A/N: The world of Exile (Avernum) remains the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, not me (alas!). I promise to return to the game unharmed following my fun here the following persons: Postlethwaite, Mairwen, Wendy, Nance, Elspeth, General Landren, Heustess, Silverio, Malka, Daniel, and Messner; and places: Fort Dranlon, Silvar, Fort Emerald, and Dharmon.
As the platoon rowed along, they saw an Empire encampment boldly watching the Avernite troop movements on the eastern shore, making no effort whatsoever to hide themselves.
"I don't think we should let them stay there like that," said Adrianna. "Do you?"
"Thinking like a true Avernite," said Nigel. "No, I think they're due a bit of punishment, don't you, Sarge?"
"Of course," said Jenneke. "Let's get'em."
As they closed for battle Adrianna said, "They've got a dervish with them."
"Arrogant bastard," said Jenneke. "We'll show'em—Empire dervish ain't got nothing on Avernites."
After the battle, Adrianna said, "His armor is very nice, though."
"Yeah, waste not, want not," said Jenneke. "Think it will fit?"
"Fit you better than I," said Thissa.
With the assistance of the others, Jenneke stripped the mail from the dead dervish and tried it on, finding that it fit, and with a little spellcraft, Adrianna affixed the insignia from Jenneke's old armor in place, removing the Empire markings.
Coming into the ruins of a slith village, they saw the huts torn to the ground, totems smashed, breeding pools shattered, and yet no bodies were present.
"Where isss everybody?" said Thissa, a note of anguish in the tone.
"Was this your village?" said Adrianna.
"No, I lived near Gnass before war," said Thissa. "Doessssn't change feelingsss."
"Oh shit," said Jenneke, as he looked down some long, narrow fissures, holding his nose.
"Empire did that up on the surface," said Nigel, "who's surprised?"
"Doesn't mean it's not just as sick," said Adrianna.
"No, it doesn't," said Jenneke, putting an arm around her. "But that's why we gotta beat those bastards back to where they come from."
Continuing on, they caught sight of a heavy force of Empire troops marching into a small slith village, even the youngest non-swimmers arming themselves against the onslaught.
Jenneke took one look at Thissa and said, "Get this boat ashore, we're going in."
Thissa redoubled his rowing efforts, and they got to shore as Jenneke cried out a war-cry, hoping to encourage the sliths in their fight against Empire as he and his platoon closed the distance. As the battle was joined with the Avernites assisting the sliths, the less-able sliths began to gather the young and slip away from the battle.
The battle at last was won, and Feodoric and Michael started moving amongst the sliths who were grievously wounded, binding wounds and helping to revive them.
One of the sliths said, "Sssss. We have heard of your Empire. They kill all not-humanssss. We ssstay here not. Their mensss caussse many dangerssss. We thank you, and now we go."
With that, the survivors of the village began moving east, another band of refugees in a war which had created so many already.
Getting back into the boat, Thissa said, "Thank you, helping."
Jenneke shrugged, flushing slightly as he said, "It's the right thing to do."
They neared Fort Dranlon, and in the distance could see another troop of soldiers camped on the opposite shore.
"Think that's more of theirs?" said Jenneke.
"Maybe," said Nigel. "Can't tell from here. You want to go check?"
"I'd rather check and take them out, than risk them reporting we went into Dranlon," said Jenneke. "If they're ours ... well, no harm done in saying hello."
Holding carefully to the far shore, they noticed the soldiers were keeping a very close eye on Fort Dranlon, and then they saw the Empire emblems on the armor, and being unnoticed, they pulled to shore to ambush those troops. Defeating them, they searched the bodies, and found some detailed orders on one of the dead.
"Let's go across to Dranlon," said Jenneke, "we need to rest."
As they approached, they saw the fort was being held together by many magical barriers. As they neared the gates, a guard could be seen looking at them, and then suddenly a gap appeared in the magical barriers.
"Guess they know us," said Jenneke, and he led the way in.
Fort Dranlon was a grim place, the battered front line for Avernum in the war against the sliths, and now in the war against Empire. Walls gave mute testimony to many times of being blasted, patched, torn down, and rebuilt. Arrow slits faced into the passage, ominous symbols stretched on the floor.
As they walked in, an aging, thin magician was directing energy into a magical barrier blocking a hole in the wall. He finished up the section he was working on, and turned to them.
"Good day, I'm Jenneke, my wife Adrianna, and these are Thissa, Nigel, Feodoric, and Michael."
"I'm Postlethwaite," he replied.
"So, are you the fort mage?" said Feodoric.
He scratched his neck. "Ummm ... no. Well, one of them, I guess. And I help defend the fort. I'm a refugee, you see," replied Postlethwaite. "Wanted to do useful work. I don't want to be here, but I can still help."
"It's a real mess around Cotra now," said Jenneke.
"I can imagine. Looters by the score I hear. One of my friends lost everything he owned. All of it valuable. Almost all of it stolen by now, for sure," said Postlethwaite.
"Almost? Why almost?" said Nigel.
"He had a pair of boots. Very strong, made of drakeskin, but they looked worthless. Looters won't have a clue of their true worth," said Postlethwaite. "They're probably still out there somewhere."
"Do you still teach magic?" said Jenneke.
"Yes, I still do, sometimes. There are spells you can buy from me, if you're interested," he replied.
Feodoric and Adrianna both were quite interested in learning all that he was teaching, and then Feodoric said, "Can you teach us to make those barriers?"
"I'm afraid not. It takes years to learn how to control and balance the energies," said Postlethwaite. "Learning to create a magical barrier is a mage's career in itself."
"Maybe you can teach us to take them down?" said Feodoric.
"No," he said coldly. "Of course not. If everyone knew how to destroy them, what use would I be? Commander Mairwen once taught people how to destroy barriers, and she was thoroughly reprimanded for it. She won't do that again."
"Thank you," said Jenneke, "we gotta get going. Been through some rough battles, need to find a spot to flop."
A solidly built blonde moved by, checking over barriers, and she said, "Welcome to Fort Dranlon. I'm Wendy."
"You seem busy," said Adrianna.
"Just working the barriers. Needs doing," said Wendy. "Walls take time to repair, and Empire mages hit us with fireballs all the time. They're much worse than the sliths ... were." She eyed Thissa with an apologetic look. "I wasn't at Dranlon back then. I was with the Scimitar."
"Who are the Scimitar?" said Adrianna.
She smiled proudly, and said, "Underground warriors against the Empire, back when their agents among us were covert. We fight with the army now, mostly doing stealthy stuff. But when one of us is needed somewhere, we go. We're all in this together!"
"What happened to the Scimitar?" said Adrianna.
"We were based in the Abyss. Then the Empire took over the Abyss and, for the most part, destroyed it," said Wendy. "We stopped being underground then, and came out and openly joined Avernum."
"I'll bet you wish you weren't cooped up in this fort," said Nigel. "You ever miss the days of going on missions?"
She sighed, "Yeah, I do. In the old days, I could slip into a secret installation, kill five of them, and leave with none of them being the wiser. Being on the defensive is killing me."
"I'm sure the opportunity will come," said Nigel, "for you to be on the offense again."
"I hope so," said Wendy with a deep sigh.
Jenneke said, "Well, we need to check in here, have a good day."
He led his patrol into the commander's office, where a small, beautiful woman with long, curly brown hair was sitting at a desk, wearing the velvet robes of one of the master mages.
"I'm Commander Mairwen," she said, grinning at the group, "Welcome to Fort Dranlon."
"This fort seems to have known better days," said Jenneke.
"Not many of them. Fort Dranlon has been here seven years now. We're always the first to be attacked and the last to be relieved," said Mairwen. "The Empire's been hammering us non-stop for months. The barrier didn't help things. And adventurers rarely come here anymore."
"You mean the big barrier?" said Jenneke.
"Yeah, it was us and Cotra versus three full Empire garrisons and the tower! And we still endured," said Mairwen, her smile disappearing.
"The Empire has a tower near here?" said Jenneke.
"It just appeared, almost overnight, up river to the north a few months ago. It's run by a mage named Elderan, and it launches nasty, nasty raids," said Mairwen. "It's an important place, though. If
someone could hit it hard, it'd really stick it to the Empire."
"We'll put it on our list," said Jenneke with a very grim expression. "Cotra didn't fare well."
"Nasty business, that. It's just a ruin now, the loveliest city in Avernum," said Mairwen with a sigh. "But we'll keep it from happening again, mark my words!"
Moving on, they came into a room where a small blonde woman in torn clothing was sitting, fighting off exhaustion.
"Nance?" said Jenneke. "Nance is that you? We met Elspeth in Silvar."
Nance's expression changed from sadness to relief, as she said, "When you see Elspeth again, tell her I'm here, and I'll get back to her as soon as I can."
"Why are you here?" said Jenneke. "I thought most of the refugees went east."
"They did. I got turned around in the confusion," said Nance. "Foolishness and misfortune."
"Manage to keep yourself busy here?" said Jenneke.
"Well, now I have a goal," said Nance. "Figuring a way to get to Silvar."
"Maybe when we come back through, we could take you with us," said Jenneke. "We're going the other way right now."
"I'd appreciate that," said Nance. "You think it'd be safe enough?"
"Safe as anywhere else in Avernum," said Jenneke. "Now, we gotta get going and find us a place to flop."
"Take care," said Nance. "You've had the best news for me since I got here."
After getting themselves patched up and rested, Jenneke gathered his group, and they continued on their westward trek.
Finally circling around to the south of the island, they saw docks, and aimed to dock there, but instead found themselves on a bare section of wall.
"That odd," said Adrianna.
"I know," said Jenneke. "Must be some passive magical protection. I hope."
"Let'sss ssstop here, and sssee if there isss another way," said Thissa.
"Well, since we're this close," said Jenneke, "definitely. Now, we're here to kill Limoncelli, but any other Empire troops we gotta kill on the way is bonus. And we gotta see what's going on about them vahnatai that Brian saw."
Moving through a concealed door, they found themselves in some sort of shrine, attended by two priests and several Empire soldiers. They fought a short, fierce battle, and then moved on, finding a hallway with statues lining it.
"These look ordinary," said Jenneke, "no eyes following us. Empress Prazac? Who's that?"
"The new empress," said Adrianna. "Well, sort of—she's very young, and really it's Garzahd ruling."
Fighting their way around the fort, they finally found themselves at a docks, and when the battle there was over, they noticed the stairs ascending to the second level of the fort.
"That explains the enchantments," said Jenneke. "Bet he's somewhere on the second floor."
They ascended the stairs, fighting the Empire troops they found in the first area, and then as they started back, there was a mournful clang.
"This wheel's no good," said Adrianna. "And that clang was the portculli closing—we can't go back the way we came."
"Then we'll just have to finish the job and find another way out," said Jenneke. "We've been in worse spots."
Searching through, they came upon a room clearly furnished in vahnatai style, and several vahnatai were actually living within these quarters.
"He sure did see what he said," said Jenneke. "Have to tell him when we get back."
No more had he said that, than the battle was joined—a fierce battle that left them quite bloodied.
"Good thing," said Michael, searching through the stores, "they've got a full range of potions in here. Bottoms up, everyone."
Trying not to waste too much time, they searched through a cabinet, and found voluminous records and written agreements between the vahnatai and humans, detailing a series of agreements and trades between the Empire forces in Avernum and a rogue band of vahnatai, led by someone named Gaddika.
"Oh fuck," said Jenneke, "vahnatai on the side of the Empire? We're gonna be doomed."
"Limoncelli seems to have orchestrated most of this," said Adrianna. "Weaponry, skills, magic spells ... We do the mission we're on, maybe that will disrupt it enough."
"And we gotta get to the vahnatai and talk about this Gaddika with them," said Jenneke. "Oh fuck, this is not good."
"Hold it," said Feodoric, "look at this one."
"It's just a standard form," said Adrianna. "They record everything that's received from outside sources."
"Yeah, but this one's given us something we really need," said Feodoric. "See, 'receive one "soul containing crystal' from that Gaddika shit ... about six months ago. Place of analysis Fort Pyrog."
"I've heard of Fort Pyrog," said Adrianna. "You'll never get in the front way, believe me ... there's no secret entrances, and enough golems to chop an army to pieces."
"Take that," said Jenneke. "We'll take it to Olgai when we get done here ... I'm sure they'll be interested, and they just might know a back way."
They continued fighting their way through the upper level, finally coming to a room protected by serious runes on the floor, but after a careful search, they found a way to disable those.
"Hope we find a way to open this portcullis," said Nigel. "Be a good escape route."
"Limoncelli should be on the other side of this door," said Jenneke. "So, everyone ready—I don't expect this fight to be easy. This is a top Empire general, so he's gotta be well defended."
They made their way then into the main meeting hall of Fort Dolthar, from which all the orders emerged. Empire soldiers were everywhere, looking highly trained and dangerous—though perhaps no more so than Jenneke and his band. Mages and archers backing them up seemed likely to be no less skilled.
Easily the most alarming foe, however, was the man at the head of the table. At first glance, he looked like just another soft, fragile bureaucrat. He had a relaxed affable face, mild middle-age spread, and only wore light armor. However, when he stood and drew his blade, they could only gasp. He moved incredibly fast, as though time warped around him, having received many haste spells stacked one on top of the other.
The other troops dead, Jenneke brought his sword down, striking Limoncelli the mortal blow. Surprisingly, he did not slow down, but rather the very opposite. His body sped up an incredible, almost comical amount, as the magic that sustained him fell out of balance.
"Oh gods!" said Adrianna, looking green as she saw Limoncelli's body violently tear itself apart.
As the dead general fell to the ground, the chamber was filled with the snapping, rhythmic echo of all his bones breaking. Seeing how green Adrianna looked, Jenneke moved back to her, holding her close forcing her face against the steel of his armor, rather than letting her see the disintegrating body of the dead man.
"Let's get the fuck outta here," said Jenneke. "We done what we had to, and even got a bit of bonus."
"Mind, stay away from the windows," said Feodoric, "no doubt there's troops down there looking for us."
"Thisss wheel will do it," said Thissa, turning the cavewood wheel in the corner of the room.
They could hear the sound of a portcullis changing position, and Jenneke, still with sword drawn and one arm around Adrianna, left the conference room of the battle, and said, "Gate's open, time to go."
They hurried down the stairs, pausing to listen. In the distance, there were shouts, but they seemed to be coming from the front of the fort, and they ran down the hallway to the bloody shrine where they had fought their first battle in the fort, and through the concealed exit and into their boat, rowing away out of arrow range as quickly as possible.
"I know Landren said we couldn't go back in from the north," said Jenneke, "but Thissa, do you think we can skirt around by Gnass?"
"Be better, we go to Fort," said Thissa. "Can resssst for long journey, get woman to friend, and then make long trip to Emerald Fort."
Feodoric said, "Yes, that sounds like a reasonable plan. I've heard that the territory there is rather hotly disputed, and we're really not in much condition for another pitched battle."
They went back to Fort Dranlon, and collapsed in the beds that were available for visitors, and after recovering from the exertions at Fort Dolthar, they found Nance and took her along with them to the boat, rowing quickly to Silvar.
Stopping in Silvar, they led Nance to the hovel where Elspeth had been staying, and the two women embraced with the obvious delight of reunion after believing it impossible.
Elspeth said, "In thanks, I would like to give you something I saved from my shop when I fled Cotra." She offered a small, wicked looking dagger with a glittering edge. "Curse the Empire! Will it ever stop toying with our lives?"
"Thank you," said Jenneke, and he discreetly made an exit. "Damned Empire, can't stand anyone doing things any different from anyone else."
Nigel said, "So, we're to Emerald next?"
"Yeah, let's get back in the boat," said Jenneke.
They rowed again westward, and as they traveled, veered more southerly than their previous course, and found beached on one remote island, the wreck of an Avernite boat, struck with several spells until it was no longer sea-worthy. No bodies were around, and nearly everything had been looted, but there was one small, water-stained package, partially ripped open.
Michael squinted, and said, "The only thing I can tell is the word Dharmon."
"OK," said Jenneke. "Take it, and after we've been to Fort Emerald, we'll go down to Dharmon and see if anyone is looking for this."
They continued along the river, finally stopping at a small fishing village just north of Almaria. The locals welcomed the platoon in, offering pots of savory cavefish stew and conversation. Finally, after a good meal, Jenneke and the rest of his platoon left, heading west again.
Finally, they arrived in Fort Emerald, and found that General Landren was again—or perhaps still—on the ramparts looking north.
"Sir?" said Jenneke.
General Landren grunted quietly.
Not quite sure what to make of that, Jenneke decided to take it for permission. "Sir, we've done it. We killed Limoncelli. It wasn't easy."
General Landren grinned, turning away from the north, and said, "Well done! As a reward, track down Heustess. He's around here somewhere. He'll give you the Dispel Barrier spell, if you want it. And I'll send word to the Castle of what you did. Good work! Eh, what's left to do is take care of the rest of Limoncelli's troops. But that's our job. And we're ready for them."
"Thank you, sir," said Jenneke.
They checked along the ramparts on the other side of the fort, a woman staring intently over the barricade in mage's robes. She nodded, not looking away from the north as she said, "I am Silverio."
"What are you looking for?" asked Jenneke.
"Shhhhush," she said, "quiet. I'm watching for an attack."
"Is an attack imminent?" said Jenneke.
"That's just it. We don't know. We never know. We all take shifts watching for Empire raids," she said quickly and quietly, never averting her eyes. "They can conceal themselves magically, appear in seconds, throw a few balls of fire, and get away. We then have very little time to strike back."
"How do you repair the walls?" said Nigel.
"We have to plug any holes in the walls with magic barriers, before any attackers can climb through them," she said. "The barriers are our most powerful defense."
"How sssso?" said Thissa.
"Even when the enemy smashes a hole in our defenses, we can plug it up right away!" she replied. "Without that ability, this fort would have fallen long ago."
"Thank you for speaking with us," said Jenneke, and he started down from the ramparts.
Searching along the walls, they found another mage of Avernum, his robes charred recently.
"I'm Heustess," he said. "Greetings."
"What are you working on?" said Jenneke.
"I am currently dispelling some barriers. It needs doing, sometimes, when we want to build a wall somewhere and the fields we put up to repair things are in the way," he said with a sigh. "It's tedious, but it's my responsibility."
"What'd you do before the war?" said Jenneke.
"Before I joined up to fight the war, I was doing research at the Tower of Magi. That seems a long time ago," replied Heustess.
"What research were you involved with?" asked Adrianna.
"I was trying to create a spell to scry large areas of the outdoors, much as magic map maps small areas, such as towns. Alas, a spell to see a large area is a terribly difficult thing to create, and even harder to summon up the energy to cast," replied Heustess. "I believe that someone has figured out how to do this. I have heard rumors. But I don't know if it is actually possible."
"The commander said that you can teach how to dispel a magical barrier?" said Feodoric.
Heustess nodded, and said, "Landren told me what you did for us. Such skill and strength should be rewarded." With that, he began teaching the complicated spell.
"Thanks," said Jenneke, "we won't keep you from your work, then."
Continuing west from Fort Emerald, they soon could smell sulfur and blood, and see a gray haze in the air, with the echoes of distant battles against cave walls.
"We're almost to the front lines," said Jenneke. "Better keep watch."
They entered Dharmon, and immediately made for the Dharmon Arms, which in better times was known as the largest and most luxurious inn in Avernum. Now, however, there were few people other than soldiers, as civilians had been heading east at the earliest opportunity. Seeming almost out of place, a small pregnant woman with black, curly hair sat in the corner, holding a small boy in her arms, his face flecked with red, and looking very ill.
"I am Malka, and this is Daniel," she said.
"Is your son all right?" said Adrianna.
"Oh, I'm so worried," said Malka. "I don't mind telling you that. My boy, Daniel, is very sick. Some cave disease."
"Do you know what disease he has?" asked Feodoric.
"A rare one. Graymold doesn't work. A cure disease spell barely helped," said Malka. "There is a package of medicine, but well, I'm not sure we'll get it ... it should have been here already."
"Maybe this is it?" said Michael, pulling out the package. "We found a shipwreck, and couldn't read much of the label, just that it's for someone here in Dharmon."
Malka looked as though she might faint with joy, and she said, "Thank you!"
She opened the box, and within were three small bottles of medicine, and she took a ring from her hand and said, "Please, accept this as my thanks for your deed."
"Thank you," said Jenneke. "It wasn't really necessary."
"I must," said Malka, "I couldn't accept such a deed and do nothing to show my gratitude. You have given me hope for my son."
"Then we will respect your honor," said Jenneke. He looked over to the rather depressed-appearing innkeeper.
Looking only slightly less depressed, the innkeeper said, "I'm Messner. How can I help ya?"
"What can you tell us about your services?" said Jenneke.
"I run the Dharmon Arms, and believe me, we got plenty of space. Things've been real slow. But we have the nicest rooms in Avernum and the best meals—sizzling lizard steaks," he said. "Let me know if you want a meal or a room."
"Why so slow?" said Jenneke.
"It's the war. Nobody wants to stay here when they're afraid the next day the Empire might take the city. A few merchants come, but they drop their stuff and go. No staying and partying like they always did before," said Messner. "No, these are not good times for the Dharmon Arms."
"It looks like a fine inn," said Adrianna.
"The largest, most comfortable inn in Avernum," said Messner. "My pride and joy. But things have been very, very slow."
"Well, we'll take meals all around," said Jenneke, "and then rooms."