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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
"I believe the results were worth the effort." said Telenstil.
He paused for a moment then looked down at Ivo with a serious expression
on his face. "Would our presence have saved Harold from his fall?"
"Some would say it was his fate." Ivo shook his head. "Who can
say, each footstep takes us down a different path."
"Ah well," Telenstil sighed, "Our quest may lead us all into
the endless sleep."
"If that is so..." the old gnome grimaced then brought the talk
back to the here and now. "Tell me how your little side trip went."
"It went well enough." said Telenstil. "We ambushed two of
Nosnra's messengers, killed them, but a third escaped. That will
cost us later I am sure."
"No doubt." Ivo agreed.
"It went well, a third might have been too many for us to stop."
admitted Telenstil.
"Fifty years ago you would not have believed that you could slay
one giant let alone two." mused Ivo reflecting on the past.
"Our ranger is a mighty hand with his sword." said Telenstil. "It
was his hand that slew the greater of the pair."
"Humans, fifty years ago he was a babe in swaddling." laughed
Ivo. "They lead a may-fly life."
"They burn bright in the time they have." Telenstil smiled back.
"As do you and your kind my friend."
"Elves." Ivo said dismissively. "You live a dragon's years,
what a gnome could do with such a lifetime. You play more than you work."
"Life is worth enjoying." Telenstil laughed in reply. "It is
worth thinking about as well. The hours pass as slowly for us as they
do for you or for our human friends, but the years, Ivo the years
go quickly by."
"Speaking of time," said Ivo, "we had best get on the move, unless
we are to camp here."
"I will need to rest a bit before we move on." said Telenstil. He
sat down on a chair sized rock and opened up his pack. "Here, I took
these from the bodies of the giants. Messages sent from Nosnra I suspect."
Ivo eyed the huge rolls of skin that Telenstil drew out.
"One for you," said Telenstil handing a roll of hide to Ivo, "and
one for me."
"We will be camping here then." Ivo bit his lip. "I am not sure
that is for the best."
"There will be time enough." Telenstil said. "Time for me to rest
and time enough to sort out Nosnra's letters."
Ivo raised a bushy brow as he looked over the scroll the size of a
cloak. " A giant's scrawl, this may take some time to decipher. It is
always like a code, giants, they never manage to spell a word the same way
twice."
"We will manage." Telenstil assured the gnome.
* * *
"Harold, can't I leave you on your own for a minute?" the
ranger said quietly, standing over the small sleeping thief.
"He will be fine." Gytha put her hand on the rangers arm then
leaned her head against his shoulder.
"He fell?" asked Harald.
"He has gained an apprentice it seems, the little orc. The orc
fell and both tumbled from the rocks up there." Gytha pointed to the sheer
wall of stone that rose up above their heads.
"Where is this orc?" Harald asked in a slow and dangerous voice.
"Now Harald, the little fellow meant no harm." Gytha said and held
tightly to the ranger's arm. "He has become quite attached to our
halfling friend. I talked with him, he feels very bad. He told me that
Harold saved his life up there."
"I do not trust orcs." said Harald. "Even little ones."
* * *
(To Be Continued)