NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ltclnlbrain" data-source="post: 1942505" data-attributes="member: 12882">Chapter 29Grundar blinked a bit to clear the disorientation from the teleportation spell.  One would think that he'd be used to it by now, but there was still something unnatural in traveling hundreds of miles in the blink of an eye.  An icy wind blew across the cold grasslands, announcing winter's steady approach.The elf looked around a bit to get his bearings.  The only thing that divided the fields of white snow on his left and right were the tracks of wagons, horses, and boots that had passed this way before. Falling snow stung his face with the bite of frost, needlessly reminding him of the lateness of the season.Only a few days had passed since the battle in the Selskar Vale.  Though Orichalxos had been slain in the fight, the githyanki mage had absconded with the scepter of the ar-magus. As the party had approached the barracks house, they could see that it had been fixed up somewhat from their last visit. Iron shutters now adorned the windows, and it seemed that the roof had been repaired. The doors were hot to the touch, and they were assaulted by a blistering heat when they opened them.Inside was a ghastly sight; a sunken pool of boiling mucous filled the room with a horrid stench. Partially immersed in the foot-deep pool were dozens of large gray eggs covered with red speckles. Terenon announced that they appeared similar to red dragon and githyanki eggs, possibly belonging to the hybrid warriors they had fought.  Unfortunately, there was nothing beyond the eggs to signify what the githyanki had planned for the Vale.  Taking the eggs to a safe location, the party was forced to withdraw from the Vale with no solution to this mystery.And from that place of heat and flame, they came now to a land of wind and snow.  The tiny hamlet of Finch was the northenmost outpost of humanity south of the Spine of the World, far to the north and west of Silverymoon. They had come here hoping to find clues to the location of the lair of the white wyrm Acessiwal.  The dragon had secretly been the one who had hired them to take on the Acolytes of the Hidden Flame and the slaad lord Bazim-Gorag, the Firebringer. With the cultists out of the way, the wyrm was now free to pursue his own schemes of domination.  The party was determined to make surer that this did not come to pass.Grundar turned to his companions, smiling wryly.  "Hey Terenon, aren't you glad we are dressed appropriately for the trip this time?"Terenon couldn't help but grin.  The elf was referring to the time that they had entered a teleportation circle in the Dungeon of the Ruins that had transported them to the Sea of Moving Ice...but their clothing and equipment had been left behind.  Fortunately, the mage had another teleport spell prepared to bring them back before anything untoward could occur.  This time, each member of the party had purchased heavy fur clothing to insulate them from the cold.  Each of them also sported a pair of magical boots that allowed them to travel over snow and ice without difficulty."Indeed," said the mage. "It would have been even more interesting if Allanon had accidentally transformed himself into a woman before we stepped into the circle."The wild mage, who sported new magical robes of the purest white, feigned anger at the remark. "You're just mad that I looked better than you did," he said indignantly.All three friends laughed at the good-natured joking.  Ahead of them, Rumar turned his helmeted head over his shoulder, his golden eyes showing obvious disapproval.  Beside the paladin, Rhys smiled and shook his head.  "Let them have their fun," he said. "Laughter is good for the soul. The time will come for duty soon enough."Rumar turned forward once more, his heavy armor creaking as he walked. "I only hope that they can quell their passions long enough this time to remember their duty. The battle with Bazim-Gorag may not have been so disastrous if they had waited long enough for me to return."Rhys said nothing. The priest had been one of the casualties of that fight, along with both Grundar and Jelani. The entire party could have easily been wiped out had Torm not been with them that day. What would his parents have thought of him then, Rhys wondered.The priest's musings were interrupted as Jelani descended in front of him. The mystic theurge adjusted his wide-brimmed feathered hat and gestured to the north."There's a small village up ahead. It must be Finch. It seemed like a lot of people were heading this way, and in a hurry.""Then let us not delay," said Rumar, striding off through the snow.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------It was only a few minutes later that the party intercepted the group of emigrants.  They looked to be simple villagers, mostly humans except for a gnome woman who led them. They were moving quite quickly, and the majority of them bore fearful expressions. Some of them--including the gnome--were armed. The woman hailed the group as they approached. "Turn back! A demon has taken Finch!" she shouted.Grundar stepped forward in the gnome's path, forcing her to stop her panicked flight. "What is this demon you speak of? We may be able to help you get rid of it.""I'm Cirilli," said the gnome. "Cirilli Treetopweaver. I'm the constable's deputy in Finch, the village there. My home."You have to turn around! Finch isn't safe. An hour ago, a great white demon flew down from the sky! It landed right outside Saul's store, next to the old shrine! We all ran before it could kill us..."Constable Helmyr and I usually handle things like drunken trappers and hunters, not demons. It looked like a massively muscled man covered in white scales, with icy breath that spewed forth from its mouth as it roared. We've heard rumors of this demon before. According to some of the rumors, villagers returned to their town after a few hours to find nothing missing and the demon gone."Those are just rumors though, and we can't take that risk. We're heading to another settlement southeast of here to wait out the creature, then we'll come back in a few days. I suggest you do the same." Rhys spread his arms in a calming gesture. "Please, people, do not let despair take hold.  I am Rhys Thurn, a priest of Torm. My companions and I will see what we can do about this demon."Jelani nodded. "I shall fly ahead and see what's going on in the village." He glanced at Rumar. "Care to join me?"Rumar's gaze had been locked on the village in the distance ever since the first cry of 'demon.' He nodded as he readied his shield and sword. "It would be risky to go alone. If you wish to travel there I will come along to make sure nothing goes awry."The two took to the air and were gone.</blockquote>

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