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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 see problems with that plan," said Harald. "they will simply
think us rebellious slaves."
"You just don't want to look like an orc." Harold laughed.
"It seems that we are at least all agreed." Telenstil broke into
their friendly banter.
"We go round and round, a lot of words, but saying little."
complained Harald.
"Then we had best break camp, and talk again later when we can
make more detailed plans." said Telenstil
"Let's be gone from this place." Ghibelline agreed.
"You have been quiet." said Gytha.
"When I can be of help I will speak." said Ghibelline.
"And there is much that I wish to speak with you about." Telenstil
said to Ghibelline. The elven mage then turned to the young wizard.
"Talberth, please go wake the orcs and have them prepare to leave."
"First I will need Harald and Ivo to help me with the
chain." Talberth replied.
"You are right," said Telenstil, "hide the chain, we will prepare
ourselves while you are gone."
"Little enough to prepare." Gytha shook her head.
"Yes, we will need to resupply ourselves." Telenstil looked over
their bare camp, only the small packs and cloaks that they had taken
with them to the steading.
The circle broke apart. Talberth rose and collected Ivo and the
ranger. Harald grumbled as he hauled up the chain to his shoulders.
"Don't complain," Talberth said to him, "we aren't going far."
"Then you should be the one to carry it." muttered Harald.
"Now you two," warned Ivo, "none of this now. On the run from
giants is no time to be arguing."
"Who's arguing." Harald snapped.
"You both are." Ivo said bruskly.
They weaved their way across the hilltop as they talked. It was
not so round and flat as the giants hill to the south, but long and
rough, all stone and rock cracked and uneven. Halfway across, some
distance from their camp, they found a crevice, an old block of stone
split apart leaving a dark and narrow space. Ivo spotted it, the old
gnome had an eye for rock, but Talberth had not seen the space. Even
from just a few feet away it appeared to be no more than a dark shadow
on the stone.
"This will be perfect." Ivo declared.
"Thank goodness!" exclaimed Harald. He let down the weighty chain,
it clanked against the stone.
"Careful!" Talberth cried out and grabbed for the falling
links. Harald swatted the wizard's arm away.
"Careful yourself," said Harald, "you'll lose a finger grabbing
like that."
"That chain is a sturdy piece of work." said Ivo. "It is not
hurt."
"You can never tell," said Talberth, "there is no need to be
careless."
"Getting that lump of iron off my back is need enough." the ranger
stretched and wagged his shoulders back and forth. "Well if that is my bit
done..."
"We can manage the rest." said Ivo.
"Good, then I'll go ahead and see if I can find out a way off this
cursed hill." Harald gave them a wave then set off at a quick pace over
the uneven stones.
"How deep is that crevice?" asked Talberth.
"Not very," said Ivo, "longer than my arms, but not yours I think.
Easy enough to check. " the gnome took a coil of string from a small
pocket in his vest and tied it around a pouch.
"What is in there?" Talberth asked.
"Just sand, it is needed for some spells of mine," Ivo told him,
"it will let us see how deep the crevice is."
The coil was knotted evenly, a finger length apart. Ivo let the
string run through his hands, noting as each knot ran between his
fingers.
"Twenty-four and the pouch, not too deep, it should be fine
for what we need." he said to Talberth.
* * *
(To Be Continued)