2/12/98 THE COMING OF THE ZIOTH TURN THIRTY-ONE Ziedon spoke up again, eagerly changing the conversation. "We need to leave immediately." "I agree, Sir Mage," Ardith said. "I do not like the feel of this town, nor of the townsman we have met. Let us provision ourselves from the innkeeper, and be on our way." Ziedon frowned. "We need to get travel provisions. The innkeeper will not be able to help us. Sahlman, why don't you take him," he continued, indicating Kreemon, "and retrieve our horses? Kay and I will go purchase some travel provisions and Ardith can remain to watch the thief." Ziedon glanced briefly at the little cutpad, who was still sitting in the corner of the room. "Then we can all meet up behind the inn, distribute the provisions and then head out in pairs, giving a few minutes in between each pair. This should allow us to discreetly pass through the main gate without arousing any suspicions. Then we can be on our way to finish our obligation to Ulan and be done with this matter." Ziedon thought for a moment. "If the stables are closed for the night, I recommend that we move to a different inn, again in pairs. It is too dangerous to stay here. Hopefully the stables are still open or there is someone there who can open them long enough to let our horses out." Kreemon decided to take another chance with the mage. "I don't want to overstep my bounds here, but if we leave tonight, we won't get more than half an hour's walking in. If we wait until tomorrow, we can pack better, get any food and fodder we need, and get a full day's walk in. Are we really in that much of a hurry?" Ziedon replied sharply. "You can remain if you wish. I would rather be on a trail away from the daggers and poisons that will find us should we wait." "Is there something I wasn't told about you guys? From what you've all told me about the meeting, it seems like everything's taken care of. That servant is making sure everything goes ok, the minstrel knows you did your job, and the townsman has nothing to gain by killing you." Ziedon shook his head in frustration. He wondered, as he often did, why the world was overpopulated by idiots, and why so many of them gravitated towards him. He answered Kreemon quietly. "The townsman was not too happy with our message. It doesn't matter what the minstrel thinks if his master orders our deaths. The servant can easily have a 'household' accident as well as the rest of us. You do not seem to understand the stakes here. My life is worth a little more to me." Kreemon decided he had been daring enough for one day, and let the matter rest. He still couldn't help but think that Ziedon was wrong. From their story, the townsman had not seemed happy with the message, but at the same time, he seemed to have a lot of respect for, or at least fear of, that other townsman. It didn't seem likely that the townsman would do anything to a group who were obviously friends of someone he was dependent on for power. Then again, Velhelm, when he became baron of Elgony, was dependent on his peasant armies for power but dismissed them none the less casually. Maybe a baron in Kreemon's homeland and a minor townsman in Maelbourg were not so different. Perhaps Kreemon truly did not understand the stakes. "I just had a thought," Ziedon said to Sahlman, almost as if it was an afterthought. "You might want to see about getting a few more horses as well, or about borrowing a few more horses." His hand held his very light coin purse as he looked Sahlman in the eye to see if he understood. Sahlman believed he did understand, but was somewhat confused by what it was that Ziedon just seemed to have said to him. Rather than muddle about, the wiry man stroked his moustaches for a moment, nodded, and made for the door. The warrior had time to think while walking upon what he should do in response to Ziedon's request. Stealing more mounts was out of the question, but perhaps... Quickening his steps, the foreigner set his course for the townhouse. "Ziedon!" Ardith yelled in a delayed outburst of shock. "A moment ago you were railing against Korisca for being a cutpurse, and now you are suggesting that Sahlman become a horse-thief!" Sahlman paused at the end of the upstairs hall, and allowed himself a tight smile at Ardith's exclamation. Ziedon was surprised that Sahlman was able to leave before Ardith's outburst. Ziedon had thought she would have said something earlier. He shook his head. "I did not suggest anything of the sort, and besides, what matter is it to you? You apparently do not have any qualms about criminals." "I abhor crime, but I allow for people to change their ways," Ardith said with vigor. "And I am sure that others admire you for it," Ziedon responded as sweetly as he could manage. He turned to Kay, ignoring the sharp expression showing on Ardith's face. "Shall we go out and try to purchase some rations or are we to wait for Sahlman?" "I have coin enough, I believe, to buy a horse or maybe some mules," said Kay, "but I think we should wait until morning. If you, Ziedon, have some premonition of evil -- is it your magicks that tell you this -- then perhaps we _should_ change inns. Maybe even camp outside town, and plan to return to buy things tomorrow, but I think we should get more mounts and be more careful about getting provisions." "I have a bad feeling about staying as well," Ardith said. "Not a message from Andritha or anything, just a bad feeling. But I agree. If we leave now, we are not likely to be well provisioned, and we will be longer on the road without enough mounts for us all. We should have a horse for each of the party, and a pack mule for our gear." She mused for a moment on Ziedon's suggestions and Kay's idea before continuing. "It may indeed be best for us to leave this inn -- too many know we are here. There was another inn I saw a few blocks up the road that didn't look too scruffy. Let's go there, then as early as can be look to get what we need. We should still be able to leave Maelbourg before the sun has climbed halfway to the zenith." Ziedon breathed in deeply to scream in frustration but managed to maintain his composure and slowly lets his breath steal out through his clenched teeth. He thought he could live off of natural herbs and plants if he was forced to, so there really was not a need for provisions. "Why don't we wait to see if Sahlman was able to retrieve the horses." Sahlman arrived at the door of the townhouse. All was the same as Ardith and Ziedon had left it, but there were two guards who Sahl had not yet seen, even from a distance. Sahlman approached in the least-threatening manner he knew of, the official manner adopted by the desert peoples to signify peace. His elbows were pinned tight to his sides, and his hands were held palm up and extended slightly outwards. Giving a small bow to the guards, he said, "My greetings. If I could perhaps to be seeing the master Ulan?" One of the guards burst out laughing at Sahlman's uncommon expression and strange accent. "No," he said while suppressing his laughter. "The townsman's busy. What business do you have here, anyway?" Being used to such treatment from the wetlander infidels, Sahl ignored the disrespect accorded him by the guard. He calmly waited for the snickering to stop. "Please to be telling the master Ulan that my business has to do with the master Balban." "Oh," the guard said, all joviality removed from his face, "it's you. Follow me then." The guard knocked on the door, and it was opened from inside. Sahl followed the guard into the townhouse, and another guard exited to take the watch. A third calmly removed Sahlman's weapons. Sahlman was taken again through the long hallway and into the meeting room. He followed the guard out through the opposite door, down two flights of stairs and past numerous doors, small rooms and hallways. The townhouse looked impressive from outside, but no more so than the townhouse of any other town. Here, however, Sahl could not hide his surprise. It seemed the whole population of Maelbourg could fit into this building if the need arose. Sahlman heard muffled voices leak through the cracks of a door and echo all around. The guard led Sahl to that door, knocked on it, and stepped aside as it was opened. Beyond the door was a small room with a round table in its center. Sitting at the table were Galgewe, Ulan, Forgolon and one who Sahl did not recognize. Galgewe turned and glared at Sahlman. After traveling with Balban's calm, obedient servant for so long, that was the last expression Sahlman expected to see on his face. Forgolon did not turn his head at all, and merely gazed with absent eyes at the table. The stranger gave a curious glance, but then looked down in the manner of the minstrel beside him. Ulan looked like he was concerned about something, but Sahlman saw the the townsman's face straighten when he noticed the intruder. Ulan jumped out of his chair, and the few remaining loose hairs on the sides of his head flew up with him. "What are you doing here? My business with you is done!" "Please to pardon, l'sallah," said Sahlman. He allowed an easy smile to adorn his features so as to allay the pensive feelings of the men before him. The son of a merchant prince did not find difficulty in this. "It is that I find myself in a worrisome way tonight. You see, in order to continue in the service of Balban and yourself, the others sent me to seek out some mounts. Sadly, I am not being a very rich man, and cannot purchase horses. It was my thinking that perhaps the generous Ulan could help?" "I said my business with you is done. You can walk until your feet wear off! Do you think I have money for horses, with only a month to convince this town that some worthless townsman from Grenzig will-" "Enough!" Galgewe shouted, moving his angry gaze to Ulan and pressing both his fists on the round table. "One of the horses lent you by the _respected_ townsman Balban died during your journey. The townsman here will be happy to recover your loss with his personal mount." Townsman Ulan sat down. "Yes," he muttered. "Happy to." Sahlman was nudged from the side by the guard. As the guard practically pushed him out of the room, Sahlman heard the conversation behind him continue. "So," Galgewe said calmly. "About this 'worthless townsman...'" Sahlman was led back through the halls, and up the two flights of stairs. From there, they took a different hall than before and Sahl quickly found himself outside. Apparently, he was behind the townhouse, as the area was somewhat unfamiliar to him. A few yards away was a stable, which the guard unlocked and entered. He emerged a few moments later with a large black riding horse. The horse was easily a foot taller than Balban's horses, and was well-muscled from years of carrying its elaborate saddle. The guard removed the townsman's seat and replaced it with a simpler, but newer, leather one. "You're lucky that new fellow was there. I've never seen the townsman so submissive. Any other day, you would have been thrown out without being able to speak a word, like everyone else who asks for money. Say, who's this Balban anyway? Ulan mentions his name and loses his best horse." Sahlman was certainly more than a bit disconcerted at the thread of events so far, but he just as certainly wasn't much inclined to let this guardsman know it. "Surely Ay'wah smiles upon Sahlman today," he said. "This Balban, he is a man from Grenzig who I am thinking has dealings with your master Ulan. More than that, I am fearing not to know it." Sahl bestowed a friendly smile on the helpful fellow as he swung astride the magnificent horse. As he made his way back to meet the others, his thoughts dealt mainly with how wonderful it would be if he were to get this animal for his own, and all the noble names he could dream up for it. Sahl made a quick stop at the entrance to the townhouse to pick up his weapons. Sahlman was able to lead the horse easily to the stable at Grabble's, even though the sun set during his return. The stable boy was just leaving when Sahl rode in. Reluctantly, the stable boy returned and locked up the black horse. While he was there, Sahlman checked on the other horses. They were healthy, and had recovered from the storm. He also noticed, however, that only two of the three horses were there. Sahl quickly located the attendant. "Em, to excuse." Sahl's eyes held a somewhat dangerous glint at the thought that someone may have stolen one of the horses. "Could it be that a fellow is walking one of our animals during the nighttime?" It took the stable boy a moment to understand what Sahl was asking. "Oh, the third horse. Sure. One of your friends came in last night and took it out. It was the guy with the red hair." That set Sahl back on his heels. 'Why would Galgewe take one of our horses?' he thought. All he could do was scratch his head and then return to tell the others. Ardith threw up her hands at hearing Sahlman's story. "Sahlman," she said, "I don't know whether to laugh or to cry. You went to _Ulan_ to get horses? After Ziedon said he was worried about our situation here? And then, you find out that Galgewe is more important than any of us thought, and next you come back with a magnificent charger? "This is like a storybook tale!" After initially feeling uncomfortable at the thought that he may have done something improper, Sahl managed to find some amusement at Ardith's reference to storybook tales. He thought that perhaps that was an appropriate comparison, or had the potential to be, anyway. "Ziedon, I apologize. Perhaps we should leave now, or at least move to other lodgings. Though I rather think that Sahl's new mount will draw attention wherever we may go." Ziedon looked over momentarily and nodded in acknowledgment. He then drifted back into his thoughts. "At least we have the mounts we thought we had," Kay added, "in spite of Galgewe's taking one of ours. Still, we are short of saddles. Maybe the original plan of buying horses, or mules if we can't afford horses, is best. "I think we should all hole up here in Ardith's and my room. We can spread blankets and camp out like we were outdoors. That way we can set a watch in case there is a plot against us, as Ziedon seemed to think. "Yes, let's do that! Besides, it'd be fun!" Ziedon did not particularly like the idea, but by this point, he thought further suggestions would do no good. Sahlman thought the idea of holing up in one room was a good one, and when the others concurred, he got up and checked the room for security. Kay went downstairs once again and brought dinner up for the group. They ate quietly in the dark room, and then went to sleep. Their sleep was like the sleep they had slept in the forest. Most of them were uncomfortable, even though they had brought most of their camping gear into Ardith and Kay's room. One at a time, the original group of travelers kept watch over the room. If there was fear of outside attack, it would not be sensible to put their lives into the hands of newcomers, who were unknown by all, and still mistrusted by some. Ziedon, during his watch, kept one eye constantly on the thief. "Ardith." It was a whisper. The cleric opened her eyes but remained in bed. "No," she thought, "this is not a bed." Too tired to focus her eyes, she moved the tip of her little finger around in a circle. "I'm on the floor." The feeling of the wood was unmistakable. It was the old, splintering pine of Grabble's. Ardith breathed in deeply through her nose and was overwhelmed by the smell of pine. What she felt with her little finger was not a splintering floor. It was a bunch of twigs that had fallen to the ground in a pine forest. The fresh forest air invigorated her, but she was still too tired to get up. "Ardith." The whisper was louder this time. Ardith tried to focus her eyes better. It was dark above her, but occasional rays of light shone between pine needles. No, they were too colorful to be pine needles. The light was shining out through loose stitches in the soft patchwork quilt that was a ceiling for her room. Her finger lost what it was feeling. "Ardith.... It is Meideldaw." The Feast of the Mother. "Today is indeed Meideldaw. But Meideldaw is in autumn. Is it already autumn?" "You are ready." "Ready for what?" she asked in the same whisper the other voice was using, but she already knew. She could already feel the small burst of power that came from increased understanding. "No, I'm not." "Soon, you will show others the Way. You will need a voice." Then Ardith remembered something she had promised someone many years ago. She told someone she would ask a question, but who was it? "Someone," she thought, "is the voice of the Zioth." She thought back to three years earlier, four years, five years, but she could not find the name she sought, or even a face. "How is...." She wanted to ask, but nothing came. There was no name to complete her request. "You are ready." "No. I am not ready yet. Give me time." Ardith heard footsteps around her. She sat up suddenly and rubbed her eyes, but only blurred her vision more. Her hands were covered in mud, and now her eyes were as well. She shook her head, but stopped when her arms were grabbed and held together behind her back. "You are ready," a male voice said behind her, also in a whisper. "No," she tried to shout, but could only whisper. Her fingers felt hot. They became hotter and hotter until it seemed a fire would burst into action at any moment. "Of course," she thought. "A child can understand water, it is so simple, but what is simpler than fire? Water is something. You can lift it in a cup and drink it. Fire is nothing. It is merely heat and sound, and if you lift it in a cup, it is gone." Her fingers became even hotter. "Fire is so simple, yet it is an enigma to the world." Her fingers burst into flame. No, they were not burning. A small fire was contained in Ardith's plump hand, and burned without fuel. The man behind her tightened his grip on Ardith's arms, and she released the fire onto him. Without a sound, he was gone. Ardith fell back to the ground. "No, I'm not ready," she whispered, and began to cry. "You must be ready," whispered the female voice. "Why?" "You must be able to aid the hurt and find the lost." "I don't understand." "You do understand, and you are ready." "No, I'm not." Ardith remembered Kay. "Kay must also be asleep under the pine quilt. She is a good person." The last thought surprised the priestess. She was sure that her friend had an inherent innocent goodness. This was not merely a realization based on experience. Even worse, Ardith thought she could find the intentions of anyone, if she looked hard enough. Certain aspects of a person were clearly visible, if one were to look in the right place. "No, I said I'm not ready." There was only one way, Ardith knew, to stop the flow of understanding from the unknown source into herself. She drew from the forest around her, and, for a moment, became one of the trees. Her skin toughened until nothing around her could pierce it. Then, she knew she was safe. "No," she thought. "I am safe, but my mind is not." She softened her skin, and, quite suddenly, forgot why she was not ready to understand the world. At the same time, she remembered the missing name. "Ziedon," she whispered. There was a shout of pain, far away and muffled by many layers of wood. Ardith opened her eyes and was awake. The first light of dawn peeked through the closed shutters of her window. She looked across the room and saw that Kay was still asleep. She tried to speak, but could not but whisper. *********************************************************************** It is dawn on this chilly first day of Farinon, ninth month of the moon Halkak, two hundred and twenty-fifth day of the one thousand first year of the Zioth, on the land of Aerv. /--Next New/Full Moons--\ Upcoming Events | New Full | ----------------------- | Halkak: 10/1 9/14 | 9/2 Market Day (Maelbourg) | Tirop: 9/4 9/12 | | Ot: 9/28 9/11 | | Ilsapeich: 10/8 9/10 | | Zabrigar: 12/8 10/4 | \-----------------------/ Notes ----- All: The next turn should start on the morning of the first. I don't know how much more time your characters will want to spend in the town, but I assume the first things you'll want to do is buy what must be bought and decide how to leave the town. In Sahl's little adventure, I forgot that Kreemon was with him. You may notice that your posts were changed slightly. That's the reason. Ardith: You now have Produce Flame, Know Alignment and Barkskin. All three of those, and no other spells, are currently ready for use. Today is Meideldaw, the Feast of the Mother. Kay: Would Kay really want to spend a large percentage of her money on enough horses for everyone (3 of them) and a mule? Standing Orders --------------- 1) Feel free to ask me about anything your character knows. If I can't answer, you might be able to make up a bit of the history of my world yourself in order to answer the question. 2) A copy of all public ZIOTH-related messages that you use the Internet to send should be posted on Fidonet. A copy of all private ZIOTH-related messages you send to each other should be sent to me so that I know what's going on. 3) If I ever intrude on your character in a way you don't want me to, tell me. I probably won't be able to undo the damage done, but I'll know to avoid it in the future. Your Bill, Sir -------------- Ardith: 6ag (food&lodging) Kay: 6ag (food&lodging) Korisca: 7ag (food&lodging) Kreemon: 7ag (food&lodging) Sahlman: 7ag (food&lodging) Ziedon: 7ag (food&lodging) Hitpoints --------- I forgot to account for Sahl's level change here last turn. Sahlman: 19/22 Levels and Experience Totals ---------------------------- Ardith: 3 4425/6000 (Good role-playing) Kay: 2 2225/4000 (Good turn) Korisca: 2 1275/2500 (Didn't do anything) Kreemon: 1 1600/2250 (NPC) Sahlman: 3 4550/8000 (Good role-playing) Ziedon: 2 4325/5000 (Good role-playing) *********************************************************************** * GameName RealName Fidonet Internet * *********************************************************************** * DM Eli Fenton 1:101/265 * * * * * * Ardith/ Karl Schinke 1:2604/116 * * Kay 1:2604/116.1 * * * * Korsica Julian Kite 1:333/124 * * Sahlman Shaun Sides 1:3666/113 * * Ziedon Alex Corbin * *********************************************************************** * (Primary addresses are the first listed) * *********************************************************************** * Zioth web page: http://hops.cs.jhu.edu/~elifenton/zioth * ***********************************************************************