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Steel Dragon's "Tales of Orea"
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<blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 6156541" data-attributes="member: 92511"><p>They moved swiftly, but with care. They reached the staircase in time to avoid a patrol of six hobgoblins coming up from the level below. </p><p>They stood silent and pressed against the wall to let the patrol pass.</p><p></p><p>The troops marched up, in rhythm, and along the ledge to the archway that the previous hobgoblins had exited and disappeared into it.</p><p></p><p>*Can’t I take just one? I haven’t eaten anything since this morning.* Buttercream implored the daelvar cleric.</p><p></p><p>“I know. But better not to just now.” Haelan said kindly, though in his mind he couldn’t imagine how awful raw hobgoblin might taste.</p><p></p><p>Duor took this opportunity to command his magic boots to give him “Hobgoblin boots” footprints.</p><p></p><p> They descended, now further away from the castle and made their way around the lower ledge to the stone bridge. It was much more narrow than the ledge, barely ten feet wide, with no railing to avoid falling off the sides. But it led straight to the outer parapets of the towered fortress of black. It extended, seemingly without physical support, a full hundred feet to the other side.</p><p></p><p>Two guards stood at the ledge side and two more could be easily seen by the tall polearms they held, at the far end. There could be little doubt engaging either would undoubtedly cause an alarm to be raised in moments if they were not careful.</p><p></p><p>One by one, with as much care as possible, Haelan even holding his breath as they passed by the guards on the ledge said.</p><p></p><p>“<em><You hear that?></em>” one guard grumbled to the other when Buttercream passed by, her claws clicking lightly on the stone. <em><translated from Goblinese.></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><”I don’t hear nuthin’. You just tryin’ to go off for another break. Shuddup n’ keep your station.”></em> the other replied.</p><p></p><p>Duor couldn’t resist himself and said, from just passed the guards on the bridge. “<em><You shuddup!></em>”</p><p></p><p>The first guard immediately took a battle-ready stance, lowering his polearm, almost into Alaria’s chest.</p><p></p><p>“<em><Wut you said?></em>” the apparently senior guard said as he turned to the first one, drawing a serated curved blade.<em> <You want to ‘splain insubordination to Overseer?></em>”</p><p></p><p><em>“<I didn’t say nuthin’! Somethin’ is here!></em>” the first one said.</p><p></p><p>The senior guard looked side to side for a moment but kept his weapon drawn on the first guard.</p><p></p><p>“<em><Now you makin’ up lies for insubrdination? You looking to be Rach'sha food?></em>” the senior said.</p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“<No! No! I didn’t say it! Something else is here!></em>” the first guard said immediately and jabbed into the air around him.</p><p></p><p>Pyrnion grabbed Alaria from behind, pulling her clear of the stabbing weapon, and took wing across the expanse. </p><p></p><p>This left the satyr Jovias and Fen on the ledge side. The satyr stood stock still. The druid, similarly pressed up against the wall.</p><p></p><p>The senior guard twisted his face and looked aruond again while his comrade was seemingly flailing at nothing.</p><p></p><p>“<em><Gutslug! Get over here. Smakdown’s goin’ all crazy.></em>” the senior guard yelled across the expanse.</p><p></p><p>One of the guards at the wall side turned in response to the senior guard’s command. Without question, he began racing across the bridge.</p><p></p><p>Pyrnion scooped up Haelan, who was directly in the hobgoblin’s path and flew him over to the other side.</p><p></p><p>As he returned to try to get Duor, the hobgoblin guard was coming up to the dwarf. He moved as close to the edge as he dared to get out of the wide, heavily armored hobgoblin came by.</p><p></p><p>”<em><Arse-hat gobslug></em>” Duor whispered as the guard passed.</p><p></p><p>“<<em>Wut!?></em>" Gutslug whirled around at the insult and felt the impact as one of his large shoulder plates bumped into something that wasn’t there. There was the distinct sound of a bot scraping against the dusty rock. </p><p></p><p>All of the companions sucked in a breath to see Duor‘s enchanted form slip off the edge of the bridge. Pyrnion dove for the dwarf but, before he could reach him, Duor threw up a strand of silver cord. The rope rose up and clasped the edge of the bridge with a “claw” like grapple of silver. </p><p></p><p>The companions exhaled prayers to their respective gods that the enchanted rope seemed to also be invisible to the hobgoblins.</p><p></p><p>Duorhung there for a moment before Pyrnion scooped him off of his line, like a piece of bait hanging from a fishhook.</p><p></p><p>Upon depositing the dwarf on the battlements, away from the other hobgoblin guard and the other companions, Pyrnion whispered to the dwarf, “One more stunt like that and I will kill you myself.”</p><p></p><p>Duor looked at the zephari, ready to make a crass quip in reply until he saw the burning seriousness in the bird-man’s eagle eyes.</p><p></p><p>“Stay here. And do not make another sound or I will remove your tongue with my own hand.” Not awaiting a response, Pyrnion took off again to go collect the hard-pressed Fen and Jovias.</p><p></p><p> “<em><Look! Look there!></em>” Smakdown cried, still trying to defend himself. The hobgoblin was pointing at the distrubed ground on the ledge where there had obviously been a lot of movement. There was a distinctly small non-booted footprint and another cloven print.</p><p></p><p> Fen held a hand over the satyr minstrel’s mouth and pulled him close to the wall. If they were looking for them, his druid’s cloak, he hoped would add an extra layer of defense from being revealed.</p><p></p><p>The senior guard looked at the prints and for a moment thought the crazed Smakdown might be telling the truth. </p><p></p><p>“<em><Might just be one o’ the Master’s demon-things playing tricks.></em>” the senior guard squinted into the surrounding air as if he was going to perceive some invisible demon.</p><p></p><p>“<em><This’uns got four toes. See! It’s a dwarf!></em>” Smakdown insisted.</p><p></p><p>“<em><Pah. Too small fer a dwarf. Last youngling we had died last month.></em>” the newly arrived Gutslug added.</p><p></p><p><em>“Go check the slave pens.</em>>” the senior guard commanded. “<<em>I want full count of every bearded head!</em>>”</p><p></p><p>Gutslug saluted the senior and took off down the ledge to another staircase that led further down. </p><p></p><p>“<<em>You stay here an stab at anything in the wind. I'll be back.</em>>” the commander told Smakdown before he headed over the bridge back for the castle.</p><p></p><p>Bringing both the satyr and half-elf at once, the company reassembled at Duor’s position.</p><p></p><p>“That was stupid.” Braddok admonished. “Do that again and...”</p><p></p><p>“Yeah, yeah. You can arm wrestle the birdie fer the honor.” Duor said dismissively.</p><p></p><p>Braddok grabbed Duor by the shoulder and turned him, forcefully. His image fluttered into a ghostly transparency for a moment before the pixie dust invisibility reasserted itself. “I am serious, Duor. You’ve wanted this for a long time. I need this to work. We all do. Do not jeopardize us all again.”</p><p></p><p>“Alright. Yer right. I’m sorry.” Duor.</p><p></p><p>“We may be jeopardized already. That captain or whatever he was is no doubt going to inform someone. Maybe get magical assistance. We are in jeopardy now. Thanks so much, Duor. Festus would be proud.” Alaria admonished. “If any of us are killed as a result of your foolishness, I will turn you into a toad. I <em>can</em> do it and I swear by Manat's Star<em>, I will</em>. Is that clear?”</p><p></p><p>“Yeh...uh...yes, Alaria. I am sorry. Jus’ trying t’have a bit o’ fun at a hobgoblin’s expense.” Duor tried to defend again.</p><p></p><p>“Enough time wasted. Haelan, you’re up.” Alaria said, ignoring the dwarf’s apology.</p><p></p><p>Haelan nodded, his face a mask of grim seriousness for the daelvar.</p><p></p><p>“<em>Deisa Faerantha, dicteus beneficia supplicantus positus locuitum Ihs Repahl.” <cleric spell: Locate Object. translated from Old Selurian: “Holy Faerantha, bless your loyal servant to reveal the location of the Ihs Repahl.”</em>> </p><p></p><p>Haelan felt a tingling sensation come over his eyes and mind. There was a distinct impression of a sweet-smelling breeze touching the right side of his face .(though none of the other companions perceived such a wind)</p><p></p><p>“That way.” Haelan pointed the direct the breeze had come from. This took them back passed the remaining guard on the fortress-side of the bridge. They passed around the edges of the battlement walls, towards what appeared to be the “back” of the castle. Haelan stopped after a moment. The breeze was felt upon his face again.</p><p></p><p>“That way.” Haelan pointed down at an archway on the far side of an empty courtyard of black stone below them. </p><p></p><p>”And up.” Haelan pointed up at the largest of the fortress‘ twisted towers.</p><p></p><p>“Everybody ready?” Braddok said</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="steeldragons, post: 6156541, member: 92511"] They moved swiftly, but with care. They reached the staircase in time to avoid a patrol of six hobgoblins coming up from the level below. They stood silent and pressed against the wall to let the patrol pass. The troops marched up, in rhythm, and along the ledge to the archway that the previous hobgoblins had exited and disappeared into it. *Can’t I take just one? I haven’t eaten anything since this morning.* Buttercream implored the daelvar cleric. “I know. But better not to just now.” Haelan said kindly, though in his mind he couldn’t imagine how awful raw hobgoblin might taste. Duor took this opportunity to command his magic boots to give him “Hobgoblin boots” footprints. They descended, now further away from the castle and made their way around the lower ledge to the stone bridge. It was much more narrow than the ledge, barely ten feet wide, with no railing to avoid falling off the sides. But it led straight to the outer parapets of the towered fortress of black. It extended, seemingly without physical support, a full hundred feet to the other side. Two guards stood at the ledge side and two more could be easily seen by the tall polearms they held, at the far end. There could be little doubt engaging either would undoubtedly cause an alarm to be raised in moments if they were not careful. One by one, with as much care as possible, Haelan even holding his breath as they passed by the guards on the ledge said. “[I]<You hear that?>[/I]” one guard grumbled to the other when Buttercream passed by, her claws clicking lightly on the stone. [I]<translated from Goblinese.> <”I don’t hear nuthin’. You just tryin’ to go off for another break. Shuddup n’ keep your station.”>[/I] the other replied. Duor couldn’t resist himself and said, from just passed the guards on the bridge. “[I]<You shuddup!>[/I]” The first guard immediately took a battle-ready stance, lowering his polearm, almost into Alaria’s chest. “[I]<Wut you said?>[/I]” the apparently senior guard said as he turned to the first one, drawing a serated curved blade.[I] <You want to ‘splain insubordination to Overseer?>[/I]” [I]“<I didn’t say nuthin’! Somethin’ is here!>[/I]” the first one said. The senior guard looked side to side for a moment but kept his weapon drawn on the first guard. “[I]<Now you makin’ up lies for insubrdination? You looking to be Rach'sha food?>[/I]” the senior said. [I] “<No! No! I didn’t say it! Something else is here!>[/I]” the first guard said immediately and jabbed into the air around him. Pyrnion grabbed Alaria from behind, pulling her clear of the stabbing weapon, and took wing across the expanse. This left the satyr Jovias and Fen on the ledge side. The satyr stood stock still. The druid, similarly pressed up against the wall. The senior guard twisted his face and looked aruond again while his comrade was seemingly flailing at nothing. “[I]<Gutslug! Get over here. Smakdown’s goin’ all crazy.>[/I]” the senior guard yelled across the expanse. One of the guards at the wall side turned in response to the senior guard’s command. Without question, he began racing across the bridge. Pyrnion scooped up Haelan, who was directly in the hobgoblin’s path and flew him over to the other side. As he returned to try to get Duor, the hobgoblin guard was coming up to the dwarf. He moved as close to the edge as he dared to get out of the wide, heavily armored hobgoblin came by. ”[I]<Arse-hat gobslug>[/I]” Duor whispered as the guard passed. “<[I]Wut!?>[/I]" Gutslug whirled around at the insult and felt the impact as one of his large shoulder plates bumped into something that wasn’t there. There was the distinct sound of a bot scraping against the dusty rock. All of the companions sucked in a breath to see Duor‘s enchanted form slip off the edge of the bridge. Pyrnion dove for the dwarf but, before he could reach him, Duor threw up a strand of silver cord. The rope rose up and clasped the edge of the bridge with a “claw” like grapple of silver. The companions exhaled prayers to their respective gods that the enchanted rope seemed to also be invisible to the hobgoblins. Duorhung there for a moment before Pyrnion scooped him off of his line, like a piece of bait hanging from a fishhook. Upon depositing the dwarf on the battlements, away from the other hobgoblin guard and the other companions, Pyrnion whispered to the dwarf, “One more stunt like that and I will kill you myself.” Duor looked at the zephari, ready to make a crass quip in reply until he saw the burning seriousness in the bird-man’s eagle eyes. “Stay here. And do not make another sound or I will remove your tongue with my own hand.” Not awaiting a response, Pyrnion took off again to go collect the hard-pressed Fen and Jovias. “[I]<Look! Look there!>[/I]” Smakdown cried, still trying to defend himself. The hobgoblin was pointing at the distrubed ground on the ledge where there had obviously been a lot of movement. There was a distinctly small non-booted footprint and another cloven print. Fen held a hand over the satyr minstrel’s mouth and pulled him close to the wall. If they were looking for them, his druid’s cloak, he hoped would add an extra layer of defense from being revealed. The senior guard looked at the prints and for a moment thought the crazed Smakdown might be telling the truth. “[I]<Might just be one o’ the Master’s demon-things playing tricks.>[/I]” the senior guard squinted into the surrounding air as if he was going to perceive some invisible demon. “[I]<This’uns got four toes. See! It’s a dwarf!>[/I]” Smakdown insisted. “[I]<Pah. Too small fer a dwarf. Last youngling we had died last month.>[/I]” the newly arrived Gutslug added. [I]“Go check the slave pens.[/I]>” the senior guard commanded. “<[I]I want full count of every bearded head![/I]>” Gutslug saluted the senior and took off down the ledge to another staircase that led further down. “<[I]You stay here an stab at anything in the wind. I'll be back.[/I]>” the commander told Smakdown before he headed over the bridge back for the castle. Bringing both the satyr and half-elf at once, the company reassembled at Duor’s position. “That was stupid.” Braddok admonished. “Do that again and...” “Yeah, yeah. You can arm wrestle the birdie fer the honor.” Duor said dismissively. Braddok grabbed Duor by the shoulder and turned him, forcefully. His image fluttered into a ghostly transparency for a moment before the pixie dust invisibility reasserted itself. “I am serious, Duor. You’ve wanted this for a long time. I need this to work. We all do. Do not jeopardize us all again.” “Alright. Yer right. I’m sorry.” Duor. “We may be jeopardized already. That captain or whatever he was is no doubt going to inform someone. Maybe get magical assistance. We are in jeopardy now. Thanks so much, Duor. Festus would be proud.” Alaria admonished. “If any of us are killed as a result of your foolishness, I will turn you into a toad. I [I]can[/I] do it and I swear by Manat's Star[I], I will[/I]. Is that clear?” “Yeh...uh...yes, Alaria. I am sorry. Jus’ trying t’have a bit o’ fun at a hobgoblin’s expense.” Duor tried to defend again. “Enough time wasted. Haelan, you’re up.” Alaria said, ignoring the dwarf’s apology. Haelan nodded, his face a mask of grim seriousness for the daelvar. “[I]Deisa Faerantha, dicteus beneficia supplicantus positus locuitum Ihs Repahl.” <cleric spell: Locate Object. translated from Old Selurian: “Holy Faerantha, bless your loyal servant to reveal the location of the Ihs Repahl.”[/I]> Haelan felt a tingling sensation come over his eyes and mind. There was a distinct impression of a sweet-smelling breeze touching the right side of his face .(though none of the other companions perceived such a wind) “That way.” Haelan pointed the direct the breeze had come from. This took them back passed the remaining guard on the fortress-side of the bridge. They passed around the edges of the battlement walls, towards what appeared to be the “back” of the castle. Haelan stopped after a moment. The breeze was felt upon his face again. “That way.” Haelan pointed down at an archway on the far side of an empty courtyard of black stone below them. ”And up.” Haelan pointed up at the largest of the fortress‘ twisted towers. “Everybody ready?” Braddok said [/QUOTE]
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