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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 spike whirred into the wall, the ancient stone seemed to cry
out in protest but the power of the metal's enchantment proved stronger
than that of the rock's.
Harald relaxed and let the gate slide down, it caught against the
enchanted spike and much to the ranger's relief, it held.
"Remind me," Harold said to them all, "I don't want to leave that
spike behind."
"I remind." said Little Rat.
"Good." Harold nodded, then looked over at Ivo. "You remind too."
"I remind, I remind," Ivo said imitating the small orc, "now
let's worry about what still lies ahead."
"I don't like these doors." said Harold the first to step under
the gate and into the room.
"Magic portals." Ivo offered.
"I like that even less." mumbled Harold.
The ranger was the last to step inside. He nudged a strand of
silver which had sprung from the floor and eyed the axe head which lay
before the portal swirling with brown smokey tendrils. With his fingers
almost brushing the broken haft he stopped and made a clicking sound
with his tongue. "Harold... Ivo, do you think this is trapped?"
The halfling gave a derisive laugh. "Who knows in this place,
but better to check and be cautious."
"Which portal did Talberth go through?" asked Ivo. "This one."
he pointed to the portal in the middle that was directly opposite the
corridor.
"That is the one." Harold said glancing over his shoulder. "Ivo,
this axe head, did it appear enchanted?"
Ivo pondered the question as he stood before the central portal.
He'd picked up a chip of stone from the floor and rolled it in his hand.
"Yes, but is it trapped? As you say Harold, better to be cautious."
"Leave it alone." Harold said to the ranger. "That means you as
well." he turned to Little Rat.
"No touch." the orc held up his hands and shrugged.
With a flick of his hand Ivo tossed the chip of stone into the
swirling mist. It passed through the unseen barrier which kept the mist
in place and sank into the cloudy, depth disappearing almost at once.
The stone disturbed the swirling pattern slightly but only for a moment
and then the mist was flowing in unbroken curls again.
Ivo breathed in deeply, the gnome considered what he'd seen
then drew a knife. The blade touched the mist, he pushed in further,
there was no resistance, but his fingers upon the hilt tingled.
Frost covered the steel, Ivo had withdrawn the blade, it steamed in
the warmer air.
"Ivo, " said Harold, "not much in this room. I did break off a
bit of this silver wire. It is not pure, some alloy, I had to use
my knife to cut it free."
"Good." Ivo took the wire from Harold. "I was going to try
throwing my dagger through the portal, with a string attached of course,
but this will be easier."
"Isn't the wire enchanted?" asked Harold.
"So is my dagger," Ivo smiled, "I'd rather risk the wire."
"I can see why. You tried your dagger already. " Harold
had kept an eye on the steaming blade. The frost was gone but it
had left a wet sheen on the steel.
"Cold." Ivo wiped the moisture from the sides then resheathed
his knife. "That mist is cold, maybe it is cold in the room beyond."
"If Talberth went through there," the ranger nodded to the
way before them, "then we will have to follow."
"Yes, but with caution Harald." Ivo told him. The wire went
through the mist, one foot, then a second, the thief had broken off a
four foot length and Ivo pushed all but the last half foot through to
the other side.
* * *
(To Be Continued...)