Dr Midnight
Explorer
The darkness drew over Verbobonc like a shroud. Patchwall is the beginning of the autumn season in the Flanaess, and with it comes a shock of cool breeze to chill the warm late summer days. The leaves begin preparing to leave the world in their annual suicide firestorm of orange, red, purple, and yellow. The air starts to carry the fresh tinge of a changing season.
Kizzlorn checked her belt once more for the vials of potions there. Everything was still in place. She sighed and went back to watching the sky.
She’d been hunting the dragon since she’d learned to talk. Years of preparing led to years of adventuring. During that time she took on countless quests, but everything, including the quest to free Gorgoldand, was in her heart beneath slaying the dragon that had killed her parents. It had consumed her life. She hated this creature with more passion than she’d ever felt for anything, and she’d never even seen it with her own eyes. She’d been living for it. What would the world be like when that hate was consummated, she wondered?
Shade walked over rubbing his left elbow. “I swear, I come back weaker every time I’m resurrected, or I’m a fool. My joints didn’t ache so much before… you okay luv?”
“I’m fine. Just thinking about everything.”
“Ahh. Thinkin’. Nasty habit, that.” He grinned at her. It was an odd sight, as he was now wearing the armor-plated bodysuit that Kolume the mind flayer had worn. It was form-fitting and slinky. The eyes were covered with some kind of odd reddish glass bulbs that gave Shade an insect quality. Still, the effect was more fearsome than alien. He truly looked the part of someone who could run up to an enemy and sever its head with a simple gesture.
Orthos and Jo’nas wandered over. “Kizz, Shade, my friends… join us in a last drink.” The dwarf was cheerful and heartily handing out mugs. “If I’m going back to Moradin tonight, I’m going with a pint in my belly. Ha!” He hefted a keg that was the size of his torso and began filling the mugs with the strong dwarven ale. “This is a vintage I’ve been carrying around for years. This is some excellent brew, let me assure ye.”
Jo’nas grasped his mug and smelled the lager. “Phew. You bearded doorstops sure know how to make a mean barrel of drink, don’t you?” Orthos laughed. The two were quickly becoming the best of friends. “Everyone, take a mug… Vek?”
Vek looked down from his position at the top of the tower and looked down on the others on the Keep’s roof. He wore Hedrack’s black armor and a flowing cape from his shoulders. His head was cowled with dark fabric, and the face inside the cowl was a grinning skull. “Yes, please.” A mug was levitated to him.
The Knights each took a mug and lifted it. Kizzlorn, Shade, Orthos, Jo’nas, Jamison, and Grumbar stood in a circle, ready for war. Kizzlorn said “We’ve had some hard battles. Yesterday was one of the worst… We were lucky to escape with out chunks of meat. Still, tonight may be worse yet. I just want you all to know I consider it a privilege to fight alongside you.”
Orthos took a breath and said “To livin’ well and dyin’ for what you believe in. Cheers.” They drank.
Jo’nas said “Vek, you didn’t drink yours.”
Vek replied. “No, I took part only in spirit. I’m afraid ale just goes right through me.” He laughed.
“Ugh… lich humor,” Orthos grunted. “Well, I’ll not let it go to waste, ya poxy leather bonesack! Levitate that back down here, I’ll finish it.” Vek did.
The lich looked back to the sky and stopped laughing. His eyes traced a snowflake as it fell past him. Then another followed it, and another. “It begins,” Vek said.
The snow started coming down in thick white mist over Verbobonc, and Acessiwal swooped down from the clouds.
MORE TO COME…
Kizzlorn checked her belt once more for the vials of potions there. Everything was still in place. She sighed and went back to watching the sky.
She’d been hunting the dragon since she’d learned to talk. Years of preparing led to years of adventuring. During that time she took on countless quests, but everything, including the quest to free Gorgoldand, was in her heart beneath slaying the dragon that had killed her parents. It had consumed her life. She hated this creature with more passion than she’d ever felt for anything, and she’d never even seen it with her own eyes. She’d been living for it. What would the world be like when that hate was consummated, she wondered?
Shade walked over rubbing his left elbow. “I swear, I come back weaker every time I’m resurrected, or I’m a fool. My joints didn’t ache so much before… you okay luv?”
“I’m fine. Just thinking about everything.”
“Ahh. Thinkin’. Nasty habit, that.” He grinned at her. It was an odd sight, as he was now wearing the armor-plated bodysuit that Kolume the mind flayer had worn. It was form-fitting and slinky. The eyes were covered with some kind of odd reddish glass bulbs that gave Shade an insect quality. Still, the effect was more fearsome than alien. He truly looked the part of someone who could run up to an enemy and sever its head with a simple gesture.
Orthos and Jo’nas wandered over. “Kizz, Shade, my friends… join us in a last drink.” The dwarf was cheerful and heartily handing out mugs. “If I’m going back to Moradin tonight, I’m going with a pint in my belly. Ha!” He hefted a keg that was the size of his torso and began filling the mugs with the strong dwarven ale. “This is a vintage I’ve been carrying around for years. This is some excellent brew, let me assure ye.”
Jo’nas grasped his mug and smelled the lager. “Phew. You bearded doorstops sure know how to make a mean barrel of drink, don’t you?” Orthos laughed. The two were quickly becoming the best of friends. “Everyone, take a mug… Vek?”
Vek looked down from his position at the top of the tower and looked down on the others on the Keep’s roof. He wore Hedrack’s black armor and a flowing cape from his shoulders. His head was cowled with dark fabric, and the face inside the cowl was a grinning skull. “Yes, please.” A mug was levitated to him.
The Knights each took a mug and lifted it. Kizzlorn, Shade, Orthos, Jo’nas, Jamison, and Grumbar stood in a circle, ready for war. Kizzlorn said “We’ve had some hard battles. Yesterday was one of the worst… We were lucky to escape with out chunks of meat. Still, tonight may be worse yet. I just want you all to know I consider it a privilege to fight alongside you.”
Orthos took a breath and said “To livin’ well and dyin’ for what you believe in. Cheers.” They drank.
Jo’nas said “Vek, you didn’t drink yours.”
Vek replied. “No, I took part only in spirit. I’m afraid ale just goes right through me.” He laughed.
“Ugh… lich humor,” Orthos grunted. “Well, I’ll not let it go to waste, ya poxy leather bonesack! Levitate that back down here, I’ll finish it.” Vek did.
The lich looked back to the sky and stopped laughing. His eyes traced a snowflake as it fell past him. Then another followed it, and another. “It begins,” Vek said.
The snow started coming down in thick white mist over Verbobonc, and Acessiwal swooped down from the clouds.
MORE TO COME…
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