The EARTH story - November 21, 1372
At last the people who were training and such return from Sandas on
the evening of November 21st. The temperature is just below freezing,
and a light snow is falling, but you are cozy and warm inside Kelar's
magical tent.
"Nice tent, Kelar," Al says with a smile. "Ok, I am bored, is everyone back? Anyone up for a party? Ladies?"
"Hello," Al says to the mage. "I am Al, well met."
"Nice to meet you, Al," Brennon says, shaking the man's hand.
"Al, you know Brennon. He traveled with us for several months," Equinox says to Al.
"Just saying hi, sheesh!" he says with a shrug.
"It is good to see you again, Brennon. When you left you were
going to train and do some research regarding our quest, I think.
Did you learn anything interesting?"
"I took some time to study at the local mage guild, but have kept my
ears open to what's going on around here. You might have already heard
most of this, but this seems to be the local news around here while you
were gone.
"In Central Amrica, there were stories of war and chaos in the lands
that Mestom had conquered. Just over a month ago, the armies of Nlad
mounted a major counterattack on the invaders from Mestom, driving them
back with surprising ease. This ease was probably associated with the
news that the city of Casablanca, a vassal of Mestom for several
centuries, declared its independence in early August. Mestom has been
rushing troops to Casablanca to put down that rebellion. On September
21st, Nlad recaptured its largest city in the south, Flab, and while I
was training I also learned that Marmador has been retaken as well.
"Tales of war also continue to filter out of the eastern lands, and
these are perhaps all the more disturbing than the wars in the south.
Clarvis was crowned Emperor of Saltar in June, raised the newly found
Sceptre of the Gods, and announced his intention to reclaim all of the
lands once held by that Empire. That would include present day Nlad. He
ordered the full mobilisation of Saltar to fulfill his promise.
Meanwhile, stories of a dwarven invasion of the evil land of Nolthen
filtered into Sandas. However, on October 15th, I heard that the ruler
of Nolthen, Imrimil the Black Wizard, has counterattacked and is
driving the dwarves back.
"On September 20th Saltar made its first move at reconquest, invading
the small country of Riverland, a buffer state between it and
Nlad. Riverland surrendered on September 30th.
"What can you tell me of the quest since you have been gone? I am quite
curious in finding out more of your adventure since I left."
"When, exactly, did you leave?" Equinox asks Brennon.
"We were still exploring Razmataz's dungeon. We had just decided to
explore one final time before heading North to begin the new quest. The
quest in search of the bridge. It was soon after that final exploration
that I returned to Sandas to do some studying, so I did not accompany
you on the beginning of your journey. I was curious where it stands
now, just trying to get a refresher. I heard the group has had some
changes since I was last with it. Some friends have since departed,"
Brennon says.
"After you left we traveled as quickly as we could to here, following
our quest the entire time. We learned, we think, that the Bridge
we seek is in fact the Bifrost Bridge leading to Asgard. We, or,
rather, Jo-Owrn, found abutments to a Bridge that does not appear to
currently exist but which include a strange keyhole for our key. We
hope activates the Bridge.
"The towers you see over there," Equinox nods at the towers behind
Brennon, "Seem to have held the keys to Asgard. We explored much of the
dungeons beneath those towers and battled two Slaadi of great power. I
was killed, as were several others, but Al saved the day by killing the
Slaadi almost single handed. The survivors found a large key, a Holy
Avenger and a magical, but very peculiar, Sword. We hope that the Key
we found is the key to the Bridge that we think is the Bifrost Bridge.
"I think that that's the whole story except that during our quest to
find this place Farad disappeared to parts unknown and when we started
exploring the dungeon, Jo-Owrn, Laurie and a few others left."
Jo-owrn, who is sitting there taking it all in, looks rather strangely at Equinox.
"We're still here," he says, with a nod to Leslie, Laurie, Goodgulf,
Vardui and Tabrina. "We just didn't go into that dungeon with you."
"Oh, yes. There are a few more pieces of important information. When I
died in the battle, my soul went to Asgard and Thor told me, before he
sent me back, that the Emperor of Saltar now possesses the Sceptre,
that Hecate hid the Sword, the Sceptre and the Robe and that we were to
retrieve the Sword and the Robe from their hiding places and give them
to the Emperor of Saltar.
"Does this make sense with what you learned?
"Also, do you know how the other adventuring groups fared? The last I
knew, one group was going to find the Robe and another to rescue Occa.
I know that the group searching for the Robe cannot have succeeded
because the Robe will not be found until after the Sword, but has Occa
been rescued?"
Jon asks, "Is there a map of the wars?"
Jon adds, "All, this is Violet who works for me and is an acolyte of Mielikki."
Violet is wearing chainmail, carrying a wooden staff and is a real stunner.
Taking a big inhale of breath, Jon seems to concentrate. "There are a couple of things I need to tell you all:
"Firstly, while the war continues in the South there is much hardship
and suffering in the North. I have attempted to raise an army to be of
help to the unfortunates, the animals and the forests which are being
destroyed
for no good reason. While we as a group have destroyed some of the
worst creatures dragons, vampires and a couple of armies of orcs I seem
to
remember, there is still much to be done. So far we have come up with
eight men, a one-armed dwarf and a gnome. The intention is to take this
small
force to the Borderland Keep and to use that as a base and to expand
it's influence with the small group. Once threats have been identified
and
located I would assist in destroying them. Unfortunately, 10 men is not
an army which has now departed. Does anyone have any ideas where we
might
gather some more troops and support for this fair and just undertaking.
Can anyone here help in any way?
"I have a letter of assistance from the Baron of Sandas offering what help he can and authorising the force.
"Secondly," Jon takes out the Jupiter 2 model, "I have had limited
success in learning about this item, so far. It enlarges into what I
understand to be a large craft, circular, perhaps 50' across,
roughly in the form of two saucers placed rim-to-rim with each other.
There are two large, rectangular shaped windows, one above the other;
one in the upper section and one in the lower. A closed door is to the
left of the upper window.
"There is a button on the inside, which closes the outer
door. A similar button opens the inner door, and from there you step into a fair
sized, roughly circular room. It is full of flashing lights, control panels
and other things whose purpose I have not the foggiest notion
of. What is a Gravitronic Master Inverter? Launch Subsystem Auxiliary Controller?
Interior Environmental Recirculator Control? The Big Red Button?
Nourishment Synthesizer?
"Obviously this is the means for us to transfer across the stars and
take the fight to the black wizards but it will take more study.
Experimentation seems to be the only way."
Jon walks outside and enlarges the Jupiter 2 for all to see and investigate!
He shows you the letter from the Baron:
'Dear Jon:
We are in receipt of your letter requesting the aid and support of the
Barony in your quest to hunt down the marauding bands of evil creatures
which are plaguing the Borderlands. This letter will serve as an
introduction for you to our most devoted and august servant in that
area, Castellan Gnarsh. He will be expected to grant you whatever
reasonable assistance you may require to successfully carry out your
mission.
For Norwald,
Baron of Sandas and the Borderlands'
"Who is ready to go try out our new key?" Equinox asks the party, "I
for one am very interested to see whether the Key actually opens the
Bifrost Bridge!"
While suiting up,
Kithus says, "I too would like to see that."
"I'm ready," Beth says. "I spoke with Ray Jay when I was back in
Sandas. He said that indeed it looks like we'll be going to
Gladsheim. It's an outer plane of good, but he warned me that evil still
lurks there. Apparently your party, Equinox, was there long ago -
though probably before you were in it. Ray Jay told me it was the
party lead by Occa the arch-mage, but it was even before Occa was in
it; Orlon and Stiff are two names of people she said were there. At
any rate, apparently they ran into the Black Wizards while they where
there - presumably the same Black Wizards that Brennon mentioned."
"This is an ancient order of Wizards left over from when our ancestors
used to travel between the stars on vehicles, rather than using
teleportation and gates to travel between worlds. The Black
Wizards are evil, and we can be sure that at least some of them will be
very powerful."
"Let's try the key first!" Al says, more eager to meet Thor than some space men.
"I agree," Brennon says. "It seems like the key is of a slightly more
importance than the model right now. Perhaps the model can be explored
at a later date."
Mikodin, still somewhat distrustful of space adventures, readily agrees
with Brennon, saying, "The key is what we need to complete our mission,
if our guesses are correct. The model can wait."
"Jon, where did you find that model?" Equinox asks.
Jon turns to Equinox. "It was long ago. I put it in the to be looked at
later pocket and forgot about it. How did you go with getting a magical
staff? I couldn't find a magical wand that did damage anywhere!!"
Next day