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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
Power erupted from the bars, a coil of blue light that faded
as Ivo's spell took hold. An invisible wave that could only be detected
by its effects on the places it touched washed across the room.
The floor of the chamber, its tiles showing no damage unlike
the corridor which had been scratched and gouged, bubbled like a
cauldron of broth atop a roaring fire. A frame work of silver lines
woven between the squares of tile began to snap, one whipped back and
scored the metal bars others slashed against the walls.
The spell passed on till it touched the doors. Each changed,
they became a swirling mist bound within the stone frames as if they
were kept from the entrance room by a sheet of glass that could not
be seen. The metal door covered in rust became a brick red smoke, the
stone door was a cloud of grey and where the wooden door had been was
now a swirl of brown. The axe head lodged in the wooden door clanged
to the ground as the wood turned into mist. Ivo's spell had reached its
outermost limits and disappeared.
"There now," said Ivo, "that should take care of that."
Harold had peeked from around the ranger's leg as the spell
passed through the room. His eyebrows raised at the spectacular effects
and he gave a quiet whistle at the results. "Is the magic gone?"
"I'll check, wait where you are while I do." Ivo warned. The
gnome spoke quietly, the words of power were secret to his kind, and
with a gesture of his hand a shimmer of bluish light shone from the
metal bars, glowed from the snapped silver wire, the walls, the ceiling
and burned bright from the mist filled doors.
"Ivo it's still there." exclaimed Harold.
"No, no, there is a residue of enchantment," the old gnome looked
closely at one spot then another within the room, "the magic which trapped
the bars is fading as is that which formed the trigger across the floor.
Those doors have had their true form revealed, but their power is such
that my poor magic could not dispel them."
"The bars are safe then?" asked Harold.
"Of magic traps," Ivo told him, "I believe yes."
"Good," Harold stepped forward, "I'll check for traps of a more
natural kind, needles, levers, gears, and such, you stay back."
Ivo chuckled but obeyed. The gnome moved back beside the ranger
and kept a watch on the actions of the thief.
"Look for traps?" asked Little Rat. "Move bars?"
"You go back with them." Harold told him, the young orc surprised
him, he hadn't heard Little Rat's approach.
"No." Little Rat said firmly. "You show me, I learn."
"If you are going to stay then you can help me up these bars."
said Harold. "Cup your hands, give me a lift up." he showed the orc
what he meant, lacing his fingers together and miming how he wanted
Little Rat to help.
"Heavy..." grunted Little Rat.
"Hah!" Harold snorted. "After starving for days now! I'm empty
inside. Light as a feather!"
Harold moved near to the frame of the door using the stone of
the wall to help him climb further up the metal bars. He'd found no sign
of traps at the base or along the sides and when he reached the top there
was only an open space above where the bars had been hidden before falling
into place.
"It looks clear." Harold said after climbing back down. "Harald,
see if you can lift it. I think it just slides back up."
"Now I wish we'd brought Ghibelline along." the ranger said. The
big man bent and braced himself, then strained at the iron bars. Inch by
inch he raised them, the moved smoothly but their weight was very great.
"We need to brace them." said Ivo.
"Harald, hold them, I have to climb your back." The thief called
out. Harold grabbed the rangers belt and scrambled up till he was balanced
on a broad shoulder.
"Watch my arm." said Harald. "And hurry, I can't hold this long."
* * *
(To Be Continued...)