Episode 49 – Encounters
| The Assassins |
Azareth - Wizard 4th Level LE (PC) Creighton - Fighter 4th Level LE (PC) Craven - Fighter / Rogue 2nd/3rd CE (LE suppressed) (PC) Keldirk - Rogue 5th level NE (PC) |
| Locale | Del Forest - en route to the Crypt of Finn Thrommel |
| Date | 27th Planting 582 CY (Common Year) |
| Time | Just before dawn. |
The group continued their trek through the Del Forest until morning. They made camp in a small clearing beside a bubbling stream, teeming with trout. The day passed uneventfully, save for the appearance of a old stag which lapped at the water's edge. As usual Azareth took last watch and, after his two hours were almost complete, he roused Keldirk and Creighton from their fitful slumber.
| Azareth | (shakes Creighton awake and presses a finger on the warrior's lips) Be quiet. |
| Creighton | (rubs his eyes) Why? |
| Azareth | Follow me. Keldirk is waiting for us. |
Azareth led Creighton out of the clearing to where Keldirk waited, some thirty yards away.
| Keldirk | (bleary eyed) What's this all about, mage? |
| Azareth | I'm worried about Craven. |
| Creighton | What are you worried about, Az? |
| Azareth | His demeanour, mostly. Something's not right. Craven is changing, I don't know why or how but he's definitely undergoing some kind of transformation. We need to be vigilant, watch each other's backs. Upon our return to Del Mord I'm going to speak to Vesper and see if we can get Craven some help. But, until then, let's try to keep him happy. There is no use in upsetting him unnecessarily. |
| Creighton | (nods) |
| Azareth | He's done nothing wrong yet and until he does we have an obligation to follow him. He is our leader, after all. |
| Keldirk | I agree. |
| Creighton | You do? (shocked) |
| Keldirk | Yes. I plan to give Craven as much rope as he needs, with any luck he'll hang himself. |
| Azareth | Let's hope it doesn't come to that. |
| Keldirk | I hope it does. He's becoming a liability, mage. You know it and I know it. There is no way in Hell I am going to continue working with him if he keeps making unreasonable demands. But we have to go through the formal channels. And that's the reason I agreed to make him leader. Once we get back to town I will report to Vesper myself and request Craven's transfer. And if you two support my vote of no confidence then Vesper will have no recourse but to agree to our request. |
| Azareth | (rubs his chin thoughtfully) That's the worst case scenario, Keldirk. With any luck Craven will regain control and we'll be able to function as a cohesive unit. Ideally we'll be able to get him through this. |
| Keldirk | But if that doesn't happen I want you to back me up. Agreed? |
| Azareth | (solemnly) Agreed. |
| Creighton | (nods) |
| Keldirk | Excellent. We'd better get back to camp. |
A few hours later, when Luna was at its zenith, the travellers happened upon a small river, perhaps twenty feet across. A wretched stench assaulted their nostrils and Llyam pointed downstream to where the carcass of a great ape lay in the water, all but covered in a swarm of flies. From where they stood they could see that the ape had had a gruesome death, one arm was torn from its socket and a series of great rents in its chest exposed its internal organs to the air.
| Azareth | What manner of beast could slay a gorilla of that size? |
| Llyam | A troll, perhaps, or maybe a giant. |
| Creighton | A giant? |
| Llyam | Yes, Matthugh and his rangers have seen Hill Giants in this area from time to time. But, if it was a Hill Giant, I'm surprised that it didn't eat the body. Hill Giants have voracious appetites. |
| Azareth | Would they eat an ape? |
| Llyam | (chuckles humourlessly) Hill Giants would eat just about anything. |
| Craven | (looking apprehensively at the river) How deep is it? |
| Llyam | What? |
| Craven | The river. How deep is it? |
| Llyam | Ten, fifteen feet perhaps. We'll have to swim across. |
| Craven | No. We'll build a raft. |
| Keldirk | A raft? Please, tell me you're joking! |
| Craven | (angrily) I'm not going to swim. |
| Creighton | Come on Craven, it's only twenty feet. I'll help you across. |
| Craven | I said we'll build a raft. The longer you keep arguing the longer we'll be stuck here. |
| Keldirk | This is a joke. You're a joke. (storms away) |
| Craven | (dangerously) Watch your tongue, Keldirk. I'm warning you. |
| Azareth | (lays a restraining hand on Keldirk's arm) Come on Keldirk, let us begin construction on this raft. |
| Keldirk | (shrugs Azareth away) Don't touch me, mage. |
It took the travellers a little over an hour to manufacture a crude raft, large enough to carry one man. Creighton swam across the river easily and trailed a rope behind him. It took all of Craven's willpower to climb onto the raft, for some reason the slowly running water terrified him. Creighton pulled the raft swiftly across in less than a minute, Craven held his eyes shut all the while.
Before long they were across and on their way once more. The going was a lot more difficult on this side of the river, the forest undergrowth much thicker. A few hours before dawn Llyam informed the others that he had lost the trail and would need to search for it once the sun rose. Craven swore but agreed to make an early camp.
The others were thankful for the opportunity to get some sleep without needing to cover their eyes from the sun. Craven, with his excellent night sight, had the first watch.
An hour before dawn the young duellist's infravision highlighted the approach of several red-hued figures, some swung in the branches and others loped along the ground. He yelled a warning to his companions and drew his swords even as the figures burst out of the undergrowth.
| Craven | Baboons! |
There were close to twenty of the powerful monkeys, varying in size from the large dominant males to skittish youngsters. They converged on the campsite in a wave of fur and fang, intent more on stealing food than causing any injury. Craven stabbed at slashed as the baboons passed by, instantly killing a small baboon and mortally wounding another. Creighton scrambled out of his tent and immediately began to flay about with his swords. He found it difficult to land any serious blows on the quick-footed raiders and quickly became frustrated at their intent to avoid combat.
Azareth's tent was pulled off him by six baboons, one of which managed to grab Azareth's backpack and bound away. Azareth drew a dagger and stabbed repeatedly until the other baboons fled. Only then did the full horror of the situation dawn on him; the baboon with his backpack had unwittingly stolen his spellbook.
| Azareth | My spellbook! They've got my spellbook! |
Suddenly they were gone. The campsite was in utter shambles and the only sounds were the laboured breathing of the fighters, the fading howls of the fleeing baboons and Azareth's magical utterances.
| Azareth | Mor Di'arv Il'akyr Hor, Vhaar Diss'th Nyardiass |
Azareth cast the newest spell in his repertoire, changed form into a large baboon and charged into the forest. His eyesight was poor and the number of baboons in his immediate vicinity gave him pause, but Azareth knew that without his spellbook he was nothing. He scanned the area as best he could and luckily spied the large baboon climbing a tree, his stolen backpack still in its hand.
Azareth bounded after the baboon. He found the new form awkward. His legs were too short and he discovered that to move effectively he had to make ample use of his hands. Azareth crossed to the tree and began to climb. He could see the baboon and his spellbook in the higher branches, some thirty feet away. Only when Azareth got nearer did he realise what danger he was in. Wherever he looked he could see the monkeys, their long canines glistening in the moonlight. They sensed that Azareth was not one of their own and they howled at him in a mixture of confusion, anger and unmistakable displeasure.
Azareth steeled his resolve and climbed higher and higher. Eventually he reached the same branch as the baboon that held his backpack. As the mage scrambled out onto the limb a large male leapt from a higher branch to block Azareth's path. Reflexively Azareth moved backwards and away from the aggressive newcomer. Unfortunately that move only encouraged the great male and it charged Azareth, it's maw wide and it's claws flexed.
| baboon | (tears at Azareth's fur, opening long gashes in the wizard's baboon flesh) |
| Azareth | (screaming in terror, slashes back wildly) |
| baboon | (lunges and bites, its canines puncturing Azareth's forearm) |
Suddenly the baboon broke contact and clawed at a small steel bolt that protruded from its neck. Azareth glanced down to see his companions gathered at the base of the tree, Keldirk re-loading his hand crossbow.
| Creighton | Which one is Azareth? |
| Craven | (points) That one, I think. |
| Azareth | (signals to his companion by waving his baboon arm) |
| Craven | Yes, see he's waving at us. |
| Creighton | (waves back) Hello Azareth. |
| Craven | There! (points into the foliage) That one has the backpack. Can you shoot it? |
| Keldirk | I'll try. Stand aside. |
Keldirk took aim and fired, but the bolt flew wide and lodged into the branch beside the baboon. Startled, it hopped away and climbed higher, away from the humans below.
| Creighton | (yells out) Azareth! You'll have to flush it into the open. We can't see it anymore. |
| Azareth | (bobs his baboon head in understanding and clambers up the tree, less assured in the narrow branches than the real monkeys) |
| Craven | (unbuckles his weapon's belt after drawing a stiletto) Creighton, hold this. |
| Creighton | (takes Craven's weapon's belt) |
Craven placed the stiletto in his mouth and began to climb the tree, his enhanced strength and excellent eyesight enabled him to find sufficient purchase.
All about the assassins the trees shook, baboons were jumping up and down in fear and anger. Their deafening howls echoed in the darkness and a small flock of birds in the canopy took wing.
Azareth couldn't climb any higher without engaging more baboons and that was something he wanted to avoid at all costs. They were at home in this environment and, as far as Azareth could remember, this was his first time in a tree. So he sat back and nursed his sore arm and strained his brain for ideas.
Suddenly Craven was there. He looked at Azareth with a mad stare in his eyes before scrambling higher. One baboon charged him and Craven brutally stabbed it in the arm. The wounded monkey pulled back but Craven kept on. He clenched his legs around the tree and reached for the baboon. The monkey screamed in fear as Craven's vice-like grip closed around its ankles and the monkey bit and tore at the young duellist's arm. Craven ignored the pain and lashed out with his stiletto, the blade entered the baboon's chest and Craven sent it tumbling to the ground below.
The maddened duellist climbed higher, with Azareth close on his heels. The terrified baboons in the higher branches screamed and yelped before fleeing the advancing human. The baboon that held Azareth's backpack was forced to drop it as it made its escape.
A little while later the group assembled back at their wrecked campsite. Azareth had returned to human form and was in the middle of preparing a curative salve for his injuries.
| Creighton | That was a neat trick, Az. |
| Azareth | (winces as he applies the salve to the puncture marks in his forearm) Thankyou. But, in hindsight, it wasn't the wisest thing to do. I'm glad you had the foresight to follow me. |
| Craven | We can't remain here with those baboons out there so hurry up and get your stuff together . We'll walk for a mile or two and pitch camp again. We leave in half an hour. (walks away from his companions and begins to sharpen his stiletto) |
Keldirk was the last to leave the campsite and, on impulse, he walked over to where Craven had been sitting all alone. Wedged beneath a log, partially hidden by a tree branch, Keldirk discovered the remains of a baby baboon. The young assassin looked closer then jumped back in revulsion. There were teeth marks in the baboon's flesh - teeth marks that were unmistakably human.
Two days later the travellers came across a large clearing, perhaps a mile across. Llyam attributed the phenomenon to high clay content in the soil. Whatever the reason the assassins were glad to be out from under the trees. Half way across the plain Craven stopped suddenly and peered into the night sky.
| Craven | Do you hear that? |
| Keldirk | (strains to listen) |
| Azareth | Hear what? |
| Keldirk | Shutup! |
| Craven | Wings. |
| Keldirk | I don't hear anything. |
| Craven | (points in the sky) There! |
| Creighton | (draws his swords) What is it, Craven? |
| Craven | I can't tell. |
| Keldirk | I can hear it. |
| Craven | Shit. RUN! (sprints for the trees) |
| Creighton | (follows Craven) What is it? |
| Craven | A dragon, I think. |
| Creighton | (spits) A dragon! Run! |
As fast as the assassins were the baby green dragon was quicker. Although he had only been flying for a year Drythiaxallann made up in speed what he lost in experience. He fanned out his wings and swooped upon the fleeing humans. As he passed overhead he opened his mouth and spewed out a cloud of noxious green gas.
The travellers dove left and right as the cloud erupted in their midst. Creighton and Craven took the full force of the gas, the others managed to leap clear just in time. Even so they rose to their knees, burned and nauseous.
| Craven | (coughing) Get up! Run! It's coming back! |
They didn't need to be told twice. They sprinted to the trees - heedless of the terrain. At one point Llyam slipped and fell but Creighton literally dragged him to his feet and pushed him onward.
The dragon swooped again and raked his claws across Keldirk's shoulders. The assassin was knocked to ground where he tumbled over and over in pain. Keldirk tried to get to his feet but a twisted ankle foiled the attempt. Then, suddenly, Craven was there. The young warrior threw Keldirk over his shoulder and continued his run to the trees. Despite his predicament Keldirk was amazed at his companion's sheer strength.
Drythiaxallann wasn't pleased. Despite his best efforts he hadn't managed to kill even one of them. His mother had warned him that of all prey humans and their ilk were the toughest of all. Glumly the baby green dragon climbed into the night sky and winged its way eastward. It decided that it would find a quieter forest to call home.
That morning, after the travellers had set up camp, they sat down to discuss recent events and their immediate plans.
| Llyam | Are you sure it was a dragon? |
| Craven | Positive. It was small, though, no longer than twenty feet, tip to tail. |
| Creighton | What do you think, Az? |
| Azareth | I can think of no other creature that has such a wicked weapon at its disposal. Lucky for us it was young and inexperienced. |
| Creighton | (rubs his badly burned shoulder) If that was a baby, then I'd hate to meet an old one. That gas hurts. |
| Keldirk | Guide, when will we reach the hills? |
| Llyam | We are nearly out of the forest now and we'll be in the hills late tonight. |
| Keldirk | And then how far to the canyon? |
| Llyam | Another day's travel, maybe two. It's hard to tell. I've never travelled the hills at night. (casts a wry glance at Craven) |
| Craven | How are you feeling, Llyam? |
| Llyam | I'm okay. Azareth fixed up the wounds from the baboons and I avoided most of the dragon's gas. All in all I'd say I've been quite lucky. |
| Creighton | Lucky eh? (pulls out a set of dice from his pouch belt) Fancy testing that luck? |
| Llyam | (nods) Sure. (retrieves a small metal flask from his backpack) Care for a nip of Nyrondese whisky? |
| Creighton | (laughs) No, I've got my own. (holds up his own flask) Craven, care to join us? |
| Craven | (glances at the brightening sky) No. I'm tired. Wake me at sunset. |
Llyam's estimations proved correct. A little past midnight the trees began to thin and they entered the low-lying hills north of Del Forest. Their going was good due, for the most part, to the light provided by Luna's full moon. An hour into the hills the travellers heard the unmistakable cries of a wolf.
| Keldirk | How close is it, guide? |
| Llyam | It's hard to tell. Several miles, perhaps. |
| Keldirk | Are we in any danger? |
| Llyam | It would be safer if we had a campsite and a fire. Travelling in the dark like this is only asking for trouble. |
| Craven | (growls) We are in no danger. The wolves wouldn't dare attack us. |
| Keldirk | (spits incredulously) Who died and made you our resident wolf expert, huh? Guide, are we in any danger? |
| Llyam | If the pack is large enough and hungry enough then yes, we are in real danger. |
| Craven | Well we're not stopping. We still have several hours walking in front of us. |
| Creighton | (passes a torch to each of his companions) Here. If the wolves attack I'll use my magic to light my torch. You can then light yours off mine. (to Llyam) Wolves are scared of fire, right? |
| Llyam | As a general rule, yes. But a hungry belly can drive an animal to overcome its fears. I suggest we keep our weapons loose, just in case. |
Despite the periodic baying of the wolf, the rest of the night passed without incident. The travellers set camp in the midst of a small grove atop a hill. After studying the map over dinner, Llyam informed the assassins that they would reach the canyon late tomorrow morning.
About midday two ragged children approached the companions camp from the west. At first they didn't see the camp but then the oldest boy, Reggie, smelt the unmistakable odour of wood-smoke.
| Reggie | (sniffing the air) Can you smell that, Tobie? |
| Tobie | (sniffs) Yep. |
| Reggie | Look! Over there, in those trees, a man! |
The two boys dropped to the ground and hid amongst the long grass. They watched a large, ugly man relieve himself then return to the cover of the grove.
| Tobie | Are you sure you want to do this, Reg? |
| Reggie | We have to. Mum and Dad can't feed us and we have to do our bit. The rebellion has hit them hard, Tobie, and we're not children any more. |
| Tobie | I'm only seven years old. |
| Reggie | Yes you are. That's plenty old enough. Come on. |
The two lads snaked their way through the grass toward the grove. They had stolen food before and felt pretty confident that they could do it again. As they entered the grove they spied the large, ugly man again. He stood amongst five small tents and tended a tiny fire.
| Tobie | (whispers) He looks mean. |
| Reggie | (nods, a little frightened) |
| Tobie | Come on, let's get out of here. |
| Reggie | (shakes his head) We can't leave now. Look over there. |
Tobie looked to where his older brother pointed and saw a bundle of iron rations. Some of the packages had been opened but most were still unused.
| Tobie | There's so many of them. |
| Reggie | (nods) There's enough there to feed the family for a month! |
| Tobie | We can't take all their food, can we? |
| Reggie | Sure we can. They've probably got plenty more food in the tents. Listen, you go around the camp and make some noise. When the ugly man goes to investigate I'll sneak in and steal the food. |
| Tobie | (swallows nervously) |
| Reggie | Don't let him catch you. He looks mean. |
| Tobie | (nods) |
The boys set their plan in motion. Little Tobie crawled back around the grove and tried hard to keep his head below the top of the grass. As soon as he was in position he gathered his courage and whistled, softly at first then again a little louder.
Creighton listened intently and continued to poke at the fire. He thought he'd heard something, a whistle perhaps. When he heard the second whistle he stood bolt upright, his hand on the pommel of his sword. He took three paces toward the sound before he spun on his heels and scanned the scrub behind him.
| Creighton | (spies a mop of sandy coloured hair) You! Come out from there. |
| Reggie | (drops to the ground and freezes, terrified) |
| Keldirk | (crawls out of his tent a dagger in each hand) What? |
| Creighton | There's somebody behind that log. And we have a diversion maker in that direction. (indicates the direction where he'd heard the whistle) |
| Azareth | (emerges from his tent, naked save his component belt and a dagger) Trouble? |
| Creighton | (nods) I said come out! Don't make us come in and get you. |
| Keldirk | (slips into the trees, moving silently) |
| Creighton | (whispers to Azareth) I've only seen one, but there could be more. |
| Azareth | Where's Craven? |
| Creighton | (shrugs) Asleep, I suppose. |
| Azareth | (peers into the scrub, searching) |
Keldirk moved slowly, each step an exercise in planning and control. He moved carefully around the edge of the grove and stopped when he saw the cowering child. He took three quick steps forward and brought the pommel of his dagger down upon the child's skull, knocking him out.
| Keldirk | (scans the area for others) |
| Creighton | (sees Keldirk standing upright, behind the log) Did you get him? |
| Keldirk | (nods) It's just a kid. |
| Llyam | (crawls out of his tent) What's going on? |
| Creighton | We have been surrounded. |
| Llyam | (draws his sword and looks around fearfully) |
| Creighton | I don't think you'll need that. Look. |
Keldirk emerged from the trees, the sandy haired boy cradled in his arms.
| Azareth | Only one? |
| Keldirk | That I could see. |
| Azareth | Creighton said there could be more. |
| Keldirk | We'll see. (loudly) We have your friend. And if you want to see him again I suggest you come out of hiding. Now! |
Young Tobie stood up and half walked, half trembled his way into the camp. Llyam slid his sword back into his scabbard when the boy appeared.
| Azareth | Well, what do we have here? |
| Tobie | (stuttering) My, my, my name is Tobie. (looks at his comatose brother) You've killed him! |
| Keldirk | Not yet. Are there any more of your friends out there? |
| Tobie | No, sir. Just me and my brother. |
| Keldirk | (menacingly) Don't lie to me, boy! If there are more of you then you'd best tell us now or I'll cut your darling brother's throat. |
| Llyam | (looks disapprovingly at Keldirk, but holds his tongue) |
| Tobie | (starts to cry) |
| Keldirk | Well? |
| Tobie | No. No. There's just me and 'im. |
| Keldirk | (satisfied) |
| Azareth | (walks over to Tobie) What were you doing? It's very dangerous sneaking up on people like us. |
| Tobie | (bawling) |
| Azareth | (places a hand on Tobie's shoulder) Were you planning to rob us, was that it? |
| Tobie | (nods) |
| Azareth | Foolish boys. |
| Creighton | What do we do with them? |
| Keldirk | (slides a finger across his throat) |
| Llyam | No! You can't. |
| Keldirk | (spins on Llyam) Mind your place, guide. This is not your concern. |
| Llyam | You can't just kill them! |
| Keldirk | Wanna bet? |
| Azareth | (steps between them) Llyam's correct. We can't kill them, Keldirk. We're not murderers, after all? (raises an eyebrow) |
| Keldirk | You heard him. They were planning to rob us. (shrugs) I find them guilty and sentence them to death. |
| Tobie | (screams) |
| Creighton | Now look what you've gone and done. Shush lad. It'll be okay; no body is going to hurt you. |
| Keldirk | Go put some pants on, mage. You're scaring the child. (chuckles) |
| Azareth | (glares at Keldirk) Creighton, make sure Keldirk doesn't do anything he'll regret. (crawls back into his tent) |
| Keldirk | Step aside, Creighton. |
| Creighton | No. |
| Keldirk | I said, step aside ! |
| Creighton | (steps in front of Tobie) And I said no. |
It was at that moment that Craven emerged from his tent. He was fully clothed and wore a wide brimmed hat upon his head. In one gloved hand he held a rapier and in the other The Undertaker's magical scimitar.
| Craven | (squinting in the sunlight) What's going on? |
| Creighton | Slayer over there wants to butcher these two boys. |
| Craven | Who are they? |
| Creighton | (shrugs) I dunno. But they snuck up on the camp and we caught them. |
| Llyam | You must do something. (thumbs at Keldirk) He is a madman. |
| Keldirk | (laughs) Me? I'm not the madman, am I Craven? |
| Craven | (bends to examine the unconscious child) |
| Creighton | Put your blade away, Keldirk, or I'll put it away for you. |
| Azareth | (re-emerges from his tent, fully clothed) |
| Keldirk | (snarls at Creighton, his blade twitching) |
| Creighton | Don't make me hurt you. |
| Craven | Enough! Both of you. (rises) Llyam I suggest you go back to sleep. We'll handle this. |
| Llyam | But- |
| Craven | (dangerously) I said go. |
| Llyam | (stares at Craven challengingly before dropping his eyes and crawling into his tent) |
| Craven | (steps around Creighton and places an arm about the boy's shoulder) What's your name, lad? |
| Tobie | Tobie, my lord. |
| Craven | What did you want to steal from us, Tobie. |
| Tobie | Food, my lord. (wipes his nose with his sleeve) The soldiers burned down my parent's farm. We don't got no more food. |
| Craven | Tell me, Tobie, do your parents know you're here? |
| Tobie | (sniffles) No, my lord. |
| Craven | Where are your parents? Are they close by? |
| Tobie | About two miles that way. (points to the west) |
| Craven | I see. I see. |
| Tobie | Can me and Reggie go now, mister? |
| Craven | I don't think so, Tobie. |
| Azareth | Craven, don't. |
| Craven | (snaps) Remember your place, Azareth. |
| Azareth | He's just a boy, an innocent. |
| Craven | (ruffles Tobie's hair playfully) Yes, he is at that. |
| Azareth | We have to let him go. |
| Craven | We don't have to do anything. |
| Llyam | (peeks out the flap of his tent) |
| Creighton | Come on Craven, let the lads go. They didn't mean any harm. |
| Craven | Oh, but they did. They intended to steal our food. |
| Keldirk | (smiles evilly) |
| Creighton | Haven't you ever gone hungry? |
| Craven | Yes. (softly) And my hunger is a lot more difficult to satiate. |
Suddenly Craven spun the boy around and wrapped his hands about Tobie's throat. With a deft twist of his powerful hands he broke the young boy's neck. Llyam stifled a shout and shuffled back in his tent.
| Azareth | (spits) You bastard. |
| Creighton | (growls) You shouldn't have done that. |
| Craven | Keldirk, finish the other one. |
| Keldirk | Gladly. (calmly slides his stiletto into the unconscious boy's chest) |
| Creighton | (steps toward Craven, his face red) |
| Craven | Back off, my friend. It's done now. Forget about it. |
| Keldirk | Yes, there's no use crying over spilt blood. |
| Creighton | (fuming) |
| Craven | Hide the bodies somewhere and wake me at sundown. (crawls back into his tent) |
| Azareth | (glares at Keldirk) He's becoming an animal, just like you. |
| Keldirk | (cleans his blade on Reggie's shirt) Spare me your dramatics, mage. It's no big deal. Young thieves die every day, what's two more? |
| Azareth | It was unnecessary. (leans closer) What will Llyam say when he gets back to town, hmm? Did you think about that? |
| Keldirk | (shrugs) We'll just have to make sure our guide never returns, won't we? Problem solved. |
| Azareth | Is murder your solution to every problem? |
| Keldirk | (scratches his head mockingly) Yep. |
| Creighton | (spits) I'm sick of this. I'm going to sleep. It's your watch, Keldirk. |
| Keldirk | Not yet, you have to help me dispose of the bodies. |
| Creighton | It's your mess, you clean it up. (unbuckles his armour and crawls into his tent) |
| Keldirk | Give me a hand, mage. (picks up Reggie's ankles) |
| Azareth | You've got to be joking. (moves to his tent) |
| Keldirk | Actually, I wasn't. |
| Azareth | (scrambles into his tent) |
| Keldirk | Fine. I guess it's just you and me lad. (smiles and drags the dead child into the trees) |
| Normal Text | Character's words or descriptive text if part of a paragraph |
| Italic Text | Character's thoughts or actions if surrounded by parenthesis |
| Bold Text | Character is shouting. |