From:  "a_nasty_mouse"  
Date:  Sun May 5, 2002  12:32 am
Subject:  Chapter 7 (page 137): Elsewhere

Aladain was quite pleased and a little surprised by the actions that 
had taken place after his arrival in Fenthrasher. Now they were 
headed for Fort Devon in the wake of the Ministerial Progress. A 
number of the Ministers were traveling the length and width of the 
Barony to see how well this year's harvest was. It was a beautiful 
time of year and one that was quite enjoyable to be out riding 
through the countryside. 

Morgan had been put into command of this little group, and that was 
one of the reasons that they were going to Ft. Devon. While in 
Fenthrasher the General had added one more to their ranks, but three 
individuals were not enough to do much against a raiding party of 
Orcs, and certainly not enough to make a raid against any of the Orc 
tribes. So they were off to the Fort to gather up three or four more 
individuals with some knowledge of Orcs. Morgan had discussed it with 
him and they were agreed that it would be most helpful if they could 
get a Ranger and a Cleric to add to their numbers. Such additions 
would go a long way to improving the odds of surviving any missions 
they took on. 

At the moment their role was somewhat ambiguous, despite being a part 
of the army, they were under the direct control of the Minster for 
the Defense of the Barony, who was also the Armies commanding 
General. This placed them outside the normal chain of command and at 
the moment left them with no assigned duties. Oh they were supposed 
to evaluate and report on the Orcian threat, but there were no set 
guidelines on how to do that, or when it should be finished by. They 
had also been given a signed document from the General to allow them 
to acquire supplies and personnel as required. This would certainly 
earn them no friends amongst the regular commanders. 

Still Morgan was in command, a fact that relieved Aladain no end, and 
he was cheerful and hopeful about the prospects that they had. Sure 
he had said that they would have all the rouges, riff raff and, 
outcasts foisted off on them, but they were after all some of the 
finest people anyone could ever want to meet.

They had been riding most of the morning when Morgan reigned in his 
horse. The third member of the party, Wykes who was also Morgan's 
cousin doing likewise, due to the fact that he was woolgathering it 
took Aladain longer to notice that everyone else had stopped so he 
had to turn his horse and go back to where the other two sat looking 
around. `Tell me friend Aladain, are there always this many birds 
about?' 

Aladain looked around, not really sure what the pertinence of the 
question was. What did birds do that was harmful to anyone? Well 
maybe to the peasants, but Aladain had never really heard of much of 
a reason to fear ordinary birds before, and despite the fact that 
there did seem to be more then usual, they were just ordinary birds. 
Sparrows, Larks, Finches and even a smattering of Jays, but nothing 
odd or worrisome, like Crows or Ravens. `There is a bit more then 
usual, but none of them seem to be anything to worry about much, why?'

Morgan shook his head slowly, `I am not sure, it seems that we have 
been passed through an area with a very large quantity of birds, or 
perhaps it is just us. Maybe we should ask someone and see.' 
Aladain thought it was a tad paranoid, but he wasn't in charge so he 
would hold his peace. After a time they started to ride again, and he 
started to watch to see if maybe Morgan was really on to something. 



Angelica was moving warily, this was only the second time that she 
had ever left the forest that was her home. She could hardly 
understand her own reasons for doing so, she could hardly believe 
that she could be that interested in the well being of some solider 
that she hardly knew. Still here she was doing all in her power to 
make sure that he was safe. She had called upon the birds that she 
corresponded with on a regular basis and asked them to keep an eye on 
him and to keep her informed of his actions and location. Now she was 
even moving to be closer to him, so that she could provide him aid if 
it were required. 

When she started to think about why she might be doing this she 
stomped on it and ignored what it might be about. She wasn't sure 
that she was ready to deal with that aspect of things yet. 





Dourandil was wondering if perhaps the Paladin had gone mad. So far 
they had lost three of the party they had started off with, the first 
to go had been Porty the Wizard. He had been picking berries in his 
usual manner when one of the bushes he was picking turned out to have 
a Basilisk inside of it. Despite the fact that they had managed to 
kill the beast with no further losses there had been nothing they 
could do for poor Porty. 

The next to go was Frasher the Cleric of Tyr, a God of battles and 
justice, the same God that the Paladin followed, it was the two of 
them that had brought them on this quest. A quest that the thought 
was a waste of time, he was a Ranger, and had been hired to guide 
them and for the last 10 years these two had been going from one 
isolated patch of wilderness to another searching for the fabled Grey 
Mage. It was a child's tale one used to scare children into behaving, 
although in some places they had found that it was said that the Grey 
Mage would reward those that behaved, a twist on the theme. 

He had been traveling with them not so much for the money, but for 
the ability to see the many places that Beda Fomm had to over. It was 
an amazing world with much diversity to offer and he had been amazed 
at the wildness they had found in the many different places their 
travels had taken them They had traveled to the mountains of 
Braunschweig, and to the deserts of Semovente, they had even gone to 
the strange floating island of Zis and while they had found many 
strange and wonderful things, they had still to find any sort of sign 
of the existence of the Grey Mage. 

Now here they were in Fenthrasher a newly opened Barony, that was 
already taking on the appearance of a vacation spot for the wealthy 
of Rankor, but the lands North of it, was still settled by only 
vermin. In this case the vermin was primarily Kobolds, but they had 
had very little trouble with them, it was other things that had given 
them the most problems. As with the Basilisk that turned Porty into 
stone there was the Plant that had killed Frasher. The Cleric had 
been drawn to look at some strange flower off the trail that they had 
been following. Dourandil had warned the Cleric any number of times 
not to wander off the trail in search of his own interests without 
first checking with him, but the Cleric had never really learned the 
lesson. 

The first sign they had that anything was wrong was when Frasher 
cried out in pain. They had all turned to look and the sight had 
turned Dourandil's blood to ice water. Hanging upside down and 
suspended off the ground was the Frasher, he was held in the grip of 
a large number of sickly green vines. Even before he could draw his 
sword the vines tore Frasher to pieces. The little thief McKee got 
violently ill at the sight and Goerlitz had to be restrained from 
going in and avenging his friend. Dourandil was starting to wish that 
he had allowed the Paladin to try such a feat, if he had then McKee 
would most likely still be alive and he wouldn't be here. He hadn't 
done that though, and wasn't sure that if the opportunity came up 
again that he would be able to do anything different, he was who he 
was and that was all there was to it. That didn't mean that he hadn't 
had second thoughts about his action especially when McKee's death 
occurred. 

They had been seeking shelter from an unexpected downpour and had 
found a cave. McKee had gone in to look around, while he and Goerlitz 
had held torches to light up the cave. McKee had found an irregular 
opening about chest level on one of the back walls and was just 
looking into it when a bolt came flying out and struck him full in 
the face. Just then a band of Kobolds rushed out of a hidden opening 
into the cave, some of them attacked him and the Paladin, while 
others pulled the body of the little thief out of the cave and out of 
sight. 

The attack of the Kobolds was short and fierce, both Goerlitz and 
himself suffered wounds and had to give ground so that they could get 
out in the open so as to be able to more effectively use their longer 
weapons and reach. At last they fought the Kobolds off but it was a 
painful victory. They had lost McKee both he and Goerlitz were 
wounded and who knew how many more Kobolds were left inside the Cave 
complex. So it had been quickly and regretfully decided to leave the 
area and seek shelter elsewhere. 

That had been almost a week ago, and ever since then it had seemed 
that the woods had been working against them, every time they had 
tried to return to the south they found their way blocked, so they 
had to continuously work their way Northwards and towards the coast. 
At last they were getting close, Dourandil could tell by the change 
in the scent of the air. They had already been walking most of the 
day and it was getting on towards dusk when he heard a sound that 
gave him pause. It was the sound of men singing, it seemed so out of 
place here in this dark a gloomy wood. It wasn't a happy song, it was 
in fact a work song, but that didn't change the fact that it was 
singing or that from the sounds of it the voices making the song were 
human. 

Taking care not to get caught in a trap of some kind he moved forward 
as quickly as possible, the Paladin doing his best to keep up. At 
last he broke into a large clearing and what he saw there amazed him. 
In the clearing was a village of some type and Men carrying home logs 
it looked like, and in the background was a walled keep. The Keep 
itself looked to be about three stories tall, Dourandil was amazed 
that no one had ever mentioned such a thing being here. But then he 
realized that the trees behind it on the cliff edge would hide the 
castle from view of passing ships, so that was why it wouldn't be 
noticed. 

`Ah good a Castle, let us go and talk to the Lord and perhaps they 
can aid us in the quest.' 

Dourandil wanted to curse the Paladin and his quest, once they got 
out of here they were going to part company, and that would be the 
end of it. That was if either of them got out of here, Dourandil 
gaped as Goerlitz waltzed into the village as if it were the most 
natural thing it the world to do. For a long moment he debated on 
abandoning the brain dead Paladin here and now. This obsession with 
his quest was going to get him killed and it might take Dourandil 
with him. Still he had made a deal to see him through this and he 
couldn't turn his back on the overbearing sot, no matter how much he 
was growing to despise him. So he followed him out into the open 
feeling very stupid. 

One of the Men in the village approached them, `Greetings my name is 
Parker, please go into the Castle the Lady is expecting you and will 
answer all of your questions.' 

Goerlitz bowed and thanked the man and headed off, `See I told you 
everything would be all right.' Dourandil wasn't so sure, the Lady 
expected them, how did she know they were coming? Well it seemed that 
whatever was going to happen here was going to happen no matter what 
so it looked as if he might as well go along with it. 

The gates to the Curtain wall were open and so were the main doors of 
the Keep itself, and despite the fact that there were no guards 
standing on them they looked well kept up. It felt a little eerie 
walking into such a well maintained castle with no one around. They 
walked up the main stairs and into the main hall. There was a long 
stone table made of a blue stone, that looked like it might be Lapis 
Lazuli, but that was unlikely since that stone never came in any 
great chunks and this table was nearly 200 feet long. The chairs at 
the side were made of a really dark wood and each one had magical 
beasts forming the back legs and the arm rests. Clear at the end near 
the raised dais there were three places set. Without hesitation 
Goerlitz went and sat down at the setting on the right. 

It seemed a little arrogant to set before their hostess arrived so 
Dourandil remained standing. It wasn't long before two servants came 
in with dishes and pitchers, they started setting things in order 
when the Hostess did arrive. Dourandil was taken aback by the sight 
of the Woman, she was massive, she was taller then any human he had 
ever seen, and even taller then some trolls. At a guess he placed her 
at or near seven feet. She wasn't misshapen just larger then normal. 
Dourandil was impressed by the way she carried herself, she was 
wearing a red brocade dress that looked like it was worth a fair 
amount of silver, but her jewelry was understated, only the gold arm 
ring around her right bicep showing any ostentations. More then that 
she wore a sword that looked as if the hilt were made of some sort of 
bone with a grayish skin wrapped around it. As she saw him she gave 
him a slight smile and then looked at where Goerlitz sat and 
Dourandil could have sworn that her face darkened just slightly. 

`Greeting gentlemen please sit and eat, tell me of your travails.' 
Dourandil thought that it was a strange request, but then the woods 
had been brutal, so perhaps that was what she meant. 

Goerlitz dug in with gusto telling her the tale as he went, he 
started from the very beginning, leaving out only what it was that he 
was searching for. The Woman listened with rapt attention, eating 
little and only occasionally asking questions, but for the most part 
adding as little to the conversation as Dourandil himself. Finally 
Goerlitz wound down, and Dourandil had to admit that despite the fact 
that he had told the tale, he hadn't really taken any undo credit 
onto himself. `So My Lady what of yourself.' 

She smiled, `I am Chauntay,' she said it as if her name was the 
answer to the question and they should know her life story from that 
answer. At least it was all the information she was volunteering. 

For a time there was silence and then Dourandil cleared his 
throat, `Lady how long have you lived here?' 

Her smile brightened, `A very long time indeed.' Then she turned back 
to Goerlitz, `You seem to be on a quest what is it that you seek.' 

`Ah Lady we seek a Mage of great evil, he has done much harm in this 
world and he is called the Grey Mage.'

`Ah I see, and how will you recognize this denizen of evil?' 
Dourandil couldn't put his finger on the reason, but he couldn't 
escape the feeling that her question was toying with Goerlitz, that 
she knew what it was that he sought and where he could find it.

`My God Tyr the Righteous has informed me that the Gray Mage carries 
certain magic items of very evil power, and that he is a Sorcerer of 
great skill and power.'

The woman nodded her head as if she were thinking, `I am a Sorcerer 
of great skill and power, so what are the Magic Items?' 

Goerlitz didn't seem to notice that she was more amused then 
interested. Dourandil tried to warn the Paladin, but found that he 
was unable to even move. `Well there is a golden ring with the 
engraving Power Rules Over Power, and a sword made of the leg bone of 
a dragon.'

`Well now that sounds pretty conclusive, my sword is fashioned from 
the leg bone of a dragon, I made it myself many years ago now.'

Goerlitz looked at her in shock, `Surely Lady you are not suggesting 
that you are the Gray Mage?'

`I am suggesting nothing, so how are you planning to fight this evil 
Mage.'

Goerlitz puffed up, `I am protected from Evil Magic's by my God.'

Again the woman seemed thoughtful, `Really…how do you think your God 
can protect you when he can't even tell you who the Gray Mage is, 
seems like your faith is misplaced.' 

`My Lady,' Goerlitz half rose from his chair as he responded to the 
insults leveled at the God he served. `Tyr is a powerful God and has 
chosen me as his instrument to bring about the Gray Mages 
destruction.'

The woman laughed, `Well then get with it foolish errand boy of a 
blind and stupid God, for I am the Gray Mage.'

Whether Goerlitz believed her or not, Dourandil couldn't tell but he 
had certainly had enough of having his God insulted. With an 
animalistic growl he stood up knocking the chair back and began to 
draw his sword. The Woman spoke a word that seemed to suck the very 
air from the room and Goerlitz screamed and grabbed a hold of his 
head. 

Before Dourandil's disbelieving eyes Goerlitz started to seep blood 
through his skin, and he continued to scream as if he were suffering 
intense agony. He moved about as if trying to escape some unseen 
torturer but nothing seemed to help. His skin seemed to be getting 
more bloody all the time. He slammed himself forward into the table 
and it was then that his eyes popped out of their sockets to roll 
across the table into his lap. Whatever was holding his still and 
keeping him from emitting any sounds didn't prevent him from throwing 
up the dinner he had just eaten. 

When he recovered Goerlitz was mercifully no longer making any sound 
and was nowhere to be seen. He was still unable to move though. 

`Aldaron.' At the name spoken by the Woman, and shadow seemed to step 
out of the wall and take the form of a Man dressed in Armor as black 
as pitch, `Yes My Lord.'

`Take this misguided soul to the Leader of the Broken Tusk Tribe and 
tell the newest Orc chieftain there that his deals with that Moron 
won't protect him from my reach if he raids in the human lands 
through as he did before. I do not wish to have my Peace disturbed by 
Humans searching for someone to inflict their petty vengeances upon.'

`Yes Lord and the other.'
It was then that she turned her attention to him again. `Oh yes, he 
is too pure of heart to trust in the village.' With a flick of her 
fingers he found himself rising from the chair he had been sitting in 
and racing towards the ceiling. The last thing he saw in the shadows 
that held the ceiling in darkness were a series of spikes. The pain 
of it impaling his chest was thankfully brief.  

 

 
                 

Look for the next installment of
"The Fenthrasher Enigma"
In our Next issue