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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
Midday, the sun was bright overhead and the company found
themselves still camped atop the hill. With the aid of the rangers skills
and the gnomes illusions they were safely hidden from all but arcane
sight.
The orcs slept, they hid their eyes from the sunlight, laying
themselves facedown on the stones and hardpacked oerth. The others were
awake and all but the scout Derue were gathered about the body of Jalal.
"Will this work?" asked Gytha.
"Talberth and I have studied this spell, it will work." Telenstil
replied.
"Ghibelline, it will provide a safe resting place for his body."
she said to the elf.
"I wish I knew the customs of his kind." said Ghibelline sadly.
"His body will be safe, hidden and encased in stone." Telenstil
said calmly.
"Will he rest, or will his spirit be trapped here as well?" asked
Ghibelline.
"I think he will rest," said Gytha. "We all wish him peace."
"He died free." Harald said. "He escaped from that hole of
Nosnra's, I think he will rest. It is a beautiful place this land, even
the nearness of the giants cannot take that away."
"They are a blight," muttered the little thief, "they should be
wiped out."
"Harold, I am glad to hear you speak," said Telenstil. The
halfling had been quiet and withdrawn since he had awakened. He had
overjoyed his companions when his eyes first opened, but his words
were dark and he had not smiled, a great change for the small
thief. "Be assured we are not finished with the giants yet."
"And they are not finished with us." said Ivo.
"Yes. We need to speak of this, but now let us put Jalal to
rest." said Telenstil.
"I will carry him." the ranger said.
"No," Ghibelline spoke up. "no, I will."
"Let us help you," said Gytha. "The ground is rough, we will
lend a hand."
Ghibelline and Gytha held the dead mans shoulders, while Harald
lifted his legs. They carried him across the hilltop to a place near its
center where a large patch of stone lay bare of oerth worn smooth by the
wind and the passing years.
Carefully they placed him near the stone. Ghibelline removed the
cloak which he had taken from the steading and wrapped it around Jalal,
then Harald tied ropes around the legs and chest of the shrouded form.
They stepped away, all bowed their heads and said silent prayers or words
of farewell, then Talberth and Telenstil motioned for the others to step
back.
"Sax-Am Va-Ere K-Am" Talberth intoned. He threw a thimble made of
raw wet clay that held a clear drop of water, it struck and seemed to
melt, then the stone rippled like a pool of water in the rain. Ghibelline
reached out and clasped Gytha's hand in his own.
With the clay that Talberth had used to form his thimble,
Telenstil fashioned a miniature bucket and a tiny spade. He held these
in his hand and spoke a single word.
"Fo-Dere!" he commanded and the mud became a pit, the edges piled
high with the wet oerth from the pit, thrown out evenly by the magic
spell.
"Quickly now!" Talberth called out.
Gytha and Ghibelline lifted the rope tied about Jalal's chest
while Harald and Talberth raised the body by the rope around the legs.
They stumbled across the slick oerth and half carried, half dragged
Jalal over to the muddy pit. Ghibelline swore beneath his breath at his
awkwardness, while Gytha mouthed a prayer. The walls of the pit caved in
and fell upon Jalal, the sudden weight pulled the rope from their hands
almost dragging Talberth down beside the body of Jalal.
Ghibelline stood ankle deep in mud. He looked down at the
mire of Jalal's grave and said goodbye.
"Farewell my friend, rest now. I will find your kin one day
and repay the debt I owe you, my freedom and my life." the elf knelt
down in the mire and with his hands began to push the piled mud back down
into the pit. Gytha knelt as well, then Harald, then the other Harold,
no longer grim but with eyes as wet as the muddy oerth.
"Come, it is only the fair oerth, no shame to have on your hands
or your clothes." Ivo said to his fellow mages. The old gnome joined
the others, then both Talberth and Telenstil sunk down on their
knees and helped.
A small figure looked on, and quietly crept beside the thief.
Little Rat had no qualms about sinking his hands into the mud.
They were a filthy mess when they backed away. Telenstil made
sure that no one would be affected by his spell, then spoke the
words and threw a piece of stone and a handful of water on the mud.
"K-Am Va-Ere Sax-Am." he said, and the mud froze to stone again.
* * *
(To Be Continued)