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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+ Belphanior 18th/18th/18th level elven fighter/wizard/thief +
+ Hope 16th level female human wizard +
+ Poulos 8th level human warrior +
+ Irina 14th/7th level female human priestess/warrior +
+ Neera 12th level female human wizard (sage/astrologer) +
+ Arusha 6th level human female wizard/alchemist +
+ Judhon 7th level gnomish illusionist +
+ Otto 12th/14th level dwarven fighter/thief +
+ Paige 13th level human female warrior +
+ Razor Charlie 12th level human fighter +
+ Skektek 14th level human wizard +
+ Ys 14th level reptilian fighter +
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+ CURRENT ALLIES +
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+ Adolphus 10th level half-ogre warrior +
+ Damien small, renegade imp +
+ Peyton 11th level gnome thief +
+ Rogar 10th level human priest of Olidammara +
+ Sylus 8th/10th level dark elf warrior/thief +
+ Wembly 10th level human wizard +
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+ Date: 6/14/586 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: midday +
+ Place: the village of Ul-Bakak, in the Bright Desert +
+ Climate: hot and dry +
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+ "The old crew still around?" +
+ "Except the dead ones." +
+ "We’re going to need them." +
+ - from _Wasabi_ +
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MCXLI. Promises Kept
Belphanior and his team had been busy and had accomplished much over
the past several days. They had revisited the easternmost reaches of the
Bright Desert and spoken again with the centaur chieftain Strongbow. This
recent alliance seemed solid, although it also seemed to come with certain
conditions. First, the centaurs considered Belphanior and Otto to be the
official ambassadors - and the only acceptable ones - from the alliance
of wizards. This was because those two had initially spoken with the
proud desert centaurs, offered them gifts, treated them with respect and
honor, and otherwise proven themselves. Strongbow had made it clear that
he would only speak with Belphanior or Otto, or one designated by them as
a representative. Secondly, the centaurs valued - and in fact demanded -
their independence. They would parley and perhaps ally with the wizards
in the future, depending on the situation, but they would be no thralls
to be commanded and ordered about. No fortifications, towns, or other
installations would be permitted east of Fort Whiterock; the centaurs had
inhabited that part of the desert for centuries. They would tolerate no
incursions - not from Rary before, and not from the other wizards now.
However, subject to those conditions, Strongbow and his people were happy
to coexist with the wizards and their plans for the desert. During the
recent visit, the topic of the necropolis to the east of the centaurs'
lands had been broached; Belphanior had suggested that at some point in
the near future, the wizards would likely want to venture down into that
ancient burial ground and deal with its undead occupants once and for all.
Strongbow agreed to permit such an expedition, provided that his people
received a share of any treasure found in Unaagh's tombs...and provided
that the effort didn't cause undead to swarm out of the necropolis like
ants to menace the peoples of the desert. Belphanior had assured him that
treasure would be shared and undead destroyed, as he and his allies meant
business when it came to dealing with the desert's problems and making
things better.
After bidding Strongbow farewell and departing the centaurs' territory,
Belphanior's group had next ventured to the northwest area of the desert,
to the trading hub of Ul-Bakak which lay at the foot of this portion of
the Abbor-Alz hills. There, he had once more broken bread (and strong
drink) with Orm, chief of the strongest tribe of barbarians within the
hills. The last time they had talked, the elf had vowed to deal with the
mines within a month...and now, barely two weeks later, he was back to
keep his word.
Orm: (eyeing the nearly-score of people who have accompanied the elf
this time) You did not jest.
Belphanior: (flatly) I never jest when I'm talking about getting rid
of foes. (he nods to the chief) And those in the mines - whether
the evil gray dwarves, their mysterious leader, or any allies they
might have - are all foes to your people and mine.
Orm: Well said. I don't know what the hell is going on down there,
but it isn't good.
Belphanior: Don't worry. We'll take care of it.
Orm: (glances at the nearby Adolphus Delphi, as the huge half-ogre
draws stares from even the tallest and toughest of the barbarian
warriors in the tent)
Adolphus Delphi: (having dozed off while leaning against piled bolts
of cloth, he begins snoring loudly)
Belphanior: Don't worry. When it's time for battle, that one does the
work of ten.
Orm: I have no doubt.
Adolphus Delphi: (emits a loud fart as he sleeps)
Orm: ...no doubt at all.
Belphanior: My plan is to have a team enter the mines and see exactly
what lurks within...and then deal with it if possible. We'll need an
escort to the place.
Orm: It will be done. The mines are a long day's ride to the north
and east, but my people know the way. If we leave at first light
tomorrow, we can be in the area by nightfall, which means you can
camp and rest and be fresh the following morning.
Belphanior: That sounds good, but not all of us will be going. I'm
tasking some of my people for that, while others will accompany me on
another mission. When I'm done, I'll return to the mine and get an
update on progress.
Orm: I see.
Belphanior: While me and my people are dealing with all this business,
I'm hoping you can handle something else on my behalf.
Orm: What's that, then?
Belphanior: I've now spoken with you, the most powerful leader among
the hill barbarian tribes...and I've spoken with Chief Strongbow, who
represents the desert centaurs. We've been able to agree on things
and work together to a large extent. (he frowns) But there is yet
another significant group living in the Bright Desert, and I haven't
yet talked to them.
Orm: (nods, folding his hairy, thickly-muscled arms) The nomads.
Belphanior: Yes.
Orm: (spits on the ground) Bunches of bastards, for the most part.
They fight and battle even more than we do, and not just against
outsiders - they weaken their own people because of constant tribal
infighting. You and your wizards will have your hands full with that
bunch. They don't like magic - hell, they dread it - and the only
thing they truly respect is power.
Belphanior: (thinly) That's perfect, because we have plenty of both.
Orm: I see. So what is it you wish me to do?
Belphanior: I need them to know who we are and what we are doing...
mainly that we want to get rid of the monsters and other hostiles
and bring peace to this area. Maybe you can find some way to get
that word out...rumors, shared stories, whatever. I'm not worried
about whether or not they will agree and unify, not at this point.
But I want them and their leaders to get an idea of what's coming and
understand what it means. It will save us some time later.
Orm: (shakes his head) I will see what I can do. (he frowns) But
my advice to you is this: be ready for failure. The nomads will
never unite, at least not willingly. And besides refusing to ally
with your group, their answer will likely involve going to war with
you. They will fight treaties and peace with every breath they draw.
Belphanior: (grimly) Those are terms I can understand, and deal with.
Orm: Very well. I will let you know what happens.
Belphanior: (nods) My thanks.
Orm: So shall I prepare a party to lead your people to the mines?
Belphanior: I'd appreciate it. Let me introduce you to the one who
will lead that squad into the mines.
The hill barbarian chief eyed the motley crew that had accompanied the
elf here, sizing them up as he wondered which would command the sortie
into the mines. Some of the group were obviously not leader material,
if even warrior material...the pair of slender, dark-skinned women...the
skinny but talkative wizard...the middle-aged gnome who looked like he'd
be more comfortable with a book than a blade...no, none of those seemed
likely choices. But there were others who might be competent when it was
time to lead others into those damned mines. Would it be the tough, grim
dwarf with the ever-serious look and the crossbow? Or the lean, scarred
warrior-woman whose eyepatch didn't fully conceal the scar that had taken
one eye? Or perhaps the hulking lizard-man, whose gigantic greatsword
could likely cut a horse in half with a single blow?
Belphanior: Chief Orm, I'd like you to meet the leader of the team that
will assault the mines. (he gestures to the second of the gnomes in
the tent, a nondescript fellow who now trots over)
Peyton: (grinning, he extends one hand out and up) I'm pleased to make
your acquaintance, good sir. Peyton Farquhar's the name!
next: one team heads for the mines, while another heads elsewhere
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: 3/15/2024
notes: And now we get to it. All of the larger-scale tasks are set
up and underway, and they're important...but I know a lot of you readers
really just want to see some good old-fashioned dungeon exploration, and
others of you have been clamoring for the return of the Misadventurers.
Well, you'll soon have both at once! The plan is for that group to get
into the mines and see if they can't make a pile of duergar and monster
bodies, while Belphanior's main group will be paying Mongo a visit as
was promised even before Rary was dealt with (and as referenced in a
recent episode by Dexitheseus and Lord Marcus.)
I intend for a dungeon arc with lower-power characters to be more
challenging, and different, than it would be if Belphanior and his main
group took it on.
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