Chapter #1140
previous chapter (#1139)
next chapter (#1141)
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+ THE ADVENTURERS +
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+ Epic VI +
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+ Many of the locations, non-player characters, spells, and other +
+ terms used in these stories are the property of Wizards of the Coast +
+ which has in no way endorsed or authorized their use. Any such +
+ property contained within these stories are not representative of +
+ Wizards of the Coast in any fashion. +
+ The player characters depicted in these stories are copyright +
+ 1991-2024 by Thomas A. Miller. Any resemblance to any persons +
+ or characters either real or fictional is utterly coincidental. +
+ Copying and/or distribution of these stories is permissible under +
+ the sole condition that no money is made in the process. In that +
+ case, I hope you enjoy them! +
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+ Alindyar 18th level dark elven wizard +
+ Lyra 14th level female drow wizard +
+ Wu 18th level human wizard, transmuter +
+ 6 elite ogre magi +
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+ Date: 6/10/586 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: early afternoon +
+ Place: the city of Nellix, in the Duchy of Urnst +
+ Climate: hot and dry +
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+ "Logistically, it's a miracle that it occurred...but there +
+ was a plan for that miracle, so I hand it to them." +
+ - Robert Downey Jr, about the Marvel Cinematic Universe +
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MCXL. Quartermistress
As the members and allies of the alliance of wizards go about various
crucial missions and tasks, one group is focused on an important but
understated need...
Lyra: Supplies. (she glances at the small wagon which they have brought
to the marketplace) Well, we'd better get to it.
Alindyar: Aye.
Wu: (leaning on a cane of gnarled wood, something he's been using since
his nighttime battle with demons at the Shembai Oasis a week ago) Hm.
(he nods to the six giant ogre magi who serve as his bodyguards and
helpers)
With the exception of Wu, none of these individuals' true appearance
was evident. To anyone else who looked at them, the ogre magi appeared
to be tall, broad laborers. As for Alindyar and Lyra, the dark elves had
taken the form of a pair of well-dressed but otherwise unexceptional human
merchants. These disguises had earlier been wrought by Alindyar's potent
illusory magic, and were necessary to avoid drawing undue attention to the
group and their efforts today.
Lyra: (ESPing to Alindyar) I suppose we could just be ourselves, and
deal with anyone who had a problem with it.
Alindyar: (ESPing to Lyra) We could, but given our mission and the
still-fragile state of our work in the desert to the south, this method
is better.
Lyra: (ESPing to Alindyar) Maybe, but it irks me that we cannot simply
be ourselves in some places. It's probably good that Belphanior's not
here with us. He might not travel about in disguise, even though he's
got enemies in a number of places.
Alindyar: (ESPing to Lyra) Do not be so sure about him. I have seen
remarkable change in our old adventuring companion over the last two
decades. His sense of tact has grown remarkably, as has his sense of
purpose. I am still trying to come to terms with the role he has taken
and the vision he has put forth, for the Bright Desert.
Lyra: (ESPing to Alindyar) We'll see how it goes. Personally, I doubt
he had even considered what would happen if he found and slew Rary...
until he did, and then he had to think fast.
Alindyar: (ESPing to Lyra) Indeed he did, for a unique opportunity then
lay before him, and all of us. I must admit, I am not displeased with
the work we are now-
The silent communication was interrupted by Wu's clipped speech to a
merchant, which was happening in parallel with the disguised ogre magi
beginning to load crates of fruits into the wagon.
Lyra: What goes on here?
Wu: (waves at the wagon with one hand) Dried fruit. Jellies. Wine.
We need these things.
Alindyar: Of course.
While it was possible to create food and water to some degree, using
magical means...that would not scale once workers, soldiers, and other
new inhabitants began arriving in the desert. Accordingly, Alindyar had
conceived the idea of creating a sizable extra-dimensional space in which
perishable items could be stored without aging or decaying...and using
this pocket dimension as a larder full of foodstuffs, water, wine, and so
on. The plan was to fill their wagon in the markets of Nellix, stocking
up on fresh fruits, vegetables, bread and rolls, meats, and plenty of
other staples. Then they would leave the city, reach a safe distance far
from its walls and from curious eyes, and covertly transfer all of the
wagon's contents into the magical storage space.
The process took several hours, but when the last of the merchants and
vendors was paid and the wagon was fully loaded, they departed the market
area and then the city. Everything went smoothly and without incident,
and as the sun began to fall in the sky, they discussed their next move.
Lyra: Tomorrow we'll venture to Seltaren and do the same thing. It's
best to avoid buying too much in any one place. Teleporting the wagon
and all of us won't be a problem?
Alindyar: (smirks) Hardly.
Indeed, while Pallin was the undisputed master of magic involving the
moving of people and things from place to place - and the only one of the
alliance who could create portals large enough to transport armies - none
of the others was exactly a slouch in this field, either. Of them all,
Alindyar was by far closest to Pallin in the scope and capacity of his
teleportation magic.
Wu: And after Seltaren?
Lyra: I'd like to avoid both capital cities and smaller towns. We'll
shift our efforts to the County of Urnst, and load up in Woodwych, and
Trigol, and Borneven. After that...Hardby. Maybe even Greyhawk. I
hope we have enough room in our magical larder; all of those stops will
go a long way to filling it.
Alindyar: (shrugs) In which case I will simply unfold another of its
boundaries, and create more space.
Lyra: Oh.
Wu: (chuckles, amused)
Lyra: In any case, after a half-dozen wagons worth of food and drink,
we'll need to shift to other supplies...cloth, paper, ink, and so on.
(she taps a rolled-up scroll in one pocket) I have an extensive list.
No one had expected it, but Lyra had readily taken over the planning of
the supply effort. Aside from possessing the pure organizational ability
needed to mastermind such an undertaking, she also actually _wanted_ to
take charge and see it through to completion. And she would, at least
until a longer-term solution could be implemented...perhaps a means of
cultivating some farmland and growing some crops, and maintaining herds
of livestock, chickens, and such. While much of the Bright Desert was
too hot and dry to support such efforts, there were some areas where they
were possible (such as the valley behind the town of Kalundi). Indeed,
with the help of Oakly Greenleaf, the wizards had located and evaluated
several other promising sites within the Brass Hills where crops and
other efforts were more likely to succeed.
Lyra: These supplies, while helpful, will not sustain any sizable force
of workers, or an army, in the long term. Intentionally-planned crops
and herds will eventually be necessary, since we can't use magic to
stockpile and hoard fresh food indefinitely. The region will need
to become self-sufficient...but that will take time. The gap must be
bridged...which is why we need the Knife's Edge Pass to be open and
safe. (she smiles thinly) And thanks to the work of others of our
group, the biggest issue there - Griffon's Nest - has been cleared of
bandits. Before long, it will be the home base for the troops needed
to ensure safe passage through the northern Abbor-Alz hills and into
these Urnst states. We want merchants to come and go, into and out of
the region, so that commerce can grow and flourish. Belphanior's work
to make allies of the desert centaurs and hill tribes will be crucial
here as well.
Alindyar: What of your other idea, for a second such pass?
Lyra: (nods) The hills north of Ul-Bakak, once cleared of haunted
places and the things within them, would be an ideal place for a new
pass, one which will lead north and west, into Hardby...and Dyvers...
and perhaps eventually Greyhawk.
Wu: Ah!
Lyra: Such a merchant route would be crucial for the long-term future
of whatever the Bright Desert eventually becomes. (she frowns) And
we also need to consider the possibility of sea commerce, and also the
military side of that idea.
Alindyar: Absolutely, given the large expanse of coastline to the west
and south of the desert region.
Wu: If it is there...we should use it.
Lyra: At some point in the future - after we can establish a coastal
fort to the southwest of the desert and establish a presence in that
area - we can build docks and use the Wooly Bay for travel to, and
business with, the lands to the west. Granted, it's pretty much just
the Wild Coast, but we'll have to take what we can get.
Alindyar: (thoughtfully) Perhaps, over time, our efforts shall render
the Wild Coast...less wild.
Lyra: Another option would be a coastal stronghold to access the Sea of
Gearnat, and the waters to its south. Time will tell what is possible,
I suppose.
next: finally...Belphanior
map: http://www.peldor.com/world/atlas/bright_desert.jpg
www: http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage: http://www.peldor.com/
email: tmiller@peldor.com
released: 3/8/2024
notes: While writing this one, I felt like I needed to revisit and
reference all of my history and political science and economics classes
from college (which is of course impossible since I sold all of those
books and lost all of those notes eons ago). But my point is...I lack
degrees in those fields. I'm no expert, and I'll never be one. These
ideas and strategies I'm putting forth in the recent stories are really
just my best thoughts and assumptions about how one would go about
building a kingdom/land/country/state. The difference here is that my
sandbox isn't real life, and so it includes magic, monsters, and other
such elements. I know what I'm trying to do is ambitious, and I also
don't expect it to be perfect. But at some point, when all the planets
in the solar system look like they're going to line up, you have to get
your telescope out.
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next chapter (#1141)