Send a spelling or grammar correction to: Tracy Johnson
This is a first draft of a story set in the world of Greyhawk.
It is based on a home campaign so some of the people, places and things
may be different. Any helpful comments or suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks
Jason Zavoda
A ranger separated himself from the muddy oerth that surrounded
the city. He wore a cloak that turned from a wet brown to a dark green as
he walked toward the column. Behind him a half-dozen others appeared,
but they cast aside sheets of mud-caked canvas. Underneath they wore
cloaks of green, and leather vests studded with bone.
"The Duke's Greens." said an old trooper in surprise.
"Once." said the man clearly. There was grey in his hair and
beard. A long scar ran down his face, but he seemed more sad than grim.
"Maybe we will be again, but we serve only Geoff now, as we have done
since the day that all was lost."
"Who are you?" asked Kyle.
Waddard was beside him leading his century. The Eighth had been
given the honor of being first in the column. They would be first against
the walls of Hochoch too. The reward for bravery was the chance to be the
first to die.
"I am Nwyvre of Geoff." he said. "We have been waiting for you."
"You knew." Kyle pointed toward the walls.
The bones of the dead were hung like decorations from the walls.
Some were kept whole like monstrous skeletal puppets. Some were like a
shaman's fetish, bones, feathers, beads, coins, strips of cloth all tied
together in a unholy pattern. Other skeletons were laced together to
form abominations. Three skulls above a ribcage with arms where the
legs should have been, arms at the hips, at the shoulders, like some
monstrous spider.
The worst were the bones of children. A skeleton the size of a
giant was hung above the great gate and bridge. It was formed from
hundreds of little bones, children or halflings, but there had been few of
the small folk who'd lived in Hochoch before the coming of the giants.
"You knew of this," Kyle's eyes were wild, "they knew didn't
they? Didn't they?"
"Calm yourself Kyle." Waddard said quietly.
"We knew." said Nwyvre. "We've known for years. Why didn't you?
Where have you been? You have the sound of Geoff in your voice."
"I was..." Kyle began.
"Too young." Nwyvre shook his head. "Seidi there has been fighting
the giants since he was a boy." he nodded toward a tall red-haired man,
one of the half-dozen rangers in his command. "Don't blame anyone for
not speaking of this. Better that you see it for yourself."
"It's obscene." Kyle stared at the wall.
"It gets worse." said Nywvre. "Much worse."
Kyle turned back toward the ranger-chief and glared, but he
was wary and a little bit afraid.
"I'll tell you." said Nwyvre. "You will see it soon enough. The
bones will dance when the monsters take the walls. They will talk too when
you get close enough. Those are the real guards and watchers, those bones.
They have been there for years and we could do nothing. Our own kin warn
the giants of our approach. None of us, none who have stayed and fought,
have been in Hochoch since its fall."
"I've come to change that." said Kyle.
"I'm glad to see that you haven't come alone." Nwyvre looked past
Kyle's shoulder at the column of troops.
"Enough talk." Waddard said to Kyle and to Nywvre. "We've
come to set up a guard before the moat. Stop them if they try to come out
and prepare for the assault."
"Then lets to it." said Kyle.
"They've left you some cover there." Nwyvre told them. "Those
pits and trenches, they dug out blocks of stone and dragged great wagon
loads of supplies into the city. We've checked them and found no traps.
They have all gone inside the gates and raised the bridge." the ranger
laughed, a surprisingly pleasant sound. "They're scared. It makes me
glad. They've grown fat and lazy since the coming. The fire has burned low
in them, but they are still dangerous, they'll fight."
"And we will kill them." said Kyle. "Signalman!" he called. "Sound
advance in line!"
"I'll show you the ground." said Nwyvre. "Yes, this makes me glad
indeed."
* * *
(To Be Continued...)