FA+
Shop
1398
Views
Views
16
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 820
File Size 225.2 kB
Report this content
★
More from ScissorsRunner
Listed in Folders
Next: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18997729/
Previous: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18997654/
All Episodes: http://scissorsrunner.deviantart.co.....ning-511011415
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
The morning after, the group was already on its way to the city of Solanthus. They all had slept rather peacefully the night before, maybe even thanks to the positive vibes given to their moral by the four kingfishers which visited them in the evening . The birds were chirping in the air and kept them company as they walked down the road, towards the solamnic city. When they reached Solanthus, it was already past dusk, so they decided to go to the same Inn they had sojourned last time they had visited the city.
As they started to walk towards the outer walls, Aliranne stopped in her footings.
“What about Ruru?” She asked the group. “Human cities generally do not enjoy the presence of Kenders between their walls!”
“That’s not a problem.” Replied Ruru, swinging his hoopak over his head. “I can simply use my magic skill of camouflage and disguise as a child!”
“Yes, and thou could even keep thy pointy ears and affirm that thou are the son of Aliranne and Saphanael!” Joked Brimelle, breaking into a short laugh.
“What do you know, it might actually work!” He grinned, opening his backpack and looking for his make-up kit.
“Yeah… because a little kid with pointy ears and a hoopak on his back is totally not a Kender.” Kon uttered with sarcasm.
“I’ll make it paff af a giant flingfhot!” Ruru tried to spit out while he was putting greasepaint on his goatee and sideburns to hide them. “After all, that’f what it if!”
Kon es Kaz nodded.
“Point taken.”
The Kender quickly finished up his disguise: he now looked like a simple child with pointy ears. He could have easily been passed off as an half-elf kid.
“Looks like we’re all set to go.” Observed Saphanael, admiring the work of art of the small companion.
Ruru nodded.
“Where to?” He asked, eyes shining in excitement.
“To ‘The Duck and The Dog’ I suppose.” Suggested Brimelle. “Aaon is not with us, so they will not give us problem about druids this time around.”
“Who’s Aaon?” Ruru inquired.
The party fell silent. It was an awkward situation. How could somebody describe who was Aaon without mentioning what had happened to him? And what had happened to him in the first place? The disappearance of the druid was still a mystery that was left to be unsolved, but what was certain was that he had returned to where he should have been in the first place.
“He was a druid who joined our party in Tarsis but left us during the trial.” Summarized Kon es Kaz in a sharp and cold sentence.
Without further notice, he started walking towards the opening gate of the walls, covering his muzzle with the steel of his headpiece.
“Aaaah… ok!” Ruru trotted next the minotaur, following his lead.
The other three followed shortly after, walking right behind the two, glad that it was the kothian warrior who had broken the matter to the Kender.
As foreseen, nobody said nothing about the party staying inside the Inn, this time around. They paid for their room and breakfast, spending the same amount of money they had used last time, and went to sleep each one in their own room. Aside for Brimelle. She slept in the stables. Again.
They woke up the morning after and reunited in the main hall, which also served as dining hall, where they quickly noticed that something was afoot.
“Why are all of those old women in here, whispering to eachother?” Asked Ruru, innocently pointing at a group of at least twenty women, probably in their late forty, wich resembled a group of penguins all stuck together in order to keep the heat in. The situation, however, suggested that they were trying to keep –information- in.
Saphanael leaned towards them from his chair, his ears twitching slightly.
“They are saying something… about some kind of… devout followers?”
“Devout followers? What is that supposed to mean?” Asked Brimelle.
“Why don’t you ask them directly.” Replied the elf, returning to his breakfast.
Brimelle walked past the companion’s table, reaching the group of gossipers and clearing her voice to get their attention. They shushed immediately, staring at the half-human half-horse creature that now stood in front of them.
“Excuse me, madams, I was just wondering whether ye could tell me who the devout followers are.”
One from the bunch eyed her suspiciously.
“Were you eavesdropping on us?”
“Absolutely not.” She replied. Although it would not have been too difficult since ye are almost shouting out loud, she thought to herself.
“Well then, in answer to your question…” The woman turned only her face towards the centauress, her body remained still as if afraid of ruining a perfect formation. “… we don’t really know ourselves… They are just very pious people. And faithful by the looks of it!”
The other women bobbed their heads in agreement like a brood of hens.
“Yes.. of course… but what or to whom are they faithful?” Brimelle insisted.
The woman turned back towards the others. There was more gossiping and chit-chatting before she gave her face to her interlocutor again with the response from the herd.
“….we have no idea! But we heard that they are likely to be found in the centre square!”
“My, thank you for the informat-“
Before she could even finish the sentence, the woman had already given the bard her back, returning to gossip with the other elderly women. Brimelle sighed and returned to the table of her companions, reporting what she had just witnessed and exposing the information she had gained.
“So, they’re in the centre square?” Asked Aliranne, taking the last bite from her breakfast.
Brimelle nodded.
“Indeed. And it is rather peculiar that their presence can give out so much mystery.”
“I wanna know who they are!” Yelled Ruru, jumping out of his chair and running out towards the square.
“Wait for us!” Aliranne and Saphanael were right on their feet, running behind him.
The centauress sighed and gave a condescending glance at the disguised minotaur.
“Shall we go after them?” She asked.
“I don’t see why not.” Kon nodded. ”Let’s make sure they don’t get into trouble.”
“Especially the Kender.” She murmured.
“Especially the Kender.” He re-affirmed.
The centre square was incredibly crowded, there was almost no place to even breathe. All the people seemed to be gathering around the very centre of the opening, creating a huge hill made of swarming bodies which shivered in excitement. In that same centre, stood four armored men circling in a protective manner what looked like a Silvanesti elf, who gazed towards the horizon talking with the others with a melancholic expression on his face.
Ruru did not seem to mind the general chaos erupted in the square: with his small figure, he was able to dodge the passersby and run headfirst into the cluster of people. When Aliranne and Saphanael reached the square, they could easily understand where the Kender had gone by looking at the crowd and searching for the tip of the hoopak, which swayed over the heads of the people like a flag in combat grounds. The two entered the gathering and were joined shortly after by Brimelle and Kon es Kaz.
“Where did the Kender go?” Asked the bard.
“Over there, follow the hoopak.” Pointed Saphanael.
“What are those four men saying?” Aliranne squinted her eyes, observing their moving lips.
“They’re talking about Neraka… and Silvanesti… “ Murmured the elf. “Something about some sort of evil within… and they’re affirming that it’s time. For what I cannot tell.”
Brimelle nodded
“Well then, I will try to stop Ruru before he causes additional problems.”
The centauress entered the crows and, thanks to her size, was able to make herself way with no great difficulty and succeeded in reaching the Kender in a couple of seconds. That, unfortunately, was not enough in time to stop the little scoundrel from bothering the devout followers.
“Hullo! My name is Ruru! What’s yours?” Ruru brought forward his small hand trying to greet the Silvanesti, but, by doing so, he alerted the four armored men who circled the elf and pointed their weapons at the small Kender.
Ruru did not flinch. On the contrary, he kept smiling with his hand raised. The Silvanesti, after observing the Kender with interest, gave a quick glance at the other four men, making them sheathe their weapons. Brimelle observed the scene from a distance, not wanting to interrupt.
“Hello, little one. My name is Valthonis. What brings a Kender inside the human city of Solanthus?” The voice of the elf was calm and soothing, almost melodic.
“How did you know I was a Kender?!” Ruru replied, a little shocked.
“My eyes can see far beyond your disguise.” He smiled warmly. “And yet you didn’t answer my question.”
“Oh, right!” The Kender looked around, checking between the people of the crowd, settling his curiosity only when he recognized his other party members standing in various places of the square. “I came here with my friends! You should totally meet them. Wanna grab something to drink at the Inn near the square with us?”
The elf grinned pleased and somewhat amused.
“I would be honored.” He replied.
“Good! See you there then!” Ruru concluded, waving his hand at the Silvanesti and then disappearing once again between the crow.
He was found shortly after by Brimelle who was slowly proceeding towards the swaying hoopak she could see. She grabbed his hood, stopping his run, to ask him:
“What did thou say to him?”
“I invited them to the Inn! So that we can meet them in a less crowded space and with more intimacy!” He replied candidly. “Now lemme go so that we can reach the Inn before they do!”
“It won’t be difficult.” Murmured the centauress, letting go of the hood, observing how the crowd of people was still swarming around the five devout followers, obstructing their advance.
The Kender ran off, going to fetch the other party members, followed right after by the centauress who still kept an eye on the devout followers, wondering who they were and what they were doing in there.
Half an hour later, the group and the five devout followers were all sitting together around one of the tables inside “The Duck and The Dog” Inn. They stood in an unsettling religious silence, for nobody dared to speak. The eyes of the presents darted between the various participants of the circle, afraid of meeting each other, as if an unsolicited collision of irises could cause the start of another war on Krynn. A few mugs of ale stood in front of the lot, untasted.
The situation became slowly unbearable when, finally, Aliranne cleared her throat to get the attention of Brimelle. The bard stared at her, confused. The mage hinted with her head towards the five strangers. At that, the centauress pointed towards herself raising an eyebrow. The white robe answered with a nod of the head which seemed to say: “you’re the bard, after all.”
“So…” Brimelle turned her head towards the Silvanesti. “I do not think we have introduced each other. My name is Brimelle, daughter of Archala. Those are Kon es Kaz, Saphanael and Aliranne, since I suppose that thou have met Ruru already.”
Valthonis nodded.
“It is my pleasure to have met every one of you on this day.”
“It is our pleasure too, but tell us: why are ye here?” The centauress asked, leaning in over the table with a questioning eyebrow.
The elf was momentarily taken aback. He seemed reluctant to reveal the intentions of his party.
“We are here to look for help.”
The whole party of the centauress blinked in interest.
“Help?” Asked Kon es Kaz. “And for what?”
“That I cannot tell.”
The party fell silent once again. Then, suddenly, Aliranne gave a small nudge with her elbow at Brimelle’s sides. The centauress jolted lightly before recollecting herself: she stared intensely at the Silvanesti, looking deep into his eyes, speaking with her most convincing voice.
“I am sure thou can. We could help you, but we need to know what we would be put up against.”
Valthonis lowered his eyes, considering the offer. He seemed conflicted, but then he came out with a resolute look.
“Fair enough.” He declared.
Slowly, he put a hand inside his robe, taking out of the various folds a strange symbol. He put it down on the table for everyone to observe: it was a ruined symbol with a sword and a rose resting diagonally on a drop-shaped shield. As the party’s attention was caught by such a item, the elf kept on talking.
“There is a temple.. a holy temple, south from here, hidden somewhere in the Garnet mountain range. It used to be one of the main temples dedicated to the worshipping of Paladine, but it got desecrated when the evil forces of Neraka invaded the place. We ask you, no we beg you to help us in purging the evil out of such a place for we cannot stand still knowing that the temple is being corrupted from the inside.”
“But ye seem to be able to sustain a fight.” Uttered the centauress. “Why would ye need adventurers from the like of us to go inside the temple and fight the evil forces for you?”
“Because we cannot physically enter the place.” Answered Valthonis. “Our positive energy due to our faith clashes too much with the negative energy intrinsic of the desecrated temple. If we were to even lay a foot on the entrance, we would certainly face dire consequences.”
Brimelle, Aliranne, Ruru, Kon es Kaz and Saphanael stood in silence, weighting the offer of the elf.
“Now, since I have told you all I had to say and I have answered all your questions, will you be our champions and purge the temple of the evil within?”
Kon es Kaz seemed uncertain.
“Can you please… give us a moment to talk about it in private?”
“Sure,” the elf nodded, “we’ll be waiting right outside the Inn.”
This being said, he raised from his seat, followed by the four armored men, and walked out of the dining hall, closing the door of the Inn behind him.
“I don’t really trust this guy.” Muttered the minotaur.
“I think we should trust him!” Shouted Ruru in excitement. “I know I can trust him!”
“You’re a Kender. Your naïve nature makes you trust almost everyone.” Observed Saphanael.
“Not this time! I know I’m right!” Ruru pouted.
“I’m with the Kender.” Said Aliranne. “It’s for a good cause after all.”
“Indeed, and they did seem rather reliable.” Added Brimelle.
“Then it’s three versus two…” Sighed Kon es Kaz. “Well, I guess it won’t be too bad to help purge a temple from evil… hoping that those “devout followers” are not trying to deceive us.”
“Hm. Let’s see how it turns out.” The Silvanesti nodded.
“Then it’s all set!” Ruru grinned widely. “I’ll go give them the news!”
The little Kender exclaimed happily as he ran towards where the elf was waiting for the party’s response.
“Valthonis! Valthonis!”
“I don’t remember what we had to do once we find the tallest Vallenwood tree inside the clearing.” Said Aliranne as they were walking in the middle of the forest south of the Garnet Mountain Range.
“We have to say: the power of E’li extend through all of the universe. Does not seem too difficult to memorize.” Answered Brimelle, trotting in front of the party, dodging the various Valllenwood trees in front of their path.
“Slow down, equine lady.” Called Ruru from behind. “We’re coming to a clearing! Which means that the tree must be close to us!”
And the tree was close to them indeed. As soon as they entered the clearing, they could clearly see three giant Vallenwood trees and thanks to Saphanael’s survival instinct, Kon’s engineering knowledge and Ruru’s propensity for climbing things they were quickly able to tell which one of the three was the tallest. Brimelle positioned herself in front of it and, in her most serious voice, uttered:
“The power of E’li extend through all of the universe!”
In the fraction of a second, the lower part of the trunk started sliding away, revealing a secret entrance to a spiraling staircase towards the inner bowels of the earth. The party started walking down the stairs, descending more and more, until the roots of the Vallenwood tree disappeared from the walls of dirt. At the bottom of the stairs, the floor was not made of dirt but it was carved from unpolished bedrock instead.
A corridor opened in front of them leading towards a giant cave, probably dug inside the Garnet Mountain Range itself. When they entered it, they could see everything without the aid of external lights, for the daylight filtered through. On the floor laid numerous symbols such as the one Valthonis had shown the group earlier while another staircase crept up the walls, circling the insides of the cave and leading to various doors, each and every one of them closed by a heavy wooden door.
But what was most peculiar about such a place was the giant metal tube which sprouted from the centre of the pavement and went on straight until it separated in two different branches near the top. Brimelle laid an ear over the metal surface of the tube and she could clearly hear something coming down inside of it, a water drop-like sound.
“It must have been a mean of locomotion or transport.” Said Kon es Kaz, knocking on it with the handle of his sword.
“Probably.” Agreed Aliranne, “Who can know for sure?”
After this small digression, the party started ascending the staircase, watching closely inside every room thanks to a small window positioned at the top of every wooden door. The rooms were barren and full of cobwebs. The only objects inside were generally furniture such as beds and desks and those omnipresent symbols. The only room which door could open was the last one and highest on the stairs.
The group entered it with caution, looking around and scanning their backgrounds: it was a rectangular room, almost a square and everywhere on the walls, even in the middle of it, stood various empty cages. On the far end was a door from which the light entered while on the left had its place another corridor.
Ruru squinted his eyes in the barely lit darkness.
“I can see a hidden passage on the right… and someone hiding in the right corner too.”
“Who is it?” Asked Kon, unsheathing his sword.
“I cannot tell… they seem to be curled up in themselves.”
The minotaur neared the far end of the room, still sword in hand, accompanied by Ruru and Saphanael while Aliranne and Brimelle stood behind, ready to cast their spells.
Slowly, whoever was standing in the far right corner stood up. He left the dark spot and everyone then was able to see what kind of creature they were going against: a humanoid figured covered in rags with his abdomen made by disfigured faces, screaming and wailing and moaning. Aliranne recognized it on the spot.
“He’s a Devourer! Be careful, he can devour your soul!”
But it was neither the time nor place to be careful. Kon es Kaz charged the creature accompanied by Ruru and Saphanael while the two caster aided the fighters in any way possible.
Midway during the fight, on the wall right behind Brimelle, a strange circle appeared. It looked like it had been made from a controlled fire and the smell of smoke was already circling inside the room. The circle, which bore and extreme resemblance with summoning circles, started to glow, opening up like a portal. A few moment later, a horse-like skeletal creature with the head of a bird and flaming eyes emerged from the portal, charging full-force the bard.
Kon es Kaz, while still battling the Devourer, noticed the newly arrived monster in the corner of his eye.
“What in the Abyss is that thing?!” He yelled.
Brimelle, after being hit, tried to run away, but not before taking a good look at her opponent.
“It is an Infernal Messenger! They are renowned for their strength.”
“Then it’s a work for me. Saphanael! Ruru! Cover me!” The minotaur yelled as he ran towards the Infernal Messenger, attacking it with his sword, while the other fighters finished off the Devourer who was now saying his last prayer.
Kon es Kaz’s sword pierced through the skeleton of the Messenger. He sliced and chopped and finally, after a long fight and with the help of the bard’s songs and of the mage’s spells, even the Infernal Messenger fell on the floor, transforming into dust, while the portal from which it came from disappeared from the room without leaving any trace.
As soon as both of the evil creature were defeated, the room lightened up, sort of like it did in the Athraman castle. Kon sheathed his sword, sighing loudly. He turned towards the others, eyeing every one of the party members with a worried look.
“Anyone wounded?”
Brimelle raised slowly her hand. She was indeed in a rather bad shape after the Messenger had attacked her. The minotaur walked slowly towards her, bringing out of his backpack a few vials.
“Take this.” He murmured, offering her one of the smallest.
“Thank thou.” She replied, taking the vial and drinking it whole. It made her feel well, although it did not heal her completely.
“We’re going to explore a bit.” Came Saphanael along with Aliranne from the corridor on the left side of the room. “Care to join?”
Brimelle and Kon es Kaz nodded, following the two through the corridor. They ended up in a terrace with a small gazebo covering an even smaller cupboard. Saphanael kneeled in front of it and opened the shutters. He later closed them, turning back towards the others with a few magical objects.
“Valthonis said that we could take anything that was in this temple after we did the job. I think this equates to our reward.” The elf spoke.
“Agreed.” Brimelle nodded, taking a bracelet out of the pile and wearing it proudly.
“Yeah, but…” murmured Kon es Kaz, “…where is the Kender?”
“Guys, guy!” a small voice came from the right side of the room, where the secret passage was. “You’ll never believe what I’ve discovered!”
“Ruru!!” Brimelle galloped into the room from the terrace. “What in the love of Astarin were thou doing?!”
“I just told you, I was exploring!” He replied naïvely. “Come on! You need to see this!”
He started plucking the sleeve of the centauress, leading her towards the secret entrance. The others followed without asking questions. The secret door led to another spiraling staircase, the third since they had entered that temple. It was slightly more elaborate than the others though, as if made of a different material.
The party started ascending the flight of stairs and was left breathless when they all reached the top: in front of them, in the middle of an elevated open space, stood a beautiful statue in white marble of a woman with a peaceful expression sitting down with her hands in a cup while a silver dragon protected her and covered the border of a small pool with his tail. From the hands of the woman, a silver liquid came down in droplets, collecting in the pool underneath. The rhythm with which the drop fell from her hands resembled the one heard in the giant metal tubes in the cave.
Ruru brought a hand forward, trying to get the liquid, but every effort was useless. Brimelle, Aliranne and Saphanael tried it too, to no avail.
“See? It’s even impossible to get… it’s creepy and strange!” exclaimed the Kender.
He spoke too early, for when Kon es Kaz tried, he was able to get even closer than all of the other party members. They all gasped.
“How did you do that?!” Asked Aliranne.
“I.. I have no idea.” Replied Kon.
He stared at the liquid, thoughtful, before gazing over the statue. At that moment he knew what to do: he dropped on one knee and started chanting a prayer of the Solamnic Knights. As he kept on chanting, the liquid started swaying, the drops nearing more and more the minotaur, falling in a curve instead of a straight line.
“I see that you really did a good job.”
The group turned around, even Kon es Kaz stopping his prayer, to see who had spoken. From the spiraling staircase was coming up Valthonis, accompanied by his four men.
“You purified the temple. We’ll always be grateful for this. Let me just give you one more thing.”
The elf neared the statue, opening a small vial and reaching out for the droplets. He was astoundingly able to reach the drops and even collect a few inside the vial. Once he was done, he sealed the glass container and offered it to the minotaur.
“I know that you are unsure and that your mind is clouded by many doubts, Kon.” He spoke in a paternal tone. “But do not fret. Stay on your path for I am sure that, in time, you will be able to find and choose the road that resounds with you the most.”
Valthonis smiled, before turning to the others.
“And you too. Don’t be afraid to continue on the path you are following. Remember to be faithful to your heart and loyal to your morals. Everything will turn out for the greater good.”
This being said, he nodded in a bow before transforming into a kingfisher. The other four men followed him shortly after, creating a formation of five kingfishers which flew away over the top of the trees of the forest.
“That was… something.” Murmured Ruru, observing the five little black dots flying away against the cerulean sky.
“Indeed it was…” added Kon es Kaz, putting the little vial inside of his backpack. “Let’s… continue the journey. We can reach Lamas and decide what to do from here.”
The party nodded and then proceeded to exit the temple in an ordinate fashion, still a bit confused for what they had just witnessed.
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
© ScissorsRunner
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
COMMISSIONS PRICE LIST: http://scissorsrunner.deviantart.co.....OPEN-324631805
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
--- Deviantart: http://scissorsrunner.deviantart.com/
--- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabrina.normani
--- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Scabrosa
--- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KniraJackrabbit
Previous: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/18997654/
All Episodes: http://scissorsrunner.deviantart.co.....ning-511011415
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
The morning after, the group was already on its way to the city of Solanthus. They all had slept rather peacefully the night before, maybe even thanks to the positive vibes given to their moral by the four kingfishers which visited them in the evening . The birds were chirping in the air and kept them company as they walked down the road, towards the solamnic city. When they reached Solanthus, it was already past dusk, so they decided to go to the same Inn they had sojourned last time they had visited the city.
As they started to walk towards the outer walls, Aliranne stopped in her footings.
“What about Ruru?” She asked the group. “Human cities generally do not enjoy the presence of Kenders between their walls!”
“That’s not a problem.” Replied Ruru, swinging his hoopak over his head. “I can simply use my magic skill of camouflage and disguise as a child!”
“Yes, and thou could even keep thy pointy ears and affirm that thou are the son of Aliranne and Saphanael!” Joked Brimelle, breaking into a short laugh.
“What do you know, it might actually work!” He grinned, opening his backpack and looking for his make-up kit.
“Yeah… because a little kid with pointy ears and a hoopak on his back is totally not a Kender.” Kon uttered with sarcasm.
“I’ll make it paff af a giant flingfhot!” Ruru tried to spit out while he was putting greasepaint on his goatee and sideburns to hide them. “After all, that’f what it if!”
Kon es Kaz nodded.
“Point taken.”
The Kender quickly finished up his disguise: he now looked like a simple child with pointy ears. He could have easily been passed off as an half-elf kid.
“Looks like we’re all set to go.” Observed Saphanael, admiring the work of art of the small companion.
Ruru nodded.
“Where to?” He asked, eyes shining in excitement.
“To ‘The Duck and The Dog’ I suppose.” Suggested Brimelle. “Aaon is not with us, so they will not give us problem about druids this time around.”
“Who’s Aaon?” Ruru inquired.
The party fell silent. It was an awkward situation. How could somebody describe who was Aaon without mentioning what had happened to him? And what had happened to him in the first place? The disappearance of the druid was still a mystery that was left to be unsolved, but what was certain was that he had returned to where he should have been in the first place.
“He was a druid who joined our party in Tarsis but left us during the trial.” Summarized Kon es Kaz in a sharp and cold sentence.
Without further notice, he started walking towards the opening gate of the walls, covering his muzzle with the steel of his headpiece.
“Aaaah… ok!” Ruru trotted next the minotaur, following his lead.
The other three followed shortly after, walking right behind the two, glad that it was the kothian warrior who had broken the matter to the Kender.
As foreseen, nobody said nothing about the party staying inside the Inn, this time around. They paid for their room and breakfast, spending the same amount of money they had used last time, and went to sleep each one in their own room. Aside for Brimelle. She slept in the stables. Again.
They woke up the morning after and reunited in the main hall, which also served as dining hall, where they quickly noticed that something was afoot.
“Why are all of those old women in here, whispering to eachother?” Asked Ruru, innocently pointing at a group of at least twenty women, probably in their late forty, wich resembled a group of penguins all stuck together in order to keep the heat in. The situation, however, suggested that they were trying to keep –information- in.
Saphanael leaned towards them from his chair, his ears twitching slightly.
“They are saying something… about some kind of… devout followers?”
“Devout followers? What is that supposed to mean?” Asked Brimelle.
“Why don’t you ask them directly.” Replied the elf, returning to his breakfast.
Brimelle walked past the companion’s table, reaching the group of gossipers and clearing her voice to get their attention. They shushed immediately, staring at the half-human half-horse creature that now stood in front of them.
“Excuse me, madams, I was just wondering whether ye could tell me who the devout followers are.”
One from the bunch eyed her suspiciously.
“Were you eavesdropping on us?”
“Absolutely not.” She replied. Although it would not have been too difficult since ye are almost shouting out loud, she thought to herself.
“Well then, in answer to your question…” The woman turned only her face towards the centauress, her body remained still as if afraid of ruining a perfect formation. “… we don’t really know ourselves… They are just very pious people. And faithful by the looks of it!”
The other women bobbed their heads in agreement like a brood of hens.
“Yes.. of course… but what or to whom are they faithful?” Brimelle insisted.
The woman turned back towards the others. There was more gossiping and chit-chatting before she gave her face to her interlocutor again with the response from the herd.
“….we have no idea! But we heard that they are likely to be found in the centre square!”
“My, thank you for the informat-“
Before she could even finish the sentence, the woman had already given the bard her back, returning to gossip with the other elderly women. Brimelle sighed and returned to the table of her companions, reporting what she had just witnessed and exposing the information she had gained.
“So, they’re in the centre square?” Asked Aliranne, taking the last bite from her breakfast.
Brimelle nodded.
“Indeed. And it is rather peculiar that their presence can give out so much mystery.”
“I wanna know who they are!” Yelled Ruru, jumping out of his chair and running out towards the square.
“Wait for us!” Aliranne and Saphanael were right on their feet, running behind him.
The centauress sighed and gave a condescending glance at the disguised minotaur.
“Shall we go after them?” She asked.
“I don’t see why not.” Kon nodded. ”Let’s make sure they don’t get into trouble.”
“Especially the Kender.” She murmured.
“Especially the Kender.” He re-affirmed.
The centre square was incredibly crowded, there was almost no place to even breathe. All the people seemed to be gathering around the very centre of the opening, creating a huge hill made of swarming bodies which shivered in excitement. In that same centre, stood four armored men circling in a protective manner what looked like a Silvanesti elf, who gazed towards the horizon talking with the others with a melancholic expression on his face.
Ruru did not seem to mind the general chaos erupted in the square: with his small figure, he was able to dodge the passersby and run headfirst into the cluster of people. When Aliranne and Saphanael reached the square, they could easily understand where the Kender had gone by looking at the crowd and searching for the tip of the hoopak, which swayed over the heads of the people like a flag in combat grounds. The two entered the gathering and were joined shortly after by Brimelle and Kon es Kaz.
“Where did the Kender go?” Asked the bard.
“Over there, follow the hoopak.” Pointed Saphanael.
“What are those four men saying?” Aliranne squinted her eyes, observing their moving lips.
“They’re talking about Neraka… and Silvanesti… “ Murmured the elf. “Something about some sort of evil within… and they’re affirming that it’s time. For what I cannot tell.”
Brimelle nodded
“Well then, I will try to stop Ruru before he causes additional problems.”
The centauress entered the crows and, thanks to her size, was able to make herself way with no great difficulty and succeeded in reaching the Kender in a couple of seconds. That, unfortunately, was not enough in time to stop the little scoundrel from bothering the devout followers.
“Hullo! My name is Ruru! What’s yours?” Ruru brought forward his small hand trying to greet the Silvanesti, but, by doing so, he alerted the four armored men who circled the elf and pointed their weapons at the small Kender.
Ruru did not flinch. On the contrary, he kept smiling with his hand raised. The Silvanesti, after observing the Kender with interest, gave a quick glance at the other four men, making them sheathe their weapons. Brimelle observed the scene from a distance, not wanting to interrupt.
“Hello, little one. My name is Valthonis. What brings a Kender inside the human city of Solanthus?” The voice of the elf was calm and soothing, almost melodic.
“How did you know I was a Kender?!” Ruru replied, a little shocked.
“My eyes can see far beyond your disguise.” He smiled warmly. “And yet you didn’t answer my question.”
“Oh, right!” The Kender looked around, checking between the people of the crowd, settling his curiosity only when he recognized his other party members standing in various places of the square. “I came here with my friends! You should totally meet them. Wanna grab something to drink at the Inn near the square with us?”
The elf grinned pleased and somewhat amused.
“I would be honored.” He replied.
“Good! See you there then!” Ruru concluded, waving his hand at the Silvanesti and then disappearing once again between the crow.
He was found shortly after by Brimelle who was slowly proceeding towards the swaying hoopak she could see. She grabbed his hood, stopping his run, to ask him:
“What did thou say to him?”
“I invited them to the Inn! So that we can meet them in a less crowded space and with more intimacy!” He replied candidly. “Now lemme go so that we can reach the Inn before they do!”
“It won’t be difficult.” Murmured the centauress, letting go of the hood, observing how the crowd of people was still swarming around the five devout followers, obstructing their advance.
The Kender ran off, going to fetch the other party members, followed right after by the centauress who still kept an eye on the devout followers, wondering who they were and what they were doing in there.
Half an hour later, the group and the five devout followers were all sitting together around one of the tables inside “The Duck and The Dog” Inn. They stood in an unsettling religious silence, for nobody dared to speak. The eyes of the presents darted between the various participants of the circle, afraid of meeting each other, as if an unsolicited collision of irises could cause the start of another war on Krynn. A few mugs of ale stood in front of the lot, untasted.
The situation became slowly unbearable when, finally, Aliranne cleared her throat to get the attention of Brimelle. The bard stared at her, confused. The mage hinted with her head towards the five strangers. At that, the centauress pointed towards herself raising an eyebrow. The white robe answered with a nod of the head which seemed to say: “you’re the bard, after all.”
“So…” Brimelle turned her head towards the Silvanesti. “I do not think we have introduced each other. My name is Brimelle, daughter of Archala. Those are Kon es Kaz, Saphanael and Aliranne, since I suppose that thou have met Ruru already.”
Valthonis nodded.
“It is my pleasure to have met every one of you on this day.”
“It is our pleasure too, but tell us: why are ye here?” The centauress asked, leaning in over the table with a questioning eyebrow.
The elf was momentarily taken aback. He seemed reluctant to reveal the intentions of his party.
“We are here to look for help.”
The whole party of the centauress blinked in interest.
“Help?” Asked Kon es Kaz. “And for what?”
“That I cannot tell.”
The party fell silent once again. Then, suddenly, Aliranne gave a small nudge with her elbow at Brimelle’s sides. The centauress jolted lightly before recollecting herself: she stared intensely at the Silvanesti, looking deep into his eyes, speaking with her most convincing voice.
“I am sure thou can. We could help you, but we need to know what we would be put up against.”
Valthonis lowered his eyes, considering the offer. He seemed conflicted, but then he came out with a resolute look.
“Fair enough.” He declared.
Slowly, he put a hand inside his robe, taking out of the various folds a strange symbol. He put it down on the table for everyone to observe: it was a ruined symbol with a sword and a rose resting diagonally on a drop-shaped shield. As the party’s attention was caught by such a item, the elf kept on talking.
“There is a temple.. a holy temple, south from here, hidden somewhere in the Garnet mountain range. It used to be one of the main temples dedicated to the worshipping of Paladine, but it got desecrated when the evil forces of Neraka invaded the place. We ask you, no we beg you to help us in purging the evil out of such a place for we cannot stand still knowing that the temple is being corrupted from the inside.”
“But ye seem to be able to sustain a fight.” Uttered the centauress. “Why would ye need adventurers from the like of us to go inside the temple and fight the evil forces for you?”
“Because we cannot physically enter the place.” Answered Valthonis. “Our positive energy due to our faith clashes too much with the negative energy intrinsic of the desecrated temple. If we were to even lay a foot on the entrance, we would certainly face dire consequences.”
Brimelle, Aliranne, Ruru, Kon es Kaz and Saphanael stood in silence, weighting the offer of the elf.
“Now, since I have told you all I had to say and I have answered all your questions, will you be our champions and purge the temple of the evil within?”
Kon es Kaz seemed uncertain.
“Can you please… give us a moment to talk about it in private?”
“Sure,” the elf nodded, “we’ll be waiting right outside the Inn.”
This being said, he raised from his seat, followed by the four armored men, and walked out of the dining hall, closing the door of the Inn behind him.
“I don’t really trust this guy.” Muttered the minotaur.
“I think we should trust him!” Shouted Ruru in excitement. “I know I can trust him!”
“You’re a Kender. Your naïve nature makes you trust almost everyone.” Observed Saphanael.
“Not this time! I know I’m right!” Ruru pouted.
“I’m with the Kender.” Said Aliranne. “It’s for a good cause after all.”
“Indeed, and they did seem rather reliable.” Added Brimelle.
“Then it’s three versus two…” Sighed Kon es Kaz. “Well, I guess it won’t be too bad to help purge a temple from evil… hoping that those “devout followers” are not trying to deceive us.”
“Hm. Let’s see how it turns out.” The Silvanesti nodded.
“Then it’s all set!” Ruru grinned widely. “I’ll go give them the news!”
The little Kender exclaimed happily as he ran towards where the elf was waiting for the party’s response.
“Valthonis! Valthonis!”
“I don’t remember what we had to do once we find the tallest Vallenwood tree inside the clearing.” Said Aliranne as they were walking in the middle of the forest south of the Garnet Mountain Range.
“We have to say: the power of E’li extend through all of the universe. Does not seem too difficult to memorize.” Answered Brimelle, trotting in front of the party, dodging the various Valllenwood trees in front of their path.
“Slow down, equine lady.” Called Ruru from behind. “We’re coming to a clearing! Which means that the tree must be close to us!”
And the tree was close to them indeed. As soon as they entered the clearing, they could clearly see three giant Vallenwood trees and thanks to Saphanael’s survival instinct, Kon’s engineering knowledge and Ruru’s propensity for climbing things they were quickly able to tell which one of the three was the tallest. Brimelle positioned herself in front of it and, in her most serious voice, uttered:
“The power of E’li extend through all of the universe!”
In the fraction of a second, the lower part of the trunk started sliding away, revealing a secret entrance to a spiraling staircase towards the inner bowels of the earth. The party started walking down the stairs, descending more and more, until the roots of the Vallenwood tree disappeared from the walls of dirt. At the bottom of the stairs, the floor was not made of dirt but it was carved from unpolished bedrock instead.
A corridor opened in front of them leading towards a giant cave, probably dug inside the Garnet Mountain Range itself. When they entered it, they could see everything without the aid of external lights, for the daylight filtered through. On the floor laid numerous symbols such as the one Valthonis had shown the group earlier while another staircase crept up the walls, circling the insides of the cave and leading to various doors, each and every one of them closed by a heavy wooden door.
But what was most peculiar about such a place was the giant metal tube which sprouted from the centre of the pavement and went on straight until it separated in two different branches near the top. Brimelle laid an ear over the metal surface of the tube and she could clearly hear something coming down inside of it, a water drop-like sound.
“It must have been a mean of locomotion or transport.” Said Kon es Kaz, knocking on it with the handle of his sword.
“Probably.” Agreed Aliranne, “Who can know for sure?”
After this small digression, the party started ascending the staircase, watching closely inside every room thanks to a small window positioned at the top of every wooden door. The rooms were barren and full of cobwebs. The only objects inside were generally furniture such as beds and desks and those omnipresent symbols. The only room which door could open was the last one and highest on the stairs.
The group entered it with caution, looking around and scanning their backgrounds: it was a rectangular room, almost a square and everywhere on the walls, even in the middle of it, stood various empty cages. On the far end was a door from which the light entered while on the left had its place another corridor.
Ruru squinted his eyes in the barely lit darkness.
“I can see a hidden passage on the right… and someone hiding in the right corner too.”
“Who is it?” Asked Kon, unsheathing his sword.
“I cannot tell… they seem to be curled up in themselves.”
The minotaur neared the far end of the room, still sword in hand, accompanied by Ruru and Saphanael while Aliranne and Brimelle stood behind, ready to cast their spells.
Slowly, whoever was standing in the far right corner stood up. He left the dark spot and everyone then was able to see what kind of creature they were going against: a humanoid figured covered in rags with his abdomen made by disfigured faces, screaming and wailing and moaning. Aliranne recognized it on the spot.
“He’s a Devourer! Be careful, he can devour your soul!”
But it was neither the time nor place to be careful. Kon es Kaz charged the creature accompanied by Ruru and Saphanael while the two caster aided the fighters in any way possible.
Midway during the fight, on the wall right behind Brimelle, a strange circle appeared. It looked like it had been made from a controlled fire and the smell of smoke was already circling inside the room. The circle, which bore and extreme resemblance with summoning circles, started to glow, opening up like a portal. A few moment later, a horse-like skeletal creature with the head of a bird and flaming eyes emerged from the portal, charging full-force the bard.
Kon es Kaz, while still battling the Devourer, noticed the newly arrived monster in the corner of his eye.
“What in the Abyss is that thing?!” He yelled.
Brimelle, after being hit, tried to run away, but not before taking a good look at her opponent.
“It is an Infernal Messenger! They are renowned for their strength.”
“Then it’s a work for me. Saphanael! Ruru! Cover me!” The minotaur yelled as he ran towards the Infernal Messenger, attacking it with his sword, while the other fighters finished off the Devourer who was now saying his last prayer.
Kon es Kaz’s sword pierced through the skeleton of the Messenger. He sliced and chopped and finally, after a long fight and with the help of the bard’s songs and of the mage’s spells, even the Infernal Messenger fell on the floor, transforming into dust, while the portal from which it came from disappeared from the room without leaving any trace.
As soon as both of the evil creature were defeated, the room lightened up, sort of like it did in the Athraman castle. Kon sheathed his sword, sighing loudly. He turned towards the others, eyeing every one of the party members with a worried look.
“Anyone wounded?”
Brimelle raised slowly her hand. She was indeed in a rather bad shape after the Messenger had attacked her. The minotaur walked slowly towards her, bringing out of his backpack a few vials.
“Take this.” He murmured, offering her one of the smallest.
“Thank thou.” She replied, taking the vial and drinking it whole. It made her feel well, although it did not heal her completely.
“We’re going to explore a bit.” Came Saphanael along with Aliranne from the corridor on the left side of the room. “Care to join?”
Brimelle and Kon es Kaz nodded, following the two through the corridor. They ended up in a terrace with a small gazebo covering an even smaller cupboard. Saphanael kneeled in front of it and opened the shutters. He later closed them, turning back towards the others with a few magical objects.
“Valthonis said that we could take anything that was in this temple after we did the job. I think this equates to our reward.” The elf spoke.
“Agreed.” Brimelle nodded, taking a bracelet out of the pile and wearing it proudly.
“Yeah, but…” murmured Kon es Kaz, “…where is the Kender?”
“Guys, guy!” a small voice came from the right side of the room, where the secret passage was. “You’ll never believe what I’ve discovered!”
“Ruru!!” Brimelle galloped into the room from the terrace. “What in the love of Astarin were thou doing?!”
“I just told you, I was exploring!” He replied naïvely. “Come on! You need to see this!”
He started plucking the sleeve of the centauress, leading her towards the secret entrance. The others followed without asking questions. The secret door led to another spiraling staircase, the third since they had entered that temple. It was slightly more elaborate than the others though, as if made of a different material.
The party started ascending the flight of stairs and was left breathless when they all reached the top: in front of them, in the middle of an elevated open space, stood a beautiful statue in white marble of a woman with a peaceful expression sitting down with her hands in a cup while a silver dragon protected her and covered the border of a small pool with his tail. From the hands of the woman, a silver liquid came down in droplets, collecting in the pool underneath. The rhythm with which the drop fell from her hands resembled the one heard in the giant metal tubes in the cave.
Ruru brought a hand forward, trying to get the liquid, but every effort was useless. Brimelle, Aliranne and Saphanael tried it too, to no avail.
“See? It’s even impossible to get… it’s creepy and strange!” exclaimed the Kender.
He spoke too early, for when Kon es Kaz tried, he was able to get even closer than all of the other party members. They all gasped.
“How did you do that?!” Asked Aliranne.
“I.. I have no idea.” Replied Kon.
He stared at the liquid, thoughtful, before gazing over the statue. At that moment he knew what to do: he dropped on one knee and started chanting a prayer of the Solamnic Knights. As he kept on chanting, the liquid started swaying, the drops nearing more and more the minotaur, falling in a curve instead of a straight line.
“I see that you really did a good job.”
The group turned around, even Kon es Kaz stopping his prayer, to see who had spoken. From the spiraling staircase was coming up Valthonis, accompanied by his four men.
“You purified the temple. We’ll always be grateful for this. Let me just give you one more thing.”
The elf neared the statue, opening a small vial and reaching out for the droplets. He was astoundingly able to reach the drops and even collect a few inside the vial. Once he was done, he sealed the glass container and offered it to the minotaur.
“I know that you are unsure and that your mind is clouded by many doubts, Kon.” He spoke in a paternal tone. “But do not fret. Stay on your path for I am sure that, in time, you will be able to find and choose the road that resounds with you the most.”
Valthonis smiled, before turning to the others.
“And you too. Don’t be afraid to continue on the path you are following. Remember to be faithful to your heart and loyal to your morals. Everything will turn out for the greater good.”
This being said, he nodded in a bow before transforming into a kingfisher. The other four men followed him shortly after, creating a formation of five kingfishers which flew away over the top of the trees of the forest.
“That was… something.” Murmured Ruru, observing the five little black dots flying away against the cerulean sky.
“Indeed it was…” added Kon es Kaz, putting the little vial inside of his backpack. “Let’s… continue the journey. We can reach Lamas and decide what to do from here.”
The party nodded and then proceeded to exit the temple in an ordinate fashion, still a bit confused for what they had just witnessed.
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
© ScissorsRunner
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
COMMISSIONS PRICE LIST: http://scissorsrunner.deviantart.co.....OPEN-324631805
━═☆═━━━━━━━━━━┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ┈┈ ┈
--- Deviantart: http://scissorsrunner.deviantart.com/
--- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabrina.normani
--- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Scabrosa
--- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KniraJackrabbit
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 1280 x 820px
File Size 225.2 kB
Comments