The treatment Ratchis receives is all just grist for the mill. What I really love about the character is that his story is really one of amazing triumph against all odds and if Ratchis could be outside himself for a moment and objective, he would consider his own existence and way of life to be a miracle of his goddess. He already thanks her for allowing him to rise above his upbringing, but he lacks the hubris to recognize that he has beaten all the odds in bringing any good into the world.
"Out of the Frying Pan"- Book IV - Into the Fire [STORY HOUR COMPLETED - 12/25/06]
- Thread starter el-remmen
- Start date
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
wiki wiki wiki wiki
As I mentioned in this thread: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=156673
For those of interested in reading the synposis of the adventures of an old adventuring group in Aquerra (called the Sign of Four) you should hop to the wiki here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Sign+of+Four+Adventures and read all about it.
You will notice (I think) how my campaign style developed, and how it was a little more "high adventure" back then. And while I think generally speaking "Out of the Frying Pan" is the best campaign I have ever developed - style-wise I think the next one will be more a compromise between it and the Sign of Four campaign (maybe something like the Oath campaign, which I am now in the process of writing up the sysposi for).
Anyway, enjoy and if you have questions or comments please feel free to post here or to the thread I mention at the top.
As I mentioned in this thread: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=156673
For those of interested in reading the synposis of the adventures of an old adventuring group in Aquerra (called the Sign of Four) you should hop to the wiki here: http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/The+Sign+of+Four+Adventures and read all about it.
You will notice (I think) how my campaign style developed, and how it was a little more "high adventure" back then. And while I think generally speaking "Out of the Frying Pan" is the best campaign I have ever developed - style-wise I think the next one will be more a compromise between it and the Sign of Four campaign (maybe something like the Oath campaign, which I am now in the process of writing up the sysposi for).
Anyway, enjoy and if you have questions or comments please feel free to post here or to the thread I mention at the top.
Gold Roger
First Post
I've read the writeup. Sounds nice and fun but damn, you have a high pc-mortality rate to be sure.
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
Session #75 - Interlude
Logan crept along a dark narrow alley that he recognized from his days in Teamsburg, beyond it was a small abandoned plaza were ‘hazers’ scored Sparkleweed…(1) But something was not right. The Herman-lander realized he was being followed. There were the sounds of marching feet carrying heavy armor behind him to the left, and so he hurried forward, hoping to find a place to make his way to the roofs.
But still something else was not right, this plaza and the buildings around it had been blasted during the Black Island raid (2), but now it was as he remembered it from years before. Logan emerged into the small plaza noticing that the sky was starless, but the light of paper lanterns hung from on the walls from strings cut the darkness. Suddenly, there was music, and from the shadows came dancing couples.
Before Logan could process this sudden development, he was snatched up by a dancer, and found himself tangled up in trying to keep up. He did not know the steps. He looked frantically at the other couples, and noticed for the first time that they all suffered from the horrible burns caused by Red God Fire. (3)
Logan looked to his partner and gasped. It was Esmerelda. A young playmate that was sold into indentured servitude with the rest of her family to pay their overwhelming debt. (4) Except she looked older than Logan last remembered, she wasn’t more than nine then, but she would certainly be older than fourteen now, but that was about the age she appeared to him; in her tattered dress that is too small on her, and blackened bare feet. Her brown hair was scorched straw, burned away from the right side of her head disfigured face.
And round and round they went to the music, Logan sensing that whoever was following him was now dancing as well, and as the couples formed concentric circles, the partners changed as the circles move in opposite directions.
Several dark armored figures passed by Logan hurriedly, and suddenly Gunthar was passing him by as well and flicking Logan’s nose. “You dancin’ with yer momma?” he sneered and danced on. Suddenly Esmeralda was in front of him again.
Except even though she looked exactly the same, Logan knew this was not her. It was Alexandra the Lavender. She opened her mouth to speak and it was bloody and most of her teeth were cracked, as if she had been repeatedly beaten in the face.
“Logan,” she croaked. “You know who it is. This was the only way I could contact you and know that no one else would accidentally see it or overhear.”
As Logan turned past the opposite side of the alley, she pulled him through it. Again, Logan had the feeling that something was not right. This alley should have not existed.
Suddenly, Logan found himself walking arm in arm with Alexandra through a market. The watch-mage now looked like herself, dressed in her lavender academy robes, her freckled face on the pretty side of plain. She picked up a bright shiny apple and polished it on her robes. From behind, Logan could hear the ruckus of stalls being roused by armored figures. Alexandra did not seem fazed.
“I did not tell you this earlier because I had not finished my research, and because I did not want to prejudice your view of Martin the Green before you met him. I wanted you to view his strength of character for yourself without preconceived notions.” There was a soothing, almost motherly tone to her voice. A group of children came running by as the two of them walked past a stall selling straw jugs. The children were laughing, and Alexandra patted a few on the head affectionately. Logan noticed they were wearing clay masks that reminded him of the crude drawings of goblins down at Gobbos on the Water. (5)
“As you may now know, Martin the Green is in possession of a tome called The Book of Black Circles. It would no exaggeration that it is perhaps one of the most dangerous magical items ever created. Sages would classify it by the term ‘artifact’, but that is neither here nor there. This is the important part; you must make sure that he remains on the path to destroy it. Its corruptive influence will not only try to undermine his morals, but the longer he owns it the closer he will come to becoming its master, Marchosias the Corruptor.(6) These Manticore Killers, or whatever they call themselves, are heading to one of the few places is might actually be destroyed, but you must make sure that when the time comes he does it, no matter what it takes. Do you understand?”
She stopped and pulled Logan’s arm to stop him as well. There were scores of people passing close by as they fled from the armored figures. He could see the tops of spears heading towards them.
“We will be sending a watch-mage to help deal with the situation as soon as we can, but there is a danger in that as well because of the temptation of power of the book. I am hoping that you are your father’s son, and that you will do everything in your power to make sure he stays the course, and to insure that such a man as Marchosias does not walk Aquerra again. And lest you be tempted to try and take the easy way, remember less reliable men than Martin might get their hands on it if he is killed, so only use that option as a very final choice.”
She held Logan’s face in her hands.
"Find someone in party you can trust to do what needs to be done in case you are unable to, and make it someone who can keep it secret. Take your time and choose correctly. He cannot know."
And with that, Logan was bumped by the crowd, and he and Alexandra were separated. He could see her bite into the apple as she disappeared into the crowd. Logan turned to his right and there, now fanning out to surround him were a dozen or more Teamsburg town guard, armored in ring mail, and draped in black shadowy cloaks that seem to have faces super-imposed on them.
Before he could flee, Logan felt the shocking pain of spear driving deep into his side. He coughed up blood and all the guards started laughing. He turned to look at the guard that stabbed him and he had his father’s face.
“You will remember what I have said when you awake,” he said in Alexandra’s voice, and with that Logan awoke to the voices of his companions discussing Kazrack’s fate.
--------------------
Notes:
(1) ‘Hazer’ is the nickname for those addicted to magical narcotic, Sparkleweed popular in Teamsburg.
(2) The City of Teamsburg, an important northeastern port in the Kingdom of Herman Land, was the site of the first strike sneak attack on the part of the Black Islands Barony that incited the current civil war. More than half the city burned and thousands died.
(3) See http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Red+God+Fire
(4) At the time Logan asked his father to pay their debt, but his father explained that a watch-mage could not give special treatment to people in his community, why would he not then pay everyone’s debt? Anyway, he would not be able to afford it, he added with a smack to the ear.
(5) Gobbos on the Water is a basement level tavern on the Teamsburg Waterfront. When the Black Navy blew up the wharf out front of it, the harbor rushed in. Those that were not crushed were drowned and/or burned to death.
(6) Marchosias the Corruptor was the most feared and hated necromancer-warlock of all time. A former Master of the Academy he was responsible for the Second Humano-Orc War, which was fought simultaneously in both Thricia and the Kingdom of Herman Land.
Logan crept along a dark narrow alley that he recognized from his days in Teamsburg, beyond it was a small abandoned plaza were ‘hazers’ scored Sparkleweed…(1) But something was not right. The Herman-lander realized he was being followed. There were the sounds of marching feet carrying heavy armor behind him to the left, and so he hurried forward, hoping to find a place to make his way to the roofs.
But still something else was not right, this plaza and the buildings around it had been blasted during the Black Island raid (2), but now it was as he remembered it from years before. Logan emerged into the small plaza noticing that the sky was starless, but the light of paper lanterns hung from on the walls from strings cut the darkness. Suddenly, there was music, and from the shadows came dancing couples.
Before Logan could process this sudden development, he was snatched up by a dancer, and found himself tangled up in trying to keep up. He did not know the steps. He looked frantically at the other couples, and noticed for the first time that they all suffered from the horrible burns caused by Red God Fire. (3)
Logan looked to his partner and gasped. It was Esmerelda. A young playmate that was sold into indentured servitude with the rest of her family to pay their overwhelming debt. (4) Except she looked older than Logan last remembered, she wasn’t more than nine then, but she would certainly be older than fourteen now, but that was about the age she appeared to him; in her tattered dress that is too small on her, and blackened bare feet. Her brown hair was scorched straw, burned away from the right side of her head disfigured face.
And round and round they went to the music, Logan sensing that whoever was following him was now dancing as well, and as the couples formed concentric circles, the partners changed as the circles move in opposite directions.
Several dark armored figures passed by Logan hurriedly, and suddenly Gunthar was passing him by as well and flicking Logan’s nose. “You dancin’ with yer momma?” he sneered and danced on. Suddenly Esmeralda was in front of him again.
Except even though she looked exactly the same, Logan knew this was not her. It was Alexandra the Lavender. She opened her mouth to speak and it was bloody and most of her teeth were cracked, as if she had been repeatedly beaten in the face.
“Logan,” she croaked. “You know who it is. This was the only way I could contact you and know that no one else would accidentally see it or overhear.”
As Logan turned past the opposite side of the alley, she pulled him through it. Again, Logan had the feeling that something was not right. This alley should have not existed.
Suddenly, Logan found himself walking arm in arm with Alexandra through a market. The watch-mage now looked like herself, dressed in her lavender academy robes, her freckled face on the pretty side of plain. She picked up a bright shiny apple and polished it on her robes. From behind, Logan could hear the ruckus of stalls being roused by armored figures. Alexandra did not seem fazed.
“I did not tell you this earlier because I had not finished my research, and because I did not want to prejudice your view of Martin the Green before you met him. I wanted you to view his strength of character for yourself without preconceived notions.” There was a soothing, almost motherly tone to her voice. A group of children came running by as the two of them walked past a stall selling straw jugs. The children were laughing, and Alexandra patted a few on the head affectionately. Logan noticed they were wearing clay masks that reminded him of the crude drawings of goblins down at Gobbos on the Water. (5)
“As you may now know, Martin the Green is in possession of a tome called The Book of Black Circles. It would no exaggeration that it is perhaps one of the most dangerous magical items ever created. Sages would classify it by the term ‘artifact’, but that is neither here nor there. This is the important part; you must make sure that he remains on the path to destroy it. Its corruptive influence will not only try to undermine his morals, but the longer he owns it the closer he will come to becoming its master, Marchosias the Corruptor.(6) These Manticore Killers, or whatever they call themselves, are heading to one of the few places is might actually be destroyed, but you must make sure that when the time comes he does it, no matter what it takes. Do you understand?”
She stopped and pulled Logan’s arm to stop him as well. There were scores of people passing close by as they fled from the armored figures. He could see the tops of spears heading towards them.
“We will be sending a watch-mage to help deal with the situation as soon as we can, but there is a danger in that as well because of the temptation of power of the book. I am hoping that you are your father’s son, and that you will do everything in your power to make sure he stays the course, and to insure that such a man as Marchosias does not walk Aquerra again. And lest you be tempted to try and take the easy way, remember less reliable men than Martin might get their hands on it if he is killed, so only use that option as a very final choice.”
She held Logan’s face in her hands.
"Find someone in party you can trust to do what needs to be done in case you are unable to, and make it someone who can keep it secret. Take your time and choose correctly. He cannot know."
And with that, Logan was bumped by the crowd, and he and Alexandra were separated. He could see her bite into the apple as she disappeared into the crowd. Logan turned to his right and there, now fanning out to surround him were a dozen or more Teamsburg town guard, armored in ring mail, and draped in black shadowy cloaks that seem to have faces super-imposed on them.
Before he could flee, Logan felt the shocking pain of spear driving deep into his side. He coughed up blood and all the guards started laughing. He turned to look at the guard that stabbed him and he had his father’s face.
“You will remember what I have said when you awake,” he said in Alexandra’s voice, and with that Logan awoke to the voices of his companions discussing Kazrack’s fate.
--------------------
Notes:
(1) ‘Hazer’ is the nickname for those addicted to magical narcotic, Sparkleweed popular in Teamsburg.
(2) The City of Teamsburg, an important northeastern port in the Kingdom of Herman Land, was the site of the first strike sneak attack on the part of the Black Islands Barony that incited the current civil war. More than half the city burned and thousands died.
(3) See http://aquerra.wikispaces.com/Red+God+Fire
(4) At the time Logan asked his father to pay their debt, but his father explained that a watch-mage could not give special treatment to people in his community, why would he not then pay everyone’s debt? Anyway, he would not be able to afford it, he added with a smack to the ear.
(5) Gobbos on the Water is a basement level tavern on the Teamsburg Waterfront. When the Black Navy blew up the wharf out front of it, the harbor rushed in. Those that were not crushed were drowned and/or burned to death.
(6) Marchosias the Corruptor was the most feared and hated necromancer-warlock of all time. A former Master of the Academy he was responsible for the Second Humano-Orc War, which was fought simultaneously in both Thricia and the Kingdom of Herman Land.
handforged
First Post
Thanks for the teaser, mmen. I am very interested to see who Logan chooses...
~hf
~hf
el-remmen
Moderator Emeritus
expect another one soon. . .
Session #75 (part ii)
Tholem, the 4th of Keent – 565 H.E.
“How long are we gonna bleedin’ wait for ole Stumpy?” Gunthar asked, as he and Martin stood watch in the box-shaped canyon.
“He could be gone a week,” Martin replied.
“What!?”
“Dwarves are not known for their quickness to take action,” Martin explained.
“We could take another route,” Gunthar offered.
“And leave Kazrack behind?”
“He could be dead.”
“He walked into a dwarven stronghold, I doubt he is dead,” Martin sighed.
“If he’s not back in a week we’ll assume he’s dead,” Ratchis said, from his bedroll nearby. Dawn approached and the half-orc sat up and stretched before undertaking his morning prayers.
“And what do you think of that little man?” Gunthar asked Logan, noting he was awake now too.
“We’ve been walking for ages, I could use the rest,” Logan replied. The olive-skinned young man rubbed his face with a calloused hand, and looked at Martin the Green for a long time.
----------------
Kazrack broke his fast with hard bread smeared with yak lard and covered in cold gray gravy from last night’s supper. Captain Adalar had come to get him and they ate in a great eating hall which was filled with the cacophony of several score dwarves, most of them armored, eating and drinking.
“I have been thinking of your troubles with coming through the pass with your half-breed friend,” Adalar said. “And took the liberty of looking at some maps for you.”
“Mayhap I might get a copy of a map?” Kazrack asked.
Captain Adalar frowned. “It would not be in my jurisdiction to order such a thing even if there were time, but I discussed it with one of the captains of the scouts and before you leave he will give you some advice about which way to go. He knows the area much better than I ever could just from simply looking at a map.”
“I thank you deeply, brother. Though any route we take will have to be discussed with my companions,” Kazrack replied.
“Of course, but…” Captain Adalar paused for a long time. “I do not want to speak out of turn, but perhaps it would be best if you broke off your companionship with the half-breed. I can respect the loyalty of friendship, but some things just aren’t natural.”
Kazrack made no reply.
Captain Adalar slurped up the rest of the bread and gravy. “And now I am to bring you back to General Aron-lar, so you may talk before you go on your way. I am to arrange for your travel, so I will see you again to wish you farewell.
Adalar brought Kazrack through the winding passages of the fortress’ lowers levels and to the General’s office once again. Aron-lar stroked the braids of his great beard, bearing an expressionless face as Kazrack entered.
“My regrets that I could not see you again last night, but there is much to be done before we can march, and we are still waiting on the reports of some of our scouts,” the general said. “Now, what did you find out from the priest of the cat goddess?”
“Not much that was useful,” Kazrack replied. “He gave me story that is barely plausible, but I have no means to test his honor.”
“Well, there is no outward evil in him, if that is what you mean. I had one of the rune-throwers ask the gods to reveal the nature of his soul,” Aron-lar said. “But as for actual honor, he has none. He is a follower of that foul cat goddess, as if humans could be less trustworthy.”
“Humans vary in honor and steadfastness,” Kazrack said, frowning.
General Aron-lar harrumphed. “If you are so soft-hearted as to accept a companion of tainted blood and still cannot vouch for this human priest, I shall have to hold him indefinitely. “
“Can I take him with me?” Kazrack asked. “I will watch him and determine if he is a turncoat, and if he is I shall deal justice to him myself. This I would swear by Krauchaar. I would avenge myself on such a man who would portray himself as friend and then betray me. I mean, if he has not seen any crucial secrets…”
“We had a sack over his head when he was brought to his cell. He would have seen the citadel itself when the eagle brought him here, but he has no idea of our numbers and goal.”
There was a long silence. General Aron-lar closed his eyes.
“You may take him with you. I do not want to have to deal with him,” he finally said. “But I expect a full report as to his dispensation when we meet again. If we do not meet again in Gothanius or within these walls, I will expect you in Abarrane-Abaruch one day.”
Kazrack bowed his head. “I have long hoped that when this is all done I could visit the home of my teacher, Belear Gritchkar, and then of course the home of my own clan.”
“You will leave immediately,” General Aron-lar said. He put out his hand and they grasped wrists in farewell. “I shall have the Bastite brought up to the courtyard, and Captain Adalar has arranged for Captain Minol to bring you back to your companions.”
Back in the courtyard, Kazrack saw more troops running through drills, and others caring for the great riding lizards. Captain Adalar was waiting for him.
“You know, the three fair-haired Tarnitch brothers are here,” Captain Adalar said with a smile that shone with his pride. He pointed to two of the dwarves running the drills. “They have been given their own commands of foot units. The experience they gained with you in that foul Necropolis has lengthened their beards.” (2)
Golnar walked over, removing his helm and saluting Kazrack with a fist to the chest and then grasped wrists. “I only have a moment Master Delver,” he said. “But I wanted to greet you for myself and on behalf of my brothers. I hope we will meet as comrades on the field of battle once again and one day soon.”
“Let us hope not too soon, or without need,” Kazrack replied, grimly.
Golnar nodded and then returned to his unit.
Two armored dwarves led Roland into the courtyard. There was a black sack hanging loosely over his head, but his hands were not bound.
“Kazrack? Are you there?” the Bastite asked.
“Yes, Roland. We will be leaving here soon. I mean to bring you back to the others,” Kazrack replied.
“Oh thank the goddess!”
“Better you should thank the generosity of General Aron-lar,” Kazrack said.
“Oh, yes, of course, him as well,” Roland replied not able to hide the sarcasm. “The gods know I have rarely been treated with such hospitality.”
“Enough! Quiet down before I change my mind and leave you here,” Kazrack said.
Two of the great riding lizards came up to them. Captain Adalar introduced Kazrack to Captain Minol. He was short, even for a dwarf, not as broad of chest and hips as most dwarves, and his black beard was coming in steel-gray, despite the tangles of black hair that stuck out from beneath his visored leather helm. He wore a chain shirt and black leather breeches reinforced with black metal greaves.
“Captain Minol and one of his cavalry soldiers will bring you back to the others,” Captain Adalar explained. “He is the best scout we have here. He will be able to give you advice of an alternate route to take from the canyon.”
Kazrack bowed. “I thank you for your aid and time, sir.” Roland began to bow as well, but his dwarven guards jerked back up before he had bent far.
“My pardons,” the human priest said in the dwarven tongue.
Minol nodded and grunted. He helped Kazrack onto the strange double saddle they used upon the great riding lizards. The lizard was nine feet long, and it turned its head and stuck out its tongue lazily. Minol strapped Kazrack’s legs in tightly.
He point to loose end sticking out of a knot. “Don’t pull on that unless we are about to go tumbling over a cliff, or are rolling over. It undoes the straps in one quick yank,” He explained. “And when I tell you to shift your weight left, right, forward or back, please do it immediately. The ride is much smoother with two experienced riders, but we will do out best.”
Kazrack nodded. “Since I returned to Derome-Delem I have wanted nothing more than to ride one of these beasts.”
“Well, you’re wish is granted,” Minol grunted.
Roland was helped onto the back of the second lizard and awkwardly strapped in and given the same directions.
“Oh, this is going to be lovely,” Roland quipped as the lizard jerked into motion. Soon, the two great beasts were shooting out of the great gate and hurrying up a nearly sheet surface, and then scooting along horizontally on the side of the stone bridge to the other side of the gorge.
“You can take off the sack,” the dwarf on the same lizard as Roland told him, and the Bastite happily did so.
“Does it take long to learn to ride one?” Kazrack yelled to Minol.
“No talking,” Minol replied.
Up and down, and along the side of cliffs, and once fully upside down, the two lizards made their way to the canyon.
Ratchis, Gunthar and Logan stood and took a few steps back reaching for their weapons when the first great lizard was spotted coming over the cliff to their left.
Kazrack waved happily to his friends, but when Roland finally arrived, he hurried off the lizard’s back and swore.
“Where in the hell did the poofter come from?” Gunthar asked, confused.
“Yes, that is a good question,” Martin said.
“Why Nikar, of course,” Roland quipped.
“We know that,” Martin did not laugh.
“Yeah, we don’t need to know that you crawled out of the crack between your momma’s legs,’ Gunthar snarled.
“I found him among my kin,” Kazrack said. “They had taken him prisoner. They released him into my custody, but I still do not trust him.”
Roland shot a look at the dwarf and frowned, putting a hand on his hip.
“Kazrack, I already explained what I was doing there and why I left Nikar, but I will gladly do it again for everyone else’s benefit,” the Bastite said.
“Later,” Captain Minol said. “I told Adalar I would help you choose a route, but I have to be getting back.”
“Adalar? Captain Adalar?” Martin asked.
Kazrack nodded.
Captain Minol took the time to go over the party’s maps with them and do his best to point out alternate routes to Greenreed Valley.
He explained of an underground stream in a tunnel under the wall of mountains that blocked the way east. They would be underground at most a day, though it would be several more days along narrow ravines. And he warned them of kobolds in those areas. After that they would have a choice.
They could pass through the southwestern tip of the forest called Dybbuk Akvram (1), or they could skirt the wood by turning south, but it would add nine days to their journey. As it was, having to take this other pass at all (instead of the bridge by the fortress) was adding about six days to the journey to Greenreed Valley.
“The portion of the wood you would be passing through if you took the more direct route is called ‘Ailat-Bekis’ (3),” Captain Minol said. “I would avoid it. Few that go in come out, and when they do they are changed.”
“We have to take the quicker way,” Ratchis said.
“What is there in that wood that is dangerous?” Martin the Green asked.
“Eh, there was some great elven battle there long ago, against the black enemy” Minol said, shooting a look at Ratchis. “Ghosts and other unnatural things. We give it a wide berth.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Kazrack said to him after the taciturn dwarf had saddled back up. “I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“May Hodonar guide your way,” Minol said, and he and his fellow rider took off over the cliff.
Logan was introduced to Roland, and then the Bastite retold his version of events since leaving Nikar.
The Keepers of the Gate broke camp and decided they would not make the choice about which route to take until they reached the point where they had to turn south or not.
“Does anyone mind if I run ahead?” Roland asked. “I can change to panther form and do the scouting.”
“No, you are staying with us,” Ratchis replied.
“I’ve explained already why left Nikar how and when I did,” Roland said. “I have not betrayed your trust. This is all a misunderstanding.”
“I think either we have to trust him, or leave him behind or kill him,” Logan offered. “It makes no sense to only trust him halfway.”
The others agreed. Roland transformed into his dusky great cat form and took off down the narrow pass to the east.
----------------------
Notes:
(1) ‘Dybbuk Akvram’ means ‘place of the bruised spirit’ is the dwarven name of what men call ‘The Forest of the Blood Sap’. It is where the druids of the Circle of the Thorn reside. (See sessions #30 through 33)
(2) To have your beard lengthen (or thicken) is a dwarven expression meaning to fully come into the maturity of their adulthood.
(3) This roughly means, “turn away from what fascinates” in dwarven.
Session #75 (part ii)
Tholem, the 4th of Keent – 565 H.E.
“How long are we gonna bleedin’ wait for ole Stumpy?” Gunthar asked, as he and Martin stood watch in the box-shaped canyon.
“He could be gone a week,” Martin replied.
“What!?”
“Dwarves are not known for their quickness to take action,” Martin explained.
“We could take another route,” Gunthar offered.
“And leave Kazrack behind?”
“He could be dead.”
“He walked into a dwarven stronghold, I doubt he is dead,” Martin sighed.
“If he’s not back in a week we’ll assume he’s dead,” Ratchis said, from his bedroll nearby. Dawn approached and the half-orc sat up and stretched before undertaking his morning prayers.
“And what do you think of that little man?” Gunthar asked Logan, noting he was awake now too.
“We’ve been walking for ages, I could use the rest,” Logan replied. The olive-skinned young man rubbed his face with a calloused hand, and looked at Martin the Green for a long time.
----------------
Kazrack broke his fast with hard bread smeared with yak lard and covered in cold gray gravy from last night’s supper. Captain Adalar had come to get him and they ate in a great eating hall which was filled with the cacophony of several score dwarves, most of them armored, eating and drinking.
“I have been thinking of your troubles with coming through the pass with your half-breed friend,” Adalar said. “And took the liberty of looking at some maps for you.”
“Mayhap I might get a copy of a map?” Kazrack asked.
Captain Adalar frowned. “It would not be in my jurisdiction to order such a thing even if there were time, but I discussed it with one of the captains of the scouts and before you leave he will give you some advice about which way to go. He knows the area much better than I ever could just from simply looking at a map.”
“I thank you deeply, brother. Though any route we take will have to be discussed with my companions,” Kazrack replied.
“Of course, but…” Captain Adalar paused for a long time. “I do not want to speak out of turn, but perhaps it would be best if you broke off your companionship with the half-breed. I can respect the loyalty of friendship, but some things just aren’t natural.”
Kazrack made no reply.
Captain Adalar slurped up the rest of the bread and gravy. “And now I am to bring you back to General Aron-lar, so you may talk before you go on your way. I am to arrange for your travel, so I will see you again to wish you farewell.
Adalar brought Kazrack through the winding passages of the fortress’ lowers levels and to the General’s office once again. Aron-lar stroked the braids of his great beard, bearing an expressionless face as Kazrack entered.
“My regrets that I could not see you again last night, but there is much to be done before we can march, and we are still waiting on the reports of some of our scouts,” the general said. “Now, what did you find out from the priest of the cat goddess?”
“Not much that was useful,” Kazrack replied. “He gave me story that is barely plausible, but I have no means to test his honor.”
“Well, there is no outward evil in him, if that is what you mean. I had one of the rune-throwers ask the gods to reveal the nature of his soul,” Aron-lar said. “But as for actual honor, he has none. He is a follower of that foul cat goddess, as if humans could be less trustworthy.”
“Humans vary in honor and steadfastness,” Kazrack said, frowning.
General Aron-lar harrumphed. “If you are so soft-hearted as to accept a companion of tainted blood and still cannot vouch for this human priest, I shall have to hold him indefinitely. “
“Can I take him with me?” Kazrack asked. “I will watch him and determine if he is a turncoat, and if he is I shall deal justice to him myself. This I would swear by Krauchaar. I would avenge myself on such a man who would portray himself as friend and then betray me. I mean, if he has not seen any crucial secrets…”
“We had a sack over his head when he was brought to his cell. He would have seen the citadel itself when the eagle brought him here, but he has no idea of our numbers and goal.”
There was a long silence. General Aron-lar closed his eyes.
“You may take him with you. I do not want to have to deal with him,” he finally said. “But I expect a full report as to his dispensation when we meet again. If we do not meet again in Gothanius or within these walls, I will expect you in Abarrane-Abaruch one day.”
Kazrack bowed his head. “I have long hoped that when this is all done I could visit the home of my teacher, Belear Gritchkar, and then of course the home of my own clan.”
“You will leave immediately,” General Aron-lar said. He put out his hand and they grasped wrists in farewell. “I shall have the Bastite brought up to the courtyard, and Captain Adalar has arranged for Captain Minol to bring you back to your companions.”
Back in the courtyard, Kazrack saw more troops running through drills, and others caring for the great riding lizards. Captain Adalar was waiting for him.
“You know, the three fair-haired Tarnitch brothers are here,” Captain Adalar said with a smile that shone with his pride. He pointed to two of the dwarves running the drills. “They have been given their own commands of foot units. The experience they gained with you in that foul Necropolis has lengthened their beards.” (2)
Golnar walked over, removing his helm and saluting Kazrack with a fist to the chest and then grasped wrists. “I only have a moment Master Delver,” he said. “But I wanted to greet you for myself and on behalf of my brothers. I hope we will meet as comrades on the field of battle once again and one day soon.”
“Let us hope not too soon, or without need,” Kazrack replied, grimly.
Golnar nodded and then returned to his unit.
Two armored dwarves led Roland into the courtyard. There was a black sack hanging loosely over his head, but his hands were not bound.
“Kazrack? Are you there?” the Bastite asked.
“Yes, Roland. We will be leaving here soon. I mean to bring you back to the others,” Kazrack replied.
“Oh thank the goddess!”
“Better you should thank the generosity of General Aron-lar,” Kazrack said.
“Oh, yes, of course, him as well,” Roland replied not able to hide the sarcasm. “The gods know I have rarely been treated with such hospitality.”
“Enough! Quiet down before I change my mind and leave you here,” Kazrack said.
Two of the great riding lizards came up to them. Captain Adalar introduced Kazrack to Captain Minol. He was short, even for a dwarf, not as broad of chest and hips as most dwarves, and his black beard was coming in steel-gray, despite the tangles of black hair that stuck out from beneath his visored leather helm. He wore a chain shirt and black leather breeches reinforced with black metal greaves.
“Captain Minol and one of his cavalry soldiers will bring you back to the others,” Captain Adalar explained. “He is the best scout we have here. He will be able to give you advice of an alternate route to take from the canyon.”
Kazrack bowed. “I thank you for your aid and time, sir.” Roland began to bow as well, but his dwarven guards jerked back up before he had bent far.
“My pardons,” the human priest said in the dwarven tongue.
Minol nodded and grunted. He helped Kazrack onto the strange double saddle they used upon the great riding lizards. The lizard was nine feet long, and it turned its head and stuck out its tongue lazily. Minol strapped Kazrack’s legs in tightly.
He point to loose end sticking out of a knot. “Don’t pull on that unless we are about to go tumbling over a cliff, or are rolling over. It undoes the straps in one quick yank,” He explained. “And when I tell you to shift your weight left, right, forward or back, please do it immediately. The ride is much smoother with two experienced riders, but we will do out best.”
Kazrack nodded. “Since I returned to Derome-Delem I have wanted nothing more than to ride one of these beasts.”
“Well, you’re wish is granted,” Minol grunted.
Roland was helped onto the back of the second lizard and awkwardly strapped in and given the same directions.
“Oh, this is going to be lovely,” Roland quipped as the lizard jerked into motion. Soon, the two great beasts were shooting out of the great gate and hurrying up a nearly sheet surface, and then scooting along horizontally on the side of the stone bridge to the other side of the gorge.
“You can take off the sack,” the dwarf on the same lizard as Roland told him, and the Bastite happily did so.
“Does it take long to learn to ride one?” Kazrack yelled to Minol.
“No talking,” Minol replied.
Up and down, and along the side of cliffs, and once fully upside down, the two lizards made their way to the canyon.
Ratchis, Gunthar and Logan stood and took a few steps back reaching for their weapons when the first great lizard was spotted coming over the cliff to their left.
Kazrack waved happily to his friends, but when Roland finally arrived, he hurried off the lizard’s back and swore.
“Where in the hell did the poofter come from?” Gunthar asked, confused.
“Yes, that is a good question,” Martin said.
“Why Nikar, of course,” Roland quipped.
“We know that,” Martin did not laugh.
“Yeah, we don’t need to know that you crawled out of the crack between your momma’s legs,’ Gunthar snarled.
“I found him among my kin,” Kazrack said. “They had taken him prisoner. They released him into my custody, but I still do not trust him.”
Roland shot a look at the dwarf and frowned, putting a hand on his hip.
“Kazrack, I already explained what I was doing there and why I left Nikar, but I will gladly do it again for everyone else’s benefit,” the Bastite said.
“Later,” Captain Minol said. “I told Adalar I would help you choose a route, but I have to be getting back.”
“Adalar? Captain Adalar?” Martin asked.
Kazrack nodded.
Captain Minol took the time to go over the party’s maps with them and do his best to point out alternate routes to Greenreed Valley.
He explained of an underground stream in a tunnel under the wall of mountains that blocked the way east. They would be underground at most a day, though it would be several more days along narrow ravines. And he warned them of kobolds in those areas. After that they would have a choice.
They could pass through the southwestern tip of the forest called Dybbuk Akvram (1), or they could skirt the wood by turning south, but it would add nine days to their journey. As it was, having to take this other pass at all (instead of the bridge by the fortress) was adding about six days to the journey to Greenreed Valley.
“The portion of the wood you would be passing through if you took the more direct route is called ‘Ailat-Bekis’ (3),” Captain Minol said. “I would avoid it. Few that go in come out, and when they do they are changed.”
“We have to take the quicker way,” Ratchis said.
“What is there in that wood that is dangerous?” Martin the Green asked.
“Eh, there was some great elven battle there long ago, against the black enemy” Minol said, shooting a look at Ratchis. “Ghosts and other unnatural things. We give it a wide berth.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Kazrack said to him after the taciturn dwarf had saddled back up. “I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
“May Hodonar guide your way,” Minol said, and he and his fellow rider took off over the cliff.
Logan was introduced to Roland, and then the Bastite retold his version of events since leaving Nikar.
The Keepers of the Gate broke camp and decided they would not make the choice about which route to take until they reached the point where they had to turn south or not.
“Does anyone mind if I run ahead?” Roland asked. “I can change to panther form and do the scouting.”
“No, you are staying with us,” Ratchis replied.
“I’ve explained already why left Nikar how and when I did,” Roland said. “I have not betrayed your trust. This is all a misunderstanding.”
“I think either we have to trust him, or leave him behind or kill him,” Logan offered. “It makes no sense to only trust him halfway.”
The others agreed. Roland transformed into his dusky great cat form and took off down the narrow pass to the east.
----------------------
Notes:
(1) ‘Dybbuk Akvram’ means ‘place of the bruised spirit’ is the dwarven name of what men call ‘The Forest of the Blood Sap’. It is where the druids of the Circle of the Thorn reside. (See sessions #30 through 33)
(2) To have your beard lengthen (or thicken) is a dwarven expression meaning to fully come into the maturity of their adulthood.
(3) This roughly means, “turn away from what fascinates” in dwarven.
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