Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 6694874" data-attributes="member: 16069">Chapter 13: Nothing happens to Ken Lee. ONGOINGOne week ago, in the city of Waterdeep, apprentice mage Ken Lee takes part in a short and humdrum ceremony, his graduation- he's an apprentice no more. Soon after nothing happens, perhaps not nothing- lots of events take place in the myriad lands of the Realm, but nothing happens to Ken Lee- nothing at all.The next day the wizard rises, does his chores, potters about his master's tower, and... well, accomplishes nothing much; and so it goes for the next two days and nights. Much as it has done for the last five or so years.I should do something Ken Lee thinks, I should get out there and make something of my life, I should adventure- see the sights, learn new spells, I should... I should, and then he blows out the candle and goes back to sleep.  He awakes a short time later, its not even morning- it's the middle of the night, he awakes to screams.Perhaps not screams, shouts is possibly a better description however some screaming is involved, his master is clearly very angry with him- the tirade goes on for quite a time, although Ken Lee chooses not to listen to much of what is being said. The wizard's attention is focussed instead on the fact that all his possessions seem to have disappeared, replaced by an overfull and uncomfortable looking backpack which sits forlornly in the centre of his now spartan looking bedchamber. Six hours later Ken Lee finds himself part of a merchant's caravan heading for Neverwinter, sat astride a cantankerous mule- his funny bits hurt already, it's too hot, there are flies and he's trying desperately to remember anything that his master said before he threw him out.Two days later it gets worse.He's on his own, save for the dirty mule, and watching the caravan train fade into the distance.Ken Lee manoeuvres the mule around so that it faces down the Triboar Trail, which only takes about five minutes of pushing, shoving and swearing at the damned stupid animal.  Eventually he heads off- to Phandalin, he's remembered at last where he's heading.He doesn't get far, just over an hour down the track he stumbles upon a scene of devastation, two dead horses- both swathed in flies, a quartet of ravaged goblins similarly clouded, and worst of all a trio of emaciated wolves feasting on the remains of the fallen.The nearest wolf looks up and snarls. That's not good Ken Lee thinks, and then remembers he is a wizard and readies a spell. A second or so later and the mule is off and the wolves are coming, Ken Lee alas has no time for spells, he's hanging to on to his mount for dear life.He fails. The mule goes one way he goes the other, the elf is quickly to his feet- two of the wolves dash after the fleeing braying equine, the third stops maybe thirty feet from him, and then snarls again.Think now, Ken Lee thinks, followed by- I'm a powerful wizard, one wolf- that's all, just one wolf...At which point the other two wolves saunter back into view, all three growl and snarl in his general direction.Ken Lee stops thinking and starts running.He gets maybe thirty feet. THWONG.“Yerk!” the high elf exclaims, and then a second later passes out, the last thing he remembers is staring down at three wolves leaping up to snap and bite inches away from his face.He awakes a while later dangling a good ten feet above the ground, his right leg, ankle and foot a blister of red hot pain, he's caught in a snare and hanging upside down from the branch of a large tree. Eventually he figures a way to free himself from the trap.“Oof!” Ken Lee exclaims as he thumps hard into the packed dirt of the trail, a moment or two later he passes out- again.An indeterminate time later he awakes once more, and a little while later staggers to his feet, still somewhat dazed, although now very aware that his backpack, waterskin, food, and well... all of his possessions are still strapped to the back of his former mule.Ken Lee groans, and then stumbles forwards along the trail, heading back towards the road. Or so he thinks.Ten minutes later the wizard arrives at a cavern entrance, unbeknownst to him the lair of the Cragmaw Goblins. Water- he rushes to the stream there and drinks deeply, splashes water on his face in an attempt to wash away the curtain of grey and pain that seeks to smother him.The wizard takes a moment- he stands and looks around him, this isn't right he thinks, the follow up thought- a cave! Ken Lee shrugs, looks around- still a little woozy, and then shuffles into the cave. “Hello?” he half-calls half-whispers, his voiced swathed in doubt. Something ahead in the dark growls- it can't be he thinks, simultaneously a much larger and nastier looking wolf- Ripper, pads forward and into the light, and snarls.“Yerk!” Ken Lee yelps, and dashes to the nearest exit, into a dark cavern chamber, the only spot of light, visible thanks to his darkvision, is at the far end of the chamber- and up, as it turns out, a very steep rock chimney with a flickering light at the far end. The elf scrambles up in double quick time, the sound of the wolf making hard work of its assent following on behind him. He stumbles up and out into a much larger chamber, lit by a camp fire- fire, the mage's mind does somersaults. He grabs one of the burning brands from the conflagration and returns to jab it repeatedly into the face and forelegs of the wolf as it tries to clamber up and into the chamber. The creature yowls once or twice and then descends the chimney at speed. A minute or so later he's certain that the wolf has gone.Where the hell am I? He thinks, his mind a flurry of activity- his senses sharpened, aware that he is in danger; and yet his thought process muddled- he's not been good choices. He takes a moment to look around him- a rough cavern with lots of barrels and boxes- merchant's goods, a huge chest, a camp fire, a rocky passage leading further into darkness, and the all pervading stink of unwashed bodies, filthy dirty unwashed bodies. Gods help me Ken Lee thinks, I know where I am- I'm in trouble.And then a voice.“Ripper! Noooooo!”Followed a moment or two later by- “Klarg very sad now. Klarg attack now. Klarg kill bad men!”  The wizard follows the sound of the voice, creeping as quietly as he can, ten paces and he finds himself standing on one side of a rope bridge, which crosses over the passage he first entered the cave, the one with the stream. On the far side of the bridge stands a great hairy brute of a creature, a bugbear perhaps, although he has only pictures in books to rely upon.A second later the sound of fighting, coming from further ahead, beyond the bugbear- yelps and cries, and... and... suddenly Ken Lee realises he's doing something, that he is taking action- he's adventuring. This is it- he thinks, and then casts a spell, his best spell, his most powerful spell.“Sleep.” He whispers aiming the enchantment at the back of the ferocious-looking hairy giant before him.Just for a moment he allows himself to dream, his mind races filled with the endless possibilities- he's an adventurer now, he's certain that this is his calling, he's here to save the day; perhaps the bugbear has trapped a gang of heroes, or else a quartet of dusky maidens. He will come to their rescue, with his magic, his prowess, his intellect- he will be feted, the women will swoon- Ken Lee hopes beyond hope that one of those he is about to rescue is a beautiful woman, he has read about the things they can do. This is it- instant fame and recognition. This is...The bugbear suddenly lurches into action, “KLARG KILL!” it yells and with its great morningstar raised it rushes off around the corner and out of sight, oblivious to Ken Lee and his powerful spell.“Oh!” he exclaims, and then inches back to hide behind a nearby stone outcropping, he silently prays that it will all go away very soon, and he can get back to doing nothing.</blockquote>

Verification