|
The Arcane Order |
| ...on the tower. It wasn't the sign that was
there the other day. He had given the tower as a gift to Ebircs Llacer.
He felt he owed the old human something for all the hard work he had
done for Glorfindle over the years. Ebircs had been thrilled and had
moved in almost immediately. A perfect place for an old mage and scribe.
"The man said he wasn't going to be needing it any longer.", came Copper's voice from behind him. Glor shuddered when he heard those words. He didn't wish to dwell on what they could mean. "Did you get tha man's name Copper?", he asked. "Dom...something. He was very polite.", she responded. "I've a feelin I know who this is." He turned to face her. "An elf...bout my height. Dark grayish skin an white hair." Copper nodded in confirmation. "Tel'Halda...or Dolenamo or whatever he's callin himself." Coppers eyes widened. "That's it!!", she cried. "That's his name." Glorfindle nodded to himself slowly with a look of grim determination. His eyes narrowed as he read the sign above the door again. It read: 'Tower of the Eight Sins' |
| Why am I so Dumb!! It had seemed strange that
Ebircs had Given his home away. Dolenamo had looked me up and down and
smiled with approval. I always hate to be sized up so. Not that I expect
people to like me for my brilliance.... my talent at the forge perhaps
but not....
"well! looks like we will be neighbors!" he said "the tower is a nice place! I think it is magical! strange sounds sometimes come from within!" I laughed, "or it could be haunted!" "oh" he said contemplatively and grinned. "it is definitely magical...but not the type an arwen like you wishes to become acquainted. The tower is even better now that you have told me that Glorfindle has been there!" He left to fix up his new place just the way he likes it! |
| ...his jaw set with a grim determination. He
noted the change to the sign above the door. It read: Tel'Ruid~Zarum
Embassy. He snorted to himself as he reached up and banged the enormous
knocker on the door.
After a pause that seemed to Glor to last hours the door swung wide with a creak. The figure in the door was completely hidden by the shadows, buy Glor didn't need to see his face to know who it was he was facing. He could smell him from miles off. "Ahhhh...Glorfindle." Dolenamo hissed. "To what do I owe this honor?" "Dont ya be playin' games with me Tel'. Where's Ebircs?" The figure in the door took a step forward. "How should I know? He left with his few belongings shortly after signing the title deed to this tower to me." "Ya got this deed the do ya? I'd like ta have a look at that if it's all tha same to ya." "But of course Glorfindle old friend." Dolenamo's lips curled into a sneer as he reached into a pouch and produced an official looking document. "Your lucky day as I was about to put this away safely at the bank." Glorfindle looked over the title trasfer with suspicion. On the bottom line was Ebircs' name in his unmistakable flowing script. Glor's eyes narrowed as he saw this. He raised his eyes to see Dolenamo grinning back at him and his heart filled with an unbridled hatred he had never before experienced. "As you can see old friend all is nice and legal." Dolenamo stated as he tucked the deed back into his pouch. "As for your friend...I seem to recall him saying something about getting away from this 'faerie infested place' and taking up dungeon exploring...hmmm...he seemed kind of weakly to be setting of on such a dangerous profession. I can understand your concern. You always had such concern for your....servants." Dolenamo's voice dripped with venom as he spoke that last word. "Ya can't fool me Tel'Halda....I know ya better than that. I'm gonna get to tha bottom of this...and then I'm comin fer ya. This aint over." "Splendid my old friend." Dolenamo grinned at him. "I look forward to seeing you again soon then....We've old times to reminisce about. Oh...And I do hope you find your friend. I would feel bad if he were found dead in the bottom of a pit like Hythloth. Seemed like a most kind sort of fellow." Dolenamo's grin twisted into a sneer. "If that is all then...I have some matters to attend to. Good afternoon." And with that the tower door swung shut with a loud click. Glor stood for a moment more...his fits clenched at his side. He wondered desperately what his next move would be. With a quick turn he headed back toward Tel'Ruid meaning to seek the council of his friends. Behind him he could hear a low chuckle rise above the soft sounds of the breeze in the trees. |
| The chill that gripped my spine was becoming
all too familiar... That new neighbor! My eyes opened wide at the loud
sounds coming from outside my windows. I longed for the quiet nights
when the kind old Ebrics occupied the tower. It sounded like Glor but
nay could not be. Glor had said for me to be polite and respectful to
the new owner... and Dolenamo was thrilled to discover Glor lived near
by and had often visit the tower. sooooo why did it sound like they
fought? *sigh* Well Dolenamo said his family was coming. An emptiness filled my heart... But where is Ebrics and why didn't he even say good bye to me...*shakes head* something feels amiss... I shall have to speak to Glor again! |
| Melyanna lightly dozed on the balcony, the
melodic chirping of the birds and the soft breeze coming off the bay
having relaxed her guard. At first she thought she was dreaming when the
voices drifted to her.
"Ahhhh...Glorfindle." Dolenamo hissed. "To what do I owe this honor?" A tremor of fear raced through her as she struggled to wake. That voice was familiar and disturbing. "Dont ya be playin' games with me Tel'. Where's Ebircs?" Glorfindle? What was he doing in her dream? Finally she managed to drag herself awake, the voices becoming jumbled as the birds sensed the tension in the air. "I wonder what's goind on?" she thought, the area usually very quiet. Stepping into their bedroom, she opened the armoire and slipped one of Azeron's shirts over her kilt. Her curiosity aroused, she quickly made her way down the stairs, bare feet padding across the sandstone floor and the wood planks of the patio. "Ya can't fool me Tel'Halda....I know ya better than that. I'm gonna get to tha bottom of this...and then I'm comin fer ya. This ain't over." "Tel'Halda? Who is that?" she thought as she padded across the cool grass towards the voices. She couldn't remember hearing Glorfindle this angry before, which lent speed and energy to the frail elf. Pausing next to the marble tower, resting her hand on the wall as she tried to catch her breath. "If that is all then...I have some matters to attend to. Good afternoon." Mely heard the steel door slam shut, soon followed by Glorfindle's muttered curses as he started off towards Tel'Ruid. Torn between investigating the tower and following Glor, Mely chose the latter and followed him. "Glor? Are you alright mellon? I thought I heard you fighting with someone?" she called after him, coming to a halt and sinking exhausted onto a fallen log. |
| *sits up in bed with a start at the sound of an enraged voice yelling outside her window and turns to her verno'* Mela? what on earth? Is that Glor? *rubs her eyes and moves to the window* Uma it is! I wonder...*her voice catches in her throat* Eru! Mela awaken! Tel'Halda is there! |
| Strongbow leaned up on one elbow and rubbed
his eyes, his still sleepy mind wondering what all the fuss was about.
"Who..? Huh..? Wha..?" He blinked several times, trying to focus, then saw his wife Luthien peering out the window. Strongbow climbed out of bed and moved to join her, gazing down to see Glorfindle and Dolenamo engaged in conversation next door. "Hmm... now isn't this curious..? I wondered who had taken the tower over.. and changed the sign.. I do think this bears investigation lisseamin.." Strongbow turned away from the window and strode to the armoire and began to dress. "Coming mela?.." |
| *she slips on armor before donning her gown... a prudent move considering the last time she and Tel'Halda had met face to face* I thought he was gone... or dead... by all rights he should be. *The elves slipped quietly out the front door of their loft and moved toward the house next door but no one was to be seen. The wind seemed to laugh* No good is going to come of this mela... I feel it in my bones! |
| So caught up he was in his fury, he almost
didn't hear Melyanna call from behind him. Had she heard him yelling at
Dolenamo? He was suddenly embarrassed by his own rage. He blamed it on
his human half and considered it a weakness.
He turned and called to her softly. She had stopped he was sure...and suddenly. He drew his blade and ran back through the trees the way he had come, shouting her name. He found her looking quite pale and exhausted on a fallen log. She looked as if she could barely keep her eyes open. "Seleramin." He cried, sheathing his blade. "I thought fer a sec that that fiend had gotten to ya. I wouldn't put it past tha likes of him." He gently took her hand and helped her to her feet. "Yer not lookin' well seler. Lemme help ya home and I'll fill ya in on what's goin on." |
| She could simply go no further. Though she
had walked perhaps a few hundred yards, it felt as if she had been
running all day. Her chest hurt from her exertion, and there was a
slight sheen of perspiration on her brow. "I'll wait here...he had
to have heard me," she thought to herself. She heard him call her
name and next thing she knew, Glorfindle was running, screaming his
battle cry, his sword held as if he would slay the foulest of daemons
charging straight for her. Her eyes widened in sudden fear, afraid that
whatever had set him off, would cause him to swing that finely honed
blade at her, quickly separating her head from her shoulders. Before she
could mutter a sound of protest he had stopped before her.
"Seleramin." He cried, sheathing his blade. "I thought fer a sec that that fiend had gotten to ya. I wouldn't put it past tha likes of him." Fiend? What fiend? Melyanna looked up at Glorfindle, thoroughly confused and quite a bit frightened by this side of him. Though she gratefully accepted his help as he gently took her hand and helped her to her feet. "Yer not lookin' well seler. Lemme help ya home and I'll fill ya in on what's goin on." "Diola lle, tororamin. When you came charging back here..." her words trailed off as she leaned against him, ashamed of her own fears and feeling as if she had just aged a century in a second. "Tis made me afraid of my own shadow, this affliction of mine" she though quietly, listening as Glorfindle helped her home, explaining what had happened. |
| Standing with Mely on the porch of her house,
he concluded his thoughts to her as Von and Lu joined them.
"It just don't make any sense. I know fer a fact that Ebircs wouldn't just pack and leave as Tel'Halda said. And fer him ta go dungeoning?? Never. Tha fiend sent him someplace against his will. Heh...can't tell me that Ebircs signed away tha tower neither. If theres a chance ta find Ebircs then I gotta start lookin'. Gonna need some help tho." |
| I look at Strongbow to confirm what I am about to say, "Of course we will help Glor. Anything we can do, we will. Tel'Halda is a danger and now... a neighbor." A frown creases my pale brow. I glance at Mely, concern replacing the frown. "Are you in need seler? You do not look well at all! Help her to sit down, Cat!" |
| Once in the house, he set her easily in a large comfortable chair. "Mela, could you get her some water please?" Strongbow turned to Glorfindle momentarily, "As Lu said toror, we will help you find Ebircs.. but for now, we need to see to Mely.. " He frowned in thought before speaking. "I wonder where Azeron has got to? I haven't seen him around in a while..." |
| Mely was exhausted, she knew if Glorfindle
hadn't been supporting her, she would have collapsed. She smiled half
heartedly at Luthien and Strongbow as they joined them on the patio. The
two seemed to know the stranger who now inhabited Glor's tower. A small
shriek escaped her as suddenly Strongbow picked her up and carried her
inside, setting her in the deep blue chair.
She smiled gratefully when Luthien brought her a glass of water. "I wonder where Azeron has got to? I haven't seen him around in a while..." Strongbow asked. "He's upstairs, sleeping. He...he hasn't been sleeping at night because he watches over me." She murmured, looking down guiltily. Tired emerald eyes looked towards Glorfindle. "Tororamin, what was that all about? And who is Tel'Halda? And why is he living in your tower?" perhaps it was her illness but she was thoroughly confused. Upstairs, the bed creaked as its inhabitant climbed out of bed, awoken by the noise from downstairs. Azeron hastily threw on a nearby silk robe and wandered down stairs, sleepily rubbing his eyes. "Love...what's going on? Are you al..." Azeron blinked as he noticed the full house. "Hello everyone..." |
| I looked up at I heard his voice and nearly laughed aloud when I saw him in his robe. Clearly he had not been expecting company. But soon the paleness of Mely's face erased all thoughts of laughter... that and the presence of Tel'Halda among us once more. "Sorry to disturb your reverie, toror." I murmured in a polite voice, "But there has been a bit of excitement in the neighborhood." I glance over at his verne with a worried look, "And I fear your verne is ill!" I begin to rub Mely's wrists in an attempt to stir her blood and pause, glancing from Azeron to Glor, as if awaiting an explanation of this, and Tel'Halda's disturbing appearance. |
| "Well ya all know I got tha tower and
really had nothin' ta do with it. Ebircs has been workin fer me fer a
while...hes tryin ta become a mage in his own right an all so I thought
he'd like tha tower as a kind of study.
As far as Tel'Halda's concerned....Well I ain't goin through all his sorted history or nothin'. I once thought when he was younger that he could be helped...steered straight, ya know? He did alright fer a bit, but... Now he's pretty much laid tha blame on me fer all thats gone wrong in his life...and he's been gettin his revenge slow but sure. Killed my brother and all." His eyes turn to look out the window. In the distance he can make out the greenish glow coming from the top of Ebircs' tower. "Tha thing that troubles me tha most is....Tel'Halda was killed. That crazy druid fella that was after Delphi killed him one night right in front of tha tavern. I buried 'im myself. So how is it he's up an walkin round again?" He shakes his head slowly and scratches absently at his beard. "Now he's still after me. Somehow he's "legally" appropriated the tower and has done somethin with Ebircs. He knows how ta get ta me...where ta chip away at me. He's doin his very best ta meke me suffer. And in truth whats ta be done? Ain't got no proof of anythin yet, An he now seems ta have friends in high places. If we just kill tha fella were gonna bring a world of problems down on us all." He pauses for a moment and exchanges glances with each of them. "So...any ideas? Course we gotta go find Ebircs...if we can. But even if we don't we can't be tolleratin Dolenamo as a member of this community no matter how charmin' he tries ta make himself seem. |
| As many of you know my good friend and tha
rightful owner of tha tower Dolenamo now holds, is missing.
I have good reason ta think he has been sent into tha depths of tha dungeon Hythloth. Without him we aint got a chance of recoverin tha tower by legal means. So as little hope of findin him as there is we gotta try. All that are willin please assemble at the Rune Library here in tel'Ruid on Sunday tha 27th at 10pm Central Yew Time. Yeah I know it's late but my schedule affords little time ta me. Be ready ta fight daemons and tha like. We will only depart if we get enough folks ta make tha journey relativly safe. Diola lle my mellonae. I know that if we succeed we can take a great step at drivin out tha evil that plagues our new home. ~Glorfindle~ |
| First off I'd like ta thank everyone that
made it...was quite a turnout. We had so many that we had ta form up
into two parties and still had a few latecomers and stragglers. Honestly
I had no idea so many folks would come along.
Tha trip was a rough one ta be sure as Hythloth aint tha most hospitable of places. Fortunately fer us we didn't need ta go too far down ta locate Ebircs. We found him as we were set upon by gargoyles and hellhounds. We managed ta get tha poor edan resurrected and escorted him out just fine. Unfortunately tha man was frightened outta his wits...and who wouldn't be. He slept tha night away and didn't wake till a short time ago. Was my hope that we would learn of Dolenamo's treachery in aquirin' tha tower. Dolenamo's got tha deed signed ta him all legal like, but I was certain it was a deal done under a threat of death. I had hoped findin Ebircs would prove that ta be true. Ebrics instead surprised me...Dolenamo approached him about tha tower and at first refused ta sell. Tha offer made it up ta nearly a million in gold. Well Ole Ebircs had visions of grand retirement I guess and accepted tha offer. Still has tha gold in his account. He's feelin very foolish fer acceptin tha deal now... but it looks as if it is done. Tha tower belongs ta Dolenamo. As far as how he ended up in Hythloth...Well Ebircs doesnt remember. He aint sure it was Dolenamo that sent him. Last he remembers was placin tha check from Dolenamo safely in tha bank. Then he said tha world went grey an he was in that hell hole bein toyed with by daemons and Balrons. So I aint sure now whats ta be done. I had a brief talk with Ayamai just before tha hunt. Tha impression I got from her is that she ain't no drowess tho she may be of tha race. She aint tha malicious sort. She claimed that Dolenamo had no ill plans fer tel'Ruid. I find that a little hard ta swallow myself... But I believe SHE believes that. I spose we will just have ta put up with him a while longer and watch him close. When he makes a move I and tha other Ostar will be ready fer him. Be wary of him. ~Glorfindle~ |
The
Library Arcane: The Lord of the Dead