"Out of the Frying Pan"- Book IV - Into the Fire [STORY HOUR COMPLETED - 12/25/06]
- Thread starter el-remmen
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el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
I just wanted to drop a line to say that I began to work on the next installment tonight, and we are playing our first game since early last month this Saturday, session #103 (or maybe #101 - the counting got messed up along the way (the current notes I am using for the story hour are labeled as session #77)) - and have been working on the wiki again.
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
Session #75
Kazrack hoisted himself up to the tallest plateau and took a moment to look around and breathe in deep the cold mountain air rushing about him. He thanked Natan-ahb and the other dwarven gods for giving him the chance to walk these mountains alone and appreciate them, and then he climbed down towards the gorge. Soon, the fortress was in view.
The rune-thrower crossed the gorge by ways of a wide natural stone bridge lined with low crumbling walls of black stone. It looked as if many holes and cracks in the bridge had been recently filled in.
The fortress itself might have been mistaken as a simple stone bluff from a distance. The towers on both sides seemed to have been carved from the cliff itself, and were ringed with seemingly asymmetrical crenulations, but Kazrack knew the careful planning and measurement that must have gone into each feature just from looking at it.
The other side of the mountain face the highway cleft in twain was lower and ragged.
There was a partial wall about fifteen feet tall closing off part of the far side of the bridge. And he called out as he approached it.
“Ho there! Brother dwarves! One of your kind approaches!” he called in his own tongue as he came around the wall. “Hello?”
“Halt!” cried a voice from atop the tower. Kazrack could see that the actual entrance to the fortress was actual several hundred yards further down the stone highway. “Who comes by the old south road?”
“It is I, Kazrack Delver of Llurgh-Splendar-Tar by way of Verdun, rune-thrower of the gods of our grandfathers!”
“Wait there! A guard will be sent to escort you to the gate.”
Kazrack was made to wait, as the light grew long. Eventually two armored dwarves came out from the gate, though he had not heard it open.
One of the dwarves wore splint mail and full black beard stuck out from beneath his full helm; a great axe rested on one shoulder. He had a pouch of runestones tied tightly about his neck. The other dwarf wore chain mail and carried a black shield decorated with a gold mountain. He wore an open face helm and had a brown beard and a young face. Kazrack imagined that he might even be younger than him.
The dwarf in the full helm pulled it off and smiled.
“Master Delver! It really is you!” the black-bearded dwarf cried. He was swarthy and had a star-shaped scar above his right eye. It was Captain Adalar Barnath. (1)
“Captain Adalar! It does my heart good to see you here!” Kazrack grasped wrists with his former companion. “It is good fortune provided by Hodenar (2) that I would meet you at this point in my journey back to Gothanius.”
“Perhaps more fortunate than you know,” Captain Adalar replied. “We had reason to suspect you might be coming this way, though we had no way to be certain.”
“How so?” Kazrack asked, confused.
“It is not my place to speak of it,” Adalar replied. “Come. Let us bring you within the fortress so that General Aron-lar can talk with you when he is free of his other many duties.”
The other dwarf nodded, but did not speak a word. Kazrack was led to the fortress.
Warmth and the palpable stench of animals kept in close quarters hit him as he stepped through a small door fashioned in the much larger black metal gate.
“Welcome to Adothrech,” Captain Adalar said.
Small smoky fires and dim lanterns hanging from the support beams lighted the huge enclosed courtyard. He could see a secondary wall with a crenulated balustrade and another large gate.
“Before we go any further, perhaps we can go back and get the rest of my companions,” Kazrack asked. “The eagle would not let them pass.”
“It is not in my jurisdiction to allow or disallow that,” Adalar said. “You will have to ask the general.”
“Well, I was hoping you might help me, as I fear that the presence of my companion, Ratchis, who I call D’nar, will not win us permission. But you know him.”
“I cannot. I do not have the jurisdiction to interfere in such decisions of security,” Adalar replied.
“Well, at least someone should be told lest a patrol happen upon them,” Kazrack said. “I would not want a misunderstanding to lead to bloodshed.”
“I will inform the general right after I lead you to a place where you can wait.” Adalar nodded. “How many are you in total?”
Kazrack counted on his fingers, “Uh… six, plus a llama.”
Captain Adalar led Kazrack through the courtyard. The silent dwarf left, joining several groups of dwarven soldiers doing drills on the right. They all wore chain shirts and had shields and axes. In total, Kazrack guessed there were close to four dozen.
“Are you preparing for war?” Kazrack asked.
“I will have to let the General decide what you can be told after he speaks with you,” Adalar replied, looking down. “I am sorry, Master Delver, but my duty decrees that I follow his orders. I mean no disrespect.”
“I understand,” Kazrack said.
To the left, Kazrack saw the source of the stench, over a dozen large wooden pens over sunken areas of the courtyard. Within were many of the great riding lizards he had seen long ago on the road to Bountiful. There were more dwarves on this side of the courtyard, some were tending to the beasts and others were saddling one and preparing to leave on them. There were three dwarves working at a small smithy in one corner as well.
Kazrack was led through the inner gate, and he could see partially enclosed ramparts set with small swiveling ballistae atop the wall, with more dwarves stationed at them. Beyond the gate was a labyrinth of narrow hallways and stairs paved in stony cement. Finally, Kazrack was brought to a small cell in a hall of many identical doors. Within, the stone had been shaped into furniture.
“The general will send for you when he is ready,” Captain Adalar said. “We ask that you wait here.”
“Could you wait with me? There is much I would like to tell you and to hear of your journeys since we parted ways in Garvan,” Kazrack asked.
“Alas, I cannot,” the captain replied. “I am on duty, but I will make sure to see you again before you leave.”
Kazrack took his prayer stone from his pack and aligned it with black metal plaque on one wall (3) and prostrated himself before it in prayer.
He realized he had dozed off when there was a knock on the door. The stiffness of his body told him he had been in that position for hours.
The door opened as Kazrack stood and a young dwarf with a golden beard and big blue eyes entered the room.
“The general will see you now, Master Delver,” the young dwarf said. “If you will follow me.”
Kazrack was led through another maze of halls, rooms and stairs that reminded him of the close confines of the sunken chambers of the Pit of Bones (4). He walked past another smithy, and a room where several dwarves were working with leather, and a huge armory in which were scores and scores of shields, battle-axes, crossbows, quarrels, spears, hammers, maces, swords and other weapons.
General Aron-lar had a voluminous brown beard, decorated with two thick braids that rested on the rest of the facial hair, and had stone beads woven into them. At the end of each braid was tied a small gold medallion that Kazrack recognized as being medals given for extreme valor in combat, and for tactical thinking. (5) He clicked a pipe in his mouth as he stood from behind a large stone desk covered in clay tablets and papers. He wore simple black clothing and as he extended his right hand to grasp wrists, Kazrack noticed a large two-finger gold ring encrusted with emeralds on his right hand.
“Kazrack Delver! Captain Adalar speaks very highly of you,” Aron-lar spoke with a friendliness that belied the permanent scowl on his thin purple lips. “It is providence that brings you here, I think.”
“You have need?” Kazrack asked. They continued to stand as they spoke. (6)
“Not specifically, but it always good to see a new dwarf face,” the general replied. “And then there is the matter of you being here when your name has come up so recently.”
“Oh? Has Captain Adalar told you of our travels?” Kazrack asked.
“Not very much,” Aron-lar said. “Only your aid of Garvan, and your journeys with Master Gritchkar which led to other adventures. And most importantly, that the threat to the gnomes was not so much demons as it is the neighboring humans.”
“Well, sir, really it both and much more,” Kazrack explained. “It is for this reason that my companions and I are headed through here to Greenreed Valley.”
“Greenreed? Why Greenreed?”
“There is a nexus of power there,” Kazrack said. “Another example of the fickle and untrustworthy nature of human magic, which is causing much of the problems in the area, and that the demon-gnomes hope use to their advantage. Not to mention there are other forces that also seek the place out.”
“Perhaps we can be of aid then on your journey…”
“I must say, that was indeed my hope.”
“We are organizing here by order of the Thegn of Abarrane-Abaruch by request of the Nauglimir Dwarven Merchant Consortium. This outpost had been long abandoned, but the original force to come here were preparing it and the road for the opening of more trade with the human kingdom if their king would agree to more terms amenable to our people. However, in light of recent events and the news that came to us through Master Gritchkar, more soldiers have been sent in case there is need of war against the humans, and to march to Greenreed Valley itself as a deterrent to the human forces,” the general explained.
“Well, I hope that it does not come to war and that peace talks will prevail,” Kazrack replied. “When we left Gothanius my companion Martin the Green had arranged for the gnomes to parley with the humans.”
“Yes, well, as any good dwarf is taught, better toil than war,” Aron-lar said. “And perhaps when we arrive we will not be needed, but we will not be going until we have organized enough to present a force to make the humans think twice about expanding into the gnomes’ lands.”
“The gnomes of Garvan have been our friends and allies for some time and we have dedicated ourselves to aiding them, however the danger presented by this nexus of power could threaten all of Derome-Delem. I am glad to know that you and the fine dwarves under your command will defend that charge we have had to leave momentarily unaddressed,” Kazrack said.
“It is an honor and a duty to fulfill the promises of our ancestors,” Aron-lar said. “And speaking of which, I take it the eagles of the western road would not allow your companions to pass?”
“No.”
“I find it strange,” the general said. “Even if your companions are not dwarves the eagles were likely to let you all pass based on your being a rune-thrower, though they might have asked for a toll.”
“Aye, they did, but they would still not let one of my companions pass,” Kazrack explained.
General Aron-lar’s furrowed his brow.
“You see, one of companions was spawned by the blood of our enemy,” Kazrack said, looking down. “He is only half-man, though he favors his man-half and has proven his worth many times over. I call him, D’nar.”
“Fah! No one with tainted blood may pass through the sacred lands except on the end of a dwarven spear!” Aron-lar’s demeanor changed, his thin scowl became more severe and he looked Kazrack up and down with sudden disdain. “I am surprised you would sully yourself by associating with a monster.”
“He is a faithful companion.”
“Heh, the word of the softened hearts of city dwarves has not been exaggerated then…” Aron-lar trailed off. “No exception can be made in this thing and there can be no apology for it.”
Kazrack nodded, sadly.
“And now there is another matter,” the general’s tone remained firm and disapproving. “Did you have among your companions a priest of the human cat goddess?”
“Uh, yes… Kind of…” Kazrack nodded. “He was called Roland, but we have not seen him in weeks. He disappeared shortly before we left Nikar.”
“So, you did not send him ahead?”
“No… is he here?” Kazrack’s was puzzled.
“Yes, that is what I meant when I said your name had come up recently. He was captured some days ago by one of the eagles. He was trying to sneak through the pass so they brought him here. At first we thought he was a spy for the humans, as some maps show there being a temple of the cat goddess in the human kingdom, but when questioned he mentioned your name and claimed to be part of your group and sent ahead. However, Captain Adalar could not vouch that the human was truly part of your group. Can you vouch for him?”
Kazrack hesitated and thought it over.
“I cannot say I know him well enough to vouch for him. And are certainly elements of untruth in what he has said to you, but in my experience humans can be quick to lie to save themselves,” he finally said. “Perhaps if I can talk to him I can get a better idea if he is to be trusted at all. My companions and I were upset at his disappearance and worried that he had turned against us, leaving to warn our enemies of our plans.”
“Fine. I will arrange for you to be brought to him and then afterwards we will discuss what is to be done with him,” Aron-lar said. The dwarf walked over and opened the door and called in his servant. The young blonde dwarf that had led Kazrack here was still waiting in the hall. “Laban, please bring Master Delver to the prisoner and when he is done please bring him back to me,”
The young dwarf nodded and led Kazrack down two more levels to another maze of rooms.
“Awaken! You have a visitor!” Laban slammed on a small wooden door with a fist and then threw it open. The young dwarf gestured to Kazrack to go in. “I will await you here.”
Kazrack heard grumbling from within and then the dim light of a lantern. He went in. It was small cell room very similar to the one Kazrack had been waiting in. Roland was sitting on the stone bed, wearing a long shirt and woolen socks. His wavy hair was a mess, and his face was long and blanched despite his typical olive complexion.
“Roland…” Kazrack began.
“Ah! Kazrack! Thank Bast you are here,” Roland stood and smiled; the wrinkles of sleep evaporating from his baby-face. “Normally I do not appreciate being awakened in the middle of the night, but in this case I will make an exception. I will just gather my things and get dressed and we can be going.”
“Sit down, Roland,” Kazrack said. “I have to ask you some questions, like… What brings you here? Why did you leave us without a word?”
“Oh… Uh, okay,” Roland scratched his chin, and plucked at the few wild hairs that were growing from his cheeks. He continued with an exasperated tone. “I simply decided it would be best if I went off by myself in panther form. I thought if I went ahead I could check out the situation in Gothanius and around Greenreed Valley myself, set up in the temple of Bast you all t old me about as a kind of headquarters, and not be associated, at least at first, with your group and with a half-orc who is generally hated. I thought I could ingratiate myself and learn something useful that perhaps none of your group could.”
“And that is what you told the dwarves here?” Kazrack asked.
“You wouldn’t believe how many times, yes!” Roland stood again and slipped on some trousers and reached for his waistcoat, which was folded on his pack. “Now if that settles it, can you get them to give me back my weapons and armor before we go? I might need them. Are the others here? Or nearby?”
“No wonder they think you’re a spy! You have acted foolishly,” Kazrack said.
“You are going to help me get out of here, right?” Roland sat back down, and studied Kazrack’s expression.
“How can I help you? I still don’t understand why you left the way you did,” Kazrack said. “Your general trustworthiness is in doubt.”
“Fine! Why don’t you just leave me here then? Roland pouted.
“Okay, I’ll come back later,” Kazrack said, turning towards the door.
“Wait!” Roland leapt to his feet and grabbed Kazrack by the shoulder. “I explained to you already why I left, and I did leave a note with one of the acolytes to be brought to Mercy and Ratchis, but you know how young people can be…”
Kazrack harrumphed and left, having Laban lead him back to General Aron-lar’s office.
---------------------------------
Notes:
(1) Captain Adalar was the leader of the dwarves that accompanied Belear Gritchkar from Abarrane-Abaruch to aid the Fearless Manticore Killers in rescuing the Garvan gnomes from their fiendish kin. (See Session #37 thru #51)
(2) Hodenar is the dwarven god of merchants, travel and song.
(3) All dwarven houses of prayer and personal chambers have a plaque identifying the direction of the First Mountain for the proper alignment of prayer stones.
(4) See Sessions #58 thru #60
(5) Dwarves of all communities still grant medals and honors for war and combat based on that set down by Dwitchak Chem of the Third (and last) Great Dwarven Kingdom, the fall of which marks the end of the Second Age.
(6) There is a tradition among dwarves that all important talk should be done while standing.
Kazrack hoisted himself up to the tallest plateau and took a moment to look around and breathe in deep the cold mountain air rushing about him. He thanked Natan-ahb and the other dwarven gods for giving him the chance to walk these mountains alone and appreciate them, and then he climbed down towards the gorge. Soon, the fortress was in view.
The rune-thrower crossed the gorge by ways of a wide natural stone bridge lined with low crumbling walls of black stone. It looked as if many holes and cracks in the bridge had been recently filled in.
The fortress itself might have been mistaken as a simple stone bluff from a distance. The towers on both sides seemed to have been carved from the cliff itself, and were ringed with seemingly asymmetrical crenulations, but Kazrack knew the careful planning and measurement that must have gone into each feature just from looking at it.
The other side of the mountain face the highway cleft in twain was lower and ragged.
There was a partial wall about fifteen feet tall closing off part of the far side of the bridge. And he called out as he approached it.
“Ho there! Brother dwarves! One of your kind approaches!” he called in his own tongue as he came around the wall. “Hello?”
“Halt!” cried a voice from atop the tower. Kazrack could see that the actual entrance to the fortress was actual several hundred yards further down the stone highway. “Who comes by the old south road?”
“It is I, Kazrack Delver of Llurgh-Splendar-Tar by way of Verdun, rune-thrower of the gods of our grandfathers!”
“Wait there! A guard will be sent to escort you to the gate.”
Kazrack was made to wait, as the light grew long. Eventually two armored dwarves came out from the gate, though he had not heard it open.
One of the dwarves wore splint mail and full black beard stuck out from beneath his full helm; a great axe rested on one shoulder. He had a pouch of runestones tied tightly about his neck. The other dwarf wore chain mail and carried a black shield decorated with a gold mountain. He wore an open face helm and had a brown beard and a young face. Kazrack imagined that he might even be younger than him.
The dwarf in the full helm pulled it off and smiled.
“Master Delver! It really is you!” the black-bearded dwarf cried. He was swarthy and had a star-shaped scar above his right eye. It was Captain Adalar Barnath. (1)
“Captain Adalar! It does my heart good to see you here!” Kazrack grasped wrists with his former companion. “It is good fortune provided by Hodenar (2) that I would meet you at this point in my journey back to Gothanius.”
“Perhaps more fortunate than you know,” Captain Adalar replied. “We had reason to suspect you might be coming this way, though we had no way to be certain.”
“How so?” Kazrack asked, confused.
“It is not my place to speak of it,” Adalar replied. “Come. Let us bring you within the fortress so that General Aron-lar can talk with you when he is free of his other many duties.”
The other dwarf nodded, but did not speak a word. Kazrack was led to the fortress.
Warmth and the palpable stench of animals kept in close quarters hit him as he stepped through a small door fashioned in the much larger black metal gate.
“Welcome to Adothrech,” Captain Adalar said.
Small smoky fires and dim lanterns hanging from the support beams lighted the huge enclosed courtyard. He could see a secondary wall with a crenulated balustrade and another large gate.
“Before we go any further, perhaps we can go back and get the rest of my companions,” Kazrack asked. “The eagle would not let them pass.”
“It is not in my jurisdiction to allow or disallow that,” Adalar said. “You will have to ask the general.”
“Well, I was hoping you might help me, as I fear that the presence of my companion, Ratchis, who I call D’nar, will not win us permission. But you know him.”
“I cannot. I do not have the jurisdiction to interfere in such decisions of security,” Adalar replied.
“Well, at least someone should be told lest a patrol happen upon them,” Kazrack said. “I would not want a misunderstanding to lead to bloodshed.”
“I will inform the general right after I lead you to a place where you can wait.” Adalar nodded. “How many are you in total?”
Kazrack counted on his fingers, “Uh… six, plus a llama.”
Captain Adalar led Kazrack through the courtyard. The silent dwarf left, joining several groups of dwarven soldiers doing drills on the right. They all wore chain shirts and had shields and axes. In total, Kazrack guessed there were close to four dozen.
“Are you preparing for war?” Kazrack asked.
“I will have to let the General decide what you can be told after he speaks with you,” Adalar replied, looking down. “I am sorry, Master Delver, but my duty decrees that I follow his orders. I mean no disrespect.”
“I understand,” Kazrack said.
To the left, Kazrack saw the source of the stench, over a dozen large wooden pens over sunken areas of the courtyard. Within were many of the great riding lizards he had seen long ago on the road to Bountiful. There were more dwarves on this side of the courtyard, some were tending to the beasts and others were saddling one and preparing to leave on them. There were three dwarves working at a small smithy in one corner as well.
Kazrack was led through the inner gate, and he could see partially enclosed ramparts set with small swiveling ballistae atop the wall, with more dwarves stationed at them. Beyond the gate was a labyrinth of narrow hallways and stairs paved in stony cement. Finally, Kazrack was brought to a small cell in a hall of many identical doors. Within, the stone had been shaped into furniture.
“The general will send for you when he is ready,” Captain Adalar said. “We ask that you wait here.”
“Could you wait with me? There is much I would like to tell you and to hear of your journeys since we parted ways in Garvan,” Kazrack asked.
“Alas, I cannot,” the captain replied. “I am on duty, but I will make sure to see you again before you leave.”
Kazrack took his prayer stone from his pack and aligned it with black metal plaque on one wall (3) and prostrated himself before it in prayer.
He realized he had dozed off when there was a knock on the door. The stiffness of his body told him he had been in that position for hours.
The door opened as Kazrack stood and a young dwarf with a golden beard and big blue eyes entered the room.
“The general will see you now, Master Delver,” the young dwarf said. “If you will follow me.”
Kazrack was led through another maze of halls, rooms and stairs that reminded him of the close confines of the sunken chambers of the Pit of Bones (4). He walked past another smithy, and a room where several dwarves were working with leather, and a huge armory in which were scores and scores of shields, battle-axes, crossbows, quarrels, spears, hammers, maces, swords and other weapons.
General Aron-lar had a voluminous brown beard, decorated with two thick braids that rested on the rest of the facial hair, and had stone beads woven into them. At the end of each braid was tied a small gold medallion that Kazrack recognized as being medals given for extreme valor in combat, and for tactical thinking. (5) He clicked a pipe in his mouth as he stood from behind a large stone desk covered in clay tablets and papers. He wore simple black clothing and as he extended his right hand to grasp wrists, Kazrack noticed a large two-finger gold ring encrusted with emeralds on his right hand.
“Kazrack Delver! Captain Adalar speaks very highly of you,” Aron-lar spoke with a friendliness that belied the permanent scowl on his thin purple lips. “It is providence that brings you here, I think.”
“You have need?” Kazrack asked. They continued to stand as they spoke. (6)
“Not specifically, but it always good to see a new dwarf face,” the general replied. “And then there is the matter of you being here when your name has come up so recently.”
“Oh? Has Captain Adalar told you of our travels?” Kazrack asked.
“Not very much,” Aron-lar said. “Only your aid of Garvan, and your journeys with Master Gritchkar which led to other adventures. And most importantly, that the threat to the gnomes was not so much demons as it is the neighboring humans.”
“Well, sir, really it both and much more,” Kazrack explained. “It is for this reason that my companions and I are headed through here to Greenreed Valley.”
“Greenreed? Why Greenreed?”
“There is a nexus of power there,” Kazrack said. “Another example of the fickle and untrustworthy nature of human magic, which is causing much of the problems in the area, and that the demon-gnomes hope use to their advantage. Not to mention there are other forces that also seek the place out.”
“Perhaps we can be of aid then on your journey…”
“I must say, that was indeed my hope.”
“We are organizing here by order of the Thegn of Abarrane-Abaruch by request of the Nauglimir Dwarven Merchant Consortium. This outpost had been long abandoned, but the original force to come here were preparing it and the road for the opening of more trade with the human kingdom if their king would agree to more terms amenable to our people. However, in light of recent events and the news that came to us through Master Gritchkar, more soldiers have been sent in case there is need of war against the humans, and to march to Greenreed Valley itself as a deterrent to the human forces,” the general explained.
“Well, I hope that it does not come to war and that peace talks will prevail,” Kazrack replied. “When we left Gothanius my companion Martin the Green had arranged for the gnomes to parley with the humans.”
“Yes, well, as any good dwarf is taught, better toil than war,” Aron-lar said. “And perhaps when we arrive we will not be needed, but we will not be going until we have organized enough to present a force to make the humans think twice about expanding into the gnomes’ lands.”
“The gnomes of Garvan have been our friends and allies for some time and we have dedicated ourselves to aiding them, however the danger presented by this nexus of power could threaten all of Derome-Delem. I am glad to know that you and the fine dwarves under your command will defend that charge we have had to leave momentarily unaddressed,” Kazrack said.
“It is an honor and a duty to fulfill the promises of our ancestors,” Aron-lar said. “And speaking of which, I take it the eagles of the western road would not allow your companions to pass?”
“No.”
“I find it strange,” the general said. “Even if your companions are not dwarves the eagles were likely to let you all pass based on your being a rune-thrower, though they might have asked for a toll.”
“Aye, they did, but they would still not let one of my companions pass,” Kazrack explained.
General Aron-lar’s furrowed his brow.
“You see, one of companions was spawned by the blood of our enemy,” Kazrack said, looking down. “He is only half-man, though he favors his man-half and has proven his worth many times over. I call him, D’nar.”
“Fah! No one with tainted blood may pass through the sacred lands except on the end of a dwarven spear!” Aron-lar’s demeanor changed, his thin scowl became more severe and he looked Kazrack up and down with sudden disdain. “I am surprised you would sully yourself by associating with a monster.”
“He is a faithful companion.”
“Heh, the word of the softened hearts of city dwarves has not been exaggerated then…” Aron-lar trailed off. “No exception can be made in this thing and there can be no apology for it.”
Kazrack nodded, sadly.
“And now there is another matter,” the general’s tone remained firm and disapproving. “Did you have among your companions a priest of the human cat goddess?”
“Uh, yes… Kind of…” Kazrack nodded. “He was called Roland, but we have not seen him in weeks. He disappeared shortly before we left Nikar.”
“So, you did not send him ahead?”
“No… is he here?” Kazrack’s was puzzled.
“Yes, that is what I meant when I said your name had come up recently. He was captured some days ago by one of the eagles. He was trying to sneak through the pass so they brought him here. At first we thought he was a spy for the humans, as some maps show there being a temple of the cat goddess in the human kingdom, but when questioned he mentioned your name and claimed to be part of your group and sent ahead. However, Captain Adalar could not vouch that the human was truly part of your group. Can you vouch for him?”
Kazrack hesitated and thought it over.
“I cannot say I know him well enough to vouch for him. And are certainly elements of untruth in what he has said to you, but in my experience humans can be quick to lie to save themselves,” he finally said. “Perhaps if I can talk to him I can get a better idea if he is to be trusted at all. My companions and I were upset at his disappearance and worried that he had turned against us, leaving to warn our enemies of our plans.”
“Fine. I will arrange for you to be brought to him and then afterwards we will discuss what is to be done with him,” Aron-lar said. The dwarf walked over and opened the door and called in his servant. The young blonde dwarf that had led Kazrack here was still waiting in the hall. “Laban, please bring Master Delver to the prisoner and when he is done please bring him back to me,”
The young dwarf nodded and led Kazrack down two more levels to another maze of rooms.
“Awaken! You have a visitor!” Laban slammed on a small wooden door with a fist and then threw it open. The young dwarf gestured to Kazrack to go in. “I will await you here.”
Kazrack heard grumbling from within and then the dim light of a lantern. He went in. It was small cell room very similar to the one Kazrack had been waiting in. Roland was sitting on the stone bed, wearing a long shirt and woolen socks. His wavy hair was a mess, and his face was long and blanched despite his typical olive complexion.
“Roland…” Kazrack began.
“Ah! Kazrack! Thank Bast you are here,” Roland stood and smiled; the wrinkles of sleep evaporating from his baby-face. “Normally I do not appreciate being awakened in the middle of the night, but in this case I will make an exception. I will just gather my things and get dressed and we can be going.”
“Sit down, Roland,” Kazrack said. “I have to ask you some questions, like… What brings you here? Why did you leave us without a word?”
“Oh… Uh, okay,” Roland scratched his chin, and plucked at the few wild hairs that were growing from his cheeks. He continued with an exasperated tone. “I simply decided it would be best if I went off by myself in panther form. I thought if I went ahead I could check out the situation in Gothanius and around Greenreed Valley myself, set up in the temple of Bast you all t old me about as a kind of headquarters, and not be associated, at least at first, with your group and with a half-orc who is generally hated. I thought I could ingratiate myself and learn something useful that perhaps none of your group could.”
“And that is what you told the dwarves here?” Kazrack asked.
“You wouldn’t believe how many times, yes!” Roland stood again and slipped on some trousers and reached for his waistcoat, which was folded on his pack. “Now if that settles it, can you get them to give me back my weapons and armor before we go? I might need them. Are the others here? Or nearby?”
“No wonder they think you’re a spy! You have acted foolishly,” Kazrack said.
“You are going to help me get out of here, right?” Roland sat back down, and studied Kazrack’s expression.
“How can I help you? I still don’t understand why you left the way you did,” Kazrack said. “Your general trustworthiness is in doubt.”
“Fine! Why don’t you just leave me here then? Roland pouted.
“Okay, I’ll come back later,” Kazrack said, turning towards the door.
“Wait!” Roland leapt to his feet and grabbed Kazrack by the shoulder. “I explained to you already why I left, and I did leave a note with one of the acolytes to be brought to Mercy and Ratchis, but you know how young people can be…”
Kazrack harrumphed and left, having Laban lead him back to General Aron-lar’s office.
---------------------------------
Notes:
(1) Captain Adalar was the leader of the dwarves that accompanied Belear Gritchkar from Abarrane-Abaruch to aid the Fearless Manticore Killers in rescuing the Garvan gnomes from their fiendish kin. (See Session #37 thru #51)
(2) Hodenar is the dwarven god of merchants, travel and song.
(3) All dwarven houses of prayer and personal chambers have a plaque identifying the direction of the First Mountain for the proper alignment of prayer stones.
(4) See Sessions #58 thru #60
(5) Dwarves of all communities still grant medals and honors for war and combat based on that set down by Dwitchak Chem of the Third (and last) Great Dwarven Kingdom, the fall of which marks the end of the Second Age.
(6) There is a tradition among dwarves that all important talk should be done while standing.
Do Rachtis player ever regret choosing to be half-orc?
People in your world are so racist that it is a terrible disadvantage for him. In fact, if I as a DM had chosen to run the world like that (and I actually quite like it), I think I would have sweetened the deal by not penalizing half-orc intelligence with -2.
People in your world are so racist that it is a terrible disadvantage for him. In fact, if I as a DM had chosen to run the world like that (and I actually quite like it), I think I would have sweetened the deal by not penalizing half-orc intelligence with -2.
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
monboesen said:
Actually, I think he probably chose half-orc because of this. It fit his view of the challenges he wanted his character to have to deal with - but you'd have to ask him.
monboesen said:
In my re-working of house-rules for the next D&D game I run I have decided to give half-orcs a the Endurance feat for free.
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el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
Oh, and I wanted to add that it is one of my pet-peeves when the cultural aspects and interactions of the various fantasy races are ignored when it comes to PCs just for the sake of convenience.
I always let my players know that Aquerra is a human-ocentric world and characters of any other race are going to face some troubles of varying kinds no matter where they go.
I always let my players know that Aquerra is a human-ocentric world and characters of any other race are going to face some troubles of varying kinds no matter where they go.
As the DM says, I like the difficulties thrown my way. They can be a bit taxing at times, but the whole point of this character is to play someone who tries to do the right thing (and succeeds a fair amount of the time in my estimation) despite all that the world has thrown at him. And on the other side, his interaction with the party and others is teaching him the more subtle aspects of his goddess like compassion and friendship.
I like the complicated, dark characters most of the time.
Has the person who asked this question read Rachis' background story?
I like the complicated, dark characters most of the time.
Has the person who asked this question read Rachis' background story?
No, I didn't read all of it, but some.
And just to clarify, I'm not questioning the way the world is run. I quite agree that cultural aspects are often not nearly played up enough (in my latest games elves and dwarves alike have been potrayed with insufferable superior attitudes and raving racism even towards humans.).
I just thought that it seemed such a noticeable disadvantage (compared for instance to dwarves) that I, as a DM, would have contemplated giving a mechanical bonus to make up for it. It's not like the half orc is a strong choise to begin with.
Obviously it seems that El-remmen sees things the same way. So my curiosity is sated, and I'm waiting eagerly for more updatees
And just to clarify, I'm not questioning the way the world is run. I quite agree that cultural aspects are often not nearly played up enough (in my latest games elves and dwarves alike have been potrayed with insufferable superior attitudes and raving racism even towards humans.).
I just thought that it seemed such a noticeable disadvantage (compared for instance to dwarves) that I, as a DM, would have contemplated giving a mechanical bonus to make up for it. It's not like the half orc is a strong choise to begin with.
Obviously it seems that El-remmen sees things the same way. So my curiosity is sated, and I'm waiting eagerly for more updatees
Gold Roger
First Post
Great update, as always.
I must agree with the racism thing as well. Stopping it at the players just robbs them of roleplaying opportunities and things to bit them in the a**.
I must agree with the racism thing as well. Stopping it at the players just robbs them of roleplaying opportunities and things to bit them in the a**.
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