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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
The land below them was passing in a blur, it took only a few
moments to reach the valley where Harald had seen the three giants.
"Can you slow us down!" the ranger shouted out.
"Elente-senzim!" Telenstil called and they began to slow. "Klaudere"
he said and they halted in mid-air.
Harald gulped, terrified at their magic flight, he found that
floating motionless high above the ground was worse.
"Thhheerree!" he stammered. "Down there," Harald pointed to
the valley floor far below, he managed to control his voice, but had to
shout, there was a wind that struck them and swept their words away.
"You have good eyes." shouted Telenstil.
"What?"
"Good Eyes!" Telenstil said again. "Which Way!"
Harald held up two finger and pointed to the north where a small
stream flowed through the center of the valley, then held up a single
finger and pointed to the north-east. A beaten trail could be seen, even
from the height at which they hovered, it ran along a hillside and
up, then over its top, disappearing out of sight down the far side of the
hill.
Telenstil pointed to the north and Harald nodded in agreement.
"Vo-aire" the elf shouted and they were sweeping toward the north, fast
as a hawk again.
* * *
"You two, pick up this chain." Talberth told the pair of orcs.
Boss scowled and Meatstealer looked toward his leader before bending to
lift the black metal links.
"That one has the death magic." said Meatstealer.
Boss grunted and hung his end of the heavy chain across his
shoulder. His handful of followers bore the body of the human who had
used the flaming sword, the orc leader would have given the chain to them
if he could, but the squirming man took all six orcs to control.
"First chance, then we go." said Boss.
"We live, escape from giants," Meatstealer said. "These humans,
they powerful."
"Stinking elves," muttered Boss, "slave to giants, now slave to
elves."
Meatstealer just shrugged, he had served his orcish chief, the
ogres and giants of the hall, at least these elves did not use the whip.
* * *
Harold walked with Ivo as they left the camp. Behind them the
others were all loaded down with the bodies of the scout and dead Jalal.
Only the small orc, Little Rat, was left free of heavy burdens, he kept
pace with the halfling and the gnome.
The pathway before them was not steep, it must have seemed no more
than a narrow ledge to the giants, but the party found it a wide and easy
trail. It took them along the southside of the hill, rising up and to the
east, then switching back upon itself.
There going was slow, never strong, Talberth tired easily, and
Ghibelline's strength came from his will, his body was worn out. The orcs
would gladly have slung both the chain and the scout over the edge of
the cliff, but they carried both with care, their due to the dread in
which they held the mage.
"I'm going to scout ahead." Harold said to Ivo.
"Be careful, these are not the streets of Greyhawk." Ivo told him.
"I've been outside the walls before," said Harold, "but I'll
take care."
Ivo shook his head as the thief ran off, they'd lost their
scouts and their ranger guide. He gave a shout as the small orc chased
after, "Hey! Stop! Where do you go!"
"I go help." the little orc called back.
* * *
(To Be Continued)