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!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 810422" data-attributes="member: 143">I've been on-site for a work assignment, so I haven't had much chance to write lately.  This week my office is getting ready for a move to a new location, so the frequency of postings may be down for a little while. * * * * * Book VIII, Part 14The next morning the companions were up early, even before Cylyria herself came to their guest quarters to greet them.  By the look on her face, it was clear that she was distracted by something on her mind, and she carried a burden under her arm, a lengthy bundle wrapped in a wool cloth.  “What’s the matter?” Dana asked, loud enough so that the others heard from the adjacent suite and came quickly to join her and the Lady of the Harpers.  “A strange encounter,” she told them, closing the door behind her in a gesture that was not lost on the four adventurers.  “A cloaked figure—a woman, we think, although the priest who took the message was not so sure, later—arrived at the compound shortly before dawn this morning.  She left this, saying that it was for you.  She did not give your names, according to the priests, but referred to you as ‘the four travelers.’”“Strange indeed,” Cal said, crossing to where Cylyria was laying the bundle atop a small table.  “Careful,” Benzan said, suspicion clear in his tone and the way he gripped the hilt of his sword. “I’m assuming that you tested it for anything threatening?” Cal asked, glancing up at Cylyria. The bardess nodded.  “We opened it—I hope you’ll forgive the presumption, but given the circumstances...  Well, anyway, it is not dangerous, though... well, perhaps you should see for yourself.”Cal unwrapped the object—the wrapping was not secured, just wound around it—and let out a deep whistle.  The others closed quickly, curious, and stared at the revealed gift. It was a sword, but even in its scabbard it was instantly evident that this was a weapon of unusual quality.  Cal moved his hands over it without touching it directly, clearly casting a spell, and after a few moments raised his eyebrows again in surprise.  “Powerful,” he said.  Cylyria nodded. “Draw the blade,” she suggested.He did, and the metal hissed as it pulled free of the scabbard.  The sword was flawless steel, but what drew their attention immediately was the symbol etched in the blade near the hilt.  The carving reflected a coin that bore the face of a smiling woman, done so clearly that she seemed almost alive, returning their stare as they regarded her visage.  “An unusual token for a blade such as this,” Lok said.  He had not touched the weapon, but his expert eyes had immediately weighed its quality.  “The symbol is that of the goddess Waukeen,” Cylyria said.  “The blade is a sword of the planes, a weapon of great power that is of particular effectiveness against those not native to the Prime.  I can honestly say that I have never seen its like.  Although why it would be given to you... that I do not know.”“Interesting,” Cal said.  “A gift that is exactly what we currently need.  I wonder if word of our destination has spread further than we expected.”“I was very circumspect in my notifications, but they say that the only true way to keep a secret is if only one person knows about it.”“Well, it’s a nice break, a stranger giving us a gift.  Usually, they are trying to kill us for some reason,” Dana said.  Cal held the blade out to Lok.  “Nay, the axe is my weapon, and it has served me well thus far.” Cal turned to Benzan.  Indecision flashed across the tiefling’s face, and for a moment his hand tightened even further on the hilt of his magical sword.  Cal understood; for a long time he’d been aware that the intelligence that resided in the tiefling’s weapon had a subtle but definite impact on the man.  Certainly he was very protective of the bronze sword.  But finally Benzan nodded, recognizing what the gnome already had—that neither Dana nor Cal could make effective use of the new weapon, and that they would likely have need of its powers where they were going.  He took the weapon, and held it awkwardly for a moment, then finally slid the scabbard through his belt.  “Come,” Cylyria said.  “Let’s get some breakfast.”  She didn’t say anything further, but each of the companions could feel what wasn’t said, that the end of that meal would mark the beginning of a journey.  A journey into darkness.  * * * * *“Our spells are ready,” Cal said.  “Now would be a good time to show us that ‘trick’ you had in mind.”The four of them stood in a small, private courtyard behind Twilight Hall, alone save for Cylyria and the three new companions that would accompany them to hold in the Sunset Mountains.  Fariq bowed, still holding onto his irrepressible grin, and dug into his pouch.  He withdrew what looked like a folded piece of black cloth, and with a flourish unfurled it with a snap of his wrist.  Fully spread, it was a circle about five feet across, and as it settled to the ground, there was a faint... twisting about it, and then they could see into the cloth, to a space where moments before there had been only the weather-worn bricks of the courtyard. “A portable hole!” Cal exclaimed. “Yes, a small one, I admit, but suitable for our needs.  It does not hold much, I’m afraid, but there’s enough space for both of our elven friends, and perhaps also your roguish comrade there as well, for the few moments that it will take you to transport us to the mountain valley of yours.”The elves moved readily toward the narrow opening, but Benzan shook his head.  “Hey, it’s your item, why don’t you get inside it?”  He stared at the dark pit suspiciously; they could see that its bottom was only about five feet below the edge, and it already contained some chests, a small barrel, and a few other assorted items.  Fariq laughed.  “Well, because the hole is mine, and I am familiar with its usage, it seems logical that I be the one to carry it.  Fear not, Benzan!  I will carry you safely, and you will be out and free again in mere moments!”“It’s the only way, Benzan,” Cal said.  “Dana and I cannot take all of us with our spells, and I do not have sufficient polymophs to use our alternative method.“Oh very well,” the tiefling grumbled, crawling into the hole along with the elves.  They had to duck to fit, and Fariq immediately ducked to grab the fabric at its edge.  Benzan opened his mouth in sudden protest, but his cry was cut off as Fariq pulled the portable hole into the air, folding it quickly and tucking it back into his pouch.  “Best be quick, there’s only enough air in there for a few minutes, at best,” Fariq said. “I noticed you didn’t bring that up before,” Cal said dryly.  But he turned quickly to Cylyria, who’d waited patiently through the exchange.  “Thank you again,” he said earnestly. “Go with the eyes of the benevolent gods watching your steps,” the Harper said, offering a quick bow.  Cal nodded, and the four travelers moved to stand in a close knot a few paces away, Fariq beside Cal, and Lok beside Dana.  As one the two spellcasters summoned their power, and within moments the air shimmered, and they were gone.Cylyria remained a minute longer, watching the empty space where they had been, a solemn expression on her face.  Finally, she sighed, and slowly turned and walked back to Twilight Hall.</blockquote>

Verification