Phantom: Karma Slave
By PhantomChajo


Chapter 8


Somewhere along the Spine of the World, about some 400 miles north and east of where Phantom was currently at, stood an old once abandoned fort. Many that knew of it claimed that Dwarves had a hand in building it, though it was designed for taller humanoids. If there was a history to this place, it had long since been forgotten or destroyed.

Right at this moment it had been claimed by a group that wished to use it for their base of operations, though calling them anything other then a bunch of misfits was laughable. Granted they had did their best to repair what damage time had done to the place, but there was only so much unskilled workers could do. The gates had gaping holes one could stick an arm though and when it was opened, it had to be forced open due to the bad list the doors had. Thankfully the roofs were made of slate, the walls of stone and everything else was dirt, all of which was in good condition.

When the group wasn't attempting to better the place, they made a laughable attempt in keeping it secured. Half the men and women that walked the walls tended to find a spot and sleep while those in the courtyard made pathetic attempts at drilling. More misses then hits and those were lucky blows which never landed where they were suppose to land or even come close to the proper opponent!

It was on this day that a lone wagon arrived at the fort, within spitting distance no less before anyone noticed it's arrival. The wagon itself had seen better days and the mules pulling it did not look any better.

It was by chance one of the brighter Half-Orc's was manning that section of the wall. He noticed the sounds of several mules braying and stuck his head out, half leaning over the wall. "uhwho goes?" he asked with a grunt in poor common.

"Arwik and Carso," called the driver of the wagon.

"uh.. who?" the still dim-witted half-orc asked, reaching up to scratch it's flea infested scalp.

"Arwik and Carso!" The small human yelled up then growled. "Just have someone tell his Lordship that we have what he asked for."

The half-orc crushed a flea between his thick nails then looked down at the pair as if for the first time. "huh.. why should me do that?" He was rather enjoying annoying the small human.


Arwik was just about to have a fit over it all. Standing up in the wagon he once again yelled at the half-orc. "Because, if you do not I will turn you into a tree hugging plant eating elf and let your friends have fun playing with you!" He started to wave his arms about as if casting a spell.

"Okays, okays, just holds ya pants on," the half-orc grunted as he ducked back behind the wall. Turning he yelled down into the courtyard. "uh-hey, someones opens the gates. Asswit and Carso are here for his lordship."

"That's ARWIK!" screamed the human.

"Yeah, what he said!" Said the bigger human only to be swatted by Arwik. "I was only trying to help Arwik."

Still scowling and growling under his breath, Arwik sat back down. "With friends like you I don't need enemies!" Poor Carso had the look of a kicked puppy as the pair waited for the gate to be opened.

Inside the fort, several humans wandered over to the gate after several minutes and started to shove it open. With plenty of curses and a bit of muscle, it was forced open, though it hung awkwardly until it was braced open.

After the wagon passed the pair, they looked at each other a moment. "Ifin his lordship is such a great mage and can bring back from the dead some great warrior leader, then why can't he fix the gate for us?" one asked.

The other shrugged. "Dun know. Guessing there's some things magics can't do." The second human began to snicker. "or else he can't do it."

The first started snickering too. "Probably. Everyone's seen what he is able to do, do you really want him to 'fix' the gate?"

The second sobered for a moment. "umm no. I think not."

"Right. Now lets get this sorry excuse for a gate closed before something else comes along."


Outside the single tower that dominated the fort the wagon stopped. Hopping out of it, Arwik waved over a few of the lazy louts that were standing about. "You, you , you and you. Start unloading the wagon. Take the crates and put them in the main room on the first floor," he started to walk away but stopped and looked back at the group. "And for gods sake, be careful with them." With that he headed into the tower.

Carso looked at the group then back towards the retreating form of Arwik and climbed out, following along behind like a lost puppy. He could hear Arwik grumbling and grousing as he headed towards the stairs that went to the second floor where his Lordship's room was located.

"Of all the places in the realms I could be, I got stuck here with a group of half-wits and idiots. I could have been in once of the cities like Lusken or Waterdeep. Maybe even.."

"Uh.. cause you've already been chased out of those two places?" asked Carso in reply to Arwik's musings.

"Who asked you!" Snapped Arwik, stopping so that he could hit Carso again when he was within range.

"But you-"

"Shut Up!"


Some time later when the wagon had been completely unloaded and the coffin like boxes were laid out side by side in two surprisingly need rows did his Lordship make an appearance. Anyone that could find an excuse not to be around the mage did. And even those that could not find a reason also vanished from site, as much to save their sanity as well as to keep from keeling over laughing so hard that they might end up scorched from something the mage did.

For in truth his 'Lordship' was nothing more then a low level mage of some questionable abilities that had to have, at one time, been someone else's apprentice. It is still a mystery as to how he came to his position as well as the wealth, scrolls and tomes of magic that he brandied about carelessly. He also had a tendency to create (or attempt to create at any rate) magical items that backfired more often then not. One of the two prime examples are a sword that can cut through even the thickest, toughest armor. But it does note even have the ability to scratch the skin below it. And the second is a 'water proof' cloak that absorbs the water as it falls. But once the rain has stopped it starts sucking the moisture out of the person wearing it. The sword is occasionally used when it comes time to hack apart something or other, the cloaks (for he managed to make more then just one) is used to sop up the water puddles in the buildings as well as in the courtyard after it has rained.

(There were even persistent rumors that his Lordship was a banished mage from the Harpel clan. To be refused even the most nebulous of blood or marriage ties from that infamous mage clan was quite a feat!!)

His Lordship finally made his appearance dressed in a garishly colored set of robes and an outlandish hat perched on the top of his head. He tended to look down along his nose at anyone he was speaking to. "Well," he huffed. "I see it took you long enough to get what I required and make it back here."

"Yes your Lordship," Arwik agreed, though he really wanted to roll his eyes and strangle the idiot mage for stating the obvious. "Had a but of trouble at first but" shrugging his shoulders.

"I don't want to hear it," His Lordship cut in. "Open them up." Gesturing to the boxes. "Go one. I wish to examine the contents of each."

"er.. yes your Lordship Carso go get a crowbar," Arwik snapped at the lumbering man.

"Ahkays." Carso replied then turned and left in search of the required instrument.

"With what these nine cases hold, I now have the last ingredient for my spell." His lordship was gloating visibly about that rather hinted at spell.

Arwik blinked then silently counted the cases. "uh.. Nine?" he asked.

His Lordship huffed once more. "Yes. Nine. You can count can you not?" He asked sarcastically, missing the look Arwik gave him as he turned away.

Arwik on the other hand was trying to remember where and how they might have lost the ninth case. Carso chose that moment to return with the crowbar. "I gots the crowbar likes ya asked me ta get."

"Not now Carso, we're missing one of the cases!" Arwik said slapping the crowbar out of Carso's hand.

"Oh Musta been when the wagon load shifted after we hit that really big rock when it was raining and sudden the wagon bounced and we were covered in mud and-"

"SHUT UP!" Arwik yelled at Carso, starting to turn an interesting shade of red.

Carso threw up his hands to defend himself from any slaps or punches Arwik would throw at him. "But.. But" He shut his mount at the look he received.

His Lordship glowered at the pair then lifted his chin a bit higher. "If there is not nine cases then you do not get your money. When you bring me the ninth case you will get your money. No be gone," waving his had as if to wave away a bad smell, his nose wrinkled up. With that he turned and walked off, stumbling a time or two over the hem of his overlong robe.

Arwik was ready to strangle anyone that got in his way, he was so furious at the high handed manner of the mage. After several minutes of deep breaths, he finally calmed down enough to speak without snapping too much. "Go get the wagon ready, we are going to go looking for that accursed ninth box and bring it back and get our money and then leave this cesspit of a fort. When that happens we will then go find a place that will treat us the way we deserve to be treated." With that he stormed off to his quarters so that he could unpack then repack his gear and take as much as he could with him for the trip.


Unknown to all the so called 'Powers' of the fort, a meeting was going on in one of the small outbuildings. A meeting which included a female half-orc, a male half-orc and two humans.

"Alright, so what's the deal? How much longer do we have to wait around for that bumbling idiot to get himself blown up by some spell he messes up?" asked one of the humans.

"Until we receive the signal to move," the female half-orc said.

"But how long will that be Lieutenant?" Asked the second human.

The half-orc hissed at the speaker. "Corporal Korgan, How many times have I told you to not call me Lieutenant? I'm Just Two-Axes here. That goes for the both of you also," she said pointing a finger at the other two. Both Corporal Broke-Tusk and Corporal Hayward grinned and saluted her. "good, now lets get back to playing the idiots and see what happens." With that they broke up and headed back outside.