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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
Harald took them to the gibberlings path, a wide ravaged section
of woods as if a river of knives had flowed past stripping the bark from
the trees and leaving the brush in shreds .
Ghibelline laid his hand upon the bole of tree left bare. "These
are slain, there will be nothing but the corpses of trees all along these
monsters trail."
"Do they eat everything?" asked Harold shocked at the devastation.
"No, they only eat flesh, but they slash and gnaw at everything in
their path." the ranger explained. "I have only seen them twice before,
never in such numbers as this. Those times were not this bad. Yes, these
trees are dead, but the brush will grow twice as thick without their roots
sucking the nourishment from the ground, or the leaves hiding the sun."
"The death of one is the life of another." said Ghibelline.
"The Oerth Mother's plan." nodded the ranger in agreement.
"Just as long as those monsters are eating trees and not me
then I'm happy." Harold said.
"Well since you are so happy you and your shadow can come with
me," Harald told the thief, "Ghibelline, can you make sure that there are
no tracks left behind."
"I'll do my best," said Ghibelline, "I never thought I'd find
myself hiding the tracks of orcs."
"Are we ready?" Telenstil asked walking over to where the
ranger stood. Talberth followed close behind, his bruises were just
a light brown and yellow pattern on his face, around his eyes and nose.
"Whenever you say," Harald told him, "but we'd best make it
soon." He reached out and put his hand on Telenstil's arm. "We could
go north as we planned, or let Ghibelline scout the trail and I will
head east to see where these monsters are."
"North might be safer, but I have not changed my mind." said
Telenstil. "There is a risk no matter where we go, the north may lead to
more trouble, yet we know that the way that the gibberlings have come
is clear."
"What about trailing them?" asked Harald.
"I feel we need you with us more than knowing where they have
gone."
"Well then, if that is how it is then I'm off, I'll take these
two with me, and I've asked Ghibelline to make sure we leave no trail."
Harald said first pointing to the thief and Little Rat then toward
Ghibelline.
"Send Harold back to us every so often, that way we will know that
all is well." Telenstil instructed.
"Right." the ranger nodded agreement then waved for the halfling
and the orc to follow him as he set off down the trail of devastation
left by the gibberlings.
It was like traveling a field of grain with the harvest left
atop the stubble to rot. Harald showed the pair how he wanted them to
walk, following the trail where the gibberlings had made the deepest
marks.
"Step where the ground is firmest, try not to leave your
own steps showing." Harald told them.
"I know how to not leave a trail, even in the woods, and he
spent the last two years keeping out of the giants way, we'll be fine."
the thief assured him.
"Then I'm going to go on ahead. You two sit and wait for the
others every so often, I'll do the same or double back and check on you."
said Harald. "If I'm gone for more than a hands worth of the sun," he put
his broad palm up toward the sky, "two of your hands, then go back to
Telenstil and say to him that there is trouble ahead and he'd better go
north."
"What about you?"
"Anything that catches me and keeps me from coming back will
get you as well." Harald said. "You make sure that Telenstil goes north."
* * *
(To Be Continued)