A/N: The world of Exile (Avernum) remains the property of Jeff Vogel and Spiderweb Software, not me. I promise to return to the game unharmed the following persons: Masok, Adrianne, Commander Corie, Levin, Mayor Knight, Quinn, Spragin, and Vothkaro; and places: Angel's Rest, Sharimik, and Castle Troglo.
Their welcome had clearly been overstayed as the hermit negligently removed them to somewhere outside his hut, and not wanting to chance the wilds, they hurried back to Softport for the night, and from there, back south to Sharimik, and across to Angel's Rest before continuing to where Commander Corie had said there was an altar they needed to destroy for her support allowing the mayor to give them the mission.
A fairly new, paved footpath lined with obelisks, all with strange writing upon them, each obelisk at 100 foot intervals, led into a pass in the mountain range. Ahead, there was a band of troglodytes camped on the pathway, roasting meat on sticks over a large bonfire. The smell of charred meat was heavy in the air, and the troglodytes seemed concerned at the approach of the group. Troglodytes weren't as mindless as they were reputed, and they seemed reluctant, though ready to fight.
"If we don't keep going," said Anicka, "we won't get to the altar, we don't get to the altar ... well, we're just wasting time."
"Agreed," said Daniel.
Anicka gave a yell and charged, and the trogolodytes jumped up ready to fight until they got a good look at the group, and apparently the word of Anicka's group's exploits had reached them, for they ran.
"Well, that wasn't so hard," said Anicka, and she led the way into the west end of a massive hall. Lining the sides of the hall were statues of trogolodytes, tall and distinguished, with names at the base. Paths sloped upward at the far east, and there were no troglodytes in sight.
"Odd," said Anicka. "It's awful quiet."
"Too quiet," said Angarahad. "There must be an ambush further in."
There was the soft sound of Anicka's sword being unsheathed, and she said, "Well, then ... let's move on."
"That's weird," said Daniel. "What's a statue of a slith doing in here?"
"Who knows," said Anicka. "But that spear is real."
"Watch out," warned Angarahad. "Could be a basilisk around."
However, nothing came out to attack them when they took the spear, and so they ascended the ramp which had been defended by the living statues. This cavern was a little smaller, but far more interesting with a massive altar of carved basalt, putting off heat and energy which was already perceptible from this distance—and the cavern was filled with troglodytes who were here for the energy and blessing obtained from the altar before they left to kill humans.
Fighting their way through the troglodytes and the wolves, they reached the enormous black altar, which was surrounded by dozens of kneeling pads, with a constant, pressing urge to kneel before it for the blessing.
Resisting the massive energy of the altar, they began the ritual under Angarahad's leadership, and watched with satisfaction as the altar exploded. When the smoke and flames cleared, the altar was still there, but its unholy energy had almost entirely dissipated, although the defenses of the altar had come into play before the power was lost.
"Shit!" said Anicka, as they were surrounded by demons and imps.
Daniel moved so his back was to Anicka's and said, "Let's get'em!"
"Right!" said Anicka, and the battle was joined.
Frrrrrr was, by battle's end, lying on the ground, ginger fur bloody and singed.
"Frrrrrr!" said Anicka. "Angie! Do something!"
"Right," said Angarahad, putting her hands on Frrrrrr's forehead, and beginning a chant.
Frrrrrr hacked, and spit up a furball, and said, "Thank you. I thought I was a goner."
"I'll bet Commander Corie will think we're all goners," said Anicka, looking at the others in her group.
Nathan said, "However, we're not. Here, drink this. Phaedra, this one's for you. Dan, here you go ..."
"All right," said Anicka, once they had consumed their potions. "There may be more fighting before we're all safe ... relatively speaking. Ready to go, then?"
"Ready," said Daniel. "Let's go shock a dervish, huh, Nick?"
"Get a room!" said Phaedra as Daniel had started to kiss Anicka. "Gods, you think we all want to see that?"
"Dan, I thought ..." said Anicka.
"Sorry," said Daniel. "Just happy to get through that after all. Let's go, I guess."
They hurried to Angel's Rest, fighting only a small patrol of troglodytes on the way, and made their way into the inn where they met a grim, squat halberdier of the Empire Army.
"I am Masok," he said in a manner that suggested the words were being ripped out of him by force. "What do you want."
"What sort of work are you engaged in currently?" said Phaedra as Anicka headed to the bar to arrange for rooms.
"I'm a soldier," said Masok.
"A noble profession," said Daniel.
"Yeah, and that's all," he said, turning away.
"Got our rooms sorted," said Anicka. "Pick of the place, apparently there aren't too many other folk passing through these days."
After the meal, Anicka led the way back to the rooms, showing the group to the commons before turning to Daniel. "We'll be in this one," she said.
"I'm sorry, I kinda forgot myself," said Daniel, inside the private room, stripping off his armor.
"It's ok," said Anicka, removing her own armor. "I guess ... in the open enough now, might as well take Phaedra's advice and get a room."
"And I don't care how you're dressed," said Daniel, reaching to the waist of her trousers.
"Well, I suppose a gown's fine for mages, but it'd get in the way of serious fighting," said Anicka.
"Yeah, and then I have to fight the distraction," said Daniel, laughing as their clothes went into a mishmash heap on the floor. "You got a nice ass."
"Thanks ... I think ..." said Anicka.
"Oh, Nick, you know ..." said Daniel, moving to the bed with her. "You know it's a good thing."
"If you say so," said Anicka.
Morning came, and the young couple reached the table after the others were already at breakfast.
"Sleep well?" said Phaedra with an arched eyebrow.
"No complaints," said Anicka. "Jealous?"
"No," said Phaedra. "I've got someone back in Avernum."
"It'd be awful tempting to just stay up here," said Anicka. "But we better get back to Sharimik and see what else we have to do."
Angarahad said, "I hope that Levin's mission will be easier."
"I hear you," said Anicka. "That was almost too much... I think that was the idea, honestly."
They returned to Sharimik without incident, and made their way to Commander Corie's office, where she stared at them with open resentment.
"We destroyed that giant altar for you," said Anicka breezily.
She smiled, and said, "I have to hand it to you. You've done us a service. Maybe Mayor Knight chose well after all, though I doubt it. I've already sent my permission to him. Good luck to you."
"Thank you," said Anicka, and sensing the resentment, she hurriedly led the way out of the office.
Returning to city hall, they found the other office, and stepped inside. The man behind this desk looked eerily spiderlike and sized them up with beady eyes.
"I'm Internal Affairs Supervisor Levin," he said.
"Impressive job title," said Anicka. "What does it mean?"
He grinned and twitched slightly, and said, "Many tasks fall to me. I maintain loyalty. I am the chief jobs dispatcher. I am mapmaking coordinator. And I assist Mayor Knight whenever possible."
"I see," said Anicka. "Exactly how do you maintain loyalty?"
His mouth twitched with disapproval. "I'm sorry. You are not allowed to know about that," he said, and thought for a moment before adding, "But I'm sure you can come up with a few guesses."
"So, how do you help the mayor?" asked Anicka.
"Mayor Knight is a wise and strong-willed man, and I am proud to be at his right hand," said Levin. "Sometimes he needs, say, assistance from outside. But normally, sort of competent."
"We need your permission to go on Mayor Knight's quest," said Anicka.
"So you want permission to go on a mission, eh? Well, it's no problem. However, there's a lot of paperwork that I'll need to fill out first. And there's a filing fee for those papers," said Levin. "Give me a thousand gold, and I'll give you permission."
"We're willing to risk our lives for this city," said Anicka, disgusted by the naked request for a bribe. "You should be more willing to help us."
Levin looked at them, and licked his lips nervously, a shadow of recognition flitting across his face. "Well," he said, "in this very limited case, I can make an exception." He filled out a slip of paper and called for an assistant who left right away to take it to Mayor Knight. "You have my permission."
"Thank you," said Anicka, and she gave him a very slight bob before heading out of the office to go to the mayor's.
Mayor Knight frowned as the group entered his office, and he said, "Well, outsiders?"
"We have received permission from both Corie and Levin," said Anicka.
He nodded, and said, "Permission has been attained. Well done." He gave Anicka a battered leather scroll. "Go speak with the King of the Troglos and bring me back proof you have spoken with him, and the reward will be yours."
"Thank you," said Anicka, and she led the way out of the city.
"What do you think?" she said.
"Well, I don't expect it's going to be that easy," said Angarahad. "We better expect trouble."
"Levin sure caved quick," said Daniel. "But I guess he didn't want word getting around that he was demanding such a big bribe."
"It probably wouldn't have mattered," said Anicka. "Who's going to believe us over him?"
Farther up the mountain to the north, they could see the twisted stone spires of Castle Troglo. It was the massive, deadly lair of the troglodyte army. Between the group and the castle was a guardpost, with dozens of the creatures, heavily armed, crouching behind a stone barrier.
"Like they're waiting for us," said Anicka.
"Well, if we're diplomats, we probably shouldn't attack," said Daniel.
Anicka moved forward, holding the scroll they'd gotten from Sharimik out in front. One of the troglodytes approached, and looked it over, and then the troglodytes argued amongst themselves for some time before allowing the group to pass and returning the letter to Anicka.
Walking up to the massive gates, Anicka had the overwhelming feeling that they were being watched.
An unseen guard shouted, "Are you the diplomats? Do you have the papers?"
"Yes," Anicka called back, figuring they had to be talking about the scroll that she'd gotten from the mayor.
"Let's see," said an armed troglodyte.
Anicka showed the scroll, and another one said, "Excellent. It's about time." He made a gesture, and a warrior brought several blindfolds. "You'll have to put these on before we'll let you in."
Anicka looked to the others, and Daniel shrugged.
"All right," said Anicka.
The troglodytes blindfolded the group, double-checking to make sure that no one could see, and started hauling them somewhere, half-leading, half-dragging. On the way, they heard a troglodyte ask who they were, and the sound of someone striking the head of the questioner with a club and then the sound of the body falling to the floor.
Finally, they were roughly unblindfolded and pushed into a holding cell. Within, there was a filthy bed, a chamber pot, and a very heavy iron gate. The gate was slammed shut, and several bolts were set.
"Well, now what?" said Anicka.
"That's bizarre," said Angarahad. "There has to be an easier way to get a prisoner."
"There's a secret door here," said Frrrrrr. "I can't figure out how to open it, though."
"Keep trying," said Anicka. "I don't like being stuck in here."
Some time passed, and they heard the door being unlocked. A voice from outside said, "King Vothkaro will see you now." Footsteps walked away, and then there was silence.
"OK," said Anicka. "Let's go."
As they neared the end of the passage, a dozen massive and heavily armed troglodytes marched out from around the corner and seized them.
One of the troglodytes barked, "What are you doing out? King Vothkaro expressed no wish to see you!"
They were hastily marched back to the cell and thrown back in.
"OK, I am really confused," said Anicka. "What was the purpose of that?"
"There's a scroll here," said Phaedra. "I'm sure it wasn't here before." The paper was the highest quality vellum, while the writing was uneven but clear enough.
"Read it," said Anicka, moving to the secret door, hoping it would become clear.
"The story of the troglodytes. We know not where we came from. One day we were not. The next day, we were. We know we were once a mighty people. Then we were not. Now again we are. But the generations between are gone. We have ancestors, but no fathers or mothers. They who brought us back again are called by us the Glowing Ones. They brought us to get our vengeance on the humans who took us from the world. This was good to us! Great, we said, would be the flow of blood that we would bring forth," said Phaedra, reading from the scroll. "But then, curse the Glowing Ones, they brought back the giants to fight with us as well. The giants, the great enemy! We remember little, but we remember that. The Ones connected our castle to that of the giants by a tunnel. What a gift. We charged through the tunnel, and they charged back. The Glowing Ones, curse them, were angered. We must fight humans, they said. So they closed the tunnel with the Great Barrier, and the giants were far from us. But our foes exist, and we will feed on them yet. One day the barrier will come down, and our war may be resumed. Until then, humans will be our meat. But we live by the Great Dream."
"Well, that's something," said Anicka. "Wonder who the glowing ones are."
"Could be anyone," said Daniel. "But if we could find that barrier ... just imagine ... set the giants and troglos against each other, maybe they won't bother the humans, and there can be peace."
"Good thought," said Phaedra.
While they mulled this over, more time passed, and the door was unlocked again. Someone muttered, "King Vothkaro will see you now," and walked away quickly.
"Think this time is for real?" said Anicka.
"Guess we will see," said Anicka.
She led the way down the hall, and while there were guards, they did nothing to stop their progress, and they entered the hall to stand before the king of the troglodytes in his dark, pitted steel armor. He had a scarred and deeply lined face, with black stringy hair.
"I am King Vothkaro, High King of the Troglodyte People," he said. "Have you read the scroll given to you?"
"Yes," said Anicka.
"Good, then you know of our people, and our great foes, the giants who are cruelly kept from us," said Vothkaro. "You know us, and now you must know more. You must know why I had you brought here."
"Your treatment of us has been very strange," said Anicka.
"It is necessary. The proud troglodytes, we are divided. There are arguments, and treachery. Thus, I must be careful. The guards here? They can be trusted. If any of my other warriors see you, they will spit you," replied Vothkaro.
"So exploring the rest of the castle is right out?" said Anicka.
"If you help me, you may explore the tunnels below, the realm of the khazis. You cannot explore the rest of the castle, though," said Vothkaro. "You would be slain."
"Why did you allow us to come before you, then?" said Anicka.
In a deep, commanding voice, Vothkaro said, "The scroll I had left for you told you the things you need to know about our people. We are a rootless people, we are a holy people, and we have an ancient enemy. We are the Troglodytes. We are proud."
"Rootless?" said Anicka. "So you don't know where your people are from?"
"We were once destroyed. Wiped off the face of the earth. Then we were brought back by the Glowing Ones," said Vothkaro. "We aren't sure who our destroyers were, but I have a guess."
"What's your guess?" said Anicka.
"I believe the Ancient Enemy destroyed us," said Vothkaro.
Anicka remained quiet, as she considered it was far more likely that the Empire, whose campaigns against non-humans were legendary, and said, "Who is your ancient enemy?"
"The giants!" said Vothkaro, hawking and spitting on the floor. "Our holy, eternal foe. Their crimes against us were unspeakable, and their punishment will be, too!" He glowered, and said, "Unfortunately, the khazis do not agree, and one of them is unwise. That is why I have brought you here."
"Who are the khazis?" said Daniel.
"Our gods are secret and powerful, and our people are always half-ruled by our holy leaders, the khazis," said Vothkaro. "Khazis are generally wise. Unfortunately, there are exceptions."
"Who is the one you think is unwise?" said Anicka.
"The leader of the khazis is Elhioc. He believes something so heretical that anyone else who said it would be killed. He has said that we should ignore the ancient enemy and concentrate on fighting the humans!" said Vothkaro. "The horror! To end the great war! I am repulsed by his cowardice! Alas, he is my equal in the eyes of our people. That is why I have brought you here. I have a mission for you."
"Tell us of the mission you have in mind for us," said Anicka.
Vothkaro gave a wry smile, and said, "Elhioc is wise, and the walls have ears. Let us just say he should be made to answer for his heresy. He must pay."
"How will he pay for his heresy?" said Daniel.
"Return to your cell. A new scroll has been placed there for you. Much will be made clear to you. Much benefit can come to you humans if you help. Benefit to me, peace to humans, but only if ..." said Vothkaro. "Elhioc is dead."
"We will read your offer," said Anicka. "If we think it will help the humans, we may help you."
"Yes. Go to your cell. Read. Learn," said Vothkaro. "If you are brave, you humans will be forgiven the crimes against us, and allowed to live a while longer. Go. Go!"
With such a clear end to the discussion, Anicka led the way back to the cell, and there was another scroll which had not been there before.
Anicka picked it up, and said, "Wordy git."
"What's it say?" said Daniel.
"Outsiders," read Anicka. "I have told you the offer. Refuse it, and humans die still. Slay Khazi Elhioc, and we may yet be able to fight the giants, the great enemy. You may not come back to speak with me. If Khazi Elhioc suspects I consort with humans, I will be slain, and the war against humans will be our true and only focus. You must decide. If you refuse, leave through a secret passage to the south. Rest assured, I will remember your cowardice. But if you are a true warrior, there is a secret door in your cell to the lower caves. Go. The shamans are to the southwest. Avoid them. They are mighty, and will overwhelm you. Go instead north to the Halls of Concordance, and from there west. Elhioc lives in a cell guarded by a strange gate we cannot fathom. This you must open. When he is dead, return to the stairway you came down, and leave quietly out the south passage. You will be rewarded. Do not climb up any other stairways, or the alarm will be raised, and we all must slay you. Good luck to you. One day I will feed on you and yours, but not until the Great Enemy is gone."
"What do you think?" said Frrrrrr.
"I think they have enough honor to keep their end of the bargain," said Anicka. "We can't leave and get someone else's advice on it, so it's up to us ..."
"I think we have to do it," said Daniel. "It'll definitely send a message to those who want to fight humans, and then we just have to find this barrier and get it down."
"I know," said Anicka. "Phaedra?"
"They are honorable," said Phaedra. "Barbaric, but honorable. I say we help him."
Angarahad said, "I agree with Phaedra."
"Nathan?" said Anicka.
"What can I say?" said Nathan. "You are all ready to go, aren't you?"
"Yes," said Anicka. "But are you with us?"
"Of course," said Nathan.
"The door is ajar," said Frrrrrr, "let us go."
"All right," said Anicka.
Frrrrrr opened the door, and the others made their way through it, finding a small room with a trap door, and the trapdoor led to a ladder going down.
They found themselves in a mushroom farm, tended by troglodytes who immediately attacked. Deciding that they didn't need to avoid shedding troglodyte blood, they fought their way through, and found a large, possibly the largest, most energetic and impressive barrier ever seen, fifty feet wide and thirty feet high, totally sealing off the passage. The heat and magical energy involved were both incredibly impressive.
"How can we bring that down?" said Daniel.
"More important," said Angarahad. "Who created it, and what keeps supplying the necessary energy."
"Well, that's a puzzle for another day," said Anicka. "When we're safe."
From a narrow hallway, they peered into the room ahead. It was empty, save from a lone torch on the wall illuminating the lovely green tiles and the half-dozen runes set, so it appeared at first, into the floor. The runes were glowing gently, and only after some time did it become apparent that they floated above the stone.
"I think they can move," said Angarahad. "Perhaps we are to make a bridge with them, so we can walk from one to the next."
"Possible," said Anicka. "But how do we move them?"
"With this," said Daniel, gesturing at the pedestal. "I don't understand it, but maybe if we push buttons and go look, we can see how it changes."
"Worth a shot," said Anicka, and she studied the runes before returning to the pedestal, and pressing a button.
After pressing another button, a clear path had been made, and they crossed, and finally reached the inner chamber of Elhioc, the leader of the khazis who was completely paranoid and a total foe of humanity. He had a full complement of guards with him, and as soon as both sides had seen each other, the attack was joined.
The guards fell quickly, and finally Elhioc, head khazi of the troglodytes and deadly foe of humanity, fell. He spit defiance at humankind in general, and Anicka in particular, even as he drew his last breath while sliding off Anicka's blade to the floor.
"Well, that's something," said Anicka, opening the door to the living quarters. "Almost have to admire him—a mighty khazi living like the lowest of his kind."
After searching through the meager possessions, they returned the way they had been told, exhausted but triumphant. A small troglodyte was there to greet them.
"I bring you the appreciation of King Vothkaro of the troglodytes. He applauds your unexpected triumph. He also expresses interest in the opening of the Great Barrier, an act of mutual benefit to us and the humans. To that end, he mentions that the Great Barrier is created by a magical artifact on the other side, and that Vothkaro believes that a passage to it exists. This passage was mapped before the cursed Glowing Ones created the barriers. At this point, we do not know where the passage to the artifact is, because the map was stolen by giants. It was written on a piece of drakeskin. It probably rests in the giants' castle, to the north, over the mountains," said the troglodyte, apparently from memory. "I bid you luck, and hope you can destroy the barriers. For now, I will consolidate power and slay more humans. Good luck to you, you may leave to the south."
In a different tone, the troglodyte added, "Also, Vothkaro would like this taken to the mayor of Sharimik." He handed Anicka a scroll, and moved away quickly.
"Shall we go, then?" said Anicka.
"I think so," said Daniel.
They left, finding the secret passage, and jumping down from the ledge, fighting their way past a couple bands of troglodytes who were either unaware or uninterested in the deal that had been made with their king.
After another night's rest in Angel's Rest, they continued to Sharimik, and went to the mayor's office.
The mayor looked at them with some evident suspicion, and said, "Well, outsiders?"
"We went to the troglodyte castle, as requested," said Anicka. "They treated us ... well, not really mistreated, but bizarrely, and it seems that they have an ancient enemy, the giants that they would rather fight. Except that there was a khazi opposed to that, so we were asked to slay the khazi. They hope we can bring the barrier down between them and the giants."
"I see," said Mayor Knight.
"The troglodyte king gave us a message for you," said Anicka, handing over the scroll which she had not read.
The mayor looked at the scroll and frowned, "What trickery is this!" He showed them the scroll which simply said, "We will defeat you! -King Vothkaro."
Crumpling the message, Mayor Knight said, "Troglos. I'll never understand them. Well done, at any rate." After giving a heavy sack of gold to them, he said, 'There is a useful magical tome in the City Hall library, as promised. Help yourself."
"Thank you," said Anicka.
After visiting the library, they retired to the inn, where the innkeeper, Quinn, was all smiles, eager to please.
"What can we get here?" said Anicka.
"I run this inn, and let me tell you, it's one trial or tribulation after another, if you care, which you don't. But look, we have a reasonably safe room for ten coins. We have rounds of beer for two, and fine bourbon for twelve," said Quinn. "I can personally recommend the bourbon."
"Sure, we'll take the bourbon, then," said Anicka.
She poured the shots of liquor and leaned close, and said, "By the way, I've been hearing some intriguing rumors about a certain artifact. Only a hundred coins for my knowledge."
"What rumor did you hear?" asked Anicka, digging into the purse again.
"Thanks, there was this trooper named Masok, out of Angel's Rest in here the other day," said Quinn. "When drunk, I heard him mention something about a halberd, the best ever made, and how he could find it. Couldn't hurt to ask him about it."
"Nope," said Anicka. "What problems have you had?"
"Well, the troglos begin their raids with a volley of spells over our walls, and guess what building tends to be the first they hit! That's right, my inn," said Quinn. "It's one continuous bother, let me tell you. Plus, I only have one paying customer, Ehrenfeld."
"Ehrenfeld?" said Anicka.
"A pleasant enough fellow. His shop was destroyed by a troglo attack awhile back," said Quinn. "He spends most of his time sitting at the corner table working on his armor."
"So has anything been done to stop the troglo attacks?" said Frrrrrr.
"I tell you, it's the people running this dump! They ..." Quinn stopped suddenly, and looked around to see who might be listening, and then worried, she said, "Sorry. Forgot myself for a moment. Our leaders are very smart. Care for some bourbon? A round's only twelve gold."
"Sure," said Anicka, "we'll take another round, and those safe rooms."
The next day, they decided to stop in Spragins Magical Consult shop. Within, a wizened old man with a carefully trimmed white beard, pale enough to have come from Avernum, set down a thick, leather bound book as they entered.
"Welcome," he said. "I am known here as Spragins."
"What services do you provide?" asked Anicka.
"Well, I do magic," he said after taking a deep breath, "I suppose. That seems to be a good overall description of my activities."
"That's a bit vague," said Phaedra. "Can you be more specific?"
"Yes, magic does seem to be a good catch-all sort of term for my activities. For example, I can magically identify your items, for a small fee. Or I teach spells to passing mages for a price. And of course, I do research," said Spragins. "That would seem to be an excellent summary of the current activities I am referring to when using the general term magic."
"Great," said Anicka. "We picked up a few things we need identified."
After dealing with Spragin, they left Sharimik to the south.
"I think we probably better go report," said Anicka. "Anaximander's going to be nervous."
"Not to mention, we should ask about the whole troglodyte and giant business," said Angarahad. "Just because we had to take the other action without consulting anyone."