Finishing a book

The group of adventurers and their accompanying soldier allies marched much of the day seeing very little in the way of signs of the birdmen.

Near dark however, Weemus spotted possible tracks of the Eerikye. While this discovery spawned some excitement among those present, both adventurers and soldiers alike, all understood that it was far too dark to follow the trail.

As Weemus explained the trail was several days old but the creatures appeared to be going on foot. If we get a fresh start in the morning, we can most likely catch up to them in a matter of a few days. However, if we were to try and traverse the land at night and fall off the trail it might take us days to navigate back to find it.

All agreed that waiting was the best option. Besides it only took only day one, to find the birdmen so quickly exceeded all of their expectations.

Syrus made his way over to Kyjus, who was diligently putting his tent up and getting his camp ready for the night.

"How far have gotten in your book young master," the old mage said as he grabbed the last stake of Kyjus' tent and began to pound it into the ground.

"I am getting very close to finishing it," the young mage replied with a smile.

"Excellent," Syrus replied.

"I need you to do your best to finish tonight and if not tonight then definitely tomorrow. You have to know what we are up against when the time comes for our confrontation against Eerikye," the old man said in a serious tone.

Kyjus nodded.

"I am glad for your enthusiasm, young master. I will let you know when dinner is ready but until then, read that book," Syrus said as he pointed at the tent with which he had just helped build.

"Producius Lumiere," the young mage said as he entered his tent. A light was produced from his staff. He took the staff and leaned it on top of his pack to prop the light up a bit so it didn't just sit upon the tent floor.

Taking out the book written by W. D. Pavlacek (Weemus and Deemus he had surmised a few days ago), he went to the spot in the book he had marked when last he read the book. Pulling out his mark he began to read its final chapters:

Obviously, it was some sort of spell as no man could throw a weapon with such velocity. It was then I understood our help had arrived; we were saved.

The key to winning this battle now was getting to the remaining shaman and getting them killed while staying alive and allowing our help to immobilize and or destroy the remaining warriors.

If my theory was correct our help would not make his appearance until things were well under control. This did not bother me in the least as I knew our help could also be counted on, to get things under control.

I smiled as I spotted possibly the last shaman cresting the rise very near to where my brother stood: perfect I thought to myself as this was very much where I wanted to be.

In glancing at my brother, I could tell he was confused but when his eyes laid upon mine and I smiled I think he very much understood what was happening, or at least the general idea.

***~~~***~~~***

Things were grim for my brother and I as my spells and my minds capability to cast them had reached its end. A total of seven of the creatures had just crested the rise; four near my brother and three near me.

Both groups contained a shaman. My brother had just brilliantly, with the help of one of my spells, taken care of three of a group of four birdmen with a lone shaman surviving.

The creature was in some pain as my brother managed to lodge a tiny dagger into his shoulder, but it was apparent that it would quickly recover from the wounds my brother had given it.

I was not able to dispose of any of the creatures that stood near me as melee combat is by no means an area in which I am comfortable or talented.

I did, however, manage to get off a blinding light spell that affected a large area of the hill I stood upon. It would only last a minute or two, so I had to act quickly.

Mace in hand I moved forward to the closest birdman who was blindly wailing about hoping to get in a lucky hit with his sword.

Understanding the general direction of his flailing I proceeded inward, with my shield held above my head and off to my left. Predictably his sword came down and smashed the middle of my shield.

It jarred my left arm and shoulder but did no real damage. Keeping my concentration, I focused on my target. Bringing my mace back I stepped forward towards my assailant.

Thinking he was about to slice me in half as he was quicker than I anticipated but luckily for me he was a terrible judge of my height as the sword went whipping scant inches above my shield.

Continuing my focus on my target I stepped forward and brought my mace crashing down onto the kneecap of the unsuspecting birdman.

The creature howled in pain as the impact of my sturdy mace smashed in his kneecap. The crunch of steel on bone was almost sickening to a member of the light but I was able to maintain my focus as the creature fell to his knees as his leg was too damaged to support him.

The creature was now on the ground writhing in pain. His friends were coming towards his agonizing screams, all but the shaman who I could hear chanting a spell that I presumed would let him see again.

I had to act quickly if I were to make the best of my blinding light spell. Dreading what I must do, I stepped toward the creature lying upon the ground. A short prayer to my god for strength I brought my hammer up and then straight down smashing through its skull.

His screams of pain stopped as his life ended. I knew these were not the men that would grant us redemption, they were mere pawns in a scheme that was far more devious then my brother and I could imagine. Their deaths were an unfortunate circumstance, one that could not be avoided.

The shamans' chanting was reaching its crescendo now there were two warriors in my way. I could make out the chanting just behind them.

Spotting a medium size stone upon the ground I picked it up and heaved it at my target. Lady luck was on my side as my ranged skills are normally more pitiful than my melee skills, but my missile manage to clip the side of the head of my target breaking the concentration of the creature.

Instinctively he felt the side of his head and the small gash that now secreted his blood. He was not that hurt however, so he resumed his casting. I just bought myself another minute or two.

Advancing at the two warriors standing in front of me I made quite a noise as I approached them. I circled my targets and then went to and fro in front of them hoping to confuse the poor creatures.

Thinking of a plan most diabolical I decided to race between the two, as I passed the first, I jabbed with my mace, at the birdman on my right. The maces two-inch end spike penetrated the creatures' thigh.

I then pivoted on my right leg and turned to the creature that started on my right but because of my change in direction was now on my left. Thinking this a fitting game I brought my mace up high and smashed my targets chest.

I then leaned toward my most recent victim and turned to face my earlier adversary. I struck my mace upon my shield and yelled in mock pain.

I only wish I could have watched the pandemonium that ensued, but I had to move quickly as there was a shaman that was far too close to being a real threat once again in this battle.

As I moved toward my newest adversary, I was startled to see a large spear emerge from its chest. I looked toward my brother, and he was not even looking my way.

It was a more curious look anyway as my brother as skilled as he was with any ranged weapon did not have the strength to attain the velocity the spear would have needed to pierce the body of the birdman.

Looking out into the copse I had my answer as Syrus moved swiftly along the forest floor. He was closing in on our open copse of battleground. Our salvation was here. All we had to at this point was to stay alive.

I looked toward my brother yet again and he was advancing in my direction. We exchanged smiles glad of the help our mage friend was about to lend, we were to owe him our lives, or so it would seem.

***~~~***~~~***

I joined my brother, and our focus was to keep as much attention on us as possible. We weaved to and fro dodging every strike the birdmen could muster upon us.

We had been fighting for more than twenty minutes now and the last of the birdmen were just cresting the rise.

We had done well my brother and I, killing nearly half of the warriors and all but one of the shamans that faced us that day. We stood proud as we faced the remainder.

I then felt a warmth enter my body as if a warm fire had been set near me. I was not burning but rather the warmth was more comforting than burning. Right away I knew Syrus had entered the fray of battle.

Seconds after the warm feeling, I now heard repetitive hissing from above as small pockets of water now dripped down upon my head. I now understood the nature of the warm feeling as Syrus had placed a shield of flames around my brother and I.

This was necessary so that he could enact his next spell. As I maneuvered my way around the pocket of birdman standing on the hillock I heard the screams of pain all around me.

In looking back across the flat plateau I could see shards of ice falling from the sky and pelting many of the birdmen that were left to face us.

They were now far too preoccupied with pain and fear to care about trying to get to us, so my brother and I ran towards our salvation; we ran toward Syrus.

***~~~***~~~***

"So glad you could make it," I said mockingly and sarcastically to my friend. It was all in fun, and I knew he would take it as such.

"My dear Weemus, you must understand the nature of my schedule seldom allows me time for such frivolities, but I guess for you I can make an exception," he replied to me with a hearty chuckle.

My brother and I both responded in laughter although I could tell Deemus was preoccupied with something. I just could not yet understand its nature.

"Shall we put an end to this madness," I said to the both of them as I nodded back toward the open copse of birdmen.

To my surprise both Syrus and my brother said "nay".

"These are not the enemy dear friend; these are just pawns of some great evil. I have seen to it that that they cannot follow us and for now that must do. Surely you must have felt that these poor creatures are not themselves," Syrus said to me with genuine concern.

I said nothing not really understanding what it was I felt as I fought them. Instead, I looked toward my brother for confirmation.

He nodded, "I have felt it brother they are trapped within their own minds a prisoner to themselves and whatever the evil is that surrounds their tribe. Slaying these men will not give us that which we so desperately seek, in fact for a child of the light it would sadly be more of a burden to me than a salvation. I cannot do it even for you my brother," Deemus said to me as his eyes began to bead with small pools of tears.

In looking back, I had guessed as much and with both of them against me I no longer had the stomach for the fight.

"Then let's move onward and get our deserved revenge brother." Syrus and my brother nodded to me, but I somehow had the feeling that this was not to come to pass.

I said nothing as we moved east out of the forest. After about an hour we pulled up as it was the sun was beginning to set. Our movement east confirmed my suspicions as we were moving well out of the scorched earth territory.

We stopped in a clearing in the forest. Syrus sat his pack upon the ground and starred at the starry sky for a brief moment.

He then looked to my brother and I and began to speak. The words did not come easily of course but he was resolute with them, nonetheless.

"I came to Scorched Earth for two reasons friends. The first was to help ascertain the strange events that are unfolding upon this planet. As you know the Eerikye have never before been so bold in their plans. Ever have they always been a race to dwell among themselves," he said.

My brother and I nodded as we had said very much the same thing not even a year ago.

"It is unfortunate that it was your home they decided to begin with and if I could take that act back you can bet I would. The council has received word of on-going suspicious activity by the Eerikye from one of their spies who used to call this region home. And thus, I was sent to verify the validity of those claims and to try and ascertain the nature of the problem," Syrus said to both my brother and myself.

"And what did you find," my brother asked of the old mage.

"I will get to my findings in just a second. But as I said there are two reasons that I came back to Scorched Earth. The second of those reasons was even against the advice of the council I was going to help two of my dearest friends in their quests against the birdmen," he said to both my brother and I.

It was with the sincerest of smiles, I remember it like it was yesterday. I looked to my brother and he to me and then we both turned to Syrus and sincerely thanked him.

"Regrettably my friends I am afraid there is no help to be given at this time and our continued presence on this region cannot possibly be met with any good outcomes."

I had planned to interrupt him at this point and give him a good what for, but he held his hand up to me so very patiently and begged to us that he be allowed to explain so I nodded my acceptance toward his request.

"I know your arguments friends as they too were mine but only a day or more ago. However, let me tell you what has been done in the hopes that any future tragedies can be averted. The village of Aberdeen was deserted by all, only the most stubborn of individuals remain as our explanation of the upcoming events was not enough to persuade these people to leave," he began.

"Are these people idiots do they not know what is to happen to them in a mere three days' time," Deemus asked of our old friend.

Ever my brother is a member of the light, ever does he worry even for those that will not protect themselves.

Syrus continued, "easy my friend, you know as well as I that we cannot move these folks against their will."

Deemus nodded his understanding, but I could tell from the look upon his face that he still detested the situation.

"I then visited the camp of the Eerikye, not in body but in the form of a wandering spirit. It was then that I sensed a foulness coming from the encampment. A foulness that could not possibly be from one of the birdmen and yet I continued exploring as I hoped the feeling, I had was incorrect.

It was then I came upon a large tent. The evil permeated from within, so great was its nature that I did not want to enter even in my spirit form. I forced myself however, knowing that this was my quest and that its answers would help us all," the mage paused looking once again toward the empty sky.

I have never seen him rattled so in all my years of closeness to Syrus and in truth his fear scared me more than all of the birdmen I could possibly face in one lifetime, but I continued to listen not daring to turn my gaze from him.

"I entered the tent in my sprit form. I saw the Eerikye Chieftain, or rather what appeared to be that of the chieftain. In the few brief seconds that I was in the tent I could tell there was no way the figure standing in front of me was what it seemed. The evil that permeated from this creature was so foul I could feel its negative essence even in my spirit form.

To further complicate matters it seemed that the Chief or creature or whatever this thing was soon became aware of my presence. It was a matter of seconds before I heard him start casting a spell. It was in an ancient language one I will most definitely peruse in our archives.

If the spell he was casting was a spell of revelation, then not only was my corporeal location about to be revealed but my spirit may very well of been at risk. Can you comprehend what this means," he asked of my brother and I.

In truth my brother may have understood more than I as I was totally out of my league when it came to spells, incantations, and the like.

Kyjus continued his reading, but little was said about the Eerikye and their chief from that point. The book ended with the gnomes returning to Desmonia not long after the birdman's attack on Aberdeen.

He closed the book somewhat saddened that his newfound friends never truly got revenge for their family's death. He was also happy with the fact that he may help extract some revenge for them in the upcoming days but most of all he was more than a little frightened as the creature they were going up against certainly was not a normal Eerikye and most probably was not even mortal.

That gave him a thought, so he pulled another book from his backpack. This one he had snuck out of Syrus library in the cottage just two short days ago. He of course planned to return it to its owner, but he thought the contents made for light reading. It would appear that from what he had just found out this book may also play a part in the campaign for gnome revenge.