For the Love of Tomeri...(23June2004)

[simmo]

chapter 3 The Long Road Back

“Father?” asked Serena not ready to believe her eyes.

“Ah, Serena!” The old man stood up and quickly walked over to his daughter. Without pausing her took her in to his arms and lifted her off her feet. After they broke their embrace they kept hold of each other's hands.

“You have not done that in a long time,” said Serena feeling ecstatic and also confused.

“Well, my life has been different for some time,” her father replied with a far away look in his eyes. He focused back on his daughter and smiled happily. “That is over now.”

“Do you know what happened?” ask Serena finally coming to terms with seeing her father again after so many years apart.

“The sun went dark for some time,” replied her father looking up.

“Uh, yes that was my fault,” said Serena blushing slightly.

Her father smiled warmly, but then his face became grave. “Serena, I have something important to ask you.”

“Yes father,” said Serena expectantly.

“Can I stay here?” he asked in a quiet voice.

“In the Garden?” Serena looked around briefly at the lake, cottage, fields and trees. “You don't want to return to the world?”

“I cannot return to that world.” Her father sounded weary and sad. “I cannot be there in that way for you.”

“Dad, you can stay here as long as you need to,” Serena replied with a smile.

“Thank you,” her father said sounding very relieved. “One day soon you will understand more. I think that this is something that you will grow in to. But it is better if you learn it yourself, rather than me telling you.”

“Dad, everyone's telling me that recently and it is driving me insane!” Serena did not notice that her voice had risen in volume. Weeks of changes and confusion had built up inside her, fuelled by the cryptic remarks that people kept telling her. Hearing those same words from her father was the final straw and she lashed out.

He father did not flinch and instead smiled sadly. “You are a strong girl and I'm sure that you will learn soon enough. Sometimes coming here will be very painful for you but you must realise that this place is a great well of strength.”

They sat down on the grass next to the lake in silence for some time. Reunited after so many years they found it hard to form the right words to express their feelings. Every so often Serena would glance at her father and study the lines of his face or how his hair had turned grey in places.

“Zakar has been an interesting companion.” Her father said finally breaking the silence.

“I trust that he has been taking good care of you." Serena could sense the hound archon nearby standing guard.

“More than good care,” the old man laughed. “He has been a loyal and trusted servant.”

“And he has been to me as well.” Serena sighed.

“Would you like to stay and fish for awhile?” Her father's question sounded simple, but Serena could see that he was trying to reach out to her.

“I must return to the world and my companions,” said Serena by way of apology. “We have things to do, but I will return – I promise. Once we are somewhere safe.”

Serena stood up, brushed off the leaves and twigs from her long dress and watched as the hound archon strode towards her. She could sense her father standing nearby and the sorrow that he carried like a cloak wrapped around his frail body.

“That thing,” her father began hesitantly. “that you have with my image. It... it is no longer binding.”

“Really?” asked Serena surprised by her father's statement. “Can I burn it?”

“Yes,” the old man replied sounding very relieved. “Thank you my daughter.” They embraced briefly and then Serena set off together with the hound archon.

“Zakar, I have need of you.” Serena said simply.

“Yes, my Lady.” Zakar walked closer to her, his nearby presence giving her strength.

 

[simmo]

Part 7 Questing for Answers and Sparring with Fate

chapter 1 Unusual Suspects

Serena appeared back on the clump of rocks that the others had camped beneath, accompanied by a golden furred archon carrying a great sword and wearing a lead collar. Andrew was somewhat taken aback be their sudden appearance, but managed not to show his surprise to the others. After explaining to Zakar which plane they were on and the description of the portal back to Sigil – the companions set off once again in the direction of the Spire with the hound archon leading them.

Whilst they were travelling Andrew was introduced to Zakar and Littleby explained that he was temporarily inside Toranna's body in order to take her back to Sigil for trial. The hound archon found the situation somewhat strange and after he sniffed both Littleby's body and that of Toranna his eyes lit up in understanding. “It is possible to track a soul between bodies,” Zakar explained. “But that is beyond my skills.”

However, Zakar was more than capable of tracking down the portal for the others and by the end of the day they had reached it. Once they stepped through the archway in the broken tower they returned to the Great Foundry in Sigil and the smell of smog, ash and dirt was over-powering. The Godsmen were hard at work pounding metal in to household goods and several of the workmen nodded to Caleb as he passed, a few even whistled at him.

Outside the Foundry stood several pony cabs that had recently dropped off some dignitaries from the Fated and Malkir quickly convinced the drivers, with the help of some garnish, to take them as quickly as possible to the City Barracks. They rode in silence as the carriages bounced over the cobbles streets of the city. During the journey Littleby placed an enchantment on Toranna's body to alter her appearance and before long the cabs stopped outside the imposing headquarters of the Harmonium.

Led by Littleby (in Toranna's body that had been disguised) they walked up the steps to the entrance were several guards stood watch to welcome visitors.

“Littleby Cakebeard, here to see Arianna Redstrike.” Littleby informed the guard in a serious and husky voice.

“Just a moment, Madam” replied the guard who turned to send a runner off to inform officer Redstrike. Some time passed and the guards looked each of the companions up and down, when the runner returned with a scroll.

“I'm sorry, but our records indicate that you do not match the description of Littleby Cakebeard.” The guard stated in a firm and suspicious tone.

“Your records are indeed accurate,” said Littleby brushing the hair out of her face. “I demand to be cuffed, manacled and gagged immediately.” Several of the others looked at each somewhat alarmed, but they decided to see what Littleby had planned.

“Very well, if you demand to be arrested then we can do so.” The officer was in the process of taking out a pair of manacles when one of the other guards came up to him and whispered something in his ear. The guard looked Littleby up and down before asking: “Who is Littleby Cakebeard's commanding officer?”

“Commissioner Redstrike,” Littleby replied confidently. The guards briefly exchanged a whispered discussion and the other guard withdrew after making his point to the former.

“Ah,” he said putting the manacles away. “We will not interfere with you business.”

“I insist that you cuff, manacle and gag me at one,” said Littleby trying not to pout.

“Very good Madam, but I cannot interfere with your business.” The guard resumed his post, standing as if he could not see the others.

“Young man,” said Littleby who hitched up her dress to walk over to the guard. “It is off utmost importance that you cuff, manacle and gag me IMMEDIATELY!”

“I am not authorised to do so, Madam.” The guard said somewhat apologetically.

“I warn you,” said Littleby wagging her finger. “I will break the law.”

The guard looked at her and then her companions. “Do you stand witness that Littleby Cakebread is asking to be arrested?”

“Yes,” replied both Malkir and Serena.

The guard took out his manacles again and began to bind up Littleby. “Use your strongest manacles Officer. Preferably shifters manacles if you have them.” The officer looked briefly at Littleby in disgust before finishing his work.

As soon as he was done Littleby returned to his own body and climbed down from Caleb's back. He took back his components, scrolls and books and dismissed the enchantment of disguise from Toranna. The guards took them in to the building and asked them to wait in one of the rooms together with Toranna. Andrew looked somewhat uncomfortable with this turn of events and followed the rest so as not to stand out.

“Can I please ask you ladies and gentlemen your names?” The guard asked, whilst holding parchment and quill at the ready.

“I AM CALEB,” the earth genasi said his name even slower than normal.

“Serena Allman,” the seer stated.

“George Harris,” said Andrew with a completely blank expression.

The guard paused as he finished writing the names and then turned to the mystic. “And your Sir?”

“Malkir,” replied the mystic.

“Malkir?...” the guard left his sentence hanging in the hopes that mystic would fill the blanks.

“I have no other given name,” explained Malkir.

“I am Toranna the Gray,” said Littleby with a smirk on his face. Now that he'd returned to his own body he was still sorting out all of his pouches and scroll cases.

The sound of the quill scratching against the parchment stopped and the dwarven necromancer could clearly see that the guard had either not understood the joke or not found it amusing even in the slightest. The others laughed, but the guard suffered a complete sense of humour failure and stomped out of the cell, slamming the door behind him and locking it as well.

“Thank you very very much,” said Andrew in a sarcastic voice.

“DON'T WORRY,” replied Caleb in a reassuringly. “IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE THEN YOU'LL BE FINE.”

Andrew paused awhile, thinking about his current predicament. “What if you do have something to hide?”

“THEN YOU'RE IN TROUBLE,” replied Caleb simply and the mephits all burst out laughing.

 

[simmo]

chapter 2 Interview with an Arcane Investigator

An hour passed before the door was unlocked and a tall, striking woman wearing red leather armour strode in to the room. Her blonde hair was tied back in a severe bun and she wore expensive leather boots that reached almost to her knees. No visible weapons could be seen on her person, although her belt held numerous small pouches.

“For next time,” she said as she threw a pair of manacles towards Littleby. Two guards came in to remove Toranna and she struggled against them as they dragged her out of the cell. Arianna paused to watch the prisoner being taken away and then addressed the others. “Was there any other evidence that you'd like to submit?”

“Yes,” replied Malkir who pulled the amulet of the black sunburst from a sack. He carefully passed it to her and studied her face intently as she reached for the item. “It might hurt if you hold it,” he informed her.

Sure enough Arianna Redstrike winced slightly as she took the item and turned it over to examine it. “Thanks you for bringing us Toranna the Gray, it will greatly help us to track down the remaining Luminous Ones agents in Sigil and beyond. As well as clear the charges against your friend, Kendrick.”

Malkir informed the arcane investigator that Serena had used her gifts to glimpse the item's previous owners and Serena took over by recounting how the amulet had been created and passed on to whom.

“The Luminous Ones made no effort to win her back once we left the city,” said Littleby whose mind had been pondering how much Arianna knew about the organisation.

“That fits the profile of the organisation,” stated Arianna, confirming Littleby's suspicions.

“Really?” asked Serena somewhat surprised.

“They dispose of their agents once they are of no more use. So we will have to be careful that she does not kill herself now that she is no longer being guided by her masters.” Arianna put the amulet in a small brown paper sack and wrote some notes on the back. “It's a fail safe mechanism,” she explained. “The two other agents that we managed to capture killed themselves during questioning.”

“Is it some kind of enchantment?” asked Serena thinking about how Kendrick had become Karan when the Luminous Ones had controlled him.

“Enchantment might not be the right word for it,” began Arianna. “Arwyl figured out about the fail safe mechanism whereby the agents kill themselves and hence the reason why I asked Littleby to bring back Toranna unconscious or incapacitated. It is also another reason why we wanted Kendrick to become a member of the Mercykillers again.”

“Is Sss'ah'tlaha free,” asked Serena referring to the illithid investigator and member of the Harmonium.

“He's just finishing his lunch,” replied Arianna with a slight grimace.

“THAT'S MORE INFORMATION THAN I NEEDED TO KNOW,” said Caleb pitching in to the conversation at last.

“Is it beyond your power to remove this enchantment?” asked Littleby.

“Sss'ah'tlaha is working on it,” replied Arianna confidently. “But it is a very subtle and difficult thing to break. Whoever came up with this was very clever, fiendishly clever.”

“Indeed,” said Serena thinking about likely suspects.

“THE ORROLOTH?” suggested Caleb.

“Or Shemeshka,” countered Serena.

There was a pause whilst everyone got ready to leave the cell. Malkir and Andrew had remained quiet for the duration of the conversation. The former had simply sat in the cell and meditated, the latter had spent his time and energies blending in so that none would pay him much attention.

“Before we left for the Outlands,” began Littleby before the others could get to the door. “We were talking about several characters that we'd mentioned to you.”

“Yes,” replied Arianna who brought the two names to mind. “We have discovered that Jezrene Quickeye is in the city of Automata, gate-town to Mechanus. On the Orroloth we have drawn a complete blank.

“What about my description?” asked Serena who was not ready to give up on bringing attention to the creature that was responsible for the imprisonment and possible death of her father in a painted fiendish contract.

“We drew a complete blank,” reiterated the arcane investigator.

“Well, give me some of your officers and I'll show you where he is,” stated Serena emphatically.

“We'll see who we can spare,” Arianna remarked noncommittally.

“I'll take Littleby, Zakar and I will show you,” said Serena intent on going that very minute.

“I cannot make it myself as I'm tied up with another investigation.” Arianna thought for a moment. “I can send you Sss'ah'tlaha.”

“Yes, I'd like to see him anyway,” agreed Serena who had plans for discussing some matters relating to mind-walking.

As they filed out of the room the arcane investigator gave them each a long look, especially at Andrew. “I trust that we'll not be seeing SOME of you again.”

“Certainly,” replied Andrew curtly.

“Is there any reason why we need to stay longer?” asked Malkir who was keen to get back to his house.

“You are free to go,” said Serena with a charming smile and pointing them to the open door. “As long as you obey the laws of the city.”

 

[Allanon]

Wow, nice story . And I love Planescape so please go on

 

[simmo]

Thanks for the compliment. Have no fear, I have plenty of material post which should mean a update per date. In the mean time, now for something different.....

We Interrupt this Adventure to Bring you the Following News....

Vartus Timlin, factol of the banned Expansionists Faction, Has Escaped the Lady's Maze

Chant brokers and touts are flapping their bone-boxes around the Cage bringing you this breaking piece of chant. Those in the know claim that there'd been rumours of some berk paying for the retrieval of Timlin's magical sword Lightbringer. The Triad of Law had attempted to track down the knight of the post who was splashing jinks around to get the job done, the dark of it was that there were no takers. Now we can exclusively reveal that not only was Timlin's sword brought back, that the name of the blood responsible for setting up the job was the Orroloth. No one's sure what this blood looks like with some claiming he's a fiend and others that he's a powerful Prime new to the Cage.

Our reporter, the renowned Ashenbach, was able to get a quick interview with the Hardhead leading the investigation.

Ashenbach: "So it looks like Timlin has slipped the blinds, suren. Care to tell us how he managed to give you the laugh?"

Bartezu: "Fear not, no one escapes The Lady's justice for long. That cutter may think that he's safe, but our officers are already scouring the Prime world of Lammed where he's said to have family connections."

Ashenbach: "Is there any truth to what berks are rattling their bones boxes about - namely that the Growers are back in town?"

Bartezu: "Absolutely not. Anyone barmy enough to spout such screed about the Expansionists coming back is looking to get scragged. The Lady has them destroyed a long time ago and family or not, those bashers will soon have now place to hide. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do."

Ashenbach: "Well, there you have it cutters, suren. Vartus Timlin, head of the banned Expansionist Faction, is on the loose and his sword has gone to a mystery buyer. This exclusive report was brought to you by your friendly tiefer Ashenbach, curtsey of: We Interrupt This Adventure. Now come on cutters..... let's go dancing! Where's that potter got to?"

 

[simmo]

chapter 3 The Cost of a Friend in Need

Littleby was the last to leave the room and decided to ask his superior officer a few more questions. “Do the Mercykillers intend to continue the prosecution?” he asked.

“No,” stated Arianna. “He will be held until the end of the week and the be released.”

“What will be his obligations?” asked Littleby concerned about the welfare of his friend and champion of Tomeri.

“He will become a full member of the Mercykillers. I'm not happy about him being forced in to this situation, but the enchantment does not give us much choice. We've tried to dispel the enchantment and Sss'ah'tlaha has probed his mind with near fatal consequences.” Arianna recalled briefly the name that the other unwitting agents of the Luminous Ones had called out during questioning. The priest of St Cuthbert had informed her that the agents had died due to their heart stopping and had not been able to contact their spirits. “But we will continue working on this.”

“Perhaps he can be assigned a minor mission in the Mercykillers,” suggested Littleby.

“He will be,” said Arianna with knowing grin. “He is going to be working with my sister.”

“Oh,” was all that Littleby managed to reply.

“Have you met my sister?” they both knew that the question was rhetorical. “She mentioned you once. You bought her something nice once.”

“So many names and faces,” mumbled Littleby evasively.

“We had to buy a new table as she'd carved your name in to it..... with a broadsword. You left a very big impression on her.” Arianna made no attempt to hide her sly smile.

Serena walked back in to the room as Littleby was leaving and addressed Arianna. “I'd like to pay a visit to Kendrick if I could?” It was more a statement than a question.

“Sorry,” replied Arianna. “But he's in training at the moment.”

“I'd like to have an hour with him.” Serena looked Arianna straight in the eyes and despite their height difference, the quiet seer's determination shone through.

“Come by this evening,” said Arianna as she juggled schedules and favours in her head. “And you can have an hour with him.”

 

[simmo]

chapter 4 Each to Their Own

After they left the City Barracks Littleby, Caleb and Serena went to the Temple of Tomeri which was located at the edge of the Lady's Ward. Malkir and Andrew went back to 34b Stonecutters Row in the Lower Ward for some rest and relaxation.

Back at the temple Serena entered her garden and spent a little time talking to her father. Together they found a bedraggled looking young woman wandering by the stream that fed in to the lake. The young woman wore filthy clothes that were covered in blood and she clutched her arms to her sides. They brought her to the cottage as fast as they could and Zakar found some clean clothes. When Serena asked him to heal the young woman's wounds, the hound archon declined stating that there was nothing that he could do for her.

Once the woman had begun to get changed Serena saw that there were no wounds on her body. It slowly dawned on her that the woman, who called herself Inlia, was in fact no longer a part of the world of the living. Her suspicions were confirmed when Inlia told her story about growing up in the Hive and her brother having recently been killed by a group of Xaosmen. Her last memories were of being chased by the same men after they caught her stealing some bread and then cornering her in a dead end alley. The very last memories she could recall before waking in the Garden were of pain and blood.

Serena and Inlia went for a walk through the garden and the hiver girl told the seer more about her life. All about her passion for painting and her love for a young Sensate. She asked Serena if she could stay for awhile, the question almost an exact echo of the words that her father had used. Serena answered 'yes' and then left the girl to enjoy walking in the fields of barley as she sought to find a place of solitude for herself.

Soon afterwards Serena entered a portion of the garden that she'd not been to before and sat amongst the crystal flowers to meditate on the skill that Sss'ah'tlaha had mentioned. It concerned the ability to peel back the petals of a person's mind to explore strong emotional way points in their lives.

Meanwhile Caleb spent a lot of his time polishing his newly acquired hammer and keeping his mephits away from touching it. Eventually the thought of having the item identified by an spell slinger drifted down between the tectonic plates of his mind and he decided to look for a priest or priestess of Tomeri who could perform such an action.

Littleby found himself a nice quiet cell in the Temple of Tomeri and spent many long hours reading the small book that he'd borrowed from Kesto Brighteyes' shop, The Parted Veil. He'd left another very valuable book as a deposit and was only able to borrow this book for a week. However, once the dwarven scholar began to pour over the pages of the small book he soon saw the genius and sinister madness of its author.

The small book was very old and written by a scholar called Acererak. The author had an incredible grasp of Negative Energy, far beyond Littleby's who had spent decades immersed in its study. In the first few chapters the author described how Negative Energy could be harnessed using arcane and mechanical means to create automatons that could think for themselves on a basic level and act as warriors.

The book made frequent use of the words necrotech, steamjacks and mechanika - especially when the name Lord Turok, of the Scharde Islands, was used in a sentence. Some of the writing was even in Negation (the language of natives to the Negative Energy Plane) and it strained Littleby's mind to grasp the concepts that were being conveyed. Not wishing to lose this precious information he copied down as much as he could in the living tome given to him by Heiron Lifegiver. Before finally falling asleep briefly, having studied and read for eight hours in a row.

Malkir spent his time training his kobold students. Despite having seen them in action only a short tie ago they had made some small progress under, what Malkir presumed to be, Annaleese's tutelage. Andrew was shown around the lower floor of the house and left to explore the remainder of the house by himself. The women who had worked in the house (and which Malkir had inherited with the house) had all become novices in the Temple of Tomeri, goddess of Love and Wisdom.

One of the bedrooms had been converted to a shrine and Andrew accidentally walked in to one of the rooms in which an attractive elven woman was bathing. Whilst he was busy apologizing for interrupting her during her bath, a second elven woman surfaced from beneath the water in the bath and the two invited him to join them. Andrew's face grew red as he blushed with embarrassment, but he did not forego the opportunity. After a quick tour of the rest of the house he finally gave in to the charms of the two stunning elven maidens and spent the afternoon in their chambers.

Malkir sat at the edge of his bed after he having finished his training and listened to his recording in the crystal mimir. Sensing another presence in the room the mystic looked up to see a tall man wearing a black feathered cloak in the doorway of the room. "Something is wrong," said Crowson and vanished. Malkir got up from the bed, whilst the mimir was still speaking, and walked over to the doorway. There was a small puddle of liquid in the doorway and suddenly the voice coming from the mimir became many. All of the voices sounded like the one belonging to the mystic - but each was subtly different from the other. The recording paused and when the next sentence began there was only one voice.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I personally think Malkir's restraint should be appluaded. After all, he lives in a house full of Priestesses of Tomeri, and yet he's never taken advantage of the fact.

 

[simmo]

Part 8 Some Earth Genasi Like It Hot

chapter 1 Cooling One's Heels at the Temple of Tomeri

"There is a scholar in the temple who can identify your hammer for you." Ejelka, the tiefling priestess of Tomeri, informed Caleb. The tall and willowy priestess was an albino with spiky white hair, pink eyes and a hairless tail. She was dressed in the typical white robes of a priestess of Tomeri, but these robes were somewhat too small and they clung to her form, highlighting her contours. "I used to be really good friends with him, but he's gone off me. I'll bring you to where he... resides.”

“THANKS YOU.” Caleb, oblivious to the looks that Ejelka was giving him, followed her by stomping up the stairs.

The tiefling priestess led the earth genasi up through the levels of temple. On the ground floor were the chambers of worship, on the first floor were rooms for meditation and on top floor the sleeping chambers were located. On the walls inside the temple were many paintings with suggestive themes. Such as a series of three paintings in which a satyr chases a nymph in the first one, he catches her in the second and in the third the nymph walks away in disgust from an embarrassed satyr.

The earth genasi admired the good stone walls, but simply saw the paintings as smears on the walls. His thoughts turned to giving them a nice white wash. It was not until later on during the evening that the meaning of the paintings finally became clear to him.

The two arrived at one of the meditation chamber which had vapours escaping from beneath the door. Caleb entered to find that the room was full of steam issuing from coals in the corner. Sitting on the stone bench was a dwarf with a long, thick bushy beard and wearing only a small white towel. Caleb called upon the aid of Grumbar to allow him to endure the hateful elements and to shield the heat of the steam. He then entered the sauna and paused to consider whether or not to sit on the bench.

“HELLO,” said the earth genasi using his most successful opening line for witty banter.

“Do you like to come in here with all your clothes on or.. are you prepared to strip now that you're inside?” The dwarf looked Caleb up and down, admiring the bronze coloured plate mail as we as his big hammer.

“OH, I DON'T MIND TAKING MY CLOTHES OFF," stated Caleb. "I JUST DON'T WANT TO CREASE MY ARMOUR.”

“Sounds like a good plan," the dwarf laughed a deep belly laugh. "Perhaps I should take this chainmail off too.”

“YOU'RE NOT WEARING ANY CHAINMAIL.” Caleb peered through the steam at the half naked dwarf and could not see any metal on him.

“I like to be modest about it." The dwarf patted his lap, rubbing the towel up over his knee. "Cover myself with a towel, you know." He smirked at the earth genasi who was oblivious to the dwarf's facial expressions.

"Was that Ejelka in the corridor?” the dwarf asked after there was a short pause in the conversation.

“YES” replied Caleb simply.

“That woman is bad news," the dwarf shook his head and took in a deep breath of steam. "Bad with a capital G.”

“YES” Looking around nervously, Caleb made sure that there was no one else in the room.

"SHE CERTAINLY SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE WEARING THE WRONG DRESS," said the earth genasi who usually did not pay much attention to what people wore. However, since entering the Temple of Tomeri, goddess of Love and Wisdom, he was beginning to understand that there was more to clothing than simply covering the body to protect it from the elements.

“Humph," the dwarf sounded disgusted. "That's because she does not own any.”

“YES..." Caleb's mountainous patience was beginning to wear thin. "ANYWAY ENOUGH SMALL TALK.”

“OK," The dwarf sat up straight on the bench and peered at the earth genasi intently. "What are you really here for?”

“SHE SAYS THAT YOU MAY KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.” Caleb pulled out his hammer and handed the five foot long item to the dwarf.

“Very impressive.” The dwarf said spending his time glancing between the hammer and Caleb.

“YES I LIKE TO THINK SO," said the earth genasi. "AND THE HAMMER IS NOT BAD EITHER.” Caleb's laughter sounded like an avalanche.

“These are dwarven runes.” Running his thick stubby fingers over the markings on the hammer, the dwarf's eyebrows rose in surprise as he realised what the hammer was called.

“YES, I KNOW...” began Caleb.

"Let me meditate upon this” The dwarf interrupted Caleb mid-sentence. He paused, closed his eyes and placed both hands on the head of the hammer. “Tomeri the Wise, show me it's powers, show me it's strengths, show me how to make it strike true.” He spoke in a strong and powerful voice, almost singing the words.

“Humph, yes." He nodded and gave the hammer back to Caleb. "Pass the soap will you.”

“DO YOU HAVE SOAP ON A ROPE IN THIS PLACE?” the earth genasi asked somewhat surprised.

“Soap on a hammer." The dwarf corrected Caleb. "It's the only way to break it up, before you can rub it on yourself.”

Caleb picked up soap by bending at the knees instead of the waist. After handing it to the dwarf he stepped back to stand against the wall and could barely see the dwarf beginning to lather himself. Feeling small rivulets of moisture running down his shoulder pads, Caleb wiped the water off with a nearby towel.

“Humph. Legends tell of a great dwarven potter who could fashion anything out of clay, any implement." The dwarf began to speak of the hammer's history. Covered in soap bubbles, he rested his head against the wall with his eyes closed. He spoke slowly in a sing song voice. "So one day the king challenged him and said: make me a hammer that is stronger than one your brother can make. And so he took up the challenge. He forged a hammer out of clay and his brother forged one out of steel. The king sent forth his two champions. To fight. And the hammer of clay was victorious. It shattered the one made by his brother. So impressed by the gods by this feat that they transformed the hammer after his death." The dwarf opened his eyes to gaze at the hammer with undisguised admiration. "It is now known as Aggemam the Destroyer. It can shatter other weapons, as if they are clay... or soft butter... or soap.” His voice faltered at the end as he sought to find a suitable example.

“Most impressive. It is said...” the dwarf was about to continue his story telling when Caleb interrupted him.

“I LIKE POTTERY,” said Caleb approvingly whose, mind was still digesting the part about a dwarven potter.

“It is said that you can call down the wrath of the gods themselves. But once per wielder can such an action be taken.” He spoke in a hushed voice and the room was filled with the rush of steam as more water poured out of the pipe on to the glowing coals.

“WHEN YOU MEAN WRATH,” Caleb asked sounding intrigued. “WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT – MINOR IRRITATION? OR THE KIND OF THING THAT YOU GET WHEN YOU HAVE SAT IN HOT ARMOUR FOR TOO LONG.” He paused for a moment to think further. “OR ARE WE TALKING ABOUT INCANDESCENT RAGE OF A PANTHEON, REALLY, REALLY PEEVED!”

“Aye, lad. The strike of doom, with the fury of the gods themselves. Clangeddin's axes can level mountains, Moradin's hammer can level plains.” The dwarf raised his hand above his head and brought down his fist on the palm of his other hand to illustrate his point.

“SO IT'S QUITE GOOD THEN.” Caleb pondered on his new hammer for awhile.

“Aye, lad yes. Where did you get it?” The dwarf asked with a cunning glint in his eye.

“I CANNOT REMEMBER,” Caleb began.

“I know a man who can give you a good deal of money for this." The dwarf interrupted him. "On the open market, of course.”

“REALLY?” asked the earth genasi raising one eyebrow. He paused to think about whether he should be deceitful or not.

“I can offer you 500,000 jinks for it.” The offer came with a big grin.

“WOW," replied Caleb sounding impressed. "I COULD AFFORD TROUSERS OF SPLENDIDNESS FOR THAT.”

"Hey lad," the dwarf winked. "I'm already wearing them.” They both laughed and then the conversation paused for awhile.

“Master it hurts." A small gurgling voice came from the corner of the sauna. "I'm melting. Please let us get out of here soon?” When the ooze mephit spoke, bubbles of slime popped from it's mouth.

“I found this wonderful coal to play with." The earth mephit spoke slowly and his voice had a hollow sound. "They're nice and hot.”

“Keep them away from me.” The ooze mephit tripped over his feet trying to get away from the earth mephit.

“Yes, they're my coals, precious coals." The mineral mephit made an attempt to snatch the glowing coal from the earth mephit's hand. "No one can touch them.”

“Aargh!” The mineral mephit cried out in pain and dropped the coal. The sauna was filled with the smell of burning mica and the coal rolled over to the ooze mephit which also cried out in pain. The stench of slime and mica made staying in the room almost unbearable.

“No one can touch them.” The mineral mephit whispered fiercely.

 

[simmo]

chapter 2 Bargain Hunter

“SORRY ABOUT THE SMELL." Caleb opened the door briefly to let some fresher air in to the sauna. "SO THIS DWARF WAS A POTTER, WHAT ELSE DID HE DO?”

“Pots." Holding his nose with one hand, the dwarf used a wet rag to wash the soap from his body. "He made lots of pots and all manner of creatures of clay.”

“I LIKE POTTERY” Caleb sounded happier now that he was back on subject that he liked.

“It is even claimed by some that he created life once." Recalling the tales that he was brought up with, the dwarf spoke in a reverent tone. "A servant to help him in his work. Unfortunately the item was flawed. He did not create a dwarven servant that he'd hoped for, but instead ended up with a useless gnome that did not do what he wanted.”

“Alright 650,000 jinks. But no more.” The dwarf had finished wiping off the soap and was ready to make his final offer.

“YES, POTTERY." The earth genasi missed the dwarf's offer, his mind still on the subject of clay. "THE POWER OF THE EARTH, BECAUSE IT CONTAINS THE POWER OF WATER. LIKE THAT VASE YOU PUT THE SMELLY WATER AND FLOWERS IN.”

"Master, you are so wise." The ooze mephit's slimy voice drifted up through the steam. "I'm drowning in your wisdom. I cannot think of anyone who has taught me such wondrous words. Master please tell us more." The mephit paused to catch his breath and another oily bubble popped from his mouth. "We live in a wasteland of idiocy and ignorance. With no one to guide us but you, Master.”

“YES...” said Caleb somewhat embarrassed.

“Alright, alright," the dwarf interjected trying to get the conversation back on track. "I will give you 700,000 for it.”

There was a long pause as the sum of money hung in the air.

“You came to me to find out what the hammer did." The dwarf began hoping to sweeten the deal. "It is a hammer of
flight. It of medium enchantment in the scale of these things. The rules of threes applies in this case.“

“YES I UNDERSTAND.” Caleb replied not understanding what the dwarf meant at all.

“It can give you the strength of the earth itself, shield you from the blows of your enemies. And – it can call down the wrath of Moradin himself!” Again the dwarf brought down his fist on his open balm with a wet thud to emphasize his words.

“YES, I'D RATHER AVOID THAT BIT IF I CAN.” Caleb looked around somewhat nervously. “I'M LOOKING FOR SOME INFORMATION ABOUT... WHERE THIS CAN BE TAKEN.”

“What do you mean exactly?" The dwarf asked suspiciously. "Like, where you can sell it? I can deal with that for you.”

“WOULD THERE BE SOMEWHERE IN.... THE HIVE” he said nudging one of the mephits “MAYBE?”

"Yes Master, we could sell it in the Gatehouse Night Market." The ooze mephit sidled up to its master and began pawing at his feet. Fawning over the large boots of the earth genasi. "There's lots of interesting things on sale there.”

“SHH, WE ARE BEING SUBTLE” Caleb whispered loudly.

“Shhh." The ooze mephit cackled, sounding like someone drowning in mud. "But of course Master.” His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. “I will not mention the Gatehouse Night Market.”

“I have never heard of such a market” Sounding offended and insulted the dwarf began to apply more soap to his body after breaking some off with a small hammer. “I was intending to sell it in the Lady's ward.”

“HOW MUCH WOULD I GET FOR IT THERE THEN?” asked Caleb.

“Maybe 500,000 or so,” he replied noncommittally.

“WOW, THAT WAS YOUR FIRST OFFER WASN'T IT.” Caleb's mind slowly moved back in the conversation.

“Yes," said the dwarf amicably. "I was charging a little bit for delivery, overheads and all that.”

“YES, YES," Caleb stated curtly. "TIMES ARE HARD I'M SURE. ANYWAY I....”

“You know what, I like you.” The dwarf interrupted Caleb and put his hand on the earth genasi's broad knee. “I will trade you my Pantaloons of Splendour for Aggemam the Destroyer.”

“TRULY HAVE I LONG DESIRED SUCH AN ITEM” Caleb did not bother to hide his broad grin. “I HEAR THAT IT CAN MAKE YOU A BIT OF A HIT WITH THE LADIES, I YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.”

“Of course," the dwarf laughed jovially. "I tend to wear only this. But I am simply too sexy...” He left the end of his sentence hanging.

“YOU ARE SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE." The earth genasi joked.

“Nah," the dwarf replied clarifying his joke. "If I wear a hat or a cloak – then I'm simply too sexy for it.”

“YES, I'M TOO SEXY FOR THIS PARTY.” Unsure of the joke or reference that the dwarf was trying to make.

“Yes Master, can we please get out of here." The ooze mephit's voice whined. "I'm melting.”

“I quite like it in here," said the earth mephit who was trying to sneak past the mineral mephit in order to get a coal.

“Master, don't give the hammer away." The mineral mephit was distracted by the shiny hammer and missed the normally slow earth mephit pinching a coal. "It's such a powerful item that only you could wield it.” He paused and looked at the earth mephit accusingly. “And it was given to you Master."

“YES. SHHH.” Caleb said in a loud stage whisper, holding his finger to his lips.

“Shhh, don't mention the fact that it was given to him specifically.” The ooze mephit began to slowly back away from the earth mephit who was advancing upon it with a glowing coal.

“Oh, yes. Shhh.” The mineral mephit snuck up on the earth mephit and snatched the coal back.

“Yes," replied the ooze mephit sounding relieved. "Don't mention the Stone Spirit either.”

“NO, DON'T MENTION THE STONE SPIRIT." Caleb slapped his forehead. "OH BALLS.”

“What? What?" The dwarf who had been watching the mephits with morbid curiosity picked up on the end of the conversation. "OK, since you mentioned Stone Spirit I will give you 800,000. That's my final bid.”

“THAT'S ALMOST A MILLION ISN'T IT.” Caleb began to rub his large hands together.

“Yes, but it's not quite. Is it?” The dwarf sounded peeved. “You see, laddie, there's a GREAT deal of difference between 800,000 and a million. That's about 30 mines worth of effort.”

“YES, BUT I WAS THINKING THAT YOUR OFFER WAS” He paused for dramatic effect “ALMOST A MILLION.”

“Hmm, shall we settle on 600,000." The dwarf stared at the hammer with clear envy. "Because that is almost a million as well.”

“I WAS JUST LOOKING AFTER IT FOR A FRIEND," Caleb stated evasively. "BUT MAYBE I CAN PERSUADE MY FRIEND TO SELL IT TO YOU.”

“Humph,” replied the dwarf unconvinced.

“BUT FIRST I NEED TO SPEAK TO HIM.” Despite his best efforts the earth genasi was not a natural deceiver.

“Let him consider it.” The dwarf shrugged and began washing off more soap.

“YES, BUT HE IS.... HE IS NOT QUITE HIMSELF AT THE MOMENT.” Caleb, not realising that the dwarf could see through his story, continued regardless.

“Master," the ooze mephit piped up. "Are you talking about Littleby? Always wanting to wear a dress, yes. He's certainly not feeling himself Master.” All three mephits burst out laughing. Just then a jet of steam went up from the coals, cutting off the laughter. The dwarf's smirk was hidden by his bushy beard.

"YES, HE HAS BEEN FEELING OTHER PEOPLE FOR QUITE A LONG TIME NOW.” Caleb laughter shook the small room.

“Master please stop," the earth mephit sounded afraid. "Your laughter is killing me.”

“I WAS THINKING ABOUT... UHHH, SPIRITS TRAPPED IN THE STONE OF THE CITY.” The earth genasi tried to introduce this in to the conversation in a casual manner, but it came across like a battering hammer through a city wall.

“Ummm, no. No. I have never heard of such a thing,” the dwarf muttered nervously. He picked up his towel and began to head for the door. As he got up, it was clear to see that he was wearing leather leggings.

“Well, I won't charge you for revealing the hammer's properties because it's been a pleasure meeting you." He slung the towel around his neck. "Seeing this fine tool that you have here. But I have to be off. People to meet, making deals and spreading the love and all that.”

“I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR NAME,” Caleb said hoping to delay the dwarf a little.

“No that's right." The dwarf easily dodged around the slow earth genasi and reached the door. "I will not leave it with you if that is OK.”

“DON'T WEAR THOSE PANTALOONS OUT,” Caleb joked.

“Don't be a stranger now.” The dwarf formed a small circle with his thumb and forefinger and the saluted the genasi. His leather leggings changed in to chainmail leggings as he dashed through the door.

Caleb stayed in the sauna for another ten minutes to think, his armour began to glow a little from the heat but he ignored it. The mephits left the room at the same time as the dwarf and spent a few minutes chasing each other with hot glowing coals before finally settling down to discuss the properties of ether cyclones and vortices.

As he was about to leave the sauna, Ejelka slipped in to the room wearing a towel around her head. The mephits craned their necks around the door and let out a collective sigh.

"HELLO," said Caleb pensively - unaware of how little Ejelka was wearing.

"Hello," replied the tiefling priestess seductively.