Chapter #194
previous chapter (#193)
next chapter (#195)
+
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ THE ADVENTURERS +
+ +
+ Epic II +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
+
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ The various characters contained in these writings are +
+ copyright 1994 by Thomas Miller. Any resemblance to any +
+ persons or characters either real or fictional is utterly +
+ coincidental. Copying and/or distribution of these tales +
+ is permissible only under the sole condition that no part +
+ of them will be used or sold for profit. In that case, I +
+ hope you enjoy them... +
+ +
+ Thomas Miller +
+ tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ THE PARTY: +
+ +
+ Alindyar 15th level dark elven mage (N) +
+ Arnold 11th level human warrior (NG) +
+ Belphanior 12th/14th/14th level high elven w/m/t (CN) +
+ small immaterial wispy thing +
+ Lyra 12th level female dark elven mage (N) +
+ Mongo 16th level dwarven warrior (CG) +
+ Gorin 6th level dwarven warrior (CG) +
+ Peldor 18th level human thief (N) +
+ Bosco 7th level halfling thief (CN) +
+ Rillen 16th level human warrior (N) +
+ Rob 15th level human priest (LG) +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Date: 12/11/573 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: midday +
+ Place: east of the Dreadwood Forest +
+ Climate: cold +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ "It is only possible to live happily ever after on a +
+ day-to-day basis." +
+ - Margaret Bonnano +
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CXCIV. Farewells
After meeting up with a group of pursuing adventurers, a
group which happened to include the long-lost Halbarad and
Peyote, the adventurers have made peace, and arrived at the
city of Gradsul, in Keoland. Even now, they have sought,
and been granted, an audience with the city's mayor.
Rob: I told you, my power is well-known in these parts.
Belphanior: Sure.
Peyote: Hush, you two! Have you no respect for authority?
Mongo: Hey, I for one don't see hide or hair of this mayor
guy-
tall ranger-type: (strides into the council room)
Rillen: You don't look soft enough to be the mayor.
Rob: (gaping)
Halbarad: (also stares, in recognition)
tall guy: That's because I'm not the mayor.
Belphanior: Oh? Then who the hell _are_ you?
Rob: Uh...
short pudgy fellow: (walks into the room) I'm the mayor.
tall guy: I am Kimbertos Skotti, the king of Keoland.
Belphanior: King? Oops.
Gorin: King? (he bows slightly) Sire.
Peldor: King?!? (he thinks of the jewelled dagger that he
just transferred from the wall to his pocket) Oh, umm.
Nice to meet you. Heard alot about you.
Mongo: King..._the_ king?
Kimbertos: (shrugs) There can be only one.
Mongo: (to Peldor) Maybe Rob really is powerful around
these parts. (gives a short bow as an afterthought)
Rob: Err...well...
wispy thing: pfffs.
Halbarad: (embarrassed, and bowing deeply)
Rob: (flustered, he nearly trips over his own robe) They
beg your forgiveness, O great lord.
Kimbertos: Of course, of course. Actually, I seriously
doubt it, but still...
Rillen: (feeling somewhat abashed)
Rob: Err...what is one of your stature doing here, anyway?
If I may ask?
Kimbertos: Well, that's just it. We heard the news, even
in Niole Dra to the north, of the slave revolt.
Belphanior: It wasn't a revolt...more of a liberation...
Crynwar: (the mayor) Yes, yes, we know. The point is,
the ruler of the Sea Princes' lands has sent an imperial
envoy here.
Belphanior: (coughs) Really?
Kimbertos: Indeed.
Belphanior: I'm flattered.
Halbarad: (kicks Belphanior)
Kimbertos: You should be. It's not every day that a land's
ruler threatens his neighboring land with war, just for
the sake of some freed slaves.
Halbarad: We (gestures to Peyote, Proctor, and Gallant)
weren't really in that area at the time...we just found
these others afterwards.
Belphanior: (stares daggers at the ranger)
Halbarad: However, we have realized that their deeds were
noble and humanitarian, and should not merit punishment.
Rob: If he may be so bold...
Kimbertos: Why stop now?
Peyote: (not really paying close attention to this entire
line of conversation, he finds a leaf in his ear) Whoa.
Crynwar: Anyhow, these royal envoys wait even now in the
room below us.
Rob: What will be done? You surely can't give them back
all those ex-slaves!
Kimbertos: But I can. I'm the king. And to avoid war,
I might.
Belphanior: (starting to become upset)
Kimbertos: However, we have tolerated their slavery for
too long, and I have decided to take a stand on this
issue once and for all.
Halbarad: You have?
Kimbertos: Someone has to do it, sometime...as far as I'm
concerned, the slaves are free men, and you people are
seeking political asylum.
Rillen: But we can't stay here for long...they'd never
accept that.
Peldor: That's right - we're hardened criminals.
Crynwar: Of course you are. That's the general idea.
Bosco: Yippee!
Kimbertos: Oh, I don't intend for you to stay. I simply
forbid them to hunt for you in my land, just as I forbid
them to seek out their ex-slaves here in Keoland.
Rob: An excellent decision, one I'm sure Trithereon would
heartily approve of.
Kimbertos: No doubt. I have heard of you, high priest,
and in a favorable way. I'm sure your diety helped the
escape to a great extent.
Rob: Well, yeah, he sure did.
Belphanior: Begging your pardon, but what about the king
of that land, and his wrath, and all that?
Kimbertos: Bah. He'll get over it...though a donation on
your part, to cover the cost of his loss, would certainly
be in order...
Rob: Of course. (he whirls) Mongo, get all that loot out
and let's leave it for the payment!
Mongo: Sure...
Peldor: (groaning) Oh, that's all our treasure...
Belphanior: You're sending all that money _back_ into the
city of Westkeep?
Kimbertos: (shrugs) You can't have everything...
Mongo: (glaring at Peldor) Yeah. It's just money.
Peldor: Hey, if you're just gonna give it back, what'd I
steal it for?
Lyra: Well, it's not like they're gaining anything here.
Bosco: (throwing his small body against the sack) Wait!
Can't we talk about this?
Peyote: Dude, I mean King, this is a great and noble thing
you're doing for us...and the slaves...
Kimbertos: Indeed. The risk of war is no light thing...
you should consider yourselves fortunate that I am here
to assist your cause. My councilors say throw you to
the wolves.
Rillen: Indeed...but, as I said, we can't remain here for
long.
Kimbertos: No...I shall make sure that no one comes after
you, while you ride through my lands, anyhow.
Alindyar: (finally speaks up) I will make certain that my
friends trouble your lands no more, sire. I can teleport
us far from the reach of the Sea Princes.
Belphanior: Hmm...(he looks around) How many are going
back to Greyhawk?
Kimbertos: Hmm. (he stares at the pile of coins that Mongo
has made on his royal floor) All of you, out! I've got
other business to attend to this day...
Halbarad: You heard the man...out. (he ushers everyone
out)
Kimbertos: (puts a hand on the ranger's shoulder) Not you,
old friend.
Halbarad: Eh?
Crynwar: (leaves, after all the adventurers, and shuts the
door)
Kimbertos: How long has it been now...three years?
Halbarad: About.
Kimbertos: So, how in the hells did you get mixed up in all
this foolishness?
Halbarad: Well, we were hired to find and stop them...and
then we realized that we knew them...say, why are you so
willing to go out on a limb like this for these slaves,
and for my old companions?
Kimbertos: That? Hah! Want to hear a political secret?
Halbarad: Certainly.
Kimbertos: The Sea Princes' king, Jeon, and I go back a
ways...he doesn't really support slavery either, but he's
under a lot of political pressure, and so...but both he
and I know that this whole thing will blow over, once his
nobles hear about how I couldn't let the hunt continue,
for political reasons. In fact, I doubt that he cares
at all about getting those slaves back.
Halbarad: Amazing! And no one will ever know this truth!
Kimbertos: Nope...
In a nearby chamber, the others were discussing their next
plans.
Mongo: Well, we all need to get back to Greyhawk.
Rob: Not me. I have work to do here, in Keoland. I get
the feeling that Kimbertos needs my help. Or will, soon.
Peldor: Good for him.
Proctor: I would rather not travel to Greyhawk, thank you.
Turok: Me neither.
Gallant: I would be willing to go...if you have room.
Lyra: Of course we do. I'd have to cast my own Teleport
spell anyway...there are too many of us...
Peyote: Don't forget Blok, my elemental.
Bosco: Yeah, where is he?
Peyote: Outside the palace, of course. He's too big to
walk around in here.
Mongo: Same for Halbarad's tiger, I guess.
Belphanior: Hmm, perhaps some Reduce spells are in order.
(he wipes beads of sweat from his brow) Whew, it's hot
in here.
Rob: (wondering what Belphanior's sick with)
Rillen: (to Peyote) But are you coming to Greyhawk with
us?
Peyote: Uh...I'd have to confer with Halbarad, dude.
Halbarad: (enters this antechamber) Of course we'll go!
In fact, we'd be glad to go.
Belphanior: You would?
Shortly, farewells were being exchanged, and the drow
prepared their teleportation spells.
Alindyar: Good thing we were able to shrink some of our
number.
Zephyr: (currently the size of a rat, he growls) grrrr.
Blok: (also reduced in size, the elemental now hides in
Peyote's pocket)
Bosco: Hmm. (considers picking that pocket)
Alindyar: With those miniature ones, as well as all armor
in the portable hole, we shall have no trouble taking
all of you to Greyhawk.
Lyra: Right.
Mongo: (like the others, he is armorless) This is kinda
relaxing...
Arnold: No way.
Rob: (waving farewell, almost tearfully) Take it easy,
guys!
Alindyar: The spell nears completion!
Lyra: Mine too...link hands, and prepare...
Belphanior: Well, off we go.
Bosco: Boy, is Ged gonna be surprised!
next time : a matter of some importance arises
ftp site : ftp.cs.pdx.edu in /pub/frp/stories/adventurers
notes : Believe me, the task of finding an appropriate
adventure-plot to fuel my plans for episode #200
isn't proving to be easy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
--
Thomas Miller tmiller@cimmeria.oit.gatech.edu
Systems Support Specialist II Georgia Tech Network Services
"What good is being a hammer when you can't find a deserving nail?"
previous chapter (#193)
next chapter (#195)