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Shackled City Epic: "Vengeance" (story concluded)
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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1863699" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 266</p><p></p><p>The companions drew their weapons as they faced a giant dire wolverine, trying not to provoke the creature that looked as though it could handle Hodge with a single bite. </p><p></p><p>“Bristle!” came a voice from further down the path. The wolverine turned its head in that direction, and then subsided, drawing back a pace and lowering its head with a final threatening growl at the companions. </p><p></p><p>A slender figure stepped onto the trail from behind a gnarled old tree. She was elvish, or at least partly so, with dusky gray skin and long, straight white hair that cascaded down across her shoulders and down her back. She was clad in a soft green tunic that blended in with her surroundings, over earthen brown breeches that culminated in a pair of soft leather boots. </p><p></p><p>“Shensen,” Zenna said. “It’s good to see you again.”</p><p></p><p>The half-drow druidess nodded. “I see you have found some new friends.”</p><p></p><p>“As have you,” Dannel said, with a nod to the wolverine, who continued to watch them intently, as if still hoping that these strangers would be someone that he could devour. </p><p></p><p>Zenna introduced Beorna and Hodge to Shensen Tesseril, who the group had first encountered in the cellar of the Lucky Monkey, a roadhouse near Cauldron that had been taken over by bandits. Since then she had spent a fair amount of her time here in the town, choosing as her place of dwelling this abandoned grove. </p><p></p><p>“Come,” Shensen said. “I know a nice quiet place where we can talk.”</p><p></p><p>She led them to a pleasant hillock covered in bright green grass with a clear view of the lake, surrounded by a dozen trees that all but shrouded it from the surrounding city. Bristle, the wolverine, followed them but remained on the edge of the hillock, fading back into the bushes until only his face was just visible. </p><p></p><p>“It’s surprising to see a creature such as that in the midst of a town,” Arun said. </p><p></p><p>“I found Bristle on one of the game-trails on the outer slope of the volcano,” Shensen said. “He was seriously injured, near death when I found him. I helped him, and brought him back here to recover. Only now he’s gotten comfortable, and he doesn’t seem to want to leave,” she added, with a grin. </p><p></p><p>“I’m surprised that the Watch allowed him into the town,” Beorna said. </p><p></p><p>Shensen’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “There are ways into the town besides the four gates.”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, it seems lately that they’ll let just about anything in, anyway,” Mole added dryly. </p><p></p><p>“You have a strong connection to the natural landscape, Shensen,” Zenna said. “Have you felt anything... unusual, of late?”</p><p></p><p>The druid pulled her knees close against her chest, and looked out over the lake. “You mean besides the general undercurrent of fear that pervades Cauldron? Yes. The natural currents of this place are in flux; there is something disturbing building in and around the town, something unnatural.”</p><p></p><p>“What is it?” Arun asked. </p><p></p><p>“I cannot say, for certain. For one, there is something dwelling in the lake, a shadowy creature. The fishermen have been uneasy; a lot of dead fish have risen to the surface, their bodies black and rotting. I have explored the upper levels of the lake, but even I know better than to plumb the lightless depths alone...”</p><p></p><p>“Great. Another monster, that’s all we need,” Hodge said. </p><p></p><p>“I will speak to Jenya about it,” Zenna promised. “But for the moment, we have had our own dealings with shadows...”</p><p></p><p>She shared their recent encounters, culminating with an overview of the revelations they’d had regarding Karran-Kural. “We believe that whatever’s going on there deep under the city, it’s connected with all of the recent troubles.”</p><p></p><p>“We sure could use your help getting down there,” Mole added. “What with all your druid magic and stuff.” </p><p></p><p>Shensen looked thoughtful. “Well, I would as soon see the evil in the city uncovered and destroyed as any of you,” she finally said. “And I am still indebted to you, for your bravery at the Lucky Monkey.”</p><p></p><p>She stood up; Zenna observed that the grass where she’d been sitting sprang up easily, as if her weight had made no impression upon the hill at all. “Very well,” she said. “Where is the entrance to this tunnel of which you spoke?”</p><p></p><p>“It’s on the northeastern face of the caldera’s outer rim, about a half-mile down from the town wall,” Dannel said. </p><p></p><p>“I assume that this adventure is one that you would prefer goes unnoticed?” At their nods, she went on, “Then I will meet you there, an hour after sunset.”</p><p></p><p>“In the meantime, we’ll go back to the Temple of Helm, and see if Jenya is ready to try again with her spell,” Zenna replied. “And I too need to ready what magic I can, to aid in this difficult journey.”</p><p></p><p>The druid escorted them back to the edge of the grove. As the noise and bustle of the town returned around them, Zenna looked back to see Shensen wave once, then vanish back into the brush, the dense vegetation swallowing her up into its embrace.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 1863699, member: 143"] Chapter 266 The companions drew their weapons as they faced a giant dire wolverine, trying not to provoke the creature that looked as though it could handle Hodge with a single bite. “Bristle!” came a voice from further down the path. The wolverine turned its head in that direction, and then subsided, drawing back a pace and lowering its head with a final threatening growl at the companions. A slender figure stepped onto the trail from behind a gnarled old tree. She was elvish, or at least partly so, with dusky gray skin and long, straight white hair that cascaded down across her shoulders and down her back. She was clad in a soft green tunic that blended in with her surroundings, over earthen brown breeches that culminated in a pair of soft leather boots. “Shensen,” Zenna said. “It’s good to see you again.” The half-drow druidess nodded. “I see you have found some new friends.” “As have you,” Dannel said, with a nod to the wolverine, who continued to watch them intently, as if still hoping that these strangers would be someone that he could devour. Zenna introduced Beorna and Hodge to Shensen Tesseril, who the group had first encountered in the cellar of the Lucky Monkey, a roadhouse near Cauldron that had been taken over by bandits. Since then she had spent a fair amount of her time here in the town, choosing as her place of dwelling this abandoned grove. “Come,” Shensen said. “I know a nice quiet place where we can talk.” She led them to a pleasant hillock covered in bright green grass with a clear view of the lake, surrounded by a dozen trees that all but shrouded it from the surrounding city. Bristle, the wolverine, followed them but remained on the edge of the hillock, fading back into the bushes until only his face was just visible. “It’s surprising to see a creature such as that in the midst of a town,” Arun said. “I found Bristle on one of the game-trails on the outer slope of the volcano,” Shensen said. “He was seriously injured, near death when I found him. I helped him, and brought him back here to recover. Only now he’s gotten comfortable, and he doesn’t seem to want to leave,” she added, with a grin. “I’m surprised that the Watch allowed him into the town,” Beorna said. Shensen’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “There are ways into the town besides the four gates.” “Yeah, it seems lately that they’ll let just about anything in, anyway,” Mole added dryly. “You have a strong connection to the natural landscape, Shensen,” Zenna said. “Have you felt anything... unusual, of late?” The druid pulled her knees close against her chest, and looked out over the lake. “You mean besides the general undercurrent of fear that pervades Cauldron? Yes. The natural currents of this place are in flux; there is something disturbing building in and around the town, something unnatural.” “What is it?” Arun asked. “I cannot say, for certain. For one, there is something dwelling in the lake, a shadowy creature. The fishermen have been uneasy; a lot of dead fish have risen to the surface, their bodies black and rotting. I have explored the upper levels of the lake, but even I know better than to plumb the lightless depths alone...” “Great. Another monster, that’s all we need,” Hodge said. “I will speak to Jenya about it,” Zenna promised. “But for the moment, we have had our own dealings with shadows...” She shared their recent encounters, culminating with an overview of the revelations they’d had regarding Karran-Kural. “We believe that whatever’s going on there deep under the city, it’s connected with all of the recent troubles.” “We sure could use your help getting down there,” Mole added. “What with all your druid magic and stuff.” Shensen looked thoughtful. “Well, I would as soon see the evil in the city uncovered and destroyed as any of you,” she finally said. “And I am still indebted to you, for your bravery at the Lucky Monkey.” She stood up; Zenna observed that the grass where she’d been sitting sprang up easily, as if her weight had made no impression upon the hill at all. “Very well,” she said. “Where is the entrance to this tunnel of which you spoke?” “It’s on the northeastern face of the caldera’s outer rim, about a half-mile down from the town wall,” Dannel said. “I assume that this adventure is one that you would prefer goes unnoticed?” At their nods, she went on, “Then I will meet you there, an hour after sunset.” “In the meantime, we’ll go back to the Temple of Helm, and see if Jenya is ready to try again with her spell,” Zenna replied. “And I too need to ready what magic I can, to aid in this difficult journey.” The druid escorted them back to the edge of the grove. As the noise and bustle of the town returned around them, Zenna looked back to see Shensen wave once, then vanish back into the brush, the dense vegetation swallowing her up into its embrace. [/QUOTE]
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