Chapter #1161
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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 +
+ 1991-2024 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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+ 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 +
+ Paige 13th level human female warrior +
+ Razor Charlie 12th level human fighter +
+ Skektek 14th level human wizard +
+ Ys 14th level reptilian fighter +
+ 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: Richfest day 1, after 6/28/586 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: late nighttime +
+ Place: the royal palace in Istivin, amid occupied Sterich +
+ Climate: dark and chilly +
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+ "When you hit people with objects for a living...you become an +
+ expert at, you know, hitting people with objects for a living." +
+ - Stone Cold Steve Austin, from _WWE Legends_ +
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MCLXI. Galmoor's Folly
After infiltrating the royal palace and defeating the giant-king's two
elite guards, Belphanior has just opened one of the massive double doors
to the inner chamber...
King Galmoor: (fully awake although clad only in a crude leather tunic,
he hurls a giant-sized throwing axe, which is about the size and weight
of a human-sized battleaxe, at the space where the door just opened)
Galmoor, despite being hung over, was a veteran of many battles, and
his throw was perfectly-aimed and would have cleaved a healthy ox in two.
The problem was, there was no ox in the opening...nor was there anything
or anyone else. The giant throwing axe sailed into the outer chamber and
buried itself in the back of a couch.
King Galmoor: What?
Belphanior: (perched above and outside of the double door thanks to his
recently-cast spell of spider climbing, he employs the power of Kronos'
hourglass)
King Galmoor: (frozen in time right where he stands)
Belphanior: (drops to the floor and enters the inner chamber, moving and
working fast as previously planned for this series of events)
When time returned to normal for the hill giant king, not long after,
a couple of things had changed. Firstly, he was pinned to the floor by
a thick mass of webbing which completely covered him from the neck down.
Secondly, the double doors to the bedchamber were closed and barred from
this side. The third measure, which Galmoor couldn't possibly know about,
was the cloud of potent gas that filled the chamber outside of the doors.
Belphanior hadn't even needed to stuff a carpet or similar item into the
crack beneath the doors, because they were well-made and had no cracks or
other seams through which the vapor could seep into this room.
King Galmoor: (begins to strain against the numerous layered strands of
webbing that hold him in place)
Belphanior: (rests the edge of his sword against the other's neck) Stop
immediately, or I'll cut you open like a rotten wineskin.
King Galmoor: (his eyes shift to the impossibly black steel blade whose
cold steel has already drawn blood, even though he somehow didn't feel
the cut) Ack. (he stops struggling)
Belphanior: Good. You're not as dumb as you look.
King Galmoor: (stares hatefully at his captor)
Belphanior: I can see that you're an unusually large and strong example
of the hill giant species, and I have no doubt that you could tear free
of those webs, despite the lack of any leverage. Or you could if you
had the time, which you don't.
King Galmoor: (his eyes dart to the door)
Belphanior: I'm sure your troops could break that down, except that I
just filled the room outside with deadly poison gas. No one will come
along and bother us anytime soon.
King Galmoor: (his defeat suddenly shows in his eyes)
Belphanior: Now that we've settled that...I have some questions for you.
You need to understand that I'm not going to ask any question twice,
and you also need to understand that my magic will tell me if any of
your answers are lies. Go ahead and confirm to me that you understand.
King Galmoor: (clenches his hairy jaw)
Belphanior: (turns his wrist, ever so slightly, and a bit more blood
begins oozing from the giant-king's throat) My sword takes souls, and
it's hungry. If you don't do what I ask, I'll let it take yours and
that'll be the end of you. But if you cooperate, I promise that you'll
be spared from that horrible fate.
King Galmoor: (eyeing Blackrazor fearfully) You swear it?
Belphanior: You have my word.
King Galmoor: (sighs) What are your questions?
Belphanior: First...where in this room is your treasure hidden?
King Galmoor: At the foot of the bed is a chest, full of gold and silver
coins, and a handful of gems.
Belphanior: That's it?
King Galmoor: That's all- ARGH! (he curses as more blood trickles from
his neck)
Belphanior: I told you I'd know if you lied. And you didn't mention the
magical battleaxe under your bed, or the magical leather armor hanging
there on the wall, or what's in the nightstand.
The elf didn't, of course, have any means of detecting whether the foe
was lying; he wasn't a priest and didn't possess such magic. What he did
possess was the ability to detect magic, thanks to his crystal eye. The
axe and armor were obvious, and he could tell that something within the
nightstand bore an enchantment. He could care less about any treasure
the giant-king might have had here; he was after information and eventual
control of this palace, and nothing else. But his quick thinking, when
combined with the giant's relatively low intellect and also his fear of
dying, got the job done.
Belphanior: (shaking his head) Understand, I could let go of this sword
and it would actually cut you more deeply. It really does have a mind
of its own. Can you feel the cold touch of its edge, beginning to take
your life force?
King Galmoor: (absolutely terrified now)
Belphanior: So...no more lies?
King Galmoor: No. No more lies.
From that point on, Belphanior asked questions and the giant-king gave
answers. The elf worked quickly to find out all the things he wanted to
know: troop strength within the palace as well as in the city outside
the palace, and places where large numbers of those giants and humanoids
were quartered, as well as names and locations of all major commanders
and officers...the frequency and method of Galmoor's communications with
allied forces in Geoff and the Crystalmists...and location and number of
any remaining Sterish prisoners in the palace and city. Getting all of
this information didn't take long, for the giant-king had fully realized
the precariousness of his current position. When their conversation was
over, Belphanior stood, finally removing his sword's edge from the foe's
throat.
Belphanior: You have been most cooperative.
King Galmoor: So what now?
Belphanior: Now, I have to... (he works another spell)
King Galmoor: (suddenly finds himself immobilized)
Belphanior: I know you can't talk now, so just listen. I promised you
that you wouldn't perish at the blade of Blackrazor. (he feels a bit
of an agitated tingle from the sword, which is still held in his right
hand) But the fact remains that you led a force that massacred untold
numbers of people in this kingdom, including innocents...children and
women and the elderly. There's a price to be paid for your deeds, and
it's come due. (he walks over to the double doors and lifts the bar,
then kicks one door open)
The thick, greenish gas outside immediately began to seep into the
bedchamber - in just a few moments, it swirled around the webbing which
covered the giant's feet.
Belphanior: I have another means of escape, and will now use it...and
then I'll use all the information you just gave me to help dismantle
everything you and your forces have done here. (he frowns) But you
won't be around to see it.
With that, the elf quickly retreated to the far end of the large room
and began casting yet another spell, one that would allow him to walk
right through the stone floor and reach the level below. A few moments
later, he was gone...and behind him, the trapped and immobilized form of
King Galmoor died a death that some would have deemed far too merciful,
given that the giant was guilty of what any civilized kingdom would have
classified as war crimes.
On the floor below, Belphanior didn't care. He'd heard the tales of
the invaders' cruelty and debauchery - and then seen firsthand, on this
very night, actual evidence of such. He was out for blood now, and any
who got in his way would not live to regret it.
Belphanior: (moving quickly now, in order to not waste the haste spell
and also because he's already achieved his main objective, he heads for
a doorway leading out of the chamber he landed in)
Hearing commotion outside - noises that indicated someone was heading
his way - the elf quickly darted to one side of the door. Unlike those
on the floor above, these were too small for a giant to duck through to
enter, so he figured that at worst he'd be seeing an ogre or two come
through. And he was close.
gnoll #1: (bursts into the room, sword in hand, and looks around)
The humanoid was part of a force of guards who was now doing a cursory
check of all rooms, given the alarm raised due to the commotion above.
He wasn't expecting to find anyone in here, and was already backing up
to leave and check the next room when his head was suddenly separated
from his body, courtesy of Belphanior's sword.
gnoll #1: (falls, and his head rolls away)
gnoll #2: (outside and having seen this unfold from another angle) Eh?
(he moves into the room a lot more cautiously) Who's there-
In addition to being ready for an attack, this humanoid was a good deal
faster than his slain fellow. He was able to deflect the attack from the
tall elf in the red cloak, and they quickly circled off.
gnoll #2: I don't know who you are, but you won't get any f-
Belphanior: (lunges forward, unnaturally fast, his sword swinging in a
deadly arc)
The gnoll had gotten lucky one time, but it wasn't fated to happen a
second. The foe's sword batted his own aside - somehow this elf was far
stronger than he should have been - and then flicked back, its point
sinking through the hide armor and into the humanoid's chest.
gnoll #2: (falls)
Belphanior: (reinvigorated yet again) Ahhhhh.
Apparently, that was the extent of this patrol; he guessed that these
small contingents of troops had each been assigned to check and clear a
certain area. With that in mind, Belphanior moved out of the small room
and into a longer passageway, darted down the latter, and passed several
open doors that led into empty chambers. One looked like a storeroom,
while another was full of trash and a third full of stacked crates. He
eventually stopped outside a fourth door, which was closed and behind
which could be heard loud voices, perhaps arguing amongst themselves.
Energized by the fighting and emboldened by the urgings of his black
blade (which to be fair had not fed in quite some time) the elf backed
up, then kicked the door down and charged into this new chamber. Its
occupants - three big ogres clad in tattered hides and holding maces or
clubs - looked at him in complete shock...and then he charged at them,
giving them little time to react. The closest was down before he could
even raise his weapon, his shoulder cleft and gushing blood. The second
ogre swung savagely at the elf but narrowly missed, taking a slice across
his chest in return; he then reeled back, blood pouring from the short
but deep wound. The third ogre was able to hit the smaller, faster
opponent with its club - but that was merely a glancing blow due to the
elf being in motion and also being unnaturally fast.
Belphanior: (grunts with the impact as the heavy club grazes his side,
the force of the blow absorbed by his stoneskin spell, then whirls and
flicks his blade out, nicking the ogre's arm)
ogre #3: (lumbers toward the elf, club swinging again) Smash you!
Belphanior: (seeing the bloody, wounded second ogre charging in from a
different direction, he jumps to one side at the last possible moment,
avoiding both attacks as the big humanoids collide with each other)
ogre #2: Ungh! (he falls and lands on its back)
ogre #3: Unf! (he staggers back, briefly stunned)
Belphanior: (in a perfect position relative to the fallen foe, he stabs
it in the neck, then leaps back, reassessing the surviving opponents)
The first ogre was back on his feet, and had switched the mace to his
good arm. The second ogre was down for the count, slain by the gruesome
strike to its neck and creating a widening pool of blood. The third ogre
had only the minor cut on its arm, and was thus at near-full strength.
The combatants now squared off in the room, which was fairly large and
looked like it had once been some sort of audience or meeting chamber.
Belphanior: (sensing more souls in the vicinity, he turns back to the
chamber's door as four more ogres burst in)
ogre #3: Heh.
Belphanior: Bring it on.
He meant it, too; thanks to his sword, the foes' numbers would only
help him, provided he could continue slaying them and avoid being rushed
and overpowered. And he also had his magical defenses, plus numerous
tricks still remaining in his arsenal. However, the outcome of the fray
as it was now set would never be known...for the rearmost of the newly-
arrived ogres was abruptly swatted aside by someone or something in the
passage outside.
ogre #6: Huh? (he turns back to look...and is abruptly grabbed by a
number of glowing blue tendrils, which then snatch him away)
ogre #5: What's going on?
While Belphanior suspected he already knew the answer to that question,
he was not one to waste an advantage...and even the first two ogres were
distracted. He darted forth and stabbed one of them in the heart, then
engaged the other in weapon-play before the first one had hit the ground.
Meanwhile, the other ogres were otherwise occupied...
ogre #5: (reels as a throwing knife appears in the side of his head,
followed a moment later by a flaming sword which cleaves his skull in
half, right down the middle)
Paige: (appears behind that sword, grinning to Belphanior) Well-met!
Ys: (barrels into the room, smashing into the last of the second group
of ogres sword-first)
In very short order, no humanoid foes remained alive in this area, and
Belphanior found himself reunited with not only his team but also Parekh,
Drak, and Wu (as well as the six powerful ogre magi who served as his
personal guard).
Razor Charlie: (retrieves his knife from the ogre's head, wiping blood
and gore on its tunic while grimacing)
Drak: (hefts his mallet, regarding the ogre he smashed earlier) Didn't
even need to grow to deal with that one.
Skektek: (literally prances into the room) Now it's a party. (he sees
the look on Belphanior's face) Surprised to see us? (he smirks, and
nods in the direction of Parekh) If so, blame her.
Parekh: I decided to conjure a wizard-eye to follow you and keep an eye
on things.
Hope: Heh.
Parekh: Oh, I see. (she frowns, then resumes explaining to Belphanior)
While you weren't in trouble - at least not yet - I couldn't help but
notice that some sort of alarm had just been raised, and the humanoids
all over the castle and city were swarming.
Skektek: It was like when you step on an anthill and a moment later they
all go nuts.
Parekh: Err, right. That. Plus, to be honest, we were getting a bit
antsy up there.
Hope: Heh. You did it again.
Parekh: (rolls her eyes)
Belphanior: I see.
Paige: (glancing at the carnage and corpses after the battle that just
ended) Well, I'll speak up and say it...we were bored.
Parekh: At any rate, here we are. What news?
Belphanior: It was going fairly well...but thank you nonetheless. (he
frowns) I need to invent a spell to render nearby foes silent, or at
least mute.
Hope: The priests have their silence spells, so such a spell for wizards
should be possible.
Parekh: Indeed it should, and perhaps is. (to Belphanior) We should
confer about this another time.
Belphanior: Right.
Wu: (talking to his ogre magi in their native tongue, as they point at
the slain ogres and comment in that strange language)
Hope: I hope there isn't going to be some sort of problem.
Poulos: (looks on impassively)
Wu: (turns to the main party) No problem. My companions were merely
commenting about the filthy state of these savages. They are beneath
contempt.
Belphanior: That's for sure. I've seen what they've done to this place
and its people.
Irina: Do any survive?
Belphanior: (nods) The king told me where to find them - in the cellars
beneath this palace. And we'll get there eventually.
Parekh: Good. And what of this giant-king?
Belphanior: (shakes his head) His ruling and plundering days are over.
Razor Charlie: (grimaces, although it almost resembles a thin smile)
Hope: So what's next?
Belphanior: Our job is to do whatever we can to make the retaking of
Istivin easier for Mongo and his combined forces. Which, as it's now
after midnight, will be later today - maybe even this afternoon if they
make good time. (he looks around) It seems to me that our next move
is to work our way through this palace, vanquish every foe we encounter,
find and free the prisoners somewhere below, and then move out into the
city proper and repeat.
Paige: (grins again) Sounds like fun. Let's get to it!
next: expanding the scope
map: http://www.peldor.com/world/atlas/bright_desert_1156.jpg
www: http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage: http://www.peldor.com/
email: tmiller@peldor.com
released: 8/2/2024
notes: I couldn't let Belphanior have all the fun. I just couldn't.
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