Greetings!
Turn three follows. Some of you will also be receiving
confidential supplements. Sorry for the delay in producing this.
Work has been crazy lately. (This turn was produced in the midst of
classified computing runs all day and three separate trips to the
Joint Chiefs of Staff.) I will be gone on a NATO exercise from 20 to
29 OCT 94, and realistically, my first day to read e-mail will
probably be 31 OCT 94.
We'll determine the next submission date for turns after I get back
from this trip to Europe. [I suspect this one will keep you busy till I
get back. ;-) ]
Enjoy,
Rich
Turn 3
~~~~~~
The party glances at the approaching trolls, the incoming dragon,
the descending moon and the broo archer. Guy mutters ``shit, and all
I ever wanted was to inherit my uncle's fortune in Credia and live out
my life in peace! We got rid of the White Ships; this must be some
type of nightmare!'' under his breath, but it is loud enough for most
of the party to hear. Vorondil looks solemn as is usual and says
``Well?!?'' Branahm says ``We're sitting ducks here. Quickly, into
the entrance.'' Miriya nods her agreement and adds "We should perform
introductions in a safer place--inside the complex, perhaps?" Balinor
dashes forward toward the shadowy doorway and Trak Chi begins chanting
a spell in Darktongue.
Several things happen simultaneously. There is the twang of a
bowstring from the direction of the broo on the cliff followed by a
loud war whoop and a tremendous crash. Leoshi's hat thunders and
let's off lightning bolts into the air, and a huge wall of darkness
appears between the party and the cliff holding the broo.
The party suddenly notices that the chanting from the approaching
trolls is growing in intensity, and now, small black tendrils drift
from the approaching group toward Yelm himself! Huvis is the first to
notice the Red Moon appearing to roll across the sky this direction.
The motion seemed to start as the chanting from the trolls become
louder. Trahk Chi says ``Wow! Look what I did!!!'' At first Trahk
Chi and the party are elated, and then terror sets in as they realize
what this portends.
Miriya and Branahm shout ``let's get inside!'' simultaneously. As
Balinor reaches the doorway inside the obelisk, the party hears a loud
commanding voice state ``Kaliban Keen-Eye *that's* who! And who by
the wisps of Daka Fal are *you?!?!?!?*'' There is an extremely long
series of roars and whistles that apparently come from the approaching
dragon. As Balinor approaches the doorway, those observing notice
that the doorway is surrounded by three bands of metal. Miriya,
Balinor and Branahm identify two of the bands as the anti-psionic and
anti-magical metals respectively. The door itself is smooth and flush
against the door frame. There is no visible means of opening it. The
party hesitates momentarily, but a loud crashing noise coming down the
side of the crater from the direction of the broo spurns Balinor to
action.
As Balinor touches the door a slot appears where he touched his
hand. Leoshi notes that the Book of Infinite Spells has taken on the
appearance of a large, metallic, flexible playing card. Balinor does
not wait and hastily inserts the card in the slot. The door melts
away to reveal a dark portal. The light shining down the corridor
does not seem to penetrate the gloom of the passageway. Miriya,
Branahm and Balinor look at each other uncertain of what to do, but
Risk already has a flaming flask of oil at the ready which he heaves
over the other party members' heads into the waiting abyss. Miriya's
normally pale shade of green turns a livid brown as she wheels around
to face Risk and states ``what in the name of five elements did you do
that for?'' Miriya's statement is punctuated by the presence of three
shuriken in each clenched fist. Branahm's attention remains focused
on the waiting tunnel. ``Shhhhhh...'' Branahm remarks ``I think I
heard something further in.'' Balinor listens for a moment and notes
``it is coming this way.'' ``Sounds like a war spider!'' says
Vorondil. But, Leoshi focuses the party's attention back on the
crater outside the pylon.
Leoshi points and the party turns to see. At first he appears to
be a subtle change in the background they are looking at, but his form
takes shape as he gets nearer. His hood is up, and all the party can
see is the dark cloak which covers everything except his feet. His
feet are hidden beneath the dark boots which don't seem to be making
any noise. There is a grace in his movement that screams ELF! He stops
a few feet away and pulls back the hood. His white hair looks aflame
against the background of his dark form. His eyes scan you, taking in
every detail. The eyes are dark, brown, and bottomless. They are set
against his tanned face. His form is only five feet tall with a
medium build, but it commands respect. He bows slightly and
introduces himself as Tremir.
Branahm rushes forward to greet his old friend. A smile warms the elf's
appearance and he speaks, ``Branahm, I knew I would find you here.''
He steps forward toward Branahm with open arms, revealing well
polished Elven Chainmail with large Plant and Fertility Runes across
his chest. He continues, ``It is good to see an old friend in such
trying times. May I join you in this one last adventure?'' Another
form detaches itself from the nearby shadows. As Tremir turns, a tear
catches in one of the many year worn wrinkles in the side of his
leathery face.
``You always were a sentimental group!'' The voice emanates from a
totally hairless half-elf. In his left eye socket an agate gleams,
and he balances a staff of electrum with his right hand. His form is
bent from years of responsibility and endurance, but his voice is
strong and sibilant. ``I am Granth, Runemaster of the Realm of
Timeria and Lord of the Place of Magic!'' He eyes each of the party
members; the agate seems to shine with its own inner light. ``Tremir
and Branahm I know, and of course I have heard of Balinor and Miriya.
Who are the rest of you that dare to tread upon this Holy Place?''
Miriya states ``we *must* enter the Control Complex now . . .'', but
Miriya's words are cut off by the emergence of another. This time the
arrival issues from within the pylon.
Miriya and Leoshi turn from the party reunion to see a haggard old
woman emerge from the smothering darkness of the tunnel. As she
passes swiftly over the threshold, she appears momentarily as a homely
young woman dressed in some type of metallic appearing clothing, but
her familiar visage returns swiftly. The door seals behind her. She
is dressed in black and red, and her aspect veritably shimmers in
accumulated power of millennia. ``I'm afraid I cannot let you inside.
You see the world must end. It should have ended long ago, but we
were afraid. Afraid to play God and afraid not to once we started.
This is just. I've lived well beyond my time. Theon must become
Milo, and so it goes. What do you care anyway? You don't exist at
all; it is a shame still that I must destroy you.'' With that, she
raises her hands and begins to chant words of power not heard since
the world was new . . . somewhere beyond the doorway in the crater,
the party hears the clatter of iron shod hooves approaching.
[Let the games begin!]
Enjoy!
Rich