Yes, I know its late... its actually 5am here. But I simply cant sleep, so why not write?
Here is the first short story based on Pathfinder goodness! Enjoy!
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The creature shrieked as the bolt pierced its dark chitinous armor and the ancient stones beneath it. Thynen stepped back, keeping an eye on the struggling beast as experienced hands reloaded the crossbow.
- I might be wrong, but I think someone said this was going to be a simple exploration.
- Your fault for believing an elfling.
As the army of three-foot long scorpions made their way over broken pillars and a mix of sand and debris, Thynen shot another bolt, slashing the tail end of another of the monstrous vermin. Two down, hundreds more to go. By his side, the half-elven scholar shot his own crossbow far less efficiently while looking puzzled at the markings on the walls.
- It doesn’t say anything about an endless army of scorpions here.
- Would you advertise your traps to would-be looters?
- I am not a looter, - replied Sieleshia, angry. – This is a scientific expedition.
- Tell that to the scorpions.
Four more down and an insane Koda advancing on them, bringing down his borrowed khopesh on any of the creatures that got too close. It wouldn’t last long. Thynen looked around the chamber, despaired for an easy way around it.
It wasn’t different from any of the other chambers in this temple. High walls covered in fading hieroglyphs, huge statues of forgotten gods and tons of what once made this place safe all over the floor. It probably hid the holes these scorpions used as hideout.
Above then, Thynen’s eyes found something different.
- Koda. Look up.
As the huge warrior stepped back from the scorpion swarm, Thynen conjured the energy for a simple spell. His free hand touched the half-orc, transmuting magic into physical power.
Without the need to ask, Koda leaped up towards the closest statue. Propelled by magic, the bulky warrior reached the crosses arms of a jackal-headed god, then leaped again, towards a stone bridge connecting two passageways high above.
- Does it seem wise do remove our only melee power?
Thynen ignored the scholar and the climbing warrior. He stepped back again, repeating the fire and reload routine. He trusted both men to do their best.
The scholar understood the silence. With a sighs, he pulled a vial of fiery orange liquid from one of his pouches and flinged it towards the advancing scorpions. The glass shattered and the liquid inside ignited as soon as air enveloped it. More of the arachnids died. Others retreated. Too many more were there to replace them.
Thynen look up, apprehensive. The half-orc had just reached the stone bridge and the four ancient chains that held it above. With fierce slashes, he hit the rusty links. One by one, the chains gave in.
Time and weather had punished those stones enough. Without support, the bridge began to crumble. Koda leaped away towards the statue that allowed him up as the last chain broke and the stone bridge came down.
Thynen and Sileshia jumped back into the protective cover of a corridor as stone and dust of centuries rained down on the scorpions. Sight was lost, and so was the sound of the scorpion army.
They waited for the dust to settle, their heartbeats and heavy breathing the only sounds they could hear.
- Damned osirians…
Koda's volumous shape appeared from the cloud of dust replacing his khopesh on the scabbard. Below a thick over of sand, a dark green robe covered a bronze breastplate ornate with osirian glyphs. Thynen smiled, lowering his crossbow.
- You seem like you have been fitting in quite successfully.
Sieleshia was fast to add to it.
- Not like its easy to blend in with that ugly face.
- You might prefer that I blend your blood with the sand.
With a sigh, Thynen raises his free hand to silence his companions.
- We have enough problems with scorpion swarms and traps already. Lets get moving.
As the dust began to settle, the Pathfinder walked ahead, climbing the broken bridge and drawing out his Wayfinder. Straight ahead, it said. Just like it had for so many weeks.
- This way.
With a sigh of hope, he replaced the device inside his cloak and walked on down another too similar corridor.
** ** **
Tomb exploration is both dangerous and tedious. No matter what bards tell or write about. Thynen knew better.
Minutes after the scorpion debacle, he was still leading the small party through that same corridor on a slow, steady pace. The crossbow hanging on a line by his side, one hand held a mystically lit stone, the other a long wooden pole. At each painfully slow few steps, he tapped the ancient stones on the floor.
There were no complains from Sieleshia, who used the time to decipher the paintings on the wall, making notes on his book and from time to time, between “ows” and “aaahs”allowing the others to know what story it told.
- It seems indeed to be a temple dedicated to some sort of god of nature. “The mighty earth that gives us life,” it says in this wall.
- Anything about traps or curses?
- Not really, - he eventually replied, taking notes. - Just the depiction of the ritual in which the high priest placed an artifact, something called a Stone of Command or Leadership, into the tomb.
It was Koda's irritated grunts that broke their concentration.
- This is stupid! We are wasting out time here! If there was a trap here, it would have been triggered or broken centuries ago!
The half-orc pressed the scholar unnecessarily close to the wall and pushed pass Thynen with heavy footfalls. The wooden pole crossed his way, stopping him ten feet from Thynen.
- I wouldn't go there.
- Why?
With a thin smile, the Pathfinder extended the pole ahead and hit an indistinguishable stone block on the floor.
Blades felt from the ceiling in deadly arches inches ahead of the half-orc.
Koda remained silent for the rest of the dangerous and tedious advancement.
** ** **
Thynen's hand slipped by the stone wall, searching for the right stop. It stopped just above the false doorway, on a stone like any other. He pressed it slightly, and the sound of sliding stones brought a smile to their faces.
The wall opened on the wall opposite the false door, revealing a large chamber. The only source of light was that of Thynen's stone, Sieleshia's hanging lantern and a faint, greenish glow several feet away.
Above a pedestal, a beacon in deep darkness, a fist-sized stone, its surface carved with runes too small to be read from the distance, seemed to radiate an energy of its own. A soft hum could be heard and felt as they entered the chamber.
Thynen did not have to look at his Wayfinder. It was it.
The sound of moving earth caught their attention. Dirt and sand felt over the glowing stone. A beam of daylight penetrated the chamber, soon getting larger.
Before the surprised party of explorers a rope was thrown down above the pedestal and a small shape slithered down.
Hanging upside down, its short tail rolled around the rope, its scaly feet held tight, the unsuspecting kobold extended its long claws towards the stone.
- What the hell do you think you are doing?
Surprised by Koda's thundering voice, the kobold almost felt. Quick, he grabbed the glowing stone and looked towards the party, hugging the artifact close, as if it was an egg that needed protection. The rope whined at the added weight.
The kobolds large yellow eyes examined the party in silence, upside down. A toothy smile crossed its cracked lips.
- Taking our prize, of course.
Koda drew his khopesh and gave one step forward. The others raised their crossbows.
- I wouldn't do that.
The kobold pointed down.
As the trio looked towards their feet, their poor lighting revealed an apparently endless pit between them and the pedestal. It seemed to circle the entire chamber.
In a fit of anger unfit of a scholar, Sileshia raised his crossbow and fired. The bolt zipped pass the kobold's shoulder, earning a yelp from the creature, who shouted in his language to friends unseen. They began to pull him up.
The half-elf began to rearm the weapon, but Thynen prevented him with a hand.
- If we hit him, the stone will fall down the pit.
The kobold disappeared through the hole on the ceiling. The cheers and laughter of a dozen kobolds could be heard echoing down towards them.
Koda lowered his arms, shoulders down. It seemed like all the energy the bulky warrior had reserved for this moment was spent in a second.
- This is not fair...
With a humorless smile, Thynen patted Koda on the back.
- It's OK. We found it once, we can find it again.
And with a last glance towards the hole on the ceiling, the party left the chamber and went back to the tomb's treacherous corridors.
Just as I was going to bed, I had an idea, and I had to write it down.
A tale in 2 hours! This one is longer (6 pages), but I believe its worth the read.
Did I mention I didnt sleep tonight?
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The door slammed shut, keeping the night's cool wind outside. With a grin on his face and the overweight bag on his arms, held close as a baby, Nidas nodded emphatically at his roommate.
The old man simply stared back at him from his table, where he put together yet another tinkled miniature.
- Why the stupid smile?
- I did it! - Nidas voice was almost a shriek. He looked around, surprised with himself. Then leaned forward and whispered. - I did it! I got lucky!
The old man mumbled a curse. He adjusted his glasses and got the small blade working again on the tin soldier on his calloused hands.
Irritated by the lack of interest of his roommate, the much younger Nidas gave large steps towards the table and dropped the bag heavily over the table. The old man's tools jumped and felt on the ground.
He looked at Nidas from over his glasses, then lowered himself to pick the tools from the floor. He certainly heard the sound of metal coming from inside the back.
- Did you steal a temples silverware or something?
- Hah! Nothing like this. Much much better! The solution to all our problems. A way out from this hell!
The old man finally put the miniature down, removed his glasses and turned his attention to Nidas. With a irritated sigh, he asked:
- What is in the damned bag?
- Ivani, you can throw this stupid tinkled and tools off. We wont need it anymore.
- Its what keeps money in this table.
- Not anymore!
Before Ivani could complain, Nidas picked the bag up and turned it upside. Coins, heavy chain necklaces, bracelets and rings poured down over the table and the floor. Gold, silver. Even platinum, for the looks of it. All ornate with colorful gems. Emeralds, rubies. Maybe even diamonds.
Ivani's eyes went wide. His bearded chin moved, but no voice came out of his cracked lips. Nidas laughed out loud and gave the old man a hard slap on the shoulder.
- We're rich! - he announced, then lowered his voice again, repeating himself. - We're rich!
- Where did you get this? - the old man finally managed to say, holding a large medallion with a eye-sized ruby circled by yellow topaz rays. A richman's dawning sun.
Nidas puffed his not-so-impressive chest and crossed his thin arms over it.
- I took it from a stupid traveler down the road.
The old man raised a white eyebrow.
- A man was traveling alone with all this jewelry?
- Yeah! Can you believe it? I still can't! I was coming back from the Telsing farm when I saw him singling some stupid song. The sound of all that gold tingling on his chest and hands! Was so easy!
- I hope you didn't kill him.
- Nah... - Nidas raised an eyebrow, looking up. - Or at least I don't think so. I hit him on the face. There was blood, but not enough to taint his white robes.
Something got Ivani's attention. He placed the jewelry down and turned back to Nidas. There was something on the old man's eyes. Fear?
- Did that man by any chance wear white gloves up above his elbows?
- Why, yes. I figured it was some eccentric weirdo.
Ivani's eyes opened wide. He immediately began to search the loot above the table with an uncommon eagerness.
- What? - asked Nidas, worried at the old man's reaction. - Whats wrong?
The old man stopped only when his hands found a platinum signet ring. He raised it up close to his eyes, examining it through his glasses. He mumbled a curse.
- What is it, Ivani?
- Do you know what this is? - he asked, showing Nidas the ring. There was a blazon on it, but he couldn't recognize.
- What? - he asked, urgently.
Ivani got up so suddenly his chair felt back. With large handfuls, he got the jewelry from the table and stuffed it back in the bag. Nidas watched dumbstruck.
- What? What are you doing!?
The old man continued replacing the stolen goods in the bag, making sure nothing was left on the table or the floor. Before Nidas could ask again, he was been pushed out of the house through the door.
- Hey! Wait! I paid for this month!
With a strength Nidas didn't think the retired soldier still had, Ivani grabbed the robber by the arm and pushed the loot bag hard on his chest.
- You robbed a prophet of the Kalistrade! This treasure is a curse! Get rid of hit and begone! I never heard of you!
The door slammed closed, leaving Nidas alone in the night.
As soon as he realizes that the gold and jewels were visible hanging from the bag, he looked around to be sure no one saw anything and rushed away. The streets were empty this late at night. It wouldn't be hard to find a place to stay the night. Not with gold and silver to pay for a nice room and warm food.
Ivani would regret kicking him out of the house.
Tonight would be the night of pleasure and wonders. And Nidas would be king.
** ** **
Three days after his perfect crime, Nidas was running out of coins. He sure had a lot of jewelry stashed on his room, but actual coins were quickly vanishing from his bag. He didn't complain at all. Not waking up on silks with two of the most adorable whores by his side, jars of fine wine on the floor and the best food he have ever tasted on his belly.
But such entertainment required maintenance. And it was about time he saw for the sale of his loot.
Been careful not to wake his expensive princesses, Nidas got off the bed and dressed on his old cloths. He smiled at the irony of it all. He was so involved in celebrating his riches that he never bothered to get new cloths. But he would, soon.
Nidas picked his bag from his secret place under the floor boards and slowly walked towards the door. He stopped, turning back to the girls on the bed. With a wicked smile, he picked two twin silver necklaces and placed each on one girl's hands. Then, with a goodbye kiss, he left for the streets.
Life on Eranmas was busy as usual this late in the morning. Most people were up for hours as Nidas left the inn. The port was busy with the arrival of trade ships from the other Lake Encarthan nations or long convoys of foodstuff from the fields. Nidas watched some of the indentured laborers walk pass the main avenue. Tired-looking, all, but still with a stupid appearance of pride. Nidas smirked, shaking his head. He would never to work a single day on his life again.
He finally made his way to Red Une, an old acquaintance who traded in more than kyonian arts.
Rushed back behind the counter and to the basement, Nidas soon poured his treasure above a table not unlike the one his shared with Ivani, neither with less theatricals. Red Une's eyes widened and the astute merchant was quickly examining the jewelry with a small eyepiece.
- Amazing. Truly amazing. Where did you get this again?
- Near the Nosam Bay. I guess they were from Razmiran.
The merchant nodded, his attention towards the jewels. Good, as if they were on Nidas Red Une might had seen through the lies. Behind his back, Nidas clutched the signet ring that caused all that mess to begin with. If an old soldier like Ivani recognized something bad in that ring's blazon, certainly someone so knowledgeable as Une would too. Best keep the facts to a minimum.
- I'm interested, for sure. But I can't pay for it all. Not yet. Five hundred gold.
- Non-sense! It's worth a lot more!
- It will be if I find someone interested. I can get you five hundred more if I find the right buyers. But I'll need the jewels with me. No one would buy jewelry without appraising it!
Nidas watched Une silently. He would like to have Ivani with him now. The old man was always the smart one of the duo. He would need to pretend to know what he was doing. Maybe this way the merchant wouldn't steal from him
- Six hundred gold pieces now, four later.
Red Une laughed good heartedly. He slapped Nidas on the arm and went for his safe under a nearby desk. Out of it he drew three leather pouches. He places them over the table.
- Get back to me in four days. I'll have the rest of your money.
Nidas didn't reply or look back. He just grabbed the pouches and left, a large grin on his face. He soon realized that people would suspect of such a man like him with tingling pouches and a stupid smile on his face. It might be time to open a bank account or something of the sorts.
No! It would draw too much suspicious! He would get new cloths, have something for dinner and just then look for a bank. There was a Temple of Abadar somewhere nearby. It wouldn't be much trouble. And as least his profit would be safe there. Ha! Who needed Ivani to do the thinking?
** ** **
Hours later and looking a lot more like the richman he now was, Nidas returned to the inn. He had kept one pouch with some gold in it. He needed some for expenses, even if he decided it was time to rest a bit from celebrations.
Sadly, as he reached his room he found out that both whores had already left. The innkeeper said they had left showing off his gift, saying they would go back to the brothel to sleep a beauty sleep and were expecting Nidas for dinner.
With a smile on his face, Nidas tipped the innkeeper for the message with a gold piece and left again. He wanted to see how people looked at him in his new cloths, shaved and bathed, and feeling great.
But people seemed to not notice. Nidas felt sad, but realized maybe it was because they didn't know him before. Of course! Ivani would react beautify to the new Nidas! But, unfortunately, and that time the old man was probably on the streets selling his junk trinkets.
He headed straight for the brothel, meaning to visit the girls a little earlier and surprise them.
But he himself was surprised to find a very irritated matron who haven't seen her girls since the night he took them to his inn. Nidas tried to explain they had dinner, but other guests arrived and the matron decided to ignore him.
Nidas worried of what could have happened. Did his princesses ran away with the expensive necklaces? Ah, of course! Damned women must had used Nidas all the time, just waiting for that piece of jewelry that would buy them their freedom from an easy life!
Red Une would know, of course. Everyone in Eranmas knew Red Une and not few knew of what he traded in on his basement. The girls would have contacted him.
But Red Une didn't know of any girls. With hushed angry tones, Red Une told Nidas to disappear until the scheduled date or it would draw suspicious to his business. Nidas was rushed out of the store and back to the streets.
Once again, Nidas felt lonely.
As much as he detested think of it, in the end there was only one person who gave a damn about him.
** ** **
Night had fallen over the rooftops when Ivani finally got home. Nidas got up from the doorstep where he had been seating for the last hours.
The old man stopped as soon as he realized who it was.
- Get away, Nidas. I have enough problems as it is.
- Hey, Ivani... look. I'm sorry if I did something stupid. Look! - he said, raising his arms. - I got hid of the loot!
Ivani eyes Nidas up and down.
- I see you used up some of that money.
- A man has to eat, you know.
The two men eyes each other in silence for several seconds, before Ivani walked towards the door, unlocking it.
- Come in. Its getting cold outside.
They entered the old house. Ivani placed his unsold wares over the table and opened a piece of cloth, revealing bread and cheese.
- Its not much, but will have to do. There was a lot of confusion downtown. Took me too long to get across with my wares and to the bakery.
- I figured as much. You never got home so late.
Ivani shrugged. - I need to pay for the house all by myself now. Besides, the guard was all over the place because of some back alley murder.
Nidas nodded, approaching the table.
- You know... I can pay for the rent.
- Are you going to live in this hole now that you are rich?
- No... I mean. I can pay for you. To live here.
Ivani took his seat. He cut a piece of cheese and bread. He bit a mouthful of it and washed it down with water before replying.
- I no beggar. I work for a living.
Nidas sighed, pulling a chair and sitting down.
- C'mon. Don't be hard on me. I can help.
- Not with your cursed money.
- Whats so wrong with my money?
Ivani placed his food down, eying Nidas.
- You really don't know?
The look on Nidas face must have answered the question, for Ivani sighed, shaking his head. Then the old man began to explain.
- The Prophecies of the Kalistrade, the religion of Druma, says that the only way to show your worth to the world is by showing your material wealth.
- Yeah. That explains why that moron was walking alone with so much gold on him.
- That moron did that because he certainly spend some of that gold to place wards and protections all over himself and his jewelry.
Nidas was caught off-guard.
- What you mean?
- I mean that right now that moron either has a curse going on you or bounty hunters tracking you. I wouldn't be surprised if its even an assassin.
Nidas eyes went wide open. Curses? Bounty Hunters? Assassins!?
- OK, wait. Stop. What you mean? No, that can't be serious.
- Why do you think I kicked you out? That prophet probably knows exactly were his jewelry is right now.
Nidas felt for his pocket, where he placed the signet ring. He got up suddenly.
- I got to go.
Nidas left the house and the old man, never looking back.
** ** **
He walked the streets aimlessly for hours, unsure of where he was or what to do. It was not that he intended to mislead his would-be killers, if there were indeed any, but he simply was too astonished by it all to think straight.
How he, who has ever been a no one, a low-life who did small jobs for a living and mugged old ladies for an extra, ended up nemesis of a foreign priest with a merchant-lord's fortune.
When Nidas finally stopped, he realized he was standing before Red Une's store. The man's house was above the store. The merchant certainly would curse him endlessly for bringing trouble to his home, where his wife and children could hear, but they certainly would be worried about Une's risk of death, right?
Maybe it was an unconscious guilt that had brought him to his footsteps, so it might be a good idea to go ahead and do something good with his life.
Inhaling some courage, Nidas knocked the door.
It swung open with a low screech.
Nidas looked around to see if anyone heard it, then entered the building.
He had come through that door once before. It lead both up to the house and down to the basement. A door lead to the back of the store.
Stupid as he might be, Nidas didn't think it wise to go up the stairs and scare Une's family, probably leading to the guard been called on him. Besides, he could see the faint light of candles somewhere on the basement.
Nidas descended the stairs, slowly, calling Une repeatedly in a low voice.
A sound caught he attention. The sound of a moan. A window opened downstairs.
Nidas rushed down to find Red Une laying on the floor. His face was twisted in an horrid look of pure fear, his mouth gapping open. Blood oozed from twin cuts on his silk pajamas.
The first thing that occurred to Nidas was that he wouldn't be seen the other five hundred gold pieces.
The second was that the assassin probably was still somewhere in the basement.
He stumbled back on the stairs, looking around. The candles over the table did a poor job at illuminating the room, even with its small size. It all seemed in place, even though there was no clues of what Une would be doing on the basement this late. There was nothing over the table besides his appraising eyepiece.
Nidas looked for the safe, and found it open. Inside he noticed two leather pouches like the ones Une gave him for the jewels earlier and some scrolls. No sign of the stolen jewelry. Not thinking twice, Nidas grabbed the pouches and looked for a quick exit. There was a small window open, leading to the street level. It struck him as odd. Une had painted the glass so that no one could look in to his shady business. So why would he keep it open?
Resorting for the obvious, Nidas went back up the stairs and out through the back door to the streets.
It was time to disappear from Eranmas and Molthune altogether. With this money he could buy himself a trip far away. Maybe start a new life in Varisia. People always said there was a city for people just like him there. He might visit this Riddleport, why not?
He felt sorry for Red Une and the girls, realizing they probably both dead now too.
But at least both he and Ivani were safe. After all, he had rid himself of all the jewelry. What remained was gold from Une. Untraceable.
Nidas was home free.
Movement at corner of his eye caught his attention. He heard a strange noise, like an insect's song.
His eyes when wide open with realization. His hand touched his pocket.
The signet ring.
When Nidas looked back, there he was, silent in all his might.
The red-clad armored man wore a helmet like an insect's head. He did not need to speak a thing. Nidas simply couldn't move.
The man approached slowly, raising twin serrated blades. They danced before Nidas eyes in fluid motions. Fear strangely seemed to seep away. Nidas attention was fully on the dance of the blades. He felt a strange inner peace at watching them.
Nidas was found the next morning still holding the gold pouches close to himself, twin deadly wounds on his chest. No one would realize that the only missing object was a platinum signet ring belonging to a priest from Druma.
The Red Mantis never had had an easier assignment.
Creative Director
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Aha. Just noticed Jmberaldo has a red mantis in one of his contributions.... Perhaps an organisation destined to see many references in fiction. Congratulations to whomever at Paizo thought them up. :D
Yay! Red Mantis! They're actually an import from my home-brew game, so it's pretty cool to see people like 'em!
Thanks for letting us play on your playground, James ;)
Well, here I go again.. Another out of the blue story I just wrote. Thats my take on another unusual realm of Golarion...
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C'mon. Sit down, good sirs. You don't want to go out before morning, right? You've seen yet what they do to adventurers around this parts?
So, I understand you came down here to murder one of the lords, hum? Is it personal or a paid job?
Oh, sure. No! Nothing against mercenary work. I did it on my days too, back when I could actually walk without a limp! Don't take this old man and humble cottage as the story of my life. Just it's end, I guess.
Did you study your target well? I sure hope you did. I see your friend over the window hides her medallion under his cloak. Might prefer to tell her to take it off her neck. They can see pretty well and that sunburst-and-sword fetish will get you all dead before you realize you were caught. They don't take holy warriors well here, either.
Who I am? Ah, you wouldn't know me by name. I don't believe anyone who knew me is still alive, or care for it anyway. But I came to Geb four decades ago, just as you. Maybe I could share a story with you, hum? There are still a few hours before the sun rises, anyway. And it is not a good idea to enter Yled by night. Here, have some coffee. What about something to eat? Good.
No, wait! Don't worry about him. He is as mindless as a door. Sometimes even less so. But is still useful. Here, allow me to pour you the soup. I can understand your aversion to been served by a zombie. You get used to it, somewhat. You may put that sword aside. Thank you. It would take me much trouble explaining my masters how this servant was destroyed.
Yes, my story.
We came here out of Absalom, forty-some years ago. We had been hired by a merchantman from Almas. I was told they split from Cheliax a while ago, correct? Well, you can tell me all about it later. I'd like to hear some news from the outside world.
Well, this merchantman – I can't seem to remember his name – had a son who disappeared somewhere near the Mana Wastes. He was in a foolish treasure hunt of sorts. But looks like his party got lost and crossed the Geb border.
They were caught a day later and executed. They may still be somewhere, harvesting food for the living. Might as well be one of the creeps I got working full time outside. More productive than slaves...
Shandri, that's my brother, arranged us a ship to Quantium and then down the Ustradi River towards Geb. We crossed the border with an escort of mercenaries from Alkenstar. It was all very smooth. I guess we were too young back then to mistrust all our good fortune. Something was bound to go wrong. We didn't have an old veteran to give us some advice on what we would find in Geb.
Our first mistake was thinking the local population would be of help. I mean, think about it. This is a nation rules by the undead. Zombies harvest the food we eat. Humans are fed to monsters who are considered citizen. What else could we think?
Our second mistake was Ornilius. Our leader was a warrior of Iomedae, just like your friend. He was so proud of his divine duty that he did not care who saw his goddess' symbol on his sword and armor. While Shandri and I at least tried to be discreet, wearing common cloths, even if unusual for the local culture, he would walk by, chin high, chest out, declaring his intent on vanquishing evil from the land. I still think he considered it some sort of crusade, the fool...
We were ambushed that same night at the hamlet we took refuge in. The locals had given us in to the local Blood Lord. We didn't know at the time, but he was a very minor noble.
Our third and last mistake was making the government remember said lord existed. He was a ghast, you see.
When he invaded the house we were at, he ordered the locals out. They not only obeyed, but thanked the undead. If you could see the shear fear on their eyes as they looked as us! As if we were the monsters and them theirs saviors!
The ghast were dressed like a noble, hearing a velvet cape and jewelry. It gave his ghouls the order to paralyze us. Yes, paralyze. Not kill. To this day I'm still unsure of why. Maybe he wanted to give us as gifts to some lord.
Now, let me tell you something. We were not unexperienced men, the three of us. We had our fair share of adventures and delves. We did have a small fame of our own back in the days.
We did short work of these ghouls. And then we killed the ghast noble.
The locals screamed murder and threatened us with pitchforks and torches. Yes, that was our reaction too.
So we escaped to the woods, sure that evil had wrapped these poor peasants' minds, making them little more than unwilling servants.
We soon discovered why the merchant's son and his party were arrested and executed.
You see, when they crossed the border, they came across a hamlet just like the one we hid in that night. That hamlet was right atop a ghoul lair. The locals fed the ghouls in a sort of symbiotic relation. These ghouls were the hamlet's rulers and guardians.
But the merchant's boy didn't care to understand. Just like us, he didn't see through prejudice. They invaded the ghouls' lair and murdered eleven of them. A whole family.
Yes, murdered.
In Geb, it is considered murder to kill a sentient undead.
I see by the look on your faces that you were not aware of it. Well, neither were we.
When we killed the local lord, minor as he was, we got the attention of the government. Life was hell for two weeks as we first tried to get to Gravedirge and then simply escape back to the Mana Wastes.
They hunted us down like scared game. We had to sleep during the day and travel by night or end up ambushed by vampires and wraiths. By day, human hunters and ghouls chased us, so we had little to no rest.
We got caught in the mountains, starving, exhausted and wounded.
They stripped Ornilius of his armor and holy symbol right there and forced to match day and night tied to hellish horses most of the way to Gravedirge. I think he was treated the worse of us.
We were tried in the most surreal way.
There were witnesses to Ornilius use of positive energy against the undead and us dispatching their minions. The peasants were there, and so were living and unliving hunters. A corpse presided, watching silent for most of it.
Then, came the sentence.
Ornilius was sent to the slave pens. Remember I said undead are better workers than slaves? Well, we don't use slave work in Geb. I saw Ornilius been served on a feast days later. He was still alive, calling from Iomedae, as they ate his flesh and drunk his blood.
I think I had the lightest of sentences. Might be because I had the less kills on my hands. Or that, at the end, I was so tired of it all that I arranged our surrender. They placed me here, far from anything or anyone. My job is to make sure the zombies keep harvesting and nothing happens to them. I haven't seen a living person in years.
With time, you get used to the smell and the loneliness.
No, I cannot escape. At first they had a spell on me to prevent me from going too far. Then, I guess both them and I just quit. Really, there isn't anywhere to go. And, if I did escape, they would find me again.
My brother? Oh, he is this fellow serving you the soup.
Why, you look pale. Maybe you should rest for a little.
Excuse me? You are leaving already? It's not a good idea to enter Yled by night. I told you so.
Oh, back to the coast, you say? Yes, I must agree that what was promised is not enough pay. I wish you the best of luck on your trip back. Goodbye.