(by Patrick Lew and Bob Francis)
It was still early morning when Be'ornhelm came down to the great hall of the tower. As he arrived he saw three figures sitting around the table having some sort of discussion. The three were: Ratan, at the head of the table; Golon, to his right; and Collen to his left. Elea was still staying mostly in her rooms and the rest had found other accommodation and had moved out of the tower. As he approached, Ratan got sight of him and rose from his chair, the others looked in the direction of Ratan's gaze and did like wise. Be'ornhelm feeling some what uncomfortable at this obvious show of respect, made a downward motion with both hand while he continued to approach and said "Gentlemen please, I know that I am older than you, however, such displays are really unnecessary in the Mistress' home. Please, continue with you conversation." They continued discussing the following days events, after they were seated once more. Be'ornhelm went over to the fireplace hearth and stood in front of the fire. Looking in at the flames and began to reminisce about the previous days events in the report he wrote to the Mistress.
The morning was uneventful as mornings go. It was still winter in the valley, but it had not snowed for over a week and there were only traces of snow on the ground amongst the tall pine and cider trees. Be'ornhelm had wished that Ratan, Golon and Collen were not going to town this day. He wished, at least, that they would go with a few others in the party. However, since no one else was in residence any more there seemed nothing to be said. Golon wished to acquire the armor he had purchased some weeks ago. It seems he had received word that it was ready for him. Collen wanted to purchase a new weapon, and Ratan was going along just to get out. Well, as luck would have it. Golon was delayed and told the others to go ahead with out him. That he would catch up with them later. 'Had I known of this I would have insisted that they wait until Golon was ready and then leave together.' Be'ornhelm thought as he placed another log on the fire.
They did leave. However; they were no more than four or five miles from the city when rounding a large bend in the road they came upon an elderly couple on the side of the road. As they approached, they noticed that the covered wagon/cart the couple was using for transportation had lost a wheel. And the mule that was pulling it was out in the far field grazing on fresh winter grass. The old man had a large stone next to the axle of the cart and in his hands he had a pole at least twice his size. Both riders looked at each other nodded a silent agreement to stop and give aid to the couple. After some physical effort by both and what little help the old man could give, the wheel was slid onto the axle and Ratan had used the wheel wrench to tighten the wheel bolt on good and snug. He then went around the wagon to the other wheel and checked the tightness of the other wheel. Satisfied that both were secure he replaced the wrench back into the old couples wagon and was preparing to mount his horse.
The elderly man spoke saying, "How can I and my wife thank you noble gentlemen for stopping and rendering us aid in our time of need?"
Speaking up first, Golon stated that there was no need for a reward, that good works was its' own reward. However, the old man insisted that they take a parting gift of thanks from he and his wife. The old man went to the back of his wagon. After a few minutes of rummaging in the wagon. The old man came back holding a small chest.
When Ratan opened the small chest he saw 20 semi-precious gems in side of it. Ratan also discovers that 5 of the 20 had magical properties in their make up. Ratan turns to Golon and told him what he has discovered. Golon tries to give back the chest, however the old man insists that they take the chest. The total values of the stones are some where between 800 and 1200 gold. Ratan then discovers that many of the gems that the couple has remaining, also had magical properties. He offers to separate them out for the old man so that he will know which ones should fetch a higher price. After doing that Golon and Ratan bid them safe journey and ride to town.
As the two ride through the gates of Midmeadow past the city guards. Both riders are surprised by the lack of people on the street. Almost all of the shops and other business areas are closed. However Golon with keen ears heard the sounds of many people in the far distance. They debated whether or not to go and see what was happening, when Ratan remembered that the old man did say that there was a fair going on in the city all week. They decide to seek out a Sage/Mage to get an idea of the value of the stones with magical properties in them. Ratan said " I can also have these checked at the same time," as he pulled out 5 large gems of about 30 karats each.
This is when the trouble started. To summarize, They found a sage who was an old school mate of mine. Got the information they wanted did some horse trading at the local stable. Found Collen who had come in to the city after them. He was at the Green Lantern Inn. He was talking to some locals and trying to give the impression that he was not from around these parts when Ratan and Golon game in and greeted him. It appears that he was trying to negotiate the purchase of a rare locking device. Why the use of the deception is unknown but it goes with out saying that it failed. It is still unclear if he actually acquired the lock. After several drinks, it was decided to hire a Sage to investigate the stones they had in their possession.
After traveling around the city for a little while they game upon the shop of a sage that seemed to fill the bill as his sign also read a qualified Geologist. This was the closest thing they could find to someone who might know about the stones in their possession. As I said before, the sage was a school mate of mine. He was able to Identify the stones and was apparently also very helpful with other information needed by the trio. After they had completed what they had gone to the city to do. They decided to leave early the next morning for the trip back to the tower.
They left the city at about the time they planned on and was about half way when Golon spotted something in the small glade of trees next to the road. They stopped and then moved off of the road to investigate. They discovered that the wagon of the old couple was there empty or at least it appeared to be empty at first. At first glance all they found was blood inside of the wagon. Then Collen looked again and said he found the bodies of the old couple in the wagon. They investigated the area and found nothing of the couples supplies or belongings. It was decided to haul the wagon out of the glade and onto the road. To accomplish this Golon and Collen hitched their horses to the wagon and pulled it onto the road.
They were discussing where to take the wagon when Golon saw coming down the road from the direction of the tower about 5 city guards on horse back. Golon flagged them down and told them what was discovered. From what I can gather Golon was some what vague in his answers and the city guard decided to take him back to the city headquarters to further questioning. Ratan decided to ride in with them to be there for Golon. That left Collen to return to the tower on foot as both horses were still harness to the wagon.Many hours later, a foot worn and very tired Dwarf ( Collen ) entered the tower. After he had rested a bit and took refreshment. He and I by way of magic by the Tower teleported back to the city of Midmeadow, in one of the discreet side alleys.
Oh, just a side note, it seems the Golon has a new title in the city with some of the people who witnessed the two combats with that Orc. He is now known as Sir Bleedsalot of Plasma. I doubt that he feels very honored with his new title. I found the others at my friend the sages home. It appears that they were being question by the city guard There seemed to be a discrepancy in what Golon said my friend had said to him and what my friend said to the guards. It appeared however that my friend had said enough to officially clear Golon of any suspicion. in the deaths of the couple, however the guards said that they were going to have to keep the wagon and the horses until they got to headquarters where Golon and Collen could get their horses later that evening.
We were invited to stay and have an early dinner with my friend and we all excepted. Golon seemed upset at my friend and after dinner confronted him about one of the statements he had said to the guards investigating the deaths of the old couple. Things became quite heated and I was forced to order Golon to be quiet as his discourse became more and more insulting while we were in my friends home. It finally ended with Golon storming out the door saying something about getting to the bottom of the problem himself.
We decided after a little while to go out and search for Golon as it is well known that his temper tends to get him in a great deal of trouble. Well after searching several bars and a couple of brothels we found Golon and the City guard head quarters arguing with the guard at the front desk. As usual he was arguing about getting his horse and there seemed to be a problem with him getting the horse. It appears that the guards had not gone to the main station as they said they would. In fact the guard had not seen or ever heard of the five guards that Golon and the rest of us and seen at the sage's house. At this point Golon was getting very upset again claiming that a general conspiracy was going on between my friend these guards and the embassy of Nurell. After the Captain of the guard came out and he talk to us all. He decided to have all of us along with him and several of his guards.
We were to go with him to the Embassy and there we would talk to the ambassador and try to get to the bottom of this whole thing. So now accompanied by the captain and six of his guard of the city we all trooped over to the embassy of Nurell. except for perhaps Golon we were all pretty apprehensive about confronting the ambassador.
After some problem with the Ambassadorial guards, we were allowed into the embassy compound. We were instructed to wait in the reception room and that the ambassador would be down presently. We waiting for several minuets, just when Golon was beginning to threaten that he was going up stairs and drag the ambassador down here. The lady came down the stairs and politely asked what it was we wanted and how she could be of help. Despite the ruddiness of Golon the lady was quite gracious in her manner. She had assured us that she nor anyone in her employ had anything to do with the death of the old couple.
Golon accused her of wanting the bodies for her deity. Again, graciously, she denied any such thing and said she would never allow dead bodies in the Embassy. After a little more of this the Captain bowed to the ambassador and apologized for us disturbing her and this late hour and to excused the party so that we may depart and continue the search. The Lady smiled an acknowledgment and turned and went back up stairs, (We had been dismissed.)
As we were leaving Golon said he was not satisfied with the Ambassador's answers and wanted the Embassy watched. This, the Captain refused to do and warned Golon not to start a diplomatic incident by him being seen watching the Embassy. The Captain threaten to throw him in a dungeon and then lose the key... Our party had just crossed the city square and was about to start up one of the connecting streets when the city alarm bells began to ring all over the city.
Panicked people began to run in all different direction, yelling that an Orc army had broken through the city walls . As many of us were standing around looking at each other wandering what to do. Ratan took command and said that we were in danger of being surrounded if we stayed where we were. He ordered us back across the square to the embassy. We all ran back across the square to the embassy.
It became very clear that the guards were not going to let us in to the embassy compound and Ratan ordered us to form a line with our backs to the embassy walls. At about this same time a large group of very tough looking Orcs came running out of several of the joining streets in front of us on the other side of the square. Had we still been there when they arrived, we would have been over run in very short order. As it was they seemed to know exactly where we were and began to charge our line. About half of the orcs had short bows and began shooting arrows at our line. They fired several volleys before their other comrades with melee weapons closed with our line and then they dropped their bows took out their melee weapons and charged again at our line.
I was in the process of casting a Fireball spell when I was hit by two arrows from the first volley. This, needless to say caused me to lose concentration on the spell and I was unable to really be much of a factor in the fight. After the volley of arrows were fired, we had four guards dead, two wounded, including the Captain, but still fighting and myself wounded but still fighting. Collen, Golon and Ratan fought magnificently and bravely. They each had several orc bodies piled in front of them, where they struck the orcs dead. But the shear weight of numbers began to tell on us all except perhaps for Ratan, who didn't appear to be bothered by the blows that were inflicted on him by these orcs. After many mintues of fighting, the Captain and all of the guards were dead or dying. I was a death's door just barely able to defend myself. Collen and Golon were hurt but were still putting up a valiant fight, and Ratan was coolly dispatching any foe who opposed him.
There were a least twenty dead and wounded orcs at our feet and the rest of the 35 or so were still fighting with a ferocity rarely seen in even the most elite troops of any army. However, the orcs were losing the fight and were being killed Golon and Ratan apparently noticed my situation and began to move toward me to give cover. Collen yelled out to me to get out of the fight and the others called back with their agreement. However, I felt it cowardly to desert my comrades in arms and I kept fighting. Soon, I could see why the orcs were fighting so courageously. There were 35 more coming out of the side streets and they were lead by a human female cleric by the look of her. She was waiving a wand in a circle over her head and I believe that it was this that was causing the orcs to fight on.
I was struck twice more by my foe before Ratan and Golon were able to get to me to provide full cover. I was barely able to stand by then, and I knew that one more hit by an orcs weapon and I would be joining my ancestors. Ratan then ordered me to leave the battle saying that I had done all that I could and that he wasn't going to have to explain my death to you nor did he want to have the responsibility of my blood on his hands. I didn't understand his meaning, but I was to wounded to think much on it at the time. But afterwards, I guess they felt as responsible for me as I for them.
Anyway Ratan and Golon interposed their bodies between me and the enemy. I was able to rest for a moment and then cast the Teleport spell back to the alley and then to the tower. It was my great fortune that you and your new friends had arrived at the tower by then and gave aid to me. I would have hated to leave the fight only to die in the entry way of the tower. I could not have moved another inch after the second casting in the alley. As I was told after I left the fray, the second group of Elite Orcs began their march across the square to join in on the fight. It was a this time when Collen began to panic and cried out that they were all going to die. He then said to follow him that he intended to crash through the embassy wall and retreat from the battle. Golon said as he was fighting that it was better to go down fighting in a brave fight than to turn your back on a foe to save your life. Ratan said nothing , he just kept killing one orc after the other. The bodies were stacked high in front of him. They were so high that they gave him partial cover from his opponents making it easier to kill them.
As the other group of orcs began to close and fight Ratan told Golon to attack the orc on his right flank and Golon did as he was told. Ratan quickly dispatched the three orcs at his front and for the moment had a fairly clear view of the cleric woman across the square. He grabbed a dead orc body and held it up right with his shield hand and then holding his magical sword in the other slammed the hilt on the armor of another dead orc on the pile of dead in front of him. The orc body disappeared and a moment later they heard a scream coming from across the square. The orcs fought on for a while longer but then broke ranks and ran back across the square and up the side streets with out stopping.
Collen, Golon and Ratan killed a few more as there opponents turned to run and I'm told that Ratan chased the orcs across the square to the other side, where he stopped at the body of the cleric with the dead orc on top of her. From what I can gather Ratan, using his sword teleported the orc body intending to have it materialize in the same space as the cleric, which would have been very messy. But because of some fluke in the spell the orc body materialized two hundred feet above the cleric and it fell on her from that height killing her. Well one way or the other it worked. To top it off, more I thank to cover the cowardice of her embassy guards, the Ambassador of Nurell want to award Collen, Golon and Ratan medals as heroes for defending the embassy from the orcs.
After a while they got their gear together and began walking out of the city. It appears the rest of the orc army lost heart and ran about the same time the Elite group broke and ran. Would you believe it, even after that fierce battle all that bearded twirp of a dwarf could think about was that damn lock he wanted to buy. He insisted on going to the owners home, which was fully involved in flames. Seeing this he yelled out "My lock!" and ran head long into the burning building. He was in there for several minuets more, when he then came out smoking from what was left of his beard and hair, clothing seared and burned in several places, but he still had the charred and melted lock in his burnt hands wrapped in several layers of wet cloth.
Well, as you know a day or two went by and finally our heroes returned to the tower. This was when Golon did a very strange thing. Seeing Donnan in the door way he went up to him and slapped him across the face with his glove, called him a coward and challenged him to a duel to the first cut ? when out of a shaded area on the side Tranthor grabed Golon by his armor slammed him against the wall and said to Donnan, "Just give the word little brother and I"ll open him up like a ripe melon." the large knife he had at the base of Golon's neck below his throat said he meant it.
Continue on to: 20. Just Another Day in Midmeadow