Part XXI:How About 'Amethysts'?
7th of Granite, 371There was not much sleep that night, for dawn was closer than the companions had thought, and they wanted to set off at first light.
With little sleep and rain pouring the five left the camp: it was time to hunt some ettin.
The location where the lair of the two-headed giant supposedly was lay only a short stroll to the north.
The companions almost thought that there was no lair: they searched and searched the forested hills, but found no signs of such a place.
As they were just about to give up, they stumbled accidentally on a well-hidden entrance into the dirt -- it had to be the lair!
“It is best you wait here,” Suwu addressed the short-nosed goblin. Someone who has been for years a prisoner was in no shape to take on giant-kin -- especially without any kind of equipment.
The dirt walls of the passage soon changed to ones of shale...
...leading straight into a cave, its floor littered with all sorts of items and at the back of it the ettin stood looking down at the intruders!
The pale brown-skinned ettin was tall and fat with long, curly hair the color of burnt umber. His left head was much narrower than the right one, which gave him a curious look.
“I AM NOT SCARED,” the ettin's left head began and the right one finished the sentence, “...OF ANY PUNY LITTLE ONES!”
It grabbed a bronze buckler from the pile of items and charged forward.
Suwu was at the ready to slice the giant in the leg and make it fall down, but this one was a nimble one and the scuffle quickly turned into a dodging battle.
Suwu kept missing the ettin and while Cañar hit it, the blows seemed not to be as effective as hoped for.
“I AM THE FOE OF ELVES,” the ettin's heads bellowed in unison, “THEY SHOULD HAVE STAYED IN THE TREES THEY SO LOVE!”
Cañar's war hammer struck the monster in its chest with a loud whack, and as the giant reeled from it, Suwu managed to get a slash in -- she hit it in the right head.
But the cut was not deep.
The battle took a turn once Ova came in and distracted the ettin with his hammer-waving, allowing Cañar to land a mighty blow on the giant.
It howled as it dropped its buckler.
The fight went on as a dodging competion until finally Cañar landed another good blow from his war hammer: a solid smack on the right shin twisted its knee and the chubby ettin fell over.
But even on the ground, the ettin was a tough and resilient one: many of its bones were chipped and broken, blood flowed from deep wounds in necks and heads, yet it kept going.
A slash from Suwu and a blow from Ova into the ettin's gut caused it to retch.
In the end, the ettin came down after both of its heads were crushed into pulp by Cañar's hammering.
There its lifeless body lay on the cave floor on its hoard now covered with ettin gore, viscera and vomit.
This was the longest battle they had done with one of the giant-kin.
The companions cleared the ettin's lair of any loot. Normally they would not have bothered to take anything except the most valuable items, but their new camp was close -- even a heavier load could be easily moved there.
It was mostly clothing and worthless items, though there were some coins too. Rin was quick to take them,
“We need a treasurer to keep count of our coin,” he had explained.
Among the hoard lay also three skeletons: presumably a human, a dwarf and an elf. They too were taken. It was only right to give them a proper burial: their final resting place would be at the companions' camp.
And as they returned, they cut down trees, for the forest here was more dense than at the waterfall.
Otherwise things went smoothly, but Suwu almost managed to fell a tree on herself -- luckily she was quick to react and dodged the trunk as it came crashing down.
Days passed after the venture into the ettin's lair.
The companions worked on their stronghold, erecting walls, felling trees in the nearby forests and admiring local wildlife. These lands were filled with creatures most of them were unfamiliar with, though some they had seen in Waterlures when the elves arrived to trade and brought all manner of fauna with them.
Giant tortoises were among such creatures.
Large herds of cow-like beasts with high shoulders sloping lower to the rear -- gnus, Ova enlightened them -- were a common sight. These magnificent antelopes were known to migrate in massive groups in these northern savannas and plains.
As work progressed, the companions decided to venture back into the halls of the fortress where they had encountered the forgotten beast. Much loot had been left behind and since soon they were going to have storage space, they went to retrieve all manner of goods: clothing, weapons, armor, well-preserved food and even furniture.
They gained the trust -- or at least enough trust -- of the freed goblin prisoner that he finally introduced himself as Gozru. He had named his daughter after himself -- a common thing in his family, he said.
When Gozru heard the others talk about the vile sorcerers one day, he mentioned that he knew of one of their twisted creations and how horrible they could be.
“Olngö Terrorpaints was his name,” Gozru told them,
“But folk call him 'the Mucous' -- an awful smell of rank wine wafts around him always. A drunk he may be and an abomination, but he is also a murderer: he killed Tosid Blockadegrooved! Yes, the forces of Kadol himself attacked Vinemeads and there the foul deed was done!”
For nearly a week they toiled on the main building before it was completed with roof and all.
It was satisfying to finish up some work.
13th of Granite, 371Heavy rain fell outside as the companions gathered around the tables to eat and discuss.
“These have been good days,” Ova said while eating some fisher berries, “We have built ourselves a place to rest and recuperate, to plot our next move. It is so great to be surrounded by family like you -- and I mean you too, Rin.”
“Yes, family is important,” Suwu hopped in, “It is a wonderful thing to be surrounded by one.”
“You know,” Gozru said from the door with a slight look of sadness on his face, “You are absolutely right...”
Suwu turned to address Gozru, “We will help you get back to your family safely, do not worry. But first we have other business to take care of, unfortunately.”
15th of Granite, 371Work continued for a few days.
While they had a roof over their heads and walls around them, they did not feel yet safe enough. So they decided to erect a palisade and gates around the grounds. Work on the walls of Waterlures had taught them much and that knowledge proved useful here.
During this week of toil their plans had shifted from a base where to rest and research (once they had books) to one of a grander, more ambitious nature.
“If we are to wage war,” Cañar had spoken one night when Gozru wasn't near,
“If we are to defeat this evil that plagues the Enchanted Dimensions in battle, we must do so from a place far from our home. Far from Waterlures.”And a decision was made to make their base a fortified stronghold -- one that could be defended. And one where there was space to house a host of mercenaries, if need be.
The companions walked along the bank of a stream in rain, enveloped by fog. The day was still young and they were headed west and to the south.
For they had learned from Gozru that he had heard of a third ancient dwarf fortress nearby: Ïngiztaron, 'Ceilingyell'. Gozru knew not much more. Only that it was abandoned -- presumably due to one of the beasts prowling beneath the surface of Minbazkar.
As they walked, Gozru turned to look to the other side of the stream.
“Those Kadol's demons,” the goblin said, “I've heard they come from Islandfences. Some kind of dark tower of the evil sorcerers. They say Kadol himself lives there... And that there are still foul things happening even to this day.”
“We have heard some,” Suwu said back, “Such things should be stopped. By any means. These lands have been ravaged by their sick creations for longer than I can imagine... Have you happened to hear where this Islandfences is?”
“No,” Gozru replied, “Not exactly. But I think I overheard one of the elves at the camp speak of 'that cursed tower at the coast', if it helps?”
It was not much to go on.
They followed the winding waterway upstream towards the mountains. From there they would head along the foothills, continuing west and south -- it should eventually lead them to the dwarven hold of old.
Soon they came upon the grounds of a settlement: a hillocks by the look of it.
They were not used to seeing such places built this close to the mountains.
The drinking mound of the hillocks was empty -- no bearded ones there to welcome rain-soaked travelers with a pint of dwarven wine.
The other mounds next to it were empty, too. The companions were not surprised to find yet one more abandoned village in these war-torn cursed lands.
But as they were about to leave and continue their way, they heard sounds from what looked like the civic mound of the hillocks.
Inside they saw three elves who introduced themselves as worshippers of Nature. And indeed they seemed to mean it with their whole hearts, for they all were disrobed, their exposed skin only covered with water from the rain.
After discussing with the nude elves who complained about rain -- it was rather awkward as the companions tried not to stare at the bare bodies of these Nature worshippers -- the companions left the hillocks, heading south and climbing up the slopes of the foothills of quartzite and rock salt.
They learned the name of the hillocks: Charcoalwheel. And it was abandoned, which didn't come as a surprise.
“Haha, 'you are amazing', that was a good one,” Rin laughed thinking of how Suwu hadn't been able to resist commenting the outfits of the elves, “Sure could see from his face that he didn't appreciate it.”
“'You insult me with your flattery, let us move on',” Suwu tried her best to imitate the naked elf who had put his hands on his hips after her remark. She couldn't shake out of her mind the sight of the elf's family jewels dangling between his legs, “I hope we don't have to meet them again any time soon.”
“Regardless,” Suwu wiped off the smile from her face, “It was good we ran into them. It was a fortunate coincidence that they happened to mention about that shield they want back, and that it's possibly at Kadol's tower...”
“Yes,” Cañar said, “And now we know where Islandfences is. We won't be needing to spend time searching for it once we are ready to head there.”
The bold adventurers were nearing their destination. They had just climbed over some foothills and were back on lower ground when they suddenly saw a woman run with incredible speed across the open fields of grama grass.
She wore armor made of iron and bronze, and she had spear and shield in hand as she charged towards the group of five.
Suwu drew her blade.
The human rushed first at Cañar, Ova and Gozru who were in a tight formation.
Gozru lunged with his spear, missing their attacker who retaliated with a thrust gone wide.
The human moved nimbly, dodging blows until Ova landed a bash from his buckler on her head, but it did nothing: the iron helm deflected it with ease. It did, however, create an opening for Cañar to bring down his hammer, hitting the woman in the right forearm with a mighty blow.
But it did not hinder her: her spear struck Gozru in the leg, causing the goblin to fall to the ground.
Suwu rushed into the fray as swift as her paws could carry her.
She was not fast enough. She saw the human lunge with her spear, striking Gozru badly in the neck as he lay on the ground. Blood began gushing from the wound as Cañar and Ova bashed and kicked at the assaillant trying to protect Gozru.
With fury Suwu brought down Sarveshsazir as she closed in, striking true.
The spearwoman fell to the ground, her head split in two.
“Agh! I am done for!”, Gozru yelled in pain and terror, coughing blood out of his mouth, “My time is due...”
The companions gathered around Gozru who lay there, unable to move. His breath was heavy. He was wheezing.
He was dying.
“I-I feel so fragile...”, the goblin wheezed, “My life... It is over...”
Cañar knelt down and tried to stop the flow of blood from Gozru's neck wound.
“Gozru, breathe slowly,” Suwu began, “We have known only for a few days. We may not yet be friends, but I have grown fond of you. I would like to call you one. But friends or not, we must remember other priorities, too.”
It was an odd thing to say at the moment, but it was all Suwu got out of her mouth.
“I am glad you came to trust us enough to tell your name, Gozru,” she continued as she saw life slipping away from the goblin, “Telling the truth is the right thing to do. You have done right, Gozru.”
“I... I see now...”, the goblin replied deliriously, “I see the nuances and value of such things... I feel cold...”
“Gozru!”, Suwu shook the goblin's shoulder, “Stay awake! Where should we take you?”
“Huh? Is... Is that you, my child?”, the goblin looked at Suwu, seeing the face of his daughter, “Are we... Home? T-They... They saved me...”
“I am... Afraid... So cold,” Gozru said, barely being able to breathe, “T-this is horrifying...”
Then he went limp, the last breath escaped his lips.
The companions stood there, around the body of their new companion -- friend -- in the rain, far, far away from the home of the goblin.
With heavy hearts the companions continued their journey towards the dwarf hold.
They took Gozru's body with them. He would be given a proper burial once they returned to their stronghold.
It was only a short walk to the fortress from where Gozru had fallen.
There was not much talk between the companions as they entered the massive halls made of green-hued shiny stone, their footsteps echoing, clouds of dust billowing.
Whatever the reason this place was ruined, they would try to find out. If there was a threat they would take care of it. If not, ever the better: the sooner they could then return.
Down they went once again, down the ramp twisting around the shaft hewn into rock salt...
...Rock salt giving way to gabbro, then diorite, and much deeper still veins of gold spread across the walls...
A wayshrine with a pedestal and statue. It depicted a long-forgotten dwarven deity: a dwarf with a long beard as his only clothes, his beard and hair growing twigs and leaves, his skin as rugged as the stone of the mountains -- perhaps a god of nature and stone, then?
They lost track of how deep they descended, but it must have been hundreds upon hundreds of feet, and when they were beginning to feel that the passage was endless, they came to a hall opening both north and south, continuing far into the dark.
They had reached the main levels of the ancient fortress.
The companions four began their exploration of the dusty and dank halls.
“Be prepared, stay close,” Suwu whispered in the lead, “Who knows what manner of old forgotten horrors lurk within these halls.”
Gripping their weapons tightly, keeping watchful eyes they stepped forth.
If the previous fortress they had ransacked was full of treasures, it was nothing compared to the amount they encountered here: the stores were crammed with beautiful furniture, clothing, armor and all manner of crafts.
They would take as much as they could once the place was secured.
Winding passage after winding passage, living quarters and large halls with statues was what they encountered.
In one large room an array of a different kinds of weapons were set on display. Possibly an armory of sorts.
The southern half was a maze, but they went through it all.
No beasts were found there. In a sense, it was a relief, for the death of their new companion was still fresh in their minds. They were not keen on more fighting.
And yet, here they were, searching ancient halls for even older beasts.
The northern hallways were full of small rooms: the private living quarters of the dwarves who had called this place their home.
Onwards they went...
...Room after room they searched...
As Suwu opened the last room of the corridor, a horrible hiss came from inside!
In front of her was a towering twisted, bloated form which could only be described as a viper with an enormous shell on its back. It was coiled around a cabinet of limestone and stared at Suwu with its one eye, fangs dripping venom.
“Beast!”, Suwu shouted as she slashed at its head without hesitation.
The battle was on.
The viper sprung at Suwu, but she rolled out of its way into the room, opening way for the others to reach the fight -- and cornering herself at the same time.
Suwu kept leaping away from the beast's charges as Ova rushed in. She scored several hits on the beast, but they were mere small cuts.
An opening, a well-timed stab close to the head, and Suwu's blade tore muscle and connected with spine.
Dodge, slash! Dodge! Stab, stab!
The viper had been slowed down by the blow and Ova joining the fray distracted it enough for Suwu to score many a deep wound.
The beast was spraying blood, painting the halls crimson.
But all it did was anger the beast.
As Ova struck it on its shell and his war hammer bounced off harmlessly, the viper bit the mandrill man in his leg -- tearing the whole leg off!
“Ova, no!”, Suwu yelled furiously, “You
will not take my friend away from me!”
She stabbed the beast, hitting deep and causing it to loose its stance.
Dazed and wracked with pain Ova bashed it from the ground in its unprotected parts with a solid thud.
Suwu went for its eye, but the strike went wide as the monster lashed at Ova. The blade hit the side of the viper's head, cutting deep. Suwu could feel the cracking of bone.
On and on the fighting went -- slash, whack, stab, dodge -- and despite its many wounds the foul monster showed no signs of defeat.
Suwu landed a blow on the viper's eye, but alas! It did not go as deep as hoped for and her sword was stuck in the scales for a moment.
'This fight must be finished quick,' Suwu thought as she glanced at Ova who was losing blood by the second.
Suwu lost count of how many times she had slashed and stabbed at the beast, but it must have been dozens upon dozens. Ova, too, had bashed it from the ground, the sound of cracking bones heard through the wailing and shrieking of the viper.
Finally, Cañar reached the fray, punching it in the mouth with a heavy whack.
Maybe the three of them could bring it down, for Rin was still nowhere in sight.
And indeed, finally the beast fell -- or what was left of its mutilated body.
Suwu looked at the viper's severed head at her feet.
“Another beast slain,” she slightly panting after the battle, “Another ancient home made safe...”
She then looked at Ova.
The mandrill man lay on the ground, exhausted, in a growing pool of blood -- both his and the viper's. He looked pale, his eyes wandered.
“Ova!”, Suwu screamed in panic, “Cañar, help! Ova needs help!”
She knelt over him with the elephant man, desperately trying to stem the flow of blood from the stump of a leg.
“No, Ova, no!”, she felt a lump form in her throat. She did not want to loose another one this day. Especially not Ova.
“Stay with us Ova,” Cañar said with a calm, but concerned voice, “Look at me, stay with us.”
It was night and the stars were out. A cool breeze blew from the open plains to the west.
Suwu, Cañar, Rin and Ova sat around a campfire they had made next to a cashew tree. They had survived the events of the harrowing day, their packs full of treasures -- though, the price of the venture had been heavy.
“Damn it, Rin!”, Suwu finally broke the silence, “What took you so long again? I told you to stay close!”
“I'm sorry! I'm sorry, alright?”, Rin replied with a slight hint of annoyance in his voice, “I got lost. I turned the wrong way! I tried to follow the sounds, but... But they only led me further away! I tell you -- that place was cursed!”
Suwu was about to confront Rin, but Ova put his hand in front of her mouth and spoke, “Rin, it's alright. It could have happened to anyone of us. The place
was a maze. You can't deny that, Suwu.”
Suwu sighed, “I guess...”
“I might have lost my leg,” Ova continued. The pain the wound caused could be heard in his voice, “But so did Edu. And it not hinder him. No, not one bit it didn't. He pushed on. Until the end.”
Suwu looked up at Ova. She was not used to such wise words coming out from the mandrill man's mouth. And she thought of Edu. Indeed, he lost his paw, but he didn't loose his fight, his spirit. He took a crutch. He continued to toil. He continued his life. Until the end.
“Ova speaks true,” Cañar said and looked at the stump left behind of the mandrill man's leg, “Though, I fear your fighting days may be over, friend. We have a long way back, but I will help you carry your weight.”
Rin stepped slightly away from the camp as the others went through the day's events.
He peered into the darkness. He felt afraid. Of what he had done.
He was lying when he said he got lost. No, he had stayed behind. The voice had commanded him. It said the beast will take care of the others and then...
And then Rin could take the slabs.
But the voice had been wrong: the others -- his friends -- they did not fall.
'RIN,' once again Rin heard the voice of Bazsa the Sinful echo in his mind,
'DO NOT QUESTION ME. DO NOT THINK YOU CAN BETRAY ME. NO. YOU WILL DO AS I SAY. SOON, THE TIME WILL CO--''Oh shut up! Shut up, will you!', Rin shut his eyes in anger and tried to shake the voice out of his head.
He stepped back to the camp.
“A song, maybe?”, he interrupted the discussion of the others with a smile on his face. He was happy. He was happy that Ova was still alive. He felt guilty, certainly, but his friends had survived.
The others turned to look at him in surprise.
“Why, certainly,” Ova smiled back, “What did you have in mind, friend?”
“How about...”, Rin paused for a moment, “Amethysts?”
=====
Yikes! Thought we'd loose Ova there.
Fortunately the bleeding stopped almost as soon as the combat ended.
All fights were surprisingly long (and tough compared to previous ones), well except the one with the intelligent undead (completely forgot to give Gozru some armor though we had a whole bunch available)... Guess I was getting a bit too overconfident with our heroes abilities. Ain't the case no more.
Not sure if I'll manage to get one up tomorrow. Got other stuff and prolly much of game time will go on building the camp of the adventurers.
...Oh, and we met some naked performers finally!
what, you don't worship pagan gods in the nude? how vanilla
Don't even have to worship pagan gods! There was the
early Christian Adamites, which was revived in the medieval period by the Brethren of the Free Spirit and other heretics. So, even good christians can be all nude during worship!
Author
Topic: Waterlures - A Capybara Man Fortress & Adventure [DF 0.47.05] (Read 83654 times)