A/N: The world of Exile (Avernum) remains the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, not me. Following this bit of fun, I promise to return to the game unharmed the following persons: Lt. Faulkner, Lt. Mariann Kriszan, Theresa, Brian, General Landren, Mayor Vicky, Bruce, Justin, Leith, Mondrian and Saffron; and places: Camp Samuels, Fort Emerald, Blosk, and Almaria.

"So, where you figure we should go next?" said Nigel.

"I think we should see a bit in the Great Cave," said Jenneke. "Maybe go over to Blosk."

"Any particular reason?" said Michael. "Sight-seeing is not something we have the luxury of time for."

"I dunno," said Jenneke. "Maybe hoping a clue would drop on us, about where to find the Crystal Souls. We haven't been there, so, you never know."

Jenneke followed the road north, until Remote Lake came into view. It was a broad body of brackish water with little on the other side but sheer limestone. Here, however, was where they had build Camp Samuels, where Jenneke and the others in his platoon had begun their military careers.

"Wanna see how the new troops are coming along?" said Feodoric.

"We could," said Jenneke. "C'mon."

They walked into the fort, and in the parade ground Lieutenant Faulkner was in armor, practicing feints.

"Good day, I'm Lieutenant Faulkner. Welcome to Camp Samuels."

Another soldier came over, revealing a pleasant smile and cropped hair, "Lieutenant Mariann Krizsan. What brings you to Camp Samuels?"

"Just looking around," said Jenneke. "Remembering old times."

"Well, it's about the same," said Mariann, "taking the kids who're ready to fight for their home and put them through the paces. Punish them in other words. Weapons drills from sleep to sleep. Rough food, runs through the tunnels, the obstacle course. They're lying down now, recovering from the last forced march. Castle and back with boulders on their backs. No comfy beds. 'Beds are for the infirm!' that's what my Grandpa used to say. Between you and me, I pity 'em. But I admire 'em too."

"You admire them?" said Adrianna.

"Ya see, the Empire knows this fort is here, and they've sent raiders at us twice. And each time the raiders got killed. All of 'em. And it was the kids who killed them. Avernum grows people tough, and they learn fast. Plus, they got a big advantage," said Mariann. "Empire fighters, they fight 'cause they were told. 'Cause they have to. But us—we got something to fight for!" She grinned, and added, "Magic helps. Steel helps, but some things are unbeatable!"

"Who was your grandfather?" said Feodoric.

"General Gabor Krizsan, Dervish Field Commander. Ironically enough, he was one of the Empire's greatest generals. Won so many battles, he had a province named after him. This made him very popular," said Mariann, her smile fading. "So much so that the Emperor at the time had him assassinated. Despite having loyally served the Empire all his life. His whole family got exiled to Avernum. So here I am."

"You were born in Avernum?" said Adrianna, who had noted the lack of children in most of the places she had seen thus far.

"Sure was. I'm a true native," said Mariann.

"So, what's this camp for?" said Adrianna.

"Training! All of Avernum's best soldiers are taught what's what here. We bring them in, and we try to break them," she gave the group a close look. "I've heard what you've been up to. Weren't trained here, were you?"

"No, I wasn't," said Adrianna, leaving out all the rest. "How often do people break?"

"Not often. They know that we're all fighting for our lives down here. They're eager to fight. We only lost one fellow in the last few months," said Mariann. "Disappeared. Wish I knew what happened to him."

"Perhaps we could find him for you," suggested Jenneke.

"It's not important. I'm sure you have better things to do," said Mariann. "But if you find out what happened to a strapping young man named Locke, I would appreciate it."

"Might be more important stuff, but you never know when we might stumble over it doing that important stuff," said Jenneke.

Leaving the fort, they took some time to wander the tunnels to the east, when they suddenly came upon a group of Empire troops hidden behind a rise of cave floor. The Empire troops appeared to have been preparing for a new raid, with two giants in the company—horrible creatures with skin like metal wax and metal plates attached to their bodies. Not wanting these Avernites to spoil their surprise raid, they attacked. Jenneke and his group, however, were not about to let these troops carry out a raid—and after a long, rather bloody battle, the Empire troops were all slain.

As they continued, they encountered a group of refugees from the Abyss, seeming unwilling to speak to the group, while one man overcame his discomfort and said, "Now we're poor and wandering around. We don't want to depend on you Avernum people's mercy, but we got no choice. You spare a few coins?"

"Here," said Jenneke, pressing a generous measure of coins in the man's hands. "We'll win this war, and you can get back to your home." He closed his eyes, thinking of Cotra, and said, "It's been hard on us all. I'm from Cotra."

"Thank you," said the man, looking ashamed for being dependent upon charity, and the two groups parted company.

"Now, this here's Fort Emerald," said Jenneke. "Nice place ... you really gotta see it."

Moving into the fort, they passed guards and tied up lizards, when they met a young merchant wearing rough clothes and an equally rough expression.

The merchant gave them a brief nod, and said, "Call me Theresa. What do you want?"

"Well, we're looking for information, mostly," said Jenneke.

"I'm a merchant, see, and I'm waiting for my current shipment to be approved so I can head out," she said.

"What's in your shipment?" said Jenneke.

"Four hundred pounds of iron rats fer Fort Emerald here. Then on to Dharmon," she said, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm when she mentioned Dharmon.

"Not looking forward to Dharmon, then?" said Michael.

"Yeah, Dharmon, westernmost city of Avernum, and city nearest to where all the real bloodshed is going on," said Theresa. "I got to take a load there, and then I'm getting back east, where it's safe!"

"Nowhere's safe from the Empire," said Nigel. "We been dealing with their raiders all over."

"Hmm, well, safer anyway," said Theresa.

"You got anything you can sell us?" said Jenneke.

"No. No, I can't," she said with a significant lack of sincerity in her voice. "My goods are supposed to go to regular soldiers in regular forts. Sorry."

"Why are you so upset?" said Adrianna.

"I fell for someone I shouldn't. A soldier. Here. Named Brian. And now he's hurt, wounded, and the priests here can't do anything for him," Theresa said. "I can't help him. Nobody can. It's driving me mad." She stopped, looking embarrassed at having revealed so much.

"It must be very difficult," said Adrianna. "I'm sorry."

Feodoric led the way then to the center of the fort, a dome whose sole source of light was a large green crystal resting on a pedestal in the center of the room, surrounded by chairs and kneeling pads.

"Gods," said Feodoric. "It's vahnatai!"

"You're right," said Michael. "A mystery of the ages, solved."

They moved into the infirmary, where a grievously wounded soldier was the sole patient.

"How'd you wind up like this?" said Jenneke.

He started to sit up, winced in pain, and reconsidered. "I was doing some recon. That's how I ended up this way."

"Recon?" said Adrianna.

"Reconnaissance. Spying. Watching the enemy. Real risky," he said, and winced with pain again. "See, my patrol was on a boat trip, up northeast, and when we landed, we got ambushed."

"Ambushed by who?" said Adrianna.

"Empire soldiers. They're all dead now. But one of 'em got me across the ribs with his sword. I'll be OK. I hope. Better off than him, anyway," he said, touching the bandages gingerly, and then he winced. "And you know what burns my butt? I say what I saw on my recon, and nobody believes me! Nobody!"

"Calm down, man, you'll make it worse," said Feodoric. "What did you see?"

"Yeah, see we brushed near Limoncelli's fort to take a look, and I saw a bunch of those tall skinny weird guys landing in a boat. Those weird guys with the barriers. What were they called?"

"Vahnatai?" said Jenneke.

"Yeah! Those freaks! I saw a bunch of 'em talking with Limoncelli's troops, right outside his fort," said Brian. "I don't know why they'd be there, but I don't trust 'em."

"Yeah, we're going to have to check that out," said Jenneke. "We believe you. So, how are you doing?"

He coughed savagely, and shook his head. "I'm not getting better. The priests here just aren't strong enough to help. I'll try to pull through, but ... well ..." He closed his eyes.

"Let me take a look," said Michael. Then after examining Brian, he said, "Seems like the blade had a magical disease. Let me try something..." Michael moved over to the table in the infirmary, and began chopping and grinding.

"Aha," he said, triumphantly. "Graymold salve. Let's see if this helps."

Brian winced as Michael applied the salve to the wounds, but didn't object. Jenneke looked on curiously, thinking how much the salve looked like the stuff he'd bought from Walner for Adrianna back in Fort Duvno. The legendary healing power of the concoction began to work, as Brian started to look significantly improved.

"Wow," he said. "That stuff is great! I think I'll be able to return to the field in no time! Thanks!"

"No problem," said Jenneke. "Thanks for the information."

Moving up to the ramparts, they found General Landren looking out to the north.

"General Landren, sir?" said Jenneke.

"Yes," said General Landren, not looking away from the uncontrolled territory to the north. "I'm General Landren. Commander of all the troops in this area."

"Oh really? Not jusssst the fort?" said Thissa.

"All Avernite forces within fifty miles get their orders from this fort. My fort," he said, his face cracking briefly with a smile of pride, though he didn't look away from the window. "And my responsibility. We face a difficult enemy."

"Who's your enemy?" said Nigel.

"I am fighting Limoncelli, of Fort Dolthar. He is the Empire commander in the area, and a deadly, vicious warrior, and my sworn enemy. If any adventurers were willing to undertake a mission to deal with this menace, I would reward them," said General Landren. "Limoncelli lives in Fort Dolthar, a huge fort on an island to the northeast where the slith lord Sss-Thsss used to live. And he's really, really smart. It's been all we could do to keep him from destroying us. But we'll beat him yet."

"Sir, we would undertake the mission to Fort Dolthar for you," said Jenneke, remembering what Brian had said in the infirmary. "Can you give any more details?"

"I want you to go kill Limoncelli. Find a way to Fort Dolthar, get in and slay him. Do it, and not only will I try to get you a promotion, but I'll tell one of my mages to give you the dispel barrier spell. And that ain't easy to get."

"What are you looking for?" said Adrianna, seeing nothing of interest through the windows.

"Out there? Empire territory. We're on the border right now. They don't have strong control of the caves to the north, but they have enough. You want to go there? Watch out! Oh, and a warning."

"What warning, sir?" said Jenneke.

"If you leave this fort to the north, you likely won't be able to return this way. Empire can disguise themselves magically. So we won't open the gates for you, cause it might not be you."

"Understood, sir," said Jenneke.

On leaving the fort, they came by Theresa, and said, "Just thought you'd like to know, we healed Brian."

Theresa looked, if anything, even angrier than before. "I know! And he's already wanting to go out and fight again! I think, this time I'll lose him for sure." Her head dropped, and she said, "I'm sorry. I appreciate what you did. I know we need to fight for Avernum. But it ... it ... it just makes me angry sometimes. I want a little time to be happy. You've made it possible, but I don't see it happening for a long time."

"I know," said Jenneke, feeling a twinge of guilt. At least I've got Dree with me, know how she is all the time. "We'll keep fighting."

They left, and entered Blosk, finding their way to city hall where a buxom blonde was sitting at the end of the table, wearing the sash of office.

Standing to greet them, she said, "I am Mayor Vicky of Blosk, high and esteemed mayor of the city of Blosk. You can call me Vicky." She sat down again.

"So, how's a mayor keep busy these days?" said Jenneke.

"What do you think?" she said. "Running Blosk in all its glory."

"You've been mayor long?" said Adrianna.

Her chest heaved with an ample sigh. "My job for the last ten years. Before that, I was, blissfully, an innkeeper. Now I hold this city together and marshal its forces against the Empire. And of course, I need to use all the resources I have. That is why I sometimes seek adventurers to do a mission."

"I take it that being an innkeeper was easier," said Feodoric.

"Correct. I ran the inn here in town. Then I became mayor back when it wasn't such a job. Then I had to leave the inn behind, because my responsibilities absorbed my whole being," she said, and smiled in resignation. "I'd drop it in a second, but for one thing—I seem to have a knack for it."

"Well, we're always looking for a few missions," said Jenneke.

"Then I will be brief. Blosk has a spy within its walls. I want you to unmask him, her, or it. Ask Bruce about it. He can tell you more. And when you have evidence of the villain's identity, let me know. I will do nothing without absolute proof."

"Yes, ma'am," said Jenneke, and he turned to the heavy-set man with a chainmail jerkin and bow slung over his shoulder.

Shaking Jenneke's hand, he said, "I'm Bruce, master archer and assistant to her Ladyship."

"You busy?" said Jenneke.

"Well, I'm an archer much of the time. My skills are needed often enough," said Bruce. "In addition, I have been friends with her Ladyship, and have been assisting her with certain ... um ... difficulties."

"What difficulties would those be?" said Jenneke.

Bruce frowned. "Her Ladyship and I are trying to find a spy. We recently found papers, giving instructions to an unnamed party here to find what he or she or it could about our defenses. We've had no luck learning who this letter was addressed to. If you would like to assist her Ladyship with this problem, speak with her. If she asks your help, some advice: speak to Mondrian. I suspect that he can help you in your quest."

"So what do you think of Mayor Vicky?" said Adrianna.

"Lady Vicky is a fine and noble woman," replied Bruce. "The greater the responsibilities her job entails, the better she meets them. It's an honor to serve under her."

"Ssso, how are your ssskillsss needed?" asked Thissa.

"We often have call to use snipers and set ambushes, in order to harass the Empire," said Bruce. "When that happens, it is the archers who perform the greatest services."

"I see," said Jenneke. "Thank you for your time."

Leaving city hall, they moved out onto the street where they ran into a large, affable man walking about the city, in higher spirits than just about anyone they had met in Avernum. "I am Justin," he said. "Welcome my friends and fellow travelers."

"Why are you so happy?" said Nigel.

"I am Justin, priest of the Temple to the Flying Spirit. I'm not usually there, though. It seems a shame to be cooped up in a musty shrine, when there is so much beauty outside the door!" he replied.

"How can you call all this beautiful?" said Adrianna.

"Yes! Beauty! We of the Flying Spirit are wanderers, travelers, determined to see the world and appreciate it as best we can! For example, I soon plan to shut up the temple and take a jaunt down to Patrick's Tower," said Justin. "It's some distance to the south, led by the venerable and wise archmage, Patrick. If there are things you wish to find out, where better to go?" He looked around, and said, "This is a beautiful place, you know. Filled with much ugliness, true, but if we don't also appreciate its wonders as well, who will?"

"Just wondering," said Jenneke, "We do travel, but why do you bring it up?"

"I wish to see much of Avernum. In particular, I wish to see a place called Grahk's Peninsula. When the first explorers of Avernum were teleported here, that is where they arrived," replied Justin. If you can find it and tell me how to get there, I'd much appreciate it."

"We'll keep an eye out," said Jenneke.

They continued walking, as Jenneke said, "I'd sure like to find that spy. Like to wring his neck with my own hands."

"I don't understand how anyone could be so foolish, to help Empire, when they're from Avernum," said Adrianna.

"Probably figure they'll get to go back up," said Feodoric.

"Any fool would see that they'll just kill them when they're done being useful," said Adrianna. "That statue doesn't look very flattering."

"No, it doesn't," said Nigel. "Spooky ... its eyes are following us."

"Can you speak?" said Jenneke. As the statue continued to stare impassively, Jenneke said, "Hmm, I guess you can't."

A rather paranoid looking man, thin and armed with a rapier looked at the group.

"How are you?" said Jenneke.

"I'm Leith," he said, shaking his head. "Sorry, my friends. I've no time to talk."

"We're searching for a spy here in Blosk," said Jenneke, in an exaggeratedly casual manner.

"Ah, you are on the same quest! Sadly, there is little for me to tell you. Empire spies are very good at covering their tracks," replied Leith. "However, I have been collecting much knowledge that may be useful in the hunt."

"We'll take any help we can get," said Jenneke.

"My home's in the northeast corner of town. Look in my library. You might find something useful," he said, and thought for a moment before adding, "I think I left the trap activated. Don't worry—it's a simple one."

"Thanks," said Nigel.

"Hey, this is where Mondrian is," said Jenneke, as they turned to walk to the northeast corner of town. "Bruce said to check in with him."

Within the shrine, someone in black heavy robes was kneeling before the altar, face obscured by a hood.

"Hello," said Jenneke. "What's your name?"

"I am Mondrian," he replied, not turning away from the altar.

"May I ask what you're doing?" said Jenneke.

"I am the priest of secrets," he said, still not turning his head.

"I'm sorry, I don't understand what that means," said Jenneke.

"We are all people of secrets, secrets we keep because we want to or we must," said Mondrian. "And when people find it hard to hold their secrets inside, they come here for strength."

"Strength for what?" said Feodoric.

"Strength to continue to hide what they must. They confess their secrets to me, and I give them the strength to keep them, to keep their privacy. Because people are defined as much by what they don't say as what they do say," replied Mondrian. "But I sense you have no things to confess. So I ask you to leave me."

"With all these secrets you know," said Jenneke, "that must be why Bruce said to talk to you. Perhaps you know one about a spy here in Blosk?"

There was a long pause, and finally Mondrian replied, "I am one who worships privacy, and I ask that you respect mine. Even if I knew those secrets, they must rest in me. I can't tell you."

"We insist," said Jenneke, a hint of temper in his tone. "Tell us who the spy is."

Mondrian mumbled something, and fuzzy-headedly, they found themselves compelled to walk away from him.

"Well, that's odd," said Jenneke, shaking his head. "Let's go."

They found Leith's home, and the door was locked.

"Well, we were invited," said Nigel, and he got out a lockpick, and stepped into the house. "And here's the trap."

After Nigel had disarmed the trap, they continued in, finding journals and fiction, and a sheaf of Leith's notes. In one note, he had written that the wand of carrunos was used during the hunt to increase the challenge by making prey more powerful. Another note, circled, read "Burning a paper does not make it forever unreadable. I think I know how to elicit words from such a damaged surface." Further notes mentioned supposition that an attack on the storehouses in Almaria was imminent, and that they should be searched.

"Well, that's something," said Jenneke. "Let's go do that, and maybe we'll find something more."

"Doesn't say anything about the timing," said Michael. "We should hurry."

"Indeed," said Jenneke. "Let's go ... we'll look for the spy again later."

Closing and locking Leith's house back up, they left Blosk, and set out immediately for Almaria, and after a short query for directions, they made their way to the storerooms.

"Good day," said Jenneke, to the guards on duty there. "We heard a rumor that there's an attack likely to take place here. Suggested to search the warehouse."

"An attack here?" said the guard. "Well, I don't see that happening, but ... look around. Just don't touch anything. Supplies are all organized for what goes where."

"No problem," said Jenneke.

As they moved forward, someone to the north coughed, yet there was no one there. Walking further forward, the stillness of the dusty warehouse was broken by a loud roar. Dust flew outward as Empire soldiers appeared at the north end of the warehouse, having been hiding invisibly. From the brief look they could spare before the nearby guards called for help and the attackers charged, it seemed the troops were there as a surprise raiding party, irritated and surprised that a band of adventurers had just stumbled over them.

The fight went badly for the Empire troops, both because they had been caught off-guard, and the brief chance that Jenneke had taken to alert the guards beforehand. Once the Empire troops were dead, Jenneke led his patrol out of the warehouse, leaving the guards to mop up the mess.

"That makesss no sssenssse," said Thissa. "Where did they come from?"

"Bet they've got some place concealed in the city," said Adrianna. "But I wouldn't know where to start looking."

Their aimless wandering as they were deep in thought led them to a dead-end alley.

"Look at this stone," said Nigel. "It doesn't look like belongs here." He pushed on it, and the whole wall slid away revealing a room to the north. Entering the concealed quarters, the fresh smell of unwashed bodies hit their noses, suggesting someone had been living here until very recently. While quiet now, it seemed likely this had been the base for the Empire troops.

"Wonder how they got from one end of town to the other," said Jenneke.

"Probably a teleport," said Adrianna. "Oh, I don't like the look of that rune."

"Well, we're going to have to cross it," said Jenneke, drawing his sword, and he grinned. "Just in case." With that, he stepped over the rune, and the room was suddenly filled with four large demons. "Shit!"

The demons, while unenthusiastic fighters, were certainly effective, and the wounds suffered by Jenneke's group were quite severe. However, the place remained quiet, and so they pressed on to the next room.

"Looks like they cleared out in a hurry," said Adrianna. "Maybe as soon as the raid went bad."

"Probably," said Nigel, as he started rifling through the desk. "They sure cleaned this out ... whoa ... look at this. Denrius. Our contact in Blosk is working very well for us! Information is being left with the statue. Just talk to it. Password: worms."

"I should've known," said Adrianna.

"S'okay, Dree," said Jenneke. "Anything else, Nige?"

"Just says 'I'm off for the raid. Wish me luck,' signed by someone named Porl," replied Nigel.

"OK," said Jenneke. "That statue ... let's go back and see what it says. Quick, before they can get word to their spy."

Wasting little time, they hurried back to Blosk, and wrinkling up his face with distaste, Jenneke went over to the statue, and said, "Worms."

The statue seemed to become more alive, and it said, "Greetings, Agent. You have your directions. Act on them soon, or things will go very badly for you. Also, we've been losing important papers lately. Be sure everything we give you ends up burned. Use the oven in your chambers. Praise the Empire. That is all." With that, the statue fell silent.

"OK, let's quietlike start searching," said Jenneke. "Nigel?"

"On it, sarge," replied Nigel.

They continued along, and started looking around, until they reached the quarters of Bruce.

"No one's above suspicion," said Jenneke. "Let's check."

"Paydirt," said Nigel, as he poked about in the coals of the oven gingerly, for they were nearly out. Half a sheet of parchment had managed to survive the burning, although it was sufficiently charred to be unreadable.

"OK, let's see if Leith actually knew what he was talking about," said Jenneke.

Walking back down the street, they didn't meet Leith again, but did come into a sage's office, where a young, severe-looking woman with long brown hair tied up in a tight bun was sitting.

"Hello," she said, nodding solemnly to the group. "My name is Saffron." She looked almost embarrassed about her name.

"How are you employed in Blosk?" said Jenneke.

"I'm working as a sage," replied Saffron, "at the moment."

"At the moment?" said Jenneke. "Do you have another occupation?"

"I'm going to learn to be a mage at the Tower. There's no space for new students now, so I'm earning money by identifying and examining things," replied Saffron. "I mean to go to Patrick's Tower. It has the biggest library in Avernum!"

"We have a charred bit of scroll here," said Jenneke. "Any chance you know a magic that would help figure out what it says?"

She took the offered scrap in thumb and forefinger, and looked at it. "Sure, I can read it. It's a little trick I learned. Watch and learn," she waved her hand over the scrap, mumbling a spell. Part of the scrap grew darker, other parts lighter, ashes flaking away to reveal the writing underneath "...a fool. She has no idea that her assistant is working against her." She handed the parchment back.

"Amazing," said Jenneke. "Thank you."

Once outside, he started reading, "Bruce. The info you've given us was helpful, but still not enough. To take Fort Emerald, we still need to hit it from the back. How can you get us ... there's something missing here ... or concealed by Gnass? ... that's about it," he said, "We better take this to City Hall immediately."

"My lady," said Jenneke, as he entered the hall where Vicky was working. "I think we have found the evidence you were seeking."

She began reading the paper. Bruce stood up and started to sprint for the door. Vicky shouted an alarm, and a guard cuffed him hard, and he fell to the ground, where several guards fell on him, bound him, and dragged him away.

"Thank you," said Vicky, when all was quiet again. "This is a terrible humiliation, but it is over. You will be rewarded. I will tell the Castle of the service you have done for me. My word should get you a lot closer to a security clearance. Thank you again for your help."

"No problem," said Jenneke. "We're glad to help."

"He gave the enemy information about our defenses. He brought about the deaths of my men," said Vicky. "I can't imagine why ... Actually, I can. They must have offered to let him live, after all the other Avernites were gone. Disgusting. His death is completely deserved."

"Indeed," said Adrianna. "It must be terrible."

"It is," said Vicky. "At least I have my work ahead of me ... we'll have to change our defenses so they're off balance."

"Good luck to you," said Jenneke. "We've got to be on our way."

As they left the city, Jenneke said, "Sure, she's happy and all, but seeing us is just going to remind her—and I got the feeling she and Bruce were awful close."

"So, where do we go from here?" said Adrianna.

"I think we oughta pay Fort Dolthar a little visit," said Jenneke.