Send a spelling or grammar correction to: Tracy Johnson
This site sponsored by Agenda Games LLC
Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
"No need to get snippy." Harold called back. "Let me just see what
is around this corner."
"Be careful!" Gytha told him. "I don't think that Henri's spell
covers the entire room."
"What! Harlot! The gods light illuminates what he wills, he knows
no limits." Henri exclaimed.
"Harlot!" Gytha shouted back. "Why you sanctimonious stuck-up
pr..." She could barely restrain herself from striking Henri.
"Now stop this!" Ivo yelled at them. "In Nosnra's dungeon with no
way out and you two want to fight each other! Save it for the giants."
"He started it." Gytha complained and cast a dangerous glance at
the blind priest.
"Henri you did. Is this the way that your liege the Theocrat would
have you behave." Ivo looked up at them both. "Children, big as houses you
are, but you act like children."
Harold had paid their argument no mind, instead he continued
exploring the room. "Trust that pompous cleric." he said to himself. "
not likely."
Against the eastern wall were several chests, some giant sized
but others that must have been crafted by smaller hands. Harold was drawn
to these like a moth to a flame. He circled them, even crawling behind to
check for hidden traps. He climbed atop the largest one, he felt along the
sides and carefully examined each hinge, but he found nothing other than
plain wood and iron bolts.
Gytha came up to him while he searched. Her eyes still shone but
she had kept her temper, a most notable achievement for a follower of
the cudgel wielding saint.
"I take it that these are safe." She said to Harold.
The halfling was sitting atop the largest one. He had climbed over
the other coffers and chests as if they were a set of stairs.
"It's safe. This big one looks to be at least." Harold gave the
broad lid a pat.
Behind them came Ivo, then the scouts. Henri walked in last and
looked at the southern alcove he walked over to the southwestern corner
and reached into a area covered with a yellow mold.
"Hey!" Harold yelled. "Careful there that stuff could be
dangerous!"
Henri did not reply or stay his hand. He pulled a quiver full of
arrows from the mold. "I do not fear weapons hanging on a wall." he said.
"An illusion!" Harold cried. "Ivo I am surprised that you did not
spot it first."
"I would have done." Ivo said. "But before I waste a spell, what
is it that your metal mask lets you see Henri."
"The true god grants me to see what is," Henri told them all " no
illusions can cloud my sight."
"Oh gods and magic," Harold cried. "This coming from a blind man
who speaks of sight. Well my eyes still see a moldy wall. What else do you
see?"
"A spear, and two sheathed swords hanging here before me." Henri
turned to take in the rest of the room. "Over there," he pointed to where
the thief stood atop the giant wooden chest. "The a large wooden trunk and
several smaller ones."
"I see these as well." said Harold.
"And here," The cleric stared looking with his golden mask at the
southeast corner of the room. A stout cask and a large box of black
stone."
"Ah-Ha!" Harold almost clapped with delight. "Something else they
did not want us to find."
* * *
(To Be Continued)