Send a spelling or grammar correction to: Tracy Johnson
This site sponsored by Agenda Games LLC
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
"Telenstil! Telenstil!" Harold shouted across the pillared hall.
His voice echoed from the vaulting roof and broke the silence that
held the room in its embrace. The halfling was startled by the sound of
his own cries coming back to him so he called no more.
His footsteps and Little Rat's were all that he heard at first
after the echoes died, but when he was halfway across the room the
sound of voices talking in earnest reached his ears. Harold could
hear the clear tones of Telenstil's elven throat and Ivo's deep bass
replies so typical of a gnome. There was another elven voice, Ghibelline
no doubt and the grumble of the ranger.
As he neared the entrance to the hall Harold could see them now.
A magic light had been lit, one of the wizards had enchanted the end
of a torch and placed it in the outstretched hand of the golem carved
into an ogres shape. They stood around the stone creature looking
much as they had when Harold had left them to follow Talberth. The
warrior elf Ghibelline faced the others his arms rising with the
volume of his words.
Telenstil saw the thief and his shadow, he said something
that Harold could not hear which silenced Ghibelline and waved.
Harold waved back and hurried to reach the wizard and the others.
"...you have a quest, but..." Ghibelline was saying before
Harold interrupted him.
"Telenstil!" Harold shouted in a hoarse whisper. "Telenstil."
he said again after clearing his throat. "Talberth's gone. There
was a magic trap, I told him not to go ahead..."
"Take me to this place." Telenstil said firmly and shook
his head. Talberth had been his apprentice, but to the seemingly
ageless elf it had been only a short time ago that Talberth
had left his tutelage. In Telenstil's mind the young mage appeared
as the gangly youth whose academic skills were matched only by
his hunger to learn.
"Telenstil," said Ivo, "I will go. Magic tricks and traps are
part of my craft as you know."
"Talberth is my responsibility." objected the elf.
"This quest is your responsibility, you were just saying as much
to Ghibelline." Ivo told him. "You command the golem, your powers are
more direct, mine are better suited to this."
"I'll go." offered the ranger.
"Yes," said Telenstil, "I would feel better knowing that a
strong arm and able sword went along."
"Follow me, it's down the side passage we found, it's quite a
ways." said Harold.
"Then we'd better get started." said Ivo.
"Take the light." said Telenstil. "You will need it for Harald."
"You humans..." Harold said under his breath.
"Halflings..." Harald answered him.
"You have good ears." the halfling said, surprised that the ranger
had heard him.
"Return in an hour." cautioned Telenstil.
"If we can." said Harold.
"We will be back in an hour or send someone back." said Ivo.
"I will make sure that we do not get in over our heads."
The ranger looked at the old gnome standing by the young scrawny
orc and the halfling and smiled, then laughed.
* * *
(To Be Continued...)