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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 world is old, many people and places have come and gone."
Telenstil mused but spoke aloud. "The stones beneath the steading, Ivo,
did they seem the same?"
"Yes!" Ivo agreed loudly. "Yes, I did not see it till you spoke.
This is the same stone."
"We dig old stone, find bad place." said Little Rat. "This bad
place?" he asked alarmed.
"What did you find? Where?" asked Talberth excitedly.
"Bad place! This bad place. Let's go, place make crazy, bad place
make crazy." Little Rat screamed out terrified.
"We're going." Harold grabbed the orc by the shoulder and pulled
him away from the stone block and the body of the gibberling.
"Wait.." Talberth began.
"Let them go." Telenstil told him. "Gytha do you sense anything?"
The cleric stood very still for a moment, then quietly began to
pray. "My senses are weak, dear Saint, aid me, let me see beyond this
veil, let me know where the touch of evil is present on the land." she
held out the iron rod she'd taken from the giants kitchen and faced the
foundation stones they'd found. Gytha was still for a few moments, she
did not breath, then with a whoosh she exhaled and then breathed deeply.
Telenstil looked at her, he did not say a word but raised his
brows.
"There is evil, very faint, it runs along those stones." she said.
"I will try again." she paced away from them out to where the last of the
stones could be seen, then turned so that the worn block was at her back.
* * *
Harald rushed along the path he'd taken through the heavy
brush. He abandoned all attempts to conceal his tracks, but his well
practised woodsmans skills kept him from leaving a careless trail, the
branches fell back in place, unbroken as he passed.
There was a shout, he heard a piping voice, the ranger broke into
a run. He had to stop to draw the huge blade he wore over his shoulder,
he swore he'd carry it like a staff or spear in future cursing as the
edge caught on an overhanging limb.
"What is it?" the thief called to him. The halfling drew his own
blade as he ran, the young orc trailing behind him a rusty dagger gripped
in either hand. "Harald is it those monsters?"
"What was that yell?" Harald demanded.
"That? That was just the Rat here." the halfling explained. "Ivo
says the stones are the same as in the steading, this one, " Harold
pointed back toward Little Rat casually with his thumb, "got upset, he's
scared. So am I."
The others had gathered around the body of the dead beast, the
orcs had just put down their burden, Derue, and caught sight of the
gibberling. Harald could hear their voices rise, then their leader
gave a shout and knocked one to the ground. Talberth yelled then and made
the lot cower and scowl.
"They sound scared as well." said Harold.
"They should be. We are safe for now." the ranger said. "The
herd went to the east, at least as far as I could see. We should be able
to avoid them."
"That's good news." Harold said. "We'd better get them moving
then. What are they up to?"
The pair walked side by side back to the others with the small
orc just behind, his dagger still drawn in his hands.
* * *
(To Be Continued)