Known World

Kaboom

(10-Oct-06)

"Bookem" : Bookem Danno (Jamie), Human Funken Wagnall Priest
"Jabu" : Jabu Lani (Matt Carr), Human Pensive Fighter
"Lon" : Lon Gon (Jeff Clendon), Half-Elf Thief
"Stanley" : Stanley Doff (Ian Luxton), Human Psi, ESP
"Opera" : Opera Winifrey (Shane Barr), Human Priest, 21

After the nasty shock of nearly being spotted by Antonio, Lon dropped from the end of the waste pipe, slithered quickly down the gulch, and quietly crept back to the rest of the party, who were still hiding in the shade of a big cluster of rocks and boulders at the base of the cliff below the castle.

"Psst..." whispered Lon from the shadows, "time to back off a bit I think"

Jabu leapt up from under the rock where he had been crouching, his sword swinging in a low arc that sliced the air cleanly with a deadly hiss, killing only the dried up bush behind which Lon was concealed. As the few brown and shrivelled leaves fluttered to the ground, Jabu re-sheathed his sword and grinned.

"Shit Lon, one day I'm going to take your head off if you keep doing that"

"Ha" replied Lon, "one day you are going to take your own head off more likely"

"Anyway, I think I spotted Antonio" stated Lon, "but he may have also spotted me!"

Lon quickly outlined how he had found a grill from the waste pipe into one of the Castle dungeons, what he had discovered, and what may have discovered him!

"We had better back off a bit then" agreed Bookem, "I'd hate to be found out here with no way out except for the ring. I'll report back to Goldentown, you lot keep a look-out for any activity"

Bookem activated the communication device and relayed the information about the dungeon and the portal back to the Mage Guild contact as the rest of the party kept a close eye on the surroundings.

"Trouble!" whispered Opera "up there"

A dark figure was floating through the sky, drifting slowly across from the region of the castle's front gate, and heading towards the gulch. Everybody tried to melt into the ground and disappear, but the figure slowed, turned towards us, and began to approach.

"Oh shit" despaired Randy.

"Shoot" yelled Lon, his +4 arrow gliding from his quiver to his bow-string.

"Huh?" muttered Jabu who had unsuccessfully been trying to get his crossbow loaded.

"Time to go" stated Bookem, reaching for the ring, "better grab on quick"

Time seemed to slow down as Stanley watched in horror as the next series of events unfolded in front of him. A small red object jetted out from the floating figure, a cloaked female he noted, and flew directly towards the party, passing Lon's arrow at about half way.

Jabu slowly spun towards the target, his cross-bow finally loaded and lifting towards the sky, but too late to participate in the immediate action.

Opera grabbed Lon's hand with hers and slapped it against Bookem's arm while grabbing his wrist with her other hand. Randy spun and dived across the small clearing, his arm outstretched for Bookem's leg. Grunter loosed a small boulder which hurtled towards the floating figure, just behind Lon's arrow, and also passing the incoming red sphere, which seemed to be expanding as it came closer.

Bookem cast a glance round the party, grimaced, and slipped the ring onto his finger. Stanley grabbed the back of Bookem's neck, the closest bit of exposed skin, and again considered the wisdom of perhaps throwing in with Vingt-et-un after all.

"KA-BOOM"

The Fireball exploded just as those touching Bookem disappeared in a crump of very hot displaced air.

"Bastards" yelled a smouldering Jabu as he finally loosed his bolt, "what about me." Corporal Tampa was laying smoking on the ground, his bow useless now. Grunter bent to collect another boulder, and sent it skyward, where the floating figure, complete with arrow protruding from its chest, had just thrown another red sphere towards the ground.

"KA-BOOM"

The crackle of flame and thud of Jabu falling to the ground were the last things Grunter heard before departing for the Ogre afterlife.

Meanwhile, over in Goldentown the rest of the party were praising Bookem's quick thinking, at least those of the party who were still conscious, and Bookem was trying to find someone who could do some healing and Teleport them back for a rescue mission!

Captain Osterman was quickly summoned, along with a number of priests and wizards.

"Of course it's worth it" yelled Bookem.

"I'm staying here" gasped Randy, crooning over his singed cloak, "I can't cope with any more of those damn fireballs, look what it's done to my wi... um hair"

Only the mage Glory was willing to Teleport a small party back to the valley, but would only stay long enough to cast her spells, and would not Teleport within 50 meters of the Fireball site. One of the other mages graciously agreed to cast some Protection from Fire spells before the rescue mission left.

"Yes thanks" replied Lon, feeling a lot better after two Cures.

"Not for me" stated Stanley, "I'll be fine... Protection from Fire my arse" he muttered under his breath.

It was about fifteen minutes later that the remainder of the party re-assembled, fully healed and protected as best as could be arranged in such a short time, and standing in a circle facing outwards with weapons drawn; Glory in the centre wielding a small staff.

"Oh crap, let's do it then"

"Pop... pop... pop pop pop"

Bookem, Opera, Lon, Stanley, and Glory Teleported back to the scene of the recent Fireball rout, hoping like hell there hadn't been time for too many enemies to gather in the area.

"Six ghouls" yelled Bookem.

"Sky's clear" yelled Opera.

"Twang" went Lon's bow.

"I see bodies" shouted Stanley.

"Well hurry up then" muttered the wizard Glory.

"Get thee hence!" chanted Bookem.

Fortunately, the floating figure was nowhere to be seen and there were only six ghouls, clustered round the body of Grunter. Unfortunately, they appeared to have devoured about one quarter of him already. As one of the Ghouls sprouted arrows, and three of them turned and fled, Opera and Stanley rushed across to the prone forms of Jabu and Tampa.

"Still alive" called Opera as they dragged the two singed, unconscious forms back towards Glory.

Glory was crouched down beside a large rock looking warily round from the ghouls to the castle, standing menacingly above us at the top of the rocky cliffs, and back towards the Ghouls. Lon continued to fire arrows into the remaining ghouls, who were slowly ambling towards the group, as Opera and Stanley puffed and panted as they dragged Jabu and Tampa closer. As they got close enough, Glory jumped up and started to wave her staff about.

"Pop... pop pop..."

"Goodbye Grunter" whispered Bookem

"... pop pop... pop... pop"

With the party safely back in Goldentown it was time to collect two weeks' pay, take a much-needed bath, and sort out some training.

"Um" reported Lon, "looks like the local Thieves Guild are finally onto me. I've spotted one of Zorro's damn magical wanted posters. I'll be round, but hopefully you won't see me 'til you need me"

And he was gone.

"See you in three days" said Stanley and Randy as they strolled off for their training.

Jeff