need our help.” That wasn't all, and Khalid was honest enough with himself to admit it. Their failure at Caer Morag still gnawed at him, enough to spur him into action he wouldn't have otherwise considered. Azarek remained silent, but the look of disgust on his face made it clear what his choice was. “At this pace, we're never going to get home,” Shayla complained. “We ain't in that big a hurry,” Gorak rumbled. “And besides, I get the feeling there's something else going on here.” “Ah, I sensed it as well,” Khalid offered. “What do you suspect?” “I ain't quite got it figured yet,” Gorak grumbled. “But whatever it is, these are good people in a hard spot. Can't say I'd think much of myself of we just left 'em twisting.” “Do I get my say in any of this?” Azarek rasped. “Not really.” Gorak replied. Ignoring the black look he received in return, Gorak turned to Shayla. “It's on you darling, what do you say?” “Fine.” Shayla said, throwing up her hands in air, in exasperation. “I'm not happy about it, but then again I'm not gonna feel any better staring at Khalid's hound dog expression all the way to Gem-Sharad. If we're going to do this thing, let's get it done.” “Alright,” Gorak said, in a louder tone so Geoff could hear. “We're with you. Lead the way and let us know when we're getting close.” They made surprisingly good time through the heavy brush, guided by Geoff's intimate knowledge of the forest. Picking up well hidden game trails and low running creeks, they moved almost unhindered through the trees. Although he couldn't see the sun, Khalid judged it about midday when Geoff called a halt. “You wanted to know when we're close? Well, the hill is about a half mile southeast of us.” “Good enough,” Gorak grunted. “Stay put.” He raised his arms and shifted form, flying up above the trees. Geoff watched him fly away, a pensive expression on his face. A few minutes later, Gorak landed in front of them and reverted back to his natural form. The wicked grin on his face told Khalid everything he needed to know. “They're still there,” Gorak growled. “Camped up on top of that hill, and they didn't spot me. The party got a little bit bigger, but it ain't nothing we can't handle.” “What are we facing?” Shayla asked. “Four ogres and that Orc, plus your man there. Shouldn't be a problem to nip in, bury the goons and truss up your friend.” Geoff looked grateful, if a bit hesitant. “Are you certain? I have no choice but to ask for your help, but the stakes have increased significantly.” “Oh I wouldn't worry about that,” Shayla replied, with only a hint of sarcasm. “I'm betting Gorak's already worked out the plan.” With a wink at her, Gorak settled down onto his haunches and sketched out the terrain in the dirt with a short stick. After a few minutes of discussion, they had a rudimentary plan worked out and everybody knew their roles. Khalid took the opportunity to fortify his defences, before granting himself and Shayla the ability to fly while Gorak rumbled out the words to one of his favourite spells, causing the wispy clouds overhead to gather and rumble ominously. Thus prepared, they followed into step behind Geoff and headed toward the hill. From Gorak's vision they knew the hill, while not that tall, was fairly large, a little less than fifty feet from the bottom to the top at a difficult but not impassable incline. Both the top and the area around the base were covered by only sparse vegetation, undoubtedly the reason it had been chosen for the meeting, since it eliminated any chance of surprising their foes. Khalid had finished running through his memorized incantations for only the fifth time, when Geoff held up his hand to stop and put his finger to his lips. Khalid could see gaps in the trees ahead and took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Gorak looked at each of them in turn, and when they all signalled their assent, he sprinted the last ten feet into the clearing. Holding his hands out at his sides, he began to chant in a huge voice, slowly raise his open palms to the sky. Following a step behind, Khalid could only grin at that shouts of confusion. In front of them, in a huge area, the scrawny grass and shrubs dotting the ground, trebled in size, becoming lush and green. His words still hanging in the air, Gorak lunged forward, vanishing into the thick foliage at a dead run. The ogres weren't so fortunate. Shouts of confusion rose up as Khalid willed himself into the air. Struggling against the impeding plants, they moved forward slowly, their muscled bodies snagging on the tough briers that surrounded them. Seizing upon the opportunity, Khalid tore open a rift, drenching two of them in noxious rust coloured fog. Grinning to himself as the sounds of violent retches replaced bellows of anger, he glided forward while looking back over his shoulder. One of the ogres fought clear of the brush onto a patch of bare stone that bisected the hill. Picking up speed, he charged forward, a wicked axe held high overhead. Shayla, rising out of the trees, fixed him with an intense stare and mumbled out words of power. Twin jets of flame erupted from her fingers, scorching terrible wounds across the ogre's torso. The burst of fire was trailed only slightly by a green fletched arrow, shot from Geoff's bow. A second, in the air before the first buried itself in the ogres chest mere inches away. Azarek, war hammer in hand, moved to intercept the beast before he could reach Geoff. The ogre, grievously wounded and now more falling down the hill than running, swung awkwardly at Azarek. Twisting to meet the blow, Azarek skillfully turned it aside rather than try to absorb the force of the blow, sending a shower of sparks cascading to the ground. Caught off guard by the lack of resistance and carried forward by his momentum, the ogre stumbled past. Pivoting on his lead foot, Azarek swept around behind him, his hand almost at the end of the shaft of his hammer. Swinging in a huge arc, the hammer struck the ogre at the base of his skull with a sickening crack. Collapsing, the ogre slid along the ground a half dozen feet before coming to rest, twitching on the ground. Gorak raced unhindered through the thick undergrowth, calling out the words to a spell in his huge voice. Gesturing over his shoulder, where the sole ogre left unscathed, the Orc and the ranger were trying to flee, the grass and shrubs, already grown thick and lush, became animate, writhing and grasping at everything within the span of his magic. Ensnared, the three struggled in vain against the crippling effects. Shayla, turning her attention to one of the retching ogres unleashed another blast of flame, causing him, to howl in agony amid gut wrenching gasps. Seeing no immediate threats, Khalid conserved his energy, waiting for a situation to develop that required his intervention. The words to his last casting barely off his lips, Gorak began anew, this time summoning a ball of elemental fire, directly at the feet of the Orc. A blinding stroke of lighting followed almost immediately, felling the screaming Orc, who burst into flames as he collapsed upon the glowing orb. Geoff and Azarek, kept at distance without clear targets, held their weapons at the ready, awaiting instructions from those with better vantage. Her face an expressionless mask, Shayla continued to focus her considerable power on the two ogres suffering from the effects of Khalid's toxic mist. Relentless, she battered away at them, alternating jets of flame with orbs of force, finally driving them to the ground. Khalid, circling the battlefield, was forced to dodge aside as a fist sized rock sailed past his head. He watched as the orb of flame burned its way through the weeds to brush up against the ogre, who was still twitching from a bolt of lightening arcing down from the heavens. Seeing the ranger struggling closer to the boundary of Gorak's magic, and feeling as though he should be helping, tossed out a tiny spark that burst in a cloud of golden dust that clung to the ranger and ogre. With more than a small amount of disappointment, he realized that his spell has been only half effective, blinding the grievously wounded ogre. The ranger, contorting his body, twisted from of the branches that held him. Momentarily free, he lunged forward, his feet barely touching ground as he sought to escape. Frowning, Khalid warned the others. [I]The ranger is fleeing. He's broken free of Gorak's snares and heads south.[/I] “Whut to you expect me to do about it?” Azarek yelled. Weighed down by his cumbersome armour and forced to circle the worst of the magic, there was little hope he could catch the woodsman. “Nevermind,” Gorak growled. “I got him. Finish off them ogres.” Raising his arms above his head, the brought them down sharply, feathered wings propelling him into the air. Shayla, not needing the added instruction, continued her deadly assault while Gorak flew off into the trees. As the last ogre fell, a bolt of lightening split the sky. The rumbling thunder still lingered in the air as a second bolt flashed down. Khalid, not overly concerned for Gorak's safety in the present circumstance, drifted down toward Geoff an Azarek. Seconds later, Shayla joined them. The waited silently for a few minutes. Khalid was about to suggest flying off to find Gorak when he appeared out of the trees behind them, hand resting on the shoulder of the ranger. With a shove, he sent the ranger sprawling forward, falling at Geoff's feet. “It's harder to motivate him proper if'n he's already half dead,” Azarek rasped, eyeing the blistering burn that covered the ranger's left side. The dagger in his hand leaving no doubt as to his meaning. Gorak shrugged. “He needed some convincing that the first one missed on purpose.” “What did you tell them?” Geoff demanded, the rage in his voice barely concealed. Gavin simply looked away, a look of grim resignation on his face. “Want me to ask him?” Azarek asked, curling his metal clad hand into a fist. Before Geoff could answer, Shayla let out a low whistle, and stood up from where she had been rummaging through the ranger's belongings. “Well, whatever he told them, they sure paid him well for the information.” She held out a hefty sack of gold and gems, taken from Gavin's pack. Geoff rubbed his hands over his face as though to scrub himself clean of the unpleasant situation. Indecision etched clearly on his features, it was clear to Khalid that he was weighing the safety of his village against his sense of morality. In the end, the needs of the village won out and he turned his back on Gavin, and nodded to Azarek. Azarek walked over the the man, and drove the toe of his iron shod boot into his solar plexus. “Last chance before I start cutting off bits that won't grow back.” As he knelt down, drawing a dagger from his belt, Gavin's will broke. “Everything,” he gasped, still struggling for breath. “I told them everything.” “You betrayed your oath?” Geoff's face paled. “How could you?” Gavin didn't reply, but Khalid could clearly see the shame lurking behind his defiant gaze. Gorak, his glance shifting from Geoff to Gavin, growled. “What do you know about this Orc? The one that's got 'em all riled up. You meet him in person?” Gavin, clearly relieved to break away from Geoff's disbelieving stare, said, “Only once. It's not hard to see why they rally to him, he is an imposing figure and uncommonly persuasive for a full blood.” He looked back at Geoff. “And he has power. He could be the one.” Geoff closed his eyes and turned titled his head back. Taking a deep breath he asked, “Are you sure?” “I think so. I never got too close to him, but from what I saw he could fit the legends.” “Maybe he's lying,” Azarek rasped. “Gimme a few minutes alone with him to ask him proper.” Khalid was a pretty good judge of character, and didn't sense any falsehood in the man's manner or words. He suspected Azarek was just disappointed. “Why would I lie?” Gavin asked. “They don't owe me anything now that our business is done. They'd just as soon kill me as look at me. The best I can hope for now is that your hired thugs just rob me of my gold.” “You got that right,” Shayla replied, a hard edge in her voice. But Khalid could see that Geoff was torn. Executing a man you had known all your life was not a simple thing, and the emotion that filled his gaze was not anger, but pity. “Maybe we should talk things over,” Gorak growled. “Gag him.” Azarek complied, and they drew away a little, out of earshot. “I don't think I can do it.” Geoff admitted, before anybody spoke.” “Yer kiddin'?” Azarek spat. “This sorry sack jus sold you out to some filthy Orcs...”. He glanced at Gorak, “No offence.” Gorak just glared at him. “Damnit,” he cursed, leaning back against tree. “I never get to have no fun.” “I fought beside him. I owe him my life, as do a dozen others in the village,” Geoff replied. “He was a good man once, I'd like to believe he could be that man again.” “Yeah, well, might I just add that, speaking from experience, our loose ends tend to bite us in the ass,” Shayla said. “This guy is just one more headache that we can cure right now.” She turned to Geoff. “You wanted us in this? Well, we're in it now.” “Well,” Azarek rasped, pushing himself up. “That's two votes fer and one aginst, by my reckoning. Khalid?” “Ah, yes, well, perhaps, yes, perhaps Geoff is right,” Khalid replied. Azarek scowled at him, and then turned to Gorak. “A'right, Orc, break the tie and lets get on wit it.” Gorak rubbed his jaw and regarded Geoff silently for a few minutes. “I ain't so sure.” Azarek snorted in disgust, clearly surprised. “I'm not so sure I want the blood of a worshipper of Ilsadora on my hands. Maybe we've helped out enough here, without getting our hands into some really unpleasant business.” He pulled a tiny silver chain out of a pocket in his vest, the one he had taken from one of the bodies at the way stop, and tossed it to Geoff. “I'm betting that under his armor there, I'm gonna find one of those.” “Ah, Ilsadora?” Khalid asked, puzzled. It wasn't a name he was familiar with. “Yeah. Ilsadora, Mother of the Green. Took me a while to puzzle it out. Known as Shedaska, the Jade Princess, in the West. Not so popular there, what with the desert and all, but some of the jungle tribes pay her tribute. As far as gods go, she ain't a bad one, if you're inta that sort of thing. And I figure these lads are into it, in a big way. The woodsmen at least, and probably the whole village too.” Geoff nodded. “We never sought to conceal that fact,” he replied, somewhat belligerently, his eyes locked on Gorak. “But you ain't exactly singing her praises from the rooftops, these days, eh?” Geoff lowered his gaze. “We aren't immune to whatever has happened to all of the other faithful. Our prayers are met with silence.” “Maybe she just got bored wit you lot, and buggered off,” Azarek rasped. “A possibility all have considered, in our hearts if not aloud. But it's just as likely that the problem lies with each of us. Perhaps they are still speaking and we can no longer hear. Either way, we don't believe it was by choice.” “You're still not telling us the whole story,” Gorak growled. “You're right,” Geoff admitted. “And when I tell you, you'll understand both the reason why and the depth of our desperation. Our village was built to hide something ancient, something dangerous. Orc priests and mystics have sought what we have kept hidden away for centuries. And now that we need her the most, when we are discovered, Ilsadora can not aid us, nor we her.” “So what is it?” Shayla asked, straight to the point. “An idol that is said to bear a tiny sliver of the essence of Rasha'gaur.” Gorak's eyes narrowed. Glaring at Geoff, he snarled, “That's just a myth. Something for the crazies to trot out to incite other crazies into doing something stupid.” “I wish it were,” Geoff replied. Khalid stroked his beard, a worried frown on his face. He didn't recognize the name but he was taken aback by the vehemence in Gorak's tone. But that wasn't what concerned Khalid the most; it was the other note in his voice bothered him. Something he hadn't heard in a long time. Fear. [/QUOTE]
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Al-Qarin: Into the Desert (3-1-24)
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