Month: July 2017

A muffled sound came from the iron maiden in the left corner of the room.  Knarra moved over to the iron maiden, opened the door,  and removed the somnolent Roscoe. Knarra removed a small flask from her robes and administered a sip of the liquid to the wizard. Roscoe responded and took the flask and quaffed deeply. The mage aroused.

“That must be some potent healing potion!” Nigel exclaimed.

“That was port wine from Three Forks,” Roscoe answered.

“I was saving it for the proper time,” Knarra said, smiling.

Roscoe’s brow furrowed and he gazed sternly at Cara.

“Bring me the staff,” he requested.

Cara hesitated. She had never felt anything like the power of the staff.

“The staff, please,” Roscoe repeated with an irritated tone.

Cara grudgingly complied after being nudged by Eomore.  She placed the staff in the right hand of the mage. Roscoe stood on shaky limbs.

“We are in big trouble,” he coldly stated.  “We couldn’t have dreamed of what we were up against. Lose the wand. It’s a locator that pinpoints our location.”

Jodie, Phyrris, and Amica enjoyed the coney stew and chased it down with booderry and tetraberry juices. Phyrris stared out the window at the magnificent Doombringers. The mountains deserved their name. Only the hardiest adventurers tested their skills on the mountains. Suddenly a thick barbed tail filled the view through the window.

Phyrris shouted, “Woe! It’d a wyvern! With a tail that size, it’ll test all our skills. Ready Fire Spells!”

Jodie burst out laughing. Amica and Kirrie chuckled.

Phyrris said frantically, “What aren’t you getting ready to fight? We’re in danger! There’s a wyvern on the house!”

Jodie gleefully replied, “That’s our friend Fyzer. He’s just guarding the house.”

Phyrris put his clump of sulfur back in his pocket and relaxed a bit. “Your friend? You’re friends with a wyvern?”

Jodie laughed loudly.

Kirrie shrugged and answered, “I’ve a thing with wyverns. I rode one during the Battle of Lone Oak Meadow. True, I used the Summoning Stone of Fire to lure and control Dallas. The wyvern contributed greatly to Saligia’s defeat. I always felt guilty about the wyvern’s death. Over time I’ve gotten familiar with the beasts. I took Fyzer from his mother’s nest right after she broke him out of his shell, and he’s been with us ever since. He just needs a purple mooler about after other cycle of Meries. Fyzer shows more loyalty than any of the Council f Alms Glen, and he is devoted to Jodie. She’s ridden with me a few times.”

Phyrris said, “You’re a wyvern rider!”

Kirrie said proudly, “It’s one of many talents I’ve acquired.”

Amica chuckled and said, “She’s pretty good at midwifery, tomb raiding, and roasting Drolls and Carcharians. I’m rather proud of my sister of Grayness.”  Phyrris tarried with Kirrie, Amica, and Jodie.

 

Carcharians were fishy humanoids with scaly skin, webbed feet and hands, gills, finned tails, claws, and fin-like crests on their backs. In other realms, the Amphibimen were called Sahuagin, Sharkmen, Sahagin, Sea Devils, Silurians, or Frogmen. Carcharian were usually green skinned, darker on the back and lighter on the belly. Their coloration rendered them tremendous disadvantage in the surface lands of the World of the Three Suns, where greenness was rare. Adult male Carcharians were over six feet tall and weighed about 200 pounds. Additional webbing appeared down the back, at the elbows, and notably where Drelves developed ears.

Carcharians dealt very harshly with puny, passive offspring. Compulsory fighting to the death eliminated weaker young Amphibimen. Carcharians seemed fixated on all aspects of consumption, and eager to weed out anything they saw as weak or unworthy to compete for resources. Savage fighters, Carcharians fought savagely, asked for and gave no quarter, and, when swimming, tore at opponents with their sharp feet. The Sharkmen also used nets to entangle prey. Spears and tridents were their favorite weapons. One in 216 specimens was a mutation with four useable arms instead of two. The four-armed mutations were usually black, fading to gray in color.

Carcharians had inhabited grottos in and around the underworld sea for ages. Prominent Amphibimen combined jewels, teeth, bones, and fabrics into bling that signified their position in their community.

The Earth Stone hummed and emitted faint gray light. Jodie grasped the Earth Stone in her right hand. The stone first shrank to fit her little hand. Then the artifact and the stone in the child’s left hand both disappeared. Jodie’s color changed from gray to muddy red, back to red, and then back to her usual pale orange. Both stones reappeared. Jodie released the Earth Stone and it floated back to position. Phyrris fought back disappointment. He’d just assumed she’d choose the Fire Stone.

Phyrris said, “Thank you Jodie. You are a sister of the soil. Spellweaver Agrarian would be pleased. You may now release the Enhancing Stone.”

Jodie replied, “Not yet, Papa. The Magick isn’t finished.”

The Teachers and Phyrris were set back. Kirrie and Amica witnessing their first ceremony of the stones.

Jodie continued to grasp the Enhancing Stone and walked to the lovely Air Stone. The child gripped the Air Stone. Her visage mimicked the effect of Aergin’s ceremony and she flashed the colors of the rainbow. After 13 heartbeats, Jodie’s normal color returned and she released the Air Stone and it returned to its position. Little strands of rainbow colors appeared in her hair. She still held the Enhancing Stone tightly. The observers remained silent. Next little Jodie went to the water stone. She placed her tiny hand on its watery surface. The stone shrank. Jodie changed to a beautiful blue color. After 13 heartbeats, she changed back to her normal visage, only strands of blue hair appeared on her head.  She released the Water Stone and it returned to its position. Jodie held the Enhancing Stone tightly and went to the Fire Stone. She reached out and grabbed the artifact. Red light flashed from the Fire Stone to Phyrris, Kirrie, and Amica. Then red beams flashed from the Enhancing Stone, Firestone, Phyrris, Kirrie, Amica, and Jodie and struck Dina and Tull. Jodie changed to fiery red coloration. After 13 heartbeats, Jodie released the Fire Stone. It returned to its position. Jodie assumed her normal color. The red streaks in her hair grew brighter. Now the child’s hair contained very little silver. Reds, blues, and rainbow colors replaced the silver hair of nymph hood. Jodie released the Enhancing Stone and it returned to its position.

Jodie left the square created by the stones, stood by Phyrris and Kirrie, and said, “That was fun, Papa. I feel very good.”

The Spellweaver refused to partake of the Council’s meal of fruits of the forest, returned to the forge, worked through the next Amber Period, and returned to his red oak home. On the way a hare crossed his path. Phyrris zapped the beast with a Magick Missile. He preserved some of the hare’s blood to use in Haste Spells and then roasted the coney with a Fire Spell. The beast provided a hearty meal. Phyrris found he was less satisfied with fruits and vegetables and had grown fond of meat. He enjoyed his repasts most often in the solitude of his home. The tired Spellweaver slipped off his raiment and settled down into his soft bed. His mind returned to his travel in the red and blue light with the sultry Kirrie. He pondered the gift of the forge. Then thoughts of the Council’s suspicions angered him. He remembered the Tree Shepherd’s contempt of Fire Magick. The Tree Shepherd had not felt the comfort of the waters of Fire Lake. Phyrris snapped his left thumb and third finger. Little sparks flew from his digits. He rubbed his thumb and index finger muttered his name “Phyrris” and produced a small flame at the tip of his finger. “Fire” felt warm. Pleasant smoke billowed from the little flame. He remembered Kirrie’s warmth and softness. His younger brother and fellow Spellweaver Aergin’s progress pleased him. The Spellweaver extinguished the flame by uttering the old Drelvish word for water “Purya.” Phyrris closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The smoky air brought back memories of Fire Lake and Kirrie. He found sleep.

Some three Dark Periods after the forge appeared, Phyrris walked alone to the forge. A flash of redness surrounded the forge. A feminine form appeared.

Kirrie said, “Hello Spellweaver. Have you been swimming lately?”

The matronly she-Drelve held a wrapped bundle in her arms. Phyrris’s mouth gaped. Kirrie moved the blanket and revealed a beautiful infant. The child had light orange skin and silver hair with streaks of red. The infant smiled. Phyrris felt the power of an Empathy Spell.

Phyrris gawked, “Who… what… when… how…”

Kirrie said, “Some deeds have consequences, Spellweaver. Her name is Jodie. She is mine… and yours. She is, as far as I know, the first spawn of two Fire Wizards. Her father is Spellweaver. Her mother is Spellweaverish. Though she was not born during an Approximation, Magick touches her. She is Spellweaver. A copy of the spell book appeared by her basinet.

The Gifts of Andreas to the People of the Forest

LARLS

A&W

Phyrris said, “This… has never happened before.”

Kirrie replied, “There’s a first time for everything. Would you like to hold your daughter?”

Morlecainen sent Fange out to gather some thick yellow sap. The Ogre returned with an ample supply. Morlecainen used a Heat Spell to separate the Ogre’s six digits on the hand that gathered the amber sap.

The grateful Fange insisted that his master gorge on fresh meat he gathered from the Lachinor to “keep up his strength.”

Morlecainen said to the Ogre Fange, “Bring me a goblin, one that is scrawny and rather worthless.”

The Dark Elf Prince Lexx was standing nearby and said, “All goblins are scrawny and rather worthless.”

Soon Fange returned with a goblin that would have been thought homely even by other Goblins. Lexx watched curiously.

“Stand here!” Morlecainen commanded the gawky creature.

The sorcerer had concocted a thick horribly sticky unguent based on the amber sap. Ingredients that the sorcerer added changed the dark yellow sap to a deep violet hue. He applied a small quantity of the salve to the tattered foul-smelling raiment of the shivering swamp goblin, tacked the garment down to the beast’s shoulder, and conjured. A brief flash of light appeared. The goblin and his clothes disappeared.

Lexx stared inquisitively and asked, “Where did he go?”

“Check the courtyard,” Morlecainen instructed.

Lexx found the bewildered goblin standing among the flowers of the courtyard. The goblin seemed none the worse for the wear and scratched the area of his shoulder where the unguent had been applied. Inspection revealed a mild rash. Lexx retrieved the vermin and returned to the anxiously waiting Morlecainen.

The sorcerer smiled at this early success. He tried longer distances. Most of the trials were successful, but one attempt landed the unfortunate goblin in the great river, where the hapless creature drowned and washed away to the sea.

A massive red Fire Dragon sat in the southwest corner. It appeared to be asleep.

Roscoe peered through the prism. He told what they already suspected.

“Auras of Magick fill this room. The brilliant light speaks to this. The greatest auras come from the area where the dragon sits. I can’t define…” Roscoe was interrupted when the dragon spoke.

“Well, well, well…what have we here? I’ve enjoyed a long nap! From the growth of my talons and fangs and the energy I feel, I would guess about eight hundred years. I’m hungry. Would you join me to be my dinner? Your…your essence is familiar. Ah…I have, or had, empathy with my sister Baylexa. You are the scum that ended her beautiful reign of evil. At least, some of you are. You look well for your age! Wait, you have elves! I love the taste of elves! Thanks, Tigarn! This is far more than you promised. You have nowhere to run! Nowhere to hide! Nowhere to run to! If you don’t fight, you won’t suffer so much!” Faranzer said.

The dragon spoke in old elfish dialect.

“Neither do you!” Dael shouted.

The young sorcerer impatiently cast a Lightning Bolt toward the old red Fire Dragon.

“If I’m going to take a terrible beating, I’m going to get in the first lick!” Cyttia shouted.

She began to conjure.

The jagged Bolt of Lightning left Dael’s hand and coursed toward Faranzer. About ten feet from the gloating beast the bolt stopped!  Shimmering luminosity extended around the massive Red Fire Dragon. There was a sound of recoil and the bolt instantly returned to Dael striking the neophyte sorcerer squarely. Dael screamed, fell forcefully backward, slammed into the wall behind them, and dropped to the floor. Gray smoke rose from his fallen body.

Dael was unconscious and near death!

“Stop your spell, Cyttia!” Cara shouted.

“He’s covered by a Reflecting Dome,” Knarra added. “Your spell will reflect!”

For many generations ancient Menders lived among the other peoples and exchanged their talents for sustenance.  In the World of the Three Suns, only the snow-white skinned people possessed unique healing abilities.

Fisher had served Saligia’s father Dydracks and Grandfather Wort. The Mender had treated Saligia for many infirmities. The pale healer neither aged nor changed. Lore held all Menders looked and acted the same. The healers were totally neutral…what an odd alignment! Menders didn’t cast spells. Menders combined Nature’s ingredients and created Magick remedies. Neither Kiennish shamans nor Drelvish elders and ultra rare Spellweavers understood Menders’ talents.

Did Menders belong to Nature, Magick, both, or neither?

The pale healers commanded great knowledge of natural and herbal remedies. For instance, Fisher’s sleep poultice contained thirteen herbs and spices. Specifically, valerian root, dream fruit, passionless fruit, booderries, byneberries, melon toning, butter fly, slumber berry, nodding ham, kava kava, lavender, rose petals, and a live cricket. The identity of the ingredients was commonplace knowledge. Only Menders knew the secret of mixing the ingredients and creating the cataplasm.Fisher typified the ultra rare Menders. Given the opportunity, a Mender healed a warrior and then the warrior’s enemy. Mender’s nature precluded haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, feet swift to run into mischief, deceitful witness that uttered lies, and sowing discord among brethren. Menders were neither loyal nor disloyal. Menders did not display lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. Likewise Menders did not show signs of chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility. Menders did not seek adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelings, “and such things.”

Menders understood mending.