The Realms of Enlightenment: The Grey Companions

[Jon Potter]

[Realms #242] Raids Kill Bugs... Dead!

"Tell me what you see girl," Feln grunted as he blindly reached out a hand, groping for the cave wall. It was right where he'd left it.

"What is wrong?" the girl asked. Her voice came from behind and to Feln's right. Braath the Lesser's ensuing laughter came from his left and slightly above.

"Your savior is about to learn what it means to incur the wrath of Braath the Lesser," the voice chuckled and Feln could hear the muttered sound of spell casting.

"Direct me girl!" the half-orc shouted. "You need to be my eyes!"

"He's on the ceiling!" the girl said. "Right in front of you!"

Feln took a sweeping swing with his quarterstaff, connecting with nothing. An instant later, his dark world was filled with burning.



"Sopio!" Ixin shouted, gesturing at the nest while casting the last of her First Circle spells. Of the eight visible bug men, six immediately went to sleep. One of them slumped over to the side and remained in the nest. The others fell limply to the ground with a sickening crunch of bursting exoskeletons. Only one survived the twenty foot drop to the floor; Morier immediately skewered it on the point of his greatsword.

The two bug men that had been unaffected by Ixin's spell let out a yap of fear and disappeared inside the nest.

Ixin and Morier blinked in surprise as Vade struck his sunrod against the floor, flooding the chamber in a soft golden glow. The halfling's human child disguise looked even more convincing in that light, which made the arrow protruding from his shoulder all the more unsettling.

"Should I ignite the smoke stick and make haste down the corridor?" Vade asked in elvish. He angled his head toward the dark opening at the rear of the chamber. "Or should we stay and deal with the nest? I bet it's flammable and would create quite a distraction."

"What?" Morier asked, clearly not understanding Vade at all. The albino produced a vial from his belt and tossed back the contents like a shot of whiskey. Immediately, his wounds closed.

"He wants to know if we burn the nest or press on," Ixin translated as she yanked the arrow out of her thigh with a grunt.

"Press on," Morier said without preamble and stepped into the dark corridor. Vade and Ixin looked at each other.

"Do you have any oil left?" the mage asked.

"One," Vade responded, digging in his pack. Ixin wiggled her fingers.

"Think you can get it in one of those openings?" she asked, indicating the nest above. Vade glanced at it and nodded.

"Probably," he said. "What do you have in mind?" Ixin grinned in reply.



Ledare surmised that she had been spotted by the returning bug men long before they got within crossbow range. The quartet of bolts they sent at her confirmed her suspicion. Three arrows thudded into the ground at her feet, while one nicked her right arm, threatening to throw off her own aim. It didn't however, and she sent a quarrel from her hand crossbow into the nearest bug man's head, skewering it through the eye. It was dead before it hit the ground.

The other three circled around for another fly by.



"Leave him alone, you monster!" the girl was screaming. Feln could hear the rattle and clank of her impotent struggle with the chains, but all her could do was roll around on the ground trying to extinguish the flames that had caught on his clothing. "It's me you want!"

"In due time, archon!" Braath's voice came from somewhere closer. He was moving toward the girl. "Once I have dealt with this fool, you and I can resume our... transactions!" He chuckled and the sound was very chilling indeed.

"Casting me into darkness," Feln grunted as he got to his feet. The monk was sure that smoke must be rising from his charred skin and hair, but he still had a lot of fight left in him if he could lure this mage into one. "Did you learn this spell on a bar-room table. This is the lamest spell I have ever seen... or not seen really."

"Darkness?" Braath snorted a derisive short. "That is a spell for brash Evokers. The Transmuter enjoys infinitely more subtlety in his craft!" Feln could hear him casting again and took a swing in that direction, connecting with nothing.

"Release me from this darkness, Braath!" the monk said. "Do not let your lack of confidence in yourself make you a dirty fighter."

"Confidence is one thing I have aplenty, wretch," Braath replied from very nearby. Feln's training kicked in and he ducked, miraculously avoiding an attack that parted the air above his head. "I'll teach you to fear the name Braath the Lesser!"

"Lesser? What kind of name is that?" the monk retorted, swinging his staff again and missing again. "I am Feln the Mediocre. Or wait, maybe I can be Feln the Not-So-Good!" He felt the wind of another blow coming at him -this time from further to his left.

"Soon you will be Feln the Dead!" Braath told him.




Each time they flew passed for an attack, Ledare would whittle their numbers down by one. On the second pass, she deflected a bolt with her shield and pinned one of the bug men's arms to its torso with an arrow of her own. On the third pass, she managed to transfix another of the creature's heads. The transmogrified corpses lay scattered at her feet amidst a small forest of her enemies' missed ammunition.

There was only one opponent left when she smelled smoke and glanced back to see the cave mouth belching forth a sooty cloud.



"Yaaagh!" Feln screamed involuntarily as Braath laid a hand on his back and sent electricity coursing through the monk's body. The scent of ozone filled Feln's nostrils, replacing the odor of burnt half-orc that had been lingering in the cave. He swung his quarterstaff, but Braath had apparently taken a step back and was out of his reach.

"You're a tough one, orc blood. I'll give you that," Braath said and Feln hear the sound of something long being unsheathed. "But Master Nicetas taught me many things before he entrusted command of his army to me! Pray now to whatever god you worship, for you go now to meet -"

"Hey, bug face!" Vade called and Braath the Lesser - who looked to be equal parts humanoid and insect - turned. He was just in time to swat at the thunderstone Vade had thrown. It exploded on contact with a concussive roar that sent Feln reeling. It had a decidedly worse effect on Braath. He dropped his greatsword and brought a pair of his four arms up to his head, screaming in pain.

Morier was the next to react and he spared no time in charging headlong toward the staggered Braath. His silver greatsword crackled with electrical energy and when he plunged the blade into his enemy's thorax, lightning arced back and forth between the blade and Braath. Braath the Lesser's exoskeleton burst apart under the electrical onslaught, sending gobbets of sizzling bug juice flying in all directions.

Morier pulled his sword free and turned, tiny sparks of lightning playing across his arms and dancing in his eyes. What was left of Braath the Lesser collapsed into a smoking heap at the albino's feet.



Outside, Windstryder had still not given up hope that she would locate a back door to the cave complex.

 

[Jon Potter]

[Realms #245] They're Creeping Up On you

Windstryder stopped and sniffed at the air. She smelled smoke... and nearby. Turning, she spotted the dark plume against the star-filled sky and was about to head back to the cave mouth when she spotted the faint trail in the grass. The same inhuman tracks in the soil indicated a path to and from the forest to the east. It was barely visible in the dim light and she wouldn't have spotted it at all except that it seemed to end nowhere. She stooped and spotted the concealed hatch with little difficulty now that she knew where to look.

"Yallume," she hissed in elvish, pleased that she'd finally located the object of her search. "Amin utue ta." She reached out a hand to trace the outline of the trapdoor, and was almost struck by it as the door was thrown open from below. Something large and hairy swelled out of the opening and Windstryder's first thought was: gnoll. But it was a gnoll whose mouth sported a pair of sharp mandibles and whose arms ended in snapping pincers. It surged upwards on numerous spindly legs and a thick segmented tail curled up from its hind-quarters surmounted by a wicked-looking barb as long as a shortsword.

Windstryder took a step back from the opening, raised her bow and sent an arrow at the thing. The shaft struck and drew blood from the deadly tail making the creature bark in pain. It came at her, one of its claws drawing retaliatory blood from her right thigh. Staggered slightly by the blow, the ranger brought her bow wide, away from her body and drew her rapier with her other hand. The slender needle of steel stabbed outward, piercing the chitinous armor on the transmogrified thing's right forearm. Enraged now, the creature sought to grab her with its pincers and skewer her with its tail, but she danced nimbly around the attacks.

Behind her opponent, Windstryder saw other multi-limbed shapes moving out of the hidden bolthole.



"We need to watch for traps," Feln said immediately. "The ceiling fell on me because of a plate in the floor."

Vade surveyed the rubble that littered the floor of the wide tunnel. "Ow that had to hurt," he said, wincing as he did so. "I heard the the rocks fall on you, Feln, so I went and got Morrier and Ixin. We took care of the guards and Braath, the not-so-tough. hee hee!"

"Thank you, Vade," Feln replied. "Can you keep your eyes peeled for traps?"

"I always do," the halfling lied and the monk hung his head.

"Sorry for charging in like this," he apologized. "My expertise is in cities and buildings. I did not expect a trap... careless." Vade smiled and drew out his last tin of Rherram's healing salve.

"Don't worry about it. Use some of this on your wounds," the rogue said and tossed the tin to Feln. It pinged off of the monk's cheek, eliciting a disapproving growl.

"AAAAHHHHH, I cannot see, damn it," Feln grumbled, waving his hand around blindly. "Ixin, can you break this spell?"

Ixin shook her head and then said, "No. But you must maintain your control or that bastard will have won." She stepped in close to him and laid a hand reassuringly on his broad shoulder. "Remember that you have finely-honed senses beyond your vision. Rely on them and on us now. We will fix this."

Feln grunted his acceptance of that logic then whispered nervously, "How long will this trickery last?" Ixin sighed.

"I have no way of knowing at this point," she admitted. "We will lead you out and get some answers in town."

"Is that the girl we came to find?" Morier asked as he cleaned the gore off his greatsword. He nodded to the elf chained in the chamber just beyond.

"Yes!" Feln said quickly as if he'd just remembered she was there. "Vade, can you-?"

The halfling jingled his lockpicks and began trotting toward the shackled girl. "I'm already on it!" he sang as he went.



Ledare redirected her attention to her adversary and fired another quarrel at it. The thing dodged and shot back at her, its bolt drawing blood between the plates of steel that protected her left thigh. As it circled around, she saw it toss its crossbow to the ground and draw its shortsword. It yapped out a few words that Ledare couldn't understand.

But the words weren't meant for her, she discovered as the droning of wings drew her attention to the sword wielding bug man that was coming at her from the direction of the smoking cave mouth.



Realizing that her position was about to be overrun, Windstryder broke off her attack and moved quickly to the top of the hill. Her opponent wasn't about to let her get away so easily, and it was faster than she. It scurried forward on its six legs and snapped at her with its claws, but connected only with air.

Behind it, a second of its ilk moved forward. It would be within striking range of her in seconds, and a third was scrambling up out of the bolthole. They were too fast, so clearly, running wasn't going to get her very far.

"Caela ie'lle, saurar!" she cried and stabbed outward with her rapier. Unfortunately, she fumbled the attack and lost her footing on the crest of the hill. She staggered sideways, arms pin-wheeling wildly and her opponents chuckled darkly as they moved into attack positions.



"Thank you, kind sir," the girl said as Vade nonchalantly popped the lock on her shackles. He looked up into her bright green eyes and gulped. He'd seen that same look of zealous righteousness flickering in the eyes of a paladin or two whose path he'd crossed.

"Oh, I was chained up like this just last moonsdance," the halfling explained as he put away his tools."I did not like it one bit either."

The girl got quickly to her feet, rubbing at the chafed bands circling her wrists. She looked outward at Feln, Morier and Ixin, her expression and body language managing to somehow convey both innocent humility and imperious indignation. "Thank you all for freeing me," she said. "Much evil might have been done if you had not come."

Vade was close enough to see that she had been both whipped and beaten rather severely. Numerous bruises and cuts marred her otherwise perfect skin, but she seemed not to notice them. She was likewise unperturbed by the fact that she was standing naked in a dank cave. Vade produced a blanket from his pack and wrapped it around her thin shoulders. "Are there any more big nasty creatures we need to worry about?" he asked and the girl turned, her eyes flashing like emeralds in the light from his sunrod.

"Yes," she said with an eager tone. "There are other dark monstrosities here, but Braath the Lesser was their leader. With him dead, the others will quickly fall to our swords."

"Ummm," Vade began. "I think we just want to get you safely back to the village."

"We're in no shape to deal with this now," Feln agreed, but the girl shook her head savagely.

"These abominations pose a direct threat to Hillville Junction," the girl said grimly. "Without Braath the Lesser's strong rule, these things are certain to swarm out of the hills onto the unprepared village like a plague, devouring anything they can get their claws into. Once this region is depleted, they will simply move on despoil another area." She surveyed the group with a stern expression. "We must smite them now while they are unprepared and reeling from your successful attack!"



Somehow, Windstryder managed to avoid the attacks from the creature she had already wounded twice, but she couldn't seem to regain her footing. Wherever she placed her foot, the ground seemed to collapse, or her ankle would turn. She lurched to the side, directly into the pincer of her second attacker. Its claw crunched down on her left elbow, grinding against the bone and the pain was tremendous. Somehow, she managed to remain conscious and avoid the tail that curled up and stabbed down at her over the thing's shoulder.

Another of the creatures was right behind these two, she saw, and there was more movement at the bolthole.



Ledare holstered her hand crossbow and drew Ruze's matched scimitars in one graceful motion as the two transmogrified bug men took op flanking positions on her. The creatures struck as one, showing a fair amount of tactical savvy, and Ledare was only able to deflect one of the sword thrusts. One of the blades nicked her side just below her breastplate, and she could feel blood slowly trickling beneath her armor.

She had to end it now. Twisting the twin moon blades around, she stabbed at both of the bug men before they could fly away out of her reach. One blade severed a wing, sending the creature spiralling into a nearby tree with a bone snapping crunch of finality. The other scimitar deprived the janissary's tormentor of his shortsword... along with most of its sword arm as well. The creature joined its brethren at Ledare's feet.

She turned in a circle looking for any further threats before she moved back into hiding. At the top of the hill overlooking the cave mouth, Ledare spotted Windstryder being harried by three creatures that she recognized at once. Several moonsdances ago, one of those same things had very nearly killed Soriah. It had taken the combined might of Finian, Kirnoth and Ledare, herself to put the creature down and Soriah's very life had been saved only through Finian's expert healing skills.

But now, Soriah, Finian and Kirnoth were no more. And there were three of those things attacking Windstryder.

 

[Jon Potter]

She turned in a circle looking for any further threats before she moved back into hiding. At the top of the hill overlooking the cave mouth, Ledare spotted Windstryder being harried by three creatures that she recognized at once. Several moonsdances ago, one of those same things had very nearly killed Soriah. It had taken the combined might of Finian, Kirnoth and Ledare, herself to put the creature down and Soriah's very life had been saved only through Finian's expert healing skills.

But now, Soriah, Finian and Kirnoth were no more. And there were three of those things attacking Windstryder.

The events that Ledare remembers here are chronicalled in the turn archives at this link toward the bottom of the page.

FYI.

 

[Jon Potter]

[Realms #246] The Girl, the Bug Men, and Everything!

"I do not want to hang out here," Vade said in a small voice and the girl turned to regard him with her glittering green eyes. Her expression said that he was being judged... and found wanting.

"We must not leave them to regain their strength," the girl said. "Now is the time to strike!"

"No," Ixin said flatly. "Now is the time to go find Ledare and Windstryder ASAP. Then let's head back to town, rest and heal as much as we can and head back to Barnacus."

The girl frowned and bent to pick up Braath the Lesser's fallen greatsword. "I'm not leaving," she said as she hauled the huge blade up until its tip pointed at the ceiling.

"Too many people are depending on your safe return," Feln grunted. "We can't risk you getting hurt or..." His voice trailed off an the girl sneered.

"I am ready to sacrifice my own life, if need be, to eradicate the threat these creatures pose," she said and lowered the sword so that the flat of the blade rested on her left shoulder. It was a pose that Draelond had often assumed and the sight brought momentary pangs of loss to both Ixin and Vade. "In fact," the girl went on, "I am half-convinced that I have been sent here to test my willingness to make such a sacrifice on behalf of others."

"Sent from where?" Vade asked. "Where did you come from?"

The girl smiled down at him, and the look on her face was one of both serene happiness and profound loss. She pointed one finger upward. "Up there," she said and Vade scrunched up his face and squinted at the ceiling.

"There's an upper level to these caves?" he asked.



Miraculously, Windstrider's foot stepped on solid earth and the ranger ventured a look over her right shoulder at what lay behind her. Down the slope of the hill, she could see the Janissary holding two scimitars and hustling in her direction. The elf let her right knee collapse beneath her weight and pushed off with her left foot and her momentum carried her over the crest of the hill and into a barrel roll. She drew her bow and rapier in tight against her body and let inertia do the rest.

Two of the bug things reacted at once to follow her. The one that the ranger had twice wounded and the one that had bloodied her own left arm so severely lurched after her, there many legs scissoring down the hillside.



Windstryder rolled passed Ledare and the Janissary braced her feet to receive the charge of the first of the transmogrified insects. The scimitar in her right hand slashed outward as it advanced and severed the creature's arm above the elbow. The thing shrieked in a voice that was utterly inhuman and fell to the side clutching weakly at its fountaining stump. Its companion was on Ledare in an instant and the point of its pincer dug firmly into her gut.

She felt more blood pouring beneath her armor, but her entrails stayed where they were supposed to be.

Another of the creature's skittered up to the half-elf's flank, catching her between itself and its ally. Despite its tactical advantage, however, it failed to pierce Ledare's armor. Windstryder pumped an arrow into its right arm and it turned to regard her with utter malice gleaming in its many-faceted eyes. The distraction cost it dearly as Ledare's crescent blade buried itself in the creature's chitinous side. Ichor went spraying outward and then it slumped to the ground.

Before the half-elf could raise her other blade to defend herself, the other bug man that was on her pinched its claw down on Ledare's right knee and she started to pitch forward. As she went, it stabbed its other pincer up under her left arm, the lighter chainmail there and into the warm meat beneath. The Janissary tried desperately to catch her breath as the ground spun up to claim her.

Even as it turned to face Windstryder, the ranger put two arrows into its torso. The first slammed into its gut, staggering the thing. The second pierced neatly through its heart before continuing on through its back with a spurt.

 

[Jon Potter]

[Realms #247] Medic!

"I'm done talking," Ixin said and her voice was unusually gruff. She tugged savagely at the frilly cuff of her shirt and then ripped it away from the sleeve. "We will continue this discussion after we have rejoined our comrades."

"What are you doing?" Vade asked the mage, his childish face scrunched up in confusion.

"The smoke is what we need to worry about at the entrance," she told him as she pressed the torn cuff of her shirt against the dripping cave wall to wet it. She ripped the strip in half and pressed one into Feln's hand. "Everyone needs to rip off a square of cloth from their clothing - just enough to fit over your mouth. Then wet it as I have done and cover your mouth. It will aid with the smoke."

"There is another way," the girl said and all eyes turned to her (including Feln's although it was only out of habit; he could still see nothing at all). "I heard Braath the Lesser instructing some of his followers to take the eggs out the back way."

"Eggs?" Morier asked and the girl shrugged.

"I don't know what he meant by that," she admitted. "But I believe there is a way out of here that doesn't involve smoke and fire."

"But it does involve exploring these caves further," Ixin stated the obvious and the girl nodded.

"Yes," she said. "I do not know where-"

"What is your name, girl?" Feln interrupted, the scowl on his face making his "elvish" disguise look bestial in the glow of Vade's sunrod.

"I am called Ilea," she said and Feln nodded once.

"Ilea, there is another outside this cave right now who has dedicated herself to finding you," he told the girl. "She has done this at the expense of everything, risking her life - and mine - because she believes you are the key to saving an entire kingdom. I may be blind but even I can see that there is no advantage in charging around these caves without every able sword."

"You may fight yourself to death here girl, if you wish," he went on. "But I am going to get the woman who believes in you and honor her by allowing her to be part of this decision... I urge you come with us at least that far, before abandoning those who saved you."

The girl said nothing in reply, but her young face seemed to burn with a beautiful intensity that made Ixin seem plain by comparison. She sighed and it filled the cavern like the sound of wind chimes. Without saying another word, she ripped a small strip of cloth off of the blanket that Vade had offered her.



Windstryder scanned her surroundings quickly even as she fished out her last healing draught. She could see no sign of any more bug men, but she was too savvy a hunter to trust that there were none just because her eyes told her so. And anyway, she had seen at least one more of the things coming up out of their bolt hole, so she knew that the danger wasn't passed.

Ignoring one of Thornstyker's first lessons, the elf administered to the Janissary before tending to her own wounds. She poured half of the potion down the half-elf's throat and saw some of the woman's wounds close in response to the healing magic. The Janissary's eyes fluttered, but she didn't regain consciousness. Scowling, the ranger poured the other half of the potion over her own wounded elbow. The elixir bubbled and hissed, and she felt her wound knitting itself closed. The pain lessened by half, but the injury didn't heal completely.

She shoved the spent vial into her pack and muscled Ledare to a more defensible position amidst some trees. Once there, she unpacked her healer's kit, knelt over the Janissary and went to work. Windstryder's attention divided itself between suturing Ledare's wounds and surveying the surrounding area for trouble.



"Stay low and you should be alright!" Ixin called through the smoke. The nest that she and Vade had put to the torch was almost entirely burned away now and the sandy floor of the antechamber was strewn with smoldering remnants and charred insect carcasses. Ixin's natural resistance to fire kept the burning embers and hot ash from posing a threat to her, but the smoke was thick and foul-smelling. She had made her way across the cave and cleared a path between the entrance and the passage leading into the underground complex where the rest of the group huddled coughing on the smoke despite the improvised filters that they pressed over their mouths.

"I don't like this," Vade whined as he peered into the fire-lit chamber. He was already close to the ground and the smoke was bothering him somewhat less than his taller companions. Feln gave the halfling's shoulder a squeeze.

"I need you to be my eyes," he said through his wet cloth. "Take Ilea's arm. She'll take mine and we can go through as a group." Vade looked skeptical, but he nodded.

"Okay!" he said after he remembered that the half-orc couldn't see him nodding.

Morier watched them dart off into the smoke, felt the heat of the fire pressed on his pale face, and the cool darkness of the caves pressing on his back. He glanced over his shoulder and seeing nothing pressed the cloth more firmly against his mouth and lurched into the inferno.



"Is she alright?!" Vade sobbed as he caught sight of Ledare's bandaged form. He darted forward and Windstryder interposed herself between him and the Janissary.

"She'll live, but not if you go pawing all of her stitches open," the ranger told him.

"What happened?" Morier asked, although the numerous corpses dotting the hillside answered that question for him. Windstryder quickly told them what had occurred outside the caves and Ixin explained the her what had happened inside. The ranger didn't give mage a chance to finish, however. As soon as Ixin made mention of the girl, the elf darted forward.

"Come here, let me examine you," she said, grabbing Ilea by the elbow with one hand while brushing the hair back from the girl's face with the other. "Come, little one, you must have been frightened. Are you alright? Have you been harmed?"

Ilea looked intently at Windstryder and bared her shoulders to display the red lines caused by flogging. She said, "Braath the Lesser and his lieutenants were free with the lash. But he seemed more interested in collecting my tears and blood than in doing me permanent harm. At least so far..."

"Why do they want you to be their prisoner?" Vade asked the girl. "You are just a child."

Windstryer kept right on talking, ignoring the halfling's question and forcing Ilea to do the same by drawing her in close so that they stared into one anothers' faces. "See that ugly ogre over there?" the ranger asked, angling her head toward Feln who still looked like an average elf thanks to his Hat of Disguise. "He and I will let nothing hurt you. Also, we travel with a Lord Janissary and her companions. You are in good company now."

The girl looked around and shrugged.

"What do we do now?" Morier asked, his eager hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. In response, Windstryder looked pointedly at Feln and circled her fist around and waved backwards in the air. Feln, of course did not respond in any way.

"Um... Feln's blind," Ixin muttered into the elf's ear.

"Oh," Windstryder said and Vade giggled a bit at her expense.

 

[Jon Potter]

[Draelond #4] How Sweet. Fresh Meat.

The big man strained to watch Ruze as his figure faded into the snow. The realization struck him; he was alone now, more so than ever before. As though his mind had been cleared by a cool blast of air, he realized that the dangers that doubtless awaited him in this strange land were multiplied as he stood in the wide open, mouth gaping. A cacophony of noises was distinguishable from every direction. Primal screams, the clash of weapons, tearful recognition, and voices speaking in tongues he had never heard reached his ears.

He headed off the cobbled path and began to make his way across a clearing toward what looked like a wooded area in the distance. There were decisions to be made, and he needed an out-of-the-way area to stop and reflect. He was not ready to be here. He had so much to do on the plane from which he had come. The King's calling... the evil in Barnacus... the group of adventurers who had befriended him and accepted him as family. He needed to go back... but how? He had resisted his fate as a small child... the pirates who had destroyed his family had spared him. By accident or by design he did not know... but he could not allow himself to be here... not now.

As he walked, he found himself unconsciously reciting the words of Ibrahil. He had learned them many years ago, and now they poured forth as though controlled by someone else. He reached the edge of the wood and selected a path to a point that afforded him some degree of cover. He crouched low by the tree and began to ask Ibrahil for help...



So far Ibrahil hadn't answered.

Without Orin's Shield or Shaharizod's Mirrors making their way through the heavens, there was no sound way to judge the passage of time. Draelond leaned against the tree, if such it was, (With its weird flesh-like bark and curly tangle of branches he had never seen a tree like it before) growing neither tired nor hungry as he crouched there, unable to apprehend time's passage. The sky above remained a vaporous swirl of silver lit by occasional flashes and streaks of color. But after a while, the snow stopped falling.

The air was very still, so the sound of the tree's knotted branches clattering against one another drew his attention at once. He darted to his feet, Ravager sliding into his hand as he went. He turned, throwing every ounce of his strength as well as his own momentum into the sword. The steel blade bit into the thing that was leaping at him from the branches above, eliciting a startled squeal of pain from the creature and simultaneously driving it to the ground.

The bony creature landed on its side, but quickly righted itself and turned its bulbous lump of a head toward Draelond. It was four feet long from snout to rump. Two, long, curved antennae, each the thickness of a bullwhip curved upward above its multifaceted eyes. Six pincered talons and rubbery, toad-like skin completed its unnatural appearance.

"What in the-?" Draelond started to say and the creature was upon him. He tried to interpose Ravager, but the thing was too quick. Its limbs seemed to be everywhere, and a pair of its pincers dug into his flesh, easily piercing the chainmail on his chest and stomach. Its antennae whipped forward over its head, but failed to connect.

It clung to him tenaciously and he couldn't bring the bastard sword to bear on the thing while it was so close. Grimacing in disgust, he planted his big hand over the creature's wart-covered head and pushed. It's antennae hooked down at him again before he pried it loose, and one of them slapped against the side of his head. With something akin to panic, he realized that the antennae were coated with a poison that numbed his neck and jaw and shoulder. His natural fortitude prevented him from succumbing to the venom, but he could feel his muscles knotting uncomfortably just the same.

He took a step backward and slashed at the creature, satisfied that the bastard sword again tasted of the monster's horrible flesh. It was bleeding freely from both gashes, but seemed undeterred as it leapt up again. This time, Draelond was quick enough to get the big sword between himself and the creature's body. He couldn't save himself from two more bloody wounds from the creature's pincers, but he was able to pry the beast off himself rather easily. It landed on its back and the warrior drove his sword through its gut, pinning it to the gray soil. Its legs pawed weakly at the air for a time and then were still.

Breathing heavily, Draelond leaned on Ravager's pommel and clutched painfully at the wound marring his torso. His hands came away coated with brown wetness. It took him a moment to recognize it as blood in the weird lighting.

An unenthusiastic clapping drew the man's attention to a figure leaning against one of the other nearby trees. He was dressed oddly, in bulky leathers and loose-fitting pantaloons. He grinned at Draelond and lurched up from the tree.

"Not bad, warrior," he said in the commontongue. "Not many fair so well against the harvesters. But how long do you think you can really keep this up? Sooner or later someone or something's gonna do you in. And when you die here... Well, let's just say you don't get any second second chances."

 

[Hairy Minotaur]

Sooner or later someone or something's gonna do you in.

Ain't that the truth.

 

[Jon Potter]

[Drealond #5] Decisions. Decisions.

Draelond looked at the man curiously, not for a second loosening his grip on the great bastard sword that still held the slain beast's carcass firmly against the terrain. "I have many questions, and perhaps you have answers," he said, peering at the man. "But perhaps you also conspire to steer me wrong." The man looked casually at his hands as though he had no interest in what Draelond was saying. The warrior stood straighter, wincing at the pain in his torso as he did.

"What do you say?" he asked.

"You've asked me no questions, so for now, I say nothing," the man replied.

"This creature, the one you called the harvester... What kind of beast is this?" Draelond asked, nudging the thing's inert body with his toe.

The stranger made a dismissing gesture with his hand. "The harvesters roam the plane in search of souls to devour. Their power derives from the souls they capture," said the man, rarely changing the tone in his voice. "But they are just one of the many dangers you face walking this plane. And one of the lesser dangers at that."

"I ask for your help since I have no allies in this strange place. What can you tell me of where I am?" Draelond asked, planting his foot on the creature's corpse and jerking his sword free of it. "How do I leave this place and go back to the place from which I came?"

For the first time since his abrupt landing on the snow, Draelond felt a glimmer of hope. But it quickly began to fade as the man began to laugh at him.

"I like you, warrior!" the man said between guffaws. "You bring a touch of mirth to this joyless place!"

Draelond scowled and stared at the man icily. "What is this place?" he demanded, his voice filled with restrained fury.

"Purgatorium!" the man said with a broad smile. He raised his hands expansively and spun in a little circle. "The Seasons of the Soul! The gateway to Myrkul's judgement! The Walk of One Hundred Days! The crossroads of the dead!" He laughed again and stopped spinning, his face toward Draelond and his hands planted on his knees. "Pick your euphemism, warrior. The reality is the same."

Silence hung between them for a time during which the distant sounds of steel ringing on steel reached Draelond's ears. "I'm dead," he said finally, his voice sounding very small.

"Very good," the man smiled. "There's more to you than just muscles, I see. Of course, most of the departed realize their situation right off. Better late than never, I suppose."

Draelond's scowl deepened. He didn't like this stranger. "How do I leave?" he asked.

"Only two ways out for a departed like you," the man said and cocked his thumbs in opposite directions. "The front door and the back door." Draelond's eyes narrowed and the man shook his head in disgust. "On to judgement and the Outer Planes or back to the Prime."

"I choose the latter," Draelond said flatly and the man laughed again.

"You really are a funny one, warrior," he chuckled. "It's usually the evil ones that beg for another chance at the mortal coil."

"I'm not evil," Draelond said, puffing out his chest despite the pain of his injuries.

"And that's what makes you so funny," the man repeated. "Giving up the comfort of eternity on the Higher Planes in order to continue the daily struggle on the Prime. It's funny!"

"I left too many responsibilities behind," Draelond said gravely. "My duty is unfulfilled."

This response caused the man to laugh all the harder, so much so that tears squirted out of his eyes. "That's rich!" he laughed, holding his belly with one gloved hand. "It doesn't matter anyway, warrior. I know for a fact that there are others who've been hired to make sure you don't move on, even if you wanted to."

"What?" Draelond asked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that there are some factions determined to prevent you from reaching Aoemzyre and the Outer Planes," the man explained. His attitude had sobered quickly. "The Fate Defiers don't want any mortal souls reaching the gods, but they've taken a particular interest in making sure you don't. And they're not the only ones. The Olnag-Kun are also after you for one reason or another. And a group of Cyois-ghalfung are the ones who hired me to find you."

"H-hired you?" Draelond stammered the enormity of his situation sinking in at last.

The stranger pointed to a round patch embroidered on the shoulder of his leather jerkin. "I'm with the Astral Bounty Hunter 's Guild," he said. "And I've been hired to deliver you to a Cyois-ghalfung grove just this side of the Bridge of Parturition."

"And if I do not wish to go?" Draelond asked, raising Ravager to a ready position.

"Don't worry, warrior," the bounty hunter said. "I've got an offer for you before we resort to a test of blades - a test that I am sure to win, by the way. Have you heard of Death's Forsaken?"

Draelond shook his head, but did not lower his sword.

"I'm not surprised, considering all the enemies they have. They are a secret brotherhood that exists on the Prime - those who have returned from the dead and have become sensitive to the worlds beyond death as a result," the man went on. "As you might imagine, I have many contacts within their ranks and I am willing to break my contract, take you back to the Prime, and make the proper introductions for you within the Forsaken."

Draelond's heart jumped at the opportunity to return to Oerune and the bounty hunter read it on his face.

"Or I can take you to the Cyois-ghalfung grove and you can find out what the druids there want with you," he finished. "The choice is yours."

 

[Jon Potter]

Ain't that the truth.

And it's especially true with Mongoose's "Purgatorium" setting.

It's very interesting and quite unique in flavor. I'm probably not doing it justice, but someone with a more meta-physical bent could probably do a lot with it.

 

[Jon Potter]

[Realms #248] Search & Destroy

"Vade, you are capable of moving quickly and silently as well, are you not?" Windstryder asked and Vade nodded, still grinning at the ranger's gaff. "Then let us after the encumbered bugmen and reconnoiter their escape."

"Err...," Vade groaned. "I want to return to town. Splitting up is what got us in this mess in the first place. And I can't move as fast as you. I've got little legs!"

"If we catch them we can we can dispatch them," the elf coaxed. "If not we can at least see where they head after they crest the hill."

Vade shook his head and looked at Morier, Feln and Ixin. "Windstryder is too injured," he told them. "I do not think she can do it in her current state."

"Even in my current state, I'm twice the warrior you'll ever be, peck," Windstryder sneered.

"What did you call me, you snooty-" Vade started to retort and Feln stepped forward, waving his arms blindly.

"I swear, blind or not, if you two continue to bicker I will thump you both," he growled and Ixin nodded.

"Now is not the time for in-fighting," the mage added although she'd spent more than enough time amidst the back-stabbing ranks of the Dragon's Claw to know that once such conflicts surfaced within a group, ignoring them only allowed the hurt to fester. Still there were more pressing issues at present. "Ilea mentioned eggs. I think those eggs are likely more bug people about to hatch. And better to dispatch eggs than bug men."

"Agreed," Morier said with a nod.

"Hold please," Feln insisted. "Let us take stock of our situation. I am blind, our party lead is lying in front of us badly wounded, our supplies are dreadfully low and... well damn it I think that is damn near enough!"

"Morier, I sure could use your sword arm and Ixin your magic but someone needs to stay here and guard the Lord Janissary, Feln, and the Holy One," Windstryder suggested. "With the Lord Janissary down until further healing, I suggest we catch those that are fleeing so they cannot report we have the girl. We need the element of surprise."

"This might help," Morier said and produced a vial from his potion belt. He handed it to Windstryder. "It's a healing draught," the warrior told her.

Windstryder poured it down Ledare's throat and the Janissary was soon back on her feet, although it was plain that from her body language that she was still in a great deal of pain. Vade rushed forward and wrapped his thin arms around her steel-plated thigh.

"Poor Kitten! Are you ok?" the halfling asked. "Oh dear! Ruze would never forgive me if I let something happen to his widow. I am going to be right here with you from now on!"

"Then it's agreed!" Windstryder said clapping a hand on first Ixin's and then Morier's shoulder. "The Lord Janissary, Feln and Vade will take Ilea back to Hillville Junction while we three follow the bug men."

"This witchcraft can not last too long and I don't think we should split up the party. Can we wait until it has passed?" Feln implored. "If it is not gone in a short while then I will press on to the village."

Windstryder shook her head despite the fact that Feln couldn't see her. "We'll have lost the element of surprise if we wait too long," she said. "I will send Anta back to the village if we get into trouble. Now, let's away." She broke off into a low, cautious jog up the hillside followed closely by Ixin with Morier bringing up the rear.

Ledare watched them go and sighed. "I assume this was decided on while I was unconscious," she said. "But I maintain that it's a bad idea to divide our strength by splitting up."

"We should join them in glorious battle against the forces of darkness," Ilea proudly intoned and once more hefted her stolen greatsword.

Feln groaned and bared his teeth. "Is there something I am missing in you girl?" he asked angrily. "I hear the words of a fearsome warrior in the voice of an eight year old girl. If we are to follow you into battle please tell me what hidden power you possess?"

Ilea puffed up her chest and glared fiercely at the blind martial artist. "I have the greatest power of all. The power to tell right from wrong and the courage to always choose right!"

"Enough with the looks, little girl," Vade scowled. "Whenever I looked at Mama that way, I would get the wooden spoon on my hiney. You are lucky she is not here, young lady."

She harrumphed in response. "I think it is you who are lucky, kind sir," Ilea said with a frown. "I do not think your mother would be very pleased with the choices you are making this day."

"And just what are you going to do when all those nasties are fighting us?" the halfling shot back. "I want to save Hillville Junction too... I am a hero after all! But I do have some common sense. As my Papa used to tell my Uncle Bob the Razorback, 'You's can't defend notin' when you's dead, fool!'." Ilea harrumphed again. "I don't want to end up like my Uncle Bob... He was high strung - died of a heart attack. He did not know how to relax."

"Clearly, you did not inherit your uncle's zealous work ethic," Ilea said and Ledare interceded before the disagreement could escalate further.

"There are those who believe you have been sent for a great purpose in the fight against this evil," the Janissary told the girl. "We must use that advantage to the fullest power. A small girl with a sword is no threat to our enemies, no matter how determined you may be."

"I can-" Ilea started to argue but Ledare cut her off.

"It is for the king to say how you will best be used as a force against the evil," the half-elf explained. "Perhaps you are to be a beacon of light in a world plummeting into shadow. Maybe it is your face that will give strength to a disheartened army. I don't know your path, but I do know that your life will not be senselessly lost in the woods if we have anything to do with it."

Ilea harrumphed again and turned her eyes away from Ledare.

"Now you can come along willingly like a mature young lady, or Feln can sling you over his shoulder like a spoiled brat," the Janissary told her. "Your choice."

The girl sighed and nodded sullenly at Ledare. "Okay," she said in a small voice.

"We had better hurry back to town," Vade whispered, tugging on Ledare's threadbare cloak. "I have to pee."



The area around the bolt hole was quiet, and Windstryder took only a moment to spot the trail leading off into the woods to the west. She gave the hand signal to move up quietly which neither Morier nor Ixin recognized as such. They moved up quietly anyway, following on the ranger's heels to keep her within the range of their darkvision. After they'd gone a few hundred yards into the woods, Windstryder gestured for them to stop and take cover. They stopped and then began to ease forward to see what it was that the ranger had spotted.

Ahead, the ground sloped up into a natural rocky hill. The wood thinned out into a clearing that was lit well by moonslight in which were three more of the creatures that Windstryder and Ledare had fought earlier. Two of them were laden down with pearly-white sacks that glistened wetly in the light from Great Celune. The third was unloading the sacks and handing them off to a small entourage of creatures that were the same general size and shape as the winged guards that they had all encountered before entering the caves. The difference between the two creature types being that these had no wings and scuttled about on four segmented legs with their opalescent burdens, moving to and from a hive-like structure built against the trunk of a gnarled oak tree on the far side of the clearing.

Overseeing this activity was another creature of the same type as Braath the Lesser. It paced near where the egg sacks were being unloaded on overlong legs that bent the wrong way at the knee. A greatsword was strapped across its broad chitinous back.