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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
"This I do not like." Ivo said looking back the way they'd come.
"Yes," Telenstil said slowly, "both our scouts are gone."
"I've heard you both say the same before and it come to nought."
Harold told them. "I'm going to find Harald, you stay here and wait for
Ghibelline." The halfling turned aside and gestured to Little Rat to
follow.
"Wait, Harold Wait." Telenstil called after him. To his surprise
the halfling stopped. "We will go, but I will not abandon Ghibelline
or Harald."
"You will have us split again." said Ivo.
"No, we will search for Harald first then for Ghibelline."
Telenstil told them.
"No, Telenstil we can't leave Ghibelline." Gytha objected.
"Ghibelline may be well," said Telenstil, "he works to hide our
trail, but Harald should have come back, something is wrong there.
"I will go back and find him." Gytha said firmly.
"Gytha no." Telenstil looked her in the eye. "We may need you,
if there is something wrong we would lose you as well. We will not abandon
Ghibelline...."
"We are, Telenstil, we are." she said. "Let us be gone then, I
will not abandon Harald as well."
* * *
Stillness, a slight breeze that ran across the denuded woods and
raised a small dancing ghost of shredded leaves, then stillness again.
Ghibelline did not move.
Time passed, he worried that he was too long away from the others,
but the feeling that something watched, something followed, that feeling
was strong. His only cover was the thickness of the brush, but it was
enough. Something stirred, the debris were furrowed by its passage.
At first Ghibelline could not make out what it was, all that
appeared was a depression where branches were pushed down and a stirring
of the leaves that were driven aside. Then as it came near he could see
the scales, translucent but tinged with red. A fanged head turned and
looked at him, a tongue split like a two pronged fork shot out and seemed
to taste the air and then it turned away.
Ghibelline launched himself from behind the bush, his sword drawn,
slashing at the long and sinuous neck.
* * *
"It just looks dark to me." said Talberth.
"There is light enough," Ivo told him, "I've spent too
much time under the sun of late."
"The orcs are eager to get away from the light as well." Talberth
looked back at the small group waiting behind him.
Telenstil went ahead with Harold and Little Rat, they showed him
where the found the hole clawed through the stone floor, all three stood
above the shaft and talked of what to do.
"Its an easy climb." said Harold. "I'll go first, he'll
follow." he said pointing to the young orc.
"Cool here," said Little rat, "let's go."
"Wait a moment," Telenstil said, "I will have the others come
up. We will need a rope to lower Derue."
"Better just to leave him up here." said Harold. "It'll be harder
getting him back up."
"We need to watch him, and we need a place where we can leave
him." Telenstil looked down the shaft. "This may prove a convenient spot,
a temporary prison."
"I'm for getting rid of him." Harold agreed.
"I am hoping to cure him of this curse." chided Telenstil. "Wait
here, I will bring up the others."
* * *
(To Be Continued)