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Lorimar Road: Villiage of Burg: Laughing Dog Inn

Jym floated through the wall of the Inn once again forgetting that doors have a pourpose. He floated into one of the upper corners of the room. He was a cloud of glowing green sparkles. He liked hs life and he liked the lives of others. You could almost call him happy go lucky, but only almost.

At that point one of the more ugly patrons grabbed a stick out of the fire and started waving it through him.

"Excuse me my good man but could you refrain from doing that."

The patron replied in Orkish, "What you say?"

Jym looked around the room and realized his mistake, it was filled with orcs, and what humans there were, were in chains.

"Oh, my," said Jym as he rushed through the wall and headed down the road he had travelled to get to the villiage, "The entire town is over run with orcs."

He wanted to go back to Seven Oaks and warn them, but he had forgotten which way to go, and found himself on a cross roads.

Jym saw a couple of figures in the distance approacing from the south with a wagon full of supplies. He was about to get close enough to ask them directions but they ran back the way they came leaving their wagon behind.

Jym decided to coax the horse and cart to the cross roads and watchover it for the two people.

They must have had some very urgent buisness back the way they came.

A couple of disheveled Merchants rushed in, Rudely interupted Chug, got a room and headed upstairs.

The merchants headed to the last room on the east side and closed and locked the door.

A couple of minutes later Scrooge, the taller of the two merchants, opened the door.

"I shall not sit here brother cowering in my room whilst our wares sit on the road to Terajin, and I shall seek out an adventurer in the public room below."

Before his brother could say anything he headed downstairs.

Earth and her Dragon Dracon entered the Inn searching for their friends. She saw Waalk and sat down at the table beside him.

"Gee Waalk, you dont look so good. Are you sure all this adventuring will be good for thee?" she asked as she looked curiously at the young man.

She waved the bartender over. "A glass of water for my friend here." she said pointing to Waalk.

Waalk took the water with a graceful bow.

"Thanks for the water," he said gulping it down, "I'm just nervous. I've never really been on an adventure before. I guesss i'm excited as well."

He put his glass down on the table and savoured the atmosphere. "All these adventurers here at the Inn and to think I'm one of them."

He looked at Earth and smiled "I'm terribly sorry, I didn't catch your friends name. I noticed he follows. Is it a he? I noticed he follows you around."

Waalk took another sip of his water and looked from the dragon, then to earth and then at the dragon. "Does it breathe fire?" Asked a rather nieve Waalk

The taller of the two merchants came down the stairs and looke around the room for individualls not currently engaged in conversation.

 Earth laughed at Waalks comments towards her dragon. She gave Dracon a soft pat on his scaley head.

"It is a he, and his name is Dracon. Fire breathing and more!!"she said as her eyes lite up.

"You might of seen some of his work down at the barn. Saved Lythande's life, not to mention my own. He is my best friend, the only one I have learned to trust through out my life. My past is sad tale, and I am not about to go around telling it, but I raised him, and we have created an unbreakable bond."

"OOHH," mouthed Waalk and he eyed the dragon warily. "I'm very pleased to meet you Dracon. My name is Waalk. Earth and I are going off on a big adventure. I hope you come too!".

Waalk had noticed the destruction to the barn, but wasn't totally conviced it was all Dracons doing. If it was he'd better keep on Dracon's good side.

Waalk leaned across the table and whispered into Earth's ear "Dracon is going to take some getting used to, but I think i'll be okay." Waalk took another sip of water

Earth placed a sachet of gold on the table. She opend it and payed the bartender for the glass of water. Waalk looked at her confusdly.

"Nothing's free in these parts." she answered.

Waalk burst out laughing. "You're telling me that! You forget that i've spent my entire life here!"

With that Waalk takes a swig of his water. "Not that i'm ungrateful for you buying mind you."

"I think we should get on with our journey, Lythande and his friend can follow as soon as they get back," as she said this Earth pulled out a map of Arcane and placed it on the table.

"Well my adventuriste friend, where shall we go?"

Waalk looked at the map of Arcane and thought for several moments. "I suggest anywhere! We could strike North or head across the seas. Personally I'd like to go overseas. Everybody heads up north and they always come back. We hear them all the time, telling how the North isn't cracked up to all that it's meant to be."

Waalk studied the map. "I'd like to go to this Island here. He said pointing to an Island due South of Seven Oaks."..'If we go overseas' thought Waalk 'We won't have to ride horses!'

The hafling Skopje came up to the table used by Earth and Waalk.

"Well, I'm ready, how about yewse ?" he piped in his eager voice. Seeing that he had slightly surprised the two who were deep in conversation, his forehead frowned at them.

"You didn't forget about me did yewse ?" Then, his attention was diverted by the map on the table, he climbed onto the seat beside Waalk and pushed his small head in beside that if the farmer's son, joining him in peering intently at the coloured parchment.

"Oh, Aerie, is it? Thats a good idea. You know I've been there before, well nearly, I used to sail a lot around H'jek Daru anyway, so I practically know the way. When do we leave?"

Scrooge saw a group of adventurers sitting around a table and talking about a map of Arcane. He moved over to the table with the humans and halfling sitting arround it. He tried to stay as far away from the dragon as possible.

"Excuse me sirs and lady, but could you possibly help me? My brother and I are humble merchants whose entire lively hood has been stollen by a foul cloud creature at the crossroads a half-days journey from here. Would you please help me?"

He stood indecisive for a few moments and then said, "There would be a reward."  This he said as if it caused him the greatest ammount of pain possible.

"A lively hood you say? And how lively might it be I wonder?" Skopje smirked around the table.

"I don't know much about foul clouds at the crossroads but I'll wager that Dracon here could outfoul any cloud creature for you. But, hold, this is no simple undertaking, what know yew of the rumours of orcs rampaging in that direction? It may be foolishly perilous even to travel up to the crossroads at this time, cloud creature or no. What say yewse fellows? Shall we away in a boat or hold out here in the Inn a while longer, or maybe take up this Merchant's offer of most risky endeavour?"

Skopje smiled, seemingly pleased with his summation of the situation and drained his half pint ale-mug. Thoughtfully, he placed the empty cup on the table and raised his eyebrows at his companions.

Waalk looked a bit bemused. All these people showing up out of no-where. He didn't much understand the halfing so for the time being he ignored him.

Waalk remembered what his mum told him when he was a little boy and went out to play with his friends. 'Safety in numbers'..

Waalk thought for a short time "Well, we could go up north to rescue this mans belongings and then return.." However he wasn't so sure. "It all depends on what Earth wants to do."

Earth looked curiously at Waalk, as if she was reading his mind. Then, she nodded furiously and smiled.

"Just what I was thinking! Now then, we must inform the man we are on his side, so as he does not mistaken us for some theives out to rob him." she said as she brushed away her bangs from her face.

"Well then, lets get started." she said as she waited for Waalk to make the first move.

Taking several deep breaths and loosening his sword, Waalk stands up. He looks down at the halfling "Well little un. I think we should help this gentleman. I think fighting a cloud a bit peculiar, but I daresay that most adventures are peculiar."

With that Waalk raised his sword, gave one mighty yell "ADVENTURE" and left the inn

Scrooge almost smiles at Waalk's enthusiasm. He runs upstairs to get his brother. They then join Waalk in the Towne square.

Skopje looked thrilled with Waalk's enthusiasm. In one hand he held aloft his belt knife, the other he placed on his hip in mimicry of the heroic pose Waalk had struck. "Adventure !" he cried, in his high voice, and followed the others out into the town square.

Chuckling a bit Earth follows them to the town square.

Scrooge forces a chuckle and then heads of down the road. His brother Jacob seems to be trying to almost hide in his shadow, and keeps tripping on scrooges heels.

The shaman had decreed that there must be a big majick cast to get rid of the evil spell that had been there the night before.

The leader of the orc squad that the Shaman had sent to find the evil majick had come back and said that it was only a couple of hours hard march down the road.

The Orcs had already collected all of the furniture from the town and piled it in the town square. The Shaman started dancing around the pile. After he made one pass all of the way around, he took out a jagged knife and slit both of his wrists and continued to dance around the pile. Around and around and around again. On the fourth pass the blood circle burst into flames and the shaman stepped back.

It was a foul blood colored red flame, with foul black smoke rising into the heavens. It slowly started to consume the furniture.

This is when the threw the first of the horses on the fire. It screamed in agony an almost humans scream.

The Orcs cheered at the horses pain. They awaited with anticipation the last of the horses to be thrown on the day after tommorrow. Then they would start with the Uman females...

Raphael was strolling down the road, without a care in the world.  He had long since removed his armor to reveal his true identity, that of an intelligent and strongly built man.  But he truely didn't care what others thought of him.

He carried his armor easily for its weight.  He was just enjoying the sunny day and the beds to sleep in at Seven Oaks.  He happened to glance up and see a glowing green cloud over some carts.

This got his curiosity going.  He walked to the crossroads where it was at and looked up at it.  It was a strange feeling to look up for he was usually taller then everyone around him.

Jym had been watching the man walk down the road with the heavy bundle on his back, and was about to ask him directions, when the man spoke to him.

"Ello, little green cloud.  How are you doin' this day."  Raphael felt kinda foolish, talking to a green cloud.

He didn't expect a response.

Raphael decided that this spot would be good to camp the night and wait for the others to catch up, for he was far ahead of them by now.  He put his gear down on the side of the road and returned his attention to the cloud.

"I'm doing quite well thank you."

The voice was the most pleasant that Raphael could ever remember hearing, reminicent of spring mornings, and sunsets, mothers lullaby and bird song, while not actually sounding (or looking for that matter) like any of these things.

"Could you tell me which way it is to Seven Oaks?" Jym asked, and then, almost without waiting for a response, he continued, "I must warn them about a group of Orcs that has taken over the villiage in that direction," at this he moved about half of his sparkles in the direction of Burg, "and then I have to get these carts back to their owners, and then I am going to try to find some adventurers to help me to get rid of the Orcs."

At this point you would probably say that he ran out of breath...if he had lungs. His shape gave Raphael the impression of two enormous Eyes, and they seemed to be looking straight at him.

Raphael looked at the cloud as it spoke, surprised.  "Well, I am going to Seven Oaks, if you want to join me.  I wouldn't mind.  But Right now, I am extremely tired and would like to rest for the night at this crossroad."  Raphael walked over to his armor and sack and drew out a blanket, which he wrapped around himself.  "By the way, what are you?"  Raphael was highly curious on what it was which he was talking to, but he tried not to sound rude.

"I'm not so sure actually. I believe that I was some spell or other that didn't quite work out right. I call my race, majick. I call myself, Jym."

"Are you going to join me to Seven Oaks?  I'm headed there in the morning.  I can also help you pull those carts back, if needed.  By the way, what is your name, I never got it?"

Raphael adjusted  his armor and bundle and leaned up against it , still wrapped in his blanket.

"Yes my name is Jym."

As the small band of adventurers is moving along the road Waalk suddenly runs of the road chasing after something. Scrooge does not even notice he is so engrosed in himself and his own worries.

"I'd better stay with him," said Earth as she heads off after him.

Leading the small band from Seven Oaks Scrooge stops about 50 yards from the crossroads. There are 2 carts each pulled by horses sitting on the grass beside the cross roads. there is a Green glowing cloud above the carts. There is an Uman male leaning up against the cart.

Raphael saw the group of people coming toward where he and Jym were at.  Raphael jumped up, taking off the blanket in doing so, and drew his longsword and tower shield up from the armor.  He didn't have time to put it all on.  " Halt, who are you people and what do you want."  Raphael got ready for a fight if these people weren't willing to talk.  He looked up at Jym and said, " Who are they?"  Raphael turned his attention back to the group coming toward them.

"There is the beast" Says Scrooge, as he steps aside to let the adventurers pass only then realizing that Skopje was the only on still with them.

Jacob trips over his own feet and falls on his face in the grass in his hurry to get out of the way.

"Look Waalk, there is the foul cloud!", the excited hafling pointed at the glowing green mist. "Did yewse ever see anything like that before? Waalk? Now where has he gotten off to? No matter." Shivering with excitement, Skopje visibly controlled himself and turned to his companions.

As he approached, he was surprised to notice a Uman warrior jump up and challenge him. Skopje glanced back at the Marley brothers, who were apparently distracted by an interesting flower growing by the roadside, and he failed to catch their attention.

"Errmm.. I, that is, we.. are the reprentatives of the rigthful owners of these carts and goods pertaining thereto, whichsoever, herewith we do charge thee to surrender posthaste, and depart with thy foul nebulous posthaste, thankyou."

Skopje added a little uncertainly, "and you might put down your weapon, Sir, to avoid any misunderstanding." With this he shifted his position slightly to rest his hand on his belt knife.

Raphael looked at the hafling.  He was confused for a second.  " I don't want any trouble.  I am Sir Raphael, knight, and I will guard these carts to death unless you show me prove that you work for the owners."  Raphael straightened his posture to reveal to everyone his true height.  He was a giant, especially next to the haflings.

He readied his weapons and his shield for whatever action the group took upon him, the carts, or Jym, the cloud.

"I think you can put down your sword, Sir Raphael, and although I don't know who most of these people are, the two examining the grass are the owners of the carts."

At this he floats over to the half-ling, "You aren't going to need to distract me. You needen't be suprised. In your excitement you almost shouted your plan. I'm sure that Sir Raphael even heard it."

And then as if he was just remembering he said, "Do you know anything about killing Orcs?"

If Skopje was taken aback by the nature of the cloud's question, he didn't show it. In fact, he didn't even register any surprise at hearing a cloud speaking, instead he frowned gravely up at the green cloud. "What do I know about killing Orcs? Firstly it's difficult to do on your own. Secondly it's a good thing to do, on balance. They are evil, vicious monsters and they shouldn't be allowed to run free at all."

"Would you mind just floating over this way a bit...?" Turning around, Skopje yelled back at the merchant brothers, "We've liberated your carts now Marley. What were you saying about a reward?"

Jym floats after Skopje, and watches in interest the proceedings.

Jacob stares at his brother as if he suddenly grew horns, in fact Scrooge is looking a little pale himself.

"Will 300 gold coins be enough," he says this in a way as to make you think he were offering his brother as the reward, only more distastefull.

Skopje clapped his hands together and lets out a little whoop. "Three hundred crowns!" he shrilled. He skipped closer to Scrooge and as he did a sudden thought occured to him. A change quickly came over his face and his voice changed its nature completely, "I mean, three hundred crowns? For risking my life? I may be small but I can assure yew my life is just as precious to me as yours is to yew." Seeing Scrooge's face darkening dangerously, Skopje rushed on, "but now that I've shown yewse how useful I am, maybe yew'll have some other work for me, eh? Maybe we can come to an arrangement?"

Raphael puts away his weapons and picked up his armor and bundle.  "I shall let you take these carts, but I shant stay here any longer.  I head for Seven Oaks at once.  Good day to you gentlemen and Jym.  This has really been a strange day for me in all."  With that, Raphael headed down the road towards Seven Oaks in quite a hurry.  He seemed to be talking to himself, but no one knew for sure.

As raphael rounded a bend in the road, four orcs step into the road, two from either side. Each wears a thick leather chest piece and carries a heavy crossbow, leveled at the various people in the discussion. One speaks loudly "An' now you give us that or we kill and we take."

At the appearance of the orcs the horses bolt down the road towards Terajin. Jacob imedeately follows them yelling inefectively for them to stop.

Scrooge hesitates for a moment and them reaches into his pocket and grabs two sacks of money.

"Here is 300 for helping us and another 500 to get rid of these Orcs so that they do not follow us."

He tosses the smaller of the two sacks to the halfling and replaces the larger in his shirt. At this point, he runs after his brother and the galloping horses.

Jym floats over to what appears to be the leader of this small band of Orcs and floats right in front of his face.

"This seems to be the same Orc who was waving a stick at me yesterday in the villiage. It seems that they have followed me."

He continues to float right in font of the Orc.

Skopje turned to look behind him at the rapidly disappearing Marley brothers and then back at the Orcs. They looked lean and fit and could easily outrun him if he fled. He edged closer to Jym, so that he was almost underneath him and spoke in a loud voice that only wavered slightly, "no kill, no take. Me runty, small man, big magic, me control poison cloud, you no can kill."

He prodded at the green mist above him for emphasis. Taking the fact that the Orcs hadn't killed him yet as a positive sign, Skopje continued, "here big poison, death, kill you." He pointed down the road towards Sevn Oaks, " there no poison, gold, food." Skopje felt a twinge of guilt passed over him at what he was suggesting but it passed quickly.

Jym lookes at Skopje as if he were crazy.

"What in the world are you talking about," he says.

And looks at Skopje again. He seems to be telling him to play along so he faces back to the Orc.

And then Skopje touched him again and Jym fwlt as if a power were flowing into the halfling.

"Death, Death, Dying, Pain, Suffering." He wispers. Putting as much bad feeling into the wispers as he can.

The Orcs eyes suddenly get really wide and he runs back the way he came as fast as he can.

"One down three to go," He wispers back at Skopje. Eyeing the other three Orcs he is worried that they won't listen to him this time but floats over to the next one in line.

"Death, Death, Dying, Pain, Suffering." Trying again to put all of the feeling he can into this, visuallising dragons at night and mountains with the moon rising over them, legions of soldiers with blood on their swords. Legions of Orcs dead at their feet.

A large dark shadow gloomed over the men. A large scaley dragon slowly landed on the ground before them. In the distance, the thundering of horse hooves pounded in their heads. A beautiful white horse carrying a young girl came to a haulting stop infront of them.

Skopje beamed at Earth, admiring the heroic figure she made on her spotless horse.

"Sorry about that...buy some how I lost Waalk and went off trying to find him. Farmers son...should have left him in Seven Oaks.." Earth said with a grin. She dusted off her pants and looked curiously at the others.

"Have you been waiting long..." she asked stopping to look around, "Orcs..I missed a battle!That farmer's son will pay for that." she said with a smile.

"Where is Waalk," she asked concerndly.

Jym looked at Earth. He then looked up at the dragon.

"I have been waiting all night, but if you mean the Halfling, he just got here. If it hadn't been for his very intelligent ploy to use me as a 'Poison Cloud' then we very much might have had problems. As it was 3 of the Orcs ran away as fast as their little legs would cary them."

At the mention of his heroism Skopje's smile spread so big it looked as if his face would crack.

"Not only that but our little freind here is 800 gold peices the richer."

Skopje suddenly hunched protectively over the sack of gold, "Will you be quiet mister green thing," he wispered.

Earth noticed the Hafling's gestures towards his gold. She raised an eyebrow and a half smile appeared on her face.

"I remember a man that once entered my life...he left a marking that's unremovable..and I am not talking about gold either. Gold was an object he did leaned me." she stopped to observe the two men."Sorry, you should stop me if I ramble on like that."

While Earth was speaking Jym floated closer to the dragon and started examining it. "By the way, Who is Waalk?" and then almost absently, "As for missing the battle there is a whole villiage full of Orcs down this fork."

She patted her dragon lightly on his scaley head. The dragon brushed his head gently across her leg as a sign of affection.

"So whats next?" she asked the cloud and the hafling.

Skopje looked up at the cloud but Jym appeared distracted, floating gently on a light breeze. Seeing that Jym had his mind on other things, Skopje furrowed his forehead in deep thought. "Orcs... village... battle... gold?" he muttered to himself. He became aware of Earth's kindly concern and looked up to her.

"Well Miss, it seems to me that this cloud is a good natured magical phenomenon, and he has been trying to tell us that a band of Orcs are in a village nearby. I'm not sure why, but I'm sure that no good will come of it. I hate Orcs," he added passionately.

"He seemed to be suggesting that we should go there and see if we can help. I must admit," Skopje lowered his voice to a whisper, "I've been ignoring his hints up until now, he can be a bit, you know, all cloudy and vague. But, anyway, now yewse are here, with your huge dragon and all, it may be worth going to see what we can do."

Skopje waggled his eyebrows up and down at Earth and waited while she mulled it over.

Earth took a moment to take in all the information the Hafling gave to her. She turned to face the green cloud and then turned back to look at the Hafling.

"I love a good battle!" she said excitedly. The hafling looked disapointed in her answer.

"You'll have to get use to battles..they seem to find me where ever I journey to. Nothing a young girl, hafling, green cloud and one fire breathing dragon cant battle." she said cheerfully.

"We best be on our way. Orcs are hard to track down when night falls and by the look of the position of the sun, I'd say we have an hour left of daylight."

"Orcs at night, what a thought", Skopje muttered half to himself, "still, less chance of them finding me if it comes to that."

Earth mounted her horse and helped the hafling climb up beside her. Noticing their preparations for departure at last, Jym turned most of his sparkles to face them.

"Going so soon?" he asked.

"Come on cloud !" Skopje yelled in an exasparated voice, "we have to get to Burg village quickly."

Jym drifted over to them, some of his sparkles brightening signifcantly, "aaah yes, Burg.. lovely little village..." he pasued before suddenly exclaiming, "that's it, Orcs! In the village! Come on, let's go, there's not a moment to lose."

With that he drifted down the road at his fastest breeze. Earth made a clicking sound and her horse instantly set off after the green cloud.

As the young woman and hafling rode along the narrow path they saw the light of a large fire burning ahead.

Silhouetted against the fire's glow they could make out lage orc shapes dancing and leaping around the burning pile. Skopje took a deep breath as Earth stopped her horse. The hafling cimbed down and looked up at her.

"I'll go and take a look," he whispered, "yew should stay here in case they have guards around."

He stood still for a long time and Earth wondered what was wrong with him. He was obviously struggling with some inner decision. Eventually he lifted up two money bags from somewhere in his clothes and passed them up to Earth. "Yew'd better keep these too, with
the horse, just in case."

With that he turned and slipped silently into the gloom of the woods surrounding the road. Earth strained her hearing but could not detect anything to tell where Skopje might be.

She sat for a while and absently stroked the head of the dragon that quietly stood beside her.

The dragon noticed Skopje's return before she did. He appeared quietly from the trees and quickly came over to her.

"There are a lot of them, and they have the run of the whole village. They have a lot of the people tied up inside an inn. This is very bad indeed." He shook his head sadly. "I think they may be getting ready for one of their evil sacrifices, thats what the big fire is for."

Skopje looked up to Earth looking more like a sad Uman child than she had ever noticed before.

Earth look at Skopje and then back at the horse. The look in her eyes grew dark as if they where filled with anger. She reached for her knapsack and pulled out bow. She then looked at Skopje.

"Have thee ever done magick, or witnessed it?" she asked the hafling. He looked suprised at her question. He was speechless and she continued.

"Unfortunetly using my gift will drain energy, and with only two of us it may not be worth the risk.I have an idea." she said as her eyes lit up." I will get help without even leaving to find it."

She wrapped her hands tightly around a cold coin which hung around her neck. She closed her eyes and the coin began to glow, shinning through the her hands.

Soon, the sound of a horse could be heard in the distance...

"Fear not!" Said Waalk as he drew his sword. "I will protect you".

Waalk remembered his experiences of horse riding: Whilst the adventurers around Seven Oaks had made horse riding appear easy. It was, when Waalk tried, alot harder than they made it look. The idea slowly penetrated his mind that maybe fighting was also one of those things. Though adventurers made it look easy, it was infact very difficult.

Waalk lowered his sword and looked at the orcs then at Earth and the halfling "Errrm, hadn't we better run."

Earth started to laugh at Waalks remarks but then spoke.

"Shhh! You'll give us away, they still havent spotted us," she said hitting him playfully on his shoulder.

Waalk went a bit a red and sheathed his sword.  "Phew, this adventuring lark is tougher than I thought!"

"We should wait t'ill it gets dark and then we should take them by surpirse. It will be easier and more unsuspecting." Earth said smiling at Dracon her dragon.

Earth drew her sword and began mapping the plan in the sandy road.

"Waalk, you sneak up from the south, Skopje you the east, Dracon West and I the north. By the looks of things, my magic will be able to take the bulk of them out of the icture..thats why I will take north. The only other dangerous place would be west, but Dracon is no amature he will handle it with no problems..I suspect 4 to 5 on the east and south."

While Everyone is busy watching Earth map out her plan of attack Jym quietly slips off and enters the Inn mumbling something about "Reinforcements."

Waalk nodded as the green cloud spoke to his mind, 'safety in numbers'