pogre
Legend
Episode 03
The Old City
Skullringer was in trouble. The vine was choking him mightily and he could not swing his great club. The half-orcs knees buckled and soon his world went black.
Gerhardt followed by Xerk rushed into the clearing.
Gerhardt managed to hack the vine away and Xerk stabilized Skullringer. The plant lashed out again and narrowly missed Gerhardt. A woman appeared at the rock’s opening and shouted for everyone to get out of the clearing.
The men dragged Skullringer out of the clearing.
Hilde called out, “We meant no harm. We only want to talk.”
The woman took a large cane and swept the plant to one side. “You may approach from this side.” She motioned to the side away from the deadly vine she was now holding at bay.
The adventurers filed into the cozy cave. The woman, they discovered was in fact none other than Irewyn Isengard, the reputed swamp witch. She served them wild herb tea and gave them all some supper.
“Is it poison?” Gerhardt asked Nanjuk.
“She’s eating it,” the dwarf replied. “It smells good.”
Gerhardt and Nanjuk eyed each other for a time waiting for the other to commence dining.
“What happened that night ten years ago Lady Isengard?” Inga asked.
Irewyn’s eyes rolled back in her head, she shook, and she appeared lost in another world.
“We must be gentle,” Hilde instructed. “These are very painful memories. She has blocked them out completely. Come Inga we must pray to Opheria for this woman.”
“Dwarf, you eat grub?” Skullringer asked reaching for the dwarf’s wooden bowl.
“Leave it be. I am going to eat it,” Nanjuk replied and began eating.
“You eat yours?” Skullringer asked of Gerhardt.
“No take it,” Gerhardt replied. “You probably need it after the beating that plant gave you.”
Skullringer was oblivious to Gerhardt’s comment and began gulping down his second helping.
Hilde had her palms gently touching Irewyn and prayed fervently in hushed tones with Inga. Lady Isengard began to recover. With much coaxing from Hilde Irewyn Isengard slowly told the story how she and her husband had been taken into the swamp. They both had their throats cut and were left for dead. She watched as her husband’s body sunk through the swamp. She survived by acting dead. She fled in terror and has lived in the wild ever since.
“Who killed your husband?” Xerk inquired.
Lady Isengard felt at the scar on her neck. “I do not know everyone involved, but one of them was Eural Dunaman.”
“What would you have us do?” Xerk asked.
“My husband is an undead thing. I followed him into the old city. He is consumed by his desire for vengeance. I would like him laid to rest.”
“Ask her if we can camp here tonight,” Gerhardt said.
“She’s not in another room Gerhardt,” Hilde stated. “Feel free to ask her yourself.”
“Hey, Lady Isengard, since we’re going to go kill your husband for good – how about giving us room and board tonight?” Gerhardt asked.
The stress was too much for Irewyn and she lapsed into another fit.
“I hear they’re looking for diplomats at Norgate Gerhardt,” Xerk said.
“What’s that got to do with me?” Gerhardt asked.
“Absolutely nothing Gerhardt,” Hilde replied. “For now on I’ll do the talking. Just whisper your questions to me.”
“Whatever, remember you were the one who said to ask her.”
“My mistake,” Hilde admitted.
Irewyn came around with much coaxing and readily gave her permission to allow the group to camp at her home for the night.
…..
The adventurers made their way through the swamp to the old city. The swamp made travel slow, but fortunately, it was a short trip. There were several ruins at the old city but only one that was mostly intact. The town hall, with a sign still attached remained standing. The back half of the building had sunk some into the slough.
The group went in and saw streams of algae-filled, muddy water streaming into the room and flowing out.
“I’m going to check that door out,” Gerhardt said. “Nanjuk, you check the other door.”
“One door at a time would be a better strategy,” Xerk warned.
Gerhardt had already started out and failed to heed the cleric’s words. Suddenly the floor beneath him gave way.
Gerhardt plunged down and a splash soon issued forth.
“Oh dear,” Hilde exclaimed. “Gerhardt are you alright?”
“Great, except I landed on a dead guy,” Gerhardt replied.
“What can you see?” Inga asked.
“Not a damn thing. Lower me a torch,” Gerhardt replied.
Nanjuk attached a torch to a rope and lowered it down to Gerhardt.
“Now, what can you see?” Inga asked again.
“Lots of dead folks and one huge octagon room,” Gerhardt answered.
The dwarf was checking the other two doors. To the west he saw a collapsed passageway with a lot of muck flowing from it.
The dwarf then checked the east door. That passage was also clogged with mud and the like, however, he spotted a door.
“What does everyone wish to do? Go to the door Nanjuk spotted or lower ourselves down to Gerhardt?” Xerk asked.
“I vote you get your arses down here!” Gerhardt yelled. “I think I hear something clawing at one of the doors.”
Skullringer jumped down the hole.
To be continued…
The Old City
Skullringer was in trouble. The vine was choking him mightily and he could not swing his great club. The half-orcs knees buckled and soon his world went black.
Gerhardt followed by Xerk rushed into the clearing.
Gerhardt managed to hack the vine away and Xerk stabilized Skullringer. The plant lashed out again and narrowly missed Gerhardt. A woman appeared at the rock’s opening and shouted for everyone to get out of the clearing.
The men dragged Skullringer out of the clearing.
Hilde called out, “We meant no harm. We only want to talk.”
The woman took a large cane and swept the plant to one side. “You may approach from this side.” She motioned to the side away from the deadly vine she was now holding at bay.
The adventurers filed into the cozy cave. The woman, they discovered was in fact none other than Irewyn Isengard, the reputed swamp witch. She served them wild herb tea and gave them all some supper.
“Is it poison?” Gerhardt asked Nanjuk.
“She’s eating it,” the dwarf replied. “It smells good.”
Gerhardt and Nanjuk eyed each other for a time waiting for the other to commence dining.
“What happened that night ten years ago Lady Isengard?” Inga asked.
Irewyn’s eyes rolled back in her head, she shook, and she appeared lost in another world.
“We must be gentle,” Hilde instructed. “These are very painful memories. She has blocked them out completely. Come Inga we must pray to Opheria for this woman.”
“Dwarf, you eat grub?” Skullringer asked reaching for the dwarf’s wooden bowl.
“Leave it be. I am going to eat it,” Nanjuk replied and began eating.
“You eat yours?” Skullringer asked of Gerhardt.
“No take it,” Gerhardt replied. “You probably need it after the beating that plant gave you.”
Skullringer was oblivious to Gerhardt’s comment and began gulping down his second helping.
Hilde had her palms gently touching Irewyn and prayed fervently in hushed tones with Inga. Lady Isengard began to recover. With much coaxing from Hilde Irewyn Isengard slowly told the story how she and her husband had been taken into the swamp. They both had their throats cut and were left for dead. She watched as her husband’s body sunk through the swamp. She survived by acting dead. She fled in terror and has lived in the wild ever since.
“Who killed your husband?” Xerk inquired.
Lady Isengard felt at the scar on her neck. “I do not know everyone involved, but one of them was Eural Dunaman.”
“What would you have us do?” Xerk asked.
“My husband is an undead thing. I followed him into the old city. He is consumed by his desire for vengeance. I would like him laid to rest.”
“Ask her if we can camp here tonight,” Gerhardt said.
“She’s not in another room Gerhardt,” Hilde stated. “Feel free to ask her yourself.”
“Hey, Lady Isengard, since we’re going to go kill your husband for good – how about giving us room and board tonight?” Gerhardt asked.
The stress was too much for Irewyn and she lapsed into another fit.
“I hear they’re looking for diplomats at Norgate Gerhardt,” Xerk said.
“What’s that got to do with me?” Gerhardt asked.
“Absolutely nothing Gerhardt,” Hilde replied. “For now on I’ll do the talking. Just whisper your questions to me.”
“Whatever, remember you were the one who said to ask her.”
“My mistake,” Hilde admitted.
Irewyn came around with much coaxing and readily gave her permission to allow the group to camp at her home for the night.
…..
The adventurers made their way through the swamp to the old city. The swamp made travel slow, but fortunately, it was a short trip. There were several ruins at the old city but only one that was mostly intact. The town hall, with a sign still attached remained standing. The back half of the building had sunk some into the slough.
The group went in and saw streams of algae-filled, muddy water streaming into the room and flowing out.
“I’m going to check that door out,” Gerhardt said. “Nanjuk, you check the other door.”
“One door at a time would be a better strategy,” Xerk warned.
Gerhardt had already started out and failed to heed the cleric’s words. Suddenly the floor beneath him gave way.
Gerhardt plunged down and a splash soon issued forth.
“Oh dear,” Hilde exclaimed. “Gerhardt are you alright?”
“Great, except I landed on a dead guy,” Gerhardt replied.
“What can you see?” Inga asked.
“Not a damn thing. Lower me a torch,” Gerhardt replied.
Nanjuk attached a torch to a rope and lowered it down to Gerhardt.
“Now, what can you see?” Inga asked again.
“Lots of dead folks and one huge octagon room,” Gerhardt answered.
The dwarf was checking the other two doors. To the west he saw a collapsed passageway with a lot of muck flowing from it.
The dwarf then checked the east door. That passage was also clogged with mud and the like, however, he spotted a door.
“What does everyone wish to do? Go to the door Nanjuk spotted or lower ourselves down to Gerhardt?” Xerk asked.
“I vote you get your arses down here!” Gerhardt yelled. “I think I hear something clawing at one of the doors.”
Skullringer jumped down the hole.
To be continued…
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