Opportunity in Strife
"Can I interest you in a sword? Finest blade in the Lux Umbra, swear to the Maker!" Godri Snorrisson walked up to Tark and Slytha lingering at the entrance of his Emporium. "Oh, but I can see you are more interested in axes... finely balanced, aren't they? A Lumineth spear, perhaps? Ideal to keep enemies at a distance!"
The Shroudmaiden and the Vulkite Karl shook their heads and moved away, the duardin's droning following them as they made way for the Black Gor Inn. From the inside, they could hear the voices of their companions raised in boastful banter, and the shouting of Tulok Marrowbreath at Wench.
In a quieter corner of the common room, Lady Laelanyel and Aef-Grimnir sat, considering the Shadowflames' situation.
"There's a map in this book" the Mistweaver was explaining. "Which marks what I think is an entrance to the Umbral Web. Unlike Khainites, my Shadowkin is weary of threading it, but it could be our only way to leave the Prime Dominion before it is too late".
"My Lady, I'm as keen as you to leave this wretched Dominion and that lunatic Soulblight behind" replied Aef-Grimnir. "But I cannot return to my lodge with just a few books and scrolls, not after such a long time".
"What do you suggest, then?"
"We venture once more into the tunnels. Surely Nirimos Sylai will know of some hidden trove".
"I don't like that Iscarneth... there's something odd about him and this Gleamdeep of him".
"What other choice do we have? We don't know the place. We must rely on the locals. And as we go after something worth our efforts, you can check the accuracy of that map".
"Always finding opportunity in strife, Runefather. This is why I like you. I'll speak with the Underwriter".
***
"Well... there's this tomb that other customers of mine, a far lesser skilled company than milady's fine companions I'd say, failed to enter..." Nirimos tapped his finger on the pages of his ledger.
"And you are sure about its content?"
"Well... I'm sure it is an Iscarneth tomb, and we have always buried our dead with their valuables".
"Then, what it will take for you to underwrite an expedition?"
"Well... I'll take a cut of any profits... or an advanced payment. Let me see..." the Underwriter flicked through his ledger. "Ah, yes! There's another customer, a fine gentleman from up above, after antique books, preferably lost items from the Basileun Library... You won't happen to know anything about something like that, would you?"
Behind her shadesteel mask, Lady Laelanyel's eyes opened wide. How come the Iscarneth knew about the books? For a moment, she considered turning back the Underwriter, but forfeiting the content of the tomb would have not gone down well with the Caengan.
"I happened to stumble onto this" she said, producing the book from under her cloak. "Could it be of interest?"
"Ah, yes! Such a fine item! It will most definetely do. Now... there's a few more clauses we should discuss..."
The directions provided by Nirimos were surprisingly accurate. And the tomb was indeed full. Aef-Grimnir could see at least two chests brimming with coins and books.
As he moved in, Viserhyx and Anielyn close behind, bowstrings held taught, a barrage of bullets and filthy grot magic welcomed them. The cursed Underwriter had sent another party, it seemed. Aef-Grimnir could not blame the aelf, if it was not for the choice of Zotbag and his ogor bodyguards as backup collectors.
With a grin, the Runefather rounded up the sarcofagus, withering another blast of green energies, and brought his axe around.
Firing his bow at the maneater, Viserhyx reached for one of the chests, but it only contained common copper coins.
With the tip of his sword, Anielyn pulled out a scattering of the crystals studding the sarcofagus and fell back, just as Lady Laelanyel entered the tomb with her party.
Tark, Drevakh Xosh and Iyshak entered the tomb from a side tunnel. From across the chamber, came the booming voices of the rest of the Ironforged.
Aef-Grimnir took another blast to his face. Then, a gentle wind blew through the tomb. He breathed in deeply, sensing Ghyranite magic in it. For all his efforts, Alti had not yet sealed off the Dominion. Reinvigorated, the Runefather slammed his axe down upon the grot shaman.
Throwing axes and arrows flew at the ogors approaching the second chest as Visheryx managed to snatch a book from it, just before a brute was upon him.
Lady Laelanyel drifted to Aef-Grimnir's side, coils of mist lashing at the maneater.
Vorya moved to their back, preparing to strike at another ogor. Behind her, Anielyn still holding onto the crystals, loosed a few arrows at the same target.
Around the book chest, the ogors charged. One engaged Tark and Drevakh, the other tramped over the books, crushing them to a pile of thorn pages and smashing Viserhyx down.
Engrin rushed to support Vorya, the two barely managing to keep the ogor from reaching Anielyn and take the crystals from him.
Again Aef-Gimnir breathed in the Ghyranite wind still blowing through the room. Bullets from the maneater's gun flew at him, but together with Lady Laelanyel they bested the ogor.
Lady Laelanyel moved out of the tomb to face the second maneater. The ogor shot a few bullets at the Mistweaver. They found their mark, but the burly mercenary realised there was no way now, without Zotbag's magic, to get through the Shadowflames and take the crystals from them. With a roaring command, he called the Ironforged back.
In Gleamdeep, Nirimos rounded the corner of the wooden tower acting as his office. There, waiting for him, was his customer.
"Well, sir, I have the book you asked for".
"Well done, aelf! Well done..." the Thief of Wit's voice was heavy with gloating. "Now, forget. As always, that's the price you pay to keep your business prospering".
Once alone, the Gaunt Summoner opened the book. An enraged scream filled the air. Two pages had been ripped off, the two pages he wanted. The pages showing a map to an entrance to the Umbral Web.
No comments:
Post a Comment