EEEK!!!
By the time Solonund and Catti-Brie had reached the burial chamber where Kordon was hiding, the fight was well under way. One of the litches that was aiding Kordon had already been taken down by the followers of Eilliastrae. There were five more undead wizards to go, including Kordon. Kordon also had a large number of undead warriors protecting him.
Kordon had taken the shape of a huge winter wolf. The Drow were quickly becoming outnumbered as he cast ice breath spells into the fray. Frozen statues were everywhere as frantic wizards and clerics tried to reverse the effects of the spell before one of the other litches or undead warriors shattered the victims to pieces. At the same time others were truing to find the direct entrance to the surface, so that Khelben and those fighting above could come to their aid.
Catti pulled out her bow and asked," Where do I aim?"
"Anywhere you can hit ." Solonund replied, " You can't kill litches normally. You have to find the phylactery and destroy it."
"What in the nine hells is a phylactery?"
"A container that the litch keeps his soul. Sometimes a jar or a box. It has to be near here somewhere. Litches can't work their magic unless the phylactery is close by."
"Solonund, do you know what Kordon's phylactery looks like?"
"I am already looking for it. It is a small, hollowed out, piece of a tree branch. Catti, tell the others here to use fire spells. From the looks of the other three litches, they may have combustible phylacteries as well.
"Got it." Catti said as she pulled her sword and waded through the score of undead warriors."
Suddenly someone fell from a hole near the top of the cavern. The person's arms and chest were covered with tattoos. The only clothing this person wore were a colorful feather headdress, feather and bead anklets and a piece of cloth that was wound around his legs and waist to resemble underwear.
"Eeek, eeek, eeek," the person was screeching like an animal. He was also speaking in a language none in the room understood as he danced around.
Solonund looked up, "It is about time you got here, Andrak, you are missing all of the fun!"
The odd cleric ignored Solonund as he chanted " ¡Doña Nula , Doña Nula, Doña Nula, coma estos huesos. Deje el resto de las almas!"
As Andrak chanted, his body began to slowly glow. The glowing spread out like a smoke and surrounded the undead creatures. As the cloud touched them, they crumbles to dust. The only undead left intact were the five litches.
"Good job, monkey boy!" Solonund yelled.
"Do yours now, horse boy," Andrak yelled back.
Catti-Brie found a large jar. The undead that Andrak recently dispatched seemed to be protecting it, so she wanted to take a closer look. One of the lesser litches saw her as she headed for the jar and blasted her with a spell. She fell to the ground unconscious as Drizzt and several others started filtering through the hole above where Andrak had just entered.
"Get to that jar!" Solonund yelled at those entering.
"Catti!!" Drizzt yelled.
Both Solonund and Drizzt ran to Catti-Brie's limp body. Solonund checked to see if she was breathing as Drizzt checked for a pulse.
"She's alive, but she is not in good shape. She has been cursed. We need to get her to a cleric." Solonund said.
Drizzt tuned his eyes to the litches in the room. He did not know which one had fired the blast that has cursed Catti, but he was going to make sure all those creatures regretted it.
Drizzt's blades whirled around, keeping two of the litches busy. The other litches were being kept busy as well by the number of people dropping in from the hole in the ceiling.
Solonund picked Catti up and handed her to Andrak, "Get her to safety, "He sternly ordered.
As soon as he was sure Catti was safe, Solonund made his way to the jar that he saw Catti walking toward before she was hit. Drizzt nearly knocked him in the head with a back swing, but Solonund dodged it just in time. Solonund was aware that the beast within, that Drizzt called the hunter, was loose.
It did not matter. Solonund's goal was to get to that jar the litches Drizzt was fighting, were guarding.He crouched down and dove for the jar, catching it by the base.
He tried to lift it, but it was too heavy.
He knocked it over and broke it open. Inside the jar was a wild elf crouched in fetal position. Solonund checked the elf to see if he was alive.
The elf was alive, but was still, as if he was deeply asleep. Solonund quickly pulled the elf out of the battle area and looked him over. Around the elf's neck was a leather necklace set with four stones. Solonund quickly cut the necklace loose. He looked at the necklace carefully.
"This has to be the phylacteries of the four who are aiding Kordon," he said to himself.
Solonund cut the stones out of their leather binding . He found a rock and one by one began to crush the stones. With every stone that was crushed, a litch fell.
He searched the wild elf for the hollowed branch that was Kordon's phylactery, but he did not find it.
Khelben Blackstaff floated down the hole and cast a spell that kept Kordon bound in a sphere.
"Solonund," he shouted," have you found his phylactery?"
"No Master Khelben, I destroyed the ones owned by the other litches, but his is not here."
"Very well, Everyone! Search the room! Solonund, what does it look like?"
"A small, hollowed out tree branch. Search for a hollow stick!"
As the others searched, Solonund went to Drizzt.
"Catti needs you. You had best go see how she is doing. And, if you do not mind, take this wild elf with you. He is apparently under the same sort of curse."
"Alright. I will leave you to clean up the mess." Drizzt replied.
"Search everywhere, we have to find that phylactery before he breaks out." Khelben said.
Solonund and the others called to the task searched for several hours. Khelben was tiring. It was imperative that the phylactery be found. Kordon started to smile at Solonund.
Solonund fell to the floor of the tomb, exhausted. He was feeling something else, but he was trying to suppress it.
"I can not let myself be afraid of that bastard." Solonund mumbled to himself.
"Natcooshie'pira, let me out of here. You can have everything you want if you let me out"
"Shut up, you beast. You will tell me where your phylactery is so I can send you to the abyss where you belong."
"Oh, Natcooshie'pira, you do not understand. It is no longer here. You took it away."
"Liar! Now tell me where it is."
"Solonund, do not let yourself get so worked up. He is using your anger to refuel himself." Khelben said.
"I am not lying, you gave it to a Drow." Kordon said.
"The wild elf? I searched him thoroughly. It was not on his person."
Kordon grinned an evil grin and said no more.
Solonund rushed up a rope ladder and out through the hole in the ceiling of the cavern. He had to find that wild elf. He did not want to do what he felt he had to."
**********
Drizzt watched over Catti-Brie and the strange wild elf.
"Could this be the Mallen Quanta that everyone is wondering about?" Drizzt asked Laeral.
"I do not think so, Drizzt. This wild elf is much too young to be Solonund's father."
"Is there anything you can do for them?"
"Catti-Brie will be fine. The curse on her has been removed. She is simply sleeping now."
"What about him?"
"I am puzzled by his condition. It seems like his condition gets worse instead of better when I try to remove the curse on him. He is dying, and I have no Idea how to help him."
Solonund burst into the room," I'm sorry, Lady Silverhand, I.. I have to search your wild elf patient. Drizzt, take Catti to another room and leave. I would suggest, milady, that you have your highest healing spells prepared. I will never forgive myself if he dies because of what I have to do."
"What are you babbling about, Solonund?"
Solonund pulled a sharp knife from off of a table and made his way to the cot where the wild elf was lying.
"Solonund! Are you insane?!"
"I am sorry, Milady, Its inside him. If I Don't, we could all die tonight."
****Please Review*****
Notes:
Nula- A Maztican goddess. guardian of true life and animals. Otten apears as a plumed monkey.
" ¡Doña Nula , Doña Nula, Doña Nula, coma estos huesos. Deje el resto de las almas!" - Lady Nula, eat these bones. Let the souls find true rest.
Maztica- an island continent far off the sword coast that resembles Aztec Mexico.
**For further information about Maztica, read Iron Helm, Viper Hand, and Feathered Dragon by Douglas Niles**
Dedicated to my son, Danny.
By the time Solonund and Catti-Brie had reached the burial chamber where Kordon was hiding, the fight was well under way. One of the litches that was aiding Kordon had already been taken down by the followers of Eilliastrae. There were five more undead wizards to go, including Kordon. Kordon also had a large number of undead warriors protecting him.
Kordon had taken the shape of a huge winter wolf. The Drow were quickly becoming outnumbered as he cast ice breath spells into the fray. Frozen statues were everywhere as frantic wizards and clerics tried to reverse the effects of the spell before one of the other litches or undead warriors shattered the victims to pieces. At the same time others were truing to find the direct entrance to the surface, so that Khelben and those fighting above could come to their aid.
Catti pulled out her bow and asked," Where do I aim?"
"Anywhere you can hit ." Solonund replied, " You can't kill litches normally. You have to find the phylactery and destroy it."
"What in the nine hells is a phylactery?"
"A container that the litch keeps his soul. Sometimes a jar or a box. It has to be near here somewhere. Litches can't work their magic unless the phylactery is close by."
"Solonund, do you know what Kordon's phylactery looks like?"
"I am already looking for it. It is a small, hollowed out, piece of a tree branch. Catti, tell the others here to use fire spells. From the looks of the other three litches, they may have combustible phylacteries as well.
"Got it." Catti said as she pulled her sword and waded through the score of undead warriors."
Suddenly someone fell from a hole near the top of the cavern. The person's arms and chest were covered with tattoos. The only clothing this person wore were a colorful feather headdress, feather and bead anklets and a piece of cloth that was wound around his legs and waist to resemble underwear.
"Eeek, eeek, eeek," the person was screeching like an animal. He was also speaking in a language none in the room understood as he danced around.
Solonund looked up, "It is about time you got here, Andrak, you are missing all of the fun!"
The odd cleric ignored Solonund as he chanted " ¡Doña Nula , Doña Nula, Doña Nula, coma estos huesos. Deje el resto de las almas!"
As Andrak chanted, his body began to slowly glow. The glowing spread out like a smoke and surrounded the undead creatures. As the cloud touched them, they crumbles to dust. The only undead left intact were the five litches.
"Good job, monkey boy!" Solonund yelled.
"Do yours now, horse boy," Andrak yelled back.
Catti-Brie found a large jar. The undead that Andrak recently dispatched seemed to be protecting it, so she wanted to take a closer look. One of the lesser litches saw her as she headed for the jar and blasted her with a spell. She fell to the ground unconscious as Drizzt and several others started filtering through the hole above where Andrak had just entered.
"Get to that jar!" Solonund yelled at those entering.
"Catti!!" Drizzt yelled.
Both Solonund and Drizzt ran to Catti-Brie's limp body. Solonund checked to see if she was breathing as Drizzt checked for a pulse.
"She's alive, but she is not in good shape. She has been cursed. We need to get her to a cleric." Solonund said.
Drizzt tuned his eyes to the litches in the room. He did not know which one had fired the blast that has cursed Catti, but he was going to make sure all those creatures regretted it.
Drizzt's blades whirled around, keeping two of the litches busy. The other litches were being kept busy as well by the number of people dropping in from the hole in the ceiling.
Solonund picked Catti up and handed her to Andrak, "Get her to safety, "He sternly ordered.
As soon as he was sure Catti was safe, Solonund made his way to the jar that he saw Catti walking toward before she was hit. Drizzt nearly knocked him in the head with a back swing, but Solonund dodged it just in time. Solonund was aware that the beast within, that Drizzt called the hunter, was loose.
It did not matter. Solonund's goal was to get to that jar the litches Drizzt was fighting, were guarding.He crouched down and dove for the jar, catching it by the base.
He tried to lift it, but it was too heavy.
He knocked it over and broke it open. Inside the jar was a wild elf crouched in fetal position. Solonund checked the elf to see if he was alive.
The elf was alive, but was still, as if he was deeply asleep. Solonund quickly pulled the elf out of the battle area and looked him over. Around the elf's neck was a leather necklace set with four stones. Solonund quickly cut the necklace loose. He looked at the necklace carefully.
"This has to be the phylacteries of the four who are aiding Kordon," he said to himself.
Solonund cut the stones out of their leather binding . He found a rock and one by one began to crush the stones. With every stone that was crushed, a litch fell.
He searched the wild elf for the hollowed branch that was Kordon's phylactery, but he did not find it.
Khelben Blackstaff floated down the hole and cast a spell that kept Kordon bound in a sphere.
"Solonund," he shouted," have you found his phylactery?"
"No Master Khelben, I destroyed the ones owned by the other litches, but his is not here."
"Very well, Everyone! Search the room! Solonund, what does it look like?"
"A small, hollowed out tree branch. Search for a hollow stick!"
As the others searched, Solonund went to Drizzt.
"Catti needs you. You had best go see how she is doing. And, if you do not mind, take this wild elf with you. He is apparently under the same sort of curse."
"Alright. I will leave you to clean up the mess." Drizzt replied.
"Search everywhere, we have to find that phylactery before he breaks out." Khelben said.
Solonund and the others called to the task searched for several hours. Khelben was tiring. It was imperative that the phylactery be found. Kordon started to smile at Solonund.
Solonund fell to the floor of the tomb, exhausted. He was feeling something else, but he was trying to suppress it.
"I can not let myself be afraid of that bastard." Solonund mumbled to himself.
"Natcooshie'pira, let me out of here. You can have everything you want if you let me out"
"Shut up, you beast. You will tell me where your phylactery is so I can send you to the abyss where you belong."
"Oh, Natcooshie'pira, you do not understand. It is no longer here. You took it away."
"Liar! Now tell me where it is."
"Solonund, do not let yourself get so worked up. He is using your anger to refuel himself." Khelben said.
"I am not lying, you gave it to a Drow." Kordon said.
"The wild elf? I searched him thoroughly. It was not on his person."
Kordon grinned an evil grin and said no more.
Solonund rushed up a rope ladder and out through the hole in the ceiling of the cavern. He had to find that wild elf. He did not want to do what he felt he had to."
**********
Drizzt watched over Catti-Brie and the strange wild elf.
"Could this be the Mallen Quanta that everyone is wondering about?" Drizzt asked Laeral.
"I do not think so, Drizzt. This wild elf is much too young to be Solonund's father."
"Is there anything you can do for them?"
"Catti-Brie will be fine. The curse on her has been removed. She is simply sleeping now."
"What about him?"
"I am puzzled by his condition. It seems like his condition gets worse instead of better when I try to remove the curse on him. He is dying, and I have no Idea how to help him."
Solonund burst into the room," I'm sorry, Lady Silverhand, I.. I have to search your wild elf patient. Drizzt, take Catti to another room and leave. I would suggest, milady, that you have your highest healing spells prepared. I will never forgive myself if he dies because of what I have to do."
"What are you babbling about, Solonund?"
Solonund pulled a sharp knife from off of a table and made his way to the cot where the wild elf was lying.
"Solonund! Are you insane?!"
"I am sorry, Milady, Its inside him. If I Don't, we could all die tonight."
****Please Review*****
Notes:
Nula- A Maztican goddess. guardian of true life and animals. Otten apears as a plumed monkey.
" ¡Doña Nula , Doña Nula, Doña Nula, coma estos huesos. Deje el resto de las almas!" - Lady Nula, eat these bones. Let the souls find true rest.
Maztica- an island continent far off the sword coast that resembles Aztec Mexico.
**For further information about Maztica, read Iron Helm, Viper Hand, and Feathered Dragon by Douglas Niles**
Dedicated to my son, Danny.