Chapter #1196
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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 +
+ 1991-2026 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 +
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+ Date: 1/4/587 C.Y. (Common Year) +
+ Time: late afternoon +
+ Place: the central region of the Bright Desert +
+ Climate: warm and dry +
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+ "In my job, if you have the ability to help, you have the +
+ responsibility to help." +
+ - from _Doctor Odyssey_ episode 2 +
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MCXCVI. Roads to Greatness
There is a lot happening in both the Bright Desert and faraway lands
in which its new guardians have taken an interest. Belphanior and his
team (as well as Parekh and Wu) are in the Lost Lands helping with the
massive reclamation effort there. Kronos, Shemeya, and Alindyar have
interrogated the former ruler of the now-empty and collapsed mines - the
evil beholder known as Father Eye - and learned what that one knew about
the Bright Desert and its secrets. They have also ventured out to the
rocky spire known as Dagger Rock and determined that the powerful blue
dragon Volte is no longer there. Upon returning, those three have each
gone about their own business...which in Alindyar's case means checking
in with Lyra as she leads the effort to construct new roads across the
desert.
Alindyar: (descends from the sky toward his mate, briefly alarming the
half-dozen guards before they recognize him) Good day.
guards: (being of strong discipline and stout morale, as Lord Marcus'
soldiers tend to be, they nod, simply accepting the fact that one dark
elf can routinely drop from the sky to join another one who's blasting
sections of desert sand into crude but solid stone)
Lyra: (uncomfortably warm despite a spell she cast earlier to lower the
air temperature around her) As long as I live here above the surface,
I will never - ever - get used to the heat, or the sunlight.
The pair of dark elves were not using their ESP rings at the moment;
while working separately and in different places, there was no need for
the items since they wouldn't function. Accordingly, whenever apart,
both drow wore other rings to increase their magical powers. Besides,
it was sometimes refreshing to speak out loud rather than communicate
through magical means.
Alindyar: True, but recall the climate we now find ourselves in. Not
all areas of Oerth are like this. (he inhales the desert air) And I
may be mistaken, but since we vanquished Shattados and destroyed the
Scorpion Crown...this region seems a bit less harsh.
Lyra: You're right. As much as I'm complaining, I'd swear it's gotten
somewhat cooler. Not overly so - as it's still winter in many other
lands - but it does seem to have changed noticeably, and in just five
months.
Alindyar: Aye, and the druids believe so as well. I have heard them
discussing it. Peyote thinks is a result of the work on the crops,
but you and I know that the absence of the crown played no small part.
Lyra: Are you on hiatus from crop-building, or whatever it's called?
Alindyar: (smirks) Hardly. The druidic contingent is doing most of
that work...I just assist as able, a bit each day. The paintbrush is
mighty indeed, but its mightiness can only be invoked in small, measured
amounts. (he yawns) And its use is taxing indeed.
Lyra: But you're the only one who _can_ use it.
Alindyar: Aye. At least effectively. (he surveys the long stretch of
road under construction, which in one direction is being smoothed and
finished by a crew of workers while in the other direction it only
extends another forty feet) How goes it?
Lyra: It's tedious work. (she eyes the laborers, who are soaked in
sweat) Although more tedious for them.
It was indeed hard work, but the men were being well-paid - either in
coin, or the guarantee of land and a home in the new land if they wanted.
And many of them had accepted that offer, for various reasons ranging
from poor living conditions and danger in other kingdoms to a genuine
desire to be part of something new and full of potential. After all of
the disruption and bloodshed during the wars a few years ago, a new land
built from the ground up and protected by nearly a dozen wizards (or so
the tales went, as few had seen even one wizard but the results of their
work were undeniable) held a lot of appeal for the average person.
As for these laborers - just one crew out of many hundreds who worked
throughout the desert on various projects - they were well-treated, with
a supply wagon for water and food and tents providing shade when breaks
were needed. They were also safe; aside from Lyra and her retinue of
guards (and the priest of Istus) they also had a force of soldiers for
security...for out here in the desert, even after the huge scorpions had
vanished, there was always the danger of bandits. Fortunately, incidents
of that sort were few and far-between, and the rumor was that leaders in
the ranks of the bandits were dealing with such rogues in their own way.
Whether this was a result of Belphanior's previous efforts at diplomacy
(efforts which at times included pouches of gold) or simple fear of the
collective power of the group of wizards...none could say for sure.
Lyra: Oh, I've got a new trick. Watch this. (after making sure the
area at the final section of rough stone is clear, she works a spell)
A chained series of lightning bolts issued forth from her hand, their
impacts fusing not one but more than a dozen areas into new, raw stone
whose surface smoked from the powerful electricity.
Alindyar: (not sure what he's supposed to be seeing or why it's anything
special)
Lyra: Don't you see? Instead of making one big section of new road, I
can make a dozen at once. And then the next chain of lightning can
start further down the line and build some of these up while also
creating new sections.
Alindyar: (frowns)
Lyra: Chain lightning...is more efficient...than a single bolt.
Alindyar: Ah. I see.
Lyra: Good. Actually, I can't really take credit for the idea - it was
Skektek who suggested it to me.
Alindyar: That figures. (he blinks, his eyes dry) I may have been in
the sun a bit too long today, and am thus weary, perhaps not thinking
clearly. (eyeing the series of rough sections of stone that Lyra just
created, he has a sudden idea) Hmm. (working a spell, he concentrates
on the crude new sections of rock made by Lyra)
The dark elf's powerful magic reshaped and joined a half-dozen of the
chunks of stone, finishing the job Lyra started; a new section of rough
road, consisting of a single piece that merely had to be smoothed, now
extended about two hundred feet into the desert.
Lyra: Hah. (she smirks) Maybe it's time for you to stop helping Peyote
and start helping me.
Alindyar: He may need more help than you. In some ways.
At that, they both had a good chuckle, for they had spent many years
adventuring with the half-elf and were no strange to his many quirks
and peculiarities. Momentarily, Alindyar relayed a brief account of his
own work this day, while Lyra took a break and listened to this news.
Lyra: The dragon was gone?
Alindyar: Aye, and for a while. We checked the area thoroughly, but
found no sign of it. (he pauses) Aside from some badly-desiccated
dung. Quite a heap, actually. The most any of us had ever seen-
Lyra: Enough, enough. (she frowns) Damn. That's unfortunate...it
leaving the area.
Alindyar: Eh? How so? The absence of a powerful, evil dragon should
be a positive thing.
Lyra: (eyes the road under construction) I had this idea about using
its lightning-breath to greatly speed up the process of creating rock
for these roads. Why, one single such breath could have made the raw
rock for several hundred feet of new road. And it could do that for
a while before it got tired, or bored.
Alindyar: A worthy idea...assuming the dragon could have been convinced
to breathe upon the desert sands, rather than upon us.
Lyra: Hmm. Point.
Alindyar: Perhaps when Wu is back, you can inquire about whether any of
those exotic dragon-forms he favors possess similar breath weapons.
Lyra: (her expression brightens) What a great idea!
Alindyar: Further, as my best work toward the fields and crops can only
happen for a short time each day, and does not involve my casting any
of my spells...each day, after I am done using the brush to augment
Peyote's efforts, I will come here and use my magic to bolster yours.
Lyra: (wearily) That will help. With Skektek gone to Geoff, all the
magical work falls on me...and it can be tiresome.
Alindyar: Aye.
To this point, two roads were fully complete: one connecting the
city-fortress (under construction in the Brass Hills) and the village
of Kalundi, another connecting Kalundi with the fort of Kalki's Leap
on the southern side of the Brass Hills. The new road, currently in
progress, would link Kalundi with Fort Whiterock to the northeast...
and when that was done, a new road - the longest one yet - would be
built to connect that fort with the southern point of Knife's Edge
Pass, in the Abbor-Alz hills to the north. Completion of all of this
would mark the first major milestone: a continuous roadway between
the Bright Alliance's headquarters and city in the Brass Hills and the
sole existing trade route out of the region.
It was likely that some new, smaller outposts would need to be added
along this route (to provide fresh horses, food and water, and supplies
for travelers). They would also add a measure of security, especially
if each location could one day have a wizard and a priest stationed on
site in addition to the normal squad of soldiers. But all of this was
in the future; for now, the focus was on extending and completing the
key roads between the key places. As Pallin was fond of saying, great
things happened one small step at a time.
Lyra: I have another concern, and it's something the group needs to
address and then solve.
Alindyar: What is that?
Lyra: As we work here, we - or at times I alone - are well-guarded and
somewhat secure. To this point, we have experienced no attacks from
the men or beasts of the desert...but I feel it's inevitable, only a
matter of time. They can't all be happy, or bribed, or afraid, or
whatever.
Alindyar: Hmm.
Lyra: And there may also be unthinking monsters, things that live under
the sand and burrow up to attack.
Alindyar: Excellent points, all.
Lyra: Perhaps Lord Marcus can divert a full company of his troops to
provide additional security. Or maybe we can add some sort of aerial
guard, one who can see foes coming before those on the ground would?
With the dragon gone, flying should be a lot safer.
Alindyar: (nods) We will address this soon, if not immediately. (he
ponders the possibility that something bad could happen to his mate)
I am sorry. I...had not recently considered the potential danger
that you might be in while out here. And if something happened to
you- (his face darkens) -there would be hell to pay.
Lyra: Well, let's take steps to make sure nothing does happen to me,
or to anyone. These workers' lives are as valuable as mine or yours
or anyone's. They have families and loved ones too.
Alindyar: Aye. (he frowns) Until we have a more formal measure in
place, I suggest this: your work does not start until I am able to
accompany you. _I_ will be the additional security for now.
Lyra: But Peyote, and the farming effort-
Alindyar: -can be rescheduled. Each morning, the half-elf can wake
from his mushroom-induced slumber hours earlier, and he and I will
do that work in the early morning. And when I am weary of painting
altered reality - which is never very long - you and I will venture
out and continue the building of these roads.
Lyra: (nods, smiling) Very well, I accept your offer, good sir.
Alindyar: Excellent.
next: a deeper look at the fields and herds and their warden Peyote
map: http://www.peldor.com/world/atlas/Bright-Desert_1194.jpg
www: http://www.peldor.com/download.html
homepage: http://www.peldor.com/
email: tmiller@peldor.com
released: 2/13/2026
notes: For the record, I am well aware that in real life, heat
plus sand equals glass. But in a fantasy world, it's possible that
magical heat/power plus sand equals stone...which can then be worked
and smoothed for roads. I think it's okay to take small liberties
like this.
As a reminder, you can use the newer map link directly above to see
the new roads, both the two built and the one in progress. At some
point, I'll investigate a more professional mapping program to maybe
create a map of the region in the style of the old Greyhawk map from
1980/1983 (the one drawn by Darlene and with overlaid hexes).
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