Gnomish Lieutenant Donovan Ten-names said, “Alden, please carefully inspect the Shapechanger archer and assure he carries no more death arrows. If not, drag his carcass to his likeness, the one that looked like Mayard Klarje. Everyone! Do not touch the arrow or any like it! Carefully carry the kobolds’ carcasses to the Shapechangers. Show them respect. Take nothing from their bodies! We’ll create a pyre.”
Sergeant Rudy Nine-names said, “Lieutenant Donovan, we have no oil. Igniting the bodies will be difficult. If we do start a fire, will it be safe to breath the smoke generated by that foul arrow?”
Rhiann said, “I’ll ignite the bodies with a Fire Spell.”
Lieutenant Donovan Ten-names said, “Young Klarje, you fight like a berserker from Valhalla. On this field, we have to trust you, but I am wary of your Magick.”
Captain Longbeard Nineteen-names said, “Well said, Donovan. Rhiann, we still have a sorcerer against us, so I agree with Donovan that we must trust you, and I do. The battle confirmed you can walk the walk as well as talk the talk. By the way, Dibbit, nice shooting! From this point forward, you are Dibbit Six-names I’m adding ‘dead-eye’ to your monikers. Now let’s get on with it. We smote nigh two score Kobolds, and that’s two less score to assail Dry Creek. Once we attend the pyre, we must gather the halvsies and back track toward Jack’s Place and retrieve our wagons. Then we’ll make a slow steady approach to Dry Creek. Reinforcements from Gnome-town should be well on the way by now. We must stay on high alert. Highwaymen, at least one sorcerer, and lots of Kobolds remain in the area.”
Corporal Alden Eight-names carefully examined the doppelganger archer and found only a long bow and quiver of standard arrows. Alden and Newby Five-arms carried the archer’s corpse to the body of p-Mayard. Other Gnomes collected the halvsies and brought the fallen kobolds’ bodies to the planned pyre site. Lastly the kobolds’ weapons and the four lances were thrown onto the pile. Rhiann directed the others to stand thirty feet away. The young sorcerer crushed a piece of sulfur, conjured, and uttered harsh words. A stream of blue fire flowed from his outstretched left hand to the bodies. Magick fire engulfed the bodies. The flames burned silently until the four lances were consumed, and then the flames began to crackle. The dark arrow gave off very dense black-gray smoke as it burned. The extremely hot Magick fire quickly consumed the bodies. The flames died down and left charred ground where the bodies had lain. The circular patch of ground never again saw a sprig of life. In future years all manner of beasts that trod upon the cursed patch of ground lost their lives.
benjamintowe 