Thanks to everyone who reviewed. You talked me
into writing another chapter. More craziness, and ultra-powerful
NPC's ...
Waking the Lich
Chapter Two - The Lich, the Witch, and the Wizard
The moon shone bright, reflecting off the helms and mail of the dwarf brothers Bret and Karka as they strode along the road, cheerfully humming a marching song. Behind them trotted a nervous-looking horse, towing a luxurious litter that was supported by four levitation discs and draped with silken curtains.
Leading the horse, with the reins carelessly looped over one arm, was the gnome Gunter. He was nose-deep in a book with the words 'A Beginner's Guide to Magic, by Jan (the Magnificent Orator) Jansen embossed on its cover. Gunter squinted as he tried to read the book in the weak light.
A snuffling sound came from the other side of the bushes that bordered the road, and Bret raised a hand to call a halt. "What was that?"
Gunter looked up and listened to the grunts and howling for a moment. "Sounds like a gibberling, or rather, a whole lot of gibberlings."
"Are they dangerous?" Bret asked just before a score of the twisted humanoids leaped out at the adventurers.
"Yep," Gunter said, dropping his book and reaching for the pistols at the holsters strapped around his middle.
"Hah!" Bret cried. "Finally, some action!"
"Joy," Karka said sourly as he shot one slavering creature, and began re-loading his musket.
"We need the practice," Bret said cheerfully as he swung his war-hammer in wide circles, keeping the howling beasts away from the two gunfighters.
"What is that racket?" a cranky voice said, clearly heard over the sounds of battle.
"Aw, crap," Bret muttered just before the newly-awakened fourth member of the party waved a hand, and all the gibberlings fell dead. "How are we supposed to become the best fighters in the realms when she's travelling with us?"
"At least we're still alive," Gunter said, and then picked up the lich's hand and handed it back to her with a courtly bow.
The lich frowned when she saw Bret bleeding from a wound in his thigh. Karka began bandaging the wound with practiced hands.
"If," the lich said primly. "You had hired a cleric, as I suggested, you wouldn't have to trust in such primitive healing measures."
"It's alright, Ma'am," Bret said. "It's only a scratch."
"Next time," she huffed. "It might be more serious, and then what would you do? Dying isn't as much fun as you young people think it is. I insist you find a proper healer to join us when we reach Riatavin. We cannot travel into the mountains without someone to watch over you boys."
"Yes, Ma'am," Bret said.
"It's like adventuring with your mother," he said sullenly after the lich was once again asleep.
"If Ma was dead, ridiculously powerful, and just the tiniest bit insane," Gunter nodded in agreement. "You know, this reminds of the time cousin Derek had to carry the lantern of filial obligation across three deserts and one sea ..."
"Forget the healing spells," Bret muttered to Karka. "We need a priest who knows how to cast silencing spells."
Finding a priest proved more difficult than Bret expected. Even with the lich hidden behind voluminous robes and a veil, no one was eager to join their party. Fortunately, the ale was good, and Bret was content to wait around drinking until the right cleric showed up. Karka, however, left the morning of the second day and returned before mid-day with a sturdy dwarf cleric whose lush, golden-brown beard hung past her waist.
"This here's Thordis, a priestess of Dumathoin," Karka grunted as he sat down and reached for Bret's half-finished ale.
"Welcome, fair maid," Bret said as he stood up and bowed to Thordis. "Where did you find her?" he whispered to Karka.
"Where you expect to find clerics," he whispered back. "In a temple."
"Well met," Thordis said as she looked around the tavern eagerly. "Where is the Lady Nalia Delryn?"
"Who?" Bret asked.
"She means the lich," Karka said quickly when Thordis frowned at him. "I told you she never told us her name, you're the one who seems to know her."
"There's no one else she could be," Thordis said. "At least if that bit about her aiding the goddess Imoen in her ascension was the truth. I did my acolyte studies thesis on ascended mortals, and Imoen was my main study subject. This wingless bird you're looking for sounds like the Lady Aerie, another of Imoen's companions. I've been looking for a way to serve Dumathoin, and when Karka told his story I just knew it was fated we would travel together. Why else did I feel compelled to study a human goddess?"
"Destiny, or not, now that we've got a cleric, we can get moving again," Karka said.
"Yes, I am eager to test my training against the dangers of the trail," Thordis said with a grin. Gunter opened his mouth, but decided not to tell her about the reality of travelling with a centuries old lich.
The trip to Understone, where Aerie was rumoured to be living, was uneventful. Even the black dragon they stumbled across chose to give the party leave to cross her lands after the lich spoke to her. The dragon proved more reasonable than the guards to the gates of Understone. They flatly refused to allow any of the party to enter the city, and boasted that the wards would keep out any undead.
"How rude," the lich huffed, and rolled up her tattered sleeves. "One moment, dears, and I'll take care of those gates. Perhaps an earthquake spell, or I could just summon a skeletal host to tear those stones down ..."
"We can't do that," Bret said, panic in his voice. "We're supposed to be heroes, and they're just innocent villagers."
"Are you sure?" the lich asked. "It's much easier when you can just kill everyone in your way."
"Why don't we just ask them to send a message to Aerie?" Thordis said.
"I think they already have," Gunter said as the guards on the parapet of the gate moved aside and a slender, white clad elf stepped forwards.
"Foul creatures," she cried out in a musical voice. "Begone from this peaceful village!"
Her voice rose up in a prayer and a light quickly formed around her body, and spread outwards towards the adventurers at the gate.
"Relax," Thordis said when Gunter and the dwarves dove for cover. "That spell won't work on living people, just undead."
"That's too bad," Bret said sadly when the light swept over the lich and her form crumpled into dust. "I was getting used to her."
"Nalia Delryn isn't so easily destroyed," Thordis said with a smile as she pointed at the swirling dust cloud that was forming into a humanoid shape.
"I thought that was her," the elf said with a sniff as she appeared in front of the party. As one, they stepped back from the still-glowing figure.
"Lady Aerie?" Thordis said hesitantly.
"I am she," the elf said, keeping an eye on the reforming lich. "And you are travelling in poor company."
"That was not nice," the lich said as she looked down at her body. "Hmm, something doesn't seem right."
"You've got your nose and left thumb mixed up, Ma'am," Gunter said.
"Oh, yes, thank you, dear."
"What are you doing here?" Aerie said shrilly.
"The usual," the lich replied archly. "Helping others. These children are on a quest to rid the world of a tyrant, and a prophecy sent them to first me, and then you."
"There's always another tyrant," Aerie said with a sigh as she inspected the 'children'. Bret stood taller, and tried to look noble, while Thordis was gazing at her with a look that was part disbelief, and part awe. "Very well, follow me and tell me your tale. Not you, Nalia. I spent years setting up the undead wards around Understone, and I won't break them just to let you in."
"We're a team, Ma'am," Bret said to Aerie. "It wouldn't be right for us to separate."
"Don't be silly," the lich said. "It's your quest, I'm just here to help. I have no desire for her company, anyway. I'll just stay here and have a little nap."
"If you're sure," Bret said doubtfully.
"Come on, Bret," Karka said. "You know nothing's going to bother her."
They followed the wingless one to her home, trailed by a crowd of curious gnomes. Bret hefted his hammer and tried to walk with a swagger, but wound up looking more like sailor on the last day of leave than a heroic adventurer. He was taken by surprise when Aerie disappeared through an almost hidden tunnel, and stood for a moment blinking in confusion before Karka grabbed him by the sleeve and led him out into a small clearing.
"This is my garden," Aerie said with a girlish giggle, as she walked up to the statue of a prancing unicorn and gave it an affectionate pat. "How do you like it?"
"Uh," Bret said, gazing at a sea of pale pink and white. Even the grass underfoot had pink-edged leaves. The pink roses and white lilies he could handle, but the statues of impossibly cute animals and fairy creatures, with eyes that seemed to take up half their heads, were doing unpleasant things to his stomach.
"It's very bright, Ma'am," Karka said in a flat voice.
"I don't believe I've ever seen so many pink marble statues," Thordis continued. She looked at Gunter as though begging him to say something, but the gnome just shrugged and stayed silent.
"Well, you are a polite group," Aerie said with a broad smile. She pointed at the statue of a human man that was half buried by climbing vines at the far end of the garden, and raised her voice. "You don't have to spare my feelings, I built this garden for his sake."
Gunter inspected the scowling statue for a moment while silence fell over the rest of the party. "A petrification spell?" he asked the witch. She nodded in reply.
"He doesn't look like the sort who would like a ... pretty garden like this," Thordis said timidly.
"Oh no, I'm sure he absolutely hates it," Aerie said with a wicked grin as she led them into her, much more sedately decorated, hut.
"Remind me not to annoy the lady," Karka whispered to Thordis. "I'd hate to join that collection."
"I wasn't the one who turned him to stone," Aerie said lightly as she heated some tea and passed the cups to her nervous guests. "He was like that when I bought him. The silly wizard just had to challenge Elminster again, and wound up like that. You think he would have given up after the first time he was humiliated, but some people just don't learn. All to the best, I suppose, since I did get the pleasure of presenting him as a gift to my darling Minscy."
"Minscy?" Bret said in a strangled voice.
"My dear, late, lamented husband," Aerie said with a wistful smile. "But you aren't here to listen to an old woman reminisce about her past. Do tell me about this quest of yours."
Aerie listened politely to their tale, but had no idea why the prophecy had led them to her. "I do not understand, I could help you dispose of this tyrant Ehlastra, but there are many others who could do the same."
"Yes, but as we said she seems to be immortal. Many have tried to destroy her but nothing seems to harm her; not blade, poison, or disease. Are you sure you don't have, I don't know, a sword of certain death, or something, hidden around somewhere?" Bret asked.
"Don't be silly, I don't use swords." Aerie thought for a moment. "Although I do remember a Fire Giant who was unkillable, until we killed him, but I do not quite recall how."
"We haven't any other leads, please do try to remember," Bret said with a hint of desperation in his voice.
Further talk did not yield any answers, and it was an unhappy group that accepted Aerie's offer of a place to stay for the night. They settled in for the night, but Karka was soon woken by Gunter hissing in his ear. "What?" he said crossly.
"I have a scroll of stone to flesh," Gunter whispered. He sighed when Karka only stared at him with total confusion. "We've been assuming the prophecy meant for us to find Aerie, but maybe it was the man in the garden we were meant to find."
"Don't you dare," Karka barked. "How do you know you won't be awakening a worse evil than Ehlastra? The man fought Elminster!"
"Exactly," Gunter said. "And Elminster was practically invulnerable, so anyone who fought him must have been very powerful."
"Or been completely insane," Karka added as he made a grab for the gnome. Gunter was out the door before Karka could untangle himself from the bedcovers. He was struggling to open the door Gunter had locked behind him, when an explosion rattled the walls of the hut.
"What's going on?" Bret said as he stared at the smoke that was curling in under the door.
"We might be in trouble," Karka said as another explosion burst outside. He stepped aside when a white blur flew through the room, and rushed out into the garden.
"Where's Gunter?" Thordis asked. Karka shrugged and pointed out the door. Thordis walked out without pausing, followed by two unhappy dwarves.
The garden was a blackened ruin. Aerie stood in the far corner cursing and jabbing her finger at a soot covered mage. "That must be the wizard who was petrified," Karka mentioned.
"How did he get loose?" Bret said swinging his hammer menacingly.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time," Gunter piped up weakly from behind a stone bench. He crawled out, and vainly tried to brush the soot off his clothes. "Turns out the wizard's both powerful and insane."
"How unusual," Karka said when the lich appeared in a flash of light.
"Right," Gunter said, crawling back behind the bench.
"Those fireballs lit up the sky," the lich said worridly. "Bright enough to let me transport here. What's going on?"
"I," the wizard said with a sneer. "Am simply taking my leave of the plucked chicken and her disgusting garden. (Dear gods, the horror, the horror.)"
"Addie!" the lich squealed and threw herself at the stunned wizard. He looked into her decaying face, and stepped back with a look of disgust on his face.
"Edwig?" the lich said with dismay.
"I cannot believe you had the skill to achieve Lichdom, you pampered wench," he said. "(I could do the same, of course I could.)."
"It's called talent," the lich said smugly. "I could teach you some things, if you ask nicely."
"You must have had divine assistance," he said sulkily.
"Jealous, Edwin?" Aerie said with a snort.
"Nonsense," Edwin replied, casting a spell that cleaned his robes. "A simple transformation, well within my own capabilities. I am simply loath to deprive the world of my superior, living, masculine presence."
"A bit scrawny to be boasting," Bret said, puffing out his chest.
"Don't taunt the insane, powerful mage," Gunter hissed from behind the bench.
"The insane, powerful, and evil mage," Thordis added.
"Let me guess, another one of Imoen's companions?" Karka said sourly.
"Edwin the Arrogant, an evil tempter, sent to test Imoen's desire to do good," Thordis said. "He aided her, but forever tried to steer her towards the path of evil."
"Who are you nattering chimps?" Edwin said, turning to look at the youngsters.
"They're on a quest," the lich said brightly. "It's ever so much fun."
"I don't suppose you've heard of a woman named Ehlastra?" Bret asked with just a slight quaver in his voice.
"I care nothing for your petty squabbles," Edwin said, turning away.
"Edwin knows something," Aerie said. "You can see it in his eyes."
"I have better things to do than stay here," Edwin said with a smirk and turned to leave.
"I think not," Aerie said as she twisted a bracelet around her wrist. Edwin started choking and clawed at a chain around his neck. His eyes burned fire as they glared at Aerie when she touched the bracelet again. "Restraining collar. I took precautions in case you were ever brought back to life. You will do what I tell you do."
"Did you play these deviant games with your oafish paramour?" he said with a leer.
"Slavery is contrary to International Law as outlined in the Thayvian Conventions," Thordis said sternly. "I must protest."
"The what?" Edwin asked, staring at her with his mouth hanging open. "How long have I been frozen here? What's happened to Thay?"
"Thay is a shining example of justice and equality to all the lands," Aerie said in a cloyingly sweet voice.
Edwin shuddered. "How depressing. I'll have to take over, and bring them back to glory again."
"You see?" Aerie said to Thordis. "It's much better if he's chained."
Thordis looked stubborn, and crossed her arms as she glared as Aerie. "Then try him for his crimes, and lock him up."
"What crimes?" Edwin said haughtily. "Only brutish thugs cannot work within the law."
"All right," Aerie said. "Give us your word you'll help the youngsters destroy this Ehlastra, and I'll let you go. No overthrowing Ehlastra and taking her place, either."
Edwin thought for a moment, tugged on the collar, and then snarled. "Agreed."
"What do you know of this Ehlastra?" Bret said eagerly.
"Something those two should know," Edwin sneered. "However, it seems I am the only one whose memory hasn't deteriorated with age. Ehlastra was a slave we rescued from Yaga-Shura ..."
"The unkillable Fire Giant," Aerie added. "And now Ehlastra is unkillable too."
Edwin scolded Aerie for interrupting him, and then continued. "The woman learned how Yaga-Shura removed his heart to make himself invulnerable, and no doubt has done the same."
"So all you have to do is find her heart, and that will make her vulnerable," Aerie finished for him. She stuck her tongue out at Edwin when he glared at her.
"Uh, how do we do that?" Bret said.
"I have no idea," Aerie said.
"The pattern is clear," Thordis said.
"It is?" Bret said, looking completely confused.
"It all ties in to the goddess Imoen's ascension," Thordis said brightly. "A link to an old foe; her old companions. We should seek out the remaining living members of Imoen's group." She took another look at the lich. "The remaining existing members of the group, I mean."
"Now," Thordis said. "I know Minsc and Lord Anomen are dead. Did either of them come back in any form?"
"I should say not," Aerie said tightly.
"Insisted on meeting Helm, the stubborn man," the lich said sadly.
"Alright, that leaves the Great and Noble Mazzy Fentan," Thordis said. "What happened to her?"
"She's haunting the ruins of Long Tower Keep up north," Aerie said. "Now that you mentioned her, I do recall one of her letters said some warlord left her treasures for Mazzy to guard."
"I don't suppose one of you powerful mages can transport us there?" Bret said.
"It doesn't work that way, dear," the lich said.
"Don't worry, I've got lots of tales to entertain you with on the journey," Gunter said with a wink.
"And there's always dwarven marching songs," Karka added.
"Please, petrify me again," Edwin said pleadingly to Aerie.