A/N: The world of Exile/Avernum belongs solely to Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software. I'm just having a little bit of fun here, and when I have finished, I promise to return unharmed to the game the following persons: Rose, Gibbon, Captain Graham, Caius, Alice, Miles, Ko, Platte, Marian, and Motrax; and places: Formello, the blasted fort, Motrax's Cave, and the miscellaneous tunnels of northeastern Avernum.
The platoon entered the city of Formello, northernmost of the six major cities of Avernum, and from what they had gathered, the only one which was within the same barriers they were. The streets bustled with activity. Merchants, artisans, and farmers walked about, going about the business of providing Avernites with the things which kept them alive. There was, however, a noticeable sense of tension in the air. There was the war, of course, which was ever-present on everyone's mind, and then the barriers that had cut them off from the rest of Avernum.
As if all this were not enough, Formello had recently been struck with a cavequake. There were cracks in many of the walls, and damage to the walkways which had not yet been fully repaired.
After the journey, they decided the first order of business was to stop at the inn. There, a woman in leather armor with a rapier at her side sat at the table, looking unhappy as she swilled ale. "I'm Rose," she said, and then she belched, and grimaced at the return taste of her ale. "You look like you work for a living. Have a seat."
Accepting the offer, Jenneke sat down and said, "So, how do you make your living?"
The bar was tended by a young, unshaven ferret-faced man, though he ran a good inn despite his appearance. Pots of stew bubbled happily behind him and kegs of mushroom ale were lined up, ready for tapping.
"I'm Gibbon, What can I do for you?" he said.
"What's on the menu?" said Feodoric.
"Well, we got the stew for two, and a round of beer for all of you for three. Also, one of the rooms is still free, only five coins," said Gibbon, and he winced. "It's the only room available, I'm afraid."
"Beers all around," said Michael.
"Achhh," she said, and spit on the floor. "Adventuring. But that damned Townsend rooked me."
"How'd he rook you?" said Nigel.
"Fat bastard!" said Rose so loudly that the other customers turned to look. Then she spoke more quietly. "He had me find some toadstools for him. I did, but he won't pay me because they aren't 'magical enough' whatever the hell that means! Then he offers me half price! I stomped on 'em and left."
"Busy inn, then. All your other rooms booked, then?" asked Michael.
Gibbon leaned close to Michael, and said, "I say this only because you're adventurers. Keep it quiet, though. There's something weird in one of the rooms, like a ghost. I saw it, slammed the door and locked it. Had some stuff in with it, you can have it, if you kill it."
"Thanks for the tip," said Michael.
Rose took a swig and leaned in closer to Nigel. "Want to hear a secret?"
"A secret?" said Nigel. "Sure!"
She laughed, took another swig, and said, "I found out where he gets his fungus. Go to the tunnels northwest of town, where nobody lives? Yeah? Go there. Look for a rock outcropping by two little lakes. Stand just west of the rock, and walk west." She leaned back. "That'll show that turd!" she said, and ordered three more beers for herself.
After the refreshment of the beers, they moved into the city again, and found Captain Graham, sitting behind a desk, though he looked like he would much rather be running something or someone through.
"Hello, there," he said, "I'm Captain Graham."
"I'm Jenneke, and the rest of my platoon," replied Jenneke. "Thissa, Nigel, Feodoric, and Brother Michael. So, much Empire action around?"
"Not much. Not much in this area. Nothing for my boys. Yet," replied Graham, shaking his head. "Though I occasionally get missions. If you help me out, I can help you get a higher clearance."
"Got any missions now?" said Jenneke.
"Yeah. There's a ruin to the west. There's some crazy nephilim there, making undead, sending them to attack us. Go there and get them to cut it out. Destroy whatever they're using, and we'll help ya out."
"We can do that," said Jenneke.
Michael said, "I would like to stop at the church before we leave."
"Good idea," said Jenneke. "Any other business before we leave town?"
"There's a library," said Feodoric. "I would imagine mages would be there, talking about the barriers and what must be done."
"OK, church, then library," said Jenneke. "Rest of us will go shopping for supplies. And meet back at Gibbon's Garret when your business is done."
Brother Michael continued to the church then, where he was greeted by a graying man in spotless white robes.
"Greetings, I am Father Caius," said the elder priest, "current caretaker of this temple. I welcome you. It is always inspiring to see new faces here. It has fallen to me to end my travels here, as caretaker of this temple. I perform services in that capacity. I can heal, for a small donation. I can also teach certain clerical rituals to you."
"Thank you, Father," said Michael. "I am an itinerant brother. Do you know of a means to sanctify exceptionally unholy places?"
"I am sorry," said Caius, "but such rituals are beyond my ken."
"Did you do much traveling before?" asked Michael.
"I oncer served here under Claudette, a fine woman, but I left to search for a safer place for my family during the slith wars. I ended up preaching to frightened souls near the front line! So much for safety. We all end up doing what we must," replied Caius. "When Claudette passed away, let her soul find rest, I finally returned here. And here I will stay."
"It's dangerous to travel, even in the best of times," said Michael.
"Agreed. But I have learned tricks that can help make a long journey over rough terrain much easier. I can share them with you, if you are willing to learn," said Caius.
"I would much appreciate that," said Michael.
"Have you been able to learn much about the barriers?" said Michael.
"I'm afraid not," said Caius. "They're unlike anything I've ever seen. They scare the hell out of me. We're all cut off. Who knows what's going on in the rest of Avernum? Are we all that's left?"
"I know," said Michael. "I wish I knew how to get back. We came here on a short mission, but it seems we're stuck here."
"Indeed," said Caius. "I wish you the blessings of the gods in your endeavors."
"Thank you," said Michael, and he turned to leave for the Garret.
Meanwhile, Feodoric went into the library, where he met a young girl in the robes of a mage's apprentice, at least two sizes too large for her.
Upon Feodoric's entry, she curtsied in a rather perfunctory manner, and said, "I'm Alice. The apprentice mage!" There was no denying her pride in the last part, which might well be due to her youth. At least Feodoric hoped the situation hadn't gotten so desperate that they were conscripting children.
"So, how long have you been an apprentice?" said Feodoric politely.
"Not very long," said Alice, "so I can't blow anything up yet. I mostly have to run errands. And sometimes, it's really difficult!"
"What sort of errands?" asked Feodoric.
"Right now, I'm supposed to be finding this book on holy rituals. Stinktification, or something like that," said Alice. "But I can't find it anywhere! These shelves aren't very well organized."
"Stinktification?" repeated Feodoric.
"No, that's not right," said Alice, thinking for a moment. "Sanctification! It's a ritual to make evil magic places lose their evil magic. Very strong."
Trying to keep his excitement from showing, Feodoric said, "Think hard. Can you remember where the ritual was?"
"No, I can't. Somewhere in Formello, in a different library. Not sure where. Hard to find, though," replied Alice, after thinking for awhile. "Just a little library. Maybe if you come back later,I'll have remembered."
"Well, good luck to you," said Feodoric, and he continued into the library proper.
Once there, he heard the humming of a sea chanty, and following the sound, found a tall man with raven hair and a short beard reclining behind a desk.
"Hello?" said Feodoric, wanting to get the man's attention.
The man sat up, and said "Hmm? Oh! Welcome to the library." He stood up, and said, "I'm Miles."
"I'm Feodoric," he replied. "Are there other mages about?"
"Well, most are holed up, studying," said Miles. "But I run the library of Formello, one of the three centers of magical learning here in Avernum. Feel free to browse through the scrolls. Also, for a small fee, you can purchase the magical knowledge of the ages. We're a school here, as well as a library."
"You haven't gotten anywhere, studying the barriers, have you?" said Feodoric.
"No, afraid not," said Miles. "Everything we've tried, just doesn't work. Nothing like what we've ever seen. Never seen anything like that, even before I got sent down here. But then, Empire's research doesn't get hampered by the difficulties we have down here. Who knows what they've done in the last ten years."
"I know," said Feodoric. "Well, thank you for your time."
Feodoric walked quickly to Gibbon's Garret, and found the others were already gathered there over mugs of mushroom ale.
"I think I've got a lead," said Feodoric, moving in to talk quietly to the others. "Not on the barriers, but how we can do that mission. Seems that this apprentice mage is looking for a ritual of sanctification. Doesn't know where it is, except in a small library about Formello."
"We go looking for a library, it's going to draw attention," said Nigel.
"True, if all of us," said Jenneke. "Feodoric, you and Brother Michael here would know it if you saw it. Rest of us, maybe not. So, why don't you go, and look for this, and when you find it, we'll still be here, and ready to go."
"Very well," said Feodoric, downing his mug. "Brother Michael, after you."
The two men searched through the building labeled the auxiliary library, and found a secret door which led to a barricaded section with one small bookshelf. The bookshelf contained a collection of religious tomes. They spanned many faiths, from mundane to bizarre; active to ancient. Intrigued, Feodoric and Michael read for some time. The time spent was not wasted. In one of the older tomes, they found a long, draining ritual for blessing an area, purging it of evil spirits and foul magics.
Michael smiled, and said, "This seems to be what we're looking for. You planning to tell the apprentice about this?"
"Maybe after we come back," said Feodoric. "Have to know that it will actually do what it says. You know how it is, sometimes people exaggerate the efficacy of a spell."
Returning to Gibbon's Garret, they finished a few more rounds of mushroom ale, and took to their room for the night before setting out back to the west.
After their journey, they entered the ruins of a huge fortress. It looked as though a cavequake had torn the place apart. Huge, unstable sections of wall loomed over them, and rubble was everywhere. Inside, it was icy cold. From within, chanting could be heard, and the smell of death and decay hung thick in the air.
"Keep lively here," said Jenneke, as they rounded the corner and found themselves confronted with an onslaught of undead ghouls.
As they searched through, they came to a place where there were rows upon rows of bodies—human, nephilim, and slith—carefully arranged, waiting to be processed in some way. The skeletons were here to arrange them and carry them about, and the corpses had been sprinkled with quicklime, which kept some of the odor down. As soon as the group came within sight, it was apparent that the skeletons also had orders to attack any living thing immediately.
In another corner, several humanoid statues, all travelers or adventurers, all looking surprised, were scattered about, facing a door to the west.
"Bet there's a basilisk in there," said Jenneke.
"Better to ssslay it now," said Thissa, "ssso it cannot sssurprissse usss later."
"Well, if everyone's ready," said Jenneke, looking around, and as they indicated they were, Jenneke went to cautiously open the door. "Locked," he said.
"No problem," said Nigel, moving forward with his lockpicks.
They slew the basilisk, and continued fighting undead, until at last they came into a grim temple dominated by an enormous altar. It was a slab of waist-high basalt, covered with strange glyphs and carvings of dead and dying humans. The humans in the design appeared to be laid to rest and returning as undead. The altar contained powerful magic, causing the members of the platoon to feel chilled and nauseated as they fought the nephilim shamen. In the top, there was a depression, just the right size and shape for a body, and a row of skeletons in the corner, undoubtedly about to be processed before the group had entered and interrupted proceedings.
Once the shamen were dead, Feodoric turned to Michael, and said, "I guess now is the time to see if there's anything to that ritual."
"I agree," said Michael.
Together, they carefully performed the ritual, aware of the possible deadly consequences of messing it up. As they chanted, the altar began to vibrate. Flickers of red and purple were visible under its surface. The air filled with the choking reek of decay.
Finally, the ritual was complete, and Feodoric and Michael sat, drained of energy. The altar at first appeared unchanged, but closer examination revealed many hairline cracks along the surface. The cold, nauseating effect had lifted.
They searched throughout the ruined fortress, finding a roster of undead created, journals filled with insane rantings, and an incongruous bronze ankh tucked away in a vault. Brother Michael carefully stowed that away, figuring that it probably belonged somewhere else, and in their travels, they might find just that place.
Finally, they decided to return directly to Formello to report their success in the small mission and check with others regarding new thoughts about the barriers.
Returning to Captain Graham, Jenneke said, "Good news, sir. We found the altar they've been using to make the undead. Even better, we destroyed it!"
He listened to the description of the deeds, asking a few questions for more details, and finally said, "Well done!"
"The barriers ever get down," he said, as he filled out some forms, "this will count toward your getting a higher clearance. You apply for that at the castle. Thanks for your help."
"You know, the shelves in the rear records storeroom in city hall might have something useful for you," said Captain Graham. "Since the barriers are up, it seems a little more practical. Go ahead and take any you find."
"Thank you, sir," said Jenneke, and he led his platoon down to Gibbon's Garret, for a well-deserved break.
After a night of rest, Michael suggested that they help Gibbon out with the problem he had before they did any more traveling. Opening the padlocked door with Nigel's help, they came into a very chilly and grim room, which was unkempt and dusty, with what could only be dried bloodstains to the southeast. Even worse, there was a malevolent spirit inside.
After a quick fight, they slew the malevolent spirit, and the room immediately stopped feeling so cold.
"We'll go tell Gibbon, and get some breakfast," said Jenneke.
Moving to the tap room, Jenneke related the news, and Gibbon said, "I'd appreciate it if you keep that a bit quiet. Haunted rooms are bad for business. But, here, have some breakfast on me."
Finding they had come to a bit of a dead end, Jenneke decided that the best thing to do was to thoroughly explore the available caves, in the hopes that some answer to the barriers would present itself. As they continued, they squeezed into a tiny, well-hidden passage, after hearing angry voices arguing. They rounded the corner to find themselves face-to-face with a group of surprised soldiers.
It took only a moment for Jenneke to register that these soldiers weren't pale, and their armor had the crown insignia, indicating they were Empire soldiers who had infiltrated this far into Avernum's lands. And then, the attack began.
After defeating the small band, they seached the encampment. Most of their meager equipment had been wrecked in the battle, but there were a few things that would be worth something in trade. They also found a scroll, made of real parchment, not the lichen parchment of Avernum, trimmed with red, apparently a pass of some sort.
Continuing on, the platoon was set upon by a group of bandits.
"Hold! You must pay us a toll to pass. Give us twenty-five gold, or we must do battle!" shouted the leader. Then, one of the men with him whispered urgently in the leader's ear, and the leader started to back away, as he said, "My apologies. I thought that you were merely unimportant travelers. WE will take our leave."
"Bull shit you will," said Jenneke. "Bunch of bandits like you in wartime, you're lucky you'll be ending it on the point of sword and spear here."
The bandits drew their weapons for battle. Clearly, they had not wanted to fight, but the issue had been forced, and capture only meant certain execution. After the battle, Jenneke searched the leader, as the others in the platoon searched the other men. None had more than the poor equipment, except the leader had a pouch full of coins.
"Seems they met more than a few 'unimportant travelers,'" said Jenneke, spitting on the dead man.
Leaving the dead on a pyre of cavewood, Jenneke's platoon met a patrol of Avernum's guards, marching up and down the road watching for nephilim, bandits, and infiltrating Empire soldiers. They looked quite grim.
"What's the news?" said Jenneke.
The captain replied, "The dragon Motrax. His lair is near here. We've heard tell that he has been slain. We hope desperately that it isn't true."
"Thank you, sir," replied Jenneke. "We found some bandits up that way, put a stop to them."
"And thank you," said the captain with a grim smile. "Bastards deserved anything they got from you. Here it is war, and they can't help Avernum, think of themselves."
"I know," said Jenneke. "They actually thought we'd let them live if they didn't shake us down."
"Stupid shits," said the captain. "Well, good day to you."
With that, the captain turned back to his men and their grim patrol.
"Do you suppose it is true?" said Feodoric, after they were alone on the road again. "About Motrax?"
"I dunno," replied Jenneke. "Let's go see. If it's not true, I suppose we can let them know, next time we see them."
They turned up the way to Motrax's cave, finding a sign that declared only authorized guests were welcome. A group of guards watched the approach, and seemed about to stop Jenneke, but they then seemed to think better of it, as though they did not care any longer. As the platoon passed closer, it was clear that the soldiers had been in a recent combat.
"Guess we're authorized enough," said Jenneke, as they entered the cave.
They entered the cave, and walked into the nearly abandoned barracks. A captain of the Avernum army was reclining in the corner.
Leaping out of his chair, he said, "Greetings! I'm the captain of this garrison. Name's Ko. I don't have soldiers any more, though," he said with a grimace. "It's golems, now. I just spend my time chasing lizards."
"Lizards, sir?" said Jenneke.
"We got a bunch of giant lizards skulking about in the cracks behind these buildings. They're like rats, but deadly. And of course, the golems aren't any help," replied Ko.
"What happened to the soldiers garrisoned here?" said Jenneke.
"Used to have half a dozen soldiers here! Most of them died in an Empire ambush, which crippled Motrax. Then the government moved a bunch of mages in here, and they brought golems in to guard everything," said Ko. "I'm only here to greet people. It's sad. The dragon only wants to meet people in his old age. Now the mages don't let anyone near him."
"What are the mages here for?" asked Feodoric.
"The crown put some mages here to find out everything they can from poor, old, crippled Motrax. They brought golems with them to replace the human guards. The dragon never sees anyone but them and me, and they tire him out with constant questions," said Ko, shaking his head. "It's a sad tale. For sad times."
"What do you know of Motrax?" asked Feodoric.
"Oldest of the dragons in Avernum. Kind and wise," said Ko. "I don't know why the Empire sent a bunch of assassins to kill him. He was doing no harm."
"So, you're commander here? Anything we can do for you?" said Jenneke.
"I suppose. There isn't much that needs doing. There have been some bandits wandering around to the north. I was going to send a platoon to kill them," said Ko, "but you could do it instead, if it would keep you busy."
"I think we already killed those bandits for you," replied Jenneke.
"Oh, did you? Well good. Thank you. Saved us a little trouble. I'll put in a good word for you with the higher ups when I get a chance," said Ko.
After a rather uncomfortable moment, Jenneke realized this was all the reward that Ko was prepared to issue, and he said, "Thank you, sir."
They crossed to the other building, and met a tall aged man with wrinkles and a few wisps of gray hair, seeming tiny in his bulky robes as he paced about.
"I am Platte," he said, greeting them.
"Hello," replied Jenneke, introducing the others. "May I ask what you are here for?"
In an overly polite tone, he said, "I am here to visit the laboratory."
"What is the laboratory like?" asked Feodoric.
"We of Avernum have a magical laboratory set up here. You can't enter it, I'm sure," said Platte. "The three mages here question the lizard for information that can help us save our nation."
"That lizard's name is Motrax," said Feodoric, bristling.
"Motrax, is it? It's hard to get knowledge out of it, but we're trying," said Platte. "Nothing I can tell you about, of course."
"Who are the three mages?" asked Feodoric.
"I can't tell you anything about them," said Platte shortly. "Now, if you'll excuse me?" With that, he turned his back and walked away in a clear sign that the conversation was over.
A young, round-faced woman with long brown hair sat at the table, writing notes and figures on an already densely covered scroll, and she looked up apologetically.
"Welcome visitors! I'm Marion," she said. "I hope you aren't here to see the dragon."
"Do you know the dragon?" asked Feodoric.
"Well, I was studying Motrax, and I was his friend as well. Now I just wait here," she replied. "Poor old Motrax. First, he was carved up by surface worlders. Now he can only be seen by people with clearance!" She practically spat the last word. "He needs friends. Instead he gets interrogated for hours on end by a bunch of magi. I haven't seen him in months. I'm just waiting here."
"What kind of clearance is needed?" said Jenneke.
"Not exactly sure, some clearance to see Motrax, another to get into the labs they've set up back there. If you belong to the army, you might have the clearance to see him. Beyond that, I don't know. I don't pay much attention to the bureaucracy," replied Marion.
"We'll check," said Jenneke. "If we can see Motrax, would you like us to take a message from you to him?"
"That would be very kind," said Marian. "Just tell him that I am thinking of him, and I wish him well."
"So what are you working on?" asked Nigel.
"A dry old scroll of magical history. Nothing that would interest an adventurer," said Marian. "Research on the modification of lizards to make them meatier. Helps pass the time while I wait."
"What are you waiting for?" said Jenneke.
"I don't know what for. For Ko to be relieved of his post, so we can go somewhere better. For Motrax to be able to see his friends again," said Marian. "For things to get better."
"Afraid that'll be a long wait," said Jenneke. "We'll go see if we can get in, ok?"
"Thank you," said Marian.
Leaving the quarters, they entered the lair of Motrax. Motrax, a dragon, one of only a handful of his race known to be alive. Motrax was an ancient beast, very kind and respected by all of Avernum. They passed numerous golems, magical automatons crafted from stone which stood immobile as they passed. A nearby sign declared that 'soldier clearance' was required to approach Motrax.
"Good job we already got that," said Jenneke. "Let's go."
Continuing to the north was a large cave with an arching sealing rising far out of sight. The floor was covered with deep claw marks, and upon a large platform rested Motrax, who had been grievously wounded, and he now looked weak and tired.
His scales were fading from the reddish-green they had been in his younger days, and he looked barely able to move.
"Your wounds are terrible!" said Feodoric. "Can we help you heal them?"
Motrax shook his head, and said, "Healing magic can only go so far. Your human magic can ease my pains, but my centuries are long, and my time is ending. Nothing can be done now."
"We spoke to Marian," said Jenneke. "She can't get clearance back here, but wanted us to tell you that she misses you and thinks of you often."
Motrax paused, a single tear running down his worn, scaly face. "How pathetic I have become," he said, "when the regard of a single human is of importance to me."
"Any quests we could undertake for you?" asked Jenneke.
"No. I have no needs anymore," replied Motrax wearily. "I am passing beyond that stage now."
"How do you spend your time here?" said Feodoric.
"I ... I ..." said Motrax, seeming at a loss for words, his head bowed low, as the words struggled to emerge. "I ... I help the humans as best I can. For protection."
"Help with what?" asked Feodoric.
"I provide information. I know a lot. It is fuzzy at times, it gets that way. But the wizards come and ask me questions," sighed Motrax, with a long, ragged sulfurous sigh. "They're all I get to help now. They're the only people I ever see. I miss my friends."
"Where are these wizards?" said Michael.
Motrax pointed to the west without a word.
"What kind of information are the wizards looking for?" said Feodoric.
"They want me to tell them who created the magical barriers that isolate the areas of Avernum. I don't know. I have no idea. I have only the most unlikely of guesses," replied Motrax.
"I hate to bother you," said Feodoric, "but we need to bring down the barriers. Can you tell us how?"
He stared at them. It was difficult, for the dragon's eyesight seemed to be failing. He thought, and seemed almost confused before he spoke. "You should go ... to ... go to Formello. To the south. Before the attack, I sensed ... I ... go there. That is all I am sure of. I get so tired," said Motrax.
"I'm sorry," said Feodoric. "What do you think of humans?"
"I've always helped people. I liked them. I had many friends. But then the attack came and I had to be protected, and I don't see my friends anymore," said Motrax, looking at his horrible wounds. "I like humans. They are strong and good, but they haven't been good for dragonkind. Foolish Pyrog was slain by adventurers years back. Athron hides in her lair, growing in bitterness and hatred. Khoth is the same. And Sulfras, mightiest of us all, serves the Empire to protect herself. Ours is a sad lot now."
"I'm very sorry," said Jenneke.
As they left, Jenneke said, "Everyone says go to Formello, but we've been there, and it's no help."
"I don't know what we should do," said Feodoric. "What's your plan?"
"I dunno," said Jenneke. "I guess, try to turn over any gap in the barrier. Search everywhere."