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Five Against the Slavers
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<blockquote data-quote="Insight" data-source="post: 5478950" data-attributes="member: 11437"><p><span style="font-size: 15px"><strong><u>586 CY</u></strong></span></p><p>The crude, wooden sign, forced into the ground only recently, bore fetishe skulls of many small races. The four travelers who had come together at this point stared off into a land they had known many years before. Something had changed about this place and none of the four assembled here could quite put their finger on it.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"The Grand Orcish Kingdom of the Pomarj,"</span> read <span style="color: lightblue">BILLY SILVERTONGUE</span>, the gnomish illusionist, translating the Giantish glyphs painted on the wooden sign. The gnome donned magical reading glasses to translate the Goblin language portion at the bottom of the sign; neither Billy nor his companions ever bothered to learn Goblin. <span style="color: lightblue">"And the Goblins, Gnolls, and Flinds."</span> The illusionist let out a lyrical laugh. The other travelers soon joined in.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"What's so grand about... this place?"</span> asked <span style="color: royalblue">JORDI TONBARREL</span>, the human armored warrior in whom the rest of them had entrusted their lives on more than one occasion. <span style="color: royalblue">"I suppose this is the best <em>kingdom</em> that the orcs could put together."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"Don't forget the goblins, gnolls, and flinds,"</span> added <span style="color: slategray">GRIMGAL IRONHEARTED</span>, the dwarf priest of Moradin. Grimgal spat on the muddy earth at his feet. <span style="color: slategray">"To the Hells with the lot of them."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightgreen">ZINDRA SLEEKMOON</span>, the elf ranger, had remained quietly at Jordi's side. She surveyed the land before them: the scrub-covered hills, the broken rock outcropppings, and the dense forest. <span style="color: lightgreen">"We'd better be on the lookout for scouts and patrols,"</span> she said. Zindra drew an arrow to the string of her magical greatbow.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"You're the expert,"</span> said Jordi as he adjusted his shield. Jordi's eyesight and hearing were nowhere near as keen as that of Zindra, his lover; Jordi had long ago learned to trust in the elf's perceptive abilities. She knew this land and knew where and when hidden enemies might plan an ambush.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"Zindra's got a point,"</span> said Billy. <span style="color: lightblue">"Look, I see a precipice not far from here. It should give us a decent view of this place. We can survey the way forward from there."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"Aye, and trust not the road,"</span> Grimgal added. <span style="color: slategray">"Remember well the last time the lot of us passed this way. The road seemed safe enough."</span></p><p></p><p>The four of them has been this way, many years before there was an 'Orcish Kingdom of the Pomarj'. There had been a fifth companion then. In fact, it was in pursuit of this fifth member that the rest of them had come together at this spot.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"So,"</span> Jordi said, following Zindra's lead across the scrub and towards the precipice that Billy identified. <span style="color: royalblue">"Keldok is some sort of prince, then?"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"That's the word,"</span> Billy said. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightgreen">"We should be safe to that ledge,"</span> Zindra, now many yards ahead of the rest of her companions, said.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"Very well,"</span> the gnome said. <span style="color: lightblue">"Once we are there, make camp. I will perform a rite to disguise us. That should at least get us close enough to Keldok and his subjects to have a chat with our old friend."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"I dunno why we have to march inna orc and goblin territory for this ingrate,"</span> Grimgal said.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"We travel as five,"</span> Jordi said. <span style="color: royalblue">"Remember?"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"Aye,"</span> Grimgal said, sighing. <span style="color: slategray">"I remember. It's just... do ya trust old Keldok? I'm not sure that I do."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"He <em>did</em> betray us last time we were together,"</span> Billy said.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"That... wasn't his fault,"</span> Jordi said. <span style="color: royalblue">"You know that he was under that witch's spell."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"That's what Keldok <em>said</em>,"</span> Grimgal said.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"I didn't see her cast any spell,"</span> Billy said.</p><p></p><p>Jordi frowned. He was not about to be overruled in this matter. He had given up too much. Jordi had dropped everything, including the promise of a noble title, to travel south to the Pomarj and track down Keldok the Bludgeoner, half-orc master of the mace. He had put forth the effort to collect Billy and Grimgal and had summoned Zindra forth from the Feywild, where she was raising their son. In fact, many of the travelers had given up adventuring altogether. This was quite the undertaking, just getting them to this point. Jordi could see all of this falling apart before the four of them even found Keldok. He would have to take action.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"Look, Keldok is <em>still</em> our friend,"</span> Jordi said. <span style="color: royalblue">"I know it's been a decade since any of us have seen him, but..."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"That's right,"</span> Grimgal said. <span style="color: slategray">"The rest of you have been to my annual feasts, and we went to your wedding to the elf, and you and I went to Billy's magical whatever-it-was. These are events that <em>friends</em> attend. Where was Keldok?"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"I don't know."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"Exactly,"</span> the dwarf continued. <span style="color: slategray">"None of us know where he is, or if he even considers us friends. We could be walking into a trap!"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"I find it unlikely that Keldok will attack us,"</span> Billy said. <span style="color: lightblue">"He has nothing to fear from our appearance."</span></p><p></p><p>Grimgal laughed. <span style="color: slategray">"He's half-orc! He could do it out of spite!"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"Still, when we get there, please let me do the talking,"</span> Billy said.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"Har,"</span> Grimgal said. <span style="color: slategray">"They'll not listen to a gnome!"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"I have a way with words,"</span> Billy said. <span style="color: lightblue">"Or have you forgotten?"</span></p><p></p><p>Zindra returned to the group. <span style="color: lightgreen">"As I said, the way to the precipice is clear. Can you laggards keep up a pace? And keep the noise down to a dull roar, please?"</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"Excuse me, your <em>highness</em>,"</span> Grimgal said.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"Oh, here we go,"</span> Billy said.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"What? Oh, I forgot. Everyone is supposed to worship the elf now. She and Jordi have the special <em>love child</em> being raised in the Feywild."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"Be quiet, Grim,"</span> Jordi said with a warning tone in his voice.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: slategray">"Look, I was perfectly happy in the Kron Hills. Perhaps I should turn around and head back there."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: royalblue">"Grim, you know that your people are threatened by the giants, just as well as are my people in Geoff,"</span> Jordi said. <span style="color: royalblue">"We are here for my people, your people, as well as anyone else in the giants' way. The giants will not stop on their own. Someone must stop them. And that someone will be us."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"He's got a point,"</span> Billy said. <span style="color: lightblue">"Even my adopted homeland of Veluna is threatened, if we sit by and do nothing. And my own birthplace, Verbobonc, is also threatened. This giant invasion is not limited to Geoff and the humans, Grim."</span></p><p></p><p>The travelers reached the precipice. It was nearing dusk. Zindra had already laid out the camp essentials. Though it had been many years since Zindra had camped outdoors, it was something with which she had a lot of practice and setting up the camp came right back to her. She knew that the dwarf didn't like to sleep next to any sort of cliff nor near the fire. She knew that Billy had brought a magical tent for himself and so left room for it. Zindra also knew that she and Jordi would be sharing their own tent. </p><p></p><p>The fire was started as the rest of the travelers arrived.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: lightblue">"Just like old times, huh?"</span> Billy asked.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Insight, post: 5478950, member: 11437"] [size=4][b][u]586 CY[/u][/b][/size] The crude, wooden sign, forced into the ground only recently, bore fetishe skulls of many small races. The four travelers who had come together at this point stared off into a land they had known many years before. Something had changed about this place and none of the four assembled here could quite put their finger on it. [color=lightblue]"The Grand Orcish Kingdom of the Pomarj,"[/color] read [color=lightblue]BILLY SILVERTONGUE[/color], the gnomish illusionist, translating the Giantish glyphs painted on the wooden sign. The gnome donned magical reading glasses to translate the Goblin language portion at the bottom of the sign; neither Billy nor his companions ever bothered to learn Goblin. [color=lightblue]"And the Goblins, Gnolls, and Flinds."[/color] The illusionist let out a lyrical laugh. The other travelers soon joined in. [color=royalblue]"What's so grand about... this place?"[/color] asked [color=royalblue]JORDI TONBARREL[/color], the human armored warrior in whom the rest of them had entrusted their lives on more than one occasion. [color=royalblue]"I suppose this is the best [i]kingdom[/i] that the orcs could put together."[/color] [color=slategray]"Don't forget the goblins, gnolls, and flinds,"[/color] added [color=slategray]GRIMGAL IRONHEARTED[/color], the dwarf priest of Moradin. Grimgal spat on the muddy earth at his feet. [color=slategray]"To the Hells with the lot of them."[/color] [color=lightgreen]ZINDRA SLEEKMOON[/color], the elf ranger, had remained quietly at Jordi's side. She surveyed the land before them: the scrub-covered hills, the broken rock outcropppings, and the dense forest. [color=lightgreen]"We'd better be on the lookout for scouts and patrols,"[/color] she said. Zindra drew an arrow to the string of her magical greatbow. [color=royalblue]"You're the expert,"[/color] said Jordi as he adjusted his shield. Jordi's eyesight and hearing were nowhere near as keen as that of Zindra, his lover; Jordi had long ago learned to trust in the elf's perceptive abilities. She knew this land and knew where and when hidden enemies might plan an ambush. [color=lightblue]"Zindra's got a point,"[/color] said Billy. [color=lightblue]"Look, I see a precipice not far from here. It should give us a decent view of this place. We can survey the way forward from there."[/color] [color=slategray]"Aye, and trust not the road,"[/color] Grimgal added. [color=slategray]"Remember well the last time the lot of us passed this way. The road seemed safe enough."[/color] The four of them has been this way, many years before there was an 'Orcish Kingdom of the Pomarj'. There had been a fifth companion then. In fact, it was in pursuit of this fifth member that the rest of them had come together at this spot. [color=royalblue]"So,"[/color] Jordi said, following Zindra's lead across the scrub and towards the precipice that Billy identified. [color=royalblue]"Keldok is some sort of prince, then?"[/color] [color=lightblue]"That's the word,"[/color] Billy said. [color=lightgreen]"We should be safe to that ledge,"[/color] Zindra, now many yards ahead of the rest of her companions, said. [color=lightblue]"Very well,"[/color] the gnome said. [color=lightblue]"Once we are there, make camp. I will perform a rite to disguise us. That should at least get us close enough to Keldok and his subjects to have a chat with our old friend."[/color] [color=slategray]"I dunno why we have to march inna orc and goblin territory for this ingrate,"[/color] Grimgal said. [color=royalblue]"We travel as five,"[/color] Jordi said. [color=royalblue]"Remember?"[/color] [color=slategray]"Aye,"[/color] Grimgal said, sighing. [color=slategray]"I remember. It's just... do ya trust old Keldok? I'm not sure that I do."[/color] [color=lightblue]"He [i]did[/i] betray us last time we were together,"[/color] Billy said. [color=royalblue]"That... wasn't his fault,"[/color] Jordi said. [color=royalblue]"You know that he was under that witch's spell."[/color] [color=slategray]"That's what Keldok [i]said[/i],"[/color] Grimgal said. [color=lightblue]"I didn't see her cast any spell,"[/color] Billy said. Jordi frowned. He was not about to be overruled in this matter. He had given up too much. Jordi had dropped everything, including the promise of a noble title, to travel south to the Pomarj and track down Keldok the Bludgeoner, half-orc master of the mace. He had put forth the effort to collect Billy and Grimgal and had summoned Zindra forth from the Feywild, where she was raising their son. In fact, many of the travelers had given up adventuring altogether. This was quite the undertaking, just getting them to this point. Jordi could see all of this falling apart before the four of them even found Keldok. He would have to take action. [color=royalblue]"Look, Keldok is [i]still[/i] our friend,"[/color] Jordi said. [color=royalblue]"I know it's been a decade since any of us have seen him, but..."[/color] [color=slategray]"That's right,"[/color] Grimgal said. [color=slategray]"The rest of you have been to my annual feasts, and we went to your wedding to the elf, and you and I went to Billy's magical whatever-it-was. These are events that [i]friends[/i] attend. Where was Keldok?"[/color] [color=royalblue]"I don't know."[/color] [color=slategray]"Exactly,"[/color] the dwarf continued. [color=slategray]"None of us know where he is, or if he even considers us friends. We could be walking into a trap!"[/color] [color=lightblue]"I find it unlikely that Keldok will attack us,"[/color] Billy said. [color=lightblue]"He has nothing to fear from our appearance."[/color] Grimgal laughed. [color=slategray]"He's half-orc! He could do it out of spite!"[/color] [color=lightblue]"Still, when we get there, please let me do the talking,"[/color] Billy said. [color=slategray]"Har,"[/color] Grimgal said. [color=slategray]"They'll not listen to a gnome!"[/color] [color=lightblue]"I have a way with words,"[/color] Billy said. [color=lightblue]"Or have you forgotten?"[/color] Zindra returned to the group. [color=lightgreen]"As I said, the way to the precipice is clear. Can you laggards keep up a pace? And keep the noise down to a dull roar, please?"[/color] [color=slategray]"Excuse me, your [i]highness[/i],"[/color] Grimgal said. [color=lightblue]"Oh, here we go,"[/color] Billy said. [color=slategray]"What? Oh, I forgot. Everyone is supposed to worship the elf now. She and Jordi have the special [i]love child[/i] being raised in the Feywild."[/color] [color=royalblue]"Be quiet, Grim,"[/color] Jordi said with a warning tone in his voice. [color=slategray]"Look, I was perfectly happy in the Kron Hills. Perhaps I should turn around and head back there."[/color] [color=royalblue]"Grim, you know that your people are threatened by the giants, just as well as are my people in Geoff,"[/color] Jordi said. [color=royalblue]"We are here for my people, your people, as well as anyone else in the giants' way. The giants will not stop on their own. Someone must stop them. And that someone will be us."[/color] [color=lightblue]"He's got a point,"[/color] Billy said. [color=lightblue]"Even my adopted homeland of Veluna is threatened, if we sit by and do nothing. And my own birthplace, Verbobonc, is also threatened. This giant invasion is not limited to Geoff and the humans, Grim."[/color] The travelers reached the precipice. It was nearing dusk. Zindra had already laid out the camp essentials. Though it had been many years since Zindra had camped outdoors, it was something with which she had a lot of practice and setting up the camp came right back to her. She knew that the dwarf didn't like to sleep next to any sort of cliff nor near the fire. She knew that Billy had brought a magical tent for himself and so left room for it. Zindra also knew that she and Jordi would be sharing their own tent. The fire was started as the rest of the travelers arrived. [color=lightblue]"Just like old times, huh?"[/color] Billy asked. [/QUOTE]
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