NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Meowzebub" data-source="post: 2432342" data-attributes="member: 13170">The Reunion by MeowzebubGrathem watches carefully as the plastic scissors slowly sliced across the newspaper.  Of course any task for Etnom was always a handful, but Grathem’s own scissors would have taken seven times as long to remove the two articles from the Potland Tribune Human Edition.  For himself, he usually had no time for human fixation with the weather witching and glammered stars, but Etnom needed his comics, and anything that kept him quiet and amused for hours was a blessing in his book and cheap at the price.Grathem glowers as he has to fold the articles excessively until they were small enough to fit in his pocket, but now leaving a very noticeable bulge.  He tugs down his coat but it does not extend far enough, “No time for this now.  I can’t believe they hid the announcement in the legals.”“Etnom, we are off to see the Company today”, Grathem intones in his singsong voice.  Etnom responds well to his voice, luckily the male Gnome voice only had so much range and this was his normal voice.“Good, good, me see Haley again,” Etnom claps his hands together.Grathem shakes his head, “No, Haley is in your comic.  We will get to see Harmony.”  This set Etnom off in a skipping gait around the table chanting “Cheeks, Cheeks”, so he quickly forgot his initial disappointment that he will not see Faith today.  “Fetch the saddle Etnom, we need to set out.”  Etnom went to the hall closet and came out with the leather seat with all its buckles.  He hopelessly tried to figure out how it is supposed to go, before finally letting Grathem latch the buckles correctly.  Etnom settled again at the table and Grathem swiftly climbed into his position on Etnom’s shoulders.  On the way out the door, Grathem grabbed his peaked hat and sword off its high hook.  Etnom grabbed his staff and giggled.  The magic that still coursed through it tickled his hand, but the ability to master it was well beyond him.They paused at the end of the walk until Grathem chimed, “Left.  To the park.”  Intoning a soft prayer to Fharlanghn, that sets Etnom off at an astounding quick pace.*************With the trees looming up ahead, Grathem hoped they would find Harmony quickly within the expanse of the Nature Reserve.  Portland was very progressive, being the first city in the country to allow eminent domain to seize corporate property and turn it over to Druids to maintain as a park for everyone in the city to use.  The strange pair crossed the grass, skirted the lake, and soon found themselves encased in the dark canopy of redwoods, pines and oaks.  “Harmony….Harmony”, Grathem called, his thin voice not seeming to travel very far.  “Cheeks….Cheeks”, Etnom added fully getting a handle on the game they seemed to be playing.  “Ooh, I know”, Etnom adds into the silence that answered they calls.  Before Grathem has time to finish the thought that Etnom rarely knew anything good, his bearer launched himself under the branches, bending over to apparently gather acorns.  Soon he was alternating between gathering nuts and throwing them up into the air calling “Cheeks…Come get some nuts!”  Grathem had little recollection of the next five minutes other than hanging on for dear life.  He had slipped from the saddle, and was clinging just to hair, when Etnom bent once again to gather nuts, pitching his rider forward to dangle over his forehead.  But so intent on the game he did not notice and once again snapped erect fully launching Grathem five feet into the air.  The scream slowly died in his throat as he felt him self gently placed back upon the now calm Etnom (gnome on head picture).  “The birds and the squirrels are the only thing that should be flying in the forest,” said a gentle, smiling voice.“CHEEKS,” bellowed Etnom as he threw his arms around both Harmony and her Dire Squirrel.  “Try to remember Etnom, his name is Sheik, he is an Arabian….”, her gentle reminder died as Etnom was now stuffing handfuls of nuts so eagerly into her animal companion’s mouth that she found it hard to argue with Etnom’s view of reality.”  “Oh Cheeks. Me miss you,” he was hugging the creature again, forcing what little air could pass it packed jaws out of its lungs.The two mounts scampered off into the underbrush to play at tag and hide and seek.  “Not too far Sheik, do not lose him again, OK.”  She was answered with what Grathem could only surmise must have been a sarcastic remark in Squirrel tongue based on the ferocity of the chittering and squeaks.“So,..you look good.  It still takes getting used to, the uniform I mean.  Harmony of course stood much taller than Grathem, so she sat down on the dry leaves beside him.  Her long brown hair brushed the ground, tied back in a long ponytail by a length of vine.  Her city uniform was brown and green and the holly shaped badge read ‘Harmony:  Arboreal Interpreter.’  He was surprised to see shoes on her feet and she caught his gaze.  “The city makes us wear them.  Hygiene in the snackbar and all.”Seeming not to enjoy the subject of discussing herself, she quickly adds, “Well how have you been?  You don’t seem to come around here so much anymore?  Doesn’t your patron frown on homebodies?”  “Ahh, Harmony.  Retirement just doesn’t suit me.  I feel the need to set out for grand adventure again, but I have too many ties that hold me down and feel that too much was lost.”  Just them a booming voice as if in answer to him resounds, “Cheeks, no fair jumping in trees.  Etnom no allowed anymore to jump from trees.”“Others can bear that responsibility you know.  Others, who are trained specifically for that.  It was not your fault he is like this, so it is not right that you feel you should be punished for it.”  She placed her hand on his back.  He could have curled up and slept in the warmth of her palm; coated in the scent of leather, pine sap, and…lavender?But he stirred himself to try to remove the bundle from his pocket. “Oh Grath..I…Um”, she stammered as he continued to fight with what filled his yellow breeches.  “Oh, come now Girl, give an old Paladin a little more respect than that…Whoof.”  And the bundle of paper finally sprang free.  Laughing she caught the small bundle but playfully seemed hesitant to touch it further, “What am I holding?  And are you quite done with it?”With a huff, he snatched it back and set out to try to unfold the myriad of folds he seems to have placed in it.  After a minute he laid the paper flat.  Looking over his shoulder, she skwints to read the fine print.  “They mean to let that idiot out after what he did to Kam.”“The hearing is at eleven, dear.”  I thought we should go as a group, but there is not much time”.  Glancing at his watch, “Which way is north?  I loose my bearings in the forest.”With a smile she point and he orients the sundial hand on his watch.  “Whoa, not much time at all.  Listen, I need you to head to the prison and be a presence in the hearing room.  I will gather Rasten and meet you there.”“But I haven’t seen Rasten since the trial.  Do you know where to find him?”Grathem handed her the second piece of paper.  It was a theatre review, and not a good one by the looks of it.  “Booth killed one in Ford’s Theater, Rasten kills entire audience.  Not Tonight Dear, I Have a Headache: The Lincoln Assassination Musical.  Take the title’s advice and STAY HOME!”“Poor Rasten, another misconceived project,” as she hands the slip of paper back.“So can you get there in time?”“Let me just notify my manager.”  She cups her hands and softly blows into them.  Her breath takes shape and a shimmering squirrel is visible.  With her lips close she whispers, “I need someone to cover my shift.”  She raises her hands the the squirrel seems to take flight up into the canopy. They gather up Sheik and Etnom and head out of the trees.  At the forest’s edge and small shimmering hawk comes down and lands in Harmony’s palm.  “You can not leave now!  The Halfling school kids are coming soon and all spare employees are guarding the gift shop.”  The small hawk disappears and Harmony looks up to see hear boss riding his giant hawk above the canopy.  He appears to be gesturing to get her back into the forest.  Harmony provides him with her own gesture.  Next her badge and shoes hit the soft grass.  Turning to Grathem and helping him up again onto Etnom’s shoulders, “Some things are just more important.”She mounts Sheik and gives a short wave before setting out at a bounding pace.  Grathem points Etnom toward the Arts District and set off at a brisk walk.****************************The traffic was horrible in the city square.  All motor vehicles are banned within the city limits, so that just encouraged everyone to run out and get a wagon or buggy.  Now the streets were choked with their rattling wheels and smelly waste.  Even worse was the traffic lights seemed to be set to the speed of a wagon.  As she sat at her fifth light in a row she fumed, then glanced around for a cop (giant squirrel picture).  With the coast clear, as the light changed she goaded Sheik up.  He took her cue and quickly scrambled up the side of the Portland National Bank building.  Watching for wires, antennas, and satellite dishes, Sheik set a pace as if he was born on a roof top.  With the courthouse and prison in view, they drop back down to street level.  “Just in time Sheik,” as a meter maid on her Dire Humming Bird rounded the corner.Carrying no metal objects, she quickly passed through security at the gate.  The sign at the door to the hearing room stated no animals except Riding Eye Dogs for the Blind.  Opening a small pouch she turned to Sheik, “In you go, just for a little bit.”  Sheik leapt at the pouch and was swallowed up into its trans-dimensional space, that is, all of him except four feet of his tail.  She pushed at the fluffy mass, but no more would fit.  “How many nuts did you eat?,” she ask in frustration.  Finally, wrapping the excess tail around her like a shawl, she entered the building to raised eyebrows of those who saw her grand entrance on this fine warm spring day.*********************The Arts District was quiet this time of day.  That was good for the street performers would have held Etnom spellbound for hours.  Grathem looks again at the review and saw the Gerald Ford Theatre listed.  Rasten likely appreciated the irony, but obviously the reviewer did not.The front was locked up so they passed down the side alley looking for another entrance.  Rounding the back corner, they came upon a crowd of what must have been the musical’s actors based on the 1850’s costumes.  Grathem immediately spotted Rasten sitting by the stage door looking dejected in his Lincoln attire (Lincoln picture).  A crumpled newspaper at his feet gently rocked in the breeze.He did smile when he saw Grathem and Etnom approach.  It unnerved the paladin to a degree to see Lincoln smile.  “You say we go see Rasten?” Etnom stated sounded dejected.Rising to his feet, Rasten greeted them with a bow, “My dear friends, so good to see you.”  Grathem saw the other performers, who had previously been obviously ignoring him to suffer alone in the dim glare of the scathing review, suddenly take notice.  Possibly the strange appearance of the gnome/man combination caught their interest, but more likely their utter surprise that this bombastic buffoon would have friends.“Sorry to hear about the show,” Grathem opened up, waving the clipped article in his hand.“Nothing like harsh words to stir up controversy.  Controversy fill the seats.  No press is bad press, ..”  Clearly Rasten had a few more of these, but Grathem realized how short of time they were.“Sorry, listen, can we talk.”  Quickly shoving the other clipped article down into his hand.Rasten was soon running to the stage door.  “Dear Director, you will have to go on without me somehow.  My talents are needed on an emergency’s call.  I know my contract states my continued presence, but…”Before he could finish the direct was already calling for the understudy, “You all heard him right, he released himself right?”All the stage hands raced back into the theatre as if renewed with vigor.  “Poor souls, look at them run.  I left them in such a state with having to replace me.”  Grathem caught the glace as the last actor entered the theatre; there seemed to have been a smile on it.**********************The gate security was a nightmare.  Etnom became panicked when he got tangled trying to remove the saddle.  Grathem was hesitant to leave his sword, especially after one of the guards drew it and playfully swung it around.  When he managed to slice the brim off his partners hat, everyone suddenly got very serious.  They almost left Rasten behind, as he continued to remove piercing rings from places Grathem did not think were pierceable.  They entered the hearing room in a rush, quickly settling into seats beside Harmony.  She gave them a look that dared any one of them to comment her fur attire, and all turned to give their attention to the proceedings.The room was stark.  A few hanging overhead lights and three small windows ave the room a myriad of shadows.  A series of long desks lined the far end of one wall.  Facing them was a man in a simple button down shirt and jeans, a metallic chain visible around his neck.  Grathem was surprised not to see him in his prison attire as if the Parole Board had already made their decision, but he suspected that they allowed him his street attire so as to not influence the board.  His black hair had been shaved since Grathem saw this man last.  Clint almost did not seem himself without his trademark long hair, but that menacing stare was still there as he glanced over at their arrival.  But it disappeared quickly when he turned back to the board reviewers.Grathem heard the psychiatrist wrapping up his review, “and seeing his model behavior within the prison I feel that this man, Mundungus Skeen, is ready to return to society.”The Prison Superintendent then turned to the crowd seated in uncomfortable wooded chairs in the back of the hall, “I believe the Board is ready to deliver its decision unless there is additional input from those in attendance.”Rasten jumped to his feet, “My dear Lord, the man in question has only served two years for murder sentence.  I can swear to you that this man should never be released into society.  In fact, the following sonnet should prove..”The Superintendent raised a hand to cut him off, “While I am sure I can rely on the honesty of your testimony Mr….Lincoln.  We are not here to relive past crimes, especially in rhyme.”  This got a good laugh from the audience, and he appeared ready to move on.  “So any other dignitaries wish to speak?”Grathem had been shaking his head in wonder at Rasten’s performance.  Lincoln reading sonnets, not a good start.  He got to his feet, which of course put him on the floor and out of sight.  As he scrambled to climb back up, he yanking on Harmony, “Say something!”Harmony jumped to her feet, but then looked quiet perplexed as if this was the last place she wanted to be.  “Yes, the distinguished lady wishes to add something?”  Getting more chuckles in the process.  She stammered and looked down at Grathem.  He was mouthing the words “Liar”.  “Yes!”  The force of the exclamation even surprised herself, but it seemed some long bent up emotion was starting to breach a dam.  “This man was our ‘friend’ yet told us nothing but lies for two years.  When we met him we thought he was a bit wild and sort of a loose cannon, but that can work for you sometimes when you take an adventure contract.  Well over the time that we know him his story would change.  He at times claimed he was an orphan, a disowned prince, a riverboat gambler, a bank teller, a good mechanic, and an honest politician who got out of the race because of all the dirty tricks.  He is a half-drow, half-dragon, tiefling half-lich.  Come on!  Half-Lich!  We almost starved to death over a period of six months because he would pick pocket every person in every village we entered.  We were hunted on sight across three country because he thought the blacksmith should have more than two silver pieces..”  Harmony was now making her way out of her row.  “He once pretended he could not read for six months because he said forgot he was a barbarian, when he was supposed to translate an ancient scroll we found.  We had sailed two thousand miles to save his father’s kingdom from trolls, only to have him tell us upon arrival that he is actually the before mentioned orphan…”  She was now stridently moving down the aisle toward Skeen, who looked more and more uncomfortable as she approached.  “And then there is the incident where I caught him with my animal companion trying to….”  She had just about reached him and had her hands out to strangle him. Skeen jumped to his feet to avoid her.  “Baliff!  Baliff!  Restrain that woman,” yelled the Superintendent.  The two burly attendants each sprang into action, but not before she reached him.  When they pulled her away, she still held fists full of his shirt.  He now stood shirtless, his dog tags visible now, hanging on a silver chain (shirtless man photo).  As the bailiffs dragged Harmony away, her voice raised into such a high pitch that it seemed to many to be chattering animal noises.  Before the doors closed, a hail of acorns rained through the crack; clattering and spinning on the hard wood floor.The Superintendent was banging on the table with his hand as if he was a gavel.  “Order, Order!  Please everyone take your seats.”  The room was abuzz with whispers and pointing.  “Mr. Skeen, are you OK to continue?  We can continue later if you require time to regain your composure?”With a sugary sweet smile, Skeen said, “No sir, I can continue.  But I hope everyone sees the character of those who seek to slander me.”  Taking his seat again, he gave a quick wink to a woman seated in the front row.  “Now, I think we are quiet ready to conclu….”“Etnom Kooc presents!”  Etnom’s chair fell behind him as he explodes to his feet.  And then silence.  That seemed all that Etnom had to say and the rest of the hall was in stunned silence.  Grathem takes the moment to tug on Etnom’s sleeve, and is rewarded when his gentle friend stoops and lifts him in his arms, above the heads of those seated around him.“Please excuse my moun..I mean my friend, as he is a bit of a kook.  But I do present him as evidence of what this hearing is all about.  Two years ago, Etnom was not like this.  He was actually a brilliant man with great sense of humor.  But that was robbed from him.  My friend Kam was still alive, but his life was robbed form him too.”“Sir..Sir, we are not here to retry his conspiracy case.  You will recall, it is not murder that Mr. Skeen is serving his sentence.  By your appearance, you are a ‘Roadie’ are you not?  I am sure you want to see justice done here, just like the rest of us.”  The superintendent looked in a hurry to cut off a paladin from testifying.“Please sir, we prefer the title Road Warden of Fharlanghn, or simply Warden.  But justice is what brings me here today.  For you see it was not conspiracy to commit a crime that destroyed my friends’ lives.  You see, we had just fought our way through to the Grand Lich’s Burial/Bedchamber.  We were fairly beat up, but ready for the challenge.  The fight was tough.  Rasten was down, but we seemed to be wearing him down after about 18 seconds.  That was the moment Skeen backstabs Kam and declares his allegiance to the Grand Lich.  He says he is half-lich and can help him.”  A gasp rose from the crowd.“It was a ploy,” yells Skeen obviously upset by this recollection.  “It was supposed to be nonlethal damage, but his spleen got in the way.  It was all a trick on the Grand Lich.”“Who by the way was not fooled in slightest, and in fact seemed pleased that the opponent who was just pummeling him was eliminated.  In fact, to reward you for your service, he cast a Disintergrate spell at you.  Mun, you held up Kam’s body as a human shield to avoid the spell.”  Another gasp and murmurs in the crowd.“Paine was tough as nails, I didn’t think anything could hurt him,” answered Skeen lamely.  “And that was the thought you had after you just stabbed him in the back, Mun?...  But distinguished Board, the loss of friends does not end there.  The Lich struck me from my mount, Razor Claw, a giant badger, then aimed a spell at Etnom, as he is now called.  As the Lich struck, Etnom reached for his scarab of protection that provided him a spell shield.  In a moment of panic, he released it was gone, and in that moment the Lich’s Feeblemind spell struck.  He had it the night before, although we never saw it again since then.The Lich struck me once again and left me near death.  My last memory was of Razor Claw wrestling with the Lich next to the Fire Pit that the Lich kept next to his bed.  And as I started to pass out, I saw Mun push them both into the pit.”The audience was starting to voice catcalls and the Superintendent realized things were getting out of control.  “Sir Paladin.  I have heard your wounds kept you from testifying, but these stories are simply unbelievable.  I mean, he has these written references.”  And he begins to unroll several scrolls.  “I mean the Baron of Westrun”“Written for our Company, before Skeen picked his pocket”“Well then, the Duke of Seaside”  “I believe he has fully recovered from his backstab accident”“The Earl of Havenship”“Pockets picked and backstabbed”With the last parchment in hand, “Surely not King Harold?”“No, he never got the chance.  Skeen tried to pick pocket the Queen…during court….and was spotted by the King with his hand in the Queen’s dress.”The Board now seemed quite flustered.  Rasten had started humming an anthum that slowly built up in volume during Grathem’s rendition.  The crowd was really enjoying the show.“Now see here, if you are indeed a Paladin, why did you travel with him?”  The Superintendent sat back in his chair thinking he had finally reestablished control of the hearing.“I wondered that too myself sometimes.  He always claimed he was Chaotic Neutral, and that meant he was unpredictable.  Even when I caught him roughing up orphans after I sent him to find out how much the nuns there charge for laundry service.”“Those little brats were a bunch of smart-mouths,” muttered Skeen under his breath. “But even after he ‘accidentally sold us to slavers, he never appeared as Evil to me……But Sir, I never noticed that necklace before either.”Skeen’s eyes went from Grathem, to the Superintendent, to his dog tags beneath his chin.“Baliff.  Examine those tags.”Both Baliffs stepped forward.  One stopped behind Skeen.  The other bent down to examine the medallions.  “Name : Who wants to know.  Occupation: Man of Mystery.Serial Number: more than one, less than infinity.  Alignment:  Try Again Later?”  The baliff looked up puzzled.“Sir, if I may?”  With a nod from all the members of the board, Grathem continued.  “Baliff please remove the medallion of Mind Shielding.”Da, Da, Daaaaaa,” Rasten’s sound track reached its climax.“Whoa, Fharlanghn’s Bunions!”  Grathem shielded his eyes.  “Baliff, please Detect Evil on this man and tell the Board your findings.”“Oooof.”  The baliff handed hard on his ass, a dazed look on his face.  “Baliff?  Are you all right.”The baliff slowly seemed to come back to his senses.  He looked up into Skeen’s leering face.  “Clear the room!  For mercy’s sake!  Restrain him!”  The Baliff was screaming orders while his partner placed Skeen in a choke hold.People started screaming and running for the door.  The Superintendent called out over the din.  “This board hearing will reconvene in two years time to reexamine the early release of Mundungus Skeen.The attractive woman in the front row cupped her hands to her mouth and whispered, “Kam Paine killer to remain in prison.”  A silvery typewriter with wings took form and flew from her hands.  On her way out, she hands Grathem a card:  Gail Tinker - Portland Tribune.  “We should talk,” and gives him a wink.Harmony manages to fight her way back in and the four friends hug.  “See you in two years?”“It’s a date,” Grathem chimes.  He walks out of the court house whistling Rasten’s anthem (soon to be known as Grathem’s Anthem) and twiddling Gail’s business card.</blockquote>

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