A/N: The world of Exile (Avernum) remains the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software. I promise, after this bit of fun, to return unharmed to the game the following persons: Erika Redmark, Athron, Mayor Genevieve, Mother Madge, and Starcap; and places: Tower of Magi, Erika's Tower, Athron's lair, Kothtar, Fort Remote, and Dharmon.
Leaving Suzanne to her contemplations of experimenting with the fire lizard egg, Jenneke led his platoon back up to the chamber where the huge, crackling portal stood.
"Erika's tower is said to be in the Abyss somewhere," said Jenneke, "so we're going in behind enemy lines—be ready for trouble."
With that, he drew his sword, and stepped toward the portal, speaking clearly the words, "Kav Ait Bon."
They felt themselves torn apart and reassembled, and Jenneke's words of warning proved true, as they re-appeared at the base of Erika's tower, which was surrounded by Empire troops who decided that they would alleviate the tedium of trying to besiege the tower by attacking Avernites. However, there was far less than a full garrison about the tower, and Jenneke and his platoon made quick work of filling the field surrounding Erika's tower with the corpses of Empire dead.
There was disappointingly little treasure, although they did read a journal about the efforts that the troops had been going to, and how they had been defeated by something which sapped the minds of their best shock troops. With that, Jenneke led the way into the Tower of Erika Redmark.
"Erika's considered dangerous and pretty mercurial," said Michael, "and her power is probably only equal to how much she hates the Empire. They say that it was her talents that got those Avernites into the palace to assassinate Hawthorne."
"And she's known for testing those who want to speak with her," said Feodoric. "So, we're probably still in a lot of danger when we go inside."
They walked into the first room, and found a number of vacant-faced, drooling Empire troops wandering about aimlessly. Carefully edging around them, Jenneke led the way further in when suddenly a magical field surrounded the platoon. It appeared that whatever examination had taken place found them acceptable, for they were unharmed when the field disappeared.
"I'll bet that's how those guys lost their minds," said Jenneke, shuddering. "Good thing we're not Empire."
They continued on their way, fighting through golems and eyebeasts, whirling blades, demons, invisible creatures, and shambling mounds of fungus. At last, they reached the highest level of the tower. Here was Erika, calmly waiting. Upon their entry, she nodded slightly, unsmiling, and seemed irritated.
Jenneke drew in his breath, he had hoped that she wouldn't be in a bad mood when they arrived.
"You have kept me waiting here for a long time. You should have come to me first. You have ambitions, ambitions for good. You need to know things. Things only I know," said Erika. "Come, Sit. Speak with me. It is time to begin."
"Greetings, Erika," said Jenneke, making a respectful bow. "It was difficult to find you, under the circumstances."
"Good. Difficult, but clearly not impossible. I live here in my tower, watching my defenses and keeping the Empire from taking my head. I also prepare assaults against the Empire. Important assaults," said Erika. "I will help you now. I will help you find one of the Crystal Souls, and I will help you learn of Garzahd. Both things are crucial."
"Why doessss the Empire want your head?" said Thissa.
"The Empire will stop at nothing to slay me. It was I who engineered the assassination of Hawthorne," she said, and paused. "Of course, for that, some fools resent me!"
"Tell us more about that," said Jenneke. "We only heard a few rumors."
"Hawthorne. The pathetic emperor of the Empire. It was I who found the assassins. It was I who told them how to reach Hawthorne. It was I who sent them there. I am responsible," said Erika. "They will do all that they can to exact vengeance upon me," she chuckled grimly. "And they will fail. And thus I avenge myself for my banishment."
"Revenge can be an effective motivator," said Jenneke, thinking of Cotra.
"They dared send me down here! And they cursed me as well! The insult, the arrogance, to think once I was down here I could no longer harm them!" said Erika with a laugh. "I showed them! And I will show them still."
"How did they curse you?" said Adrianna.
"Unlike you, who are blessed," said Erika, as Adrianna blushed, "I am cursed. If I am ever touched by the light of the sun, I will instantly die. They thought this would make them safe from me. Fools."
"So, tell us about the assaults you are planning against the Empire," said Jenneke, looking bewildered by Adrianna's reaction and Erika's words. "And how we can help."
"You are blessed, too," said Erika. "Two missions occupy my mind. They are desperately important, but nothing can be done without adventurers who can leave here and strike the actual blows. Though I can't help directly, I can provide valuable information. I speak of recovering the Crystal Souls, and of the destruction of Garzahd."
"We've been working on recovering the Crystal Souls," said Jenneke. "We found two, but we've run out of leads. We do want to find the third. Where should we go?"
"I know not where a Crystal Soul is, but I believe that the dragon Athron does. She hides west of Mertis. If she asks who sent you, tell her 'Erika'," said Erika. "She knows and respects me, and she may let you in. When you learn what she knows, return and tell me."
"What do you think of the vahnatai?" asked Michael.
She looked uncomfortable, and said, "Those bizarre aliens will cause us trouble yet. They will not be happy sharing their home with us for long. When they tire of us, they will exercise their considerable power against us. When it happens ..." she sighed, and continued, "Let's just say that these days of war may be a happy and nostalgic past. Vahnatai power runs strong and deep."
"I suspect it will be some time before we are able to take up the cause against Garzahd," said Adrianna, still flushed. "But if there are things we can learn as we travel now ... anything we should look for?"
Erika's smile turned icy, as she said, "Oh, sweet Garzahd. Dear sweet Garzahd, the man ... the vermin who sent me down here. Now he is in Avernum, and I want him dead! And I have several leads on how it may be done."
"How could we affect such a powerful mage?" said Adrianna.
"To slay Garzahd, you will need to be able to reach him and then kill him before he kills you. Someone named Thompson might help with the former, and Solberg might help with the latter," said Erika. "And of course, for what it's worth, you will want to see King Micah."
"Can you tell us where Thompson might be found?" said Jenneke.
She sniffed, and said, "He is a lesser mage, but he knows a lot about teleportation. That seems to be the best route to reach Garzahd. Ask people about him in Blosk. That was where he lived before he disappeared. You may have to poke around a bit. He was a quiet one."
"Can you tell us more about Solberg?" said Feodoric.
"He is a worthy mage. Alas, he is trapped in his tower as much as I am. He lives southwest of Formello. Ask him about Garzahd. They knew each other. He might know something of how to slay him."
"What's your opinion of King Micah?" said Jenneke.
She shook her head, and said, "A good man, but he's up against the greatest foes the Empire has to offer. Fortunately, his resources may have uncovered something necessary to slay Garzahd. You should see him."
"So, what sort of resentment did you encounter, helping people get to Hawthorne?" said Nigel.
Erika's face twisted in fury. "Avernum is full of tiny minds! Pathetic worms who blame me for this invasion! As if the Empire would not have eventually decided to slay us anyway! At least I struck a decisive blow before it happened," said Erika, and she shook her head. "Tiny-minded fools. That's what they all are. But I'll show them."
"I'm impressed by your tower," said Jenneke.
"You should be. This is my home, and I will not leave it, although my enemies work day and night to slay me. The Empire wishes me dead like no other," she said, and thought before adding, "By the way, you have passed my tests, and shall be rewarded."
"What reward?" said Jenneke.
"You have reached the center of my tower once. The next time will be easier," she said, and cast a brief spell. "There is a portal near the entrance, in a secret room. Now, when you step into it, you will appear before me."
"Thank you," said Jenneke. "I think we should be going. We have a lot of work ahead of us."
"So you do," said Erika. "Best of luck to you. The portal there will return you to the Tower of Magi."
"Thank you," said Jenneke.
They left through the portal, finding themselves returned to just outside the entrance of the Tower of Magi.
"Dree," said Jenneke, "what was she on about, calling us blessed the way she did?"
Adrianna said, "Not in front of everyone."
"Fine," said Jenneke. "Guys, head on into our room here. Dree and I are going to the garden first."
Taking Adrianna by the hand, Jenneke went up the stairs into the renowned gardens of the Tower of Magi, and led her into the small grove of trees, away from the guards.
"Well?" said Jenneke.
"My flux is late by nearly a week," said Adrianna, blushing. "I've not had other signs, I wasn't sure, but ... She's powerful enough, she may have seen."
"A babe?" said Jenneke. "You sure?"
"There's certainly been no shortage of the activity known for causing that," said Adrianna.
"You feel ok?" said Jenneke. "Should ... we probably shouldn't go through portals."
"It'd be a little late for worrying about that now," said Adrianna. "I'm fine, Jenneke. Worry more when it gets closer to Icefall."
"I just ... wow," said Jenneke. "I ... Dree, I ... stuff we're doing is so dangerous ... I ... I can't ..."
"Jenneke, I'll be fine," said Adrianna. "Maybe later I'll need to find someplace where it's kind of safe, but ... I'd worry terribly if ... If you were off doing all the dangerous things we've been doing, and I had no way of knowing how things were going. I ... I don't want you to leave me behind."
"OK," said Jenneke. "But ... when it's closer, you could stay here? I mean, we've got the quarters, we come back here often enough ..."
"I guess so," said Adrianna.
"You're beautiful, Dree," said Jenneke, embracing her despite the armor that prevented them from getting too close to each other. "Dree, I'm kinda scared."
"So am I," said Adrianna. "I'm not so frightened for what could happen to me, but ..."
"Yeah," said Jenneke, pulling the gauntlets off, letting them fall to the ground as he threaded fingers through the hair at the back of Adrianna's head, and then kissed her. "Dree, do you want the guys to know?"
"I ... I don't want to tell them yet," said Adrianna. "You'll be bad enough trying to wrap me in cotton without everyone doing so."
"It's just ... I never really thought about it," said Jenneke. "About having a baby, I mean ... And the middle of the war, it's pretty frightening."
"We'll make it work," said Adrianna. "Maybe the war will even be over by the time this baby's born."
"It's been five years," said Jenneke, "you think it'd be over in a few months?"
"Never know," said Adrianna. "If we get that teleporter down, and the other crystal soul returned, and then find a way to kill Garzahd ... Empire just might lose their first war."
"From your mouth to the gods' ears," said Jenneke. "Let's go to the bunk room ... I gotta think." He bent down and picked up the gauntlets, and with an arm around Adrianna's waist, headed for the room that had been set aside for them.
Inside the room, Nigel said, "So, what's the deal?"
"If I wanted you to know, I'd tell you," said Jenneke. "I gotta think about where we're going next ..."
"I think Kothtar would be the place to go," said Michael. "I've heard some rumors that whoever stole the Orb of Thralni went there, and they wanted plans in Dharmon—and it would probably make life easier for the people in Fort Remote."
"Good points," said Jenneke, unbuckling his armor. "I guess we just have to wander around until we find it."
"We could try to find Athron on the way," said Feodoric. "Never know but that she'd have something to say that might make something more meaningful if we stumbled over it."
"That's a lot of searching," said Jenneke, "and in the honeycomb ... But maybe she's got a clue on where the onyx scepter might be found. I think I'm going to sleep on that. C'mon, Dree."
Adrianna had gotten out of the mithril chain mail tunic that they'd retrieved from another higher-ranking Empire soldier—scavenging the dead had bought fine armor and weapons for everyone in the platoon, and unlaced her outer gown and got into the bed with Jenneke. Jenneke pulled her close, one hand resting beneath the covers on her still perfectly flat stomach.
After a good rest, and breakfast brought by one of the silent apprentices, Jenneke said that he wanted to go find Athron, and then proceed west to Kothtar. At long last, they reached a place where two enormous statues of lizard men towered above them all, one to the right, one to the left—each fifty feet tall, molded like clay from the stone of the cavewalls. By the looks of them, they had been created by magic, not by stoneworkers. The expressions on their stone faces were clearly hostile, but ahead, they could see a cavern entrance.
"This looks like it could be Athron's," said Jenneke. "Let's go."
As they passed between them, the statues remained inanimate—however there were creatures concealed in nests behind the heads of the statues—and those creatures decided to divebomb the group.
"Eyebeasts!" said Feodoric.
"Got 'em," said Nigel, drawing his bow.
With fire both divine and arcane, they defeated the eyebeasts, and found their way unimpeded. Entering the cave, they reached a dead end. From behind, they heard a low, loud growling. Turning, they saw the enormous, translucent projected image of a dragon, staring balefully at them.
"Ill met, mortals," came the voice of the projected dragon. "I am Athron, and you are not welcome in this place. I have no time for your petty desires, or your petty conflicts. Going further will bring death to you." Then the image faded, and there was quiet again.
"If we want to find the Soul," said Jenneke, "we're going to have to bother her ... Dree ..."
"I agree," said Adrianna, before Jenneke could suggest that she remain out here while he confronted a dragon who might be angry with them all.
"Hey, over here," said Nigel. "We shouldn't have gone so far—here's the way in."
Following this path, they found a lava-brightened chamber with a glowing portal at the far end. Stepping toward the portal, they found themselves in another chamber, with a portal at the bottom of a deep depression. Carefully, they made their way down the sides of the near-cliff, and entered that portal, as there were no other options.
An annoyed sibilant voice said, "You intrude on my home. I do not know you, and you are not welcome. Who sent you?"
"Erika Redmark," replied Jenneke.
There was a groan, and then the voice said, "Not again! I told her I did not wish to speak with her, and I meant it. Perhaps this will dissuade you from disturbing my privacy!"
They found themselves teleported—not in front of the dragon, but rather into a chamber filled with fire-breathing hydras. Killing them, they continued until they found another portal at the end of the path. Moving into that portal brought them back to where they had first heard Athron's voice.
"Maybe persistence is a trait that Athron would appreciate," said Adrianna.
"Worth a try," said Jenneke, and he led the way back to where Nigel had found the hidden path.
Following the same path as before, they were about to enter the second portal, when the cold, reptilian voice said, "Not you again! You are starting to irritate me! Pester my minions instead."
They found themselves in another chamber with a raised platform and four runes upon the floor—through windows, they could see four closed portculli.
"It is a puzzle, like that in the tomb of Dahris-Bok," said Feodoric. "The trick is to discover which runes activate which portculli, and then we will be able to open them all."
It took some experimentation, but at last all four were open, and they continued around.
"That was too easy," said Jenneke. "That worries me."
Nevertheless, the portal stood glowing and inviting ahead. Finding themselves in the main entrance chamber again, Jenneke groaned.
"Third time the charm?" he said. "Let's go ..."
They continued, and as they approached the second portal again, the reptilian voice sounded almost amused despite the anger, as she said, "Aaaarr! Why are you so insistent on disturbing my privacy! Take this, and suffer ..."
They came into a hall, seemingly empty with an altar at one end.
"This isn't so bad," said Jenneke, but as he moved forward, the walls on either side lowered into the floor, revealing a number of giants, eye beasts, aranea, and undead.
After defeating the motley assortment, they searched around until finally discovering a hidden passage leading to the portal.
"Betcha we gotta do it all again," said Jenneke. "Well, let's go ..."
Indeed, Jenneke was right, except that as they approached the second portal, the voice was tinged with resignation, as she said, "All right, I will reward your persistence. Come see me, but beware. Disturb my inner sanctum, and I will slay you!"
Finally, they stood before Athron, who towered above them, looking down upon the group with distrust, distaste, and a surprising degree of nervousness. As Athron breathed out, little flames came out her nostrils.
"We do not wish to disturb you, but we seek information," said Jenneke.
"You went to great effort to see me, mortals. You passed mighty trials to gain the knowledge I possess. In particular, I have made much study of the Empire's actions in these caverns. Of what do you wish to know?"
"Have you heard of the portal the Empire is building?" said Jenneke.
If a dragon could be said to shrug, surely Athron would have done so, as she answered, "The Empire is building a portal to bring soldiers down here en masse. If it is completed, you humans ...and sliths ... of Avernum are doomed. I know no more."
"What do you think of us down here in Avernum?" asked Jenneke.
"Avernum is annoying," replied Athron with a snort, "but the Empire would be more so."
"Are you familiar with the vahnatai?" asked Michael.
"A dignified and wise people, who know how to respect a being's privacy," said Athron.
"Erika suggested that you might know something about the missing Crystal Souls?" said Jenneke.
Athron cocked her head and thought, then said, "Yes, one time when my spirit was traveling, it detected another spirit in distress. I went to it, but could not get close. It had been stolen from its home, and was definitely vahnatai. I know its hiding place."
"Where is the Crystal Soul hidden?" said Jenneke.
"I asked it to tell me where it is. It did. It was in the Empire fort Angierach," replied Athron. "I can tell you little more than that."
"Nothing more about Angierach than its name?" said Jenneke.
"I can tell you little more. It is a place of dark and grim experiments and great magic and evil. I pity any spirit imprisoned there. Erika might be able to help you enter there. I won't," said Athron.
"You seem nervous," said Jenneke. "Surely you have nothing to fear from us."
She pondered this for a moment, and said, "I allow few to see me now that I am looking after my brood. I will not put my offspring at risk."
"Your brood?" said Jenneke, reaching for Adrianna without thinking. "You have children?"
At first, Athron seemed reluctant to speak, but the pride of being a new parent overcame her, and she said, "Soon I will. For the first time in five centuries, new dragonlings are about to hatch."
"Congratulations on your new dragonlings," said Adrianna.
Her voice swelled with pride, as she said, "The mighty spawn of me and my mate, who rests on the other side of the world. A dark doom awaits any thief who would interfere with them."
"A mate?" said Michael. "Tell us about him."
She reared up, a jet of flame revealing she was angry, "I dare not! He like myself, hides from the accursed Empire," she said. "It hunts and butchers us without mercy. If I tell you of my mate, he may then be found. I cannot allow it."
"I'm sure that no thief would dare bother your young," said Adrianna.
Her voice trembled with potential violence, and she said, "There are many who would use our eggs for sinister purposes. I promise you, this will not happen."
"Who had the last brood?" asked Michael.
"My mother. The five dragons of these caverns were the last brood to be hatched anywhere near here, centuries ago," said Athron. "My siblings."
"Who are your siblings?" said Adrianna.
"They are four. Senile Motrax. Defeated Sulfras. Dead Pyrog. Servile Khoth," said Athron dismissively.
"Pyrog was slain?" asked Adrianna.
"Pyrog was dark and cruel. And stupid. She was slain a few years ago, by a band of powerful and cunning adventurers," said Athron. "She had it coming."
"Why do you call Motrax senile?" said Jenneke.
"He is imprisoned in his weak mind. His body is also fast wearing out. I pity him," said Athron. "Hopefully, he will soon seek an honorable death."
"Who defeated Sulfras?" asked Adrianna.
"Sulfras is the mightiest of us five, now held down and ordered about by Empire wizards," said Athron. "When she gains freedom, vengeance will be mighty."
"Servile Khoth?" said Michael. "Who does he serve?"
A rumbling growl, and she said, "Dishonorable Khoth! He now serves Garzahd! He has turned traitor, assisting the Empire in return for its mercy! Curse his name!"
"Can you share any of your great knowledge with us?" asked Feodoric.
Athron snorted, "Do not take advantage of my hospitality. You are lucky I did not merely slay you when I entered." She thought for a moment, and seemed to relent. "I think that I left a human tome with some magical notes about my caves somewhere. If you find it, you can read it, but do not try to waste my time by getting me to educate you. Your lives are too short to make my efforts on your behalf worthwhile."
"How long do dragons live?" said Adrianna.
"Centuries. I will be able to tell you what our natural lifespan is," said Athron, "as soon as a dragon expires of old age. It has not happened yet."
"So, is that tome to the west?" asked Nigel.
"What is to the west is private," said Athron. "If you walk down there, I will kill you."
Not finding the tome, they decided that it was best to leave Athron, and continued west. As they started on the trek west from Almaria, they met a group of merchants, and drew near to trade, but it became very evident upon close examination that the goods were most likely obtained and sold under less than legal circumstances. They decided to pass on trading with these merchants and continued on their way west.
Stopping up at Camp Samuels, they looked for Lieutenant Krizsan, and found her.
Jenneke said, "We found out what happened to Locke. It appears he became a miner in the Fort Draco area."
She slapped her head, and said, "Of course! He was always telling us that his family were miners on the surface. Got exiled down here after they tried to get better conditions. He must have gone back to it. Thank you for letting me know. It's one less thing for me to worry about here."
"Glad to help out," said Jenneke. "Mind if we bunk here for a bit?"
"No problem, just find yourself an empty bed," she replied.
Resting, they decided to stop at Gnass as part of their westward progress, and then once at Gnass, they went to Pathass to hand over the charm they had found.
Pathass bowed deeply in thanks, and said, "In return, I will sssend word to the humanssss that you have aided them. I underssstand that the Cassstle givessss rewardsss to thossse they hear do great deedssss. In addition, there isss sssomething magical I can teach you. I know that adventurerssss alwayssss desssire ssspellsss to help them in their ssstrugglesss."
"What is it?" said Michael.
"It wasss a difficult choice, but I will share with you one of our mossst sssecret and valuable ritualsss. It isss difficult, but it isss worthwhile, ssssince you did sssso much for usss," replied Pathass.
Entering the waste, they started down a passage to camp, and found some sort of melee going on—one group of humanoids being blasted by another group. Suddenly, the group being blasted turned, and it became clear they were Avernite soldiers—and a moment later, the battle was now swirling around Jenneke's platoon.
With the aid of Jenneke's platoon, several soldiers were revived after the battle, and they seemed to feel lucky to have survived.
One soldier said, "Those things were rakshasas! Normally, they keep to themselves, but they saw us on patrol and decided to hunt us. Be real careful if you're going west. Those things have a lair west of here. Thanks again for your help. We'll be sure to tell our commander what you did for us. We're haded back to base up in Blosk."
"We were glad to help," said Jenneke.
After parting ways, despite their weariness, Jenneke urged pressing on for Fort Remote.
Once there, they dropped off their things in the guest quarters, and then went to see Commander Lori with the spare blue pass they had liberated from the fort that might never be completed in the Scree Pits.
"We found another blue pass for you," said Jenneke, handing it over.
Commander Lori said, "This is not your only pass, yes?"
"Yeah, we got another blue one," said Jenneke.
"Thank you very much!" said Commander Lori. "I will send word to the Castle of what you have done for us! Hopefully, they will reward you with a higher clearance."
"Thank you," said Jenneke, "we would like to rest up here before continuing west."
"Of course, make yourselves at home," said Commander Lori.
Continuing west, they had not gone far when a group of Empire soldiers approached them. Only some were human, the rest giants—huge mutant giants with skin like melted wax and sheets of metal visible under their skin. The giants looked hungry and the soldiers seemed to be debating whether to let them attack or not.
Finally one of them said, "Show us a blue pass, worms, or you die where you stand."
"Oh, fuck you," said Jenneke, drawing his sword. "I like to call this our pass."
The Empire troops and giants seemed pleased by this response. However, they were well-overmatched by Jenneke's platoon, and after a short fight, the Empire troops were dead.
"Empire's so over-confident," he said. "That's what'll lose them this war."
Continuing on, they approached a blue pass checkpoint, and the guard asked for the blue pass. Jenneke displayed it, and they argued amongst themselves about letting the Avernites by or killing them. Finally, they told the group to pass.
"Smart of them," said Jenneke, as they got on the other side of the fortification.
As they continued, they encountered a group of drunken Empire archers. At first, it seemed that they would do nothing, but they drew bows and decided to attempt to use the platoon for target practice.
"You would think, being drunk," said Thissa, grumbling as Feodoric tended to his wounds after the battle, "they would be poorer shotsss."
Continuing further, they came to a sign reading: "Kothtar-South. Blue clearance required."
"How nice of them to tell us," said Jenneke. "OK, let's go."
As they neared the fortress, another group of Empire soldiers—mixed human and mutant giants—approached, and the soldiers demanded to see a blue pass. Jenneke looked at his group, and Adrianna slipped her dagger from its sheath, and Jenneke nodded, and drew his sword, proclaiming that their pass.
They continued forward, and at last stood at the front gates of Kothtar, one of the most mysterious outposts of the Empire. It was built on the site of a large network of caverns which were heavily infested by drakes. The drakes were cleaned out by adventurers years ago, and the Empire moved in shortly after the invasion.
This was a mysterious outpost, and nobody in Avernum was sure what was going on here. They knew something strange was happening, as was all too plain. Even at the front gate, there was an odor, the constant, unnerving reek of burned and decaying flesh, constant bestial howls of anger and pain, seeming to come from something far more barbaric than humans. There was a tingle as hairs raised—there was a lot of magic concentrated here, making the place powerful and dangerous.
Searching carefully, they came across a note, "Gibbrik—prepare for next set of experiments with orb. You will be flying this time. Remember, orb MUST be returned to the lowest level, not to the lab. -Varnob."
"Nice," said Jenneke. "We just have to find which is the lowest level."
"Except we don't know where any of these things are," said Adrianna. "I guess it's still exploration time."
"The good thing," said Jenneke, "is that we know now that the orb is here—along with whatever plans we find."
After much searching, and a great deal of pain, they reached the box—the orb was within, silver filigree etched with birds in flight. Jenneke lifted the sphere out of the box.
"It's pretty light, for its size," he said. "This must be the Orb of Thralni."
"It was certainly well defended," said Adrianna.
Fighting their way through the fortress, they at last came to a highly protected area, and after defeating the last ur-basilisk, they moved on to the book on a pedestal. As they paged through the book, first skimming, they soon realized how important this was.
"This is an account of the research they've done here," said Michael. "They built the fort three years ago, and most of their experiments have ended in failure. Only two are successful. One is creating those mutant giants we've seen. Mindlessly receptive to command, and being produced everywhere the Empire's got a stronghold. Then they're trying to work out how to make the Orb of Thralni create armies of flying soldiers. No success there, but they thought they were on the brink."
"Good thing we got the orb," said Jenneke.
"I can't get the book off the pedestal," said Michael.
"Here," said Adrianna, taking her dagger and slicing the pages away from the spine.
"Good work," said Michael, as he stashed the documents away.
"Great," said Jenneke. "Let's get outta here, shall we? Dharmon next."
Trying to act casual, they approached the blue pass barricade. It was clear that the soldiers loathed Avernites, but they refrained from trying to kill the group, respecting the power of the pass they bore. They continued on to Fort Remote, finally resting there, exhausted from the endeavors.
Michael caught Jenneke alone, and said, "Jenneke, is Adrianna with child?"
"I ... uh ... um, why would you ask?" said Jenneke, flustered.
"Something I noticed at Athron's cave," said Michael. "She is, isn't she?"
"She didn't want to tell yet," said Jenneke.
"I see," said Michael. "I'll keep an eye on her, then."
"Why?" said Jenneke.
"If she's injured, I'll want to tend to her first," said Michael. "Before the babe can be affected ... hopefully."
"I didn't even think ..." said Jenneke.
"Of course not," said Michael. "Your sword is your way of taking care of her. Jenneke, you realize how lucky we are to have found her as we did?"
"Yeah," said Jenneke. "I'm glad she's on our side."
"I won't speak to the others before you two do," said Michael.
"Thanks," said Jenneke.
The time of rest in Fort Remote was short, and they went to Mother Madge for whatever healing they still needed, and pressed on to Dharmon.
Jenneke led the platoon into the mayor's office, and said, "It was difficult, but we recovered the plans from Kothtar."
Michael opened his pack, and said, "Here they are," as he presented the stolen pages.
Searching through them, she said, "Wonderful! This will be invaluable in dealing with them!" She had a sack of gold fetched, and said, "I'll let them know at the Castle what you've done."
Leaving the office, they looked out on the docks.
"Ever wonder what's on the other side?" said Adrianna.
"Well, in the old days, there were bandits," said Michael. "We could look."
He led the way out of town, re-entering through the trash pits, and after killing a few rats, they moved through a door to a boat, and found themselves in a small room with barriers holding golems back. Pulling the lever on the floor, the barriers faded, but the wall north also moved.
Beyond, they met a graying mage, who looked rather large and strong for one of his profession—not to mention, irritated.
"I'm Starcap," barked the mage. "What are you doing here?"
"Just having a look about," said Jenneke. "May we inquire about what you are engaged in?"
"Trying to protect my privacy," he said, watching the group carefully for a false move.
"I see," said Jenneke. "Sorry that we have disturbed you."
"Yes, and if you weren't Avernum soldiers, you'd be dead already," said Starcap. "Now why have you interrupted my knowledge seeking?"
"Actually, we're a bit curious about your research," said Adrianna.
He started to get angry at her impertinence, but calmed, and said, "I might as well say. I'm scrying to find the Onyx Scepter. It was lost some years back when it was given to the dragon Sulfras. Not that we know what it does—we've never been sure, but we have guesses. It seems to involve magical teleporters, which is why we need it. You should talk to Mahdavi, in the Tower of Magi. She might be able to use your skills. And, if you talk to her, you won't be bothering me."
"Do you know this Sulfras?" said Adrianna.
"Sadly, no. She is the mightiest dragon in these caves. She lives in the tunnels to the west of Fort Remote, but our spies say that she has been subdued by the Empire forces," said Starcap. "I am trying to tell if the Onyx Scepter is still in her lair or if the Empire has moved it. There. That is what I am trying to find, and I've had no luck. Now leave me in peace, so I can restore my defenses so the next nosy bunch doesn't survive to reach me." He grinned nastily at them.
"Very well," said Jenneke, "we're sorry to have bothered you."
Moving carefully back out, they left Dharmon once more.
"That's the best lead we've got on the scepter," said Jenneke. "You want to go that way, see if it's there and then we can take care of the portal, tell Mahdavi, and go back to Erika's?"
"Sounds like a plan, sarge," said Nigel.