Chapter #1130
previous chapter (#1129)
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+ THE ADVENTURERS +
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+ Epic VI +
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+ Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and other +
+ terms used in these stories are the property of Wizards of the Coast +
+ which has in no way endorsed or authorized their use. Any such +
+ property contained within these stories are not representative of +
+ Wizards of the Coast in any fashion. +
+ The player characters depicted in these stories are copyright +
+ 1991-2023 by Thomas A. Miller. Any resemblance to any persons +
+ or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. +
+ Copying and/or distribution of these stories is permissible under +
+ the sole condition that no money is made in the process. In that +
+ case, I hope you enjoy them! +
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+ +
+ THE PRIMARY GROUP +
+ +
+ Alindyar 18th level dark elven wizard +
+ Lyra 14th level female drow wizard +
+ Belphanior 18th/18th/18th level elven fighter/wizard/thief +
+ Hope 16th level female human wizard +
+ Poulos 8th level human warrior +
+ Irina 14th/7th level female human priestess/warrior +
+ Neera 12th level female human wizard (sage/astrologer) +
+ Arusha 6th level human female wizard/alchemist +
+ Judhon 7th level gnomish illusionist +
+ Otto 12th/14th level dwarven fighter/thief +
+ Paige 13th level human female warrior +
+ Razor Charlie 12th level human fighter +
+ Skektek 14th level human wizard +
+ Ys 14th level reptilian fighter +
+ Cespedes 19th level human wizard, elementalist +
+ Talos adamantine golem +
+ Dexitheseus 17th level human wizard, jack of all trades +
+ Kronos ancient lich wizard +
+ Pallin 18th level grey elven wizard of Celestian, teleporter +
+ Socrates large albino hound +
+ Parekh 18th level female human wizard, innovator +
+ Drak 15th level human barbarian +
+ Wu 18th level human wizard, transmuter +
+ 6 elite ogre magi +
+ +
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+ Date: 6/2/586 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: morning +
+ Place: the Bright Desert +
+ Climate: hot and dry +
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+ "We’re not in the business of next time. We’re in the business +
+ of one time." +
+ - from _Sniper: Ghost Shooter_ +
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MCXXX. The Taskings of Archmagi
In the wake of Rary and Robilar's defeat, progress continues on multiple
fronts. The wizard's stronghold has been explored, its remaining guards
defeated, its treasures and useful information recovered, its towers and
walls and dungeons systematically disassembled and destroyed. Alliances
with the centaurs and nomads of the region are underway. Last but not
least, the wizards discussed various sites of interest within the Bright
Desert and the surrounding hills of the Abbor-Alz...and then began to take
action.
Belphanior's team had ventured to the trading town of Ul Bakak, where
the nomads of the desert engaged in commerce with the barbarians of the
hills to the north. The elf had talked to some of the latter, quickly
working his way up to a minor chief to whom he provided a simple, direct
explanation of the overthrow of Rary and the desire to eliminate the more
dangerous denizens of the desert in order to make the region a safer and
better place. He had also explained his team's willingness to help with
the other problems of the Abbor-Alz, starting with a journey to the much-
maligned valley known as Fool's Rest, the very next dawn. The barbarian
chief had openly admired the elf's courage even while scoffing at his
obvious foolishness...until a couple of days later, when Belphanior and
his companions had returned bearing three severed heads - those of a goat,
a lion, and a reddish-skinned dragon - that had once adorned the body of
the creature living in that small, barren valley. That had caused the
chief to take notice, and within two days, the adventurers were granted
an audience with Orm, chief of the largest and strongest clan of the wild
hill barbarians. Belphanior quickly recognized the fierce independence
and love of battle that these people possessed, and realized that (unlike
the nomads of the desert) the barbarians were willing and able to unite
against a common foe. Further, any attempt to assault them amidst the
rugged hills would be most difficult, which was likely why Rary had not
yet done so. The elf also picked up on the fact that the tribes had been
against the idea of Rary - or anyone - ruling the entire region. Given
that he and his allies had just proved themselves by dealing with one of
the local problem areas, and offered the potential to do so with others,
Belphanior seemed to have gained the chief's respect and interest...and
perhaps some small measure of trust.
Orm: The so-called ghost tower of Inverness...I could not care less.
Nothing foul comes from that place, and it is out of the way and so
easily avoided. But the mines...now those are becoming a problem of
late.
Belphanior: How is that?
Orm: The place was long abandoned, but in recent months has been taken
over by a bunch of damn dwarves.
Otto: (raises his eyebrows)
Orm: Not good, brave ones like you, small friend. I mean dark dwarves,
gray dwarves.
Belphanior: Duergar.
Orm: (nods) Gods only know what they're up to in the depths of that
place...but they're said to be ruled by one called "Father Eye", and
were likely in league with the wizard you slew. (he frowns) Nothing
good is happening in those mines, of that I am sure.
Belphanior: Perhaps we can help, in the near future.
Orm: (crosses his muscle-corded arms) If you can, we would consider
it a great service, and be in your debt. The place is surely deep,
and protected by accursed magic. (he nods to Skektek) No offense
meant, of course.
Skektek: Of course. There's accursed magic, and then there's regular
magic. I try my best to only use regular magic.
Orm: (stares at the skinny wizard) It is strange that one such as you
can do great things...but the one who slew Lord Robilar has our full
respect.
Skektek: I had help. (he gestures to his companions) It was really
a team effort.
Orm: The important thing is that he's gone. That one was a dangerous
warrior and commanded a force that was sure to grow, given time.
Belphanior: Which is why we didn't give him the time.
Orm: (regards the elf) You are a strange one, elf. You and your
allies come here and slay those who would one day be our oppressors,
then come to us speaking of peace and alliances even as you perhaps
plan to rule the region. (he frowns) And yet your actions speak in
your favor.
Belphanior: I will be honest - warrior to warrior. My allies and I
have no desire to _rule_ this region. We simply want to put an end
to the monsters, the undead, the ghosts, and the ceaseless conflict
among the living...and one day see green where now there is only dry
desert sand. I am asking the same from you that I did from the wild
centaurs-
Orm: Great warriors, those!
Belphanior: -which is to think about the goals I've told you, and what
their fulfillment would mean for your people. If you decide to help
us achieve those goals, we will talk more of it. If not, then maybe
we can at least have a truce to avoid any conflict.
Orm: (nods) Your words have much weight...if they hold true.
Belphanior: They will. And within the month, the mines will no longer
be a problem, you have my promise on that.
Orm: We shall see.
Elsewhere, high atop the jagged stone spire known as Dagger Rock, the
wizard Cespedes floated silently, searching with a steady patience that
most people could never even come close to possessing. Moments ago, he
had detected the presence of another being - a rather powerful one - and
he now closed in on the other, his magic guiding him.
Cespedes: (moving through the sky, he comes around a series of cracked
stone formations, entering an area that is both strange and impressive)
As it turned out, high atop this unsightly natural tower of rock (and
completely hidden from the sight of anyone on the rubble-strewn plain far
below) there existed a large, flat area. No less than three hundred feet
across and surrounded by random boulders and other rocky protuberances,
this place would be difficult to see even from the air. It was obviously
the home of something...something large and dangerous, judging from the
piles of bones that littered the area. Piled to one side of the hidden
shelf, nestled within the large crevice between two huge chunks of stone,
a large pile of coins and other treasure rested.
Cespedes: (hovering nearby, he studies the hoard, which contains several
magical items in addition to the assorted coinage, gemstones, and pieces
of jewelry)
The wizard (though unorthodox in his mentality and approach to things,
and more than a decade removed from his last conventional adventure)
nevertheless recognized the lair of a powerful creature when he saw it.
Due to the unique precautions he'd taken in visiting this place, however,
he had no worries about encountering the unknown occupant of this remote,
unique place. He simply folded his legs as he continued to hover above
the floor of this sizable place, then closed his eyes...and waited.
He did not have to wait long.
voice: I know not who you are, wizard, or why you came here, but believe
me when I tell you...it was a mistake.
Cespedes: (opens his eyes slowly)
It was a testament to the dragon's age and experience that it had been
able to land on the rocky shelf without the impact that one might have
expected from a creature of its size and bulk. Two hundred feet long, it
was covered in armor-like scales of a dark blue hue, almost indigo; these
were glossy, as if they'd been polished.
blue dragon: I'd have thought that the wizard of the Brass Hills would
stop sending minions here, after I ate the last ones.
Cespedes: I am no minion...and Rary the Traitor is dead.
blue dragon: (ponders this) I see. (he shifts his massive body, more
intently studying the floating, cross-legged wizard before him) Ahhh.
Now I understand why you are so surprisingly calm. (he slowly swipes
at the other with one scaled foreleg, his claws passing right through
the hovering form)
Cespedes: I have projected my form to this place, from afar. Which, as
it turns out, was a prudent move.
blue dragon: (swipes at the wizard's intangible image once more, then
grunts, annoyed) Bah. Base trickery. (he snorts) What do you want?
Cespedes: I am called Cespedes, and I come not as an attacker, but as a
visitor...an emissary. You will be quite interested in what I have to
say, I think. Can we perhaps have a calm, civilized conversation here?
blue dragon: (grumbling, he settles down into a lying position, though
he keeps his massive head facing the wizard, as if that will somehow
intimidate him) I am Volte, once the terror of all Geoff and Sterich,
though few alive today will remember that. (he puts his huge paw atop
a boulder, tapping the stone with claws the size of swords) Speak your
piece, wizard. It has been a long while since I've talked with anyone
instead of devouring them.
With no possibility of battle here and now, Cespedes and the dragon
spent a short time engaged in what turned out to be a rather interesting
conversation. The wizard began by explaining that he and a number of his
companions - all powerful archmagi, he made sure to mention - had recently
confronted and slain Rary, Robilar, and all of their forces. He kept the
rationale behind the attack brief and simple: it was revenge for wrongs
inflicted by the pair. He also embellished the tale with selected bits
from the group's other recent adventures, with the goal of reinforcing to
the dragon just how powerful the wizards were.
In return, Cespedes learned (or was able to discern, or intuit) certain
details about Volte himself. He was quite obviously territorial, and was
here because he'd been driven out of his former lair over a century ago
by a powerful party of determined adventurers. The dragon had fled with
a mere fraction of his treasure and found a new home here in the desert,
atop this lofty perch that only he could reach. He considered the entire
desert to be his domain, and had pretty much gotten used to eating whoever
and whatever he wanted - an approach that had only recently come into some
question with the arrival of Rary. Having slain and eaten the archmage's
first envoy, the dragon had been expecting another, either with some sort
of peace offer or else to declare war. Whatever course of action the wyrm
would have taken seemed unclear, and in any event it hadn't come to that.
Volte: So what will you do next? And why are you telling me all of this?
Cespedes: We have no quarrel with you - just as we have no quarrel with
the nomads and the centaurs and all the others who live here. While
we do intend to rid the desert of the various scorpions and undead that
stalk its surface and buried ruins...those are somewhat more hostile
creatures, ones that pose a threat.
Volte: One could argue that I, as well, pose such a threat.
Cespedes: One could. Whether that statement is true depends on you. I
can offer a potential alliance, with a hefty payment including some of
the largest and most brilliant sapphires you've ever seen.
Volte: (his shield-sized eyes widen, as all blue dragons are known to
covet the blue gemstones above all others)
Cespedes: But- (he locks gazes with the old dragon) -such riches will
only come with the understanding that you cannot devour the people of
the desert. (he frowns) If only you could eat the scorpions...that
would solve two problems at once.
Volte: (spits, vaporizing a small rock with a tiny arc of electricity)
Scorpion, giant scorpion, manscorpion...they all taste terrible.
Cespedes: (shrugs) Well, it was an idea.
Volte: So let me see if I understand this correctly. You and your band
of wizards are taking over the region, and want my cooperation, else
you'll be forced to do battle with me?
Cespedes: (shakes his head slowly) That is one way to think of it. Let
me offer another: we have no wish to fight a wyrm of your great power
and stature. We would much rather co-exist. We simply need to figure
out how you can keep a full belly some other way than devouring people
and livestock at will.
Volte: Hmph. (he growls) I shall ponder this...but it will take some
time, and I promise nothing. (he eyes the wizard balefully) Now...I
wish for you to leave my home. I am tired, and would rest. That rest
will be much better without visitors.
Cespedes: (nods) Of course, great Volte. I urge you to consider all I
have discussed with you. We would value your power and wisdom.
Volte: No doubt.
Cespedes: (his intangible image vanishes)
Volte: (snorts lazily)
Around this time, in the north amidst the hills of the Abbor-Alz, other
forces had just finished with some more conventional (and bloodier) work.
The single pass through the hills, which linked the Duchy of Urnst to the
north with the Bright Desert to the south, was critical for trade but also
dangerous for travelers. Or at least, it had been.
Dexitheseus: (staring at the piled corpses of slain bandits at the foot
of the winding road up to the small fortress nestled within a hidden
gorge) They...smell.
Lord Marcus: They likely smelled even before they were dead. But they
will be nothing more than ashes before tonight.
Dexitheseus: Many thanks, old friend. Without your men and their blades,
we would never have been able to rid this place of these bandits.
Lord Marcus: It was my pleasure. The Host of Greyspire may be no more,
but my new force of mercenaries needed work...and gold. This job was
good for them, and may even help attract more stout fighting men, once
people hear that we slew Hugo the Axe and his cutthroats, and rendered
Knife's Edge Pass safe for travelers. (he turns to the severed head of
the self-styled bandit king, which is mounted atop a massive wooden
spear for all to see) The more like him who we rid the world of, the
better.
Dexitheseus: (regarding the grisly remains of the former bandit chief,
he nods) That's for certain.
Lord Marcus: And perhaps Griffon's Nest can now be used for some better
purpose, such as manning it with a strong garrison to protect - not
victimize - those who travel along this pass.
Dexitheseus: Perhaps. (he turns back to the tall, powerful warrior with
the flowing mane of black hair) And to tell the truth, we have more
work for you and your men.
And yet elsewhere - far to the north and west, on the edge of the Nyr
Dyv - a trio of wizards discussed other matters of importance.
Lyra: We're glad you helped with this task.
Tenser: No, I'm glad _you_ helped. Tracking down the hidden clones of
a slain archmage is no easy task.
Alindyar: We never suspected it would be.
Lyra: Who would have thought that he'd have three, scattered throughout
the world in distant and well-hidden places?
Tenser: I figured as much. What I didn't figure on was the clones all
being inert, despite Rary's certain death.
Alindyar: The dark blade Belphanior wields has, it seems, rendered a
permanent solution to the matter of any clones Rary prepared.
Lyra: Neera mentioned this to me once we decided to work with you to
locate and destroy any clones Rary had prepared. We knew the sword
consumed the souls of its victims, but no one had ever thought about
how that might affect the activation of clones of the slain person.
Alindyar: (grimly) We know now.
Lyra: Bodies may be duplicated, but souls are unique...and without one
to inhabit a clone-body, it never comes to life. As we witnessed.
Tenser: (frowns) I can't say I agree with the use of such weapons...
but it was Rary, and his evil and treachery are finally no longer a
factor in the world or its events. (he sighs) Sometimes the results
justify the methods, I suppose.
Alindyar: Aye.
Tenser: And - despite me telling you folks that I wasn't interested in
joining your alliance - I am always happy to help where I can, and to be
asked. (he nods) And considered an ally.
Lyra: At any rate, with the clones destroyed, the last trace of Rary is
gone from the world.
Tenser: (sadly) Except for every time I think of my old friend Otiluke.
(he shakes his head) Still, you are right - our work marks the end of
an era, and of a menace. The world will be a better place now, of that
I have no doubt.
next: a haunted tower
www: http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage: http://www.peldor.com/
email: tmiller@peldor.com
released: 12/29/2023
notes: Again, I'd like to point out the Bright Desert map, customized
with the full complement of notable locations:
http://www.peldor.com/world/atlas/bright_desert.jpg
This map will help all of us keep track of what's what (and where) as
this story arc continues. Right now, the wizards have knocked out or
at least gotten started on most of the more pressing matters that need
to be dealt with.
On another, perhaps random note, I've compiled a list of the places
where my version of Oerth differs from canon/published:
- Org Nenshen died, and his Guildmaster role was taken by Peldor
- in the Hold of the Sea Princes, Jeon was replaced by Creon
- the Crimson Blades completed the G-D-Q adventure series
- the Crook of Rao wasn't on the Isle of the Ape (I used the Wand of
Orcus, and so the Crook was found elsewhere and utilized in the big
purge of demons aka Flight of Fiends in 586 C.Y.)
- Rary was ousted from power (and life) by Belphanior and friends
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