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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
"There is no path to the west." Harald told them. He had returned
to find the others gathered at the center of the hilltop near to the
eastern ridge. "I don't like this."
"Yes," said Telenstil, "a trail that leads up, but only the same
trail leading back down, and little up here to make the trip worthwhile."
"Nothing except the view," Harald agreed, "but there is no sign of
a watchtower or a guardpost."
"A small mystery," smiled Telenstil, "but one we will have to
solve at a later date."
"I might notice something that our ranger may have missed."
offered Ivo
"I searched carefully." Harald said looking from Telenstil to
the gnome.
"There are things I might see which you would not know to
look for." said Ivo. "You know the woods and hills, but I know stone,
there may be signs that speak to a gnome, but are silent to a ranger."
"Ivo, no, we have stayed here too long," said Telenstil,
"Harald show us this other path."
"It's no path, not even a rabbit trail," Harald said grimly,
"I think we can make it down, but it is that or back down the way we
came."
"Right into the giants arms." said the thief. "Are we starting
or are we going to stand around?"
"We are starting." said Telenstil. "Harald please lead the way."
The ranger lead them a little north, then up a rise where the
ridge was not so high. The crest was where he'd left it, the rock
chimney still the same.
"This is the path?" asked Talberth.
"I said it wasn't an easy way," Harald shrugged, "but it
is passable. We will need to take some care."
As they spoke the little thief swung his legs out over the
edge and then began a slow descent, his fingers finding small cracks
and his feet resting on the tiny ledges in the wall of rock.
"Harold!" Gytha called to him. "What are you doing?"
"Not wasting time," he called back, "with a lot of talk."
"I go too!" Little Rat said delightedly looking down the
crevice. He practically dived headfirst but a huge hand grabbed him by
the neck and held him suspended in the air.
"Should I let him fall?" asked the ranger good humoredly.
"Put a rope on him first." Harold yelled up to him. "Don't
let him jump, he'll just end up landing on me!"
"Do we have any rope left?" asked Talberth.
"I have some." said Harald.
"As do I." Ivo pulled out a tight coil from his pack.
"Good." said Telenstil. "We can use both."
"I will want mine back." said Ivo. "Not left behind as we did
back at the steading."
"Talberth or I can go last," said Telenstil, "and use a spell
to descend. We will bring your rope along."
"Well, someone tie a rope around this orc so I can drop him."
Harald still held Little Rat suspended over the crevice and the
rocks thirty feet below.
"Drop?" Little Rat asked confused.
"Klaxend." Harald told the orc in his own tongue.
"No drop! no drop!" the young orc cried out and began flailing
its arms and legs.
"Harald please put...what are you called?" said Telenstil. "Please
put him down."
"Rattklin, me Rattklin." the young orc pointed at himself.
The ranger laughed, "That fits."
"He is called Little Rat." Ghibelline explained.
* * *