A/N: I own nothing in the world of Exile/Avernum, it is entirely the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software. I promise to return to the game unharmed following this bit of fun the following persons: Captain Vidican, Gridley, Ian, Tarrick, and the bandits; and places: Fort Ganrick and Verdant Valley.
The power of the Empire completely dwarfed that of the Avernites, but it had great difficulty teleporting troops to the underworld. They had arrogantly thought that Avernum could be subdued with a few hundred elite Empire troops. They were wrong.
The first few hundred soldiers sent down had great success, at first. But after the surprise wore off, they found that the Avernites were brave warriors, with powerful magicians on their side. In addition, they had the advantage of familiarity. They were used to living and fighting in caves. The Empire wasn't. The Empire soldiers were fought to a bloody standstill. The Empire sent more troops down, and the stalemate still held.
One of the last to be sent to Avernum, Jenneke had joined up with the army, signing on as an adventurer, one of the members of "Special Operations" who would be part of a small band doing stealthier work. Jenneke privately hoped that someday his name would be spoken with the same awe as that of Ansel or Duncan.
He scowled at the orders. He had been made sergeant of the squad: a slith named Thissa; the sandy-haired, sticky-fingered Nigel; Feodoric, a student of the arcane and divine; and Brother Michael, a priest with a knack for brewing potions.
"Fort Ganrick," muttered Jenneke. "About a thousand miles from the front. Report to Captain Vidican and help with their kitty problem. Like that's really the most pressing issue."
"We ready to leave, Sarge?" said Nigel.
"Yeah, ready," said Jenneke, shouldering his pack.
The journey to Fort Ganrick from Fort Samuels had been uneventful, far from the fierce fighting of the war. As they neared Formello, the members of Jenneke's squad did not notice the barrier going up, making it impossible for them to go back the way they had come. It was near the last candlemark of the day when they reached Fort Ganrick, and they were shown to quarters and told to report in the 'morning'.
Making their way to the captain's office, they met a small woman with long, red hair and intricately made chain mail. She wore the insignia of a captain, and was armed with two long, vicious looking rapiers.
"Good morning. I am Cecile Vidican. Captain Vidican to you," she said. "Welcome to Fort Ganrick. I'm glad you've arrived safely."
"Yes, ma'am," said Jenneke. "What is it you do here?"
"I'm trying to help this fort get established. That's why you were sent here," replied Captain Vidican. "There's a nephilim outpost to the east. Very hostile. Needs to be dealt with."
"Has there been much Empire activity up here?" asked Jenneke.
She grimaced, "They haven't attacked up here much, but more than enough, let me tell you. The nephilim only made things worse."
"So how is the war against the Empire going?" asked Jenneke.
"Badly. I don't know many of the specifics," said Captain Vidican. "Been out here for a while. But definitely badly."
"What would you like us to do, ma'am?" asked Jenneke.
"Before the Empire attacked, this was a peaceful mining area. Then the nephilim snuck up here, wiped out the miners, and got established," replied Captain Vidican. "Now we're here to hold them in until we can root them out."
"What can you tell us about the nephilim?" said Jenneke.
"They're trying to get settled in. We're trying to catch up with their strength. They're ahead, but we're catching up. Hopefully, you can snuff them out before they attack," she said. "Find and kill their chief. He's a nasty nepharim. Do that, and that should blunt their spears enough for us to deal with them."
"Are you sure that they will attack you?" asked Jenneke.
"Yes. They've made raids in the past. We're worried they'll attack this fort in the near future. Small sorties we can handle, but we're not ready for a pitched battle yet," she said, and thought for a moment. "If we do get attacked, we'll need your help. Be sure to use the armory."
"We just got here," said Jenneke. "Where is the armory?"
"You can find supplies in the rooms to the east. Help yourself. We won't send you into the jaws of doom completely empty-handed. We don't have much to offer, I'm afraid. Little more than stone weapons, until Formello sends up something."
"We passed Formello on the way up here," said Jenneke. "Tell us about it."
"I grew up in Formello," said Captain Vidican with a sigh. "It's the nicest place in Avernum by far. Of course, that's not saying much."
"Can you describe their outpost?" asked Jenneke.
"The kitties have established their lair to the east. We don't have the troops for a frontal assault, but we have high hopes that a small band can sneak in and do some damage to keep them off guard. The hard part is getting past the gate," said Captain Vidican, patting her blades. "We have to do something before they attack. We're ready, but not that ready."
"Tell us about the gate," said Jenneke.
"The kitties have a big, trapped gate in the front of their lair. It'll be hell to get through without a large force. We think they must have a back way in, but we don't know where that is."
"We'll find it, ma'am," said Jenneke.
"Dismissed," said Captain Vidican.
Jenneke led the way into the armory, and he and his squad went through, making sure they were properly equipped for a fight. They continued into the messhall where they met a harried, balding man.
"I'm Gridley," he muttered, still moving about, not slowing down from his job to talk. "And I don't have much time to chat."
"What is your job here?" asked Nigel.
"I'm the quartermaster for Fort Ganrick," replied Gridley. And I need help! I keep track of supplies. That's supposed to be my job. But I also cook. And clean. And hold the soldiers' hands. And try to get everything in shape before we get attacked."
"Since you give out supplies, you could give us stuff, right?" said Nigel.
"Talk to Cecile about that," said Gridley.
"We did," said Jenneke. "We were sent here to do some sort of mission."
"I could care less," said Gridley. "Go see the captain."
"Any way you might be able to get us extra supplies?" asked Jenneke.
"No. Nothing you don't earn. But I'll tell you what. There was a shipment of arrows and bolts being sent up here," said Gridley. "Disappeared. Brigands, I think. If you ever find a sign of what happened to it, let me know, and I'll see what I can do."
"Yes, sir," said Jenneke.
They went back to their quarters to collect the remaining supplies, and happened into the next room, where a scrawny man wearing the robes of an apprentice mage was reclining on the bed, apparently in the throes of a headache.
"I'm Ian. Who are you?" he said, and then looked them over. "Oh, adventurers. Go away."
"What are you doing back here?" asked Thissa.
"Go away," said Ian. "I have a headache."
"What's wrong with adventurers?" asked Feodoric.
"You're here to help against the nephilim right? I thought so," said Ian. "Well, go run off and do something, there's good chaps. My head hurts."
"A headache?" asked Brother Michael.
"Yes. From my journey. Wake me if we get attacked," said Ian.
"Perhapsss you ssshould be defending thisss fort a bit more aggresssssively?" said Thissa.
"Look, I've had a hard trip, and I shouldn't be here anyway. I'm supposed to help in an attack, and I will," said Ian, starting to get angry. "Until then, leave me alone."
"Journey? Where from?" asked Ansel.
"From the Tower," said Ian shortly.
"What tower?" said Ansel.
He moaned angrily and gripped his head tightly in his hands. "From the Tower of Magi. Perhaps you've heard of it. A place where magi can learn and grow and gain power without having to fight kitties and sliths and whatever. It's far to the south, too far. Now, will you please go away?" He rolled over on the bed, and grumbled obscenely.
"Sssslithssss?" said Thissa.
"Yeah, there's still some of the nasty kind around here, vicious as ever," said Ian, and he shut his eyes, feigning sleep.
Deciding that finding Gridley's arrow shipment was a good way to spend the time before an attack, Jenneke led his group out of Fort Ganrick.
"We'll scout to the east, and see if we find another way into the kitties' place," said Jenneke, "and if we don't, then we'll move on to look around for those stolen arrows."
Scouting to the east, they saw the totems and bones of those the nephilim had killed, marking the edge of nephilim territory. While they found the front gate that had been mentioned, they did not find a 'back door' and so they left to proceed to the south.
Stepping out into the huge cavern, crisscrossed with rows of large, bloated, carefully tended mushrooms, the air was warm, moist and scented with just a hint of sulfur. Not at all unusual for Avernum, as the massive cavern was lovely in an austere sort of way. The green light of the glowing lichen was abundant here. To the southwest, they could see Fort Draco, and if they had the time to go further west, they might see the strange magical barriers people had been muttering nervously about in Fort Ganrick.
A group of heavily armed humans, in warn armor and appearing exhausted, were clearly moving to intercept the brigade, and Jenneke led his group to approach the others. Soon, it could be discerned that they were soldiers of Avernum, patrolling the roads around Fort Draco. They had been worn down by constant skirmishes with goblins and bandits. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they warned Jenneke and his companions to be careful, and they departed.
"Gods," said Jenneke, watching them go, "if they're all that weary, Avernum is in a lot of trouble."
Wandering through the tunnels, they came to a dead-end, and turned to see a group of humans rushing toward them. Soon, it became obvious that the reason for their flight was that they were being chased by a large number of Nephilim, and they were terribly outnumbered.
"To arms!" shouted Jenneke. "Let's stand and fight."
They fought a long, hard battle, together with the troops they had met, and in the end, defeated the nephilim.
The mage, who appeared to be the leader of the other squad, was wounded but alive at the end of the battle, and he said, "Thank you friends! I am Tarrick, Mage-Lieutenant of the army of Avernum."
"I'm Jenneke, sergeant of this squad of adventurers, army of Avernum," replied Jenneke. "Thissa, Nigel, Feodoric, and Brother Michael."
"Well, I wish you luck in your endeavors," said Tarrick. "We're going to head for safety now. Before I go, here's something in return." He handed Jenneke a flask with gold lettering declaring "healing" on the side. "Don't worry, it's standard issue. Don't see them much anymore, though. Good luck!"
With that, Tarrick led his surviving troops off to the nearest fort. Then, they found a natural dome which looked worthy of investigation. Passing into a wide passage, they found themselves in an out-of-the-ordinary place for Avernum, a drafty corridor with a cold breeze.
As they investigated, it seemed a most amazing place, a natural dome over an enormous pit. Natural stone walkways had formed by millennia of dripping water, forming a lattice of bridges over the darkness. This amazing location seemed relatively untouched by humans, except for one crude stone structure, but most of the area seemed owned by bats, rats, and other hungry fauna of Avernum.
The crude stone structure, of course, was a bandit hideout, a base from which these foul humans carried out their depredations against the honest folk of Avernum, a crime even more unspeakable because it was wartime. Jenneke led his brigade in, and they put the bandits within to the sword. For their part, the bandits put up a considerable fight, for they well knew that the penalty for banditry was death, and so they could gain nothing from a surrender.
Upon emptying the bandit lair of live bandits, they began investigating the take that the bandits had. As Feodoric looked through the shelves of the mages within the bandit band, he saw that they seemed almost obsessed with summoning demons.
Looking over Feodoric's shoulder, Brother Michael said mildly, "I don't think they were competent enough for that."
"Probably not competent enough to do it right," said Feodoric. "Doesn't mean that they didn't actually try. We better go over this place fine-tooth-comb style."
"I'm on it," said Nigel.
After a few moments of searching, Nigel announced he had found something, and they followed the narrow hallway to a small backroom with rough runes sketched on the floor. They were not competently drawn, and the mages in their obsession had learned enough to summon diabolical creatures, but not how to contain them, and the room was filled with imps cavorting about with now-ruined magical supplies.
The battle was fierce, but at last they overcame, though not without grievous injury. Then, after Feodoric and Michael tended to their companions, they left the summoning chamber to continue their exploration of the bandit lair. They then found a room stacked high with crates. A few had been opened and were empty. Some were still closed. All were fairly new and undamaged. Searching through the room, they saw one crate with a shipping label on it, a shipment of arrows intended for Fort Ganrick. Apparently, the bandits intercepted them on the way to their true destination.
"Gridley will be interested in that bit of info," said Jenneke. "Look through all the crates. See if there's anything else that has an identified owner. Or if not, anything that's useful."
After searching the storage of stolen goods, nothing else was clearly belonging to anyone, and then they decided that it would be best to return to Ganrick, tell Gridley about the bandits, and rest up before the kitties decided to attack.
Finding their way back to Fort Ganrick with no difficulty, they stopped first at the messhall, where Gridley gave them a half-distracted glance.
"Sir," said Jenneke, working to get the man's attention. "We found the lost shipment of arrows. They were stolen and used by some brigands."
Gridley's face reddened with anger, as he shouted, "We soldiers are dying to protect those fools! They deserve what you did to them! The Empire would do worse. Curse them!" He started to stomp away.
"Err, sir?" said Jenneke, "there's just the small matter of a bit of reward promised."
"Oh. Yes. Sure," said Gridley, and he handed Jenneke a small bag, jingling with coins. "There you go. Can't spare the weapons right now, but you're traveling, you can maybe get to Draco or Formello. Thanks again for your help."
"You're welcome, sir," said Jenneke.
No more had they finished their conversation and moved on to the edge of the courtyard, but terrified shouts echoed from all corners of the fort. A horde of nephilim poured out of the storerooms to the northeast. There might be time to wonder later how they managed to enter the fort, but for now, it did not matter. They were here, and in force.
The soldiers recovered from their surprise and moved to attack, but called for help from the recently returned platoon. As it turned out, it was good that Jenneke's platoon had returned when they did, for there were heavy losses among Captain Vidican's men, but at last, the nephilim raid was repulsed, and the leader of the raid fell, and a scroll fell out of his satchel.
Searching the dead nephilim after the battle, Jenneke hurried to the apparent nephilim leader, and grabbed the scroll. "It's a map," he said, laughing at the crude word scrawled over the top of the map. "I think we'll be able to get that kitty fort now."
Captain Vidican shook her head, disgusted with the situation. "We found the cracked wall they were able to use to get in. It will be repaired soon," she said. "Hopefully, we'll get reinforcements soon."
"Yes, ma'am," said Jenneke. "I think this map we found on their leader will help us, but we're a bit peaked ourselves."
"Understood," said Captain Vidican. "Go, get some rest."
On the way back to their room, they stopped in to see Ian.
"You adventurers are still here?" said Ian. "Will my torments never end? What now?"
"We were traveling, and heard about these barriers," said Jenneke. "You know magic. Do you know how to bring down the magical barriers?"
"Of course not. If I did, I wouldn't be stuck here. I saw them appear. They blocked the passage just a little south of where I camped. A little further south, and I would've died in my sleep," said Ian, sounding irritable. "I have no idea what to do about them." He stopped speaking and turned his back.
With a sigh, Jenneke continued on to the room that the platoon had been given for the duration of their work out of Fort Ganrick.