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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
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
"You two, follow me." Gytha told the orcs. She started toward the
door, but neither followed. "What are you waiting for?"
"They've looked at the gnomes charm." said Ghibelline. The elf
walked slowly, half carrying Jalal, he'd drafted the aid of a small orc
to help.
"Great." Gytha shook her head. "Harald don't go just yet."
The ranger was happily letting down the heavy chain. As the last
links fell from his shoulder he stretched out his arms and groaned.
"Gytha, it is best if I check the gate alone," said Harald. "Too
many of us might alert the giants."
"Don't take any risks." Gytha called to him.
"Just being here is risk enough, do not worry." Harald said to
Gytha. He peered around the corner of the door, then slipped outside.
"Ghibelline, help me with these orcs." said Gytha.
"You hold up my friend here, understand?" Ghibelline asked the
small orc. The orc called Little Rat gave the elf a nod and braced its
arm around Jalal's waist, holding up the frail old man alone.
* * *
Outside, the giants had dug great pits and trenches across the
yard near the burning walls. Already the blackened embers that had been
the chiefs private hall were cooling beneath the dirt and the drizzling
rain. The fire had not yet died, its red tongue had licked the beams of
the great hall and still danced along the inside of the roof. A huge
timber that spanned the ceiling had fallen, smashing tables and benches
beneath it, and leaving a long splintered swath of smaller beams above.
The hall roof began to sag, but the supporting columns, mighty
tree trunks still round but shaven of their bark, kept it from falling
while any of the beams still held.
The walls had fallen, from the hidden stairs beside Nosnra's
private eating hall where the company had first descended, to the
chieftainess's chamber at the far end of the trophy hall, the furthest
eastern edge of the steading. Estrith, the chieftainess, had her
maids and the orcish slaves struggle the hardest to save her rooms,
but to no avail. They put out the fire but Estrith's chamber was lost,
three walls and the roof collapsed.
The trophy hall was gone, the western passage burnt away and the
doors leading to the childrens room and the maids chamber blocked by
falling half burnt beams.
To the north, among the ruins of the chiefs private chamber, the
giants were just stumbling across the huge iron wall, created by magic
and left fallen across the floor when the walls came down. The giants
still fought the blaze using shovel loads of dirt, long spears and axes
to push and chop the fiery wood away from the unburnt walls and roof.
None of the giants, the ogres or their orc slaves noticed the
lone human who opened the northern gate then ran back inside through
the servants door.
* * *
"Come quick!" Harald yelled to them. "The way is clear. The gate
is open, come." He glanced into the room and caught a glimpse of the
whirling pattern that Ivo weaved. Harald turned away but had to shake his
head and rub at his eyes to clear them of the mesmerizing gleam.
* * *
(To Be Continued)