Tales of Fantasy, Fables, and Fiction

by Thomas H. Tribble

  Nostromo, seeing the man reach for the Elf, performed the most powerful blow he could muster with his axe. His muscles strained as he wound up for the cut and all but leapt into the man axe first. Again, if the man even noticed the axe striking his bare flesh, he did not let on. He then put the amulet around his neck, snapped it onto its twin already worn, and mumbled something which caused a two dimensional, glowing portal to open in front of him. He calmly walked past Gomer, who was standing guard on the treasure, effortlessly picked up a large, gold filled chest, and tossed it into the portal. Gomer made to stop the man but decided against it. Gold in any amount, he knew, was worth more than his life was, but he certainly was not crazy. The man then picked up two more large chests, one under each arm and looked at the smallest of the chests still on the floor. He looked slightly puzzled for a moment, as if wondering if he could somehow put the chest under his chin or something. Then, the portal flickered slightly. He looked over at Lotus, winked at her, then walked into the portal which immediately vanished with him.

  "What a relief," Gomer sighed. "For a second there I thought he was going to take all of the treasure. This chest is pretty small, but gold is gold." The rest of them stood there thinking for a moment about what had just happened.

  Nostromo finally decided to take up the reins of leadership once more and said, "Let us take what is left and leave here at once. I do not know what type of creature that was or what type of spells protect him, but whatever they are, they are clearly beyond us."

  "Should you refer to the creature as a 'him'? Isn't 'it' the correct pronoun for 'a creature'?" asked Gomer as he tucked away the small chest into his backpack.

  Lotus replied, "No, he was definitely male." They all looked at her. She blushed ever so slightly so that the torchlight made her cheeks seem the subtle hue of a fresh, ripe apple from some primordial garden. "I am just saying that he must have been teleported directly to a stronghold or vault or something. I doubt he would show up in downtown Norec unclothed and carrying that much gold. Even the town Watch would take notice of something like that!"

  Maewyn agreed, "She has a point. Besides, I don't know what you are worried about. We have all used a Stoneskin spell from time to time. It makes the skin impervious to harm for a time. It is mystic, but hardly a godlike spell."

  "No," giving the crystal case one last looking over, "I know Stoneskin, that was something else. He did not even move a hair's breadth when I struck him. He did not even notice the blow. By the way, do you still have that dagger taken from the chest, Gomer?" The Thief nodded but looked a little disappointed that his possession turning out to be general knowledge. "Good. Let us leave this place and get back to Kolberfaun post haste. I have a feeling that we might have just put something in motion that we best stay clear of. Besides, he seemed to know you, Maewyn. I wonder how that is possible?" Maewyn just shrugged but that question was obviously weighing heavily on her mind.

  A hard, nearly non-stop two day ride put the party back at their jumping off point. It was just inside the relatively small town Kolberfaun. But, as with some people, relics, or towns, size can be deceiving. Though small in average population, this town was at a major crossroad for several of the very important cities in the province, one of them being no less than Norec herself; the crown jewel in an otherwise seedy tiara of geography.

  The party had some rooms rented on the outskirts of the town, the idea being that they could come and go as they pleased without notice. Since knowledge was, occasionally anyway, power, this idea was inaccurate as everyone was always watching everyone else.

  Their first night back was completely uneventful despite them setting up a rotating watch schedule. The next day, Nostromo consulted with a Sage that he got along well with regarding any unusual occurrences in the past few days. However, there seemed to be nothing going on in the areas of the mystic. So, the party settled in to regroup and see what other opportunities awaited them. There was always some quest for the brave to attempt, but being able to separate a good opportunity from grunt work was a skill necessary to being successful campaigning.

  As dusk settled over the deceptively quiet township, Lotus, Gomer, and Nostromo decided that it was safe to venture out to the taverns and have a few rounds of mead and some freshly roasted meat, though it was usually best to not ask what the main course had been while alive. Gomer performed his usual, tired routine of interrogating the bar maidens about the cost of every single thing they had, cringing at whatever the response was, then ordering cheap ale that was not really what he wanted, but generally fit to consume. Lotus and Nostromo had by this time already had their fare put on a separate tab. And, as seemed to always be the case, the more the Rogue had to drink, the more pockets he wanted to have a try at picking. This was usually a very bad idea, though not always due, presumably, to the hand of fate or an in-joke with the gods or what have you. So, around midnight and with much protest from Gomer, the group decided to retire for the evening and finally get a decent night's sleep.

  However, just as they were within sight of their rooms, a great light seemed to fill the sky. It was not a comet or meteor, but rather it seemed like the entire sky simply held a reddish glow for a few moments. With that came yells and shrieks from all around them. Apparently, this celestial event had startled a fair number of bystanders.

  The three companions made a dash for their cottage and got under roof as quickly as possible. Surprisingly, Maewyn was in the main room. She had seemingly jumped into her Elvin maille and had her bow readied. Her eyes were like a cornered cat's.

  Thinking that the screams had awoken her, Nostromo asked, "Did the noise outside startle you?" He motioned for the others to get behind him. He was unarmored but he did carry his axe on his back. He certainly did not expect to have to defend himself or the others, but whatever was going on might make for another tedious bit of work.

  Maewyn took a slow breath and replied, "I think a long closed doorway has just been forced open. I fear the cosmic balance itself may have just shifted out of this planet's favor!" The others tried to comfort her and stay calm. They described what had just happened in the night sky and the following screams. Then, Lotus and Gomer made a quick sweep in and around the cottage just to be sure that the hysteria in the town was not ongoing and that the building was secure.

  Finally, she relaxed and sat down. Her bow changed its form and flowed back onto her wrist becoming nothing more than a thin bracelet. "I do not fully understand what happened, but anyone with a grasp of the mystic realms would have felt this, probably over the entire world," she explained.

  Gomer shrugged and mumbled, "I didn't feel anything."

  "Well, if this is not a local phenomenon, then I don't imagine that we specifically have anything to worry about, at least not right at this moment," Nostromo said trying to be reassuring. She looked at him and nodded. He had never really seen her not clothed in thick robes and a hood. Her eyes were an even deeper violet than he had previously realized and her white hair was far longer. She was also somewhat smaller in stature than he had noticed as she always seemed to have the presence of someone large or, in some way, more imposing. He continued, "We will stand guard tonight and seek out an explanation to what is going on tomorrow."

  Maewyn decided that her companion was right and that nothing more could be done at the moment. She did not tell him but later that night she felt as if someone was peered through the nearby hills and trees and even through her skin. The rest of the night past slowly but was generally uneventful. There was quite a bit of activity and some more yelling in the town proper for some time, but it finally died down and all was quiet again. At dawn, they were all awake and preparing for the day ahead.

  The most obvious place to start their quest for answers was with one or more of the town's Sages who made their living by mastering various lores and keeping up with current events. Any answers the party was likely to get about what was going on would have to be from someone tied as directly as they could be to t
he mystic forces in the world and its surrounding, intersecting planes. And, even then, receiving a direct, concise, or non-cryptic response was unlikely. To add to the that, whether or not any forthcoming answers would be in anyway accurate was also its own mystery which even other Sages would be of no help solving. It was all but unheard of for one Sage to comment upon another's capacity or inherent accuracy. Professional courtesy was, most likely, the actual religion of Sages. The party decided to break into two groups and consult all of the resources available in the area. Lotus and Maewyn ventured forth to seek out a reclusive Mage that lived as all but a hermit in the hills a few miles from the town and then an ancient Witch-Priest on their return trip. Nostromo and Gomer sought out the two main Sages in town that they had consulted with in the past.

  While walking down one side of the main thoroughfare past shops and the like, both men noticed the mysterious 'Man in Black', as he was known, walking on the opposite side of the street. No one seemed to know anything about him. They had asked virtually everyone they came in contact with in and around the town about him and no one even knew what his real name was must less with which forces he was aligned. All anyone seemed to know was that he ran a shop selling the rare and very, very rare items from around the world and who knows where else and that he wore pressed black cloths; without exception. Also, he was a man of his word and did not stand for even the slightest slander against his character. His reputation was certainly far more important to him than anyone's life. Gomer had found out firsthand that he was also a potent Magic-User, but that is another story entirely.

  What was striking about the Man in Black on this morning was that in addition to being garbed in his usual all black attire, he had a strong, visible aura surrounding him and he also had at least a dozen enchanted wands, amulets, and weapons on his person. He had never appeared to have been armed in the past; although looks are invariably deceiving. This morning though, he was obviously advertising his preparedness. The scowl he wore on this brow reminded Nostromo of the look on Maewyn's visage the past night. Something had actually scared him. "Maybe he is actually human after all. Maybe, " Nostromo mumbled to himself.

  The four regrouped at their cottage during the late afternoon. The information they had received from the various Sages and Sorcerers consulted was surprisingly coherent. At exactly the mid of night, relative to where the event took place, a dimensional doorway had undoubtedly been ripped open. The effect had not actually been a global phenomenon, as Maewyn had first thought, but was actually limited to a very specific point. However, it had been such a large event that it seemed global in nature. Also, it was generally agreed upon that something had come through to this world from another distant plane and what had happened was not merely someone opening a proverbial window to let a proverbial fly out. Something had come into this existence that had been intentionally blocked.

  It is an interesting side note that good, wholesome things not only do not usually get banished from the Prime Material Plane and also that good, wholesome, law abiding things do not force their way into planes of existence where they are not welcome. Bad things with something to gain or something to prove, like that they can take over the planet or cause the downfall of civilization, sometimes do fight their way into unwelcome territory though. So, it is always safe to take the point of view that whatever comes into this realm via some nearly cataclysmic mystic happenstance is, at the least, unfriendly to living things in general and probably most dead things as well.

  "We must go to Norec immediately," concluded Maewyn. I have already contracted a Traveler who will take us their early tomorrow."

  Nostromo replied, "What is in Norec that so urgently needs us?"

  Gomer added, "A good question. Besides, I don't think we can afford to hire a Traveler; not and re-supply ourselves. Our stockpile of potions, enchanted arrows, and, uh, other things is depleted. Besides, you are not seriously suggesting that we get involved in the affairs of something that makes the Man in Black fearful?"

  "Nostromo is right," said Lotus, brushing her flowing chestnut hair off of her cheek. "This business is beyond us. We are lowly adventurers, in truth."

  Maewyn took a moment and then replied, "Yes, it clearly is out of our depth. But, I think that whatever has come back to this realm was originally sent away by my father at the end of the last Age. Both Sages we consulted mentioned a name that, although forgotten now, was once well known. If I do have a connection to it, I will find out for sure in Norec. I.... have some things there I will need. Besides, I have the sinking feeling that the man we

  d onto the world is involved. I don't think he was who those plaques said he was. That would just be too convenient. Also, the creature to which the crest on his pendants used to belong could have opened dimensional portal. The timing of the events bothers me too much to sit back and do nothing about it."

  There was a dull silence from everyone as a pang of guilt struck at each of their hearts. "Geez," said Gomer finally. "The end of the last Age? Just how old are you anyway?"

  Maewyn shrugged and replied, "Not very, but I was asleep for quite a while."

  The rest of the day was spent spending the gold they had received from the cavern on supplies. Food and armor repair was easily enough had, but the more exotic items they required came from only one place. Sean Dalton was a Mage that specialized in conjuration and abjuration. In short, he could make and enchant things. He did not go out adventuring but, instead, spent his time trading and fabricating the most useful items an adventurer could want. The Man in Black might have had a larger inventory, but Maewyn would have nothing to do with him. Also, Dalton was rather more reasonable and could modify existing items to suit an individual's needs.

  Gomer had been trading with him for some time now. He had started Dalton out on a path of discovery that was threatening to make the trader quite wealthy. "I need as many of the concussive-fire-balls as this will buy me," stated Gomer as he plopped a sack of gold coins onto Dalton's main counter. "The grapefruit sized ones worked pretty well for us, by the way."

  Dalton just smiled and said, "Oh, those! Those are old hat. This is the new model." He pulled out a small case from a shelf behind him and took out a red ball the size of a nectarine. "It will do the same fire damage and about twice the concussive force as the old jalopies would," continued the Mage. Gomer actually caught himself beginning to drool.

  Nostromo intoned, "So, what's the catch? How is it so small?"

  Dalton replied, "I have made this my hallmark item. Who needs a Mage when you have a Gomer-Cocktail? Also, with all the money you have been supplying me with by buying them, I have been able to improve on them steadily."

  "I still dislike that name. I liked 'Gomer-Ball' better," said Nostromo smiling. "It has a ring to it."

  Dalton laughed then stated, "There is no question of it! But, to answer your inquiry, these are bit less stable than the older ones were. You will have to carry them in a special case."

  "Which costs how much?" asked Gomer.

  "That, Sir Gomer," replied Dalton, "depends on how many of these you plan to carry at one time. But, each of my cases is guaranteed to not allow auto-detonation under normal circumstances."

  Nostromo mumbled, "Since when is anything to do with fighting Demons normal?"

  Dalton nodded and said, "You take my meaning in full, Sir. Oh, speaking of abnormalities, I will not be available for the next two fortnights hence. I have to deliver this in person to a Duke out East," Dalton walked over to a large, fortified chest and he gently opened it revealing a glowing red ball almost two and one half foot lengths in diameter. "It is for a catapult. I think the Duke is planning on making war on either an ancient Blue Dragon or some massive keep. He would not tell me which, but I am to deliver it personally to him nonetheless."

  Gomer stood in awe as did Nostromo. Then, the Fighter said, "How far away will this Duke have to be to safely see it detonated?"

  Dalton sighed and replied, "I am recommending that no one
be in view of it when it goes off. It might tend to strain the eyes a bit... to the point of blindness. I suggested five hundred full paces for a minimum safe distance though. I just hope it doesn't go off on the ride out to his castle."

  Gomer patted Dalton on the shoulder and said, "If you should perish, you will be greatly missed. This town will be the poorer for your loss. You and I have done business together for some time now. So, how about a discount on those carrying cases to commemorate what might be out last dealings?"

  The bustling city of Norec has many parts to it. In fact, were all of its areas referred to by the locals as 'quarters' counted up, there would be three or four Norecs. Also, street names were rather less random than purely coincidental. There were six different Elm Streets, for example, plus an Elm Boulevard and an Elm Avenue . So, a person new to the town might tend to be confused as to the actual location of various shops, houses, or docks. The town's riverside district boasted no less than three distinct 'docks' but its riverside quarter had only one.

  The party arrived at the northern most East gate of Norec, usually referred to as "The East Gate". The Traveler, an older lady whose name was, generally, unpronounceable, had brought them from Kolberfaun to the gates of Norec in the blink of an eye. As soon as the party said that they, their equipment, and their horses were fine, she vanished. The life of a Traveler is constant change. They all but live in the Essence flows that surround and engulf the planet. They seem to know neither rest nor weariness. Also, they all wore really fetching robes and carried some kind of exotic, living staves. Gomer decided that he wanted one someday.

  They had lodgings near the East Gate and the stables they employed were within sight of their rooms. This geography helped them stay relatively un-lost for most of their city stay as they considered themselves newly arrived visitors to Norec even after having stayed there on and off for over a year. Being lost in one of the poorer parts of Norec was like being lost in a bottomless pit full of starving spiders or wolverines; make that rabid wolverines with poor hygiene and, usually, bad teeth. There was not danger hiding behind every corner. That would be too predictable. There was only danger stalking you and waiting for you to show weakness so that it could pounce on you. But, a strong sword arm, good reflexes, and possibly a spell or two at the ready could put you out of the 'easy prey' category and plant you firmly into the category of 'difficult prey'.