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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:40:51 GMT -5
I just found this older tale of Dimeola the bard and Ankara the necromancer, who were our roleplaying characters on Marr's Fist. Dimeola tells a fine story, I hope you all enjoy it!
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Rumours at Runnyeye
Jamming away another day at the Smiling Serpent. I had just finished the final chords of The Lay of Osirian when a dust covered Halfling reached the foot of the stage and collapsed.
"Some water over here Barkeep!" I cried as I rested my lute against the stone wall.
I took the pail of water tilted the little man's head back and poured some of the clear liquid into his gaping mouth. He coughed for a moment and then he came too.
"I have news for the Order"
I gave a startled glance and was glad that my audience hadn't seemed interested in the antics of one of the Vale folk and had all dispersed into their own raucous conversations. Satisfied that none had heard or at least understood what the poor bloke was talking about I turned my attention back to the prone wheezing halfling.
"Rest friend", I said curtly, "The only thing better than cooling off..."
"is cooling off more." he replied to the passcode.
Satisfied I grabbed him by his collar and lifted him to his feet. He brushed off the dust and followed me as I led him upstairs to a private room that had been granted to me under the order of Mistress Solenia. We sat at a small round table. I picked a pitcher off the table and poured each of us a mug of the best mead from Diren Hold.
"You are Dimeola?" He asked.
"Aye."
"I was told by Deputy Meeplo to fill you in on a little problem that he believed the Order might find interesting."
The halfling went on (as halflings tend to do) to tell me that his name was Bandyhoo and that he doesn't normally take orders from Deputies from Merry Bywater being from "The Vale" itself but that Meeplo was a cousin on his brother's wife's side and that since he was in the information business maybe he could go talk to Meeplo and so on and so forth.
"An intriguing tale" I lied, "But now tell me, what did the good deputy have to report."
Unlike most halflings I have met, Meeplo took life a bit seriously, constantly re-upping on border detail rather than letting his tour of duty expire and settling down to make a family. He had been stationed at the fork between Runnyeye and Merry Bywater for more seasons than I could remember.
Bandyhoo suddenly lowered his voice.
"Meeplo told me that there has been an increase in activity in Runnyeye and he can't put his finger on what the cause is. He says that they look like they are fortifying their defenses, not preparing for invasion. I personally think that they are too afraid to invade our beautiful Vale. Anyhow Meeplo found this strange since that has not been the M.O. whatever that is of the Runnyeye clan. He also mentioned that he had seen goblins and minotaurs walking around seemingly unaware of anything down near the gorge. And one more thing, let me think, um ah, oh yeah! And that there has been a few disapearances lately from Merry Bywater, and not the usual kind. Meeplo was very vulgar here, he explained that normally the goblins um err prominantly displayed the fact that they had captured a furryfoot, but that this time they just kind of disappeared."
"A fine tale" I said with a furrowed brow. I pushed my tankard away. "I will gather several operatives and make off for Runnyeye with all haste. Will you be joining me Sir Bandyhoo?"
The halfling violently spit out his mouthful of ale.
"Nay! I learned from my journey here to Freeport that I am not cracked up for this line of work, I was thinking I might look north and ask Mary Spiry for a bit of work up in Bobble. Please if you see him, tell Meeplo of my decision."
"I will at that", I said clamping a hard hand on his diminutive shoulder, "May the hair on your feet never become ingrown!"
"I'll drink to that!"
We clanked tankards and sat back, a relieved look on my companion's face while mine was marred with worry.
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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:41:43 GMT -5
The following morning I awoke with a bit of a headache, those halflings might be slight of stature, but their livers don't quite seem to be proportionate.
I rolled out of my hammock and quickly took inventory of my travelling gear. Flute, check! Mace of Despoliation, check! King's Fang, check...slowly i dressed myself and gave a silent prayer to Ayonae Ro that my brethren would heed my call. It would be a shame if I had to hire some mercenaries to accompany me. They might even be more dangerous than the goblins. Sighing, I pulled on my lazulite boots and after a quick stop at the privvy I wandered down the steps to the Smiling Serpent's common room.
I took a seat at my usual table kicked my feet up on the table, pulled my hat over my eyes and sat back to wait for the rest of the members of the Order to arrive. Dreamy Images of the mermaids of Odus were interrupted by a violent splash of water.
"Dimeola, is this it? You have to be kidding, where is everyone?"
My half opened eyes fixxed upon the gorgeous Erudite goddess sitting at the table to my right with an empty glass in her hand.
Snapping awake I realized that there was a pile of scrolls on the table to my right, I picked one up and started to read it.
"I don't know Ankara, hopefully these will fill me in."
The scroll in my hands was a report from the Freeport Militia that Nesnimage hadn't been seen or heard from in a fortnight. I picked up a second scroll, and read eagerly that Bandobras had gone to lead a platoon of Stormreepers against the T'ier D'al in the bottom of the Green Rift. I picked up the last scroll and began to read it, when the always cheery druid verity walked in and plopped herself down in the seat opposite of Ankara.
"Greetings Dimeola, and to you too Ankara, your hair looks so nice this morning."
Ankara sneered.
"I answered your summons Dim, as soon as I could get away from Wall detail".
"Harumph", Ankara snorted.
Ignoring the Erudite I addressed our junior member.
"Hello there Verity! It is good to see that you have answered your responsibilities to the Order in such a puctual fashion. Now, my dear petite friend, you know that I have only the highest esteem for you and your abilities, but..."
Verity looked at me, her blue eyes wide and on the verge of tears.
"I have a very important mission for you", I improvised, "Ankara and I are going to investigate some strange happenings in Runnyeye Gorge, it is imperative that you bring word to Deputy Meeplo at the crossroads that we are on the case and that if we haven't reported in 5 days then it is worse than we feared."
Ankara rolled her dark eyes, while Verity had a hard time controlling her excitement. In typical halfling haste she stood up saluted Ankara and me and hurried out the door eager to do her part.
"What do you mean We are going to investigate", Ankara exploded, "What interest do I have in the affairs of these little non-magical rats?"
"Now now Ankara, I know that tolerance is not one of the traits that Erud espouses, but one of these rats, Bandobras has saved your cute hiney once or twice. Besides I think that some of the details might interest you and perhaps your masters in Highbourne."
"The dealings of a few goblins in a hole near Highpass Hold has no interest whatsoever to me or my people". Disgusted, Ankara stood and began to walk to the door.
"I just thought you might be interested that the intelligence I received was that these goblins in this "hole" as you call it, were observed to be wandering in some kind of daze in the close company of both minotaurs and halflings."
Ankara looked stunned for a brief second, then she got that introverted Erudite look as if she was going through every logical progression possible of the information I had just spilled. I could tell from the faint traces of a smile that started to appear that she was thinking of the prestige the Scholar's would hold her in if she could bring back any information on the magic being employed to cause the banding of such a motley crew.
"Perhaps i could be persuaded to accompany you as a consultant", she said through pursed lips. "Why don't you sing me Our Song"
My heart leapt, Ankara was a tough sell but a staunch ally in a pinch.
I picked up my lute and sang a song about our adventures near Bobble Bywater a throwback to our less experienced days.
Her smile brightened the room for a moment as my chord progressions slowly dissolved. I put my lute down on the table and returned her smile.
"We leave at dusk."
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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:42:13 GMT -5
The day waned and it was time to go. I gathered my travellimng gear and headed to the coach. Ankara stood there stoically; She always seemed stoic, yet you could almost see the repressed joy of life hiding behind her grim exterior. It saddened me that she felt buried beneath the trappings of her occupation when such a fierce fire burned within.
"Let's get on with it, Dim."
I sighed and helped my companion into the open wagon, turning I flipped a tunar to the coachman, who bit it quickly before sliding it into his pocket.
We journeyed in near silence, quite a feat for me, but Ankara's melancholy was contagious, and I had to admit to myself that I wasn't especially looking forward to meeting whatever was causing the disruption in Runnyeye. After all, I was but a minstrel of the 28th season and there seemed to be more than a few better qualified heroes running about that surely could handle whatever the challenge be that lay before me. I sighed. Such is the life of a Guild Master, the quiet desperate facade of ultimate confidence.
Our stop was coming up, I had argued hard with Ankara that it would be an easier journey from Darvar Manor than from Highpass Hold. I held that the road through the Bandit Hills was usually safe, whereas we would have to go cross-country if we left from Highpass. She probably would have turned me into her newest pet then and there if she knew my real motives were that I wanted to talk to Ling about getting a gig at the Black Swan Inn.
We pulled into the stables and stretched our trail beaten bodies. There were adventurers aplenty here, I was surprised that within minutes I had been challenged to several duels by complete strangers.
I gathered up Ankara and sang a chant to speed us along. We headed directly East from the coach.
"I thought you said the reason we were coming all the way here was to take the roads?"
"Well, they are guarded well, but this way is much quicker." I replied and picked up my pace.
She rolled those deep dark eyes and held back a muffled laugh.
"May you be booed off the stages of Qeynos, and King Bayles place a bounty on the heads of all bards!!!"
I glanced behind me and gave her a deeply hurt look.
"Don't you like my singing?"
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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:42:38 GMT -5
We passed through the valleys and up over a hill, and finally stopped for some rest at a lake. I leaned over to fill a skin with water. Ankara decided to take a quick swim. She turned herself invisible and started to disrobe. Oh, what I would have given to see her long sleek body. Kneeling there, I was mezmerized as I saw the splashes move away from the shore. I needed to cool down. I dunked my head into the crystal lake. A heavy weight came down on the back of my head and pushed my head further under the surface.
I rolled quickly to my right escaping the strong hands that had pressed down on me. Quickly I gained my footing and turned to meet my assailant. A man dressed in rags, one of these so-called bandits was standing in front of me with a bewildered look on his face. I had spent my childhood in the sands of Ro, and had spent a lifetime dealing with riff raff such as this. I sang. Shrieks of power resonated from my larynx splitting the ear drums of the man before me. He reached up to clasp both of his hands around his ears. I took that moment to whirl my mace of despoliation at him; it's head singing through the air. The mace caught him in the cranium. His right hand lowered limply, I drove my King's Fang into his unprotected heart.
"He's dead, I can feel the flow of life and death.", came the voice from behind me.
"I can't believe that I let my guard down like that."
"It's ok Dim, but let us be gone from here, now please turn your head."
As soon as Ankara was dressed, I once again sang my song of acceleration and we travelled off away from the sunset to the northeast. The red fingers of dusk enveloped us as the guard tower of the Merry Bywater crossroads came to view. We were both weary and I explained to Ankara that the hospitality of the little folk was something to behold. She looked at me skeptically but had to admit that she had eaten a few Halfling made pies in Freeport and if that was at all indicative of the species then a treat was in store.
We came to the tower just on the far side of dusk. I raised my hand to hail the silhoette that was standing at the tower's base when Ankara cried out behind me. Swiftly I spun and instinct took over. i began to sing and pummel the dark shape accosting my companion. Ankara herself, was far from helpless and she muttered a quick chant that caused obvious pain to our attacker. The fight was short; it ended with Ankara standing over the small prone body about to cast one last lethal spell. Something about our foe was not right.
"Stand down Ankara." i said in a sharp gruff voice.
I bent down and picked our beaten opponent up off the road. I raised him by his lapels, so that I might see his face in the light of Luclin.
"Meeplo!" I dropped him to the ground.
"Ugghhh!!!"
"I knew I shouldn't have gotten caught up in the affairs of these trecherous miscreants", Ankara flared.
"Meeplo, explain yourself!"
The Halfling dragged himself up to take a knee by the side of the road.
"Our scouts", he grimaced, "reported that an Erudite Necromancer was travelling this way with a rogue, ouch, at her side. With all the trouble we've had", he lurched forward, " we thought that she might be the source."
I took a handkerchief out of my pack and began to wipe the dirt off my diminutive friend.
I laughed heartily, "My good Deputy, meet my companion, Ankara the angel, bringer of life to the dead and death to her enemies, Lady of Highbourne and esteemed member of the Order of the Scarlet Arrow."
Ankara huffed and began to mutter another spell, Meeplo cringed but when he was surrounded by the red fog of her glamour he felt his energy return sharply.
"My apologies, cough, Lady Ankara, I hope that you don't judge all of my kin by the rash actions of a foolish guard who has called a small tower home for too long".
Ankara looked down at the small man and gracefully smiled at him, astonished at the hospitality and humility of one, so soon after he had faced his iminent demise.
"I insist that you take advantage of our bounty, my wife has just sent some Bywater berry pies and I will make up beds for both of you. It's a shame, Verity just left here a few hours ago, she surely would have been an asset in your quest ahead."
"Come Meeplo, please fill us in on what we must do to help the folk of the Bywater."
We sat at a small table in the small room in the small tower. Meeplo really didn't have any new tangible intelligence om what was happening, but he did seem frightened. He did report that 4 nights ago he had personally had an encounter with one of these "thralls". He had come upon a halfling who looked like Harry Stagbottom's son. When he approahed the young halfling casted a spell at him that hit him like a wagon of pastry. He seemed rather offended that a halfling had cast some magic at him. In a cagey fashion, Meeplo explained how he had made a "tactical retreat" after getting hit by the spell, and that he hadn't been pursued once he left the valley.
Ankara had gasped at the word "thrall", she didn't say anything but the look of dread on her face led me to believe that she might have a better comprehension of the situation than me or the halfling. I wanted to push her on it, but I was feeling too tired with a belly full of pie and decided that before we set out in the morning I would ask her about these "thralls".
I yawned blew out my lantern and began to dream about teasing deathfists in the deserts of my youth.
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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:43:38 GMT -5
As dawn broke, I was jolted awake, the fine aroma of halfling baking had overwhelmed my olfactory senses. I gathered my gear and looked around, Ankara was sitting at the table gingerly nibbling on a eldeberry pie. I turned around looking for our host, but was dissapointed to see that we were alone. I took a seat across from Ankara.
"Ank, what do you make of this?"
"Don't call me Ank, please, my name is Ankara and I wear my name with great honor. As far as the problem, I have my suspicions, but would like to investigate before I express my fears."
"Why don't you spill the beans? What could be so bad that a great Bard like myself couldn't handle?"
'I hope that we don't have to find that out."
I took a big bite out of one of the cookies I had unconsciously scooped off the table. Why did Erudites always have to be so darn mysterious?
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We only kept to the road for a few leagues, dodging the small goblin patrols for the most part. I knew the two of us could easily handle the green humanoids being in our 28th season and all , but I didn't really relish in unnessary violence, and luckily neither did Ankara.
We turned to the east just a few hundred yards from a small goblin outpost. i could see a skirmisher and a scout shading their eyes looking for intruders, luckily we were able to slip past unnoticed and made our way down a steep hill and into the scar known as Runnyeye gorge.
I didn't like travelling in the gorge, too many places for enemies to hide. What I did find odd however was that despite my alertness I couldn't hear a single sound not mad by our own selves. Not a goblin yelling or a cricket chirpin, nothing seemed to live here but the sparse copses of grass.
Ankara also seemed a bit unnerved. When a necromancer starts to show fear, you know maybe this wasn't such a bright idea after all.
We wandered for hours throuugh the maze that was the gorge's floor when Ankara's keen eyes noticed a crude structure looming in the distance. She turned to me and put a finger to her lips, then she began to gather the long shadows around her in a mysty cloak of near invisibilty. I knew the drill, and watched her sneak off towards the wall. I waited patiently, and quietly (quite a feat for someone who finds such joy plucking away at his instrument) almost falling asleep when I felt a tap on my shoulder.
"Shh!" she murmured.
I heeded her warning as she faded into view.
"I feel that it is as I feared", she announced. "ahead of us is a wall made of sharpened saplings. It is guarded by a minotaur, a goblin and a..."
"A what?" I whispered.
"A halfling."
"No way!"
"Yes, they seemed like they were in some sort of trance, I observed that they didn't blink often and stood absolutely still in utter silence."
"They must be ensorcelled", I replied, " I have never seen a halfling be able to keep it's mouth closed for more than a minute or two. What evil magic could be behind this."
"Strong evil magic", she answered serenely.
"Let's move closer, and see what it is."
"It is against my better jusgement to confront an entity capable of such a spell."
"You are a member of the Order Ankara, I have seen you engage a Deathfist Myrmidon to save a poor Nasehir child, you took down the goblin priestess T'esh T'zu to help Bandobras save the Vale. Please Ankara, there is nobody else to help these poor halflings, we must rise to the challenge and heed the call of the righteous! Besides you have always quested to see all the different types of splendorous magic that fills the land."
She looked at the ground, a stark look of shame redenning her high cheekbones.
"Of course you are right, Dimeola. I have joined the Order and have travelled far and wide to learn new magics and to help mend the land. I shall walk through this valley of evil by yoiur side, and meet whatever fate has been predetermined for me with pride."
With a new look of stern fortitude, Ankara entered a trancelike state for a moment, chanting eldritch words that I have heard so much I could repeat verbatim. A giant pile of scraggly flesh and bones appeared behind her. She spoke a few words of instruction and followed me towards the wall.
We approached the barricade with concern and dread. I saw the guards standing there statuesque, and was amazed that they hadn't seen me. We moved in rather close to the minotaur on our left. I motioned for Ankara to stop.
I grabbed the lute from my pack and focused on the halfbull as I played a lullaby. I could feel that the song was having the desired affects somehow, but saw no change in the creature's demeanor. I finished the song and took Ankara by the hand, leading her right past the minotaur and the wall and into the mysterious passage beyond.
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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:44:00 GMT -5
We clung to the wall and sidestepped quietly down the narrow path. A little bit ahead I could see that the entrance to this baffling maze. Slowly we pushed on, a feeling of tangible dread hanging on the air like mist droplets. I couldn't make out Ankara's dark features in the shadows, but could tell, that she too felt the looming fear.
As we approached the opening the fear became heavier. I peered quickly around the corner to my left. There were many enslaved creatures carrying things to what looked like a giant pit in the ground. I had seen a similar pit before in the dwarven land of Moradhim. It was a quarry. I extended my head out further around the corner and drew it back quickly, hoping that my gasp was not as loud as it seemed.
No more than ten yards away was a what looked like a giant floating eye. It didn't seem to have any feet or hands, just a short stubby tail that jutted from where it's anus should have been. I felt my head tingling, and kept hearing this strange word; "Howm". I had never encountered anything like this before in my 28 seasons. I motioned for Ankara to move further back down the passage.
In hushed tones, I described what I had seen to Ankara. The slaves, and the giant floating eye. She also had heard the word "Howm" in her head and explained that this must be the name of the creature. She said that she had remembered learning something about "the evil eyes" during her apprenticeship. They were supposed to be casters, mostly enchanters and wizards. They were supposedly ruled by an exceptionally powerful eye known as King Xorbb who legend said wore a crown of great magical curiosity.
I pressed her about any weaknesses or special powers that the eyes might possess besides the ability to float and take on a caster occupation.
Ankara just shook her head.
"We should go to Highbourne and seek help."
"No" I said. "These poor creatures, though some are quite hateful, shouldn't have to live another second of their lives as mindless slaves."
"So what are you saying, Dimeola? The two of us should just assault these creatures hoping to find King Xorbb abd free all of these slaves? Half of whom want to kill us as much as these eyes would? They have obviously been here for quite some time, what purpose would it serve for us to get killed so that they can be free a month of two earlier than if we came back with a larger host?"
I stood there before my trusted friend, at a loss of words for once. I looked into her fierce eyes and saw the free will that lit my flame.
"I have seen many wonders in Norrath Ankara, but the Senators of Highbourne agreeing on something like this quickly would be the greatest of all! I for one shall not sheath my blades while these poor souls wander so emasculated. I shall carry myself with honor and duty. Come my lovely friend, let us commit deeds worthy of my master's greatest epics!"
"I just can not bring myself to imperil my life for your altruistic beliefs."
I was losing her. Ankara was a loyal companion, especially by erudite standards but was not blindly heroic by any means, she was also sharp as a mastercrafted dagger, I daresay alot smarter than I.
"What if this is the home of Xorbb? Would you not gain considerable rank and prestige in your homeland if you returned with not only a heroic tale, but an item of unquestionable might and curiosity?"
Ankara weighed my words silently, I crossed my toes inside my boots for luck.
"Yes, I would certainly be given a high place of honour, even though I and my fellow necromancers are viewed as heretics by the general magi. I will follow a a fool on what could only be called a fool's errand."
I almost cried with delight, but contained my joy focusing on the errand ahead.
"Besides, when have I ever steered you wrong?"
We skulked back to the mouth of the passage, the feeling of foreboding again washed over me as did the stench of Ankara's minion. I softly played several of my songs of power, the first was the celebration of life, the second was elemental rhythms, and the third was my own personal symphony. I looked at Ankara who seemed as excited as the often stoic erudite gets. I drew a deep breath.
In one sweeping move I drew both my mace and my King's Fang and charged at Howm. My weapons swung making a melody in the dispersed air as the connected with Howm's retina. It blinked as my King's Fang plunged in deeply. Anakara's abomination joined the fracas. This wasn't going too badly I thought as the eye's stinging retaliatory blast washed over me. I pulled the fang free from Howm's conea, I was readying an artful strike when I felt a sensation I had never experienced before. I started to feel weak. The energy that powered my spells was being sucked from my soul. Such an intimate violation repulsed me to almost vomit. I glanced around to find Ankara standing a few feet away the glow of a failed spell dispersing around her wrists. I swung my weapons more furiously than before, spiritually and physically beaten down I flailed at Howm like a ragdoll. My inadequacies entered my brain, was this to be my fate. The energy began to form again inside me, a remnant of my symphony had remained. I focused my power behind one final nimble strike. The mace smashed into Howm's closed lid and bathed the eye in it's eldritch might. Howm fell, rolling in a puddle of it's own ichor, eyelids open.
I looked at Ankara and pulled her to an alcove along the high quarry wall. About 50 paces further was a gate at the edge of the quarry proper with two minotaurs standing guard. I led Ankara to the gate and we dispatched the minoaturs quickly. We started on the circling path that would lead us to the floor.
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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:44:22 GMT -5
The Ledge was wider than I expected, perhaps ten to fifteen feet wide, plenty of room to sneak past the wandering thralls I would lull with a few chords from my lute. The gaping quarry was wide, I didn't have alot of experience with this kind of thing, but it looked about twice as wide as the one in Blackburrow but didn't look quite as deep. We made our way slowly along on the ledge, ever wary.
About halfway down the parade of thralls had thinned so Ankara and I decided to take a risk and scout out the geography. We layed flat on our bellies and crawled on our elbows to peer down over the inside rim. It wasn't nearly as deep as we thought, a gargantuan sculpture of some symbol loomed above the floor casting it's shadow on the depths. I looked at Ankara, but she just shook her head. We backed away from the edge and stood once again in the shadows against the wall.
"You have any idea what that thing is?"
"It looks almost like a corrupted treant, only made of metal, it is odd and beyond my experience"
I took her answer in and rather than try to make unfounded assumptions, I led her on and down the cold grip of preternatural fear enveloping us as it did when we approached Howm.
A halfling thrall approached us, I played my song but I must have hit a flat note, because the thrall fell upon us. Ankara reacted as though it was a deathfist or some other being of pure evil. Her "pet" was readying it's lifetap, I tried to get between the poor slave and the lethal spell but by the time I could interpose myself, the poor fella was enveloped in a cloud of red smoke in the shape of a skull. A tear welled up in my eyes as the child of Bristlebane breathed his last. I turned to look at my companion, she lowered her head and shuffled the ground with her foot. It wasn't her fault, it was those terrible eyes. I picked up the little body and holding it aloft I made an oath to the Maestra that I would forever after be known as halfling friend and that I would answer the call of the Vale whenever it came.
I placed the cadaver on the ground, I ripped the thrall necklace from him, thenI picked up all the loose rocks I could find on the ledge and made a cairn around our fallen foe. I sighed and moved on down to hopefully meet our great foe at the bottom.
Now three quarters of the way, we again risked a look at the quarry floor. We were below the top most apendages of the sculpture now and knew that our journey would end rather shortly. My eyes followed the sculpture to the pedestal. There, not five feet from teh base was what I could only guess was teh source of our dread. It was another floating eye, but unlike Howm and the others we had seen around the mouth of the quarry, this one wore a garment. A long flowing cape draped down from behind it. I was trying to figure out how it stayed there with no shoulders or anything else to rest on. Ankara pulled me back.
"That must be him!"
"Who?" I whispered back.
"Xorbb!"
"Uh, yea, he does have that cool cape and all, you think we can take him?"
Ankara fixed me with one of those looks. The kind your mom gives you when you stole the last spit of mutton and you are denying it while you lick your fingers.
"I mean yes, I think it's him", I whispered, "and here is the plan."
I relayed to her my quickly drawn strategy, strangely enough she agreed that the plan I had made seemed to be the best course of action.
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We moved further down the quarry walls until we reached the spot above where the malevolent entity floated. I looked up and saw a halfling thrall carrying some rocks on the ledge on the far side of the quarry. This is for you Sparky!
I made a countdown with my fingers: 1 deep breath 2 Maestra save us... 3!!! All three of us, Ankara, her thing, and I ran forward launching ourselves from the ledge. While I fell through the cool air i focused my song, Clamour at the King whose name resounded in my head. Xorbb. Ankara shouted as she fell as well, the eldritch chant of disease.
We both landed right on the king and quickly slid off to the ground. Xorbb's surprise lasted only a second, but it was enough time for me to whip my weapons around and use there melodious attack. Even before my mace had connected, I felt that eerie hollowness again, my energy was being sucked, quickly and forcefully from my being like ale from a dwarf's tankard. I kept swinging, striking one after another despite my waning energy. I could sense Ankara's wrath as well, directed at the eye, a fury unmatched in my experience.
The pain bagan then, one after another; red waves of arcane energy washed over my body burning my flesh and stinging my soul. The celebration of life was fading and I felt the full venom of his spells. Ankara too cried her agony! The effects of my clamour having elapsed, my energy well stolen, I did all I could, flailed uncontrollaby at the detestable Xorbb, hearing his taunts echo in my head. I felt the coldness of the hands of death reaching towards my helpless shape, I summoned the last of my will and unleashed a melodic attack who's energy was hidden deep inside me. I felt spent, my frantic attack had served it's purpose for the King had fallen and now lay wobbled on it's side in front of me. I collapsed...
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Post by Rhabuka on Dec 25, 2004 12:45:04 GMT -5
Epilogue
My eyes fluttered open as I felt something trickle down my face. There was Ankara gently swabbing my forehead with a moist towel. Meeplo stood beside her, and Verity next to him. My eyes passed over the rest of the familiar confines of Meeplo's tower.
"How long..."
"about a day and a half", answered the sweet voice of the erudite.
"Did we?"
"Yes, Xorbb has perished"
Ankara raised a shimmering circlet for me to see.
"Is that..."
"Yes, it is the Charm of the Eye, I retrieved it from Xorbb's bloddy remains."
"It is so beautiful." Verity chimed in.
"How?"
"My servant carried you..."
"Was the Charm?"
"It is an artifact of power beyond my wildest expectations."
"And did we..."
"Meeplo has sent in Shamefoot and his elite band of Deputies to clean up the rest."
"They weren't so tough without their king", Meeplo added with a sly smile. "We are making plans for a great banquet for you and your Order at the Mayor's mansion in Rivervale. You are true heroes and will always be treated so by the denizens of the Vale. Lady Ankarra has already..."
My last vision was of Verity beaming up at Ankara as I slipped into a steady slumber filled with dreams of the riches known as halfling baked pies.
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